So along the way I have started collecting other blogs about fitness. Some I read and I love, others I read and I hate.
One of the ones I love, not simply for the name which is epic in nature, is Strong is the New Skinny SINS. SINS links many other blogs, opening my eyes to the world wide web of internet fitness bloggers; we can talk about them later. I like SINS, I especially like their Facebook page. I enjoy the links and seeing others who value strength and fitness rather than a pant size. I am not saying that pant size isn't something to chase, but I could stay the same pant size if I could work up to running a 5k three times a week and doing some of these
One of the articles linked by SINS from Practical Paleolithic discussed how the media set so many of us up for failure. They pump us full of the notion that we can have a full time job, raise a family, work out to maintain a body fat % of 5 while still sleeping our full 8 hours a day. I have been giving this a lot of thought and have definitely noticed that since unplugging from the evil idiot box (No cable television service, I do still watch Netflix) I have had fewer negative cognition's about the state of my body. I do think that some of us out there really need some media awareness on the side of our fitness order. Media want to make money, they cannot tell you that you are doing a great job, and then expect you to buy their product that will make you better/faster/stronger/anythingbutwhatyouare.
So while you dedicated five wonder over to SINS and Practical Paleolithic remember that they are great sites, but I am the person you actually know!
P.S. I hit the two mile mark running yesterday.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Friday, March 18, 2011
Single digit size
So all of my recently bought size 12's are too big. I went to the store to buy some shorts today, and I am right in between a 10 and an 8. The 8 fit, but it gave me that muffin top that I have always touted means the pant doesn't fit. I decided not to get new shorts because I am so close to being a single digit size. I am going to wait until after I run my 5k in mid-April.
By the way, I am running a 5k in April. I never thought I would actually get to this point, but I have told my husband, and now the 5 of you who read my blog. I can only run 1.5 miles right now, but after Zumba tonight I am going to see what my new running wall is. I can book it with the baby back pack 2 miles. So I am pretty sure I can run 2 miles. I will see. I have a month. My goal is going to be to run more than I walk, but secretly I really want to run the whole thing. I don't care if it is the slowest freaking jog in the world. I don't want to walk it.
By the way, I am running a 5k in April. I never thought I would actually get to this point, but I have told my husband, and now the 5 of you who read my blog. I can only run 1.5 miles right now, but after Zumba tonight I am going to see what my new running wall is. I can book it with the baby back pack 2 miles. So I am pretty sure I can run 2 miles. I will see. I have a month. My goal is going to be to run more than I walk, but secretly I really want to run the whole thing. I don't care if it is the slowest freaking jog in the world. I don't want to walk it.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Body Image
I think everyone has a moment in their blossoming that defines their body image. Mine wasn't a very positive one, but luckily I had intelligent parents who would not tolerate the trend amongst young women of starvation. During my teen years I was not fat by any stretch of the imagination, never the less my body image was wanting. I could always find flaws with myself and thought I was severely fat (even at a gaunt size 0).
I was thin until about my senior year in high school when I decided to stop being an idiot (using recreational drugs) and go on the Depo shot. The combination of the two caused me to gain about 50 lbs in a month. Despite the gain in weight I always refused to do anything that caused me to exert myself. Breaking a sweat was not for me. EVER. My weight fluctuated from that point on, I would pack on the pounds, loose a few, put a few more on ect.
It wasn't until I was visiting at Christmas 2009 with my Dads family and my then going senile grandfather was quite sure I was pregnant did I decide that maybe I should look at my lifestyle. About a 6 months later I had lost a modest 20 lbs and was feeling pretty good about myself. I had this diet thing on lock-down! BAM Victor made his first appearance in my life with a + on a stick, this time I was pregnant. No more diet and no more exercise. I don't know why decided to not exercise while pregnant, probably because I just wanted an excuse to be lazy and pregnancy was it. I had horrid problems with my hips starting at about 5-6 months and started doing physical therapy (water aerobics) 3 days a week to alleviate issues. Luckily this helped and I only gained about 40 lbs during my pregnancy. This was pretty good considering that some people gain 100lbs when they get pregnant, talk about over-indulging!
Well those of you who follow know that the beginning of this year I really decided that I was going to weigh what I did before I got pregnant before my son was a year. Which I do! The best thing is not the number on the scale. The best thing is how my perception of myself has completely changed.
I was thin until about my senior year in high school when I decided to stop being an idiot (using recreational drugs) and go on the Depo shot. The combination of the two caused me to gain about 50 lbs in a month. Despite the gain in weight I always refused to do anything that caused me to exert myself. Breaking a sweat was not for me. EVER. My weight fluctuated from that point on, I would pack on the pounds, loose a few, put a few more on ect.
It wasn't until I was visiting at Christmas 2009 with my Dads family and my then going senile grandfather was quite sure I was pregnant did I decide that maybe I should look at my lifestyle. About a 6 months later I had lost a modest 20 lbs and was feeling pretty good about myself. I had this diet thing on lock-down! BAM Victor made his first appearance in my life with a + on a stick, this time I was pregnant. No more diet and no more exercise. I don't know why decided to not exercise while pregnant, probably because I just wanted an excuse to be lazy and pregnancy was it. I had horrid problems with my hips starting at about 5-6 months and started doing physical therapy (water aerobics) 3 days a week to alleviate issues. Luckily this helped and I only gained about 40 lbs during my pregnancy. This was pretty good considering that some people gain 100lbs when they get pregnant, talk about over-indulging!
Well those of you who follow know that the beginning of this year I really decided that I was going to weigh what I did before I got pregnant before my son was a year. Which I do! The best thing is not the number on the scale. The best thing is how my perception of myself has completely changed.
For the first time in my life, I am not ashamed, disgusted, or embarrassed when I look in the mirror!
Many people, women particularly, go their whole lives without experiencing this. I no longer see what I saw a mere three months ago. Part of this has to do with the amount of activity I have in my life. Let's face it endorphins make people happy. I don't know where the other part came from, maybe it is the fact that I don't watch television or subscribe to any mainstream media productions. I don't let others define my standard of beauty any more, and never will again. I don't see the negative things anymore.
When I look in the mirror I see a body that:
- can run a mile and a half without stopping
- hikes at least 10 miles a week carrying a baby on a pack
- lifts weights 3-4 days a week
- has a resting heart rate in the mid 60's
- has a blood pressure of 103/50
- is well nourished and hydrated
I <3 me!
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Interval sore
I have crossed the threshold from regular exercise soreness into something that is beyond ridiculous. I did interval training with my personal trainer on Wednesday. This was some beefy stuff, and I can tell you honestly I have never worked out so hard in my entire life. When I left the gym I could hardly walk my legs were jello. It was insane.
Thursday I could hardly sit down because I was so sore. The pressure from my weight on my legs and glutes hurt. I have never been that sore in my entire life. It felt like I had been hit by a mac truck and was now recovering from total body bruising. Friday was a little better, though I was still sore. I went for a run to loosen everything up and get the blood flowing. Today is Saturday and I still hurt, I am sure a little of it is from running but MOST of it is from the interval training that I did 4 days ago. I know it will get easier as time goes by, but I cannot imagine a day where this becomes easy.
Running is getting easier, in two months I went from no running to running a mile. This interval stuff should too, right? The worst part about it is that tonight, I have more interval training to do.
Thursday I could hardly sit down because I was so sore. The pressure from my weight on my legs and glutes hurt. I have never been that sore in my entire life. It felt like I had been hit by a mac truck and was now recovering from total body bruising. Friday was a little better, though I was still sore. I went for a run to loosen everything up and get the blood flowing. Today is Saturday and I still hurt, I am sure a little of it is from running but MOST of it is from the interval training that I did 4 days ago. I know it will get easier as time goes by, but I cannot imagine a day where this becomes easy.
Running is getting easier, in two months I went from no running to running a mile. This interval stuff should too, right? The worst part about it is that tonight, I have more interval training to do.
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