Sent Away to Eat Spinach

I have absolutely no idea what to write about today. I know that there must be tons of stuff to write about and yet for the life of me I can’t think of anything witty and urbane to discuss. Could it be that I haven’t done anything exciting today that tickled me enough to write about? That just doesn’t seem possible. Perhaps I had better choose something from yesterday …

Yesterday, my birthday if you remember, I tried to give blood. I hadn’t known that there would be a blood drive but after my Pilates class I noticed that there was a blood drive going on upstairs. I looked at my watch and decided that I had just enough time to give blood before my birthday lunch if I forwent my shower (I decided that blood donation trumped shower). I filled out the paperwork (glad that I had my reading glasses on me … I can’t believe how quickly I have become dependent on them) and went over to the screening area all the while joking with the staff (it is the same people all the time). I was a little worried that my blood pressure would be too high as I had just exercised but I never would have guessed that I would be denied for … anemia! Yes, me, who as a point of pride has never been turned away from a blood donation for low iron was turned away for just that, and not just low iron, actual anemia!! I was floored. I have always tested as having super iron rich blood. I know that many women get turned away from donating because of low iron but I have never been one of them. I asked whether if I had red meat and leafy greens at lunch it would help but they told me that it would take at least 3 weeks for my levels to come back. Three weeks!!

All of this, and my birthday, have inspired me to 1) be diligent about taking my vitamins (I really suck at that) and 2) review and improve my diet to add iron-rich foods (I bought spinach today and some red meat too!). I am due for my annual physical so I will put it off for a couple of weeks and let you know what the result is.

And if there is anyone out there who would like to donate in my place I would really appreciate it. It is a small thing that we can do but you could save someone’s life today.

Have a super terrific and wonderful iron-rich day!

Ella


PS I did a ton of stuff today all boring and time consuming and necessary (except lunch with a fellow coach which was great) but I want you to know that I did actually accomplish my list today including exercising :)

Cold 2 Ella 1/2

My cold/flu is still winning although DayQuil is allowing me to delude myself that I might just be gaining ground. I am so glad that I decided to take it easy yesterday as I think that this might also have helped. Plus, I got all my goals work done and so I feel much better about that.

This year I decided that I was going to take my coaching and cooking businesses completely out of my 2009 goals. I want to give myself time and space to work on me, this house (Ike & builder recovery), the cottage (my "baby"), and the various traveling that I will be doing. It was really when I wrote down my travel schedule that I started thinking about my business building and how it would fit in. Every time I thought about it I felt pressure and a little panic. I finally decided that I didn't have to worry about it and that the skills required to be a coach and a chef didn't go away. As soon as I gave myself permission not to work on my businesses I felt much better and ... immediately got a new coaching client and a new job teaching cooking. Funny how the universe works!

Prince Charming leaves tomorrow for Japan and whereever else so today we have a lot of "what needs to be done that I don't want to lift, haul, etc. while he is away so I need him to do it before he leaves" jobs. A lot of that list centers around the storage area downstairs. This area used to be so organized before me piled it high (again) with stuff that used to be in the Sweet (the room that we built that we now call the "Sweeeeeet") or outside on the patio or that we just got lazy about putting in their designated places. It kind of looks like an oversized junk drawer. Today I also want to reorganize my cottage-bound boxes stored there.

Other than that I am going to rest, rest, and rest once again.

Oh, before I forget, I am going to get a Wii Console and Wii Fit. Pumpkin convinced me that I would really enjoy it. Her roommate got one for Christmas and they have been "playing" it ever since. It sounds like it makes fitness fun which is something that I crave. It also sounds competitive which I think that I will respond well to. I am hoping to convince my sister-in-law to get one also so that we can "compete" against each other. I think our natures are such that that kind of competition would spur us on ... in a good way, of course!

Doing my food journal I realized that I added 440 calories yesterday with the juice that I drank!! Even though it is 100% juice with no sugar added it packs a lot of calories. I was trying to drink lots of fluids for my cold and the juice helped me do this (I wouldn't have drunk as much water although I did drink 2 bottles). Unfortunately, it also helped bring my calorie count for the day up to 1899!! A 699 calorie deficit as I did NO exercise yesterday!!!!! Ackkkkk!!! I can hear Prince Charming (in my head) saying "Lighten up Francis" :) It is good to have that mental check but I can tell you I won't be sucking back the juice today!

Have a terrific day!!

Ella

Cold 1 Ella 0

My cold / flu didn't seem to understand that it was to have been vanquished! I am sicker than ever and will put myself back to bed as soon as I have written my blog entry. Between the rest and the chicken soup I will be back to normal in no time (I hope).

Despite being sick and tired yesterday I still managed to get almost all of my To Dos done (just the 1 hour Storage organizing left to do). Today though I am going to take it easy and do mostly sit on the couch with a laptop things:

• Create my RPM daily templates. I realized that I am far more effective if I have a strong and busy structure. These daily templates will help speed up my weekly planning.
• Transfer my written running To Do list to my existing RPM running To Do list.
• Type up my 2009 goals and print.
• Order Soldier donations boxes from post office. Our good friends Beauty and Beast decided to donate Soldier Boxes this year instead of getting each other Christmas presents. How nice and terrific of them! Although Christmas is past I am sure that some soldiers out there would still appreciate a package.
• Rest, rest, rest and get better.

Before I sign off for the day I want to reiterate how important I am finding the calorie counter. It is amazing how little food can add up! It is also answering soooo many questions about why I can maintain my weight but not necessarily lose it. And the thing is ... I eat pretty darned good! For instance, here is what I ate yesterday:

• My typical oatmeal breakfast which consists of oatmeal, raisins, blueberries, raspberries, ground flax seed, ground almonds, yogurt, and a little milk (349 calories)
• My non-fat latte (200 calories)
• Bean & Vegetable Quesadilla with 1/2 avocado (390 calories)
• Shrimp Gumbo (300 calories)
• Snacks consisting of 1 apple, 2 oz peanuts, and 1/2 cup cherries (434 calories)

That sounds pretty good doesn't it. Pretty healthy, not going overboard. Well, I think that it is. But it adds up to 1673 calories!! Which wouldn't be too bad except that I can only have 1200 calories (without exercising) without gaining weight. Which gives me a deficit of 473 calories. Yesterday I worked out to the tune of 488 calories. Which means that I contributed to my weight loss a measley 15 calories (out of 3500)!!! Heck, if I am off just a bit on my portion size that 15 calories could be gone in a biteful! And, each day is about the same. Today I am not working out at all so I will have to be extra vigilent.

So what am I going to do about this so that I can lose the 10 lbs that I would like to? Here are some of the strategies that I am going to try for the next week or so:

• Cut out raisins from my oatmeal. The raisins are contributing 74 calories. I don't think that I will miss these (and, in fact, this morning I really didn't)
• If I am going to eat nuts I will choose to eat only 1 oz. which should cut about 150 calories.
• Be careful of the avocado. While I only had 1/2 an avocado yesterday the day before I had 1 1/2 which adds up big time.
• Ensure that I exercise for at least 500 calories per day (not including today when I am kicking this cold). I will do this by wearing my heart monitor every time that I exercise to get a true count of my calories.
• Track my calories during the day to know where I am at at all times.
• Keep tweeking :)

On a happier note: I did get another compliment at the gym yesterday. Another one of the gals in my class mentioned that I looked like was really slimming down. I will take comfort in the fact that even though my scale isn't showing changes my body must be.

Have a good one!

Ella

P.S. I just came across this and had to share it:

"You are the only problem you will ever have and you are the only solution." Bob Proctor

Vanquishing My Cold

Last night I started to come down with a cold :( I had been so active and efficient all day long and when I finally called it quits my body decided to let me in on the secret ... "You are getting sick" (said in a kind of gloom and doom voice in my head). I immediately took the osci..cilli..something homeopathic medicine that I take that helps me when I have a cold or flu and began mentally letting my body know that being sick is unacceptable. Today I am still sick but I think that I can lick this thing or at least not suffer from some full-blown cold or flu. To that end I have purchased all that I need to make a chicken soup. I am still going to make my Shrimp Gumbo (from the menu) but as an evening "snack" I will have some good chicken soup available.

Oh a happier note, I am soooo pleased with the My Calorie Counter journal feature on the Everyday Health site (http://my-calorie-counter.everydayhealth.com/Journal.asp). Now that I am over my initial psych crap about scarcity I am really interested in making sure that my calories are less than my outlay (for that is the only way to actually lose weight - right?). Keeping the journal and also knowing that I had to show it to trainer Little John kept me from eating at least one snack yesterday ... maybe even two. Between that, this blog, and my sister-in-law I can't help but keep on track!!

I am so pleased that my pantry, Tupperware, and book cupboards are back in their usual organized way. It makes me ridiculously happy when things are orderly like they "should" be. I started working on my office yesterday (it will take some work) and I finished organizing the freezer. The world seems right once more :)

I love keeping track of my To Dos here for the "world" to see. It definitely keeps me motivated. So here we go for today:

• Mail Perdita's mom her shirt back
• Make roasted chicken soup
• Rough draft 2009 goals
• Meet with contractor 1pm
• Spend at least 1 hour organizing downstairs storage area
• Iron "sweet" bedding and make bed
• Min 45 minute walk with Jack

Wish me luck with my cold!

Ella

All Things Traveling

Well the first airport run is complete. First Hercules and Pumpkin were seen safely through the check-in process and then waved through security. The lines were wonderfully short for both check-in and security. Next is the Jasmine / Aladdin run in a few hours. I feel so sorry for them because they arrive in Halifax at 2am!

The day being devoted to airport drop-offs got me thinking about my own impending travel and, as I finally have my new At-a-glance Monthly calendar (this year it was hard to find and is the only calendar that I use and have for years), I decided to see how things were shaping up for me for the next few months. This is what I have so far:

• Jan 17 - 25 Japan
• Feb 12 - 16 Dreamsicles Cruise
• Mar 28 - Apr 5 Germany
• April 23 - 29 Ontario (Pumpkin move / Albie pickup)
• May 2- May 9 Moscow (or Apr 25 - May 3)
• May 23 - 30 Moscow / Baikanour
• Jun 4 - Oct Cottage (perhaps with side trips)
• Jun 6 Hungary (Aladdin & Jasmine's wedding?)
• Sep ? Prague (may also be in Oct)

I would also like to visit with my friend and fellow coach Mary in Colorado and squeeze a trip to Fitness Ridge while the weather is still good (either after Mar or late Sep). Oh, and then there is a potential trip with my girlfriend Edna to Cuba! I love my life!!!!

This afternoon when I get back from dropping Aladdin and Jasmine off I will jump right into house reorg and tidying. I think that it will be best to work my way from the top down. It sounds sick even to me but I get excited just thinking about it!

I was able to get everything on yesterday's To Do list completed and I felt great about it. Today my To Do list is:

• Drop Pumpkin and Hercules at airport
• Get cash from bank
• Make black bean burgers for Jasmine (travel food)
• Drop Aladdin and Jasmine at airport
• Get guest room clean for Tinkerbell (arriving this afternoon)
• Kitchen island clear
• Christmas boxes up from downstairs
• Begin taking down Christmas tree

I think that will be more than enough to tackle today.

I am looking forward to working out with the 24 hour fitness trainer tomorrow. Before I left for Fitness Ridge, and in an attempt to create a winning post-visit fitness schedule (and because there was a sale on), I purchased some training sessions at 24H Fitness. I haven't used any so far because I have been doing so well with my classes 5 days of the week. This week, however, the Gilruth center is closed for renovations and so my Tuesday and Thursday is class-free. Fortuitously, a rep from 24H Fitness called me yesterday and asked if I was going to schedule some of the sessions that I had purchased. I started to say "Not now" but then I remembered the new holes in my schedule. And, in short order, the holes were filled!

And now I am off to the airport!

Have a terrific day!!!

Ella

Day 2 and Still At It :)

I am so happy about how things went yesterday! I feel terrific that this blog will do exactly what I think that it will. I felt more invigorated, enthused, and encouraged than I have in a long time. Yippee!!

I do realize that I have to learn how to properly edit and this blog so that the formatting is the way that I want it. I wrote the blog entry in Word yesterday and didn't even think about the fact that the formatting would not apply. I just put this on my running long-term To Do list and I will list it here.

** Learn the best and easiest way to format my blog post

I also decided that I should add some pictures to my post here and there when I come across one that I like or that might lighten things up a little.

Last night we went to the Radio Music Theater (http://www.radiomusictheater.com/) to watch the performance of "A Fertle Christmas". This 3 person comedy troupe writes their own plays and has been performing together for almost 25 years. Their main stories surround the Fertle family that live in Dumpster, TX and are very funny.

The entire household seems to need a break today from all the travel and hubbub of the holidays. My list mostly consists of:

• Returning Hercules' shoes and getting new ones plus buying shoes for Pumpkin and seeing if there is anything that I would like :)
• Going to the mall to get Hercules some jeans (I returned the ones that we bought at A/X yesterday) and Pumpkin needs to pick up a few things for her friends back home
• Making sure everyone has suitcases
• Putting away the Christmas decorations but perhaps not taking down the tree yet
• Continuing to organize my iTunes
• Picking out and organizing photos to go on the self-laminating luggage tags that I have to make for everyone
• Laundry
• Ironing? (I may or may not get to this today)

So mostly a household chores kind of day it seems. Which is just fine by me.

One Of My Goals For The Year: Protecting our Money Better

One of my main goals / priorities for this year is to do better with our money. Not only to watch my spending but to 1) return things more 2) watch credit card balances 3) regularly review credit card charges 4) investigate how we can reduce our taxes and generally thinking about protecting our money.

To me it feels less onerus and censurous to look at it as protecting our money and I think that I will have more success looking at it this way than I have in the past. I know that it doesn't focus on accumulating more money which may be something I look at in the future again. It's just that doing that hasn't worked as well for me in the past because I will accumulate money on one hand and then let it slip through on the other. Therefore, I think that I would like to try this tack for a while instead.

Hercules just send me his blog (http://pokerinchina.blogspot.com/) and I will attempt to add it to mine as a linked blog).

Have a super terrific day!

Ella

January 2nd, 2009 - My First Day Blogging

This morning I woke up and, as usual, my brain seemed to already have been awake for a while. No ease into the day brainwise just full tilt with thoughts like:

• “What’s on the agenda today?
• Do I really have to work out? (Yes)
• What time is it?
• I wonder what the temperature is like.
• How can I improve?
• Hercules (my eldest ) wants me to start a blog with him to keep us on track …

And then I was away to the races. The blog idea took hold and, as I lay in bed, I thought of a Canadian food writer’s blog called “Dinner with Julie” (http://dinnerwithjulie.com/) (very good) where she blogged about cooking every day. Now, I know that I am “supposed” to keep a food journal so that I can stay on track with my eating, and journaling in general is a great form of meditation and self-improvement, and I know that they would both be good for me but I just haven’t found myself naturally drawn to doing them on a consistent basis. And yet, the idea appeals to me. So this morning I made a commitment to myself that I would blog every day for the coming year. It will help me connect with my eldest son, Hercules, and help us both keep on track (as long as he keeps his blog up too :)) and I am hoping that it will also help me get out of the rut that I have been in since last year.

I am a great one for tracking things. I think that it helps keep me on the straight and narrow and if I am going to be exposing myself to the world with this blog I hope that it will do an extra bang up job with just that. One of my goals this year is to continue what I started at Fitness Ridge (http://www.fitnessridge.com/) in October. I went to Fitness Ridge to jump start my weight loss and increase my fitness as only a place like that can. It was terrific and I learned a lot! Since I have been back I have been trying to keep the following schedule:

M/W/F 24 Hour Fitness Step Class / Abs Class / Strength Class (2 hours)
Tu/Th Fitness Center Cardio / Pilates Class (2 hours)

And, I am happy to report, I have been pretty darned good about sticking to this. I have also been trying to eat healthier. Unfortunately, between Thanksgiving and Christmas, I haven’t been as good about this aspect and have gained 2lbs. When the kids leave on Monday though all the “junk” food is going in with Princess Charming to his office and I will get back to my healthy menu planning. And now for the starting stats:

• Height: 5’ 3”
• Age: 47
• Current Weight: 125 lbs
• Goal Weight: 112 lbs
• Waist: 27 ½” Belly: 32 ¼” Hips: 37 ½” Thighs: 22 ¼”
• Fat %: 27.5 % Water %: 52.5 % Muscle Mass %: 35.7 % Bone Mass: 3.7
  

** I need to find the booklet for my scale to tell me what the bone mass number means.

What these numbers tell me is that I still have a long way to go but that’s okay because I am working on it one day at a time.

New topic: My To Do List for the day

I am still working on how best to create my weekly / daily / yearly / monthly to dos. I really love the Tony Robbins RPM method and it works for me (when I take the time to do it) but I haven’t been able to keep up doing it lately. At least until I gear up I am going to create my To Do list when I get back home from working out. I find that when I get back home from working out / running morning errands I need a bit of a break so I use that time to putter around, look at my email, think about things, and create my to do list. This isn’t the best way and I realize that. This too will change :)

Today’s To Do list includes:

• Creating and writing the first day of this blog
• Doing the dishes (I usually leave dishes at night and do them while my oatmeal is cooking)
• Watering my orchids (I soak them once a week)
• Putting away the platters and bowls from our New Year’s Party (I took yesterday off)
• Returning library books and picking up new ones
• Grocery shopping
• Going to the Chinese Embassy to pick up my daughter’s Chinese Visa
• Returning a pair of jeans for my son at the Galleria
• Updating my iTunes with playlist from upstairs computer (I am doing a massive reorg)
• Downloading an audio book from the library to my upstairs computer
• Going to Radio Music Theatre tonight with the family

And now that I have the list and this blog is off to a good start I will get cracking on it :)

Have a wonderful day and I hope to see you again tomorrow.

Ella