Milk Test Complete & Running: My Body Hates Me Right Now

So my suspicions were correct, and after not having any skim milk (except for a couple drops in coffee) for a week, I feel much better.  Still paying attention to what I eat and how I feel afterwards, and now that I've started running again, I'm really staying aware.  And keeping all those tips I learned last year from Jeff Galloway's seminar in mind--gliding up those hills, mantras, and keeping form are crowding out everything else in my brain when I go for a run.  And most important is remembering to train past the 3.1 miles of a 5k so I don't feel so damned exhausted at the end.  Which means getting up to 5 miles before May 19th.  


And how is the running going?  Well, very slowly.  Starting from scratch again.  But knowing this is how I started last year, and then had a satisfactory finish in November--well, it keeps me moving!  My first 5K is a little over a month away, so I have lots of work to do.  Incorporating strength training back in, too.  This means actually going to the gym for the first time in months.  I am ashamed I've fallen behind so much in taking care of myself.  


One bonus to loving Trader Joe's Goddess dressing:  I'm actually craving lots of veggies and salads.  The key now is to keep them interesting!  I successfully made my lunches for two weeks running for work, and never once was tempted to having something else.  I have my official salad containers for work, and little containers for dressing, too.  Eating fruit every day, too.  I did have sugar yesterday and by evening I was ready for veggies.  I actually made a really delish simple open faced sandwich:  A sliced baguette, smashed avocado, slices of tomato, Goddess dressing, pepper, and parm cheese put under the broiler for a few minutes.  So good.  Now I'm craving grilled veggie sandwiches--I must have one soon.  I will never give up meat, but I have found a few veggie dishes that I like to eat; I guess even this old dog can learn some new tricks.


Also am busy planning the death of many plants in my gardens.  I hate to kill perfectly good plants, but I need to switch up the yard, and the time of eagerly accepting any plant anyone offered me is now gone.  I am thinking of turning a small spot near my house into a "Zen" garden.  But my idea of Zen, of course.  Lots of colorful annuals, and a lovely little Buddha.  I know just where I want to get this Buddha, and it must wait for a few weeks.  Can't wait to pick it out.  

Instrument of Destruction Coming Soon to My Garden

Luckily our weather has turned back to actually being what is should be in April in Iowa--50's to low 60's, so the urge to run out and buy plants is squelched by the knowledge that tonight we have a hard freeze warning.  I will be out in the yard late tonight after work tossing sheets all over my plants.  I can certainly wait until the danger of freezing is gone before I put out those herbs and flowers.  


Holy crap: I just realized I sound like a boring middle aged woman.  Wow.  I'm really not--I think a lack of alcohol is affecting me. Bring me a lemon drop, stat!