Five Factors of Running

I feel like I have actually worked for this. I am working for this blog. Crazy, right? I have found that there are five main factors that contribute to me being successful at run/walking/jog. I am able now to run/walk/jog over 3 miles without feeling horrible for the following three days. I have been working out almost everyday for about a week without any issues and I am actually feeling good. I have been trying to do my P90X whenever possible but with a year and a half old it makes things a little difficult. so here is what I have found DOES work!

1. NO WIND: I found that when there is wind where I live it makes running SO much more difficult than it needs to be.

2. A JOGGER WITH PUMPED UP TIRES: I think this is the best thing ever. there is nothing worse on a jog than not being able to jog because the tires are flat.

3. HYDRATION: Enough said.

4. A WILLING JOGGING PARTNER: My daughter needs to be in a happy mood or I will not be able to get through the jog. that means, giving her something to snack on, play with and something to drink so that I may get through my miles. Followed by plenty of play time for her.

And finally.... The most important thing to me is

5. A GREAT PLAY LIST: My music is SO IMPORTANT to me. I have currently 6 play lists which I play depending on my mood. If I have the right music I could go for 12 miles... my body might hate me after but the music would keep me going! Today, I needed to hear all of my favorites (workout list 2) which includes: "the kill," "sex on fire," "sober," and "can't hold us down". To make it even more interesting I put the play list on shuffle! I got me through even faster than I expected.

So with all that I have learned, what works for me may work for you. But I just know what is right for me is taking everything a step at a time. My workout needs to be different everyday or I will fall into the trap that I have been in for way too long. I am not about to go back there. I will just keep trekking along and soon I know I will see results.

Fact is Fact... or.. Fat is Fat!

So here I am starting off fresh. I have a wonderful husband, a beautiful 19 month old, a fun job at Trader Joe's, a growing Photography business and a constantly expanding waste line! I was never "small" from what I remember. As early as eight years old, I remember eating vegetables and dip at Christmas and my aunt sat me down to let me know if I don't keep myself in check I will end up to be fat and unhappy with myself. Well she was right in one aspect, I'm larger than I could have ever thought that I would let myself get; but I'm happy with my life and who I am! As I grew up from that moment further; food, exercise and weight has been a constant struggle in my life. I am always trying to find the balance.

I have tried weight loss plans, weight watchers, books, videos, DVDS, classes, trying it on my own, sports, friends, ... You name it, I have tried it! Here is where it all began. I started at age 11 being about a size 0 then 1 then getting older I grew up to be a bit larger and being "athletic!" I got to the point I was a size 10 in college; freshman 15. (Although in my case it was 20-25 and I was a junior/senior in college) I was working five jobs and taking 22 units. I was doing more than I should have been. Than came my career, I was working at the retirement home constantly. always on the go and had lots of stress from work. I was just about to move in with my best friend! Life was getting better and turning into more of a reality. I was on my way to a size 10-12 and was getting to be too much for myself. I got a personal trainer, taught kickboxing, joined another gym and joined weight watchers with my friend. I got down to a gorgeous size 8 and met John, my wonderful, handsome husband. I got "comfortable" with our life together dinners out, missing a workout here and there, sleeping in, which meant once again, I let myself go a bit. My wedding day, I was back to a size 12 but okay with it.

Two and a half years later my waste line is nonexistent because I was pregnant. I LOVED being pregnant. I was okay with being a little larger because I was bringing life into this world. and let me tell you I was ALL belly. I gained only 35 pounds but it was all my midsection from my butt to my chest I was huge! I was only able to teach kickboxing for a short while, I had a few issues with my pregnancy, migraines, which were just killers! They took me off work, I was not able to work out, and I just "hung out" all the time. Letting the baby and myself get bigger and bigger. I just kept telling myself, "I am just going to lose ALL the weight, and the extra weight when the baby is born." Then the day comes where I get to hold my beautiful daughter in my arms, nurse her (after all nursing burns calories) and look at her and know that I gained all the extra, well deserved weight for her. I had BAD knees after my pregnancy which did not allow me to try and lose the weight so I was at a size 16. I was in physical therapy for over a year and was just getting to know my daughter, Burke. I started at Trader Joe's about 5 months after Burke was born and the food, although it was healthy, it is EASY to make the wrong decisions too. I wanted to do something for myself and go back to school, so what better thing to do when you want to lose weight, take a Cake Decorating Class!!! I have tipped the scale a couple of pounds shy of 200 and between a size 16-18.

So here is where it stands. I love to cook and bake. I love sweets and salts. I love grocery shopping and tasting new things. It is hard to make dinner for your family when some of your family are VERY picky eaters. I have tried losing the weight for my daughter, for my husband, for my family, for my job and for myself. I have tried to lose it before a challenge (Warrior Dash) and before a cruise. Nothing seems to go right when it comes to my weight, food or exercise. I have restarted P90x three times and I have a pole in my garage that still needs to be setup. I need help!

I need to find a way to get truly serious about losing the weight. I saw a picture of myself with a bunch of people in it and realized that I was the largest one. That is when it hit me, I need to make a serious change! So here is the start of my journey. I will jot down everything I do from eating to exercise in my daily burn log. then I will post, (as often as I can) my progress, which I hope there is some of. I want to be a better wife, mom, and woman. I want to be back to a comfortable weight and be comfortable with getting my picture taken! I do not want food to be the enemy and I WANT to learn to love to workout and let it NOT feel like a workout. I am going to start off fresh, clean slate, here we go!