Fabulous Financials & Fitness

I completed the 9 week Couch to 5K training program this past Sunday.  This was a huge feat for me because I never imagined myself as a runner.  However, C25K is true to its word – it is a “beginner’s running schedule that helps new runners get off the couch and onto the roads, running 3 miles in just two months.”  I’m not quite running 3 miles…yet, but I’m close – 2.832 to be exact.  How did I do it?  I will share my experience from the beginning to end:

Why C25K?

I chose the C25K program because I was inspired by Tazzee on Twitter.  Her progress and dedication were impressive.  Plus, I was determined to get in shape for 2010 and this seemed like a structured, organized program that wasn’t too hard to follow.  I figured running is cheap (no fancy equipment or gym membership required) and it would keep me challenged and focused.

Week 1

During the week of December 20th, I began my interval training on the treadmill – 60 seconds jogging and 90 seconds walking for a total of 20 minutes.  I had no idea what I was doing so I simply set the timer and put one foot in front of the other.  I didn’t focus on speed or distance.  I simply wanted to get through the 20 minute requirement.

What I didn’t realize is that there are many other variables (proper diet, water intake, etc.) that affect the way you run so I was kind of all over the place.  By mid-week, I was experiencing a little light-headedness and even chest pains.  A quick visit to the doctor revealed the problem(s) and reconfirmed my commitment to health & fitness.

I completed week 1 with mild success.  However, I was dissatisfied with my efforts, so I repeated week 1 again.  Finally, I was read to move on…

Week 2

I continued my interval training on the treadmill – 90 seconds jogging and 2 minutes walking for a total of 20 minutes.  I called myself doing something and increased the incline to 1%.  Although I’d learned a few lessons from week 1, I still hadn’t found my stride.  My calves were screaming for mercy and my shins were begging me to stop.  I assumed it was because I needed to lose weight…you know, too much weight on my legs.  I shared my experience on Twitter and everyone advised me to buy proper running shoes.  Unfortunately, I didn’t listen….at the time.  I finished week 2 better than week 1, but I had doubts if running was my thing because it HURT too bad.

Week 3

I continued my interval training on the treadmill – two reps of jog/walk intervals of 90/90 seconds and 3/3 minutes.  After day 1, I couldn’t take it anymore.  My shins and calves went on strike and they refused to cooperate.  I attempted day 2 but couldn’t finish.  I  finally broke down and had a professional fitting for running shoes.  About an hour and $100 later, I left with a pair of running shoes that made me feel like I was running on clouds.  I was so excited, I ran twice in one day!  Needless to say, I finished week 3 like it was a cake walk.

Week 4

I continued my interval training on the treadmill – jog/walk intervals of 3 min/90 sec/5 min/2.5 min/3 min/90 seconds and 5 min.  Me? Run 5 minutes?  Non-stop?  Who knew! LOL  By then, I was still using a 1% incline and I think I even increased the treadmill speed to 4.0.  This was my first personal record.   I was proud of myself…tired as heck…but feeling pumped!

Week 5

By week 5, I caught a cold and had to take a week off.  I was afraid of losing momentum so I walked the outside around the perimeter of my neighborhood to get some light exercise.  I listened to my body and made sure I was getting lots of rest.  No matter how bad I wanted to do C25K, there was no running allowed.

When my body told me I was ready, I repeated week 4 day 3 to make sure and continued my training on the treadmill.  But this week was a little different from the previous weeks.  Day 1 was  jog/walk intervals of 5 min/3 min/5 min/3 min/5 min – I nearly died.  Day 2 was jog/walk intervals of 8 min/5 min/8 min – I officially died and came back to life.  And day 3 was a non-stop 20 minute run – whew whew!

I didn’t think I could go from 5/8 minute “intervals” to running 20 minutes non-stop.  Some people on Twitter were telling the 8 to 20 minute jump was too much, I should modify it to my fitness level, I should only do 10 minutes, etc, etc, etc.  Other people (whom I admire) told me that I could do it and gave me tips on how to push through.  This was my first time learning that mind over matter can apply to running too.

After 8 minutes, I wanted to quit but I knew I couldn’t.  I had to lower the incline back down to 0, I listened to my iPod, I prayed, I probably cried too.  But I didn’t give up.  I simply kept putting one foot in front of the other and willing myself to keep going.  Before I knew it, the treadmill timer said 18 minutes.

By then, it was just a matter of talking to myself.  A quick little tip I learned from Tazzee – I said to myself “Single Ma, if you can raise a smart, well-rounded, intelligent young lady all by yourself; put yourself through college and graduate school; AND establish a successful career – surely you can run TWO more minutes!”  Yes, I was drenched in sweat and sucking up the last breath of air on the planet, but I did it.  This was my second personal record.

Week 6

I continued my training on the treadmill.  This week was similar to week 5 – various intervals on day 1 (jog/walk of 5 min/3 min/8 min/3 min/5 min) and day 2 (jog/walk of 10 min/3 min/10 min), and day 3 was a non-stop 25 minute run – whew whew AGAIN!

Wait, let me back up.  I assumed after running 20 minutes non-stop in week 5, the 3/5/8/10 minute intervals of this week would be easy. Umm…how about no!  I got full of myself, increased the speed too soon and those intervals had me gasping for air.  That’s ok though.  If I were not out of breath, I’d think something was wrong.  Ok, now about this 25 minute run…

This was the most “mentally” challenging day week I had on the program.  Between fear, doubt, and pure insanity, I tortured myself for an entire week leading up to the 25 minute run.  It’s funny now, but I wrote all about it here.  I finished week 6 a success and set my third personal record.

Week 7

I continued my training on the treadmill.  I wanted to run outside so bad, but the sidewalks were covered with snow.  I’d seen more experienced runners running in the street, but I didn’t feel comfortable with that.

By week 7, the intervals were over and I had to run 25 minutes non-stop.  Having one day of practice in week 6 prepared my mind for week 7.  I created a new playlist with fast paced, upbeat songs and I made sure the they would last the entire 25 minutes.  I covered the timer on the treadmill so I wouldn’t notice how much longer I had left,  set my stats on the machine, and handled my business.  Rain, sleet, or 30 inches of DC area snow, I was getting it in!

This is also when I began paying attention to my distance because it was all running from here on out.  This was the first week I ran 2 full miles non-stop and set my fourth personal record.

Week 8

Reluctantly, I continued my training on the treadmill.  This week’s requirement was to run 28 minutes non-stop.  I think this was my easiest transition of the entire program.  Increasing from 25 to 28 minutes was a matter of adding one song to my playlist and pushing through mentally.

Yes, I was tired.  Yes, my legs felt like noodles.  But quitting was not an option.  Every time I thought of having to report on Twitter and FaceBook that I quit, I convinced myself that it was only 3 more minutes…2 more minutes…1 more minute…until I was done.

By the end of week 8, I began paying attention to my distance AND speed.  This is when I noticed that I was running 2.28 miles in 35 minutes – a 15.35 minute/mile (including warm up and cool down) – very slow but improving each week.  I noted my speed because it’s important in a race.  However, for training purposes, I knew I was building endurance and strengthening my heart and lungs.  Simply completing the entire 28 minutes was exciting to me!

Week 9

I began week 9 on the treadmill – a week of running 30 minutes non-stop – but I was determined to experience running in the great outdoors.  I began researching running trails throughout the DMV and stalking following runners in my car to see if there were any non-snow covered running paths near my home.

After day 1, I felt a huge sense of accomplishment.  Me? Running 30 minutes?  Non-stop?  HA HA it’s still funny to me.  Day 2 was a repeat of the same.  On day 3, the weather was bright, sunny and in the mid-50s.  Nothing was going to keep me away from Mother Nature!  I used MapMyRun to find a running path near my home, noted the distance, laced up the Asics, and hit the pavement…literally.

It was hard at first because I took off too quickly and was had trouble finding a steady pace.  Side Note: IMO, this is a plus for the treadmill – a steady pace.  Because of my inexperience with running outside, I became winded too quickly and had to walk to catch my breath.  After the first mile, my pace begin to even out a little bit.  By then, I faced a new challenge – the wind.

Good lawd!  Carrying all this weight AND pushing against the wind? Jeeeeez-us!  I can’t say I overcame that challenge because shortly after, I was hit with another challenge – a hill.  So imagine me – my weight, inconsistent pace, the wind, a hill, out of breath and trying to run 30 minutes non-stop.  I probably looked like a maniac out there!

Man, I was spent!  The treadmill didn’t prepare me for this!  But I was more determined than EVER to finish.  In fact, I was so determined to finish, I pushed through the challenges and finished my first outdoor run of 2.8 miles in 37 minutes – a 13.21 minute/mile.  My furthest distance, fastest pace, and most recent personal record to date.

I have a few aches and pains in my knees and hips, but I’m still learning about the ways (e.g. stretching, strength training, proper nutrition, etc.) to improve my running and fitness level.

Lessons Learned:

• Get a professional fitting and buy proper running shoes immediately.
• Carbs give you energy, protein builds muscle, and water is essential.
• Most injuries can be prevented and/or treated by stretching and resting.
• Running is 75% mental. If you think you can do it, you will.  If not, well…
• Excuses are for the birds. You MAKE time for the things you REALLY want.
• Train outside as soon and as often as possible.
• Work at your own pace.
• Have fun!

I didn’t finish the C25K program with the ability to run a full 5k distance within 30 minutes, but I’ve come a loooong way from where I started.  With more training, persistence, and determination, I plan to run my first 5k within 30 minutes by this Fall.

Oh, and I lost 20 lbs too. Woot!

I saw this on anonymous fat girl’s blog and it cracked me up!  You HAVE to read it all the way to the end. Trust me, it’s worth it.

Dear Diary,
For my birthday this year, my Husband (the dear) purchased a week of personal training at the local health club for me.

Although I am still in great shape since being a high school football cheerleader 43 years ago, I decided it would be a good idea to go ahead and give it a try.

I called the club and made my reservations with a personal trainer named Christo, who identified himself as a 26-year-old aerobics instructor and model for athletic clothing and swim wear.

My husband seemed pleased with my enthusiasm to get started. The club encouraged me to keep a diary to chart my progress.
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MONDAY:
Started my day at 6:00 a.m. Tough to get out of bed, but found it was well worth it when I arrived at the health club to find Christo waiting for me. He is something of a Greek god – with blond hair, dancing eyes and a dazzling white smile. Woo Hoo!!

Christo gave me a tour and showed me the machines. I enjoyed watching the skillful way in which he conducted his aerobics class after my workout today.

Very inspiring!

Christo was encouraging as I did my sit-ups, although my gut was already aching from holding it in the whole time he was around. This is going to be a FANTASTIC week !!
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TUESDAY:
I drank a whole pot of coffee, but I finally made it out the door. Christo made me lie on my back and push a heavy iron bar into the air then he put weights on it! My legs were a little wobbly on the treadmill, but I made the full mile. His rewarding smile made it all worthwhile. I feel GREAT !! It’s a whole new life for me.
_______________________________
WEDNESDAY:
The only way I can brush my teeth is by laying the toothbrush on the counter and moving my mouth back and forth over it. I believe I have a hernia in both pectorals. Driving was OK as long as I didn’t try to steer or stop. I parked on top of a GEO in the club parking lot.

Christo was impatient with me, insisting that my screams bothered other club members. His voice is a little too perky for that early in the morning and when he scolds, he gets this nasally whine that is VERY annoying.

My chest hurt when I got on the treadmill, so Christo put me on the stair monster. Why the hell would anyone invent a machine to simulate an activity rendered obsolete by elevators? Christo told me it would help me get in shape and enjoy life. He said some other shit too.
_______________________________
THURSDAY:
Asshole was waiting for me with his vampire-like teeth exposed as his thin, cruel lips were pulled back in a full snarl. I couldn’t help being a half an hour late – it took me that long to tie my shoes.

He took me to work out with dumbbells. When he was not looking, I ran and hid in the restroom. He sent some skinny little bitch to find me.

Then, as punishment, he put me on the rowing machine — which I sank.
_________________________________
FRIDAY:
I hate that bastard Christo more than any human being has ever hated any other human being in the history of the world. Stupid, skinny, anemic, anorexic little aerobic instructor. If there was a part of my body I could move without unbearable pain, I would beat him with it.

Christo wanted me to work on my triceps. I don’t have any triceps! And if you don’t want dents in the floor, don’t hand me the damn barbells or anything that weighs more than a sandwich.

The treadmill flung me off and I landed on a health and nutrition teacher. Why couldn’t it have been someone softer, like the drama coach or the choir director?
__________________________
SATURDAY:
Satan left a message on my answering machine in his grating, shrilly voice wondering why I did not show up today. Just hearing his voice made me want to smash the machine with my planner; however, I lacked the strength to even use the TV remote and ended up catching eleven straight hours of the Weather Channel.
________________________________
SUNDAY:
I’m having the Church van pick me up for services today so I can go and thank GOD that this week is over. I will also pray that next year my husband will choose a gift for me that is fun — like a root canal or a hysterectomy. I still say if God had wanted me to bend over, he would have sprinkled the floor with diamonds!!!

BAAAAAA HAAAAAA HAAAAAAA I fell out laughing at this!  Hope you enjoyed it too. :-D

I just completed Week 9 Day 3 of C25K – the final day of the program – and I feel a HUGE sense of accomplishment!  Wanna know why?

1. Until 20 December 2009, I’d never run a day in my life (for pleasure).  I lived a pretty sedentary lifestyle with inconsistent fitness attempts here and there, but my exercise of choice was chewing. #dontjudgeme

2.  For Week 9 Day 3, I ran outside for the first time ever!  YES!!  The weather in DMV is perfect today – sunny and 50s – so I was determined to get some C25K time in the beautiful outdoors.  It was lov-er-ly!  The trees. The squirrels. The grass. And not so loverly.  Leaping over piles of snow and dog poop.  Oh lawd, and the wind!  The wind was no joke!  It is already difficult to carry my own body weight at a respectable speed, so trying to push myself against the wind was H-A-R-D.  Unfortunately, I had to slow down and take a few speed-walk breaks, but I kept pushing.  Once you run outdoors, you will never want to get back on the treadmill.  I’m sorry that I waited until the very end to run outside because I loved it!

3.  On the treadmill, my furthest distance was 2.3 miles (including warm up & cool down) in 35 minutes.  But outside, I ran 2.832 miles in 37 minutes (excluding warm up & cool down).  Did you hear what I said?  2.8 miles in 37 minutes, yo!!  That’s only 0.3 miles short of a 5k!  I could have kept going a little longer, but I had to go home before BG left and locked me out the house.  Ooooh, and guess what else?  2.8 miles in 37 minutes is a 13.21 min/mi.  I’m improving, yay!

4.  Last but not least, I’ve lost another -1.2 lbs this week.  After 11 weeks of C25K training (repeated a week and took one week off when I was sick), I’ve lost a total of -20.6 lbs!!  Let me say that again, I’ve lost TWENTY POINT SIX POUNDS!! *church faint*

I can’t believe it!  I’m an official graduate of the Couch-to-5k Running Plan, I can run 2.8 miles in 37 minutes, and I’m 20 lbs lighter.  A personal record indeed…and simply FAB-U-LOUS! :-)

My taxes are finally complete.  I’m going to meet with the accountant later today to review my paperwork.  From what he tells me, I only owe a few hundred dollars. Yippee!  Can you say FAFSA modification?!?

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I’ve decided that I’m not renewing my lease.  I moved here for the sole purpose of enrolling BG into one of the best public high schools on the east coast and my mission is complete.  The lease is up in May and BG graduates in June.  Now I want to move back into my house.  But several things need to shake loose before it can work. I’ll share those details in another post.

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The first leg of our spring break plans are finalized, booked, and paid for!  Yayah!  During this trip, I hope to meet one of my favorite bloggers too. :-)

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BG and I are going on our final college tour this weekend.  By the end of this month, we will decide where she’s going to school.  I still can’t believe my one and only baby will be leaving me in about 6 months.  Some days I’m sad. Some days I’m excited.  I guess that’s to be expected from a single mom who’s been responsible for another human being for all of her adult life.

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Which reminds me, I need to get busy on our summer vacation AKA her graduation gift AKA her birthday gift plans.  For our first trip to Europe, especially if we go by ourselves, I’ve decided I only want to stay for one week.  Maybe 3 full days in Paris and 3 full days in London.  Based on preliminary research, 2 round trip tix and a 4 star hotel in both cities will run me about $3,500 USD and I estimate another $1,500 USD for vacation expenses.  I will get serious about making these plans after we decide where she’s going to school.

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I feel myself approaching that pivotal stage where I usually quit whatever health & fitness routine I’m on at the moment.  The timing is about right, 10-12 weeks.  As usual, my motivation is waning and I’m not SEEING the expected results, so I dread the effort it takes to continue.  But I’m determined to overcome this.  I will break this bad habit.  I will NOT quit this time.  I just wanted to openly acknowledge the feeling is present.

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The scale is still moving in the right direction (down!) and my clothes are fitting differently (too big!), so why am I not satisfied? *shrug*  I’ve lost nearly 20 lbs, I eat fairly well every single day, and I work out consistently every single week.  I’m ready to SEE a noticeable difference.  *pout*

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I’ve been tracking my nutrition everyday, but I have not read my prayer journal at all this week. :-(  That’s probably why I’m losing motivation.  I’ve taken my eyes off the source.

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I survived 2 days of meetings without indulging in junk food.  Although I had lunch out twice and dinner out once (work travel), I ate sensibly.

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I completed Week 9 Day 2 of the c25k running plan on Thursday and I have one more day of the program left.  When I finish, I will share my experience in a post of its own. But I just want to say this – I can’t believe how far I’ve come!

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Now that I’m running longer, my knees and right hip are starting to hurt (while running).  Also, the muscle above my left shin feels sore and my left foot feels tingly (after running).  Dang, when I read those sentences again, I sound like an old geriatric patient. LOL!

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Here are two inspirational quotes that gave me the extra oomph to keep going when I felt like quitting this week.

“If you run, you are a runner. It doesn’t matter how fast or how far. It doesn’t matter if today is your first day or if you’ve been running for twenty years. There is no test to pass, no license to earn, no membership card to get. You just run.” –John Bingham

“The ultimate measure of a person is not where they stand in moments of comfort and convenience, but where they stand in times of challenge and controversy.”  -Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

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Well let me go treat my arthritis aches and pains.  I hope you have a FABULOUS weekend!

HEALTHY

I’m about 2.5 months into my health & fitness journey and I think I’ve developed a few intuitive habits.  So I’m going to scale back the goal setting & reporting from weekly to monthly, beginning with March.  If I begin to slip or find that I’m more successful with more specific details, I will revert back to weekly goals.  For now, here are my plans for March:

Fitness:

• Complete Week 9 of C25K – the FINAL week consisting of three 30 minute runs.  I am sooo excited about this.  Not only have I stuck with the program, I’m super excited about my progress to date.
• After completing the C25K program, I will continue running at least 3 days per week for a minimum of 30 minutes.  My primary focus will be to improve my distance and speed.  By the Fall, I’d like to run a 5k.
• Increase my workouts from 3 days to 5 days per week by incorporating 2 days of strength training.  The running gives me medium to high intensity cardio exercise, but I need something else to work on other areas of my body.  My fitness center has weight machines, so I may search for a structured online program (similar to C25K) and do it by myself or I may decide to hire a personal trainer.
• My annual physical has been rescheduled to mid-March.  Remember that was one of my motivation milestones.  I’m nervous about this appointment.  The results will either make me very, very happy or scared enough to kick me into full throttle fitness.

Nutrition:

• ALWAYS eat breakfast, take iron supplement, and incorporate lots of fruits, veggies, and water into my daily diet.
• Continue creating weekly meal plans.  I will share them on the blog if I run across something new and interesting.
• Prepare all meals at home with the option of 2-3 per month outside the home if there is a special occasion or work related function.
• Introduce at least 2 new healthy foods to my diet.  This will not be hard because my diet is very limited.  I have a list of new foods I want to try (steel oats, zucchini, greek yogurt, eggplant, asparagus, squash, etc.).  The challenge is finding meals that I can prepare and would want to repeat often.

Weigh-In:

• Lose -1.2 lbs during the first week of March.  Strange number, huh?  I want to complete the the C25K Running Plan with a total weight loss of at least -20 lbs.
• Lose a minimum of -1 lb in each subsequent week.  On my last weigh-in for the month, which is March 27 and the start of spring break, I want a total weight loss of at least -25 lbs.

Accountability:

• Include God in my plans, read/write in my prayer journal at least 3x per week
• Track my nutrition and exercise daily using SparkPeople
• Report updates (failures & success) on Twitter, FB, and/or this blog

WEALTHY

My financial behavior is pretty intuitive so it isn’t necessary to track anything weekly OR monthly.  However, it may be fun to share with you how I plan to spend money in March.

• Taxes: I plan to have my taxes filed and refunded (practicing positive thinking, work with me here) by the end of the month.  I also need to schedule a follow up with my accountant to review tax plans for 2010 just to make sure I’m still on track.
• Vacation: Use tax refund (assuming there will be one) to have fun and splurge during spring break, March 27 – April 3.  If we don’t take a week long vacation, we may visit ATL or Miami for an extended weekend.
• Gifts: One of my close friends has a birthday coming up.  Not sure what’s in store, but I know whatever it is will require a gift or a girl’s night out.  If the latter, a new outfit may be on the horizon to go with my new shoes.
• Want List: My ‘want list’ has been growing since January and I think it’s about time I treat myself.  I ‘want’ a Wii and Wii Fit Plus.  I ‘want’ a KitchenAid blender.  I ‘want’ a pair of princess cut 1/4 carat diamond earrings.  And I ‘want’ a new bedroom set.  At least one of these things will be marked off my ‘want’ list by the end of March.
• Investments: As usual, continue bi-weekly contributions to my 401k, IRA, non-retirement, BG’s 529, and regular savings account.  By the end of March, I should meet 25% of my annual financial goals.

What are your goals and aspirations for March?