Blackjack (21 Things)

ZOMG...it's list time!!  This fun little time waster has been going around bloggieland, so I had to join in on the fun...basically share 21 rando bits of information that you might not know about me.  Let's see...where shall I start...

1. I love the feel of working up a huge sweat when I exercise but I hate sweating at any other time.  Even if I break out into a light sweat doing something like walking, I feel like I have to take a shower.  
2. I drink plain hot water all the time.  It's a Chinese thing.
3. I cannot be more than a few feet away from my iPhone at all times.  I'm totally and utterly addicted to it and can't imagine life without it now...I'm like Gollum with it.  I use it for everything!
4. I hate flying.  I'm not at the Ativan stage yet, but I definitely don't enjoy it but I do it because it gets me to Maui.
5. I am totally and utterly OCD about my floors.  I vacuum daily and can't stand it when I see crumbs.
6. Even though I would loooooove to own one, I am afraid of gas stoves...actually gas in general.  It's a bummer because all the great chefs use gas!
7. As soon as I get home from work, I get into "home" mode.  That means contact lenses out, hair tied up, sweats on and makeup off.  I look like a bum but I don't care!  Poor Hubs.
8. I've never lived anywhere except for Victoria. 
9. I am terrified of spiders when they're inside the house, but not that scared of them when I come across them outdoors.  I think it's that element of surprise that I don't like.
10. I used to have spiked hair that stood up about three inches and fanned out on the sides, sort of a modified Asian mohawk.  I look back now and wonder what was I thinking!  It was cool back then though.  I think.
11. I watched Hockey Night In Canada without fail when I was a kid...we'd all sit on on the couch and my mom would be screaming with excitement.  We never cared who won, as long as it was a Canadian team!
12. I have terrible luck with the tires on my cars.  I've had numerous flats, punctures or weird leaks so I'm paranoid about them and am always checking my air pressure.
13. My first job was as a grocery store cashier when I was 15.  I still remember my first day clearly and how scared shitless I was.
14. I'm not a big fan of chocolate ice cream...plain old vanilla is always my first choice.  Unless it's Moosetracks...

15. I get my hair cut every six weeks on the dot.  My hair is hard to handle (stick straight, thick but no volume...it sucks) and grows like a noxious weed so I have to get it cut regularly to beat it into submission. 
16. I LOVE anything with peanut butter.  This is shocking because I ate peanut butter and marmalade (barfola) sandwiches every day as a kid and it was definitely not by choice!  I despise marmalade now (it has peels in it, for pete's sake!) but I do love peanut butter.
17. I love to read.  I sort of fell out of it for a long time but have rediscovered it again.
18. I have girl crushes on Sophie Lui (a BC newscaster) and Sarah Richardson, the Canadian home designer...I love their sense of style!  I actually look forward to the news every day so I can see what Sophie is wearing.  And Sarah...her clothes are perfection.  And her designs?  Amazing.  Dreamy sigh.


19. My favourite kind of evening is when it's super stormy/windy/rainy/snowy outside, and I'm all cozy inside with candles, a fire, tea and a good book.  Ahhhh.....
20. I love gingers.  Hence the whole Prince Harry thing.  Gurgle.

21. I currently own about 130 cookbooks.  If I won the lottery I would have a whole library full of them!

HBBC:  Nov 25, 7 points (60 mins bootcamp, fruits/veg), Nov 26 7 points (6 mile run, 20 mins weightlifting)

Oh Help Me

I need help. 

I need willpower!

This time of year is soooo hard.  I just looked at my calendar, and between December 1st and December 24th, I have five dinners out and five lunches to attend.  Gah!  And I'm sure between now and then, a few other things will pop up.  I fully admit...without a race to train for or a goal to reach, I'm lacking motivation to keep my eating clean or to exercise.  Sure, overall my eating isn't all that bad and I'm still working out, but I'm pretty meh and getting super lackadaisical.  I guess that's the danger of taking a break at this time of year!  Maybe what I'll do is try for a spring marathon in 2013, so my training would start around the beginning of December. 

I.must.be.strong.

HBBC - Nov 22, 1 point (fruits and veggies), Nov 23, 3 points (30 mins biking, fruits and veggies), Nov 24, 1 point (fruits and veggies)

I'm on a Roll

Day Three of HBBC...and the second day in a row that I've got all my fruits and veggies in - booyah!  Can I make it three or will my streak be shorter than the Canucks?  Stay tuned...

HBBC - 3 points (2 points for 30 minutes stationery bike and 1 point for fruits/veg)

Holiday Bootie Buster Challenge

It's that time of year again for THE Holiday Bootie Buster Challenge!  *wildly cheering crowd*

This was a cool thing that Amanda over at Run to the Finish started a few years ago, and it's taken off like wildfire through bloggieland.  I admit...I signed up last year, but got lazy...and never updated my points.  I was, however, doing the Ten Pound Challenge so was already doing something to make sure that I kept my face out of the holiday feeding trough.   I'd kind of forgotten about HBBC until Deb over at Deb Tris posted a comment, and I thought aha!  In combination with continuing to log my food, I'm gonna take part in this puppy for some extra motivation.

For anyone who's interested, here's the link to everything you need to know about the HBBC and latecomers can still register up to Nov 22 (the kickoff was yesterday).  In short, you get points for getting exercise in or eating fruits and veggies...example of point system is:

1 Point per mile (run/walk)
1 Point per 3 miles biked
1 Point per 20 minutes of weight lifting, Pilates, yoga, stretching or abs
1 Point per 15 minutes of low impact cardio (i.e. low impact aerobics, easy biking, skiing, skating, water aerobics, snow shoeing)
1 Point per 10 minutes of high impact cardio (i.e.spinning, kickboxing, lap swimming)
1 Per day where you reach a minimum of 7 servings of fruits and veggies

Easy peasy japanese-y on getting exercise in, but not sure about the fruits and veggies.  I incorporate a lot into my meals, but it's not really measurable i.e. soups, casseroles, etc.  Oh well, I'll estimate as best I can.  At first I was like 7 servings?!   But when I saw that 1 serving is a cup of leafy greens or 1/2 cup cooked veggies, I thought that was pretty doable.  Goal is to get my daily veggie/fruit point!
 
So for the next while, you'll probably see me tracking my points on the blog...as always, keeps me accountable, right?

ETA:  HBBC for Nov 19 - 2 points (30 mins easy biking), for Nov 20 - 10K/6 mile run, 20 minutes weightlifting and 7 servings fruits and veg - 8 points...woop woop!

An Old Fave

Tonight Hubs and I were doing our usual Friday night grocery shop...yes...that's right, we are dullsville and old, so on a perfectly good Friday night when there's copious amounts of drinking and general overall debauchery happening, we're at the grocery store cruising the aisles.  Hey, it's strategic...I hate shopping when it's busy because inevitably some oblivious moron will stop in the middle of the aisle while they look at pasta sauces and piss me off, so I avoid shopping at busy times.

Aaaaannnyways, I was cruising the aisles and I saw what used to be a staple in my diet about ten years ago....

I used to loooooove this stuff!  Seriously, I would eat it all the time...for lunch, for dinner, for lunch AND dinner.  I picked up the can and looked fondly at it, as I haven't bought beefaroni in years.  I had a little giggle as I remembered one incident where I brought it to work and a guy said "ewwwwwww!  my five year old daughter won't even eat that, it's like dog food!"  Hmph.  To be truthful, I almost bought some for old times sake, but the thought of all the crap in it turned me right off.  I know they had some commercials in the past few years that purported that beefaroni was nutritious...it made me realize that learning about food and nutrition isn't easy.  Back then when I was downing cans and cans of this stuff, I didn't think it was a big deal...but couldn't imagine doing the same now...and it wasn't really all that long ago, maybe ten years ago?  It made me understand maybe a bit more about why people may not choose to eat properly...you do what you know, and if your parents didn't eat healthy, then the likelihood that you won't is probably pretty high.   Or people may just not get exposed to that type of information.  The other day I was talking to someone about healthy eating and was shocked at what they were saying.  Sigh.

All this from a can of beefaroni...Chef Boyardee would be so proud.  Heh.

Committed

Breathe. 

I can't believe it...Christmas is almost here...six short weeks...ack!  I have a love/hate relationship with this time of year - I love the shopping, the festive atmosphere, and celebrating the season with family and friends.  It's at this time of year that everyone makes an effort to get together, and it's so nice to spend time with people who are important to me.  The hates?  Along with all the celebrating comes lots of eating...dinners, parties, lunches, treats at the office...it's everywhere!  Now don't get me wrong...I love food and it's one of my greatest joys in life...but along with the love of food comes lack of willpower and I'm finding myself falling down the slippery slope of food debauchery.  An example?  I'm writing this post while watching the Biggest Loser and I'm eating chocolate peanut butter out of the jar with a frickin' spoon!  Argh.  What the eff is wrong with me?!  Last year I had the Ten Pound Challenge to keep me on track...but this year, I got nuthin'.

So...with this blog post I'm putting it out there.  I've been slipping a bit on recording my meals on myfitnesspal (I seem to have conveniently "forgotten" to log the choco peanut butter on a spoon gig) so I'm recommitting to logging everything and being honest about what goes in my mouth.  I've been snacking extra at night and having treats (helloooo, halloween candy!) so that stuff is off limits except for cheat days.  And I'm committing to keep up my workouts, no matter how crazy the silly season gets.  I hit the ground running on January 1st for the Year of Speed, so want to start the year on the right foot (haha, get it?  running?  foot?) and feeling great.

Committed.  It's a deal.

The Dark Side

Yes, folks...I've gone to the dark side.  It's been years in the making, but I've finally given in.  Now you guys are probably thinking what the heck...what's going on?  Is she starting a diet of Doritos and pop?  Has she given up running?  Has she been lured by the swan song of the triathlon?  What the heck is up?!

Nope...I've finally, finally...given in to skinny jeans.   When skinny jeans first came out I scoffed at them...I love me a good boot cut or flared jean, so when I saw these atrocities I swore up and down I would never wear them.   I would eye girls who wore skinny jeans disparagingly, gloating in my fashion superiority.  "Real women don't wear skinny jeans" was my motto and I stood firmly by this.

Then a funny thing happened.  I bought some awesome boots in Hong Kong, and my boot cut jeans kinda looked funny tucked into them...I looked like I should have a banjo or fishing rod in my hands or something.  I started wearing leggings tucked into the boots (Lulu's Wunder Unders), and kinda liked that look when paired with a tunic or comfy sweater.  However, being wary of the "tights are not pants" movement, I was worried about being one of "those" people who wear leggings inappropriately and decided to get with the times and go get myself a pair of skinny jeans to avoid showing up in a magazine as a fashion don't.

I headed off to the mall this weekend to check things out...damn, jeans are expensive!  I finally ended up at the Gap where I started to try some jeans on.  I admit...I fully admit...that I even tried a pair of jeggings on.  I know, I know...I should turn myself into the fashion police, right?  It was hilarious though because I think the good folks over at the Gap know all about the whole jegging backlash, and call them "jean leggings".  Whatevs, people...they're jeggings!  Anyways, their jeggings made me look like a little Asian bratwurst so I ended up buying a few pairs of their Always Skinny jeans in black and a dark wash and darn it...these things are super stretchy and uber comfy.  Sold.

So...I gotta say....I'm a convert now for sure.  I know...what's the world coming to, right?  Pretty soon I might even start wearing colour.  Ha!  Psyche.

Day One - New Rules of Lifting for Women

Alrighty...so you know how I said before I was gonna start this new weight lifting regime, blah blah blah?  I've finally finished reading the book New Rules of Lifting for Women and figured out how the whole shebang works.  I know, I know...sometimes I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed, but I'm cute.  Ha!  I have this weird thing that when I start something new, it HAS to be done on Sunday...sort of to kick the week off and start things fresh and on the right foot.  I know...I'm so weird.

So how did the first workout go?  Not bad!  There are 7 stages in this program, so I started off at the beginning at Stage 1.  I warmed up with a 10 minute jog on the treadmill, and then did this routine, which the book calls Workout A:

Group 1:
Squats - 2 sets of 15 reps

Group 2:
Pushups - 1 set of 15 reps
Seated row - 1 set of 15 reps
Repeat this series twice

Group 3:
Step ups - 1 set of 15 reps
Prone jackknife - 1 set of 8 reps
Repeat this series twice

I like it.  It didn't take too long, so I did another 20 minutes on the treadmill.  I started off with medium heavy weights because I'm not sure exactly where I should be at and didn't want to injure myself by overdoing things.  There are two workouts in each stage, so later on this week I'll do Workout B.  Hopefully I'll be able to keep this up...I've been having some weird achiness and pain in my right shoulder so don't know what's up, so will go and check things out with my physiotherapist.   Anyways, first day of NROLFW done!

Remembrance Day Musings

Lest we forget.  As the years go by, I find myself understanding the importance of Remembrance Day more and more.  When I was young, selfish and foolish, it was just an excuse for a day off...but as I get older and older I become more and more thankful for the sacrifices that people made so that we can enjoy the freedoms that we have today.  I can't say enough how thankful and grateful I am for what I have...so I suppose a piece of why I feel compelled to pay my respects is that I can't even begin to comprehend what these people and their families went through.  I can't imagine how hard it would be to see your son or husband go off to war, maybe never to come back.  Or how scary it must have been to be on the front lines fighting.  So for that reason I'm eternally grateful to our veterans and will never miss marking Remembrance Day.

Your First

I was sitting here watching all the coverage of the NYC marathon and that Apolo Ono (drool!  love a good soul patch) and Mark Messier were running their first marathons.  I can't help it...don't know what it is, but whenever I see any race footage I get all choked up.  Sorry, sorry...I know I'm a total mushpot.  Anyways, I was thinking about that old adage that you never forget your first (hee hee, minds out of gutters people!) and I was hit with a little inspiration.  I'd  bought a shadow box awhile ago but wasn't really sure what to do with it...well now I know...

Huh.  OK, I have the marathon itch again.  Poor, poor Hubs...for better or worse, right baby?  Heh.

McRib

Sigh.  Dang I hate this getting old gig!  I got up Friday morning bright and early to get on the treadmill, and within a few minutes of starting a slow jog I felt a pop in my left shoulder and immediately knew that one of my ribs had come out of place.  Nooooooo!  Unfortunately this happens a LOT, so I knew that I had to get my butt into see my chiro pronto...if I didn't, my whole back and neck would start seizing and it's absolutely agonizing.  Thank goodness I was able to get in that evening!  Rib was out of place and the neck was out of alignment...darn hybermobility.  I was pissed because it meant that I had to skip a long run that I had scheduled with M this morning, as I was still incredibly stiff and sore...I've been missing my longer runs and was kinda looking forward to it.  Being injured and not being able to run always makes me regret the times that I blew off workouts!  And I guess I have to look at the bright side...Mr. Rib didn't pop out before the marathon or during my trip to Maui, right?  Always a silver lining, folks.

We're In!

A few weeks ago, I mentioned that as part of the Year of Speed, Hubs and I were hoping to take a running clinic called Mindful Strides that a lady named Marilyn Arsenault does here in little old Victoria.  When we got back from our vacay, I went to check out her site as she had posted that she'd be having some more clinics in October.  Well, lo and behold...they were all sold out!  Dang.  As I cruised her site some more, she noted that we could send her an email and she would let us know when the January clinics were announced...and yesterday we got the heads up that the clinics were posted!  As soon as I saw her email, I signed up both Hubs and I...yahooo!  I'm soooooo excited and can't wait to take her clinic...anything we can do to improve our form and hopefully improve our speed is a good thing.  Getting super excited about 2012!