tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81617303388157464692024-03-12T17:50:15.920-07:00Getting fit.... after 2 kidsFood and fitness tips from a young, health-conscious mom of 2 busy toddler boys! I'm busy just like everyone else- I work, volunteer, and have a marriage to maintain!fit to be tiedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08461286309237481615noreply@blogger.comBlogger57125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8161730338815746469.post-16051613873986972762011-04-28T20:06:00.000-07:002011-04-28T20:06:00.191-07:00Free training sessionWith our membership to the JCC in St Louis Park- we are also eligible for a free training session and have a surplus of trainers to work with. <br />
<br />
Last Friday, I didn't work because my daycare provider took the day off for Good Friday. There had been a lot of time off for Passover (since I work within the Jewish community). It was nice to spend more time with my kids. On Good Friday, I decided I would spend late morning putting in a workout. I was doing modified push ups using a cable machine. When I was finished a trainer came up to me and said "I've never seen that on this machine before- I want to try that." So off he went trying my modified push up, without the additional knee adaptation (he, Jeff the trainer, told me he'd never had a c-section). He also said he liked the move and how well it worked the upper body and abs.<br />
<br />
Did I really just teach a trainer something?<br />
<br />
When Jeff asked me if I was currently training, I responded by telling him that I had signed up for my first 5K in May. When he asked how long I had been a member I said late February and that I had lost 8.5 pounds so far. His response: You must be doing something right then! Must be. I told him about the Cardio Trainer app on my phone and how it was helping me track my progress, my calorie intake. We scheduled a time to meet since I had not had my WellStart meeting yet. (you get a session with a trainer when you sign up- like at many clubs).<br />
<br />
So, I met with Jeff- and I, admittedly, was skeptical. I was also probably being prideful. I have, after all, lost 8.5 pounds on my own. When we met for the training session, he asked me what my athletic background was- I went through the laundry list of sports and physical activities that I have participated in. We started out easily - seeing what my range of motion is and physical abilities- then, he really started to push me. It was physically and mentally challenging. I actually, and this has never happened before, had to stop because I was nauseated from the workout. Jeff explained it was from the lowered levels of glucose. I could never get my own workouts to this level on my own. I still feel the workout from Monday today - but in a good way- not in an 'oh gosh I am NEVER doing that again. EVER' way.<br />
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Now, I'm less than 2 pounds away from my first big- 1/2 way goal and 12 pounds away from my second big goal.<br />
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Everything seems to be obtainable now- as long as I'm still trying and still making progress.fit to be tiedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08461286309237481615noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8161730338815746469.post-91953351446162559232011-04-19T06:50:00.001-07:002011-04-19T06:50:57.282-07:00conquered & reporting inI am happy to report that I have met my second goal. As of today, I weigh 155. Overall, I have lost almost 8 pounds. The rate isn't quite what I had hoped for. I have to say, though, that I am thrilled to be just 2-3 pounds over the weight I first met Randy at. Once I am there, I am halfway to my overall goal of 142. This is the top of the healthy weight range for my height, and also reflects the weight I was at when I competed in pageants. Or at least my last pageants. <br/> <br/> Life is busy! With two little guys and consistent full-time permanent work, it is difficult to find balance. Its also difficult to go to the gym after not seeing our mini-men all day and handing them over to someone else for up to 90 more minutes. The nights I do take them to the gym I admittedly feel guilty. The nights we don't go to the gym I make the most of my time with them and we have dinner together, play together and read together. Last night we all went on a walk together and then stopped for a slice of pizza from pizza luce. <br/> <br/> To keep me motivated, I know that I still have inches to lose around my waist in order to fit into my wedding gown. I have also signed up for my first 5k. Www.autism5k.org benefits c.a.d.e (children with autism deserve education). I've also set up a donation page. Visit www.active.com/donations/autism5k2011/millie4autism <br/> <br/> If you know 91 people- you know someone with autism. My cousin was diagnosed with autism when he was quite young. That was a huge motivator to choose the autism 5k for my first race and create a donation page. I set a goal of $500 and so far I have raised $50. <div style='clear: both; text-align: center; font-size: xx-small;'>Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.8</div>fit to be tiedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08461286309237481615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8161730338815746469.post-78675992111502264032011-02-14T18:39:00.000-08:002011-02-14T18:39:00.039-08:00On a brighter note....If you read my last entry, you know that I have a weakness once a year and devour nearly an entire package of oreo's by myself. Usually, it's about this time of year- winter, before spring. <br />
<br />
Since I did have this moment- or moments (I would like to state for the record that I did not eat the package all in one sitting- even for having a weakness for (<em>a lot of</em>) Oreo's once a year I do have limitations!) of weakness I thought I should check in with my progress.<br />
<br />
I am, again holding steady (even with the Oreo consuption) on the scale, but the measurement numbers have been changing. I lost another 1.5 inches off my waist! This is thrilling to me since that means I only have 2 inches to go to fit into my wedding dress that I ordered (so says the size chart).<br />
<br />
I'm not feeling great today- so no gym for me- I barely made it to work. On the drive there I kept thinking <em>"What am I doing? I am going to accomplish nothing...." Sigh.</em><br />
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The pants I'm wearing are fitting better too- specifically through the hip and thigh area. I guess I know where I loose my inches <em>last!<strong> Bummer. </strong></em>The waist will have to wait- but I'm sure it will catch up in the slim down show down.<br />
<br />
It better...<br />
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<em>It would be amazing if I ended up being the exact measurements of my dress for our wedding. Alterations? What alterations? </em>fit to be tiedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08461286309237481615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8161730338815746469.post-22040910603536086322011-02-14T18:29:00.000-08:002011-02-14T18:29:00.395-08:00Moments of weakness....I have to admit- I have been very guilty this past weekend- of having a few moments of weakness. The moment of weakness came in the form of a package of OREO cookies.<br />
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Every year, about this time, I have a tendancy to splurge and eat Oreo cookies. <br />
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Let's just say I ate most of the package myself.<br />
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This was not helpful to my progress....fit to be tiedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08461286309237481615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8161730338815746469.post-23698637560503347592011-02-04T10:24:00.001-08:002011-02-04T10:24:07.919-08:00you know you've lost weight when...you think your pants are falling down... but its actually your underwear.<br />
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there's not much more to say...fit to be tiedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08461286309237481615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8161730338815746469.post-38658349716637085252011-02-01T07:28:00.000-08:002011-02-01T09:19:12.785-08:00Goodbye Plateau!I stepped on the scale this morning and thought "maybe today..."<br />
<br />
Maybe today the number will be less than 161- maybe I finally broke through... but maybe not.<br />
<br />
I held my breath and waited for the beep....<br />
<br />
159.6!<br />
<br />
My jaw dropped and I was (and still am) in disbelief. I had finally done it- I had finally broken through the 160 lb. barrier.<br />
<br />
I could hardly speak let alone type about it.<br />
<br />
I am speechless- I am without speech.<br />
<br />
My fiance gave me a big hug this morning and told me 'good job!' He knows how important it is for me to be healthier.<br />
<br />
It finally happened. I have been waffling between 166-161 since July, after our second son was born. It's not easy after having a baby or two. I haven't been below 160 since before I was pregnant with our first son- so 3 years ago!<br />
<br />
I wouldn't give up- I knew I couldn't- because if I gave up it would be a slippery slope back to even larger numbers. Gaining would be so disappointing and not the kind of example I want to set for our kids. <br />
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159.6-- it's not the ultimate goal but it is a small step in the right direction.... Actually, it's about 3 pounds in the right direction! <br />
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It feels good to know I'm not broken and good "old fashioned" exercise and watching what you eat can make all the difference in the world.fit to be tiedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08461286309237481615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8161730338815746469.post-81601867088031046822011-01-31T08:26:00.000-08:002011-01-31T08:26:25.849-08:00For the love of the sport.....<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=gettingfitin2-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=1439167346&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe>Saturday proved an exausting day for me- 3 games and a scrimmage to officiate. My Cardiotrainer App on my phone tells me that I burned approximately 3000 calories over the course of the day. Exhausting! While it was a great day of skating- it was not without it's rough patches.<br />
<br />
My first reffing partner of the day- awesome. We got along great, had good rapport. He had taken a few years off when he started a family with his wife and I couldn't believe when he said he was 35. It was great to have such an affinity with a fellow ref on the ice- I will work with him anytime- which he said was mutual. We worked well together, covered the ice when the other was blocked from proceeding to follow play, had a pow-wow over what call to make (which resulted in a very exciting penalty shot). Awesome. It was an awesome game- the teams were great, the coaches were great, everyone was great.<br />
<br />
It seemed like a good start to the day....<br />
<br />
As some of you know, I've been an ice hockey referee for 5 years or so now. I ref because I love the game (cliff notes version). After one game at BIG 3 earlier this season, my reffing partner, who I have worked with a number of times, over all of the seasons I have been involved on the officiating side, explained that his next game was at a neighboring town and with a team that has a terrible reputation. I wondered how terrible this team could be but then brushed it aside- afterall, we all have our bad days. Perhaps this was a rumor gone awry.<br />
<br />
Mid-day Saturday, I believe I met this team with the terrible reputation. Let me tell you- their preceding reputation did not even do them justice (and <strong><em>not</em></strong> in a good way). I have never worked with such a team. I doubt I will ever meet their equal in poor attitude, terrible sportsmanship, lack of manners, and complete disregard for how they speak to others. I'm speaking specifically about the coaching staff. The coaching staff complained about being told their kids mouth guards needed to be in. Mouth guards being a safe guard against concussions that can end a sports career and cause permanent brain damage. I even had to send one of the coaches to the locker room. He had already received a bench minor and I had had enough. The players reflected the poor attitude and bad sportsmanship displayed by their coaches. These kids are the kids that are really very good, but just not quite good enough to make the A-team. It's one of those terrible decisions where teams have to get picked and they're all neck and neck so they probably just end up drawing straws (this is especially true in ice hockey because there is only 1 A-team allowed per association per age group).<br />
<br />
My partner for the game was like wall paper. Still fairly young to the officiating side of the sport- he contributed little and had nothing to offer in terms of being a partner on the ice. It was hugely frustrating. The wrath of the coaches and parents were directed only in my direction. Usually I try to make conversation with my associate referee before we go out for a game- get at least their name and how long they've been involved with officiating and playing ice hockey. It's usually a good launching pad for more conversation. From my partner on Saturday for the two game set- nothing. He was more into his phone than getting his mind set for the game. I've never been so disappointed in a reffing partner. I walked into the ref room and immediately apologized for being late and explained that I had a migraine headache that I was still fending off. He didn't even look up from his phone. It was a bad sign and as I tried a few more times to get him to talk to me before the game (within reason) I knew things were not going to go well. It was clear he had no people skills and was not interested in Dale Carnegie. <br />
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Saturday night when I arrived home, I was seriously questioning whether or not to continue after this season as an ice hockey referee. This morning, I realize that this is one bad team with a terrible attitude that is not only hurting themselves, but their team mates, the parents, the team's association, and the sport of ice hockey.fit to be tiedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08461286309237481615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8161730338815746469.post-16373523475918204032011-01-28T08:15:00.000-08:002011-01-28T08:15:00.654-08:00New Years fitness goals...<iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=gettingfitin2-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0077349709&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe>I started thinking about what my fitness goals for the new year would be before New Years.<br />
<br />
Why? Why not wait until New Years Day? Studies show that there are 2 specific times people try to start something new and it ends up being unsuccessful. <br />
<br />
The first- is New Years.<br />
The second is- Mondays.<br />
<br />
Never start anything new on a Monday or as a New Years resolution. <br />
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With New Years- there's so much hype and so-called excitement surrounding resolutions and all that- I think people end up becoming disappointed or their enthusiasm dwindles. <br />
<br />
When you make a decision to do something- just do it- it doesn't matter what day it is.fit to be tiedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08461286309237481615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8161730338815746469.post-56817834346627899792011-01-27T07:15:00.000-08:002011-01-27T07:15:00.171-08:00Muffin Mania<span><cite>www.<strong>traderjoes</strong>.com</cite></span><a href="http://w/"></a> After the success of the <a href="http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/blueberry_orange_muffins.html">Blueberry Orange Muffins</a>, I decided to try another muffin recipe from eatingwell.com. <br />
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Again, using up my surpluce of Zucchini from Aldi- I opted for <a href="http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/zucchini_oatmeal_muffins.html">Zucchini Oatmeal Muffins</a>. <br />
[Per serving: 231 calories; 6 g fat (1 g sat, 3 g mono); 26 mg cholesterol; 41 g carbohydrates; 4 g protein; 2 g fiber; 271 mg sodium; 102 mg potassium.]<br />
<br />
My fiance had been wanting Oatmeal muffins like they have a <a href="http://www.traderjoes.com/">Trader Joe's</a>. WIth the little ones- it's easier to stay home and make muffins from scratch then get all bundled up and get to the store and everything else.<br />
<br />
I doubled this recipe because we have been going through muffins like crazy. Muffins for breakfast, muffins for snacks, muffins on the go.... Once they're made they are easy to eat and not messy. This is particularly helpful with a 2 year old! <br />
<br />
I didn't have time or the energy to make all of the muffins at once- so I made one batch and kept the rest of the batter in the fridge. Then, my fiance made a batch, and on Wednesday I put another batch in the oven as we were getting ready for our day. It is really muffin mania at our house!<br />
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In college, I used to go get a <strong>banana chocolate chip muffin</strong> (nearly everyday) after my morning classes. <strong> I stopped doing this once I learned that this particular muffin I was eating weighed in at a hefty 900+ calories! </strong><br />
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No wonder my pants weren't fitting. fit to be tiedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08461286309237481615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8161730338815746469.post-57371778737143024822011-01-26T10:15:00.000-08:002011-01-26T10:15:36.532-08:00Finishing up the Tilapia...<span><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=gettingfitin2-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0881506303&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe></span>I made the <a href="http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/five_spice_tilapia.html">5-spice Tilapia</a> again. No asparagus this time though. <br />
<br />
This time, I used more of the Zucchini surplus we had on hand (thank you Aldi- 3 humongous Zucchini for $1.69). I just used a little olive oil, salt & pepper and threw the zuchini (quartered lengthwise and cut into inch long pieces) into the pan. I also added a little oregano.<br />
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5 minutes and ta-da- done!<br />
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The Zucchini was a better fit with this sweet Tilapia recipie.<br />
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I already picked up more Tilapia anticipating I will make it again soon!fit to be tiedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08461286309237481615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8161730338815746469.post-67840280278792851802011-01-20T07:59:00.000-08:002011-01-20T08:03:19.117-08:00Feeling good- 1 visit follow upWhile my first visit to the gym was off to a bumpy start, I am already feeling and seeing the rewards. <br />
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Feeling better... I already have more energy and feel better in the near 2 days since my visit.<br />
<br />
Seeing the rewards... It's one thing to step on the scale and feel like you've been seeing the same number for months (that's been me). It's another to take out the measuring tape and see how you're doing. This is a more accurate gauge of how you're doing. The numbers may be stagnate on the scale- but your body composition changes show with the measuring tape. <br />
<br />
This has been the case for me. <br />
<br />
I am <i>so</i> thrilled because in the past week between visiting the gym and the 3 ice hockey games I have reffed since the 10th- I have lost inches.<br />
<br />
Waist- -2.5 inches<br />
hips- -1 inch<br />
bust- -2 inches (thats ok- <i>really ok</i>- things are just out of control)<br />
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I like to plug the numbers into the <a href="http://www.shape.com/virtualtrainer">Shape Virtual Trainer</a>. You can log your starting weight, current weight and goal weight. It will tell you how much weight you've lost, your body fat percentage, the pounds of body fat lost, the weight of your lean body mass and your body fat (both in pounds and percentages), and it has a tally of how many inches you have lost with an average number of inches lost per week. You can also log your calories and exercise and the dashboard will tell you if you need to eat more, less, or if you're in the weight loss zone.<br />
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If anyone is interested in trying the JCC out- let me know- or <a href="http://www.sabesjcc.org/">visit their webpage for a free 2-week pass.</a>fit to be tiedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08461286309237481615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8161730338815746469.post-30667065411464773522011-01-19T09:34:00.000-08:002011-01-19T09:34:48.836-08:00My first visitThe first time at our new gym was last night. <br />
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It was so akward at first. I felt so out of place, and out of practice. It was bizzare to think that I haven't gone to a gym or worked out consistently in 3 years.<br />
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I kept asking myself- "Will I like it?"<br />
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I had no idea. I used to like going to the gym. I used to enjoy running and weight lifting.<br />
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I suddenly felt small and intimidated.<br />
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What a strange feeling to have when going to do something that used to be the norm/ routine. What a strange feeling to be someplace and feel out of place.<br />
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It was akward at first. It was intimidating and strange.<br />
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It's sad- but I wanted to turn around and not even try. I'm ok with me- aren't I?<br />
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Then I remembered the other day. I brought my two sons home. The oldest- who is almost 2 1/2 years old wanted to race me down the apartment hallway. It was so fun and he was <i>so</i> happy. I remembred again why it was important and why I needed to try- because I want to be there and be able to be the best mom I can be for my kids, and the best partner "in crime" to my future husband.<br />
<br />
So, for my workout, I did a mile long bike ride to warm up ( 6 minutes), a did a run/walk for 20 minutes (and got up to 7.6 mph- which is really good for me, my short legs, and lack of running for about 4 months). Then, I moved on to weight lifting- bicep curls, upright rows, tricep extensions and other arm exercizes on the cable machines, the assisted pull up machine (I could never do pull ups on my own in gym class), and the roman chair. The roman chair was tough- it used to be so easy. I did 6 back extensions on the roman chair and then felt the c-section incision. It was time to stop.<br />
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I ended the work out by using these cool new stationary bikes that have different races and routes with a monitor so you have something to look at.<br />
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After I worked out I felt great and remembered why I used to love going to the gym so much and why I've missed it.fit to be tiedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08461286309237481615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8161730338815746469.post-61279392447404448722011-01-18T08:04:00.000-08:002011-01-18T08:04:06.282-08:00We are officially members!After much debate and a long hiatus from having a gym membership- I (I should say WE, as a family) have a gym membership.<br />
<br />
I am so thrilled to be able to go to the gym. No just go to the gym though. It's much more than that. It's promoting and showing healthy habits to our kids. It's having options in my workouts. It's about the family time that we can have together in the gym or the pools. <br />
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It is so exciting to know that I have the tools and the time to take care of myself so I can better take care of my family. I'll also be able to live a longer healthier life and that is a <i>great </i>prospect. <br />
<br />
Since we joined the JCC, we also qualified for a scholarship. Which I am so grateful for since my better half is still in school, and I have just started working again.<br />
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I have to admit - the tears welled in my eyes just thinking about how grateful I am to the scholarship program. Grateful to be the mom and partner I want to be and how having a healthy, active lifestyle fits into that.fit to be tiedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08461286309237481615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8161730338815746469.post-40439873325451798352011-01-03T07:43:00.000-08:002011-01-03T07:43:33.119-08:00Tilapia... yum yum!We have had a bag of frozen Tilapia in our freezer since July or August of 2010. I had no idea what to do with it- all I knew was that I wanted to eat it but didn't want to be disappointed. I had become <em>so</em> concerned that whatever recipe I tried would be labor intensive with poor results that the bag sat untouched. It wasn't as though it was expensive fish either. The bag came from <a href="http://www.blogger.com/">Aldi</a> <span style="color: black;">- a great store that can really help you stretch your grocery dollars. </span><br />
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The bag sat and sat and sat in our freezer until New Years Day. (After all, there's no time like the present - right?) In our case, it was completely by chance that making the Tilapia with an asparagus side occured on New Years Day. I wouldn't pair these two together- the sweet of the Tilapia with the tart of the Asparagus was too much of a contrast.<br />
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If I'm following the advice of my personal trainer from college- we should eat 1200 calories a day. Start with a 300 calorie meal and wait three hours, then a 200 calorie snack and wait two hours- repeat and go to bed "empty". We don't want all of those extra calories festering in our stomachs and becoming fat stores overnight do we??? That doesn't sound like a good idea. That would make all of our hard work useless.<br />
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I used this strategy in the past and it works- it really does. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/five_spice_tilapia.html">Five Spice Tilapia</a>- 180 Calories<br />
<a href="http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/lemon_lovers_asparagus.html">Lemon Lovers Asparagus</a>- 91 Calories<br />
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Total: 271 calories<br />
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271 calories- in just under that 300 calorie goal- you could have an apple or an orange for dessert.<br />
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My fiance looked at me and said "WOW- this is <em>so good. Where are you finding these recipes???"</em><br />
<br />
I look forward to having a larger home where we can entertain and have dinner parties. There's something exciting and fulfilling knowing that you have served an excellent meal. Excellent not only to the taste buds but also for your health.fit to be tiedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08461286309237481615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8161730338815746469.post-24726519171728862572011-01-01T13:01:00.000-08:002011-01-01T13:01:25.271-08:00Fit and eating fishLately, I find I'm thinking a lot about how fit I was in my pageant days. This is <i>probably</i> because in just under 6 months I am going to get to wear a pretty dress for a special day. Our wedding! I probably keep digressing to those pageant days because I was working so hard and my diet was spot on.<br />
<br />
I ate a lot of <a href="http://www.blogger.com/">Morey's marinated salmon and tilapia filets</a> and rice. I also worked out at least once a day consistently- sometimes twice a day.<br />
<br />
My eating habits changed drastically once I started a new job and a co-worker at Careerbuilder.com criticized my lunch choice- complaining that my lunch made the entire office smell. My self-confidence had been wavering as a result of some of the office politics and criticisms of people at other companies in a position equal to mine. Numerous times, over the near year I worked there, my manager--Chad Goven, native of Eden Prairie, MN, graduate of Duke University and current graduate student at Stanford-- stated "Who are they? They are nobody! Don't waste your time!" <br />
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I kept thinking "that could be me you're talking about". <br />
<br />
No <i>wonder</i> I hated going to work and worried about my fate or how I would be treated day in and day out. After all, when he spoke that way about someone in an equivalent position to me- it was him also saying that about me. What a <i>great</i> tone to set in every office meeting.<br />
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<i>No wonder</i> I gained 15 pounds in the near year I worked there. <br />
<br />
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Chad eventually laid me off- stating office restructuring. I was the low-man in the office. Leaving was a mixed blessing. <br />
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Where was I? Oh yes- to digress- before all of the <b>junk</b> that happened at Careerbuilder- I was in really great shape.<br />
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In thinking about my lifestyle then versus now. There are some obvious adjustments I need to made to sustain that kind of daily fish intake. They Morey's fillets- while delicious are $13.79 for a package of 2 at Byerly's (I checked on Wednesday when I was there). As a side note, I signed up for Morey's emails and in the comments box I mentioned how much I <i>love</i> their products. They replied and said they are happy I love their products so much and are sending me coupons! Yay! So maybe I can justify the splurge a bit more easily. Fish gets expensive to eat every single meal- as long as you're avoiding breaded and beer battered fare.<br />
<br />
Off to the canned fish aisle I go.... tuna or salmon? The thought of fish smothered in mayonnaise is enough to make my stomach churn. There must be something better than what I learned to make growing up. <br />
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I searched through the recipes at <a href="http://allrecipes.com/">allrecipes.com</a> and found <a href="http://www.eatingwell.com/">Eating Well</a>. This magazine has a great website- and a mobile website too! So when you're grocery shopping the recipe search is bam! Right at the top of the page. The recipes also include how many calories per serving. <br />
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What I've tried so far:<br />
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/"><span id="goog_1236025166"></span>Easy Salmon Cakes </a><span id="goog_1236025167"></span>with <a href="http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/creamy_dill_sauce.html">Creamy Dill Sauce</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/mediterranean_tuna_antipasto_salad.html">Mediterranean Tuna Antipasto Salad </a><br />
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<a href="http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/black_bean_quesadillas.html">Black Bean Quesadillas</a><br />
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All were really good and very easy to make. (The the mediterranean salad use fresh rosemary as it calls for and not dried- it was a bit too prickly and weird but otherwise tasted good) Our 2- year-old wasn't so keen on the fish items but gobbled up the Quesadillas! <br />
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I'm eager to try many more recipes from <a href="http://www.eatingwell.com/">Eatingwell</a>. The fish and vegetarian entrees will also be helpful considering I have to bring Kosher food to my new workplace. I will oblige because I would want the same respect shown to me if the roles or situation were reversed. I've also been interested in trying to eat vegetarian consistently. When I asked my fiance about that, he wasn't so sure and wondered if we could still incorporate white meat into our diet such as chicken and turkey. It's open for discussion at this point.fit to be tiedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08461286309237481615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8161730338815746469.post-4683878368571270492010-12-28T13:06:00.000-08:002010-12-28T13:06:26.331-08:00NOOOO comparisonI had my fiance and our kiddos meet me at work yesterday. There is a gym located in the same building- the Sabes JCC. We took a tour of the facilities and WOW. NO comparison to our preceeding visit at Bally Total Fitness. 3 indoor basketball courts, 1 outdoor basketball court, raquetball, multiple class options, nice locker rooms, a children's pool, a lap pool, an outdoor pool- complete with diving board and slide(!), plenty of cardio, weight machines and free weights. The list goes on: a sauna, whirlpool, steambath in the men's and women's locker rooms, a family locker room, locker rooms for those under 18 (a safeguard due to sauna and whirlpool restrictions), 2 masseuses, a staff of 15 trainers, free towel service, a $50 credit to use as we please once we become members, aquatics classes, lifeguards on duty at the pool, a track above the basketball court, Sasha's place and the tumble room (where the kids hang out). Sasha's place will feed and change your kids. Locks available to use during your visit for your locker, or you can rent a locker. A hoard of aerobics courses ranging from spinning to yoga to pilates to Zumba! They also give us 24 guest passes for the year with our family membership.<br />
<br />
WOW.<br />
<br />
The club was so clean and friendly too. It was big- but not so big that you feel annonymous or that the gym is a cash cow with a revolving door. <br />
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They also offer a sliding fee scale so that regardless of your financial situation, you can still maintain your health.<br />
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I wish I had known about this place sooner!<br />
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My fiance is excited to join and feels good about the change I think. I feel good about all the ammenities and that it is <em>so</em> family friendly!fit to be tiedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08461286309237481615noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8161730338815746469.post-27579599120044355212010-12-28T12:55:00.000-08:002010-12-28T12:55:00.750-08:00No thanks....I handed in my resignation from my Bally's membership on 12/23/2010. I never even used it. The more I thought about the space (very warehouse like and unmotivating) paired with the children's area not willing to fulfill my children's basic needs (food, water, diaper/bathroom - we're potty training our 2 y.o. now) I just was <em>not</em> comfortable with the situation. I went and surrendered my membership card, along with my very formal typed resignation-- which included where to find the rules of my contract (section 2 paragraph A in this case). I left my ice hockey game and uncovered, or in this case, attempted to uncover my snow covered car and hoped that I would get to Bally Total Fitness before they closed at 10p.m. <br />
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It was 9:50pm when I stood at the entrance. The doors were locked and a blonde attendant sat behind the counter. I had left my phone in the car- believeing this would be a quick in/out. I knocked, I waited. Since the door was locked, the attendant had to get up (which I felt bad about because she had some sort of physical problem that hindered her walking). I handed her my resignation along with my club member card and explained that I just needed to drop this off. She retorted that I could not drop off a resignation and had to mail it to corporate. I replied that "..according to section 2, paragraph a of the contract during the first 3 business days I am allowed to drop off my resignation to the club -- if I were already a member I would have to give 30 days written notice and send that to corporate". She took the paper and said she would put it on the managers desk. I felt like I had been a bit of a "b" to the employee- I hadn't meant to and apologized. <br />
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I emailed the manager today to ensure that he had infact received my letter. His email was short and curt. Clearly not happy that I had declined my membership. I hadn't planned on cancelling- it's not something that I do for fun... sign up for things only to opt out later. Especially a gym membership that I have waited so long for.<br />
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In the end, I couldn't justify the lack of options and the lack of quality child care. That and my fiance is always telling me things are broken there (i.e. the whirlpool specifically). The staff is probably worried about hitting their quotas and I probably screwed things up for them a bit in that area- but what they had to offer- blah.<br />
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To digress to the scene at the entrance of Bally's- I guess the argumentation class I took in college is proving helpful.fit to be tiedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08461286309237481615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8161730338815746469.post-56931067212276321092010-12-28T12:37:00.000-08:002010-12-28T12:37:27.787-08:00Referee RoundupMy return to refing, overall, went well. I have to admit though, that I felt slow and sluggish after the first game, and by the end of the second period of the second game- I was wondering how I would survive the last period of the evening. It was exciting to be back. I had the opportunity to ref two girls' games- which was great. One of the coaches during the first game, was confussed about icing vs. off-sides-- the call that I made and why the face off was where the face off was. The "good ol' boys" club still exists... <br />
coach: "I've been coaching for 15 years and that call was supposed to be icing."<br />
me/ref: "the puck was shot from the red line, and your player preceeded the puck into the offensive zone. The face off occured where the puck was shot from and the call was not icing- it was off sides. The player was over the line before the puck crossed the red line."<br />
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The two coaches continued to attempt to tell me I was wrong. This basic rule of off sides was clearly violated. Another parent watching the game affirmed to my partner that the call and face off point was determined correctly.<br />
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So, it wasn't <em>all</em> smooth sailing during my time back on the ice. The days afterwards my legs were sore. So sore and stiff that walking, bending, kneeling, twisting-- was all painful. I finally asked my fiance to assist me in two partner stretches that I remembered from high school track and field. I've felt great ever since. Clearly, even though I'm still in my 20s, my body doesn't rebound as quickly as it did even 3 years ago. Again, I have had two kids since then- and that of course, is a major influencer.<br />
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My next ice hockey games aren't until January. Tournaments will be increasing in frequency and tempers tend to flare over the plastic trophy that is at stake.fit to be tiedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08461286309237481615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8161730338815746469.post-23095320799960352152010-12-23T08:35:00.000-08:002010-12-23T08:35:12.360-08:00Tonight....Tonight marks my return to refing ice hockey. I have not refed a game since March 2009 (following the broken nose fiasco on February 28, 2009). <br />
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I'm excited and nervous. It's been so long since I refed a hockey game- nearly 2 years! What?! How did that happen- oh right- I was pregnant all of last season. <br />
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I have 2 girls games this evening. They are both U10 girls. This level has a lot of variation in playing level and ability. One game that I did two seasons ago- the girls were pretty much standing around waiting for the puck. I'm not sure which is better- everyone standing around waiting for the puck or everyone on the ice in a rugby scrum-like mob. <br />
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Both aren't great.<br />
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Reffing two girls games for my return to refing does remind me how I started refing in the first place. In college, I was <em>super</em> early to practice- our time and place had changed to the youth rink in Moorhead and it was <em>highly</em> out of the ordinary. Better to be early than not show at all. In this case, I ended up assisting my coach with pre-practice prep and toting things between the rinks, her car, and the youth rink. We were just finishing up when the U12 girls game that was set to take place between a Fargo and Moorhead team was delayed because <em>neither</em> of the refs had shown up. I wasn't certified. I was just a college goal tender with my coaches whistle (made to be worn attached to her glove) and red wind pants. One of the coaches had to get her helmet for me and remove the face shield- as I only had my goalie helmet. I was all over the ice in my red wind pants. I just imagine what the coaches and spectators/parents were thinking. What a spectacle! I would have failed and probably been kicked out of my referee association had I refed like that post-certification. <br />
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The point is, had I not been willing or able to take on that challenge of refing that ice hockey game (with no experience as a ref) those players would not have been able to play. How disappointing for them!<br />
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I love refing. It's a way for me to give back and continue to provide players with the opportunity to play. There are some jerk coaches and parents out there. It can be difficult to keep your wits about you when someone is going ballistic or being a crab apple. It also shows the young female players what they can aspire to once they are all grown up and not playing on a team anymore (whether <em>they</em> realize that now- I will never know).<br />
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Being a ref also reminds me of how I started playing hockey "late" but was on my inagural high school team- how far they have come since our first team was formed 12 years ago. How I will always be a pioneer in hockey- even if I'm not a Natalie Darowitz- will never see the olympics as a teammate - I could possibly see the olympics as a ref. Choosing to be a ref is something I take seriously but also have fun with- because just like "Doug" on <em>The Cutting Edge</em> I love the smell of the ice. It helps me set an example for my own kids in terms of physical fitness and helps me to stay focused on that fitness for my overall health and well being so that I can be the active and fun parent I want to be.<br />
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(Having watched <em>Wall-E</em> last night, I find myself more motivated not to become sloth-like.)fit to be tiedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08461286309237481615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8161730338815746469.post-64227547095247727592010-12-23T07:54:00.000-08:002010-12-23T07:55:42.125-08:00Sabes JCC- fitness center?!?!?!I had no idea until I started working here that the JCC (Jewish Community Center) had a gym/ fitness club attached to it. I wish I had known! Especially when I was unemployed- they have a special <a href="http://www.sabesjcc.org/documents/whole-health-plan_diagram_for-web.pdf">"Pay what you can"</a> program for those that have lost their jobs. If I had only known....<br />
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Even though the club is at the Jewish Community Center- it is open to the public- just in case anyone is wondering...<br />
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Their club is clean and modern. The child care area is clean and the staff is really friendly. They let my kids hang out there one Friday when I didn't have anyone to watch the kids. There's usually more than 1 person on at a time in the children's room too. Someone pinch me!<br />
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Right now, they have a "Pay what you want" promo going through December 25th. <br />
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I have $2 in my jacket pocket. I wonder if that is acceptable??? It would be really nice to go work out over my lunch breaks.<br />
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I picked up their personal training pamphlet this a.m.- they have 30 minute express sessions. Perfect.<br />
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I've already contacted the membership department. Maybe this will be a better fit than Bally's.<br />
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(My fiance keeps getting his membership fee raised without notice at Bally's and has been considering leaving because of that and the cleanliness is lacking- they reportedlycut their janitorial staff due to budget cuts with the economic changes.)fit to be tiedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08461286309237481615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8161730338815746469.post-44625317524370509622010-12-23T07:36:00.000-08:002010-12-23T07:36:17.822-08:00My Bally's "7 day pass"Well, I got one or two things right regarding how my visit to Bally's would go. My sales rep was from the east coast- Baltimore. Second, I didn't get to use the "guest pass"... lame. I didn't even get a workout in. That's even worse. We arrived at 6:45- dropped the kids off and I had to wait and wait and wait.... My fiance went to go work out and I got the "grand tour" followed by meeting another trainer and filling out paperwork. Our youngest son got upset and I had to leave the meeting. Resumed the meeting once I went to go get him. (Awwww- he missed me after I had worked all day!) Once I was out of the meeting, it was 7:45 and the childcare area was only open for 15 more minutes.<br />
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My fiance had joined us in the office part way through the earlier portion of the meeting and asked what was going on. When I told him he was upset and I felt badly that I hadn't discussed the decision with him.<br />
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When we got home, we looked at the contract more closely. I was shocked- even appalled that the childcare people will not change diapers or give a baby a bottle. How am I supposed to get a work out in at all???<br />
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I will be submitting my "give me my $ back" notice and contract tremination today.fit to be tiedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08461286309237481615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8161730338815746469.post-11270871145527180682010-12-21T13:21:00.000-08:002010-12-21T13:25:23.095-08:00The last time I tried this....It's been a while since I've had a gym membership or even stepped <em>foot</em> into a gym. I canceled my memberhsip at SNAP fitness after my first son was born. You can't go to the gym and leave the baby in his carseat- that just doesn't work. It's just not right- i.e. does anyone else remember hearing about the kiddo that died at daycare in MN for that??? My conscious does not allow for that...<br />
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The last time I was at a gym at all was after our oldest was born and L.A. Fitness was fairly new in Hopkins. We had a guest pass. I enjoyed the step class and my fiance enjoyed the cardio and free weights. Our son was in the children's area. When we went to pick him up- it was a mad house. Kids running everywhere. The lady working was very nice, and held on to our 4 month old son as if for dear life. She looked completely freaked.<br />
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Then we met with the sales rep- James. Oh, I will never forget James- the fast talking, let-me-make-this-as-confussing-as-possible salesman, that finished with providing us no clear information regarding membership rates, sign up fees etc. The meeting finished with him stating "Well now that you have all the prices and information just let me know what you decide". Then, like a vulture, he plucked away our 3-day visitors pass as if it were vile and poisonous. <br />
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So much for the visitors pass- apparently, you have to forfeit it to the sales rep upon entry and the remaining "free" days- are allowed to you once you have decided you want to become a member. I clearly remember James stating "Ok, so once you make a decision to join, then you can come back and use the other two days." That's not a 3-day guest pass.<br />
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Today, I have a 7-day guest pass to Bally's in St Louis Park. I can't help but wonder how this is going to play out. I've already recieved an email from the club's general manager. And a sales rep with an east coast Long Island accent left me a voicemail within moments of my request for a guest pass was submitted. His name is Johnny. Immediately, images of an individual mimicing Jersey Shore's too-tan cast with too-tight tank tops, and too much muscle come to mind. <br />
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This should be interesting.<br />
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On a positive note, the child care area at Bally's has a 2 child per family and 2 hour limit. And there can only be 8 kids in the room at a time. At least they have crowd control.<br />
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I looked into their class schedule- it was less than appealing. They only have 1 studio at this location, and the variety of classes is lacking. <br />
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I did visit Bally's with a guest pass my fiance gave me once before (pre-kiddos). It was ok. The hot tub was broken- which I'm told is often the case. They do have a sauna- which I always like to have.<br />
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The gym used to be so much apart of my lifestyle. It was what I would do before <em>and</em> after work or class. I considered myself a runner, a weight lifter, and athletic. I still consider myself these things but it's not reflected in my day to day life, nor has it been for the last 3 years. 3 years- wow- where did the time go? <br />
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It'll be interesting to see what happens at my visit this evening. fit to be tiedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08461286309237481615noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8161730338815746469.post-76366304578902228422010-10-31T08:49:00.001-07:002010-10-31T08:49:02.602-07:00Refing seminarYesterday, I attended a USA ice hockey referee clinic- which is a mandatory task each year you want to ref. Overall, it went well- for not skating in almost 2 years anyway. I admit that I was the first ref to take a fall on the ice. Another, older ref gave the" you owe me a beer" signal. A few minutes later, he was down on his keester. That's usually how those things work isn't it? You make fun of someone and then you find yourself in the same spot. This type of picking is expected at these clinics, so I took it all in stride with a big smile and laughing it off. Later, when we had circled up at center ice, following the warm up, one of the instructors made a point of mentioning that when the level 4 refs" shoot the duck" they fall. None of the level 2 refs fell during shoot the duck. His comment made me feel justified in falling earlier. <br/> <br/> Again, for at least the third year in a row, I was the only female level 2 referee on the ice. Women refs are a rare breed in ice hockey. New referees, in general, only 10 to 20% come back for the next season. In my own district, there are only 4-6 women refs each year. I mentored a first year female ref one year for one game- I haven't seen her, or her name on any communications or at any events. <br/> <br/> There is a glass ceiling in refereeing- women refs in the NHL for example. The district 1 referee in chief, had officiated some of my college games, and I asked afterward what I have to do to move up in the referee world. He gave me a list, and told me it was too late this year to do h.s. league because everything was already assigned. I told him that was ok, and I hadn't expected to move up to that level this year since I had a baby in June. I think I surprised him in my resoponse, that I needed to know so I can work towards it. <br/> <br/> Overall, it felt really good to skate yesterday. I am reminded of muscles I had forgotten about.<div style='clear: both; text-align: center; font-size: xx-small;'>Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.4</div>fit to be tiedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08461286309237481615noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8161730338815746469.post-16041832697286055922010-10-20T07:40:00.000-07:002010-10-20T07:40:18.344-07:00Anxious....Its been difficult to stay on track with my return to work, my fiancees return to school and new work schedule. I'm eager to get a gym membership again- one with childcare- now that I'm working again. I had to give up my Snap Fitness membership because of lack of child care and lack of cash flow.<br />
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When I went up to Fargo-Moorhead for homecoming- I wasn't ready to run the 5k. On a positive note, I was able to run at the hotel fitness center- I only ran for 20 minutes but it was a mile and a half straight- without stopping or slowing. Towards the end I was challenging myself to run faster each quarter mile. It felt good.<br />
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I'm eager to run more and have the "click" that I've felt with running before. To run a 5K or more. To be a good example for my kids and to feel like I can and am able to run and play with them without a problem.fit to be tiedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08461286309237481615noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8161730338815746469.post-52398907893612311072010-08-02T13:35:00.000-07:002010-08-02T13:35:31.208-07:00Reporting in with the running....This is my second full week of running- and it's going pretty well. I've been following the plan from the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fitness-Rx-For-Women/dp/B0000CCY9P?ie=UTF8&tag=gettingfitin2-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Fitness R/X magazine</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=gettingfitin2-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0000CCY9P" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /> that I had in my three ring binders stuffed with workout information. Since I'm not completely new to running- I started at the beginning as suggested but then gauged how easy the workouts were. I skipped forward a few days because jogging for 30 seconds and even a minute was a bit too easy for me. I was excited to do this since I was worried about starting to run so soon after delivering our second child via c-section. There was no way to know how well my body was going to do with recovery this time or with running. I am excited to report- that I am already weighing less than right before I got pregnant! Just 5 more pounds to my first weight goal (putting me just under 160). <br />
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I skipped 5 days total- which sounds like a lot now that I think about it! Since I started the running program- I've lost 2 inches and average daily weight is down 3-4 pounds from where it was. Currently, I'm walking 5 minutes and jogging 4 minutes- which is not impossible but I can feel how hard it is on my body- specifically my knees. I've always been worried about shin splints since they plagued me in my middle school and high school track and field days but so far they have been kept at bay. I've also been acutely aware of my foot strike as I have been walking and jogging- hoping to keep the shin splints and other injuries away. To digress back to the knees though- ouch! I think I might have to start taking a supplement for them- I took one in the past from GNC called <a href="http://www.gnc.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3335766&cp=3593185.2166723.2146538">GLucosamine/Chondroitin</a> and it seemed to help. I think those are again in order. But I'll keep working on the mechanics of this running thing. I had to be more mindful of them today because 1. my ipod battery died and 2. the pain has only intensified.<br />
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I was talking to my fiance's cousin about my starting to run again and she mentioned how she would love to start running too. We talked about how it can be hard to start- especially when you don't know what kind of pace to start out at- how much is too much- what will discourage you. I've had a desire to be a runner for a very long time. I was sad in the first grade when in my heat of the 50 yard dash I came in 4th. The older boy that I sort of knew from school saw I was disappointed and told me that I should be very happy with fourth place as I looked down in dismay at my yellow ribbon. I still have that ribbon somewhere. My desire to run continued in elementary school- where my gym teacher at Poplar Bridge in Bloomington, MN always had us running relays and around this make shift track he would set up with orange cones. I joined my middle school cross country team in the 6th grade for intermurals- still wanting to be this great runner, and joining the track team over and over again through middle and high school but could never get this running thing down. In high school, I remember the day you have to suddenly run a mile and be timed. What kind of test is that? When they don't really teach you how to run or help you get conditioned to run? That's not very helpful to just say 'all right- today is the day we run a mile'. I realize they probably have to do this test for some requirement- but at least help us with it somehow. My very earliest memory of running is with my neighbor on Como Ave- he would his two daughters along with him and I would go sometimes too- we would run around the track by Como Ave and Highway 280 behind Health Partners. Always a terrible terrible runner- no stamina. Period. <br />
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In College, my sophomore- something clicked with me and running. I would go grab a treadmill in the fitness center and just go- tune into my favorite program on my personal television and escape. Since I was watching and listening to something else I didn't have time to think about what was hurting or burning or how out of breath I was getting. This sudden "clicking" of the running on a treadmill and not getting shin splints- I loved.<br />
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Now to get that back and back into those jeans I had bought two years earlier. I still have the jeans- they are my ultimate goal. When I get to put the jeans back on again- I'll probably be 130-something. I really like those jeans- and I really liked the way I felt when I could do all of that running.fit to be tiedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08461286309237481615noreply@blogger.com0