Last month, some of my friends started the Slow Carb diet and really enjoyed it. It's basically a modified paleo diet: no dairy, fruit, or carbs. It sounded terrible to this particular cheese-bread-and-banana-lover, but they lost a lot of weight and felt healthier, so my boyfriend and I decided to give it a try, too. We He invested in a fancy scale that measures BMI, fat %, muscle %, water %, etc, and I set up a new Excel document so we can track the numbers (nerd alert!). One thing I've already learned: weigh yourself in the morning! I lost 4.5 pounds between last night and this morning.
We just finished our first meal on the diet: a breakfast of egg whites, spinach, black beans, and salsa. It was more eggs than I'm used to eating early in the morning (1 1/8 cup of liquid egg whites!), and it's definitely filling. We get a cheat day on Saturdays, so went spent yesterday eating whatever we wanted to prepare. This included dim sum, Moe's (which is actually okay on the diet, provided you forgo the rice, cheese, chips, and sour cream), and King of Pops. One of the suggestions for the diet is that you take a picture of everything you eat. The idea is that if you are too embarrassed to post the picture where others can see it - and mock you for not sticking to your diet - then you probably shouldn't put it in your body. I've been using Foodspotting for a while now as just a way to keep track of foods that I like, so if you're at all interested in seeing what I'm eating you can follow me there.
The creator of the diet claims that you can lose 20 pounds in 30 days without exercising. I'm curious to see if that's true (my friends didn't lose nearly that much), but I'll also be continuing with my walking/running training with my Nike+ app. I just recently finished my first half-marathon of the year and am contemplating doing the Women's Nike full marathon in San Fransisco later this year with Team in Training. My only hesitation would be the fundraising costs associated with it, but I feel like I have a good support system in place and have gotten to the point in my training where I can take it to the next level. I was really proud of my performance in the Publix Georgia half. I beat six of my records (at least according to Nike+): 1 mile, 1k, 5k, 10k, half-marathon, and distance.
This past New Year's Eve, my boyfriend and I went to my sister's house. When someone inquired why I wasn't drinking, I explained that we were doing the Resolution Run 5k the next morning, so we didn't want to be hungover. One of my sister's well-intentioned friends then started talking about a woman she worked with who had lost a lot of weight by running.
Now, I love my sister's friends (even though quite a few of them have morphed into those annoying, "let me tell you all about my precious child" people that I purposely hide posts from on Facebook), but this kind of thing happens to me almost every time someone hears that I run or have completed a few half-marathons. Yes, I am overweight. No, I am not running (well, walk/running) to loose that extra weight. At least, not completely. In the three years since I've started participating in running events, I've only lost about 15 pounds. Part of that is because I'll never really be as serious about it as some people, but another part is that I just run for fun. It got me thinking, though: I've actually learned quite a bit about this sport, and (since one of my resolutions is to write more) I decided to dust off the old blog and share what I know (or at least, am somewhat opinionated about) with the Internet.
First Things First
Running is probably the best individual sport there is. It's free, or nearly so (more on that below) and the only person you have to compete with is yourself! I usually run with my boyfriend, who is and probably always will be faster than I am, and I really enjoy pushing myself to go faster and further than before...most of the time. If you have a pair of shoes (even if you don't; running barefoot is a big movement right now) you can be/become a runner.
Equipment
What I wrote earlier about running being free is totally true. BUT, if you do have the funds I would recommend getting some decent shoes. I was fitted for and buy mine at Big Peach Running Company in Atlanta. Yes, shoes can get pricey, but I wear mine out. They're supposed to be retired after 800 miles, but I have a pair that I still use for short walks because I'm frugal. As far as clothing goes, I love Danskin (available at Wal-Mart) for tights and sports bras. (Boys, you're on your own as far as underthings are concerned, sorry!) I've also amassed a pretty large collection of short- and long-sleeved running shirts, but those are from various running events (which I pay to enter). A membership in a local track club is also a pretty good investment - I've been a member of the ATC for three years running, and I love it! I live too far away from the city to go to any meet-ups, but I am guaranteed a spot in the Peachtree Road Race (which is worth the cost of membership alone, IMO), I get a shirt from Big Peach, and I have access to free or discounted race events throughout the year. YMMMV (pun intended)
Safety
1. If you're running outside, don't listen to music. If you're running with someone, it's rude - you should be talking to your running buddy, not ignoring them. If you're running by yourself, it can prevent you from paying attention to your surroundings, which can be dangerous. Most running events include a rule about not listening to music on race day, because you may not be able to hear warnings from race officials or volunteers. I know this is one suggestion that most people will ignore or scoff at, but it's a pretty important one so I'm putting it first. If you need music to motivate you to run, stick to the treadmill at the gym.
2. Drink water and eat something. The week leading up to a big race, I keep a water bottle on me and fill it up constantly. The day of, I have a glass or two first thing and then drink a cup at every available water station along the route. If it's the summer, drink more (duh). As far as food goes, I usually have a peanut butter sandwich and a banana an hour or two before the race. If you're doing a longer run (10k+?) and want to carboload, I've been told it's more effective to do it two nights before, but I usually wait until the night before. I don't eat as I'm running, but during my half-marathons or longer training runs I like to suck on hard candies or peppermints. Chomps or honey are good for a sugar boost during a long run, as are gels - just make sure you drink PLENTY of water with them. And when you get finished, chug some chocolate milk or a beer. (Sidenote: yay, SCIENCE!)
3. Be smart. If you're running outside, try to go with a friend. If you prefer to run alone, make sure someone knows where you're going and what time you should be back. Stick to well-lit areas that you know and are comfortable with. These things should be common sense.
4. Make sure you stretch. I used to get the worst shin splints, and I realized it was because I wasn't stretching out my calves properly. I usually wait until I've warmed up a bit before I stretch out, and I always stretch after a run. After a long run, or when my legs feel particularly sore, I've done ice baths but those hurt almost as much as the soreness. Elevating your legs also helps, and remember not to push yourself too much.
5. Not so much a safety tip, but just a good thing to do in general: be courteous. If you're running in a race, keep to the right unless you're passing someone (just like when you're driving - in a perfect world). If you're running in a group, try not to cluster up too much, because it can prevent faster individuals from passing you. If you're going to stop or slow down, don't do it in the middle of the road (unless you really want to get trampled). Say hi and thank you to the volunteers and police officers who are helping out. At water stops, slow down and step to the side, and toss your cup into the bin provided. Just throwing your empty (or worse, full) cup on the ground creates a hazard for people coming after you who could slip and is unnecessary litter for volunteers to clean up afterwards. (If you're serious about your time, wear a water belt so you don't have to worry slowing down or stopping.)
That's all I have for right now, but I'm sure I'll think of more as the year progresses. I've finished one 5k already, but I have a few more events scheduled (including The Color Run, the Peachtree Road Race, and the Publix Georgia half-marathon). Eventually I'd like to work up to a full marathon, but for now that's still pretty far in the future. Happy running!
What is Thursday 3? It's a new weekly meme, hosted by Tasha, in which we will be discussing our love/hate relationship with our current read.
Here is how Thursday 3 works:
Take your current read, or book you previously finished, and tell me the following 3 things about it.
Character from the book you LOVE (This can be a character you want as your BFF or someone you want to take home to meet the parents)
Character from the book you HATE (This character does not have to be the villian, just someone you disliked)
Your overall LOVE/HATE of the book. (If you haven't decided your feelings for the book yet, or if you prefer, just provide a snippet from the book containing either the word "LOVE" or "HATE")
I wasn't going to post a Thursday Three today because I'm still reading A Feast for Crows (I read the other ASOIAF books in 2-3 days, if that gives you an idea of my feelings towards this book), but the I realized I could write a post about the comics I picked up today instead! I'm really digging the new DC 52 - today's haul included Aquaman #4, The Flash #4, The Guild: Zaboo, Batman #4, and Voodoo #4.
Character I LOVE: Zaboo! He's played by Sandeep Parikh on the web series The Guild, and the comic was written by Sandeep and Felicia Day, the creator and writer of the show. The character is lovable and exasperating, and I think the comic did a great job of showing how he got that way.
Character I HATE: the law enforcement in Coastal City! Seriously, Aquaman just saved a bunch of people - give the man some respect! At least Aquaman got a dog out of the ordeal.*
My overall LOVE/HATE of the book: I love all the comics I picked up today (why bother reading them otherwise?), but I have to admit that I'm most surprised by my affection for Aquaman. He used to be the biggest punching bag in the DCU, but between his shark-telepathy in last week's issue of Justice League and his sensitivity in this week's issue of Aquaman, he's really growing on me and quickly becoming one of my favorite heroes.
* When I told my boyfriend about Aquaman's new pet, he suggested the name "Run," so that he could be referred to as "sea-dog Run." Ah, puns.
What is Thursday 3? It's a new weekly meme, hosted by Tasha, in which we will be discussing our love/hate relationship with our current read.
Here is how Thursday 3 works:
Take your current read, or book you previously finished, and tell me the following 3 things about it.
Character from the book you LOVE (This can be a character you want as your BFF or someone you want to take home to meet the parents)
Character from the book you HATE (This character does not have to be the villian, just someone you disliked)
Your overall LOVE/HATE of the book. (If you haven't decided your feelings for the book yet, or if you prefer, just provide a snippet from the book containing either the word "LOVE" or "HATE")
I'm currently reading A Feast for Crows, the fourth book in George R. R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series.
Character I LOVE: Samwell Tarly! He reminds me a lot of Neville Longbottom (which probably accounts for the affection I feel for him) because he's so bumbling and cowardly. But he's also sweet and stands up for what's right. He's really starting to come into his own, which scares me because Martin tends to kill off awesome characters.
Character I HATE: Robert Arryn. I should probably say Petyr Baelish because he's so despicable, but I find Robert even more odious. And it's really not his fault - he's just so twisted and coddled and poor Sansa has to put up with him. I can't imagine being forced to marry my sickly Oedipal cousin.
My overall LOVE/HATE for the book: I haven't decided yet, but it's leaning more towards hate. The chapters alternate between narrators, which is great if the narrator is a character I like or one who has an interesting story (Cersei, Sansa, Samwell) and really hard to get through if the narrator is unlikable or uninteresting (Brienne). It's definitely not as good as the previous book in the series.
Essentially, the Classic Double Challenge will encourage you to read one older book (classic) and a newer book that relates to the older one in some way.
There are levels of participation, so you can choose how much or how little you'd like to commit to:
Small: You read 2 related books.
Medium: You read 4 books (2 sets of related books).
Large: You read 6 books (3 sets of related books).
Super Size: You read 8 books (4 sets of related books).
Sign up on this post any time from now until the end of 2012.
I'm committing to the small level, and plan on reading Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte (which I bought in England over a decade ago and haven't actually read) and Jane by April Lindner.
Anyone can join.
You don't need a blog to participate.
Audio, ebooks (some libraries allow ebooks to be checked out), bound books are ok.
No re-reads.
Create a sign up post and post the link at this post.
Challenge goes from January 1, 2012 - December 31, 2012
Seeing as I'm signing up for a few reading challenges, this one seemed a no-brainer.
Embarrassing story time!
A few weeks ago, I realized I hadn't yet read the book my YA book club was going to be discussing over the weekend. So I got on the local library's website and tried to put the book on hold (it was only getting mediocre reviews from the other members, and I didn't want to buy it if I wasn't going to love it and want to reread it), but the website wouldn't let me. I ended up calling and talking to a very nice man who, through stifled laughter, informed me that my library card had been expired for two years (!) and that he couldn't renew it over the phone because I had over $14 in fines (!!) from three years ago. The books that I checked out that incurred these fines? Three Jane Austen novels (all of which I already own, so I have no idea why I checked them out in the first place, let alone kept them for two months) and two audiobooks. My bff works at a library and regales me with patron horror stories all the time, so I know this is on the low end of bad library behavior. But for an English teacher in a small town, it's still pretty sorry.
The goal for this challenge is to read a book/ watch a movie in each of the 12 categories, which are further down, during the year of 2012 (01.01.2012 – 31.12.2012) + 1 bonus category, if someone can’t find a book in one of the 12 categories.
This means: 12 books + movies in 12 months, as a result 1 book/ 1 movie per month. (Book can be read/ movie can already been watched – but just one of each)
7. … from an author of your home country (for English joiners: from an author who is not coming from an English speaking country) [ Q & A / Slumdog Millionaire* ]
8. … where the story is about love and where you’ll probably cry OR where the story is about blood, murder and horrific killers [ The Notebook / The Notebook ]
(+ 13 bonus category: … where you’ve already watched the movie, but never read the book) – for all who have a problem to find a book/movie in one of this categories.
1. Gossip Girl
2. You Know You Love Me
3. All I Want Is Everything
4. Because I'm Worth It
5. I Like It Like That
6. You're the One That I Want
7. Nobody Does It Better
8. Nothing Can Keep Us Together
9. Only In Your Dreams
10. Would I Lie to You?
11. Don't You Forget About Me
12. It Had To Be You
13. I Will Always Love You (prequel)
Rules:
Challenge will run January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012. Participants can join at any time throughout the challenge.
Create an intro post, linking back to this post.
Sign up using the Linky. Make sure to add your post about this challenge, not your blog home page.
All forms of books acceptable (audiobooks, eBooks, etc.), rereads are allowed and these books can be used for other challenges.
You don't need a blog to participate.
Reviews, while always appreciated, are not mandatory.
I haven't read the Gossip Girl series in a while (I'm not sure I ever finished it, actually) and I know for a fact I didn't read the prequel, so this sounded like a fun challenge. I love angsty teen drama and stories set in NYC!
