Back in the Saddle...again

Wow, it has been quite awhile since my last post. Where does the time go? Seems like yesterday it was the beginning of April and I was looking forward to Easter with my family and now I am planning my 4th of July weekend.

So some updates:
The cyst removal sites have all healed and my hair stylist even stated the last time she did my hair that they looked good. Good thing since she put color on my head for the first time since the removal at that time.

Training… I am still doing my KB workout 3-4 times a week. I have added yoga in 1x a week and I need to find the time to run on the ARC trainer. Can’t I just have 2 more hours in day to get these workouts all in and still get my other stuff done too? I might have to breakdown and start training during the day while at work and stay later and always go to the last KB class.

Love life… well this is a new subject on here for me. I have started to see someone new and things are going great. We met two months ago and have been seeing each other once or twice a week since we met on a blind date. When I say blind I do mean blind. Other than a photo of him on his FB profile I had not idea what he looked like. We did not talk on the phone and had only sent a message in FB but that was it. His cousin is a friend of mine and she thought we should meet. I thank her at least once a week for her introduction because we are so alike it is scary. The foods and things we like and how complimentary we are with each other. We has even started to include each in work and personal life events. He is an owner of local meat market in NE Minneapolis.

We have met each other’s family and I have even stayed with him at the cabin over Memorial Day weekend. We will be at the cabin for the 4th of July and have 2 camping trips planned for the summer. I am also going be at the cabin for his family reunion in September. We are truly a great match for each other, and everyone who meets us thinks the same thing.

I can’t really think of much more to add right now… surprising since I have not written anything in so long. But everything left to write down is all about The Love and I and I don’t want that out there in this public forum.

I have a full day tomorrow with KB and a yoga class and then working on digging up the yard to add another garden for more veggies.
I will be cooking on Sunday for us.. pasta and sauce and maybe some Italian Wedding soup too.
That is it for now – Peace

Pilar Cyst Removal

I managed to not pass out when I got my cysts removed today. I originally thought I would only get a 2-3 removed but ended up getting all of them done. I had 5 lumps and one lump actually contained 3 cysts stacked on top of each other. So I had 8 cysts removed all together according to my doctor. I don't have any idea how many stitches I have in my head but quite a few.

I have already washed my hair, because they said to wash it right away when I get home to get the blood out so it doesn't scab up in my hair making even more difficult to remove. I was seriously nervous about washing my hair but I took my time and just was really gentle with the scrubbing. I think I will be having bad hair day for a week or so because I can't use anything really hot on my head that might melt my stitches.

I did have some bleeding this afternoon so I got the gauze out and just held some pressure on the site that was oozing and it stopped after a few minutes.

My head has been a bit sore so I have taken some tylenol to help with the discomfort and that has made it tolerable.

I also can't workout for a few days and no yoga poses where my head is in a down position. I will have to figure out when to take my makeup class from last week.

My head congestion is also getting better and better as the days go by so maybe it was not a sinus infection like I thought at first last week. I did finally get some Claritin D (from behind the counter) to help clear out my head a bit more. I love that I can breathe again through my nose and stuff actually come out when I blow it all day long.

It is time to head to bed... I have have had a long day and need to get some sleep to be ready for the day at the office tomorrow.

Peace Out

Yoga Training

After yoga has been suggested by two, that is right, two different personal training I decided to give it a whirl. I signed up for a 4 week Absolute Beginner Class (ABC) yoga. I had my first session last week. I found it kind of boring, because all we did was practice sitting, breathing, pelvic tilt. We even got to do down dog. I have to admit that my calves were really tight doing down dog and I just lightly shifted weight from one leg to the other. I was not feeling well yesterday so I did not go to class but I checked first to see if I could make it up this week if I felt better and I am able to do that.

I just need to see how I feel after I get all or at least some of my pilar cysts removed tomorrow to see if I am up to taking my makeup class. I do want to get to kettlebells on Wednesday and sweat but again it will be decided on how I feel with both my head stitches and congestion.

The new challenge for NEKB is the longest plank without moving. The club is putting up $100 and then there will surely be side bets for this. I am guessing everyone who wants to partake will put in $5 and if the winner has added to this pot they will get the entire pot. I thing that there should be a separate pot for guessing the time of the longest held plank but, who knows if that will happen or not. I will need to start practicing at home so I can maybe get close to winning. That extra $$ would be nice to have that is for sure.

I will post again after I do my next yoga class.

Peace

VO2 Max - Failure (In my eyes)

Well, last night I did the VO2 at Kettlebells and my plan was to use the 12kg bell for the whole 80 sets doing 8 reps per set. I only made it about 24 sets doing 8 and then I had to drop to the 8kg bell because I was not able to catch my breath and I was getting a cramp in side that was not letting up during the rest interval.

I can't tell you how disappointed I am in my performance last night. Maybe the fact I only had a few hours of sleep had something to do with the poor performance. I am not sure but I do know I want to try again with 12kg but I am going to gut it out and do the entire 80 sets with 8 reps. I might even try at home a few times to try and get the reps done up.

I should be happy with this performance as most people can't do the VO2 one time let alone doing it 3 times like I have done now.

The Running Update and VO2 next round

Well, the running on the treadmill did not go as well as hoped this last week. I felt horrible and I am pretty sure it looked just as bad. We ended up doing some core work and stretching to try and help my super tight calves, hip flexors and IT band in both legs.

I am still able to use the ARC trainer, which I love, to add the additional cardio to my training to help lose more weight faster. I seem to flip between feeling great and super chubby I am not sure what is causing the flip flop thoughts on how I feel about me and how I look but hopefully they will go away once I get smaller and stronger than I am today.

Tomorrow night, Monday March 15th, I am doing the VO2 for the 3rd time at kettlebells. I am going to be stepping up to the 12kg bell from the 8kg bell and praying that I feel strong and I can make the entire 80 sets with 8 reps. I have to get in the correct mindset during the day tomorrow so I will know I can do the whole thing and not back down. I am excited, nervous and scared all at the same time.

I also need to stop into CES Fitness tomorrow too to see if they need any volunteers for their advanced functional movement seminar that they are having in a couple of weeks. I saw that they are doing hip and leg screens and I feel that I would benefit greatly from a screen and would be great exposure to those attending to see how screwed my legs and hips are currently.

I am kind of sad that I am not going to be able to run in the 5K the end of April but some time in the future I might be able to try again and I will definitely reach out to Leslie again to have her help me get ready. I am hoping in a year I will be ready to try again.

More updates to come after the VO2 ...

Peace

Let the challenges begin...

Running, those who know me would never in a million years would imagine that word coming of out of my mouth as a form of exercise. That is right I am trying running out as an added form of exercise. I was invited to run a 5K the end of April by my Aunt who's kids, my cousins, are all running this race. So to make sure I did not injure my knee with the pounding of running I have hired a running coach to make sure I am running safely.

I had my first lesson last week and I was on an ARC trainer. It simulates running without the pounding of joints. I ran on the ARC yesterday after I got done with kettlebells and I only got through half of my training, 25 minutes. Yikes. I now know back to back training right now is not a good choice. I am hoping that sometime in the future I will be able to bells in the morning and then running in the afternoon. Even if I don't run on anything other than an ARC trainer I would be happy with that for additional cardio. I feel like I have lost more weight in just the couple of days of running so far. I feel great and everyone is noticing how much smaller I am getting. I still doing my Advo.care products and I think I have the right combinations figured out. I have added catalyst in the morning before breakfast and I take all of that with my spark. I then take more catalyst with spark before I work out. I think that is seriously helping my fat burning.

Over all I feel great about me and where I am headed. I have even let my friends know that I am ready to start dating again and told them to bring on the guys!

I can't remember when I was this happy in the past. My training is strong, and my lose is progressing fabulously.

Peace

Local Shopping Finds

It has been a while since my last post... I am still moving forward on my journey of loss, health and spirituality and I have never been happier, even though I am feeling fat today, must be all the chai tea I have drank in the last 2 days.

That leads me to my first local find, the Tea Source in St Anthony Village. Wow, what a great place if you like tea. I walked into the shop and and was taken away by the fabulous smells of brewing teas and the house chai. The chai I was offered was so great, I have to get the tea and spice mix to make my own. I have been drinking it non stop since Friday night and have not missed coffee at all. No wonder being the spice mix is mixed with sweetened condensed milk and that is mixed with the brewed tea. I highly recommend this place if you like tea.

I stopped into this store front on this past week while at work and it housed several small business that had unique products. I found one that I will have to look at again online, ReGreet, they have a very cool concept on reusing greeting cards and to make it fun a way to track it when it has been reused more than once and the miles traveled. If you hate tossing cards and want to reuse them, check this biz out.

At this same place, there was a lady selling honey. I of course don't need any of that since I have a unlimited supply from my dad and his bees. But, she did have a product that I did purchase, bee wax salve with essential oils. Totally love it. I looked up how to make it myself and it is not too challenging so I am going to give it whirl as gifts for friends.

I hope you will check out these local companies in Minneapolis if you are looking for something unique and different or for the tea, something that just tastes great.

I will post later with more info my journey and how it is going for me and my next set of goals.