Okay - so here is my TOP TEN THINGS - What I learned and What I will do DIFFERENTLY!
WHAT I LEARNED:
ONE. If I run every other day a long pace like 2 miles or more, I seem to run faster and more further distance in my interval strides
TWO. Once you start running, eating healthy will fall into place. You will come to find that eating unhealthily will completely slow you down, make you sick while running, and totally take your mood away from wanting to run. You might have a few areas to tweak but most of your food will clean itself up on its own. Eating well will have you perform better, run longer and feel better about everything.
THREE. I learned that you go through shoes really quick. I bought one pair of shoes at the beginning of the summer and by September 1 they were done. Arches were gone. Running equals expensive. Also, maybe investing in a BETTER shoe would help it to last longer.
FOUR. Working out alone is OKAY. I was always wanting a buddy - I would base my work out on if I had a friend or not with me. And if I based my health off a friend, I would surely fail. Friends are AMAZING encouragers when they are available. But they have lives too! I had to learn to relay on me and my health - doing this for me. Making time.
FIVE. If you work 40 hours a week and still have housework, family/friends to see, you can still work out. I was putting off working out because I thought "I didn't have time" I had the time, I just didn't make the time. I chose to relax and eat and watch TV over my health. It is a sacrifice, but as I have seen, it is worth it. 20-40 minutes a day, mixing it up (cardio/weights) and being healthy - it is worth all the Netflix in the world.
WHAT I WILL DO DIFFERENTLY:
ONE. I will do more stretching, warm-up and cool down exercises. When I didn't stretch or warm-up, my shins started to hurt really bad. By the 20th day or so they were able to run without needing to stretches often - but still needed to be worked. Gave myself time to get the muscles ready or cooled down.
TWO. Running on cement all the time is bad for the bones and bad for the arches. I have been advised to incorporate running in the dirt or running on trails. Getting off road for a little bit is better on the joints. I will be trying to incorporate some trail runs when my friends/family are able to accompany me. Give my body a break from the hard cement and hit the soft ground.
THREE. Set different goals. Going for distance her rather than pace. Or incorporating more interval training on days that I decide not to run long distance. My body was getting used to the normal 1+ miles on the same route. I will try and switch it up and find new routes.
FOUR. No more cheat days - as in no more food fests. No more gorging on food. I have found that it slowed me down and gave me this "hung-over" feel even though I didn't consume any alcohol. Incorporate one or two things within the week that you can have a little of - like a small bowl of frozen yogurt or a few fries off my fiancé's plate. Keep it moderate, keep living but know that food is to keep you alive! Enjoy it but not so much that you are sick.
FIVE. Running and weights. Last night I did a circuit rotation with a friend and found that my arms are SO WEAK. Running was defiantly good for the leg and abs but my arms were SO neglected. I have learned that running 2-3 times a week and then incorporating light running/walking and then circuit training into the other 4 days will balance it all out.
There you have it! I have learned so much more but these were the top! Today was my first day using my new shoes - feeling lighter, getting stronger. My journey to good health is just starting.
PHASE 2 comences! Circuits, Cardio blasters, Running, Weights, Abs/Arms/Legs, DANCE. It is time to mix it up.
Join ME. I will be posting workouts, recipes, and letting you know how I am doing. Stick around, and see this girl change all the unhealthy choices she made in the past three years. Turning my CAN'TS into CANS.
