September 2, 2011

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Friday, September 2, 2011

Got roughly 8 ½ hours of a restless sleep last night.

Woke at 6:30 am but lounged till 7:30 am.

I irritated the muscles between my mid-shoulder blades (middle Trapezius); it has been my ‘Achilles heel’ – a weak spot from an old injury from my early 20’s when I used to perform one-arm push-ups at fitness demonstrations. What was I thinking! We have zero forethought when we’re young and invincible…at least I had none!

Yesterday, I felt the moment when I felt it “go”…it was in my second set of 100 skips. For some reason I let my gaze drop and so my head followed – bam! It seemed to go away during the 3rd and 4^th rounds, but felt it again when I did the reverse push up. I didn’t listen to my inner voice, I should have stopped but I wanted to finish my ten reps.

In hindsight what I think actually triggered this domino effect was the Sandbag cleans from the workout, which recruits a lot of Trapezius. It’s not such a big deal because I know how to recover (stretch/ rest etc.) from this kind of setback; it’s just a shame about the lack of sleep.

(At the time of writing this I don’t feel any residual pain; I’ll be going swimming in the morning if all is still well by then!)

As a result today was a REST & RECOVERY DAY. I was due for a rest day anyhow…I’m listening to my body – now, at least.

7:30 am before getting up I did my wake up stretches:

Hug knees to chest for a very long time
Hip flexor stretch (right knee to chest, left leg stretched out on the bed – repeat other side. Repeat both sides a few times)
Hip Flexor stretch with Rotation
And I bicycle my legs up towards the ceiling under my duvet, it helps me to wake-up and warms me up before I step out of bed.
Seated forward bend with legs extended and knees very bent (I am very inflexible in the morning. I have to be very gentle with myself and warm up slowly.
Once sitting up, I did some seated spinal rotation, initiating the movement from the hips.

Everyday is different so I just listen to what my body needs.

As I sat up out of bed I repeated the Micro Breaks.

Around 8:00 am I never got around to reading from Fierce Medicine, by Ana Forrest last night, so I read two chapters as I sat on the edge of my bed. Great book, could have sat there longer but I was fiercely hungry!

Did my 4 Minute Morning Week 3 – DAY 7

Said good mornings to kids.

Did this stretching routine:

10 rolling like a ball
Right and left Hip Flexor stretch
3 Hip Stretches
Double Latissimus Dorsi stretch
Side Bend stretches

9:00 am Made Pancakes for the kids.

9:00 – 9:30 am MY Breakfast:

Banana
2 Fresh Figs from backyard
½ Nectarine
1 Cup Frozen Spinach, steamed – drizzled with Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Freshly squeezed lemon juice.
Combined ¾ Cup Cooked Brown Rice Flakes + ¼ Cup Cooked Quinoa Flakes + 2 teaspoons real Maple Syrup
12 oz. Water
4 Baby Carrots

10:00 – 11:30 am

Clean kitchen from breakfast and from last night ( a real mess!)
Load of laundry
Input log
Victory Stretch

11:45 am MY Lunch:

(Leftovers are essential for me to eat well. When I’m hungry I need to eat then and there. If the right food isn’t available that’s when poor choices happen, which is the downfall for most of us- must be prepared.)

1 1/2 Cup of Tri-Colour Quinoa Salad which consisted of: Quinoa/ Steamed Green Kale/ Cherry Tomatoes/ Red Pepper/ Fresh Mint & Parsley Sweet Potato and Yam.
Drizzled with my homemade Salad Dressing, with an extra sprinkling of Kelp granules.
Ate 1 Cup total of this: Pan fried 1/4 Sweet onion in Extra Virgin Olive Oil + 1/2 lb.Fresh/ Wild Halibut
4 Baby Carrots
12 oz. Water

Ate outside enjoying the sun and watched the dogs lay on the grass.

Did a row of monkey bars.

Spent some time on the computer.

12:30 pm

Clean up kitchen
Feed kids lunch
Transfer wash to dryer
Put in another load
Take clean laundry upstairs and sort
Snack on 10 baby carrots
3 slices of Green apple
2 sheets of Sea Weed (this stuff is not your ordinary run of the mill sheets of sea weed).
12 oz. Water

1:00 pm – 1:35 pm Drive my son to a play date

1:45 – 3:00 pm Drive to pick up his uniform shirts

3:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Return to play-date and hang out chatting with my friend (walk to playground and back).

12 oz. Water/ Banana (forgot to bring my own snack!)

5:30 pm MY 1^st Dinner:

Snack on Baby carrots and 1 last snap pea.
2 Cups of Tri-Colour Quinoa Salad which consisted of:

Quinoa/ Steamed Green Kale/ Cherry Tomatoes/ Red Pepper/ Fresh Mint & Parsley / Sweet Potato/ Yam and tossed with my homemade Salad Dressing, with extra sprinkling of Kelp granules.

2 re-heated BBQ Double Loin Lamb Chops with Fresh Garlic & dried Rosemary.
12 oz. Water

6:30 pm MY 2^nd Dinner:

At our favorite Japanese restaurant

Spanish Mackerel Sashimi, with Ginger and Scallions (this dish is AMAZING)
Sea Weed (no dressing)
1/4 of a large Fresh Grilled Sardine (sprinkled with Sea Salt only) AMAZING flavour!
3 cups of Japanese Green Tea (they keep refilling my cup and I don’t decline…hmmm.)

At home 7: 45 pm