Sickness Update

Update on what's going on this week:

I'm sick. Like, really sick. It started 2 nights ago, when I started getting the shivers. I am one who is normally cold (bad circulation in fingertips and toes), but give me a blanket, and I'll be fine. But I couldn't get warm that night, at all. I was shivering uncontrollably under 2 blankets. After 6 hours of sleeping uncomfortably in a chair in our den, I was finally warmed up. I got up (this is yesterday) and felt lousy all day. Fortunately, it was a snow day (number 15 million, I swear), and I didn't have anything going on all day. Then, last night, I felt fine, but couldn't make it up to my bed because I was so dead tired.

This morning, I woke up and BAM. It hit me. I couldn't move my limbs. I felt like I had gotten beaten up last night, and every muscle ached. I called off of work, as did Mom, who is feeling generally the same symptoms, but feeling them much worse. I woke up at 5:15 to see Dad off to work, and then went back to sleep until 7:30, when I woke up to have breakfast. I crawled back under the covers on the couch, and fell asleep until 10:30. I tried to lift my head, but it felt like my head was the size of a watermelon and weighed as much as one of those giant pumpkins you see winning fair prizes. I couldn't lift my arms and couldn't move my legs. I (begrudgingly) got off the couch and took 2 pain pills. Within 2 hours, I felt good enough to eat and had lunch. For the rest of the day, I felt ok, but very tired.

Mom started feeling better around 4:30...which is just when I started feeling worse. My nose started plugging up, my head felt full, and a sore throat is starting to form. Currently, my nose is super congested, so anytime I try to blow my nose....nothing happens except more plugging up....

Hopefully, next week will be a better week....as we creep closer to the Lent season and musical time, I'm afraid of how this cold/congestion crap will affect my accumulating schedule...

Motivation Monday

~Know your limitations, then defy them~

New Goal Sunday

Happy Sunday!

I'm off to a great start this week. This morning, after a FANTASTIC weekend at the music education professional development conference in Columbus, I had a healthy breakfast of a bowl of Special K Chocolatey Delight cereal with skim milk (clearly I love chocolate at all times of the day) and a glass of water. I filled up a water bottle and was on my way to the gym. I did gain some pounds back (3 to be precise) after not going to the gym for 1 week. I was up to 424.6 last week, but that number is already falling (I checked!).

My January fitness goal (even though I never told you) was to "up" the intensity of some of my workout in the gym. The long-term goal from this? Get the maximum benefit out of each workout. Here are some of the intensity boosts I've given myself lately at the gym: ramp up the incline to .5% during down times and 1% during small intervals on the treadmill; stop the treadmill halfway through for 30 seconds to catch my breath--stop for 15 seconds--stop for 10 seconds--stop for 5 seconds--don't stop (I made it through 15 minutes non-stop today!!!!); add 5 pounds to chest press (30-35-40), do 1 pushup, do 5 pushups, do 10 pushups;

Today, I upped the intensity by going non-stop on the treadmill, as in, not stopping at all during my 15 minutes! This is a big step for me. My palms were really sweaty and I was so self-conscious about how much I sweated onto the machine, but it felt so good!!

When I got home, I had (one of) my February goal(s): a healthy post-workout snack. I had lowfat vanilla yogurt with cereal pieces and a cup of diced pears.

In the middle of church, my stomach started making growling noises, and by the time I was done, I needed food, and STAT. Now I'm wondering if just a bowl of cereal is not enough for a good breakfast. I'll have to figure something else out...

My new goal this week is:

Have 1 frozen mocha and 1 fast-food meal per week

I can't believe it. If I can accomplish this goal, then I will be done with focusing on frozen mochas and can add other goals. Wow. It's been a long struggle, but I finally have those mochas and fast-food meals under control!!

Lastly, today, I put on this cardigan that I could never wear before because it looked painted on (especially in the arms). If you check out my Facebook or Twitter, I Instagrammed a pic of me wearing the cardigan with very baggy arms! I am a VERY happy person today. Have a great week!

Happy February!

It's month 2 of 2014 (wow, January went fast), and things are officially on a roll in my life. Piano lessons are starting back up after a hectic holiday season, subbing calls are slowly coming back (even though we've been in school for what...5 days since January 5th? Thanks, bitter, nasty winter), accompanying is back on a regular schedule, and church responsibilities are picking up as we get closer to Lent. I don't know if any other readers have seen the harsh winter we have. Maybe you've had worse, but Ohio's governor has asked the state to extend calamity days from 5 to 9 for this one year because that is just how bad this winter is. We had 3 "arctic plunges" in January, where temps dipped into the negatives, and wind chills dipped to the -40s. A lot of our school closings are because of temps, not snow. I think there was one REALLY bad storm where my county was on a Level 3 road warning (driving was illegal except for emergency crews), but that was over in a few days. I think we're all ready for spring....

EXCEPT FOR ME!!! I LOVE WINTER!!!!!!! Make it snow EVERYDAY, PLEASE!! I really do love winter. I could live in this climate. This is my favorite season, mainly because I have a TON of winter clothing (sweaters, 2 pairs boots, long-sleeved shirts, etc...) that I love wearing and I LOVE snuggling up to a warm fire with a cup of hot cocoa.

Ok, start of a new month, start of some new goals. 

I know it's not Sunday yet, but I thought I would get a jump start.

First of all, an update on my "resolution" to lose 50 lbs by the end of the year. So far, I have dropped 8 pounds! Not bad for one month...not bad at all!

Next up, I have decided that weekly goals are good, but now I'd like to add more: monthly goals.

February's monthly goals: 

Aim for 2 DAYS OF REST; that means I am striving to work out 5 days a week.

Try new post-workout snack: Fruit & yogurt

My new weekly goal:

Give up 1 fast-food meal/frozen mocha per week

Start: 2 Goal: 1

Have a good week!