I made meatloaf today, based on a recipe from PaleoPlan.com. Their recipes are usually pretty good, or at least edible.
Anyway, I left out the coconut milk and hot sauce and put in crushed red pepper instead. Next time I'm going to up the almond meal a bit and throw in an extra egg.
Christopher ate seconds and even got up to get them himself. We put green beans on the side. I particularly enjoyed them together. It was a successful experiment!
Salmon cakes are up next.
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Monday, December 24, 2012
2012 Lookback
2012 has been one of those years, exactly like every other year!
The biggest things that have happened to me are pretty few. It's been a whirlwind of a year, though.
I found the man I'm going to marry (and yes, he knows he's going to and has already agreed to it).
I found Paleo, and I've been waffling between it and SAD for months now.
I got hit by a triple whammy of injuries late this summer.
I joined my dojo and competed in my first tournament this summer.
I switched to a shop that granted me more independence.
This has been a good year, despite ups and downs. I've said goodbye to an adopted grandfather and one of my best friends; one was easier than the other. I took leave over Thanksgiving. I learned to make French onion soup (I'm pretty good at it).
I discovered a lot about myself. I ran two 5k races and had a blast. I'm still working on the bow and my archery skills. I can't wait for next year and all that comes with it!
The biggest things that have happened to me are pretty few. It's been a whirlwind of a year, though.
I found the man I'm going to marry (and yes, he knows he's going to and has already agreed to it).
I found Paleo, and I've been waffling between it and SAD for months now.
I got hit by a triple whammy of injuries late this summer.
I joined my dojo and competed in my first tournament this summer.
I switched to a shop that granted me more independence.
This has been a good year, despite ups and downs. I've said goodbye to an adopted grandfather and one of my best friends; one was easier than the other. I took leave over Thanksgiving. I learned to make French onion soup (I'm pretty good at it).
I discovered a lot about myself. I ran two 5k races and had a blast. I'm still working on the bow and my archery skills. I can't wait for next year and all that comes with it!
Sunday, December 23, 2012
Application
I'm not a scientist. I read about science from my forays into diet, fitness, and animal husbandry. I also have farm experience. In short, science could have really helped me out. I may have stuck with my original science major in college. I ended up in History.
I just never could get the theory down. There was nothing in science class that helped me to understand much past photosynthesis. (I haven't spelled that one in a long time.) Chemistry was particularly hard for me. Physics was easier. Biology floats somewhere in the middle. I have a hard time understanding science that I can't see. Physics was all about using what we observed - probably why I did rather well.
For my entire life, as far back as I care to remember, application has been the hardest thing for me to do. I have a lot of knowledge stored in my brain. The humanities were the best place for me to excel; however, I am able to handle learning anything. When it comes to applying knowledge, I always have struggled, even with simple expectations: taking out the trash, folding the laundry. I knew how to do it, and I knew it had to be done... but doing it.
That's the problem with my Paleo/Primal adventures, attempts, and efforts. I have all the knowledge I need to have a successful Paleo/Primal/WholeFoods/Ancestral lifestyle. It's just doing it that makes it so hard!
I love to work out. The satisfaction of being able to squat 100 lbs was so cool. That was me before the Marine Corps. Now, nearly three years, several chronic inflammation-based injuries, and two weight-control stints later, I can squat 65 lbs. My overhead press is now at 40 lbs. I only love to work out when I'm the one working me out, instead of a crazy sergeant or staff NCO. My most recent achievement was trying and succeeding at 18-in box jumps. I'm not as fast as I am doing 12-in jumps, but I can jump for 18 in. I know what I like to do, and I know what works. So do it, right?
I'm only committed to one "Slay-N-Play" Day a week at the gym. I'm not a huge fan of spending hours at the gym, but I really like my Slay-N-Play workout. It's heavy on leg work, but hits the upper body too. I don't just do free weights, though that is my focus. I do some kettlebells, I squat, I press, I row, I deadlift, and I even bench press. If I'm not too dead, I throw some plank work in too. There's a reason I only do this one time a week. First, I work four twelve-hour shifts every week, and my hours start at 3 AM. I'm typically exhausted at the end of a day sitting at my desk. It's hard to find time to get to the gym those days. That means I have three days off every week, and I hit the gym pretty hard one of those days. I can find time one day to kill myself on the weights. I am going to add another committed day to the week, but I haven't come up with anything as catchy as "Slay-N-Play" yet.
I had a mentor tell me that once you identify your sticking point, you have to act on it. For me, I've discovered it's application. I have the worst application record probably ever.
So here's the point of this ramble: Why is it so hard to apply the principles of Paleo, etc. to my life? I hope I'm not the only one. Given some time to think, here's what I've come up with:
I just never could get the theory down. There was nothing in science class that helped me to understand much past photosynthesis. (I haven't spelled that one in a long time.) Chemistry was particularly hard for me. Physics was easier. Biology floats somewhere in the middle. I have a hard time understanding science that I can't see. Physics was all about using what we observed - probably why I did rather well.
For my entire life, as far back as I care to remember, application has been the hardest thing for me to do. I have a lot of knowledge stored in my brain. The humanities were the best place for me to excel; however, I am able to handle learning anything. When it comes to applying knowledge, I always have struggled, even with simple expectations: taking out the trash, folding the laundry. I knew how to do it, and I knew it had to be done... but doing it.
That's the problem with my Paleo/Primal adventures, attempts, and efforts. I have all the knowledge I need to have a successful Paleo/Primal/WholeFoods/Ancestral lifestyle. It's just doing it that makes it so hard!
I love to work out. The satisfaction of being able to squat 100 lbs was so cool. That was me before the Marine Corps. Now, nearly three years, several chronic inflammation-based injuries, and two weight-control stints later, I can squat 65 lbs. My overhead press is now at 40 lbs. I only love to work out when I'm the one working me out, instead of a crazy sergeant or staff NCO. My most recent achievement was trying and succeeding at 18-in box jumps. I'm not as fast as I am doing 12-in jumps, but I can jump for 18 in. I know what I like to do, and I know what works. So do it, right?
I'm only committed to one "Slay-N-Play" Day a week at the gym. I'm not a huge fan of spending hours at the gym, but I really like my Slay-N-Play workout. It's heavy on leg work, but hits the upper body too. I don't just do free weights, though that is my focus. I do some kettlebells, I squat, I press, I row, I deadlift, and I even bench press. If I'm not too dead, I throw some plank work in too. There's a reason I only do this one time a week. First, I work four twelve-hour shifts every week, and my hours start at 3 AM. I'm typically exhausted at the end of a day sitting at my desk. It's hard to find time to get to the gym those days. That means I have three days off every week, and I hit the gym pretty hard one of those days. I can find time one day to kill myself on the weights. I am going to add another committed day to the week, but I haven't come up with anything as catchy as "Slay-N-Play" yet.
I had a mentor tell me that once you identify your sticking point, you have to act on it. For me, I've discovered it's application. I have the worst application record probably ever.
So here's the point of this ramble: Why is it so hard to apply the principles of Paleo, etc. to my life? I hope I'm not the only one. Given some time to think, here's what I've come up with:
- Sugar addiction, and sugar is in everything.
- Convenience of food.
- Failure to plan accurately for needed food.
- Failing to take the time to eat.
- Mass cooking days!
- Preconceived notions of exercise and time.
Saturday, December 22, 2012
Love
Oh Hi!
I am drinking an obscene amount of white wine and watching TED videos. I am really not a big fan of white wine, but as long as I feel warmth in my toes, I am doing fine.
Today's post is entitled Love because I am getting married in, oh, three months, and I am still madly in love with this man I'm getting hitched to.
Here are ten proofs in the pudding:
1. Chris doesn't complain when the monthly visitor comes around.
2. He always laughs at my jokes even when they're really, really, really bad.
3. He got me a teddy bear when he picked me up from the airport five days after we officially started dating.
4. He rubs my feet.
5. He helps with the dishes, even when he really doesn't want to.
6. He is actually very smart even though he wants to hide it.
7. He tries to encourage me every way he can (mostly successfully).
8. He just enjoys getting me drunk.j
9. He likes my cooking even when he doesn't.
10. He feeds me all the time.
Don't worry, there are more reasons I am in love with this man. I have three more months to find more things to love!
I am drinking an obscene amount of white wine and watching TED videos. I am really not a big fan of white wine, but as long as I feel warmth in my toes, I am doing fine.
Today's post is entitled Love because I am getting married in, oh, three months, and I am still madly in love with this man I'm getting hitched to.
Here are ten proofs in the pudding:
1. Chris doesn't complain when the monthly visitor comes around.
2. He always laughs at my jokes even when they're really, really, really bad.
3. He got me a teddy bear when he picked me up from the airport five days after we officially started dating.
4. He rubs my feet.
5. He helps with the dishes, even when he really doesn't want to.
6. He is actually very smart even though he wants to hide it.
7. He tries to encourage me every way he can (mostly successfully).
8. He just enjoys getting me drunk.j
9. He likes my cooking even when he doesn't.
10. He feeds me all the time.
Don't worry, there are more reasons I am in love with this man. I have three more months to find more things to love!
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Foam rolling
Foam rolling is the devil. It has been helping, but it can be so painful!
I use it primarily on my IT band and butt muscles, with a little bit on my low back. I guess it's helping, but how in the world do people do it every day? I try, and it makes my legs hot.
Last night after karate I spent some serious time on the roller, especially my IT band. My legs were hot to the touch after about ten minutes when I finished up. I wonder if this is normal or if it is a sign of inflammation.
Time to do some research!
I use it primarily on my IT band and butt muscles, with a little bit on my low back. I guess it's helping, but how in the world do people do it every day? I try, and it makes my legs hot.
Last night after karate I spent some serious time on the roller, especially my IT band. My legs were hot to the touch after about ten minutes when I finished up. I wonder if this is normal or if it is a sign of inflammation.
Time to do some research!
600 Calories?
A day, people. 600 calories a day. With the exception of one 1200 calorie day, in the past five days I've eaten about 600 calories every day and maxed my water consumption.
It hasn't been a great five days. See, I have weight control issues. I've been half-assedly trying to control my weight using Primal/Paleo style eating. The problem with that was that I was eating too much, period. Then, to add insult to stupidity, I kept cheating, to the point that I may have eaten Primally at breakfast. So now, at the end of my second assignment to weight control, I'm cutting weight once again.
What this week has taught me is that I am strong enough to say no to grains, one more time. I am strong enough to count my calories and truly keep a mindful eye on my food. I am able to eat less meat and more veggies when I am hungry. A little bit of mayo makes six ounces of canned tuna go down a lot easier. I may not eat tuna for a month after these few days of almost all tuna.
But the first thing I do after I make weight will be to go get a gallon of water, a big Gatorade, and a milkshake to go with my breakfast of a slice of bacon and two large eggs scrambled with diced green peppers. I personally love the nightshade family, even potatoes in small quantities. What would I do without chili?
I am back in love with Sprouts grocery stores. I went to fresh & easy, but the meat is just not as good. Might be something to this fresh-ground nonsense.
It hasn't been a great five days. See, I have weight control issues. I've been half-assedly trying to control my weight using Primal/Paleo style eating. The problem with that was that I was eating too much, period. Then, to add insult to stupidity, I kept cheating, to the point that I may have eaten Primally at breakfast. So now, at the end of my second assignment to weight control, I'm cutting weight once again.
What this week has taught me is that I am strong enough to say no to grains, one more time. I am strong enough to count my calories and truly keep a mindful eye on my food. I am able to eat less meat and more veggies when I am hungry. A little bit of mayo makes six ounces of canned tuna go down a lot easier. I may not eat tuna for a month after these few days of almost all tuna.
But the first thing I do after I make weight will be to go get a gallon of water, a big Gatorade, and a milkshake to go with my breakfast of a slice of bacon and two large eggs scrambled with diced green peppers. I personally love the nightshade family, even potatoes in small quantities. What would I do without chili?
I am back in love with Sprouts grocery stores. I went to fresh & easy, but the meat is just not as good. Might be something to this fresh-ground nonsense.
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Turkey Trot!
I ran my very first Turkey Trot this Thanksgiving in Oceanside, CA (conveniently close to where I live). I finished in 29:30 or something close to that. I've wanted to run a Turkey Trot for a long time but never really got up the gumption.
My dad in his heyday (thirties, I guess) ran 7 miles 5 or 6 days a week, and Turkey Trot shirts were once in abundance at my house. They seem to have all faded into transparency after more than thirty years of wash and wear. Now I have one to continue the Turkey Trot family tradition!
It was the biggest race I've ever tried to run, with thousands of people running, walking, or getting in the way of the runners.
My dad in his heyday (thirties, I guess) ran 7 miles 5 or 6 days a week, and Turkey Trot shirts were once in abundance at my house. They seem to have all faded into transparency after more than thirty years of wash and wear. Now I have one to continue the Turkey Trot family tradition!
It was the biggest race I've ever tried to run, with thousands of people running, walking, or getting in the way of the runners.
Sunday, November 18, 2012
I don't exist on Mondays!
Today is Sunday, a sabbath for many people, and often a harder day than most others for me, and not always because I work (which I don't, anymore). It's all the things I do for my "culture" in the Marines.
Monday, in the real world, is the start of the workweek. It's typically the start of the garrison workweek as well, but it means field day for my unit. Lately, there's been some "issues" with field day, and as usual no one even knows what they are. The current company gunnery sergeant can't drive on base because he got a DUI. Yet he's in a high-profile billet and allowed to judge other (junior) Marines on their choices that don't get people killed, typically. I speak of field day and room cleaning. Unless, of course, your shop approves of bleaching the room with enough bleach to force me, living three rooms down the hall, to leave the barracks due to choking on fumes or to leave a corporal sick enough to be unable to work for a day. Common sense, people. But it's also the day of private lesson and karate class. These are far more important for me than my room being sterilized for that next day's inspection. The company guns wants all evidence of human habitation removed from sight. I of course, refuse. I have to cook my meals, execute bodily functions, and otherwise live in my room. I refuse to disappear for one to two days of every week so that my room looks like I don't live there.
So I clean up on Sunday to make sure I'm good for Monday evening and Tuesday inspection. Things to do, people. Things to do.
Monday, in the real world, is the start of the workweek. It's typically the start of the garrison workweek as well, but it means field day for my unit. Lately, there's been some "issues" with field day, and as usual no one even knows what they are. The current company gunnery sergeant can't drive on base because he got a DUI. Yet he's in a high-profile billet and allowed to judge other (junior) Marines on their choices that don't get people killed, typically. I speak of field day and room cleaning. Unless, of course, your shop approves of bleaching the room with enough bleach to force me, living three rooms down the hall, to leave the barracks due to choking on fumes or to leave a corporal sick enough to be unable to work for a day. Common sense, people. But it's also the day of private lesson and karate class. These are far more important for me than my room being sterilized for that next day's inspection. The company guns wants all evidence of human habitation removed from sight. I of course, refuse. I have to cook my meals, execute bodily functions, and otherwise live in my room. I refuse to disappear for one to two days of every week so that my room looks like I don't live there.
So I clean up on Sunday to make sure I'm good for Monday evening and Tuesday inspection. Things to do, people. Things to do.
Saturday, November 17, 2012
Fitocracy plus simple workout
I'm typically wary of many fitness or nutrition or meal-tracking sites. I think they're useful for many people, but I'm not great at getting workouts put into the online trackers.
Well, a few days ago I stumbled onto Fitocracy, and so far, I've logged what I've done. The point of Fitocracy is that you get points for each workout you log (so don't cheat and log fake workouts- it's tempting). I don't really know how They calculate the number of points each exercise is worth, and some exercises are hard to find matches for, but in the beginning, it's quite easy to level up with regular exercise. My hour-long karate classes are worth quite a number of points. As the usual with these points-based levels, the lower levels require fewer points to achieve. I'm already level 6!
It's not been inspiration to go run three or four miles at a time yet, but it certainly helps me stay on track with my little exercises. Since I checked this morning and had 27 points to make level 6, I thought "This is a great time to do a simple pre-breakfast workout that just gets my blood moving a little and wakes me up! Then I'll level up!"
I hope that I continue to level up and earn points. I also came up with a workout idea that is really flexible, simple, and probably not new. You take 3 exercises, any that you want, and you do three sets of ten repetitions in a circuit. This morning I did pushups, squats, and planks. It's not a hard workout, I suppose, but it's a great format for a beginner, I think, or someone like me that isn't great at designing or sticking through long and involved workouts. I imagine you could make this quite challenging, by doing high repetitions or putting on a weight vest, and you have lots of options for including sprints.
Well, a few days ago I stumbled onto Fitocracy, and so far, I've logged what I've done. The point of Fitocracy is that you get points for each workout you log (so don't cheat and log fake workouts- it's tempting). I don't really know how They calculate the number of points each exercise is worth, and some exercises are hard to find matches for, but in the beginning, it's quite easy to level up with regular exercise. My hour-long karate classes are worth quite a number of points. As the usual with these points-based levels, the lower levels require fewer points to achieve. I'm already level 6!
It's not been inspiration to go run three or four miles at a time yet, but it certainly helps me stay on track with my little exercises. Since I checked this morning and had 27 points to make level 6, I thought "This is a great time to do a simple pre-breakfast workout that just gets my blood moving a little and wakes me up! Then I'll level up!"
I hope that I continue to level up and earn points. I also came up with a workout idea that is really flexible, simple, and probably not new. You take 3 exercises, any that you want, and you do three sets of ten repetitions in a circuit. This morning I did pushups, squats, and planks. It's not a hard workout, I suppose, but it's a great format for a beginner, I think, or someone like me that isn't great at designing or sticking through long and involved workouts. I imagine you could make this quite challenging, by doing high repetitions or putting on a weight vest, and you have lots of options for including sprints.
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
THANKSGIVING!!!
My favorite holiday is right around the corner! This year is my first time trying to put together a full meal (four courses, so far) for the Big Day.
It's double-hard because I'm trying to only cook for 2 + leftovers. It's so easy to cook for huge amounts of people. Just one serving? Complete pain.
Here is the proposed menu:
Appetizer: Bacon-based spinach cheese wraps
French onion soup (sans toast)
Fresh greens side salad topped with a little bit of salmon and dill, olive oil dressing
Roasted Rosemary Turkey Breast
Lima beans (not particularly paleo, but I love them so haters shut up)
Green beans with diced ham
GRAVY!!!
Mashed white vegetable (I'm considering my options but may fall back on cauliflower.)
One or two mashed potatoes for the beloved (He does not want to give in to paleo.)
Sweet potato/butternut squash
Paleo Pumpkin Gingerbread Cake (hold the frosting)
I feel like this won't be enough food! What am I missing? I have soup, salad, main course, sides, and dessert. I know! Appetizers!
Hmmm. Ants on a Log. Something stuffed with spinach cream cheese. Bacon-wrapped anything. Aha! Bacon-based spinach cheese wraps! We'll see how this goes. Bacon, cooked, with wilted spinach topped with mozarella cheese.
It looks good in my head, hey!
It's double-hard because I'm trying to only cook for 2 + leftovers. It's so easy to cook for huge amounts of people. Just one serving? Complete pain.
Here is the proposed menu:
Appetizer: Bacon-based spinach cheese wraps
French onion soup (sans toast)
Fresh greens side salad topped with a little bit of salmon and dill, olive oil dressing
Roasted Rosemary Turkey Breast
Lima beans (not particularly paleo, but I love them so haters shut up)
Green beans with diced ham
GRAVY!!!
Mashed white vegetable (I'm considering my options but may fall back on cauliflower.)
One or two mashed potatoes for the beloved (He does not want to give in to paleo.)
Sweet potato/butternut squash
Paleo Pumpkin Gingerbread Cake (hold the frosting)
I feel like this won't be enough food! What am I missing? I have soup, salad, main course, sides, and dessert. I know! Appetizers!
Hmmm. Ants on a Log. Something stuffed with spinach cream cheese. Bacon-wrapped anything. Aha! Bacon-based spinach cheese wraps! We'll see how this goes. Bacon, cooked, with wilted spinach topped with mozarella cheese.
It looks good in my head, hey!
Friday, November 2, 2012
Being Busy... or Not So Much?
Today I realized that I'm a very busy person, or possibly I just view myself as a very busy person. I feel that I have a lot to do and not very much time to do it. This last week was rough: I was broke, almost out of food, there was fraud on my bank account, my weight hadn't budged for a couple weeks, and numerous other tiny things that always happen to everyone.
I'm not terrifically organized, and "things" always seem to pop up: fraud, problems or issues at work, fighting with boyfriend. I'm easily distracted. I haven't watered my poor, sun-starved aloe plant for about a week now. I haven't looked at my day planner for a few days, either.
I know I have plenty of time to get a lot of administrative tasks done, work, take care of my home (room), cook, eat, and sleep, but some days I feel like I don't get all of the blocks checked. For instance, I've been running around this morning after cooking breakfast and working out getting a snafu at work straightened out. (It's my day off!) Since I've gotten home, I've looked at the breakfast dishes, laundry, and other miscellaneous cleanups and just said "no".
How do people organize, prioritize, and get things done? In our multi-tasking society, we think we can and should be able to fit 25 hours worth of work in a 24 hour day. So we double-book, plan to do two, three, or more things at one time, and wonder why we're tired. I'm usually the first one to say "I'm tired" and beg off social events, work, and chores.
The things I think I need to learn from this are:
1. Prioritize tasks.
2. Do one thing at a time, and do it well.
3. Plan ahead and try to leave room for surprise tasks.
Honorable Mention: instead of saying "I'll do these two errands at the same time" say "I'll do these two errands on the same trip" or "I'll complete both of these tasks by this deadline".
Probably the key thing I've learned in my journey to "Git-R-Done" status (meaning being dependable and being on top of things) is to Relax, Evaluate, Change. First, if something goes awry, don't panic. Take a breath. For example, I missed an early-morning appointment. I phoned in, apologized, and rescheduled. I missed another early-morning appointment, and did the same thing I did the first time. Both were missed due to sleeping through my appointment time. So I evaluated my appointment times, and decided to change my preferred appointment time from early morning to later in the morning. This didn't require any official paperwork, just a small change in when I set my appointments. If you have a consistent problem with something in your life, like forgetting to pay a bill, evaluate why you might be putting it off (no money in the paying account, acknowledging a failure to meet a financial goal), and try something new (setting up auto-pay with your bank, writing bills every week instead of once a month). Always give a change a couple of weeks to settle in, and re-evaluate. So far, my later-morning appointments have worked well.
I'm getting better at being busy, but I have a long way to go!
I'm not terrifically organized, and "things" always seem to pop up: fraud, problems or issues at work, fighting with boyfriend. I'm easily distracted. I haven't watered my poor, sun-starved aloe plant for about a week now. I haven't looked at my day planner for a few days, either.
I know I have plenty of time to get a lot of administrative tasks done, work, take care of my home (room), cook, eat, and sleep, but some days I feel like I don't get all of the blocks checked. For instance, I've been running around this morning after cooking breakfast and working out getting a snafu at work straightened out. (It's my day off!) Since I've gotten home, I've looked at the breakfast dishes, laundry, and other miscellaneous cleanups and just said "no".
How do people organize, prioritize, and get things done? In our multi-tasking society, we think we can and should be able to fit 25 hours worth of work in a 24 hour day. So we double-book, plan to do two, three, or more things at one time, and wonder why we're tired. I'm usually the first one to say "I'm tired" and beg off social events, work, and chores.
The things I think I need to learn from this are:
1. Prioritize tasks.
2. Do one thing at a time, and do it well.
3. Plan ahead and try to leave room for surprise tasks.
Honorable Mention: instead of saying "I'll do these two errands at the same time" say "I'll do these two errands on the same trip" or "I'll complete both of these tasks by this deadline".
Probably the key thing I've learned in my journey to "Git-R-Done" status (meaning being dependable and being on top of things) is to Relax, Evaluate, Change. First, if something goes awry, don't panic. Take a breath. For example, I missed an early-morning appointment. I phoned in, apologized, and rescheduled. I missed another early-morning appointment, and did the same thing I did the first time. Both were missed due to sleeping through my appointment time. So I evaluated my appointment times, and decided to change my preferred appointment time from early morning to later in the morning. This didn't require any official paperwork, just a small change in when I set my appointments. If you have a consistent problem with something in your life, like forgetting to pay a bill, evaluate why you might be putting it off (no money in the paying account, acknowledging a failure to meet a financial goal), and try something new (setting up auto-pay with your bank, writing bills every week instead of once a month). Always give a change a couple of weeks to settle in, and re-evaluate. So far, my later-morning appointments have worked well.
I'm getting better at being busy, but I have a long way to go!
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
OMG NOMS New Recipe Tried!
So yesterday I bemoaned my lack of vegetables lately. I've been pretty high sugar, high protein- not a great mix. I was also bored with chicken stir fry, pot roast, and "beef stew". Thrilled to have the huge amount of recipes available to me through the internet, I went a-seeking.
And I found!!! This recipe is from Paleo Plan. I have never tried anything on this site, even though I have visited a time or two before. Fortunately, this first try was a huge success. It's called Light Vegetable Soup. It's very simple, very flavorful, and doesn't take much thyme. No, I'm serious. It does take a little. It was a big hit with the boyfriend, and I had trouble waiting til he got home to eat it all. He thought it needed more pepper, and I think I agree. You can add more if you wish.
Ingredients:
I followed the recipe pretty exactly, except for my failure to purchase thyme. The soup was so delicious that I can't wait to do it again with the thyme. Since this recipe is a) small, and b) light, I recommend doubling or more for anyone more than two. If you eat bread, it would be great paired with a nice crusty loaf. That destroys the Paleo aspect, but it is a great recipe for paleos and SADs to try.
It is recommended that the cook also throw on a grilled chicken breast to make it a complete meal, but if you have a sport practice or an exercise class, this soup makes a great in-betweener meal.
And I found!!! This recipe is from Paleo Plan. I have never tried anything on this site, even though I have visited a time or two before. Fortunately, this first try was a huge success. It's called Light Vegetable Soup. It's very simple, very flavorful, and doesn't take much thyme. No, I'm serious. It does take a little. It was a big hit with the boyfriend, and I had trouble waiting til he got home to eat it all. He thought it needed more pepper, and I think I agree. You can add more if you wish.
Ingredients:
- 1 Tbs coconut oil
- 1/4 cup diced onion
- 1 large carrot, thinly sliced
- 1 medium zucchini, thinly sliced
- 2 tsp fresh parsley, chopped
- 1/4 tsp dried or 2 sprigs fresh thyme
- 1/8 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 2 cups vegetable broth
- In a 1 1/2 quart saucepan, cook onion in coconut oil until translucent.
- Add all other ingredients except vegetable stock.
- Cover and cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes.
- Add stock, increase heat and bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat to medium and cook until vegetables are soft, about 15-20 minutes.
- Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
- Optional: Remove 1/2 cup soup from pan and reserve; pour remaining soup into blender and process at low speed until smooth.
- Combine pureed and reserved soup mixtures in saucepan and cook, stirring constantly until hot.
I followed the recipe pretty exactly, except for my failure to purchase thyme. The soup was so delicious that I can't wait to do it again with the thyme. Since this recipe is a) small, and b) light, I recommend doubling or more for anyone more than two. If you eat bread, it would be great paired with a nice crusty loaf. That destroys the Paleo aspect, but it is a great recipe for paleos and SADs to try.
It is recommended that the cook also throw on a grilled chicken breast to make it a complete meal, but if you have a sport practice or an exercise class, this soup makes a great in-betweener meal.
Monday, October 22, 2012
To-Do Lists
Is anyone good at to-do lists?
I'm certainly not the best. I make myself do most of the unpleasant things I do because I feel they need to be done. Mostly these involve tasks like cleaning up, cooking, planning, and personal health. That doesn't make them pleasurable or even immediately necessary.
To-do lists are one of those things that I am excellent at making but not very good at checking off. I feel like the biggest weakness for me in that respect is simply priorities. To be honest, I don't have solid priorities. I have tons of them coming at me from a thousand directions, but internally, I am lost.
There are things I have to do, or face punishment from work. My job has the capacity to completely control all of my time, down to the minutes I sleep and when I use the toilet. Fortunately, we are given a small amount of personal responsibility. Unfortunately, sometimes our priorities are dictated to us. I'm not talking about work-related tasks; I mean when we clean our rooms and what our goals for personal health are.
Hazard of working for the government.
My to-do list include appointments, work, chores, cleaning, and dates with my boyfriend. It also tends to include things like PHA (annual doctor check up), random call-ins, paperwork deliveries.
I feel like imposed to-do lists are nonsense, and take away from my ability to take control and responsibility for my own self. How do we deal with some other person (not a God/diety/supreme being) having utter control over every aspect of our lives?
I do try to plan... but when everything is constantly disrupted, I get discouraged.
I'm certainly not the best. I make myself do most of the unpleasant things I do because I feel they need to be done. Mostly these involve tasks like cleaning up, cooking, planning, and personal health. That doesn't make them pleasurable or even immediately necessary.
To-do lists are one of those things that I am excellent at making but not very good at checking off. I feel like the biggest weakness for me in that respect is simply priorities. To be honest, I don't have solid priorities. I have tons of them coming at me from a thousand directions, but internally, I am lost.
There are things I have to do, or face punishment from work. My job has the capacity to completely control all of my time, down to the minutes I sleep and when I use the toilet. Fortunately, we are given a small amount of personal responsibility. Unfortunately, sometimes our priorities are dictated to us. I'm not talking about work-related tasks; I mean when we clean our rooms and what our goals for personal health are.
Hazard of working for the government.
My to-do list include appointments, work, chores, cleaning, and dates with my boyfriend. It also tends to include things like PHA (annual doctor check up), random call-ins, paperwork deliveries.
I feel like imposed to-do lists are nonsense, and take away from my ability to take control and responsibility for my own self. How do we deal with some other person (not a God/diety/supreme being) having utter control over every aspect of our lives?
I do try to plan... but when everything is constantly disrupted, I get discouraged.
Monday, October 15, 2012
Book Review: The Gift of Valor
The Gift of Valor by Michael M. Phillips is the story of Cpl Jason Dunham's Medal of Honor citation. Cpl Dunham was a U.S. Marine who served in Iraq. He was born in New York, lived there until he joined the Marine Corps, and came home there.
Cpl Dunham's heroism stemmed from his true leadership of his men. He was willing to truly lead, rather than play head games and go on power trips, and this allowed his men to fully trust him. In the greatest way, Cpl Dunham deserved their trust.
During a patrol in Husaybah, Iraq, Cpl Dunham's squad came under attack, and Cpl Dunham was singly attacked by an Iraqi who held a hand grenade. During the struggle, the pin was pulled, and the grenade was about to explode. Cpl Dunham placed his kevlar helmet over the grenade and laid his body on top. His body was protected by SAPI plates (modern body armor) from throat to hips.
When the grenade detonated, Cpl Dunham was severely wounded, and after being evacuated with his team, was placed in the expectant ward. Evaluators determined he was good to be flown home, and despite the severity of his wounds, was still alive when he reached home soil. Unfortunately, his brain was injured too badly for the doctors at Walter Reed to give a good prognosis, and Jason Dunham would remain in a vegetative state on life support.
Dan and Deb Dunham bravely read their son's Living Will, which stated that he did not want to remain on life support in a vegetative state. They stood vigil by their son's bedside while he received his Purple Heart and took his last breath. They honored their son.
Cpl Jason Dunham received the Congressional Medal of Honor for his courage represented by his actions that day in Iraq. All hail the honored dead!
This book was a hard book to read, because you already know the end. Cpl Jason Dunham does not survive the grenade blast that he protected his team from. The author, Michael M. Phillips, is a reporter, which shows in the writing style. The writing is human, and the storyline jumps around a bit, almost how I would have thought about tackling the writing on this event. Mr. Phillips shows the reader the person Jason Dunham was in his life, which is a huge challenge for any person. He successfully tells the tragic part of the story with grace and honor.
Cpl Dunham's heroism stemmed from his true leadership of his men. He was willing to truly lead, rather than play head games and go on power trips, and this allowed his men to fully trust him. In the greatest way, Cpl Dunham deserved their trust.
During a patrol in Husaybah, Iraq, Cpl Dunham's squad came under attack, and Cpl Dunham was singly attacked by an Iraqi who held a hand grenade. During the struggle, the pin was pulled, and the grenade was about to explode. Cpl Dunham placed his kevlar helmet over the grenade and laid his body on top. His body was protected by SAPI plates (modern body armor) from throat to hips.
When the grenade detonated, Cpl Dunham was severely wounded, and after being evacuated with his team, was placed in the expectant ward. Evaluators determined he was good to be flown home, and despite the severity of his wounds, was still alive when he reached home soil. Unfortunately, his brain was injured too badly for the doctors at Walter Reed to give a good prognosis, and Jason Dunham would remain in a vegetative state on life support.
Dan and Deb Dunham bravely read their son's Living Will, which stated that he did not want to remain on life support in a vegetative state. They stood vigil by their son's bedside while he received his Purple Heart and took his last breath. They honored their son.
Cpl Jason Dunham received the Congressional Medal of Honor for his courage represented by his actions that day in Iraq. All hail the honored dead!
This book was a hard book to read, because you already know the end. Cpl Jason Dunham does not survive the grenade blast that he protected his team from. The author, Michael M. Phillips, is a reporter, which shows in the writing style. The writing is human, and the storyline jumps around a bit, almost how I would have thought about tackling the writing on this event. Mr. Phillips shows the reader the person Jason Dunham was in his life, which is a huge challenge for any person. He successfully tells the tragic part of the story with grace and honor.
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Reader Reads: The Bachelor's Cat
The Bachelor's Cat: A Love Story by L.F. Hoffman is about a bachelor, who rescues a cat, that helps him learn to love, which in turn leads to his successful life.
It was an interesting read, with the almost-not-happy ending catching me by surprise. It's a story told in bits and pieces, snippets of a man's life with his cat, his woman, and a rotating ex-girlfriend. There are no names but one: Frankie, the cat. Frankie is the most important element in the entire story, as befits the cat!
Looking for a quick read, a neat and heartwarming story, or something to flip through in the waiting room? Pick this one up. Also works as a late-night reader for insomniacs.
It was an interesting read, with the almost-not-happy ending catching me by surprise. It's a story told in bits and pieces, snippets of a man's life with his cat, his woman, and a rotating ex-girlfriend. There are no names but one: Frankie, the cat. Frankie is the most important element in the entire story, as befits the cat!
Looking for a quick read, a neat and heartwarming story, or something to flip through in the waiting room? Pick this one up. Also works as a late-night reader for insomniacs.
Book Review: Why We Do What We Do
Why We Do What We Do: Understanding Self-Motivation
Edward L. Deci
This book was fascinating to me! I picked it up on a whim after I read The Power of Habit in B&N. I thought that a little more reading into the topic would be fun. Mr. Deci explains how he became interested in what motivates us, and through his and his colleagues' research, made the discoveries he has in the field. The primary argument that the author makes is that external motivation is false and leads to a false sense of self and a lack of autonomy. Intrinsic motivation is the only way to build up the autonomy of the individual. I also learned that "autonomy", "individuality", and "independence" are all very different things, but are often used as the same. The relationship between autonomy and responsibility is complicated, but an autonomous individual is often very responsible. In essence, autonomy is the option of making a choice, instead of feeling coerced or forced into an action. Rewards, consequences, and the one-up relationships that complicate our autonomy are discussed in depth.
The book is written well, and reads easily, though it's probably not going to go easily for a tired reader. Some of the concepts take a little thinking to grasp fully, but are valuable and immediately applicable, both to the self and to others.
Edward L. Deci
This book was fascinating to me! I picked it up on a whim after I read The Power of Habit in B&N. I thought that a little more reading into the topic would be fun. Mr. Deci explains how he became interested in what motivates us, and through his and his colleagues' research, made the discoveries he has in the field. The primary argument that the author makes is that external motivation is false and leads to a false sense of self and a lack of autonomy. Intrinsic motivation is the only way to build up the autonomy of the individual. I also learned that "autonomy", "individuality", and "independence" are all very different things, but are often used as the same. The relationship between autonomy and responsibility is complicated, but an autonomous individual is often very responsible. In essence, autonomy is the option of making a choice, instead of feeling coerced or forced into an action. Rewards, consequences, and the one-up relationships that complicate our autonomy are discussed in depth.
The book is written well, and reads easily, though it's probably not going to go easily for a tired reader. Some of the concepts take a little thinking to grasp fully, but are valuable and immediately applicable, both to the self and to others.
Friday, October 5, 2012
How to Cook: Recipes
I'm not a recipe cook.
Some people that make foods (especially bakers) cook by strict recipes: exactly one level cup of that, one tablespoon of this, a heaping teaspoon of that. Cakes are the weird one- you do want to stick pretty closely to the recipe due to fluffiness factors.
However, I'm going Primal. No flour (grains), yeast (grain puffer/flora imbalancer), no sugar. I can't actually say yeast messes up your gut flora, but I'm going to research that. It's a personal opinion that is likely wrong. That means most of the particular recipes that go with flour are out of bounds. Bread, that's not a recipe food. Throw yeast, flour, butter, and sugar, with maybe an egg into a bowl, mix, add a little water, knead, let rise, knead, let rise, bake. I used to love to make bread.
A little history of me as a cook: I started messing with food with my sister in an attempt to make pinwheel cookies. We mixed the white part and the chocolate parts together and had nice light brown cookies. Dad might have helped with that. We were about four and five, and we didn't know that the pinwheel part of pinwheel cookies came from splitting the dough into brown and white and rolling two layers together.
I successfully made dog biscuits that were moist and chewy. They tasted horrible and were too salty. The dogs didn't complain though.
Cabbage stew, which is not a stew at all, was part of a recipe collection in fourth grade. It's cabbage, beef broth (or veggie broth), potatoes, and maybe corned beef. I thought I was a chef. It's good though. Mom still makes it for Erin when she complains.
Though we wrote down the recipe for cabbage stew and at least had a recipe for the cookies, my best successes came in college when I didn't really follow a recipe. I sort of had a recipe for Mom's potato soup (still working on mastering that one), but I would typically just throw some things together in a pan and call it delicious.
Recipes are good, but I haven't yet found them very necessary. I've tried to record a few methods a time or two. Tuna salad, for example, needs just enough mayo to make it sticky, a good squirt of mustard, and a spoon of pickle relish.
My mother doesn't make the same thing twice. She makes her potato soup by the same guidelines every time, but sometimes is very thick, cheesy, and creamy, and other times it's pretty watery. You add some flour... but that's the directions.
The point is, recipes are not laws you have to follow. Don't have sea salt? Use regular. No sense wasting a recipe. Use sweet potatoes instead of regular. Skip the sugar. Play, experiment, try.
Don't have ground beef, but you have sausage? BINGO. My mom and I cannot make chili together. She uses hot sausage, and I use ground beef. They don't mix! Mom's Chili is about the only thing I don't like to eat that she makes. For me, half the fun in cooking is flying by the strings on your apron. You can't guess what might suddenly go missing, be spilled by the cat, or overcook right at the wrong minute.
If you're making a massive dish, don't experiment with totally new methods. Cook small first. You know what you like without having to eat a lot of food that didn't turn out to taste good to you or having to throw it away. You don't need a recipe as much as you need your senses, your common sense, and a dash of instinct.
Some people that make foods (especially bakers) cook by strict recipes: exactly one level cup of that, one tablespoon of this, a heaping teaspoon of that. Cakes are the weird one- you do want to stick pretty closely to the recipe due to fluffiness factors.
However, I'm going Primal. No flour (grains), yeast (grain puffer/flora imbalancer), no sugar. I can't actually say yeast messes up your gut flora, but I'm going to research that. It's a personal opinion that is likely wrong. That means most of the particular recipes that go with flour are out of bounds. Bread, that's not a recipe food. Throw yeast, flour, butter, and sugar, with maybe an egg into a bowl, mix, add a little water, knead, let rise, knead, let rise, bake. I used to love to make bread.
A little history of me as a cook: I started messing with food with my sister in an attempt to make pinwheel cookies. We mixed the white part and the chocolate parts together and had nice light brown cookies. Dad might have helped with that. We were about four and five, and we didn't know that the pinwheel part of pinwheel cookies came from splitting the dough into brown and white and rolling two layers together.
I successfully made dog biscuits that were moist and chewy. They tasted horrible and were too salty. The dogs didn't complain though.
Cabbage stew, which is not a stew at all, was part of a recipe collection in fourth grade. It's cabbage, beef broth (or veggie broth), potatoes, and maybe corned beef. I thought I was a chef. It's good though. Mom still makes it for Erin when she complains.
Though we wrote down the recipe for cabbage stew and at least had a recipe for the cookies, my best successes came in college when I didn't really follow a recipe. I sort of had a recipe for Mom's potato soup (still working on mastering that one), but I would typically just throw some things together in a pan and call it delicious.
Recipes are good, but I haven't yet found them very necessary. I've tried to record a few methods a time or two. Tuna salad, for example, needs just enough mayo to make it sticky, a good squirt of mustard, and a spoon of pickle relish.
My mother doesn't make the same thing twice. She makes her potato soup by the same guidelines every time, but sometimes is very thick, cheesy, and creamy, and other times it's pretty watery. You add some flour... but that's the directions.
The point is, recipes are not laws you have to follow. Don't have sea salt? Use regular. No sense wasting a recipe. Use sweet potatoes instead of regular. Skip the sugar. Play, experiment, try.
Don't have ground beef, but you have sausage? BINGO. My mom and I cannot make chili together. She uses hot sausage, and I use ground beef. They don't mix! Mom's Chili is about the only thing I don't like to eat that she makes. For me, half the fun in cooking is flying by the strings on your apron. You can't guess what might suddenly go missing, be spilled by the cat, or overcook right at the wrong minute.
If you're making a massive dish, don't experiment with totally new methods. Cook small first. You know what you like without having to eat a lot of food that didn't turn out to taste good to you or having to throw it away. You don't need a recipe as much as you need your senses, your common sense, and a dash of instinct.
How to Cook: Spice Girl
I'm learning how to cook Primally. If you don't know what that means, check out http://www.marksdailyapple.com. Essentially, it means eating meat, fruit, and vegetables with good fats and oils, and leaving out legumes and grains, as well as, and especially sugar.
My biggest issue with cooking my own food? Spices. The simplest and most complicated part of cooking is spices. I am good at exactly two spices: garlic and salt.
Primal cooking means escaping from cans, boxes, bags, and plastic containers. That means no more convenient little chili seasoning packets. It also means that I have no idea what to do, since I usually just eat veggies steamed and enjoy the flavor. Chili is my current challenge. There are lots of spices in chili.
(Side note: I accidentally got mild California chili powder up my nose. It's an interesting feeling. I wonder if it's like those space traveler guys from Dune feel like when they go through their spice trials.)
My primary seasoning is garlic. There aren't too many things that I cook that I won't add either fresh garlic or garlic powder to. The main exception are fish dishes. I like dill on those. Salt has its own health-related issues, so I try not to cook with it. A pinch here and there does a body good, but not a big pinch. Like a little itty bitty pinch.
One of my goals is to learn how to spice food. I think this will involve a significant amount of experimentation. I like to experiment when I cook; however, no one wants to experiment on a dish that's to feed them for five days and get it wrong - desperately wrong. So I started with chili. Chili's pretty safe, spice-wise, and I hope it turns out well. I'm also making the leap of no-bean chili! It's exciting, but I really do enjoy beans. Even the gas is fun around Marines! Ok, not really.
My biggest issue with cooking my own food? Spices. The simplest and most complicated part of cooking is spices. I am good at exactly two spices: garlic and salt.
Primal cooking means escaping from cans, boxes, bags, and plastic containers. That means no more convenient little chili seasoning packets. It also means that I have no idea what to do, since I usually just eat veggies steamed and enjoy the flavor. Chili is my current challenge. There are lots of spices in chili.
(Side note: I accidentally got mild California chili powder up my nose. It's an interesting feeling. I wonder if it's like those space traveler guys from Dune feel like when they go through their spice trials.)
My primary seasoning is garlic. There aren't too many things that I cook that I won't add either fresh garlic or garlic powder to. The main exception are fish dishes. I like dill on those. Salt has its own health-related issues, so I try not to cook with it. A pinch here and there does a body good, but not a big pinch. Like a little itty bitty pinch.
One of my goals is to learn how to spice food. I think this will involve a significant amount of experimentation. I like to experiment when I cook; however, no one wants to experiment on a dish that's to feed them for five days and get it wrong - desperately wrong. So I started with chili. Chili's pretty safe, spice-wise, and I hope it turns out well. I'm also making the leap of no-bean chili! It's exciting, but I really do enjoy beans. Even the gas is fun around Marines! Ok, not really.
Thursday, October 4, 2012
Book Review: From the Heart
From the Heart: Seven Rules to Live By
Robin Roberts
Robin Roberts presents her life philosophy with seven "rules". They're very simple guidelines taht make sense to her (and me), probably because I've heard most of them before. Combined with her personal stories of her journey in broadcasting and journalism, growing up, and her family, this book is a heartfelt reflection of the principles by which one successful woman has lived her life.
Please, please read this book! It's short and interesting, and Ms. Roberts makes many interesting points about true success in careers!
This book was very fun to read. I'm a very fast reader, so I finished it in a morning. I got several other books to read and review. In the future, expect to see a variety of books on a variety of topics. I'm going to shoot for one book a week. That should keep me pretty busy. Topics I'm exploring now include motivation, habits, and brain stuff.
Robin Roberts
Robin Roberts presents her life philosophy with seven "rules". They're very simple guidelines taht make sense to her (and me), probably because I've heard most of them before. Combined with her personal stories of her journey in broadcasting and journalism, growing up, and her family, this book is a heartfelt reflection of the principles by which one successful woman has lived her life.
Please, please read this book! It's short and interesting, and Ms. Roberts makes many interesting points about true success in careers!
This book was very fun to read. I'm a very fast reader, so I finished it in a morning. I got several other books to read and review. In the future, expect to see a variety of books on a variety of topics. I'm going to shoot for one book a week. That should keep me pretty busy. Topics I'm exploring now include motivation, habits, and brain stuff.
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Reading List
- The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey
- The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch
- Change Your Words, Change Your Life: Understanding the Power of Every Word You Speak by Joyce Meyer
These are the first three books I'm putting on my self-improvement reading list. I hope to add more and review these in the coming weeks.
I lost it...
I lost a lot of focus recently. I realized I skipped an entire month of blogging and writing in general. Even posting on Facebook hasn't been that attractive to me lately.
I recently have been considering my situation as a whole, including my finances, personal relationships, work, career future, and a host of other concerns. I'm trying to get real about my life and take charge of things. I'm getting nowhere, but I'm trying.
I have been reading some self-improvement style books. I read a couple of books that really hit home with me.
The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman. I wish I would have read this when I first heard about it, now that I've read it. I didn't buy it, mostly because my relationship, while committed, is a dating relationship, and it's only a few months old. Gary Chapman's observations are applicable to any relationship. Family, friends, spouses, even business relationships can be improved with the application of the five love languages. It's applicable to any religion or spiritual system, even though Mr. Chapman is a Christian counselor. Relationships are hard work, but learning how you express love and how your partner feels loved makes it so much easier. I've decided that when I get engaged to be married, I will ask my partner to read the book and discuss it with me. It was an eye-opener for me, and I think it would be for many others as well. There is a website where you can find a quiz that can score your love language: http://www.5lovelanguages.com. My love language is Acts of Service, followed closely by Quality Time.
Rich Dad, Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money by Richard Kiyosaki is a story of how the author learned how to become rich and manage money. I am learning to be a good financial manager, but I haven't got a clue. He clues you in to many things the rich teach their children about money and wealth, and brings up an interesting opinion: the rich protect their money from the government, while most of us just work to pay the government more money. Money management is still a lot over my head (I struggle with basic budgeting), but the book is a smooth read and pretty easy to understand.
The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do by Charles Duhigg. Mr. Duhigg takes the reader on a very science-based ride through how our brains work, and the cycle of habit. I need to re-read it in order to get the most out of it. There's a lot of studies that he cites and examples he uses to make his ideas clear. If you don't understand why you can't seem to break that one stubborn habit, I would recommend this book. The author gives practical advice to help break a habit permanently. The research he presents in his book about how we reprogram habits and why we can easily go back to bad habits or old habits is particularly interesting.
I'm in the process of selecting more books to read at Barnes & Noble. I'm trying to save money, so libraries and reading in the bookstore are two things I'm doing, especially since I need to make some investments in my future.
I recently have been considering my situation as a whole, including my finances, personal relationships, work, career future, and a host of other concerns. I'm trying to get real about my life and take charge of things. I'm getting nowhere, but I'm trying.
I have been reading some self-improvement style books. I read a couple of books that really hit home with me.
The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman. I wish I would have read this when I first heard about it, now that I've read it. I didn't buy it, mostly because my relationship, while committed, is a dating relationship, and it's only a few months old. Gary Chapman's observations are applicable to any relationship. Family, friends, spouses, even business relationships can be improved with the application of the five love languages. It's applicable to any religion or spiritual system, even though Mr. Chapman is a Christian counselor. Relationships are hard work, but learning how you express love and how your partner feels loved makes it so much easier. I've decided that when I get engaged to be married, I will ask my partner to read the book and discuss it with me. It was an eye-opener for me, and I think it would be for many others as well. There is a website where you can find a quiz that can score your love language: http://www.5lovelanguages.com. My love language is Acts of Service, followed closely by Quality Time.
Rich Dad, Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money by Richard Kiyosaki is a story of how the author learned how to become rich and manage money. I am learning to be a good financial manager, but I haven't got a clue. He clues you in to many things the rich teach their children about money and wealth, and brings up an interesting opinion: the rich protect their money from the government, while most of us just work to pay the government more money. Money management is still a lot over my head (I struggle with basic budgeting), but the book is a smooth read and pretty easy to understand.
The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do by Charles Duhigg. Mr. Duhigg takes the reader on a very science-based ride through how our brains work, and the cycle of habit. I need to re-read it in order to get the most out of it. There's a lot of studies that he cites and examples he uses to make his ideas clear. If you don't understand why you can't seem to break that one stubborn habit, I would recommend this book. The author gives practical advice to help break a habit permanently. The research he presents in his book about how we reprogram habits and why we can easily go back to bad habits or old habits is particularly interesting.
I'm in the process of selecting more books to read at Barnes & Noble. I'm trying to save money, so libraries and reading in the bookstore are two things I'm doing, especially since I need to make some investments in my future.
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Taking Control of One Thing, and it's BIG.
My diet has been OUT OF CONTROL lately.
I didn't realize how off the mark I was until I started writing down my food for the current 6-week challenge. It's no wonder I haven't been losing weight or changing anything. I haven't really changed anything!
In fact today I finished up my butternut squash ravioli for breakfast.
It's about the half-way mark of the challenge, and I've not made some of the changes I planned to make, especially with my diet. I still sneak grains as burger rolls, eat ice cream a pint at a time (treat hound), and overeating- oh my. I can say now I'm aware of the walk not matching up to the talk. The key seems to be planning. I hate planning, despise it, hold it in low regard; mostly because I never think my plans will work out, or when I do plan, there is that monkey wrench that I can't control, and I didn't consider, so I'm all done in.
I don't control a lot of things in my life. For instance, my work schedule and rhythm are completely outside of my control. I work a twelve-hour shift. The expectation is that you will eat at your desk or in the shop while working, thinking about work, or doing paperwork. Work starts at 3 am, so it's dark. I never feel like eating til about four am, but from 5 to 6 am I have a work-mandated PT session, which I get to make up at the end of my 12-hour shift, because it's not ordered from the shop but from battalion. And then there's the stay-late approach... you have to stay late if the work isn't done. My reaction? I'm not deployed, fuck off. There's not enough of interest in my field to keep me at work for 12 hours, much less more than that.
Anyway, even though I don't get to control when I sleep, sometimes not when I eat, and definitely not all of the time I have to PT, I do get to control other things. Unfortunately, it's not easy to control a few things when all of the things you would like to control the most aren't yours to control.
Huge point: You're fat! Don't eat pizza! and then they bring pizza to work to feed the group, and it's either pizza, or not eating. Happens all the time.
It's difficult to stick with a plan and lifestyle that are outside conventional belief when everyone is prepared to punish you for not a) getting results, b) following conventional wisdom to see results, and c) believing as they do. Yes, punish. And if you don't strictly follow the diet you say you do, then that's evidence against you. <----me.
Either way, I have to start really eating Primally if I expect results, and to prove to everybody else that what I'm doing is the right thing. I'm going to do some food prep today and try to get some meal planning done, so that I can be prepared. I was never much of a boy scout type, but I have to really start to take control of this one thing: what I eat. I'll put it on my fridge or something.
I have ANTELOPE to try. I'm excited.
I didn't realize how off the mark I was until I started writing down my food for the current 6-week challenge. It's no wonder I haven't been losing weight or changing anything. I haven't really changed anything!
In fact today I finished up my butternut squash ravioli for breakfast.
It's about the half-way mark of the challenge, and I've not made some of the changes I planned to make, especially with my diet. I still sneak grains as burger rolls, eat ice cream a pint at a time (treat hound), and overeating- oh my. I can say now I'm aware of the walk not matching up to the talk. The key seems to be planning. I hate planning, despise it, hold it in low regard; mostly because I never think my plans will work out, or when I do plan, there is that monkey wrench that I can't control, and I didn't consider, so I'm all done in.
I don't control a lot of things in my life. For instance, my work schedule and rhythm are completely outside of my control. I work a twelve-hour shift. The expectation is that you will eat at your desk or in the shop while working, thinking about work, or doing paperwork. Work starts at 3 am, so it's dark. I never feel like eating til about four am, but from 5 to 6 am I have a work-mandated PT session, which I get to make up at the end of my 12-hour shift, because it's not ordered from the shop but from battalion. And then there's the stay-late approach... you have to stay late if the work isn't done. My reaction? I'm not deployed, fuck off. There's not enough of interest in my field to keep me at work for 12 hours, much less more than that.
Anyway, even though I don't get to control when I sleep, sometimes not when I eat, and definitely not all of the time I have to PT, I do get to control other things. Unfortunately, it's not easy to control a few things when all of the things you would like to control the most aren't yours to control.
Huge point: You're fat! Don't eat pizza! and then they bring pizza to work to feed the group, and it's either pizza, or not eating. Happens all the time.
It's difficult to stick with a plan and lifestyle that are outside conventional belief when everyone is prepared to punish you for not a) getting results, b) following conventional wisdom to see results, and c) believing as they do. Yes, punish. And if you don't strictly follow the diet you say you do, then that's evidence against you. <----me.
Either way, I have to start really eating Primally if I expect results, and to prove to everybody else that what I'm doing is the right thing. I'm going to do some food prep today and try to get some meal planning done, so that I can be prepared. I was never much of a boy scout type, but I have to really start to take control of this one thing: what I eat. I'll put it on my fridge or something.
I have ANTELOPE to try. I'm excited.
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Life, At Best
The Eli Young Band has a song called "Life At Best" and today I'm going to play it as soon as I find my iPod and headphones (I scratched the poor little CD, *tear).
Why? Well, cause sometimes, life sucks. I get depressed easily and I have to work on being positive all the time. I also panic and overwhelm myself a LOT.
I know this from four months of therapy; normally, the counselors stop at eight appointments or send you off to mental health for shrinking. At four months, though, I was judged as ready to tackle my life with my newly-learned skills. It's been a year since I started seeing my counselor, approximately. Her name was Leanne and she had the neatest office decorations. Plenty to look at when I didn't want to look at her. She had to teach me how to talk, and I'll be forever grateful. I'm still practicing, and sometimes things are hard to deal with.
I have gotten a lot better at not bottling things up or ranting myself down a rabbit hole; I've also begun to be mindful of when I panic and blow everything out of proportion and perspective. I am still learning to take a step back and re-evaluate right away.
I'm on the upswing of a down time. Everything is changing around all the time, and I can blame my own choices for some of that, but other things I can't control. In my humble and not-bitter-at-all opinion, sometimes you don't need to change everything the minute you walk in the door. Or one problem doesn't need to change the way things are done.
I'm a Marine; this happens all the time. I'm also very slow to adapt to changes that I don't like. Why should I spend 20 minutes of a task on administrative work, like logging it into 8 different trackers when there is a known system of ONE tracker that's worked for months? But the new person-in-charge always knows better than the current system, always, which is retarded. A need for evaluation does not mean there will be a need for change.
Speaking of ranting down a rabbit hole, my point was that the song I mentioned above has lyrics that are speaking to me right now as I adjust and figure out all the new scheduling and planning I have to do!
Why? Well, cause sometimes, life sucks. I get depressed easily and I have to work on being positive all the time. I also panic and overwhelm myself a LOT.
I know this from four months of therapy; normally, the counselors stop at eight appointments or send you off to mental health for shrinking. At four months, though, I was judged as ready to tackle my life with my newly-learned skills. It's been a year since I started seeing my counselor, approximately. Her name was Leanne and she had the neatest office decorations. Plenty to look at when I didn't want to look at her. She had to teach me how to talk, and I'll be forever grateful. I'm still practicing, and sometimes things are hard to deal with.
I have gotten a lot better at not bottling things up or ranting myself down a rabbit hole; I've also begun to be mindful of when I panic and blow everything out of proportion and perspective. I am still learning to take a step back and re-evaluate right away.
I'm on the upswing of a down time. Everything is changing around all the time, and I can blame my own choices for some of that, but other things I can't control. In my humble and not-bitter-at-all opinion, sometimes you don't need to change everything the minute you walk in the door. Or one problem doesn't need to change the way things are done.
I'm a Marine; this happens all the time. I'm also very slow to adapt to changes that I don't like. Why should I spend 20 minutes of a task on administrative work, like logging it into 8 different trackers when there is a known system of ONE tracker that's worked for months? But the new person-in-charge always knows better than the current system, always, which is retarded. A need for evaluation does not mean there will be a need for change.
Speaking of ranting down a rabbit hole, my point was that the song I mentioned above has lyrics that are speaking to me right now as I adjust and figure out all the new scheduling and planning I have to do!
Monday, August 20, 2012
Challenge, Week 3
Week 2 Recap:
I swam four days this week! All of them were 45 minutes or more, of varying intensity.
I wrote all of my food down, but mostly belatedly. I'll need to be more on top of that this week.
I rode my bike to PT on Thursday morning! Woo!
I lifted in the gym two days, so I fulfilled Lift Heavy Things!
Week 3:
Keep up the swimming! Swimming 6 days a week is hard with my work schedule, and of course it's about to get even harder to work around work...
Write food down right away. I've got three books now: two for work to keep track of me (diet, PT) and my 6-week challenge journal. At the very least, update the Record Book daily.
Ride my bike somewhere.
I'm going to keep Lift Heavy Things as my Primal application for this week. I'm partially doing Move Frequently at a Slow Pace with swimming. I'm going to keep working on applying Primal Blueprint Laws.
New/changing factors: My hip injury seems to finally be healing! I hope that I won't need another two weeks of light duty. I start physical therapy on the 28th, which is my last day of light duty. I'm wondering what they'll do for me. I've been okay at icing my hip.
My work schedule is changing... again! It's now 3 days on/3 days off, 12-hour shifts. This means swimming will take some more planning, because the shift is from 3 am to 3 pm. (No, it doesn't make sense... that's the military way of life.) The pool closes at 330 pm MWF, so I definitely need to plan and commit myself to my schedule. It starts on Wednesday, so I'll work Saturday and Sunday... boo.
Okay, that about wraps it up. See you all next week!
P.S. I started the Scouts challenge... and then forgot about it. Better next week!
I swam four days this week! All of them were 45 minutes or more, of varying intensity.
I wrote all of my food down, but mostly belatedly. I'll need to be more on top of that this week.
I rode my bike to PT on Thursday morning! Woo!
I lifted in the gym two days, so I fulfilled Lift Heavy Things!
Week 3:
Keep up the swimming! Swimming 6 days a week is hard with my work schedule, and of course it's about to get even harder to work around work...
Write food down right away. I've got three books now: two for work to keep track of me (diet, PT) and my 6-week challenge journal. At the very least, update the Record Book daily.
Ride my bike somewhere.
I'm going to keep Lift Heavy Things as my Primal application for this week. I'm partially doing Move Frequently at a Slow Pace with swimming. I'm going to keep working on applying Primal Blueprint Laws.
New/changing factors: My hip injury seems to finally be healing! I hope that I won't need another two weeks of light duty. I start physical therapy on the 28th, which is my last day of light duty. I'm wondering what they'll do for me. I've been okay at icing my hip.
My work schedule is changing... again! It's now 3 days on/3 days off, 12-hour shifts. This means swimming will take some more planning, because the shift is from 3 am to 3 pm. (No, it doesn't make sense... that's the military way of life.) The pool closes at 330 pm MWF, so I definitely need to plan and commit myself to my schedule. It starts on Wednesday, so I'll work Saturday and Sunday... boo.
Okay, that about wraps it up. See you all next week!
P.S. I started the Scouts challenge... and then forgot about it. Better next week!
Monday, August 13, 2012
Week 2 of the Challenge
Week 1 Recap:
I swam 3 times for 30 minutes each time. I met this goal for the week.
I have an entry for every day of the week with all my meals. I met this goal this week.
I didn't ride my bike at all. I didn't meet this goal this week.
I finished reading The Primal Blueprint. I met that goal a lot earlier than I thought I would.
It felt really good to swim. It's nice to have something to do even with this bad hip of mine. I've started feeling faster in the water, too. It's harder to write down all your food than I thought. I kept forgetting and having to go back the next day. I'm putting my challenge journal in a more visible place. I also discovered I haven't really been eating Primally at all. I miss a meal at least once a day. I've been cheating a lot more than I realized. I haven't ridden my bike in a while. I'm going to try riding it to PT in the morning. I finished reading the book. I am going to keep referring to it, especially when work starts to harass me when they see all the delicious food I get to eat.
Week 2:
Swimming: I'm going to try to swim for 45 minutes when I go to the pool. I'm going to go four times this week, instead of three.
I will write all of my food down and make an effort to declare my mistakes, so I can fix them.
I'll ride my bike to PT on Thursday. If I do it Thursday (or if I don't), I'll ride Friday too.
I'll pick a rule to apply from the PB. This week will be Lift Heavy Things. If I apply something different, I still get points.
I completely forgot about the weekly challenges and now feel like a small retarded bug. It's ok, though, I'm on it for Week 2's planking challenge.
I swam 3 times for 30 minutes each time. I met this goal for the week.
I have an entry for every day of the week with all my meals. I met this goal this week.
I didn't ride my bike at all. I didn't meet this goal this week.
I finished reading The Primal Blueprint. I met that goal a lot earlier than I thought I would.
It felt really good to swim. It's nice to have something to do even with this bad hip of mine. I've started feeling faster in the water, too. It's harder to write down all your food than I thought. I kept forgetting and having to go back the next day. I'm putting my challenge journal in a more visible place. I also discovered I haven't really been eating Primally at all. I miss a meal at least once a day. I've been cheating a lot more than I realized. I haven't ridden my bike in a while. I'm going to try riding it to PT in the morning. I finished reading the book. I am going to keep referring to it, especially when work starts to harass me when they see all the delicious food I get to eat.
Week 2:
Swimming: I'm going to try to swim for 45 minutes when I go to the pool. I'm going to go four times this week, instead of three.
I will write all of my food down and make an effort to declare my mistakes, so I can fix them.
I'll ride my bike to PT on Thursday. If I do it Thursday (or if I don't), I'll ride Friday too.
I'll pick a rule to apply from the PB. This week will be Lift Heavy Things. If I apply something different, I still get points.
I completely forgot about the weekly challenges and now feel like a small retarded bug. It's ok, though, I'm on it for Week 2's planking challenge.
Thursday, August 9, 2012
Chris is home!!!
Chris got back yesterday! I missed him. I finally got to make his birthday dinner! We had delicious cake treats and chicken stir fry. Yummy!
Anyways I'm super happy he's home. Now I'm off to finish all the chores I haven't done yet from yesterday!
Anyways I'm super happy he's home. Now I'm off to finish all the chores I haven't done yet from yesterday!
Challenge Week 1
This is my Monday post, for the challenge. As I stated in my goals last month, I want to swim, ride my bike to work, keep a food journal, and finish reading The Primal Blueprint.
I've chosen a way to grade myself on my goals. I color-coded my goals, and I've got a points page in my notebook that has the dates and the colors in a table. I put the date, and if I accomplished that goal that day, I get a point in that color. The plan is to write about the week past every Monday and plan out the new week.
So far I've been doing okay. More details next Monday!
I've chosen a way to grade myself on my goals. I color-coded my goals, and I've got a points page in my notebook that has the dates and the colors in a table. I put the date, and if I accomplished that goal that day, I get a point in that color. The plan is to write about the week past every Monday and plan out the new week.
So far I've been doing okay. More details next Monday!
Saturday, August 4, 2012
New Challenge!
It's time for another challenge! Since the last challenge was an eye-opener for me (I only managed to reach one of my goals), I'm going to try again, and this time I'm getting out my dayplanner and making sure this happens. Hold on, I have to find that and a pen...
OK, got it: day planner, bag of forty sharpies, purple pen. I'm going to try a couple things. I'm going to write all my work stuff in my work pen (black ink) and write my goal stuff in bright colors, so I'll have a better idea what grade to give myself at the end.
This challenge starts 6 August and ends 16 September. You only get four goals: 3 diet/fitness and 1 Level UP! goal. (Can I trademark that? It's so much nicer to say!) Six weeks to meet four goals. Here we go.
GOALS:
Diet/Fitness:
Okay, that seems to be about it. I hope this one goes better than the last one!
OK, got it: day planner, bag of forty sharpies, purple pen. I'm going to try a couple things. I'm going to write all my work stuff in my work pen (black ink) and write my goal stuff in bright colors, so I'll have a better idea what grade to give myself at the end.
This challenge starts 6 August and ends 16 September. You only get four goals: 3 diet/fitness and 1 Level UP! goal. (Can I trademark that? It's so much nicer to say!) Six weeks to meet four goals. Here we go.
GOALS:
Diet/Fitness:
- Swimming; color code BLUE: Swim for 30 minutes a minimum of 3x a week, up to 6x a week, and keep a record. The pool is closed Sundays, so I figure it's an enforced rest day! Actually, I'm pretty psyched about swimming. I'm going to try to go every day, but I won't beat myself up if I miss a day or if work goes insane and I work 20- and 15- hour days again. I want to count beach days, but they usually end up being tanning time with Chris where I jump in the water every hour or so.
- Food Journal, color code GREEN: Keep a food journal! For every completely Primal meal, a star. For every completely Primal day, a sticker. For six Primal Day Stickers, one small frozen yogurt. I want to see how much I'm really eating Primally. I want to see an increase in the percentage of Primal eating from week one to week six. Also, I'll be able to see where I'm giving in to SAD and/or the boyfriend's taking me out to dinner.
- Commute, color code PURPLE: Use my bicycle for commuting to work and PT. I'm going to work up to riding every day like this: Week 1, 1 required ride to work; week 2, 2 required rides to work; week 3, 3 required rides; etc. I actually work & PT (for work) 6 out of the 7 days in a week. I work strange hours, so I need to make sure the bike is up to the laws on lights and stuff. These rides will be fairly short, but there will be hills. She's had her yearly checkup, so she should be in good shape. I have a super-nice helmet and I even have gloves for longer rides. I may be getting a rack or a basket so I can haul my swimming things easier. That way I won't have any excuse to not go right after work. Until then, I'll probably drive myself.
- Read The Primal Blueprint by Mark Sisson, color code BROWN. I've started it, so this is just one of those completion goals. Once I've read it, application begins. I'm going to put a check mark for every day I work on reading it and make a note in my food journal when I try something from the Blueprint.
- Include Boyfriend in working out. Chris is my boyfriend and we're trying to find out what he likes to do so fitness isn't such a drag for him. Chasing me seems to be a prime motivator :). Yes, actually chasing me. Don't judge, I'm going to do what works!
- Don't re-injure or newly injure anything. Hip bursitis is the "itis" of the month. I'm tired of being hurt.
- I'll be keeping up with my karate as much as possible with my injury.
Okay, that seems to be about it. I hope this one goes better than the last one!
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Whoops...
It has been about 12 days since I posted anything. This is because I haven't made myself do it, and I really am kind of a fair-weather blogger. I only like to blog when the outer life is on an even keel.
Which, frankly, it hasn't. Stormy seas over the last week or so, plus my own laziness, have made this go down on the priorities list. I haven't even been really keeping up with my favorite blogs: Nerd Fitness and Mark's Daily Apple. If I didn't have them on email feeds, I'd have a lot more catching up to do.
Let's see. I've lost my last set of contacts, been very, very broke, and not done a lot of working out since the 20th. I finked out on the last week of the six-week challenge. I've had a couple of 15 to 20 hour days at work. I kind of feel like a failure on that front.
I have faithfully and diligently taken my fish oil, glucosamine, and multivitamin, along with my NSAID. Despite all of that... hip injury. I have trochanteric bursitis, and it sucks.
I finished up my set of swimming lessons today. We worked the butterfly, checked out my other strokes, and practiced diving. I learned how to dive off blocks, which was exciting!
Which, frankly, it hasn't. Stormy seas over the last week or so, plus my own laziness, have made this go down on the priorities list. I haven't even been really keeping up with my favorite blogs: Nerd Fitness and Mark's Daily Apple. If I didn't have them on email feeds, I'd have a lot more catching up to do.
Let's see. I've lost my last set of contacts, been very, very broke, and not done a lot of working out since the 20th. I finked out on the last week of the six-week challenge. I've had a couple of 15 to 20 hour days at work. I kind of feel like a failure on that front.
I have faithfully and diligently taken my fish oil, glucosamine, and multivitamin, along with my NSAID. Despite all of that... hip injury. I have trochanteric bursitis, and it sucks.
I finished up my set of swimming lessons today. We worked the butterfly, checked out my other strokes, and practiced diving. I learned how to dive off blocks, which was exciting!
Friday, July 20, 2012
Today's Workout
I've noticed that I've completely dropped training for my half marathon. I'm not disappointed in this development. I've been fighting off a couple of recurring injuries. My knee, feet, and hip all need special attention these days.
Today, I had to participate in a battalion run. I'm not in favor of formation runs, or in punishing people for falling out of formation runs. We never do formation swims or group bicycle rides. Hell, we never even do close-order drill as a battalion. If you think that's not physically demanding, go to boot camp and watch those kids marching. Sweat pours. I don't know how far we ran. I don't know the pace. All I know is that it was a formation run, and I therefore despised the entire experience. It's nice and motivational if everyone can keep up, which means some runners will be hurting from the slow pace. I hate when important people lead PT. They always forget that some Marines will never be able to keep in formation with faster runners. It's mentally disabling to be forced into these situations.
Then I went to the pool to practice everything I learned in my swimming lesson on Wednesday. Mostly that was my butterfly stroke and my backstroke. The fly is one of the most fun swimming strokes I've ever learned. I think I did 5 or 6 laps. I lost track because I was working on several different things. I did a lot of kicking with little flippers on. I tried to really master the dolphin kick for the fly. Sometimes I got it right, other times I didn't.
I like swimming a lot. Eventually I hope to be able to swim well in open water, like the ocean, and maybe do some sort of crazy endurance swim, like the English Channel or across Lake Erie. I'd like to be able to be a lifeguard as well. Then I would like to teach others how to swim well. My mom could never do more than doggie paddle, and my dad's older sister drowned at a young age, so water skills have been very important in my family. I'm glad, because I've always been drawn to water, swimming, boating, fishing, and just about everything else that involves the water.
Today, I had to participate in a battalion run. I'm not in favor of formation runs, or in punishing people for falling out of formation runs. We never do formation swims or group bicycle rides. Hell, we never even do close-order drill as a battalion. If you think that's not physically demanding, go to boot camp and watch those kids marching. Sweat pours. I don't know how far we ran. I don't know the pace. All I know is that it was a formation run, and I therefore despised the entire experience. It's nice and motivational if everyone can keep up, which means some runners will be hurting from the slow pace. I hate when important people lead PT. They always forget that some Marines will never be able to keep in formation with faster runners. It's mentally disabling to be forced into these situations.
Then I went to the pool to practice everything I learned in my swimming lesson on Wednesday. Mostly that was my butterfly stroke and my backstroke. The fly is one of the most fun swimming strokes I've ever learned. I think I did 5 or 6 laps. I lost track because I was working on several different things. I did a lot of kicking with little flippers on. I tried to really master the dolphin kick for the fly. Sometimes I got it right, other times I didn't.
I like swimming a lot. Eventually I hope to be able to swim well in open water, like the ocean, and maybe do some sort of crazy endurance swim, like the English Channel or across Lake Erie. I'd like to be able to be a lifeguard as well. Then I would like to teach others how to swim well. My mom could never do more than doggie paddle, and my dad's older sister drowned at a young age, so water skills have been very important in my family. I'm glad, because I've always been drawn to water, swimming, boating, fishing, and just about everything else that involves the water.
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Long days...
Today was a weird day.
I finally read the weekly challenge for Scouts today. It looks like fun and I'll probably do it on Thursday morning. The goal is to incorporate strength training into a workout.
Swimming lesson tomorrow at 2 pm. I'm trying to remember and get psyched up for it, but I feel worn down this week.
- My hip started to act up during remedial pt.
- I lost both my contacts in the ocean.
- I couldn't see to drive so I had to teach Chris to drive my Jeep to get us home.
- My neck is starting to bug me; I think it's from sitting funny at my desk at work.
- My feet are trying to flare up again.
I finally read the weekly challenge for Scouts today. It looks like fun and I'll probably do it on Thursday morning. The goal is to incorporate strength training into a workout.
Swimming lesson tomorrow at 2 pm. I'm trying to remember and get psyched up for it, but I feel worn down this week.
Monday, July 16, 2012
Today's workout: Deadlifting!
This morning my focus at remedial pt was deadlifting. We've gone to strength train the last two sessions, which has felt really good.
I only deadlifted 40 pounds, but I felt pretty good. I did pretty well with form, but I know that I need to see improvement with that. For the first time I did bodyweight rows with the TRX straps in the functional fitness room. All in all, it was very simple and felt effective.
At karate, we did semi-kumite, which is half-speed, no contact sparring. Inevitably, some contact is made and we end up going too fast. It's hard to remain at a slow speed.
During my private lesson, I had to re-learn my new techniques. I am having trouble remembering them. I may ask Erika to help me out because I am really struggling to sort these out.
I start swim lessons on Wednesday! I was supposed to start today, but had to work instead. I called just in time! So I will pay up and reschedule my lessons in two days!
I only deadlifted 40 pounds, but I felt pretty good. I did pretty well with form, but I know that I need to see improvement with that. For the first time I did bodyweight rows with the TRX straps in the functional fitness room. All in all, it was very simple and felt effective.
At karate, we did semi-kumite, which is half-speed, no contact sparring. Inevitably, some contact is made and we end up going too fast. It's hard to remain at a slow speed.
During my private lesson, I had to re-learn my new techniques. I am having trouble remembering them. I may ask Erika to help me out because I am really struggling to sort these out.
I start swim lessons on Wednesday! I was supposed to start today, but had to work instead. I called just in time! So I will pay up and reschedule my lessons in two days!
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Meal Plan this week
I've started meal planning for the first time this week. I hope to make budgeting for food easier, as well as help with food portioning.
Monday
Monday
- Breakfast: 2 eggs, 3 strips of bacon
- Lunch: salad with grilled chicken
- Dinner: Broccoli and hamburger with cheese
- Breakfast: 2 eggs, 3 strips of bacon
- salad with grilled chicken
- grilled chicken with green beans
- Breakfast: 2 eggs, 3 strips of bacon
- Lunch: salmon salad
- Dinner: Parsley potatoes, spinach
- Breakfast: 2 eggs, 3 strips of bacon
- Lunch: Salmon & green beans
- Dinner Grilled chicken with steamed peppers and carrots
- Breakfast:2 eggs, chorizo
- Lunch: Spinach & salmon
- Dinner: green beans
- Breakfast: Chorizo
- Lunch: celery with cashew butter & raisins
- Dinner: Salmon, broccoli
- Breakfast: 2 eggs, 3 strips of bacon
- Lunch: grilled chicken & broccoli
- Dinner: Caesar salad (from kit)
Friday, July 13, 2012
Meal Plans for the next couple days
Today's breakfast got skipped, but I may be going down to scramble my eggs after all.
Friday:
2 eggs & some chorizo. I forgot to thaw the chorizo, so it's probably going to just be a couple scrambled eggs and an apple.
One bell pepper stuffed with ground angus seasoned with black pepper, basil, onion powder, and garlic powder.
Steak with green beans and possibly potatoes with butter, if I'm hungry for them.
Saturday:
Eggs (3) & bacon (3 strips)
Burger with cheese, mayo, pickle, and mustard, without a roll.
Salad with grilled chicken, ranch dressing, peppers, celery, and carrots.
I'm off to run errands, and come back to more meal planning. I hope to make it a weekly feature!
Friday:
2 eggs & some chorizo. I forgot to thaw the chorizo, so it's probably going to just be a couple scrambled eggs and an apple.
One bell pepper stuffed with ground angus seasoned with black pepper, basil, onion powder, and garlic powder.
Steak with green beans and possibly potatoes with butter, if I'm hungry for them.
Saturday:
Eggs (3) & bacon (3 strips)
Burger with cheese, mayo, pickle, and mustard, without a roll.
Salad with grilled chicken, ranch dressing, peppers, celery, and carrots.
I'm off to run errands, and come back to more meal planning. I hope to make it a weekly feature!
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Slacking!
This boyfriend of mine has given me a billion excuses to give to myself as to why I'm not getting all my stuff done! I haven't worked out on my own at all this week, and I'm feeling kinda bad about it.
Update on my six week challenge:
I haven't used my credit card except to fly home for the funeral, so that's going well.
I've gained three pounds. Of course, I did weigh in after my breakfast of bacon and eggs. (Delicious, by the way.) Either way, I feel like I need to take a step back and make sure I'm taking care of myself again. After all, the initial mushy-gushy period seems to have abated with the boyfriend.
I haven't been swimming (see above excuses) and I have some swimming to make up for on that. I haven't been consistent with anything. Well, maybe consistently eating...
In order to combat slacking, today I'm going to bike over to the fresh&easy or maybe sprouts and doing the shopping. I still have beef, so it looks like chicken is the meat of the week. I got angus burgers last week and they were yummy. There is chicken breast trimmings that I found... super easy for my salads and utterly useless for nothing, actually, stir fry is happening this week.
Have to do some meal planning before the shopping.
Update on my six week challenge:
I haven't used my credit card except to fly home for the funeral, so that's going well.
I've gained three pounds. Of course, I did weigh in after my breakfast of bacon and eggs. (Delicious, by the way.) Either way, I feel like I need to take a step back and make sure I'm taking care of myself again. After all, the initial mushy-gushy period seems to have abated with the boyfriend.
I haven't been swimming (see above excuses) and I have some swimming to make up for on that. I haven't been consistent with anything. Well, maybe consistently eating...
In order to combat slacking, today I'm going to bike over to the fresh&easy or maybe sprouts and doing the shopping. I still have beef, so it looks like chicken is the meat of the week. I got angus burgers last week and they were yummy. There is chicken breast trimmings that I found... super easy for my salads and utterly useless for nothing, actually, stir fry is happening this week.
Have to do some meal planning before the shopping.
Sunday, July 8, 2012
Karate Day!
I finally got back into some physical activity yesterday with karate class. We ran about a half mile to a clearing in a park and did a crazy workout on the hills. I lack the balance to do that well! But I didn't fall.
I was badly dehydrated for my private lesson though. I felt terrible and kept having to take breaks for a 30 min private lesson. I'm making up for it today, already have a gallon plus down the hatch for today. I finished Kata One and now all that remains is to practice it, and everything else I know...
I'm not sure I remember Python Breaks the Arm correctly. :(
I was badly dehydrated for my private lesson though. I felt terrible and kept having to take breaks for a 30 min private lesson. I'm making up for it today, already have a gallon plus down the hatch for today. I finished Kata One and now all that remains is to practice it, and everything else I know...
I'm not sure I remember Python Breaks the Arm correctly. :(
Friday, July 6, 2012
Oh Hi! I'm Back!
Today I'm finally back from leave, 4th of July celebrations, the fair, and all the other distractions that have kept me busy these past few days.
I am ashamed to say I did not eat well or do much specific PT time this week. I also had a completely FUBAR sleep schedule! On the good side, I did get to spend a lot of my time outside in the sunshine working on my dad's farm. I love that place. I willingly weeded for the first time in my 24.5 years. I mowed the yard, did some trimming and giant weed clearing from around the house, and picked some veggies. I had the funeral on Saturday, church on Sunday, a nice free Monday until my uncle dropped by to be fed and keep company, and a relatively smooth traveling day on Tuesday.
On the personal side, just before I left a very nice young man took me out on a real date! I haven't had one of those, like, ever... We went to see Brave (again, I know) and grabbed In N Out and a six-pack. He OPENED MY DOOR for me! I have had exactly zero (0) boyfriends do that for me. So far he's a winner. So we're dating officially now. Oh, his name is Chris, and thanks be he's taller than me. He's not a good PT-er by his own admission, so I'll be dragging him around for Hidden PT. (Not that! That doesn't count!)
We went to the fair and rode a bunch of rides and won a few prizes. We saw a part of the Navy Band concert and saw a bunch of animals. No horses though, except for a ginormouse Belgian... 19 hands 2. He was big, but he was just to look at. I like to see horses move.
Okay, so now that it's been a week since life went all to hell, I'll be jumping back on the horse and riding again. Don't worry, the BF and I work different schedules so I'll have distraction-free PT time!
I am ashamed to say I did not eat well or do much specific PT time this week. I also had a completely FUBAR sleep schedule! On the good side, I did get to spend a lot of my time outside in the sunshine working on my dad's farm. I love that place. I willingly weeded for the first time in my 24.5 years. I mowed the yard, did some trimming and giant weed clearing from around the house, and picked some veggies. I had the funeral on Saturday, church on Sunday, a nice free Monday until my uncle dropped by to be fed and keep company, and a relatively smooth traveling day on Tuesday.
On the personal side, just before I left a very nice young man took me out on a real date! I haven't had one of those, like, ever... We went to see Brave (again, I know) and grabbed In N Out and a six-pack. He OPENED MY DOOR for me! I have had exactly zero (0) boyfriends do that for me. So far he's a winner. So we're dating officially now. Oh, his name is Chris, and thanks be he's taller than me. He's not a good PT-er by his own admission, so I'll be dragging him around for Hidden PT. (Not that! That doesn't count!)
We went to the fair and rode a bunch of rides and won a few prizes. We saw a part of the Navy Band concert and saw a bunch of animals. No horses though, except for a ginormouse Belgian... 19 hands 2. He was big, but he was just to look at. I like to see horses move.
Okay, so now that it's been a week since life went all to hell, I'll be jumping back on the horse and riding again. Don't worry, the BF and I work different schedules so I'll have distraction-free PT time!
Sunday, July 1, 2012
Adventure complete
Really, it's Adventure, Pt. 1, because I still have to manage to get back to California...
After a METRIC CRAP-TON of airline/airport SNAFUs, my plans for my trip were FUBAR and completely changed. My luggage, including my uniform, was lost. I had to get transportation organized on the fly at midnight.
On the upside, I was able to help another Marine to get to his family a little bit quicker than the airline would have gotten him there. It was a rough night.
I was up for 24 hrs, managed to wind down enough to get a couple hours' sleep before the funeral, and made it the whole way through the funeral, graveside service, and luncheon. Then I passed out in the car for about two hours, and when I was awake enough to get myself inside, I made it as far as the couch for another four hours.
After a METRIC CRAP-TON of airline/airport SNAFUs, my plans for my trip were FUBAR and completely changed. My luggage, including my uniform, was lost. I had to get transportation organized on the fly at midnight.
On the upside, I was able to help another Marine to get to his family a little bit quicker than the airline would have gotten him there. It was a rough night.
I was up for 24 hrs, managed to wind down enough to get a couple hours' sleep before the funeral, and made it the whole way through the funeral, graveside service, and luncheon. Then I passed out in the car for about two hours, and when I was awake enough to get myself inside, I made it as far as the couch for another four hours.
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Bobby's Funeral
Bobby's funeral went very well. The service was excellent and simple. I was allowed to be a pallbearer, which was an honor for me. The honor guard was there, about fifteen of them. They all marched up the aisle and saluted his box.
At the grave, I was again honored to be a pallbearer with five members of the honor guard, despite not having my blues. They played Taps exactly how Bobby has done it for these past few years: a bugle and a tape player. I teared up. They did the 21 gun salute and presented the Old Glory to Bobby's oldest son.
Then there was the luncheon after the grave service, which was held over at the fire hall. As usual it was delicious and I ate way too much. But it was good!
Finally after lunch I got to sleep. And I'm about to go back to that right now!
At the grave, I was again honored to be a pallbearer with five members of the honor guard, despite not having my blues. They played Taps exactly how Bobby has done it for these past few years: a bugle and a tape player. I teared up. They did the 21 gun salute and presented the Old Glory to Bobby's oldest son.
Then there was the luncheon after the grave service, which was held over at the fire hall. As usual it was delicious and I ate way too much. But it was good!
Finally after lunch I got to sleep. And I'm about to go back to that right now!
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Death in the Family
I'm headed home for a funeral on Friday. The gentleman I wrote of a couple weeks back has finally passed away. The Good Lord took him home.
It's been a long day and a pretty rough one, but once again I am reminded of the family and friends I've found here in California. I begin to realize how much several people I didn't even really consider friends do care about me. I have a good place here, even if it's far from home.
God has blessed me abundantly.
It's been a long day and a pretty rough one, but once again I am reminded of the family and friends I've found here in California. I begin to realize how much several people I didn't even really consider friends do care about me. I have a good place here, even if it's far from home.
God has blessed me abundantly.
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Going the distance this week.
This week's Scout challenge is all about the distance! We have a couple choices, and there's also a pair-up option for the same categories. I may try to do all 3 categories. I have until Sunday to finish it. I'm already over halfway done with the water part. The run/walk part will be easy. I'll just hook up my endomondo app and go walk to do my local errands. The biking part will be the most challenging. It might be one of those where I just go out and do it all at once and try to not die! There are a few bike trails close by that I should check out.
Here's the Solo options:
Run/Walk 10km - Haven't started yet. 6 miles is cake though. I can easily walk most of it and run the rest with some short runs.
Bike 25km - Haven't started yet. It's a little over 15 miles, if my calculator is correct.
Swim 1km - 600m/1000m.
It's achievable for me to complete all three parts of the challenge this week. I have the base, fitness-wise, to do all of it. All I have to do is avoid being lazy and stay motivated.
If I just tracked the distances I did during remedial PT, I'd be done with half of the run/walk portion already...
Here's the Solo options:
Run/Walk 10km - Haven't started yet. 6 miles is cake though. I can easily walk most of it and run the rest with some short runs.
Bike 25km - Haven't started yet. It's a little over 15 miles, if my calculator is correct.
Swim 1km - 600m/1000m.
It's achievable for me to complete all three parts of the challenge this week. I have the base, fitness-wise, to do all of it. All I have to do is avoid being lazy and stay motivated.
If I just tracked the distances I did during remedial PT, I'd be done with half of the run/walk portion already...
Monday, June 25, 2012
Water
I find myself writing about water again!
I absolutely love water. I like drinking it, playing in it, cleaning with it, working out in it. I like the rain, the snow (except driving!), mud, rivers, oceans, lakes, and waterfalls. AND PUDDLES.
I can only think of one exception to the I-love-water thing: I hate showers. I completely agree with the necessity of showering, I just hate showers. I had a 2nd degree sunburn and part of the treatment was to take long showers to help soften the yucky skin and slough it off. My showers are normally five minutes or less. Chief said 30 minutes... it was torture. I really tried to stay in the shower that long. But I washed my hair, and conditioned, and took my time and scrubbed between all of my toes and under all my fat folds (there's four) and it still only took about ten minutes.
Today we did ~30 minutes of jogging followed by five short sprints for remedial PT. It was tedious and boring.
This afternoon I went to the pool and swam 600m. I also got the registration sheet for swimming lessons and the current hours. I'll probably go tomorrow again.
Yay swimming lessons!
I absolutely love water. I like drinking it, playing in it, cleaning with it, working out in it. I like the rain, the snow (except driving!), mud, rivers, oceans, lakes, and waterfalls. AND PUDDLES.
I can only think of one exception to the I-love-water thing: I hate showers. I completely agree with the necessity of showering, I just hate showers. I had a 2nd degree sunburn and part of the treatment was to take long showers to help soften the yucky skin and slough it off. My showers are normally five minutes or less. Chief said 30 minutes... it was torture. I really tried to stay in the shower that long. But I washed my hair, and conditioned, and took my time and scrubbed between all of my toes and under all my fat folds (there's four) and it still only took about ten minutes.
Today we did ~30 minutes of jogging followed by five short sprints for remedial PT. It was tedious and boring.
This afternoon I went to the pool and swam 600m. I also got the registration sheet for swimming lessons and the current hours. I'll probably go tomorrow again.
Yay swimming lessons!
Sunday, June 24, 2012
NerdFitness.com Forum Challenge Update
From Monday to Sunday:
Goal 1: Lose four pounds. This one is looking good. My scale says I am at 178 lbs. I am using the scale from work to track, though, since that was how I measured my beginning weight. This week I weighed 180 and I weigh in again on next Monday.
Goal 2: I have attended remedial PT every day this week, which counts for something. I haven't been very good about training on my own this week. Between finally getting through my recent plantar flare up and getting a metric asston of work assigned to me, I've been putting that at the bottom of my priority list.
Goal 3: I failed at this one this week. I swam 500 m in about 30 min on Thursday. I really only got to the pool because of the Scouts sprint challenge. I will try to swim 3 times next week to make up for it.
Life Goal: I haven't used my credit cards! I went a whole week! My savings account is suffering, but I have kept the credit cards put away! The only way to learn for me is the hard way, unfortunately. I am trying to get a financial management appointment scheduled, but have been putting it off.
Goal 1: Lose four pounds. This one is looking good. My scale says I am at 178 lbs. I am using the scale from work to track, though, since that was how I measured my beginning weight. This week I weighed 180 and I weigh in again on next Monday.
Goal 2: I have attended remedial PT every day this week, which counts for something. I haven't been very good about training on my own this week. Between finally getting through my recent plantar flare up and getting a metric asston of work assigned to me, I've been putting that at the bottom of my priority list.
Goal 3: I failed at this one this week. I swam 500 m in about 30 min on Thursday. I really only got to the pool because of the Scouts sprint challenge. I will try to swim 3 times next week to make up for it.
Life Goal: I haven't used my credit cards! I went a whole week! My savings account is suffering, but I have kept the credit cards put away! The only way to learn for me is the hard way, unfortunately. I am trying to get a financial management appointment scheduled, but have been putting it off.
Testing, Testing
Good Saturday. I was trying to unwind a bit from a rough workweek, so I avoided my computer, tried to chill out with my friends, and went to see a movie.
Work decided two days before a project that was a group project was due that it had to be a single-effort project. I'm the single effort. I had no idea what the boss wanted, and zero guidance. I got instructed to not use help... so much for a collaborative workplace. I'm going to say something to the bosses about it, because I cannot stand this burnout level of work. The immediate supervisors are deliberately assigning projects to force individuals to come in on weekends, instead of having time to deal with all the life crap that happens outside of work. So I get to work through my weekend.
Of course that stuff always happens right before I have appointments and tests in faraway places.
Saturday I fell asleep at work. It's not something I usually do, but I haven't been getting enough sleep as it is, and I couldn't focus enough to do the simplest tasks at work. Typing (a huge part of my job) was impossible. I couldn't move the mouse to the correct spot and hold it there. So I snoozed for 30 minutes and woke up with my abilities magically restored.
I left work on time and just barely made it to my test. The test was really fun, and I saw a few people I'd met at tournament again. That was really awesome. Sensei wrote "purple belt" on my certificate and had to write another. We're going to have a laugh about that at class on Monday.
Then we went to see Brave. It's a great movie. It's probably the best cartoon I've seen in ages. That's including some of my other favorites like UP and How To Train Your Dragon. It is so hilarious. I was completely exhausted and I stayed awake through the entire thing. There were almost no boring moments. And there is a happy ending! After all, it's a story, not real life.
GO SEE IT. With your kids, no matter how old they are.
Work decided two days before a project that was a group project was due that it had to be a single-effort project. I'm the single effort. I had no idea what the boss wanted, and zero guidance. I got instructed to not use help... so much for a collaborative workplace. I'm going to say something to the bosses about it, because I cannot stand this burnout level of work. The immediate supervisors are deliberately assigning projects to force individuals to come in on weekends, instead of having time to deal with all the life crap that happens outside of work. So I get to work through my weekend.
Of course that stuff always happens right before I have appointments and tests in faraway places.
Saturday I fell asleep at work. It's not something I usually do, but I haven't been getting enough sleep as it is, and I couldn't focus enough to do the simplest tasks at work. Typing (a huge part of my job) was impossible. I couldn't move the mouse to the correct spot and hold it there. So I snoozed for 30 minutes and woke up with my abilities magically restored.
I left work on time and just barely made it to my test. The test was really fun, and I saw a few people I'd met at tournament again. That was really awesome. Sensei wrote "purple belt" on my certificate and had to write another. We're going to have a laugh about that at class on Monday.
Then we went to see Brave. It's a great movie. It's probably the best cartoon I've seen in ages. That's including some of my other favorites like UP and How To Train Your Dragon. It is so hilarious. I was completely exhausted and I stayed awake through the entire thing. There were almost no boring moments. And there is a happy ending! After all, it's a story, not real life.
GO SEE IT. With your kids, no matter how old they are.
Friday, June 22, 2012
Pet Peeve Friday!
It's time for Pet Peeve Friday! This week, it's turn signals, aka blinkers or indicators.
The turn signal light is supposed to help other drivers out by letting them know what you'll be doing. So it doesn't help if you wait until ten feet before your turn to put it on! My mom taught me two important things: wipers on, lights on; and turn signal on before you brake for your turn.
Also, when you plan to change lanes, especially in traffic, it makes things a lot safer and driving a lot smoother. I hate having to put on the brakes because someone couldn't just put on their indicator and let me know they wanted in front. I'm a pretty defensive driver, so I tend to let people in IF they signal. Otherwise, I get irritated and use nasty words.
The moral of the story: Please use your turn signal! Communicate to other drivers so we make the roads safer and driving easier.
The turn signal light is supposed to help other drivers out by letting them know what you'll be doing. So it doesn't help if you wait until ten feet before your turn to put it on! My mom taught me two important things: wipers on, lights on; and turn signal on before you brake for your turn.
Also, when you plan to change lanes, especially in traffic, it makes things a lot safer and driving a lot smoother. I hate having to put on the brakes because someone couldn't just put on their indicator and let me know they wanted in front. I'm a pretty defensive driver, so I tend to let people in IF they signal. Otherwise, I get irritated and use nasty words.
The moral of the story: Please use your turn signal! Communicate to other drivers so we make the roads safer and driving easier.
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Today I Swam!
This week's Scout forum challenge was relatively simple: a choice of 4x100m sprints, 2x400m bike sprints, or 2x50m swim sprints. I chose the swim, because I needed a force into the pool and my feet are still bothering me.
I swam a total of 5 laps and I felt pretty good. I'll be a little stiff tomorrow, but there are water aerobics classes two mornings a week. I may try to get to one and try it out. I think tomorrow after work I will go to the pool again. I am going to take swim lessons this summer, probably in late July or August.
This morning's remedial workout was a circuit workout. I think tomorrow will be a plain old run.
I swam a total of 5 laps and I felt pretty good. I'll be a little stiff tomorrow, but there are water aerobics classes two mornings a week. I may try to get to one and try it out. I think tomorrow after work I will go to the pool again. I am going to take swim lessons this summer, probably in late July or August.
This morning's remedial workout was a circuit workout. I think tomorrow will be a plain old run.
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
If it weren't for work...
My life would be amazing, if it weren't for work. That's how I felt today.
I just came off my light duty for my foot. This morning was a PFT (run, hang, crunches) for remedial PT. I did better than the last PFT we ran, but it wasn't great anyway.
Then we played soccer, and that's when my foot lit up. I didn't have as much fun today while playing. I went home, showered, and took my night splint and ice pack to work. I got a lot of comments while hobbling around to the bathroom and in search of a can opener, and then the return to the kitchen to replace the can opener. I think it helped.
Today I grilled chicken for chicken on salad! I even made up a salad for work tomorrow. Asian spring mix, a few baby carrots, red pepper slices, cheddar cheese, and grilled chicken strips. I put the dressing on already. All I need is a fork!
One of my goals for the week is some meal planning. I have enough to get me to Friday evening, and then I need to do a grocery trip. Hopefully I'll be able to find a little money. I like meal planning, but I do tend to get lazy and rely on my fallbacks of tuna salad and salmon salad. The stuff is delicious!
I just came off my light duty for my foot. This morning was a PFT (run, hang, crunches) for remedial PT. I did better than the last PFT we ran, but it wasn't great anyway.
Then we played soccer, and that's when my foot lit up. I didn't have as much fun today while playing. I went home, showered, and took my night splint and ice pack to work. I got a lot of comments while hobbling around to the bathroom and in search of a can opener, and then the return to the kitchen to replace the can opener. I think it helped.
Today I grilled chicken for chicken on salad! I even made up a salad for work tomorrow. Asian spring mix, a few baby carrots, red pepper slices, cheddar cheese, and grilled chicken strips. I put the dressing on already. All I need is a fork!
One of my goals for the week is some meal planning. I have enough to get me to Friday evening, and then I need to do a grocery trip. Hopefully I'll be able to find a little money. I like meal planning, but I do tend to get lazy and rely on my fallbacks of tuna salad and salmon salad. The stuff is delicious!
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Ahh... ZZZZZzzzzzz
Today I took a four-hour nap after getting back from PT. I really did mean to get raring to go today... but the nap was cozy and warm. I probably needed it, too. I haven't been sleeping as well lately. I think my body is still trying to figure out the best way to adapt to the very early morning phenomenon. Last week, I tried two-hour afternoon naps. It didn't seem to work very well.
PT was walking laps around the LZ... same as Monday for the remedial session. I farted around all day until my private lesson and class. Last night's class, however, was a pretty good workout. We did an obstacle course with two little jumping obstacles. My foot held up pretty well.
Today I'm going to do a simple bodyweight session. It's going to be a circuit of pushups, squats, crunches, and front and side planks plus bridge. Because this one is going to be time-based (30 minutes), the repetitions per exercise will be low (10-15).
Easy-to-read version:
Pushups: 10
Crunches: 15
Squats: 10
Side-Front-Side-Bridge: 15-15-15-15 sec.
Lesson learned last night: I had a terrible sugar craving last night, and on my way out to karate I bought not one, but two candy bars, and scarfed them down.
Five minutes later I thought I would barf everywhere (in my gorgeous Babydoll!). No more candy bars! That was possibly the most negative response I've ever gotten from candy.
I slept through breakfast time this morning, so for lunch I am having tuna salad. I have this terrible mental block about eating breakfasty foods for lunch. No scrambled eggs, breakfast sausage, or bacon at noon, please. Here is my tuna salad recipe.
1 can of tuna salad (in WATER). Open, drain, rinse sink.
Add a little bit of mayo, mix. Add a little more if needed. It takes about two MRE spoons of mayo for a 12-oz can.
Optional: Take a small scoop of pickle relish and mix in. Pepper and other spices may be added pending availability.
Mix well.
Eat until no longer hungry: store remainder.
OM NOM NOM NOM.
PT was walking laps around the LZ... same as Monday for the remedial session. I farted around all day until my private lesson and class. Last night's class, however, was a pretty good workout. We did an obstacle course with two little jumping obstacles. My foot held up pretty well.
Today I'm going to do a simple bodyweight session. It's going to be a circuit of pushups, squats, crunches, and front and side planks plus bridge. Because this one is going to be time-based (30 minutes), the repetitions per exercise will be low (10-15).
Easy-to-read version:
Pushups: 10
Crunches: 15
Squats: 10
Side-Front-Side-Bridge: 15-15-15-15 sec.
Lesson learned last night: I had a terrible sugar craving last night, and on my way out to karate I bought not one, but two candy bars, and scarfed them down.
Five minutes later I thought I would barf everywhere (in my gorgeous Babydoll!). No more candy bars! That was possibly the most negative response I've ever gotten from candy.
I slept through breakfast time this morning, so for lunch I am having tuna salad. I have this terrible mental block about eating breakfasty foods for lunch. No scrambled eggs, breakfast sausage, or bacon at noon, please. Here is my tuna salad recipe.
1 can of tuna salad (in WATER). Open, drain, rinse sink.
Add a little bit of mayo, mix. Add a little more if needed. It takes about two MRE spoons of mayo for a 12-oz can.
Optional: Take a small scoop of pickle relish and mix in. Pepper and other spices may be added pending availability.
Mix well.
Eat until no longer hungry: store remainder.
OM NOM NOM NOM.
Monday, June 18, 2012
Snooze Button
I have an analogy!
My workout habits are like getting up in the morning! You know how every day, you get up for whatever reason, and some days, you just hit the snooze button. You do really well for a week, or two weeks, then you stay up too late at the movies and the next morning you sleep in! And the next morning, and the next morning.
I do very well for a little while, and one day I get busy, lazy, or preoccupied, and I don't work out. Then another day passes with no workout, and another day.
I have a goal for the 6 week challenge on the fitness forums I'm on. It's to be consistent in my workouts. I think that will see more gains for me than any other thing. That's why one of my goals is to swim 2x a week. It will help with developing the habit! I love to swim, so doing it should be easy.
My workout habits are like getting up in the morning! You know how every day, you get up for whatever reason, and some days, you just hit the snooze button. You do really well for a week, or two weeks, then you stay up too late at the movies and the next morning you sleep in! And the next morning, and the next morning.
I do very well for a little while, and one day I get busy, lazy, or preoccupied, and I don't work out. Then another day passes with no workout, and another day.
I have a goal for the 6 week challenge on the fitness forums I'm on. It's to be consistent in my workouts. I think that will see more gains for me than any other thing. That's why one of my goals is to swim 2x a week. It will help with developing the habit! I love to swim, so doing it should be easy.
Positivity!
After all my ranting, I figure it's time to recognize the positive things that have happened this week.
Thursday, all I did was walk around the LZ. By order of the SgtMaj, that's all any remedial participant who is on chit can do.
Unless, of course, it's Friday, and a low-impact bodyweight plus tire-flipping workout is in order!
Today I'm going to do a simple core workout. Planks, crunches, some oblique moves, and bridges to work my lower back. I might do it naked. I've always wondered what working out naked would be like. Of course I'm not going to do anything out in public, but in my room!
- Sensei has declared me ready to test!
- I learned a whole lot of stuff at work, even though the process was hard and stressful.
- I ate mushrooms in my scrambled eggs for the first time!
- I ran with Mr. Pede.
- I have been using my night splint, and it's really helping my foot. (It is, in fact, possible to wake up in the middle of the sleep time, remove a three-strap boot, and throw it. Did it both nights I had the blasted thing on.)
- I somehow managed to finish to MCIs. MCIs are correspondence courses, usually short little tests.
- I had a good day at work today.
- I feel like I have time to do all my chores today.
Thursday, all I did was walk around the LZ. By order of the SgtMaj, that's all any remedial participant who is on chit can do.
Unless, of course, it's Friday, and a low-impact bodyweight plus tire-flipping workout is in order!
Today I'm going to do a simple core workout. Planks, crunches, some oblique moves, and bridges to work my lower back. I might do it naked. I've always wondered what working out naked would be like. Of course I'm not going to do anything out in public, but in my room!
Saturday, June 16, 2012
Pet Peeve Friday!
Well, belatedly Friday!
Today's pet peeve is the constant misuse of the they're/their/there.
They're: contraction of they and are. A pronoun, and a verb.
Their: group possessive form.
There: used to identify a place.
See? Not hard!
Today's pet peeve is the constant misuse of the they're/their/there.
They're: contraction of they and are. A pronoun, and a verb.
Their: group possessive form.
There: used to identify a place.
See? Not hard!
GRRRRR!!! BARK!!!!!
Well, it has not been a great week at work.
I have had a thirteen hour day and a fifteen hour day this week.
Wednesday, I ran a PFT. I ran it on an injury. I have plantar fasciitis in both my feet, and in my right foot this week it really blew up. So as not to get yelled at for trying to get out of the PFT, I ran it injured and went in to medical afterward. After taking my vitals, the LT ordered me to get my BCP package. He refused to treat me without it.
Comma, pause for explanation: BCP is the Marine Corps fat kid program. It's officially called the Body Composition and Military Appearance Program. Recently, when I ran my physical fitness test (PFT) for score, I was weighed in. I was, of course, over my max allowable weight (164 lbs for 68 in.) and didn't make bodyfat standards (tape measurement at the neck, waist, and hips for females). I knew I was over my weight, which is why I started training for a half marathon (as motivation) and transitioning to Paleo (cause who doesn't like to pretend she's Rachelle Welch?). Thus, I was processed for BCP, which means blood work to rule out any medical cause for weight gain/loss, another weigh-in/tape, and then various bits of paperwork that keeps me from promotion til I'm off the program.
I was lucky to find the sergeant in charge of the BCP packages about fifteen feet from medical's doors. Of course, his job is also to weigh in all individuals in the unit, and that took priority. Once people stopped showing up to weigh in, he was able to complete my package and send me back over to medical. I was seen by an incompetent corpsman for my foot. Here is what the medical officer said when he walked into my exam room: "You run in Vibrams and you wonder why your feet hurt?" He didn't really bother to examine me first and did a perfunctory exam at best after I got the shoes lecture. He couldn't even recommend a type of shoe for me. I asked specifically. "Arch support" was all he had to offer, and a long drive to a running store about forty minutes away. It's a horrible drive: I'd been to that area before. At least he wrote a scrip for a night splint, and unfortunately for orthotics. Then he wrote a chit for no running and no Vibrams.
(I don't know why anyone would spend the money on special running shoes with arch support and all that stuff only to rip out the whole insole to put in orthotics. It didn't make sense.)
I knew better! I went to a much closer running store that I'd been to before, got put on their video camera, and tried on a dozen different kinds of shoes. I facilitated all the advice I could from the two employees, both avid runners themselves. I didn't end up in an overbuilt shoe, and I know which shoe I'll get for my next supershoe, but I bought the $20 cheaper New Balance Minimus in a color I like to call "Horrible Orange". They have a little tiny bit of arch support, but I don't feel like the shoe is trying to eat my foot or force it in any way. It turns out I pronate a little itty bitty bit, but it's hardly noticeable without slow motion footage.
So after four hours dealing with medical, with no breakfast, I finally get everything sorted: chits to the right people, package back to the training shop, scrip in pocket. Luckily my shift lead was at the same place at the same time as me, and he gave me a ride to get some lunch. I get up at 230 am and am supposed to work until 1330. I got to eat a 270 calorie salad while getting a billion and one things tasked to me at work, and I stayed at work until 1500 (3pm). Did I mention I had other administrative things to take care of, like my screening package for MSG (which I can't do anyway), getting my scrips, and taking care of myself? Well, the Marine Security Guard package didn't get done because my boss forced me to stay late. I barely got to ortho in time to get my orthotics and night splint. Then I came back, grabbed some chow, went to get shoes, and had my group class and private lesson in karate. That takes me to about 9 pm, and I still have showering and basic hygeine to do before bed.
Thursday, I packed myself off to work at 3am, on about three hours of sleep. I do my best work with at least six hours. It was another long day in the making. Work went smoothly enough, except my stay-late project had zero positive comments. (I have a pet peeve: if you're critiqueing my work, your comments had better be freaking perfect. No misspelled words, no grammar errors. Especially basic words like "sentence".) That put me in a horrible atti-mood, and it didn't let up until I got out of work. I left on time, because I refused to stay late, having been denied a chance to get chow. And I headed over to medical to get my package signed and turned in, which I did, but then got it turned back because I missed two signatures. I got a call about a weekly BCP meeting, but instead got called in to see SgtMaj. This was to sign my BCP package and get it sent over to the BNCO. Waiting for that took til about 430, and by 5 I was finally on my way to get dinner and fall into bed.
Yesterday I got a lot of work done, wasn't called out of the shop except to see 1st Sgt. (I'm double-non-rec'ed for promotion right now. It's so stupid. I'm not sure it's even possible.) It was a wait for him, too, and after a while I finally got in, signed yet more paperwork, and grabbed a takeout tray on the way back to work. I left only a half-hour late!
I have had a thirteen hour day and a fifteen hour day this week.
Wednesday, I ran a PFT. I ran it on an injury. I have plantar fasciitis in both my feet, and in my right foot this week it really blew up. So as not to get yelled at for trying to get out of the PFT, I ran it injured and went in to medical afterward. After taking my vitals, the LT ordered me to get my BCP package. He refused to treat me without it.
Comma, pause for explanation: BCP is the Marine Corps fat kid program. It's officially called the Body Composition and Military Appearance Program. Recently, when I ran my physical fitness test (PFT) for score, I was weighed in. I was, of course, over my max allowable weight (164 lbs for 68 in.) and didn't make bodyfat standards (tape measurement at the neck, waist, and hips for females). I knew I was over my weight, which is why I started training for a half marathon (as motivation) and transitioning to Paleo (cause who doesn't like to pretend she's Rachelle Welch?). Thus, I was processed for BCP, which means blood work to rule out any medical cause for weight gain/loss, another weigh-in/tape, and then various bits of paperwork that keeps me from promotion til I'm off the program.
I was lucky to find the sergeant in charge of the BCP packages about fifteen feet from medical's doors. Of course, his job is also to weigh in all individuals in the unit, and that took priority. Once people stopped showing up to weigh in, he was able to complete my package and send me back over to medical. I was seen by an incompetent corpsman for my foot. Here is what the medical officer said when he walked into my exam room: "You run in Vibrams and you wonder why your feet hurt?" He didn't really bother to examine me first and did a perfunctory exam at best after I got the shoes lecture. He couldn't even recommend a type of shoe for me. I asked specifically. "Arch support" was all he had to offer, and a long drive to a running store about forty minutes away. It's a horrible drive: I'd been to that area before. At least he wrote a scrip for a night splint, and unfortunately for orthotics. Then he wrote a chit for no running and no Vibrams.
(I don't know why anyone would spend the money on special running shoes with arch support and all that stuff only to rip out the whole insole to put in orthotics. It didn't make sense.)
I knew better! I went to a much closer running store that I'd been to before, got put on their video camera, and tried on a dozen different kinds of shoes. I facilitated all the advice I could from the two employees, both avid runners themselves. I didn't end up in an overbuilt shoe, and I know which shoe I'll get for my next supershoe, but I bought the $20 cheaper New Balance Minimus in a color I like to call "Horrible Orange". They have a little tiny bit of arch support, but I don't feel like the shoe is trying to eat my foot or force it in any way. It turns out I pronate a little itty bitty bit, but it's hardly noticeable without slow motion footage.
So after four hours dealing with medical, with no breakfast, I finally get everything sorted: chits to the right people, package back to the training shop, scrip in pocket. Luckily my shift lead was at the same place at the same time as me, and he gave me a ride to get some lunch. I get up at 230 am and am supposed to work until 1330. I got to eat a 270 calorie salad while getting a billion and one things tasked to me at work, and I stayed at work until 1500 (3pm). Did I mention I had other administrative things to take care of, like my screening package for MSG (which I can't do anyway), getting my scrips, and taking care of myself? Well, the Marine Security Guard package didn't get done because my boss forced me to stay late. I barely got to ortho in time to get my orthotics and night splint. Then I came back, grabbed some chow, went to get shoes, and had my group class and private lesson in karate. That takes me to about 9 pm, and I still have showering and basic hygeine to do before bed.
Thursday, I packed myself off to work at 3am, on about three hours of sleep. I do my best work with at least six hours. It was another long day in the making. Work went smoothly enough, except my stay-late project had zero positive comments. (I have a pet peeve: if you're critiqueing my work, your comments had better be freaking perfect. No misspelled words, no grammar errors. Especially basic words like "sentence".) That put me in a horrible atti-mood, and it didn't let up until I got out of work. I left on time, because I refused to stay late, having been denied a chance to get chow. And I headed over to medical to get my package signed and turned in, which I did, but then got it turned back because I missed two signatures. I got a call about a weekly BCP meeting, but instead got called in to see SgtMaj. This was to sign my BCP package and get it sent over to the BNCO. Waiting for that took til about 430, and by 5 I was finally on my way to get dinner and fall into bed.
Yesterday I got a lot of work done, wasn't called out of the shop except to see 1st Sgt. (I'm double-non-rec'ed for promotion right now. It's so stupid. I'm not sure it's even possible.) It was a wait for him, too, and after a while I finally got in, signed yet more paperwork, and grabbed a takeout tray on the way back to work. I left only a half-hour late!
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
WORST CHIT EVER
Maybe I'm exaggerating, but here's the thing: The medical officer today blamed all of my foot pain on my Vibrams. Thus: "NO VIBRAM SHOES" is double underlined on my duty chit.
It couldn't be anything else. Not at all. 95% of the time I run with no pain anywhere in my Vibrams. The MO is so against barefooting that he alluded to getting me NJPed if I ever wore them again.
Of course, all I have to do is make it through the week and somehow come up with magic money to buy standard shoes tonight, since the ones I have were declared worn out and probably wrong for my "problems".
It's been a frustrating day.
It couldn't be anything else. Not at all. 95% of the time I run with no pain anywhere in my Vibrams. The MO is so against barefooting that he alluded to getting me NJPed if I ever wore them again.
Of course, all I have to do is make it through the week and somehow come up with magic money to buy standard shoes tonight, since the ones I have were declared worn out and probably wrong for my "problems".
It's been a frustrating day.
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Mr. Pede & His Hill
Today I had a moment where I forgot all about this thing called "sanity" and went for a run with Mr. Pede. He took me and the captain on a little four-mile loop that included his hill.
OH MY GOD IT WAS SO STEEP AND I KNEW WHAT TO EXPECT THIS TIME!!!!
Now Mr. Pede doesn't run very fast. He believes in a conversational pace, so he can talk about Jesus and counsel everyone he runs with if they need it. He's a very strong Christian, and that's one of the reasons I look up to him as a role model. Also, he's an "old" man to be hanging around Marines, so the fact that he runs every day is inspiring. I want to be able to do that when I'm feeling fifty. And I don't want to feel fifty for another, say fifty years.
Also, ran some short sprints for remedial this morning. The other thing was some tips and tricks for getting through our two main tests and training for them.
OH MY GOD IT WAS SO STEEP AND I KNEW WHAT TO EXPECT THIS TIME!!!!
Now Mr. Pede doesn't run very fast. He believes in a conversational pace, so he can talk about Jesus and counsel everyone he runs with if they need it. He's a very strong Christian, and that's one of the reasons I look up to him as a role model. Also, he's an "old" man to be hanging around Marines, so the fact that he runs every day is inspiring. I want to be able to do that when I'm feeling fifty. And I don't want to feel fifty for another, say fifty years.
Also, ran some short sprints for remedial this morning. The other thing was some tips and tricks for getting through our two main tests and training for them.
Monday, June 11, 2012
Today's Workout
Today was about a 3 mile run. It was pretty simple. I didn't kill myself over it, but I was running, after all.
I'm way off my half training plan. I'm going to try to get back on that this week. (crap it's Monday when did that happen)
Here is the half training plan for the week:
Monday: Stretch and strengthen
Tuesday: 3.5 miles
Wednesday: crosstrain
Thursday: 3.5 + strength
Friday: Rest (haha)
Saturday: 40 min crosstrain
Sunday: 5 miles
If remedial PT works out that the distances we're running are at or exceed the plan, then I'm going to count that, and do some bodyweight work or go swimming to supplement.
I weighed myself this morning before PT, and I weighed 180! WOOT 5 lbs down from last Monday! After PTing and pooping I weighed 178. But I don't think that counts, because I weigh in before PT according to ME. I am the only one who counts anyway. Right?
Right.
I'm way off my half training plan. I'm going to try to get back on that this week. (crap it's Monday when did that happen)
Here is the half training plan for the week:
Monday: Stretch and strengthen
Tuesday: 3.5 miles
Wednesday: crosstrain
Thursday: 3.5 + strength
Friday: Rest (haha)
Saturday: 40 min crosstrain
Sunday: 5 miles
If remedial PT works out that the distances we're running are at or exceed the plan, then I'm going to count that, and do some bodyweight work or go swimming to supplement.
I weighed myself this morning before PT, and I weighed 180! WOOT 5 lbs down from last Monday! After PTing and pooping I weighed 178. But I don't think that counts, because I weigh in before PT according to ME. I am the only one who counts anyway. Right?
Right.
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Today's Workout + Adventure
Today I biked 10 miles, 5 miles at a time. I rode over to the shopping plaza where I was supposed to meet my friend. Unfortunately her car broke down and she didn't make it up. While I was waiting, however, I got my very first pedicure!
My toes look great!
Also, I saw MIB3. If you aren't a theater person, go ahead and see it anyway when it comes out on bootleg. It's worth seeing! It's really a neat story. The story is about the beginning of J and K's relationship. Lots of cool storyline that sort of prequels the first two MIBs.
Five miles is not as hard as I thought. Even with the hills. I am really beginning to enjoy using my bike to get around, at least out on town. The base doesn't have bike lanes, so sometimes it can get a little tricky to get around without getting killed.
My bike, my beloved bicycle, is a Cannondale Comfort from 2007(ish). It's got a nice comfy seat and a good heavy frame. It can handle some rougher stuff, but it's not really a mountain bike. It's a hybrid. I like it. We get along pretty well together. It's dark blue but I have a helmet to match.
My toes look great!
Also, I saw MIB3. If you aren't a theater person, go ahead and see it anyway when it comes out on bootleg. It's worth seeing! It's really a neat story. The story is about the beginning of J and K's relationship. Lots of cool storyline that sort of prequels the first two MIBs.
Five miles is not as hard as I thought. Even with the hills. I am really beginning to enjoy using my bike to get around, at least out on town. The base doesn't have bike lanes, so sometimes it can get a little tricky to get around without getting killed.
My bike, my beloved bicycle, is a Cannondale Comfort from 2007(ish). It's got a nice comfy seat and a good heavy frame. It can handle some rougher stuff, but it's not really a mountain bike. It's a hybrid. I like it. We get along pretty well together. It's dark blue but I have a helmet to match.
Saturday, June 9, 2012
Pet Peeve of the Week!
I have a lot of "pet peeves" and usually they don't bother me that much. I think, however, it's fun to hear other opinions of my pet peeves. Today's grammar pet peeve is one I cannot abide. I fix the displays in my local gym with a red pen (and usually get in trouble for it, but really... Proofread, people!).
Today's Pet Peeve: Using "you're, your" incorrectly
It's grammar! It's one of the building blocks of language! Use the one that fits the language you're speaking/writing! Here's the breakdown: "you're" is a contraction of the words "you" and "are"; "you" is a noun, and "are" is a verb (2nd person present tense form of the English "to be"). Therefore: You're working out today. NOT: Your working out today.
"Your" is a second person possessive. You use it to say to someone that their (noun/gerund/verb) is (adjective), or to refer to something that belongs to someone. Hence: Your workout looks really fun! NOT You're workout looks really fun.
Got it? Great! Now practice! Stop spreading terrible grammar!
Next week's Pet Peeve: The constant misuse of the three (their, there, they're)s. I am screaming in rage inside my head every time I see these messed up. EVERY TIME. My neurons start goose-stepping. It's bad.
P.S. I promise I'm not really a Grammar Nazi. I'm from the middle of Hickville. I have used the following sentence in actual conversation after graduating from college: "I hadn't wanted to driv the car on down there." In case you were wondering: "driv" in this case should have been "drive". Driv isn't even a word. But still... when you're presenting a product of your writing/language skills... DO IT RIGHT! Woot.
P.P.S. I love using words like: hence, therefore, henceforth, therein. So fun!
Today's Pet Peeve: Using "you're, your" incorrectly
It's grammar! It's one of the building blocks of language! Use the one that fits the language you're speaking/writing! Here's the breakdown: "you're" is a contraction of the words "you" and "are"; "you" is a noun, and "are" is a verb (2nd person present tense form of the English "to be"). Therefore: You're working out today. NOT: Your working out today.
"Your" is a second person possessive. You use it to say to someone that their (noun/gerund/verb) is (adjective), or to refer to something that belongs to someone. Hence: Your workout looks really fun! NOT You're workout looks really fun.
Got it? Great! Now practice! Stop spreading terrible grammar!
Next week's Pet Peeve: The constant misuse of the three (their, there, they're)s. I am screaming in rage inside my head every time I see these messed up. EVERY TIME. My neurons start goose-stepping. It's bad.
P.S. I promise I'm not really a Grammar Nazi. I'm from the middle of Hickville. I have used the following sentence in actual conversation after graduating from college: "I hadn't wanted to driv the car on down there." In case you were wondering: "driv" in this case should have been "drive". Driv isn't even a word. But still... when you're presenting a product of your writing/language skills... DO IT RIGHT! Woot.
P.P.S. I love using words like: hence, therefore, henceforth, therein. So fun!
Today's Workout(s)
June 6 was my PFT. I only scored a second class, which sucks, but I haven't been training. I got what I worked for, in reality. I ran 23:14, did 100 crunches, and my flexed arm hang was 38 seconds. Then we had a surprise weigh-in, and I was 14 lbs over my weight. I'm trying to make a decision whether to try to cut the weight for the second chance weigh in or take the hit and go on weight control. The crazy weigh-in policy for my battalion always seems to put a monkey wrench in my diet, because I always have to cut weight. I always lose discipline after three days of starvation and so long without water. I just eat everything I can find as soon as the scale is over.
So I'm on our remedial PT program (which is terribad for weight loss and physical strength progress) now. The first day was Thursday, June 7. It was almost four miles of what we call Radar Ridge. It's a lot of hill, up and down.
June 8: crazy run again, this time up MGuns Pede's hill. It gains 271 vertical feet in about thirty horizontal feet. I may be exaggerating the horizontal feet, but the sign says 271 feet. Then the gunny in charge for the week had us run the ridge to the end, wait for the slowest guy to kind of catch up, and split us into squads (that's Marine for team). Then the squads raced back to the LZ (landing zone, a big flat place where it is convenient to land a big-ass helicopter). I beat everybody back to the last hill, which is what usually kills me anyway. The last hill is short but it's steep halfway up. It's killer. I run ridiculously fast downhill. If I go slow and "controlled" my knee hurts and I feel like I'm going to fall or slip. My favorite moment was hearing Gunny holler "BULLSHIT! CATCH HER!!!" from higher up on the hill. (They did but it was still cool.)
So today I took the day off. Those runs kicked my butt and I've been sleeping all afternoon and all night. I took the total day off, workout and food. I'll be back to it tomorrow. Those runs did let me know I can crack the whip harder in my workouts. I have it, I just have to uncover it.
Oh, yeah, the man the hill was named after? He's a retired Master Gunnery Sergeant (E-9), USMC. He goes to my church and on Monday I'm running his hill with him. I'm excited. I'll run it again sometime and take pictures. I know! That's where I'll take my Nerd Fitness picture when I finally order my shirt!
So I'm on our remedial PT program (which is terribad for weight loss and physical strength progress) now. The first day was Thursday, June 7. It was almost four miles of what we call Radar Ridge. It's a lot of hill, up and down.
June 8: crazy run again, this time up MGuns Pede's hill. It gains 271 vertical feet in about thirty horizontal feet. I may be exaggerating the horizontal feet, but the sign says 271 feet. Then the gunny in charge for the week had us run the ridge to the end, wait for the slowest guy to kind of catch up, and split us into squads (that's Marine for team). Then the squads raced back to the LZ (landing zone, a big flat place where it is convenient to land a big-ass helicopter). I beat everybody back to the last hill, which is what usually kills me anyway. The last hill is short but it's steep halfway up. It's killer. I run ridiculously fast downhill. If I go slow and "controlled" my knee hurts and I feel like I'm going to fall or slip. My favorite moment was hearing Gunny holler "BULLSHIT! CATCH HER!!!" from higher up on the hill. (They did but it was still cool.)
So today I took the day off. Those runs kicked my butt and I've been sleeping all afternoon and all night. I took the total day off, workout and food. I'll be back to it tomorrow. Those runs did let me know I can crack the whip harder in my workouts. I have it, I just have to uncover it.
Oh, yeah, the man the hill was named after? He's a retired Master Gunnery Sergeant (E-9), USMC. He goes to my church and on Monday I'm running his hill with him. I'm excited. I'll run it again sometime and take pictures. I know! That's where I'll take my Nerd Fitness picture when I finally order my shirt!
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Today's Workout
Today's workout is Stretch and Strengthen. This weekend, I really failed at getting my planned workouts in. So, here is today's convenient workout: stretch!!!
I'm really going to do well with this today, because tomorrow's normal workout will be replaced with today's normal workout, a 3 mile run. It got rescheduled at the last minute.
See, I was supposed to run a PFT today, and it got pushed back to tomorrow (woohoo). I rested, and stretched, and killed at tournament, only to be rescheduled. I went to the dojo yesterday for class, and now I'm stretching and doing some easy bodyweight stuff, plus some walking. On Thursday, I'm going to pick up the schedule like I haven't screwed it up at all and keep plugging away!
This week looks like this:
Monday: 1 hr of karate
Tuesday: Stretch & strengthen
Wednesday: 3 miles (PFT woot!)
Thursday: 3 miles plus Strength training (bodyweight circuit)
Friday: Rest
Saturday: 30 minutes crosstraining
Sunday: 4 miles
Actually, I've covered all the workouts, just incredibly out of order! I didn't even realize it until I wrote it down. I still missed my long run last week, and I didn't want to run at all, so I let myself get the best of me. This week, I will do better!
I'm really going to do well with this today, because tomorrow's normal workout will be replaced with today's normal workout, a 3 mile run. It got rescheduled at the last minute.
See, I was supposed to run a PFT today, and it got pushed back to tomorrow (woohoo). I rested, and stretched, and killed at tournament, only to be rescheduled. I went to the dojo yesterday for class, and now I'm stretching and doing some easy bodyweight stuff, plus some walking. On Thursday, I'm going to pick up the schedule like I haven't screwed it up at all and keep plugging away!
This week looks like this:
Monday: 1 hr of karate
Tuesday: Stretch & strengthen
Wednesday: 3 miles (PFT woot!)
Thursday: 3 miles plus Strength training (bodyweight circuit)
Friday: Rest
Saturday: 30 minutes crosstraining
Sunday: 4 miles
Actually, I've covered all the workouts, just incredibly out of order! I didn't even realize it until I wrote it down. I still missed my long run last week, and I didn't want to run at all, so I let myself get the best of me. This week, I will do better!
Monday, June 4, 2012
Z-Ultimate Self Defense Studios National Championship Tournament
Hi everybody!
I didn't post yesterday, because I had a very long day, and I was lazy.
My karate tournament happened yesterday! It was super fun and definitely worth the money to register. If you don't know much about tournaments, you have to pay to participate. It costs money to run these things: buy trophies, hire the photographer, pay for the venue, et cetera, et cetera. The more you participate, the more you pay. It's just how it works. You don't train for free, you don't compete for free. The best things in life might be free, but the better things are costly!
I participated in Women's Sparring, White/Yellow, Women's Kata, White/Yellow, and Weapons, White/Yellow/Orange/Purple. All three divisions made for a long day. The tournament was held in Irvine, California. The Z-Ultimate school is slowly spreading across the US from California, so most of our dojos are in this state. Adults started with sparring or katas at 8 am. I had a bit of a drive up to Irvine, and I arrived at 7 am. Doors opened at 715, so I went in, changed into my gi, found a couple of others from my dojo, and started warming up. I was a case of nerves.
It's a bad idea to have Mickey D's for breakfast. Ever. But especially right before a competition.
I placed third in sparring. I could have placed first but I didn't get a point at a critical time in one of my matches, so I went up for the third/fourth place match and won.
In kata, I thought that me and my friend would kill the competition... and we both didn't place. I still can't figure it out... but I'm happy with my form. It's too bad the grandmaster doesn't remember what a horse stance is... lol. Anyway, if you can't tell, I'm very bitter about that.
For weapons, we had a huge amount of competition. It would be very hard for a Dragon Set I to beat a double nunchucks form. On the other hand, I had a very solid DS I so I was very happy. Dragon Set I is a broadsword form. It's very fun for a yellow belt because it's very basic. I wish I didn't have to do open hand in order to do weapons, but my sensei has this wise idea that open-hand forms are the bedrock of martial arts training. Sigh. Anyway, next tournament, I'm going to win it all. Except maybe weapons, but most of the purple belts should have moved on to blue, and I should be a purple belt by January. So I have an excellent chance.
Weapons went at 530 pm. I took a nap in my Jeep in the middle of the afternoon and had a terrible nightmare about my dead grandmother (she looked pretty lively, though) stealing my Jeep with my sword and phone and gear. It was terrible.
I didn't get home til almost 8 pm. It was quite a day: 5 am to 8 pm all told. I slept like a bucket of lead.
I didn't post yesterday, because I had a very long day, and I was lazy.
My karate tournament happened yesterday! It was super fun and definitely worth the money to register. If you don't know much about tournaments, you have to pay to participate. It costs money to run these things: buy trophies, hire the photographer, pay for the venue, et cetera, et cetera. The more you participate, the more you pay. It's just how it works. You don't train for free, you don't compete for free. The best things in life might be free, but the better things are costly!
I participated in Women's Sparring, White/Yellow, Women's Kata, White/Yellow, and Weapons, White/Yellow/Orange/Purple. All three divisions made for a long day. The tournament was held in Irvine, California. The Z-Ultimate school is slowly spreading across the US from California, so most of our dojos are in this state. Adults started with sparring or katas at 8 am. I had a bit of a drive up to Irvine, and I arrived at 7 am. Doors opened at 715, so I went in, changed into my gi, found a couple of others from my dojo, and started warming up. I was a case of nerves.
It's a bad idea to have Mickey D's for breakfast. Ever. But especially right before a competition.
I placed third in sparring. I could have placed first but I didn't get a point at a critical time in one of my matches, so I went up for the third/fourth place match and won.
In kata, I thought that me and my friend would kill the competition... and we both didn't place. I still can't figure it out... but I'm happy with my form. It's too bad the grandmaster doesn't remember what a horse stance is... lol. Anyway, if you can't tell, I'm very bitter about that.
For weapons, we had a huge amount of competition. It would be very hard for a Dragon Set I to beat a double nunchucks form. On the other hand, I had a very solid DS I so I was very happy. Dragon Set I is a broadsword form. It's very fun for a yellow belt because it's very basic. I wish I didn't have to do open hand in order to do weapons, but my sensei has this wise idea that open-hand forms are the bedrock of martial arts training. Sigh. Anyway, next tournament, I'm going to win it all. Except maybe weapons, but most of the purple belts should have moved on to blue, and I should be a purple belt by January. So I have an excellent chance.
Weapons went at 530 pm. I took a nap in my Jeep in the middle of the afternoon and had a terrible nightmare about my dead grandmother (she looked pretty lively, though) stealing my Jeep with my sword and phone and gear. It was terrible.
I didn't get home til almost 8 pm. It was quite a day: 5 am to 8 pm all told. I slept like a bucket of lead.
Saturday, June 2, 2012
Today's workout
Today's workout was bowling! I know, it's not strenuous, but I like it, and I forgot to plan anything good. I'm heading to the dojo for a little bit, too.
Friday, June 1, 2012
Bad News
Today I found out the extent of my neighbor Bobby's stroke, and it's very bad. I have known for a couple days that he had stroked, but without knowing how severe it was I decided to not worry about it. I called my mother today, who has dropped by to see him in the hospital, and she let me know that he's about the same as he was when he had his stroke on Monday or Tuesday. That's bad.
Bobby is in his mid-eighties, lived by himself, still mowed his own yard, and drove himself around. He was alone when he had his stroke and fortunately was in bed, so he didn't fall or further complicate his stroke. He is an Army veteran who served at the end of World War II in Europe. He's proud, patriotic, and country through and through.
We've attended the same church since I was in grade school, with a few years of a break when my family went to a different church with more children and less elderly people. We've lived less than two miles apart since I was seven. He gave me and my sister his granddaughter's hand-me-down clothes for as long as they would fit us. Essentially, he's part of my family, and he's the only person who makes a distinct effort to call me Marine, not soldier, and he makes sure to tell others that Marines are Marines. Even though he was a dirty old man, I love him very much and I'm asking for prayers for his prognosis and health. He is very bad right now and since he's old, his prognosis holds very little hope.
Thank you.
Bobby is in his mid-eighties, lived by himself, still mowed his own yard, and drove himself around. He was alone when he had his stroke and fortunately was in bed, so he didn't fall or further complicate his stroke. He is an Army veteran who served at the end of World War II in Europe. He's proud, patriotic, and country through and through.
We've attended the same church since I was in grade school, with a few years of a break when my family went to a different church with more children and less elderly people. We've lived less than two miles apart since I was seven. He gave me and my sister his granddaughter's hand-me-down clothes for as long as they would fit us. Essentially, he's part of my family, and he's the only person who makes a distinct effort to call me Marine, not soldier, and he makes sure to tell others that Marines are Marines. Even though he was a dirty old man, I love him very much and I'm asking for prayers for his prognosis and health. He is very bad right now and since he's old, his prognosis holds very little hope.
Thank you.
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Today's Workout & Having Fun
Today's workout assignment from my training plan was cross training or running 2 miles.
Fortunately, it's nearly impossible to mess that assignment up on Wednesday, as we usually play an hour of soccer at work and my karate class is an hour in the evenings. I also have my private lesson.
Today at soccer I didn't hurt anything that hasn't already been hurt! My ankle keeps giving on me. I'm not liking that at all, so I have to sort out something to do with it. I also scored a goal and did a fair bit of running. Soccer is so much sprinting but you need a crazy amount of endurance to keep up the sprinting.
I really like to play soccer. My skill level isn't very high, and mostly I can just place a pass and I try to direct defense. To me, it's not the level of skill that's important. Winning is fun, and I agree wholeheartedly with winning and being competitive. In the end, if you're not having fun doing whatever you do, you need to switch it up. Having fun means you really put effort into what you're doing. Otherwise, your effort won't be as intense and you'll treat it as a chore. No one likes chores!
I like to play basketball and throw around a football, too. I'm not good at either one, particularly, but I usually have fun. Even if I'm not sprinting crosscourt or defending aggressively, I'm still not sitting still, staring at the TV.
In fitness, sometimes you have to do the things you hate to improve the things you love. I'm not a great weight trainer. My gym is pretty full of muscle monsters that throw heavy things around. I can never get into a squat rack. Plus there's still this vibe in the gym that girls only lift 10 or 15 lbs. That's me, on every upper body exercise known to man except shoulder press! Legs, however, a different story. But to get my upper body to the next level of strength, I know I'm going to have to incorporate some weight training. Until then, bodyweight! I like running, sports, martial arts, and yoga so much better than staring at the weights, thinking... Crap, what was that again?
So, when you're training, remember to have fun. Do what you need to do to improve, but always, always, have fun!
Fortunately, it's nearly impossible to mess that assignment up on Wednesday, as we usually play an hour of soccer at work and my karate class is an hour in the evenings. I also have my private lesson.
Today at soccer I didn't hurt anything that hasn't already been hurt! My ankle keeps giving on me. I'm not liking that at all, so I have to sort out something to do with it. I also scored a goal and did a fair bit of running. Soccer is so much sprinting but you need a crazy amount of endurance to keep up the sprinting.
I really like to play soccer. My skill level isn't very high, and mostly I can just place a pass and I try to direct defense. To me, it's not the level of skill that's important. Winning is fun, and I agree wholeheartedly with winning and being competitive. In the end, if you're not having fun doing whatever you do, you need to switch it up. Having fun means you really put effort into what you're doing. Otherwise, your effort won't be as intense and you'll treat it as a chore. No one likes chores!
I like to play basketball and throw around a football, too. I'm not good at either one, particularly, but I usually have fun. Even if I'm not sprinting crosscourt or defending aggressively, I'm still not sitting still, staring at the TV.
In fitness, sometimes you have to do the things you hate to improve the things you love. I'm not a great weight trainer. My gym is pretty full of muscle monsters that throw heavy things around. I can never get into a squat rack. Plus there's still this vibe in the gym that girls only lift 10 or 15 lbs. That's me, on every upper body exercise known to man except shoulder press! Legs, however, a different story. But to get my upper body to the next level of strength, I know I'm going to have to incorporate some weight training. Until then, bodyweight! I like running, sports, martial arts, and yoga so much better than staring at the weights, thinking... Crap, what was that again?
So, when you're training, remember to have fun. Do what you need to do to improve, but always, always, have fun!
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
The Importance of Water (& Today's Workout)
Today I was supposed to run 3 miles. I ran only two, and at about a ten minute pace. I felt rather sluggish and hot.
I think I ran badly. Tomorrow is another day, however, and two miles is still better than no miles.
I did make a note of one thing: I haven't been drinking my usual gallon or more of H20 every day. When my work schedule changed, I stopped drinking as much water. In fact, I drank almost none, because I was rather thrown off and forgot to filter my water and bring it in to work.
The situation brings me to the importance of water. To me, I performed badly for two reasons: I haven't been running for a while and I have decreased my water consumption. So my training had fallen off in the past few weeks, which is really disappointing. And I was dehydrated. Optimum hydration, to me, is all I can drink. With the food I have available to me, there's almost no risk of low electrolyte... basically water poisoning. In other words, I have a lot of sodium in my diet from the chow hall's version of food.
Today I've managed almost a gallon of water, and I have one being filtered now. I want to get both my jugs filled tonight so that I have a gallon for work and another gallon to work on for the rest of the day.
You can search the science behind it, but water makes us, as humans, feel better. Our blood is better, our whole body is better when we drink plenty of water. Our muscles can work harder and recover faster if we drink water through the day. Plus, it's easier to sweat a lot when there's a lot of water to sweat out!
For the rest of this week, my goal is to drink only water and milk. I like a little variety, and milk has good protein. I'll skip the chocolate milk, though; the added sugar is so terrible. Milk has enough as it is! :)
I think I ran badly. Tomorrow is another day, however, and two miles is still better than no miles.
I did make a note of one thing: I haven't been drinking my usual gallon or more of H20 every day. When my work schedule changed, I stopped drinking as much water. In fact, I drank almost none, because I was rather thrown off and forgot to filter my water and bring it in to work.
The situation brings me to the importance of water. To me, I performed badly for two reasons: I haven't been running for a while and I have decreased my water consumption. So my training had fallen off in the past few weeks, which is really disappointing. And I was dehydrated. Optimum hydration, to me, is all I can drink. With the food I have available to me, there's almost no risk of low electrolyte... basically water poisoning. In other words, I have a lot of sodium in my diet from the chow hall's version of food.
Today I've managed almost a gallon of water, and I have one being filtered now. I want to get both my jugs filled tonight so that I have a gallon for work and another gallon to work on for the rest of the day.
You can search the science behind it, but water makes us, as humans, feel better. Our blood is better, our whole body is better when we drink plenty of water. Our muscles can work harder and recover faster if we drink water through the day. Plus, it's easier to sweat a lot when there's a lot of water to sweat out!
For the rest of this week, my goal is to drink only water and milk. I like a little variety, and milk has good protein. I'll skip the chocolate milk, though; the added sugar is so terrible. Milk has enough as it is! :)
Level 50
I've been reading Nerd Fitness, a blog about fitness. Duh. Anyway, it's a no-nonsense, simple place where everyone is encouraged to be their own ultimate badass. He promotes a lot of the stuff I'm coming to believe is the most effective. I'm a fitness baby. I might be in first grade or second grade for fitness knowledge. But this guy, Steve, he isn't a professional fitness guy. He's a normal guy, telling us what he has found to work, and making a huge impression on the world with his blog.
A post I recently read has inspired this "Level 50" post: in other words, what is the ultimate you can be. (You, of course, being me.)
My Level 50
*Paid off all debt, including all credit cards and car loan.
*Grandmaster (that's a black belt tenth degree) in Shaolin Kempo Karate in the Z Ultimate Self Defense school.
*Competed in hunter/jumper equitation.
*Ridden at least 150 miles at a stretch for charity.
*Met famous people.
*Wrote my own book.
*Have a family of my own that I cook for and take world-wandering.
*Have the freedom to travel the world.
Today I'm trying to derive a way to get my beach bag, body board (I got a body board!!!), sundries, and me to the beach on my bicycle. So far, I am not having much luck.
I might edit Level 50 as I go along. After all, I'm going to pound out Levels 1-5 this week. Look for that to come!
I've picked a class as well. Actually, two, because I love my martial arts, and I also have this thing for being able to be strong and last. So, according to Steve's post, I will be a Monk/Ranger.
Cause I'm, you know, a badass, or something...
A post I recently read has inspired this "Level 50" post: in other words, what is the ultimate you can be. (You, of course, being me.)
My Level 50
*Paid off all debt, including all credit cards and car loan.
*Grandmaster (that's a black belt tenth degree) in Shaolin Kempo Karate in the Z Ultimate Self Defense school.
*Competed in hunter/jumper equitation.
*Ridden at least 150 miles at a stretch for charity.
*Met famous people.
*Wrote my own book.
*Have a family of my own that I cook for and take world-wandering.
*Have the freedom to travel the world.
Today I'm trying to derive a way to get my beach bag, body board (I got a body board!!!), sundries, and me to the beach on my bicycle. So far, I am not having much luck.
I might edit Level 50 as I go along. After all, I'm going to pound out Levels 1-5 this week. Look for that to come!
I've picked a class as well. Actually, two, because I love my martial arts, and I also have this thing for being able to be strong and last. So, according to Steve's post, I will be a Monk/Ranger.
Cause I'm, you know, a badass, or something...
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