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Keeping Up With The Boys
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Other people may not have high expectations of me, but I have high expectations for myself. ~ Shannon Miller
Well hello everyone! I’m Karen Rani of Karen Sugarpants and Swank Web Style, and I’m here as part of the new Catch Your Breath Team! I’m here to talk to you about nutrition and exercise.
If you’d asked me 6 months ago to write about this topic, I would have laughed in your face and called you crazy.
It is the sort of topic that a) I knew nothing about 6 months ago; and b) sounds completely boring. It doesn’t have to be, I promise.
I’ve never been an athlete and I certainly have had my fair share of time where I felt being a pregnant woman/nursing mother was a license to eat. I’ve tried every diet under the sun, including Atkins, Weight Watchers, South Beach, and have even gone so far as to starve myself for several months, stifling hunger pangs with high amounts of coffee. p.s. None of those things work.
I’ve been 120 pounds, 220 pounds and everything in between.
Like a lot of moms, my weight has been up and down for years. It’s exhausting. It’s stupid. It’s frustrating. There simply is no other way to get healthy than to eat sensibly and be active.
So in December 2007, I sent a wacky email to my gym and pleaded with them to help me get back on track. It took them a few weeks, but they got things under control and I met my trainer, Master Homie G.
Now that introductions are out of the way, I invite you to share my journey. With that, I offer you a chance to learn about nutrition, exercise, weight loss, weight training from the eyes of a working mother of two boys. Oh, and one more thing:
As of this morning, I am officially training for a marathon relay with 4 teammates. Each of us will run 8 km (almost 5 miles) and the proceeds will benefit the Thames Valley Children’s Centre.
I started running on the treadmill two weeks ago. I started by walking 2 minutes, running for 2, and repeating this for 30 minutes. Now I’m up to 4 minutes of running at a time. Those 4 minutes are spent hitching up my exercise pants that are now too big for me. I had visions of running along on the treadmill and losing my drawers, tripping up and smashing my face open.
To answer some common questions:
Do I have shin splints? Yes. And ouch. Icing them with bags of frozen peas works. They aren’t that painful though.
Do my knees hurt? Not really but I’ve been weight training since January so it’s likely they are stronger then when I was not active.
Do I like it? I love it. The joy of accomplishment, the strength resonating through my body, (and let’s not forget the fact my clothes are falling off) are all making me crave more time on the treadmill.
There are 49 days until race day.
I am scared out of my ever loving mind.
What if I can’t finish? What if I don’t train hard enough? What if I let down my team? What if I get hurt? What if I fall flat on my face on concrete and permanently damage this overwhelming beauty? Okay that last one was a crock.
Thursday night, I met a woman at the gym. She started by running 1 minute at a time back in January. 1 minute felt like a lot then. Now? She’s up to 30 minutes at a time. That quieted my own self-doubt.
“30 Minutes” will be on our team. So will “Master Homie G” and another staff trainer. I SO do not want to be The Weakest Link, Goodbye!
So just like the ups and downs of my weight over the years, my mind is going like a roller coaster between the love of running and the fear of failure. I have to resign to the fact that I simply have to trust myself on this path.
Every athlete has doubts. Elite runners in particular are insecure people. You need someone to affirm that what you are doing is right. ~ Lynn Jennings
Is there anything you’re curious about? Anything you want to see in this space?
March 24th, 2008 at 8:48 am
[…] But that is not my big announcement. You’ll have to go over there to find out what the hell I just did that is going to transform my body from lazy, carb-eatin’ couch potat…. […]
March 24th, 2008 at 8:57 am
You have inspired me to get off my bum and outside today and walk.
March 24th, 2008 at 9:24 am
Holy crap. A MARATHON?
I’m bowing down to you and your awesomeness. Wow.
March 24th, 2008 at 9:42 am
wow! i’m proud of you. and inspired! my arse is too big.
March 24th, 2008 at 10:09 am
Wow, what a challenge! I have been up and down with my weight over the years and trying to walk and exercise to keep it off is hard for me to keep focused on. I will follow you here nad use it as inspiration to keep working at it.
March 24th, 2008 at 11:24 am
you are amazing!
March 24th, 2008 at 11:54 am
I am so proud of you!! You will do great, think positive and NO negative thoughts!! LoL
March 24th, 2008 at 12:33 pm
I am so proud of you!!! I wish I had it in me to do what your doing. Good luck!
March 24th, 2008 at 1:23 pm
A marathon? Holy shit, girl. Don’t you make me look bad enough already?
March 24th, 2008 at 3:20 pm
WOW!! I am so impressed!
March 24th, 2008 at 3:20 pm
Stacy - It feels so good when you keep at it. Good luck to you!
Miss Britt - I know. Holy crap indeed.
Crys - Thanks doll!
Kim - I’ve just taken it one day at a time. So can you. Start with a 30 minute walk around your neighbourhood. That is how I started!
Ali - so are YOU! Thanks for coming by!
Kate - No negative thoughts…ha! It’s hard, but I will try. I’m the worst for self-doubt!
Shannon - You do! Take the dog around the block twice or more a day!
Karl - You could start walking daily. Do it!
Kimberly - Thanks sweetie! (I’m scared though!)
March 24th, 2008 at 3:26 pm
Bravo, lady. I’m going to be looking to you for inspiration after this pregnancy. I’m going to need it!
March 24th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
Karen, you are a braver woman than I!
You are off to a wonderful start — I am looking forward to reading about your journey, your training and your run.
Congratulations!
March 24th, 2008 at 3:46 pm
Karen,
I am so proud of you for taking on this challenge.
Now I want you run this race, and have your pants fall down just as your cross your finish line! with photos, ofcourse.
March 24th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
Wow keep up the good work.
March 24th, 2008 at 3:55 pm
I have no doubts you will be amazing during the marathon!!! Keep it up, proud of you missy and congrats on your first entry! *Smooches*
~Your, like, BFF~
March 24th, 2008 at 4:00 pm
Woooo! I couldn’t have a better partner here! Karen, I am SO proud of you and what you’re doing, and I am THRILLED that you’ll be taking so many of us around the block with you, and OMG. Just OMG.
March 24th, 2008 at 4:44 pm
You know, I started something similar at just about the same time. I’m doing cardio rehab, which is an hour of exercise, an hour of yoga and meditation (stress reduction) and an hour of nutrition once a week. I started barely able to do the exercise bike and treadmill. Now I can do the elliptical for 30 minutes at the third level. It’s amazing to me how much strength I got back, and how much I’m able to do without falling apart.
I know you can do this Karen. If I can, literally ANYONE can, and that totally includes you!
Good luck.
March 24th, 2008 at 5:15 pm
I love it! You can so totally do this. I’m so proud of you. I’ll be training with you from here, ‘k? Count me in as a partner. I’ll run with you from WAY THE HELL over here. You’ll totally kick my ass.
March 24th, 2008 at 9:17 pm
Catherine - Well I’ll be here for you sweetie!
Donna - you have no idea what an inspiration you are to me. Your emails have been starred and read several times! xo
Debra - But I just bought the next size down in pants! I’ll probably have to buy more before the race the way the inches are flying off with running though so you might get your wish if I don’t get time to shop!
Poppa (that’s my Father-in-law) - Thanks! Your support is awesome!
Sassy - you are so wonderful. Your encouragement always keeps me going. xoxo
Karen - I’m super stoked about working with you too, as you know. Thanks for all your help in getting started and for cheering me on too!
Margalit - WOW! Good for you! That is quite a journey and I know the challenges you face must be difficult. Keep up the good work!
Leslie - You’d better cuz you KNOW I’ll kick your butt!
March 24th, 2008 at 9:45 pm
Keep talking. You might even inspire ME to do something about my weight.
I am so proud of you!
March 25th, 2008 at 12:07 am
Rock on!!! A marathon is on my list of things to do before I die. When I started training for one a couple of years ago - the doctor said my knees wouldn’t hold up and to stop training. I’m still having knee trouble, so I’m a bit envious of those that CAN… Good luck. I’ll be cheering you on from Physical Therapy…
March 25th, 2008 at 8:00 am
You’ll do fine in that relay. I’ve been running since I was 15 and there are still days where I have to just think “one foot in front of the other and keep moving.” You can always slow down if you feel overwhelmed.
I haven’t done a marathon yet, but if Oprah could take up running in a short period of time and run a marathon before she turned 40, I could probably manage it. I’ve got a year to go.
Amy
www.sofiabean.com
March 25th, 2008 at 9:39 am
Is there anything that you can’t do?? Seriously, this is totally awesome. I doubt that you will be the weakest link. You are awesome in everything you do.
March 25th, 2008 at 9:41 am
so I totally typed in the wrong address…I’m SO silly!!!
March 25th, 2008 at 9:48 am
49 Days, 49 Million Fears: Running a Marathon…
As of this morning, I am officially training for a marathon relay with 4 teammates. Each of us will run 8 km (almost 5 miles) and the proceeds will benefit the Thames Valley Children’s Centre.
I started running on the treadmill two weeks ago….
March 25th, 2008 at 11:22 am
Feeling like a lazy slug, but darn proud of you!
March 26th, 2008 at 12:54 am
Congrats, karen! You go girl. I’ll be cheering you on. I’ve never been a runner - something about all that movement just tires me out. I like more sedentary activities, like sleeping. Oh, and blogging.
March 26th, 2008 at 7:08 am
Suebob - thank you!
HecticMom - just keep listening to your body, as I learned in the last couple of days.
AmyE - great advice…thank you so much.
April - that’s kind. After last night (which I blogged on my personal site), I gotta say I feel really hopeful about it.
Erin - thanks darlin’!
Marsha - you’re hilarious. I like those things too.
March 26th, 2008 at 10:11 am
Ignore the self doubt. You’re going to do great! I’m so proud of you!!!
March 27th, 2008 at 12:24 pm
I so very very impressed!
You can help me by showing us how to fit exercise into an already over-scheduled day. Between work, kids, home, and rare sleep I barely have time to dance around the kitchen let alone take a walk!
March 31st, 2008 at 7:29 am
[…] week I announced to the world (okay, just you and you, but still, you are my world, baby) that I would be running a relay marathon May 11th. Hey! That’s Mother’s Day! Forget lying in bed and expecting bacon and eggs from your […]
April 7th, 2008 at 7:10 am
[…] happened for the rest of the run was kind of interesting. I’m gearing up for that 8K (5 miles) relay and I’m up to running 5K (3.1 miles) at a time right now. But because this gym rat was […]
April 17th, 2008 at 10:45 pm
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May 12th, 2008 at 7:13 am
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