I plan to do the same ride all week to work on getting up that damn climb. The street is called Skislope in our neighborhood which is Tahoe Donner. This beautiful neighborhood street is approximately 9.7 miles long with 1,700 feet of climbing. Once you get to the top there is Negro Canyon which is where we go every year to watch 4th of July fireworks above Donner Lake. It is astounding. To get myself there on a bicycle will make it that much more awesome.

Oh, and word to the wise… Don’t eat chilli before a climbing ride. No bueno!

No, I don’t know what I am doing. This was the first time on a bike since I was a kid. I kept seeing flashes of myself crashing and honestly wondered what it was going to feel like when it did actually happen. But this is the adventure, right? This is why we breathe and dream. These moments make us better people. If this mini ride was easy, I wouldn’t feel as humble as I do right now.

What about a Pilates class…? Correct breathing with fluid postures?

One of the most basic techniques about any sort of training and I seem to be scratching my head at the thought. Base training for cycling? Why can’t I just get on my bike and go for it? I live in the Sierra Nevada region for one, and, b: because that is what I need to focus on first. Why do I feel the need to go into a Bikram class and go all out? Because I was once an instructor, therefore my mind says I can. Do I need to erase all I have learned about spinning and fitness to get this Death Ride thing right?… Maybe. ( And, no, I do not think that cycling and spinning are equals)

Maybe I am stuck in a rut because I gauge myself on my past self. Possibly I think I am still 25 without a back injury. What athlete wouldn’t? It is difficult to remember that I have limits now. It’s frusterating to feel that I have limits. When my leg goes numb from my hip dwn to my toes it is like ground hogs day. I never signed up for this and I don’t know what else to do than push through it.

I sat on the trainer for 51 minutes today and 61 minutes yesterday. By next week I will be on that gosh darn trainer by 6:30am 7 days a week. Thank goodness for Lindsay with an A on Truckee radio (I will be counting on her for my morning fill of great tunes), and lots and lots of support by     ?you? trusted reader… If you’re out there.

Looking for some awesome gluten and dairy free snacks for the bike.

I would be a liar if I said it all came rushing back as soon as I entered the room. In fact, I actually tricked myself in believing that it did. I was so proud of myself that I went all out in each posture not even pondering how my body would react to the 105 degree heat that I was practicing in. Long story short, after the fifth posture I found myself making a bee-line for the door. I saw stars… lots of them. After a few minutes of hovering over the cold toilet I realized that I wasn’t the yogi I used to be. It was a laughable mishap. I got myself back into the room and took it slow for the rest of the session allowing the waves to pass through while giving all my body would allow.

The rest of the day has been a slow one as my juicy body has been pouting but recovering. Day 2 of 20 tomorrow. 10am again…. My goal is to stay in the room for the entire 90 minute class. Normally that wouldn’t be a big deal, but after today who knows!

When I was a kid my family rarely ate seafood so naturally when I got older I rarely visited the fresh fish counter at the store…. That is until I ventured out of my “safe zone” and ordered a smoked salmon sandwich at a local bagel shop. It was love at first bite and that was nearly 12 years ago! Since then I make it a point to see what’s on ice in the corner of the store. Not only am I in love with everything salmon I am equally stoked on mollusks and shrimp. I have passed my fine taste onto my 7-year-old daughter whose favorite meal is Alaskan King Crab legs and shrimp (if that’s not awesome I don;t know what is). She doesn’t understand the concept of nutritional value yet so it’s like a desert for her.

Some facts on salmon…

Nutrients in Salmon
4.00 oz-wt (113.40 grams)

Nutrient%Daily Value

vitamin D127.8%

vitamin B12 (cobalamin)94.5%

tryptophan93.7%

selenium61.5%

protein53.1%

omega 3 fatty acids52.5%

vitamin B3 (niacin)45.1%

phosphorus36.5%

vitamin B6 (pyridoxine)32%

choline19.2%

potassium14%

Calories (157)8%

 

…. what all of these cute lil percentages mean in everyday languo is that this food is an anti-inflammitory, joint lubricator, happy heart healthy, active brain food, mood lifter, cancer kicker and so versatile in meals that you could literally eat this yummy fish for breakies, lunch and dinner every other day and never get bored with it. As always with any fish and meat buy wild, unfarmed products. I am a penny pincher at the grocery store so it does take some effort for me to buy anything that is a few cents more expensive, but I will tell you that the taste of wild fish and meat is worth the price tag. It’s how humans were meant to eat in the first place.

There is a lot of controversy about tuna. All I will say is that when you need a quick snack and are about to eat the rest of that ice cream in the freezer good ol’ Charlie tuna is always helpful to have on-hand. Nutrient dense and makes the taste buds smile.

As always, I could go on and on about this subject but to keep you interested in the months to come my blog for tonight has come to an end. If you are ever interested in recipes for salmon or any other kind of fish send me a message. Once you climb on board, the fish boat is hard to sink!

 

Cycling Superfood: Black or Green Tea

20 minutes skate-ski trainer, 20 minutes eliptical, 15 push-ups, 30 sit-ups on the stability ball, 25 minutes of stretching and isometrics. Home by 8:45pm to shower and blog before a good night’s sleep.

Today was a snow day for the school system in Truckee because of the whopping two feet we got overnight, so Pell (my daughter) stayed home. We made a day of it and went out to breakies then picked up her friend for a play date for the entire afternoon. Despite having to push back my gym time, I had quite a productive day. I cleaned my house for the first time since Xmas. I washed all of my bedding and did a tone of laundry. I even got to man handle my house plants that have been neglected for the last few weeks. I have been a go-go since mid December and with all my goalsetting I haven’t had a moment to think in normal time. I thrust all of these changes on my shoulders and never allow myself to take a minute to step back and look at the Seurat I have created. Snowdays happen, why fight it?!?

At 5pm I was finally able to escape for a short time to the gym. Before I left my house I wanted to try this pre-workout drink called Vega that I got at New Moon last week. It was Acai Berry which tasted delightful although next time I will shake it up instead of stir it up so I won’t have to worry about chunks of powder getting caught in my throat. I will have to agree that the facts statement on the package is correct and true. It did relax me while creating focus during my spin, which is the opposite effect I got from a different product I tried last month. I will be buying a container in the next few weeks. My spin time was short (only 45 minutes) but I wanted to be there which is a huge change in my mental focus. I squeezed in 10 minutes of mat time which consisted mostly of stretching and the ten push ups I am addicted to after my cardio. (Last month I got up to 19 push ups in one go, but since then I’ve backed off to an even ten to give my body a rest…. that’ gonna change!) I had an adrenaline high when I got home. I made dinner for my family and even whipped up some chocolate chip cookies after our mealtime. The night was spectacular… until I realized that I had just clogged up our f*cking kitchen sink for the second time this month. The evening turning to poop and it was my mistake. All I want to do now is go back to my gym and shrivel up like a raisin in the steam room.

Better luck tomorrow, huh!?!

Back hurts. Haven’t spun in 5 days. Bummed and anxious. Gym tomorrow. Have to break through the pain… that’s my only out.

I wish I could say it was all downhill after stepping through the gym doors but those heavy doors were just the another struggle I had to overcome. At first I tried machines while watching other people to see how things were done. Every week I tried something new at the gym and I tried to keep all the muscle groups happy and working. I shed about 10 pounds then plateaued for about 3 months. Of course I felt discouraged and of course I blamed myself but I would not give up. It was around that time that I began researching alternative health and wellness styles. I read a dozen gimmicks for every one legit statement on a product. One of the first things I guinea-pigged was an internal cleanse. Without going into too much bodily detail, the cleanse was a success. I overcame my plateau and the pounds began to literally fall off.

With my esteem back on the rise I decided to take a yoga class at the gym. The class was intimidating. I felt so stiff and confused through the entire class, but the instructor, Kim Lenzi, was an instant role model to me. In short, I wanted to do what she did as well as she did it. I dedicated myself to her yoga classes first then ventured on to her traditional Pilates class. Every session was fascinating and I could see change outside and inside my body.

I remember the moment I stepped on to the scale for the umpteenth time and the dial finally sank downward toward 155, pausing for what seemed like five minutes then continuing to 145 and finally resting on 138 pounds. I could have stayed there and been happy for the rest of my life, I looked good for the first time in 2 years, but that’s just not me. I continued my weekly schedule at the gym with other day doing a Pilates or Yoga class and cardio the rest of the week. Off the mat I took to books about anatomy and magazine articles written by seasoned instructors. I grew aware of my surroundings and my posture on and off the mat, which opened my eyes to the posture of other people. During class I dissected every move I was taught until I was familiar enough to lead myself through a class without help. I read Joseph Pilates’  Your Health: A Corrective System of Exercising that Revolutionizes the Entire Field of Physical Education, A Pilates’ Primer : The Millennium Edition and his Pilates’ Return to Life Through Contrology with a desire to teach others what I have learned, from the mat to the books and everything in between. I was on a road to happiness, and it all began with a gym membership.

My back went out this last weekend from being on my bike (so I think). While I was on my trainer Saturday and Sunday I felt scrunched up and uncomfortable, a usual sign not to proceed, but I kept at my training and now I am out 2 days of spinning. STORY OF MY LIFE. If its uncomfortable figure out what the problem is and take care of it. That should be my motto for everything, especially activities regarding my back and posture.

I still haven’t gotten use to this disability. I hate using that word but maybe I should use it more so I understand the seriousness of my situation at all times. I still feel bad for not being able to lift the bus tubs at work. I still think I’m using excuses when I say I cannot do certain things. I still want to be superwoman with no holds barred. I am stubborn and willful and a perfectionist (but not in the OCD form) so how in the f*ck can I have a back injury that’s debilitating for the rest of my life?… And so my mind says- “well, Liz, maybe this is just what you needed”…. F*ck that, at least for today.

I need to spin.

At this very moment, I am in a reclined position and in quite a bit of pain. My back is shot again and the only excuse I can think of is my posture while spinning on my bike at home during the weekend. The first night on my trainer I was not comfortable and pushed through it because I felt that my body just needed to get used to it. The second night I tapped out early (only an hour while I planned for 90 minutes) because I felt a mild pinching from the posture I was holding. Last night I took the a rest from training and today I woke up with tingling toes in my left foot and massive aching in my usual spot which is the backside of my left hip almost to the spine. F*cking sucks. Not happy. Super bummed. But, as I have trained myself to do in these circumstances, there is always a bright side. Jay mentioned getting my bike properly fit (more about that when I actually know what I’m talking about) by Paco at Paco’s Bike Shop. Hopefully this can happen soon as I am eager to get on my own bike and make it my own.

Enough with this lame pity party. Here’s a real gem…

For the last four months or so I have been researching candida albicans and its overall effects on the human body. Candida, a yeast that lives naturally in all humans, thrives off of any form of sugar from bread to agave nectar, from milk to alcohol. When this yeast is overgrown the effects range from rashes to constipation, from insomnia to alcoholism and that’s the tip of the iceburg. A  few weeks ago I decided to attempt a candida cleanse. I have accomplished many cleanses in my day, but, man, this cleanse trumps them all. I usually cheat a little bit during cleanses which in itself i a big no-no, yet with this cleanse I was completely thrown off. I craved everything that I was trying to let go of in my daily routine, even bribing myself during the day for a glass of wine at night. Makes no sense, I know. Funny things about candida albicans is that when they are starving ( through cleanse and/or diet) they will ask for food in the form of a common craving. It seems rather innocent at first but when you realize what is actually going on, it’s like being had. I was going strong for about a week and a half when suddenly this cleanse spiraled out of control. I was left with a brownie sunday in one hand and a mimosa in the other.

*Not Top Ramen*

Already, in the first weeks of this New Year, I have gained a large understanding and knowledge about candida through my failed cleanse. So, moving forward, I will endure the craving headaches and get this job done. Jay wants to improve his diet as well and is interested in the Paleo Diet which is very similar to a yeast free diet. (By the way, when I say “diet” I am not speaking in yo-yo terms, I am very literal when it comes to dietary changes) The exciting aspect about this lifestyle change is that my southern husband is on board with it, which means I get to clean out the fridge and cupboards and go shopping! (Hey, shopping is shopping, I enjoy it all!)

So, that’s where my mind is tonight. I did not spin for the sake of a little recovery time. I will be going straight to the gym in the morning and logging my current weight. In a perfect world I would like to drop ten pounds (all of it fat) and replace it with lean muscle. I will let you know tomorrow if this is possible. Also, I am in major need for core and upper body strength- set a plan of action for that tomorrow as well. After that’s all said and done, a well deserved hour in the steam room will make me one happy girl.

Shifting was easier tonight, I even found more gears than I thought I had. I am not too stoked on my handlebars though. There isn’t enough length for me to stretch out as I like. Reaching forward really helps to decompress my back. It makes spinning rather enjoyable and I sit for longer. Jay (my husband) said that I can get a longer stem to make this happen, so now I have to do some research and figure out what that entails. I think it’s a gym day tomorrow. I’d like to get some core and weight room work done, and the steam room sounds amazing right now.

 The trainer itself is quite nice. It’s simple enough and it’s not bulky as I expected. The special part about my spin tonight was that I got my first hour on my bike. There is a huge difference between riding a real bike compared to a spin bike. After my workout I did not feel winded at all and thought that it was because I wasn’t paying enough attention to my body, but as I sit here now I can feel my glutes and calves burning. During the spin, my mind was concentrating on shifting up and down and sideways, getting used to that is going to take some practice, so I was a bit distracted. An informative distraction though.

I wonder how long will it take to get comfortable with shifting gears?

CycleOps Trainer

 I have always been one to jump in with both feet without ever considering the temperature of the water and in return I have had a life that pleases me. This time, though, I have had a chance to thoroughly review my decision, over and over it seems, and this has left me with a knot in my tummy. Earlier this evening Jay gently asked me why I have been high-strung for the past week and instantly the lightbulb went off over my head. I have not said out loud that I am nervous, distraught, excited, anxious or a little scared until today and now I am announcing it.

I have always had big goals, movie sized dreams and this one is probably in the top 6 ( backthought: numericize my biggest achievements from one to ten, but do not ponder this at night). Do I feel this way because I have so much going on anyway?… probably. Do I feel this way because I do not nor will not know the outcome for seven months?… probably. Do I feel this way because I have not been on a bike in over 15 years?… Ding ding ding! My goodness, there it is. I have been daydreaming about riding through luscious fields upon rolling hills for how many years but have not sat my bootie on the saddle of a real bike since I was a kid. Wow. Time flies. Actually the last memory I have of riding a bike was when I was about 11 and I smashed head first into the back of a parked pickup truck because lil’ Liz was looking back instead of forward… And that bike wasnt even mine.

Tomorrow morning I will be heading to my weekend gig at the local bar-b-que joint down the road. While I take the orders and talk at faces all I will be thinking of is my most neeed gymtime later that evening.

Til then…

We all know the obvious goal here- to cross the finish line of the Markleeville Death Ride July 14, 2012. I know this may be over- ambitious, I am very aware that I will want to throw in the towel several (if not dozens) of times, but this dream is the reel that has been projecting in my mind for years. We all live once, so it’s said, so why not live the dream?

 There are a slew of preparations I have to dial to make my dream a reality. First and foremost, I need to become comfortable with my new bike. Double up the gym time until I can ride outdoors safely. Figure out the sweet spot with mat work for my back. Learn proper etiquette while on my bike. Drink water and follow my diet consistently. Begin a daily schedule to make my life easier in the long run. And what do I want to do to cross-train? I will add more to the list in weeks to come but I think this is a good start.

I do have help throughout my journey: my husband, Jay, has raced everything from BMX to mountain bikes. He has a lot of opinions and a lot of advice so by the time summer rolls around my head will be ready to explode (hopefully just from the knowledge). Jay is the mastermind behind conquering the Death Ride. He bought the tickets of entry and he gave me my Specialized Cyclocross bike for Christmas. “hold the phone…did she just say cyclocross???” Yes, cyclocross. This is the bike Jay has and loves, and since he has had a few bikes in his day so I will gladly give it a whirl. The diversity of this bike is wonderful for where we live. Lots of mountain, lots of off-road and miles upon miles of concrete. To me, a cyclocross bike makes sense. And I will be sure to give it a sure and honest write-up after my ride is up.

Tick, tick, tick…. T minus 32 hours.

This is my bike and me…

Happy girl!!!

For more info on cyclocross click the pictures above

The Death Ride is on the calendar for Saturday July 14, 2012. I begin my physical training this Saturday January 14.

*T Minus 72 Hours*

In the meantime, how about some back story…

In 2007 I stumbled into a spin class at a local gym where I was working. I immediately fell in love with it. I loved the energy, the sweat, the music, the force between my legs (and, yes, I am still talking about spin class) and with the high I got after class I was immediately hooked. I had been geeked out on Pilates for so long that I didn’t even think to opening a new door with glistening stationary bikes on the other side, but it was love at first ride. By the next week I acquired a pair of cycling shoes from a  friend which made my spin time even more enjoyable. Within the next year I added spin instruction to my ever-increasing repertoire of health and wellness credentials. By late 2008 I was a personal trainer, lift and aerobic instructor, a Pilates mat and reformer instructor, a spin instructor, vinyasa yoga instructor and a hot yoga instructor.

 I clung to the hope of creating a better life for myself and my clients through health and wellness guidance hoping to one day become a dietician, a physical therapist or even a doctor. With my future looking so bright and promising I never figured that everything I had worked for could be taken away with a simple twist of fate.

On a very ordinary day in early 2009, I was instructing a typical yoga class which had done countless times before. While I was coaching my class through one of the inversion poses that I added to nearly every yoga class I had taught, I lost my balance and heard a loud popping sound coming from within my body. The disc between L-4 and L-5 in my lower spine had just popped out right there in front of my class. I was carried downstairs to my car and somehow made it to the urgent care in the most pain I have ever felt in my life. I didn’t know what had happened to me or why, all I knew was that my career was over.

It seems everything in my life has led me right here, right now… whether I like it or not. I was a fitness instructor and personal trainer. I am recovering from back surgery. I will be a cyclist.

I was signed up to do the Markleeville Death Ride 2012 two weeks before receiving my first big girl bike for Christmas. I have seven months to become the cyclist I have dreamt of being while on the stationary bike for the last five years.

This is my quest that I will be sharing with you.