Rare Disease Day

Alone we are rare. Together we are STRONG! Today is Rare Disease Day...Go to www.scleroderma.org to educate yourself and others. I was diagnosed with Scleroderma in 1995 and still hoping for a cure!

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Great For Strength Training

I purchased this 5lb. Medicine ball at Walmart about 2 weeks ago. We use them a lot in our power hour class on Fridays. Since someone has been stealing ours from our gym, she asked if we didn't mind getting our own and bringing them to class. We all enjoy using them because it adds "greatness" to your workout! It was $14.98 and it comes with a free cd with workouts to do at home. I have been doing them on days inbetween my cardio. It is nice because it shows you beginner level, intermediate, and advanced! They have a 10lb. Too but, I would suggest sticking with the 5 no matter how strong you are. For most of the activites you are using your body weight and lots of movement. I love it for ab work too!

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Practice Run Today!

My time...a bit better 33:58! I have to wear an ankle support for my leg that has scleroderma. I am missing quite a bit of muscle and tissue around my ankle bone and it has been irritating me when I run. I wore this today while running and it supported it a lot. I didn't have to worry about it possibly giving out on me.
13 days till my first race...getting pumped and already looking forward to the next one in April!

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Tell the Girl Scouts to go HOME!!

I was never really big on girl scout cookies but, oh my gosh! Everytime I open the freezer to get my water bottles these are staring me in the face! Andrew ordered them and he is going to have to share at work cause I can't be doing this everyday! I usually could care less but I've been craving chocolate and know I shouldn't be eating that stuff.
GET THEM OUT OF YOUR HOUSES before they ruin what you've got going! ( and seriously do they have to be at EVERY store entrance you go to!)

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Motivational Tips That I Find Helpful...

• It all starts when you take your first step!
• If you want to lose weight, don't diet!
• Eat snacks to prevent overeating during meals
• Cut down on your favorite food, don't cut them out...you will be miserable!
• Use a smaller plate for meals to control your portions.
• A rest day is very important in your workout week, your body actually gets stronger and faster!
• Take one day at a time and don't try to do TOO much, you will wear yourself out and give up quickly. (I have done this many times!) Just doing a little bit helps and gets you off to a good start!

**There will be more of these to come!**

Practice Run at Bakers Pond

This is me after my run today. I was so proud and paced myself. I ran the full 5k in 34:28 without any stops. The training this week has helped improve my running a tremendous amount. Last Sunday my practice I ran 2 miles with 3 quick "catch my breath" stops and walked the 3rd mile! I was so pumped completing the whole thing without stopping and making pretty good time. Here is the picture of me standing by the pond after! 6 weeks ago I thought I would never be a runner! I would run a quarter mile and be out of breath and my leg with Scleroderma cramping! Well, I made it and hope to make better time next week!

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Healthy Picnic Lunch For The Family

Heading to Oatland Island Wildlife Center with Pat, Tiff, & Ben. Suggested packing a picnic lunch instead of " just grabbing something". I packed turkey sandwiches on whole wheat (for Lucas and I anyways, Andrews gotta have his white), carrots, green peppers, raisins, water, and Lucas a yogurt! Also packed some mixed nuts for a later snack! I can't wait! We will post picks of our trip on Lucas' website that will be refreshed and up and running again tonight! Eat something healthy today! :)

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New way to enjoy water!

I bought these at walmart the other day. I place a half of the serving in a 20oz. Bottle, which is just enough yummy flavor and stretches your dollar. I also stick my water bottle in the freezer for a hour where it freezes a bit. Then squeeze it and it gives it a little bit of crushed ice. I do this when I get that "snacky" feeling and it helps out a lot. It is also ice cold that helps burn calories..bonus! Don't get too excited! It doesn't burn that many so it does not replace exercise! Give it a try the next time you want to grab an unhealthy snack!

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21 Days Till the Race!

"Life Is short...running makes it seem longer!" -Baron Hansen

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Not just any running shoes...

I was tested and fitted for these specific shoes. I had no clue that they even did this. Of course, Didi (my fitness instructor) told me all about this. I thought with my scleroderma and muscle/ joint problems I would look into it. I went to this sports store in Savannah and they had me run on a treadmill while they video taped me. They could tell on this computer while it played in slow motion which shoes would be best for me by the way each foot struck the treadmill! Amazing technology! Their saying...doesn't matter what they look like, it matters how they feel! Oh my gosh! They fit me perfect and running is a million times better! Thanks Fleet Feet Sports!

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New Jogging Stroller

Purchased this at Target. I love it and so does Lucas! He enjoys the rides and sometimes gets a quick nap with all the bouncing from me running!

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Great Reading!

This book was given to me by my instructor at the YMCA to read to get me prepared for my first race. It has some wonderful information and also some motivational quotes/short stories. I would very much recommend it if you want to start your first race or even start running!

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Training Schedule for 5K

This is my training schedule for the 5k I am doing March 11, 2011 in Savannah. The training schedule came from Hal Higdons website recommended to me by another instructor at the YMCA. I have modified it a bit and added my other activities so that I could still account for a day of rest which is very important in any type of exercise schedule. I posted it on my fridge where I see it and check off when I accomplish each day. I have not missed one since I started training!

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First Purchase to my Fitness!

I got this watch at Target in September of 2010. It was super inexpensive and helps me with interval running. It beeps to the times set to tell you to run, walk. It has really helped me get started!

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The Beginning...My Fitness Story!

I have always felt like I was never the "right" weight. I felt like I was always the "bigger" one. I tried things from the slim-fast (make you want to go) shakes, diet pills, cereal diet, not eating at all, and whatever else was on the shelf at walmart!
I started to lose a bit right before I had Lucas and had a very healthy pregnancy. I only gained 35 pounds and was on my feet walking for most of my preganancy. The doctor told me I should not have a problem losing it. I did swell up two days before I had him and had lots of puffiness a good week or two after.
The weight eventually started coming off quickly, as I was trying to breast feed. After six weeks of tough times, the breastfeeding did not work out and I had to stop. From that moment on, I felt that I was eating to stay awake and to make me feel better. I was home by myself with a newborn baby and I didn't even have the evenings to look forward to family and friends coming to visit...there were only a couple and they already came to see us the week Lucas was born. ( I know get your tissues out! All I did was feel SORRY for myself!) The more I felt sorry, the more I ate...and I wanted to know why the weight was not coming off. Duh! Someone had to hit me in the head and wake me up!
Well, someone did because in July of 2010 I decided I was going to join the YMCA at a discounted rate because of where Andrew works. This was not going to be another gym membership that was going to be a donation while I sit on my butt at home. I started doing little things like the elliptical where I was in the back of the gym and no one could see me sweating like a man and huffing and puffing, what I thought was my last breaths! Then it was off to water aerobics for two months...your thinking what I was thinking...what was I going to wear, not a bathing suit for sure! (I searched all over for what could cover the most and found a short/tanktop bathing suit!) I was told that this would be a great aerobic activity with my Scleroderma and joint pain. From July-September I lost 20 pounds. I was also "slightly" watching what I ate.
Then the beginning of September I started getting nervous because our pool was going to be closing mid-September for the winter and would not start back up till May. This was the only thing I really enjoyed doing and was dedicated to it. Most of the other classes were at times Andrew was not home from work and I was not too crazy about the daycare there. I got an aerobic schedule and took it home to look at. I saw this "Power Hour" class that was at 5:00-6:00am on Fridays and thought that would be perferct before Andrew leaves for work. I read the discription and thought "oh, hell no, that is not for me!" I would never be able to keep up with all of that. That night (Wednesday) I laid in bed thinking of what I could possibly do or what classes could I take. I was not one to get a lot done in the gym by myself. I always thought after 20 minutes "oh no one is looking and I'm tired" and I would leave.
The next night, after not working out, I laid there again thinking about that Power Hour class. At 4:20am I woke up and was wide awake. I looked over at the clock and thought "this is a sign...get your butt out of bed and go to that class!" So...I did! On the drive there I was thinking "I am half asleep, maybe the others at the class will be too and they won't see how out of shape I am!" I started getting that nervous stomach, almost like the first day of school! I walked in to a gym with only about 6 other people of all ages giggling and hollaring. I met a great team of people there that have been so welcoming and motivating since day one! I was asked to join them at 5:00am on Mondays and Wednesdays also for a Spin (Cycling class). I was unsure of that also since I have never done it before. Well, I was there for those classes too! I didn't die trying all those out but, I was sore after each class because our instuctor knows how to kick some a**! I could feel my body transforming after one class. Then the cycling was something else...I never thought I would ever be able to sit again after riding for one whole hour. I got past that...I bought a bike coushin and after a week I was good. (you must build up a calaus or something! )
So now here we are in February 2011. I was able to lose the weight I had set for Lori and Bobby's wedding. A total of 30 pounds. Now I am on to losing the next 30 pounds. I have been training to run my first 5k for the past 7 weeks. I realized after doing some reading and talking with my fitness instuctor that I need to change my workout up and bit because I was hitting a plataeu. My body was getting used to what I was doing and it was not being challenged. I added running and weigh training to my cycling and powerhour. I have lost 2 more pounds but have noticed a big difference in my clothes from toning up a bit. My instructor told me to weigh myself now and then but to go by the way my clothes fit and take measurements. I will see difference in inches and not to get disappointment by the scale because I am developing muscle along the way.
So that was the beginning of my journey and I decided I wanted to include my family and friends on the rest of my journey to help motivate me even more. I will share with you my weight, measurements, pictures, goals, accomplishments,feelings, what I am eating, tips and motivation I get along the way. My goal is to help motivate someone else, while I reach my goals! Thanks for being a part of my journey!