Be Inspired

http://www.athleta.net/chi/2010/05/11/enduring-beyond-barriers-the-harriet-anderson-story/?EV=ATHP5132010&CD=ANC_APR&DI=10741848

I run, therefore I am

Good news, I am back on track training again run/walk 3 miles. YAHOO I am now running in my neighborhood which works out really well for me, still haven't figure out that d* G1. I will keep trying to work that out. Boy, I tell you I am working out sooooo hard (LOL) that my heart rate monitor band is soaking wet with sweat. I was sweating so much when I got into the shower that I was still sweating for 15 minutes after the shower. GROSS. I went to the gym today worked out for over an 1.5 hour includes 45min elliptical came back to the house worked in the yard for 2.5 hours (spring has sprung) and then ran/walk my 3 miles. For those who count calories I burned over 900 at the gym and over 900 out in the yard but less than 450 during my run go figure. (man, I love that orange watch) The activities sound like a lot written down but when I sit in my chair and watch t.v. I think I should be doing something else, hence a very active day evolves. I have to work on my breathing I think that if I can control my breathing I think that will bring down my heart rate. That sounds like it makes sense but to actually do it is something entirely different. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Eating Better-- tips from Runners World

Runner's World has this great article "On the Money".....How to save and when to splurge on healthy runner friendly foods.

A lot of the food discussed in this article agree with The Eat Clean Diet the program I follow, I am going to share a few of the items in article and others that I practice.

Splurge--Grass Fed Beef, (lean protein) Grass-fed beef comes from cattle raised in open patures , feeding on a steady diet of 100-percent organic grass. Grassfed beef is lower in saturated fat, Bison is my favorite, bison has a higher protein content and less fat than beef. I had my first Bison Burger this year, believe me it is one of the best burgers I have ever had. Also had very very lean beef (used in Chilli) I could tell the difference and my kids did to let's say the joke "fat is flavor" applied when it came to my kids, I didn't and don't agree.

Splurge--Greek Yogurt, Thick, creamy Greek yogurt, which is strained to remove excess liquid. , containes up to twice as much protein as less-expensive American-type. I love this yogurt just make sure you look at the fat and sugar content, some Greek yogurts can pack a lot of sugar, recommend buying low fat plain versions and adding fresh fruit to sweeten them. "A probiotic is a beneficial bateria usally from a plant source and found in the intestinal tract. Beware of what you are buying in the dairy case. Yogurt already has probiotics in it. Don't be duped by products that say the contain enhanced probiotic agents. They are all the same."

Save--Large Snack Bags, those 100-calorie snack sacks cost two to three times more per ounce than their bulkier counterparts, instead buy big and portion out an appropriate serving size yourself. While your at it, choose a big bag of popcorn over orange cheese puffs. "Despite the built-in portion control, most of these 100 calorie snacks come from nutritionally poor foods like chips and cookies--and they create extra waste".

Save--Regular Eggs, Why not spend extra money on "free-range" eggs? After all chickens that forage outside produce eggs higher in beta-carotene, omega-3, and vitamin D. The problem is the USDA allow producers to use the "free-range" term if their hens are uncaged with access to the outdoors--but the type of access and time outdoors can greatly vary. And "range" can mean anything from grassy field to a concrete slab. Unless you can talk directly to a farmer, stick to a regular eggs, which is still chock full of nutrients.

These are just a few items from the article and some things things that I have learned in the process, I hope you find them informative. Well I have to go run, I am behind the 8-ball again so hopefully I can catch up this week, I will keep you posted.

Uber Fiber

Well the weekend has begun and I have given the Diva and the Marshall more fiber than they know what to do with. A lot in and a lot out according to the Diva I have given them a "gazillion" fiber grams.LOL. You may not know this but not only am I doing the Gym and Run thing but I also "EAT CLEAN" I made a lifestyle change at the beginning of the year and have been pretty committed to The Eat Clean Diet what that means simply is that I do not eat "processed" foods. I eat lots of fiber (fruits, vegetables, beans, nuts seeds and OMG oatmeal), lean meats protein (meat, fish, tofu), Healthy Fats (olive oil avocado, flaxseed nuts) and drink more water than I thought was possible. It has been fun to share my lifestyle change with the Diva and the Fire Marshall, the Marshall thinks I am a "fiber fanatic" I am not a "fanatic" but the changes I have made in my eating and exercise have directly affected my hair, skin, nails and attitude all in a positive way. To prove to that they are healthy eaters the Diva made a roasted vegetable dish....HELLO it was really good. See not all healthy food has to taste like trees, twigs and bark. Any who......

The Diva and I have started our fitness weekend with a run last night as you are aware she has realized that she was/is able to run her race a little faster than she originally thought. Which is just fantastic, we went to the track to run, we did not really run together the Diva did her thing and I did mine. I was able to run a complete lap (5 times), what I normally do is run the straights and walk the curves. What I discovered or learned is that my pace was too fast to run a lap this early in training.

Yesterday, we went and found some running apparel I have been wanting a pair of running tights, (why? because). My training watch arrived and we got the thing set up and HELLO it is so cool and orange, it makes you want to work a little harder just so you can push yourself. The Diva was so green with envy that ..... well you will see. Anyway I have gotten 9 track miles in this week but if you add the bike and elliptical I have gotten 28 miles in this week, can you say HELLO.

The Diva and I went to the GYM today worked out for about an hour, then off to find a Dr. Scholl machine to find the perfect shoe inserts. That was in an interesting experience. lol

OMG, have I fallen off the training wagon?

I am not sure what is going on with me. I have not been out to run/walk since Thursday, I have worked out daily at the gym. I have planned for the past two nights to get the run in but have not. I have the (special) shoes to run in and ordered a special training watch (very excited about that), still not enough to get me out there to run/walk those 13 laps. (Let me say this if when the "watch" arrives I do not run I will scream). The Diva is due in on Friday, I have to get some time in on the track before she arrives. I spoke with her today and she plans to take lots and lots of pictures of the two of us working out. If you haven't noticed she can be a little competitive, I think she wants to take pictures of me out of breath and gasping for air and maybe sweating like a pig. She will get the picture of the sweating thing, but I really don't want any of those gasping for air photos posted in her blog with a caption that is less than flattering under it. The Diva comes in a few times a year with the FireMarshall, the FireMarshall is here on business and we visit. We plan for the visits with either a shopping weekend (fun) or a home improvement weekend (fun) and now we have added fitness weekend (fun?) to our visits. This is the first time for fitness, the plan is to get some running in, go to the gym to workout, if I had a swimsuit I would like to get some swimming in. Becca has gotten me interested in the swimming I think I would like to add that to my workouts. Thank goodness I don't own a bike. Well I think I will give the run a try again tomorrow, wish me luck.

Bobby pins and Running shoes

I see the Diva told of our daily "workout" conversation. Today's conversation was about my head according to the Diva "I said my head is "perfectly round" and thus the headbands she was using to keep her hair outta her face was falling off. Bandanna - a no go to! Everything was sliding of her "perfectly round" head". Well I literally look like a hot mess when I am at the gym, by the time I finish my lifting circuit and then the cardio workout I am dripping in sweat, red in the face and my hair is dripping and what does not fit into the ponytail hangs in my face. So I have purchased a few (many) no slip headbands hence the comment about my "perfectly round head". However I have Hope, I discovered little bobby pins these may work.

I had another discovery today----- new running shoes, I have been need of a new pair so I hit the jackpot today bobby pins and running shoes. Well now with the new shoes I had no excuse to night not to run/walk. The shoes are wonderful and they ran/walk 13 laps around the high school track. The weather here is great so I am running outside (I am not much for running on treadmill), I started late this evening and stuck with, in fact track complex had gone dark. You know going around so many times it is hard to keep track of what lap your on so I do 13 to be sure I don't want to cheat myself. I worked a little more on form this evening, keeping the arms moving, not making fists and breathing and stretching out my stride. I run the straights and walk the curves. The Diva will be surprised in the words of Becca BRING ITTT! Yesterday, I walked between 4 and 5 miles and felt pretty good about it. Until I read Becca's and Gladys' blog and felt like a lazy lady. (I work out everyday, lazy?????) But I need those things as motivation, keep up the good work ladies.

p.s. I am walking tomorow, it is cardio day at the gym, I don't care what Becca, Gladys or the Diva have planned.