Personal Training

I started personal training with a lovely lady named Julie. She and I have very similar interests and she is very personable. She also keeps me accountable and kicks my butt during sessions. However, I think my session yesterday was a little rough.

I mentioned that my mother had mentioned that my legs will become slimmer and "more shapely" with running and working out in general. Julie took this as "Let's do more squats!" I went through the entire 50 minute session, but after a few hours, my legs were hurting pretty bad. I did some stretches and took some Advil, but nothing seemed to work.

I ended up toughing through the pain because I had bought Dan and our mutual friend Scott tickets to the Cubs v. Diamondbacks game. We're all Cubs fans, Dan being the most fanatic of us, so I didn't want to ruin the evening. Of course, the game went 12 innings and I could hardly walk up and down the stairs, half-joking that Dan owed me so much for staying the entire game.

Fast forward to today. I can move around. It's mostly my quadriceps, or thighs, that are hurting. When I'm walking and moving around, it isn't as bad, but unfortunately, sitting down and getting up makes me scream out in pain. I also cannot go up and down stairs very well. I am thinking that I probably exerted myself too much and, again, didn't listen to my body telling me to stop. This learning process seems to be coming very swiftly for me. I guess the moral of today is to listen to your body when you're exercising. If it hurts too much to even complete a set, stop. It is better to be able to function normally the next day than suffer to do simple activities. Being sore is one thing, but never compromise your health because you think getting that *one* set in will make your work-out "worth it." It's not.

Treadmill

I started working out and running about 3 weeks ago. I took 5 days off because I got very sick, but I started back up with the running on the treadmill. Every day gets a little easier. I don't run every day, as much as I want to. I alternate with some weight machines / free weights and running. If I do run on a "weights day," I keep it to about a mile. However, yesterday (7/22/13), I decided to push myself. I wanted to see how far I could go. Although it was the treadmill, I was determined to try and make it to 2 miles (my previous "record" was running for 1.5 miles straight). My warm-up has always been a quick walk for about .3 or so of a mile. Today was no different. However, once I hit 2 miles, I kept thinking "Okay, maybe I can do just a half mile more." That process kept repeating until I realized I was close to a full 5k. A 5k is roughly 3.2 miles, so when I hit the 3 mile mark, I thought again "Just another half a mile..and I've run a 5k!" I ultimately did it and I was so proud that I nearly cried right there at the gym. My pace that great (about 15-16 minutes a mile), but the simple fact that I could do it boosted my confidence. Now that I know that I can do it, I just need to figure out how to maintain it and maybe get a little faster. Thankfully, both runs that I am signed up for are not timed, so even if I take 45 minutes to run the full length, I won't be penalized.

I realize that I pushed myself really hard really early. This is definitely not recommended. My back kills today and I am pretty much in a forced day of rest. I would never suggest this to someone who is just starting out. I admit that I've made some silly mistakes that are not that great for my body, but it is definitely a learning process. I'm still trying to learn the signals my body gives me and what I can and cannot do yet. It takes time and I ought to listen better to my body. We will see how the rest of the week goes. :) Overall, I'm excited that I am physically capable of doing it. Now, I just want to be able to do it without suffering the next day.

Running Outside Sucks

Let me just state this: I live in Arizona. It's July. Running outside should never be a reality, even to a seasoned runner. I don't care if it's "only" 92 degrees outside. I feel like that's still the sun just taking a quick smoke break to roast Death Valley to extra crispy before coming back to the Valley. However, my cousin gave me the advice of running outside. It's all fine and dandy to be able to run forever on a treadmill, but when you're in actual races, there is no mystical moving belt that isn't going to stop for anything.

First mistake: Trusting my phone's weather app when it told me it was 88 degrees outside.

Seeing that it was "only 88," I decided to go for it. I had already run for a bit at the gym and did some weights, but I didn't feel like I had finished working out.

Second mistake: Capris

I had already thrown my other workout clothes in the wash, so I decided to wear my cotton capris. I also wanted something with pockets, since I wanted to track my run with a few apps on my phone. They seem light, until you want to do anything physical. They are fantastic pants for lounging around the house, just not so good for being active.

Third mistake: It's 1pm

Again, I live in Arizona. In the summer months, although it is the myth of a "dry heat," you pretty much resort to either staying inside, or busting a move from one air conditioned place to another. Anything after about 11am, all the way up until 9pm or 10pm can be brutal in terms of heat.

I decided that 1:15pm was fine, since my phone told me it was 88 degrees. There was a breeze as well, so I figured, eh, what the heck, I'll do it!

As you can see, I did end up making it. However, most of it was a walk instead of a run. I probably only ran for a total of maybe a third to half a mile, if that. But my biggest accomplishment is that I actually did it. My first 5k starts at 7pm, which can be hit or miss with the heat in September. I should probably run outside either early in the morning or later in the evening, but I'd rather be safer next time. Either way, I was proud that I was able to at least be outside and be active, despite hating the heat.

Getting Started / Background

7/23/13

                So I’m starting this off because I decided to make a change in my life. I am (and always have been) overweight, but it has never really bothered me. Even today, I don’t see it as this terrible monster that is bent on consuming me. I never got made fun of very much in school over it, mainly because I was still active in sports, just chubby. I had tons of friends and, even today, am known as the “Puppy,” since I can seemingly make friends with almost anyone. I never had too much trouble getting a boyfriend, so the whole focus on looks was not a priority for me.

However, the desire came when I started teaching. I’m a role model to these kids with my actions and my words.  I teach 7^th grade, a very vulnerable time for many kids as their bodies are changing and they are all trying to conform to what is considered “cool” or in style for the time being. I had a small group of girls in my homeroom who were going through a lot of image and relationship issues. Though I don’t agree with 12 year old girls having boyfriends that young, it’s a reality now n’ days in middle school. The pressure to feel beautiful and to have someone validate that feeling for you is what every preteen and teenager girl wants (and maybe even older). Two girls in particular I treated as if they were my own daughters. I had a very motherly relationship with them since they would come crying to me with their problems, literally. I’ve lost count of how many prep periods I’ve given up to console and comfort these two girls. But, even after all that, I realized that when I tell girls things like “You should be happy with yourself and think of yourself as beautiful first,” that I didn’t necessarily feel that way. I felt like a hypocrite, telling these girls to be happy with themselves when I obviously was not.  I will see these girls again when school starts up in a few weeks, but I definitely did see a positive change. Those two girls will always stick with me in my heart because I truly care about keeping them out of trouble. I realized, though, that I need to find a way to be happy with myself.

I thought about it on and off. I always had an excuse. I’m too busy. My personal life sucks. I’m too tired and just want to sleep. But I like my girls’ nights so much! But things started to fall into place. I got into a better routine at work (never mind the last two weeks of school) and started making it a point to not bring work home so I could focus on me. I left a very volatile relationship and am now with a wonderful gentleman who is nothing but my biggest cheerleader and supporter. I’m still too tired and just want to sleep, but I force myself to work through that mindset. One of my friends from college, Amanda, had asked me several times to go to the gym with her, simply to help keep her motivated. I gave in and decided to go on a free 3-day pass to her gym. It was intimidating! All the machines, super buff (Read: hot!) guys and girls making it look easy, and there I was. I probably would not have stuck around if she had not been there. She showed me a few of the machines and we moved to the treadmills.

Even active in sports in school, I was never a runner. The mile run was the worst day of my life every year. I dreaded it because it highlights how physically inept a student is and can be cause for ridicule, even though the teachers don’t mean for it to become that. Amanda encouraged me to at least try her interval running technique (run for 60s, walk for 30s). The first couple minutes, I hated it. All these memories of running on that stupid track flooded back and made me feel incapable. But she was there, giving me encouragement and the strength I needed to last just a few minutes longer. I decided to see how long I could run straight, with no walking. I made it to 3 minutes and felt exhausted; walking the rest of the 15 minutes we were on the treadmill.

Something hit me after that. I felt tired, but I felt GREAT! I think a large part of exercising is doing it on your own terms. I’m not typically a defiant person, but I don’t like people sitting there and telling me I have to do something a specific way, especially when it comes to my own personal well-being. I remember texting Dan and being so excited about running for 3 minutes. I came home telling him I was going to try for 5 minutes next time.  That’s pretty much where it all started.

I signed up for the Glow Run 5k on September 2^nd, 2013. I’m also doing the ROC (Ridiculous Obstacle Course) 5k in November. Both are more fun and not necessarily about speed, or even running the whole way, but I figured it was a start. All I know is that when I’m running, walking, or just being active, I’m doing my best to be an example for my students. I don’t have children yet, so they are my pride and joy. If I can show one kid that he can change his life for the better on his terms, then I feel I have succeeded. Let’s see what I can do! J