Sick of Being Sick!

For the past month I have had to tone down training tons and it sucks but I am looking forward to getting back into the saddle soon.  I finished my report cards a week early late on the first Friday of December.  I went to bed feeling accomplished, happy, relaxed and woke up with that devilish little tickle in the back of my throat...you know the one...tell tale sign you are starting a cold.  Since Saturday December 6 I have been sick.  I didn't take time off work and had a Christmas concert that I was helping with plus Christmas parties so I just kept trucking (mistake #1).  I think I trained maybe 2 or 3 times between the 6th and the 20th (the second time in 3 years I haven't worked out at least 3 times a week ~ first was after my appendectomy in August).  Once school ended on the 19th I was so fatigued and had a horrible sinus head cold type thing.  I also saw the Optometrist on the 18th and was told I have severe dry eye ~ she was blown away that I wasn't in a lot of pain daily!  Have scratches and little hemorrhages on my eyes so had to do special drops, wear contacts less, warm compresses, etc.  Tomorrow I have my appointment to check in and see where we are at with that.  Supposedly I have ZERO fluid in my eye!

My life for the last few weeks:)

So super bad head cold (thinking I had two in a row), very tired and bad eyes.  Had to cancel my 32nd birthday celebration with family because of how sick I was plus my two babes were sick with colds and my husband had a flu.  Of course, as a mom I still had a bunch of things to do to prep for Christmas so I kept on trucking but rested a little more when I wasn't shopping, wrapping, decorating, etc.  On Christmas Eve I took my kids and myself to the walk-in clinic because they both complained of sore ears the evening of the 23rd, plus I was now hacking up a lung.  Turns out they both had fluid in one of their ears from their colds and I had developed bronchitis.  OH LOVELY!  So antibiotics for all of us.  6 days later and the kids are doing great and Paul is back to healthy too.  As for me I am still congested and headachy with a bit of chest congestion.  I am taking vitamin C, my multivitamin, anti-viral, and my anti-biotic.  And doing neti-pot a few times a day which seems to help.  I so desperately want to train and was hoping to get out last night but I am just not feeling ready.  I have signed up for a Ryde class on Friday and I am keeping my fingers crossed that I can do it!

What have I learned?  
1.  Well I really think that if I had slowed down a bit when I first got sick and took care of myself more from the very start I may have gotten over this a lot quicker.
2.  Even though being sick over your holidays sucks I think it would suck more to have to deal with work and be sick.
3.  Being sick forced us to have a low-key holiday season which I think was what we needed sick or not.  It has been full steam ahead since the end of August and I think we were all a little worn out.
4.  Naps are a requirement on holidays, especially when you are sick.
5.  Don't jump back into training while you are sick ~ rest, fluids, eat.

I think that in addition to exposure to different germs from school kids and my kids being in daycare PLUS stress from being back at work in a new position was the perfect storm.  I am going to try to be more proactive in the future, stress less, rest more and give myself a break at the onset of an illness.  A bright side is I spent a lot of time just being with Marley and Jonah ~ I didn't have the energy I usually do to constantly be working on chores, etc. so I just hung out with them:)  We all know how important balance is and I think being sick for this past month was the universe shaking me up, telling me that I was out of balance.  Another good thing about being sick is being reminded of how we should not take our health for granted when we are not ill.

I am SO excited to hop back into my training once I am better.  As I am sure many moms and dads can attest too ~ it is a learning curve to figure out how to balance working, kids, life and training and I think the hard part (the start) is now out of the way for me.  Take care of yourself first moms and dads!  I am SO very ready to lead a healthy and happy life for 2015!  Here's to kicking butt in 2015!

INSPIRE #8: Lorrie Black Kowalski

This is Lorrie ~ she is awesome.

There is this lady at Excel.  She has such a strong positive energy and is always smiling!  She is friendly, hardworking, and, most of all, INSPIRING!  Her name is Lorrie and if you have been lucky enough to workout with her you know exactly what I am talking about!  Pure and simple, she works her butt off!  I admire her perseverance so much and love working out with her!  I am so glad she accepted my invite to participate in my Inspire Me series as I know her story will easily inspire so many folks.  Thanks for being awesome Lorrie!  

Here's her interview:  

1. What is your health/fitness history?

My fitness history started in high school where I played soccer, basketball, and a lot of street hockey. I was always outside playing hockey with my family, my friends, and my brother. They did not have "girls" hockey teams when I was young, so I stuck to playing street hockey. I also figure-skated for a bit but I liked hockey better:). I moved to Vancouver after I graduated from Revelstoke High School and that is when I really started getting into training.  

I worked at a bank in downtown Vancouver, and I would run up to my gym on my lunch hour to fit in a class, or go at 7 am before work, or after work, but I always worked out 5 days a week. I loved it! I did cardio classes, weights, and step aerobics which was huge back then. On the weekends I loved to bike ride, walk around the seawall, or go hiking. When tae bo/martial arts classes came out I really got into the boxing classes. Such a great stress reliever!  

So, in general, I have always been active. I love, love the way I feel after I work out. Any work out, any exercise! I feel motivated, full of energy, and happy. I train to feel good. I train to better my condition. I do struggle with my weight. I gained 70 pounds in my pregnancy with my daughter~yikes! I worked really hard to take that weight off by heading right back to gym when she was three weeks old! I did get back down to within 10 lbs of my 129lb pound pre-baby weight. Since then, I still struggle. I really can not drink wine, or go off my eating plan, in any way or I will gain weight!

2. What does your exercise routine look like?  How long have you been a member at Excel?

My specific training is all Excel based. I love the Real Ryde classes because of the intense cardio, and I also love doing Strength Lab and Torched. The motivation I get from fellow members at Excel always keeps me motivated to work out hard. Rhonda and Carla are also so hilarious~I laugh a lot at excel! They are very knowledgeable, and always keeping up with the latest and greatest techniques/form etc. I really just pick two cardio and two strength classes per week. That does not always happen for me because of kids/schedule, etc. so I sometimes workout outside, or ride the bike at Excel for 45 minutes followed by some weights and stretching/rolling. I have been a member with Excel since August of 2010. Love it!

3. Thoughts on meals.  What is a typical set of meals/snacks throughout the day for you?

I tend to not eat enough. I eat clean, but I tend to get busy and not eat enough good foods. I recently picked up a book by Hilary Pomroy called "The Fast Metabolism Diet". I DO NOT like the word "diet", but this book is more of a plan to eat good foods, every 2-3 hrs. It has helped me a lot. I have recently lost 14lbs because I have eaten more good, healthy greens, proteins, grains, fruits, and nuts. A typical day for me is eggs & fruit in morning. Two hours later, a fruit or protein. Or fruit and almonds. Lunch is quinoa and veggies, or a big tuna salad, chicken and veggies, or 1 slice sprouted grain bread with protein and veggies. Two hours later a snack, and for dinner is usually Protein, veggie, and sweet potato.  

4. What is a typical set of meals/snacks throughout the day for you?I drink a lot of lemon water, and I flavour my water with green tea bags of different flavours. I try to not eat sugar or artificial sugar. I sweeten my drinks with stevia~ which is a plant derived sweetener, all natural. I also take vitamins daily from a friend at the gym's cousin who is a registered nutritionist. She put me on a program that has further helped me along in a healthy well-being!

5. What would you say is your biggest strength in fitness?

My biggest strength in fitness is my competitiveness! I want to do my best while I am working out. If someone besides me is working harder than me, then I will want to work as hard as them. I thrive on pushing myself as hard as I can.

6.  What would you say is your biggest weakness in fitness?

My biggest weakness in fitness would be my lower body strength. My upper body is stronger than my lower body. I also have to constantly check my "form" when doing weights.

7.  What would you say is your favourite work out?

My favourite work out is the Ryde biking classes. I love the loud music, the fast pace, and the kick butt cardio! I also love the "pile on the weights" strength lab classes. It is amazing how much stronger you get from week to week:)

8. How do you keep motivated day-to-day?

I keep motivated by the way that I feel when I work out. It really is a lifestyle for me. If I fall out of my schedule for whatever reason, I do not feel as good as when I exercise. 

9.  What would be your biggest advice to someone just starting out on his/her journey to improved health and fitness?

Start out slow. Don't over do it so that you burn out after two weeks. You have to ease into it and you have to love the classes you go to. Make sure you commit to working-out three times a week, and do it! Wake up, eat, and go workout! Once you get into the habit of going, it becomes a way of life! Soon you will want to workout more, you will feel the benefits from exercising and you will love it! You will meet people that you look forward to seeing every workout day! They will motivate you, and they will make you laugh! It's a win-win for you. Most of all, (this one I know too well) don't be hard on yourself. Commend yourself for a job well done! You deserve it!

10. If you could be any superhero you wanted who would you be and why?

That would have to be 'Jean Gray' ~ a.k.a. 'Phoenix' of "X-Men". She is a good mix of hero. She is the most powerful X-Men character and the most powerful female in the super hero world. Most importantly, she has a conscience that often demonstrates compassion, especially to the ones closest to her. I like to be strong, but keep my compassion too!