Happy New Year

As 2010 is drawing to a close, I'm contemplating my goals that have not come to fruition. But, I have been on my way. So with that in mind, I'm resetting my goals for 2011. I refuse to call them resolutions, you know how long those typically last!

My goals:

1. Finish reaching my goal weight. This shouldn't be too difficult once I'm totally back on my allergen-free diet....sadly, Bailey's is not on my "good" list.
2. Finally run that 5k race--probably for Breast Cancer, but if I get my butt in gear, maybe I'll actually get in more than one.
3. Try-a-tri. Seriously. I can do the swim, now only to train for the run and the bike.
4. Further my yoga practice. Yoga has given me so much in only a few months, I look forward to increasing and deepening my practice in 2011. On the off chance Sarah is reading this--Sarah you rock and I love you!
5. Start lifting weights again. My shoulder has recovered from the tragic knitting injury of the summer of 2010 (thanks to yoga and regular massage), it's time to start lifting again. The best way to boost metabolism and keep aging at bay. No stooped shoulders and osteoporosis for this chicky!
6. Keeping the newly found balance in my life. This is my most serious and necessary goal for 2011 and luckily, the previous 5 goals will help me to achieve this one. With balance comes happiness and fulfillment--need I say more?

I've realized that my, ahem, "fervor" may make others feel uncomfortable, and that I'm sitting in judgement of their choices. To all of my friends, I want you to know that I do not judge, I've been where many of you are on your journey, and my journey is still that, a journey. My deepest wish is to be an inspiration, a helper, a friend you can count on. I would love to workout with anyone--I need partner motivation too! I would not expect anyone to be in the same spot on their path, but I'm always open to "parallel" working out (I steal this from child development--parallel play), and prodding and encouraging each other. If you're interested let me know :)

With all of that said, Happy New Year my friends and hopefully new readers and followers. I welcome your comments. I'm enjoying my last night before getting back on the treadmill (figuratively and literally!), enjoy yours.

See you at the gym, or the pool, or at yoga!

Namaste!

post Christmas depression

I'm suffering from post-Christmas depression. Tree and decorations are down, presents put away and general malaise has set in. It doesn't help to be fighting a cold, no doubt brought on by eating sugar and other crap to which I'm allergic. Deep sighs and grumpiness mark the day. Logic tells me going for a run, or an hour of yoga would be the cure, but I'm wallowing in it instead. There's time enough to "pull myself up" by my proverbial bootstraps and sally on with my life. I think today I'll just give in and wallow. More sugar and wine will no doubt make it worse...so cheers! Who'd like a buttertart?!

It's been a while...

Hello, I know it's been awhile, but honestly not much to say. Still following allergen-free diet (ok, not this week, too much Christmas!), faithfully practising yoga and swimming whenever I can fit it in. Rick has been thinking about doing sprint triathlons this year, he's kind of got me thinking about it again. I can do the swim part--it's always been the easiest for me. Thinking about hitting the treadmill in the mornings, I know I can easily build up to running a 5k over a few weeks...if I set my mind to it :) And there's the rub--staying focused and motivated. Although some of the stuff going on at work makes me realize I need to stop worrying so much about school, and spend more time focusing on me. In the long run (very punny, I know), leaving 1/2 an hour earlier to hit the gym, or getting there a while later 'cause I'm running isn't going to make one whit of difference. Obsessing about work doesn't make Nicole a nice person to be around...just crazy!

Still battling the negativity associated with any change. People don't really understand, and feel offended by changes. Not that my lifestyle changes would have anything to do with them--I'm not judging, just trying to be as healthy as I can be. It genuinely makes me uncomfortable when people assume that they need to worry about what I'm thinking about their choices, or that they need to worry about what I can eat. I wish health and happiness for everyone, but we are all on our journey...my choices aren't necessarily good choices for anyone else.

On that note, I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Make the best choices you can for yourself, and be happy and healthy.

Today is a struggle

I don't know why, but today is a bit of a struggle. I didn't buckle Friday when the kids had treats galore at school, but today I'm craving candy. First time really, since starting to follow my allergen-free diet.

I'm a little sad today, I guess that's probably why. I miss having little kids on days like Halloween. Makes me sad. Always having been an emotional eater, the emotions are making me want to eat. I'll be ok, no one ever said that life would be easy.

Exercise has been good the past week, swimming lengths a couple of times, yoga. Maybe kickboxing tomorrow. I would love to go to kickboxing, I really miss it! Since Rick is on afternoons this week, we'll see. The kids' schedule usually dictates how much gym time I get.

Hope everyone is having a wonderful Halloween :)

It's working!!

My family got together to celebrate my Mom's birthday yesterday. Although I asked if the mussels were dairy-free, I discovered that there was some butter in the sauce. It wasn't long before the throat clearing and coughing started. It's not like I was dying or anything, and anyone who knows me, knows that coughing and throat have been fairly normal in the past. And I realized--I haven't been throat clearing or coughing since cutting dairy out of my diet! It's working! It's really affirming to know that yes, I am making the best choice for myself, even in the face of those who aren't terribly supportive and think I'm just crazy. I did mention I was with my parents, right?!

I didn't eat hugely at lunch, but I was satisfied and did fairly well with choices. We went back to my sister's for Mom's ice cream cake, and my sister was nice enough to give me a bowl of grapes so I could be munching on something instead of cake. I love ice cream cake, but surprisingly, it wasn't that difficult to pass.

When we got home I made yummy curried apple-butternut squash soup. I sweetened it with agave syrup, and thought it was sooooo sweet. Rick tells me it's not sweet at all. Same with the pumpkin muffins I made (also allergen free), so sweet. It's amazing how fast your taste buds can change!

I'm discovering new ways to cook stuff I can have, and I'm feeling great. Life is good :)

I even went swimming after school today. My friend Cathy and I hit the pool and got in a few lengths before the swim team took over the pool. I'm so looking forward to going and length swimming again. And I'm working on getting my butt out of bed early enough to run/walk on the treadmill before school.

It's all a journey...looking forward to yoga tomorrow,
Hope everyone is inspired and getting healthier too.

my apologies

I apologize for the rant in the previous post. After considerable reflection, I have come to realize that the individual I wrote of is an extremely needy person. My incredible irritation comes out of the daily undermining and insults that are directed toward me. The regular critism of my teaching practice (ok, now everyone likely knows of whom I write...) and personal choices in order to make h**self feel better are a part of the same desire *** has to share h** newfound desire to be fit. My derision of someone who is obese and has just begun to lose weight is not something of which I am proud. But having said that, it is my blog and if I don't vent somewhere, it could get really ugly at school when I say exactly what I really think, instead of walking away.

So on a more pleasant topic, yoga was awesome last night! We were working on an Ashtanga style of sun salutation, and let me tell you, my shoulders are feeling it today! Planks are really such an amazing whole body exercise! I'm still really working on softening my shoulders so that they're not hunched up around my ears, there's really alot of thinking about the body that needs to go on. And anyone who thinks yoga is for wimps is mistaken. Even after all the gym time I've spent lifting weights and going to Rob's crazy boxing classes, I feel it the day after. Nice!!

I had a very difficult time with the balance poses last night, could not stay balanced in a pose for the life of me! Makes me wonder if I have some inner ear fluid, since I'm usually much more able to stay in the poses. Hmmm, maybe time to start taking Cold-fx and that yummy astralagus tincture (gag).

Hope everyone is having a wonderful morning that continues into a wonderful, glorious day!

What is (insert pronoun here) thinking??

This post is not inspirational...it's a rant. Ok, now that you have been warned, feel free to read on and to comment.

Today a well intended, yet clearly (in my mind) delusional individual invited me to join a fitness "group" wherein people who join do an aerobics routine together, to a dvd. Nice enough right? Ok, now here's where I wanted to unleash my inner kickboxer on said individual's absurdly plump arse, "I don't think it'll be too hard for you." And went on to tell me how to target my core, because you know, it's really important. And explained how squats are the best thing for your core.

I am proud of myself for politely declining and walking away. I did not point out that I have been working out for many years, and knew about cores than said individual would know in a million freakin' years. I also did not point out that h** core has the consistency of pudding, and is still well hidden by a generous layer of cushioning.

I would love to invite Rob the psycho to come do a kickboxing class with her. It would be so funny. It would be cruel, but oh, so funny.

Ok rant over. Heading out to yoga.

Namaste.