I Wish Wednesday

I wish I could read J’s mind.
This weekend we went to Nebraska Furniture Mart with the expressed purpose of buying some furniture off the long list of options we had discussed. We looked at bedside tables, bar stools, bookshelves and buffets. And we came home with absolutely nothing! I was particularly excited to get bedside tables since I currently have a pile on the floor next to my side of the bed. But I didn’t have a clear vision of what I wanted ahead of time and J had no idea what he liked. Soo now I know what I like and I know what he does not like so hopefully our next trip will be more successful. But mind reading sure would’ve been helpful. :)

I wish it was really Spring.
Let’s be real – it’s March in Nebraska. There is a very real possibility that it will be very cold yet again this month. I love 40-50 degree mornings. This week I’ve started running again. Even though it’s hard to convince my lazy winter bones to get outside and be active in the morning, I am trying. I find that running is a great stress-reliever. I want to be more consistent this summer than last year. It’s a continuous, slow growing process for me.

Runner Hair

My hair drives me crazy when I'm running! I have tried all those cute little headbands and they just slide right off my head. I spend more time adjusting my headband than focusing on running. I usually end up putting in half a dozen bobby pins.
I just read about these headbands from Bondi Bands. I can't wait to try them out in spring. Because I am a fair weather runner! :)

Do you have any other suggestions for me? How should I tame my mane?

Ghouls on the Run!

I ran a 5k on Sunday! It was called Ghouls on the Run for the Girls on the Run program. We ran with a whole bunch of upper elementary girls and their families and coaches. I think it's great that they have this program in their schools to encourage exercise.
Sorry there will be no pictures because, we didn't want the pressure. Some of us (Heather) get nervous at these events. So the goal was to view this as just another practice run.
Heather, my mom and I started out together but it didn't last long. It was so windy! Thankfully they changed the course so we didn't have to run across the dam Holmes Lake. But we still had to run across the bridge and I thought I was going to blow away! Even though I walked some, I really happy that I finished. I think Heather ran the whole thing and Mom ran most of it. Great job girls! We'll have to do some more races next summer.
Next time we schedule a race, I plan on practicing a lot more. I was so sore earlier in the week. I could barely walk down stairs and I walked like a little old lady. Sadly, this shows what bad shape my thigh muscles are in. Oh well, I have a whole winter of Pilates to fix that! :) I didn't start running regularly until this spring and it did drop off a little mid summer but I am so happy that I started. Now that I know I can finish these races, I'm excited for spring so I can start running again with the hopes of doing better on next year's races. So if you feel that you're not really a runner, try it! You might be surprised.

Healthy Ideas

I just read this interesting article from SELF Magazine via the Today Show. Please read the full article at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27069944/ for more info and to find out where their research is from. I just outlined the main points.
9 ways to lose weight without dieting
Self magazine on how to shed the pounds and not stress over a single bite.
Great news! You can ditch your diet for good and still hit your happy weight. Science has finally proven what you've probably suspected for years — that following a restrictive food plan can make you more likely to overeat. We at Self have a better way to slim down: nine simple lifestyle switches that will help you shrink your waist effortlessly!
Eat more good stuff. Focus on healthy foods and eat fiber.
Go to the dogs. Volunteering at the pound could help you lose pounds.
Sleep it off. Getting enough sleep can keep your body from storing fat. Sleep deprivation increases cravings for sweets and starches.
Spice things up. The spices like garlic and pepper make people focus on the sensory characteristics of the food — its smell and taste. The foods were more enjoyable, so people felt fuller faster and didn't eat as much.” Sniffing the dishes was key because 90 percent of what you taste is determined by what you smell.
Give yourself props. Simply applauding your everyday calorie-burning activities can help you shed pounds. Previous research suggests that having a positive attitude may help reduce overall stress levels — which can make eating healthy easier.
Eat when you're hungry. Women who eat when hungry and stop when satisfied have a lower average body-mass index than those who eat for other reasons. Women who are satisfied with their body are more likely to eat when they're hungry, and vice versa.
Breathe away weight. Inhale, exhale and then step on the scale. Meditating before and during meals helped the dieters eat less and enjoy their dishes more. In other words, enjoy your food instead of scarfing it down.
Surrender the salt shaker. Salt may be calorie-free, but it can still contribute to body fat — and not only because it piggybacks on greasy snacks such as fries and chips. Salt leads to thirst. So if you indulge in something salty, don't wash it down with something sweet.
Savor a good laugh. Watching a funny show caused adults to experience a 20 percent jump in heart rate and resting metabolism in a study at Vanderbilt University in Nashville. Laughing uses up a lot of energy because it engages a variety of muscle groups, including your abs.
For more health and fitness tips, visit Self.com

So I found this article interesting. I feel like most of the 9 steps are helpful even though some of their suggestions are silly. And they're all such easy and obvious tips. I mean, who doesn't need to laugh some more! I've been trying to exercise more and be more conscious of what I eat. I never paid much attention to what I ate or how much exercise I got as long as my jeans still fit. But my husband has pointed out that fitting in your clothes or staying at the same number on the scale doesn't mean your in shape. Earlier this year I did my first "competitive" run. Even though I waited until the last minute to start running was still happy to participate. I was proud that I ran the entire 3K without stopping. Believe me, I wanted to stop. I hadn't run consistently since a few early morning bleary-eyed adventures with my roommate and before then not since Jr. High track. I was hoping that this would inspire me to have a love of running and a desire to do it a few times a week.
Sadly this didn't happen. I found that I do enjoy running but only when it's not too hot or cold. I enjoy the fresh air and the sense of accomplishment I feel went I make it back to the house in one piece. But I am very easily distracted and fill my time with other things. So this month, Heather asked me to do another race. I am once again putting off preparing to run until the last minute. This time it's a 5K so some training might really come in handy. I am praying for discipline and nice weather for the next 2-3 weeks! :)