Long Time

I can't believe how long it's taken me to get back tot the computer.  Between my incredibly intense work schedule and never ending sick children, it has been nuts.  I really mean exhausting.  I actually had to take 5 days off exercising between work and sick kids.  There just wasn't a moment to get it done.  I had no seconds for myself at all.  There was always some sweet, sick kiddo needing his or her mom.  So, instead of exercising, I laid in my bed and watched Peter Pan over and over and over and over again.  At least it's a pretty cute movie!

I finally got two runs in the past two days.  Yesterday, I ran 4 miles.  Today, I ran 5.5 miles!  Go me!  I can't believe it's less than a week until the half marathon.  I think I've trained as well as possible considering my crazy life, so I anticipate having fun and a decent time.

My only real concern about the race is the weather.  Shocker I know.  It's February.  Yes, I know, February in central Florida, but February nonetheless.  Right now, weather.com says the high on race day is going to be 89!  I am so glad the race starts at 0530 in the morning.  Otherwise, that type of temperature may just do me in!

I plan on another run tomorrow before going to work!  I still can't believe we have less than a week until the race!!!

My Turn

No fair!  Yesterday, I forced myself to go for a run.  Honestly, I just didn't feel up to it.  I wrote it off as having been stuck in my house for a week with sick kids.  My run was so slow.  It was 13+  minute miles.  Even at that snails's pace, I was still dying.

I just didn't know what was wrong with me.  This morning I figured it out.  I woke up with a 101.5 fever.  That did answer all my questions as to why my run was so poor yesterday.  I'm still not feeling that great tonight, so I've decided to take the day off and heal.  It's painful to do since the half marathon is less than two weeks away.  Oh well.  I must get better.

Now, I must go check on another child who appears to be getting sick.........

Sick, Sick And More Sick

My weight loss and running have pretty much been on the back burner for the past few days.  At the rate we're going, I hope to be running before I go to Disney in two weeks.  Actually, with Raj home today, I plan on going for a run in just a little bit.  I need to get out.....badly.  Honestly, my entire body hurts from laying in bed so much this week.  However, I wouldn't trade my job with anyone in the world.  I love may babies wanting me and no one else....except Dad and MiMi!

My weight appears (since I don't actually stand on the scale long enough to see a real number) to be going down!  One of these days, I will just suck it up and actually stand on the scale long enough to see my weight.  Just not this day!

I'll post after I run!

Challenged

I was so unmotivated this morning.   The weather is NASTY.  There's a tornado watch for this area.  I really just wanted to stay home and be a bum.  However, I read the blog post on Runs for Cookies, and that's all it took to kick my tail into gear.  I went to the gym and ran 6.0 with 1% incline for two minutes and walked at 4.0 for one minute.  Then, unbeknownst to me, the treadmill was only set for 30 minutes, so it put me into cool down mode way before I was ready.  I ended up running through the cool down and then walking five more minutes.  I feel like the workout of was pretty good.  But more than anything, I DID IT!

This after the treadmill stopped...but I kept going!

I did buy my new pair of running shoes today!  Yay!  Now, I hope I can break them in before the half marathon.  I can't believe that's in 3.5 more weeks.  Yikes!  I'm still a little bummed my weight isn't dropping.  Maybe it is.....  I won't stand on the scale long enough to look at it............

I love my new shoes!!

8.56....Not Too Bad!

I did it!  I might have ran slowly,but I still did it!  Running at home with all the hills is SO MUCH HARDER than running at the beach where everything is flat.  However, this is going to help the half marathon be so much easier for me since it will be a flat, fast course.

This next week I must find or make something that will hold my phone on my arm.  I have the Galaxy Note II, so it's much bigger than the other phones and won't fit into those cases.  Today, no lie, I safety pinned a ziploc bag with my phone inside it onto my cooling vest.  I looked like an alien from outer space!  Ther must be a better way to take my phone without actually having to carry it in my hand.

I don't feel it's safe for me to run without my phone.  My MS causes me to have a foot drop after I've been running for a while.  I have tripped and fallen on several occasions.  I don't ever want to be injured and unable to call Raj for help.  Also, as a female running alone, I just feel safer with my phone.  Now I just want a "girlie" case to use!!

Virtual 5k

I am enjoying getting back into blogging again!  It's so great to just write down my thoughts.  Today I ran a "Virtual 5k" with everyone else who follows the Runs for Cookies blog.  It's Katie's 31st birthday, so in honor of this day, she held a virtual 5k.  There are no winners or losers.  Everyone who participates should feel good about the accomplishment.  I know I do!

I had to run on the treadmill today instead of outside.  For a Georgia girl, it was cold and nasty outside.  Yes this means it was 36 degrees with a little drizzle.  It just wasn't the type of day I wanted to be outside.  Honestly, I wouldn't have minded it, but there was no way I pushing a triplet stroller with three almost 5 year old children in it!  So, I hit the gym and dropped the kids off at child care.  That ended up working great for me.

I have to admit the treadmill was nice because I was able to push myself a little differently than I do when I'm outside.  I would run at 6.0 with a 1% incline for two minutes.  Then, I would slow it down to 4.5 for one minute.  I was able to do this for a little more than 2 miles.  I really started struggling and decreased my fast speed to 5.5.  i can't believe I was able to do as well as I did.  I sure am glad I was able to watch "Everybody Loves Raymond" on my phone while running.  I really needed the distraction.  The only problem is I got tickled at one point and almost tripped because of my foot drop!  Otherwise, it went great!

It is so nice to be getting some much needed encouragement via blogs.  It really reminds me of the really special times and friendships from blogging about my pregnancy and triplets for so long.  What a happy memory <3!

7 Mile Run

I feel pretty successful after this beach trip!  I'm trying really hard to remind myself since mom owns a beach house now, going there doesn't mean I can blow my diet!  That's a really hard one for me.  I'm used to going to the beach, telling myself this is special, and blowing my diet the entire time I'm there.  No more.  Yes, A splurge every once and a while is okay, but not hourly!  

Aren't they cute?  And aren't you jealous?!?!?

I didn't end up doing my seven mile run on Sunday.  I have to keep telling myself the morning is the best time to run.  Well Sunday, I waited...and waited...and waited.  I finally went for a quick 2 mile walk and run in the  dark.  I did it though!  I had planned to just walk two miles, but after a 17.5 minute walk, I decided to run the mile back to the house.  In the end, I didn't do too badly!

My night time walk/run time.

I set my mind to running my seven mile run the next morning, and I did it!  Running on an island is so wonderful!  It was flat, the views were gorgeous and I was able to see the ocean.  Seven miles is almost fun with those circumstances.  Running at home is so much harder because it's so hilly.  I at least feel like I'm keeping up with my goal of being able to complete this half marathon.  I can't wait for my next beach run!  It's can't come soon enough!

Half way through the run!

The completed seven miles!

Beach Runs!

I am at the beach!  I have to say I'm a really lucky lady, and I know it!  I have to get in a 7 mile run tomorrow.  However because we are at the beach, it will be a nice, flat run!  Today, I ran 3.24 miles in 37 minutes!  For me, that's pretty good.  In addition to this run, made a quick stop by a shop and bought three bathing suits!  The pool here is heated, and the kids are BEGGING to go for a dip in the pool.  I forgot to bring their swimsuits from home, and JUST IN CASE I feel motivated I feel motivated to take them swimming tomorrow, we now can do!  You should have seen me running home carrying a bag in my hand.  I'm certain I looked a little odd.....

After  I ran, I took the girls on a bike ride to the park.  The had begged for me to take them on a ride earlier in the day, so I redeemed myself.  It was fun to watch the play and swing them though.  However, when we got back to the house and the girls realized Josh had gone with my mom and my sister to the beach, they were NOT happy.  Oh well.  I can't do it all.

I did splurge a little today.  Really, I did well minus the piece of divinity and the marshmallow/caramel bar I had tonight.  Adding up all of my calories, I don't think I had more 1400 calories, so I still okay!!  Sometimes being at the beach brings out the worst in my attempts at losing weight.  So far this trip hasn't been a complete failure!  Yay!  I don't have a picture of my watch from the run, but here are some cute pictures of the kids at the beach!

Multiple Sclerosis And Exercise

I have been doing some research regarding MS and exercise.  The National MS Society actually has some really good information.  I have actually felt a little challenged by what I read there recently.  My favorite website for motivations is called Active MSer's.  It is the site where I was able to learn about the different cooling vests and how well they do or don't work.  Plus, I get to read about people who continue an active lifestyle and make the most of life even with MS.

I was reading weight lifting is very good for people with MS.  I have also been encouraged to do more weights to help with weight loss.  I had really been putting off weights because I'm training for the half marathon.  However, today I decided I would try the Centergy class at the gym.  This is one of the classes the gym says counts towards a weights work out.  It is really a lot like yoga, but man it is hard!  It really did work every part of my body as well as stretching and balance.  I have spastic muscles thanks to the MS.  They are always super tight.  For example, I can't bend and touch my toes without bending my knees a LOT!  I also have very poor coordination and balance.  I'm not sure if it's all MS related or just who I am, but I have NONE!  The stretching and balance work in the class are as hard, if not harder, for me than using my muscles for strength.  I'm hoping I can go to this class at least once a week.  It really challenges me.  I just hate feeling so inept in front of other people.  It is going to take a lot of stick-to-it-ness, but I know it will really help my MS related problems.

I'm hoping changing my lifestyle, exercise and doing the best I can do will help decrease my weight AND help all of the crappy MS symptoms I have.

How Frustrating

Crap. Now it's two days in a row I haven't exercised.  It really hasn't been by choice either.  Yesterday I had an appointment at the MS center for a research study I'm a part of right now.  These appointments take hours.  Because of that, my entire morning until I picked the kids up from preschool was busy.  After school, the gym's childcare is closed until four o'clock.  Then, the girls had ballet, and Josh and I went to the grocery store.  I would have gone to the gym after dinner, but one of the girls from work has a sick child.  Because of that, I was on call all night last night.  I was exhausted when I got home, and I slept all day long.

This morning, I ate 12 donut holes worth 600 calories.  However, I was awake for 24 hours.  How do I count those calories?  I didn't eat poorly at the hospital though.  Does that count for anything?

Now, I'm about to go back to work for the night.  I really just want to exercise.  It's always harder to eat right when I don't exercise.  Oh please let me stay good for the night........

6 Miles

Sometimes being self reliant is a good thing. Today was one of those days. My sister, who is going to run the half marathon with me, is pregnant. She's in the first trimester and feels rotten. I had to make the decision for myself that I am going to train even if I have to do it by myself. I did it! I ran 6 miles, albeit slowly, but I fid it! Next week I'm aiming for eight!

Cooling Vest

My Multiple Sclerosis makes everything a little more of challenge for me sometimes.  This is especially true when I exercise.  You see, I have this lesion on my cervical spine that greatly affects my legs.  When I get hot, my legs, feet and everything to my waist tingle and go numb.  There's really only one way to help this issue.  For Christmas, my mom bought me a cooling vest from Arctic Heat. It helps me so much!  For the first time since I had the relapse affecting my c-spine, I'm exercising!  I missed exercising a lot, and I gained tons of weight.  Now I don't have an excuse to not exercise.  I feel like I'm getting in control.  I think I can do this....again!

Have I mentioned I'm training for the Disney Princess Half Marathon!  Yep!  I'm telling you!  I feel really empowered with the cooling vest!  I know I can do it!  It's going to be hard getting ready so soon, but I can do it.  Please pray for me.  I want my life back.  I want my weight to get under control.  I don't want my MS to control me as much as it has lately.

Welcome!

Hi!  Welcome to my life!  This is the one place I can easily "verbalize" my thoughts and feelings as I work towards becoming healthy and fit!  Some days will be good, some will be great, and others may be a struggle.  I have so many goals I want to reach this year.  The first is I would like to lose at least 40 pounds.  I also want to run two half marathons.  However, my first small goal is to weigh less than 200 pounds when my children turn 4 May 14th.  My weight as of last week was 215 pounds.  I will be stepping on the scale again tomorrow when I work out.  It will definitely be interesting to see what it says.......

I will probably also be posting what I eat a lot of days on here and my exercise from that day.  That will definitely keep me honest.  Any encouragement or advice is greatly appreciated!

One more quick thing, I ran 7.36 miles today in 1 hour 26 minutes!!

Ginny