ow, ow, ow, ow

I'm thinking my new weight program is effective.....it hurts to type. Hurts to lift my tea cup. Hurts to put my top on....Do you see the pattern here??

Went to the gym first thing to run on treadmill. Short run - 30 minutes of 10:1's and 5 minute cool down. Slow run - total of 4k including cool down. My knee still hurts where the bruise is on the side. But not an injured knee kind of hurt, just a bruise hurt. Actually was uncomfortable to stretch....but I did it anyhow cause I'm a good girl.

Was supposed to go to synchro today, but I'm not going to. I don't think my knee is ready for all that treading water doing eggbeater.

Did some more work on the toy I'm making for my niece. I have two feet done. Just have the arms and eyes left. The toy is called Rudy the Rectangle. Hahaha. I forgot how relaxing crocheting can be.

Oh, I stopped for gas this morning, and bought a bag of...hickory sticks while I was paying. I can't remember the last time I did something like that. I had the bag half eaten before I really even thought about what I was doing. I didn't eat before going to the gym. I have got to have something right away in the morning - I was starving by the time I was done. Silly girl.

Well, not much else on the go today. Chicken stir fry for dinner, and household chores on the agenda for the rest of the day. The excitement never ends!

Have a healthy day bloggers!!

Monday, Day 1, Week 3

Well, ladies, I survived the belly dance show! Actually, all in all I think it went well. I didn't forget any steps, didn't throw up, didn't pass out.

I will post pictures/video as soon as I can get my hands on some.

This morning I hit the gym again - I'm all healed from my big fall and I no longer have any excuses. I ran and it went well. Did my new weight routine and it went well. Tomorrow its back to synchro.

This afternoon I started a crochet project - I'm making a stuffed toy for my new niece. It will be cute!!

Just a short post - I have a really, really bad headache and I need to close my eyes for a while.

Have a healthy day bloggers!!

Saturday....

Mmm, Saturday morning. Husband is curling this a.m. Daughter went straight from a birthday party sleepover to the mall shopping. Just me, the pup and my Tims. I can think of worse ways to start the day.

One of the blogs I read uses NutriMirror to log her food. I had never heard of this before, so I googled it. What a nice site! I've used WW for so long, I don't really know much about actual nutritional information. I know to choose lean, whole grains, high fibre, veggies, fruit. But I mean just the makeup of what I'm eating. Anyhow, I'm going to log my food on there for a week, just to see. I did yesterday. Oy! I failed miserably. If you're hitting your goals, the #'s show green. Mine were all red. Nowhere to go but up!! Or down, I guess - haha

What else.....oh, I ordered some new eye shadow from Mary Kay. I got their spring catalogue, and ordered the Coastal Colors Set, which includes an eyeshadow palette that has blue, brown & green, a Bahama Blue eyeliner, and a Caribbean Coral lip gloss. I think it will look very pretty....

I have to go to a curling banquet tonight. Should be fun - there will be a band or dj, so dancing should be on the agenda I hope.

Mostly I will spend the day fretting about my show tomorrow. I'm not nervous, which is kinda making me nervous. Hmm, I guess that doesn't make much sense, but there you have it.

Have a healthy day bloggers!

I HEART Italian Wedding Soup!

5pts for a can of Italian Wedding Soup. Mmmm, what an awesome deal. I add two cubes of frozen spinach and some frozen broccoli and I have a screamin good lunch! It's heating up on the stove right now. Yum.

My knee is still feeling....owie. I pulled my pant leg up to look today and yowsers, am I bruised. I have a huge bruise on the side of my knee, and my knee cap is completely yellow. The bruise is only now working its way up to the surface. Sigh. I still haven't tried running. I have belly dance rehearsal again tonight.....I'm thinking I will wait until after my show. I was going to try to start, but I'm still quite sore.

Speaking of the belly dance show - I have finally figured out how I'm going to do my makeup. I decided just to do it the way I "normally" do (I only wear makeup around twice a year), but I've added some purple. Oooooo. I know, I'm a wild woman!!
I was going to try to either a) curl my hair or b) get my hair done, but have scrapped that idea because, after trying yesterday a) I cannot do it, nor can I learn fast enough and b) I do not have the $$ to get my hair done. I will just run a flat iron through it. That will just have to be fancy enough.

Hmmm, not much else on the go. Hope you all have a healthy day.

PS: Thank you again to Tiggerlilly for your post today...your timing couldn't have been better. You rock!!

Feeling Better

I've been resting up, licking my wounds. Every day that something feels better, I notice a new owie. My teeth finally stopped hurting yesterday, but that is when the pain in my upper back showed up. I was going to book a massage, but I can't stand the thought of someone touching me right now (much to husband's dismay!!). My knee is still bruised, and swollen on the side, BUT I can stand up and sit down quite easily now, and going up stairs is ok....coming down is still a bit hairy, but to be completely honest, my knee has bothered me when going down stairs for a while, so.....bruises have shown up on my the back of my forearm, and they hurt since I seem to use the back of my forearm for everything! It's like having a cut on your finger...that is when you notice you use that finger for everything!

I did go to Belly Dance rehearsal last night. The show is on Sunday so I couldn't miss. I got moved to front and center because I'm the anchor! I think what they mean is I remember the routine the best. I made it through the rehearsal just fine, but my knee swelled up when I got home. As I think I mentioned, both husband and daughter will not be able to attend my performance. They both came to the rehearsal last night, which ended up being a dress rehearsal, so they now have a good idea of what they would have seen. The both said it looked good and that I was the best. Which of course, they would say, but it was nice to hear regardless. I'm in quite a panic now, worrying that I will forget my place. Oy!!

Daughter is on Spring Break (yay) and so we are going downtown to meet husband for lunch. Vietnamese sub. From Thi-Thi - the only place you should ever go to for Vietnamese subs cause they are the best in the city!! I cannot WAIT!!!!! I get the satay beef.....mmmm...my mouth is watering just thinking of it.

So, the finale of Big Love....what a show! I loved it. I think next year will be GREAT!!! I'm quite excited about Nikki's ex-husband and daughter joining the cast. That should provide some good drama.

Oh, I got my hair cut and coloured yesterday. Well, the cut was more of a trim, and I just coloured it brown, which is my natural colour. It feels nice and fresh. Amazing how a simple hair appt can make you feel like a million bucks.

Have a healthy day bloggers!

Help - I've fallen....but I can get up...ssslllooooowly

Yesterday was a nice day. Husband had to curl, so I decided I would do my run outside while he was doing that, and then we would meet at the club later to do weights together.

I get out my Garmin, program my run (which takes me for friggen ever, by the by), get changed, get heart rate monitor on, get ipod ready, grab cell phone, put harness on dog, get poop bags, Kleenex, attach leash, put on the running shoes with the sensor....oy! at this point I'm exhausted and ready for a nap!!

So, off I go. An "EZ" run scheduled. Quick 4k. I run 2k up the road.....after 1k back, I stop at poop bag bin to make Indiana's deposit....start my run...and promptly trip on sidewalk. Attempt to use fence to break my fall, but only succeed in hurting my upper body as well as my knee when I finally do come crashing down in spectacular fashion. I'm completely disoriented, but after a few moments get up, and realize that a fellow is yelling at me from his porch "are you ok?" Having grown up with a mother who took pride in her children not being a bother, I promptly yell "I'm fine" even though I'm not. I try to move forward. Can't move my one leg, cause my knee is stuck. Crap. I have my cell phone, but no one to call because husband is curling. So, it takes me over half an hour to hobble home, crying almost the whole way, of course. And pesky puppy - kept pulling me - I kept saying "you're supposed to be able to tell when I'm sick and behave!!" But, he would just look up and then pull. Sheesh.

The good news is, that while my knee is really swollen, I am able to get around today. I can even bend it a bit. Yesterday I couldn't - which meant every time I had to pee I had to do a one legged squat onto the toilette!! My arm is all bruised, and my shoulder is killing me. My teeth also really hurt - I must have clacked them together when I fell.

Today is a scheduled rest day, and I intend to do just that. Of course, had I waited until today to do my run, I wouldn't have tripped on that part of the sidewalk because last night we got over 5 inches of snow!

I'm a little worried about my belly dance rehearsal I have tomorrow night. I don't know that my knee can go in the directions it needs to for the dance. Belly dance, while I love it, is very hard on my knees.

Have a healthy day bloggers!!

Thursday already?

Yesterday I ran on the track at the Talisman. As I mentioned, it was my first time using the facility. I liked being on the track - it was comfortable. What I didn't like was going around and around in circles, and how hot it is in there. Of course, it has to be, because of the pools, but...didn't make for a comfy run. I kicked butt though. I was happy with my time and how I felt at the end of it.

What I didn't do yesterday was my weights. I was just too tired, as was husband. I forgot how draining it was watching swimming all day, and the smell from the chlorine makes me quite nauseous.

On the agenda today....housework....blech....and belly dance tonight! We are getting extra time at the end of class, which should be fun. We need the practice!

Who's been watching that new show called Lie to Me, anyone? It is fast becoming one of my favourites. Oddly, Wednesdays are becoming one of my favourite nights for television. Lots of crime shows.

Well, I think I will take the puppy for a walk. He's been sleeping all day, he could likely use the movement! Lazy little monkey! Plus, it will get me off my ass and going on the housework, I hope, as does my husband, HAHA.

I'm making chicken fried rice for dinner tonight. I like that, cause I can get lots of veggies in there, and daughter will then eat them all. Plus, it's also a great way to sneak in the brown rice! Did I tell you all the other day, I made rice for dinner, and daughter said, wow, mom, this rice is great - what kind is it?? I laughed - I had run out of brown and found some white rice in the cupboard! Guess I don't have to wonder which one she likes better!

Have a healthy day bloggers!!

When your self-image leaks onto your daughter....

it hurts. This post will contain a Biggest Loser spoiler, so if you haven't watched, come back when you have.

Last night husband & I were watching BL, as we do on Tuesdays, except that daughter happened to watch a bit, since we were eating in front of the tv. Husband had to go to curl, and daughter sat downstairs for a bit, chatting on facebook. During the time she was down here, the contestants were running their half marathon challenge (without any official training). As the times came up, I think everyone but 2 of them beat my time. As Kristen finished, I said "even Kristen beat my time, I'm going to kill myself". Daughter looked over. The look on her face....it actually makes me cry to even think of it.

Here's the thing. That comment came out of me out of habit. I am so used to putting myself down, that I didn't even think. Here I had the chance to set a great example for my daughter. I trained, I ran and finished my race. Daughter had been proud of me. And in that moment, it was all undone. In that moment I showed her the part of myself that I hate. And the worst of it is I actually, deep down I actually am really proud of myself. I'm already training for my next run so that I can finish comfortably. And now I have to have a talk with my daughter to try to explain all this to her.

Ok, how weird is this - I'm sitting here typing this, crying, and she came out of her room (up an hour early) and asked what was wrong. Talk about the perfect opening. Anyhow, talk is done, and all is well. She said she didn't think anything when I said that, but I still feel better having talked to her.

Daughter is having her first ever speed swim meet today. Luckily it is at a really nice facility here in town, that has a running track (Talisman) and I'm going to do my run on the track while daughter warms up and stuff. I've never run on a track - I'm kinda excited to try it! Weights tonight with husband. Yesterday was a cross training day, and I was going to swim, but it is TTOM, and I'm an old fashioned gal, so no pool for me. I did the eliptical for 45 minutes instead. It was hard. But a good hard. Sure felt my hamstrings when I was done.

I made salad for dinner last night. We had left over beef tenderloin and a Korean chicken breast, grated cheddar, mixed greens, 3 coloured peppers, green onions, cucumbers, a pint of grape tomatoes, garlic almonds, pumpkin seeds, soybeans, raisins. I set up everything in a separate little bowl and then we all made our own, like a salad bar. It was really good.

Well, I have to get my bag ready. At my club, I don't have to worry about towels, locks, shampoo, hair dryers, yada, yada....so I really have to get my bag ready!!

Have a healthy day bloggers.

Monday, Day 1, Week 2

My birthday dinner was so freaking good! Husband was so proud of himself and his culinary skills that he said he would cook more often. I will believe it when I see it. In any case, I enjoyed him cooking last night. It is just such a treat to have someone else cook. I know that is what going to a restaurant is, but it's different to have a meal cooked at home.

I did my workout first thing this morning. 4.8k run and my weights. I am changing my weight routine for next week. You know those muscles that kinda go from the top of your neck to the top/middle of your shoulders? Mine is starting to resemble the Incredible Hulk. I think it might not be proportioned well (the program I'm following). So, I will be pulling out my old standby book - Body for Life. It has a great weight program. Kim Lyons was good for the first two levels, but I don't like this third one. And if I don't like it, I will start skipping it. And I don't want to do that.

I was a bit pissed at myself today - I forgot to start my Nike+ until I was well over 1k into my run. Sheesh. What a doorknob I am!

Hmmmmm, is anyone out there watching Big Love? Next week is the season finale. I'm so sad it will be over....we all love that show. It has been a great season - every episode just leaves us stunned. BSG finishes this week also.....sigh.....I can't imagine how they are going to end that one.....although I have no doubt it will be great.

Well bloggers, have a healthy day!

The End of Week One

I made it through my first week of my new training program for my next 1/2 marathon. I think it went really well, and I liked it. Yesterday I was supposed to do weights and a run after yoga, but I ended up moving my run to this morning. Other than that, I was spot on. I have to write out my weight training for the next week later today. This week I am adding my trouble spots exercises - I keep forgetting to do them.

Husband and daughter are making dinner for me tonight. Beef tenderloin. Mmmmm, I can hardly wait. And a chick pea salad and a green pea salad. It should be really, really good. It is part of my birthday present. I'm so spoiled.

Not much else on the go or to report. Have a healthy day!

You're Going Down You Big Blueberry!

That is what Filipe said to Kristen on BL - best line ever!!


Tuesday was my birthday. I celebrated by going to my synchro class. It went really well. It was really, really hard, but I was moving the entire hour! It was my cross training day, so that was a great way to give my joints a rest. We ordered in Chinese and my sister was still in town with my new baby niece, and so it was a great day!!


Monday night we had an extra belly dance class - a rehearsal for our show. It was so much fun - we danced the entire hour, our routine over and over and over and over. The good news is that I now know the entire routine. It is so cute!

Wednesday I ran, but forgot my Nike+ sensor. I was so mad. Mostly cause it was just in the locker - but the treadmills were filling up fast so....anyhow, I had to run @ race pace, which is 8.0. It was a good run. On the treadmill. I'm kinda bummed that I won't have it in my stats, but....

Thursday I went to the Brier with my girlfriend. OMG - it was so much fun!! I had a freakin ball!! My girlfriend treated me to lunch as a belated birthday treat, and so for two hot dogs and two waters she paid $16!! Oy - that was a treat all right. I haven't had a hot dog in.....I don't even remember....years and years. It was so good - and she took a picture of me eating it!! HAHA.

Last night was belly dance and boy did we work hard. She kept us an extra 15 minutes, and we just did the routine over and over and over. It was fun. Everyone picked their skirts out and next week I'm going to bring all my hip scarfs to class to see if anyone wants to borrow to go with their skirts.

Today was a "Long Slow Run" day of 6.4k. I did it at an 8.13 pace on the treadmill. It is really nice outside, but not a lot of people have shovelled their sidewalks so it is still too icy.

Tomorrow will be a busy day. I have yoga, and EZ run to do of 4k AND it is a weight day. Phew! I'm going to need a nap after for sure! haha

I'm meeting my girlfriend for drinks tonight.....since I'm not drinking for lent, it will mean club soda for me, but it will be mucho fun never the less.

Hope you're all having a fabulous day!

Monday, Day 1, Week 1

I went to the gym right away this morning after dropping daughter at school. Since this was my first time doing weights and a run on the same day (normally I do one or the other), I decided to do my run first. My reasoning was that the gym gets busy after 9:00, and so I wanted to hop onto a treadmill while they were free. This meant though, it was a bit squishy doing weights. There were lots of people meeting with their trainers, and they always take up lots of room. In any case, I was able to find a little corner to call my own and away I went. I did two sets of 10 for each exercise. I'm going to stay with the same two circuits for the whole 12 weeks, and just work on increasing the reps and weights for the whole 12 weeks. Last 12 weeks I changed my weight routine every 4 weeks. Just changing it up!

The only thing that was kinda a drag is that I used my Nike+ for my run, which was only 40 minutes, but forgot to turn it off, so it looks like my run took me 1:10 minutes!!! Oh, well. I had all the stats from the treadmill anyhow. I ran at a 8:13 pace, which was my avg pace for my half marathon. One day a week I need to run at my "race pace", which is supposed to be the pace I want to run my race at - I'm going to try to do my race at 8:00. I chose 8:13 as a beginning pace for the other runs because it was a number I had from the last race, and because it is an easy pace, and I have a long road ahead of me. I need to be sure I start slow so that I don't give up.

I cannot believe how cold it is outside today. I am so tired of the cold weather. My feet are cold just sitting here typing. What a bummer! It was so cold this morning that my garage door wouldn't close on it's own!!

I have an extra belly dance practice tonight. It isn't until 9:00!! I think I may have mentioned at some point that I'm performing in a show at the end of the month (Calgary readers can e-mail me if they want to know where they can buy tickets wink wink). Well, we will be two classes together performing one number. Since we have never even met, we are doing some extra practices with them together. I'm kinda happy because I've been stressing that we aren't practicing together. I'm one of those people that doesn't adjust well to change so I need to see where I will be standing and get used to who will be next to me. Plus, I'm a smidgen stressed that we haven't learned the whole choreography yet. Oy!! In any case, I'm happy to have an extra belly dance class!

Mmmm, not much else on the go for me today. Might boogie out in a bit to grab a latte. I have a hankering for some milk, and that is my favourite way to drink it!!

Have a healthy day bloggers!!

Not Dead!

it has been a million years since I've posted!

I have been re-evaluating my life. There has to be more to life than worrying about my weight. I had a bit of an "ah ha" moment on my last two day contract job. I was sitting training a gal, and she got an e-mail from a co-worker saying that he was starting up a fat loss competition. $200 to enter, top 4 win $$, body fat % to be done by professional from a local college. Sounded like they were going to have fun. So, gal I'm training turns to me and says "you should go in this!". I was stunned. And really, really insulted. I just told her that $200 was a lot of $$ for me, given that I don't have a job and changed the subject. But as I told husband (who said "well, that would be a waste of $$, you look great - you don't have anything to lose"), I realized that the reason I'm having trouble is because I am actually happy with where I am.

So, what does this mean? Nothing, except that it felt good to feel good about myself. I just finished my first Fitbook (www.getfitbook.com) and tomorrow I start my new one. Tomorrow I also start my half marathon training schedule. I have sat and planned out the next 12 weeks of training. I will be running 4 times a week, doing weights 3 times a week and swimming once a week. Oh, I also have yoga & belly dance going on, but that's just for fun, not fitness.

I hadn't ran (run??) since I did the half marathon on Feb 15. At first it was because I was so sore everywhere. But, as time went on, I got more and more freaked out about running. I dreaded how much my knees would hurt. I dreaded that feeling my lungs would feel because I had been a lazy bum....(I had kept up with my weights, but cardio had run amok!). Well, today I went to club with husband, got on that treadmill, picked a nice slow speed and ran. I did great. Everything felt good and now I'm really looking forward to starting my training tomorrow. I'm a bit bummed about the weather - there is so much ice on the streets around my house that I will be training on the treadmill till it melts. I did have it at an incline, so that should help when I have to start running outside.

What else. Oh, ya! I signed up for adult synchro!! It is so hard, and everyone else in the class has experience, but I'm going to keep at it. I made it through my first class without drowning, so I feel pretty positive about it. It is shockingly hard. My daughter swam competitively for 7 years, and it looked so effortless when she did it.....I sure have an appreciation now for her gold medal routines!!

Well, I guess that is all for tonight. Just wanted to say hi. I have over 900 blog entries to read......oy!!

Have a healthy evening bloggers!!