Monday, September 10, 2012

Run Claire, Run!

Several weeks ago Mike had suggested that we add running to our new healthy routine when we were ready to jump up to Phase Two.  I scoffed a little, since I notoriously hate running, but said I would be willing to give it a try if he would run with me.

I looked up a running plan that I know several friends have had success with, the couch to 5K plan.  It is a training program that works you up from not running at all, to being able to run for 30 minutes without a break.  You go running three times a week, and it starts with intervals of running and walking, and builds up your endurance over nine weeks.  I felt like this seemed like a good place for me to start since I can't remember the last time I ran for more than 10 seconds.

Mike and I both committed to this plan by actually buying new running shoes.  This was a big deal because:
1. I don't spend money on clothes, like ever.  (Much to the chagrin of the people who have to look at me.)  I have a tendency to make due with hand me downs and birthday gifts.
2. I have weird feet, my left foot is a different size than my right and it is tricky to get any kind of shoes to fit right let alone shoes you have to be able to run in.
3. I was not entirely convinced that running was going to be a successful workout that I would be willing to stick with.

Hopped up on our successful shoe shopping trip, Mike and I set out for our first run on the Sunday of Labor Day Weekend an entire week before we thought we would start and ... it was awful.  Really terrible.  I was hot, out of breath with my muscles screaming at me the entire twenty five minutes we were out there.  Since I have no background running I set out at what I thought to be a normal pace that was WAY beyond me and was never able to fully recover from that terrible error in judgement.  Also there were hecklers.  I kid you not.  Drunk neighborhood hooligans where shouting at us, asking us why we were running.  It was at that point that I started to cry.  Out of breath crying is not something I recommend.  And we still had one more set of running to go before we were done for the day.

Mike was a trooper.  Not only was he master of the stop watch, shouting out the countdown.  "Thirty more seconds of running... ten more seconds".  But he was amazingly encouraging during our walking breaks, and he didn't even get mad at me for openly weeping in the street.  I would like to publicly thank him for his seemingly unlimited patience.

I was overwhelmed with embarrassment during the run.  I had been in a certain amount of denial about how out of shape I was, and the run really forced me to confront where I am at right now.

Mike and I talked about the run after.  We decided that we would try a slower pace next time, and that we wouldn't rush the training program.  If we didn't feel ready to move onto the next week's training, we could absolutely repeat week 1.  With that in mind, we went out running again on Wednesday.  And things went MUCH better.  I could catch my breath as we were walking, I was able to look around me as I ran (instead of chugging along looking at the cement) and I didn't cry once.

Our run on Friday was similarly a success.  I actually almost looked forward to the chance to get outside and run.  I'm very surprised but very proud that I've been able to stick with the training program so far, despite how out of shape I am and my terrible first time out.  In fact, this past weekend Mike and I ran the first day of week two, because we felt we were ready for the challenge.  The new challenge of this week is with Mike back at school, I'm going to have to run on my own for the first time.  Wish me luck!

~Claire Out

Friday, September 7, 2012

Phase One Update

As I talked about in my post a few weeks ago (here), I turned over a new leaf in terms of eating healthfully.  I started following the diet recommended by Bob Green in his book "The Best Life Diet".  

The first phase of this diet cuts out a few bad foods and establishes some healthy eating habits.  It is supposed to last four weeks, and here I am four weeks later to report back.

Overall, a success!  Before I started my diet, my blood sugar would often drop down low enough to make me light headed (or at least cranky) at least once a week.  Since I've been eating better foods at more regular times I've found I'm less hungry than I used to be.  I've managed to lose some weight these past weeks, which is very encouraging.  And I've been sleeping better (due in some part I'm sure to cutting out soda).

However, I did cheat a little bit.  This is absolutely my biggest weakness when it comes to staying on a healthy eating plan.  I am a tad too lenient on myself when it comes to eating rules and I sometimes liberally interpret "none" as "just a little bit".  Unlike in the past, I managed to get back on the wagon immediately.  I didn't let it ruin my whole day, or week, or whatever I used to tell myself to excuse bad eating.  As silly as it sounds, I consider this personal growth.  It is absolutely going to be my focus in the weeks ahead to cut out my rebellious cheating completely.  (Not in a self denial, drill-sergeant-kind-of-way, but in a firm-but-loving-parent kind of way.)

This diet has been such a success that I am actually going to remain in Phase One until I stop losing weight consistently.  I'm going to ride out how much weight I can lose doing these small changes before I bump it up to the next level of healthy eating.  I'll keep you updated when I move onto Phase Two.

What is your biggest weakness when it comes to eating healthfully?

~Claire Out.