Doing well:)

I keep recommitting to this health journey and then falling off the wagon.  I decided a few weeks ago that this would be the last time I do this and that it would be for good.  It was a good start and it has only gotten better.  I've been working on my knee issue and have figured out the things I need to do between chiropractor visits to keep things moving in the right direction.  I've been eating well and the more I eat healthy the better I feel.  I know it's not rocket science but sometimes I just need that little reminder.  

Last week I attended a nutrition seminar called "5 Steps to Optimal Health".  It was very informative and really made me think about what I eat.  I have been struggling with stomach issues for a very long time.  The people running the seminar talked a lot about digestion and why people in general have so many digestive issues.  The one thing that really stood out for me was the list of symptoms they showed us for gluten intolerance.  They explained that many people can be sensitive without being intolerant and that many people do not even test positive with the simple blood test that they do.  My doctor has always been difficult and this is an area that he is stubborn in.  I have been to him several times and he has sent me for many tests but never the Celiac test.  So I decided that I would take a leap and go gluten free for 3 weeks.  At the end I will have something with gluten and see what happens.  I started working on this on Friday and already my stomach feels so much better.  I am not as bloated and am not having the incredible pain that I often just accepted as normal.  This could be totally psychological, it could be just that I'm more conscious of what I am eating and therefore eating healthier or it could be that gluten has been the problem all along.  Only time will tell but for now I'll take whatever is happening and be happy.  

I've also been very good about exercising.  I have made it for most of my workouts and tonight's run was fantastic.  I really feel like I'm back on track!!!

Proud Mama Moments

Today Adryanna brought home her first "test" ever.  It was a five word spelling test.  She's in grade one so tests aren't exactly complicated by adult terms but for a five year old it's a big deal.  Of course for my little girl it was no big deal.  She didn't even tell me about it actually.  When I checked her agenda book it was in there with a big star on it.  My little smarty pants got 5/5!!!  I was quite proud and promptly posted a picture of it on Facebook, emailed the picture to Daddy and our best friends, Erin and Stan.  Everyone is so proud of her.  When I said something to her about it she said, in a very matter of fact voice, "I know Mommy".   Perhaps she didn't really realize how awesome it is or maybe she just didn't care.  Either way she didn't seem impressed.  That is until later on.  As the evening went on she told me that only two kids got a star.  She then said she thinks it's because they are the only ones who got them all right.  I still don't know if she gets that it's super awesome to get perfect on a test but I'm sure proud of her.  Some would disagree with me but getting good marks is very important.  I want her to understand that hard work pays off and she will get further in life if she tries hard in school so I will make a big deal when she brings home good marks.

Today's test:)

The flipside of that is that I'm not sure she had to try very hard.  We have been sent home a list of words for her to practice at home.  In class they will be doing five words a week and this list goes until November.  She can read every word on the list with no real effort, she can spell all of this weeks words.  The important thing to note is this kid loves books.  I have pictures of her at a year old sitting in a box of books.  She has easily a hundred books in her room.  We have read to her almost daily since she was an infant.  I'm sure all of these things contribute to her success and I hope she never loses this passion for learning.

Just over a year  old

Two Freaking Years Baby!!!

I guess I realized this a few days ago but tonight was the first time I said it out loud which made it feel real.  I have been a runner for two freaking years:)  It's hard for me to wrap my head around that right now.  I remember my beginner clinic like it was yesterday.  I am a very visual person and have an amazing (annoyingly amazing sometimes) memory.  When I think about those first runs I can picture the routes, smell the smells and hear the sounds.  They are some of my fondest memories.  They are life changing memories really.  When I walked through the door that first night I would never have imagined I would be where I am today.  I couldn't have even began to think that I would have run a half marathon or that I would be considering doing another.  This is the first time in my life that I have stuck with any exercise routine.  I will never be able to say exactly what has happened this time but whatever it is I'm so thankful that it's happened.  I have never felt this good about myself.  I've gained so much confidence over the past two years.  I feel like I have a whole new outlook on life.  I'm just so damned happy that I made that first step through the door.

Retail Therapy

I've never been a big shopper.  I don't know if it's because things like clothes and shoes are hard for me to find in my size (plus size clothes and size 10 shoes) or if it's because things are expensive and I don't like to spend my money on stuff like that.  I just don't like to shop much.  That's what made Saturday such a strange day for me.  Friday was a bad day.  There are a bunch of reasons why but I won't get into those here.  It's a day I hope not to repeat anytime soon.  Saturday morning started off pretty rough too.  Adrian went to go golfing with his brother and about 5 minutes after he left I realized my keys were in his van.  I then missed my run because the kids wanted to snuggle (that part is good), then Meag asked to go computer shopping.  This is actually where my day turned around.  I got ready and off we went.  Part way through the trip we decided to stop in at our cellphone provider and see what the cost of upgrades for our phones would be.  We weren't totally sure what we wanted but knew it would either be android or Iphone.  I figured it would end up being nothing because it would cost too much.  Well two minutes into the store and we were waiting patiently for two new Iphones (4s not 5).  Very exciting indeed.  As much as I hate shopping I love new toys:)  I've been playing with my new toy ever since and am very happy with it!!!

I've kept up my end of the deal very well with the exercise and food this week.  I have exercised 5 times and eaten much better.  Less junk and more good food!!

Broken Records!

I'm beginning to feel like a broken record!!  I keep committing to doing better only to take two steps back and have to start over again.  This post is kind of one of those posts.  I decided last week that September was going to be a new start for me and so far I'm doing well.  This week has been exceptionally good despite the issues I've been having with my knee.  I've worked out three nights in a row and have been eating amazing!!  I've snacked little and kept things nutritious.  I've been careful not to snack in the evenings and have been guzzling water like it's going out of style.  I'm very happy with all of this!!  I just really hope I can keep the momentum going.

About my knee!!  I mentioned a bit ago that I was having trouble and was seeing the Chiropractor about it.  Well last week things seemed to be getting a lot better.  I was almost totally pain free after my workouts and by the next day there was nothing.  I was doing my adductor stretches and icing as instructed.  Then Sunday got here.  We took the girls to the park and I was going to run after the fun.  Well that didn't go as planned!  At the park I stepped down from a curb and felt a sharp pain in my knee.  It felt okay a few minutes later but got tight and uncomfortable after a bit.  Monday it was getting better but was tight after the gym.  When I told the chiropractor about it he referred to what happened as our bodies "oh fuck reflex".  It's when your body thinks it's going to get hurt and something tenses up but then forgets to release.  It's a very technical term I know!!!  So last night I ran and it felt okay but not great.  Today was scary!!!  The whole inside of my thigh and knee were super tight and sore.  I wasn't sure what to do but was instructed to stretch and ice as much as I could.  I did that and found that the more I moved the better it felt.  So off to the gym tonight and 25 minutes on the elliptical followed by some super stretching and it feels 100 times better.  I'll ice like crazy tonight and hope for a good run tomorrow.   It's a staff meeting day so that means a fair amount of sitting.  I'm going to have to get up and stretch a lot during the meeting and keep my ice pack going but I think it should be okay.  

If things don't go well tomorrow I'll just keep icing and stretching.  I won't let this get the better of me.  I'm feeling good and plan to stay that way.

Just Like New!

I think I mentioned a while back that my knee was causing me some problems.  I finally went to see my wonderful chiropractor a couple of weeks ago and he diagnosed a type of Bursitis.  I honestly can't tell you the exact name because he said it so fast.  Whatever it was he said it wasn't terrible and was very treatable.  I've been back a few times and there was significant improvement after just one visit.  The really exciting part though came today when I went to the gym.  I was a bit tight when I arrived so I did the prescribed stretch before my elliptical workout and did it again immediately after.  I finished my workout and went to the grocery store.  As I got out of the car I realized that it didn't hurt at all.  I then tested it out a bit with different things that used to make it really hurt and found barely any pain!!!  I'm so super excited because that means things are getting better.  I'm going to run first thing tomorrow and see how that goes.  I'll be stretching like crazy to make sure it doesn't tighten up again and hopefully this will be the end of the pain:)

Slacker

I realized this morning that I haven't blogged in a bit.  It's been a busy week and a bit in our house with summer wrapping up.  This  past week I chose to do fun stuff with the kids after work instead of exercise.  We had lots of fun and enjoyed the cooler evening temps.  We went to the carousel with friends, played outside and just enjoyed being together.  We finished up back to school shopping and prepared for Anna to return to school.  Grade One's going to be a big change for her but I think it will be great. Then the end of the week arrived and it was time for a special birthday!  Christina turned three on Saturday and we had a great day with a wonderful party.  Her group of friends that we have been playing with since she was 2 months old came and some of our close friends and family.  It was a wonderful day that I think everyone enjoyed.  She got spoiled rotten and crashed hard when it was bedtime.

Today we're heading out to one last pool party of the season then it's home to get ready for school tomorrow.  Not only is Anna starting Grade One but Meag is starting college!!!  I'm so excited for her even though she's not.  I think she's just nervous about the unknown.  I remember college well and she's going to the same school I did.  She's going to have a great time.

I always feel like September is a time for new beginnings and I'm looking forward to being rejuvenated.  I've been working with Geoff to fix my bursitis problem in my right leg and it seems to be helping a lot.  Tomorrow is the start of the new clinics at Runners' Edge and I'm looking at it as a new start to my running.  It's no secret that I majorly slacked off this summer but I really feel like getting back into the school routine and getting back to basics will make a big difference.  The evenings have been cooler and with Fall around the corner I'm looking forward to being out there watching the season change.  Fall is by far my favorite season so I'm going to use that to motivate me.

Good Luck to everyone who is returning to school or teaching tomorrow!!!