I don't often link to other things just because, but this one is worth the read. A little devotional thought for your morning:
http://bycommonconsent.com/2011/09/29/i-pray-you-bear-my-joy-awhile/
Thursday, September 29, 2011
On Ragnar
I thought about beefing this post up with pics, but they're all on facebook. So, if you want to see pictures of our Ragnar adventure, you can check them out there.
Now then, the experience was wonderful. Training can be boring, tedious, and challenging. If you're beginners like us, an exciting thing happens partway through training: you hit a personal best every single week. The training schedules are set up to help you gradually increase your distance and time while giving your body adequate time to recover. So you have a long run once per week, usually on Saturday, and some shorter runs during the week for recovery and building up to the next long run. After a certain point in our training, every single week was a new personal best. It was incredibly rewarding and motivating.
A great side benefit to all this training is that I feel great. I'm losing weight (12 pounds since pre-pregnancy weight) and my clothes fit great. Some of my pants are even baggy!
Blake and I both performed better than we expected on race day. I was having some knee and hip pain during my last leg and ended up walking the majority of it. Even then, I pushed myself into a fast walk--not a mere mosey--and finished with a very respectable time. I was so pleased with myself.
Even though we were running a race, it wasn't a super competitive, feel bad if you lose kind of race. The other runners were all so supportive. When I was walking for so long, many many people who passed me said supportive and encouraging things. I think they know that if someone is walking for so long, they've got to be struggling, and offer support. It really was so encouraging to have people rooting and cheering for me. Everyone else is also pushing to accomplish something, to reach a new personal best, and this creates a fun and supportive environment. Who wouldn't want to spend a couple days basking in that positivity? I was the slowest runner on our team but that didn't matter because my performance was my best yet. (My first leg was a personal best in both distance and pace. It was so fulfilling.)
There was another runner on our team, Emily, who is my new idol. She's funny and beautiful and intelligent and so fit. I have a serious school-girl crush on her. Anyway, she's run several Ragnar races before and trains in a CrossFit gym and has incredible stories to tell about all her adventures. I watched her run in awe. She was so fast and is one of those people that makes running look good. After finishing her last leg, she commented that this was a personal best for her: the first Ragnar she'd completed without taking any walk breaks. How cool is that? We're all pushing and achieving new things, even awesome Emily. (I also have school-girl crushes on Lauren and Natalie, but I think I've gushed on and on about Ragnar enough for one day.)
All in all, this was a fabulous experience. I will definitely do another of these races. And, completing this race gave me the extra boost of confidence I needed to sign up for my next challenge. I'm now officially registered to run the TinkerBell Half Marathon in January. I'll be running with team Special Olympics Southern California. I've got a fundraising page if anyone wants to sponsor me and donate to Special Olympics. I haven't personalized it yet, so I'll include a link to that later.
Oh, one more thing, to top off all the wonderfulness of our Ragnar experience, we hear that our little baby-kins was a very good girl with her grandparent babysitters. She seemed to be having a wonderful time with them. We're so glad they came to watch her for us. Knowing she was safe and well cared for allowed us to relax and have a great time.
Now then, the experience was wonderful. Training can be boring, tedious, and challenging. If you're beginners like us, an exciting thing happens partway through training: you hit a personal best every single week. The training schedules are set up to help you gradually increase your distance and time while giving your body adequate time to recover. So you have a long run once per week, usually on Saturday, and some shorter runs during the week for recovery and building up to the next long run. After a certain point in our training, every single week was a new personal best. It was incredibly rewarding and motivating.
A great side benefit to all this training is that I feel great. I'm losing weight (12 pounds since pre-pregnancy weight) and my clothes fit great. Some of my pants are even baggy!
Blake and I both performed better than we expected on race day. I was having some knee and hip pain during my last leg and ended up walking the majority of it. Even then, I pushed myself into a fast walk--not a mere mosey--and finished with a very respectable time. I was so pleased with myself.
Even though we were running a race, it wasn't a super competitive, feel bad if you lose kind of race. The other runners were all so supportive. When I was walking for so long, many many people who passed me said supportive and encouraging things. I think they know that if someone is walking for so long, they've got to be struggling, and offer support. It really was so encouraging to have people rooting and cheering for me. Everyone else is also pushing to accomplish something, to reach a new personal best, and this creates a fun and supportive environment. Who wouldn't want to spend a couple days basking in that positivity? I was the slowest runner on our team but that didn't matter because my performance was my best yet. (My first leg was a personal best in both distance and pace. It was so fulfilling.)
There was another runner on our team, Emily, who is my new idol. She's funny and beautiful and intelligent and so fit. I have a serious school-girl crush on her. Anyway, she's run several Ragnar races before and trains in a CrossFit gym and has incredible stories to tell about all her adventures. I watched her run in awe. She was so fast and is one of those people that makes running look good. After finishing her last leg, she commented that this was a personal best for her: the first Ragnar she'd completed without taking any walk breaks. How cool is that? We're all pushing and achieving new things, even awesome Emily. (I also have school-girl crushes on Lauren and Natalie, but I think I've gushed on and on about Ragnar enough for one day.)
All in all, this was a fabulous experience. I will definitely do another of these races. And, completing this race gave me the extra boost of confidence I needed to sign up for my next challenge. I'm now officially registered to run the TinkerBell Half Marathon in January. I'll be running with team Special Olympics Southern California. I've got a fundraising page if anyone wants to sponsor me and donate to Special Olympics. I haven't personalized it yet, so I'll include a link to that later.
Oh, one more thing, to top off all the wonderfulness of our Ragnar experience, we hear that our little baby-kins was a very good girl with her grandparent babysitters. She seemed to be having a wonderful time with them. We're so glad they came to watch her for us. Knowing she was safe and well cared for allowed us to relax and have a great time.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
On being 25
My sister-in-law posted on her blog recently about where she is in life right now. She was talking about how she still feels so young and wants to do fun and exciting things. Her post got me thinking about where I was at 25. (I just reread her post and realized she's 26, but for some reason the age 25 stuck in my head while I was thinking about this. So, I'm going with 25.) It's been a fun little retrospective; thanks for the indirect inspiration, Shelley!
At 25, I was starting my last semester at BYU. I had just barely decided I wanted to go to graduate school and squeezed a prerequisite psych course into my schedule. It was an eye-opening and inspiring class; I still think about it. I was Relief Society president in a student ward and was the oldest woman in the ward by 3 or 4 years. I was teaching beginning Spanish at the MTC.
Dating was fun, which was a revelation to me. Prior to this time I had approached dating with a whole lot of anxiety. I needed the men I dated to love me and breakups were crushing to my self-image. I had a hard time with the ambiguity and uncertainty of dating. Is this relationship going anywhere? Am I good enough? Am I crazy? What if he doesn't love me? What if he rejects me? Approaching relationships with this kind of anxiety leads to exactly that: rejection. Much as I tried to hide it, I'm sure I came across as needy and just a little crazy.
I remember having a sort of revelation in therapy. (Oh, that therapy! I can't speak highly enough about that experience and will be forever grateful to BYU that it was all free.) I had been talking about a man who was pursuing me quite intensely. I was trying to talk myself into liking him. My therapist pointed this out and then asked me if I wanted to date him. The answer was no. Whether this was something I wanted or not had never occurred to me. I could see good things in this man and see how being with me could really help him (I know that sounds terrible conceited, but that's a topic for another day.), but I had never considered whether he was good for me. I realized that the fact that I could find good things in him meant nothing about our [potential] relationship. That's a reflection of me; it's part of who I am. I see good things in everyone. So, if this wasn't about whether I'm good enough, the question became whether he's good for me, whether he's what I want.
This was earth-shattering. It was like I could feel my paradigm shift. Dating now had nothing to do with my worth and was not a reflection of my value. Going on a date (or just getting to know someone, for that matter) wasn't such a big deal anymore. I didn't have to know whether I would marry this person or seriously date this person. It wasn't an interview or try-out or see-if-Becca's-good-enough-session; it was just a date. Dating was fun! I had fun! I could relax and be myself. I was confident and happy and friendly without anxiety and without pressure. Not coincidentally, I dated a lot.
I think I really grew up at 25. I knew and liked myself. I felt satisfied with the person I had become and with all the hard work that had gone into discovering that. I stepped confidently into adulthood. Twenty-five was a good year.
At 25, I was starting my last semester at BYU. I had just barely decided I wanted to go to graduate school and squeezed a prerequisite psych course into my schedule. It was an eye-opening and inspiring class; I still think about it. I was Relief Society president in a student ward and was the oldest woman in the ward by 3 or 4 years. I was teaching beginning Spanish at the MTC.
Dating was fun, which was a revelation to me. Prior to this time I had approached dating with a whole lot of anxiety. I needed the men I dated to love me and breakups were crushing to my self-image. I had a hard time with the ambiguity and uncertainty of dating. Is this relationship going anywhere? Am I good enough? Am I crazy? What if he doesn't love me? What if he rejects me? Approaching relationships with this kind of anxiety leads to exactly that: rejection. Much as I tried to hide it, I'm sure I came across as needy and just a little crazy.
I remember having a sort of revelation in therapy. (Oh, that therapy! I can't speak highly enough about that experience and will be forever grateful to BYU that it was all free.) I had been talking about a man who was pursuing me quite intensely. I was trying to talk myself into liking him. My therapist pointed this out and then asked me if I wanted to date him. The answer was no. Whether this was something I wanted or not had never occurred to me. I could see good things in this man and see how being with me could really help him (I know that sounds terrible conceited, but that's a topic for another day.), but I had never considered whether he was good for me. I realized that the fact that I could find good things in him meant nothing about our [potential] relationship. That's a reflection of me; it's part of who I am. I see good things in everyone. So, if this wasn't about whether I'm good enough, the question became whether he's good for me, whether he's what I want.
This was earth-shattering. It was like I could feel my paradigm shift. Dating now had nothing to do with my worth and was not a reflection of my value. Going on a date (or just getting to know someone, for that matter) wasn't such a big deal anymore. I didn't have to know whether I would marry this person or seriously date this person. It wasn't an interview or try-out or see-if-Becca's-good-enough-session; it was just a date. Dating was fun! I had fun! I could relax and be myself. I was confident and happy and friendly without anxiety and without pressure. Not coincidentally, I dated a lot.
I think I really grew up at 25. I knew and liked myself. I felt satisfied with the person I had become and with all the hard work that had gone into discovering that. I stepped confidently into adulthood. Twenty-five was a good year.
Monday, September 26, 2011
On doing that mom thing
We have a home movie in which my cousin Scott is very small, playing with a toy snake, and singing little songs. Aunt Christine is in the background, silently singing the songs along with Scott. That's the mom thing I'm talking about. I've seen other moms do the same thing.
Bonnie's eating solids now. When we first started on solids she tried to hold the spoon all the time. She and I are finding a good rhythm now where I get the food in her mouth and she doesn't grab the spoon. It's better for everyone. However, I notice myself doing the mom thing. When she leans forward for a bite and opens her little mouth, I open my mouth too. She's not even looking at me, it's not that I'm doing it to try to show her that it's time to open up. I just open my mouth. I can't help it.
Bonnie's eating solids now. When we first started on solids she tried to hold the spoon all the time. She and I are finding a good rhythm now where I get the food in her mouth and she doesn't grab the spoon. It's better for everyone. However, I notice myself doing the mom thing. When she leans forward for a bite and opens her little mouth, I open my mouth too. She's not even looking at me, it's not that I'm doing it to try to show her that it's time to open up. I just open my mouth. I can't help it.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Update on Sugar
The no-sugar pre-race experiment was a success. I didn't notice a dramatic difference in how I felt, but cutting sugar out of my diet did make room for me to eat healthier overall. That felt good. It's been a week since the ban ended. I'm still doing well on a low-sugar diet. The experiment did what I wanted it to: shock me out of constant sugar cravings and binges. I'm feeling good.
It also opened my eyes to all the foods that have sugar added to them. Ketchup has a fair amount of sugar. And peanut butter. I bought a small jar to take with us on the race. I had some on a banana today, thought it tasted unusually sweet, and checked the label. Sugar was the second and third ingredient. I expected to find some but second AND third? Wowsers. Checked the label on the organic peanut butter I normally buy. It only has two ingredients: peanuts and salt.
So, I'm reading labels, making better choices, and taking control and responsibility for what I eat. All good.
It also opened my eyes to all the foods that have sugar added to them. Ketchup has a fair amount of sugar. And peanut butter. I bought a small jar to take with us on the race. I had some on a banana today, thought it tasted unusually sweet, and checked the label. Sugar was the second and third ingredient. I expected to find some but second AND third? Wowsers. Checked the label on the organic peanut butter I normally buy. It only has two ingredients: peanuts and salt.
So, I'm reading labels, making better choices, and taking control and responsibility for what I eat. All good.
Thursday, September 15, 2011
For the record
I hate it when people say 'preggers' or 'prego.' And I really hate references to babies being cooked: 'he's not fully baked yet, still needs more time cookin'.'
I do not like the current owl trend. If you're on pinterest, you probably know what I'm talking about.
Chalkboard paint or contact paper does not go on everything, and covering any old thing in chalkboard paint does not automatically make it 'cute' or 'clever' or 'so useful.' Covering a piano in chalkboard paint is a sin.
Blake went to work this morning with his hair spiked. His coworker said, "I can't believe your wife let you out of the house like that." He just laughed and said that I cut it, which is true. We get comments like this a lot these days. For the record, Blake is an adult, a grown man. I am not his mother. How he wears his hair is his business.
I do not like the current owl trend. If you're on pinterest, you probably know what I'm talking about.
Chalkboard paint or contact paper does not go on everything, and covering any old thing in chalkboard paint does not automatically make it 'cute' or 'clever' or 'so useful.' Covering a piano in chalkboard paint is a sin.
Blake went to work this morning with his hair spiked. His coworker said, "I can't believe your wife let you out of the house like that." He just laughed and said that I cut it, which is true. We get comments like this a lot these days. For the record, Blake is an adult, a grown man. I am not his mother. How he wears his hair is his business.
My decision to work (or not to work) has absolutely nothing to do with how much I love my daughter. Nothing.
And for the record, I'm feeling feisty today.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
On reaching a whole new level of crazy: sugar edition
I'm giving up sugar.
Allow me to explain. I ate super healthy while I was pregnant. It wasn't hard, really. After the Bonnie-kins was born, however, I started craving sugar like it was water and I was in the desert. I won't chronicle all the sugary things I ate, because that would be embarrassing. I tried just not buying sugary things when we went to the store, thinking maybe I'd do better if there wasn't any sugar in the house. I still found sugar to eat and then found myself wanting to buy something sugary every time I went out. Oh, I'll just stop in for a milkshake, those cupcakes are on sale . . . you get the idea.
So I've decided to do a sort of reset and go off sugar until our race. That'll be three weeks sans sweets. I'm on day 4. So far, so good. I feel good. I've had some cravings but feel so much better about eating some fruit or trail mix instead of cookies or marshmallows. I'm not going SUPER hard core, still eating bread, just whole wheat, no white. I'm sure the sauce on the stir fry served to us last night had some sugar in it, but I didn't want to be rude to our host and just had water and skipped the cookies for dessert.
I'm not committed enough to this no sugar thing to say I'll never eat a dessert again, but I'm willing to give it a trial run. Anyone else tried this? Suggestions?
Allow me to explain. I ate super healthy while I was pregnant. It wasn't hard, really. After the Bonnie-kins was born, however, I started craving sugar like it was water and I was in the desert. I won't chronicle all the sugary things I ate, because that would be embarrassing. I tried just not buying sugary things when we went to the store, thinking maybe I'd do better if there wasn't any sugar in the house. I still found sugar to eat and then found myself wanting to buy something sugary every time I went out. Oh, I'll just stop in for a milkshake, those cupcakes are on sale . . . you get the idea.
So I've decided to do a sort of reset and go off sugar until our race. That'll be three weeks sans sweets. I'm on day 4. So far, so good. I feel good. I've had some cravings but feel so much better about eating some fruit or trail mix instead of cookies or marshmallows. I'm not going SUPER hard core, still eating bread, just whole wheat, no white. I'm sure the sauce on the stir fry served to us last night had some sugar in it, but I didn't want to be rude to our host and just had water and skipped the cookies for dessert.
I'm not committed enough to this no sugar thing to say I'll never eat a dessert again, but I'm willing to give it a trial run. Anyone else tried this? Suggestions?
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