get'cher 'manic' on

I am wary of my slightly manic tendencies this morning. 

I woke early (thanks Kaylee and whatever wildlife she was protecting us from), finished listening to my audio book as I lay enjoying the grey cool dawn that hovered outside my soft warm bed, read a couple of chapters out of my Eat Right America booklet for inspiration, and then made a luscious breakfast saute of onion, potato and spinach. 

I cleaned up after breakfast (what?) and am dressed and ready for walking. It was when I clipped on my FitBit and wondered if I should make this a 10,000 step Saturday that I realized I was in manic mode.

Manic mode scares me, I don't have a great history of handling this abundance of energy very well, often overwhelmed by my intentions to the point of instigating a premature crash - as in on the couch with a bowl of something bad.

This morning is a little different because I am also in observer mode. What can I do around the house to make it feel better without stressing my back, what can I make to eat that doesn't entail using up what back I have so I can do something, anything, else besides cook today, and lets edit down the list of PT exercises I should be doing to just those that are ... least painful? most effective? fun? It's Saturday, I shouldn't be inflicting pain, not even upon myself. Maybe just the foam roller to stretch out the old spine - wonder what Katy thinks of that particular torture device.

So my Honey Do list (again, I am the honey) is shrinking as I type and after my walk I will pare it down even more; something along the lines of: clean off the patio table and pick up two flowers to plant in empty pots; walk morning, noon & evening to rack up those steps, and  pick up some pre-chopped veggies to throw in the crock pot with the greens I need to use up.

I'm so excited that the weather is going to be back down in the 80's for the day, that I only need to go into the office if I want, that I am looking forward to walking, and that healthy food is on my menu for the day.

As M would say, 'it's all good'.

Steps

This past week went fairly well, culminating in over ten thousand steps taken on Saturday. Some of those were beaten out on the treadmill and some tapped out while walking along with A down to feed the ducks. That was a good day. Today, not so much. Puttering around the house cooking and cleaning I am only up to...2431...and I don't anticipate accumulating many more this evening. Because Saturday I also sprained my foot a bit trying to keep up with a three year old. I am a little worried about the coming week. I am not laying out my gym clothes for the morning; I need to rest my foot at least one more day.

Instead of focusing on steps this week I will focus more on food. I have salad already chopped, and some veggie soup already made along with some small artichokes, corn on the cob, and a potato. Quick dinners and healthy lunches are in my immediate future.

I just need to keep my emotions in check, and if today is any indicator it will be a challenge. Sigh.

New Routine

I should have expected the gym to be busy at 6am - but somehow I was surprised at the plethora of full parking spaces this morning. I awoke early today, maybe from the excitement of a new job, or just nerves, but I was up and farming before 5am. I had laid out my gym clothes the night before in anticipation of hitting the treadmill this morning and I was dressed and driving down the road by 6:01. Now I am sitting here ready for work (except for shoes which continues to be a challenge); I am full of green smoothie, clean and shiny, have a salad packed for lunch with a homemade dressing (no oil) and 48oz of water to drink and an apple for the ride home are packed in my lunch bag. There is a new book on my shuffle for the commute and a good attitude in my head about this fresh start - they are my buoys for whatever is to come in this pretty almost spring day.

I have been busy all morning picking up after myself - I want to feel good about coming home too - and I have done more in this morning than I would normally get done in a whole day.  I am hoping for enough energy and mild enough weather to do some blank baling in the garage this evening; Senior games are three weeks away and I am on a mission!

I am a little worried about how manic I am this morning, but riding the energy and taking care of myself to alleviate a crash. I can do this :)

FitBit

My DD has ordered us each a Fit Bit - a nifty little tracker for everything health. I started logging my food again at their free site last night (www.fitbit.com) and found out I had managed to stay within my calorie range for the day. Knowing my approximate calories did keep me from eating last night after dinner, and that is a good thing. While I hate to go back to logging food I desperately need the help - so kudos out to my DD!