New Year doesn't always mean New Goals!

It's been sometime since I have been able to sit down and write.   I ended my last semester with A's in both my classes, and getting ready to start a new semester.     However, this semester I decided to slow down a little and only take one class.    I am hoping that this time around  I will be able to make an A, and get back into the exercise (in particular running) groove.     A friend of mine and I decided to get back on our 1x a month 5k.   We are supposed to do one on the 25th, which is coming up, and  I have yet to start running.   I have been using my stationary bike/elliptical trainer at home though, but I know it not enough!  Unfortunately, not to far from me a woman was stabbed to death at a park where many runners, walkers, bikers often go. She was young (I think 24), and studying to become a Physician's Assistant.  She had come home for the holidays to visit family, and of course turns out that many of my friends and family knew here.    I myself often went there to find peace in the outdoors, and enjoy a nice run, walk or bike ride.  However, after this incident the whole running community has been shaken up.    I in particular have been really shaken up, since I often went by myself.   I had pretty much stopped going after one time I saw a unusual looking male walking opposite the direction I was running.  After that incident,  I decided that I needed to be prepared to defend myself.    Well, because of work and school I never had a chance to look into this the way I had intended.    Now, since the woman's death,  I have decided to take action.   I am attending several self defense classes.   I am hoping this will make me feel safe again, but I have also decided that I need to probably start running on a treadmill until I can get over this fear.    I do not want this fear to impact my love for running and walking. 

 I am also hoping that I will have more time to cook my own foods, and monitor my food intake!  Those of you with thyroid issues know that exercise and proper nutrition is key to feeling good.      Recently, I have been hearing so much about nutrition and eating properly.  It seems the trend is to eat my vegetables and fruits,  cut back on processed foods, and even dairy.  Last weekend I made a Vegetable Kale Soup.  It was delicious, while this is not the exact recipe I did here is one that you can try.    It  looks pretty similar except I used red beans, and black beans and used vegetable broth instead of cubes so I didn't need to add water.     I have mentioned Kale before in previous posts, and it's benefits.   It is bitter but, once mixed in the soup it was delicious, I know my dad loved it and so did I. 

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/vegetarian-kale-soup/

  While it is a New Year, and I most people make resolutions, I decided since I didn't really accomplish many of my goals that why not just continue on my journey.   Why add more to my plate, when I have yet to accomplish everything I have set forth to do??    I think that if  and when I accomplish my goals it will be more rewarding then letting go of the goals I have set forth, because then I can say I finally accomplished my goals.     I think I said this last year to ha ha , but hey who ever said anything about setting a time let on tough goals.  One thing at a time right?!   
Did any of you set any new goals??      

Reaching the peak..

Hello!!!!  Once again I have been MIA, as I mentioned in a previous email I have a full plate.  As, a matter of fact my plate is so full, that I am surprised I am still functioning.  Actually, just as in previous years by the time I get to Thursday I am pretty much out of gas.   I don't know what it is with Thursday's, it's like my body says.. hello it's Thursday time for vacation.  Unfortunately, I don't have time for vactation.       This semester, has been very challenging for me.  I am enrolled in a Neurobiology class, and a Neurobiology Lab (which I don't have much time for),  my diet has gone down the drain, mostly because I am working all the time.  I get up early, travel around the city to do therapy, go to class, travel around  some more to do therapy again, get home late, shove down dinner,  work on stuff for work, get to bed at midnight or later,  and then repeat.     In addition to work, and school  I decided to help with an retreat at my church.   This was a difficult decision for me, as the last time I helped with a retreat I got sick, and got so angry at my body for letting me down.  I was also was mad at not having a thyroid, and not being able to function the way others do. It's like reality hits you in the face, and your mind starts to take over with negative thoughts.     
 Come to think of it, it's kind of weird because when I got called I say yes right away. However, prior to the phone call, I had already been thinking about my decision.  Something was telling me,  I needed to have a decision so my saying yes immediatly, was because I had already been thinking about it for several weeks, actually I think months before.     As, the time gets closer to the retreat, I find myself going in to freak out mode.   Of course, it doesn't help that my appointment with my endocrinologist is on Monday.   I am worried about how my blood work will come out, especially since I have no time to exercise and I have been eating nothing but junk!!!!    People keep saying I look good, but honestly  I feel like a Zombie and am pretty sure I look like one.    I am very close to hitting my maximum peak, however I have decided that I am not going to give in.     I am going to do my absolute best to push beyond my peak and create a new peak.    What do I plan to do if reach this  new peak???    I am going to take a step back, and say hey I did it, and if I don't reach the peak I am still going to take a step back and say hey look what I attempted. 
I do have to admit, that this home health therapy job is bring back some very vivid memories of why I left home health a couple years ago.      No thyroid + driving around all day =     energy drain
I also have to admit that I am very disappointed that  I did not get to complete my exercise, and nutrition goals I had set forth for myself.      I guess in the end I have to be proud of the things I do accomplish, and rethink strategies to get my health back in order.  Also, as a side note:    fingers crossed that my doctors appointment goes okay, and that I am able to find a job that better suits energy level and getting my health goals back.  

As I typed this up, I started to reflect on a mission I had accomoplished.       Earlier in the semester, before my job got super crazy,  I decided to go on a run. The challenge was to go up an area called towerview.  Well, these were not hills these were mountains (in my mind), especially if you are trying to run up them.  I ended up not being able to run up them, it was a very slow walk/climb.  As a matter of fact, one of the running coaches ended up waling/climbing with me.      I am beginning to think that this was a foretelling of my semester,  nothing but one large hill after another. However,   at the top the result was a beautiful view.    It was also a lesson,  when I reached the top I discovered that if I can do this without a thyroid, I can do anything I set my mind too.    So,  I hope everyone out there reaches for their peak, or beyond whatever that may be.   

 

 

    

Kale!!!!

I have been doing my own little recipe and information search on Kale.  For those of you who aren't familiar with Kale, it is a vegetable that comes from the cabbage family.    It is said to be very nutrient rich, and have very good health benefits. 

I have also read that is has more protein then beef.    If you have ever tasted Kale by itself, it has kind of a bitter taste, however  I have come to enjoy putting it in my smoothies in the mornings.  This summer I really want to spend time, increasing my fruit and vegetable intake, as well as cutting out more gluten!!     It will be tough, but it never hurts to challenge yourself.    Not to mention, it gets so hot here in Texas, eating a big heavy meals isn't always pleasant.     Interestingly I came across this recipe, and I can't wait to try it!!!     I may try to modify it, but using gluten free lasagna noodles.. may be worth trying!       Have any of you tried Kale, and if so what have you done with it.     


Mushroom Kale Lasagna Rolls | Skinnytaste

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.  

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 :)

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????    

Alumni Band adventure was awesome

This past weekend was Alumni Band Weekend at the University of Texas!!! I had a blast!  We spent the whole day Saturday practicing, but the performance turned out well!!  I was also surprised at how much of the music I remembered!!!   I also can't believe, I foorgot how much physical activity is required when marching up and down a field!!  Man, no wonder why I stayed thin in college !!!    Here are some pictures!!!

This is me with Big Bertha!! Big Bertha is the largest drum in the world!!!   Big Bertha belongs to the University of Texas Longhorn Band, and makes appearances during each half time show!!! 

This is me with Hook 'Em the Mascot and with some friends that where in LHB with me.  We are all piccolo players!

This is me with Bevo!!! Yes we have a live animal that comes to the football games!!  Bevo got his name from one of our many rivals.  Texas A&M apparently a long time ago, some Aggies decided to brand him with 13-0   so the University of Texas changed it to Bevo and the rest is history..

The Longhorn Alumni band is given seats at the top of the stadium, so how do we get up there??? We marched up the ramps!!!  Ten very long ramps!!!   To top it off we played music as we marched up there!!

The Longhorn Band Takes the Field they were awesome as always!!!!!!!!!     
















My parents took some pictures from their seats of when the Alumni band came out on the field!!  As soon as I can upload them I will!!!! 

Is it time for a job adventure aka career change???

Just an FYI: this is a totally random blog .. it's just basically a compilation of my thoughts for the past couple of months ha ha so sorry if it's kind of well random ha ha


First of all I would like to say I am so excited about my upcoming band adventure!! It's this weekend, and I am happy to say that I have been practicing my piccolo and I am impressed with my self and my memory skills!!!             


Now for the other adventure, the job adventure.     I currently work as a Speech Pathologist, and I have my days with my job.   Lately, I have had more and more days where I just feel bored in a sense.   Now when I say bored I don't mean bored because I am not busy, I mean bored of the same old routine.    Testing, providing therapy, paperwork, not being appreciated and well the list goes on.   For a while now actually I have been trying to figure out what to do???   Don't get my wrong, the field of Speech Pathology is in no way shape or form boring or easy, I am just ready for a change.     I have considered making a complete career change but I have no idea what to do because I have so many interest.  I know I have a love for science, and obviously I enjoy working and helping people, but I am just so burnt out!!!!   I have thought about going back to school to become a Occupational Therapist, Physical Therapist, Dietitian, Physicians Assistant, Audiologist, going to get a PH.D, going to Law School, computer science and the list goes on and on and on.    Luckily I have most of the prerequisites to apply to this types of programs except for maybe a class but, I just can't focus in on one thing.  I guess my lack of focus is what has kept me from trying to apply for any other type of program.      I know we all go through our ups and downs with our jobs and our professions, but this is something that I have been considering for years, and year after year I just fall back into the same routine!!!  So,  it's time to get serious and make a change, if only I could figure out what change to make ha ha.      If anyone out there in blog world has any ideas then please let me know ha ha.   
Here is my plan of action:
I have already researched a lot of these careers and a lot of them a very closely related to my profession so I wouldn't be making a completely random switch
1) This spring enroll in the second half of anatomy and physiology (I have so many science classes you would think one of my graduate school courses would count but you know how that goes)
2)Just start filling out applications and applying ( I have already kind of started)
3) Get some of the observation hours I need to apply to some of these programs.  I have observed OT's and PT's on many occasions since I work so closely with them but b/c I have never documented any of it I would need to get some hours of observation in.
4)Look for jobs in my field that are in a different area:  One of the awesome things about speech therapy is that there are so many different areas to focus on.  Because of where I work the primary focus is on language and articulation, but maybe I can find a hospital or clinic that focuses on voice disorders, swallowing disorders, brain injury recovery etc.
5) WIN THE LOTTO and GO on VACATION!!!!!!!!!  

My upcoming band Adventure!!!!!

Well,  I finally decided to take the plunge!!!!  When I was in college, I had the great honor of making it into one of the best known college bands here in Texas.  The Longhorn Band!!! As a matter of fact, they where just recently selected as on of the Top Ten College Bands in the Nation and they were number 1.       Every year the University Of Texas Longhorn Alumni Band performs at one of the Texas football games.   Year after year, I think about doing it but chicken out.  This year,  I ran into a friend (a fellow former bandmate) and she mentioned it.. She said you should do it it's so fun!!! So I said well, I always think about doing it but I always forget,  I then said so remind me.  Well, she reminded me, she posted on my facebook that it was time to register.   So after thinking about  it, I decided why not, I mean what do I have to lose.  How many people get to say that they where once a part of the Longhorn Band AKA the Showband of the Southwest!!!    There are a lot of us out there, but not everyone realizes the level of difficulty  there is to get into the band.     So, here I go, I decided it was time to have an adventure, and I did it I signed up to come out in the Alumni Band performance.    So what does this mean??????   Well  I have to get out my piccolo, start practicing the music, and start exercising and walking for the next two weeks to get myself into shape so I can march up and down that field without passing out!!!     I think I will also feel so accomplished if I am able to complete this task and then say, hey and this time I did it without my thryoid!!!!    
Here is a picture of  them!!!   I can't wait to post one from my performance ha ha

"You is kind, You is Smart, You is Important!!!"

Hello everyone, 

I hope everyone is doing well!!!!  I just finished reading the help and seeing the movie and boy .. it's funny how a book or a movie can give you a ego boost. I have been feeling a little low in the self-confidence department lately. So my mantra from this week is "  You is kind, You is smart, You is important."   For those of you who have seen the movie The Help or read the book that is one of the quotes that sticks out the most to me.   So I think if I can recite this to myself all week.then I will be on fire!!!!!  I still have a cough, but I am really hoping that I will be able to go to bootcamp at least one day this week.     I am thinking that tomorrow, I will try and at least walk in the neighborhood.     Tuesday, I have a meeting at church, Wednesday is weight watchers day and I am actually really excited about going.   I told my mother about Dr. Oz and his transformation nation, and I think she is gonig to come with me to the weight watchers meeting just to weigh in so she can start the transformation nation challenge!!!     So,  that leaves me with Thursday, and I am hoping by Thursday  I will be done with the cough and I will be able to go to bootcamp!!!!!     I came across a recipe on the Weight Watchers website called Banana-Walnut Steel  Cut Oatmeal. I am hoping that I will be able to make it and try it, and then I will post the recipe.  I have been having this crazy craving for banana bread, so I am hoping this will help.    The thing is, my aunt made some homemade banana bread, and believe me it was delish,but now I have the problem of... I want more ..So... I am going to make this oatmeal and see if it gives me that craving I want without all the added calories of banana bread!   Oh and for those of you, who have been feeling low in the self-confidence area remember  "You is kind, You is Smart, You is important!! 

When it rains it pours..

These past two weeks has been so draining, this weekend I am trying to enjoy my labor day weekend.  I went and watched my favorite college football team play and win Go Horns Go,  I also went with my family to watch UTSA play in their very first football game and they won also.   I enjoyed my time watching football and my time out of town, but it's back to reality.         So what exactly is my reality???   Well for starters, I got my results back from my bloodwork that was taken and while I was happy to see that my TSH level was within the normal range,  I was very upset that my PTH level had gone up instead of down like I have been hoping.  So of course, this put me right back in that stressful place of, what does that mean??? Does that mean my parathyroid gland is acting wacky and needs to be removed or does that mean I am super duper stressed out about work and it cause my bloodwork to comeout wacky.    I don't think that medically stress will cause that paticular level to be elevated, but you know how they say stress does strange things to the body.  So I am hoping that is what it is. In the meantime I get to sit and wait and be patient until I go in for testing again in December.   Now, techinically I could jump the gun and go to my other endocrinologist in September, but I don't know if I want to put myself through that again especially around my birthday.   I think it would just remind me of last year being told I needed to have my thyroid removed around the same time of year.   I just want this cycle of health issues to end.. Please Please Please!!!!!    Then, as if that isn't enough for me to stress about, work is just overwhelmingly stressfull.  I wish I could go into details but I can't because that would be violating confidentiality but lets just say if there was a way for me to avoid going to work and finding a new job by Tuesday I would consider it. 
My calorie counting has been way off track, and I am also considering joining weight watchers so I can have someone to be accountable to but I haven't decided if that is what I want to do or not.  I will decide soon though.    
Why is it that when things go wrong, it seems like everything has to go wrong????   I feel like I am drowning,  and all I can do is keep praying and hoping that someone will throw me a life vest.    Don't get me wrong people have tried giving me life vests, but for some reason they just aren't the right life vest I guess you could say.      Maybe what I need is a rescue boat, instead of just a vest??!!!

Spreading the Joy!!!

Well I haven't been able to get in as much exercise as I would have liked to this week, but I am so glad that my energy levels have been good enough to get me through my work days. Now that is something to be JOYFUL about.   Last year, by Thursday I was lucky if I was able to make it through the first hour of work!!! So yeah me!!!!!!!    Sadly this week a member of our church community passed away due to Leukemia.  She was such a joyous person and spread joy throughout many people.  She lived life to her fullest and even went on a cruise about 3 weeks ago.      Some friends of mine decided to tag our cars and write JOY on them, so yesterday I got tagged and you know it was so nice to take JOY to work!!!!   We had a prayer meeting yesterday and prayed for her family, so I was unable to attend bootcamp.   Yes, it is very sad that our friend, our sister passed away but seriously I can feel her Joy beaming down on us!!!!   I am going to go to bootcamp today and take JOY with me.    Strangely, today it also rained in San Antonio, Texas which is another thing to be Joyful about.  We have been under a major draught and were actually told today to raise our thermostats to 80, unfortunatly considering that it has been over 100 every day her for like 70+ days being inside with at 80 degree temperature didn't sound very appealing.  So Joyfully, we got rain and it made for a cooler day.     I was also Joyful that, with all the problems I have been having at work, the person that has been giving me a hard time kept to herself today.. now isn't that something to be Joyful about!!!       I hope that some of you out there were able to find something joyful about today!!!  If not, try to find something positive to think about,  maybe your hair looks good today, maybe you ate something really delicious, etc..  One thing is for sure, and something I hope to remember .. try to have a Joyful outlook!!    Was there anything today, this week, or this weekend that you have to be positive or joyful about??



Taking Joy to work!!!



Ugh this week was crazy

Well I am happy to report that I survived my first week of work.  I did manage to also go to bootcamp twice, and Zumba once as planned.     Unfortunatly, I spent a good part of my work week trying to fight for an appropriate office space to conduct therapy, but I had little sucess.     It was a very crazy week at work, and unfortunatly the craziness isn't over.       Despite all the craziness I did have some positive things to be proud of: 1) I made it through the week ( be the end of the week I was exhausted but consider the high stress I was wonder I think I did well in terms of energy).  2) I fit in my exercise, 3) I did try and log in my food journal, it didn't go as smoothly as I wanted but this week I will be taking my lunch to work so that should make things easier.     Tomorrow it is back to the drawing board and I hope to make this week a better week.  I also hope to get a chance to download my pictures from colorado so I can blog about my adventures!!!!    Oh and I think I am going to start a new adventure !!!!!!!!  Yesterday I went to Academy Sporting goods store and I saw some golf clubs and to top it off I saw left handed Golf clubs.  I have been wanting to take Golf Lessons for a while so I think when it cools down a little bit I may try to take some lessons!!!!!!    Who knows maybe I will be great at it.     I also hope that this week I am able to sit down and figure out what 5k runs are coming up so I can do some running!!!  Well today is a going to be a busy day, I have to go grocery shopping, may need to do some clothes shopping (since it's tax free weekend), make a major decision about work, and hopefully attend a friend baby shower.