WWLD? and Bathing Suit Shopping(yuck!)

My sister, Beth, is having a challenging month in the Virgin Islands.  I won't go into details but suffice to say working out has not been easy.  We hadn't touched base for a few days so I decided to call and check up on her...not knowing that my sister, Dolly, called her in the same day.  The next day I received a voice mail from Beth that, basically, said "Your good cop/bad cop routine worked and I am back to exercising."  This is what happened...Beth had similar phone calls with each of us.  Dolly (the obviously nicer sister) was very understanding about the difficulties in finding a way to exercise.  My conversation went more like this "well, have you tried..." "or what about this..." "Can you go here...?" "Can you do this...".  So Beth has decided when she runs into obstacles finding a way to exercise she thinks...What would Laura do? (WWLD) and finds a way.  I am so happy to report that she ran, in place - it was the only way!, for 20 minutes straight.  Major accomplishment!  and done even with numerous obstacles!  I find it amusing that I am an inspiration for anyone concerning exercise.  I am still trying to figure this all out for myself.  Right now I am just doing something,...every day.  On non-exercise days...I still walk about 3 miles.  So that leads me to yesterday and the dreaded bathing suit shopping.  UGH!

6 months of eating healthy and exercising every day is great for your self-esteem.  10 minutes in the dressing room trying on bathing suits and it's all shot to hell.  Do you know that they have mirrors that reflect every angle?  Do you know that the lights are really bright?  Do you know that you are not as fit as you think you are? (at least I am not)  It was horrid!  And the suits!  They are either made for someone that has never birthed and breastfed kids or someone that has fake boobs.(or both)  No support, at all.  It was humorous to have the kids bring over suits in my size...that were 2 tiny pieces of triangular material...hahaha yeah, right.  So, I was successful...at Macy's...finally.  and on sale!  The name of my suit?  "My Cup Runneth Over" I really wish that I was kidding.  But I am not.  The important thing is that it fit...and nothing hangs out that shouldn't.  and I was able to take the kids swimming yesterday...and have fun and exercise!

Hope that you are doing the same!

Love,

Laura

oh, and if you are waiting for a picture of me...in my suit.  Don't hold your breath!

Staying Healthy While Working Full-time

I started a full-time job on June 1st.  Not only am I working from 8am until 5pm but I am commuting "over-the-hill" to Santa Cruz.  I leave the house at 7am and get home at 6pm.  Monday through Friday.

This is a big change for me and I really had to be creative to keep my work-out routine going.

Exercise

I was right in the middle of a bootcamp session,  Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 5:30am until 6:30am, and I didn't want to stop going.  I wake up at 4am and do things around the house, pick an outfit, make my lunch and made sure that everything is ready to go.  Leave bootcamp 10 minutes early...arrive home at 6:30am and am on 85 showered, dressed and with 7-11 coffee in hand by 6:55am.  That is fast!  .  Is it a little crazy between 6:30 and 7am?  yes, but so worth it!  I love my bootcamp class and don't ever want to give it up.

On Tuesday and Thursday I try to go to the gym at 5am, workout until 6am and start over.  I have to admit that I took a couple of those mornings off.  I have been pretty exhausted.

The good news is that I found a great walking path at work.  I am able to get in a 2 mile walk (with hills!) at lunch...every day.

Bootcamp is officially over until August 1st  (our coach has summer commitments)  BUT a group of us have committed to meeting at a local park every Monday, Wednesday and Friday (same time!) Our wonderful coach (thank you, Lisa!) is giving us exercise plans.  I am very, very happy to keep up this M, W, F morning routine.  I do start to fade at about 3pm and have to take a little walk outside and drink a lot of water.  I am trying to stay with my one cup of caffeine a day.  Which leads me to...

Nutrition

I am using the fact that I work in an office that does not have any easily accessible food to bring only healthy options every day.  I have found (by trial and error - coming home really hungry) that it is best if I eat 3 snacks while at work and include a protein.  So around 10am I have something like carrots and hummus, 12:30 or 1pm I will have something like salad or veggie soup and then about 3; apple and nuts.  I get home from work at about 6pm and Patrick and the girls usually have dinner ready (awesome of them!)

Going forward

I am starting to train for a 10K - that means I have to fit running into my schedule.  My plan is to run at 5:30am on Tuesdays and Thursdays and for a longer period one of the weekend days.  I am looking forward to running in my new shoes!!  yay!

About my shoes!

For the first time, I went to a real running store and was fitted for real running shoes! I have walked (and run) miles and miles in my old shoes and it was past time.  Running Revolution in Campbell was recommended to me months ago but I had been procrastinating.  Part of the reason was money (of course) but the main reason is that I was intimidated to go into a "runner's store".  A store where everyone is super-fit and would wonder why I was there.  I finally could not stand my old shoes another day and went to the store.  It was wonderful.  I was greeted as soon as I entered and received excellent service.  I stood on some kind of device that measured my arch height, shoe size and how I stood.  Then I was fitted with shoes with no support and was video taped running on a treadmill.  I set my own pace (12:20) and the sales person said "That is my pace, too.  We could run together!"  umm..yeah probably her pace when she does Iron Man...but it was nice of her to say. :)  I found out that I am neutral..I don't tilt! :)  I was fitted with several different shoes and each time would take a little jog outside.  Yes, they have you actually run outside in the shoes.  When I tried on MY shoes...I knew.  Immediately.  They are perfect.  They put a bounce in my step and I am going to hate taking them off.  I may petition a dress-code change at work.  Business casual and super-cool running shoes OK! 

So the point of this loquacious post?

You can work full-time (or fill-in with whatever excuse you have) and still exercise and eat right.  Remember, if I can do...you can do it!

and get thee to a running shoe store...if you are local...go here

http://www.runningrevolution.com/

Thanks for reading!

Love, Laura

My First 5K!

I did it! I just ran my first 5K!  Well ran may be a little strong.  More like jog.  But I didn't walk!  My goal was to just finish...and not be last.  But then I started running...and just kept running some more.  I was telling myself...I don't want to tell people that I ran part of a 5K...so I need to stop running at a marker.  I came to the 1/2 mile mark...and that was too soon.  So I decided to run to the turn-around..1/2 way.  Then I could say I ran 1/2 of a 5K.  but then I ran around the cones and kept going.  One more song on the iPod.  To that next street.  I even looked at the cross streets and thought "If I stop here...I can drive back with the car later and mile mark it"  but by the time I thought that...I was still running.  Then I made a friend.  We decided that we could Both make it!  Sometimes she ran in front of me...and sometimes I ran in front of her.  and we both made it!

I almost cried when I crossed the finish line.  6 months ago I was happy on days when I walked 2 miles, and that would wear me out.  Today I ran.  I ran a 5K!

If I can do it...so can you!!!

Love, Laura

this is the race...
See Jane Run