Keeping Hydrated

I did my 5km in 58 mins yesterday,Yay!!

While I was doing my workout last night,I came to realise the importance of keeping yourself hydrated. I did not drink enough water before doing my work out (after being dehydrated during the day because of fasting) and I actually felt quite dizzy and light headed while doing the work out. At some points in time, I felt as if I was not really there yet my feet were still moving. I felt extremely dizzy towards the end, which is why yesterday I only decided to do a 5km and not push any further. It got quite scary because at one point I felt like collapsing, but I went on. I know I should have stopped and slowed down but I wanted to finish.

I now know keeping yourself hydrated before a workout is essential.

According to this Article I read "Sipping Points" by Karen Asp :


"Dehydration causes your blood volume to drop, which lowers your body's ability to transfer heat and forces your heart to beat faster, making it difficult for your body to meet aerobic demands."


The article  mentions to drink 8 to 16 ounces (0.5L - the measurement of one of our standard water bottles we have) one or two hours before a run.Iced coffee and tea are fine, too. And in the event you didn't plan ahead? 15 to 30 minutes before going out, to drink at least 4 to 8 ounces (0.3L) of fluid. I shall make sure I do this from now on before any workout.

So remember people to always stay hydrated before any work out!

Down Week.

So this week so far has sort of been a down week. Actually a super down week, and all I feel is frustration!

Why? Well because of my ankle. Its been acting up quite badly ever since last week. I don't know why and I am kind of scared. My doctor's appointment was supposed to be on Monday, but I had to reschedule to this Friday because I couldn't walk over there due to rain.

The picture above shows where I feel the pain. The pain is there when I walk, and also when I run. It feels like a sharp stabbing pain, which kinda scares me. I fear going to the doctor because I fear what he will tell me, but I know I gotta do it at some point.

Maybe I have been pushing myself a bit too much. But I want the results and I am getting the results!

I only walked on Monday and Tuesday this week. Yesterday I decided to give my ankle a rest and swim, same goes for today as well.

But somehow I feel so unsatisfied with swimming. There is no sweat and I don't burn as much calories as I do when I do the walk with running intervals.

On the plus side, I have been losing about 1kg a week consistently. This regime seems to be working for me, which is why I hope I wont have to stop it for a while because of my stupid ankle. Argh!!!!!! Frustration!!!!!!

Frustration!

Today was another down day. My body just seems to not want me to run. I started off fine, hyped because I rested my feet yesterday an I wanted to run today, but the minute I started running today the shin pains kicked in followed by my stupid ankle pains. I haven't had this ankle pain in a long time, but today was the day it decided it wanted to return!

It could be because I have been slacking on my ankle strengthening exercises. I have to remind myself to keep doing it, along with the exercises to prevent shin splints. These are a must do! I need to strengthen my feet! I feel so frustrated with all these leg pains! All I want to do is run!

Today I did not hit my 5km under one hour lap time once again, so I did 6.4km. I did however do a personal best on the 6km marker at 1hr 14mins. Slightly better than Tuesdays work out. But I still feel quite disappointed in myself and extremely frustrated with my ankle. I just could not run. Argh!!! And now after the work out, it decides to be a complete bitch. 

I know, I know, these things take time. You can't push yourself to the extreme to a point where you ignore signs of pain and keep going (which I was wrongly doing today). It's your body's way of telling you to ease up. 

The doctor appointment that was supposed to be yesterday did not happen. Some complications and it had to be moved. I am thinking of just taking things into my own hands and not relying on my mother to get me an appointment. I need to know what I can do about this ankle. I don't want to have to give up what I am doing. 

Anyway, hopefully I will do better tomorrow. I shall do my feet exercises today. I'm glad however that I did the workout and I did the 6km. I find the below quote very motivating :

My ankle is being scary painful. I need to see a doctor. 

Down Day

Gosh, I feel more tired than I felt yesterday. But I think it's the not enough sleep thing hitting me. I need to get to bed earlier. My head feels very heavy today.

I can't wait to sleep in tomorrow. The weekend is the time to re cooperate! On weekends I do the work outs in the evenings, because the weekends are the only time I get to sleep in. And sleep is very much needed.

I decided today would be a rest day from the walking/running routine, BUT that doesn't mean I don't do any exercise. I know have to keep my body going everyday. I pushed myself to get my ass out of bed and wake up at 8.30am today and then swam 600meters within 20 minutes, which apparently is the equivalent of 500 calories, much more calories lost compared to when I run. But I guess that's cause swimming is a full body work out.

I ALMOST wanted to screw swimming this morning because I felt so extremely tired and have a full on rest day, but then I remembered I just gotta keep the momentum of exercising going. I can't stop, even for a day. Even if I am too tired and need a down day, I must force myself to do some form of exercise that day, never mind it be low intensity, as long as it is done. I must keep going and keep my self disciplined.

Gosh, all I want to do now is to just crawl back into bed curl up like a ball and sleep. I need my sleep.

Tired.

Today my time was 14 seconds faster than it was yesterday at my 5km lap. I feel a lil unsatisfied that I couldn't break that 1 minute and do 5km in an hour,but I know, these things take time, I can't expect to be so much faster in a day. It took me a month to move from 4km to 5km. I must remember small steps!! Slowly and hopefully I will be able to do it.

Also, I feel so extra tired today after the run. I know it's the lack of sleep, got a bit dizzy today at one point in time. Sigh,getting home at 12.30am, sleeping by 1am and waking up at 6am to work out only gives me 5 hours of sleep. I lack sleep. Even more this week I did it 4 days in a row, which I normally don't do. I break on Wednesday and do a swim.  If I swim, I get to wake up at 8am, that is two whole extra hours. I gotta get to bed earlier, sleep is an essential.

Waking up in the morning with lack of sleep is extremely hard, and there are times that I just want to fall back into bed and continue sleeping. But then I remember this :

I didn't want to regret not working out, so I got my ass of the bed and went to the park.