Ben got the idea tonight to try an experiment with a couple of back packs and some of the weights we have around the house. We slipped 80 pounds of weights into the bags, and then had me put them on. Needless to say, it was an eye opening experience. In the past year, I have lost 90 pounds. So putting on the bags with close to that amount of weight really made me understand just how much I have taken off of my body.
Simply walking around the living room for about two minutes was hard. My knees felt sore, my breath was shorter, and I couldn't even do three squats. I have no idea how I functioned on a day to day basis back then, when I weighed 260 pounds. Well, to tell you the truth, I didn't function. I just existed.
It is always an eye opening experience when I look at my old photos. I realize how miserable I was and how horrible I looked and felt. It was embarrassing when we moved in to our new apartment with a stair well, and I had trouble going up and down the small flight of stairs. My knees would ache, and I would find myself out of breath at the top landing.
I have to sit and ask myself WHY I let my body to get to that point. I think, honestly, I let it go because I did not see what I had done. More accurately, I did not WANT to see what I had done. I did not want to see that my poor choices had caused me to experience health issues that no twenty-six year old should have to deal with.
So tonight, as I tried to walk around the living room with the added weight on my body, I found myself thankful that I finally did something. Thankful that I finally took back the health that I had so easily tossed aside. I never truly appreciated what it meant to be born with a healthy body, until I no longer had one. It is amazing what we take for granted, until it is gone. I never want to go back to that place again, now that I know what healthy feels like. Though it may be hard to believe, I did not realize how poor my health was, until I began to experience what it meant to be fit and healthy.
After my experience tonight, I want to try something. I want to find a weighted vest, one that hopefully can bring me close to my old weight. And then I want to spend a day or two trying to go about my normal routine with it on. Just basic things like doing laundry, playing with the kids, teaching a lesson, doing this or that at work. I hope to record my thoughts and experiences on here if I get the chance to do it. Putting on the weighted bags tonight truly made me appreciate the changes my body has gone through in this past year. I know that I'll appreciate the changes even more when I try to go a day or two with the weight back on my body.
Amazing what can come from a little bit of inspiration!
Kristina
About Me
- katzmeow726
- Alabama
- I am a fitness loving, home schooling, fan fic writing, online gaming, weight lifting, running when and where I can kind of mom...I love my kids and husband, and wouldn't trade my life for anything!
Saturday, January 26, 2013
Monday, January 14, 2013
The extra mile...and a little insanity.
So I can not deny that I have been slacking a little bit on my running. I'm trying to adjust to my new work schedule, dance is picking back up, and trying to run outside during the short daylight hours reminds me of that scene from the Mummy Returns where Rick is trying to run Alex into the temple before the sun hits his bracelet...only I am racing the sun set! This means I am trying to find ways to squeeze in work outs, while still having time to do housework, take care of the kids, and maybe even relax!
I think I am finally getting a good schedule down, now, though. And I have slowly, but surely, started to work my way back up to where I was back at Thanksgiving, when I ran the Turkey Trot. As of right now, I can officially say I am training myself up to run the Azalea Trail 10k! I had a bit of a shocker the other day. I looked on the calendar to the day of the race, March 23, and realized that it looked a LOT closer on this side of Christmas. Time to get my butt back in gear!
Tonight I finally had a little bit of free time, after my dance class, and went for what I had planned to be a short three or four mile run tonight. Let me tell you, by mile three, I was ready to give up! Something pushed me on, and I managed to fight my way to that fourth mile.
I sat on the bench at the track, and stared at my phone. It was still pretty early, and I had managed to push past my wall, and I decided to go....
Duh Duh Duh!!!!!
THE EXTRA MILE!
If you had a tape recorder of my thoughts for that mile, I'm sure it would make for a very amusing clip to listen to. No two runs are ever, mentally, the same for me. Going in to one, I sometimes have no idea where my thoughts are going to take. As I started out on my fifth mile, my mind grew more and more entertaining to listen to.
Lap 1-
The song "I feel good" is finishing up. I quietly mouth the lyrics, while doing a little dance. I have the track to myself, no one can see me! Oh crap, I forgot about the cameras. Oh well, who cares!
Lap 2-
Oh man, I'm hungry. I can't wait to get home and have some of that chicken, coated in Sweet Baby Ray's. Hey now stomach, no misbehaving, we aren't home yet! I wonder if we have any King cake left. Oh come on Kristina, one slice of that will totally ruin this run. But the cream cheese precious...it's cream cheese! No! *gollum gollum* No cake precious....
Lap 3 and 4-
Ooh, Sandstorm. I like this song. Hey, wait, where is my Darude CD? Oh well, I'm sure it's around. I wonder if they'll play this at the Jag's games again this year. I hope so, I can't stand that other song. Oh man, I miss football. Well, sort of, it is nice not to have to pack up the kids every dang Saturday and haul all that stuff to the jags games. Aww man, I missed the song. Shut up brain!
Lap 5-
Oh Lord, why did I decide to run five. *Insert cartoon angel and devil on my shoulders*
Devil: If you stop at six, it will be close to five miles right? Come on Kristina, just be bad tonight.
Angel: Now, now Kristina. You want that race right? Keep on going, you are almost to six laps.
Lap 6-
A commercial....go figure. I start to mentally sing a really annoying intro song for Inuyasha. Why, Lord, why? I hate this song, why am I singing this. That's it, I've gone crazy. This extra mile has stripped my sanity.
Lap 7 and 8-
Me: I'm not gonna make it, I can't maneuver
Gold Five: Stay on Target
Me: So close...but so far
Gold Five: Stay on Target!
Me: Loosen up Kristina...
Lap 9-
Mental image of the death star blowing up....yay!!!
Lap 10-
I have so much to do tomorrow. Groceries, pick up apartment...oh look, the lights got turned off. Hey wait, I'm still up here. Oh wait, never mind, the track lights are still on. I'm good. Ignore my girly scream.
Lap 11-
I like this song, it makes me happy..."I feel so close to you right now, it's a force field." Wait...that doesn't make sense. Isn't a force field supposed to keep things out, or away? This guy obviously is NOT a sci fi nerd. If he was, he would know better than to use force field. It should be tractor beam you idiot!!!!
Lap 12....
*Insert chariots of fire theme* Five miles, yeah buddy, I did it!!
Thus ends the strange perspective of Kristina's thoughts while running.
I think I am finally getting a good schedule down, now, though. And I have slowly, but surely, started to work my way back up to where I was back at Thanksgiving, when I ran the Turkey Trot. As of right now, I can officially say I am training myself up to run the Azalea Trail 10k! I had a bit of a shocker the other day. I looked on the calendar to the day of the race, March 23, and realized that it looked a LOT closer on this side of Christmas. Time to get my butt back in gear!
Tonight I finally had a little bit of free time, after my dance class, and went for what I had planned to be a short three or four mile run tonight. Let me tell you, by mile three, I was ready to give up! Something pushed me on, and I managed to fight my way to that fourth mile.
I sat on the bench at the track, and stared at my phone. It was still pretty early, and I had managed to push past my wall, and I decided to go....
Duh Duh Duh!!!!!
THE EXTRA MILE!
If you had a tape recorder of my thoughts for that mile, I'm sure it would make for a very amusing clip to listen to. No two runs are ever, mentally, the same for me. Going in to one, I sometimes have no idea where my thoughts are going to take. As I started out on my fifth mile, my mind grew more and more entertaining to listen to.
Lap 1-
The song "I feel good" is finishing up. I quietly mouth the lyrics, while doing a little dance. I have the track to myself, no one can see me! Oh crap, I forgot about the cameras. Oh well, who cares!
Lap 2-
Oh man, I'm hungry. I can't wait to get home and have some of that chicken, coated in Sweet Baby Ray's. Hey now stomach, no misbehaving, we aren't home yet! I wonder if we have any King cake left. Oh come on Kristina, one slice of that will totally ruin this run. But the cream cheese precious...it's cream cheese! No! *gollum gollum* No cake precious....
Lap 3 and 4-
Ooh, Sandstorm. I like this song. Hey, wait, where is my Darude CD? Oh well, I'm sure it's around. I wonder if they'll play this at the Jag's games again this year. I hope so, I can't stand that other song. Oh man, I miss football. Well, sort of, it is nice not to have to pack up the kids every dang Saturday and haul all that stuff to the jags games. Aww man, I missed the song. Shut up brain!
Lap 5-
Oh Lord, why did I decide to run five. *Insert cartoon angel and devil on my shoulders*
Devil: If you stop at six, it will be close to five miles right? Come on Kristina, just be bad tonight.
Angel: Now, now Kristina. You want that race right? Keep on going, you are almost to six laps.
Lap 6-
A commercial....go figure. I start to mentally sing a really annoying intro song for Inuyasha. Why, Lord, why? I hate this song, why am I singing this. That's it, I've gone crazy. This extra mile has stripped my sanity.
Lap 7 and 8-
Me: I'm not gonna make it, I can't maneuver
Gold Five: Stay on Target
Me: So close...but so far
Gold Five: Stay on Target!
Me: Loosen up Kristina...
Lap 9-
Mental image of the death star blowing up....yay!!!
Lap 10-
I have so much to do tomorrow. Groceries, pick up apartment...oh look, the lights got turned off. Hey wait, I'm still up here. Oh wait, never mind, the track lights are still on. I'm good. Ignore my girly scream.
Lap 11-
I like this song, it makes me happy..."I feel so close to you right now, it's a force field." Wait...that doesn't make sense. Isn't a force field supposed to keep things out, or away? This guy obviously is NOT a sci fi nerd. If he was, he would know better than to use force field. It should be tractor beam you idiot!!!!
Lap 12....
*Insert chariots of fire theme* Five miles, yeah buddy, I did it!!
Thus ends the strange perspective of Kristina's thoughts while running.
Monday, December 31, 2012
Pie crust promises...
Easily made, easily broken.
That is a pretty good description of New Year's resolutions. Before you make any this year, look back at all the resolutions from your past. If you have made your current ones more than once, then do yourself a favor, and do not do it again. The problem with using an annual holiday to mark a life change, is that the special day comes again in another 365 days. If you fail to stick to your resolution this year, it is far too easy convince yourself that you can just try again in the next one.
Why do you have to wait until the next New Year celebration to start your life changes? I do admit that last year, Ben and I dedicated 2012 to be a year for fixing me. However, it was not really a resolution, as much as it was an idea. Ben told me, if I wanted, to use 2012 for myself. It was up to me to take my first step in that direction, and I did so by making a start, not a promise.
I'm not saying that you should not use tomorrow as a kick start to a new life. January 1, 2013 is a great day to begin. So is January 2nd. Or February 1st. Or any day, for that matter. It is not that the first day of a new year is a bad time to start a change, but do not use the cliche of a "New Year's Resolution" as a reason to improve your life. Instead of a New Year's resolution, just make a start, period. If you fall down, then pick yourself right back up. Don't allow yourself to fall in to the trap of "well, there is always 2014."
One of the most popular promises at the end of the year is the promise to lose weight, and get healthy. It certainly makes a great illustration for what happens to resolutions. Gym membership sky rockets in January. Then February comes, and it slows down. By Easter, many of those gym memberships have failed, and are given to the next new year. There is no rule, or magic formula that says the start of all life changes have to be limited to New Year's Day. You do not have to wait until the next year comes around to pick back up if you fall down!
That is why I say do not make a resolution. Instead, just make a small change tomorrow. Do not go for seconds at dinner. Maybe replace a soft drink with a glass of water. Instead of sitting around watching the television on your day off, go for a walk, or get outside and play with your family. By the end of the day, you will have made healthy choices without having made a single resolution. In doing so, you will have an easier time making similar choices the next day.
You do not have to make yourself a promise for change to actually make a change. If you promise yourself a new start tomorrow, why not step up to the plate now, and make the change today. Keep pushing yourself. Tomorrow may be the start of a new year, and that does make it special. But any day that you decide to change your life for the better is special. A transformation that starts on the first of the year is no more important than one that starts on any given day.
A transformation is not going to have steady growth. There will be bumps, there will be pot holes, there will be times when you want to give up. A New Year's promise to start is easy, and it looks so much nicer wrapped up in a special date. The problem with that, is when you have to pick yourself back up later on. It is hard to do, because getting back in to the groove does not look as appealing without the frills of a holiday. That is why I say do not use the New Year as your reason to change, even if it marks the start. Come up with something better. Make your start special because of what it means to you, not because of the holiday it happens to fall on.
A promise is much easier to make than a change, but a change is easier to keep than a promise.
Kristina
That is a pretty good description of New Year's resolutions. Before you make any this year, look back at all the resolutions from your past. If you have made your current ones more than once, then do yourself a favor, and do not do it again. The problem with using an annual holiday to mark a life change, is that the special day comes again in another 365 days. If you fail to stick to your resolution this year, it is far too easy convince yourself that you can just try again in the next one.
Why do you have to wait until the next New Year celebration to start your life changes? I do admit that last year, Ben and I dedicated 2012 to be a year for fixing me. However, it was not really a resolution, as much as it was an idea. Ben told me, if I wanted, to use 2012 for myself. It was up to me to take my first step in that direction, and I did so by making a start, not a promise.
I'm not saying that you should not use tomorrow as a kick start to a new life. January 1, 2013 is a great day to begin. So is January 2nd. Or February 1st. Or any day, for that matter. It is not that the first day of a new year is a bad time to start a change, but do not use the cliche of a "New Year's Resolution" as a reason to improve your life. Instead of a New Year's resolution, just make a start, period. If you fall down, then pick yourself right back up. Don't allow yourself to fall in to the trap of "well, there is always 2014."
One of the most popular promises at the end of the year is the promise to lose weight, and get healthy. It certainly makes a great illustration for what happens to resolutions. Gym membership sky rockets in January. Then February comes, and it slows down. By Easter, many of those gym memberships have failed, and are given to the next new year. There is no rule, or magic formula that says the start of all life changes have to be limited to New Year's Day. You do not have to wait until the next year comes around to pick back up if you fall down!
That is why I say do not make a resolution. Instead, just make a small change tomorrow. Do not go for seconds at dinner. Maybe replace a soft drink with a glass of water. Instead of sitting around watching the television on your day off, go for a walk, or get outside and play with your family. By the end of the day, you will have made healthy choices without having made a single resolution. In doing so, you will have an easier time making similar choices the next day.
You do not have to make yourself a promise for change to actually make a change. If you promise yourself a new start tomorrow, why not step up to the plate now, and make the change today. Keep pushing yourself. Tomorrow may be the start of a new year, and that does make it special. But any day that you decide to change your life for the better is special. A transformation that starts on the first of the year is no more important than one that starts on any given day.
A transformation is not going to have steady growth. There will be bumps, there will be pot holes, there will be times when you want to give up. A New Year's promise to start is easy, and it looks so much nicer wrapped up in a special date. The problem with that, is when you have to pick yourself back up later on. It is hard to do, because getting back in to the groove does not look as appealing without the frills of a holiday. That is why I say do not use the New Year as your reason to change, even if it marks the start. Come up with something better. Make your start special because of what it means to you, not because of the holiday it happens to fall on.
A promise is much easier to make than a change, but a change is easier to keep than a promise.
Kristina
Thursday, December 27, 2012
Sexy?
Sexy...a word that I have never actually applied to myself. I've never actually felt it. To feel sexy, you would first have to feel attractive, and well that has even been a challenge for myself. Sexy and attractive were words that described other people, certainly not me. For so long I have always been the big girl, or the fat one. You get used to it after a while, and get in to this mind set where you truly are unable to see yourself as attractive.
Today I decided to be daring, and try on an outfit that, for lack of a better word, is sexy. It's a slim fitting halter top in my new size twelve jeans. Okay, hold the phone, size twelve? Yes, it is true. I have managed to get down to a size twelve, and let me tell you, it feels amazing! The average woman in the United States is a fourteen. For once in my life, I am quite happy to be below average!
Looking in the mirror, I suddenly realized that I actually felt attractive, maybe even a little bit sexy. It's an odd feeling. It really is. It is almost as if I am seeing the physical changes for the first time. A while back, I read an article about something called "phantom fat." It's very common in people who have had weight loss surgery, or people who have lost a great deal of weight. I can certainly say I fall in to the latter of the two.
Phantom fat is a result of disordered thinking. When you are overweight, particularly if you are severely overweight, you get into the "fat mentality." I didn't bother looking at regular size clothing. I always made sure to have a large space between my car and another in a parking lot, and I always wore clothing that hid the fat.
Now, I have this different body. It's a more athletic build. It's much more slender, and it fits into clothing that I would never have looked at a year ago. Only recently have I been able to go in to a store, and walk to the regular clothing sizes, too used to visiting the plus sized sections for clothing. I look at a space, and think there is no way I'll be able to squeeze through that, but I end up surprised that it is no trouble at all. I look in the mirror, and I do not see a size twelve. I still sometimes see the size twenty-four.
In other words, my brain hangs on to the fat that is no longer there. It is long gone, and yet my brain just does not seem to understand that fact. Although I can say that it IS getting better. Just the fact that I let myself try on the halter top that I have not worn in years speaks to that. It was also nice to find that I was not as surprised that the size twelve jeans fit, as I was when the size fourteen jeans fit. It is like my brain is finally saying "yes, you're attractive now...yes, you're slender now...get used to it!"
So here it is...the size twelve jeans, and my cute little top. I'm finally starting to really see how much I have changed, and it sure feels great!
Today I decided to be daring, and try on an outfit that, for lack of a better word, is sexy. It's a slim fitting halter top in my new size twelve jeans. Okay, hold the phone, size twelve? Yes, it is true. I have managed to get down to a size twelve, and let me tell you, it feels amazing! The average woman in the United States is a fourteen. For once in my life, I am quite happy to be below average!
Looking in the mirror, I suddenly realized that I actually felt attractive, maybe even a little bit sexy. It's an odd feeling. It really is. It is almost as if I am seeing the physical changes for the first time. A while back, I read an article about something called "phantom fat." It's very common in people who have had weight loss surgery, or people who have lost a great deal of weight. I can certainly say I fall in to the latter of the two.
Phantom fat is a result of disordered thinking. When you are overweight, particularly if you are severely overweight, you get into the "fat mentality." I didn't bother looking at regular size clothing. I always made sure to have a large space between my car and another in a parking lot, and I always wore clothing that hid the fat.
Now, I have this different body. It's a more athletic build. It's much more slender, and it fits into clothing that I would never have looked at a year ago. Only recently have I been able to go in to a store, and walk to the regular clothing sizes, too used to visiting the plus sized sections for clothing. I look at a space, and think there is no way I'll be able to squeeze through that, but I end up surprised that it is no trouble at all. I look in the mirror, and I do not see a size twelve. I still sometimes see the size twenty-four.
In other words, my brain hangs on to the fat that is no longer there. It is long gone, and yet my brain just does not seem to understand that fact. Although I can say that it IS getting better. Just the fact that I let myself try on the halter top that I have not worn in years speaks to that. It was also nice to find that I was not as surprised that the size twelve jeans fit, as I was when the size fourteen jeans fit. It is like my brain is finally saying "yes, you're attractive now...yes, you're slender now...get used to it!"
So here it is...the size twelve jeans, and my cute little top. I'm finally starting to really see how much I have changed, and it sure feels great!
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
The journey so far.
From here, where I will go, I don't know. I think it will become less about weight lost, and more about things gained. I promised myself when I reached 140 pounds, I would ease some of the focus away from the scale, and spend more time focusing on physical achievements like races. There is so much I want to do and try. So many other things that I want to achieve. I want to look back on this year, and use it as a standard, by which I set my goals in the future. I know that great things are ahead of me. When I started out, I viewed this year as an ending. It was an ending to my overweight days, my obesity, my unhealthy life.
Now I realize that it was a beginning. I have found a great purpose not just in improving myself, but helping others to do the same. I initially began this blog to really just document my feelings. To help me sort through all the changes I would experience. Now it has grown to be something much more. I've had opportunities come my way to share my story outside of this blog and my Facebook. I've made new friends along my journey, and reconnected with old friends over a shared desire to be healthier. I have to believe that there is more to this than what I have experienced so far. I do not know what the next year is going to bring. I don't know what I will do, or where I may go. I just know that I am going to continue. I'm excited to see where this journey takes me, and even a little scared.
All this talk of a journey, of unknown paths, brings to mind a song from Lord of the Rings. I have always liked it, and often think of it when I go for a run. Like I have said before, I am most definitely a nerd, and I enjoy thinking of fantasy stories when I work out. It helps to pass the time. This song speaks about setting off on a journey. The road is long, and you do not exactly what lies ahead, but you still pursue it eagerly. Who or what you may meet remains a mystery. That is what makes up the adventure. That is what makes it worth the journey!
The road goes ever on and on,
Down from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the Road has gone,
And I must follow if I can,
Pursuing it with eager feet,
Until it joins some larger way
Where many paths and errands meet.
And whither then? I cannot say.
-J.R.R. Tolkien, Lord of the Rings
That song has always been a favorite, but more now, than ever. It is so wild to see where I started, and to see where I am now. I still have a long way to go, I still have a lot of road to explore. I guess you can say that this was really just the first chapter. Ben and I dedicated 2012 to be the year of "fixing Kristina." We realized recently that the year was coming to a close. We also realized that fixing problems and self improvement can not just be limited to a single year. We should always strive to better ourselves. In doing so, we are better able to help others. The healthier I have become, the better I have become. I am a better wife, a better mother, a better person all around.
Seeing what this has done for me, makes me want to help others achieve the same thing. I think that is my first new goal. I had a year dedicated just to me, to help myself. While I still plan on working on me, I want to spend this next year helping others with their own goals. I am not sure how or when the opportunities will come, but I will use them when they do. I can not wait to see where this road is going to go!
Chapter one is closing. It is time for chapter two to begin.
The year in review
 |
| Fall 2011. 260 pounds, size 24. Ben and I talked about the "year of Kristina." |
 |
| New years 2012. Not a resolution, but a promise from him, to me. This was my year! |
 |
| The photo that started it all...I hated how I looked. It was time to change |
 |
| 245 pounds, size 22 |
 |
| 230 pounds. Size 22. First time I could wear that sweater in forever! |
 |
| 210 pounds, size 20. Those jeans were once my favorite! It felt great to wear them again. |
 |
| 200 pounds, and size 18!! Man that felt good! |
 |
| 200 pounds. Biggest difference was in my face, and neck. |
 |
| 190 pounds, Size 16 jeans, and a Large blouse. Not extra large. I was officially out of the plus size section of the store! |
 |
| 185 pounds, and a size 14. Feeling great, and looking gorgeous! |
 |
| I have not been this size since probably my junior year of high school. |
 |
| Getting some muscle! |
 |
| My first 5k race. I ran it in 34 minutes, and 15 seconds! |
 |
| A little under a year since we said we would make it "my year." 178 pounds, having lost a total of 82 pounds. Size 14 jeans now fitting better, in fact they are starting to get a little loose. A much happier, healthier me. I think chapter one is ending on a very good note! |
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Coming back from injury
Well, it happens to the best of us all. In almost a year, I managed to not injure myself with my exercise routine. That is until about two weeks ago. After only a few minutes of jogging, my left ankle began to hurt, and hurt bad. The worst part was that the majority of the pain was on the Achilles tendon, which is a major red flag to stop what you are doing, and rest your foot! Fortunately, it turned out that it was no more than a bad sprain. I've rested for a couple of weeks, kept it in a brace, and let my body heal enough so that I was able to get back to running tonight. I had a great four mile jog, with almost no pain, which means I picked a good time to come back. With the injury, hopefully, behind me, I thought I might talk about injuries and weight loss in this post.
Nothing can stop weight loss in its tracks like a bad injury. That is why I am incredibly strict about stretching before and after a run, making sure I have the braces and straps that I need for my knees and ankle, and that my shoes fit snugly and correctly. So when I began to experience pain in my ankle and above my heel just a few minutes in to the run, I immediately started to panic and stopped the workout. That decision probably is what prevented further injury to my already injured ankle.
One of the most important things to remember about exercise is that you listen to what your body is telling you. If I had not done so, I could have easily been off my feet for much longer than two weeks. Your body knows what it needs or what is wrong, and will give you very good signs. The problem is that you need to know how to interpret those signs. Now, I am no expert, but I have a pretty good system to monitor myself during a work out, with which I decide how to proceed should I feel any pain. I go with Green, Yellow, and Red.
Green is, obviously, go. Green means little or no pain or soreness. As long as it is not worsened with the workout, or I know that it is simply soreness from a previous work out, I go about my workout as planned.
Yellow is cautionary. I often use it when I am experiencing a new pain, or a pain that is sharp, but not enough that I feel the need to stop. I may slow down what I am doing, and evaluate the part of my body that is hurting, or just ease up on the intensity for that work out. Essentially, yellow is my "be aware" level, but if the pain continues or worsens, it can go to the next level.
When I get to red, I immediately stop what I am doing. Until I figure out what the pain is, I halt exercising that part of my body, and go from there.
The day I injured my ankle, it was painful enough that I skipped past green and yellow, and went straight to red. While not painful enough to make me drop to my knees, it was enough to make me very concerned. My left ankle has always been weak, due to the ligament injury I sustained in the past. So even a little soreness can make me nervous. All throughout that day and in to the next, the pain, while tolerable, had me very worried. Not only was I concerned about the short term, not being able to work out like I was used to and gaining weight back, but I was also concerned about the long term. I was still on a high from my first 5k a few days, and now I was scared that I would have to stop running totally!
So I rested it, iced it, and made good friends with some anti inflammatory medication and ginger-chamomile tea. Side note, ginger and chamomile are naturally anti inflammatory, and so are great alone or used along with medication when you have pain or swelling! After a week, the pain began to ease off, and seemed to sit primarily on the outside of my ankle, where there was some mild swelling. Thankfully, after two weeks of rest and treatment, the pain was minimal, particularly when I used my ankle brace.
I decided to chance a run tonight, and automatically I started myself out on yellow. I took my time, paced myself, and stopped after every mile to sit down, move my ankle around, and see if there was any pain. While I was certainly sore for the first mile and a half, it began to ease off as I neared two miles. It was stiff from the edema that built up from the lack of running, and because I had perhaps rested it a little too well. I only had a few minor twinges, which have happened on runs even before the sprain, so I allowed myself to go as long as the pain hovered around the yellow mark. Although I felt quite energetic, and could have likely run another mile or two, I felt that even four miles was pushing it, and decided to head on home. It is better to be safe, and a little bummed out, than very sorry and injured!
The two weeks off from running gave me a chance to rest my legs, and really look at other options for cardio. It also gave me a chance to focus back in on toning and muscle building which, I admit, I tend to skip in favor of a heart pounding workout. I actually had a lot of fun finding new ways to burn calories. I put myself through a series of various punches and blocks from martial arts at a rapid pace, doing a set amount of reps for each. I did a bouncing workout on the mini trampoline for thirty minutes, and was surprised that it was a pretty good workout. I did not even have to lift my feet from the trampoline to get my heart going. After thirty minutes, I was sweating! I also made sure to watch the calories I consumed. With fewer calories being put out, I had to reduce how many I took in, but make sure that the calories I did consume were really nutritious and would keep me fuller longer.
It worked. Not only was I able to maintain my weight for most of the two week rest period, I was also able to lose a couple of pounds, officially bringing me to a new weight range. The 170s! Yep, this morning I weighed in at 179, and it sure felt amazing!
Perhaps the moral of this story is to keep calm. Injuries are going to happen. I finally had to realize it is not a matter of if, but when. Keep in mind, injuries do not always happen during exercise. You could step off a curb the wrong way, and twist your ankle. You could fall back, and break a wrist. You could get in an accident and hurt your back. Some injuries, obviously, are worse than others. Still this does not mean you give up! Do not let an injury disrupt your progress. Rest what needs resting, and use it as an opportunity to work on other areas of your body that need a little attention.
For every challenge you have, someone always has it worse!
Take it from me, do not let your mole hills become mountains!
Kristina
Nothing can stop weight loss in its tracks like a bad injury. That is why I am incredibly strict about stretching before and after a run, making sure I have the braces and straps that I need for my knees and ankle, and that my shoes fit snugly and correctly. So when I began to experience pain in my ankle and above my heel just a few minutes in to the run, I immediately started to panic and stopped the workout. That decision probably is what prevented further injury to my already injured ankle.
One of the most important things to remember about exercise is that you listen to what your body is telling you. If I had not done so, I could have easily been off my feet for much longer than two weeks. Your body knows what it needs or what is wrong, and will give you very good signs. The problem is that you need to know how to interpret those signs. Now, I am no expert, but I have a pretty good system to monitor myself during a work out, with which I decide how to proceed should I feel any pain. I go with Green, Yellow, and Red.
Green is, obviously, go. Green means little or no pain or soreness. As long as it is not worsened with the workout, or I know that it is simply soreness from a previous work out, I go about my workout as planned.
Yellow is cautionary. I often use it when I am experiencing a new pain, or a pain that is sharp, but not enough that I feel the need to stop. I may slow down what I am doing, and evaluate the part of my body that is hurting, or just ease up on the intensity for that work out. Essentially, yellow is my "be aware" level, but if the pain continues or worsens, it can go to the next level.
When I get to red, I immediately stop what I am doing. Until I figure out what the pain is, I halt exercising that part of my body, and go from there.
The day I injured my ankle, it was painful enough that I skipped past green and yellow, and went straight to red. While not painful enough to make me drop to my knees, it was enough to make me very concerned. My left ankle has always been weak, due to the ligament injury I sustained in the past. So even a little soreness can make me nervous. All throughout that day and in to the next, the pain, while tolerable, had me very worried. Not only was I concerned about the short term, not being able to work out like I was used to and gaining weight back, but I was also concerned about the long term. I was still on a high from my first 5k a few days, and now I was scared that I would have to stop running totally!
So I rested it, iced it, and made good friends with some anti inflammatory medication and ginger-chamomile tea. Side note, ginger and chamomile are naturally anti inflammatory, and so are great alone or used along with medication when you have pain or swelling! After a week, the pain began to ease off, and seemed to sit primarily on the outside of my ankle, where there was some mild swelling. Thankfully, after two weeks of rest and treatment, the pain was minimal, particularly when I used my ankle brace.
I decided to chance a run tonight, and automatically I started myself out on yellow. I took my time, paced myself, and stopped after every mile to sit down, move my ankle around, and see if there was any pain. While I was certainly sore for the first mile and a half, it began to ease off as I neared two miles. It was stiff from the edema that built up from the lack of running, and because I had perhaps rested it a little too well. I only had a few minor twinges, which have happened on runs even before the sprain, so I allowed myself to go as long as the pain hovered around the yellow mark. Although I felt quite energetic, and could have likely run another mile or two, I felt that even four miles was pushing it, and decided to head on home. It is better to be safe, and a little bummed out, than very sorry and injured!
The two weeks off from running gave me a chance to rest my legs, and really look at other options for cardio. It also gave me a chance to focus back in on toning and muscle building which, I admit, I tend to skip in favor of a heart pounding workout. I actually had a lot of fun finding new ways to burn calories. I put myself through a series of various punches and blocks from martial arts at a rapid pace, doing a set amount of reps for each. I did a bouncing workout on the mini trampoline for thirty minutes, and was surprised that it was a pretty good workout. I did not even have to lift my feet from the trampoline to get my heart going. After thirty minutes, I was sweating! I also made sure to watch the calories I consumed. With fewer calories being put out, I had to reduce how many I took in, but make sure that the calories I did consume were really nutritious and would keep me fuller longer.
It worked. Not only was I able to maintain my weight for most of the two week rest period, I was also able to lose a couple of pounds, officially bringing me to a new weight range. The 170s! Yep, this morning I weighed in at 179, and it sure felt amazing!
Perhaps the moral of this story is to keep calm. Injuries are going to happen. I finally had to realize it is not a matter of if, but when. Keep in mind, injuries do not always happen during exercise. You could step off a curb the wrong way, and twist your ankle. You could fall back, and break a wrist. You could get in an accident and hurt your back. Some injuries, obviously, are worse than others. Still this does not mean you give up! Do not let an injury disrupt your progress. Rest what needs resting, and use it as an opportunity to work on other areas of your body that need a little attention.
For every challenge you have, someone always has it worse!
Take it from me, do not let your mole hills become mountains!
Kristina
Thursday, November 22, 2012
8 months...and 34 minutes and 15 seconds.
Today was a big day for me. It was the culmination of eight months hard work. Sitting here now, having just returned home from the race, it feels almost surreal. Did I really just do that? Did I really just run my first race?
The morning started out early, at 5:15 am. As usual, the five o'clock hour came much earlier than I wanted. With all my excitement about the race, I could not sleep last night. So waking up early was not particularly easy. Still, the adrenaline began to kick in as reality hit...in a few hours I would be running my first race! I got dressed, and thanked myself for preparing everything the night before. As usual, it was a mad dash to get out the door in time, but thanks to my preparations last night, we did it with time to spare.
We arrived at the Spanish Plaza around 6:45 am. The morning was cold, but the sky was beautiful, filled with the pinks and oranges of a Mobile sunrise. Already racers were arriving, and so we hopped out of the van and started to look around. We spent the morning playing with the kids, and enjoying the music from the DJ. Ben and I certainly got in a good warm up with all the dancing and jumping Kathryne had us doing to the music!
7:30 rolled around, and with it, my parents who came to watch the twins while we ran. I have to admit, that nerves really began set in. To settle my nerves, I started to stretch and shake off the chills that the morning cold brought on me, and I began my pre-run mantra. The minutes began ticking a way quickly, and before I knew it, they were calling us over to the starting line.
Having read some pre-race tips last week, Ben and I made our way to the middle of the crowd. For those of you who are looking to run your first race, look for people about your size, or who look to be in your fitness and age range. You'll be less tempted to take on a too-fast pace than if you start with runners who are above your abilities.
Surrounded by all those people, I felt adrenaline really get going. Here I was, with runners from all over. For so long, I have been a spectator. I've always wanted to wear one of those paper bibs with a number, and run a race. So, as I stood at the starting line, emotions began to really boil over, and I almost wanted to cry. I was no longer a spectator, I was a runner!
As the last minutes ticked away, I took it all in. I do not want to forget any of it. I looked at the sky, and loved how pretty it was. I looked at the people around me. Not one familiar face, yet I felt a connection to each person beside me. I looked to the sidelines, and saw my parents holding my children. That right there meant the world to me. My children were born to me when I was very obese, so it is great to know that they have seen me transform over these past months. While they may not understand it all now, I am so thrilled that they got to see me start and finish my first race. I want them to see it, and know that they can reach their own goals in life. Then finally I looked beside me. My best friend of ten years was there with me. Ben has been so supportive of all of this, and it felt only right to have him there, holding my hand as I started my first race.
3...2....1...Bang!
We were off. I began with a slow and steady pace, and as the crowd of people thinned, I found a good rhythm that carried me through the first two miles with ease. I knew straight away that it was going to be a great run when the first song on the Pandora app was Pitbull's remix of Shake Senora. Nothing like starting off your run to a fun song! It also helps that I had some of my other family members come out to cheer me on. Just past the starting line, I spotted my Aunt Rosie and cousin, Rose, cheering me on for my first race!
As I found my stride, I let myself drift into my own little world. When I run, I like to use it as a time to let my imagination run wild. Sometimes I think about a favorite book or movie, sometimes I make up my own stories. Today, I thought about a few of my favorite Anime shows as I ran. I wish I could give you a mile by mile commentary, but I did not even realize we had run the first mile. The first sign I noticed was the one that said mile two! Twenty two minutes, and two miles had passed without even noticing it.
Ben, being the trooper he is, was right along side me. I kept looking over to him, and I could not stop smiling. He smiled back, and I could see in his face how proud he was of me. He knows how much time and work I had put in to this. I have to give him some major credit. He ran the entire thing in jeans. And while he may be the faster runner, I am better with distance. So he had to work to keep up with me near the end. Not wanting to hold me back, he kept up without complaint.
I was feeling great. My breathing was easy, my knees and legs were not hurting, and I had energy to burn. With the first two miles behind me, I turned up the speed. We rounded a corner, and ran under the overpass, and it was then that I knew we were nearing the end of the race. There was one more stretch of course to go, and we would be done. A burst of energy hit me, and I turned the speed up another notch. I could see, in the distance, a large crowd of people. The finish line was in sight.
Thankful that I had paced myself for the first two and a half miles, I was able to really turn up the speed, and broke into a full sprint. My smile went from ear to ear. I had done it, I had run my first race. I could hear the people cheering me on, even through my head phones, and it just helped me run even faster. Waiting for me near the finish was my dad, camera in hand, capturing what is one of the proudest moments of my life. And right at the finish was my mom, Aunt, and cousin...and best of all, my children. Ayden and Kathryne may not understand how important it was for me, but I still am so thrilled that they were there to see me achieve such an important goal.
With my husband beside me, I crossed that finish line.
It has been a long journey. The past eight months have been wonderful, hard, challenging, exciting, exhausting, frustrating...and every feeling in between. Eight months of hard work, for thirty four minutes, and fifteen seconds. That is my fastest out door running time ever. I ran the full race with no stopping or walking. I have met my first official fitness goal that I set for myself when I began this journey.
But where do I go from here? I know my next goal is to run the Azalea Trail 10k, so you can bet that I'll be back to training again this weekend. In the mean time, I will definitely be running a few more 5k races. I am quite addicted to racing, now that I have completed my first.
I am not stopping there, though. It is a year away from now, but I am going to be running the Disney half marathon next fall! I found out that Ben and I can get sponsors, to help us with the cost of going. It is going to be a long and challenging year, but I know I can do it. I can not really see beyond that right now. I want to take things a step at a time.
Today though, I am going to relax and enjoy the memories of this morning. It is a beautiful Thanksgiving day, and I certainly have a lot to be thankful for right now. Ben and I both have decided that we want to make this an annual tradition. Thanksgiving next year, you will find us running the Turkey Trot again. I think now I will settle down to a well deserved home made panini and a good book. After that, it will be time with family and we celebrate a wonderful holiday together. I will, of course, be wearing my new shirt from my first race!
Thank you to all who have stuck with me through this journey. Thank you to everyone who has encouraged me with your posts and kind words to every update I have made. Thank you to my parents, and Ben's parents, who have supported me through this. Thank you to my Aunt Rose, and my cousin Rosebud for coming out and cheering me on today, it was so incredibly amazing to have you guys there! Thank you to my beautiful children, who inspired me to better myself, so that they will have a mother they can be proud of. A major thanks to my amazing husband and best friend, without whom I could never have done this. God certainly blessed me when he brought us together.
The morning started out early, at 5:15 am. As usual, the five o'clock hour came much earlier than I wanted. With all my excitement about the race, I could not sleep last night. So waking up early was not particularly easy. Still, the adrenaline began to kick in as reality hit...in a few hours I would be running my first race! I got dressed, and thanked myself for preparing everything the night before. As usual, it was a mad dash to get out the door in time, but thanks to my preparations last night, we did it with time to spare.
We arrived at the Spanish Plaza around 6:45 am. The morning was cold, but the sky was beautiful, filled with the pinks and oranges of a Mobile sunrise. Already racers were arriving, and so we hopped out of the van and started to look around. We spent the morning playing with the kids, and enjoying the music from the DJ. Ben and I certainly got in a good warm up with all the dancing and jumping Kathryne had us doing to the music!
7:30 rolled around, and with it, my parents who came to watch the twins while we ran. I have to admit, that nerves really began set in. To settle my nerves, I started to stretch and shake off the chills that the morning cold brought on me, and I began my pre-run mantra. The minutes began ticking a way quickly, and before I knew it, they were calling us over to the starting line.
Having read some pre-race tips last week, Ben and I made our way to the middle of the crowd. For those of you who are looking to run your first race, look for people about your size, or who look to be in your fitness and age range. You'll be less tempted to take on a too-fast pace than if you start with runners who are above your abilities.
Surrounded by all those people, I felt adrenaline really get going. Here I was, with runners from all over. For so long, I have been a spectator. I've always wanted to wear one of those paper bibs with a number, and run a race. So, as I stood at the starting line, emotions began to really boil over, and I almost wanted to cry. I was no longer a spectator, I was a runner!
As the last minutes ticked away, I took it all in. I do not want to forget any of it. I looked at the sky, and loved how pretty it was. I looked at the people around me. Not one familiar face, yet I felt a connection to each person beside me. I looked to the sidelines, and saw my parents holding my children. That right there meant the world to me. My children were born to me when I was very obese, so it is great to know that they have seen me transform over these past months. While they may not understand it all now, I am so thrilled that they got to see me start and finish my first race. I want them to see it, and know that they can reach their own goals in life. Then finally I looked beside me. My best friend of ten years was there with me. Ben has been so supportive of all of this, and it felt only right to have him there, holding my hand as I started my first race.
3...2....1...Bang!
We were off. I began with a slow and steady pace, and as the crowd of people thinned, I found a good rhythm that carried me through the first two miles with ease. I knew straight away that it was going to be a great run when the first song on the Pandora app was Pitbull's remix of Shake Senora. Nothing like starting off your run to a fun song! It also helps that I had some of my other family members come out to cheer me on. Just past the starting line, I spotted my Aunt Rosie and cousin, Rose, cheering me on for my first race!
As I found my stride, I let myself drift into my own little world. When I run, I like to use it as a time to let my imagination run wild. Sometimes I think about a favorite book or movie, sometimes I make up my own stories. Today, I thought about a few of my favorite Anime shows as I ran. I wish I could give you a mile by mile commentary, but I did not even realize we had run the first mile. The first sign I noticed was the one that said mile two! Twenty two minutes, and two miles had passed without even noticing it.
Ben, being the trooper he is, was right along side me. I kept looking over to him, and I could not stop smiling. He smiled back, and I could see in his face how proud he was of me. He knows how much time and work I had put in to this. I have to give him some major credit. He ran the entire thing in jeans. And while he may be the faster runner, I am better with distance. So he had to work to keep up with me near the end. Not wanting to hold me back, he kept up without complaint.
I was feeling great. My breathing was easy, my knees and legs were not hurting, and I had energy to burn. With the first two miles behind me, I turned up the speed. We rounded a corner, and ran under the overpass, and it was then that I knew we were nearing the end of the race. There was one more stretch of course to go, and we would be done. A burst of energy hit me, and I turned the speed up another notch. I could see, in the distance, a large crowd of people. The finish line was in sight.
Thankful that I had paced myself for the first two and a half miles, I was able to really turn up the speed, and broke into a full sprint. My smile went from ear to ear. I had done it, I had run my first race. I could hear the people cheering me on, even through my head phones, and it just helped me run even faster. Waiting for me near the finish was my dad, camera in hand, capturing what is one of the proudest moments of my life. And right at the finish was my mom, Aunt, and cousin...and best of all, my children. Ayden and Kathryne may not understand how important it was for me, but I still am so thrilled that they were there to see me achieve such an important goal.
With my husband beside me, I crossed that finish line.
It has been a long journey. The past eight months have been wonderful, hard, challenging, exciting, exhausting, frustrating...and every feeling in between. Eight months of hard work, for thirty four minutes, and fifteen seconds. That is my fastest out door running time ever. I ran the full race with no stopping or walking. I have met my first official fitness goal that I set for myself when I began this journey.
But where do I go from here? I know my next goal is to run the Azalea Trail 10k, so you can bet that I'll be back to training again this weekend. In the mean time, I will definitely be running a few more 5k races. I am quite addicted to racing, now that I have completed my first.
I am not stopping there, though. It is a year away from now, but I am going to be running the Disney half marathon next fall! I found out that Ben and I can get sponsors, to help us with the cost of going. It is going to be a long and challenging year, but I know I can do it. I can not really see beyond that right now. I want to take things a step at a time.
Today though, I am going to relax and enjoy the memories of this morning. It is a beautiful Thanksgiving day, and I certainly have a lot to be thankful for right now. Ben and I both have decided that we want to make this an annual tradition. Thanksgiving next year, you will find us running the Turkey Trot again. I think now I will settle down to a well deserved home made panini and a good book. After that, it will be time with family and we celebrate a wonderful holiday together. I will, of course, be wearing my new shirt from my first race!
Thank you to all who have stuck with me through this journey. Thank you to everyone who has encouraged me with your posts and kind words to every update I have made. Thank you to my parents, and Ben's parents, who have supported me through this. Thank you to my Aunt Rose, and my cousin Rosebud for coming out and cheering me on today, it was so incredibly amazing to have you guys there! Thank you to my beautiful children, who inspired me to better myself, so that they will have a mother they can be proud of. A major thanks to my amazing husband and best friend, without whom I could never have done this. God certainly blessed me when he brought us together.
 |
| Ready to go! |
 |
| At the starting line |
 |
| Yeah...I know I look good! |
 |
| Finishing the race together |
 |
| WE DID IT!!! |
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