Last night was an emotionally draining night. We all have them. Between fighting with my teenage son and feeling like I'm getting no where with someone I care deeply for... I felt utterly drained today. It was as if I was in a bubble. Nothing seemed to be able to break through the sad, grumpy feeling I was having as I trudged through my morning. Now, if you know me, you know that I will fight this terrible feeling with all I have. I attack it with as much gusto as my mind and body allows, so with my ever fighting mentality I thought the sun and a quick run might break my haze.
I planned my route in my head and set out. It was if my legs were ladden with lead but I knew that it was exactly what I needed to clear my heart and my mind. I had to have many pep talks as I placed one foot in front of the other. "You can do it", "Just run to that spot and you can walk if you want" (I know I will always keep running once I get there but the permission is nice!) and "You are accomplishing your cardio goal" kept me motivated as I conitinued on.
Now comes my favourite part. As I was running down the last couple side streets I see a grey truck stop and move forward, then stop and move again. I figured they were looking for a house and were lost. I turned the corner... it's the last street I have to run. My stomach is feeling sick, I have pushed myself to my own personal limits and I know it. The truck stops in front of me and backs up... I get a little nervous thinking I was spent and if they tried something I would have nothing left to give to save myself. My body is exhausted but I still thought they were lost and if they needed directions I would help. The man rolls down the window and asks me this... "were you running down Ontario and Linwell?". I was surprised that that was his question but I said yes. He then told me that him and his friend had been arguing over if it was me and that he had to tell me that I was impressively fast since they only stopped to have a small bite to eat and I had made it as far as I had.
My mood changed in that moment!!
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Monday, October 3, 2011
Back to Basics
I ran a talk yesterday for a few ladies from the Running Room and it brought me back to what the very beginning of nutrition basics are. We all have the understanding of the rights and wrongs of eating but we find ourselves making excuses for why it's ok if we have the chips, or the cookie, or the wine. One of my favourite quotes I have come across is "we eat to live, not live to eat". To me this means that everything I put in my mouth should on some level do something to make my day better. Will it give me energy, repair or rebuild my muscle, provide me with essential vitamins and minerals that my body doesn't make? Think about how you feel when you eat a bunch of junk food in a day that the body can't use... note how sluggish and fatigued you are and how heavy your body seems. Try a few days of eating only things that you know your body can use. I gaurantee that you will feel infused with energy and your body will feel tighter.
Nutrition Tips to make these few days really work for you:
We are as woman supposed to eat 7-8 servings of fruit and vegetables a day, for men it is 8-10. I believe that the best way to achieve this number is to make sure that every time you eat (hopefully 4-5 times in a day), that you consume at least one vibrantly coloured fruit or vegetable.
WATER!!! Women need 1.9 and men need almost 3 litres of water a day. If you have a hard time getting it in cut a lemon, lime or other citrus fruit into 6-8 slices. Place one slice in a glass of water as the day progresses. It is an easy way to count how much water you have drank by how many slices you have used and will also help you achieve one of your fruit servings for that day with the bonus of vitmain C from the citrus fruit (tis the season)!!
The last focus for this post is if you are currently eating anything that is white. White bread, pasta or rice... make the switch. The body responds very quickly with white products to eliminate the sugars that these foods put into your blood stream causing you to crash and feel tired. Whole grain options are packed with fiber which allows the body to respond slower and keeps you feeling energized and full. A huge benefit!! I understand that the food does not taste the same but you only get one chance to live in the body you have and you might as well fuel it with the best option for maximum energy and longevity.
I ask you to implement these for a few days and really concentrate on what your body is telling you. Give yourself the chance to feel less bloated and more energized... I bet you will like it !!
Nutrition Tips to make these few days really work for you:
We are as woman supposed to eat 7-8 servings of fruit and vegetables a day, for men it is 8-10. I believe that the best way to achieve this number is to make sure that every time you eat (hopefully 4-5 times in a day), that you consume at least one vibrantly coloured fruit or vegetable.
WATER!!! Women need 1.9 and men need almost 3 litres of water a day. If you have a hard time getting it in cut a lemon, lime or other citrus fruit into 6-8 slices. Place one slice in a glass of water as the day progresses. It is an easy way to count how much water you have drank by how many slices you have used and will also help you achieve one of your fruit servings for that day with the bonus of vitmain C from the citrus fruit (tis the season)!!
The last focus for this post is if you are currently eating anything that is white. White bread, pasta or rice... make the switch. The body responds very quickly with white products to eliminate the sugars that these foods put into your blood stream causing you to crash and feel tired. Whole grain options are packed with fiber which allows the body to respond slower and keeps you feeling energized and full. A huge benefit!! I understand that the food does not taste the same but you only get one chance to live in the body you have and you might as well fuel it with the best option for maximum energy and longevity.
I ask you to implement these for a few days and really concentrate on what your body is telling you. Give yourself the chance to feel less bloated and more energized... I bet you will like it !!
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