The Ups & Downs

That time again... Ups & Downs for the weekend

Down - I didn't get an Ups & Downs button made

Up - Half Price Frappuccino

Down - Cool Whip. I forgot to tell them to hold it.  Extra calories. I really did forget too. I'm not being slick here.

Up - made up for the extra calories by making sure my grocery basket was full of good stuff.

Up - My back was feeling a little better by the end of the night.  All that ice & Alleve was finally kicking in.

Down - cleaning the house & doing a lot of bending aggravated my back just in time to try & sleep.

Up - even with my back aching - I still got in my Day 17 of T25

Down - my husband was yelling at me the whole time saying "You're never going to learn"

Me continuing to work out with the disapproval of the Hubs

Up -I know my husband loves me.

Down - I've just discovered I've messed up on counting my days of T25. I missed the first day of Stretch. So actually, that was day 18.

Double Down - I do accounting & I messed up on numbers.  #Irony

Up - Baby love ... my 3 grandsons were up from Nashville with their mommy & daddy to visit.  It's always a good day when you get hugs from precious little ones.

Up - my doggies even remembered me on Mother's Day

Up - Got a regular size lemonade this time at Penn Station - not the guzzle size.  Progress.

Up - I forgot how much I loved artichoke on a veggie sandwich

Up - found a cute maxi skirt at Target.  I now want to go online & buy every color they have.

Down - my bank account will not like all the Target skirt shopping that is about to happen

Up - hitting 10,000 steps in my day & didn't even know I was close to it!

Down -  Scary storms with hail.  I was doing a baby photo session & everyone's phones was going off with warnings all around us.  I just kept clicking away.

Up - holding hands with your grandsons before you pray for dinner

Down - when your middle grandson does better then you on Bop It Smash

Up - bought donuts for the boys for breakfast... I didn't have one bite of any of them.

Down - Animal crackers are a different story.  I forgot how yummy those little creature are.

Up - Spending time with family on Mother's Day ... lot of places to visit, lots of faces to see, lots of hugs to give.  Good stuff.

How was your Ups & Downs this weekend?

Confession Friday

 

Confession time... time to spill it

* I hurt my back again last night. I can't FREAKING believe it. Not sure what it was from. I did the hops in T25 & that aggravated it, but I iced up & went to bed feeling OK. Woke up in the middle of the night to lift my 'dead-weight' chubby dog & went back to bed only to wake up at 4:15 & not being able to move. My low back is totally locked up, feeling 'twisted'.  I can't believe it.  It hurt so bad I thought I was going to have to go to the ER. I finally was able to ease down to a flat position & laid for an hour. It's eased up, but I'm still in pain. Moving slow.  I am so mad - you have no idea.

* I may never pick my dog up again in the middle of the night.

* I'm having flashes of images of me being 500 lbs because I feel like I'm never going to be able to work out again.... TLC need a new reality show?

* I don't want back surgery... I don't want back surgery... I don't want back surgery...

* The Hubs better practice his kinesiology taping skills quick. He's going to have to put on my Spider Tape tonight.

* I'm thankful for my massage chair at home.. that I'll be sitting my back in for most of the night.

* I have a Baby Photo session tomorrow.  That'll be interesting when I have to lift & move in the most awkward positions for these types of sessions.

* Did I mention I'm FREAKING MAD about my back?!?!?

* Its raining, making my joints ... & back... ache even more then normal.

.... let me get off my back pity party...

* I have no idea what to get my mom for Mother's Day.  Completely clueless.

* Love all the advice & thoughts on juicing on my post yesterday.  Yeah - I probably won't do the full 28 days, but I do want to incorporate at least one juice a day.  That's gotta help something - right?  I love all my opinioned blog buddies.  That's why you're my favorite part of my day.

* A local coffee shop went out of business.  As much as I love my Starbucks, it makes me sad to see a local shop go under.

* Speaking of which, I've gotta hit up Starbucks Happy Hour this afternoon on my Friday drive home

* Maybe if the local coffee shop had Happy Hour?

* Fresh pineapple is simply the best....

Made a pineapple/banana smoothie

* Yellow is one of my favorite colors... along with orange, red, green & blue

* Met with my last Bride & Groom to deliver their wedding album. I always hold my breath when they look at their pictures, but the Bride said, "My mom said she didn't care if we didn't get one good picture. She just loved having you & Chasity (my assistant) there with us during the day" ... ahh... that was so sweet.  But I do pray they find at least one good picture in the 600 edited pictures I gave her :)

* I'm now addicted to the Sriracha Cashews from my Nature Box.  Can I just get 10 bags of that every month?

* Countdown - 2 weeks till I can stare at Hugh Jackman the new X-Men Movie

* I need more cabinet space.  Can you ever have too much in a kitchen?

* I hate when I'm waiting on someone at work to do something that needs to be completed first before I can do my job... & then my boss calls & asks why I don't have it done.  Even worse when HE'S the one I'm waiting on in the first place.

* I had to trim back my plant in my office... I always feel like I can hear a tiny scream when I cut the leaves.

* I'm determined to learn to how to use my sewing machine... that I got for a gift 4 years ago... I even went & bought thread for it for the first time this week! YES!

Anything you need to get off your chest?

Thinking about Juice

I'm feeling off.... you know that feeling?  Just "off"...

I'm so frustrated because I'm on week 3 of my T25 - kicking butt I might add.
& by kicking butt, I mean, sweating like a pig...

That's gotta mean I'm working hard.  Right?

I can feel myself getting better in some areas (burpees, I'm coming to get you!) ... while other things, I just feel like I can't get past (Lower body Focus, you make my legs jello every time)

& the topper of it all, I went to weigh in this week.  Still the exact same FREAKING weight!... & you better believe I just yelled FREAKING! very loudly....

Its like my body refuses - like a 2 yr old kid refusing veggie kinda tantrum refusing - to shed any weight.  & I know people say, its about the measuring tape - not the scale. Well, my pants are still as tight as anything on me... so there's that theory out the window...

So I'm thinking ... I wonder if I need a reboot of some sort. 

I just watched a documentary called "Super Juice Me" & I've seen other documentaries on juicing.  I used to do it - not as a 'meal only' kinda thing, but would make a juice every few days.  I think back at it & I actually felt better then.  Was about 20 lbs. lighter too.... sigh...

So I'm debating doing a juice fast.  I actually bought the 28 day plan they offered from this documentary.  It gives all the recipes for each day, the grocery shopping list (include a grocery shopping list & I'll probably buy it)

The only thing that scares me - besides being STARVED - is what my body will do with the juicing.  I mean, will I have enough energy to make it through the day?  Will I be able to work out like I normally do?  What do I do when everyone goes out to eat?  How will my husband eat?  Can I make him dinner & be happy sitting down with a glass for my scrumptious eating for the night?  & more importantly - am I going to be sitting on a toilet the whole 28 days?

I don't know why it scares me so much...

The other thing I'm thinking about - Juice Plus.  I keep hearing a lot of things from people about how it made them feel better. I know this isn't a weight-loss thing, but I want something to just kick start my body from the inside.  Maybe I need more fruits & veggies.  Good Lord knows I don't get enough no matter how hard I try....

I just hate how expensive it is.  Why are things that are supposed to be good for you so expensive? I don't get it.

hmmm... ok... in my face I guess

Screw the health of our world - let's make money...

anyhoo...

Anyone try either of these things?  Juicing?  Juice Plus?

Pushing...

I was following an awesome blogger's progress a few weeks ago while she was attempting a 100 mile ultra. 

100 miles...

 

This is how my brain tries to take in 100 miles

My whole body aches at the thought of it.

If my feet blistered at 13.1 miles, what would happen at 100 miles?  I'd suspect they just fall off.  No question about it.

But she asked if anyone wanted the link to follow her progress... I DO ... I DO!!!... & she sent it out. I had my phone with me during that Saturday & checking her Facebook page, checking the real time link on her progress.

Isn't technology amazing?  I loved following people when they ran Boston as well.

Sorry - got side tracked.

I saw though she had put on Facebook a comment that this 100 miler may be dropped down to a 50 miler.  She was having issues.  Not just aches & pains - breathing issues.  Stuff you don't mess with.  Stuff you can't mess with.  I mean, you need to be able to breath to get through life... especially when you're running 100 miles.

I read through some of the comment & some of them shocked me.

I get the cheering on, rooting, giving encouragement... but some of the comments were like, "Suck it up"...

well, probably not those words - but that's how it came off to me.

It's funny because I see a lot of people who are suffering injuries & questioning whether they should continue on in training, or do a race & you will always see comments like, "Go for it" - "Do it anyways" - "Push through"

I think it hits me because when I was training one time, I was exhausted... I didn't want to go out for a long run.  I ended up crying the whole way, frustrated because I was just tired & worn out... I got home & my husband said, "Why did you do it?" & I said, "Because when I told you I didn't want to do it, you said, "Oh, stop!  You can do it"
... he obviously was just being encouraging.

But I just wanted him to say, "Its OK if you don't do it today"

Marriage - where you want husband to be able to read your mind

He said, "I know if I told you not to do it, you'd be mad at me for that"... which I probably would be too & say, "I'm not a slacker" & storm out the door.

But its the OPTION of knowing its OK to not do something...
& I know that in my heart... I just like to hear it form someone else.

I don't want to hear it from this guy though

For someone to say, "Even if you don't make it all the way through, you've still come so far. You're still awesome"

Isn't it funny how we feel like we let people down that we don't even really know - or really, who could care less. I mean, the next day, the person who told this lady, "Suck it up" (not really) - did they think of her 100 miles she ran?  Probably not.  But she even put on her blog post that she felt like she would have to hide & change her blog name & disappear if she didn't make it to the end...

You can read her post right HERE ... if you don't read her blog, you're gonna love her!

So what do you think about pushing someone?
Is there a fine line?

Do you feel like sometimes it's just too much & you want someone to say, "It's OK whatever you choose?"

Do you like the "suck it up" attitude?  ... it does push me sometimes too.

Am I just sensitive? ... which is VERY possible... I cry over Hallmark commercials afterall.  & don't get me started on the Sarah McLachlan animal commercials! Oh geez.

The heat already sitting in....

The heat is coming... we're actually 10 degrees over normal today & like 15 degrees over tomorrow.  Hello 90 degree temps.  Didn't expect to see you for awhile.

& yes, I was the first one complaining about winter....

Is this me today?

Well, I'm going to talk about the things I already see coming that I hate about the warm weather... but I'll find a silver lining in these things... so no one better punch me...

& if you try, be warned - I punch back... momma didn't raise no fool.

* I COULD complain about my frizzy hair.  I don't care what I do to my hair. I could literally stand under a faucet of olive oil or grease & let it flow on my head & I'll step outside & I'll still turn into Rosanna Rosanna Danna... every time...

If you don't know who this is... ask your mom

SILVER LINING

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* I COULD complain about BUGS.EVERYWHERE!!!!   Now, everyone that knows me knows I love all animals - even bugs. I'm the one who saves them & takes them outside & puts them in flowers or bushes & says, "Go - be free - enjoy life" (Yes, I really do that) But bugs in mega doses gives me the willies... & especially ticks.  I can't handle ticks.  I pulled one off of Harvey last night & then instantly feel like I have ticks sucking the blood out of me all over my head.  We won't even mention the spider I saw last night the size of the palm of my hand....

SILVER LINING - I have to think of Bugs from Disney & they are all just a misunderstood community... except for Ticks... they are shunned from this community

Bugs need love too ... except ticks..

__________________

* I COULD complain about leather seats.... with wearing shorts or shorter skirts, when I get in my car after work... YAYYZZHHAAA!!!!!!  The back of my legs are scalded.

SILVER LINING - I'll just think of it as a heat therapy for my aching body....

________________

* I COULD complain about the grass growing every time you look at it.    I'll complain about this one for my husband who cuts it... constantly... every day....
Doesn't it seem like you cut it & especially if it rains, you have an instant FIELD right there in your yard again.  If only my hair would grow like that.

SILVER LINING ... it's giving a home to those bug communities I was talking about earlier

______________

* I COULD complain about allergies.  That grass I was talking about... yeah... add that in with tree pollen. I'm a goner. My eyes are running, my throat is closing.  I want to scratch my skin off.  It's such a good look for spring & summer.  Something you don't see often though on runways.

SILVER LINING - I'll suffer through it to see anything but bare trees. That's so depressing to me. 

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I COULD complain about being a beach cabana girl for my dogs.  They have fur on - I get it. I wouldn't want to wear fur on hot days.  So they are panting & constantly drinking up the water.  Having 4 dogs - that's a lot of water bowls... & they are emptying them before I can even sit down.  We have 2 water bowls outside... 2 in the kitchen... 2 in the bedrooms.  I'm constantly filling them up, checking on them.  Even in the middle of the night, Sydney will bark & wake us up to fill the bowl up with FRESH water. Yes, my dogs are spoiled.

This could very well be my dog

SILVER LINING - everything about it - I'd carry water pitchers from my body if it made my dogs happy :)  love my fur babies

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I COULD complain about sweat... Now, I like to sweat at certain points of the day.  Working out, running?  Yes, bring on the sweat.  But I hate doing photo sessions & having the sweat run down my back... eww... or getting out of my car (& those dang leather seats we mentioned earlier) & having my shirt stick to my back & have sweat marks & have to go back into work after lunch.  I need clothing invented that doesn't show sweat.  & please, don't bring back the hyper color clothing of the 80's the enhanced your sweat.

SILVER LINING - its like a sauna treatment for your skin every day

What aggravates you about Spring & Summer coming?

& what's your silver lining?

The Up's & Down's

I think I'm going to start a new thing called "Up's & Down's"... Gotta create some sort of button for it too...

A good way to look back at the weekend & see what went right, what went wrong in all things health, happiness, fitness & nutrition ...

Let's see how his past weekend went...

Down -  Happy Hour Frappuccino - Java Chip.... Chocolate yumminess



Add caption

Up - At least got that Frappuccino with non fat milk.

Up - At least it was half off

Up - Dancing!  I get to be a dancer in our children's ministry event once a month. Its 15 minutes of non stop dancing & jumping! 

Down - The Hubs brought home some pizza for us for dinner... at 11:00pm

Down - heartburn... man, its hit me hard this past year

Up - tried my first smoothie with Spirulina

Down - It tasted like dirt

Looks like dirt too

Up - Double T25 work out!

Down - I can't feel the Ab Interval work out except in my low back... as in pain... not in the abs where I should be feeling it ... making this a DOUBLE DOWN...

Up - McAlisters for Lunch ... yummy healthy options. I had a half of a veggie sandwich & a half of a veggie chili potato.  

Is the Tea an up or down?  A little of both?

Up - Saw Spiderman 2 - That's good for my mental health :)

Up/Down - Movie snack - got chocolate covered almonds.  Better then M&M's - right?

Up - Starbucks trip & got an unsweet tea instead of a frap! 

Up - My first Nature Box came in! Filled with yumminess!

Down - I ate the bag of sriracha flavored cashews in 2 days

Up - lots of walking for a photo session

Down - the bones on my feet are killing me. I've been to a podiatrist about it before & he said my bones have room to slip & when it hurts, they have slipped over a bit. WHAT?  I just know it hurt yesterday.

Up - Veggie sandwich from Penn Station for dinner

Down - HUGE Lemonade from Penn Station while waiting for sandwiches to be made.  I was so hot & dehydrated from the photo session.

Down - sitting in front of the computer for 3 hours editing pictures

How was your weekend?  Full of more ups or down?

Joining in on the Secret Blogger Club
(that's not so secret)

Feel free to click & join in too
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its a secret

Friday Confessions

Time to let it all spill out...

 

 

* So apparently I'm a freak & weirdo who watches way too much Dr. Oz & reads too many weird articles. Not many people even heard of the things in yesterday's post.  I'll let everyone know if I found the secret to youth & energy in my concoctions

 

 

* I tried going the cheap route on buying a generic K-Cup for coffee (hello new Iced Coffee obsession). I'm new to the coffee world & didn't know any better.  The generic was plain GROSS.  I ended up having to throw out the drink I made. It was that bad.  I'll start saving up my coupons for the Starbucks K-Cups I was using before.

 

* I am in love with this creamer.  If you remember my confession last week on the ingredients on flavored coffees, it goes for the ingredients in creamers. YUCK & BLAH!  This one is just plain things you know what they are... nonfat milk, cream & sugar.

 

My new best friend

 

* I ran for the first time since my half marathon the other day getting in my Jost Running 5K .... I could instantly feel that area in my foot where the blister came up during the race. WTHeck?!?!?!  This is so new to me. Why am I getting blisters in weird places on my feet when I never had before.  It's my 2nd pair of shoes - so I don't think that's the issue.

 

* Its Starbucks Frappuccino Happy Hour this weekend.... this can be bad for my waist line.

 

My dance when I get half off of my Starbucks order

 

* My legs are embarrassing white in my running shorts now. I may even have to break out some spray tan until the blinding white calms down.

 

* You can watch a cool documentary for free until Monday called "Super Juice Me" at

   http://www.superjuiceme.com/

 It really is good.  I totally cried by the changes in some of these people's lives... I always cry when people have life changes ... I'm a sap.

 

* I also now am going to dust off my juicer & get back at it.  I used to juice but ended up needing counter space.  Screw the counter space.  I need to get my health back in check.

 

... WIN AT LIFE!!!...

 

* I'm cleaning my closet this weekend.  This could turn out to be the most depressing thing that has happened to me in awhile. I hope I have some sort of summer clothes that still fit.

 

Please Lord, let something fit

 

* Tomorrow, I have a 2nd chance to sleep. Let's see if I can make it past 6:30 this time.

 

* Planning a trip to Sam's Club.  I get so excited about coming out with a butt load of fruit & veggies.... & maybe a super size bucket of cashews.

 

 

Anything you need to get off your chest today?

 

Bought it... now what?

I try to be healthy.

I read up on things, take people's thoughts & opinions into consideration, I try to stay on top of the latest health finds.

& then I go to Amazon & shop away.

Isn't Amazon the best thing ever.  The same place I can buy SD cards for my camera is also the same place I can buy health foods that I want to make me feel like 100 bucks.

So I have recently bought some Organic Matcha

Look at all the awesome things it says it can do...
All day energy?  Increase focus?  Yes... let me just throw all this stuff down my throat...

But I read you are only supposed to use 1/4 tsp to start out... & it apparently tastes like grass.  Which it sorta looks like too.

& now I'm not sure how to use it.  It says for Lattes, but I don't think I want a grass-latte... & smoothies, which I forget to toss in my smoothies because I'm already tossing in so many other things like protein powder, flax seed, chia seeds, a dash of hope for a healthy body... you know, the normal smoothie things.  & then it also says baking.  Baking?  What green thing do I want to bake today...

& then I also bought some Spirulina Manna

I have a friend who is all things healthy & all things beautiful & I want to be her...

she had this on her Instagram & bragging how amazing it is & all the things it does...

But now, I'm like - what do I do with THIS?

its also a powder.  Do I throw this is in my smoothies too? 

& is it OK to throw these things in together?  Grass & Manna...

I sound so biblical in my health...

Not finished yet... I also just bought some Rhodiola Rosea



I can thank Dr. Oz for this one.

They were talking about people who suffer from Chronic Fatigue & how this also gives energy & helps focus...

SOLD - where do I get it?  Amazon of course - duh...

This one is headed to me this week.  This one at least if a capsule so I can give this a try with dinner... not as confusing what to do with it...

So with this AND the Matcha - I should be like Superman & focusing so well, I'll be able to read people's minds.  Can Superman do that?  Well, if he can't - I may be able to.

I'm also hoping it gives me energy to not want to fall asleep driving my car.

Goal in life... I have them

Anyone try any of these things?  Give me some hints on what to do with them...