Toot Toot

Random.....

I was feeling pretty crummy today especially after the appetizer and Tiki Bar weekend I just had... so I pouted to Hilary for a good while and then what did I do? I got up and went to the gym!!! (thank you thank you)

I ran 4 miles and did Zumba for an hour and it felt great! I forgot how much fun Zumba is and how much of a good workout you get! Not to mention I ran some sprints during my 4 miler so I was feeling the burn!

 I refuse to show you what I look like during Zumba so this is what you get... you can thank me later:)

That's all this post is about... tooting my own horn:)

Hope everyone had a good start to their week!


bushel and a peck,

Kendayl

Organized Motivation

     Ever since the Marathon I've backed down on running as much which has been lovely on my knees and hips but I miss the daily routine and structure of having something to work toward. I haven't gained any weight back but I definitely feel like I've lost some of my strength and tone. I had a little "boo hoo me" session on Tuesday night and as Mike looked at me with his eyebrows raised (probably thinking "are you 12??") he gave me a hug and told me I was beautiful. It felt good and exactly what I needed. But those cute words don't change the way I feel about myself. I wish it was that easy!
      So I hopped on my computer and made a schedule for myself. When I was training I loved being able to check-off the days/workouts that I completed. It felt good and it helped me stay motivated and stay on track. The calendar I made this time isn't as detailed as the running program I had because I don't want to limit what my workouts can be. I just made sure that I was alternating days of strength workouts and cardio workouts. That way I can switch up if I want to run, walk, bike, or take a class and not feel like I'm cheating by not doing exactly what's on there.
      My goal is to get back into my daily routine of having "ME" time and working out. I'm posting it on here and hopes ALL my readers (hi Hilary! :) will help encourage, motivate, and support me in trying to get back on the horse again.

Again this is a very basic calendar but I know it'll help me stay on track and even better, it gets me excited and makes me feel accomplished when I get to check a day/workout off.

It's kind of hard to read but it's alternating days of Strength and Cardio. Two days have Cardio and Strength: Wednesday and Friday. Wednesday I have meetings late at school and would like to make it a routine to wake up early and get a workout (hopefully cardio) in first so that if I don't get home in time to do Strength I at least know I got a workout in for that day. If I feel inclined to pull a two-a-day then so be it! Friday also has the two-a-day built in and that's because it's Friday. Most of my weekends start right as I leave school and usually entail traveling somewhere. So again, I'd like to try and wake up early to get in a Cardio so that if I can't get Strength in in the afternoon that's ok. (This isn't a permanent schedule. Some days I might be too sore for strength and decide to do cardio or vice versa. It's just a routine to help me stay on track) Sundays are designated my Off/or strength day. Here are some examples of each that I plan on doing.

Strength: Power 90 Strength Videos, Jillian Michael 30 day Shred Videos, some strength moves from my girl Maria over at A Life to Bragg About and hopefully getting some more use out of the gym membership I just signed a 2 year contract on! They have a lot of great classes that I want to try out/done before.

Cardio: Run, walk, hike bike (need a bike for this one...my old one was stolen!) Power 90 videos, 30 day shred videos, and some time in at the gym!

Do you have a calendar/schedule that you use? Please share! I'm also trying to weed through gym classes that are good and bad without waisting my time going to all of them...any suggestions?

I really think this is what I need to get me going again... not to mention that it's bathing suit season... woof!

Here we go!!

bushel and a peck,

Kendayl

Sneak Peak

I'm sorry I've been terrible at posting but I'd rather not post then post about nothing.... sooooooooooo after all the texts, emails, and facebook messages to see our kitchen.......

Here it is....

.......a sneak peak! I know sorry it's not the full thing but we're getting close and I want everything to be done for the big reveal. But we finished painting the cabinets (what a pain, more on that later), we painted the walls, put in a new stainless hood, and got our new granite which is TO.DIE.FOR.:) 

Excuse the bags of junk... This is the bench seating nook that Mike and his dad built.







This is a closer look at our granite and our AMAZING sink! I love that it's not separated into 2 bowls because we couldn't wash big dishes in there easily. But now we can! Mike's mom's first reaction was "Oh I it's big! You can give your kids baths in it!" (I love her thinking:)



Color of the Walls: Behr "Ozone"



Cabinet pulls



Cabinet pulls for Drawers



We ordered the exact same hardware in brushed nickel as well but I feel that the Rubbed Bronze will pick up the colors in the granite and give the cabinets a pop! What do you think??

The cabinet hardware above (Rubbed Broce) hasn't arrived, that's why the cabinets above look so lonely. They should be here by next week! I have the pillows for the bench and now I just need to make the cushion (still searching for fabric).

We still have a lot to do but we're getting close! Whoop!!

bushel and a peck,

Kendayl

4.16.07

Today, We Remember.

This is all about me.

Let's recap: Ran the Half - huge goal! Knee pains don't go away. Saw a doctor. I was told that nothing was wrong and likely just need to rest. 6 weeks later - pain hasn't gone away and I can barely run more than a mile.

Enter: Commonwealth Sports Medicine. Dr. Stadler actually listened to what I was saying and looked past the MRI scans and found out why my knee has been hurting for 17 years. We've started getting that Fat Pad under control and because that is being tended to, we also found that I strained my IT Band which is pretty common for runners and was contributing to the pain I was feeling.

When I started to ask about proper nutrition and wheat - Dr. Stadler even offered a blood test to help me understand my nutrition levels and just make sure that everything is in order.  Here's where we get to all the new stuff that's happened since I last posted....


As it turns out - I have great levels - great. With the exception of ONE. And it's a big one. My Thyroid. I have low thyroid. More than likely attributes to my low energy levels (don't mistake energy levels for ambition!), thin hair and why my doctor tells me that I'm 10 pounds over weight EVERY TIME I SEE HIM.  Anyway....I've asked about my thyroid in the past because my effort didn't seem to add up to my results.

Be your best advocate! That's what I've learned in this... And listen to your body. 

I'm not morbidly obese by any means but low thyroid isn't just about a complaining young girl wanting to be skinnier - and now that I know, I can actually help myself with a thyroid medication and meeting with a nutritionist to help further my health.

Lent is also over...which means I tried wheat again because the challenge was over.  umm...I don't like anything about how that made me feel. I think we'll be sticking to the no wheat rule in the Cook household :) Like rocks in my stomach. And when I eat healthier - I feel great after I eat, like I have energy not like I need a nap.

Go and Be!

H