All Those Other Things

So running consistently, I get it, and I have embraced it as a part of my life.  Those of you who have been running for a while, know it isn't just the running.  There is this other stuff.  Like eating right.  I have always been one to tend toward healthier foods.  I don't really like sugar and I am not really a fan of grease.  I could definitely tell a difference when I was cooking at home less and we were eating out more.  Sometimes you just get busy.  It is worth the effort.  I like to take traditional comfort foods, things my husband really likes, and just try to make them healthier.  I did much better this week.  Of course not feeling like death freed up a lot of my time for cooking.  I definitely felt better.  We started the week with a veggie lasagna on Sunday and we were able to have it left over for lunch several days.  Last night I made one of my husband's favorites Homemade Chicken Fried Rice.  The key is nothing is really fried and I use both one whole egg and egg whites.  I also load up on veggies and cut the chicken back.  It tastes great, and we both love it.  What's so amazing is I can really tell that I feel better when I eat better.  No big surprise, but a nice reminder, when I am thinking easier to get the pizza.  Don't get me wrong, there will still be "get the pizza" nights, but I will recommit to trying to cook more. 

Where I really fall down is strength training.  I used to love strength training and hate cardio.  Apparently I can only commit fully to one form of exercise.  I know that strength training will make me a stronger runner, prevent injury, and is generally beneficial especially with a family history of Rheumatoid Arthritis, Osteoarthritis, and Osteoporosis.  Oh yeah, I come from a family of health nuts, in case you could not tell.  I don't make it a priority.  I used to think I needed to set aside like a concentrated 30 minutes to do a full circuit.  Now I am trying something new.  I am trying to just do a few moves in the afternoon after work while I watch TV.  Just a couple days a week.  Mostly using my own body as resistance.  I do push ups, sit ups, planks, squats, one leg dead lifts, lower ab exercises.  I realized that I could not regularly make the mental commitment for that structured half hour circuit so I would do nothing.  I can say "hey commercial break get off your butt and give me twenty."  I will see how this works.  I know my runs are always better when I do strength training, so maybe this will be a good compromise.  I know it is all about the attitude.  It was good to have a week that showed that the effort to do these things is worth it. 

I have the ATC Spring has Sprung 8K Race tomorrow.  It should be fun.  It is my first race in a month, since the Women's 5K was called due to weather.  I don't know how ready I am to really race, since I am still recovering from Bronchitis, but just being out with everyone will be fun.  Plus running somewhere else is always a refreshing change of pace.