Embarking on Another Adventure

Well, I've decided to stop my on-again off-again love affair with exercise.  I do genuinely enjoy working out.  As a lot of you know, I've worked with, and still work with, a lot of people on their own exercise programs, incorporating nutrition and weight management.  But consistency is the key...and if I can't do it, how can I expect anyone else to??????  I go full force, then back off, sometimes stopping almost completely and then jump back in again...over..and over...and over again.

So, here goes.  I've done extensive research on running programs, how I would LOVE to run a marathon.  But the process of getting there is long and grueling.  So, I figured I would jump in.  Not like a crazy woman, but sensibly, the right way.  I walk 2 miles 4-5 days a week now, so this will be in addition to my staple - that is a "need a sanity break from my office and a little sunshine" walk.  I thought I would start at a mid-level program, but after reading a lot of training tips and taking my legs into consideration, I've decided to start from scratch.  I want to start from zero and work my way up, preventing injury, so I can help others do the same.  Eventually I will move to training for a 5K, a 10K, a 1/2 marathon and at some point a full marathon.  Having small goals leading toward a large goal will help me focus and maintain discipline.

Tomorrow is day 1.  One tip I've found over and over again and one I've always told those I've worked with over the years is SCHEDULE YOUR WORKOUT.  If you don't, it may not happen.  If you wait to do something until you feel like it (and this goes for almost everything, not just your workout), you'll never do it.  I'm also going to incorporate core training.  Cardio is great, but the key to lean muscle mass is definitely in the major muscle training.

I spent almost 2 hours today moving my treadmill about 20 feet.  The problem was that my house has really narrow doors and my treadmill...not so narrow.  I forgot what torture it was to put together until I had to take it apart and move it.   But it's done.  I am going to do some outside and some on the treadmill, whatever hits me at the time...but I wanted to be prepared.  I had to take away that obstacle of not wanting to go outside if it was 100 degrees or raining and get my backup plan in place.  Plus, Levi LOVES to walk on the treadmill with me and I'm sure he has been missing it since we moved last month.

Many of you know I stopped eating meat in May (well, except those couple of bites in July at the beach when I knew if I didn't, our host would run to the store to get me something special, and I didn't want to inconvenience her).  I do eat fish and seafood, just gave up chicken and beef (never really ate much pork to begin with, but definitely don't eat that now).  I have to say that it's not been very hard.  I'm not a picky eater so I can find something just about anywhere.  That's not to say that if I'm out to someone's house for dinner and meat is served that I won't try a few bites.  I'm doing it solely for health reasons.  Without a gall bladder, I have suffered a lot from feeling downright MISERABLE after I eat and making this one change has made ALL the difference in the world!!

So, the training schedule.  Week one will be as follows:

Monday - Run 1 min, Walk 2 min, repeat 10 times
Tuesday - Walk 30 min
Wednesday - Run 1 min, Walk 2 min, repeat 10 times
Thursday - Walk 30 min
Friday - Run 1 min, Walk 2 min, repeat 10 times
Saturday - Run 1 min, Walk 2 min, repeat 10 times
Sunday - Rest


We'll see how it all fits together.  I'll be dragging you along on my journey, so wish me luck, send me words of encouragement and if anyone is interested in joining me, I would LOVE to have you!!!!