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Rachel on Road.

Sunshine

The sun is beating down on the Southwest region of the United States, something you may already know if you watch/read the news. What you won't hear a lot about is the heat we are experiencing in the Pacific Northwest, which is accompanied by an unusual 100% humidity. The normal summer temperature here is 72 to 73 degrees (62-65 in town) with low humidity. Today town hit 81 and where I live hit 92. Throw in a high pollen level and having to sleep in a sun-room during the day...

I haven't been sleeping. Not sleeping, pollen, and humidity all trigger my asthma. Struggling to breath makes me tired. I skip working out when I'm tired. When I don't work out I stress out about not working out. There is enough going on in my life that I don't need to stress about anything else right now!

Work has been busy, I worked 95 hours in two weeks, and was scheduled to work 107. When I got off this morning I begged a coworker to take my shift tonight and went to my Mom's to sleep. She doesn't live far from me so it was already 90 degrees when I got there, but she has more fans and not as many windows (I have south, east, and north facing windows - it's more a steam room than a sun-room at the moment)... so I crawled in to bed and actually got 8 solid hours of sleep today.

Then I got up and worked out. I ran 1 mile and walked 1 mile. It felt great to be working out for the first time in NINE days. Sleeping, working out, and not working are making me feel better already. My asthma is still touchy, but hopefully I will be able to sleep at night until this heat wave passes.

Tuesday Timeout - Week 3

Weigh In: 312.5

Starting weight: 360lbs, Week 2 weight: 310lbs. Total loss: 48.5lbs, Weekly loss: -2.5lbs.
I'm disappointed but realize this number could be worse. My diet was a wreck, and I indulged almost every day. Going up 2.5lbs hurts, but it's better than 5lbs.

Non Scale Victories:

I drank wine! With a friend! While watching a movie! At her house! Yeahp, definitely a victory for me. I'm not much of a social person, and tend to bail out on plans that include other people. Plus I wasn't sure how I would tolerate alcohol on my new medications. One glass seemed to be perfect and I enjoyed the movie and her company.

Recap:

For the most part last week sucked. I didn't get enough sleep, didn't eat or drink well, and didn't work out like I wanted to. Working 7 days out of 8 was a bad idea, and I ended up missing meds and sleeping too much. I did make some important choices, and look forward to seeing them payout through the rest of the year. 

My garden took off and I've harvested all my spinach (which is already regrowing) and a good part of my collard greens. The hot peppers in the green house suffered though, and I'm not sure they are going to make it. I also lost two gold fish, which means the one left is lonely. I'll have to deal with that this weekend.

Goal Recap:

No carbonated beverages. - About 75% successful, I had two sodas... both at the end of my long week.
Work out 3 times by Tuesday. - Failed. I only worked out once.
Stay sane. - Not sure how, but I managed this one.
No fast food. - 100% success!

Week 4 Goals:

Work out 3 times.
No carbonated beverages.
Don't miss any meds.
No junk food.

Crazy Choices!

The 10 days have not been all that great. Between the crazy work schedule, a change in my meds, payday, and some unneeded drama I am whooped. There ups and downs with my eating, some days were better than others. My sleep suffered so much that one day I crashed in town on friends couch instead of brave the 45 minute drive home.

I have decided to move. The cottage I live in now is serene, and when I first moved in the distance from town was perfect. It kept me from using shopping as therapy and helped me realize how important downtime is after work. I also became much more comfortable behind the wheel, and learned to drive while tired. 

Unforgettably there are times I am simply too tired. 45 minutes each way and 12 hour shifts eat in to the time I have to sleep while home. Another reason I've decided to move is school. It's time to go back, and I can't afford the gas to drive both to work and college. After writing out a pros and cons list I decided it was time to go. Hopefully I will find out Wednesday if the place I looked at in town is mine!

As much as I will miss the cheap rent, gorgeous yard, and quiet community I am looking forward to being less than 2 miles from my work, doctor, psychiatrist, a gym, the store, college, and my friends. Even though the rent will be more expensive, I will still be saving money on gas and laundry, since there are washer/dryer hook-ups. I'll have to get some furniture, since the cottage came partially furnished, a dining table or desk, an end table and coffee table, rugs, oh... and a washer and a dryer.

School, moving... It's been a crazy week in my head and instead of running it out I indulged in food. Tuesday's weigh-in isn't going to be pretty. I am slowly getting myself back on track and hope to handle the upcoming changes in a healthier way.

Tuesday Timeout - Week 2

I drafted this post in my notebook last night at work, thinking I'd get up early enough today to write it out before work. Instead I slept until the last moment and left my notebook at home by the computer. Hopefully I can remember everything. On to this weeks Tuesday Timeout!

Weigh In: 310 

Starting weight: 360lbs, Week 1 weight: 312lbs. Total loss: 50lbs, Week 1 loss: 2lbs.

I was actually pleasantly suprised to have a loss this week. Monday was my splurge today (normally it's Wednesdays) and I had a ton of sodium, so I expected to mantain, rather than lose. Down is good!

Non Scale Victories:

I PR'd my best mile! Driving home from work I kept going over my best mile 16:52, trying to figure out how I did it, convincing myself there was no way I'd be able to beat that PR anytime soon as my normal mile is still around the 18 minute mark. Then I got to the gym and killed it.

New PR.

Recap:

Medication side effects are slowly becoming a thing of the past. I feel more like me this past week, which is hard to describe. I still feel different, but the more emotional/creative side of my brain has started to push through the the fog of the mood stablizers. I do enjoy being more productive and focused though. So this new balance is encouraging.

My expirement with individual sunteas went very well, this is something I will be repeating this throughout the summer. Crazy Week at work is almost halfway over. I failed to prepare for it as well as I should have, which has made it more stressful. If this ever happens again (working 7 days out of 8) I WILL make sure I am on the ball about packing lunches, having laundry done, and the house clean before the week starts.

Goals Recap:

Track food every day. - Succes! I tracked 6 out of 7.

Stick to meal plan. - Fail. I stuck to a plan 1 day of 7.
Work out 3 times by Monday. - Succes. I am enjoying the gym, I run faster/harder on the treadmill and don't feel as worried about dizziness/falling as I do on the road. Having access to all the other equipment is nice too. I also get sweatier, which makes me feel more succesful.

Soaked with sweat!

Drink only water, fresh juice, tea, or coffee. (Chocolate almond milk ok as a treat) : Fail. I drank soda several times.
Stay sane: Mostly succesful, better planner would be helpful.

Week 3 Goals:

No carbonated beverages.
Work out 3 times by Tuesday.
Stay sane.
No fast food.

Happy Father's Day

My Dad was always around when I was growing up. He met my Mom young, and they had been married for nearly 23 years when he died. There are very few memories of my childhood that don't involve him in one way or another. He collected strays, welcoming people in to our home, feeding them even though we rarely had enough to go around. My parents always said that our family had the gift of poverty. 

As a Reverend and Chaplain his work entailed ministering to our community, a job which he took to heart. I learned the importance of volunteering and public service from my Dad. I still remember the way he looked in his Navy whites, even though I was tiny the last time he wore them. Towards the end of his life he had shifted from leading churches to ministering to inmates. He led a service every week for men who were not able to attend Sunday services because of their past history. Dad never condoned the crimes these men had committed, but his faith in a forgiving God was unwavering.

I don't want to paint a perfect picture of him, which is easy to do when someone is gone... but today is a day to honor him, and so I will just say that I couldn't have asked for better. Missing him is something I will live with until I go home for good and get to walk the streets of gold together. 

God didn't stop there though. For the past 6 years I've had a pretty awesome Step-dad. Our relationship was rocky for a long time, and honestly we are still learning each other. The best thing about Bill is the sheer volume of his love for my Mom. He is always there for my sisters and I when we truly need him, and he pushes... pushes us to try harder, to be more independent.. to break the mold. 

Bill is a retired Marine and is very involved with the AA in our area. It's funny how my Mom found someone who is incredibly differently, but eerily similar to my Dad. Bill has never treated my sisters or myself as anything other than his girls. And when it comes to the grand-babies... he has that touch. As much as my nephew L looks my Dad, many of his mannerisms are Bill's.

Although my precious nieces and nephews will never know the man I grew up calling Dad, they have a Grandpa any child would be delighted to love.

Happy Father's Day!

One thousand four-hundred thirty-eight

I burned 1,428 calories today. Which I used to have small, but amazing late birthday celebration at the river followed by baby back ribs, baked potatoes, and brussel sprouts. Turning 29 was fun, I was spoiled (my family is extremely low key with birthdays). My parents bought me a scarf, a trivet, paint brushes (yay!), and a butterfly decoration for my car. My sister is sending a new case for my iPhone, and my Grandparents always send money - which I used to buy the dress in my last post. Of course I got myself presents too, mainly my computer and a gym membership.

After we went swimming today I headed to my new gym and got everything set up. Then I ran for the first time in over a week. I've been so scared of getting dizzy that I just stopped trying. With some encouragement I was able to at least get on the treadmill... which of course is easier, so I ran harder and I am feeling it now! I tried out the elliptical and the stationary bike and hope to give the other machines a chance later on. This gym is open 24 hours (a rarity in our tiny community) and far from fancy, but it has the tools to get the job done. It's right on my way to and from work, so my plan is to utilize it on my way home on work days, and then use the road on the days I have off.

It's time to pack lunches and I am SO tired of the monotony of what I pack. Always leftovers, veggies, and salad. This week I am trying to break it up a little. Here is what I'm packing, keep in mind I eat all three daily meals at work...

Chili & Garlic Salmon with capri vegetables

Broccoli, sugar snap peas, and cheese.

Spinach and balsamic strawberry salad.
Mashed sweet potato

Blueberries
Banana

Lemon or Peach Greek Yogurt

Sun Tea

Hopefully the variety will keep me interested and out of the cafeteria, where I tend to make bad choices. Next week (or maybe the week after) I plan to use a meal plan from Happy Herbivore. It's plant based and gluten free which makes it easy to stick to the type of diet I tend to function best on. I will probably keep eating yogurt (I hate soy yogurt), honey, fish, and very occasionally meat or dairy. I bought a month subscription though, so I am going to try and stick to what I paid for.

Have a great weekend!