Healthy Living in Connecticut Blog

I'm really getting into strength training. I have decided that I no longer need the treadmill. I still will do my walking and get my steps in, but I don't need to lose more weight.

During the past few months, I was using the treadmill for about 5 to 10 minutes for 5 days a week. It's not too much, but the weight tends to fall off me so easily now. I want my body to build muscle and using the treadmill might confuse my goals... my body might still think it needs to lose weight. A trainer was talking to me about cardio today, that it could actually hurt my efforts. I don't want it to get in the way of my goals!

Well, I did it. I finished in an upright position,  didn't finish last and I didn't "hurl" at the finish line!! These three things are important to me when I'm in a race. (Ok it's not really, but it is on my mind)

As I mentioned in a previous blog, this was my third LHRR. I experienced the  hottest sun I've ever felt while running. I ran the first 3 1/2 miles at my normal 15 minute mile; I was feeling good. Thankfully I was still running when the other runners were passing me, (since they all ran three times faster than me). For a split second I was embarrassed ~ but in true runner fashion, the high fives, shout outs, and thumbs up from those passing me by gave me the push I needed to keep going. Runners are courteous, kind, supportive and only in competition with themselves ~ my size didn't matter, my speed, or lack of, didn't matter, my being four to five miles behind them didn't matter. All that mattered to them was I was there; giving it my all. I embraced not only the shout outs and high fives of the other runners, but the spectators as well.

I had an awesome appointment with my trainer today. He took the measurements with the calipers and my body fat is nearing 10 percent. It's getting close to the point where it's tough to measure the body fat. After 10 percent, it's tough to get an accurate reading. My thighs and chest now measure at 8 percent but the abs are still holding at 16.

That's actually good that the abs are not at 10 yet, it means they are still tightening. I do see a difference in the abs. They feel tighter and my love handles are barely noticeable. I'm actually very happy with the way the abs are progressing. From the feedback I hear, the bulge in the abdominal area is not noticeable through clothing, which is awesome!

Derek Mitchell made the national news last month when he completed his first 5K race. It wouldn't have made the news except for one fact, he weighed in at 570 pounds. Derek plans to walk a 5K every month this year as he tries to lose weight. I don't have any doubt he'll reach his goals with the determination he has!

I reached out to interview him for this website as I thought his story was very inspirational. I hope to update you on his story as it develops and as he no doubt loses more weight. You can read about his journey on his Facebook page by clicking here.

As many of you already know, I've been wearing a pedometer for a while now. I haven't really updated the story in a while but I have now walked 13,140,000 steps in three years! That's equivalent to 6,225 miles, or roughly the distance from Connecticut to Los Angeles, CA and back!

I don't keep a daily log of my steps and the numbers are an estimate. I just know that on average, I probably get around 12,000 steps a day (some days around 10K, other days closer to 15K). It's not an exact number but I'm confident that it's probably close to the actual number of steps that I walked.