I Hate Physics

Whew!  What a day.  I feel like I did 1 million things today!

 

I worked about 6 hours at my full-time job (should be done by Wednesday), plus another 4 of blogging/writing the book, and then I drove about 30 minutes to the community college for Physics class.

I always sit in the back or along the side of classrooms because I feel awkward in the front.   I've met a few nice people through community college, but it's hard to chat at night school when everyone is rushed.

 

After class, I went to Physics lab.

I hate Physics. A lot.  I definitely will not use vector analysis during Physical Therapy (or at least I don't think I will).  The lab sucked up about 2 hours of my time!  Gah!

 

Now I'm back at home, cramming for an Anatomy test on the arteries and veins.  I like Anatomy so much more -- I feel like I can relate to a subject more when it's right in front of me.  Physics is too abstract.

 

Here are my eats from the afternoon and evening:

 

Snacks included granola and yogurt:

Crackers and hummus:

Fruit:

Dinner was fast and different!  The star was this Israeli Cous Cous from Costco:

The tub says it can be eaten hot or cold, but tonight I tried it cold with kidney beans and a salad:

Gotta go study and quiz the Husband for a test he has tomorrow!  How much information can we cram into our brains in an extremely short amount of time?  Hmmm....

 

Do you excel at math and sciences?  I'm terrible at math, but I like Biology and Anatomy.

Things I Need to Do More Often #12

Get my booty out of my office chair and do a desk workout!

 

I sit for a very... long... time during the work day.  It's quite common that I'm sitting at the computer from 6:30 AM to 5:30 PM and beyond.  Humans aren't made to sit still that long!

 

Every now and then, I break for some tricep dips:

And decline push-ups:

Other easy exercises you can do at your desk or around your office:

 

• Wall squats
• Lunges
• Sumo Squats
• Crunches (if you're not wearing a skirt!)
• Calf Raises
• Planks
• Take the stairs to the bathroom on another floor

 

... and YES, when I worked in an office (not a home office), I still did exercises at my desk.  I'll never forget the day my boss walked in on me in plank position while reading a report on the floor!  :)

 

Here's some more fun exercises to try at your desk.

 

Do you ever exercise in the office?

 

Check out the rest of the Things I Need to Do More Often Series here!

Speedy Caitlin Will Return!

I am no longer wallowing in the not-so-hot 15K race I had this Saturday.  In fact, I'm turning the disappointing experience into a catalyst for something more:

I normally cut off the D-Chip when I get home, but I'm leaving the timer from Saturday's race on my shoelaces.  Every time I look down at my feet, I am reminded that I NEVER want to feel or look like this after a race:

I would much prefer to always look like this as I cross the finish line:

I'm turning my experience on Saturday into serious motivation to integrate faster short runs into my training.  I do not enjoy speedwork (probably because it's so hard), but I know it's worth it in the end.  I KNOW I CAN DO THIS!

 

Around 10 AM, I took a break from working and did a speedy 4.0- mile run.  Instead of falling into my comfortable pace of 10:00-minute/miles, I picked it up and did 9:00.  Whenever I felt like slowing down, I looked at my shoes, saw that bright orange D-Chip, and picked up the pace!

 

• Duration: 36:17
• Distance: 4.0 miles
• Mile 1: 9:02
• Mile 2: 9:04
• Mile 3: 8:59
• Mile 4: 9:12

 

It was hard, but I felt so accomplished at the end!  I KNOW that I can do anything I set my mind to, and trust me--I'm dead-set on improving my pace back to pre-injury speeds.  It's going to take a little bit of work, but I've never been one to shy away from a challenge.

 

I came home and made lunch, which featured some delicious VEGGIES!

As part of the DailySpark Learn to Luv Veggies Challenge, I made stir-fry sugar snap peas and fresh corn:

I also had baked tofu and cous cous:

To make the veggies, I stir-fried the corn and sugar snap peas in a little water, olive oil, and about 1 tablespoon of minced garlic until the corn browned.   These veggies were SO delicious.  I can't believe I've just been steaming veggies.... there are so many great ways to cook them!

Dessert was a handful of dates:

Operation Beautiful

 

Have you checked out today's Operation Beautiful notes?  Don't forget, I'll be collecting submissions for the book soon -- so stay tuned!

Natalie from No No to Yo Yo wrote me today to say:

 

"I started out on my journey to healthy living a little over 10 months ago.  When I started trying to change I didn’t believe in myself, didn’t think I could do it, and it was ALL ABOUT the "Fat Talk." When I decided to make a change in my life and kick everything negative and unhealthy, I really tried to focus on positive thinking and telling myself things that I didn’t at first think were true. 

 

As time went on some of those things started to become easier and easier to say.  I found your blog through Angela’s and then I found Operation Beautiful.  I thought Operation Beautiful was such a great idea, and I knew from what I had been doing the few months before, that this would only add to my progress and help me truly believe in myself. Women are so hard on themselves and do not give themselves the credit they deserve! 

 

After posting my first Operation Beautiful note, I felt amazing. I felt strong and I believed what it had said. I knew that I was beautiful and that I did deserve to believe it, and anyone who read what I had wrote should feel the same way about themselves. It was me and only me who had been holding myself back all this time. I was my own worst enemy and I didn’t even know it. 

 

After I finally believed in myself, my life changed in every single way. 

 

Operation Beautiful was a stepping stone for me and something I’ll always remember!"

 

What experiences taught you to believe in yourself? For me, my first 10K was a huge learning experience and gave me a great deal of confidence.  If I could go from sitting on the couch to running 6.2 miles in two months, I could do anything!

DailySpark's Learn to Luv Veggies Challenge

If you missed the recap, I ran a 15K Race on Saturday!

 

Good morning!  Today is shaping up to be a busy day.  I have to work (I'm on-call until Friday), prepare for a meeting with my publisher for the Operation Beautiful book, go to Physics class and lab, and hopefully find time to squeeze in a run.

 

Breakfast got me going!

 

The star was Zesty Carrot Juice!  I have finally perfected the recipe:

 

• 1 cup organic carrot juice
• 3/4 cup apple juice
• 1 tablespoon pureed ginger
• juice of 1 lime
• juice of 1/2 lemon

 

Shake or blend the drink and enjoy!  Here are my favorite brands to use for Zesty Carrot Juice:

I also had a Bialy with real cream cheese (yum!).

And a side of cantaloupe:

Learn to Luv Veggies Challenge

 

Stephanie from the DailySpark promptly e-mailed me after reading my "I Hate Vegetables" confession.  "No veggie goes uneaten in my presence," she declared. "It is my personal mission to teach everyone to love vegetables!"  She proposed a Learn to Luv Veggies Challenge.

 

If you recall, I don't really "get along" with vegetables.  This is why I eat so many vegetables in smoothie/drink form.  To me, veggies are kind of like your best friend's obnoxious boyfriend.  Out of respect,  you pretend like you like him and even invite him places, but really -- you think he sucks.

 

But, with the help of DailySpark, I'm turning over a new (spinach) leaf.  Look -- Me and Eggplant, hanging out like old pals:

BFFs forever.

 

The Learn to Luv Veggies Challenge consists of 5 days of pure veggie love, starting today!

 

Stephanie emailed me a list of ways to learn to love veggies:

 

• Add olive oil/lemon/garlic:  Sautéing garlic in a bit of olive oil and adding lemon zest and juice really brings out great flavor.
• Change the texture:  Changing the way you cut vegetable can affect how they taste.
• Try Roasting:  This technique works for any root vegetable: potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots, turnips, parsnips, carrots, butternut and acorn squash, even radishes. You can also roast broccoli, asparagus, cauliflower, mushrooms, onions, okra, and peppers.
• Use "Cream" sauce:  Make your ordinary steamed vegetables a bit more decadent with a bit creaminess.
• Create "Pancakes" or quiches/frittatas:  Because -- let's face it-- everything tastes better in pancake form.
• Apply Low-calorie flavor boosters: Try adding lemon juice, capers, roasted red peppers, sun-dried tomatoes!
• Get saucy:  Top your vegetables with your favorite sauces.

 

I am MORE than ready to learn to love vegetables -- truly love them, not just eat them because I "should."  I'll explore each of these techniques a little more each day.

 

Stay tuned for lunch... I have some veggie-rific meals planned!

No More Fast Food!

Emergency!  Wiener dog without arms on the loose!

Just kidding.  :)  She lays down and her arms disappear under her chunky barrel chest.  I love it.

 

Today was a BUSY day.  And I'm still working!  We took a break from studying + working to go to Costco around 1 PM.  I brought OJ and nuts with me:

But, on the way to Costco, I declared a hunger emergency, and we made a pit stop at Starbucks for an English muffin, egg, and cheese sammie.

While waiting for the sammie, I posted an Operation Beautiful note on the drive-through window:

I've noticed a pattern -- as I get busier and busier, I start relying on Chipotle, Thai takeout, and Starbucks more and more!  I think the problem is compounded by the fact that I'm bored by our normal groceries, which usually involve prep time and lots of cooking.

 

The Husband agreed with me, so we decided to pick up a few new items at Costco that will hopefully make our lives a little easier in the kitchen.  I don't like eating a lot of processed foods, but processed foods from home are generally healthier (and cheaper) than stuff I can get at a drive-through. 

 

And anyway, the alternative is more PB sammies or hummus sammies.  I'm sure you guys get bored seeing sammies for dinner all the time... at least, I know I do!

 

While at Costco, I had a few random samples, including PUMPKIN PIE!

And sweet potato fries:

 
When we got back home, I made a bowl of fruit...

... and reorganized my home office.

Ta da!  It's not done yet, but it's close.  My work computer is still out because I'll be doing some consulting for a while.  Once I'm officially transitioned to a consultant, I'm going to take down the monitors and just leave the laptop so I can move it more easily.

 

Snacked on a cracker with cream cheese:

 

Did more work, and then made dinner.  The star of dinner was this organic pasta:

Which we had with tomato sauce and a side salad:

Two thumbs up! Excellent pasta and it only took 5 minutes to cook.  I need more 5-minute meals in my life.

 

Dessert was some mini M&Ms:

Whew!  Long day.  My hunger, which was non-existent after my race yesterday, came back in full force today!  It's weird how that works.

 

What's your "fast food" weakness? Now that I've discovered a Chipotle down the street, I think I have a problem with burritos.

Speedwork Payback

After my disappointing 15K race yesterday, there was nothing I wanted to do more today than SPEEDWORK.  Cause I'm hardcore like that.

Back in the saddle!

 

I used the lap feature on my Garmin to time myself as I tried to do 400-meter sprints (about 0.25 mile).  In total, the Husband and I ran 2.0 miles in 18:53.

 

Here's the breakdown:

 

• Lap 1 (0.23 mile Warm-Up): 12:12 pace
• Lap 2 (0.27 mile Sprint 1): 6:53 pace
• Lap 3 (0.14 mile Cool-Down): 12:42 pace
• Lap 4 (0.21 mile Sprint 2): 7:42 pace
• Lap 5 (370 feet Cool-Down): 10:48 pace
• Lap 6 (0.27 mile Sprint 3): 7:21 pace
• Lap 7 (486 feet Cool-Down): 13:04 pace
• Lap 8 (0.23 mile Sprint 4): 7:52 pace
• Lap 9 (471 feet Cool-Down): 12:57 pace
• Lap 10 (0.12 mile Sprint 5): 7:18 pace
• Lap 11 (275 feet Cool-Down): 14:25 pace
• Lap 12 (0.12 Mile Sprint 6): 7:58
• Lap 13 (0.11 mile Cool-Down): 13:05 pace

 

It was so hot outside!  After our sprints, the Husband and I timed each other as we did the 40 yard dash.  It took me 9 seconds, but he can do it in 5 seconds.  I was impressed.

 

Breakfast was Oikos Greek yogurt, granola, flax, and banana:

Pre-run snack was toast with blueberry jam:

Now we're headed to Costco.  Pray we don't buy the store.

Sunday Morning Reading Material

Good morning!  I woke up at 6:15 so I could start working  -- I feel like I have so much to do (um, like write a 200 page book in 2.5 months?!) and not enough time.  Early mornings are key!

 

I'm going on a speedwork run, but until I get back....

 

Operation Beautiful was recently featured in CLEO magazine, a women's mag in Australia!

 

Click here to read the article (once the new page opens, re-click the image to zoom in).