As you know, my life for the past few weeks has consisted of a lot of this:
I am semi-incapable of editing solely on the computer. Maybe it’s because this is what I did in high school, but there is only so much I can do scrolling up and down on a computer screen. At some point I need to print out what I have, cross things out and draw arrows. I swear it helps me! Am I the only one?
Even though I am applying to grad school and that is a pretty consuming task, I have made the effort to maintain balance in my life.
I mentioned that running has been less interesting to me lately, but thanks to the support from you guys and my family, I’m going with it, and doing more yoga and other kinds of cardio and not feeling discouraged about it.
Running will come back into my life in December, and I hope to be ready to embrace it then 
The funny thing is, I’ve also noticed that in general, my workouts have been shorter (I think because I’m budgeting my time to lots of other things), and focusing more on the quality of them, rather than quantity.
Get ready for a minor tangent…
I admit that in the past (read: college) I had a really rigid mindset about the gym. I used to set weird rules for myself, like “I’m going to stay at the gym for 1.5 hours” – if I couldn’t stick to the time constraint that I set, sometimes I’d go back at night, out of feelings of obligation, not enjoyment. It did not necessarily matter what I was doing during that time, as long as I was moving and I could tell myself “I worked out for x number of hours.”
I pretty much disregarded how I felt or the importance of having a good balance between strength and cardio (I used to do about 90% cardio, 10% other stuff). I knew this was very much not healthy, and even made efforts to hide my mentality from family and friends, but for a long time I couldn’t let it go.
Now I realize the importance of rest days, strength training, and above all, listening to my body and enjoying exercise. Adjusting from a rigid, self-deprecating attitude toward exercise to an open, accepting and happiness-oriented mindset does not happen overnight, but it does happen with some time, effort, and support from people you love.
Lately my workouts rarely last more than an hour, with the exception of yoga classes, which go a bit longer. And I really don’t think my body (or weight) has suffered. In fact, I think I am stronger than I ever was, because I am putting more effort into having a shorter, more intense workouts that combine different types of cardio (again, at the moment not very much running – more stairmaster, the crazy elliptical, uphill walking, and jumping/floor exercises) along with strength training both with weights and body weight alone (like push-ups).
I’ve also been putting more effort into eating intuitively, which I’m sure has also helped me stay in my healthy, happy place. Going with my hunger cues and eating slowly (without distractions) are key for me.
Obviously when I start to train for Boston, this will change. When I’m training for a marathon, that takes precedent and I immerse myself in the running routine and I love it, BUT I plan to keep up the strength and the yoga where I can. There is no doubt that they both help me run faster. I don’t believe in putting in a lot of “junk miles” and neglecting strength training. Quality over quantity definitely applies to marathon training as well!
Because I know that in reality there will be less time for yoga and weights when the miles start revving up…
I’m going to remind myself of Little Things I can do to improve my strength (without going to the gym):
- When I feel tired at work, shut my door and do 10 push-ups and 20 squats. If I do this every hour or two, that adds up! And it keeps my energy up.
- Do crunches on the ball when I catch up with my DVR. The distraction of TV can be a beautiful thing!
- Stretch my hamstrings and quads while I’m waiting for my oatmeal to cook (I do not stretch enough).
- Do chair dips for the triceps:
Do you have any quick exercises that can be done without going to the gym?
Day 17 & 18 The November Gratitude Project
Yesterday:I am grateful for living in Boston, which is the perfect amount of “city” for me!
Today: I am grateful for having a wonderful and experienced yoga instructor at my gym.
What are you grateful for today? Every comment means an entry for a sweet giveaway!
Filed under: Uncategorized Tagged: | Boston Marathon, Grad School, Running, Strength Training, Yoga
For core strength: plank position holds, plank position with alternating knee-ins as well as frog-knees, twisting from plank to side plank. You can build up each one’s individual time and then as you get stronger string 30 seconds or more of each together. Remember shoulders over wrists and hips down
Amen. I used to be a major cardio junky and never do yoga or weights. Now I understand the importance of all, of balance and of listening to your body. I also like to print things out sometimes. I start to get bored if I just stare at it on the computer for too long
I think that’s great you’re allowing yourself to go w/ the flow. I’m doing more cross-training and yoga, so my running is suffering, and it is so hard to watch it slide! I’m such a cardio-junkie too. I just loathe lifting. Thankfully, I found yoga so that’s better than nothing