Journey to 1000 Miles

First, let me say I am inspired. Yesterday was the Commitment ceremony for the She’s Now or Never Health and Wellness Journey Group. This wonderful group of women (yes, including myself) are committing to shifting their focus on their own health and wellness by changing their eating habits, incorporating exercise, giving more to their spirituality and over all just taking better care of them(our) selves. Yesterday was beautiful. I am so proud of my friend Menne and all of the girls who had braved their fear of public speaking and allowed themselves to be vulnerable to share with the world their commitments.

Now this next part of my entry is going to be very “raw”.

I am FRUSTRATED. I am mad, and sad, and just so frustrated. As you read earlier, I was in the hospital a couple of weeks ago for a small bowel blockage. I never knew that I’ve had this condition for years because I always thought I just had a sensitive stomach and would get food poisoning every month…it turns out, it’s always been a blockage. I’m told that this blockage is due to a lot of scar tissue from my transplant surgery. Don’t get me wrong. My transplant is nothing short of a BLESSING. The surgery has just caused some damage on my insides. If you don’t want to listen to my pity party, you can close this now. I’m well aware that this is a pity party and I’m allowing myself to wallow. I won’t wallow for long but I need to go through these emotions. This scar tissue is also responsible for my infertility. Yes, I can have kids. Yes, I want kids. But I will need help because as with my intestines, my fallopian tubes are also blocked from this very same scar tissue.

I’m part of this 30 day challenge to document my food intake and exercise for 30 days and well, I feel embarassed. I haven’t been able to work out because my insides don’t feel right and I don’t know what to eat. My belly is swollen like I’m 5 months pregnant, I can’t fit into my pants, and my stomach just feels HARD. I’ve been eating really well. I’ve changed my diet to lots of fiber, whole grains, and lots of vegetables. When I was hospitalized, I’m told that to help prevent the obstruction, I should stick to a diet low in fiber, stay away from nuts and seeds, switch to white breads and pastas, cook all vegetables till soft, etc. I want to eat healthier and this doesn’t sound healthier at all. I now get why every time I’d start eating healthy, I’d get really sick. It’s because my intestines couldn’t handle it.

So here I am having to re-evaluate my diet and re-evaluate my fitness goals. I am wayyyyyy behind on my miles log but I’m determined to still get 1000 by the end of the year. 250 miles by April seems a bit challenging. We’ll see.

I’m not exactly sure what to do. Do I start juicing everything? Start drinking shakes? Ensure or boost? I’m just really sad and frustrated and to be honest, I’m feeling lost. Have any of you had to deal with an obstruction? Any advice?

I apologize for lagging. I suck. I don’t mean to suck or lag but for now I do. Okay so where to start?

I was hospitalized January 10-12 for a small bowel obstruction and it left a GAP in my training. I was so bummed. I did, however, get in 2.25 miles walking the hospital hallways on each floor twice and doing the stairs. The rest of the week was caca. I was hurting and trying to heal for the Tinkerbell 1/2 marathon.

My friends and I left for the Tinkerbell half marathon on Friday morning and with the 3 day weekend traffic, we got there in 8ish hours.

Christina & Stacy…my roomies and road buddies

Yay! My bib and very cool tech shirt!

We hit Disneyland on Saturday morning and we hit it hard…I really felt like a kid and I vow to do Disneyland at least once a year from now on. We got to Disneyland in the morning, ran around the park like 3 little girls, got back to the hotel early enough to eat dinner and hit the sack since Sunday was the BIG race. We were running late. We were tired…I mean we just did Disneyland and California Adventure for the WHOLE DAY. My feet and legs were tired and I was anxious that we were gonna eat late and then sleep late. I stress out about sleep…especially since we had to get up at 3am. OUCH! So we went for a walk to try to find a place to eat. By this time, I’m tired of walking. At this point I was wishing someone invented an adult Baby Bjorn. We get back to the room, eat, get ready for bed and sleep. WHAT? I CAN’T SLEEP! I WAS STRESSING THE EFF OUT ABOUT NOT BEING ABLE TO SLEEP!!! UGH!

Disney fun

3:00am, Sunday rolls around way to early and I contemplate punching each of my roommates in the face. I wouldn’t…I love them…but the thought crossed my mind and it made me laugh enough to wake me up. I suited up in my Minnie Mouse attire. SO FUN!

More like 3 stooges

Awwww! The girlies!

We head over the start line which feels like 100 miles away and I ditch my friends to find my sister, Dee. This was Dee’s first half marathon and she was phenomenal. She dusted me. I’m so glad I got to start the first few miles with her though. We are in corral D…in the midst of 21,000 running maniacs dressed like their favorite Disney character…3/4 of them were dressed like Tinkerbell. It was really cute. The first 3 miles were RIDICULOUS for me…I was wondering if I was getting exercise induced asthma or if the Southern California air quality was just that bad! I was also coming down with a cold so it may be a combination of the 3. We get into the California Adventure and let me tell you…simply MAGICAL! World of Color was going on, there were characters cheering us on, even the maintenance crew was out there cheering for us! It was amazing. Oh and here’s my favorite part…on our way though the Park, I got to see my friend Jen. Do you remember her? Diagnosed with Leukemia last year and went into remission? SHE IS F-WORD AMAZING!! She was tired, and had shin splints, and blisters but she kept pushing…and kept pushing with a smile. I’m so incredibly proud of her. We then went into Disneyland and being in the middle of Main Street, running by a fully lit Small World, passing through the Castle…it was just so awesome. I’m still in awe. I still feel so lucky. I mean, the week before I was in the hospital wondering if I was even gonna be able to make it down to Southern California to cheer my friends on but here I was…DOING IT! I was slow…and I’m okay with it. The next few miles were through Anaheim and kinda uneventful but fun none the less.

Me & Dee

My lovely friend, Jen.

I put my ears in and the music of Sublime, Spawnbreezie, J. Boog, Bob Marley, and others kept me moving. Because of the obstruction earlier in the week, I had not trained and I was feeling really tired. Yes, to the point of almost crying. I was alone but I had no one to bounce my negative energy off of so I had to talk myself through the last few miles. I had to be my biggest cheerleader…well because…I was my ONLY (physical) cheerleader. I confided in my friends soon after the last season of Team ended that I was scared that my security blanket (my coaches, teammates, etc from Team in Training) was not going to be there to help me through my last few miles as in my previous half marathons. Let me tell you…something miraculous happens when you’re on the course by yourself…you dig deep inside you and find that all it takes is YOU to cross that finish line.

My lovely friends, Mildred and Minnie

During the last mile, my buddy Stacy met up with me and we finished together…something that would have never happened because Stacy is way fast…but she was injured, therefore allowing us to be at the same pace. I’m happy I finished with her.

She sure is pretty, isn’t she?

I have to say…I am very proud of myself for doing this race. First, I ran a lot of it. Second, I was in the hospital a week prior and didn’t know if I could even go. Third, I didn’t have my security blanket or cheer squad. Fourth, I didn’t let self-sabotage and those negative thoughts keep me from finishing. I finished…and I finished with a smile. I guess you can say…this really is preparation for the race in Honolulu.

Some say I like to make out with my medals, I say I’m just givin’ them a little love.

Oh, don’t you guys worry…recipes will come soon!

Today I get an email from my old nephrologist’s (kidney doctor) office…Santa Clara Valley Medical Center Renal Care Center. This place was my “home away from home” so to say. I was trained to do my peritoneal dialysis here and was cared for here when my kidneys failed. Last month, I decided to write a letter to them – my old doctors and nurses – to let them know just how thankful I am to have been cared for by such wonderful people…that without their care, their knowledge, and even their smiles when it got tough, has helped me incredibly to be the person I am today. I told them about my transplant and let them know that I have completed a couple of marathons and races and how important it was because at one time, I didn’t know if I’d live from one day to the next. Anyway, I received a lovely email from the secretary at the Renal Care Center telling me that my letter was received and forwarded to my doctors and nurses and that they appreciate me sharing with them what’s been going on with me lately. She also asked for my permission to submit my letter and pictures to their county-wide newsletter which will be distributed to over 7000 employees. I happily approved.

I’m in awe. How could my simple letter of gratitude touch the hearts of my doctors and nurses enough to share with their community? I hope that my story, my words, my gratitude, move at least 1 of those 7000+ to have a grateful heart and to share their gratitude with those who have helped them.

The picture I sent to my doctors…me and my signature pose kissing my medal after my first marathon.

On another note, I saw that my nephew Kalani posted a picture on Instagram. His new years resolution is to do the 100 mile challenge. Now, the 100 mile challenge in short is based on consuming foods grown or raised within a 100 mile radius from you…whole foods. I don’t think he’s doing this kind of challenge but I think he’s going to try to do 100 miles this year by foot – much like my journey to 1000 miles. I’m so proud of him already.

My smiley nephew, Kalani

Today I’m so inspired. I’m not going to lie. I woke up thinking “what kind of crazy idea did you just commit yourself to doing…AND you put it out there for EVERYONE to see!” Yes, I got nervous. Yes, I got anxious. But after receiving the email from my doctor’s office and seeing my nephew’s picture on Instagram, I’m once again inspired.

I know you’re probably wanting to know why…why 1000 miles…???

Simply put, I’m doing it because I CAN. I didn’t know if I’d wake up at one point in my life, let alone do races. I’m doing it because I’m healthy enough to do it. I’m doing it because I CAN.

Since I did a gazillion miles yesterday, I decided to give my muscles a rest and decided to do something fun…healthy meal prep! After all, I’ve heard it one too many times…If you fail to plan, you plan to fail! Anyway, it was a goal of mine to meal plan/prep for the week (for at least breakfast and lunch). Here are a few things I made and some tips!!

1. Mason Jars

Why mason jars? I like mason jars because they’re not plastic, they’re under $10 for a dozen (unlike glass containers or other food containers), and well…they’re just cute! 

2. Breakfast

For the breakfasts, I made a couple of my favorites: Steel cut oats and Greek Yogurt with Oats, Chia seeds and fruit.

Do you like steel cut oats? I LOVE steel cut oats! Make them in a rice cooker to save some time! I used some unsweetened coconut to flavor it a little and some coconut sugar to sweeten it up. Tomorrow when I take it to work, I’ll add fresh fruit…maybe some blueberries or bananas and some toasted walnuts and flax.

3. Lunch

I roasted sweet potatoes, green beans, chicken and turkey meatballs.

While your veggies are roasting, make some quinoa or brown rice! Oh and  here’s a little tip on using ground turkey…especially lean ground turkey. When you bake it, it can become very dry. Keep them moist by adding old fashion oats and a lot of veggies! I personally like using onions, red bell peppers, spinach and mushrooms. Also, you can make them mediterranean by adding some fat free feta! Sooooo good!

One of my favorite greens is Kale. I like to wilt it with olive oil, garlic and chili flakes and then take it off the heat and squeeze lemon and add some lemon zest to it. Try it! You might like it!

Take a look at my Salad! Isn’t it pretty? The best way to layer your salad when using your mason jars is to put the dressing on the bottom, then add beans, carrots, peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes and your lettuce goes on the top. I make my own dressing and I’ll share that soon! Stay tuned! 

And there you have it folks! Meal planning/prepping! Questions? Ask me! Have a happy, healthy week

Steel cut oats in a rice cook

Unsweetened coconut! Yum!

Mason Jar Breakfast

Quinoa with Garbanzo beans

Turkey Meatball Mixture

Turkey Meatballs ready for the oven

Wilted Kale

Roasting

Baked Chicken Breast

Mmmmm Salad!

Mason Jar Meals!

So pretty in the fridge, right?