“Good things come slow - especially in distance running.” ~ Bill Dellinger, Oregon coach

Filed Under exercise, motivation, running | 195 Comments

I don’t know if I mentioned it before but I recently took up running. I’m training for the Nike Marathon in San Francisco this October. It’s been about a month and a half, and I jsut ran 8 miles today! For someone who hadn’t run more than 100 yards before,  this is certainly an achievement! I do a run/walk combination so I shouldn’t be too boastful, but I feel very good about myself today :D

I took up running as a way to get some exercise. There is a free gym at work that I can’t bring myself to actually go to. I guess maybe because it’s indoors, and running on a treadmill just doesn’t have the same appeal. Anyway, I have always wanted to be a sporty girl, but I suck at most sports. Besides, I also didn’t want to join any team until I was in shape, because I didn’t want to be known as the girl “who can’t play because she runs out breath and needs to rest every 3 minutes”! So running seemed like a good solution: even though I am the world’s slowest runner, at least no one else is dependent on me, so I can afford to be slow. For now, it’s helping me get into a routine, learn how to be committed and consistent to a sport, and then hopefully once I’m done the marathon, I can join a soccer or baseball league! :)

‘But, you get the pizza and it’s not about the food, it’s about the camaraderie. Eating the pizza with friends..’ ~ Brendan Leonard

Filed Under Emotional eating, General | 213 Comments

The what: A week of indulging in all the old favourites.

The price: A gain of 3 lbs, lots of excellent memories with family and friends, and a realization that not all of my old favourite dishes make it to my current favourites list :)

Detailed analysis: A trip home after 8 months triggered a whirlwind of visits to all the old haunts: Montana’s, Spring Rolls, Tim Horton’s, Smitty’s, Boston Pizza, Richtree, Demetre’s etc. I couldn’t wait to have poutine, real bagels, real pizzas, tim horton’s ice cappuccinos and all the other delicious favourites that I hadn’t had for the past 8 months. It was fantastic! But the best part was not the food. I had missed the food, sure. However, what I realized was that it was the company that I missed more! I loved meeting up with the friends, and I noticed that I just fell into the old pattern of meeting at restaurants and cafes, and ordering “comfort food”   - cheesy garlic breads, chicken wings, fries. :( Hence the 3 lbs gain. I am letting it slide because I was there for only a week, and I now know that I am strong enough to start tomorrow with a clean slate and not continue down that road. What’s even more pleasing to me is that I did go running (once), ate smaller portions than I previously used to, and realized that some of my old favourites (which I absolutely couldn’t live without) are now in the “hey it’s nice to have a little bit every now and then” category :)

In the end, I am glad I went home. I am glad I did eat whatever I wanted to eat. I am glad I spent time with my friends and family.  And I am glad that I am now ready to lose the 3 lbs I gained, and the rest of the 5 lbs to my goal.