My Poor Teeth

We've all heard how important dental health is to keeping our hearts healthy, yet for some reason, the dentist is the last appointment I remember to make, if I ever do. I probably floss once every few months. And I have a habit of ignoring random tooth pain until I can't anymore. 

Today, I got off work at 7am and spent my hard-earned napping hours at the dentist for a down and dirty cleaning (i.e., scraping), and addressing a cracked tooth I unsuccessfully tried to forget about.

I had a really nice hygienist that got me to thinking -- I'm doing all this dieting, working out and running so I can be fit and heart healthy going into 30, yet I'm not doing basic things that can also keep my heart healthy -- like flossing. 

So, this year, despite my absolute aversion to flossing, I'm going to try to fit it into my routine. My poor teeth and my aging heart deserves at least that. I'm adding "flossing once a day" to my list of health and fitness goals  (I know it's supposed to be twice, but let's be realistic here). Let's see how it goes...

Running: The Answer to My Fitness Goals?

So, I think I figured out a way to stay interested in being fit: Running.


It's been a long time since I've run. I used to run cross country in high school (since you all know how old I am, you can do the math), and I tried for a few weeks this past summer, but I haven't run consistently in forever.


The cool thing about running is that it's one of the few sports that you can pick up in adulthood and still compete.


So I started running today. I'm following the Runner's World 8-week Beginning Runner's Training Program. I ran on the treadmill for 1 minute then walked for 2 minutes, over and over for a total of 30 minutes. It felt great to run again... not as hard as I expected.

Time For Change

The scale doesn't lie. Especially when it gives you the same number 3 days in a row. 

Apparently, I gained 27lb since the summertime. Yes, my gym did close in June (and I failed to find a new one). And yes, I have consumed rich sauces and tasty desserts in a way I never have before. I do work crazy hours. I'm often too busy to eat well. But, no matter what the reason (or frankly, the excuse), the fact still remains: 27lbs.

The extra 27lbs don't make me obese, but I still don't feel healthy. Over the last few months, I have felt increasingly sluggish. So it's time to make a change. This isn't how I want to bring in my 30s -- at all.

NOW

SUMMER 2009: