This post is kinda all over the place.. I blame the pain killer high :p
Sicky
I never get sick, so it was much to my surprise and discontent that my plans to go to Spin and Yoga this morning were dashed when I woke up with a pounding headache and sore throat. I took a couple advil and went back to bed.
I woke up a few hours later feeling better (thanks pain killers, <3 you), so I tried to enjoy a lovely breakfast of Pumpkin Protein Pudding, topped with Maple Apples, 2 tbsp MixMyGranola and 1 tbsp Sunbutter.
I brought my laptop back to bed to do a little online X-mas shopping, but was back asleep within 15 minutes. When I woke up again, 4 hours later, I was feeling as bad as ever, and learned that I was running a temperature close to 101 F. Popped more advil and tried to push the water. At some point while lounging on the couch, watching football and reading blogs, my fever broke, and I was suddenly drenched in sweet, but feeling 100x better. And you know what that means, back came the appetite, and what could be better..
than oats in a jar! Here we have 1/4 c Oat Bran, 1/8 c Oats, 1/3 c Pumpkin, cooked in 3/4 c UVAB + 1/4 c H20, sprinkled with graham cracker..
I know what you’re thinking.. 2x in one week?! I know, I’ve been going nut butter crazy lately, but after these jars are used up I think we’ll be taking a break for a bit. We’ll still date here and there but no longer going steady.. I don’t want to get sick of them or anything!
Saturday Blues
Unrelated to being sick.. or perhaps it is related, after all, I do think negative thoughts can impact your health.. but anyways.. Yesterday I was in a total funk of a mood. I got in a couple good workouts, including an 80 min Flow class first thing in the AM and a great Power Upper lift session, which has left me with a lot of soreness today. But for whatever reason I was struggling to shake my negative mood. After eating my feelings for a while.. no pics for the obvious reasons but I did make a bomb Pizza (toppings included spinach, sweet potato, goat cheese, portabella and chicken) and enjoyed a chocolate-covered graham and a wee bit many spoonfuls of Peanut Butter .. I had an internal dialog that went something like this.. “what the hell are you doing? why are you in a pissy mood? things are fabulous.. life is wonderful! you have a month off of school to dedicate to what is needed, you’re going home in a few days.. workouts are fantastic and I love building phase complimented by yoga, and you just signed up for a fantastic program .. so what the hell are you doing mopping about?!”
I think I let a number of events and outside forces affect me this week, which led me to doubt myself and my goals. Professionally, I feel lost right now. I’m definitely feeling the pressure from all angles to find a job. Some people tell me that I have to find anything to make money come June, whether it’s a position I like or not. I struggle with that because I came back to school to get an education so I can do something I love. I’m also trying to figure out what role fitness and nutrition will play in my future, on a professional level. I am so excited about the Institute for Integrative Nutrition but exactly how I’ll use that knowledge is yet to be determined. I also let opinions, or perhaps my perception of opinions, of what I do and how I act get to me.. in both positive & negative ways. I think it’s fantastic and absolutely necessary to have people in your life who will ‘tell it to ya like it is.’ I know I can be such an all-or-nothing person, and I can get carried away when I’m excited about something and be oblivious to what else is going on around me, or what repercussions could result. The hard part, sometimes, is knowing who really means well and who doesn’t. Having been burned, more than once, by people who I thought cared, it can be hard to be trusting. But I think I’ve come to the conclusion that it doesn’t matter. You can learn from everyone as long as you don’t lose sight of your end overall goal. There are so many roads you can take to get to the same destination, and taking twists and wrong turns along the way is what allows you to gain new experiences & perspectives and eventually appreciate the end destination even more.
There were many things I let slip during the few months leading up to the competitions, so now it’s my responsibility to acknowledge that and make improvements. Though, as my roommate suggested, I should totally blame actually going to happy hour for being sick today :p
I’ve also been feeling guilty for not nourishing myself as well as I could. I say ‘nourish’ instead of ‘eat’ because I haven’t really been eating badly, I just haven’t been eating as well as I could for the purpose of reaching my goals. I’ve been failing miserably at getting enough protein. It seems that whenever I eat more than 50 g of carbs, I’m just not hungry enough to get to 200 g protein. When I was cycling it was no problem because my body wanted those carbs on high days so badly, but now that I get them everyday, I’m really having a hard time getting in the protein too. So what I’m going to do is back track a bit. Protein will be the priority. I’ll be sure to hit my protein goal everyday, then slowly start increasing carbs until I’m where I need to be.
Jr. Nationals is June 18-19th. That’s my goal. I’m going to be there in the best shape I have ever been in, with at least 5 lbs more lean muscle than I had at the AZ Open in November. I LOVE that NPC is evolving with the times, as reflected by the gorgeous physique of this year’s Figure Olympia winner Nicole Wilkins-Lee.
Fun Links
Here’s a nice post from Whole Foods on traveling with food over the holidays. As all us clean eaters know, ya gotta pack your cooler!
Eeck, tomorrow’s going to be a crazy busy day as I try to make up for the errands I was suppose to get done today. But in the mean time, I’m off to cuddle up with one of these books I picked up yesterday..
Have you read anything new lately or have any must-read recommendations?
Fun Links
I love reading your blog! It’s like i still have you in baltimore with me! I’m sorry you are feeling yucky, but this to shall pass. And i’m soooo totally feeling you on the job thing. After graduating, I felt exactly the same feelings. I turned down jobs, and waited, and waited (for 5 months) and finally landed a job in the field that I want and with a great organization in D.C. So, all I would say is that I worked random jobs (including the gym again) and other small part-time things until i found something that I THINK I will like. It’s sooo surprising to me to actually have found a job in my field and not really know if i’m going to like it hahah. Well I hope so. And speaking of hopes, I hope to see you when you are back here.
Hugs and Kisses!
Thanks! I’m going to be out there end of Jan/beginning of Feb. Can’t wait to see you!
I hope you are feeling better!! You are so healthy so it will be gone very soon.
Isn’t it funny when we are in funks and we want so bad to get out of it – its a struggle! I can’t picture you in a funk
Re: the job ish….you should get something set up to work from home! It is wonderful
XXOO
Kris
ahh thanks sweetie
I agree about working from home. I am completely the type of person who needs flexibility in my work hours or I just feel trapped and miserable. Not to mention I need to be able to make all my must-go-to fitness classes :p
Haha!! I was catching up on your blog posts and I was going to comment and noticed I already did! Too funny! And you replied…you are so sweet.
Yes, if you know this about yourself that you are better on your own schedule then you need to find something that allows this for you! I knew that I need this and I deserve my own time, so I made that change in my life and girl if feels so good!!
Plus must-go-to fitness classes are important
They are for me and I know they are for you!
I work with a lot of fitness competators and they are on a whole different schedule than the rest of us – gym, eat, gym….perfect life!
XXOO
Kris
i can totally relate with what you’re saying. i’ve been in a funk lately and it’s hard to pinpoint why. I can name a few things, but i’ve been having too many days where i just can’t shake the negative feelings. I’m determined to just get past the rough patch and come out on top. I hope you feel better!!
I just picked up a new book today, we’ll see how it is. I’ve been wanting to read Michael Pollack’s book though, so let me know what you think!
I hope you feel better, those feelings that comes along with being sick is the worst! It’s kind of great that break started, so that you can get your rest and have time to analyze a few of the things that you’re going through. I hope things work out
Oh no, hope you feel better soon!
I’m with you on being surrounded by people that will support you. Recently, I had to stop seeing a couple of my so-called-friends mainly due to the fact that seeing them always made me emotionally drained and made me question myself (not in a good way). I don’t need that ‘negative energy’ in my life and even though cutting them loose was upsetting at times, I feel now so much better for it.
You have achieved so many amazing things; you are truly inspiration to many readers and think about all the possibilities that are waiting out there for you in 2010!
Your sweet comments always put a smile on my face
and they really mean so much to me. And you’re right, 2010 will be a fantastic year!
I think we all go through periods like what you’re experiencing. Even when we’re well into our careers! Just try not to let it get you too down. Just remember all the positives!
In Defense of Food – I read it recently – it’s def interesting and a good read but I will still use my protein powder!
Happy New Week,
Katie
http://katiechangesforkatie.blogspot.com/2009/12/slim-secrets-bars-giveaway-extended.html
Yeah I don’t see myself giving up my beloved protein powder anytime soon
Was just checking out your blog.. love it! Already have a few recipes I need to try asap (i.e. protein cookie dough?! yes please!) Have a wonderful Christmas Week Monday 
That bomb pizza! I wanna try it. Sorry your Sunday was crap.
Wow as i was reading your blog i thought u were talking about me there for a minute in regards to the funk of a mood.
I also let opinions, or perhaps my perception of opinions, ( you said it perfectly there) of what I do and how I act get to me.. in both positive & negative ways. So many decisions to be make and you try to listen to what people are telling you but then its hard to know who to really believe..i start to second guess my own decisions.
I talk to my mom during those time and she always tells me that i believe in god, truly 100% that he will give me the answer…im still waiting..lol. Not to joke about that but i know she is right. moms always are!
Anyway, i know that you will figure things out. You should be so proud of yourself already for the things you have done this year!
Thanks for your great blogs!
Maggie
cheer up buttercup you look gorgy!
oats in a jar x1000 is totally the way to do it up