Good morning?

I am, admittedly, not a morning person.

When my alarm went off at 5am, I wanted to stay in bed. I did stay in bed, for about 15 minutes, debating whether I should go to the pool or not.

"I could just go to the gym later and do the elliptical," I thought. "But that is not a swim. You said you wanted to swim today," I debated with that other half of myself. "It's so early, though! And gloomy out. It's nice and warm right here," I wheedled. "Shut up. Get your ass out of this bed, go eat some frickin' toast, and quit your whining." Man. The side of me that wanted to get up and swim was BOSSY.

But I did, in fact, get up this morning and put my suit on. I ate my toast and almond butter. I got back into bed at one point, thinking maybe I should just scrap this crazy plan. I got back out of bed, promising myself that my reward for swimming so god-awful early would be to go back to bed. I made it out the door. Into my car. Down the highway. I made it through the parking lot, the locker room.

As I slipped into the freezing pool (GOOD MORNING!!), I just started swimming. A few laps to warm-up. A few laps with a kick board. My body started remembering how to swim, after a few weeks off. I did 300 yards or so without stopping, until my body started keeping rhythm with itself and it started feeling a good bit like natural. After all the hemming and hawing when my alarm went off, it was kind of like the swimming was the easy part. I took a breather, and watched the other swimmers. Strong swimmers, weaker swimmers. But all people who got up extra early on a Tuesday, just to get in the pool and get some exercise before the day got crazy. I was not the only one, and we would all get out of this pool in our own time, satisfied with the work we'd done.

After my workout, I didn't go back to bed as I'd promised myself. Instead, I went grocery shopping. Let me tell you, 7am on a weekday is probably the most peaceful time to go to Meijer. Nobody but shelf stockers, a few cleaning guys, some cashiers... and a couple of people grabbing an apple or a frozen entree before work. I found myself focused, energized, and ready to face the challenges of the day.

And maybe that's because few things are more challenging for me than just letting my feet hit the carpet at 5am. Just taking the step of getting out of bed and saying, "Today, I'm going to put myself to the test."

Today, put yourself to the test. You are capable of great things!

until later...

“If one synchronized swimmer drowns, do all the rest have to drown too?” – Steven Wright

A sticky struggle...

The battle for a sugarless lifestyle is not an easy one.

I don't mind the birthday cakes or the Christmas cookies. I don't mind not eating cotton candy at the amusement park.

What I mind is trying to find healthier ways to cook and bake things, and hitting dead end after dead end.

I've spent the last near four years trying to rid my life of extra sweeteners, and not because I think I'm better than anyone or even because I'm on some crazy health kick. I did it because, frankly, sugar terrifies me. Petrifies. For the first time in probably my whole life, I feel in control of my weight and my body, and it began when I gave the sugar up. So, of course sugar holds some very negative connotations for me. I'm fearful of it as a disease that used to control me, a road block that derailed my sense of self more times than I care to count.

How many of us think this way? "I ate that cookie, so I already failed. I may as well eat more."

This week, I found myself wondering if I am going to spend my whole life fearful of even the most natural of sweeteners. Further, I questioned why, in my brain, it's okay to eat some of the artificial sweeteners I know I'm guilty of eating. They are probably more dangerous than organic cane sugar or even the refined stuff; they are full of chemicals that we don't even know the long-term effect of. How could someone such as myself, who enjoys healthy veggies grown without pesticides, healthy meat sold without antibiotics, be SO hypocritical?

We come back to fear. It boils down simply to a fear that I'll gain back the weight I've worked very hard to get off. The weight I've kept off. Do I not believe in myself? Do I not trust myself enough to be in control? Have I actually learned nothing in four years of diet and exercise?

I know the answer to that. I have nothing to fear. I've learned how to control my portions. I've learned how much better I feel when I run than when I eat a carton of ice cream. I've learned which foods to pick at the supermarket, which foods to pass. I've learned all this because I wanted to, I wanted to take care of myself. That want hasn't gone away, it's gotten stronger.

With this realization, I'm making the choice to dump the artificial sweeteners in favor of more natural sweeteners that I have been terrified of. I have to face that fear, I have to stand up for myself and the body I have worked so hard to attain. A tablespoon of honey in my granola bar recipe is not going to negate the five miles I ran. Calories in, calories out. That is what matters most.

Does this mean that you are going to find cartons of Chips Ahoy in my cupboard? Definitely not. I still plan on sticking to my organic, unprocessed ways. I feel better knowing I put good things in my body every day. And truthfully, I think once I get over the initial scariness of natural sweeteners, I'll feel better with the satisfaction of going without the chemicals I was making excuses for.

until later....

"A day without a friend is like a pot without a single drop of
honey left inside." ~ Winnie the Pooh

Another summer turns to fall....

A friend has reminded me that it has been an extra-long time since I updated (thanks, Sherri!), so let's go ahead and chalk that one up to a very busy summer! I've been out there, trying new things.... quite literally. I made it through my first triathalons this summer!

When last I wrote, I had just begun my training. I did a "practice" tri in July (Allegan) to prepare me for the big one in August. What took me by surprise the most during that triathalon was probably the biking; I figured biking would be a no-brainer, but that is just not the case. It turns out, you cannot just put a helmet on and take off. For one, biking is HARD work. And unlike most sports, you can buy speed in biking. I did not buy speed when I bought my Schwinn hybrid back in May. I bought a nice bike to ride around town and on trails with. This became increasingly apparent during the Allegan Tri. I should note here that in a tri, your age is marked in thick, black permanent marker on your calf. This is a blessing and a curse. Blessing, because you can see people in your age bracket and theoretically pass them. Curse, because when a 70-year-old passes you during the bike portion.... well..... enough said. The major lesson I learned was that I definitely needed to buy or borrow something faster for the Aquaman Tri in August!

As for Aquaman, I did, in fact, borrow a bike (saw a big improvement in that division).  That was a HILLY course!!  It was definitely hard, but I felt a lot more comfortable with what was going on than I did in Allegan.  I was very glad that my friends pushed me to do a "practice" before I got to all of those hills.  

So, let's see if I met all of my bullet points from my post in June....  

1. IMPROVE MY SWIMMING. I most certainly managed to improve my swimming this summer... although in actuality, I really had nowhere to go but up. I may not have become Dana Torres, but I went from being able to swim 25 yards without stopping to swimming 500 yards without stopping. I grew to really enjoy the swim, once I got over my fear of drowning. I have to give a shout-out to Sherri and Casie, too; they helped me more than any of my Friday training swims, mostly with their continual encouragement and optimism. Definitely improved my confidence. My plan for the fall and winter is to keep getting in the pool, keep using swimming as a core strengthener and cross-training tool, and get even better. I recommend it to anyone as a GREAT low-impact workout!  

2. BECOME A STRONGER RUNNER. This is a tricky one. I felt like running kind of went the wayside by the end of the summer... but I guess that's not unusual. This is traditionally the time of year that my body gets tired and I decide to give it a little rest (ie get on the elliptical or bike and do some weight training). The summer was good to me, though. I posted some awesome times through the 5k season, PRing with a 22:26. I suppose I can partially credit some new strong competitors in my age bracket this year... really pushed me to work hard in my races. I feel like I could have done more with my training throughout the week... but you can't really train for everything at once. I definitely learned that it's best to concentrate on one major goal... not "I'm going to do a triathalon AND PR my 5k AND do a trail half-marathon..." Not the smartest.

3. HAVE FUN. Did I have fun this summer? Definitely. I got better at swimming, I hit new highs in running, I made new friends and strengthened some existing friendships, I got some kick-ass medals (including one for Warrior Dash and one as big as my face for the North Country Trail Run)... I spent a lot of time outdoors. Oh, and did I mention I got engaged? =)

And now I face fall, the season I typically stop "training" and start "exercising". I'm excited for fall colors, apples, Halloween. I'm excited to go for a quick 3-mile jog after dinner just because I feel like it. Fall is a gorgeous time to get out with your family and walk or bike. Make sure you utilize the cooler temps and beautiful foliage.... one of the perks to living in the Mitten State. Until next time!

Triathalon training.... WOO-HOO!!!

Apparently a marathon just wasn't enough for me.

I started training for an August sprint triathalon (Aquaman in Three Rivers) last week through Gazelle's Trizelle program. I mean, sure- obviously I run. And I know how to ride a bike. But swimming? Yeah. Swimming. Not my strong suit. I took swimming lessons when I was about 11 or 12 years old... just enough to prevent me from drowning when I got near water. But water makes me a little crazy. I'm not sure if it's a fear that I'll drown, or get tired and be stuck in the middle of the water? I mean, if you get tired when you're running, you walk. If you get tired when you're swimming, well... you drown.

So, I'm hoping to overcome this somewhat irrational fear I have. I actually do *like* to swim. It's easy on the joints, it's great for your core. And truthfully, the run/walk ratio can apply to swimming, too; you get tired, you elementary backstroke it. Ah. The swimming version of walking. (Aside from the fact you can't see where you're going.)

With all that said, the tri training is a blast. I get a great workout, and it's so much more fun than just running forever. Swim for a while.... recover on the bike... run a few miles. Today I was so warmed-up after all that, I decided to do steep hill repeats on Academy St. A nice quarter-mile climb, back down, back up, back down... I probably could have kept going!

So, I guess what I'm most hoping to get out of this summer is to:

1) IMPROVE MY SWIMMING. I'm not saying I'm going to be Dana Torres by the end of the summer. Actually, can I please be Dana Torres by the end of the summer? That girl has some serious abs. I should Google what she does to work out. And she's like 45 years old, too. Man, she's a rock-star. But yeah... I won't be her, but I plan on being a stronger swimmer. I think a good goal is to feel confident enough that I can make it through a 500-yd swim without worrying that I'll die in the water.

2) BECOME A STRONGER RUNNER. I know running is my strongest suit. But there is this one girl in my age group that I can never seem to beat. She's not in KAR, and she doesn't race everything. But every time I race her, I seem to get 2nd or 3rd (I know, stop complaining). It's just aggrivating! And she's like a fricking ghost, I have no clue what she looks like. I never seem to see her. So I'm hoping that between the cross-training I'm doing, and the speed-work that will start in the next month or so... yeah. Hopefully I'll catch her.

3) HAVE FUN. During marathon training, I could feel my running "rut" settling in. Ruts are hard to shake. It's like you want to run, because you know you love it. But it just isn't as fun as it used to be. With 5k season picking up (and starting off with a bang, I'm 4 for 4 in the 5k/10k medaling department), I've seen some improvement in my attitude. But I know that varying my workout is going to help immensely. It's awesome to do new things and push myself in different ways.

So, June is here with an exciting burst. My challenge to all of you is to throw caution to the wind and try something new this summer. Find a way to get exercise in that you enjoy. Love yourself enough to improve your quality of life. I know exercise can be hard, and sometimes painful. But I read somewhere: "Don't let what you want today change what you want most." In other words, don't let temporary discomfort affect your bigger picture.

until later...

"The only one who can tell you 'you can't' is you. And you don't have to listen." ~ Nike

corn syrup vs sugar vs high fructose corn syrup

My top two least-liked commercials of the moment are...

a) The Dole commercial that implores us to enjoy Dole fruit cups because, "Finally, you can enjoy fruit without added sugar, artificial sweeteners, etc etc etc". I'm sorry. It's too much trouble to pick up an apple or a cup of strawberries? I wasn't aware that was suuuuuuch a challenge for people! News flash, people: it's better to eat fruit out of your own cup than god-knows-what out of a prepackaged cup. No brainer.

b) I'm sure you've seen this one: a pleasant-looking mom is totally worried because she keeps hearing how evil corn syrup is. Well, rest assured, Americans- corn syrup is just like regular syrup! The corn farmers of America promise! And commercials never lie, so definitely trust this actress playing a mother! (sarcasm, sarcasm, sarcasm.)

Listen. Corn syrup is a cheap sweetener that has made its way into virtually every processed food (another great reason to eat whole foods and cook for yourself!) So I'd like to talk just briefly about what the chief differences are between sugar, high fructose corn syrup, and regular corn syrup (and yes, there are differences between the last two!) I don't want to give corn farmers or even corn a bum rep, and it's important to know a few things for your own well-being.

SUGAR. Sugar is processed by every cell of the body. Your body turns the sugar into glucose. Yes, your body needs some sugar, because it gives us energy. I do not mean go eat a candy bar and say I told you to. Processed sugar has zero nutrients, it does nothing to help you out. Fruit, dairy, vegetables, even meat... your body turns these foods into glucose and gives you the nutrients and minerals that you need. So yes- while it's true your body processes sugar into glucose in a way like-minded to fruit and vegetables, you will reap no benefit from eating cane sugar. Other than the possible enjoyment you may get from a cookie.

CORN SYRUP. Used to soften the texture of things and sweeten things, corn syrup is different than HIGH-FRUCTOSE corn syrup (HFCS). Your body processes it similar to sugar; ie, it is processed by every cell of the body. It is less dangerous than HFCS, but what I said about "sugar" also applies here; you're not going to garner big benefits from eating it.

HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP. Now here is the garbage everyone has their knickers in a twist about. With good reason. HFCS is corn syrup that has gone under an enzymatic processing, converting glucose to fructose, to desired sweetness. What is distinctly different about HFCS is that it is NOT processed by every cell in the body. The liver is made to do all the work processing HFCS. And news flash, the junk is in almost every processed food you have in your cupboard or fridge. So while it may be safe "in moderation", it could be problematic that your liver is constantly being forced to process this "sweetener" (HFCS) that is hanging out in a lot of your favorite foods.

So is "corn sugar" just like "table sugar", like industry bigs want us to believe? Maybe it's too soon to tell. Or maybe you can look around and see how bad health in this country has gotten. Personally, I'm on the side of better safe than sorry. I think fresh strawberries taste sweeter and more delicious than any Little Debbie brownie, and I like knowing that the food going into my body is there for the purpose of nurturing it and making it strong. And I am also on the side that companies are there to sell you things. If you don't buy, they have no income. So of course someone trying to sell you a product will say that their product is the best, or their product is totally safe.

I mean, just ask the tobacco companies.

until later...

"Roughly $40 billion in federal subsidies are going to pay corn growers, so that corn syrup is able to replace cane sugar. Corn syrup has been singled out by many health experts as one of the chief culprits of rising obesity, because corn syrup does not turn off appetite. Since the advent of corn syrup, consumption of all sweeteners has soared, as have people's weights. According to a 2004 study reported in the American journal of Clinical Nutrition, the rise of Type-2 diabetes since 1980 has closely paralleled the increased use of sweeteners, particularly corn syrup." ~ Gabriel Cousens

Veggie "Fried" Rice

Today I was in the mood for some "fried rice", so this is what I scarfed down. I mean, came up with.

WHAT YOU'LL NEED:
1/2 cup frozen (organic) peas
1 cup frozen (organic) broccoli
1 cup Seeds of Change 7-grain medley (comes pre-cooked in a microwavable pouch, but I almost always heat up in a separate container or pan- you shouldn't microwave plastic, period!)
1 egg white
1 Tbsp worcestershire sauce
1 tsp lemon juice
1 tsp garlic powder or one glove of fresh garlic

WHAT TO DO:
* Sautee the peas and broccoli in a pan with some cooking spray until the frost is gone.
* Add the cup of rice mixture, as well as the seasonings.
* When everything looks cooked through and is a little sizzly, add the egg white.
* Keep mixing until the egg disperses throughout and is cooked.
* Enjoy!

I would have loved to add some fresh ginger to this if I had it... alas. I'm betting chicken or shrimp would be delish in this, too!! Also- buying frozen organic produce is a great way to save money and get the freshest vegetables. Most veggies/fruits are picked and frozen at the peak of freshness, and are even more nutritious than the so-called "fresh" stuff that has journeyed for miles. And it stays good much longer, being frozen and all!

Happy noshing...

"Rice is great if you're really hungry and want to eat two thousand of something." ~ Mitch Hedberg

My Great Big Marathon Adventure...

May 8th, 2011 marks my first completed marathon. It was absolutely the hardest thing I've ever done.

All of the warnings in the world about "when you'll hit the wall", or how overwhelming the entire experience is, or how "going out to fast" will affect you in mile 21 can not really prepare you for just the massive and epic feelings I faced Sunday morning. Elation and misery both come to mind first. Then pain. Then defeat. Then success.

I remember at 6 miles, I turned to a friend and joked, "Ok, we just ran the last 10k. Now we just have to run a 20-miler." I wish that would have worked!

But I had a very solid 20k. Hell, I had a very solid 17 miles. I believe it was the bottom of Bronson Blvd where I started wondering if I could finish this. I was less than 10 miles away from my finish, but I struggled. Both mentally and physically. My legs felt heavy. My mind felt exhausted. I smiled and waved to the people I passed, high-fived the little ones on the sidewalks, just trying to push myself along any way I could. Thank God for the crowds. They were outstanding.

I walked some. Walking in a marathon is like "breaking the seal" at the bar. You do it once, you're screwed. You do it once, and your mind makes you think you need to keep doing it over and over.

When I met my friends on Park Ave in mile 22, I had some serious doubts about how much running I'd be doing in the last 4 miles. One of my best friends met me at the top of the hill, ready to run those last four with me. I told him we'd be walking for a bit. I'm so thankful he was there, ready to walk or run with me until I found the end of the course. I literally was concentrating on the next tree. The next orange cone.

Mile 24. Never in my life would I imagine that two miles, a distance I usually run as a cool-down or a recovery jog, would be the hardest two miles I'd ever run. They felt like they took forever. We ran through the park, walked up Brook Drive Hill. I didn't feel the need to run on the hills anymore. I just had to keep moving.

At that point, my boyfriend jogged down to meet my friend and I, with just one mile to go (even though he had already run 26.2 miles himself!). We jogged down the never-ending street, with the last leg of the course in my sight.

The last bit was a blur. Cheering spectators. Photos. Friends waving and hollering. A sense of pride, of accomplishment that pushed my legs faster. I smiled. I beamed! I could see the finish, I heard my name called out as I crossed the mats. I had pushed through the despair, and finished strong despite it.

I stared those fears and doubts right in the face, and I conquered them. I couldn't be prouder of my achievement.

until later...

"It's a long, hard road and it's going to have its bumps; there are going to be times when you fall and times when you don't feel like going on anymore, times when you're just crazy tired but it takes focusing on that one step you're taking. That's what I'm trying to do with the marathon; I don't think about the miles that are coming down the road, I don't think about the mile I'm on right now, I don't think about the miles I've already covered. I think about what I'm doing right now, just being lost in the moment." ~Ryan Hall