Monthly Archives: April 2015
#TBT 8 (Can we fast forward to this weekend already!?)
Good morning! Throwback Thursday means we are less than 24 hours away from THE LAST WEEKEND OF COLLEGE. And remember that little post/question I put up last week? Well, I found something to do. And you’ll just have to wait and read all about it next week. :)
Annnnnnyways……………..
Yesterday, I completed another cardio workout in the comfort of my apartment’s fitness room which involved hopping from treadmill to elliptical to treadmill. Nothing unusual.
Except the temperature.
The thermostat is protected by a locked plastic case, and the heater was on as I entered the little gym. It was already hot and I hadn’t even started working yet! The heater remained on during my entire stay and when I left, the thermostat read 75 degrees. Take that and add one intense stationary work out (6 miles plus elliptical time, some core work afterwards) and you have some prettttttty sweaty clothes.
So in lieu of my sauna-esque workout, I found this little scientific breakdown post to bring back to life as today’s throwback. (How so many people rave about “hot yoga” classes, I do not know.)
P.S. This is about as “scientific” as it gets on Strong Like My Coffee ;)
Originally Posted on June 11, 2014
“Did you have a nice swim?”
Actually I just ran.
“Oh, so you just got out of the shower?”
Nope, this is pure perspiration right here.
“How long were you running???”
Oh you know, 30 minutes.
The amount I sweat looks completely disproportional to the intensity and effort I exert during a run. It seems logical that, after nearly 8 years of running, my body should be well-adapted to cardio activity and sweat less right?
I will be forever envious of fellow female runners who can shake out a pony-tail after a solid treadmill session with nothing more than a slight mist on their hairline. Meanwhile I’m towelling off my soaked face, my hair dripping as I sprint to the shower and avoid chit chat in my sweaty state.
What gives?
I took to the world wide web to answer my eternal question of why the heck do I sweat so much if I am “in shape”?
***I can rule out “hyperhidrosis” or an actual diagnosis of excessive sweating because this only happens during exercise, thank goodness.***
SOME SWEET SWEAT FACTS:
Basic Anatomy:
- The autonomic nervous system controls the sweat function, a natural response to the rise in body temperature.
- Sweat is 99% water, 1% sodium and other compounds (on average). Some people have “saltier” sweat than others.
- The odor accompanying the release of sweat is not the actual sweat itself; it is the bacteria that lives on our skin around the sweat glands that becomes “activated” with the sudden moisture.
Sweat Factors:the amount a person sweats is related to the number of sweat glands, their gender, some genetic factors, source or reason for sweating (stress, spicy food, exercise, etc.) and overall body mass.
Other Interesting findings:
- Several sources report that more cardiovascularly-fit people sweat earlier into their exercise session because their bodies have learned to expect the rise in body temperature and attempt to cool off sooner into the workout.
- Because fat and body mass act as insulators, heavier people require more sweat to bring down their body temperature. This is why larger bodies sweat more.
- A red light for me: “CAFFEINE CAN INCREASE PERSPIRATION.” :(
What it boils down to:
The body contains between 2 and 5 million sweat glands. More glands = more sweat. I.e. Sweat volume is not a sign of fitness.
If you are a light sweater, I’m a jealous jellyfish. If you are a faucet, include extra hydration into your pre and post-workout routine. Drink up, buttercup!
Sweaty Sources:
http://cathe.com/sweating-profusely-during-exercise-does-it-mean-youre-out-of-shape
http://www.fitsugar.com/Why-Some-People-Sweat-More-Than-Others-145870
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/30/sweat-too-much-normal-sweating-facts_n_4659752.html
Don’t Underestimate…
Do not underestimate the power of some of the moments we take for granted.
Like a phone call with your mom or dad.
Or a completely crossed-off to-do list.
A weeknight off from cooking for the best salad bar in town.
Tuesday morning began differently than usual. I had a Face Time conference call at 8:00am, Eastern Time. I’m a West Coast girl, so I was not-so-bright-eyed-and-bushy-tailed at 5:00am. A pre-coffee meeting, oh my. The earlier-than-usual Tuesday called for some additional coffee and serious motivation to get through my workout in the gym.
After a banana, I decided to break up my “strictly running” pattern with a little time on the elliptical. When I made it to the fitness room, I saw Father of the Bride on TV. Classic! I loved this movie when I was little, and its sequel equally so. My hour split between the elliptical and the treadmill ended with just enough time to shower and look business-professional for a presentation in my last class of the day.
I sat through my last advertising lecture (it’s all just a big group project from here on out!) and started to become more nervous for my presentation later in the afternoon. Every semester ends with multiple presentations, but this one in particular was one-on-one with my professor in his office. Immediately afterwards, he gave feedback which I really appreciated. All my nerves were for nothing and I could look forward to the rest of my evening hanging out with one of my best friends. :)
First I threw off my heels and changed into boots and a sweater. Before we headed downtown for dinner and shopping, we decided on a pit stop to one of the parks where we would have cross country practice at least once a week. There was a whole herd (okay probably not a herd….like 10 or 12) deer munching on grass right next to us as we walked by! (Reminded me of the time was just stumbled upon some elk in the Grand Canyon!)
Walking around the park was a phenomenal idea because there were surprisingly SO MANY walkers, joggers and runners out. I love being around lively, active, fit people. Whenever I’m in a desolated place, I always wonder why no one else is out and about. It’s a beautiful day, why are people inside?! :) That’s one of the things that I loved best about visiting Boise, ID. It’s an ACTIVE community, that was for sure.
We talked nonstop for a couple hours and had to fuel up with some AMAZING salads at The Mix. I added tomato, bell pepper, cucumber, carrots, edamame, sunflower seeds, kiwi, grapes, strawberries, mandarin oranges, yams, corn, and housemade gluten-free croutons to mine with some chipotle orange vinaigrette on the side. I took a pretty picture and then demolished it ;)
Re-fueled, we walked around the shops a little more and I ended up buying a couple cute patterned headbands with bows because they looked very “Southern.” It’s a girl thing, right?!
Don’t underestimate the re-energizing power of a night out, fresh air, fresh food, and a fresh perspective from someone else. I can easily let my inner happiness get swallowed up by the stress of any situation but I am lucky enough to have incredible people in my life to remind me what I’m working towards. It makes all the petty little things seem so small.
And NOW, I am completely done with my senior capstone class so I am going to watch an episode of Sex & the City (TV twice is one day?? Who am I!) and probably fall asleep four minutes into it. I did wake up before 5am after all ;)
P.S. This is the song I listened to on repeat during my workout when Father of the Bride was on commercial. Love it.
Using the Weekend to Set Your Week Up for Success
Last night I was thinking about how much I dreaded Sunday nights when I was younger. I always have the most difficulty falling asleep on Sunday nights, just want to hold on to the weekend as long as possible I guess. Do you remember when they had the special Sunday Night Family Movie on ABC. It started at like 7 o’ clock, and I remember checking the TV Guide the old fashioned way…in the newspaper.
Now I usually use my Sunday nights to be productive with little tasks that will help take away some of the chores during the week. Today, I did three loads of laundry, dusted and tidied my bedroom and bathroom, and got some fruit washed and ready for the week. Little things can really make a difference in helping your week go smoothly so here are some ways that we can help set up our week for success. This is another one of those posts where the blog transitions from its “health and fitness” theme to “all things domestic” theme.
- Check the weather: It’s just nice to know what to expect.
- Plan out your work/school outfits accordingly: I pick out five complete outfits and hang them at the front of my closet. If they need ironing, do it all at once during the weekend!
- Produce Prepping: Some people do complete meal prepping, but I’d rather eat food that is freshly prepared each day. However washing and chopping fruits and veggies, as well as portioning and packaging fruits for snacks cuts down on cooking and lunch-packing during the week. I like to bag up apple slices, grapes, berries, and bell pepper slices.
- Sweat: I always say that it’s easier to exercise on the weekends than weekdays. I don’t waste my “rest day” on a Saturday or Sunday, because these days generally have more flexibility. Find some time to get in a workout, that way if you have to skip a workout during the week it’s not detrimental. Today, my workout was actually my “break time” from a term paper I’ve been working on. I was stalling going back home and my legs felt pretty good so I ended up running 11.11 miles (because I like ending on “good” numbers haha).
- Laundry & Linens: Working out every day really fills up the laundry hamper fast. Trying to squeeze in laundry during the week can be difficult (especially when you have roommates who always seem to use the washer/dryer on the same day) so use the time you’ll be at home during the weekend to get it all done. Sheets and towels should be washed once a week too, might as well give yourself some fresh fluffy sheets to crawl into on the dreaded Sunday night.
- Stock Up: During the week, I use the “notes” page on my iPhone to write down little things that are running out. That way, I can make one trip to Target to get them all at once. Currently, I have hand soap, dryer sheets, Listerine tabs, paper towels, makeup remover, and coffee on my list. But that’s because coffee is on all of my lists ;)
- Plan your Workout Schedule: “Failure to plan is planning to fail” is forever locked in my brain thanks to my high school cross country coach. We are more likely to hit the gym or tackle that workout if it is pre-planned, including place and time.
- Clear the Clutter: Take it from me. When you are in the middle of a busy and stressful week, a sink full of dishes and a counter full of clutter can just be the straw that breaks the camel’s back. If on Sunday night, your sink is empty, the clutter is cleaned up and the floors are cleaned, it will make a difference in helping your week go more smoothly.
- Unwind: Relax and enjoy the last few moments of your weekend so that you can go into Monday with a fresh face and positive attitude. Last night, I had a low-key evening in my apartment so I lit a candle, brewed decaf coffee, played Lady Antebellum, and gave myself a facial.
That’s my list so far. And spoiler alert, I also spent my Sunday night typing up this blog post. Which helped take away from the list of things to do on Monday morning. So you see, I practice what I preach ;)
What other weekend/Sunday Night “chores” do you do?
Strong Like My Coffee 