Music to Run With

Alright readers, I need your help.  I need more up-beat work out music for my iPod.  I wear my ear buds when I go running and I want some more variety.  So my question is, What song gets you supper pumped when running or working out?  I want all your suggestions... I love most every kind of music.

Here are some songs that are already on my iPod:

Eye of the Tiger by Survivor

Just Dance and Born This Way by Gaga

Raise A Glass by Pink

the Body Talk album by Robyn

all of Michael Jackson and Prince

4 Minutes by Madonna

Feel the Burn

Instead of my usual 2 mile power walk, I decided to climb some nearby hills.  These are big hills and they have a very steep incline.  I thought it might be good for my backside.  So I only walked a mile today, but the first half was strait up!  When I got to the top, I was winded and sucking gas big time.  Cedar City is at 6500 feet and the high altitude means that I have less oxygen than I'm accustomed to.  However, the burn I was feeling in my butt and thighs was great!  I just recently read that women who get their heart rates up for just 10 minutes a day were generally 6 dress sizes smaller than women who did not.  Jack took some quick snap shots of me as I headed out on my walk this morning.  So, here I am on my way out and up up up!

P.S  Today's play list was all Mo Town!

A New Day

Yesterday was a day of rest, but this morning, I was up early and back at it!  I took a 2 mile power walk and returned home to a fresh light breakfast of Clementine oranges and a tall glass of water mixed with the juice of 1/2 a lemon. Back on track!

P.S.  Today's play list was a shuffle of upbeat tunes from 1980's hairbands.  (My husband's albums.)

Don't Forget to Smile

I've learned a few small lessons since beginning my walking regimen.  They're not revolutionary - they're just little tid-bits about the nature of exercise.  Initially, I thought that waking up in the morning and going for a power walk would get easier as the days wore on.  Which brings me to my first drop of knowledge: 

1.  It doesn't get easier.  You just get better.


I also thought that while on this journey, I'd be doing battle with my conflicting desires.  Namely these two desires: "I don't feel like going out for exercise" and "I want to stay home and eat something sweet".  This is what I've learned:

2. I almost always regret eating something sweet.  I never regret going for a power-walk.


The other thing that I've discovered (yogis have known this for centuries) is that smiling makes everything seem better and easier.  When I'm feeling a little burnt out or exhausted, the simple act of smiling releases endorphins and relaxes my muscles so that I can push through the tough spots.

3. Don't forget to smile.

P.S.  Today's play list was Journey.  I've been having trouble with my ear buds staying in my ears.  They keep wriggling out and I am constantly adjusting them.  I feel so silly, like a 13 year old girl who always messes with her hair. This came to a head today when I ran a half mile of my walk.  The running exacerbated the issue and made me realize, I need to invest in some proper sized ear buds.

The Readiness is All

I'm just back from a two mile walk up the canyon behind Cedar City, Utah.  I feel good.  I'm feeling even better about being on this "get healthy" journey.  I'm also excited to be down another pound since Sunday.  The question that kept coming up today as I power walked happily against the breeze to Prince's Raspberry Beret was "Why didn't I do this sooner and avoid ten years of needing a belt extender on airplanes?"  And I guess the answer is simple.  I just wasn't ready.

Computer Binging Pajama Fest

I took the day off yesterday.  Monday mornings always seem to be a little more hectic around my house.  My husband is back to work after a day off and my three-year-old is eager to get to swim lessons.  Charlie, my 10 month old is popping a tooth and decided that he would spend the morning screaming into my ear.  Poor kiddo, I wish there was something more that I could do for him.  So, I spent the majority of my day in clothing that resembled pajamas, taking care of my boys.

I also spent many hours online reading Mormon scripture as a little "getting to know my temporary neighbors" exercise.  I'm currently in Cedar City, Utah while Jack works at the Utah Shakespeare Festival.  From the entrance to our apartment, I can see four white steeples all belonging to Mormon churches.  I am visited two or three times a week by "the Mormon boys".  This is how they introduce themselves - "Hi, we're your local Mormon boys.  Are you interested in our message?"  In fact, I am interested in their message but not for the reasons they think.  I'm more interested in their message from a "Hey, why is Mormonism the fastest growing religion in the West?" kind of way.  More anthropological than spiritual.  Instead of chatting with boys, I spent LOTS of hours online with the angel Moroni, Nephi, Lehi, Joseph Smith and a host of other crazy characters.  Anyway... I'm waaaaaay off track here.

The point is that I yesterday I was a stationary lump and getting out the door this morning for my walk took some serious energy.  I was lethargic from yesterday's computer binging pajama fest.  But once I was out in the sun, smelling the sage and feeling Cedar City's mountain breeze on my face, I felt amazing!

P.S.  Today's playlist was Joan Osborne.

Sometimes My Mind Wanders...

A few days ago while on my walk listening to the rebounding flap of my rear end with each step I took, I had a little day dream fantasy:


Dallas area woman caught in the middle of a freak accident last Thursday. There were no witnesses to verify the incident, but local police say that a large tree limb fell on the victim grazing only her backside. The Dallas area woman walked away from the accident unharmed. However, her butt went with the tree.  When asked why she was under the tree, the victim said, "I was walking to lose weight." She is currently in the hospital undergoing evaluation and some light reconstructive surgery. Authorities say that she'll be released on Monday, fifteen pounds lighter with a cute new butt.



When I relayed my fantasy to my mom, she reminded me that my butt will fall off if I keep walking.  Point taken.  So, this morning, I headed out the door with my big beautiful hind quarters in tow.  Besides, reconstructive surgery is so ... ugh.

P.S.  Playlist today was Eminem.  That guy can really throw some beats.  Oh, and tomorrow is my weigh in!  So stay tuned to see how we did this week!  (You should know that I had a tall Coffee Frappuccino on Thursday.  I couldn't help myself.)

More reasons to lose the weight

I woke up this morning with a runny nose.  I was up all night with my 10 month old, Charlie, who is also suffering from a allergies.  My husband was also up at 3:30am without returning to sleep.  No rest for the weary.  I thought, "There is no way that I'm going for a walk this morning.  I'm beat."  While I was in the bathroom I stepped on the scale to find that I've lost another pound over the past three days.  Then I peeked over the edge of Charlie's bed to see him sleeping soundly under his flannel blanket.

Many of you know that my son Charlie is a stroke survivor.  He had a grade four stroke in utero and is in the process of overcoming the physical effects of his brain hemorrhage.  I was chatting with my Dad yesterday.  We talked about my weight loss goal and I said, "In addition to feeling healthy and becoming smaller, losing the weight is about preparing myself for the small possibility that Charlie may not ever walk unassisted.  He may be in a wheel chair or need me to carry him during the early years."  My Dad laughed and said, "Are you kidding?  You need to lose the weight so that you can take off after him in a dead sprint when he runs away from you into the street.  That kid is going to leave you in the dust if you don't drop a few." I'm so lucky to have positive, funny, wonderful people in my life.  Thanks Dad!  So, Charlie, the race is on - hit me with your best shot.  I promise to get out of bed every day and go walking so that when you're ready to start sprinting, I'll be right behind you!

P.S.  This morning's playlist was a shuffle of Beyonce, Cake, Nelly Furtado, Madonna and Christina Aguilera.  When I came home from my two-mile walk, Charlie was still asleep.

Habit Sarah vs. Smaller Sarah

This morning I woke up to the howling sounds of high winds coming down the canyon.  (I'm currently in Cedar City, Utah while my husband works at the Utah Shakespeare Festival.)  This was my internal conversation:


Habit Sarah:  I can't go walking in this wind.
Smaller Sarah:  Oh yeah?
Habit Sarah:  No way, its brutal out there - listen to that WIND!
Smaller Sarah:  Are you going to use this as an excuse not to move your body?
Habit Sarah:  Its not an excuse, its just a fact.  The weather is bad.
Smaller Sarah:  You live in a post global warming world - the weather is always bad.
Habit Sarah:  Oh, don't be so "I've got the big picture and you're just lazy."
Smaller Sarah:  Great, then get out there.  You've got a blog post to write!


So, I'm back from my walk with a mouth full of dust and a heart full of pride.  To make the walk go faster and avoid the tumbling sage brush, I ran about a quarter mile of my walk.  And you know what?  It was awesome. I used to run all the time while training with my high school basketball team - but that was fifteen years ago.  For some reason, I figured that my overweight self would be incapable of running.  But, really its no different than it was back then.  I sucked gas in high school and I suck gas now.  Yes, its harder on my knees - but mostly its the same. I'm just a running fat girl.  I'm not impaired, I'm just big.
Note to self: Your body was meant to move.

P.S. The playlist today on my walk was Madonna's album, Ray of Light.

I've got the beat.

Last night, Jack (my husband) came home early from work.  Usually, we celebrate the free time by throwing some popcorn in the microwave and watching a few episodes of the Dick Van Dyke show.  But when he walked in the door, my first thought was, "Oh good!  I can go for another walk!"  And that's just what I did.  I did a quick one mile power walk before sunset.  I know, I know... I'm awesome.

I was out the door for my power walk by eight this morning.  I decided to grab the iPod for a little musical inspiration.  Michael Jackson's greatest hits!  I kicked things off with Billy Jean, then Beat It, Thriller, Bad, Smooth Criminal and ended with The Way You Make Me Feel.  My walking route takes me over a freeway bridge that has a pretty steep incline.  When I hit the bridge, Smooth Criminal was playing.  Michael kept singing, "Annie are you okay?  Are you okay?  Annie are you okay?  Are you okay, Annie?"  And I kept thinking, "Yes, I'm fine - stop asking!"  Walking to the beat took 3 minutes off of my walk from yesterday!
Note to self: listen to music while walking!

Later, Jack and I took our boys to a park before lunch and walked up the canyon trail for another 2 miles!  By 11am I had reached 8,600 steps! 

P.S. I tool almost 11,000 steps yesterday.
That's 6000 more than the average American.  Booyah!