Making the money

    I made it through the first day back at Denny’s- surprisingly it wasn’t so bad. It was pretty slow but steady so for the 4 hours I was there time flew by. Coming back to all of my co-workers, I’m getting asked about how things are and what’s new and where I’m living. I have to say its really nice to be around them all again.. even though its hard to explain over and over again the situation. It was a productive day money wise and because of Hurricane Irene I don’t have to work Sunday.. (Rhode Island like much of the surrounding areas are in in state of emergency) I spent the rest of the afternoon helping and hanging out with a friend- and the day flew by. Before I knew it, it was 8:30pm and I still hadn’t eaten dinner! I headed home and whipped up a Candida friendly bowl of Oat Bran topped with full fat coconut milk and cinnamon. I guess I ate it too fast, or something because my stomach didn’t like it and kind of hurt for the rest of the night (I think its because it wasn’t certified gluten free oats- but it was the fastest thing to eat that was mostly candida friendly) I headed back to my friends house to watch a stand up comedy on Netflix.
   I was passed out as soon as I came home and didn’t wake up until 9 am to pouring rain and wind from good old Hurricane Irene. So far we still have power so we can use the internet and watch movies and such- but most of the people I know in surrounding areas have lost power- so I’ll be grateful :)

Friday finish.

     Melinda and I went for a walk around Carr’s pond last night. It was such a beautiful walk and took us about an hour. What is it about walking in the woods that gets all of the talking flowing? We drove to the grocery store and picked up some stuff for dinner, (rice noodles, with onions, peppers, garlic, broccoli and avocado- on a bed of spinach.) Oh my it was so amazing! We had dinner out on the deck and people watched with her boyfriend and house mate. I glass of sangria would have been nice, haha…
     Speaking of Candida diets…. I’ve noticed an interesting change- my stomach isn’t bloated, I seem less “puffy”. I’m sure it has to do with the lack of sugar and gluten. I can’t even tell you the amount of veggies I’ve eaten in the last few days- I thought I ate a lot of veggies before! Good thing I’m going back to work today so I can afford this diet!
     Off to work :P

Sometimes you just really don’t want to workout..

    But you lace up your shoes and do it anyway right? Right. This morning was one of those mornings. My stomach was feeling a bit wonky and I was feeling a bit ass-draggin.. but I knew I wouldn’t be upset if I did go.. I told myself that I would just go and do 30 mins. Getting out the door was the toughest part! I decided that I would try a HIIT workout that I found somewhere in bloggity-land.. Who knows where it comes from, but it was just the ass kicking I needed :) It looked something like this:

HIIT- 6x6
Warm up 5 mins
6x 1 min sprint/ 1 min recover
6x 30 sec sprint/ 90 sec recover
6x 45 sec sprint/ 90 sec recover
6x 20 sec sprint/ 40 sec recover
Cool down 5 mins

In all honesty I really like this style of workout- mostly because it keeps me busy and the time flys by. I did however modify towards the end- I did 4x 45 sec sprint /90 sec recover and 2x 20 sec sprint/ 40 sec recover, before cooling down leaving my time on the hamster wheel an even 45 mins. From there I did some stretching- along with 5 30 second handstands with slow lower downs, 2 drop backs (yoga style) and some forward folding to round it all out..  Talk about a SWEAT MONSTER!

Day 2 of the anti-candida diet is going well. It still seems very weird not eating any fruit- especially because I went grocery shopping yesterday and grabbed some amazing peaches, grapes, figs and bananas. I think I will be welcoming them back into my diet in 3 weeks with a party :) As far as cutting out gluten- I don’t really think thats going to be much of an issue for me, except when I out and havent had time to prepare or pack meals.. I’m trying to keep some almonds with me incase crazy starvation hits, just to be sure!
    The weekend is here! No drinking for me and work all weekend- but the hurricane is coming here.. so who knows what its going to be like after all. Enjoy yours and stay safe!

Antibiotics, Candida, Probiotics?

    Three reasons I need to see a Natural path instead of my quack doctor. I went to the doctor Tuesday because of supposed tonsillitis, was given antibiotics and NOT a referral to a specialist.. Fast forward 2 days and 4 huge pink pills later- and there was a white film on my tongue.. Of course I FREAKED out.. but after some googling I figured out the culprit.. Candida over growth.. Everything clicked- all of these little symptoms that seemed disconnected are in reality all from the same thing! Of course I discovered this late at night- when there was nothing I could do except sleep on it.
    This morning when I woke up it was the first thing on my mind.. With the wealth of info at my fingertips, I set down a game plan. I have to finish the antibiotics, which makes Candida worse- but also kills the infection in my tonsils. In order to balance out the killing of bad/good bacteria- I bought a probiotic supplement which will be taken mid day, between my doses of antibiotics. With that in the works, the next part is diet. Basically ANY sugar is food for Candida- we don’t want to feed it, we want to kill it. Fruits, gluten, processed foods, etc.. are out- at least for the first stage. The first stage of the diet is going to be 3 weeks.. After stage 1, we can start to introduce foods back into the diet- low sugar fruits (apples, pears, berries) beans and higher carb veggies. Also during this stage you can take anti-fungals to try to kill those bad guys.
    Lets agree that I need to take it one day at a time- it’s a pretty strict and not eating sugar is hard since it’s in everything… but really the hardest part is going to be no fruit. I am positive that I can be strong enough to handle it. With day 1 behind me, I feel confident that even if I’m jumping the gun and I’m not actually suffering from over-growth, it can’t hurt right? Hopefully I will be stronger with this “detox” than with the last one.. LOL.

Summers close with Sangria

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Or maybe they start and finish with it. Tonight, like each Wednesday through the year (except for winter) is Wine and Cigar night. We get together, shoot the shit and have wine (the men smoke cigars). So when I was running late because I made pizza for dinner- P texted me telling to me to get my ass there for some homemade Sangria- I rushed to make it for a glass.. It was such a treat, and was so delicious! I ended up having two glasses while sitting around the fire- scheming about how we are going to make a new night.. Sangria Saturday! Starts this weekend after my first day back to the land of eggs- which means I’m going to need it!
   And just to show you want else I was up to today…

Back to the land of eggs…Plans changed.. again!

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I should say the land of just add water and frozen products, but eggs really does sound nicer doesn’t it? I told you the other day that I called my job and asked for my job back- she said she would get back to be with an answer and potential shifts that I could have. Well I got the call today- I’m going to be working every Wednesday and for this weekend at least I’m working both Saturday and Sunday. The break from Denny’s was so needed- let me just say that. I haven’t worked there since before Yogaslackers Teacher Training in May. 3 months off- it would only be adequate time off if I never had to go back. But here’s the thing… I don’t even have to try there. Now maybe your thinking that’s the wrong attitude- but lets look at it this way. With everything else going on right now, making money is the last thing I want to think about or really have to “work” at. I’m making a little bit of money teaching yoga, but it’s not much. It’s certainly not even enough to pay for gas in the car and food in the fridge. In this economy finding a job is hard enough- especially when your not exactly qualified for anything. Waitressing it an easy answer to needing some cash fast. 

    As it turns out, the friend that I was going to rent from didn’t realize how much money it was going to be for her to make the space livable through the winter. It’s not insulated and there isn’t any heat. Since she was going to do it eventually she thought now would be no better time. Unfortunately the costs of the repairs would be far too much for her right now, which means I would only be able to stay in the space for 2-3 months at the most before it would be unlivable. So yet another plan fell through- ah! I’m totally ok with it actually. Instead we headed over to her mom’s house which has the in-law apartment and checked that out. It’s super cute! It has it’s own bathroom, kitchen, living room and bedroom. Sure it’s going to be at least double the price- but it would be my own space completely. I can still have dogs and it’s not too far from the studio (actually it’s much closer) and from Denny’s. I haven’t actually talked it all out with her directly- but I’m planning for an October 1st move in. That gives me just under 6 weeks to save up enough money for the first months rent.. If there is a security deposit, then that will have to be worked out… But I think I can make it happen. I’m not going to make any real plans until I talk to Maria and see what the deal is- but I hope that it comes together. I REALLY hope it comes together.. I just want to get out on my own and prove to myself I can make it happen. 

   So there you have it.. One of the first steps to growing up.. swallowing your pride and going back to a job you really aren’t a fan of- and living on your own even though it scares the crap out of you :) I think I’m doing alright.

A fresh start

     I went out to lunch with my friends Melinda and Kristen and it was an amazing time. It’s always great to catch up with them- and just having them as friends is wonderful! We talked over sushi rolls about everything, and it’s great to have support and be able to be a support for each other. Its awesome to have people that are put together on my team. Melinda offered me a couple of rooms to rent on the third floor of her house- which is currently unused because it needs some work. It’s going to be a great place to set down some roots and call my own while I figure out the next plan of action. Because it’s a space that she eventually would be fixing up anyway, the small monthly rent I’m going to be giving her will help to fund it. I’m going over tomorrow to check everything out more closely and probably will be moving in within the next few weeks. I’m pretty excited to be able to have this available because it is a great deal- and I will be able to save a bunch of money and pay the car off as well. Plus it’s only a few miles from our house- so if Hydro and Melinda’s dog Daisy don’t get along I will still be able to see both of the boys regularly. I don’t really have a whole lot to move over there; a thai massage mat that I will be using for a bed and a dresser with my clothes. I plan on checking out Ikea or Walmart for some cheap rugs, curtains and maybe a little couch or chair- and of course I’m going to paint it. But really I won’t need a whole lot more than that. Rent will be cheap enough for me to be able to travel and still be able to have it as a home base which is ideal. I’m not sure when my next travel plans will be taking place since the plan to travel with Erika out to Portland has fallen through- but it will be workable for me to make other plans. I’m pretty excited!!! Its great to have found a reasonable living situation- and feel like I will have a place to be grounded.