Thursday, January 27, 2011
My child knew he was not getting enough exercise
We all know that exercise is good for us. It keeps our heart healthy, helps maintain our weight, improves our mood, keeps us at low risk for a plethora of medical issues, the list goes on and on. For those of us who exercise on a regular basis we know it and can feel it if we do not get our exercise in. Kids are the same as us adults... they need the exercise. For the little ones at my house who are not in school yet we dance each day, do work out videos (which is hysterical by the way... there is nothing cuter then 2 and 3 yr old trying to do push ups) we play games like duck duck goose and ring around the Rosie. All in the name of using our muscles. The older kids though... that's a different story. Physical activity is not treated as important as reading, writing, and arithmetic anymore. I learned just recently that I need to pay a little more attention to the amount of exercise my children are getting at home because the amount at school is NOT enough... at least not enough for my high energy boys!
Not to long ago my 3rd graders teacher called me at home to tell me that my sons behavior was a little distracting, and that he was not very attentive in class. My son is all boy and loves to act goofy so although I could picture in my head exactly what she was talking about, I was still taken off guard and a little shocked. This was the first phone call ever I had gotten in regards to him not behaving and I did not like it. I assured her that his behavior would be better the next day. Well the next day came and I got a little note saying that he was still distracting and unattentive in class. At this point in time I am fuming, I promised her he would behave and I thought I had made it extremely clear to my child what my expectations for of his behavior were the night before when I handed down his punishment. For the record I just happen to get lucky with the punishment. The teachers phone call just happen to be on a highly awaited cub scout meeting day. My son knew he would be recognized for his hard work and would receive a marshmallow shooter. I took him to the meeting and then took the marshmallow shooter away before he even had a chance to open it. It sits in our dinning room just waiting for some devious child to pick it up and launch marshmallows at some unsuspecting individual. (I do not think it will have to wait much longer...I foresee an all out marshmallow attack happening in the near future) When I saw the note I just looked at him with my disappointed mommy face and asked "why?" He responded with "I don't know mom it is probably because we only got 5 min outside today" It was interesting to hear him say this because I had been concerned with their lack of physical play lately but had not expressed those concerns with him. Now some might have taken this as just an 8 yr old making excuses for his bad behavior to get out of trouble but I found it to be a perfect opportunity to turn it into an experiment. "Ok Coop. I will agree that 5 min is NOT enough time for any young child so guess what tomorrow morning I am going to help you get some exercise in before school". Since he is trying to run 25 miles before April for a children's marathon he is participating in I decided to have him run one mile before school two or three days a week. At least on the days that I know it is going to be to cold for the children to have outdoor recess. I will admit that waking him up a little early to get on the treadmill might seem extreme to some and on some days he does not want to get out of bed but by the time he puts on his shoes he is in the mood and once he gets on the treadmill he is all smiles. The first week we tried this out the days that he ran he got a good report from school. There was a day he did not run but had gym, he did well and got a good report that day too but the day that there was no gym class and no running he got another note home that he was distracting. I found this interesting so I continued with my little experiment this week. This week however we have had a couple days that it was warm enough to spend some time outside so he has gotten more exercise just from playing outside after school. That said though so far every day this week he has come home with a good report.
I think my son was right at just 8 years old the child knew what his body needed. I have read that children need 60 min of physical activity each day. When I thought about it I realized that Cooper was not getting nearly that amount in. Except on the days that he had gym class but that is only two days a week. I could safely say that he was getting in under 15 min of walking to and from school and was getting about 15 min at recess time. That is only 30 min, half of what I read was the recommendation for children. That's assuming the weather is good and the kids get an outdoor recess. We live in MI so we have indoor recess a lot and indoor recess only includes board games, movies, coloring and quite activities. No wonder my kid was not attentive. Up until this week he would come home from school, work on homework, eat dinner, have a little free play, get ready for bed, read and then lights out. This week weather was nice so I added 15-30 min of physical play time before he did his home work. I also added an extra 5-10 min each morning right before we walk to school for the kids to play outside. It could be a coincidence but I don't think so. The kids do not have school tomorrow but I can not wait to see how he does next week. I honestly think this lack of phyical activity has everything to do with his lack of attention at school. Keeping my fingers crossed
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
200th mile
Well I reached a milestone the other day that I never in a million years thought I would achieve. 200 miles! To be honest I never thought that I would ever be in a position in which I would even be logging my miles. That all changed 7 months ago when I decided out of the blue that I was going to run a 5k. Thanks to dailymile, my friends at cafemom, and a well known program called Couch to 5k I got my butt up of the couch and ran. I can not tell you how much of a sense of accomplishment I feel knowing that I have already put in 200 miles. I am extremely proud of myself not just for the 200 miles but for knowing I have hundreds more I want to log. It is so surreal for me to look back at my life less then a yr ago and know that I could not run a block without having to stop and walk. Now running a mile is nothing. I have changed my life for the better and knowing that I am setting a positive example for my three young boys is priceless. The example I am setting for my boys is already paying off... my 8 yr old now runs a mile on the treadmill several times a week. He wants to enter races and earn metals, which is all fine and dandy but this mama is just happy that he is interested in something that will keep his heart strong and healthy. My 6 yr old who has not completely jumped on the fitness bandwagon said he wanted to run a race too. (proud mommy moment) I of course also love the fact that I have lost about 15lbs since I started running. I would love to say good bye to another 15 lbs and I know it will not happen over night but I do know that it will happen due to my new physical lifestyle. My mood has improved and I know that if I am having an off day just 30 min on my treadmill (or a run outside but I have forgotten what that's like due to all the snow) will work wonders. Best therapy ever and it is free. I think it is safe to say I have become an addict!
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
on the road again... well treadmill anyways
Well along with ringing in this new year with a 5k I apparently also rang it in with a muscle strain in my right groin area. Dr. says it is a pulled or strained groin physical therapist thinks it is a hip flexor injury possibly. Who knows but already having issues with bulging disks in my back I was feeling a little bit... I don't know gimpy?!?! I knew that I had to take it easy and since I don't have any races or anything coming up I figured this is the best time if any to be on the IR list. Other then one quick 1 mile run just to see how the strained muscle was doing, I had not run in 16 days. YIKES!
Don't think I was sitting back doing nothing for those 16 days though, haha I wish I had been though. My husband got word from his work that he would have to go to Mexico for a week. My family is not used to my husband having to travel. Sure he has gone away for a weekend before but never for a whole week, so the days leading up to his departure the family all hung out which was sooo nice. Then he left... and single parent mode kicked in.
Just a few short hrs after he was gone I realize my Owen is (6) is sick with a fever which lasts two days. Unable to go to school I spent those two days waiting on him hand and foot. This illness of Owens also landed a phone call to poison control when I accidentally gave him two doses of a decongestant instead of one. Thankfully the poison control operator was able to make me feel so much better when he reassured me that the kid had no where near harmful levels in his system. I can not help but wonder if the overdose on decongestant is what caused Owens nose bleed two days later that would not stop bleeding for over 40 min. uuuggg that was fun!
Then there was the huge project Cooper had to do for school. The kid had to make a musical instrument that was able to change pitches. SERIOUSLY?!?! Come on now these kids are 8! Of course the instrument Coop chose required saws, drills, spay paint etc. Yeah like I am going to let my kid lose with power tools... this family project quickly became "a parent project" Ryan before he left took care of building it with him but I was in charge of getting the huge poster together with him. Since I already completed third grade this annoyed me more then I can tell you!
Then there was the dreaded phone call from Coops teacher in the middle of the week saying that he was not behaving in class. His talkativeness and lack of attentiveness had gotten his seat moved to the front of the room. First time ever getting a negative report about this child and it had to happen while dad was gone... oh lord! At least when she called she made a point to tell me how wonderful Coopers project and poster was. ~hahaha
I better not overlook the snow storm that we had too. Back issues and a shovel... lets just say that was not a whole lot of fun. To make it worse I watch kids out of my house and I had 3 children under the age of 3 trying to help me. Their idea of help is definitely NOT my idea of help. Fortunately the neighbor across the street noticed me give up only half way through and brought his snow blower over to finish up the job. (Thank you MR. Will you ROCK!) Had Ryan been home the drive would have been done in just a few short min. because we do have a snow blower, I just have never gone through the formal training on how to use it.
One of the nights he was gone I had to take all the kids to Coopers cub scout meeting. Now normally I would not have taken all the kids to such an event because it lasts way past Jackson's bed time. In a normal situation Ryan or I would take him and the other would stay home with the other two children. I thought about not going at all and just skipping it but Cooper was being recognised this night for his hard work fund raising. So camera in hand I head out the door with the three boys. Of course when I get there I realize the memory card is not in the camera. For the love of God can I not catch a break? As if that is not enough while we are there another parent says to me... "two coworkers of my husbands went to Mexico for work and they got shot just while eating dinner. It is very dangerous" ~uhhh are you kidding me? Some people should make a conscious effort to actually think before they let words fall out of their mouths. Not helping lady, not helping!
My physical therapy was supposed to start two days a week this week. With Ryan being gone and my parents visiting my brother out of state I had to cancel one of the appointments. Thank goodness my in laws were gracious enough to come over and watch the kids one of the nights so I did not have to miss both apts.
Of course I wanted Ryan to come home to a clean house so every night once the kids went to bed I would bust out the cleaning supplies and bust ass getting as much as I could done before I had to get to bed. I did great in this department and came up with 3 garbage bags worth of stuff to throw away. I always feel so much better when the house is clean despite whatever is going on around me.
The day Ryan came home I took the kids to get hair cuts, the kids wanted to get him flowers, (I got him beer) we made a poster and we baked cookies and when we knew he was close we hid under the table and shouted surprise when he walked in.
So as you can see I was not just sitting on my butt eating Bon Bons this whole time I was taking a break from running. Ryan is home now, thank God, and I am getting back into it slowly. I was able to run 1.5 today and unfortunately the strained muscle is killing me now but was not horrible until 3/4 a mile in while I was running today. I hope that with stretching and ice I can get this thing under control. I also got in a mile walk and the 30 day shred. Doing the 30 day shred I realize that my arms must be made of jello or wet noodles, and I do not even own weights so I was using 1lb soup cans. Note to self get butt back in the gym for some weight training. hahaah
Don't think I was sitting back doing nothing for those 16 days though, haha I wish I had been though. My husband got word from his work that he would have to go to Mexico for a week. My family is not used to my husband having to travel. Sure he has gone away for a weekend before but never for a whole week, so the days leading up to his departure the family all hung out which was sooo nice. Then he left... and single parent mode kicked in.
Just a few short hrs after he was gone I realize my Owen is (6) is sick with a fever which lasts two days. Unable to go to school I spent those two days waiting on him hand and foot. This illness of Owens also landed a phone call to poison control when I accidentally gave him two doses of a decongestant instead of one. Thankfully the poison control operator was able to make me feel so much better when he reassured me that the kid had no where near harmful levels in his system. I can not help but wonder if the overdose on decongestant is what caused Owens nose bleed two days later that would not stop bleeding for over 40 min. uuuggg that was fun!
Then there was the huge project Cooper had to do for school. The kid had to make a musical instrument that was able to change pitches. SERIOUSLY?!?! Come on now these kids are 8! Of course the instrument Coop chose required saws, drills, spay paint etc. Yeah like I am going to let my kid lose with power tools... this family project quickly became "a parent project" Ryan before he left took care of building it with him but I was in charge of getting the huge poster together with him. Since I already completed third grade this annoyed me more then I can tell you!
Then there was the dreaded phone call from Coops teacher in the middle of the week saying that he was not behaving in class. His talkativeness and lack of attentiveness had gotten his seat moved to the front of the room. First time ever getting a negative report about this child and it had to happen while dad was gone... oh lord! At least when she called she made a point to tell me how wonderful Coopers project and poster was. ~hahaha
I better not overlook the snow storm that we had too. Back issues and a shovel... lets just say that was not a whole lot of fun. To make it worse I watch kids out of my house and I had 3 children under the age of 3 trying to help me. Their idea of help is definitely NOT my idea of help. Fortunately the neighbor across the street noticed me give up only half way through and brought his snow blower over to finish up the job. (Thank you MR. Will you ROCK!) Had Ryan been home the drive would have been done in just a few short min. because we do have a snow blower, I just have never gone through the formal training on how to use it.
One of the nights he was gone I had to take all the kids to Coopers cub scout meeting. Now normally I would not have taken all the kids to such an event because it lasts way past Jackson's bed time. In a normal situation Ryan or I would take him and the other would stay home with the other two children. I thought about not going at all and just skipping it but Cooper was being recognised this night for his hard work fund raising. So camera in hand I head out the door with the three boys. Of course when I get there I realize the memory card is not in the camera. For the love of God can I not catch a break? As if that is not enough while we are there another parent says to me... "two coworkers of my husbands went to Mexico for work and they got shot just while eating dinner. It is very dangerous" ~uhhh are you kidding me? Some people should make a conscious effort to actually think before they let words fall out of their mouths. Not helping lady, not helping!
My physical therapy was supposed to start two days a week this week. With Ryan being gone and my parents visiting my brother out of state I had to cancel one of the appointments. Thank goodness my in laws were gracious enough to come over and watch the kids one of the nights so I did not have to miss both apts.
Of course I wanted Ryan to come home to a clean house so every night once the kids went to bed I would bust out the cleaning supplies and bust ass getting as much as I could done before I had to get to bed. I did great in this department and came up with 3 garbage bags worth of stuff to throw away. I always feel so much better when the house is clean despite whatever is going on around me.
The day Ryan came home I took the kids to get hair cuts, the kids wanted to get him flowers, (I got him beer) we made a poster and we baked cookies and when we knew he was close we hid under the table and shouted surprise when he walked in.
So as you can see I was not just sitting on my butt eating Bon Bons this whole time I was taking a break from running. Ryan is home now, thank God, and I am getting back into it slowly. I was able to run 1.5 today and unfortunately the strained muscle is killing me now but was not horrible until 3/4 a mile in while I was running today. I hope that with stretching and ice I can get this thing under control. I also got in a mile walk and the 30 day shred. Doing the 30 day shred I realize that my arms must be made of jello or wet noodles, and I do not even own weights so I was using 1lb soup cans. Note to self get butt back in the gym for some weight training. hahaah
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Happy New Year
Well here we are in the first week of 2011 and I am so excited to see what this year holds for me.
This year has already started off so much different then 2010. This time last year I remember thinking "ok this is a new yr and it is going to be better then the last" after all 2009 was probably the worst year I had ever had. We live in Michigan and like many others here. our lives were dependant on the automotive business. Although my husbands job was spared we took a huge hit and it was a very very rough year. I vowed that 2010 would be better and fortunately it was. So starting off this year already on a good note is a great feeling.
I always make New Years resolutions although I do not know why because I do not think I have ever kept one. One year it was to not cuss so much but that shit never lasted. (ha ha although since I am around so many children I am much much better then I used to be) Another year was to quit smoking (which I have since done but I quit about 5 years after I made that New Years resolution) then last yr I said that I was going to do a chin up. I know this is a strange resolution but the mentality behind it was that I would have to get in shape and lose weight to be able to do that. I of course could have just said my new years resolution was to get in shape and lose weight... but that would not have been very original now would it? (besides I am sure I have used those resolutions in past years as well with no luck) Whats funny is that I never even tried to do a chin up last year. Typical! Even though I never tried to do a chin up I did get a membership to the YMCA and I went 4 days a week for a whole 5 months. After I lost only 4 lbs in those 5 months I was discouraged to say the least! I did not give up though I just switched it up a bit and started running. I do not go to the YMCA half as often as I should now because you do not need a membership to run but I am in significantly better shape then when I stopped going 4 times a week. So even though last years resolution was a fail, I don't really care because good still came out of it.
Looking back at 2010 I am very proud of myself. I wanted to get in shape and although I am far from being in shape I have made huge strides in that area. I exercise at least 4 days a week, when I run a mile takes very little effort and now I run 5k's for fun. I have not felt so happy and healthy in a long time. Lets remember here I have three kids, I have spent about 6 years of the last 8 either pregnant or nursing. It feels so good to be able to take back my body. Not just physically but mentally too, it is amazing how a good work out can change your mood. I find it so interesting that when I get a little down or stressed out I will start to crave a work out almost like a craving for chips. I am just very happy with the changes I made in 2010.
I started 2011 off right I ran a 5k, just because a could and while I ran I was able to reflect on how far I had come in just 6 months. I also though about a resolution for this year, and whether or not to even make one since they have been kinda pointless for me. I was about 2 miles into the 5k when I started to get bad pain in my hip and that is when I decided for sure to make a resolution. Sure I still have weight to lose, would like to get into better physical shape and still do not know if I can do a chin up but in that moment of running with pain just a mile short of finishing my 5k I said to myself "don't give up just don't give up" I think those three little words are all I need to get me though this year feeling good about myself.
I have walked into 2011 with some disk issues in my back, and what I suspect is a hip flexors strain (I hope to find out more at the dr. this week) but I will not give up. This is one New Years Resolution that I am sure I can keep this year and every year after.
This year has already started off so much different then 2010. This time last year I remember thinking "ok this is a new yr and it is going to be better then the last" after all 2009 was probably the worst year I had ever had. We live in Michigan and like many others here. our lives were dependant on the automotive business. Although my husbands job was spared we took a huge hit and it was a very very rough year. I vowed that 2010 would be better and fortunately it was. So starting off this year already on a good note is a great feeling.
I always make New Years resolutions although I do not know why because I do not think I have ever kept one. One year it was to not cuss so much but that shit never lasted. (ha ha although since I am around so many children I am much much better then I used to be) Another year was to quit smoking (which I have since done but I quit about 5 years after I made that New Years resolution) then last yr I said that I was going to do a chin up. I know this is a strange resolution but the mentality behind it was that I would have to get in shape and lose weight to be able to do that. I of course could have just said my new years resolution was to get in shape and lose weight... but that would not have been very original now would it? (besides I am sure I have used those resolutions in past years as well with no luck) Whats funny is that I never even tried to do a chin up last year. Typical! Even though I never tried to do a chin up I did get a membership to the YMCA and I went 4 days a week for a whole 5 months. After I lost only 4 lbs in those 5 months I was discouraged to say the least! I did not give up though I just switched it up a bit and started running. I do not go to the YMCA half as often as I should now because you do not need a membership to run but I am in significantly better shape then when I stopped going 4 times a week. So even though last years resolution was a fail, I don't really care because good still came out of it.
Looking back at 2010 I am very proud of myself. I wanted to get in shape and although I am far from being in shape I have made huge strides in that area. I exercise at least 4 days a week, when I run a mile takes very little effort and now I run 5k's for fun. I have not felt so happy and healthy in a long time. Lets remember here I have three kids, I have spent about 6 years of the last 8 either pregnant or nursing. It feels so good to be able to take back my body. Not just physically but mentally too, it is amazing how a good work out can change your mood. I find it so interesting that when I get a little down or stressed out I will start to crave a work out almost like a craving for chips. I am just very happy with the changes I made in 2010.
I started 2011 off right I ran a 5k, just because a could and while I ran I was able to reflect on how far I had come in just 6 months. I also though about a resolution for this year, and whether or not to even make one since they have been kinda pointless for me. I was about 2 miles into the 5k when I started to get bad pain in my hip and that is when I decided for sure to make a resolution. Sure I still have weight to lose, would like to get into better physical shape and still do not know if I can do a chin up but in that moment of running with pain just a mile short of finishing my 5k I said to myself "don't give up just don't give up" I think those three little words are all I need to get me though this year feeling good about myself.
I have walked into 2011 with some disk issues in my back, and what I suspect is a hip flexors strain (I hope to find out more at the dr. this week) but I will not give up. This is one New Years Resolution that I am sure I can keep this year and every year after.
Friday, December 17, 2010
A new pair of Saucony shoes!
So a few weeks back I looked at my sons shoes and they were falling apart after just 3 months of use. I was less then thrilled because kid shoes here at my house just do not last long. Not because the kids grow out of them but because the playground at the kids school is made from gravel. That's what happens when you live in the gavel capital of the U.S. Each and every day these kids play outside on the gravel and that does not bode well for any shoe. Needless to say I try not to spend to much on the kids shoes and I am always looking for the sales. Since it is winter and my son will be wearing boots outside on the play ground I decided to splurge and get him a real pair of running shoes. He was so excited when he found out he was getting "real running shoes" The other day they showed up in the mail. 8 year old Coopers first pair of Saucony running shoes!!
Cooper prides himself on how fast of a runner he is. In preschool he came home one day saying "mommy I am the fastest kid in my school" Then in kindergarten the same thing "mommy I am the fastest kid in my class" I would usually blow it off with a "oh that's great dear" or a "good for you buddy!" Then we went to parent teacher conferences and his gym teacher made a point to tell me how fast he was. Keep in mind that I was not a runner at this time, nor did I have any interest in running. The fact that my son could run fast did not mean much to me. Aside from the obvious joy he got from being the fastest in the class I could have cared less to be honest.
At the end of each school year there is always a field day. One of the contests is the 50 yard dash. He has not lost yet. ha ha
Then there is the annual fund run at the school. The goal of this is to have the kids find people who will pledge them money for every lap around the parking lot they run in 10 min. They keep track by giving the kids a rubber band around their wrist every time they complete a lap. A great way to make the school money and yet provide the children with exercise. Every year I take all the children I am watching that day and we head over and cheer on the runners. We all get dressed up in whatever colors Coopers class is
supposed to be wearing for the run. (we of course do this for Owen as well now that he is in kindergarten) We make posters and bring our "outdoor" voices. It is always a fun event. Each year it is the same thing, Cooper starts off as fast as he can go and then fizzles out due to a cramp. I guess at 8 it is hard to understand the importance of pacing yourself. Owen on the other hand although not to fast ran the whole 10 min. without stopping. Which I found quite impressive. (Owen is my 6 yr old child who refuses to play duck duck goose because he is not fast ha ha)
This particular photo to the left was in our local news paper. It happens to be one of my fav. pics of all time. Look how happy little Jackson is to be supporting his big brother and Cooper, well lets just say he was loving the attention that not just his little brother was giving him but all the kids I brought with us that day.
On September 18th of this year I ran my first 5k and Cooper wanted to run too. Mostly because he knew he was going to get a medal I'm sure but that did not matter to me. I was just so happy that he was taking part in the event with me. To be honest when I got to the finish line and he was standing there with his medal on I was so proud of him, I could not wait to hear how he had done. His words were "mom I was in first place the whole time... until I got the cramp" ahhahaah Yep, needs to work on pacing himself. This is the picture of Coop and I after we got home and out of the thunderstorm that we ran in.
Cooper came home from school the other day and could not wait to tell me about how fast he was in his new shoes during gym class. He loves his shoes and I love how happy they make him. The other day I was looking at different races and he saw a kid marathon that he wants to take part in. How can you say no to that right? I do not know if he will continue to like running but I do know that while it has his interest, I will be there to cheer him on. I hope we can get Owen on board as well because I see a lot of potential for that little guy as well.
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Cooper 2010 Fund Run |
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| Owen 2010 Fund Run |
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Biggest Loser Challenge
I love a good challenge. I am not sure if it is the competitiveness in me coming out or if I am just a glutton for punishment that makes me join them. I take any competition I do seriously and therefore work hard at the challenge. This month is no exception I have committed to doing 50 miles in the month of Dec. I will work hard and do my best to make sure I run each and every mile of this competition. I do have 10 miles in already and although I am happy with that I know I need to pick up the pace.
Friday marked the end of a different challenge for me. It was a Biggest Loser contest which lasted 3 months. This sounded like the perfect challenge for me, I had weight that I wanted to lose, and half the money that was put into the contest would go to the Ronald McDonald house. I was going to support a great charity and lose weight at the same time, not much can be better then that right? It did not go as well as I had hopped for, but I did get a lot out of it and shed a few lbs too!
This challenge started in Sep. and I was on top of my game, running 3/4 times a week training for my first 5k. I had it all together I was eating great, training well and I was even in the lead of the Biggest Loser contest. I ran my 5k and afterwards my shins just were not the same. I was in a lot of pain. I slowed down my running but that did not help. So I took some time off to rest my legs, about two weeks. I started up again slowly and then got hit with a very strange stomach bug. Whatever it was kept me down for another week and a half. I was feeling very down for the whole month but I was able to modify my diet and still continue losing weight, just not as much as I would have liked.
Feeling defeated already, a bomb was dropped that kinda had me wondering why I did this challenge at all. I found out that one of the contestants decided that she would go on the hCG diet. For those of you who do not know what that is... it is a diet where you eat only 500 calories and then receive injections of hCG. Doing this is supposed to give you a weight loss of 1-3 lbs per week. There is no way that I or anyone else in this challenge would be able to keep up with that. I have read that 500 calories is not enough to support normal brain function but I am not a dr. so I will keep my mouth shut.
Anyways hearing this took the wind out of my sail. I was in a place of, well shit if I had known that there was no way of winning just by using hard work and dedication I would have just written the Ronald McDonald house a check and called it a day. I continued to lose weight and I was happy about it but I did not push myself as hard as I could have and my weight loss was minimal. My negative attitude towards the whole thing was not helpful, and I remember one night eating a piece of cake thinking io myself well it is not as if I have any chance to win anyways.
I went into this challenge not with the thought that I might win the grand prize of just over a $100.00 but to support a good cause and lose weight in the process. So why did I get hung up on the whole competition part of it all?
My legs eventually started feeling better and I threw myself right back into running. Mile upon mile I ran until those negative thoughts were gone. Running is the best therapy I swear it is! I became ok with the thought of not winning the challenge. I tried to look at it like any other race or challenge I participated in this past fall. When I run in a race I know I am not going to win, infact the thought of winning does not even occur to me. There is a quote that I once saw on a friend's facebook page that I should have kept in mind the whole time I was feeling down about the outcome of the challenge... "It's very hard in the beginning to understand that the whole idea is not to beat the other runners. Eventually you learn that the competition is against the little voice inside you that wants you to quit".- George Sheehan
Friday marked the end of a different challenge for me. It was a Biggest Loser contest which lasted 3 months. This sounded like the perfect challenge for me, I had weight that I wanted to lose, and half the money that was put into the contest would go to the Ronald McDonald house. I was going to support a great charity and lose weight at the same time, not much can be better then that right? It did not go as well as I had hopped for, but I did get a lot out of it and shed a few lbs too!
This challenge started in Sep. and I was on top of my game, running 3/4 times a week training for my first 5k. I had it all together I was eating great, training well and I was even in the lead of the Biggest Loser contest. I ran my 5k and afterwards my shins just were not the same. I was in a lot of pain. I slowed down my running but that did not help. So I took some time off to rest my legs, about two weeks. I started up again slowly and then got hit with a very strange stomach bug. Whatever it was kept me down for another week and a half. I was feeling very down for the whole month but I was able to modify my diet and still continue losing weight, just not as much as I would have liked.
Feeling defeated already, a bomb was dropped that kinda had me wondering why I did this challenge at all. I found out that one of the contestants decided that she would go on the hCG diet. For those of you who do not know what that is... it is a diet where you eat only 500 calories and then receive injections of hCG. Doing this is supposed to give you a weight loss of 1-3 lbs per week. There is no way that I or anyone else in this challenge would be able to keep up with that. I have read that 500 calories is not enough to support normal brain function but I am not a dr. so I will keep my mouth shut.
Anyways hearing this took the wind out of my sail. I was in a place of, well shit if I had known that there was no way of winning just by using hard work and dedication I would have just written the Ronald McDonald house a check and called it a day. I continued to lose weight and I was happy about it but I did not push myself as hard as I could have and my weight loss was minimal. My negative attitude towards the whole thing was not helpful, and I remember one night eating a piece of cake thinking io myself well it is not as if I have any chance to win anyways.
I went into this challenge not with the thought that I might win the grand prize of just over a $100.00 but to support a good cause and lose weight in the process. So why did I get hung up on the whole competition part of it all?
My legs eventually started feeling better and I threw myself right back into running. Mile upon mile I ran until those negative thoughts were gone. Running is the best therapy I swear it is! I became ok with the thought of not winning the challenge. I tried to look at it like any other race or challenge I participated in this past fall. When I run in a race I know I am not going to win, infact the thought of winning does not even occur to me. There is a quote that I once saw on a friend's facebook page that I should have kept in mind the whole time I was feeling down about the outcome of the challenge... "It's very hard in the beginning to understand that the whole idea is not to beat the other runners. Eventually you learn that the competition is against the little voice inside you that wants you to quit".- George Sheehan
In the end I lost 15lbs and although I would have liked to have lost more I am happy about the amount I have lost. I wish I could have been more positive throughout the challenge perhaps a more positive attitude would have helped lose a couple more pounds. Who knows but the competition is over hCG girl won of course, and that is ok. I know that I worked hard and my body is so much more physically fit then it was 3 months ago. I am proud of myself!
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
putting things into perspective
The whole running thing is still very new to me and I am still working on finding "the balance". You know what I am talking about right? The balance between church, family, work, friends, home, and then to add in fitness, well it is extremely challenging. I wish there was a simple way to make it all work but as I am finding out this is not the case.
I knew that this past Sunday was supposed to be a running day for me, so Sat night I went to bed at a decent time and set my alarm for 6am. I do not need to leave for church until 9:30 so this would give me plenty of time to run, take a shower, make breakfast, get the kids ready and be off by 9:30am. Around 3am dead to the world I hear this little whisper next to my bed. "mom, I had an accident I am going to the basement to sleep" "ok sweetie, love you" I reply. It was not until the alarm went off at 6am that I realized that if my boy was sleeping in the basement next to my treadmill I would not be able to run. I sat up and contemplated what I should do, it was raining and cold outside so I knew running outside was NOT going to happen. Should I wake him up for the day, should I try to move him to my bed, do I let him sleep and just run after church? I chose to run after church. After church the sun was shinning and although still rather cold I thought running outside might be a good idea but just as I was thinking this my son says to me "mom can we go swimming at the YMCA today" The other boys squeal at the idea of going swimming and so I thought ok sure get to the YMCA work out for 1.5 hrs, and then let them swim for 1.5 hrs everyone will be happy. To their extreme delight we ate lunch got ready (which took FOREVER) and then headed out. I should have realized when I pulled up in the parking lot and there were not that many cars there that something was up. I walked the kids in and asked when the child watch would open, the lady replied "oh sweetie on Sundays the child watch is closed" Ok so I knew this and have know this for the last 8 months that I have had this membership only for some reason this particular day it slipped my mind. Still thinking positive I say to the kids ok we swim for 1 hr and then we go home so mommy can run. The kids swim and have a great time for the next 60 min and when their time was up I rushed to get them showered and dressed. On the way home the sun is no longer shinning and the temp is dropping so I decide the treadmill is the way to go. I made the kids dinner and told them that I wanted 1hr by myself with no interruptions. I let them know that if they needed anything they were to ask daddy. I flew down the steps to hop on the treadmill. I got in about 6 min. before the first interruption happened, my oldest wanted to ask me if he could go outside. I was annoyed and said "uhhh helllooo you walked right past your father just so you could come bug me? Go talk to your dad" About 3 min. after that my youngest came down..."mommy mommy mommy I need the little people animals for Noah's Ark" I do not like to talk while running but I muster "J they are in the blue tub in the closet" He proceeds to walk around as if he has never been in the basement before in his life asking what closet. He finally finds the closet and proceeds to pull random tubs of toys out (not the blue tub) I end up getting so annoyed I get off the treadmill and help him. I now am pissy. Every attempt to run today was squashed. Upset that between church and the pool I had given my husband over 5 hrs of alone time to get done what he needed to do, upset that I took the children to the pool to give them something they wanted and yet none of them could reciprocate and give me more then 6 min. before interrupting me. I only got in 1 mile before I gave up. 1 mile, thats it, thats all I got! My pity party was short lived though because there was one last thing on my to due list for the day... go to the visitation for my friends husband who had just passed away.
Yes, my day did not go as I had planned and yes the one thing I wanted to get accomplished did not happen. (at least the way I had wanted it too) Getting dressed and ready to go to this visitation I had to remind myself that there is a balance that needs to be maintained. Without any one of the things in my life that I am trying to balance I would be devastated. Just like my friend. So my pity party ended and counted my blessings that I have my boys, my husband, my extended family, my church, my friends, my job, and my health. It no longer seemed like just 1 mile and more like alright at least I got in a mile. balancing everything is something that I am not going to learn over night and stuff is going to come up. The laundry is not always going to be done, I might not always get to church on time, the kids might not always have a hot dinner, I might not always get to run more then 1 mile and that is ok. Crap and now I have to stop typing because I only have 8 min. to pick up the kids from school....BALANCE!! (lol)
I knew that this past Sunday was supposed to be a running day for me, so Sat night I went to bed at a decent time and set my alarm for 6am. I do not need to leave for church until 9:30 so this would give me plenty of time to run, take a shower, make breakfast, get the kids ready and be off by 9:30am. Around 3am dead to the world I hear this little whisper next to my bed. "mom, I had an accident I am going to the basement to sleep" "ok sweetie, love you" I reply. It was not until the alarm went off at 6am that I realized that if my boy was sleeping in the basement next to my treadmill I would not be able to run. I sat up and contemplated what I should do, it was raining and cold outside so I knew running outside was NOT going to happen. Should I wake him up for the day, should I try to move him to my bed, do I let him sleep and just run after church? I chose to run after church. After church the sun was shinning and although still rather cold I thought running outside might be a good idea but just as I was thinking this my son says to me "mom can we go swimming at the YMCA today" The other boys squeal at the idea of going swimming and so I thought ok sure get to the YMCA work out for 1.5 hrs, and then let them swim for 1.5 hrs everyone will be happy. To their extreme delight we ate lunch got ready (which took FOREVER) and then headed out. I should have realized when I pulled up in the parking lot and there were not that many cars there that something was up. I walked the kids in and asked when the child watch would open, the lady replied "oh sweetie on Sundays the child watch is closed" Ok so I knew this and have know this for the last 8 months that I have had this membership only for some reason this particular day it slipped my mind. Still thinking positive I say to the kids ok we swim for 1 hr and then we go home so mommy can run. The kids swim and have a great time for the next 60 min and when their time was up I rushed to get them showered and dressed. On the way home the sun is no longer shinning and the temp is dropping so I decide the treadmill is the way to go. I made the kids dinner and told them that I wanted 1hr by myself with no interruptions. I let them know that if they needed anything they were to ask daddy. I flew down the steps to hop on the treadmill. I got in about 6 min. before the first interruption happened, my oldest wanted to ask me if he could go outside. I was annoyed and said "uhhh helllooo you walked right past your father just so you could come bug me? Go talk to your dad" About 3 min. after that my youngest came down..."mommy mommy mommy I need the little people animals for Noah's Ark" I do not like to talk while running but I muster "J they are in the blue tub in the closet" He proceeds to walk around as if he has never been in the basement before in his life asking what closet. He finally finds the closet and proceeds to pull random tubs of toys out (not the blue tub) I end up getting so annoyed I get off the treadmill and help him. I now am pissy. Every attempt to run today was squashed. Upset that between church and the pool I had given my husband over 5 hrs of alone time to get done what he needed to do, upset that I took the children to the pool to give them something they wanted and yet none of them could reciprocate and give me more then 6 min. before interrupting me. I only got in 1 mile before I gave up. 1 mile, thats it, thats all I got! My pity party was short lived though because there was one last thing on my to due list for the day... go to the visitation for my friends husband who had just passed away.
Yes, my day did not go as I had planned and yes the one thing I wanted to get accomplished did not happen. (at least the way I had wanted it too) Getting dressed and ready to go to this visitation I had to remind myself that there is a balance that needs to be maintained. Without any one of the things in my life that I am trying to balance I would be devastated. Just like my friend. So my pity party ended and counted my blessings that I have my boys, my husband, my extended family, my church, my friends, my job, and my health. It no longer seemed like just 1 mile and more like alright at least I got in a mile. balancing everything is something that I am not going to learn over night and stuff is going to come up. The laundry is not always going to be done, I might not always get to church on time, the kids might not always have a hot dinner, I might not always get to run more then 1 mile and that is ok. Crap and now I have to stop typing because I only have 8 min. to pick up the kids from school....BALANCE!! (lol)
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