Here’s what’s been up the last month…
reading
To be honest, there hasn’t been a lot of time to curl up with a good book, but a few days a week before bed, I crack open Good Calories, Bad Calories and read a few pages. It’s not a speedy read by any means, but it’s packed with eye-opening info about the history of the western diet and how fat got a bad rap (there have been many good things to come out of the University of Minnesota; Ancel Keys is not one of them). Also, want to improve your life? Read this TIME article.
tracking
I recently started tracking my daily eats via the TwoGrand app. I’ve tried tracking in the past, but who has time to type every single morsel and search for foods?! TwoGrand is like Instagram. Just snap a pic to log your food. Also like insta: You can follow other folks and comment + like their pics. Great for meal inspiration!
cycling
New routes in the ‘burbs. There’s something pretty awesome about hopping on my bike and being on open roads in 10 minutes. Not that I don’t love cycling in the city because I do; Minnehaha and around Lake of the Isles will always be two of my favorite roads to ride. But, not having to deal with stoplights and potholes and traffic?! YES.
feeling
Shitty. My GI has been outta whack the past couple weeks. Chalk it up to stress, serious lack of sleep, cross-contaminated quinoa or a few glutenous cookies. Whatever it was, it sucked. There is almost nothing more uncomfortable that a girggly, bloated tummy all day for days. Those of you who have celiac or a gluten sensitivity know what I mean. Oof.
selling
My bike. Is this your new Argon 18 E-118 tri bike? It should be. Buy it here.
loving
Coeur Sports tri shorts. Have you tried them?! The seamless chamois is revolutionary. Seriously, your bum will thank you. And, bibs… I’ve been a cyclist for eight years and a few weeks ago was the first time I ever wore bibs. Both are game changers. I also just realized I haven’t written a training update for quite some time. Watch for that soon!
binging on
Breaking Bad. Nick and I just got Netflix (I know, we are WAY behind) and started watching. OMG. The bathtub scene. I had to close my eyes. Anytime we have a free 48 minutes, we are watching an episode. So good.
contemplating
I mentioned it in my last currently update, and I’m still contemplating time + life. And, thrown into the mix this month: Making a difference in the world. Is emailing really making a difference? Am I helping people? How am I giving back? Is this how I want to spend my days for the next 30 years?! Some days I wish I could turn off my brain. #thirdlifecrisis
doing
Home improvement. We moved a few weeks ago and have been getting acquainted with Home Depot. A few projects on the list: new flooring (wood + carpet), replacing the toilet and bathroom faucet, figuring out the dishwasher draining problem, yard work and cleaning.
favorite quote of the week
It’s your life – but only if you make it so. The standards by which you live must be your own standards, your own values, your own convictions in regard to what is right and wrong, what is true and false, what is important and what is trivial. When you adopt the standards and the values of someone else or a community or a pressure group, you surrender your own integrity. You become, to the extent of your surrender, less of a human being. Well said, Eleanor Roosevelt.
What’s up with you lately?
22 Comments
It is great to catch up with you!! I’ve been extremely busy with wrapping up the last 10 days of school, trying to get some training in while injured, trying not to stress about my 70.3 in 2.5 weeks, trying not to think about the fact that I haven’t ran in 2+ weeks…UGH!! I’m looking forward to the day after Kansas 70.3 so that my school year and stresses are over…I can focus on healing and better preparing for IMWI. I can’t wait to see some of your home renovation projects 😉
I was JUST talking to my friend today that I don’t like living in the city because I want to be able to bike (like really bike) on country roads. Ah, nothing better than an open road with little to no traffic! Going to check out the TwoGrand app…..thanks for sharing! Good luck with those house projects :). Oh, and your next TV series should definitely be Sons of Anarchy (in my opinion, better than Breaking Bad)!
Great post! I’m inspired to write my own, but when?
On ‘Good Calories, Bad Calorie:’ definitely a hefty read, almost like a university textbook, but less technical. So much information too. I love your comment about Ancel Keys, he was horrible! In response to John Yudkin’s warning that it was sugar that was making us fat and sick, Ancel Keys would dismiss that theory, and resort to ‘name-calling and character assisination,’ to support his fat-was-the-enemy theory. I wonder what the state of our health would be like today if only people had listened to Yudkin, rather than Keys, thirty years ago.
I’ve downloaded that TwoGrand app and I’m going to try it. Shitty about your GI issues, glad you’re feeling better.I tend to feel really tired if I eat grains, (ie quinoa). Walking Dead is our Breaking Bad: we’re almost totally caught up. And I hear you about life contemplation: all I know is that I don’t want to be a teacher for the rest of my life.
I hear you on the contemplating. Last year I was feeling the same way and my happiness was way down with my stress on the other hand, through the roof. I actually left my job and have never looked back. I wish you lots of luck – meditation, yoga and friends helped me through. I’m here if you want to chat! xo
I love the theme of this post, thanks for sharing your thoughts with us! I am also contemplating life (seriously all the time). I think daily about my career and how I’m not completely satisfied (and feel so lost). How can I be thirty and still so lost… very frustrating. I also struggle with GI issues often and have been trying to nail down my training and racing nutrition. It’s a daily battle! I want that Coeur kit, it’s so pretty!
Great post, Sis!! And that quote at the end is awesome. SO true. A good one to reread often.. Love ya! xoxo
Cool approach! Hope you feel better soon.
Thanks for sharing – the time/life balance is a tricky one and maybe we never find the “answer”, but at least we continue to question? And maybe it’s a part of making our lives our own?
Love this post Erin, it looks like I have to go download a new app! You guys are doing some major projects, hopefully it is fun and not stressful. 🙂 I’m gearing up for a really slow summer, can’t wait!
I just ordered a pair of bibs for the office cycling “team” (I’m using the term very loosely, but we ordered custom kits, so at least that’ll make us look legit the one time a year that we actually ride/race together!) The guys here were all ordering bibs, so I decided to go along with that instead of shorts. Good to hear that they’re a game changer!
My boyfriend has celiac so I see firsthand how the gluten sneaks in and totally sucks. Sorry for your belly. 🙁
I have slacked on the reading too. I’m so tired though I don’t know how to fit it in. LOVE the quote. Good luck with the house projects. P.S. I may need to try those cycling shorts b/c … saddlesore.
i’m with you on the contemplation. but i hope you know you do help me. and so many others! xx
Love the quote thank you for sharing it! I am in a bit of a contemplative/life changing mood myself and this is going up on the wall!
Love the first photo in this post… such a cool shot.
Re: Netflix. My husband and I have been saying for years we should get it, and still haven’t. Granted, we just moved into the PVR world ~ talk about way behind, haha.
Anyway, great “catch up” post. Hope you start feeling better soon.
Love that Time Magazine article. There are so many simple things we can do (that many of us don’t) to be happier and healthier each day. It’s great to get a very well-rounded feel for what is going on in your life – you are a busy bee! I’ve thought about keeping track of my nutrition and calories because some days I feel like I may not get enough, but I’m a grazer and it’s hard for me to keep track of everything I nibble on all day long, haha. Maybe your phone app advice would come in handy. By the way, Breaking Bad is SO GOOD!
Great seeing what you have been up to lately!! I can’t wait to read that Time article! You always share great articles that I never would have seen! I am glad you hare getting to see new roads and fun places to ride!
I have been wanting to get some of the Coeur shorts/tops/bathing suits but every is on back-order. Very Very Sad!!!
I don’t have Netflex and want to get it to watch Orange is the new Black! I’ve heard Breaking Bad is amazing!
I am just training! Trying not to stress myself out with huge time goals for Canada. I really just want to have a good race!! Big training weekend this weekend!! Hope you have a great weekend too!
Sorry to hear you’re feeling crummy- hope it dissipates soon.
I’ve been loving your ‘burbs cycling photos! There’s nothing like the open road with endless blue sky (spoken like a true prairie gal!).
I was wondering how to house is doing! Yard work is never ending!
Great catching up!
Hm- mostly same old with me! We’ve also being doing a lot of yard work, and I’m loving spring weather!
[…] to share about in more detail tlifoday, and my bucket of hours is not, I’m going to pull an Erin and offer a vignette-style post instead. (Hey, she asked how we were doing, didn’t […]
I just love reading your updates! You are inspiring and have such a kind spirit. Bummer about the stomach stuff. I hate when I have stomach issues. It messes everything up. I will have to check out that food tracking app. I also eventually fall off the food tracking wagon, cause it’s too tedious. I’m so glad you are enjoying your new home and new routes! It’s so fun to go exploring! Happy training my friend! xoxo Katie http://www.theprojectneon.com
Okay – I love that last quote you posted! Wonderful! Thanks for sharing 🙂
fun to ride with you in the burbs and we still need to grab a coffee or a dish at mendoberri. Or at my pool. hope your tummy is better, i bet its partly stress ( moving!) and maybe increased training foods? I am usually sorta Bleck after a weekend of long training bc of the gels, and drinks.
Talk soon!
I can tell you what I haven’t been doing…reading blogs! Great to catch up! I have been contemplating my career and work life balance A LOT again. It’s always so hard to do it all!