This week was crazy packed full of band registrations, band rental night, and meetings with students and parents. It was tough to come home and want to do anything but forget all my troubles and watch episodes of Grey's Anatomy while eating. If I didn't get my workouts in before going to work, it just didn't happen. Luckily, I got up and worked out for 20-30 min before work most days. The most unfortunate thing about my workouts was the length of them. I came up a little short on each workout because I simply just didn't want to get up earlier. My desire to sleep seemed to be a little higher than my desire for working out.
Here is what my week actually looked like:
Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Sat Sun
X-Stretch 10 min :( Run 2 Mi Run 3 Mi X C&B :( Run 6 Mi
Walk .5 Mile 25 min
Today, I ran 6 miles and it felt fantastic. Part of the reason I ran that far was because I could, without feeling rushed. It was the same thing that happened on Thurs. I had a goal to run 3 miles when I got up in the morning and because I had woken up just 15 minutes earlier, I was able to do it! 15 minutes made all the difference.
The other reason I made it to the gym to run 6 miles was because I recently read a small fact in regards to will power. There was something that resonated with me and where I've been at emotionally the past several months. It said that the more you repeat certain actions, the more your desire will increase to continue to do those certain actions. It made absolute sense! The more I was running last year, the more I wanted to! And, on the contrary, the more I've indulged in other things and didn't workout, the more I wanted to indulge in other things and not work out. And, here I am with the lack of desire to get up early and run on most days, but I have the want to want to and for now, that's enough. Because, when I do finally want to run all of the time again, it will feel incredible!
So, today, I made sure I went to the gym and ran 6 miles on the treadmill (it was just too hot to do it outside). I watched Man of Steel in Gold's Gym's Cardio Cinema and ran on average of about 13 min/miles. It was super slow, but comfortable. I watched my heart rate and tried to stay below 170 and closer to the 150s bpm as much as possible. Its still high for where I'm supposed to be, but it felt comfortable enough. During the run, I continued to think about how running for a desire to run would most certainly work. I've said this before and I'll say it again; Most of my best inspirations come during a good, long run. So, of course, it must be something worth moving forward with!
I felt so good after that run! It was an enjoyable experience because I didn't push too hard or "punish" myself mentally for going so slow. I've decided that this run was not about the pace but about going the distance, and most importantly, running for the desire to run.
I talked to some friends and got really excited about doing a hike this Saturday. I've always loved hiking and doing these fun activities but have been feeling so out of shape and ashamed, that its made me clam up a little. After my good run, I felt confident enough to bring it up and now we're planning to go hiking up camelback on Saturday! Wahoo!
This week, I'm going to make sure I do my workouts with the mental shift from doing it because I want to accomplish my goals, but doing it because I want to want to workout and run.
Sunday, August 17, 2014
Thursday, August 7, 2014
Carboholism
I ate a couple of pistachios after school to hold me over while I waited until a parent could get off work to come over with her son to do an instrument assessment. It worked quite well because I wasn't the least bit hungry when I got home. I just felt like I should eat because thats what I do when I get home. I actually felt more thirsty than anything. I don't know why I didn't just drink a giant glass of water. Earlier today, I thought about how not tired I was after lunch. I wasn't hungry for lunch yesterday because I snacked on a protein shake and decided to listen to The Primal Blueprint's idea of when to eat. Basically, I was told not to confine the idea of eating at certain times but just simply listen to my body and feed it when its hungry. I can tell the sugars in my system have finally settled because its getting slightly easier to do that.
I remember countless times when I've been at work that I almost regret eating lunch because within an hour, I'd start getting really sleepy. That didn't happen today! I believe its because of a couple of things. I went on an easy pace jog this morning, I haven't eaten sugar-based carbs since Saturday, and the lunch I had was Dak Galbi, minus the perille leaves because I could never find any. I used the recipe from maanchi.com. Its full of veggies and chicken. The only thing unhealthy are the "rice cakes" but I'm not feeling too guilty about it since it obviously doesn't have a carb overload effect on me with all of the other stuff.
When I eat a lot of carbs -especially refined carbs, its like I go on a craze and can't find my way back to a calm pattern of eating and even exercise. When it's really bad, it becomes all I think about when I am not otherwise completely pre-occupied. In fact, I believe that the habit of coming home and eating (even when I'm not hungry) is somehow associated with this association I have to the times I had binged on things like cake, ice cream, chocolate, etc. I almost didn't even want to write those things down because of the power of suggestion behind those words. Like the time I kept seeing that stupid Ben & Jerry's commercial because it seemed to be the only sponsor for the show I was watching on Hulu!
When I was young and naive I didn't understand how someone would be hooked on smoking or on alcohol. I would think, "Why don't they just, stop?"
Now, here I am, realizing I have a similar addiction to carbs. Why don't I just stop? The only way to do that, I guess, is first recognize I have a serious problem. Stop pretending this is normal!
I also wonder if those cravings will ever truly go away. I know they can go way down, but it would be awesome if they were gone completely and I could have a healthy relationship with food permanently.
I think I just have to figure out the threshold. The breaking point. Whatever it is that sends me off the deep end.
Right now, my theories are with combinations. For instance, if I eat tons of sugary foods, typically because of some celebration, for more than one day in a row, I'm in code yellow-red territory. If it is 3 or more, I've gone off the deep end and it may take me some serious concentration to get me back to rational food thoughts again.
Another combination is lack of sleep, which also usually starts the domino effect of no desire to exercise and dehydration. When I don't sleep at normal hours, I forget to replenish my body for all of the unusual amount of moisture it is losing to keep me functioning. Not to mention, the fact that my brain's main source of energy is glucose. Those things combined also spin me into a lack of judgement and an increase of indulgence.
Bill Philips, in his book Body For Life, talks about those things as "unauthorized patterns of action." When I first read it, I didn't really connect to it, but I guess I've habituated them enough now that its finally sunk in. I need to be aware of those patterns of actions so I can try to avoid them. Like they say..the first step is realizing you have a problem. And, if at all possible, I think its best to avoid the problem.
Sometimes it won't be an option to avoid them. But, most of the time it is. I just have to be consciously aware, right?
He also talked about "authorized" patterns of action. In teaching, I like to call it looking at the positives. The things we say, "Yes!" to. For instance, I can say yes to trying to be in bed close or before 10pm. I can say, I will work out each morning. I will make sure I am staying hydrated. I will make sure I make a balanced use of my time so that I won't get over stressed and emotionally exhausted.
Yesterday morning, I got up early, did my sprint/walks for 1.21 miles and then did P90X Yoga for about 20 minutes. It was a great workout and I believe it is the reason I just had to get to bed early even though my typical Wed night distractions were awaiting me. I will allow myself to play with friends when it isn't too crazy stressful at work. It was the first day and I had too much on my plate to afford not going to bed early. I think you could say there was so much on my plate that I could not afford to have not worked out too. I'm so glad I did!
This morning, I got up and did my 2 mile run. I took it nice a slow. I didn't want to worry about pace at all but more about comfort. I think I stayed well within my heart rate zone until the very end when I started panic running because I got a little lost in my new neighborhood and was therefore running a little late to get ready for work. The run felt so good in that zone, even if it was slower than I would normally accept for myself. But, I think my choice to keep it easy was a good choice for today. I'm very happy about it. On my mapmyrun ap, I did a #tookiteasy but I really could have done a #finishedwithasmile.
Tomorrow is Kenpo X. I know I skipped legs and back this week, but I think the sore hamstrings from the sprints sort of, in a small way, make up for it.
I'm looking forward to the Kenpo X in the morning and then the jeans and t-shirt I get to wear to work! #happyfriday ;-)
I remember countless times when I've been at work that I almost regret eating lunch because within an hour, I'd start getting really sleepy. That didn't happen today! I believe its because of a couple of things. I went on an easy pace jog this morning, I haven't eaten sugar-based carbs since Saturday, and the lunch I had was Dak Galbi, minus the perille leaves because I could never find any. I used the recipe from maanchi.com. Its full of veggies and chicken. The only thing unhealthy are the "rice cakes" but I'm not feeling too guilty about it since it obviously doesn't have a carb overload effect on me with all of the other stuff.
When I eat a lot of carbs -especially refined carbs, its like I go on a craze and can't find my way back to a calm pattern of eating and even exercise. When it's really bad, it becomes all I think about when I am not otherwise completely pre-occupied. In fact, I believe that the habit of coming home and eating (even when I'm not hungry) is somehow associated with this association I have to the times I had binged on things like cake, ice cream, chocolate, etc. I almost didn't even want to write those things down because of the power of suggestion behind those words. Like the time I kept seeing that stupid Ben & Jerry's commercial because it seemed to be the only sponsor for the show I was watching on Hulu!
When I was young and naive I didn't understand how someone would be hooked on smoking or on alcohol. I would think, "Why don't they just, stop?"
Now, here I am, realizing I have a similar addiction to carbs. Why don't I just stop? The only way to do that, I guess, is first recognize I have a serious problem. Stop pretending this is normal!
I also wonder if those cravings will ever truly go away. I know they can go way down, but it would be awesome if they were gone completely and I could have a healthy relationship with food permanently.
I think I just have to figure out the threshold. The breaking point. Whatever it is that sends me off the deep end.
Right now, my theories are with combinations. For instance, if I eat tons of sugary foods, typically because of some celebration, for more than one day in a row, I'm in code yellow-red territory. If it is 3 or more, I've gone off the deep end and it may take me some serious concentration to get me back to rational food thoughts again.
Another combination is lack of sleep, which also usually starts the domino effect of no desire to exercise and dehydration. When I don't sleep at normal hours, I forget to replenish my body for all of the unusual amount of moisture it is losing to keep me functioning. Not to mention, the fact that my brain's main source of energy is glucose. Those things combined also spin me into a lack of judgement and an increase of indulgence.
Bill Philips, in his book Body For Life, talks about those things as "unauthorized patterns of action." When I first read it, I didn't really connect to it, but I guess I've habituated them enough now that its finally sunk in. I need to be aware of those patterns of actions so I can try to avoid them. Like they say..the first step is realizing you have a problem. And, if at all possible, I think its best to avoid the problem.
Sometimes it won't be an option to avoid them. But, most of the time it is. I just have to be consciously aware, right?
He also talked about "authorized" patterns of action. In teaching, I like to call it looking at the positives. The things we say, "Yes!" to. For instance, I can say yes to trying to be in bed close or before 10pm. I can say, I will work out each morning. I will make sure I am staying hydrated. I will make sure I make a balanced use of my time so that I won't get over stressed and emotionally exhausted.
Yesterday morning, I got up early, did my sprint/walks for 1.21 miles and then did P90X Yoga for about 20 minutes. It was a great workout and I believe it is the reason I just had to get to bed early even though my typical Wed night distractions were awaiting me. I will allow myself to play with friends when it isn't too crazy stressful at work. It was the first day and I had too much on my plate to afford not going to bed early. I think you could say there was so much on my plate that I could not afford to have not worked out too. I'm so glad I did!
This morning, I got up and did my 2 mile run. I took it nice a slow. I didn't want to worry about pace at all but more about comfort. I think I stayed well within my heart rate zone until the very end when I started panic running because I got a little lost in my new neighborhood and was therefore running a little late to get ready for work. The run felt so good in that zone, even if it was slower than I would normally accept for myself. But, I think my choice to keep it easy was a good choice for today. I'm very happy about it. On my mapmyrun ap, I did a #tookiteasy but I really could have done a #finishedwithasmile.
Tomorrow is Kenpo X. I know I skipped legs and back this week, but I think the sore hamstrings from the sprints sort of, in a small way, make up for it.
I'm looking forward to the Kenpo X in the morning and then the jeans and t-shirt I get to wear to work! #happyfriday ;-)
Tuesday, August 5, 2014
Should I Stay Or Should I Go
This has been quite the week! I cannot believe school is starting tomorrow. I haven't gotten my workouts in so much because I've been in the habit of putting it off until the afternoon or evening. I'm thinking I can't really afford to do that anymore since I am finding myself so exhausted and hungry when I get home that all I want to do is eat a dinner and vege out on Netflix for a little bit. A couple of short hours pass by and then its the inevitable fence. You ask yourself, "Should I go out for a night run? Will the Buckeye crop dust settling air be clear enough? I could drive myself over to the mountain trail, but that will add about 20-30 minutes of time to the work-out agenda. I think about the fun I'll have running on the trail and I start to go for it. But, then I realize that I am going to have to run with my night light on my forehead -which, is fine, I guess. But then I start remembering just how sweaty I got and how thirsty I was last time I went out on the mountain trail. I would have to bring my camelback. That's all fine and dandy, but its going to take time to get together.
Then, all of the sudden it sinks in that after the run, I will have to take a shower and dry my hair. Ugh. So…working out at night really isn't the best idea. Procrastinating in general isn't the best idea.
I added a few more things to my 30-Before-30 list and thought, "Wow! I have so much to do in only a year!" I've procrastinated a lot of things (like my health) for 28.9 years. Its time I get to it!
I am going to establish a morning routine. It will be difficult, especially at first. But, I think it will make a big difference.
Tomorrow, I will wake up at 5:30am to go for an early morning jog. Its time to actually follow through with my plans. I am going to do some run/walking for 1-1.5 miles and then come home and do part of P90X Yoga. It wasn't my original plan, but it will have to do.
Then, all of the sudden it sinks in that after the run, I will have to take a shower and dry my hair. Ugh. So…working out at night really isn't the best idea. Procrastinating in general isn't the best idea.
I added a few more things to my 30-Before-30 list and thought, "Wow! I have so much to do in only a year!" I've procrastinated a lot of things (like my health) for 28.9 years. Its time I get to it!
I am going to establish a morning routine. It will be difficult, especially at first. But, I think it will make a big difference.
Tomorrow, I will wake up at 5:30am to go for an early morning jog. Its time to actually follow through with my plans. I am going to do some run/walking for 1-1.5 miles and then come home and do part of P90X Yoga. It wasn't my original plan, but it will have to do.
I know I have only gotten a couple of views from my posts so far. But, if I pretend I have my own "readers" it might help me with that early morning argument I have with myself every time I decide to wake up early.
I just have to remember that if I get up right when I say I will, it will be a good day and the perfect start to a brand new school year. :-)
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