We Wish you a Merry Fitness- Day 1

Day 1- Nov 29th 2014

GRADE for the day: B-

As far as everything as a whole goes, I feel like it was a good start. I woke up with out a migraine for the first time in about a week. It’s a mini victory.

SUGAR- Grade C

It’s amazing how natural it is to reach for unhealthy things without even thinking about it or questioning what you are putting in your face. I found myself eating half a box of sugar babies just because they were there. So silly. And once I started, I found it hard to stop. I did get a sound bite of advice about the dangers of going cold turkey off of sugar. So I decided to chalk it up to a “Ween down” and refrain from ay other sugar the rest of the day. Also, I have found that moderation and setting limits may be a better alternative to cutting out ALL sugar cold turkey; seeing as how there is sugar in EVERYTHING! So at this point, I’m thinking that >10g of sugar is the threshold.

BREAD-Grade A+ 

This was an interesting challenge. In general, I don’t tend to eat a lot of bread. At least I don’t think that I do. However, Yesterday, We had a double show day for the theatrical production of Shrek that I am an actor in. The theater provided food for the actors between shows. YUM! But wait... It was Pizza, salad, and Wings with an assortment of Soda choices. BOO! Luckily I had anticipated this food selection and packed my own food. I brought turkey and mashed potatoes with yummy gravy. I also had some mandarin orange and apple slices as an afternoon snack. I did choose to partake in a few wings and some salad. 

  After the show presented with a bit of a dilemma when I got hungry again and we stopped for fast food. Thank goodness for my loving, supportive husband for encouraging me to avoid any items with bread. 

SODA- Grade C

Oh that yum stuff. I was pretty “Meh” at my resolve for soda. I had a glass and a half of Diet Coke at lunch and about 1/2cup in a mixed drink my husband made me. This is going to be about retraining my palette. Grrr.

ALCOHOL- Grade A-

I did pretty well on this one. Particularly because I have just not felt up to alcohol intake lately. My husband mixed me a drink and I proceeded to drink it slowly over an hour. 

WATER INTAKE- Grade A+

I drank about 100 ounces of water today. WIN.

GYM- Grade B-

I went to the gym but I was kinda wimpy about it. I simply felt so nauseated and had such migraine that After only about 15 minutes on the stride machine, I found myself unable to proceed. 

POSITIVE/NEGATIVE SELF TALK- Grade B-

I did better at being positive with myself on the whole. I still found myself getting more negative as the day went on and I got tired and a bit grumpy. My negative self talk It also seemed to correspond with how bad my migraine was and I ended up taking it out on my husband a bit. That was no good. 

We Wish You A Merry Fitness- Prologue

Prologue-

     It's time for the holiday season again! All the gluttony and layering with baggy clothes to keep warm and hide our sins. Our sins of unhealthy diets and neglected health in the name of the season. That's all well and good for most people: and usually good enough for me. But this year is different. I am 28 and I do not feel good. I am fed up with not feeling well. This year, for christmas, I am going to give myself the gift of good health, for once.

     Let me paint a picture. I am not obese. I do not have any debilitating diseases or illnesses. I am in most ways, a healthy, functioning adult. But, then again, no. I have gained approximately 35 lbs over the last 4 years. This weight has remained constant over the last year. It shocks me. I don't feel like  I look that much bigger, until I really look. On top of the weight gain, I have experienced an unprecendented increase in migraine headaches, stomach issues, and a general feeling of depression, lethargy, fatigue, and "ickiness". So this is what I am challenging myself to do:
           
           Cut out/ decrease the following:
               - Breads
               - Sugar
               - Soda
               - Exercise extreme moderation with alcohol intake
               - Negative self talk

            Add to my Daily life the following:
               - At least 64oz water daily
               - Try at least 1 week of Miracle Tea 2x daily
               - Go to the gym 4x a week at Minimum
               - Record caloric intake and work on making smarter food choices
               - Take vitamins daily
               - Positive self talk
               - Update my daily progress on the road to my christmas fitness countdown!

     Truth is, I am not sure which of these will be hard or which will be easy. What I do know is that if I try to change my habits now and really commit to making smarter choices daily; Then perhaps I will have a truly happy holiday and life.

"Birds of Michigan" part 3

Hunter, still mesmerized by Melinda, didn't respond.
  "Um...usually this is where you would introduce yourself as well, right? " Melinda giggled.
  "Oh, right, sorry. Yeah my name... it's... Hunter Reed" Hunter said, bracing himself for the reaction to his name, praying it didn"t ring a bell.
  "Well, Hunter, it's nice to meet you. I'm new to town. I like it here, well, so far. Y'know, you are lucky here in Michigan having such beautiful birds, especially our little invalid here. This Mourning Dove is such a bittersweet bird what with her beautiful feathering and coo and all. Her coo is so sad and mournful. She isn't cooing now, the poor thing, she is alone. Hmm...that means her mate must've died. It breaks my heart to see these beauties alone cause then y'know they've lost their partner.   b
It must be hard to lose your life partner... can you imagine?"Melinda rattled off.
  "Uh... I..."  
  "Oh my gosh! I am so sorry. I started rambling again, didn't I? I swear, I can just go off sometimes. I mean, take just now for example, I barely met you! I don't even know if you like birds let alone care about their mating hab-"
  "I do" Hunter interrupted.
  "What?"
  " I like birds, I find them fascinating." Hunter said with a small creeping smile; the first real smile since the night he'd lost his wife and Daughter.

"Birds of Michigan " part 2

    A noise outside the window caught Hunter's attention, bringing him swiftly back to the moment. It sounded like a bird, a bird in pain. Hunter had always had a fascination for birds. He envied how carefree they were, How strongly they fought against the gusts of wind that came and went as mother nature saw fit. With their varied colors and sizes and freedom to fly anywhere they wanted. Moments like this, with his mind caught in childlike wonder, Hunter would forget to hide. He would smile, and with that smile, relax. Hunter made his way over to the noise and looked out the window. He saw an injured Mourning Dove lying on the frosty earth. Hunter made his way to the front room, grabbed his jacket and swiftly went out the door. As he was rounding the side of the house to the yard outside his window, he saw a beautiful woman with long, golden hair leaning over the bird. She tenderly began to lift the dove up, wrapping the delicate bird in her woven scarf. The woman, becoming aware of Hunter, looked up.
  "Oh, hello. Is this your home?"
  "Ye...yes. I live here. Um... I heard a noise and... well I saw the bird and.. can you tell...is she alive?" Hunter stammered nervously as caught sight  of her startling blue eyes and soft smile. She studied him a moment then let out a small giggle while glancing back down at the dove.
  "She is hurt badly but, yes, she's alive. What's your name, mine's Melinda Parr."

"Birds of Michigan" part 1

    To Hunter Reed, days like this made the prospect of waking up seem pointless. Today was no exception. Hunter Reed was an average man with an average build and average height. He was a handsome man with short brown hair, brown eyes, and pale skin from days spent inside. Hunter stared out the window as he lay in his bed. Outside the window, the sun was hidden behind layers of wispy gray clouds .The snow on the ground looked as heavy cream, whipped in a mixer by the blizzard of the night before. He slowly sat up and looked around the room, empty save for a small side table with an old alarm clock and a lamp.
    Hunter had a very simple life. A life not complicated by love or passion. He kept nothing, worked to achieve nothing, decided to want.... nothing. "If I have nothing and do not try to have more, I will not have anything to lose." Hunter had said to himself so many times, wanting so much to not want so much.
    Hunter stood and walked to the bathroom, turned on the spout and splashed cold water on his face. He looked into the mirror at himself, droplets of chill water running down his cheeks. He stood there, staring at  those cheeks and the water aimlessly trickling down his face. Even the water didn't want to stay. He wondered if anything would ever stay.

(insert evil dark laugh here)

Uh oh. I laugh at dead kitties. Am I demented? Is there some damaged part of me? Or am I just a dark form of awesome. I really did like Mops the cat. I also liked the image of a kitty, flying through the air, who thought she was going to a better place by seeing that limo sun roof. Little did she know. Silly kitty. Tee hee.

who will help mother hen?... "not I said the cat"

You are the reason I can enjoy the sun. You make the beauty in this world worth while. Without your radiance, the flowers wouldn't be so sweet. The blossoms out the window wouldn't matter....because... 

When you are in a picture every aspect becomes brighter.
You make our house a home, with you in it, the air is lighter.
You raised a flock of crazies and we love you for our looney!
Without your loving laughter, our lives would be so gloomy!

Margaret Anne, you are a star. You light up and glow.
You are my guiding light on earth, more than you will ever know!
Never doubt, never second guess your worth.
'Cause mama, I don't wanna curse!

I love you M.A.C.