Shut Up and Listen, thanks – The Universe

Sometimes you just have to shut up and listen to the Universe. It’s trying to help you – honestly!

Earlier this month a lovely lady in my SummerSlimDown group posted about a recent loss, “My medicine, and my coping mechanism in the face of tragedy has been to take care of my body. It’s the only thing that feels tangible that I can actually DO and feel of use. Sometimes when life sends you horrible truths the only way you can process is by putting your best essence into this life.”  This floored me. Tragedy of all flavors has always shut me down. I stop. I give up. I quit. I abstain.

I didn’t realize I had a choice to not to this.

The above concept has been knocking around in my head. I’ve been “trying on” the idea that I can use my grief, my anger, my frustration to reach my own goals rather than hit a hard stop. It’s completely foreign to me! What a novel concept! That I can continue onward and still be honoring those that have passed. That I can move forward and past the wrongs. That I can succeed and learn from failures.

Then this morning, this pops up on my Facebook feed:

Firstly – that picture is freaking adorable!!!  And I had the idea to write down everything I DO control. And then I decided to it “later”. And then I decided I’m going to write this up and do it… now. Like really now. Seriously! Ok, ok, I’m going to do it!

Day #2 – 21 Day Fix

Ohh I am feeling this! it feels wonderful! and down 2lbs!

My mad time management skillz?

 …ain’t so mad!  Turns out that Fridays is the “due date” for one of my classes rather than Sunday as I had thought. So instead of being ‘ahead’, I’m merely ‘caught up’. Ugh!

So I spend a good chunk of my Sunday getting work events, holidays, and assignments entered into my planner, then working up a schedule.

• Up at 8:30am
• Yoga 30min
• Breakfast, watch/listen to news, check emails/Facebook 30min
• Read, study, assignments 9:30am-12pm
• Lunch 30min
• Great ready for work 12:30pm
• Work 2pm-10:30pm – taking laptop so I can study during dinner break
• Gym after work 30-45min
• Bed by 12am

And yeah, if you look at the time stamp, you’ll notice that I’m an hour behind –I forgot to actually turn on my alarm last night! but woke up at my usual time 🙂

Adding A New Label To My Life

So I started grad school this past Monday. And I’m terrified! Not only am I’m still working 40+ hours but it has been years since I’ve claimed the label “student”. I had to pass a “Academic Integrity” quiz before I can submit any assignments – how cool is that?!?!  Big change from the old “cheating is bad, m’kay?” message LOL    Luckily I’m off Friday & Saturday so I can:

• Not only get caught up on reading & quizzes but get ahead
• Do some “Unfuck Your Habitat” – check out their Welcome Packet and Cleaning Checklists. Something about “unfucking” makes more appeals to me than mere cleaning.
• Do some grocery shopping – see this great post on healthy budget-friendly grocery shopping: UGWBliss: Surviving On A Budget. I love Target and will be trying out the Cartwheel app this Friday when I get paid 🙂
• Hitting the gym for my weekly training with Awesome Trainer!
• Work up a weekly schedule so I can study, work, eat, train, and sleep successfully.

Sunday Ramblings

I love lazy laid-back Sundays where I occasionally get stuff done 🙂

Survived yesterday’s workout with Awesome Trainer Kevin. It was a bit of a struggle to be honest. He immediately noticed that I was very low energy and adapted accordingly. This is one of the reasons I trust him so much. I started with some cardio, then moved on to timed interval strength training. Once my blood got pumping I perked up quite a bit and was able to narrow my focus. I did quite well for a bit…

And then I literally saw stars. I was doing side step-squats with an exercise band around my ankles. Started having trouble with my timing and breathing. I had to reset each movement which slowed me down. I was really pushing through them when I started seeing stars. Couldn’t catch my breath, heart hammering, and got very thirsty. Kev was right there to help, got me sitting down, had me drinking water, and just chilled with me until I pulled myself together.

More than likely it was due to being sick. I know I’m dehydrated from cold meds plus I got seriously hungry in the middle of the session. Stopped at Jimmy John’s for a Tuna Unwich – the lightness of tuna and the uber crisp lettuce was perfect! I snarfed it down in record time.  Came home and napped for 2-3 hours. I felt sooo good when I got up so it was definitely needed.

Today I’ve done little other than fuss with a clogged kitchen sink. I did decide on my Halloween costume for an upcoming “Villains” themed party. I found my tiara and scepter from last Halloween which inspired me to look up Queen of Hearts costumes. With my crazy work schedule in October I’ve found a cute commercial costume that I can quickly & easily customize with glue gun, trimmings & sparkly stuff.

I’m going to follow the great advice from “The Mess That Is Me” and start carrying my camera with me again. I used to always have it handy then felt out of the habit. I’ve had several instances where I wished I had more than just my phone to grab a pic.

I need to get over this cold/upper respiratory crud that is going around so I can get my school vaccinations. I want to get registered for January classes. I can get them down right around the corner at local health department but I want to be healthy when I do. There are a couple of professional journals I want to subscribe to as well. I am sooo ready to get on with my master’s! I want it now! /Veruca Salt

October will be another crazy busy work month but there is a reward at the end – AfterBurn! I have some personal concerns but I’m not dwelling on them. Things will work out one way or another 🙂

 

 

Rainy Sunday Afternoons

It’s one of those stormy rainy Sundays.

The wet weather is keeping me from doing some chores & repairs outside. Oh darn. So I’m enjoying the unexpected downtime to do laundry, lazily plan meals, and read. One of the “Pirates of the Caribbean” movies is on in the background. I’ve got chicken defrosting to bake later in the oven. Thinking strongly of a meatloaf too. A nice long yoga session is in order as well. But first, I’m enjoying another cup of coffee 🙂

 

 

Happy Lammas – Bless Yourself!

Happy Lammas! Can you believe it’s August already??? Oy!

First – it may be Lammas but I am not eating any wheat today! Sorry, I just can’t put my gut through all that mess. Today I am “Blessing Be” myself!

• I am reorienting my mindset from thinking that exercise and healthy nutritious food is  punishment.
• Chocolate and sweets are not good for my body.
• The pain and discomfort after eating them is not worth it.
• I feel so good, emotionally & physically, after exercising.
• It’s ok for me to feel good.
• I don’t have to hurt so much.
• I will be working towards my future goals and getting my health under control will help.
• I will survive this coming “peak season” without gaining weight.

What are you doing to Bless Yourself?

Staycation Day 2

It still hasn’t sunk in yet that I’m on vacation LOL Yesterday (Saturday) felt like my usual Sunday off and today (Sunday) feels like my usual Monday off. Does that make sense? LOL

I’ve been up for a couple of hours, just relaxing & goofing off online. I’ll start in on the kitchen in a bit, maybe do some laundry, then a nap for sure. Tonight I get to work out again with Awesome Trainer!

Last night was intense and so much fun! He had me doing timed exercises instead of the usual reps. For example, I would do face pulls for 30 seconds, rest 15, then pull again. It was just go-Go-GO! Thought I would either cry and/or puke but made it through and feel GGGRRRREAT!!!

Don’t be…

This. Last night I seriously beat myself up over my workout. It’s weird, cause I didn’t think I would even make it through it – but I did! I am both impressed and frustrated with myself. I need to stick with ‘impressed’ 🙂

Lazy Sunday

I completely crashed when I got home from S & D’s engagement luncheon. I drove home via a leisurely drive down A1A, shared my leftover fish with Geisha-kitty then got in some serious sleep on the couch. Now I’m trying to stay awake to watch new episode of ‘Venture Brothers‘. I knew I was tired from the six straight days of work but damn!

Monday will be filled with yoga & chores to make up for today 🙂