FamilyInShape

Running, Chafing, lessons learned

Chafing, according to Google's definition is "to make sore by rubbing" against an article of clothing, for example.  In my case the chafing occurred as a result of rubbing skin. That's right! I decided it would be a great idea to go for a run in the middle of the day when the temperatures where in the 80's. Why not? It was hotter in GTMO at 7:00 AM and I ran plenty there.

Difference? Being prepared.  Nothing feels more uncomfortable than to feel your skin burning while you're running and knowing full well that you still need to go home.  When the burning begins two miles into the run and you have at least one mile before you can feel relief, it hits you. This is going to SUCK!!

Sweat drips from all over the place and every drop feels like fire. It's like pouring salt or lemon juice on an open wound, over and over and over again. What the HECK was I thinking???

I finished a three mile run in 31 minutes. Probably the slowest run since I started seriously running three years ago. Shameful is what that was but at the time, the pace was not of concerned since I still had to get home and it didn't matter if I ran or walked, it was going to burn just the same.  I ran for a bit pulling my pants down between my legs, surely that must have looked interesting to the motorists.   Then I adopted this side to side hop/run thing to help keep my thighs from touching each other and causing further damage.

Oh it gets better... I finally made it home, almost in tears. First things first... a shower. Of course, right, that should be a huge relief...yup.... EXCEPT when you soap up immediately and realize that the soap feels like someone just poured lemon juice in your eyes! Did I mention this was a great run through a beautiful lake with awesome paved and unpaved trails? Really, it was.

Anyway, I finally got myself cleaned up and decided it would be best to wear long pants to protect my hurting skin.  I little baby powder and it felt much better.  So what happened? This is not my first run in any temperature, what went wrong?

#1 I did not even think about preparing for my run.  Preparing means drinking lots of fluids (and by fluids I mean water) the night before, having clothes, shoes, socks, sports bra AND my anti-chafing stick ready.

#2 I spent the morning unpacking, sitting, standing and feeling defeated.  The run came in when I felt like I was going to jump out of my first floor window. I realized I needed to go do something physically active that would help me think, refocus...so it was totally an impulse run, still.... the anti-chafing stick, hello?!?

Lessons Learned:

#1 Prepare, plan, stick the routine, keep your gear organized. That way there is never an excuse to not go running or worse yet, to end up running and with chafed inner thighs.

#2 Don't let your circumstances, stress, the recent move (that's me), or anything else (excluding emergencies and illness of course) keep you from doing something just for you---walk, run, yoga, meditation, sleep.

Running... well, I have a new goal. Can I just act like a teenager who just found out she's going to see the latest teen idol (whomever he is these days, I'm so out of it now that my teen is away at college).... OMG, OMG, OMG.... I'm going to be a princess in February!! Tee hee hee hee!! Woot! Woot! I gotta text my BFF!! OK there. WOW a lot of words and nothing concrete was ever said.  What I'm trying to say is that I am going to run the Disney Princess Half Marathon in Orlando next February.  YUP! I signed up, I will make my travel plans shortly and I will be meeting some of my awesome and inspirational friends in Florida to run 13.1 miles just because we can and I am thrilled to have a goal, and this is a huge goal for me.

Disney's Princess 1/2 Marathon

OK. There now. Go get excited about your goals. I don't care how small you think they are. Own them. They are YOUR goals.

My training will begin in a few weeks but in the mean time I will continue running a few days a week just to keep up the routine and trust me, I will never again run without using my anti-chafing stick. By the way, you can also use any deodorant that is not a gel or spray.  It has to be the white deodorant most people avoid because of the clumping and stripes it leaves on your clothes. Trust me, it works, I rub that anywhere skin touches skin or sports bra touches skin.

I will keep you posted on my progress. If you're working on whatever... share it! Tell me about it!

Stay Well,

Terie

Back from Guantanamo...where's my motivation?

We are back from the island. WOW the last three years were the most memorable, active, engaging, and best years in our military career. They really were.

Have you ever been someplace you couldn't get enough of, but at the same time, you couldn't wait to leave?

That's sort of how GTMO was for us.  We moved to Cuba in the fall of 2009 not knowing at all what to expect, except that it was going to be different than any other duty station.  I could not find any information online about what it was like to live there, which was frustrating as we were moving with kids and I really needed to know more, but that wasn't the case. Just about anything out there concerning Guantanamo Bay relates only to the Detainee Camps. That is not what it's all about. But I'm not going to try and cover it all in my first post back on this site.  If you really want to learn more, read my blog Our Life In Guantanamo Bay and start at the beginning. That's the first thing I did when we arrived. I created a blog to help others learn about life in GTMO. The blog was a huge success and I met many wonderful people who moved to Cuba knowing a little more than we did.

While living in GTMO we were engaged in so many activities that it was hard not to stay in shape. You have to really want to not do anything because there was something for everyone, every age, every level.  Before leaving the states I was teaching fitness and trying out a few new things. I felt so accomplished.

Then I went to Cuba and started teaching Bootcamp, SPIN, Pilates.  OK well I was doing that before.  But then I met some friends and started running again. Both of them accoplished marathon runners and me. NOT good.  But they didn't give up on me and they "allowed" me to walk when I needed to.  I didn't like slowing them down so I worked hard to run through those hills but they pulled me back and said "just walk the hills, your run time will be about the same, you'll do great."  Then I started doing 5Ks, 10Ks, 1/2 marathon and before long I realized I was no longer walking those hills.

There were no specific expectation from anyone, just me not willing to be the slow one and me really enjoying the time spent with my friends during those runs.  I was most proud when I started running alone or with my dog and still managed to feel great and exceed my own limits.

Now I'm back in the states and I can count on one hand the number of times I've gone out running.  I'm not happy about that because now I'm not teaching, I'm not diving, not Kayaking or playing Soccer, I'm really not doing anything that even comes close to my level of activity when we were still in Cuba.  More than anything, I miss the natural energy and desire I had for running.  The temperature and environment are definitely better here so I really have no excuse. Except that I'm stressed. This has been the hardest move for us and while I realize that running will help manage stress, it is that stress that is eating up my motivation to run.

I know what I need to do. I know running will help me manage stress. I know once I'm out there I will be happy, I will enjoy it and I will get my mojo back.  But that's just it. Everyday I get up early because I'm going to run and everyday I end up not running because I'm tired, didn't sleep well, I feel achy.  I have never whined so much.

I decided to write about my lack of motivation because maybe I need a little external push. If I see it in writing I'll realize how ridiculous my excuses are. I'm taking action. I have to.

1. I will find a 5K and sign up.

2. I will set up some goals for the week--write them down and tell my family. I need to be accountable to someone other than me.

3. I will keep a log of what I eat on MyFitnessPal.com and Set up some running goals on Nike+ Running.

4. I will be back!!!

I'm fighting my way back and I know it will be worth it. 

Have you fallen off your fitness wagon? What are you doing to get it back?

Stay Well,

Terie

Walking- taking small steps for big changes

 

"shadows of a walk" 

Walking has to be the cheapest, safest, easiest form of physical exercise out there. It is a great way to start a fitness program without actually paying gym fees or going to a gym, can be done with family, friends, kids on bikes or strollers, etc.  Did I mention it was free? It is, unless you feel the urge to purchase cute walking outfits and cool walking shoes; which is not such a bad idea.  Still cheaper then gym fees.

Since I moved I have taken up walking with my toddler in the stroller and my young peanut on her bike.  My walks become runs every now and again when the peanut decides to go far ahead of me and I have to catch up.  Try doing that uphill with a 30 lb kid in the stroller!  Ouch on the bum and legs is what you'll be saying.

I have to admit though, that this walking thing is really giving me some great quality time with the kids and often with myself.  I love to listen to music and when I'm at home I can't always turn up the radio and forget the world because inevitably, the moment I do, someone wants to have a conversation with me and if I say not now then I'm being mean.  I know, I'm a terrible mom for desiring to sing out loud! Ugh!!

Anyway, because I love my music and don't mind the walks I find myself looking forward to walking everyday and when I don't or can't I look longingly at the street in front of my house and wish I was there and not here sitting on my ever expanding behind, reading or writing or waiting for the nap to be over.  OK my behind is not expanding because I was fortunate enough to get my mother's genes which dictate that I gain weight from the waist up - oh yeah that's always fun.  I do have some control over that now that I've started my push up challenge and will soon add the sit up challenge to the mix.  That's right, got to nip it in the butt or is it bud? Hmmm - American idioms get me every time.  I should just stay away from them.

So, I have the whole food thing under control, again - yay for me!! Until I start spinning (hopefully soon) I am walking and doing push ups with the kids.  The changes I'm making are having a positive impact on my body and mind.  Physically I feel more energized, mentally I feel rested.  And with my last semester just getting started, I need all the physical and mental energy I can get!

Small steps for big changes... this is how we do it!!

Stay well,

Journal: Day one on the Push Up Challenge

Journaling, I've mentioned, is one of the best things we could do to help us stay on track with fitness and nutrition.  It is a great way to be accountable to ourselves.  Grab a notebook and start writing.  What did you eat throughout the day? Were you active or sedentary? No need to be too specific, you just want to get an idea. You don't have to do it everyday, although it helps at first.  A while back I did this and realized that I wasn't drinking enough water or eating enough protein.  There was no need for me to wonder why I was dragging my feel and feeling sluggish--it was an all carb day and not good carbs either.

So here's my journal for today:

During my initial test on the hundred push up challenge I scored 15.  That means I did 15 well-formed, full body push ups.  It was what determined my course of action for the next seven weeks.

Fitness:

10-12-7-7-max 9

That's how many push ups I have to do today.  Five sets.

Easy enough.  If you're following along, remember to take the minute recovery in between sets.

A long walk awaits. I will compliment my workout today with a long walk pushing my 30 lb toddler in the jogging stroller and following the seven year old munchkin on her bike.  

Nutrition plan:  

Breakfast: Kashi Crunch cereal with 1% milk and frozen berries

Snack: Apple

Lunch: Salad- romaine lettuce, carrots, tomatoes, cucumber, peppers, almonds, olive oil

Snack: Frozen Peaches

Dinner: Garlic & Mushroom Tilapia, Brown Rice, mixed vegetables

Special treat: Chocolate Eclair Pudding Pop (Skinny Cow(r))

... and of course, water all day long.

Get out or stay in but get active, alone or as a family. Eat well and stay healthy!

Stay Well,

 

Starting a fitness routine after a long break

 

 Photo credit:  LifeHack

You know it's been a long time since you worked out if you can't remember where you last saw your workout shoes or clothes for that matter.  How about that old water bottle? Many of us have a huge list of good excuses reasons for why we stop a perfectly good workout routine and that's perfectly OK to do.  After all, life does happen and sometimes it happens to interrupt whatever we have going on at the time.  In my case I had a big move and now that it's all said and done I really have no reason to hold back.  Add to that the holidays and the damage could be pretty bad (let's just not go there right now!)

I'm not a big fan of making resolutions because I feel sort of paralyzed after a few weeks.  It's like I make this decision to do the best ever and then if I can't meet that huge goal I feel like a complete failure. Instead I just jump right in and get started with what was working before or at least adjusting what wasn't working.  

So how do you get started?

First - you need motivation.  Only you can make the decision to start a wellness program and only you can determine the reason.  To lose weight, to maintain weight, to be more active? for your kids? Whatever the reasons, write them down and let that be your motivation to START!.

Second - gather up your gear & put it on the schedule.  Get everything ready the night before - find that old gym bag and fill it up with a bottle of water, towel, exercise shoes and clothes.  Be prepared and eliminate any potential pitt-falls. On your family or personal calendar, write your workout plans. Make this an appointment with yourself, your family or your friends.

Third - where are you going? are you going to the gym? calling a friend to join you on a walk? going for a run or bike ride? working out at home? Choose your activity.  It really doesn't matter what activity you choose, but choose one and go with it.  Be prepared to do that activity and several others throughout the week.  

Fourth - Clean out your fridge and pantry.  The last thing you need are temptations to ruin a good workout. You don't have to toss the goodies, although not having them is the best way to go, just tape up the boxes and bags and place them up high or low - you don't want those treats to be easily accessible.  Instead, load up on fresh or frozen fruits, vegetables, healthy snacks such as nuts and high fiber protein bars and of course, water.  Yes, plain old water.  Keep the water bottles ready to go in the fridge or on your counter and drink water throughout the day.

The first workout might be the hardest but it will be the beginning of a much healthier you in 2010!!

Stay Well,

 
 Cross Posted at BlogHer