Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Running.....

Are any of you bloggers out there runners? Well I used to be, and I am trying to get back into it. I have been slowly building my endurance up over the past few weeks, and I can now run a 11 minute mile for 17 minutes straight. I know, I know...I'm not the fastest girl on the block, but now that I am older, I am just happy that I can still run at all (you know, because of things like bad hips, or bad knees, or bad ankles, or bad...you get the idea!). Back in "the day," I used to be able to run six minute miles, but I have to remind myself that I was 50 pounds lighter and 16 years younger...lol!!! Maybe I will get there again-and maybe I won't!-but I do hope to increase my speed as my endurance goes up.

The strange thing about me and running, or me and exercise period, is that I have faithfully done it for the past two years, with only a 10 pound weight loss, and absolutely no cardio improvement. I have been checked for every kind of metabolic, hormonal, and adrenal disorder, and I did learn that some minor things were out of whack, but nothing that should contribute solely to my inability to lose weight. And as far as my cardio not improving, I was beginning to think that maybe I had something wrong with my heart, although I have no other symptoms whatsoever. The naturopathic doctor that I see every now and then, suggested that my allergies could be contributing to my weight problem, and to my lack of cardio, and as you can imagine, I totally pooh-poohed that whole notion. I have always had allergies-just the seasonal kind-but they had gotten so bad, that I had been taking Zyrtec, every single day of the year, for three years.This summer, I finally decided that I should have them checked out, because when I would try to stop taking the Zyrtec, I would break out in hives-scary! So, I went to the naturopath, she tested me, told me what I was allergic to, and then began to treat me for them, using some weird kind of naturopathic voodoo...not really!! Several times during my treatment, she would have me stop the Zyrtec, and then continue it if my hives came back. Well, I am amazed to say that I have been Zyrtec-and hive!-free for one month now, and all of the sudden, my cardio is improving, and I am losing weight. Talk about strange!!!! I have no idea how her treatments work , but I can definitely vouch for them, because I feel like a whole new person now. She told me that she thought that the reason that my cardio never improved was because of the fact that my allergies were so bad. The Zyrtec was able to keep the hives (your bodies reaction to allergens leaving your skin) under control, but it was unable to keep my airways from becoming inflamed, causing a similar reaction to that of a person with allergy induced asthma...scary!!! Of course none of this was tested by science, or an "MD," but she was obviously right with her assumptions, and I am so happy that I did this! :)

6 comments:

Laughing Orca Ranch said...

Wow. I'm impressed that you can cover a mile that fast.
I've never much enjoyed running. It feels too jarring to my knees and hips. Plus I have severe hip dysplasia, so it's really not a good idea.

Where do usually run? In the neighborhood or at a track?

But I really do commend you in reaching your goals and also figuring out ways to find out why your allergies and hives have been so bad.
What a relief to understand it all, and to overcome it, eh?

~Lisa
Laughing Orca Ranch
New Mexico

Fantastyk Voyager said...

Whatever the reason doesn't really matter now as long as the cure is working, right? But sometimes, the medicine man (or woman) knows better than the scientist how to cure things. whatever the case, I'm glad you're feeling better.

BrownEyed Cowgirl said...

It makes so much sense that it couldn't possibly work right?

I had a college professor tell me one time(he was a doctor that taught doctors-he "retired" to teach college classes)that there is a reason they call them "practicing" doctors. He also recommended any time a doctor prescribes something to talk to your pharmacist about it. Doctor's seldom have the "know" of the medications that they give, but a pharmacist must know the medicines that they dispense. If the pharmacist doesn't know, find another one.

I am glad to hear that it is working for you to "go natural".

Carolynn Anctil said...

I'd say that your own body's improvements based on your Naturopath's suggestions is all that matters.

I've run off & on and enjoy it immensely when I do. My comfort zone seems to be 20 minutes at a go and I've learned that I enjoy myself more when I'm not pushing myself to constantly 'improve'. Problem is, once my schedule has been derailed, I find it incredibly difficult to get back out the door and get going again. It's been....hmmm...a year(?) since I last ran. I want to do it again because it's an effective method of maintaining some degree of fitness for me, and I also find it very meditative. All good...so why am I sitting here in front of the computer instead of outside, even walking?! Now that winter is on my doorstep, I'll have even MORE excuses not to go.

BTW, thank you for your comments on my blog re: Family. I sincerely appreciate your sharing such personal thoughts on such a sensitive issue with me.

Carolynn

Melanie said...

Lisa-
Right now I am running on the treadmill at the gym-boring,I know!-but I like to get out and hit the trails, or the pavement when I can.

Iamrockinghorse-
I totally agree with the whole "natural is best " philosophy. I only go to regular MD's if it is medically neccessary, otherwise, I am a pretty Ayurvedic, Chinese-herbal, accupuncture, massage, kind of gal! :)

BEC-
Oh pharmacists are a well of knowledge about a lot of medical conditions, and the medications that are prescribed for them. They do not get enough credit for what they know.

Andrea said...

I uesed to be a runner. I was so in shape back then, now I am just in a different shape. LOL!!

Well hopefully the running gets you feeling better!!

I had horrible allergies until I moved out to the country. When I first moved here I got the flu about once a month and had horrible allergies. But now that I am outside more and breathing in all the fresh air, I feel a lot better, and I don't get sick as often. Weird huh?