Weekend Recap

I don't know about you guys, but whenever I log in to my blog and see I have a new follower I get so giddy! I love getting new readers!! This weekend I have been loving my turkey bacon like no other. So easy to make for a quick lunch or dinner.

I have also been continuing to make some scrumptious pumpkin pancakes, can't get enough of these babies. Tonight for dinner I mixed chicken with veggies, ginger, soy sauce and peanut flour for an Asian dish.

This weekend was one busy weekend. Yesterday, Craig and I left our place at 6am to head down to the stadium for the Nebraska verse Michigan game. Now I am not a die heart football fan, so getting up so early for football seemed pretty ridiculous to me. We had friends who were in town, so we were obligated to show up.

I can tell you one thing, I am no longer a trooper like my collage days. We started the festivities around 9am. Being around friends and drinks all afternoon, I admit that I was horrible about remembering to eat. It was four o'clock in the afternoon when I realized that I had not ate since breakfast and all I had on hand was a Kashi Granola Bar in my purse. We were on campus, so food places are miles away in walking distance. Around 6pm Craig and I decided we were shot and headed home....returning to my car we found that we had left my lights on this morning so my battery was shot. An hour later we managed to find someone with jumper cables to restart my car. 9pm we were home and hungry. I basically just slabbed together what I could from my fridge and ate then headed to bed.

This morning I woke up pretty groggy with an upset tummy. Yeah Chels that is what you get for eating nothing the entire day and having a few beers..not wise. I made some oats and headed to the gym for a light elliptical/cycle workout. I felt 100% better after my workout. The rest of the afternoon was spent grading papers and making Halloween treat baggies for my kids. I can't believe tomorrow is Halloween already!!

Well in the fitness area of my life, things were looking up with my ankle. I attempted my mile run on Thursday which turned into two miles, bad idea. Yes, I felt good during my run but immediately afterwords my ankle begun to swell and throb...I pushed myself too hard. Friday I took it to the pool and Saturday back on the elliptical. After today's workout, really no pain whatsoever. As I step into this week, I know I have to just take it a lot slower with the running...might go for the whole walk/run intervals. The positives about my ankle continuing to flare up on me is that it is now starting to get cold, so there are less races around to participate in. I am hoping by Spring I will be back in the game.

Any fun Halloween plans?

What could you do more of when you were younger that you are now finding harder?

WIAW

Pretty excited...today I picked up our invitations after work and this wonderful engagement photo will cover the invitation. Now I just have to put together about 300 invites...enter the bridesmaids and several bottles of wine lol. After picking up my invites, I called up Muscle Gauge and ordered some of my fav protein powder.

Two flavors I love...chocolate and peanut butter. The total came to 81 bucks! I still wonder why I am broke, probably because I spend a fortune on protein powder. I do though, to justify use it in almost everything I make pre and post workout.

What I ate Wednesday...here are just a few shots of what I enjoyed this Wednesday...

Before bed tonight, I will be enjoying one of these lovely peanut butter protein shakes made with almond milk.

Mid Day snack consisted of wonderful cinnamon roasted almonds...these babies are like crack. For lunch I had once again a tuna salad with some raspberry dressing and sliced apples. I also paired it with some pita bread and yogurt as usual.

Breakfast, chocolate protein oats with flax meal and cranberries and yogurt to mix in. I HATE cranberries unless they are cooked, I can't eat them right out of the bag...strange.

My afternoon snack consisted of some cereal mixed in with protein powder and greek yogurt..I think I get my daily dose of vitamin D.

Dinner...mid-way through the day I had a craving for pancakes, so pancakes it was...of course with a side of green beans and some ketchup.

Today was a rest day from the gym, and well needed. Yesterday at PT my doc made me do lunges. Yes, lunges that I have not attempted in over two months. My butt was so sore this morning. I am pretty pumped for tomorrow's workout, attempting a mile run!

Do plan your dinners out a week ahead of time or do you fly by the seat of your pants?

What are you looking forward to fitness wise??

Dragging Monday

Bleck it is Monday and I am d-r-a-g-g-i-n-g. I caught the sniffles on Friday, and I think my body is still trying to fight off the rest of my cold. This week is Red Ribbon week, aka say no to drugs week at school, so everyday the kids dress up as something. For example tomorrow is dress as your favorite super hero to fight off drugs. Fun, yes...but anything that distracts kids from learning and gets them excited means complete hysterics.

Sunday, I did something pretty amazing...I ran for 5 minutes! Yup 5 minutes of pure bliss :) I got to thinking that I probably could have ran more and skimped on my elliptical workout, but I am taking this running slow. My plan is to swim tomorrow, Wednesday rest day, and shoot for a mile run on Thursday...I have my second pt appointment tomorrow so I will see what my doc thinks. I am surprised how much the stretches my pt has given me have really helped me. My ankle still twinges here and there, but no more stiffness!!

Lately it seems as if I have had Greek Yogurt coming out of my ears. I have been eating it for breakfast, snacks and lunch with pita bread. I can't get enough of it.

Dinner tonight was yummy turkey tenders with pasta sauce mixed in with some Miracle Noodles. I love Mircle Noodles because I don't waste my carbs on the noodles and can still have pita bread or crackers or whatever other carb I choose.

I discovered these cute little serving size cups of Kashi Go Lean at the store today. You would think I would be smart enough to not buy these considering I have already two boxes of Kashi Go Lean in my apartment, but they are already serving sized out...I am such a sucker!!

So my wonderful pumpkin that I was so proud of, well I came home tonight and had found that apparently Cooper thought that it looked pretty tasty. Now it is headless. For reals?? I swear, I have quite the unique creature of a dog. He has managed to not only dig holes in our carpet, he has also torn up my bed sheets, Craig's Grandma's quilt and dug into some dry wall. Literally he is eating us out of a home!

What is your favorite snack/food right now that is coming out of your ears?

Enjoying Fall

Today was a great day! Instead of the usual Saturday football tailgating, I enjoyed the afternoon going to a local apple orchard with the girls. The orchard had lots of tasty treats. I picked up some blackberry jam and of course a big bag of apples, yum! Craig enjoyed several the minute I got home.

After the apple orchard I decided to hit the pool for some laps, and I was surprised how well my workout went. I was a little tired all morning, Craig and I had a birthday party last night and I did not make it to bed until after mid-night. So, my workout for the morning was pushed to the afternoon. I completed a mile swim free style then followed it up with about 10 more laps using a kick board and doing the frog motion with my legs. Man this really worked out my legs! I came home and crashed. Yesterday I woke up with a cold some sinus issues and it is still taking a toll on me.

Tonight Craig and I called for a night in, what a perfect time to carve pumpkins...and we did! Mine is on the right. Craig got creative with his design.

What was your Saturday workout?

What do you do to celebrate fall?

First Appointment

Yes you have to love my fresh out of the pool look! This morning workout kicked my butt, literally! I jumped in the pool and completed a mile swim followed by a few strokes of breaststroke and pool running. Mostly when I have been swimming I just try to stick to free style, but I am starting to become a little more open minded and getting into different strokes to tone different parts of my body. I felt great through my weight lifting session that followed, but seconds after I arrived at school...chomped down my oats...I was EXHAUSTED. My arms felt like jello, I had to physically force myself to write the schedule on the board for the kids this morning.

This afternoon, I came to the conclusion that I might be running low on fluids. How did I come to that conclusion?? Well, my pee was bright and I mean bright yellow. I know gross, but that is usually how I gauge weather I am either sick or dehydrated. Usually my pee is almost white. So I have been guzzling fluids to lighten up that pee a little.

Today was my first Physical Therapy session. I really like the young gal that I am working with. I am glad they did not set me up with a man...I always feel a little off working one on one with the other sex. Of course, I was still embarrassed when my doc took off my shoes and had to touch my yucky feet. My toe nail polish is chipping off and I have nasty little hairs growing on my big toes, yuck! Anyways, she said that from the evaluation it looks as if my foot probably just went through some kind of strain and is weak right now and needs to be strengthened up again, hence the reason why it stiffens up whenever I start to exercise. So we went through about six different exercises and she printed them off for me and I have to do them twice a day. Some of these exercises are calf raises (not new), toe raises, writing the alphabet with my toes, ankle rotations, and standing wall presses. I will be the first to admit I am HORRIBLE at stretching, probably why I got myself into this to begin with. So it will be some work for me, but I am going to do this. I am just so eager to get back on the treadmill.

Anyone ever pool run before? I have been reading a lot about it on Runners World. It seems almost comparable to running and many have said they come back stronger as a runner when they start running again. Do you think your body gets as great as a workout?

Friday tomorrow, WAHOO!!

X Rays Back

Once again my love for cottage cheese has found its way to my heart in snack size containers. I don't know what it is about them, but I am sucker for the snack size. I probably spend twice as much half the time, just because it is already portioned out for me.

What a busy day!! Woke up and did some swimming, I am happy to say the rib is healing quite nice. It still gets a little stiff and sore near the end of my workout, and I have stayed clear of the weight room for now. After school, I finally went to the doctors to get my foot issue looked at. Can you believe that I waited till now and I have been having problems since July?? I think it was me just self diagnosing myself that got me through the last few months. Well the X Ray showed nothing! Yup pretty much nothing. I know, I should be happy, but a part of me was a little upset. What is causing this dang foot pain then? Is it all in my head?? The doctor prescribed me with Achilles tendinitis based from my symptoms...which makes sense considering it comes and goes. So she did refer me to a Sports Physical Therapist, which I was pleased with. I have my first appointment with them on Thursday. If things do not clear up within a month to six weeks of treatment, then a MRI it is. I am happy that it looks as if nothing is too serious, I just wish there was a quick fix for it and there is not. Yes, I probably could just entirely stay away from the gym for the next year or so and see what would happen, but I am not even sure that would help it.

Enough about injuries. I thought I would show you a few pics of what is laying around my classroom lately. This week students are taking HUGE assessments all day long. I actually feel horrible for them having to sit at their desk all day long. So in order to keep them a little excited, operation snack. Students love these Gold Fish Crackers and Kool Aid Jammers.

Check out my cool candy drawer that students are able to choose from for good behavior

Finally...my stash of gum and nuts in my side drawer...although I need to toss the gum, having so much around me is bad!

On a side note my good friend Britt (on the left) is moving to Ohio :( This really bums me out. I know we all move, grow up, and live our lives...but sometimes you just don't feel as if you are ready to say good-bye yet.

What was your favorite childhood snack?

Any ideas how to tone your legs with swimming? The lack of weight lifting has left my legs looking a little mushy.

Motivation Sunday

Today is was one of those days where I just need a boost, of what I am not sure. I started my day off with a 60 min. cardio workout mixing it up between cycling and elliptical followed by some bicep and shoulder workout. I tried working out my tries and back, but my ab muscle is still apparently sore so I held off. It could be another two weeks or so before it is healed. Craig and I ran some errands today, and I was just grumpy. I think what set me off is seeing a bunch of runners along the side of the road. My foot has not gotten any better, not any worse though either. I still have a nagging pain around the side of my achilles. I know I really need to just go in and get it xrayed to find out exactly what it is. I have done everything from heel raises, calf stretching, icing, etc. and heck I have stayed away from running for over a month now. Yes, I still do the elliptical and cycle, but only at most three days a week, otherwise I have been in the pool. It is just so hard for me to deal with. I want to be out there with the rest of the crowd, enjoying the awesome fall weather and running races...weather it be as simple as a 5k.

So after my grumpy mood I came across the ever so famous Pinerest website and was hooked. Heck, I should be grading papers but instead for the last hour I have been looking at motivational posters and educational activities to do with my kids, the dang website got me hooked. It is amazing though how much a simple quote can really up your spirit. I know what I need to focus on right now is what I can do and give my body the time it needs to heal. I need to do what I can, with what I have, where I am. So I can't run right now, I am thinking I should lessen the cardio and focus more on weight lifting once my side oblique starts to heal up a little more.

In all reality, I think I am just in a HUGE transition part of my life right now. I am at the age where I am ready to start having a family. Craig and I both agree our college days are done with, and nights staying up until 1 am are too much for us anymore. I have all the reasons in the world to be happy, heck I am getting married to the most wonderful man in a little over 4 months, from there we will purchase a house and start our lives. It always seems as if I am always living for what is to come and not taking in things at the moment. Always looking towards tomorrow, but never taking granted of today and what I have right now.

I may not be 100% to give it my all with my workouts, but I should be happy for what I can do and enjoy it for the time being and realize that over time my body will heal and I will get stronger and better!

So yes, I can do this. I can get through these irritating injuries and move past and come out on top. I am strong and I have faith that I will do this!

Do injuries ever get you down, what was the longest you were out?

Fun Q and A

When was the last time you cried and why?

Last Sunday, Craig and I were up way past our bedtimes tailgating and we crashed at a friends house. The next morning, I woke up very tired and in desire need of a shower. We stopped to get coffee and Starbucks messed up my oatmeal, I was so tired and worn out from the night I just burst out into tears.

Do you like your handwriting?

Depends on the day, sometimes I love it other times I despise it. I hate my cursive handwriting.

What is your favorite lunch meat?

Turkey or chicken breast lunch meat, Costco.

Do you have any kids?

Nope, but hopefully starting soon after the wedding ;)

If you were another person would you be friends with yourself?

For sure, I consider myself easy to get along with!

Do you still have your tonsils?

Yes

Would you ever bungee jump?

Of course!!

Do you use sarcasm?

All the time, although most of the time my third grade students don't get it.

What is your favorite cereal?

Kashi Go Lean

Do you untie your shoelaces before putting them on or taking them off?

Usually tie them once, and leave them tied until they need to be tied again.

What is your favorite ice cream?

Cookie Dough from Coldstone

Do you think you are strong?

My lower body is much stronger then my upper body

What is the first thing you notice about people?

Their eyes

Red or Pink?

Red-my wedding color!!

What is the least favorite thing about yourself?

I have trouble speaking what is on my mind to avoid confrontation

Who do you miss the most?

My Aunt Wanda

What color of pants are you wearing?

Gray sweatpants

What is the last thing you ate?

Salmon and spaghetti squash

If you were a crayon what color would you be?

Red

Favorite smells?

Fresh air early morning, the smell of grilling, Love spell by Victoria Secret, my fiance's cologne

What are you listening to right now?

LifeTime Movie

Who was the last person you talked to on the phone?

My Mother In Law

Favorite sports to watch on TV?

Cheerleading or gymnastics, last would have to be baseball

Hair color?

Truly brown but dye it blond

Eye Color?

Green and brown, they change color in the sunlight

Do you wear contacts?

Nope, 20/20 vision :)

Favorite food?

Toss up between oatmeal and pizza

Scary movie or happy ending?

Happy Ending

Last movie you watched?

Something Borrowed

What color of shirt are you wearing?

Blue

Summer or winter?

Summer, snow is ick!

Hugs or kisses?

Hugs from loved ones kisses from my finance

Favorite dessert?

Frozen cookie dough or carrot cake

What book are you reading right now?

Not sure of the title, but it is by Jodi Picoult, just started it

What did you watch on TV last night?

Kendra

Rolling stones or Beetles?

Neither

What is the furthest place you have been?

Costa Rica

Do you have a special talent?

Teaching

Favorite sound?

Sound of rain

Where were you born?

Iowa

Now answer some of your own!

Jeez Really??

Like the ice pack I swiped from the school nurse today, lol. Okay well it is not for my Achilles. In fact, my Achilles has really started to feel better..must be all the swimming I have taken up. On the other hand, when one thing clears up the other thing sprouts up. So about two weeks ago I noticed some slight pain in my right oblique. I am pretty sure I just pulled it a little using this new ab rotating machine at the gym and possibly swimming and my body not being so used to it yet. Well the past week the slight pain subsided and was only apparent if I touched my side deeply. Enter Monday at the gym, continued with some ab work and had a 15 pound dumbell in my hand and was doing some side raises when all of a sudden POP!! Followed by pain. Not cool!! As the day continued, the pain continued. Of course I was fine walking, but any turn or twist, cough or even sitting against my side indicated pain. I was sad, upset, and mad that I had decided to take that stupid 15 pound weight when my side has been sore.

Today I awoke, of course took a rest day due to the pain, and headed to work to google my hands off on all the symptoms of a torn stomach muscle. I figured I was getting nowhere fast and made a doc appointment. The pain today was not as bad, I noticed right when I woke up it hurt, but once I started moving around for the day, the pain subsided more. After work I headed to the doc and they did some xrays. Conclusion...I strained my rib. She told me the x-ray looked good because it showed no fracture.

Most of all, I was happy to hear that I can still workout. She told me swimming would continue to help it. I have a hard time believing this, but she did tell me that swimming would help move the muscle and keep it warmed up. So YES I am happy. Although, I plan on keeping away from the pool till Friday, I think I am going to stick with the bike and the elliptical with no moving arms for the next few days. Crazy, I am not really sure how such an injury would happen but it did.

Aside from seeming to become injured in so many ways, I have been busy at work with wedding planning. Take a look at our lists. Yes, we have over 400 guests!! I am excited to say that in about 4 months we will be getting married. I still can't believe it!!

Lately, I have been LOVING cottage cheese. I am talking LOVING IT!! I have been mixing it with my cereal, oats, spaghetti squash, and veggies..YUM!!

Well I am off for the night to get prepared for tomorrow, workout/work/ordering invitations!!

Have you ever had a crazy injury that you really can't explain how it happened?

What is one food that you are crazy loving right now??

A Nice Day Off

This is exactly the reason why the YMCA in my town needs to get their pool fixed ASAP, because I am going broke stopping every morning at the Scooter's right next to the pool! Today I had the day off, well worked from the past 14 hour days I put in. It was so nice to catch up on errands, make some yummy food and get a good swim in.

Lots of good food today! I am loving the combo of peanut butter, turkey and jelly on a wrap. Don't knock it till you try it.

Fresh garden green beans picked by my fiance :)

Mid Day adventures, shopping for my flower girl dress. We came across one that I feel in love with. 190 bucks! Can you believe that?? This little thing is more expensive then my bridesmaids dresses. My cousin is in the wedding, and I am having her five year old daughter as the flower girl. My Dad has offered to pay for the cost. He thinks it is not right for them to have to spend extra on the dress. I know this will make her very happy :)

More food combinations to fuel my shopping...egg beaters and a huge salad with apples, turkey meat and chopped broccoli.

Don't forget the garlic cheese bread made out of pita bread and baked!

Finally, some yummy buttered popcorn rice cakes. I used to eat these things all the time, forgot how good they were. Only problem is they do not feel you up at all and I end up eating too many of them at once. It is like air in your tummy.

So if you were to ask me what I did today it would be workout, eat, shop, eat, blog, and eat. Pretty much a success of a day if you ask me. I will probably get to bed a little early tonight...HUSKER football tailgating all day tomorrow...but first will be a good swim!

Happy Friday!!

Back to Regular Work Days

Finally my life is back to normal after this hectic week. Literally, I have been cooped up in my classroom for two straight 14 hour days, parent teacher conferences!! I am telling you, fourteen hour days really make you appreciate your eight hour days.

After an exhausting day I did manage to knock out a different type of dinner. Enter the mushroom portabella. This thing was HUGE and filled with garlic, a little too much, but I managed to eat the entire thing.

After doing some blog stalking tonight, I realized everyone seems to have Eggs on their mind...enter ahem Running World magazine. Ironically, what did I have for dinner...a runny egg! Lunch was egg beaters :) Nothing is better then ketchup and eggs!!

Today I received an email from my local YMCA stating the updates on the pool, they are hoping it will open next week!! FINALLY, no more driving an half hour out of my way to use a pool. Awesome because I am really starting to enjoy my swim workouts.

Tonight after work/dinner I enjoyed reading my Running Times magazine that appeared in my mailbox today. I read through the Editor's note and I found it very interesting. The editor spoke of injury and our insane driven love for running. I too have told people about my Achilles issues, and I get responses such as "man good luck with that because you are always running," or "what are you going to do with yourself now?" Lucky for me my outlet has been swimming, lifting weights and biking. I will be honest though, after about three weeks of no running at all, that dang treadmill is looking pretty inviting. I don't know what it is about it, but nothing can take the place of a good run. I am happy to say that my Achilles is much, much better. I was able to do a 55 min. workout of elliptical/bike with no pain at all. I told myself that I am going to wait the rest of the week out (due to extreme calf pain from the calf machine...grrrr) and give it a go next week...but just one mile every other day..no pushing too much too soon.

I guess you can say everyone has their vices, and mine is running or exercise. With a vice, everyone has to learn balance. Balance, well it is sooo hard for me. I have to come to terms with the truth of the matter which is that rest allows me to become better. Working out excessively is not going to make me look rip or buff, it will not allow me to become faster or stronger, but will only tire me out and leave me exhausted. So legs, I know you want to run so bad right now, but rest is what you need!

How do you feel about rest?

October Goals

Hello friends, can you believe it, October already!! Woke up today and these legs were KILLING ME! Not really sure what I did, I have been swimming the past two days but I did do some calf raises on a calf machine Friday at the gym and followed that with a day of walking trails with the kids for our field trip. Yesterday they were sore, but this morning I woke up and my calves hurt worse. So as much as I wanted to go on a long bike ride today, I took a rest day to massage and ice my calves.

Since it is the start of a new month, I thought why not add some goals to the month of October. So here goes!

1. Make at least one different dinner meal a week, just one other then my usual dinner of pita bread with cottage cheese and a salad with fish.

2. Depending on my Achilles (getting much better) I would like to try to get in a few runs at the distance of most two miles

3. Carve pumpkins..every year Craig and I buy the pumpkins with all attempts to carve them and it never happens, I am determined this year!!

4. Increase my swim laps by 5 each week. This week I hit 40 laps in 45 minutes! I am pretty impressed, it was taking me 55 minutes a month ago just to get in 36 laps.

5. Get my bike out for a bike ride before it turns cold...I had plans to do that today but soreness got in the way

6. Order wedding invitations, which means I have to get hotels finalized, rehearsal dinner planned, and wedding rehearsal times planned....

I think those are some good goals for start! I really want to be more specific with my running but it is so hard to gauge a certain mile number when you are recovering from an injury.

What are your October Goals??