Health Check-In

Hello friends and welcome to our Wednesday! It's time for a health check-in!

So last week we talked about the immense excitement and newness of the map for my health journey. I really hope to continue to revitalize my food choices and exercise regime. However this week cemented for me the true statement “it is a marathon and not a sprint”. First - what is working - I am starting to drop those first few stubborn lbs which feels like a tiny victory (sadly not the kind with a margarita - but still happy none the less)! Now that I feel like I HAVE DONE IT I can KEEP GOING! What is not working is my lifestyle. Right now schedules and living arrangements and working roles and responsibilities are making the focus next to impossible. But seeing the return on the initial investment motivates me to continue investing where I can.

Let’s look at the details:

EXERCISE

Running….ummmmm…..running….ummm.. Bueller? Bueller? Yea - it feels a little like that! Not by design mind you, but wedding weekend sorta threw me off. Of course I know what you are thinking - lots of things to do, need to look good, smell nice and BE ON TIME!!! All of those certainly played a role - but actually the thing that has thrown me the most off track was ummm, well you see, ummm…..I hurt my back dancing. Really? Yea, I know. I feel embarrassed and old and just plain pitiful…..but what can I say, we Bessettes L-O-V-E a wedding dance floor. Mix the flowing drinks, hot sweaty room, crowded dance floor and my bridesmaid dress was long (the type that got ripped with ladies’ heels snagging it) - I tweaked my back trying to perfect my moves and save the dress. And sadly 4 days later….after many an icy hot patch, it STILL HURTS. Walking is pained so running seems like a distant dream….

What does this mean for my September 28 10K that was already feeling like a stretch? Well, I don’t know. At first my a-type sent me spiraling out of control imagining myself never running again and living off buckets of fried chicken and in moo moos AND….. basically exploding because I can never work out again. Well, I reigned myself back in and grabbed Quinlan’s leash. I walked and walked and walked - several times this week and a lot more than normal for mid-week. But I figure I am moving, working on easing my back into motion and still making a healthy choice. At least compared to sitting on the couch and freaking out!!

But I still have the end of September to think about!!! YIKES! Well I am declaring a “no yikes zone”! I have contacted me amazingly sweet and understanding race partner who lives in Pittsburg to giver her the 411 and to express that I am making this trip. I am seeing the city, enjoying my time with her and her man - some of my favorite people - and staying positive. I want this to be fun….because I hope that running and racing will only become more of a fun activity as I grow with it. No stress…...

And to seal the deal - today’s runner’s world quote was all about how you don’t have to beat everyone and be the best….you just gotta keep getting better than YOU were…..so this weekend after thinking I was Beyonce on the dance floor and then sinking into the couch, I am up and walking…..improvement. Hoping to run/jog/trout….crawl tomorrow….to be continued!

DIET

It is rare for this part of the experience to be the positive part. In fact I often lean towards exercising as it allows me to enjoy a little of the tempting stuff from the pantry. But this week I am proud to say although super busy and not having the time or chance to chop and cut and plan and write….I have been VERY aware of portions, food choices and looking at how food will make me feel. Do I want that donut? YES! Will I feel like crap and be adding more strain on my back - YES! Is that worth it - NO! Someone else said the other day that after a massive weight loss journey she looks at food like, “I may not remember the soda from today next month - but my body will for the next three months”! Again - I am trying not to go to extreme - but better to just be selective. Would I remember this snack forever? Or at least in an hour??

And I am thrilled to say that my water intake is UP UP UP! And I feel so much better - thank you God for H2O as any easy access tool that does so much!

This post already feels sorta monsterous - so next week or in a separate special post I plan to get a little more detailed about some of my tools for the food aspect…..but for now each meal, each snack, each bite is a choice - not life or death - but a chance to make a good choice or choose to make a not great choice - either way you are choosing! Being in control of this is great - especially cause I can’t be in control of my future potential fried chicken eating self!

Goals for next week?

Like I said right now our life is pretty much on GOOOO! Tomorrow alone we head to John Hopkins for a check in with Dan and it is not out of the realm of possibility to suddenly have next week be a hospital stay, maybe 2 hours from home - or for us to be back home doing life! I may have a whole new career focus in a few weeks or I will still be doing a few odds and ends roles ALL -OVER-THE-BELTWAY! These are not ideal for scheduling your food planning or exercise…..but it is a chance for me to LEARN to make it work, be flexible and look at exercise specifically as a break that is good for me! And the largest lesson I can’t deny is working out in the AM is the best chance for me to get-er done…..so I am hoping to figure better ways to work that angle.

Until next week…..happy health trails!