Reunited with some old friends

Monday, July 04, 2011

Happy 4th of July sparkers!

Yesterday I was reunited with some old friends! It's now been six weeks since my shoulder surgery. During that time I did a lot of walking and what little physical therapy I was allowed to do. I've missed running, weights and a lot of other stuff.

I finally went to the gym yesterday and hooked up with some of my trainers favorite things:




Single leg reps on the leg extension and leg curl machines.



Single leg reps on the leg press machine.



I use the taller piece in this picture to do single leg squats. I put my back toward it, lift one leg forward and squat on one leg until my butt hits the step and then stand back up.

I use the smallest one and do single leg toe touches off the side of the step one leg at a time.

I followed that all up with single leg lunches.


For ab work I did full body situp and twist on the stability ball.

I never realized how much a shoulder surgery would affect the rest of my body. Since there are muscles coming out of it to the chest and to the back, it seemed that every single movement I did hurt badly for at least a month. Now it's much more tolerable and the leg routine is back.

Today it was a slow steady climb on the Bowflex Treadclimber at home and I'm feeling my leg muscles tonight!

We made Chef Meg's Chocolate Fondue today and i have to give that 5 stars! We opted for Mint Chocolate flavored marshmellows and used strawberries, apple slices, and banana slices to dip. I think 1 Tablespoon of that in some coffee with skim milk and it might be a lower calorie option of a mocha type coffee for my daughter.

Besides grilling chickent breasts, we tried a new Clean Eating recipe for Salsa Style Corn Fusilli - this is a pasta salad with a Mexican flavored flare. I also give this a 5 star and loved all the flavors. We opted for whole wheat pasta instead of the regular.

We also made Clean Eating's Summery Green Bean Casserole. We left out the sun dried tomatoes. This one got a thumbs down from part of the family and thumbs up with modifications from the rest. We are going to work with this one some more. It reminded me of Thanksgiving and a healthier version of the traditional green bean casserole that we don't make anymore.


This is a picture of what the pasta salad looked like.

For those of you who might not have heard of the Clean Eating magazine before, here is a picture of what the latest issue looks like:



My daughter made the Banana Chocolate breakfast bread yesterday. The girls didn't like it that much, but I thought it was alright. They are trying to find an alternative to the same type of bread that they get at Starbucks. I would add some chopped walnuts to it for a little more flavor.

Tomorrow's lunch is the pasta salad mixed with cut up grilled chicken. That makes an easy grab and go for my husband for work.

So overall - good weekend of shopping healthy, trying new recipes, and getting back to my leg weights.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

IM_GETTIN_THIN 7/5/2011 11:41AM

great progress! Love all the pictures too. I love clean eating magazine, it is one of my favorites along with Oxygen magazine :) Report Inappropriate Comment

RUNNER4LIFE08 7/5/2011 8:24AM

Sounds like you had a very good weekend! Glad to hear you were reunited with your old friends. Getting back to weights will make your body feel good! (and strong!) Report Inappropriate Comment

RUNNINGSUSHI 7/5/2011 7:28AM

Aaaw, old friends are the best, glad you were reunited! Report Inappropriate Comment

LYNMEINDERS 7/5/2011 1:15AM

Congrats on your awesome progress.... The pasta salad looks amazing Report Inappropriate Comment

SUSIEWHITE1109 7/4/2011 9:23PM

Awesome blog! I should have stayed over for dinner!! Report Inappropriate Comment

Week 26 Challenge (June 2-8th)

Monday, July 04, 2011

Happy 4th of July Sparkers!

It's time for a new weekly challenge!

Our quote for the week: You can have results or you can have excuses. You cannot have both.

I'm not sure where I saw that one, but it hit me right between the eyes when I read it! Which one best describes you this week - full of excuses or achieving results?

Our song for the week: All In by Lifehouse

www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFhq22t5fdc

Although the writer speaks of a relationship that he is All In with, I have this on my workout playlist and like to listen to it while strength training or running. I'm All in and committed to my healthy lifestyle and "I want it" and "I'm all in for Life".

Our Challenge this week: Develop your 2nd Half Plan and blog about it. It's the second have of the year. Six months gone and six months left. Are you accomplishing your goals that you set at the New Year? If not, what do you need to do to get back on track?

Have a healthy and happy week Spark Teams!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

FATHINSN 7/4/2011 8:11PM

Hmm, 2nd half plan? Well, I've several plans in my mind for different occasions (fasting month, vacation weeks, after-vacation months, etc) and this is good idea, keep track for what I plan to do for the other half of year 2011 :D p/s: by the way, I think it's July, not June, hehe Comment edited on: 7/5/2011 7:21:35 AM Report Inappropriate Comment

FUTURENAVY 7/4/2011 1:38PM

I'm excited about this challenge! To plan out my next six months is something right up my alley (I like lists lol) Report Inappropriate Comment

SGIBONEY87 7/4/2011 1:33PM

I never read the challenges...just have not been into it...but glad I read this as I am about to have gastric sleeve surgery and am working on making the healthy changes in my life where eating and exercise are concerned. This blog challenge is perfect for me this week. Report Inappropriate Comment

JUNEAU2010 7/4/2011 1:00PM

Thanks for prodding thoughts! Report Inappropriate Comment

Independence Day 5k Pics

Sunday, July 03, 2011

I could just write a blog that says I Heart SP 500 times and it still wouldn't say how much I love this site.


I met up with some other Dallas Spark Team members to do the Independence Day 5k yesterday. There was another teammate and her son there but they weren't around when we took this picture.

A big thank you to Shelly who walked with me the whole way. She has shin splints and I'm recovering from shoulder surgery so we brought up the injured rear for the team.



Another shout out to my running buddy susiewhite1109 who serves routinely as my logistics person! We sign up for events, I show up at her house, and she gets us to where we need to be on time. She even drove me to my first half marathon this year and took pictures even though she wasn't running.

I remember leaving Luke's Locker with her one time and saying how many events do you want to do in 2011? We did 3 last year. She immediately replied let's do at least one a month. With this event yesterday I'm up to 8 this year with seven 5 k's and my half marathon.



I'm also happy that one of my daughters runs with us pretty routinely now as well. Thanks Rachael for joining in our madness!

My daughter asked me in the parking lot of that very same Luke's Locker this past week if going in that store made me feel like a runner. I quickly replied I don't have to feel anymore Rachael, I am a runner. That was one proud moment for me.

Thanks SP for helping me reach a new height in my life - I can walk around telling people that I'm a runner and it's totally true.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

RUNNER4LIFE08 7/5/2011 8:28AM

Awesome blog fellow runner! Report Inappropriate Comment

CHELLEJOBEAN 7/5/2011 5:56AM

I know that Jerome was very excited to get together with you all again. So glad that you all did well, and had a good time. Report Inappropriate Comment

MFLYNN8 7/4/2011 1:11PM

LOVE IT! You are a runner! Report Inappropriate Comment

GREEKGAL1 7/4/2011 10:21AM

Congratulations! It sounds like fun. Happy 4th! Comment edited on: 7/4/2011 10:22:51 AM Report Inappropriate Comment

EDGEOFSANITY 7/4/2011 8:34AM

Awesome! So glad to see you again! Report Inappropriate Comment

OUTDOORSDC 7/3/2011 9:57PM

I love this! The race, the friends, the site. Glad you have such a close community right there in your backyard. Report Inappropriate Comment

JUNEAU2010 7/3/2011 9:41PM

Report Inappropriate Comment

SUSIEWHITE1109 7/3/2011 7:30PM

Wow! I tried to post a comment and it wouldn't work because it said I had bad language in it...I promise...there was NO bad language in my comment!!! Computers are so weird sometimes! You have done an amazing job with your post-surgery therapy and walk/run/Boflex-ing! It has been great to do all these events together -- looking forward to many more to come! Report Inappropriate Comment

LYNMEINDERS 7/3/2011 6:59PM

Woohoo...another victory for you and such encouragement for sparkers.....yay Report Inappropriate Comment

MKPRINCESS007 7/3/2011 5:54PM

You continue to be a shining star here for me! You have, and continue to, achieve greatness in your goals and dreams. You don't just talk the talk, you LIVE it and make it a reality. For that, I feel blessed to be in your sparkfriend circle. I am all about real, and you are real every day. Congrats for now being an "official" runner! You have so much to be proud of! Karen Report Inappropriate Comment

ANGELOO29 7/3/2011 5:44PM

Wow!! AWESOME! Report Inappropriate Comment

LESLIESENIOR 7/3/2011 5:43PM

Wow!!!!! That's awesome. The 5k is fantastic, but more than that, the camaraderie with the other Sparkpeople is marvelous. I'm new to Spark and love the idea of meeting up for a healthy event. My local "Team" appears to have lost leadership and does not have any events planned. You GO Dallas Sparkies!! Report Inappropriate Comment

Snow White and the Three Dorks

Friday, July 01, 2011

Friday - July 1st..... Snow White is asleep in the 5k lodge.

My daughter and I are staying over at my BFF's house for our 5k tomorrow. We call it the 5k lodge. Not sure but we think the name of the race tomorrow is "It's so hot what the He** are you doing here" race. At 8pm the heat index is still at 97 degrees in Dallas.

Anyway, Susie's niece Ava allowed her to take her Snow White doll for a few days so she could play. Ava is three. So here as evidence that we don't take ourselves to seriously is Snow White's day....

8:00 ish in the morning and I'm sitting on the couch in the front room reading and looking out the window. A guy driving a truck with a huge construction dumpster starts backing into Susie's driveway. He had the right house number but the wrong street. he thinks he is supposed to be delivering this to her house and backs it up so far in the driveway that he runs into her house



Now Snow White's cottage needs repairs.

Later in the day we took White with us to the mall and took pictures everywhere we went. We texted them throughout the day to Ava's mom and she shared the story of what her doll was doing...


her first ride on the escalator


With Aunt Susie at the movies.... we all liked the Larry Crowne movie with Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts. White didn't like the fact that it wasn't animated but did like the handsome prince and the happily ever after ending.


Playing in the butterflies. We actually took her to the Disney store and took pictures in there but those were on Susie's phone and not mine.


Trying to escape from the land shark. Okay I know you have to be a certain age to remember the Land Shark skits on Saturday Night Live. My daughter actually likes SNL reruns so she knew what we were talking about. We were laughing so hard in this store people were staring at us.


Rachael (my daughter) with the shark and then Aunt Susie...



One of my favorite pics was White eating out of the basket of chips at the Mexican food restaurant. The other highlight for me was when Susie was walking through the mall with the doll in her arm while she was texting her niece. One woman walking by looked at her like she must have some serious mental issues.

We took a trip to Run On and I saw this sign...


Rachael and I both got some new running shorts, and we're trying out Frogg Togg's tomorrow. It's a material that you get damp and wear around your neck and it cools you down. If we like it, I'll post a review of it this weekend.

Anyway...silly day with a weird beginning, laughter in the middle, and a nice evening at the lodge sparking away. I hope everyone has a great holiday weekend.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

RUNNER4LIFE08 7/5/2011 8:33AM

Oh my gosh... I would have been so mad if that were my house. I hope the company will pay for the damages. Looks like a fun goofy day! LOVE IT.... Live to laugh, that is one of my mottos! Report Inappropriate Comment

HAPPYLOSER49 7/4/2011 7:33AM

Looks like a fun day! We loved "Larry Crowne" too! Report Inappropriate Comment

MKPRINCESS007 7/3/2011 5:57PM

Love how you have so much fun! The pics are too funny, and yes, please do a review on that product. My husband is a postal worker, and he walks in that kind of heat all summer. He could use all the help he can get! K Report Inappropriate Comment

MFLYNN8 7/2/2011 1:54PM

It really is too hot! Be safe ladies! Report Inappropriate Comment

BETHGILLIGAN 7/2/2011 8:11AM

Love, love those kinds of spontaneous crazy days!!!!! Good luck with the race. Be careful of the heat! Report Inappropriate Comment

FATHINSN 7/2/2011 2:02AM

Haha, watching those pictures made me laugh so hard, tears were rolling down! And Snow White survived! Report Inappropriate Comment

LYNMEINDERS 7/2/2011 1:21AM

Love the account of snow whites day....looks as though she enjoyed herself and did a lot of new things... Yay Enjoy your 5k Report Inappropriate Comment

SUSIEWHITE1109 7/1/2011 9:49PM

What a crazy day we've had!! So glad we got to hang out with Snow White! She rocks! Report Inappropriate Comment

JUSTJUSTY 7/1/2011 9:27PM

You two are a crack-up!! LOL, This is so cute. I can't imagine the stares you got but that's part of the fun I think. It's good to be a kid now and then!! Best of luck in the race! .. Once when I was driving, I put my arm out the window and was slowing riding the wind up and down. My son who, was sitting in the passengers seat, asked what the heck I was doing. I told him I trying to make the car fly. He also put his arm out the window so we could fly. (we're on back roads). The younger kids in the back said we were so embarrassing... LOL that was until the car behind us and the car ahead of us all rolled their windows down and started flying too! It's so hysterical! .. Comment edited on: 7/1/2011 9:28:31 PM Report Inappropriate Comment

JUNEAU2010 7/1/2011 9:21PM

What a great day! Have fun tomorrow! Report Inappropriate Comment

Week 25 - June 25 - July 1 Weekly Challenge

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Summer schedule and things are a little off track timing wise...anyone else having that issue?

Our Quote for the week: Don't DIET, just EDIT your food choices.

I saw that quote recently and it also made me think about summer. Several people have been posting on the message boards about going on vacations and worrying about eating. Just remember that this is a healthy lifestyle choice and you can edit what you are eating and keep healthy options in mind. You don't have to be perfect in order to make progress.

Song of the week: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Af8mB9ABuJA

This song by Rascal Flatts is called I Won't Let Go - I think about it in two ways as it relates to our healthy lifestyle journey - one that SP is always here to help us through on the tough days and second, my strong self talking to my weak self to remind me that even when I'm struggling and not perfect - inside of me is the strong person who can come out and she isn't letting go just because of a hard day.

Our challenge for the week: Map it out...don't have a pedometer or anything else to track your walking? Use SP's feature that allows you to map out a route and then you'll know exactly how far you are running or walking. You can find it here:

www.sparkpeople.com/resource/fitness
_maps_home.asp

I realized late last week that I had posted the challenge blog for the week, but never emailed it out to the teams. If you missed it and you are up for the challenge of creating a Fitness Bucket List, then here is the link for that challenge:

www.sparkpeople.com/mypage_public_jo
urnal_individual.asp?blog_id=4310273

Make it a great week!

Michelene

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

CHANGE4THEBEST 6/29/2011 7:47PM

Great quote and sound track! Report Inappropriate Comment

RUNNINGPFUHL 6/29/2011 5:08PM

LOVE IT!! Report Inappropriate Comment

KITCAT8099 6/29/2011 2:49PM

Nice quote!! love it! Report Inappropriate Comment

CODERPITT 6/29/2011 2:46PM

I'm 243 lbs, male, active and working out 60 minutes or more at a time, 3-6 times a week. My cardiologist and doctor knocked me down from 2200-2400 calories down to 1600-1800. If that's editing, I feel like they bled all over my page ;) Before that I was able to eat 2800 calories a day as long as I worked out. None of it has worked yet, but I keep pushing along. Report Inappropriate Comment

SUSIEWHITE1109 6/29/2011 10:56AM

Love the quote! EDIT! Report Inappropriate Comment

LYNMEINDERS 6/29/2011 5:51AM

Love the Quote.... That is brilliant Report Inappropriate Comment

FITBY50TOO 6/29/2011 12:31AM

Love that quote!! and Rascal Flatts too :) Report Inappropriate Comment