Tag Archives: Workouts

May6

Healthy Living On the Road and With Busy Days!

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Life has been busy lately to say the least. But it’s a good kind of busy.  Now that the Nike Women’s Half has come and gone it’s a new season at work to recruit for and prepare for which has us all working late and working hard.  Life at home is just a busy thanks to the arrival of spring and this weekend was all sorts of productive.

I’ve hardly sat still since I left for DC and true workouts have been hard to fit in.  I’m not stressing though.  Workouts are coming in new and different forms.  Walking and standing for hours while in DC…that’s a workout.  Ripping out an entire garden, transplanting flowers, trimming tree branches…that’s a workout.

Walking from Site to Site Can Keep You Healthy While Traveling!

Walking from Site to Site Can Keep You Healthy While Traveling!

When life gets busy or I head out on vacation I don’t stress about my workouts.  Usually when I’m going on vacation it’s an opportunity to rest and relax…enjoy a slower pace if you will.  I usually skip my run or yoga and opt for some extra walking from site to site or take in the scenery through bike rides, hikes or other fun excursions!  I figure I’m in a new place so it’s a chance to try new workouts too.  When life is busy and I’m running from one place to the next I adjust my workouts as necessary.  Sometimes I’ll skip my morning run to get some extra sleep and will run at lunch time.  Other times if I’m going to be running from one place to the next I won’t worry about fitting a workout in.  And sometimes I will hit the mat for a shorter, easier yoga session to help me relax and stretch my extra tight muscles.  It’s awesome to be able to make time for an hour workout everyday but that isn’t always feasible.  In the absence of my usual routine I look for ways and avenues to keep my self moving and get some extra exercise…be it in the garden or walking from site to site.

While I skip the workout stress I don’t skip the healthy meals.  In fact, if I know I’m missing out on my normal runs and mat time I put more of a focus on my meals.  I try to reach for more fruit, salads and healthy meals that keep me energized when I’m traveling or extra busy.  Heavy, unhealthy foods leave me feeling sluggish and bloated and unlike myself.  Of course I let myself indulge here or there but I keep an eye on my portions and try to make breakfast and lunch as healthy as possible.

 

When I was in DC I didn’t go for one run or hit the mat once but I did walk everywhere, spend hours on my feet and kept myself moving for days.  In fact I was sore and tired when I got home! I kept my meals as healthy as possible…lots of fruit, eggs, salads and more.  This past week I stuck to our healthy meals at home and skipped the take out even though it seemed like it would be easier. I found my way to the mat for a restorative yoga session, spent hours in the garden with Michael and got extra rest at night so I could make the most of my busy days.

Healthy living doesn’t always have to be hours at the gym, yoga and runs.  It can be organic and untraditional workouts too.  Healthy eating should always be part of the equation and should be even more of a priority when life gets busy, it will help keep you feeling energized and good through those busy days.

It’s been about a week and a half since I left for DC and got back…I’m finally getting out for a run today and back on to my normal schedule but I don’t feel heavy or out of shape.  I feel great and can’t wait to hit the pavement!

Tell me, how do you stay active and healthy when traveling or extra busy?

Mar5

A Running Update!

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It seems like it’s been awhile since we chatted about running here and with spring almost upon us I’m starting to think more about my miles and look forward to my runs a bit more.  Winter has always been a tough season for me to run and honestly it probably always will be.  The darkness, tricky weather conditions like rain, sleet, snow and ice and the cold are enough to keep me buried under the covers.

I spent most of December, January and February making the most of it.  Morning runs are always best for me so throughout most of the winter I kept a good eye on the weather and planned to run on the best days possible.  Occasionally when the alarm went off at 5am and the bedroom was freezing I would rolled over for some extra rest and head out for a run on my lunch break.  In the end I had a good combination of morning runs and afternoon runs.  On average I probably ran 3 times a week but February, with its cold and snow, had me out running more like 2 times a week.  I usually ran only 3 or 4 miles…it was just long enough for me to get some cardio in but not long enough for me to freeze!

Source: fitsugar.com via Whitney on Pinterest

Now that the snow is melting, the mornings are lighter and the air warmer I’ve been loving my morning runs again.  I find myself getting right out of bed to head out and considered running last Friday even though it was a rest day!   I’ve been increasing my mileage slowly.  During the week I’ve been getting in a couple 4 mile runs and then every other week I’ve been doing a 6 mile long run.  It feels good to be running long.  As the weather continues to get better I’m planning to up my mileage a bit more.  Ideally I’d love to do a 3.5 mile run, a 5 mile run and a 7 miler each week.  I feel like that schedule would be completely manageable with yoga and everything else.  I’d also like to add a speed workout or tempo run in each week.  I love the feeling of working hard while I’m running.  My pace has also slowed this winter and I’d like to get back to my 8:15 min/mile.  I think my slower pace is a result of running in the darkness, snow and ice.  When I run in the daylight my pace is almost :45 seconds/mile faster.  Running faster is something I’ve been thinking about but I don’t plan to stress about it.

For a month or so I was feeling a little down about running because I wasn’t sure what races I wanted to do this year.  I still don’t know what races I want to do but I am loving my runs more.  I feel like I’ve struck a good balance between running, yoga and teaching.  The last thing I want is to be stressed about my runs or workouts.  My other thought is that adding in a long run and tempo run will help to get me in half marathon shape, so if I decided to do one I won’t need months to build up to it.

Like always, I’m just happy to be out running!  It’s kind of nice to not have a plan right now and just go with the flow.  I love the “me” time running gives me and when I’m ready I’ll pick a race to start training for!

What is your running status as we head into spring?

Feb11

30 Inches of Snow and a Winter Workouts

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It’s a rare day when the weathermen are correct but they certainly delivered on Friday night.  A blizzard and 30 inches of snow turned a usually busy Boston town into a ghost town.  I enjoyed every minute of it.  We watched movies, slept in, made and ate delicious food, read and of course played in the snow.

With 30 inches of snow, it’s no secret that running outside isn’t going to work very well.  So how am I staying fit this week and until the snow melts a little?

For starters, by shoveling…alot.  It took us about 3 hours to dig out on Saturday.  It was definitely a team effort…me shoveling and Michael snowblowing.  My triceps are burning!

Snowstorm

Post Shoveling!

Today I was dying determined (despite the rain) to get in some cardio.  So I went old school…back to my first “fit” days.

Skis

Skis

I went cross-country skiing!  For those who don’t know I grew up skiing competitively and went on to ski in college.  My senior year I was the USCSA National Champion.  Even though I haven’t raced in years the skier is definitely still inside me.  The moment the snow started falling on Friday and I knew it was going to be a lot I started thinking about skiing.

As much as I love running, skiing is different for me.  There is nothing like that feeling of gliding across the snow with the cold air surrounding you and the peace and quiet.  Skiing is a more fluid motion than running.  I love it.

Skiing

Skiing

I skied for about an hour and 15 minutes.  I kept the pace relaxed but steady, think of it as your long run pace.  It felt so good to be out skiing.  I can definitely tell that yoga has been helping me because my arms weren’t tired or sore when I was skiing and I definitely still had a ton of strength to get up and over hills.  As a skier this is really crucial as your strength can make a huge difference on hilly courses.  In college I regularly lifted weights and had a series of explosive weight training exercises I’d do using a medicine ball. My training programs in high school and college always incorporated a weight and strength training plan and a cardio plan that was very targeted and specific towards skiing.  I think today I really like the balance of yoga and running because it is a great combination of strength training, stretching and cardio.

It was really fun to get out and ski today.  It felt great to do something different.  I also liked that today’s workout mimicked a long run.  My running has lacked a long run as of late and I plan to start adding them back in slowly, today’s ski was the perfect way to ease back into it.  There are highs in the 40s predicted throughout the week but I’m hoping that I’ll be able to get out and ski again next weekend!

As for the rest of the week, I’m planning to be flexible.  It’s not every month we get 30 inches of snow so I’m trying not to stress about my runs.  Tuesday I’ll be doing my home practice to prepare for my class on Wednesday morning.  Wednesday I’m teaching Yogathlete at Roots Yoga in Burlington, MA at 6:30am.  Thursday there is more snow predicted so I’ll likely hit the mat again or possibly plan a circuit workout at home to mix in some cardio and spice things up!

Have you cross-country skied recently? How are you adapting your workouts if you were hit by the blizzard?  What is your favorite at home workout? 

Jan11

On Feeling Accomplished

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It is no secret that I love goals and milestones to work towards.  I’ve learned over the years that it’s really just better for everyone if I think about life in small chunks.  One accomplishment at a time, one step at a time.  Sometimes the smallest things in life can leave me feeling accomplished and I love that!

We are in the height of recruitment for our summer season at Team In Training.  I’m managing two teams and working with our corporate program so it’s definitely busy.  I love what I’m doing and feel like I’ve found my stride.  I’ve finally adjusted to the new schedule and have a good handle on how to manage all my responsibilities.  As I was driving home last night I was reflecting on how nervous I was about this busy month and how pleasantly surprised I am about how well it’s going.   It left me feeling accomplished.

Even though it’s only been a week I’m feeling so good about the fact that I completed all of my planned workouts this week.  I ran 3 times this week and hit the mat for yoga.  There was most certainly a morning or two where I considered snuggling in bed for an extra hour but like they always say, you never regret a workout!  Today, I’m most certainly enjoying a rest day and I won’t feel one bit bad about it.  Accomplished.

And this weekend?  A much bigger accomplishment.  I’ll become a certified yoga instructor!  It’s been quite the 6 months trying to get through each weekend, prepare for exams and prep for our community class but it’s also been such a fun journey! There have been so many mini milestones to this journey like conquering challenging poses, finding myself as a teacher, learning to be a little less Type A, and teaching my first class.  If you are in the Boston area I hope you’ll come out to South Boston Yoga to  share this accomplishment with me! I’ll be teaching a community class with my fellow trainees on Sunday at 2pm.  We’ll be teaching an awesome all levels flow with a rockin’ playlist!

FSFC_FINAL

What leaves you feeling accomplished?

Nov2

Workout Peace

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It’s no secret I love to workout.  I love running and I love yoga but for many years I’ve struggled with workout guilt.  Maybe it’s a product of being a collegiate athlete, and always getting my workouts in.  When I was skiing I knew that a missed workout could be the difference between being national champion and not even getting on the podium.  I’d get my workout in on days it was pouring and I’d rather stay inside, I’d get it in when I didn’t feel up to it or felt too stressed with school to really get a workout in.  I was dedicated and determined to accomplish my athletic goals.

After college, when I started working I struggled to come to peace with workouts.  I’d get up at 5am everyday to get to the gym and always make time for it.  But on the days I desperately wanted to skip my workout (in favor of fun things with friends, or some quality down time) I’d feel such guilt.  I’d convince myself it was ok with a million excuses, call my Mom and make her tell me it was ok and finally after bugging everyone around me I’d skip the workout.  Unhealthy to say the least.

When I was working at my old job I’d workout as a way to relieve stress, and feel better.  Missing workouts wasn’t really on the top of my list but since I commuted over an hour each way a missed workout was often reality.  Over time I began to feel better about skipping workouts and I’d stop bugging my Mom for validation that it was ok.  I’d find flexibility in my workouts and would aim for 5 workouts per week, not everyday and was comfortable having to rearrange my workout schedule as the week went on.

Lately though as I’ve adjusted to my new job, I’ve come to feel such peace with my workouts and have finally felt I don’t need a workout each day.  Somedays I plan for a run but it just doesn’t happen.  Others I don’t plan for it but find myself up early and heading out for a run or finding my way on to the mat.  Other times work is just crazy and filled with meetings and rather than stress myself out adding a workout in, I just make it a rest day.

Let me tell you, this new approach is so freeing!  It feels like a huge relief, it’s crazy to think something I love so much stressed me out to such a level.  The other side of this is that I feel like my workouts are more satisfying and of better quality.  I listen to my body more instead of just pushing through, I feel happier post workout because I really wanted to get one in  and I put more effort in to each workout.

Call it contentment with life, or peace with myself but I’m loving it.  Maybe, I’ll gain a pound or two from a few less runs but I’ll just call it my happy weight.  The point is, I’m out running and on the mat practicing yoga these days because it makes me happy and it’s where I want to be. Some mornings I’m curled in bed for an extra hour getting snuggle time.  And some days I’m giving myself permission to stress less and relax more by skipping a workouts.

The funniest part of this is that the number of workouts I get in per week is not much different from when I’d plan them and stress out over missing them.  I still get in 5 or 6 workouts just on my own time, when it’s not stressful and exactly what I want to be doing.  It’s so freeing and so much healthier.

Do you plan your workouts and stress about fighting them in?  Are you relaxed about workouts and do them on your own time?