Hi Hammer!

Oh what a Monday... a typical busy Monday. I think I need new shoes. Okay, I actually know I need new work shoes but putting out $200 hasn't been in the budget for a long time. But my feet have been sore for 4 days... even on the weekend when I was off So we may have to revisit the budget! As someone who is on their feet 9-13 hour shifts it's maybe a bit important? LOL Unfortunately my purple and white runners don't match my black dress pants - hence $200 supportive but nice dress shoes. (and I know it's a good investment because they last SO long! I'm just talking myself up)

Made my step goals Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday! Today no - but as discussed there's less walking on Mondays and now it's SO dark in the evening. Tomorrow will be good though because I've already planned out an extra jaunt to park and walk to the massage therapist and library in the morning before work.

I've been listening and reading a lot of mindfulness and mindful eating and it's really been so helpful! Even when I want to eat the halloween mini chocolate bars it means I don't end up eating 10... because I'm enjoying the eating and really 2 or 3 is plenty! So different to think about enjoying your food. Even my husband expects to sit at the table for dinner when we eat together at home! It's so great!

How did week 1 of November go for the challengers?

Happy Tuesday! A big thank you to all for the welcome back. Sorry for the absence. Work has been crazy, business trip, and still a little under the weather.

Heron, I am in on the Fitness Blender workouts. I may not do five a week, but I will shoot for three a week starting tonight!

Angela, I hear ya on the shoes. Just came back from working a show and was wearing heels that I usually wear at those things and ended up with blisters that covered both pinky toes and my heels were killing me. Opting for comfort on the next trip. I might even buy some black tennis shoes with inserts. Way to go on the mindfulness. It does make a huge difference. I need to get back to it.

Reflecting on incorporating beef back into my diet. My rosacea has cleared up because I am naturally eating less grains. Although I have been going grass-fed, I have noticed some digestive issues with beef. I have major cramping from it. Not sure why. Experimenting with portions to control it. My B-12 numbers are better, but can't say that the energy is better, but I have been sick so that may be part of it. Less bloat is a bonus!

Just came back from a business trip in Atlantic City. Not a fan of that town. Witnessing all of the addiction was kind of troubling. Also sad to see all of the homeless on the boardwalk. I would end my day sitting with coffee on the boardwalk while dodging their requests. Not too bad since they would politely leave when I told them to move on. Finding healthy, affordable meals was difficult. I ended up eating protein bars for breakfast and skipping lunches. SO happy to be home with my fresh veggies. Minneapolis in a couple of weeks. Love that town and it will be far easier to eat healthy!

Off to find my Fitness Blender video for tonight. Have a great day all!

Ok bad start this week, I did ok last week did 4 workouts. Eating was horrible last weekend. Weight is all over so hopefully i can make some headway this month.
kris, yay for the workout. If I work out tomorrow to Sunday, I can still hit my goal!
Angela, gotta get those shoes, it's worth it.

Kris, thanks! And I'm glad you have a walking buddy.
Yep, if you are not used to wearing heels it can cause some pain. How about wearing wedges? Or stacked heels? Good leather will stretch with your feet and breathe. I love Seychelles shoes, and Vince Camuto make good reasonable priced shoes and heels. If you have blisters, something is rubbing the wrong way causing friction. I put kinesio tape across it, that works the best. Those tape are meant to be flexible, stay on (if put on correctly) and breathe. Also your feet swells the longer you are on heels. Most of my heels are 1/2 size bigger and I put insole so they fit better, that way after long hours, I will take out the insoles and the heels still fits.
Yeah I heard that AC is pretty bad,
Kris, sound like you have some auto immune issues. Try eating fermented food. (The real stuff)
I did my workout today! I always feel better after a workout but it's the hitting play that gets me. I need to remind myself that I'm gonna feel awesome after a workout! I really enjoy my workout today. I like doing pulses, I works out those small muscle groups that often get overlook, plus it BURNS! And I love a nice burn.
http://youtu.be/BsK1vYxZQM8

Kelly, WELCOME back! I was away too. How are you???

Heron, WOOHOO on the workout. Adding that one to my mix. I am with you on feeling better after doing it. Not just my body...also my brain feels clearer and I have a sense of accomplishment after. Thanks for all of the tips! I never thought of kinesio tape. That would probably be better than the moleskin I have since it is a little thinner, plus the boyfriend bought me some for my ACL. I am packing it in my bag tonight. Was thinking of you the other day and the fermented food. I forgot about that and pinned some stuff after the last time you mentioned it. On the health front, that is why I was gone for awhile. It got pretty bad for a time. Many specialists and tests later and the neurologist is thinking it is multiple sclerosis. Now it is a waiting game. You need to kind of establish the baseline from the brain MRI and see if the lesions and symptoms get worse. Symptom wise I was having a ton of them...tremors, balance, gait, eyes shaking, tingling in the arms and legs, incontinence, exhaustion. I was a mess. The thing that threw everything off was I had seizures and that is not typical. At least I know that I didn't have a stroke. Feeling better these days, but a big part of that is feeling more in control. It is what it is, ya know? There is so much stuff out there on "diets" that heal MS, but I don't want to get sucked into it. Instead I am doing my own thing trying to address inflammation by attempting to cut carbs and allergens. So far, so good! Wow! What a vent. Cat's out of the bag. haha This reminds me...I have to finally get the CT scan the urologist is waiting on. That should be it for awhile. phew

As for last night's workout, OUCH. I am sore, but in a good way. Think I will opt for a short core workout tonight.

Have a great day all!

Hi everyone!

Happy belated Veteran's Day HJ and all Vets in our group. Thank you for your service. Every time I'm in nature surrounded by mountains with tree-lined trails, I think of your service and what you sacrificed for us to be able to roam around free in our beautiful country. My Dad and Sister are Navy Vets. My Dad was drafted right out of his surgical internship and sent to Vietnam as a trauma surgeon. He dealt with his own trauma privately, never talked about it. My Sis is an Iraq Vet but was not sent overseas, she worked intelligence from base in San Diego. She's now an executive in a tech company up in the Bay. OK I'm bragging now but I'm so proud of my Navy family

Reading through this week's posts, I'm seeing so much motivation it's FANTASTIC. You help me stay motivated with your posts about what you're doing, what's working/not working for you. For me personally, because I'm obsessed with exercise science/hacks/supplements/food timing etc. I make plans for myself based on research and inevitably beat myself up when I don't execute the plan perfectly. It helps me to be nicer to myself. I ask myself if I'm doing 80% of the plan. If not I look at what's going on with me, and make a few changes so I'm able to do 80%.

Kris thank you for sharing what's going on with you. It sounds like your doctors are on it. When will you have the CT? It's hard in the initial stages of an illness, when symptoms are fuzzy and you feel like your doctor will think you're nutso when you tell her or him what's going on. The stress of knowing from your own research that your symptoms don't quite fit this or that diagnosis, am I in the early stages of this?, etc. And there's the stress just from knowing that STRESS is good friends with the illness, but how can a person not stress when they're experiencing all these changes in their body? Anyway I hope you're feelin' less sore very soon!

Quick post of my workout https://youtu.be/OjeveoQgp6I