All Jenny » Charities

A healthier new me

admin — Sun, 01 May 2011 17:28:06 +0000

It’s been four months since my initial start to a better me. One week from today, I will be running my first 5k. Over the past four months, I’ve not only increased my running speed and distance, I’ve increased in my strength training, and yoga performance. I’ve lost over 40 pounds and I’m now in a size 10. I feel great.

In order for me to stick with it, I plan out the week. I keep track of my goals, calories and workout. Some people say, “I don’t have time for that.” I can say the same thing. These past four months, I’ve been studying for my MBA. It’s hard, REAL hard, but once you set your routine and stick with it for a month or more, it becomes easier – like second nature.

I try to do something active and push myself everyday. Maybe for 20 minutes, or 30 minutes or 2 hours depending on my time. My schedule changes daily, but as long as I plan it out and write it down on my calendar, I’ll stick with it. I’ve found that pushing yourself to make time is a lot harder than pushing yourself to finish a workout.

Now that my goal of running a 5k is here, I’ve created new goals. I’ve joined a summer league to learn rowing with Three Rivers Rowing Association. Very excited about this – something I’ve always wanted to do. I’ve also started looking into Triathlons and 10ks. I can’t say that I’m in the best shape of my life, but I can say, I’m healthier than I’ve been in a long, long time, and I’m happy for it.

Sunday is going to be here and though I’ve run seven miles, I’m really nervous. This is my first race. I never thought I would ever run, yet here I am. Wish me luck.

It’s never too late to support the research against breast cancer. Please donate to Susan G. Komen. Thank you.

My First Bib

admin — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 00:06:15 +0000

It’s official. We just discovered a package on our front porch, and inside it was my first runners bib and t-shirt. I’m so excited that I started to cry. Thanks for all your support. Please donate.

Couch to 5k Last Week

admin — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 13:27:49 +0000

WOO HOO! DONE. I DID IT.

This week was my last week of the NHS Couch to 5k training podcast. I’m running at 2.9 miles this week. Not quite 3.1, but close. So I don’t give up all my training over the past 2.5 months, I’m making a plan to continue to run three days a week. I want to build towards a 10k. Yep, I’m addicted.

Music is important. I noticed that if I didn’t like the song, I felt like giving up. However, if I like a song, I put a little extra effort into my step. I really need to choose carefully the songs I want to put on my iPod. Any suggestions? Please recommend some tunes in the comment section.

I haven’t run outside yet. I think it will be easier, and at the same time, I think it will be harder. It’s suppose to be 48 this weekend, so I shall give it a try.

I want to thank those who inspired me to get motivated.

Laura M. – an amazing, beautiful young woman who will probably be the First Lady someday. She introduced me to yoga and running. Thanks for helping me get healthy Miss Laura.

Lisa S. – a high school friend who motivated me through Facebook – seeing her running expedition posts make me strive to be healthier.

Jeannie G. – a long time friend who completed her 5k in the fall. Her finish line pics made me smile with excitement.

NHS Couch to 5K – British Laura was a great coach and inspired me to push through the pain. I highly recommend this podcast series.

I’ve met my goals, but Cancer Research still needs all the support it can get. Please donate to the Susan G. Komen Race For the Cure. Thanks for all your support to me and the boobies.

Couch to 5k Week 8

admin — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 15:54:40 +0000

Day 1. Running at 5.0 for 2.68 miles. I didn’t use the incline this time. I actually think the runs are easier around 4PM than 6AM. Unfortunately, I’m not always home at 4. I really wasn’t in the mood to run today, but of course it got easier as I did it. I kept thinking, “Only two more weeks.” My Birthday is coming up soon and I’ve already told the Boy he is taking me to North Park Lounge for a big juicy burger with bacon and egg, cheese fries and some wings. Oh, and I will have a Pepsi and a few beers. Can’t wait to celebrate.

Day 2. Even though it’s the same run as Day 1, I’m not feeling it. I got up, dressed, and seem to have energy but once on the treadmill, I pooped out fast. I still pushed myself but I didn’t increase the speed until the last five minutes. I also don’t like the music as much this week. Not to mention, I have a lot of priorities on my mind today; so that’s probably not helping either. Nonetheless, here I am. I still feel great that I finished.

Day 3. My initial plan was to run Friday, but I wasn’t feeling too good in the morning. So, I pushed it until today. I also planned to run outside for the first time this season, but I’m not ready to run in the rain. So, I ran on the treadmill, and I’ve officially completely eight weeks of the Couch to 5k. I have only one more week, and better still, I will have finished right before my 44 Birthday. I’m pretty excited.

Side note: Time to start loading up my iPod for my first 5k. What would be good running music?

As always, thanks for your support to the boobies. Donate to Susan G. Komen, Race for the Cure.

Couch to 5k Week 7

admin — Sat, 26 Feb 2011 13:20:59 +0000

Day 1. I had an event on campus the past two days, therefore, I didn’t run until Monday evening. British Laura said we will no longer be doing intervals of walking and running. After my five minute warm-up walk, it’s straight running. I ran 2.50 miles today. After my warm-up, I felt great. At the halfway indicator, I increased my speed to 4.5, and then to 4.8 the last five minutes.

Day 2. It was the same run as Day 1. I had to push myself. After running for five minutes, even though I felt great, my body slowly declined. It seemed easier on the first day of this week. Since I was already pushing my motivation, I pushed more by adding an incline and continued with the same increases in speed as previously, only this time I went from 4.8 to 5.0. I had to punish myself for struggling with this run.

Side note: It’s been two months with no pop or artificial sweeteners. I no longer have the cravings. However, if someone were to open a can of diet pop and pure it over a tall glass of ice as I watch it sizzle to the top only then to take a long gulp letting it dance on their tongue – I might have a tiny craving.

Day 3. Finished week 7. Only two more weeks to go. I’m really shocked I did this. It took lots of discipline – something I didn’t think I had. I’m looking forward to next week. Bring it!

Please donate to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Thanks for all your support.

Couch to 5k Week 6

admin — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 12:37:56 +0000

I was terrified of what this week would bring. Especially, when British Laura says, “It is important that you must complete weeks 1-5 before moving onto this week.”

Day 1. Unlike the last day of last week jogging for 20 minutes, it starts at 5 and 8 minute increments of running. I actually had a really hard time. I’m losing motivation fast. I don’t want to continue. I’m having cravings for a diet Pepsi, nachos, wings, and a cigarette. Towards the end of the podcast for the day, she says, “You can do it. You’ve come so far. You are half way done. Don’t give up now.” Damn you British Laura!

Day 2. I had a hell of day yesterday with motivation. Valentine cookies and chocolates scattered the office. Not to mention, Jimmy Johns dropped off 20 free ham and cheese hoagies. Fortunately, they were in quarter size. I kept Google’ing, “How many calories in…?” to everything I wanted to eat. I could smell the candy in the candy dish. WOW! Cravings suck. In the end, all I ate was the hoagie. It had 168 calories per 1/3.

In the lack of motivation, of course I didn’t want to get up, but I did. Only one more day this week. Only one more day this week. Only one more day this week to run. Someone asked how far I’m running. I wasn’t sure. I haven’t been paying much attention to anything other than the podcast. So today when I looked at the final results on the dash of the treadmill, it said I’ve run for 2.15 miles. That includes the brisk walks. WOOT! I’m almost to 3.1.

Day 3. I ran for 25 minutes. My face and legs are red and tingly, and I feel great. Today’s total was 2.46 including the warm-up and cool down walks. I’ve been decreasing my speed each week. At the beginning of the program I was running 5.0, but as I run longer, I need to pace myself. Today I ran 4.1, and a little push the last five minutes at 4.5. I want to stay focused on distance for now. I’m in no hurry.

At the end of this weeks program, British Laura said, “You’ve done it! You should consider yourself officially a runner.”

Support me and the boobies. Please donate. Thank you.

Susan G. Komen for the Cure!

Couch to 5k Week 5 Day 3

admin — Fri, 11 Feb 2011 14:10:58 +0000

I only ran 10 minutes each run the other day. Today, my British accented trainer said, “Okay. Today you are going to run for 20 minutes. You can do it.” I thought, “There’s no way.” After a time which felt longer than 20 minutes, she says, “Okay. You’ve run for five minutes.” It usually takes me five minutes to get past the initial shock of running before I can zone out, therefore, I should be okay after this.

Nope! I wasn’t. After 10 minutes of running (which I did the other day) I was still struggling. I couldn’t finish this run. I then realized that I had an incline set. I’m running on a hill the entire time. Duh! I take it back down to ground zero and I start to feel a little better. The British girl tells me I have two minutes left. I scream out in ecstasy. This run was killing me. But I did it. I know I pushed myself because during my cool down walk, my body starts to tingle. WOW! That was awesome. I really didn’t think I was going to make it through this one. It was the toughest by far. I just adjusted the incline and paced it out, and it worked just like she said. I’m a little afraid of next weeks workout, but I’m going to do it.

Side Note: My British Podcast trainer is named Laura; which I find funny because I have a friend who inspired me to start running and is named Laura. Thanks to both.

Thanks again for all your support. I’ve met my goal but the boobies need all the help they can get. Please donate to Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

“Please sir, may I have another?”

admin — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 17:30:33 +0000

Went to Pittsburgh’s South Side Mid-Winter Soup Walk fundraiser. Proceeds go to The Brashear Association food pantry. Many South Side retail businesses hookup with some of the restaurants and hand out free samples of soup – served up in a biodegradable dixie sized bowl and spoon. The bowl and spoon were made out of potatoes. Not a ‘too new’ concept but it was cool the event was green. The event was helping build their local food pantry, and it was also to help build awareness of their local business district.

It ended up being a beautiful, warm(er) sunny day. We were expecting rain, snow and wind chills – so we were happy even though our fingers and cheeks (refers to both butt and face) were cold.

We met at one of the registration tables. My friend Alexis bought the tickets in advance so we did not have to stand in line. When we walked up to registration, the line was long. We established this line was for those ‘non-registered’ kind of people. Alexis went in search for the ‘on-the-ball’ people line. She asked, “we already purchased our tickets online, where do we go?” The volunteer chick said, “over there (pointing to the same line of the non-registered). WHAT! We stand in line with those people? Alexis nicely replied, “SO OVER THERE THEN!” What was the point of buying our tickets online?

We got registered, put on our wristbands to prove we were not degenerates and we were on our way. Our first stop was the place right next door to the registration area. No soup for you! They weren’t ready yet. But we were kindly told we could hangout and shop while they make the soup. Hmmm, now that’s a novel idea. We headed to the next place on the list. Finally, we had our first taste of soup, and a good one at that. “Please sir, may I have another?”

As the event went on, walking from one place to the next, we found good soups and bad soups but all-in-all, I liked most of the soups. The lines were getting longer. We actually encountered a real live soup Nazi. It was at a Bed and Breakfast (forget the name). This little old lady was standing at the door, kept saying, “LET ME SEE YOUR WRISTBAND AND LINE UP AGAINST THE WALL!” Ok, so she wasn’t yelling but it was pretty comical.

We didn’t hit all the shops, and decided to head somewhere for lunch. Yes, I know we just ate many different soups but let me remind you, it was DIXIE sized bowls. OK, so we get to a restaurant and guess what I order? Yes, soup! Overall, the event was a pretty good idea. Again, it was a nice day, lots of good soups, lots of fun laughs, good times with the friends, the niece and the boy. It was a quality time for me.

After we ate, we headed back to the boys place. He just moved and wanted to show it off to his friends. I headed to Big Bird a.k.a. Giant Eagle and bought some snackies. We spent the night playing Farkle. Basically, you roll six dice and must get 1,000 points before you can even START tracking your points. It’s very frustrating and you get ‘Farkled’ all the time.