Week 1- Running while Managing Wegmans

Tonight I will have to do one of my least favorite things in the world- GO TO THE GROCERY STORE. 
This may cause some people to laugh.... but I hate it!  Maybe because it is normally never a quick trip and our grocery store (while it is the best grocery store ever- WEGMANS) is huge!!!  So overwhelming!!  So much stimuli.  Furthermore, I have learned never to send Joe to the grocery store- 1) He will not get everything 2) He will come home with things we do not need 3) The bill is ridiculous when he goes (He is not a sale or coupon shopper like me). 

However, we are participating in a neighborhood progressive dinner on Satuarday-
so I can not avoid this trip.  (Future Post on Progressive Dinners). 


So tonight I will come home- get my run on for about 45-60 minutes (anywhere from 5-7 miles) and then have to hurry of to the grocery store.   As far as time management goes- going to our grocery store in the evenings is key- that is why I will take time to do my run before my Wegman's trip.  If you go at dinner time during the week or on the weekends plan the trip to be 20-30 minutes longer on average because of parking, general store congestion, etc.  (Yes, I have actually timed this).   I also find that Wegmans is more likley to be out of things on the weekends because of such the high volume of people.

So tonight it must be-  but I have a plan.  It is important to have a plan when walking in to Wegmans- because you can get sucked in.  I have my list!  I have found a list is the most important thing!  I am fortuante to have an app for my DROID... aka... my brain...  for grocery shopping so I can make a list through out the week and then I have it when I go.  

 

My coupon book is already in my purse as it goes everywhere with me, and my reuseable Wegmans bags are sitting in my car.    (Important Note-  Wegmans often sends out coupons for their reuseable bags.  We have a totaly of 8 right now.  2 we initially purchased for 99 cents each in our effort to be more green, 2 were freebies from events we went to, 2 were gifts from people (1 is a breast cancer one- I am a midwife, and 1 recieved as a wedding with goodies in it) and the other 2 were free because of my wegmans coupons.  The bags are awesome, enviornmently friendly, and hold way more stuff than a normal plastic or paper bag. 





I AM READY..... BRING IT ON RUNNING AND WEGMANS!!!

Why Running Continued

Other reasons you should get off your butt and RUN!!!!

2) De-stressing-  I do think that is a word- but to be honest it is the reason I run.  I run by myself (which some may find funny)- but it is my time for me to reflect, de-stress, and process life.    I live in the DC metro area which is a crazy place to live- people do not know how to sit still and we are always moving, trying to be better, etc.  So running is my way of de-stressing DC.



Today people pay tons of money to help us relax- whether it is on a fancy pedicure, a nice night out with your friends, a pair of Uggs- we spend money- so why don't we do something that is free and reduces stress. 

I could quote many medical journals that go on and on about the benefits of exercising...one of them being decreasing you stress levels.  Below is a chart of what stress does to the different organ systems of our bodies.


So get off your butt and decrease you stress in your life!!!!!!!


Being a midwife I have to bring up this point...

3) It has so many medical benefits.  People who run have been shown to have less risk of diabetes, chronic hypertension, gout, depression, etc (Just to name a few).  Below is a nice chart which reviews how important it is for us to exercise!!!



We are given 1 body... and I am going to do the best I can to take care of it!!

Week One- Why Running

Many may ask- Why running?  The answer is quite simple- IT IS CHEAP.

I use to be a swimmer in high school and swam also in college in the club league for two years.  The thing I hate about swimming- Access to a pool.  First, you have to pay a membership, then you have to figure out times that work especially when you are limited by high school teams and club teams using the pool.  So I had to come up with other solution.

I first was taken in by the eliptical- I LOVE YOU!!!! It was a good cardio workout that worked both my upper body and my lower body.  But one day- I do not know why (Maybe it was the stress of my old job, planning a wedding, moving into a new house) I decided I wanted to be a Runner.

So I started and have not looked back.  It has now been a two year journey that started out with 5Ks and progressed to two 10 milers with the current challenge of a half marathon in my mind. (To hopefully be followed by a marathon for my 30th!!!)  It is not been easy but it has been one of the most rewarding things I have ever done for myself.

That being said-  why should we all run?

That is the focus of this week's blog

1) Cheap exercise!!!  You do not have to pay for some fancy gym membership.  All you need to start is a good pair of shoes (future post), a good sports bra (another future post), and some motivation.
 You have to ask yourself- why not run?

Check back tomorrow for more reasons....


6 miles today....

Introductions....

Hello All


So for those of you who do not know me- Hello!  My name is Laura and I finally have joined the 21st century and am turning into a blogger.  To tell you a little bit about myself I wear many hats in this thing people refer to as life:

1)  I am a wife- with a crazy husband who has returned to PhD school while still working full time.

2)  I am a puppy mommy- to possibly the cutiest puppy ever!

3)  I am a runner!!!  Training for my first half marathon and trying to live a healthy lifestyle.

4)  I am a midwife- I love what I do and I love making a difference in people lives!

5)  I am a friend-  Even though my two best friends are far away- we balance each other.

6)  I am a big sister- even if I only get phone calls when he is in trouble

7)  I am a daughter and the oldest- so you know what that means.

8)  I am  OCD-  not to be confused with Obsessive Compulsive (which I am not).   

Basically, I am busy- and to be honest I would not have it any other way.  I love my life, my friends, and my family.  I hope to share some stories on this blog related to each aspect of my life and how to balance it all.  

*****I would like to put a strong disclaimer- I AM NOT AN ENGLISH MAJOR- if i spell words incorrectly or use grammar incorrectly I apologize =0)