Long time, no see ... (and a giveaway!)

So, I haven't been on this blog in quite a while.  Things got busy with the move last fall and winter.  I was trying to get in a lot of work-outs while dealing with a few sicknesses, too.  We survived that time and are enjoying living in Seattle now. 

While we lived in the apartment, I was pretty good about walking around the city.  I didn't do as much once we moved into the house, but I tried to walk to the bus stop a few times each week.  I finally started back at the gym last week, and that was actually nice.  I have done a couple of Zumba classes and worked out with 3 different trainers.  I now have 1 regular trainer and 2 appointments each week.  Since I have my workouts in something of a schedule, I suppose I should get better about my eating habits.  They have been up and down since the move, and I would like to be more regular with eating healthier.

One exciting bit of news is that I got a bike today!  It has only been used 3 times, but the previous owner is moving across the country.  Sad for her, but it was a great deal for me.  Since the boys are so excited about biking these days, it will be nice to be able to bike with them!  They can bike much faster than I can walk.  Hopefully I will be able to keep up with them a little better now.  They wanted to have a race when we got home tonight from picking up the bike, but I was only able to test it out briefly before I cooked dinner.

Through a friend on facebook, I found out today about this cool giveaway for a SPIBand.  I had never heard of these before, but they look really cool!  I can totally see using these at the gym (since I am currently having issues toting my keys to every station when I do personal training) and for walks and for bike rides.  They are reasonably priced, too, in case I don't win one.  You can check out the giveaway at the blog of Slow is the New Fast.  Good luck and hope to be better about writing on here this year!

Moving on down the road!

A long time away from this post doesn't mean I am not doing anything to be healthy - thankfully!

I have been working out pretty consistently since we joined the gym at the end of last August.  This summer I have been able to increase my workouts to 4-5 times a week.  I am looking forward to the end of the summer and hope to see lots of improvements by then!

But I have seen some improvement already!  Last Sunday night we went to our downtown fireworks show.  I realized at the end of the night that we walked a great deal, and I never got winded or tired.  When Steve was leading the way I didn't have to ask him to slow down, either.  I felt younger and more like my "old" self!  The improvement has been gradual, I think, and it took something like this for me to realize it. 

I may not have a slim body, but I do have a healthier body and I am thankful!  It is a journey, and there is still improvement that I would like to make but I am glad that I can say I am farther down the road and that my work has paid off!

Seriously?!?

So, I have once again injured myself.  This time it was from (accidentally) kicking a shopping cart wheel.  I cut my pinkie toe and removed about 1/3 of the nail.  It was mostly numb when it happened, but it did start throbbing later.  It doesn't hurt for the most part, but I am not looking forward to putting on tennis shoes.  But I am going to try it and try to work out today! 

So, this brings my current injury count to 3: tailbone (still sore and healing); shin stress (still resting from high-impact activities); and pinkie toe.  I almost feel like a "wounded warrior" ... but not so much the warrior part.  ;-)

Where to begin?

It seems it has been a while since I blogged on here.  You might think that means I have been very unproductive.  Or you might think that I have been so productive that I haven't had time to blog about it.  But the truth is somewhere in between.

I have been exercising, but not as much as I would like still.  I haven't been doing much cardio either.  It seems that every time I think my leg is better I re-injure it.  It has been going on for about 3 weeks (or more) so I am going to the doctor next Tuesday to get it checked out.  After talking to lots of people (including my Bible study group and my trainer), I decided it was better to be safe than sorry.  So, I am still doing weights and strength training but would really like to be doing more cardio, too.

As for the food aspect, I have good days and bad days.  I am having trouble cutting soda out of my diet again.  I can't remember now why I started it up again, but I think it was when I was sick and the soda burn just felt so good in my throat.  Then it was a matter of convenience some days (when I was running lots of errands and would eat out).  I have been making some progress in better food choices in the last week or so, but the soda craving is still there.  I am also craving greasy hamburgers, chili, and french fries.  What's up with that?!?  I am not pregnant, so that's not it.  I have fought that craving so far, but it is still there.

So, I guess I am back in the middle of day-to-day struggles.  I am not feeling super-good about how I am doing, but I am not feeling super-beat down either.  I would appreciate prayers for my leg and that I can get on a cardio program that will work.

Peanut Butter Balls

I have been talking about this recipe a lot, so I wanted to share it with everyone.  I decided this might be the easiest way.  I love this recipe and it is great for after school, lunch, or an after-workout snack.  Everybody in my family loves them, too!

Today I made a couple of changes.  First, I used agave nectar instead of honey.  If you do this, I would recommend using less than the recipe calls for.  Secondly, I put in a liberal splash of milk and decreased the amount of the powdered milk slightly.  I thought they were a little dry last time and you definitely had to let them thaw to eat them.  I was trying to alleviate those issues.

So, without further adieu - the recipe:

Peanut Butter Balls

for approx. 100	for approx. 50	for approx. 25
2 c. honey or agave	1 c. honey or agave	½ c. honey or agave
3 c. creamy peanut butter	1 ½ c. creamy peanut butter	¾ c. creamy peanut butter
5 c. dry milk powder	2 ½ c. dry milk powder	1 ¼ c. dry milk powder
6 c. quick oats	3 c. quick oats	1 ½ c. quick oats

Mix all together with hand mixer. Form into balls with hands and freeze on waxed paper lined cookie sheets until hardened. Store in freezer in ziploc bags.

Injuries ... aaaaaaaarrrrrggggggghhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!

So, when I said that last week's "test" would not be the last one I would face, I didn't know how quickly my next test would be coming.

I was feeling bad on Sunday, it seems, because I was getting a sinus/upper respiratory/bronchial infection. As it moved into my chest (on Tuesday), I realized that I would need to take some time off from exercising. So, I went to the doctor on Tuesday to get loaded up on medicine and try to cut my "off time". Unfortunately it took longer for the medicine to kick in than I thought it would and I was not able to go back to the gym until Friday. I tried running, but for some reason (maybe not stretching) I messed up my lower leg and the back of my knee - on what is supposed to be my good leg. Saturday I tried doing water aerobics, and while I finished the class and got a good workout, my leg hurt again. By last night it was hurting quite badly. Yesterday and today I loaded up on ibuprofen, and today I started using "menthol patches" (which are a lot like Icy Hot patches). They seem to be helping. I had hoped to get in another workout today but decided in the end that rest was best. Tomorrow I might try an elliptical and/or the bike. I want to get something in, but I don't want to injure my leg any more!

So, that is this week's update. I basically had to take a week off of the Couch to 5K, but am really hoping that I can pick it back up this week.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to get going so that I can hear my husband and 4-year-old son's concert ...

UPDATE ... the concert has ended and you can read about it here

A test

So today was a test of sorts for me. I was sore from painting, my head is stuffed (from paint fumes, allergies, weather changes, or some combo), and I really just wanted to take a nap and stay home. Since we were working on the house yesterday, though, I didn't get in my last day of Couch to 5K training for the week. So, today was a test for me. Do I skip it or suck it up and do it anyway. I am glad to be able to say that today I passed the test. (I wouldn't normally go to the gym on a Sunday, but this was an unusual week.)

I also noticed this week that working out inspires me to make better food choices. I kind of thought it would be the opposite - that since I worked out I could "justify" a few more slips. Instead, I think about how I don't want to undo all that hard work.

Now, I would like to say that this will be the last such test, but I know in my heart that it will not be. I just hope that I can keep persevering - to make it through the 5K and to make it to a healthier me.