Thursday, August 8, 2013

Thursday Check-In: 8/8/13

Workout(s):
We walked last night, only 1.5 miles but it was something :)  Especially since I didn't feel so great.

This morning's workout was awesome!  It was run/walk morning.  So I did a quick warm up and then ran from one corner to my car on the first lap (a lap is 3/4 mile, so I would guess I did at least a half mile if not more.  GPS was acting up so hope to have a more accurate mileage soon).  Second lap I repeated.  Usually these first two laps I break it up into two runs with three walk breaks but this was a run, then walk break for the 0.75 mile.  Third lap I ran the whole lap plus a tiny amount.  Fourth and final lap I ran a shorter segment so I could cool down a little.  It was tough, but I was glad I pushed.  I don't have any trouble with breathing, it's pain in my thighs and a little in my calves.  But it's not too bad.  I do know I need a new pair of shoes, I over-pronate and this morning they were rubbing me on the inside of both feet on the side of the pad below the big toe, so yep it's time to pull out my really nice Asics I bought awhile back for distance.  But I figure I will have to get a new set of shoes again before our half-marathon so it's time to run those puppies.  They have very low-mileage on them so I can't wait to try them out.

So here are my 3/4-mile splits:
Lap 1: 10:46
Lap 2: 9:14
Lap 3: 9:50
Lap 4: 9:10

Total time 39 minutes, average 13 min mile :)

I'm thrilled with the splits and can't wait to see what I can do next time.

Food notes:
Supper:  Delicious Chicken Fajitas over rice

Breakfast: Protein Shake mixed with a banana

Lunch: Leftover Shrimp gumbo :)

How I feel:
I was exhausted last night, achy and grumpy.  I did get to sleep before 10:00 and without any trouble.  I did wake up at 1:15am and had to take an additional dose of my RL meds.  But I was back in bed by 1:45, so it wasn't too big a deal.  Today I feel I can take on the world after that run!

Personal notes:
Weighed in this morning, unfortunately I gained 0.2 lbs, which wouldn't be a big deal but I gained 4.9lbs last week, which I figured was due to water retention.  Oh well, who knows what is going on, but the fact that I am eating better, exercising and not losing weight will be mentioned to my doctor.  Maybe his scales will show something different Monday.
 
Not a lot going on, hubby and I just started watching Dexter.  I think I will like it but it was hard to tell after one episode.  We've finished up the Spartacus that is available on DVD and really enjoyed it, can't wait until the final season comes out next month.  Oldest son is going to Busch Gardens/Water Country with a friend next week and we're excited for him.  We're trying to plan an end of summer trip to Ocracoke for next weekend.  Hubby talked today like we would go this weekend, but it was just too much to deal with at the last minute.  Also made an appointment for the oldest to get contacts right before football starts. He's excited.  Still reading The Vital Plan and Goblet of Fire.  Loving both, one is informative and the other is just plain fun.

Have a great day everyone!

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Wednesday Check-In: 8/7/2013

Workout(s):
None so far.  See "How I Feel" as to why, but I hope to get a walk and some yoga in tonight.

Food notes:
Supper: Grilled Shark (a friend's son caught a 62" 105-lb spinner shark the other night right off Harkers Island), fried farm-fresh okra, salad.  The shark was good, tougher than most off-shore fish, but no fishy flavor.  Because of mercury content we won't eat this again this week, but it was good and I think it's cool that our friend's son caught it (he's also our DD).

Breakfast: Bob's Red Mill Old Fashioned Rolled Oats (Gluten Free) with a banana, honey, cinnamon and nutmeg.  I just had a craving for it.

Lunch: Leftover Mexican Beef Stew from last week over rice.  Yummy!

How I feel:
Tired today.  Last night was a very rough night.  By 8:00 my legs were bothering me.  I picked up my son from Scouts around 9:00, came home took my sleeping pill and my restless leg medicine and went to bed to read around 10:00.  10:30 hubby was asleep and I tried but had to get out of bed, take another pill and go sit and read.  11:30 I was still up and still jumpy feeling.  I had tried to go back to bed somewhere in that hour but was miserable.  By midnight I decided I felt like I had not taken my Lyrica.  My legs were calming down but my right arm was driving me crazy (hand and part of arm are still numb from the syrinx they found in 2009).  So I took a Lyrica, no clue if I had taken one or not, but that was what finally calmed the whole body down.  I hate the meds, but I have to sleep.  Next time I want to remember to try a warm shower or bath to relax me.  Hopefully that is the worst of the problem.  There seems to be one or two weeks a month that I have these troubles, but last night was one of the worst I have experienced.

Personal notes:
Still reading my doctor's book, but I also started Goblet of Fire last night. Nothing like a good Harry Potter book to relax you and keep you in a good mood.  Still reading up on Paleo and contemplating the AIP version of paleo.  Not sure if I have any autoimmune disorders but most of the time it surely feels like it.  I feel much better after going gluten-free but I really feel like there is still a food or two that is doing me damage and after listening to two podcasts that interviewed Dr. Tom O'Bryan, I am wanting to make sure there is no hidden gluten in my diet.  I'm also considering putting the whole family on it.  Especially my youngest son who exhibits some of the symptoms that are discussed in the podcasts (one was on PaleoHacks and the other was on Underground Wellness).  More to come on this later.  I still need to read It Starts with Food and I'll start on that as soon as I finish my dr's book.

Wish me luck on getting in some exercise tonight!  Have a great day everyone.

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

Tuesday Check-In: 8/6/2013

The weekend was awesome, hubby and I went out to celebrate his birthday one final time and saw our favorite semi-local band with a couple of friends.  L-Shape Lot was excellent as usual and while Backstreet Pub was hot upstairs, I never left during their 3-hour set.  I have a wonderful friend's son to thank for being our DD as well so we could both enjoy the night and be safe.

Saturday and Sunday were spent at the Cape, our favorite place and were great days.  We had to wait out a storm after church Sunday but we were able to enjoy about 3.5 hours out there.  This weekend's picture features my youngest eating one of his favorite things in the world in one of his favorite places (in the water at the Cape).


Workout(s):
I ran/walked on Friday, it wasn't a great workout, but I did it. I was able to run more again though.

This morning we ran/walked and it kicked butt.  Well it may have kicked my butt, but it felt great as well.  I did walk/run segments on the first two laps (1.5 miles total) usually running about 7-8 minutes per lap and the rest was walking.  On the third lap, I started running at my usual place and was going to push it a little, but Blurred Lines came on and I pushed it more, then It's Time came on and I just kept running.  I ran a whole lap plus about 1/2 of the next lap!  That's my longest run to date!  I have no idea of the time, but it felt great, such an accomplishment.  I ran over a mile :)

Here's what I know:
Mile 1: 15:20
Mile 2: 14:05
Mile 3: 11:35

Woohoo! And that was even after a pretty crappy night's sleep.  Both hubby and I are really excited (he ran about the same distance at one time as me and finished in 33 minutes).

I also did Lunar Yoga last night from YogaDownload.com.  It was nice and relaxing.

Food notes:
Supper: Shrimp Gumbo prepared by our oldest as part of a merit badge for boy scouts.  Hubby helped out but he had his hands in each step.

Breakfast: Protein Shake, 2 slices bacon, banana

Lunch: Salad with grilled chicken, spinach, lettuce mix, egg, banana peppers and bacon.  Yum!

How I feel:
A little sore after the run, but it's getting better through the day.  I'm not exhausted and it's my usual time my afternoon slump kicks in.  I'm hoping the exercise will help me sleep well tonight.

Personal notes:
I'm reading The Vital Plan by William Rawls, who is my doctor.  It's a great book on using nutrition and exercise and other natural health things to heal your body.  I have an appointment with him next week and I wanted to finish it and have things to discuss with him so he understands that I am stepping up and trying to improve my health.  I have to admit I haven't agreed with everything in the book but he has brought up some new things and reinforced some old ones as well.  I look forward to finishing it up and following the plan.


I'm still looking into Paleo as well, but that will be when life settles down after summer and school starts.  But for now I'm incorporating little things into my diet, like a little more protein, better carbs and a little less dairy.  That way it won't be a shock when I do my Whole 30 in about a month or so.

Thursday, August 1, 2013

Thursday Check-in: 8/1/13

Workout(s):
Raining this morning so no walk with the hubby.  I also had another rough night getting to sleep so I slept in a bit.  I still worked out. I dusted off my Firm Express set.  I bought this on clearance at Dick's Sporting Goods after Christmas after wanting it for awhile.  I think I have done maybe 4 of the discs and that would be once a piece.  So I decided to start this, and supplement with going to the gym 1-2x per week as well.  I started with Ignite - Cardio+Sculpt.  It was a spirited workout and I tried my best on the bursts, but I'm still on a lower level. Probably could push it a bit though.  The weight segments use two muscle groups at once and go a little fast, but with practice I can see liking this 20-minute workout.  Saturday I'll either hit the gym or do Ignite Sculpt.

Food notes:
Lunch: Tuna salad I made + gluten-free crackers with a small Lowe's Foods salad on the side

Supper: Tex-Mex beef stew prepared by the wonderful hubby in the crockpot.  We put it over rice.  Hot but very filling.

Snack: Hershey bar, I couldn't sleep, so yes I went for comfort food

Breakfast: 2 eggs scrambled topped with avocado, 1 slice of bacon

How I feel:
Tired. I felt great after my workout but my midafternoon slumps seem to be back.  I did have trouble falling asleep last night and became frustrated and upset.  I was back in bed by midnight and up at 7:00.  The aches from yesterday are gone so that is nice.  Now if I could just get my energy back.

Personal notes:
Nothing really to add today.  I'm watching twitter for all those starting Whole 30 and getting excited to start my own.  I'm starting to go without some things like cheese to test out how I feel.  I'm going to keep reading The Paleo Answer and then start back on It Starts With Food.  I also need to read the book by my doctor before my visit in a few weeks and have some questions ready for him.

Weigh-In 
Not an optimal weigh-in.  I gained 4.9lbs from last Wednesday.  Not sure what is going on, time of the month, too much to drink over the weekend, the hershey last night (lol), just too much to eat or an underlying problem.  I know I am working out 3-6 times a week and watching what I eat.  I have started back eating a better breakfast and I'm really watching the rest of the day as well (not calorie-restriction per say, but more eating healthy and not snacking, except for last night).  We'll see what the scale says next week.  I wouldn't be concerned too much but my jeans I put on this morning are tighter.  Ugh!  But I won't focus on this, my primary focus is still on how I feel and the reduction of my medication.

Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Wednesday Check-in: 7/31/2013

Workout(s):
2.5 mile walk/run this morning.  I ran 6 minutes after warming up and it felt awful.  Legs hurt, had trouble breathing, just miserable.  Last time I ran last week it did not feel like this.  So I walked the rest of the lap and tried to run some more on the next lap. Ran about 3 minutes, felt the same and decided that was enough.  I was walking the rest of the way.  I felt like it was my body telling me something was wrong.  Whether it's the impending weather, the fact I didn't sleep well last night or just the go, go, go of the last few weeks adding up, the running wasn't meant to be this morning.  Sometimes you have to step back and make that decision for the better of your health.  Friday I will be back at the running though!  In good news, my hubby ran 0.75 miles straight!  I am so proud.  I wish I had had a better day to share it with him!

Distance: 2.45 miles 
Time: 39 minutes

Food notes:
Lunch: Lowe's Foods salad and I drank some of my apple cider vinegar drink before hand and my stomach did well
Supper: Beef kabobs (stew beef, squash, green pepper, onion, mushrooms, tomatoes), my Parmesan cheese g-free pasta (I make the dish, the pasta is Tinkyada) and a nice salad.
Breakfast: 2 slices of bacon and 2 eggs

How I feel:
Exhausted! I had to get up and take medicine because my legs and right arm were about to drive me crazy when I went to bed last night and then I still couldn't get to sleep when I went to bed 20 minutes later.  Some time though I fell asleep but it was a restless sleep.  I can't let this freak me out, I go through spells where I sleep like this and it gets better.  I'm a little achy and I'm wondering if it's the coming weather.  We'll see.

Personal notes:
I'm reading The Paleo Answer by Loren Cordain and the more I read the  more I am positive I am going to try Paleo, mainly by doing the Whole 30 for 30 days and going from there.  I know they say to jump right in but we are having one final celebration for my husband's birthday on Friday night at the local pub to see a band we like and I plan on having a cider or two while I'm there.  So I'm not sure when I'm starting but it will be soon.
 



That's it, I have sailing with our oldest tonight if the weather holds or if there is enough wind.  Then it's home to the concoction my hubby made in the crockpot, yum!

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

No I didn't get lost, I had an impromptu vacation! + Tuesday Checkin: 7/30/13

Yes it's been a few days.  I found out Thursday night that my husband was surprising me with a weekend aboard a houseboat at the Cape for his birthday.  Yes for his birthday.  We left Friday morning (he called my boss and asked for the day off and everything) and came home Sunday evening.  I may have gotten more sun than I should have and drank a bit, but it was the best time. We were joined by one couple the whole weekend and by other friends through the whole weekend.  The weather was perfect, the scenery beautiful and just the most fun I could have.  I don't think I ate bad or too much, but I guess I made up for the lack of food calories by the drink calories, though I did pace myself, didn't want to be hungover and I achieved that.  But I was exhausted Sunday night and still exhausted last night.  Today I seem to be back to normal.  The sunburn is going in and I seem to much more well-rested (something about not sleeping in your own bed even when the water is rocking you gently to sleep).  And here's some pics from our lovely time!
 The houseboat we stayed on
 Hubby and I on our skiff on Sunday as we ran some stuff back to the harbor
 I love this picture of hubby and I near sunset the first night
 Sunset over the dunes Friday evening
Sunrise looking back towards Cape Lookout on Saturday morning

So with that I'm back, mentally refreshed and ready to gear up again! 
Workout(s):
Monday: Could not drag hubby out of bed but I went walking, couldn't bring myself to run much more than 3 minutes and only once so this was just a walk day and I only made 1.5 miles, but at least I did something!

This morning: Up with my alarm at 5:45, first I was confused why I set it that early and then I remembered I was going to either start the Firm Express series of DVDs that I have only played with doing a few workouts with so far or go to the gym which I haven't been to this month.  I finally decided to go to the gym.  I did the upper body machines in about 20 minutes.  I worked it hard too.  I accidentally put the wrong weights on the row and did completely different sets from normal, I did 15 reps at 50lbs (I usually do 25) and 12 reps at 100lbs.  Ooops, but I did it and made it through without form suffering.  I think the difference is I usually do the rows toward the end but I did them second this morning.  I know by the flys and rear delts I was done for and they were last.  My upper body still felt like jelly when I went home, woke up hubby and headed for our walk.  It was officially walk day so we did 3 miles in about 54 minutes.  We had great conversation and I do love that man dearly.  I'm so glad I can share getting healthy with him!

Food notes:
Monday:
Breakfast: Glutino Granola bar, these are the closest to the Quaker ones I use to love, but after trying the Van's I like the Van's a lot better.
Lunch: Big salad from Lowe's.  I added turkey and bacon back to the salad. Had some minor discomfort, but I'm starting to wonder if this had more to do with breakfast.  I'm not really sure.
Supper: Took kids and hubby out to our favorite Mexican place so the boys' could celebrate with their Daddy.  Ate way too many corn chips, but enjoyed my Vegetarian Sicronizada.  Nothing like some spinach, mushrooms, onions, jalepenos and avocado to really make a meal.  I get mine on corn tortillas since I can't have gluten.  I may have ate too much, but I thoroughly enjoyed the meal. And since I am considering going Paleo, I will explain I don't like the one with Chicken in it, it dries it out too much.  I'm not really that into vegetarian meals, but this one is delicious and doesn't upset my stomach!

Tuesday:
Breakfast: Protein Shake (GNC Whey Protein powder mixed with water since our milk went bad).  I think I had some discomfort from this.  Still wondering if too much dairy in a serving does me in.  Another thing to test and contemplate.
Lunch: Big Salad from Lowe's, again with the turkey and bacon (plus lots of leafy greens, cucumbers, banana peppers and grilled chicken).  Ken's Honey Mustard dressing.  I plan on making my own honey mustard dressing soon.

I also started back with my apple cider vinegar drink to sip through the day.  This is made with the apple cider that contains the mother and is supposed to help with all kinds of things.  After reading about it helping increase the acidity in your stomach and helping those of us without a gall bladder, I decided I would start drinking again.  A couple of changes to the original drink, I now forgo the apple juice and use local honey instead of stevia.  It's just as good if not better.

How I feel:
Much better rested today.  Stomach has also evened out.  I may or may not have ingested some of hubby's sandwich bread.  I think I noticed the plate and the different texture of the bread and spit it out, but I'm not sure.  It was part of a delicious yellow-fin tuna sandwich that was seared perfect.  My hubby can grill some mean tuna.  I offered him some of mine to replace his :)

The workouts this morning felt great and I feel I will be ready to start running again tomorrow.

Personal notes:
I'm glad to have my oldest home and have heard most of the stories from camp.  He did have a scary moment while white-water rafting.  Seems the river level was a bit above normal (6 ft is the number he said) due to recent rains and made one of the supposed-to-be class 3/low class 4 rapids a high class 5 and they capsized.  Thankfully our son is a pretty good swimmer and was able to hold his breath and make it to the surface but he confesses to being pretty scared.  A mom that was in the boat says she won't go again and at the moment so does our son, though he really enjoyed the white-water kayaking they did the day before.  So I'm glad to have my son home safe and sound!

That's it for today!  More tomorrow :) 

Thursday, July 25, 2013

Thursday Check-In: 7/24/2013

Workout(s):
my workout setup for this morning

This morning it was raining so I did Jiggle Free Arms from the Firm.  It can work you hard if you pick heavy enough weights and that's what I did (I used 5, 8, 10 and 12).  I have a reminder to myself in my little notebook to go down in weights next time I do the first shoulder set.  This on is led by Stephanie and part of the Transfirmer series.  It's focus was on arms and shoulders with a set of back and chest thrown in too.  So not quite a full upper body workout but if you want to work on you arms and shoulders it's perfect.  Our cat, Bacardi was feeling rather energetic during my workout and seemed to like how his claws felt on my mats.  This did not make me very happy and had me yelling "No" several times only for him to come back and do it again.  Fun times with a cat.

Food notes:
Lunch: Spinach from home plus additions from Lowe's foods salad bar.  Something has been upsetting my stomach when I eat these salads, so I'm omitting foods one by one to see what the culprit might be.  I also may just need to add in the apple cider vinegar + water before this meal, but I keep forgetting to make it before I leave  home.

Supper: We decided to do easy tonight. I picked up Little Caesar's outside of town and bring it home for hubby and the youngest.  I splurged and picked me up a Udi's Pepperoni pizza.  They are really good to me, I plan on adding some food reviews later and this will be one of them.  I really wanted some of my small pizza crusts to make my own, but it appears our Food Lion has stopped carrying them.  I am bummed.

Breakfast: Hubby bought some GNC Whey protein powder in chocolate supreme so I gave it a try mixed with milk this morning.  Figured it was good for after my workout as well.  It was yummy and then I added a banana when I came to work.

Water: 96 oz
One Diet Coke at lunch

How I feel:
Stressed when I got home, I'm not sure why, and then I had a hard time decompressing with a lot going on at the house during the evening.  Before bed my legs were bothering me so I took my medicine for Restless Legs and slept like a dream until 3:00am when my legs and arm were giving me a fit again, so I took another one, and slept until my alarm at 6:30. 

I'm jazzed about my morning workout and still a bit sore from the running yesterday.  But it's all good.  Health wise besides the restless legs issue, I am doing great.

Personal notes:


We're debating a 5K Beach Run tonight.  These are just fun races and yes they time you but it's really low stress.  No I can't run a full 5K yet but I can run/walk it and come in well before some of the 10K finishers.  I also know I push myself harder during races so it should be fine.  Hubby is on the fence, though he did look at other races in our county with me last night and I think we have plans for a few of those.  I'm slowly getting him on board with the racing but I think once he gets started he'll be in love.

I talked to our oldest son last night.  Their first day of white water rafting went great.  They did it individually in kayaks and he said he never capsized and he was first to finish in his group.  At the moment I called he was getting ready to go to the store, probably to replenish some junk food I'm sure.  We'll work on that when he gets home :)