Hey. How’s it going? I’m still sick. Want to hear an awful story? It will only be truly awful to those of you who have gone through it (or something similar), because you’ll be able to feel my pain.

Yesterday, I wanted to make popcorn. We pop popcorn in oil in a saucepan on the stovetop. I put the oil in, put the single kernel in the pan to let me know when the oil was hot enough, and then got bored and went to read emails. I forgot about the pan and the oil and the popcorn and the fact that I ever wanted any.

When I finally surfaced, the house was filled with smoke and the oil in the pan was thick and black. It smells in my house. It will go away eventually (I’ve burned plenty of things in the past, and the smell always dissipates), but it smells, and I can’t stand it. I am SO scent sensitive when I’m pregnant. As if I needed anything else to turn my stomach! This is killing me, and it’s not fair.

So, no healthy post from me, but please, talk amongst yourselves.

Hello all. I’m the same, so it’s up to you to regale us with tales of your week. Other than the physical therapy on Thursday, I’ve continued to lay low. I’m hoping that in a couple weeks, I’ll be better able to exercise, but I’ve sort of given up for now since even the movement from walking upsets my tummy. The only news of interest I have is knitting related, and that’s going to wait until Monday.

The happy news is that I’m at least able to eat again, which is much healthier than not eating. And I’ve been able to drink more liquids, which is also good.

What’ve you got?

More of the same. I’m sorry. I’m sick. I’m still spending the majority of my days in bed. I’ll be happy if I get a shower today, but the smell of shampoo kills me. I haven’t been able to exercise. We bought some produce last night at the store, and I plan to do a lot of juicing this upcoming week. Nate made a delicious juice for me this morning with pineapple, carrots, apples, and celery. It was fabulous. Since I can’t eat on a regular basis, I’m hoping the juice will give me some nutrients. I feel weak from the lack of food, and more importantly, from the lack of GOOD food. Nibbling on crackers, chips, and ice cream just to get a taste in my mouth isn’t providing any strength. I’m going to go drink some water.

How is it going out there?

Good morning. It actually is a good morning, because I was able to EAT BREAKFAST!! I even cooked it myself! This is very exciting. Yesterday showed some improvement in that I was able to knit for a couple hours, until I wasn’t anymore. And I’m not sure if I’ll be able to pick it up again today. But back to food… I made some yummy whole wheat pancakes and Lemon Blossom Tea this morning. I am nauseated, but it doesn’t feel debilitating yet. I might be able to do something more than lay in bed and play Tetris for hours. And hours. And hours. (I’m not kidding. And when I play against the computer on the Hard Level, it’s STILL kicking my butt)!

I think all I managed this week was a couple days of physical therapy. It’s amazing how much more important it is to me now, (important enough to do it, even though it could make me ralph. Who wants to contract abdom’s for sustained periods of time while moving appendages when they want to hurl?), now that I’m looking at months of relaxed joints and increased pressure on the already very temperamental base of my spine.

I am happy that today, so far, I’m able to get out of bed. Maybe I’ll try for a little treadmill? Maybe? If my strength holds?

Oh, and I’ve lost a couple pounds. I think I’m around 223. Hooray for decreased appetite!

How’s it going for you?

Hi everyone! It’s a good day. I wasn’t able to do more than eat well this past week. And walk up the hill to the cabin a couple times. But I am still a few pounds down from the high I hit in the last couple months. I intend to do weights and physical therapy today, and have high hopes for next week.

How was your week?

Good morning! How was your week? I’m trying to remember how mine was. I know I did full body weights and PT on Tuesday. I’m trying to remember why I didn’t do more, and I can’t. Other than getting ready for the trip on Wednesday and Thursday morning. Yesterday we walked down to the beach and back up the big hill, which could be called a mountain. I don’t know how long it takes, but it certainly gets the heart rate up. I’m eating well. And it looks like I’ve lost a couple pounds, though there’s no scale here to give an official weight.

I’ve been drinking lot more water, and am still thirsty a lot. Today, I think Nate wants to revisit A&W Rootbeer for floats and onion rings like we did back in April. So that’s going to be a calorie-fest.

Hey everyone! We’ve been gone ALL day, but are back now. Nate BBQ’d, and we’re about to eat, so I’ll make this quick.

My back is feeling better. Thank goodness.

Monday we were at the ocean, and there was no time whatsoever for exercise BUT, I ate really well. We packed healthy food.
Tuesday was spent recovering from the ocean. I was wiped.
Wednesday I did upper and lower body weights, and physical therapy exercises.
Thursday was Yarn Harlot day, and I didn’t get anything done.
Friday I went to look at a spinning wheel (you’ll hear about that on Monday), and spend the rest of the day watching 10 kids at my friend’s house so she and her visiting sisters could go out.
Today we were gone the whole day doing major Back to School shopping. We scored. It was good.

So, this week wasn’t as productive as I’d hoped in the exercise arena. I seem to lack balance. I either spend my whole life trying to keep up with the house and my health, or I throw it all out the window and play with my kids. Hmmmmm, gotta figure this one out.

I have made a decision though. I am finally coming to grips with the fact that, at least right now, doing 50 minutes of treadmill a day, as well as 30 minutes of weights and however long physical therapy takes, every single day, is impractical. I cannot do it. I try, and fail, and feel like a loser. SO, I’m changing my approach. I’m going to try to do something for my body every day. I will alternate treadmill (aerobic) and full body weights. Treadmill one day, weights the next. That’s my goal. And I’m going to try to do it early in the morning before the kids are awake, so I don’t get distracted.

That’s my new goal. And I need to eat more vegetables. And I need to drink more water again. As usual, I’m optimistic.

How was YOUR week? I know Gayle has a few things to say! I wanna hear it!

Hi all. I’m posting from the Apple Store in Bellevue Square! Nate and I are on a date. We just had lunch at Chipolte, mmmmmmm, and now we’re going to the Bellevue Arts and Crafts fair. So, real quick…

I did some stretches this week, but no exercise to speak of. I’m having a MAJOR flare-up this week, so I’m icing my back frequently, and taking Advil. On Wednesday, I was barely able to walk. It isn’t the usual aching, it’s sharp, extreme, gasping pain. Dangit. So, no exercise to report. I’ve been eating ok, not great.

My stupid dog ate my Roma tomatoes. Off the vine. I’m not very happy with him. I wish he wasn’t so cute so I could actually be mad. I try to give him a piece of my mind, and he literally goes “Hollywood” on me, tilting his head and looking beyond innocent, wagging his tail and trying to figure out what I’m saying. It worked enough to get me to question my girls repeatedly, but once I found the still green tomatoes in the grass with the type of puncture wounds that only come from dog fangs, well, he’s busted.

Yesterday and today so far, my back has been better. Not great, but better, so I’m hoping that whatever in the heck happened to make my spine wig out has gone away, and I can resume exercise next week. I’ll let you know.

On the plus side, I found a super-cute swimsuit on Tuesday that I actually enjoy wearing! I feel pretty in it! The problem is that it takes the term “cleavage” to a whole new level. I’m going to have to do something about it. I don’t mind showing some. I have so much, there’s really no way around it. But even Nate (a huge fan of my cleavage), said it’s way beyond “a bit much”. Well, I still feel cute. If everyone’s staring at my chest, they aren’t as likely to notice my thighs, right? :-).

So, how was your week?

Good morning! It’s been a pretty good week for me, aside from an unexplainable yet substantial increase in back pain.

Monday, I did treadmill and upper body weights.
Tuesday morning, I took the dog for a walk.
Wednesday was the second day without the kids, and I didn’t exercise.
Thursday was back on the treadmill, and physical therapy exercises.
Friday I spent an hour doing a full body workout on the weights and physical therapy exercises. During which time I could tell my abs have taken another leap in strength. That was exciting. I wish I could see them.
Today, I hope to get some aerobic exercise in.

I ate pretty well this week. My main downfall was the extravagant meal we ate Tuesday night at my favorite Thai restaurant. Plus dessert. Other than that, I’ve done pretty well. AND, I’m down 2 pounds from last Saturday, which puts me at 225.5. I’m not dancing in the streets or anything, because I’ve been fluctuating like crazy, but still, I’m happy.

I told you I’d tell you about the juicing books Nate and I bought Tuesday night. We came home with two. The Big Book of Juices and Smoothies is a well laid out, beautiful book that I’m very excited about using. I’ve enjoyed learning about different fruits and vegetables and their particular health properties. Did you know celery is a natural diuretic? I had no idea. I love celery anyway, so now when I’m retaining water, I can eat a bunch. There is a lot of great information in this book, but I’ll have to read it a few times before I can remember it all.

We bought the second book, Ultimate Juicing, because it had wheatgrass recipes, but also, it has the most ridiculous juice names and bylines. We were both sitting on the floor in the aisle of B&N, he was looking at juice books, and I was trying to read Ultimate Juicing to him, but I was laughing so hard, I couldn’t get the words out, so I’d just hold up the book and point, while doubled over in laughter, eyes watering and mascara running. So that one came home, too.

Let’s see. In other news, I made soymilk this week. It went pretty well, except for the fact that I turned on the burner to cook it, left to check something on the internet, and forgot about the stove. Nate yelled from the kitchen a few minutes later, and I ran in to find a huge, boiled over mess. Fortunately, the only thing that burned was the soymilk that left the pan and hit the heating element. The milk still in the pan was fine. I picked up a fabulous tip from this recipe, telling me to put a chunk of either orange rind or ginger in the milk while cooking, to diffuse the “beany” flavor. I had some ginger on hand, so I tried it and was amazed. There was the tiniest hint of ginger flavor in the milk, and the strong bean flavor was gone. So cool. I’m going to need to continue fussing with the recipe to get it right. My first batch was certainly usable, but it was a little watery. If anyone out there happens to have successfully made soymilk, I’d love some suggestions.

Ok, enough about me. How was your week?