Snack time: a distinctively average snack

While buying my current addiction last night, almond sweet & salty granola bars (Nature Valley...they're like crack...seriously people. Eat one. They are so good.) I saw these coffee flavoured granola bars and though I'd grab a box to try them.

I know I know, but I like coffee and I like granola bars and vanilla bean stuff is always good...well usually.

I had one at coffee break and man - SUGAR! They didn't taste bad, they just weren't particularly good either. Compared to the sweet and salty bars that make me drool just thinking about them, these are the definition of "meh". And WAY too much sugar for my liking. And about 40 more calories a bar than my current addiction. So back to the regular crack, er, I mean granola bars. These ones: Eat these ones. They are YUM...

Delicious...

B is for bananas

Well...still at it. (don't mock...2 days is good! :P)
This morning I crawled out of bed at 5:15 and went out for a run/walk/wheeze. By 5:30 I was out in the dawn light...it was a beautiful morning, about 12 degrees C. I got to see the stars a bit before the sky got light. I alternated walking 2 minutes and jogging 4 minutes 6 times...36 minutes total. I admit I wasn't running the fastest I ever have, but it was being out there on my feet this morning that counted. I didn't die, and I was careful not to give myself a side stitch by breathing properly and remembered my water. I did a thorough stretch out after (I forgot how good it feels) with 2 cats trying to crawl on my head at any opportunity.

Then - my reward: a banana strawberry smoothie. After my shower, before work I blended up the following:
1 c soy milk
1/2 banana
1c frozen strawberries
1/2 a frozen peach
1 T flax powder
1/2 t honey.

YUM. This is officially my new breakfast after running. I even got a little bottle with a straw and handle which is just the right size to hold a 10 oz fruit smoothie and keep me from spilling it all over myself on the bus. SCORE!

So day 2? So far so good.
And I feel great. I'd forgotten how happy those endorphins can be.
Have a good day all :)

Music to wheeze by: Chemical Brothers - We are the Night

A is for abs

Well, it's officially day 1 at the back at it plan.
I had a nice weekend...I confess I indulged a bit, a few beer and ordered in pizza, as I knew as of today it would be back at it with diet and exercise, but I don't think I did any super damage...I didn't go too crazy or anything.
This morning I got up, had some breakfast and did my exercise ball DVD. I can tell it's been ages, as my legs and abs are complaining more than they should, but it felt good to work out again. I will eat breakfast after I workout I think...the stomach work on the ball made my stomach feel blech with all that cereal in there...live and learn I suppose. And or course BOTH cats felt the needed to help me, but I think they'll get used to it again and stay back a a safe distance once their tails are rolled on a few times.
Now it's just being good today and having a healthy supper.
Off to a good start I think!

Waddleyatchah!

Well...seeing as my life is returning to what I would call normal, and allergy season hasn't totally kicked my ass, I'm going to begin my workouts again next week. I plan on doing my ball DVD mon/wed/fri and running (OK, walking, jogging and wheezing) on tuesday and thursday. In October I'll switch the running to 3 days a week and ball to 2.

I am 134. This excites me. I'd like to get below 130 by Christmas. Maybe 125 by next summer. I've always dreamed of weighing 125. Do I dare to dream??? And is a number the important thing? Perhaps with my muscles back 130 will be just peachy. Who knows. I seem to have settled in nicely around this weight, and J and I are on a new thing - portion control and healthy food. Now that my friend (who had a deep love of cream sauces and oils and delicious but unhealthy foods) is moved out on his own, I can really focus on preaparing healthy food for J and I. It'll be tricky, but I'd like to have a serious go at it. J has lost about 10 pounds as of late and it's given him the kick to get back at it. I've gone back to my pre-christmas weight and it's encouraging me too.

I've signed up again for the 5K breast cancer run on Oct. 5, so I need to get in some training before the day of. I'm running in memory of my friend Shirley. Despite being thinner, my lungs *suck* at the moment, what with it being harvest, and no regular exercise for the past while. I need to get them in better shape...I don't like using my inhaler so much. Besides, in a month or so it'll be icy and I won't be able to run any more. So I'd like to get in as much as I can before then. Getting really sick in June really screwed up my fitness and I've let it slide. It's so easy to slack off!

So, as of monday here we go. Regular posts. Exercise. Healthy food.

Waddleyatchah!

Weeding workouts.

I'm going to spend the afternoon weeding the yard.
I can't focus at work and I've taken a fw days off...of course now I have too much time to focus, so I'm looking for something...anything to do for a bit. Given the jungle overtaking my yard, it should really be weeding. So off I go.

I was surprised this morning to find I'd lost a few pounds beyond the few I'd lost while on camping trips this summer and weigh 134. Good I suppose, but I'm not pleased with having lost my food fetish. It seems that cooking has lost it's fun right now...so eating has become simple and plain. Still very healthy and nutritious, but not so elaborate or fatfilled. Apparently dealing with stress makes me eat better. Who knew? Maybe I'll finally crack the 130 mark I've daydreamed about for years...at least I'm not gorging on food to make myself happy. Suppose I should be greatful for that. A few years ago I'd have packed on the pounds. Now it seems a silly way to hide from my emotions. Besides, I've run out of peaches.

Anyone know how many calories weeding is worth per hour?
I'm curious. With the amount of weeds in my yard I could seriously start up an exercise chain if it's worth a bit.
Hmm...anyone want a membership at Jungles R Us??
You could compost for free!

and tomorrow and tomorrow

Well not only was I up late, but it was raining this morning...so that sort of was that.
Tomorrow...tomorrow...

well...maybe I should get at things

Despite my life still being rather a steaming pile...I think some fitness would do me good. I've taken time to get my head together and now maybe my body could use a bit of help too. It's supposed to help with stress right?
Sooo...tomorrow morning I'm going to get up and run. It may be more of a wheezy pleading with God to take me now before I die (I haven't run in almost a month) but you have to start somewhere. I'll be happy with 3 min run intervals...we'll see. I need to do something and it will be a start. If I survive, I'll post :)
There are some really big thing I'm trying to deal with (and help others deal with) right now...but I guess 1 day at a time will be the start and the ongoingness of it all. No quick solutions, and not all up to me.
What will be will be. Running around in circles will give me something to do in the interim I suppose...

BRB

Be back in a while when I've got my head together.

Be well. Eat your veggies. Hug your cats...

Pie anyone?

I brought back a case of peaches from BC and they are all now ripening at the same time.
I've got a helluva lot of peaches to do something with. So I'm gonna make a bunch of pies. It'll keep me occupied and they'll be damn good.
I could freeze them but it seems like a waste of delicious, in season peaches...
Anyone got any ideas for something good with peaches??

Breathing in and out

Due to the rather spectacular implosion of my personal life, my workouts have been more than a bit shit at the moment...but I know I need to look after myself. The weather is very hot (+30) so I'm trying to find things to do indoors...soon I 'll figure it out...and when I do workout, I'll log it.
I'm still here...honest. I've tried to walk home from work despite the heat as often as I can, and will drag out my bike if I can find somewhere to shower here at work so I don't send everyone running away from my sweaty self (at the mo the only shower I know of to use is in the morgue attandants prep room...I just can't bring myself to go in there to shower yet...we'll see)
Thanks for checking in.
I'm still here...