I am woman hear me run

In the middle of the night...

2012-02-02T08:05:00.004-06:00

Last night after J got home form work we stayed up and talked for an hour or so. It was really nice. Sometimes we have our best conversations at 2 AM :). Usually I don't wake up when he gets home so late, but last night I think I just needed to talk. So, needless to say I didn't get up at 5:15 to workout. I think I'll go for a nice brisk walk on my lunch or do a ZWOD today. The step and core class has left me with new interesting aches to replace the ones I had yesterday. I may even make it an active rest day. I feel good...

We'll see. :)

LATER: changed and went for a 30 minute power walk at lunch. It was what I needed.

It's so nice out right now. Think I'll have to do this at least once a week.

Feel much better...more alert.

Well...I should get back to work.

Later taters...

This day has been brought to you by the letters L and A and...

2012-02-01T22:08:00.003-06:00

I have successfully and rather accidentally wasted an evening after having VERY good intentions. I really need to get work done on my thesis and despite my actual looking forward to doing some solid work tonight I have nothing to show for it.

Yes I made muffins while making supper, but really, it was not what i planned. I slept in, went to work and then worked over some of my lunch so I could go take a step and sculpt class at 430 and theoretically be on the bus and home by 6. Yeah...more like 715 with our fun bus schedule. I liked the sculpt part of the class but the step part of it had a lot of really complicated moves and stuff and I really didn't quite get the groove until it was done...but it felt good to work out. It didn't help that once I got home I learned that I and many friends did not get tickets to an event we'd been planning for and by the time I got back around to being in a state of mind to do anything it is time to go to bed. I also get the fun of telling J when he gets home that our summer plans are rather snafu'd. I am dissapointed. This was a few years in the planning...and may not happen anymore. NOt sure if I should book time off and start planning and putting $$$ into something or just call it off...

LAME.

Bit of a washout day really...

Time for bed. Tomorrow is another day.

'night.

Well hello there adrenaline. How I've missed you :)

2012-01-31T08:58:00.005-06:00

Oh lordy. What I can do. I love it. :)

Last night after work I went over to the gym and had a nice workout. Some shoulder weights, pushups, dive bombers, squat leg lifts, abs and time on the bike. I felt AMAZING afterwards. I had a gong show of a bus ride getting home (took over an hour) but got home and made an awesome healthy bento supper of sticky rice balls (heart shaped. me hee.) with some ginger pork and broccoli. YUM. By then it was pretty much time to gear up for today, make our lunches and then get to bed. Working out after work was fun but the bus schedule transition sucks horribly, making for a short evening at home. Good day though. :)

This morning I got up and came in for my spin and sculpt class. I stayed easy on the tension and watched my knee in the lunges and I think it went OK. Lucky me, there were 60 pushups as part of the workout today. Oh my arms...jello! I feel really good though. I've had breakfast and now it's time for one kick-ass day - I'm all fired up. I have to finish up a few things for the end of the month at work, but I have so much energy :) I'm hoping it carries with me.

A coworker had a great idea yesterday and I'm going to try and incorporate it - instead of getting up stupidly early every day, one way I could get more sleep is to workout some days at noon and just get up stupidly early tuesday and thursday for my spin and sculpt class (I like it a lot). Normally I'd go try out the lunchtime bootcamp class here on campus, but it's hard to get there and back and workout all in 1 hour. The beauteous thing about my new job, which I'd forgotten about, is it's more managerial, which means flextime. Which means if I came in 30 minutes early or stayed 30 minutes late I theoretically *could* work out at lunch a few days a week. There are also a lot of shorter workouts I could do at home some days that take less than 30 minutes like Zuzanna's ZWODS or some DVDs I have, so I'm going t try and mix it up a bit and see how to stay active and still get more sleep.

Any suggestions?

I leave you with an old favourite chilled song of mine. IT came up on the ipod this AM on the long dark bus ride...mades me smile :) Have a good day!

Monday already...

2012-01-30T15:30:00.006-06:00

Today I slept in, due to a late night. J is working late, so I am going to go workout and then go home. I'm not sure if I will like it, but it will help me get some activity into my day. The counsellor I'm seeing wants me to put equal attention towards getting more sleep - to cut back workouts if need be to 3 days a week. While I balked at this initially I then began to wonder why it bothered me so much. I couldn't workout from healing up from a strain anyways until a few days ago. So...I am torn. For her it was the lack of sleep thing not the exercise thing...I want both. I am trying to figure out how to make that happen. I don't know. For now I'm going to try this mondays and do spin and sculpt and boot class...then figure out what to do to be active on the weekends. Usually I'd just go for walks and not count it as an official workout but winters here it is so easy to hibernate and do nothing...being out int he cold is no fun at all. It's challenging. I may ask her why only 3 days a week when I see her. I don't see why I couldn't sleep in 3o minutes on 2 days a week and just cut back workouts.

Then I wonder why it bothers me at all.

Hmmm.

This weekend I tried a new recipe - butternut squash and spinach curry. Very healthy and yummy. I also broke out the bread maker and made some delish whole wheat bread for us. I'm going to focus on eating healthy, especially if I will be working out less...it means I have to change my caloric intake a bit. It's all very wierd.

We shall try this moderation thing and see how getting more sleep helps. I may need to go to bed earlier if I want to get up to workout. These are all adjustments to look at.

You never know :)

If all else fails, it's only until I am done my thesis...then my schedule reboots again.

Wierd.

Feeling groovy

2012-01-27T09:21:00.004-06:00

Yesterday was cool. I got to spend all day on a government committee helping them draft ideas for the new laws that will govern use and transport of biohazards and toxins.
Did I mention that I love my new job?
:)
I didn't workout yesterday, as I didn't come in to campus for anything. I didn't workout this AM, but it was for a good reason I think. Last night the crew of us that gather to throw great gatherings (we call ourselves Enchanted Groove, after our first big "thing") gathered. Not to plan, but to talk about what we want to do as a group. Why *we* are there and what we get out of it. At the end, over beer we all went around and talked about what we appreciated/liked about each other and how we all fit in to the group. Talk about your warm fuzziness. There were actual tears...it's a really cool thing to be a part of a group like this. We are half guys half girls, and while J and I are the oldest by a year, a few others are close to our ages and the rest are younger by about 10 years. But we all "fit" and we are all different with different skills and ideas who all love to come together for the joy of music and making other people happy.
I always give without expecting a thanks and for the joy it brings me. To hear back from people that what I do matters. That they notice?
I feel great :)
The downside of it all was we got home about midnight. Rather than spend a long meeting today struggling to be awake, I thought getting 6 whole hours of sleep would be a good thing. So I slept in, made some protein oats with a banana and came in to work ready for the day. We might go out dancing tonight...we'll play it by ear. And this weekend is thesis time. I think I'm ready for an attack...
I have another counselling session today. I'm looking forward to it. I'm hoping this will really be the year of positivity. Keeping a gratitude journal has been forcing me to appreciate different things and be more positive this week-I thought it was kind of corny to begin with but I'm seeing the benefit now.
Have a great weekend you guys :)

Reunited and it feels so good

2012-01-25T08:42:00.002-06:00

Well well. After a nice evening visiting with Dad and the family and a nice supper out, I crawled out of bed at the "normal" time and got in to work out again. The cats were sufficiently confused, but happy to see me back up at the proper earliest possible feeding time :) 5:20 comes very early...

I wasn't sure what to do after so long off and didn't want to backfire and hurt myself so I didn't go to bootcamp like regular wednesdays. It looked like there's a new instructor and I'm really excited to be in there next week. She had steps and the spin bikes and all kinds of things and had them yelling and counting down and really into it, all working hard...I kept looking in there wistfully, but I know I would have done some damage to myself after so long away, and my knee needs a bit of easing into things I can tell. I made up a workout that was heavy on upper body with bicep curls, tricep extensions, chest presses, shoulder raises, some ab stuff and some one legged deadlifts. I did a few squats with no weights to see how my knee would like it and it seemed to be alright, altho it got stiff after 2 sets so I stopped at that and hopped onto he bike for 25 minutes of HIIT biking and then hit the showers. Man it feels good to just be in to do something. I admit I wasn't full out hard core, but I was there, doing things and I know if I'm smart about it I can slowly ramp my way back up to where I was. The jiggle I feel will fade and I'll be back to the usual me. I have a meeting/training thing tomorrow off campus all day so I won't be in to the gym at all, so I will likely do a home workout tomorrow...perhaps my trusty old ball workout DVD or the Women of Power bellydance DVD. We shall see how it feels...so far so good :)

Tonight Dad is staying with us so I won't get a lot of thesis work done, but it should be a nice evening. I'm hoping to hole up a bit this weekend and get some solid writing done. I've put my personal life first lately, which has been glorious, but there's been not a lot of thesis work accomplished. I have another meeting with my new counscellor on friday so I'm hoping she can help me figure out a balance in my mind and go with it...i's tricky.

Hope you all have a great day. I'm off to the lab :)

wohoo

2012-01-24T10:50:00.004-06:00

Today I feel...normal. No aches. My back feels OK and my knee is OK too. (Knock on wood)
Tomorrow I think I'll come in for an easy workout and do some swimming thursday. I've been missing it. I admit it has been nice to come in to work early, and have time for a hot breakfast (mmm...oatmeal with an egg whipped in and maple syrup) but I really feel jiggly :) It will be good to sweat a bit...I feel like I'm neglecting myself.

My Dad is coming into town for some errands and we are going out for supper for his birthday next week since he is in town. It will be good to see him for a little bit...I must run. Lots to do...

Have a great day!

Hear me baby hold together

2012-01-23T07:38:00.003-06:00

Hmmm...I was going to come in to work out this AM with my knee being back to normal, but somehow on friday night I slept wrong on *something* and my left shoulder blade has a wicked kinky lump in it...so I didn't work out today. I don't have a full range of motion and it hurts off and on. I put heat packs on it over the weekend and I'm hoping it will will work it's way out today...I'm worried I would really hurt myself if I tried to workout now. It feels a bit better today. Man...I'm falling apart! :)

Instead I slept in a bit and made up some oatmeal with an egg whipped in, with a bit of maple syrup, milk and banana and came in to work a bit early. I figure I might as well use my time well. I had a relaxing weekend. Made lots of tasty food (including some of the best pizza I have ever made, some cheese rolls and pumpkin peanut butter soup...oh man). Relaxed a lot with J and really felt like a "normal" weekend. Those have been so very very rare. It was exactly what the 2 of us needed. I feel very centred and other than the whole random shoulder thing, I'm ready for another week.

Hope you all have a great day. I'm going to hunt down a cup of coffee and get ready for a day of poking around the old chemistry pharmacy building on campus inventorying cool old machines. I love that kind of stuff...should be fun!
Cheers.

Thank goodness it's friday

2012-01-20T08:40:00.003-06:00

Ah. Finally friday.
I've enjoyed my leisurely week of sleeping in a bit and getting up to a healthy breakfast. Coming in early to work has been nicely relaxing too. Thankfully my knee feels pretty much normal today, so by monday I can come in for a workout again. Which is good. I feel very thick around the middle. The thing I appreciate about my workouts so much is they give me more energy, but they also give me a bit of leeway as far as what I can eat on a daily basis. Without that balance I'm finding that I eat more than I should for being less active...and am not burning it off. I definitely could not keep this up long term, or I would find my horizons rapidly expanding :).

It was so cold this week that our car battery died. Spent most of yesterday getting it towed somewhere so that it can have the battery swapped out this morning. It will be nice having it back. It should be good the rest of the winter from now on. I can get around and do my thing by bus but J works out where there is pathetic bus service and it takes him over an hour to get to work by bus...not practical at all.

I am quite tired this morning for reasons I do not understand...but thankfully I just have to make it through friday and I can relax a bit. Tonight J has a a show to work so I will work some on my thesis (do I know how to rock a friday or what?) and then do some work on the weekend too. A friend of mine has invited me out for a weekend of snowshoing and it sounds lovely...but I just can't right now. I have to make an effort to try and schedule work into my life. To be present and work on things in my head bit. It will come...slowly but surely.

Must be off. I get to go rummage around the old science building on campus today...should be fun )
Later taters...

Brrr

2012-01-18T09:15:00.002-06:00

It is another chilly day. Still on recovery week for my knee. It's not quite there yet...I'm giving it this week to be better. I may do some weights at home for my upper body the rest of the week with my 8 Lb freeweights and bands just so I stop feeling so lazy :).

I must say this extra sleep is glorious. I got 8 hours last night...can't recall the last time I did that on a weeknight. :)
Today is healthy foods and lots of thesis work.

Hope you all have a wonderful day.

Well hello winter. Where've you been?

2012-01-17T08:43:00.002-06:00

Another day of no workouts. My knee feels almost normal. Hooray. I am hopeful that another day or 2 of rest will do the trick. I may get back to swimming at first to ease into things. All I know is I need to get at something as I seem to be plumping up a wee bit. It's only a few pounds so far...but I know me and know I need to look after it before it becomes 10. If I keep things in check I'll be OK :)
It's -46 with the windchill this morning. I dug out my ski pants to wear to the bus this MA and I'm glad I did - the bus broke down and we had to wait outside for a while for the next one. Brisk :)
Winter is usually like this but it's been so unseasonably mild up to this point (no snow christmas day!) that it takes a bit getting used to since winter arrived on the weekend. It's here tho - must adjust. Time for the mittens and goggles I think.

Must dash. Lots to do on this frozen day.
Have a good one...hope it's warmer where you are :)

Recharge complete

2012-01-16T08:13:00.003-06:00

Had a fantastic weekend away at a West Edmonton Mall theme room. Giant jacuzzi. Wine. Cream puffs. Blacklight mini golf.
Ate far too much. Smiled so much my cheeks hurt.
MMMmmm.
Spent 2 blissful days with J reconnecting and being us. It was just what the doctor ordered. I'm a bit scared to come back to reality, but it sure was a good time away to reset things...

My knee is still a bit stiff (grrr), so today I slept in and just shovelled the foot of snow we got over the weekend as a bit of exercise for the day. With any luck I can get back to working out at some point this week. We shall see. I certainly need to work off this weekend...

For now, it's a new week. We'll see how it goes :)

Tag, you're it

2012-01-12T08:13:00.005-06:00

OK.
Sleep goes a long way to restoring sanity.
It looks like we might be able to get away this weekend as well too.
When it rains it pours...thankfully I've found my umbrella far back int he wardrobe after much looking.

My knee hurts still, so I didn't work out today. It's definitely the old achey injury that only rest will cure, so that it what it will get. Until I can get me a robot knee, I need to be kind to it. GOing to spin on tuesday was likely a dumb thing to do. Rest is best.

Over the last few days I've come to terms with the fact that being so busy over the last few months is starting to change me, and not in a way that I like. I have found myself becoming introverted, and focused. This was necessary, yes, to get things done, but I was also pushing away J and others that love me and support me. I have done things that hurt these people closest to me, under the misguided assumption that because I was at ease with them, they would somehow understand when I did things that hurt them or made them feel rejected and less important. That it would be OK for them. This past week I knowingly (and admittedly unthinklingly) after having a long terrible day did something small, yet big, and the events that whirled after have led me to take a long look at myself.
I am going to go and meet with a counsellor to try and sort out all this craziness and try to get to know myself again. Luckily my job has an employee assistance program to help me. I am going to use it. I need to understand why I do these unkind things and not do them. How to deal with all my stresses. When push comes to shove I do not want to become the person I am beginning to become - this will stop now if I have anything to do with it. I also want to rekindle closeness and sincerity with the man I love. It is hard and I have been ignoring it under the guise of "no time for that". That is stopping.

In the midst of all this I still have a thesis to write. How and when I am not entirely sure, but my father (sweet sweet man) has offered to help me with another semester of university, so that if I must take longer to finish, that the stress and worry of the cost of it all does not loom over my head. He told me about how he ha to extend his MSc for similar reasons and understands what it's like...and doesn't want me to be so stressed out over everything. This way the money I had to pay back to the government is not looming guilt over my mind as I try and slog on with life and school and make amends. It's a daunting task that seems to be taking over my life, and I resent it for it, but yet know that it is my fault for putting myself in this situation. It's sparkly panty time.
All in all it's been a very weird week. But ultimately good in the end for all that has come out of it for me. What a week. Ugh.
It's reminded me that life does not stop for school. That after it, it is here, and IT is what is the key to all of this and not some words on a page. Somehow I have to find a balance and finish this up.

We shall see. I hope this weekend away is a time to reconnect with J. To meet him in a level place, away from home, to just be together without worries or stresses and remember just why this life we have together is so wonderful. I hope it is a good time and not stressful or difficult. We both know what we need to do, and how we feel. I have hurt him inadvertantly and I want to make a start at rebuilding his trust with me. It's a bit like playing lego blindfolded...all the parts are there...just a bit of a struggle to find the way they all fit together...just need to hook them up together again so that things are where they should be.

WIsh me luck.

sigh

2012-01-11T10:29:00.003-06:00

Well. This weekend is not going to happen.
For a myriad of reasons.
I could not sleep last night.
I am exhausted.

Yes. at the moment life is...fractured.
I am tired of it all.
Someone else can do this for a while OK?

I've had enough.

instant injury

2012-01-10T09:05:00.006-06:00

I woke up this morning with a very stiff, slightly sore knee. Weirdness. It almost was clicky...how this happened I have no idea, as I was fine when I went to bed. I decided to come in for spin and sculpt but kept the tension low on the bike and did not do any lunges or squats. It's still stiff, but I"m hoping it will work itself out. If it's sore tomorrow I will definitely ditch boot camp, as there are always lots of things in it to stress my knee and that would not help. J and I are going away for a romantic weekend this weekend (I can't wait!) and nothing would be less romantic than me limping about. SO I will be nice to myself and see what happens. I hate the fact that my knee can just do this. I think I tried too much too fast after a week off perhaps...a little warning would have been good to let me know to stop tho. This is all rather sudden...and usually requires me doing nothing for a few days to let it heal up. Grrr.
Some times I hate my knee.

Last night was nice though. A nice visit and chinese meal (yum) out with the family. J had to work so I ordered some kung pao chicken to take home for the 2 of us to have tonight for supper. Yum. no cooking for me. Ha HA!

And so I must be off. Work to do. and then there's that dang thesis...

Later taters.

Too many jocks spoil the...

2012-01-09T10:57:00.004-06:00

I was up and in this AM for my Workout A + abfest + 28 minutes on the stairclimber. I was a little worried today might not happen since I woke up at 2 AM with a killer headache, but a banana and advils seemed to do the trick. Woke up as usual at 530 and felt just fine. The gym is full of loud bellowing, back slapping, grunting jocks...it's tryout times for football and volleyball. Thankfully if I get in my weights stuff first before 7 I miss most of them. They're very polite and aren't rude or ogley but it makes it so crowded. Soon they'll pare down the numbers and it won't be so bad...nothing like doing walking lunges through a crowd of linebackers. So very odd...

My Dad is home from visiting my sister in Ontario so tonight is family night. A little chinese food and hopefully a few games.
Looking forward to it.
I'm feeling rather good today. After a day of house chores and catching up on a few things like taking down the christmas tree I took in the recyclables and used my booty to go to Value Village (woo) and got some new (to me) jeans, a skirt and some nice sweaters for work. I now have a few more nice work things and only spent $40...:) Nothing like a new pair of brand name jeans that actually fit and nice hooded red button up sweater to make me feel all swanky.

Have a nice day :) I'm off to the lab...

Nausea oh nausea, rock on.

2012-01-06T08:59:00.004-06:00

As is the usual, in January people come back to the gym and for whatever reason try to attempt feats of fitness that they are just not ready for. Exhibit A: this morning, a new guy who looked relatively healthy was pushing himself with weights and then, while on a rower, went all pale and shaky and was sick on the floor and just couldn't get back to normal. The EMTs came to take him in for a checkup just to be safe. I'm glad he's OK.
I'll never get that. With the low blood pressure I have when I feel dizzy I stop. Right there. I have to or I faint...which hurts. Unlike the movies you do not gracefully collapse on a soft object. If you're lucky someone will catch you and you won't bruise yourself. If not...well, gravity is a harsh mistress :)
Pushing yourself to the point of puking just doesn't do it for me. If you've been active for a while then you have a better feeling of what you can do and how far to push yourself...but to do something so hard you barf? I know a few people who have done so accidentally (your first spin class seems to be notorious for this sort of thing)...but why should you push yourself this hard?
Seriously. How can people convince themselves that is normal? It's not. It really isn't. It's you body telling you to back the f*** off and ease into things.

This AM felt good...I went in for workout B and 28 minutes on the elliptical. I didn't do a lot of abwork after as my abs were still painful form the 2 previous day's exercise classes - just the parts that didn't ache. Last night my abs HURT. That will teach me to take 10 days off and jump right in where I left off :)

And now...another day. Last night was a busy regular old sort of day and it reminded me (*whimper*) what "normal" life is like with school and work. How I must get back to the crazy overworking for a few more months to finish. I really REALLY don't want to...but I must. I must finish. I've caught up on most of my chores and now, there is just my thesis looming over me. It's daunting...but I have to pick away at it. Soon I will be done. Soon. Summer. *gulp* That seems so far way from now...

SCIENCE!

2012-01-05T08:17:00.005-06:00

I wish I could say I got a lot of thesis work done last night.

Instead I was reminded of household chemistry like a newbie first year chemist. Soaps are a base. Vinegar is an acid. So, mix the 2 and you get a sludge. Which is harder to remove than the stain I was trying to get out in the first place...whoops. :) Ah well...I got a tiny rug steamer for christmas and I'm trying to clean up all the areas our older cat has decided to...um...favour. Online hints for cleaning said mix Borax and vinegar...I had no Borax so I just used the soap that came with the steamer. Now I know better. Wash and THEN rinse with vinegar water. All is nice and clean now. Hopefully fur ball will take the hint. It's nice to have a little shampooer/cleaner for this kind of stuff, altho I am glad to have a dark carpet or I'm sure you'd really tell the dirty parts from the cleaned areas...

This AM was spin and sculpt. No dizzies today-a solid workout. There was a new guy in our class today...he seemed to have a great time and after the spin part he looked at me and went "yeah!" and gave me a high 5. It was cool. Made me smile. I love when people are into things...makes it more fun.

Must be off. Lots to do...I'm slowly remembering what the chaos is like. Time to hop in with both feet and get to it...

Have a great day!

Apricot pecan oat muffins. OMG. Pirate Bakery strikes again!

2012-01-04T14:23:00.004-06:00

New muffin I made up last night for a week of relatively healthy snacking...which will likely will NOT last the week...heh heh. Before I forget, here is the ingredients for the most delish concoction I've thought up lately...and not too unhealthy either:

Mix the following together and let sit 5 min:
~1/4 c diced dried apricots (I suppose you could use cranberries or *shudder* raisins if you like)
~1/4 c roughly chopped pecans
1/2 c oatmeal
1 1/4 c milk

Then stir in:
1/4 c oil (I know - not the best - but if you healthify baking too much it doesn't keep it's bakiness more than a day or so. As a former baker I refuse to eat crappy baking...you can cut it back a bit more or use melted coconut oil instead for a more healthy fat, but don't say I didn't warn you not to overhealthify)
1/3 applesauce (or 1 mashed up banana would work too I suppose)
2 eggs
1/2c brown sugar (or agave syrup or maple syrup if ya have it)
1t cardamom AND cinnamon
A few shakes of nutmeg
1 t vanilla

Stir in until JUST mixed:
2 c flour (don't go more than 1/2 whole wheat or they'll be bricks)
1 T baking powder
1/4 t salt

Bake at 350 for ~20 minutes until they bounce back when tapped on top and are starting to brown up.
How can you tell I sort of bake by ear. Years of being a baker have made me rather experimental with things like muffins. I loves me my muffins...I'm working one with espresso and sunnyboy cereal and dates...I will perfect them. It's a tasty process!

:)

Booty call

2012-01-04T08:10:00.002-06:00

This morning I was up and in for boot camp. The regular girl called in sick and her replacement was amazing. It was different - lots of body weight movements - less tabata insanity, more variation and fluid movement. A good workout. I kind of feel bad for the other instructor - this girl really had it together. I'm hoping they ask her back for other classes...
We are all stocked up with healthy food and I'm ready for a month of healthy living. One thing that I'm realizing is just how much sweetener I eat. Call it a resolution, I'm not sure what to call it, but over the weekend I came to the realization that I am being dishonest with myself, perhaps to my great peril. Not trying to be melodramatic here -I know the health concerns regarding splenda and equal and I've decided (despite a bit of nervousness) that I need to remove them from my life. I have come to rely on them too much and I need to just eat healthy. Occasional intake is not a great concern, but I'm taking it to another level...and I'm uncomfortable with it when I'm honest with myself. Things don't need to be sweet for me to enjoy them, or I should enjoy them less. Plus there is always stevia which I don't know of any health concerns from (although it tastes weird in some things).

Thing is, a close friend of mine has a parent dying of cancer. This has reminded me that if I really am going to do as I claim and be healthy in my everyday living I can't shove chemicals into my body. Why make the effort of eating clean and organic if I'm going to shove numerous teaspoons of chemical into my body every day? Why risk dying of cancer? Why gamble on the potential loss o health and time with my loved ones? I'm not saying never have a diet drink again, but when it's slowly becoming a part of almost all I beverages I drink? Crystal light or putting sweetener in my coffee...multiple times a day? It's just plain unhealthy.

Period.

I know I need to do this. I have to be honest that I am frightened that I will suddenly gain weight back from not using it. But I know I can pay attention to how I eat and drink. I can make the necessary changes. And in the end a pound or two may be better for me than a constant dose of chemicals.

What do you think? Do you use sweeteners? If so, why or why not? I'd love to know your opinions...

Happy New Year

2012-01-03T08:38:00.005-06:00

Whew.
5:30 came way too early today.
I've had a lovely holiday. Pity it wasn't just a wee bit longer.
I had a nice 10 days off work. Most of that was spent putting on and tearing down an all night space themed electronic music party, but that too went well. We sold out and raised 900 for a local charity. We had an absolute BLAST and it was worth all the hard work. Then it was relaxing and laziness with family. Lots of nibbles and good wine and despite my compete inattention to food intake, I really did not do too badly. I've found the emotional attachments I have to food are not quite the same any more - which is good. Yes, some food still makes me happy because they are just plain delicious (like chilled gawerztraminer and pomegranates and cheese of any kind!) but I just can't *eat* like I used to. Eating is not in and of itself an event. I don't even know how to describe it, but it's not as important anymore. It seems this whole MSc thing has put this and other things in perspective...empty eating has lost it's appeal to me. It's not an activity that fills an emotional need for me. Now I still indulge - it's just a more concentrated enjoyed thing... and in smaller amounts. This is a good thing I think. It was so different to indulge slightly here and there and not feel guilty, knowing that it will work itself out, because I will be back at the gym and will continue to be eating healthy...because that's life now. And life is good.

This AM after a week of no official workouts (but much busyness) I came in for spin and sculpt class. I can tell it was too long of a holiday from workouts...I actually got dizzy during the sculpt part of class and had to forgo some bicep curls for just standing and breathing and not getting too dizzy...strange, but not entirely unexpected. I have a low blood pressure so if I go all out and I'm not used to it, I can faint. I know the signs and I didn't let it get to that point, but It was a reminder to me that I should really plan a few workouts over long periods off from the gym. We did get lots of walking (and dancing!) in this holiday, but nothing like the intensely focus workouts I was getting prior. I have to admit, the rest was nice, but I was missing the feeling of physical exertion by the end of the holidays. It's nice to be back into it now. I am dreading the way the gym will be overcrowded the next month or so, but that too will pass...I've never quite understood why some people need a new year to resolve to make changes, but to each their own. I have always been the sort to just do things when I'm good and ready :)

Now...time to get back to work (sigh), and it's final crunch time on my thesis. I dread it, but I am excited for it, because I know this is it - the last stretch! I will work my hardest to get it done for approval in March to decent in April. This may not happen, and I may drag it out over the summer time to preserve my sanity, but I'm giving it a good honest try. I feel refuelled again and ready to push thru. I've had time to relax with family and friends and read books for fun...and I know when I'm done this last stretch of hard work my AWESOME life is there waiting for me. I've had a little bit of it and it encourages me. :)

Further up and further in :)

2 days left!

2011-12-22T09:54:00.004-06:00

Last spin and sculpt before christmas.
Meep.
Last full day of work before the holiday season.
Meep!
Tomorrow is just a half day. Then Kline Yule with ebelskievers.
MEEP!

Must be good today. Much to do...
Gotta run!

Meep.

last boot camp

2011-12-21T14:29:00.003-06:00

Today was boot camp again - last of the year. Crazy tabatas of squats and cardio...wow. But, as you can tell, I survived. It helps that there is a VERY pregnant lady in my class...whenever I wanted to stop I'd see her working are and think "I can't let a pregnant lady beat me!" :)

Today is a day of tying up loose ends at work...slowly it's coming together so I can leave without guilt for a whole 10 days. Ah! Starting to count down the days.... Everyone is saying their holiday goodbyes and heading home one by one. I have 2 days left, but we get the whole week off next week as campus shuts down. It's definitely one perk of working in academia.

I'm glad I'm not travelling anywhere this year...just going to be here with family. All my gift running about is done, and now it's just party prep and last minute cupcake time. I have made my costume up for the party on the 26th. I'm getting excited :)

Snow??

2011-12-20T08:46:00.003-06:00

Thankfully the CD player is still out for repair at the gym so we were spared the christmas tunes this morning in spin and sculpt. It was a good workout but I wasn't in the mood for Boney M at 6:30 am.

It's unseasonably warm this year...really weird - basically no snow at all and hovering around 0. It's nice, but sure not feeling a lot like christmas without the white stuff...By now there's usually a few feet of the whiteness and stupid cold weather.

Only 4 days left until a few days off and our space party. I'm hoping to watch Nightmare Before Christmas and It's a Wonderful Life at some point as well...

I'm really just looking forward to a few days off with J. His boss is a being a fantastic arse at the moment, and a few days of relaxing will do us all some good I think. Just have to be good for 4 more days...there aren't a lot of people around to inventory this week so it's a bit slow...a few days of just us will be wonderful.

For now, I have a big pot of pumpkin curry soup and some gramma buns to keep me going until the weekend.

Courage :)

Soon :)

2011-12-19T09:45:00.006-06:00

Mmmm...this weekend involved a lot of robots and wine and cheese. Yum. More decor prep for the party...then it was my husband's family christmas dinner with gramma cabbage rolls...and then my new boss had us all over for wine and munchables on sunday...oh the cheese! I was worried it would be weird and snobby but it was a lot of fun...and the appetizers were yummy. :) I'm getting all festive...

I didn't go overboard too much (I'm really getting the hang of this "just have a little" business), but it felt very good to get up this AM after a few good night's sleep and have a solid workout. My workout A with abfest and 28 minutes on the stair climber-felt GREAT. :) Cottage cheese and raspberries as a reward...yum...

Now - to dive into the final week of work before a nice break. My office shuts down for the week between Christmas and New Year's and I'm glad...it means an extra week off :) I'll probably do some home workouts, but I have plans to spend a day or two organizing my life and getting things back to where I'd like them to be. I've been so busy that my house is a gong show. And I'd like to read a bit for fun...just sit and sip tea and read with a cat in my lap for a few hours...that would be nice. I have plenty of wine and apple juice to mull over the holidays. Looking forward to more relaxing.

Just one more week :)

Hawt

2011-12-18T10:52:00.003-06:00

He hee :)

(been reading a lot of PhD and Sheldon comics lately...)

bah humbug

2011-12-16T08:13:00.004-06:00

I didn't know what to do today so I popped in to spin class, which ended up being spin and sculpt...sort of. The CD player and iPod thing is in for repair, so class was on a CD from a past spin class on a little portable CD player that skipped a lot...and then 15 minutes of ab work after. Not ideal, but I pushed myself. Better than a boot to the head...

Lots to do today...here's hoping this weekend will go well. There is lots to do.

*sigh*

This time off to relax and write my thesis is not very relaxing. I'm hoping it will wind down in a bit. Thankfully christmas shopping is essentially done. I'm waiting for the holidays to get here...1 more week!

2011-12-15T13:15:00.002-06:00

Today was spin and sculpt, again with the christmas tunes. My but is still sore from lunges and kicks in tabata drills in boot camp...owie. I'm trying to create a calorie deficit for holidays so I can have a nice nibbley christmas. I'm trying to be good, but it's a tricky thing. More free time means more time for me to bake :)

I can't wait for the holidays. I'm having a hard time getting bad to school after taking a week off, but I need to pick away at it. Soon...soon I will be done. And it can't come soon enough :)

Gotta run...it's a busy day!

Jump up-jump around!

2011-12-14T10:48:00.006-06:00

Oops! Missed yesterday. It was spin and sculpt class...to christmas music. It was really strange. I can honestly say I've never done triceps extensions to Boney M before :) Our instructor is doing the remaining 3 classes to christmas tunes too...it's fun to have a little change. Don't know if I'd want it every day but it'll do :).

It's been the week of weird workout music this week. Today the CD player/iPod jack was not working for boot camp so she used the "emergency backup cassette" - entitled 1993 Aquasize Dance Mix. Oh yeah! It was as good as it sounds. We were cranking out the sweat to the likes of C&C music factory, the KLF and Ton Loc. I kept breaking out in giggles every time a new tune came on. I'm sad to say I knew them all..It was high school flashback time :) Made for lots of fun for me...not sure what everyone else thought of it but it made my morning.

I managed to watch White Christmas last night...I had plans to do some work, but I popped in to visit my sis-in-law in the hospital yesterday and ended up staying until my brother came...and then caught a ride home with him. I'm glad her surgery went well on monday- she's a big lady with sleep apnea so thankfully they only gave her a spinal and did the hysterectomy that way. She's doing really well...I was worried about how the anaesthetic would affect her. She may even get to go home today. When I finally got home around 8 I made some rice, carrots and corn and hard boiled eggs (weird combo I know but it was what I was craving...) and then sat down to find White Christmas is on. I *LOVE* that movie. I swear if I ever do anything live again with my voice it will likely be "Love you didn't do right by me" from that film...I ended up watching the whole thing and then falling asleep on the couch with a cat on my lap. I can't even tell you the last time I did that. I really should have gotten some work done but I feel all the better for it. I'm beginning to think I've forgotten how to relax and may have an allergic reaction to boredom. We shall see... :)

I've got a living room full of robots

2011-12-12T10:02:00.003-06:00

Hello :)

Things are going better. Not totally back to normal, but they are good. It's nice to feel normal again.

I got my hair cut over the weekend, all trimmed up with layers and I'm not entirely sure I like it, but it's finally styled and not shaggy. I bought a box of dye and now my ridiculously grown out highlights are all back to a nice warm brown. Looking human makes you feel a bit more human.

Saturday night I got to spend most of the day with my BF Heather catching up on life, eating pie and drinking wine and laughing. It was *so* good to see her...it's been way too long. Sunday I made some eggnog pancakes and then we spent most of the day putting together robots and decor for our party coming up in a few weeks and then the crew went out for chinese food. It's so...good to be out doing things I enjoy with people again. Being me...not the me chained to the lab and computer...it's just so good to laugh and have fun doing things I enjoy. It really has been too long. J and I are doing better too...and that is the best part of all.

This morning I was up and came in to work out. My asthma was really acting up last night so altho I did workout A I only made it thru 20 minutes on the stairclimber before I switched to the stationary bike for the last 10 minutes...my lungs were not happy and I just couldn't get enough air...not really an asthma attack - I think it's just leftover cold stuff. Then I did some abwork and called it a day. J is sick again, poor guy, so I'm wondering if we'll just pass this back and forth for a while. So far the cold has ignored my lungs and I do hope it continues to do so. I'm not sure if it's my throat healing up from the food burn or what's going on, but I'm not going to push it and make my asthma unhappy. If it does I'll have to take a workout break for a few days...my lungs can be very difficult and I like breathing :).

Hope you all had a nice weekend. I did. :)

friday finally

2011-12-09T08:57:00.002-06:00

Came in to workout this AM, very tired but in a bit better headspace. Things are not great by any means...but they are actually going somewhere. It's a start. I'll take it.

I was going to workout but didn't have any oomph to push myself so I joined the spin class and really pushed myself, and then did my abfest after. Quick shower and I'm off....full day. Must get to it...

Safety first

2011-12-08T08:26:00.004-06:00

Last night I got some christmas shopping done - got me out of the house and occupied and whittles down the holiday list considerably. I managed to be frugal and still get something cool for all 3 of our nieces...but I didn't see J at all yesterday. That. Sucks. He got home late, after I had called it a night...

This morning at 7 AM I had on site safety training so I can go onto the construction site of the new lab building, so there was no workout today. I might do something after work - we'll see. Now I can put on a hardhat and boots and see the new labspace...which will be cool.

But, at the moment I just want to make peace in my home.

I finally have some free time...and it's not what I had planned.

bosu

2011-12-07T08:39:00.005-06:00

Last night sucked.

Had a miserable evening and ended up going to get groceries by myself, and then unloaded them alone and put them all away. Earlier I had went to eat something and it was too hot and I instinctively swallowed the boiling hot food and it burned all the way down...and then I couldn't eat anymore because it hurt.

So I in the end, necessary duties done, I gave up and went to bed.

This AM I got up and came in for bootcamp and had my ass handed to me on a plate. It was hard core. I used the time to get my frustrations with life and J and everything out and it felt good. We did lots of tabata intervals this morning involving the Bosu ball...I need to work on my balance more. I've never used one before and after lunges and weights and pushups and all sorts of fun things done really fast on the it I see why it's a good fitness tool...it forces you to use your core and builds balance. Now I'm in to work for the day and I seem to be able to swallow food now...it still hurts a bit but at least I can eat again, which is good 'cause I was ravenous by the time breakfast came around.

Today is christmas lunch out with the work crew...and perhaps after work, rather than going home to an empty house, since J works tonight, I may head out and try and grab some christmas gifts for my little nieces to get that out of the way while I have the time. I loathe christmas shopping when there are grumpy pushy crowds and try and fit it in when it's less crazy. I really should go home and work on my thesis but I'm feeling rather down with life and get the feeling I'd just stare at the screen or go turn the christmas tree on and mope in front of it. Perhaps the stores won't be too mad on a wednesday. Perhaps my husband won't be too mad on a wednesday.

We shall see.

Yes.

We shall see.

Hope you all have a good day out there. I know I will try to.

it's the little things

2011-12-06T08:37:00.003-06:00

In for spin and sculpt this morning. Chia overnight oats and I'm good to go.

I feel moronic this morning...it appears that I royally screwed up our taxes and claimed things for school I couldn't and we owe lots of $$. I let J down - he asked me to make sure I did it right...I thought I did, but I obviously didn't. I missed something that seems really obvious now, but at the time I was sure I had read it all right. I didn't call the government tax people to check on it tho - should have. Would have avoided all of this. It's not he money (although that hurts us too)...it's that I made J feel like his concerns aren't important to me.

Just feeling very dumb today. Knowing you disappointed your best friend makes you feel really really small.

The devil really is in the details.

Ho ho ho

2011-12-05T08:32:00.005-06:00

AH. I had a nice weekend off. Spent time with friends building robots of decor for a space themed party we're throwing over the holidays and baking an obscene amount of cookies to send to my sister (and my stomach..heh heh). New favourites include mexican wedding cookies (shortbread with vanilla beans and toasted walnuts....mmmm). I had the first eggnog pancakes of the season and got to put up my Christmas tree. It's the first year since mom died that I really felt like putting up the big tree...it's something she and I would do together often and it just didn't seem right the last few years. Last night I put it up finally...it looks great. It's nana's old white tree with lots of silver and blue lights. I love it. It officially feels like christmas now. :)

Dad had to get to the airport by 5 this morning, so I was up to see him off and then came in to the gym to workout A + abfest and some stair climber action. I have a cold I finally admit now, but I'm not really good and properly sick, so I'm just sniffly and a bit squeaky...I'm going to take it as it comes and if I get any sicker I'll take a break and sleep in to see if it helps me get well. Considering how hard I pushed myself I'm really not surprised I'm a bit sick...I just wish I'd get good and properly sick or get well...this in between business allows me to get things done, but it feels like I'm cheating somehow. The workout this AM went fine, so I'm going to play it by ear...

Hope you all had a nice weekend.

I'm off to the lab...lots to do.

I found this cartoon that describes grad student life pretty well...made me snicker...:)

link

the longest week

2011-12-02T09:19:00.004-06:00

I didn't feel like doing anything this morning, but I made myself get up and come in to work out. My head is rather stuffed up, but nothing too serious. I guess I'm more worn out than I thought. I wandered into the spin class and had a good workout. Did that and my abfest and it's done.

Now it is just a matter of staying awake and I can head home to bake cookies and holidaying up the weekend a bit. And naps. Yes...I almost don't know what to *do* not that I have permission to write.

Wohoo!

2011-12-01T14:13:00.001-06:00

YES!!

Permission to write granted.

Ah....

*smug mode* :)

THE day has come

2011-12-01T08:28:00.003-06:00

This morning I was in for spin and sculpt. New workout for december, so that was a nice change up. My arms and butt were still sore from yesterday, but t felt good to work my stress out. This morning is my permission to write meeting for my MSc...and I'm nervous.

I must dash. Much to do...

If you hear a wahoo in the distance about 11 AM it's me celebrating getting permission to write :)

Cross your fingers for me!

sniff sniff

2011-11-30T09:15:00.003-06:00

In for boot camp this morning despite this stupid headache I've had for days. It was ass kickingly hard, but I feel good. I just tried to ignore my head and for the most part I could. I think this headache is allergies...the snow melted from it being so unseasonably warm. I'm not complaining, but all the dust and leaves and such is making me sniffle and wheeze. Either that or I'm getting a cold. As annoying as that would be, I suppose it is OK if I do..all that I need to get through has been pretty much finished, and I've put my body through a lot. IF it needs to crash to recoup so be it...I can afford to be slowed down after tomorrow. And winter will come soon enough I'm sure...

Must go. Tomorrow is my permission to write meeting. So much to do.

Crossing my fingers and toes...

Little luxuries

2011-11-29T08:48:00.002-06:00

Well this morning I popped in for spin and sculpt. She's going to start a december workout with holiday music...I'm curious how that will be...

It was so nice to work last night but not work to exhaustion and be in bed by 11. Oh the luxuries. :)

I must go. Today is a full day. Just wanted to pop in and log and say hi.

Hi :)

I will survive!

2011-11-28T09:17:00.005-06:00

Whew. What a whirlwind November has been. I feel like I will survive though. Almost done. The worst of it is over now. I hope you all had a good past few weeks...mine are a bit of a caffeine enhanced blur to be honest...

I've compiled my 45 page thesis summary report complete with 14 figures and 11 tables and it's pretty swanky. I have to give a talk to my committee about it thursday, but the bulk of the work is done now. Hopefully they'll approve what they see and I can star digging into my thesis.

My new job has been great, although I've been in a bit of an exhausted haze until today what with pulling near-all-nighters for my report. Thankfully, I kept it together, and things got done. My new job has been a lot of fun so far, and after a weekend away with friends at a Star Wars themed dance party (at which I won best costume - heh heh) I feel refreshed and a bit more myself. I had a lot of naps over the weekend and caught up on my sleep a little bit. I enjoyed the 5 hour car ride to Edmonton and back with J...just got to sit and visit and not be busy. It was so nice.

And I'm back to a more normal 6 hours a night, and hope to bump that up some more this week to get back to normal again. Not being exhausted is a good feeling...I really pushed myself as far as I could to get everything done and I couldn't have kept that up much longer. I'm trying to decide just how busy I want to be form this point on. I've decided that I'll work hard to try and get my thesis in and approved for the April deadline for spring convocation, but if I don't, so be it. My sanity is worth an extra month of tuition.

This AM I was up and in to the gym for my workout A + 28 minutes on the stairclimber + my ablest. I feel rather good so far. Here's hoping this week is a much more sane one.

Have a great day everyone! Here's a little remake of a good old song by a favourite band of mine to start your day :)

the end is nigh

2011-11-23T08:17:00.008-06:00

Last night I got a LOT done. i feel like this report will come together nicely. I managed to sneak in a nap after work which went a long way in boosting my morale. Ive been burning the candle at both ends lately and it can be discouraging. Thankfully only 1 evening left and things seem to be working out. I slept in this morning and skipped my workout and feel much better for it. It got me a positively luxurious total of 4 and a half hours of sleep...which I know doesn't sound like much, but sure feels good after a long exhausting day. Getting up for boot camp might have been too much I think. I don't need to go crazy right now.

So talk amongst yourselves a little while longer, and have a giggle at this:

My husband showed it last night to cheer me up and I giggled until I snorted...he hee :)

Revision sucks

2011-11-22T08:32:00.002-06:00

Long night revising figures. I admit I don't much care anymore as I'm tired and just want to be done. I find I am forcing myself to be attentive. It's hard to catch errors in writing you are infinitely familiar with.

Soon it will be over and I can't wait.

I was in on 4 hours sleep for spin and sculpt, and it's another long day.

Here we go again.

whoosh!

2011-11-21T10:27:00.003-06:00

Wow...missed a few days there!

Well thursday was spin and sculpt and friday was nap :) I was up until 5 finishing a draft, so I needed it. I got a bit of recouping on the weekend with more work and this week is the last of the crazy edit work. The document is due thursday. Thank frog.

Other than shovelling snow on the weekend, not much fitness related to tell. I did get to go shopping for a few new clothes which was nice. Still can't adjust to the whole size 6 thing...

This AM I came in for workout A + abfest + 27 minutes on stair master.

Must dash.

Crazytown awaits :)

middle of the week already?

2011-11-16T09:07:00.002-06:00

Boot camp this morning...killer at the time but I feel great now. I was up late late number crunching, but feel pretty good for 5 hours of sleep...I'm off to another work day and evening of MSc slavery.

Have a good day!

T-0... New Job Today!!

2011-11-15T10:31:00.004-06:00

First day at my new job.
Mee hee.
Just popped in to log. Monday was workout A + abfest + 28 minutes on the bike
Today was spin and sculpt class.

Gotta run.
New job and all :)

Then home to analysis. I'm finally getting somewhere...which is good because a draft report is due soon!

Life is exciting!
Sleep is for wimps :P

snooze time

2011-11-11T17:44:00.003-06:00

I was going to get up and hop on the elliptical at home for a bit before coming in to the lab for my last (*sniff* and hooray at the same time) experiment in my laboratory. But I slept right thru the alarm and woke up an hour after it was set for...with just enough time to shower, have breakfast and catch the bus in to work...I figure I needed the sleep more than the exercise then!

It's been a long day in the lab finishing up the last of the work left I can do for people here...and now I'm settling things up to go home and relax with J tonight. The rest of the weekend is work like a slave. I am starting to panic -I need a draft of my thesis outline with detailed graphs by friday and I've had writers block a lot lately...it's just overwhelming at times staring at all the data. Summarizing it all is not so easy. Last night I'm annoyed to say I accomplished next to nothing...very frustrating. But I will keep at it. They'll get what I could put together by the submission date. It's all I can do, really. Just keep at it.

My brain is rather fried from doing 2 days work in 1 today (tim manajmint...I haz it!) so I don't think I could do much data summary tonight even if I wanted to. I might spend an hour at it and see if anything comes to be, but I'll likely end up just relaxing with J for a bit. He's finally not sick anymore (yay!) and he too has been busy all day at work to broadcast the local remembrance day ceremonies. I figured it was a good day for me to come in and work too, and we'll likely both be up for some serious vegging tonight...

It's SO weird to think I won't be working in this lab anymore...very weird indeed...it may be a while indeed before I do any experimental things until the new lab is set up. How odd...

Anyways...I must analyze today's results and then head home. Hope you all took the time to remember those who've sacrificed themselves for your country. I hope you have a lovely weekend. :)

T-6

2011-11-09T22:10:00.002-06:00

My last Wed at this job. YEAH!
Tuesday I was in for spin and sculpt and today I came in for asskicking bootcamp. That lady loves to torture us.
I am trying to eat well and snag 6-7 hours of sleep a night. Working hard.
Tomorrow is spin and sculpt and more project slavery.
So. Much. To. Do....but I'm not cutting out sleep so far.
Yet.

FUrther up and further in...

T-8

2011-11-07T08:38:00.002-06:00

Long busy weekend. In for workout A + abfest + 28 minutes stairclimer.
Just keeping on :)

Bye!

T-12

2011-11-03T09:28:00.001-06:00

spin and sculpt on 3 hours sleep. :/
J is sick as a dog...today should be a challenge staying awake and away from the cold that everyone seems to have

T-13

2011-11-02T08:48:00.001-06:00

Boot camp class. more tabatas. I am jello. That is all...

T-14

2011-11-01T12:58:00.001-06:00

Logging in: Spin and sculpt class

Gone to the Crazytown. BRB...

2011-10-31T10:58:00.003-06:00

Had a nice weekend - my birthday was lovely and relaxed. Had wine and cupcakes. :)

Used my workout time this AM to come in early and plan out my next two weeks...which look to be INSANE. I feel much more relaxed and ready for the chaos now. This next while I may not post much. I'm hoping to hit my morning exercise classes when I can, and if I'm in on the weekend to work I'll workout then too, but I must say...I won't have time to be here much. I do not lie when I say time will be a premium and sleep a luxury...but as of the 14th things should slack off a bit once I start my new job. Hopefully life will be more normal then...
So...talk amongst yourselves. Have a cup of tea.
I'll be back before you know it :)

the shape of things to come

2011-10-28T08:16:00.004-06:00

Last night I had a nice supper out with my Dad and family and then had a relaxing evening watching the World Series with Dad. I'm not a huge ball fan but it was nice to visit. I came in for workout B plus abfest plus 26 minutes on the stairclimber. It was modified to not do the things I did yesterday in exercise class, which was kind of nice actually...I was a bit slow from being rather stiff from wednesday and thursday's hard workout classes so it gave me a bit of extra time :)
I've noticed a slightly annoying thing about focusing on exercise and weightlifting which makes sense, but I hadn't thought about - my pants and shirts fit differently now. I have more muscles on my butt and thighs and shoulder upper arm. This is all logical, but women's clothes are not cut for this really. Thankfully I'm not really a different size, just...well...differently shaped. I like it, but it's frustrating. I'll have to do my shopping accordingly. The biggest annoyance I've found is the dainty little arm holes they put on women's shirts. I am far from being SheRa and I find some of them uncomfortable. Anyone recommend a more fitness friendly store to shop in? My new job will require me to wear more than scruffy shirts and jeans, so I need to do a few wise purchases to build up my not so scruffy wardrobe...I'm hoping to do some wardrobe updating when we go to West Ed in December to get our christmas shopping done.

ANYways. Must go. LOTS of work to do...
Hope you all have a great day!

sneaking in a bit late...

2011-10-27T16:45:00.002-06:00

Sorry for the late post. My computer was down to less than 200MB of memory (long story...it was not working well) so it has been wiped, rebuilt and had some RAM added. Woo! It's so fast now.
Pity I'm only here to use it 2 more weeks :)

Anyhoo...this AM I was in for spin and sculpt class and it was hard what with my legs and butt being on fire from boot camp yesterday. I did it all though and ate healthily, since I know tonight will be a bit of a write off food wise. I'm looking forward to an evening of visiting with my Dad and family. We are going out for supper to a favourite mexican place to celebrate my birthday and my new job. One of my supervisors even gave me some $$ to buy a nice bottle of wine :) How cool is that?

So I must dash. Just nesting out the new incredibly fast computer I have here. It was so screwed up before I have forgotten what a real normal computer runs like :)
Good day all!

hey. where'd tuesday go?

2011-10-26T08:37:00.002-06:00

Whoops. I forgot to post yesterday.
Can't really blame me though...it was one heckuva day.

Got up and came in for my spin and sculpt class with a full day of work, and at the end I was called up to be given a shiny letter of offer - yes indeedy! I got the job I interviewed for last week! I have to pick a start date, but it will be much sooner than expected. Likely mid-november. Meep!
To celebrate, J and I went out for El Salvadorian food at a favourite local place. Mmmm...I had Stuffed peppers and rice and beans and horchata and one damn fine mojito to toast my brilliance :). THEN, as luck would have it, J scored tickets to a play, so we took the night off to celebrate. Which was FANTASTIC. We saw Nevermore -It's a morbid musical on the life of Edgar Allen Poe by a theatre company from Edmonton. Creepy and dark and very Tim Burtoney in costume style and humour. I absolutely loved it. Fell into bed happy and full of food and imagination.

Now today begins the handing in my resignation, picking a start date and then adding the craziness of a new job and closing down the old to the pile of nustofaction already in place for November. Oh, and did I mention my dad is coming to visit tomorrow? We're going out for supper for my birthday and to celebrate the new job. Yeah. Busy crazy few days it's been and will continue to be.

So this AM, to pay for unhealthy meals the past few days I got up for boot camp class and was NOT disappointed. She did a whole class of cardio intervals interspersed with many many tabata sets of things. Oh yes...it was as evil as it sounds. Tabata sets...of lunges. All on one leg. Then on to the other leg...heh. Then Tabata sets of many compiled exercises. Then more cardio. Then more tabata. I pushed myself...muscles burned...I swore...I now feel like jello.

It was brilliant :)

I am off to a busy day of much to do. Must add in closing down my job and winding up things for the department now. All the things on my "to do" list have to get done in a few weeks.

Heh...well, here we go!
GOod day to you all. I must dash!

monday already??

2011-10-24T08:25:00.002-06:00

Well I had a relaxing weekend. Another family gathering with really unhealthy food (hello mannicotti and chicken lasagna!) but it was a nice one. I got some work done and had a nice bonfire on friday with friends.
This AM I was back in to workout to try and get back to "normal" again (whatever that is !)
Workout A + abfest + 27 minutes on the stair climber. Now some overnight oats and it's another long day. I get to cut out early to go home for an energy inspection on our house post furnace install to try and get some rebate $$ back from a government grant program and I hope it's the last time I have to miss work for all this. It's rather annoying. I'm hoping I can just work on my MSc while the inspector does his thing...we shall see.
Must dash.
Science awaits :)

whee

2011-10-21T08:44:00.004-06:00

Well. Here I am. In at work on my day off.
Whee.
Actually I am hoping to get a lot done today - I haven't gotten much done the last few days. I've had my pumpkin pie chai overnight oats and some coffee and I think I can do this now.

The interview yesterday went very well. I'm a little freaked as the job it was for might start sooner than I'd expected, but what will be will be. Can't stress about that if I haven't even gotten the job yet right? :)

This AM I came in to do my workout A plus abfest and 28 minutes on the stairclimber. Felt good, although I am rather tired. Here's to another day of statistics.

Yes. Whee.

I Day is here

2011-10-20T08:17:00.003-06:00

Last night was nice. No working, just hanging out with my supervisor and his wife and the other 4 students in his lab. They're all really nice, and there was great food and wine, so it was a good evening. I came home, picked out what I want to wear to my interview and then went to bed on time...
This morning I came in for spin and sculpt and left before the stretching part (don't worry I won't make a habit of it) and had time to make myself look all adult and stuff and curl my hair. I'm wearing my grey cords and a nice red sweater...dressy but not overdone. My cords have lycra in them and they are so comfy...like pyjamas. Heh heh...they're my "power pants" - you can't go wrong when you go to an interview wearing your pyjamas right?
No wait... :)

My interview is after lunch so I just have to not spill on myself this morning (you'd be surprised how hard that is for me to do!) and then do my best. I read up a bit but I don't know how else to prepare.
1:30 PM - I'm so ready for you :)
Crossing my fingers for a good day.

boot camp hurts

2011-10-19T14:32:00.003-06:00

Just popped in to log. After another long night of statistics, I came in for boot camp class this morning and got my ass kicked. Still a lot of jumping so I had to modify some things but man...hard class!
I had a tasty lunch of the last of my soup (mmm...), some sourdough bread and tuna and an apple. Tonight I get time off from all my work so I can go to a BBQ at my MSc supervisor's place. I'm looking forward to relaxing a bit. Then home and try to rest up for my interview tomorrow.
I have no idea what to wear for it...I'm still debating if I want to workout after work and sleep in a bit or not. We shall see...
I figure I am pretty ready for things if all I am worried about is what I'm wearing :)
It's tricky being dressy but casual. I don't have a lot of dressy clothes that aren't super dressy, since most of my new clothes that fit are work level casual. We shall see. I think I have something that will suit and not make me look *too* overdressed...
I've gotta go. Much to do!
Later taters :)

eep!

2011-10-18T08:19:00.003-06:00

Last night was a long night - worked until 10 BUT at the end I checked my email to see that
I HAVE A JOB INTERVIEW ON THURSDAY AFTERNOON!!

WOOT!

I was so excited that it took me a while to wind down for sleep. I buzzed about it with excitement to J and we put the fall duvet on the bed (so fluffy) and eventually I fell asleep. I'm so excited...I hope it goes well.

This AM I came in for my spin and sculpt class. It was a killer...but I did it all, with no holding back. Pushed all my eeekey energy out into my muscles and boy...my legs were shaking by the end of the lunges and squats, but I feel a bit more even keeled now. There is so much for me to do work-wise and school-wise this week that I'm going to focus on just being together for the interview. I can do a bit of reading up, but I'm just going to do my best to be confident and sell myself. What will be will be, with a little nudge from me and the good old sparkly pants :)

Have a great day everyone. I must be off...so much to do!

Meep!

busy day

2011-10-17T18:20:00.003-06:00

Today has been long and busy. I am still at it and expect to be for another 3 or 4 hours. I worked all weekend, but had lots of chores and things to do on top of the work, so I could have done more, but it is what it is. There is only so much time in the day. I have to print off a bunch of stuff so I'm in at work to do things (free printer heh heh) And of course, my computer is picking now to be all temperamental when I need it most for data, so I'm trying to be kind to it and I hope it will be OK...crossing myu fingers and toes...

This AM I came in and did my workout B with abfest and 25 minutes on the stairclimber, made me good and sweaty. I had healthy meals here at work (which is all 3 of them today...sigh) and just enjoyed some absolutely delicious kabocha squash soup I made last night with a blueberry muffin. It's very simple and healthy and probably one of the best soups I know of...the squash and smoked paprika...it's so gooood together :) The good thing about working in restaurants for so long is I can whip up some healthy muffins and soups for myself and still get other stuff done. And I get delicious rewards for working hard on my data. Fair deal, I think!
And so I must be off to d battle with my computer once more.

It's true :)

2011-10-14T10:24:00.000-06:00

I'm confusing my muscles. Yeah. That's it...

2011-10-14T08:18:00.002-06:00

This morning I came in to work out and altho I was very tired, I tried to make the most of it. Because there's been a lot of lunges and upperbody work in the 3 classes I took this week and I didn't workout monday (cause of all the hiking and run on the weekend) I sort of smooshed together my workout A and B and abfest and took out the stuff I've done in the last day or so in the classes. It was a bit of a hodgepodge, but still a good 30 minutes of circuits of exercises. Then I hopped on the elliptical for 25 minutes. Pretty good overall I suppose. I hadn't realised how much of a "routine" I'd built up for myself until I tried to mix it up :)

I've been experimenting with breakfasts too. I've been varying my chia overnight oats and come up with a few tasty winners. I'm all out of bananas so I'm trying to put something else in for flavour. So last night I added some greek yogurt, then decided to toss in most of a scoop of vanilla protein powder, some molasses, pumpkin pie spice and some cocoa...and MAN it made for some tasty slightly spicy and slightly chocolatey pudding-like breakfast. Really hit the spot. Good for me too.
Bwaha. :)

Now I must go do some boring data work. So I'm going to grab a coffee and get to it.
Have a great day :)

Logging

2011-10-13T08:28:00.001-06:00

Busy day. Just popped in to log.

Up and in for my spin and sculpt class this morning, then off to work with my overnight chia oats. I added some protein powder, a scoop of greek yogurt and come cocoa to them...mmmmm...so good.
Time for coffe and science.

Later taters :)

"Girls, I have a mission for you"

2011-10-12T08:23:00.002-06:00

Well I never did get back to work after heading home for the repairman (I would have gotten back just in time to go home so why bother). I'll be making up the time the rest of the week, but the faulty regulator is replaced and we have hot water again. So nice :)

It took me forever to get organized yesterday and I admit I could have done a lot more than I did, but I did some chores around the house and some planning for the next week - so I'm ready to go. I'm finding there is so much to do that if I just stare at it I get nowhere. I have a list to do now...and I'll just keep working down the list until I'm done it...it's just that simple...ish.
heh heh.
ahem.

This morning I was going to try and do an online workout for my random wednesday workout, but I noticed there was a boot camp class today taught by the intense instructor who subbed for my thursday class last week, so I thought I'd give it a go...and it was an intense cardio/weight mashup. A bit bouncy at times, so I had to modify a few moves, but it sure got me moving. The best part? Techno remix of Charlie's Angels theme song for cardio...he hee. She has good workout music, I'll give her that...and less yelling, more of the dreaded hold and pulse moves, but a good solid workout. As a bonus, I had just enough time for my abfest and some stretching after and now, it's work time. It is always fun to try something new. I have some chia overnight oats with some protein powder stirred in and a nectarine and coffee I feel rather fierce.

I must be off...science awaits :)

A little turkey is good for the soul

2011-10-11T08:41:00.004-06:00

This weekend went very well.
I had a great time visiting my Dad at the lake. J and I discovered some great hiking trails that I didn't know existed (!!!) about 20 minutes from our cabin, so J and I spent a few hours on Saturday hiking through the woods to the Gem lakes on Saturday- a cluster of tiny lakes in the northern boreal forest named after jewels. It was a gorgeous walk...I loved it. About 5.5 Km - a nice afternoon. Got us out and away from crazy family and let us spend some time together. We both love outdoor hiking and it's been a long long time since we've been able to. It was great.

Sunday was a big gathering of family and friends and it went well. My dad had invited all his friends who've been so kind to him over the last year with Mum gone - I helped to take over the kitchen for the day and we made one heck of a thanksgiving dinner as a little thanks back to them all. We made a delish turkey, with wild rice stuffing and some gluten free dairy free mashed potatoes and veg and a gluten free pumpkin pie (my brother's wife is celiac). Others brought pie and salads and we had a great evening of eating and relaxing. I even got a break after the turkey went in the oven to go for a run down to the narrows and back - about 4Km. I don't run much anymore as my knee complains, but I kept it easy - 4 minutes run + 1 minutes walk and enjoyed the fall leaves and sunshine. It really was a gorgeous day - I earned my glass of wine and pie. It was a great stress release in the middle of a hectic dinner plan :)
Monday it was back home the next day to *another* dinner at J's family's, but we didn't eat too much and got home in time to relax and unpack and get ready for today.
I'm pleased with how the weekend went. We enjoyed ourselves but didn't gorge at the trough - and I didn't kill my sister in law. All around success I'd say!

Unfortunately our new water heater is on the fritz already (hello cold showers!) so boo to that. I'll have to go home early today to get the guy to come fix it. Lame. I shower at the gym so it's no big deal for me but poor J gets yet another cold shower (apparently it wasn't working well on Friday either). He's a good sport about it. I'm hoping we don't get charged for this - new things are supposed to work aren't they? It's only been in 2 weeks...

I hope you all had a great weekend. I did. Very relaxing...a bit busier than I'd have liked, but I can't complain. Lots of Dad hugs. :)
This AM I crawled out from my cozy bed to come in for spin and sculpt class. I moved my leg weird during a squat and my right groin muscle is rather stiff, so I'll be careful today. My body's been great lately at doing everything I've asked it to - I don't want to push it.
Hope you all have a great day. I'm off to cottage cheese and blueberries and coffee and a lab full of surprises. :)

Turkey for me...turkey for you...

2011-10-07T11:51:00.003-06:00

Well I feel much better today.

Last night we ran about and got everything for turkey time this weekend at my Dads (including stuff for gluten free snacks and wild rice stuffing...yum). I'm all packed and ready for the weekend. I'm bringing my gear in the hopes of a hike or jog through the woods up there - I'm thinking that my sis-in-law (who tends to drive me nuts when I am stuck with her for days) will drive me to need to run off some stress over the weekend. It will be so nice to see my Dad though and I can't wait.

I got up to workout this morning and did my workout B + 28 minutes on the stairclimber and adjusted abfest. We did a lot of arm and abwork in spin and sculpt yesterday so I didn't want to overtrain. It was a good workout. I am back to my preholiday status fitness and weightwise so I'm ready for a nice weekend. I'm feeling good :)

I plan on keeping snacking to a minimum and will not go crazy on the food and wine. I've got fruit for good snacks and I'm in charge of the taters and turkey and stuffing so I know it will be good. I've worked so hard to get back to a good space with food and diet so I"m going to try and keep it that way. I'm going to attempt a gluten free pumpkin angel food cake for my sis-in-laws birthday tomorrow...wish me luck. I'm hoping for a nice relaxing weekend. I'll just focus on not killing my sis-in-law and relaxing with my J and Dad...

Have a lovely weekend everyone. To my Canadian peeps - Happy Thanksgiving.

creaky me

2011-10-06T08:23:00.001-06:00

Now I know how old people feel.
Owie.
My back and butt are so stiff from yesterday...I actually resorted to taking an Advil! I came in to work out some kinks this morning in Spin and Sculpt class. It actually helped. Our regular instructor is away and another girl taught and she ROCKED. The spin was challenging, and the workout after used resistance bands a lot and I've never really ahd much experience with them. I learned a lot of cool new things to do with them, and we worked hard. I pushed myself and feel a bit more and less stiff depending on the area of my body :) I feel good. Here's hoping the stiffness stays at bay and I have another good day!

Must dash...big day.

Later taters!

50 seconds is a long time

2011-10-05T11:44:00.006-06:00

Last night was a night off from data. So very nice. I worked late for an hour or so and then headed out on a mass grocery run for the month. No J with me so I could take time to squeeze produce and read labels and stock up on good stuff. I got a few tasty cheeses and ingredients for wild rice stuffing for thanksgiving dinner at my dad's on the weekend. After I got home and put it all away and had supper ~9 I found my old CV. I am tweaking it for a new position here where I work and need to submit it by friday-it's exciting and scary all at once. We'll see what happens. I firmly believe that what will be will be, so I'm trying not to worry about it. All I know is I'm pretty damn impressive on paper let me tell you! :D

This morning I was stiff in the tush fromall the lunges in tuesday's spin and sculpt class but I still put myself through one heck of a workout. Wednesday is random new thingy day, so I did the Grab Your Balls workout from Bodyrock TV using an 8Lb medicine ball, and ended off with 20 minutes on the elliptical and some ab work. A solid 453 calories burned...and if I was a bit stiff before, I certainly am definitely stiff now. Despite managing to stab my finger multiple times with a paperclip end resetting my Gymboss interval timer (don't ask...) I must say that having an interval timer certainly adds intensity to my workouts. Doing an exercise full out for a set length of time, without having to count or focus on a clock gives me freedom to push myself...altho I have to say that 50 seconds seems like FOREVER when you're doing burpees!

Must dash - lots to do (what else is new! ).
Later taters!

2 days in a row

2011-10-04T08:50:00.003-06:00

Ah yes...my bus broke down this morning (again...ahem...) but the next one comes along in 10 minutes, so thankfully again I was only a bit late getting started today. I zipped into spin and sculpt about 10 minutes late, but I figure better late than never. Still got a decent workout in and I'm in with healthy meals for another long day - hopefully not as nuts as yesterday tho. No word of a lie when I say that yesterday started at 5:25 and didn't let up until I finally fell into bed at 11:30 - work was nuts and there was SO much to do on my MSc for a deadline rapidly approaching.
I did get 6 solid hours of sleep last night though, which was brilliant. I feel much better today. Sunday J and I went out to a great late comedy horror movie that was showing as a part of the Dark Bridges film festival here in town as a reward for working hard all weekend...laughed and laughed - it was worth going to but it made for a late night and a tired monday. Sometimes you just have be tired you know? :)

I took a break saturday to do the zombie walk here in town. Me and about 300 others shuffled and moaned over the bridge in costumes. Some of them were really well done. I was a zombie scientist...what a hoot. What really cracked me up was the reactions of people who didn't know about the event. Some people actually treid to pretend they didn't see us or ignore us. Really people? Come on...how do you pretend to ignore 300 moaning growling zombified people (all ages!) giggling and shuffling? Silly !

Well my good peeps. It's another crazy day. I'm off.
Haave a good one :)

crazy from the get go

2011-10-03T13:14:00.002-06:00

It's been a ridiculous day.
Started with the bus being 15 minutes late and has stayed busy all day. I did make it in and with some rushing I got in my workout A + abfest + 22 minutes on the stair climber and I am busy with healthy breaky and just snarfed my lunch and took a brief break on my way back to the madness.
Must dash...still have hours of insanity to go...

Slow and steady wins the race...or at least the cupcake

2011-09-30T08:21:00.006-06:00

When I was in Vancouver, one of the guys I trained under with told me about a marathon he had run in in France - it sounded like my kind of marathon. He said every mile there was a rest station with a small glass of local wine and appetisers from that particular region. He also laughed and said that as the race went on, it got more and more casual, with people strolling more than running (don't want to spill your wine!) and some didn't even finish due to all the good cheer. I think it would be a fun way to spend a day and see the French countryside -not too serious!

Last night I finished some initial statistical work on part of my data. Man it feels good to have a few real numbers. Sure I then have to try and make sense of them to write about them but hey - I'll take it! It's a real start. Feels like all this work is FINALLY coming into something. Another night of not enough sleep, but 5 hours will just have to do. tomorrow I can sleep in. GLORIOUS :)

This AM I came in for my workout B + 27 minutes on the stair climber and my abfest and now, after some tasty breakfast I'm sitting down with my coffee to settle my brain for the day. I'm trying to decide my weekend plans. Yes there will be a lot of work, but saturday, a coworker, who is becoming a friend, invited me over to see her new house for a bit...but it is roughly the same time as the annual Zombie walk (which I've always missed and really want to join in on), which will end at the downtown art theatre where, after, they are showing a cheesy horror movie. J will be hanging out with a friend all day at the horror movie festival seeing shows (lucky guy) while I work, but I'm trying to decide which I'd like to do more...I'm torn. It would mean I could meet up with him and a friend later. I'll have to see on the day of whether I feel like being all Thriller or just chilling with a glass of wine and getting a grand tour :) I've been working hard so I want to do a bit of something for a break. We shall see.

And so, my good peeps, I am off to the land of science. Have a great day!

crunchy yet satisfying

2011-09-29T08:50:00.004-06:00

Last night I had a go at crunching data...confusing. There's just SO much data...I'm glad I'm meeting with a statistician today to go over stuff...I'm confused. It's tough to work all day and then come home and try and get things done...my brain wears out and would rather just go to bed. Perhaps on the weekend I'll get some more done with a little break in between fror naps...
It turns out I accidentally turned our water heater down too much tuesday night - poor J got a cold shower yesterday. Oops. Heh. We fixed it...and I'm leaving the knob alone now. :)

This AM was spin and sculpt class, and I forgot my HR monitor, but worked hard. My knee is a bit stiff ,but still not angry with me...I think it was too many jumping lunges in the workout yesterday. I'll try and be nice to it tomorrow. My abs finally don't hurt from tuesday...whew! I have a tasty lunch and just inhaled my breaky and coffee, so I am off to the land of science to try and stay awake and get to it.
Later taters!

food = ow

2011-09-28T08:17:00.003-06:00

I experienced an entirely new uncomfortable feeling last night...I got home late late from work but was determined to make a nice meal so I took the time to make curried chic peas and cauliflower with quinoa and ate a bit too much of it...then as I felt overly full and a bit bloated, delayed muscle soreness set in from my hardcore workout in the AM - mostly ab soreness...heh. Ever had your abs pressed on from both sides simultaneously in an uncomfortable way? Let me tell you..it did *not* feel cool.
I spent most of the evening trying to ignore my stomach as it got worse...actually wondering if I would be ill, and then actually hope I would to possibly feel better. I survived. My abs (top half particularly) are still very stiff this AM.
Ouch.
This AM I came in and did the bodyrock.tv warmup and wicked things workout again like last wednesday and pushed myself - did it all in about 35 minutes, and then followed it up with 20 minutes on the elliptical and a few ab exercises for the sides, and to stretch them out a bit. Whew...I was dripping sweat by the end. The workout and warmup burned an epic 372 calories on their own, and then the elliptical ramped it all up to a grand total of 493 for my AM workout.
Booya.
I get encouraged by my HR monitor. I'm going to try and wear it agian for the next while to encourage myself to push myself, as well as know when my heart rate is in "the zone". The chest strap is compatible with most of the elliptical and bike machines at the gym, so I can keep closer check on my HR altho I find the watch gives a lower calorie count than the machines...I go with the watch, just cuz.

I feel good (albeit still slightly ab sore) now and after a healthy breakfast I feel like I just might want to eat food again :)

400+

2011-09-27T10:31:00.003-06:00

Last night I was the queen of grumpy. Muttered at the cats. Muttered at J. Had some leftover fried rice and chicken and later nibbled on some popcorn because I couldn't get my emotions on the level and was still hungry. I muttered at my corn and worked on my project. Still working on my data....meh. Tonight I believe that I will be DONE my data proofing, which I have trouble believing. I've been at it for WEEKS now...and I am starting to really hate it, so I'll be glad to move on a bit. I have meetings and work to do, as well so I need to get on it.

One of our dept's grad students defended her thesis yesterday and I missed her speech and the celebratory dinner, which I'm a bit miffed about. I was stuck helping a faculty member who, to be honest, is treating me like a personal assistant and not a tech. The student's project was an extension of something I'd started out so I'd wanted to be there. She passed with flying colours and I'm so proud of her - she's worked SO hard and I helped her a lot. Now that I think about it - I bet missing that was part of why I was so very grumpy later...I don't understand how some people are able to be in positions of authority and not use me to my potential - to actually waste my time for their personal gain while others appreciate me and I don't get to always be involved in teh final parts of all my work. Drives. Me. Nuts. I really wanted to be there, but I don't have the authority to just leave things and go...even trivial (and honestly not really my job sort of things)things. If you ever have a person work for you - remember - what you do is not necessarily the most important thing in the world...

Anyhoo...enough venting...that gets me nowhere.

This AM I came in to spin and sculpt class. It's odd - the same class as last tuesday and I rocked it today. Weird eh? It was challenging, but I wasn't feeling nauseous or anything like last week. I had half a peach before class, but nothing to bother my that way and I guess I'll just have to chalk it up to random variation - today felt good. I keep meaning to wear my HR monitor to see how much I really do in the class. Today I actually remembered to wear it...but then forgot to turn it on until the second song of spin started, but at least I have MOST of the workout logged - it was 398 calories for the part I had it on for - whew! NO wonder I feel bushed at the end! It's a really solid 1 hour of sweat.

After some chia overnight oats with the other half of my delicious juicy BC peach I have many meetings and things to do in my day. More yummy borscht for lunch...more crazy for supper and beyond. SO much to do...gah.

Yes - all aboard the train to Crazytown my friends :)

Choo Choo!

Quick post

2011-09-26T13:59:00.001-06:00

No time to dally. Here to log quick...came in for workout this AM - workout A + 28 minutes on stairmaster and abfest. Healthy lunch (mmm... homemade borcht and a bun and apple).
Gotta run!

Kale chips rock

2011-09-24T10:26:00.003-06:00

I made kale chips last night for J and I to nibble as we (finally!) got a chance to sit down and watch a few episodes of Game of Thrones.
Delish!!
We put some sea salt and pepper on some torn up, olive oil sprinkled kale and baked it until it was crispy but not brown at 350 for ~15 minutes, flipping halfway. I sprinkled a bit of sour cream flavour on at the end. MAN they're good. Totally unlike anything I've ever had before...healthy crunchy snack. Gotta love it! I will definitely be making them again.

Today I'm hanging out with the plumbers, working on my grad stuff. Neither I nor them got much done yesterday afternoon since there was a 4 hour power outage yesterday. They couldn't finish the furnace and water heater...soooooo they're back to finish up. Hopefully it won't make it too much more $$...I'll just be glad to have hot water and heat again.

New hotness

2011-09-23T08:37:00.003-06:00

Today is new furnace day. Goodbye money!
Ah well...it will be nice to not worry about the furnace - it's VERY old and inefficient and the wiring is brittle. It's already cracked and arced once on us and actually made a hole in the furnace casing (luckily we were home so no real damage done)...it's only a matter of time until it starts a fire...since replacing all the wiring is nearly the cost of a new furnace, we're moving on up to a more efficient one. I will be working at home while the workers do their thing. Hopefully all goes well and it comes in on quote.
This morning I crawled out of bed and drove in to the gym to workout to get awake for my day. Workout B + 26 minutes on the hill program on the stairclimber (200 calories - woo!) and my abfest. Now that I'm home I think I'll concoct up a big old smoothie for breakfast and try and get some work done while the furnace dudes do their thing. We shall see...

Hope you all have a great day and a great weekend !

Fake cupcake distraction

2011-09-22T08:26:00.005-06:00

It took me a while to get working last night - I got distracted by a cupcake show. Don't judge me :D I loves me some good cupcakes. I love watching people make them. It's a leftover from being a baker for a few years...pretty edible things rock my world :)
When I got down to work I really got things done...and blinked and saw it was midnight, so I rewarded my self by watching the latest My Drunk Kitchen (makes me laugh so hard...), made lunches and bumbled off to bed, rather pleased with myself. Wish I'd started earlier...who knows what else I could have gotten done!
J got home much later after his show...he picked up a little treat for me - the new Moby CD. Squee! I wasn't exactly coherent when he arrived, so we'll have to listen to it tonight. I made myself go back to sleep and not wake up. As it was I only got~4 hours of sleep...but yet I feel OK for now. So far so good...
This AM I got up to go in for Spin and Sculpt. On a whim I checked the scale to see how my hard work was going...and it's going well. I've made a real dent in the holidays since I've been home. I'm sure a bit of it is water weight, but it feels good to know I'm within 2 Lbs of when this all started. I need to make myself a little wiggle room...for life. Knowing I can get it together gives me hope I can maintain this healthy life long term.
Giggedy.
I tried the laughing cow cheese and almond thing again and it worked like a charm. No queasy. No nausea, and I pushed myself in class today, with none of the blechiness I felt Tuesday. I am slowly learning what my body needs :) Now it's time for my cottage cheese with fresh strawberries (drool) and a huge mug of coffee. Work calls. I have a meeting with a statistician today to go over my data - I hope he can help me to make sense of it so I can start writing...I should be ready to do that with my data by next week. I'm almost done cleaning it up and verifying it...which is as dull as it sounds!
Hope you all have a good day. I'm going to muddle through and take things as they come. We have to empty out part of the basement for furnace dude tomorrow. I'll be working from home for most of it to be around while they work. Woo...
Caio!

Revamping Wednesdays

2011-09-21T08:16:00.006-06:00

Yesterday we didn't make it to Ferris Beuller's Day off - we went fro a walk by the river instead...and I feel better for it. Poor J - he shoots a weekly pet adoption segment for the local SPCA and there was a kitten last week that stole his heart after so many segments. He was working out how to foster the little guy until he found a home and was looking forward to playing with him and finalising the details and discovered when he went in today that the poor little thing had caught a respiratory disease and died...so he was very glum. We walked away some of the glumness before I had to dive into work. Sweet husband I have...his heart is as big as the moon and as warm as bathwater. :)

This morning I thought I'd rearrange my workouts for the next while...so my week will be like this now:
Monday - workout A + abfest + stair climber
Tuesday - Spin and sculpt class
Wednesday - New workout + abfest + elliptical for whatever time is left
Thursday - Spin and sculpt class
Friday - Workout B + abfest + HIIT biking or stair climber
Saturday/Sunday- rest days with a long walk by the river

My Wednesday workout was inspired by Zuzana on Bodyrock TV. She's got a lot of bootcamp style workouts that varythings up and challenge you in a short amount of time. Since I have an interval timer, some of their workouts I can do improvising in gym equipment like a Bosu ball, crunch station or medicine ball for some of the things she uses. Today I thought I'd do her 5 minute warm up, followed by the Bodyrock Wicked Things workout . I did it in 23 minutes and some change...not too bad. It got hard at the end, and I had to modify the last move a bit since I don't have a pullup bar (changed the kneeraise on the bar to a front kick), bit I tried hard. I admit my pike pushups were pretty lame - I'm working on my form so they'll get better...but the thing is I *did* it and tried my best :) Then hopped on the elliptical for 15 minutes, had an abfest and hit the showers. After a yummy bowl of cottage cheese and some fruit and I'm good to go for the day.

I had a wedge of laughing cow cheese and a few almonds on the way out the door this AM - they sat well with me and I think they gave me a boost of energy - I pushed myself but felt better than yesterday...maybe I didn't have enough fuel in me then?? I need to look into fueling up before workouts somehow without getting queasy. Trial and error and all that...

And tonight? More data work. Woo. I am passing up a night out with the girls drinking beer and watching chic flicks to work on my project...sigh. I know that when I'm done I can do this stuff again, but I sure feel like a lame-o sometimes...I miss seeing my friends. I rarely get to, as my free time is consumed with school...but what will be will be. I knew what I was signing up for. I'll keep at it...
And when I'm done? Cupcakes for all! :)

barftastic

2011-09-20T08:19:00.004-06:00

I got up this AM after a late night of data work and came in to spin and sculpt class. Because she keeps each month the same I knew what to expect - the same workout as last tuesday, but today it was harder somehow. I worked my muscles to fatigue on all the sets...couldn't even do them all like last time, even with a reduced 12Lb bodybar that I had as backup for some. My thighs didn't ache after lunges which is good...I was more careful with my form. Near the end of the workout I was really pushing myself to the limit on some arm and ab work...so much so that I started to feel very nauseus. So I backed off a bit. I haven't done that in a while...because I am not a fan of that kind of feeling -I do not like to ever push myself to that point - it doesn't benefit me (it takes a LOT for me to get ill so I know it's too much if I get there). A drink of water and some stretching and I'm OK, but it was a very exhausting workout.
I certainly earned my chia overnight oats...
On the plus side I had time after class to actually curl my hair - I'm all pretty and girly today. I'm relearning all this hairstyling business now that my hair's past my shoulders. Oooh lala :)

Today is a busy day. I'd love to get away in the evening for a few hours to see for customer appreciation night at our old old theatre in town - they're showing an old fave of mine: Ferris Beuller's Day Off. We'll see how it goes. Last night I was an absolute saint and instead of going to see the new X-Men Origins movie at a friends house with J (which I've been dying to see and missed in the theatre) I stayed home and worked. Not a fun choice, but it had to be done. I just keep reminding myself that it's only a while longer. This is the last year of school...there will be all the time in the world to watch movies when I'm done :)

I must dash. Long day of work ahead and I need a little cup of coffee to make it go by more sweetly. Later taters...

Naps are good for the soul

2011-09-19T08:23:00.003-06:00

Friday I was beat, so I went home and decided to crash for a nap...and slept 2 hours! I really was that tired I guess - J tiptoed around so I could sleep as long as I needed to. It sure helped - I felt like a human being again. I spent the evening with J and the day was much nicer after that :)
This weekend I didn't get quite as much work done on my MSc as I'd hoped, but I spent a bit of it spending some time with J and going out for a long walk by the river...things I haven't been able to do in a while. Slept as much as I could. To sort of psych myself up for the insanity to come. I think I'm ready now for the work to come...I think :)
This morning I came in to do my workout A with abfest and 28 minutes on the hill program on the stairclimber. I'm liking it...it's a challenge, but I went up 148 floors today...201 calories -not to shabby. No problem for my knee at all and makes me sweat buckets. I discovered some new workout tunes this weekend too...I do like the psytrance, and I've got some new stuff on my iPod to keep me grooving. After some yogurt, granola and banana and a cup of coffee I do believe that Thundercats are go for today. I even have some leftover bento from yesterday for lunch today. Having a solid entire week of eating healthy and exercising regularly has me feeling a bit more level...like I'm back in control. I do believe I'm ready to go. Insanity awaits :)

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend.
Later taters!

Music to go up 148 floors to:

Meh

2011-09-16T09:07:00.004-06:00

I am tired today. I have lots to do and then must dash home early so I can meet the furnace dude who is coming next week to install our furnace. We have to pick out our furnace and he can tell us how much crap (please dear god not all of it) we have to move up from the basement. I have tonnes of work to do on the weekend and it's daunting. I feel like throwing a 2 year old tantrum -I don't wanna! :)
I did come in to workout this AM tho - workout A plus abfest plus 26 minutes HIIT biking and I'm in for the day. Last of the bento for lunch.

I was craving pie last night but instead I made a pie smoothie...which is a lot healthier, and less calories. It had pumpkin, pie spice, frozen bananas, some oats, vanilla protein powder, almond milk and some ice in it. Slightly less calories than a real piece of pie for a huge glass of yum...I really just should have had some tea, but sometimes...well...yeah. Food and I go way back. Sometimes it's a real struggle...especially when I just want to lose a few pounds...then all of a sudden it gets challenging. Boo.
Ah don't listen to me. I'm mopey.
Last night I had some computer issues but I just had no ambition to do anything. I got a bit of work done, but not as much as I'd wanted. I'm hoping after furnace dude leaves I can have a nap. Being overtired is making me grumpy and tetchy...I am feeling large and bleh and mopey too, so I think the best thing for me is to finish my breakfast of yogurt and granola and a banana, chug some coffee and just get at it.

Sooner begun sooner done.

Zzzzzz...

Pumpkin Oatmeal Muffins

2011-09-15T13:56:00.005-06:00

At Charlotte's request - Recipe posted on my recipe blog...enjoy :)

Come on you magellans, come with me I've got pie...

2011-09-15T08:38:00.005-06:00

Yesterday was foodorama. But in a good way. It was AWESOME. I made pumpkin oat muffins, and then used my new bento stuff to make a healthy supper. I made sticky sushi rice seasoned with sushi vinegar and a bit of saki to made lots of little shaped rice balls - triangles, rods...even flowers. Very cute :) I steamed up some veg and made some ginger sesame flavoured chicken to go with it and WOW...delicious. I have a bento box of leftovers packed for my lunch today...I hope the rice balls keep. It was fun, and honestly took only 5 minutes more than regular rice...J tried them when he got home from a shoot and liked them too, so I'll definitely be doing it more often.

I also made pumpkin pie spiced overnight chia oats for breakfast (from Oh She Glows)...1/4 c pumpkin, with a 1c almond milk, 1/2 c oats and 1 1/2 T chia, a splash maple syrup and molasses and a 1/4t pumpkin pie spice and a little stevia. It was like pumpkin pie pudding. Only it was my breakfast. Oh my.
Yeah it's like that!
I love making delicious food. Having a bit of time to make healthy delicious food is great. I love it.

I got up and came in for the sculpt and spin class this morning. It was a nice hard challenge. I got a solid workout and now today will be a long day. New lab procedure and I'm very tired. I stayed up too late last night...Must dash :)

cramps de jour

2011-09-14T11:27:00.003-06:00

This morning my quads or arms didn't hurt until the end of my workout, which surprised me, as they sure hurt yesterday after class from the lunges and armwork with the 15Lb weight bar in class. I wasn't sure if I'd be in today at all since last night I spent a few hours curled up in a ball with some of the worst abdominal cramps I've had in long long time...J was very concerned when he got home late from work...thankfully they let off around midnight so I could get a bit of sleep. This AM I woke up right before my alarm, so i figured it meant I should come and workout. I count myself lucky that I don't get cramps often...
And I had a decent workout - my workout B (minus the quad machine I usually do in it, since my quads were tortured the day before) and an added set of cable rows. I varied up my abfest a bit, using dumbells for the obliques instead of side crunches and I didn't do any cartwheel crunches, since I'd done a whack of them yesterday in class. Add on 26 minutes of cardio on intervals on the elliptical and I figure it was a solid workout.
And I had more of my chia overnight oats with nectarine again for breakfast-yum.

Last night conspired to keep me from getting data worked on (between cleaning up catmess and fighting with my laptop battery and then cramps de jour) so I'm hoping tonight I can get a bit more done. I've hammered out a deadline for when I need all my ducks in a row for my permission to write meeting at the end of November so it is, as they say, ON.
I am tired, but I shall get down to it when get home and settle in at the computer for some data mining before I head to bed (I hope) a bit early.
Holiday's over kiddies. Time for a bit of the old slave labour again!

quadariffic

2011-09-13T08:17:00.004-06:00

Last night J and I went out and stocked up on healthy food. Not the most exciting evening, but all there was was bachelor chow since I haven't been home much for a few weeks! I have my chia overnight oats with nectarine in it this AM - I threw in a bit of low fat greek yogurt to bulk up the protein. Yowza - it's so thick...yum. Not sure if I'll do it all the time, but variety is a good thing :)
This AM I did the spin and sculpt class...and wow. My quads ACHE as I'm sitting here right now...after I foam rolled them after class. Yeah - I think she's taken a few comments to heart because she's definitely ramped class up a bit - she definitely kicked my ass this morning...some of the tricep dips and lunges I had to rest during as I chose a 15Lb body bar in a fit of zealous fitness fury and it was a bit too high for some moves-I just couldn't finish them no matter how hard I tried. At least I know I had a thorough all over workout this morning...hope my quads let up though or tomorrow will be a stiff one. I've got a healthy salad lunch with tuna and I'm looking forward to a long productive day here and at home. Tonight I have a lot of organizing and planning to do for my project and want to prep some healthy soups and lunches for the rest of the week. My new Vegetarian Times came and it's full of tasty squash recipes...after reading it on the bus this AM I'm already daydreaming about squash EVERYTHING!
On to victory!

Dimsumorama

2011-09-12T13:13:00.011-06:00

Well, I'm back again :)
I had a great weekend in Vancouver. I lucked out with my hotel and was told I was a few blocks from the ocean, so I got up friday morning (after being picked up at the airport in a silver Miata -bwaha!) and went for a 40 minute jog along the waterfront before my all day training session. It was FANTASTIC. The weather in Vancouver was sunny and amazing the whole time I was there and I had a great time.
...and friday I had sushi twice :)
Saturday I hung out with family and was good foodwise until the snacks came out. Eep. Something about being on holidays and me and snacking...there was pear cider and raspberry ale too. I tend to just ignore everything when I'm on a holiday. Sunday before I left we went for what has to be the best dimsum I've ever had, complete with mango coconut bubble tea. He heh. I love dimsum...and this was supremely incredible on every level, complete with a trip after to the giant 3 floor chinese $2 store - where I got a bunch of stuff for making sushi and rice molds and a bento box...and a few ridiculous things for J and some stationary for me that has a bunny eating cake on it that says "I am happy because of the cake!" on it...he hee. On the plane home I did not have much time for food (and honestly was still full from dimsum), until an extended stopover late halfway on my way home, where the only thing left open in the airport was a pub where I ended up having a side of fries and a beer. Yeah. I know...bad. It was that or other fried pub food and snacks or horrid coffee, so I ate a sad looking apple from the newsstand and then figured if I was going to have something bad for me I should try and keep it small and it should at least taste good. Demented logic I know, but I tried. I started off so well with bringing my own healthy breakfast to the hotel and running and having sushi...and it sort of nosedived after that. I feel bloated and blech...add PMS to it all and I'm feeling huge. I need to plan for travel better. I just don't travel much, so I forget the complete lack of healthy options in airports.
I had a good time tho. :)
And I know I can work on things. And I will.
This AM, even tho I got back very very late I crawled out of bed at stupid o'clock go into workout with my workout A + abfest + 25 minutes on the stairclimber. After a healthy breakfast of muesli and a banana and a decent chicken bean salad for lunch and I'm going to try and claw my way back to healthy land again. I have no holidays for a while now...just me and my kitchen with no delicious fresh seafood to taunt me :)
By christmas I am determined to be back at my preholiday state. It's on. It has to be. I can't keep adding on a few pounds here and there and not go back down again. It makes me angry that I can lose weight but then, with very little time it comes back, just by me being less than diligent. I'm stronger than that...and I know if I don't catch myself now, I'll regret it. I can recover from 8 or 9 Lbs if I keep at it. I don't like the thought of counting calories again, but I brought it on myself...so I will do what needs to be done to get things back where I feel comfortable again...
And so let the time of restraint begin...

Music to run by the ocean while grinning like a nutter to: Chemical Brothers - burst generator

Pit Stop

2011-09-08T08:48:00.005-06:00

Well I'm home for a day. Whew! This AM after being up late after getting home from visiting my Dad, unpacking, doing laundry and repacking for Vancouver I came in to workout before work. I wasn't feeling great (tired) so I did the spin and sculpt class this morning. A solid workout. Could have been a bit harder, but it was a good overall workout...good for me. I'm still a bit sore from my bootcamp run at the lake so I don't think I could have done too much more this AM.

On the weekend at the lake J and I went for lots of long walks and we didn't eat too badly (other than some delicious wine...ahem), but it wasn't until tuesday morning I got in a super hardcore workout up there. I did my own mini bootcamp and then went for a 3Km jog/walk after. I didn't run the whole way, but as much of it as I could...the weather was gorgeous. I had to go out for a run through the forest. I loved every minute...but oh did I ache the next day! My knee was forgiving and isn't too mad at me. I wish I could run more often. :)

My cabin improvised boot camp was 3 rounds through the following:
-15 pushups
-10 around the world squat+kicks (squat + kick front, squat + kick side, squat + kick back) on each leg
-15 one legged bulgarian squats (each leg)
-15 planks with knee into my chest then out extended back up behind me as high as possible
-15 step ups onto a chair with raised knee
-5 bent knee repeated back lunges (each side)
-10 back lunges raised up into forward kicks and back (each leg)
-20 boxer punches forward, each arm
-high knee marching for 30 seconds

Must run. It's one crazy day of work and then off to Vancouver for training for the weekend.
Have a great weekend everyone :)

Stairmaster 101

2011-09-02T08:38:00.009-06:00

This morning I was up and in to workout after a lovely relaxing evening. I did my workout B with abfest and then thought I'd try something new - the stairmaster. I don't think I've ever used one since I tried getting in shape years ago way back in university. I recalled not liking it then, but I didn't like exercise at all back then...so I figured I'd give it another chance - I want to find something else to do other than my cardio on the bike (ho hum) after weight training. I figured since I've built up enough muscle strength around my knees now, as long as I'm careful with my form, this should not cause a problem. I put on some good tunes and tried a hill program and at first I thought "well this isn't very hard"...and then it got harder....and by the end of the 27 minutes I'd burned 180 calories (as much as I would have on the bike), had my heart rate WAY up there and was dripping sweat....so I guess it was good for me! My legs feel a bit jiggly, but my knee doesn't appear to have any complaints, so it's gonna be added to the list. They say to shake things up for your body every once in a while - hope fully doing this once a week will be a good change for my body, along with a few spin and sculpt classes here and there.

This weekend J and I are going up to the lake to visit Dad for a few days and then I'm going to stay on a bit longer to visit before coming back. I was going to stay all week, but it turns out I'm off to Vancouver for the next thurs-sunday for work and training (and a mini visit with family after). Wohoo! I'll bring my MSc data along and try and be good and do a little work at the lake and not fall behind. I'm sort of at a lull with my data now, waiting (and waiting and waiting...grrrr...) for statistical advice from people who are just now back from holidays -the person who was going to help me is on sabbatical in Europe...so I'm stuck. I am glad to have found a new website with some workouts you can do anywhere that only use body weight or a 5Lb weight - I wrote out a few of them and will take my workout gear along to try and fit in some workouts when I can. There will be a gym where I'm staying in Vancouver so that will be easier...but I'm determined to still keep up to 5 days of working out a week - whatever I can get in there. I may even sneak in a run/walk at the lake for old time's sake, even if it bugs my knee...it's so gorgeous up there.
I think I can I think I can I think I can...:)

Music to go up 125 flights of stairs to: Plastic Compilation 2, including an old fave Water from a Vine Leaf by William Orbit

There's something about Mimi

2011-09-01T08:08:00.005-06:00

It was Mimi's (the awesome boot camp instructor's) last spin class this morning. I thought I'd take it to push myself. Whew! She does a lot of different things that really break it up - and challenge you to push yourself. This morning I gave it my all and had a real solid workout. Bonus is she always ends the class on time so I had time for my pushup challenge (40! Woo! Yes lots of those were girly but still!) AND a nice long shower and doing my hair...it's J's birthday today so I'd like to look nice :) I haven't had longer hair in about 6 years and so I'm relearning how to style it again now that it's past my shoulders again. I didn't really know what to do with it before, so this is all new to me!
I'm so glad J has taken the day off work just cuz it's his birthday and will be relaxing at home and reading and doing whatever pops into his head today. I left him in bed wih the cats and breakfast in bed and his present (I've had it since comicon and I've been dying to give it to him). It's been a busy month for him and he deserves the time to relax. Tonight the plan is to make him his fave meal (almond crust chicken and spaghetti squash with tapioca pudding for dessert) and we'll catch up on Doctor Who.
Love that man :)

I've got chia overnight oats again for breakfast...this time with an apricot. It's crazy how much I love this stuff. It's just different than anything I've ever had. I know I can't have it every day...or CAN I? Heh...soooo good :) Yay for crazy new foods!
Have a great day everyone. I know I will!

cha cha cha chia!

2011-08-31T11:00:00.005-06:00

Mmm...another day of overnight chia oats. With a peach? So good. I think I'll have to alternate with other breakfasts tho...it's rather fibretastic. Yeah. I'll leave it at that :)

This AM I was up and in for Ye Goode Olde Workout B with 26 minutes HIIT biking and abfest.
I had to make up for biscuit overload last night. Sometimes I am my own worst enemy - I make delicious things! I made biscuit bowls for the chili (had a brilliant idea to bake the biscuit dough divided up on an upside down muffin tin to make bowls) and they were insanely good...however I ate too many biscuits for someone trying to be healthy. I don't make biscuits often...I love them and they are one of my weaknesses.

It's odd. It was my monthly weigh in at the gym this AM, and I haven't lost any weight lately but I look like I have more muscle...so I'm wondering if I just need to be patient. Perhaps I'm losing fat but gaining muscle? I know from all the butt exercises I've been doing that my butt is a different shape now...more apple bottomed. So my pants fit different, which is strange, but I'm still the same size...and since I started focusing on my butt in June that was what I was trying to go for I should not be too discouraged I think. (I crave an actually shaped butt that jiggles instead of a flat pancakey butt that jiggles!)I still have 3 stubborn pounds from the holidays that I can feel a bit of from time to time, and am not quite at my bear headed bikini best again yet, but I do feel good...so I'm going to keep being attentive and let September be the month for complete holiday gluttony recovery. It will be tricky as I have to travel to Vancouver (!!!) for a conference/weekend and will be visiting my dad for a week (and it will be trickier to eat well and workout at the lake) but I won't go crazy and eat way too much like I did in the summer and I think all will be well. There is a gym in the hotel in Vancouver and I can do my home bootcamp at the lake, so I think (as long as I actually *do* it!) I will make it thru unscathed.

We shall see. It's all about planning ahead right?
Right.
:)

Pity

2011-08-30T13:33:00.002-06:00

It was my last boot camp class at the fitness center this morning. Pity. We all figured it would carry through the fall semester, but the scheduling didn't work out for the awesome instructor who does it so it will be back to spin and sculpt classes tuesday and thursday with the other instructor...which is OK. It's just that the boot camp is a real challenge, you know? Makes you feel alive! The other instructor isn't as hard core...she does a lot of experimental moves so you can't always get in good form all the time...she just is less my style than this instructor. We're trying to convince them to have another boot camp class, with another instructor if need be. This one rocked...I feel like just found out about it and it's done...:(

I had a healthy lunch and must be off to get more work done. It's been a busy day and I haven't been able to pop in until now. Lots to do!

Later taters :)

New breakfast ideas

2011-08-29T08:50:00.005-06:00

I finally found some chia seeds on the weekend and so I was able to try a new breakfast today. Last night I set up what has to be the easiest breakfast ever - chia overnight oats, using this recipe from Oh She Glows with probably closer to 1/2 c oatmeal (couldn't find my 1/3c measure cup and so I guestimated with my 1/2c one). I sliced up a peach with it this morning after my workout and added a splash of maple syrup and I must say - Yummy. A bit different texture than regular oatmeal, but a lot like rice pudding...which I love. I have a real texture thing so I wasn't sure if this would be gross (like overwet muesli) or good until I had some. The almond milk and banana and a hint of cinnamon made this deeeelicious and the chia really thickened it up like a pudding.. The peach pushed it over the top to heavenly. I wasn't sure if cold oats would be good, but wow. I sat at my desk making yum noises the whole time. I will definitely be making this again. It's like having rice pudding for breakfast. He hee...

Yesterday I ached in my legs and back and shoulders from my saturday home bootcamp, so I felt pretty smug, but I think the one legged hops did a number on my knee...if I do it again I'll be changing that to something else as my knee clicked a bit yesterday, which is a sign it's been stressed. It's a bit stiff this AM but nothing major. It's always a challenge to see what is "allowed" and what isn't with my knee. After a lazy sunday I was in to workout this AM doing my workout B with 28 minutes HIIT biking and my abfest.

I got my hair coloured on the weekend...it's rather red...I like it. It will fade shortly I'm sure, but it's fun for now :) I accidentally made the gym towel a weird color drying my hair...heh. Oops. I also got out to see Fright Night last night. Loved it. Even J, who came with me just to be nice, enjoyed himself. I saw the original in the 80's a zillion times, so I've been looking forward to it for nostalgia's sake. Seeing David Tennant play a very different role was amusing...it must be such fun as an actor to play outlandish characters :)

Well...it's science time. Must go be a good little labrat.
Hope you all have a great day :)

This one time, at bootcamp...

2011-08-27T17:25:00.002-06:00

I finally did my bootcamp here at home...
I wrote about it on my other blog...and am too tired after (and lazy. ahem.) to retype it. Soooo...have a looksee there if you like :)

Waiting is boring

2011-08-26T09:17:00.004-06:00

Well...I'm just sitting here waiting for the dishwasher repair dude. Our dishwasher has made a high squealy noise the last few times we used it so I stopped using before it got worse and called someone to look at it. Finally, 3 weeks later, on my day off, it is time. It sat for a bit and got all super funky (oops) so when I opened it last night and gagged at the smell I threw some cider vinegar in there and let it run a little bit a few times to try and deaden some of it...it helped a lot...but now the sound is intermediate. Grrr. I'm hoping I won't pay some guy a some $$ to look at it and go - "just run more vinegar thru it and you'll be fine..." or something like that. I know nothing about dishwashers. I'm itching to take it apart, but I'm worried it won't go back together and then I'll REALLY need it repaired :)
I'm just hoping it actually makes the noise while he is here or I'll feel really dumb. I just didn't want to cancel and then have it make the noise again. Or pay a bunch of $$ to a guy for doing nothing...oh well, we shall see. Someone told me you can clean it by putting Orange Tang in it and running it. I'm skeptical. I want to ask the guy if some CLR would be OK...It's stainless steel inside so I don't want to wreck it...or wait for the noise to get worse until it's totally dead. It's only a year and a half old...of course just past the warranty. Sigh.
Where's my robot maid when I need it?

At least, after all this I'm getting my hair coloured and cut, so that will feel good. When I get busy I ignore it and it's been 3 months and my hair needs a little love :)

I am proud that I *did* get up this AM on my day off and drive in to the gym and do my full Workout A with 30 minutes HIIT biking and abfest. I worked hard and came home to a nice hot shower and a breakfast of oatmeal (I tried it with an egg in it - not bad -made it nice and creamy) and some fruit (a banana and peach) and milk. Mmm...
And now I wait with coffee for repair dude.
Do de doo de doo...

Doo de doo de doo...

Apparently that woman can spin too

2011-08-25T08:16:00.007-06:00

The same lady who does the boot camp on tuesdays has a spin class thursday mornings so I dropped in for it and holeywhackadoodlepoof. It was a tough one! She's more my level of fitness than the other spin and sculpt person...good to know there is alternates for things to do when I get bored of the "usual" or want a change like this morning. I just have to watch the stand up sit downy portions and not do it too much to aggravate Mr. Rightgrumpeeknee and all is well. I feel proud after working hard like I did this morning. I mean -I did it! No turning the dial back...no resting. Go me. :)

I'm feeling pretty good about things...I feel like I'm recovering from the holidays a bit. I'm really making an effort to be under control with my food and drink enough water (not just live on coffee and diet coke. ahem.) I'm relearning what it feels like to be full. It takes me about 20 minutes after I eat to feel full, so I need to watch portions and wait. If I'm still hungry after an hour there are lots of things like apples and hummus I can have to top me up that last bit. It seems that mostly when I think I'm still hungry after a full meal a lot it's just being thirsty. It's strange how easily old habits come back... :)

I was teased by the bus driver this morning when I got on the bus...said he'd make sure I got off at the right stop today. And, so I did...all was good.
Just a quick pop in to log this morning's workout. And so, another day another molecular signalling transfer. I must be off to Sciencetown.
Have a great day everyone :)

Note to self: do not get lost in a book while on public transit...

2011-08-24T08:31:00.003-06:00

I learned today why it is important to pay attention to the world around you .
:P
It turns out that there is construction starting today on campus where I work, so the bus I take in the AM, instead of turning into campus as usual, drove along the main road in front of campus and had a few alternate stops instead. I read on the bus sometimes and know that when the bus turns in to campus I have 1 stop to get my junk together to get off at the physical activity building where I work out. Problem was - no turn into campus today...and I looked up from my book (A Visit From the Goon Squad) this AM to realise I'd just gone past campus and was now out on the freeway, heading northeast.
Oops.
Luckily, the bus goes every 10 minutes in the mornings, so I could get off at the first stop available, then cross the road and wait for the returning bus and get in to the gym to workout only 10 minutes behind schedule, feeling rather silly and chastised.
I finished my book tho! :)
I still got in 90% of my planned workout. I cut back on a few lunges and a set of crunches, but I still got in nearly all of Workout A with my abfest. Then I hopped on the arc trainer for 25 minutes of sweating on an interval program. I haven't been on it in months and it was nice for the change...I love it and it's tempting to use it more often but I know my knee will argue with me if I do so. It felt good today to do something a bit different - I went full out and burned 250 calories...and now I'm in to work as usual and ready for another day...in which I will try and pay better attention :)
Later taters!

Avoidance tactics 101

2011-08-23T08:22:00.002-06:00

Last night was an elaborate procrastination attempt by yours truly. I did eventually force myself to get some solid work done but I wasted a few hours doing everything *but* work...silly I know. But sometimes I just can't focus. I finally did, and then wished I'd gotten to it earlier as I had to quit at about 10:30 as I was tired enough I knew I'd make mistakes if I kept going...I will learn eventually. I am the queen of procrastination! :)

This morning was boot camp madness. Bwaha.
Ah that lady is lovely...she made me sweat. I actually got a stitch in my side at one point...that hasn't happened in a while! My shoulders and abs have that fuzzy feeling they get when you use them a lot. I feel rather invincible at the moment.
Yes. Success.
So I must be off. So very much to do.
Have a great day :)