Holy Crap, You want to do what? in Toronto? huh?

So, after a very long period of unblogging, I've decided, no... that's not accurate. I've been guilted... into starting up again. Albeit, for a very good reason - accountabilty... which for a procrastinator tends to be elusive... on purpose.

I have new friends. They go to my morning bootcamp. Funny how that happened... but maybe I'll blog about that tomorrow and today, I'll focus on my relentless journey to be healthy. #fail

Oh but what about Toronto you say? Okay, let's get on with it. I'm in Toronto building a new team for my department and company back home. According to my boss, there's not really anyone else who could pull it off, but hey, she's a master manipulator and now I'm sitting on my beige bed, surrounded by beige walls in a very beige and maroon Marriott in Yorkville. not that there's anything wrong with Beige... it just all starts to blend in after some time.

So... I joined a bootcamp, met some new friends, built stronger relationships with other friends in Calgary, and now I'm in Toronto. I seriously don't know how these things happen to me. Glad to see the Toronto ladies again - have seen VG and AS, but haven't yet connect with LA - that'll be this week. The 'dreaded' week. The week that shall not be named, although I know I've already talked about it, so it will be acknowledged. I'll take ACCOUNTABILITY for that one - it's my own damned fault.

Again, back to fitness. Before the trip to the T-dot, I sprained my SI Joint doing some deadlifts and Kettle bell swings with bad technique. Now I'm in 'rehab' because my 'ass doesn't work' (according to my trainer DM). Great, let's get that booty off it's lazy-ass and get it contributing. shit. Only me.

Today I did my workout even though my ASS hurt from yesterday's and my back is starting to feel much better, thank you very much. The other 'gym rats' at Marriott seemed rather 'concerned' about my fitness choices and even tried to ask me questions, while doing their biceps curls, about why I was lying face-down trying to touch my toe to my opposite shoulder. I pretended to be non-english speaking. desperate times, my friends, desperate times. I really don't have a choice but to follow DM's advice on this one. and so this month, will be all about fixing/rehabing my ass and back. huh. fitting for my birthday month. 39 is still not acceptable.

Food-wise it does not help that the Longos is next door. but it does help that there is a Freshii and a starbucks on every corner. Okay on that note, i'm off to do some work (which is why I live in a Marriott, afterall).

Shake it like a polariod pictures, my lovelies!!! xoxox, me.

New PR in the 5K!!

On Sunday, David and I ran the Calgary Marathon's 5K race. David kept me running the entire time and we finished in just over 33 mins - about 40 secs faster than my last 5K race. Considering I've been sidelined with my back injury since April, I'm pretty impressed with myself! heheh

Candice qualified for Boston and improved her marathon time by 18mins! I'm in awe. She killed the qualifying time of 3:45 by coming in at 3:27! WHAT? that's incredible.

Next up is the "Betty's Run for ALS". It's an 8k race. I'm a little worried, but figure that if I don't think about it too much I could probably be okay.

I've decided that I will attempt the Calgary Marathon next year after the Bermuda race - why lose momentum, huh?

Hope you're all good and we'll be posting more soon! xo, h. and yes, Nat, I'll come back to yoga this week :)

Finally feeling better...

So the dress fit for Lise's wedding! whew. I did those Biggest Loser Last Chance Workout dvds, plus my running. Not only did I win our work's biggest loser competition (won about $120), but I fit into the dress. Now, back into the running business.

Next Sunday I do another 5K run - Candice rejigged my race plan to adjust for April & most of May's "relax the back" effort resulting from the car crash. I am very excited to get back into the routine of it all. Get this - I'm even considering signing up for a full marathon a year from now in May of next year!

Bernie is great and says hi to everyone. He has not yet eaten anything of importance (knock on wood). We had professional pictures taken of the little monster so I'll post those on FB shortly.

love to all!!!
h.

Cranky, cranky...

In an effort to fit into my bridesmaid's dress, I've decided to take a drastic, albeit ridiculous and unhealthy approach to losing weight: basically starving myself. I've never done this before and believe me, it sucks. I've only been doing this since Tuesday and it's not too bad - I am eating some stuff, a lot of celery, some oatmeal in the morning, soup for lunch and more flavored tea than I care to ever drink again. I fell off the wagon a bit last night - we went to a housewarming where I indulged in some appetizers and white bread and a glass of wine: the most food I've eaten in four days in one sitting. I cannot believe I'm doing this.

I've lost 6 pounds in a week and a half and at least two of them are from this crazy eating idea. don't fret, dear friends, this will be OVER next saturday. I only have an inch left to do up on zipper.

I am one cranky lady today.

This sucks!!!

Month 4
Mood: irritated/semi-defeated/cranky

Apparently the accident happened at the right time - any sooner, and I would have likely given up on the whole Bermuda Triangle dream. And later, and I wouldn't be able to finish the long-distance training. I am still very upset about not being able to run - I've been losing weight and feeling so much better and then BAM! sidelined. Plus I really wanted to win the Biggest Loser contest at work, but that doesn't look like it will happen either.

The drugs that my doctor gave me have little affect - naproxin is supposed to be a really good anti-inflammatory and Flexoral as a muscle relaxer. I took four of the later at one time on Sunday and it hardly made a difference... but I did sleep Sunday night ;)  The need to self-medicate has never been higher. I think all the pills are giving me a sinus infection or something because I can't hear out of my left ear. I'm a mess.

Went for accupuncture this morning. It always messes me up - afterward I feel drunk, or out of sorts. Maybe I"m just really relaxed. Working from home today because I can't really sit, and my work tends to be all over the place and moving about is just too much right now. I can't even lift the puppy (Bernie) over the baby gate without screaming. I do find that if I hold my breath when exerting myself the screaming goes away... hehehe.

Still limping about...

So training has taken a back seat - since the accident I've been having serious lower back pain. I've run twice in two weeks and I'm feeling the effects. I ran some intervals yesterday - today I can hardly move. The Dr gave me some anti-inflammatories and some muscle relaxers (which are lovely ;)) but I'm still having some serious twinging when I move.

so stupid. I don't think i'm going to run the 10k on Mother's Day and Candice mentioned that we could find another 10k later. I may just run one more 5k before then just to see if I could run the whole thing.

I have to start a weight program soon. ugh.

more later in the week - I'll let you know how I'm doing... xo, h.

And the car went CRASH!!!

Was heading to a funeral to support a friend when I got distracted by my phone and printed directions and slammed my car into the back of a dodge pick up. Crumpled the hood and exploded the windscreen washer fluid thingy. AWESOME. First accident in 21 years of driving - thank god for accident forgiveness!! Okay, one note to save myself a little: my car has Microsoft Sync and Bluetooth, so i wasn't on the phone, so much as I was just talking to Charity using the super hero powers of my now smashed Knight Rider car. I'm really lucky no one was hurt and have learned a huge lesson this week... PAY ATTENTION.

This happened on Monday night. It's now Wednesday and can't turn my head to the left, and hardly to the right. I went to pick up a rental car, but my Visa got declined (because Visa thought I wasn't me - apparently they thought I'd NEVER need to rent a car) and I got frustrated and left. ugh. I'm feeling okay, minus the head turning bit, and my pride is as bruised as my chest from the airbag. Yep, hit so damn hard, the airbag went off. Funny thing - I didn't even notice until later.

The cops felt bad for me and were very helpful. I think because I didn't try to blame anyone else other than my own stupid self, they let me off with a $100 fine and 1 demerit point. Usually, I would have gotten a $500 - $1000 dangerous driving fine, and 3-5 demerit points. so it could have been worse. The lady that I hit didn't have her shit together either - no insurance, expired license, etc, etc. I think the cops were just grateful that I wasn't being an idiot.

Oh the other funny thing is this: My driver's license says "Heather Donnelly", my insurance says "Heather Donnelly Karp" and my registration says "Heather Karp". The police didn't care. I was freaking out thinking they were going to arrest me for being lazy. hehehe - silly me, you can't get arrested for being lazy.

Oh one more funny thing: you know how I mentioned that I was talking to Charity when this happened? She was on her way but stuck in traffic kilometers behind me. She was calling to find out what to to - turn around or just show up late to the funeral. My accident made her even more late ... the gods were against us. One day, we will all get together and laugh about this - how stupid I am for doing four things while driving.

I haven't run since Sunday when I ran 25 mins straight and it was easy. EASY people. I'm going to run tonight if my neck improves. I've signed up for a 10 Km on mother's day - and Lise's wedding is the following weekend. The 10k is sorta freaking me out - I'm not sure how I'm going to finish that one, other than to walk a lot. Candice is going to try to run with me which would help, but I don't want to count on that. I have to get my head to just align with my body and run the stupid thing. then I'm half way there - the half Marathon is 21kms. Can't believe i'm at this point already - convincing myself to run a 10Km would have seemed ridiculous two months ago.

I'm starting to get compliments on the weight loss, although I don't notice it much. I like that my face seems thinner, but when does my ass get skinny? huh? when? that's when I'll be happier ;)

chat soon!! xoxo, AND PLEASE drive safely, sans phone, sans paper directions, sans distraction.
h.