Friday Five: 10K, Fitness Check and Food

The belly rules the mind. 

~Spanish Proverb

1. Last week's 10K was spectacular! My body handled it well. I didn't run for time, but confident if I did that both my legs and lungs were up for the challenged. I stuck with my buddy.  She let me fly on the downhills, but I'd wait for on the flats and she was kind to me when she tackled the uphills.

I really love my new hot pink arm sleeves.

2. So while my legs and lungs were ready for that 10K, they were not ready for a Kettle Kore workout I did the day before. I thought a little core cross training wouldn't hurt the day before. I was wrong. The squat twists, obliques while in a squat and the single leg dead lifts made recovering from the 10K brutal. So far eating and running has not been completely effective in regaining a fitter version of myself and it is time to incorporate for strength to my routine. Super Hubby scored a great group on to a newish fitness studio in town, so my hope is to hit a kettle bell work out 1x per week for the next 10 weeks and see how that helps. Ideally, this will supplement what I should be doing at home in terms of core and general strength training.

3. This week was supposed to be an easy week with only 2 miles on the schedule for both Tuesday and Thursday and 2.5 tomorrow and an easy 25-30 minutes Sunday. So far I have done nothing. Zero. Zip. Zilch. I am ok with that. My next 8 week training cycle starts on Monday and it is easy with my week day runs at 2-2.5 miles and my long run at 3.5 miles. I am training for another 10K and I am really happy about the time that 10K training affords me and my family. It is a great distance, not too imposing on life, work, family etc..

4. Um, ok...silly question. How do I eat right? Plant based? Whole food? Organic? Yeah, those answers are no brainers, right? My body is normally very responsive. Cutting out fast food, fried food and sweets are normally a great way to drop those nagging pounds. Well it hasn't been working for me lately. (People who know me personally ignore the way you have seen me eat these last three days)

So now I venture into details. I hated detailed eating, I wish I could mindlessly eat exactly what I need when I needed it and only what I need. Now I am listening curiously to people not eating bread more than one meal a day, cutting out dairy to lower inflammation, eating 35 + grams of fiber, eating within an hour of waking, topping off glycogen stores every two hours and taking every vitamin known to man. I have juice fasted for 2.5 days once. It was funny. Not hard, no immediate results and no desire to do it longer. I know there are 1 day, 3 day and week long fasts and versions of others that last much longer than that. I am not a fan of fad diets because I have very little drive or committment for that kind of thing. I am not into meal replacement shakes because it is not a sustainable idea for me. Right now I am just trying to figure out how to get all I need, easily and within my 1200 calorie weight loss budget. I only want to lose about 10 pounds. Yes I said only, but damn it it is tough!

5. Good news! The new fitness studio I am visiting for Kettle bell also gave me a fitness assessment including a calipers body fat test. I actually have less body fat than where I was last year mid season. It is obvious that aside from my top heaviness, I am carrying my weight in my middle like most and I know I can overcome this with a little effort. Ugh, effort, bleh!

The Big Picture: Long term, I understand eating well and nourishing my body is a life long commitment, short term I know weight loss will take effort.
Why I Kick A$$: For working hard enough to be able to take a couple days off guilt free.

How I enjoy down time to myself...sitting in the sun.

Thankful Three:

1. For a night away in SF with Super Hubby.
2. For Duder having a great first sleep over with his uncle and aunt.
3. For so much time off work lately to recharge.

Thoughtful Thursday: Happy Mexican Mother's Day

God could not be everywhere, 

so he created mothers.

~Jewish Proverb

"Hot Mexican Mama"

"Happy Mother's Day to my Wife- Nothing could ever come between us, Dear."

"Well, except the kids. 'There's a monster under my bed.'"

I loved this card Super Hubby gave me this morning. There was also a special note inside that I am keeping to myself, but he was mushy, husband-y and father-y. I am a lucky girl.

The Big Picture: Family is everything.

Why I Kick A$$: I married the most amazing man and he gave me the most beautiful children.

Thankful Three:

1. For my own mother, she is an amazing woman
2. For a lunch date with Super Hubby
3. For time to myself today

The Turn Around: Finding Happiness, a Diary Entry

Most folks are about as happy 

as they make up their minds to be. 

~Abraham Lincoln

Wednesday "Hump Day" sounds funny, but like an out and back run it marks the turn around to the work week. Today is an exception to the rule in that I am off Thursday and Friday. An amazing thing has evolved...happiness, effortless happiness. Now don't get me wrong, I am happy and have been happy for a long time. I have always wanted and worked towards having happiness in my life. What I am talking about is the routine of making sure I have a balance of things in my life. Like working hard, but not taking myself to seriously. Like staying fit, but not obsessing. Like being with my family, but not neglecting myself. Spending time on me, but keeping my distance from being selfish. My goodness, it is this balance I have sought out for so long and I almost missed that it has arrived. I am riding a wave of balance...well almost. My weight is still a battle, but it is strictly for vanity. I am healthy, my weight does not prevent me from being active and I have no ailments. I just really want to feel better in my clothes. Moving on, here is a recap of the lovely life I've gotten to live since last time I posted. It is in diary format and long, but hey it's my blog and I am pretty sure I can do that, right?

05/02
I didn't have to work more than an 8 hour day, I got to run after work and took the kids on a bike and tricycle ride while my amazing husband prepared a delicious dinner. My man is a manly man and knows his way around the kitchen.

05/03
Another straight forward, 8 hour day at work. I am blessed to have steady employment and a supportive boss who has graciously approved my time off without question. I zipped into San Francisco this night to watch Don Quixote at the ballet with my sister-in-law. I feel weird saying in law, because the closer we become the more it truly feels like we are siblings. The night was wonderful, started with Sushi, then the ballet filled with gorgeous costumes and flawless choreography and if we weren't feeling fancy enough, we headed over to NOPA a trendy restaurant for 2nd "dinner." We had amazing deep fried Fava beans and serious cocktails. Strongly recommend the place to anyone wanting a quality food experience in a positive atmosphere. Bonus, one can actually go to dinner at 11 PM and have a great time.

05/04
I truly am blessed to live where I do. I ended up staying over in SF since my boss gave me Friday off. We woke up early, headed to the Embarcadero, ran-walked to Chrissy field and back, about 7 miles. I even got to stop into the Ferry Building for a croissant and Kefir and OJ. Seriously one of my favorite drinks. My morning was perfect and my afternoon was equally great. I got lots of house work done, then visited with my cousins who just had a baby boy, picked up kids from school and then went to our Uncle's house for Friday night dinner. Family is beautiful and time to spend with them, precious.

05/05
Just me and the kids today since Super Hubby was at an over night golf tournament (Fri-Sat). What better thing to do than to visit my BFF and her daughters who are the same age as my rug rats. Who needs therapy when you have best friends. D always grounds me, makes me feel confident in myself and in doing so makes me sad that I don't get to sit in her living room everyday...she lives out of town. Time with friends always rejuvenates me. At the end of our time I headed home, did all my house work chores and when Super Hubby came home to be with the kids, I walked to our neighborhood trendy restaurant for dinner and drinks with some of the local girls.

05/06
Super Hubs had to work a little and Duder had Temple pre-school. The arrangement allowed me and my Bug to have little girls day. We had breakfast then headed to farmer's market and then had time for the street fair with my mom and aunt. I can't wait for more of these little outings as she grows. After nap, we hosted some friends from school for dinner and a play date. The bonus about hosting a play date? I did all my house work on Saturday and Super Hubs did all the yard work. Our house is the cleanest when we are having company.

05/07
Monday was mellow, beautifully mellow and our little family got some swim time in after work and BBQ'd outside. I even hit the grocery before all this happened. I love how late it stays sunny. These types of afternoons scream weekend time, but this was my Monday!

05/08
Again with an easy day at work, I had time for short 3 mile run in the blazing heat then more swimming for the kids before a yummy dinner.

05/08
Work. Got EVERYTHING done. Seriously, every single thing on my to-do-list done. Dinner with my family and time for my hubby to head out for some afternoon fishing. Guess what, I have tomorrow and Friday off.

While I feel like I am taking a lot of time off from work lately, I also think it is an important component to maintain this sense of balance. Whether it is taking an half hour off to go run or a day off to relax. I understand not many people can do this. I know I am lucky to work for someone so flexible, but I also credit myself for positioning myself to afford the time off. I work my A$$ off to make sure I am not skipping out on my team or not pulling my weight. I instill confidence in my team and my boss that I can leave and that I have done what I need to do.

The Big Picture: There are times I will love every minute of my life and others where I will have to remind myself to love every minute. I am just enjoying how effortless that is for me right now.

Why I Kick A$$: Because I am working my training plan, it is not working me. Can't wait for Saturday's Trail 10K.

Thankful Three:

1. For life, for living, breathing and having my family with me.
2. For sunny days
3. For some mother-daughter time with my Bug this past weekend.

Tuesday Tidbit: Running and Fun, what more could a girl ask for

A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous.

~Coco Chanel 

Training got a little weird last week. I wanted to run on non run days so I did. I wanted to run further than was scheduled do I did. It has been great, eating last week was great, the scale was great, then the weekend arrived.

Training  miles planned/miles actually run
Mon rest/4 miles
Tues 3 mile run/rest a.k.a. Happy Hour
Wed CT/ 5 miles
Thurs 2.5 mile run/rest
Fri rest/2 mile run
Sat 4.5 mile run/2 mile since I ran 5 Wed
Sun CT/rest

This week is off to the exact right start, a rest day! On the horizon:

Mon- rest

Tues- 3.5

Wed- CT

Thurs- 3

Fri- rest

Sat- 5

Sun- 40 min EZ run or CT

This weekend I partially hosted a Bachelorette weekend. The sister of the bride arranged an amazing spa day with a delicious brunch. Mimosa's, Sangria, a chicken salad with curry in it that rocked my world and fruit salad etc. Then it was my part of the trip, a couple little "get to know you" games, went to a fancy restaurant TASTE and the next day hit a few wineries for some tasting. I had such a relaxing weekend. I also got to pick the brains of a personal trainer in training and a registered dietician. Fitness, health and girl talk all in one weekend. It was pretty awesome.

Saturday night dinner drinks

Filet, greens and that little tart is a Pt. Reyes blue cheese tart

I just had fruit and toast, but these eggs Benedict for everyone else were picture perfect

Such a beautiful group of girls on a beautiful day drinking beautiful wine

The Big Picture: As I reconnect with a running, a schedule is just a guide... kind of a minimum if you will. So when I was feeling a like a little more last week, I was ok with going for it.
Why I kick A$$: I have entered a fitness world that has some semblance of consistency.

Thankful Three:

1. For a girls weekend
2. For making another successful batch of my white chocolate cashew fudge
3. For mapping a wine tasting run, 6 miles, 4 wineries...should be fun!