Great message in Kristin Armstrong’s column online in Runners’ World today:
“Let’s measure our success by our willingness to keep showing up. Whether it’s our running, our healthy diet, our career, our parenting, our marriages, our relationships, our education, or our dreams – if we focus on our investment rather than the outcome or our performance, we will liberate ourselves from the fear that claims too much of the energy we need available to fuel our try.”
Vinayasa yoga class today and then I went from the studio to the gym and did the stair ladder for 20 minutes.
Class2015–other yoga poses that are deep-hip openers: crescent lunge, downward dog split, and lizard. There’s a class at my studio called hips and and hamstrings–it’s a great class. I always feel so flexible when I leave (until the day after).
My Fitbit App has the Guidance thing on the bottom–and you can get the Fitter Personal Trainer app. I have the Charge HR–got the new one for Xmas but have to set it up!!
Bromfield2 – thanks for the other poses! I’ll check them out and try them.
I have a friend who has been trying a nutrition program and likes it a lot. The elimination of the sugar cravings part appeals to me. Thought I would share her report:
" I started a program called Precision Nutrition - it’s a nationwide program (actually out of Canada) but you have a coach in your area (mine owns the pilates studio I go to). I’ll be honest, it’s expensive but I love it. The “rules” are essentially: at each meal, 1 palm protein, 1 fist vegetables, 1 cupped hand healthy carbs (apples, berries) and 1 thumb healthy fats … eat slowly, mindfully and to 80% full. Anyway, it has TRANSFORMED my relationship with food. I am eating primarily whole/real foods (eggs, Greek yogurt, cottage cheese, chicken, tilapia, salmon, blueberries, apples, cauliflower, etc) and it has stopped my sugar cravings dead in their tracks. Seriously - if my previous sugar cravings were 9 on a 10 point scale, they are down to about 2. I can look at brownies, cakes, cookies, ice cream, lattes, etc. and I don’t even want them, other than as an occasional taste. It feels super sustainable and best of all (ha ha) I look hot! There is a definite transformation in my body - even strangers at the gym who see me but don’t know me have come up and told me so – I am losing inches everywhere. The program takes into account the kind of body you have - and I am clearly a mesomorph as I build muscle pretty easily and tend to gain / lose weight evenly versus being pear-shaped - and the focus is really on the inches and on lowering % of body fat, rather than on the scale per se, as I am always going to “weigh heavy” since I’m muscular. But I’m seriously getting defined, and I think there is at least a two-pack on the stomach :-). I feel, for the first time, that food is nourishing my body / activities as opposed to being the enemy I have to “control.” I’m not hungry and I don’t feel deprived. But this is truly a sea change for me! "
I’ve been wearing my new Apple Watch for a day now. This morning I took it for a swim and then weights.
I am used to the Fitbit system, so switching is going to take some adjustment. I like the Fitbit website and how the data was accumulated and organized, and Apple does it differently. I’m taking a couple workshops in the next few days that hopefully will explain how to navigate and understand all this. For example. while Fitbit just tells you the total calories you’ve burned, Apple splits it into two categories – Active Energy (when you’ve exercised) and Resting Energy. I assume if I add the two together, I’ll get total calories burned.
Swimming with it was no problem, and the info I got when I was finished was what I need to know. Even though the water is supposed to make the heart rate function wonky, it picked up my elevated heart rate. So for the first time I have an idea of what my heart rate is while swimming. One minor issue – I realized my band was soaking wet, which means wearing a wet band until it dries. I may have to designate a band just for swimming.
The good news is that the watch seems more accurate than the Fitbit for heart rate. There’s one machine at the gym (Jacob’s Ladder) which has me panting – yet the Fitbit always recorded my heart rate in the 60s while using it, which really puzzled me. I used it today, and got a rate in the 150s - 160s – much better.
I haven’t figured out how to look at my heart rate on the watch while I’m actually exercising, though.
Tomorrow I’ll be taking it for a run.
And I have to start browsing on Amazon for different bands.
Precision Nutrition is a legit science based program that takes a very common sense, real person approach to its nutritional programs. I’ve posted links to some of their articles. It’s also, however, an incredibly polished and effective marketing model for its products, whether it be their nutrition counseling programs, coaching programs or nutrition certification programs. They also charge A LOT of money for their programs and services.The reality is that the same information and training/coaching services can be found elsewhere for significantly less but what Precision offers is hands down packaged the best.
I know I am more committed to something I pay a lot for. I’d never, ever miss Pilates but wouldn’t give a second thought to skipping a class or training session at the gym. I looked at their website - they only open up twice a year -you have to join a presale list to start in July! I’m glad your friend is having good results, MOWC. Michael, you should get certified and coach all of us. Can we get a group rate?
Lol, I actually am getting a certification in sports nutrition through the American Council on Exercise and am about half way through the curriculum. The pre-sale, twice per year model for PN is part of their marketing. Once you subscribe to pre-sale, your are on their email list even if you don’t purchase the certification package and get emails at least twice per week, many of which are informative and all of which end with links to their packages. The cost for their certification program level 1 is $800. The program I’m taking cost me me $299 after an industry discount of $100 and includes college level text books and online content. Don’t get me wrong, the PN program is legit and substantive but a lot of resources are also directed to salesmanship.
Wanted to run fast today. 20 x 133 meters. Legs feel wasted tonight. Could use an ice bath or cryotherapy. Mile wu/wd.
Funny, that’s how I felt tonight lifting, but instead of an ice bath, I think I need to be put in suspended animation and sleep for a century.
Fell asleep at the office on the couch at 12:30. Next thing I knew it was 1:30.
Sounds like an epidemic of sleeping sickness!
I’ve been trying to heal a bruised muscle in my hip (it didn’t like my 5k on Sunday, too much pavement)–so napping and resting myself. Did manage a slow relaxed bike ride today.
CBB the tracker on my Fitbit Charge ( which H bought online) separated from the wristband after I had it for about 10 months. I called and reported it and they sent me an Alta free of charge.
Woke up at 4; couldn’t get back to sleep til 6 (some big worrisome stuff at work); alarm went off at 6:30 (so I could go run) and I just couldn’t. Not sure if the extra hour of sleep was better than running but at least I can run on the weekend.
Happy Friday everyone!
Jealous of the apple watch!
Traveled for work yesterday and just couldn’t recover time to have my quota of steps - have to accept that. Made sure I topped off the no exercise day with a fantastic Indian meal. Go big or go home! 
Have a day ahead of meetings that will not allow me much walking. I got up and went for a walk to at least get a little jumpstart. And man, probably just paced 1000 steps in front of the tv watching/waiting for Nadal to win his match! SOOO exciting!
Hope your work worries resolve favorably, C2015. Sounds like rest is what you needed.
I went ahead and reduced my step quota and exercise - Fitbit doesn’t recognize Pilates, TRX or Barre as exercise and I don’t run every day I have a class - it’s just too exhausting physically. Rest days I walk with the pups and I’m resolving to be okay with that. I also deactivated my FB yesterday - I am just feeling overwhelmed by negativity so I need to figure out how to eliminate it from my feed. I want FB to show me what I want to see - puppies, food, running and Pilates!
I signed up for the Precision Nutrition presale and requested a weight loss starter kit. It is very slick marketing, but I like their philosophy. If you sign up as part of the presale, it’s $997 for a year of coaching. I may be joining your friend, MOWC.
Pilates this morning, I am definitely getting stronger. I think I am going to just have to be resigned to some difficulty with my hip and hamstring. Physically I am feeling so much better dialing back the running a bit. Some swimming might be good too.
thanks sabaray – I appreciate it. Talking to attorneys today. At this point I have more attorneys than I have friends! But not if I count everyone on this thread
Sabaray- that’s great that you signed up for the presale. You and my friend can email and compare notes if you go ahead with it! I think sometimes it is a big help to have the nudge of the coaching.
I hear you on facebook. I’ve been getting really depressed about it. I enjoy facebook so much, but it has become entirely political. You can’t even post something funny without it starting a political debate, it seems. It’s getting to me. My Twitter is still mainly sports, and it seems I can control what I see a little better there I think this is a very difficult time right now and I understand the passion around it, but I can’t do it 24/7. It’s not emotionally healthy for me.
I just had a short run to do this morning, so I went downstairs instead of putting on ALL THE CLOTHES for 33 degrees. 2.5 done. Going to try a 2 hour run tomorrow morning.
Classof2015, take care of yourself. Work worries can send a person’s health in a tailspin (been there, done that!). We are here for you.
I was contemplating joining Facebook last year, but now I am grad I did not. I had to block several friends’ email addresses because I was tired of the vile they sent. Agree about Twitter - it is all sports and professional news for me.
Going for a long nap inside a big donut. MRI.
Thanks BB – that’s good advice. I just saw “big donut” and thought yum yum. Hang in there – I’ve never had an MRI but I’ve heard they’re much better than they used to be. Hugs.