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Thursday, March 31, 2011

Remember The Time I Could Only Run While Listening to Eminem?

I've discovered that the tempo of the song "Lose Yourself" by Eminem is the perfect running pace for me. When I make sure my right foot hits every beat (left foot every eighth note) I get into a rhythm and could just go forever.



So today I put it on my playlist 4 times.

It got to the point where I had trouble if a different song came on.

So, for now, I guess I have to run to this song. All. The. Time. (Or a metronome set at 88 bpm.)

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

How Do You Talk to Yourself?

Have you ever heard some talking to their child, saying, "You're so stupid. Why did you do that?" If you have, you were probably shocked and considered saying something to that parent.

However, how often do you find yourself saying "You're so stupid! Why did you do that" to yourself?

Why is it okay to talk to yourself that way? Are you not as precious and important as that little child?

I struggle sometimes with looking back at the dumb decisions I made in my life, saying, "That was so stupid! You should have known better!" But, you know what? I didn't know better, and I did the best I could at the time.

It's so important to speak to ourselves as lovingly as we do our precious little children.

Yes, there are times we need to tell our kids to "Get it together!" We need to do the same thing to ourselves. But we can do so respectfully.

I think one of the things I've learned in my 30s that I didn't know in my 20s is a little more self-acceptance. However, it's a little bit of a contradiction:
- In my 20s, I had little self-confidence, self-loathing, and wasn't really sure who I was. And yet, I had a huge sense of entitlement.
- In my 30s, I have more self-confidence, more appreciation for myself, and am a lot more secure with myself. However, I appreciate everything I have and realize nothing was promised to me.

And although this song is designed for children, I think we can all benefit from its message. And, since I'm so secure with who I am, I have absolutely no problem admitting that I listen to this song and feel a big boost in my self-confidence.



So, here's my challenge to you: Talk to yourself the same way you would talk to a child. Respect yourself. Give yourself a break when you need it, and give yourself a little nudge (gently) when needed.

From here

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Have you stopped seeing progress?

So, you've been working out for a while. You saw some initial weight loss, but recently, it has slowed or stopped.

I think everyone goes through this at some point. I'm going through it right now. I lost all the pregnancy weight except for the last 10 pounds... and I've been stuck for about a month. I'll share at the end of the post the plan I'm working with to try to kick those last 10 to the curb...

This thing has not moved in weeks....


Where's the Progress?
When I say "progress", it could mean either weight loss or inches lost.

If you have stopped seeing weight-loss, you may have hit a plateau. A plateau usually occurs when your body gets used to what it's been doing. As much as I love Turbofire, if I did it everyday for 6 weeks, and nothing else, my results would slow down. However, if I am doing Turbofire and throw in a different workout on alternate days, my body won't be adapted to the program, and will keep changing.
Have you hit a plateau?


On the other hand, if my running seems stuck- I can't get past 2 miles, for example, maybe I am overtraining. Maybe I need a little crosstraining. Mix it up a bit...

Are you doing a lot of the same thing?

Are you a cardio junkie, doing running, turbofire, step, etc... but very little weight work?

I saw a big difference when I added strength work during a semester break one year. I had been doing primarily cardio all semester- I needed that endorphine high of cardio, and it was a busy semester, so it was hard to fit both cardio and weight work in, so I just did cardio. Over the holiday break, which was about a month, I started doing a moderately heavy total body strength workout 3 times a week. I did a little less cardio.

When I got back to school in January, everywhere I went, people were saying, "Did you lose weight?" I truly believe that shock to my system helped me see progress.

So, if you love the cardio (like I do. I love it), you may want to consider slowing things down with some heavy (or moderately heavy) weight training. Chalean Extreme or P90X is a good start- these programs have you lifting 3 days a week.

What about the eating part?
Another thing to think about is your diet. Do you follow your calories closely? Do you measure everything? EVERYTHING?
Ugh. I know, I hate it too. But, if you're not seeing results, this could be why.

What is my plan?
Well, I've been doing a lot of one thing: Running. It never really gets super easy, but I think my body is getting used to it. And... I'm doing it a lot. So, I wasn't really surprised when I stepped back and looked at my activity that I haven't seen much progress in the past month or so. Here's what a typical week looks like:

Monday: Run
Tuesday: Run
Wednesday: Turbofire
Thursday: Kettlebells (maybe); Run
Friday: Turbofire
Saturday: Run

So, there's not a lot of resistance training going on. As I said before, I know for a fact the difference that strength training can make... so I'm going to add 2 days of a total body strength workout (such as Cathe's Power Hour, Jari Love Slim and Lean or Ripped and Chiseled, etc..)

The race is coming up in just over a month, but I can still keep my maintenance runs pretty short and down to 2-3 times a week (long runs on Saturdays), so this leaves me room for at least 2 days of strength training.

So, we'll see how it goes.

Have you ever gotten stuck at a weight-loss plateau?
What did you do to get out of it? Share with us....

Come on over to Facebook. We have a lot of fun!

Monday, March 28, 2011

Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Being a Beachbody Coach...

What is a Beachbody coach?
A Beachbody coach is someone who has tried a Beachbody program or product, and is enthusiastic enough about it to want to share it with others.


What does a Beachbody coach do?
A Beachbody coach:
- shares his or her experience with the Beachbody products with others
- stays informed about new products and programs in order to share it with customers
- earns money from helping others get fit and healthy

Who should be a Beachbody coach?
- Anyone who is looking for *more*, more fitness, more out of life, more income...
- Anyone who has enthusiasm for getting and staying fit.

What does it take to start?
You need the following to become a coach:
- $39.95 start up fee (see below), then $14.95 a month coach fee
- Enthusiasm about working out, the products, and being healthy
- A desire to be fit



You do NOT need the following to become a coach:
- Large investment
- Inventory
- Fitness certifications or training
- A perfect body

Why should I become a coach?
- Built in accountability: As a coach, you now have even more motivation to stick to your program, reach your goals, and inspire others.

- 25% off all Beachbody products. Everything.

- Relationships and support: I have made tons of good friends that I would not know if it weren't for the Beachbody opportunity. I feel these folks have really enriched my life. Also, our team has a very active Facebook page with over 200 coaches who are there to support you and answer questions!



- I'm offering a special through the end of March: If you sign up to be a coach and sign up for Shakeology on Home Direct (which is recommend for ALL coaches: You have to be a product of the product to share its benefits), I will REFUND your start-up fee of $39.95! 



So, if you think this may be for you, just try it! Take a chance, whether you're looking to just earn 25% off your products, or if you want to build a business like me....

Contact me at uberlibrarian (at) gmail (dot) com

(And if you're already a coach, why not comment below on some of the reasons you are glad to be!

Sarah
Find us on Facebook!

Running and Insanity (the workout, not the mental condition)

I had a pretty good 8 mile run on Saturday. It started out rough. I wanted to quit. I was coughing like a crazy person. I started out with a run 5/walk 1 plan, then at about 30 minutes changed it to run 4/walk 1. It's AMAZING the difference 60 seconds made. The last 30 minutes or so were run 5/ walk 1.

I learned during this run:
1. Always carry a tissue. I blew my nose a LOT.
2. Carry more water. I ran out about halfway through.
3. In a pinch, Nutrigrain bars work for nutrition during a long run.
4. Eminem's "Lose Yourself" is the absolute perfect pace for me to run during a long run. I think I'm going to loop it.

I finished in 1:29:48, and my goal was to finish in less than 90 minutes... so that was a victory...

And the day went downhill from there...

During the last 30 minutes of the run, I had fantasized about how, when I got home, I would ice, stretch, play with the foam roller, drink a ton of water, take a hot shower... apparently, while I was running, I forgot that I have 2 children.

My husband was swamped with work, and when I got home, I could tell the 90 minutes (well, plus warm up time) may have been a little too much to force both children upon him while he was trying to work.

I didn't even get to go to the bathroom.

My daughter saw me, and when I walked past her, she started screaming. So I picked her up. She was teething and needed her mommy.

I had promised my son a "special treat" if he was good for Daddy while I was running. Well, guess who has a REALLY good memory and NO patience?

Eventually, I got my stretch. I got my shower. I even got my chocolate baked oatmeal and rehydrated. But, everything on my to-do list that wasn't "Parent" or "Run 8 miles" pretty much did not get done this weekend.

Fast forward to Monday. Ooohhhh weeee I got it in my head that I miss Shaun T.'s Insanity workouts, so I'm throwing one or two in a week just to shake things up (along with some strength training.... watch for a blog post on this)

Oh, hello Shaun T.'s abs....


I decided to start my Youtube career with this video, completed at the end of Cardio Power and Resistance:



(Warning. I say "poop" a lot in this video.)

This was followed by a Monday afternoon Lunchtime Run... which went quite well, actually. I don't care if the people bundled up in coats laughed at me in a tank top and gloves...


(Come on over to Facebook! We have cookies! Well, not really...)

Friday, March 25, 2011

Stylish Blogger Award!

I'm so excited! I was awarded the Stylish Blogger Award by  "...and Bob's Your Uncle"! Thank you so much! It's very exciting any time I win an award (and it's funny because I make it sound like it happens daily.. well, maybe in my head it does..)




If you are named a Stylish Blogger, there are four things you are asked to do.
1. Thank and link back to the person/persons who awarded you this award. 

Thank you "...and Bob's Your Uncle!" I am also following you! Thank you thank you thank you! You've made me feel awesome!

2. Share 7 things about yourself 
- I have 2 small children with whom I am absolutely smitten (even when they stress me out).
- I have worked as a professional musician, fitness instructor, yoga teacher, gym manager and librarian. I have spent way too much money learning how to do stuff.
- I once ran over myself with my own car. That takes some special talent.
- I almost got a Ph. D. in Musicology... but became a librarian instead.
- I am training for the Country Music Half Marathon (and, oh look, it's 5 weeks away!) and am considering becoming an expert half marathon runner rather than moving on to the big 26.2
- I am a Beachbody coach and absolutely love the friends I've made and the money I get. 
- I make sure I list the blessings and things for which I'm thankful each day. Magically, things seem to get better when I do that.

3. Then award 5-15 blogs that you follow. 
Here are some of my favorite blogs:


4. Contact the bloggers and let them know of their reward! :) 
Now go and encourage a blogger! :) Thank you for reading!

It's Facebook Fan Friday!

One of the reasons I love Fridays!






If you haven't already, could you stop by my Facebook page and click "Like"? I have a feeling we're going to get to 200 this weekend!

Have a Fabulous Friday!

Sarah

Thursday, March 24, 2011

I Took The Pledge!

BWS tips button

Come join me and so many other Bloggers to take the Pledge to restore integrity and support so that all bloggers can have a voice and take a stand against online bullying!  Come make a commitment to a promote a higher standard!
The Mom Pledge
I am a proud Mommy Blogger. I will conduct myself with integrity in all my blogging activities. I can lead by example.
I pledge to treat my fellow moms with respect. I will acknowledge that there is no one, “right” way to be a good Mom. Each woman makes the choices best for her family.
I believe a healthy dialogue on important issues is a good thing. I will welcome differing opinions when offered in a respectful, non-judgmental manner. And will treat those who do so in kind.
I stand up against online bullying. My blog is my space. I will not tolerate comments that are rude, condescending or disrespectful.
I refuse to give those who attack a platform. I will remove their remarks from my blog with no mention or response. I can take control.
I want to see moms work together to build one another up, not tear each other down. Words can be used as weapons. I will not engage in that behavior.
I affirm that we are a community. As a member, I will strive to foster goodwill among moms. Together, we can make a difference.

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Inspiring Women: Audrey S. (New Series)

I'm starting a new series where I feature inspiring women who have made a difference.

Our first inspiring woman is Audrey S.


Audrey is a mother of 3 who works full time as the Principal of an elementary school. She and her family are also very active in local community theater and performances. With all this activity, Audrey still found time for herself to start a running program.

I want to be her when I grow up!

Audrey was gracious enough to answer some questions, so you all can get to know her!


Sarah Fitness: How old are your kids?

Audrey S.: I have three daughters. Twins 26 year old girls, Erin and Kristin. Erin has completed a masters in Public Adminstration and Kristin is an Assistant Band Director. Our bonus baby is 15 named Emily. She is a sophomore in high school, and in Advanced Classes and active in Band and Theatre.

From Left to Right, Audrey, Emily (15),  Kristen and Erin (26)



SF: What is your “real” job?
AS: I am a Elementary Principal at a high performing Title One and Bilingual Campus in Denton, Texas. I love my job because I make a difference in kids' lives.

SF: What made you want to start exercising, and how long have you been doing it?
AS:  I have been a walker for a long time. It was a great way to reduce stress and clear my head. BUT, menopause and thyroid disease saw an increase of my weight. I wanted to be 50 and fabulous and not FAT. I have a staff member that lost 100 lbs using the Couch Two Five K, (C25K Phone AP) and I thought I could start running. I started 9/16/10 but did the AP everyday, verses every other day. I completed the AP on 11/19/10 and finished my first 5K on 12/04/10. I continue to fun 6 out of 7 days and aim for 18 to 20 mile weeks with a goal of increasing distance of 3%. I also wanted to lose 30 pounds and I am two pounds short of my goal.

SF: What fitness accomplishment has made you the proudest (so far)?
AS: I am still amazed daily that I can continuously run for 1 hour! I am proud of completing my first 5K and hope to complete a 10K.

SF: What has the greatest benefit you’ve felt from exercising?
AS: I have seen a real change in my body and can wear single digit clothes! Also my body chemistry has changed and my last test had my HDL higer than my LDL. My day goes better when I excercise and it is a stress reliever.

SF: What advice do you have for those who are considering starting an exercise program? What do you wish someone had told you?
AS:  I think my advice is use technology, the phone AP C25K was a great jumping off point. The second technology I would recommend is a calorie tracker, I like Tap and Track. It includes a number of restaurants and with my schedule due need to eat out. The other bit of advice is have circle of friends to encourage, celebrate with, and most importantly be accountable too. My goal now is to keep the weight off and not have to lose this same 30 pounds every again.

Thanks so much, Audrey! You inspire me and I know will inspire others!

Readers, please post a comment to encourage or congratulate Audrey on all her accomplishments!

Sarah

Wednesday Blog Hopping!

Doing a little blog hopping this Wednesday- come join me!









Free Hot SamplesHave a great Wednesday! Oh, and watch for the first of a new series coming later today...

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

I don't know how you "warm weather runners" do it...

If it's any above 60 degrees (F) I feel like I'm going to have a heat stroke.

I went out for my lunchtime run today and it seemed hotter. I didn't even check to see what the temperature is. Wait... let me check...

Well no wonder! It's 80!!!!!

So, I ran the best I could. It was tough. It was a new route. There was a hill, I swear. But, I did a little over 2 miles (I told myself as long as I do at least 2 miles, I'm successful).

And, as I stumbled in, beet red, looking kind of like this:

...one of my co-workers said, "Oh, don't you look comfy...."

Really?

Again:

Vote for Brooke!

Friends,

I need to brag on my girl Brooke a little here. Brooke is a single mom. She is busy. She is an amazing cook. She is learning to cook for a child with food allergies. And, in the midst of all this, she has managed to make a very healthy change in her life.

Brooke started working out with Body Gospel, a Beachbody Program, a few months ago. She started tracking her nutrition, and has made amazing changes. Her changes have been so amazing that she has advanced into the Body Gospel Million Dollar Body Game as a finalist! She stands the chance to win $25,000!

Go here to vote

I am so incredibly proud of her, and want to give everyone the chance to vote for her and support her! So, click on the link above and vote for Brooke Lippy! You can vote once a day!

And, if you'd like to know more about the Body Gospel program, just check out this link:



Also, if you'd like to pass on some encouragement/cheers/congratulations for Brooke in the comments, I'll make sure she sees them!

Monday, March 21, 2011

Running and I are friends again...

But we're taking it slow.

After Friday's run - yuck run #3 of the week- I questioned my running future. It wasn't fun anymore.

I needed a plan. So, since I'm a planner, I planned.

1. Diet
I find myself often feeling pressured to run (or do another workout) even if it's a rest day, or my body's not quite feeling right, because I've consumed too many calories. I decided I need to keep a tighter watch on my calories to prevent this need. This way, if I don't workout, I won't feel like I will gain 10 pounds..

2. Rest
I did not workout all weekend. I kept busy with house organizing projects, and chased 2 kids around (the 6 month old is getting surprisingly mobile) but did no workout... and didn't stress about it.

Well, let's just say I rested as much as you can chasing after THIS guy all weekend:


3. No playlist music outside of running
I have several songs that are running playlist favorites right now- but I didn't allow myself to listen to any of them all weekend, and won't- except for when running. That way, they will still be new and motivating, instead of, "Oh, THAT song again".

(The one exception: "Hey Soul Sister". My son sings along to it, and it's one of his favorites. We listen to it over and over in the car. When I'm running, and it comes on, it makes me think of him, which helps get me going).

4. Shorter runs
Since I've been having trouble with wanting to take walk breaks in my shorter runs, I've decided to make them even shorter. So, the runs during the week will be no more than 2.5 miles (no less than 2.0. In fact, probably closer to 2.0). I need to feel stronger on these.

5. Don't Compare!
I think where things started to go a little wrong for me was when I started comparing myself to others. "Well, she ran 20 miles and then 10 the next day. That's hard core. I should be running more." Then I push myself too far too soon, then I burn out. So, I'll be proud of my 2 mile runs this week, and I won't be embarrassed that someone might think of that as a warm up. It's all relative.

Those 5 things really made the difference, and today's run was fun and felt better than it has in a while.


Songs to run to today:

"Dog Days Are Over", Florence + The Machine
"Wide Open", Sugarland
"Black or White," Michael Jackson
"TubThumping", Chumbawumba
"I Gotta Feeling", Black Eyed Peas

Also, this morning I spent some time with this little guy:
Doesn't look like much, but..
That 10 pound kettlebell looks pretty harmless, but let me assure you... he is not.

Have you been in a rut? What did you do to get out of it? (Are you still in it?)

Also, do you have any songs that you LOVE to run to? Or, if you don't run, songs that just put you in a better mood? I'm always looking for new ones to add...

Oh, and I've reached *this* milestone in my Nike+ life:


If you haven't yet, can you stop over on Facebook and like our page there? We're almost at 200!!

Friday, March 18, 2011

In which I almost break up with running...

I wanted to do my long run on Saturday. Everything told me I should do my long run Saturday. I was still so close to my yucky run on Thursday. I was sick Wednesday. I really should have done it Saturday.

But, my husband said he would be busy and wouldn't be able to watch the kids on Saturday. I knew my only chance was to take a little longer lunch on Friday and do it then.

I decided to run 10K, since I had gone up to 10 miles a week ago, and was scheduled to go down a bit.
This girl was so optimistic..



I started the run outside. I knew it would be hot, but I wasn't sure if my new Nike+ would work inside, and I really wanted to use it. (Guess what. It doesn't).

I got hot. I started to count steps, seconds until I could take a break (I had planned run 5/walk 1). My ankles were hurting. My hips were hurting. My legs were heavy. At about 1 mile, I decided to run to the gym and do the rest inside. At 2.25, with the GPS saying I had only done 1.34, I decided to cut off the GPS and do it manually.

I stretched a bit, drank some water, and decided that I would just run 30 minutes. Easy 30 minutes. I can totally do 30 minutes, right?

I couldn't even do one lap.

(Oh, and then I weighed for the first time in 2 weeks, and I weigh EXACTLY THE SAME. That was probably not a good move for the morale).

I walked back to my office almost in tears. "It's just too hard", I thought. "I can't take care of 2 kids, a house, a career, and be a runner. I'm exhausted." I really tried to have a pity party...

But, instead of having an all out pity party (I did have a short one), I decided to just be realistic:

1. I was sick this week.
2. I really shouldn't have run Friday.
3. It was a bad week in a lot of ways. Monday started bad, and it was bad until Friday afternoon. You're not going to have the best runs of your life.
4. Running 10 miles last Friday may have been too much too soon.

So, looking back, realistically, it's no wonder I didn't have a great run AT ALL this week.

I've found that lately, even during my "short" runs, I'm really struggling not to take a walk break. I feel like I should go back to shorter distances. My "long" runs, with the walk breaks, may be messing me up. But, I don't have time to start over- I have a race in 6 weeks. I have to be able to do 13.1 miles in 6 weeks, and I want to do it in less than 2:30.

Here's where I start thinking of the plan:

Next week, I will cross train. I will do 2 short runs of 2 miles each, probably on Tuesday and Thursday, working on going without stopping. On Saturday, I'll do 6 miles with a Walk 4/Run 1. That's all. That will put me 5 weeks out from the race.

I'll gradually increase the short runs and do no more than 3 miles, 3 times a week until the race. On Saturdays I'll work up to 10 miles again with walk breaks. (4:1 or maybe 5:1).

After the race is over, I'll work up to running 30- 45 minutes at a time 4 days a week. Then I'll start training for the Nashville Women's Half.

I am going to keep the faith, because I know the feeling of a great run, and I'm determined to have that again. But running, I think you and me need a break. You're not being good to me right now..

The lonely runner.. photo from Microsoft Office Online

Blog Hopping... Come Hop with Me...

Holy moly, that was a week. We are almost done, and to celebrate, I'm joining some blog hops today!












Stalk Hop Friday






badge



Tawnasplan



Lots of hopping today! I love meeting people and making new friends. After the week I've had (typical full-time job, mothering, taking care of things, etc...) it's nice to have the support of other moms out there.

Hoping for a nice run this afternoon, and a day filled with awesomeness. So, let's go!

Sarah

Thursday, March 17, 2011

A Loser Like Me...

This is my super cool fanny pack fuel belt:
Super cool!


This is me wearing the super cool fanny pack fuel belt (also super cool: I took this pic in the bathroom mirror).
Super cool!
Now, some of the more hard core runners out there might mock me for going out and running a measly 1.46 miles today. But, I contend, I am NOT a loser. I am super cool. I listened to my body, and having been sick yesterday, I knew I shouldn't overdo it.


When I realized my "run" may have looked like a 90 year old's "walk", and I also realized it was almost 80 degrees outside (the warmest I've run in lately is 60), I stopped and had a nice power walk.

This brings me to my new favorite #songtorunto:








This song just makes me happy. It's all about not caring what others think. I love it. Some of the lyrics:


Just go ahead and hate on me and run your mouth
So everyone can hear
Hit me with the worst you got and knock me down
Baby, I don't care
Keep it up, I'm tunin' up to fade you out
You wanna be
You wanna be
A loser like me




Yeah, it might be a little cheesy. When have I said I don't like cheesy? Cheesy works... Besides, the whole point is not caring what others think :-)


In summary:
- I am super cool, as is my fanny pack fuel belt.
- I don't care if you make fun of my running, it's good enough for me.

Hello! It's your body SCREAMING at you!

You know, I like to think I'm pretty in tune with my body and the signals it sends me. But, like many busy people, I've had to learn to ignore some of the signs.

Monday I had a terrible day. I just didn't feel right. My run was awful. I was an emotional wreck. I was exhausted from a rough night with the kids.

I gave myself permission to take a short running break and not worry about training or miles for a few days. Tuesday morning I got up and did a Turbofire workout (low impact). I felt pretty good after that, but then still had a really hard day. I just didn't feel right. I started to cough and my throat was getting a little sore. I ignored it.

I went to the grocery store after work. I walked away from my cart, and when I went back, took what I thought was my cart all the way to the other side of the store. This poor man had to chase me to get his cart back. I knew then I was a little out of it...

I explained to my children how terribly important it was that I get a good night's sleep. If you have ever tried to reason with a 3 year old and/or 6 month old, you probably know how well that went...

When I woke up Wednesday, my body just wouldn't work. It was done. It's like it had been screaming at me for days, and when I didn't listen, it just hit me over the head and knocked me out. I decided to take a sick day.

After some Nyquil and a LOT of sleep, I felt better.

I seem to need these reminders every now and then.

Do you have to be completely knocked out before you'll let yourself rest? Or, do you listen to and heed the warning signs before it gets to that point?

I hope you have a healthy day and LISTEN when your body screams at you!

Sarah

P.S. Woohoo! We are at 100 followers! Yay! Thanks everyone!

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

When do the parents get back?

This weekend, I had a chance to take a nap with my baby daughter. It's one of my favorite things to do. We snuggle up in the bed together and fall asleep.

My husband took our son out to do fun things. They went to the park, to the hardware store, to the grocery store- they were gone a while.

But, here's what's funny...

In my sleepy state, I woke up and I was thinking they were coming home soon... but I wasn't thinking "My husband and son will be home soon". Instead, I was thinking, "My husband is bringing the real grown ups home..."

I'm not sure how to explain this feeling, but it was so real: I would half wake up and think "He's going to bring the parents home to take care of us."

Now, I'm sure there are all kinds of interpretations for this strange half-dream I was having. I guess in my mind, I'm wishing someone else was in charge. Sometimes it does seem to be a little too much.

I'm 37 years old, and I still wonder when I'll feel like a "grown up".
You mean, someone else isn't going to clean this wall?



Once I finally woke up *for real*, it took a few groggy minutes to re-orient and realize that help was *not* coming. We are IT. We are the parents.

Holy moly.

Dear Mom and Dad: Yes, you ARE in charge here!
P.S. HappyRunnerReviews is hosting a giveaway for some CEP Compression socks. You can find out more here!

Monday, March 14, 2011

You have to have a few sucky days...

... to make the good days GREAT...

I woke up Monday morning in a funk.



The time change seems to have really knocked me out.

The news from Japan is just devastating.

Things are still bad in Libya.

It was really hard to get excited today. It took a LOT of effort just to get the kids to daycare and get to work.

So, how do I snap out of this funk?

I have a couple of tricks that normally work:

1. Pictures of my kids


2. Funny songs/ videos

3. Coffee.
Duh.

4. Remember "why".
I go back to "why". Why do I do all this? (Work, running, go without a shower for hours so I can run in the middle of the day)
- My kids
- My husband
- To be healthy
- My specific goals: The half, the weight loss, my business..


5. When all else fails:

Just kidding. I had this instead:

6. A great run...
Ha. Funny story. Today's run SUCKED. I ran 2.23 miles, then had to stop and walk because I felt like my ankles were breaking. I walked back to my office, with a little crying, in the RAIN (it was pretty pathetic). I needed a good run today... but I didn't get one...

You know, being in a funk is not going to help any of these world events. Yes, things suck, but my funk won't fix it. And, just because the day has sucked doesn't mean I should just give up. I still have my kids to pick up, and things to look forward to tonight: My daughter's smile, a shower, BED!...

Tomorrow is another day... you're only one run away from a good run... and I will have that run... eventually...

P.S. Don't forget about the March contest! Read more here!

Saturday, March 12, 2011

Crazed Fan Weekend Blog Hop!

Come join me on the Crazed Fan Weekend Blog Hop!


The Blog Entourage



Woohoo! I'm crazed with blog hopping!

I have a goal to get my followers to 100 this weekend. Can you help?

Happy Blog Hopping!

Sarah

Friday, March 11, 2011

What Would Buffy Do?

Today I ran 10 miles.

I dropped off my kids at daycare (I had the day off for Spring Break) and went to a local trail.

Here I am before I started:
Yes that was in the bathroom at the park.
I have to admit. I was scared. I halfway didn't want to commit to 10 miles in case I couldn't do it. I ran a 5K Thursday, so I didn't know how it would go (I'm not up to that "Run 20 miles then do 11 'recovery' miles the next day" level yet...). But I announced several times on Facebook and to anyone who would listen that I was running 10 miles today, just to make it harder to quit...

I set my playlist to one Buffy episode: "Once More with Feeling." I knew it would take longer than 50 minutes, so I included a Two Gomers episode as well. I set the Nike+ to tell me every quarter mile (I need constant updates).

After posing for a few photos in the bathroom, I got started. I planned to run 4/ walk 1... about 1000 times. Early on, it was already feeling challenging.. but after a few miles, the 240 seconds of running seemed to go faster (so did the 60 seconds of walking).

It was a beautiful day, but I have to admit, I thought about stopping several times. At about 4.5 miles, I went to the car to put my gloves away and get more water, and I ate half of a P90X protein bar.

At 5 miles, I started to think that maybe I could do it. I restarted "Once More with Feeling" and sang along. I'm sure the runners and walkers I passed wondered what was wrong with me...

At 7.5 miles, I started to think I was about to die. My legs were heavy, and I'm sure there were some walkers who passed me as I shuffled as fast as I could during my running intervals.

At 8.75 I started to see the end. 1.25 miles to go. My running intervals started to have a few walk breaks. I had a little discussion with myself- if I ran faster, it would be done sooner... but I physically couldn't run faster. I was so tired.

Here I am right before the voice told me I had 1 mile to go, I took this picture:
This is so hard!
 You better believe I stopped the very second the voice said "Congratulations! You have reached your goal!" In fact, I think I only heard "Con-" before stopping..

Well, this was an eye-opener. I think it was sheer will that got me through it. Technically, most half-marathon training plans have your final training run as 10 miles, and you just count on endorphins and excitement to get you through that last 5K. But I honestly didn't feel like I could run 3 more miles after that, even if David Boreanaz himself was waiting at the finish line...

But, the good news is this: The race is 7 weeks from tomorrow. I can get more comfortable with this distance by then.


So I went home and took an ice bath, which was very short and uncomfortable. All the housework I was going to do didn't get done... I lay in bed all day. I really don't think I could do this distance on a day when I actually have to do stuff... well, not yet.


Angel is proud of me...

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Step by Step

I work at a University, and this week is our Spring Break. While librarians don't get a week off, we do get Friday off. I decided to take an additional day off this week so I could work on some home organizing. Wednesday was my day.

I don't think anyone really wants to be surrounded by clutter and chaos. I think most people just get so overwhelmed they don't know where to start, so they just don't. Hmmm... kind of like weight loss.

The key is: ONE STEP AT A TIME!

Once I realized that I could not completely clean and organize my home in one day, but I could do one thing a little bit at a time, things started to seem a little more manageable.

I knew that by the end of the day Wednesday, I would not be done with everything I wanted to do. But, I made a list of the things I wanted to do. These included:

- Master Bathroom (Clean, organize, throw away stuff)
- Linen Closet
- Kids' Clothes (these were all in chaos...)

As for the stuff I got rid of:

I either threw it in a garbage bag (trash) or put it in the "giveaway" pile. The sorting of the "giveaway" pile- what goes to Goodwill, what goes to folks with little boys or little girls, etc- will happen another day.

Here's the "giveaway" pile:

Again with the brilliant photography. Oh, that lighting.

I feel great, having accomplished the little tasks for today, and feel like I'm on the road to having a more organized home. There is just something so exciting to me about organizing and throwing stuff out.... it's probably a librarian thing.

So, work again on Thursday, and just the basic "get through the day" stuff: laundry, dinner, empty dishwasher, scrub kitchen sink... and on Friday, I have another list (plus a 10 mile run...)

You can do anything one step at a time. You can run a mile one step at a time. You can lose 100 pounds 1-2 pounds at a time. You can get a college degree (or 3, like I did) one class at a time. You can pay off unbelievable amounts of student loans one dollar at a time (these last two may or may not be related).

You can do it. YOU CAN DO IT!

So, next time you're faced with a huge, overwhelming task, think how you can break it into steps. I promise,  you'll make more progress than you would if you sat around worrying about it.

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

And the winner is...

Out of 5 comments, comment #4 is the winner! "Nanny"- Please send me a message at uberlibrarian (at) gmail (dot) com with your mailing address :-)

You are ALL awesome! Thanks for sharing what makes you awesome! I'm honored to have you as readers and friends!


Wonder Wednesday Blog Hop!

I just linked up with a new, family friendly blog hop! So, hop on over and make some new friends!

Samantha's Day

Welcome new followers! Leave a comment and I'll follow back!

Crazy Running Lady!

Blame it on the Rain!


Songs to Run To:
- Sugarland, The Incredible Machine
- The Fray, Over My Head
- Pink, ****in' Perfect
- Adele, Set Fire to the Rain
- U2, Vertigo
- Switchfoot, This is Your Life

I went out running in the rain Tuesday afternoon. My co-workers kept looking at me like I was crazy as I was getting ready. "You know it's raining, right?" "Yes, I know. I have a hat."

I actually really enjoyed it. I set my Nike+ to do a 5K, and went out. A few people I know saw me, and so I ran a little faster...

I love my Nike+, but I can't help wondering if the pace and distance aren't always accurate. I'll be running along, thinking I'm going at a good pace, and it will tell me my pace is 12:34 (I think I could walk that...) Other times, I'll be going steady, and it will announce that my pace is 8:30. Okay, whatever.

I can work around this, though.

Now, if there was heavy flooding, I don't think I would be out in the rain... but a nice drizzle (I put my Iphone in a plastic bag for safety...)

I don't know if this makes me hardcore, but I think it shows that I love running so much, I'll do it even when it's a challenge....

And, the last time I'll say this, I promise...

If I was a little slow, I'll just *Blame it on the Rain*... (groan)

Wednesday Giveaway!

Happy Wednesday!

I woke up in the mood to give :-)

Today, I'm giving away a set of "Shakeology The Workouts":
These workouts are designed to be used with Shakeology, but are great workouts on their own. Here's the description:

Get healthy from the inside out.
This set of 2 DVDs contains a 30-minute workout and a 50-minute workout. Start by doing the 30-minute workout three times a week. Then rotate in the 50-minute workout once a week. Go at your own pace, but don't be afraid to push yourself. Soon, you'll notice more muscle tone and fewer food cravings. Aim to get strong enough to do The 50 three times a week.
2 workouts
  • The 30
This is a balanced combination of cardiovascular intervals to burn calories, and strength moves to tone your muscles and build your metabolism.
  • The 50
As your body becomes stronger and more efficient, The 50 will accelerate your progress—your strength, cardiovascular fitness, and flexibility—in an easy-to-follow format.
The program
  • Just replace one meal a day with Shakeology, exercise three times a week, and follow a balanced eating plan. It's that simple.
  • You'll lower cholesterol levels, lose pounds, and shed inches.
  • Participants in an independent study who combined The Shake, The Workout, and our Eating Plan for 90 days1 dropped 10 pounds and 2 inches off their waistline. They also improved their digestion, increased their energy levels, and lowered their total cholesterol on average by 30% and LDL ("bad") cholesterol by 38% on average.*
So, the winner will win a brand new set of these DVDs, retail value $29.95. You'll also get a free Shakeology sample, to see if you want to try it.

To enter:
Comment on this post. Tell me ONE thing about you that makes you AWESOME!

I'll choose from the entries using Random.org tonight at 9PM CST.



And...... GO!

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Food and weight loss.

When it comes to being fit, exercise is super important. You can see benefit from exercise alone. However, sadly (for me), eating is over 50% of it. I hear story after story about "fit but fat" people... (I hate that term, sorry!) People who can run long, lift heavy, have the athletic endurance, but who are still a little overweight.

It all comes down to "calories in, calories out". There are so many complicated diets and theories out there, but that's all there is too it.

Did you hear about the "Twinkie Diet"? A nutrition professor ate junk food every three hours instead of meals. He kept his calories low, and lost weight. While this is a horrifying concept (to me, at least- some people may think eating Twinkies and Oreos as your main diet is a dream come true), the point he was making was that what really matters is "calories in, calories out".

I'm not saying we should all go out and stock up on Twinkies. But, the point is, the body can only handle so many calories of ANYTHING before it becomes excess weight. Avocados are great for you, but too much and you get fat.

However, many of the foods we're told to eat- like broccoli, for example- have lower calories for larger portions. 1 cup of chopped, raw broccoli is only 31 calories. Do you know how much broccoli that is? It's a lot! Eat 180 calories of broccoli and you'll DEFINITELY be full...

Anyway, I hope I've made at least something a resembling a point. While the professor didn't suffer any extreme negative consequences from his diet of processed junk foods, I'm still not ready to make the switch- I want to talk a bit about how to eat higher quality foods and integrate this into a busy lifestyle.

My lunches for the week




One of the things I do is PREPARE! I do a lot of preparing on Sunday for the week ahead. Above, I took a picture of 4 days of lunches I make for the week.

This is a really simple (maybe even boring) lunch: chicken breasts (I use one of the frozen bags you can get at the grocery store), green beans (frozen) and brown rice. I only make 4 because 1). I don't know if it will last longer than 4 days without getting a little questionable and 2). There are usually leftovers on Thursday night I can eat on Friday.

I make it all on Sunday afternoon- pretty easy- and have it all packaged nicely for the mornings when I go looking for lunch.

I also bring snacks with me to work, like these:
P90X Protein Bars


Other snacks that work are cottage cheese (with a little frozen fruit); or celery and peanut butter (never EVER bring the jar- I will eat it ALL!).

Then, there is my favorite: Shakeology. Here's some of the Greenberry flavor-
Did I ever claim to be a good photographer? Good thing I didn't..

Shakeology is a meal replacement/multi-vitamin/supplement... it's just so many things. I'll leave it up to you to find out more about it if interested: Shakeology

So, if you get nothing else out of this post, get these points:
1. BE PREPARED!
2. CALORIES IN, CALORIES OUT!
3. Oh, and pre-measure your peanut butter. Seriously- never carry a jar with you. It is not just one serving!

Be healthy!
Sarah