Training day 25; employment and stomach flu

Eck....so lately I've been feeling like shit. My job, as much as I love it, has been a complete drag and really wearing on my psyche. I have been the epitome of stress and have been so pre-occupied with all of the things bouncing around in my brain that I have had little time for well, anything. Then on top of that, my feeling like shit turned into a more physical manifestation. I don't know if it's food poisoning or the stomach flu, but this is day two of some serious stomach rumble and accompanying destruction. However, I see the light at the end of the tunnel: I applied for a new job a couple of weeks ago, and got the call today that they wanted to hire me. I am totally stoked! Not only will I be a real nurse actually taking care of patients instead of just passing meds all day, but I will be working 12 hr shifts 3 days a week, that's right, 4 days off!!! Holy MOLEY! Whatever will I do? heehee. Well, for a while I will probably pick up some extra shifts, stay on at my old job per diem and keep the doors of opportunity open. I just feel a great weight lifted off of my shoulders. I had been debating in my mind for the last two weeks about whether I should go to this new job or stay at my old one because there were so many factors involved, and I honestly couldn't have told you two days ago what I was going to do. But when he called this AM and said they wanted to hire me, I felt ecstatic and I knew I had to accept. So no more stress!
Now on to more training related things, it has been raining wicked hard for it seems like forever, ok I think it has been a little over a week. But not exactly enticing for one so wimpy as myself. So today, Erich and I cleaned out the garage, mostly so he could pull in the Mini and do the brakes, but also so we can set up the trainers and get some pedal on.
Ok, I guess I should confess: last week, I had more than my alotted one beer. In fact, I had approximately 5 beers over the week. I chalk it up to stress, I have no excuses, I'm not sorry, but perhaps I am now reaping the consequences. On a bright note, I had a pint of Lagunitas Cappuccino Stout at Carnegies that was fantastic! More like coffee than any beer I have ever had, and so delicious. Dark and lingering, it lasted me at least the time it would take to drink two or three lighter beers. And it is the memory of that delicious beer that I will carry with me through the end of this first month of training. Until next time, cheers!

Training: Day 15!!!! Two weeks down *hi-five*

Sheesh, busy week. Work, bleh. No time for riding the trainer this week, I hate how work and the stresses that go with it can totally obliterate your time for fun sometimes. Long story short, work has been totally crappy and I applied for a new job, but now I'm rethinking leaving where I'm at because things are working themselves out, as they usually do. Anyhow, I've stayed strong with my main resolution during these trying times: I have abstained from my fave beverage (with the exception of my one a week rule:) I've been doing fairly well on the diet also. Still going strong on the no soda, no fast food. Ok, gotta cut this short, we're gonna take Linka for a walk so she doesn't terrorize the cat all night.:) Peace.

Addendum to the most embarassing thing ever

So I found out today, our scale at work sucks and is six lbs off so I actually weigh 180 and have 20 lbs to drop in the next 11 months. This is an encouraging thought and seemingly much more attainable! My quest continues on!!!


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Training day 8: chuggin' along

WOW, training week number one, check. So I haven't done a whole lot of physical training this past week, it's been more concentrated on the diet training and non-beer-drinking training, which I have perservered through. I have decided to allow myself one beer a week as a reward for all of my hard work and let me tell you, one beer has never tasted so sweet! My strategy for approaching the one beer scenario: no six packs, that is just temptation, it is too easy to say "I'll just have one more"; the solution: I will buy one 22 oz. bottle of beer and split it with my training partner, we each get a fantastic pint of beer and I know I have to savor that pint because there is no refill waiting at the bar. I think it will work rather well! I had my one beer on the evening of day 6, Anderson Valley's Barney Flats Oatmeal Stout, decidedly one of the best stouts ever made, and Anderson Valley is at the top of my list of favorite breweries. It was delicious. Enough said.
Another victory of week one: the wet dirt smoothie, I am addicted. I have never enjoyed a smoothie so much, it really satisfies my hunger and leaves me feeling full for a significant portion of the day. I have also been faithful to the psyllium husk daily and I've been taking my supplements religiously. I haven't weighed in for week one yet, I will do that today at work, since I refuse to own a scale in my house (I overall object to the idea of weighing one's self as a measurement of success when training or dieting, however because I have a specific weight goal for this training endeavor, I will in fact be weighing myself weekly or possibly bi-weekly.)
Next weeks goal: attacking the bike trainer and spinning my way to a leaner fitter me. More on that as the week unfolds. I better get in the shower.............

Training: day 4. a wet dirt smoothie

Delicious and nutritious, introducing the official training breakfast of the SSLA: the wet dirt smoothie (no actual dirt was harmed in the making of this smoothie, it just looks like dirt or wet dirt aka mud) Oh, you want my recipe? Ok, here it is debuting for the first time ever.

The SSLA Wet Dirt Smoothie

1 blood orange, juiced
1 oz. pure unsweetened cranberry juice
6 oz. water
1 cup frozen mango chunks
2 tblsp. hemp protein, vanilla flavor
1 tblsp. cold pressed flaxseed oil

Blend and enjoy.
This made one overflowing pint glass, which is kind of alot for me,
but would be excellent for splitting with your training partner,
(unfortunately mine is at work this AM).

OH, yeah, you are probably wondering what the SSLA is, well, a few days ago I mentioned the "brainchild" of Erich&Mike that will come to fruition and the SSLA would be said brainchild. More details to come.

Training: day 3. Hot tamales are my weakness

Ok so they are one of my weaknesses, and I am not really sorry. I ate them today and they were delicious! Luckily one of the other nurses loves them too so she significantly decreased my intake. Overall I'm still trucking along, no beer, no fast food, no soda. I've been faithful about drinking my psyllium everyday, sippin my cran-water, and chugging the h2o like it's goin outta style,(consequently I've spent alot of time peeing) and I'm feeling rather good!
On a side note, I got our tickets for muse in the mail and I am so very excited! Happy birthday to me!(oh yeah...footnote: I am turning 30 on April 1 and we are going to Portland to celebrate! I'm sure I'll fill you in more later, oh and this trip is a predestined break in my rigorous training regime because there will be alot of beer drinking and delicious food eating going on!) ok sleep now.


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