The Soreness of It All!!

I woke up this morning in my second day soreness. You know how when you workout really hard and you feel great, but then the next day you're feeling it, but it's not so bad? This is the second day.... when you feel it and it IS that bad.

My arms hurt, my legs hurt, my butt hurts (thank you squats) and this doubled with my fibromyalsia, is already hindering on my day.

Don't get me wrong, I'm LOVING every minute of this. I haven't felt this kind of soreness since cheerleading in college. You know you are working hard when it hurts to move =P.

Also, an amazing thing happened yesterday. Since my last hospital visit I've been going to physical therapy to try and get my body back to the shape it was in before I got sick (it'll be 4 years ago this summer). Because my joints need more muscle around them before I can fully run on the road, I've been running in an Alter G Treadmill. This thing is amazing.

This thing is the coolest. You get on these funny looking short that are a mix between wetsuit shorts and a tutu and you get zipped into the hole you see in the middle there. Then you press start and the whole thing blows up around your legs. It takes a minute or so to calculate your weight and everything. Then you start your settings. Right now I'm running on 70% of my body weight and next week it will be 75%.

The AMAZING thing you've all been waiting for. I ran on this treadmill for 20 MINUTES!! Now most of you are like... really? That's all?
When I told my family they couldn't believe it. Some of my friends thought I was lying. I haven't run for that long since before I got sick. Now, I told you how long I've been sick. AMAZING. I looked like a hot red faced mess and it was AWESOME. I'm using a lot of caps due to my overwhelming excitement so bare with me.

Now, I just have to get through my soreness. Remember how great I did yesterday and know that I can push through everything... even if my abs are crying for me to stop =)

Hope you all are reaching your goals as well!

xoxo Meila

P.S. -

Healthy Drinking

... and no I don't mean the alcoholic kind. Although, actually now that I think about it, I'm trying to kick that habit too.

Well! I have decided to go on what I call a non-diet. I've always tried to be a healthy person in my life; eating right, sleeping enough, and of course staying active. That part has never been hard for me, not until recent years.

Yesterday, I had an epiphany. As I was reading health & fitness blog after health & fitness blog I realized one constant detail between them all. They all started small. They slowly changed their diet to a healthy one and slowly increased their exercise load every week.

A-Ha!!! So that's how they do it! (and keep it). All this time I've been trying to force it and I always end up having a healthy breakfast... partially healthy lunch... and then eating an entire box of macaroni and cheese. Organic or not, I know it can't be good for you.

So, I made a promise to myself to start slow. If I have one bad meal, my whole day is not ruined and I can't beat myself up over it. I can only do the best I can. Also, Reese's miniatures are helping a lot. Whenever I feel the need to gorge myself with chocolate (which happens, we all know it does.. especially once a month) then I just have one little piece. I take it with me and have it somewhere away, and preferably on another level, from the kitchen. I enjoy it, I savor it, and I'm not tempted to go back and get more. Especially if there is an entire flight of stairs in my way. Call me lazy... but it works!

So after doing all of this I made a goal for my slowly renovated diet, that coffee would be my big kick. I love coffee. It's good for you. It gives you energy. Yet, I know it can't be good for you the way I drink it. As my friends like to ask me, "Would you like some coffee with that creamer?" I basically try to make my own latte.

What I started with was taking out the cream. I changed to 1% milk and 2 packets of Splenda No calorie sweetener. The I took out the milk entirely. I tried it just black and almost got sick. I definitely was NOT used to the taste so I added 3 packets of Splenda instead of 2. Now, I'm down to 2 and I'm hoping by next week I can be down to 1 until I am drinking completely black coffee. I'm basically training myself to like the harshness of it... Which I actually am starting to like. I love that when I'm done with my cup I'm awake and NOT bloated. Oh what a good feeling.

I'm already noticing changes to my body. No, not because of the coffee. I'm sure that's one small factor, but there is much more to it. I'm doing portion control, spacing out when I eat (which for the most part is every 3-4 hours), I don't eat after 8:00 at night, and I'm doing small workouts throughout the day until I can give a good hour and a half to two hours dedicated to working out.

The two highlights of my week so far?
1. Not feeling anything jiggle while walking around Wal*Mart.
2. Having my arms feel SO SORE today after the weight living I did yesterday.

Awesome.


Stay healthy and have a good day! =)

xoxo Meila

P.S. - If you're going to drink out of a mug, make it a mug you love!!

Making Happiness

Boy, has it been a long time since I've posted. I'm terribly sorry about. Things have been a little crazy in my life to say the least. I had an epiphany today though thanks to a great cup of coffee, Betty Crocker Muffins, and SELF magazine.

I woke up this morning in my usual state, not wanting to get out of bed, but not tired anymore. I decided I wanted to brighten up my day with a bit of baking. I decided to make Betty Crocker Cinnamon Streusel muffins. Let me tell you they are magnificent. Of course, I can't eat a whole batch by myself so I gave some to my parents office and then rest (only 8) will be going to the guys at the firehouse. It felt really good to give and know I was putting a smile on someones face.

While I was waiting for the muffins to bake I was reading one of my favorite magazines, SELF. I love it. It's filled with great tips and advice about health, wellness, fitness, and every now and then fashion. There was an article that immediately caught my attention with a picture of an adorable little pig. Now, as a girl who lives in the country and loves all things cute, this immediately put a smile on my face.

The author went on to explain how she was brought into a kind of temporary depression because of a 3 week long bout of rain. I realized with my 3 year long battle with my health I had gone into the same thing. Not exactly depressed, but not exactly looking on the bright side either. She said she noticed an immediate change when she saw a potbelly pig! It's the little things I tell you. The little things.

By the end of the article they were telling me how I can train, yes train like you are at the gym, you brain to be optimistic and make yourself happy even in a sad moment.

This article truly inspired me to go out and try it today.

I hate to promote things, but if you have been feeling down lately because of a break-up, your job, or whatever maybe you should give this article a read. It's in the newest issue of SELF, the one with Carrie Underwood on the cover (love her).

I will say that as I am not a professional by any means, please do not take this as anymore then it was a great article. If you feel you need more you should certainly seek professional help.

Have a wonderful Tuesday =)

xoxo Meila