Category Archives: health

Triathlon: An insane “fun”

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Sunday was Hubby’s birthday.  44.  He’s about to switch age brackets….next year!!!  So he decided to celebrate his awesomeness and begin his Triathlon season on his birthday.  All those hours of training….paid off.  Here’s some deets:

1/4 mile swim

10 mile bike

3 mile run

He was 4th in his age group, 22nd overall and finished in an hour!!!  My hottie rocked it.  So proud of him.  He has a couple more planned for this summer and some ideas of how to speed up his transitions, but mainly, for him he just enjoys the competition. (I enjoy the sunrise and the coffee!!!)

Here’s some photos from the morning off my iPhone…but look out people, my REAL camera is fixed and will be fully functional and in action for the next one!  Boo Ya!!!

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Bike holding area prior to the race.

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Hello Mr. Sun!!! You are looking FABULOUS dahling!!

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Competitors gathering near the start

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First wave of swimmers (men) head out

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This is my favorite part of the race. Never gets old!!!

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Mr. 1st out of the water for his age group…..

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Coming in on the bike

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Transition from bike to run

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and he’s off on the last leg of the race! He never saw me, heard me,nothing….I am RARELY that focused. EVER!!!

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coming across the finish!

5 Favorites because it’s WEDNESDAY!

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Yesterday our youngest had her tonsils and adenoids removed.  This sweet little, strong-willed girl has had strep so frequently over the last few years she could diagnose it before they swabbed her and so, it finally came to getting those no-longer-doing-their-job suckers OUT.  This also resulted in Mama taking off work to be with our little patient for week 1 of recovery (with Papa taking week 2 shift).  With some extra “time” on my hands I’m joining in with Hallie and the “girl posse” (coined by Cari) and this week’s

five-favorites

 

  1. Since it’s been quite some time since I’ve been home during the week, yesterday I enjoyed my most favorite of favorites:  The Nap.  Yes.  On the couch.  In the middle of the day.  Apparently snoring.  Whatever.  Getting up at 5, waking the girl up so we could leave at 6, to be at the hospital at 6:30 for her 8:30 surgery, waiting on the doctor, boohooing on Hubby, being with her in PACU, bringing her home….Emotionally and physically done.  Mama.  Needed.  A.  Nap.
  2. My iPhone.  Seriously kept me busy all morning during surgery.  When I couldn’t focus on Blessed, Beautiful and Bodacious by Pat Gohn any longer…..I checked Facebook, Twitter, Insta.  Quick little taps.  Brief little interludes.  Then tears when I clicked on Ann Voskamp’s post yesterday.  **note to self, don’t read Ann’s heart benders when I am already raw.  Once again, I could totally and utterly relate.  Parenting=Tough heart work.
  3. Next up.  I’m a freak, I know it.  Getting chores done mid-week.  Laundry is done.  Sheets are changed.  Floors vacuumed.  Eggs boiled.  Chicken soup going on soon.  Accomplishments without the stress of doing it all after working all day!!  #winning
  4. Reading.  Which I’ve already mentioned a bit.  I am finishing Pat’s book and gathering my thoughts to share with her for her podcast.  If you’ve read her book, join in HERE.  Also catching up on my Joy Dare notebook, the Catechism and starting a new book since Anne put out her summer reading list!!
  5. Photos.  I received my camera back from the shop and the baby is ready to go!  I’m brushing up on how to use different settings and get out of the Automatic mode and truly get my photos rockin’ and rollin’.  Of course, it’s only Wednesday…and tomorrow I am heading over to my grandmother’s to get a refresher on my new sewing machine.

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Go visit the posse and see what other favorites are favorite this week, from Pringles to Play lists…it’s covered!!

Blessings!!

Every day in May…mostly in May…whatever.

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Before I get sidetracked…..Mental Awareness Month….click HERE and “plant a seed” and my friend’s company is donating up to $10,000 toward Children’s mental health network.  Let’s do SOMETHING!!!!  Ok, stepping off soapbox!

Why do I force upon myself these ridiculous little goals that make me no money, cost me time and force me to sit down and put together some coherent thoughts???  Oh, I actually enjoy writing, sometimes have something to say worth reading about or laughing about and it gets me in a good habit because writing is actually my happy place.  That and a piece of cheesecake…..

So, I missed yesterday but I was in a super crappy mood (sorry, but if the shoe fits…), couldn’t put my finger on WHY I was in such a foul mood and went to bed at 8:30.  I woke up refreshed and in a much better mood.  Still not fully sure of what happened but my guess is that sometimes when things are going REALLY, REALLY good I feel like it’s just too good to be true and prepare for the bottom to fall out.  A lie from the king of lies, I know and I don’t always get sucked in quite so deeply and yet this time I did.  A good night’s sleep +  prayer before sleep=refreshed.  I’ll take it.

Today was our final weigh in and measurements for our contest and Saturday is the award ceremony.  I am “officially” down 6 pounds and 7 inches in 5 weeks.  A great jump-start to my summer!  Thursday we do assessments on exercises to see how much strength we’ve gained, etc….just a real encouraging way to end up the contest.  I’ll keep you posted!!

Alrighty, my cat is being the neighborhood bully so I need to drag his furry self in the house so I don’t have to hear cat fights all night.  Sigh.  The problems with taking in a stray cat is you just can’t really get the “outside” desire out of him.  It’s all good, he knows where the good food and comfy sleeping spots are!

Until tomorrow….probably!

Beach workout Saturday

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Saturday morning, bright and early!!  Enjoying a few quiet minutes until I wake up the big boy–he’s getting some volunteer hours in at the Church Thrift Shop before a day filled with skateboarding with his buddies.  Hubs is off to his Saturday morning meeting and Adoration and all the kiddos are still snug like a bug in their beds.  I will be off to my last workout class for the contest.  This morning it’s at the beach!!!  Don’t hate!

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A little update on the contest and such.  First of all, the 6 week contest was actually a 4 1/2 week contest when it comes right down to it….buuuuuuuuut……at last count I was down 6 pounds.  I didn’t weigh in last weekend and I’ll hold off today since we have our official last weigh-in on Tuesday.  HOWEVER…..on a measurement scale, I am definitely down.  Clothes are feeling better and I’m creeping seriously close to the next size down…from a 10/12 to a 10.  Not to mention, I’m seeing a little more muscle definition and having more energy.  Win-win!

The 3 key things that have brought me the biggest results have also been my biggest struggles this past week:

  1. Planning and prepping meals.  I work full-time out of the home  pre-cooking on the weekend is huge.  I enjoy cooking, however, sometimes I really don’t want to be in the kitchen for a couple of hours on my precious free time on the weekend.  The truth is, without that prep and planning, it’s challenging to stay on task and not get tempted throughout the week.
  2. Writing down what I’m eating.  I’ve been using the app “My Fitness Pal” and it works great.  Only downside?  We have a pretty strict no cell phone use at work which they’ve suddenly decided to enforce and so logging has become more of a challenge.  I guess I need to just jot it down throughout the day and log in later.
  3. Planning exercise.  It’s May.  I may have mentioned that the other day…..crazy, crazy, craziest month of the year. All the more important to plan it and DO IT.  For me, that will mean getting my rump out of bed in the a.m. because aside from these classes at night, it just doesn’t happen once I get home from work.

And so, with the contest almost over and a good jumpstart for me….I’m ready to keep on keepin’ on because it is bathing suit season, people and there is no hiding from it.

I’m happy with what I’ve accomplished this past month and look forward to seeing my overall results.  Our contest’s presentation to the winner is the next weekend so I’ll keep you posted on the final results for everyone!

Have a great weekend!!

Fasty Friday and Favorites…

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not fasty as in fasting, but more like quick..you know?  Fasty.  Or you can just say Quick Takes and 5 Favorites combo’d.  QTs is over @ CampPatton again this week because new Mama Jen FINALLY GOT TO TAKE THE BABY HOME FROM THE NICU!!!  Awesome news in this week of ickiness.  Superb, in fact.  AND……in a bid to bring joyful and useful news among the rough news week, I am ALSO joining in with Hallie and her 5 Favorite Things link up….but mine will have 7-ish.  A two-fer if you will.  It’s always fun to see what people are up to during the week and I’ve been enjoying the  5 faves and seeing what folks around the internets consider their favorite products and such.  Go check ’em ALL out!!

It’s a clean eating theme.

This week marks the end of my 2nd week of eating clean.  It’s not a hard and fast “Clean” and/or Paleo, but a bit of a combined, best-of-both worlds and guess what???  It’s totally working.  Of course, the fact that I have planned out our meals and have made sure to have adequate food for my eating purposes has certainly helped….but, I think this is something that I could totes live with.  Now, that said, I’m heading into week 3 which is where I have generally sputtered and run out of motivation in the past, so pray for me and feel free to send on some encouragement, etc, etc!  Ok, ok, here’s my 7:

  1. Adoration.  I’ve been TWICE this week.  I love  Adoration.  Peace.  Quiet. Prayers.  In light of all the tragedy this week in Boston and Texas amongst other family and friend urgent prayer needs, it was a welcome respite in which I highly recommend.
  2. Pat Gohn.  Love her podcast.  And she has a new book out, “Blessed, Beautiful and Bodacious!” which is on my night stand in the next-to-read position.  This week she interviewed Mary Wallace and they talked of working moms OUTSIDE the home and incorporating your faith life in your work life.  It was a stellar podcast and has encouraged me to begin a “Positivity Project” .  Without going into detail, I’ll just say office morale is totally in the toilet…BUT Mary and Pat encouraged me to “be the change”.  Every person can make small efforts to turn the tide even if those who should be setting the example don’t.  I started yesterday with Gandhi’s quote, “Be the change you want to see in the world”.  I’d like to see a lot less whining, griping and people just doing their job and helping others…..
  3. Pre-cooked food.  Eating Clean-eo has been much easier with cooking up some roasted veggies and hard-boiled eggs on the weekend for some ease in putting together lunches and snacks for me for the week.  However, I’ll just say that I’ve now given brussel sprouts THREE separate tries and they really are not good.  I ate them.  They weren’t horrible.  However, I won’t be eating them again.
  4. Pre-planned meals.  Meal planning for the week just helps me stay focused.  No guess-work in the morning on what to take out, no fumbling after work for what we’ll eat.  It’s just working for me.  Winning.
  5. Almond milk.  Since I’ve cut out dairy, this is my substitute for my coffee additive in the a.m. and my smoothie base after workout.  No dairy.  No gluten.  Tasty.
  6. Spin bike and burpees.  Actually, I hate them both.  However, to get my cardio in on non-workout days the spin bike fits the bill and when I break it up into 5-8 minute sessions with a set of 10 Burpees in between it goes much quicker.  Not to mention I am sweating like a sweaty person when I’m done.
  7. Choco-cado smoothie.  Before you get all EWWWW, sounds gross on me….let me just say….it is so delicious I thought I was cheating.   The fact I’ve had no sugar and/or processed stuff for twoweeks probably increased the yum factor, but seriously…..DELISH!!!!  I’m including the link on the pic credit, but here’s MY version:  8 oz Almond Milk, 1 frozen banana (go ahead and peel that BEFORE you freeze it so you don’t have to nuke it to get the peel off…ask me how I know this.)  1 giant handful of spinach.  1/4 of a avocado.  1 scoop of chocolate protein powder.  Blend and enjoy.  You are welcome.

Now go check out all the other people and their QTs and Faves…Happy Weekend!!