I just embarked on my first run of the year. I can tell you when the last time I ran was: the Casablanca Classic 8k Nov. 10, 2007. I can also tell you why I stopped running: because I was defeated, both on the inside and the outside. Today wasn’t half as bad as I figured it would be. Feb 26 is the first 5k of the 2008 Subaru Running Series in Niagara. I’m not sure I’ll be ready. But when do I know for sure?
Mother, Jane, however did rain on any parade-going that was to be had. On the best of days, I’m glad she is there both acting as a witness and a cheerleader to my fight/struggle to actually get through whatever run I’d given myself on those days. On the worst of days, when I’m gliding in to finish proud of myself for finishing, happy to know my legs still work, exhausted and feeling full – as if I did what I came to do, Jane does this weird thing. Today she did it again – we returned home after combo jogging and speedwalking. I turned to go up the driveway and she turned in the direction away from our house. She yelled over her shoulder at me, “I’m going for a run now.”
Gee thanks Mom. Seriously today was the day. I’m the one who called Jane and said, “so call me when you’re leaving the gym so I can be ready when you get home to go for a run.” She had replied “really???” and I returned, “ya, today’s the day.”
I’m amazed I still went. There have been days that were “the day” beforehand and yet nothing was ever done. And there I was — DONE my first teeny run with an outloud promise that we’d be up to at least 2.5 k in 5 days. And there she was — communicating to me that my effort, any effort at all, wasn’t enough.
I do want to admit that I had no idea my body would just accept that I was jogging instead of speed-walking. That was it. I had been walking for less than 2 blocks and my mom began to slow-jog beside and I made a split-second decision: time to follow suit.
That said I spent the rest of the time that I jogged in a daze. When I finally called the shots to turn back to home, I had no clue how I’d arrived at that spot. My body was not screaming at me. Sure I wanted to stretch my calves and I did so. That’s to be expected. I felt bad, Cody didn’t join us on our run. He’s a sweetheart but Jane was worried he wouldn’t be up for getting all cold in this rain. I guess I can see it from her perspective.
Speaking of perspective: I started walking in March 2007. There was a 3-month period of belly-aching and screaming at Jane to let me do my thing. A year ago, I wasn’t doing much to take care of myself. Two weeks ago, despite the incredibly FLAWED procedures for testing, I learned I had high blood pressure. I need to lower it and activity is one of the two major factors (salt is the other). So activity it is. I look forward to the 5ks this year. I’ve proven to myself that I can survive the 5k route. Alone. With a friend once. But alone either way. No, this is year #2. I’m excited because it’s obvious my body hasn’t forgotten what it feels like to love running. I’m confident I can improve this year.
Today I finally gave in. I bought a month’s supply of extra strength lean+ by Genuine Health products. The pamphlet accompanying the lean+, abs+ and shape+ bottles read the following:
Which supplement is right for you?
Take abs+ if abdominal fat loss is what you are seeking. In addition to its proven weight loss results in 90 days or less, abs+ specifically targets fat storage around your waistline.
Take lean+ if your metabolism is naturally sluggish, leaving you unable to lose weight easily. By taking lean+ you can help your body burn calories more efficiently so you can lose excess weight – safely and natually.
Take shape+ if body fat is your number one problem. With its research-proven dose of Calcuim, shape+ will help you lose excess fate, while preventing additional fat production and storage.
Take together or separately, you can safely achieve the leaner, healthier body you deserve – naturally, and without compromising your health or well-being
I found all three to be pretty much redundant. It’s a beautiful thing to imagine that I should get all three because they would work together to tackle EVERYTHING that’s wrong with me. But we all know I’m not made out of money. Instead I followed my gut on this one. The bottle for the extra strength lean+ plus read:
“thermogenic formula
increases metabolism
promotes a lean body
& weight loss”
So I decided this one was the right choice to start. I’d like the 4 above indicators to be true and I’d like the energy the product promises to couple.
