Islands in the Stream, That is Where I Am

Let's face it: it's winter. Even here on the Oregon Coast where our weather is relatively mundane (although, any local will tell you, don't like the weather, give it fifteen minutes), we are still experiencing winter-like conditions. On New Year's Day, I welcomed in the new year with a run. Even with what felt like enough layers to keep a polar bear warm, I almost froze my Puerto Rican coconuts off. When I came back inside, my cheeks and lips were so cold, that as they thawed, I could not talk. I could not talk because I could not move any muscles on my face.

The only thing that kept me going through that very cold run was the image I had of warm Mediterranean beaches. Crystal blue water, white stone buildings, big bright sun. Lately I've been obsessed with the thought of vacationing in Greece or some other warm beachy place in that region. Someplace that I can stuff my face with amazing local cuisine and then lay like a bloated beached whale, sizzling in the sun while my son covers me in sand and my husband pokes me in the bum because he likes to see it jiggle. In my dreams, though, the sand never sticks to your feet and the second you step off the beach, it magically disappears never to be tracked into your car, house, or butt crack.

I plan another trip to those near perfection beaches very soon because the girls need walked and Husband is thoroughly ensconced in NCIS:New Orleans. He will soon be replaced with a tanned golden cabana boy holding a fruity drink with a cute little umbrella.

Dream...(Source)

Reality. I'm pretty sure this accurately sums it up. Source

I would love to hear where your dream vacation destination is. Extra points if includes cabana boys.

Goooooooooooaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaallllllllllllllllllllll.

I think it's inevitable to start off a new year with some sort of goal setting. Whether they're actually resolutions or flights of fancy, we all would like to think that the first day of the first month of the new year offers a clean slate.

I myself am not immune to this and in fact am a part of a goal setting group. When I found out I was pregnant with Monkey, I joined an amazing Facebook group filled with amazing women who were due around the same time. One of its off shoots was a group devoted strictly to motivating whomever joined to do their best, set goals in place and encourage each other when there were highs and lows. Recently, we've been talking about what we want to accomplish in this next year and admittedly, at first, I struggled.

Since having Monkey, I feel like a complete idiot most of the time. Mommy brain is, for lack of a better term, a bitch. I forget things, repeat myself, get sidetracked easily, all things that would've drive my pre-pregnancy self crazy. I suppose this is one of God's ways of pointing and laughing and still teaching me a lesson. Thanks for that.

I was able to finally put down some ideas and I thought I'd share them here. Putting your goals in writing is half the battle. It doesn't mean you'll actually achieve them, but you do have a higher chance.

1) Run away. Run every chance I get. Run here. Run there. Just run. I'm never so truly centered as when I am running. I even found some mommy friends to do virtual runs with me since I work weekends and will most likely be out this racing season.

2) Cook. I did not realize how cathartic cooking is for me until a few weeks ago when I was able to cook every day of the week. It was almost zen like. My soul feels better when I get to feed my family. Watching Monkey wolf down home cooking was extremely rewarding. Plus I need fodder for my Friday food posts.

3) It's all about me...when it comes to my blog. For so long I tried to figure out how to make my blog become this mega hit, with guest posts from the likes of Gwyneth and any Food Network star. And it felt as fake as it was. So now I blog with my original intent: just to write. I've loved writing since I was a little girl. One of the first jobs I ever said I wanted was a journalist. Sadly, you have to do a lot of writing in college to become a journalist and ironically, I hate formal writing. I can do it and do it well, I just don't want to. So wah.

There are probably other goals that I'm forgetting like saving more and spending less. Those have more do with my family and feel a little too personal to put out there. But these three are just about me and what I need for myself, which I'm learning is just as valuable as the wife-me or the mom-me. The me-me is the one that makes sure all the other me's are functioning on a somewhat human level. The me-me thinks I need more coffee.

How about you? What are your goals for you-you? Who's climbing Mt Everest this year or painting the next Sistine Chapel?

My First Virtual 5k and the Very Real Pain It Caused

Since I ran my first 5k, I've been in full on obsession mode with running. I already have it planned to run a turkey trot in November and my first 10k in March. However, when Heather at Running With Sass mentioned she was hosting a virtual run as race ambassador for the Zooma Florida Kickoff Run, I was happy to commit. Even though it wasn't a regulated organized race, I still felt obligated to participate because I said I would (and because Heather is awesome. Her blog definitely gives me the motivation I need to keep running some days).

 

And that obligation (and motivation) is what had me out in the pouring rain, with wind gusts up to 15 mph, questioning my ethics. I made it half way, running into the wind and the sideways rain, when my legs just stopped. It's been since the beginning stages of the Couch to 5k program that I've walked during my run. I wasn't even sure I was putting one foot in front of the other, as I couldn't feel anything from the knees down. Even my bad leg, which normally doesn't bother me, started protesting. (Didn't know I had a bad leg, did ya? The result of a rather unfortunate honeymoon accident and my get out of jail free card for anything I don't want to do). No pictures during the run because, well imagine taking a shower outside while running. My Otterbox offers protection, but not that enough to keep my phone from drowning.

 

 

These are my newest acquisition. Am I the only one who immediately gets warm the second the compression pants go? I'm sweating before I get out the door.

 

 

Post run. What you can't see is the water dripping on the floor from everything I'm wearing. I kept having to wring out my sleeves as I ran.

 

 

As far as I'm concerned, after shoes, a washing machine is a must for every runner. Although, who knew getting wet compression pants to come off would be like trying to remove a layer of skin? I had to get Melodie in on the act, which then resulted in me kicking myself for not working on the "drop it" command. They did, however, finally make it into the washer.

 

For recovery, Husband and I headed to the aquarium in Newport for Creatures of the Night, their version of a haunted house, and then to Rogue Brewery for dinner and beer. By the time, we got home, I was so tired I could barely see straight. It was a good tired, though, because although I wanted to give up more than anything, I knew I'd be so disappointed in myself if I gave up. However, next virtual run, I find a treadmill.

Shocking!

There are no words for my lack of writing except Wednesday was the first night in a month and a half that I slept thru the night and Tuesday was the first morning that I went for a run in a month and a half. One was cause for celebration, the other, for taking half a bottle of Aleve. More celebration on Thursday when I did my first 5k run...in 31:38! Believe me, I'm just as shocked as you are. Especially when reviewing the run (I use the Nike+ app and highly recommend it...so far) and discovering that I did one of my miles in 9:25. *insert jaw drop here*

Now let's review. I started out in February with the Couch to 5k program and actually managed to finish it the same week that I delved into the craziness that is my new position. Between hirings and trainings and meetings and more hirings, the only exercise I've gotten regularly is taking the stairs daily because I've forgotten, for the umpteenth time, to give something to my boss. That's right, my ineptitude has helped my fitness.

Also take into consideration that I've added pizza back into my diet (so much so that the pizza place knows who I am just by our order) and the only lettuce I've been buying is for Bubbles the guinea pig, you would think my running ability would be significantly impaired; and for my first run, you'd be absolutely right. Not only did that Tuesday run leave me practically crippled, oxygen deprived and just generally sore, I was also very very slow. I think I was lapped by a grandma in a rocking chair.

So to go from that to two days later busting out a personal best was a shock. I may or may not have done a double take. Let's face it-this

is not exactly synonymous with speed. Or fashionista. Or anything that requires color coordination.

On the other hand, if purple leopard print leggings don't say "dedicated runner," then I don't know what would. (I double dog dare someone to find an article of clothing with the words "dedicated" and "runner" printed on them. There will be a reward).

Oh and I'm down three pounds from my last Biggest Loser Challenge weigh in. 130s here I come!

Happy Day of My Birth!

It is my birthday. Twenty-seven years ago, Maternal and Paternal Unit welcomed their third and final child into this world. I can proudly say they've never regretted a second of it (perhaps, minutes or hours, but never just a single second).

So when Husband asked what I would like for my birthday, and I recovered from the shock of him asking me let alone remembering, I compiled this list:

Source: Uploaded by user via The Undomestic Goddess on Pinterest

Ever since I saw my first Lamborghini calendar at the age of ten, it's been my absolute dream to own one. While I always pictured a canary yellow car, I have to say that when I saw this one, with UDG perfect interior, I was in love.

Source: acciohealthylifestyle.tumblr.com via The Undomestic Goddess on Pinterest

This water bottle pretty much sums up the reason I work out. Yes, I really am that shallow.

Source: designboom.com via The Undomestic Goddess on Pinterest

This little guy reminds me of the scene in the cartoon version of Alice and Wonderland where Alice and the Queen are playing croquet with hedgehogs. Plus, I already have another animal shaped cheese grater (oh yes I do), so this would add to my collection nicely.

Source: google.com via Christine on Pinterest

I figure this is more usable than the personal submersible from this post. But if the million dollar price tag is too much...

Source: mocoloco.com via Dana on Pinterest

...a stealth fighter shaped purse is an adequate substitute. I'm sure the above paint scheme can be applied to one of them.

Melodie has promised a day free of whining, Mandie offered to lay around in the recliner and Bubbles is going to only wheek when he's hungry. Or someone walks past his cage. Or when he wants to be held. They're so thoughtful.

Oh and just throwing this out there, but Likes on our Facebook page are always rejoiced over accepted.

So what have you thought about asking for for your birthday??

Perspective

RunnersWorld.com recently ran an article called "Running on Empty". As a female, I've been preached to on the hazards of eating disorders since I started wearing big girl underwear (which, in my opinion may be part of the issue. We focus so much on the problem and how to identify it than trying to prevent it in the first place). Paternal Unit is a therapist and I can't tell you how many times I caught him hovering, seeing how much food was on my plate. He needn't be worried as I have a love of all things alfredo and chocolate.

"Running on Empty" states that disordered eating doesn't always end up in a full blown eating disorder but eating disorders begin with disordered eating. To quote the article, "Manipulating one's food and body offers a sense of control and perfection, a substitute for happiness that may be absent when they're not laced in running shoes." I think that anyone even vaguely familiar with eating disorders is well aware of this. The article also states that disordered eating "refers to less-severe abnormal behaviors: eliminating food groups from your diet; regularly replacing meals with energy bars or coffee drinks; excessive weighing and calorie-counting; and tacking on extra miles as punishment for, say a cheeseburger the night before." It's more physical than mental or emotional.

While I don't feel that I am participating in any of these behaviors, I can see how easy it would be to slip into the mentality that the article is about. At one point it mentions how someone might begin to think "if a 1200 calorie diet get's me these results [less body fat, faster times], than a 500 calorie diet would be better." Running itself can feel almost like an addiction (and believe me I'm hooked), so to do anything to become a better runner makes sense. If you ask me, I will freely tell you that I have addictive tendencies. I probably wouldn't be as aware of that if Paternal Unit hasn't used psycho-babble on me and if there weren't a long line of addicts in my family, but I am and I live every day making careful choices.

Even those careful choices, though, can turn into their own form of addiction, so I can definitely say there are no easy answers. Information, though, is key and education is a powerful tool, at least it is to me, as I'm not the type of person to ignore either. This article made me look at my choice to be a part of the Biggest Loser Challenge and make sure it was in line with the other choices I'd made since then to lose weight. Because of that I've started to make food choices that are healthier and filling instead of what falls exactly into my little 1200 calorie bubble and I'm okay with having a rest day (or two). My mood has definitely improved and my tummy is way happier too. I'm more interested in a healthier me, rather than a skinnier me. Although, I'm hoping the healthier me can rock a bikini.


What kind of choices to you make to be a healthier you?

Can't. Look. Away.

Running won't ruin your knees but it will totally mess up your sense of fashion.



Take it all in. From the fleece pom pom on the hat to the layers of reflectivity, that's 5'3" of pure sexy right there. (Thanks to Husband for making my visibility possible in the foggy rain)

I thought running in the rain would make me feel hardcore. Instead, I felt like a cold soggy shrimp (and kind of looked like one by the time my feet hit my doorstep). On the plus side, I ran with the knowledge that there was no way attentive drivers would hit me, so if I was to be run over, I had a chance at some serious moolah.

However, I did feel that if I can venture out in cold rainy Oregon Coast winters, I might just have a shot of becoming a real runner. As long as I can follow it up with a shot of Patron.