Anti-Nausea Smoothies/Juices

I've had some pretty hardcore morning sickness this time around, and I wanted to revisit my old friend, Juice.

Here are a few recipes I've tried out that help my queasy tum (also helpful for those who are battling winter colds and such).

Anti-Nausea Banana Smoothie

A local restaurant, Grilla Bites, has a Jungle Juice that I crave ALL of the time.  Apples, carrots, pineapple, lime, and ginger.

THIS site has many different recipes.  Overall?  I feel like you really can't beet (ha ha) good ole' ginger. Seriously effective for an upset stomach.

Roses Are Red, Violets Are Blue...

... guess who's pregnant with #2?

It's official!  I'm almost 13 weeks (goodbye first trimester!) and I've been battling some pretty violent morning ALL-DAY sickness roughly since the New Year began.

I've been living on my couch, so I've had some time to go through some old files from my first pregnancy (i.e. baby names, baby shower ideas, etc.).  I stumbled upon my list of things I'd brought with me for labor and things I wish I would have thought to bring.

So here you go, ladies, my official Things I Brought With Me To The Hospital During Labor And Things I Wish I'd Have Thought To Bring list.  Feel free to chime in and help a prego out!

For Labor:

-Gourmet lollipops (they help distract from hunger AND early contractions).  I found mine at Raley's, but I think they carry them at Wal-Mart as well.

Gah! Why is she smiling?!

-Birthing [exercise] ball (helps to sit on and roll your hips around during contractions, my hospital provided one).

It's for my back, mom, I swear!

-Back massager (one of those little handheld ones).

-Oversized nightshirt (my team let me wear mine instead of the uggtastic hospital gown) or cute frock from Etsy or the like.  So many choices, and SO worth paying a little more for something that will be in all of your pictures (although, to be fair, I found the gown pictured brand new on eBay for twenty bucks).

-Magazines/books/movies (being in labor for hours gets BORING).

-Lip balm.  You know.  Hee-hee-hee-hooooooooooooo.





After Labor:

Ahh.  Soft and clean.

-Super-soft slippers/robe/jammies (much needed comfort, and OH!  Did they mention when your water breaks you will be completely soaked and you will probably want to throw away the aforementioned cute hospital gown?  No.  No they don't).

-Snacks (all I wanted to do after giving birth was EAT.  Chex cereal was my craving).

-Breast pads/maxi pads (you'll definitely need both, and my hospital actually supplied the maxi pads).

She won't be smiling when her milk comes in...

-Nursing bra (Motherhood Maternity has some soft cross front bras for about $17, great for layering under tank tops and shirts).

The more ruffles, the better.

-First outfit for baby (bring two, my newborn was so much smaller than I could have ever pictured).

-Baby book (not only can you immediately record the height, weight, etc., they may put baby's footprints right into the book for you).

-Camera (although I think most people just use their phones now).

-File folder (for all of your hospital paperwork).






-The obvious (multiple changes of clothes - you never know how long they'll keep you, diapers, toiletries, car seat, etc.)

I'm sure I'm forgetting things, my last pregnancy was five years ago, so feel free to add items in the comments section below, and enjoy a few of these throwback pictures from my first experience!

See the eye?  That, my friends, is what happens when you push your baby out in about TEN minutes!

Game On - Day 1

So, if you missed my last post, I'm playing a four week diet/exercise competition where you play in teams and get points for basically being healthy.  You can read the rules HERE.

Here is my own quick overview + personal goals:

1.  I got a perfect score for my meals today (I'll post my dinner recipe at the bottom). 

2.  Perfect score for exercise.

3.  I know I'll get perfect sleep points because I always wake up at 5am and it's easy to be in bed before 10pm (for my 7+ hours total).

4.  Perfect water score (3 liters).

5.  Perfect score for my new habit, which I chose as flossing my teeth twice a day (I'm not good at keeping up with flossing).

6.  Alas, no score for getting rid of an old habit, which was biting my nails.  I sat down to tally my scores and put my damn nail right into my mouth.  SO close!

7.  Perfect communication score.

8.  No penalties.

I promise not to post things like this every single day for four weeks, I'm going to try and gear this more towards recipes, since there are way more meals (and WAY less to them) than I'm used to.

Since we get a "free" 100 calories to use as we wish once per day, I waited and used two small corn tortillas (50 cals each) for fish tacos.  Sound familiar?  I'm really still obsessed with these things, so I had to find a way to make it game-appropriate.

-2 corn tortillas (free 100 calories)
-PROTEIN: 1 palm-sized portion of Tilapia
-CARB: 1 fist-sized portion of rinsed black beans (portion cut in half)
-CARB: 1 fist-sized portion of brown rice (portion cut in half)
-FAT: Thumb-sized portion of natural green olives
-Mixed greens (lettuce is a freebie)

I baked the seasoned fish (light sprinkle of sea salt, pepper, cayenne pepper, parsley flakes, garlic power, onion powder, and paprika) at 350 degrees for 20 mins.  I should have added a little water or something since I chose to have olives instead of using olive oil for my fats and it was a little dry on the edges.

I then wrapped my tortillas in a damp paper towel and warmed them in the microwave for about 10-15 seconds.  I had my portions pre-sorted, so I plated everything and scarfed them down!  They look bigger in the picture than they actually were, one of those fish pieces was about the size of two fingers put together.



Game On!

Has anybody heard of this "Game On!" diet?

My sister-in-law told me about it just last week, and before I knew it I was on a team of three against three!

We begin this Friday, and we are only going for four weeks (I think most people do eight).  I don't have the book yet, and I've had a hard time finding much information on it, so I figured I should blog about it and get more information out there for people to find!

Here is the overview, seems a bit overwhelming, right?  We aren't going through this website, we started our own private Facebook page for the team and we're just using it as a guide.  I printed out all of the pages and read it out loud with my SIL, reading it out loud and talking about it as we went REALLY helped to understand each section much better than trying to read it alone and getting frustrated.

I will keep everybody updated with recipes and challenges!  Stay tuned!

 



Old Farmer's Day

Apparently, October 12 is Old Farmer's Day!  How will you "celebrate"?  Farmer's market?  Shopping at local grocery stores?

I pick tomorrow to go grab some lemon cucumbers for my juice!

Ch-ch-ch-ch-chanGES!

The nice thing about blogging? 

It's not my JOB!

I got started during my juice cleanse a few years ago, and every time I think about it I feel GUILTY.  Like, I should be posting stuff every day! 

But, alas... I cannot.

I can, however, embrace my 500+ followers and start thinking of FUN things to read about instead of peeking around the corner, seeing my blank laptop screen, and feeling sheepish that I don't blog often enough to deserve so many lovely readers.

So, remember back when I had a Holter monitor?  Well, that fun heart stuff happened again.  I am on day ten of a twenty-one day stint with a little computer logging all of my arrhythmias.  I juice.  I'm healthy.  My heart just likes to freak out for no reason whatsoever.  Fun.

Abrupt change of subject.

Since I've been juicing for so long, and thinking about experimenting with new recipes makes me feel exhausted, I will share with you my go-to, simple, cram-as-much-shit-as-you-can-into-one-recipe official Mean Green (copyright Joe Cross, me thinks) recipe and fruit juice recipe.  I make them about every two days, and I have the fruit juice for breakfast and the green juice throughout the rest of the day.  I use some vintage Tupperware pitchers and they seal just fine. :-)

Green Stuff:

-6 on-the-vine tomatoes (I like tomato flavor...)
-12 ounces of spinach (I buy a big 1 1/2lb bag and use half for my batch)
-1 cucumber
-4 celery stalks
-2 large carrots
-2 red apples

Fruit Stuff:

-1 crate of strawberries
-4 large carrots
-4 apples

Sooo, enjoy.  Love how the juice will make you feel. I promise to update more often!

 

Juicer Replacement Parts

So, if you have a Jack LaLanne juicer like I do, I highly recommend NOT ordering replacement parts direct from the website. 

I needed a new crescent tool (FYI, it is magnetic.  It will stick to the bottom of your baking sheet.  Always check the bottom of your baking sheet before putting it into your hot oven.) and bought one for $7.99 with free shipping (they've since raised the price to $9.99).

Not my disaster, but you get the point.

I got the part yesterday, and it was the wrong color to boot.  I ordered the part in APRIL.  After about a month of using a screwdriver to get my blade out for cleaning, I realized I should probably check on the delivery status.

Turns out it was backordered.  No call, no email, nothing.  The customer service guy (Bob, from India) could have cared less about my annoyance for their lack of communication.  So I took out my feelings on the Facebook page, and apparently LOTS of people have issues with their orders.

In conclusion, if you're in no rush for a replacement part, by all means please order through the website.  Otherwise, try eBay.  Same parts, same prices, faster shipping.

Another Year...

... another cleanse, more awesome glasses.  Cheers to another year of keepin' it green, friends. :-)

If you are new to the juicing scene, you should start at the real Day #1.  Down the rabbit hole you go...





Best Way to Lose Weight...

... 5lbs of hair. :-)

Locks of Love

Purgatory.

Up There.

Purgatory.  That is where I am, as of now.  My apologies for beginning my first blog post in MONTHS on such a bummer note (aside from the fantastic movie above), but I'm ready for some changes... again.

 

Since having some heart issues and having a few different diagnoses (Tachycardia, PVC's, etc...), I have been SO afraid.  Afraid to exercise in fear of my heart bursting.  Afraid to eat anything with salt or caffeine in fear of my heart bursting.  So what do I do here in purgatory? 

I am going to begin with what feels the most familiar... juicing.  I will take things slowly, yet again.

Ever since I started this blog well over a year ago, I have yet to meet a doctor who can not only give me a straight answer, but give me a "cure".

Last year, I began juicing because of stomach problems.  This year, I have heart problems.  I have not experienced any stomach problems since I focused on a health/research regime, so I'm hoping the same thing will ring true for my heart. 

For those of you out there who are still following this blog (bless your hearts, no pun intended), or for those of you just finding this blog from a random Pinterest board... thank you.  Thank you for letting me vent and sticking around and for understanding that I am NOT perfect, I am NOT Jamie Eason (lurve her), I am not a vegan OR vegetarian, but I am health-conscious and I love discovering things about our bodies and the things we can do with them.

I am planning on cutting my Sasquatch-esque mane and donating it to Locks of Love this coming Tuesday.  I'm hoping I can get my talented sis-in-law to take some pics so I can share it with you all.  I have never had short hair, so in light of the New Year fast approaching...

... what have you been stuck on?  Your diet?  Your hair?  A relationship?  Diets can be simple with the correct research, hair can grow back.  Relationships should be rewarding, not destructive.  Let's get out of this rut before this next year falls upon us, eh?

My early NYR (New Year Resolution) is to breathe new life into this blog.  My followers motivate me to be better, and what could be better than that? 

Juice on!

E.R. Games.

Calling 911 is really scary.  You realize you've just admitted that something is terribly wrong and there is nothing you can do about it.  NOTHING.

I hope this makes sense, because it is exhausting for me to type.  I just want to get it written down before it blurs together and I forget the way the story goes. :-/

On Thursday, I had attempted to nap with my daughter, but after an hour I still hadn't fallen asleep.  Not unusual for me.  I sat up to use the restroom and realized my heart was beating pretty hard.  Also not unusual for me.  I've always had a high metabolism, so a rapid heartbeat and sweaty palms are the norm.

I went downstairs to read a book and practicing some breathing exercises.  My heart rate stayed elevated, so after another hour I began to get a little worried. 

I called a friend, and she said it may be the effects of the cup of coffee I'd shared with her that morning, since I'm not a coffee drinker.  I couldn't catch my breath, so I got off of the phone to go make some juice.

I called my mom, and she told me she'd call me right back.

I called my mother-in-law, no answer.

I went over to the vortex of hypochondriasis that is the Internet and began researching what my resting heart rate SHOULD be, then timed what it really was, which was about 115-120.  That lit a fire under my butt to really get some help, because I knew something was wrong.

I was calling our local walk-in clinic to see if I could talk to a nurse about my symptoms, when I swooned and I knew I was about to faint.  I hung up and dialed 911 and was simultaneously gasping for air, trying to stay conscious, and banging on the door of my neighbor's house so I could get my daughter to a safe place before I fainted.

The ambulance arrived, and by that time I was shaking, nauseous, had a tightness in my chest and a rapid heart rate.  I could barely breathe, and I was scared out of my fucking mind.

E.R. Round One:  Mercy Medical Center. 3:00pm-7:00pm.

After being admitted and realizing I was healthy as a horse, then the head scratching began.  My heart rate would not drop below 130-140bpm, and a resting rate should only be about 50/60bpm to 90/100bpm.  I got over my initial fear of DYING after being picked up by the ambulance, so panic was not a reason for those numbers.  I've done yoga.  I've done meditation.  I KNOW how to calm myself down.  But I couldn't lower my heart rate.

DIAGNOSIS:  All tests came back normal.  Diagnosed with Palpitations (irregular heartbeat).  Told to go home, pop some Benedryl, drink some chamomile tea and go to sleep.  My heart rate was still high, and I still had tightness in my chest, trouble breathing, sweaty palms, dizziness, and nausea.

E.R. Round Two:  Mercy Medical Center.  Midnight-6:00am.

I took some Benedryl, drank my tea, tried watching a movie in bed with my kiddo.  I almost dozed off a few times, but when the movie ended she fell asleep and I got dizzy.  Like I was laying on a water bed.  I sat up, dizzy went away.  Lay down, dizzy came back.  I got up and went downstairs, sat on the couch and thought of Dori from Finding Nemo. I used the mantra for breathing instead of swimming.  I tuned in to my body and was scared to find I still had every symptom except the rapid heartbeat.  I called my mom and asked her to take me back to the hospital.

More tests, still healthy in every way possible.  I wanted to scream that SOMETHING is wrong with me, people!  Can't you see??!!

DIAGNOSIS:  All tests came back normal.  Diagnosed with Cardiac Arrhythmia.  Told to go home and take some Zofran for the nausea.  Heart rate was better, but I was still dizzy and having trouble breathing because of the tightness in my chest. 

E.R. Round Three: Shasta Regional Medical Center.  11:00pm-3:00am. 

Now it is Friday night.  I have not slept in about 48 hours.  My husband had worked out of town that week and was finally home just in time to take me to my last stint.

I was trying to sleep after another go of the Benedryl/chamo tea, but the dizziness was worse than ever, washing over me in waves every 30 seconds of lying down.  Breathing also became more difficult the more horizontal I was. 

I was actually scared that I would not wake up.  Just because the tests showed good health did not mean anything to me. I had a gut feeling that something was (and still is) wrong.  So off to the emergency room again.  I was determined to make this time my last.

More tests, shockingly healthy.  Surprise, surprise.  I broke down crying and told them that I just wanted to go to sleep.

DIAGNOSIS:  All tests came back normal.  Diagnosed with Acute Bronchospasm.  The final doctor basically told me that there wasn't ONE thing they could diagnose that would umbrella my symptoms, because my tests were clean.  Instead, he decided to give me a breathing treatment for the tight chest, and Lorazepam for anxiety (basically to help me go to sleep).

As I am sitting here now, my palms are sweaty, I feel dizzy when I am standing for more than 60 seconds, my breathing feels better after I use the inhaler, and the anxiety pill has helped me sleep AND take a nap.  I'm shaky and tired, and my heart hurts a little bit, but I'm still breathing.

I'm Still Here...

... just having to put Mommy stuff before gym time.  Ugh, I know, right? :-)

My tot got this awful sicky thing just after I posted about thinking I was to have an amaze-balls workout week.  Ha ha ha HA HA, you win this time, karma!  With the hubster out of town, nobody wants to watch a sick babe.

I am taking this in stride.  One step forward, two steps back.  Then a million steps forward for the rest of my life. :-)

Lil' Bitty Progress Post.

                                                    
Yeah, you can pick my body apart all you'd like (I see cellulite, ewwww!), but my muscles are just, like, aching to break free.  I love juicing, I can get all of my nutrients that way, but I never had enough energy to really BUILD during that time.

After ending my juice fast I've started over at zero.  I am trying to balance juicing, eating healthy, exercising, and sleeping.  The juicing and exercising have been easier for me than the eating healthy and sleeping.  I've been slowly cutting out processed food by eating HEALTHY processed food (so when I am finally able to eat clean, my body won't miss the flavorless substitutes!  But those rice cakes are actually pretty good.  Ha.).

Anyway, I'm still here trying to figure shit out one day at a time. 

I feel a super-duper workout week coming on, so stay tuned for some Trainer Boy updates.  I hope he has some wisdom for us! :-)

Personal Trainer Tippy Tips.

So, trainer boy has long-ago permanent injuries to his ribs and left foot.  He is also a crossfit freak.... which he can never do ever again.  He can't even run. 

Forget tire flipping, let's do stool presses!

So here I am, letting my body go to waste all of these years for NO reason (because I have absolutely no injuries and can pretty much do any kind of exercise), and there are people out there in agony because they can physically no longer do the thing they love.  Their calling.  Their precious.

I feel ashamed.  I feel like if we were cars, he would be a pristine Aston Martin.  I would be a dusty sedan with a messy interior that breaks down every few hundred miles.  Why is it SO HARD to just do what needs to be done and take care of our bodies?

                                               Trainer Boy.                                                Moi.

Anyway, I'm already sidetracked for this post.  I'm going to share a few choice factos that I've been learning from all of the "gymmies" that take their time to help me. Some of them may contradict each other, which is what SERIOUSLY fascinates me about the exercise world. 

1.)  There is no way you can follow someone else's diet/exercise plan.  After two months of totally legit, super-duper sluethy internet research by yours truly, I finally get it.  You literally have to know everything about your own body.  The outlines that trainers and bodybuilders give you is just that.  An outline.  A skeleton.  YOU have to do the work to tweak things so your body benefits as much as it can.

2.)  Buy tupperware.  Every trainer I bump into at the gym usually chats with me during a lunch break.  They open up their little storage container and I've only seen the following inside;  chicken, brown rice, veggies, quinoa.  And, repeat. 

3.)  Buy some isolate protein powder and fish oil supplements.

4.)  Figure out what to eat or drink and when.  Eat your (healthy) fattiest, carbiest meal about an hour before you do your major workout of the day (um, yeah.  Haven't figured that one out yet).  After the workout, make a shake that contains oats, egg whites, a spoon of natural peanut butter, your protein powder, and some ice.  The when and the what of the eating and the drinking is what really gets my gears turning, because EVERY SINGLE PERSON gives different advice!

Sure you can juice your spinach!  Ahh-guh-guh-guh-guh!

5.)  You HAVE to give your body 1-2 days of rest during the week. 

6.)  Have you heard the phrase "My warm-up is harder than your workout?".  Yeah, well, it's true.  Try doing a fifteen minute warm-up with one of these methods:  Elliptical.  I set it to random, enter my weight and my level, then the time to fifteen minutes.  Go at a normal pace for the first two minutes.  After that, every time the little squares on the screen are stacked at one, two, or three, you GO FOR IT.  Just kill it.  Then go back to the normal pace and repeat this method (better known as HIIT, or high intensity interval training).  Bicycle.  Ride for the first two minutes at a normal pace, then go thirty seconds of intensity with one and a half minutes of "rest".  Treadmill.  Set it at a walking pace, then kick up the elevation as high as it goes and walk uphill for ten to fifteen minutes.

She eats my workouts for breakfast.

My disclaimer?  I'm obviously not a personal trainer, dietician, or doctor.  I'm just the messenger passing along these little tidbits, because I'm really learning as I go.

Meatheads.

My trainer girl has moved on to bigger and better things.  She took a job at a different gym, and we haven't worked out together in a few weeks now.  Sad.  And tough.  I actually enjoy having a workout buddy as opposed to duking it out on my own.

Yeah, not me.  Or my trainer.  But you get the idea.



I always talk to the front desk staff at my gym (which is how I met trainer girl) whether they are associates or trainers.  A select few have really taken me under their wing and have been helping me, guiding, me, and giving me priceless tips about diet and exercise.

About a week ago, I was introduced to Trainer Boy.  He is a complete opposite of the gal I've been exercising with, but it's a GOOD thing.  After talking to my favorite front desk dude about isolate protein powders and fish oil (because we're cool), trainer boy jumps in and realizes I'm legit about changing my life.

The magic words.

"Hey, I have a few clients who pre-pay for sessions, then don't answer my calls when it's time to schedule.  At the end of the month, if I have any leftover open time, come on in and I'll train you."

Really, readers?  Do you guys even KNOW how lucky I feel?  This is the second trainer who has sacrificed time and energy to help ME.

I'm going to re-preach a previous post, because it begs to be said.  ASK FOR HELP.

That's all I do.  I ask and ask and ask and ask.  Not for everything, don't get me wrong.  It's usually a "Can you show me how to use this equipment?", "What in the freaking heck is a Superman Surfer?" or "Is there a certain brand of protein powder I should avoid?".  The difference between just asking and actually asking and doing is what catches the attention of the staff. 

Please don't think I am trying to get everybody to scam on trainers.  I wish I could afford to pay for a personal trainer, because in my mind the way I've treated my body these past few years, I DON'T deserve the advice I've been recieving.  I'm just trying to help you all understand that when you put yourself out there and make others realize that you are SERIOUS about a new way of life, good things will come of it. 

For real.

P.S.  Trainer boy looks like a meathead, but as it turns out, he's quite awesome.  I guess you can't judge a book by it's cover, even if that book looks like a gorgeous beefed-up snobby fitness model with dimples and long eyelashes.  Think A.C. Slater sans mullet. :-)

What?  Oh, I'm just headed to the gym to fix Kristen's bod.

Foul Mouth and Week Five...

... of THIS crazy plan, and I feel stronger!  I love walking in to my gym and straight into the weight area with confidence.  The staff is so unbelievably helpful and genuinely excited for me!

It's insane that there is this other world out there right under our noses, but most of us would rather walk into the gym, avoid eye contact with everybody, and walk straight over to the cardio machines.  I totally used to do that. 

My thinking went something like "Okay, Kristen.  Let's get this over with.  Twenty minutes of jogging.  You can do it.  Shit shit shit!  My machine is being used!  Now I have to jog right in front of someone and my butt will be jiggling right in their FACE!"

Now I think "Shit shit shit!  I hate cardio days!  Get me back over to the free weights, man!"

That is not a joke.  I have to research most of the exercises with the weights (like skullcrushers, Russian lunges, burpees, etc.  Doesn't the name 'burpee' make you want to gag?), but I am LOVING trying new things and feeling ten thousand different muscles burning that I never even knew could burn. 

Sigh.  It's awesome.

Since I spend five days a week at the gym, I haven't had time for my other love, which is vintage clothing!  My etsy shop is pretty thinned out, but I was able to get a few new items listed HERE and HERE.  If you love vintage kiddo clothing as much as I do, browse around!

Here are some more linky links if you've reached the end of the internet and you're looking for some brain food:

- Baby Bumps and Barbells

- How to make perfect hard-boiled eggs (I'm ashamed to say I never knew how!)

- 15 Things You Should Give Up to be Happy

- Supermarket Lies Revealed

Celebrate the Random!

*don't blink, you'll miss a link!

June is National Fresh Fruit and Vegetables Month.  Who knew?  After learning this fun fact, I decided to do a little research and find out what healthy "celebrations" I've been missing out on.  I think it could be a fun way to mix up your diet and learn some fun, new recipes!

National Turkey Lovers' Month:  Simple Turkey Roll-Up Snack (my own idea, although I'm sure I'm not the first):  Take a slice of deli turkey and a fat-free string cheese, then ROLL IT UP!

National Dairy Month:  Healthy Cottage Cheese Pancakes... YUM.

National Papaya Month:  Just juice it!  How to juice a papaya.

June 12 is National Peanut Butter Cookie Day:  Muffin Top-Less Peanut Butter Protein Cookies.  I follow this gal's tumbler site, she always has great recipes for those of you with a sweet tooth!

June 13 is National Kitchen Klutzes of America Day:  Sometimes we just need to stick to the basics. :-)  Recipes for the Hopeless Cook, and again.

This was fun!  I'll post some recipes at the beginning or each month, and we can try them out together!

I'm Not Crying, I'm Just Allergic to Exercise...

"I know now that I know nothing."

I didn't hear this phrase from anywhere, it literally just popped into my head after my first ever nausea-inducing workout with trainer girl.  Then I started bawling like a baby. 

Instead of spouting my new found knowledge to everybody about REAL exercise versus lightly jogging on the treadmill for twenty minutes, I figured it would be smart to plug that phrase into the ole' Google search engine and see what happened.

Hey!  Whaddya know?  WISDOM.

I'm sure I've subconsciously heard this phrase many times over the course of my life, but it makes me wonder why it would pop into my head NOW?  I've had to deal with much harder situations in life than just making my muscles sore. 

Regardless, I'm glad my brain decided to gift this phrase to me.  It's pretty humbling, right?  I keep pushing myself more than I ever have before when I work out with trainer girl, and I end up crying fifty percent of the time. 

After one particularly grueling regime, I had pulled a muscle and let her know.  She told me to roll this foam thingy over my muscle, and I just started sobbing.  She cocked her head to one side while I was busy apologizing and told me that exercise was spiritual, and that most of her clients cry at some point.

I'm not really religious, so I'm not going to get into religion, but I like that word. 

Spiritual.  It sounds so zen for such an intense moment. 

So the moral(s):  Knowing that I know nothing has allowed me to push myself harder than ever before.  BUT.  Keepin' it spiritual has allowed me to NOT push myself to the point of sickness, so I can take a step back and say "Hey, my muscle hurts.  I think I should cool it.", or "I'm going to puke if I push myself any harder, time to close my eyes and stand over a fan."

What's the rush, anyway?  I want a life change, so I'm going to take my sweet time and just be a sponge.  A tired, weepy, restless, sore, anxious, smelly sponge.

Sponge? No way... this gal's a ShamWow!

Eat Less, Move More.

Sounds fairly simple, right?

I know it's been a few months since I've written, but I want to be CONFIDENT in what I write regarding health (plus we've been SO BUSY here!). These past weeks have been completely geared towards exercise and diet research by yours truly. :-)

I walked in to my ($5 per month) gym one weekend and commented to one of the front desk staff about how intimidated I was by all of the equipment, AND I can't afford a personal trainer, which deters me even more. I've literally been immersed in youtube.com videos about how to properly use each machine, just so I didn't look like a fool when I finally got the guts to try some out.

The guy behind the desk was completely sympathetic to my irrational fears of the equipment! He said to come back and he would not only show me a few machines, but he could also give me some diet tips. Um, OKAY!

I went back the next week, and here is where the stars aligned for me.

The front desk girl said the guy I spoke with would be an hour late. I didn't have too much free time that morning, so she casually said "Have you used your free personal training session?". I had actually signed up MONTHS ago, but I didn't expect a call. I used to work the desk at a Gold's Gym in Virginia, and the trainers there would roll their eyes and complain about how people just wanted them to quickly show them every single machine, all the while whining about how they can't afford any more sessions after the free one.

I agreed to meet with the trainer that was there, who just happened to have free time on her schedule RIGHT THEN. She sat me down (and she was actually very kind), asked me about my goals, and I burst into tears.

I explained my neverending quest to be strong, HEALTHY, and knowledgeable, and my misery with myself is taking a toll on my marriage, and sob, sob, sob...

She just smiled and wrote one simple phrase onto a piece of paper.

Easy. Ha.

She then told me that I was one of the most open and genuine people she had ever met with. She asked me if I wanted to come back in during HER exercise time frame, and she would teach me the things I've been aching to know.

Since then, after we exercise together, she casually takes out her planner and pencils me in to come in and work out at the same time as her. Again. And again. I feel like I could cry as I'm writing this, because I really CAN'T afford a personal trainer. This girl (a STUDENT, nonetheless) is taking time out of her high intensity exercise regimes to HELP me.

I'm still juicing, but I also want to be strong. And healthy. And while I get used to rewiring my brain and changing my body, I will leave you all with this; JUST ASK.

Ask for help. Be real and genuine. Most people working in that kind of environment are there because they love exercise, being healthy, and they truly want to pass that along to people like you and I.

Just ask, and keep moving. :-)

P.S. The first day I met with the trainer, she gave me some homework and told me to bring in a printout of an exercise regiment. This is what we've been doing ever since: IT'S REALLY HARD.

Skinny-fat.

So, since finishing my cleanse in December, I've been happy with the results, but I've had this feeling of incompletion.

I'm not sure I had a specific goal (as in, how I wanted my body to look) in mind when I started juicing aside from relieving health problems and fitting into my clothes again. I still don't feel like I did what I set out to do, and it has been eating away at me and keeping me up at night. Why wasn't I happy with this accomplishment?

Then I came across this website: http://muffintop-less.tumblr.com/.

Okay, I'm not saying I want to be a body builder, but I love some of the information she offers.

I've been preaching about how all I did during my cleanse was some light walking and jogging. I had more than one person comment on my pinterest pictures about how I was "skinny-fat". Please don't think I've been obsessing over those comments, because I think adding fruits and veggies has done 100% good for my body (and NO, I don't think I am skinny OR fat).

BUT.

The wheels have been turning. I guess I figured doing minimal exercise would be enough to get my body back to this:



It isn't! This is 20-year-old Kristen who only had to jog a few times a week and do the 8 Minute Abs video.

I'll be the first one to admit that gym equipment intimidates me. I was content for a time that jogging on the treadmill was enough. Now I feel antsy again and I am curious to try a different workout regime. I am going to ask my gym for help. :-)

I am curious to see where this path takes me, and I am kind of eager to share it with you all!