It has not been the best 24 hours.
It all started last night prior to yoga. My lower back had been bugging me a little all day, so I was trying to stretch before yoga...and ended up overstretching something in my back, right above my left hip. Yoga did not help. I hoped it would go away overnight; it did not; I went to Bar Method this morning anyway and some of it was fine, some of it was not. I am currently icing, going to invest in some heating pads this afternoon, and have accepted that I may have to actually take a rest day at some point this weekend. It is really frustrating. I don't want to do it. I'm going to try yoga tomorrow morning and hope that maybe it helps.
It also did not help that right after Bar Method, as I was pulling out of my parking space, a crazy lady decided to plow into me and then be a complete jerk about it. It has not helped my stress level or my back pain.
As a result, I have been stress eating like crazy. I am...weirdly okay with this as it is something I now do rarely, instead of on a daily basis.
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Revelations
I just had what has to be the most definitively satisfying breakfast I've had in awhile. Okay, except for the chorizo benedict (yes, be jealous, it was incredible) that I had in Reno last weekend. Worth the 8 hour drive just for the food. So I had the most satisfying breakfast I've made for myself in awhile.
If you can get past my terrible photography skills, you might be like, um, that looks like an omelet and I thought you were all about veganism. You would be correct. I was.
And then on a whim I got Real Food out of the library. I am only like two chapters in so I should probably finish it before coming to definitive conclusions, but even in the first few chapters, the author makes a pretty good argument that meat and dairy are not the enemy, processed food is. And I will be the first to admit that while vegan, I'm thrilled when there's something gross and processed (hello, Oreos!) that I can eat, and I will. I started reading the ingredient list on my almond milk this morning and I was like, hm, that's all a bit scary. I put it in my smoothie anyway because I'm a big believer in not wasting food, but it's doubtful I'll be buying more.
Ultimately, I'm a believer in the fact that no book can tell you want to do and that you should figure out what works for you and your body. I know I've generally felt better while vegan, but that may have a lot to do with the fact that I'm eating more fruits and vegetables, not necessarily that I'm not eating meat. Veganism also works for me because dairy tends to be one of those foods I wildly overindulge in (hello, my friend cheese), and there are certain things, like coconut milk ice cream, that I prefer to the dairy version as they seem to have some redeeming nutritional qualities. Also, I am terrible at cooking most meat, and I really don't much care for chicken in any recipe where it's not slathered with cheese and/or cream sauce. Also, I have not looked recently, but I'm pretty sure all this organic grass fed business is going to be expensive. So where does that leave me? I think I'm going to stick to cooking mostly vegan protein for myself, but when I really want it, I'll be adding back in organic/free range/hand massaged/whatever meats, and eggs and butter (organic, I suppose) are going to start finding themselves being regulars in my fridge again. I'm also going to try and cut out pretty much anything that comes in a box; if the ingredient list has more than five things on it or I can't pronounce any of them, it's not going in my shopping cart.
So, back to breakfast. Inspired by the book and the fact that I actually have eggs and cheese in my fridge, I decided to make eggs. They were originally going to be scrambled, but they poured so nicely into the pan that I thought I'd try for omelet territory. It went...better than usual for me. I also made my usual raspberry mocha smoothie because I had coffee in the fridge that I didn't drink yesterday, and because there wasn't actually as many scary ingredients in my protein powder as I thought there might be.
And then I did something really weird. I usually hate eating alone, probably because we are from childhood eating most of our meals either with family or in a group at school (at least I was; we were a sit at the table family; food was never eaten in front of the tv). As I live alone (and even when I had a roommate, we never at the same thing or at the same time), I usually compensate for my alone-ness by doing something on the computer or watching TV while eating. At the library, I also got out Naturally Thin (had some useful insights so it's vaguely worth reading but definitely don't spend money on it), and there's a lot in there about mindful eating and really enjoying your food. So today, I sat down at my recently decluttered kitchen table, and for ten minutes, I just sat and ate and focused on my food. And it was delicious. In general, I'm not much of a cook, so this was surprising. Maybe it's just that I haven't had one in awhile, but the omelet was perfect and light and fluffy and the combination of the eggs with herbs and the melted cheese was just, wow, for something that took me all of five minutes to make. And thus, I realized that there really is no excuse for Lean Cuisine to be a part of my life anymore.
Totally perfect breakfast. 450 calories (550 if you count the banana I had before spin). I realize the one part of my whole food thing I need to get over next is the calorie counting compulsion, but as a former Weight Watcher, I feel like I need to have numbers somewhere in my life to keep things under control. But it's something I think I'm going to try and work on.
Wow this was long. Moral of the story: Eggs good, convenience food bad! And now, to Bar Method.
And then on a whim I got Real Food out of the library. I am only like two chapters in so I should probably finish it before coming to definitive conclusions, but even in the first few chapters, the author makes a pretty good argument that meat and dairy are not the enemy, processed food is. And I will be the first to admit that while vegan, I'm thrilled when there's something gross and processed (hello, Oreos!) that I can eat, and I will. I started reading the ingredient list on my almond milk this morning and I was like, hm, that's all a bit scary. I put it in my smoothie anyway because I'm a big believer in not wasting food, but it's doubtful I'll be buying more.
Ultimately, I'm a believer in the fact that no book can tell you want to do and that you should figure out what works for you and your body. I know I've generally felt better while vegan, but that may have a lot to do with the fact that I'm eating more fruits and vegetables, not necessarily that I'm not eating meat. Veganism also works for me because dairy tends to be one of those foods I wildly overindulge in (hello, my friend cheese), and there are certain things, like coconut milk ice cream, that I prefer to the dairy version as they seem to have some redeeming nutritional qualities. Also, I am terrible at cooking most meat, and I really don't much care for chicken in any recipe where it's not slathered with cheese and/or cream sauce. Also, I have not looked recently, but I'm pretty sure all this organic grass fed business is going to be expensive. So where does that leave me? I think I'm going to stick to cooking mostly vegan protein for myself, but when I really want it, I'll be adding back in organic/free range/hand massaged/whatever meats, and eggs and butter (organic, I suppose) are going to start finding themselves being regulars in my fridge again. I'm also going to try and cut out pretty much anything that comes in a box; if the ingredient list has more than five things on it or I can't pronounce any of them, it's not going in my shopping cart.
So, back to breakfast. Inspired by the book and the fact that I actually have eggs and cheese in my fridge, I decided to make eggs. They were originally going to be scrambled, but they poured so nicely into the pan that I thought I'd try for omelet territory. It went...better than usual for me. I also made my usual raspberry mocha smoothie because I had coffee in the fridge that I didn't drink yesterday, and because there wasn't actually as many scary ingredients in my protein powder as I thought there might be.
And then I did something really weird. I usually hate eating alone, probably because we are from childhood eating most of our meals either with family or in a group at school (at least I was; we were a sit at the table family; food was never eaten in front of the tv). As I live alone (and even when I had a roommate, we never at the same thing or at the same time), I usually compensate for my alone-ness by doing something on the computer or watching TV while eating. At the library, I also got out Naturally Thin (had some useful insights so it's vaguely worth reading but definitely don't spend money on it), and there's a lot in there about mindful eating and really enjoying your food. So today, I sat down at my recently decluttered kitchen table, and for ten minutes, I just sat and ate and focused on my food. And it was delicious. In general, I'm not much of a cook, so this was surprising. Maybe it's just that I haven't had one in awhile, but the omelet was perfect and light and fluffy and the combination of the eggs with herbs and the melted cheese was just, wow, for something that took me all of five minutes to make. And thus, I realized that there really is no excuse for Lean Cuisine to be a part of my life anymore.
Totally perfect breakfast. 450 calories (550 if you count the banana I had before spin). I realize the one part of my whole food thing I need to get over next is the calorie counting compulsion, but as a former Weight Watcher, I feel like I need to have numbers somewhere in my life to keep things under control. But it's something I think I'm going to try and work on.
Wow this was long. Moral of the story: Eggs good, convenience food bad! And now, to Bar Method.
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Long run fail
So I slept terribly last night. Maybe it was the wine. Maybe it was the cat meowing and coughing up hairballs all night. Maybe it was nerves for the run.
I managed to get up on time and made it to meet J...and we only ended up running about two miles. We did the whole 3.1 mile loop twice; we just walked the vast majority of it. This (I am telling myself) was as a concession to J, who isn't in as good of shape as I am, and who doesn't mind walking part of the half marathon. My goal is to run it all, which means I need to run with her for fewer of my runs, or add an extra run to my schedule. Obviously I'm going to have to start doing my long run on my own if I ever want to build up any endurance, and I'm playing with the idea of adding something short but fast one day a week on my own. Le sigh.
I managed to get up on time and made it to meet J...and we only ended up running about two miles. We did the whole 3.1 mile loop twice; we just walked the vast majority of it. This (I am telling myself) was as a concession to J, who isn't in as good of shape as I am, and who doesn't mind walking part of the half marathon. My goal is to run it all, which means I need to run with her for fewer of my runs, or add an extra run to my schedule. Obviously I'm going to have to start doing my long run on my own if I ever want to build up any endurance, and I'm playing with the idea of adding something short but fast one day a week on my own. Le sigh.
Friday, August 19, 2011
Things are looking up for ol' Liz Lemon
Today was I think what they call a game changer. Two days ago, I was complaining of epic boredom in my life. So of course, yesterday, as I was bailing on work in favor of Bar Method after a terrible afternoon, I ran into a coworker who pulled me into his office to tell me he'd found me a new work assignment. I thought it wasn't a big deal.
Turns out, it is, I'm switching projects and bosses and buildings and it's all happening really fast and I'm incredibly excited but really nervous about having actual responsibility at work for the first time in awhile. I'm also going on my first "long" (five miles, whatever, I'm a beginner) tomorrow morning, so I guess suddenly "it's all happening!" (Goal: Work as many 30 Rock quotes into this post as possible.)
So in celebration of work and to carb load for my long run (yes, I know you don't have to carb load for five miles, but it's the first time I've done it and I felt it warranted something), I made pasta carbonara (yes, I know this isn't vegan) and I may have had a smidge more red wine than is strictly necessary. We shall reassess how this feels in the morning.
So, things are going well. And, based on the fact that in my experience, realizing your problems on the Internet helps them resolve themselves, I will point out to the magic Internet Fairies that work and workout life are on the up and up for me, so if they could maybe just also make my ex realize that I am fantastic, or send a better new boy my way ( please not the one that hit on me at work today, please, please no), that would be much appreciated.
Turns out, it is, I'm switching projects and bosses and buildings and it's all happening really fast and I'm incredibly excited but really nervous about having actual responsibility at work for the first time in awhile. I'm also going on my first "long" (five miles, whatever, I'm a beginner) tomorrow morning, so I guess suddenly "it's all happening!" (Goal: Work as many 30 Rock quotes into this post as possible.)
So in celebration of work and to carb load for my long run (yes, I know you don't have to carb load for five miles, but it's the first time I've done it and I felt it warranted something), I made pasta carbonara (yes, I know this isn't vegan) and I may have had a smidge more red wine than is strictly necessary. We shall reassess how this feels in the morning.
So, things are going well. And, based on the fact that in my experience, realizing your problems on the Internet helps them resolve themselves, I will point out to the magic Internet Fairies that work and workout life are on the up and up for me, so if they could maybe just also make my ex realize that I am fantastic, or send a better new boy my way ( please not the one that hit on me at work today, please, please no), that would be much appreciated.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
In a rut
So before this evening's yoga class, my friend C and I were trying to figure out why this month has been so miserable at work, and we realized it's because we're wildly bored. Nothing new or exciting is happening, so everything feels like a slog. And I realized that's true of my life, as well. There's no drama with any of my friends, my love life is a dud, and even my workout routine is getting repetitive. I realized that this is why I'm so excited about running. Finally, something new and exciting that I've never really done before.
So for now, running's my thing for attempting to create at least some drama in my life. It's either that or make out with somebody's boyfriend, which historically, has never worked out well for me.
So for now, running's my thing for attempting to create at least some drama in my life. It's either that or make out with somebody's boyfriend, which historically, has never worked out well for me.
Monday, August 15, 2011
Schedule for the week
(mostly for my own benefit)
Monday: Run with J, yoga
Tuesday: Bar Method, low key cardio, yoga
Wednesday: Bar Method, yoga
Thursday: Treadmill run, yoga
Friday: Bar method, yoga
Saturday: Yoga in the park? Bar method? Run?
Sunday: Run (if not on Saturday), pilates? Yoga? Spinning if not running?
Hmmmmmmmm.
Monday: Run with J, yoga
Tuesday: Bar Method, low key cardio, yoga
Wednesday: Bar Method, yoga
Thursday: Treadmill run, yoga
Friday: Bar method, yoga
Saturday: Yoga in the park? Bar method? Run?
Sunday: Run (if not on Saturday), pilates? Yoga? Spinning if not running?
Hmmmmmmmm.
Running, day 3
Went on my third official run of half marathon preparation today. It was more of a walk/jog as I went with my training buddy J, and she's still working on getting into shape. Also, I insisted on going at 5 so as to make it to yoga at 6:30, so it was still stupidly hot out. While today wasn't super helpful for endurance, it did feel good to get out and the three miles went by really quickly. Going to try Thursday's run on a treadmill so I can set a faster pace.
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