No reason to toast

I'm not on a no- or low-carb diet and honestly, I just ate a cup of rice ... but I am totally craving toast. I want to eat an entire loaf of bread toasted. Don't even want butter or jelly.

Weird, huh?

My wish list ...

So, it looks like I'm moving to a rent house all my own at the end of the month - and I couldn't be more excited!

It's a one bedroom - technically - but has a great bonus room that thrills me to no end. What should I do with it? Make is a game room for the boyfriend that is choosing not to live with me? Make it a play room for the animals that seriously need to keep their paws (and teeth!) off my stuff when I'm not home? Or make it a home gym?

To be completely honest, I will probably turn it into the playroom for my kids, BUT the bedroom is super big and I have grand plans of dedicating a section of it to a home gym.

To that end ... I have a wish list (and a birthday coming up ... hint, hint!)

1. Yoga mat
2. Swiss ball
3. Dumbbells - 2-5 lbs.
4. Nintendo Wii with Wii Fit
5. Subscription to Womens Health (I'm going to set this up once I get moved - smiley face)
6. Gym bag
7. iPod charger (can't find mine!)
8. iPod speakers
9. Full-length Mirror (2)
10. Jump Rope (I might actually have one of these packed away ... hmmm)

No, I'm not angling for birthday gifts ... I'm really just documenting a plan I have for my new house :-) Hold me accountable, Ladies!

A new scale?

I'm pretty sure it is time I get a new scale.

Currently, I use one of those scales that involve a turning dial/wheel thing ... and it's accuracy just doesn't give me confidence.

This morning I stepped on it and read 180. Stepped off and back on: 179. Repeat: 180. Repeat again: 181. When I stepped off, the dial never landed back on 0 - it went back to 3 pounds, making me think it was adding weight to me. I'm saying 179.5 as a compromise.

So, I'm in the market for a new scale.

I'm looking at several models and most have a BMI calculator. Wouldn't that be cool???

Now I just have to decide whether to wait for my birthday or use some credit card points for a Bed, Bath & Beyond gift card.

Joys of womanhood

Because we are women and are all trying to get healthier, I see nothing wrong with talking about menstrual health here.


For as long as I've been visited by my womanhood, I have had agonizingly painful periods. The first day can be so bad, I remember times curled up writhing in pain, tears streaming down my face, guzzling painkillers as if my life depended on it.

As an adult, I have tried many different ways to lessen (or just endure) the pain. Narcotics, booze, exercise. Nothing worked. The closest I ever came to a pain-free Day 1 was taking 6 Advils and eating banana milkshake for breakfast. Apparently potassium helps - and, well, I like milkshakes so it seemed perfect. Seriously, it's the best I've found.

I haven't had a banana milkshake since going on this diet and am wishing I had grabbed one this morning (yes, I suppose just a banana might also work, but I think milk has good effects, too ... and a milkshake for breakfast is a positive amidst so much pain!)

Lately, I've been trying diet. I eat more iron nearer my period in order to make up for that which I lose and admittedly, I notice more energy (less shakiness during the day). But the cramps are still there.

As part of the 50n50 life style, I now eat more fresh fruits and veggies. I have read many articles suggesting this worked and have been waiting for it to kick in with it's magical solution. After three months, I can assure you this crap didn't work for me!

Next month, assuming I survive today, I am going back to my milk shakes!

Nice legs.

First off... my doctor's appointment went fine. I won't get the results for a week or so, hence I have decided to not think about it. Thank you, Nallie, for giving me a ring. But until I get the results (which cross your fingers are normal) I can't do much of anything. End of story.

Secondly, last week I had posted about my boyfriend Josh noticing that my body was changing. Well today, for the first time, I noticed it was changing. As I put on my new bright orange Nike Tempo running shorts (the cadillac of running shorts), I noticed my legs were slimming down and getting back to their normal muscular look. The past 2-3 months they hadn't had that. But now I'm seeing definition.

And I'm freaking stoked about it.

Yesterday I was supposed to do 8 miles but at my 3 mile mark my IT band started acting up. I ran another 1/4 of a mile and called it quits. No use straining it. So today I rode the bike, did my IT band exercises, and a short core workout. It all felt pretty good until my last 3 wall sits. Wow. Those were painful. But honestly are probably what is giving me leg definition.

Since I didn't get a long run in last week I just readjusted my schedule.
This weekend: 8 miles
Next weekend: 10 miles
Weekend after that: 12 miles

Hopefully it begins to warm up so I can do these runs outside. My new iPod is on its way and screw Punxatawny Phil and his stupid shadow. I'll be training outdoors before you know it. With my nice new legs carrying me along the way.

Eggcellent!

I have been baffled by the size of my appetite last week. It just didn't make sense.

I hadn't made any major changes to my routine so nothing explained my body's desire for more fuel.

So, I decided to look back at my food diary to see if there was a change there - and I found it: Breakfast.

A big part of the successful in this program for me can be found in breakfast. I never used to eat it - not regularly at all. However, since starting this life change, I eat breakfast everyday.

So, looking back over last week I noticed that I shifted from eating egg whites and protein for breakfast and was eating oatmeal and yogurts. I wasn't starting the day off full and, therefore, wasn't ending the day full.

Today: back to my egg white breakfasts. Think it's an egg-cellent idea? Check out some egg mug recipes that I use!

Confiding.

Today I have a bunch to do:
1. Monday morning paperwork/emails (takes about 4 hours)
2. 8 mile run
3. Doctor's appointment.

It is item 3 I wish to talk with you all about today.

About 15 months ago I had an abnormal pap. Which normally people think nothing about. However mine was abnormal to the point where I had to go in for further testing. Three weeks post-abnormal pap I had what is called a colposcopy. Basically it is a giant garden tool that is placed in my woman parts and it cuts out pieces of my cervix and uterus for biopsy.

After this particular test last December it also came back abnormal. I have mild displasia. Which means that 1/3 of my cells in my cervix are abnormal. This doesn't mean the big C... but they wanted me to come back every 3 months to check so it doesn't get to that point. Once you get to moderate or severe, it is pre-cancerous. But as I was between jobs the last year, I didn't go back. I just let it sit there and stew. And at the end of October I started having some odd symptoms. Symptoms I've never had before.

My doctor's appointment today scares me. I'm afraid things have progressed. I'll keep you all posted.