POWER OF THE MIND

I had my 3.5 mile run this week .  I am happy to say it is getting easier.   I am not running fast but I am making it through the entire run/jog without stopping. I found a few secrets that help.  Whenever I would turn up the MPH, just the sound of the treadmill going faster made me wear out:)  This started me thinking,  running has so much to do with what is in our minds...I started slowing it down in my mind.  I would close my eyes, imagine myself walking, flowing with ease, being light.   Landing light,  this really did make it seem easier.   For some reason, if I run over 5 MPH I have really bad pains the day after.  If I keep it at 5, I'm good.  I have discovered however, that I can turn it up to 7 or 8 for 30-60 seconds frequently when I start to get tired.  Then I turn it back to 5 and it seems like I am crawling so it's easier.  Plus it gives me a little interval training.  I have the exercise part of this new life style down.  I LOVE to exercise.  I could do a lot more than I do if I didn't have other obligations.  I find myself wanting to keep going when I am on the treadmill, but force myself to stop and care for the other obligations in my life.  After my runs I usually walk another 2-3 miles.    I also LOVE the elliptical.  If the family watches a show, I will just hang out on it the entire time.  I also love step-aerobic classes, but only certain ones with great teachers.   The exercise is slimming me some. I did wear a skirt to church today that I haven't been able to wear for 2 years.  Yesterday I wore pants I haven't ever fit into.-ya, not even when I bought them (they were on sale) :)

The slow weight loss results are definitely not from lack of movement, but rather the eating part where I tend to struggle  a LITTLE more.    Throughout life, I have learned to deal with emotion by eating sugar.  You see, I have this habit--eat perfect MONDAY through WEDNESDAY, sometimes Thursday, white knuckle it through Friday.  Then I tend to get a LITTLE moody.  I start to want to bake.  It's like I relate baking to happiness even when it does not make me happy.  I may make it to Saturday then all heck breaks loose on Saturday & Sunday.  My eating is AWFUL and I usually pay for it most of the next week.  I have to eat perfect Monday-Wednesday again just to get back to my low weight;  just to undo the damage I have done.  But not this upcoming week.  I found a new way.   As I was considering how hard it is to not eat all my favorite foods 24/7 and also considering WHY do I do this to myself, I came across the article below.  I love the idea that  life is not about making sacrifices, but choices.  It's about our priorities.  I think when our mind TRULY  GETS this IDEA, our actions will consequently follow,  causing  EVERYTHING in our lives to be easier.  I LORI WILL choose the better way.  The happier way. The successful way!  It's going to be a record breaking week:)

 http://www.startrunningforbeginners.com

Running Success Principle: Sacrifices and Choices

Written by Andy on July 18, 2011 · Leave a Comment

During the 2008 Summer Olympics, I heard one of the athletes being interviewed after she won a swimming event. She was asked what sacrifices she had to make in order to be successful. But she gave an answer that was surprising.  I do not recall the name of the athlete, but I do know that was a wise statement that she made.  She said that it is not really about sacrifices, but it is about choices.  In her mind she was not giving up anything, but she was choosing to get something greater.
This is a wonderful mindset to have for your running, weight loss, and for life success in general.  Stop thinking that you are making sacrifices, and start making choices about how you want to be successful.  Choose to get up early and go for a run instead of sleeping in.  Choose to eat a piece of fruit after dinner instead of a dessert.  Choose to push yourself a little harder a little further during your next run.  Choose to add an extra day of exercise.  These are all great choices that will make you a better runner, and more healthy.  In your daily life there are plenty of choices to make.  Really it is just a matter of your perspective and your priority as to what choice you will make.