To everyone who emailed encouragement and support -- thank you! I KNOW it helped.
So the raincloud that is depression has lifted. Yes, it's clinical depression in that it's been diagnosed and I'm on a low dose of an anti-depressant to manage it. (My family tree is filled with depression and alcoholism, as well as longevity, ambition, and athleticism -- go figure, huh?) What I forget from time to time is that it's playing with fire for me to start eating poorly or getting inconsistent with exercise. So the combination of an injury, poor eating due to "well, I'm running a lot, so I can" thinking, and the rabid energy that is my kids right before they go back to school -- well, I think they all had a part in creating the raincloud. It feels great to be back in the sunshine!
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Lori asked if I felt fat from taking some days off from exercise, and the answer is YES, I feel big and sausagey when I don't exercise. But what surprised me was when, in the midst of that kind of mindset, I caught a glimpse of myself in a mirror. What I saw there was not fat or sausagey and all. So I think no exercise makes my head fat!
Jennifer (who said I looked like Kelly Preston in some of my pictures -- WOW!) asked about the fitness competition photos on my Flickr account. Those pictures are from last summer when I competed in the Women's Tri-Fitness competition in Las Vegas. Yes, at age 44 I was on stage in a microscopic bikini, with my husband and kids cheering me on, and it was amazing! The competition has three parts -- obstacle course, fitness skills, and figure. Because I dislocated my shoulder while training (loose shoulder joint), I was only able to do the figure part of the competition, and I don't plan to compete again, cuz my goal is to avoid shoulder surgery, and climbing up walls with a rope and doing cargo net climbs -- well they don't move you in the direction I want to go. My old weblog detailed the process of getting ready for the competition, and that was how I got started blogging.
Jules and Suz had some great sexy song recommendations -- thank you! Oh, and Jules, a few posts back, I did write down my weight workout that you asked about ages ago...
And finally, to everyone who has the same "big hair" problem -- it's so nice to not be alone!
Fitness stuff
I've been reading "The New Rules of Lifting" by Lou Schuler and Alwyn Cosgrove (I swear, if Renee writes about it, I buy it!) They are big-time fans of compound movements, and in reading the book, I'm starting to form my own training philosophy.
I believe that weights are the way for women to transform their bodies.
I believe that strong women are resilient women, both inside and out.
I believe that compound movements (multi-joint exercises -- think squat vs. leg extension) are superior for both functional strength and appearance benefits.
I believe balance training is crucial as we get older. And so is flexibility training, so you don't move like an old person.
I believe that diet is just as important, and maybe even a little more important, than exercise in recreating your shape.
Ok, so that's not everything, but it's a start, right?
3 comments:
I was doing Shape Shift by Alwyn Cosgrove, and that's when I switched from BFL. It was a nice way to shake up things and I got mor into circuit training.
Glad to hear the "raincloud" has lifted. ;)
That was quick...I'm glad to hear the cloud has lifted.
I must read that book. Tell us more when you are finished. By the way, how is the Berardi stuff going? Someone else wrote that the lack of starchy carbs late in the day was not working for her. Just curious......
Oh and I hae big hair too. I am waiting for it to really come back cuz I think I look funny with it stick straight.
I have come to believe that diet and depression are closely linked. I watch what I eat. Like they say, food is medicine.
Chik-Fil-A isn't where you want to be eating. I haven't eaten at a fast food restaurant in several years.
Running can't fix a bad diet. Rather, a good diet can help you run faster.
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