Back to My Daily Grind...

... uh, I mean routine. ;)

My Weekly Schedule and Goals

I arrived back home yesterday from the cabin and had full intentions of doing something physical last night, but I just had no energy.   Today though, I am ready to go and excited to getting back to my daily grind.  Since I have had this week pretty much of of any running, today will be around 3ish miles (5k) to get my legs back, and then I will head off to hot yoga later.  If it doesn't look like I will reach my daily step goal with my Fitbit by supper, I will be heading for a walk either outside or on the treadmill.

Speaking of routines, here is what my routine is right now which includes the 30 day yoga challenge.

Monday:     Yoga
Tuesday:     Yoga, weights at gym (full body workout)
Wednesday:     Yoga, run (speed work/acceleration gliders)
Thursday:     Yoga, weights at gym (full body workout)
Friday:     Yoga, run (speed work/cadence drills)
Saturday:     Yoga, walk (1 hr)
Sunday:     Run (LSD), yoga

My daily Fitbit step goal is set to 12000 steps/day.

Current weight is: 155.3 lbs (down 8.7lbs from original start weight, but up 2.3 lbs from last week)
Bodyfat is: 38.3% (down 0.1% from last week, down 0.5% in last couple weeks since getting our Aria scale)

My Galloway 1/2 training plan using the Lolo app is set for 12 min/mi @ 2min run/1 min walk, pace goes between 5.6 mph and 6.2 during the various workouts. Overall goal is to improve my half marathon time.  I will be playing around with the run/walk ratio as my fitness improves.

Oh how I missed thee...

For eating I follow my Fitbit's recommendation of calories (except this last week at lake) with Weight Watchers as my guideline still.  I don't eat much meat at all right now and will only have the odd chicken or turkey if I have no choice, but I will have the odd eggs and eat when I can fish and seafood.  I am not trying to be a vegetarian or vegan, but I am adopting part of the eating habits with some of my food like cheese (I use soy cheese) and I use almond, soy, hemp, or coconut milk instead of regular milk.  I have found that as I am getting older I am having more stomach aches and started to take food out of my diet.  I did the whole take away all bread stuff at one point but found I could not last too long so I have it in moderation.  Beef and pork though I found I was having just too hard of a time digesting them so I stopped eating them.  The cheese part, well, I went vegan for a while and found I like the cheese so sticking with it.  There are a couple of things that I have stayed with.  If you have read my post in the last week here about coconut oil, I don't think I need to explain that one anymore beside I use it and it is my main oil source.

I also try to limit the processed foods I eat and eat as clean and raw as possible.

For water, I try to get in over 64 oz/day of water in (this does not include any other sources of liquids)

So there you go, my weekly routine schedule posted now for the world to see, or at least the few that may stumble across my blog.  :)

Now off I go for a longly anticipated run...

What are some of your routines?

Running Withdrawals

My Hubby made a comment on Facebook this last week about knowing when your wife is a dedicated runner: when she apologizes to her shoes because she won't be able to take them with her and use them.

I have been doing so well keeping up with my training lately right down to monitoring my resting pulse to make sure I am not overtraining because I would usually get sick or injure something along the way.  Well, coming to the cabin this week has put a little damper on my training. I know every once and a while a kick back week is in order, and I did just run another half marathon distance 2 weekends ago, but I now have the itch and need a run... well, now.

The 30 day yoga challenge that I am participating in has kept me going in some ways because I can practice all I want at the cabin here, but it is not enough now.  I have gone for a walk out on to the frozen lake in the thigh deep snow, done loads of shovelling clearing walkways and areas for vehicles to park, gone up and down the stairs at the cabin here, just basically trying to keep moving which I am finding pretty hard.  I have been watching my Fitbit stats and I am not making my min steps per day. These min steps should be my basic goal and was usually easily obtained because of running which I can't easily do here.  Today though, I am going to really focus on achieving my steps today with my Fitbit.  That is one huge thing I like about my Fitbit One, is the motivation it can give me to reach the goals I have set for myself and love watching the steps add up when I go for a run. ;)

The Fitbit One

Now I know there are some die hard runners out there that can run through anything, but at the cabin in the winter? There are no trails even in the summer.  Just a gravel road with people driving silly on it which right now, this road only has one set of tracks for vehicles.  I am not going to take the risk.

Even though I have other activities that can keep me active, it is still not running.  Nothing feels like a good run does.  The satisfaction of a good sweat, the feeling of achievement, the small victories of a new PB/PR, a new training speed, or even just something simple as when the first time you have ever ran a steady 30 mins, 60 mins, or even a longer distance/time that gave you such a proud feeling of accomplishment that only your other running friends would understand.

Simply put; I am going nuts not being able to run right now. I could handle the first few days, but now it is time.  I know I should be thankful that I can run at all and this too shall pass.  I just have to think about the times when I have been injured and not able to run in the slightest, or any weight bearing activity.  Call it runner's block, a runner's mentality, or whatever you want, but it is a funny thing about us runners, we are a funny breed.  Take our running away from us and we go insane.


Now for something non-running related:  I just would like to give a huge shout out to my sister +Sasha Leigh, who came out to the cabin and visit for a couple of days, and say Happy Birthday!! :) 

How long does it take you to go without running before you start to go nuts?

Pampering Sunday and My Love of Coconut Oil

Ah, Sunday... I love my Sundays and especially this week because I am now on my Reading Week Break from work and university.  My plans today are to go to head out for a run here for about 5 mi.  I just ran just over 13 mi last weekend because I was supposed to run another half marathon but it was around -34C/-29F and I just could not get myself to go and run on ice for that temperature last weekend.  After my run today, I will head out to some hot yoga, come home and give myself a mini spa (hair and skin) with my favourite coconut oil, quickly pack for a couple of days, grab my son, one dog, some groceries, and then head out to my aunts cabin for a couple of days. Yay!  My hubby was going to come out but he has to work on Tuesday.  :(  I also just like taking my one dog, Cleo, in the winter when it is just me and with/without my son.  She is a good lake dog, watch dog, well basically a good all purpose dog.  I am really looking forward to heading out to the cabin.  I plan on doing some relaxing, cabin upkeep, watching some movies, blogging, and I should do some homework so I don't get all frantic and stressed out like last week - procrastination is not good.  I have a midterm right after the break so this is a great time to study.  The only thing I am worried about is getting my step goals in with my Fitbit One the next few days.  Last week was really low due to sitting studying and doing assignments.  I can go for some small walks, or maybe I will have to just have a dance party to get some steps in. :)

So, now to to pampering and my love of coconut oil. Attention Guys: this works great for you too. 

(No, I do not have any shares in anything coconut or receive any monetary gain about writing about it)

Coconut Oil - I really love this stuff!  There is still so much controversy around it but I know how it makes me feel and that is what is important to me.  I followed all those Pinterest links and such that said 50 ways or 100 ways to use coconut oil, read loads, and used myself as a guinea pig with it.  I was impressed.  Usually you have things posted that make all these claims about stuff, but for me, it works wonders.  I must note here though that everyone is different and what works for one, may not work for all.  I am not trying to sell anything here, this is just a picture of one of the jars of coconut oil I have at home that I use.

So why am I posting about this stuff?  Basically, if anyone is anything like me they are going to google and google about information on one subject to death, looking for as much information that they can find about it.  I might say something that may encourage or deter... also, using this stuff is how I pamper myself daily, and extra on Sundays. :)

I use coconut oil for many things.  I was a bit leery about this one at first but it is now one of my favourites - my face.  Seriously, I put it on to wash my makeup off and rinse with warm water and a cloth. I also put it on my face before jumping in the shower and don't rinse it off until the end of my shower.  I use it like lotion after my shower.  I use it for regular lotion when needed, especially feet.  I have used it for deodorant - yes, this really works as long as you are not super active.  I also use it for shaving cream.  Coconut oil is also great for my hair as I have used a bit of it in my hair when my hair was wet or dry to help the ends of my hair, and I have put a healthy amount on my wet hair and covered with a bag and towel to give my hair a nice hot oil treatment.

I have noticed since I have used coconut oil instead of my old usual lotions for face and body, my skin is now better.  My wrinkles are even diminished a bit.  I wish I would have taken a picture of my face before so I could show the difference, but I did not think of it actually working, or me even blogging about it.  I have heard about other claims like sun screen and such, but I am a bit leery to depend on the coconut oil for it because of the risk of burning and such.  We'll see....  I should add here that whipping about one cup of the coconut oil in a mixer for about 6-7 mins makes it fluffy so it is easier to use in the bathroom for whatever.  Just keep in a sealed container and in not too warm of a place since coconut oil can liquify if too warm.

Now the obvious: I use coconut oil for everything when it comes to food.  Cooking, smoothies, adding to my coffee or tea, you name it.  I used to use Olive Oil for most of my stuff and now it is coconut oil.  My favourite is popcorn cooked in coconut oil... mmm... I may just have to pamper myself today with some of that. ;)

So do any of you use coconut oil for anything? 

A Double day of Yoga....

Call me crazy or what but today I am doing a double header of yoga.  You see it is all part of this 30 yoga classes in 30 days challenge that I have gotten my self into. It has been interesting so far, but I am really noticing a difference in some things with me personally.

During the week I have been going at 6:30 am which has been a bit hard, but on the weekend, I go later on.  Today, I was trying for 3 sessions, but I spent most of my morning here trying to sort something out with my blog that isn't going very well.  I need to just breathe.... lol All will work out right? :)

This weekend marks the end of my second week so far practicing yoga everyday.  The scale doesn't show it as much but the inches sure do!

Which reminds me... A bit of an update on my weight.  Well, I managed to let myself slip back up to 170 lbs at one point but hovered around 165/164 for the longest time.  I tried weightwatchers again, and again.... in fact right now I am signed up yet again here.  My hubby and I though bought Fitbits around New Years this year and have been finding out that they are helping quite a bit.  We have a bit of a challenge going on between the two of us and surprisingly I am winning! ;)  I have lost 11 lbs so far which has put me at 153 with the official starting weight of 164 lbs.

Here's a pic of me during our Christmas holiday this year where the three of us went on a cruise. I will write more about that one later.

Busy As A Bee

That is what I have been. No wasted time around here Tuesday/Wednesday and I am so done in at this point. I had plans to go to yoga practice on Tuesday evening, my daily walks, the pool, and the only thing I have been able to do is some slight stretching. This prepping to get everything done for the new house is exhausting me. lol As of yesterday though, the only thing I have left to get is the flooring which is this morning. We have gone from wanting hardwood, then a laminate, and finally we made the final decision last night and Bamboo it is.

I went to chiro yesterday and one bit of good news is that chiro is a bit fed up about all this unknown cause of pain and is going to look deeper in to possible causes like the car accident, injury at work, injury while running, and my job as a possible cause. She kind of figures that someone needs to get on this and if no one else is solving anything, she will. Like the attitude. :0) I head to my family doctor this afternoon to get yet another note to give to work and to see about the referral to the next specialist. :0(

So enough about that. Have to focus on the good stuff around here like the house, number of bedrooms it has (6), bathrooms (3), am I ex-tactic... you bet I am! lol Family and friends are like 'why do you need so many rooms in your house?' I am like 'our bedroom, son's room, animal room, spare bedroom, office, and workout room.' :0) I think it is just the right amount, would like to get spoiled for once, and not to mention it should be way easier to keep things organized.

Today's plans are to grab some help, buy the flooring, and take it to the new house to climatize then it is me time. A walk, stretch, maybe the pool, and then the docs. Depending on the pain level, tonight may be either dance (just minimal arm work or zills), yoga practise (lightly), or just relax and enjoy one of my last fires in my fireplace at my soon to be old house.

Here's to a great day everyone and I will try to catch up the last couple days in reading here.

Cheers! :0)

Lesson Learned

Today I have learned a valuable lesson.

DO NOT put on Lakota ointment on your skin anytime prior to going to a hot yoga class. WOW! I thought my skin was going to burn off because it sure felt like it was on fire. I had put some on this morning and once I started to warm up in yoga this afternoon, well that was it. I was wiggling around trying to get comfortable and even poured water on to my towel so I could try and wipe some of it off a good number of times - didn't work too well and only spread it. When I came home and checked out my skin, it was all really red and warm to the touch. Won't be repeating that mistake again.

So that was the biggest highlight of my day. :0)

(you can all laugh now)

Needless to say, I am done for workouts for the day.

Hot Yoga

Total Relaxation

Yep. That is what I feel right now. Very mellow. :0)

I just came from an amazing yoga class at a new place for me and I think I just dropped about 10 lbs in water! lol We sqeezed 50 people in to a small studio, like I am talking mats are touching each other all the way around. You could not step on the floor because it was just not there, only a sea of mats. I got clocked in the head once which considering the set up I am surprised I did not get hit more. I did not know this but I guess tonight was raising money for Haiti. Glad I went. After wards they served this amazing chai tea that I sipped all the way home while my hubby drove (he was my taxi for the night).

Today was not too bad as I did my walk this morning and then I ended up getting a massive headache. So I ended up going for a nap for a couple of hours to get rid of it. It worked thankfully.

I must have been in the creative mood to try new things again because for supper I made a healthy version of fried chicken, curry cauliflower, and corn bread. Sorry no pics but it was super tasty and I WILL be making that again.

My back and leg only bugged me a bit today and was more on the achy side than anything else. I stretched pretty good at home but wanted another really good dig in so I headed to yoga, and very glad I did.

So that is my day pretty much in a nut shell. Tomorrow I am contemplating heading to the pool but we will see... not too sure If I should push it anymore.

Have a good evening all!

Walking: 30 mins
Stretching
Core work
Yoga