New year, I need a reset button!

Well it's that time of the year where many of us make New Year's resolutions and hope to keep them for more than a week!      I haven't exactly come up with any New Year's resolutions more like I am hoping this New Year will let me press the reset button. Not with everything, because there are something that I do not wish to repeat ha ha. However, I am determined to get back on track, and pushing the reset button now!!!  Here are my reset buttons:

Races/Running/Walking
I had some runs I had signed up for, but I ended up getting sick and didn't get to do them so of course that made get way off track in terms of eating, exercising and everything in between!!!!  
 Luckily one of the races (Dirty Girl), credited me so that I can sign up for another race. Well, turns out there is one  coming up in April in Austin which isn't to far from me, so I am going to use my credit towards signing up again.   I also got informed by a friend about a groupon for a color type run.   I had signed up for color me rad, but due to illness couldn't do it so the groupon is for the Graffiti run, and I signed up for it!!  That's 2 down I want to do at least 2 more!  I have plans to do the Rodeo Stampede here is San Antonio,  and the UTSA Diploma Dash here in San Antonio as well.    I downladed the Nike Plus app on my phone, and I am excited to  try it out, since it is something "new" to me.  I also won't to try and challenge myself again but attempting to get 10,000 steps a day.        I think that takes care of the running/walking!

Healthy Eating
I go through these phases, I guess most of us do where I eat really healthy and then I eat not so healthy. Well, I have been on the not so healthy eating plan for a while so it's time to take control!      I am going to hit the reset button here too!  I have weighed myself and am going to start tracking those calories again.    I have also noticed that I tend to feel better when I increase my fruit and vegetable consumption and decrease the meats and breads so my mission here is to find alternatives.      I also after many years of having a sensitive stomach have finally made an appointment with the gastro doctor.   This is not something I want to do, but something I need to do.    I need to figure out if my stomach problems are just in my mind, or if I truly do have some intolerance's.

Thyroid and parathyroid health
Of course I don't have a thyroid anymore, but I still would like to do as much as I can to maintain my body.  My parathyroid levels are still all over the place, I have a doctors appointment on Monday, and although there isn't a whole lot I can do to get those levels stable I do wonder if changing my eating habits will help.       I would also like to continue to gather information on thyroid disorders and things that are beneficial for those of us with various types of disorders and those of us who don't have one at all!     I know some suggest going gluten free if you have hasshimots which is what I have, hence another reason for the trip to the gastro but I am also becoming very curious about the things we put on our body as well as the things we put into them and if these things could trigger wacky levels.

Finances
Don't need to go into many details here,   but  I need to get this under control!   

School and Work
I did go back to school to finish up another Bachelors in biology with a neuroscience concentration, and I did well this semester. So I would like to keep this up, however I need to set the reset button here to.  I didn't do as well as I would have liked to on the GRE so that I can apply to a PhD program, so while I did get disappointed I need to push forward retake the GRE and reach for the stars!     I don't know what's in store for me in terms of future career goals but I need to keep my options open and push for change!

Sweet Potato Casserole | Skinnytaste#c8121981039865218038

Sweet Potato Casserole | Skinnytaste#c8121981039865218038

It's that time of year, where I just think of orange!!! Of course, it also helps that I am a Texas Longhorn and I bleed orange. So what does someone who bleeds orange like to eat, to keep their orange blood???? Well, one of my favorite things to eat is Sweet Potatoes. My mother makes an excellent sweet Potato Casserole, I came across this one on Skinny Taste and it seems very similiar to my mothers. This I will be trying for sure!!!!!!!

In case your wondering, here is what it looks like.  Of course, this is not mine, and this picture was taken from www.skinnytaste.com

Tears of tiredness, frustration.. ?

Ugh.. these past couple weeks have just been so tiring for me.   Work has been extremly hectic, and I just feel like I haven't had a chance to breathe.     I even had a day last week, where I was just so tired, that I wanted to cry.  Actually, I did get emotional and just go to bed.  I hadn't had a day like that in a while.      I have been working 2 jobs(neither one full-time) , one of which was supposed to be not full-time but because of the shortage of therapist I have been working it full time.  The other job I was actually enjoying,  but it was just to much between the two jobs, oh and taking a class at a local University.  Geez, just talking about it makes me  tired.     Well to make a very long story very short, I decided to quit one of the jobs.  Unfortunatly, it was my part time job, that I was enjoying.   However, the other job although not full-time still provided me with insurance so I decided to keep that one.    I am a bit relieved knowing that soon one thing will be off my plate, but I am stressed about how I am going to make ends meet financially.                

I also had to go to the endorcrinologist last week, and I have to say I felt like I had really dissapointed myself, and him this time.   I had been so busy with work, that I have completely lost my dedication to eating better, and exercising.   I felt embarassed telling him this.    I was also nervous, because he decided to run a test for diabetes, since not having a thyroid and thyroid medication increases your chances of developing it.    Luckily, that came back fine.   My TSH was in the normal range, but I really feel  like I need to call him because while it is normal for most people, it is not where I feel my best at.  I think it was 2.5 and I feel best between 1-1.5.       My calcium was fine, not sure about my vitamin D, but that darn PTH level was escalated.  Actually, the past two times I have gone it has been escalted,  it was going down and I felt happy,  now it is going up and I am not happy.    I just don't know what to do.   I wish there was a way to control it, but I haven't been able to figure that out yet.     I think when it was at it's lowest is when my TSH was almost at 0 and when I wasn't under a lot of stress.    So because I can't exactly put my finger on it, and neither can the doctors, I am going to take some steps to see what happens.     In the past when I would get like this I would buckle down, focus on my eating and get to running, so that will be my solution, my outlet.          I am tired  of being tired, and I am tired of getting teary when I get tired.  It's such a awful feeling, so limiting so time to get mind over matter right??        Well, that's my plan  to push myself and get back to the basics again.      I keep hoping I can get back to the basics, or my basics but like I said work keeps getting in the way.  So enough work, and time to take care of myself.            

I have already taken some steps to get myself on track, and I will not have a choice but to get myself on track  I registered for several races!!!       One is a diabetes run/walk,   one is a Turkey Trot, and the other two I am extremly excited about  :  Color me Rad (I did something similar last year, this should be fun), and  Dirty Girl (another mud run like  I did last year but this one is for women only)     

My next step is to come up with a running, workout schedule and really start focusing on nutrition.   It's a little frustrating that I have leet myself get to this point of truly having to start over, but I need to pick up the pieces and get going or else I am going to be worse off.       

Finally.. I am back new computer!!

Geez, it has been so long since I have been able to log on here!!!  So much has gone on!!!     I don't even know where to start.        So I will start with the most recent happenings.  My computer crashed and burned, and I just now replaced it.   I do have access to other computers but it just wasnt' the same.    I was really wanting a Mac Book Pro, but because I don't have that kind of money I actually found a really nice HP for a good price and so far, I like it :)     Now that I have a computer, hopefully I can catch up a little bit on everyone's blogs that I follow, and catch up on my blog!   

My friend and I started a challenge,   we decided to wear our pedometers and shoot for 10,000 steps a day.     This is going to be a very difficult task for me, between work and school I have lately found very little time to exercise.   However, I know that excercise is key to weight loss and good health.     Let's see what else,  I read a book called the Eat to Live diet by Dr. Joel Fuhrman.  I really like what he has to say.  He emphasizes eating fruits and vegetables.  He really promotes a vegetarian and vegan lifestyle.   I have to say that I did try it some before I went back to work and I did feel better about myself overall.  Unfortunately, work has been so crazy that lately my eating habits have gone out the window.      So,    I think now it is a absolute must that I get back on track.   I keep telling myself that I don't have time for anything,  but I need to find time to get my nutritional habits back in order and get some exercise in.           For a while I haven't been able to get my schedule in order either.      Between work and school by the time I come home I am exhausted, so I am hoping that now that I have adjusted a little bitter to all the craziness I can find at least 30 minutes 2-3 times a week to get in that exercise.        
There is a run coming to San Antonio, called the Dirty Girl Run so my plan is to register for it, and then get back to training.  I figure if I register, then I will have no choice but to do it!      A friend of mine is doing a little challenge on FB she  started it off easy and then gives little challenges every day.    I did start off doing it with them,but that things called work got in the way again and I fell off the wagon :(          So today I am going to start with my own challenge: 1)   do 25 crunches, 2) get as many steps in as I can.         I am feeling a little sick so while my challenge seems easy, it is a start!    
Anyone up for a challenge?   

Change is good!!!

Well I just came back from my trip to Boston,  I hope to get some pictures up here soon!    Now, I am back at home and I am ready for my new adventure.     I had been trying to figure out my plan of action all summer, and instead of listening to mother and going to speak to an advisor at one of the Universities here in San Antonio, I of course waited until the last minute.    So here it goes!!!!   I went to go speak to an academic advisor and found out that I only have 24 hours left to finish a degree in Biology with a neuroscience concentration.   Now I know there isn't a whole lot to do with a degree in Biology, however I am hoping that it will give me an extra boost for when I apply to some other programs.     Of course I came home, told my mother about it and she said you see, if you had talked to them sooner then you could have gotten things done sooner ha ha  :)        Well my mom and I did come up with a plan, I am going to continue working for the school district but drop my employment down to 75%, pick up some home health clients the make up the difference money wise, and then take one class to get myself started.        It is going to be a crazy and hectic semester for me, but I am determined to set my goals and get it done!    Now somewhere between all this I need to figure out how I am going to fit in exercise, and of course eating better.    I have tried all summer to get myself on track in terms of eating and I just can't seem to get it together.   I am happy to say that I did monitor my self today and did a good job with eating healthier and I even went for a walk!!!!!       I hope that know that I have come up with some sort of plan for my career, that now I can try and focus on the other very important thing in my life... My health!!!!!       I have discovered that in terms of exercise that I felt healthiest when I was running and monitoring my food.  Of course I realize this was also before I had my thyroid removed so naturally I would feel healthier with my thyroid then I do without it.         I have also discovered that while I have benefited from boot camp in terms of stamina it just hasn't done for me what running did.   I don't get that feeling of euphoria after boot camp like  I did when I was running, and I am just not getting the same "thinking time" as I did when I was running.    My plan had originally been to do boot camp and go running on my off days, but that just didn't work out b/c boot camp was wearing me out.      Don't get me wrong I think boot camp is an excellent form of exercise, but I think I need to go back to my old routine.    Running, eating better, and giving myself that time of reflections that I so loved when I would run!      So here's to hoping from some changes some new habits, some old habits, and hopefully a new and improved me :)     
How about any of you???  Are you trying anything new as we start the school year??  

Spain!!!!

Once again,  I have been busy so I hadn't had a chance to post some pictures from Spain.    I finally downloaded the pictures.     Here are some of the pictures from my travels to Spain.     I loved visiting Spain and was lucky enough to get a chance to travel there 2 summers in a row.      Well next year be a 3rd visit???  I hope so,  I hope I also get a chance to go back to Italy some day, as well as France and London! 
  
Before we got to Spain we had a stop in Boston. It was my mom's Bday so we celebrated by having Crab cakes and Salad!!!! It was yummy!!!

 

We landed in Madrid, and we to a restaurant we discovered last year across from out Hotel.  El Rincon!!!!   I had a ham and cheese bocadilla!!!  I love those things.  We were very tired but we just had to keep on going!!!    The coffee was very helpful!

My friends' husband told me to go check out the soccer stadium.  El Bernabeu. Spain is very big into soccer this is where the Real Madrid team plays!!         

My dad and I taking a picture with a picture of the  Real Madrid team!!!    I wish it had been the actual players.

 I love the way the street's look at night.  This is at one of the plaza's   

This was the best cannelloni I have ever had in Sevilla Spain!!!!     It was so delicious, I wanted to save it, but of course I had to eat it.

One of the church's in Sevilla Spain.     I love the contrast of colors.

We took a trip to a town called Carmona!! It was very beautiful all the building are white with yellow/gold trim.  I have never been to Greece but I imagine it would look something like this.

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This is one of the coins from the city of Carmona.    

 I had a chance to take Flamenco lessons. No this is not a picture of me, but this is one of the many flamceno shows I got to see.  Many places do not allow you to take pictures of the dancers. However, we were able to take pictures at the Museo de Flamenco of the performers.

One of the many beautiful places in Spain. 

 This is in Sevilla Spain, across from the University.   I just love how the eat outside and everything is so relaxed!      Of course if we tried to eat like this in Texas we would probably melt.

These are two of my favorite dishes!  Patatas Aleoli, and Shrimp aleoli.  (I think that was what the shrimp was called).   The potatoes are so not health but I just absolutely love them, which is so odd because I am not a fan of potato salad.  The shrimp was so good,  similar to shrimp scampi the left over butter was good enough to dip your bread in!   





Of course I have many more pictures,   I just shared some of the main ones!      I think if I had to I could live in Spain, despite the very high unemployment rate, the way of life there is just so relaxed.

Decisions, Decisions??

Well I am back from Spain!!! I hope to be blogging about that soon!   But first things first!!!  I have had work on my mind.  I know of all things to be thinking about work!!!  Seriously, I am supposed to be on summer vacation and all I can think about it work work work.  Not so much the work that I have to do more along the lines of what should I do about work??   I have been considering some options, one of which includes leaving the school system and working in a clinic, I love the idea of working in a clinic, but I am not thrilled with the hours of the clinic.      I love my ability to travel in the summer's and have my time off during the holidays, none of that which I can get if I work in a clinic.      So, I am at a crossroads, do I try out the clinic assuming the job does come available so that I can get new expereinces,  or do I stick with the school setting, and focus on getting into a PhD program which is my ultimate goal?????         I know that if I stay in the schools setting, I will have more "off" time to focus on studying the GRE and apply to different programs.     However, I also know that working in the clinic may give me some experiences amd the chance to work in a different setting, thus hopefully increasing my knowledge, which could also be helpful for applying for a PhD.        Ugh...this is such a random posts, but I just needed to get this out on paper, well in this case cyberpaper :)   I have tried to do a Pro's and Con's chart but it hasn't helped much.      I guess only time will tell!

Ouch I can hardly stand up!

Well this was a great week in terms of working out for me!!!    I am now so sore, that it hurts for me to stand up!  However,  I do believe all my hard work paid off.  I believe I managed to shed about 2 lbs this week.    My cousin is in town from Colorado for the summer, and her and I got on a crazy workout routine.      Here is what our week looked like:

Monday: 5:30 am bootcamp
Tuesday:   went for a bike ride in the neighborhood
Wednesday: 7:00 am bootcamp (this was a tough one but a fun one, there where only for of us that showed up that day, and he had us race against each other at different stations!    I came in 3rd but  I was glad I survived)
Thursday:  went for a walk at 7:00 in the outdoor mall we have
Friday:  5:30 am bootcamp



I am happy to report also that  I did have enough energy to get me through my week!   I am a little low today but I think it's because I basically worked myself out like a crazy person.   My ankle does still act up sometimes, but it is getting better with time.
   In terms of eating I did pretty good, I could have done better!  I did do a great job of having nutritional shakes every morning except one.   So my goal next week is to keep up the workout, but be a little better about nutrition when it comes to lunch and dinner!     I know I need to eat more veggies, and eat leaner overall.     I also want to get a book, and try to eliminate some of the gluten that I eat.     Because I have Hashimotos and even though I don't have a thyroid, I will still have issues with Hashimotos.      So, I have heard some people say that it helps them when they cut out gluten.     Knowing myself I don't know if  I can completly give up gluten, but I am willing to take baby steps and try it just to see if I get any results!      Have any of you tried to reduce your gluten intake??       I have tried to make gluten free cookies, and I thought they tasted good, but my mother didn't like them.        

I hope everyone is doing well!    Happy Friday, and remember that exercise is key!

Schools out for Summer and I need to get in control!!!

Geez well I was hoping I would have more time to blog, but the end of this school year has been crazy!      Friday is my official last day of work, and then it will be summer time.   There are so many things I want to do!!!  First off I completely missed the sign-up for half-marathon training,  not sure I want to do the half-marathon again but I need to get to running again.  I think there is still time to sign up, so maybe this weekend I will attempt to do some walking/running.     I must and I mean I absolutely must focus on losing weight and eating better.  I was doing pretty good, but this month has been so crazy that I have been totally off target.  I haven't been counting calories or anything.. bad bad bad.     I bought a new bike and I have ridden it a couple of times, but not like I want to so I hope to do more of that!!!!        Of course,  I must travel over the summer otherwise it just wouldn't be a "true summer" for me, so  I am going to go back to Spain in June, and I am going to Boston in August!!!!  I am so excited I have never been to Boston, and I hear there are so many things to see and do!! 

I think my primary goal for the summer should be to really focus on getting back on track in terms of weight loss,   I feel that I have just let things get out of control, and ever since I sprained my ankle I have become somewhat of a couch potato!!!    My cousin will be coming in from Colorado, so we have plans to exercise, and eat better!!  I can't wait until she gets here because I need someone to be on me about this!!!           No more couch potato for me,  I must and I will not lose sight of my weight loss goal!!       Of course, I do have one little problem,   my thyroid dosage may or may not be enough.  I recently added a medication and I am hoping that it doesn't interfere with my dosage.    So I am hoping that I can at least get some blood work done again before I leave to Spain.         I also hope that since it will be summer time, I will have more time to blog which I truly believe helps me, because even if no one is reading it, I still believe that if  I can post about the activities and food intake I am partaking in then I must be accountable to the blog world!  

I came across this picture on pintrest, and I think it pretty much sums up what I need to do!  Oh and I love that it's a butterfly,   being that I have no thyroid and a thyroid is in the shape of a butterfly. This just really spoke to me!  

The Circle of Life.

Well after 12 long years, one of my dogs died yesterday.   She was a great dog, and was so good about warning us of incoming rain.     Ironically, yesterday after she died it rained so hard, that the electricity even went out.    It was as it was her final message to us,  remember me when it rains!    My parents were out of town, on their way home from one of my cousins' graudations.   I had noticed that she had stopped eating, and drinking water.   It seemed like she was wanting to go in the backyard, but I could not let her.  She was very weak, and my other dog is pregnant with puppies so  I couldn't let them be near each other.   Talk about the circle of life!  I am very sad, about my dogs passing, however I am thankful that I have two of her sons.     One of them was very close to her still, as she still treated him like her baby.    I wasn't sure how he would react knowing that his mama was gone, he seemed sad, but it also seemed that he knew it was coming.      It was a rough night for me, but luckily I had some family and friends who kept checking in on me and two of my friends encouraged me to get out of the house until my parents got her so we could put her in a box.       In the end,  though what I have realized is that I am  left with two of her sons, and her grandbabies.    The female dog that is pregnant is going to have puppies from one of her sons!        She will live on in them, and the circle of life will continue.     So on that note,  Conchita I hope you are running around and jumping around in doggie heaven!

It's been way to long!!!

Geez,  I have been so bombarded at work that I haven't had a chance to blog about anything.     I have had some interesting things come up.      My ankle is still not back to the best condition so I haven't been able to get back to running, so instead I came up with this crazy idea that I needed to buy a new and better bicycle!!!  I came up with the idea after going with my dad to the Diabetes Expo, they are having a ride in May called the Tour De Cure.   I was told that they were going to have a one mile bike ride, and I figured hey I want to do that,  and I need a new bike.  Ha Ha what a perfect excuse to buy something new.     Well,   I have to say that bicycle shopping is so complicated.   I feel like I am buying a car, test drive this, test drive that!! This one has disc brakes, this one has linear breaks. Do you want a hybrid, road, mountain bike.. ugh it's so confusing.     I am testing out another one tomorrow and I hope to make a decision from there!   I can't wait to get my bike!! I am so excited!               

On top of my crazy desire to buy a bicycle, I also decided to sign up as a consultant for a Organic Skincare Company.     I was very hesitant, and wasn't going to do it, but then I decided you know what I am trying to become a healthier person so why not sign up, even if no one buys it and it only benefits me.   Well, I have to say I haven't made much money off of it, and honestly it doesn't really bother me, because I am trying to do something better for myself by using less toxic skin care.     


As for weight loss I somehow miraculously managed to lose 5lbs in one week. That is a miracle in my thyroidless world.   Unfortunately this week is Fiesta, for those of you who have never heard of Fiesta it is this city-wide 2 week long party and of course it is all about eating, and having fun and being out and about.   Fiesta week is one of the reasons why I love San Antonio, Tx it's something very unique to our city!!  As a matter of fact, it is such a big tradition that on Friday, all the schools shut down, some  business shut down and there is a big parade downtown!!      

Ha Ha, I am sorry this post is so scattered, I guess it just goes to show you how my thinking has been lately scattered!!   

The Thyroid connected to everything bone.. or maybe I should say body.

This week I had my appointment with my endocrinologist.   These appointments always make me nervous, only because I never know what is going to pop up next.     The doctors office  I go is really awesome in the sense that before you go in for you appointment they have pretty much emailed you lab results from your previous visit.     The previous lab results indicate that my TSH was right on  target, my PTH still wacky and high, every else normal.. except ..............   My A1C level was on the high side of normal.    What is A1C well it is a blood test the measures your blood glucose level over the past 2-3 months.     The last time I went to the endocrinologist he told me that he was going to be monitoring my sugar levels.   Why,  I asked??? Well because apparently people with thyroid disorders and people without thyroid are have increased risk of developing diabetes.  Ugh, one more thing to freak out about.     Well at the appointment I had this week, I asked him what does that mean my A1c is normal but high and that I am at risk for developing diabetes.  He said, I didn't have diabetes, nor pre-diabetes but that I really need to monitor my carb intake and make sure I am exercising.    I told him exercise is typically not a problem except for now that my ankle is sprained, but watching carbs.. oh  I love carbs and that is so hard for me to do.     He informed me of a one day class they were having on weight management and  I told him I was interested in going.  The nutritionist gave us some useful information, nothing I haven't heard before but it doesn't hurt to hear it again and again and again.    Then because I have decided that I really want to prevent this from happening and that I really need to get very and I mean very serious I went back to weight watchers and had them weigh me in.  I hadn't been since early feb. and luckily I haven't gained, or lost which I think is pretty good considering I hadn't gone is such a long time.      I hadn't been able to go because my bank account got hacked into, so weight watchers had closed my account with them,unfortunately I hadn't had a chance to re-activate it.       Of course, now that I have been forced into seeing that this could be a real health concern if I don't try to do something about it.       I can't say that I have been completely perfect in terms of eating since finding out this information, but I can say that now every time I think about pizza, and pasta and break I find myself thinking about how  I need to limit myself and how these food items could end up causing me some real problems in the future.       
Of course, I am still sitting on edge waiting to find out what this next set of lab results reveal,my endocrinologist did say that he would be running to test again since he is going to be monitoring it.    I am hoping that since I have cut out fast food eating, that maybe I will have a better result.     One thing for sure I learned this week is that prevention is key and that I need to beat this before it beats me.  So on  that note, I am of to do some crunches, and some leg lifts and some arm weights.   

Oh and here are some little facts for those of us out there trying to lose weight.
>>>Cutting back 3,500 calories a weeks can lead to 1 lb of weight loss
>>Exercising at least  240 minutes a week is key to weight loss
>>>Make sure you eat  3 meals a day, no skipping
>>>>>>>For those of us with thyroid issues:  the nutritionist did tell me that she often find that many of us try to skimp on calories to promote weight loss, and this is not good because you end up not eating enough and your body just holds onto fat.   So make sure you get in anywhere from 1,200-1,500 calories a day for women. For men 1,600-2,000
>>> Eat, not -starchy veggies
>>>document everything you put in your mouth.

Ugh Sprained ankle

Hello everyone!  I hope everyone is doing well!  I haven't had a chance to update my blog but I have had some unfortunate adventures that have kept me from exercising.   A couple weeks ago I participated in a trail run.  I was doing pretty well, and felt good!!  A local Italian restaurant was going to provide us with a nice Italian meal upon finishing so I was trying to run for my pasta.    Until,  a rock jumped out at me and made me fall.    That dumb rock made me fall and twist my ankle.   I debated at first if I should continue but then thought logically that I should probably stop and walk back.  So off I went,  the medic checked it didn't think it was broken.   I ate my pasta and drank my beer,  I mean I didn't sprain my ankle for nothing, I figured at least I should eat my pasta!      The next day I went to the medclinic and sure enough I had a grade  2 sprain.     While I am thankful it was not broken, having a sprained ankle has been no walk in the park.   I haven't been able to exercise,  I am tired of limping and I am tired of the air cast that I have to use.  He told me it should take from 4-6 weeks to heal, I am on week 2.   Of course it didn't stop me from going to Las Vegas for Spring Break but it wasn't as fun had I been able to walk appropriately.        So now I have a little bit of a predicament,  I need to figure out a way to exercise without injuring my foot.  Any ideas anyone???  I have thought about doing crunches, leg lifts, I guess I could do weights for my arms but I just don't feel like I am getting a quality work-out.      Ugh,  if anyone has any ideas of some exercise I can do that won't cause me to put pressure on my ankle please let me know!!!!
Unfortunately I had signed up for a couple of runs that I am not going to be able to do,  one of them is a wine run so I am thinking I may just go for the after party :)

Italian cooking class

One thing I love to do is learn how to cook different kinds of foods.  So I decided to have a random adventure and enroll in a Italian cooking class.     It was great,  my last class was Monday, and I have to say that I will be missing some of the people that were in my class.  We were kind of like a little family.  Of course, I think I was the youngest one in there but regardless of age the company was great.      I learned how to make homemade meatballs and spaghetti sauce,  egg plant parmasean, an apple tart/pie,  foccacia bread,  and  stuffed pasta shells.   The lady that taught the class was Italian, so it was nice learning from an Italian person.    She said she will be teaching some classes in June, and I really hope I can sign up.    I do have some pictures of the stuff we made in class, however I want to post pictures of when I actually make it all by myself.      The good thing was since I gave up fast food for lent, the Monday night class pretty much ensured that I had a homecooked dinner, now that I no longer have class I am going to have to figure out what in the world to eat on Monday nights.       I am really excited to try making the recipes on my own, and I hope to post pictures soon.  

40 days and no fast food!!

Since having my thyroid removed, I have tried to become better about the things I am eating and putting on body, unfortunatly work, and life just get me sidetracked and then I feel guilty, and then I just keep on going into bad habits.    This year, I have to admit that I have taken the lazy track when it comes to bringing my lunch to work.    I think part of the problem is that I am typically shoved into a small little office or closet type space with no windows, so lunch-time is my time to go outside and get some fresh air!!!    Unfortunatly, this has caused me to resort to eating tons of fast food!!  In my mission to get fresh air, I don't pack my lunch and I run somewhere quick so I can see something other then four walls, but eating all this fast food has done nothing but make me gain weight, put bad things into my body, and make me spend more and more money.    
 Typically during lent, I try to do something good vs giving up something.    This year I decided I needed to do something good and give up something.   I decided to give up fast food!!!    Believe me, while this may not some like a sacrafice to a lot of people it is for me, because now I will have to take the time to pack a lunch. and a breakfast, and find another way to get outside during the work day so I don't feel like I am in a cave.   I decided that I can go to a sit down resteraunt and eat, but that I would do my best to find something healthy on the menu, however I am not allowed to go to fast food chains.        Fast food has become my life savor this past months, but in the end it is harming my health and my wallet!!!       This is going to be a challenge for me, but I think it will be a good challenge for me!!!       So here I go on my no fast food adventure!!!!    I am happy about my adventure to try to stop the fast food madness and in the process I hope the end result is a happier healthier me!!

Hot Chocolate Run !!!

Hello,

I wanted to get to this earlier in the week but I added some random adventures during the week that were unexpected, so I had something to do every night last week!        On Monday I took a italian cooking class,  on wednesday I took a golf class, and then I had some other random things that popped like running errands and stuff.    So, finally today I decided to update my Hot Chocolate Running Adventure!!!       

Last weekend was the Hot Chocolate 5k and 15k.  I signed up for the 5k because well I am just trying to get myself back into this running thing.   The Hot Chocolate run, is a run where they provide you with Chocolate goodness, after you run!!!   I am actually not a huge chocoalte person, but I thought this sounded like a fun race.       Of course, since it has been so weird here in Texas with the weather I wasn't sure how appealing hot chocoalte would be after a run.     Well, much to my surprise it was 31 degrees in Dallas, but the winshield made it feel like it was 19 degrees on that saturday.  I actually debated about not running, but my dad who drove me fron San Antonio to Dallas, said "I didn't drive you all the over here for you to chicken out."  So,  I layered on some running clothes and off we went.  Once we got there and I started my run, my body started to warm up and I was absolutley motivated to finish the 5k as fast as I could so that I could have my nice hot Ghirardelli chocolate!!!     Believe me when I say, I don't know how they made the hot chocolate but it was the best I have ever had!!!
Here are some pictures of the event!

  Prior to the race day, they had a packet pick-up/ expo.  The goodie bag came with a cute little jacket that said will run for chocolate, and because I registered with a coupon code I got a hat that said will run for chocolate.  Of course at the expo that also had some Ghirardelli chocolate bars, and some hot chocolate that was so good it was addicting!!





This was the start of the race, it was so cold but obviously people were determined to complete their run and get their chocolate rewards at the end.  Since we aren't used to being so cold her in Texas, the medical doctor that was helping with the race recommended that if you had signed up for the 15k and had a pace of 12 min/mile or slower that you may want to run the 5k because of risk of long term exposure to the cold!!!!!!!    To some it sounds silly, but to those of use who are not used to cold temperatures it's not sillly at all.   

Oh Sweet!!!  It was so cold
they decided to hold the
after party in the exhibit hall.    This is what we got to dip
the Chocolate Fondue in!!!  It was such a treat!!!!

The fondue was so good, and the stuff they gave us to dip just made it even better and worth the cold.  Of course they did give us some yummy hot chocoalte to drink as well!!!

 If you look closely at the picture you can see the fondue fountain!!!   I would defiinitely do this race again!!!

Color Run.. or maybe i should say Color Mudder

Yesterday I participated in a run called the Color Run.   It is basically a 5k, where at each mile they are supposed to throw some kind of color on you so that by the end you look very colorful.      Well,  I was excited about the run and looking forward to doing somthing adventerous.. well I sure did do something adventuerous more adventerous then I had planned for.    Texas weather is so random so of course it decided to rain very hard on Friday night, the event planners sent us an email saying that the run would take place unless there was a flash flood warning.  They warned people that there would be some muddy spots and for those who had planned to take strollers, not to take them.    Austin is a crazy town, so people showed up anyway and man was I in for a suprise.    The run started late because parking was horrible, and by the time I got to run they ran out of color for during the race but they had a crazy color party aftewards.   Actually I was told they didn't run out of color, but that with all the mud they where not able to take more color back and forth to the volunteers as had been planed.  So here are some pictures of what took place!!! 

 This is me before the color run!! The requirement was to wear a white shirt so that the color would show !  

Because Austin is crazy people still showed up Rain or Shine.  They ended up starting us in waves this was the line to start!! 

 

 The whole course was a muddy mess.  Some of it was like a muddy river and some it was sticky enough to where people got their shoes stuck and lost in the mud!

 Mud, Mud and and more Mud!  Yes those are my shoes!

At the end of the race I was a beautiful color muddy mess!!  I was upset at first at all the mud, but then I realized how much fun I actually had, and the workout of trying to navigate through the mud actually made my workout more intense then I had planned.  So overall despite the craziness it was fun.   

Here is me at the end!!! 

Here is me trying to figure out what in the world I was going to do with my muddy stuff!

Color Run!!!!

Well I haven't trained as hard as I would have liked to. That thing called work keeps making me tired and not want to go to gym after it.      Anyway, this weekend I am participating in a run in Austin, Tx called the Color Run.   It is a 5k, but I am not to concerned about time  it's for walkers, runners, kids, etc  so although my initial goal was to try and run more of it then walk   I guess I am just going to try and have fun with it.    Which reminds me I need to buy a white shirt.   In order to run in the race you have to wear a white shirt, so that when they  throw color on  you, you will finish the race in a different color/colors then you started!!!!   I am pretty excited about it.        Ha Ha, I wonder what color I will turn out to be!!!     

On a side note,  I have been trying to get myself on track with weight-loss and I just keep going back and forth.   Mostly because I haven't been putting in as much effort as I should.  I don't know what to do to keep me motivated.    I get so easily discouraged because losing weight is so difficult, but I know once I get myself going then I will become encouraged.     Ugh, maybe I need to just hit myself over the head and knock some sense into myself ;)   

My make-up confusion/adventure??

I have never been the type of person who likes to wear a lot of make-up,  I just never liked the way it felt on my face. However, I do like to put a little bit of something on just to make my skin look smoother.   Anyway about 6 or 7 years ago I discovered Bare Escentuals make-up and I really liked it because it wasn't heavy, I felt like since it didn't have a lot of ingredients it was good for my skin, and  I just liked the natural look it gave me.   Well,  all my years of using the product came crashing down in an instant.   Apparently, Dr. Oz (who I never watch)  came out like 2 years ago saying the loose powder  in particular mineral makeup was actually bad for you lungs.    I had never heard about this episode until a couple months ago, when I happened to be searching for something and I came across this information.    He basically said that the particles are so small and can easily be inhaled and therefore possible cause lung damage, lung caner, and adhere to your lungs.   WHAT!!!!!!!  I completely flipped out because I thought, well that does make sense but seriously.      So,  I did what I thought was best and started researching, I didn't find any conclusive evidence that suggested that this had been proven.  However, because I had promised myself that I would figure this out first  I stopped using the product and coincidence or not this cough that wouldn't go away went away.   I continued to debate as to what to do and even went make-up less for a couple of days, I have since found a pressed powder from Clinique that I like but I have not found any concrete evidence to support the claim about mineral make-up or loose powders.    So,   I do have to say this whole make-up things has been a very unexpected adventure.  

I do have to say though that since I have gone back to using the old tried and true clinique 3 step system that my skin feels smoother and has cleared up so maybe there is something to the Clinique 3 step or maybe that's just what I have convinced myself of ha ha.  I figured I would try clinique since that  is what my grandmother uses, and she has great skin.          Anyway, it has gotten me to try new things, but of course I miss my mineral make-up.    I guess part of my confusion is, some of these other make-up's have so many ingredients and chemicals that I think well that can't be good either.       

Ha Ha this is a totally random post,  but I just had to blog about it.  If anyone has any thoughts, ideas, advice I will be more then willing to listen :)

Couch to 5k running apps review and Color Run

Although I still haven't been able to get in as much running time as I would like, I really need to focus this weekend.     Besides the hot chocolate run, I also signed up for a Color Run that will be taking place in Austin the first weekend in Feb.   Bascially you are required to run with a white shirt and then as you hit each mile marker they toss or spray some kind of color on you and  by the end you end up looking well like a rainbow I guess ha ha.         

I have been able to  try out two apps on my Iphone for the couch the 5k program  one of them is completly free it is called:  C25K free           I downloaded because I thought well hey it's free I will give a try.   Overall it is pretty good.  It gives you a plan for 8 weeks, its for 3x a week and 30 minutes.   It allows you to play your music, and you can run a milage tracker in the background.  It also has a voice that tells you when to walk and jog.   It sounds great and it is, but the problem is, you can't hear the voice that tells you when to run and walk.  There is a beeping sound, but unless you are focused it can be easy to lose track of things.     I guess for free it does it's job.

The other one I tried is called 5k Runner:  This one gives you a free trials but then after week 2 day 1 you have to purchase the rest of the weeks.  I think it's only $1.99.    It's the same kind of program 3x as week for 30 minutes.   It allows you to play music,   I think once you pay it may track your miles but if not it also let you run a milage tracker in the background.     It has a voice and beeps so you know when to run and when to walk, however this one I feel is better.  The voice is louder and it actually interupts the music so you can hear when it is time  to switch.  I just think it allows you to focus more on the environment around you and you don't have to strain to hear the beep or voice, so the run seems less stressful.       I haven't had a chance to buy the upgraded version yet, but I plan to.     

Both of these can be bought through the iTunes store, they had tons of options so I wasn't sure which ones to pick, if any of you have tried any of the others ones let me know.

Music is key for your workout routine!! Try this top 10

One thing for sure, is that without music many of our workouts would be fairly boring.   I don't know about you, but for me music is what keeps me going.  Often times when I am out running, walking, going to Zumba , etc  I hit the point where I just want to give up, but then a great song comes on and I pep up and get re-energized.         The hard part  is sometimes finding the right music, well I was recently contacted by someone by the name of  Chris Lawhorn he runs the web's largest workout music database.   He recently put together a list of the top ten workout songs based off user feedback.    After he sent me the list I got on to itunes  listened to them because I hadn't heard of all of them and sure enough they are definitely songs that would help me out.    Thanks to his website Run Hundred finding workout music can be easy :)    I will be going back to his site in the future to check out updates and other exercise music.     

Here is the list of songs that he provided ( Below the list I also included the press release that Chris Lawhorn also wrote):   

Tim Berg - Seek Bromance (Avicii Vocal Edit) - 127 BPM


Katy Perry - The One That Got Away - 135 BPM

Alexandra Stan - Mr. Saxobeat (Maan Studio Remix) - 126 BPM

Flo Rida - Good Feeling - 129 BPM

Wolfgang Gartner & Will.I.Am - Forever - 128 BPM

Hot Chelle Rae - Tonight Tonight (Goldstein Remix) - 118 BPM

Taio Cruz & Flo Rida - Hangover - 129 BPM

Enrique Iglesias, Pitbull & The WAV.s - I Like How It Feels - 129 BPM

Kaskade & Skrillex - Lick It - 128 BPM

Kelly Clarkson - What Doesn't Kill You (Stronger) - 117 BPM




The Top 10 Workout Songs For Winter 2011


San Francisco, CA – Jan 1, 2011 – Traditionally, winter is the time of year when folks find it hardest to get out and exercise. In the hopes of keeping folks motivated, readers from RunHundred.com--the web's most heavily-trafficked workout music blog--were polled regarding their favorite, current workout songs. The resulting top 10 list has a little of what you'd expect—and a little you might not. Flo Rida, who's no stranger to this list, shows up in two recent tracks. Enrique Iglesias continues his transition from balladeer to club rocker. And Kelly Clarkson, after faltering with the first single off her new album, bounced back ferociously with the second.

As for surprises, they're mostly entries from folks relatively new on the dance scene. Highlights include songs from Tim Berg (who remixed his own track under his Avicii moniker), Skrillex (whose collaboration with Kaskade is the first dubstep track ever the make the Top 10), and Wolfgang Gartner (who's made the chart with a little help from the Black Eyed Peas' Will.I.Am).



To find more workout songs--and hear next month's contenders--folks can check out the free database at RunHundred.com. Visitors can browse the song selections there by genre, tempo, and era--to find the music that best fits with their particular workout routine.


Contact:

Chris Lawhorn

Run Hundred

http://www.runhundred.com

Time to unleash the dragon

The year 2012 is supposed to be the year of the dragon, so I think it's time that I unleash my inner dragon.  I don't know exactly what that entails but I do know that it means it's time for me to take one some more adventures and challenges.       I didn't make any new years resolutions mainly because I didnt' really think about it and a lot of the goals I have in mind are similar to what I am already working on.    I am going to list them out again so that maybe it will get me  back on track.    I do have many challenges that I would like to complete though so I guess that's my resolution to set some goals and complete them.      Here are some of the goals I would like to complete: 1) lose weight ( this is a tough one for me I start off strong and then get very side tracked.)  2) More running, now that my TSH levels seem to be up and running it's time for me to do what works and that involves running, 3) Exercise, Exercise, Exercise, 4) Get my bike checked so I can do more cycling, 5) enroll in a golf class, I have been wanting to take a golf class for a long time so I think it's time I really try one out, 6)be better about my overall nutrition and stop eating out so much, 7) continue to find adventures to I know will be challenging but will be well worth it.         

On that note I am going to challenge myself today by making sure I do some sort of exercise I am not sure if I will have time to train for my hot chocolate run today, but I am going to do my best to either do some exercise on the Wii, or do a walking DVD.        Does anyone have any fun challenges they are up to for the year 2012????