Actually, it isn't so much balancing as it is a precarious act of ineffective multitasking.
School at the kitchen table:
Getting a water spigot in the greenhouse and transplanting broccoli into bigger pots:
Trying the couch-to-5K program (please ignore my ‘sturdy’ cankles and notice my whomping bruise from the jerk-rooster):
It’s cold and blustery out there, we’re making bean soup in the crockpot and figuring out what to watch for movie night. How’s your Friday going?
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It isn't so much balancing as it is a precarious act of ineffective multitasking.
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Hubby and I just finished the Couch to 5K program so that we could run in the American Brain Tumor Association Run/Walk in support of our Pastor’s son that died from a brain tumor several years ago. It was AWESOME!!! I really liked the program…hope you do, too!
I think it’ll be good for me if I can stay consistent. I don’t really have any desire to run a marathon, but I like the start slow/work up to more approach, so I’m not crying and unable to walk the next day. Here’s hoping!
I used to have those shoes!
When I decided to become a runner in January, I started with the Couch to 5k. Definitely recommend. Stick with it for at least four weeks–it takes a while to get over the “hump” and believe, mentally, that you can do it. But you can. It’s amazing how much the brain controls what the body thinks it’s capable of! (Now I’m running 10k, participating in races every other week, and signed up for the Philadelphia half marathon, whew!)
It’s too hot for soup here, but bean soup sounds reallllly good!
I’m always so happy with Saucony (sp?) shoes, they’re comfy!
Sweet, thank you – I really hope I can stay with it. My husband’s going to work with me on some upper body stuff (light, I’m such a wimp). Can’t believe you’re going to run a 10K! I was so pleased I didn’t die after two days of the 60 second/90 second jog/walk.
p.s. are you back? Last I checked you were on a bloggy break… going to look…
I had to switch to other running shoes because my feet pronate, and “neutral” shoes like Saucony were giving me calf soreness. :-/
I remember that feeling–60 seconds of running felt like inches from death. But trust me, in a few weeks you will laugh at that. It’s amazing how quickly your body adapts. It’s just that most people don’t stick with it through the “I’m going to die” phase long enough to experience the “I’m actually doing this! This feels awesome!” phase. Not that it ever stops being hard work, but it’s good hard work, feeling your muscles working, feeling strong….
I need to get back to upper body, too. My husband is a “coach” for the company that products P90X and others, and I did several of their programs last year. (Again, once I determined to stick to it, I was amazed what I was capable of. I am no athlete.) I actually had muscles in my arms instead of limp strings!
I’m not back just yet, but I’m going to write a post for Monday. I’m rather used to not posting now, so I’m not sure how quickly I’ll get the groove back.
Oh my feet do too! Is that why I’ve got such sore calf muscles? I thought that was just par for the (running) course. My friend went in to some… sports? store? and had an evaluation done on her run and then they helped her get the right shoes and orthotics she needed. Maybe I ought to do that if I’m going to stick with this (which I plan on doing).
You sound like a machine! I think P90X would kill me dead at this point. I did one day of Jillian Michaels and couldn’t walk for 4 and a half days. I felt like I had been run over by a truck.
Well, yeah, you’ll have muscle soreness from the new exercise, too. That shouldn’t last more than a week or so, though. Mine was a constant, chronic pain that lasted long after the usual new-exercise soreness wore off. I now use Brooks Adrenaline shoes and love them. If you’re planning to be serious about running, definitely find a running specialty store (not just a sporting goods general store). They should be able to evaluate your gait and determine what style shoe is best for your feet. I don’t have any pain anymore now that I’m in a shoe that keeps my feet straighter.
Ha, I’ve never done Jillian, but I’ve heard the same thing from everyone I know who’s tried it!
I am definitely no machine–just a normal, everyday, non-athletic-my-entire-life mom who was sick of being out of shape. :) I started with Rev Abs, which is a milder Beachbody program. I could not have done Insanity (Asylum) and P90X after that if I hadn’t started with Rev Abs. It’s just like I said with the running: If you determine to see it through, even when it feels impossible, after a few weeks you will be amazed at what your body is able to do. I am a total wimp, but I was doing all sorts of things I never would have thought possible. That’s what gave me the mental toughness to know I could do running, because I had learned with each program that I was capable of way more than I thought.
This is what I always tell people: Go until you feel uncomfortable, and then keep going some more. Don’t stop right when you get uncomfortable, because you *are* capable of lasting just that little bit longer, and if you do, it’ll get easier each time you do it. I’m living proof!
(Sorry, I’m writing books here. It’s just something I’m very passionate about these days.)
Couch to 5K definitely worked for me. The first day, I thought I might DIE if I had to jog for 60! SECONDS!
I wasn’t done, silly computer.
By the last day, I was running 30 minutes straight. It was like a miracle, and it taught me too how powerful are brains are in convincing us we can or can’t do something. Unfortunately I allowed myself to remain scared and didn’t ever sign up for a 5K, but the program did work.
Even after I went months and months (years?) without running at all, I was able to run 1 mile straight when I started up again.
Oh I didn’t know you did it! This is so great to hear from everyone who has done it, I wasn’t even going to share because I’m so inconsistent I was afraid I’d drop out after the first week. I’m so happy to find I’m not as weak as I thought and can do the first week stuff without completely dying. Good to know.
BTW, even if you’re a little inconsistent, keep with it. I was pretty good for the 5k program, but I have managed to stretch the 10k program out to incredible lengths. But, I still jump back in when I can, and I don’t lose enough ground to have to start over, so that’s encouraging. I figure I’ll finish it just in time to start my half marathon training in August! ;)
Good to know, my perfectionism is often a stumbling block. If I can’t do it perfectly I don’t want to do it at all (see also: housekeeping). I will try to give myself a break if I fall off the wagon. I am already surprised at how much it seems to help with my energy levels.
I’m the same way. Not sticking to a program to the letter makes me feel like I’m not doing it right. But there are just times where it doesn’t work out, and I’ve eventually realized I’d much rather be doing it slowly than not at all. Think of the program as a recommendation rather than a rule. :)
Running is a huge energy booster and anti-depressant for me. I haven’t researched it, but I have a theory that running triggers a different level of endorphins than other types of exercise, because it lifts me so much higher than the other stuff I’ve done.
We’re in the middle of beautiful May weather, chilly at night, warm in the day, just perfect. Only we really could use rain, things are drying out quickly. With the Indy 500 coming up, we’ll probably get rain that whole weekend–after a month of perfect weather. :) We did homemade pizza for supper, we’ve started having pizza Fridays. (Should I admit I quit the Couch to 5K program? I did pull out my bike for the first time in 3 years and I’ve started biking in the evenings all by myself. I LOVE it, love being outside, love the solitude, love getting calories burned while enjoying myself…so that is working for me. Keep up the great work on the C25K, I admire all who do it!)
I can’t wait for our evenings to get nice – they still plunge into the 40s or below – because I love our family bike rides. I have the cutest mom-bike with a big fat seat (for my big, fat…ha ha). I should get a basket for it.
I got my hubby to start C25K a few weeks ago. I hate hate running but might try it if we ever get a treadmill. We went to a rendezvous at the fort in Ogden for my daughter’s school to celebrate what they’ve learned this year. It was fun! Then I let the kids stay up late and make brownies in a mug while I read to them part of what Moroni wrote after the battle at Cumorah. Now I’m researching (and loosing my mind because I’m so overwhelmed) what I want to do for my 4 year old for preschool this fall. It’ll be my first attempt at homeschooling and I’m trying not to make too much out of it but there’s so much fun stuff online.. and I’m so not the type of person that can understand all of this.
Also, I’m SO glad for the cold and storm today, I can’t sleep lately because it’s over 70 in my bedroom. Too bad it’s over already.
I’ve got our curriculum pre-k through 4th grade written down. Just trying to figure out how to format it for the blog. Kind of my version of a free-ish curriculum w/ customizable choices… I know there are a million out there already, but figured it couldn’t hurt to throw the ‘what we do’ into the mix. Maybe it’ll give you some food for thought.
Did it warm up for you? Still super chilly tonight, wonder if tomorrow will be nice…
p.s. pre-k is such a good place to start, because really, it just needs to be fun (for the both of you) with a bit o’ learning thrown in. Wish I’d started there instead of at the end of Kindy… more stressful to dive into 1st grade and worry about all the reading and math milestones straight out of the hatch.
Email me if you want my pre-k list since it’ll probably take me a while to sort out how I want to post it.
Yes, it did warm up. The sun even came out again!
I am hoping that is exactly what works out for us with pre-k. She “graduated” from speech therapy supposedly.. but I know going to a preschool would not work for her so I figured this would be a good time to start!
And yes yes! That is very generous, I’ll email you! Thank you!
The bruise was the very first thing I noticed in that photo of you running. Go, you! You can do it!
I can’t wait to start gardening. :)
That darn rooster. Of course I usually have bruises anyway, since I can’t seem to help bumping into stationary objects on a regular basis!
Oy, are you feeling better yet, lady? I’m home from church today with two sickies. I thought once we got into warmer months I wouldn’t have to deal with streaming noses and sore throats…. can’t wait for summer!
No, not feeling better yet. Thankfully the kids are healthy. (at the moment)(*knocks on wood*) Six days now of my own voice ringing inside my head. My own voice is quite annoying! I feel sorry for the general public!!
I can’t wait for summer, either!!