running/exercise update

I'm so happy that I finally had the time to put together a post regarding my progress in working out and attempting the C25k program. I know that there are women out there who struggle with their weight or their overall health, and don't know how to go about changing their lifestyle. 

to backtrack a bit... up until February, I saw a personal trainer twice a week for nearly 7 months. during that time, I also dabbled in spinning classes and a bit of walking on the treadmill, but I've never really been one to fully commit to a cardio routine. I much prefer strength training to cardio, that's for sure. 

a few weeks ago, I attempted to start the C25k program, which I blogged about here briefly. I've struggled with shin splints in the past, so it was no surprise to me that I ended up with screeching pain in my shins after only two days into the program. while my gym shoes are running shoes, I figured that since they're pretty old (not necessarily beat up though, since I don't do ANY running), I could probably benefit from a new pair, and finally decided to go ahead and get properly fitted for new shoes (I blogged about the shoes I wanted to buy in this post). 

in between the time of suffering from shin splints and getting fitted for new shoes, I discovered that I had been running incorrectly... meaning my form and where I landed on my feet was causing a great/abnormal impact on my lower legs, and therefore causing the stress to my shins. obviously, I've since made a mental note to just run with what feels like a "natural" form... which is kinda hard for me considering that I don't run on a regular basis and so NONE of it really feels "natural" for me. either way, I needed to change my running form. 

so I finally got a chance to head up to the running specialty store in Annapolis, which came highly recommended to me by a few people. I had previously tried on a pair of the Nike Free Run and the Reebok ZigTech shoes, and I liked both of them, but clearly wanted something custom for my feet. mostly, I was concerned with whether I under-pronated or over-pronated, etc. 

the sales team at Charm City Run were amazing to work with, and it seems to me that they really know their shit. immediately, she had me take my shoes off, roll my pants up, and walk a straight line away from her, and then back. she squatted down close to the ground to watch my feet as I walked, and she determined that I was neutral, which means that I walk "normal." 

based on the arches in my feet and my level of running experience, she recommended three pairs of shoes with neutral cushioning for me: the Brooks Ghost, the ASICS Gel-Cumulus, and the Nike LunarFly. I ended up picking the LunarFly, because they were the most comfortable for me. The ASICS felt too heavy for me, and the Brooks were lighter, but didn't give the support in the right place on my feet. I grabbed a couple of breathable tanks and a pair of compression shorts before heading out, too.

I decided to go ahead and break in my new shoes at the March of Dimes 5 mile walk yesterday, and it was a wonderful idea. my feet were comfortable ALL day long, and the shoes are so light that they never bothered me at all. I couldn't believe how great I felt afterward... yes, I know it was just a walk, but it was 5 miles, and I have only ever walked that distance once, when I participated in the AIDS walk with my family as a kid. so yeah, it was amazing. 

I also wore my new shorts, and I am so glad I discovered them.... I might have to go out and buy a few more pairs of them. one thing I hate about wearing shorts to the gym is that I have thick thighs that rub together, which means that my shorts always ride up and my legs chafe easily... not with these babies. 

anyway, so the new shoes are amazing and I have a feeling they will contribute nothing but greatness to my new running routine. I strained my hip/groin during the walk yesterday, so I couldn't do much running today, but I did get up and walk at an incline for about 30 minutes this morning. I'm not totally used to morning workouts, but I'm looking forward to having my evenings back for getting things done around the house and eating dinner before 9PM. 

oh, and here are a few pictures from the March of Dimes that I shamelessly stole from Stephanie, who was our wonderful team leader! we ended up having 55+ walkers and raising over $3300. it was an amazing experience and I'm sure I'll be making it an annual event for our family! 

you can see my sweet new gear - I'm sitting low in the lower left hand side of the picture.

sadly, my camera died before the walk even started, so I only have a handful of pictures, which I still need to upload to the computer.

I should be back into the running game and continuing with Week 1 of the C25k program on Wednesday. I'll make sure to keep you all updated!

have you done any running lately? what running shoes do you prefer?

tidbits.

- this website has seriously allowed me to get through work this week without physically harming any of my coworkers. the only bad part is that I find myself laughing REALLY loudly at work, which totally gives it away. it's not a new site or anything, but I just started reading the newest posts, and therefore nearly peeing myself with laughter.

- I need a pair of brown boots to survive through the winter add to my ever growing boot collection, preferably leather ones, that are almost knee high. maybe even with a buckle or a cuff or some other cute detail. Sean says we're not allowed to do any shopping for ourselves until Christmas, which I find extremely difficult. if you'd like to donate to my boot fetish, I wear a size 9. in fact, these are perfect.

via 6pm

- speaking of Christmas, who has two thumbs and has just about completed her Christmas shopping? THIS GIRL. I only have two gifts left to get, and I will be finished! I really wanted to get a head start this year, so I asked around for suggestions early on and got that shit under control. I'm crazy when it comes to Christmas shopping, and I make myself an Excel spreadsheet to track everything. nerd up. 

- I need a weekend of nothingness. we I have had plans at least one day out of the weekend since fucking JULY. seriously, I could name what I did, and every single weekend included some kind of plans OTHER than me being a lazy bitch and not leaving my house for at least 24 hours. I need a weekend like that, but unfortunately, it looks as though we currently have plans for every weekend until around December. (Halloween, Daniel Tosh, Zoo Walk, tattoo appointment, Penn State game, Thanksgiving, etc). not that I'm not excited about every one of those events, because I am, but I just want a break. 

- I have a post that I started writing back in July about friendship. I need to add to it, without going into too much personal detail. I need to really vent and get some serious feelings out, even though I don't really consider myself to be a serious type blogger. even when I finish it, I'm not sure if I'll post it or not. I'd like to say I'm afraid I'll offend someone, but at this point, I really don't give two shits. not just one shit, TWO shits. 

- I'm halfway through Pillars of the Earth, and I'm loving it. I can't wait to pick up World Without End. I also can't wait to get all the books I put on my Christmas wish list, which includes the Hunger Games Trilogy. 

- it has now been 16 days since I became a non-smoker. while I was with friends on Saturday evening (and drinking), I bummed a few to smoke, but that's been my only slip up. the good thing though, is that they tasted disgusting to me, and I really only craved them because I was drinking alcohol. 

It's Friday. Let's be random.

A little random never hurt anyone right? Well... maybe if she came with AIDS and baby daddy drama.

Random things I love. Here we go.

1. I'm pretty sure the only thing I love more than Fridays are football Sundays. Football Sundays consist of Mr. MandeeFoFandee and myself plopping ourselves on the couch (in our respective jerseys, of course - Ravens for him, and Redskins for me) and watching football all day long. Preseason, regular season, post season... doesn't matter, as long as it's a good game. Obviously I'd prefer to watch games in which the Redskins are victorious, but let's be honest... those days are rare. Sometimes it's just nice to have a day where you absolutely nothing.



2. Shoes. I love shoes. And I'm not talking about $300 killer heels that would likely cause me to suffer a broken neck. I'm talking about the Birkenstock sandals that I wore for years. Unfortunately, one of the cats had a little "accident" IN THEM and I had to toss them out - they were so worn out and beaten up that a toss in the wash would surely destroy them. They're not the cutest, but they're the comfiest shoes I've ever owned. I wish I could be the kind of girl who can just throw on a pair of heels to wear to the bar, but alas, I'm not. For one thing, I'm already pretty tall (5'-8") and I hate being taller than S in public. Two... I'm not the most graceful creature on the planet, and I trip over my own BAREfeet, so you can imagine what happens when I add a few inches. And lastly, they're just NOT comfortable for me, and I refuse to wear something that causes pain.



3. For as long as I can remember, I've had a strange affection for weird animals. While I adore cats and want to adopt every single one I come into contact with, I consider my top three favorite animals to be hippos, polar bears, and alligators. I'm not sure why, but it's true. I think it's because they're all really cute when they're babies. Hippos are freaking badass. Male hippos tend to keep their space bubble clear of intruders by flinging their poo at other male hippos. Polar bears are so cute and cuddly. Alligators are extremely cool to me... they've been around for thousands of years, and are still pretty high up on the food chain.



4. A good poop. This one is pretty obvious, and since it's not TMI Tuesday, I won't elaborate further... nor will I couple this with a picture.

5. Dead baby jokes. I know, I know, they're offensive, but I'm not exactly the most PC person on the planet, now am I? I think they're hilarious... maybe it's because I don't have kids, but I'm pretty sure that even if I gave birth to a little demon, I would still joke about why you put it in a blender feet first. I've always cared more about animals than I do people, and therefore I can't stand jokes that involve dead animals. I can't even watch freaking Animal Planet when the hungry lion is trying to catch a fleeing gazelle for it's cubs. But I can bet you $100 that if they had a show that concentrated on people (aka fucking idiots) who move to Florida in the everglades and then wonder why an alligator ate their small child... I'd be all up in that shit as long as they had footage of the attack.



Random things I hate. This could possibly be a long list.

1. People who move to Florida (more specifically, areas that are highly populated with alligators) and then freakthefuckout when their dog, cat, or small person disappear from their backyard. Uhh... what did you think was going to happen when you decided to move your entire family (including the tasty little human) to a place where this alligator has lived it's ENTIRE LIFE? Did you think he would just sign over the deed and let you have the property where he/she raised it's babies for years? No, bitch, I don't think so. And by the way, why was your dog or child out in the backyard alone anyway... especially when you're living in godforsaken alligator country? I should be an alligator activist. I'm pretty sure it would work out.



2. Shaving my legs. I'm so lazy when it comes to shaving. In the summer, and only if I'm wearing shorts, I'll shave my legs up to my knee, since the hair is pretty light above the knee. In the winter... you'll be lucky if I shave a total of three times. I'm very aware that it's pretty disgusting, but I don't care. It's too cold in the winter to shave (even in the shower)... plus, I think the hair helps me to stay warm. Don't judge... it's not like you have to touch them.




PS - don't ever Google Image search "hairy legs" at work. holy hairy vagina everywhere.

3. Cliche tattoos, specifically tramp stamps. I won't go into more detail, as I really don't want to offend someone. I know what you're thinking... "Mandee... being courteous?" I know, it's crazy. Consider it a happy Friday gift.

4. The alarm clock. If I could go back in time and stop anything from being invented, it would be the fucking alarm clock. I hate when I'm dreaming, and then all of a sudden, I hear this annoying noise, and I'm all like "whatthehellisthat?!!" in my dream... before waking up and realizing it's my alarm going off. I think people would be a lot happier without alarm clocks.
I know a lot of people are jobless right now, so I think it would be awesome to hire someone and have them wake me in the morning to the fresh scent of blueberry coffee and pancakes. I sure as hell would be a lot happier in the mornings.


Thank you, kind stranger! This is much more pleasant than waking to some annoying song from my cell phone.

5. While we're on the subject, I'll go ahead and add cell phones used as alarm clocks. You know how you get a cell phone, and you're listening for that perfect tone to be used for your alarm? It always ends up being the most annoying fucking sound your phone could possibly make, because you know it's the only thing that will get your lazy ass out of bed in the morning. Either that, or, cause you to throw your cell phone across the room when you hear it go off. Of course, I've neeeever done that...


Alright, that's all I got for today, folks. That was a lot longer than I expected it to be. Told you, I have a lot to say.

Happy weekend!

Average Joes, wearing chocolate and super boys

Right, so i've decided to give Joe one more chance. This may be against the general consensus - according to the comments on my last post, all of you guys think its a lost cause and both my father and sister are in agreeance that he sounds like a total knob, but you never know, right ?I've agreed to go out with him again, if only to see if that elusive spark suddenly appears or to confirm my suspicions that he falls into friend territory. However, I have told him i will be busy for the next two weekends so he wont be seeing me before then. See, its my sisters 18th birthday this coming weekend and then my brothers 23rd the following, so i kind of have a good excuse to sit and mull over how to let Joe down gently if that spark doesnt appear.

In other news, like i said, my sisters birthday is now only 3 days and 4 sleeps away. Yes, she is about to turn 18 years of age and she is still counting down in the number of " sleeps ". Bless her little cotton socks... anyhoo, i bought the cutest black gladiator style heels to wear on Saturday night. Again, no picture for you yet but you can be sure i'll sneak a few pics of my tootsies at some point. I'm thinking after going out Friday AND Saturday nights, i'm going to have plenty pictures to choose from. Old school, drunk-at-the-pub, uploaded-to-Facebook style pictures. Look out!

Also, my neice insists that she will be wearing " chocolate " my sisters birthday dinner. What the? yes, when i asked her what she was going to wear, and i told her it had to be something nice, she replied, " Umm... chocolate! ". Well, yes, chcoolate IS nice, i just dont think its appropriate night time attire for a 3 year old. A 23 year old maybe ( especially if he has dark hair, and those goregous V hip muscle things..... ) but for a 3 year old, not so much.....

Oh, one last thing - i just want you all to know, in case you didnt already, that the boys on " Supernatural " are the prettiest boys on tv.

Do you eat Zebras ?

Thats what my neice wanted to know at dinner last night - " Aunty Amy, do you eat zebras ? ". We'd already gone over the fact that i eat chickens, and cows and pigs and little lambs, now my almost three year old neice was concerned that i might eat zebras.
Me: " Nope, i dont eat anything that has stripes ".
Her : " What about tigers, do you eat tigers ? "
Me: " Do they have stripes ? "
Her: " Ummm..... ( big long pause )...... yes. "
Me: " Then i dont eat them ".

All this stemmed from my dad mentioning that he was going to cook up some kangaroo sausages for his lunch the next day (he wasnt making that up by the way, we do eat kangaroo here in Australia ). My neice, however, thought the whole idea very funny. " Poppy, why are you going to eat a kangaroo ? " was the first question, which progressed onto what we do and dont eat. I felt honesty was the best policy - its important that she knows when we say we're eating chicken, we mean we're eating A chicken. What is also important is that you tell her that we DONT eat worms, dirt or boogers. Because sometimes she does eat boogers and, well, thats just not acceptable.
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Ah, shoes. Every woman worth her salt loves a pair of shoes, especially if they're on sale. I've had a handful of guys ask me about womens fascination with shoes, and i cant really explain it. Its just a sisterhood thing, i suppose - secret womens business to which there is no real answer. So when my mum asked me to take her shopping to find a pair of shoes to wear to my sisters upcoming 18th birthday dinner, i sure wasnt going to turn her down. My reward for this completely selfless act of kindness ? Getting the " second " pair of shoes when my mum waa offered a " buy one, get the second pair half price " special. Yay for me! So i chose me a really cute pair of shoes*- tan, leather, stacked heel, sling backs. They'll be perfect with a pair of jeans and white tank top. Too cute!
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Now, i know that we discussed whether or not i eat zebras, which was a no. What i do eat is Thai food, and my mum and dad decided tonight would be great night to go out for Thai. Bless their hearts for letting me come along for the ride. I am telling you, there is nothing in the world like a good mussaman curry, and the mussaman curry at our local Thai place is to die for! Tender chunks of beef in a smooth, sweet, peanutty sauce, accompanied by bite sized pieces of potato and large helping of rice. Absolute culinary heaven. I have never eaten so well as i did during my three weeks in Asia. I'd always liked your regualr run-of-the-mill Chinese food, but i developed a real love for Asian flavours whilst travelling. Everything was so fresh and light and i never went hungry. The best meal i had ? We had lunch with some Buddhist nuns in a monastery on a hillside in Vietnam and the food was gorgeous. Being nuns of the Buddhist variety they arent allowed to eat meat so everything we had was vegetarian. I was kind of thinking it was going to be quite a boring, stodgy meal but it suprised me - i dont know how they did it, but it was great! You know what else was great ? Tamarind crab. Seriously, i should not get started on how good this crab was....
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So, now, onward to tomorrow. I aske dmy mum if she'd like to go to the movies, so we're going to see " The Duchess ", with Keira Knightley. Umm, i mean she's in the movie, she's not coming with us, although that would be cool. I saw an interview with her on " 60 Minutes " and she seemed really down to earth, the kind of girl i'd be friends with. Keira, if you're reading this, give me a buzz and maybe we could do lunch or something.....


*I couldnt find a picture of them, so you'll just have to imagine them for yourself.