Silence

 

~ the weight of silence ~

 



Daydreaming

I was trying to concentrate

but my mind

kept wandering back to you

  



Flip-Flop Days...!

(sigh)

7-Minute Circuit

Saturday -- four days ago -- was the last time I was at the gym.  I began getting sick on Sunday, and managed to squeeze in 20 minutes of cardio on my elliptical at home.  It's been a downhill spiral ever since with my head and chest cold.  Constant coughing, sneezing, runny nose and aches.

/”“A healthy outside

starts from the inside.”

~Robert Urich



When I'm sick -- which, thankfully, I seldom am -- my bed feels like total paradise.  My haven of escape, bliss, rest.  There's nowhere else I'd rather be.  I seldom take a "sick day" off from work.  I attribute that to my addiction to clean eating and regular exercise.  But every now and then, I find that my immunity runs its course, and I get nailed.  I succombed yesterday, texting a message to the office that I felt horrible and planned to stay home and rest.  After getting up to see my son off to school and to print off some last-minute records that needed sent out for tax prep, I went back to bed at 9 and slept till 11:30. 

After showering, then arming myself with tissues and cough drops, I managed to go out with my son to upgrade his dying phone ...

- placed an order at the bakery for a COLTS birthday cake for C this weekend ...

- and snagged a few groceries. 

As soon as we got back home and groceries were put away, I prepared another cup of green tea, then headed back to my bedroom.  A restful afternoon nap in my darkened, blissful haven was calling my name.  Switching on the Sleep Machine app on my phone, then silencing all calls, I slept restfully for another hour and a half. 

Despite the two long naps, after arriving back from dinner out with the family, I eagerly dropped exhausted into bed at 9 p.m. and slept till 6:45 this morning.  My body was grateful for all of that extra rest to help recover, because I felt worlds better this morning.  The sniffles and occasional cough, but miles improved from yesterday.  Manageable.  No more achiness.  Congestion hardly noticeable.  Feeling rested and more energized.

This is as close to normal as I've felt since early Sunday moring.  Feeling blessed ~~~

Grapefruit actually tastes GOOD to me right now.  Funny how our bodies crave certain things when we're sub par.

My son being home from college, I find myself inspired by his recent weight loss and diciplined diet.  He looks great.  Strong and lean and healthy.  He wears it well.  He has shared with me a few of his secrets for sticking to his diet balanced with life, and I salute him for his focus and commitment to getting the goal accomplished.  Mind over matter.  He just does it so well!  The inspiration is contagious.  I'm anxious to return to the gym and to resume my attack on fat loss and body comp. 

After having my hair highlighted late this afternoon, I plan to try to make it to the gym for a light workout, easing my way back into my routine.  I've dug up a circuit that I had done a few times in the past and I want to add this back to my arsenal for fat loss in the next few days once my strength has returned to normal.  A valuable workout to have on hand -- no equipment necessary, and it can be done anywhere, anytime.

     torch it

              

A Dog's LIfe

It occurred to me this morning as I was getting ready for work, coughing my head off, wondering how I was gonna make it through our jury trial that was set to go today, that dogs don't cough. 

My little Chessie kept looking at me like:  What's wrong with you?  Why do you keep making those annoying noises?  Can't you stop?  How annoying.

I wanted to turn to her and say:  Stop staring at me like that.   I have no contol over this, you know!  It's not my fault.  And how would you know?  You're a dog.  You never have to worry about annoying coughs.

But then it occurred to me.  We have annoying coughs. That's life.  Dogs have annoying barks.  And that's life.  A dog's life.

Thankfully when I arrived at work I was told the jury trial had settled.  Whew.  Was I ever relieved.  I made the mistake of taking "non-drowsy" (right!) cold medicine in the hopes that it would keep me from coughing during the trial. (Reporters can't exactly cover their mouths when their hands are on the keys...or blow their noses...or sneeze into a tissue...or any of those "comfort" things that most people with colds take for granted)  The only purpose the medicine served was to make me sleepy, lethargic, out of focus, dizzy and somewhat nauseous.  I knew almost immediately as I was driving to work:  MISTAKE. 

Watching the clock as we worked our way through the morning docket, I began craving my bed.  My coughing had settled somewhat, but now I was fighting the sleep, desperately trying to stay focused, pretending to be alert and coherent.  Following court, my plan was to pack it up, take the rest of the day off, take a long nap, and hope for the best.  My son is on his way home from college for spring break, and I DON'T want to spread my germs.  I want to enjoy his visit home, not be stuck in bed or coughing my head off. 

This cough-and-cold monster reared its ugly head unmercifully on this household beginning Friday, and it hasn't left yet.  NOT a good weekend.  Not at all.

I've gotten my nap in and I feel somewhat better.  At least my head feels clearer and I feel more rested.  And I wasn't even distrubed by barking dogs.  Little blessings!

Do You Still Hear the Song

 

 



Never Gonna Keep Me Down

I seem to have found my rhythm again over the past couple of weeks.  Is it because spring is here?  Hope on the horizon?  Whatever it is, I want to stay.  I'm not letting go.

Getting back up when knocked down is what matters.  I'm up.  I'm fighting again.  And I'm winning.

Feeling strong. 
Focused. 
Energetic. 
Clean. 
Leaner.
Balanced.
Determined.
Disciplined.

Diet has been carefully chosen and adhered to.  Always proves to be 90% of the battle.

For breakfast this morning, I tried a new egg white omelette of sorts.  It was a little bit of this and a little bit of that, leftovers just thrown together, but it was actually pretty tasty.

4 egg whites
2 oz sliced cooked sweet pototo
chopped green peppers
2 oz roasted green beans

I sauted the veggies in Pam, got them slightly browned, then added the egg whites.  YUM.

Today was back and abs day at the gym, my fourth day at the gym this week.  I've put spinning on the back burner for a while.  Still doing cardio, just dialed back a bit.  HIIT once or twice a week.

I miss emphasis on lifting.  It keeps me strong.  Lean.  Tight. 

I want that back.

I'm on my feet again.

Super Foods, Super Easy

super foods!

Eating for my health and being proactive, I try to eat a diet rich in super foods daily.  Super foods are foods that are low in calories, high in nutrients and act as anti-aging catalysts and disease fighters. 

 

Super foods that I like to include in my diet most days of the week include:  Spinach, eggs, yogurt, nuts, berries, sweet potatoes, broccoli and salmon. 

One of my favorite quick and easy lunches, especially when I don't have any lean protein prepared (I like to prepare lean protein ahead of time and weigh/wrap/store in frig for quick meals) is a shrimp and spinach salad.  It's high in protein, very low in carbs and fat, and tastes delicious.

 

At our local Kroger store, you can purchase 4 oz bags of salad shrimp around $1.50 per bag.  DEAL.  This handy baby packs a whopping 27 grams of lean protein!  A frozen 4 oz bag can be thawed by noon.  I simply clip a small corner and drain it, then toss it onto my salad that I've prepared. I'm good to go. 

 

Easy Shrimp Spinach Almond Salad

 

4 oz bag frozen salad shrimp

2-4 oz fresh spinach

.5 oz chopped roasted almonds

.5 oz chopped fresh onion (optional)

1 oz chopped fresh green pepper (optional)

2 T Maple Grove Sugar Free Balsamic Vinaigrette

 

 

Nutritional Info:

 



 

I am what I am!