THE BAD NEWS: my resting heart rate is up to 78, which is what I worked so hard to remedy in the previous month with regular exercise. I added Ubiquinol (COQ10) and COVID to my life this week, so maybe that has something to do with it. I am not going to take the supplement tomorrow morning and see how my heart rate fares. I don’t think it is the Ubiquinol doing it- I think the 2 weeks of Nyquil may be partially to blame. The studies done on vitamin D3 and Ubiquinol as preventative treatments against long-Covid disorders are compelling:
I will also give up the NyQuil tonight, because it DOES have a history of raising the resting heart rate.
I forced myself on the rebounder throughout the day (and forced myself to eat) because that is usually the best way to lower my heart rate fast… and keep me moving when locked in the house. I also super-hydrated… and washed my face and did a L’BRI facial peel on a FB Live.
Maisie is feeling better, thank goodness, even if she looks feral in the next photo. My friend sent her a Laura Ingalls Wilder book via post and Maisie was over the moon.
So, yeah, back at it again. I have to keep a journal while on it, so blogging counts. I am an inconsistent blogger and ditto with journaling, but this kills 2 birds with one stone. I also need to keep accountable.
I’ve avoided scales, exercise, moderation since my 52nd birthday last February, when I plunged into a world of “I WORK 16 HOURS A DAY AND DON’T HAVE TIME TO COOK ANYMORE-LAND” (albeit from my sofa).
For the last two weeks I’ve been prepping for the day this box arrived (it only took a couple of days after ordering, but I wanted to make sure I had my step/rebounding/exercise habits back by doing 12-17k steps on rebounder a day.)
On day 2 I cooked a ton of chicken breast in the oven for my lean and green meals. One pan was done Filipino Adobo style, the other was done Greek Chicken style. 2 bags of frozen chicken breasts equaled EIGHT Lean and Green meal servings. Way cheaper than buying pre-cooked chicken breasts and I have zero time to cook anymore because I work and homeschool all day from my house.
STARTING WEIGHT: 178.9 (omg this is so embarrassing. I am now 30 lbs. OVER my “I still need to lose the baby weight”, which I could never do in the past. Basically, 150 became my post-partum, post-middle age spread weight. I am 30 lbs OVER THIS NOW. No wonder my BP and heart are going insane lately).
Day 1– 14,124 steps 1 hour 26 min cardio
5 pm- 1st fueling: CARAMEL DELIGHT CRISP BAR (ok) 7:23 pm- 2nd fueling: HONEY MUSTARD AND ONION SNACKS (my fave) 9:30 pm- 3rd fueling: SMORES BAR (just ok) 11:30 pm- 4th fueling: another bar of some sort 1:30 am- 5th fueling: WILD RICE SOUP (good, needed spice doctoring) 3:30 am (yes, I ate way late)- Lean and Grean meal: cauliflower and chicken breast (the amount seemed too much at the time after all those tiny meals, but slept well and was so full).
Day 2 14, 542 steps 1 hour 12 min cardio
Woke at 10:40 am
11:10 am 1st fueling with coffee (black): CREAMY DOUBLE PEANUT BUTTER CRISP BAR (best bar so far)
1:30 pm 2nd fueling, with my 64 oz jug of water: MINT CRISP BAR (this was ok)
6:30 4th fueling: JALAPENO CHEDDAR POPPERS (OK, not my fave… reminded me of spicy cheetos, though). Helped me get more water down, so bonus.
9:25 pm 5th Fueling: RUSTIC PENNE (shockingly delicious and filling when doctored with garlic powder and spices)
11:45 Lean and Green Meal: 6 oz of Filipino Adobo Chicken breast with 3 servings of cauliflower (AGAIN, A TON OF FOOD).
FIRST TWO DAY THOUGHTS AND OBSERVATIONS:
Because I tend to go whole hog when I am faced with something new and exciting- or am in the mood for self-discipline/torture, this has been ridiculously easy for me. Learning to eat the snacks every 2 hours was weird. I never snack. The box of food ‘fuelings’ are all easy to eat like snacks or microwavable or the like. The only meals I have to worry about are the Lean and Green meals. 3 servings of appropriate veg, basically (covered in the guide) and about 6-7 oz of protein… which is a ton of food after noshing on small snacks all day and drinking coffee and water.
Once you eyeball (or get a food scale), knowing the proper amount of food to eat for the one prepared meal is super easy.
They have recipes and hacks online for people who like to cook, but I was good with what I had and really shocked at how easy it has been. It’s absolutely grab and go.
No dizziness. I have a ton of energy. No keto flu. Zilch.
I haven’t been working as much as I should due to my family going through a number of deaths and illnesses in the last 2 months- this week has been particularly scary and stressful. I would normally eat for comfort and I haven’t been… I mean, having to eat every 2-3 hours (set an alarm on phone or alexa) kinda stops a person from grabbing unhealthy crap to shove in your mouth hole.
I feel like I have binge-protection insurance.
I am actually looking forward to my weigh-in tomorrow.
I’ve utterly ignored this blog for YEARS… opting instead for the ease of Instagram and staying on my FB pages and doing Influencer Things (which, I gotta say, is more work than it appears to be and kinda mind-numbing).
If you want quick look-sees on what we’ve been up to go to:
8. Bought a new black 2 door hardtop Mini Cooper that I affectionately call “Roger”
9. Accidentally sampled an all natural skincare line on my 52nd birthday and somehow became an executive manager for this company after it made my face Benjamin Button back in time and managed my autoimmune skin.
It’s called L’BRI… do you even L’BRI, brah? Nobody’s heard of it, really, but it WORKED for me. I had no experience with this type of sales before… but I feel like the good faerie of skincare now. Life-changing- even if I don’t fall into the direct sales stereotype AT ALL.
10. Took up a market stall at a well-known local farmer’s market and began doing in-person readings with my long time friend and business partner, Gidget, over the summer called The Rowan and the Oak.
I know I rarely talk about my ‘real work’ since having Maisie- I took a few years off- but I have been a psychic and medium (large now, thanks to the Pandemic) for over 30 years. My other biz page is Psychic Jess Anderson.
11. Adopted a Pembroke Welsh Corgi pup named Rowan Magnus the Magnificent. He is a mischievous little Cancerian with a moon in Aquarius and lots of Leo.
12. Binged “Vikings” on Netflix.com and spent the entire winter 2020-21 sewing/designing/embroidering Viking and Medieval inspired wool and linen ‘Plague-wear” for the entire family (coz I am nerdy like that).
I am so freaking happy!!!!!! The first (of two) Simpli Home Marana barstools arrived today. The other should be here on Saturday.
It took R about 10 minutes tops to put together and it is PERFECT and comfy.
I am absolutely in love with the mid century mod styling and the ability to adjust the height to regular chair height from bar height. It also swivels, too.
It’s also wide enough to accommodate larger bums, always a plus.
Best part, was only 127 bucks and had incredible reviews (no, I wasn’t solicited to do this review. I spent days trying to find the one I wanted online).
Maisie, of course, had to try it out immediately and finished her math lessons at the bar.
Cake the kitten tried his best to get in on the action, but failed miserably.
It wasn’t a difficult set up, except for the part where the man boinged himself with a bungee… absolutely LOVE the new rebounder and can’t wait to get it into the RV.
(also, to get it out of the little house. I have no room in here for 2 rebounders)
Cake the kitten was RIDICULOUS about the new one. He was bouncing and dancing all over the thing for a solid 2 hours.
I really LOVE the new stabilizer bar. I thought I ordered one for a larger trampoline, but I was mistaken. Keeping it, though. It’s great to have something to hold onto when one is feeling off balance or dizzy.
I got the bar for my dad’s rebounder originally, but it doesn’t fit the 48″ ones (It only fits the smaller ones). It really improves the experience, even for me. It makes me feel safer when I am wobbly. I suffer from vertigo and weird dizziness leftover from being sick still. My dad has essential tremor and balance issues (thanks, Vietnam War). Having a stability bar is a must for those of us with issues such as these.
The bar has 3 height adjustments, with the highest being comfortable enough for someone about 6′ or more.
I really love this new addition to our rebounder, I will probably order a big one for both dad and me.
I haven’t had time to write the lonnnng (and it will be long) PTSD filled trauma surrounding my covid and pulmonary embolism recovery, due to beginning home schooling the kiddo and other weird snafus (like 3 people in my family, including the kitten, injury their right legs/paws).
I am still offering the 10 percent discount from Leaps and Rebounds for any of these purchases if you would like one of these for yourself.
Yeah, I am obsessed with outschool.com and no, I am not a rep (but, gosh, I should be at this point. I’m in love with it!)
Since we’re stuck in the house all day and I am not willing to risk our health again by taking classes in real time. Outschool and Zoom classes really help fill in gaps in her education- and also give her opportunities to take classes that would normally not be available to us locally, like hula dance class and a live native French immersion class (which she also takes- more about those in other posts).
We have access to these amazing teachers from all over the world, just at our fingertips!
I adore Oak Meadow, but I concede defeat in some of the subjects, like finger knitting and recorder. Outschool really helps me (and gives me short breaks to do my work, use the toilet, eat food, maybe comb my hair, hide in the closet pretending real life is around the corner).
Today, she learned about cleaning the recorder, how to recognize notes, some music history, and the song “Hot Cross Buns”. They are working on the B/A/G notes right now-
“Finger knitting is a fantastic, and addictive, activity for preschoolers. It builds dexterity and strength in those small muscles which control the hand, fingers, and thumb—all critical for later writing skills. Finger knitting also encourages eye-hand coordination, concentration, and perseverance—all equally important for children’s development. (Interestingly enough, when a child is fully engaging their small muscles, their large muscles relax and they actually can sit still!)”
It was so good, Maisie asked Ms. Cindy if she could do a weekly class. She has never done this!
This is the link to Ms. Cindy’s class on Outschool.com. She was extremely engaging, patient, and lovely with the children.
Maisie made a little bracelet today. She wants to make another with beads next.
Miss Maisie and Me 