Tragic

All of my Valentine's Day chocolates are officially gone. How sad. 

I guess it is time to go find some Easter candy.

11 Random Things

I saw the physical therapist on Friday. He said I need to limit my physical activity to just pilates and swimming (no more elliptical) for the next two months. He said my knees looked really bad and that, while I will probably be able to run again, I will have a very short-lived ability to do so before I have to "retire" from running. He also said that I will have to do a lot less pavement running once I am able to start again. The physical therapy exercises are painful and tedious, but I am trying to keep up my spirits, and I am hoping for the best.

And here is a picture of me walking the dog. Because I haven't taken any others.

On a more fun note, Heidi at The Balance Project tagged me in her 11 things post, so here it is!

RULES:

1. Post these rules.
2. Post 11 random things about yourself.
3. Answer the questions the person who tagged you set for you in their post.
4. Tag 11 new people to participate.
5. Create 11 new questions for the people you tag to answer.
6. Go to their blog and tell them you’ve tagged them.

11 Random Things: 
1. I am scared to have the blinds open at night.
2. The things I miss most from before I became gluten-free are donuts, real pizza, poptarts, goldfish crackers, and cookie dough ice cream.
3. I have tiny fingers. My ring size is 3.5 (the average for women is about a 6).
4. I take gummy vitamins. It is the only way I can convince myself to take them. 

5. When I was younger, I had a phobia of storms (still don't like them).
6. I have a very specific morning routine, and if it gets messed up, it tends to throw off my whole day.
7. One of my biggest pet peeves is letting food go to waste.
8. When I was little, I would only eat lasagna if my parents pretended I was Garfield the cat.
9. I like all animals, but I especially like dogs, horses, and guinea pigs. Also, I laugh every time I see a chicken. They are just so ridiculous.
10. I used to play soccer when I was in elementary school but quit because I thought the socks were "too itchy".
11. I know most girls like shopping, but I hate it. I don't like spending money, and I don't like the tedious process of trying to find something that I like, as well as something that fits. I am just too picky.

Questions:

1. Favourite TV show? I am a loyal follower of the show "Fringe", which is kind of like Xfiles meets CSI. Love it!
2. Real book or e-book? I really like actual books, but e-books are just so much cheaper! 
3. Where have you traveled? Aside from one trip in high school where I got to visit London, France, and parts of Italy, I haven't gone too far away from home. I'd love to see the Western US one day and go back to Europe!
4. Favourite way to sweat? Running, of course, but for now I guess it is pilates haha. 
5. Favourite magazine? I am not too big on magazines (too expensive) but I guess I'd have to say Cosmo, because I got a year free subscription last year. Off of a tampon box, oddly enough.
6. Favourite dessert? It really depends on my mood. One of my all-time favorites is gluten-free carrot cake from The World's Best Carrot Cake. Other favorites include candy and pretty much any type of cookie. 
7. What’s your ideal way to spend a Saturday? I like to spend Saturdays relaxing or doing something that I enjoy (as opposed to homework). 
8. Favourite hot beverage? Coffee! I have also recently developed a love for chai tea lattes. 
9. Early or late riser? Early... I like to be productive in the mornings.
10. Can’t live without beauty product? Under-eye concealer. Otherwise, I look like I've been in a bar fight.
11. What’s the name of the first blog you ever read? Skinny Runner. That girl is hilarious. Or it may have been Breakfast With Tiffany... I can't remember!

Tagged:
I am too tired to tag 11 people (it is midnight here as I am typing this), so feel free to complete this if you'd like!

My Questions: 
1. Chocolate or vanilla?
2. What is one thing on your bucket list?
3. What is your favorite genre of movie?
4. What kind of car do you drive?
5. What is your favorite season?
6. If you had to pick a last meal, what would it be?
7. What was your favorite subject in school?
8. How did you meet your significant other (if you have one)? 
9. Cats or Dogs?
10. How much TV do you watch per day?
11. What is your favorite fast food restaurant? 

Coping With Injury

I know I have been MIA for almost 2 weeks. I guess there just wasn't much for me to say other than to whine about my lack of ability to run. I have definitely seen a noticeable decline in my mood and incline in my stress level since I have ceased most cardio activity. In the mean time, I have been swimming a little, doing a lot of strength training (pilates, modified yoga, modified circuit workouts) and have done the occasional elliptical workout (have to be careful though...that irritates my knees). All in all, it has just been really frustrating.

Luckily, I have my first appointment with the physical therapist tomorrow, so we should get the ball rolling. As far as I know, they are going to do E-stem to the muscles that stabilize my kneecap (because they are so atrophied) and then after a few weeks of that, I get to move to real physical therapy exercises.

In the mean time, I have just been doing a little of this:

These are my bacterial colony children from Molecular Lab. Aren't they cute?!

And a LOT of this:

I think I have had at least 2 exams a week for the past several weeks. My professors just really enjoy giving exams. Tonight, I have an Inorganic Chemistry exam that I have been studying for all day.

Wish me luck!

No More Running

I have really been lacking the motivation to blog lately. And I didn't do the Virtual Run for Sherry Arnold as I had planned. Why?

Well, I went to the knee doctor. For a while now, both of my knees have been bothering me and swelling up quite a bit after any kind of exercise. It has gotten really bad ever since that 5.5 mile run, so I decided to get it checked out.

The news was not very good. I have patellar subluxation in both knees, but because I have ignored it for years, it is extremely advanced and has already done lasting damage to the cartilage in my knees. He said I am going to have to undergo about 4 weeks of some kind of electric stimulation therapy, followed by who knows how long of actual physical therapy. I won't run again for a really long time, and I can't do anything but swim, pilates, and occasionally use the elliptical until then (no cycling, yoga, running, etc).

So I guess I am just wondering if I should even keep up the blog, now that I am out of the competitive fitness world for quite sometime. I can see my blogging getting really boring really fast when all I have to talk about is school and swimming/strength exercises, so I'm just at a loss.

Super Bowl Weekend Recipes

I'm sure you all are wondering what my favorite super bowl commercial was. Hands down, it was this one:

I had a fun time last night snacking and hanging out with friends. It kind of seems like I'm always on the go, always working on something or another, so it was great to just relax and not have to worry about mounds of homework for once. After half-time (did anyone else see Madonna fall off the bleachers?), Zach and I went to Wendy's for some food, and they had the game on a tv there too, so we got to see most of it. I was happy that the Giants won.... ever since the Patriots beat the Panthers in the super bowl, I haven't liked them (I hold sports-related grudges).

I have made a bunch of good recipes this weekend, so I'll share them with you here:

Biggest Loser Protein Pancakes

Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad

Healthy(ish) Spinach Artichoke Dip

The spinach dip was awesome, by the way.

Also, my workouts this week:
Monday: off
Tuesday: 45 minutes biking, 10 minutes weights
Wednesday: 30 minutes swimming, 10 mins aqua-jogging
Thursday: 2 mile run and 1.25 hour yoga class
Friday: off
Saturday: walked around Boone
Sunday: 1 hour pilates

I really had more like 3 rest days this week. My knees have really been acting up (I think I might go talk to a doctor soon), and so I was doing my best not to irritate them after Thursday.

This next week is going to be rough (4 exams in 3 days and multiple other assignments due), so I may not blog a whole lot. Sorry in advance!

Family Visit

My family was able to come up today for a visit! I haven't seen them since a quick two-day visit over Christmas break, so it was good to catch up with them. They only stayed a few hours, thanks to the crappy weather, but we had fun anyways.

First, we headed to Mellow Mushroom to feast on gluten-free pizzas! They were delicious, as always (and I stole all the leftovers).

Kelly (my sister), my mom, and her husband Frank. 

After stuffing our faces, we walked around and shopped for a while. My mom is really good at running off, so we spent about half the time shopping, and half the time trying to figure out where she had gone. There is a really neat place here that is a giant store with different vendor booths inside. We spent a long time just looking at everything. I should have taken pictures, because they had some really cool stuff!

We had to stop for coffee to refuel, obviously. I got a raspberry white chocolate latte with skim milk. SO delicious! (Dare I say it rivaled Starbucks?)

We also stopped at the Mast General Store so that my mom could restock on delicious home made pumpkin and apple butter. I couldn't decide between the pumpkin butter, the pecan syrup, or the giant barrels of candy.

Candy won. This bag should last me at least a few days. Now, having a sweet tooth runs in our family, but my sister is like the definition of the term. She got over 2lbs of candy and had to carry it out in a shopping bag. I am surprised she still has teeth.  

Later, we said goodbye to my family (I am bummed out already) and they headed back home. Zach and I had to go out, so we stopped at a new frozen yogurt place that I had a coupon for. It's called Frogurt, and holy cow they have so many toppings. I don't think I have ever seen so many. I got a little bit of everything. 

Tomorrow, we are going over to a friend's house to watch the Super Bowl. I'll be honest, I don't actually even know who is playing in it. I just go for the food and commercials. But I am making some killer spinach dip (I hope), so I'll make sure to post the recipe if it is any good!

This weekend has been a lot of fun already, and I don't want it to end. But I have been working on a Molecular Biology lab report for the past few hours, so I guess I should get back to that. I wish my lab instructor would accept blog entries about all the food I eat instead.

Whiny Wednesday (except it's Thursday)

Well, I ended up being too busy yesterday to make a Whiny Wednesday post, so it is just going to have to happen today (because I have too much to whine about).

1. I hate this semester. I really, truly do. I am taking more credit hours than I have ever taken before, and my labs are really long and tedious. At least there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Is it May yet?

2. I haven't been sleeping well ever since I came back to school. I guess it is due to stress? Anyway, it has led to a lot of this:

Source

It has also led to me being irrationally cranky. And I mean really cranky.

Source

3. I am still not sure if I want to commit to that 10k race. It is at 2pm on a Sunday, meaning I'd have to run it and then either drive 3 hours back home right after, or wait until 6am the next morning to drive home (and then have a 9 hour day of classes), which would suck. I'm also scared I'm not ready for it. I have had to lay off of running since I did the 5.5 mile run, because my knees have been sooo uncomfortable and swollen. I must have arthritis. I am getting too old for this stuff.

Source

4. My family is finally coming up to visit me this weekend, and what does the weather do? This:

Source

Thanks a lot, Boone. I am glad that all of our outdoor plans will go so well.

5. This guy was held in solitary confinement without trial for 2 years because he got pulled over for a DWI. He was denied medical care, and he was not allowed to see a lawyer. Seriously, New Mexico, you can't just do that. Get your stuff together.

I guess that's the end of my whining. Thanks for listening reading. Also, is anyone else doing the virtual run for Sherry Arnold? I plan to participate!