Running Gear (and too much food)

Justin's Post
I'm happy to say that so far I am still sticking with my exercise routine.  Yesterday I did sit-ups and pushups and today I went for a 5 mile run.  As I've mentioned before, I really enjoy running because of the peace, quiet, and especially because of the time it gives me to just think, reflect, enjoy music, etc.  As I was running today I was thinking about when I started running and what I wish I had known.  So here is a little guide on how to get started running and the basic gear I'd recommend.


The first thing to realize is that you're not going to be able to run long distances right away.  Start small by jogging around the block (or walking) and build up from there.


Plan for your run.  Don't eat a big meal ahead of time and give yourself time for stretching.  Plan your route by going to google maps (or a similar site).  Try to avoid busy streets and try to run through neighborhoods or parks to make the run peaceful and scenic if possible.


Your running gear is important.  For a long time when I started running I suffered from blisters and random aches and pains unnecessarily.  This is a basic list of gear that I'd recommend for starting out.  There is a lot more stuff you should look into if you wanted to start running longer distances (8+ miles), but this is a good list for starting out.

• Running socks.  I cannot stress how important good socks are because bad socks will chafe and give you blisters.  I recommend Nike Dri-fit socks, but whatever brand you buy make sure they're primarily made of a synthetic fiber like nylon or polyester.  Cotton is bad.
• Running shoes.  Your shoes are as important as socks, but expect to pay at least $100 for a good pair.  (If you're like me, that represents a significant investment.  So if you can't afford good shoes at least make sure you have good socks.)  When you buy your shoes make sure you go to a store that specializes in running shoes.  They'll have staff members specially trained to look at your feet, see how you walk/run and find the right shoes for your.  For years I just bought shoes at a regular shoe store, but when I finally went to a specialty running store I was paired with the most comfortable running shoes I could have imagined.  I use Mizuno brand shoes, but there are tons of brands that make good running shoes like New Balance, Brooks, Nike, Asics, etc.
• Underpants.  As with the socks you want to avoid cotton and go with a synthetic fiber to minimize chafing.  Right now I'm using Champion C9 underpants.  At 57% they have more cotton that I'd like, but they've worked okay so far.
• (Sports bra) I have absolutely no experience here, but I've heard its super important for women to have the right sports bra.
• iPod.  Obviously this is optional, but having some quality time alone with my music is one of my favorite things about running.  It definitely ups the enjoyment.
• Shorts with pockets.  I have to have pockets in my running shorts as a place for my iPod.  There are iPod carriers that strap to your arm, but I definitely prefer pockets.  I didn't find the strap-on carrier to be very convenient because I couldn't operate the iPod through the cover and would have to take it out to do anything.  I also like having pockets to carry other gear I might need like gloves or a hat when its cold (I often start with then and take them off when I warm up) or snacks for really long runs. 

What I was proud of today

Not eating the free donuts that someone brought into work today

What I wasn't proud of today

Taking a second helping of dinner tonight despite not being hungry.  How dumb is that?

Track of the day

The Devil - Benton Paul

***

I've decided that I'm not allowed to make the peanut butter filled chocolate cupcakes anymore.  I made them Saturday to take to church and hand out to my choir members (I'm the choir director) to thank them for their hard work leading up to our Easter Sunday performance.  And then I promptly forgot to take them to church.  Which meant I had 24 (very cutely wrapped up with clear cellophane and baker's twine) cupcakes on my counter when I returned from church.  I passed a few off at Easter dinner, thank goodness, but too many remained in my kitchen.  Over the past few days I've finished off a few, making poor decisions like "well, this will be my breakfast" or "well, this will be my lunch."  I will be glad when they are finally gone.
This leads my directly into my discussion of food.  This week my goals were to exercise daily and stop eating by 7 PM - since I am a notorious snacker (especially while crafting, blogging or watching TV, which is pretty much what I do after the kids go to bed).  I'll touch on the exercise thing later, but as for food... well, the problem is, I like it.  Food was never really an issue for me when I was younger.  I ate what my parents fed me, no more.  When I got into college, I rarely had time to eat.  Grab and apple on the go, right?  Since I got married, I had money, time and someone else to cook for so food became a little more important.  After moving closer to my family I decided I needed to learn how to cook, officially.  And therein lies the real problem.  On my other blog, you can read all about my forays into food, but to sum up, I decided I really, really love food.  I love cooking.  I love baking.  I love complicated dishes.  I love easy dishes.  The more delicious the better.  It doesn't matter what the ingredients are or how bad it is for you.  If it is yummy, I want to make it.  I want to wow people.  There's nothing better than Justin's praise after a successful new recipe attempt.
And so, I made things like this.  And this.  And this.  And we packed on the pounds.  And now I have to somehow make myself like whole grains.  Butter substitute.  Not frying things.  Less cheese.  How do I make myself like less cheese?  I'm from Wisconsin!
I am happy to report that I have not been snacking unnecessarily this week, so far.  I have not eaten after 7, I have stuck to normal meal times, and I have been drinking more water.  Also, for our "Yummy Monday" this week we had a pretty healthy dinner - New England boiled dinner, to be exact.  Cabbage, carrots, potatoes, and venison ring bologna all boiled and seasoned.  I resisted the urge to get out the sour cream for the potatoes - yea! - and for dessert we all stuck to just ONE cupcake.  That's willpower.  
Anyway, all of this is great.  However, I know I have such a long, long way to go.  And first off, we have GOT to get rid of all these Easter treats all over.  One slip of the hand and you've got a fun-sized twix in your mouth and there goes the no snacking thing...
Anyway, I've been less than stellar about exercising everyday, but I did break out the jump rope today.  It was pretty fun, brought back memories of my youth and I was pleased to find that I hadn't lost the touch - unlike Justin who apparently never learned to jump rope... 
The major problem is that it is suddenly frigid and windy and I have noooo desire to do anything but hibernate, let alone go out for a bike ride.  I'm going to have to bite the bullet and force myself though, or next week's weigh-in will be pitiful, too.

Long Run and Movie Night

Justin's Post
Since I missed posting yesterday I'll give an update for both days.  So far I've succeeded in following my exercise schedule.  Yesterday I did sit-ups and pushups and today I went for a long run.


Last night I was really tempted (as always) to skip my 30 minutes of exercise.  It was a busy day for us and around 11:00 at night I found myself watching a movie with Kim.  It occurred to me that I needed to exercise and I realized that sit-ups and pushups were something that I could easily do while watching the movie.  I just needed to force myself to expend the energy.  But I did it and although I still suck at sit-ups, I realized once again how possible it is to squeeze 30 minutes of exercise into a day.


Today I went for a long run like I had been planning on.  Part of the reason I did it is to get ready for the half marathon I'm planning on doing.  The race is on April 22, so I really only have one more weekend to run a good distance to prepare.  There is a nice trail close to our house that runs through woods and fields and is my favorite place to go running.  The weather was perfect--the sun was out and there was a light breeze.  I ended up running 8 miles fairly comfortably, and I felt pretty good afterwards.  I ended up mowing my lawn today too and that ended up really wearing me out.  I should probably avoid running and mowing the same day.  My plan is to continue my exercise routine and hopefully run 10+ miles next Saturday and I think I'll be in good shape for the half marathon (13.1 miles).


What I was proud of
Yesterday we had a pizza dinner with my brother-in-law and his family and I only ate two slices of pizza.  Thats pretty good for me since I could easily eat half a pizza if I wanted to.


What I wasn't proud of
I ate too much today.  Kim is gearing up for Easter dinner and made a bunch of goodies today that I indulged in a little too much.  I really need to be careful tomorrow because big dinners like we'll be having tomorrow are where I am at my worst and eat more than any reasonably person should eat.  Wish me luck!


Track movie of the day
Stranger than Fiction
I decided to share the movie we watched last night since I didn't really have a song stand out to me today.  And besides Stranger than Fiction is a great movie that I highly recommend.  A truly unique movie that is both hilarious and poignant.




Somehow I have to force myself to like exercise.  I have zero to report about yesterday.  We took the kids to the park but I wasn't running around like they were.  I spent most of my free time without kids sewing since I was trying to make myself a skirt for Easter.
Today I went for a bike ride!  I was in the middle of making potato salad for Easter dinner and realized that as I waited for the potatoes to cook and the eggs to sit in their cold bath maybe I could try to do something more active for once in my adult life.  Justin had just gotten back from his long run and I was feeling like a lump.  Nothing like a super active husband to guilt you into motivation.  So I tried to pump my bike tires with our little hand pump which - I discovered had a hole in the hose.  So I jumped on my bike anyway and headed to my parents to use their air compressor.  I thought I was going to die.  No, I'm serious.  I really thought there was something wrong with me.  It was all I could do to push the peddles down and I can't believe I was actually going "fast enough" to keep the bike upright.  I thought I'd have to ask my mom for a ride home... after pumping my tires full of air, my mom told me that it's REALLY hard to ride on flat tires.  And she was right.  When I got back on, it was like soaring through the clouds... I was pretty happy to note that it wasn't ME who sucked, just my tires.  However, the way home was into the wind and I found myself thinking I might die once again.  I found out it was only about 3.5 miles that I'd ridden, which was kind of disappointing.  I suppose I'll have to build up, but slow progress is a major downer to me.
The good thing was that I actually enjoyed the time to myself.  It was great to leave the kids with my husband and just have some time with music and my thoughts.  I've decided that if that's how I'll get some time without the kids, then so be it.  I may start to enjoy this exercise thing after all.  


Confession: Does anyone else feel like their head is going to explode when they are active?  I got the worst headache when I was riding my bike... how am I supposed to counteract that?

Exercise Routine

Justin's post

I haven't even been doing this a whole week, but I'm really starting to see my exercise philosophy/routine coming into focus.  I think the most important thing is to exercise at least 30 minutes every day.  So far I've been able to do that and its actually very reasonable time-wise.  This week has been challenging with Kim out of town, but I still managed to find 30 minutes every day without running myself into the ground.  The good news is that Kim got back today, so I should be able to get outside and run more often (I did 30 minutes on the elliptical today).

So this is how I see my exercise routine.  On a weekly basis:

• Exercise at least 30 minutes every day
• 5 mile run at least 2 days per week
• One longer distance training run once per week (Saturday)
• Elliptical 2 days per week
• Push-ups, crunches, etc. 2 days per week

So I'll probably do push-ups and crunches tomorrow and then go on a longer run Saturday--I'm thinking 8 miles.  I think this is a plan I can follow.  Wish me luck!

What I was proud of today

I'm still working on eating reasonable portions and controlling my snacking, but I feel like I did well again today.  It will take a little more time to hammer out an eating philosophy.

What I wasn't proud of today

This might be a bit of a stretch, but I definitely stayed up too late last night and was really tired all day.

Track of the day

New Divide - Linkin Park




El and I walked all over her neighborhood this morning.  And the awesome thing is I didn't hate it.  I think I need to find a walking buddy.  And I don't mean my four and two-yr-olds.  I think I'd want to walk if I had someone to talk to while I did it.  I didn't go overboard on eating today, though we did eat breakfast out - I left El's in the late afternoon and we didn't have lunch before I went.  Going away from your routine and, well, your home, makes starting a new regime really difficult.  I hope I have some established patterns and habits before going away again or I'll blow any progress I've made up to that point.


Confession: Baked goods are my weakness.  I mean, other things are my weakness too, but baked goods are REALLY my weakness.  Donuts especially.  Muffins too.  Mmmmm.... cake.... I've got to break this love affair with baking.

"Basic Exercises"

Justin's Post
Today was very similar to yesterday with Kim still being out of town and most of my time spent either at work or watching the kids.  I was really (really, really, really, really, really, really... as my 4-year-old would say) tempted to skip exercising today.  At 10:00 p.m. I realized it was do-or-die time and I decided to go easy on myself with some "basic exercises."  By basic I mean push-ups, crunches, jump rope, etc that were staples of gym class.  Let's just say it was educational.


First of all I learned that I SUCK at jump rope.  Its supposed to be a really good exercise, but you definitely need to meet a minimum skill threshold to really benefit from it.  I was lucky to get more than 30 seconds of sustained activity tonight.  Most of it was due to clumsiness, but I encountered another problem.  I like to listen to my iPod when I exercise and I usually just put it in my pocket, but it kept falling out as I was jumping, which added to the frustration caused by my suckiness.  I ended up only spending about 10 minutes attempting to jump rope.


I also learned that I am really out of practice when it comes to crunches and push-ups.  Especially crunches.  Embarrassingly out of practice.  I tried a number of crunches/ab exercises and couldn't do much of anything.  I suppose you'd only have to take a look at my "before" pictures to understand the neglect of my abs.  I really don't think I need to go into more detail than that.  I'm definitely going to spend more time on my abs than I have in the past.  In comparison the push-ups were a stunning success.  I did two rounds of crunches and pushups for a total of about 15 minutes.


What I was proud of today
I did a really good job of eating small portions and avoiding snacking.  If I can get this down I think it will go a long way towards the 50 pounds I want to lose.


What I wasn't proud of today
The lame exercise attempt.  At least I did something, though.


Track of the day
The Shock of the Lightning - Oasis




Still visiting with El.  The good thing is that El walks almost everywhere since she lives in Chicago and doesn't own a car.  The bad thing is that we've eaten out twice since I've been here.  The absolute best dinner of my life (and I'm not exaggerating here) was to night at the Grand Luxe.  Oh, my holy heck.  Taste of heaven.  Could probably have gone easy on the beignets for dessert... but what would be the fun in that??  I want to recreate the dinner I had for my family for a delicious "Yummy Monday..." more proof that my eating habits are way out of control.  We did walk all over IKEA yesterday and all over the neighborhood where El works today, but I'm pretty sure I need to up the ante.  And by pretty sure I mean "definitely do."


Confession:  Exercise is probably the LAST thing on my priority list right now.  Like right below "root canal."  I need to find something I love as much as Justin loves running.

Running

Justin's Post
Today was the first day of the challenge, and I am realizing that I have a lot of work to do to change my bad eating habits.  But I don't feel like delving into those quite yet, and focus on something a little more positive today: running.  Running is my favorite exercise because its peaceful, I'm alone with my thoughts (or music), and I can easily see progress as the scenery changes.


I ran 5 miles today and I feel pretty good, a little tired, but good overall.  I have a nice route mostly through quiet neighborhoods and parks which I really enjoy.  I definitely recommend finding a nice route from your house or a short drive from your house where you can put yourself on autopilot and recharge your mental batteries and exercise at the same time.


A short term goal of mine is to run a 1/2 marathon in about 3 weeks.  I know thats a pretty short time to prepare, but I think I can do it because I do run somewhat frequently.  And there is no pressure since the local 1/2 marathon accepts registrations up to the night before the race.  If I'm not ready I don't lose any money.  But I'll be ready.


What I was proud of today
A good run, sensibly sized breakfast and lunch.


What I wasn't proud of today
Dinner.  Our kid's pre-school was having a fundraiser and Buffalo Wild Wings tonight, which is not a diet friendly restaurant.


Track for the day
After Midnight - Blink-182




I have a feeling this week is probably the worst possible time for me to start a challenge like this.  I left tonight to visit my bff in Chicago.  Seeing that Chicago has lots of awesome food I assume I'll fall off the bandwagon a bit, but maybe I should be more optimistic than that.  Aside from a "walk" with the kids (which wasn't really around the block, more like down the street and back because I wanted to strangle them) there wasn't any added activity either.  
I need some short term goals.  I mean, other than "drop a pound this week."


Confession:  I despise running.  Sure there are actual reasons for that - like my horrible knees in which I experience subluxation of an excruciating kind at any given moment, and the awful tightening of my chest which hurts with every breath I try to wheeze out - but truthfully, I'm kind of sad about it since I used to be a runner - and by used to be a mean like a lifetime ago - like before high school.  Before I jacked up my knee.