I have workout ADD

Remember when I said I was going to start Body for Life on Monday? Well, as I was cruising the interwebs looking for information about women and weight training, I came across something awesome. The Venus Index.

The VI is a workout designed to accentuate the female shape...basically the hourglass figure. You do some easy calculations based on how tall you are and voila...it tells you the ideal measurements for shoulders, waist and hips...measurements that correlate to the Golden Mean. Yes, I just got all "da Vinci" on yo ass. Ha.

One of the things I LOVE LOVE LOVE about this program is that the workouts change each time. Yes, there are a general selection of exercises but they get mixed up a bit, poke their heads in here and there. One workout may have you doing Bulgarian Split Squats...another has you doing reverse lunges. It's brilliant because I do not at all like doing the same ol' routine week after week after week.

The program also helps you figure out how many calories you should shoot for each day, and this is where I pouted a bit. I HATE counting calories, hate it hate it hate it. (Yes, that was a temper tantrum). But after seeing the amazing (and I mean AMAZING) transformations of these Venus women, I was sold. We're talking about people who worked out, ran marathons and were still fluffy. They start doing the VI workouts and watching calories and BAM...instant goddess. Well, not instant...but goddess, for sure. We're talking fitness model awesomeness here.

Happily, I found a nifty little app called "My Net Diary" that makes counting calories pretty easy. It even has a barcode scanner function so you can log your packaged items super quick. So far, I dig it. Plus, it's helping me be more accountable. I found that I was reaching for some kind of a snack the other day and thought, "Do I really want to log that?" NOPE...drank some water instead, I think. I eat when I'm bored, so this is a very good thing.

After the first workout I thought I was going to die...the muscle soreness had me walking funny for a couple of days. Powered through the second workout though, and am happy to report that I went on a bike ride today...I thought it might help to work out some of the soreness. We shall see. I've got another resistance workout tomorrow, then two days off. Joy oh joy because I work three in a row this week. Blech. Hard to workout with those long shifts and flipped around schedule.

I guess that's it! Stay tuned for more awesomeness... :-)

Long time no bloggie.

I have admitted it before...I am an awfully inconsistent blogger. And besides, I think I only have one reader (Hi Cher!), so I don't feel that much pressure to update since I chat with said reader on a pretty regular basis. That said, I am going to try to get better at updating this thing as I am really looking for a way to stay motivated as I strive to get as fit and healthy as possible. I have had a bit of a setback in this department, but am starting to get more active again. Now if I could just dust off my juicer all would be bright and sunny. One thing at a time.

As for the stupid ol' bone marrow disorder...platelets at last check were 451! ALMOST there, ya'll! I'll be very happy when they drop below 400, and ecstatic if they ever drop into the 200s...that would be amaaaazing! If they get down to the 200s, I may talk to my hematologist/oncologist about decreasing my Pegasys dose. At the rate I'm going, that may be awhile, but at least I'm not having many side effects from the meds.

Sooooo....on the fitness front, I am starting Body for Life on Monday. I did the program waaaay back in my early 30's or so...I lasted about a month and got totally burned out. Sadly, I took before and during pics, and I could actually see a change. I kick myself all the time for not sticking with it. Anyway, since I know next to nothing about weight training and there is SO MUCH to learn, I figured that starting with BFL would give me a good, basic education and that I can embellish from there.

In other fitness news...I'm currently doing the Couch-to-5K training program and I'm on week 4. My runs this week involve intervals of jogging for 3 mins and 5 mins, with walking in between. I did one yesterday (in the rain, no less!) and it was fine. About 5 workouts from now is the dreaded 20-minute jog...we'll see how that goes.

I have also started climbing again...so much fun! Getting back into the harness was tough...I had to start with the easy easy climbs, but am now back to doing 5.10a and am working on moving up to the 5.10b climbs...in a few weeks I'll be back where I was before, playing on the 5.10c routes. Woo hoo! Now if I could just master those darn overhangs, I'd feel like a stud-ette. The scary thing about the overhangs, is that when you fall off them you swing waaaaay out. Super scary when you're 30-some feet off the ground. Yikes!

Ok...gotta dash and start planning my grocery list and meal plan for my first week of BFL. I need to try to find a way to stay away from the eggs...as I recall I got totally "egged-out" when I attempted this before. Something about eggs stimulates my gag reflex if I have to eat them more than once or twice a week.

Ciao!

Tentatively optimistic...

I went to the lab today, expecting things to be the same...I was actually expecting my hematocrit to be up (no solid reason, just superstitious I guess!). Well....(drum roll), the results are:

Hematocrit: 39.6, down from 40.3
WBC: 7.1, down from 7.4
Platelets: 780, down from 995

WOO HOO! My platelets have not been this low since I was diagnosed!!!!! I am hopeful this means the Pegasys (Interferon) is working at my current dose. I am happily not having ANY side effects from it at all, but don't want to increase my dose either. I would gladly decrease it, though! I've been "conversing" with some people online and sounds like many take half the dose I'm on...that would be amazing!

Ok...I would love to write about all the fabulous stuff I've been doing lately, but I'm sooo tired. I need to go put my feet up and turn my brain off for a bit. Gotta work the next two days, and I need my strength!

Love and hugs to all,
Mo

Yummy cereal and a new veggie!

In my efforts to be as healthy as humanly possible, I went to the farmer's market today in search of delish organic produce. Sadly, most of the farmers at the market use pesticides, making it a not-so-healthy experience after all. I did happen across a couple of organic stands, and picked up something I've never had before...a lemon cucumber! Isn't she pretty?

I am going to try to pick up something new every time I go...I also went to the Co-op and got a few new fruits (I forget what they're called...one is a melon and the other was a type of plum or apricot or pluot...I don't remember, but I'm sure they'll be amazing!). As for the cereal I made today...super delish! Here's the recipe:

Mo's Awesome Breakfast Cereal
1 cup or so of fresh organic berries
1 T freshly ground flax seed
1/4 cup or so of chopped raw walnuts
1 T of hemp seeds
1 T raw shredded coconut
1/4 cup raisins
1 tsp cacao nibs (optional)
1/3 cup raw granola (optional)
Almond milk

It's so good! I just realized a drizzle of agave nectar or honey would be super yummy too!

In other news, I took my third shot of Interferon on Friday night. I slept like a rock, then had another loooong nap on Saturday. Happily, I don't work any Saturdays for the next 6 weeks, so I can get a feel for how the medication affects me. If I keep up my napping habit, I'm going to have to tell my manager I can't work Saturdays, but would really rather keep things on the down-low until I get hired into a permanent position.

Off to clean the house before I totally run out of steam!
Mo

Homestead Mo

When one makes green juice, one goes through the vegetables in a big way. For example, my absolute most favorite juice that I would like to drink every day has 4-5 carrots, 4 stalks celery, one apple and one lemon. I am constantly going to the Co-Op for carrots, celery and lemons! I buy the apples in bigger quantities b/c they last a while, but even when I buy the 5 lb bag of carrots, I am still always running to the store! And some juices take a whole head of romaine plus a bunch of other stuff...so while it is a great way to pack in massive amounts of nutrients, it is rather time/money consuming.

So...I am planting vegetables! Tom took out two or three rose bushes that were getting all our great vegetable-growing sun and I planted romaine, broccoli, swiss chard and onion in that spot. Yesterday at Home Depot we bought a wine barrel planter and in that I planted some other lettuce (butter maybe?), chives and some other kind of onion. I also picked up some carrot seeds. I need to find a pot or two and get those babies going...apparently carrots around here do better in pots b/c the soil is so dense.

Once we get our bathroom/plumbing project finished, I'll have another area in the back that gets pretty decent morning sun...might be able to plant something there...not sure. The tree in the yard has gotten so big that it's casting a lot of shade, which would ordinarily be a good thing!

Aaaand, for our anniversary we planted a Meyer Lemon tree...he's a little dwarf tree and so cute! No lemons yet and probably won't get any until the spring, I'm guessing...especially if he gets cold over the winter. He looks pretty hearty though...a fighter! Ha!

There is an awful lot to learn about gardening...it is rather overwhelming. Maybe I'll look for a gardening class somewhere...though there is a ton of information online...where to start? Anyway, I'll take pics in a few weeks once things take hold and start to look less pathetic...they always look so pathetic straight out of the little containers. The chives and onions are all floppy, but I'm sure everything will perk up soon!

My platelets are under a million!

Yippee Skippee! I just got my results back and everything else is normal. My platelets have been over the million mark since I got checked on July 21st, and though I'm still in the "way too high" range, I am no longer in the "oh my god, I could have a stroke any minute" range. At least I hope not (knock on wood folks, in case I just jinxed myself!)

Needless to say, I will continue on my regimen of fish oil, vitamin E oil, aspirin and such (all of these decrease platelet clumping and basically "thin" the blood). Tomorrow is my second injection of interferon, so not sure yet if it's the interferon that's working or my body's amazing ability to "literally heal itself" (to quote Michael Scott...name that episode and win a prize!).

In other news, I may have a broken toe. I bashed it up pretty good and it's an unhealthy shade of purple. I went to get an x-ray and will hear tomorrow if it's broken or not. Nonetheless, I had to call in sick for tomorrow as I can't be on my feet with a maybe broken toe...it hurts!

Wish I could celebrate the platelets with a glass of wine...guess I'll settle for a glass of green juice instead...

On a mission!

I am now on a mission to get as healthy and toxin-free as possible. TaDa!

How am I accomplishing this huge task, you ask? Here is my evil plan:
-Detox diet for 7-21 days (depending on how long I can stick to it...I'm on day 1)
-Following the detox, adopt a healthier diet overall (whole foods, mostly raw; lots of green juice!)
-Get rid of all toxic and chemical-laden household products (almost there, still gotta use up some laundry detergents and a few other things)
-Replace amalgam fillings with porcelain (this is in the works...have to get two regular fillings done, then I'll start the replacements)
-Oral chelation therapy (aka: metal detox) as I am getting the fillings removed, this will necessitate the next item on the list
-Consult with a naturopath (free 15-min phone consultation is tomorrow morning)
-Exercise more (I got on my bike the other day...woo hoo!)
-Filter my water (done...bought a filter yesterday)
-Get plenty of rest (usually not a problem for me at all!)

So far my evil plan is going well...started a detoxifying cleanse diet today...here is a picture of my juicer in action...that purple stuff is red cabbage which is the base for a very tangy juice featuring cabbage, celery, apple, lemon, lime, kale and ginger. It is sooooo good!

Ok, off to dinner with a friend (farm fresh and organic, of course!)

Hugs,
Mo