Living an Inspired Life

What inspires me? What can I do today that will leave me touched, moved, or inspired?

These are questions I’ve asked myself everyday this week. Am I living a life that I find inspiring? To answer honestly – no. I’m not. And that’s ridiculous. There’s no reason why I shouldn’t be. BEING a person that exercises inspires me, and seeing other people do it is inspiring to me. NOT doing those things does more to me than just not take me closer to fitness – it creates a mindset that I CAN’T do those things. And then it stops feeling like a choice.

So what did I do this week? I ran on Sunday. A nice long run too. And Wednesday I walked on the treadmill and weight lifted. And tonight I will run and lift. And tomorrow I will run and lift. So at least I can create a strong finish for the week. A strong finish that leaves me feeling inspired, and one step closer to my fitness goals.

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Last Day Before Vacation: Workout & Diet

Breakfast: 5pts

Clif Bar (Chocolate Chip)
Coffee with Sugar

Lunch: 4pts

Fruit Salad: Grapefruit, kiwi, orange, banana, and mango mixed with greek yogurt

Snack: 3pts

The rest of the fruit salad from lunch

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Tuesday Run

Felt pretty good, not sore today at all. I was still the slowest person in the group. Ran with Cheryl, who just did the Chicago marathon. I’m definitely in good company…

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Tonight’s Run: Philly Runners Out & Back

Tonight I’m meeting up with the Philly Runners for the regularly scheduled out and back Tuesday night run.

The entire run is 4.4 miles. Last week I did about 3.0. Tonight I get to track the whole thing with the iPhone MapMyRun app.

Daily Weight Watchers Points:

Breakfast: 6 pts
Fruit Salad with Yogurt: 1 Banana, 1 grapefruit, 2 clementines, 1 tbsp Raw Agave Nectar, 1 container 0% Fat Greek Yogurt (5 pts)
Coffee: 2 tsp sugar (1 pt)
Balance: 14 pts

Lunch: 5pts
3 Tofu Summer Rolls: Cucumber, cilantro, rice paper, glass noodles, carrot, apple, red pepper, dipping sauce
Balance: 9pts

Snack: 2pts
1 Banana, Cup O’ Soup
Balance: 7pts

Dinner: 6pts
White Chocolate Macadamia Nut Clif Bar (5pts)
Gingerade GT’s Kombucha (1pt)
Balance: 1pt

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Be -> Do -> HAVE

I found out last night I’ve been doing things all wrong. In all areas of my life as it turns out. But this is a training blog, and I’m here to achieve my ideal weight and be fitter, so that’s what I’m focusing on.

HAVE -> DO -> BE : This is backwards – but the norm!

The typical pattern – for myself and I believe others – is HAVE something (weight watchers, gym membership, new running shoes) BEFORE we can Do Something (go on a diet, exercise, lose weight), and then we will Be Something (slimmer, fitter, faster). And how does this usually work out? Well, not so good. After all, I have the weight watchers membership, the home gym, and the running club. And where has this gotten me? Honestly, not too much closer to where I want to be. And that is a really honest answer. I’ve been “on” weight watchers for 4 weeks. But that’s a big joke. I’ve tracked my points for about 4 days total. And that is the key to the weight watchers program.

So I’m caught in the trap. But I have the ability to free myself from the trap right now, in this moment. I can declare that I am fit and healthy. But that doesn’t make it so, does it? No, it doesn’t. HOWEVER – and this is very important – it will never happen unless I first declare it.  I will never be fit and healthy unless I declare that I am fit and healthy. And once I declare it, then I can do it, and then I will have it. And then I enroll others in my being fit and healthy.

So how am I enrolling others in my being fit and healthy? By tracking my diet and doing weight watchers. By joining Philly Runners, and doing the running. By waking up early and doing the strength training and sharing that with others. If it’s not shared, it doesn’t matter.

So here lies the answer:

BE: Declare what I AM.

DO: Take the action of what I am.

Have: The results of my actions

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Week 1 Day 1: Strengthen & Stretch

Today is the official start of my training for the Lehigh Valley Half Marathon. Currently I can run about 3 miles, at about a 12 minute pace. Really my only goal for the half marathon is to finish somewhere in the middle of my age group, which would mean about a 11 minute mile pace.

Training Week: 1
Weeks to Go: 21

Stretching Workout:

The Exercise.tv Morning yoga workout

Strengthen:

Week 1 / Day 1 of Workout #1 – Body Sculpting Bible for Women

Reps: 12-15
Rest: 90 seconds between each exercise

Back:
One-Arm Rows: 15 reps / 20 lbs

Chest:
Push-ups: 10 full

Shoulders:
Dumbell Shoulder Press: 12 reps / 15lbs; 15 reps / 12.5 lbs

Calves:
1 Leg DB Calf Raises: 15 reps / 20 lbs

Biceps:
Bicep Curls: 15 reps / 15 lbs

Triceps:
OH Tri Ext: 12 reps / 15 lbs

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Sunday Walk

2.5 miles: Kelly Drive, Art Museum to 1.25 marker

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Saturday Walk: Lincoln Drive to Valley Green

Mostly walked, did some intermittent jogging. Went about 5.5 miles

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3 miles, kelly drive

Wasn’t too bad. I have a long ways to go. Looking forward to the Resolution run in 5 weeks

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