Primeval Runs Wild

[L'irlandaise]

Yep, fats and proteins seem to keep me going a lot longer than carbs. And rotisseries chicken and kale. Nom nom nom. Very impressed with the meditation too. Hope today was calmer!!!

[The Borg Queen]

@ Sicil & starbon, Thanks!!

 

Wow! Prime, you had one heck of day!! Rock on with the piles of meat and the fat a fuel source!!  Can you teach me how to do that????  Or is it the meditation that helped, oh wise one!?!?

 

I don't know if meditating is helping me with my diet, but it is helping me do things like clean the house more, and I think it's helping me keep a level head at work. Always good things... Most of what I learned about fat adaptation comes from Mark Sisson's blog. Are you familiar with his work?

 

 

Yep, fats and proteins seem to keep me going a lot longer than carbs. And rotisseries chicken and kale. Nom nom nom. Very impressed with the meditation too. Hope today was calmer!!!

 

Yes, today definitely calmer, thank goodness

 

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

 

Last night I had a weird moment late at night when I couldn't stop thinking about ice cream. I happen to live across the street from a 24h grocery store, so I rushed over there on an impulse and started prowling the frozen food section. I think I looked at the ingredients list and nutrition facts on every single container before I could fully convince myself that I needed to back away from the ice cream. I ended up leaving the store with a pint of blueberries- much better than any ice cream! So, I made it.

 

The latest issue of Bon Appetit has some amazing looking ice cream recipes, and the photos are so pretty that I can probably just eat it with my eyes. I'm sure that if I went ahead and actually made my own ice cream, it would be far better and better for me than anything I could buy at the store. I've also seen some recipes for paleo ice cream over at fastpaleo.com, such as this one, that look pretty good: http://fastpaleo.com/recipe/blueberry-cheesecake-ice-cream-dairy-free-paleo/

 

Making ice cream might be the thing to do on my next day off...

[sicil]

Good for you for working through the craving! 24hr stores are scary places sometimes. I'm sure they drive up the impulse purchases.

[rogaecia]

Primeval! You're my neighborrrrrr! Yay! So excited to see that NF'ers do exist in my neck of the woods

Which half-marathon are you doing? Your goals are fantastic. Keep up the awesome job!

[TankGrrl]

Can I volunteer as a taste tester?? please?

The paleo ice cream sounds gooood

 

Are you referring to the Mark Sissons of Mark's daily apple?

That's a good blog, definitely one to keep in your bookmarks.

[The Borg Queen]

Good for you for working through the craving! 24hr stores are scary places sometimes. I'm sure they drive up the impulse purchases.

 

Tell me about it. Before I was eating paleo, I had a serious problem with the baked goods section of that store late at night...

 

 

Primeval! You're my neighborrrrrr! Yay! So excited to see that NF'ers do exist in my neck of the woods :)

Which half-marathon are you doing? Your goals are fantastic. Keep up the awesome job!

 

Oh, wow! That's pretty cool! I'm doing the Columbia River Power Marathon, out east. I think it will be fun...

 

 

Can I volunteer as a taste tester?? please?

The paleo ice cream sounds gooood

 

Are you referring to the Mark Sissons of Mark's daily apple?

That's a good blog, definitely one to keep in your bookmarks.

 

I'll mail some to you This weekend, instead of ice cream, I made paleo chocolate truffles. The had a coconut/cashew butter base. Very delicious...

[sicil]

Tell me about it. Before I was eating paleo, I had a serious problem with the baked goods section of that store late at night...

 

It's the scent that hits you when you walk in. Soon you're getting cinnamon buns even though you weren't craving them in the first place. Sigh.

[The Borg Queen]

WEEK 2 RESULTS

 

Goal 1: Running

 

I ran 3 days last week, as planned. For the "long run," I decided to take it easy and ran 6 miles. Well, maybe using the word "easy" isn't exactly accurate... I was running at the hottest time of day, and pushing a stroller, so I wouldn't call it easy as all. I kept having to stop for water. Luckily, there's a library and a community center on my route, so finding water wasn't an issue...

 

I also stretched every day after running. Actually, I stretched every single day. So I add a + added to grade.

 

Grade:A+/ A+

 

Goal 2: Bodyweights

 

I completed 2 days of Angry Birds, as planned. Notes: Thursday's session kicked my ass. I'm not sure exactly what did it. The workout included weighted squats and lunges, then I did a couple jump squats and negatives... anyway, I was sore for days after. Still a little sore, now that I'm thinking about it. This week, I want to take it easy with angry birds!

 

Grade: A/ A

 

Goal 3: Food Tracking

 

I tracked food using MFP every day last week.

 

Notes: Dairy is starting to find its way back into my diet. I need to knock that one lose before it takes hold.

 

Grade: A/ A

 

Goal 4: Meditation

 

I made it through 5 x 10 minute sessions of meditation. I missed two days and do not have a good excuse! I just need to sit down and get it done. One thing that might help me is if I meditate at the same time every day, rather than randomly when I find the time. I'll have to put more thought into what would be best.

 

Grade: A/ B

 

Overall grade: A/ A-

 

Looking ahead to this coming week, here are some challenges to look forward to:

• Nip dairy in the bud! No eating dairy this week, no way, no how.
• Meditate close to the same time every day to ensure consistency
• 10 mile long run on Saturday. I have a route that I've been planning for awhile, and I'm really looking forward to it
• Investigate possibility of increasing running days, from 3x to 4x/week. How would this affect my mileage on a daily/weekly basis?
• Go swimming! I've been busy lately, and haven't made it to the pool, but think it would be a great pleasure to go swimming after work sometime this week.

[bgvanbur]

What a great week 2.  Heat and a stroller definitely ups the intensity of a run so I agree it wasn't an easy 6 miler   Looks like a good plan for week 3.

[rogaecia]

 

WEEK 2 RESULTS

 

Goal 1: Running

 

I ran 3 days last week, as planned. For the "long run," I decided to take it easy and ran 6 miles. Well, maybe using the word "easy" isn't exactly accurate... I was running at the hottest time of day, and pushing a stroller, so I wouldn't call it easy as all. I kept having to stop for water. Luckily, there's a library and a community center on my route, so finding water wasn't an issue...

 

I also stretched every day after running. Actually, I stretched every single day. So I add a + added to grade.

 

Grade:A+/ A+

 

Goal 2: Bodyweights

 

I completed 2 days of Angry Birds, as planned. Notes: Thursday's session kicked my ass. I'm not sure exactly what did it. The workout included weighted squats and lunges, then I did a couple jump squats and negatives... anyway, I was soar for days after. Still a little soar, now that I'm thinking about it. This week, I want to take it easy with angry birds!

 

Grade: A/ A

 

Goal 3: Food Tracking

 

I tracked food using MFP every day last week.

 

Notes: Dairy is starting to find its way back into my diet. I need to knock that one lose before it takes hold.

 

Grade: A/ A

 

Goal 4: Meditation

 

I made it through 5 x 10 minute sessions of meditation. I missed two days and do not have a good excuse! I just need to sit down and get it done. One thing that might help me is if I meditate at the same time every day, rather than randomly when I find the time. I'll have to put more thought into what would be best.

 

Grade: A/ B

 

Overall grade: A/ A-

 

Looking ahead to this coming week, here are some challenges to look forward to:

• Nip dairy in the bud! No eating dairy this week, no way, no how.
• Meditate close to the same time every day to ensure consistency
• 10 mile long run on Saturday. I have a route that I've been planning for awhile, and I'm really looking forward to it
• Investigate possibility of increasing running days, from 3x to 4x/week. How would this affect my mileage on a daily/weekly basis?
• Go swimming! I've been busy lately, and haven't made it to the pool, but think it would be a great pleasure to go swimming after work sometime this week.

 

This sounds like an awesome week! Great job! Are you running the 10 miles with a stroller? You are super bad ass. Keep up the awesome job. 

A while ago I read a book that talked about the psychology re: having a bakery in all grocery stores. It somehow convinces people they need things they do not. Could be why grocery stores stress me out

[starbon]

all hail prime ! first of her name, long distance runner and zen master 

[The Borg Queen]

all hail prime ! first of her name, long distance runner and zen master 

Oh, ha, no, thank you tho.....

[starbon]

nudge nudge...updates ? how's the running going ? and are you starting to levitate from all the meditation  ?  I just started meditating, and boy is it tough...I can barely keep my mind from wandering for more than 1 breath cycle. 

[CB3]

Prime, you are doing awesome!  Starbon is right, it is hard to calm the mind and you seem like your doing a great job!

[The Borg Queen]

nudge nudge...updates ? how's the running going ? and are you starting to levitate from all the meditation  ?  I just started meditating, and boy is it tough...I can barely keep my mind from wandering for more than 1 breath cycle. 

 

 

Prime, you are doing awesome!  Starbon is right, it is hard to calm the mind and you seem like your doing a great job!

 

Hi, guys!  The book I'm working with, Everyday Meditation, has a couple of great techniques to train the mind to meditate. One of the most effective methods I've tried is a zazen technique involving breath counting. Breath in, count 1, breath out, count 2, etc. You get as high as you can before the blahdi-blah of the mind kicks in, and the you start over at 1. Its's like the meditation version of chutes and ladders.

[starbon]

deffo trying that tonight.. thanks a bunch prime

[CB3]

I have not read much of Mark Sisson's stuff but I Googled him and will have to do more reading up. he has some interesting stuff. Thanks for the idea!

 

I will have to try that idea with meditating...it has been a while since I have even tried to meditate and my mind is a whirling, white water rapids of thought!  Hard to tame that sometimes but usually work at it around bed time.

 

How is the running going? Shoving yourself out the door? You said something about having a lack of motivation, whats going on that brought that out? Anything you need help with?

[CakeBanisher]

I'll have to look up that book, it sounds really interesting.  Glad to hear you're figuring out how to make it work for you!  

[bgvanbur]

That zazen technique is interesting.  Thanks for sharing.

[The Borg Queen]

@ starbon, Do you have any favorite techniques for meditating? I've been at it for years, but am still very much a beginner and am always looking for new techniques to try.

 

@ CB3: It seems like I always need help with motivation. Maybe I just need help in general. Lol.

 

@ Cakebanisher: I think you would like the book, and because you are starting a 3-minute meditation practice every day, I would highly recommend it. Tobin Blake, the author, goes through the basics of meditation, and has a 100 days of meditation prompts to help you focus the mind and slowly get better. Within the prompts, he provides information and answers to questions about meditation that may pop up as you go along. The content is presented in a simple, non-religious way, without too much new age fluff. I'm on day 19 and am really enjoying the book so far.

 

@bgvanbur: Sure thing! Maybe it will help with this week's minichallenge, amiright?

[starbon]

I tried the zazen technique yesterday, and got only up to a measly 13 before I had to reboot :/ Me thinks we should make a game out of this. Bound by the NF code of conduct ofcourse

 

Previously what I used to do is just breath REALLY deep and slow (as in 13-14 second slow inhale and another 10 second exhale) with your eyes closed, focus on just one singular point in the darkness. Very hard to do. This is like training your mind to be totally empty of thoughts, which is pretty overwhelming. I used to be able to do it, but i haven;t meditated for a while now and everythings collapsed so I have to start from square one. Bummer :/ 

 

I also found this cool site in one of the posts by our dear leader - zenhabits.com - I'm still going through the blogs but I faintly remember it having some tips for meditating that i found insanely useful when I read them, apart from the usual posts on cultivating zen habits 

[The Borg Queen]

Update:

 

It's Friday, a rest day, and also a day off of work. How do I spend it? Eating bacon, trying on old clothes, discussing finances with the husband and probably retrieving my wallet from my sister's house later. I should be cleaning, especially since the next couple of days are going to be busy. I do not want to clean anything. That's something to work on...

 

I've completed my workouts, logging, and meditating this week, but I've been a slow slug about it. I've been giving myself a lot of lip about running in the morning, and angry birds is like pulling teeth. My workweek, tho successful, has been affected in the same way. Steve's midweek e-mail about motivation did help, but what I really need is to get the zest back. I have no idea how that's going to happen. Coffee and a donut? A trip to the beach? A trip in general? Hmmm.... We are going to Seattle this weekend, maybe it will solve my sluggish problem.

 

One thing that's working well is the daily timed meditation option. Turns out, the key to getting it done is to do it early in the day, and specifically as close as possible to my workout. I'm glad something is working

[starbon]

aummmmmmmmmmmmmmm............

 

 

[The Borg Queen]

I tried the zazen technique yesterday, and got only up to a measly 13 before I had to reboot :/ Me thinks we should make a game out of this. Bound by the NF code of conduct ofcourse

 

Previously what I used to do is just breath REALLY deep and slow (as in 13-14 second slow inhale and another 10 second exhale) with your eyes closed, focus on just one singular point in the darkness. Very hard to do. This is like training your mind to be totally empty of thoughts, which is pretty overwhelming. I used to be able to do it, but i haven;t meditated for a while now and everythings collapsed so I have to start from square one. Bummer :/ 

 

I also found this cool site in one of the posts by our dear leader - zenhabits.com - I'm still going through the blogs but I faintly remember it having some tips for meditating that i found insanely useful when I read them, apart from the usual posts on cultivating zen habits 

 

Oh, cool, I'll check out the website.

 

Breath counting is one of my favorite techniques! One of my old yoga teachers would have us hold extended child's pose and count to 7 to inhale, hold for 3, and count 7-10 exhale.

 

As for the game, we could start up a PVP thing. It might be very entertaining...

[starbon]

and just to make it a wee bit more interesting, you have to also post the image/voice/thought that popped into your head and made you break the highest count. I find mine are ...weird ..for lack of a better word