2.26.2012

Look how far I've come

I've been planning some running events for this year and I found one that takes place at my high school in April. This one has some meaning to me. When I was in junior high/high school when we would have to run the mile, I would be devastated! I always came in last and most of the time I would end up hyperventilating. I was reduced to the embarrassment of "breathing in a paper bag" in front of my classmates. I have come a long way. I think this is my chance to shine and prove to myself how far I've come. I think doing a 5k on the same grounds where I struggled as a teenager would be awesome. I don't expect to come in first, but finishing strong is my goal. Definitely no breathing in the bag thing...

Run Cougar Run 5K and Fun Run

I'm back on track with working out and feel great! So far I have 3 5k races on my schedule. I'll also do several charity walks throughout the year beginning with the March for Babies walk and Cystic Fibrosis walk in May. No excuses! 2012 is going to be a great year.








2.22.2012

Maintaining a Healthy Diet While Traveling

I have just returned from a long business trip and found this article to be helpful.  Eating Well On the Road

I find it very difficult to maintain a healthy diet when I'm out of town. The projects I've been working on have required me to work long hours which makes it very hard to make healthy choices. Even though I try to keep healthy snacks and plenty of water in my bag, when people bring in donuts and sweets it is hard to resist especially if I haven't eaten a meal in hours.I definitely put on a few pounds on this trip. I recall one day all we had was donuts and chocolate pie! I'm very ashamed of that!

 My goal is to eat clean and get back to the gym this week. I've got to get in shape for the 5k I'm doing on St Patricks Day!



I consumed too much sugar this week and need to cleanse the toxins from my system. I'm also looking into a therapeutic massage.I'm glad I am receiving some much needed time off. It's time to rejuvenate!







2.14.2012

My tribute to Whitney Houston



I am still in shock about the untimely death of one of my favorite music artists of all time, Whitney Houston. I still remember the first time I heard her sing, You Give Good Love on tv, probably on Friday Night Videos. From that point on, I followed her career until it ended. I was such a huge fan of her that I named my youngest daughter, Whitney after her. I cannot imagine the pain and sadness her family is going through. Any time we lose a person we love, it is difficult. But I'm sure that celebrity families have even more trouble dealing with the loss due to the media. I have two daughters, close in age to Bobbi Christina and pray that she is able to deal with the loss of her mother. May God bless all of Whitney's family during this time.

Whitney Houston "You Give Good Love"

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2.02.2012

Spinning recap

What an intense workout! Spinning was fun with my friend Jennifer at our gym on Monday. I was happy that I was able to finish the workout without giving up. I did have some issues though.
  • after spinning for 45 minutes (and trying my best to keep up with the class) when I got off the bike, my legs were very weak. that is understandable since I'm not accustomed to spinning for that length of time or at that intensity. I felt like I would lose my balance when I tried to walk. My legs felt like jello. When I tried to take a few steps, I felt like I would fall on my face. This continued until I got home and several hours later.
  • the next day the soreness began to set in my muscles. First it was my my glutes (from sitting on the bike I'm sure) then my thighs. For the last two days, I have had trouble walking especially after sitting for longer than 30 minutes. It's embarrassing to groan when I get out of my office chair.
  • i have tried massage, warm baths in epsom salt, and light stretching yet the soreness remains.
My pic BEFORE spinning....the after pic would not have been pretty!

Will I spin again? Yes, probably. I consulted one of the trainers at my gym for advice and they suggested that I may not have been hydrated enough. It is also possible that I don't usually exercise at this intensity on a regular basis. I was shocked since I do exercise regularly and my legs are fairly strong since I run and bike several times a week. Next time, I will take it a little slower and easier. And make sure I'm hydrated and properly stretched/warmed up.