It's "D" day for me

Maybe I should say double d day-

 

Dermatology & Dentist that is.

 

 

I started my day with my dreaded

 

6 month Dermatology follow up

 

which means a full body skin check.

 

UGH!!

 

I hate being examined from head to toe

 

under the special magnifying glass/light.

 

I know that it is a necessary evil

 

but it really doesn't make it any easier.

 

The only thing that made it better was

 

hearing that everything looks good.

 

It does feel good to have the reassurance

 

that all of the freckles and moles

 

that I am constantly analyzing

 

are completely normal

 

and hopefully they stay that way!

 

Back again in another 6 months

 

to continue to keep an eye on everything.

 

 

 

From the clinic it was back home

 

to pick up the boys (no school day)

 

and head to the Dentist-

 

another place that I hate to go!

 

News wasn't as good there-

 

I get to go back to have some old cavities replaced,

 

Aidan has a couple of cavities to take care of,

 

and Isaac and Riley both need an Orthodontist consult.

 

UGH!!

 

I am going to need a second job

 

to take care of everyone's teeth!

 

 

After all of that "fun" I needed a workout!

 

It was getting close to lunch time

 

but Riley and I managed to get in a quick

 

swim despite the pool being pretty crazy

 

and being limited on time.

 

We made more progress

 

on our Indoor Ironman Challenge

 

and it was a great way to spend

 

some one-on-one time with Riley!

 

 

For a kid that has never really swam laps

 

he killed it and did a pretty good job

 

keeping up with me.

 

It wasn't a long workout

 

but it was just what we needed!

 

 

Gratitude Challenge- Day 16

 

"What invention are you most grateful for and why?"

 

I asked Riley this question on our way back from swimming today and his answer impressed me. He said he was grateful for the invention of immunizations because without them we could get very sick and/or die. Wow! For a kid that loves technology (iPod, Xbox, computer, etc) that answer really surprised me and made me realize that maybe he is paying more attention to the news and media around him than I thought. I have to admit that my answer when I first thought about his question wasn't nearly as impressive- I am grateful for the heated seats in my van! With our Wisconsin winters the past few years they have been wonderful! More seriously though there are so many inventions that I am grateful for. I am grateful for all of the inventions in regards to medicine- detection, treatment, and prevention of cancers.

 

 



Three Things Thursday

Happy Thursday everyone!

 

 

 

Today is my "Sunday" as I work

 

the next three days (12 hr. shifts).

 

For today's post I am going to do "Three Things Thursday".

 

1) Workouts-

 

I am feeling really good about my workouts this week!!

 

Last night I got in another great workout

 

and got in way more than I had planned.

 

Having run in the morning

 

I told the boys that they could run

 

and I would take it easy on the recumbent bike

 

and read my book.

 

I don't normally read while I work out

 

but I wasn't going to push it on this workout

 

and just wanted to get some bike miles in for the Indoor Ironman.

 

I had about 6 miles in when

 

Tim and Ry were done running

 

but the weight area was packed

 

so they got on the bikes next to me

 

until the weight area opened up a bit.

 

Another 6 miles later it looked good.

 

That made 12 miles on the bike for me!!

 

Riley was hesitant about a workout

 

so I promised him a "fun" workout

 

and that meant...

 

medicine balls!

 

We set up a couple of different circuits

 

that I had a ton of fun with

 

but I am not sure that Tim and Ry

 

would agree with me.

 

Things were starting to get busy again

 

so we headed home to do our challenge workout.

 

Riley killed it again with a time of 5:12!

 

I don't know how he does it

 

but I know I won't get close.

 

I did PR again

 

but at the cost of losing my form!

 

Instagram from last night's workout.

 

Being that today is Thursday

 

that meant Group Strength Class at the Y.

 

Today was another challenging workout

 

but it felt amazing to get through it.

 

We took another field trip to the gym

 

for our warm up.

 

This is a whole workout in itself!

 

Weighted step-ups on the bleachers,

 

medicine ball wall slams

 

and pushing 25 lb plates across the gym

 

all times two.

 

I was definitely "warmed up"!

 

 

Then it was back to the studio

 

for the "real workout".

 

Last week I took a friend to the class

 

and she joined me again this week.

 

It was nice to have a friend there next to me.

 

She was a ROCKSTAR!

 

 

2) Latest read

 

Above I mentioned reading while I biked last night.

 

A few weeks ago I started this book:

 

 

After reading at the Y last night I got sucked in

 

and couldn't put it down!

 

I read while we watched TV

 

and then I even read for a while before bed

 

because I had to finish it.

 

What a great book!

 

It was interesting to read about Chrissie's life

 

and her triathlon and Ironman experiences

 

but it was also very inspiring.

 

It definitely made me think about pushing the limits

 

and what that means in my life.

 

I would definitely recommend this book!

 

 

3) Gratitude Challenge, Day 5

 

"Today we are going to write about nutrition and food. I want you to write about 3 foods or nutritional type things that you are grateful for and why you are grateful for them.

 

 

1) I am grateful for Oatmeal- I love to start my day off with a bowl of oatmeal (especially these cold winter days in Wisconsin).  There are so many ways that you can change things up and make it different each day. It is also very filling and holds me over till lunch. Oatmeal is one thing that I can eat for breakfast and then run shortly after eating it. It is always my breakfast before a race! 

 

2) I am grateful for fruit- It is an easy snack or addition to a meal. Unlike veggies, it is easy to get my whole family to eat fruit! I love to make fruit smoothies after a tough workout or run!

 

3) I am also grateful for dark chocolate, specifically this chocolate!

I love to keep these in the house for that sweet treat once in a while after supper. I tend to have a sweet tooth and one square totally satisfies that craving without over doing it. YUM!! 

 

 

 

Now it's your turn...

 

What 3 foods or nutritional type things are you grateful for and why?

 

Do you ever read when you workout?

 

What book would you recommend?

 

Please comment below to share!!



If it doesn't challenge you...

This week is shaping up to be a pretty

 

good week as far as workouts go

 

and I am really enjoying the gratitude challenge.

 

I am definitely challenging myself

 

 in many different ways this week

 

and that is what it is going

 

to take to make changes!

 

Last night I got in 8 miles on the bike

 

and then we lifted arms/back.

 

I also pushed myself hard

 

on my weekly challenge workout

 

and I believe it is a PR.

 

My Instagram from last night. I love this quote!

 

The Y was busy last night so we (Tim, Riley, and I)

 

 ended up doing the challenge workout

 

in the basement at home.

 

Riley has really been getting into this one

 

and I believe his time was 5:12!

 

Dang kid!!

 

I am going to have to push it harder

 

to keep up with him.

 

After we were all done

 

and I was spending some time stretching

 

this is what I witness and it melted my heart!

 

 

Aidan wanted in on the action

 

and Riley was teaching him to plank.

 

By looking at the last picture

 

I think Little Man has pretty good technique

 

and should tell Ry to get his booty down!

 

That brings us to today.

 

I got in a solid (ok but not wonderful)

 

5 miles on the treadmill at the Y.

 

I spent a good amount of time stretching

 

and ended it with some time in the water

 

where I got in a half mile.

 

The water felt wonderful but the run left me

 

with little in the tank.

 

 

Gratitude Challenge, Day 4:

 

"Today I want you to write about a situation you have been in that at the time was not good, but in the end you are grateful you went through it. What lesson did you learn and why are you grateful for it now?

 

I have had several situations that I could use for this entry. I have written about several in my journal but for this post I will go with being a melanoma survivor.  Two years ago I learned that I had melanoma and had to have a portion of my ear and lymph nodes in my neck removed. That situation straight up SUCKED! I was diagnosed right before Christmas but couldn't find out anything more until early January when I had my surgery. The waiting and the worrying were just awful. I don't know that I am ever going to be grateful for having gone through all of that but I definitely learned some lessons from all of it. I learned who had my back and who was there for me when I needed them the most! Going through those couple of rough months helped me to be grateful for the little things and taught me that those are actually the big things in life. The beauty in the little things were greatly magnified and still are- the beauty of fresh fallen snow, the twinkle of Christmas lights, the smiles on my boys' faces, the sky full of stars on a dark night. During that time all of those things became so important to me and helped me get through it all. Having that tough time helped me to be more present and live in the moment and to make the most of the time we have. You aren't guaranteed tomorrow and you just never know what is ahead!

 

 

Here is assignment number two for the day...

 

yep, double duty today!

 

"Write about a talent you possess that you are grateful for and why."

 

????

 

I am drawing a blank on this one. I don't necessarily consider myself a talented person so I don't know where to go with this assignment. The first thing that comes to mind is that I am relatively flexible but is that really a talent? The second thing that comes to mind is that I am able to push myself to my limits but again- I don't know that I consider that a talent. All these questions/doubts led me to looking up the definition of talent.

 

A natural aptitude or skill.

 

When I think of talent I think of music, art, writing, or being a stand out in a sport. I feel like I have been a pretty good athlete but never a stand out. I think there is some natural ability as far as sports are concerned but I have really had to work for what I have achieved in that area. I am grateful for that natural drive to push myself in all that I do. I am grateful for that interest in being active because it has brought with it go many great experiences where I have met many wonderful people.

 

 

Have you been doing the weekly challenge workout? If so, please comment to share how it's going!

 

What is a situation that was bad at the time but that you are now grateful for having been through? What lesson did you learn?

 

What is a talent that you possess that you are grateful for and why?



Step out of your comort zone

 It's a happy Friday at our house for sure

 

and I hope it is for you too!

 

I am off this weekend

 

and have some fun things planned.

 

My kids are also excited that it is Friday

 

because it is an early release day

 

and they don't have school on Monday.

Yeah for long weekends!!

 

 

One thing that I am really working on

 

is challenging myself to

 step out of my comfort zone!

 

Last week I stepped out of my comfort zone

 

(with the support of a couple of my LIVESTRONG ladies)

 

and attended a group strength class at the Y.

 

One of our LIVESTRONG trainers was the instructor

 

so it shouldn't have felt like such a big step outside my comfort zone

 

but it did because I had no idea of what to expect.

 

The class was tough

 

but I loved every minute of it-

 

well maybe not while I was doing it-,

 

but it sure felt good to know that I did it once the class was over!



My Instagram from after that class:
I stepped out of my comfort zone today (with the help of some LIVESTRONG friends) and tried Stacy's group strength class. I really enjoyed it and will be going back in the future. It was so nice and sunny this afternoon that I couldn't pass up the chance to run outside.. note to self: Stacy's strength training class prior to a run will really put you out of your comfort zone on said run! Somehow I managed to get it done. I am exhausted but have a great sense of accomplishment.

 

My LIVESTRONG ladies and I

 

made plans to attend the class again this week

 

and I couldn't wait.

 

Wednesday night I got an email

 

saying that one of my friends

 

wasn't feeling well and wasn't going to make it.

 

I decided that I was going to go anyway-

 

Step out of my comfort zone

 

and go without knowing anyone!

 

I know it sounds silly

 

but I don't like attending classes

 

without knowing someone else there

 

so this really is a big step for me!

 

My Instagram photo from this week's class.

 

WOW-

 

What a class!

 

I thought last week's class was a challenge-

 

that felt like the beginner edition

 

compared to this week!

 

The "warm-up" itself had me dripping with sweat.

 

It was definitely a challenge-

 

call me CRAZY but I LOVED it!

 

We made "field trips" from the studio to the gym

 

and those were probably my favorite parts of the class-

 

muscle ropes, medicine balls, glider pads, and weights (not pictured above)

 

 were used during the "field trips".

 

I even chatted with a few other people in the class

 

and got to know them a bit-

 

this is another big step for me

 

and one that really, really

 

pushes me out of that comfort zone.

 

 

Today I have some sore muscles

 

but it is definitely "happy pain"

 

and not nearly as bad

 

as I thought it might be!

 

That class really challenges me

 

and I am excited to go back.

 

I have already checked my schedule

 

and was very sad that I have to work next Thursday

 

so it will be a couple of weeks before I get back.

 

 



Do you attend fitness/workout classes? What are they? What's your favorite?

 

Is there anyone else out there that hates to attend classes without the support of a friend going?

 

Are you someone who finds it easy to talk to others around you or are you a "keep to yourself" person?

 

What did you do this week to step out of your comfort zone?

 

 

 

PLEASE SHARE your answers to the above questions by using the comment button below :)

 

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