just do it...KSWISS style

Everyone who knows I run know that I supremely endorse the KSWISS Tubes Run 100 athletic shoes. I purchased three new pair after recycling over six pairs of Nike's. You'd think I'd pull out one of those new strides to hit the pavement in the Detroit Thanksgiving Turkey Trot 10k, but no...

I was thinking fashionable. I adorned my cold gear, courtesy of UnderArmour who is my go-to for cold weather running. My turtleneck was fuchsia so I could not imagine sporting anything other than my older tread-beaten bubble-gum pink accented Tubes. Thank God I had enough support to run the pavement in Downtown Detroit. The weather was beautiful. This was historical for me.

I did have a sudden case of buyers remorse. I did not get any sleep the night before. I was determined to not take a nap on Wednesday so that I could get a long eight hour sleep before awaking at 5 a.m. That did not happen. I slipped into a comfy nap and awoke around 8 p.m. I knew it was trouble ahead. I tried but could not fall asleep that night so I wound up working on my running playlist for the run and wished for the best.

It seemed to be extra dark Thursday morning. I soon discovered the reason why. There was a dense layer of fog that I feared would never end. I kept thinking that I should turn around, go home, this is crazy. I soldiered on. I was then shuttled into a line for Joe Louis Parking Garage. Oh no! I kept thinking, "I'll never make it on time."

The race was delayed. With over 22,000 racers laced and ready to go, it took me 20 minutes just to nudge my way over the starting line. My finish was about the time of my first 10k. This was my second and the temperature was very different.

The weather was wonderful for a parade. I'm happy to know that my donation will continue to support the annual event.

another great find

Since I have become an ex-natural I am discovering that hair is not an exact science. I'm still a work in progress. This new conditioner I found is one proof of that. For two years I was under the impression that I had found the holy grail of works in the Dollar Store. This bottle not only reminded me of my Suave Professionals, but the price just couldn't be beat. It has a list of natural ingredients and it does appear to be free of sulfates. Wow!

But that is not why I am sharing. My hair enjoys this. I untangle loose strands before going under water. My hair sheds far less and I'm thrilled. Keep it simple. Washing my hair is more of a ritual to open the cuticle and allow nourishment inside. It is not play time. I absolutely love it. For a $1 or less, it simply cannot be beat.

voting against tyranny

This is the primary reason I voted for the other guy. The second most important reason was due to the Bush War. The last time I trusted a man to lead me to fiscal balance, he took me to war over someone else's natural resource instead of defining our own resources, which could have created more jobs.

sleeping on the floor

First, I’ll start this post by saying that this is not for everyone. Some people will never commence the experiment because it goes against their Western Philosophy. If you even venture on the existential path, you’ll try it and you will love it.

Second, I did not try this as an experiment. I simply was tired of waking up tired and disoriented. I’m not sure if it was the mattress or what. I remember loving it so much as a kid during Friday video night sleepovers. The moment I could afford a luxurious mattress, I thought it was necessary to sleep in a bed to be considered elevated to some high level of consciousness.

Third, the floor matters. Allergies are a common reason why some avoid the floor altogether especially if the floor is carpeted. I debunked that myth not because I was trying to, but because I needed to find another way. I was not getting the quality of sleep I needed to produce fabulous workout results.

Tired of being tired…

Yes, after two plus years running, walking, lifting weights, cycling, yoga…the entire gamut…I was getting tired of exercising. I was suffering back aches that would bring me to tears. I either hated exercising or hated sleeping in my bed.

I am almost now afraid of investing in fancy bed fearing my workouts will suffer. Imagine investing hundreds of dollars in a ergo bed and realizing that it is tanking every aspect of your awake life?

I cannot even consider going down that road. I will consider keeping my carpet allergen free and staying on the floor for now.

My back and neck aches are dissolved. My hip joints are open, increasing flexibility. My runs are thus better. I just feel better overall. This is my life, and it works for me. Find what works for you. The most simple things have the greatest value.

dry shaving with talc

For the past few years I have been dry shaving with talc powder. I grew tired of the bumps, the irritation, and skin discolorations from wet shaving. Good bye to shaving creams. I no longer require them.

How to:

1. Wash the area clean and pat dry.
2. Apply talc powder.
3. Shave.

It's that easy.

There is no particular razor that I recommend. I purchase the disposables because they are most efficient. However, I did once receive a very cute razor with interchangeable blade heads for a birthday gift. That was many years ago and now I cannot even recall the name.

I tried using electric dry clipper/trimmers but they just do not get close enough.

de-load

What is it? Purpose? How can I achieve this?

De-load or de-loading is a phase in which you place the body into a decreased level of activity by a small margin or cessation for a short period of time. The purpose is to provide about a week to recover from exercise.

During this layover or layoff, you can focus on nutrition, spend time researching a new exercise to fold into the new regime, get a massage, clean your house, restock your reserves, or simply relaxing and doing a total body cleanse.

I never knew how important this was although I have been familiar with it for years. I discovered that as we stay the course of a rigid routine, taking little time for rest, our bodies get overloaded with fatigue, never fully recovering before we swoop in and fire it up to go to the next phase.

Years ago, I would do cleanses each season. Since becoming a pescatarian, I don’t feel the need to cut food and juice. Don’t get me wrong, juicing is fabulous and I own one. This year, I have not juiced as much because I am focusing more on the whole foods that I eat and eliminating vitamins as much as possible.

Eventually, I will be only on an OMEGA/vegMulti.

I was set to roll out my new Sept/Oct routine straight out of the August program, not realizing that we’re facing fall, the fall runs, flu season, etc. and it has been since May that I cut and rested. My body had been feeling as if it was running into a stitch. You just know!

It was then I realized it’s time to de-load. I had to tweak the September schedule to adjust for the last week of Aug. to be a de-load week.  

Now that de-load is finally over fall can officially come into my workout routine with a front-loading vacation to commence the season. I can pick up where I left off and hit the ground running, literally.

de-load observations:

Flexibility:

My front right split was tight. It’s loosening and I can feel more relaxed, less tense when I move into it.

My full split stretches are looser, as I’m approaching 180 degrees-10.

Strength:

Upper/Back stronger, increased push-ups.  I may need to adjust the weights on my rows.

Abs stronger, more engaged during my routines.

Endurance:

Not tested yet. 

i don’t regret my past, just the time i wasted with the wrong people

This is quote from a title given to a group of messages and inspirational statements on Facebook. As my 25^th class reunion approaches, I realized that I spent years avoiding and dodging reunions with a large group of people that I hardly knew. I did not realize in doing so that I was keeping myself static with a group a people I thought I knew.

Often we keep ourselves from progressing and branching off into new grounds by keeping the things most familiar close. I realized that I am no more attached to the past as I am a stranger to the future. The past is old and done, and sometimes friends are for seasons.

As time moves forward, some of us grow spiritually, physically, and numerically, but if we still see the world and rationalize it as we once did 25 years ago, then how much have we grown?

I struggled for years wondering why the people who I cared for so much looked upon me with the utmost criticism. I have been called a snob, arrogant, and difficult to understand. I was told ‘I can’t get a take on you” and “you’ll never find money on the ground with your nose in the air”. It took some time for me to realize this, but I had long outgrown some people even before I met them. The reason: I see the world differently than a lot of the people who want to get to know me.

It took 25 years almost to come into full admission that a lot of the people I held in such high esteem were kept in the coffers for too long. I was never one to dismiss friends, people who had been there for me during the most difficult times. However, it became real to me that my growth continued as theirs waned. We outgrew each other, but to me we could still find similarities to keep us going.

I did not realize how much I was despised until I made sickness and early retirement look ‘too easy’. Now that Facebook has brought me in touch with a few people that I knew, some barely and many not at all, I have discovered this to be a metaphor for my life. It is time to move onward. As hard as it once was to believe that it is not me who as changed, but those around me, it is apparent that throughout life people place limits upon themselves and hate those around them who test said limits and surpass even their own expectations.

I do not expect anything but acceptance. I am so comfortable being with myself that I really do not need the company of others to be happy. Life has taught me many things through loss and gain. People come into your life for a reason, a season, and some for a lifetime. When people want to get out of your life by words or deeds, let them go. Know that your destiny is not tied to anyone who chooses to depart from you or fails to see you as you are, or believes you cannot be understood. It is not you. It is them. 

Let them go. Realize that the time spent was for a purpose, and when the time is over, it is over. The past was teaching moment, so do not regret it. Only regret the time wasted, which were the moments you spent lamenting if it is over knowing well that what is done, is done.