Hiya, I am back again. Back for the last time in a while, I hope.
Iz and I went to my sister's for the first half of last week, then to my mom's for the second half. It was a lot of time in the car, a lot of eating out, but also a lot of fun visiting family. I don't want to do it again anytime soon though.
I feel like I need to go through detox to just get back on track from July. Thankfully August starts tomorrow. Today I am just thinking a lot about what I need to do in August to get back on track.
We are also thinking about moving and if we do, when and where and how. A lot on our minds, to say the least.
Congrats for finishing the fund raising effort Cat!
Congratulate us... Paul and I licked and folded our way through about 600 fundraising thingies and mailed them off. So hooray... church volunteer junk is cleared off my plate for a month so I get a break before we have to get busy with other fundraising things.
The new school year starts August 1, and I start working at the preschool a few hours a week. I don't really like the split in time though. I get 7:30 AM - 9 AM ish, and then 4:30 -5:30 PM ish. I'm doing the morning slot to oblige until they find someone else. The previous morning shift person had something come up. If I'm going to add permanent hours, I'd rather tack them on around the time I originally agreed to -- the afternoon slot.
But the perk is that a new gym is being built about 5 min from preschool. So in October when I do the Hal Higdon schedule, I can take Julia to preschool, hit that gym, and come back and she doesn't have to go to gym daycare. (I dislike gym daycare very much, I rather have her in her AP-friendly preschool!) Right now I'm doing as much of the higdon schedule as I can fit liek at rail run. I have to get another car seat though because while MWF I can just do at home, I want to do TRS at the gym and I don't feel great about gym daycare. So I want to put a carseat in Paul's car and then have her come get her at preschool at take her home while I go on to gym after work.
Our church is going "green" -- so I'm pretty enthused about working on that project.
And my AP playgroup is trying to raise the money to go non-profit and hopefully have a building of it's own, and start a charter school. VERY enthusiastic about that and hoping we pull it off in time for Julia's elementary school years because to send her to Montessori or Waldorf or something around here is an arm and a leg in tuition!
Had a period recently. It was a 40 something days cycle. Not as nice as my 37 day one that came before it, but way better than my 60 day Glucophage ones. So hooray for a mostly organic, mostly vegan diet. I'm starting to chart so we'll see how TTC goes after Julia turns two. I'm def. getting a grip on the food thing...
Hello Blog! Well, what's new with me. Still recovering from getting my wisdom teeth taken out. Despite living on liquids and probably like 1200-1600 calories a day, I still seemed to put on two more lbs. My weight is really boggling me right now, but since I have no control over what it says on the scale, I'm trying not to let it bother me. I'm focusing on healing. Doing a lot of thinking and looking forward to getting my body moving again.
I'm at a crossraods with gyms. My current gym membership is about to expire - good thing. It's too far and Olivia doesnt like the daycare. A new gym opened up by our home that is fairly affordable and the biggest thing - like a 4 minutes drive. The things I do not like about it are, there are no classes - which I love classes because they encourage me to push through til the end and also that there is no daycare all day. Only at select times - which makes it more difficult for when I'm allowed to go.
Right now the gym is super new and the most kids they've had at one time is seven. I worry with how they have select times, if it will start to fill up. That said, they did say when there are a lot of kids, they have extra workers, etc.
The good things about that gym is that it's in and out. You go to workout and you leave. There are bathrooms, but no sauna or swimming pool. All things I usually like my gym to have. It's very crowded - so much equipment in one tiny space. But, still well organized and again - meant to appeal to "in and out".
I want to make a smart decision and the fact that it's so close really remains the biggest factor. There are two other fitness centers nearby - they are curcuits like "Curves", though, and that appeal to me. So, lots to think about.
Anyway, my weight is climbing up and I'm trying to nip it in the bud with exercise. I've also been doing mindless eating which, obviously, has contributed. Just trying to catch myself. But feeling a bit stuck at the moment with my modified diet and not being allowed to exercise.
One positive thing has come out of this, though. I am SOOO sick of sweet things! Tired of yogurt, ice cream, fruit smoothies, pudding. Anything sweet! So unlike me!
Some good (?) news? I got the job I interviewed for a couple of weeks ago. I thought I would be more excited than I am. I mean, I am happy, but now we have to figure out if I am actually going to take it. It would mean a move and a slight change of career for me, Mike could tranfer, but he would probably selling our current house, buying a new house, and juggling everything (baby, cat, dog) while we lived in a temporary home for a few months. Plus there is training. :)
I am out of town next week as I care for my daughter while her daycare is closed. We are going to my sisters with another sister and two neices. We will swim everyday and shop and all the fun things you do when three adults, two children, one baby and one dog are crammed into a small apartment.
Whew, glad that is over! Procedure went just fine, no problems, no bad diagnosis, all is A-OK. And, after a large meal, I feel very good, rejuvinated, almost normal again. I meant to mention that I got an iriver for my birthday (I am now 32) and am anxious to start playing with it. I am also anxious to get back out and walk some more, though I think I will continue to take it easy and slow for a couple of days while I am in recovery (and while the temperatures are crazy).
I have been looking at the calendar and here is the slightly revised plan:
Before August 4 - continue walking as much and often and possible August 4- tests at cardiologist, hopefully get the ok to run August 7 - start couch potato to 5k training plan Sept 18 - run/walk 5k with sister Oct 8 - finish couch potato plan Oct 17 - start HH half marathon training plan with Cat Jan 7 - Disney!
Am I the only one that REALLY wants to buy a "run disney" t-shirt? My mom gave me some cash for my birthday so I might treat myself to it. It will be inspirational.
I am having loads of dr.s visits this week. Today was the cardiologist. Before I get teh ok to run, she wants to run more tests, the earliest they could be scheduled was Aug 4. So I guess for now I am still in a holding pattern.
On an all liquid diet for a couple of days for my procedure tomorrow. Do Not Like It. And I can drink things with calories, so it isn't like I am fasting. I don't see how people do it, I feel sick, naseous, headachy. One of the many reasons I could never be on Survivor.
I have read 5 books over the last 2 weeks. The most reading i have done since Iz was born.
I wore my "skinny dress" on the night of our 5 year wedding anniversary, I put an image here.
hiya, i am back. Had a lovely vacation ruined only by the return trip. This week is busy busy busy with all the doctor's appts and detoxing from all the crap I ate while away, then away again next week.
BTW, i weighed in the day we left which was the mid-way point in the year and I had lost 40 lbs! Of course, that day is now long gone and I fear it may take a month or more to recover from July.
Fast update. Yesterday I helped move a 3 bedroom condo and now I'm all banged up and chafey because I forgot to use Body Glide. It was bloody hot!
Sunday can't come fast enough for me -- then this donations/fundraising bit comes to a bit of a chill. In the meanwhile... 300 envelopes still need labels.
Paul asked me if my behind was smaller today after groping me in passing. Heh.
I've got a lot of lower body changes going on -- smaller behind, slimmer legs showing muscle cuts. But my stomach... I swear it's collecting the fat that's leaving other places. I'm having skin issues too -- loose, baggy skin. In time I hope it firms up but at the moment -- yargh.
I had a slip on the vegan front today when I ate some of Paul's leftover pizza (cheese.) Shortly after eating it I had cramps and bloat so that wasn't esp. fun.
Busy week ahead with fundraising -- and a lot to do on the house yet.
Yargh. Separation anxiety -- Julia's doing that too, and it's the big reason why I have NOT taken her to gym daycare yet and just want to manage to get there at night on my own. It's bad enough at church nursery or even just leaving the room to get her shoes... if she's in that kind of a mood she wails and breaks out with "Mami! Mami! Mami!"
No advice -- just sympathy.
It's not as violent as when she was first born, but when I hear the sound of my kid crying out for me, my milk lets down, and I feel enraged. Like... "Ok! Who is messing with my kid?! I'm going to kill!" Logically I can think, "Oh, she just fell over" or "Oh, she just is mad she can't open that" or similar. I can see with my own eyes that she's fine. Yet my gut reacts with a violence I'm still not quite used to.
Just got back into the house -- bloody hot out there. But I got 4 lawn trash bags done and I'm taking a break before I scrub down the house on the inside. No more outdoor chores for me today. It's still mornign and feels like 95 deg!
Today is produce delivery, so I want to cook ahead for the week as well.
Dad asked me yesterday if I was losing weight. I said "Yep" and then he went beserk trying to figure out how much. Pestering me and when I refused to divulge that information he tried to get Paul to tell him but Paul doesn't know.
I have no idea why Dad gets obsessed this way but there you go. He's my one relative who turns into the Diet Police. I'm sure everyone else who is trying to lose weight and get fitter has that one relative somewhere in the family tree. Annoying.
Been hiding from my very own fitness efforts. Efforts, nonexistant really. Although I'm still trying to be concious of my eating habits, they've really taken a backburner. Exercise on the other hand is completely off the range, out of the kitchen. The heat is really taking it's toll on me and I haven't been feeling very well. However, it's not much excuse. I could always pop in an exercise video.
Olivia still has stranger anxiety in the gym daycare. It's upsetting to hear her cry in there like she does. Other than in there, I never hear her cry that way. Annoying that I've already paid for the entire year. She did so well in there until she hit 9 months... it's the age, I guess.
I've been dancing around this same weight - within 3 lbs - for a month now. In a way, I guess that's a GOOD thing. I haven't been making weight loss efforts and yet haven't gained as I usually would. Thing is, right now maintaining is no longer cutting it. I want and need to raise my game.
This means, not hiding from this fitness blog and from myself. Out of sight, out of mind? Hardly! Either way, I'm no worse for the wear after my hiatus. Lots of family stuff going on. Big challenges are on the horizon. My parents are moving in with us for 2 weeks before they move overseas. Having them here at home, both not working, is going to prove to be a big challenge indeed!
We'll see how it goes! Hope you both, Cat and Amy, are doing well. :)
Today was a perfect example of a time when mentally, I was prepared for a great workout and physically, I just couldn't deliver it. Since we are leaving for vacation on Friday, and the week before Friday is quite busy, I wanted to make this walk (which is almost our last walk before vacay) a great walk. I know I am not going to meet my goal of walking 2 miles in 30 minutes, but that is ok. Having that goal has inspired me to workout almost every day for the last month. But I want to come as close as I can, maybe 2 miles in 32 minutes. I was all set to go out and do that today. On the way over to the track, if felt like my legs just weren't working properly and my stomach, quiet all morning, started cramping. Perhaps it is my PMS, but my body just wasn't able to go as fast as I wanted to today. It ended up being an ok walk, just not what I was hoping for.
BTW, I got my blood work back and I am not anemic. I have low cholesterol (103) but my good cholesterol is too low (33, should be > 40). The only way to increase it is exercise. My triglicerides were a little high (167, should be less than 150) which means my diet contains too much saturated fat, I think. So there is work to do. She will retest in a year so hopefully I will be on track with the numbers by then.
Today ended up being a rest day. I have been tired all day and not up to exercising. We went out for lunch at Panera (soup and salad = yummy), but I did get off my lazy butt to make some supper (black bean tacos). PMS abounds plus the stress is mounting for my interview on Thursday. I have a fear they will ask me to do physics problems on the board. I hope I come off ok.
So what is up with sizes? When I woke up this morning, the only thing I had to wear was a pair of jean shorts that I bought 2-3 years ago. They are size 20. I have never worn them before so they had the original tags on them. They fit in the butt, but the waist is too tight, they are very uncomfortable to wear. Then I went shopping today for a new pair of pants for the interview. (All my pants that fit are capris or jeans, I wanted a regular length pair of khakis.) I didn't know what size I would need to I picked up 18s and 20s. The 18s were too big in everything. I finally bought a pair of 16s. Which is super, I am thrilled, I am wearing 16s all the time now except the uncomfortable shorts I have on now. I am just going to through these into the goodwill pile.
Our plan is to get a good walk in early tomorrow since we are going to a friend's for dinner.
Cat - just reading about your life makes me tired. :)
Amy -- you rock! WTG on the walks! Sorry the feet hurt, but funny you mention Panera soup and salad. Guess what my dinner was last night?
I'd gone to B&N last night to meet up a new friend for chit chat and Paul and I decided to dine next door at Panera before I was supposed to meet her.
Tonight? Get the kid to sleep, plunk in John Water's A Dirty Shame, and spend some time on the couch with Paul thinking about NOTHING.
I'm getting good at juggling baby care plus one thing, but making the leap from juggling baby care plus MANY things... that's a challenge. Baby, house, church, playgroup, half marathon, and soon... PT job.
But I'm close to wrapping up my fundraising obligations for church. 1000 envelopes down, 1000 to go. Fielded a lot of calls about event planning today, went to my old neighbor's house, making arrangements. She generously is donating all the contents of her summer house for the church charity auction! She sold the house and doesn't want anything that is in itso she's giving it to me for the auction and I have to figure how to move a house's contents and store it til the date. Next week. Ack.
It dawns on me that even though I really don't want to take this on as a career path, being an event coordinator has its interesting side.
Been working a bit for the playgroup too -- our founder wants to take it to non-profit eventually so that's another worthwhile thing I'm doing... but it's another time drain.
Anyway, once these last envelopes leave I can call it sort of done because then I'm not needed again until the auction is here and I have to go help the decorating committee. That I don't mind much because I'm not chairing that commitee like I am donations. I don't have to do anything "responsible."
I just have to show up with helping hands the day before and let someone boss me around and tell me what to do. Then I go to the event. And then show up the day after to take everything down. Piece of cake.
This is the same walk I did yesterday, but I took exactly 12 minutes off the time. The toes are still achy, but much better. We wanted to walk on the track todya, but it was > 100 degrees this afternoon and, even though it cooled before our walk, was still steamy. We chose a neighborhood course just to get some shade. Great walk.
This weekend we are going to a friend's for dinner on Sunday and to another friend's for swimming on Monday. The rest of the time, I will be working on and stressing about my interview next week.
