Healthy Changes

Three weeks ago hubby and I started using “My Fitness Pal” app to track our food intake.  After inputting my height and current weight, the app gives you how much calories I should be eating per day. So far I have lost 5.5 lbs.  So far this is working for me.  It is pretty easy to write down everything I eat so now I know exactly what I am eating. I noticed I am making better food choices, tracking everything that goes into my mouth and drinking lots of water.  I am also thinking about whether I really want have that food.

Along with tracking my food, last week I started run/jogging again.  I started at week one again using my “Couch to 5K” app. I haven’t done any running since the beginning of the year. It feels easier this time around.  I’m not getting side splits, tight ribs or searing pain in my lungs so I must be in a little better shape since the last time I used the app.  I’m enjoying going jogging this time and look forward to exercising. Hubby wants to sign up for a 5K.  So I think we will sign up for one after the 9 weeks is over.  I also want to start working on strengthening my upper body with hand weights.

 The other evening when we were coming home from running, we were turning down our street and a skateboard went sailing in front of our car.  We saw a guy on a skateboard turn the corner on our left.  We were wondering where the other skateboarder was so as we drove on we saw the other guy lying in the street not moving.  People come flying down the street so I was worried he might get run over. Hubby stopped and asked if he was alright. I got out of the car and went over to see if he was OK. He turned over and set he was OK. I asked him if he needed help getting up so I helped him stand up.  He said the skateboard had slipped out from underneath him.  He was limping a little. I think he probably got the wind knocked out of him.  I’m glad he was alright.

Running or Lack Of

After my Divas 5K race in June, my running has been really inconsistent or not at all. I haven't been running in a long while so I started up again this week.  The first day I actually enjoyed it.  It felt like I was a runner.  Usually when I run it feels like a chore. I was able to let my mind go and not think about how much I'm not enjoying this and when will it be over.  It was easier jogging.   I am still in the jogging faze and run really really slow. The second day I went out it felt like I was trudging along and not enjoyable at all.  Yesterday I jogged a little faster, had a good pace and let my mind and body go without thinking about how I was jogging.  So maybe I am slowly getting to where I could enjoy it and not think of it as a chore that makes my body hurt.  I was keeping up with hubby who runs a little faster than me.  So two days I've actually felt good and enjoyed the jog this week.

Divas Half Marathon 5K Training Day 3

The beginning of March I started jogging again.  I am training for a 5K race that is in June but I'm at the walk/jog stage right now.  I had planned to run 3 days a week but last week I only ran 2 days.  The first day was good especially after not having run for a while. I am following the C25K program since I have done the program before I started on week 5 which is walking for 5 minute warm up, jog for 8, walk for 5, jog for 8 and a 5 minute cool down. My route has an uphill part which is my warm up but when I get to the top I am usually out of breath when I start jogging.  Once I get on the flat part of the path I can find a comfortable pace to jog at.  The other day it was very hard to run.  I had no energy and my legs felt like lead.  Today's run was really good. I had a good pace going and a comfortable stride.  I felt pretty good after the run.

Couch To 5K Program Week 4

I am  halfway through the Couch 2 5K program.  This week the program has me doing a brisk 5 minute warm up walk.  Jog for 3 minutes. Walk for 1 1/2 minutes. Jog for 5 minutes. Walk for 2 1/2 minutes. Jog for 3 minutes. Walk for 1 1/2 minutes. Jog for 5 minutes.  The last 2 weeks my husband has been doing the program with me even though my husband runs half marathons.  It is nice having someone jogging with me. The first week I started the program jogging by myself. I didn't think l was progressing.  Some of the days it felt like I was going backwards because it didn't feel like it was getting any easier to run.  Yesterdays run was good.  I didn't think I would ever be able to run without getting really winded.  It is getting easier to run. Like everything else some days are better than others.  I am still jogging really slow though.  I am looking for a 5K to run  in a couple of months.  Hopefully I will be able to run the 3.1 miles without stopping.  My husband said he will run the 5K with me.  This week I also changed my app voice from a woman to the zombie.  I didn't think I would like the zombie cuing me but it was fun having him cue me to walk or to jog.

Couch To 5K Week 2

Whew week 2 day 1 was a challenge.  This week is a brisk 5 minute warm up walk.  Alternate 1 ½ minute of jogging and 2 minutes of walking for a total of 21 minutes.  This time I started on the dirt path that goes up the minute and that seemed a little shorter then taking the paved walk.  When I got to the other end I went back on the paved path.  Still seems like I am going slower but the program says I am slowly getting better.  I didn't have much energy again.  I wonder how long it takes before you have more energy, it is easier to run and you can run longer without getting tired.  I wonder how long it takes to notice the difference in how you feel, look and how much you can run?

Couch to 5K Program Day 1

I started the Couch to 5K program today.  I put the C25K app on my phone.    Day 1 the program has you do a brisk walk for 5 minutes, walk for 1 minute and jog for 1 ½ minutes for a total of  20 minutes for 3 days and rest for 2 days. It is a warm day today but I had a pretty good pace going during the running portions.  This wasn’t too bad we will see how I feel tomorrow on my rest day.  I walked/jogged for 1.11 miles this morning.  I did some research on what to eat when starting running and they recommended protein before and after the run.  It is good to eat a lite breakfast an hour before running like a bagel with peanut butter, turkey and cheese on whole wheat bread, a banana and an energy bar, or a bowl of cold cereal with a cup of milk. I didn't have any bananas this morning so I some toast with peanut butter and a glass of chocolate milk before I went running. And of course to hydrate yourself.  Tomorrow is a rest  day.

Taking My Pants For A Walk

Blog Prompt: Today is Take Your Pants for a Walk Day. Go for a walk (or pretend you have gone for a walk) and tell about your walk. What did you see? What was the weather like? What smells surrounded you? What did you hear?

My pants went for a walk/jog along the Quarry trail. At the parking lot near the start of the trail I can see, smell and hear the ocean. I see the cliffs above the ocean. It is sunny and mild but a lot of the times it is foggy. I can see hawks and seagulls flying around the cliffs. I start off walking until I get to the first bench then I jog until I reach the second bench. I start walking so I can catch my breath in between jogging. As I get farther away from the parking lot it is pretty quiet except for the sound of the creek flowing into the ocean, rustling in the bushes and birds singing. I walk/jog past a few people but for the most part I have the trail all to myself. My son rides his scooter along side me encouraging me to keep jogging to the next bench and “you can make it, Mom”. The trail has a slight incline then it levels off. I make it to the other end, turn around and head back to the parking where I stretch after my walk/jog workout.

Image by uzvards via Flickr