Outer Banks

Hey gals!

We are at the Outer Banks, NC! The house is great (on the beach, pool, hot tub, elevator, and convenient to the grocery store) and plenty roomy for four families and nine kids under nine. Amazingly, the one and only gym on the whole island is about a quarter of a mile from the house so I jogged my stiff body over there and did a shoulder/back/bicep workout. Only then did I realize how much I've come to rely on Jake laying out all my workouts for me as I felt a little lost, but did OK. The gym is also a spa and we moms are contemplating going for a massage!

It's fairly windy today and on the beach I received a thorough exfoliation. We spent more time at the house/pool than beach and are hoping for calmer breezes tomorrow.

I did OK in terms of food. The problem is the alcohol. We were all up by about 6:30 am and by 11:00 am (yes, AM) drinks began. I had one glass of wine at 3:00 and a margarita with dinner. Then I took a bit of a nap. It's like we relive our party days of pre-kid years but can't hang like we used to. I think every adult napped at some point today! I think I need to pretty much bypass the drinks or just have one at night. It's hard...how is it there is still peer pressure at our ages?!!

It's 3 miles down the main road to Canadian Hole on the sound side so I plan to run there and back for my longer run. It's supposed to be Friday but I really want to go tomorrow. Canadian Hole is where all the windsurfers go and it's just this calm, tranquil, shallow-forever area that's quite unusual.

On the trip here, I read a book on competitive running by Bob Glover that happened to be out at our library. It was interesting and answered lots of my questions about nutrition, water, race strategy, shoes, running form, etc. About running form, he pretty much said go with what feels natural, but that one should take about 180 steps per minute. He said that sprinters run ball-heel while longer distance runners go heel-ball. I can't imagine how one goes ball-heel?

Sharon - great job on activity and weight loss! I don't know HOW you bicycled in Highland Park. Robert used to live on Highland Circle and that's a major, straight-up hill. I don't think there is a gear out there that could get me up those hills back there, so kudos to you!

And Michelle, if you are at 140, you are doing fabulously and have nothing to fear on vacation!!

Later!

6 miles in 58 minutes

Ran the Huckleberry Trail and felt pretty good. But it's hard to imagine doing more than 2x that in the half-marathon.

Note to self: Do errands BEFORE running, not after!

Sleep...elusive sleep

I had my second terrible night of sleep in a row, this can't keep up. I wonder if it's from my significant muscle soreness or what. I almost feel like I'm having a low-level anxiety situation. I did have a Diet Coke at about 6 pm last night so that may have contributed. I popped some ibuprofen during the night too.

I worked out with Jake again yesterday which was fun and we certainly get a lot done in an hour. I always feel like it's time well spent. According to the gym scale, I'm at 140.8 so I'm still losing about 1 lb a week. Of course, at home, my beloved scale has me more in the 137 range. I was reading a book on running and it suggests a weight of 123 lbs for my height of 5'7". Wow. Not sure I'll get there, but as I lose weight I am seeing how much more I can still stand to lose.

Sharon and I had our first tennis ladder match and held our own rather well even though we lost. I was proud of us. Today I have my tennis lesson and a 5-miler scheduled. Even though I'm up and ready to go I'm going to try to hold off on the run until after tennis.

And of course I have those zillions of little pre-vacation errands to run! Can't wait to be in the car on our way tomorrow! We'll have internet access there so I should still be able to check in.

Juggling

It's a busy 3 days in town before we leave for the beach. And trying to fit in all the sports is a challenge. I hit a wall at the gym today, I'm pretty beat from my trip. I can tell I'm tired when (a) I can't make a decision and (b) I feel like I am on the verge of crying! And since (a) and (b) were true, I opted to bag tennis tonight in the hopes that I'll be fresh tomorrow. Much waffling was done on that decision, but the kids wanted to come home thank goodness. I ran for 35 minutes on our trail this morning...with doggie...which was fun. And my legs are a good sore from the workout today. I'm going to force myself to get in bed by 9:30 tonight, if not sooner.

I went ahead and signed up for the August Salem 10K today so I am committed to that race. And excited for it.

Funny thing about this quest to get in shape. I've gotten to a point where I've made a significant difference in my level of fitness and weight but I still see room for improvement in my food choices. I'm ready to kick it tighten things up a notch and not lose any (or much) ground at the beach. Jake said that something like 90% of people are not willing to make the necessary diet changes that are necessary to bring about weight loss and reshaping.

I want to shed another ten lbs, which will largely have to come from diet and food choices because I can't see me adding in any more exercise other than the fact that weekend runs will start to get longer. And my swims are now longer. I'm loving the swimming!

Just thinking randomly here, my advice to others who want to get in shape would be to:

1. Get a knowledgeable trainer whom you gel with and work with them on a regular basis.
   
2. Find a variety of activities -- 2 or 3 -- that you like to do and rotate among them. Include something you don't typically do and enjoy the fun of learning a new activity. Have at least one activity that has a community aspect to it - a class, clinic, club, etc. Be creative -- tap into things your kids are doing, or start something as a family.
   
3. Make a comprehensive fitness plan and stick to it...then there are no decisions to be made...just DO it!
   
4. Log food honestly and consistently and have your trainer or a nutritionist check on it for accountability. This helps you to make better food choices.
   
5. Identify friends with similar fitness goals and support one another.
6. Get new workout clothes that you can feel good about putting on.
7. Have a goal (or goals) -- even though I fought this one, I see how motivating it can be!!
8. Be proud that you are no longer "thinking about getting in shape" but doing it.
9. Think long-term lifestyle changes, not a quick fix to reach a goal.
   
10. Be patient...work slowly, patiently, and diligently to stay healthy and mentally energized. Leave yourself wanting more...one more lap, one more mile, one more set!

Back in the burg

I made it back! All three papers went really well, including the one at 7 am (!). I'm tired, but at the same time itching to do something like swim, but the kids are happy to just hang around the house and Robert is out of town....sooo...

My folk's internet was down the last 36 hours and I had the shakes from withdrawal practically.

Not much to report on the exercise/food front. Got my two runs in while away, ate some things I shouldn't have but was not too awful bad. Back to it tomorrow, all!