Have any of you seen this? I thought this was cool and can't wait to try it....
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Day 144 - Sunday, August 17, 2008
Good Eats
I have been realizing lately how therapeutic running has been for me in many different ways. One thing it has done has helped me become more in touch with my body. It has also helped me learn to appreciate it and love it for what it can and is capable of doing. I think that's one reason why I love Saturday's long runs. This is the time I am able to see what I can really do and what my possibilities could be. I have also learned to talk more kindly to myself. I am constantly needing to be aware of my thoughts as I run and encourage myself and talk nicely. It's amazing how you may feel that you are exhausted and need a small walk break. But if you tell yourself, "just run to the light" then when you get to the light you realize that you are not as tired as you once thought. Before I didn't like my body as much, and thought of it more as a means to get from point A to point B. I see now that I would not talk as nicely as I should have to it. I would criticize parts that I thought were not working as well, or that didn't look the way I wanted them to. I also realized that I didn't listen to it as much, and just thought of it more of a nuisance as it would get sick a lot, and prevent me from doing things I wanted to do. But as I have been running, as I have become more aware of different feelings I may have always been experiencing, but didn't realize in the past. I have been learning this summer how our body is always trying to communicate with us. Whether or not we choose to listen is another story.
Saturday after lunch I noticed that I began to get a bad headache and experience other symptoms. I began to realize that these were the same feelings I experienced when I took my Crohn's medicine that I had taken myself off of. I began to think about this as what I ate, I generally eat everyday. I was confused and wondered if I had always felt this way after I ate and just ignored it or didn't realize what was going on. In a sense I began to realize that not everyone feels this way after they eat, and this may be one reason why I tend to struggle in the afternoons after lunch. I'm not feeling well, and don't realize it (how sad is that). I began to do some research online and discovered this is a sign of a food intolerance. I didn't realize this. To me I only looked at how my stomach reacted and whether or not I could keep the food inside of me. Perhaps my body has been trying to tell me that it doesn't like a certain thing, but I haven't been able to notice this or make the connection before. I was frustrated as I didn't know what it was that I ate that made me react this way. I also realized that I really don't know what I could or could not eat. I always went by what others told me, or from books. These have helped in the past and have helped me get to where I am today, but I wanted to know for myself. So today I started an "elimination diet." This is where you eat in a sense 'minimum food,' like vegetables, and some fruit and meats for a few weeks to cleanse your body of all the other foods and then introduce one new food every few days to see how I react with it. You are also supposed to be aware of cravings you have, as you tend to crave or eat a lot of the foods you shouldn't. (that could be a whole other discussion on why this is). I'm excited about this, as I will really be able to see how I respond to the foods and what helps or hurts me. Of course to initiate this idea I decided to get some ice cream on Saturday. Yeah, I learned that ice cream is definitely one that I can't eat as it makes me break out in mouth sores (who knew mouth sores were a sign of food intolerances).
I have been realizing lately how therapeutic running has been for me in many different ways. One thing it has done has helped me become more in touch with my body. It has also helped me learn to appreciate it and love it for what it can and is capable of doing. I think that's one reason why I love Saturday's long runs. This is the time I am able to see what I can really do and what my possibilities could be. I have also learned to talk more kindly to myself. I am constantly needing to be aware of my thoughts as I run and encourage myself and talk nicely. It's amazing how you may feel that you are exhausted and need a small walk break. But if you tell yourself, "just run to the light" then when you get to the light you realize that you are not as tired as you once thought. Before I didn't like my body as much, and thought of it more as a means to get from point A to point B. I see now that I would not talk as nicely as I should have to it. I would criticize parts that I thought were not working as well, or that didn't look the way I wanted them to. I also realized that I didn't listen to it as much, and just thought of it more of a nuisance as it would get sick a lot, and prevent me from doing things I wanted to do. But as I have been running, as I have become more aware of different feelings I may have always been experiencing, but didn't realize in the past. I have been learning this summer how our body is always trying to communicate with us. Whether or not we choose to listen is another story.
Saturday after lunch I noticed that I began to get a bad headache and experience other symptoms. I began to realize that these were the same feelings I experienced when I took my Crohn's medicine that I had taken myself off of. I began to think about this as what I ate, I generally eat everyday. I was confused and wondered if I had always felt this way after I ate and just ignored it or didn't realize what was going on. In a sense I began to realize that not everyone feels this way after they eat, and this may be one reason why I tend to struggle in the afternoons after lunch. I'm not feeling well, and don't realize it (how sad is that). I began to do some research online and discovered this is a sign of a food intolerance. I didn't realize this. To me I only looked at how my stomach reacted and whether or not I could keep the food inside of me. Perhaps my body has been trying to tell me that it doesn't like a certain thing, but I haven't been able to notice this or make the connection before. I was frustrated as I didn't know what it was that I ate that made me react this way. I also realized that I really don't know what I could or could not eat. I always went by what others told me, or from books. These have helped in the past and have helped me get to where I am today, but I wanted to know for myself. So today I started an "elimination diet." This is where you eat in a sense 'minimum food,' like vegetables, and some fruit and meats for a few weeks to cleanse your body of all the other foods and then introduce one new food every few days to see how I react with it. You are also supposed to be aware of cravings you have, as you tend to crave or eat a lot of the foods you shouldn't. (that could be a whole other discussion on why this is). I'm excited about this, as I will really be able to see how I respond to the foods and what helps or hurts me. Of course to initiate this idea I decided to get some ice cream on Saturday. Yeah, I learned that ice cream is definitely one that I can't eat as it makes me break out in mouth sores (who knew mouth sores were a sign of food intolerances).
Day 143 - Saturday, August 16, 2008
Feeling somewhat of an improvement
Running this week has been something I have not wanted to talk about. It has been a big struggle and I didn't know what to do. I know a lot of it had to do with my low iron though. But Saturday I just began to feel really good during my long run and was excited to beat my best time so far. I was able to run the first 4 miles in 40 minutes. This was good for me to experience, as I thought that perhaps I am improving somewhat, and won't always be insanely slow. Now going back the 4 miles to home was a different story, but I was also experiencing a strong headwind at the time, and I realize that I am not use to running with a head wind.
Running this week has been something I have not wanted to talk about. It has been a big struggle and I didn't know what to do. I know a lot of it had to do with my low iron though. But Saturday I just began to feel really good during my long run and was excited to beat my best time so far. I was able to run the first 4 miles in 40 minutes. This was good for me to experience, as I thought that perhaps I am improving somewhat, and won't always be insanely slow. Now going back the 4 miles to home was a different story, but I was also experiencing a strong headwind at the time, and I realize that I am not use to running with a head wind.
Day 142 - Friday, August 15, 2008
Raspberry Juice Company
I went with my friend to IKEA for the afternoon, and then on our way back she was kind enough to go with me to Costco (so I wouldn't have to go on a Saturday). We went to the one in American Fork. As we got out of the car, she noticed a new store nearby called "Raspberry Juice." She wanted to know if I would be interested in trying it out after Costco. I was excited to be around someone who liked to try new things. She told me that she is trying to teach herself that healthy food does not need to taste gross, but can actually taste good. I didn't know how to respond to that comment. But this is a nice place. It's similar to Jamba Juice, but I think it tastes better. This must be a really new place, as I couldn't find it online yet... sorry.
I went with my friend to IKEA for the afternoon, and then on our way back she was kind enough to go with me to Costco (so I wouldn't have to go on a Saturday). We went to the one in American Fork. As we got out of the car, she noticed a new store nearby called "Raspberry Juice." She wanted to know if I would be interested in trying it out after Costco. I was excited to be around someone who liked to try new things. She told me that she is trying to teach herself that healthy food does not need to taste gross, but can actually taste good. I didn't know how to respond to that comment. But this is a nice place. It's similar to Jamba Juice, but I think it tastes better. This must be a really new place, as I couldn't find it online yet... sorry.
Day 141 - Thursday, August 14, 2008
The Move
After work, I went and helped my friend and her roommate move from their college dorm into an apartment. This was a lot of fun, and took a fairly good portion of the night. I am grateful that I have a car that was able to fit a lot of boxes and things in it, so we only needed to make a couple of trips.
After work, I went and helped my friend and her roommate move from their college dorm into an apartment. This was a lot of fun, and took a fairly good portion of the night. I am grateful that I have a car that was able to fit a lot of boxes and things in it, so we only needed to make a couple of trips.
Day 140 - Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Ah - ha moment... i think...
The past couple of weeks I have been struggling with energy. Tuesday and Wednesday were my worst. It was really bad, and something I hadn't experience this bad for awhile. Wednesday I finally realized that I may slightly be iron deficit. During my lunch break I went and got some iron pills. I had been iron deficit before, and was on iron pills, but stopped because I think I felt it was better. But hopefully being aware of this and working to build up my iron levels will help me get my energy and ability to do things back up. So needless to say, I really didn't do anything new today as I was EXHAUSTED!!! I was just grateful that I was able to make it to work.
The past couple of weeks I have been struggling with energy. Tuesday and Wednesday were my worst. It was really bad, and something I hadn't experience this bad for awhile. Wednesday I finally realized that I may slightly be iron deficit. During my lunch break I went and got some iron pills. I had been iron deficit before, and was on iron pills, but stopped because I think I felt it was better. But hopefully being aware of this and working to build up my iron levels will help me get my energy and ability to do things back up. So needless to say, I really didn't do anything new today as I was EXHAUSTED!!! I was just grateful that I was able to make it to work.
Day 139 - Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Physical Therapy
At the hospital they offer physical therapy as a service to those patients in need of it. I was asked by the physical therapist awhile ago (perhaps a year ago) if I could do an inservice with his volunteers and workers. We weren't able to get a date to do this until this week. I will be doing this twice during the week as they have different volunteers each day. This was a fun presentation to prepare for, as music therapy and the impact it has on the physical body was one of my passions in college. I felt like I did the majority of my papers on this subject. The inservice was a lot of fun, and of course didn't have enough time to talk about all the exciting things music can do to help or hinder ourselves. But the physical therapist and I are talking about helping each other with various groups and populations. This will take my area of expertise to another level.
At the hospital they offer physical therapy as a service to those patients in need of it. I was asked by the physical therapist awhile ago (perhaps a year ago) if I could do an inservice with his volunteers and workers. We weren't able to get a date to do this until this week. I will be doing this twice during the week as they have different volunteers each day. This was a fun presentation to prepare for, as music therapy and the impact it has on the physical body was one of my passions in college. I felt like I did the majority of my papers on this subject. The inservice was a lot of fun, and of course didn't have enough time to talk about all the exciting things music can do to help or hinder ourselves. But the physical therapist and I are talking about helping each other with various groups and populations. This will take my area of expertise to another level.
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