Well, yesterday was a very, ahem, productive day for me. I ate everything in smoothie form, and included lots of green stuff like kale, spinach, some winter veggies like butternut squash, and fruits like pears, blueberries, cherries, raspberries, and bananas. No coffee, and it totally sucked, just like I thought it would. In fact, I had an enormous headache all day and I kind of felt like my body and head were on opposite sides of the room. That doesn't make for the best work day. I can't imagine what I will feel like once I am off food...which is why I have decided to not do the "fasting" part of the cleanse, but rather keep with the raw foods and veggies. Yesterday was an incredibly cleansing day for my body, so I can't imagine that it would get any better with no food. This is working for me, and I still get to eat (which is super important).
I don't think that the Master cleanse is an appropriate cleanse for people with jobs, kids, workout routines, etc. Sure, it works for people in Hollywood because they are able to take a week off and seclude themselves in their houses while they cleanse. This does not work for "the commoners."
Looking back, going on this radical cleanse was me feeling like crap with all of the yucky stuff I put in my body and wanting a quick fix. All I really need to do (thanks, Jayme, for helping me figure that out) is get back to eating healthy stuff again, and these last three days have really done some amazing things for me.
So...new goal. I am going to continue eating according to the "raw" lifestyle for the month of January. I will not be able to keep with the total raw lifestyle after January, since I will be starting to train for my spring marathon and will need protein and calcium (meat and dairy), but I will maintain the fruit and veggie regimen that I have started for myself. I think I will be stronger for it.
I am feeling a little nauseous and gassy (maybe too much information, but it is true) from the veggie overload my body has been subjected to, but it is further evidence that I have been neglecting my fruits and veggies for far too long. Once my system is used to this stuff again, things will be better.
And yes...I had coffee this morning. It was delicious.Technically a raw foods no-no because of the caffeine...but hey, I can't be perfect. I also got up and did yoga, so they cancel each other out.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Sunday, January 2, 2011
day one: great preparations
Well, day one is done and I am a little discouraged, especially since the official cleanse hasn't even started yet! These next three days are all about getting my body ready to handle no food, so today's goal was to eat only "living foods." That means no dairy, no meat, basically only fruits and veggies. Five minutes into my morning today...I already blew it by making coffee. Not only did I make coffee, but I drank two huge cups and enjoyed every minute of it. Once I finished, I felt a little guilty, but my love affair with coffee runs deep and it will be a real challenge to not have any coffee for the next two weeks. I ate fruit salad, so that was a small victory, since I am used to pancakes.
The rest of the day was fairly disciplined, although I did slip up at Olive Garden and had the salad with the dressing. I didn't have any croutons or breadsticks (my goodness, that was tough), but I think that the dressing is technically a no-no. I had minestrone soup and ate around the pasta, and an acai berry drink along with the salad. Dinner consisted of a spinach/berry/banana smoothie (juice-based because dairy is a no-no), and I had to break down and eat a few handfulls of walnuts. I don't know where nuts fall into the "living foods" category, but they do grow on a tree, so they should totally count. At any rate...I am absolutely STARVING tonight, and will have less food to look forward to tomorrow (and no coffee, since I had my hubby hide my coffee maker and coffee from me so I won't slip up).
This part of the cleanse is the pre-cleanse. According to what I have read, this part is not necessary, although I have to say I completely disagree. As hungry as I am today while still eating food is a clear indication that I have been overindulging on too many carbs and junk food and too little veggies and fruits. There is no way that I would have been able to go from my current diet to no food without a few days of agony. I still don't think they will be easy, but these few preparatory days will help make it less horrible (with any luck).
Tomorrow is smoothie day, so everything I have will be in liquid-ish form. I need to be careful not to have too many fruits, with a goal of a 60/40 ratio of veggies to fruits. Fortunately, I am an avid smoothie maker, so am quite fond of green drinks. The veggies should be no problem for me. The "no coffee" part will completely suck. I have some herbal tea that I can drink tomorrow morning to try to replace coffee, but it will not be an adequate substitute. I am just telling myself that it is short term, and I will be very glad when I have all the yucky stuff out.
The rest of the day was fairly disciplined, although I did slip up at Olive Garden and had the salad with the dressing. I didn't have any croutons or breadsticks (my goodness, that was tough), but I think that the dressing is technically a no-no. I had minestrone soup and ate around the pasta, and an acai berry drink along with the salad. Dinner consisted of a spinach/berry/banana smoothie (juice-based because dairy is a no-no), and I had to break down and eat a few handfulls of walnuts. I don't know where nuts fall into the "living foods" category, but they do grow on a tree, so they should totally count. At any rate...I am absolutely STARVING tonight, and will have less food to look forward to tomorrow (and no coffee, since I had my hubby hide my coffee maker and coffee from me so I won't slip up).
This part of the cleanse is the pre-cleanse. According to what I have read, this part is not necessary, although I have to say I completely disagree. As hungry as I am today while still eating food is a clear indication that I have been overindulging on too many carbs and junk food and too little veggies and fruits. There is no way that I would have been able to go from my current diet to no food without a few days of agony. I still don't think they will be easy, but these few preparatory days will help make it less horrible (with any luck).
Tomorrow is smoothie day, so everything I have will be in liquid-ish form. I need to be careful not to have too many fruits, with a goal of a 60/40 ratio of veggies to fruits. Fortunately, I am an avid smoothie maker, so am quite fond of green drinks. The veggies should be no problem for me. The "no coffee" part will completely suck. I have some herbal tea that I can drink tomorrow morning to try to replace coffee, but it will not be an adequate substitute. I am just telling myself that it is short term, and I will be very glad when I have all the yucky stuff out.
Saturday, January 1, 2011
a clean start to 2011
Happy New Year! I cannot believe that it is 2011 already...where does the time go? I remember when I was a kid my Dad always told me how quickly life goes by when you're an adult, and I am really starting to see that. This year was a complete whirlwind. As I reflect on all that has happened, it has been a good year, but it all went by so quickly. I took on some amazing consulting jobs, one of which turned into an amazing full-time position, ran two marathons, took some great trips, and celebrated five years of marriage with my husband. Yes, 2010 was a great year, but I am really looking forward to 2011.
I am not really a resolution person. I find that people rarely keep to their resolutions. It's also a lot of pressure to put on yourself right at the beginning of the year, you know? I prefer to set small goals throughout the year, like training for races. I find that it is a lot more doable for me.
Having said that, one goal that I do have overall is to eat healthier. Since my schedule has been so hectic for the last few months, I have been eating lots of junk and way too little veggies. I am feeling really off balance because of it, so have decided to make a huge effort to do better going forward.
In fact, I am starting a cleanse tomorrow. It is the Master cleanse, a ten day cleanse designed to flush the body of toxins. I have never cleansed before and so am very nervous about it, but also excited to see it through. While on the cleanse I will not be eating, and I think it will be really hard to go without chewing. I will miss it. It will also be tricky negotiating the bathroom situation while working, since from what I have read, the cleanse can be pretty violent at times. Still, it is a good jump start to better nutrition, so will be good for me.
One big part of the cleanse is documenting each day, recording how I feel, etc., and so I will be recording it all here, for anyone who wants to vicariously experience the cleanse.
I am not really a resolution person. I find that people rarely keep to their resolutions. It's also a lot of pressure to put on yourself right at the beginning of the year, you know? I prefer to set small goals throughout the year, like training for races. I find that it is a lot more doable for me.
Having said that, one goal that I do have overall is to eat healthier. Since my schedule has been so hectic for the last few months, I have been eating lots of junk and way too little veggies. I am feeling really off balance because of it, so have decided to make a huge effort to do better going forward.
In fact, I am starting a cleanse tomorrow. It is the Master cleanse, a ten day cleanse designed to flush the body of toxins. I have never cleansed before and so am very nervous about it, but also excited to see it through. While on the cleanse I will not be eating, and I think it will be really hard to go without chewing. I will miss it. It will also be tricky negotiating the bathroom situation while working, since from what I have read, the cleanse can be pretty violent at times. Still, it is a good jump start to better nutrition, so will be good for me.
One big part of the cleanse is documenting each day, recording how I feel, etc., and so I will be recording it all here, for anyone who wants to vicariously experience the cleanse.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
some social media savvy
It's been awhile since my last business-related post, so I decided to dedicate this one to utilizing social media correctly. Let me first say that I love social media the way Elvis loved bacon...a LOT. I am completely obsessed with twitter feeds, blog rolls, and facebook updates, especially for businesses. I cannot tell you how many online webinars or interactive facebook press conferences I have sat through just to capture the next "nugget" of information that might be passing down the tubes. Through both life experience and sitting through endless webinars, I have learned a couple of basic tips that I would like to share with you. Keep in mind that my focus is on businesses; however, this stuff can certainly apply to personal social media.
1. Keep your posts relevant. Although this seems like a total no-brainer, it can be tricky, especially with startup companies who want to imbibe personality into their new business. The temptation to infuse elements of your personal life in with your business can be alluring. Although this can be done well, nearly everyone who tries does it incorrectly. A good example of incorporating your personal posts into your company would be to post that you are at an after-hours meetup for startups, or you and any employees/partners you may have are doing something together in the spirit of the company. A poor example would be if you are headed to a bar after work. Not important. Bottom line: keep your business business-worthy.
2. Start a conversation (and keep it going). So often people feel like social media is an excellent platform for posting coupons, new arrivals, etc. for their business. And it is; however, if that is the only thing your business posts, people will soon stop listening. Social media exists (for businesses) as a bridge between consumer and business; not so much as a way for the business to tote their wares, but as a way for consumers to find value in the places they spend their money. Consumers want to feel that they got "value" out of their dollar, and this can be multiplied by utilizing social media. As a restaurant, you can give ideas for no-fuss dinner party appetizers; a clothing store can provide fashion advice, etc. Plus, when you post advice like this, you invite your user to start a conversation with you. There is not much point in commenting on a coupon. It is what it is. But a recipe...that has the potential to engage the consumer, as well as anyone else who follows the conversation (which amounts to a lot of people).
Fitness: after taking two weeks off I ran 3.5 miles on Sunday. Monday was 30 ellipical minutes and squats/lunges/abs. Tuesday, 20 minute run, 10 minute bike, arm and ab workout.
1. Keep your posts relevant. Although this seems like a total no-brainer, it can be tricky, especially with startup companies who want to imbibe personality into their new business. The temptation to infuse elements of your personal life in with your business can be alluring. Although this can be done well, nearly everyone who tries does it incorrectly. A good example of incorporating your personal posts into your company would be to post that you are at an after-hours meetup for startups, or you and any employees/partners you may have are doing something together in the spirit of the company. A poor example would be if you are headed to a bar after work. Not important. Bottom line: keep your business business-worthy.
2. Start a conversation (and keep it going). So often people feel like social media is an excellent platform for posting coupons, new arrivals, etc. for their business. And it is; however, if that is the only thing your business posts, people will soon stop listening. Social media exists (for businesses) as a bridge between consumer and business; not so much as a way for the business to tote their wares, but as a way for consumers to find value in the places they spend their money. Consumers want to feel that they got "value" out of their dollar, and this can be multiplied by utilizing social media. As a restaurant, you can give ideas for no-fuss dinner party appetizers; a clothing store can provide fashion advice, etc. Plus, when you post advice like this, you invite your user to start a conversation with you. There is not much point in commenting on a coupon. It is what it is. But a recipe...that has the potential to engage the consumer, as well as anyone else who follows the conversation (which amounts to a lot of people).
Fitness: after taking two weeks off I ran 3.5 miles on Sunday. Monday was 30 ellipical minutes and squats/lunges/abs. Tuesday, 20 minute run, 10 minute bike, arm and ab workout.
Monday, November 29, 2010
I'm thankful
I hope everyone had a fantastic Thanksgiving holiday. I am so sad to report that I was sick with the flu for most of it. What a bummer! I am still not feeling my best, but this post is terribly overdue, so back to work I go.
In the spirit of the holidays, I made a list of the things I am thankful for in my life. I don't know about you, but I feel very fortunate to have all of the things that I have, and so many wonderful people in my life. This is the old "top ten" list, although none of these has any more weight than the other. I am equally thankful for each of these things.
1. I am thankful for a husband who, while not always thrilled by my running, is supportive of me running marathons, training for triathlons, and traveling for them all.
2. I am thankful for an eleven year old girl who is truly her own person. She is unique and special and I am so lucky she is mine.
3. I am thankful for a four-year-old boy who can always make me laugh. He lights up any room he is in and can make anyone feel special and loved.
4. I am thankful for a two-year-old boy who feels the need to constantly be fully decked out in a costume, mask and all. It's such a pleasure to have coffee with Batman, Darth Vader, or Buzz Lightyear each morning.
5. I am thankful for two legs that allow me to continuously abuse them with high-mileage races and super-high heels and stay injury free.
6. I am thankful for my extended family. Although I have learned in my adult life that we are not exactly the most traditional Ward Cleaver family model; we have our own thing going on and make it work for us.
7. I am thankful for my in-laws. They are most definitely the Ward Cleaver family model, and it is nice to have that kind of traditional influence in my life.
8. I am thankful for Nike. 'nuff said.
9. I am thankful for my book club friends. We are an eclectic mix of ladies, and it is so wonderful to be part of a book club that doesn't actually require the reading of the book.
10. I am thankful for my blog readers. I can't believe it has been almost a year since I started this blog. I have had a fantastic time writing over the last year, and knowing that people actually read it makes it that much more motivating.
There you have it....I am definitely thankful for many more things than this, but the post needs to end sometime. Do you have a thankful list?
In the spirit of the holidays, I made a list of the things I am thankful for in my life. I don't know about you, but I feel very fortunate to have all of the things that I have, and so many wonderful people in my life. This is the old "top ten" list, although none of these has any more weight than the other. I am equally thankful for each of these things.
1. I am thankful for a husband who, while not always thrilled by my running, is supportive of me running marathons, training for triathlons, and traveling for them all.
2. I am thankful for an eleven year old girl who is truly her own person. She is unique and special and I am so lucky she is mine.
3. I am thankful for a four-year-old boy who can always make me laugh. He lights up any room he is in and can make anyone feel special and loved.
4. I am thankful for a two-year-old boy who feels the need to constantly be fully decked out in a costume, mask and all. It's such a pleasure to have coffee with Batman, Darth Vader, or Buzz Lightyear each morning.
5. I am thankful for two legs that allow me to continuously abuse them with high-mileage races and super-high heels and stay injury free.
6. I am thankful for my extended family. Although I have learned in my adult life that we are not exactly the most traditional Ward Cleaver family model; we have our own thing going on and make it work for us.
7. I am thankful for my in-laws. They are most definitely the Ward Cleaver family model, and it is nice to have that kind of traditional influence in my life.
8. I am thankful for Nike. 'nuff said.
9. I am thankful for my book club friends. We are an eclectic mix of ladies, and it is so wonderful to be part of a book club that doesn't actually require the reading of the book.
10. I am thankful for my blog readers. I can't believe it has been almost a year since I started this blog. I have had a fantastic time writing over the last year, and knowing that people actually read it makes it that much more motivating.
There you have it....I am definitely thankful for many more things than this, but the post needs to end sometime. Do you have a thankful list?
Thursday, November 11, 2010
go, google, go
Yesterday while I was logging miles on the stationary bike (boring as hell, but a great cross-train), I saw on the news that google is giving their employees a $1,000 holiday bonus and a ten percent raise. Ten percent, in this economy, where companies are taking benefits away from their employees left and right just to stay in business.Wow.
Naturally, my first thought was, "I need to work for google." But then I started thinking about how many times I use google during the day. It is a TON. I google everything. If I want to know anything about anything, I google it. If I want to get a fresh perspective, I google it. If I am looking for ideas..google. You get the picture; I'm a googler. And apparently I am not alone, since the company is raking it in.
Any company that can turn its name into a verb has my vote.
Are you a googler?
Naturally, my first thought was, "I need to work for google." But then I started thinking about how many times I use google during the day. It is a TON. I google everything. If I want to know anything about anything, I google it. If I want to get a fresh perspective, I google it. If I am looking for ideas..google. You get the picture; I'm a googler. And apparently I am not alone, since the company is raking it in.
Any company that can turn its name into a verb has my vote.
Are you a googler?
Thursday, November 4, 2010
oh, technology
Since running the Nike marathon I have been plagued with an incredibly disturbing problem....my nikeplus sensor. If you remember, I am a dedicated nikeplus user (actually a dedicated nike anything user...I love their stuff), and one enormous perk of being a nikeplus user for this race was that we would be entered into a drawing for free admittance to next year's nike marathon if we uploaded our race within a certain period of time. I wore my nike sportband for the race instead of my ipod. It was, by far, the longest I have ever run without music, and I was feeling awesome about the sportsband and how it allowed me to go "wire free" for such a long time.
Apparently the geniuses at nike decided to run a firmware update right around the time the marathon finished, and so my run (and a bunch of other people's runs) disappeared into cyberspace, never to be heard from again. It is beyond frustrating. First of all, I really like to see those miles graphed out on paper once I have run them. That is where I reflect on where I was struggling the most and when I was the fastest. I use that information on future runs in the hopes of getting better (and qualifying for my mistress-bitch race, Boston). Secondly, I need tangible evidence that I completed those miles. I just do. It's how I'm wired. I know I ran them. I want proof, though. It motivates me.
So now I am stuck with a ton fewer miles on my profile than I actually ran, and I don't get to be entered into the drawing for next year's race.
I'm gonna need to see something pretty phenomenal from you in the future, nike...this was a big slip-up.
Until I tried to upload my (26.2 mile) run.
Apparently the geniuses at nike decided to run a firmware update right around the time the marathon finished, and so my run (and a bunch of other people's runs) disappeared into cyberspace, never to be heard from again. It is beyond frustrating. First of all, I really like to see those miles graphed out on paper once I have run them. That is where I reflect on where I was struggling the most and when I was the fastest. I use that information on future runs in the hopes of getting better (and qualifying for my mistress-bitch race, Boston). Secondly, I need tangible evidence that I completed those miles. I just do. It's how I'm wired. I know I ran them. I want proof, though. It motivates me.
So now I am stuck with a ton fewer miles on my profile than I actually ran, and I don't get to be entered into the drawing for next year's race.
I'm gonna need to see something pretty phenomenal from you in the future, nike...this was a big slip-up.
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