Confessions of a Hypochondriac

Good Morning, and Happy Friday!

I'm back at my favorite Friday spot - Panera. It's been awhile, but I think they remember me. During my 10 seconds standing in line I considered getting a pumpkin muffin, but decided to save the indulgences for the cruise starting next weekend.

Speaking of pumpkin, I have something a bit odd to share. I saw the idea on Carrots 'n' Cake first, so I can't take the credit. Yet I added a twist on her recipe, and came up with this...

Pumpkin, 1 mashed up banana, some chopped up figs, almond butter, and a dash of both honey and cinnamon. Once warmed up in the microwave, I almost felt like I was eating dessert or maybe a form of baby food?

Either way, it was a quick, easy and delicious breakfast.

Recently I've kind of been putting off the topic of running because I'm not really positive what's going on with my body (surprise, surprise). I do know that I've been having several runs like this:

This was Monday, followed by another 8 miles last night at a 7:30 pace. Cardio-wise, I feel great. And then there's my feet.

About two weeks ago on a 12-miler I got that feeling in my right foot that made me instantly want to throw myself over the side of the bridge I was running over. That stress fracture kind of feeling.

Now, I'm very torn. I've obviously still been running the past two weeks since feeling that all too familiar feeling. It's odd because some runs I feel it, some runs I don't. Most runs I feel great cardio-wise, and tell myself that I simply must be insane.

Even my mom, one of the more cautious people that I know, asked me when I was home,

"Are you sure you aren't just making it up in your head? You are a hypochondriac after all..."

That's a statement that I can't argue. The past year, outside of the real injuries that I've actually had, I've been convinced that I had a torn hamstring, a torn achilles, a torn meniscus, a torn hip flexor, low iron, ulcers, pink eye, a broken toe, depression, gluten intolerance, and dairy intolerance. 

I didn't have any of those things. Can we all take a moment and give my boyfriend an appreciative head nod? Because who do you think I ran to (oftentimes in tears) every single time I self-diagnosed myself? Him.

Felt like I should insert some comedic relief 

Anyways, back to the running a marathon with a possible stress fracture topic. Part of me wants to do it. And I definitely don't want to defer until I know 100% that I can't do it. It may even be too late to defer, I'm too afraid to check the website.

My plan? To set out for 15-18 (close to home) miles tomorrow morning, and listen to my body. See at what point things start hurting, what kind of pain it is, etc. This weekend was suppose to be 22, and then taper. Best case, I hit 20 tomorrow and declare 'It's on' and let the taper begin.

And if it hurts? And that all too familiar stress fracture feeling is screaming at me and I come to the realization that 26 miles on a semi-broken foot is a poor idea? Well, it's not the end of the world. But we can talk more on Sunday once I've figured this stupid foot out.

I'm glad this is out in the open now, I feel like I've been hiding a heavy dark secret for the past two weeks. 

Good luck to my runners this weekend. My roommate is running her first (DC) Ragnar Relay, and I hope she has an absolute blast. I'm off to start my Friday, I even wore a skirt today so I'm feeling extra productive.

I would love feedback from runners on the stress fracture thing. I wouldn't love long-winded lectures on 'being smart'... believe me, I'm not stupid. I've played through torn ligaments and given myself vertebral fractures, the whole nine yards. I'm no stranger to pain and what I should and shouldn't push through, I promise.

Cheers!

K

Things I Learned This Week

To start, I learned some startling news when I walked into Panera this morning… they have pumpkin pie bagels. Noooooo.

I resisted the urge for today, but I'm not sure how much longer I can keep it up for. The large sign hanging up advertising them makes them look flat out amazing.

I learned that it is in fact possible to burn something in a crockpot. Last night I threw the ingredients for Pumpkin Oatmeal following a recipe that I found on Pinterest. This is how it was suppose to turn out:

source

This is how mine turned out:

LOLOLOLOL

Nevertheless, I sucked it up, threw an egg on top of a bowl of it this morning, and called it a win... even if it wasn’t. I’m not too sad, steel cut oats just aren’t my thing, I’m a little bit over them to be honest. I felt like I was eating rice.

I learned that Tall Boy Natty Bohs on a school work night aren’t the best idea, and really set me up for failure that next morning...

Enough said.

That same day, I also learned that running on my lunch break can literally turn my day around. Now some may call it gross that I do this but as a pretty minimal sweater, I have no issue pulling my hair back, slapping on some deodorant, and continuing my day in the office.  Even the shortest of runs helps to break up sitting on my ass all day and makes me feel like less of a slob.

quick afternoon 2 miles

I learned that Spotify has a pretty awesome workout playlist. If you’re a Spotifier, just type in ‘workout’ in the search box and select the playlist entitled ‘Workout’ by Spotify. Rocket science, I know. It has a good selection of jams and I thoroughly enjoyed it will remixing the below workout at 5:30 this morning….

20 min sweat swesh (derived from a bunch of WODS smooshed together)

100 sit ups

10 mins, AMRAP: 5 burpees, 10 pushups, 15 air squats, 20 skaters

10 mins, AMRAP: 40 mountain climbers, 10 single squats (per leg), 20 (weighted)crunches

100 sit ups

I sweat, it woke me up, did the job.

Lastly, I learned that this girl is awesome, her blog is awesome, and this article is something that everyone should read.

 "I don’t have what people expect I should have, but I am abundantly blessed with absurd, exhilarating, and fantastic things I would have never dreamed up on my own."

- 26, unmarried, and childless

Early bedtime for me tonight, as an early alarm is set to pound out 19 miles before 10 AM tomorrow. Encouragement welcome.

Cheers!

K

Sugar Reports

Well, it's lovely morning over here in Baltimore. It may be the first morning in a week that I haven't woken up to overcast/rainy weather. It's amazing what blue skies can do for you mood.

Last night I tried out 'Restoration Yoga' at Charm City Yoga after physical therapy. It involved a lot of laying, and opening up joints. I wouldn't really call it a workout, but more of a natural spa session for my body. I think I'll keep going - I have a one month LivingSocial deal there.

Anyways, yoga put me to bed early, and I woke up at 5:30 AM ready to kick some ass. I cranked out a quick circuit workout that I once again stole from Brooke in my newly organized home gym. OK OK, it doesn't quite warrant the label gym yet, but I'm working on it....

Next to purchase: a box for step ups/box jumps, and a kettle bell...

 I hopped in the shower and meandered down the street to a recently-discovered, charming Panera. It has the super cozy feeling, and felt like the perfect place to do a little writing, reflect, and gather my jumble of thoughts.

I feel good today. It could be last night's yoga, maybe a decent night of sleep. I think the 'tired/moody' side-effects that come with the first couple of days of this sugar detox are starting to subside. I will admit I stared longingly at the cinnamon crunch bagels this morning when walking into Panera, but then remembered the pumpkin pancakes (made with coconut flour) waiting for me in my car for my breakfast at the office.

There isn't too much to report on the detox yet (I'm on Day 5) aside from these two facts that I know for certain:

1. I definitely had a mental breakdown and slightly cheated on Wednesday (Day #3). This was fully supported by my coworkers who knew I was in a bad place, and needed a little sugar in my life.

Yessssss I'm an emotional eater. Sigh.

                                                 I've been good since then, I promise.

2. My abs are currently more defined than they ever have been. Ever. I'm not really one to post selfies of my stomach, or stand in the mirror flexing, but hey I'm a girl and I check myself out on occasion.

You know that saying, abs are made in the kitchen not in the gym? I'm starting to believe it....

Alright, time to pack up and head to work. I like this morning thing, don't you? Embracing mornings was another one of my midyear goals, and I'm so glad we did this.

pinterest

Tell me, what's your go-to cozy/homey coffee place when you need some alone time? I'm pretty sure this Panera just overtook the Starbucks by my work...

Have an awesome Friday, and do me a favor? Smile.

Cheers!