Can I have my chair? Please.....

 

This afternoon, Leo placed himself in the only chair (literally) in the house. He is clearly watching Johnny Depp in Pirates of the Carribbean. Gotta' love Leo. He then placed himself in my lap, after I moved him so I could sit.

And some of you might be thinking that it is sweet that, I have a cat who watches TV, while others might be scratching your heads about how I have only one chair in my apartment.

Well.........

 

2016 took off with a bang! I was catapulted to Houston after my plans and arrangements had fallen through to move to the OBX. I have been here four weeks, and my role as Youth Triathlon Coach is just starting to unfold. This week programming will begin. This week is the week I have been waiting for since I arrived in Houston.

Upon arrival in Houston, I was living in a hotel. Houston is not necessarily a friendly city when searching for housing. And of course, everyone has advice.

I was thrilled to find my apartment!

 

Unfortunately, while I was residing in the hotel and not working, I spent money I did not have. And the piggy bank is beyond empty!

And I am currently waiting to earn enough to have my stuff shipped to Houston from Virginia Beach.

Honestly........

 

I have had a few moments where I wanted to throw in the towel, a few where I cried and earned my award for the best drama queen, and many, many others where I am singing and dancing and thrilled at the opportunities I am being presented.

• I am serving as an ambassador for Kids Triathlon, Inc.
• I found a Master's Swim Group
• I am teaching indoor cycling
• I might be coaching field hockey this fall
• I have been asked to start a youth Tri team, as well as a women's team.

 

And I am thrilled. I do not expect any of it to be bump or obstacle free, but I am truly excited to be here in Houston and the opportunities it brings.

 

And yes, I am still knocking off those miles, one at a time. Updates to come.

 

 

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Day Three Progress Report

With the new year commencing on a Friday, I was not sure whether to update now or wait for the end of the first full week. And so, I am here.

My goal to run 2016.

And I have run and walked three consecutive days, while following my half-marathon plan. I even took my new (that I bought this summer) Asics out for some road work.

 

 

I am also communicating and sharing on a FB page designed specifically for #runtheyear2016 and for the most part the group is very enthousiastic, and positive. Considering my current situation, I do not need any extra negativity in my world. And I am happy to interact. Although, I was told I was rude because I advised trying on shoes in a store and buying them on line. As if NO ONE HAS EVER DONE THIS BEFORE. Why is it women are so nasty to other women? And so, I digress.




And the week's totals are in. Drum roll please............

 

I am pleased with my progress so far! And I even saw a whale this week.

A gentle reminder to get out and swim!

 

 

And As I write this, I ask what is it you did in your first three days of the new year?

 

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Run the Year 2016

Welcome 2016!

My crazy idea (signed up for it yesterday) is to run the year in miles. So, 2016, bring it.

Among my other crazy ideas-- I joined the Ragner be active every day for 30 days, swim Boston before Boston (yes, that is 26.2miles before Patriot's Day), and complete a half iron so I can conquer the iron next year, etc, etc, etc.

So, like turning the page in a book, I began a fresh start........

Day One: the first page...... And so, the story begins.

I went to run/walk the Delaware-Raritan Canal tow path.

 

 

It was peaceful with only a few others out on the path this morning. It was cold. And where was the sun?

I completed 2.91miles to begin my year.

 

It felt AMAZING!

 

I achieved my first milestone bib. Great motivation! And I am going to need to refer to it, perhaps frequently, since the next milestone is at 100miles. And as I entered my data to the mileage tracker, it looked funny to see such a small sliver in the pie.

 

Although I am looking forward to coloring in the pie throughout the year! And putting dollars in a jar! I stole, well ummm, borrowed this idea from someone else in the challenge. I like this idea! So, building athletically AND saving some money!

I

The New Year is upon us! I have started coloring in my new book. This is going to be fun!

 

 

 

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I have landed.........

Well, not quite. I successfully left my apartment in MA, clearing out clutter, gifting to friends, selling what I can..... filling dumpsters along the way. and book and clothing donations boxes. And I arrived in NJ on Thanksgiving evening. Much later than I had desired.

I arrived!

And the craziness began!

 

My 30th high school reunion. I honestly do not know when that happened. 30 years out of high school..... Well, maybe that is a good thing!

And then off to the Outer Banks of North Carolina. I could really get used to this! In four days, I secured housing, work and did some sight seeing.

 

And I returned to New Jersey to retrieve my cats and the rest of my stuff. And I have remained in a holding pattern since. So much for plans!

 

 

 

Fast forward: I am now preparing to head to Houston, Texas. Where I will be working as coordinator and coach of an existing youth triathlon program. I anticipate continuing to train and coach and teach in my new environment.

 

Today, is the last day of 2015. I have been reflecting on the past year, and planning for the upcoming year. I never imagined the journey I would have traveled in 2015. Last year, I chose the word LEAP to encompass what my goals and ambitions and what I wanted to do through the course of the year.

It was not until October that I learned in order to leap forward I had to let go of what I was hanging onto behind me. Like swinging on the monkey bars of a jungle gym, let go of the rung behind you to,grasp the one before you. And as I packed and purged, I learned and embraced the LEAP forward.

And so today...... I am bidding 2015 good-bye, welcoming 2016, and the adventures that will come with the new year.

I have chosen a word for 2016. I was impressed with myself, as I really took the time to think about it, focusing on what I learned in my journey and what I wanted to continue to learn, pursue and how I would challenge myself.

The word for 2016 is OPEN.

I am learning to be open. To open more doors. To be responsive to those doors that are open. To be available, willing to share, welcoming to new athletes, being approachable, friendly and kind. To understand that to develop my business I have to show these qualities more often. I am looking forward to learning and seeing where this new adventure will take me.

And in the meantime, I will continue to chase the run, swim, bike and row. Because I love these!

I have set various athletic goals for 2016. I will share as these opportunities are provided.

I will continue to share on this venue as well as on my professional website MSJ Athletics and MSJ 4 Her. Please visit me there, and join in the chatter on my Facebook Page. As I continue on my journey, please do not hesitate to share yours.

 

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Twelve Days

What can one accomplish in twelve days?

I have twelve days (eleven as of tomorrow) remaining in the glorious state of Massachusetts. I am stepping forward into a new adventure. And in the course of the next twelve days, I have to finish prepping, packing, and making the necessary arrangements to relocate. I leave MA with just my stuff and some idea of where I am headed. I am stepping into a new adventure.

 

My apartment looks like a hoarder lives here. There are boxes everywhere. In the midst of it, the boys (my four cats) are enjoying playing and sleeping in and on the boxes.

And I have twelve days to organize the madness.

In the midst of this insanity, it would be easy to forget about my health. It would be easy to toss it to the wayside, and neglect myself.

I had started the Whole-30 Plan. And at this time, it is not appropriate for me. I live in the real world. Yes, I want to reduce and eliminate my sugar and flour intake, and reduce my dairy. But, I struggled to stay focused. So my focus changed, creating opportunity to focus on how foods interact with me.

I have learned that I need Apple Cider Vinegar. I stopped using this for about a month, and after returning to drink my ACV mixture in the morning I feel better. My feet and ankles are not swelling, and my body is able to counteract the reactions I have to the chlorinated environment in which I work.

I have learned that I enjoy vegetables at any time of day. And I like some with hummus.

I enjoy omelettes! And bacon!

I like pancakes!

I feel better when I don't eat three or meals per day. I feel better when I eat one major protein (animal if I choose) feeding in the evening, and graze on fresh fruits, veggies, and nuts throughout the days. I feel stuffed and sluggish when I eat three meals consistently.

I like Haribou frogs. I know they are full of sugar. I enjoy them.




Over the next twelve days, I am observing how my body responds to various foods, and eating styles.

And I am going to work on building a foundation for my fitness levels, by running, rowing, and swimming.

And I hope to share.

 

What can you do in the next twelve days?

 

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Whole 30

For a whole 30-days.

 

I was challenged to participate in the Whole30 plan. I have been struggling with different things related to health and the extra weight I am sloshing around with me. Weight that doesn't seem to move, ankles that swell at the end of the day regardless of the amount of water I am drinking or activity I am doing. I feel puffy, and fluffy and not happy.

I was willing to try anything.

And here is the program:

Eat Real Food. Eat meat, seafood, tons of vegetables, some fruit, and plenty of good fats from fruits, oils, nuts and seeds. Eat foods with very few ingredients, all pronouncable ingredients, or better yet, no ingredients listed at all because they're totally natural and unprocessed.

Avoid for the next 30 days:

• Do not consume sugar of any kind, real or artificial.
• Do not consume alcohol in any form, not even for cooking.
• Do not eat grains.
• Do not eat legumes.
• Do not eat dairy.
• Do not eat carrageenan, MSG or sulfites.
• Do not try to recreate baked goods, junk foods or treats with 'approved' ingredients.

And lastly, you are NOT allowed to step on the scale or take any body measurements for the duration of the program.




And so I began. For 18-days, it was a fairly solid, and surprisingly easy journey.

 

I felt happier, lighter and I noticed that my tastes became clarified, and my sense of smell radically improved. It was pretty cool when I put in a swim suit and it was not as snug as it had been. My energy levels increased.

And, my ankles were not swelling. My ankles had been swelling to the point of pain. And NOTHING I did, would eliminate that pain.

 

This past weekend, I was not prepared for the events of the day. As a result, I ate quite a bit of gluten -- you know the fast and easy food. And Monday night, my ankles were swollen and stiff and in pain. UGH!

 

All things being the same, the gluten and/or processing in the foods of the weekend splurge caused my body to feel puffy, bloated, swollen and heavy. I did not feel good at all.

 

 

I would definitely conclude that I have some serious gluten intolerances. As a result, I am recommencing my Whole30 Challenge. Over the next 30-Days, I will be eliminating the junk and seeing what happens. I am also participating (vicariously) in the YMCAs 6-week weight loss challenge that started this week. I say vicariously, because this is about me and not a team. I am running and swimming and cycling.

 

This process is to see what happens, to find what I may be allergic or have sensitivities to, and how I feel. It is about getting healthy, which is so much more than a number on the scale. And while some of you are cringing about the food elimination, it is only 30-days.

 

Who's in? Anyone care to join me?

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Learning to Swim

If I'd blinked, I would have missed it.

The opening line to the book had me. This novel, while dragged at times with details and information overload is about a woman, Troy Chase, who learns to swim.

She witnesses a child tossed overboard a ferry, dives in the water, rescues the child,swims to shore, and then investigates his kidnapping. In this quest, she is learning to trust and allow people to help her at times of need. It is Troy who is learning to swim.

The novel has many twists and turns, and there are characters who seem to be guilty and prove to be innocent. It is not until the end, that the story unfolds and the true villian reveals herself.

It is a great read. At times, long and heavy in detail. I enjoyed reading it.

 

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