Thursday, January 31, 2013

Chicken Finger



I really need to get back to some of my training antics and the bizarre and funny things that happen to me! Like who sees Fred Flintstone bowling in the pool?, or drops chicken salad in her shoe?, or ends up with Milk in her eye?.... yea this girl!

So, a little back-story on this one.  My parents had a pool and got rid of it.  They had tons of extra beach towels and offered them to me. Of course I took them!  I didn't think anything of it, and like probably most of you, in the grogginess of 4AM, I stuffed a towel in my bag and went to the FAMILY FRIENDLY gym.

I swam, then showered.  Upon finishing my shower I went to grab my towel that was hanging on the outside of the stall.  This is what I see.


I thought, WHAT THE HELL? is that  a FINGER?   I then opened towel and see this: 



MOM, WHAT WERE YOU THINKING??


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Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Shrinking the Girls!



I have debated whether or not to blog about this, and decided it was best to share.  I’m having a breast reduction next Thursday!  I had so many cute, funny titles to this but that would just invite the freak-shows that tend to search the key word ‘boob’ or ‘fat’ and that’s all I need.. more freaks!


What really made me decide to share:

Well first, I’m not that shy. 

Second:  I know some of you will wonder why I fell off the face of the earth for a month. And most importantly, I have received the BEST comments from so many followers. I still remain so humbled that I am being followed all over the world.  So many women have mustered the courage to strive to their fitness goals, regardless of size.  They tell me I was their mentor, or I encouraged them, but in reality, that they already had in them.  I've also had some negative comments, like one woman said I called myself fat just to get attention. (I can think of other things to do to get attention, and none of which would involve trying to eat right and exercise)!  I will pay it forward in my openness here! 

Lastly, I have thought about this procedure for a long time.  I have gained the courage through others that have had it done.  From Facebook support groups, to just random friends that have had it done. I've only seen/heard of ONE person that wasn't happy they did it – so here I go!

I also write a little of this larger side of things for the many athletes I know who ‘want boobs.’ I've been asked “can I have your leftovers?”; “is there a donation to the needy?”; read on girls, you may not want them!

I've always been on the larger size. I can’t say I hate them, because sometimes it’s nice to HIDE MY FAT, or to wear a low cut dress. BUT, I kid you not, they are a PAIN!

I giggle every time I see / think about this cartoon

Yea it rings true, BUT I’m NOT AN OLD LADY.  Aside from the aesthetics, I see a chiropractor twice a week! Yes that’s 90 visits a year. 12 visits are covered by insurance.  Most people who know me say “really, you aren't that big” but I've always worn bigger shirts, and to be honest, nice cute shirts do not fit. 

I am constantly battling the button bulge!  If I do find a shirt that fits, it is way too wide. I went through a period (like 8 years) that I would only wear a tankini and button my shirt half way up.  I was forever uni-boob! 

I didn't care, I was just tired of bra shopping. Nothing ever fit and it was always a waste of money.  Victoria's Secret ‘measured’ me once, said 40D.  I was horrified at being a 40, but that didn't fit either. I had to stuff the girls into that bra and they would hang over the sides or UNDER.. God I hate underboob.

Then one day I went to a real bra shop and was measured properly.  36H.  Yes you heard that right. Yea I was much happier that my ribcage was a 36 and not a 40.. but an H? What the hell is an H? I saw this cup that I could store a small dog in. BUT, I didn't let it get to me, purchased those bras and actually felt a little smaller in my clothing.

Workout gear sucks too.  For some reason they keep putting this stupid zipper in women’s clothing. Great! Except when I fall out of them! Countless times the zipper just flies open and exposes cleavage.  (where’s the photographer?).  I wear my bike jersey with the zipper down too, because it is too tight all the way up.  I was horrified to need a MENs XL!  Now, for some stupid reason, bike shirts are made about 4 sizes too small, but still. 

Although there is one thing I will definitely miss… I have a built in pocket in the cleavage. Such a great place for my towel!  (yea think of your Great Aunt sticking Kleenex there.. yup that’s me). I'll never forget the look on my newer at the time riding partner's face. I pulled out my towel, dabbed my face and he said "WHERE DID YOU GET THAT???"  - uh.. here?

Once, I didn't have headphones, so I just put my phone on the mp3 player and shoved it down my shirt with the volume up. You should have seen the looks, no one could figure out where the sound was coming from!

When I did my first half marathon, I discovered the real chafing  pain of the breasts.  I have learned to run and not bounce through  Chi Running, but that doesn't take all the swaggle away. I KNOW that some people have slowed their cars at the moving and shaking of the well endowed women runners, but I assure you, it is not comfortable.  At that first half marathon, about mile 10, I dumped water over my head, and then felt this BURN.  Later I looked and saw that I had a 2 inch RING around my ribcage from the rubbing of the elastic of the sports bra.  I think I still have a small scar from that! 



Yea this pic is great, but I hate the video.. You can REALLY see my boobs are going one direction and my feet another. I can’t wait for my entire body to cooperate and go the same direction!

I’m nervous of the surgery, I’ve never had stitches.  Yea 39 years old and I escaped that life event until now. I swear my brother was stitched enough for the both of us!  I’m nervous that I’m going to have to relearn how to swim and run.  Will I sink now that I’m getting rid of the buoys? Will I need my bike refitted now that I won’t have to knee  myself in the boob with every pedal stroke of the bike?

Will I run like the wind? (yea probably not).

Wish me luck and send any good thoughts next week. I will be down on most of my training for about 30 days. I’m not particularly excited about that, but I think in the long run, it will be awesome!

Here goes nuthin!


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Wednesday, January 23, 2013

A Night at The Pool

It's been a while since I had a random post about nothin', so here goes!

I almost drowned last night!

Normally I'm an AM workout person, I can't motivate myself to do anything after work, so 4AM it is for me!  I know the people at the gym at that time, athletes and old folks that just want to get the job done and start their day.  The AM has its share of grumpy people but hey it 2 hrs before the sun comes up!

Yesterday I had intended on my normal AM swim, then remembered I needed some fasting bloodwork.  It really isn't a good idea to go workout for an hour on an empty stomach so I opted to move my swim to the evening.

WHAT a difference in the people at the gym!  I got there and the pool was full so I waited for a lane (well half of a lane). I jumped in and my FIRST lane share partner was great, we didn't hit each other in any way.  The person in the NEXT lane kept hitting me under the rope, which I found slightly odd..... then she actually GRABBED My foot!  I thought "am I out of my line here?" (watching her alone, nope, she just was grabbing under the water?!).

There was a kid swim class going on in the first 2 lanes, they were cute and on my 'kick' sets I enjoyed watching them, and the parents.  So cute!  - the head back in the water!  My 2nd lane partner wasn't so nice!  His front half was fine, but he had this weird scissor kick that was as wide as someone doing the butterfly!  Hey I thought practice for IM!

THEN ... I was reminded of my time at Bally's.  Everyday there was something amusing or really annoying.  This dad and his kid just jumped into our lane.  I approached the wall and thought, uh? do I just TAG YOU IN?... they moved out of the way.. then proceeded to CHASE me, kicking and splashing.  They didn't bother my swim THAT Much, was simply very odd.  They kept this up in TWO lanes for about 20 min!

Then came my near drowning incident.

I look over under the water, there was a larger guy in the next lane, big round belly, tiny legs.  He had one of those flotation things around his waste, his legs were bent and he seemed to be 'walking' on his tippy toes.  ALL I could see and hear was Fred Flintstone and that sound when he would go bowling.. I snorted water in TWICE by trying to hold in my laughter.



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Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Paleo Update



I apologize for the delay in my posts.  I have several in my head, I just need time to get fingers to keyboard! I guess that's the irony of "Ironman Journey", the closer the journey gets, the harder it is to find time to write.

So many of you saw from my facebook page that I was interested in the Paleo Diet. I put the question out there, and as suspected people love or hate it.  Many don't "agree" with the principles, and many think it's the best thing since (not eating) sliced bread.

You all know I've struggled with weight most of my life.  I just can't lose it! Last year, eating mostly right, and all the training I did resulted in almost no weight loss.  Sad because at one point I was training near 20 hrs a week!  Don't worry folks, yes I watched calories, yes I have been to a doctor and believe it not I was on a weight loss drug for a period last summer too.. the result was NADA!

Then came the holidays, cold weather, and 'rest' period from training. This resulted in me gaining 15lbs.  Awesome! No, I didn't drink myself silly or eat all cake, but I wasn't as careful and I certainly didn't stick to a diet, but I was reasonable.

I've tried every diet on the market.  My body just wants to have a higher fat content I think.   So a few friends  have had success with the Paleo, so I thought, even with the controversy, I'd give it a try.

The research is so conflicting on what is/ isn't included in this diet. So, I decided to go with my gut. I'm eating what I think is right given the premise "eat what is natural and not industrialized." That means cutting out processed grains, most dairy, and lots and lots of chemicals.

I have no idea what is right or wrong, for example: you can read one book and it says organic butter is ok, yet another says NO WAY. I'm just going to continue to do it my way, the results are there:

15 days, down 7 lbs.

I'm loving playing in the kitchen again. I am not loving the grocery bill!  We wonder why America is fat? well it's because most people can't afford to eat foods good for you!  I know I won't keep up with the fully organic everything, but I'll do my best.  This is what my kitchen counter looked like in preparing for breakfast and lunch at work, so much stuff!




My favorite dish so far, is probably not 100% paleo but it's close enough. Shrimp Scampi on spaghetti squash..  Spaghetti squash has become my new love! You can do so much with it, if you don't cut your arm off trying to prepare it.


Making lunch has been sorta fun. It does take some planning and lengthy AM preparations to eat healthy, but I have to say I'm not starving with this diet.  This was a turkey,tomato and avocado "lettuce' wrap.



 This was breakfast one day.  Poached egg, coconut butter on paleo bread with avocado and tomato to accompany!  I can do without the paleo bread, it is rather dry. I can't wait to try it in some sort of  casserole with it.

I've tried so many things these past two weeks. If nothing else I'm having fun discovering some healthy foods.


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