Endorphins - the feel-good hormone

You know, when I'm feeling blue and don't know what to do I reach for...well I just go to the gym and exercise, sometimes I clean my house from top to bottom until I drop.  Why? Because I know that this feel-good hormone will be released and I will feel better in the end.  

This week I briefly shared my blue or should I say how I was feeling blue.  I have some anxiety over our potential military move, probably out of the country, this Summer.  Some anxiety over my oldest boy getting into a good school, preferably one that offers him a scholarship.  He works so hard, he deserves the best he can get.  Anyway, with him going to college and us leaving, you can imagine why stress sometimes gets the better of me.  Add to that a 15 year old girl who questions her looks daily and...oh my gosh, it's crazy.  She's just like me at that age - how scary is that.  By the way, there is a 6 year old girl and 2 year old boy in the mix but they are still in the sweet stage.

Don't get me wrong, I have no regrets.  I love my kids and love doing everything I do for them.  They truly are my world.  However, that doesn't mean I wont stress and worry about stuff.  Usually stuff I have no control over.

I generally fix that by going to the gym and getting a good workout, adjusting my diet to make sure I'm getting exactly what I need and not what I crave, staying hydrated and getting enough sleep--at least 7 hours a night.

Today, tonight, I feel like a new person and it's only Tuesday.   I have 4 more days of exercise to fit in.  I taught a Spinning(r) class on Monday, Muscle Conditioning class today, Turbo Kickboxing tomorrow and so on...That is my pill, that is my cure for mental sanity and I am happy to recommend it to anyone out there.  When you're feeling down and blue, go for a walk, a run, a swim, anything that requires your full attention and energy.  You'll see what I mean.

By the way, thanks for all the well-wishers who sent me a message of support.  I really did appreciate your sentiments. 

Take Care 

Moment of weakness

It happened again. I had a moment of weakness and feel absolutely guilty about it. Well, maybe just for a fleeting moment anyway. What I really feel is the stomach ache I'm about to experience due to my huge indiscretion with Pecan Pralines. I wrote about my weaknesses with Oreo Cookies and Milk a while back as well as the day I decided to overeat all the wrong foods because I was stressed. You think I learned my lesson? Of course I did and every time we eat stuff we know we shouldn't we know the consequences, but even that doesn't stop the urge. It's like an addiction.

Since I last lived in South Carolina, about 8 years ago, this is the first time I indulge in Pecan Pralines for one simple reason.... I love them too much to have just a few. Last night, while at Trader Joe's, I let my guard down, again. I bought a container of Pecan Pralines which serves 8 at 200 calories per serving, 12g of fat, 23g of sugar and a miniscule amount of protein, 1 gram. My plan was to eat only the recommended portion. So I did, last night I ate only 1/4 cup which is bad enough but I was following the rules of portion control.

My initial plans for today were to get some laundry done, paint an entire room, study-- a lot, workout with my new Core Fitness video and as always, eat healthy foods all day long. Playing with the baby usually falls in place throughout the day, regardless of what I'm doing.

Instead the day turned into a disaster--yeah all by itself too! No seriously,I chose not to do anything constructive with my day, at least not as much as I had planned. I did some homework, sent some emails, dug up a few weeds (3 or 4 to be exact), and then played with the baby for a little while. We both ate healthy breakfast, snacks and lunch. He took a nap and I went to the pantry for one serving of Pecans. Well, let me just say that the whole container is empty now. I ate it all, one portion at a time. In the mean time I painted the trim around the family room (because I felt guilty), watched Army Wives, and studied--a little. Now I feel just as tired as I did before the treat, I am extra thirsty, and could easily throw in the towel and call it a day.

However, I am an optimist, therefore, I will find the positive in this day. For one, I will not be buying Pecan Pralines unless I plan to have a party and everyone will be eating them; I will get myself ready for the day early so I can stick to the plan; and I will get my workout done first thing so I have no reason to skip it later. I'm headed to the gym tonight where I promise to get an excellent workout on the elliptical trainer and in the weight room. Somehow I don't think I can burn off all 1400 calories in that one hour, but I can attempt to burn at least half. I can't change the past, I can only learn from it and make changes that will affect my future. So I will get back on the saddle, as we say in spinning, and ride on the path of good choices!

Time to weed and play in the garden

Well, I finally decided it was time to clean out the garden. After the rain we had, the weeds took over and my garden went from looking like a "little patch of heaven" to an abandoned garden with overgrown weeds, half eaten vegetable plants and some other goodies growing along the way. I figure the healthy weeds were taking all the nutrients from what little is left for me to enjoy so it was time for them to go.

I worked tirelessly for over 2 hours pulling weeds, grass that was attempting to find a new home by sneaking its way into the garden, excess branches from tress not in my yard, etc. I initially wanted to go to the gym this particular morning but I think after all this work in the yard, I'm done exercising for the weekend. This was hard work I tell ya!!

In the mean time, my daughter cut the grass and the two little ones attempted to help me with my weeding issues. It was sort of fun and educational for them, above all, it was a great workout for everyone. Taking a lemonade break in the afternoon was well deserved and truly enjoyable after all that work.

Now my garden is clean, well almost, the tomatoes have been fed, the grapes and herbs are doing well and untouched by the critters. The watermelon vines are still struggling but there are some buds in the making.

It is such an adventure and a learning experience for the kids when we get outside, even though we all had to work hard for a little while, it is much more fun to enjoy our back yard when we do the work ourselves.

I am now working on making some dishes with tomato because I have more than I can eat-- yellow pear, orange, yellow and regular red tomatoes. I think I will attempt to make salsa tomorrow. I just need a good recipe to follow and I should be OK.




Photo Credit: The Great Beast