Knitten Kittens

Finally Friday!

kimbreknittergirl@gmail.com (Kim) — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 00:21:00 GMT

And I finished it strong with another two mile run today, though I really like saying that I ran six miles this week. Sounds much more impressive, no? Still don't feel ready to go above two miles as I still do a fair amount of struggling with the two. But I'm not quitting and I will get there. It takes time and I have that.

I am also really stoked that changing my blog name is helping me network with other runners and I plan on checking you all out this weekend! To be a knitting blog, technically, you have to be a real knitter as opposed to a dabbler and I am not a real knitter. I do enjoy to knit an occasional scarf, but the thing is more or less that I elected to get healthy and that took precedence over knitting. So YAY for other running bloggers!

I am always intrigued when I am suddenly assaulted by something that comes from several sources which makes it appear that I really need to take a closer look. A few months ago, I was scrolling through the "Watch Instantly" queue for NetFlix and ran across"Food Inc". I started watching it, but it quickly got to the point where I couldn't watch. Seeing the way the animals were treated during mass production of chicken or beef was more than I could take, animal lover that I am, so I turned it off after about twenty minutes.

Then last week, I was having a sushi lunch with Leisl and she was talking about this Clean Diet she was following and she whipped out this book:

I glanced through it but it all came together for me yesterday. I am not an Oprah fan, but when I saw the preview, I recognized Michael Pollan's name as the author of Leisl's book and while watching Oprah, I found out Michael was also involved with "Food Inc". So, I have a few of his books on hold at the library so I can take a closer look as I was intrigued by much of what he said yesterday. What really stuck with me, and I may not have the percentages exactly right, was that twenty or thirty years ago, 17% of our income went to food and 9% went to medical care. Now, those numbers are reversed. Food is cheaper due to mass production, but is obviously a lot less healthy for us with the use of drugs and antibiotics on the animals. I'll be sharing more with you as I do some research as all things food and health now fascinate me.

Okay, I am signing out for the weekend. It's supposed to be a rainy one, so I am looking forward to some chilling out. Hope you all are able to do the same. See you Monday!

Peace out!

Thursday Thirteen

kimbreknittergirl@gmail.com (Kim) — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 15:36:00 GMT

So I've done some homework and discovered nothing I didn't already know but apparently needed to be reminded of. So some random snacks that are both filling and relatively healthy:

Apple and peanut butter

Apple and Cheddar cheese

Tuna and crackers

Cottage cheese and crackers

Raw veggies and low fat dip

Fresh fruit and low fat, low sugar yogurt

Edamame (which I love)

Fruit smoothie

100 calorie popcorn

Hard boiled egg

Lean meat wrap with mustard

Nuts (though I am not a huge fan)

Bean salad

A lot of this stuff I actually have at home and some I need to stock, but in a nutshell, I just need to do better. Today has been a vast improvement as my only snack has been a 100 calorie bag of popcorn and I will be heating up lunch in about a half hour.

Today is a cross training day at the gym, so elliptical and weight work. I'm on it!

Want to play along with Thursday Thirteen? You can do so here!

Grueling Second Mile

kimbreknittergirl@gmail.com (Kim) — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:01:00 GMT

Not sure if I will ready to advance to above two miles by Friday's run or not. I knew today would be tough because of Jack's class last night and I was right. The first mile was pretty good; it had its rough moments, but all in all, not too shabby. The second mile however was draining. I have been playing with the speed and ran the first mile at a 4.0, where my usual runs until now were about a 3.8. At times, I up the speed to a 4.4. The second mile at a 4.4, my right knee began to play up almost immediately. I backed the speed to 3.9 and gradually worked back up again to the 4.4 and was more successful the second time.

I still think today's issue were from not even having a full twenty-four hours to recover from kickboxing. That class is pretty physical and grieves my knees a bit too. So, we'll see what Friday holds. Oh and did not have a headache when I finished my run today...but I have one now. Go figure. I just keep sucking down water to try to remedy it.

Food is still somewhat of an issue for me. At work, I am constantly wanting to nibble. It may be because I am behind a desk and by myself most of the time. I am a social and now physical creature and having to remain at a desk in solitary to an extent spurs me to want to eat. Once I am home, the story changes. I have things to do that require motion, ergo, my mind is no longer wanting food. So what is the solution? Not sure yet. I try to pack healthy snacks but still feel as if I am eating too many of them. The oatmeal for breakfast doesn't stay with me very long but it is keeping me..well, regular, if you know what I mean, so I hate to give it up as it is doing what I need for it to do in order to avoid pain. So I eat that around 8:00ish and by 9:30 I am looking for a snack. I try to dissect if it is true hunger or head hunger and that is fine line; fine enough that I have not yet figured it out. I do think I need to revamp my snacks for something more satisfying that will keep me satiated longer.

I also need to research the best thing to eat after a run. I am wanting food by the time I am home and I know my body needs to refuel a little. But as I am trying to create a calorie deficit, by calories in, calories out, I can't be continually loading up on empty calories.

So, it looks like I need to get going. I have homework to do and I'll let you know what I find. Might even make Thursday Thirteen, the Food Edition.

Kick It!

kimbreknittergirl@gmail.com (Kim) — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 02:52:34 GMT

Kickboxing tonight was awesome. Jack was feeling very social and quite funny and as always he is amazingly observant for having a huge class full of people. He's been doing a tiny bit of yoga-ish stuff at the end of our floor work and one of the positions requires us to sit on our knees. Well my knees aren't into that so much, so I alter things so I don't have to do that and last week he apparently noticed as he spoke to me about our other floor work tonight. For example, when we are on our knees and elbows doing leg/butt work, he asked how I was dealing with that. I explained some nights it wasn't too bad, that one knee plays me up more than the other one and when it was bad I had to stop for a minute. As we were having this conversation before class started, he offered me an alternative solution to the exercise of lying on my back and raising my ass cheek with my leg in the air kinda thing. I told him he had lost me, so down on the floor he went to show me. This is why I lurve this man. He is funny, attentive, but more importantly, he is a teacher. He makes the class enjoyable, pays attention to the participants and points out any errors anyone is doing which could cause injury.

So, good class tonight and it has to last me two weeks as Jack won't be there next week and the gal who covers for him I cannot freakin' stand. So maybe I will try to pick up another class next week because I enjoy the group setting to break up the monotony of my solitary workouts. I would love to have a workout partner but it is not in the cards right now, so the weekly kickboxing give me some camaraderie with other people with similar goals.

Now with that being said, after my two mile run yesterday, I felt every squat and kick tonight as if it were the first time. My calves felt tight and my thighs ached, but by the end of the workout I felt looser. Of course tomorrow is a scheduled run day, so that will be the true test of stamina.

Wish me luck.

Feeling My Age Today

kimbreknittergirl@gmail.com (Kim) — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 00:36:00 GMT

So as the weather was nice yesterday, I opted to work in the front yard for a few hours to get things ready for spring. Today, I worked, started my period and did my second two mile run (yes, I did it on Friday...thought it would kill me...more on that in a moment) before running two errands and going home to do some serious gardening in the back yard. Now, everything hurts and I am ready for bed at 7:47.

The run on Friday was sheer torture, but I persevered. It was hard. Really, really hard. I was soaked when it was over and all I wanted was a place to quietly die. My calves were killing me for two days after, but I also reveled in the fact that I had run two miles.

Today's run, though still hard, went better. I just should not have pushed things with the yard work afterward. The only really weird thing is that with both Friday's two miles and today's two miles, I ended up with a headache by the end of the run. Any takers on why this would be? I also still have the headache into the evening. WTH?

Though I have never been a fan of cooking shows, I saw a preview last night for Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution and I am intrigued:

"I believe that every child in America has the right to fresh, nutritious school meals, and that every family deserves real, honest, wholesome food."

With the obesity epidemic getting worse in this country and having once been a big part of it, I have to stand behind anyone who can use fame or otherwise to try to change it. I'm anxious to see what his plan is; it premieres March 26th on ABC.

The church lady is trying to drive me up a tree. She makes mountains out of every little ~~mole~~ ~~ant~~ flea hill she possibly can. It's bad enough she does this with church stuff and inconveniences everyone who happens to be in her path, but she likes to pick the moments when I am the busiest to ask me stupid questions. Case in point...today's conversation:

CL: Well, good morning, Kim. I see you are all dressed for spring.

Me: I am dressed for the gym (I had on knee length workout pants, sneakers, my shirt and tank covered by a thumb hole hoodie, and a hat.

CL: Oh, the gym. But you have a hat on.

Me (wondering what the hat has to do with the price of eggs anywhere) Yeah. I'm running today.

CL: Oh and you need a hat when you run.

Me: (thinking this is worse than the Spanish inquisition) No, but it helps catch some sweat.

CL: Oh, you sweat when you run.

What planet is she from? Seriously? Maybe the running has nothing to do with the headache. Maybe it's all her.

Sweet Friday

kimbreknittergirl@gmail.com (Kim) — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 15:33:00 GMT

I am so looking forward to putting my feet up tonight and relaxing! Tomorrow is going to be busy...trip to the dump, two birthday parties, a veggie tray I need to buy stuff for and put together. So tonight, I just want to chill...

...especially since today is the first two mile run I have scheduled and I am a bit nervous. I'm sure it will be fine, but still...when I think of running two miles it feels a little bit overwhelming. I'll let you know how it goes.

I get a little bit freaked out when people tell me I am inspiring them. I don't quite get it, but maybe it is because I have never seen myself as inspirational and it certainly isn't my goal. I think it is a good thing and when I think about it, if I can help one person, through this blog chatter, to start making themselves a priority in their own life, I am honored to be able to do that. It took me a long time to be able to do it for myself, but until we do it, nothing will ever change. And it isn't selfish. If we don't take care of ourselves, we won't be around to take care of anyone else, so making ourselves a priority is actually out of a need to be around for those who love and need us.

So yeah, if I inspire you in some small way, I'm happy to do it. I went through the first half of my life (well, first half, providing I don't die like tomorrow or something) really big, with a body that didn't allow me to do the things I wanted to be able to do. Now, though surgery gave me a boost or a head start on weight loss, I've also busted my ass at the gym for a long time now. I made a deal with myself before I ever had surgery and that was that I was going to do my part to make this work. If I was not willing to commit to that, then why was I putting my life on the line on an operating table in the first place? And no, none of it has been easy. I sweat a lot doing cardio and there are so many moments I just want to quit. I ache in the evenings after I run, but the next morning, I feel great. It's a give and take; a love and hate relationship I have with exercise.

I got all pissed off yesterday because it was a cross training day for me and I was a little pressed for time due to a delightful sushi lunch with a friend, so I chose the elliptical as my poison. Now, the hootchie mama next to me on her elliptical, decided to have her blue tooth in and was handling her business calls LOUDLY as she worked out, so I had to really crank up my ipod to not hear her. But the other part of that is that I don't really believe anyone should be that kind of distracted while working out. I just don't, for a couple of reasons.

First off, if you are listening to someone else, you aren't listening to your body. It could be sending you a warning signal about something that you may be ignoring as you aren't paying attention.

Secondly, how hard are you really working if you are chatting the whole time? I try to push myself during cardio and that means I can maybe grunt out a word or two to you, but don't ask me to help you solve world hunger or something while I am running or on the elliptical. I am trying to get my heart rate up and trying to keep it up so I can burn the maximum amount of calories and fat and to improve my cardio vascular system. I only got one body, honey, and I would like it to last me awhile yet, so like changing the oil in the car, I need to keep myself primed and in good working order.

I have recently passed on the website for the C25K Cool Running program to a few friends who are interested. Follow it to the letter. You may feel like you can run more the first week or second week, but the goal is that you don't injure yourself and that you build up slowly. It is a great program and it is what got me started. Stick with it and be ready to be amazed. I don't recommend Robert Ullrey's podcasts unless you like techno music, which I do not. I used it once or twice, but peeps, I need lyrics and preferably inspiration ones with a good beat to git 'er done. Treadmill timing worked best for me or making up a sheet that told me at what minute I started running, and when I stopped etc. But whatever works for you. I think out there on the internet are ways to create your own, with your little bells and whistles to tell you when to stop and start your runs too, for those of you who are technical minded. And those of you who are, inspire me.

Have a great weekend! Take care of yourselves!

Thursday Thirteen

kimbreknittergirl@gmail.com (Kim) — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 16:27:00 GMT

So today, I am going to amuse you with my current fave songs, many of which are on my ipod for my workouts. Please remember that I have kids, so some of these songs become embedded in my head and heart against my will and before I know it, I am singing along to them on the radio, all the while thinking how horrified some of my friends would be.

Okay, here you go, in no particular order:

"The Climb" Miley Cyrus. Scary, eh? I am not a huge fan of her voice, but I love the song. Great inspirational lyrics. "Always gonna be another mountain. Always gonna wanna make it move.."
"Love Story" by Taylor Swift. She sucked live on the Grammy Awards but on the radio, this song is catchy as hell. Yes, I am embarrassed to admit it.
"Fireflies" by Owl City. I don't even know what this song is about. Dreaming maybe? idk, but I love it.
"Put a Ring on It" by Beyonce. Not a fan of hers, but ever since I watched the football players on "Glee" do this, I was sold. Great song to run to..it has the right beat.
"I'm Yours" Jason Mraz. Makes me do hand motions in my car to it while I am driving. Don't ask; I don't get it either.
"Bubbly" Colbie Caillat Absolutely silly song. I lurve it.
"Unwritten" Natasha Bedingfield. Another song with meaningful lyrics. "Reaching for something in the distance, so close you can almost taste it, release your inhibitions..."
"Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" KT Tunstall. I chair dance to this...might not be pretty but I have a good time.
"Bad Day" by Daniel Powder...I found an upbeat version of this on ~~Limewire~~ iTunes that is great for my workouts.
"Man in the Mirror" by MJ. I have always loved this song and what it stood for. Powerful.
"Right Round" Flo Rida. I don't think I will ever get tired of this song, even though I always feel the urge to start kickboxing when I hear it...even if I am in the middle of a store.
"Dream Big" David Cook. Again, great lyrics that move me. "'Coz if you don't dream big what's the use of dreaming? If you don't have faith, there's nothing worth believing. It takes one look to make the stars worth reaching for... So reach out for something more."
"Halo/Walking on Sunshine" The Glee Cast. Great beat and has me pumping on the elliptical like nobodies bidness. All good, baby.

So there ya go. My Thursday Thirteen!

Thursday Thirteen is a little blogger meme. Come play with us, if you'd like!

Drench Your Skin in Words Unspoken; Live Your Life With Arms Wide Open

kimbreknittergirl@gmail.com (Kim) — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 01:28:00 GMT

I actually ran 1.5 miles today...the day AFTER kickboxing!

I cannot stress enough how hard it is. I in no way find it easy. Running is hard work and I am not even running that far yet. I start and by the time I have done .15 of a mile, I am convinced I am insane and that maybe I smoked a little too much in my twenties because my brain cells are surely fried. By the time I have hit half a mile, I am pep talking myself:

"Only a mile left. Only a mile."

Then when I hit .75, I am praying for the freakin' finish line. The sweat is pouring down my face and dripping from the inside crook of my arms and I am thinking death would be welcome right about now. Then magic happens when I hit the mile. Suddenly it is all doable. I know I will make the mile and a half and despite the sweat and the ache in my knees, I am almost bursting with excitement and feeling an incredible sense of accomplishment. Amazingly enough, once I hit the mile and a half, it does not take my breathing long to even out...not much more than a minute. I just slow the pace to a walk and recovery comes quickly. If running is something you ever wished to do, I say try it. Start slowly, like with the Cool Running program you can find on the internet. It starts you out so slowly...like thirty second runs...which are HARD when you have never run before. I remember those minute runs that almost killed me and now it floors my ass that I am running a mile and a half. Pinch me. It is still so hard for me to believe.

And while I am talking about running, I have decided that if I ever run my first 5K, I want to celebrate with something like this, minus the latin:

I love it. This foot actually belongs to Denise. I saw it on her blog and fell in love. I have been wanting another tat but had no idea what to get or where to put it. This feels perfect...though the pain of having one done on a boney foot causes me a little pause.

From the treadmill, I did my medicine ball crunches and then did some free weight arm work. Food was much better for me today too. Kickin'.

Tomorrow, lunch with Leisl...sushi! Then a cross training workout at the Y. We're almost to Friday, kids! What is your weekend looking like?

Ending the Night With Stresssssss

kimbreknittergirl@gmail.com (Kim) — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 01:29:00 GMT

Yeah, I totally am, ergo, time to blog.

I'm debating running tomorrow. Today would have been my run day but it is my kickboxing day and doing both on the same day would be suicide. However, running tomorrow might be painful because of kickboxing tonight. I just hate to get way off my self-imposed training schedule. Tod seems to think I should do one more 1.5 run and then up it to two miles. He seems to think that the hardest part of running is breaking that first mile, which I have done, and that after that, a runner can advance more quickly. I'll let you know if that myth is true or busted.

My To Do list is growing in leaps and bounds. I still have to study and pass my bus driving tests. I want to paint the bathroom. I need to touch up painting some woodwork around here. I am dying to get outside to do some work out there and rumor has it the temps should be in the 50s this weekend. I can but hope. I have also promised JJ to do away with his bunk this weekend to give him just a single bed, which means cleaning up his room. And I have two...TWO birthday parties on Saturday; one in the afternoon and one in the evening. Grrrr. The one in the afternoon was supposed to have been earlier so I'm iffy on that one, but would still like to make an appearance.

I am currently struggling with too much munching. There. I said it. I bought jelly beans...I have that thing for chewy stuff. Jimnotmike, I did find those veggie straws at Costco...Yum. My rule simply needs to be not to succumb to buying something thinking I will just nibble a few, like jellybeans....or peanut butter eggs; thank you Parish Life committee for those little gems. I simply don't have the self control to have these things in my possession. There is no "little bit" in Kimland. My mother offered to buy us milkshakes the other day and I refused mine, tho I had a few sips of someone else's. If I had one to myself I would have drank the whole thing obviously. I KNOW ME! So beings I know me so well, I need to listen to what I know about me and stop thinking I am able to control myself in the face of sugary crapola. There is no benefit in that food for me and again, I know this. So, no more buying it. I am learning to just say "NO!" And you know what else is weird? Since my surgery, I occasionally get this hypoglycemic episodes where my sugar plummets. The weird part is that every time I eat something high in sugar, like jellybeans....an hour later, my sugar tanks. I don't know anything about the chemistry of why that would be so. Anyone know?

Ah Monday, Why Can't We Be Friends?

kimbreknittergirl@gmail.com (Kim) — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 00:50:00 GMT

So apparently, Godaddy decided to eat half of my blog submission, which really ticks me off because it is my bedtime and because I am semi-anal, I have to fix this because it looks like a half assed blog entry!

First off, I did change the name of the blog, though the URL remains the same. This little corner of the blogospere started out as a knitting blog. Though I still like to knit when I have time, knitting isn't really what the blog is about and hasn't been about in quite some time. Now, when people are Googling, someting like "Blogs about running" or "Blogs about health", knitten kittens doesn't do much to lead them here. I have given this a lot of thought and Saturday, took the plunge.

The weekend was really good. No kids, so Friday night we went out for Indian food. I decided to be adventureous and ordered something new: chicken and spinach:

If you have never experienced Indian food, I highly recommend it. Not all spicy, and you can order most things that are spicy, as non. Also lots of vegetarian dishes for meatless friends.

Saturday, we picked up mom and journeyed to Costco for our quarterly meat run. Buying meat in bulk is the only way to go. Then we hit Gabriel Brothers. Great store! We got four hoodies for the kids, two pairs of workout pants for me, a golf shirt for The Brit, four bags of Quaker Rice cakes (which I pay $3 a bag for at Walmart. .99 cents at Gabriel's!), two bags of combos and a large storage container for $40! Can't beat that, baby!

Then we went to lunch, where the service was so bad we got it for free:

The Brit and mom before the suck was turned up on the service.

Then after dropping mom off, we hit some pawn shops, looking for an MP3 player for oldest son and on the way, we found a great representation of our little town:

I don't know what is "Comming" soon, but I would be wary of the education level of the employees.

Sunday, was church and I ran another 1.5 miles here at home on my new treadmill. Dang, I love having one. Then it was dinner with Paula, Dane, PK and Molly which was much fun.

Monday at work was busy. And then there are the peanut butter eggs the Parish Life committee at church has made which are like chocolate covered sex. Holy crap. All bad.

Went shopping with Tod this afternoon which is always enjoyable. One of the few men in my life who actually likes to shop as much as I do. Then home for dinner cooking and treadmill walking and tonight is finally over. I have lots to do at work tomorrow and then kickboxing tomorrow. It can only get closer to Friday from here. Oh and all my friends are back home where they belong; Em and Dave have returned from their cruise and I think Kelly is back from California. I miss them on Facebook when they are not around!

ETA: Though it Almost killed me....

kimbreknittergirl@gmail.com (Kim) — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 19:21:00 GMT

.....A mile and a half run?

Done.

TGIF!!!

kimbreknittergirl@gmail.com (Kim) — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 15:56:00 GMT

It's cold and windy outside but at least it is Friday!

So I entered a contest over at Shut up and Run for a pair of ear buds for my ipod that are apparently the bee's knees for a runner (I still roll my eyes and giggle when I call myself that. Not feelin' it yet!). Now, I never win anything, but she is giving away ten pairs of them and only ~~a kabillion~~ 375 people have entered, so I guess there is a marginal chance I could win a pair. I love mine for walking but when the sweat starts dripping when I am running, they like to slide out my ears and then I have that distraction while trying not to fall off the treadmill.

You may have noticed I have included links to some of the running blogs I have been following. Some of these folks are seasoned runners and others are newbies like yours truly, but I find reading them to be pretty interesting. I have a special place in my heart for new female runners in their forties, and would love to find some more blogs of these women that I know are out there!

When I develop an interest in something, I go full speed ahead with trying to gather up all information I possibly can on the subject. So I am currently reading this:

and will be following that up with this by the same author:

And this is also sitting on my table waiting for my attention:

So much to learn, so little time.

Today's goal is to STRETCH as I need to turn down the suck on that and then to run 1.50 miles. I don't know yet if I am feeling it, but I am certainly going to try. No run yesterday. Legs felt sore so I ellipticalled for thirty minutes instead followed by crunches. We will call that a cross training day. So today is a run day and I'll see how it goes.

Also, yesterday that the Y, Jerry gave me a form for a 5k in June that he felt I could run/walk. I'm thinking about it. It would be nice to have a goal as I tend to do fairly well with those.

My low carb Lent is also sucking. I am currently running to support my carb habit. Ugh. But every day is a new day and a new chance to get it right. So far today, so good.

Weekend plans? Not a clue. No kids as grandma wants them, so things are wide open. Costco probably Sunday, but tomorrow is wide open. Anyone free? Want to get into something like dinner? Who knows? Shoot me a line with any suggestions. In the meantime, have a happy weekend and I shall see you on Monday!

Thursday 13

kimbreknittergirl@gmail.com (Kim) — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 15:24:00 GMT

I really struggled with what 13 things to list this week, which is kind of sad as it is only week 2 of my doing this! But nothing was really jumping out at me and I got all my complaining out of my system yesterday. So how about this:

13 Things I love about Spring

Watching the trees take on new life. Once barren and desolate, tiny sprigs of green began to form which will eventually bring shade to warm summer days.

Warm days. Enough said.

Being able to open the windows in my house to air it all out after a cold, confining winter.

Walking and running outside. I could do this in the winter, but I'd rather eat poo.

Fire Pit Fridays

Being able to put away winter sweaters and break out out the shorts and sandals.

Being barefoot.

The sound of kids playing outside.

Daylight savings time ends.

Cleaning all the salt residue off my car and giving it a good cleaning.

Working in the yard and garden.

Walks around the park with Tod.

Driving with the windows down.

So ready for Spring, people!

I went out on a limb today and am waiting to see if I will receive A) a kick in the teeth for it; no answer at all; or C) a pleasant surprise.

We will be kidless this weekend as their grandmother asked if she could have them, so I am wondering what thing we can get up to. Need to make a Costco run, but am not sure if it is in the budget this week.

Oh and used the new treadmill yesterday! YAY! Kickin' baby! Only ran one painful mile (that whole Tuesday night kickboxing brutality) and walked a mile. Is it okay to run several days in a row? I plan to maybe run today after work, but I'll have to see how I feel.

I love my shirts with the thumb holes. So warm and snuggie!

***Thursday 13 is a little blog meme that is shared across the internets. To participate, please go here and sign up!

Today is Shaping up to SUCK

kimbreknittergirl@gmail.com (Kim) — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 14:48:00 GMT

Okay, so that might be slightly over dramatic. The morning is just having its share of irritations. Irritation #1 is really bugging me today. Why can't I get straight answers for things I need? Why does he always talk over me when I am trying to get to the answer? Irritation #2 I usually don't see on Wednesdays, but because they are calling for a few inches of snow tonight, this irritation is coming in today. It's like a double whammy. And that irritation talks too...A LOT and basically says nothing, especially nothing positive...about anything. You know the type.

So my motto of the day is:
I don't need anger management; you just need to stop pissing me off!

Then there is the teenager I am currently living with. These people are difficult! He thinks I am the most unreasonable person in the world because I parent him. He has this friend up the road, M. Now M, from my point of view, pretty much gets to run the neighborhood as he wants to. My kids do this to a certain extent, but come dark, in the winter, I want them inside. The teen does not get this. I try to explain to him that there is a difference with kids being outside at 8:30 or 9:00 in June and kids being outside at 8:30 or 9:00 in February. Summer months it is daylight longer, plus people are outside and out and about. Winter, people are in, snuggled in front of their television, wishing to hell spring would get here (or maybe that is just me).

The teen also tends to do some stupid stuff when he is with M, such as having snowball fights across our neighbor's front porch (the neighbor who is elderly and has Parkinson's.) or taking off on their bikes to ride downtown without asking. So last night when kickboxing time came around, my teen wanted to stay home and play with M, to which I told him no. Then he asked if he could go back out once we got home and again, I told him no, because by the time we got home and ate dinner it would be 8:15. So he sulked and didn't speak to me at Y until the end of kickboxing. Of course, I told Jack McFarland and my kickboxing buddies the evil I had done and they all agreed that I was being responsible, they would do the same thing, and that he is a teen and is supposed to be angry with me all the time. It's just hard when you want to make your kids happy but yet you can't always do that and still be a responsible parent...and the kids don't get that and won't until they have kids of their own. Oy.

Walmart also pisses me off. Why is it one week they have plenty of everything I need and the next week they are out of the stuff I buy every freaking week? I think the people who do the ordering need new jobs or something. They used to carry my Kashi Pumpkin Spice Flax bars and then a year and a half ago, they quit carrying them. Oh, they still carried Kashi products, but not those and then some silly woman who worked there told me Kashi was no longer sending them out to this part of the country. Really? Then why can I get them at Martins, Weis and Target? They are in the same TOWN. Oy.

And every few weeks they are out of my Crystal Light Wild Strawberry drink mix. Always that flavor! Shouldn't that maybe tell someone they need to be ordering more? So now today I have to go to a store or twelve to find this stuff and the Kashi bars. And to get the best price, I have to go to different stores. Oy.

/vent...I think.

Today I am working out on my new treadmill. Not sure if i will be running as kickboxing was brutal last night and my legs were still aching from Monday's run.

So what are you all grumpy about today?

And Robyn, thanks for the pep talk. I appreciate it. I don't think I have completely lost my touch either, though there was a time when I would have thought exactly that, but not anymore. I do find it funny that at 300+ pounds, I was always cast and that now that I am close to normal, it didn't happen. Amuses me greatly!

Life and Auditions are a Process

kimbreknittergirl@gmail.com (Kim) — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 15:58:00 GMT

So I got the call a few minutes ago that I was not cast in "Steel Magnolias". Again, it is all good; I don't have to rearrange my schedule to make it happen, but now that the decisions have been made, I have to state a few things I observed.

When asked on my audition page what parts I was interested in, I put "any" because there are no bad parts in the show. I also assumed automatically that I am too old now to play Shelby or Annelle. My best bets, given that there were older women there auditioning for the parts of older women, were Truvey or M'Lynn. He did not read me for M'Lynn at all and this bothered me somewhat. I can pretty much guarantee who he did cast in that role from my one hour in auditions (and he still had another day of auditions to do) and the fact that I figured that out, bothers me too.

There was also another woman there (and this has nothing to do with auditions as a technical aspect) who I am sure he cast, and is a regular with the theater company, both on stage and as a director, who made me crazy. She was just a bit over the top in my opinion. After reading a scene with her and several other people, where she played the part of M'lynn after her daughter's funeral (so emotional scene in the event any of you live under a rock and have not seen the movie) she held out her "trembling" hand and said "I'm still shaking." Okay, maybe she really felt the scene that deeply even with no lead in to it, but seriously? Then she says to me "OMG, I am so glad I did not wear my earrings as they are the same as yours!" Again, seriously? It isn't like we were wearing the same OUTFIT...mine matched. Yeah, yeah, MEOW. But it's true.

So, no, I am not being a bad loser. These are just a few things that bothered me about the experience. The people I auditioned with were very good, save one, so I'm sure it was a hard decision. I don't know this director and how he works, and though he disappointed me in my own personal audition process, he may be very good. I have also been quite spoiled by getting to work with some great directors in my community theater career, who knew me well and knew my capabilities. This person did not, and my audition was probably rusty after a seven year absence. So, the best of luck to the cast and as for me, I will continue on in my happy little full life.

Jimnotmike, low carb Lent is going okay. Not perfect, but okay. I have made definite progress with a few slip ups...deliberate as they were. Italian meal out...hot bread. A downfall of mine. Serve me cold bread and I won't touch it. Warm and fresh and I am a goner! But I am plugging along. Evenings are really hard for me as I like to nibble while watching TV. Sometimes it is cucumber and the occasional SF jello, but sometimes neither thing gets it for me. Suggestions?

Tonight is kickboxing and I am still feeling a little bit fatigued from the blood giving of yesterday. Hopefully it will pass soon and I keep sucking down water to remedy it. Just still feeling like I could sleep.

Is there a new Biggest Loser tonight?

Running and Blood

kimbreknittergirl@gmail.com (Kim) — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 00:26:00 GMT

Do I have your attention with that title? HA! No bleeding from running so don't worry. I did run 1.25 miles again today and the blood comes in as I went to donate it right after my workout, so it has left me exhausted tonight. But I knew I had to get the workout in before the blood donation.

This weekend was a whirlwind for the most part. Saturday, The Brit went to look at cars as his was dying a slow and painful death. He would up buying a four door Tacoma Truck; way nice. Then we headed to WV for auditions and treadmill.

Auditions went okay, but I don't think I will be cast and I am good with that. He read me for two parts, but the bigger problem (only a problem for me really) is that there were actually older women there to play the parts of older women. Anyway, tonight were callbacks and I did not get one. Maybe he loved me and wants me for Truvey, but personally, I doubt it. But it's all good. I was not 100% committed in my head and heart anyway. Though getting back to some theater would be great, there was still the time thing. Yeah, I could make the time for rehearsals and will if I am cast, but if not cast, then I don't have to make the time. Again, all good. Maybe Someone is telling me that now is not the time for me to re-emerge into the theater scene.

We got the treadmill and I am thrilled to bits over having it here. I am still a gym rat, but this is going to make days the kids are off school so much easier for me, or days when there is just a time issue due to appointments or whatever. I never have to miss a scheduled workout again and it makes me happy as a clam.

We had dinner with Kelly on Saturday night after auditions and treadmill which is always a good time and then we got to go meet Lola, her newest canine family member and the kids and Brit got to meet all her other animals that I had already met. Lola is a love. I adore her.

Sunday, it was clean up the dining room to position the treadmill and for The Brit is was clean out the old car so we could return it to the dealer. Then my mother, aunt and uncle came over for dinner which was very nice.

Happy birthday today to my sister, Vicki. Not a clue how old she is, but it isn't polite to say anyway. Hope she had a great day!

Okay, back to vegging out on the sofa. I am actually ready to sleep but doing so would have me up at like five and I so don't want that!

1.25

kimbreknittergirl@gmail.com (Kim) — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 02:53:00 GMT

That is how far I ran on the treadmill today. I kick ass. I was very excited. My goal was a mile, which is what I did yesterday, so today when I hit the mile, though tired, I knew I could push it a little bit further and I did.

Honestly, running is the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. Honestly, nothing has made me feel more strong physically. Finishing a run, even my little bitty runs so far, makes me just feel incredible and like anything is possible. It brings me a sense of fulfillment. I can't even explain it. It is so hard to do...it's mind over body, but it is amazing. I started out running for 30 second increments and then recovering for like 5 minutes and thought I was dying. Now today I ran 1.25 miles. It has taken me a long time to get there and I have had many interruptions. Life gets in the way of this kind of stuff sometimes...things you need to build up to can be interrupted and that interruption sets you back from the schedule you had planned. But life, and running is a marathon. You just keep working and in the end you get there.

I get my treadmill tomorrow. So excited. This will help me stay on target with training. When I can't get to the gym, I can still run here...or outside when the weather warms up and some of this wretched snow melts. But I feel better prepared now to keep focused and to stay on target. I want to run a marathon one day, even a small one. I want the experience.

Tomorrow is also auditions for Steel Magnolias and I'm nervous. I was looking through my script tonight and remembering just how funny this show is and how much I enjoyed it the first time. Just let my newfound confidence shine through tomorrow in a good way. I would love to be cast, will be mildly disappointed if I'm not, but not crushed. My life is full now and if cast, I will be adding something else to it, which is good but not imperative, if that makes any sense.

My mother is insistent that I don't have time to do a show because she worries about me overdoing it now. I don't quite get that. I don't see my life as overly busy for a married person, working a part time job, who has kids. Aren't all moms busy? I work four hours a day, five days a week. I go to the gym at least 4 days a week for about an hour. I periodically have appointment for me or the kids. I have praise band one night a week. I keep up the house and cook dinner and the slow cooker is my friend. I don't see this as being so busy anyone has a cause to be worried.

Life is for living and I plan on wringing every last drop of life from what I am given before I leave this world.

Now, I have to go visit some Thursday 13 bloggers. They gave me some love yesterday and that rocks.

Happy weekend!

Thursday Thirteen

kimbreknittergirl@gmail.com (Kim) — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 15:37:00 GMT

I am going to try this Thursday Thirteen thing because one day a week, I would love to find some mindless blogging.

But first, in order to thank him and make his day with a blog mention, Jimnotmike has been very supportive in my low carb adventures. Check out some of his comments with low carb suggestions. Yesterdays was for pizza, which is a favorite treat of mine that I bypassed yesterday.

So, for my first Thursday Thirteen, I am going to do thirteen things I think are the bee's knees about losing weight.

Stairs. I can run up and down them without any problems. The only problem I ever have is the day after kickboxing when my knees are killing me and that is only an issue if I am not wearing shoes at home.
Shopping off most racks. Though I am still a size 18, I can generally find those and no longer have to set foot in Lane Bryant and Fashion Bug. Actually, I prefer shopping off the racks at Goodwill!
Becoming in tune with my body. This is a constant learning experience. I am learning that it can do things I never imagined it would. Even a year ago, I could not have imagined myself running, yet now I do. Okay, it is slow and not yet far, but still RUNNING! ME!
Hair. I no longer have to hide behind it. It is now shorter than it has been, oh, probably since birth, and I adore it. No frills, no work. I have way more important things to do than to mess with a high maintenance hair style.
Breathing. Huffing and puffing is no more.
A new love of things like cucumber and apples and soup. Never cared for any of it much before, but now they are staples of my week.
Confidence. I always thought I was a confident person, but apparently I wasn't because I certainly am now. I don't care so much what other people think. They can like me or hate me and if they hate me, it is not my issue. It takes way more energy to hate someone than it does to be hated.
A newfound sense of adventure. There is very little I will not try now. With weight came fear about failing at many things, either due to fitness or just to being too heavy to do it. Not anymore. Now I make lists in my head of things I want to experience.
Being able to look at food in a different way and rarely having to think about it. My eating habits are not perfect. I eat things I shouldn't. But on the flip side, the things that are really bad for me that I used to love, don't much interest me anymore. Often now, things are too sweet or I just don't get the pleasure out of eating them anymore. Sometimes they make me feel sick to eat them. But it's all good as it keeps me in check for the most part.
I now feel rested in the morning and my back does not kill me. At 315 pounds, I often couldn't sleep more than 6 hours without pain. It is so nice to get a good night's sleep.
Exercise and now understanding the benefits of it. Yeah, you heard. I agree there are definite benefits to exercise and now I even get bitchy if I have to go a few days without it.
The Great Outdoors. I love being outside now whenever weather allows. Walking, biking, running. I want to give hiking a try one day. Yeah, I still hate the cold, but providing it is not unbearable, let me out to exercise or do yard work.
Feeling at home in my own body. This is a huge one for me. I no longer feel like my body is some alien that has been surgically attached to me. I am discovering that it can do great things and I am comfortable while it is doing those things. I no longer long for invisibility. It's all good.

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others’ comments. It’s easy, and fun!

Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Day One Down; 39 to Go

kimbreknittergirl@gmail.com (Kim) — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 01:21:00 GMT

So day one of low carbing it has gone well, though it had a scary moment. The Brit called me to go to lunch to one of our favorite little Italian places...which meant the pizza temptation. But I opted for salad though I did eat the cheese off the second half slice of his pizza...but no bread. Yay me!

I had an easy day at the gym as last night's kickboxing was crushing. So I ran/walked two miles today, half miles at a time, alternating. Finished off with 50 crunches on the ball while lifting a medicine ball. Would have liked to have ran more today, but my legs were just aching from last night, so I didn't want to push it and risk injury.

So now I have another dilemma. Auditions for "Steel Magnolias" are this weekend and despite the cons to auditioning and possibly getting cast, I am leaning towards auditioning. The cons are of course, time. But the flip side to that is that I hate winter and with the show going up in April, rehearsing it will help see me through to the start of spring. I have done this show once before and it was a wonderful experience and it is on my list of shows I would do again gladly. Of course, I am rusty, having not auditioned for anything in over 7 years. I foresee nerves playing up a bit, but I think I am game to audition. If the talent is amazing and I don't get cast, that's fine. If I do, I will embrace an experience I have not gotten to have in 7 plus years. Theater was once the most major part of my life; I did back to back shows at a theater where a show ran for 8 weeks. This one will only run two weekends and will be a nice revisiting of one of my great loves.

The Lenten 40 Day Carb Challenge

kimbreknittergirl@gmail.com (Kim) — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 22:31:00 GMT

So do you think it is wrong to combine religious beliefs with healthy eating? Ah well, whatever works.

So it starts tomorrow, so there should be rules, I think. Yes? Of course yes.

The carbs I am swearing off until Easter are:

Any and all chip-like material. This includes the demonous (new word. You like?) Chex Mix and the pretzels of Lucifer.

Any and all high sugar snacks. My current demons are: orange slices, peach rings and the occasional York Peppermint Patty.

White bread and white potatoes. I don't do much of these anyway, but still good to put it out there.

What is permissible:

Sugar free desserts, such as the single servings of sugar free jello with lite Cool Whip or any sugar free treat if we go out to dinner. Again, this is something I rarely partake in (the dessert, not the jello) anyway.

Hmmm. Is there anything else or are those my only struggles? I think that is it.

My cat has been eating today! Such a massive relief. But every time one stressful thing calms down, there is another one to take its place. They delayed school today by two hours, so I went in two hours late, which I hate doing. It is actually easier for me to deal with kids when there is no school as there are grandparents willing to help, but two hour delays there are very few remedies for. Now the stupid school board has called for another two hour delay tomorrow! (Icy back roads in the mornings apparently). I do not want to go in late again, because I need to make up the time and 1) if I have to work 11-3 tomorrow, that means no gym and 2) JJ has an eye appointment at 3:00 I need to pick him up for. So, I am considering one of three things:

1) and my least favorite plan is take them to work with me for two hours and then bring them home in time to get to school. Problems here are there is nothing for them to do at my job other than bother me, which means I'd may as well have stayed home anyway for as much as I will get accomplished. Plus it is not very cost or time effective for me to go to work and then turn around and drive back home again and then back to work, all between 8:30-10:00.

2) I leave them here like I do in the summer, and then come home by 10:00 to make sure they get off to school or

3) I leave them here like I do in the summer, and call at 10:00 to get the oldest out the door and call again at 10:20 to get the youngest one out the door.

It is all slightly nerve wracking, but the weather is making it very hard to do my job and get done the things I want and need to accomplish. So we will discuss the plans at dinner tonight after kickboxing and see what the consensus is.

Anyone else giving up anything for Lent?