- Changing my diet to include less restaurant meals and highly processed items- Sometimes I forget I'm doing this, but I am doing pretty well. I just need to figure out how to make fresh foods last a little better or I need to make foods and freeze them. This has not really affected my body in ways that I know of, but that is part of the reason I have started a blog.
- Education- Okay, I forget that I'm doing this too, and instead of reading blogs and articles about how to not injure myself, I find myself reading political articles (or as my roommate refers to it, useless information), playing games on my phone, watching television, or worse: reading, updating, refreshing, and rereading Facebook (pretty much the bane of my existence). Seriously, I wish I could just plug my brain into a computer and download whole websites to my brain. Until I can do that, though, I really need to crack down and do it the old fashioned way.
- Exercising- This has been the one that I have had the most problem with and needs more bullets to explain the mess.
- Making plans to do- Seriously, I made plans to run and go to the gym with people because the more, the merrier. So far, I have had to wait on a stroller, an injury and PMS.
- My body hates going- I went out once about five weeks ago with Brownie (my doggy, who truly loves running), and we did a sprint/walk around the dog park, and I was sore for a week. I went for a jog/walk with The Perky One (a roommate, since I'm not naming names) about two weeks ago and I kept getting a stitch in my side. Then I went to repeat the run without The Perky One a few days later (utilizing a great warm-up routine from NerdFitness.com that I can never find), and my stupid hips started hurting like a mofo. Turns out my sciatic nerve isn't a fan of running, and it hurt for a week! So I finally started to talk some sense into my hips and I promised them I would take it easy, and I got sick. I'm not talking about a little cold where you cough a few times, maybe get a headache, sneezing optional. No, We are talking all-out war on my entire body. I was hacking up a lung, my throat was sore, I couldn't breathe, my nose was stuffy and runny, I had body aches, I slept for 18 hours, and I couldn't make sense of, let alone complete, full sentences. I finally got rid of the majority of it yesterday and started riding my bike again (oh, yeah, I ride my bike to work year-round). I will start again on Monday.
- Equipment- Whether you are just going to the gym to get your sweat on, running around the block, or changing up your living room to get rid of every seat in the house, you have to have some stuff in order to make workouts easy.
- Clothing- I started this with one sports bra and one t-shirt (long story, short, much of my summer clothes and shirts got tossed accidentally). I hit up the local Goodwill, St Vinny's, and Savers, plus Amazon and Sam's Club to add to my wardrobe. Ladies, protect the girls and do some research on what kind of bra to buy. I used an article from Women's Health to figure it out, and my knockers are no longer knocking around, which makes running a lot easier. I bought a few pairs of shorts and a skort (I like the skort because I don't HAVE to worry about wedgies showing off my rear-end as much), and I acquired t-shirts and a sports tank top. I also invested in some sneakers because I had none. Movement is easier than a pair of jeans and some flip flops.
- Running belt- I tried to run with a bag and water bottle, but that was about as fun as running without a bra on, except it was on my back (for those of you without fun bags, you will just have to take my word that it sucks). The Perky One had a runners belt and gave me a bottle to use (attached to her), and it was SO much easier. So I got one. I haven't been able to use it since Amazon shipped it to me the day after my hips attacked, but it's supposed to not bounce, and it adjusted to my hip size (and will adjust to a smaller size when my hips deflate).
- Posture fixer- I work at a desk, and I am an awful sloucher (okay, I'm REALLY good at slouching). I'm hoping that this thing will at least help because my rack looks more like sack when I slouch. They don't deserve that, nor does anyone else.
- Shake-weight- Because it looks like fun, and I can work with it when I am just sitting around. So far, though, I have used it once. It did hurt like a mo-fo, though, for about an hour later. I think it works. Plus, as I learned from a friend of mine, they are really fun at parties to pose with (just pretend to use the shake-weight as something other than a shake-weight, like a microphone or a "partner").
- Hands-free dog leash- While not entirely necessary because of dog parks, I want to not have to drive to my running location, and Madison has this leash law that must be obeyed outside of the dog parks and my own backyard. Since Brownie's a puller (and I'm inconsistent with making sure to stop her all the time), it's easier to run when she pulls my whole body instead of my arm and throwing me off balance. It's also great for other excursions like something that requires both hands or something. I don't know, I lost my train of thought.
- Lose weight- I want to wake up one day and realize that my pants are falling off. It gives me a great reason to go shopping, and do you know how good it feels to throw something in a box labeled "Fat Clothes, NEVER USE AGAIN"?
- Look good- It kind of goes with the losing weight, but not really. I could be the same weight I am now, but toned up, and look amazing. Sweat is also great on the pores. The Perky One might not realize it, but she had some issues with acne when she first moved in, and since she started running, much of it has cleared up. She looks good.
- Attract the opposite sex- Biologically, the more physically fit you are, the more your body makes all the crazy hormones that make you smell like a great mate (mating, btw, is also a great way to work out because it's fun and interactive). While I don't put much weight on this particular reason, I am a hot-blooded woman who wouldn't mind finding someone compatible.
- Something to do- I am the first to admit that I don't always have an idea as to what to do. You want to do something other than go out drinking on a Friday night? I don't know what to do. My thoughts go to drinking or movies or both. I'm pretty unimaginative on that part. Sad times.
I will keep posting about the adventures. I don't plan on making this super upbeat and telling you how easy it is to change life. This blog has two purposes: help me keep on track and to help others realize that getting fit is a struggle that is well-worth the fight. Now go. Do.
