Friday's 10km run

I'm on Day 4 and a half with NO sugar and managing...

Keep having to remind my family that I cant eat certain food or drink wine etc...

But thankfully they all understand, they just forget.

I have not trained all week after being told to wait a while before running.

This morning I decided I was going to go out and see how my body felt..if it was ready.

I left home and walked the first 625meters ~ could feel a sensation in my right hip, the side where I was told my leg was shorter than the other ~ my hip was then manipulated into place..

I then stated running and ran slowly at first but then started to run to see if I could better my 5 km time I set last week...I did...its now 29 mins 27 ....

I then had to slow down the 5 km returning...

So walked for 2 mins

Ran for 4 and walked for 1 min, 2x

Ran for 10 mins

Walked for 2 mins

Then the hill up home I ran 1 mins, walked 1 min....

Felt good that I had managed the 10 km in 1 hour 9 mins 45 sec.

This evening my right hip is a little on the sore side, didn't feel it when running, just an uncomfortable sensation, but pain free.

Now I feel a little pain when I walk....but not too bad...

I will not run this weekend, give my hip a rest...but its still NO sugar till the 9th then see from there if I have to continue this no sugar journey...

I am now wearing my daughters jeans that she no longer can wear!!!!

Such a good feeling for me, but not my child!

My precious 3 week old Christmas Nunu...took photo yesterday while visiting her.

I listened

Popping in the morning before I head off to spend the day with my oldest daughter and the new baby....who is 3 and a half weeks old now...how time flies!!

Yesterday when my sister arrived I had fallen asleep on my bed as I was so exhausted...

I told her I would run with her on Friday morning as I felt I was not ready...she understood and as had already done a spinning class at gym that morning she was not desperate for the run...

Its been 3 days since I last trained....and I am going to accept this....I'm not happy, but am going to allow my body the time it needs to rest...

So this is my update after my entry yesterday where most of you thought I should wait a little longer before running...

Girls, I listened to my body and to YOU...thanks!

NO Sugar...and why!

On Monday I went to visit a friend of my sister who is a kinesiologist, she works with the body....

It was such an interesting visit ~ I look forward to my next appointment on the 9 December as she has gone away for a few days. She would like to see me a few times again before I leave on the 18 December for Germany...

She started off by telling me that my body was VERY dehydrated...which I knew it would be.

When in Germany I have a Brita jug filled with water I drink daily and my hubby buys water by the crates so I am always keeping myself hydrated...

With being on holiday I am finding drinking water so difficult...Yes I have been drinking 3 mugs of coffee...and a sip here and there of water...but not the 2 liters I should be drinking everyday...So with immediate effect I am back drinking bottled water which she wants me to fill up with the hydrate graduals which I still have to buy...

She also noticed my one leg was a lot shorter than the other...so worked on getting my hips back in line...

She found fault in my femur muscle and the band running along the side of my leg...

She sorted them all out for me...Very tiring for me.

She also told me not to run for a few days to let the muscles all settle back.

While working around my stomach area she stopped and asked me

* Do you have a yeast infection *

I actually froze as I wondered how she could tell, I have been suffering for about 3 months with one and wondered if it had something to do with going into menopause...

I told her my story and she said it had nothing to do with menopause...

She continued working and made me do a few things while she * sorted out my womb *

A little later she told me that she wanted me to cut out all sugar from my diet till I came to see her again on the 9th Dec, she wanted to see if without sugar the infection in my body was clearer as my body is full of toxins she tells me...

After the session where she pulled and pushed me she told me I carry all my stress inside my body and very tightly ~ she wanted to relax my neck area as she says its very tight ~ could not get it to relax the way it should so will work on that next time....

After the session we sat on the bed and chatted...she mentioned I needed to find * JOY * ~ this has been the 2nd person to tell me this in a matter of weeks...I told her all about my new born grandchild, how I longed to be with her more and then burst out crying....and cried, and cried, and cried...I felt such sadness while talking to her...

While sitting there she told me I had Candida, she could see the white dots on the skin on my arms and forehead...I had no idea what Candida was and didn't want to ask and sound stupid...so came home to google it...Its another word for Yeast infection and the way to stop the infection is to cut out all sugars...

Yesterday was my first full day without sugar....You won't believe where sugar hides...

So have had to once again look at my diet very closely and only eat what is without sugar.

I am going to do this...and if she tells me to cut it out a little longer then I will...well until Xmas day....as the infection feeds off sugar...who would have known.

My dad brought me this medical book this morning to read up all about Candida and how I can over come it...the pictures are all related to this issue as well.

I have to drink a tablespoon first thing every morning of Fulvic Acid before I eat...have to wait for for 30 mins and then have breakfast.

Colon Cleaner I do first thing in the morning and last thing at night...it tastes awful ~ doing it for 3 weeks now and have to do it for 2 months.

The Vital muesli is one I found here in Cape Town..without sugar...and have with plain yogurt...fruit and fruit yogurt not allowed.

I'm going to attempt running with my sister later this afternoon...

Am hoping without sugar in my diet I will not feel low in energy...

Will blog after the run...and let u know..

So its NO NO NO SUGAR FOR ME NOW.

Sunday Run....memories for my grandkids.

I asked my son to take photo's of me after my run today with my 3 grandchildren ~ I told him that with my MS I have no idea where I will be in the future...walking with a stick or even in a wheelchair, so it was important to me to record my current healthy and fit state with them in my life as little people can forget when they older what their Nana was really like....

I'm happy that I have this for my records and for them...

The last time I ran was on Monday....today is Sunday so I knew i had to get out and run as running once a week is not good enough for me...even two times is not where i want to be with my running....but with the current situation and being on holiday I'm just happy that I am getting to do a little training...

The weather today was hot, with a slight breeze, perfect for running....

The route was on the road...up and down the pavements, crossing roads etc...

But a flat route...so tried to beat my current 5km PR of 31 mins...

Today I ran 5km in 30 mins exactly....but boy did I run...my HR was up high, but that PR kept me going as its not very often I get to run on a flat route...besides the treadmill.

I ran 6km in 36 mins...I slowed down a little once I reach 5km

I felt tired ~ wondered if it was because I last ran a few days ago...cause I would have thought with the flat route I would have cruised it today...but it wasn't to be...I had to push myself mentally.

Am hoping to run more this coming week and also going to be attending a Zumba class on Wednesday morning with my gym ladies I used to teach back in my teaching days!

One of my *Babies*

I want to share a story about the woman with me in the photo...

About 9 years ago I worked for the biggest fitness group in South Africa as the Aerobic Manager...

One of my talents was to identify a member with potential and approach them about becoming aerobic/step/etc instructors.

Not very often did I observe a member with this talent, most time members would approach me about doing the course and me training them up.

There was something about this girl...her body, her style in the class...the way she moved that caught my eye. She was not a very friendly member, she came, did her class and left....One day I plucked up the courage to stop her as she rushed out of a class as she had just had a baby and asked her if she was interested in becoming an instructor.

I was a tutor and the fitness body who trained up the instructors and I would then I give her one on one training to get her to teach the way I liked....

She was stunned at first that I asked her, then started to wonder if she would be good enough....gave it some thought and came back to say she was interested so I got her signed up and her training began.

For a while she did my warm up's, then my warm ups and cool downs...slowly I allowed her to teach a combo in my lesson until she was good enough to team teach with me....and then she was off on her own.

I saw her today, I try and meet up with her whenever I am in Cape Town

She had taught a class this morning...hence the gym outfit she was still wearing...

She has had another baby since and is currently 9 weeks pregnant.

She says with the last baby she taught right up to the day before she gave birth

A Preggy Belly class...and intends to do so with this pregnancy as well...

She's 37 years old, a mom of nearly 3 and so fit and a motivation to everyone.

I am very proud of her...she is one of my *babies* someone I took from scratch and molded...she has been teaching every since..

I know had I never stopped her and suggested this path for her she would never have gone this route ( and she tells me this ) as she didn't have the confidence or belief in herself...

She is the most popular instructor at the gym she teaches at...

More proud I could not be.

Running with partners is GREAT

I have been so busy with *life* as a Nana I see I never updated my weekend run ...

I did a run last Saturday, 9km, was happy with the results as I beat my 5km time and ran the dreaded hills...that I had to walk up when I first arrived as I was feeling so bad.....within my running...like a beginner, like someone who was starting from scratch..once I got over whatever it was that was making me feel this way I have really felt like my old running self and enjoyed every second of pounding the pavement.

On Sunday I moved from my daughters house back to where my Mom, Dad, brother, sister in law and my youngest daughter live - here I have running partners which is great...

Yesterday late afternoon was our first run together...

Note my sister in law's *running shoes* ~ its like running flat footed, I think she is very brave as I love the protection I get from my running shoes which you cant get from this new craze.

I was very happy with myself yesterday....the route was a slight incline and then back down, no hills, doing this route I beat my PR for 5km ~ 30 mins...that's nearly 2 mins off my normal time with the hills route.

AND

I'm the oldest ~ my daughter is 24, my sister in law is in her 30's and me ~ 48 and I beat them both...by quite a way...not that I was racing them, but my pace was much faster and I felt like I was dragging my body when trying to run with them, so went off ahead.

My sister in law is a marathon runner and is doing a triathlon this Saturday...

So I was impressed with myself, this old duck!!! :)

Ran 8.7 km

53 mins

818 calories

20% fat

133-155 HR

Food wise am still sticking to Clean Eating...

Yesterday I did share a slice of cheese cake with my daughter when I took her out for lunch with a blob of ice cream, that must have been my biggest * cheat * in months!!

Monday and Tuesday in Cape Town

Didnt get to train on Monday, thought I would take a rest after my 10km run on Sunday...

Today ( Tuesday ) the wind was howling so thought I'd leave running and do skipping with a skipping rope and toning instead...running in the howling Cape wind up the hills is no fun...inside the house the sound of the wind makes me feel I have to hold on for dear life as going to be blown away...Parts of Cape Town are known for the wind and this is one of the parts where my daughter lives...the view is magnificent but the wind is a killer!

After doing 20 mins of toning with skipping in between for cardio I decided that my workout was not enough for me and that I *felt* like running...walking, anything but what I was doing..

So out I headed in the wind...parts of the route in the complex was not too bad, other parts were so bad I had to work hard to keep myself upright...but loved it...was so glad I went out...

Got home feeling so good...

I toned and did skipping for 20 mins...lunges, triceps and butt

Then ran for 5km

Burned 708 calories

HR 118 ~ 142

40% fat

Tomorrow and Thursday am not going to be able to train as have a busy schedule..so today was important for me....

Got a run in today...

Yesterday I saw on the weather channel that today ( Sunday ) was going to be a good day in Cape Town after days and days of rain, wind and clouds...So I knew last night already that today I was going to head out for a run....I had no idea what distance, but a run I had to have as I have been so busy this week I haven't been able to run besides on Wednesday when I did a 10 km and felt great...my own running self again...

I do think a few bloggers misunderstand my *I'm back* statement...

I'm still in Cape Town, its just that I felt like my old self again, hence the * I'm back * comment I left on my last entry. I will be in Cape Town until the 18 December....

This morning after I got dressed into my running gear I went up to my daughter who was still in bed feeding our new Princess and asked her to please take a photo of me in my running gear holding my precious bundle as I want to look back at this photo in the future and remember that I was a fit *Nana* someone who took care of myself....When she sees these photo's she maybe an adult herself and me a very old lady...I want her to see me as I was when she was born...

Today I ran 10 km in 1hr 7 mins....my best time for a while...even my 5km time was my personal best and the route has so many hills, would love to see what my time would be on a flatter route.

HR ~ 117-175

Calories ~ 1230 ( its those hills )

25% fat

I've become a lot stricter with my diet again...clean eating is what I am focused on, as its the way for me now with MS, but have decided to count points as well while on holiday to make sure I stick within the points allowed for me daily...I lost all my weight doing the Weight Watchers program so really have lots of faith in the program....when I return to Germany and have better access to the internet I will count calories and not points....

I've had such a busy week and although I have only trained 2x this week I am satisfied with doing 20 km this week as I trained a bit more last week and only did 17km.

I am BACK

I didn't get to train on Monday as my daughter gave birth to my 5th grandchild

A little Princess

Tuesday I was riding around to see to things and the weather was terrible, lots of rain and I don't like running in the rain...

So today ( WED ) was the first change I had to run since Sunday

And the weather was perfect...HOT, with lots of sunshine...

I'm so excited I could burst...

Today I did a 10km run without walking at any point

I felt myself from the moment I headed out till the very end...

It felt like the old me again, not the beginner who was struggling

This all started about 2 weeks before I left Germany and continued till my last run on Sunday where I felt good but still walked...

Not today

Today I ran up those horrible steep hills...and trust me they are steep so I run at a very slow pace, but its still running and not walking.

I am so thrilled to feel like me the runner again

My 5km time has also improved...today I reached 5km in 32 mins.

Today I also went on line to check the calories of my breakfast...I was shocked.

50g Organic Instant Oats

1 Tsp of Flaxseed and Omega 3 sprinkle mixture

1 Tsp Organic Peanut butter

2 tsp honey

Coffee with two tsp honey and banana

Half my calories are gone just with my breakfast and I am meant to be eating 6 small meals a day...which I have been doing....

I am going to start counting the calories for a while with my clean eating as I am concerned after reading Jillian Michaels book * Winning by Losing * where she insists that counting calories is so important...as does Bob Harper...

I have gained weight with not counting points or calories....and want to sort this out before its too late...trying to lose 10 kg's is not easy....

Otherwise I'm happy with my running ~ now need to find time to do my abs, squats and push ups again....

Ran 10 km

1 hour and 9 mins

Burned 1 188 calories

20% fat

HR - 139 ~ 173

Saturday & Sunday update

Saturday I found myself tired and without energy ~ this really upset me as Friday I felt like my old self again and was hoping that this was the start to good times for me again ~ so I took the day off....Rested...Listened to my body.

The photo below was taken from my bedroom window last night...

Today after a good nights sleep I felt good when I woke up....so dressed in my running gear and headed out...I told myself it was OK to walk when I needed to...and I never needed to...I felt the best during my run since arriving here two weeks ago...I even did interval runs up the steep hills...I felt so good...tired as I worked out hard during my run...but good.

Ran 7km

In 48.27 mins

Burned 786 calories

134~154 HR

Today I ate a few cheese scones my daughter baked...small ones, my first break away for a while and it didnt make me feel good...

I wasn't tempted to put my fingers into the chips bowl which was a huge step for me......

Tomorrow ( Monday ) is another rest day as my daughter goes into hospital to have her baby and I will be with her for the whole day, then in the late afternoon to evening will be looking after my 20 month old grandson.