....what happens when you drink a gallon of water?

Answer:

You pee a lot. And I mean... A LOT!

My friend Mandi is awesome.... I love her to death. She's a major inspiration to me in her lifestyle of being healthy & active (and other areas too...). She worked hard to earn her physical fitness trainer certificate last fall... and she's an awesome trainer. She used to be a Kindergarten teacher and tipped the scales at 180 pounds, and now is a lean, mean... fighting momma machine!

Coincidentally... she has a great blog too about eating healthy... why eating flax seed is important... why drinking water is great.... and how she has a ways to go with her kids eating healthy at times when she's not around (don't we all have that problem?). :)

So, I've slowly been adapting some of her ideas into my life. Starting with exercise (intervals!! weights!!) ... and adding flax seed to my food (where's the floss?).... and drinking a gallon of water every day (I'm "apeeing every hour".... European too if you drink a gallon of water a day!).

So far... any results? Well, went shopping with Mandi last Saturday, and I had to buy a size smaller than I used to! It was funny b/c I couldn't find her at the store, so I called her on the cell in the dressing room, and said "where are you?" and I *think* she started laughing b/c she said "in the dressing room"... to which I started laughing. I said "open your door!" and she opened her door, and we were right across from each other! Ha! Anyways, fluke or no fluke ... it was awesome buying a size smaller.

Oh, and she has NO clue I'm spotlighting her on my blog. ::giggle:: I'm sneaky that way. But she does have the most adorable kids.

Check out her blog TRAINER MOMMA ... It's awesome.

{update to C25K}

Well... I hate running.

There, I said it.

I really hate running! I have no clue what week I'm in, and I frankly don't care. I'm just doing my own thing now. Run when I feel like it, walk when I feel like it. Works for me! I figure eventually I'll be able to run a full long distance run.... in the future. I tend to stop when something in my body starts screaming at me "hey you.... I hurt!", so I listen and stop. Can't seem to "PUSH THROUGH THE PAIN!" like they tell you when you're in childbirth.

Today it is beautiful. We've been *cough* enjoying *cough* weather in the high 90's. Way too hot for me to be running outside. I think my lungs just screamed at me one time too many. Today it's in the low 80's. PERFECT weather! So, I made it running over 20 minutes (aka...running when I felt like it...) Total time I walked/ran though was an hour.

There was the first 9 minutes of running I wasn't doing so hot, so I stopped & walked. Then I reached a point later on in my run/walk that I was running without pain, without breathing pain... Breathing's so overrated, y'know? ::snort:: It was a great feeling, until I saw a huge hill ahead of me and decided to walk it. I'm such a wimp.

I used the shuffle feature on Katie's ipod. We breezed through a ton of Madonna songs... "Living in a Material world.. materialllll..." to "Supercalifragiliousgetmealagocious"... or however you spell it.... to "I'm not that Girl" from Wicked.

Yes, I hit "NEXT" a few times. I can't be bothered with Primary songs when I'm running.

P.S. You're still singing one of those songs, aren't you?!

{Run #2 Week 5.. again}

15 MINUTES!!

Yay! I did 15 minutes straight this morning. ::sigh:: My bandana is completely drenched, thanks in part to southern Texas humidity (at 7:45 in the morning!). But I ran 15 minutes straight! Yay! I find when I stop running (especially after running for a longer period of time), it's hard to start up running again after walking for a bit. Another mental roadblock I have to overcome....

I snagged up a fancy ipod holder that goes around your arm at Target on Monday night that was marked down to $6 instead of $25, so that was very handy to have my hands free while I run!

Oh, and another update on the doctor. After I told the PA (who was a little snot nose if you ask me) to leave a note for the DOCTOR to look at my tests, her nurse finally called me back and told me the doctor wanted to put me on a low dosage of thyroid pills. YAY! Hopefully my weight will drop a little enough to kick start my weight loss. I also asked her to clarify my cholesterol results, and they were WAY much lower than I thought the PA said. Like 50 points lower. So I'm not in a major danger zone. It's a little high, but not that bad....

So, I picked up my pills (so thankful they're only $4!), and now I take them in the morning with a full glass of water, and I can't eat for an hour after I take them. I'll keep you posted on how I feel with them.

{Week 5.... again}

OK, after my run last Thursday night, which proved to me I was NOT ready to go to week 6, I'm repeating week 5 and doin' my own thang!

Now, I have been sore in the buttocks {think Forrest Gump when he says this!} as well in my legs (remember me cursing Bob from Biggest Loser for all those lunges?? Yep, that did it!). Literally, it took me a few seconds to sit down, to stand up from sitting down, and walking. Mike made fun of me. :( Darn that Mike. He just laughed his head off watching me squint my eyes when I got up off the couch. I did get a compliment out of him though! He said "now, don't get ahead of yourself, but your butt looks like it's rounding up nicely". Alrighty then! {think Ace Ventura} I'll take it, and I forgive him for laughing at me. :]

Anyways, it took me from Friday - Sunday to recover. Friday I went on a field trip with Maddie's class, and oh my! I about died from all the walking! That's for another post... I got bit by a GOOSE!

Anyways, back to my story...

So, after the girls left for school, I took off running. Did 5 minutes brisk walking, then I ran for TEN whole minutes! Wahoo! Then, I walked for 5 minutes to catch my breath, then ran for another 5 minutes. I didn't keep track of what I ran/walk, but I did the entire 4 mile trail walking & running. I do know I ran 5 minutes twice, one 10 minute cycle, and a bunch of 1-3 minute running cycles.

I felt FINE! Mighty FINE! {think O Brother Where Art Thou? when I write "Mighty fine"} Now, my legs hurt. And so does my Buttocks. In fact, my legs are trembling. Gotta be a good thing!

What am I gonna do on Wednesday? Not sure, maybe try for 12 - 15 minutes running straight, and hopefully by Friday I can do the 20 minutes straight.

{i give in....}

ok .... ok..... you all win. Here is a glorious picture of me in my bandana. Covered in sweat after my run last night.

JUST FOR YOU!

So there! Nothing fancy! Just a rolled up bandana, covered in sweat. Blech

So, I went on my run Thursday night, for some weird reason.... oh yeah! I'm going on a field trip w/ Madison today! Thursday I enjoyed my time doing exercise videos from my On Demand on my cable. And those lunges DID kill my legs (just an FYI). I thought "oh, I need to hurry up and go on my run TONIGHT instead of Friday after school b/c it'll be way too hot to run, and who wants to run on Friday nights?" Not this girl! {not that I have anything going on, which I don't....anyone wanna do something??} So I grabbed Katie, and we left for a run.

Now, I double checked the cool running website to make sure it was the 20 minute run. I didn't want to have to run one minute over, get what I'm saying? Well, it turns out I did my Wednesday run WRONG! ::smack:: I was supposed to run 8 minutes, walk 5 minutes, then run 8 minutes. UGH! Sure enough, my 3rd run of the week is a 20 minute run. I didn't think I could do it, but I set out with the hopes I could do it.

So we run... and we're running. Katie's way ahead of me. Then she stops and walks. By the time I catch up to her and past her, she shoots past me again. We do this the entire time. Physically, my legs were fine {my knees hurt at first, from the lunges, but that went away}. I didn't feel any pain whatsoever. However, by the time I reached 10 minutes, my breathing was all out of whack again. I had to stop at a little over 13 minutes. ::ugh:: I mean, it's imperitive that we breathe, right? I didn't think Katie could drag me home. So, she & I walk until we get to the road to head back to our house (it was about an 8 minute walk, give or take a few minutes). Then, I ran all the way back to my house... another 4 minutes plus some seconds.

Am I disappointed in myself? A bit. But I realized something. I can run 13 minutes straight! I also realized that I need to repeat week 5 again. This time I think I'm going to slowly do 8 minutes run, 5 minute walk, then 8 minute run on Monday, then on Wednesday, bump that up to 10 or 12 minute run, 5 minute walk, then another 10/12 minute run. Hopefully by Friday I'll be able to do the 20 minute straight run. It's all about listening to my body, and my body is telling me to slow it down so it can learn to breathe!!

{and the doctor said....}

well, actually, the PA said....

My blood tests came back normal. My thyroid level is normal, but a "low" normal, so basically borderline still. My cortisol level is fine, I'm not diabetic, and everything else they tested was fine. However, my cholesterol was high..... so he told me to {get this}... EXERCISE and eat healthy. ::snort:: Yeah, I've only been doing that religiously since.... January? Like 5 days a week? What was I before I exercised? On my deathbed? and I brought it down to High? I dunno.

So, I told him I still wanted to talk to the doctor (w/o paying another $25 copay to talk to her) over the phone as she told me she still was going to put me on thyroid meds if it was a normal low.... as well as phentamine. We'll see what happens, and IF she calls me back.

Tomorrow I run 20 minutes straight. However, I just discovered Exercise On Demand, and wow oh wow! Did I find some great exercise stuff there! There is tons of 10 minute videos that concentrate on arms, abs, etc. There is a few Biggest Loser videos on there (did one, and I was cursing Bob for all the lunges he was having me do). Oh, and can't forget Carmen Elecktra's Striptease video. That was funny. ::snicker:: She kept saying 'OK, now, 5-6-7-8 and a 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8', so it was more like a dance video than an exercise video.

So, after doing all those lunges today, I *hope* I can make it through the run tomorrow. Lunges kill me & my legs for a few days.

About my cholesterol. Need to study up on that. Not 100% sure what to eat or do. I know Cheerio's & oatmeal! But beyond that, I'm flabbergasted. Now what do I do? Eat oatmeal for every meal? Cut out red meat? Any ideas? Pop an Omega 3 pill? Y'all know I hate fish, so will it give me a fish taste if I happen to burp? If it does, I'll be running to the toilet puking.

And Y'all want pictures of me sporting my bandana & vintage '80's headband (when I get it)? yeah... right.

You ain't getting it! :P

Or, I might put it on my girls so you can see it in its glory. Maybe I might rustle up some leg warmers too.... great....now I feel like listening to Flashdance.

{Run #2 Week 5 C25K}

I'm BAACCKK!! from my run, that is!

Not too bad... not too bad! (wiping sweat off forehead) I snagged up a snazzy bandana from the drawer, and used that as my "vintage" headband. I'm kind of freaked out to venture out much to Target or Walmart due to this swine flu.... so the bandana will work for now. This Texas weather is crazy! It's pretty humid out there, and I ran at 8:30!

Now, for the run.

I did it! I ran! Not the 20 minutes straight though, that's on Friday. (still shaking in my legs on that one!) So, I can totally do this 5 minutes at a time run. Next week it's 8 minutes (but a glorious 5 minute walk in between!).

And I figured out while running and smelling the houses along the way that smell so yummy... doing laundry is an air freshner for the outside of your home! :D Anything to keep my mind busy & not think "how much longer?" This running thing is turning out to be more of a mental thing for me than physical, it appears.

{Week 5, Run #1 C25K}

OK... I'll fess up. I *think* I might like running.

I always say this on the first run of the week though.

By my second run of the week, I'm cursing in my mind that I hate running.

Week five is fairly simple: walk briskly for 5 minutes, run for 5 minutes, walk for 3 minutes, run for 5 minutes, walk for 3 minutes, than run for 5 minutes. Total running time is 15 minutes. I will do that today & Wednesday. Friday's run will be a straight 20 minutes, no stopping. I'm literally shaking in my legs.

How am I feeling? My legs don't hurt... my calves hurt a bit but I think that's b/c the trail I run has some incline here & there on it. Short hills. I do need to invest $1 in those vintage '80's headbands....::rolling eyes:: I had so much sweat dropping off me that my hearing aid kind of shorted out and I couldn't use my telephone mode for a few hours. Oops....

{Run #3 of week 4 C25K}

Whew... I made it!

I got up early, and went out in the hazy weather we had. I think it was 70'ish. Had a great run. Kind of hard to run the last 5 minutes. Then I thought. And I thought hard. I'm trying to think if we were supposed to do THREE repetitions of this thing, or two? Oh well.. I'm doing two. I'm pretty beat after doing two repetitions.

Came home to find the girls completely engrossed in our new cable TV. They were drunk with cartoons.... way too many choices to pick from.

I came in, sat down, drank some water. Sweating profusely. And I felt strong.

{Run #2 of Week 4 C25K, and the dr said....}

Yesterday morning early, I had to make a pit stop at the doctor. Remember me asking for prayers that my thyroid would be L-O-W (I know... stupid thing to ask for). Well, after talking to my doctor (who, BTW, I LOVE!!), she said that she would definitely put me on thyroid meds for a bit even if my test turned out on the low normal side (YAY!). But, she was wondering about my cortisol level as well (last year I had a pretty stressful year).... and my blood sugar level..... and something else that I can't remember. Oh, and my blood pressure was THROUGH THE ROOF! I was surprised I didn't have a stroke. It's never been that high at all. I'm usually the normal 120/80 girl. So, hopefully by Friday morning I'll find out what the verdict is. The doctor said she would also put me on phentamine just for 4-6 weeks only to help kick start my weight loss & metabolism as well. I don't have a prescription yet though, so we'll see.... So, had 4 vials of the red stuff taken from me, and hopefully I'll be on the road to thinness soon!

After going to the doctor, I took my second run of the week (Week #4). It was about 11:15 when I went, and by noon it was almost 90, so it was a little on the hot side to be running (well, for me it was!). I started off great, but by the last round of my runs, I was really struggling. Cursing in my head that I hate running. I had to tell myself "OK, just make it to that tree.... OK, now make it to THAT tree". Then I did something really stupid. I thought "well, all these runners all kick their legs & knees up high and run.... let's try that". Umm, yeah. That hurt, and it lasted for about 5 seconds. Didn't do that again!

I dragged myself home again (literally). And I think the dirty house people finally cleaned. It didn't smell!! The "house that always smells good" was doing laundry again. LOVE her detergent (or fabric softener!).

This morning, I woke up w/ a Charlie Horse (note to self: drink more milk!), and I am
S-O-R-E!!!

{C25K Week 4, run 1}

This week's run is a little confusing. Walk 5 minutes briskly, run 3 minutes, walk 90 seconds, run 5 minutes, walk 2 1/2 minutes, run 3 minutes, walk 90 seconds, run 5 minutes. Then you're done. I had to write it all down on my hand so I didn't forget it all.

Well, I walked briskly first, then when I got to where I normally start running (which is after 5 minutes), I surprised myself when I found I had ran OVER the 3 minutes. I thought "ooh, I think I can do this!". Course, I may think differently when run #3 of this week comes upon me. It's a straight 20 minute run, I think. ::shudder::

All in all, it was a good run, and my breathing was MUCH better. I'm just breathing as I need to breathe, no particular way. ::wheeze wheeze::

However, courtesy of Katie's fancy ipod, I had Kelly Clarkson's "My Life Would Suck Without You" song to bop to along the way. Love that song. I need to learn the words, so I don't look like a fool when I lip synch the wrong words to it. Wait, I do that to all of them..... I make up my own words! Who cares if it doesn't make sense! Also, Taylor Swift kept me company as well.... maybe that's why it wasn't so hard this time? I had company to listen to? I had to restrain myself from singing along, and worse... dancing along to the music while I was walking. Several other runners passed me. One had very long legs and she ran pretty fast. Most of the others jogged like me: slow, picking their feet up only as they needed to.

While I was in the alley on my way back home, I passed along my familiar houses. While thoroughly happy I made it through this run, I couldn't help but think to myself:

Goodbye house that stinks. (please clean your house!)

Goodbye old people (who has bars on their windows???)

Goodbye yummy smelling house (ooh, she's washing her clothes today!)

{week 3, run 3 of C25K}

It's been pouring down rain here for the past two days, and today is also supposed to be raining cats & dog. So, I went to the gym for my run #3.

First of all, running on the treadmill is SO much easier than running on the pavement. I like it much more. However, if I ever want to do a 5K, then I have to do this on the pavement. Kind of like doing the harder thing so when I do the easier thing it's a piece of cake (rather than doing it on the treadmill then try to run outside.... immediate PAIN! I'm sure!!)

So, it wasn't as hard as it normally was for me. I did like the bounce in the treadmill.... I don't get that on the pavement. My calves did burn a lot though.

Next week... I fear next week. ::shuddering::

{C25K week 2 & 3}

O.K.!! Time to catch up on my experience & thoughts on my final run for week 2, and of course, week 3 (2 runs so far).

I.Hate.Running.

Saturday I woke up at 8 a.m., woke the girls up to see if they wanted to ride their bikes while I jogged, and they did. So we headed out. Katie kept telling me "run faster Mom!" I kept shouting back at her "this is as FAST as I can go.... leave me alone!" I survived and lived.

Now, this week is an entirely new set of rules. First walk briskly for 5 minutes, then jog for 90 seconds, walk for 90 seconds, then jog for 3 minutes and then walk for 3 minutes. Do this entire set again.

I did OK. Still having a hard time breathing. My SIL Tiffany gave me a pointer of breathing 1-2-3 in and out 1-2-3. The entire time I'm doing this (I did it on my run #2 for this week) I'm thinking "wheeze-wheeze... maybe I have asthma, and I SHOULDN'T run?!" I had a hard time expanding my lungs fully after running the full 3 minutes.... Hmmm, will need to bring that up to the doctor to find out why.

Before my run today, I bought a cheap digital watch that has a stopwatch on it. Let me tell you, it was SO much easier than trying to figure out "OK... has it been 2 minutes or 3 minutes?" Best $9.99 I've ever spent!

While jogging then walking today, I wondered why we were supposed to "walk briskly" after jogging. Who in the world can walk briskly after jogging? Not me! I'm half dragging myself after jogging! Course, in the alleyway that I use to get to the trail, I experience all sorts of smells from people's houses.

"Ooh... she must be baking!" "OOh... old people's house... there's tons of mothballs in that house!" "ooh... wonder if they have garbage piling up in their house and they need to be featured on Oprah or that British ladies show about cleaning?" Yep, I know how to entertain myself.

Oh, and I saw the biggest lizard today that I've ever seen while in Texas. Biggest excitement of my day. And guess what? I didn't even scream & leap in the air like I normally would've done out of horror. Wanna know why?

Because I was too tired. And sore. and still wheezing.....

{Week 2 Run 2 of C25K}

Got new tennis shoes yesterday. I went to Kohl's, and after trying on two different kinds of Asics shoes, went back to the same pair as I bought last June..... I tried a pair w/ a high arch, but I just didn't know if I could get used to it, or if it felt weird, or comfortable. I love these babies!

Went for my run this morning at 9:00... did 30 minutes total of the run/walk after walking for 5 minutes to warm up. I think I officially hate running. I just don't like it. But, I'm going to change my mindframe, and am determined to LIKE it (not love it, but it would be great if it came to that). My left leg didn't hurt at all, but towards the end it was a little bothersome. I did stretch a bit before I left. No shin pain this time.

I made an appointment with a doctor to see about my thyroid. I keep thinking "why the heck am I not losing weight? I'm LITERALLY exercising my butt off!". Seriously, going from not exercising after a few years, to exercising every day, coming home drenched in sweat after exercising for at LEAST 1 1/2 hours should do something, right? Top that off w/ eating correctly, and NOTHING!! Nothing happened!

I see the doctor in two weeks. Pray for my thyroid to be LOW..... {{I know, weird thing to pray for....}} Last time I was checked was about 3-4 years ago, and it was almost borderline, but not quite. If it's not low, someone is seriously going to get hurt. So, watch out.

Aren't these sandals cute? I thought so!! So, I bought myself a pair!

{Week 2, Run #1 C25K}

It's kind of chilly out today, so I put off running until after lunch. Immediately my left shin/leg started bothering me. I need some new shoes, I think.

I started running after walking for 5 minutes. The plan this week is walk briskly for 5 minutes, then run for 90 seconds, walk for 2 minutes. Do this alternatively for 20 minutes. Last week I was able to run/walk for 30 minutes, but today I did the bare minimum. I was freezing from the cold wind, not to mention that my left leg was hurting. So, I did I think about 24 minutes of running/walking, then went home.

I'm doing better running in general. Working on my breathing (that's so hard!). Still need to get a stopwatch (who wants to pay $15?! what happened to the cheapy ones?).

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
For the rest of my friends... I am going to type up the death by chocolate recipe, so you can email me at amybeccaz {at} hotmail {dot} com and I'll forward it on to you. I still need a creative name for my food blog. Got any ideas?!

Also, getting ready to do a small giveaway, so stay tuned for that in a few days as well!!

{Day 3 of C25K}

I had a MUCH better run today.

My legs didn't hurt as bad while running. I had better positioning of my left foot (I must've been sore or something). I walked for 5 minutes first, then as soon as I hit the alley that led to the trail, I started the jog/walk. I did the full 30 minutes this time (again, only 20 minutes is required, but I did 30). It took me to the end of the trail and a little bit on the way back, then I walked the rest of the trail & back home again. Felt SOOOO good!

I had lunch with Mike this afternoon (YAY for Chipotle!) and I had a hard time walking. Was pretty sore and my muscles in my legs were fatigued a bit. Mike laughed at me b/c I walked a bit like a drunk.

So ecstatic that I'm able to do this, let's see what next week brings starting on Monday!

{Day 2 of C25K}

Ouch.

This hurts.

I was a little sore yesterday from day 1 (which I ran on Monday). I did 30 minutes of serious biking @ the gym as well as 30 minutes of weight training. I felt pretty good, just a few sore spots here & there on parts of my legs. THEN, I ran today. {{gasp}} I went at 10:15 this morning, walking my 5 minutes first, then started the 60 seconds run/90 seconds walk. I did this for about 25 minutes. Which is still better than the 20 minutes they want you to do. I think I felt better running than I did walking. Walked my 5 minutes home, which I was dragging my body home it felt...

I also noticed that I run funny. My left leg doesn't seem to want to lift all the way. So, my right foot is going "heel/toe" but my left foot just pounces the pavement, and I don't think it goes "heel/toe" at all. I am thinking Mike needs to see me run to see if I'm right. I feel like my left leg isn't very strong, which is why I'm running this way. I'm going to take it easy today & tomorrow, then run on Friday.

I do know I can tell a difference when I run on pavement vs running on a treadmill. A month or so ago, I was able to run 20 minutes straight without stopping on a treadmill. Then I stopped. Pavements HURT! But.. I'm still keeping the goal of running with my girls on their bikes in my mind. I HAVE to do this!

{Day One of C25K}

Yesterday was day one of my Couch to 5K (C25K) program. My friend Kristen suggested that I blog about it, so that way I'm being held accountable for keeping this up.... good point! If you don't see anything on my blog, you've gotta tell me!

C25K is basically a program that helps a person become a runner over 8 weeks. I watched a few weeks ago how the Biggest Loser contestants went home, and one of them (Laura) said that Jillian told her that running was the fastest way to lose weight. Since I've been trying to lose weight.... running might help a bit more. AND, since we have this amazing trail behind our house now, and I've been taking the girls a few times a week to ride their bikes there, it just makes sense for me to start running it so I can keep up w/ them a little. Now, I don't think I want to run a 5K (I might... but it's not why I want to run). I just want to be able to *like* running, and to get in shape faster.

So, week 1 is walk 5 minutes briskly, then jog for 60 seconds, walk for 90 seconds, then repeat w/ the jog for 60 seconds, walk for 90, etc. The program says to do this for 20 minutes, but I did it for 30 minutes. Towards the end of my 30 minutes, I was tired. I found the running uphill was hard..... very hard. And I'm very thankful for my sports bra. I didn't suffer a concussion w/ my bouncing boobs. I have to repeat this 3 x this week. I will do the second one tomorrow, and report back. I think one thing that will eventually help me is a sportswatch, or something that I can see the seconds better. My regular watch was a little hard to read. I've also found some podcasts that has music to it in the intervals (60 seconds/90 seconds) so you know when to run/walk. Might have to download those onto Katie's ipod. I ended my run/walk with a brisk (OK, I was dragging) walk back home and so altogether I did this for 40 - 45 minutes.