Well whaddaya know

Well, I got up this morning and worked out again. I do believe I can do this. I DO need to do a little more planning with packing the night before so that I don't forget things when I'm running around and out the door to the bus (*cough* bra *cough*)...luckily I'm wearing a sweater...with a lab coat over top...yeah...slick I know...
Because I want my knee to be my friend I didn't go to the spin class today...instead I speedwalked 35 minutes on the treadmill at 7 KPH for 35 minutes...burned about 260 calories. Then some situps and some weights on my arms, back and the quad weigh work I've been told to do do strengthen my knees. I used the foam roller on my hamstrings too, as they're still really stiff. I have to say that overall I am surprisingly unstiff from swimming. I'm not *normal*, but it's just my shoulders and butt really...not as bad as I thought. I'm looking forward to going again tomorrow. I'm going to wear my heart rate monitor just once to satisfy my curiosity...even J asked if I'd worn it yesterday...he said he's noticed I've been more upbeat lately. I have been. :)

I haven't weighed myself in a while so out of morbid curiosity I stepped on the scale this morning to sort of get a baseline of where I'm at and wouldn't you know it - I weigh 130.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

!

That, my friends, is indeed the lowest I have been in a long long LONG time (like oh, say grade 9). It explains why I've felt good and fit lately and felt like my new clothes have fit well, even a bit loosely. It's good to know I can maintain my healthy weight. I've watched weight creep up on my coworkers and they just resign to it...and I am NOT going to let that happen to me. I refuse to go up more than 5 lbs without taking action. I feel very proud that I have managed to do that for a few years now - to just be healthy and still *live*...Maybe I will get down to that 125 I've always thought about wistfully. Don't get me wrong-I'm OK with myself now... I'm healthy. I just know there are ~ 5-10 pounds to go if I want to be all uberbuffed, and I honestly just haven't been quite willing to put in the extra oomph to get there. I've had a ticker to track what "happens" to happen, but I've just been glad to be healthy (doesn't stop me from thinking about every once in a while tho). I had honestly expected the number to be up a bit because I've eaten poorly lately and it's *that* time...but hey...sometimes it pays to look after yourself. This has made me think again...I just don't want to get all focused on weight and numbers...because they're not the point.
Maintaining health is so much trickier than losing weight. I don't want to go all crazy hard core...I just want to be fit. And I'm doing that.
Yipadee :)

Have a great day everyone.

swimming swimming in my swimming pool...

This morning I went swimming for the first time in over a year. The university gym pool has lane swim every tuesday and thursday mornings so I thought I'd check it out. I got there way too early and had to kill time, but I wanted to be sure i had time to change and get ready and ask my nerdy questions...and it all went fine. I swam lanes for about 25 minutes until I really couldn't swim much longer. I was counting laps but was really zen about it all and stopped after about 15 laps there and back and just kept swimming until 25 minutes was up. I used flippers for most of it. I don't know if it is a better workout with them but I go further so I feel better...I know my entire legs are very...fatigued. It felt nice tho - the pool is a nice ambient temperature so I didn't get hot or cold and there were lots of people there, but everyone was friendly and I wasn't the slowest swimmer there (which surprised me). I think I will definitely make it a ritual of at least once a week, if not twice. It's different. I like different. I wimped out and didn't wear my heart rate chest strap. I think I'll just be content in what the internet says I burned for slow steady swimming for 25 minutes - about 250 calories. I'm more in it for the overall fitness and not hurting my knee.

I am a bit concerned as my hamstrings are wound up tight -I did a bunch of stretching this morning waiting for the pool and have been doing stretches. I think I'm going to make a point of doing some quad work on the weights tomorrow to make sure I don't put out my knee again. The doctor that looked at my knee originally recommended simple leg weight work I could do to help strengthen my knee...I guess half the issue can be the muscles in the back of my leg getting tighter and pulling things out of alignment so they can rub. If I can work to strengthen the front of my thighs, hopefully it will keep things where they should be and not rub (and make me sore in even MORE interesting places. Fun fun). My upper body has been OK (a bit stiff...) but it's my legs mostly protesting at what I've had them doing this past week. I'm not overdoing it (I don't think) but I am pushing myself. I'm working hard, but listening to my body and not doing anything that hurts and stopping when I'm fatigued. Hopefully I won't overdo things...I love how it feels and I want to be able to keep doing this.

I think tomorrow I'm going to just walk on the treadmill and do the leg lifts and take it easy...no spin class. I don't want to do too much too soon. I'm really bad for that. Here's hoping in a few weeks I won't be so stiff. It's not unbearable or anything...but it is very noticeable I've been working out :)

I've been eating healthily all week as well, which I'm pleased of. I'm not trying to lose weight or anything (altho if a few pounds came off I wouldn't mind) - I'm trying to develop good eating habits in my crazy schedule...have healthy snacks. Like my new desk snack: Fruit d'Or dried cranberries...they're a canadian company that sells and produces organic healthy fruit snacks and juices together with organic maple syrups. A nibble of 15 or 20 of them is a sour/hunger killing snack. I like them. They're sweetened with a bit of maple syrup and the only ingredients are cranberries, maples syrup, sugar and oil. No chemicals...I like. They were on sale when I saw them last week and so I hope that doesn't mean they won't be sold at my grocer anymore because I LOVE them...

I've also been given a great gift from our chinese grad student - a "travel buddy" tea infuser from China. He had one and I kept raving about it so he had a friend send me one. I LOVE it. It's a thermal bottle designed to make tea in- it's vented but you can still screw on the cap so you can toss it in a bag AND the bottom comes off and lets you put whatever loose tea in it you like. So I can drink tea whenever I like and not spill it...I'm going to get my liquids into me however I can if it kills me! I don't like water on it's own...it needs something in it, so I can start having herbal teas (I have apple tea this morning -yum) as well as water. I have a bunch of crystal light lemonades but I'm not entirely comfortable with drinking that much aspartame...I've been adding just a bit of it to my water bottle and not a whole package. I just need "something" in the water for me do drink it...I've learned this.

I've got granola and yogurt at work and I think on the days I workout the granola, yogurt and a piece of fruit will be my breakfast. It keeps my hunger in check *almost* as well as oatmeal. I'm planning on experimenting with making oatmeal the night before and reheating it ans see how I like it...I'm big on texture so it'll come doen to how mushy it is...we shall see...

ANYways...I'm off to lunch before my break is over (Mmmm...borscht)and back to work...stiffness and all. I'm curious how 25 minutes of swimming will make me feel tomorrow...

Holy cardio batman

Well. I have now experienced the strange hellish glee that is a spin class.
I made it to the gym this AM and thought I'd try out their 6:30 AM spin class....never went to one before. WOW....holy cardio. I was sweating like a damp glowy pig by the end of it all...what a solid workout! I am pleased that I managed to keep my asthma in check (just barely) and had a crazy good workout - according to my robot I was in my cardio zone for 42 out of the 45 minutes and burned 398 calories...I figured since I've been biking to work all summer it was the safest bet for starting out as far as a fitness class went, and it's theoretically good for my knee, so hey - why not? I'm up for new things. I'll have to remember my inhaler next time so I can push myself a little more. Unfortunately their bike seats aren't as comfy as mine...but I suppose I'll live :)

I'm a little miffed at how the centre runs the classes as they have sign up sheets that only come up 2 days before the class and they only have 10 spots, with 10 open as walk ins. Usually the sheets are full by the time I get to them, so I'll just have to try my best to be here on time to get in the class as a walk in...I find I push myself harder with someone telling me what to do. I forgot how much I like classes...:)

And now I'm having a banana, and some granola stirred in some yogurt and starting out my day. Not bad so far for a monday. I love that I got to see the sunrise over the river this morning on the bus...there were lots of clouds and the sky was red - Gorgeous. :)
This weekend I sort of indulged at a family supper last night (there was schnitzel people...I LOVE me some schnitzel) so it felt good to burn off some of that and just feel the gloriousness of movement and breathing and sweating...it's kind of like a moving meditation for me...when I get into a cardio zone I just...well I just feel *good*. :)
Tomorrow is free lane swim so I do believe I'll be checking out the pool. I'm very excited...unfortunately I don't think I can wear my Polar heart rate monitor chest strap in the pool (does anyone know if I could? I threw out the box so I"m not sure...), but I'll just have to guess at what I'm doing to myself...I haven't swum seriously in years so it may be more mad flailing, but hey...gotta start somewhere right?

And I learned something today - 1% milk (which I drink all the time...can't get down to skim..it's like water...blech) is essentially the same in calories and fat as buttermilk (like 8 calories and .2g of fat difference for a cup!). Awha? I had no idea. All this time I've avoided cooking with it even though it makes some things taste so much better because I thought it was super fattening. This opens a lot of ideas for cooking and baking...coolio...

Have a great day all :)

Success!!

Day one on the new regime has actually come to pass!!
I finally did it! I managed to get up, have breakfast and catch the 6am bus. My bus stops right in front of the gym on campus at about 6:25 (bonus because it has been raining for days...) and I went in and checked the place out. The class for today was cancelled so I put my stuff away and worked out in the gym...man it feels good. I did 34 minutes on the treadmill speed walking with brisk arms at about 7 KPH and couldn't resist jogging a few 2 minute stints. My heart rate monitor says i was in heart rate zone for 30 minutes and burned about 285 calories (and went 5.5K). Cool...
Then I used the ball and some free weights to do a few sit ups and push ups and a few lunges and had time for a shower and grabbed a coffee on the way to work.
The gym is nice....I do believe I'll try to get there at least 3 days a week...I'm excited to check out the pool too...if it's as nice as the rest of the place I will declare this to be the best "free" gym membership ever :)

I've got a healthy chef's salad packed for lunch and have so much energy. I forgot about that cool part of exercise :) It probably helps that we were old fuds and went to bed at 9:30 last night because we were both exhausted and so I feel fantastic today. Lots of sleep. Cool!
Have a great day everyone :)

Bus annoyances

I am beginning to think the world has issues with me working out in the mornings.
This morning I got up early to catch the bus to campus and use the gym here. I somehow missed my bus by mere seconds and then sat waiting in the shelter for the next bus...which with the new bus schedule came in 30 minutes, which effectively ate up my workout time. I know that had I been early for the bus, it would have been late. It's just the way the bus goes...I will miss my bike when the snow comes. Only having to bus it when it's raining is nice. Schedules can be rather erratic.
I'm just trying to get the logistics of the gym figured out for the future...perhaps I can go there saturday after my MSc work. We'll see.

I'm beginning to think working out at home makes more sense...I really do want to swim twice a week, but the key ingredient in that would be actually making it to the pool :)

I'll keep trying.

Still sane. Well as sane as I was :)

This AM I got up extra early (5:45) and continued my last night's stream of organising and getting my sh*t together. There is now a pantry full of healthy food. The house is sane...ish. The cats are tended. I figure if I make an effort to keep on top of life, maybe it won't combust...I've started classes and stayed late to make up time and my head did not in fact explode as I at first thought it might yesterday. My 2 classes look to be all practical stuff I'm sort of familiar with (HELLO directed graduate learning! I think I love you !).

I even made healthy lunches and had a solid breakfast...I was actually going to do my ball DVD this AM strangely but I got up in robot mode and went right into the shower on autopilot and at about shampoo rinse-off time I realised I'd sort of skipped that part...but fear not people! All is not lost. Because I'm still fitting exercise in. It and healthy eating are becoming a part of life...and I'll fit more in. It will happen :)

To keep up with life, last night I walked briskly home from work for about 40 minutes. I'm glad I did as I ran into an old friend I haven't seen in ages on the way home, and my answering machine message I left for J about it on the way home prompted him to walk out and meet me halfway home, so we got a nice brisk walk at dusk home together. I love walking along the river with J...it's one of my favourite things. And this AM I biked to work to get a little exercise in...and tonight I'm gonna do my ball DVD when I get home from my brothers...or the elliptical. One or the other. It *will* happen...because it matters to me. My lungs are still beat up from being sick, but the more I do the better I'll get.

I am approaching the realisation that most days I will be able to keep it together. My old dear friend Cindi has a great blog, where she takes the time to post about things that matter to her and inspirations she's come to over time in her job or life...and one of her most recent posts really struck a chord with me - that when something is important to you and *really* matters, you make the time for it, even if it means giving up something else. It's all about priorities. What you choose to be important. Sure you can't have *everything*...but you can make time for the things that matter if they mean enough to you...

And I've decided I just need to keep my priorities straight because I'm pretty damn special- J, me...everything will have it's place. I made the harsh call that bellydance will have to be left out this semester even tho I love it, because there's no time to practice what I learn in my lessons...so I'll use that hour instead to workout. And next semester when my 2 classes are up I'll reevaluate my time. Day by day.

We can do this. I know we all can. ;)

Dilemma

I was just given a bunch of fresh low bush cranberries.

What do I do with them??
Ideas pretty please....
I'd love to try making a homemade granola bar only with them in it...
If only I had a dehydrator...

Oh no, I gotta go back to school...

Yeah - the best intentions can get hit over the head with a frying pan and pressganged...




I intended to come to work early, check out the gym and get organized on my "first day of classes" (I'm a student again - eep!).
And what do I do? Forget manuscripts I have proofed and have to hand in at 8AM sharp so I had to go ALL the way back from the busstop to my house (it was raining so I couldn't bike) and so I missed the early bus...and got to the stop again JUST in time for work. They revamped all our bus schedules as of today, so I have to leave 15 minutes earlier than normal to get to work at the same time...I did make it to work *just* on time, but unfortunately not with any spare time.
No healthy breakfast (just a muffin) and no workout plans...yet. I'll have to make the time to stop by tonight after work...grrr.
I want to know all about the campus gym and where I go and all that so that I don't waste any time. I'm planning on doing my exerball DVD monday, wednesday and friday for september and coming in to the gym for either swimming or a spin class tuesday and thursday and maybe even saturday. Here's hoping I can stick to this. We shall see. I really want to get this to work for my life...I can't ignore ME in all this crazyness...

It feels like a bit of a gong show until I can get things together. It's "test" week here...waiting for it all to settle into place...


The Pink Ladies Pledge is to look cool, to act cool and to be cool...
(It's at 4:00...yes I'm a nerd. An OLD nerd...Hee hee...I love this movie...)

Cha cha changes

Lately I've been noticing my taste buds are...maturing. I now really like a ripe firm tomato. I can tolerate raisins in some things now, altho they're still mostly too sweet for my taste. More of a cereal or trail mix sort of liking now. Mustard is OK sometimes...and strangely (used to be a salt fiend) salt is sooooo last year. And black olives? I like them now. I don't care for sweet pickles much anymore (except still in grilled cheeses sandwiches made with Cheez Whiz, but I don't much like Cheez Whiz anymore so it's kind of a moot point) and now love a good crisp dill pickle (didn't care for them that much before). I even dig some red wines (mostly Riojas) now...

I don't know if I'm using up some taste buds or just eating differently has woken up some new ones, but man - it's strange. The biggest thing for me is *liking* tomatoes. Actually choosing to eat them and not just in a sandwich or a sauce...as long as they aren't soft and mealy they are deeeeelicious. It's encouraging me to try more things...and try them a few times to see if I do like them. Sometimes different isn't bad...it's just a new flavour.

Still don't like cilantro tho.
Soap city....

whew!

Heh...got a workout in today...got up early to make J breakfast (it's his birthday and I won't see him much at all today. Yeah it's like that...:) )....then I left for the bus 3 times and walked partly there only to have to return for something... 3 times. Yeah. So I ended up having to bike madly instead to get to work on time because I missed my bus...into the wind...
Whew!
I drank my fruit smoothie that was supposed to be my relaxing breakfast for the bus when I got to work.
What a busy day and it hasn't even started :)

Seems like yesterday has continued on unobstructed. Last night I was at work until (blech) 9:30, but on my way home from the bus I had a brain wave and stopped at the grocery store and bought a small preroasted chicken and a few salads. Yum...so for $10 I had a healthy yummy supper when I finally got home. I was starving (I had a banana and some trail mix at work, but those only go so far...) and I knew I'd just eat a lot of whatever easy to make crap I saw first if I didn't find something to eat that was good for me...and this was perfect. Already made :)
And - even better - I've got more leftover "instant" chicken for lunch today as part of a chef's salad and used the rest to make my birthday boy a chicken salad wrap for his lunch too. Yum.

Instant chickens...I love you.
But not quite as much as J...happy birthday JJ :)

music to bike frantically to work to: Futureheads: The Futureheads