Three-day Fast.

"The philosophy of fasting calls upon us to know ourselves, to master ourselves, and to discipline ourselves the better to free ourselves. To fast is to identify our dependencies, and free ourselves from them."

~Tariq Ramadan

Utah County (point of the mountain)
taken from the Frontrunner train

On Wednesday evening I started a three-day fast. What? Why would you do that? Well, a couple of reasons. One, I was going to be fasting for 12 hours anyway in preparation to get my blood drawn for my yearly physical. Two, my mom has talked to me about the benefits of long-term fasting for my health and resetting my system. And three, I read this article about the immune system benefits of a three-day fast. As you know, I have had my share of health problems and illnesses over the past two and a half years (has it been that long?) and the idea of resetting my immune system was appealing.

But three days?!? Oh my. That's a long time. I'm not very good and certainly not regular in fasting for 24 hours, which is a customary practice in the Mormon Church once a month on the first Sunday of the month. I was not sure I could make it. I knew I could expect physical and mental discomforts, but I also felt that it would be a good opportunity for personal reflection regarding my eating habits, determining my motivations when it comes to food and how much of that is mental, and figuring out ways to combat my mental relationship with food.

Day One: Actually not too bad. On a normal day, I drink a lot of water, so I knew that wouldn't be a problem. In fact, I added about 30 ounces to my normal intake. Although on a regular day I eat breakfast by 9am, this time it didn't bother me. I had my water. I was good. By lunch time, I was a little hungry and I was smelling the goods my co-workers were having for lunch in their offices. I went downstairs to my car with my water bottle and took a nap. (Sleep is my other self-medication.) After lunch, I was a little uneasy at my desk, since usually I eat a piece of fruit or a sweet treat to get through the afternoon. But I knew I was getting my blood-work done that afternoon, so I powered through and took hope in leaving at 4pm to get that done. Interestingly, after my blood-work, as I got into the car, was the hardest moment. Typically when I'm fasting for blood-work, I have a little something to eat right after I'm done. This time however, I suddenly felt like I was starving myself. It's okay. Though I considered going shopping that night to keep my mind off of eating, I decided to go straight home so I wouldn't have the temptation of any food places. Since I wasn't eating dinner, I went up to my room and began blogging -- I have a lot of catching up to do. At about 7:30pm, I heard KDJ downstairs preparing her dinner and then within minutes I smelled the lovely smell of tacos. But I was okay because at that point I was proud I'd made it past the 24 hours mark. But don't get me wrong... being online there are food enticements everywhere! I began thinking of all the food I could make next week, when I will be easing my way back into eating. But let's be truthful... none of the food I'm thinking about is going to "ease" me back into eating. Four-cheese lasagna, sushi, cherry cobbler?

Also, right at about 7:30 or 8pm, my stomach started growling for the first time that I noticed all day.

Day Two:

I am now constantly thinking of all the yummy food items I could make. One pot pasta. Lemon blueberry cake. Phở. (Ooh, pho would be a good way to ease into eating again.) Pizza.

Right now I'm feeling irritable and a bit angry. I'm also feeling a bit light-headed. Every time I refill my water in the break room (today I'm already at 64 ounces), I get really sad that I can't fill up a mini dixie cup with snacks. There are three snack jars in the break room that are typically filled with things like nuts, or trail mix, or dried fruit. Today, I wish I could be snacking on yogurt-covered raisins. Or are they craisins? I don't know, but I'm starving myself, so I can't have them. This is ridiculous.

It's funny how I feel unsure of what to do next at every turn when I can't eat something. It's funny because it's not like I'm constantly eating on normal days, but maybe I am grazing a lot or something. Like last night when I didn't even want to be downstairs because I couldn't eat, so what was the point? I just stayed up in my room. Drinking my water.

Tonight, I happen to know that KDJ is planning to make black bean and mango salad. I want some so badly. Yum.

Day Three:

Well, interestingly, Day Three is easier than Day Two was. I guess I also know that I'm going to be eating dinner tonight too. That may help. I've already planned it. Phở. Yum. I can hardly wait it sounds so delicious. If you've never had it, you must try it.

I guess the thing I've noticed most in the last three days is how much of my life involves food. Social gatherings, sitting at my desk at work. I just think about food a lot. My relationship with food is complicated, I've noticed. Apparently, I eat out of habit, boredom, stress, anxiety, depression. Often, I found myself going to the fridge and just opening it up.

Water is my best good friend.

This has been an enlightening experience, which I plan to do again. Focusing on the spiritual and mental side of it has been interesting and I'd like to do that again. Interestingly, I've lost about 10 pounds. I'm sure it will come back as soon as I have the cycle of food in me, but it's nice to see that it can come off. Challenging myself and making myself come to terms with myself (if that makes sense). Maybe in a month or two. Maybe I'll be able to be more mentally controlled this time. Practice makes perfect, right?

But for now, I'll look forward to my delicious phở dinner tonight. Maybe I'll even get some Vietnamese fresh spring rolls. Delish.

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A Year and A Half in the Making.

"There is in every true woman's heart a spark of heavenly fire,

which lies dormant in the broad daylight of prosperity;

but which kindles up and beams and blazes in the dark hour of adversity."

~Washington Irving

Life has been rather unbearable for me lately. I know we all have rough days or weeks (or years), but I just feel like I am having a particularly difficult time managing it. Getting over it. Rising above it. Enduring it. I am on the edge 85% of the time. Most moments of the day, it wouldn't take anymore than one word, one look, one drop of spilled milk to cause the floodgates to burst open.

In some ways this started a year and a half ago when I got sick. January 6th, 2012. It was a Friday. I'm not sure I've ever really talked about it on here, but initially I called this sickness "the heart-attack flu" because that's exactly what it felt like. Friday morning it started, when I woke up feeling like my muscles had been poisoned. I'm not sure how to explain it, but they felt foreign. Poisoned. Compromised. Sick. I figured I was just feeling tired or something, but deep down I knew something was very different and something was very wrong. And just a mere six hours later, I was heading to the doctor.

I was truly down and out for two weeks straight. High fever. Vomiting. Extreme shortness of breath, shallow breathing, and chest pain. I woke up in the middle of the night on Day 3 because I couldn't breathe. I couldn't even lie down without having the feeling that the pain in my chest was going to kill me. It was excruciating. I was so tired that night, but I had to attempt to sleep sitting up. Another trip to the doctor. She didn't know what it was. Maybe a blood clot. Maybe pericarditis. Sitting in the waiting room in my wheelchair, waiting to be taken in for my CT scan, I was oddly coming to terms with the fact that I might not live. That something might be terribly wrong. But the EKG, the CT scan, and all other tests came back normal. Normal. Really? You call this normal? I thought I was going to die. Truly.

Aided by the fact that my phone fell in the toilet at the doctor's office during a stupid urine sample during that initial visit on Day 1, rendering it, well... dead, the fact that I had fever-induced brain-shutdown, and the fact that I removed my contacts for two straight weeks, I somewhat disappeared into a world of my own. Being with out vision (sans corrective lenses, I'm on the scale of oh, BLIND) and being without any communication with the outside world (no bag of rice was going to save that phone), I really felt like I was living (or dying, as it were) in my own world. Interestingly, I was too sick to even care.

It took ten days for the fever to even begin to lift. My mom came and stayed with me to take care of me. Because she's like a total saint. If we were Catholic, I'm certain she'd have been sainted a long time ago. With the shallow breathing and heart attack problem or whatever it was, I could barely muster enough energy and breath to even walk ten feet to the bathroom. I cried to my mom that I really didn't want to die. And that's truly what I felt like, that I was dying. That I would never get better. I've never experienced anything like it in my life.

And then. I got better.

But then three weeks later, I had a cold. And a few weeks after that I had another one. And this pattern of every 3-6 weeks, coming down with some sort of ailment continued on the ENTIRE year of 2012. With the exception of a couple of 8-week breaks. I mean, 2012 was also the year I bought my house. It was busy.

The sickness also manifested itself in my need for constant sleep. I became anti-social. I stopped running. Often, I could barely muster enough strength to go to work. I was just tired. And depressed. So, so depressed. I'd have moments of true hope, which were often dashed with the onset of a new cold or something. I began to think this was my new normal. I mean, it was indeed my reality, so I thought this was just who I was: a sad, depressed, tired, anti-social, fat, lazy slug.

In October, I got sick again. I had this mild sore throat that wouldn't go away and so I finally went to the after-hours clinic at my doctor's office. I'd already been to my doctor once that week. This doctor, who had never seen me before, was very quick in her examination. Maybe it was due to years of medical experience or the fact that it was 8pm on a Friday night during "after-hours" and she wanted to finish up. Either way, as she was feeling my glands she told me she was going to have me give some blood so they could test me for a few things, one of them being mononucleosis. Ha. Right. I don't have mono. I audibly laughed. But whatever. I'll give my blood.

So a week went by. I was still tired and depressed. But remember, this had become my norm. Then the Friday at 12:30pm, I received the standard phone call following up after blood tests. Only this time, the nurse said, "Your blood tests for mono came back positive." I started laughing. Really? For ten months I was searching for some kind of answers and now, this. Just like that?

Let's be honest, I had stopped searching for answers because I just thought it was me. In my head. My new normal. But it was this after-hours doctor (experienced, as she was) who took all of three minutes to ask a couple of questions, touch my glands, and order a test that finally gave clarity to my own personal spiral staircase to hell over the last ten months? I felt like jumping for joy. This didn't have to be my new normal. There was true cause for my desire for constant naps and sleeping in. I didn't have to feel guilty and depressed that I cared more about being under my covers than being with friends. There was a reason. For everything.

Over the course of the next few days, I scoured the internet for information on mono. I read all sorts of standard Wikipedia information and along with other medical websites, and realized that my heart attack flu illness was, indeed, the on-set of the mono. I had many of the standard symptoms: fever, vomiting, muscle aches, weight loss, drowsiness. But I also discovered that I had experienced many of the worst less common symptoms such as: neck stiffness, shortness of breath, chest pain, and rapid heartbeat.

But maybe most interesting to me at that point, ten months after the initial on-set, was information I found in several scholarly articles that explained who I had become. Although not widely known, there is tremendous evidence linking infectious mononucleosis with depression and anxiety, specifically in women for prolonged periods of time after the disease takes its course. Also noted was that while most people who have mono are symptom free in anywhere from 3 weeks to 3 months, a large number of patients experience prolonged fatigue without the features of the infectious mononucleosis. I cried and jumped for joy all at the same time. (Okay, I didn't really jump for joy because I had no energy to do so.)

Suffice it to say, the diagnosis and my research following liberated me. Validated me. Helped me to have hope that my current state was not my new normal. That I could get beyond this someday. I shared the diagnosis with my family, co-workers, friends, FB, and just about anyone who would listen because I was so thrilled that I had an explanation for being mentally and emotionally absent. And I allowed myself to just go to bed at 8pm nearly every night for the next few weeks. Interestingly, I found a couple of friends who had had very similar experience with mono and the prolonged depression. Why isn't this widely known or talked about?

Sadly, I wasn't out of the woods at that point. I had a horrible sickness over Christmas. I didn't leave my house for another two weeks. It was bad. It's the one my mom got while we were on our cruise to Hawaii. You know the one I gave her, causing me guilt that may take years to get over. So I started 2012 with a massive illness and I finished it with another. But I'm happy to say, knock on wood/cross my fingers/hold my breath and make a wish, that I haven't had any true sicknesses since then. Nearly eight months without any ailments (besides stupid bladder infections, that I won't even get started on.)

However, the depression and anxiety have hung on. So has the lack of desire to do normal things. So has the weight I gained in all of this because I stopped running and only wanted to sleep all the time. So I guess the "ailments" have not ceased. Depression is real. Anxiety is real. Very real. To top it off for me, I'm very unhappy at work and that doesn't help matters AT ALL.

So these are the challenges I'm working on conquering now. My unhappiness at work combined with my depression and anxiety make for a sometimes unbearable situation. While finding a new job is the number one thing that will alter the situation right now, that's easier said than done. But I know there are other things I can be doing that will help: starting to run again, sleeping on a regular schedule, praying, eating a more balanced healthy diet. But all of that is hard to be motivated to do when you're consumed by depression. And in case you have never experienced prolonged depression, I'll clue you in: it's consuming.

But, it takes one step, right? So I promised myself that today I would start running again. I'm starting over with my training. Using the C25K program. I will do it today. I will.

And I hope I get a massive dose of endorphins to give me a boost and replenish the desire to keep moving forward and getting back on track, reclaiming my pre-mono self, mentally, physically, and emotionally. The first step is the hardest, right?

Well, I've got my sports bra on and my running shoes. Wish me luck.
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Fish.

"Cooking is like love. It should be entered into with abandon or not at all."
~Harriet Van Horne

Several weeks ago, at one of my MANY doctor visits during the month of January (remember how I was sick with the heart attack flu?), my doctor recommended that I introduce more fish into my diet. Let it be said that I love fish and all things de la mer. That said, I just don't cook it all that often myself. I order it when I got out to eat. It's like my favorite delicacy...when someone else makes it for me.

Well, now that the doctor's orders have been laid down to eat it at least two to three times a week, I am trying to do just that. Only, because I'm always trying to save some money, this means cooking it myself and not spending an arm and a leg for someone else to do it for me.

Teriyaki Tilapia over greens - last Saturday's lunch

I must say I'm pretty proud of myself. Well, I've been successful at making some delicious tilapia and salmon. Tilapia is pretty mild, a little too mild, but still tasty especially when prepared well. But salmon? I love salmon. I always have. Tonight, when I went to Costco (only to buy paper towels, toilet paper, and shrimp, mind you), I came home with a 3.5 pound cut of whole salmon.

Whole salmon, you wonder? Yeah, I was a little over-ambitious, thinking that deboning it myself so I could save $4/lb wouldn't be too bad. Ha. Well, it wasn't really that bad, but I just didn't expect it to have so many bones. I know the bones are soft and pliable, which makes it that much more difficult. I'm not so sure I'd go that route again... except that my lemon rosemary salmon fillets (with most, but not all, bones removed) that I made last night were de-licious!

Lemon Rosemary Salmon

I was so busy de-boning that I didn't have time or energy to make the asparagus and Israeli couscous that I had planned on adding to the meal. Maybe I'll do that tonight, since I still have leftovers.
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SO sick.

"The first wealth is health."
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Photo found here.

I've been sick. Really really really sick. Scary, sad sick sick sick.

But I'm doing better and glad to be back.

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6k.

"In running, it doesn't matter whether you come in first, in the middle of the pack, or last.
You can say, 'I have finished.' There is a lot of satisfaction in that."
~Fred Lebow, New York City Marathon co-founder

I was pretty excited, in case you can't tell.

So my friends, I did it. Despite my efforts in self-sabotage (a subject for another post), I successfully completed my first race. I ran a 6k! Rather shocking, I know. I'm the first to admit that I never thought I'd see the day when *I* would run in a race. Let's be honest, I couldn't even run a full mile in middle school without stopping to walk. Let alone even venture out to run 3.72 miles (6k).

Indulge me and allow me to pat myself on the back. I'm just a little bit proud of myself.

Race day was pretty cold. I'm sure it was in the low 40s, so I bundled up and didn't take my scarf and hoodie off until mid mile 3.. My left ankle, infamously sprained in Lithuania numerous times (actually both of them were sprained more than 10 times each), acts up in cold weather and it ached before I even walked over to the start line. Interestingly, it was fine, but my right ankle started bothering me during mile 3 until the end. Nothing serious, though and it hasn't hurt since.

I was super nervous beforehand. Nervous about being able to finish. Nervous about whether or not I'd be able to run that far. Nervous that my breathing would go out of control and try to kill me like it does on occasion. Nervous that the it was so cold.

By the way, the funky bump under my shirt which makes me look like I have another left shoulder coming out of my chest is really my phone tucked into my sports bra. I still have not graduated to the level of "runner with gear." Maybe I'll reward myself now and get an arm band to hold my iPod/phone. :)

Having no time goal whatsoever, I decided that I was going to run the way I always do: walk the first five minutes, then run the rest of the way, walking up any steep inclines. I ended up only walking the first three minutes, then ran the rest of the way. I walked up two rather steep inclines and then one for about a minute or two just because. I should have just run through that two minutes, but oh well. I wanted to make sure I had enough energy to finish, seeing as even in all my training I had not run any more than 2.5-3 miles at a time.

Kate surprised me at the end and took some pictures of me. I didn't think I cared about having anyone at the finish line, but it proved to be really nice. High on endorphins, I was happy to have someone to talk to and share the experience with. Plus, she took me back to her house and cooked me breakfast.

And one of the unexpected highlights? Running past the water stations, being handed a cup of water and then throwing it on the side of the road! How liberating!

Something funny that I didn't anticipate was the type of conversations I overheard during this women-only race. :) Lots of birthing, pregnancy, period, and men woes.

All in all, it was fun! Thanks to Wasatch Woman and the Love Your Body team!

Things I'd do differently next time?
1. Pin my bib on the inside of my sweatshirt on my shirt, so that I could more easily take my zip hoodie off while running. (Yes, I ran while I unpinned and repinned my bib to my zip-front hoodie.)
2. Pin my bib higher on my chest, so that my hands/wrists don't run into it with every other stride.
3. Invite more friends to the finish line.
4. Remember to bring my iPod. I've never actually run with music. I've been focused on my breathing and then let my mind wander in my head. As a reward for training, I was going to finally listen to music... but left it at home.
5. Remember to bring a bottle of chocolate milk. Can you even believe I forgot this?!?!


So, now for my next race...
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I'm Committed, Now.

"Racing teaches us to challenge ourselves.
It teaches us to push beyond where we thought we could go.
It helps us to find out what we are made of.
This is what we do. This is what it's all about."
~PattiSue Plumer, U.S. Olympian

I can't even believe I'm doing this. I signed up this morning. Registered and paid.
I'm committed.
I'm running a race. Oh my gosh. Help me now.

If you are local and want to run with me sign up here. I can't promise that I will actually run WITH you because I'm kinda slow, but we can at least meet up for a picture and celebrate afterward.
Also, it's a "women only" race. Sorry, men! You can come cheer me on and take pictures (because hello?!?, this MUST be documented) and be ready with a cold bottle of chocolate milk at the end.

The girl at Salt Lake Running Company, where I bought my fabulous sports bra, told me that this was a great first race to run. Also, its date in early October will offer a cool brisk air, as well as allow me to recover after I get home from Italy and maybe even work off the pounds of gelato I plan to gain.

Oh, and yes, I'm aware that this is a 6k and I've been training for a 5k. But what's another kilometer when you're already on a roll? Eeep. I'm about to start Week 7 in C25k, so I'll get there. But right now, I just feel like screaming; I can't even believe I'm doing this. Wish me luck!

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Couch-to-5k: Week 5 Day 3. Success!

"Running is a big question mark that's there each and every day.
It asks you, 'Are you going to be a wimp or are you going to be strong today?'"
~Peter Maher, Canadian marathon runner

Salt Lake City at sunset
August 2011


Last night as the sun was beginning to set, I chose to bite the bullet and be strong instead of opting for easier wimp status. I had been putting off W5D3 for a couple days, fearing the amount of running it required.

Let me illustrate the Couch-to-5k Running Plan for you, so you get the idea behind why I was delaying W5D3.

Week 1 Day 1: 5 minute brisk walk to warm up, then alternate 60 seconds of jogging with 90 seconds of walking for 20 minutes, then 5 minute walk to cool down
Week 1 Day 2: Repeat
Week 1 Day 3: Repeat

W2D1: 5 minute brisk walk to warm up, then alternate 90 seconds of jogging with 120 seconds of walking for 20 minutes, then 5 minute walk to cool down
W2D2: Repeat
W2D3: Repeat

W3D1: 5 minute brisk walk to warm up, then do this twice: jog 90 seconds, walk 90 seconds, jog 180 seconds, walk 180 seconds, then 5 minute walk to cool down
W3D2: Repeat
W3D3: Repeat

W4D1: 5 minute brisk walk to warm up, jog 3 minutes, walk 1:30 minutes, jog 5 minutes, walk 2:30 minutes, jog 3 minutes, walk 1:30 minutes, jog 5 minutes, then 5 minute walk to cool down
W4D2: Repeat
W4D3: Repeat

W5D1: 5 minute brisk walk to warm up, then alternate 5 minutes of jogging and 3 minutes walking for 20 minutes, then 5 minute walk to cool down
W5D2: 5 minute brisk walk to warm up, then jog for 8 minutes, walk for 5 minutes, jog for 8 minutes, then 5 minute walk to cool down

Can you see the rapid increase in the last week or so? Now we get to W5D3... the one I was dreading, the one I'd been fearing since I'd looked ahead to future workouts sometime in week 2.

W5D3: 5 minute brisk walk to warm up, then jog for 20 minutes with no walking, then 5 minute walk to cool down

Um, excuse me? Who wrote this program? Seriously, I'm supposed to jump from a max of 8 minutes continuously running to 20 minutes? Just like that?

Well, whoever wrote this program knows what's what because I did it! I ran non-stop for 20 minutes. I don't think I've ever done that in my life, and what's more? It was relatively easy. Wow. I almost have no words to describe the incredible feeling of accomplishment I had last night. I did not even have one bout of the "tightness-in-my-lungs/heart-I'm-going-to-die" shortness of breath. I'm a runner. I can't even believe it!

I had been putting off W5D3 for a couple of days, after I completed W5D2 on a treadmill. The treadmill run was my easiest run to date. I'm not sure if that's normal, but it was great. But I was just nervous about that 20 minute stretch of pure running (jogging). I'll admit that I kept telling myself that if I wasn't able to hack the full 20 minutes, that I could try again tomorrow. So initially, I set myself a goal to at least run 10 minutes. When I reached the 10 minute mark, I thought, oh just run the rest of the way home, at which point I was only 4:30 shy of 20 minutes, so I just kept going and ran around the block again.

Now, I can hardly wait to get back to W6D1. Seeing genuine progress is so motivating. So is rewarding myself with a glass of chocolate milk after each run. Did you know that chocolate milk is the best post-workout drink you can have due to its perfect combination of carbohydrates and protein? Well, now you do, so maybe that will add to your motivation. :)

The C25k plan really trains your body to build endurance with all the intervals of walking and jogging. Week 6 has more intervals and then ends with 25 minutes of running/jogging on W6D3.

I cannot even believe that *my* body (not to mention my mind) did this! It's really quite possible that I'll be running that 5k in October. Mid-week 4, I thought it was completely impossible that my body would ever get used to this. Now, I'm actually excited about it.
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Hiking to Cecret Lake in Albion Basin.

"Doubly happy, however, is the man to whom lofty mountain tops are within reach."
~John Muir

Cecret Lake in Albion Basin, Utah
August 15, 2011

Last night I hiked up to Cecret Lake in the Albion Basin, more than 9,000 feet above sea level, with the Singles Ward. It's situated in the middle of Snowbird and Alta ski resorts, and yes, it's spelled with a C.

It was a moderately easy 35-minute hike up, although, I did have one short bout of the "this-is-abnormally-high-elevation-and-my-heart-and-lungs-can't-seem-to-remember-how-to-function-properly-and-this does-not-feel-normal-and-do-I-have-asthma?-because-I-truly-feel-like-I'm-going-to-die..." shortness of breath that I get every once in awhile when I exert myself on hikes (or walk quickly up four flights of stairs). That was a success. I'm not really sure what it is because it's not the normal "I feel out of shape" shortness of breath. It's different. Much much different. Scary different. But anyway...

Cecret Lake is nestled in the mountains at about 9,500 feet above sea level, which is pretty high for this native San Franciscan who has spent the majority of her life at less than a couple hundred feet. To give you some perspective: my home in San Francisco sits approximately 100 feet above sea level and my home in Salt Lake City is approximately 4200 feet above sea level. So Cecret Lake more than doubles that... but it's beautiful. There was still snow up there. Not lots, but definite large patches.

The Albion Basin is liberally littered with beautiful wildflowers that are especially radiant this time of year. They make you want to just skip through fields with your arms outstretched singing something like "The hills are alive..." Either that or pretend you're Heidi.

Despite nine mosquito bites, I just really had a great time. The weather was beautiful, a perfect temperature, in my opinion (no hot hikes, please). And I met (and re-met) some really fun people, both once we arrived at the lake and in the carpool ride up to the trail-head. Good conversations.

What a beautiful Monday evening it was. I'm so happy that I've had opportunities to get out and experience all that is beautiful Utah. Utah's newest tourism slogan is "Life Elevated," and I think it's rather fitting.

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Bountiful Baskets: Just another peek.

"Life expectancy would grow by leaps and bounds if green vegetables smelled as good as bacon."
~Doug Larson

I just can't resist showing you what I got this week from Bountiful Baskets. I promise not to post every time I pick up my basket, but those cucumbers were just so delicious! I don't eat potatoes very often, so I'm going to have to come up with something now that I've had two weeks in a row of potatoes. Oh, and the peaches! Yum. So incredibly delicious! Nono would be proud of me. I think he's smiling down on me, laughing that it took me so long to come to appreciate the pure deliciousness of a ripe, juicy peach. :) But now I love them!

Happy eating!
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Bountiful Baskets.

"One of the very nicest things about life is the way we must regularly stop whatever it is we are doing and devote our attention to eating."
~Luciano Pavarotti and William Wright, Pavarotti, My Own Story

Recently, I heard about Bountiful Baskets, a volunteer-run food co-op, wherein you spend ("contribute") $15 to receive tons of fresh produce. Today was my first pickup and here's what I brought home.

All that for only $15? Yup. It's going to be a tasty week.
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Couch-to-5k: W1D2 and W1D3

"The greatest pleasure in life, is doing the things people say we cannot do."
~Walter Bagehot

Okay, so I won't post about every single one of my days in the running plan, but I just have to share how excited I was when on Monday morning I randomly woke up at 5:15am and was WIDE awake. At first I was a little frustrated that I woke up before my alarm (well before my alarm), but then I realized that maybe God was giving me a chance to get up and run! So I got up and completed Day 2 of my first week.

What a beautiful morning! Though I usually bring my camera with me on my walks, I've decided it's way too much to carry when I'm running, so I don't have any pictures to share. But trust me, it was a gorgeous morning. I was really the only runner/walker/pedestrian I saw that morning and having the sidewalks and the park to myself with the cool breeze of the morning air was really something else. I think I might try to do most of my running in the morning. Seriously so pleasant.

For a non-morning person who has never been a runner, I'm just going to say I'm pretty proud of myself. Who says I'm not a morning person? Who says I'm not a runner?

My calves and shins were a little sore after Day 1 and slightly after Day 2. But most of that has been alleviated. Tonight, I completed Day 3 and the sunset was absolutely beautiful The weather was certainly hotter than the ideal temperature of Day 2's run, so I think I'm going to try my best to do a lot more morning runs and do my walks in the evenings.

Anyway, just some ramblings here.
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Couch-to-5k: W1D1

"All it takes is all you got."
~Marc Davis

I have jumped on the bandwagon!

Today, I started The Couch-to-5k Running Plan! I thought I was going to die about halfway through my 30- minute session today, but now that I'm back home and resting on my bed, blogging about it, I feel super proud of myself!

There are three workouts per week, which consist of alternating running and walking. Each week the amount of running increases while the walking decreases. The goal of the 9-week plan is to help the runner build up enough endurance to complete a 5k (3.1 miles) without stopping.

I have never run more than a mile at one time in my whole life. And I haven't even done that any time recently. I walk a lot, but this running thing is new for me. But I'm really excited. Nervous, but excited! I think I might even throw myself a party, if in 9 weeks I can run over 3 miles without stopping to cough up a lung! Since I will have just arrived in Italy in 9 weeks, I plan to party with some genuine, authentically delicious gelato! (More on that later.) How does that sound for a good reward!?!

Today's session actually wasn't as bad as I thought it might be. (Maybe that's hindsight speaking.) For a girl who gets winded walking up three flights of stairs, I was a superstar this morning! (Indulge me. I have to keep telling myself things like this.) I regularly work out at Curves, which is great for strength training, but running is a whole different ball game.

Please indulge my blogging about this; I want to make myself accountable. To you. And to myself. So I’ll keep you posted on my progress! Oh, and feel free to join in the fun with me. You can download the Couch-to-5k app on your phone (the app lady talks you through your workout) or take a look at the website also. I dare you.

Now to choose a 5k in September or October. Any ideas?

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A Wonderful Wednesday Walk.

"It is almost impossible to watch a sunset and not dream."
~Bern Williams

This last Wednesday's walk was really no different than any other. I took the same route I always take. I wore the same shoes I always wear. I took time for a self portrait session in the mirror. My phone was tucked in my sports bra, like it always is. The ducks were just ducking along. I had my camera, like I always do. The sun was setting, as it often is on my walks. But this time, over the course of my walk, the sunset turned out to be absolutely breathtaking and so, I just had to share.

P.S. Don't judge me for the title. You know I like alliteration.
P.P.S. I have grown to really dislike above-ground electrical lines.
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Hiking Ensign Peak.

"When you hike this peak tonight, I hope you will remember as you look out over this verdant valley and see the trees, see the communities stretching from here to the point of the mountain, that was not what Brigham Young saw, or the other men with him. They saw almost a barren land. . . . I'm so impressed with the vision that these men had. These great leaders were not stopped by any force from doing that which they knew the Lord wanted them to do."
~Robert L. Backman

Tonight, I hiked Ensign Peak with a large group of single adults from the Singles Ward that I have started visiting.

Lately, I've been having strong impressions that I should go to the Singles Ward, so yesterday was my first Sunday, and then I joined them for their hiking activity to Ensign Peak. Me, hiking. It's actually pretty amazing how many people are in this ward. I'm excited to get to know more people.

Ensign Peak is the summit of the hill just to the north of downtown Salt Lake. It's about a mile and a half north of the Salt Lake Temple. From the peak, you can see that the city was built directly south of that point, and you can see a beautiful 360º view of the city. Really, some spectacular views, don't you think?

The hike was really only about 15 or 20 minutes, but it was pretty steep. I was happy to have my camera to give me an excuse to stop and catch my breath. It was beautiful, the clouds were stunning, and the breeze was very welcome.

It is from this peak, that Brigham Young spoke the famous phrase, "This is the right place," identifying the valley as the place he had seen in a vision as the land on which the Mormon pioneers would build their settlement.

What a beautiful place. I'm happy to be living here, a place with such rich history... and spectacular views!
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People under-rate surfaces.

"Most of the common infections -- colds, flu, diarrhea -- you get environmentally transmitted either in the air or on surfaces you touch. I think people under-rate surfaces."
~Dr. Charles Gerba

Just a teaser from my trip to the Tulip Festival at Thanksgiving Point.

Sorry, I just thought that quote was hilarious. Don't underestimate surfaces...

So I've avoided talking about how I'm sick on this here blog because, well, who really wants to hear about that? But today, I just can't not mention it. I'm sick. Started as a sore throat, in which my throat felt like the receiving end of a dart/javelin/ice pick/knife throwing contest with thousands of contestants. Then came the runny nose and sneezing. Then the congested nose and sinuses. (I know you're loving this.) Then the congested chest and pressure filled head. Then the ears.

Oh the ears. The poor ears. Last night, they had just about enough and succumbed to the severe pain that infection brings. Ugh. So this morning, I marched myself to the Dr.'s office (okay, drove not marched) and that merciful Dr. gave me some Amoxicillin. Well, the Dr. didn't give it to me, the pharmacist did. But the Dr. did irrigate and flush out my ear. Okay, she didn't do that either... her nurse did. But the Dr. DID write me a prescription for pinky medi. Okay, no she didn't. They called in (faxed) the prescription because apparently they don't actually write out prescriptions anymore. (Who knew?) And it was for capsules of Amoxicillin, not the pink-liquid-bubble-gum-flavored version that I so loved as a child. (I had it a lot as a youngin'.)

But what she did do was look at my ears and gave me sympathy. She told me that my canals were all windy (not to say that they're breezy, but windy, as in they wind down and around out of sight) which makes it difficult (read: impossible) to see the whole eardrum. Oh, and that, apparently, is also is what makes me susceptible to these darn ear infections. (Yeah. Knew that. Hence, my love of pinky medi.) Nice doctor, though. (And that prescription was only $4. Can you believe it?! Nice.)

Funny story though... when I was a teenager, I got an ear infection (yes, I'm prone to them -- not just when I was a little child) and requested that my Amoxicillin come in the comforting liquid form, which I affectionately dubbed "pinky medi" as a child. Well, let me tell you... either they don't put the bubble gum flavoring in it when you're older than 12 or I was sorely mistaken about its sweet deliciousness because that stuff was nasty! Never again. I'll swallow all the pills you give me.

And thank you, Doctor, for giving them to me. My ears will be pleased. Right now they're still screaming at me (ouch) but they'll be singing your praises by morning. I hope.

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Random Thoughts.

"I am determined to be cheerful and happy in whatever situation I may find myself.
For I have learned that the greater part of our misery or unhappiness is determined not by our circumstance but by our disposition."
~Martha Washington

In case you've missed me, I'll just throw in this picture, yet another from a self-portrait (thanks to the mirror) session.

So let's see...

The past several weeks have been very busy. April is my favorite month and I can't believe I haven't blogged at all. I can't say I'll make up for a month's worth of not posting, but I'll try to put a little something up.

So, can I just toot my own horn for a moment? For the past two months, I've been VERY diligent in my workout routine and I'm pretty excited about that. Consistency is the hardest part right? I made a goal to workout a minimum of 3x/wk and I've been successful. Now that might not seem like much to you who have more discretionary time than I do, but three or four times a week for 45 minutes is a true success in my life. I definitely feel better, but am trying not to get too disappointed that all this focus on exercise and eating better hasn't shown up in decreasing numbers on the scale. I'll keep at it, but routine and consistency are making me feel good. And I know my muscles vs. fat ratio is moving in the right direction and that feels good.

I am contemplating taking up jogging/running. Whenever I walk, I almost always throw a minute (okay, 30 seconds) of jogging in. But I'm just thinking that maybe that wold kickstart some even better fat burning. I love my Curves workout with it's variety and the combined cardio/strength training, but I'm going to start walking again more often now that it should be Spring and a little less chilly outside. So that just has me thinking about gradually introducing running. I think it would be a good stress reliever as well. And heaven knows that I've been looking for a better way to relieve my stress and anxiety.

I've even toyed with signing up for ballet classes again. That would actually be kind of hilarious, considering that I never was very good with the whole flexibility piece. And I haven't slipped on a pair of ballet shoes in over fifteen years. But who's counting? It's never too late.

This week I turned 33. I had a really great week. Dinner with friends at the Bombay House. Yum, I'm drooling just thinking about Chicken Tikka Masala and Lamb Coconut Kurma. Yum. A couple of birthday lunches with friends. A birthDAY dinner with Mom and another birthday dinner and breakfast with friends. I've eaten out a LOT this week--maybe that's why I haven't seen the scale move. :) But all in all, it's been a really nice birthday week, preceding Easter.

I've got lots more thoughts to share and things to catch up on. I still haven't shared about my Grandpa's 90th birthday celebration with my whole family in Las Vegas or my unexpected individual tour behind the Salt Lake Tabernacle organ. And I've got lots more cloud pictures to show you. You know it. :) Be on the edge of your seats.
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I'm a Winner!

"Winning is not everything, but wanting to win is."
~Vince Lombardi

So if you've been around the block in the blogosphere, then you've certainly seen (and possibly entered) your fair share of giveaways. Yes, you know the type... jewelry giveaways, book giveaways, cupcake giveaways, ticket giveaways. Well, I've entered a few giveaways here and there, but have never won.

Well my friends, the tides have turned. That's right, I won my first blog giveaway. I was the first to "enter" this giveaway for Purity 12 Power Green Tea supplement from the beautiful Natalie Hill's blog. And then on Friday, she posted the winner. Sure enough, eclaires won!

I'm a winner! I'll be sure to let you know what I think of the product.
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Red Alert!

"There's so much pollution in the air now that if it weren't for our lungs there'd be no place to put it all."
~Robert Orben

Do any of you know that Salt Lake is currently home to the most unhealthy air in the United States? I'm not kidding. This time Los Angeles is NOT the winner. The thick, stagnant smog covering the Salt Lake Valley has been here for weeks and is really beginning to out-stay its welcome.

Okay, so it's never really welcomed by me (or probably anyone who lives here), but we expect it a few times in mid-winter due to the strong areas of high pressure that often park themselves over the valley. Folks, this is what we call an inversion. I thought "inversion" was a made-up Utah word when I first moved here. Seriously, I did. But oh no, it's an actual meteorological term with a scientific explanation. But this particular inversion with its thick, heavy, dirty, dirty, stagnant smog has been around a long time. And it's not going away! We've had Red Air Alerts for weeks and my lungs can feel it. And the beautiful mountains in Utah? Yeah, CAN'T SEE THEM! No kidding. You can barely make the out, the air is so thick.

We hear this every day: "People with heart or lung disease, older adults, and children should avoid prolonged or heavy exertion. Everyone else should reduce prolonged or heavy exertion."

Seriously, it is SO bad. I have had a constant sore throat the past week. I've been coughing feeling like I can't get enough oxygen and I'm getting winded much more easily. This last Wednesday at work, Kendra and I were taking the stairs to the fourth floor. By the time we got to the top, I was SO winded. I was confused because I didn't think I was that out of shape. Four flights of stairs usually doesn't affect me like that. I was kind of embarrassed and apologized for needing to stop and catch my breath. That's when I realized that she was out of breath too and blamed the air quality. All of a sudden it made so much sense. No, I'm not out of shape, but when you can't breathe, you can't function normally!

Speaking of not functioning normally because of polluted air... there is research that men's sperm counts in Salt Lake are lower because of pollution. Why do I know this? Because I googled pollution in Salt Lake City. Yes, this was one of the first things that came up. Random, I know. But the fact that this pollution is affecting your ability to procreate... Now, that's bad. Seriously people, we need to be a more green city. We can't mess with Nature and the high pressure areas she gifts us in winter, but we can certainly do better about not adding to the pollution.

This season's smog has really had me thinking about a move in the next few years. I love Salt Lake City and all it has to offer. It's beautiful in many ways. But the smog and lack of oxygen? I'm just not sure I can handle that for too many more years. I'm thinking:

1. Seattle "If you like damp, cool weather, an overcast sky, and a mild climate, Seattle is the place for you. If you like hot and sunny weather, you will not want to live in Seattle."  Beautiful Seattle article.

2. London "London has a temperate marine climate, like much of the British Isles, so the city rarely sees extremely high or low temperatures."  Wikipedia article on London.

3.

Give me some other thoughts. :) Keep in mind that the temperate climate that doesn't get too hot in the summer or too cold in the winter and preferably has some time of ocean breeze would be most pleasing. And fog is just fine! Just no smog. Thanks.

But for now, they say that by Monday, we have a storm coming in that should bring enough rain to clear out much of the unhealthy air. But they still show Monday with a Yellow Alert. We'll see about that. Pray. Just keep praying! I think I'm going to do a rain dance now.

Thankful for Good Health.

"The best six doctors anywhere
And no one can deny it
Are sunshine, water, rest, and air
Exercise and diet.
These six will gladly you attend
If only you are willing
Your mind they'll ease
Your will they'll mend
And charge you not a shilling."
~Nursery rhyme quoted by Wayne Fields, What the River Knows, 1990

I'm thankful for my health. I'm thankful for when my body is free from a sore throat, achy and tired limbs, and a 100.2 degree fever. I'm thankful when my I feel fully rested and rejuvenated. I'm thankful that I feel like this most days.

Sadly, today is not one of those days.

Another reason to love Volkswagen.

"We believe that the easiest way to change people's behaviour for the better is by making it fun to do. We call it The fun theory."
~Volkswagen

Learn about Volkswagen and "The Fun Theory" here.