I don’t hate running. I don’t. I just hate the idea of it. Once I’m out there, I’m fine.
At least, that’s what yesterday’s 20 minute impromptu run (#wycwyc)– inspired by my good friend Staci’s awesome 4-miler this weekend — reminded me.
I don’t run often … but when I do, I’m reminded of why I enjoy it and why I should be incorporating it into my workout mix.
I started really enjoying running in high school. Each day at the start of cheerleading practice, we would run a mile and a half before getting down to business: dancing, stunting, weight lifting, etc. I joined the track team (why, I have no clue — I was a sucky runner) sophomore year and ran the 800. I was terrible — coming in dead last in all but one race throughout my high school career–but I ran nonetheless. I ran during hot summer mornings, cold winter nights … I ran, and ran, and ran. Continue reading “Rekindling a Love of Running”
I took up running in high school, but never loved it enough to make it my primary form of exercise. For me, it was more of a coping mechanism than anything else; long before my disordered days, it was a way to pound the day away, clear my head, get an all-natural high.
I enjoyed it once I got going, but often dreaded the lead-up to a run. And so aside from some running spurts each fall and spring, I never really got into it. I admired my friends who run marathons and half-marathons and 10Ks and 5Ks, but never had any desire to challenge myself in that way. Continue reading “First Post-Baby Run”
I’ve often said “awareness is half the battle” when it came to my disordered eating recovery process.
But the past two weeks — in spite of being painfully aware that I’ve been over-eating — or this past weekend, when I just gave in to emotional eating, period (borderlining on binges) — all the awareness in the world — even recognizing the “why” — hasn’t helped me stop.
I’m not channeling the CBT techniques I learned in therapy, like trying to occupy myself with other thoughts or doing something else when the impulse to eat strikes — recognizing food won’t fill a void but rather is just anesthetizing me to whatever I’m feeling, as Kara DioGuardi noted in this month’s Women’s Health cover story.
I’m basically just giving into the orange binge monster (WW’s adorable mascot) whatever, whenever. And it’s ugly. Continue reading “The Evil Binge Monster & Random Thoughts About Running”
It’s certainly public knowledge that singer Alanis Morissette–who penned one of the greatest break-up anthems of our generation (i.e., “You Oughta Know”) — hasn’t always had an ideal relationship with her body.
But in a new article in People magazine, Alanis says something so simple–yet so profound–that I just had to share it here:
“I struggled with eating disorders, especially in my teens, but I’ve noticed when I treat my body like an instrument instead of an ornament, my relationship with food completely changes.” Continue reading “Wise Words from Alanis”
Friends have shared these two articles with me recently that I wanted to pass along. Since I still have zero energy and my brain cells seem to be dying by the day here as I sit here and try to get better … I’m not going to analyze them but rather just share them, verbatim. I’d love to know what you think, though!!
The first, courtesy of Allison, is “Training the Mind to Run Right Through Winter.”
-The premise here is that while some people stop their exercise routines in cold weather, there are also people who continue to push through. I know I tend to prefer indoor workouts when it’s really cold out, but then when it’s a nice-ish winter day, I love to squeeze in a bike ride, run or walk–it can feel invigorating. I don’t mind the cold, so much as snow/ice. How about you? Do you run or exercise outdoors regardless of the weather?
The second, courtesy of Yasmin, is “Why Exercise Doesn’t Lead to Weight Loss.”
-The premise here is that exercising can help with maintenance but doesn’t necessarily boost weight loss. I agree with that assessment; I know eating less is really what helped me lose weight and that if I didn’t work out the way I do (when healthy and not with H1N1, that is) I’d probably have gained it ALL back vs. just some of it. How about you? Do you think exercise helped you lose or maintain better?
Thanks, girls, for your contributions. How did you know these would come in handy? 🙂
Check out my latest post over at WeAretheRealDeal.com. You can read it here or after the jump.
I’m in Chicago tonight and tomorrow doing venue visits for our second annual fall digital event. Fortunately, we have a Chicago office now, so we all actually have a place to call “home” when visiting for business.
After my site visit tonight (the Hard Rock Hotel), I had dinner with a dear friend tonight at Luxbar and am going for a long sunrise run along Michigan Ave. in the morning before my other venue visits (the Renaissance and the Allegro if anyone is interested; we used Hotel 71 last year but they’re booked for the date we need).
Whenever I am in Chicago, I try to run either along Michigan Ave. or the lake-front, depending on where I’m staying. I don’t run a ton at home, but when I travel, it’s my preferred form of exercise/exploration. It’s how I’ve familiarized myself with pretty much every city to which I’ve traveled. (Getting lost is quite fun too!) Continue reading “I’m In Chicago…”
Being such an exercise fiend, I don’t think I could date someone or marry someone that wasn’t as active as I am.
I hope that doesn’t make me sound bad …
I know not everyone is a fitness freak like me (and I don’t think anyone should be!), but healthy habits (such as exercise) are pretty important to me — and I like knowing they’re important to my husband, too.
I kinda want him around for a long, long time; ya know, that whole ’til death do us part’ thing?!
Like me, my husband uses exercise as a stress-reliever and a means to stay fit. But whereas he likes soccer and racquetball, I prefer the elliptical (with arms) and free-weights at the gym.
Together, we often run, walk or bike together. It’s a great way to spend quality time as a couple, and also to do something fun that’s also good for our physical and mental well-being. Continue reading “Sweating is Good; Sweating Together is Better”
Let There Be Light 