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Showing posts from January, 2012

Yoga Sushi and Weight Loss

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Oh. My. Word. Savasana (corpse pose) I got up this morning to fit my yoga practice in, rather than waiting 'til the kids' nap time.  I was so incredibly stiff and sore.  My lower back screamed at me for the first 30 minutes only to tone down to a stern razzing during the last half.  Our 2 and 4 year olds joined me for the last 10 minutes, and my savasana (corpse pose) was done with a 2 year old laying on me, covered in his blankie.   Not a bad way to wrap it up.  Not bad at all. Wow, did I feel O.L.D. during that practice.  More movement during that routine that I would like - I would rather hold poses than do a ton of flow.  Especially first thing in the morning. Moving on in the day - I weighed in today.  After 2 weeks of practicing eating only during an 8 hour window - I've now lost 2.5lbs.  Down 2 pounds for last week. After eating sushi with a friend last night.  After having pizza on Friday night and Chinese food on Saturday night (it's bee

Some News

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Ah, Saturday - I do love it.  I work from home and my Little Blessings come to me for cuddling each weekday.  I love it.  But I do appreciate the relative calm of only having our own children to tend on the weekends. Last night, I was in bed at 9:30.  I know.  Party animal, right here.  But, since I am not a pro triathlete, my schedule has pesky little things written in where there should be a nap/recovery/rest time.  I make up for it by going to bed as early as my husband won't make fun of me  humanly possible. Slept clear through with no visitors or pit stops til 7:00 this morning.  I'm telling ya - I actually woke up in a not homicidal  good mood. Am I using the strikethrough function enough  too much?   After a good dose of caffeine and some cartoons, we headed to the library for some books on next weeks Science lesson.  Galileo... Oh - I was just sidetracked and registered for MY FIRST TRIATHLON.  Indoor sprint in the town my Momma lives in - nice and co

Friday Fun

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Our 2 & 4 year olds are chasing each other with spatulas.  Our 2yo son keeps making the "buah!" sound and our 4yo daughter runs away screaming and laughing.  They are quite honestly running all through the house. Our 9yo is walking around in an old pair of high heels pretending to be their mother.  She has on a shawl and carries a bag and pretends to drop the 2 and 4yo's off with me "their Gramma" (me!) and gives me the low down on her "schedule" of imagined college classes and movie auditions that she will be doing and why she needs me to "watch" her "kids." Our 13yo is in the basement on XBox Live playing a game with his uncle and some cousins that live in another state.  I don't see him much...but I hear him blasting bad aliens.  He cleaned up the kitchen and took out the trash this evening...what else could I ask for? Hubby and I are watching a theme based Stargate SG-1 marathon.  It's my very favorite show...a

Fast Facts

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I completed my first week of Intermittent Fasting.  There are many different periods to fast for in any given week, but I chose one that was relatively "watered down."  If you are interested in the potential benefits of IF, head on over to 2 Meal Mike's site and do a little reading.  I also recommend. a look at Dr. Eades site for some additional sciency stuff. WHY did I decide to do this? My goal is ultimate health.  I know I carry about 15lbs of pure fat around my hips and waist that is NOT doing me a bit of good. I lost about 80lbs in 2004/5 by counting points on Weight Watchers and exercising to home workout DVD's.  After 2 babies in less than 2 years, I had most of the weight back and lost most of it ALL OVER AGAIN by counting calories.  I feel that I am overly obsessed with the almighty calorie and the number on the scale.  Moreover, I have stalled this last 9 months within 15lbs of where I want to be. WHAT am I doing? I am doing a version of Intermitte

Limits

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Having a hard time typing this. My arms might fall off. When I find value in a skill, I learn how to perform it.  Then I do whatever it takes to get better.  I may have, once or twice, gone to far to hone it.  And being "good" at things always seems plausible. With enough practice. I don't operate well in the limits of time, space, or ability.  I was one of those kids that was told "you can do whatever you put your mind to" and just believed it.  My teen years were marked by me pretty much doing whatever I put my mind to.  Unfortunately. As an adult, I have acted more responsibly - but only in direction.  The methodology always seems the same.   I decided to make Pierogies last Wednesday night (need to leave for church 15min after last daycare kid leaves) and also agree to pick up a friends kids on the same night.  I ended up not having time to eat them. I decided that ordering flowers for our wedding was ridiculously expensive and that my future

Out to Eat and Bones

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Taking our family out to eat has never been practical. We've often had children that were to young to appreciate fine dining, and the price of even Subway for the whole family is cost prohibitive. I started taking a home finance management class in November called Financial Peace University.  I've learned how to do a better budget, how to save money and most importantly how to back ourselves out of this debt ditch we've dug. Since that started, we've not had any extras - including a meal at a restaurant.  It took me nearly 90 days to get the recommended $1,000 put in an emergency fund.  I've squeezed it out of our regular income - they suggest you sell some things, but we didn't have anything to sell.  So, today we went out to eat! It cost a little more than I had budgeted...it seems that two of our children entered a different fee category...and soft drinks are $1.99...but we all had a great time, and the meal was good.  Our youngest child sat up at the

Winter Again

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We've had an unwelcome return to winter here in Nebraska.  It's been very warm lately with temperatures in the 40's and even 50's with no precipitation to speak of.  So nice to run and ride outdoors! Monday we woke up to snow and very cold (teens) weather.  Sure makes going to the gym at 5am seem that much crazier!  I have a confession to make: I've been a bad little triathlete this winter. I don't mind the pool or even the treadmill, but the indoor bikes are AWFUL.  I can't get comfy on them at all. I've tried more padded shorts, less padding, moving the seat forward and back - but without much more maneuverability than that, I end up feeling like peddling out of the saddle the whole time.  It's so tough to make myself do an hour on that bike - OUCH. I am a very new swimmer - like before October I couldn't make it down one lane without sputtering - so some extra swim practice is a good thing.  I added this short session before my Wedne

Warm Weather and IF

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Great Sunday! Any January day in Nebraska that is 50 degrees with full sun, is a friend of mine! I headed out for an easy five right after church.  I didn't WANT to.  I tried to reason out of it due to my cough. I figured I would just do some running on my "No readout, barely electric" basement treadmill.  That didn't sound appealing in the LEAST - so I changed my clothes, again, and decided to brave a tiny bit of wind. So very glad that I did.  My run proved that I definitely need to be running some of my speed training at a faster pace.  My average pace was faster than I've been running my tempo miles at.  :D  Slower on the treadmill, I guess.  It's so durn hot in the gym!! I decided to try a gentle version of Intermittent Fasting.  I will be using the 8 hour window approach and eating during only 8 hours of each day.  For me,     I have chosen to eat from 9am to 5pm.  This will allow me to have a nice recovery meal after my morning workout, eat

Nothing Like Sale Pants

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Headed to the Y this morning for a little swim with a workout from SwimPlan.com .  Would have been better if I didn't have to stop after each set and cough my guts out.  Worked on bi-lateral breathing, and somehow, things clicked in my universe and I can breathe comfortably on my left side as well as the right. That also means that I can get water in my left ear as well as the right.  Not so much a problem with the massive amounts of congestion blocking the way. I am such a ray of sunshine. Came home and made myself the Mother of All Omelets... Oh, three delicious eggs wrapped around sauteed spinach, mushrooms and diced onion, sprinkled with a little shredded cheddar.   The only thing that does you justice is two slices of 100% whole wheat toast with a scraping of real butter and a cup of black coffee to wash it all down. Asked all children present if they would like to have some eggs - no takers.  Left hubby at the gym to pound out his 1st Half Marathon of the year.  On

Week Recap

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Well, since my super duper run post on Sunday, I've not said much.  Hard to top 11 miles around the city with a sweet hubby pickup at the end! Very busy with school and having a full 5 day work and school week for the first time in a little while!  My how we get spoiled so quickly. The kids finished up a unit on the environment, pollution and conservation.  I had a lot of fun with that - I'm kinda crunchy.  Our 9 yo was horrified to see the Great Pacific Garbage Patch .  Did you know about this thing - yikes!  Reduce, Re-use, Recycle for heaven's sake!!  No tye-dye required.  Unless of course, you want to! :) By Wednesday of this week, I knew that I had another virus hanging out in my lungs...the second in about 6 weeks!  I rarely get sick, and after the "Cold of the Century" that I had in December, I figured I had my due.  Not so - and I've missed Thursday and today's workouts.  Feeling a bit better now, though.  Thank you, Lord, for smart people

The Long Way Home

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This post will be about running. Still reading? Today, the schedule called for an 11 mile run.  Last week I did 10 (on the treadmill, oh man, somebody shoot me!), and the week before was 8.5.  I was confident that I could complete  the run, but mentally I was very resistant.  I just didn't wanna. Hubby plotted a course for me that took me in a circuitous route around the south portion of our city.  We are fortunate to have around 80 miles of running and cycling trails to work with, here.  I have biked something like this before, so I was familiar with most of the course. I tried not to think about this run during worship service this morning.  I tried to focus on the book of 1 Peter during Sunday school and NOT the run.  I found out that one of our team mates from Market to Market  will be pacing the 2:15 group for the half marathon that I signed up for in May...and then I couldn't NOT think about today's run! After church, the weather was just gorgeous for a r

I Have One

I have a child who lies. The latest infraction involves her savings money.  She took money out of there to buy a soda.  Her brother and she went walking around our neighborhood on Friday afternoon and had planned to stop in at some of the shops.  She had asked me if she could take a dollar out of her "Save" envelope and I said no. She did it anyway.  And today, her brother told on her. As usual, I'm more hurt than anything else.  And concerned.  We really try to teach our children right from wrong.  I'm sure I'm not alone.  Many times, our older children ask "why" we are making them do something, and my answer (in my head, of course...okay 99% of the time) is "So you don't grow up to be an asshole." We want our children to be virtuous and have integrity.  We teach them to tell the truth - moreover - we teach them what Truth is. Truth ain't subjective to circumstance, folks!  With a Biblical base for all of life's lessons, we

Photo Friday

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Just a few photos to share today.  After my workout on Wednesday morning, I've been kind of wiped out and not able to catch up.  Swimming 800yds, then running 3 miles takes getting used to, apparently.  *eyeroll*  So here goes the classic blogger cop out - Photo Friday. SUCH a perfect mail day.  If you haven't shopped at Athleta.com and you love fitness clothes,  you're missing out. My job isn't always insane.  For 15 minutes at a time, it can be downright paradise! I went to plug in the "spare Droid" that our daughter carts around and found this on the screen.  *heart melt* My BFF handed down some wonderful puzzles.  Once again, She saved my life! What?  Doesn't your teen-aged son do curls with your pre-teen daugther? Hope you all have a blessed weekend.  I spent the morning spending my husbands paycheck and designing a coupon/sale laden grocery trip that would make Sister Penny Pincer squeal with delight.  Tomorrow we don'

Shock Tactic

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I was recently made aware of THIS Anti -Obesity ad campaign currently in print and on television in Georgia.  My first thought was "Who lets their child MODEL for these types of things!?"  Wow.  Nice parenting.  Way to make money off your child and damage them emotionally at the same time.  Stellar. The more I read, the more I gather that this is supposed to "shock" Georgia in to realizing their childhood obesity epidemic, and do something about it. Why are chubby kids shocking?  Are these images supposed to make me recoil?  And I absolutely REFUSE to use the word "fat" on those sweet little kids OR their parents.  To me, that is hurtful language with no place in my vocabulary. So, run these horrible ads on TV and in print media and people will "wake up" and say - OH my goodness, MY child looks like that child and TV says that's BAD.  I should really change the family diet and educate my children about good exercise choices right

Tuesday is Monday

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Crazy busy day today. Back to school.  Back to work.  But at least it wasn't my day to rise and shine at 4:30 and hit the gym. Oh. Darn. Things went well.  Our 4th grader, and classic Strong Willed Child, eased back in to school days better than she ever has.  We did more of a unit based thing this morning and started the day with the kids coloring and me reading our Bible reading of the day while they worked. Everyone napped today - oh the blessing in that. EVERYONE. Don't hate me because I get to nap from time to time.  I also did the dishes 3 times and cooked 3 meals, changed half a dozen dirty diapers, made beds, and led Pre-School Exercise time. Oh, and I took down the tree and put away all the Christmas decorations. I always figure that any nap I get is a bonus recharge on the ol' batteries.  And if you want to be jealous, go ahead. Would love to stay and chat, but must fly to the store for another couple of gallons of milk and 15lbs of produce to ge

Sorry

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Don't know what the problem was, but I felt pretty sorry for myself today.  I think, possibly, I was just over tired. We started our Monday off by sleeping in until nearly 7:00!  We all headed to the Y where hubby and I swam, the teen lifted, the pre-teen played a Wii, and the two pre-schoolers played with different toys. After a good workout, we picked everyone up and swam in a relatively crowded pool for an hour.  Out, shower everyone (SO thankful my husband was there to dress baby boy!), give them a snack, go home, make lunch and put kids down for a nap. On our way home, we passed by a Chinese restaurant, and I made the mistake of mentioning hearing it's call to me.  I felt really bad when I had to tell everyone it wasn't "in the budget."  I put some steaks on the broiler for lunch and we had it on spinach salads with carrots and broccoli.  Much better for us and it was "in the budget." Maybe that's why I spent the rest of the day feelin

Happy New Year 2012

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Some people make New Years Resolutions.   Some people refuse to. Some want to make lasting changes in their lives but just don't know where to start. I love the start of a new week or the first of the month.  I especially like the start to a new year.  I love to have direction in my life, some method to my usual madness.   This year, my goals looked a lot like last years.  Athletic goals, nutrition goals, blah, blah, blah.  Those things are important, but this year they seemed - I don't know - shelled. Our pastor preached a sermon this morning based upon a post over at  The Way It Could Be .  A talented writer, himself, Aaron has a way with words and can always put things just the way my brain can understand them.  He expanded on these questions and gave them great life application qualities. Here are the 10 Questions That Will Change Your Life .  Couldn't hurt to try.  And hey, even if these questions don't change your life, they will certainl