Get It Together

So, I spent the summer not doing what I needed to do to get fit, feel healthier and look better.

I didn’t do it.

I did whatever the hell I wanted, eating whenever or whatever (which still isn’t as “bad” as what most folks typically eat), drinking when I felt like it and - most importantly - not exercising every day or even most days.

Some days, but not regularly.

I’ve been reading and I’ve been researching and I am back on board. Again.

It’s much more simple this time. And simple seems to work best for me:

Before work, I am taking the time to make a smoothie in the morning with unsweetened organic coconut or almond milk, a scoop of whey protein, a banana and a little strawberry yogurt. In the vintage blender my Grandma gave me, which somehow makes it taste better.

During the work day, I’m getting up at least once an hour at work and going somewhere in the building. I am moving because sitting is killing me. I am breathing deeply and preventing my posture from sucking.

I am packing baggies of vegetables to eat. Cucumbers, carrots, celery. Washington apples. Tablespoons of unsweetened organic peanut butter* to spread lightly on whole wheat crackers if I am starving. But just little bits of this and that. Small amounts of goodness to fuel me as I need it. I’m not on a schedule any more.

And then the evenings…the evenings will have a big walk or a bike ride in them. Not stressing any more about “when” it happens…I used to break my neck to get that bike ride in before 7:00 p.m. because someone once told me I had to have my exercise over by then or I wouldn’t sleep well. To hell with that. If I want to ride my bike while I watch a movie or show between 7 and 8:00, that is what I’m going to do. If Houdini wants to go for a W at 8:15, we will go. The sleep will work itself out. I can't believe how many good, nonstressed workouts I missed because I tried to follow the 7 p.m. rule. Dumb!

Drinking only a lovely glass of wine or two if I feel like it. Eating a typical meal…which is almost always healthy and homemade for us. Lots of water…not forcing it but drinking it when I’m thirsty.

Not stressing it and pushing this new norm on the weekends. Not abandoning the new norm, but not beating myself up if we have pizza one night or I have some cocktails with Steinvic.

Herbal teas. Foods and drinks that smell dark and earthy. (I am on a quest to find figs. I crave them. I need to find out what the main nutrients are in them to see what I’m missing because I borderline obsess over them, and not the Fig Newton kind...the little, fresh hard-to-get kind.)Good things that make sense.

I’m doing this because it’s time. And I feel better already.

*So, while label-reading, I learned that even in the sacred organic aisles, horrors can lurk. You’re buying peanut butter. It should be…peanuts mashed up, right? So, why did every brand but one have tons of other ingredients?

What the...

Well, Happy Friday, Party People...

I could be pissed today. I really could. Seriously, if I were superstitious, I'd be looking for the mirror I must've smashed or the crack I'd stepped on or the ladder I'd unknowingly walked beneath, because what the heck?!?!

Last night, our heat pump finally died. Last winter, when the furnace croaked, our super awesome heating/cooling dude warned us that the heat pump wouldn't last forever. But I was reeling from the $2500 that we spent for the furnace and we agreed to take our chances...the pump was another $2000, and he was cutting us a deal. (Which he said he'd extend to whenever we needed to buy it, which I appreciated...)

So, our luck ran out. No heat pump. No air conditioning or heat until it's replaced.

But you know what? I can't care. I say it's always something, but that is life, right? It always IS something! Something is always going to sneak up and sock you in the jaw and you're going to stand there, stunned, rubbing your face, saying, "What's the big idea?" and wishing that something would trip or stub it's toe or just generally go something itself.

But there isn't a big idea. Luck, good fortune, whatever you wanna call it...not predictable, is it? You can't earn it, apparently. You can be as positive and wonderful and giving as can be and you're still gonna end up with sand in your soda. You can either cry about it or go get a different soda. Or you can learn to like the sand in your soda.

So, don't let the heat pumps get you down...roll with it. Count your blessings. Have a Plan B in your pocket. (No, I don't mean this Plan B) Smile anyway. Go have a beer. What? You didn't ask for a pep talk? I'm kind of giving one to myself here... ;)

I'm working on forgetting about it. (Of course, I'll remember it when we get home and the house is hot as heck tonight, but...)

Helping Laith

I know that I don't have a huge readership here, but if even one soul stumbles across this post and donates, I will feel I've done my part.

Laith is just a little guy in need of a heart transplant NOW. Because of complications with insurance (and, if you ask me, a general 'not my problem' attitude that is sometimes present in the medical community), Laith's Mom and Dad must front $1.5 million before the hospital will save this child's life. He can't even get on the transplant list yet.

My hope is that with the press these folks are getting, a good doctor will come forward and offer her or his talents for free. But until that happens, would you consider sending Laith a little money to help with the cost of his heart transplant?

I know times are tough financially for everyone, but I can't imagine how tough times are for this family right now.

I can't imagine what it would be like to fullfill the dream of parenthood, only to watch it slip away...or what it would be like to be a mother or father and not be able to do the one thing that would help your child survive.

So, that's it. Even if it's $5, I think it's a worthwhile investment, don't you? Thanks for listening...