One little word

Though I have posted this on my other blog I felt the need to add it here too since so much of this is focused on weight loss. Read my new goals and see what's in store for 2011.
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Ali Edwards has been one of the most inspiring people in my life. Although I do not know her personally I do feel a close relationship with her through her scrapbooking, blogs, and personal testimonies of struggles and defeats. This year I will be joining her in choosing 1 word that will help me shape what this coming year will look like. I have several large goals for 2011, and feel the need to make them public and document them. Of course in my little organized brain I also feel the need to make it all work together; otherwise I could easily veer off course. So, my one little word for 2011 is simplify.

Simplify is defined as to make less complex. This year I can not wait to reach my goals, to loose weight, clear out all the junk in my basement, have a baby, and mostly to be more focused on what matters. The words Simplify and minimize have been roaming around my head a lot, so I went with Simplify when I looked up the definition - seems to be the directions I am in. Can't wait to see what it brings to me! I plan to simplify my weight loss – count calories more frequently and keep a workout schedule that is easy and efficient. In order to simplify my life for a new baby I must purge clutter out our lives; including cleaning our basement from corner to corner and opening our outdoor space to play time for Julia.

The first step I plan to take in this journey for 2011 is to declare my devotion to God by being baptized this January with my husband. I know many of my friends who are not Christians do not see the usefulness of this step in life, and some day I hope that they come to understand it, but for me I want to shout it out to everyone every day that my life has changed and become more rewarding because I’ve allowed Jesus into my heart. At the same time as making this huge declaration I will also be participating in a Biggest Loser contest at my gym. Now I may not win this (although I will certainly try my hardest), I will give myself an edge to my weight loss and fitness lifestyle that will eventually give way to a much simpler life. And, if I do win I pocket $500. My goal in my weight loss is to lose a minimum of 30 pounds by the end of spring time in order to feel like I am at a healthy starting point to begin the process of having another child. As many close to me know this could be a huge event in our lives, filled with possible bed rest, minor surgery, and even another pre-term baby. But, like I’ve declared, I have all the faith in God’s hands, and a gift of a child comes from the lord, and so if it is his will I will go through any or all of it! But, it is also my will to make the process easier and simpler. Do you see where I’m going with this word? Simple is just easy! I don’t want to clutter my life with complex, with doubts, or any fears. I want to be filled with hope, excitement, and enjoyment in all that is given to me.

I have other “resolutions” for this coming year as well, but these 3 pack a pretty huge punch and will be focused on a lot! For all of you reading this, I hope that you will follow me through this journey and continue your own. Pick a word for yourself and make a decision to keep it going all the way through December. Don’t let fears and insecurities take over, though they will roar their ugly faces from time to time, just remember that it’s a whole year of time to make a change. I made a change in myself for 2010, now it’s time to do even more work for 2011.

Becoming a Runner - A New Goal

I remember the feeling I had when I managed to walk/run the 5K on the treadmill under an hour, and I want to experience that feeling again with another long term goal for my exercise. For as long as I can remember, I’ve hated to run. I’m a large busted girl, and as soon as these girls came in they were in the way and uncomfortable; running just never appealed to me. I attempted to be a sprinter track athlete when I was younger, but proved that wide shoulders, bulking body, and big boobs were not the ideal physique for Track & Field – unless you become a shot-put or discuss thrower (which I tried). So now we are here more then a decade later and I suddenly want to attempt running again. Why you ask? Well, I read an article that said I could do it, and I’ve been watching an amazing women become a runner and just finish her 1st half marathon. So, I ask myself, why can’t I become a runner?

So here’s the plan. I’m going to give this goal 8 weeks (the article says I only need 6, but I know my schedule and I’m gonna need more time), and I’m going to work on running long intervals each day I get on that treadmill. Here is what the article says about getting to the point of running 1 mile. “Split your run into walking and running parts at first, says Joe Puleo, head cross country and track-and-field coach at Rutgers University in Camden, New Jersey, and coauthor of Running Anatomy. Jog a quarter of a mile, walk for half a mile, and finish by jogging another quarter. As you improve, stretch out the jogging and shrink the walking segment before jogging that final quarter mile. Do this three or four times a week and "you'll be able to run the whole distance in about six weeks," Puleo says.”

To break it down for you basically this coach is saying to run/walk and shrink the amount of time you walk to increase your running stamina, and this is exactly what I’ve been doing. But, the big area I have not been following through in is stretching the jogging out longer and shrinking the walking.

So, as of right now this is how my treadmill workouts follow:
1. Walk 10 minutes for warm-up
2. Run 1 minute sprint at 4.5 mph
3. Walk for 5 minutes at 3.4 mph
4. Run 1 minute sprint at 4.5 mph
5. Walk again for 5 minutes at 3.4 mph.
6. I continue this process for an hour and get in a 5K distance.

Here is what I would like to start doing:
1. Walk 10 minutes for warm-up
2. Run 1 lap (1/4 mile)
3. Walk 2 laps (1/2 mile)
4. Run 1 lap (1/4 mile)
5. And continue this routine until 5K is finished.

Here is my Action Plan:
1. Walk 10 minutes for warm-up
2. Run HALF a lap, and then walk the rest of lap.
3. Walk a whole lap
4. Run HALF a lap, and then walk the rest of lap.
5. Continue this until 5K is finished.

What my eventual Goal will be:
1. Fast walk 10 minute warm-up
2. Run 1 mile
3. Walk – cool down (unsure of how long)
4. Run 1 mile
5. Walk- Cool down
6. Continue this until 5K is finished