Wednesday, May 25, 2011

C25K Week One...done!

I finished up week one last Saturday morning. I enjoyed pushing myself, going out and doing the program. This is Week 2 and I'm slightly off track with all this rain and tornado warnings we're having, but I walked Sunday and Monday evening to the local Shoppette (Convenience store) on post with a few of my neighbors. I didn't get to do my usual C25k routine yesterday, but I'm going to attempt my run this evening if another tornado warning doesn't ruin my plans. Wish me luck as I continue my goal! :D

Monday, May 16, 2011

C25K-Week One........Excuses

Here goes- I'm holding myself accountable and updating everyone on my weekly progress. As I mentioned I was to begin my Couch to 5 K (C25K) program last Tuesday. Well, that kind of didn't happen and this is why....
Last Tuesday following my last entry, our power went out in our neighborhood and the temperature was still hovering above 90* at six o'clock that evening. Not knowing what time our power would be restored and not knowing the next time I could shower, I forgo-ed the first day of training to sit under the carport in the shade with my neighbors until the power came back on almost 4 hours later.
Wednesday wasn't a planned training day, but I debated on whether or not to run since I missed first day of my program. Instead, I decided to sit in my yard and chat with my neighbor while enjoying a nice alfresco dinner that Clay had prepared for me. Clay had made some fresh seafood that we had picked up in town earlier that afternoon. He fixed Black Peppered Shrimp and Caesar salad for me and he enjoyed some fresh scallops. Much later that evening I found myself having the worst stomach ache in my life. Early Thursday morning laying on the floor of my bathroom, I convinced myself that I was dying from food poisoning. It was the worst kind of sick imaginable and I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. If you've ever seen Drop Dead Gorgeous, just imagine the part of the movie were all of the beauty pageant contestants get violently ill from a seafood buffet, you would have a small glimpse of how I felt. It took me until 3 o'clock in the afternoon to make it down to the couch and regain the ranks with the semi-living. I am especially grateful for my husband for caring for me and acting as Mr. Mom for the entire day. I surely couldn't run on negative calories and I laid in bed looking pitiful for the rest of the day, the hour long couch adventure was way too much work.
Friday, I was still weak, but not sick and this was a major step towards feeling better. I took it easy and didn't run that evening either. Saturday, I figured that there was no point on trying to salvage the beginning of my C25K program, so I went around the neighborhood to the yard sales and our family attended a birthday party for our neighbor's daughter at the indoor pool.
So, TOMORROW I will begin (again) my C25K program. I'm excited about running, having some "me time" and avoiding shellfish for an undermined amount of time. Wish me luck as I begin this new adventure.

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Breaking/Making Goals....

I'm starting a new adventure and ending another. I just finished one month of going Vegetarian (again) and I'm shifting gears and going back on the meat band wagon. It was fun, it made me appreciate the discipline that die-hard Vegetarians and Vegans do and expanded my options for meat-less meals, even more than last time. I'm sticking to seafood, poultry and limiting my intake of pork and beef products. But, I still failed short of my long term goal of cutting out as much processed foods as I could. No one tells beginning Vegetarians (or second time around one's like me) that any convenience food for someone on a plant based diet is as just as processed as regular foods with meat in them. I have a ton of appreciation for those who continue this lifestyle, but for someone who loves to cook as much as I do, the whole month I was miserable thinking that a lot of my favorite foods were "off-limits". No more Beef Wellington and roasted Brussels Sprouts for special occasions, a nice piece of grilled chicken topped with a fresh avocado salsa, Honey glazed Salmon with wild rice and steamed veggies. You get the picture. As good as I felt, I was slightly unhappy meat-free. Maybe my body needed to be reset and enjoy a hiatus from meat, but I'm still going to incorporate Meat-less Mondays into our menu.
On a brighter note, today I will be begin my Couch to 5K challenge. I'm excited and ready to start this evening as soon as the temperature drops below 90*. I'll track my progress and hopefully will be running 5k (approx. 3 miles) without difficultly by mid-June.