Operation Hot Mother

Posted on | August 24, 2010 | 13 Comments

Today, I declared the start of Operation Hot Mother.*

I’m sick of being out of shape. I’m sick of getting winded far too easily. And I’m sick of being flabbier than I need to be. Yes, I know, I had a baby just 10 months ago, but I’ve been in terrible shape for years. I live a fairly healthy lifestyle — no driving/lots of walking, healthy home-cooked whole foods and a (mostly) vegetarian diet, etc. BUT no intentional exercise. At all. This has got to change. I’m not terribly concerned with numbers on a scale. After all, I hit my pre-baby weight several weeks ago, but still look and feel way different than I did before pregnancy. Way different. And while I never expect to get back to my pre-baby mid-20′s body, I know that I can get to a healthier place than I am right now. That is my goal.

I want to be able to run a couple of miles without keeling over and dying immediately afterward. I want to feel good in my skin (even if the stretchmarks are here to stay). And I want to feel strong and capable.

I’m going to tackle this in stages, with short-term goals along the road to the long-term ideal.

First up? The Miles for Midwives 5k on October 2.

T and I (and sometimes friends) have done the Miles for Midwives for the past several years. He runs it, while I walk. Last year, I was 37 weeks the day of the event and although fat, swollen, and uncomfortable, I triumphantly (if not slowly) waddled my butt all the way around Prospect Park. Take that, pregnancy!

Who knew it was even possible to retain that much water? Even my mouth was swollen.

This year my goal is to run it for the first time, although anyone that knows me well knows that I’m not a runner. I’ve run exactly one 5k in my entire life and that was after a 10-week build up via the Couch to 5k program. That was also 3+ years ago. And I haven’t run since.

I intended to start my new exercise regimen earlier this summer, but then that whole hottest-summer-on-record thing popped up and I put it off and put it off and put it off until this week when, suddenly, it was a cool, breezy 70 degrees and cloudy — and I had no excuse not to start. Dammit.

I left bedtime to T tonight and dug out my running gear, only to realize I don’t really have running gear. I managed to cobble together the necessary items and, even if not pretty, they will suffice for now. My gear includes:

  • 3 year old running shoes that smell vaguely of cat pee;
  • 1 pair of too-small running shorts;
  • 1 stretched out maternity tank-top;
  • 1 running watch face w/timer (the bands snapped long ago);
  • 2 sports bras (one wasn’t nearly supportive enough to contain these heavy nursing boobs I’ve been lugging around & the other is easily 10 years old and not gonna support much of anything on its own);
  • 1 bandana to contain my frizzy mess of a head; and
  • my “imminent death” provisions: Road ID bracelet & asthma inhaler

That paints a lovely picture, doesn’t it?

I stretched as best I could, kissed the baby good night, and headed out to see what I could do. I figured I’d start by simply jogging as long as I could without stopping to walk, just to see where my stamina is these days. I had no idea whether that would be 30 seconds or 10 minutes, but assumed it would be much closer to the former.

But guess what? Twenty minutes later, I strolled back into my apartment on shaky legs after successfully running 1.2 miles in 12:10. WITHOUT STOPPING. NOT EVEN ONCE. And I was still breathing and conscious.

Honestly, I didn’t think I had it in me.

Now it’s a couple of hours later and I am exhausted and I can already feel the stiffness settling into my calves and I’m worried. I’m worried that I’ll wake up tomorrow feeling like garbage. Or that my legs will be sore and jello-y. Or it will be hot and humid and I’ll walk outside and want to melt into a puddle.

And this is where you come in. I’m going to need serious help. Your help. Would you like to be my cheerleader?

I plan to post updates on my progress here at the blog, as a form of public accountability, and I’m going to take a page from Dre‘s book and shamelessly beg for comments on those posts. Cheer me on. Offer empathy when I complain. Encourage me to continue. If you don’t, I won’t. I know myself. So please, please help me out here.

Miles for Midwives 2010 is just under 6 weeks away (eep!). In that time, I have to somehow get myself from one successful mile (one time) to more than 3 at once. Something I’ve done just a handful of times ever.

I’m going to do my best to get there and *really* hope to succeed… and I hope that you’ll join me on the journey. Can I count you in?

p.s. I also track my exercise over on Daily Mile. If you run, walk, or do any sort of regular exercise, you should join, too. It’s free and it’s awesome.

* Any Arrested Development fans in the house?!

Category: Jo, Operation Hot Mother, Photos

Comments

13 Responses to “Operation Hot Mother”

  1. Dre
    August 25th, 2010 @ 3:21 am

    Yes! Let’s get these butts in shape. You can do it. I’m signing up for Daily Mile now so we can send cheesy messages to each other!

    Go Jo!

  2. karnne
    August 25th, 2010 @ 3:04 pm

    Wow, I’ve been working out fairly consistently for about a year, and I don’t think *I* could run 1.2 miles in 12:10… (I really loathe running).

    Way to go! You can totally do 3.3 miles in 6 weeks, just remember to stretch before AND after your jogs! And don’t forget the benefits of ice and ibuprofen! :)

  3. Kay from PA
    August 25th, 2010 @ 4:16 pm

    Here is a strategy:
    Consider mile one a warm-up. Pick up your pace for mile two. Mile three is your cool down.
    Today your mile one may be a brisk walk, followed by a jogging mile two, finished off with another mile walk, maybe with stroller and husband along.
    Keep increasing the pace of mile one and three, until you are jogging all three. BUT keep thinking warm up, hit stride, cool down. THAT way when you get to your 5K you will definitely be ready, physically and mentally, for whatever your body lets you do as Warm up pace, Race pace, Cool down pace. I found this took the pressure off my competitive self, and made sense even if all I could muster was energy to walk three miles.

  4. Dre
    August 25th, 2010 @ 4:25 pm

    I heard you need more motivation. GO JO! You can do it… I believe in you. :)

  5. June
    August 25th, 2010 @ 4:45 pm

    I’m very impressed that you can run that far just starting out! You’re doing well aerobically and have a great 5K goal set out for yourself. Penny gives you some weight training but down the road (no pun intended but I’ll leave it there anyway) you may want to add other kinds of exercises like back extensions, stomach crunches and other weights to help balance the muscle groups you’ve started working out so well. Yay.

  6. katertot11
    August 25th, 2010 @ 4:49 pm

    Woohoo!!! You go girl! This is exciting! I absolutely HATE the feeling of getting back into shape. The first 2 weeks are going to be the worst of it. When you get through that (which I know you will), then regular exercising will be easier to convince yourself to do! You might even feel weird if you DON’T exercise after you get through that initial “what the hell are you doing to me” response from your body. :) I always suggest changing your workout routine throughout the week. Maybe don’t make running your only type of workout. If you want suggestions, let me know! There’s plenty of things to do to “spice” up your workouts without needing to go to the gym! (P.S. I don’t think I’ve ever commented on your blog – this is your cousin KM).

  7. Carolinehandschuh
    August 25th, 2010 @ 5:09 pm

    You can do it Jo! These first two weeks are the worst. Download some podcasts too. You’ll lose yourself in the stories which will take your mind off of the running.

  8. Ashley Rademacher
    August 25th, 2010 @ 5:23 pm

    Best of luck to you! I started out strong in June and fell off at the end of July due to illness, death in the family, and event after event on the calendar. I need to get back on the horse, but basically I started running for the same reasons you did…I just wanted to look and feel better although I was already doing healthy things. I did lose 10lbs in the first month of running (I have since gained some back), and ran my first 5K ever! I doubt I will make it to my goal of running a half marathon in September since I have fallen so far behind, but there will always be other races. Again, good luck…sometimes it really really sucks, I’m not going to lie, but its so worth it once you start seeing the results! :-)

  9. Rachel
    August 25th, 2010 @ 8:34 pm

    *hell, yes! We still mourn the loss of AD. Stupid network TV.

    Go, Mandy, go!!! You can do it. And I echo this statement completely: “I want to feel good in my skin (even if the stretchmarks are here to stay). And I want to feel strong and capable.” I feel better when I exercise, mentally and physically, I hope to be able to get back into it sometime soon too! You’re inspiring me to get going. :)

  10. Mom
    August 26th, 2010 @ 7:16 pm

    Go Baby. If anyone can do it, I know you can. You have always been able to accomplish anything you set your mind to. Len and I will be so proud of you and I know Tony will also.

  11. Katie Grim
    August 28th, 2010 @ 3:44 pm

    I used to run regularly, but I fell out of the habit in Peace Corps. When I started again, I got horrible shin splints every time. I thought I might have to switch to biking instead. But then I invested in a new pair of running shoes (from Fleet Feet — they don’t let you pick your shoes based on color or brand but instead on what’s right for your body), and the shin splints have stopped! I recommend making new shoes the first thing you buy, if you decide you need some new gear.

  12. Jo
    August 28th, 2010 @ 3:58 pm

    The shoes I have are good and not terribly used, just old b/c I haven’t exercised in ages. We have a couple of really good running specialty shops in the city and that’s where T gets all of his shoes (he’s a regular runner). I’ve always felt dumb having the expensive shoes I have b/c I barely use them, but I s’pose that’s changing now :)

  13. Operation Hot Mother: Day 5 : Outta Jo, Onto You
    August 28th, 2010 @ 9:37 pm

    [...] subscribing via RSS to keep in touch!Powered by WP Greet Box WordPress PluginToday was day 5 of Operation Hot Mother and I’m feeling great. I’ve had a good week, exercise-wise and have surprised myself on [...]

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