Ready to Run!!!

Why is it that the last 10 lbs have to be the hardest? I've been trying to lose the last 15 lbs of baby weight since April. I lost 5 in May by doing aerobics everyday, but now its apparant that I'm going to have to step it up a little. I've been running the last 2 weeks. 2-3 times per week and its felt pretty good. I haven't been in too much pain. So I'm really excited to start working toward a 5k (3.1 miles). I found a training schedule in one of Clint's running magazines so I thought I would share for anyone interested. I've never really "trained" or worked up to a 5k before. I usually just exercise a couple time a week and hope that I make it through the 5k on race day. Last time I ran one I threw up. So this time I'm going for being prepared!

This schedule is for running 3 days a week and says you should be doing other workouts (swimming, cycling, aerobics, brisk walking, etc) twice a week. Avoid running on consecutive days. This schedule is not for gaining speed, just working your way to completing a 5k without having to stop or walk.

Week 1
Day 1- 1.5 miles
Day 2- 1.5 miles
Day 3- 2 miles

Week 2
Day 1- 2 miles
Day 2- 2 miles
Day 3- 2.5 miles

Week 3
Day 1- 2 miles
Day 2- 2.5 miles
Day 3- 3 miles

Week 4
Day 1- 2.5 miles
Day 2- 2.5 miles
Day 3- 3 miles

Week 5
Day 1- 2.5 miles
Day 2- 2 miles
Day 3 RACE DAY- 3.1 miles

klean kanteen

This is the type of water bottles I bought for our family. I ordered them on Amazon.com last Wednesday and they came today! I'm so excited! They come in all sorts of colors. I got a pink one for Morgan and a blue one for Jackson, both with sippy spouts. Then I just got silver (pictured above) for Clint and me. We got one twist cap and one sports cap. They are 100% recylable, which makes me SO happy, and they are much better for our health, as mentioned in my previous post. Later this week I'll write more about the cleaning benefits of vinegar rather than chemicals on my Homemaker blog.

P.S. if you're looking into getting reusable water bottles, save yourself the research and just buy Klean Kanteen. Trust me, I spent many hours researching and these aren't only best because they're stainless steel (there are other stainless steel brands), but they are rated number 1 on Consumer Search and had the best reviews by consumers on several websites. And its awesome that they have the sippy spout option which is compatible with Avent sippy spouts!

Getting Healthy

I have been trying to take some steps toward becoming a healthier family. The first step was to stop washing my wood floors with chemicals, seeing as the kids spend a lot of time on them. I've started washing them with vinegar and water. Which actually makes them look and feel cleaner. The smell of vinegar makes me gag, but it doesn't leave a smell when you clean with it, so thats not a concern.

My next step was to stop using and reusing plastic water bottles. I've known for a long time that the plastic can break down and get into your drinking water, but it wasn't until I started doing research that I realized just how bad it is for you. So I bought all of us stainless steel, 100% recyclable waterbottles called Klean Kanteens.

Today I was looking up info about lead levels in children. My friend had her kids tested and one of them was over the safe level. So she had to test all her toys and get rid of some of them. Well, while doing my research I found a website called Skin Deep that talks about cosmetics (women and children) that have unsafe levels of medals in them. Turns out 98% of my makeup and lotions are in the hazardous levels. It lists the types of health issues that can be caused by excessive exposure. Anyway, I'm not super paranoid usually, but now I'm second guessing what products I should use.

Its funny how they say that cancer and heart disease and all these other things are more common now than they used to be. But they don't tell you its because we are exposed to so many toxins without ever knowing it. Even the packaged foods we eat....

Makes you think...