Just keep running...

I don't know about you, but I regularly want to quit when I'm 10 minutes into a run. I'm not in pain and I'm usually not out of breath at 10 minutes so it's not a physically limiting urge to quit. Instead, it's obsessive thoughts about quitting or justifying a shorter run. 

Today's run was tough... My mind was consumed by thoughts of 'just quit' for 20 of my 40 minute run. Usually when this happens I picture myself in a bikini or a dress and visualize how I want to look in that 'outfit'. I know if I want to look like how I picture myself, I am going to need to work out. Therefore I keep running. 

But that didn't work for me today... Instead I thought of how proud I will feel when I complete the entire 40 minute run without stopping. I pushed throfufh and completed the run. My motivation to exercise is slowly shifting to become more internal. It feels great! 

This body's sore...

This picture perfectly sums up how I feel lately. I am about 6 sessions into a bootcamp and I basically feel like it's leg day every day. 

If you've ever thought about taking part in a bootcamp I would recommend it. Boot camps are a high intensity, group workouts that require very little 'mental prep' on your part. I love that I can show up for a class and just follow along with whatever the instructor says. Before you know it, your muscles will be shaking and you'll be sweating like crazy.

Bike: Training Tire

I can finally start cycling indoors!!

I know very little about cycling... but I figure there is no better way to learn about it than to just do it! A couple days ago I got online and starting looking into different types of training tires for indoor trainers and I ended up with this blue rimmed gem.

I still know very little about training tires, but at least this is a start.

Let the living room sweaty-session begin!

Let's just say shipping isn't cheap... I wish I had a cardboardy craft to work on. 

2015 New Years Resolution: Be Healthy

Yay!!!  You want to be healthier this year! Congratulations! You deserve it!

First things first... Are you SURE you want to be Healthier?

Second things second...

The 30 day 'Body Loves Health'  Fitness and Food Challenge

How it works:

Because there is already soooo many 'challenges' online I will not be creating a new one. Chances are if you're looking at this post you already know how to 'google' anything.

Body Loves Health will help you to successfully complete this 30 day challenge. For those of you with copious amounts of will-power and drive to complete a 30 day challenge without some assistance... good for you! The majority of us will not stick to a 30 day challenge and before we know it, we're right back to where we started after only doing the 'challenge' for 2 or 3 days.

How to successfully complete a 30 day challenge:

1. Pick a challenge
2. Make a Schedule
3. Identify your Barriers
4. Have a Back up Plan

1. Pick a challenge
1. This may or may not be something that you enjoy doing. Perhaps you're wanting to 'learn to love burpees', or maybe you want to 'be a runner', even though you don't enjoy even 1 minute of running. Remember that, as humans, we are programmed to take the path of least resistance. In this case, the path of least resistance is sitting on the couch, ordering take out, being comfortable. So by changing your habits, you are asking your body to go against what we are programmed to do.... hang in there, keep a long term goal in mind, and constantly try to overcome your human nature of taking the path of least resistance. 
2. Make a schedule
1. Ensure this is as specific as possible. I would shy away from generalizing a schedule that sounds like "every morning", or "before I go to bed". Get out your schedule for the next month and determine when you will make the time for your challenge, every day. Don't underestimate the power of special events, birthday parties, dinners out, to take over your "challenge" priority. 
3. Identify your barriers
1. This closely aligns with making a schedule. If you know 3/30 days are going to be crazy busy while doing your 30 day challenge, prepare for this. Schedule this day ahead of time to determine when you will make time complete your challenge. You may have to sacrifice some things, but remember... you're doing this for your health. If you know, seeing the 'golden arches' every day on your drive home will make you crave fatty food, then take a different way home. If you need to eat a sugar treat every time you turn on the Food Network, don't watch the Food Network. Instead of sitting on the couch as soon as you get home, go and change into your work out clothes. You may not get to work out right away... but at least having the clothes on is one less barrier to completing your challenge. 
4. Have a back up plan
1. Life is not as perfect as you want it to be. Even if you want to clear your entire schedule for 30 days just so you can finish this challenge, something may come up that won't let you do that. All things in life are temporary, and you never know what's going to change and when it's going to change. If you happen to miss a day of the 30 day challenge, don't let it ruin your intent to finish the challenge. At the end of the 30 days, would you rather have quit after missing Day 16 of the challenge or say you completed 29/30 days in a 30 day Challenge. Keep going, and figure out what will work best for you if 'life' happens to get in the way of this precious '30 day challenge'. 

Other tips to help have a successful 30 day Challenge

1. Write on your bathroom mirror in dry erase marker. If you're willing to sacrifice a clear mirror for one month at the cost of your health, keep a dry erase marker in your makeup kit. Use the mirror as a tracking tool, a motivator, or a goal reminder. Write whatever you want on the mirror, just make sure it acts as a constant reminder of your desire to finish a 30 day challenge. (you could also write on your fridge, microwave, CAR (if you're feeling so brave), glass coffee table, TV(you may want to test this out first), basically any smooth shiny surface is great for dry erase markers)
2. Set alerts in your phone. For instance if you're doing a 30 day water challenge, set a timer to go off every 20 mins that says, 'Drink Water'. 
3. Tell people that you're doing a 30 day challenge... some people may not be supportive, but more than likely they will be supportive, ask you about it later, and possibly even join in! 
4. Remember that you're not doing this challenge because you hate your body and you want to change it... do it because you love what your body is capable of, and because of what you want your future body to be like. 
5. Control your environment. If you want to take your vitamins or floss your teeth for 30 days, keep floss and vitamins EVERYWHERE that you'll be. Keep running shoes or a spare change of clothes in your car, and NEVER miss a workout because you can't find a hair tie... (I've actually used this excuse before). 

Swim - 1.2 km

It's been about 1 week since I've swam and it felt so good to get back in the pool.
I went for a fairly easy workout today just to get back into the swing of things.

400m - warm up; continuous fr
4 x 100m - I.M. with 1min rest
400m - cool down; continuous fr

Total 1200m (48 lengths)


Swimming is such a nice break for your body if you regularly hit up high impact activities such as running. Even if you're not a strong swimmer you can still hit up the pool. Use a flutter board or pull bouy to assist you in the water while not compromising your workout.

Run - 5.1 km

Another fabulous run today! I went faster than I usually do which felt great... I ran at 6.5 for 20 minutes and then slowed it down to 6-6.2 for the last 10 minutes of my run. Nothing feels better than running for longer than you expected... having that desire to keep pushing your body is something that is hard to explain, but one of the greatest feelings in the world.

If you've already pushed yourself to get to the gym, you may as well make it worth while and give yourself the proper work out you deserve. No sense going to the gym only to quit 5 minutes short of your run time, or to drop that last set just because you don't feel like doing it.

When I get the urge to stop running, I have to ask myself why?

Am I stopping just because it is easier than running? Or am I stopping because I have to (pain, time, etc). Nine times out of ten I want to stop just because it's easier. Keep Pushing....

Run - 5.0 km

I'm starting to enjoy running on a treadmill. It's a rather new thing for me... but I prefer the treadmill over cold wintery weather. Not to mention, today I was able to watch a Dr. Phil exclusive on the Honey Boo Boo scandal. (Secretly, I think the only reason I enjoy the treadmill is because I get to watch my fair share of trashy television.)

My run felt awesome today! I kept up a consistent pace of 6.0m/hr and loved almost every minute of it... for some reason when I hit the 20-25 minute mark I struggle, but persistence never fails.

Some Treadmill Running Tips:

1. Don't hold on to the hand rails (you'll look silly... and it may actually make running more difficult.)
2. Focus on keeping nice long strides. 
3. Trashy TV never hurt anyone ;) and I'm pretty sure it's been proven to make your run seem easier. 

Maybe tomorrow I'll incorporate this dance routine into my workout... :)