Friday, March 28, 2014

Finally Friday!!

TGIF!!

It's finally Friday! I haven't been this excited about Friday since last Friday!!  Yesterday was terribly busy at work. I wasn't sure if there was light at the end of the tunnel but I somehow managed to get it all done and get out of there pretty close to on time. I got some retail therapy afterwards which always makes for a good day!!

I'm really excited about this weekend. I briefly mentioned that I had a college reunion. Way back when, when I was in college, I was in a singing/dancing show troupe (think Glee). We travelled all over the state of Oklahoma to high schools to perform and recruit students for the college. It was so much fun and truly one of the best experiences I've ever had. This year is the 50th anniversary of this group, so we're having a reunion. I'm friends with several of the members on Facebook but I haven't seen them for at least 10 years. I'm expecting this to be a lot of fun! I'll have to see if I can dig up some old pictures so you can see my 80's hair!!  LOL

Sunday, the weather is supposed to be beautiful, but windy. I'm thinking that it's going to be a good day to get out and get in a few miles!!  I'm super excited about that!!  My fingers are crossed that everything cooperates!!

Other than that, I've got the usual grocery shopping and meal prep to do. So that's what I'm planning for the weekend.

And that's really all that I've got for now!! Have a fabulous Friday and weekend!!

Until next time--get up, get out, get moving and be awesome today!!

Your friend,

Theresa

What are your weekend plans??

Thursday, March 27, 2014

2 Things Thursday

Good morning folks!!

Another day, another doll-hair here.

Yesterday was selection day for those who entered the NYC marathon lottery. They offered a $5 entry fee special last fall on Cyber Monday. In a moment of temporary insanity, I decided to take advantage of that offer and threw my name in the pot for the drawing. I had almost forgotten about that until Tuesday night when I saw a tweet about it. I felt a little bit sick. I really didn't think that I would be selected, but what if.....  Stranger things have happened. I watched my email box anxiously all day yesterday. I even called my bank to see if there were any pending charges on my account. Well, as I was arriving home last night, I got the email


I'm really not disappointed at all. Actually, I'm relieved! I may tackle a marathon some day, I don't really think I'm ready to right now.


And some exciting news! Last week, I found this email in my inbox:

 
That's right, I'm a I'm Fit Possible Ambassador! I'm really excited to work with this group to empower people/women to be the best that they can be. So, be sure to check out the website!

Ok, that's all for now. Until next time--get up, get out, get moving and be awesome today!!

Your friend,

Theresa

Have you ever entered a marathon lottery?

Were you selected??

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Workout Wednesday # 10

Good morning folks!!

I hope that you're having a wonderful week so far!!  We're halfway through this work week and that makes me immensely happy!! :-) We all know that I'm just working for the weekend!!

Quick injury/running update--I posted that I was going to try to run a couple of miles Monday after work. But, I didn't :-( Sorry guys!!  I'm just a little nervous. Plus, the fact that my calves were mysteriously tight and tender over the weekend just exacerbated my apprehension. Knowing that I had an appointment with my chiropractor yesterday, I wanted his opinion before I got out there and hit the pavement. We talked about my tight calves. He said that he thinks my muscles, especially on the right tighten up in my sleep. I don't know why but I think I am going to try to roll my calves and wear compression sleeves/socks to bed for a while to see if that helps. He did ART on the calves and along the shin. He found a tight, painful spot in the front, so I got dry needled :/ The Achilles and peroneal tendons feel so much better so he gave me the go ahead and the reassurance that I needed to get out and get in a few miles!!  The weather is supposed to be fabulous tomorrow and again this weekend, so I'm looking forward to lacing up my shoes!! 

Meanwhile, hubs and I are still doing strength training consistently. I gave him a chest, back, and shoulders workout to do last night while I did the Jillian Michaels One Week Shred. I'm enjoying this workout and I think it would be a great addition to my routine. I think that I will alternate that workouts. That way I would do the strength M W F and the cardio on T and Th. I want to continue the Jamie Eason 30 day program too. I'm really starting to enjoy the strength training.

While we're on the subject of strength training, here's what I have for you today for Workout Wednesday:

Weight Lifting for runners

Best Weightlifting program for runners

I was really excited to find this article and even more excited to learn that strength training could improve my running!! I know that it's important to strengthen non running muscles to help prevent injury. And I know that balance is important in regards to proper form. But I never really correlated balance and weight training but after reading this article, it makes perfect sense. It makes me want to load my bar heavier!! Now, with that being said, just like with running, it's important not to do too much too soon. So, here's some good information regarding weight progression:

  1. Meet the prescribed set and rep goal for the exercise.
  2. Increase the weight being lifted for that exercise by the smallest increment possible.
  3. Meet the set/rep goal again with this new, slightly heavier weight.
  4. Increase the weight being lifted again by the smallest increment possible.
  5. Repeat this process over and over again as often as you are capable of making it happen.
More information about weight progression and weightlifting in general can be found here: http://www.aworkoutroutine.com/weight-training-progression/


Ok, that's all for now.

Until next time--get up, get out and get moving!!

Your friend,

Theresa

Do you strength train??

Monday, March 24, 2014

Monday Run-day

Happy Monday, lovlies!

I hope that you all had a fantastic weekend!

Mine was good but rather uneventful. It consisted of household chores, grocery shopping, and weekly and meal prep. I did go see the new movie, Divergent. And that was by far the best movie I've seen in a long time.

It's been 3 weeks since my last run and I'm starting to have withdrawals. My last run was the Little Rock Half Marathon. It was such a horrible experience that I was really not sure I would ever run again. My Achilles and peroneal tendons were so angry. This past week, I've really had minimal pain so I think the I might give it a go tonight! I think that I'll try to do a couple of slow, miles after work tonight. I'm planning to take it easy and will walk if I have to. There are only 2 weeks left in the Pathways session and I know the program coordinator is expecting me to return tonight. I'm nervous about that. I think I need to try to run on my own instead of trying to lead a group in case I have to stop. My calves have been really tight and sore the past couple of days. And I'm fairly certain that was a contributing factor to my injury in the first place. Hopefully, all will go well and a cam start building my mileage back up gradually.

That's all that I've got going on right now.

Until next time-get up, get out, and get moving!

Your friend,

Theresa

Friday, March 21, 2014

Friday Followup

TGIF friends!!

Yay!!  We finally made it!!

Yesterday was VERY busy at work. It seemed like things were going well then, out of the blue, things suddenly went south and everything blew up! I went from "ok, this is going great, I might get out of here on time" to "I'm sorry honey, I'm still working and don't know when I'll be finished" Even my co-workers were surprised. They kept saying "what are you doing here, isn't it time for you to go home"

When I finally got out of there, I blazed a trail straight home. I had a new workout to try and I was eager to get to it (not really, but trying to be enthusiastic for your sakes) Hubs and I have been doing our 30 day strength training program pretty faithfully. I'm really liking it. I think I can see some changes in my arms already. We adjusted our rest day this week to accommodate schedules though so we were taking last night off. Well, I was browsing the interwebs the other day and I saw that Jillian Michaels has a new workout DVD out, the One Week Shred. I was intrigued.


I'm a fan of Jillian. I have most of her DVD's. It's an intense 7 day workout and custom diet plan designed to help you lose the last few stubborn pounds that you've been dying to lose for a special event. Well, I just happen to have a college reunion next weekend, so I bought it. You're supposed to start with the strength workout in the morning and do the cardio workout in the evening. Each workout is about 30 minutes. Well, I did them both back to back last night. I've done several of her workouts in the past and I have to say that this one is pretty challenging. When I finished, I felt like I had done some work! It will be interesting to see the results at the end of the week!

I'm supposed to meet some friends for happy hour after work. I really would like to go, but I don't want to miss my workout so we'll see. No big plans for us this weekend. We're just going to play it by ear. We may stay home and chill but we might fly by the seat of our pants and find something fun to do. Who knows?!

Until next time--get up, get out, get moving! Have a fabulous Friday and a wonderful weekend!!

Your friend,

Theresa

What's on your agenda for this weekend?

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Spring Fling!!

Good morning y'all!!

HAPPY SPRING!!

I think this might be my favorite day of the year!!

I once had a patient tell me the first true sign of spring was the forsythia blooming. I've been looking everywhere for it for a couple of weeks now.
I finally saw one on my way home from work Tuesday. Perfect timing!!

 
 
I can't wait for warmer weather so that I can start getting out and enjoying it!!
I'm ready to feel the sun on my skin!!
 
 
Have a wonderful day!!
 
Until next time--get up, get out, get moving and be awesome today!!
 
Your friend,
 
Theresa

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Workout Wednesday Runner Saftey Tips

Good morning folks!!

Woohoo, it's Wednesday!!  It's my second favorite day of the week!! We're halfway through the work week, which actually hasn't been too bad this week due to spring break. I have a feeling that today is going to be hectic though because I've got a couple of loose ends to tie up from Tuesday.

It's also Workout Wednesday. Typically, I share a new workout with you but today I think I'm going to take it a little different direction. Today, I want too talk about runner safety.

With the recent time change and warmer weather, more of us will be taking to the streets to get our runs done. On average, a pedestrian is killed in an auto accident every 109 minutes. Just last week, another young runner was hit and killed while out on her run. She was the mother of 2 young children.


Here are some ways that you can stay safe on your run:


  • DON’T WEAR HEADPHONES. Use your ears to be aware of your surroundings. Your ears may help you avoid dangers your eyes may miss during evening or early morning runs.



  • Don't assume a driver sees you. In fact, imagine that a driver can't see you. At a stop sign or light, look both ways. Make eye contact with the driver and wait for them to wave you through. Then acknowledge with your own wave. Obey traffic signals. Use the lights and crosswalk to cross the street.



  • Run against traffic so as to view (and react to) any mistake an advancing motorist may make.



  • Allow at least three feet between you and a passing vehicle.



  • Be prepared to jump onto the sidewalk or shoulder of the road.



  • During group runs, go single file when cars need to pass.



  • Use hand signals to show which way you plan to turn.



  • Respect drivers' right to the road.



  • Run with proper ID, and carry a cell phone with emergency contacts taped to its back. Or write your name, phone number, and blood type on the inside sole  of your shoe.

Check out this Runner's World article for more information.

Until next time--get up, get out, get moving, and be awesome today!

Your friend,

Theresa




Monday, March 17, 2014

Motivation Monday Link Up Weight Lifting Tips

Good morning folks!

Happy St. Patrick's Day



Here we are at Monday again. Man, where does the weekend go??  Mine flew by so quickly!! 
Hubs had to work until noon on Saturday, so I got to sleep in. I got up around 8 am, caught up on emails, etc, did an intense HIIT workout, got my hair trimmed, then got ready to spend the afternoon w/ DH (darling hubs).

When he got home from work we went to lunch then shopping. I've got a college reunion in a couple of weeks and I was on a mission to find the perfect outfit. I was struggling to find it!!  We went to 5 stores and weren't having any luck. I found an awesome bikini at The Buckle that I just knew I would look amazing in. Well, I tried it on and was immediately disappointed. :( I made a comment on my Facebook page about it and was scolded by several friends. Let me set the record straight here. I don't have a body image issue. I'm proud of my body and my curves. I've worked very hard to get where I am and I'm exceptionally proud of that! I'm not afraid to rock a bikini!! It was a beautiful bikini, it just wasn't flattering on me and obviously not the right suit for me. What discouraged me was I'm not making as much progress as I think I should be. I feel like I'm working hard and should be closer to where I want to be than I am. It's easy to get discouraged when we don't see immediate results. I just need to remind myself that slow progress is still progress and to keep going!!

 
At the sixth store, I finally found the perfect outfit! Then, we did the weekly grocery shopping. Yesterday, I did weekly meal prep. I fixed: baked egg/sausage muffins, turkey meatloaf stuffed peppers and muffins, baked chicken breast, red beans and rice w/ turkey sausage, roasted sweet potatoes, brown rice, steamed veggies, salad, and veggies for snacks. After I got that done, I spent the rest of the day relaxing with my feet up and catching up on some of my favorite TV shows.

Today is Motivation Monday and we're talking about Weight Lifting Tips. Strength training is something that I'm really interested in right now. I've been reading and researching as many resources as I can. I'm certainly not an expert, so the best advice that I can give you is to do your homework. There are LOTS of reputable resources available. I'm going to share a few of my favorites with you.

Here's a great article that I found on Pinterest. I've also found a lot of good information on the FitnessRX Women website including the Jamie Eason program that I'm currently following. It's a great workout and I've been able to easily modify it to do at home. There's also a ton of information at http://www.bodybuilding.com/ And another great resource is The New Rules of Lifting for Women book. I bought mine from Amazon and thanks to Prime, I had it in 2 days with no shipping costs. So, that's my advice to you. Be sure to link up with us and see what the rest of the team has for you today.

Until next time: get up, get out, get moving and be awesome today!!

Your friend,

Theresa

Do you lift weights/strength train?

Friday, March 14, 2014

5 for Friday

Howdy folks! TGIF

Happy Pi day!!

Personally, I'm ready for the weekend!!  It's been a long, crazy week at work. I went in early yesterday due to my 4 pm appointment at the chiropractor. But I had to cancel that because I was too far behind at work. I didn't leave until 6pm. And I'm almost dreading going in today. I know it's going to be just as busy. But, at least it's Friday!

And, it's "jeans day" too. Yippee!!  It's a fund raiser for the American Heart Association Heart Walk. We had to pay $5 to get a sticker to allow us to wear jeans. I typically wear business casual attire to work and often wear scrubs on "casual Friday". I don't do direct patient care anymore. I'm usually behind the scenes but I do interact with patients and their families, so I try to look professional at all times. I joke about being a happier, more productive employee if I could wear pajamas to work!!  I don't think we've had a jeans day in the 2 years that I've worked there, so I'm taking full advantage of this opportunity!! It really doesn't take much to make me happy. :-)

Since I did a mini weekly recap yesterday, today I'll talk about 5 things that have been on my mind this week. It's a combination of rants and raves and is totally random. So, without further ado.....

1: Thigh gap--In humans, a thigh gap is a gap between the thighs when standing upright with both knees touching.[1] Some women aspire to this for reasons of a perceived increase in attractiveness, with some considering it a sign of femininity and fragility[2] and some go as far as to say it symbolizes "the ideal body shape" according to Wikipedia. What the heck?! When did this become an issue and what's the big deal?! This week, national retailer went as far as photo shopping pictures of one of their bikini models to create a "thigh gap"


 They botched that up pretty badly and have been blasted for it. My concern is that society is fueling a dangerous weight loss goal for young women. What's wrong with being a little curvy? Skinny doesn't = beautiful, strong does!! 

2: "I ran 6 miles last night" Well, good for you! Ordinarily, I would be supportive of my friends and co-workers who run. But since I'm currently unable to, don't be surprised if I throat punch you instead! It's great that you're out enjoying the weather and getting some miles in, but please understand why I'm not really enthusiastic about it right now. Thanks!

3: Addaday Ultra Marble--OMG!!


I splurged on this little gem the other night and am so glad I did. It's my new favorite roller!!  I especially like that I can get in the area around the ankle and Achilles (right where I need it the most) really well! I have lots of other rollers and tools, but this one does large areas as well as those smaller nooks and crannies that some of the others can't get to. Go getcha one of these! I highly recommend it!!

4: Strength training--I'm loving it! We did our upper body chest, back, shoulders, biceps, triceps workout last night. Tonight is legs. I ran through it once last night for hubs, so he would know what modifications that he needs to make. I think he feels pretty confident about it. I'm eager to see how it goes. He was asleep in his chair when I got home late from work last night. I was afraid that he would say "just skip it" but he got up and got it done. I'm so proud of him!!

5: I'm so thankful for the beautiful weather we've had this past week. It's going to be cool and rainy this weekend, but that's ok. We haven't really had any significant rainfall since last October so I'll welcome all the rain that we can get. I think that it's supposed to be sunny and warm again next week. I'm determined to get out and enjoy it. I need my vitamin D fix!! I'm planning to pack my running clothes on those warm, sunny days. If I can't run, I can at least walk!!

Ok, that's all I've got for now. Have a fabulous Friday and a wonderful weekend!!  Be safe!!

Get up, get out and get moving! And don't forget to be awesome today!!

Your friend,

Theresa

Are you going to run 3.14 miles today??
What is your favorite kind of pie?

Thursday, March 13, 2014

Quick Update

Howdy, howdy y'all!

I'm bummed that I missed you all yesterday. Wednesday is my second favorite day of the week and I love to share workout posts with you. I wasn't feeling well yesterday morning. My head hurt badly and my stomach was a little yuck. I decided to go back to bed for a little while. I thought that I would have time to post from work, but it was so incredibly busy that I never got a chance. Sorry!

Hubs and I are doing a 30 day workout. Tuesday night was leg night. I knew we were going to have to make some modifications because of his recent knee surgery. I found it to be a little bit frustrating trying to find just the right substitutions. I didn't really give my workout as much effort as I should have. Wednesday, I usually go to spin and Urban Fit bootcamp, but I cancelled due to feeling poorly. I really felt like my body was trying to tell me I needed to rest. So, I did. Meanwhile, I had more time to study our current workout plan and find what I think will be great modifications for my husband. I'm excited to get this strength training back on track tonight.

Hubs has done very well sticking to his clean eating plan this week. I was worried that he would get hungry and fall off the wagon, but he's doing well, so far.

I haven't tried to run any this week. My heel is feeling pretty good this week. I have an appointment with the chiropractor this afternoon. Maybe I'll get some good news and get the green light to run. Now that it's light in the evenings after work and the weather is warming up, I'd like to lace up, hit the pavement and enjoy it. And, there's still about 3 weeks left in this Pathways session. I started it with them and maybe I'll be able to finish with them. I feel like running and coaching is a huge part of my identity. I'm enjoying the opportunity to try new things but I'm really starting to miss running.

Ok, so it's a short and sweet one today.

Until next time, get up, get out, and be awesome today!


Your friend,

Theresa

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Tuesday Musings

Good morning folks!

Monday is usually my day to coach Pathways, but I haven't run with them for nearly a month now due to this tendonitis issue I'm having. I'm hoping that I can get back at it before the session ends. I think they did speed work at the track last night. It was a beautiful night for a run, too!!  Since I am allowed to do low impact activities, I went to spin class. After I got home, hubs and I did our core and upper body strength training workout. I think we got in a pretty good calorie burn!! 

I had to wear my sunglasses on the way home from gym. I had almost forgotten what it's like to have sunshine in the evenings like that. And I love it!!  I like daylight savings time (sorry, Christy. I know you don't like it) I love the sunshine and thrive on it. It does my heart and soul good. I might have a touch of seasonal affective disorder. I feel more productive and more motivated on warm, sunny days so I'm definitely happy about the time change and am looking forward to spring/summer.

Tonight, we're scheduled to do lower body. I'm going to have to modify some of the exercises for hubs because of his knee injury. I'm enjoying this program so far and am eager to see where we are in 30 days.

Alrighty, I've got to get ready for work now. I hope that you all have a terrific Tuesday!!  Get up, get out and get moving! Don't forget to be awesome today!! 


What do you think of daylight savings time?

Monday, March 10, 2014

Motivation Monday~~Weekly goals/Progress pictures

Howdy y'all!  I hope you had a fabulous weekend.

Ours was fast and furious! And all did not go as planned, but for the most part it was good.

We went out to dinner with some good friends Saturday night and were supposed to go to a concert with them. We arrived at the concert late. It was standing room only and very crowded. I don't do well at all in big crowds and am certainly not a "fly by the seat of my pants" girl. I'm definitely more organized and detail oriented. I was very uncomfortable in this situation. My husband sensed my anxiety and suggested that we leave. The people we were with are definitely "roll with the flow" folks and got upset with me for leaving. So that was a little unpleasant but hubs and I made the best of it and still had fun!

Hubs had an eye opening experience the other day. He had his biometric screening last at work last Friday. His triglycerides are high and his weight isn't ideal. He eats the meals that I prepare for lunches and dinners. He's not gluten or dairy free but should be because he has problems with dairy. He has problems with portion control (ate 4 hot rolls at Texas Roadhouse the other day even after I told him that they are 225 calories each!) And he makes poor snack choices (doughnuts) too. So, he decided that he's going to clean up his diet a little more this week. He also decided that he needs to start working out again. He hasn't done any activity since he tore his meniscus last fall. He's nervous about any high impact activity and I can't blame him. So, with me on the running DL, I think this is a good time to incorporate a strength training program for both of us.

Yesterday, we went to the store and bought a curl bar for me, another standard bar and more plates so that we can workout together. Tonight we're going start a weight training program that I found online. It's designed for women, but I think it looks like a good program for both of us. There are a few moves that will need to be modified a little bit but I'm excited to start this with him. I'm going to spin class first, then we'll do this workout when I get home. I will be more motivated with more daylight in the evenings now. :-) Fitness goals for the week are:

Monday: Spin class, upper body
Tuesaday: Lower body/legs
Wednesday: Spin class, Urban Fit bootcamp
Thursday: Upper body
Friday: Lower body/legs
Saturday: Full body circuit

I did weekly meal prep yesterday. In addition to the lunches/dinners that I usually fix, I prepped veggies for snacks for him and made sausage and egg white muffins for his breakfasts. I also made baked Mediterranean chicken with spaghetti squash, sesame chicken and veggie stir fry, and ground turkey with quinoa and veggies. I'm excited that he has decided to clean his diet up! I'm hoping he can stay on track!!

Today, the Motivation Monday team is sharing progress pictures. It's difficult to notice small changes and often times, I think this is where some folks get discouraged and give up. They tend to focus on how far they had to go instead of how far they've come. Progress pictures are a great tool to help one stay focused and motivated.


Here are my most recent progress pictures:

And that's just from clean eating for a week!!  I can't wait to take these again in 30 days and see how far I've come!!

Ok, that's all for now!!  Be sure to link up with us and see what the rest of the team has for you!!

Until next time, take care and remember to be awesome!!  Get up, get out and get moving!!

Your friend,

Theresa



http://new.inlinkz.com//luwpview.php?id=357195" title="click to view in an external page.">An InLinkz Link-up


Friday, March 7, 2014

Week in Review

Good morning folks!  TGIF


I hope that you all had a great week.

There really isn't too much to report here in my world. I'm finally feeling better after the half last Sunday. I was really sore. I'm not sure if it was the cold or what but I was pretty beat up. I felt good enough to go to spin class Wednesday night but didn't stay for boot camp. Hopefully next week I'll feel good enough to do both classes.

Yesterday, I went to the doctor for follow up on my existing injuries. He filmed me running and is really surprised that the pain is in my right foot, not my left. He thinks that my left should be the one with the issues based on my running form or lack thereof. I'm a heel striker so he recommended a new shoe, the Mizuno Wave Prophecy. I did a little research and these babies are not cheap!!  But, at this point, I'm willing to try anything!! And apparently, the issue isn't just the Achilles but includes the peroneal tendons as well. He did some ART and gave me some exercises to do. Also, I earned myself a couple more weeks of rest, rehab, and low impact activities. I guess now I have no choice but to concentrate on strength training. :-)

I think nutrition-wise, I've had a pretty good week, but I'm feeling "off" I've been feeling a little bloated and just overall kinda "yuck" this week. Hopefully that will subside soon and I'll feel lean and mean again!!

Ok, I told you it wasn't much and I wasn't kidding!!  That's all I've got for now!!

Until next time...don't forget to be AWESOME!!


Take care and have a GREAT weekend!!

Your friend,

Theresa

What brand of running shoe do you wear??
Ever heard of/tried Mizunos/the Mizuno Prophecy??

Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Workout Wednesday #9

Good morning folks!! 

It's Wednesday and that makes me happy, happy, happy for 2 reasons: we're halfway to the weekend and it's Workout Wednesday. It's the day that I post a new workout for you to try.

Lately, I've been going to spin class and bootcamp at Fleet Feet Sports Tulsa on Wednesday nights. I love these classes. The instructors and participants make it fun! I enjoy working out with a group for the encouragement and support. And these classes are challenging. But, I'm still sore and tight from the Little Rock half marathon and I'm concerned about stressing my existing injuries. I think I'll tape them up well with kinesio tape and hope for the best. But, if it is too much impact, my fall back plan until I'm healed completely is to concentrate on strength training. I've been searching for low impact options. It looks like Fitness Blender has a lot of good options! It also looks like there are some good options on Pinterest too.

And Pilates is also a good low impact exercise to help strengthen my core, hips and glutes. Pilates is a body conditioning routine that may help build flexibility, muscle strength, and endurance in the legs, abdominals, arms, hips, and back. It puts emphasis on spinal and pelvic alignment, breathing, and developing a strong core or center, and improving coordination and balance. Pilates' system allows for different exercises to be modified in range of difficulty from beginning to advanced. Intensity can be increased over time as the body conditions and adapts to the exercises. 

I'm pretty certain that I'm going to remain on the running disabled list for a little while longer and I'm a little bit disappointed. But I'm also excited about the workout options that are available to keep me moving and fit while I rehab these injuries.







Get up, get out, get moving and make it a WONDERFUL Wednesday!
Until next time...

Your friend,
Theresa

Have you ever tried Pilates??

Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Happy Fat Tuesday!!

Laissez les bon temps rouler!!

 
Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, is the last hurrah before the Catholic season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday.

It's also National Pancake Day!!

 
If I can find a good gluten-free pancake option, I'll be celebrating Fat Tuesday with pancakes instead of king cake. I love breakfast for dinner!!  If not, then we'll be dining on red beans and rice!


And, as I'm listening to the weather forecaster talk about the potential for more winter weather, let me leave you with a small glimmer of hope that spring is on the way!



Have a terrific Tuesday!

Until next time...

Your friend,

Theresa

Monday, March 3, 2014

Motivation Monday!

It's a double post day!! My race recap was too long to do one post, so I split them up.

Today is Motivation Monday and the team is talking about their Top 10 Weight Loss Tips.






















People ask me all the time how I lost my weight and how have I kept it off. I've compiled my favorite weight loss success tips for you here:


1: No excuses! Begin where you are with what you have.

2: Set SMART goals. In order to achieve your goals, they must be specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely.

3: Write things down. Keep a journal, track your progress, log your calories, etc. Progress pics are great!!  They help you see where you've been and how far you've come.

4: Sign up for challenges, races, group events/activities, etc. Give yourself small goals to work toward and accomplish. With group activities, you get the support, motivation and accountability that can you achieve your goals.

5: Find a mentor or a workout/weight loss/fitness buddy. Again, you'll be more successful with the motivation, encouragement and accountability.

6: Be honest with yourself. If you're not seeing results, re-evaluate your goal and re-adjust if needed. If you've had a slip up, that's ok. Don't give up, just pick back up and keep going!

7: Be proud of yourself. Love yourself not matter where you are in your journey. Be patient. This is about progress, not perfection. Reward your self for successes. For instance, if your goal is to lose 10 pounds, buy yourself a cute new workout outfit when you achieve your goal. This will help keep you motivated!

8: Read and educate yourself. There is a vast array of knowledge about health, wellness, nutrition, and fitness at your fingertips.

9: Plan ahead. Meal planning is the biggest key to preventing a disaster for me. I typically try to plan and prepare meals for a week in advance. This makes it easy for me to stay on  track with healthy eating. If I don't plan, then I'm at the mercy of my work cafeteria which usually has greasy, fried or fat filled choices to offer.

10: Do something every day to get you one step closer to your goal. Sometimes baby steps work better and that's ok. Just start with one thing, be it clean healthy eating or increasing your activity and do it every day. After you've mastered that, then move on to the next step.

Feel free to link up with us and see what the rest of the team has for you today!




http://new.inlinkz.com//luwpview.php?id=357194" title="click to view in an external page.">An InLinkz Link-up





Until next time,

Your Friend,

Theresa

Little Rock race recap

Hello, hello folks! Happy Monday!

Today is Motivation Monday and that post will be up a little later. Right now, I want to fill y'all in on the Little Rock Half marathon yesterday.

As you know, my original goal was to run the marathon. Nagging injuries and a harsh winter made training difficult. I realized that a full marathon was probably not realistic at this time. As a result, I changed my registration to the half. After the Sweetheart Run on February 15, I had to take a couple of weeks off to give my Achilles and peroneal tendons time to rest and hopefully heal. I was a little nervous but I've run 13.1 multiple times so was fairly certain that I could do it. With a 2 week "taper", I was hoping for the best....fresh legs and hopefully, little to no pain.

We got up early Saturday morning for the drive to Arkansas. On the way, we decided to stop off at one of our favorite little, local wineries, Post Family Winery in Altus, Arkansas.


 We tasted some wines, had some snacks and then resumed our trip. We arrived in Little Rock and went straight to the expo. Packet pickup was effortless and went of without a hitch. I bought some Swiftwick socks and then we headed to our hotel. We got v checked in and settled in and started to discuss dinner. I wanted to drive from the hotel to the start area to time the drive and figure out parking. I was pleased to realize that it was easier to find and much closer than I originally thought. Afterward, we grabbed an early dinner. After dinner, I got in a little retail therapy. When we got back to the hotel, the staff told us that there was a shuttle for runners in the morning. That was a game changer because that reduced the stress of trying to find parking in the morning. I got my race dummy/flat runner ready and settled in for the night.

All week long, I had been watching the weather forecast closely. They were predicting a winter storm for the area and I knew it could be a factor. I always tell my runners to "control what you can control". Obviously, I can't control the weather, but I could at least try to control my wardrobe. In this case, that was going to be challenging. I couldn't begin to figure out how to dress for a race where the temperature was expected to drop with a high chance of rain. I brought several outfits and decided that I would make my final clothing choice on the morning of the race.

The alarm went off at 5 am. I looked out the window and saw that it was dry. My weather app showed the current temp @ 54. I was cautiously optimistic. I ate my breakfast and started to get dressed. I was planning to wear a long sleeved base layer with a short sleeved top over it. I was going to carry a lightweight jacket because it was supposed to be windy. But, after looking at the hourly forecast, I opted for a long sleeved base layer and a long sleeved 1/2 zip over it. I still had the jacket packed in my hydration vest. We went downstairs at 6:45 to catch the shuttle. The temperature was perfect, but that would soon change.

Due to road closures, the shuttle had to drop us off a mile from the start line.
Pre-race: 55 degrees and no rain--still smiling!
I missed the half fanatics picture but I did see my friend Gayle from Tulsa and Pamela from Texas.
Still no rain, still smiling! Rain started 5 minutes after this pic was taken.

It was starting to rain lightly. I put on my rain poncho and waited in a store doorway for the rain to let up.  At about 7:55, I got in the corral and started chatting with other runners. It was  still lightly drizzling. The wind was brisk and we were all wet. At first, I was concerned that I was overdressed. Later, I would be glad that I had changed clothes.

They were doing a wave start, starting each corral about every 5 minutes. I was in corral G so I didn't get to start until almost 8:30. I was planning to start out slow but I started in the front of my corral. I looked at my watch and was running a 9 minute mile. I knew that was way too fast and my angry Achilles agreed. It was hurting and I was only 0.15 miles in. Great! My plan was to walk if I had to and crawl if I must, so I was planning to make the best of it. I slowed my pace to about an 11 minute mile. I turned up my music, started to jam out and just run.....for as long as my leg would let me.

On one of the out and back sections, I saw a couple of my fellow Tulsa/Fleet Feet runners. That made me smile. It's my own race, but it's encouraging to see people I know out on the course. It makes me feel like I'm not alone.

I was a little concerned about nutrition due to recent diet changes but had carbed up really well for breakfast. I had carrying organic Sharkies and Honey Stinger chews. I planned to take some nutrition about every 30 minutes, which was no problem because I wad carrying my own water. I passed the first water stop but grabbed Gatorade at the next one for additional carbs.

I was hurting but feeling pretty good until about mile 6 or 7. I kept trudging along but it was obvious the weather was deteriorating. I noticed sharp pain in my left foot around mile 9 but I kept going. I was running about an 11:30 - 12 at this point and was taking short walk breaks as needed. I was starting to wish that I had my buff because the wind was cold on my face. I was starting to compare this run to Rt 66 last November. We ran past several area churches and apparently by the Governor's mansion. I didn't really notice. I was just trying to focus on finishing.

Mile 11 - 12, I was walking more frequently. I didn't have a goal time in mind. I kept looking at my watch thinking I might be able to make a 2:30 finish, exactly the same as my last half finish time. Mile 12-13, was a little bit downhill. I tried to make up some time here, but was hurting too bad. I saw the mile 13 flag and felt relieved! Just a little bit further now! I pushed as hard as I could, high fived Bart Yasso, and fist pumped my way across the finish line. I got my large medal, saw my hubs and immediately began to cry. It was the hardest thing I've ever done! Worse than Route 66 and that was very bad!
Post race: fake smile, wet,cold and hungry, red cheeks and nose from crying

There was no gluten free, dairy free post race food. I got to my hubs as quickly as I could so I could get my wet clothes off and dry jacket on and get some post race grub before I got sick. We had to wait a bit for the shuttle driver due to miscommunication. Once we were on the shuttle, we found out that they had black flagged the race due to weather. They pulled runners off the course. Some were made to wait in a Wal-Mart parking lot for buses back to the finish so they could collect their medals. Others chose to press on and finish without course support. If I had in fact run the marathon, I would have most certainly been stopped. Yet another reason I'm glad I chose to do the half instead. I can understand why they did it.  It was 55 with light rain at the start and 35 with high winds, sleet and thunderstorms at the finish. Hypothermia was a real concern and the there was a threat of lightening in the area. I'm sure it wasn't an easy decision to "re-route" the race but with that many people involved, safety had to come first. Yet, as a runner, I can certainly understand the disappointment of months worth of training and being so close, yet so far away. It would have been heartbreaking not to be able to cross that finish line.

After a hot shower and getting my belly full of post race fajitas, we headed home, right into a winter storm! It was sleeting and snowing making it a treacherous trip. We're home safely now and I can say that was the hardest thing I've ever done! I'm resting, icing, and elevating in compression socks today. Now it's time to get in to see a doctor to figure out what's causing my foot/ankle/Achilles issues. I'm so discouraged and frustrated! I've had 1 pain free week since the first of the year. Something has to change! We have to figure out what the problem is and how to fix it so that I can keep running without causing permanent damage, if I haven't already.