Sunday, January 31, 2010

Day 31

One month down...eleven to go!! We're 1/12 of the way there...yay us!! :)
I felt pretty comfortable with my walk again today...1.55 miles. I had a little back pain on and off throughout the day but didn't notice any while I walked on the treadmill.
Bring on another month!!

day 31...wowsa!

Couch to 5K, week four workout three, for a total of 2.42 miles completed!

I've always wanted to be the kind of person that, when they feel stressed, go for a run and come back feeling carefree. Unfortunately, that has never come naturally to me. I, on the other hand, have the tendency to "batten down the hatches" at the first glimpse of stress. I hunker down, shut down, and wait until the storm is over before I stick my nose out.

So today when the reality of what the next few months have in store hit me I felt myself slipping into "that place". I started feeling angry, overwhelmed, super stressed and just plain exhausted by the thought of it all. As I choked back my tears I surprisingly caught myself thinking, "I need to run."

Lacing my shoes I took a deep breath, thought about my attitude that needed changing, and hopped on the treadmill. I focused on each step, letting the stress flow out of me. When anger flooded my thoughts I ran faster. When I got tired and wanted to stop I pressed myself harder. When overwhelming to-do lists came to mind I took control of the one thing I could...my running.
Happy trails,
Jessy

Saturday, January 30, 2010

day 30

Thirty days into our challenge. Just this morning I was marveling at how much of a second nature spending 30 minutes walking/running has become. Exercising has become a question of when not if.
And then lunch time happened.
As we finished up our meal at our favorite Mexican restaurant served by our favorite waiter I pushed my plate aside and sighed. All I could think about was going home to take a nap! Then the realization came which I stated loud enough for the table next to us to hear,
"Oh no! I still have to get on the treadmill today!!!"
As we pulled into the garage I let out another long sigh and a small complaint to Greg that getting on the treadmill was the last thing I wanted to do. To which his much needed reply was a reminder that I just needed to change my attitude. Thanks honey.
And that is what I did. Makes me wonder how many other situations in my life could be more peaceful if I only changed my attitude.
Happy trails,
Jessy

Day 30

30 minutes and 1.52 miles done, and my back felt great the whole time! YAY!!!!!!!! I almost wanted to run but I'm actually scared to. I'm going to wait and talk to my PT about it on Wednesday. Nevertheless, I'm feeling very hopeful today!! :)

Friday, January 29, 2010

day 29

Yay! A rest day. I have to admit these days are a little harder for me to want to get on the treadmill. But I came home from a morning trip to the library armed with dvds of old Seinfeld episodes. Ah, Kramer cracks me up. He makes 30 minutes fly by!

Happy trails,
Jessy

Day 29

Another crazy day, but I swore I wouldn't be on the treadmill at 9:30 again tonight, so I made sure to get it in today. My brother was nice enough to offer to continue watching the boys when I got home from work this afternoon so I could get my time in!
I had physical therapy today and my PT is continuing to advance my core exercises. He told me he'd see me 2 more times next week and then back down to once per week.
So, here's the pic of my new shoes. :) I'm liking them but can't wait to try out running in them. I think that's when I'll really notice a difference! Happy Weekend!


Day 28

I did not get on the treadmill until 9:30 p.m. Ugh!! And it was the last thing on earth I wanted to do tonight! I just wanted to crawl into bed after finally getting Jude down to sleep! Anyways, it's done and I'm glad. If it weren't for this challenge, friend, this is one of those days that there is NO WAY I would have exercised!
I did get new shoes today, so that helped. I'm too lazy to take a picture though, so I shall do it tomorrow when I hopefully have a bit more energy!

I found this earlier today on http://fansofbeingamom.com/ and thought I'd share. I like how all the reasons are related to being a Mommy! :)

15 Really Good Reasons to Exercise:

1. Endorphins – Official definition: natural opiates (produced in the brain, by physical exercise or thinking happy thoughts) which act as natural painkillers. Real World definition: the stuff that explains women who go happily through labor and delivery without painkillers.
2. Stress Release – Who needs stress relief more than moms?
3. Better Sleep – Need I say more?
4. Mommy Time – If you’re able to set time aside to exercise on your own, you’ll reap the extra benefit of some solitary down time … a mommy “time out,” if you will.
5. Greater Confidence – Whether you’ve reached your fitness goal or not, taking action gives you a feeling of empowerment, a more positive body image, and the confidence to put yourself “out there.”
6. Bonding Opportunities – If you choose to make your fitness routine a group activity, you’ll have the chance to forge new friendships and nurture old ones.
7. Better Health – There are a ton of specific health benefits, but overall health is important for moms. After all, we’re the one who end up taking care of everyone else when they get sick!
8. Greater immunity – When you’re healthy, your immune system is stronger, which helps you stay healthy.
9. Increased Good Cholesterol – Exercise boosts the good stuff!
10. Lower Blood Pressure – Even when the kids are pushing all your buttons, exercise will help you rebalance things in your favor.
11. More Energy – It doesn’t make immediate sense, but working out does give you more energy. And, if anyone can use more energy, it’s moms!
12. Stronger Muscles – Stronger muscles don’t just help you carry all those groceries, they also help protect you from injuries. Strong abs, for instance, help protect your back.
13. Stronger Bones – Women in particular should do what they can to strengthen their bones and certain kinds of weight training do just that.
14. Greater Flexibility – Stronger, more supple muscles lead to greater physical flexibility, and the stress-fighting aspects of exercise help make you more mentally limber as well.
15. You’re Setting a Good Example – As moms, we do everything we can to provide for and teach our children. Investing time and effort in taking care of yourself by exercising regularly sets a great example for your kids to follow.

Thursday, January 28, 2010

day 28

Couch to 5k week four, workout two for a total of 2.34 miles completed.

Hopped on the treadmill during naps. Started out dreading my time. It was rainy & dreary here. Greg was home for the day so all I wanted to do was snuggle in with a cup of tea and chat. I'm proud of myself for sticking with this challenge. It's hard to believe we've been at it for 28 days! Hope you had a good day!

Happy trails,
Jessy

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

day 27

Another day done. Does this ever look familiar!?!
Happy trails,
Jessy

Day 27

I got a naptime walk in today. My mileage was a bit more respectable as I was able to pick up the pace a bit...1.43 miles. I started off reading a magazine but decided to put it down and focus on my form and breathing. It made the 30 minutes kind of drag on, but I think it's important to do that every once in awhile...I know I get sloppy sometimes and I DON'T want to hurt my back again!! I'm going to commit to doing my 30 minutes once a week with no distractions so I can really pay attention!

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Day 26

Usually on Tuesdays, I wait to get my 30 minutes in until I'm watching The Biggest Loser, but today I tried to recreate yesterday. Today, though, my back was pretty achy from a difficult day yesterday and yet another night of bad sleep. I knew it would probably only feel worse this evening. So, with The Wiggles Go Bananas and a snack preoccupying Dax and Ian once again and Jude asleep in the swing, I gave it a go. Surprisingly, a nice slow-paced walk (2.2 mph) was just what my back needed! It felt much more limber and less achy once I finished. I did get to add a little resistance to the last 5 minutes of my walk since Jude decided to join me in the Ergo! :) I'm so glad to have it out of the way today! Now all I have to do is attack the never-ending mountain of laundry during The Biggest Loser. :)

day 26

Couch to 5K week 4, workout 1, 2.3 miles completed.

I am beginning to look forward to these training days. I love the surge of post-run, mood elevating endorphins. I love to feel my muscles getting stronger with each stride. I love hearing the rhythmic pounding of my feet. But most of all I love the confidence that grows every time I get out there and run.

Kristin Armstrong says it best:
"Confident on the Inside means - You are wise enough to accept God’s definition of who you are, and you are strong enough not to accept counterfeit messages. You know your own beauty and are grateful for it, never needing to promote or pollute it. You possess awareness of your talents, as well as the humility and generosity to share them. You can say 'Yes' and 'No' with equal certainty. You live and love big – never needing to play small or belittle others. You can say 'thank you' to a compliment as easily as you can say 'Forgive me' or 'I forgive you' to a mistake. Confident on the Inside means that you feel so comfortable in your own skin that your very presence is an invitation to freedom for others. Confident on the inside knows no age."

Happy trails,
Jessy

day 25

I'm still kickin'. Today was a busy day. I had an appt during nap time which is usually when I run so finding 30 minutes before that was tough. My time was challenged today. My priorities were challenged today. But it felt great to make my health a priority and make time for it! No excuses here.

Happy trails,
Jessy

Monday, January 25, 2010

Day 25

I got my 30 minutes in already! Dax and Ian were asking to watch their 30 minutes of screen time, and Jude was sleeping at about 10:00 a.m. So, after Blogging yesterday about how late morning would ideally be my best time to workout, I thought 'why not'? At least when it works out this beautifully! ;) So, I got to walk on my treadmill while watching The Wiggles Go Bananas! Fun times! Boy am I glad I got it out of the way because I'm already dragging...the coffee that I drank this a.m. as a remedy to my fatigue (we had a bad night here at our house) has worn off!
Anyways, I got on the treadmill thinking I'd go until my back couldn't take it anymore and do the rest later. But I got all 30 minutes in at once!! Yay!! I've also got my core exercises, give to me by my PT, done for the day too. I'm feeling quite accomplished despite my fatigue!! Now for a relaxing naptime (at least I hope)!

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Day 24

Well, I'm progressing...I did two 15 minute walks on the treadmill today at a comfortable pace of about 2.5 mph. At one point today, I had almost no pain...then I went grocery shopping and carried some of the bags in...bad move. Having no pain, even for just a couple hours made me feel hopeful, though! It was so nice to walk around feeling normal again!

To answer your question about my best time of day for a workout, I'd have to agree that naptime is best. However, if I could, I think late morning would be even better. That doesn't work though, unless Craig is home to watch the boys. :) It has been interesting trying to balance everything...I still haven't figured it out! Maybe by the end of the year, I'll actually get myself out of bed 30 minutes early so I don't have to work it into my day...we'll see.

day 24

Couch to 5K week 3, workout 3 (2.21 miles) complete.
I really was hoping to get out of bed and get my run done early today. But alas, I was too comfy and too sleepy to move. I was not looking forward to a nap time run and barely managed to squeak in 30 minutes before the kids woke up. As I ran though I made a huge discovery. Most days around 3pm is when I usually lose all steam. I am so sleepy and the rest of the day I never feel like doing much of anything, let alone accomplish much. I have seen a pattern this past week. If I wait to get my run in during nap time my afternoons with the kids are so much better. I have a little more pep in my step and my energy level is much higher.
So, as much as I like to use nap time for important things like folding laundry or cleaning bathrooms, I'm thinking afternoon runs might be my thing!
When is your "ideal" time to run?
Happy trails,
Jessy

Saturday, January 23, 2010

Day 23

I broke my 30 minutes down into three 10 minute sessions once again. I'm weaning myself off of Darvocet right now, so I'm a little achy today and definitely notice that my lower back feels fatigued after each session. So, I'm probably doing the right thing by not doing 30 minutes all at once. It is kind of a pain, though, since I have to figure out 3 different times to work out vs. getting it all done at once. Soon enough...

day 23

Greg is at work today so even with the beautiful weather (74 degrees) it was back to the dreadmill for me.
Got another round of core exercises done. Woohoo!
Is it February yet?

Happy trails,
Jessy

Friday, January 22, 2010

Day 22

I did three 10 minute walks again today. My PT gave me the go-ahead to get back on the treadmill at a comfortable walking pace for 5-10 minutes at a time. He also started me on more core strengthening exercises. He is impressed by how quickly I've progressed. I'll go back to PT 2 times next week and then I'm hoping I'll just have a home program. Happy Weekend!

day 22

I hit a wall today. Every single minute seemed to drag on! I thought I was going to lose my mind. This quote seemed to fit the bill for me today,
"Running is a mental sport...and we're all insane!" ~author unknown

Happy trails,
Jessy

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Day 21

I did my 30 minutes in three 10-minute segments today. My first two were just walks around the house, and the last one I actually tried the treadmill...only at 1.2 mph, but it's a start. We'll see what the PT says tomorrow. I know I'm moving a lot better now with much less pain...it's still there but it's nothing compared to Sunday and Monday!!!

day 21

They say it takes 21 days to make a new habit.
Here's to a great new habit.

Happy trails,
Jessy

day 20

30 minutes on the beach. It doesn't get any better than this!

A very foggy morning.
The jetty we walked to.
Happy trails,
Jessy

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Day 20

I DID MY OWN 30 MINUTES TODAY!!
Ha! I can't believe I'm so stoked that I was able to get up and walk 5 times for 6 minutes each. Dax joined me for my last 6 minutes...he's so excited that Mommy is up walking again. He keeps asking, "Mommy, can you walk faster?"
My PT was very pleased with how my back is moving today. He said as bad as my back looked on Monday, from his experience, he thought I'd be down for at least a week! He also thinks that doing a 5k on March 27th is still a reasonable goal and he likes that I'm striving for it. He agreed that I definitely need to get some new running shoes! He started very basic core strengthening with me today in addition to the other stretches he had me start on Monday. So, I'm feeling very hopeful after today's appointment. I still have to take it slow, but I'm moving in the right direction!
Thanks again to all my wonderful friends and family for supporting me and helping me out!!
And, Jessy, I can't wait to see pics of your beach walk today!!!

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Day 19

My back is feeling quite a bit better today compared to yesterday because it's not spasming! I'm so pleased that the meds, ice, rest (Craig took another day off work) and my PT exercises seem to be doing the trick...slowly but surely! I have another PT appointment tomorrow, so I'm hoping it'll feel even better after that. I'm hoping to be able to do 30 minutes for myself tomorrow...it'll probably be broken up into segments. Today, my dad completed my 30 minutes for me! Isn't that awesome? Both my mom and dad have been going to the gym regularly and I'm so proud of them!! Thanks for doing this for me today Dad!! I love you!


Hi Rebecca,

My exercise time started out this morning at 24 Hour Fitness and I exercised on the eliptical for thirty minutes. One of my favorite ways to start the day is in doing just this because I can catch up on all the morning news. I raised up a good sweat as I happily burned off five hundred and ten calories. I spent the rest of the time doing a weight routine.

Thanks for the opportunity to run for you. I will be happy to do the same for you again tomorrow if you desire. I hope your back is back in running condition real soon.

Love,
dad

day 19

Couch to 5K week 3, workout 1 for me today.
I totally kicked the treadmills butt!
Do you realize how toned our legs are going to be at the end of this year?

Happy trails,
Jessy

Monday, January 18, 2010

Day 18

I got into the doctor this morning and while he wasn't exactly sure what happened, he did prescribe Darvocet and ordered Physical Therapy. So, I was able to get some relief today and was able to walk to the bathroom on my own...that's no 30 minutes on the treadmill, but it was a big accomplishment at this point!! I'll continue with Physical Therapy 3x/week for now.
Today, while I was laying in the treatment room with Microcurrent and ice on my back, I could hear someone on the treadmill, and I had to hold back the tears as I thought, "That should be me!" It sure is amazing how my perspective has changed now. Before this happened, I was getting a little bit tired of my treadmill...now I can't wait to get back on it!!!
So once again, thanks to another awesome friend, my 30 minutes was taken care of for me today! I sure do wish they could actually transfer their calorie burn to me too!! :) Thanks Jen...I know you're not feeling very well right now, but you did it anyway! I so appreciate your willingness to do this for me. :)




Hello friend! I hope you're feeling better tonight! I did a quick 30 minutes on the elliptical after dinner tonight,I had a feeling if I waited until later I wouldn't do anything. Oh,and yes,that is Josh's head in the picture,no he didn't stay on with me:) I did 20 minutes during nap time so my plan was to do a video,but I knew there was no possibility of that with the kiddos running around. After I was finished Josh and I had a jumping jack off-he did 100 jumping jacks-100! I stopped after 55 and collapsed...in my defense I had just done a 30 min. workout and he wasn't doing them properly the entire time...still,I was owned by a 3 year old.Love ya Becs! Hang in there! {Hugs}

day 18

Today is a "rest day" so I took it super easy. I walked at a very comfortable, slow pace since my knees are feeling kinda achy after yesterday. So that I didn't lose my mind I started reading "Three Cups of Tea" by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin. I can cross off another day of core/strength training as well.
I'd say it's just another day in treadmill paradise. :)
Hope you are well.

Happy trails,
Jessy

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Day 17

Well friend, as you know, I was unable to get my 30 minutes in today thanks to some freak back spasms and horrible lower back pain that have kept me in bed all day. I am SOOO sad about this. I have no idea what caused them...that's what is most frustrating! I was talking to a good friend about my problem earlier, and I was almost in tears telling her that I was screwing up this challenge in the FIRST MONTH. She was so sweet and thoughtful and offered to complete my 30 minutes for me today. I am such a blessed woman to be surrounded by such wonderful friends. Thank you so much Jess...I know you were planning on taking a day off from your exercising today...your sacrifice means a lot to me!






You've been such an inspiration to me, that I could not let your 30 minutes go un-walked today. Thanks for getting me moving, even when I planned to "veg." I needed the workout!


Oh, since you always report what you did: I walked a 5 min. warm up, followed by 10 minutes of walking at 3 mph and then I did the Couch- to-5K program. I'm still on week one, so I did 90 secs. of walking alternated with 60 sec. of running for 15 minutes. Then I did a 5 min. cool down at a rapid pace of about 2 m.p.h. I was wiped, but I killed it. Only for you!! Sunday is normally my day off- but I feel great. Going to go tackle the laundry before my endorphins wear off!! Love,J

day 17

Hello friend. I have a confession to make. I have not been putting 100% into my Couch to 5K days. Oh sure, I'm on the treadmill for the full 30 minutes, but I haven't really been following the plan. So, yesterday I actually printed off the plan, sat down with a pen (and Greg for advice), and figured out what will keep me focused, then taped it to the treadmill.
Today I technically did week 2, workout 3. Is that where you are? Instead of figuring out the whole 90 seconds thing whilst remembering to breathe I walked for 2 minutes then ran for 2 minutes. The 30 minutes flew by! I can totally do this. Instead of killing myself and trying to run the whole time, breaking it up like this is going to be so much better for my body and my mind! Now I'm off to fold some laundry.

Happy trails,
Jessy

Saturday, January 16, 2010

Day 16

We had a wonderful family day today...the best in a long time! It was just what I needed. We spent time outside, but I just hung out with my guys instead of taking off on a walk/run. I just did my 30 minutes now while Craig cleaned up and made some popcorn. :) I attempted your 4.0 incline but I could not keep the 4 mph pace without flying off the back of the treadmill. So, I did it at 3.0-3.2 mph for a total of 1.52 miles. So, now that's out of the way so I can enjoy some seriously yummy popcorn and OJ and snuggle in for a movie with Craig.

day 16

Oh how beautiful today was! When we woke the sun was shining for the first time in several days. Greg had the day off (yay) so we loaded up the car and headed to Crownridge Canyon for some hiking. Temps were already in the upper 50s when we got there. The 1.3 mile loop through the canyon was pure rejuvenation for my soul. As we ate our pb&j I looked up to discover just two leaves left on this tree. I smiled. I thought about the week I've had and how we are like those leaves. How the busy-ness of life seems to blow at us so hard, trying to shake us loose from the grasp we have on our goal.
But there we are, still holding strong.
Happy trails,
Jessy

Friday, January 15, 2010

Day 15

I feel the same way today friend! We've got a long way to go!
I got done with work a little early today, so I was able to catch the end of naptime and barely squeeze 30 minutes in. It was a very leisurely walk for a total of 1.10 miles.
I talked with the PTA that I work with today and she thinks my knee is hypermobile, so I need to get something to support it. I definitely catch myself hyperextending my knee when I'm running, stretching, or even standing on occasion. I am going to have to get myself some sort of a supportive brace, as well as some good shoes! Maybe I'll have to check out The Lincoln Running Company this weekend. Thanks for the suggestion! Have a wonderful weekend...maybe you'll get some fun outdoor walks or runs in?

day 15

Wow! I can't believe it's only day 15. It feels like we've been at this for months! I walked today at 4mph and an incline of 4. We got some small 2lb medicine balls for Lexi's therapy that I thought might be fun to try to carry while I walked. I did an "8 minute abs" video which means I can cross off a day of core/strength training towards my goal of getting a watch. I was really tired after today's 30 minutes. Not really a sleepy tired, just worn out. It felt more like I walked 100 miles. Hope you had a good day.

Happy trails,
Jessy

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Day 14

This was a 5k training day. I had a rebellious napper on my hands, so I owe the completion of my 30 minutes today to my brother who took over on the kid-front while I finished up! I completed Couch-to-5k for a total of 1.81 miles.

day 14

Happenings around the world (Haiti) seem to have put things in perspective for me the past few days. I do so much on a daily basis that is so self-absorbing. Maybe this isn't the place for this rambling, but either way the wind has been taken out of my sails and motivation is lacking. I squeezed in 30 minutes on the treadmill at the very last window of opportunity during the kids nap time. I spent the time trying to organize my thoughts and feelings about life. I was reminded, once again, how powerful our mind is over our body. Today everything ached. So tonight as I apply ice to my aching bones, I wish, in some way that I could be doing the same for the world. Applying a pack of ice to the hurts of humanity, in hopes that tomorrow we can all walk a bit straighter and stronger.

Jessy

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Day 13

Yay for snow-melting temps and blue skies here in Nebraska today!!! I just had to get outside for my walk! I think my knee is thanking me for skipping the treadmill today too!

I did have an adorable little walking companion with me! He fell asleep in the car on the way home from our morning outing and stayed asleep for awhile, so he wasn't ready for another nap when I had the opportunity to go. As soon as I got the older two down for their naps, I took off with my little guy bundled in my Ergo (love that thing). Uncle JJ was home, so he kept an ear out for the boys!

day 13!!

(the view from my treadmill...rain, rain, rain)
It's days like today that I am grateful for an accountability partner because it's days like today that I wouldn't stick to my goal. Because of you, Rebecca, I can cross "30 minutes on the treadmill" off my list! Thanks! :)

Happy trails,
Jessy

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Day 12

Week Two of Couch-to-5k for me. It was more challenging for me to tack on an extra 30 seconds to the jogs but I made it for a total of 1.79 miles. My left knee is still a little sore...it's kind of making me nervous. Tomorrow's supposed to be a warm 38 degrees here...maybe I should walk outside. :)

day 12

Back to the treadmill today for "couch to 5K." I am happy to be done with my 30 minutes. Not very motivated here and getting on the treadmill was the very last thing I wanted to do. Now I'm off to eat some birthday cake! :)

Happy trails,
Jessy

Monday, January 11, 2010

day 11

Ah, the temps are back up to "normal" around here and with Greg home today I had to get outside for my 30 minutes. I planned on walking since I'm starting the Couch to 5K plan tomorrow (again, hehe, I'm a dork) but the fresh air, sunshine, good music, and finding this great road, meant I ran more than I had planned. I came across this road (north rolling oaks) about 20 minutes into my time. I knew I needed to turn around to make it back home in my 30 min time frame but couldn't help pressing on to see what was over the hill. I think I've found a new place to run/walk. It's peaceful, hilly (for a challenge), and feels like I'm out in the country.I felt so great when I got home, tired, but really really good.
As far as goals go, I am going to plan on my "non-5K training days" to stick to walking (since they are technically 'rest' days) and do some sort of core/strength training. If I can keep that up until my 5K on the 28th of March then I shall reward myself with a new watch. Yay. Gotta love those rewards.
354 days to go friend, we can do it!! We are super women!!! Yes we are!!

Happy trails,
Jessy

Day 11

When we got home from our Kindermusik class this morning, there was a Parents Magazine waiting for me in my mailbox. I knew right away what I'd be doing during my leisurely treadmill walk today! I got a little nervous that I wasn't going to get my naptime walk in, as planned, because Jude didn't seem to want to go to sleep for me. But he did! Thank you sweet baby of mine!! I thoroughly enjoyed my walking and reading. My total mileage today was 1.21 miles. Heck, that's not bad for a leisurely walk...a lot more calories burned than if I had just curled up on the couch to read it! :)
It was good to talk to you and discuss goals, rewards, and plans today! I am definitely going to slow myself down on my non-couch-to-5k days. I've been so gung-ho about this challenge that it took my aching knee to remind me that we have more than 350 days to go!! I loved your idea about doing a short strength training type of DVD on our easy walk days. I'm definitely going to do that on the days that my boys allow it! Today was one of those days! I did one circuit of Jillian Michaels' Banish Fat, Boost Metabolism. This particular circuit was kickboxing, so it took me right back to our kickboxing days with Hottie!! Wish we could do that together again!!

Sunday, January 10, 2010

Day 10

I got my 30 minutes in this morning, but I'm just getting a chance to Blog about it. I did Couch-to-5k today for a total of 1.77 miles. I felt so good afterwards...it's amazing how a little exercise can change my mood! My knee is a little sore this evening, so I'll plan on taking it slower tomorrow.

day 10

What's shakin' bacon?!!
I'm 3 for 3 to get my time in early. Man that feels great. I fought quite the mental battle to get it done this morning. You have no idea. :)
Treadmill settings were at four & four again today. Looking forward to starting the couch to 5K plan (again) tomorrow. Speaking of 5K's, I registered for one on March 28th. Yikes. I actually have butterflies in my stomach!
Now I'm off for an exciting day of laundry, homeschool planning, and playing Polly Pockets. :)

Happy trails,
Jessy

Saturday, January 9, 2010

Rather than watching the sun rise,I did my 30 minutes while I watched the sun set. It was pretty, but the view from my treadmill didn't lend itself to as beautiful of a photo op as yours! I relied on Craig to watch the boys again today (thanks Babe)! I walked again but at a more challenging pace (3.5 mph) and incline (2.0) for myself. I followed your lead and didn't watch TV or listen to music, which was super hard at first, but it got easier as I went. I think I tend to use those things to distract myself from how I'm feeling and make the 30 minutes go more quickly! It was sort of nice for a change to let myself think and feel...I can't say I'll be doing it all the time though! :) My total mileage today was 1.75. I think I'm going to start adding up all my mileage because it'll be fun to see what the total is come December 31! Oh, and I think I will be doing Couch-to-5k on Sundays/Tuesdays/Thursdays.
Mini-goals and rewards were what I thought most about as I walked. We should talk about our thoughts, and then we'll post them on here when we've got them nailed down! Sound good?

day 9

Good morning San Antonio!
(the view from my treadmill)

Up at 5:30 to see Greg off to work again. It was 16 degrees this morning! I really wanted to snuggle back in bed, but knew that it was going to be a busy day with church & taking lunch to Greg. If I didn't get my 30 minutes in early I knew I would dread doing it this afternoon while the kids nap. Yay for me, I did it and now I can have some quiet time to relax! I kept up at 4 mph w/the incline at 4 as well. I spent a lot of time thinking about the things I am hoping to get from this experience and focusing on being in tune with each step. It was a good morning and a great way to start the day. I'm still trying to think of some small goals to set along the way, little things to keep me motivated. Any ideas?

Happy trails,
Jessy

Friday, January 8, 2010

And So Begins Week Two...

Thank goodness for an awesome hubby who is totally supportive of this 365 day challenge! I worked today, so was out of the house for nap time. I knew I wasn't really feeling an after-the-boys-go-to-bed workout, so Craig watched the boys after work so I could do my 30 minutes! And he didn't *just* watch the boys, he made dinner!! I love my man!
It wasn't a couch-to-5k day and I was a little sore this morning, so I decided on a walk for a total of 1.54 miles. I'm so glad to have it done, so now I can just relax with some hot chocolate!

day 8

Good morning sunshine! I'm so happy to have gotten my time in already this morning. I was up at 5:30 to enjoy a cup of coffee with Greg before he headed off to work. It is freezing here so I seriously contemplated snuggling back in bed until the rest of the house woke. But instead I listened to Morning Edition on NPR and enjoyed the sunrise from the treadmill. It's gonna be a beautiful day, I can tell. ;)

Happy trails,
Jessy

Thursday, January 7, 2010

One Week Down!

Couch to 5k for me today. I got the boys down for their naps a little late, so I was pleasantly surprised to find Ellen on TV. So, my 30 minutes flew by today for a total of 1.75 miles. It's like a frozen tundra outside and I've been freezing all day...not anymore! :)
Have you decided on any mini goals yet, friend?

day 7

One week down, 51 to go. My feet hurt this morning. I'm wondering how the next 51 weeks are going to feel. Yesterday was rough with lots of happenings around the homefront that kept pushing back my time to exercise. So today I fought back and put the incline at 7 and tried to keep a pace of 4 mph. Yeah. I did that for about 10 minutes before I felt like I was going to fly off the back of the treadmill. I did 10 more minutes at a speed of 4 mph, incline of 3. And for my final 10 minutes I ran at 5mph without an incline.
Doh.
Then I remembered today should have been day two of my Couch to 5K Plan.
So, maybe I'll start that again on Monday.
Now I'm off to enjoy my endorphins while I sip a glass of this...ahhh, sweet nectar of the gods. Happy trails,
Jessy

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Day 6

Its been a long day. But I made it. Barely.

Happy trails,
Jessy

Day 6

Hooray for another naptime run! I truthfully would have rather curled up with a hot drink this afternoon as we are getting pounded by snow AGAIN! But now I can curl up with my hubby tonight since I won't have to fit my treadmill time in after the boys are asleep!
Since the Couch-to-5K program is only for 3 days/week, I had to come up with something else to do. Last night on The Biggest Loser, Jillian made the contestants get on the treadmills at a 7.0 incline right off the bat. I figured if they could attempt it, I could too. It was no joke! I warmed up for 5 minutes and then inclined the treadmill. I lasted for 15 minutes at that incline. My total mileage today was less because there was no way I could go the same speed at that incline, but it was still higher than my first walk. I got to 1.4 miles today. I have a feeling my legs will be feeling this workout tomorrow!
I also pledged to lose 30 pounds through the Pound for Pound Challenge today. For every pound you pledge to lose, 14 cents is donated to your local Food Bank, which is enough for one pound of food. Just extra motivation for me!!

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

I, too, began the Couch to 5K running program today. I feel like it was the perfect next step. I did the 90 second walks at 3 mph and the 60 second runs at 5 mph for a total of 1.72 miles in 30 minutes. The Biggest Loser was on as I completed it...talk about motivating! I've watched every season and I've definitely been guilty of vegging on the couch with some sort of snack during it in the past. After my workout today, I had no desire to snack as I watched the final hour....so, I folded laundry instead...fun times! :)
I began looking into runs that will be taking place in the area over the next year. It motivated me all over again! How many t-shirts do you think I can earn over the next 360 days? :)

Day 5

Wow. I can't believe it's day five. Today I started the Couch to 5K program. I felt a little sluggish to begin with. I'm thinking it could have been my lunch that consisted of Doritos and a handful of bite size Snickers. Sigh. Anyway, I think it will be good for me to have some sort of "plan" for the next couple of months. The plan starts with a "brisk five-minute warmup walk. Then alternate 60 seconds of jogging and 90 seconds of walking for a total of 20 minutes." To get my total of 30 minutes in I just added five more minutes of walking at the beginning and end.
I also tried to spend more time stretching today. My IT-band has always been a trouble spot for me. I wanted to start this challenge off running and felt I overdid it a bit the first few days. I am paying for that now. So, I'm holding my horses, taking it slow, and being smart. What's the rush anyway? I've got 360 more days to run! ;)
As for stretching, did you know the best time to stretch is after your muscles have had a chance to warm up. That's why most track athletes jog a mile or two, then do some stretching before the hard part of their workouts. And remember never to stretch to the point that it hurts. Stretching should be gentle. Here are a couple of my favorite (easy) stretches.
Happy trails & happy stretching,
Jessy

Monday, January 4, 2010

Four for Four!!

Day four is under my belt. All 3 boys actually slept at the same time during nap, so I took advantage of it and got my 30 minutes out of the way! I still walked for the most part, but that urge to run is slowly creeping in. So, I scattered a few 60-90 second jogs into the mix today and ended up with 1.65 miles...certainly not an amazing distance for 30 minutes but the number is increasing and that's what I'm going for right now!

Day 4

I really didn't want to get on the treadmill today. I am feeling so lazy. I'm sure a lot of my "laziness" has to do with the fact that it's my first time in over 40 days to be flying solo around the casa. Four kids can really take it out of a person and 40 days is a long time to get used to having my husband around helping out. But alas, I kicked the treadmill's butt (incline of 3; 4.3mph pace) and whipped out my 3o minutes.
And this, my friends, is why I love my treadmill...All those calories gone in just 30 minutes! I think I will go celebrate with a handful of M&Ms! :)
Happy trails,
Jessy

Sunday, January 3, 2010

Day 3

Hellooooo day 3! Are you happy with yourself? You totally kicked my bootay today. I felt like I had been hit by a truck as I rolled out of bed this morning. If I didn't know Becca was counting on me to get my 30 minutes in today I totally would have taken the day off. My hamstrings are sore, my back is sore, even my toes ache. Sigh. Enough belly achin'.
I had planned on heading down to our neighborhood park to get my time in while the kids played but it was chilly this morning (48) and very cloudy. A good morning to snuggle in and watch Dora. ;)
I'm tellin' ya, if I didn't know better I'd say my aching muscles and the dreary weather were in cahoots to make me wimp out today. Naptime for the kids came & went and I still didn't get my time in. We talked about going to the park on base after naps, but wimped out again with chilly temps. I knew the later it got the greater my chances of failure. Finally, around 4pm I hopped on the treadmill. It felt good to stay indoors today. Since we aren't going to have any "rest days" I figured I would take it a bit easier on the treadmill and give my achin' joints a rest. I felt pretty good around 4mph and added a little incline to mix things up a bit. I'm so glad the day is done. I'm off to eat some popcorn, watch a movie, and get some beauty sleep.
Happy trails friend,
Jessy

While this pic shows what could have been a beautiful 30 minute walk, it doesn't show how cold it was...we've got single digit temps here!So, no outdoor adventures for me! So, to my trusty treadmill I went again for Day Three of our challenge! Today I went 1.5 miles as I planned. I also got really brave (he he!) and added an incline of 2 for half of my walk. ;)
Now, I avoided the great outdoors for my walk, but the endorphins were kicking after my workout, so I went out and shoveled the newest 3-4 inches of snow from our driveway and sidewalk...bonus calorie burn!! :)

Saturday, January 2, 2010

Day Two...

DONE!
At naptime today, all 3 boys were asleep at the same time for exactly 30 minutes, and yes, I actually was on the treadmill the whole time. As soon as I put Jude in the swing, I ran downstairs, put on my shoes, and hopped on! I had no time for anything else, but that's okay! So, today I made it 1.47 miles in my 30 minutes. Still not impressive, but a step in the right direction. Tomorrow I'll get 1.5. :)

Day two. After a very yummy bowl of chicken tortilla soup at our very favorite restaurant we headed west. Bandera, TX was our town of choice. More specifically, the Hill Country State Natural Area. With the rugged hill country terrain even walking this is a challenge. It sure beats running through neighborhoods and I know there will be plenty of days I am stuck on the treadmill so I'm trying to get outdoors as much as I can these first few days. It was quite the work out walking over huge rocks and keeping on my feet, but completing 30 minutes on the trail went rather quickly with so much beautiful scenery. My reward at the end of the day? Roasting marshmallows over an open fire with my family.
Happy trails friends,
Jessy

Friday, January 1, 2010

Here Goes Nothin'!

Rebecca! Just thought of this! What if we spend 30 minutes every day on the treadmill for the whole year. Walking or running. Whatever, just 30 minutes!! You in? Just a few hours left in the day. Love ya,me

This is the message from Jessy that greeted me when I was innocently checking my Facebook page today! I definitely had mixed feelings about this one, but I just knew I had to accept the challenge. I quickly replied to the message with 'okay, i'm in!' Then I sat in my chair nursing Jude and doubts were flooding my mind. 365 days of running or walking? Seriously? Every.Single.Day! We must be crazy! Then I glanced over at our Christmas tree and a little ornament lit up by a single light caught my eye..."BELIEVE". I knew then that I had to believe in myself! I can do this and it's going to be so good for me. Like I told Jessy to begin with..."this is a HUGE challenge, but I'm sure the results will be HUGE too!"



After I got Jude down for the night, I hopped on the treadmill. Definitely slow going as it's been over a year since I've really done anything with my treadmill. But I did it!! I did it! That's what mattered for Day One. I got a whole 1.35 miles in. :-) It's going to be fun and motivating to see that number increase every day...because I will make sure it increases every day until I'm getting 3 miles in during my 30 minutes! I'm going to be a runner by December 31, 2010!!!


Friend, thank you so much for this challenge. I know it's not going to be easy because, sadly, it's hard to carve out 30 minutes of me-time (and want to use it to work out), but I'm going to do it! I'm glad we'll be able to encourage each other and I'm excited to see what we do with this!!

Love,
And we're off...
January 1, 2010, the beginning of a new year and a new attitude towards exercise. Today we went to our favorite park on base. Greg watched the kiddos play while I took off down the road. I brought along my MP3 since I normally need the distraction. As I ran I came across an unused golf course which made a perfect trail to run along. I turned off my music and listened. I even saw a muskrat preening himself along the slough next to the 8th hole. I rationalized a need to stop and stretch to watch the little guy for a bit. I ran out along the course for 15 minutes then turned back towards the park for a total time on my feet of 30 minutes. Day one complete. It felt so good to run again. I had a sense of a sleeping beast being awakened. I know every day won't feel like this, but today did so for now I'm going to enjoy the endorphins.

Happy trails friend,
Jessy