Catching Up June 16, 2008

Sorry I didn’t write a post the last couple of days but I’ve been real busy.  Ok let me catch you up on everything.

Saturday-Autism Walk -Great event, everyone had fun and my church family really came through for me as far as attendance and donations.  Wanted to blog but was so tired from the walk and literally getting 4 hours of sleep that I took a Benadryl (Oh yeah allergies flared up) and was pretty much knocked out.

Sunday- Father’s Day- Still tired from yesterday but wanted to give hubby a break.  So I really took “Charge” of the kids yesterday.  Found a babysitter at the last minute to watch the kids so I can take hubby out to dinner at his favorite restaurant, Macaroni Grill.  At the restaurant my chicken tasted funny so the kind waitress gave me a new entree but it was a little cold (I guess they didn’t heat it up thoroughly in their attempt to get my food to me quickly) so I ended up getting my chicken entree to go (because it was still deliciouso) and the waiter brought me a huge chocolate cake on the house.  I only took three small forks of the cake when I came home so that I won’t deprive myself of the goodie but kept in mind my weight loss goal. 

Today-Cleaned house, spend time with girls, oh yeah I walked on the track today, jogging 2 out of the 6 laps so my dreams of jogging is becoming a reality.  It was great.  I emailed a few friends to see if they are interested in starting an organic food co-op and now I’m blogging and I’m about to give you my menu ideas for this week.  I am making roasted chicken today because I was suppose to make it yesterday but opt to take hubby out.  So below is a quick list of my menu for this week.  Please excuse any grammatical errors because I am typing quickly before I have to get my son off the bus (half day at school).

Monday- Roasted Chicken Potatoes, Veggies

Tuesday-Spaghetti and meatballs, salad, bread

Wednesday-Bar-B-Q Chicken Spanish rice, veggie

Thursday- Homemade cheeseburgers, homemade fried

Friday-Grilled Chicken, Pasta Salad

Saturday- Leftovers

Sunday-Roast Beef, Mash Potatoes, Veggies

Duhhh! June 13, 2008

Tomorrow is the Autism Walk for the Southern Jersey Region and as many of you know my son was diagnosed about a year and a half ago.  I didn’t think to write a post about the Autism Walk to see if anyone wanted to make a donation.  I feel like such a  .  I could’ve put the link on my blog months ago.  Please forgive me. If you would like to donate to a worthy cause click the link here http://www.walknowforautism.org/c.otJVJ1MOIwE/b.3627663/siteapps/teampage/ShowPage.aspx?c=otJVJ1MOIwE&b=3627663&sid=cjIML6ONLfJSI3MQLwH to make a donation on my team’s page: Fighting for Elijah.  Our theme is “Believing God for a Cure.”  

If you don’t know much about Autism here is a little snippet from Autism Speaks website to help you better understand what it is:

Autism is a complex brain disorder that inhibits a person’s ability to communicate and develop social relationships and is often accompanied by extreme behavioral challenges. Autism spectrum disorders are diagnosed in 1 in 150 children in the United States, affecting four times as many boys as girls. The diagnosis of autism has increased tenfold in the last decade. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have called autism a national public health crisis whose cause and cure remain unknown.

Dreams of Jogging June 6, 2008

One night I had a dream that I was a jogger and I ran through this park in my hometown with so much vigor, grace, and strength.  In the dream I felt so alive and free.  I was strong and a force to be reckoned with.  Legs strong like iron arms tight and in perfect angle, pushing through the elements as it was windy and rainy.  In the dream I was energized (almost like the energizer bunny because I couldn’t be stopped)…Then I woke up…And Reality Set In …I couldn’t jog 1/4 of a mile if I wanted to.

I shared with my husband how real the dream felt and how I always wanted to learn how to jog.  He told me that it was a great exercise and its FREE. (hint hint)  I get what he was saying because I’ve been in every kind of gym and exercise class (spinning, step aerobics, dance aerobics, weight training, tae bo, Denise Austin) and never truly been committed to any of them…But I always wanted to be a runner.  I always admired the shape of their legs and their stamina and I wanted that for myself.  So I decided to go on the internet and see if I could find a schedule of some sorts.  The training schedule I found was quite simple and great for beginners (its actually titled  ”Couch to 5k Running Plan”). Sound like a WINNER   

So here is the schedule I’m going to start next week: (I think I’m going to shoot for Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays)

Week	Workout 1	Workout 2	Workout 3
1	Brisk five-minute warmup walk. Then alternate 60 seconds of jogging and 90 seconds of walking for a total of 20 minutes.	Brisk five-minute warmup walk. Then alternate 60 seconds of jogging and 90 seconds of walking for a total of 20 minutes.	Brisk five-minute warmup walk. Then alternate 60 seconds of jogging and 90 seconds of walking for a total of 20 minutes.
2	Brisk five-minute warmup walk. Then alternate 90 seconds of jogging and two minutes of walking for a total of 20 minutes.	Brisk five-minute warmup walk. Then alternate 90 seconds of jogging and two minutes of walking for a total of 20 minutes.	Brisk five-minute warmup walk. Then alternate 90 seconds of jogging and two minutes of walking for a total of 20 minutes.
3	Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then do two repetitions of the following: Jog 200 yards (or 90 seconds) Walk 200 yards (or 90 seconds) Jog 400 yards (or 3 minutes) Walk 400 yards (or three minutes)	Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then do two repetitions of the following: Jog 200 yards (or 90 seconds) Walk 200 yards (or 90 seconds) Jog 400 yards (or 3 minutes) Walk 400 yards (or three minutes)	Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then do two repetitions of the following: Jog 200 yards (or 90 seconds) Walk 200 yards (or 90 seconds) Jog 400 yards (or 3 minutes) Walk 400 yards (or three minutes)
4	Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then: Jog 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes) Walk 1/8 mile (or 90 seconds) Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes) Walk 1/4 mile (or 2-1/2 minutes) Jog 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes) Walk 1/8 mile (or 90 seconds) Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes)	Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then: Jog 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes) Walk 1/8 mile (or 90 seconds) Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes) Walk 1/4 mile (or 2-1/2 minutes) Jog 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes) Walk 1/8 mile (or 90 seconds) Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes)	Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then: Jog 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes) Walk 1/8 mile (or 90 seconds) Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes) Walk 1/4 mile (or 2-1/2 minutes) Jog 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes) Walk 1/8 mile (or 90 seconds) Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes)
5	Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then: Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes) Walk 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes) Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes) Walk 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes) Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes)	Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then: Jog 3/4 mile (or 8 minutes) Walk 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes) Jog 3/4 mile (or 8 minutes)	Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then jog two miles (or 20 minutes) with no walking.
6	Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then: Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes) Walk 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes) Jog 3/4 mile (or 8 minutes) Walk 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes) Jog 1/2 mile (or 5 minutes)	Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then: Jog 1 mile (or 10 minutes) Walk 1/4 mile (or 3 minutes) Jog 1 mile (or 10 minutes)	Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then jog 2-1/4 miles (or 25 minutes) with no walking.
7	Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then jog 2.5 miles (or 25 minutes).	Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then jog 2.5 miles (or 25 minutes).	Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then jog 2.5 miles (or 25 minutes).
8	Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then jog 2.75 miles (or 28 minutes).	Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then jog 2.75 miles (or 28 minutes).	Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then jog 2.75 miles (or 28 minutes).
9	Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then jog 3 miles (or 30 minutes).	Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then jog 3 miles (or 30 minutes).	The final workout! Congratulations! Brisk five-minute warmup walk, then jog 3 miles (or 30 minutes).

  If you have any information or tips about jogging/running that could help me I will greatly appreciate it.  Oh yeah, I have flat feet.  Can anyone suggest some good running shoes.