Category: Health and Fitness

The Stitch – Why I Wanted To Quit Couch To 5k

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Last night, C25k (Couch to 5k) Week 5 Day 3 got the best of me.  It was my first time in the program where I was supposed to jog for 20 minutes without stopping, so I was somewhat apprehensive before beginning my time of exercise.  However, two days earlier, I surpassed the 8 minute mark without stopping, then walked for 5 minutes before running another 8 minutes without stopping, so I believed that I could probably pull it off.

I was wrong.

After 9.5 minutes of running, I felt a terrible stitch in my side so I slowed to a walk.  A stitch is sometimes called a side cramp. It’s an intense stabbing pain under the lower edge of the ribcage that occurs during exercise.  After 4 minutes of walking, I ran for another 8.5 minutes.  I finished the workout, but felt terrible because I didn’t meet my goal of running 20 minutes without stopping.

I wanted to just give up and resign myself to being an out of shape fat guy.  That’s not such a bad thing, is it?

Today, however, I decided not to let it get the best of me, so I googled stitches during exercise.  According to my online friends, here are three causes:

1.  Running too soon after eating.  (Waiting two to three hours after eating is best)

2.  Drinking high sugar beverages right before or during exercise.

3.  Shallow or Irregular breathing during exercise.

I also looked for ways to prevent a stitch during exercise.  Here are three options:

1.  Stop running (or at least slow down)

2.  Raise your right arm over your head.  (The stretching sometimes helps relieve the stitch)

3.  Try to exhale as your left foot is moving forward. (This basically helps to set a pattern for your breathing, extremely important in all exercise)

I started running to Michael Jackson’s Don’t Stop ’til You Get Enough.  Before the song was over, a stitch was already forming in my side.  I started slowing down and considered quitting before I even reached 5 minutes.  However, slowing down helped, so I continued.  Around the 10 minute mark, the stitch returned, so I started watching my breathing, ensuring that I was exhaling as my left leg moved forward.  That seemed to help, so once I continued.  Finally, it returned around the 14 minute mark and I wanted to quit, but since I had already come so far I pressed on.  I slowed my running, focused once again on my breathing, and raised my right arm over my head.  The three items together helped and before I knew it, I had run for 20 minutes without stopping.

As I reached the 20 minute mark, Michael Jackson was singing Bad.  That’s exactly how I felt.

 

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I Survived My First Day of Week 5 of Couch to 5K

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A minute before my running time was up today, my side starting hurting.  I couldn’t believe that I might have to stop before my time was up.  However, instead of stopping the run, I decided to slow down until my cool down.  My side didn’t stop hurting, but it did ease up enough for me to finish the run. 

This afternoon, I started week #5 of C25K (Couch to 5K).  My workout for today began with a brisk 5-minute warmup walk followed by a 5-minute run, a 3-minute walk, another 5-minute run, a second 3-minute walk, a third 5-minute run, then a 5-minute cool-down walk.  I’m proud to say that I finished it without stopping (or vomiting).  However, my second day of week #5 takes me to a new level completely.  It begins with a brisk 5-minute walk, followed by an 8 minute run, a 5 minute walk, another 8 minute run, then a 5 minute cool-down walk.

If I survive this week of exercise, I’ll let you know.  🙂

Related Posts:

Why I chose to try the couch to 5k free workout app

Week two of Couch to 5k

3 Reasons Soft Drinks Hinder A Good Workout

 

 

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Why I Decided to Lose the Lose It App

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A year ago, a friend shared the Lose It App with me.  I used it faithfully for months because it helped me track my personal calorie budget.  I even shared it with others who have used it with much success. Today, however, after weeks of frustration, I decided to delete it.

Here’s why:  I just can’t bring myself to use it properly.  It’s too easy to cheat because it’s based on calories, not on nutrition.  (I know that there’s nutrition info built into the App, but I can never get excited about using it)  Therefore, I found myself making unhealthy choices, mistakenly assuming that calories are just calories.

If you like Lose It and it works for you, keep using it.  I won’t be joining you.  I’m going back to writing down everything I eat because that works for me.  Don’t worry, I’m not going to post it everyday like I did last year.  I will be sharing it with my favorite accountability partner.  She’s tough, but cute.

Related Post:

3 Reasons Soft Drinks Hinder A Good Workout

 

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3 Reasons Soft Drinks Hinder A Good Workout

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Anyone who knows me knows that I am a soft drink junkie, especially when it comes to Coca-Cola.  However, 3 weeks ago, I began using the App, C25Kfree (Couch To 5K free) and I began jogging for the first time in my life.

(I would really recommend the App for anyone with an iPhone who is wanting to get into shape and lose weight.  I can feel the benefits after only 3 weeks.)

After the first couple of runs, I came face to face with the cold hard reality that it was time for me to stop drinking soft drinks.  The main reason is that they were severely hindering my workouts.  Here are the 3 main reasons I found when I did just a little bit of study on the subject:

3 Reasons Soft Drinks Hinder A Good Workout

  1. Proper hydration is critical – Your body needs adequate amounts of water in order to carry nutrients to your muscles and to then remove waste produced during physical activity.  Carbonated drinks do not hydrate your body sufficiently and therefore hinder the maximum impact of your exercise.
  2. Bloating – Carbonated beverages cause bloating.  This is often seen around your waistline, when gas builds up in your stomach.  During exercise, this can result in slight stomach pain.
  3. Shortness of breath – Many carbonated soft drinks contain caffeine, which is a central nervous system stimulant.  It speeds up your heart rate and your breathing.  This is what makes you feel short of breath as you exercise and your rate of inhaling and exhaling increases.

If you’ve experienced similar results, please share your comments with me.  It will really encourage me as I continue towards my running goal.

Related post:

Why I chose to try the couch to 5k free workout app

Week Two of Couch to 5k

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Week Two of Couch To 5K

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As a career Marine, my dad used to run between 4 and 9 miles each day, in order to keep fit.  I once asked him why he chose to run.  He answered that since he was required as a Marine to remain fit, he could either not eat or run daily.  “I’m sort of fond of eating,” he answered, “So I guess I’ll keep running.”

I’m also rather fond of eating, but I’m not that fond of running.  Even so, I’m in my second week of using the App Couch to 5 K.  My current workout begins with a brisk five-minute warm-up walk, then moves into 20 minutes of alternating 90 seconds of running with two minutes of walking.  This is a change in the amount of my running time from 60 seconds each time to 90 seconds each time.  That doesn’t sound like a lot, but I have to admit that it’s kicking my lower posterior.  I find myself looking at my phone to check the countdown when I’m running and it also shows that I have about 30 seconds left.  I guess I’m doing better.  I did the same thing last week when I only had to run for 60 seconds at a time and it said 30 seconds then as well.

Today, I did my workout run on the sidewalk of the Metairie Mardi Gras parade route after everyone else had gone home.  The street was clean but the sidewalk was littered with broken beads, drink cups, soda and wine bottles, and beer cans.  I think that I should get extra credit since I basically ran through an obstacle course.  What do you think?

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Why I Chose To Try The Couch To 5K Free Workout App

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For the past couple of months, I’ve been looking for some type of health and fitness goal that will inspire me to keep my weight down.  Last year, I lost almost 50 lbs, but I must admit that it’s been hard to stay excited about just keeping it off.  It’s a lot more exciting to talk about food (especially when you live in New Orleans and it’s King Cake season).  This past week, one of my friends reminded me about the App called Couch to 5K.  He’s been using it to train for several weeks, if not months, and he’s very pleased with the results.

So, I downloaded the free App called C25KFree and I’ve tried it for two days in a row.  I’ve never been much of a jogger or a runner.  I do like the elliptical machine, but I’ve always been worried about damaging my knees.  In the long run, however, I think that was just my excuse.

Here’s a 30 minute workout I’ve done for the past two days:

1.  A five minute brisk warmup walk.

2.  Alternate 60 seconds of jogging with 90 seconds of walking for 20 minutes.

3.  A 5 minute cool down walk

I’m just glad that I didn’t throw up.

Pray for me in this.  Trying to decide whether or not to continue.

 

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7 Things You Should Never Say To Your Wife

Over my 21 years of marriage, I’ve learned a lot about what husbands should NOT say to their wives.  More importantly, I’ve learned a few of the whys behind those things.  As a disclaimer, I didn’t make all of the mistakes below, only most of them.

  1. Are you going to wear Spanx with that?  Worry about your own muffin top and leave hers alone.
  2. There’s just more of you to love.  Never, ever, say anything that’s going to make her think that you think she is fat, even if she broaches the subject.  She wants you to think that she’s the most beautiful woman in the world.
  3. Don’t worry.  Your hair will grow back.  Instead of pointing out a bad haircut, find something that you like about her new doo.
  4. I like it better the way my mom makes it.  Never compare her cooking to your mom’s cooking, even if, well, never mind.
  5. Yes, Honey, I do think she’s pretty.  Even if she asks you, don’t tell her.  She is the only woman that she ever wants you to notice.
  6. Did you forget to shave your legs?  Unless she’s European, she will certainly find this insulting.  She wants you to love every part of her.
  7. I see you’re drinking 1%.  Is that because you think you’re fat?  Because you’re not.  You could be drinking whole if you wanted to.  (Napoleon Dynamite)  Ok, I couldn’t resist.  But seriously, never, ever use the word fat, even in jest, when speaking of your wife.
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Eight Reasons Why You Should Never Ask A Woman If She Is Pregnant

Ok, just in case you don’t know this already, never, never, never, never, ever ask a woman if she is pregnant.

  1. If she isn’t pregnant, it tells her that you think she appears to be in that condition, which simply translated means that YOU THINK SHE IS FAT.
  2. If she is pregnant, she may not be ready to make it public yet.  The moment of her revealing her condition is her choice, not yours.    
  3. She may be pregnant, but in the very early stages of pregnancy.  Your asking translates to her that YOU THINK SHE IS FAT.
  4. She may be pregnant but be sick of talking about it.  Everything in her life is changing, not to mention the changes that her body is going through.  She may need a mental break from discussing her condition.
  5. She may be struggling with infertility and taking meds that cause bloating or swelling of the ovaries.  Your asking reminds her of the problem and confirms to her that the world is aware of the physical side effects.  In other words, YOU AND EVERYONE ELSE THINKS SHE IS FAT.
  6. She may simply be overweight, which makes your comment extremely insulting because YOU THINK SHE IS FAT.
  7. She may have just miscarried, which makes your comment extremely insensitive.
  8. It’s none of your business

Basic rule to follow – If she brings it up, talk about it all you like.  If she doesn’t bring it up, don’t mention it.  Save her the embarrassment and yourself the possible black eye (should the moment be incredibly wrong).

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