Geat Plyos (Plyometrics) - Cardio boost + Carbs as Fuel

Every day is a great day for a great day :-)

This morning I had an amazing workout - I went in not knowing what I would train yet allowed myself to know/believe that I would figure it out and make it good once I hit the gym floor.
I had my oats and 7g protein and noted I felt sort of tired/lazy before leaving the apartment. I think it was due to the 1/2 tsp Magnesium salts I took in the morning. I should've known better! Magnesium is typically a relaxant and usually taken pre-bedtime to promote better sleep. I took it this morning because I was listening to a podcast (one of my faves, Ben Greenfield Fitness), and he mentioned that Magnesium is helpful in promoting Adinopectin which is a hormone integral to body fat composition and seems to be found in higher concentrations in lean people. From a 2005 study found on PubMed:

"adiponectin levels are lower in obese subjects than in lean subjects. Apart from negative correlations with measures of adiposity, adiponectin levels are also reduced in association with insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes."
Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15655035

To increase/promote Adinopectin production you can take magnesium which is found naturally in pumpkin seeds as well as through an MG supplement. Since I've recently been cutting down my pill supplements, including MG, I realized that I've been missing Mg and thus added it this morning. Thankfully, I counterbalanced the slight sluggishness by drinking my 2 cups of delicious coffee, ensuring it buzzed my system. In the end it most certainly worked its magic.

Going back to the original point, once at the gym I 'woke up' so to speak and realized I was going to focus on plyometrics and raising my heart rate throughout with some emphasis on biceps. It was tons of fun. Burpees, jumping jacks, supported pullups, inverted rows, high quick knee raises, mountain climbers, star jumps, squat jumps and quick alternating toe-to-bench taps. I definitely raised my heart rate and experience some challenge to the muscles, which is great.

I also observed I was very energized and had an amazing workout - it just may be the case that the carbs I've been adding to my system are serving as potent fuel for my workouts.

So far so good, and I hope for continued positive outcomes along the way.

Tomorrow is legs day - finally I have a full, normal weekend again! After one month of training classes, which were really stimulating and engaging, I am also thrilled I can sleep in, eat my breakfast with peace and ease and make plans to enjoy the two days of REST albeit without rest from the gym tomorrow ;-)

Finally, the most valuable aspect of this all, for me, is that I have a healthy, vital, active, functioning body. I'm so blessed and thankful I can jump around in creative, fun ways; i can grow stronger and have new experiences within my own skin n bones. It's remarkable. I realize one day in the distant future my activity levels will be modified; thus, I'm thankful for this moment now, this moment in time, this particularly stage and chapter in my 20s where I am so passionate, devoted and excited about weight training and being fit. It is just amazing that this can endure for the rest of my long and healthy, joyful, love-filled life. :-)

xx

Feeling Emotional

Hey there, good morning beautiful world!
Today is a unique day already, my gosh...Well, not the usually smooth experience getting to work.

Why?
I took my car for service yesterday and thus I don't have my car this morning for my usual commute to work. This has happened before for prior services and so I had envisioned that I would take a taxi as usual and reach work normally.
However, it was not the case!
The first taxi I hailed refused to bring me to Jebel Ali as they are currently in great construction. I was very distraught, upset and disappointed. I wanted to cry...I've been refused by Taxi drivers before due to either too short distance, or too much traffic, whatever stupid f'ing excuse - it never feels good and doesn't seem to get easier for me to stomach, although I did not actually release any tears - at least, lol.

The 2nd cab also expressed hesitation and doubt however less adamantly so; he mentioned "there is a lot of traffic, blah blah blah you can take metro, better" - I did not say anything and let him drive. There were no words for me to reply as
(1) I was already feeling emotional, jittery and didn't want to actually break down in tears OR snap with a mad woman's rage which has easily happened on necessary occasions. I am all about healthfully standing up for yourself and defending your right but in this case I wanted to reach the office in a graceful, peaceful state of mind and being - not a hot mess; AND
(2) I felt no desire whatsoever to have to convince anyone of anything or debate on the best mode of transport; I need you to take me to X destination, this is your job, you are getting paid for it, period. Yalla.

Anyhow, the experience was quite different than what I am used to and it left me feeling a bit off kilter. I feel jittery, emotional, like I want to bawl! That's so funny, though, bc there's no need for it. In fact, perhaps I am just being *hormonal*...there are such days and it is not necessarily because of the monthly cycle.



Sometimes, every couple of months I have a day of this like deep sadness or weird anger...when I just want to bawl, cry out loud and etc. Well, that's not really what i want to indulge or enhance. What I really want is feel good, relaxed, at peace, calm...happy and easy-going. Perhaps I am in need of a nap...and my cortisol is particularly elevated.

I feel my nerves on edge...Not sure why.

Since this weekend, Friday and Saturday, I woke up feeling fine yet within next 15-30mins of getting up and preparing my coffee, food, morning ritual...I felt sort of BLAH. However, on Friday it was dissipated since we had a lovely picnic in the park with friends and that was most joyful.
Yesterday Saturday I also felt a tired all over my body - I felt sort of lost, and confused...partly bc I had to take my car early morn to service and I just had this overall kind of lack of directionality or deep in-ness with the moment. I dropped the car for svc and came back home to take the towels out to dry. Fortunately, the day was quite active and it was so wonderful to be spending it with friends at a house BBQ and also on a date which was very nice.

These days I find I'm improving in my ability to cope with times when my mood seems to be off...I just tell myself, "Hang on, it'll be over soon." And I start counting to distract myself_1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8...
It works.

The truth is today I feel emotional, sensitive and edgy. I hope it will pass soon. I want to sleep deeply, peacefully and soundly tonight. I want to live today calmly and successfully.
I want to be joyous with the things that ARE.
I am constantly reminding myself of my multiple, countless, incredible blessings. Simple things like having plenty of drinkable water at my disposal, being able to exercise, having a healthy, strong and vibrant body; eating nutritiously; having a lovely apartment to call my own where I can enjoy my time.

However, I will accept and acknowledge that today (as always) I am where I am...And where am I? Feeling sensitive, feeling emotional, feeling like crying so, so very much. It's crazy.
I know it will pass eventually. It is the contrast of feeling good vs. feeling blah that reminds me how terrific it is to feel good.

I am where I am. Hang on it'll be over soon...

The Ups & Downs of Hormones. Image by: Kareem Iliya. Source: http://www.realsimple.com/health/mind-mood/dealing-with-hormones-00000000029960/

ps. I am always thankful for my car...I miss you, Ford Fiesta. See you l8r :-)