So…after being pregnant or nursing for 3 years, I finally scheduled my first mammogram for Monday. 

(Actually, it was on Wednesday, but I totally spaced it.  Luckily, they were able to fit me on this Monday)

I have a family history of breast cancer on my mom’s side of the family, and I have already had a fibroid adenoma removed, so I am at high risk.  I was supposed to get it done 2 years ago.

I also got a full physical and blood work out from my doctor, which was LONG overdue.  Our bodies change so much after pregnancy and nursing.

Dr Kania is wonderful.  She went through my family history with me as well as my laundry list of things I have been meaning to see a doctor about (like my left elbow, those headaches, this weird breathing noise when I do a particular exercise, etc.)  I never felt rushed or anything.  It was a great appointment.

We go to the pediatrician for every little thing for our kids, but we put it off for ourselves.  So the point of this thread is to remind you to take some time to take care of yourself.     That way you can be around for your kids as long as you can!

Oh. my. God.    

SO, I dropped my van off at Steve Mills garage today for an oil leak and decided to do my morning run for the way back (since it is a PITA to put the boys in Doug’s convertible).

Using the odometer, it was only 1.5 miles to get there, and I need to do a 2.0 mile run today.  So I would just need to run 1/2 mile after I got back home.  AFTER I ran up that HUGE hill that leads up to my driveway.  Yikes. 

It’s a steady gradual uphill on the way up 19th from Vermijo to Oswego.  When it came time to go up the hill, I was completely unable to run up it.  Or even fast walk.  I had to walk at a “normal’ pace.  My heart rate shot up 10 bpm just walking up that damn hill.  After I got to the top, I had to force my burning quads to start running again for another half mile.  Just keep running, just keep running…

But I did it.   

Man.  That was tough.  I should probably do that once a week to prepare me for the Take 5 in the Garden.  That doesn’t mean I will, just that I SHOULD.   

I seriously have not been on the scale in a long time.  I’m doing this herbal cleanse that makes me all bloaty, and I haven’t been doing Balance Log.  I am VERY VERY afraid of my scale.  I also think I might need to start focus more on toning.  My body seems to like weighing 132.  Which doesn’t seem like a lot, but my friend May, who is basically my height and build weighs 15 lbs less than me!  I need to rethink my goals and motivation.  I will keep on training and watching what I eat, but for now I have to take a break from dieting.

I’m going climbing today and I am VERY excited about the new bouldering routes they were putting up Monday night.  Can’t wait to try them out! 

Right now I’m eating my Premier Nutrition Odyssey Caramel Nut protein bar.  Yum!  With one egg, one slice of toast and 1 tbsp of jelly, my breakfast rounds out right around 500 calories.  Yesterday was my rest day and I pushed a stroller around at the zoo.   

I like to give myself free reign on eating fruit and vegetables.  Mostly with veggies.  Fruit can sometimes have lots of calories, so I do have to watch myself somewhat on that.  But I never feel REALLY guilty about eating 2 bananas or a pint of strawberries.   

Check out this workout info: Beyond Cardio. When you read it, try to ignore the infomercial pandering tone of it, and see through to the actual information.

Wow.  This workout philosophy really speaks to me.  When I was bodybuilding, I never did ANY cardio training.  Just lifted weights 5 days per week, alternating muscle groups.

I’d be curious to know if conditioning through this method would also give you the endurance to run a 5K.  I know a smidge about the importance of VO2 from my days as webmistress at Carmichael Training Systems.  So it makes sense from that standpoint.  And, the advanced workout from the site I got my beginner 5K training also stresses interval training as part of the program.  I love the idea of running less and lifting weights more.

I always exercise on an empty stomach.  Somewhere along the line I heard that it was best for burning fat calories since your carbs are already burned up first.  Since you didn’t put anything in your body before working out, the body has to burn calories that are already in your body.  That is why my eating schedule is so messed up most days.  If I can’t get my workout in before the boys have breakfast, then I end up working out around 9:30 AM, and don’t eat breakfast until after 10 AM.  Not the healthiest way to do it

Sadly, the new bouldering routes were V3s and V4s which are currently out of my league.  I’m a bit nonplussed at the fact that they took down the only V1 and one of the few V2s.  I meant to request a new V1 and V2 route before I left the gym, but I forgot.  We got some good climbing in, and Rachel’s girls were so well-behaved…it was a really good climbing day!

I’ve got a lot of website work to do for clients this week, it’s always feast or famine.  I hate sitting on my butt for so long while I work.  I wish I could afford one of those hydraulic systems that lets you raise up your workstation so you can work standing up.  Heck, I even read that some work places are letting their employees WALK SLOWLY ON A TREADMILL while they work at their desk.  That’s pretty cool. 

Sadly, the new bouldering routes were V3s and V4s which are currently out of my league. I’m a bit nonplussed at the fact that they took down the only V1 and one of the few V2s. I meant to request a new V1 and V2 route before I left the gym, but I forgot. We got some good climbing in, and Rachel’s girls were so well-behaved…it was a really good climbing day!

I’ve got a lot of website work to do for clients this week, it’s always feast or famine. I hate sitting on my butt for so long while I work. I wish I could afford one of those hydraulic systems that lets you raise up your workstation so you can work standing up. Heck, I even read that some work places are letting their employees WALK SLOWLY ON A TREADMILL while they work at their desk. That’s pretty cool. thumbsup

I have become a chocolate snob, so only Rocky Mountain Chocolate calls my name.     Unfortunately, when I have it, I go way overboard.  Like 2 entire milk chocolate macadamia bears (their “turtles”) in a sitting.

Life with Zander is challenging but more manageable.  I still lose my temper from time to time, but I am more able to get back on track after one of his tantrums.  He is just an amazing special little guy.  His language skills just amaze me.  His latest phrase?  “According to my book, mom, <insert factoid here>”  When he is not testing boundaries, he is incredibly helpful and polite.  He enjoys making his brother laugh.   

Zevan has been chatting up a storm these days.  And he is Mr. No And it’s not your typical 2 year old NO!  It’s “No, I won’t do that, Mom.”  When asked to apologize to his brother for hitting him, he replies, “No, I won’t say that.”  The downside of an early talker.  When is he sweet, he is so so sweet.  While he is no longer nursing, he has substituted my belly for comfort.  “I need some belly, Mama.  Mama belly.”   

“Just Keep Running, Just Keep Running”  I can’t tell you how often I say that modified Dory quote to myself when I’m running. 

I sometimes sing an entire song – all the lyrics – in my head (if you can actually sing out loud, you are not running fast enough!).   

Often times I just start doing a mental run down of my running – how is my breathing? am I in alignment? am I rolling from heel to toe? head up!  unclenched fists!  good posture! etc…   

Or I plan what I’m going to eat AFTER I run 

I also remind myself that I am accountable.  Often times, I can hear May’s voice in my head, “How is your running going?”  And I’d rather tell her that I ran 2 miles instead of sheepishly admitting that I quit a half mile early and just walked the rest of the way. 

Then, I tell myself,  “Tomorrow is a rest day / cross train day / walking day – just finish this run and be done with it!”

Finally, if all else fails…I become my own drill seargent:  “C’mon…are you going to tell me that you can’t stick to a program for 8 7 6 lousy weeks?!   Don’t you care about your body?!!”

This is why I sold my treadmill…  When I run outside, once I get to the half way point, I have to go the rest of the way to get home.  To keep myself running, I can look to the next marker…the white mailbox, the powerbox, the next intersection, that brick house…  I count cars, count mailboxes… 

I also have a mental note of mile markers that helps me know how much I’ve gone so far.    Of course, they sometimes makes me realize things like, Crap! I’ve only run .5 mile, 1.5 miles to go!. 

Hayden, Zevan, Dominic, Maida	Dominic, Maida
Zevan: Cheeeeese!	Kim, Hayden

Kim, Dani, Auri, Tiffany