Trying for a Tri

Ugh. I’m having one of those low self-esteem days. I know I don’t even have to ask if you get these too, everyone does.

Chris and I had to cancel our bike ride for today because the weather got crappy, so I didn’t end up getting any workout in. I feel a touch over-stuffed and puffy from dinner. Worst of all, my hip is just not where I was hoping it would be today. I need to jump back on the tri training asap, and I have the feeling I will have to do the rest of my training with hip pain.

Running is the only thing that makes it worse. Luckily, I already have a good enough base in running that I’m not too worried about that part. It’s the biking that really concerns me. Cycling aggravates my hip temporarily, but doesn’t seem to do any long-term damage. So I’m thinking I’ll just plow through my cycling and swimming training, with minimal treadmill workouts for the running. That’s where I’m at today anyways.

I guess my self-esteem factors in because I think I’ve gained weight from my two weeks of low activity. Not a lot, but enough that I can tell when I look at my belly in the mirror (the only place where my extra pounds show up). I feel lazy from the lack of hard workouts. I really, really miss that “high” I get after a tough and sweaty workout.

Anyways. That’s my moaning and groaning quota for the week. I won’t put you through any more. Just tryin’ to keep it reeeeal y’all.

I woke up this morning wanting three things: oats, strawberries, yogurt. Which clearly led to this:

An oatmeal and yogurt parfait. These bowls are actually what got me eating oatmeal in the first place. Before last summer, I was not a regular oatmeal eater. It was granola and soy milk or giant bagels. I now like this a lot better Today’s mix:

• 1/2 cup Quaker big flakes
• 1 cup water
• 1 tbsp soy protein powder
• cinnamon
• 7 strawberries
• 1/2 cup yogurt w/ stevia and vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup Fiber One cereal

I was covering a trial today (this one had a jury!) so I packed quick and easy foods in case we only had short recesses.

Tuna pita, carrot sticks, red pepper slices, cocoa coconut chew Larabar, seven whole grain and almond Kashi bar, gala apple. Luckily, our breaks were perfectly spaced to meet my appetite, so my tummy didn’t have to yell at me today

After work, I picked up some new goggles!

I went to a local Triathlete store, thinking they’d have a better selection than the chain stores in the mall. They didn’t have the ones I was looking for, but the girl working was helpful and directed me towards these. She was nice enough to put up with me while I tried on a million goggles until I found ones that fit juuuuust right. Plus, she taught me the best technique for maximum suction. Can’t wait to try them out!! Currently, I’m emptying my goggles every two laps…

By the time I got home I was hungry and so not feeling any vigorous activity. I don’t get how people can go to the gym after 8 hours of work. I’d much rather get up at the crack of dawn to get my workout out of the way.

While my supper was cooking, I did some Yin Yoga moves Heather shared on her blog a few days ago. I contemplated doing a hip opening flow, but to be honest, I can’t stand flows. All the repetitive up and downs and chaturangas are just not my idea of a good time. Instead, I did just a handful of poses and held them for a few minutes each.

Swan
Deer
Dragon
Frog
Shoelace
Squat

Notice a common theme here? All hip poses! The frog and shoelace were particularly intense for me, but finishing in the squat pose was soooo nice. I should be practicing Yin poses more often. Who doesn’t have 15 minutes in to hang out and stretch?

I tried two new foods for dinner tonight! First, some Sol spicy bean burgers.

Not sure why there’s a need for caramel colour in a veggie burger, but otherwise pretty good! I like that there’s more protein than carbs. Sometimes veggie burgers can be just like eating another bun, between a bun.

New food number two was rutabaga! Turned into rutabaga fries a la Meghann.

First, the burger. I really liked it. It was nice and big. The texture was good, maybe a touch too soft. It was spicy, but not too spicy. Just enough to make my nose run

As for the rutabaga, I think I maybe should have Wikipedia-ed it first. Then I would have learned it was a turnip. Turnip is probably the only vegetable I don’t really care for. Actually, I think my mom makes mashed rutabaga with turkey dinner and just calls it turnip. Anyways, I baked it in a cajun spice and it was still pretty good (still ate it all!). Nothing beats my butternut squash fries though!

The boy just arrived, gotta wrap up! Tomorrow starts my “weekend,” yay! See ya tomorrow!