It is so very easy to get caught up in the crap.
I find myself working very hard on looking beyond the crap. I subscribe to MindBodyGreen and read lots of articles that talk about positivity. One of the things that was mentioned was writing down something that I am grateful for each day. While I don't plan on making it 100% public (that's just narcissistic and way too much bragging) I thought that I could at least start day one on here, thus hopefully spreading the idea so that others can focus on the positive things in their life.
In the beginning there are so many things to write about being grateful for, especially when you stop to think about it. The goal isn't to write down everything all at once though, it's to write down one thing each day.
This morning I am really grateful for my husband. He is one of the greatest people I have ever known. He is kind, funny, generous and just all around wonderful. I'm luck that we were able to find each other in this crazy world. I'm going through some difficult things right now and he is very supportive. I'm very proud of him too for all of the things that he is accomplishing. Tonight he has a final exam in one of his classes and I know that he's going to do great, even if he doesn't know it 100%. So thank you husband for always being there and being so wonderful.
That wasn't hard at all, and it kind of warmed my heart up (which on a 18 degree now going down to 0 degree in Chicago with windchill advisory of -20, that's saying something).
If I stop to think about all that I am grateful for, it really is a long list. I suggest that everyone take just a moment to write down something that you are grateful for.
Wednesday, December 11, 2013
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
More letting go
It's amazing how much "letting go" has been a theme for me recently. There are so many different aspects of letting go that I really need to work on.
Letting go of situations
Letting go of people
Letting go of fear
Letting go of the past
Letting go of control
I think that I've improved on the "fear" and "control" though I do still need to be in control of certain situations...I'm realizing that I can't be in control of everything. I also realize that not everything is on my time schedule so that I've let go of as well.
Letting go of people seems to be harder for me. I have always wanted to be liked by everyone and have always wanted to give people second (and third and fourth) chances. When someone hurts me I usually turn the other cheek. When someone doesn't want to be around me anymore, I have a hard time with that. I think as I get older though that's becoming easier too...why would I want to be around someone who doesn't want to be around me? Additionally, why would I want to be around someone who hurts me? Life is too short.
Letting go of the past...and I guess also situations...that's a tricky one. If a situation was bothersome it seems to stick to me. Typically situations are in the past (though sometimes it's upcoming situations that urk me). I dwell and all that does is upset me and make me dwell more and upset me more...such a terrible cycle. Rather than feeding that feedback loop, there needs to be a way to interrupt it. I think the best way to let go is to replace those past situations with more recent ones...unless the past situation continues to repeat itself and then I suppose you need to move from letting go of the past to letting go of people! Unless it's different people, same situation, in which lots of self work would need to be done.
As we are in the final month of the year, focusing on moving forward is good...but it needs to continue throughout the year. It's a housekeeping of sorts. I'm packing up my office at work because we're getting some new carpet. I'm recycling old things that I don't need anymore and have no idea why I held onto in the first place. The same thing needs to be done to some memories and yes even people who are a part of our lives. It may be difficult and sad, but in order for new things to happen you need to move forward...that's the trick to remember most I suppose.
*edit*
A few minutes after posting this a friend posted this image on facebook...so I'm not alone with my thinking
Letting go of situations
Letting go of people
Letting go of fear
Letting go of the past
Letting go of control
I think that I've improved on the "fear" and "control" though I do still need to be in control of certain situations...I'm realizing that I can't be in control of everything. I also realize that not everything is on my time schedule so that I've let go of as well.
Letting go of people seems to be harder for me. I have always wanted to be liked by everyone and have always wanted to give people second (and third and fourth) chances. When someone hurts me I usually turn the other cheek. When someone doesn't want to be around me anymore, I have a hard time with that. I think as I get older though that's becoming easier too...why would I want to be around someone who doesn't want to be around me? Additionally, why would I want to be around someone who hurts me? Life is too short.
Letting go of the past...and I guess also situations...that's a tricky one. If a situation was bothersome it seems to stick to me. Typically situations are in the past (though sometimes it's upcoming situations that urk me). I dwell and all that does is upset me and make me dwell more and upset me more...such a terrible cycle. Rather than feeding that feedback loop, there needs to be a way to interrupt it. I think the best way to let go is to replace those past situations with more recent ones...unless the past situation continues to repeat itself and then I suppose you need to move from letting go of the past to letting go of people! Unless it's different people, same situation, in which lots of self work would need to be done.
As we are in the final month of the year, focusing on moving forward is good...but it needs to continue throughout the year. It's a housekeeping of sorts. I'm packing up my office at work because we're getting some new carpet. I'm recycling old things that I don't need anymore and have no idea why I held onto in the first place. The same thing needs to be done to some memories and yes even people who are a part of our lives. It may be difficult and sad, but in order for new things to happen you need to move forward...that's the trick to remember most I suppose.
*edit*
A few minutes after posting this a friend posted this image on facebook...so I'm not alone with my thinking
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
Letting go
Two little words, why do they haunt me? I feel as though letting go is one of the most difficult things in the world to do. Whether it be physical (letting go of a blankie), emotional (letting go of the hurt caused from a bad breakup), mental (letting go of a failure from the past)...letting go is difficult.
I'm trying to let go of too much at the same time right now. I should focus on letting go of one thing at a time, instead I'm attempting to force myself to let go of (what seems like) EVERYTHING. It's such a huge burden on me to even think about all that I'm trying to let go of that I don't seem to be letting go of anything at all.
There are so many things...work, emotion, weight, past, worries, personal, career (different from work)...you would think that I would know what to do (I'm a Counselor, I'm trained in this sort of sh*t)...yet I cannot use my techniques on myself. You would think my acupuncture, yoga and running would help...which makes me worry that it is helping and that this is all the residual crap that's left over!
Taking the time to breath is such an important part of our survival, and yet I don't do it often enough...which causes this huge build up that needs to be released.
How do you let go especially when you feel that everything is falling apart?
I'm trying to let go of too much at the same time right now. I should focus on letting go of one thing at a time, instead I'm attempting to force myself to let go of (what seems like) EVERYTHING. It's such a huge burden on me to even think about all that I'm trying to let go of that I don't seem to be letting go of anything at all.
There are so many things...work, emotion, weight, past, worries, personal, career (different from work)...you would think that I would know what to do (I'm a Counselor, I'm trained in this sort of sh*t)...yet I cannot use my techniques on myself. You would think my acupuncture, yoga and running would help...which makes me worry that it is helping and that this is all the residual crap that's left over!
Taking the time to breath is such an important part of our survival, and yet I don't do it often enough...which causes this huge build up that needs to be released.
How do you let go especially when you feel that everything is falling apart?
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
Sugar is not my friend
When am I going to learn that my old ways of coping are no longer the things that are helpful to me? I mean, not that they were helpful before but they were disguised that way.
I'm having a rough day...I keep crying which I hate to do at work, but I can't seem to knock it off. I ate my lunch late (which doesn't help) even though I was hungry early.
What did I do? I ate a total of 6 pieces of chocolate over 2 hours...and I had a belly ache but mostly I feel jittery and the carb/sugar monster is making me think I'm hungry which I am not.
Chocolate and sugar just don't "fix" me the way they used to.
What I should have done was gone for a walk, gotten more water or tea, and just stepped away...instead I went for an old habit.
I will learn from this and I am writing about it so that I will remember to learn from this.
I will workout after work today and I will go for a run as well because that is what will help me...not stuffing myself with sugar but getting my endorphins going.
I'm having a rough day...I keep crying which I hate to do at work, but I can't seem to knock it off. I ate my lunch late (which doesn't help) even though I was hungry early.
What did I do? I ate a total of 6 pieces of chocolate over 2 hours...and I had a belly ache but mostly I feel jittery and the carb/sugar monster is making me think I'm hungry which I am not.
Chocolate and sugar just don't "fix" me the way they used to.
What I should have done was gone for a walk, gotten more water or tea, and just stepped away...instead I went for an old habit.
I will learn from this and I am writing about it so that I will remember to learn from this.
I will workout after work today and I will go for a run as well because that is what will help me...not stuffing myself with sugar but getting my endorphins going.
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Holy sweetness High Fructose Corn Syrup!
I had a bad day yesterday. S'ok, they happen.
My bad day got worse when I gave in and had 2 fun size pieces of candy...it's in my house for Halloween and we now have 148 pieces of candy to give away because of it...again, s'ok, it'll be enough.
It got worse because my found memories of Milky Way and Snickers are just memories...because whoa was that sweet. It was so sweet that I got a tummy ache...from 2 fun size pieces of candy!
Do you know how many fun size pieces of candy I would typically consume around Halloween? More than 2 in one sitting, that's for sure.
I couldn't believe the reaction I had to it. No splotchiness thankfully since there was no wheat or grains, but it was way too sweet. Yes those candies are all sugar but a bunch of it had to be the high fructose corn syrup...it was bad.
So I have learned that when I'm going to indulge I just need to stick with my organic, super dark chocolate and one piece...that should avoid the tummy troubles.
I also had gluten free pizza last night...ordered not made. That made things better :)
Lastly, I am going to identify as paleo...well my eating style...even though I still eat dairy. Some things I read said dairy is ok, others say no...but most of what I'm eating is paleo...and I'm not following the wheat belly thing 100% either so paleo makes sense to people. Saying no grains and really no beans and no sugar doesn't seem to make sense..."what do you eat?" is the response to that...but paleo is more of a "oh, ok...can you eat that?" response :)
My bad day got worse when I gave in and had 2 fun size pieces of candy...it's in my house for Halloween and we now have 148 pieces of candy to give away because of it...again, s'ok, it'll be enough.
It got worse because my found memories of Milky Way and Snickers are just memories...because whoa was that sweet. It was so sweet that I got a tummy ache...from 2 fun size pieces of candy!
Do you know how many fun size pieces of candy I would typically consume around Halloween? More than 2 in one sitting, that's for sure.
I couldn't believe the reaction I had to it. No splotchiness thankfully since there was no wheat or grains, but it was way too sweet. Yes those candies are all sugar but a bunch of it had to be the high fructose corn syrup...it was bad.
So I have learned that when I'm going to indulge I just need to stick with my organic, super dark chocolate and one piece...that should avoid the tummy troubles.
I also had gluten free pizza last night...ordered not made. That made things better :)
Lastly, I am going to identify as paleo...well my eating style...even though I still eat dairy. Some things I read said dairy is ok, others say no...but most of what I'm eating is paleo...and I'm not following the wheat belly thing 100% either so paleo makes sense to people. Saying no grains and really no beans and no sugar doesn't seem to make sense..."what do you eat?" is the response to that...but paleo is more of a "oh, ok...can you eat that?" response :)
Monday, October 28, 2013
More delicious food
One of the things that I'm really loving about going grain free is all of the new recipes that I've been trying. Things that I've never thought of combining before...or things that I've eaten but never thought I would make.
This weekend we started trying out paleo stuffing recipes for Thanksgiving. I need to make something that everyone will enjoy but will still be ok for me and the hubby to eat. Traditionally we had a meat stuffing with sausage and hamburger meat, Pepperidge Farms herb stuffing and then some celery and egg and broth. So going paleo/grain free means that I can still have all of the meat (yay meat) just not the breading. Luckily there are lots of options out there. Yesterday we started with this one minus the cranberries and I think less onion that she calls for. She is not overreacting when she says "Eat it up!!! OMG..." it is so freaking yummy! I have a feeling we will stick with Juli's recipe (with my minor adaptations) but we have a few more to try.
Additionally, I mentioned trying things that I wouldn't think of trying together. Today's lunch is just that. I cooked up a bunch of chicken to go with the stuffing last night, so we had leftovers. I cut up some leftover chicken, added some apples, grapes, almond butter and honey....mix...serve inside of bibb lettuce. The recipe called for romaine but no...that is not a good wrap in my opinion. This lunch is freaking delicious! I'm so excited to play around with these flavors even more.
With all of the recipe searching and blog reading I've been doing, I reintroduced myself to pinterest. Now that I'm using it more, I see how addictive it can be. I'm pinning way too much stuff but it's much easier to access on my shiny, new Iphone 5S...and I'm able to just look it up and start making it in the kitchen. On my galaxy 3 I would look things up but didn't really have them saved...using pinterest is helping with that saving part.
I do need to start learning how to make my own recipes, and not just the coconut chicken and broccoli & cauliflower...though that was yummy. Eating this way for almost 2 months I can cut myself a bit of slack though in terms of not creating everything on my own yet...at least I'm cooking!
This weekend we started trying out paleo stuffing recipes for Thanksgiving. I need to make something that everyone will enjoy but will still be ok for me and the hubby to eat. Traditionally we had a meat stuffing with sausage and hamburger meat, Pepperidge Farms herb stuffing and then some celery and egg and broth. So going paleo/grain free means that I can still have all of the meat (yay meat) just not the breading. Luckily there are lots of options out there. Yesterday we started with this one minus the cranberries and I think less onion that she calls for. She is not overreacting when she says "Eat it up!!! OMG..." it is so freaking yummy! I have a feeling we will stick with Juli's recipe (with my minor adaptations) but we have a few more to try.
Additionally, I mentioned trying things that I wouldn't think of trying together. Today's lunch is just that. I cooked up a bunch of chicken to go with the stuffing last night, so we had leftovers. I cut up some leftover chicken, added some apples, grapes, almond butter and honey....mix...serve inside of bibb lettuce. The recipe called for romaine but no...that is not a good wrap in my opinion. This lunch is freaking delicious! I'm so excited to play around with these flavors even more.
With all of the recipe searching and blog reading I've been doing, I reintroduced myself to pinterest. Now that I'm using it more, I see how addictive it can be. I'm pinning way too much stuff but it's much easier to access on my shiny, new Iphone 5S...and I'm able to just look it up and start making it in the kitchen. On my galaxy 3 I would look things up but didn't really have them saved...using pinterest is helping with that saving part.
I do need to start learning how to make my own recipes, and not just the coconut chicken and broccoli & cauliflower...though that was yummy. Eating this way for almost 2 months I can cut myself a bit of slack though in terms of not creating everything on my own yet...at least I'm cooking!
Thursday, October 24, 2013
Coconut Curry Chicken with broccoli and cauliflower
Last night I made a super easy and delicious dinner. I'm sure that I've seen a recipe like this somewhere and I did not create it out of my own head, but after doing a quick search on the internet and my history, I don't see this anywhere. I apologize if I'm not giving credit where credit is due.
So super easy dinner last night. I had just purchased some organic, pastured chicken thighs and wanted to eat them. I've been craving curry but haven't wanted to go out to get it. Problem solved! I coated 2 chicken thighs with Jamaican Curry (both sides) and put it in a dish. I then covered the curry coated chicken with coconut milk (I used the Thai Kitchen which seems thicker). I put a cover on it and put in the over at 350 for about 30 minutes. I then mixed in a bowl some coconut milk and curry and wisked together. In another dish I put a bunch of broccoli and cauliflower and drizzled the mixture over the veggies and stirred. They weren't coated enough so I did it a second time. I didn't want to have it be covered like the chicken because I thought that the veggies would get too soggy...so enough to coat but not drench. I then added some walnuts and salt and pepper, mixed it up, put a cover on it, and in the oven.
What was super nice was my husband is not the biggest fan of curry, so in another dish I made him jerk chicken thighs and used more of the cauliflower and broccoli and just did salt, pepper, garlic and butter. We were both happy campers in about 30 minutes.
Super easy and delicious. I would post a picture but I ate it up...and I don't think this dish would have made a pretty picture, but it is pretty delicious.
Yay for no grains!
So super easy dinner last night. I had just purchased some organic, pastured chicken thighs and wanted to eat them. I've been craving curry but haven't wanted to go out to get it. Problem solved! I coated 2 chicken thighs with Jamaican Curry (both sides) and put it in a dish. I then covered the curry coated chicken with coconut milk (I used the Thai Kitchen which seems thicker). I put a cover on it and put in the over at 350 for about 30 minutes. I then mixed in a bowl some coconut milk and curry and wisked together. In another dish I put a bunch of broccoli and cauliflower and drizzled the mixture over the veggies and stirred. They weren't coated enough so I did it a second time. I didn't want to have it be covered like the chicken because I thought that the veggies would get too soggy...so enough to coat but not drench. I then added some walnuts and salt and pepper, mixed it up, put a cover on it, and in the oven.
What was super nice was my husband is not the biggest fan of curry, so in another dish I made him jerk chicken thighs and used more of the cauliflower and broccoli and just did salt, pepper, garlic and butter. We were both happy campers in about 30 minutes.
Super easy and delicious. I would post a picture but I ate it up...and I don't think this dish would have made a pretty picture, but it is pretty delicious.
Yay for no grains!
Monday, October 21, 2013
Accidental gluten intake turns red!
On day 46 I went to lunch at the Brat Stop, one of my favorite indulgences (today is day 48 which wow how did that happen). Anyway...I know that all of the sausages there are gluten free...I know that their cheddar cheese soup is not (stupid flour) and made sure that their chili was. My problem on Saturday was french fries. I have been so good and did not eat any fried cheese curds...but husband got some fries and I had 3...yup, 3 little french fries...and soon afterwards I was a red splotchy mess, felt feverish, dehydrated and like crap...all from 3 little french fries. My husband also got splotchy but I don't think he had the full body reaction that I had.
The nice thing was my parents were in town so if my Dad ever thought I was kidding about my intolerance...he got to see it first hand (I knew my Mom didn't need to see it to believe it but she got to see it too).
So my lesson as been learned.
Since I had already had a messed up day with that I opted to try gluten free pasta that night. We have this amazing Italian restaurant near us (Via Roma) and my parents really wanted to go back...we went...I had delicious oxtail (a special) with the gluten free pasta. My Mom and husband did the same (because they are awesome). I ate maybe a half of a cup of my pasta as a treat...but really just devoured the oxtail and was happy.
It was nice getting to have a gluten free pasta treat...but I won't be making it all the time. I really like the way I have changed how I eat and I feel much better about myself. The scale and my pant size may not represent how thin I feel...but the mirror shows it well :) My thighs have always been a trouble spot for me and they are getting smaller and smaller...and my skin is just looking great. I really like this lifestyle change...and dare you all to give it a try :)
The nice thing was my parents were in town so if my Dad ever thought I was kidding about my intolerance...he got to see it first hand (I knew my Mom didn't need to see it to believe it but she got to see it too).
So my lesson as been learned.
Since I had already had a messed up day with that I opted to try gluten free pasta that night. We have this amazing Italian restaurant near us (Via Roma) and my parents really wanted to go back...we went...I had delicious oxtail (a special) with the gluten free pasta. My Mom and husband did the same (because they are awesome). I ate maybe a half of a cup of my pasta as a treat...but really just devoured the oxtail and was happy.
It was nice getting to have a gluten free pasta treat...but I won't be making it all the time. I really like the way I have changed how I eat and I feel much better about myself. The scale and my pant size may not represent how thin I feel...but the mirror shows it well :) My thighs have always been a trouble spot for me and they are getting smaller and smaller...and my skin is just looking great. I really like this lifestyle change...and dare you all to give it a try :)
Friday, October 11, 2013
No longer a challenge
I realized today that I've been grain free for 5.5 weeks now (38 days). I realize that I've done 30 and 40 day challenges in the past, but this isn't a challenge, this is now a change. I ended up giving away some of the pasta that we had in the house as well as the brand new 5 pound bag of flour. I know that most of the people in my life are not going to switch to the way that my husband and I are eating now, so might as well give them the stuff we aren't eating.
I did a weigh in yesterday. According to the scale I originally weighed myself on, I'm down 8 pounds. I'm not really trying that hard. I mean I do work out 4-6 days a week but I eat when I'm hungry and I'm still having a glass of wine a couple of times a week. So being 8 pounds down while still enjoying life is pretty impressive.
I do think that since I've reintroduced "snacking" my weight loss is slowing down, but I'm still at a pound a week which is pretty good. Snacking may be good though since it's possible I wasn't eating enough before. The flaxseed crackers were delicious but I only need 4 of them with some cheese and I'm good...as opposed to in the past where I could eat an entire box of crackers. I'm also very excited about making paleo apple cider donuts. I was going to cheat next week when my parents are in town and get an apple cider donut, but then a recipe popped up and I ordered what I needed to make them. I don't plan on eating sweets all the time, but apple cider donuts are just too delicious.
We've been playing around with different dinners this week. Lots of squash. Spaghetti squash for an Asian inspired dish...acorn squash with chicken sausage one night and with ribs another night...pumpkin as the fruit for my green smoothie...butternut squash soup (that was a lunch). Wow I didn't realize how many different types of squash I had this week until I just wrote it all out. I guess I'm in love with squash right now.
I'm just rambling now, so I will say that I'm excited about this next step in adjusting to a grain free life. There will always be exceptions (some beans here or there, rice on occasion) but mostly primal eating (my husband's co-worker said that his wife is paleo and he is primal...he still has dairy...so I like that...I'm primal)
I did a weigh in yesterday. According to the scale I originally weighed myself on, I'm down 8 pounds. I'm not really trying that hard. I mean I do work out 4-6 days a week but I eat when I'm hungry and I'm still having a glass of wine a couple of times a week. So being 8 pounds down while still enjoying life is pretty impressive.
I do think that since I've reintroduced "snacking" my weight loss is slowing down, but I'm still at a pound a week which is pretty good. Snacking may be good though since it's possible I wasn't eating enough before. The flaxseed crackers were delicious but I only need 4 of them with some cheese and I'm good...as opposed to in the past where I could eat an entire box of crackers. I'm also very excited about making paleo apple cider donuts. I was going to cheat next week when my parents are in town and get an apple cider donut, but then a recipe popped up and I ordered what I needed to make them. I don't plan on eating sweets all the time, but apple cider donuts are just too delicious.
We've been playing around with different dinners this week. Lots of squash. Spaghetti squash for an Asian inspired dish...acorn squash with chicken sausage one night and with ribs another night...pumpkin as the fruit for my green smoothie...butternut squash soup (that was a lunch). Wow I didn't realize how many different types of squash I had this week until I just wrote it all out. I guess I'm in love with squash right now.
I'm just rambling now, so I will say that I'm excited about this next step in adjusting to a grain free life. There will always be exceptions (some beans here or there, rice on occasion) but mostly primal eating (my husband's co-worker said that his wife is paleo and he is primal...he still has dairy...so I like that...I'm primal)
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
35 days of no grain
I can't believe that I'm already at 35 days. I realized I've made a few oops and errors along the way (I ate peanuts last week when I was starving only to get a terrible belly ache later...why? They're legumes. Oh and this morning I felt like I had a hangover...I think it's because I ate some cashew cluster and some delicious pumpkin parfait right before dinner...hello sugar.) but overall I've been doing really good. I've incorporated a few seed based items (chia, flaxseed) and of course the chickpea flour and almond meal...but really I haven't missed things. I was really excited about the flaxseed crackers and think that tomorrow I will have some with my lunch. I have a weird day tomorrow so flaxseed crackers with cheese is a good lunch...maybe with some veggies to munch on too.
I have found that the Wheat Belly cookbook and PaleOMG have been great resources for me as well as Satisfying Eats. They have facebook groups too which just make life easier. Don't know what to make for dinner? Boom! There it is on facebook...or something that inspires me to make something similar. My husband is even getting more involved. He asked to get spaghetti squash (Mr. Iamnotafanofspaghettisquash) so that we could make some of our favorite asian noodle dishes. Speaking of which, I think I was supposed to make that tomorrow...that's not going to happen now since I get to babysit my 2 year old niece (she's super cute).
Anyway...overall I'm finding that this is becoming much easier. I do want to throw out a bunch of food (or give away) that is in the house, but my loving husband isn't sure if we should do that yet since we'll be having guests over for the next few months (hello holidays and the first year of owning our home). I may still throw away some stuff...I don't really want to give it away since I don't want my friends and family eating white flour and processed foods...but they don't want to stop so am I enabling by giving it to them??? Or maybe wait for food drives...but same worry there...oh well...throwing it out isn't always a good idea either.
Long story short, I'm loving eating this way...I just wish I prepared better on days that I'm not really going to be home, but for 35 days in, I'm doing pretty good.
I have found that the Wheat Belly cookbook and PaleOMG have been great resources for me as well as Satisfying Eats. They have facebook groups too which just make life easier. Don't know what to make for dinner? Boom! There it is on facebook...or something that inspires me to make something similar. My husband is even getting more involved. He asked to get spaghetti squash (Mr. Iamnotafanofspaghettisquash) so that we could make some of our favorite asian noodle dishes. Speaking of which, I think I was supposed to make that tomorrow...that's not going to happen now since I get to babysit my 2 year old niece (she's super cute).
Anyway...overall I'm finding that this is becoming much easier. I do want to throw out a bunch of food (or give away) that is in the house, but my loving husband isn't sure if we should do that yet since we'll be having guests over for the next few months (hello holidays and the first year of owning our home). I may still throw away some stuff...I don't really want to give it away since I don't want my friends and family eating white flour and processed foods...but they don't want to stop so am I enabling by giving it to them??? Or maybe wait for food drives...but same worry there...oh well...throwing it out isn't always a good idea either.
Long story short, I'm loving eating this way...I just wish I prepared better on days that I'm not really going to be home, but for 35 days in, I'm doing pretty good.
Saturday, October 5, 2013
Day 32 of no grains
I missed a few days in here towards the end and I do apologize for that. I also was unable to weigh myself on the same scale on day 30...but I did weigh myself on my scale at home and if that one is calibrated the same, I was down 9 pounds in 30 days!
More importantly though I just feel better. I tend to have more energy and am eating less overall. I love my workouts but on days I'm too tired I listen to my body. I get good sleep most nights (with the new puppy it's a little bit more difficult). I look good and I'm excited about keeping this going.
My blood test results came back saying I am not celiac, however, my doctor says if I feel better without the wheat, keep it out.
I experienced my first gluten free beer last night...just one. I've had a bit more to drink this week now that I'm past the no sugar portion...need to cut back again after tonight (I have a pumpkin cider I am excited about trying.) My gluten free beer tasted better than I was expecting. It was a pilsner style called "New Frist" by Lakefront Brewery in Milwaukee (the good land), WI . It was a bit sweeter but I thought it was quite tasty.
That was enjoyed with our chicken tacos where we cooked up chicken with onions and peppers and cilantro, added some homemade guacamole and served in lettuce taco "shells" (aka butter lettuce). Super yummy. Tonight I will be making pizza again from the wheat belly cookbook and enjoying my pumpkin cider.
Another interesting side effect of this no grain thing...or possible side effect...I could really tell that it was ovulation time. I had read that kicking wheat and grains out helps with fertility but man I could tell it was time this month! Hopefully that means everything will fall into place...but if you're looking to get pregnant (or avoid it) going grain free may be of assistance.
More importantly though I just feel better. I tend to have more energy and am eating less overall. I love my workouts but on days I'm too tired I listen to my body. I get good sleep most nights (with the new puppy it's a little bit more difficult). I look good and I'm excited about keeping this going.
My blood test results came back saying I am not celiac, however, my doctor says if I feel better without the wheat, keep it out.
I experienced my first gluten free beer last night...just one. I've had a bit more to drink this week now that I'm past the no sugar portion...need to cut back again after tonight (I have a pumpkin cider I am excited about trying.) My gluten free beer tasted better than I was expecting. It was a pilsner style called "New Frist" by Lakefront Brewery in Milwaukee (the good land), WI . It was a bit sweeter but I thought it was quite tasty.
That was enjoyed with our chicken tacos where we cooked up chicken with onions and peppers and cilantro, added some homemade guacamole and served in lettuce taco "shells" (aka butter lettuce). Super yummy. Tonight I will be making pizza again from the wheat belly cookbook and enjoying my pumpkin cider.
Another interesting side effect of this no grain thing...or possible side effect...I could really tell that it was ovulation time. I had read that kicking wheat and grains out helps with fertility but man I could tell it was time this month! Hopefully that means everything will fall into place...but if you're looking to get pregnant (or avoid it) going grain free may be of assistance.
Saturday, September 28, 2013
Grain free day 25
Yesterday was an adventure in eating.
I had the day off from work yesterday and was able to play in my glorious city (Chicago). I went on the lakefront, walked along Michigan Ave., met a friend for lunch, walked through Old Town and met up with more friends at the Lincoln Park Zoo...walked to pick up my car (the ONLY place I trust my car to is Cassidy Tire) and then up to my old stomping grounds in Lincoln Square to meet my best friends for dinner.
Yup I had 2 meals out of the house yesterday and it was easier than I thought it would be.
For lunch I met my girlfriend downtown and the menu had lots of *GF items. I trusted them that they were gluten free and I did eat a little bit of corn in my salad (so I wasn't 100% grain free yesterday I suppose but darn close). The salad was delicious.
For dinner I met my two besties at a wine bar and then off for Thai food. I love Thai food and I love that pretty much everything is grain free. I had the most delicious chicken and broccoli with peanut sauce...no rice. My friends had deliciousness as well that I totally cannot remember because I was too busy dreaming of being surrounded by the peanut sauce I was eating.
For dessert we had bananas in coconut milk...warm...omg I need to make this on my own at home, it can't be that hard.
I was super full and drive home very happy.
I do realize that I cannot drink like I used to though...way too much sugar. My belly was aching and I really believe it was due to the wine. I've had wine twice in the past month and each time I've woken up with either a headache or a belly ache...so I guess I just need to cut back on it even more :(
Weight wise I didn't lose much weight this past week but I am down 6 pounds since I started this journey. I will give a final weight tally next week closer to day 30.
I get tested on Monday about allergies...we shall see if I'm technically allergic or not...but even if I'm not I think I'm going to keep eating this way for a while.
Another reason I've started this journey is to see if it assists with fertility. I'm adding a new step today and that is acupuncture. I've been nervous about trying it for a few years, but now that we're been trying to conceive for a bit I'd like to give acupuncture a try. Between cutting out grains and adding the acupuncture (as well as going to my chiropractor and exercising) I'm hoping that things happen. I have to go get some blood tests done and I really don't want to go for treatments...so hopefully this will do the trick!
I am not being very scientific about this whole thing though since I'm changing multiple factors around the same time, but I figure, what the heck!
I had the day off from work yesterday and was able to play in my glorious city (Chicago). I went on the lakefront, walked along Michigan Ave., met a friend for lunch, walked through Old Town and met up with more friends at the Lincoln Park Zoo...walked to pick up my car (the ONLY place I trust my car to is Cassidy Tire) and then up to my old stomping grounds in Lincoln Square to meet my best friends for dinner.
Yup I had 2 meals out of the house yesterday and it was easier than I thought it would be.
For lunch I met my girlfriend downtown and the menu had lots of *GF items. I trusted them that they were gluten free and I did eat a little bit of corn in my salad (so I wasn't 100% grain free yesterday I suppose but darn close). The salad was delicious.
For dinner I met my two besties at a wine bar and then off for Thai food. I love Thai food and I love that pretty much everything is grain free. I had the most delicious chicken and broccoli with peanut sauce...no rice. My friends had deliciousness as well that I totally cannot remember because I was too busy dreaming of being surrounded by the peanut sauce I was eating.
For dessert we had bananas in coconut milk...warm...omg I need to make this on my own at home, it can't be that hard.
I was super full and drive home very happy.
I do realize that I cannot drink like I used to though...way too much sugar. My belly was aching and I really believe it was due to the wine. I've had wine twice in the past month and each time I've woken up with either a headache or a belly ache...so I guess I just need to cut back on it even more :(
Weight wise I didn't lose much weight this past week but I am down 6 pounds since I started this journey. I will give a final weight tally next week closer to day 30.
I get tested on Monday about allergies...we shall see if I'm technically allergic or not...but even if I'm not I think I'm going to keep eating this way for a while.
Another reason I've started this journey is to see if it assists with fertility. I'm adding a new step today and that is acupuncture. I've been nervous about trying it for a few years, but now that we're been trying to conceive for a bit I'd like to give acupuncture a try. Between cutting out grains and adding the acupuncture (as well as going to my chiropractor and exercising) I'm hoping that things happen. I have to go get some blood tests done and I really don't want to go for treatments...so hopefully this will do the trick!
I am not being very scientific about this whole thing though since I'm changing multiple factors around the same time, but I figure, what the heck!
Thursday, September 26, 2013
Grain free day 23 - new addictions
I have almost always had a love affair with Chipotle Mexican Grill...and my favorite thing was getting the salad (once they introduced it). A barbacoa salad with both beans, mild salsa, 2 scoops of hot salsa cheese and no dressing...that was my salad. Last week I ended up going to get a salad from Chipotle because there really wasn't anything for lunch at the house that I wanted. I ordered my salad with no beans...still delicious but something was missing.
Today I have found my new addiction. A chicken salad with the fajita veggies, mild salsa, hot salsa and cheese :) If it wasn't $1.80 for guacamole I would add that too but $1.80 is just a bit much in my mind. I am in lunch heaven right now!
Some of the blogs and websites say "just saw no to fastfood" but I don't view Chipotle as fastfood...but even if it is, I'm getting as close to non-contaminated food as possible and so I say :P
I'm also addicted to finding new recipes and drooling over them on the internet and then trying to figure out how many of those ingredients I currently have at home so I can make it. This evening I am going to attempt to make the cauliflower cheesy breadsticks and then some chicken and broccoli. I don't know how I'm going to cook said chicken and broccoli but I will cook them.
Last night my husband made dinner. Red potatoes, green beans and bacon. It was delicious but really too starchy for me (I hate a lot of potato) and I haven't had that many carbs in one sitting in a while. It's funny, I used to think that I was a carb addict, but being away from them, I don't really want them that much. So it's true...once you cut them out you don't crave them nor do you really eat as much food in general.
I have my own little weigh in tonight so we'll see where I am at. I'm actually thinking I gained weight this week which is ugh but oh well...I still feel great (just a little tired)
Today I have found my new addiction. A chicken salad with the fajita veggies, mild salsa, hot salsa and cheese :) If it wasn't $1.80 for guacamole I would add that too but $1.80 is just a bit much in my mind. I am in lunch heaven right now!
Some of the blogs and websites say "just saw no to fastfood" but I don't view Chipotle as fastfood...but even if it is, I'm getting as close to non-contaminated food as possible and so I say :P
I'm also addicted to finding new recipes and drooling over them on the internet and then trying to figure out how many of those ingredients I currently have at home so I can make it. This evening I am going to attempt to make the cauliflower cheesy breadsticks and then some chicken and broccoli. I don't know how I'm going to cook said chicken and broccoli but I will cook them.
Last night my husband made dinner. Red potatoes, green beans and bacon. It was delicious but really too starchy for me (I hate a lot of potato) and I haven't had that many carbs in one sitting in a while. It's funny, I used to think that I was a carb addict, but being away from them, I don't really want them that much. So it's true...once you cut them out you don't crave them nor do you really eat as much food in general.
I have my own little weigh in tonight so we'll see where I am at. I'm actually thinking I gained weight this week which is ugh but oh well...I still feel great (just a little tired)
Monday, September 23, 2013
Day 20 of living grain free
I can't believe I'm pretty much at the 3 week mark already. This is incredible!
For 10 years I have been scared of going grain free.
For 10 years I would try a day or two and claim that I had no energy...
I couldn't run...
I had headaches...
and would just start eating grain again.
For 10 years (well most of my life) I have yo-yo'd with my weight and what to do about it.
For 10 years I told myself I can't
But now I see that I can and I do!
There is so much delicious food out there to eat...but there is so much more to life than food!
Yes, in order to do this right you need to compensate for lost calories from grains...and fat is an easy way to do that. You can also eat tons of vegetables whenever you want. Mix things up.
Today for lunch I took a snack idea I had yesterday (pear with cheese wrapped in prosciutto) and turned it into an arugula and butter lettuce salad with pear, walnuts, feta, roasted beets and prosciutto with grapeseed oil and apple cider vinegar. I'm enjoying it now at 3pm as I type this...yup 3pm because that's when I got hungry after my 8am breakfast of steak, mushroom, eggs and cheese. I'll have a cup of soup tonight around 8...now to be fair on Monday's I usually eat everything later because I work late on Monday but still...I listen to my body now.
I also look forward to working out again...that has been missing for a while but it's back. I did take today off because of all of the happenings with the new pup...but tomorrow will be the gym and Wednesday a run and Thursday gym and Friday a run and so on and so on.
I also realized I could show you pictures of some of the delicious dinners I've been making, so sit back and enjoy!
For 10 years I have been scared of going grain free.
For 10 years I would try a day or two and claim that I had no energy...
I couldn't run...
I had headaches...
and would just start eating grain again.
For 10 years (well most of my life) I have yo-yo'd with my weight and what to do about it.
For 10 years I told myself I can't
But now I see that I can and I do!
There is so much delicious food out there to eat...but there is so much more to life than food!
Yes, in order to do this right you need to compensate for lost calories from grains...and fat is an easy way to do that. You can also eat tons of vegetables whenever you want. Mix things up.
Today for lunch I took a snack idea I had yesterday (pear with cheese wrapped in prosciutto) and turned it into an arugula and butter lettuce salad with pear, walnuts, feta, roasted beets and prosciutto with grapeseed oil and apple cider vinegar. I'm enjoying it now at 3pm as I type this...yup 3pm because that's when I got hungry after my 8am breakfast of steak, mushroom, eggs and cheese. I'll have a cup of soup tonight around 8...now to be fair on Monday's I usually eat everything later because I work late on Monday but still...I listen to my body now.
I also look forward to working out again...that has been missing for a while but it's back. I did take today off because of all of the happenings with the new pup...but tomorrow will be the gym and Wednesday a run and Thursday gym and Friday a run and so on and so on.
I also realized I could show you pictures of some of the delicious dinners I've been making, so sit back and enjoy!
Steak Fajita Salad
Slow cooked venison & carrots with steamed broccoli & cauliflower & parsnip puree
Grain free pizza!
Sausage, kale and potato soup
"Chipotle" chicken salad with homemade guacamole
Sunday, September 22, 2013
Day 19 of being grainfree and our new dog!
Good Sunday evening!
I have so many food stories to write about but I want to start with running stories. On Thursday evening we started fostering-to-adopt a new dog..his name is Hank and is is adorable!
See, adorable. He is approximately 2 years old and is a pit mix. We are fostering-to-adopt through a wonderful group called Peace for Pits. If you live in the Chicagoland area and are looking to adopt a dog, you will want to adopt through them. They rescue pit bulls and pit mixes from Chicago Animal Care & Control and foster them until they can find the right home. They are great!
Anyway, with this lil one transitioning into our home, dinner the first night was a bit difficult to make. I had made salsa earlier in the week so I just threw that on some chicken breasts and cooked it...on Friday night we had a dog trainer come over so I got grain free pizza crust ready and setting before she came and after she left cooked up some pizza. I used chick pea/garbanzo bean flour, ground flax seed, yeast and stuff....it turned out amazing!
With this new lil man I'm going to be running lots more. I was always nervous about going wheat free because of how much I used to run. I haven't been running as much as I used to (tons of excuses as to why) but I've been trying to run more recently. I found out yesterday the lil one is a great runner. We only went 1.75 miles yesterday but then went 2.7 miles today. He will push me to go further and faster for sure. I don't remember the last time that I ran 2 days in a row so yay on that...even if it wasn't far on either day, I did it. I felt great and I plan on running tomorrow morning too. I'm a little worried about his front paw though, it looks a little bit red, but I didn't look at before we started running together.
It could also be because he and our other dog keep playing like this:
They have so much fun together I can't stand it!
More about food though...post run snack today was pears and cheese wrapped in prosciutto...um yes that needs to happen more.
Other delicious items made this weekend. Pumpkin spice muffins made with ground almonds, ground flax seed, chopped walnuts, pumpkin, and egg, some stevia, baking powder and spices. Reheated with some butter and a little honey on it = happy lady! Another item...sausage, kale & potato soup. I went to the Farmers Market and got fresh sausage and kale and potatoes and onion and carrot...so it was deliciously fresh. Yes it had potatoes in it, but 4 small red ones and the soup makes 10 cups so not many at all. Super yummy.
Oh I also had my first glass of wine last night in 3 weeks...I woke up with a headache. I did have 2 glasses last night but was not expecting the headache. I'm guessing it was because I haven't had that much sugar in one sitting in 3 weeks. Lesson learned! More water needed and maybe limit it to one glass. I do have one bottle of hard cider that I've been saving...soon...soon.
Speaking of cider, I did splurge and have a mug warmed with cinnamon today...it's the first day of fall, I'm allowed :)
I really feel amazing. I do get tested in another week...we'll see if I have an allergy or not...even if I don't I'm thinking I will stay eating this way.
I have so many food stories to write about but I want to start with running stories. On Thursday evening we started fostering-to-adopt a new dog..his name is Hank and is is adorable!
See, adorable. He is approximately 2 years old and is a pit mix. We are fostering-to-adopt through a wonderful group called Peace for Pits. If you live in the Chicagoland area and are looking to adopt a dog, you will want to adopt through them. They rescue pit bulls and pit mixes from Chicago Animal Care & Control and foster them until they can find the right home. They are great!
Anyway, with this lil one transitioning into our home, dinner the first night was a bit difficult to make. I had made salsa earlier in the week so I just threw that on some chicken breasts and cooked it...on Friday night we had a dog trainer come over so I got grain free pizza crust ready and setting before she came and after she left cooked up some pizza. I used chick pea/garbanzo bean flour, ground flax seed, yeast and stuff....it turned out amazing!
With this new lil man I'm going to be running lots more. I was always nervous about going wheat free because of how much I used to run. I haven't been running as much as I used to (tons of excuses as to why) but I've been trying to run more recently. I found out yesterday the lil one is a great runner. We only went 1.75 miles yesterday but then went 2.7 miles today. He will push me to go further and faster for sure. I don't remember the last time that I ran 2 days in a row so yay on that...even if it wasn't far on either day, I did it. I felt great and I plan on running tomorrow morning too. I'm a little worried about his front paw though, it looks a little bit red, but I didn't look at before we started running together.
It could also be because he and our other dog keep playing like this:
More about food though...post run snack today was pears and cheese wrapped in prosciutto...um yes that needs to happen more.
Other delicious items made this weekend. Pumpkin spice muffins made with ground almonds, ground flax seed, chopped walnuts, pumpkin, and egg, some stevia, baking powder and spices. Reheated with some butter and a little honey on it = happy lady! Another item...sausage, kale & potato soup. I went to the Farmers Market and got fresh sausage and kale and potatoes and onion and carrot...so it was deliciously fresh. Yes it had potatoes in it, but 4 small red ones and the soup makes 10 cups so not many at all. Super yummy.
Oh I also had my first glass of wine last night in 3 weeks...I woke up with a headache. I did have 2 glasses last night but was not expecting the headache. I'm guessing it was because I haven't had that much sugar in one sitting in 3 weeks. Lesson learned! More water needed and maybe limit it to one glass. I do have one bottle of hard cider that I've been saving...soon...soon.
Speaking of cider, I did splurge and have a mug warmed with cinnamon today...it's the first day of fall, I'm allowed :)
I really feel amazing. I do get tested in another week...we'll see if I have an allergy or not...even if I don't I'm thinking I will stay eating this way.
Friday, September 20, 2013
Day 17 of no grains
Well this past week didn't equal as big of a weight loss in terms of the scale (down another 1.5 pounds) but that does make 5.5 pounds in 2 weeks which is a good thing. My pants are fitting much better which is a good thing but most importantly I feel better.
Last night I was super lazy on the dinner front though. We are fostering-to-adopt a second dog and he moved in last night. We already have one dog and one cat so now we're up to two dogs...that introduction took a bunch of energy, especially since dog #2 is very high energy...so dinner last night was throwing 2 chicken breasts in the oven, covering with homemade salsa, adding some cheese at the end and just eating that. Tonight I will attempt to make pizza using chickpea/garbanzo bean flour. I'm very excited about this for many reasons, but I think if this is successful my husband will be even more on board. I think he's starting to waiver and really wants to have some corn chips. As long as he doesn't start eating bread in front of me we'll be good.
I really don't miss bread though. I may make him some flaxseed wraps if he really starts missing bread...but right now I'm in a happy place with no grains.
My sister-in-law asked me last night if we can have polenta, I told her that corn isn't on the list of what we're eating right now since it's just too modified...she then asked about oats which I said were iffy. She wants to make us something yummy I know, and treats but it's just hard right now as we figure out what works for us. I do appreciate it though, she's super sweet!
This weekend I also plan to attempt to make grain free pumpkin spice muffins made by grounding up almonds. What was funny was when I picked up the chickpea flour yesterday I picked up the almond flour, saw it was $12 for the bag, looked at the ingredients, laughed and put it back down. All almond flour is is ground up (blanched) almonds...well I have tons of raw almonds at home and a food processor so...lots of adventures this weekend on the food front (and the transitioning the new pup).
I am starting to get a little bored with the meals I've been making though so I know it's time to open up the cookbook I bought...hoping that helps out. This morning I finished up the leftover apples & walnuts that I had made on Monday with some cheese but also fried up an egg...I don't think I would do an egg again with that mixture, but I wanted both so I ate both :)
Last night I was super lazy on the dinner front though. We are fostering-to-adopt a second dog and he moved in last night. We already have one dog and one cat so now we're up to two dogs...that introduction took a bunch of energy, especially since dog #2 is very high energy...so dinner last night was throwing 2 chicken breasts in the oven, covering with homemade salsa, adding some cheese at the end and just eating that. Tonight I will attempt to make pizza using chickpea/garbanzo bean flour. I'm very excited about this for many reasons, but I think if this is successful my husband will be even more on board. I think he's starting to waiver and really wants to have some corn chips. As long as he doesn't start eating bread in front of me we'll be good.
I really don't miss bread though. I may make him some flaxseed wraps if he really starts missing bread...but right now I'm in a happy place with no grains.
My sister-in-law asked me last night if we can have polenta, I told her that corn isn't on the list of what we're eating right now since it's just too modified...she then asked about oats which I said were iffy. She wants to make us something yummy I know, and treats but it's just hard right now as we figure out what works for us. I do appreciate it though, she's super sweet!
This weekend I also plan to attempt to make grain free pumpkin spice muffins made by grounding up almonds. What was funny was when I picked up the chickpea flour yesterday I picked up the almond flour, saw it was $12 for the bag, looked at the ingredients, laughed and put it back down. All almond flour is is ground up (blanched) almonds...well I have tons of raw almonds at home and a food processor so...lots of adventures this weekend on the food front (and the transitioning the new pup).
I am starting to get a little bored with the meals I've been making though so I know it's time to open up the cookbook I bought...hoping that helps out. This morning I finished up the leftover apples & walnuts that I had made on Monday with some cheese but also fried up an egg...I don't think I would do an egg again with that mixture, but I wanted both so I ate both :)
Thursday, September 19, 2013
Day 16 of grainfree living
I am so bad to keeping up with this on a daily basis, but at least I'm able to write about it every few days.
I am no longer referring to this as a 30 day challenge, I feel as though this is going to be a lifestyle that I choose to stay with (unlike veganism which was a 30 day challenge).
Why? Because I feel amazing, I look pretty amazing for being on this just 2 weeks, and I have a new appreciation for food.
I had to travel for work the past couple of days and that was eye opening. My sister-in-law (who is allergic to dairy) and I discussed creating a chain restaurant that specializes in foods for people with allergies. It's ridiculous how difficult it can be. Tuesday I was at an event that included lunch...which was a pasta lunch. Luckily there was a salad...oh but it was just romaine lettuce with croutons on it...ok avoid those...dressing was not going to work for me either. Luckily I found a piece of chicken to have on my sad plate of lettuce...oh and the tiramisu that they had out on the table for dessert...please don't have that out there just sitting there. The table I was with looked at me like I was crazy.
Lets move on to dinner while traveling. I went to another event that included dinner...pulled pork sandwiches. And I had no way of knowing what ingredients were in the bbq sauce so I opted out of free dinner and went to buy some dinner. I got really excited for some blackened mahi mahi with broccoli and potato...I asked the waitress, "is there any wheat in the seasoning" she answered she didn't think so but would check...along comes another waitress, "um we have flour in the seasoning"...great...what about the salmon? Floured...ok so burger with no bun it was. My initial waitress was so afraid of me (I was being super nice) she had just never met someone with a wheat allergy (and yes that is not diagnosed but I find it easier to say I'm allergic rather than I don't eat it...especially in this little town). When she brought me my burger (which was delicious) it looked so sad. They gave me the one pickle and one slice of lettuce and one slice of tomato (really?) and no side. She asked me if I could eat the homemade chips that they make and I looked at her to be like, "you would need to tell me that" I told her I probably could but not to worry about it.
Moving onto breakfast the next morning...luckily I was able to grab some strawberries from the fruit plate...and ate the nuts that I brought along. Lunch? More pasta so I left and ate my cheese curds and jerky (no corn syrup or wheat added) and nuts.
When I got home I made myself a nice dinner to celebrate that I stuck with this!
My skin looks really good. I'm still having some weird itchy spots but that could be so many different things. I'm looking forward to seeing the allergist to get her opinion and some testing done.
I do have more energy overall and I know when I'm hungry and when I'm not.
Oh and I had my bloodwork tested...everything looks great...so don't believe it when they say you can't eat eggs it makes your cholesterol too high...just balance it with veggies!
I am excited to try a few recipes this weekend that use different types of flour (garbanzo bean and almond for example). I'm making us some pizza and some pumpkin spice muffins. Both of which I hope are delicious and I'm able to eat more of in the future.
I also purchased some brown rice pasta which I told the husband will be a side dish not a main dish.
He is loving the changes he is having with his body. He's not going 100% grain free but he is going to keep wheat away as best as he can. He loves tortilla chips too much to be 100% grain free...but he's been doing really good most of the time with me. I will have weight numbers tomorrow but I'm not thinking it's a big number since I didn't do a normal workout since Saturday...but I did do lots of walking and yard work in between Saturday and now...but today I'm looking forward to my workout.
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
Day 8...entering week 2 of no grains!
Whoa it's been a week already? I'm pretty impressed that it's a week later.
I had my first craving yesterday. I'm happy it took so long. I really wanted a glass of wine...like really, really badly. I did not give in but man did I want a glass of wine. Of course when I got home I saw that my husband was drinking a glass of wine and that made me all "grrr" on the inside...but I did not have a glass of wine.
Speaking of my husband, yesterday he joined in! He had one full day of no grains and is starting day #2. He has not given up sugar though (he enjoys 1 diet pop/soda or 1 gingerale a day) but he has been putting honey in his tea vs. white sugar. I'm proud of him *yay honey* for jumping on this with me since he is more of a carb addict than I am!
Yesterday I worked out for 90 minutes at the gym. I never workout for 90 minutes at the gym. I do my 30-45 and get out of there...but yesterday I did the circuits twice which took me about 35-40 minutes and then jumped on the bike for 30 plus a 5 minute cool down. I have been reading that on the wheat purge you don't need these long workouts but it felt really good. I got super sweaty during my bike ride. I felt so good that I am going today after work to do the elliptical even though today is not typically a gym day!
I've noticed some more skin changes. I had some hives yesterday and some extra pimple type things on my legs. I'm thinking a bunch of gunk is getting pushed out of me. After 33 years of eating lots of grain I'm not surprised (and lets be honest, I was eating well but enjoyed some processed food).
I have been tired though. There could be many factors to me being tired, but thought I'd mention that I'm tired. I'm also hardly ever hungry. I woke up this morning nauseous but then it turned into hunger...so I guess when I first wake up I'm hungry but never really hungry after that. It's odd not grabbing a snack at 10am...I like it though. I did enjoy a post workout snack yesterday which then made me not really want dinner, but ate something a bit late.
Dinner is my lunch today. I pounded out some chicken breasts and baked them in the oven with some tomatoes and peppers and then added mozzarella cheese (mmmm) and some spices too. Super yummy. That was it though...and both the husband and I only ate half the chicken and saved the other half for today. Today it is going to be eaten with a salad for lunch (lettuce and cucumbers on the salad but the chicken with the peppers and tomatoes will go on top as well). Dressing is grapeseed oil with apple cider vinegar. I also brought some grapes and almond butter to snack on. I do think that getting some natural sugars is a good thing, especially post workout...as long as there is protein attached to it.
I feel stronger and I feel much less bulky. I don't feel bloated but I should be (I'm a girl, who gets bloated at certain times of the month) though on Monday night I did feel gassy and bloated, that went away rather quickly (that may have to do with Monday being my late night at work more than this diet change).
My husband is sweet though, there are 2 beers left in our refrigerator that some house guests left us. I told him to drink them and he is saving them for me "just in case" I want a beer after this 30 days is done. I am a beer fan, but I have a feeling it will be wine and only occasionally but we shall see. Best intentions...
The gross stuff is still as consistent as it's been. A friend on instagram last night asked me how my digestive system was handling this change. I told her super. My husband is not in the same boat as me, but we had very different patterns in the past.
This weekend should be an adventure though. Last weekend there were lots of lessons learned...this weekend is going to be trickier...a 3 day festival where "gluten free" options may be available, but doubtful there will be many "grain free"...hopefully I can find a burger and just not eat the bun!
Today's meals:
breakfast omelette with zucchini, tomatoes, basil and mozzarella
lunch is leftover chicken and a salad
snack will be grapes and almond butter
dinner will be leftover pork cooked up with the leftover sweet potato
I hope that everyone has a great day!
I had my first craving yesterday. I'm happy it took so long. I really wanted a glass of wine...like really, really badly. I did not give in but man did I want a glass of wine. Of course when I got home I saw that my husband was drinking a glass of wine and that made me all "grrr" on the inside...but I did not have a glass of wine.
Speaking of my husband, yesterday he joined in! He had one full day of no grains and is starting day #2. He has not given up sugar though (he enjoys 1 diet pop/soda or 1 gingerale a day) but he has been putting honey in his tea vs. white sugar. I'm proud of him *yay honey* for jumping on this with me since he is more of a carb addict than I am!
Yesterday I worked out for 90 minutes at the gym. I never workout for 90 minutes at the gym. I do my 30-45 and get out of there...but yesterday I did the circuits twice which took me about 35-40 minutes and then jumped on the bike for 30 plus a 5 minute cool down. I have been reading that on the wheat purge you don't need these long workouts but it felt really good. I got super sweaty during my bike ride. I felt so good that I am going today after work to do the elliptical even though today is not typically a gym day!
I've noticed some more skin changes. I had some hives yesterday and some extra pimple type things on my legs. I'm thinking a bunch of gunk is getting pushed out of me. After 33 years of eating lots of grain I'm not surprised (and lets be honest, I was eating well but enjoyed some processed food).
I have been tired though. There could be many factors to me being tired, but thought I'd mention that I'm tired. I'm also hardly ever hungry. I woke up this morning nauseous but then it turned into hunger...so I guess when I first wake up I'm hungry but never really hungry after that. It's odd not grabbing a snack at 10am...I like it though. I did enjoy a post workout snack yesterday which then made me not really want dinner, but ate something a bit late.
Dinner is my lunch today. I pounded out some chicken breasts and baked them in the oven with some tomatoes and peppers and then added mozzarella cheese (mmmm) and some spices too. Super yummy. That was it though...and both the husband and I only ate half the chicken and saved the other half for today. Today it is going to be eaten with a salad for lunch (lettuce and cucumbers on the salad but the chicken with the peppers and tomatoes will go on top as well). Dressing is grapeseed oil with apple cider vinegar. I also brought some grapes and almond butter to snack on. I do think that getting some natural sugars is a good thing, especially post workout...as long as there is protein attached to it.
I feel stronger and I feel much less bulky. I don't feel bloated but I should be (I'm a girl, who gets bloated at certain times of the month) though on Monday night I did feel gassy and bloated, that went away rather quickly (that may have to do with Monday being my late night at work more than this diet change).
My husband is sweet though, there are 2 beers left in our refrigerator that some house guests left us. I told him to drink them and he is saving them for me "just in case" I want a beer after this 30 days is done. I am a beer fan, but I have a feeling it will be wine and only occasionally but we shall see. Best intentions...
The gross stuff is still as consistent as it's been. A friend on instagram last night asked me how my digestive system was handling this change. I told her super. My husband is not in the same boat as me, but we had very different patterns in the past.
This weekend should be an adventure though. Last weekend there were lots of lessons learned...this weekend is going to be trickier...a 3 day festival where "gluten free" options may be available, but doubtful there will be many "grain free"...hopefully I can find a burger and just not eat the bun!
Today's meals:
breakfast omelette with zucchini, tomatoes, basil and mozzarella
lunch is leftover chicken and a salad
snack will be grapes and almond butter
dinner will be leftover pork cooked up with the leftover sweet potato
I hope that everyone has a great day!
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
Day 7 of no grains
Well slow cooked pork with fresh corriander seeds is delicious! I also had about 1/2 of a sweet potato. That was a yummy dinner last night.
Today is more of the same regarding food. Breakfast was 2 eggs with tomato, zucchini, olives and feta cheese. Lunch was leftover steak & peppers on lettuce (as tacos) with cheese and avocado. Dinner will be chicken thighs with roasted tomatoes and peppers.
I've noticed I am not eating nearly as much, especially at night. I'm not even hungry! My lunch today I ate it all, I could have probably not eaten everything. I did though and it was delicious.
I really do have a good amount of energy. My skin looks different. I also feel much less anxiety in general which makes me really happy. Want to stop sweating the small stuff? Stop the grains!
GROSS STUFF
Poop is continuing to be 2x a day and consistent. I've never been this consistent.
Anyway...I'm looking forward to more of this adventure. On Friday I'm going to see the doctor to get some basic allergy testing done and possibly a referral for other testing.
Today is more of the same regarding food. Breakfast was 2 eggs with tomato, zucchini, olives and feta cheese. Lunch was leftover steak & peppers on lettuce (as tacos) with cheese and avocado. Dinner will be chicken thighs with roasted tomatoes and peppers.
I've noticed I am not eating nearly as much, especially at night. I'm not even hungry! My lunch today I ate it all, I could have probably not eaten everything. I did though and it was delicious.
I really do have a good amount of energy. My skin looks different. I also feel much less anxiety in general which makes me really happy. Want to stop sweating the small stuff? Stop the grains!
GROSS STUFF
Poop is continuing to be 2x a day and consistent. I've never been this consistent.
Anyway...I'm looking forward to more of this adventure. On Friday I'm going to see the doctor to get some basic allergy testing done and possibly a referral for other testing.
Monday, September 9, 2013
Day 6 of no grains!
This is not going to sound believable but I feel better. I feel lighter and have more energy (though last night I was super tired and slept for about 9 hours, but that had to do with the weekend not the no grains). My knee feels better, I ran faster today than I have all summer, and I overcame a HUGE groups of challenges this weekend...going out to dinner with a group, a wedding AND opening day of football party! I learned a bunch.
I learned that you cannot assume anything on a menu. When a menu says, "tilapia sauteed with garlic & butter served over spinach" what they might mean is "tilapia fried with a coating that may or may not contain bread served over spinach with a side of pasta". I pushed the pasta off of my plate immediately. As for the fish, the waitress avoided our table so I never found out what the coating was. I simply removed it and ate the inside. Lesson #1 learned.
The wedding. I thought that I had eaten a good amount of food prior to going. I had steak & eggs in the morning and a green smoothie as we headed out to the wedding. I was wrong :( Even the fresh veggies had a dressing on them so I didn't eat them. Luckily my husband came up with the idea of me to eat the toppings of a pizza slice so that I didn't kill people. Lesson #2 learned, always be prepared.
Football season has started and I love me some football. With my friends, football means beer and snacks and pasties (a meat & potato pie) and pizza and hot dogs and the list goes on and on. I was already taking a break from alcohol since September 2 so I had a couple of extra days practice on that front. I was lucky that my sister-in-law provided me with some walnuts, pickles, olives and fruit to munch on as a snack. I made a pork chile verde that was delicious and hardly any leftovers (a huge hit). So no real lessons needed to be learned from this event, but I showed myself that I can enjoy a party without grains and without alcohol.
So how am I feeling overall? Pretty incredible. As I said, I ran faster today and my knee didn't hurt as much. I'm not running as far as I want to but that has nothing to do with grains. I'm finding all sorts of delicious recipes to make and I'm excited about them. I went overboard at the Farmers Market yesterday and love that I did. I even found a CSA that we can join...had some of the fresh eggs yesterday morning and OMG I forgot how amazing they taste. Plus the fact that you don't refrigerate them. I also purchased organic milk to add to my coffee/drink and it tasted like cream.
Oh and yesterday I didn't even want dinner! I did have 2 (small) bowls of chile verde during the game but that's never stopped me before! I'm amazed.
So here is what I ate this weekend and today.
Saturday:
Breakfast was steak & eggs (scrambled) with some cheese, coffee
Lunch was a green smoothie (random leafy greens, 1/2 an avocado, 4 strawberries, 1 piece of pineapple)
Snacks/dinner was the top of a slice of pizza, some nuts and when I got home from the wedding a few pieces of leftover steak
Sunday:
Breakfast: A kind bar and then a little bit later 1 fresh scrambled egg, coffee
Lunch: chile verde, walnuts, 2 bites of the inside of a pasty (meat, onion & potato)
Snacks: homemade kale chips
Monday:
Breakfast: tomatoes, zucchini and cheese mixed in the 2 scrambled eggs. Coffee
Lunch: salad with raw zucchini, tomatoes, feta cheese, walnuts, roasted tomatoes and I made a dressing of grapeseed oil and apple cider vinegar
Dinner: I'm slow cooking pork with corriander, garlic, onions, and spices
***GROSS STUFF***
I didn't realize how terrible my poop was! Pooping is almost an awesome experience now. It happens a couple of times a day and is very easy. I know it's weird but that's the biggest change in 6 days, my poop and pooping schedule.
NO MORE GROSS STUFF
I'm reading Wheat Belly and also reading a bunch of blogs. This article was very interesting.
OK now to get through the rest of the work day :)
I learned that you cannot assume anything on a menu. When a menu says, "tilapia sauteed with garlic & butter served over spinach" what they might mean is "tilapia fried with a coating that may or may not contain bread served over spinach with a side of pasta". I pushed the pasta off of my plate immediately. As for the fish, the waitress avoided our table so I never found out what the coating was. I simply removed it and ate the inside. Lesson #1 learned.
The wedding. I thought that I had eaten a good amount of food prior to going. I had steak & eggs in the morning and a green smoothie as we headed out to the wedding. I was wrong :( Even the fresh veggies had a dressing on them so I didn't eat them. Luckily my husband came up with the idea of me to eat the toppings of a pizza slice so that I didn't kill people. Lesson #2 learned, always be prepared.
Football season has started and I love me some football. With my friends, football means beer and snacks and pasties (a meat & potato pie) and pizza and hot dogs and the list goes on and on. I was already taking a break from alcohol since September 2 so I had a couple of extra days practice on that front. I was lucky that my sister-in-law provided me with some walnuts, pickles, olives and fruit to munch on as a snack. I made a pork chile verde that was delicious and hardly any leftovers (a huge hit). So no real lessons needed to be learned from this event, but I showed myself that I can enjoy a party without grains and without alcohol.
So how am I feeling overall? Pretty incredible. As I said, I ran faster today and my knee didn't hurt as much. I'm not running as far as I want to but that has nothing to do with grains. I'm finding all sorts of delicious recipes to make and I'm excited about them. I went overboard at the Farmers Market yesterday and love that I did. I even found a CSA that we can join...had some of the fresh eggs yesterday morning and OMG I forgot how amazing they taste. Plus the fact that you don't refrigerate them. I also purchased organic milk to add to my coffee/drink and it tasted like cream.
Oh and yesterday I didn't even want dinner! I did have 2 (small) bowls of chile verde during the game but that's never stopped me before! I'm amazed.
So here is what I ate this weekend and today.
Saturday:
Breakfast was steak & eggs (scrambled) with some cheese, coffee
Lunch was a green smoothie (random leafy greens, 1/2 an avocado, 4 strawberries, 1 piece of pineapple)
Snacks/dinner was the top of a slice of pizza, some nuts and when I got home from the wedding a few pieces of leftover steak
Sunday:
Breakfast: A kind bar and then a little bit later 1 fresh scrambled egg, coffee
Lunch: chile verde, walnuts, 2 bites of the inside of a pasty (meat, onion & potato)
Snacks: homemade kale chips
Monday:
Breakfast: tomatoes, zucchini and cheese mixed in the 2 scrambled eggs. Coffee
Lunch: salad with raw zucchini, tomatoes, feta cheese, walnuts, roasted tomatoes and I made a dressing of grapeseed oil and apple cider vinegar
Dinner: I'm slow cooking pork with corriander, garlic, onions, and spices
***GROSS STUFF***
I didn't realize how terrible my poop was! Pooping is almost an awesome experience now. It happens a couple of times a day and is very easy. I know it's weird but that's the biggest change in 6 days, my poop and pooping schedule.
NO MORE GROSS STUFF
I'm reading Wheat Belly and also reading a bunch of blogs. This article was very interesting.
OK now to get through the rest of the work day :)
Friday, September 6, 2013
Day 3 of 30 days without grains
I feel really good today. Last night was my first workout and I had lots of energy for it. My knee stops aching when I'm working out and today it's not as achy (yay I can get a run in this weekend then!) I could have gone longer but decided I should go home.
I also went overboard at Costco yesterday. Organic chicken breast, pork shoulder (not sure if it was organic or not right now but I do know it will be delicious) but I'm making a chili verde recipe for the Bears game on Sunday (just found a turkey and chicken version!). And I also got some skirt steak (last nights dinner), cabot seriously sharp cheddar (my top 3 favorite cheese), and some feta cheese...all in bulk of course because it's Costco. I was really happy about the chicken breasts since it was $5.99/pound but I don't think I've seen Organic Free Range chicken for only $5.99/pound in the Chicago area before. So we have some food ready to go. I may end up only using half of the pork and freezing some, but everything else is frozen.
Anyway...today I had the same breakfast of a caprese omelette but my lunch is much different. I had made a garlic zucchini soup earlier in the week with my zucchini from my garden so I'm going to enjoy that with a sausage. I have a banana and strawberries with raw nuts for a snack today. Dinner depends on what company we have over for dinner...it may be leftover steak.
Now gross stuff...you can skip this part if you get grossed out about things easily.
POOP!
I am not always the most regular person in the world, but this morning I've gone twice already and they were very nice poops.
***NO MORE GROSS STUFF***
My skin isn't changing yet, but I'm keeping an eye on that one.
I do feel like my back is less achy in addition to the knee...and I woke up this morning at 5:30...decided to stay in bed until 6 but I still woke up at 5:30...next week I will try the getting out of bed when I wake up at 5:30. I do think I have more energy.
Oh how am I forgetting this part! I'm sitting right in front of donuts. I can smell them and they smell super sweet, like too sweet. Mind you I had a donut as recent as last weekend so the fact that I can smell them and that I don't really like the smell right now makes me happy. Though writing about the donuts is making me hungry so I will grab a handful of nuts.
Lastly I did have coffee with milk this morning. No sugar. I have always taken sugar in my coffee. I really wanted coffee though and I wasn't about to add sugar to it so I just added a little extra milk. It may have also helped that I made pumpkin coffee :) Not sweetened just flavored...I'm super glad I got that one Starbucks Pumpkin Spiced Latte in before starting this challenge...as well as that one Pumking Pumpkin Beer in :)
I will try to get a run in tonight or tomorrow morning so I hope to have an update on that front...my fear about going grain free was always "but I need carbs to run so I can't do no carbs"...I think I just was lying to myself. If I really need carbs, I will have a sweet potato with lots of butter, but right now I'm trying to avoid the starches, at least for the first week.
I also went overboard at Costco yesterday. Organic chicken breast, pork shoulder (not sure if it was organic or not right now but I do know it will be delicious) but I'm making a chili verde recipe for the Bears game on Sunday (just found a turkey and chicken version!). And I also got some skirt steak (last nights dinner), cabot seriously sharp cheddar (my top 3 favorite cheese), and some feta cheese...all in bulk of course because it's Costco. I was really happy about the chicken breasts since it was $5.99/pound but I don't think I've seen Organic Free Range chicken for only $5.99/pound in the Chicago area before. So we have some food ready to go. I may end up only using half of the pork and freezing some, but everything else is frozen.
Anyway...today I had the same breakfast of a caprese omelette but my lunch is much different. I had made a garlic zucchini soup earlier in the week with my zucchini from my garden so I'm going to enjoy that with a sausage. I have a banana and strawberries with raw nuts for a snack today. Dinner depends on what company we have over for dinner...it may be leftover steak.
Now gross stuff...you can skip this part if you get grossed out about things easily.
POOP!
I am not always the most regular person in the world, but this morning I've gone twice already and they were very nice poops.
***NO MORE GROSS STUFF***
My skin isn't changing yet, but I'm keeping an eye on that one.
I do feel like my back is less achy in addition to the knee...and I woke up this morning at 5:30...decided to stay in bed until 6 but I still woke up at 5:30...next week I will try the getting out of bed when I wake up at 5:30. I do think I have more energy.
Oh how am I forgetting this part! I'm sitting right in front of donuts. I can smell them and they smell super sweet, like too sweet. Mind you I had a donut as recent as last weekend so the fact that I can smell them and that I don't really like the smell right now makes me happy. Though writing about the donuts is making me hungry so I will grab a handful of nuts.
Lastly I did have coffee with milk this morning. No sugar. I have always taken sugar in my coffee. I really wanted coffee though and I wasn't about to add sugar to it so I just added a little extra milk. It may have also helped that I made pumpkin coffee :) Not sweetened just flavored...I'm super glad I got that one Starbucks Pumpkin Spiced Latte in before starting this challenge...as well as that one Pumking Pumpkin Beer in :)
I will try to get a run in tonight or tomorrow morning so I hope to have an update on that front...my fear about going grain free was always "but I need carbs to run so I can't do no carbs"...I think I just was lying to myself. If I really need carbs, I will have a sweet potato with lots of butter, but right now I'm trying to avoid the starches, at least for the first week.
Thursday, September 5, 2013
30 days without wheat & grains - a new challenge
Yesterday I decided that I needed a new challenge...not just that I needed a challenge but I needed to do something. My stress level has been crazy, my weight has shot up, my knees ache, my skin is looking rough and I just feel depressed and icky.
After doing a bit of reading I decided it was time I looked at my diet as to the problem. I've decided to do some food elimination and see what that does. So out with the wheat and the grains for 30 days. I'm technically on day 2 just wasn't sure if I wanted to blog about it.
I think, after watching friends of mine take this challenge, it will be good for me. In addition to no wheat and grains I'm also removing alcohol and trying to not put sugar in my coffee...we'll see about that one though.
So yesterday was day 1 and I wasn't really prepared but went for it anyway. I typically have eggs for breakfast and that's what I did yesterday. Eggs and cheese and sausage :) Lunch was an apple and a banana with some nuts...a snack was cheese and dinner was chicken and salad...the chicken was similar to Chipotle chicken...plus some homemade salsa and guacamole.
Today I was more prepared. Breakfast was eggs with tomato, basil and mozzarella cheese. Lunch was cucumber & tomato salad with a few olives, some cheese & olive oil AND more guacamole (avocado is full of good fat and it's delicious). My workout snack (not sure if it will be pre or post right now) is a green smoothie made with strawberries, a little pineapple, mixed greens and weeds and some coconut oil and then I will have some nuts (need protein) and dinner will be steak fajitas no tortilla.
Drinks are water, tea, carbonated water, and green smoothies...coffee too if I can do it without the sugar.
I think I slept better last night but I feel it's impossible to tell this early...I'm excited to see what happens over the course of the next 29 days. I'm working out where I work and today is a weigh in so yes I'm on day 2 but I doubt I dropped 10 pounds from yesterday :)
I just want to feel better, have my skin go back to normal and not have my fat clothes be tight on me anymore. It would also be great if my nose stopped dripping all of the time, but that may be a different problem all together.
After doing a bit of reading I decided it was time I looked at my diet as to the problem. I've decided to do some food elimination and see what that does. So out with the wheat and the grains for 30 days. I'm technically on day 2 just wasn't sure if I wanted to blog about it.
I think, after watching friends of mine take this challenge, it will be good for me. In addition to no wheat and grains I'm also removing alcohol and trying to not put sugar in my coffee...we'll see about that one though.
So yesterday was day 1 and I wasn't really prepared but went for it anyway. I typically have eggs for breakfast and that's what I did yesterday. Eggs and cheese and sausage :) Lunch was an apple and a banana with some nuts...a snack was cheese and dinner was chicken and salad...the chicken was similar to Chipotle chicken...plus some homemade salsa and guacamole.
Today I was more prepared. Breakfast was eggs with tomato, basil and mozzarella cheese. Lunch was cucumber & tomato salad with a few olives, some cheese & olive oil AND more guacamole (avocado is full of good fat and it's delicious). My workout snack (not sure if it will be pre or post right now) is a green smoothie made with strawberries, a little pineapple, mixed greens and weeds and some coconut oil and then I will have some nuts (need protein) and dinner will be steak fajitas no tortilla.
Drinks are water, tea, carbonated water, and green smoothies...coffee too if I can do it without the sugar.
I think I slept better last night but I feel it's impossible to tell this early...I'm excited to see what happens over the course of the next 29 days. I'm working out where I work and today is a weigh in so yes I'm on day 2 but I doubt I dropped 10 pounds from yesterday :)
I just want to feel better, have my skin go back to normal and not have my fat clothes be tight on me anymore. It would also be great if my nose stopped dripping all of the time, but that may be a different problem all together.
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Running for Boston
Over a week ago I ran my first race of the season, the Shamrock Shuffle. It's the largest 8k out there, and it's held in Chicago each year. I've run it most years of the 10 years I've lived in Chicago. Approximately 45,000 people sign up each year and about 35,000 show up to run it...plus tons of fans cheering along the way. I have a love/hate relationship with this race, but I do tend to love it more than hate it which is why I've run it 8 times. That race is the official start of running season in Chicago so I tend to find lots of motivation to run once I've completed that 5 mile race. I was feeling pretty good last week and was motivated to run more than I had been.
That doesn't compare to Monday, April 15.
On Sunday, April 14 I went for a short run with my dog to make sure I keep the miles in and start building up to running more days than not. It's getting more tolerable in Chicago for outdoor running so I like to build up my miles. On Monday, April 15 in the morning I went for a longer run, nothing big, but I love running on Patriots day...I'm an east coast transplant so I remember things like Patriots day and I like to think that I'm running in the spirit of Marathon day. I love Marathon day and tend to read up on it during the day. In October each year I cheer on the marathon runners in Chicago (except for the year that I ran it) and it's just so inspiring.
So I run on the 3rd Monday of April each year just to feel even more connected with the running community. That late afternoon though, my running desire increased about 100 fold. That runner inside of me that has been hiding for the past few years woke the f up. After the watching and reading and listening to the news, I knew that I needed to rejoin my fellow runners. We are a funny lot...we run to eat, we run to drink, we run to reduce stress and anxiety...but we run. If someone tries to stop us, it makes us want to run more.
After this explosion, I want to run more than I have in years.
I am fortunate enough to live in a very strong running community. The Chicago Area Runners Association (CARA) posted that there was going to be a unity run on Tuesday, April 16. I didn't know if I could make it there in time, but I was going to try. When I started to waiver a bit...my husband said, "Go, you know it's what you really want to do" and I went. I am so happy that I went. I was able to run with 100+ runners on the lakefront of Chicago to show our unity with runners all over the world. I was able to run with runners who had completed Boston the day before, the year before and many years before. I was able to run...no one could take that away from me.
I am a runner, I will continue to run...I will not be scared away from running...I will not be scared away from racing...I will not be scared. Try to stop me and I'll go stronger...it's the stubborn New Englander inside of me perhaps...but I will not be stopped...I'm stronger and more determined now to run even more.
That doesn't compare to Monday, April 15.
On Sunday, April 14 I went for a short run with my dog to make sure I keep the miles in and start building up to running more days than not. It's getting more tolerable in Chicago for outdoor running so I like to build up my miles. On Monday, April 15 in the morning I went for a longer run, nothing big, but I love running on Patriots day...I'm an east coast transplant so I remember things like Patriots day and I like to think that I'm running in the spirit of Marathon day. I love Marathon day and tend to read up on it during the day. In October each year I cheer on the marathon runners in Chicago (except for the year that I ran it) and it's just so inspiring.
So I run on the 3rd Monday of April each year just to feel even more connected with the running community. That late afternoon though, my running desire increased about 100 fold. That runner inside of me that has been hiding for the past few years woke the f up. After the watching and reading and listening to the news, I knew that I needed to rejoin my fellow runners. We are a funny lot...we run to eat, we run to drink, we run to reduce stress and anxiety...but we run. If someone tries to stop us, it makes us want to run more.
After this explosion, I want to run more than I have in years.
I am fortunate enough to live in a very strong running community. The Chicago Area Runners Association (CARA) posted that there was going to be a unity run on Tuesday, April 16. I didn't know if I could make it there in time, but I was going to try. When I started to waiver a bit...my husband said, "Go, you know it's what you really want to do" and I went. I am so happy that I went. I was able to run with 100+ runners on the lakefront of Chicago to show our unity with runners all over the world. I was able to run with runners who had completed Boston the day before, the year before and many years before. I was able to run...no one could take that away from me.
I am a runner, I will continue to run...I will not be scared away from running...I will not be scared away from racing...I will not be scared. Try to stop me and I'll go stronger...it's the stubborn New Englander inside of me perhaps...but I will not be stopped...I'm stronger and more determined now to run even more.
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Sometimes you do get what you ask for
This morning I realize that I was dwelling and worrying. I was thinking that I was losing friendships in my life and I didn't understand why. I was focusing on that negative part rather than focusing on all of the positives. I realize that some relationships are meant to be short-term and others long-term, and some flow in and out. Holding on and forcing a friendship to remain is not healthy.
I was being a negatron, and it was pulling me down. So this morning, while I'm wondering why these relationships seem to be ending (in my mind) a friend posts something that grabs my attention:
1. Believe in your vision and gifts when no one else believes in your vision and gifts.2. Start your day with 20 minutes of exercise.3. Make excellence your way of being (versus a once in a while event).4. Be on time (bonus points: be early).5. Be a celebrator of other’s talents versus a critic.6. Stop watching TV. (Bonus points: sell your tv and invest the cash in learning and self-education).
7. Finish what you start.
8. Remember that your diet affects your moods so eat like an athlete.
9. Spend an hour a day without stimulation (no phone+no FaceBook+no noise).
10. Release the energy vampires from your life. They are destroying your performance.
11. Write in a journal every morning. And record gratitude every night.
12. Do work that scares you (if you’re not uncomfortable often, you’re not growing very much).
13. Make the choice to let go of your past. It’s dusty history. And polluting your future.
14. Commit to being “Mozart-Level Good” at your work.
15. Smile more (and tell your face).
16. Do a collage filled with images of your ideal life. Look at it once a day for focus and inspiration.
17. Plan your week on a schedule (clarity is the DNA of mastery).
18. Stop gossiping (average people love gossip; exceptional people adore ideas).
19. Read “As You Think”.
20. Read “The Go-Getter”.
21. Don’t just parent your kids–develop them.
22. Remember that victims are frightened by change. And leaders grow inspired by it.
23. Start taking daily supplements to stay in peak health.
24. Clean out any form of “victimspeak” in your vocabulary and start running the language of leadership and possibility.
25. Do a nature walk at least once a week. It’ll renew you (you can’t inspire others if you’re depleted yourself).
26. Take on projects no one else will take on. Set goals no one else will do.
27. Do something that makes you feel uncomfortable at least once every 7 days.
28. Say “sorry” when you know you should say “sorry”.
29. Say “please” and “thank you” a lot.
30. Remember that to double your income, triple your investment in learning, coaching and self-education.
31. Dream big but start now.
32. Achieve 5 little goals each day (“The Daily 5 Concept” I shared in “The Leader Who Had No Title” that has transformed the lives of so many). In 12 months this habit will produce 1850 little goals–which will amount to a massive transformation.
33. Write handwritten thank you notes to your customers, teammates and family members.
34. Be slow to criticize and fast to praise.
35. Read Walter Isaacson’s amazing biography on Steve Jobs.
36. Give your customers 10X the value they pay for (“The 10X Value Obsession”).
37. Use the first 90 minutes of your work day only on value-creating activities (versus checking email or surfing the Net).
38. Breathe.
39. Keep your promises.
40. Remember that ordinary people talk about their goals. Leaders get them done. With speed.
41. Watch the inspirational documentary “Jiro Dreams of Sushi”.
42. Know that a problem only becomes a problem when you choose to see it as a problem.
43. Brain tattoo the fact that all work is a chance to change the world.
44. Watch the amazing movie “The Intouchables”.
45. Remember that every person you meet has a story to tell, a lesson to teach and a dream to do.
46. Risk being rejected. All of the great ones do.
47. Spend more time in art galleries. Art inspires, stimulates creativity and pushes boundaries.
48. Read a book a week, invest in a course every month and attend a workshop every quarter.
49. Remember that you empower what you complain about.
50. Get to know yourself. The main reason we procrastinate on our goals is not because of external conditions; we procrastinate due to our internal beliefs. And the thing is they are stuck so deep that we don’t even know they exist. But once you do, everything changes.
51. Read “Jonathan Livingston Seagull”.
52. Know your values. And then have the guts to live them–no matter what the crowd thinks and how the herd lives.
53. Become the fittest person you know.
54. Become the strongest person you know.
55. Become the kindest person you know.
56. Know your “Big 5″–the 5 goals you absolutely must achieve by December 31 to make this year your best yet (I teach my entire goal-achieving process, my advanced techniques on unleashing confidence and how to go from being stuck to living a life you adore in my online program “Your Absolute Best Year Yet”).
57. Know that potential unexpressed turns to pain.
58. Build a strong family foundation while you grow your ideal career.
59. Stop being selfish.
60. Give your life to a project bigger than yourself.
61. Be thankful for your talents.
62. Stand for iconic. Go for legendary. And make history.7. Finish what you start.8. Remember that your diet affects your moods so eat like an athlete.9. Spend an hour a day without stimulation (no phone+no FaceBook+no noise).10. Release the energy vampires from your life. They are destroying your performance.11. Write in a journal every morning. And record gratitude every night.12. Do work that scares you (if you’re not uncomfortable often, you’re not growing very much).13. Make the choice to let go of your past. It’s dusty history. And polluting your future.14. Commit to being “Mozart-Level Good” at your work.15. Smile more (and tell your face).16. Do a collage filled with images of your ideal life. Look at it once a day for focus and inspiration.17. Plan your week on a schedule (clarity is the DNA of mastery).18. Stop gossiping (average people love gossip; exceptional people adore ideas).19. Read “As You Think”.20. Read “The Go-Getter”.21. Don’t just parent your kids–develop them.22. Remember that victims are frightened by change. And leaders grow inspired by it.23. Start taking daily supplements to stay in peak health.24. Clean out any form of “victimspeak” in your vocabulary and start running the language of leadership and possibility.25. Do a nature walk at least once a week. It’ll renew you (you can’t inspire others if you’re depleted yourself).26. Take on projects no one else will take on. Set goals no one else will do.27. Do something that makes you feel uncomfortable at least once every 7 days.28. Say “sorry” when you know you should say “sorry”.29. Say “please” and “thank you” a lot.30. Remember that to double your income, triple your investment in learning, coaching and self-education.31. Dream big but start now.32. Achieve 5 little goals each day (“The Daily 5 Concept” I shared in “The Leader Who Had No Title” that has transformed the lives of so many). In 12 months this habit will produce 1850 little goals–which will amount to a massive transformation.33. Write handwritten thank you notes to your customers, teammates and family members.34. Be slow to criticize and fast to praise.35. Read Walter Isaacson’s amazing biography on Steve Jobs.36. Give your customers 10X the value they pay for (“The 10X Value Obsession”).37. Use the first 90 minutes of your work day only on value-creating activities (versus checking email or surfing the Net).38. Breathe.39. Keep your promises.40. Remember that ordinary people talk about their goals. Leaders get them done. With speed.41. Watch the inspirational documentary “Jiro Dreams of Sushi”.42. Know that a problem only becomes a problem when you choose to see it as a problem.43. Brain tattoo the fact that all work is a chance to change the world.44. Watch the amazing movie “The Intouchables”.45. Remember that every person you meet has a story to tell, a lesson to teach and a dream to do.46. Risk being rejected. All of the great ones do.47. Spend more time in art galleries. Art inspires, stimulates creativity and pushes boundaries.48. Read a book a week, invest in a course every month and attend a workshop every quarter.49. Remember that you empower what you complain about.50. Get to know yourself. The main reason we procrastinate on our goals is not because of external conditions; we procrastinate due to our internal beliefs. And the thing is they are stuck so deep that we don’t even know they exist. But once you do, everything changes.51. Read “Jonathan Livingston Seagull”.52. Know your values. And then have the guts to live them–no matter what the crowd thinks and how the herd lives.53. Become the fittest person you know.54. Become the strongest person you know.55. Become the kindest person you know.56. Know your “Big 5″–the 5 goals you absolutely must achieve by December 31 to make this year your best yet (I teach my entire goal-achieving process, my advanced techniques on unleashing confidence and how to go from being stuck to living a life you adore in my online program “Your Absolute Best Year Yet”).57. Know that potential unexpressed turns to pain.58. Build a strong family foundation while you grow your ideal career.59. Stop being selfish.60. Give your life to a project bigger than yourself.61. Be thankful for your talents.62. Stand for iconic. Go for legendary. And make history.
I needed this today, more than I knew. I'm digging into the negative side rather than the positive side. I am projecting negativity towards the relationships, so no wonder I think that they are ending. If they are ending, well then this is the moment that they are supposed to. I can't keep hold of the past, especially when I want a future that is pure and good and clean.
So today I share this wonderful positive list. It's helping me out of my funk!
I was being a negatron, and it was pulling me down. So this morning, while I'm wondering why these relationships seem to be ending (in my mind) a friend posts something that grabs my attention:
1. Believe in your vision and gifts when no one else believes in your vision and gifts.2. Start your day with 20 minutes of exercise.3. Make excellence your way of being (versus a once in a while event).4. Be on time (bonus points: be early).5. Be a celebrator of other’s talents versus a critic.6. Stop watching TV. (Bonus points: sell your tv and invest the cash in learning and self-education).
7. Finish what you start.
8. Remember that your diet affects your moods so eat like an athlete.
9. Spend an hour a day without stimulation (no phone+no FaceBook+no noise).
10. Release the energy vampires from your life. They are destroying your performance.
11. Write in a journal every morning. And record gratitude every night.
12. Do work that scares you (if you’re not uncomfortable often, you’re not growing very much).
13. Make the choice to let go of your past. It’s dusty history. And polluting your future.
14. Commit to being “Mozart-Level Good” at your work.
15. Smile more (and tell your face).
16. Do a collage filled with images of your ideal life. Look at it once a day for focus and inspiration.
17. Plan your week on a schedule (clarity is the DNA of mastery).
18. Stop gossiping (average people love gossip; exceptional people adore ideas).
19. Read “As You Think”.
20. Read “The Go-Getter”.
21. Don’t just parent your kids–develop them.
22. Remember that victims are frightened by change. And leaders grow inspired by it.
23. Start taking daily supplements to stay in peak health.
24. Clean out any form of “victimspeak” in your vocabulary and start running the language of leadership and possibility.
25. Do a nature walk at least once a week. It’ll renew you (you can’t inspire others if you’re depleted yourself).
26. Take on projects no one else will take on. Set goals no one else will do.
27. Do something that makes you feel uncomfortable at least once every 7 days.
28. Say “sorry” when you know you should say “sorry”.
29. Say “please” and “thank you” a lot.
30. Remember that to double your income, triple your investment in learning, coaching and self-education.
31. Dream big but start now.
32. Achieve 5 little goals each day (“The Daily 5 Concept” I shared in “The Leader Who Had No Title” that has transformed the lives of so many). In 12 months this habit will produce 1850 little goals–which will amount to a massive transformation.
33. Write handwritten thank you notes to your customers, teammates and family members.
34. Be slow to criticize and fast to praise.
35. Read Walter Isaacson’s amazing biography on Steve Jobs.
36. Give your customers 10X the value they pay for (“The 10X Value Obsession”).
37. Use the first 90 minutes of your work day only on value-creating activities (versus checking email or surfing the Net).
38. Breathe.
39. Keep your promises.
40. Remember that ordinary people talk about their goals. Leaders get them done. With speed.
41. Watch the inspirational documentary “Jiro Dreams of Sushi”.
42. Know that a problem only becomes a problem when you choose to see it as a problem.
43. Brain tattoo the fact that all work is a chance to change the world.
44. Watch the amazing movie “The Intouchables”.
45. Remember that every person you meet has a story to tell, a lesson to teach and a dream to do.
46. Risk being rejected. All of the great ones do.
47. Spend more time in art galleries. Art inspires, stimulates creativity and pushes boundaries.
48. Read a book a week, invest in a course every month and attend a workshop every quarter.
49. Remember that you empower what you complain about.
50. Get to know yourself. The main reason we procrastinate on our goals is not because of external conditions; we procrastinate due to our internal beliefs. And the thing is they are stuck so deep that we don’t even know they exist. But once you do, everything changes.
51. Read “Jonathan Livingston Seagull”.
52. Know your values. And then have the guts to live them–no matter what the crowd thinks and how the herd lives.
53. Become the fittest person you know.
54. Become the strongest person you know.
55. Become the kindest person you know.
56. Know your “Big 5″–the 5 goals you absolutely must achieve by December 31 to make this year your best yet (I teach my entire goal-achieving process, my advanced techniques on unleashing confidence and how to go from being stuck to living a life you adore in my online program “Your Absolute Best Year Yet”).
57. Know that potential unexpressed turns to pain.
58. Build a strong family foundation while you grow your ideal career.
59. Stop being selfish.
60. Give your life to a project bigger than yourself.
61. Be thankful for your talents.
62. Stand for iconic. Go for legendary. And make history.7. Finish what you start.8. Remember that your diet affects your moods so eat like an athlete.9. Spend an hour a day without stimulation (no phone+no FaceBook+no noise).10. Release the energy vampires from your life. They are destroying your performance.11. Write in a journal every morning. And record gratitude every night.12. Do work that scares you (if you’re not uncomfortable often, you’re not growing very much).13. Make the choice to let go of your past. It’s dusty history. And polluting your future.14. Commit to being “Mozart-Level Good” at your work.15. Smile more (and tell your face).16. Do a collage filled with images of your ideal life. Look at it once a day for focus and inspiration.17. Plan your week on a schedule (clarity is the DNA of mastery).18. Stop gossiping (average people love gossip; exceptional people adore ideas).19. Read “As You Think”.20. Read “The Go-Getter”.21. Don’t just parent your kids–develop them.22. Remember that victims are frightened by change. And leaders grow inspired by it.23. Start taking daily supplements to stay in peak health.24. Clean out any form of “victimspeak” in your vocabulary and start running the language of leadership and possibility.25. Do a nature walk at least once a week. It’ll renew you (you can’t inspire others if you’re depleted yourself).26. Take on projects no one else will take on. Set goals no one else will do.27. Do something that makes you feel uncomfortable at least once every 7 days.28. Say “sorry” when you know you should say “sorry”.29. Say “please” and “thank you” a lot.30. Remember that to double your income, triple your investment in learning, coaching and self-education.31. Dream big but start now.32. Achieve 5 little goals each day (“The Daily 5 Concept” I shared in “The Leader Who Had No Title” that has transformed the lives of so many). In 12 months this habit will produce 1850 little goals–which will amount to a massive transformation.33. Write handwritten thank you notes to your customers, teammates and family members.34. Be slow to criticize and fast to praise.35. Read Walter Isaacson’s amazing biography on Steve Jobs.36. Give your customers 10X the value they pay for (“The 10X Value Obsession”).37. Use the first 90 minutes of your work day only on value-creating activities (versus checking email or surfing the Net).38. Breathe.39. Keep your promises.40. Remember that ordinary people talk about their goals. Leaders get them done. With speed.41. Watch the inspirational documentary “Jiro Dreams of Sushi”.42. Know that a problem only becomes a problem when you choose to see it as a problem.43. Brain tattoo the fact that all work is a chance to change the world.44. Watch the amazing movie “The Intouchables”.45. Remember that every person you meet has a story to tell, a lesson to teach and a dream to do.46. Risk being rejected. All of the great ones do.47. Spend more time in art galleries. Art inspires, stimulates creativity and pushes boundaries.48. Read a book a week, invest in a course every month and attend a workshop every quarter.49. Remember that you empower what you complain about.50. Get to know yourself. The main reason we procrastinate on our goals is not because of external conditions; we procrastinate due to our internal beliefs. And the thing is they are stuck so deep that we don’t even know they exist. But once you do, everything changes.51. Read “Jonathan Livingston Seagull”.52. Know your values. And then have the guts to live them–no matter what the crowd thinks and how the herd lives.53. Become the fittest person you know.54. Become the strongest person you know.55. Become the kindest person you know.56. Know your “Big 5″–the 5 goals you absolutely must achieve by December 31 to make this year your best yet (I teach my entire goal-achieving process, my advanced techniques on unleashing confidence and how to go from being stuck to living a life you adore in my online program “Your Absolute Best Year Yet”).57. Know that potential unexpressed turns to pain.58. Build a strong family foundation while you grow your ideal career.59. Stop being selfish.60. Give your life to a project bigger than yourself.61. Be thankful for your talents.62. Stand for iconic. Go for legendary. And make history.
I needed this today, more than I knew. I'm digging into the negative side rather than the positive side. I am projecting negativity towards the relationships, so no wonder I think that they are ending. If they are ending, well then this is the moment that they are supposed to. I can't keep hold of the past, especially when I want a future that is pure and good and clean.
So today I share this wonderful positive list. It's helping me out of my funk!
Monday, February 11, 2013
Grateful and thankful
This morning I decided to head out to work a little early. I had a number of things I wanted to get done, and I also thought I could get some gas in the car. Little did I know that fate was playing her hand this morning.
As I headed out and made it less than a mile from home, I was shown how grateful, blessed, fortunate I am. I have eyes that I can see with, ears that I can hear with, a heart that beats and feels, and a desire to help others, especially when they are in danger.
You must be wondering how less than a mile into a trip all of this self realization can occur. The answer, a blind man walking across a busy, four lane street, not at an intersection.
This man was older, and he was alone. The car in front of me stopped before I even saw the man. We were in the left lane headed west so many cars just kept going around me and the other car in the right lane going around the man. Once I saw the man I didn't know what to do. He seemed to be yelling...no, he was yelling "HELLO?" The car in front of me yelled from her window, "You can cross, we stopped". The old man just stayed in the middle of our lane yelling "HELLO?" One woman on the sidewalk watched and had the same quizzical look on her face as I must have had. That was it, this man needed help.
I jumped out of my car and went up to the man (my car is still in the left hand lane of a busy street). I went up to the man to let him know it was safe to cross. "HELLO?" now I was worried that I had gotten myself into a bigger situation than I knew. "WHERE IS IT?"
"Where is what sir?" I replied, not knowing what to do besides try to help him cross the street.
"I NEED THE MARKET, WHERE IS THE MARKET? I NEED TO GO WEST!"
"Sir, you're in the middle of the street, let me get you to the median at least"
"NO I NEED TO GO"
"Sir, I don't know what to do"
"TAKE MY ARM"
"I'm sorry?"
"TAKE MY ARM!"
I understood he did want my help, so I took his arm and we headed back to the sidewalk. The woman who was on the sidewalk helped me get him safely out of the street. The car that was in front of my sped away, leaving my car just there in the middle of the street. It didn't matter, that was just a thing, not a person, and people could see the car was there.
"Sir we are at the sidewalk"
"I CAN'T USE MY LEGS"
"Ok sir, but we need to get you out of the street."
"I CAN'T USE MY LEGS!"
He pulled away from me and started walking west. Luckily, the woman on the sidewalk was there to help me guide him away from the street. She was able to figure out what market he wanted to go to and we slowly turned him around. I asked her if she was ok to handle him and she confirmed she was.
I went back to my car and jumped in and in an instant, I realized how lucky, fortunate, grateful, blessed, and 50 million other positive words I am. I have the ability to see things, and not only to see but to hear and speak and feel. I have the strength to see that someone needs help and I do my best to help.
There are so many things that we complain about in this world. I try to stay positive all the time but I whine quite a bit. It takes a moment like this sometimes to smack me upside the head and remind me how great I have it. I love and care and was able to help someone, I didn't just pass them by. Yes I helped him, but he and the woman on the sidewalk helped me so much more. Compassion, there are still people who care and will help a stranger...and there are strangers that help us more than we knew we needed helping.
As I headed out and made it less than a mile from home, I was shown how grateful, blessed, fortunate I am. I have eyes that I can see with, ears that I can hear with, a heart that beats and feels, and a desire to help others, especially when they are in danger.
You must be wondering how less than a mile into a trip all of this self realization can occur. The answer, a blind man walking across a busy, four lane street, not at an intersection.
This man was older, and he was alone. The car in front of me stopped before I even saw the man. We were in the left lane headed west so many cars just kept going around me and the other car in the right lane going around the man. Once I saw the man I didn't know what to do. He seemed to be yelling...no, he was yelling "HELLO?" The car in front of me yelled from her window, "You can cross, we stopped". The old man just stayed in the middle of our lane yelling "HELLO?" One woman on the sidewalk watched and had the same quizzical look on her face as I must have had. That was it, this man needed help.
I jumped out of my car and went up to the man (my car is still in the left hand lane of a busy street). I went up to the man to let him know it was safe to cross. "HELLO?" now I was worried that I had gotten myself into a bigger situation than I knew. "WHERE IS IT?"
"Where is what sir?" I replied, not knowing what to do besides try to help him cross the street.
"I NEED THE MARKET, WHERE IS THE MARKET? I NEED TO GO WEST!"
"Sir, you're in the middle of the street, let me get you to the median at least"
"NO I NEED TO GO"
"Sir, I don't know what to do"
"TAKE MY ARM"
"I'm sorry?"
"TAKE MY ARM!"
I understood he did want my help, so I took his arm and we headed back to the sidewalk. The woman who was on the sidewalk helped me get him safely out of the street. The car that was in front of my sped away, leaving my car just there in the middle of the street. It didn't matter, that was just a thing, not a person, and people could see the car was there.
"Sir we are at the sidewalk"
"I CAN'T USE MY LEGS"
"Ok sir, but we need to get you out of the street."
"I CAN'T USE MY LEGS!"
He pulled away from me and started walking west. Luckily, the woman on the sidewalk was there to help me guide him away from the street. She was able to figure out what market he wanted to go to and we slowly turned him around. I asked her if she was ok to handle him and she confirmed she was.
I went back to my car and jumped in and in an instant, I realized how lucky, fortunate, grateful, blessed, and 50 million other positive words I am. I have the ability to see things, and not only to see but to hear and speak and feel. I have the strength to see that someone needs help and I do my best to help.
There are so many things that we complain about in this world. I try to stay positive all the time but I whine quite a bit. It takes a moment like this sometimes to smack me upside the head and remind me how great I have it. I love and care and was able to help someone, I didn't just pass them by. Yes I helped him, but he and the woman on the sidewalk helped me so much more. Compassion, there are still people who care and will help a stranger...and there are strangers that help us more than we knew we needed helping.
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
It's ok to mess up
It's ok to mess up every once and a while. When you do your best and mean well, and you try to make an effort for things to go smoothly, it's ok that things will get messed up every once and a while.
In fact, I think when we mess up we learn more!
This may seem like kindergarten stuff, but it's a good thing to be reminded of. I am one who is very hard on herself when things aren't perfect. I'm re-learning that it's ok though. Regardless of how small of an imperfection, it's nothing to get upset about.
So your fact of the day, it's ok to mess up...and the side fact...don't be so hard on yourself.
In fact, I think when we mess up we learn more!
This may seem like kindergarten stuff, but it's a good thing to be reminded of. I am one who is very hard on herself when things aren't perfect. I'm re-learning that it's ok though. Regardless of how small of an imperfection, it's nothing to get upset about.
So your fact of the day, it's ok to mess up...and the side fact...don't be so hard on yourself.
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Staying positive in a negative world
A student of mine once asked me to look at a website that provided definitions of words and asked me if I noticed a trend with what the first definition was. I looked up a number of words and saw what he was seeing, each of the initial definitions was negative. All of the words I looked up had a negative connotation to it even if that was the least used definition of a word. Look at the synonyms and it was the same thing. The first synonym given for "try" was "inconvenience". in fact the 7 synonyms given all had somewhat negative connotations to them, and the word "attempt" was not listed. A primary definition for endeavor was about exerting oneself...it wasn't until the 3rd definition that it was more positive and about gaining.
I reflected on this today, mostly after the reflections I've been making this week in regards to focusing on me. I try to be a positive person and believe that positivity reeds positivity. That is not always what I seem to be experiencing though. I made another step to increase my positive attitude and outlook on life by taking a break from something that has become quite a drain on me...facebook. That's right, I said it...the fb has become a drain on me. I took a break starting Monday morning, and already I can feel it's positive affect on me. What was funny was I went on there today to turn off a notification filter (didn't want my phone lighting up anymore) and scrolled through for a moment, not to comment, just to observe. I found that with a few exceptions, most posts were negative. The people I have showing up on my feed were all complaining about something or another.
It's no wonder it's hard to stay so positive...we've created a world in which it's so easy to gripe to everyone, it's hard to know what's really going on in people's lives. We're also incredibly connected to one another, but in a voyeuristic type of way...and we only get to see the part that people are willing to share, which honestly seems to be quite negative. I admit that I was doing this too...it's so easy to just complain a one liner on there and try to let it go...the problem is, the more we do that, the more we spread that negative energy around and can affect others.
I want to try to take a stand against this negativity and work on spreading my positivity! Though I'm going to remain off the fb I am going to in my real life spread positivity. I'm going to say kind words and mean them to people that I see. I am going to believe in the kind words that others say to me. I am going to shield myself from the negative stuff and encourage and spread the positive stuff.
I do wonder what other correlations I might be able to find...and perhaps even be able to make a difference. So have a wonderful day reader of this blog. Remember that even in your darkest moments, there is always a happy memory that you can grasp at. For those of you with four-legged kids, just look at your dog or cat or turtle...I know that my four-legged kids always can get a smile. For those of you with the two-legged kids, look at all the goodness you have been able to bring up into the world!
So enjoy my lil guys and bring a smile to your face!
I reflected on this today, mostly after the reflections I've been making this week in regards to focusing on me. I try to be a positive person and believe that positivity reeds positivity. That is not always what I seem to be experiencing though. I made another step to increase my positive attitude and outlook on life by taking a break from something that has become quite a drain on me...facebook. That's right, I said it...the fb has become a drain on me. I took a break starting Monday morning, and already I can feel it's positive affect on me. What was funny was I went on there today to turn off a notification filter (didn't want my phone lighting up anymore) and scrolled through for a moment, not to comment, just to observe. I found that with a few exceptions, most posts were negative. The people I have showing up on my feed were all complaining about something or another.
It's no wonder it's hard to stay so positive...we've created a world in which it's so easy to gripe to everyone, it's hard to know what's really going on in people's lives. We're also incredibly connected to one another, but in a voyeuristic type of way...and we only get to see the part that people are willing to share, which honestly seems to be quite negative. I admit that I was doing this too...it's so easy to just complain a one liner on there and try to let it go...the problem is, the more we do that, the more we spread that negative energy around and can affect others.
I want to try to take a stand against this negativity and work on spreading my positivity! Though I'm going to remain off the fb I am going to in my real life spread positivity. I'm going to say kind words and mean them to people that I see. I am going to believe in the kind words that others say to me. I am going to shield myself from the negative stuff and encourage and spread the positive stuff.
I do wonder what other correlations I might be able to find...and perhaps even be able to make a difference. So have a wonderful day reader of this blog. Remember that even in your darkest moments, there is always a happy memory that you can grasp at. For those of you with four-legged kids, just look at your dog or cat or turtle...I know that my four-legged kids always can get a smile. For those of you with the two-legged kids, look at all the goodness you have been able to bring up into the world!
So enjoy my lil guys and bring a smile to your face!
Monday, January 28, 2013
Flashbacks of high school
Not the good flashbacks either. I was a part of something recently that made me wonder how it is we survived high school. This situation also brought up that how some times high school type things just seem to slap you in a the face randomly and it sucks. High school was rough, some times were great and other times sucked...but once you get through high school you shouldn't have to go back to it.
Crazy how certain situations bring it back. The misunderstandings, the blame, the "I hate you" attitude...yet how when you are an adult and these situations happen and you try to understand the situation, it makes no sense. You need to go back and think like a high schooler...and that's when it hits you...I have no desire to spend time with people who resort that type of behavior...and as an adult, I get to make that decision with much less backlash. Since in high school you can get black listed for this behavior and acceptance is so key...as an adult if I'm blacklisted from a group, I think that I would laugh about it.
It also helps me to understand why as we get older you have fewer friends. I happen to have great relationships with the fewer friends that I have. Those are the people I like to spend time with...and not the acquaintances that make me feel like crap...even if those acquaintances are friends with some other friends...I have the right to say, "no thanks...we'll grab coffee/lunch together alone, I'm not feeling the big group thing" and as an adult to another adult, it won't really upset anyone. If it does, again, I think I would laugh.
I still wonder how we all survived high school.
Crazy how certain situations bring it back. The misunderstandings, the blame, the "I hate you" attitude...yet how when you are an adult and these situations happen and you try to understand the situation, it makes no sense. You need to go back and think like a high schooler...and that's when it hits you...I have no desire to spend time with people who resort that type of behavior...and as an adult, I get to make that decision with much less backlash. Since in high school you can get black listed for this behavior and acceptance is so key...as an adult if I'm blacklisted from a group, I think that I would laugh about it.
It also helps me to understand why as we get older you have fewer friends. I happen to have great relationships with the fewer friends that I have. Those are the people I like to spend time with...and not the acquaintances that make me feel like crap...even if those acquaintances are friends with some other friends...I have the right to say, "no thanks...we'll grab coffee/lunch together alone, I'm not feeling the big group thing" and as an adult to another adult, it won't really upset anyone. If it does, again, I think I would laugh.
I still wonder how we all survived high school.
Friday, January 18, 2013
Weighing on me
Why is the number on the scale so important? I try not to weigh myself and trust my clothing (the way it fits) and the way I feel...but after this challenge of working out and eating right and portion control I wanted to see. I should not have done that. The number was ridiculously high which means it was higher before I checked.
Why does weight weigh so much on my mind? I am more than a number on the scale yet I when that number isn't what I expect or want it to be, a downward spiral of self worth begins. I beat myself up mentally and feel less of a person.
The body dismorphia also begins again so I become Honey Boo-Boo's mother in my mind...except I'm able to run distances and workout daily.
No matter how old I get or how smart I am or how aware...I'm still returned to the chunky kid who was made fun of in grade school for being over weight. I'm happily married and have great friends who love who I am not what I look like...yet all I feel right now is self loathing because of a number on a scale.
Why do I do this? I know I'm not alone yet I can't seem to stop the cycle. It's just a number right?
Why does weight weigh so much on my mind? I am more than a number on the scale yet I when that number isn't what I expect or want it to be, a downward spiral of self worth begins. I beat myself up mentally and feel less of a person.
The body dismorphia also begins again so I become Honey Boo-Boo's mother in my mind...except I'm able to run distances and workout daily.
No matter how old I get or how smart I am or how aware...I'm still returned to the chunky kid who was made fun of in grade school for being over weight. I'm happily married and have great friends who love who I am not what I look like...yet all I feel right now is self loathing because of a number on a scale.
Why do I do this? I know I'm not alone yet I can't seem to stop the cycle. It's just a number right?
Thursday, January 17, 2013
19 days and counting
Remember when I did those 40 days of yoga? I do...I may even do it again...but right now the husband and I have decided to workout everyday in January...only I started on the 31st so today was day 19. When I did 40 days of yoga, it was 6 days a week of yoga with 1 day of rest. When I trained for marathons you had a day of rest in there too...today I felt why. I'm exhausted!
Not like I need to sleep exhausted, but my legs are dead, my arms are sore and my brain isn't even working! This morning I opted for yoga as my workout. I had planned on running but the way my legs felt I listened to my body and did some vinyasa. Yoga is such a great release for me. My arms are sore but feel more refreshed and my legs are feeling better. I'm hoping to get a run or two in this weekend (before the frigid cold front comes through with a high of 10 on Monday).
This workout goal is helping me get through a tough month at work and reminding me that I'm stronger than I think I am...the hubby too. Plus, when I am able to get out there and run, it feels fantastic! The bike trainer is a great addition to our home too...instead of just doing a DVD we also do 20-30 minutes on the bike (or use our step to do stepper stuff) so we're doing great and almost a hour a day...go us!
Challenges are a great thing to remind us how we really don't give ourselves enough credit...19 days down and after my yoga refresh I think tomorrow will be another short workout then really long ones over the weekend :)
Not like I need to sleep exhausted, but my legs are dead, my arms are sore and my brain isn't even working! This morning I opted for yoga as my workout. I had planned on running but the way my legs felt I listened to my body and did some vinyasa. Yoga is such a great release for me. My arms are sore but feel more refreshed and my legs are feeling better. I'm hoping to get a run or two in this weekend (before the frigid cold front comes through with a high of 10 on Monday).
This workout goal is helping me get through a tough month at work and reminding me that I'm stronger than I think I am...the hubby too. Plus, when I am able to get out there and run, it feels fantastic! The bike trainer is a great addition to our home too...instead of just doing a DVD we also do 20-30 minutes on the bike (or use our step to do stepper stuff) so we're doing great and almost a hour a day...go us!
Challenges are a great thing to remind us how we really don't give ourselves enough credit...19 days down and after my yoga refresh I think tomorrow will be another short workout then really long ones over the weekend :)
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