Random Rambling

It's a Monday evening and I am exhausted. Had a seriously tough WOD today. After a long, tiring day. And at present, lots of random thoughts are running through my mind. My hope is that posting a few here will make it easier to go to sleep tonight (along with the Advil I plan to take to ease the muscle ache).

It is tougher than it looks
If you have read this blog for very long, you will know that I say that a lot, especially when I am taking about our latest WOD. And today is no exception, Tabata Something Else. With most Tabata WODs, you do work for 20 seconds and rest for 10 seconds .... repeat as prescribed for some X number of rounds. For today's effort, we did 4 simple exercises: pull ups, push ups, sit ups and squats. Just 8 short 20 second rounds for each exercise, with 10 whole seconds of rest in between. In total, just a 16 minute workout (not like the hour and a half we used to spend at the gym). Just a quick little workout. Sounds simple enough, right? WRONG! This WOD has left my entire body trembling from the effort. I know the motto for Cross Fit is "functional movements, constantly varied" but seriously, I think it should be "tougher than it looks."

Chocolate milk is the most awesome recovery drink ever
It's true, folks. There have been countless studies about it. Chocolate milk provides an optimal mix of protein, carbohydrates, and antioxidants to speed your recovery and to help you re-hydrate after a tough workout. There are some fun reads like this and this. And there are even doctors that have jumped on the chocolate milk bandwagon. I know that chocolate milk isn't Paleo; not by any stretch of the imagination. But after a workout like today's, I sure am glad we keep some in the house for just such occasions Wonder Boy.

I'm convinced that pineapple is the nectar of the gods
OK. I know it's silly, but currently I am finding pineapple to be a particularly satisfying treat, especially post-workout. It's sweet. It's tangy. It's juicy. It's just good, people! I think I need some now.

And I guess that is really all I had to say tonight.

Yes mom, I really mean it ...

My mom thinks I'm nuts. She shakes her head (yes, I can hear you doing it through the phone, Mom), rolls her eyes, and secretly wonders when I'm going to get "back to normal."

You see, as much as she supports me (& she always does), she thinks my diet is a fad.

Almost a year ago, Wonder Dad and I made the commitment to give "Paleo" living a try. So what does that mean? For us, it has meant cutting out sugar, processed foods, legumes, and grains. Now, we're not super strict on any of these things, but in general these are the guidelines we're trying to follow.

My mom has been effusive in her praise of my weight loss. She didn't say a single unkind word at the Paleo-centered Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners I served. In fact, she enjoyed many of the dishes and even asked for the recipes (which is a big part of why I started the food blog).

But now that I've met many of my weight goals, she keeps expecting me to go back to my old way of eating.

And I'll admit to some temptation along those lines. From time to time, anyway.

But honestly, after a year of eating this way, it really is my preferred way to eat. We will sometimes indulge in a day of old-style eating habits, but in the end I usually feel much worse for the wear and who needs to deal with tight jeans and popping shirt buttons?

Not this chick!

I'm happy with my size and I'm not trying to lose more weight as much as tone my body to get it looking like I picture myself in my head (as opposed to what I see staring back at me from the mirror).

And I DO NOT want to regain all that weight. Just one cheat meal will usually cause an immediate jump on the scale by at least a couple of pounds.

I don't need that.

And more importantly, I don't WANT that.

I don't feel deprived on a daily basis. So why would I need to slide back into those old eating habits?

I appreciate your support Mom. I REALLY do! But maybe this time you'll just have to keep thinking I'm off my rocker. Just try to keep it to yourself, OK?

Nice & Easy

Got in a run during Wonder Boy's soccer practice tonight. As much as I enjoy watching him at practice, I have to say I particularly enjoyed tonight's run. I didn't make note of how long I ran, but I just felt GOOD while I was running. It was like a deep breath you take before settling down into a familiar routine. I dunno. The words are failing me here.

It's not like it's been a bad day. It's been busy, but not at the kind of pace where I feel like I'm drowning. And while I did (and continue to) have to do some after hours work, it's not really difficult work, it just has to be done during off hours. So I don't have anything much about which to complain.

But this run ... it just ... I don't know ... settled me down. I had some good tunes on my iPod. I had nice open sidewalks (only passed a few folks/dogs). The weather was a touch cool (around 55F at start time), but I like to run in that kind of weather. I was able to clear my head. And I spent much of the time thinking about my family.

Good times!

In addition to the fun run, I got my planks, squats, and burpees in for the Planks A Lot challenge. 1 min 5 seconds for each side plank. 2 minutes 5 seconds for a regular plank. 100 air squats and 6 burpees. I *hate* burpees. But I'm doing them. I hope someone, somewhere cares. :+P

Guilty Pleasure

As part of this fitter/better New Year deal, I've been avoiding a lot of my favorite treats. Unfortunately, I am just not the type that can indulge in moderation. I don't keep my favorite sweet drink (Dr. Pepper) in the house. And chocolate is something we keep at arm's length as well. Crackers and bar-b-que chips are also on the "keep away" list.

But I have found one treat that I can have in moderation that fills so many of my cravings.

Orange Juice!

I've taken to just calling it "liquid sunshine." It is certainly better for me than the soda that I crave. But this is one drink I can manged to not over indulge. How?, you might ask.

It's simple really. Though I truly love OJ (and oranges in general), I get heart burn when I over indulge. And there is nothing like that crazy burning sensation from stomach to tongue that will discourage you from imbibing too much or too often. I guess it doesn't hurt that I am the only family member that enjoys a big glass of that sweet, tangy sunshine. So we don't typically keep it in the house. And that means I have to make a special trip somewhere for my treat.

Regardless of the reasons, I am enjoying OJ more than I have ever done before. Once or twice a week I'll pick up a bottle and just inhale it. It leaves me feeling bright and bubbly, which is something I cannot say about my beloved Dr. Pepper. So for the time being, I plan to keep the occasional bottle of OJ as my not-so-guilty pleasure.

Bottoms up!