Running Thoughts

It's so easy to get discouraged. Still plugging along, but not seeing progress. I can't remember how long it took to see change the first time around. I guess it wouldn't hurt to scroll through old posts to see.... More after some scrolling. :)

Midway through my third week, and discovering my exercise schedule won't work longterm... is discouraging. Re-grouping, re-evaluating, re-committing in spite of disappointment. Discovering new ways to be flexible in life reminded me to rekindle my yoga practice. Exercising at home, alone, is not super motivating to me, but alone is a good way to practice yoga, so I begin there. This Autistic Life requires flexibility. Love and Peace.

Knowing that the initial weight loss starts out with loss of water weight, I set a goal for the first week, to lose 5 pounds. I lost 6.6 pounds. Yay! Weight isn't everything, but this week, I have gained a pound, which is discouraging for sure. So- I measured instead, and I've lost an inch in my waist. Plus, I wore my belt a notch smaller this week. There is more than one way to measure success! A goal for this second week has been to eat more of the good, healthy fats. I think that my downfall is a repeated one from the past. I don't eat enough to support my activity. My adrenals kick in and I lose ground. I haven't accomplished my dietary goal, so I will re-focus!

I've divided week one into sections to make it easier for me to wrap my mind around it. So, Today is day 2 of 3. Almost done with my first section! See, how easy that was?? I am choosing to answer some questions on the blog as I make this transition back to the me of 2012 . Today's question/answer: Q: What would I do if I had more energy, vitality, and happiness in my life? A: I would get up earlier and create some time for ME.. to think, to pray, to BE. I love my life and my mom-job, but I get caught up in wonderful responsibilities and forget who I am.. who I want to be. I am a creative GENIUS (aren't we all?) and I want to develop some of my creative ideas into tangible creations. I want to paint more. I want to play my guitar more. I want to work with other autism families more. I want to inspire more and to be inspired more. I want to learn. I want to brainstorm and problem solve. I want to write a book. I want to offer fitness solutions to other moms who...

Over 10 years ago, I began this blog as I began regaining my health and fitness. I was in my 40's then. Through hard work, I reached and even surpassed my goals and held steady for those 10 years. Then, menopause (sorry, guys) hit. If you are a woman or are in a relationship with one, you get me. Hormones are my nemesis. Like many others, I have Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. (HUH?) It's an autoimmune disease that renders my thyroid gland all but useless. I will say it again. Hormones are my nemesis. The combination of these and other stress-related factors, brings me back to a re-beginning. Now, in my 50's, I will use this blog, once again, to log progress and to vent as I once again re-capture fitness and health! I will say goodbye to the 50 pounds I've regained and hello to strength and dexterity. So, hello again, Blogosphere! 

Foto Friday…  Lola Mae McGregor...My wonderful Gran-Gran celebrated her 100th birthday on October 21st.  You can see her in the first picture on the left as my beautiful mother holds the cake for the camera.  Longevity.  Wow.  I'd say, "Yay, for me and my genetics!"  But I know better.  I know that she lived in a time when food was actual food.  Then, my mother's generation got bombarded with packages of "food" that catered to fast-paced living and easy solutions.  Packages full of chemicals, additives, fat, and sugar.  I'm excited that I've discovered the "non-food" quality of the packages on the grocery store shelves.  I'm excited that I can feed my family REAL food.  I'm excited to look forward to longevity in spite of the lack of nutrition we confront in our nation of convenience.  So, "Yay, for me and my genetics and for real, nutritious food!"  I'm excited to be Lola Mae McGregor's name-sake, Lola Josha. ...

I've been thinking.  I haven't been able to do much else.  Thinking that I really love how far I've come along the fitness road.  I like how long the road is, how windy, all the bumps along the way, I like the journey.  I like that I'm on it.  Yeah.

Actually, I'm not sure Ruthie and I agreed on Whiny for Wednesday in our new idea of getting back to blogging by assigning fun topics to each day of the week,.. but it was definitely in the running, and I have some whining to release, so… Welcome to Whiny Wednesday. Tabloid Tuesday was a precursor.  It was a fun way of announcing that I have something to whine about now that it's Whine-time Wednesday.  It turns out that it's mostly my booty-us maximus that is injured and causing whine-worthy pain.  In short, ouch!..my butt hurts! No Zumba or running until I can at least walk like a normal person.  Oh, wait… maybe I never walked like a normal person…..

Zumba Instructor Falls During Stretch Noteworthy of attention at the Zeller Wellness Center today, Josha Smith nearly fell to the floor during a "runner's stretch."   "It was really funny," offered an innocent by-stretcher.   Smith is reported to be recovering from a pulled hamstring and is complaining of some hip pain after the incident.  Ice added to the 20 degree evening will be her treatment.  She is unavailable for comment at this time.

HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY RUN TO ME! I've been so busy with Zumba (love) and it's been sooooo cold on top of that, I am just today getting my birthday gift to myself which was a much needed peaceful run in the brisk air.  I took my dog, Banjo, with me.  He is always such good company.  :) I was reminded why i love running so so much. the cool air in my nose, into my lungs, out through my mouth in rhythm the sound of my footsteps crunching a rhythm in the snow the swish of fabric..in rhythm the sound and feel of speeding up..rhythm the rhythm of nature around me..wind, river, trees... the rhythm I feel in being alive Plus, this was my first official training run for the Nike + 10k I've signed up for in March.  

Quick reminder that goals are attainable... 2005: 2012: I started my 40's in a state of ill health and panic.  I have hoshi-motto's thyroiditis.  Pregnancy and childbirth really messed with my hormones.  In the picture above in 2005, I weighed about 170.  In 2006, I blossomed to 185.  I began blogging about my lack of fitness as I determined to regain my health and enjoy my 40's more than I had my 30's.  Over time, I began blogging not about my lack of fitness, but about my fitness.  These days, I feel a vitality that I lacked in my 30's.  As I notice on the calendar that I am only 6 days away from my 47th birthday, I am thrilled to realize that 47 feels healthier and happier than 37 did.  Just today, I got wind that someone called me "the most fit person" that she knows.  Really?  Me?  The chubby gal from 2005?  Fit in 2012!  Yeah, that's me.

Well, I'm just always exhausted from Zumba and Zumba practice....  Running is still in my heart, but hasn't happened like I planned out on my calendar!  No worries, if I don't manage 12k, I will manage something...maybe 5 golden miles.....

"on the first day of christmas, my true love gave to me......" Well, I don't plan on anything having to do with a partridge or a pear tree, but I am planning on a Christmas goal of running 12k.  It's not an organized race, it's just my own little Christmas jaunt...My "12K of Christmas." From now until Christmas, my weeks will be filled with Zumba and my weekends will be filled with training for my little 12K.  Details later.....

I don't know how I manage to let so much time pass between posts...but let's get back to this idea of running and life:  my running-life. I had a glorious summer of zumba and running.  Seriously, glorious is the word.  I have enjoyed attending a zumba class on Mondays and Wednesdays as well as kicking my own butt as I instruct a Tuesday/Thursday zumba class.  I thought I'd never again weigh in the 120's, but I was wrong.  I just needed to add a little punch to my fitness life.  Zumba is fun and awesome, says my 126 lb self. But running, oh, running....the accomplishment, the solitude, the rhythm, the predictability, the unpredictability, the landscape, the meditation, the stretching of limits, the moments of knowing oneself and knowing God, ....I could continue with this list, but I'll stop here for now...... Oh, running. Zumba takes all my energy until Friday.  Friday is my day to RUN!  And sometimes Sat. and/or Sun., but a body needs a lit...

A few setbacks in half marathon training have me hitting fast forward in this post.  I'm just gonna skip ahead and say that I'm still training and trying to learn enough zumba routines to create a class and/or sub. I was sick and weather rained me out --so I've missed some runs so I'm hitting re-set and keepin' on keepin' on!  This week, I plan a reasonable 5 miles along with some shorter runs and lots of zumba. On the topic of zumba, I've been teaching a merengue in another teacher's class and am adding a cumbia this week.  She's great to offer to let me practice in her class and maybe it helps her too!

Look at me!

Half marathon training is rockin' along.  This week is sort of a rest week, so my long run was to be 5 miles.  (Next week will be 8...I can't believe I'm already to 8!)  I got rained out at 2.6 miles, so I'll have to find time to try again.  The weather isn't looking very cooperative though.  Before this week, the weather has been perfect!  So, all I've wanted to do is run...I've done some zumba too, but no insanity workouts in a couple of weeks, just run, run, zumba, run!  Certification in a week n a half!

I can't believe I forgot to mention that I signed up for Zumba Certification Training!  It's April 20th.  I will be practicing hard between now and then.  I bought some Ryka shoes that I think I'm gonna like for Zumba too.  They are very light weight and have little traction on the soles for slides and turns.  Also, Sara and I are training for a Half Marathon!  We are doing "Insanity" as cross training now that our bodies are more accustomed to the routine of it and we don't get so sore.  Our training includes, interval runs, tempo runs, chill runs, long runs, and cross training (Insanity, Zumba, Yoga).  I leave you with a fun Zumba Workout:

Reasonably Raw: I'm concentrating on eating mostly raw fruits and veggies.  And I'm so excited about my new toy.... I've been impressed that it will take raw vegetables (carrots) and make them into soup! Seriously, the above soup contains raw carrots, cabbage, and other yummy veggies.  I've also discovered a new Love:  These power meals are delish. Tropical smoothie made in my vitamix ...  Last week, we had summer weather in March!  Ah!   And a pic of Sara, Brooks, BabyDoll, and Me on today, the first day of Spring, hitting the road for some 1 minute speed intervals.  We did a bunch...I forgot to count.

Have ya missed me? I'm still be-boppin' along.