Let's Get Moving in the Right Shoes

Our idea for weight loss is not dieting.  It is more simple than that.  It is Eat Less, Move More.  Quite a few have started the podcast for the Couch to 5K program.  Don't get discouraged if it is hard to get going.  Remember the hardest step for a runner/walker is tying your shoes and getting out the door.  I write on the inside of my running shoes with permanent marker this sentiment, "This is the hardest part."  That way when I tie my shoes I know I am doing great because I am going to exercise once I get my shoes on.  Once you get in the habit, it will become much easier.  Trust me.  It is scary to try something new, to vow to eat less and move more, but we will be free when we take time out for ourselves, for only then it will make us a better mom/dad, a better wife/husband, a better employee, a better servant of God.  Just the simple fact that we refuse to diet and we won't deprive ourselves is motivation enough to know that we can be successful.  We won't create cravings, desperation for foods, or lack of motivation.  Slow and steady wins the race.

Let's talk about what kind of shoes to run/walk/move more in. I know it is hard to believe when you have not even run that first step, that you will eventually be replacing your running shoes about every 4 months. Some like being fitted for your first pair. This is a fabulous idea if you have a lot of money to invest right away, and are certain you are going to stick with it. When I got up off the couch and started running, I started in the pair that I had in the closet for casual wear. After all, everyone laughed me into next week when I made the declaration anyway, so why would I invest in shoes if I was only going to run a time or two. I would start with Asics GT 1000-a great, middle of the road shoe that can be bought online for a reasonable price. Run/walk in those for 3-4 months and see if this is something you are going to stick with. If it is, then go get fitted for some higher end shoes. If you want to get fitted right away, go to the Athlete's House downtown. It is my experience that they are the most knowlegeable and kind crowd of runners.   Although I have gone and been fitted into expensive running shoes, I ultimately go back to my tried and true Asics GT 1000.  Below is a link to order you a pair.  They run true to size so if you wear an 8.5 then order an 8.5.  www.shoes.com provides free shipping both ways so you can order them and if they don't fit you can ship them back for free and get another size.  It is truly hassle free shopping.  They have super cool colors in this model also!  When you click on the grey and blue shoes below, you can see the other color options as well.




Some of you have mentioned having knee and leg pain as you have started moving more.  For me, the shoes were everything.  In fact, when my legs and knees start hurting, I know it is my signal to buy new shoes.  If you need the link to Couch to 5K it is in a previous blog post.  Search for Couch to 5K in my search box on the right to find that post.

Thanks for reading my blog and please subscribe using the Subscribe to button on the right column of the page so you will know right away when I update with a new post.  Tonight I will leave you with a little motivation to get you going.

Now that is a point to ponder.

Happy Easter Everybunny!!

Diets Don't Work, so Let's Try Running/Walking

Back to the popular subject of weight loss, we have determined that diets don't work because we have to be ourselves because everyone else is taken.  The last time I checked, I am not Jenny Craig, or my name is not Adkins, and as cool a name as it would be, mine is also not South Beach.  So I know that if I try those diets they will work and I will lose weight, but I will gain it right back and then some as soon as I stop eating Jenny's food, or add carbohydrates back to my diet after eating meat and cheese like Adkins, and as soon as I quit the South Beach diet, my South Beach body will be back in the South Ditch.  So shall we move on to something that actually works?

Here is my validation that what I am saying will be successful.  I made a before/after picture of myself and am excited to try to inspire others to a healthy lifestyle.

I have spent the majority of my life overweight.  I have tried every diet, and every exercise program.  I have finally found what works and it is SO simple and will change your life.

The left side of the picture is the time that I made a major decision for myself and my health.  I was literally laying on the couch and bounced up and announced what I know now to be the most incorrect statement I may have ever made.  I said, "I have never seen a fat runner so I will start running."  My husband looked at me like I had an eye in the middle of my forehead because I had NEVER been a runner.  I never ran in high school, never ran period.  I am the embodiment of Elephants on Parade.  I am not light on my feet and not a graceful runner or graceful at anything.  That day, I got out and ran to my mailbox.  Now I can probably spit on my mailbox from my front porch.  So we are talking about a couple of hundred feet that I ran that first day.  I was winded, tired, and needed a two day rest after that first run, but two days later I ran to the stop sign at the end of the street.  This is how I got started.  Did what I could with what I had.  After gradually increasing my distance over time and with a day to rest in between, I built up.  Then I found the podcast that really got me moving.  Here is the link to the Couch to 5K program that I used.  It combines walking and running and gradually introduces your body to movement.  Remember, Eat less, move more.  That is the ticket.

I downloaded this podcast to my mp3 player and did it religiously.  It beeps in your ear and gives extra instruction along the way to help you stay motivated and on track.  It starts out with people who are not conditioned or in shape, and in 9 weeks, moves to being able to walk fast or run for 30 minutes without stopping.  It works!  Trust me, it does.  So this week's medicine is simple:  continue eating what you want but less of it, and add Couch to 5K to your ipod or MP3 and get moving!  Let's do week one this week!

I moved on from C25K to bridge to 10K then I trained for a half marathon and eventually ran a full marathon.  I am back to running for my health now, which we will discuss in a later blog post.

Here is the link to what I used.  http://www.djsteveboy.com/intervals.html

Here is your motivation, so grab a friend and let's get moving!  

Now this is a point to ponder.

Let's get some followers, and share my link on your facebook page and twitter.  I have one follower.  Folks, I am not going to continue blogging if I don't have followers.  I have a few who are telling me they are reading, but not a bunch.  Who is reading my blog?  and who is subscribed to it?  I would love to go viral with blogging and get some advertisers on here, but I have to have subscribers to do that.  I read a statistic that most blogs last 9 months unless they have subscribers and advertisements.

Here is another question for your to comment on:

What is your running/walking, fitness story?