Back to blogging

I retired from personal training about 10 months ago. Nothing “tragic” happened, I just wanted to try some new things out, I was tired of every conversation I had being about food, or exercise, or minerals. Then I realized I didn’t have much to say about anything if it didn’t have to do with food, exercise or the like. So I just started listening. What a wonderful skill this is!! I learned a lot from my co-workers, I work with some of the smartest people – like Mensa smart. I learned a lot of random stuff and I took the opportunity to read a lot of books that normally my time would have been spent on reading fitness and nutrition books. I took a break from FaceBook – it was a much needed internet break. You really don’t realize how addicted you become to the Internet until that moment you are on a date with your gorgeous, loving husband and the two of you spend more time playing with your phone than interacting….date fail! 

 I unliked all the pages on FB that were about motivating you to exercise, or eat this or that – I just didn’t and still don’t have an interest in it. Yes, I want to be healthy and fit into my jeans (or more importantly all my suits for work….them shits expensive!) – being healthy is not WHO I am. I don’t give advice any longer – unless you are my kids, then you can expect it all the time and at the most random moments….like I care that you have friends over? I do like to write, it helps me work through my thought process – if that randomness strikes a fancy to you – whether for the humor or so you know you aren’t the only one out there…so be it. I’m not writing to motivate anyone, help guide someone to a better life or even talk you out of anything (or into it for that matter). 

 When I started this blog it was called I am Paleo….I am not Paleo – I am me, l ate Paleo for a while – I don’t anymore – The Paleo Baby Jesus would cringe at my food choices…..I eat all the things…ALL THE THINGS. Then I changed it to Carbphobia....I don’t have carbphobia anymore – if you are looking for validation in a low carb or Paleo lifestyle you will not find it here. I wrote a book, “The Glucometer”. I am still very passionate about the glucometer as a tool to use as an eating guide if you need to lose weight or are trying to find a healthier lifestyle. I don’t feel as hell bent anymore that your choices have to be low carb though….so that book, “according to A.M. Ross” needs a 2nd generation and again if you are looking for low carb/carb free/keto/paleo validation….I’m not going to be able to provide that. 

 I recently took up distance running at the challenge of my bootcamp buddy to run a few races with her. Surprisingly, I am really enjoying distance running – more so than short distances (less than 3 miles). It gives you a chance to have some really interesting talks with yourself, really dig deep and talk GOOD to yourself and find what will motivate you to move forward. I have found when I am running if I start thinking about something antagonistic I slow way the feck down. So I do not allow myself to think about stupid shit while I run. I’m not a fast runner by any stretch. On a good day I can average a 8:45 a mile pace – on a really long run (so far that is 9 miles) I am averaging a 9:50 pace (no, I can’t just round up and say 10 miles…it was 9:50 damn it!)

 My first race was the Marine Corps Crossroads 4 miler. Here is a picture of me. 

 I was issued my bootcamp buddy, Ferguson, on 25 May 1998 and have loved her ever since. She was my companion through 13 weeks of Marine Corps bootcamp and we have stayed in touch ever since. I’ve had her longer than my hubby =). I completed it in 34:30. There were some good hills in this run, but for the most part it was an easy run, for every uphill there was an equivalent downhill. There were only about 444 racers so it wasn’t packed, the weather was wonderful, a bit brisk but once you got running it was perfect. 

 I am now training for the Navesink 15K on the Jersey Shore in December. I ran my first 9.11 miles on Monday and I lived! Took me 1:30 to run 9.11, I am in the hunt for a good pair of running shoes. I have a new pair of Altra’s heading my way on Monday and I am hoping they give me the nice wide toe box I love, cushion for my foot that is still naggy (I broke it in May) and support for my over pronation. I’ve had somewhat of shoe drama over the last few months, ever since I rolled my ankle, tore up the ligaments and stress fractured the foot bone. I knew before I hurt my foot that the shoes I was wearing, NB Minimus, weren’t providing enough cushion and I was having pain and I could feel the heat of the pavement through the shoe. Once I hurt my foot I decided I definitely had to try something else….hey, I never said I was smart.

 I started running in the Altra Trail shoes I had and they provided me with the wide toe box, and cushion I needed but the sole was too aggressive for running long distances on pavement. I got another pair of Altra’s – I think “the One” and they are great. Light weight, cushion, wide toe box but my ITB is hurting and that tells me I need more arch support. So the Altra Trails for trail runs, the One for short runs (less than 4) and hopefully the new ones for the long runs. 

 See….shoe drama. 

 I’m only going to bring up food in context of weight gain/loss/maintain in this brief statement. I’m active – very active. My husband and daughters and I made a running streak pact for 90 days. We will all run at least a mile, every day for 90 days (today is day 20). I am still lifting – I deadlifted 225#s for reps on Sunday, Front Squatted 150#s, Pressed 135#s…I run a good bit now – every day. I do pull-ups, I do sit-ups. I eat….I eat a lot. Like a lot, a lot so that I can run and lift likes this. The days I don’t eat a lot the next day I run like shit and am tired and moody (ok…I’m not just moody, I’m an impossible bitch). I like to eat, I like to lift, I like to run. I eat, I am able to run and lift. I run and lift I look good naked. Nuf said. 

 OK, so that is my long winded….I’m back to blogging =)