Sunday, October 31, 2010

Blog-O-Versary -- Oct. 23

Where have I been?
My parents bought a 55 y.o. fixer-upper around the corner from us here in Utah. I told them I would repair and paint the living room and bedrooms before they moved their stuff in (I love doing that kind of work). I figured I had 6 months to a year before they sold their home in Arizona. They sold it within 3 weeks!!!! Who would have thought that possible in this market? I barely finished before they moved their belongings in last Thursday. My blogoversary occurred during the break, but in honor of it, here's a review of the year:

THIS TIME LAST YEAR
I was fairly new to our neighborhood/town/state, discouraged and lonely. I was new to blogging. Before that, I had hardly surfed the web or anything. Fitness blogging seemed to be a great community for learning and support. I nervously began my own blog to hear myself think, so to speak. What did I think? I was so out of practice -- out of touch with me. I was out of touch with feeling anything and using binge eating as a coping mechanism. But, I gave blogging a shot.

BLOGGING HABITS - Morphed
My blog began as a place for me to be accountable and to explore my feelings about my fitness journey. As people began to comment, I began spending hours surfing blogs. Blogging was becoming another form of addiction for me rather than a tool. I liked networking and gaining more followers, but I think I lost my original focus. Now, I want to blog to give words of encouragement and hope to meet with those who feel connected to me, too, and offer me support when I'm down.

FIRST FITNESS BLOG I EVER READ
Crabby McSlacker's Cranky Fitness

FIRST PERSON TO COMMENT ON MY BLOG
KatieO of Boppa Ding Ding

FIRST PERSON TO FOLLOW MY BLOG
Larkspur of Am I Really That Fat?

WHAT AM I LEARNING?
Fitness is such a work in progress, old habits are hard to break, and it isn't going to happen over night. I'm learning it's not about the weight entirely or working out to get someone else's body. It's about feeling better and stronger in my body. I go for that walk (short or long) not because I want to get a certain image anymore; it's because I feel better when I do. I'm happier, nicer, and feel better in my skin.

GOALS I'VE ADOPTED
Back to Basics - with the exception of the not-eating-b4-bed part, I'm rethinking that one and desiring to apply intuitive eating instead of some rule.
Wake-up walks with my family
Recording what I eat -- I haven't blogged about this, yet. I don't measure or count calories, but I do write what I ate for the day. This helps my awareness. This also helps if I have some sort of physical reaction to what I've ingested.
Eating more nutrient-filled foods, more veggies -- Veggie Quest Blog
Controlling binge habit (progress)

HABITS THAT NEED WORK
Resistance training
Routine workouts
Hydrate
Prayer -- why am I always trying to do this (face struggles) on my own?

IT SOUNDED GOOD AT THE TIME
Jumping Rope -- I did not wear proper shoes. Between jumping rope and jogging, I developed plantar fasciitis. I gave the rope up.
Scales -- I've stopped weighing myself. I'll discuss that more later while I do my "homework" for a class I am taking, "Food for the Soul."

INJURIES AND ILLNESSES
Fell on knee -- It didn't keep me from exercising, but it was bruised for several months and at least 6 months before being able to "get" on that knee.
PF revisited.
Twisted ankle.

CONTROVERSIAL POSTS
"Torrid Affair" reposted here: Am I Really That Fat?

THINGS I BEGAN BUT PUT ON HOLD
Roth - Women, Food, and God (labeled "Roth WFG) -- I read through the book once and then wanted to read it again and blog about my ponderings and ah-hah moments over it. I still want to do that, but other things became a priority.
Yoga video - A good habit that is hard to start. My lame excuses: time, tired, and too many toys on the floor.
Jillian Michaels 30-Day Shred -- (see Yoga) This was going to alternate with the yoga videos. I like it for the exercises and how I feel afterwards (not during).

LIFE EVENTS
Sunday School Teacher - mixed emotions
parents moving here

CHALLENGES
Primal Stride -- It went very well and then the initiator of the challenge stopped it.
C25K -- Did it!!
Race to 10 -- I was doing well then hit a depression (about the plantar fasciitis) and a binge-fest for a couple of months. The race is done.
6K -- I did it, sort of. My goal was to run the 6K. Plantar fasciitis came back and then I twisted my ankle at the bottom of our stairs. I slowly walked the 6K while pushing my son in the stroller.

AWARDS
"A Blog With Substance" (Oct.) from Michele of Ruminations and Uncovering: Toward a New Me!! -- Thank you, Michele! I will honor that award with it's own post soon.

Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Stand By (or Jog in Place)


I'm healthy, in a good mood, and hanging in there -- just so, SO busy!!!  I have lots of  posts in my head and wish I could get them out and visit my friends in Blogland.  I'm thinking about you.

Sunday, October 10, 2010

6K

Yesterday was the Wasatch Woman's 5th Annual Love Your Body 6K/10K event -- and my first event. Skye joined me in his stroller as I pushed him through the beautiful trails of Thanksgiving Point, UT. (The event is a 6K instead of a 5K so it can go through some gardens).

I was originally going to run the 6K but due to the flair up of plantar fasciitis and twisting my ankle a couple of weeks ago, I decided to just walk it. (The ankle is okay -- I can point and flex, but it still yells at me if I try to rotate it side to side or around).

I wasn't worried about my time. We enjoyed the scenery instead. Thirty minutes into it, my heel was beginning to hurt, and I took an ibuprofen. I often stopped to stretch my calf muscles to relieve the fascia. Once home, I soaked my foot and ankle in a warm epson salt solution. It's pretty good today.

Here are some photos:

Skye and me before the event.
Getting bundled up.

Along the trail, looking at the steps of fountains.
Half way up the steps of fountains.
Cool tunnel (not part of the trail, but I checked it out anyway).
The rose was more vivid in person.
Noah's Ark at children's garden.
Water falls.
I took this before we started.

Moon bounce for the kids! (Skye - center).
Skye on right side.
He's just too cute!!

My little guy -- I love him so much!