Just Own It....

Happy Wednesday all.  Today I'm working in my afternoon office. Moving boxes and working on subscriptions.  Boy, was I a sweaty mess.  I snapped this picture when I sat to take a break.  Man, my curls are out of control.  I used very little hair product this morning just out of curiosity.

Why is it we're never really happy with our hair? It's either too short, too long, to straight or in my case too curly. I've decided to just own it.

Right now, I'm JUST GONNA OWN THE FOLLOWING:

• I'm age 51 and not 35.
• It's okay to be tired.  Rest is good.
• Running a mile in 12.5 minutes.  At least I'm running.
• Doing fewer reps in an AMRAP.  I'm off the couch and in the game, right?
• I can do burpees.  They're not perfect but at least I can lift my body off the ground.
• I'm rockin my core but not so much push ups.... 

It's easy to get caught up in those things you cannot do or things you wish you had. In my case, not so curly hair and more endurance. Instead, I'm gonna focus and OWN what I do have and what I can do...

So I'm gonna OWN THESE CURLS and OWN THIS BODY. How about you? Whatcha gonna own today?

I just want to live life...

Hi friends, how's your day?  I hope you are finding pleasure in all things? Even the mundane.  I rolled out of bed and even though I would love to lay there longer, I was grateful for the morning and the job that awaited me.  I find that if I start my day with gratitude and focus on finding joy in the day ahead, it makes all the difference.  I had an awful migraine last night but woke up so happy that it was mild and manageable.  See, there is joy in that... it made all the difference.

I had a conversation with my friend J today.  J lived on the other side of the tracks from me. Seriously.  I lived in Broderick and J lived in Old Broderick.  The railroad tracks divided our neighborhoods.  J is going through her second bought of cancer.  She called to share how happy she was that she ran the block.  J is a runner.  I knew exactly how she felt.  It's easy to take these things for granted, but when you've battled cancer, you are so grateful for small events.  I couldn't wait to tell her how I can now do 14 burpees.  We both praised God right there and decided to do the Color run together .  She said you know, "I JUST WANT TO LIVE LIFE.."  I know exactly how she feels.

I had my weigh-in last week. I am down 1 pound and have lost 3/4 inches all the way around. EXCEPT... I gained 4 inches on my butt!  What???? I'm suppose to be losing, right?  ASSets, I'll take em. I had to remind self not to get disappointed about the 1 pound loss.  After all, my body fat is down by 3%. I'll take it.

I probably let that weigh in affect me because I ate cake at my grands birthday parties on Saturday and Sunday. I tell you. Put me in a room with butter cream frosting, and it's over. Now I gotta fight the sugar cravings all over again.  I continue to drink my coffee black. Close, but no cigar, right?

In addition to the cake, I've been eating some interesting foods as well.

 I am seriously loving curry these days.  I had lunch with my daughter at a new to us restaurant named Coconut. It's on 25th and J Street, across the street from Thai Basil. How odd that you would have two Thai restaurants across from one another. 

The green papaya salad was unique.

And the mushroom soup was absolutely amazing.  The broth was light with a hint of coconut milk.  The waitress would not tell us the ingredients :-(

I pretty much look forward to my lunches but breakfast is another story. I just cannot stomach smoothies in the mornings.  Let alone green smoothies. Anyone else get grossed out drinking smoothies in cooler temperatures?

In other news, I am getting pretty concerned about our lack of rain in Sacramento. I live near the American River and the river levels are the lowest I've ever seen. I kid you not, we have people walking in the middle of the river where there's just dirt... We are not even watering our grass and well, I am doing all i can to conserve water. Just gonna continue to pray for rain... what else can we do?

Well, I better get back to work.  Here's to having a wonderful week.  Later, gators.

Paula

Peace, Love & Core

Hi friends, how are you?  Glad it's Wednesday. No work out for me this evening... but after last night's "Peace, Love & Core" routine, I could use a rest.

This workout was insane.  I was dying when I got to the Walking Lunges and the Triceps Extensions had my arms screaming.  I completed this round with no cheating.  I started a second round but only finished Plank Leg Lifts and had just started Ball Ups when our coach called time.  For a cool down, we walked around the building and did some stretching. If you want a challenge, please give this workout a try. I'm amazed that I completed it.  I'm surprised by what this body can do...

 It was a great opportunity to use my Christmas present.  My daughter gifted me the Polar FT4.  I love the simplicity of this heart rate monitor. The band you wear around your chest is surprisingly comfortable and my only dislike is I can't always tell if I've turned it on or turned if off.

Last night's workout had me burning 435 calories in 1 hour.  Not bad.  I was also 15 minutes in HR zone 171 and was steady at 145.  I think this little monitor will help me in gauging my progress.

 

 

 

On  Saturdays, we jogged/mostly walked 4.5 miles.  My monitor said I burned 1,000 calories.  Hmmmm. I wonder about that.. I snapped this picture of my daughter during our jogging. I can't believe this beautiful Nature Preserve is close to my home. Must go back.

I did great 5 days out of 7 our my cleanse. I won't be too hard on myself because I am still drinking my coffee without sugar which is huge... I am still eating dairy free and even though I've introduced carbs over the weekend and today, I will continue to reduce carbs as much as possible.  I ate a bagel today with peanut butter and a little jam. That was the first sugar I've eaten in weeks and even though I feel like I fell off the wagon, it was glorious but I WILL NOT MAKE IT A HABIT.  A TREAT is not something you have every day...

Just so that I'm being honest, I do want to share a couple of pictures of some of the foods I've been enjoying besides that blasted bagel.

Egg white omelette with mushrooms, peppers and avocado.

This is another favorite of mine. Romaine lettuce, tuna, shredded carrots, garbanzos and jalapenos... Yum...

I've also cooked up a batch of chili for lunches.... I'm in a slippery predicament right now. By eating that bagel, I run the risk of introducing more carbs. It's a nasty cycle with me... once I start, it starts a snowball effect.  I will definitely need to be conscious of that... I truly am logging everything in my food journal. I didn't turn in my food journal like I was suppose too but not because I was bad. Merely because I just didn't have time to turn it in. 

I can honestly say I've been eating 85% on plan.  Note to self:  "Paula, please focus on the foods you can have and not what you can't... It's not the end of the world that you ate a bagel... just be mindful... NO MORE CARBS my friend. Remember how great you felt without them.

Well, that's enough self talk... Better get back to work. Hope you're having an awesome day and I hope you'll try the Peace, Love and Core workout... I would love to hear you felt afterwards.

Best,
Paula

Allow yourself to be a beginner

Hi friends, how's your week going?  I'm on week two of our BRIK session at Kaia Fit.  I do believe I'm getting stronger with each class.  Monday and Tuesday we did lots of burpees and push ups.   My arms are still on fire.  Sometimes, I feel silly taking these classes. After all, I 'm no spring chicken. I have to remind myself that I'm 51 years old.  I get competitive. I want to do as good as the person next to me. I forget they're younger and stronger.  I find myself looking at some of the women who are my age. I compare myself. I want to do better than they... Can you relate? 

It's okay to be a beginner. I don't have to knock each exercise out of the park. Hell, I'm ahead of the game just by making class.

This session at Kaia is called BRIK. It's a 6 weeks course.  Each week we turn in our food journals. My coach's comments were helpful. She gave me suggestions and commented on my fiber, sugar and protein intake. Having someone carefully review your food is extremely helpful. I'm thinking twice before I put anything in my mouth.  Again, I'm competitive. I want to do well.

This week we are doing a 7 day CLEANSE.  No processed foods, sugar, carbs, and alcohol.  Let me just say that not having flavored creamer in my coffee has taken the joy out of my morning ritual. But I am glad to say that Day 4 of no sugar hasn't been so bad. Today I actually enjoyed my coffee with a splash of soy milk. Removing sugar from my morning coffee has certainly reduced my need for food. I've heard others say the same thing, but it's something one needs to experience for themselves.  I'll continue to nix the sugar, carbs and processed foods in the weeks to come. Wish me luck okay?  Very curious to see how my body reacts in the weeks to come.

I  haven't weighed myself in 2 weeks.  I don't see many changes in my body physically and it's deflating to work so hard and not see fast results... I think I've sort of given up on losing weight... I keep telling self STRONG IS THE NEW SKINNY.

Maybe my body just likes 180 lbs.... or maybe i"ll see results a year from now.  We shall see, right?

Well friends. I gotta run. Hope your day is going well.

Later, gators.
PWC

Getting comfortable with being uncomfortable.

Happy Thursday my friends. I am on day three of our brk revolution. It is a 6 week bootcamp where i turn in a food journal, take a physical assessment and meet with my coach weekly, we meet 5 days amweek. I decided to join Kaia Fit on a monthly basis instead of in 5-6 week sessions. I just went for it. Each class we are given a mantra. Today's mantra is the title of my post. Pretty cool, right?

Last night i got creative in the cocina. I looked in my cupboards and spied this:






I had Guajillo, New Mexico and Japones peppers. I know, i have an insane supply of peppers. I also had ground turkey in my fridge. I decided to make Chorizo. I watched my MIL make it when she visited the United States. Instead of ground pork, i will use turkey.




I took my peppers and soaked them in hot boiling water for about 15 minutes. While my peppers were soaking, i marinated the turkey with vinegar. I used 2 ounces but immediately realized i should have used 1 ounce. I let the vinegar and meat sit for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, i added the chilies with the water to the blender. Added two cloves of garlic, a pinch of cumin, and a pinch Mexican oregano, added salt and blended for five minutes. I also realized i had menudo mix. Next time, i will just use a table spoon of that since it has cumin, oregano and pequin peppers.




I then added the paste like sauce to the meat. Covered it and let it marinate over night.





Tonight, after Kaia, i cooked some up while prepping my lunch for the next day. I begged Daniel to taste it and he liked it. He agreed, i should have added less vinegar.

I will definitely try this with tofu.

I will add the chorizo to my salads for lunch. Give this recipe a try. But only if you are willing to get comfortable with being uncomfortable. LOL. Please let me know in the comments if you give it a try.

Later gators.

HOPE. It's a glorious thing

Dear Paula,

Happy New Years.  Are you excited for 2014?  You should be!  Last  year was a bear and you now have an opportunity to rewrite the year.

Do I really want to re-write the year? Probably not.  Cancer was scary but I learned a great deal and it brought me closer to my loved ones and my Lord.  I've always looked to God, but I relied on him heavily this year and I don't think that will change. I'm happy that I have Hope.

Paula, I am proud of you for starting the New Year with a hike.

You felt marvelous while hiking the Sierras.  You even had a snow fight.  I think it's great how being out doors soothes your soul and has a way of putting things into perspective.  We are so tiny in the grand scheme of things.... I think you captured that wonderfully in the picture below.  However, Girl, you really should use more lotion. Your hands look old and dry.  Moisture should be your motto of 2014 LOL.

I know you were super excited to have Daniel join you on this hike... Even though he scared the bejesus out of you when he hid from you behind those big old trees.  That's a great picture of him walking in the woods. 

Paula, I know you absolutely love the warmth of the sun.  I think you said it felt as though the Lord was embracing you... Yes.  I think you find the outdoors healing and "church-like."  That's a good thing my friend.

I know you're extremely grateful to have good health this year.  It's written all over your face as you walk the river banks near your home. Your hair is growing and well, I'm not too sure I like your new highlights but hey, I get that you wanted to look like Toni Braxton... you crack me up.

You feel very fortunate and want to be a blessing to those around you.  If you see a need. DO WHAT YOU CAN. If someone needs encouragement, SPEAK UP.  Put yourself out there my friend.  A smile is something that doesn't cost you anything and has the capacity to lift someone up. Practice it wherever you can.  Find a way to give more this year.  Give of your time and your resources.

You also started your Revolution Boot camp series last night. What is your goal?  I know the weight has been slow to come off but that's okay. You're living in the moment. You're pushing your physical envelope and that my friend is worthy of celebration.  Remember, Strong and Fit is the new Skinny.  Strive for that okay?

Yes, Paula, hope is a wonderful thing. Hold onto it... because it's always the last thing to go...

Que dios te bendiga mi amiga.