Wednesday

We are headed out to Solvang today. It is a Danish town in California's Central Valley. (picture: stolen from a "Come to Solvang" type site.) I have never been and it is supposed to be a great little town. It will be good to get away for a couple of days with hubby, but I have so much work to do that I am stressed about leaving. I am going to stay in the hotel while he photographs the race and do my presentation for my masters class and grade some stuff for San Jose State. Hopefully I can enjoy myself. It is tough for me to relax on short trips when I have a lot to do at home. Hubby went last year and I was supposed to go, but I canceled on him and I still feel guilty about it.

I will probably go for a run on Friday. This time I will plan a course ahead of time to make sure I only do 3 miles! The hotel has internet so I can keep in contact!

Wednesday Food
B: 2 sl. HM French Toast/banana/coffee (320 cal)
S: dried plums/yogurt & cereal (250 cal)
L: whole wheat bagel w/ artichoke spread and tomatoes (350 cal)
S: yogurt & cereal/apple (200 cal)
D: Bean, Rice & Cheese burrito (600 cal)
S: none
Total: 1720 cal
Water: 3250 ml

"It is almost impossible to get lost"

Today's Run
I decided to run at Rancho San Antonio today. It is a county park that I have heard a lot about but I was always afraid of the trail running. Today I wanted to get outside and run. I could not fathom running on the treadmill today for some reason. I had a n emotional day and needed to just go out and run. It was raining, but not hard. I thought I would try out my run rain jacket. Apparently, the way to ensure that it does not rain is for me to wear that rain jacket. (Picture: California Newt on trail, these little suckers seriously disrupted my nice downhill run. I was so paranoid I would squash one of these buggers I had to constantly scour the trail ahead of me. This little guy was pissed at me. He is in an aggressive posture. Such a bad ass weighing in at 30 grams! Random Trivia moment: California newts secret the same powerful neurotoxin, tetrodotoxin, found in pufferfish and poison dart frogs.)

I will start this story with the preface that I am a planner. Probably to the point of obsessiveness. I also have NO sense of direction. I currently own 3 GPS units due to my complete inability to read a road map. With that in mind....

Today I had no plan and a trail map. Yikes.

The fact that I got out alive and you aren't watching my husband on TV lamenting his choice to let me go, in the middle of the day, to a well marked county park trail without a forest ranger escort is amazing. (Picture: worthless ass trail map, soaked with sweat from being carried in my waistband)


I was going to run 4-5 miles depending on how I was feeling. Note: I said I WAS going to. Again, a lack of planned course lead to crazy wanderings through the Rancho foothills for a total run distance of 7.16 miles. The really sad part if that I saw several other hikers and runners two of which gave me directions. One runner even said, "it is pretty much impossible to get lost here" Ha! He obviously seriously underestimated my ineptitude.


It was a beautiful run. I snapped a few photos since it was my first time there. The beginning of the run had a 1.5 mile hill with 590 ft of elevation gain. When I got to the top I stopped to take a

picture and met another runner and we talked for a couple of minutes about running and dogs (yes, he is the one that gave me directions that I foolishly did not follow) The first hill was a little brutal, but the rest of the run was more rolling hills with plenty of downhill and flat sections. I had a great time. I really wasn't even fretting about being lost until about 6.5 miles. I am in taper for Napa so I don't want to trash my legs too much I will keep my Friday run lighter. Hubby and I are headed to Solvang this weekend to photograph the Amgen Tour of California Bike Race. He is photographing. I will be doing homework. Here is a link (cycling photos1, cycling photos2) to some photos he took of the prologue at Stanford on Sunday.

Food
B: 2 sl. TJ French toast & banana/coffee (290 cal)
S: Powerbar (pre-run)/cottage cheese (post-run) (300 cal)
L: leftover TJ Chicken Stir fry (250 cal)
S: yogurt & cereal (150 cal)
D: more leftover TJ Chicken Stir Fry/1/2 whole wheat bagel (350 cal)
S: 1/2 whole wheat bagel/warm delights mini (275 cal)
Total: 1650 cal
Water: 2600 ml

Time to get real about the eating again

February Update
My quest to improve my health and fitness is a journey and a lifestyle change. I know I will falter and slip back into old patterns, but I have to be honest in assessing my progress. That means that I have to pull back and recognize there is a problem before I get back to where I was before. My exercise has been ok, but not exactly where I want to be. I know I have been posting all my runs, but there is more I want to do to improve my overall fitness. I am happy with my eating and fitness over the winter which is historically a bad time for me, but Spring is approaching and I want to start getting back on track.


I have been avoiding the scale (not a good idea) and this morning confirmed, what I think I already knew, I have gained back 5 pounds (amazing how quickly I can put it on isn't it? It still shocks me and I have been in this body a long time). When I reached my goal weight, I decided to use 135 as my panic weight and I weighed in this morning at 135.5. Time to get serious again. So, I apologize, but the boring ass, freaking lame, food log is coming back.

We are six weeks into 2008 here are my totals so far: (included entirely to make me feel better about the weight gain)

Number of miles run: 141.72 mi
this time last year: 4 mi.
Number of races completed: 5
this time last year: 0
Number of yards swum: 3150 yd.
this time last year: 0 yd.
Number of hours on bike: 2.5 hrs.
this time last year: 0 hrs.


Other news
Tomorrow I have my first meeting with my new triathlon coach and the triathlon training group. I haven't mentioned this because, to be honest, I am a little embarrassed and a WHOLE lot scared.

Why I was embarrassed: It seems "over-the-top" for a 38 year old, back of the packer, trying to break 4 hours on an Olympic distance triathlon to hire a coach. But, screw it I work hard and can afford it so I am doing it.

Why I am scared: There are two group workouts a week and I am sure I will be training with some seriously hard core triathletes (most of whom are probably training for an Ironman distance) and will be, by far, the slowest and least fit person out there, but I am going to do it. Tomorrow night I will get to meet everyone. Yikes.

Food
B: 2 sl. TJ French Toast/banana/coffee (290 cal)
S: apple/coffee/dried plums (155 cal)
L: Whole wheat bagel/artichoke & lt. cream cheese spread (320 cal)
S: yogurt & cereal/handful almonds (200 cal)
D: TJ chicken stir fry (yes, I cooked it myself!)/salad (355 cal)
S: Molten Delights mini (150 cal)
Total: 1460 cal
Water (ml): 3900

Is it already Thursday?

Today
Lordy, where did the week go? My masters professor always uses the saying "busier than a one legged man in an ass kicking contest." That is pretty much how I feel. I am buried already and the semester just started. This is my hardest time of year. From now until May 12th is a mad dash. Good news: I am still running; Bad news: My diet has taken a hit and I am stressed so I am not sleeping nearly enough. Still overall it is much better than this time last year, so I guess I am improving.

I am also seriously burned out on Jenny Craig right now. I think I need a break, but I need to have a plan. In the past "no Jenny" has turned into a free-for-all, and while my eating isn't great, it certainly isn't as bad as I am capable of.

Exercise
Run treadmill (39:55)
Run 4 miles (9:58 min/mile pace)
HR Monitor: Total calories burned (479 cal)

I ran the first 3 miles at 9:20 min/mile and then ran another slower mile after that. My knee felt pretty good, but my legs were still a little tired from the weekend run.

Food
Breakfast
Sourdough toast & jam/coffee (200 cal)
Snack
JC French toast & banana/coffee/ Cliff bar (post run) (470 cal)
Lunch
Chevy's: Chicken Quesadilla (600 cal)
Snack(s)
none (0 cal)
Dinner
JC Chicken Fettuccine (I took the chicken out. It looked gross) (220 cal)
Snack
yogurt & 1/4 c. cereal (150cal)

Total calories in: 1550 cal
Total calories burned from exercise: 479 cal

Very Tired Monday

Melvin Update
Thank you for all the well wishes for Mr. Mel-man. He is doing fine. We are waiting on test results. He is eating and active and time will tell if his issues are resolving. He is very glad to be home and I am glad to have him home.

Exercise
Swim (approx. 26:00 forgot watch)
Swim 1000 yds.
Total calories burned (237 cal)

This little item (H2Oaudio.com iPod case) is AWESOME. It is a waterproof case and headphone set for your iPod. I greatly dislike swimming. I think many people feel the same way about running on a treadmill, but swimming laps makes me continually think, "when do I get to stop?" The addition of music to the incessant laps helped a lot. I had planned to swim 600 yards, but I swam 1000 yards. I would have even kept going for an even 30 minutes, but the lap swim time was over and they were going to start a class in the pool. This rocks!

Food
Breakfast
English Muffin & jam/coffee (155 cal)
Snack
JC French Toast/banana/coffee (320 cal)
Lunch
Sushi: Golden Bell Roll/Tamago (700 cal)
Snack(s)
Yogurt & 1/4 c. cereal (150 cal)
Dinner
JC Chicken Carbonara (260 cal)
Snack
1/2 pc. Choc. cake/yogurt & 1/4 c. cereal (350 cal)

Total calories in: 1935 cal
Total calories burned from exercise: 237 cal

Friday

Today
Melvin is back at the hospital. It looks like he is having bigger problems than we had originally thought. He seems to feel fine (good appetite and activity), but his body is acting otherwise. Since I am going to be out of town all day tomorrow for the 30K, I decided to hospitalize him for the weekend. That way I don't have to worry about him and he can get the tests done that he needs. One of the perks of working in the veterinary field is that I have connections and I will be able to get him Sunday morning instead of having to wait until Monday.

I hate when one of my animals is sick. It is such of feeling of being out of control. Keep my little man in your thoughts.





Melvin's Story

Melvin was born in 2000 to a stray mother. He was born with hydrocephalus ("water on the brain" build up of intracranial pressure due to increased volume of CSF fluid around the brain.) He was found by the home owners because he was off by himself and not with the other kittens he could not raise his head and could not feed. He had to be hand raised. The home owner's daughter (one of our clients at my old veterinary hospital) hand raised him. He has many medical problems and mental retardation as a result of the increased intracranial pressure when he was a kitten. Most of these kittens die, but he was relatively mildly effected and our client was a diligent and superb mother to him.

At six months of age he was a handful to say the least and was making her older cat miserable. She asked me to take him in. He has a lot of medical issues because of his deformities and mental retardation and he really could not be owned by just anyone. He really needed a veterinary nurse to own him, so I took him in and he has been with me ever since. He is a odd duck and for the most part a very happy, mostly healthy boy.


He has helped me raise many kittens. Being a big brother to them all and teaching them how to be a cat. To the left, he is pictured in the window with a Maggie Bones an orphan he helped me raise 4 years ago (Maggie Bones now lives in a BEAUTIFUL home in Saratoga with a teacher -friend of mine). Below he is pictured with Floyd (Floyd and his sister, Autumn are 2 years old now and still live with me) Mel helped me raise them and they adore him. They have no idea he is different.




This looks like a memorial, but it is not. Melvin is not going to die. I just wanted to tell his story. He is a sweet boy and I am feeling a little sad about him being in the hospital. That is all.


Exercise
None. Rest day
I have the Jed Smith 30K Run tomorrow. I am excited, but nervous. I wish Mel wasn't in the hospital, but he is where needs to be.



Food
Breakfast
English Muffin & jam/coffee (155 cal)
Snack
Power bar/apple/banana/coffee (320 cal)
Lunch
JC Cheesy Enchilada/sl. wheat bread w/ margarine (390 cal)
Snack(s)
Yogurt & 1/4 c. cereal (150 cal)
Dinner
Sushi: Golden Bell Roll/Tamago (700 cal)
Snack
none (0 cal)

Total calories in: 1715 cal
Total calories burned from exercise: 0 cal

Thursday

Today
I had a good day with the cherubs today. Those have been a little rare lately, so I need to report when we have a fun, productive day where they quite possibly learned a little biology.

Exercise
Run Treadmill (41:50)
run 4 miles ( 10:27 min/mile pace)
HR monitor: Total calories burned (437 cal)

My legs were tired today. I was on them all day and the concrete floors wear them out. I need to try to sit more tomorrow.

Food
Breakfast
English Muffin & jam/coffee (155cal)
Snack
Powerbar/apple/banana (pre-run)/Powerbar (post-run) (520 cal)
Lunch (late)
Chevy's: Chicken Quesadilla/1/2 piece key lime pie (800 cal)
Snack(s)
none (0 cal)
Dinner
none (0 cal)
Snack
Yogurt & 1/4 c. cereal(150 cal)

Total calories in: 1625 cal
Total calories burned from exercise: 437 cal

Wednesday

Wednesday
Long Day. This semester I teach at State on Wednesday nights until 10 pm. I get up at 4 am because I start to teach high school at 7 am, with students arriving usually by 6:45am so I need to be there early and get myself organized.

Tonight was the first class for State and seems like I have a fun group of kids, so hopefully it will be a good semester. I teach a pre-nursing physiology lab class. It is a fun topic and I get to talk about gross stuff, which makes me exceedingly happy. I am a truly a biology geek at heart.

Exercise
None. Rest Day

Food
Breakfast
English muffin & jam/coffee (155cal)
Snack
Power Bar (200 cal)
Lunch
JC Cheesy Enchilada/yogurt & cereal (410 cal)
Snack(s)
sl. wheat bread w/ margarine/JC Cheese Curls (260 cal)
Dinner
Bean & cheese burrito (500 cal)
Snack
None (0 cal)

Total calories in: 1525 cal
Total calories burned from exercise: 0 cal

Coming Clean about my eating...

Stress, stress, stress. I have so much to do and NO desire to do any of it. I just want to go hide. Well, actually I want to run, workout, take naps with my dog and cats, go to dinner and watch movies with my husband and generally avoid all persons under the age of 25. Why can't anyone pay me to do that?

I am eating out WAY too much and allowing WAY too many indulgences.

Must. Stop. Now.

Dude, I seriously can't train for a marathon and GAIN weight. How embarrassing would that be?!

Especially since, in the not-so-distant past I have trained for a triathlon and gained weight.
I have already proven that it is quite easy for me to consume WAY more calories than I can burn even during heavy exercise. For a little person I can pack away some serious food.

Tuesday: Exercise
Run Treadmill (28:50)
Ran 3 miles (9:36 min/mile)
HR monitor: Calories burned: 315 cal

I have shorter runs planned today and Thursday because I have the 30K (18.7 miles) this weekend. I need to keep my legs loose, but not kill them before the long run.

Tuesday: Food
Breakfast
English Muffin w/jam/coffee (155 cal)
Snack
Power Bar (200 cal)
Lunch
JC Cheesy Enchilada (260 cal)
Snack(s)
2 Nutri grain bars (260 cal)
Dinner
Red Robin: Chicken Caesar wrap/side salad (500 cal)
Snack
Chocolate Cake (500 cal)

Total calories in: 1875 cal
Total calories burned from exercise: 315 cal

Yesterday: No exercise rest day, Food fest! I didn't even want to report this
Monday: Food
Breakfast
English Muffin w/jam/coffee (155 cal)
Snack
Power Bar (200 cal)
Lunch
Sushi: Golden Bell Roll/Tamago/Age dashi tofu(900 cal)
Snack(s)
dried mango/sl. Wheat bread w/ margarine (250 cal)
Dinner
Red Lobster (birthday dinner for former student): Oiy! I honestly don’t want to think about it (1200 cal)
Snack
I could barely move much less eat (0 cal)

Total calories in: 2705 cal (Ouch!)
Total calories burned from exercise: 0 cal

Super productive Sunday

Today
I was a busy bee today. I had to get my life in order at home. I started my day by avoiding the gym. I looked around my house and decided it needed to come first today. I told myself I would go swim if I got everything at home done. So I went to my Sunday morning meeting, came home and did all the laundry including all animal bedding (no small order with a dog, 5 cats, and 2 rabbits), I cleaned the house and all animal cages, washed all their bowls and place mats, sorted my nightstand books (the pile has gotten ridiculous. I have a book addiction. My husband made the rule that I have to donate a book before I buy a book. I break this rule ALL THE TIME.) and created piles of books to be returned to their owners and books to be donated, packed some returns from internet orders gone wrong, and after a brief nap I went to the gym to swim! I am quite proud of myself. Not only did I fulfill my promise to swim once a week I swam 750 yards instead of the 500 yards I had planned.

Unfortunately, I am not done yet. I have some final grading to get done before grades are due tomorrow morning and then I have to plan my lessons for tomorrow.

Exercise
Swim (20:56)
Swim 750 yds.
Total calories burned (198 cal)

Food
Breakfast
2 pcs. wheat toast w/margarine/coffee (240 cal)
Snack
1/2 pc. chocolate cake (200 cal)
Lunch
JC Cheesy Enchilada (260 cal)
Snack(s)
sl. wheat bread w/margarine (120 cal)
Dinner
JC Carbonara (260 cal)
Snack
1/2 pc. chocolate cake/yogurt w. 1/4 c. cereal (350 cal)

Total calories in: 1430 cal
Total calories burned from exercise: 198 cal

Race Report : San Juan Mission 10 Miler and first 2-Run day

San Juan Mission 10 Miler (1:43:19) 10:20 min/mile pace. HOLY COW!
Today was the 25th anniversary of the he Hollister Rotary Club Mission 5K and 10 Miler. My run buddy is sick and canceled on me for this morning so I decided, what the hell! I will go to San Juan and do the 10 miler in the rain vs. running by myself in the rain. Fortunately, despite the forecast, the weather was GORGEOUS, not a drop of rain and perfect running temp of 52-55 degrees.

My race kit is pictured to the left. Race t-shirt, red number (oops! 10 milers were supposed to be wearing blue), RBR bag with my new green Marmot Rain proof run jacket. Then, barely visible under the t-shirt is my run belt equipped with iPod, camera, water, pouch with Gu, sport beans and Kleenex. The belt is shown perched atop the box of lab reports I should be grading instead of doing this race, but oh well! In back is my cooler with ice packs for my knees post race.

I was nervous about going to the race by myself, but I went. I felt a little self conscious and promptly accidentally registered for the 5 k instead of the 10 miler. I was a little over an hour early, but I didn't realize that I had the wrong color number until about 20 minutes before the 10 Miler start. They tried to fix it for me, but I ran with the wrong color number (this made for confusion at the finish line chute when they kept trying to get me to run into the 5K chute) Therefore, you may see me listed on the site with a 1 hour 43 minute 5K. So please, when your friends point and laugh, say "I know her, she actually did the 10 miler. She's slow, but not that slow".

The race was very small (many said much smaller than previous years, which I am sure was due to the weather forecast which called for cold, heavy rain and gusting winds) but well organized and very friendly. The Rotary Members running the check in were funny and sweet. The course was a predominately flat, out and back with one small loop in the return. There was one "significant" hill that was about 1.4 mile long, but had several places it leveled off to give you a break, so all in all a pretty easy course. They closed the roads so you were able to avoid the sloped sides of the road, which my knee appreciated. The farmland was a beautiful backdrop. I will definitely do this run again.


Exercise (2-Run day)
First Run: San Juan Mission 10 Miler (1:43:19)
run 10 miles ( 10:20 min/mile pace. Holy Cow! WAY faster than I expected)
HR monitor: Total calories burned (1110 cal)

Second Run: Treadmill (54:43)
run 5 miles (10:56 min/mile pace)
HR monitor: Total calories burned (559 cal)

I was concerned that this second run would seriously suck. My legs were a little confused at first, like "hey, we did this already today", but I took it a little slower than usual and I felt pretty good for the whole run. Tomorrow I will swim. I am doing another small swim to get back into it. 500 yds. (20 lengths) this time.

Food
Breakfast
JC French Toast/coffee (250 cal)
Snack
none (0 cal)
Lunch
Chevy's with Mom: Chicken Fajitas/diet coke (1200 cal)
Snack(s)
banana (70 cal)
Dinner
JC Chicken Carbonara (270 cal)
Snack
Yogurt & 1/4 c. cereal (150 cal)

Total calories in: 1940 cal
Total calories burned from exercise: 1669 cal

Friday

Date Night
Tonight hubby and I went to Body Worlds 2 at the Tech Museum of Innovation.

It. Was. Amazing.

If you get an opportunity, go, DO NOT MISS IT. The one pervasive thought I was left with after viewing the exhibit is . We are meat. We are AMAZINGLY magical pieces of meat, but we are meat. It is this reality that makes biology so fascinating to me. Each second an organism's body performs hundreds of synchronized actions without so much as a second thought from the organism. Even complicated (I will not say advanced, because sometimes I don't think we are very advanced) creatures like us humans, can not begin to contemplate the endless number of calculations and adjustments that the body makes each minute just to keep us alive.

Anyhoo.. it was great and I needed to have a night with hubby to distract myself from myself and remind me how lucky I am to have him in my life. Smoochies to Mr. RBR. He doesn't read or know about this blog, but virtual smoochies anyway. He puts up with an amazing amount crap from me. Next month it will be 17 years of my psycho crap to be exact.

Mood Issues
Wintertime Blues are upon me, but it is so much better than last year at this time. Last January, I was at an emotional low point. My run buddy even pointed out that I am so much happier this year. She said she was very concerned by my mood and behavior last year. I have to think the running this winter (I did not run AT ALL last winter. I think I logged 4 miles in all of January 2007, and this year I have 85.8 already) and watching what I eat (ok, somewhat/trying/... well, alright, at least it is not the fucking free-for-all of last January) is responsible for this difference.

Exercise
None. Rest Day
HR monitor: Total calories burned (0 cal)

I have my two run day tomorrow. It is supposed to rain like hell, so I bought a rain run jacket. This should be exciting.

Food
Thursday:
Total calories in: 1645 cal
Total calories burned in exercise: 454 cal

Friday:
Breakfast
JC French Toast & banana/coffee (320 cal)
Snack
none (0 cal)
Lunch
Mimi's Cafe w. Mom: 1 cup Corn chowder/1/2 Tuna Salad sandwich (640 cal)
Snack(s)
Yogurt & 1/4 c. cereal (150 cal)
Dinner
Date Night: Okayama's (Absolute Best Japanese Restaurant in San Jose, CA) Beef Teriyaki Dinner w/ all the fixin's ( around 1000 cal)
Snack
none (0 cal)

Total calories in: 2110 cal
Total calories burned from exercise: 0 cal

Thursday

In five weeks I am going to run a marathon. Holy shit. I do not feel ready for that.

Exercise
Run Treadmill (40:45)
run 4 miles (10:11 min/mile pace)
HR monitor: Total calories burned (454 cal)

My quads were still tired and I need them to be ok for Saturday, so I cut it off at 4 miles instead of 5. Plus, the quesadilla I ate for lunch was coming back to visit and making my run uncomfortable.

Food
Breakfast
English muffin & jam/coffee (155 cal)
Snack
JC French Toast & banana/coffee (320 cal)
Lunch
Chevy's: Chicken Quesadilla (600 cal)
Snack(s)
Yogurt & 1/4 c. cereal (150 cal)
Dinner
JC Mac and Cheese (250 cal)
Snack
JC Chocolate Cake (170 cal)

Total calories in: 1645 cal
Total calories burned from exercise: 454 cal

Wednesday

Today
I ate, and ate, and then I thought I would eat some more.

Exercise
none. Rest Day
HR monitor: Total calories burned (0 cal)

Food
Breakfast
English muffin & jam/coffee (155 cal)
Snack
JC French Toast & banana/coffee (320 cal)
Lunch
Togo's Turkey Sandwich (no mayo, no cheese) (400 cal)
Snack(s)
Yogurt & 1/4 c. cereal/sl. wheat bread w. margarine (280 cal)
Dinner
Bean & Cheese Burrito (500 cal)
Snack
White Cake w/ strawberries/yogurt & 1/4 c. cereal (550 cal)

Total calories in: 2205 cal (Whatever)
Total calories burned from exercise: 0 cal

Tuesday

Work/School
We are in the homestretch for the first semester. It is finals week. I have tons of grading and then I start back at my classes tomorrow. I can't say that I am excited. I feel like I need a break. I wish I wasn't teaching this semester at State, but it helps a lot with the tuition. Oh well, it will get done. It always does, one way or another.

Exercise
Treadmill Run (40:50)
ran 4 miles ( 10:13 min/mile pace)
HR monitor: Total calories burned (415 cal)

My quads are pretty tired. I wanted like hell to stop at 2 or 3 miles, but my knee was fine and I need to keep my weekly miles up so I kept going. I am taking a rest day tomorrow and I reduced my Thursday run to 5 miles since I have to do two long runs on Saturday. I am doing 10 miles in the morning and then 5 miles in the afternoon. A coach recommended this since I am increasing my mileage pretty quickly.


Food
Breakfast
English muffin & jam/coffee (155 cal)
Snack
2 Nestle Crunch miniatures/JC French toast/coffee (350 cal)
Lunch
JC Cheesy Enchilada/sl. wheat bread w. margarine (400 cal)
Snack(s)
Power bar (190 cal)
Dinner
Salad w. JC Dressing/JC Chicken Carbonara (390 cal)
Snack
Yogurt & 1/4 c. cereal (150 cal)

Total calories in: 1605 cal
Total calories burned from exercise: 415 cal

Monday: Honor the memory - MLK Jr.

We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love. There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies.
-Martin Luther King Jr.








Exercise
Spin Class (1:00:00)
HR monitor: Total calories burned (525 cal)

I went, I went, I went. Yay me! The instructor was very nice and helpful. Unfortunately, the YMCA is canceling this class as well (Am I a curse?) but, I did meet a very nice lady who recommended a yoga class on Tuesday nights. So maybe I will try it out after my Tuesday run.

Food
Breakfast
JC French Toast & banana/coffee (320 cal)
Snack
none (0 cal)
Lunch
Sushi: Golden Bell Roll/Tamago/Diet coke (700 cal)
Snack(s)
Power Bar (200 cal)
Dinner
JC Mac & Cheese (250 cal)
Snack
Choc. cake (not JC the real kind)/Yogurt & cereal (450 cal)

Total calories in: 1830 cal
Total calories burned from exercise: 525 cal

Sunday

Today
Tired and sore. Those are the words of the day. I apparently used lots of muscles yesterday that I normally don't use when I run.

Exercise
Swim (12:15)
swam 400 yds. (16 lengths of the pool)
HR monitor: Total calories burned (~ 100 cal)

Very short swim, but I just wanted to get back into the water. This is the first swim I have done since the Pacific Grove debacle. It was fine. I just don't like the swim. I am going to look into a case fro my iPod that will allow my to listen to music while I swim. I have to wear ear plugs anyway.

Food
Saturday:
Total Calories in: 1750 cal
Total Calories burned in exercise: 1230 cal

Sunday:
Breakfast
JC French Toast & banana (320 cal)
Snack
1/2 power bar (pre-swim) (80 cal)
Lunch
Southwest Chicken Salad/corn bread (500 cal)
Snack(s)
French Vanilla Instant coffee (80 cal)
Dinner
JC Chicken Carbonara (260 cal)
Snack
JC Chocolate Cake (170 cal)

Total calories in: 1410 cal
Total calories burned from exercise: ~100 cal

Fabulous Friday

Today
I think the hormone fog is lifting and the good news is that no teenagers were harmed in the process. A few near misses, but all students in my care accounted for. I have my trail run tomorrow. My asthma is acting up so I am using my nebulizer and hoping for the best. If all else fails it will be a hell of a hike!

Exercise
None. Rest day
HR monitor: Total calories burned (0 cal)

Food
Breakfast
English muffin & jam/coffee (155 cal)
Snack
JC French Toast/coffee (250 cal)
Lunch
Spaghetti w/marinara (lunch portion)/5 soft breadsticks (yikes!)(1150 cal) Whoa! Damn breadsticks!
Snack(s)
none. (0 cal) Really, after a 1150 calorie lunch do I need a snack?
Dinner
JC Mac and Cheese (260 cal)
Snack
JC Cheese curls/Yogurt & 1/4 cereal/JC Chocolate cake (440 cal) Because...uh, ... I got nothin'. I just kept eating.

Total calories in: 2255 cal (Oops!)
Total calories burned from exercise: 0 cal
(I have noticed a trend, the days I don't work out I eat more. Hmmm... food for thought. Ha! "Food" for thought! Sorry, it is completely involuntary. I think they call it pun-itis, or maybe pun-emia. I'll stop.)

Thursday

Today
Not much nicer yet. Hopefully soon.

Exercise
Treadmill Run (48:50)
run 5 miles (9:46 min/mile pace)
HR monitor: Total calories burned (525 cal)

Although I was very happy with my pace, my asthma was acting up. I think I am fighting off a small cold, but any respiratory inflammation goes straight to my chest and triggers my asthma. I had a hard time on the run and a hard time recovering from the run.


Food
Breakfast
English muffin & jam (155 cal)
Snack
JC French Toast (250 cal)
Lunch
Power Bar (pre-run)/ banana (post run) (260 cal)
Snack(s)
Yogurt & 1/4 c. cereal (150 cal)
Dinner
Red Robin: Chicken Caesar Wrap/side salad/diet coke (500 cal)
Snack
JC Cheese curls/JC Chocolate cake (300 cal)

Total calories in: 1615 cal
Total calories burned from exercise: 525 cal

Wednesday

Today
I am a pre-menstrual mess. I am being a bitch and WAY to sensitive. I seriously need to lighten up before I have no friends and am divorced.

Exercise
None. Rest day
HR monitor: Total calories burned (0 cal)



Food
Breakfast
English muffin & jam/coffee (155 cal)
Snack
1/2 Luna bar/ JC French Toast/coffee (330 cal)
Lunch
Sushi: Golden Bell Roll/Tamago (700 cal)
Snack(s)
2 pc. of chocolate (80 cal)
Dinner
Rojo's: small Bean and cheese burrito (450 cal)
Snack
none (0 cal)

Total calories in: 1715 cal (Whatever.)
Total calories burned from exercise: 0 cal