16 Days and Counting

Yep, 16 days. 

So, what am I going to do with those 16 days?  Stay focused on my nutrition.  Notice I never say diet.  I loathe that word as it implies there is a beginning and an end to what you are doing.  So, no dieting in my house or in my gym or with my clients.  With my food I'm steering slowly and surely away from a more 'Paleo' style or type of nutrition plan to a leaner, clean food way of eating.  As I think is true of most people who are seriously invested in the way they eat, we are always trying to tweak things.  To clarify, people who are invested in how they eat because they care about what their bodies look like and how they perform.  I have learned there is no fool-proof, all encompassing nutrition plan that works across the board for everyone.  Everyone is a little different, whether that is simply their lifestyle (stay-at-home mom vs. 40 hr. week mom, no one get panties or briefs into a bunch here...) or how their body processes food, or food allergies, or pre-existing conditions like diabetes.   

Jason and I started years ago knowing we needed to change something and started with what at the time seemed like the obvious choice of being Vegetarian/Vegan.  We quickly learned that didn't work as optimally for us as we thought, and here we are today 5 years later still tweaking what we eat and how we eat.  Reading ad-naseum about all different styles of eating and when to eat and how to eat.  Much like bringing home a new baby you take in all the advice and reading you have done, mull it around, and do what you think will be best and most suited to your lifestyle and tweak it as you go along.  I  think it is of great importance to constantly read and do research regarding how you eat though and not getting stuck in one way or believe there is ONLY one way. 

So, with that said we are moving as family to a balance of Paleo/Primal ideas mixed with clean eating.  What we don't eat is simple, sugar (brown, white, processed or fake sugars of any kind UNLESS it is a special occasion or we go out for a 'cheat meal' loosely termed), processed foods (for the most part, maybe I should say these are HIGHLY AVOIDED).  If it comes in a box you won't see me buying it.  I try to purchase foods that are as close to how they were originally made as possible, think WHOLE fruits and veggies, dairy as minimally processed, eggs as un-bastardized as possible.  Etc...etc....if there is something we are jonesing for, we got out and eat it (for the most part) and don't bring it into the home. 

So, for the next 16 days there will be a HUGE emphasis on vegetables, fruits, lean meat (fish, chicken, turkey, and some seafood), occasional old-fashioned oats, and some nuts/seeds with a little dairy, and maybe the occasional pasta or rice.  Lean and balanced, much like my fighter food plan from when I was doing MMA. 

Anyway, I'm off to the store to get some eggs and a few other things to make it through the next 2 weeks.  Can't wait to see the results. 
Oh, and I have to write another paper today.  Blah. 

School of hard knocks

Try as I might I cannot seem to wrap my brain around the course I'm signed up for this 8 week term.  I should be totally into it, it's Motor Control and Learning, very applicable to what I do, right?  I sit down to read chapters 1 & 2 (which I have tried to do at least 5 times now) and it's like force feeding.  I cannot get in to it!  I haven't made it past the first few pages, I don't know why!  Common problem I guess for me really, struggling to get started but once I'm in I'm good to go.  I am really learning that without classroom instruction for me it is much tougher to get into the curriculum and I hate HATE HATE trying to understand people (ironically) by just reading flat black words that have been typed onto paper. Another problem is that there are not any schools close by that do instruction in a classroom, grrr.... Other problem?  I write like I speak...conversationally.  My husband who writes for a living is trying to help me to think and write 'scholarly', he calls it douche-ing it up.  Which, I loathe!  When I write I want me to come through, I do not think I should have to write to conform to a standard that appears to set me 'above' any other individual, but like so many other things in life it is all about appearances.  I need to just let it go.

So, I made homemade broccoli and cheese soup last night yet couldn't bring myself to eat it yesterday as I was still recovering from this stomach thing.  The soup however is what is on tap for dinner tonight, that and a salad.  Lot's of greens for dinner for everyone. 

Until tomorrow.

P.S. Here is the link to the soup, I did not make croutons and used whole milk instead of cream as that is what I had on hand.

Emeril's Broccoli and Cheese Soup

Back in the gym

So, I'm finally back in the gym.  Felt like too long from Saturday to Wednesday.  I hit the bike for a 15 minute burner and then went to do a WOD.  I did a 5 min AMRAP, rowed 500m and then decided to go hit the StairMaster.  I'm trying to trim up my legs from being a power lifter, I really held on to the muscle longer than I expected and what went away was kindly replaced with fat, cellulite, yuckiness.  So, I'm going to be doing more machine cardio than I ever care to, but...I know it works! So after 25 mins. and 75.3 flights of stairs on the StairMaster I went and did some core specific work and decided to call it a day.  Mentally, I just wasn't into it today.  I wanted to get some lifts in but just couldn't force myself.   I have decided to get back in to mobility.

My client tried to call and cancel on me today.  My response, "Where is your office?".  My next response to her was "No, I'm not at the hospital, however I am going to come there and find you and then make you do burpees!  I'll follow you around like your worst nightmare!".  Needless to say she will be here for training tonight!  Tough love.

Got an email from the Plastic Surgeons RN today, which I love!  They communicate with me better than ANY other doc I have ever had.  She just called to verify that I am going to use the doc for my surgery and not the resident ($2000 off the price if I used the resident, however I loved the doc!), and to let me know that I would need to stop all my supplements sans the multivitamin 10 days pre-op.  We briefly chatted as she is the doctor's RN and is herself getting a tummy tuck just short of 2 weeks before me, I have to say that she is also a factor in my decision to stick with the doc and not go with a resident. 

Well, off to finish my broth based broccoli and cheese soup, laundry, vacuuming, and homework.  Not sure I'm sold on this class I'm taking, but not sure I have a choice lol

Eat Well! 

The Sims 3

So, I DO NOT LIKE VIDEO games.  They annoy me.  Yes, I grew up with Nintendo (the original one) and I played it some as a child however, I feel like they are a HUGE waste of time and mindless.  The only video game that I ever remember enjoying is The Sims.  I haven't played it in years, probably since I had children.  But, I'm here to admit to having my husband pick me up a copy at Game Stop yesterday.  Why?  Well, frankly because the last few days being laid out with a stomach virus has taught me I don't do NOTHING well.  I will need something that can be a time suck to draw me in and distract me so I'm not considering getting up and moving around.

The doc told me the best thing I can do is to not move around too much.  What is too much?  Anything other than getting up for the restroom!  This lasts for about 3 weeks.  The reason you don't want to move too much is because you want the newly pulled down skin not to move back and forth too much causing swelling and more drainage and (gag, gag, gag, stomach turning) well, that's enough.  I signed on for this, I have wanted this for A LONG TIME and I have worked my butt off to get to where I am.  I know the results will totally be worth it, as I'm sure the pain for several days will keep me happily in my chair. 

So, against my better judgment I bought a video game for mind-numbing sitting on my arse time. 

Today is day 4 of this nasty virus and I would sure love to kick it.  My poor kiddo has been reduced to hanging out with the puppies.  I'm sure it could be a lot worse for her at least I am able to make her food now.

8 days to pre-op!

Facebook fast

So, one day my husband and I were talking about how much of a time suck that Facebook is and how pointless as well as a good waste of time it is.  We noticed we were both mindlessly getting onto FB on our phones whenever there was a free moment or down time.  We weren't living in the moment and I noticed I would get irritated if someone interrupted me while I was perusing it.  So we decided to take a break from FB as soon as I got back from my trip to WA.  I started by just getting rid of it on my phone but decided to go big time and suspend my account, and you know what it feels amazing!  What I started to notice was the immense amount of negativity that FB inspired and how lots of people would use it to try to get at others.  By that I mean saying, no lets call it what it is, you aren't saying a darn thing you are TYPING it.  That's the other thing I noticed in conversation I would say "Well, she said...." or "We were talking the other day..." and you know what?  "She" neither said nor were "we talking", it was all words typed into cyberspace for the other person to READ! 

The other thing is misunderstanding and misinterpretation or reading between the lines literally that happens when conducting relationships electronically.  I know of mulitiple friendships that have been hurt or affected by electronic relationships!  My sister informed me of at least 3 friendships she knew had been lost over just FB.

Something else I that I think happens is the perpetuation and continuance of relationships that just wouldn't make it in the real world.  By that I mean the flesh and blood having a conversation real world.  Some friendships may seem more real or important than they really are through FB, when in reality you would never ever be friends with, hang out with, go to lunch with, or say watch these peoples children, or pets or house.  The only reason you have them as 'friends' is because FB tells you they are your friend.  Ha!  Hardly.  If anything FB taught me many valuable life lessons on who is really a friend.  Want to know my simple outlook on that?  If they continue to seek you out and do things with you once you quit FB...yep then they are a friend.  If you no longer hear from them, they weren't your friend.  And, by hear from them I mean through email (being generous here), a phone call, or say...novel idea here...a hand written letter,  If you get none of these in return you know 'they just aren't that much of a friend for you'. 

Shortly after I quit FB I went on a texting (ha the dictionary doesn't even recognize that word, texting! what does that tell you?) fast.  I went from receiving over 100+ texts some days or more to astronomically less.  I'll have to check our bill to see what difference there truly was.  However, I noticed I would stop almost anything to answer a text or see what was going on on my phone.  Another time suck.  Another fake perpetuation of friendship.  Pathetic really!  So, I decided to stop something NOW before it became a much larger problem potentially affecting real relationships (flesh and blood ones that is) in my life.  I'm sure people were confused by my choice to distance myself through texting after I just quit FB.  But you know what?  It was liberating.  No longer would my phone buzz, beep, and ding uncontrollably with things that you know what?  Just weren't that important.  You know why I say that?  If it's really important I would call someone or someone would CALL me. 

On a side note I woke up this morning in a bit of a nervous mess, I was dreaming about being at the hospital and getting ready for the tummy tuck.  I had just gotten my IV in my right hip and they had me laying on my stomach on a stretcher waiting to go in for surgery.  I don't remember why I was upset or nervous but I had a heck of a time going back to sleep. 

Well, I ventured out for lunch today to my one and only standby Panera, this one horse town just doesn't have many healthy options.  However after getting out and getting food thinking I was 100% recovered I quickly found out, maybe not.  SO, I'm going to load up run to 'the devil store' a.k.a. Wal-Mart and then head home to rest.  Jason keeps telling me to take it easy, something I am learning I DO NOT DO WELL!

Stomach virus

Today is day two of a stomach virus.  I am not someone who does nothing well.  I don't sit idle long EVER.  Now I'm working on recliner confinement, day 2.  I woke up feeling so much better than yesterday.  So, what did I do?  Clean the kitchen and mop the floor only to find out I am not as 'over it' as I thought. 

On the bright side I should be looking at this like trial and error or practice for my tummy tuck recovery.  They say something like 2 weeks of being at a 90 degree angle, in other words living in a recliner.  I suppose to some people that may sound AWESOME, however to busy body Stacy, that sounds like a very, very long time.  I guess that will afford me plenty or reading time, blogging time, and my husband suggests video game time.  I'm not a gamer however I think I will need another distraction.  I did put together a list of books from a few friends whose judgement in books I trust so that should help.

Well, time to get to work, school work that is.  Today is also day one of my new class Motor Learning. 

Anyone want to come over and make me some soup?  I'm jonesing for one of my all time favorite's by Rachel Ray.

http://www.rachaelraymag.com/recipes/rachael-ray-magazine-recipe-search/soup-recipes/cheesy-chicken-potato-soup

Eat Well!

 Here is to honesty, integrity, and personal courage.  These are my 'OH DEAR GOD I cannot believe I took these and am putting them up for the world to see' pictures.
But, I said I would and it is important for me because if I help one woman or man, somewhere, sometime, well...then that's all I hope to do.

Me with my gym capri's on.  Thank GOD for wide banded capris!

 Photo 2:  The real deal skin flap.  Six pregnancy's, and 2 glorious baby's later.  (I am 5 years post-postpartum here).

 Photo 3: the other side.

 Photo 4: head on shot of stomach flap/skin flap
Again, OMG I cannot believe I took this picture.

 Photo 5:  I took this pic one day just a few weeks ago to remind myself I work VERY hard to have the body I do.  I have brought myself from a size 16-18 to an 8/10 depending on the brand and style and cut of jean.  I needed photo proof of the muscles and avoidance of the flap just below where the dresser cuts me off.

Photo 6:  This is me in my everyday gear.  Sweatshirt, glasses, and my headband.  I LOVE my headbands!