Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Ow! My abs!

Last night I went for a run...it was 30 degrees and a slight breeze...I missed that. I used to love running when it was slightly chilly out because it reminded me of being a kid and playing outside in the snow. When I was done with my 3 mile run, I got home and realized how cold my core was. Now after doing yoga on Monday and running in the cold on Tuesday, I didn't realize how sore my core could be.

After taking a hot shower and warming up...I turned into my nesting self and sat (well it was more stretched out than sitting) on the couch to knit. That was my mistake. When I went to get up, my entire core was sore and achy. I guess a tough Monday morning workout on my core, followed by a run (which does use the core a bit) in the cold = soreness.

This morning it's much better, and I'm thinking about going for another run after work tonight versus a DVD...but we'll see how the core feels.

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Yoga IS a workout

Whoever says that yoga isn't a workout obviously has never gone to a vinyasa class. I am so sore today! I miss this sore feeling. I'm looking forward to going to class again on Friday and I even purchased a few classes yesterday to motivate me to go at least once a week for the next month or two. I am not a fan of going to classes in January (or to the gym in January) with all the "resolution" people...I tend to workout at home for the month.

The short of this is, I'm sore. My arms, my shoulder blades, my shoulders, my obliques...all sore. After work today I plan on going for a run so I'll add legs being sore tomorrow to my list.

In other news...BC side effect updates. I'm emotional. It's difficult to have mood swings in my career since I need to remain level and calm. I did the best I could last night. I find that I get irritable very easily and need to calm myself down. That's another reason I opted to go back to yoga in a studio instead of just at home. I need to remain centered. Physical side effects have not come back in terms of the pain I felt on Thursday...but I'm wondering how much of that was just over-indulgence that I assumed was related to coming off the pill. Regardless, it hasn't come back yet. My face however, that's an entire different story. I have the lovely under the skin bumps...so my face isn't red, it's just bumpy. I'm making sure that I clean it well and I think I'm going to be trying all sorts of new products to see what works...but yes...skin is not very happy at the moment.

Overall though, I'm really positive and happy...so long as I don't get irritated :)

Monday, November 26, 2012

Return to yoga

After a weekend full of wonderful times, food and wine...and luckily a run on Thanksgiving, it was time to detox a bit today. Oh and watching this video helped inspire me too:


So I went to my favorite yoga studio TruHarmony Yoga for some morning flow. Jenny was the instructor and Hillary was working the front desk, and then there was me. I have to admit that was a wonderful class this morning. Jenny was trying to give both Hillary and me what we wanted which was the total opposite of each other. I wanted to ease back into the hot vinyasa class and Hillary wanted a tough vinyasa flow...we settled in the middle.

I feel great and I need to remember how great I feel after a practice in a class. I love practicing yoga and do it on my own frequently, but there's something about doing it in a studio (especially a heated studio) that just pushes me farther.

My goal for the rest of this week (birthday week at that) is to incorporate yoga or meditation into my day all week...the days that I run I will do meditation or short yoga practice...and the days I do not run I will either go to the studio or do a DVD of yoga. I think that is a great birthday gift to myself.

Thursday, November 22, 2012

Giving thanks

Happy Thanksgiving everyone. We left the city last night and drove 6 hours northeast to theUP of Michigan. I'm thankful we are able to do that and spend time with my in-laws. I am also thankful that my husband, sil and I went for a run this morning. We followed the c25K program since I am on week 8...even if I have run 2 5ks already. I want to run again tomorrow but we shall see.

I also experienced my first mood swings, hot flashes, pain in my side, and pimple breakout today from coming off the pill. I totally jinxed myself too...but dealing and honestly thankful that I decided to stop my pill. Yes my timing sucked but it needed to be done. I just thought I would share. Day 11/12 of my cycle since coming off the pill and my body is reacting. Add too much food and booze to the mix...and you get me right now.

Another experience that I will look back on and say, "well I made it through that..."

So many other things that I am thankful for...but writing this entry on my phone is slow :)

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

More energy, now with less hormones!

I posted recently that I had made a decision to come off of the pill. I realize it has hardly been anytime at all (less than 2 weeks) but I already feel different, in a good way. I have so much energy.

This morning when I was thinking about it I realized this spike came in the past 2 weeks. To be fair, I have increased my vitamins and have been taking them every day, but I started that when I was sick 3 weeks ago so I think it's coming off of the pill that has a greater effect on me.

I think that's why I was so inspired to run the race on Sunday and why I just want to be moving around.

I did a google search and found this blog entry that I felt was very relevant. I want to start following her blog because I feel as though I can relate and learn a lot. Besides that though, finally a positive experience about coming off of the pill.

This of course gets me into conspiracy theory mode regarding the pharmaceutical company wanting us to be on pills and they have the money so they control the internet so it's harder to find more the things that say, "coming off of pills is good for you". Again, conspiracy theory here.

I realize that there may be some downsides to coming off the pill after 17/18 years, but if having more energy is a side-effect, I'm all for it!

I'm curious as to what else may happen...but the positive things, I'm going to post. Speaking of positive, I do feel more positive...not super emotional (yet). Hopefully my experience will be really positive and give my conspiracy theory even more weight :)

Sunday, November 18, 2012

5k, take 2

After my 5k last week, I wanted a do over. I decided to run one of my favorite 5k runs...the Lincolnwood Turkey Trot. This year I did it on my own, well the running part. My husband came and was my personal photographer :) I wore a turkey hat and just had a bunch of fun.

This time, I ran the entire race...and had a 10:14 pace. I'm getting so much closer to where I used to run at. That made me happy, really happy.

As is tradition, post race was breakfast at Pauline's. The waitress said I was spoiled because I got everything I wanted. Corned beef hash, basted eggs, and a banana pancake...there was also raisin toast involved...way too much food, but super yum.

I am happy...yay running!

Friday, November 16, 2012

C25K - week 7

Well we are now into all running mode. 5 minute warm up and cool down, but then just running. This week is 25 minutes, next week 28 and then 30.

After last weekend race I was looking forward to running better...and yesterday was that day. I did my scheduled workout of 25 minutes of running, and after my cool down I picked my dog up from daycare and he wanted to run! So we ran together for another 5 minutes or so.

I'm debating about running a race on Sunday. I want to makeup for my poor performance last weekend, and this is my favorite race that I've done almost every year since 2005. I think I missed one or two years in there, but usually I'm there.

In addition to increasing my running, I've increased my healthy eating and decreased my bad habits. It's amazing the correlation between doing good things for yourself. The more I run and workout, the more I want to be healthier in general, and the easier it seems to be...now to keep it going.

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Training with Nike on Soldier Field

I'm going to take a break from my running posts to give you some stories and images from last night.

A friend of mine is a Nike Ambassador and she let me know about this event last night. "NTC at Soldier Field" with a "Train with Us" theme. It was a free event that stated you were going to workout on Soldier Field and then there would be a fashion show afterwards.

I quickly signed up for the event and even though I have been fighting being sick for over a week, I knew I was going to go to this. My warm-up was walking from the el to the stadium, a good mile and a half. Then finding gate 0 was difficult for me as well as the 10 other women I found circling the stadium. I was lucky enough to meet this lovely woman (Clarissa you are awesome) and we stuck together until the workout.

After circling the stadium, we found the entrance and checked in. We got there about 6:20, 5 minutes after things opened up. I love a free t-shirt, and a good free t-shirt (dri-fit) makes me even happier. What was a bit odd was waiting around for 45 minutes in the concourse area...with the wind coming in making it colder (I'd say high 30s without the wind, low 30s with). Clarissa and I walked around a bit, and she knew some people there but I was solo.

I got really excited to see WGN's Frank Holland, but didn't want to be "that girl" who asked for his photo...but then the people who knew Clarissa, the more I think about it, looked familiar too...so maybe I just don't know my Chicago celebs very well.

Fast forward to 7pm when we were able to run onto the field...with a fog machine going! Who was in front of me running? You guessed it, Mr. Frank Holland (I swear I was not stalking you).

 (Here we are about to run onto the field) 
(Running onto the field)

 (Getting the jumbo-tron and Frank Holland in a picture with me)


 After getting onto the field we were working out. A warm up, lots of plyo, and fast feet. It was difficult to hear and see from where I was, and there were a bunch of people around me who were not working up, just taking up space on the field...and I admit there were a few moments that I stopped working out to take some of these pictures, but overall I liked the workout. I felt good and no longer sick.

(Brittney Payton was our MC)

 (On the 30 yard line)
 (Where I was working out)
(Post workout "glow")


(Post workout glow, showing my new free t-shirt off)

After the workout we had a surprise guest...Earl Bennett! #80 for the Chicago Bears came out and chatted with us.





We were then asked to leave the field and head up to the United Club for the fashion show. I was ready to go so I tried to find my way out. Funny thing was, they were not expecting people wanting to leave (there was free food and booze, I can understand why). So I asked for help and got multiple directions. Eventually I went down the elevator and when it opened I was in a fancy suite area! I asked the security lady for help and she thought I was "so cute" since I really didn't want to get into trouble. Have you ever been into the hidden areas of Soldier Field? It's pretty freaking awesome and posh.

I was directed to go through a bunch of different doorways and eventually I'd be back at gear check. I did as I was told and ran into some people who looked like VIPs and just smiled and said hello. I really could have played around back there, but the last thing I wanted was to get in trouble and get banned from Soldier Field or something crazy...so I found my way back to gear check and was on my way.

This was a really awesome event and I feel really lucky to have been a part of it. There must have been only 150-200 people max. I'm really lucky to not only live in a city as awesome as Chicago, but to be able to participate in these types of events and actually participate in them is amazing.

Going solo reminded me that I'm able to do pretty much anything...and that every once and a while you need to go at something solo...you can meet some really interesting people that way, and I got that feeling of independence that feels really great.

(I am a very happy lady)

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

First real 5k of 2012

I'm a bit late posting this, but I did run a 5k this past weekend. Mostly ran. I've been sick since last week so I wasn't even sure if I was going to run. I was feeling better on Saturday morning so my husband and I went out to the suburbs for this race. The problem was it was colder in the suburbs, and we had to wait over an hour since they got a late start. By the time we started running, I was feeling sick again.

We went off and after a mile and a half or so, I needed to walk. I wasn't able to breath anymore so we walked for 1-2 minutes and ran again. That happened another 2 times and I was beating myself up for not being able to run the entire race. My husband is amazing and kept reminding me to get out of my head...I was sick. Then we found out we only had a half mile to go...that's all we needed to run the rest of the way.

My husband grabbed my hand and we increased our pace to the finish line. We finished in 32 minutes...even with the walking. Not bad for a sick return to racing...now to keep it up!

Monday, November 5, 2012

C25K - week 5 day 3

I am all over the place with this C25K program. I could have jumped ahead to week 6 but I really wanted the 20 minute run today (no intervals) and I'm really glad I did it. I was slow (10:47/mile) but it didn't matter, I did it. I haven't run 20 minutes without a walk break in a long time...like I think 2011...mind you I ran a half marathon about a year ago, but still.

I'm excited to be running again and that was the main reason I did this C25K program, to find my passion with running again! I will admit that my shins started to be sore and I think I need to invest in a new pair of shoes, but overall it was great. My 5k is this weekend and even though I may end up walking a bit of it, I'm going to be in much better shape for it than I thought.

Even after my 5k this weekend I think I'm going to finish out the C25K program because it's motivating. I like hearing the little computer voice tell me good things. I think I might even do the 10k program since, well, I've got my mojo back baby, yeah!

Sunday, November 4, 2012

Grown up decisions and fears - female perspective

Warning to those that follow this blog, I'm going to be sharing some personal information and potentially some graphic girl stuff that you may not want to read. Also, please don't make assumptions about other decisions that may or may not be happening in my life because of what I'm about to talk about.

With that being said...after 17/18 years (ugh is it really that long) I have decided to come off of the birth control pill. In about a week. It has been a decision that my husband and I have discussed and I'm just ready to be off of it.

When you take a medication for more than half of your life though, I'm finding that there is some separation anxiety. I mean I was a teenager when I started all those years ago. I don't even remember what my cycle was like back then. I went on it to help regulate and because, well, I was a responsible teenager to a point.

I've been reading all sorts of blogs and message boards about how women adjust to going off of the pill and I"m nervous, I'm not going to lie. Initially I was nervous about the change in routine, but now I"m nervous about becoming an emotional freak of nature (more so than I already am).

So while I won't share all of the details on here, I think it's important that there be as much information out there as possible for other women going through this situation. You are not alone. It's scary and weird and exciting and nerve wracking and all of it...but it is a decision that I have made, and I'm excited about it. I also figure if I really miss taking a pill at night, I'll just take a vitamin.

There is a part of me though that can't believe I'm a grown up who is making a decision like this...I also can't believe I have been on that medication for more of my life than I was not on it...and I'm not a big fan of medication!