Category Archives: T-Mill

T-Mill, please spoil me!

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Rest days. They just make me feel so guilty. Especially when yesterday was my second rest day in a row. I would like to tell you that I felt really guilty for not doing any sort of workout but honestly, I don’t feel that bad about it. You do have to rest your muscles so that they can get stronger and I was too busy being spoiled.

It all started with me sharing my HUGE news about being a finalist in the Best Health Magazine’s Blog Awards. And then I got home to a package from my aunt in Ireland. I don’t know if I ever told you how excited I get over snail mail but it always looks like this:

I opened it to find a beauty of a bracelet and earrings:

 I’m spoiled. Thank you Auntie Anne!!

And then I went out and had a Valentine’s Day date two days after the celebrated day. I think I prefer celebrating Mister Valentino after everyone else. It makes going out less crazy and hectic. So, you guessed it– I was spoiled again.

Hello, beautiful pink and yellow roses!

And then I got home to three packages of individually wrapped Reese Peanut Butter Cups! Deee-licious!

Tonight’s date is with the t-mill. I don’t think he will be giving me chocolate, flowers or jewellery! But- I will keep you posted! Maybe I will just tell him that he can vote for me once a day for the Best Health Blog Awards HERE!
Oh, you can do it to!

My Surgery: The Pre-Game, During, and Post-Game Play by Play!

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‘Twas the night before my surgery.


Play by play for the newbies: I was diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma on my nose at the end of March. I got it removed at the beginning of April. After a second follow up with my fantastic surgeon she asked me if I wanted her to remove the little bump that my 13 stitches left . I said, “HELLS, YES!”  That surgery happened today.


So, I did what any runner would do the night before: I went for a run. Hello, T-Mill! I decided on a 5K so that I wouldn’t exhaust my body before it has to heal my face the next day. That turned into an 8K. I did some inclines at 1% and 2% with some flat running in between. I wish the T-Mill would go into negatives so I could do some downhill running as well buuuut it doesn’t. And yes, I did school the T-Mill again. Here’s how my run went down:


The On The Go Playlist
**On jukebox shuffle**
Ready to Start- Arcade Fire
Shut Up and Drive- Rihanna
Whip My Hair- Willow Smith
Raise Your Glass- P!nk
Hips Don’t Lie (Bamboo)- Shakira feat. Wyclef Jean
We R Who We R- Ke$ha
Pon de Replay- Rihanna
Since U Been Gone- Kelly Clarkson
When I Grow Up- The Pussycat Dolls


Cool down/Stretching
Stereo Love- Edward Maya & Vika Jigulina


Stats of the Run
Distance: 8.11 km
Pace: 4:15 min/km


Sleeping last night was not easy. I don’t know why I was so antsy. It was unusual for my body to be so freaked out. So, it took me a while to fall asleep but once I did- it was a beauty. I got up and had a shower to wake myself up. I put on my game face and my leisure and decided to take some memento photos of the bump to say, “See you neeeeeeva!”



Do you see it?! It’s kind of hard to notice in a picture. Well believe me… it’s there! Well, it was.


So, I went in and my surgeon had some Drake on. Amaaaaaaaaaaazing! She froze my face with ONE needle this time. I was SO happy! I was so relieved it was nowhere near the ten like before. And once she made the incision two seconds later my fav song of the moment came on :


http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/U0CGsw6h60k?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6




Umm… can we say best procedure ever? It was like a dance party in the room and I was the main event! As I had my talented surgeon Catherine cutting my face, my lovely nurse Jane was there so I could squeeze her hand as the needle went in. (I apologized beforehand because I killed nurse Tina’s hand last time.) I like to call the extra surgeon and the extra nurse that arrived later on my party go-ers. I had great convo the entire time I was there. And by the time Catherine was done stitching my face, “What’s My Name?” wasn’t even over! Crazy, right? It was only two stitches but I thought it would at least take an entire 5 minutes before she said, “we’re done! How are you doing Siobhan?” My response you ask? “That was the best procedure yet!” The room broke into more laughter. I left with my baggie of ice, some extra band aids,  a goodbye from my new friends, and another date to see my Catherine in a month.


I got home and made myself some broccoli soup (sadly from a can) but I steamed some extra broccoli to put in my soup. Deeeelicious. And then I put on one of my fav movies that I bought on DVD last night:


http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/MsV6r1nbSGk?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6


It obviously has a better picture these days than from the original theatrical trailer. And the one liners in this movie had me laughing out loud from beginning until end. As me and my kitty Gus snuggled throughout the movie enjoying the glory of T3’s. Then it was nap time. I woke up and decided to capture the state of my face. I’m a little swollen and a little bruised around the eyes but nothing compared to the last surgery. And my hair is somewhat dishevelled. HA!



Yep, I’m sporting the Nelly band aid. Maybe I can bring it back, no? Well, maybe just for the week. The best part is I have dis solvable stitches this time. So sweet! I don’t have to go to my doctor and have him take 45 minutes to take them out again. No exaggeration. They were that tight but again, 13 of them.


I feel like I could go for a run today. But that’s probably not the smartest idea. So, I will just have to prep my ugly Christmas sweater for my “Ugly Christmas Sweater Pub crawl” tomorrow night. Yep, I’m sporting this face out in public. Sorry, world! haha I kid, I kid.


Expect a Lady GaGa inspired band aid for the event. Stay tuned!

4:19min/km and–I’M BAAACK!

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Today was one of those Sunday’s where you think of going for a run and you say, “I just don’t wanna!” But I knew I haaaadta. So, I packed my bags and headed to my bitch. (aka the t-mill) We actually started on a high note and held it through the entire run. Annnnd my nike+ sensor linked up with my ipod, incredible! You can only go up hill from “I just don’t waaaannna!” though, right? Right. Uphill is hard on your calves but once you get there you are on top of the world. So, I was checking my pace as I was running along and I managed to finish my 7.15km run with a 4:19min/km pace. It feels so good to know my actual time on the t-mill again. Thank you new nike+ ipod sensor! Once I finished my run I decided to run an additional 1km and calibrate my new sensor to my ipod receiver. So, I put on some Beatles and continued my run with “Ob-la-di, Ob-la-da“  and life really does just go on! So off I ran again. Now I’m all synced up and ready to conquer that T-mill again!


As I headed to the showers after my run I saw myself in the mirror and realised that I didn’t put any make-up on. My scar on my nose was completely visible for all to see. And I didn’t care. It felt good to be able to leave the house and not have to feel like I need my MAC foundation covering my red Rudolph nose. It’s not cherry red or anything and it doesn’t glow but for my fair complexion– it’s fire truck red to me. You are always your toughest critic though, right? It’s pretty invigorating to not feel like you need to cover up anything and just say, “this is me.” Especially because pre-surgery I never use to wear foundation unless I was onstage.  I guarantee you I will wake up tomorrow and throw my SPF 15 foundation back on my face. But it’s nice to know that for today, I didn’t care to have it.


The Cardio Playlist
**on jukebox shuffle**


Can’t Hold Us Down- Christina Aguilera
All For You- Janet Jackson
Club Can’t Handle Me- Flo Rida feat. David Getta
Just The Way You Are- Bruno Mars
Halo/Walking On Sunshine- Glee Cast
We Speak No Americano- Yolanda Be Cool feat. D Cup


Recalibration
Ob-la-di, Ob-la-Da- The Beatles


Cool Down/Stretching
Getting Better- The Beatles


Stats of the Run
Distance: 8.15km
Pace: 4:19min/km

The t-mill is my bitch.

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I did it. I got my gym membership. You can call me a wimp but I will be calling the t-mill my bitch. And I started the name calling yesterday when I stood up on the machine and showed it whose boss. It was kind of like re-uniting with an old friend. Too bad the nike+ receiver in my ipod wouldn’t connect to my new sensor. It looks like I will have to read the manual. Am I really that dense with technology? Guess so. But not when it comes to schooling the t-mill. I blared my bubble gum pop music in my ear buds while my cardio playlist was on a jukebox shuffle. There is just something about The Pussycat Dolls that just gets me pumped to run harder. Especially on the treadmill. Within the first 3 minutes I just wanted to be running over bridges, passing beautiful flowers and giving a smile and a wave to other running friends. Instead I watched the 3 different television screens in front of me while my mind started to daydream. I felt great. I was doing long interval sprints while hoping the girl beside me didn’t pass out on the treadmill to my right. She was literally holding onto the t-mill screen for dear life. But she was given’r. At least she was working all she had to give and not walking at 0.5 km/hr like some people I’ve seen. So, you go girl! I had to slowdown my pace to drink my water. I forgot I need to use my klean kanteen with the sippy spout or else my water will pour all down my shirt. Classy, I know.
After a good 30 minute workout I decided to head to the half balance ball. My ankles haven’t been as strong as they use to be. My ankle kept shaking as I did my cheerleading positions on the half balance ball with both legs. I did my arabesques, heel stretches, and bow and arrows. And then I did something brave- I walked over and picked up some weights. I have never done this in the gym before. There is just something intimidating about them. So, I told myself “you aren’t going to get any stronger if you let intimidation get in the way. You will just stay the same.” So, I did some reps with the 10 lb weights. I stretched it out and left the gym feeling amazing. To do one thing a day that scares you is a mantra that I love. Not only do you branch out and do new things but you boost your self-esteem.


The Cardio Playlist
*on jukebox shuffle*


I Don’t Need A Man- The Pussycat Dolls
Liv Tonight- Nelly & Keri Hilson
Stronger- Britney Spears
Yes (Remastered 2003)- Merry Clayton
That’s How You Know- Amy Adams
Freakshow- Britney Spears
Time Of Our lives- Miley Cyrus
When You Were Young (Victoria Secret Remix)- The Killers
Sparks Fly- Taylor Swift


Stats of the Run
Distance: Approx. 6 km
Pace: Approx 5:00 min/km