Mid-week update

So far the week is going well. My reward jar has proved thus far to be successful. Last night was my first night since Saturday where I didn’t get any stones.

I went one point over for the day (over my earned APs that is) and in addition snacked at night. I am trying to think of what spurred it. I think part of it was I was very emotional last night about Dakota right before I went to bed and the other part was that I didn’t eat a filling enough dinner (not enough protein). Such is life, must move on!

Today I am determined to get my two stones! I am heading home after work to get to the leasing office because my knee sleeves arrive today. I hope they fit. I had a bit of a measurement error so it might be close.

Yesterday after I work I went to a kickboxing class! My company offers some free group fitness classes. In the past they’ve offered step which I pass on because I hate step (a sprained ankle waiting to happen if you ask me!) but they just recently offered a three class series for kickboxing so I signed up for all three right away.

I was worried it wasn’t going to be a good workout but it was tough and I was sweating! I could tell right away I was working areas I haven’t in a while with all the running. It’s good to mix things up!

A new product shout out! John and I splurged and bought a $9 jar of Barney Butter! It’s a very smooth almond butter. Most almond butter is grittier but this brand is the same smooth consistency of creamy peanut butter. It’s also made in a peanut-free facility so great for people with peanut allergies. I always hear people rave about it on the food blogs I read so I had to try it. I’ve behaved so well with it too! I have 1tbsp on toast for breakfast with some sliced banana. Yum!

Tonight I’m doing level 2 of 30 Day Shred and making Greek Turkey Burgers and soup for dinner. Yum!

I also hope to read more Harry Potter. I’m on Order of the Phoenix. No spoilers! So far my favorite character is Sirius Black by far!

Speaking of Harry Potter, I think we might go to Universal Saturday for the day. I told John I have to go to my WW meeting so I may be hitting up the 6:30 a.m. meeting. UGH!

Overall I’m still upset about Dakota but trying to remain positive. Talked with his vet yesterday. He has moderate heart disease but some key parts of his heart look good which is great news. He will start taking a beta-blocker medication 2x a day to slow his heart rate so his heart doesn’t work so hard. She said he should continue to act normal and in 6 months we will repeat the echocardiogram and hope that we find his heart disease has not progressed. Sigh.

Here is me pretending to sleep when Dakota was snuggling with me the other night while I was reading. :)

weekend update: good and bad

So let's see...where to start?

Saturday I had my WW meeting. I think we have a new leader. I'm not sure because I was 15 min late (they changed the time again) and the new lady was leading and my old leader was still there watching. Hmm. I hope we have this new lady because I could tell right away I liked her a lot more. I just looked on WW online and she is indeed the new leader for Saturdays. :)

I was up .8 which sucks. I didn't have a good week points wise though so I couldn't get that upset. Our location is a "pilot" where the center is open retail hours. The set-up is totally new and it's really nice. I left the meeting and headed home.

The weekend was relaxing. We saw that new movie The Town and it was really good! I highly recommend it!

We went to Michael's and I got a cute glass jar/bowl and pretty blue glass beads. So not only is it motivational but it looks nice. I stayed in points Saturday and Sunday and didn't snack at night so I have four stones so far! :)

So far it's working great.

Yesterday I did a 4 mile run outside. Not much to say as far as that goes. It was hot. Ugh.

Now with bad news...

I took Dakota to the cardiologist this morning. Turns out he does have heart disease. I have to wait to find out more details from the vet tomorrow. From what I know now, it's not that bad/advanced. He is most likely going to go on medication to slow his heart rate. I'm guessing his heart beats faster than it needs to right now? Like I said, I'll find out more tomorrow.

I just pray to whatever there is that he leads a happy and long life with us.

Are you really eating that?

Let me begin by saying I hate snobs. Snobs of all kids. Music snobs, fitness snobs, people who think they are smarter or better or you for stupid reasons.

That being said, I realize not everyone is going to be able to have a strict fitness routine, eat organic, run, diet diligently etc. Are we all capable of it? Sure. There is just that one little thing that gets in the way...life.

I've seen people complain about others at the gym not working hard enough etc. Sure, have there been times when all the treadmills have been taken and I get stuck with an old crappy one while I grumble at a woman walking at 2.0 on another good treadmill? Sure. I always realize though that no matter how little (or how much) someone is doing at least they're doing it.

That brings me to my complaint. I just don't understand how people can eat such CRAP. Sure at one point I ate crap too but now that I'm on the other side it just disgusts me.

I've been a pretty healthy eater for the past five years. Sure I've had issues with weight-loss but it's not because I go binge on Taco Bell or eat two hot dogs at a game. That stuff doesn't appeal to me in the slightest. That gets me is that I overeat healthy stuff and a calorie is a calorie in a lot of ways.

So anyway, I just went down to the cafeteria at work to get a salad and I arranged a nice bow. Spinach, veggies, kidney and garbanzo beans and about 2 oz of chicken. While waiting in line to pay I thought how delicious my lunch looked.

I looked up and saw the man paying. A plate full of crap. Okay, I'll give him a break, he did have a piece of grilled tilapia (although I personally learned the hard way the fish here is a bad idea) but his plate also had a huge pile of some scary mixture of what appeared to be baked beans with cut up hot dogs and another pile of some sort of cheesy potato au gratin.

It looked so gross to me. "How can someone want to eat that?" I thought.

I know not everyone is like me and finds that stuff tasty and would consider it a treat and that is fine. It just got me thinking of the bigger picture and how I really wish people would take more responsibility for their health.

Let's be honest, It's safe to assume this man (like many) eat this crap for lunch (and possibly dinner) every day.

It's easy to pick up a Stoffers Lasagna and feed a family of 6 but it requires more time and money to prepare a healthy dish. I know some people swear you can shop healthy and have it be affordable but on the other hand it's true that buying crap is cheaper. Sad...

I just wanted to reflect while I ate lunch...

I am confident that through the rest of my life I will continue to eat healthy and promote healthy eating with my family. I even plan to eat mostly organic one day when I'm pregnant if I can't swing it before then.

Final note on the matter! John and I are hoping to have a healthy Thanksgiving with our families this year and assist in a lot of the cooking. Lots of veggies (roasted beets!) and even mashed cauliflower!

TGIF!

p.s. Dakota is good. He just had a stressful day yesterday. I am taking him for his echocardogram Monday morning. They will have to shave off his fur on his side. :( Everyone please pray his heart is in good shape!

5.5 miles, my knees and Dakota

So yesterday after work I completed a 5.5 mile run. That is my longest distance to date. I ran the entire time at a 12 minute mile pace. For the most part I felt good but the second I slowed down to walk when I finished my knees felt swollen and tight. It was bad. I walked a bit and then did stretches which immediately helped.

When I got home I iced on and off two times and took Advil. Today my knees actually feel okay. Resting up today and I'm going to do a light run tomorrow. Possibly cross train if I feel sore.

I have an appt. with a sports medicine/orthopedic doctor next Friday.

In the mean time I have order knee sleeves which will arrive Wednesday and should help offer my knees support.

Last night I was famished from what the run took out of me and ended up going over points. I know it was necessary to refuel my body but I hate feeling like I'm overeating!

- - - -

In other news I am having a bad day. We took my cat Dakota to the vet today for is annual exam/shots and a teeth cleaning.

Turns out he needs two teeth extracted because they have resorptive lesions (apparently pretty common) and the vet called me to tell me she doesn't feel comfortable having him sedated given the higher grade of his heart murmur. It's a 4 out of 6. You'd never know he had an issue unless you listened to his heart.

Long story short John and I are going to be putting out a lot of money in the next month.

Monday I have to miss half a day of work to take him to the vet cardiologist. I might ask about working from home that day as I have VDI access.

I'm just super upset that something might be wrong with Dakota's heart and that he will have to have teeth extracted. I cried hysterically to John after the vet called me. Not to mention the financial burden this puts on us. However, we are blessed that we have the means to take care of all this stuff for our little guy and help him have a long, happy and healthy life.

So glad today is a rest day and an acupuncture day so tonight will be relaxing in bed with Dakota which is favorite thing (see below)! <3