Impatient Patience

Silly title? Maybe...but I am a self-declared and well accepted walking and talking oxymoron.

*I break my foot and then fall again on crutches.

*I tell everyone I am learning patience through all of this, and I am pretty much lying to (the inside of) my face.

*I tell myself I can still do upper body and core workouts, with a super positive and happy voice. Then I do them for the first week, and say, ehhh.

C'mon now. 

My situation is not bad. Not even all that stinky. 

*I have read 3 books. 

*I have watched some sweet movies (yes, I totally will take that as a positive right now).

*I am re-teaching myself the discipline of making my lunches and dinners over quick and easy meals.

*My husband and I are forced to communicate in different ways, as I am pretty much home most of the time (aside from work, and the occasional times I am "allowed" to venture out on my hobble foot).

*My dog is ECSTATIC about this new arrangement of me not leaving her.

As hard or difficult I may think a moment is, it is just that: a moment. 

I have decided to conquer a few health goals at the same time. Not the greatest idea, but like I told a friend the other day, "most of my goals were fitness related before, and now they simply cannot revolve around that."

So, I am trying to do as many (girl) push-ups as I possibly can. But, I am also taking the time to check off a few other things on my list. One of those is, again, making wholesome meals, which is not as hard as I had made it out to be in my head. Another is to decrease the amount of medicine in my body. This is a pretty personal one, so if you have any questions concerning this please do not hesitate to message or email me, I am happy to discuss.

When you make changes for/to your body, it is not going to be easy. 9 times out of 10 it is going to feel like a struggle. But, those 9 times out of 10 are also totally worth it. I am proving to my body that it can heal itself. That I can overcome fears and anxieties that once plagued my everyday.

Broken foot? Yeah, it does suck. I really want to go for a run. Do some squats. Rollerblade. Anything at this point. But, is God telling me to "wait, a minute" and pay attention to some other aspects of my life? You bet.

Now, go on a walk/run for me..mail me the burned calories and I'll see you out there in 6 weeks ;)

Forced Patience

Bronchitis has reared its ugly, ugly face and caught up to me last night.

It seems like a pretty bad case, and I am fighting off a fever and chest infection.


I am now being "forced" to take a break from everything:

-work
-running
-the gym
**not eating ice cream....hahahaha


I hope to get on some antibiotics a.s.a.p. and get back into my routine.
I hate being sick mostly for the feeling of missing out on the day!

I may post about some other things like recipes, fashion posts, etc. but my running posts will definitely take a backseat this week.

They (I am not sure who 'they' are, but they are legit I'm sure) have said that taking a week off once or twice a year is good for your fitness level. AKA when you return to your routine your body is forced to work harder than before due to the break.

Let's hope these mysterious professionals are right ;)

Stay healthy and have a wonderful and safe time celebrating NYE!

dotsnyc.com

Fitness Friday: Goals

These are not "New Year's Goals."

These are Allison needs to continue to work hard...and then work harder to reach her goals she has had for several months now.

GOALS:

1. Eat 3 FULL servings of veggies every day.

2. Run a 1:50 half-marathon (long term goal is a 1:45 PR).

3. Do more interval runs outside rather than on the treadmill.

4. Worry more about toning up/getting stronger rather than my weight.

5. Fit comfortably in this dress (It fits, but my mid-section needs to be tighter for me to be able to not 'suck it in' while wearing it).   -------->  

6. Run early in the morning..i.e. stop procrastinating in general.

7. Make wholesome dinners more often for my husband and I.

8. Get my Master's in Historical Preservation.

9. Visit Germany and Poland (to be able to SEE what I study).

10. Measure out my portions for snacks...I have gotten away from this and have noticed (negative) differences.

11. Read the Bible and my devotional daily, no matter the excuses I may try and come up with.

As you can see, many of my goals are fitness or health related, but they delve into other parts of my life. When I eat better, relax about being a certain weight (or being the weight I "used to be"), stop procrastinating, and workout regularly, I am happier and more at ease. I want to enjoy a healthy life, indulgences included. 

I don't have cheat days, I have dessert when I want it, but sometimes it is lighter and sometimes it is disgustingly chocolately. 

Keep me accountable! And, if you have goals you are looking forward to accomplishing, please share. If you need support or encouragement...or a kick in the rear, I would be happy to be your I'm not going to let you fail buddy :)

Happy Fitness Friday! 

Eating the Holidays

How will I eat throughout Christmas and the surrounding days that I consider party of the holiday?

I am going to eat what I want.

I am going to try what I want.

I am going to indulge.

I am going to try my best to NOT reach the point of feeling ill.

If I do not really enjoy something I will NOT continue to eat it.

I will continue to work out.

And, that's it!

Voi-la!

ENJOY yourself; just don't pop and turn into a big Christmas cookie ;)

Merry Christmas and enjoy this blessed time with the people God has placed in your life.

Re-learning the Same Lesson

Cold weather running= it can be a beautiful blessing and a horrible, icy curse. 



This depends on: 

1. Your own personal abilities
2. The right gear
3. Running smart
4. Easy tips and tricks


1- If you know for a fact that when it dips down below 30 degrees your chest becomes inflamed when you run, then take that into consideration. If you have an injury that becomes tight/worse when outside in the cold during exercise, then take that into consideration. If you are coming up with excuses to not run in the cold, take that into consideration.


2- Shoes spikes, face masks, thermal tops/bottoms, fleece zip-ups, tech gloves and thin scarves that are breathable. All of these are some tools that are necessary when running in winter weather. Not every run will you need spikes or face masks, but if there is snow and ice covering more than half of the ground you will be running on then I say wear the spikes...and if the temps start dipping into the low teens/there is a cold wind, the face mask will help protect your skin. (Remember this is small enough you can always take it off, better to bring it than regret not having it 1/2 through your run).


3- Treadmills, dreadmills; however you refer to these machines, they do come in handy for winter running. (Intervals too for us soft centered runners). If it is TOO cold (aka your chest/breathing cannot keep up with your activity) or the ground is too slick to run on, then hop on the treadmill, turn on a podcast and pretend you're running through the Swiss Alps with the Von Trapp family. Be smart, be safe. I learned the hard way that running when it is too icy, without the right gear can very often result in an injury, a bad run, and taking unwanted days off from activity. Don't let your pride get in the way of your fitness :)


4- One little trick I have always done is drinking a mug of coffee before a run. It not only warms me up but it also helps to open up my air passages better [in the cold weather]. Another is my warm-up. I do 10 reps of jumping jacks, high knees, butt kicks, squats, and arm stretches before I head outside. My body is more prepared for the cold this way.

These may be things you have already read or heard from someone, but reminders aren't a bad thing right? If I start to write about these same things more than 3-4 times, then please say something then. 

Good luck out running old man winter, and run hard, run smart!

Perfect.

I love to encourage and help my loved ones out whenever possible/necessary. But when it comes time to sit down and eat my own words, I lose my appetite.

I am not perfect, sure I know this. But it still absolutely sucks when I make a mistake and cannot pick up my own pieces. 


For example, when I go off my attempt to eat healthy and inhale too much of something deemed 'junk food' I do not forgive myself. I replay it over and over in my head and beat myself up about it till I am black and blue with guilt and regret. How is this helping? Oh, it's not. But I seem to make sure it is my only option.

I am a continuing work in progress, as we all are. I need to love myself the way I love others, and the way God loves each of us. I need to have that same mercy on myself. I still need to kick my behind in gear when I know better, but who do I think I am? 

I am not perfect.

Fitness Friday: What a Twist!

Thank you M. Night Shamamlana and late night cartoons for my oh so creative blog title today.

Another Fitness Friday post is here! 

What did Allison learn this week?

Slow and steady & Fast and Feisty are both necessary and productive. What?

Gross, I have to do both?

Yes.

I am finally committing to learning how to pace myself. This means I need to slow down on my long runs and give it all I got on my [race] pace and interval workouts. AND take it easy on my easy runs.

I have been sticking to this for about 3 weeks now and I have felt a noticeable difference in my pace and overall running performance (for the better, I might add). 

Your body should not get used to stagnant activity. I learned this last year and had to change up my routine enough that I can keep it guessing most of the time. This means that once in a while I take off 2-3 days in a row and then get right back into my routine to "shock" myself a little and continue to get stronger.

I hope this helps, and PLEASE share what you've got goin' on...or what you need to have goin' on.

A Rainy Fitness Friday

A plus of running in the rain? You usually can't tell what's sweat and what's rain ;)

This week I felt like a failure. My eating wasn't the best and I didn't work out that much.

Even though it felt like a disaster in the moment, when I look back I realize some positives.

The eating has no excuses. But, why beat yourself up over it? It's already in my body, I need to move on.

The lack of exercise was because of a stomach bug I was dealing with. I had a couple of good days, but I rested because I should not have been jumping around, running, etc. When your body tells you it needs rest, listen.

Fitness Friday!

What have you done this week that you want to share? Or better yet, give the rest of us some ideas! :)

Pump Up Your Run

I have been avoiding intervals outside for a long...long while now. I have been consistently sticking to the dreadmill to get these workouts done.

But, for some reason, I felt like it was time yesterday to end this weak spell.

Since I ran 7 miles last Thursday I am pushing my long run to this Thursday, so I put 4-5 miles on my schedule yesterday. I was grumbling during my warm-up, feeling kinda bored with my usual run. So, 3 minutes into it I decided to sprint. Well, I got tired, so I slowed down...and there you have the start of my intervals.

The first 2 miles were great, the third mile was HARD. First, because I was running hard and my body was starting to feel it, and second, because I had done some strength workouts in between miles 1 and 2.

It went like this:

2 miles of 400 m intervals (sub 7min/mile and 10min/mile+ recovery pace)

20 walking lunges

10 standing bicycles

10 front squats/ static sumo squat/ jump squat                                                  

10 push-ups

X3

1 mile 400 m intervals

20 walking lunges

10 kicking bicycles (single leg kick; opposite arm to opposite leg)

10 squats 

10 push-ups

X3

2 miles at average pace (mine was 9:10ish)

walking/stretching cool down for 10 minutes

Ta-Da! 

Honestly, the last 2 miles felt like a 'breeze' after the sprints and strength workouts.

And, of course, you can personalize this more to your likes/dislikes and your focus for that session.

Enjoy (seriously), and get out there!

PS: for a "how-to" on different kinds of squats check this site out: Jillian Michaels squat workout guide

Fitness Friday!

Fitness Friday!

This week I have stuck to my running schedule and even completed an 8k at 9:10 p.m. on 11-12-13...cold, but super fun and everyone was full of energy! It was also my friend's first race, so that is DEFINITELY something big to celebrate : )

Share your tips, tricks, guilty pleasures, goals, or accomplishments...

Fitness Friday!

Fitness Friday!

This week has been up and down with my healthy eating habits...but I am on week 2 of my new workout routine (lifting 4X per week with 5 days of running and other cross training). 

Today, when I couldn't run as scheduled I still walked [briskly] for 30 minutes and then walked to work. 

What are some things are are doing/have done this past week to improve your healthy lifestyle?! :)

More Importantly

Sometimes there are more important things than eating your vegetables.
...than getting your workout in
...than lifting weights 3 times per week
...than PR'ing

Also, there are more important things than eating the biggest slice of pizza.
...than making an easy dinner over a fulfilling one
...than being comfortable
...than feeling average


Last night, after a volleyball game, I asked a good friend if she wanted to go get ice cream. Normally I save "super fun candy filled" ice cream for the weekend, but I wanted to go and I knew we would have fun.

Guess what?

I didn't feel guilty. I enjoyed my ice cream and even more I enjoyed the time I spent with my friend. We talked about life, we laughed like old hens, and we shared where we wanted to be in 6 months.

Other times, when I eat foods that are not in the 'healthy' category I feel guilt, which takes away from enjoying them. This can be a common battle, but not an easy one to win. Food should never be an enemy. It fuels our bodies and it can bring excitement to meals. 

So, there are times that ice cream with a friend will trump counting calories or a lower body fat percentage...but remember there are times that ice cream is not worth it and a walk instead will more than suffice. YOU are the best judge of you.

Have a spOOky sweet day! :)

Fitness Friday: Horror Edition

If you have discipline
If you can say no
If you choose fruits and veggies over chocolate and sugar
If you abstain from cookies and brownies at parties
If you can stop at one mini-size candy bar

Well, then, I admire you. I know it should be as easy as "Allison, no"...but most of the time I make it much more difficult and painful than that.

This time of year there is more chocolate in mini form than ever, making us feel like we are only being 1/2 as bad as eating a normal size candy bar; never mind that it usually doesn't stop at 2 or 3 or 8.

So, this Fitness Friday post is a special one. 

What are you going to do to help with temptation. 
Make your own sweets? Just say no? Say yes and work out later? Shout YES and say screw it? Steal little kids' candy? Whoa  no. 

But, please! Share your tips and tricks or guilty pleasures during this beautiful and delicious time of year :)

Morning Push

I have procrastinated long enough this morning. I let Netflix suck me in, but this is my first full week back to running after my half and it is up to me to make it great. So, get out there and enjoy fall before the snow comes!

Fitness Friday!

Fitness Friday!

What am I proud of this week? Getting back into my running after a break the week following my half marathon in Cleveland. Yesterday I got out in the fall air and had an amazing 6 mile run that was very uplifting :)

What's going on in your corner? Please share! Even if it is a delicious story...like how I ate too much raw pumpkin cookie dough last night ;)

Fitness Friday!

Fitness Friday!

Where free encouragement, bragging, advice, recipes, complaining, and shiny pictures come to meet.

Free Encouragement

Look at these as many times as you need to, and then one more time.

I know I need to.

Have a strong day!

Fitness Friday!

Fitness Friday!

Please share any fitness news, goal, training, advice, recipes, or any other exciting lifestyle changes you have made :)

Go

  

Get out there, now!..or maybe later if you're working or something...but you get the point, right?

Monday: I was lazy; long run day turned into running 3 miles at 5 p.m. (PS: I had the day off)

Tuesday: Husband was off + feeling lazy...by 11 a.m. I got my butt in gear and did my long run plus the strength workout I was scheduled for (when I got off work).

It was not fun, I was hungry and tired, BUT it was my fault that I had to combine my long run day with leg day...that is what procrastination gets you.

This is just friendly-ish reminder that you will never regret moving, never regret crossing off your goal for the day/week/month/year, and you cannot replace that feeling of accomplishment once it is done.

GO!

Fitness Friday!

Fitness Friday Show&Tell and share and brag and ask and...you know.

It's herrrrre..again. Let's get to it!

My "show and tell" is that my long run of 9 miles went really well and yesterday I actually committed to a tempo run and ran at a sub-8:30 minute mile, which for me is speedy ;)