February's Favorite Things

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

*Annie Chun's Roasted Seaweed Snacks (Sesame is my favorite) 60 calories for the whole pack
but a little high in Sodium

*Oh Yeah Bars - my trainer recommended these (not for the no carb people)
*Dymatize ISO 100 Whey Protein Powder

*PB2 Powdered peanut butter w/ chocolate: 45 cal/serving 1g fat, 6 g carb. 1 g.fiber and 4 g protein. I don't use this for protein as the real stuff makes out better for that however, I love peanut butter but I can't always afford the calories this this makes a nice option for smoothies or a quick fix. Ingredients: Roasted Peanuts, cocoa powder, sugar and salt. You can also get it without the chocolate.

Jade Yoga mats - absolutely the best brand I have used. I own several Manduka and Gaiam mats but the Jade really does cut down on slips.

Barleans Greens - green food supplement drink.

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Wise Runners Please Answer

Friday, February 24, 2012

I need a little help. I am having trouble pushing past my "wall" when I wog (that's walk/jog). I REALLY am committed to training for my first 5K, I just guess I want to hear that when you are a beginning runner it sucks for everyone. That it is slow going and hills are yucky and it is not just me and it is not just because I am not in perfect shape. I push my myself hard in other workouts, I just shut down with the running for some reason. Usually if I can get through the first 10 minutes of something I am okay. With the running it is a constant battle of will. I know that is why I feel so great when I complete a running session - because I feel I have triumphed over my lesser self and ego. I'm not in a funk or anything. I could just use a little wisdom on the matter.

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VICTORY!

Thursday, February 23, 2012

Well, not like I ran a half marathon or a 5K or even 5 feet... BUT I FINALLY figured out how to use the heart rate monitor that has been vexing me so. The instructions were completely useless, but I have prevailed and I can stop using the one the dog chewed on and start using the nice new one.
So I am gonna do the cheer now(clap if you would like): Split the V, dot the I and curl the CTORY!

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2/21 and 2/22 Workouts

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

2/21 - Yoga Class. I think I pulled an abdominal muscle going between plank and cobra in a sun salutation :( I'm not in horrible pain it just hurts on one side when I engage my abs for pushups, crunches etc. I did really well on balancing poses.
2/21- Killer circuits with the trainer. Worked back and biceps hard. My shoulders didn't quite get the workout they needed. For some reason really light weights seemed really heavy during standing shoulder flys today. It is funny how some days are like that.
I still need to work on my attitude toward the cardio portions of my training. I find it really hard to push myself during cardio. I always feel a little guilty afterwards because I think I could have worked a bit harder.
All in all, though, I have had two really good days.

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Weakness

Saturday, February 18, 2012

I have been thinking a lot about this fit journey that I am on. Everyday I get stronger, smarter and realize something I was missing before. This past week I realized that my "hut-hut" "I like to pick up and put down heavy things" colleagues are right - the burn, soreness and sometimes fatigue that I am feeling really is just weakness leaving my body.
I have been dealing with weakness in various incarnations most of my life. Weakness comes in like a friend. Feeling all good and gooey. She comes in with refined carbs, lazy couch living, long naps and short drives. She brings cupcakes - wow! cupcakes! No wonder I let her live with me so long,
The thing about Weakness is, she's a user, a psychic vampire. She sucks the life right out of you and when she's done, she just leaves you there sprawled out in fat, sugar laden stupor.
When you ask Weakness to leave, there is no polite way to do it. The time for diplomacy has usually long passed. You have to run her out - literally! She has soooo much stuff to move and the funny thing is you don't even remember her bringing it all in. Moving takes weeks, months even years. As with every move I have ever been a party to, there are aches, pains, tears, sweat, regret and sometimes even a little scratch or two. You are always finding (and always will find) remnants of Weakness' things still inside you. That is okay. The important thing is to not let her be a permanent resident in your life. She will keep banging on the door begging to be let back in. She will bring chocolate and bad weather that does not bode well for a workout. She might even tamper with your scale and measurements. However, if the heart begins to soften to her, remember her betrayal. The willfullness and malice she uses to keep you from your best life. The life where you can move in the world with comfort and joy.
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I have been telling myself this story in various forms all week.

Friends chowing down on huge, greasy appetizers... I see plates of weakness. Hubby not wanting to get up with me at 5am to workout (it is the only time I can do it through the week) fine, but if I stay in the warm bed I feel weakness creeping back around.

I am not advocating over training or any sort of eating habits that are not part of a healthful lifestyle - I just know that for me (and maybe some others) weakness has to be met with appropriate force. I now think of weakness and I as mutual combatants (as funny as that sounds). For the longest time, I did not know my FriENEMY's name. I called her x y and z's fault. Now I know her name and I have called her out by it. I know what weakness is and how it is dealt with. So bring on those crunches and intervals - I kind of like to make her cry

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