My gym is a little white!

On my run yesterday I snapped a couple of pics....the run it self was wonderful, on top of the snow feels like fluffy clouds but also at the same time a little bit like squishy sand too, makes for foot placement while running a challenge, but hey, I figure that means I am working different muscles in my legs by doing so.
The days are much shorter now, so makes running difficult to fit in....last week I went a whole week without running....I got my self into a bit of a funk so to speak. I have been working graveyards, day shift, afternoon shifts..alllll over the place, so it have been a huge challenge to get any type of routine down, yet alone stay sane. So last week I finally had my mental snapping moment, I broke.
I did not run, I just about quite my job, and I ate a lot of sugar crap. NOT GOOD LAST WEEK AT ALL.
However, the important things is that I got my self out of my slump and I am back on track....no need to give up at all, just get back on the bus and keep going, that is the most important advice I can give. I no longer beat my self up over missing one run, or eating a handful of choc covered blueberries. I just start again with the next RIGHT decision.

Quilters unite....errr...ummm maybe not

 My sister is the quilter of the family....I AM NOT. Some people have certain skills in certain areas and this is one area that I do NOT have skills. I went to Walmart and bought my self a quilting cutting board thing, and then bought a rotary cutting thing. As you can read...I also have NO quilting lingo skills either....all things quilting will be regarded as "thingy", so if you don't know what I am speaking of then to bad, contact my sister for a interpretation lol.
So last night I started on the "pile" in the dining room. This pile has been growing for a few months. It is the jeans pile that has been collected by me from various share sheds. Why buy used ones when I can get them for free!!!! So I don't have one of those special square quilting thingies, so I used a square like bowl that my husband found in the cupboard here for me lol....yes, he too has now become involved in this...and by involved I mean he gives his two cents worth on what he thinks I am doing wrong! Interesting right!!!! Yeah...that did NOT last long as I gave him the "look". It's funny how he becomes an expert on ALL things I try even though he has NEVER done them lol. As he likes to say "but I'm must trying to help you hun". LOL.
So anyways, back to the "pile", I started on this journey smiling.....this is how it looked after 10 minutes...

Guess what I'm thinking LMAO...
I'm thinking "who does this for fun?" No really.....is this fun? At what point does this become fun? Is this also relaxing...like yoga? Is this yoga for quilters? HELP ME UNDERSTAND THIS INSANITY LMAO.
So, I ended up cutting out approx 80 squares....are they all perfect squares...HELL NO...sheesh...I really have no idea what to do with the next step either, cause this first step was so exhausting I can't imagine this fun getting any better....I will mention that I did get through that process with out any profanity, so for this I should get a special quilting award just for that.
So this is what I have decided.....my sister shall have no fear of me want to take over her quilting retreats EVER...in fact I will only attend one if I can become the entertainment factor of it, where I can sit and mock the happy quilters....seriously, someone needs to do some stand up comedy routine on this stuff, cause I really do think it would be endless.
The other thing I have decided is this....I will complete this ONE quilt, my own jean quilt to cuddle with, it may take a LONG time, but I will get it done, it may look like a MAN did it, but I don't care.
Wish me luck!

The results are in!

Went to the doctor yesterday for a full physical and to get the results from some blood work I had done last week. A co worker of mine suggested that I get my fasting glucose and cholesterol done....so I did and here are the results:
Glu Fast          3.9     The average range is 4.1-5.6 ( I am wonderfully healthy in the sugar dept)
Triglyceride    1.19    The average range for this one is 1.70 (again, I am in great condition in this area)
HDL              0.98    The average range is 1.30 (this is were I am a wee low...this means I have to eat more oils or things like avocados and walnuts, or take a fish oil supplement....which won't be happening since I am now vegan lol.
I have made an appointment with a local nutritionist now through the doctor and have to write down everything I eat for the next three weeks so the nutritionist has a starting point to work with as well.
So some exciting results and exciting changes in the future!

Love is........

Being kidnapped by your husband after working and 8 night stretch of graveyard shifts and taken to a town where I can really shop!!!
This is what my husband did for me a few weeks ago. So sweet of him.

Even better was that he picked a hotel right downtown so I could just walk right out the door and spend all the time I wanted at a used book store five doors down. AND....the book store is closing out so I left with with HUGE bag of books and it was AWESOME.

You know it's true love when you get excited by TWO beds for sleeping LMAO....yes..we did sleep separately....it was sooooooooooooooooooo great! Yes I love my husband, but we love sleep too lol.

It was so weird to be in the "big city" lol, looking out the window and seeing more then 4 cars LOL...how can you tell I have turned into a country girl :-)
Anyways...it was a wonderful whirlwind 24 hr trip of escape from our small town, but it's always nice to get back to the slower pace that's for sure!

All I want is.....

A few little midgets in a battery operated cart to follow behind me and gather my layers of clothes that I would like to strip off while running. (and yes I am aware that I was just totally politically incorrect with that statement, get over it) I start out cold, but then warm up and wish I had someone to take my layers, rather then having to keep them on and sweat my ass off!!!

Secondly I would also require them to be my personal cheer leaders as well, I mean, if they are out there anyways following behind me, the least they can do is motivate me!!! I am just sayin!

I believe these fellows might be available once they are out of jail!

Waiting for results.....

I was advised to go to the doctor and get my fasting glucose levels and cholesterol levels taken. Why? Why not...again...I think it was great advice really. I think it will benefit me to know where I stand and know that I have a place to measure from.
Since starting to eat as a vegetarian at the end of August, I have lost around 20 pounds....I don't know for sure, as I did not want to step on the scale as a measure, I just wanted to feel better. But in October I thought what the hell, so I did, and now I have some idea of where I am at.
I feel soooooooooooooooo much better though...lots of energy and an overall great sense of well being. I love walking and running as well, which helps this whole process.
I have decided to take the next step in to being Vegan. This has thrown my Mother into a tale spin, as I am going there for Christmas...so she has turned into a crazy person on the internet looking for recipes for making me a vegan Christmas dinner.
I told her I would make my own food, but I find it rather cute and funny that she is making an effort which is very nice. I am sure that she will be the only one willing to make this sacrifice for me as everyone else seems to freak out when I tell them I no longer eat meat, milk, cheese or eggs. So I have a feeling that I may be bringing all my own meals if we EVER get invited out again lol.

  

Crazy, radical, what for?

These are some of the questions I have fielded since I stopped eating meat 2 months ago. My answer has mostly been "why not" back to people. However....I think it's about to get worse LOL.
I am have been contemplating going on a completely plant based eating plan....some call it vegan, not vegetarian, because, vegans don't eat dairy, or eggs or basically anything with a face lol. Well there have been a lot of arguments now between the two worlds of plants based eating and vegan eating, each with their own views on the subject. I personally don't care either way..all I know is that I won't be eating eggs or cheese or milk on top of my already not eating meat.
Why you ask? lol...and I will say why not...again. I have ordered some books on line about the whole plant based eating lifestyle. So I am not going to try this just quite yet, as I would like to do some more research yet.
I am sure my family will have me institutionalized for this one, I am sure I will hear a lot of "well now this going to far" or "your crazy".....I already get a lot of..."I could NEVER go without my meat"...and I say to them "that's nice, good for you". I don't really care either way if you eat meat or not, this is MY choice, not anyone else.
And like I said about being a vegetarian, if I don't like it, I can always stop and starting eating meat again. Well the same with the next step...if I don't like eating only plants based meals, I can always start drinking milk and eating eggs again lol.
I stopped eating dairy products a little while back for about 2 months, that was all I at that time was able to do it for. I am a HUGE milk and cheese fan...I could guzzle milk like an out of control lunatic. I could also eat POUNDS of yummy cheese. So for me, not having those particular things will be a challenge.
So I shall see how this next stage in my adventure will pan out. Who knows, I may only last a week without once I start this...either way...it's not gonna kill me!

This will be my reading material for the next few weeks while I decide what I am going to do and how I am going to go about doing it! Wish me luck!!!