Ringing in 2013

Happy New Year!  B and I had a chill ringing-in of the new year, which suited me just fine. We had an 830p dinner reservation at Cafe Ena, a Latin Fusion restaurant here in Minne. We enjoyed some delicious ahi, scallop and shrimp appetizers, and ordered a lovely bottle of La Posta, a red blend from Argentina. I had the "Palma" (a polenta crusted grouper), while B ordered even more shrimp. In fact, B is making a shrimp appetizer for us to enjoy later today, so he may actually turn into a shrimp, or maybe go into some sort of Mercury overload. B, no more shrimp for a while after this, ok? We then came home and popped a bottle of champagne, and I was in bed by 1230 while B stayed up and caught up on The League.

B and his unexpectedly massive head-on shrimp at Cafe Ena

2012 was quite an eventful year for us, with B completing his MBA, our 1100 mile move to Minne, and both of us starting new jobs (well, mine only sort of new, as I rejoined the ranks of a former employer). We finished out our year of excitement by celebrating Christmas with B's family in Ann Arbor before driving back to Minneapolis for a quiet new year. One of my favorite memories of our holiday with B's family, was his mom's introduction of a new family tradition, the Peppermint Pig. The Peppermint Pig, according to Victorian Lore, represents good health, happiness and prosperity. After Christmas dinner, a small pig made of peppermint is passed around the table for each person to share a tale of the past year's good fortune and take a swing at the peppermint pig with a tiny hammer. Once everyone has told their tale and swung at the pig, the group then enjoys the broken peppermint in celebration of the past year's successes and in hopes of good fortune for the new year. Needless to say, we had a blast whacking the peppermint out of that pig.

While B and I certainly had a lot to celebrate in 2012, I'm not sad to see the year close and I look forward to seeing what's in store for 2013. I'm not a big fan of "resolutions" - after all, quoth someone literary and famous "a goal without a plan is just a wish" - but I do have one big 2013 resolution. My resolution is, quite simply to DO more. To be a "yes" person! To experience things! To accomplish stuff! Cheese alert - I want to be more than just a 'dreamer' and a 'thinker' in 2013.

So in a nutshell, I resolve to DO things big and small in 2013.  And per the quote, I have a plan of action in the form of "The List" - you can learn more and check it out here.

Wish me luck!

EMDR?

My new therapist uses a therapy called EDMR, which is something I know very little about...but I guess I'm about to learn.  My first task is to think of the different ways I work myself up when I'm stressed or anxious.   Not surprisingly, this little exercise has been a bit of a downer.  From my research, EDMR (which, apparently, is often used for trauma therapy...so that's probably accurate) is supposed to help take those negative thoughts...and let them "pass as though looking out of the window of a moving train" (the words of Psychology Today, not my words).   I'm all about trying out a new-to-me form of therapy in the name of self actualization, but I'm a bit apprehensive about this one.  My next session takes place on Wednesday....so I guess the only thing to say at this point is..."all aboard."

Standard Time...A New Beginning

It's time to fall back...and fall back, I did.  I've been a yo-yo weight wise for a long, long time now, and I have officially gained 20 big, fat lbs since B graduated in early May.   Time to get serious...again...and lose this 20 lbs...again (...and then some...*ahem*)  Never quit quitting bad habits, I guess.

First, the good news is I completed my 10 mile race last month.  I was hoping to finish in 2 hours, which averages to 12 min/mile, but it took me 2:08:08, which is 12:49 min/mile.  I got a really bad cold the weekend before, and pulled a 60 hour work week.  And, even though I kept up with the long runs for my training, I was not running as much as I wanted.  I'm slow, and I'm mostly ok with that, but I know I can do better.

I haven't run a step since that day (until today)....and I've gained 6 lbs since race day.  So, here we are again.    B recently started working out with kettlebells, and he bought one for me too.  I used to work out with kettlebells back in Austin with my trainer, so I took to the Pinterest boards to check out some workouts and create a VERY basic, not-dr.-or-trainer-approved plan that works a few different areas.  I'll see if I can start by sticking to a 3x a week, 20ish minute plan.

Here's what I'm trying for the first few weeks.

1. Warm up - Stretch+Run around the block (.7 miles, according to GPS)
2. Kettlebell Swing  10 reps, 20 lbs
3.  Around the Body Pass.   10 reps, 20 lbs
4. Dead lift. 10 reps 20 lbs
5. Yoga Ball V Ups   10 reps with yoga ball
6.  Plank for 30 seconds (and work my way back up)

Repeat 2-6.

I'm also going to work on nutrition, following the orders of  my former Austin nutritionist.  Her orders were to set 2-4 SMALL, ACHIEVABLE nutrition goals every 2 week, and stick to them.  Then, every few weeks, you just add to those achievable goals (never subtracting).  No calorie counting, just smarter, healthy, conscious changes.  Here's what I'm going to start with these first few weeks.

1.  Drink 6 glasses of water daily.
2.  Eat 1 piece of fruit daily.
3.  No more than 2 diet cokes daily (eventually, weekends only...but I need to ween...)
4. No Splenda in the coffee (I admit, I got out of this habit a long time ago.  If you need a sweetener, it's better to use the real thing.  But, wanted to include on my 'week 1' list anyway!)

That's it.  Keeping it simple.  Gotta start somewhere...let's see what I can accomplish before the new year.