Deva by Definition

Vlogging the Half Marathon: Week Three

Just a few things:

1. I’m a little chatty in this video

2. I really like sleep!

Motivation to Run In the Cold

At the end of December, it looked like winter was finally here to stay. The nights and days were getting colder, and I even had snow accumulate on my car one night while I was at work! At that time, between holiday commitments and everything else going on, I was struggling to find motivation to go running - or just to get to the gym and workout. The cold was almost too much, and the occasional rainy day was throwing off my mojo - I just was having trouble convincing myself that running in the cold was a good idea. I put a call out on Twitter for suggestions to motivate myself to get up, get out, and workout in the cold.

Then, the day before Christmas Eve, our internet died. This post has been in the works since then, and even though it was in the mid-fifties today, cold weather is returning, and I am going to need every ounce of motivation I can get to go and workout. I'm training for a race and I need to give it my all - even if it means training in <20 degree temperatures.

The answers I got on Twitter were great, and included these awesome responses:

@deva_defined Cute outfit, tweet about my workout (accountability), eat a light (non-sugary) breakfast 2 hours before & rock out on the way!

— Jessica Zirbes(@HealthNut_Blog) December 23, 2011

 

@deva_defined The reward of finishing my workout before work and freeing up my evening is often motivation enough for me to wake up EARLY.

— laurenpeters (@laurenpeters) December 23, 2011

 

@deva_defined Wear my sports bra to bed!!Helps with motivation!

— Lindsay Wright (@lindsays_list) December 23, 2011

 

@deva_defined for winter rain Nike storm fit jacket long sleeve or core gear. Shorts 40*+ tights/capris otherwise. Thin wool socks!

— We Run This (@WeRunThisDotOrg) December 22, 2011

I loved the idea of tweeting for accountability, as well as getting a warm but lightweight jacket and some thin wool socks, along with using the workout as the reward! While I am not one to wear my sports bra to bed (though I have done it in the past), I do have other ways of keeping my workout gear nearby so that I can get out of bed and go workout on a cold winter morning, as well as other motivators. Rachel recently wrote a post about motivating yourself to go workout and it has a lot of really good ideas.

My biggest motivator is The Boy and the alarm clock. When The Boy is trying to get me up to go running, I often remind me that even if it is set for me, the clock more often than not wakes The Boy up before I hear it. I don't want him to be up for no reason if he doesn't have to. I keep my workout gear in a pile on my nightstand, and in the morning, grab it, pull it all on, and curl up under the covers for a few minutes to warm it all up. We keep our house at 65 degrees overnight and when we are not home, and the vents on our second floor are kept closed to conserve energy - it can get CHILLY in our room overnight, and I like to be warm(er) before heading out to run. That helps ease the transition from our warmish house to the cold outdoors.

Knowing that I'll quickly warm back up once I get moving helps keep me running - instead of taking walking breaks. The routes I like to run have a lot of nice scenery along them, and there has been more than one day I have watched the sun rise while running home - it's a lovely picture, and one that helps keep me moving as well.

Of course, there are days when I don't want to go outside at all - where it's in the single digits outside, or in the teens with a single-digit wind chill. There are days when it is too icy to run outdoors, and it would be unsafe for me to go, and days where snow blankets the sidewalks, creating slick spots. Those days, I hop on my treadmill with some good music, or I head to the gym to run on one of their treadmills while watching a movie. I might do Yoga in the living room, or lift weights at the gym those days as well. Granted, when I need more sleep? I reschedule my workout. I would rather be well-rested than over-tired and crabby!

What are your biggest cold-weather workout motivators?

In the Morning

I set out to the gym in the cool fall air. I ran yesterday – today was a day for lifting.

Step-ups were just part of my 45-minute long workout. I also did lunges, push-ups, planks, and a few other exercises before stretching and making my way home.

It looked like rain when I got home from the gym, I couldn’t help but stop and take a picture of the dry leaves scattered on the ground. They were especially thick beneath the tree outside our front door – blanketing the ground and rustling beneath my feet as I walked through the yard.

Once inside, I got to work fixing breakfast. My workout was hard, but satisfying. I was hungry, and wanted protein – lots of protein. With no Greek yogurt on hand, I decided to fix something else. Something savory.

Eggs with sautéed white mushrooms, cracked pepper, and sliced ripe banana. It was salty, spicy, sweet, and satisfying. In a word: delicious. I savored every bite before finally making my way upstairs to finish getting ready for my day.

It was a lovely fall morning, with a good workout, and a filling breakfast.

Are the leaves dry and crunchy where you are? What is your favorite fall activity?

#fitblog: Makin’ Time to Sweat!

Tuesday night got away from me. By the time dinner was cooked and on the table, it was well past nine o'clock. I was hungry, and so The Boy and I dove into some parmesan alfredo. Sadly, by the time we were finished eating, I had missed the Fitblog chat. The theme of this week's chat was "Makin' Time to Sweat," which I took and take to mean managing your time to fit in workouts! The chat was hosted by Alyssa of Life of Blyss, and she asked some rockin' questions. So, here goes!

Q1: What are you willing/not willing to give up in order to fit in a good sweat session?

I am both willing and unwilling to give up sleep. I have a 15-minute rule: if I have the opportunity to go back to sleep but am not sleeping within fifteen minutes of looking at the clock, I get up and get my sweat on. It could be going to the gym to lift or ellipticize, or hopping on the treadmill in the living room. Sometimes, I get up and do yoga while watching "The Today Show." I don't workout in the evening, though, only morning, so I would say that I won't give up my after-work time to workout, because that is when I am unwinding and catching up the household stuff!

Q2: At what time of day are you most productive in your workout?

Morning, definitely morning. The gym is mostly empty, there is always a trainer around if I need assistance with anything, and I get my day started by gettin' my sweat on.

Q3: How do you get over that "I have no time to exercise today" guilt?

I look at my week's exercise in a macro view, instead of honing in on one or two days. I am not a hamster so I don't want to work out every day (and I burn out quickly when I do), so if I miss a scheduled workout, I look at everything else I've accomplished for the week.

Q4: What is your #1 time-saving secret?

Planning out meals in advance, and packing my lunch the night before. Planning meals out makes my grocery trips take under an hour. Packing my lunch the night before gives me an extra 5-15 minutes to get other things done in the morning - like sleep in, or pick up stuff at the store, or just to catch up on my blog reading.

What about you - what is YOUR #1 time-saving secret?

Let’s Get it Started…

This morning, I hopped out of bed and onto the treadmill for a 35-minute long run. I wanted to get my day started with a workout! I had the Today Show playing in the background while I got my run on!When I finished I was hot and sweaty and ready for some water and a shower!

(photo courtesy my iPhone!).

A half hour after I stepped off the treadmill, I looked a little more like this:

all bundled up in my new Five Bamboo hoodie (which I ordered Sunday and got yesterday! LOVE!) and ready for some post-workout fuel. I was hangry!

While my coffee was brewing in my French Press, I threw into a bowl some yogurt, oats, banana, and almond slices, and ended up with a creamy, chewy, crunchy bowl of breakfast!

It was delicious and exceptionally filling. Yogurt bowls, along with cereal bowls, are some of my favorite post-workout breakfasts.My breakfast was devoured, filling my belly and getting my day off to a GREAT start!

#fitblog: Motivation, Inspiration

Once again, I missed the FitBlog Chat! I got caught up in some things aruond the house Tuesday evening, and before I knew it, it was ten and the chat was over! This week's chat was hosted by Ashley, who blogs at Homemade Fit. I loved her questions - all about inspiration and motivation!

Q1: When did you start exercising? As a child? or perhaps as an adult?

I've been exercising since I was a child - back when exercise meant going roller-blading or biking through the neighborhood, or playing TV tag with friends in one of our yards. I kept it up throughout high school, taking up running when I was a young teen, and have continued exercising as an adult. I took sort of a workout break during college and was glad when I was able to pick up my favorite activities once I graduated. My fav kinds of exercise now are running and lifting weights - I just feel better when I get some activity in!

Q2: What was it that got you started? A single event?

I know that as an adult, being active since childhood is kind of what got me started. I like to move around and keep busy! I started running when I was 13 or 14, when someone suggested I might enjoy it, and I took up weight-training when I was 21 and a friend suggested I try the workouts in New Rules of Lifting for Women. I've been hooked ever since!

Q3: What is your daily inspiration?

The results I see and how I feel. I love how empowered I feel when I am deadlifting over 100 pounds at the gym, or when I am able to run a mile or more without stopping.

Q4: Have you tried any new exercise or set a recent fitness goal? What is it?

I want to try CrossFit at some point in time, but I haven't tried any new exercise recently. My most recent goal is to get back into running shape and maintain a weight-training routine through the end of this year. We'll see how it goes!

#Fitblog: All About the Music

Due to our desperate need to go grocery shopping this Tuesday, I was not able to make it to the awesome Fitblog chat, hosted by Nina who blogs at Sweating It. She had some awesome questions this week all about music and working out – something I LOVE to do! Since I couldn’t make it to the chat this week, I decided to blog the questions – so here goes!

Q1: Do you work out with music? Is there a time when you DON'T use music as a motivator?

I use music during many of my workouts, but especially when I go running. There is something about fast-paced songs that help me keep moving, even when I may not want to keep going! I don't often listen to music on an iPod when I lift, because I have found that I’m frequently adjusting my ear bud cords to keep them out of the way of the dumbbells and barbells I may be using.

Q2: Do you stick with one tried and true playlist or do you change it up? How do music choices affect your performance?

I am ALWAYS changing it up! There are a handful of songs that show up on every one of my playlists, but I am always on the hunt for something new. I have found that when I stick with one playlist for too long, that I skip around too much and my performance suffers. I always look at what motivates me most when I am building a playlist. I wouldn't, for example, include a super slow song in the middle of a list, but may consider putting it at the end, for a cool down song. Sometimes, I like to use Pandora stations to really change things up!

Q3: Music during group exercise: groan-worthy or inspiring? Any stories about particularly bad music choices?

Honestly, I have not attended a group exercise class since college - when I took a cardio kick-boxing class. I loved the music played during the class, and think it would be incredibly motivating for me to keep moving between exercises!

Q4: What is your all-time fave track to sweat to? What song kills your workout immediately? Any guilty pleasures on your playlist?

Ooh - that's a toughie! I have a lot of favorite tracks on my iPod that I love to sweat to! I think my all-time fave track would be "Attack" by 30 Seconds to Mars or "Sleeping Beauty" by A Perfect Circle. The songs that kill my workout are the slow jams that may pop up when I have my iPod on shuffle. As for guilty pleasures? I listen to such a variety of music I don’t know that I could name one!

What about you? How does music affect YOUR workouts?

Less Crazy, But Still Busy

It has been a crazy busy couple of weeks ‘round these parts, and I am very grateful that we have a long weekend to enjoy!

For starters, our flooded apartment situation has been thoroughly resolved and we are pretty much entirely back together- furniture in place and everything that belongs in the shelves we had to move is also back to where it needs to be. It has been so nice to be able to enjoy my living and dining rooms and not have to worry about eating dinner in bed!

We have also been making a strong effort to enjoy the warm weather and to get outside whenever possible. This has meant for a lot of games of catch with The Boy over the past week and a half, and it has been nice to get outside, get moving, and chat.

In addition to playing catch, I set a goal this past weekend that I wanted to workout and engage in some sort of physical activity five days a week. I know it may seem lofty, but I know that I am not a hamster, and that some days are going to be a little less intense than others. I must say that I was exceptionally proud of myself for meeting my goals for the week – hitting the gym four times, twice to lift and twice to use the elliptical, as well as enjoying a day where I walked over two miles over the course of the afternoon. I’ve felt amazing all week, especially with the combination of active living and healthy eating.

Of course, all the activity has led to a lot of creativity in the kitchen. I workout in the morning so when I get home, I want something quick and simple to enjoy for breakfast, and have found a new favorite post-workout breakfast: green proteiny smoothies!

I know, it’s green, but SO delicious! My go-to formula this week has been:

• 1 cup milk
• 1 serving of GeniSoy protein powder
• 3 big handfuls of baby spinach
• 1 frozen banana
• a few frozen strawberries
• 1/3 cup of oatmeal (occasionally) for extra sticking power

These have been cool, refreshing, and exceptionally filling. I end up filling my glass with my smoothie and then drinking the rest of it from the blender – they’re huge! I’ve been adding oatmeal to some of the smoothies to help give them some additional staying power, and may try experimenting with adding peanut or almond butter in the coming weeks. The vanilla protein powder and banana combine for a smooth, slightly sweet flavor, and the spinach CANNOT be tasted – yum!

There has been some other creativity in the kitchen, though it has been limited to salads and lunchtime fare. The majority of our meals lately have been pretty traditional summery meals, like burgers, hot dogs, beef au jus sandwiches, and grilled chicken. I’m loving the warm weather and the ability for us to use our grill, and I think this coming week I will be grilling some veggies to enjoy on my lunchtime salads throughout the week.

So, as you can see – just a bit busy here! How is your summer going so far?

Get a Move On!

I had to choose between sleeping an extra hour this morning and getting out of bed to gym. As tempting as staying in bed sounded, I chose the gym, and within ten minutes of waking up was out the door, ready to hit an elliptical trainer for a nice and challenging interval workout. I wanted to get a move on and take a break from lifting today. When I finished I was thirsty, sweaty, and energized for my day.

This was actually the first time that I’d done cardio in about ten days or so. I’ve been rather focused on lifting lately, and with everything going on in the past few weeks, I couldn’t find time to squeeze in a treadmill or elliptical session. Hopefully now that things have calmed down a bit, I’ll be able to run more!

Today’s workout had the added bonus of keeping me pretty energized for my entire day, and I definitely took advantage of the nice weather this afternoon, going for a couple walks to take in the sunshine and nice breeze. I’ve been loving the nice weather we’ve been having and hope to get outside with The Boy this weekend for a couple games of catch – if it’s not raining, that is.

My Healthy Living Journey

Way back in February of '08, I joined my gym. Our apartment's on-site gym was pretty awesome, but it didn't have the weight lifting equipment I wanted to use to start building up muscle and strength. That same month, a friend of mine gifted me the book "The New Rules of Lifting for Women." I had been a weight-machine only person, but the contents of that book led me to tentatively try lifting free weights, instead of jumping from weight machine to weight machine, wondering when I was going to see results.

My first day venturing into the free-weight area had me hooked on weight lifting. I loved how I felt as I progressed in skill and strength, and was constantly amazing myself with what I could do. I pushed myself to my limits to see what I could accomplish, and was amazed at the physical changes I underwent as I progressed through the NROLW program. After years of being a "cardio queen," I suddenly had muscles that I didn't even know I had popping out of my arms, and my stomach was FLAT - something I had never thought to be possible. As my strength increased, my confidence did, too. I mean, I could overhead press half my body weight - what couldn't I do?

My philosophy toward food really changed during those first six months of weight training. I craved protein after a hard lifting session, and slowly but steadily worked to increase not only my protein intake, but my fruit and vegetable consumption as well. Breakfasts became far more substantial with the goal being to hold me over for a minimum of four hours. Lunches were no longer frozen microwave dinners, but meals that I'd prepare at home ahead of time. I learned that all foods have a place in my diet – even sweets!

Why am I writing all of this? Because I am getting back into lifting – it is one of my passions. I stopped lifting regularly a year ago, and have missed it! Now that it is warm out, I can alternate gym workouts with running or playing catch with The Boy. My goal is to get back to the strength that I had before, and to keep it up.

My health and fitness journey began with running and was solidified through weight lifting, and for that? I am forever grateful.