New word

I've learned a new word. Besides suffering from Body dysmorphic disorder, I am also suffering fom steatopygia. I didn't know I had this condition all my life. Just only found out.

It's not fatal. I think I will survive.

Jewish marathoners balancing diet, faith

BOSTON, Massachusetts (AP) -- Jonah Pesner is looking ahead to his crucial carb-loading, fuel-up meal on the night before running his first Boston Marathon. On the menu: matzoh.

Jonah Pesner decided not to break the dietary rules of Passover in the days leading up to the Boston Marathon.

It's not the usual choice for marathoners loading up on carbohydrates to drive their run, but Pesner, a rabbi, has limited options.

Passover begins just two days before the April 21 marathon, and the holiday's strict dietary rules mean Jewish runners can't eat bread and pasta, the normal staples in the days before the big race.

Besides matzoh, which is unleavened bread, Pesner plans to pound down foods such as potatoes during a rare "carb-load seder" the night before the race.

Pesner never considered breaking the dietary rules for the sake of the race, which he is running with his wife for an autism charity.

"For me, running the marathon is a very spiritual quest," he said.

The marathon is always held on Patriots Day, a state holiday that falls the third Monday in April, and often comes within the weeklong Passover holiday.

Marathon organizers try to be sensitive to religious concerns, but major changes to suit various religions aren't practical, said Marc Chalufour, spokesman for the Boston Athletic Association, the marathon's organizer.

"You've got 25,000 runners, and you obviously want to be sensitive to the needs of all of them," Chalufour said. "But you can't make a change to accommodate some of the runners at the expense of the majority."

The dietary restrictions for Passover forbid eating leavened foods, such as bread, cake, beer or pasta, which have yeast or other fermented grain products.

The prohibition is traced to the roots of the holiday, which marks when God sent an angel to kill first-born Egyptian sons but spared the houses of the Israelites. Soon after, Pharaoh freed the Jews, who fled in such a hurry that the dough they took didn't have enough time to rise.

Jews usually hold a Passover seder, a meal with religious rituals, in their homes on the first two nights of the eight-day holiday.

The level of observance varies. An Orthodox Jew, for instance, does not work or drive on the first two and the last two days of Passover, so he or she would not run a marathon on those days.

It's not an issue for Pesner. His liberal Reform branch generally suggests that followers hold a seder on just the first day of the holiday, though the dietary rules are observed the entire week.

Pesner, 39, acknowledges that he has questions about the effects of his diet on his race. Matzoh is known to have a binding effect on the digestive tract.

"It's definitely a concern," Pesner said, chuckling.

Sandy Karpen, a real estate agent from Scottsdale, Arizona, said he and his wife, Sharon, are changing their tradition of attending seders the first two nights of Passover to accommodate their training. The second seder is the day before the race, and Karpen and his wife wanted to rest rather than attend a seder on what is typically a long night.

Their rabbi from the Conservative Jewish tradition advised them that Jews may fulfill their obligation by observing only the first day and said they could do the same.

The 17-time marathoner admits some guilt about straying from his lifelong tradition but has no regrets.

"I guess sometimes you're looking for justification for what you're doing," he said. "My rabbi said it was acceptable to do, and that was good enough for us."

Karpen, 49, and his wife ate fish and potatoes before their last long runs as sort of practice.

"The last thing you want to do is change your diet or change anything you've been doing throughout your cycle," he said. "You never want to experiment the day of the race."

Wayne Cohen of Houston, Texas, figures that on the day before the marathon, he'll have egg whites and fruit for breakfast rather than pancakes and salmon with potatoes for dinner instead of a carb-filled pizza.

But Cohen, 51, has decided he'll break Passover rules on the morning of the race, when he's planning to eat oatmeal without water and probably some pieces of bagel. Cohen has run about two dozen marathons and decided he doesn't want to mess with his normal race-day routine.

And he's not feeling guilty about it.

"I've pretty much convinced myself I would be a hypocrite if I said it would," he added. "It's not like I've been perfect in my religious beliefs.

"I'm beyond that," he said. "I'm not going to worry."

Source: CNN

OOUUUCCHH!!

No the scream's not from the 20km run. Yes! I did it! I did a 20km run with Peck Yah today..nearly wanted to bail out as I've been getting cold feet from lack of training and physical lethargy. We ran at a leisurely pace, and it turned out to be very enjoyable. I guess most of the time i find it intimidating to run with other people, as i am slow and it's difficult to find people as slow as me. Running with Peck Yah's really fun because it takes the pressure away as we can pace each other. After 10km we still felt pretty good, and by the time we finished the 20, we were tired but not exhausted.

Actually the 20km didn't kill me. But the chafing did. By the time I hit about 16km, I could feel that stinging sore feeling between my thighs (that's what you get for having big thighs) and on my lower back where the elastics of the running tights are) It was extremely painful!! So painful that it hurt even more than the run itself! Taking a shower was like being in a torture chamber.

I must remember to put on Vaseline next time (actually i remembered but I was so lazy to I guess I deserved it).Also must shop for new running tights which are longer as i only have 1 pair which I use for long distance running.Oh yea, and also need to buy new sportsbras as I;m using the same ones for the last 10 years!

I've also signed up for KLIM....FULL.....

Point of no return...

Here are some tips from prevention of chafing taken fom "Time to Run"

You running along not a care in the world, so you think. A little later into the run and 'boy oh boy' you have a chafe and is it not irritating. The irritation you can cope with but now it has lead to an open wound and it is bleeding. People around are you ready to call in the paramedics, a helicopter is being radioed for. BUT .. before going to all that trouble lets discuss the problem and in so doing try to avoid the look of alarm when you cross the line with blood oozing from the chaffed areas. Yes, this can be a sensitive subject.

How is it caused : They say the major contribution to chafing is from sweating and rubbing. Many of us consider that chafing is a signal that it is time to lose weight, however even the skinniest eprsons can experience the same problem. Chafing generally takes place around the groin, underarms and nipples, but it can occur anywhere.

Prevention: Prevention of chafing falls into four categories: try to stay dry, keep hydrated, using a lubricant and wear the proper clothing. Lubrication before walking with petroleum jelly or an anti-chafing product such as Body Glide or Runner's Lube.

Try to stay dry: Go light on the deodorant roll-on as this can lead to a stickier situation. Use talcum powder, cornstarch or potato starch to stay dry, if absolutely necessary. If all else fails consider using a lubricant.

Hydration: Always drink lots of water during the day, keep hydrated during training and make sure you drink sufficient after exercise. This will assist you in perspiring freely so that the remanants don't dry into salt crystals which will make the possibility of chafing higher.

Lubrication: While exercising all kinds of lubricants are used to keep the skin areas sliding past each other instead of rubbing raw. Petroleum jelly, bag balm and udder cream are the longtime favourites. Make sure the lubricants are petroleum-free and non-staining. They can also be used on your feet and toes, in attempt to avoid blisters.

Clothing: Loose clothes may feel good on the trail, but to prevent chafing you need a snug fit. Bike shorts are designed to give a skin tight fit that will prevent chafing and are excellent if your trouble is in the lower body or thigh area. For the upper body, polypropylene or lycra tops that fit skin tight will do the trick. Also avoid wearing new clothes on a long run, during a hard session [ where the intensity is higher ] or race.

Treatment: Once you are chafed, treat the area like an open wound. Wash and clean with antiseptic to prevent infection and cover with a sterile gauze pad that allows the area to breathe until it is healed.

The worst chafe is the nipple area: There is nothing worse than trying to recover from chaffed nipples, as they stay tender for long after and the chance of them bleeding reoccurring is high. This affects both men and women.

Prevention: As above concentrate on using antichafing lubrication. Use fabrics that can deliver moisture from the skin to the outer layer .. the key word being 'sweat-wicking'. It is advisable for women to wear sweat-wicking sports bras. And if necessary wear plaster over nipples during your exercise.

All this may seem slightly 'over the top', but you will understand if you ever become a member of the CNS - the 'chafed nipple society', they can be seen wearing their distingushed badge of red on their tops.

Take heed and avoid the chafing dilemma.

source Time-to-Run - adapted from various articles

Another Outdoor Run

The alarm rang at 6am but refused to get up until 6.45am! It was still dark at about 7am..only started running at about 7.15am. Chilly morning.

Had very little to eat last night, but the fact that I wasn't low on energy shows how much food i consumed and reserves I've accumulated over Chinese New Year!Scary. Did the usual 6.6km circuit. Felt quite perky in the first round. As usual I always have a headstart infront of the guys, but they eventually caught up with me in the 3rd round. Good thing I managed to narrow the gap to about 6 meters apart at the end.

Felt quite good after the run and had my usual dose of Starbucks coffee. I think sometimes a combination of running and caffeine isn't a good idea. I was so hyper today that my memory failed me and even forgot the password to the alarm.

Reality Bites

SIGH.

It's back to reality. No more sleep-ins. Back to my regimented life. No more waking up at 9-10am. Back to gruelling RPM. What luxury I've had for the past week!

Was up at 5.45am this morning. Nearly wanted to skip gym, but after those countless peanut cookies and arrowroot chips, I had to drag myself out of bed. I should learn to get out of bed like CJ7, just bounce up.

GROAN.
Back to the clapper. Ran on the treadmill for 30 mins, followed by 20 min on elliptical trainer.

It's lats day again. Only managed 3 lats exercises today:
*Lat pulldown
*Bent over row
*Seated row

Only managed 50 crunches on the fitball today. No plank.

Then went for RPM. Did mostly speedwork today. Thank goodness. Think I would have died climbing hills today.

Contacted Peck Yah this morning....we have to start training for KL INternational Marathon this weekend.

GROAN.

Sabbatical

I'm on a 10 day exercise sabbatical. Due to Chinese new year, I've been eating twice or thrice as much but not exercising at all. Been waking up late for the last 3 days...what a luxury it is not having to rush anywhere and just spend my time with family and close friends. Wish I could do this every day of my life! Been having more than 8 hours of sleep daily..usually if I oversleep I feel tired and lethargic but for some strange reason, I feel really rested for the last 3 days. I think not rushing around also helps, not having to feel stressed etc.

This is my only long break for the year where I get to chill out and relax...Holidays with travels don't count as you come back needing more rest!

I feel so rested and recharged. This is my "refuelling" for the year... am I going to be able to last a whole year just from 3 days of rest? I pray and hope so.

I don't think I've watched so much tv (by my standards that is) in my life. I get to watch at least one movie a day if I'm not out..which I rarely get to do on a normal working day. So far the movies I have seen are:

• Brokeback Mountain (I know, I know, it's old, only watching it after Heath kicked the bucket)
• Wait "Til you're Older (Andy Lau movie - really sad ending)
• Rob-B-Hood
• CJ7
• Happily Never After (animated cartoon)

I've also never watched so many Chinese variety shows in my life. Been catching David Tao and Lee Hom in concert. Realised I've been losing my "Ah Lianness" from listening to Hoobastank and Creed lately..so while I am getting physically recharged, I may as well recharge my Ah Lianness.

Change again

Ok, I've had to change blog skin again. The previous one (Thisaway) had inverted crosses on it! Had to choose something else more boring..

Nu Skin

I've decided to change my blog skin again....this is the 4th time I'm changing the layout. Well, since my blog is as good as dormant, i'd better do something to it...

Middle Age Spread

I don't think I'm accepting middle age spread very well.....that's what you call DENIAL! Been working out so hard the last few weeks and the scale hasn't budged. I know, I know, everybody else says that it's muscles but let's not delude ourselves here!I mean, if the weight gain reflects muscles then I'd be Arnold Schwarzenegger by now. (oh by the way Blogger actually has Schwarzenegger in the spellcheck! Amazing.)

I have been pretty careful with my food as well, so I guess all this non weight loss can be attributed to middle age. Sigh! I dread to think what my weight would be when I hit 40...50...60 years. Yesterday my friend at the gym commented, "oh you're so lucky you don't have a tummy"...to which I responded "ya but I have something you call THIGHS".

It's true what they say, when pear shaped people eat, all the food bypasses the stomach and just heads straight for the thighs. Mind you, there's no point having child bearing hips if you aren't going to make use of them..

Yesterday's workout
------------------------
Hit the gym at 6.10am yesterday. I always look forward to Mondays, because it's RPM day. Energy level was quite high, from all that carb from the sushi last night. Did:

30 min run on treadmill (max heart rate= 163 bpm)
20 min on elliptical machine

Lats day -I love a sexy back!
Lat pulldown
UPright row
Seated row
Bent over flyes
100 fitball crunches - abs hurt like mad today!
1 minute plank on fitball

After all that, ended with RPM. I think we have a new instructor, Kean is his name. Quite a pleasant personality and quite smiley in the morning - has a Joker smile. He's rather motivating. By then my thigh muscles were all tired, I couldn't really sprint at a high resistance.

Today's workout
------------------
Did my usual 6.6km run outdoor. Always feel knackered after RPM the next day. My speed seems to be reducing also..is this all a part of being middle age? Saw my reflection in the glass as I ran past the bank.

Horrors.

Sunday Evening Fever

Today's one of those rare Sunday evenings that I'd decided to go for an evening run. Did about 5km and boy, I nearly died! How people can jog or run in the evening is beyond me. The air was heavy and stale, I felt "not quite right". And it had NOTHING to do with watching Cloverfield nor the rice wine mee suah I had this afternoon.(which incidently made me woozy but was allright later)

After about 10 minutes I felt like I'd wanted to stop. Half an hour after the run, and after a cold shower even, my body still felt like it's burning hot.

Burn baby burn. I'm sticking to morning runs.

Energy level: low to moderate

Did the usual 6.6km run....first outdoor run since the 20km run. Felt really tired initially, but had an energy surge in the second round.

Sure felt good!

Legs Day

Energy level: Low

Got to the gym at 6am. Left toe still a little sore but could still work out.

Cardio:
30 min walk/run on treadmill
25 min on stairclimber
25 min on elliptical machine

LEGS day!!
Adductor machine
Abductor machine
Seated leg curl
Dumbell squats

Reverse crunches

I should never do legs and RPM on the same day..but I'm running every other day so I still need to fit in leg exercises somewhere in the week. And I'd rather do it in the middle of the week than early or late: if i do it early in the week I'll probably wear myself out and get tired, if I do it late in the week it clashes with my long distance running. I do RPM both on Mon and Wed, and even though Wed RPM class is tougher, I'd stil rather do it mid week.

I nearly died during RPM today..felt a bit woozy at the end after pushing myself up countless hill climbs. I think RPM contributes to having a big a** but nevertheless I still love it.

Recovery Run

Oooh..my hip flexors are still a little stiff but decided to do a recovery run today. Since my running buddies are away, I'd decided to run on the treadmill instead. Blister on right bunion still a little sore but all the fluid has escaped as the blister got punctured on its own :P

Got to the gym at 6am, did about 40 mins of elliptical machine followed by 5km run on the treadmill. Left toe felt a bit sore but I took it slow and easy.

Decided to do weights as well since I missed yesterday.

Weights:
Lat pulldowns
cable pullover
bent over lateral raises
shoulder presses

I'm doing 100 crunches now each time I go to the gym. Not like I am getting washboard abs but it sure feels good! I wonder how some people manage to do 500 sit ups a day? Also did 1 minute of plank.

Oh! My Hips!

WOke up early enough to go to the gym this morning...felt quite allright generally except hip flexors a bit sore..decided I'd stay home and rest. I could still go to the gym, but I guess it's best to give these creaky ol' bones a rest to prevent injury...after all I exercised 7 days a week last week so it's a well deserved rest!

Missed my RPM class though..

Good Start to the Year

I can't believe it, I did it! I actually ran the 20km race, finished it..of course in timing worse that usual but considering that the maximum I've run since Singapore Marathon 2006 is 8km, I guess it's acceptable to me! This is my comeback run. Right now my body is still burning..and I hope it's melting all that fat away!

When the alarm rang this morning I thought to myself "Do I really want to do this?" I was still groggy and a bit light headed even though I had enough hours of sleep. But the thought that I hadn't raced at all last year, kind of pushed me to run.We were flagged off at 6:30am. I started really slow as I wasn't sure how I would sustain throughout the entire race. Plus I didnt want to get cramps in the 1st 2 km which I sometimes get when I run too fast without being really warmed up. My body was actually still asleep in the 1st 5km..i don't think I could run a straight line as I was still groggy, and the streets being dimly lit didnt help either!

BY the time I completed 10km, I still felt fine. I'd decided not to take the Power Gel as i didn't think it would make much of a difference. By 15km, I felt a sudden surge in energy and could run with a little more strength but alas, at the 16th km, I felt quite tired already. As we reached Jalan Duta, I felt it was the longest stretch ever!

Finally, just before the finish line, my Adidas running belt became loose! My power gel dropped, but I left it on the road as I had wanted to sprint to the finish line. (It was also expired!:P) Alas, my plan was still thwarted, as my water bottle dropped out!! I had to run back to retrieve it as it was the Adidas bottle and it's quite hard to find a replacement. Finally when i reached the finish line, the photographer told me that he hadn't snapped my picture, so i had to reverse and have my picture taken!! So the picture of me will be one of walking and not running..aiya. THought I could have some glamour shot.

I completed in 2:32 which is longer than usual. But I'm glad I did it.

Sheer Stupidity

I am untrained. Like pretty untrained...although I have been working out heavily in the gym, I haven't achieved 10km in 1 year!! And I've made up my mind to go for the race on Sunday. (Unless I feel really horrible..) I've decided I will encourage myself by pinning the number to my shirt! I've selected my famous fluorescent yellow shirt for this Sunday. Hopefully I will have the impetus to run!

This will be the first race that I will be doing since last year. This time last year I was just recovering from a cough, therefore I didn't complete the race...I signed up for 30km but took the escape route after 10km!! After that it was downhill on the way and it was extremely, extremely difficult to regain momentum and stamina.

I've decided that I will take it slow and just enjoy the race.

Keeping my fingers crossed!

Slow & Easy

Was up late last night watching American Idol....hence i woke up late for gym this morning! Got to the gym at about 6.50am. Decided to go slow and easy today since I woke up late and punished myself the last 4 days already. Also decided not to go for the Power Dance class...when I was younger I used to love dance classes, but my preference has changed. I'd much rather do something like kickboxing or RPM...nothing of the free flow type.

Cardio: 40 min brisk walk on treadmill

Weights:
Push ups
Dumbell bench press
Dumbell flyes
Dumbell shoulder press
Tricep dip
Tricep kickback (need to get rid of all that flab)
Crunches
Plank (65 seconds)

Energy level: moderate

Hurrah!

Got on the weighing scale yesterday. Hurrah! Lost that 1.5kg which I had gained in a short period of time. I seriously hope it was water retention!Hmm now I am not even sure what my normal weight is!

Ran 6.6km today...Energy level: medium.

I'm wondering if I should join the POwer Dance class tomorrow...have 2 left feet but the class looks pretty interesting..although i am still NOT convinced the instructor is male..

Great workout

Pushed myself at the gym today. Being hyper = endorphins + coffee

Was at the gym at 6am and finished at 8.45am.

Cardio:
30 min interval walk -run on treadmill
25 min on stairclimber
35 min on elliptical machine

Weights
Dumbell squat
Dumbell alternate lunges
Sumo squat
Decline bench crunch
45 sec plank

Marcos conducted RPm class today. Boy what a tough workout! Did mostly hills and interval sprinting. To complement my exercise, I had coffee today. THere's and Ah Kua at my usual coffee place, and i've noticed he has a very nice body shapy - curvy at the right places, tall and slender. Not fair! No wonder there are still so many single women out there!

Stick Insects Have More Fun

My gym friends contorted their faces when I told them I needed to lose 5 kg. "5 kg???? From WHERE are you going to get 5kgs to lose??" I pointed to my lower belly and hips. "If you have to lose from your belly we have even more to lose!" they said.

I still think stick insects have more fun , no matter what people say. Come on, look at all the boutiques in KL. Only designed for anorexic people. And it doesn't help that I am short also..it's so difficult to buy slacks these days. Everything comes in drainpipe cut. Where are all the clothes that fit J-Lo type of body shape??

When I was in Paris admiring all the Renaissance paintings, rounded and rotund women were the "in thing". Maybe I'm just born in the wrong era. Even as there have been some movements to create awareness that size isn't everything, and even with women like Beyonce, Shakira and J-Lo...society still favours stick insects somehow. If you don't agree with me, then why are people so driven to want to lose weight or desire to be skinny?

I for one have double standards. I don't think anorexic girls look very nice, but I DON'T MIND looking anorexic myself. Strange huh. Better to look anorexic than be a hominis robustus.

Ran 6.6km today.