Archive | December, 2013

Pain Is Not an Option

13 Dec
someecards.com - Best of luck finishing a marathon that doesn't involve episodes of Law & Order

How I felt when my knee tightened up.

I am not a teenager anymore. My body doesn’t heal like it used to. But when the one exercise I enjoy doing was taken from me, I was pissed.

I’ve been running since I began my weight-loss journey over five years ago. As I’ve said before on this blog, it appealed to my frugal nature. Plus it was something I could do that I didn’t have to learn. You run as a kid, you walk as an adult. There wasn’t much to it but to do it.

Eventually got pretty good at it. My speed increased every few months. My stamina increased with each extra half mile. My endurance was great; I could hang for a well over an hour of flat-out running.

Then somewhere along the way I started to feel tightness below my left knee. It didn’t worry me much because I could continue on my trek at the same speed. Then I started to slow down. Eventually I had to come to a stop and limp my way back home.

Who was this person I’d become? The open air of the trail, the people watching, the feeling of freedom that came with having the wind at my back all came to a halt. Now I was conking out after about two miles, eventually conking out at one. My pride hurt more than the physical pain of not being able to complete my journey anymore.

There’s almost a sense of invincibility that comes with running. Once you’ve hit your stride, you go on auto-pilot. Now my auto-pilot was malfunctioning.

I consulted my general practitioner, and she suggested changing my shoes. I can’t stress this enough: you have to replace your shoes! Just like the tires on your car, your running shoes are not meant to last forever. Your feet and legs are your mode of transportation. You can’t get very far without them. They must be cared for.

I ordered new sneakers which helped for a few months. But the pain returned, and with it my sense of defeat. I really thought it was over for me as a runner. Any dreams I had of completing a marathon were kaput. If I can’t get through mile three without conking out, what good am I on a 26.2-mile course?

On another visit to my doc, she followed up on my knee. I told her I hadn’t been out in months because of the pain. A runner herself, she wouldn’t stand for my defeatist attitude. “We’ve got to get you back out running,” she said. She referred me to a sports medicine doctor who, she said, consulted professional athletes. After doing an x-ray, he said there was no joint or ligament damage. It was something I’d have to work through in physical therapy, which was a relief.

My therapist first had me walk down the corridor and then run for about two minutes on the treadmill. He pulled me off after about 30 seconds having identified the problem whip-fast. As a woman, especially one with “child-bearing hips,” my body isn’t designed for long runs. What happens is my hips get out of whack and my knees and ankles pick up the slack, causing pressure on my IT band. The best way to remedy this would be weeks of therapy to strengthen my hips.

Here’s a few things I learned:

Bridge

Lunge stretch

Hip hikes

Side leg raises

I knew I lacked a lot of physical strength because of my focus on cardio as exercise. I’ve neglected the strengthening aspect because cardio is a faster way to lose weight, which was my goal. But being forced to sit out running made me realize that I need to be more well-rounded by incorporating strength training. It’s not enough to be smaller if I can’t move my body.

After a couple of months, I was able to do three, then four and eventually seven miles. I have to do these stretches, which take about 15 minutes, at least three times a week to keep the strength up in my hips. I’m okay with that, because I love running. It’s what I do to make me happy

What do you do to keep up your strength? And how do you deal with injury when it keeps you from doing something you love?

One Fish, Two Fish, I Love Goldfish

9 Dec
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Really. I just…I have no words.

If you are what you eat, then I am a bag of Pepperidge Farm Flavor Blasted Xtra Cheddar Goldfish crackers. Saying I love them doesn’t quite describe how I feel about the salty goodness that comes with each bite.

Things are so bad that I have to bypass the cracker aisle at the grocery store so as not to tempt myself. Sometimes, though, a girl just needs a bag of goldfish.

I’m aware that it’s a problem. It’s my vice. Just writing this, I want to go pick up a bag (or four). It’s helpful that they’ve gone up in price, because a few years ago I could buy 10 bags for $10. It was insane how many I not only had in my house, but how fast I could go through them. I’d shovel them like it was my last meal.

I thought about immersion therapy. You know, eating so many at once that I’d just get sick of them. But that didn’t work; I just ended up with cheese dust covering everything. No one wants to walk around looking like an orange pylon all the time.

So what to do? It’s no use denying myself the foods you enjoy when I want them. I don’t crave them all the time; but it doesn’t hurt to have a handful ready when the mood hits.

That goes for all cravings. Everyone has their fave type of junk food. For me it’s goldfish crackers, but for others it’s cookies, cupcakes, potato chips, etc. A handful won’t kill you. Eighteen handfuls, however, might be a bit of a problem.

When First Lady Michelle Obama started her Let’s Move! campaign to combat childhood obesity, some questioned how that could be reconciled with the holidays. Sure, we people could follow the initiatives pillars of healthy eating and physical activity during most of the year. But the holidays call for turkey, gravy, football and pie.

The best way to alleviate that guilt is just not to weigh yourself down with it. If you enjoy cookies, have a couple. If you like chips, have some. Just don’t let that be all you eat. These foods were created to be as snacks, not meals.

One of the things it took me a while to learn while on this weight-loss journey was the difference between cravings and hunger. Cravings can be alleviated easily if it’s not caused by hunger. For example, if I’m craving a handful of cheese-dust crackers, I’ll drink a large glass of water and chew some gum. If I’m still feenin’ it after the flavor has worn off on my Orbit Bubblemint, it’s time for some crackers. There’s no harm in water and chewing gum, and I’m not overeating.

Once you’ve learned to separate your cravings from hunger, the weight-loss journey becomes more tolerable. You find a way to keep yourself sane when a cookie craving comes along. I know it took me some time, but I hope that’s not the case for you.

What are some of your vices and how do you keep your cravings in check?

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Recipe: Greek Eggplant With Feta

4 Dec

Greek Eggplant With Feta

Time: 20 minutes to prep; 40 minutes to cook

image

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds eggplant, unpeeled
  • 2 cups each: sliced red and yellow bell peppers and onions
  • Olive Oil cooking spray
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons dried rosemary leaves, crushed
  • 3/4 teaspoon each: dried marjoram and thyme leaves
  • 1 cup (4 ounces) crumbled feta cheese
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Preparation

  1. imageCut eggplant into 1/2-inch slices; cut slices into fourths. Arrange eggplant, bell peppers and onions in single layer on greased foil lined pans.
  2. Spray with cooking spray and sprinkle with herbs.
  3. Roast at 425 degrees until browned and tender, about 40 minutes.
  4. Toss with cheese, season to taste with salt and pepper.

Courtesy of 1,001 Low-Fat Vegetarian Recipes (fourth edition)

Verdict

We didn’t eat a lot of eggplant at my house growing up. It was something I developed a taste for in adulthood. It’s one of my favorite veggies, but I’m always looking for quick, easy ways to cook it. I used actual olive oil instead of spray for this recipe, which wasn’t the best idea. A spray will evenly distribute and go on lighter. Using actual olive oil caused things to cook a too fast. My dish was overcooked, but the flavors were still there. Next time I think it will be better.

The Types of Runners You’ll See on the Trail

2 Dec

friends_phoebe_runsThere’s an episode of Friends where Rachel takes Phoebe on a run with her. A little bonding between friends never hurt, unless you’re phoebe and you’re running like you’re escaping from an asylum.

Unfortunately, Phoebe’s exaggerated gate isn’t an uncommon site on the path. Hey, I’ve taken issue with my own running style, seeing as how I look like a velociraptor in Jurassic Park. But at least I’m not in danger of hurting anyone but myself.

Some runners you can learn from, but others are best to steer clear from. Here are a few types that you’ll see on the beaten path:

The pro: This creature has been doing cross-country since he was knee-high to a knee-hi. He looks like Matthew McConaughey—no shirt, glistening chest, tiny running shorts. This guy will make you run into a bush because you can’t take your eyes off him. But you’ve got to look away. You’re on a mission, and so is he. He’s only a third of the way through is 20-mile run today, and you’ve only allotted time for four miles. You’ll never catch him, and you’ll just be a sweaty mess as he laps you for the third time. See also: his Jessica Biel-like sister.

The couple: No matter their age, they’re going at the same speed. They’re also not paying attention to to their surroundings, including you. While they’re discussing dinner plans, they’re likely to run you over in the process. They’re not out for a long run, so you won’t have to hear them bicker over bullshit for long. But their constant picking at one another could be the motivation you need to pick up your pace and get away from them as fast as possible.

The stroller brigade: Aside from the pros, these are my fave people to watch. They’ve got their three-wheeler jogging strollers with adorable moppets inside. It gives me hope that if I ever had kids, this would be my life. The only downside is the shame you feel if they should pass you up. They’re pushing a good 20-30 pounds and still lapping you. But just remind yourself that at least you don’t have to clean that diapered mess when the run is over.

The puppy party: The people I’m most jealous of are the ones who run with their dogs. I have a 12-year-old chihuahua who just can’t hang on my eight-mile treks. After about the second mile, he’s ready to lay down. He pees every five feet but just for fun he needs to sniff a spot for a couple of minutes before dropping pheromones. Exercise isn’t one of his top priorities. He likes to stop and pee on the roses; I like to zoom past them. Dog runners have a good companion at their side, but occasionally, those companions do as dogs do and doo-doo all over the path. Watch out for brown mounds. You’re gonna smell bad enough when your run is over.

The group outing: As if the couple weren’t annoying enough, a group of four or more people come along to crowd the path. They’re there for the camaraderie but forget theirs aren’t the only feet pounding the pavement. No matter how much you say excuse me, they can’t seem to hear you over their own blathering. My only suggestion is to yell, “Left!” and barrel down the side. Like birds, all will move after the first clears out of the way.

Honorable mention goes to cyclists. I like to run with my headphones on. A little Biggie, T.I. or Ciara gets me going a long way. Because their beats are so strong, sometimes I can’t hear the tinkling of a bicycle bell coming behind me. And instead of just yelling, as anyone else will do, cyclists will just ride up on your side with no warning. Getting clipped from a cyclists is not my idea of an ideal run. And don’t let them go riding in groups. Cyclists+Groups=HULK SMASH

Who are the people you encounter that get on your nerves?

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