I ran!

I ran. I've had a couch to 5k app on my iPhone for months, but haven't bothered to use it. I finally bothered.  I have now completed three days, so I realize I'm just a newbie, but I think I've found what I need. I have it set on beginner mode and set it to run 10 seconds, walk 50. Baby steps, but it works and I don't feel like I'm going to die after. As my wind (and muscles) improve, I will gradually up the ratio of running to walking and the program extends the number of reps. Yay to lolo who makes terrific fitness apps. I started out with the Beatburn Treadmill/Outdoor Trainer on my iPod back when it first came out. It was probably the first fitness app I purchased and it was always the one I used the most. Then when Jeff Galloway's Ultimate 5K was released, I jumped on it as well, just didn't use it right away. Better late than never, and I feel great. Surprisingly, I don't even have an exertion headache.

When I got home, I broke open a fresh coconut, drank the milk, and pried a few pieces of the meat away from the shell for a quick snack. I'm really not even thinking about dinner, but I'll eat a few black grapes and go from there. Maybe I can find some marinated salmon in the freezer if I look really hard.

Feeling groovy. :)

I ask for a miracle

I ask for a miracle. Over the years I have read a lot of books, and watched lots of videos, and listened to lots of podcasts and audios about manifestation and the power of positive thinking. I know that I need to let go of my ego and let go of fear and follow my inner guidance. I need to let go and plug into the universal energy, as it were. So this is my beginning. I ask for a miracle. I ask for the universe to assist me. So far it's working. Today I was given a breathtakingly beautiful day in which to get out in and walk (and ride in the convertible with the top down!). I ask to manifest the correct food to nourish my body, motivation to exercise for a healthier body, and spirit to boost my emotional health. I ask for a miracle.

Today life was a day at the beach

Speaking of my beloved Lake Michigan, today's walk was barefoot through the sand and water. The day was cool, but the water felt a little warmer than the air. I really wanted to just leap in and swim, but the rip current was prohibitive. Enjoy the pics

People just don't realize how beautiful the southern Lake Michigan shoreline is... and that this is part of Indiana. :) Incidentally, the dots on the horizon in the next to last photo above is the Chicago skyline seen across the lake. It is only visible when the wind is coming from the north. It is approximately 38 miles across the lake from Michigan City to Chicago.

Still here

It's me again. Still here, still on a journey toward wellness. Today I was looking at home treadmills and marveling at how much the price has come down over the last few years. I can now have a health-club quality treadmill for under $1000! Wow!

I have also discovered a new, albeit temporary, hobby. Cold-water swimming. I have a pool, and I live in Northern Indiana, just about 10 miles from Lake Michigan. Since I live so close to the big lake, I grew up swimming in cold water... not to mention that I was a competitive swimmer for 10 of my developmental years. I've swam in lots of cold water throughout the years, but never really intentionally. Now I have been taking a dip in my pool every day as sort of an experiment. The water temperature is currently hovering around 65 degrees and the air temp isn't usually much warmer. It is rumored that there are multiple potential benefits to cold water, ranging from improved circulation, to enhanced immunity, to pain relief, to weight loss. Medical disclaimer: I am not a medical professional and I don't recommend this practice to anyone — I am simply doing a personal experiment to see if I notice any benefits. But a funny thing has happened along the way. I've found that I enjoy it. It gives me a burst of energy, yet I find it calming all at the same time. My skin kind of goes numb, but I feel warmth radiating from within. I like the feeling. As I noted above, though, it's a temporary experiment as the pool is being closed in early October. Usually it is closed by now. Living in the snow belt, we can get snow as early as October and I'm not quite brave (or crazy) enough to cut a hole through the ice to swim. Maybe I'll try cold showers instead. :)

What's new?

Still working. Still walking/running. Looking for new products to help me in my quest. I have new running shoes that I love -- Brooks Adrenaline. I have a new trainer who is helping me with my body mechanics and keeping me loaded with reading material (He currently has me reading Bill Phillips’ Body for Life, and Skinny Bitch, by by Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin — paying special attention to the chapter on diet soda.) I am trying out several supplements from Swanson Vitamins, but I really need to work on my compliance. Lastly, I am still working toward a healthier diet. Baby steps.

I am also waiting for a trampoline that was supposed to be a Christmas present for my daughter (I was happily planning on sharing!). It was supposed to be delivered by late February. Fortunately I haven't paid for it yet, so I'm not out any money. I really have my heart set on a good rectangular tramp and I have begun looking again for a great deal. I would also like to eventually get a Trikke. They look like fun, and look like a good workout to boot.

Feel free to comment on anything that has helped you go from a heavy runner to slim runner, or just from a heavy person to a less-heavy person.

P.S.

I didn’t realize that I didn’t post about the 5K I ran at the begining of May! And I lived! I achieved my personal best time, so though I wasn’t able to run the whole way, I was still happy. Eventually I’ll get to that point. :)

I have another 5K coming up in August, if I don’t do another one before that. Something to work toward.

Yeah, it's been awhile

I have run. I have walked. I have hiked. I have climbed.

I have not lost much more weight.

To be fair, I’m not doing it as regularly or as often as I should. But I have been active. I’ve been to Alaska and back — driving there in a motorhome with husband and two grown kids, and flying back. Awesome. I didn’t eat as well as I would have liked, but I did have fun and experienced much. I saw bighorn sheep, dall sheep, grizzly bears, black bears, moose, caribou, snowshoe hares, ground squirrels, wild buffalo, sea otters, whales, stellar sea lions, puffins, sled dogs, and more. I repeat, awesome!

But now it’s time to get back to business. In addition to moving my butt, I'm also concentrating on using natural products and avoiding chemicals. Along the way I might talk about things that I like. My current favorite shampoo is BWC (Beauty without Cruelty) volume shampoo. I’ve tried many natural shampoos and conditioners, but not many make the grade (imho). I keep going back to the same conditioner -- Sea-Chi leave on moisturizing treatment. Just a very tiny amount rubbed into my ends after towel drying, leaves my hair in great shape. It’s expensive, but I use such a small amount that it lasts forever. I’m trying new cosmetics, moisturizer, and deodorant, so I’ll let you know how it works out. Now if I could only give up Diet Dr. Pepper and junk food.