Friend of Julie: Couch-to-5k

I'm pleased with how I'm progressing with my couch-to-5k program. Yesterday, the jogging time expanded:

• Walk 5 minutes/Jog 3 minutes
• Walk 90 seconds/Jog 5 minutes
• Walk 3 minutes/Jog 3 minutes
• Walk 90 seconds/Jog 5 minutes 
• Walk 5 minutes

This exercise program is so cool! It was a hard workout, but ten minutes after I was finished - I felt incredible. Two days earlier, the routine was the same, but I had forgotten my tee-shirt and I had to wear a sweatshirt inside the gym the entire time. Man, that was one hot session and it was a difficult workout being so overheated. It took me a good 45 minutes before I cooled down and felt good from the workout. I won't forget my exercise clothes anytime soon.

What kept me going this week on the treadmill was remembering how I used to feel tired and over exerted all the time. But on the treadmill, I push through it and after I'm done I feel fantastic. This week, I looked forward to my workouts. It was such a stressful week from the snowstorm and not having heat or electricity for a few days. I connected with my inner-athlete from long ago, who used to run to work off stress from they day. This solutions feels and looks better than anything I used to eat when I was stressed. Exercise brings me into the present moment; food numbed me. I like being present much more.

I missed a day on the treadmill this week, but am moving forward just the same. I don't carry guilt or feel I need to squeeze in another day. I know I'm doing my best and that once in a while life gets in the way of exercise. I'll do my best not to miss another exercise day again. It's a new thing for me -- enjoying working out, or at least new in the past decade.

I want to be more flexible. Some days I feel as if I could easily break. My "runners knees", as my doctor assessed them, hurt when I go down steps or slopes. That's when I feel most fragile. The doctor prescribed stretching exercises. I did them twice three months ago. I want to incorporate them as a part of my daily routine, like flossing. I can't get down on the floor because I fear I won't be able to get up. I want to overcome the fear as well as the pain. Doing the stretches is the first step. Getting up and down on the floor is the next step. After that: yoga or tai chi.

Today was a shopping day, as it's time for new bras. Last week I tried bras and I left empty-handed. I had no idea what size I needed and I wasn't having success finding the right fit on my own. Today, I thought I'd have better luck at JC Penney's, but the sales woman there seemed to speak a different language. I left empty-handed and feeling like a freak. I ended up at Lane Bryant. I didn't want to go there, because I thought I was done shopping in specialty stores for large women. Turns out I'm not quite done. At least not when it comes to buying a bra.

The Lane Bryant sales woman measured me and after a few tries, she found the right one for me. Turns out that not only was I going about the size all the wrong way, but I needed a different style too. This time, I left the store with three new bras. All without judgment from the sales person. The new ones are two sizes smaller than the ones I have at home. Time to toss all of them this weekend.

While there, I tried on a beautiful dark green sweater in a size 18. I didn't buy it because I'm not ready to spend money on new clothes just yet. It was on sale for $30, but I know it will be too big in two months, so I passed on it. It was nice fitting into an 18, even if it is in a large woman's store. I was curious what size pants would fit me there, but I passed on trying on pants.

My day to run on the beach is coming. Meanwhile, I am inspired by this photo...