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.

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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.

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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.

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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?

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

Indoor vs. Outdoor

Hey look, a cloud in the shape of an elephant.

Just did my "Short" 3-mile on the treadmill, and did the entire thing without stopping for a walk break once!! Did the whole run at 5mph, according to the treadmill.

I am finding it a lot harder to jog indoors than outdoors for some reason. It makes no sense really - inside I have lovely air conditioning, music blasting, whatever I want to watch on tv, but it feels like every step is a struggle. Whereas outside, I have cars, monkeys and golf balls to dodge, not to mention the daily 80+ degree heat plus humidity, yet I feel as though I could run forever. It really must be a mental thing.

Exercise:
3-mile "short run" on treadmill: 3.22miles total, 36m55s, 385 calories burned

Food:
9.45am - bowl of Total Greek yogurt, granola, blueberries, honey, 2 cups coffee
2pm - 7oz Cobia (kingfish) sashimi, with wasabi and soy sauce
4pm - 1 green apple
5pm - some bites of roasted chicken
8pm - 1 cup earl grey
11pm - some more bites of sashimi off stuart's plate, 1 cup earl grey

I find myself having new questions running through my brain every day about marathon day, running in general, etc. Sometimes it even keeps me awake at night! Stupid right? Like every time I read an article or blog about someone's experience, I think to myself "what is that gadget they're referring to? Should I get one?"... ... ... also:
 - Am I wearing the right kind of sports bra?
 - DAMMIT why didn't I get a watch pedometer instead of a clipon one?
 - Should I wear a coat or windbreaker on the bus to the starting line? What if I want to ditch it?
 - Should I wear sunglasses, or a hat, or both or neither?
 - Should I bring a sports drink, gels, both, neither?
 - Headband?
 - Different kind of earbuds for my iPod?
 - Do I stretch before the race? Not at all?
 - What will I eat that morning? The night before?
 - What if I get a mind-numbingly painful cramp? Shall I bring pills?
...etc etc etc

I found this article on Runner's World, I'm sure tons of people have read it already, but it has some great advice (I think?) on prepping for the big day. Google is awesome. We are so damn spoiled in our modern world.