Couch to 5k: Week 3

Week 3:

5 minute brisk walk
90 seconds of running
90 second of walking
3 minutes of running
3 minutes of walking
-each done two times

Week 3 went really well. I don't have much to say other then I think you'll see better results if you do this running plan more then 3 times a week. On to week 4!

The Bravest Families in America

Myself like many other people watched the Oprah show yesterday about The Bravest Families in America. The opening segment was about a young man who is a husband and a father who was in the Army and while he was deployed his humvee was hit by a roadside bomb. Hearing this story brought tears to my eyes. I put myself in their position to see how I would feel if that happened to my husband, I would be devastated. My husband is my world and the supporter in our family. He's never pressured me to find a job that makes more money, he rarely tells me no, and he has supported me in everything I've done.

This man who was hit by the roadside bomb is blind and relies on his wife for every day tasks including getting dressed, taking his medication, and going to doctors appointments. As a wife who is married to someone who serves our country I know that any second he could be deployed and I pray that when he does deploy he will return home safely as I do for other families that have loved ones that are putting themselves in danger.

I try not to watch the news because it worries me, I've made the mistake of watching the movie Brothers and cried at the end telling my husband I didn't want him to get hurt when he deploys, I've watched the documentary Restrepo and it was shocking to see young men my age and younger in gun fight. Like Oprah said, "whether you agree with the war or not, we're in war." I can't wait for the day when we're not in war and the worry can be pushed aside. I'm not trying to make people feel bad, I want them to understand that living the military life is difficult. Our spouses work 12+ hour days and come home with a smile on their face helping with the kids or cooking dinner. We have to live with the unknown, when will he deploy? How long is the deployment? Etc. And putting your life aside for your loved one. To be honest I had a hard time with that one. When my husband and I were dating he placed me on a pedestal and was always planning romantic dinners and surprises. When we moved I knew absolutely nothing about the AF and pilot training. Pilot training was one of the most challenging times in our life, he suffered from air sickness and it was heart breaking when he would come home with disappointment on his face because he got sick, but we stuck through it and he graduated and is now an instructor. Now when I look at my husband I could care less about myself, I put my husband and son infront of me because I want to. I'm not the one who gets deployed and misses, birthdays, holidays, and anniversaries. Every moment my husband and I are together I want it to be fun and I want to get along because I don't want to regret a second of our lives.

I'm not sure how many people have seen the quote "An AF wife is the hardest job in the AF," and I couldn't agree with that more! But I think wife should be replaced with spouse. We hold the fort down and we have to learn to live a life without our spouse for some time. We have to stay strong not only for ourselves but our family and children,

I know the day will come when my husband has to deploy and I used to dread it but I've came to the reality it's something he has to do and I should proud of what he's doing not sad that he's leaving. What I want people to get out of this blog is to understand our situation. We may have a smile on our face but what we're feeling on the inside can be indescribable. Thank you to all of the men and women who are serving our country and I pray a safe return home and to the military families stay strong for some its almost over and others it has just begun, but be proud and know that there are only a few people in the world that can handle the military life.

Couch to 5k: Week 2

So far so good! I started week two of Couch to 5k which entailed a 5 minute brisk walk, 90 seconds of running, and 2 minutes of walking to total 20 minutes. I used to run intervals and now I know why I stopped. The reason I stopped is because as soon as I would get into a good pace I had to start walking. Week two was just as easy as the first week. Instead of running 3 times a week like it recommends I decided to run on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. I'm not only using this for training but also to lose those last few pounds of baby weight. Monday it starts all over again!

One Year Ago

A year ago yesterday (I didn't have time to blog), I found out I was pregnant with our little boy. It's amazing that it's been a year and how time flies! Our little boo boo is now 4 months old and discovering new things all the time, it's been a wonderful 4 months.

Couch to 5k: Week 1

On Monday I started the couch to 5k running program. I started out with a 5 minute warm-up walk, 60 second run and 90 second walk, alternating the running and walking to total 20 minutes three times a week. I wanted to skip ahead a couple weeks because I felt like I wasn't getting a work out and that it was too easy, but the article stated to not skip ahead and stay on track. So I am.

Week 1: I feel anyone can do, whether you're a former avid runner or someone who wants to reach their goal of running 3 miles, so far this program is perfect. I ran my 20 minute run on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. On Tuesday and Thursday I did Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred and I decided to take off the weekends. On Monday I'll start week 2! Here we go again!

Couch to 5k

After having my son I found it hard to find the drive to start running again. Before I got pregnant I ran 3 miles everyday without a problem, I remember it took me forever to reach my 3 mile goal but I did it! Around 15 weeks I was put on bed rest due to some minor complications so I wasn't able to workout and my doctor advised me to try a different form of exercise. I started working out on the elliptical everyday until the day I was induced. At my postpartum visits I would hound my doctor about working out and when he would let me...he said 6 weeks. Once 6 weeks rolled around I tried and my body wasn't ready, so on and off for the past 4 months I would try to run 3 miles and I wasn't able to. I started to get frustrated. I'm not one of those moms who say they don't have time or their child won't allow them to work out. I am in no way a couch potato but I needed a running schedule that would help me get back to my 3 mile runs. I came across couch to 5k. I started today and so far so good! I'm interested to see how well this program works and I'll be blogging weekly to see if its worth it. I copied the link for anyone who's not a runner but would like to be one.

http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml

Time To Say Goodbye

Last night my husband and I hosted a going away party for our close friends who are moving on Monday. As I was planning what day, time, and place the party would take place it didn't feel real. I met my friend when I was a server at Chili's and her and her husband just happened to be in my section! We started working together at a local salon where she was a hairstylist and I was the receptionist. After 6 months I left and she continued to work. When we moved on base we were neighbors, our yards faced eachother and I remember that she would always stand at my back fence and yell my name for me to come out. I've never had a close friend like her to where I could tell her everything and when we hung out it didn't feel awkward.

To me moving is weird. I've never moved anywhere in my life until I met my husband, now when I see a moving truck drive down my street it doesn't faze me, but seeing a close friend pack up their house and not seeing their car in their driveway doesn't feel real. I remember when my husband and I first started dating I didn't understand how the military worked. People came and went and I always saw it as sad and my husband would tell me "that's the military." So as I learned more I adopted that saying. I promised myself that I wouldn't get close to anyone because I didn't want to say goodbye. But when you live thousands of miles away from family your neighbors become your new family.

As the days pass by Monday creeps closer and having to say goodbye is getting harder. Just thinking about saying goodbye makes me sad. I know I shouldn't act like a baby but I can't help it! I thought I would be able to handle it better and not seeing it as a sad day but a day where it would be exciting because they were starting something new. I have been given a lot of advice from other military spouses that I will make new friends and to not worry, and I know I will, I just have to get past Monday. I wish my friends the best of luck in their adventures and I now know how special my friends are to me. They're like my family and I will always cherish our time together. It will probably take me a couple days to get over the empty driveway and not hearing that familiar voice at my back fence, but who knows maybe we'll see eachother again!

Mommy Brain

Lately I feel like I can't stay on top of things. I am so forgetful I'll start doing something and as soon as I stop to do something else I can't remember what I was doing before! It's awful. I was told how forgetful I would get when I was pregnant and that is very true! But no one told me that the mommy brain stays after the baby is born. Some days I can't remember my name or what day of the week it is. I thought once I had my son that I would become more aware of things, but I was wrong. I used to be an amazing multitasker now I can barely do two things at once because the rolodex in my brain is going a thousand miles a minute. I make lists and write down things everywhere. One time I was looking for my phone and it was in my hand! I know a lot people make New Year resolutions about spending less, getting healthy, or leading a less stressful life but mine is to work hard to remember things and to become better a multitasking. I apologize if I haven't returned phone calls, text messages, or emails my brain has been out to lunch and I apologize again if I haven't been keeping in touch with you, I didn't fall of the face of the earth but with a little one it's hard to get out of the house, but give me some time and I'll be back to my normal self!