I don't always wash my hands (or use sanitizer).
First of all, why bother if there's no soap in the dispenser or paper towels? A good scrub will get off most of the dirt and germs without any soap. But if my hands are actually dirty, I want the super dirt-removing powers of GoJo or LavaSoap.
What if my hands aren't dirty?
Why spend four minutes at the line at the sink, the paper towels or air dryer, and then have all the associated trash?
My hands aren't dirty.
Sunday, May 5, 2013
Friday, February 22, 2013
Holy Cosmic Upheaval
Okay! Since January, I have been busy, but not with much of great importance. I did get some important things settled, such as:
I'm really excited about the weights I'm lifting. Tomorrow's squat weight is set for 100 lbs. That means the first ever time I squat triple digits. I will be taking on either 135 or 145 on my deadlift. I have to check my notebook. I've doubled my most serious weight at the OHP. I used to hit 40 once in a while, and now I can lift 60. Tomorrow's workout ups the ante to 65, and I might end up repeating the weight, but I have confidence I'll be putting that weight up easily in two weeks. My bench press (never even used to do it, except with small dumbbells) is at 70 lbs this week. My weakest lift is the power clean right now, but that is partly because I'm new to it and partly because I was cheating on the rows with form.
How You Can Tell I'm Serious About Lifting:
1. Only sheer exhaustion keeps me from working out (I hated range week).
2. I have no grip assists, extra gear, or lifting shoes.
3. My workout notebook has KITTENS on it. KITTENS.
I'm totally serious, guys.
- Chris and I have found and deposited for our apartment, and we're getting ready to move in.
- The wedding is settled!
- My wedding leave is approved!
- I shot expert on the range (one reason I haven't been blogging)
- I have been switched from days to nights at work.
- I've been doing a lot of leisure reading.
- I lost my Internet when my last roommate moved out.
- We even have a couple pieces of furniture for our apartment thanks to bridal shower cash!
I'm really excited about the weights I'm lifting. Tomorrow's squat weight is set for 100 lbs. That means the first ever time I squat triple digits. I will be taking on either 135 or 145 on my deadlift. I have to check my notebook. I've doubled my most serious weight at the OHP. I used to hit 40 once in a while, and now I can lift 60. Tomorrow's workout ups the ante to 65, and I might end up repeating the weight, but I have confidence I'll be putting that weight up easily in two weeks. My bench press (never even used to do it, except with small dumbbells) is at 70 lbs this week. My weakest lift is the power clean right now, but that is partly because I'm new to it and partly because I was cheating on the rows with form.
How You Can Tell I'm Serious About Lifting:
1. Only sheer exhaustion keeps me from working out (I hated range week).
2. I have no grip assists, extra gear, or lifting shoes.
3. My workout notebook has KITTENS on it. KITTENS.
I'm totally serious, guys.
Saturday, January 12, 2013
Katana VS Broadsword
I have two weapons at my disposal in the dojo. One is Chinese broadsword, a wushu-style curved sword. The other is a katana, the Japanese samurai sword. They are so different.
I picked up the katana as something my fiance and I could do together (now we barely spend our free time apart) and as something that was on sale, too good to pass up. The original plan was to take the katana form to tournament, but life happened and I didn't get the form down, much less tournament-ready. I had picked up broadsword for demo team, and was pretty much a natural with it. You have to make that sword sing. I would say steel, but the ones we use at tournament are aluminum alloy and unsharpened. They're not "real" swords, in a sense.
Broadsword is a very circular weapon. Shaolin monks train with it. It's kind of flashy and designed for close-quarters fighting. It's a very flowing weapon. It's also designed to sneak around shields and pluck out eyeballs and such.
Katana is a very linear weapon. It can be used in a circular fashion, but it's much more a slicing weapon. It's kind of a brutal style. It can slice through armor, for pete's sake. However, the style is graceful and powerful.
I'm much more a broadsword than a katana. It's making katana very challenging for me. It's slow, and I've gotten better technically with the katana but the form is just not clicking yet. I picked up the opponents of Dragon Set 1 for broadsword very quickly compared to how I am just not for katana form (I think it's Way of the Little Dragon).
In the future, I want melon hammers. It's two heavy hammers (35 lbs each or so) with round heads and it's a weapon that carries you. It's deadly. I'll wait for a few belts before I pick up those, though. Katana is enough of a challenge!
I picked up the katana as something my fiance and I could do together (now we barely spend our free time apart) and as something that was on sale, too good to pass up. The original plan was to take the katana form to tournament, but life happened and I didn't get the form down, much less tournament-ready. I had picked up broadsword for demo team, and was pretty much a natural with it. You have to make that sword sing. I would say steel, but the ones we use at tournament are aluminum alloy and unsharpened. They're not "real" swords, in a sense.
Broadsword is a very circular weapon. Shaolin monks train with it. It's kind of flashy and designed for close-quarters fighting. It's a very flowing weapon. It's also designed to sneak around shields and pluck out eyeballs and such.
Katana is a very linear weapon. It can be used in a circular fashion, but it's much more a slicing weapon. It's kind of a brutal style. It can slice through armor, for pete's sake. However, the style is graceful and powerful.
I'm much more a broadsword than a katana. It's making katana very challenging for me. It's slow, and I've gotten better technically with the katana but the form is just not clicking yet. I picked up the opponents of Dragon Set 1 for broadsword very quickly compared to how I am just not for katana form (I think it's Way of the Little Dragon).
In the future, I want melon hammers. It's two heavy hammers (35 lbs each or so) with round heads and it's a weapon that carries you. It's deadly. I'll wait for a few belts before I pick up those, though. Katana is enough of a challenge!
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Ho, Hey
Tournament was awesome this year!
I won two trophies: 4th in sparring, women's orange belt, and 1st in women's kata, orange. That's right, I WON! WON WON WON!!!
Okay, I am still excited. We're just not going to talk about weapons for me this year.
Chris won second in men's sparring, white & yellow, third in men's kata, white & yellow, and third in weapons white, yellow, orange, purple with his katana. *jealous*
My poor sensei is trying to teach me that it's okay to miss out on one class. She said yesterday that it hadn't really sunk in for her that I had won two trophies already. It didn't make sense to her that I was so disappointed by weapons!
I won two trophies: 4th in sparring, women's orange belt, and 1st in women's kata, orange. That's right, I WON! WON WON WON!!!
Okay, I am still excited. We're just not going to talk about weapons for me this year.
Chris won second in men's sparring, white & yellow, third in men's kata, white & yellow, and third in weapons white, yellow, orange, purple with his katana. *jealous*
My poor sensei is trying to teach me that it's okay to miss out on one class. She said yesterday that it hadn't really sunk in for her that I had won two trophies already. It didn't make sense to her that I was so disappointed by weapons!
Monday, January 7, 2013
New Year, New You
This phrase comes out in late December and hangs around until about the middle of February, coinciding with the rush of gym-goers for the resolution season. I am not a gym fanatic, but I do like the measurable progress that weight lifting gives me.
I don't set particular resolutions because I never keep them. I'm also not a SMART goal setter, unfortunately for me. I need to work on SMART goal setting but I have to shrink my goals down to get some solid practice.
This year, my biggest goal is to let go of the past, and to live in the present as much as possible. It might take some therapy, but 2013 is going to be a big year. Here's a list of things that are definitely going to happen this year: getting married (rather unexpected), purple belt, one year karate anniversary, new neice. Things that I am working to have happen this year are blue belt, winning at tournament, pay off two loans. It's really rather exciting.
I want to go for a walk every day, drink more water, continue not drinking pop, and be a badass.
I want to give up on work. Work is not going to be a focus for me this year, because I do not want to be my work. My work is challenging and it's pretty interesting, but I don't want to work in this field as a career. I want to be in a more active job. Instead of sitting at a desk all day, and rushing to get my physical activity up through various sessions at the end of the day, I want a job that has light to moderate activity throughout the day. I also want to work with animals. So I have plenty of options to explore this year.
At the end of this year, I want to be healthier than I am now.
I don't set particular resolutions because I never keep them. I'm also not a SMART goal setter, unfortunately for me. I need to work on SMART goal setting but I have to shrink my goals down to get some solid practice.
This year, my biggest goal is to let go of the past, and to live in the present as much as possible. It might take some therapy, but 2013 is going to be a big year. Here's a list of things that are definitely going to happen this year: getting married (rather unexpected), purple belt, one year karate anniversary, new neice. Things that I am working to have happen this year are blue belt, winning at tournament, pay off two loans. It's really rather exciting.
I want to go for a walk every day, drink more water, continue not drinking pop, and be a badass.
I want to give up on work. Work is not going to be a focus for me this year, because I do not want to be my work. My work is challenging and it's pretty interesting, but I don't want to work in this field as a career. I want to be in a more active job. Instead of sitting at a desk all day, and rushing to get my physical activity up through various sessions at the end of the day, I want a job that has light to moderate activity throughout the day. I also want to work with animals. So I have plenty of options to explore this year.
At the end of this year, I want to be healthier than I am now.
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Meatloaf
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.
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.
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.
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