January in Review

Some people have a "happy place", I have a "healthy place"... let's just say I was not there for the past several months. January for me was about getting back to being comfortable in my body, making healthier food choices, finding a renewed motivation.

Total Mileage:  Last Wednesday (Jan 23) was the first day I could work out, so in 9 days I managed to get in 39 miles. What's crazy is that is more miles I've put in 9 days worth since the summer. I'm incredibly pleased with my "new-found"motivation, and for my body at holding up after being sidelined for 5 weeks.
February Mileage: I don't have an exact # I'm going to try to hit, but I would like to be close to 100, every time I hit 100 I get injured, so close to it is good enough in my book.

Highest Mileage week: 29- first 7 days of being able to run. If I would have realized it was going to be 29, I would have attempted another mile or not taken my rest day to get in 30.

February: I will be over 30 and like to hit at least 35 (It may or may not have been well over a year since I've done 35 miles in a week- sad I know) .

Races Planned / Completed: 0/0: Rest month  

February: verdict is actually out right now- I originally had scheduled my first half last week of February, but for reasons I can't disclose just yet I may be pulling the plug. I know I will for sure be doing a race next saturday as there are 3 local ones to chose from- 2 Valentine's themed 5ks, and the Cedar's Frostbite Half that I ran last year. 

Accomplishments for January;

• Finished Ultimate Reset and lost all my holiday weight and then some
• Received my bloodwork back from my biometric screening, everything went right in the direction (except HDL went down a little) 
• Found renewed energy for working out again
• Actually went to yoga- been saying for MONTHS that I need to go and have failed each time
• Stretching after EVERY run- may not be immediately after, but i make sure to do it--- this is making a big difference in my recovery and allowing my legs to be refreshed. 

Current Book: "Just a little..." series on Kindle. I wish my brother Eric would just propose to Tracie already so I could call her my sister in law instead of "my brother's girlfriend" (too blunt?) but alas she wrote this short series and it reached #1 in Australia and another country (forget which one) First book in the series is "Just a little Crush" and its permanently free. The series is 4 parts and I must say its fabulous and a quick fun read

Current Excitements/ Obsessions:

•  That I can run again- looking forward to being able to get my speed back as its still not all there yet
• Gearing up for my first race back so I can see how I do and create my big 2013 girl which will be to break 1:40 in the half 
• Meeting my new niece for first time-- haven't decided if i'm going to wait till I go home over Easter, or do a drop in before then... stupid 6 hour drive to Columbus. 

Current Treat: What started out as an almond butter fudge infatuation has manifested into the lazy and impatient option of not waiting the two hours for it to harden in freezer... Almond butter covered in shredded coconut. Don't get me wrong I still love the fudge, but this does the trick for something with no prep. I'm a bit obsessed now and I may have gone through 6 jars of almond butter in January, maybe.... I'm open to try other bands, but this is my go to and what is most readily available. Great now I'm craving my almond butter fudge crack as I write this...

Current Goal: Run comfortably and consistently in the 8s on the road (treadmill is much easier for me to control my pace)

For 2013 I'm going to try to do 1 major takeaway each month (good or bad) so that way I can continually learn and grow from my mistakes / accomplishment. 

January Major takeaway: Your diet really is the key foundation to your health. Obviously as a nutritionist I "know this", but it was really driven home this month by watching the changes in my body, and even more confirmed when I looked at my lipid profile (my blood panel is pretty consistent year to year, so even though 2012 to 2013 isn't 'earth shattering', its still a big shift for me)

                               2012                               2013                   

Total Chol                 150                                108

LDL                           73                                   48

HDL                           66                                   53

Trig                            57                                    35

Glucose                      95                                    88

HDL/TC ratio              2.27                              2.04 

HDL dropping was disappointing since you want that number to be high as possible, but considering exercise helps increase that number and I wasn't exercising for 5 solid weeks prior to my blood test, I guess this can be expected.  It's unrealistic to continue eating as strictly as I was, but I'm using this as motivation to keep myself in check when I think I've "earned" something outside of my normal realm of choices. 

How was your January?

Mine did NOT start out great, but ended on a surprisingly good note. I'm pleased with what I've set myself up with so far for the year and anxious to see where my fitness level will be at in 1 month. 

Any Major takeaways?

diet for sure, as well as the power of stretching, can't believe how 'refreshed' my legs feel