Promises to Myself About Having Kids Before I'm Even Pregnant (Or: Things I Want to Remember)

I'm getting to the age, as we all do, where everyone around me is having babies. Which is great. But inevitably, it's made me imagine myself having kids. And I do want them. One day. I think. But there are things I'm afraid of. So, this list poured out of me in like 30 minutes. Maybe parts of it are naive, but just take it as an expression of a 27-year-old's list of things she absolutely wants to avoid. At the very least, it's a snapshot of my feelings at this moment in time. I made it into a cool infographic because I'm going to put it on Pinterest. Hopefully it will go viral and I'll become some super famous blogger overnight.

***Disclaimer: I wrote this for me. Myself. I'm not trying to offend anyone who has done these things. I just don't want to do them myself. Is that offensive? Oh well, who cares.  

 

Been awhile...

Can't hide it, it's been awhile. Too long. We are coming to the end of our time in Barbados and I'm not gonna lie - we both have one foot out the door. We're looking into opening our own restaurant in Scotland next year and all of our hopes and dreams hang on a few small details.

It's hard to stay in the moment and focus on what's going on around me when my head is stuck in the future. I think it's a common problem. Not just for me, but for all humans.

But, I've been realizing lately that I need to slow down and focus on the here and now rather than worrying about what the future may or may not bring. There are a million things to worry about and focus on, and I've been neglecting the things that this blog was supposed to help me focus on (diet, exercise, and not pulling my hair).

So, an update. My diet has still actually been pretty good. We still cook almost all of our meals at home from fresh (mostly because we have no choice here). I think I'm generally eating pretty healthy, but there is definitely room for improvement. Exercise - not so good. I still walk my dog every day in the evenings but I'm down to exercising (usually a jog on the treadmill or a swim) 1 - 2 times a week. Lame, I know. Not pulling hair out - terrible. I'm back to doing it. Not worse than ever, but I definitely pull a few out per day.

Stuart and I have vowed to go back on our health regimes starting today, and tomorrow morning we are doing a new routine together - we'll walk the dog in the mornings together before he goes to work and then I'll treadmill him in the evenings so I can jog outside. I hate, hate, hate jogging on the treadmill. I don't know what it is, but it bores the hell out of me. More tomorrow.

A No-Pressure Blog

So, even though I have no marathon as of yet to look forward to, I still want to keep up this blog. I think it's good for me to keep track of what I'm going through in my life. Kind of like a "thoughts" journal (instead of a food/exercise log). I'm not going to pressure myself to write down everything I eat or every bit of exercise I do, because I think that's part of the reason I'm avoiding updating daily at the moment. It's sooo annoying to try and remember/keep logging on here to update everything I've done throughout the day. But, I don't want to keep feeling guilty for not sticking with my marathon plan either. There's nothing I can do about the fact that I definitely won't make it back to Scotland in time for the Loch Ness Marathon. So, there's no reason for me to feel guilty. If I could go, I would have stuck with the plan. And, I WILL find another marathon and complete in within the next year. As soon as we're settled somewhere, I will focus on training and reaching another goal. In the meantime, I will work on keeping up with my diet and exercise the best I can.

I've been doing pretty well still actually. Been cooking in the house a lot (chicken curries, full breakfasts, roast chickens, homemade soups, veggies, sandwiches, and loads of healthy smoothies). Today I went to an 8am Power Vinyasa yoga class, and walked to and from town, and in the evening I will go on the dog walk. So a pretty active day today.

Food:
10am - smoothie with avocado, blueberries, baby bok choy, fresh mint, pumpkin seeds, chia seeds, ground flax seeds, coarse oatmeal, greek yogurt, ice, almond milk
2 cups coffee
3.30pm - bowl of minestrone leftover from yesterday
4.15pm - 1 red bull
7.30pm - 2 pieces multigrain toast w/ butter
9.30pm - sandwich on multigrain bread w/ roast chicken, avocado, parsley, mayo, cheese

Exercise:
2pm - walked to the store and back, 2 miles total
4.30pm - dog walk, 1 hour
8pm - 2 mile short run on treadmill

blahhhhhh

I have to admit. I'm completely off my training. I'm slacking on my blog, and sporadically exercising without keeping track of anything. I don't know what my plan is from here,  but I need to make another workout plan for myself to stick to, and I need to find another goal to work towards, or else I'll end this feeling like I completed nothing.

More on this later.
------------------------------------------------------

Food:
6.45am - 3 scrambled eggs on toast w/ cheese and ham, 1 glass oj, 1 cup coffee
12.30pm - smoothie with avocado, strawberries, blueberries, kale, ice, almond milk, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, chia seeds
throughout day - 2 cups coffee
8.45pm - bowl of homemade minestrone veg soup with squash, carrots, sweet potatoes, kale, garlic, thyme, marjoram, parsley, chicken stock, green onions, canned tomatoes

Really bad news. (and a little bit of good news)

I've been pouting again the last couple days, but this time I have a legitimate excuse.

My husband and I have been looking into getting my visa sorted out for the UK so I can go back in September, and it's looking like:

1. It's going to take at least 3 months to complete my visa and
2. I can't go over without Stuart

Obviously while my visa is being processed, I won't have my passport, so this means it's almost certain I won't be able to race in the Loch Ness Marathon. I can't even describe how majorly bummed I am. I skipped my run on Friday, and then postponed my 12-miler today because I've felt like this was all for nothing. Look at this stupid blog with the stupid title and my stupid face on the right. Lame.

However, the bit of good news is that actually applying for my visa should be an easy and streamlined process, meaning I shouldn't have any problems upon my return to the UK. That's what really matters in the long run anyway. Sigh.

And, I have already started to find some races in Barbados I'll be doing, and I'll try and get on finding another one I can set my sights on in the UK. I know it's out of my control, but it still feels like some sort of personal failure that I can't do anything about. More later.

Food:
9.30am - smoothie with mango, banana, baby bok choy, chia seeds, walnuts, almond milk, ice, greek yogurt
2 cups coffee

4th

Happy 4th everyone!

America! Fuck yeah!

Food:
10am - smoothie with banana, pineapple, mixed berries, baby bok choy, almonds, walnuts, chia seeds, brown rice protein powder, ice, almond milk, greek yogurt
2 cups coffee
throughout day - pineapple, oj, tortilla chips + homemade salsa
7pm - 10pm - bbq - hamburger, chips, salsa, 3 beers

Exercise:
3.30pm - Fartlek training, 30mins, 354 calories
4.45pm - 30 min dog walk

Crap on the internet

God, there is so much bullshit on the internet. In trying to research stuff about nutrition, running, etc, I have found that most people with blogs think they are an expert and just pull words and theories out their asses. I literally just read a woman's blog post about smoothies who said that blending fruit and vegetables "oxidizes" them and removes all the nutrients. Wow. I mean firstly, she doesn't know what oxidizes means. Why would oxidizing something remove nutrients?

This house looks like Hitler:

Heil House?

Food:
5.45am -  1 piece multigrain toast w/ butter
10.15am - smoothie with banana, pineapple, baby bok choy, chia seeds, sunflower seeds, almonds, oatmeal, greek yogurt, ice, almond milk, brown rice protein powder
2 cups coffee
1.30pm - eggs benedict, 1 glass oj
3.45pm - 1 apple
5.30pm - a few bites of potato salad
9.30pm - half a steak, carrots roasted w/ honey, balsamic, salt n pepper, small green salad w/ olive oil, balsamic, goats cheese

Exercise:
6am - 1 hour morning yoga class (easy)
4.30pm - 1 hour dog walk
8pm - 3-mile "Short Run" on treadmill, 377 calories, 33mins (yay!),

Green Smoothies and Motivation

I've been throwing greens into my smoothies lately... spinach, broccoli stems, and today baby bok choi. It's working out, I swear with all the fruit and other stuff I throw in there, I can't even taste it at all. Stuart says he can, but I think he's just being a baby and is also influenced by the fact that it turns the smoothie green. It's a good thing though, because although I don't mind eating greens, I can't really get into eating them raw, and of course cooking them takes out tons of nutrients.

Smoothies are the way forward.

I haven't written about it in awhile, so I thought I'd write an update about how my marathon training is going. It sucks lately! I am still totally sticking with it, which I'm proud of, but I'm just not motivated at all. Every step is a struggle. Compared to the beginning when I couldn't wait to get out the door or get on to the treadmill, it doesn't feel great. I've gone through mini-slumps like this before though, the key is to just suffer through it and I'm sure it will get better.

I've officially passed the 3-month mark as of yesterday, which means I have 3 more to go until my marathon. 3 months is usually when people start training for a marathon, so now is when the essential training really kicks in. Everything before now was just like "training for my training". I can't wait to start doing my runs in cool, fresh Scotland air! Struggling through the intense heat here is good for me I'm sure, but I think cooler weather will be more motivation for me to get out there and train (not to mention a country that has sidewalks on every road). I am very limited here in where I can train, and although I feel very lucky to have this beautiful golf course right next to me to train on, I am freaking sick of it! I wish I could jog to Bridgetown and back - but alas, I'd be roadkill in seconds. Then there's always running on the beach, but beaches don't stretch for very long here. Okay enough rambling.

Food:
10.30am - 1 piece multigrain toast w/ butter
10.45am - smoothie with banana, mango, greek yogurt, ice, almonds, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, chia seeds, baby bok choi, cinnamon, almond milk
2 cups coffee
3pm - sandwich on multigrain bread with ham, cheese, romaine lettuce, mayo, mustard, a few sips of ginger ale

Food update from yesterday (July 1st, 2013)

Food:
10.45am - smoothie with mixed berries (frozen), bananas, broccoli stems, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, chia seeds, almond milk, greek yogurt
12noon - 2 cups coffee
3.30pm - sandwich on multigrain bread with ham, cheddar, lettuce, mayonnaise, mustard, chutney, 1 glass white wine
7.30pm - 1 red bull
9pm - bbq chicken, brussel sprouts with lime + olive oil + peanuts, potato salad w/ onion, mayo, mustard, curry powder, 1 glass white wine
10.30pm - cup of earl grey w/ lemon

DID IT

It's 7am and I just completed my 8 miles. It wasn't too tough actually - I stayed on a flat part of the golf course and went back and forth along the bottom. I know it's not as much as I've been doing, but I'm just relieved I finished without any problems.

---------------------------------------------------------------

Food:
5am - 1 banana
7.30am - 1 piece multigrain toast w/ butter, 1 spoonful peanut butter
12.30pm - smoothie with banana, mango, spinach, almonds, pumpkin seeds, oatmeal, chia seeds, brown rice protein powder, almond milk, ice, greek yogurt
3.30pm - sandwich on multigrain bread w/ steak, cheese, spinach, onions, mushrooms, brown sauce
8pm - spaghetti with homemade tomato sauce + homemade pesto, parmesean, mushrooms

Exercise:
5.30am - 8 mile "Long Run" outside, didn't time it or anything but it took about 1 hour 30 mins
4.30pm - 30 min dog walk

gnight

Food:
10am - smoothie with spinach, mango,bananas, chia seeds, walnuts, peanuts, greek yogurt, ice, almond milk
-2 cups coffee
2pm - 1 piece multigrain toast w/ butter, ham, 2 scrambled eggs, 1 glass oj
6pm - like 6 cookies and milk
10pm - steak and cheese sandwich on multigrain bread, lettuce, mayo

Exercise:
4.45pm - 1 hour dog walk.

-------------------------------------------------------------

Trough week, so 8-Mile run tomorrow morning. Going to get up by 4.45 and try and leave the house by 5. On it. Gonna listen to an audiobook I think. See how that goes. Will update tomorrow. Nighty.

Back after my 5-day pout session

Grr. I have been feeling under the weather the last few days, (both mentally and physically) hence no posts. I had another migraine day yesterday, plus I have still felt in a slump about not completing my 11 miles outside like I had planned on Sunday. I have been sticking to my marathon routine however - finished 11 miles on Tuesday as planned, crosstrained on Thursday, going to do 3 short miles tonight on the treadmill. I haven't had much of an appetite the last couple days either. Can't really say I've eaten healthy. A lot of grease, bread, and sugar. Might be another reason I've avoided my blog.

BUT, I am back now. For sure. Definitely. I promise.

10am - eggs benedict, 2 cups coffee
 4.15pm - smoothie with 1 banana, 1 mango, couple handfuls of raw spinach, chia seeds, walnuts, ice, almond milk, greek yogurt, brown rice protein powder
7pm - last bit of homemade chicken fettucini alfredo w/ spinach
8pm - loads of strawberries, blueberries
throughout day - 5 or 6 chocolate chip cookies

Exercise:
4.45pm - 1 hour dog walk
9.45pm - 3 mile short run on treadmill, 34 mins

Half Disaster.

Had a sort of setback on my long run on Sunday, and haven't come back to write about it since then half out of shame, half out of avoidance. I got out there by 5am, still dark out which was great because it was nice and cool, everything was going well, then shortly after the 3-mile mark, I started to feel very faint. My extremities were feeling shaky and I started seeing white before my eyes. I stepped to the side and waited. No change. What was going on? I carbo-loaded the night before with pasta alfredo, before my run I ate a banana and an apple, and loads of water. I decided to go home, eat something else, and see how I felt. Of course, time was slipping away because after 6.30am it gets unbearably hot outside. I tried doing the rest on the treadmill, but the whiteness before my eyes came back.

I ended up just going back to bed. After I finally got up, I felt awful. I totally failed on my scheduled long run for the first time. Stuart mentioned to me that I probably over-did it by going to a really hard yoga session on Saturday, and also not getting enough sleep. He's probably right, but I just felt like I failed and couldn't face writing my blog for the last couple days.

 I decided to take a full rest day on Monday and then do the 11 miles today on the treadmill.

So, here we are. 11 miles on the treadmill will take awhile for me, but luckily I have all day. I know stuff like this is probably inevitable and I just have to keep going. Not everything is going to go exactly as planned and I just have to make up the miles, end of story. Back on it!

You can do it Krystal.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Completed the 11 miles! Took me longer than it should have because I got a bad little stitch in the back of my left knee, but the point is I completed it. I don't have the exact stats because every time I stopped for a couple minutes, my stupid treadmill reset itself, but I made 11 miles anyway.

Exercise:
11-mile "Long Run" on treadmill, over 2 hours.

Food:
10am - smoothie with mixed berries, avocado, mango, almonds, macadamia nuts, chia seeds, brown rice protein powder, almond milk, ground flaxseed, greek yogurt, maple syrup
2 cups coffee
Throughout day - peanut butter, blueberries, couple pieces of white garlic sourbread toast w/ butter, oj, chocolate chips
8pm - leftover homemade chicken fettucini alfredo w/ spinach, mushrooms, onions, with spaghetti noodles.
11pm - 2 cups coffee

Update from Yesterday, about to do 11-miler

Exercise:
9am - "Mixed Ability" Yoga - 1 hour, 15 mins
4.30pm - 1 hour dog walk

Food:
8.40am - 1 piece multigrain toast w/ butter
10.45am - smoothie with banana, mango, brewed coffee, almonds, chia seeds, brown rice protein powder, ice, greek yogurt, ground flaxseed
snacked on fruit, cheese, nuts and chocolate chips in the afternoon
10pm - homemade Chicken fettuccini alfredo (but I used spaghetti, so I suppose it was chicken spaghetti alfredo) ingredients: butter, mushrooms, onions, garlic, flour, milk, rich sharp cheddar cheese, salt, pepper, nutmeg, spinach, spaghetti noodles.

Total carbo-load last night. I'm typing this at 4.40am on Sunday, about ready to go out for my big 11-miler today. Not nearly as nervous as last week, I know I can do it, just have to go a bit further today. I made fresh english muffins last night and Stuart promised that he'll make me eggs benedict today (as if I don't have that enough). Update in a few hours.

Yesterday's post (June 21, 2013)

10am - smoothie with mango, banana, chia seeds, brown rice protein powder, almonds, greek yogurt, almond milk, coarse oatmeal, ice
2pm - sandwich on multigrain bread w/ roast chicken, spinach, mayo, cheese, half a ginger ale
6.30pm - 4 pieces multigrain toast w/ homemade orange and mango jam and goats cheese
throughout night: 1 cup coffee, blueberries, peanut butter, orange juice, water

Exercise:
1pm - 4 mile "short run" on treadmill - 46mins, 495 calories
4.45pm - 1 hour dog walk

Ran faster today! Kept switching between 6mph and 5mph. And, I ran the whole time. So I averaged about 11.5 minute miles, which I know isn't impressive at all, but it's a big improvement for me.

Must Run Faster.

Food:
9am - smoothie with almonds, banana, mango, coarse oatmeal, walnuts, chia seeds, brown rice protein powder, almond milk, greek yogurt, ice
10am - 2 cups coffee
12.30pm - 1 piece toast, couple spoonfuls peanut butter

Throughout evening: pineapple, blueberries, toast with goats cheese and homemade orange and mango jam

10pm - roast chicken, mashed sweet potatoes with olive oil, butter, salt n pepper, roast carrots in honey and balsamic

Exercise:
1pm - 30mins Fartlek - 33 mins total, 2.77 miles, 322 calories 

4.45pm - 45min dog walk


I tried to go to my yoga class this morning. Walked all the way there, and it was locked. Turns out it was held at some hotel further north up the island. Oh well. Will try again tomorrow.

I've been reading a lot of stuff online about running and it seems to me that I'm running way too slowly. I read things like "A 12-minute mile isn't shameful near the end of your 16-mile run". I'm lucky if I maintain 12-minute miles at the beginning. I thought it was because I'm short, but I've read forums where women are saying they're 5'2" and running at around 6.2mph. For me, 6.2mph on the treadmill feels like nearly top speed. Nevertheless, on my Fartlek training today I ran 6mph on the 4-minute runs, and hung around 4.5 on the "light jogs". But, by 15 - 20 minutes I was shattered and had to take walk breaks instead of light jogs. I don't think the damn thing is accurate. I've done the math and at this rate, I'll be lucky to complete the marathon in under 5 and a half hours. I know all that matters is finishing, and I know I'm only like halfway through my training, so that's encouraging at least.

At least Ditmars isn't worried about it.

Late again

Starting to write this update at 11.50pm tonight. Totally slipped my mind again til now. 

Exercise: 

4.30pm - 45min dog walk

Food:

9am - smoothie with mango, pineapple, almonds, Greek yogurt, oatmeal, chia seeds, almond milk, ice

2 cups coffee

1pm - 2 pieces toast w/ butter, 1 red bull

4pm - sandwich on multigrain bread w/ ham, cheese, lettuce, beets, mayo

6pm - 9pm shitloads of popcorn w/ butter, truffle oil, salt

Maybe like 12 pineapple chunks. 

11pm - another sandwich same as earlier

Damn that's a shitload of eating today. Mostly crap too. I chose not to do my scheduled run today because I'm still very sore from running and yoga earlier in the week, but I'm going to yoga tomorrow morning as well as jogging to make up for it.  

Whole... body... hurts....

After I wrote "duh I don't feel sore today duhh" yesterday, my entire body is screaming at me today. Stuart is sore as well today because he's been hitting the gym Mondays with his friend from work. I think when my body was still recovering from the 10-miler, I went and did the Power yoga and it was a bit too much. It's a good thing though. Need to build up my strength.

Food:
9.45am - smoothie with mango, pineapple, almonds, walnuts, chia seeds, brown rice protein powder, greek yogurt, almond milk, ice
2 cups coffee
1pm - eggs benedict, 1 glass oj
evening - 2 pieces toast, bowl of pineapple
9pm - bowl of spaghetti with homemade sauce, parmesan
12midnight - 1 cup earl grey w/ lemon

Recovery Day

Food:
7.30am - a few spoonfuls peanut butter, an apple
10am - a portion of leftover lasagne

2pm - sandwich on multigrain bread with ham, beets, cheese, lettuce, mayonnaise, mustard

Evening - another piece of lasagne

8.30pm - 2 burritos with cheese, beans, beef, tomatoes, onion, lettuce, salsa, avocado, 2 glasses white wine

Exercise:
8am - Power Vinyasa yoga, 1 hr 15 mins
12.45pm - walked to stores in town and back - about 2 miles

5pm - 45min dog walk

Surprisingly, I don't feel too sore today. My left knee felt like it was going to give out last night and I was actually limping for a couple hours, but then it loosened up and felt fine. Got up early and went to a killer yoga class this morning. I know I'll really be feeling it tomorrow and need my full rest day.

Monday weigh-in: 119

GAH. 10 MILES COMPLETE! Update from yesterday

I didn't update yesterday because my day went like this: Woke up. Ran 10 miles. Came back home and slept until 1pm. Woke up and forgot about it all day.

I COMPLETED 10 MILES!! This is one of those milestones that feels really good to cross. To think when I first started this training, I couldn't even run 2 miles without a lot of walk breaks.

So, for the actual run: I got up at 4.30am as planned, drank a lot of water first thing, and left the house by 5.10am. Just the tiniest bit of light in the sky. It was perfect. Ran all the way up the "Hill of Death" as I like to call it - from my map I posted yesterday, it's the big straight road leading all the way to the east, toward "Bennets". That motherfucker is uphill the entire way, sometimes very steeply. When I reached the crest of that hill yesterday, I had a Rocky moment.

Yeah yeah great Rocky, but try it in 80+ degree heat.

But, my run was far from over. Throughout my run, I was sweating like a pig of course, and because I left the house so early, there were tons of little clouds of bugs everywhere that kept getting stuck to my sweaty face. Disgusting, right? Just after the 3-mile marker, a bug flew into my eye.. I freaked out, all by myself on the side of the road thank god, and frantically tried to get it out. It didn't come out. This is what I'm saying:

MY EYE SWALLOWED THE BUG. AAAAHH THE HORROR. I had to pull it together and convince myself that it was a normal, totally fine thing and that I'm sure it's happened to many living things and I needed to just keep running. So I did.

After I recovered from eye-bug-swallowing, I jogged on. I took about a 3-minute walk break after mile 5. After mile 6, I came home for my water break as planned. Everything screamed in me to just forget doing the rest outside and finish on the treadmill, but I told myself I was being ridiculous and got back out there.

I didn't end up doing the Hill of Death twice as planned as my head was starting to throb after mile 7, but instead did the entire lower track twice over to reach 10 miles. I came home and was pooped, but proud.

Food:
4.30am - 1 piece multigrain toast w/ butter, 3 spoonfuls peanut butter, 2 dates, an apple, loads of water.
On the run: 2 dates
6am - few spoonfuls peanut butter, a few ounces of Gatorade
8am - toast, lots of water
1.30pm - 2 poached eggs, spinach, and ham on 1 piece multigrain toast, 2 cups coffee
5pm - smoothie with banana, mango, almonds, chia seeds, brown rice protein powder, greek yogurt, ice, walnuts, almond milk, oatmeal
7.30pm - homemade lasagna. Insanely delicious.
9pm - 2 cups coffee

Exercise:
5am - 10 mile "Long Run", 2 hours
5pm - 30 min dog walk

10 MILES TOMORROW OMFG

Food:
9am - smoothie, normal stuff in it, 2 cups coffee
1pm - eggs benedict
8pm - Spaghetti with homemade tomato sauce, mushrooms

Exercise:
1 hour dog walk

Carbo loaded tonight! Huge load of spaghetti. Delicious. Getting psyched for my 10 miler tomorrow. I'm a little nervous actually, but I know I can do it. Have my music playlist ready, and an audiobook if music gets boring.

I'm waking up at 4.30am tomorrow morning, to leave the house by 5am. Yes, I'm serious. It will still be dark at this time and I'm hoping I can be done with the run by 7.30am. The one water station that was available on the golf course got vandalized a couple weeks ago and lord knows when it will get replaced, so my plan is to come home after mile 6, have water, maybe try and down some gatorade, banana, and my horrible tasting sports gel I bought in the UK, and then head back out for the last 4 miles. Here's the route I've planned, the little green flag in the lower left is my house.

Late late late post

Food:
9.15am - smoothie with banana, mango, almonds, flaxseed oil, chia seeds, brown rice protein powder, almond milk, walnuts, ice, plain greek yogurt, 2 cups coffee
12.15pm - 3 slices leftover pizza from last night
5.30pm - 2 more slices leftover pizza
6pm - 1 golden delicious apple
8pm - 2 cups coffee
9pm - 1 banana
11pm - sandwich with ham, bbq pork, lettuce, homemade mayonnaise, mustard, pickled beets, cheese, 1 glass oj, 1 cup earl grey w/ lemon

Exercise:
4.30pm - 1 hour leisurely dog walk
8.30pm - 3 mile "short run", 38 mins, 366 calories
9.30pm - Post-run yoga on youtube

I sooooosososososo didn't want to do my run today, and as you can see I put it off til 8.30 tonight. I just felt totally wiped all day, so at 8pm I made myself a pot of coffee, waited for the caffeine to kick in, and got on it while I watched "Solved", a true crime tv show about how they use forensics to solve murders. Good stuff.

"GOOD JOB KRYSTAL WE LOVE YOU"

Stats from yesterday

Didn't have time to update yesterday, here's my stats (that I can remember):

Food:
9am - smoothie with banana, soursop, almonds, flaxseed oil, chia seeds, brown rice protein powder, almond milk, ice, plain greek yogurt, 2 cups coffee
Afternoonish: blueberries, toast, etc
7pm - Bruschetta (tomatoes with marjoram, dried basil, balsamic, garlic, olive oil, salt, pepper, parmesean).
homemade pizza with ham, mushrooms, cheese etc and another pizza with cheddar, goats cheese and the tomato mix from the bruschetta)
9pm - 2 cups coffee

Exercise:
2pm - 30 mins Farltek on the treadmill - 2.7 miles total (is that all??) 5.5 on the "fast" bit and 4.3 on the "slow" bit.

... I will say, I really pushed myself for Farltek yesterday, it was really a struggle running that fast for that long. I am so sore today.

Also, had an awesome Sci Fi nerd night with Fiori Tulipani, it was awesome. We definitely need to keep doing this on a regular basis.

YES

DOUBLE YES

Sick of this damn blog.

I am getting really bored with blogging every day. Is that a smart thing to say on one's blog? It's like I'm even boring myself here. Maybe I should be a bit more edgy? Like Howard Stern style blogging? I'll give it some thought.

I'm gonna be so famous.

Forgot about my weekly weigh-in on Monday, and of course I didn't do it while I was away, so it's been at least 3 weeks. Anyway:

Weight today: 117

I'll take it. Although, I don't think our scale is accurate. I weighed myself on my mother-in-law's scale while we were on vacation, and granted I'm sure I had gained some weight because we were eating like pigs, but her digital scale said I weighed 123. Which actually "feels" more right. You know how you just kind of know your own body and the weight you feel comfortable at, and how your clothes fit at certain weights, etc? I do like seeing the scale under 120 but it really doesn't feel like it to me. May have to pony up the dough for a better scale soon.

Food:
8.45am - smoothie with almonds, banana, mango, almonds, flaxseed oil, chia seeds, brown rice protein powder, almond milk, ice, plain yogurt
12.15pm - eggs benedict, 1 glass oj
4.30pm - few bites of a tuna sandwich with reduced fat mayonnaise which was so disgusting I threw out the rest (note to self: reduced fat mayo is vile), some blueberries
6.30pm - 1 banana
8pm - sandwich on multigrain bread w/ ham, mozzarella, pickled beets, mayo, mustard, lettuce, 1 glass oj
10.45pm - 1 cup instant coffee (ew)

Exercise:
9.45am - 20 mins intensive swimming
7.30pm - 3 mile "short run" on treadmill, 36 mins, 379 calories

Yoga and last week's 9-miler

Food:
8.30am - smoothie with mixed berries, mango, banana, almonds, flaxseed oil, chia seeds, brown rice protein powder, almond milk, ice, pumpkin seeds
11am - 2 cups coffee
12noon - 1 cold slice leftover homemade pizza with goats cheese, mozzarella, spinach, tomatoes
2pm - leftover pork from last night with homemade bbq sauce
throughout evening - blueberries, earl grey tea w/ lemon

Exercise:
9.30am - "gentle theraputic" yoga, 1 hour

The yoga studio I went to this morning was really great, but the class was way too easy. I'll definitely try a harder one later in the week. The place is literally a 5 minute walk from my house, incredible.

Not sure if I mentioned, but another reason my jog on Sunday didn't go as well as planned was because I didn't leave the house until 6.15am, which was way too late. Here's a picture I took on the golf course when my head was about to explode:

7am and already scorching.

I have a massive task this Sunday: 10 FREAKING MILES. In the killer Caribbean heat. I absolutely for sure need to leave the house by 5am. Would even be good if it was a bit dark when I leave.

My 9-miler last week:
In looking back at my posts, I never properly documented the fact that a week before yesterday (Monday June 3rd), I ran 9 miles! In the lovely Scottish hills, and in gorgeous crisp, cool weather, which made the whole run feel lovely, but I did it! I actually felt very euphoric the rest of the day. Whether it was a physical effect of the run, or a mental thing from me feeling proud of myself I don't know. At the end I did feel shattered, but also felt like I could have done more, which gives me more confidence for my 10-miler this Sunday.

Recovery day

Food:
9.45am - smoothie with blueberries, banana, mango, ice, almond milk, ground flaxseed, flaxseed oil, almonds, oatmeal, chia seeds, brown rice protein powder, teensy bit of maple syrup
10am - 12pm - 2 cups coffee
1.45pm - 3 slices of leftover homemade pizza from last night, some oj
8pm - smoked and roasted pork, homemade coleslaw, homemade sweet potato fries
throughout day - 2 cups earl grey tea w/ lemon

I found a yoga class that is in walking distance of my house! Yaaaaay. I was going to yoga all the time when we had a car, but had to give it back in February so have had to give it up, but my neighbor told me she is going to start going on Tuesdays, so total score. I definitely need another form of exercise to go along with my running. Doing yoga at home is good, but there's nothing like being in a class environment with a teacher, it really forces you to not cheat or slack off.

6 mile.

Just finished my "6 mile" run. First run back in Barbados and WOW, it was really a struggle. I suppose I need to re-acclimate to the hot weather after being spoiled in the cool fresh Scottish atmosphere. I walked for a lot of it as well. Near the end, everything hurt, my hands were very red and swollen (something that happens to me sometimes), and my head felt like it was going to explode. Now that I'm back home, a headache has set in. Another thing, which was definitely my fault, was that I didn't get out the door til nearly 6.30am this morning. Bad me. This time of year is an absolute killer, and I really need to aim to leave at 5.30 or even 5am if I'm going to stack on the miles I need to complete in the coming weeks.

6.15am - 1 banana
8am - smoothie with banana, mango, blueberries, pumpkin seeds, almonds, oatmeal, almond milk, flaxseed oil, chia seeds, brown rice protein powder, ice
1pm - eggs benedict. yeaaah.
8pm - homemade pizza with ham, mushrooms, and another with goats cheese, spinach, fresh tomatoes.

Exercise:
6.30am - Long run, 6 miles, a lot of walking, over an hour.
5pm - 30 min dog walk

And...

9am - smoothie with mango, banana, almonds, pumpkin seeds, brown rice protein powder, chia seeds, almond milk, ice, 1 piece multigrain toast w/ butter, 2 cups coffee
-throughout day: loads of blueberries, 2 spoonfuls peanut butter, oj
1pm - broccoli soup
8pm - homemade hummus with homemade flat (pita) bread with paprika and onion, 1 glass oj


Smoothies are the best thing ever. They are great fridge-and-cupboard cleaners. I've had this manky bag of pumpkin seeds sitting in my cupboard forever and today I was like EFF IT, let's throw it in the smoothie! And it tasted great. Couldn't taste it really. Friggin awesome. I always buy nuts/fruit/veg, etc with the best of intentions, like most people, but then can't find a good way to get the goodness in me before it all goes bad. Smoothies are the thing. Yes.

But not better than coffee.

Back on track

Finally feeling back to 100% today after our horrible food poisoning experience over the last few days. Actually feeling pretty motivated today as well, it's 9.30am now and I've already had my smoothie, coffee, and done the dishes and unpacked (took me a few days to unpack as I felt like death).

Food:
8am - smoothie with mango, banana, almonds, brown rice protein powder, chia seeds, almond milk, ice
12.30pm - 1 piece of multigrain toast with homemade hummus, eggs, green onions and parsley

Exercise: 3 mile "short run" on treadmill (had to stop halfway to sort out my tv show on computer so didn't get stats)

I should also mention that I weighed myself on my mother-in-law's scale at the end of our vacation, and I was up to 122. CRAP! I knew it would be something like that though, we really stuffed ourselves with goodness. But, because of being craptastically ill for 2 days and having no appetite, I am now down to 118 again. So... go me? That's one way to lose weight I guess... Stuart had a similar experience, he was up to 190 at his mum's, and now our scale says he is just above 180. Go us? Yay for food poisoning?

I wouldn't trade all the awesome food we ate for anything though. Here's my happy face in Paris:

C'est bon!

I'M BACK!!

Wow, what a whirlwind these past 2 weeks have been. Not only did we have an awesome kickass amazing time in Scotland, but we took a weekend detour in Paris as well. And we actually arrived back in Barbados on Tuesday night, but we've both been violently ill since we returned. We think it may have been food poisoning.

LIFE RULE: NEVER EAT AIRLINE FOOD. EVER. JUST DON'T EVER EAT IT.

But, we are back on track today. Back on the joggers, back on eating healthy, etc.

I will say though, I did alright on sticking with my runs on vaycay. Not perfect by any means, but did both of my big runs, which was the most important.

Ran past these lambypoos on my 9 mile Monday run! Magical.

It was insane how easy it was for me to run in the cold weather coming from the Barbados heat. I'm nervous about going back to it but hey, it's gotta be done. And now I know it will definitely give me an edge on the big day!

Food:
8am - Smoothie with banana, mango, almonds, walnuts, chia seeds, brown rice protein powder, ice, almond milk, 1 cup coffee
lunch: sandwich with roast chicken, parmesan, mayo and romaine lettuce on oatbreab
dinner: 1 piece of oatbran toast with homemade hummus, ham, and 2 scrambled eggs

Blog Slacking

Wow, no posts for a week? Bad, bad, bad me. I truly underestimated how busy we would be leading up to and on our vacation. We are still on it, and having a blast. I have to say it has taken a bit of a toll on my diet and exercise regime. It's been amazing being here in the cool Scotland weather, taking in the sights, spending time with family and friends. I have managed to do only one jog since we've been here - my big Sunday jog around Arthur's Seat that I was so excitedly planning last week. And I have to say, it was incredible. I absolutely flew up the hill in this cold weather! It was amazing!! I think training in hot weather is really going to give me an edge!

I bought some new "proper" jogging stuff, which is insanely comfortable and smart, I will have Stuart take pictures of me in it tomorrow. I am definitely jogging tomorrow morning despite all we have planned.

Haven't been keeping track of what I've been eating, which is a bad thing, but let's just say I've been eating well. AND not so well. More later. So busy.

I'll leave you with this gorgeous picture I snapped during my jog. Can't wait to move to Edinburgh!

Food:
9am - Smoothie with mango, cantaloupe, walnuts, oats, ground flax, chia seeds, brown rice protein powder, almond milk, ice
2pm - 1 kitkat crunch bar and a small bag of Walkers cheese n onion crisps
5pm - a bowl of raisin bran
6.30pm - 1 cup coffee
9.30pm - 1 whole wheat role w/ scrambled egg, hummus, lettuce, and cheese (I was so damn hungry)

Exercise:
11pm - 3pm Walked to Holetown, did errands, walked all the way home, about 2 miles total.
8pm - 3 mile "short run" on treadmill - 3.19 miles total, 385 calories, 37mins at 3 mile mark

OMG I totally spoiled my healthy eating streak today. I had just got my hair done and was dying for something to eat, and all that was available in a hurry was crappy junk food... no excuse I know... but ah well. I have to say actually, it's 4pm and I have a bit of a headache now. I haven't had a headache since I started my health regime so I think there's something to that... good experiment at least. And when I got home, I had Raisin Bran, which isn't the worst, but my excuse is we don't have much in the house because we're trying not to shop too much before Thursday when we leave.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
I know this might sound lame and cliche, but it is amazing what a good run can do for your mood. I felt awful today. Tired, lethargic, just generally down, especially since I ate that junk food crap at the store today, but after I dragged my ass off the computer chair and forced myself to jog it out, I genuinely felt better afterwards. I even did a little cleaning.

3 more days til vaycay!!

So sick of this damn healthy eating, ready to sink my teeth into some home cooked british food, steak pie, beef wellington, potatoes, and a proper pint in Scotland!

HEAVEN

Food:
10am - Smoothie with mango, cantelope, walnuts, oats, ground flax, chia seeds, brown rice protein powder, almond milk, ice
1.15pm - 2 pita breads with homemade hummus, 1 spoonful peanut butter
7pm - Spaghetti with whole wheat and white noodles mixed, prego sauce, pine nuts, some extra dried herbs and parmesean, a few bites of vanilla ice cream
 8.30pm - 2 cups coffee

Monday weigh-in day: 117 (no change from last week)

5 Miles, no water

So I didn't get to bed last night until 1am. Totally my fault. Got my butt up at 5.15 anyway, jogged it out, and planned for my water break to be just before the 4 mile mark... aaand there was no water. They hadn't put the cooler yet. I was devastated. I did another mile, came home, got water, and did another half mile on the treadmill. Not too bad.

Before I left for my run, I forced down one of my homemade energy bars I made yesterday too. Stuart had one bite of one when he came home and hated it. Yeah. he was right, they are very not good. I'll keep forcing myself to eat one before workouts though. When I think about all the ingredients in them, I know logically they are healthy and perfect for workouts, but GAH they are gross.

Exercise:
5.45am - 5 mile Long Run outside, 55 mins

Food:
5.30am - 1 homemade energy bar
11am - Eggs benedict. THANKS HONEY. 1 glass oj, 2 cups coffee w/ almond milk
2pm - Smoothie with mango, banana, honey, almonds, oats, ground flax, chia seeds, brown rice protein powder, almond milk, ice
7.30pm - Kingfish curry with sweet potatoes, parsnips, onion, green onion, curry powder, garam masala, parsley, coconut milk, yogurt, 1 and 1/2 pieces wholemeal pita bread

I can't haz water.

Homemade Energy Bars

Food:
9.30am - Smoothie with banana, mango, almonds, chia seeds, flax oil, brown rice protein powder, honey, ice, 1 cup coffee
2.30pm - 1 energy bar (banana, peanut butter, brown rice protein powder, walnuts, almonds, pecans, raisins, dark chocolate, spelt flour, black beans, adzuki beans.
7.30pm - 1 piece multigrain toast w/ homemade hummus, wasabi, white wine vinegar, romaine lettuce and grilled kingfish 

Exercise:
12.30pm - 30 mins abs yoga

In case you haven't noticed (who am I talking to?) I find all of my yoga videos on youtube. Exercise is free, people! No need for an expensive gym membership.

So I made the energy bars today, and I have to say... meh. Yeah they are ok, they do taste very "healthy", and I think next time I make them I will adjust my measurements a bit. The good thing about that website is that he gives a "formula" instead of a recipe so you can adjust it each time to your tastes. For my first attempt, I'd say they're not bad. I think what is deceptive is that they really look just like brownies, so my eyes are like OMG YUM but they don't taste anything like brownies at all. Best to remember that they are Energy Bars - not dessert. I think I will try eating one before my run tomorrow morning.

Ingredients I used (listed in the caption under picture):

Oatmeal, maple syrup, spelt flour, almonds, walnuts, vanilla essence, almond essence, cinnamon, raisins, peanut butter, brown rice protein powder, banana, black beans and adzuki beans, and a few dark chocolate chunks (not pictured)

Final result:

NOT BROWNIES. But still acceptable.

Me whining and moaning.

I am so tired today. My neck hurts. I don't wanna do my jog. It's only 2 miles but I just want to sit here in my computer chair and zone out on stupid stuff on tv or the internet. Don't want to cook anything today. Don't want to clean. Just want to go back to bed or play video games or roll in the grass like my dog does. Oh yeah, don't wanna take the dog for a walk either. Don't wanna do my french lesson. Don't wanna work on the logo for the restaurant. Don't want to eat healthy food. BLAH.

Please take me for a walk. I love you.

Ok I'm done. Sometimes you need to just vent ya know.

OK going to jump on the treadmill now.

Food:
8.30am - Smoothie with banana, blueberries, ice, honey, almonds, chia seeds, ground flax seeds, flax seed oil, brown rice sprout protein powder, oats, 1 piece of multigrain toast w/ butter
1pm -  1 slice of multigrain toast with homemade hummus, romaine lettuce and 3 scrambled eggs on top, 1 golden delicious apple
6.30pm - 1 piece of dark chocolate and 1 cup earl grey w/ lemon
7.30pm - 1 chicken leg and wing
9pm - half a chicken breast
11.30pm - 1 cup green tea w/ lemon
throughout night - stuart's smoothie from this morning that he wouldn't drink. same recipe as above.

Exercise:
2 mile short run on treadmill, 2.16 miles total and 24mins (at 2 mile mark), 259 calories
4.45pm - 30min dog walk and then  playing fetch with him in a big field.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Stuart hated the smoothie today. He couldn't even choke it down. I mean yeah it wasn't my best attempt ever, and I think I probably overkilled it with too much protein powder, chia seeds, flaxseeds, flax oil and oats, but it wasn't THAT bad. He is such a flavor snob.  I froze his and I will have it either for dinner tonight, or breakfast tomorrow.

I have been totally slacking on wearing my pedometer. I just use the online pedometer and there's no need to check how far I've gone because I map it out before I run. Is that so wrong? I feel like relying on a pedometer to keep track of how far I've run is similar to the frustration of being on a treadmill. I keep checking every five seconds only to see I've only gone .07 more miles from when I last checked. With the online one, I already know how far I need to go so there's no need to stress about it.

The Last 6 days...

Don't remember if I've officially mentioned, but Stuart and I are going on vacation next week to Edinburgh for 12 days. It's going to freaking rule. We are meeting with real estate agents to look at properties for the restaurant we are opening in the next year, also meeting with our PR company, and others. It's super exciting.

Not to mention all the amazing food we will eat while we're there. Stuart's mom (I should say mum) has already told us that the morning after we arrive, she is going to cook us a Full Scottish Breakfast, and then steak pie for dinner. Steak pie is my favorite british food. AND we are going to Paris for 2 nights and eating at a couple restaurants we want to try out over there. OMG I AM SO EXCITED. Eating healthy all the time is great, don't get me wrong, but you gotta live a little, ya know? Can you tell our lives revolve around food?

So, these last 6 days are the home stretch of healthy eating. Stuart keeps begging me to make cookies and mentioned before he left today that we should have pizza on Sunday, but I snapped him out of it. Our food adventures will start next Thursday!

Food -
8.30am - Smoothie with banana, mango, almonds, ground flaxseeds, flaxseed oil, honey, almond milk and ice, 2 cups coffee
1.30pm - Grilled kingfish sandwich with homemade hummus, wasabi and rice wine vinegar, romaine lettuce and tomato. 
Throughout night - a whole 6 oz thingy of blueberries, a few spoonfuls of peanut butter, some oj, and 2 pieces of dark chocolate. 

Around 9pm - 1 cup of earl grey w/ lemon

Exercise:
11am - 35mins yoga, concentrated on legs (I've posted about this one a few times before and I can actually say that today it was still tough, but much easier than before)
4.30pm - 30min dog walk

I was planning my 8-mile jogging route for next Sunday in Edinburgh again and saw this on Google Street View. Edinburgh is really the most gorgeous city. I can't wait to move there!

Yes, this is in the middle of a city.

Swim + Run

Had another smoothie for breakfast today. Delicious, and really gave me the energy for my morning swim with my neighbor. It's really important here to force your automatic response to "YES" when people ask you to do something with them. If I didn't say yes to every opportunity to socialize, I would become a hermit.

Food:
9am - Smoothie with banana, mango, almonds, ground flaxseeds, flaxseed oil, rolled oats, honey, almond milk and ice, 2 cups coffee
2.30pm - 2 wraps on plain white tortillas with homemade hummus, parsley, scrambled eggs, ham, romaine lettuce,1 glass oj
throughout night - peanut butter, blueberries
7pm - 1 cup green tea w/ lemon
11.30pm - 1 cup earl grey w/ lemon

Exercise:
10am - Swam vigorously for like 20mins
2pm - 2 mile "short run" on treadmill, 254 calories, 2.16 miles total, 24mins
4.30pm - 1 hour leisurely dog walk

Smoothies

I found this nice and good recipe (er, sort of 'guide') for smoothies on a vegetarian marathon runner's website:
http://www.nomeatathlete.com/the-perfect-smoothie-formula/

I made one for me and Stuart this morning and it tasted really great. Might be a new thing!

Obviously I'm not a vegetarian, but I think eating less meat in general is a good thing and this dude has some good stuff on his website. Thinking about trying to make his homemade energy bar recipe at some point too.

Food:
10am - Smoothie with banana, mango, almonds, ground flaxseeds, flaxseed oil, rolled oats, honey, almond milk and ice, 2 cups coffee
2pm - 2 wraps with homemade hummus (chickpeas, tahini, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, salt n pepper), roast chicken, romaine lettuce, tomatoes and parsley on small plain white tortillas.
7.30pm - 1 red bull
9pm - smoothie with banana, mango, almonds, ground flax, flax oil, oats, honey, almond milk + ice
11.30pm - a few bites of roast chicken breast, 1/2 glass white wine

Exercise: 1pm - Power Yoga - yikes this was tough. Felt like I had no energy for it today. This routine makes me realize how weak my little puny girly arms are.
4.30pm - 30 min dog walk

Wow, I ate so healthy today (except for the red bull). I think there is really something to this smoothie thing. I wasn't planning on eating a smoothie for dinner but I didn't feel like cooking and I wasn't that hungry, and the smoothie really hit the spot.

-------------------------------

A thing that I've had to deal with living here in the gorgeous Caribbean is getting mind-numbingly awful migraines every 1 - 2 months (See this entry for my last one) complete with vomiting and "kill me now" type thoughts. But since I've started this marathon training, I haven't had one (knock on wood!!). Not sure if it's just a coincidence, but let's hope it continues.

A sore Monday.

My legs definitely feel sore today. Nothing major, but I can feel it in every step. Surprisingly, the fronts of my thighs are hurting - probably from going on some steep downhills in the 2nd half of my run yesterday. 

Monday, Weigh-in day! Weight this morning: 117
Wooohooo, one little teensiest tiniest smidgen to the right, I'll take it! More later.

Food:
10.30am - total greek yogurt w/ granola and blueberries w/ honey
11.45am - 2 cups coffee
2.45pm - chicken and hummus wrap with lettuce and whole chickpeas
8pm - 2 glasses of white wine
8.45pm - Steak, mushrooms, onions, roast carrots, salad with romaine lettuce, tomatoes, balsamic and olive oil.
11.30pm - cup of earl grey w/ lemon

Exercise:
1pm - walked from home to store and back, about a mile and a half total, in the grueling hot sun carrying groceries.

7. Freaking. Miles.

Holy shitballs, did I say last week was tough? Today blew that right out of the water. I definitely pushed myself to the absolute limit today. Out of the 7 miles, I had to stop to walk three times, all after mile 5. I think I made a classic error - did waaay too much at the start and by the end I was struggling. The entire first half of the run was mostly uphill. I also placed my water break too far into the run - at mile 6, at which point I was so thirsty I was nearly willing to drink scummy pond water.

BUT the point is, I completed it! Yaaaay. My arms and shoulders are killing me. After I dry off I think I'll go back to bed for a couple hours. Is that wrong?

------------------------------------------------------------------

Feeling pretty euphoric today. Got stuff for Stuart's 30th birthday sorted out, Scotland vacation to look forward to, took the dog swimming in the gorgeous Caribbean sea today, life is good! As long as I keep feeling like I do today, I don't give a crap about not "losing weight" on this training program. I am getting healthy dammit! What they say is true: the harder you push yourself, the better you feel later.

So glad next week is a "trough" week and I get to go down to 5 miles, then the week after that, we'll be in Scotland and I get to jog around the Meadows and Arthur's Seat. I am freaking out with excitement about that run actually.

I've already planned it? What? Maybe?

Food:
5.30am - 1 banana, few bites of apple
12.30pm - Eggs benedict. Thanks honey! 2 cups coffee, 1 glass oj
4.30pm - apple
6pm - 1 cup coffee
7pm - half a steak, grilled kingfish, salad, sweet potato fries
9pm - 1 cup earl grey w/ lemon

Exercise: 7-mile Long Run outside, 1 hour 22 mins

Killer Playlist For Tomorrow's Run!

Food:
9.15am - 1 slice homemade wheat seeded toast w/ peanut butter and banana, 2 cups coffee
2.45pm - mahi mahi grilled w/ olive oil, butter, thyme and garlic, and salad of romaine lettuce, tomatoes, olive oil, balsamic and parmesan.
6.30pm - a few bites of tuna w/ mayo, an apple, some blueberries, some bites of chicken
8.30pm - half a roast chicken breast and a few handfuls of blueberries.

Exercise:
5pm - 45min dog walk

I am getting a killer playlist together for tomorrow's 7-miler. It's gonna be off the hook. Mental. Insane, etc.

Will update early tomorrow after my run.

A day.

Food:
9.15am - 1 piece multigrain toast w/ butter, 2 scrambled eggs and mushrooms, 1 glass oj, 2 cups coffee
2.45pm - tuna fish sandwich with romaine lettuce on multigrain bread with mayo + pepper
6.30pm - 2 cups coffee
9.30pm - 1 roasted chicken breast over roasted carrots and parsnips with olive oil, salt n pepper
11.30pm - 1 cup earl grey w/ lemon

Exercise:
3 mile short run on treadmill, 37mins, 3.14 miles total and 375 calories
4.30pm - 30 min dog walk

Still can't seem to shave time off my 3-miler. It's just so damn grueling and boring jogging on the treadmill in the house. I have to run 7 miles on Sunday and I'm actually looking forward to it. I'm considering doing more jogs outside in the early morning during the week to alleviate my boredom on the treadmill. Getting up that early is so killer though. We'll see.

I went to the beach with my neighbor yesterday for a swim and the beach was seriously the most gorgeous I've ever seen it. It was one of those times when I kept trying to take a picture to capture the awesomeness, but it just wasn't doing it justice.

Heaven I tell you!

Cook, dammit!

Food:
9am - 1 piece multigrain toast w/ butter, 2 cups coffee
12noon - 1 piece multigrain toast w/ butter
6.30pm - 2 cups coffee
7pm - 1 piece mahi mahi cooked with a bit of butter, garlic, and thyme. carrots, parsnip with honey + balsamic, salt n pepper

Exercise:
9.45am - swam for like 20 mins
1pm - Farltek training - 30 mins - 2.9 miles, 319 calories, 34mins total
4.45pm - 1 hour dog walk

This is a very interesting, if somewhat depressing, article about weight loss from the New York Times. It basically talks about how the success rates of permanent weight loss of morbidly obese people is essentially 0%. Sure, it happens, but it's so infrequent that it doesn't even rank in statistics. The article tries to disect biologically why this is - and it basically says it's the same for people of any size - if you reach a certain weight, when you drop pounds from that weight, your body works overtime for you to regain the weight you lost. GAH. Interesting read though.

Gahhh, got to go into the kitchen right now and make some food. Like, cook some food. Not just scrounge off of cereal and toast and apples and stuff. Must go. Must put on music and go. Have to do it. OK GOING.

LIZARD FRIEND SAYS GO COOK SOMETHING.

Sigh...

Trichotillomania update: I have to be honest. I haven't done so well at not playing with my hair the last couple days. And I have to admit - it's been pretty much conscious as well - like, I know that I'm not supposed to be doing it, but my brain is like "OMG I WANT TO PLAY WITH THIS HAIR SO BAD, I'LL JUST PLAY WITH THIS ONE AND THEN I'LL STOP." Of course, logically I know that's ridiculous, but the urge is so insanely strong. It is truly an addiction. Not giving up though!

I will say though, every time I've done it, I haven't been wearing my hat. I keep leaving it around the house and being too lazy to go and get it. MUST WEAR HAT DAMMIT. Update soon.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

From all the research I've done, not to mention observing myself these past 5 weeks, I've sort of resigned to the fact that I probably won't lose much (if any) more weight on this regime. Because it's a bit frustrating not seeing numbers on the scale change much, I've started taking pics of myself weekly and doing my measurements just so I can track some sort of progress - as I'm sure others can relate to, it keeps me motivated!

Just completed my 3 miler, did the whole thing without stopping again, but still haven't shaved much time off.

Exercise:
1pm - 3 mile short run on treadmill, 366 calories 36:20 time.
4.30pm - 30 min dog walk

Food:
10am - total greek yogurt, granola, blueberries, honey, 2 cups coffee
2pm - 3 spoonfuls peanut butter, lots of blueberries
6pm - 3 slices homemade multigrain wheat seeded bread with goats cheese and fig/ginger chutney
11.30pm - bowl of raisin bran with 2% milk

Wow. Awful eating habits today. Look what happens when I don't eat a real lunch and dinner... I snack and then get ravenously starving late at night! I haven't been cooking for the past week or so and I need to get back on it majorly. I can see myself sort of "slipping" out of my food regime, might be the beginnings of my "losing interest in current project" thing. Must not let that happen!! Have to figuratively slap myself in the face, wake my ass up tomorrow and force myself to be motivated. Can't be one of those people who lets themselves be stuck in a rut.

See, I'll bet this guy never let anything get him down, and his owner was a smoking 5-year-old.

Resting and Swimming

I hope I haven't overdone it today. It's supposed to be my official rest day, but I swam with my neighbor this morning and my muscles are super stiff, especially my abs. I'm sure I'll live.

It was torture I tell you!

Food:
8.45am - 3-egg omelet with spinach, mushrooms and ham, 1 glass oj, 2 cups coffee
2pm - total greek yogurt, granola, blueberries
7pm - bowl of white angel hair pasta with prego tomato sauce, parmesean and fresh garlic, 1 glass oj
9pm - 1 cup earl grey w/ lemon
11.30pm - 3 spoonfuls of peanut butter and some blueberries

Exercise:
9.30am - Swam vigorously for like 30 mins
4.30pm - 30min dog walk

We Rock!

Stuart is off today, we didn't wake up til nearly 11.30am. He did 6 miles on the treadmill yesterday too, and we were POOPED. Really healthy that we can get enough sleep afterwards though.

I'd like to mention that when Stuart started his health kick nearly 5 weeks ago, he weighed 198 and as of yesterday he is down to 180! Freaking AWESOME!! Last time he weighed that much was over 3 years ago in NYC. He is really looking and feeling a lot healthier. As I type this, he is out with a friend to do some weight lifting this afternoon. Baller. I'm so proud of both of us!

WE ARE SO PRETTY

Food:
12.30pm - total greek yogurt, granola, blueberries, honey, 2 cups coffe
3pm - ham, cheese, lettuce, mayo mustand sandwich on multigrain bread
6.30pm - red bull, 2 shrimp steamed dumplings
7.15pm - 1 cup green tea w/ lemon
8pm - mahi mahi, homemade coleslaw, brown rice w/ mushrooms, olive oil

Exercise:
1.30pm - 30mins yoga - I did the leg workout one again - so tough.Can't wait til the day when I can do the entire thing without cheating. (**I also tried the ankle one I mentioned before and it was awful so I won't post it. This leg one is great for strengthening ankles + legs)
4.30pm - 1 hour dog walk


Monday, weigh-in day...
Weight today: 118 (weight last week: 119)

The needle has made a definite dip below the 120 mark, I think it's a bit lower than last week so I'm putting 118. Woot. Losing weight very gradually is a good thing. Plus gaining muscle, etc.

6 MILES BABY

It's 7.45am and I just completed my 6-miler!! WOOOOOT. It was tough, especially the beginning because for about 1.5 miles it was pure uphill walking into the sunlight - TOUGH. But, I made it. Didn't even stop for a walk break until after 4 miles and not because I needed one, just because there was a very steep decline with a water fountain at the end of it which I partook of. (partook?)

And the broadway musicals really helped.

SING IT TO ME SUTTON!!

When I think back to how I felt just a few weeks ago, couldn't even run 2 miles without a huge walk break in the middle, I feel great. 26 miles still seems insane, but just maybe reachable.

Exercise:
6.15am - Long Run - 6.3 miles total, 1hr 14 mins, 750 calories burned (probably - a lot of hill work!)
4.45pm - 1 hour dog walk

Food:
6am - 1 piece multigrain toast w/ butter, some bites of an apple
1pm -  eggs benedict and 2 cups of coffee, rest of apple
7.30pm - BBQ chicken, bbq corn, roasted sweet potato fries with garlic, olive oil and thyme, homemade coleslaw (red cabbage, onion, carrot, apple, mayonnaise), 2 glasses white wine
11pm - cup of earl grey w/ lemon

Food:
10am - total greek yogurt, granola, blueberries, honey
11am - 12noon - 2 cups coffee
1.30pm - half a pizza with kingfish, shrimp, capers, loads of cheese and tomato sauce obviously
7.30pm - 2 and a half cups coffee
11.30pm - slice multigrain toast w/ butter

Exercise: Didn't exercise at all today. My ankles and soleus muscles really needed a true break.

I stupidly "forgot" to eat dinner tonight, I was super busy with household stuff, and I think all the calories from pizza this afternoon filled me up sufficiently for the afternoon. I am updating right now at midnight, totally forgot to blog up until this point as well... totally off my game today.

Downloaded a shitload of broadway musical inspirational songs for my big 6-miler tomorrow. PUMPED. Must go to bed, have to be up by 6am YEESH

*Trichotillomania update* - Did pretty good at not playing with my hair today, played with it maybe 3 times, but wore my hat most of the time at home which helped A LOT.

Gnight.

Trichotillomania: Upping the Ante

Trichotillomania update: (Click here to read part 1 and here to read part 2)
Still going strong with not pulling, BUT - I "accidently" pulled a hair out today. I was feeling individual strands, which is my pre-pulling ritual that I still do all the time (but for the last 6 weeks or so haven't actually pulled one out), and one came out in my hand. Not a total cheat, but still made me feel bad.

SO - I am upping my challenge to myself. I desperately want to stop playing with my hair completely. As I'm sure others with Trichotillomania can relate, sometimes I play with my hair to the point that it gives me headaches and my hands hurt from doing the same movement so much. To completely let go of this addiction would feel so freeing... I can't even imagine it. While I was just reading over that paragraph, I started playing with my hairs.

My Plan: To wear a hat in the house. This hat:

"Hello do you sell organic motor oil?"

 Also, I have read in a lot of places to write down every time you do it. Going to be honest, not sure how realistic that is for me, but I will give it a shot. I would say I'll keep track of it on this blog but it seems like a boring thing to share with others. Update soon.

--------------------------------

Ok I wrote down my hair playing times today:

5.34 - played with hair for like 10 seconds while watching jon stewart

8.40pm - played with hair for like 3 mins while on phone with dad (unconscious. once I realized, I stopped)

8.56pm - played with one strand for like a split second, but it was a conscious decision. Like a defiant FUCK YOU, BRAIN! I WANT TO FEEL THIS HAIR DAMMIT.

10.22pm - played with hair for like 15 seconds while watching Bill Maher (unconscious)

I know this seems like a lot of hair-playing, but it's actually a lot better than I normally do. I won't be too hard on myself. Baby steps and all. Plus, on the first three, I wasn't wearing my hat. Must wear hat.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

GRRRRR Another late start today. Had the best of intentions to get up and jog my 3 miles before I escorted my friend to immigration at 9am, but it just didn't happen. Now I have stuff to do til the evening again, so it will have to be another evening jogger.

Food:
9.15am - 2 eggs on brown toast with ham and mushrooms, 1 glass oj, 2 cups coffee
2pm - 1 red bull (hey, it was shopping day)
3pm - a plum
6pm - 1 piece oat bran toast w/ peanut butter and banana
8.30pm - ham and cheese sandwich, lettuce, mayo

Exercise:
4.45pm - 45min dog walk
6.15pm - 3-mile "short" run on treadmill. 378 calories, about 37mins total

My short run was a struggle because my soleus muscles (yes I totally looked that up) are really hurting today (like inner-lower calves). Here's a muscle map, the guy in the drawing is ripped.

Mister Rainbow Muscles!

Late start today

I set my alarm for 8am this morning so I could do my Farltek training before going swimming with my neighbor at 9.30, but it didn't work out that way. Got up at 9am, swam, hitched a ride to the store with her after, now finally made myself coffee at nearly 2pm, so going to drink it, do some chores and do Farltek in the evening tonight, after the dog walk. I am soooo tempted to just skip it, as my body is struggling to even walk across the floor today, but can't do that. I haven't missed any days of my training so far and don't want to start now.

A Coi fish in a pond at a local restaurant. This ugly thing is the inspiration for most shitty tattoos.

Food:
9.15am - bowl of total greek yogurt, granola, blueberries
12noon - a raw carrot
2pm - 2 and 1/2 cups coffee
4.30pm - 4oz cobia (kingfish) sashimi, wasabi, soy sauce
8.30pm - Fish (kingfish) curry, brown and wild rice (curry contains coconut milk, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, garam masala, onion, garlic, ginger, and other stuff i can't remember)

Exercise:
9.45am - Morning swim, leisurely doggy paddled for like 30 mins
6.45pm - Fartlek. 30 mins total, 5 mins of warmup and cooldown, 4 "cycles" (see explanation of workouts here)
7.15pm - Post-run yoga

-----------------------------------------------

Just finished Fartlek and Post-run yoga, holy crap!! I freaking hate Fartlek - BUT - I completed the whole thing without stopping for a walk break!! First time I've done that. Dayyyyummmm it was hard. I really pushed myself. I'm proud.