The first day of the cleanse went pretty well. Nothing odd although I really, really, really, REALLY missed my morning cup of coffee ALOT! I probably drank more water than I have in the past month. So there were numerous bathroom breaks involved in my day's activities. I ended up with a headache towards the end of the day which I'm sure was a combination of lack of caffeine and just being tired.
That night I took my first "night cleanse" pills. Holy-flu-like-symptoms Batman! I spent the rest of the night with hot flashes, getting chills, and my headache got even worse! I was ready to call it quits altogether! By 4 a.m. I was seriously considering putting an entire pot of coffee on and just guzzling caffeine just to stop the pounding in my head! But I held off.
By the time the kids were begging for breakfast at 9:30 a.m., I rolled out of bed and considered heading to a local hospital to get my stomach pumped of these vile herbs and concoctions that were supposed to be making me "feel better". Instead, I did as any good mother would do. I popped frozen pancakes in the toaster, moaned about my lack of coffee, reassured myself that my symptoms were normal, and took my morning cleanse pills. Then I prayed for 12 noon to arrive faster than normal so I could go back to bed after the kids' father picked them up for Easter dinner with his family.
And that's what I did for most of Day Two of my cleanse. I slept. I went to the bathroom. I drank water. A lot of water. I dreamt about coffee, about triple-layer chocolate fudge cake, even about a simple protein bar. When the boys got home, we all promptly went to bed. I took half my nightly dose of night cleanse pills (which I can do - I read the pamphlet!!). I had a much better night's sleep - not perfect but better.
Which brings us to Day Three. I woke up gloriously without a headache this morning. I went to the bathroom to wash my face and I was completely shocked about what I saw. My face wasn't bloated. My eyes weren't puffy underneath. And let's just say that they usually are around this time. Even my eyes seemed a bit brighter. Obviously, it could be just the amount of water I'm drinking but it was a motivating change to see! I went downstairs and happily consumed my cleanse pills, had my breakfast, and went on with my day. I still pined for my morning cup of coffee but I was OK about it.
Now I'm looking forward to what the next few days will bring. I just hope that the flu-like symptoms are over now. I have little desire to experience that again!
Monday, April 9, 2012
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Spring Cleaning
I've started to run again. Still not as much as I would like to but the running bug has bitten me again and I can't wait to get outside. I'm having issues finding the time to run again but I've also just moved so my schedule seems tighter than normal.
Excuses, excuses....ok, I know!
I also recently made the decision to attempt a "cleanse". I did my research (for those who know me, that shouldn't be a surprise) extensively on the topic. I weighed out the pros and cons (no wine, alcohol, beer, COFFEE, dairy, etc.) and in the end decided that the potential health benefits were too many to ignore.
I'm hoping to achieve a few things from this cleanse. A better overall feeling, less fatigue, less bloating, and a cleaner, healthier colon! And of course I'd like to think this will help my running by increasing my energy.
So here I am on day one. I've been told the first 3-5 days are the most difficult so I'm bracing myself. So far so good. I should probably take the 4 or 5 Heinken that are still in my fridge out so there is less temptation to crack one open in the midst of my upcoming "difficulties".
I have and haven't picked the best two weeks to do this cleanse. (Is anything ever simple in my life?). The next eight days is passover and I'm not supposed to be eating anything "leavened" anyway. So no bread, cookies, cakes, etc. Made good sense to me to start a cleanse when many of the exclusions are already excluded! Next weekend will be 100-miler race number four for my amazing man Scott. I'm hoping I can keep the cleanse going over the weekend. There will be so many temptations to eat whatever is there and drink coffee to stay awake! So, I'm hoping those that are crewing with me, will also keep me in line! (hint, hint!)
One of the other items I am supposed to do on this cleanse is exercise. Now I must run. Its part of the daily regime! No excuses!
I'm going to blog about my cleanse every few days. A few good friends are interested in how things go. I won't go into specifics so that others are not grossed out! LOL!
Excuses, excuses....ok, I know!
I also recently made the decision to attempt a "cleanse". I did my research (for those who know me, that shouldn't be a surprise) extensively on the topic. I weighed out the pros and cons (no wine, alcohol, beer, COFFEE, dairy, etc.) and in the end decided that the potential health benefits were too many to ignore.
I'm hoping to achieve a few things from this cleanse. A better overall feeling, less fatigue, less bloating, and a cleaner, healthier colon! And of course I'd like to think this will help my running by increasing my energy.
So here I am on day one. I've been told the first 3-5 days are the most difficult so I'm bracing myself. So far so good. I should probably take the 4 or 5 Heinken that are still in my fridge out so there is less temptation to crack one open in the midst of my upcoming "difficulties".
I have and haven't picked the best two weeks to do this cleanse. (Is anything ever simple in my life?). The next eight days is passover and I'm not supposed to be eating anything "leavened" anyway. So no bread, cookies, cakes, etc. Made good sense to me to start a cleanse when many of the exclusions are already excluded! Next weekend will be 100-miler race number four for my amazing man Scott. I'm hoping I can keep the cleanse going over the weekend. There will be so many temptations to eat whatever is there and drink coffee to stay awake! So, I'm hoping those that are crewing with me, will also keep me in line! (hint, hint!)
One of the other items I am supposed to do on this cleanse is exercise. Now I must run. Its part of the daily regime! No excuses!
I'm going to blog about my cleanse every few days. A few good friends are interested in how things go. I won't go into specifics so that others are not grossed out! LOL!
Friday, February 24, 2012
I've Hit a Wall and It Ain't Pretty
My name is Michelle and I'm a procrastinator.
<Hello Michelle>
It's been two weeks since I last ran.
<Gasp!>
This sounds a lot better in my head than reading it and I don't want anyone to think I'm demeaning any 12-step program. But I am admitting that I've hit a major obstacle during my training. More like a virtually unscalable, 16 foot high, 8 foot in depth concrete wall that has been covered in electrical fence.
I could blame the weather but it hasn't really been that bad. I could blame the constant feeling of being tired but I'm a mother and a full-time employee so like that's ever going to change. I could blame Scott for not dragging my ass out with him but I did tell him not to harp on me so much. I could blame my schedule but I've been told that there are hours available, previous to my traditional wake-up time, that are presently sitting empty.
So there is no one to blame but myself.
Bummer.
Of course, this "blame thy self" becomes a vicious circle though. I don't run therefore I chastize and ridicule myself (you idiot, you missed a perfectly good night to run 5 kms); which makes me feel worse (you know you are going to gain weight); which demoralizes my intentions (why am I bothering to do this? you aren't an athlete so why pretend you are? You can't do this so quit now); which leads me to the next day (I promise I will run 5kms tomorrow and make it up to myself...yeah, right!). And so on and so forth until two weeks later and I have to write about it because I'm so fed up with myself.
I know all I need to do is get changed, put on my running shoes, plug in my mp3 player (I haven't bitten into the Apple Assault yet) and just do it. I know all that. So why am I taking this time to blog instead of taking this time to run?
I'm scared. Yup. Pretty simple and basic but I'm scared. Scared of failing. Scared of looking like an idiot. Scared of disappointing myself. I mean really, that's all procrastination is - the fear of moving forward not knowing if success or failure awaits you. Its a lot easier to wait something out and not fail than plow ahead and fall on your face. I'd rather self-loathe than embarrass myself.
I have a bad habit of comparing myself to others. I want to be as good as other runners I know now. I forget that even they had to start somewhere and build up distance, endurance, and speed. I simply expect that I can do what they can do in two or three weeks of training. Wait, I can't?
<Enter hand smacking back of head>
I have set some pretty hefty goals for myself for 2012. The fact is if I don't start back on my training path I'm never going to succeed at a 50 km trail race in September. Heck, I may not get through 42 km at Limberlost in July. And I've paid for all these races in advance. Not only that, but I told Scott that I want to be able to pace him during his last loops of the 100-mile races I am able to attend.
Fear of Disappointment (in myself and potentially projected by others) = Procrastination. Sadly, a math equation I understand without extra help.
So back to the basics I go. I'm running to get fit. I'm running to show my boys that goals aren't about winning or losing but about attaining the dream. I'm running to prove to myself that I can do the things I never thought I could do. I'm running to be mentally strong. I'm running because it makes me feel so damn good when I finish.
It's time to face the wall and take a leap of faith. Here's hoping I don't get zapped.
<Hello Michelle>
It's been two weeks since I last ran.
<Gasp!>
This sounds a lot better in my head than reading it and I don't want anyone to think I'm demeaning any 12-step program. But I am admitting that I've hit a major obstacle during my training. More like a virtually unscalable, 16 foot high, 8 foot in depth concrete wall that has been covered in electrical fence.
I could blame the weather but it hasn't really been that bad. I could blame the constant feeling of being tired but I'm a mother and a full-time employee so like that's ever going to change. I could blame Scott for not dragging my ass out with him but I did tell him not to harp on me so much. I could blame my schedule but I've been told that there are hours available, previous to my traditional wake-up time, that are presently sitting empty.
So there is no one to blame but myself.
Bummer.
Of course, this "blame thy self" becomes a vicious circle though. I don't run therefore I chastize and ridicule myself (you idiot, you missed a perfectly good night to run 5 kms); which makes me feel worse (you know you are going to gain weight); which demoralizes my intentions (why am I bothering to do this? you aren't an athlete so why pretend you are? You can't do this so quit now); which leads me to the next day (I promise I will run 5kms tomorrow and make it up to myself...yeah, right!). And so on and so forth until two weeks later and I have to write about it because I'm so fed up with myself.
I know all I need to do is get changed, put on my running shoes, plug in my mp3 player (I haven't bitten into the Apple Assault yet) and just do it. I know all that. So why am I taking this time to blog instead of taking this time to run?
I'm scared. Yup. Pretty simple and basic but I'm scared. Scared of failing. Scared of looking like an idiot. Scared of disappointing myself. I mean really, that's all procrastination is - the fear of moving forward not knowing if success or failure awaits you. Its a lot easier to wait something out and not fail than plow ahead and fall on your face. I'd rather self-loathe than embarrass myself.
I have a bad habit of comparing myself to others. I want to be as good as other runners I know now. I forget that even they had to start somewhere and build up distance, endurance, and speed. I simply expect that I can do what they can do in two or three weeks of training. Wait, I can't?
<Enter hand smacking back of head>
I have set some pretty hefty goals for myself for 2012. The fact is if I don't start back on my training path I'm never going to succeed at a 50 km trail race in September. Heck, I may not get through 42 km at Limberlost in July. And I've paid for all these races in advance. Not only that, but I told Scott that I want to be able to pace him during his last loops of the 100-mile races I am able to attend.
Fear of Disappointment (in myself and potentially projected by others) = Procrastination. Sadly, a math equation I understand without extra help.
So back to the basics I go. I'm running to get fit. I'm running to show my boys that goals aren't about winning or losing but about attaining the dream. I'm running to prove to myself that I can do the things I never thought I could do. I'm running to be mentally strong. I'm running because it makes me feel so damn good when I finish.
It's time to face the wall and take a leap of faith. Here's hoping I don't get zapped.
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