Five stages of grief

The weather today has been incredibly humid and hot, so I postponed my run to later in the evening, even though I knew there was a chance of rain. During my 10.5 km (7 mile) run I kinda went through the five stages of grief:

1: Denial: At the first few drops - "Hey a little rain will be nice since it's so hot"

2: Anger: &/%€&(%€(/&%€% A little I said

3: Bargaining: Please don't let that thunder storm get me, I'll never mess with the weather Gods again I promise

4: Depression: Could the world be any more grey?

5: Acceptance: Hey puddle jumping is actually pretty fun, and miss wet t'shirt is the new black I hear...

Great Day

So the whole paleo/primal way of living is not just a food/nutrition kinda deal, but rather an entire lifestyle. Now, I'm pretty sure the cavemen didn't do triathlons, they were way to busy waiting for the wheel to be invented. Actually endurance training is not recommended in general because our body is just not made to do this type of exercise, but if you absolutely have to go run a marathon or something like that, paleo/primal is still the way to go with a few modification. More importantly (with regards to todays training) paleo/primal advocates getting enough sleep, and we are talking at least 7-8 hours when we are talking about enough.

I have always been a bad sleeper. I find it difficult to fall asleep, normally takes me more than 1 hour after I turn the lights off, I wake up from the smallest sound, such as a spider walking across the floor (or was that a nightmare???) and I don't normally sleep longer than 8-9 if my alarm is turned off. But I have really tried to change that since new years. Turning the lights and the computer off at 10pm, drinking natural calm and getting up at the same time most mornings. And for the longest time it really worked. I slept so well, had no problem getting up in the morning for my workouts, and in return no problem falling asleep in the evening. Then I kinda fell out of it these last few weeks. So I am going to get back at it and get to bed at a reasonable time.

Anyhow last night i wen't to bed at 11 and didn't fall asleep until 1 or 2 am. So when the alarm clock rang at 5.30 am I was kinda groggy. My first thought was that I had made a mistake and that it had to be Sunday... such a nice thought... Then I remembered last nights run and that it was actually Tuesday so I pushed snooze (because an extra 9 minutes would make a difference right?). I laid there for 1 minutes and then figured this was stupid, and that I might as well get going. So I dragged myself to the pool and was in the water for a 2300m session at 6am, and it felt great. I really like swimming in the morning since it feels somewhat easier than running or spinning, and it's a nice way to wake up.

I missed the spin class in the evening, but vent to the gym and did a 53min workout provided by my trainer. At the moment the temperatures have risen quite a lot here in St Louis and my gym does not have great air conditioning, so I was sweating buckets. Felt so great after the workout, such a fantastic feeling to be able to suck it up and get something that boring over with. It's going to be great going outside. I have had a little pinching feeling on the back of my knee, but I am hoping it will be gone by tomorrow so that I can go for a run. If not I'll have to do another spin class and the do the run Thursday.

Well I'm off to fix a class of Natural Calm so that I can keep my promises... Sleep tight!

Sun is shining

So a quick update from the weekend. Saturday I dragged my butt to the pool, incredible how many times my brain can try to derail me during a 10 min drive, but I came out victorious and got in a 2800m swim session.

When I read what i just wrote it sounds like I am not at all happy with my training, but that is really not the fact. It is kinda hard to explain, but if I fall out of training in some way, my brain just starts working against me finding reasons to push the workouts to the next day etc and thus the evil circle has begun... The fact is that as soon as I get to the pool I absolutely love it. I love the feeling of being able to glide through the water, feeling strong and somewhat graceful. I love the feeling you get during a run or outdoor bike ride when your legs just does their thing, your mind can wander, and you almost feel like singing along to the music on your ipod. Spin class is an entirely different thing. I am never going to enjoy indoor training that much, and doing a spin class all I pretty much do is stare at the clock and think about how much I hate it. Luckily I will be home with my road bike in two weeks, and I really can't wait to get on the road.

Anyhow during the swim on Saturday my googles decided to go on strike and take in water on the one eye, great way to practice holding your breath for one stroke longer, but impossible to do flip turns, and then the 25 yard pool suddenly seem very short. So got home and ordered two new pairs online, hopefully they will be here in a few days.

Speaking of equipment, I kinda had to take advantage of my last few days in the US so I just ordered my first wet suit, along with a few triathlon shirts and tights. Unfortunately they will not be here before sometime next week, but then I guess I have something to look forward to.

I had planned to do an easy run on sunday, but due to the outcome of my last run I kept second guessing myself, and therefor never got around to it. I was seriously scared of going out, because I still remember the feeling of having my knee collapse under me last year, it's completely irrational. Anyways woke up to a beautiful day today, with 25 degrees Celcius outside, and sunshine, the summer definitely came to St Louis. So I skipped my planned spin class this evening and went for a run. I had planned to just do 7km (5 miles) at a nice and easy pace, and the see how it goes. But since my angle didn't bother me at all when I was half way I took the chance and kept going. Ended up doing 10.5km (7miles) without having any ankle or knee pain.

The Schedule for the week is:

Tuesday: Swim 2300m , 1 hour spin class

Wednesday: Run 7-9.5km

Thursday: Swim 2200m , 1 hour spin class

Friday: 1 hour Spin Class , Run 4 miles

Saturday: Swim 3800m

Sunday: Run 16km (depending on how the ankle and knee feels)

Hybris anyone?

So I was so psyched about getting back on track yesterday and as I wrote in my update I did manage to get my but off the couch and go for a run. Definitely felt a bit of soreness in my ankle afterwards, but went to bed with the best intentions of getting to spin class in the morning.

Come morning and both my half excuses turned into whole ones. My ankle was sore, which in itself wouldn't be enough to cancel spin class, but whats worse is that my knee is hurting when I stretch it. So I ended up doing nothing today, hopefully it will be better in the morning. I was thinking the problem might be that my arch is becoming flat. I did a quick cunsultation with Dr. Google and thats what he came up with. I am going back to Denmark in a few weeks and will get someone to look at it. If this is the problem it should be easily fixable with some sort of soles in my running shoes. Until I get a chance to have it looked at I will try and see if I can tape it up to create some sort of support. Anyhow the ankle really isn't a problem, since I definitely won't be running until my knee is okay again.

Yes I know I'm whining, but I promised myself that I would be honest from now on so here it goes. Today was a crappy day, felt sorry for myself and ended up eating ice cream for dinner, which in the long run is never going to help my knees or any other part of me. I am going to try and be positive about this and use the running break to work on my diet and just get a bunch of spin classes and swim workouts done. It will also give me a chance to get a bunch done at work before I leave in a few weeks...

So yes I'm working on getting the title of little miss sunshine. If my knee is not too bad in the morning I will go to the gym and get in a swim workout.

Me, myself and I

So it's been a while since I last posted on here, but things have been hectic and I have completely fallen off the wagon. So in an effort to get back on track I will just try and log my days in here in order to be accountable to something other than my self...

I have signed up for Challenge Copenhagen which is an Ironman in taking place in Copenhagen. I am both so psyched and so scared about this, but if I get my act together and put in the hours of training that I need I am sure I can do it. Up until now my training has been sporadic at best, but I just have to let that go and get on with it. Three things are stopping me from doing great at the moment, me myself and I...

One of many days sounds like this:

My plan for monday is to get out of bed and go to spin class at 5.45 since I really wan't to take a long day at the office and therefor won't make it to the evening class, and I need to swim as well... Monday morning alarm clock rings, and person nr one (Me) starts making excuses:

"Your tired and will not get enough out of this, cortisol levels are sky high (even though I slept 7-8 hours), sleep an hour more and go in the evening, and just do two workouts in a row..."

First mistake... The idea of having to do two workouts in a row stresses me all day and I end up skipping spin class entirely, thinking I'll just go for a run in the evening... Come evening, person nr 2 (Myself) starts talking:

"Well your not feeling too hot, and your ankle has been bothering you (half truth - more about that later) and also your knee has been acting up again (another half truth - that makes one whole truth)."

At this point the last person (I) chimes in:

"maybe it would be better to just wait and go for a run in the morning, yes I know you normally can't drag yourself out of bed for a run but hey tomorrow will be different...."

About those half truths, yes I have had a tightening in my ankle, but nothing more than I can handle on a normal 6 mile run, and as long as I just listen and don't overdo it I should be fine. Also kinda seems like it was getting better, but what do I know I havn't been out for a run since Saturday. Half truth nr 2: Yes after my run saturday I have had some locking pains in my knee, but until I actually go for a run, however short it might be, I won't know how bad it is. Also last summer I got over it by taking a running pause, so it's not a death sentence...

So anyhow I am going to try an be honest about things here, look at the excuses I come up with and actually judge how valid they are... Let you know how it goes!

Update:

So I kicked Myself and I in the but and got out for a 7 mile run tonight. Didn't bring my watch but know I was going nice and slow, definitely a bit scared of having my knee give out on me and having to walk home. Luckily that was not the case, knee held up it's part of the bargain, know if only ankle could learn a thing or two from knee... After about 3 miles it started to tighten up. The pain comes and goes, but definitely gets worse after a while, so I was happy to see the house. I really hope I can stretch it away but we will see.

Going to spin class in the morning, and if time permits it a swim in the evening after work.

Whole30 Day 3

So the plan was to take pictures of all the meals I eat during this whole30, but due to bad lightening and iphone pictures I gave up on that today. I still did fine though, just pretty much ate the same stuff as I did yesterday. Stir fry with 2 eggs, chicken and leftover roasted curried cauliflower for breakfast/lunch. A big bowl of chili for dinner and then I snacked (a bit too much) on almonds.

I had a great run this evening, thats the only great thing about Saint Louis getting colder. Ran 6.4 miles (10.5 km). This weekend I am going to visit my former host family in Pennsylvania so I will not be doing any picture taking of food this weekend. Will however still update on the food front. Then I am definitely finding a camera next week, something with a flash would definitely do wonders...

Whole30 Day 2

So today was definitely not a great day, felt somewhat sick all day, which was hopefully just lack of sleep. But I survived, and hopefully tomorrow will be better. Anyhow I am way to tired to do a longer post so here are the meals for the day:

Lunch was a stir fry of two eggs, leftover danish meatballs, and roasted curried cauliflower topped with sliced almonds. I apologize for the general lousiness of the pictures on the blog posts, I am working on finding a decent camera instead of using my iphone.

After I got home from work I had a home made larabar, which I unfortunately didn't get a picture of, but I will definitely be making that again since it is so easy and way cheaper than the original one. I was hoping that the sugar from this would make me feel better but unfortunately that never happened.

Dinner was a big bowl of "clean out the fridge" chili, which is basically just my regular recipe for chili, mixed with whatever greens I need to get rid of.

Not a very inspirational day, but hey sometimes you have to eat to live and not live to eat... Until tomorrow...

Chili

So I love recipes where you have your base, and then you just add whatever you have in the fridge at the moment. This recipe for chili is one of them. I got the base recipe from paleoplan, and then I just adjusted it to fit me. I am not good with the spice chili, so I only the spiciness from the salsa. If you have mexican blod in you veins, add some extra chili, either in powdered form or diced.

Chili

• 1 Tbs coconut oil
• 1 medium yellow onion, diced
• 3 stalks celery, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, sliced
• 1 lb ground meat
• 2 tsp ground cumin
• 2 tsp thyme
• 1 (12 oz) jar salsa
• 1 (8 oz) can diced tomatoes
• Salt & Pebber

In a large pot, heat up the coconut oil and add the garlic, onions and celery, and sauté until the onions become glassy. Add the ground meat and spices and saute until the meat is no longer red. Add the salsa and tomatoes and let the whole thing simmer for 1 hour. In the version on the picture I have added some yellow peppers that needed to be eaten before getting all wrinkly.

Serve alone or on top of spaghetti squash, zucchini pasta, or cauliflower mash.

Whole30 Day 1

So this is day one of the whole 30 challenge. Yesterday I went grocery shopping, and got as many greens and meats as my very limited space in the fridge could hold. I gave my roommates the few things that I had that was not on the menu, which included the processed meat I have used as an easy snack, and the last few cans of diet coke (going to be tough to quit that one). My beloved protein powder is now hidden away on the top shelf, and if my roommates didn't consider me a crazy dane before they definitely do now.

My general belief with regards to meals, is that you should eat when you are hungry. Do I practice what I preach? I wish, but sometimes the snack attack feeling wins in the hunger games. Anyhow since going paleo/primal I have eased up on the 6 meals a day routine that I used to be a slave to. I used to be a firm believer in the "I will die of starvation before i get to work if I do not eat breakfast" mantra, but I have actually found out that on the days when I only work out once in the afternoon, I am really not that hungry in the morning. So now I get 15 minutes of sleep extra - win win.

So the first meal of the day was lunch. "Frikadeller" (danish meatballs) with pineapple salsa and roasted green beans, which was my leftovers from yesterday dinner. The pineapple salsa is just grilled pinaples mixed with red peppers and tomatoes, tossed with balsamic vinegar and olive oil...Yum.

The Danish meatballs are probably one of the most common dishes served in Denmark, and they taste just as great warms, as they do cold. This makes them a perfect alternative to the lunch meat I had to give away. Also ground pork is really cheap in the states which just makes it even better!

Frikadeller:

1 lb ground pork

1 medium onion, chopped.

1 egg

2 tbs almond flour

Salt and pepper

Mix all the ingredients together, season with salt and pepper. Use the spoon to make small meatballs, and fry them in coconut oil or ghee in a pan until they are cooked all the way through. The recipe can be varied by using different spices, adding parmesan or feta to the mix, or maybe some finely shredded carrots. Definitely very good. My afternoon snack was a small handfull of nuts, to complement my coffee.

After work I had a LaraBar and a two small meat balls, and then I went for a 7.5 mile run. The LaraBars are allowed since they are all natural, but they are pretty high in sugar from all the dried fruit, so I am limiting them to pre/post workout, and only one a day.

They work great as a pre workout snack on the days where I really haven't eaten since lunch since they give a quick burst of energy and take the edge of any hunger I might be feeling. I definitely have to try and make them myself.

After my run I ate a big sweet potato while I prepared my dinner. I made a big batch of burgers, fried up some squash, mushrooms and red peppers with thyme and oregano, and as a second side dish, I made a batch of NomNomPaleo's curried roasted cauliflower. I used to never like cauliflower that much, and now it is by far the vegetable I use the most.

Curried Roasted Cauliflower:

1 head of cauliflower

Olive oil

Curry

Salt & Pebber

Preheat the oven to 400F. Cut the cauliflower into small florets, toss them with a generous amount of olive oil and curry and spread them out onto a ovenproof dish. Cover the dish in aluminium wrap and bake them for 15 minutes, remove the wrap and bake them another 15-20 mintes until they start looking a little black around the corners.

Hmmm lets give it another go...

So I have been absent for more than 6 months, so this blog definitely needs a round of CPR...
Well I didn't fall of the face of the earth, just fell into sort of a funk from a writing perspective...

So in order to get back on track a small update is in order... I have been on and of Paleo lately due to a new living situation. Yes I am living in the land of plenty at the moment, and am having a bit of a difficult time trying to stay away from two delightful gentlemen - Ben & Jerry... But I really need to move past this bad boy face in my life, and on to the healthy Boys next door... So in order to do that I have decided to do a 30 day whole 30 challenge, which among other things will mean starting to take pictures of my meals again. These 30 days I will take pictures of all my meals no matter how boring they might be...
As far as the triathlon goes, I got injured - no surprise there - but after a month of somewhat rest, and pretty decent eating, I was down 10 pounds and back on track, so what better to do than to decide to compete in a triathlon (in a bit of a blurred state...plenty of cosmos were to blame). I could have gone with the short distance, but a few of my guy friends were doing that, so had to do better... Anyhow long story short, I ended up doing the half ironman, even though I had not done as much training, as my OCD would have liked me to do. It was FANTASTIC, and I was so psyched afterwards, so despite no alcohol or other good excuses I went and signed up for the full next year... So now I need to get real about that as well...

So this is the challenge, no biggie right???

Anyhow, I am happy to be back, and I will do great...So I'll be back tomorrow with a bunch of pictures and a status update!!! Oh and someone send me this cartoon, and it made me laugh so hard, so Im sharing it with the world...