4 a.m. Wows.

The issues in my last post have been resolved. I tried to things. I am not sure which one did the trick so I decided to institute both changes instead of taking my chances with the terrible faintiness again. I have given up most (well, not chocolate) forms of caffeine and have upped my carbs (not refined... I still eat little to none of those). I pair my lunch salad with whole wheat toast, etc.

This resolution of the consta-spins has me back at the gym in full force. I have been getting up at 4 and heading over at 4:15 four out of five week days. On weekends I go around 7 or 8 or in the afternoon.

I feel AWESOME. Seriously. Anyone who is a mom knows how those little alone moments at strange times of the day can be oddly meaningful. Delivery trucks and a few commuters, all of the downtown lights still blinking reds...

Anyway- I get myself on that elliptical around 4:15 and gradually increase the resistance. I get about 20 minutes (roughly 200 cals) in. I then hop on the treadmill and walk a few minutes until taking off into a two mile run. This takes about 25 minutes all together (about 250- 300 calories). I then sit and drink some water, enjoy my mp3 player and then head over to the arc trainer or the rowing machine and put in about 10-15 at a VERY LEISURELY RATE (about another 100 cals).

Oops. I forgot to mention that between elliptical and run I stretch and do sit-ups on the damn ball. Yup, that too.

So I get home and take a shower and fall back into bed for about an hour (I have yet to fall asleep during this time) and listen to the radio until my hubby and son wake up.

This is hard work, but I am getting immediate results (esp. in the last two weeks). My ultimate goal is to just stretch then run straight 3-5 miles 5 or 6 days a week. It seems like a great way to start a day?
_____________________________________________________________________________________
This morning we had my healthier version of eggs Benedict. Pretty quick to make, by the way, since I don't even attempt to bother with anything like Hollindaise Sauce.

1 toasted piece of wheat toast

1 poached egg (the fresher the better it will hold together)- crack egg into simmering water, leave for three minutes then remove with slotted spoon- easy

cheese- I cut three little strips of low-fat swiss with a vegetable peeler- a good way to manage the size and thickness of the slices.

1.5 slices lowfat smoked turkey (of the sandwich meat variety, thin sliced)

Dijon (or yellow, your choice) mustard

2 thin slices of tomato

spice/herb of your choice

Bring water to boil and toast bread at the same time. Add egg when water is barely boiling and time three minutes. While egg is poaching spread mustard on bread. place turkey slice(s) tomatoes on bread. When egg is finished remove with slotted spoon, drop on top of tomatoes and add cheese to top of egg immediately (so it will melt). Sprinkle whatever seasoning you want on top (I use a garlick-y salt free shake and some paprika).

It is pretty satisfying and gives you a good shot of protein first thing in the morning. I recommend strawberries or melon on the side.
____________________________________________________________________________________

I Wonder What the Problem Was?

Hmmm. This is exactly the place to write about this. How convenient? Anyway- earlier another 'Fitwit' had the same type of problem. We should look into this and how to prevent it? I am not sure what I did wrong.

I have been working out EARLY in the morning, still. I alternate between a 4:30 a.m. trip to the gym on MWF and 5:30 on TTH. Weekends I work out in the afternoons. In general I skip one or two days (they change every week).

Soooo... Sunday I did an hour of cardio (with some resistance). I did 20 elliptical, ran for 20 (well, more like 15, really, walked 5) then did the arc trainer for a solid 20. After this I returned home and cleaned up I ended up going for a long walk with my hubby and tot.

Monday I was up at 4:15 and only did 45- all cardio. Tuesday I did an hour... same as Sunday.

I stuck to a rather rigid (not really on purpose, though, it's just sort of become habit) eating regime: bowl of Kashi (Heart to Heart) with yogurt and a little fruit in the morning, a huge salad... I mean loads of veggies in it.. with a piece of toast for lunch then, you know, lean protein (about 4 oz) 1/2 cup brown rice, 1 cup of cooked veggies and then another heaping salad for dinner.

I got up yesterday morning fully intending to do the gym and just felt really, really, really beat. I went back to bed. At lunch I ate about a cup of raw broccoli (other stuff, too, don't worry, but this in particular is where things started to go wrong) and started to feel really light headed.

And sort of sick to my stomach!! I felt dizzy all afternoon. I was SURE that if I remained standing I would faint.

I sat down and had about 1/4 of a bar of dark chocolate and a drink of milk (I think I was looking for a good excuse anyway) and just sort of stayed sitting for a couple of hours (a real feat with a toddler in the house). I had really no appetite for dinner but had beans and, uhm, 'ployes' (if you know what those are, buckwheat pancakes of sorts) just to be safe.

I fell asleep the minute my head hit the pillow: still dizzy and beat.

I am feeling fine this morning. I DID NOT go to the gym today. I have opted to take it easy today. I am trying to make a point to drink a lot of water and get in a bit more in terms of carbohydrates.

I emailed a fitness guru of sorts and he told me that I am doing a little too much cardio a little too often, maybe I should do the every other day cardio mixed with weight training. I am too embarrassed to tell him that I have been doing weight training, too.

The other person I talked to is a runner. She runs ALL THE TIME and is no worse for the wear (well, I suppose her knees would disagree) she told me to get some solid advice on the diet but really, if I am eating whole grains and veggies and lean protein I can just up the amount and everything will even out.

But this seems difficult for me.

Less exercise or more food? Maybe it is another factor all together? All I know is that I felt REALLY terrible yesterday. Feeling pukey-fainty for hours is one of my least favorite feelings.

I checked my bp and my bloodsugar during this little interlude and they were both fine.

Oh yeah... did I mention again that ibuprofen and a little sleep did wonders?

Thoughts?

dance party, the ultimate mix

I figured the best way to recover from the sedentary two weeks which made up Jeremy's vacation was to make an extra-awesome Dance Party mix. And it's not confined to the iPod - it's a CD. It starts out calm...some swaying, head bopping, warm-up stuff...and turns into the rockingest dancefest ever imagined. Here I will share the playlist, and if you like, I'll burn copies (though I know not everyone is as blessed with Dance Party space as I am).

Here (song, artist):
Do Anything- Natural Selection
Sister Jack - Spoon
If Looks Could Kill - Camera Obscura
Mendocino - Bottle Rockets
Miracle Drug - AC Newman
Hey Ya - Outkast (I never claimed there weren't obvious selections)
I Believe in a Thing Called Love - The Darkness
Dreaming Of You - The Coral
Modern Love - David Bowie
Rock and Roll is King - Electric Light Orchestra
I Want You to Want Me - Cheap Trick
Ti-Na-Nee-Na-Nu - Slim Harpo
Marvelous Error - The Faraway Places
I'm the Leader of a Gang (I Am) - Gary Glitter
Move Your Feet - Junior Senior
Ladyflash - The Go! Team
Tonite - The Go-Gos
Simply Irresistable - Robert Palmer
Caravan - Santo & Johnny
Wake Me Up Before You Go Go - Wham!
Try A Little Tenderness - The Commitments (starts slow, but climaxes for a rockin' finish)

Could be tweaked, but is a strong compilation as-is.

Okay! Time to get to it!

Fellow Fit-witters?

Just checking in. Y'all alright????
Check in:)

Best Week in Recent History!

Five gym visits (2 of them at 4:45 in the morning)
Solidly planned meals
30 push ups and sit ups each day
_____________________________________________________________________
Here is something else of note:
Other than the stomach/girlie difficulties I have from time to time (that are not viral/bacterial)- and Joe's kidney stone passing (which is again, not the work of anything infectious) we have not 'come down with anything' since the first week of MAY.

Last winter (Annie may recall) we were always fighting something off around here. We started eating whole foods and cutting out the processed food? Two drinks every other night (well, not the tot)? I don't know.

Joe mentioned this to one of his co-workers. She told him that she started eating whole foods (and healthy ones) about five years ago and has had one cold since.

We have been in contact with lots of people who are always coming down with things. Joe is in sales, he goes all over and touches all sorts of doorknobs, etc. Sooo...
I am just saying... maybe there are more perks to what I have been doing than I originally considered.

A two year old who breathes well and has no allergies is a really good thing.