Getting Active, Trying New Things

I have 5 pounds to go toward my weight loss goal. It's so close, yet so far away. Though, still -- I'm not really dwelling on the exact number too much. One day, for example, I can wake up 10 pounds over my goal. The next? I'm only 4 pounds away. So weird. I am focused much more on my half marathon training and selling our house at the moment.

(Half training is great, btw! Check out last night's long run -- 7 weeks to go!)

However, as well as my training is going -- I've missed several many workouts due to some cleaning + house-prepping burnout. So, my general level of activity has definitely been on my mind. When I worked outside the home, for example, I had to walk at least a quarter mile from my car to my office each morning. And then again to/from for lunch. And then back at night. There's a built-in mile of walking -- and I'd often take my breaks and lunch walking as well.

I'd say on top of running 25 average miles a week, I was likely walking 4 miles a day. And I also used to do yoga and way more random cross-training. (And did I mention that's when I was pregnant?) Yadda, yadda, yadda. I know parents aren't supposed to make excuses (hah!) for not fitting in fitness as a top priority . . . but c'mon. It's hard when life gets in the way.

If we don't leave the house, we truly don't leave the house. There's very few places we can walk to unless we're out for the purpose of walking only. The weather the last couple years was very mild and kind in winter, but this year? Not so much. So, on days when we're stuck indoors, I bet I don't even walk a mile. Or do I? I have absolutely no idea. No way to track . . .

I've been reading posts and chatting with my friends who have Fitbit trackers, Jawbone UP, Nike FuelBand -- basically those newfangled, glorified pedometers that also help track sleep, nutrition, etc. -- along with steps per day toward a 10,000/day goal. So, I gathered together some gift cards last night and picked one up to try. They all have different bells, whistles, and cons.


Ultimately, I chose the Fitbit Flex over the others for price. I'm not actually reviewing it today -- I'll probably wait a month into use -- because I've only had it on my arm for the last, uhhhh, 12 hours. But I wanted to write out what I'm hoping to achieve by wearing such a device:

• I want to get a better idea of how much activity I'm getting as a whole -- not just running. Since parenthood has caused me to randomly skip workouts from time to time, I'd like to know that I'm generally active otherwise.
• I'm hoping to better track my nutrition because it's conveniently in the app, so I might as well use it. I figure it's just extra incentive to be more diligent (bananas versus M&Ms) and, therefore, start making sure I'm eating the right mix of nutrients and enough calories to fuel my lifestyle, all while pinpointing times when I'm indulging to the max. 
• I want to start better sleep habits. I'm normally a morning person, but somehow these weird night owl tendencies have taken over in the past year. It makes my whole day feel off -- so hopefully I'll feel inspired to get good nights of sleep to look at on the tracker in the morning.
• I also want to use the cool vibrating alarm clock option. I don't know why I like that feature so much, but I do.
• I also hope by tracking my weight, which I likely won't do every day, but maybe a couple days a week, I could see why I weigh more on certain days (did I eat lots of salty foods? have I not exercised in a week? do I have my menstrual cycle?) versus others.
• And I like having a journal component. I've been trying to keep a paper journal, but it just hasn't been working out -- so I hope to jot down some notes about my health + wellness, how I'm feeling, etc. in this app along with everything else.
• Overall, I'm just looking for an extra dose of motivation. And I think that -- combined with the warmer temperatures that are BOUND to start sometime soon -- will help me take charge of my health (versus just weight).

Do you use a fitness tracker like the Fitbit Flex? 

What has your experience been? Any tips or tricks? Already I'm a little skeptical of the step counts (I got some while sitting in bed? But also didn't get as many as I took while hauling laundry up the stairs...). We shall see!

PS: Please send good house sale vibes my way today. We have our first showing this afternoon!!!

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Last Week in Workouts

There are few things better than running barefoot on the beach.

Here's last week in workouts:

M: 4 miles
T: Rest
W: 4 miles
R: 6 miles at 8:30/mile
F: 4 miles at 8:15/mile w/ intervals
S: 5K (8:40, 8:10, 7:40) + 6 mile beach walk
S: 9 mile long run, barefoot on beach + 25 minutes Pilates

TOTAL: 30.1 miles running, lots of walking around Cape May

I'm really proud of how I stuck to my training this week despite being away from home. I think this might be the first time EVER that I got in all my miles while on vacation. And to add to it, I did other active stuff, too. That 6-mile beach walk was to get Ada to sleep the day we didn't have a place to land during her nap.

Worked like a charm! (And yes, I hate the sun. SPF shirt + wide-brimmed hat for me!)


You might notice Pilates in the mix -- a workout I've done only maybe twice in my life -- we're in Wildwood Crest this week with family, and my future sister-in-law Kate is a certified instructor. I am hoping she can whip my core into shape by the end of the week. Or at least get a start. (PS: You can take classes from her too!)

I'm taking today off to let my calves recover from all those barefoot miles in the sand yesterday. Ouch. Honestly, I didn't realize I had gone quite that far until I had to turn around. Oops. Accidental longer run. I needed to do one, so I guess it was the best way!

How'd your last week's workouts go?

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Why I love Walking

There are periods of time when I feel like I'm productive. Making progress. Dealing well with all my obligations and responsibilities. There are other times, like NOW, when I feel like I'm floundering. Or simply unwilling to make space in my schedule and mind for the gazillions of things that are required of me.

It's not all bad stress. Far from it, really. I try to make the best of things, though. Eat well, sleep 8 hours each night, make time for fun stuff.

E.x.e.r.c.i.s.e. (That's a biggie.)

That's exactly why I love walking. When I feel entirely overwhelmed, tired, cranky, or even sick, a walk -- 9-times-out-of-10 -- perks me up. Gets my blood pumping. Relaxes me. Lets me think. And in an entirely different way than running, which often does these same things. Sometimes, friends, I'm just too stressed to run.

It happens. If it happens to you, know that it's OK. An hour long walk cures what ails you perhaps moreso than a run. You can even split walking into spurts throughout the day and still gain great cardiovascular benefits. Great stress-relieving moments. Fresh air. You can sneak in guilty pleasure-TV, too (oh, how I love The Secret Life of the American Teenager!) -- SANS guilt -- if you have a treadmill.

I guess that's all I wanted to write about it. So, next time you feel crazy . . . take a walk.

How do you deal when life gets super busy? Just leave a comment or email us at neverhomemaker [at] gmail [dot] com.

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Changing Up the Commute

I'm lucky enough to live only a few miles away from where I work. So, I really have no need for a car. Right? Well, truth be told -- my area isn't exactly bike-friendly. Yes, there are bike lanes and sidewalks, but they involve trekking across busy highways with loads of traffic. A non-auto commute, needless to say, is certainly not for the faint of heart. But I decided to give it a try earlier this week when the temps were high and the clouds were few.

The result: I am still in one piece. I got to work. I got home from work. I got some good exercise. And I'm planning to do it at least two to three times a week -- weather permitting.

Commuting to work by bus, bike, or on foot requires a certain level of planning, however. So, if you're fortunate enough to live close to your place of employment, you might consider taking alternative transportation for a day or two. Just to try it out. For the purpose of this post, I'm concentrating specifically on biking and walking. Not only is it good for the environment, but it's also good for your wallet and waistline.

Here are just a few tips to get you started:

1.) Plan out your route considering safety, ease of travel, and time. There are likely multiple ways to get where you need to be. Figure out the good, bad, and ugly about each. For me, the long way around is definitely quieter, but involves more hills and several more miles. As a compromise, I take the short way -- but in the area where I feel least safe, I ride on the sidewalk. I see others doing the same thing, so it's not a horrible thing to do (I know bicyclists need to obey traffic laws -- but until they improve the bike lanes around here, I'll break them for the 1/2 mile that makes me feel uneasy). But look at all your options and plan accordingly.


2.) Dress appropriately. The temps in our area were in the high 80s this week. So, I knew I didn't want to be a mess when I got to work. I dressed in layers. Packed a cardigan for the inevitable office chill (too much air conditioning). I wore spiffy shorts one day, a stretchy skirt the next (and, yes, it's possible to bike in a skirt and still be descent . . . practice makes perfect). If you're especially self conscious about sweating, etc., pack another shirt. Wear sensible shoes. If you're walking, flip-flops just won't do. And high heels on a bike? I don't think so. If you're concerned with fashion, think about bringing a change of clothes. Ultimately, you don't want to sacrifice safety and comfort for fashion.


3.) Saddle up with a backpack. Include other key gear. If you're walking, having a backpack will help alleviate back problems. You can stow away lunch, a laptop, your purse, change of shoes (if necessary), etc. If you're biking, same thing -- but you'll also need to throw in a bike lock. Oh, yeah. And don't forget a HELMET. I never, ever, EVER ride without a helmet. When you're on the road with cars buzzing past you going 1,000,000 miles an hour, you'll be happy you're wearing one, too.


4.) Pack all your supplies. As I mention above, you want to pack smart. But this doesn't just include the basic necessities. You'll also want to be sure to bring a bottle of water with you. (Hydrate, please!) Furthermore, if it's hot outside, you may even want to consider bringing your getting-ready routine on the road with you. Nothing's worse than melted makeup with asphalt embedded in your pores. I pack a small toiletries bag so that I can apply my makeup and fix my hair in the bathroom at work. I also bring deodorant and some face soap so I can lather up a bit beforehand. If you don't feel like carrying all of this in your bag, you may want to keep a supply kit in your desk.

5.) Leave yourself enough time to get to your destination. I was completely surprised to learn that it takes me exactly the same amount of time to bike to work as it does to drive and walk from my car to my office. Astounded, in fact. But I didn't know this the first day, so I was sure to allow myself a full half hour just in case. You may even wish to do a test walk or bike ride on a weekend to see how long it takes to get from point A to point B.

But leave yourself enough time to get to your office so that you won't be rushing and perhaps ignoring the rules in the following step . . .

6.) Obey the rules. Yeah, I'm not going to lie. I do break a biking rule on my route. But, unless there's a reason that is particularly compelling (seriously, folks -- that part of my route is DANGEROUS, so I'd rather take my chances with a couple pedestrians on the sidewalk), you must obey traffic rules on your ride. This includes hand signaling. Both walkers and bikers must look both ways a.) for your own safety and b.) for the safety of others. Think about when you're in the driver's seat in your vehicle. It's frustrating when you see cyclists, etc. not obeying rules (or just being confusing and oblivious). So, you want to be the model . . . less frustration for those in cars, less chance of accidents for you.

One more thing: Just like you would for your vehicle, be sure to check that your bike is in good working order being heading out. Check the brakes, tire levels, etc. And consider carrying a bike kit with you for any unforeseen emergencies.

One of my friends describes biking to her place of work as "empowering" -- and I certainly agree with her. The days I chose to get here without my car, I felt liberated. I felt happy and strong. I was also happy about the extra exercise I was squeezing in. And despite the relative difficulty of my particular route, it was fun! So, if you choose to travel an alternative way to your 9 to 5, be safe. And let us know if you have any other tips to add! Just leave a comment or email us at neverhomemaker@gmail.com.

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