What Inspires You?

Someone has recently told me that my blog inspires them. That got me thinking…what inspires me? Well, there is quite a list. The first thing on my list is my daughter. Her name is Andrea and she is almost two. These past two years have not been easy for her. She was born more than three months early and weight about a pound and a half. After what was probably a medical error prior to heart surgery, she required a trach, a breathing tube that is placed in her neck. After 144 long days, she got to come home! She is such a fighter! Andrea has been very sick a few times, but always pulls through. I figure, if she can fight as hard as she has, so can I.

I also have a seven year old son, Nathan. I want to be healthy for my kids. We are a Disney loving family. We like to go a few times a year. I want to be able to keep up with them for many years to come.

On a smaller, more fun scale, the race really inspires me. Even though my kids are the most important thing in the world to me, I need a specific event to work toward. I needed a specific date to count down to. I love Disney, and I love being a princess, so this event is perfect for me. When I am in the middle of a tough workout, I think of the race and how incredible it will feel to cross that finish line and get my medal.

What inspires you? What are the big things and the little. Is it what you are working toward? Is it what you are leaving behind? Please comment below and let me know. I would love to hear from you.

A dream is a wish your heart makes......

--Amy

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Portion Control

I read somewhere that in 1970 the size of a 7 Eleven big gulp was 12 ounces. Now, the size of a big gulp is 44 ounces! Now, my numbers might not exact, but we all know that portion control has gotten out of control here in America. At McDonalds, the size of a typical kids meal now is what the size of an adult meal was forty years ago. Most dishes at the Olive Garden contain about three servings of pasta. As we all know, I could go on and on….

Portion Control is very important, whether you are trying to lose weight or maintain a healthy lifestyle. I have a few quick and easy ways for you to keep your portions in check on the go, using simple, everyday objects to visualize the correct portion.

One cup (pasta, rice, cereal): about the size of your fist.

Half cup (veggies, juice, salads): about the size of a tennis ball

3 ounces (meats, fish): about the size of your palm, with out fingers

1 ounces (meats, cheese): about the size you’re entire thumb

Something I have been doing lately to ensure portion control is using a simple kitchen food scale. A cheap food scale can be bought off the shelf at the big box stores. When I got home and started using it…wow! I was surprised! I was doing a good job at visualizing portion size of meat and pasta, but not cereal. I really enjoy a bowl of cereal as an evening snack. The milk is good for muscle recovery after a hard workout and the whole grain in the cereal is heart healthy. When I put my typical bowl of cereal on the scales, wow! I was eating about double the amount of cereal as the portion on the box. I plan to use my food scale every day to continue in my training efforts.

What have your experiences been with portion control? What do you do to ensure proper portions?

A dream is a wish your heart makes......

--Amy

If you have enjoyed what you read, please click to the right to follow me!

I have a few extra princess bands! If you want one, follow me and comment below. I will send you one as a thank you!

Try, Try Again

Since my first spin class was such a success, I decided it was time to try it again! Today I went to an evening class with a different instructor, Scott. The class had a different feel, but was still great. Scott is an older man, but is in great shape.

We started the class with a quick warm up and we were off! Unlike Mary’s levels, Scott told the class to work at a percentage based on our maximum effort. For example, he would yell “eighty”, meaning he wanted the class to work hard, at eighty percent of our possible effort. I prefer Scott’s percentage system to Mary’s levels.

While I much preferred Mary’s music choices to Scott’s, I enjoyed how Scott incorporated the songs into the exercise he had us doing. For instance, when we were listening to as fast song, Scott had us doing intervals of seventy percent to one hundred percent. During the slow songs, we went at a slower pace and had time to recuperate. I also enjoyed Scott’s little arm dances and bike push ups when they fit well into the songs. Scott was a very motivational instructor and I will be taking his class again.

What I learned from my second spin class is to keep trying things, even if you think you already know the outcome. This was proven to me twice this week. The first time was when I did not enjoy my first Zumba class. I gave it a try again, and found a better fit for me. I would not have known about a better fitting instructor if I had not tried again. The second time was trying a different spin class, even though I already found a class and instructor I enjoyed. Now, I have two different classes/instructors to choose from and enjoy.

Things to try over again can include activities, gyms, and foods. Keep trying new things and trying things over again you have in the past. You may find something that works for you.

A dream is a wish your heart makes......

--Amy

If you have enjoyed what you read, please click to the right to follow me!

I have a few extra princess bands! If you want one, follow me and comment below. I will send you one as a thank you!

Spin!

I finally made it to my first spin class at Strictly Fitness! The class was taught by Mary B, a very sweet, tan, and tiny women. The class was very full. Mary immediately recognized that myself and the women next to me, whom was also a newbie in my first Zumba class the other night, were new to class. She come right over to us, introduced herself, and showed us how the bikes worked.

Mary B then cranked up some super great, super energizing music, starting with Black Eyed Peas “Good Night.” I added that song to my running play list! She explained to us her four levels of spinning. Level one is slowly with no resistance. Level two is faster, with a bit more resistance. Level three is very fast, with the same resistance at level two, while Level four is high resistance, making it impossible to go very fast. We started class at one, then quickly moved to two. Mary cycled us through all the levels, adding standing and push ups on the handle bars.

The music the instructor chose was perfect. It kept the class going. Mary would get off her bike every few minutes, walk around and pump everyone up! It was a great class! As a little added entertainment, Mary challenged several of the men to push up contests. Wow, was I impressed! She keep up with and out did all the men. Way to go girl! On a side note, I would recommend anyone who takes a spin class, get a nice seat for yourself. About half way through the class, my butt started to hurt, LOL. Several vets in the class told me to get my own gel seat. They said that is does wonders, so I will be getting one tomorrow!

I also did a two mile walk/run on the treadmill and gave Zumba another try. The Zumba class had a different instructor and seamed to be more fast paced this time, which I enjoyed. My time on the treadmill did not improve, but I still completed two miles in under 16 minutes a mile. I will continue to slowly increase the time I spend on the treadmill, hopefully to get faster and farther.

A dream is a wish your heart makes......

--Amy

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I have a few extra princess bands! If you want one, follow me and comment below. I will send you one as a thank you!

The Law of Diminishing Marginal Utility

As an accounting major in college, I had to take several economics classes. The study of economics includes the study of human behavior. One concept in economics that has always intrigued me was the law of diminishing marginal utility. Simply put, the law of diminishing marginal utility states that the second unit of a product does not give the consumer as great a level of satisfaction as the first. It continues to say that the third unit is not as satisfying as the second and so on.

When we put this concept into weight loss, it can lead us to more mindful eating. Think about a food you love (for me, I am choosing chocolate cake!) First, look at the food and take it in with all your senses. It looks great, it smells fabulous. You take a piece. As the law of diminishing marginal utility teaches us, the first bite will be the most satisfying. When you are ready to take the first bit, make sure you are in a place physically and mental to enjoy it. Yum! Now, on to the second bite. Wow, it was great too, but not quit as good as the first. Time for the third bite, then the fourth. Are you still getting a high level of satisfaction? If so, have another bit! But if not, put your fork down and walk away. You do NOT have to clear your plate. If you are not getting a high level of satisfaction from each bit, then it is time to stop. Make each bit worth the calories you are taking it. This method can save you hundreds of unenjoyed calories.

I have put this concept into my eating habits over the past few days. Over the weekend, my husband and I went to dinner to a local place that has my absolute favorite chocolate cake (that is why I chose it as my example.) It has layers of mouse, cake and chocolate slivers….soooo good! After dinner, my husband and I ordered a piece to share (another good option to slim down.) When the waitress brought it to our table, it looked so good. I picked up my fork for the first bit. Wow, so good! Then the second, third, then forth. It was time to ask my self, was I still getting a high level of satisfaction out of each bit? Yes, I was! So it was time for a few more bits. Then, it was time to ask my self again. This time, the answer was no. It was time to put my fork down and push the rest of the cake to my husband.

This concepts really works for me. What do you think? Have you tried it? Please tell me about you experience with it.

A dream is a wish your heart makes......

--Amy

If you have enjoyed what you read, please click to the right to follow me!

I have a few extra princess bands! If you want one, follow me and comment below. I will send you one as a thank you!

Spin…I mean Zumba!

Today, I went to a new gym, Strictly Fitness in York PA, for a Spin class that I signed up for at our township building. I was so excited to get out of the house and take a really challenging class. When I got to the gym, a really nice lady gave me a tour. My first impression was that the gym was nice, but it still felt very intimidating to me. There were lots of really fit people working out. I learned that tanning and child care are included in the cost of membership, which is a big plus!

So once 5:30 rolled around, I went to the spin room. There I found a class just letting out. I went back to the front desk, only to find out that the township had the time wrong. There is no 5:30 spin class! I was very disappointed. Scott, the man that teaches Spin, and the women that I had met early for my tour were great! They took such good care of me. Since the 6:30 spin class was full, they gave me a great alternative. They gave me a 20 visits punch card that will allow me to visit the gym 20 times, at any time I want. They got me into a spin class that starts in next week, and suggested I stay for a Zumba class today. Wow, was I impressed!

Since the Zumba class did not start till 6:30, I decided to spend a little time on the treadmill. This is my first timed experience on the treadmill since I have committed to the marathon. I did a walk/run combo for 20 minutes, with 4 minutes walks at 3.5mph and 2 minute runs at 5.5mph. It took me 14:45 to get in one mile. In my 20 minutes, I went 1.35 miles. I wish I would have had my new running shoes to try out. It is good to know I can easily do a mile in under 16 minutes. Now my task is to get faster and add to my distance!

My first in class Zumba experience was good. Zumba is a Latin-inspired, calorie-burning, dance party. It is a blend of red-hot international music that mixes dance and aerobics. The instructor, Maria, was very nice and keep the one hour class going. The class was a lot of fun, but I wish the intensity was higher. Being used to very high intensity Turbo Fire classes, Zumba was a breeze. It felt really good to have the others around me huffing and puffing, while I was sweating but still feeling really good. I really enjoyed the music and the choreography was fun. Would I recommend this class to other? Absolutely! Will I go back? Yes! Strictly Fitness was a great experience.

I can’t wait to try Spin next week. I will be back to let you know how it goes!

A dream is a wish your heart makes......

--Amy

If you have enjoyed what you read, please click to the right to follow me!

I have a few extra princess bands! If you want one, follow me and comment below. I will send you one as a thank you!

Choosing a Good Running Shoes

This week, my mission was to find a good running shoe. If you remember, last week I wrote about these awful shin splints I got during my first run. I did some research online about shin splints and how to avoid them. What I found was a bit surprising. It seams I was wearing the wrong shoes! For my first run, I wore my Reebok Easytones. I have had these shoes for about a year and a half and have always liked them.

Once I discovered that my shoes may have caused my shin splits, I began researching about the importance of choosing the correct shoe when running. Wow! There is so much information out there about choosing a running shoe. From what I gathered, it seams that the most important thing you need to know when shopping for a running shoe is what type of foot you have. Foot types include:

Under pronating, or high arch

Neurtal pronating, or normal arch

Over pronating, or flat footed

Most running experts advise you to go to a shoe store and ask an expert in running shoes for help when choosing a shoe. So, that is just what I did.

I went to Dick’s Sports here in York, PA and met a really great salesperson who was very knowledgeable in running shoes. He asked me to take off my shoes and socks. He examined my feet and informed me that I have a neutral to over pronating foot. He then asked me if I can often feel the arch of my foot caving into my shoes as I walk. He was right on! The salesperson told me that I should choose a running shoe that offer really good arch support. He then recommended to me several shoes in many brands and prices. He showed me to look for a shoe with a two part sole, with built in arch support on the inside of the shoe and the outside. After trying on several pairs, I chose a winner!

My salesperson also mentioned the importance of finding a shoes that fits well…not to tight and not to loose. Trying a half size up in a running shoes was a good suggestion., so I tried on an 8.5 and a 9. He also checked to see if I need a wide width, which I did not. I ended up getting a pair of ASICS GT-2160 in a size 9. My trip to Dick’s was very informative and overall a great experience.

The last thing I learned about running shoes and wanted to share with you is that running shoes have a relatively short life. Most experts recommend you replace your running shoes at least every 400 miles. I am sure my Easytones have seen at least double that! Dick’s had an amazing pair of running shoes, the ASICS GEL KAYANO 17, but they were a bit out of my price range for now…but maybe they are just what I will need to finish the Marathon! Once I put some miles on my new ASICS GT-2160, I will let you all know what I think!

What has your experience been with running shoes? Is there any you would or would not recommend?

A dream is a wish your heart makes......

--Amy
　
If you have enjoyed what you read, please click to the right to follow me!

I have a few extra princess bands! If you want one, follow me and comment below. I will send you one as a thank you!