My running program and more

Lately I have had a lot of you emailing me over a couple of things. Why I decided to homeschool and how I have worked up to running without walking. I would love to share my testimony on the homeschooling decision but today I will start with the running and working out.

I've always been an athlete. I played softball, basketball, volleyball, ran a little bit of track in seventh grade and I even threw shot put and discus! I know, I know! Don't make fun of me like my husband does. I guess I've always wanted to be Hellga from American Gladiator, although I never had her frame, I felt just as tough! :) But one thing I never enjoyed was Cross Country! In fact, I would look for ways to get a note from the doctor explaining that I was unable to participate in long distance running. Since I was unable to get the Doctor's note, I was the kid walking because I HATED running with a passion.

Something happened when I was single that made me feel very alone and isolated so I began running to get time away and spend time outside since I love the outdoors. Then I began dating a guy that ran and eventually I worked up to 3-4 miles a day. But I never stuck with it. So I got into kickboxing, which is my absolute favorite workout to do! I wish I could afford the classes now because I would go in a heartbeat! Then Jeremy and I got married and began having babies one right after the other and my workout regimens never lasted because as soon as I lost all the baby weight, I was pregnant again!

When we moved to Austin I began praying for a running partner and I met Heidi. That story is an amazing story in itself. Soon after we began running. We started off by running two minutes, walking two minutes for a mile. The next night, we ran the whole mile at a slow pace. The next night we ran, walk again. We did this for one week and then added 1/2 mile each week. I think we both got to a place surprisingly fast where we skipped the walking and began to run. Our program was a fast program to train for a 5K. So that's how I did it!!! There are all kinds of programs you can find on the Internet or you can get a subscription to Runners World (my new favorite magazine and a gift from Heidi) and find a lot of beginners programs. If you don't like running, just try it out. I can honestly say that I love it now! I'm addicted. I don't have the best times for a race and who knows how well I will do on my 10K but I love running and I LOVE how I feel when I am finished.

I feel good about me and I feel healthy. Let's not forget about Heart Disease and all the health concerns for women. We should all be taking care of our hearts and it does not matter how unhealthy you are or how much your health is at risk, you can exercise. The doctor will tell you how good it is for you, just ask! It's a must for all women! Forget about looking good and wearing a size whatever jean, think about being healthy!

So how do I fit it in with three little ones? I run four times a week, I wish I could do five but it's hard with the kids. I am not a morning person so I run as soon as Jeremy gets home or after dinner. Jeremy got home yesterday at 4:30pm. It was not a running day but if it were, I would have had supper in the oven and left to run while it cooked. I only run at night if Heidi is with me. My other long run day is Saturday morning or Sunday after church while the kids nap.

Something else I started at the beginning of the year was weights, sit ups and squats. I found out about Kelly Rippa's work out routine and copied it! I don't have a medicine ball (yet) so I can't do that part of her workout but I can do some of the other stuff. Five nights a week, I do the following in my bedroom before I got to bed.

200 butt lifts (lay on your back and lift your butt up. I do 100, then do other stuff and then do another 100 at the end) And let me tell you that your butt will BURN!
25 bicep curls with weights (my weights are only three pounds each because that's all I have. I need to be doing five pounds each)
25 standing dumbbell press
25 standing dumbbell rear raises
25 Dumbbell side raise (THESE KILL ME)
50 squats (sometimes more)
100 Leg lifts on each leg
100 crunches (sometimes I do the crunches on the exercise ball)
And sometimes I do push ups (I am working on getting better at these but they kill me! I can do 25 if my knees are on the ground)

This does not take long at all and I do it while watching tv!

So there you have it! Please know that I don't post this in a bragging type of spirit but more of a proud spirit. I've never been a disciplined person. I quit everything I start pretty much. But the results of this hard work has been amazing and noticeable so I would not think of quitting. I pray God can use me to inspire all of you women to get out there and try something. Working out is not just good for our bodies, it's good for our mental health too. Just try it and see!

Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith.[a] Because of the joy[b] awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. 3 Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people;[c] then you won’t become weary and give up. 4 After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin.