YOU Inspire Me

So, if you read this post, you know I've been kinda lacking in self-discipline... and I've been making lame-o excuses for my skipped workouts and poor diet.

But I just spent this afternoon reading YOUR blogs. All my favorites, all my fellow challengers... I am now updated on your lives.

Let me tell you... YOU inspire me!

• Despite bad moods, fights with spouses and awful days at work, you still have the gumption to go to the gym and do your workout.

• You have lost amazing amounts of weight with awesome amounts of self-discipline.
  

• You continue your steady weight loss, moving toward your goals with determined focus.

• You are committed to healthy living, whether it means eating vegetables, lifting weights or making time for your spiritual needs.

• You overcome all types of difficult challenges--illness, deaths of loved ones--and you still persevere.

• You give your whole heart and soul to your life, whether it's your family, your spouse, your health or your church.

You inspire me!

I plan on jumping on the treadmill today and running my heart out. You've made me feel as if anything is possible... as if my dreams are within my reach!

Thank YOU!

What do YOU do when you exercise?

Some of us listen to music... others watch TV... some folks read a magazine.

For me, it depends on the workout routine I'm completing.

Treadmill Running: I always watch TV, and will sometimes plan my run so it happens when there's a "good" show scheduled.

Outside Running: I almost always listen to music on my MP3 player. On rare occasions Hubby joins me, in which case I chat with him.

Lifting Weights: Again, I watch TV. Our gym equipment is in our basement, and we have a TV in the same room.

Karate Drills: This is the one workout where I really focus on what I'm doing. Usually the TV is on, but I don't watch it unless I need a break.

Elliptical: TV again.

So what do YOU do when you workout?

Healthy Coffee

I used to be a big coffee drinker, but I made the switch to black tea a year or so ago. I switched because I thought tea was healthier, plus it had less caffeine. However, had I known about Ganocafe healthy coffee, I might have stayed a coffee drinker.

This brand of coffee has less caffeine and less acid than regular java, making it a great choice for drinkers who get an upset tummy after drinking too much coffee. It's organic, and the coffee is grown without pesticides and chemicals. It also comes in multiple flavors--including "cream and sugar added"--to satisfy everyone's taste buds.

Although I mostly drink tea, I do sometimes enjoy the occasional cup of coffee. And when I do, I always prefer a natural, organic brand.

The Results? No Results.

As some of you may remember, I dabbled with the idea of completing a modified version of The New York Body Plan... a program that previously gave me dramatic (water) weight loss results.

Well... it just didn't happen. I couldn't even make it through one day of the program. Here's my LAME-O LIST OF EXCUSES:

• I lack self-discipline.
• I've been totally stressed about my job, causing lots of wine drinking and munchies.
  
• I've lost my motivation.
• I've been unusually tired.
• I've been battling hives.
• My plantar fasciitis has grown worse, but I don't get fitted for orthotics until May.
  

Sounds like a total crock o' sh*t, doesn't it?

So anyway... I'll be attending this black tie event with too much bloat and not enough lean muscle. And I'll probably be self-conscious the whole time.

But May is right around the corner. In fact, Michelle--our fearless Challenge leader--has already issued a call for May participants, and I have answered her call.

As you can see from my lame-o list, I have a tendency to make excuses.

But there's no excuse for not taking care of myself. There' s no excuse for mindlessly munching junk food night after night, and for skipping workouts because of sheer laziness.

I haven't yet decided on a goal for May... but one of them might include making May a "No Excuse" month!

5 Meals

Recently, fellow Challenger Joy commented on my 5-meals-a-day habit. I thought it might be a good time to explain it--or at least explain the way I approach it, since I realize some people might not be very familiar with it.

(Note: I think that people should pick the diet and nutrition plan that works best for their appetite, lifestyle and needs. Some people do best with three squares a day, others are "grazers" who nibble all day long. Like everything else in life, not everything works for every person.)

I mostly started adopting the mini-meal principle the first time I tried the Body for Life Challenge. Bill Phillips suggests eating 6 meals per day. I found that just too difficult, but I can usually manage five.

As I continued reading and learning about fitness, I realized that many bodybuilders, fitness competitors and fitness models also eat mini-meals throughout the day. It's also promoted in different diet books, such as The Ultimate New York Body Plan and The Abs Diet.

Advocates of the mini-meal plan say that it...

• Keeps your metabolism revved
• Prevents hunger and feelings of deprivation
• Keeps your energy levels high
• Fuels your muscles for growth and strength gains

When adopting a mini-meal plan, it's important to remember that the meals are supposed to be much smaller than a typical 3-a-day meal. A mini-meal for me might consist of one veggie burger, half a baked sweet potato, and some plain green beans. Some meals are a bit larger... others are a bit smaller.

Mini-meals take a lot of preparation. Since I eat so frequently, I have to have easy-to-grab meals on hand--soups, salads, sandwiches. I do a lot of "cooking ahead" so there's always something quick to heat-and-eat in my fridge.

I don't always eat 5 mini-meals. It can be difficult to maintain that diet, especially during weekends, special events or travel. There are times when I'll eat two larger meals and two smaller meals, or perhaps three larger meals and two very small snacks. Life requires flexibility and adjustment. I'm not super-strict about my diet, which is one reason my abs are still like jelly.

Win Prizes In A Popularity Contest

PRESS RELEASE
Charlotte, NC (PRWEB) April 24, 2007 -- Arcavate Corporation, a leader in web 2.0 innovation and fun, announces the beta launch of its newest site, whogets.com. WhoGets combines all the excitement of winning great prizes with the viral interactive power of a voting community.

In a game show format, WhoGets.com offers members the chance to win a huge array of prizes in its online contests. They simply enter the contests for the products that interest them. The contestant has the opportunity to tell the community members why they should vote for him. whogets members decide who wins each contest. The contestant with the most votes wins the prize. There are no offers to complete, and whogets will not solicite its members for any other offers. There's no fee for membership or for joining the contests. If a member would rather skip the contest and buy one of the prizes outright, he can take advantage of the Buy It Now feature.

There isn't any other site like whogets.com. We are excited to see where the community takes it. It should be fun
"There isn't any other site like whogets.com. We are excited to see where the community takes it. It should be fun," Russ Snapper said.

WhoGets is just one more way Arcavate delivers on its simple philosophy -- offer friendly, fun, innovative sites that create value for their visitors.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Well, it's sort of a popularity contest. The new contest website whogets.com has brought a new spin to online contests and sweepstakes.

Contests are open to members only (but membership is free, and the website promises no spam). During the "semi-final" phase, any member can sign up for the contest. After a week or two, the contest moves to "final" phase. During that time, seven final contestants are randomly selected. Those seven get a chance to post 100 words or less about anything they want--such as why they want to win the contest, an abbreviated autobiography or a rant about shopping carts with wobbly wheels. Other whogets.com members vote for their favorite contestant. At the end of the "final" phase--usually in a week or two--the finalist with the most votes wins a prize.

If you don't mind taking a chance on making it to the finals round, and you're pretty clever with the written word, you might have a chance of winning one of these prizes (ranging from $10 to $600).

Daily Update

I seem to often write "This Is My Life" type posts, when many of you may simply be interested in my lifestyle as it relates to my health.

So, on occasion, I'll just post "Daily Updates" that give you details about that day's diet and workout routine.

Diet

• Meal 1: Shredded wheat, rice milk, soy sausage patties
• Meal 2: Large green salad with veggies, chick peas and oil/vinegar dressing, almonds
  
• Meal 3: Stir-fry veggies with tofu and rice
• Meal 4: Sunflower seeds

Workout

• 5.25 mile run on treadmill
• Stretching

I usually try and eat five meals, but I just couldn't find time to squeeze them in today. I'll make a special effort to do so tomorrow.

Tomorrow's workout plan is an upper body strength training day. I'll probably do some light cardio, too.

Birthday Hangover

Yesterday was my birthday. (woo hoo)

Today I am hungover. (ugh. ick.)

I'm doing pretty lousy at my "two drink minimum" April challenge. (boo. hiss.)

The beach is only a month away. (Oh no!)

But I can't even concentrate because of my headache. (Ouch. Ow.)

So I think I'm going back to bed. (zzzzzzz...)

Exercise Induced Hives

I've been struggling with a problem for quite a while: exercise (or heat) induced hives.

Basically, when I get too hot, I break out into a bunch of itchy bumps... they're like mosquito bites, except bigger and itchier.

Since heat tends to do this to me, I generally end up with hives after every workout--especially a long run.

I've tried changing my diet. Taking cool showers. Changing my diet again. I take Benadryl when they get unbearable.

But they still kept coming... and they seemed to get worse.

Finally... yesterday... I broke down and took an OTC non-drowsy allergy relief pill (a generic version of Claritin). I've been avoiding this because Hubby says I'll probably have to take them pretty regularly if I want them to work... and I don't like to take any medication on a regular basis. I would have preferred to solve my issue the natural way.

Anyway, I took the medication and didn't break out in a single hive yesterday after my workout.

Although I hate taking meds, I have to admit that it was a relief to be hive-free for an evening.

Now we'll just see if these little white pills keep on working...

Mortgage News

Hubby and I are in the process of looking for a new home. We're not in any hurry--we could stay in our current home quite contently for another few years. But we know that one day we want some acreage, an eco-friendly home, and lots of space to grow.

As a result, we keep our ear to the ground when it comes to mortgage news. So I was very pleased to find the website MortgageLowDown.com, which is full of up-to-date info about mortgage interest rates, refinancing advice, and more. A lot of the guidance offered on the site can help the average borrower. For example, you can find information about the pros and cons of reverse mortgages, as well as news about taxes and real estate.

If you're thinking about buying a home in the future, it's always wise to do a little research at sites like this to ensure you're making an informed decision.

Asian Fare

I believe that traditional Asian meals can be a very healthy way to eat. Because of this (and my own Asian heritage), I like to incorporate Asian dishes into my daily menus.

I grew up in a German/Irish household (that relied heavily on meat & potato dishes), so I've never been exposed to genuine Asian cooking. All of my Asian cooking has been learned from cookbooks and the occasional TV cooking show.

As a result, my Asian dishes are fairly limited, but they are fairly healthy. Here are some examples:

Fried rice: I use a non-stick pan so I need very little oil. I use a mix of leftover brown and white rice. I skip the egg, and I use frozen peas & carrots for simplicity. Sometimes I dice in some onion if I have the time. I'll also add cubed tofu. Generally I try to use light soy sauce, but occasionally I add a splash of the regular kind. The extra saltiness adds to the flavor, I think.

Miso soup: I use a homemade mushroom broth, white miso and sometimes add a few bits of seaweed. I slice up mushrooms if I have them in the fridge, and will also occasionally add a spoon of brown rice. On rare occasions I'll toss in other veggies, too, like grated carrot or some spring onions.

Sushi rolls: My kind aren't actually sushi, because I don't season the rice. I use white sticky rice and roasted nori. My filling is almost always avocado, although sometimes I use cucumber or grated carrot, too. I sometimes sprinkle toasted sesame seeds on the rice. I guess they're more rice balls than sushi rolls.

Stir-fry: I suppose this is an Asian dish, though I tend to think it's very Americanized now. Again, I use a non-stick pan so I can avoid too much oil. I basically toss in whatever veggies are convenient--usually frozen broccoli and cauliflower, chopped carrots and chopped onion. I typically add cubed tofu, too. I season with a dash of soy sauce. Often I serve this over brown rice, but I've eaten it plain, too.

I make a few other things on rare occasions, like fresh spring rolls, Pad Thai or soba noodles. For the most part, however, this is the extent of my Asian cooking. I'd love to eat more Asian foods, however.

Anyone have suggestions for quick and healthy Asian dishes?

"Company" Dinner

Tonight my parents are coming over for dinner.

Hubby said I should serve vegan food only (in response to my mother's lack of hospitality when I dine in her home). But I know that serving my typical healthy meals would only make my parents uncomfortable. The idea of tofu, beans or other "health" foods makes them squirm.

So I've devised what is, I think, a pretty good compromise. I admit, however, that it's designed to show my mother that it's possible to put together a meal for vegans and meat-eaters with very little extra work.

Here's the menu:

• Salad: A basic, green salad with baby spinach and romaine lettuce. Nothing intimidating about this, and it should appeal to everyone. I'll have Ranch dressing for those who prefer it, and oil/vinegar dressing, too.

• Italian Baked Tilapia: Hubby will prepare the fish, which will be baked with diced tomatoes, a little bit of garlic, some lemon juice and fresh basil. This will rest on a small bed of...

• Whole wheat Italian pasta: I chose a thin spaghetti so the bed of pasta seems like a lighter "side" (instead of making the dish feel like a heavier spaghetti meal). I'll toss it with a very light sauce of cooked diced tomatoes, olive oil, garlic, fresh basil, fresh oregano and maybe some sundried tomatoes. For the meat-eaters, Hubby will toss in some cooked shrimp and shredded cheese right before topping it with a filet of Tilapia. I will garnish with fresh basil leaves and then serve plated.
  

• Rolls: Rather than serving garlic bread, I am opting for fresh-baked rolls.
  

The meat-eaters get fish as their main dish, with pasta and salad as their sides. I will eat the pasta (without the shrimp and the cheese) as my main dish, with salad as a side.

Truthfully, the pasta would probably be good without the addition of the shrimp. But I have a hard time creating healthy dishes that my family likes, and I thought it might help make this one more appealing to them.

Hopefully the meal will be tasty. I am also hoping Mom learns that vegans and meat-eaters can basically eat the same meal with just a teeny tiny bit of extra effort.

Help Me Choose A Dress!

As I've mentioned, Hubby and I are going to a "Black Tie Optional" event. I've got three dress choices. Please help me choose the one that's most flattering! (Also, I want to be "dressed up" enough, but not overdressed.)

(Ignore my weird facial expressions... Hubby kept cracking jokes while taking the photos!)


This dress would need to be hemmed, since it drags in the back. It's your basic black halter dress. The material is a nice weight. It's a tad snug in the chest area... I can't gain an ounce if I want to fit into it.
















This dress is a silver, which isn't the best color for me. It's fairly thin, flowing material. The band underneath my chest is a line of black embroidered roses. It's the most comfortable, but may actually be just a teeny tiny bit too big.














This dress is just a bit snug on me. It has an "illusion" bodice--basically black beading on a sheer black mesh, which is over a "flesh" colored lining. I'd have to get the shoulders adjusted and the bottom hemmed.














So... which one do you think I should wear? I'll be meeting many of Hubby's co-workers for the first time, so I want to look--and feel--confident.

Decisions

A strict version of The Ultimate New York Body Plan (UNYBP) probably won't work for me because it's too low carb. I run 15-20 miles per week, plus regularly engage in other aerobic activities. I'd be totally dragging without some oatmeal and brown rice!

However, I am going to try to modify it a bit.

So I'll start this modified UNYBP on Monday, April 16.

My modified version will follow these rules:

I will eliminate the ABCDEFs from my diet, which means NO:

• Alcohol
• Bread (white)
• Starchy carbs (white)
• Dairy
• Extra sweets
• Fruit

I will eat 5 mini meals each day.

My diet modification: I will eat a serving of whole grain carbs (sweet potatoes, whole wheat bread, brown rice, oatmeal, etc.) the first 2 or 3 meals of the day. (Or, in rare cases, a whole grain carb may be replaced with a small piece of fruit.) The last 2 or 3 meals will not contain any starchy carbs or fruit.

I will stick to the exercise plan as written in the UNYBP book, which includes a cardio workout each day, plus either the "Cardio Sculpt" routine, an abs/core routine, or a legs/butt routine.

So basically my only modification will be adding whole grains/fruit to my first 2 or 3 meals each day.

Now... I am completing this challenge during the last part of a month when I don't plan to weigh myself! So I'll only know my end weight, not my starting weight.

But this should be pretty interesting anyway.

The Ultimate New York Body Plan

I am not a big fan of fad diets. However, I once tried The Ultimate New York Body Plan by David Kirsch.

I have a black tie optional event to attend at the end of this month... a little more than 2 weeks from now. I want to both look and feel my best, and I'm seriously considering this plan again.

This 14-day plan includes both a diet and exercise program. The diet is very strict. It cuts out what he calls the ABCDEFs... alcohol, bread, starchy carbs, dairy, extra sweets and fruit. The diet is kinda hard for a vegan to follow, since it relies heavily on meat. It is definitely a low-carb type diet.

The exercise program is very intensive. Only people who are already fit can probably complete it, but he includes a "pre-program" for exercise for folks who need to start a little lighter. Generally speaking, however, expect to spend 1 to 1 1/2 hours on exercise each day.

Since the plan only lasts for 14 days, Kirsch seems to think that most people can stick with it. In my experience, however, only the very dedicated with make it through.

Nonetheless, the plan works. A pound a day of weight loss is not unusual, making it a great program if you're looking to trim down for a special event (like a black tie optional charity dinner).

Although Kirsch offers a maintenance program that allows you to gradually start eating carbs again, I imagine most people end up re-gaining all the weight.

But for a one-night/one-weekend event, this plan can help you slim down a little and feel a lot better about yourself.

I'm still not sure I'm going to try it. It's so low-carb that I always worry I won't have enough energy to complete my long runs... and I won't sacrifice running for anything. I may, however, try a modified version, with carbs added to my first few meals of the day.

I'll let you know what I decide.

Fatigue

I am very, very tired today. This could be a result of:

• Too much wine at my parent's home yesterday
• Not enough sleep last night (I tossed and turned for hours)
• Lack of exercise (I skipped a bunch of workouts last week)
• PMS
  

Not sure the reason for it, but am doing my best to counter it with healthy food. I may force myself onto the treadmill later today, just so it feels like I did something.

This last week was strange. I didn't do much exercise. I didn't really stick to my meal plan. Yet I feel as if I've lost some weight! (I can't say for certain, however, because I haven't stepped on the scale. At least I'm sticking to one challenge goal!)

Planning to do some cooking tonight so I have lots of food to nibble on all week long. Will probably make a bean/corn salad, and maybe a few other things, too.

Easter Meal

There are two types of people in my life who invite me to their home for a meal:

#1: Those who make an effort to prepare a few vegan dishes (to be enjoyed by everyone) so I have something to eat without feeling out of place.

#2: Those who either ask me to bring my own food or simply prepare nothing suitable for my diet so I stand around feeling like an ass, then just look at me apologetically and say, "I didn't know what to make you."

Now, I always offer to bring my own dish when invited to someone's home for a meal. Generally I try to make something that can be shared by everyone, but will also serve as a main entree for myself (such as pasta salad or a mock Shepherd's Pie).

For the most part, people who fall into category #2 gratefully accept my offer to bring a dish. It certainly saves them the time and hassle of providing for me.

And though I don't mind it, there's always a little part of me that's irritated. This is because I believe in this sentiment:

A guest is a jewel that rests on the cushion of hospitality. ~Nero Wolfe

In my view of hospitality, inviting someone to your home for a meal means that you provide the food... especially if you're providing the food for all your other guests. (Potluck meals, of course, are the exception. But in that case everyone is bringing a dish, not just one person.)

So, although I bring my own dishes without complaint, I always feel a tad annoyed by category #2 people.

And, unfortunately, this is the category into which my mother falls.

Family meals, special events and holiday dinners typically occur at my parent's home. Not once in the past five years has my mother prepared a dish that's suitable for me. At most, I can expect her to have a fruit salad (and, if she remembers, she might dish out some green beans for me before she adds the ham broth).

This wouldn't bother me much--knowing that my mother is slightly flaky--except she regularly prepares special meals for everyone else. She makes chocolate desserts (without nuts!) especially for my husband. She serves up country ham because "your father likes it." And "your brother wants scalloped oysters, so I'm having those, too."

Even my husband has remarked at my mother's obvious displays of favoritism.

I need to learn to let go of this anger and just accept my mom for who she is. Because right now this casts a pallor over holidays, and I'm already dreading Easter dinner.

(Ironically, my mother-in-law is a kind, thoughtful woman who belongs in wonderful category #1.)

Groceries

Hubby and I went grocery shopping yesterday. Usually we go every week, but this time it had been almost two weeks since our last trip. (We were stocking up because we had a coupon for 10% off our entire order.)

Sometimes our bill can be super-high, especially since Hubby eats meat and I eat a lot of meat substitutes--so we have to buy two main dish-type foods for each meal!

Anyway, I won't bore you with the lame-o details of everything we bought (like toilet paper and hand soap), but here's a quick list of some of the food items:

Produce: bananas, red grapefruit, red delicious apples, red leaf lettuce, onions, russet potatoes, cucumber, cilantro, garlic, asparagus, lemon, lime

Canned/Boxed Goods: kidney beans, black beans, chickpeas, spaghetti sauce, tuna, saltines

Seafood Section: shrimp, scallops

Refrigerator Section: Earth Balance vegan margarine, soy sausage patties, tofu, pre-mixed protein drinks, eggs, refrigerator biscuits

Freezer Section: frozen corn, chocolate torte dessert

Bread aisle: loaf of whole wheat bread, crispbread

That's most of it, though there were probably a few items I missed. Some of them (like the chocolate and the eggs) belong exclusively to Hubby. Others (like the tofu and soy sausage patties) are just for me. And some things (like the onions and asparagus) we share together.

It seemed like an awful lot of food at the time! Of course, I did really stock up on things that will last (like beans) because of that coupon.

VOIP Forum

About a year ago I tried VOIP. It would have saved me a lot of time and hassle if a service like the Vonage VOIP Forum had been available at that time.

The forum provides VOIP users--and potential users--to access news, information and customer service. It's a quick and painless way to get the help you need without spending hours waiting for a telephone representative.

Of special interest to me is the customer forum, since I spend a fair amount of time on Internet message boards. Customers get a chance to discuss everything from VOIP activation to outages to routers. Spend some time browsing that forum to get the "inside scoop" on VOIP.

The Spouse Effect

Although Hubby generally tries to eat healthy and exercise, he's a bit more lax about his program than I. Mostly this is because he can lose weight quickly. All it takes is a few weeks of total dedication for him to drop five pounds. I, on the other hand, struggle to lose every ounce.

As a result, he splurges on "cheat" meals more often than I do. And he skips a lot more workouts, too.

Unfortunately, his behavior rubs off on me. I call it The Spouse Effect.

This would be ok if The Spouse Effect was only an issue on weekends. But his workdays are sporadic. It's not unusual for him to work four days in a row and then have six days off.

Those six days off can mean almost an entire week of struggle against The Spouse Effect.

And, like everything else, it gets harder to fight over time. I'll be totally dedicated and steadfast in the face of The Spouse Effect for the first day or two. But by day three or four, Hubby's encouragement for Chinese take-out or an Italian dinner usually breaks through my weakening barriers.

And it's always easier to skip a workout when your spouse is skipping his, too.

I've tried encouraging Hubby to exercise more and make better food choices, but it seems like his bad habits tend to rub off more than my good ones.

I have to find an effective way to counter The Spouse Effect. Anyone have any tricks or tips to offer?

April Challenge Partners

Giving a shout out to my April Challenge partners:

Tiffany

and

Tigerlilly

Stop by and say "hello" to these wonderful gals!

Computer Protection

If you're reading this blog, you're a computer user. And although you might be at work or at the library, odds are good at that many--if not most--of you are probably sitting at home.

Most people know it's important to protect their computers from viruses. But many of us don't spend the money required for anti-virus software. And, even if we do pay for the software, we probably don't update it as regularly as we should.

Fortunately, now there is free Anti Virus software available. This software is from Google, which is a name most people know and trust.

This anti-virus program will help protect your computer against viruses and spyware. It's so simple to use that everyone--even those who aren't tech savvy--will be protected from viruses and Trojans. Moreover, the software automatically updates with the latest virus protection. That means you don't have to remember to update the program yourself!

Protect your computer with anti-virus software, and you'll always be safe from viruses, spyware and more!

Today's Workout

I have a lower body strength training workout planned for today. I always have mixed feelings about weight workouts.

On one hand, I love the way they make me feel: strong, capable, and healthy. And there's no denying the results. The great thing about lifting weights is the tangible results. I can actually see my muscles grow!

On the other hand, running is a type of meditation for me. And I miss it on days I can't run (I'm prone to injury, so I have to keep my runs down to 4 days a week). So sometimes I have to force myself to lift weights, because I'd just rather be running.

All in all, though, I am looking forward to today's workout. After I do my legs, I'll probably finish up with thirty or forty minutes of cardio. I'm likely to do a circuit cardio workout today. For me this means some combination of:

• 5 minutes of Tae Kwon Do drills
• 5 minutes on the elliptical
• 5 minutes of heavy/speed bag drills
• 5 minutes of jumping rope
• 5 minutes of fast walking on the treadmill
• 5 minutes of stationary biking

I usually pick three or four of those activities and then repeat them in a circuit until I reach 30 minutes or so.

If I don't do a cardio circuit, I'll probably just crank up the tunes in my living room and shake my booty!

And I'm definitely working my abs today, too.

Odds And Ends

Today I have a few different things on my mind to share. So here are my odds and ends:

• Muscle Aches: I increased some of my weight for my upper body workouts. As a result, my arms, back and chest are feeling some aches today. I don't mind the stiffness and soreness that comes after a hard workout. It makes believe I can actually feel my muscles getting bigger and stronger!
  

• New Workouts: The spring/summer months always make me feel a bit antsy. I start thinking about changing my workouts and looking for something new. I'd love to get a membership to a local pool so I could add swimming to my routine, but I don't have the cash for that kind of thing right now.

• Running Shorts: I am allergic to bees. As a result, I carry an epi-pen all the time. I like to carry one on my outside runs, since I have encountered a bee or two while jogging. Unfortunately, I can't find a pair of running shorts with zippered pockets big enough to hold my epi-pen. If anyone ever sees a pair, please let me know!

• Chafing: Last year, during the summer, I discovered that tank tops cause me to chafe under my arms when I run. So yesterday I went out and bought some cheap running shirts (Thank you, Marshalls) with short sleeves. Short sleeves are ok. It's just tank tops that do it to me. Weird, right? I guess chafing is just part of the experience.
  

Earn 1k at PPP

PayPerPost.com has just announced a new opportunity for its bloggers. Every Tuesday during the month of April they'll have one--just one!--opportunity for a single blogger to earn $1,000 for a post.

Unlike other high-paying PPP opportunities, there will be no restrictions. You don't have to have a certain page rank or meet any other qualifications. You just have to be the lucky blogger that snags the opportunity the moment it's available on the PPP website.

PPP will not reveal when the opportunity will become available, so I expect many bloggers will remain ever vigilant on Tuesdays of this month. (Which explains why the site is super slow today.)

Although this opportunity may seem like a chance for the big payout in exchange for blog advertising, many bloggers have expressed a bit of dissatisfaction with the arrangement. According to them, 10 "no qualification required" $100 payouts would provide more opportunities for more bloggers. I tend to agree, but I also believe that PPP probably chose this particular arrangement for specific reasons.

I have neither the time nor the patience to repeatedly refresh the PPP website in hopes of snagging the "big payout." In fact, the time I dedicate to PPP rarely gets me an offer that qualifies for more than $8 or so. (Nonetheless, I've started to develop quite a healthy account with them, so the little payments add up fast.)

For folks dedicated to both blogging and their PPP opportunities, this could be a chance to make a big chunk of cash for just one little blog post.

Stomach Pain

I have an ulcer, and it's been acting up over the past few days. This is a total bummer, since sharp, stabbing pains in my gut generally means I don't feel like exercising or eating gaseous foods like broccoli and cauliflower.

In fact, all I want to do is eat soothing foods (like noodles) and lie on the sofa. Bummer, eh?

I am debating about whether or not I should force myself to exercise today. I slacked a bit last week, so I really don't want to skip today's workout. On the other hand, my stomach is clenching tighter than a miser's fist around a shiny new penny.

I guess I'm going to try and workout, and just see how it goes.

On another note, today is the beginning of my April Challenge. I *almost* stepped on the scale today out of habit. Then I remember that April is No Scale Month! This should be a interesting test of my will.

UPDATE

Forced myself to get on the treadmill. The first mile was kinda painful, but after that I breezed through the workout. Total miles today: 5.75. I'm sooooo glad I made myself exercise!

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