The Health Freak

Apparently I am, as I’ve heard it several times the past couple of weeks.

I swear I’m not the creepy kind of health freak who counts calories or tell you how many hundreds or thousands of calories you’re stuffing down your throat while you eat, and while I “enjoy” a healthy salad with a drop of dressing. I’m not like that at all. I mean, I rarely order drinks aside from water these days, that’s true, but that’s only because I can’t stand that much sugar in my mouth during summer. This lady needs her water to hydrate. Oh, and yeah, Sunday brunch mimosas are still in my regular schedule.

I would like some balance. I work out so I can enjoy good food (not junk food) and stay healthy. Trust me, being sick or exhausted all the time is not how you would like to spend your 30’s and beyond. I know firsthand, as a threat of something serious enough to panic for cancer, landed smack dab on my face to haunt me with the sticky goo of reality. Who was I to think I was invincible to real health threats that plague friends, families, and acquaintances left and right?

Yes, I’ve gone “healthy”, but not “freaky”. I’ll ask you if you’d like to go for a run or go to a class with me, but I won’t be that kind of social baggage you can’t hang out with later for a meal because I have strict dietary restrictions.

Case in point: last Sunday I went to a Pilates class with a friend. We ate delicious crack-crust pizza afterward, then hopped over to Granville Island to eat some more fresh pies, and get fruits. Yum.

Everything’s in moderation, including keeping my Maltesers stash for a pop of chocolate every now and then.

In other news, I’m on my Week 7 Day 3 of my 12-week FIRST novice running interval program. Hurray! Week 8 marks the week that I have to run for a mile without stopping. And that would be on Friday. Whoopee!

The Summer’s Heating Up

Remember I was looking for summer? This week we are set to welcome the high 20’s…like 27°C this Wednesday. I know, you’ll just have to hear me freak out over a 1°C change in the near future.

I find it so anally regressive that I consciously schedule my week around the weather. This week, I’m all about having indoor, airconditioning-blasted meetings on the hottest days, because I’ll end up whimping out of running then anyway. I might as well be productive work-wise.

About the running — I’m keeping up with it. I finished Week 6 Day 2, but I might have to repeat that last one because I almost couldn’t make it. I blame the 4-hour sleep the day I ran. I wasn’t prepared to feel my body that weak while running. Just learning something new each time. I also can’t do it strictly every other day because my legs seem to need more recuperating times in between the longer runs now. Plus, I don’t know how I could have jumped from 5.05km to 6.69 km with only one addition of a 4 minute run and a 1 minute walk intervals. How…how? My phone GPS gone bonkers? I’m thinking that’s the main reason my shins are screaming expletives when it’s pounded against the pavement.

I’m also keeping up with the Bikram yoga. 3 times a week at the very least. I have to keep it up considering I just purchased a 6-month membership. Woohoo, no HST on that one!

Life is good, I’m being good to myself first and foremost, which was a harder lesson to learn than others the past few years. Being “selfish” can be a really good thing and I’m still trying to find that delicate balance, but I think I’m getting there.

Going With The Flow

Rain. OMG-where-is-summer weather. Hello, you. But then again, I have nothing to complain about, because it all worked out in the end…

I have taken a break from running since Wednesday last week, when I ran along the Stanley Park seawall which gave a shock to my legs because it’s the first time since my Week 1 run that I’ve run solely on pavement. Why didn’t I think of that? The scenery was so nice, it was easy to get caught up and just run leisurely.

The result? I had persistent lower leg pain and a bonus throbbing pain on the outer back side of my right foot. I limped and I woke up in the middle of the night because of it. By Thursday I was scared enough about overworking my legs and booked an appointment with a registered massage therapist. Yup, great excuse to go to the spa. Friday afternoon I was in pain and in pleasure. Apparently my muscles were really tight and I was told to give my legs a few days of rest. Heat before stretching.

I was sore on my neck and shoulder (another tension spot for me) the next day and took it easy. Taking it easy for me equated to finalizing a contract with a client and meeting up with them to sign the paperwork and come home with a cheque. All in a day’s work.

Those stubborn pounds are starting to shed off easily, as if my metabolism just really needed a kick in the butt to wake up and get going. What astounds me is how long it took for it to get back to its senses. When I was in my twenties, pffft, that was no problem. One or two exercises and my body wakes up from its lull and resets itself back to my constant weight. Now? Wow, it’s so much work. However, I do appreciate my efforts more. I listen to my body more. I take care of my body more. I’m more aware of myself because I have to. Or nothing will happen. Before, there was a natural harmonious relationship among my body’s systems. These days, I have to conduct my own orchestra. I am starting to like being proactively in control of my health. I took it for granted in my younger years.

One just has to learn how to ride out the various stages in life. Instead of fighting it, you go with the flow.