Runners High...

Girl look at that body..

Girl look at that body..

Girl look at that body..

I WORK OUT

:)

I feel like i should start with a disclaimer..

I don't claim to be a certified fitness trainer or claim to say everything iv done or do is by the book, but i want to share with you my fitness routine at the beginning of my fitness journey and what i do currently.

Im really excited to be writing my third blog, and im really pumped about the subject matter. The hardest change that i endured on my journey was adding the fitness/workout to my regimen.

STARTING POINT

Im currently laying down in my comfy and cozy bed as the snow is drifting through the cold winds outside my window. With my heating blanket on high and my water bottle sitting beside me,as im typing out this blog i cant help but reflect on the past. When i was a child i tried almost every sport known to man. I went from ice skating lessons, to swim team, to gymnastics..I wish i could happily type that i excelled in atleast one of them but sadly i wasn't born with the most athletic genes. In fact neither of my parents or siblings did sports either. Im not trying to blame my lack of energy and sports motivation on my bloodline but im trying to make a point that i was never athletic growing up. The fact that i now consider myself a runner and lover of activity is a miracle.

Above is a picture of what i looked like right before i started working out and eating healthy. When i decided to make the change and eat healthy i knew that to see the best results i had to also start getting my sweat on. 

The first thing i did was grab my friend Samantha Barrett and we started walking a mapped out mile. For the first couple weeks wed walk two miles, then eventually we started adding thirty second intervals of a slow jog into our walk. We would make small goals like pick out a certain landmark wed call out mid jog to push ourselves too. I still remember when i jogged my first full mile without stopping. It was the greatest feeling of accomplishment i had ever felt up to that point. The goal with jogging/running is to constantly keep pushing yourself and adding time to your walks/jogs. 

My workout routine became running two miles, four days a week. I would run outside in my neighborhood or at the gym on a treadmill. Running was the only excersize i added to my routine for the first six months and that mixed with eating healthier, i lost a total of  fifty pounds.

Running not only helped me lose weight but also helped boost confidence and will power in so many other areas of my life. 

Truly nothing compares to the feeling after a good run. It might seem exasperating and tedious at first, but once you start you wont ever want to stop!

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF RUNNING?

• Running is one of the top activities for burning fat. 
• Running burns more calories per minute than any other form of cardio exercise.
• Running reduces the risk of stroke and breast cancer. 
• Regular running has become a treatment option for doctors to prescribe to patients who are at a high risk, or early stages, of osteoporosis, diabetes, and hypertension.
• It reduces the risk of heart attacks, by strengthening the heart and lowering blood pressure.
• Jogging builds confidence and self-esteem.
•  It allows you to defeat trial after trial, growing stronger and more sure of yourself and strength with each footstrike. 
•  It provides a feeling of empowerment and freedom that comes with knowing that your legs and body are strong and capable. 

(the picture above is my best friend Jill and i after a great run at the park..many days wed push each other to go farther then what we would have if we had ran alone).

(above is me, Carl david, Matt, and maria, these three friends really pushed me to go way beyond any limit i sat physically for myself, This was my first 5k i had ever ran in, it was a blast).

(above is a picture of my former awesome roomate and amazing friend Maria, she has always been a runner, and she is really the one who inspired me to start running in the first place..Thanks Maria :)).

SOME OF MY RUNNING TIPS

• Find a friend to run with, having someone by your side will help you go 'the extra mile' even when you want to give up. 
• Find someone you know that is an experienced runner that you can gain wisdom and inspiration from. 
• Always have a plan in your head before you start running of how long/far you want to run each day.
• Have an iPod with an awesome playlist to keep you motivated
• Write out a weekly running schedule on a calender to keep track of your weekly workout goals, and so you can check off each completed daily workout.
• Buy a new pair of tennis shoes or running outfit for extra motivation..because i mean who doesnt want to look cute on a run ;p
• Find a local 5k! Even if you cant run the whole thing, the goal is to finish no matter what, and its something you can train for.
• Dont go cheap when buying workout shoes, my favorite brands are brook's and asics!

OUT OF THE MOUTHS OF PROFESSIONALS

1. Accept the challenge
"Everyone is an athlete. But some of us are training, and some of us are not." —Dr. George Sheehan, runner/writer/philosopher

2. Shoot for this (at least)
"Running 8 to 15 miles per week significantly increases your aerobic capacity, and positively effects many of the coronary risk factors." —Dr. Kenneth Cooper, aerobics pioneer

3. Be a minuteman
"The biggest mistake that new runners make is that they tend to think in mile increments—1 mile, 2 miles, 3 miles. Beginning runners need to think in minutes, not miles." —Budd Coates, four-time U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials qualifier/coach

4. Wear good running shoes
"Spend at least $60. A good pair of running shoes should last you 400 to 500 miles and is one of the most critical purchases you will make." —John Hanc, author of The Essential Runner

5. Think big (and wide)
"Buy all shoes, both street and running, slightly longer and wider than your bigger foot. Also, avoid pointed shoes. You'll save yourself needless foot pain." —Ted Corbitt, ultrarunner and 1952 Olympic marathoner

6. Take the "talk test"
"The 'talk test' means running at a pace comfortable enough to converse with a training partner—but not so easy that you could hit the high notes in an Italian opera." —Runner's World editors

7. Listen to the rumbling
"If you feel like eating, eat. Let your body tell you what it wants." —Joan Samuelson, 1984 Olympic marathon champion

8. Relax to the max
"When running, let your jaw hang loose, don't bunch up your shoulders close to your ears, and occasionally shake out your hands and arms to stay relaxed." —Dave Martin, Ph.D., exercise physiologist 

9. Don't crush the egg
"Don't clench your fists in a white-knuckle grip. Instead, run with a cupped hand, thumbs resting on the fingers, as if you were protecting an egg in each palm." —Runner's World editors

10. Make time for a quickie
"If 15 minutes is all the time I have, I still run. Fifteen minutes of running is better than not running at all." —Dr. Duncan Macdonald, former U.S. record holder at 5000 (set when he was in medical school)

11. Follow Road Rule Number One
"Running against traffic allows the runner to be in command. Anyone who is alert and agile should be able to stay alive." —Dr. George Sheehan

12. Try a "nooner"
"Noontime running provides a triple benefit: daylight, a break from the workday, and a chance to avoid eating a heavy lunch." —Joe Henderson, runner/writer

13. Warm up, then stretch
"Try some light jogging or walking before you stretch, or stretch after you run. Stretching 'cold' muscles can cause more harm than good." —Runner's Worldeditors

14. Stay "liquid"
"Hydrate. Hydrate. Hydrate! In cold weather and warm. We use water to sweat, lubricate joints, tendons, and ligaments, and to carry blood efficiently to major organs. I work all day at hydrating." —Dr. Alex Ratelle, former masters running great

16. Listen up!
"You must listen to your body. Run through annoyance, but not through pain." —Dr. George Sheehan

17. Create your own running creed
"My whole teaching in one sentence is: "Run slowly, run daily, drink moderately, and don't eat like a pig." —Dr. Ernst van Aaken, renowned German coach

18. Come ready to play
"Fitness has to be fun. If it isn't, there will be no fitness. Play is the process. Fitness is merely the product." —Dr. George Sheehan

----------------------------

I know this blog might not be for everyone because not everyone is planning to become a runner. But this is just what i added into my routine and i truly believe is what helped me reach my goal weight. There are so many great alternatives for good cardio; brisk walking, zumba, spinning class and the list goes on. Iv changed and added new cardio and strengthening workouts into my weekly regimen now that iv reached my goal weight and am just wanting to tone up. Ill be posting that blog really soon. I hope this blog has helped motivate you in some way or another :)

Thank you so much for reading and for your continued support!

I am so excited to share with you my tips, tricks, and knowledge iv learned along the way..because lets face it ladies..ignorance is not bliss..and KNOWLEDGE = WILL POWER!

Philippians 4:13 I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me.

Thank You for reading, Many more blogs to come, Sarah Hupp.