I'm Hungry!

According to the Runner's World book I am using (see link in original post), I needed to start walking 8 days prior to the onset of the training schedule. I started this on Sunday, and its going pretty well, since walking is not a hugely difficult thing for most. The basis behind this is for people who have been sedentary or have never ran, they need to get their legs kind of "broken in". So, this is what I have been doing since Sunday. Monday Jan 14 will begin my first week of training. I am easing into things, so that I don't burn myself out too early. I am sure that there are those people out there that have done just that, and not made much progress. I myself have done that several times in the past! I am going shopping tomorrow with my sister, and on my list of purchases is a new pair of running shoes. Usually, I have always bought athletic shoes for look and not so much on function. I have had cross trainiers, walkers, runners, fashion sneakers, etc. I don't really know much about what characteristics to look for in a running shoe, and I am hoping that there will be a sporting goods store with knowledgable staff to help me. I will bring along my orthotic inserts that I wear with all my shoes, and prevent having to buy corrective shoes. This should be fun! I am anxious to break them in in this pre-training training period.

Diet is something that I have been thinking of on and off with this whole new thing. Again, with the all the different excersice programs I have tried, I have also been with that many diets and dietary guidelines. I was a vegetarian for about six months this year, and actually liked it pretty well. I have done the low-carb, the Zone, and my personal favorite Bill Phillips' Body for Life Program. His website. This is the book that I always go back to when it comes time to shape up my eating habits. I like it because it is not a restrictive plan, but it is rather a great way to modify the way that you eat in almost any situation. The plan basically takes shape in the portion size of your protiens, carbs, and veggies. No weighing food, no cutting out foods, and my absolute favorite part of this....the built in "Free Day"!!! Phillips recommends that you pick out one day during the week to allow yourself to eat anything that you want, from pancakes to ice cream to a whole chocolate cake if you want. This way, we are not totally depriving ourselves of the tempting foods. Also, it serves as a bit of a reminder as to what we feel like when we eat like crap. I myself have run into this problem, and I have seen my friends with the same problem of friend and family get-togethers ruining their diet plans. This way of life and free day allows for that. You can plan your free day, I usually like mine on a Saturday or Sunday, or you can adjust your plans if something comes up, like a party or night out with friends and family. I also find that it gives me something to look forward to. If I wake up and crave the Bavarian Creme filled donught with extra chocolate frosting on Tuesday, I know that I can get up and eat it on Saturday, if I still really want it. It makes me work harder during the week to maintain my good habits, and gives me a little reward for doing so. If you have never looked at this program, do. He also has a cookbook with really great recipes, and the website is a wealth of information.

Just my little update for the week. I will be back to talk about getting ready for the first day of training next week!

I think I am anyway!

As the New Year was approaching, as any other 20 something female out there, I pondered my resolutions toward eating, excercising, dieting, and overall health. I have done many different things in my time, and have explored the spectrum of all things health and diet related. I have had both personal experience with these things as well as secondary experiences by watching my friends do the same things. So, as I sat eating a piece of chocolate, I decided that I needed to do something, and do something different than I have ever tried. I worked with a marathon runner for about a year and a half, and watched him train for 3 marathons in that time. I thought he was C-R-A-Z-Y!! My idea of fun does NOT include running.

My experience with running has been a very bitter one. This all started in middle school when it was a requirement to run the mile, and depending on how long it took you to run it, how you got graded. Lets just say, gym was not my strong suit, and man is screwed with my GPA! It's been a running joke (no pun intended!) with my family and the idea of me running. You see, in this said middle school gym class, our track was up behind the bleachers, and it was in the shared gym/auditorium. One leg of the track went behind the stage, and was not visible to the gym teacher. When we were running the mile, we were to be running constantly when the gym teacher could see us, and when he couldn't, behind the stage, we were allowed to walk. And sometimes, we walked very slowly! Ever since then, I have been teased relentlessly about "running" behind the stage. If only it were true that the whole world was a stage, then there would be no reason to run! But I digress...

I have tried running on and off through the years with very little success. The last time I tried to take up running was with my ex-boyfriend. We trained together everyday. Lifting weights, cardio, core training, you name it, we did it. As a guy, sweating during his workout was a given. I have never been a big sweater, and he saw this as a lack of trying. I wasn't sweating enough, I HAD to run. To sweat, you had to run. Yeah...lets just say that didn't go over very well. I ran 3 days a week for about a week and told him to shove off, I would do cardio my own way. Sweaty or not.

My own ways have included everything from "As Seen on TV" excercise videos, sporadic attendace to fitness classes, yoga, pilates, walking on the treadmill, walking outside, etc. for whatever reason, the motivation has been slim to none. I am fortunate that I was born with a slightly higher than normal metabloism, and I have generally been able to eat just about anything and not really gain a lot of weight. Until I reached 25. It has slowly been changing over the last few years. And I need to do something about it. So why now? And why running, since it has been such a distasteful activity to me in the past?

I chose now, because, well, it is my decision. I am the one who is deciding, not my gym teacher, not my boyfriend, no one else but me. And running, well because I have seen so many different types of runners over the past few years. Probably because of my exposure day in and day out with my fellow co-worker and his training for marathons. Now, I don't want to run a marathon any time in the near future, but a local 5K, 10K, or whatever would be fun. I see people of every shape and size running at varying levels, and I know that I can do it. Yesterday, I made my final decision and got this book from Runner's World. I really enjoyed looking through it, and have to say that it totally motivated me. I think that I am ready to learn to run.

In this blog, I will log my weekly training runs, talk about my experiences with this new found sport. Chart my weight loss, inches lost, and overall change in my body, mind, and outlook on running. It's not going to be pretty to start, but I am hoping to find a lifelong fitness activity. Wish me luck!