Tuesday, April 24, 2012

CrossTraining

For the last few months I've been getting up at 5:00 am to swim at the local high school pool, as a cross training  exercise and in preparation for the one lonely triathlon I am doing in August.  This particular tri is in open water.  Honestly I love to swim, in a pool...but I am really afraid of open water.  I can handle a river, it's narrow enough to be able to swim  across.  Open water, like a lake, is just scary for me.  I'm not used to being scared, so it's humbling for me to realize that I'm gonna have to suck it up and just do this.  In preparation for my open water swim, I am trying to make my swim portion of the the tri the easiest, and fastest leg for me.  I am not a fast cycle-er or runner.  ANYWHOOOOO...these 5 am rendezvouses (<-- is that a word?)  are starting to cut into my sleep.  I can't drink and if I do it can't be much on Sunday, Monday, and Wednesday.  I can't over-eat or stay up late.  I have to be this responsible adult, cause my pals are depending on me (and I on them) to get my ass up the crack of dawn to exercise.

In all honesty, though, I really really enjoy getting up that early and being DONE with my exercise by 6:30.  It's so good to know that I don't have to do anything else, if I don't wanna.  If you're an early riser; what do you do?  How do you deal with being tired, the sleepy part of you, begging to stay in bed?

Are you planning on doing any athletic competitions this spring/summer, what are they?

Cheers!

Jeni

Monday, April 23, 2012

Resetting yourself


As I go through these stages in life, learning more and more about food and nutrition.  I become constantly amazed at the way FOOD impacts our life.  I want you to imagine for a second if you could not smell or taste.  You would only be able to eat food based on what you see.  Do you think you would be more likely to eat this:  


 or this

The amazing things that food can do for your body are just phenomenal.  It gives you life or death, right?  Food can fuel your body, mind, and soul or stop you dead in your tracks, literally.

We take advantage of the earth in so many ways, taking for granted food.  WE HAVE THE POWER to choose if food will kill us or truly give us a healthy life.  WE HAVE THE POWER to skip the drive through and prepare a healthy meal.  It's in our hands.  I am begging you to eat for life, not death.

Food can equal:

  • Energy or lethargy
  • Gas/bloat or healthy digestion
  • Strong heart or heart disease
  • Invigorating breath or barely breathing
  • Running a marathon or sitting on the couch.


FOOD is energy, life, and health.  Every time you take a bite you are one step closer to life or death.

A friend of mine said something so profound to me it has stuck: "ONE BAD MEAL CANNOT MAKE YOU FAT; ONE HEALTHY MEAL CANNOT MAKE YOU THIN".  These are our every day choices, in moderation that make us who we are, and after all, we are what we eat.

When you stop and make a good choice, you will feel no guilt, no bloat, no weight gain.  Making a good food choice is setting the example for your spouse, and your children.  Make a small change a REAL goal to drink more water, or do 10 push ups for one full week.  When the week is done, pat yourself on the back and set another goal!

My goal this week is less alcohol.  I like a beer or whisky at night before bed to unwind and relax.  this week NO BOOZE!  What will you do for yourself this week?

Cheers!

Jeni

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Tap Tap Tap, is thing on?

My, oh so humble, apologies for leaving for 3 weeks.  I am back, bitches!

So there are a few things I want to talk about today the first is my up and coming garden.  I would also like to touch on grandparents moving away, and finally Spring Break at my house!  I've had much going on here the last three weeks.  I've gotten a bit of blog bog...I really didn't know what one thing to write about.  It stinks for you, if you love this blog, and stinks for me because I get the guilt of not keeping you updated.

So let's start fresh...Hi!!  I'm Jeni and I am SO FREAKING excited that you are still here reading my blog about all things I love to talk about!! (yeah, I'm screaming at you). I am 35 short, spunky, mama of 3 and wife to what may be a real life Paul Bunyon for nearly 13 years.  The yin to my yang.  I am a runner (but this isn't a running blog), I garden, I can (as in veggies from my garden), I knit, I sew, and I LOVE NUTRITION (and beer).   Enough about me, let's talk about my garden.

In the beginning of March I started seedlings and my wonderfully handy, hot, husband built a greenhouse for me.





 This is a picture of my beautiful daughter, Megan planting a bulb.

I am growing lots of great things: tomato, cucumbers, squash, beets, spinach, watermelon, melon, okra, bell peppers, banana peppers, and flowers.

All my plants have been enclosed into this greenhouse, but a week ago we had a hard frost, and I lost my cucumbers and some of my watermelon.  It was sad day.  they looked beautiful, green and strong, but the frost got them even though they were in the green house.  I almost cried, but instead of crying I replanted.

These are my growing plants before the frost.




 these are my beautiful cucumbers before they died.








Now we are back in business, a little late, but still back.

So my in-laws have purchased their new home and moved to Florida.  It was a heartbreaking few days of tears and goodbyes, especially for the kids.  They are gone and their house is empty.  We've been going there often to get the house ready for their estate sale.  Depressing is the only word that can describe how the kids and I feel.  We knew it was coming, but it was still sad to see my mother in law go.  We had a little party here for her with our cousins, it was a good night with great family: 

Jake, Shane, Meg, Thea and Barney, Bill, Rory, and Pat
 Jake, Meg, Rory and Roxy

 Thea and Danny
 The Cooks: Jimmy, Krissy, and Danny
 Rory...LOL
The after party: Thea, Pat and Meg
Jake, Roar, and me.

Last week was Spring Break for our schools, so the kids were out Good Friday through the following week and went back to school Monday.  We went over to my In-Law's old house a lot and tried to get some stuff organized.  Pat took Megan and Jake to see THE LORAX and Roar and I went to see MIRROR MIRROR.  It was a super cute movie!  Julia Roberts was a great evil queen.  We baked lots of stuff and ended the week grilling out. Pat and I are getting ready for my middle child's birthday.  Jake will be 9 on April 19.  He has requested waffles and eggs for his bday bfast and ribs with baked potato for dinner.  I can't believe it.  Time really flies, when you're having fun.


And that should bring you up to date on me and mine.  Hope everyone's spring break was happy and healthy!

Cheers!!
Jeni