Who's hardcore?

Well after feeling frazzeled by not getting my swim in last night like I had planned, I was determined to get up early early to get a lot of exercise in this morning.

I set my alarms (set 2 clock alarm and cell phone), just to make sure I didn't sleep in after hitting the snooze button.

4:45am, first alarm. Snooze and back to sleep. 4:50am, snooze is over, but let's hit it one more time. This time I was awake but in a fog. 4:55am. alright lay in bed a few mins, and see if Kevin wants to get up with me to go for a run. Groggily he declines, but says he will get up with me tomorrow, he swears.

5am. Up and out of bed, on time like I had planned. I knew that I was going to be giving this morning my full attention to working out. So I knew that I wouldn't be able to fend off a hungry stomach for the next 2 hours. So I grabbed an orange.
I didn't' want to get too full, so I only had two slices, leaving the rest for later.

Let me tell you how excited I was to go out on this run this morning. You see last night I met with my kijiji seller, and did in fact buy myself a used Garmin GPS watch, for 95$. There is nothing wrong with it. The seller told me he just wanted to get some newer technology. I'm no techy, so this works just fine for me. Sure beasts spending 400$+ at the running room to get myself a brand new one.

I played with the watch for a couple of minutes last night in bed before falling asleep so that I wouldn't have to fiddle with it in the morning when I wanted to be out running.

Watch on, satellites found, and I was off for a run by 5:15/5:20ish. Not too shabby.

I had no route or direction planned out, rather as I came to a point where I thought, ok I'm gonna go this way, I did. I just ran wherever I wanted to. Up through catwalks, through subdivisions (got a little disorientated, but kept running), and back to main streets to head home.

I ran for 35 minutes (the extra time is my cool down walk time around my court). I was so proud of myself. I only stopped when the watched started beeping at me, and I was trying to figure out what it was telling me, (heart rate too high, and beeped after each lap).

3 miles. When I got home I had no idea how far this is. Living in Canada and not being a mathlete, I had no concept as to how far this was in Km's. I would figure it out later. But I felt strong after that run. It was so much fun!

I had two more slices of my orange, and grabbed a bottle of water, took off my Garmin and strapped myself into my Polar HRM, and walked down the the bsmt to hang out with my BFF Jillian.

After yesterday's attempt do do her two workout videos I have (30Day Shred and Blast Fat Boost Metabolism), I realzied that, for me I should start with the BFBM, then do my Shred. So that is what I did.

I did a full 45minutes of BFBM, and Oh Man! Let me tell you! That baby works you hard. I felt like I was at hot yoga I was sweating so much! I didn't hold back until the last 5 minutes either. I skipped the stretching portion of this video as I was going right into my Shred, and knew that I could stretch on my own after the stretching portion of Shred was over.

Welcome more sweat. This sure made it hard to do push-ups.

After those two workout videos, I was hungry. I went and finished off my orange, and had to jump in the shower, it was 7:20am, and I have to work this morning!

After I showered, did my hair, makeup and got dressed, I made breakfast to go.

• 3 Cups Spinach
• 1 Tbsp Ground Flax
• 1 Cup Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Breeze (UVAB)
• 4 Strawberries
• 1 Whole Kiwi
• 1/2 Banana
• 1/2 Apple

Into the Blender Bottle, and out the door for a full day of work.Question: What is the earliest you have gotten up in the mornings to squeeze in a workout?

Fantabulous morning with the husband

I was so happy to not get out of bed until almost 10am. Wow I needed those almost 10 hours of sleep. Too much working yesterday, though the day flew by.

Kevin and I had decided that we would go for a run. We really need to get a few runs in this week, as Saturday morning we have a 5k race we are running in. We have been running lately, but only after a 13k bike ride so I can get use to the brick for my try-a-tri. This morning was strictly a running workout for the two of us.

So before headed out into the warm damp light rainy weather (I was loving it), I had some oatmeal
Oatmeal

1. 1/2 mashed up banana
2. 1/3 cup of quick oats
3. 1/2 tsp nutmeg
4. 1 tsp cinnamon
5. 1 tbsp chia seeds
6. 1 tbsp raisins

It was a fantastic way to get ready to go out for a run. We did 5.3k in 39.53. This is because we mainly ran at Kevin's pace which is much faster than my pace when I run on my own. I needed to stop a few times along the way and walk. My HRM told me that my heart rate at one point was at 99%. Whenever I looked at it through the run it was between 92-98%, way too high for me.

Also I was having a hard time catching my breath. Hmmm maybe that asthma that I had back in the day and just stopped taking my puffers for is still hanging around for small appearances.

After our run and stretch, I headed down to the basement with my yoga mat and 2, 5lbs weights. Today was Day 1 of my 30 Shred with Jillian Michaels.

Well I don't know if I am just out of shape from having not done a lot of weights, if it was because of the 5.3k run before, the fact that it's Jillian Michaels, or a combination of it all, but wow 5lbs seemed like 10.

The workout was great though and only like 26 minutes with warm up and cool down. I had Kevin take some before pictures of me so that we can compare before and after results from the 30 Day Shred.

Question: Have you done Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred? Did you like it? Did you get the results you were hoping for?

Feeling Great

Well there is so much to write about this morning! Layoffs, workout videos, a fabulous morning workout with the husband and some pretty amazing food! p.s. sorry in advance for the long post today.

Let's start with the layoffs. Remember when I was all uber stressed out that I might lose my job? Well, the drama continues. It has not gone away by a long shot. If anything, it has gotten worse at work. Bumping is still happening all throughout the agency. Rumours as to people being bumped are being spread a week before those people have been given their notice. And these rumours people have all turned out to be true so far. Monday 2 of our 3 full time workers were given their notice and their options (accept layoff and take Employment Insurance or bump someone with less seniority). They opted to bump. Well the union president told them both, individually of course, that they might not even be able to bump down from their full time position into a part time one (our part time list is 16 people with 5 casuals). They were told that there is 16-20 people bumping all throughout the agency and ultimately our department is the bottom of the barrel so those other people might take the positions our full timers are looking to bump down to.

So what does this all mean for me? Well if this is all true and this is how it plays out. I am part time, part of the 16 part time staff. That would mean if the full timers who are 1 and 3 above me in seniority can't get a part time spot, logically that would mean I'd lose my spot as a part timer.

How am I dealing? Well I am far beyond worried stressed anymore. I am annoyed stressed. This whole process has been going on already from start (where they announced they would be making cuts) to now, has been 3.5 months. And the layoff/bumping is still going on, and could be until May 18th.

Ugh whatever, I'm so over it, I wish I could just be told one way or another right here and now what my fate is going to be. I'm sick and tired of them stinging us along and it taking over my life.

Breath!

Yesterday's mid afternoon snack I shovelled into my mouth so fast I don't even remember what it tasted like. I thought I had a meeting right at 4pm, leaving me with mear minutes to eat. Turns out I didn't have a meeting until 4:30. Well at least I could relax as I digested a little. lol

1 serving of Liberte Greek plane yogurt, 1/3cup of all bran buds and 1 tbsp crasins.

I was anxious to have dinner. A repeat salad from the other day, which apparently I didn't share with you, so here it is today! This is where I used me homemade red wine raspberry vinaigrette I walked about here.

• 2-3 cups baby spinach
• 4 large (honkin') strawberries (1/8thed)
• 6-12 raspberries
• 1/4 cup blueberries
• 1/8 avocado
• 1 tbsp of cashews, slivered almonds, chia seeds, sesame seeds, Pumpkin & sunflower seed
• 5 halves walnuts

I truly love fruits and nuts in my salads.

I also ate a grapefruit after my salad. I sneaked out of work 10 minutes early as I wanted to check out WalMart for . . . . . Some Jillian Michaels. I've been hearing a lot about her 30 day shred, so I did some research and messaged some people who had or are doing it. I was sold based on their feedback. But after 2 WalMarts and no luck, I headed to Future Shop. There I found 1 30 day shred.

Now I was looking for two. One for me and one for my girlfriend MJ. No luck finding the second, but I did find this,

[Source]

I thought well I could 'share' and by share I don't mean take turns with the DVD ;-) the two between us. And for 9.99$ each, you can't go wrong. [Source]

So MJ is going to start her shred Saturday May 1st. I work from 9am-11pm so I haven't decided when I will start mine. Maybe May 2nd-May 31 (that's 30 days). Yup seeing it now written down, that is what I will do. :-D

I ran out of Future Shop as I had a hot date at 8:30. None other than my favourite Hot Yoga! It was an advanced class. This is my second advance class, and I'm loving it. I love trying all the balanced postures (extended side arm balance, eagle pose, peacock, crow and headstands). Luuurve it!

This morning came so early. Even earlier for Kevin (as he didn't get home and to bed until 1:45am). I was so so so happy that Kevin agreed to get up with me for a early morning workout.

For breakfast I started again with my new favourite Apple Larabar. Honestly its perfect for me first thing in the morning before a workout.

After mowing down on this, it was out to get on the bikes. Not before stopping to use some masking tape on our right pant legs (neither of us have chain guards and it was only 6 degrees Celsius out). Sadly I didn't think to take a picture of this.

Off we were for a 13k bike ride followed by a short 2k run. My energy was running low and so was time before work otherwise I would have pushed through for more K's. Back at home Kevin and I did some weights working our arms and then did some ab work.

Then as I promised Kevin, I would show him the advance postures I've been working on in Hot Yoga. He was impressed with my progress (I can't always get the poses or hold them too long but keep practising).

I grabbed a quick shower and though I was going to have a mushroom egg white scramble, I was short on time. So I made something I could take with me in the car to work for a mid morning snack.

• 2 tsp ground flax
• 2 heaping handfuls of baby spinach
• .66 of my banana from yesterday
• 1/2 pint of blueberries
• 1/4 pint raspberries
• 1 cup Almond milk
• 1 beet

It was delish and hit the spot around 10am this morning.

Question: What is your favourite Yoga pose? Have you ever tried a pose you didn't think you could do, but gave it a try anyways?

For me that was the first time 4 weeks ago when I first tried a headsatand. It felt great just getting into the pod.

My Day!

So, I need to do a little catching up.

Tuesday:

- I went to the restructuring meeting at work which talked about the affected areas of work effected by Monday's layoff notices.

- Basically I have enough seniority that I will be safe, regardless of bumping. *sigh*. Secretly I kind of wished that I was getting a lay off notice. Yes yes yes I was uber stressed out and not a happy blogger during it all, but I do not love my job anymore.

- Now that we know what is going on I DON'T WANT TO HEAR ABOUT LAY OFFS ANYMORE when I go to work. It's been months, and it wearing me down now.

Wednesday:

I woke up to my alarm at 6:54, to which I continually hit the snooze button until 7am. I dragged my butt out of bed to make it the washroom to realize that I was waking up dreading going into the office, that I was already in a funk and was feeling depressed.

I went over to the computer and turned it on to email (we don't call in) sick. I needed a mental health day.

I ended up having to really force myself back to sleep, but that forcefulness lead me to sleep until 10am.

Kevin asked me what I wanted to do, as this was MY DAY! Anything I wanted to do that was going to make me feel good.

I made some most delicious chocolate, blueberry, pomegranate buckwheat pancakes with a side of fresh fruit for breakfast.

After watching this weeks episode of lost, Kevin and I got dressed to go for a bike ride. Not before slathering ourselves with some SPF 55. Always remember to take care of your skin, especially this time of year when we are so susceptible to burns on our pale pale skin.

About a 12K bike ride and a 4.3k run, I felt GREAT! I told Kevin how happy I felt, and how I hadn't felt this way in months and months. I told Kevin that after talking with my girlfriend Amanda, that I'm in agreement with her. Not everyone is a Monday-Friday 9-5 kind of person. I am not that kind of person. It's kind of scary how depressed it makes me feel. I need more flexibility in my work hours so that I can be outside or at the gym(in colder weather) exercising.

Kevin agreed that this seems to be the case. Kevin has been a great supporter to me. Thank you babe!

He is fully behind me going back to school to take something that is going to land me a career I will love. A career that offers me that flexibility that I oh so clearly need.

So I have been making phone calls, sending emails and doing some research into a new possibility.

I also have been working on creating more motivation in my active life. Yes I am signed up for a Try-A-Tri for Aug 22, but right now that seems so far away. I have to thank Sonya for giving me the idea for inspiration. Sonya has signed herself up for a 5k Run in June. So this has inspired me to find several small runs to keep me motivated.

So far I have signed up for:
May 8th Lakefield 5k Run
June 6th Bowmanville 8K run

I am also looking to sign up for
July 19th Toronto Pearson Airport Runway run (yes a 5k run on the runway - how fun!)
July 1 Brooklin Ontario 5 mile run.

Well that brings us up to speed. Sadly I can't post any of my pictures from yesterday, outdoors, food or today's food because my computer at work isn't reading my cameras memory card right now. Frankly I am just not tech savvy enough to figure it out.

I also just want to end on this note. I read on a blog a saying. Sadly I can't remember who's blog I read it on, but this is my new motto. I plan to make it a point to live day to day by it. I have printed it out on some bright pink paper and tacked it to the wall facing me so I can read it every day:

Do what you love, Love what you do!

last note:

HAPPY EARTH DAY!