Blogging Runner

Posted: 29 Jul 2012 11:14 AM PDT

It’s only 2 p.m. and I’m already writing my second post today! Talk about stepping up my game! I was recently sent a book called “21 Days to Change Your Body,” by Helen M. Ryan and I was given a chance to talk with her in more detail.

Helen’s book suggests healthy recommendations that can help anyone make minor, but very important adjustments in body, mind and spirit.

This is NOT a diet book, it’s a lifestyle book. This book will NOT recommend for you to eat a certain portion size of anything, and you don’t need to eliminate certain food groups. This book is a is broken up into quick, daily recommendations that anyone can follow. And Helen knows her stuff! She lost over 80 pounds in less than a year, and now she’s an ACE certified trainer and class instructor.

Check out her blog, Real World Weight Loss to learn more about her exciting journey!

Look at Helen's before and after photo! Pretty impressive!

Below is my Q&A with Helen M. Ryan. Enjoy!

You're a fitness trainer, do you share your personal story with your clients?

You would think that as someone who wrote a book and posts a lot on Facebook I would let it "all hang out" with my training clients, but I don't share everything. I talk about my weight loss, like how I did it, what I ate, how much and what type of exercise I did, what worked for me and what didn't, how long it took, etc. as we go along. I usually don't talk about my "personal story" (or, the story behind the story) because I try to keep the focus more on my clients than on me.

At what point in your journey did you start to think about writing a book?

Writing is apparently in my blood. I started writing my very first book when I was 10 years old. It was a terrible book, of course, because I was a 10-year-old trying to write a "grown up" novel, ha ha. But at least I tried. In college I studied journalism and wrote for the college newspaper.

I started to think about writing a "real" book in 2008 to share my experience and maybe help others feel less alone (I battled with weight most of my life). But, just like I had with weight loss, I put it off.

In 2009 I gave it some serious thought and at that time I "bubbled" ("mind-mapped") an outline. Then I started writing based on that outline. I wrote about 10 chapters (or "Days"—the book is broken down into 21 days) and then I put the book back on hold to deal with life.

I always thought about finishing my book, but didn't act on it until early this year when I had a slower period with work. I discovered that I'd lost my original outline in my last move and almost gave up(!), but then used the chapters I'd written and created a new outline based on that.

I was so determined to finish this book I would stay up very late at night writing, and even when I was laid up with a back injury (from cleaning, not exercise…and when I say "laid up" I was still training and teaching but in agony and barely able to move), I sat on my sofa with the laptop on my lap and pillows and an ice pack on my back, face white with pain. And still I wrote.

A lovely, current photo of Helen!

Helen, I'm curious, what did you do with all of your old clothes? If afraid to get rid of my fat clothes!

Don't be afraid. As Nike says, "Just do it!"

What I did—after I lost my first 29 pounds and I finally realized I was actually going to lose weight this time—is that I bought two pairs of jeans in the next size down…and I DONATED the jeans that fit me and anything larger. I wore those jeans with a muffin top until they fit, then I bought two pairs the next size down, donated the size that fit and so on. It was scary but I was on a mission. I didn't give myself the chance to "fit" back into my larger pants. I either lost weight or I was going to be naked!

Speaking of clothing, do you have a brand recommendation for best exercise gear?

I go with the least expensive brands since I have two (now teenage) kids and most of my money towards clothing goes to them. I have one pair of Bia Brazil capri tights that are AMAZING. Someone gave those to me a couple of years ago and I love them. I just won't pay $60 for tights. Nope. They hold me in in all the right places, though, and make my butt look good. Other than that, I love my Shimano cycling shoes and Champion sports bras (from Target). And of course my own line of t-shirts and tanks (www.addagear.com – where part of the proceeds go to help victims of domestic violence).

Do you still stick to your eating habits? In your book, you mentioned ordering food and requesting a box when the meal arrived. Do you still do that today?

I try. I got away from that for awhile and that's when I gained about 18 pounds back (and also because of the stress of going through a divorce). Now that I am "back on track" I am trying to stick with the concept I outlined in my book. It's funny, because when I "read my own" book as I was editing it and started living like I used to, I started to lose weight again. Imagine that!

What is the most common piece of advice you share with your clients?

To do the best they can. To not beat themselves up. But most importantly, to be consistent. Consistency is THE key to being successful with weight loss (and pretty much everything else). You have to stick to your guns.

What was the best surprise about your new body?

How strong my body is. I wrote a blog post about five years ago about my experience at a fitness conference and how—when I realized that I was indeed fit and strong and I really belonged with the other fitness pros—I started crying in the middle of this class…but I was crying of happiness because I had found myself.

What do you think is the worst "healthy" food to eat?

Salad, mostly at restaurants. I am not talking about regular or slightly exotic salads with fat free or low fat dressings…I am talking about the number of restaurant salads that are super high in calories and fat. I once went to a nice pizza restaurant and shocked to find out that their Thai chicken salad had 2,400 calories! Yes, that's right…almost twice as many calories you need in a day when actively trying to lose weight.

Any final words of wisdom?

Everyone truly can lose weight if they set their minds to it. The most important thing is to stop waiting for tomorrow. I've done that so many times, even more recently, where I think, "I'm tired and I've earned this (high calorie high fat food or treat). I'll just eat it now and then I'll eat better tomorrow." Well, tomorrow something else will come along and you'll be equally as tired or frustrated and then you'll eat something else and wait to the next day. And the next. Pretty soon, one tomorrow you wake up—like me—and you're a size 20. Don't wait for tomorrow.

Check out Helen’s blog at www.realworldweightloss.com, or connect with her on Twitter at @aspinchick.

Shiny Medal

Posted: 29 Jul 2012 10:01 AM PDT

Thanks to all of the sponsors!

Remember that race I was thinking about running today? Well I did it!

The Tog Jog, in East Haven, CT, was described as an easy 3.4 mile flat run with one challenging hill.

Sounds easy, right?

Well, the course was in three loops so that “one” challenging hill was traveled up and down three times (the first time you ran the entire hill and the next two loops you ran just the steeper half of the hill).

As a TERRIBLE hill runner, I was terrified to run up that awful hill once, let alone three times!

I used all of my training (use your toes, angle your body), and I tried my best! I knew I my pace was slow, but the goal was to just keep running!

Women 19 - 64, first and second place.

I finished in 29:05, which I thought was an embarrassingly slow time. But the top runner finished in 25 minutes and change, so I wasn’t too far off.

When the results were posted, I realized I finished 6th overall! And I was second in my age category (women 19 – 64).

I almost left the race when I was finished, but I happened to see a small display of shiny medals. A part of me really, really wanted one of those silly medals. I’ve never, ever won a medal before and I did finish second so I thought there was a chance I could get one.

Well, me wish came true! I got a sparkly second place Tog Jog medal and I may never take it off! I think I can make it work with some of my outfits!

This small, challenging run was just what I needed today! Sometimes, it’s not the final time that matters, it’s dedication to the run, training and wellness that’s most important!

Today: 3.5 miles.
Weekly: 3.5 miles.
Yearly: 413.72 miles.