Day 61

After I blogged yesterday, the boyfriend decided that he too wanted to go for a walk... twice! So I ended up going again. The boyfriend and the dog make the walks a lot more eventful that's sure. The boyfriend saw some apples high up in a tree which resulted to us jumping at them for a few minutes and my boyfriend getting a sliver lol he was too funny. We found a jeep which we are going to test drive tonight for the second time. I ended up walking an additional 4.34 kms after my first 3. Today day 61 has been a very hot day. I worked outside it was plus 36! I could have died, seriously I could have! When heat stroke happens to could kill a person, although I didn't get the full out heat stroke, I did suffer heat exhaustion today. I was dizzy, I had a headache, and I had a hard time focusing on anything. I wasn't myself. Tonight I decided to take it easy. I've previously written about "Live Longer" written by Sally Brown I believe, but in case I haven't... it's a great book! I sincerely enjoy it. It describes 52 ideas on how to live longer. Idea number 19 was the Enzyme Q10... well it's pretty good stuff. After receiving minor heat exhaustion today I decided to grab a bottle of these lil miracle pills and give them a try cause I needed some groceries anyway. If you are planning on going to bed right away, please don't take these. It's recommended to take 30-90 mg for anti-aging affects, and 100-300 mg for athletes. Well... apparently I am an athlete so I took 200 mg at once. Within half an hour, I was bouncing off the walls in a hyper state. Although I have had an exhausting day already, I knew I NEEDED to get moving so I walked for 2 kms. Nothing special happened. I didn't run super fast or anything, but I am excited to see what affects these pills have on me when I haven't been out in plus 36 for 8 hours that day gardening! I will keep you posted on the coenzyme Q10! Thanks for reading!

Day 60

Today was the first time that I ever went on my own. No dog, no boyfriend, just me! I drank my pre jog water which really helped. It was plus 18 which is a bit warmer then my liking. My average speed was 6.3 kph! That is amazing for myself, total distance was 3.02 km and burnt 346 calories! I am all sweaty and now I need a shower! Thanks for reading!

Day 56

I have been active most days... I just realized that I didn't blog about any of them! Sorry alright so did I tell you that I gained weight? Well I did again, and I was feeling so discouraged. However, yesterday I weighed myself and it said I was back to normal. AND After a few weeks I saw my parents again ... they both commented on how much more trim and fit I was looking! I felt so proud when I heard those words! I knew that my stomach was looking better and I wasn't feeling as chubby but I just didn't fully get way I gained weight. I knew the answer but I wasn't accepting it I guess. I had gained muscle, muscle weighs more then fat does. Then today I lost yet another pound! I am supper proud of the lifestyle changes that I have made into my life! Today I asked my boyfriend to drop me off to work so that I could walk home. I brought way too many things, it was hot and so it took me 55 minutes to walk 4.1 kms.... thats pretty slow. We walked over a overpass, the dog was amazed at the cars driving under us. Seeing his reaction made it worth every drop of sweat that I shed. Anyway I do fully intend to do some light weight training tonight. Leave me a comment! Thanks for reading!

Day 48

I just realized that I have never really told you much about myself. I am a nursing student, who's also getting a business certificate. At the moment, I'm on summer vacation. As one of my summer jobs, I decided to try something completely new but physical... yard work! Today was my first day of yard work. I have never done a labor intensive job before and when I got home today... my feet hurt. I was super grumpy and just wanted to lay down for the rest of the night. I ate a fairly large supper. It was healthy... to a point. Butter chicken, lots of veggies and a small amount of rice. Then I had a piece of toast and a bowl of my favorite cereal... Nesquik. I felt guilty, but I was sore and feeling sorry for myself. My boyfriend started to get on my case to go for a walk. To be perfectly honest, I was ready to let him go on his own. But seeing him pouting because I was being a grump, make me feel really bad so despite my sore feet, I put back on my runners and headed out the door. Once I started my walk, my feet actually stopped hurting. We walked 5 kms together and the boyfriend walked an extra km. I was so proud of him. He broke his personal record. Seeing how happy he was made me truly thankful that I decided to stop feeling sorry for myself and go for a walk. Although I am glad that I went, my feet sure were not. After placing my feet in some warm tea tree water with vanilla for 20 minutes so far, I can actually tell you that my feet are feeling a bit better. Anyway I will keep you posted on the progress of my feet. Thanks for reading! I am exhausted. :) I should have a great sleep tonight!

Day 47

Did my 5 kms today with the boyfriend and dog which was nice. It lightly rained on us throughout most of the walk. We discovered that this area also grows blueberries and a funky apple tree which I have never seen before. The boyfriend stole a few apples which were abit tart, but I enjoyed them anyway. Stolen goods always taste a bit better then none stolen. Oh and I remembered to drink a glass of water before hand! Amazing how water before and after can make such a difference in your workout. When we got home, my boyfriend went on the Wii and did a few balance exercises... it was entertaining to say the least. While I looked up a few light weight arm exercises. One of my goals for next summer is to comfortably wear a tube top so I have lots of time to tone up my arms and shed a few pounds by then. I did about 30-40 minutes of light weights and strength exercises. Thanks for reading!

Day 46

Today has been a very relaxing day until... we went for a walk. It was soooo hot out today. Plus 26 but felt like 32! I forgot yet again to drink my pre water. Bad idea, I must remember the water, because I really noticed a difference in the way I felt during and after my little bit of exercise. We did 5 kms today, tried to travel at a faster paced but today's pace ended up being 4.7 kph, burning 300 calories. However, I believe that I burnt alot more then 300 calories, I sweat so much in that heat. Poor dog was going to pass out in the middle of the sidewalk if we didn't get home soon. My last goal of today is to do 30 minutes of weight training, we'll see maybe my boyfriend will let us go try out a gym we got a free week membership to. It's called "Goodlife" and that's where I got that amazing book which I was going on and on about in my previous blog. Anyway have a great day!

Days 43, 44, & 45

Day 43, walked 3.77 kms, did 30 minutes of weight training and swam with kids for 2 hours! I had a blast, I am not a very strong swimmer anymore which saddens me. I could tread water for 4-5 minutes still which was nice, although I didn't get a chance to see what I am able to fully do. The kids kept harassing me to come play with them.  Swimming is definitely something which I must start to do more. Day 44: walked 5.55 kms. The boyfriend was way too slow that day so I walked ahead then came back for him throughout the end of our walk. The average speed was 4.8 kph as a result. I burnt 368 calories... then I went and got a snackpack from KFC.... it was 10 at night. Today is Day 45. I went for a walk on my own, but I forgot to drink water ahead of time and I noticed a difference. The total distance was 5.19 km. Total time: 1 hour and 2 minutes. Calories burnt was 335. Average speed was 5.0 kph which is alright compared to what my speed used to be at the beginning and considering that this was just walking with no jogging today. I was in a debate about drug testing at the beginning of my walk so I was completely distracted by my cell phone. I think that my goal should be to do 5 kms in less time now. I need to get more jogging in before hand and no more fast food late at night! I am kinda thinking of giving it up.... thoughts? Anyway I got in a 30 minute light weight training session which was nice. Got to watch some tv and tone up! Yay!

Day 42

I have not been inactive.... Went for vacation. We walked 3-5 Kms in the mornings and also got an hour of canoeing in! It was soo much fun! Canoeing in Lake Louise and giving it our all was a great feeling. Although I am not in the best shape, I saw how well I did when it came down to my stokes in comparison to others (alright I have to admit... I have gotten taught how to hold a paddle, and took a few canoeing lessons as a child) but still.  I haven't canoed in YEARS! Another thing that has happened which I must let you know of is.... I have now accepted the fact that I need to do strength training again. For some reason I had developed this misguided stereotype of weight training. I read that if one lifted weights then they would get bigger muscles, but would still remain fat. Maybe if I JUST lifted a massive amount of weights, and did absolutely no cardio then there is a chance of that happening, I am not sure completely. But since muscle burns more calories then fat does, and I LOVE to eat, it would make sense that I should have more muscle in-order to eat lots of food while still maintaining my weight! At one point of my life, I lifted weights. I was already slimmer, and I didn't pay that much attention to what it did to my body. But back then I was way more active in general. What happened since then? And why didn't I see the great things that exercise did to my body? Because something was missing and I wasn't in tune with myself. Like I have said before, I gained ALOT of weight! But having gone through such a drastic weight gain, it allows me to look for the real problem. Did I not love myself enough to care about my body? My body is my foundation... yet I let it become weak. At one point, I was lifting 20-25 pounds and now 5 pounds are tiring me out! Wow! I think just looking at cardio as a means to becoming thin was extremely unrealistic. While I am excited to complete a 5KM jog, I am feeling extremely relieved to have found another piece to  a very confusing puzzle.. my health. This is the one thing that I must never lose sight of again. I remember when I was younger thinking : "so what if diet pills make me gain weight later on, by then I wont care how I look, right now I want to look hot" I didn't care about what diet pills did to my heart, or how they messed with my bodies natural ability to maintain itself. I didn't know my body, or know what it needed, my caring for myself was superficial. I now want to be healthy. Weight training combined with cardio and healthy eating I believe will help me achieve optimal health. I just finished reading that book that I was telling you about and it was AMAZING! You must grab a copy of it! I have never had such a greater understanding of what I should do to achieve optimal health. I will not be giving this book away :) Anyway I am exhausted from my day. I got 3Km in today and 27 mins of strength training. Have a great day!