Hawaii is a pretty diverse place, especially when it comes to food. We also celebrate many of the trends taking place on the continental U.S., such as having a Starbucks or Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf every 10 miles. But we have our share of Local places as well. One of them is a place in Waikele, called Jurison’s Inn, which I highly recommend. They serve all kinds of old school/homey-cooked-feeling items like patty melts, and mushroom chicken.. and a lot of local menu items such as Ahi Katsu roll, mochiko chicken, fried saimin, teri chicken bowls, etc. They’re reasonably priced, and everything I’ve tried (and my friends or family have tried) has been good. Here’s a link to their Yelp page and a really good review on ‘Ono Kine Grindz.
Despite my current diet, I couldn’t resist the patty melt. The combo came with a choice of fries, macaroni or tossed salad (I chose tossed salad). It’s a hamburger patty melted with cheese, onions, and mushrooms on rye, with thousand island dressing. Wow.
My trainer gave me homework, to fit in another PT session over the weekend. In the past, I did 2 PT sessions a week, and 4 cardio days… with 1 day off. So it was interesting that my new trainer asked me to try and squeeze in a third PT session. Why not? I’ll probably get better results if I can also control my diet.
I’ve admittedly been going off-diet a lot. My first trainer told me you can cheat maybe once in a week, but no more than that or you just won’t be able to keep losing weight. By cheat, she meant eating “junk” foods such as pizza, candy, or other foods with loads of carbs in them like white rice, or breads.She was a lot stricter with food as well. She told me no rice, no bread, anything with enriched flour, whenever possible.Last night I had a patty melt from Jurison’s Inn, in Waikele. So good, and yet, so bad. :o(
My new trainer recommends 2.5g of BCAAs before and after a PT workout. On mornings where I plan to only do cardio for the day, she told me to take 5g first thing in the morning, on an empty stomach. I went to The Vitamin Shoppe today after work, and bought some unflavored powder. I tried to mix some into water and taste the “unflavored” mixture, and it was pretty gross. But, what are BCAAs, and why would I want to take them?
All through the magic of google, I’ve come to some conclusions on what BCAAs are. BCAA stands for Branched-Chain Amino Acids. They are used by many body builders as a supplement that helps promote lean muscle mass and reduce muscle soreness after workouts. Many have attested to the fact they get energy from taking BCAAs before and during extra long workouts. But here’s a link to the good ole wikipedia on it. And here’s another link to one of the better articles I found on it: WebMD and admittedly when I click on the additional tabs and read more about it, I’m less certain about it. However, I am willing to try new things, and will see how this goes.
I will definitely write about it if I do see anything vastly different once I start taking it regularly. Hopefully it will either be unnoticeable, or a positive influence on my overall health (nothing negative).
Bottom line: I still don’t know whether BCAAs will do anything for me. I’ve been taking whey protein for a while as a supplement, and can’t necessarily tell whether or not it’s doing anything… same can be said about the glucosamine I take for joint health. I’m not 100% sure supplements really do anything for me, but I take them and try to have faith they’re doing something positive in my body.
Last year, I finally signed up for my very first gym membership. I chose 24 Hour Fitness since I can walk there from my apartment, and because they are open 24 hours a day. I opted to also sign on for the training, since I had no idea how to begin using all the equipment. So, I took the three, fifty-minute sessions package, and was assigned a good trainer named Amanda who I really liked so I signed up for an additional 10 sessions. Unfortunately, Amanda left Hawaii, so I ended up with a different trainer for a few sessions which I didn’t feel were as great of a fit for me. I ended up taking off some time to travel and also due to injuries, but am back to use up my remaining sessions (I had 3 left).
I’m back in training as of this morning, and have a third, new trainer named Kirstyn, and she’s pretty cool so far. We had our first session this morning, and I learned what burpees are. They are no joke. I did a lot of squats, lunges, rows, shoulder presses, chest presses, step-ups, etc. with mostly 10lb weights, and sometimes 5 lb weights, or no weight… and scattered between were my new dreaded exercise: burpees. I did 3 sets of 12 burpees total throughout the 50-minute session today, and my legs felt pretty wobbly afterwards. But it was a really good workout, so I’m really satisfied.
Kirstyn recommended I take BCAAs before and after workouts. Amanda had me taking whey protein powder instead. I’m gonna start using BCAA powder to bookend workouts instead. Will note if I can sense a difference or not. I’ll probably keep the protein powder around just as a supplement on days when I don’t have time to eat, etc.
In the 3.5 months I was injured, I really didn’t exercise much at all, and I can really feel it now in my weakened cardio, and during today’s PT session.
I’m food journaling again. I show it to Kirstyn when I go in for PT, and it helps keep me in line. I don’t know why I need the supervision, but I seem to. When left on my own, I rarely update the food journal, and almost never feel motivated enough to go to the gym… (although that was also due in part to my avoidance of the second trainer I had between Amanda and Kirstyn because I really wanted to switch, but decided to let some time pass while I healed up and traveled then called the main office again to get someone new)…
This morning, I participated in the Ford Island Bridge Run, which is a 10K around Ford Island, and back to Richardson Field.I was having a discussion earlier this year with a friend who has done his fair share of races, and he told me the Ford Island run was one of the most boring courses for him. I’m the opposite. It’s actually one of my favorite runs. I find the course to be scenic. True, a lot of times you’re just running past military housing, but if you look beyond, you can see the twin towers that mark the edge of Pearl City, mountains in Aiea, and there are sometimes ships docked nearby.. I enjoy it, but it’s not for everyone.
I did hear a couple complaining this year while I was jogging near them. They had a stroller so they had to stage themselves near the back, and they were pretty upset with the amount of people walking in front of them. I do agree, that many people in Hawaii seem to ignore staging by athletic ability. Many, many people, who never even attempt to run, like to be up near the front of the start line, not realizing this means everyone else has to swerve around them… or perhaps they realize it and don’t care. I’m not sure. Out of politeness, I try to stage myself further back from where I need to be.
I do like this run because it welcomes people of all fitness levels, and it’s cool to see families out there doing it. I admire anyone pushing a stroller, because I think my arms would get tired. Some races are more intimidating than others, and this one is good for people of all fitness levels, which makes it more fun. This run also has some of the best swag after the race. There was bottled water, powerade, bananas, sweet bread slices, and yogurt. The bag they gave us at packet pickup, was a lightweight geico backpack.
On a happy note, this was my longest run of 2012 so far, due to being injured during the December 2011 marathon. I’m finally done with physical therapy and the multiple issues with my knee, hip, etc. So, I think I’m OK for now. I don’t want to get my hopes too high, however! *knock on wood* I will continue to tread cautiously for now.
I snapped this photo while waiting for the run to start. There were so many clouds in the sky.
I finally had my appointment with the orthopedic physician about my hip pain. Long story short: She told me not to listen to the Physical therapist about changing my gait. What she said made a whole lotta sense. She said I’m too old to change my gait and have my hip bone structure change. Most women are a little knock-kneed, and you can’t change it now, so don’t run in the way that was hurtful, but do the strengthening exercises for my knees that the PT taught me.
Yes. It makes a lot of sense to me. Time and money wasted, but it could have been worse. I received my portion of the bill from physical therapy, which was $92. It kinda stings to have to pay it after experiencing new injuries as a direct result of PT, but it was also a good lesson.
I did a 2-mile run on Monday night, with no pain whatsoever. I just let my feet fall naturally, and no pain. Yay! So, Saturday is the Ford Island Bridge Run, and I’m hoping I do okay. It’s been a long time since I’ve run 6 miles… the longest I’ve gone in the past 4 months is 4 miles, and there was pain associated with my last 4-mile run, so… we’ll see. Fingers crossed that I have a pain-free run this weekend!
If you’ve been listening to KTUH FM Honolulu over the years, and in particular, if you listen to Jazz, you may have had the privilege of hearing, Friday Morning Jazz with Janet Kelsey, from 9AM – 12PM HST. Janet held a weekly show at KTUH for 12+ years, and was a true force of positive energy. Her caring and willingness to share her knowledge of music, and her time at the station, was truly a gift to everyone who met her or had the opportunity to hear her show. It is evident that many people were touched by Janet, and it was an honor to have had the pleasure of listening to her show, and knowing her as a fellow KTUHer.
Today, there was a memorial held in her honor. It was a beautiful day at the East West Center. I loved hearing words of remembrance, and seeing old and new KTUH DJs. Her family was also very kind and gracious, thoughtful, and just made a great atmosphere for us to remember Janet in. They even baked delicious cookies for everyone to take with them! Former students (she taught English at Castle High School) gave moving tributes to her, and made me wish I’d had her as an English teacher. Joshua from KTUH, and her daughter, Anne Hammond, spoke to us and also read some words from people who could not attend. Even though it was sad, I found myself also feeling very happy to celebrate such a vibrant woman who I so deeply admire.
Governor Neil Abercrombie was also in attendance. He was a long-time fan of Janet’s show, and came to pay his respects. He said something I really liked, to the effect that Janet was a person who lived her beliefs. And that not many people can honestly say they’ve accomplished this. I think he was correct, and that’s quite an accomplishment for any person to make in their lifetime.
They had this beautiful picture on display, with Janet giving one of her high voltage smiles:
If you never had a chance to hear Janet on the air, or if you feel like hearing her again, Here’s a link to Janet’s very last show. Mahalo to Tony for producing the show, and posting it online for others to enjoy, and for being there for Janet as her board operator.
Janet was a special lady, and I will never forget her as one of the best things about my time at KTUH. We learned at the service today that her 84th birthday is tomorrow, March 19th.
Happy Birthday Janet!! You are missed. Thank you for the cookies, the vitamin C whenever you thought I was catching a cold, for helping me when I was music director with the ever-growing music library, and charting jazz charts for us, and giving us advice and hugs, and smiles. I’m blessed to have met you.
I don’t wear any foundation or face makeup, but on occasion I get concerned about the signs of aging and invest in cleansers or moisturizers. In the past, I’ve tried Shiseido products, and couldn’t really tell whether or not they made a difference because I didn’t really use all the products as instructed, and in my laziness would do things like just wash my face with hand soap or the bath bar. I know — those are big time beauty no-no’s, but I’m lazy, and kinda tom-boyish still.
There was a twitter put out by @MarukaiHawaii yesterday that intrigued me. They tweeted a picture of Conju Princess soap. I tried to go but they closed before I could get in the door, so I got it inside one of the stores inside DonQuijote who specializes in Korean beauty products, called Beauty Touch. They had a sale, so it was $20 for 1 bar of soap, and $30 for two.
And I was intrigued since I’m not totally invested in any particular brand yet. My mom was a beautiful lady, and a cosmetologist from the old school, so she always looked fashionable and pretty. I rebelled against all things “girlie” in my youth, and never learned from her and I super regret it. When we ate at Makino Chaya her last Thanksgiving with us, she was 74, and asked for the senior discount. The waitress didn’t believe her and scolded her to say: “Ma’am, senior is 65.” Lots of people thought she was 20 years younger. She got mean looks from people on the bus for sitting down, and was carded at McDonalds and Jack in the Box and the movies… ( ( Love you mom… I can only hope for your genes in my old age! ) )
I rejected beauty and never asked my mom for advice on anything growing up. I also tend to hang with dudes, so… no help there. I have no idea how to wear makeup properly. I use eye shadow and lipstick and that’s it. When I try to apply foundation or face powder, or eye liner, mascara, blush, etc., it looks bad to me, so I wipe it all off and end up looking like I do on a regular work day. As I age, I’ll need to try and learn how to do some of these things properly.
Why the change of heart, you ask? Because I realized too late that my mom had it right. I should have respect for myself and the people I interact with and try to have a more presentable appearance. I myself respect her for her beauty (amongst her many other traits, including humility). Like it or not, everyone cares about appearances. I realize I don’t have to do this, but why not?
So, tonight was Day #1 of using Conju soap on my face. I followed the directions and lathered it up, gently rubbed it into my skin for 2 – 3 minutes, and then rinsed with warm water. Online reviews have mentioned people breaking out in the first few days, and noticeably clearer and softer skin occurs after two weeks of use. I’ll update this in two weeks and let you know if I can see the difference.
There was a tingling sensation on parts of my face, and I accidentally got some near my eye and it stung a bit til I washed it out. A few minutes after drying my face, my skin felt tighter, and when I ran my finger over my skin, I could feel little bumps where I’ve been having tiny zits lately. I’m interested in seeing whether or not these disappear or lessen after two weeks.
I will update this review with my findings about Conju soap.
UPDATE #1 (3/21/12)
It’s been six days of using the soap. I use it every morning and night (though I missed one night when I crashed early). My cheeks have been pretty pink in color. My friend thought I was wearing blush the other day. The skin on the top of my cheeks, beneath my eyes was a little rough to the touch yesterday, but is smoother today. Same with some spots near my chin. It feels like the skin is exfoliating. My skin does feel tighter, especially right after I wash my face.
UPDATE #2 (4/15/12)
Admittedly, I skip the ritual of using the soap at times. Here’s a video that shows how to properly later and use the soap:
Pretty crazy, and I still can’t get my foam to be as foamy as in this video! Whoever is featured in that video is a soap-foaming ninja!
Sometimes I don’t scrub my face for a full 2 – 3 minutes, like when I’m late for work. And I notice I keep getting flare-ups near my nose… like one zit that’ll pop up at a time. And I do the bad thing and pop it. heh. I do feel this soap does get my face clean, and I can feel a tightness still, immediately after washing my face. My skin doesn’t seem worse, but I’m having a hard time telling whether or not it’s better. (I kinda have good skin, or at least, that’s what people tell me). Will post more if something else happens, but my conclusion is this is an OK product. Not sure if miracles will happen for people, but so far, so good.
After going to physical therapy for runner’s knee, and changing my running gait, I’ve discovered a new pain developing in my right hip. At first it was so slight, I thought it was just my body getting used to my new way of running, but I did a run on Monday morning that changed my mind. There wasn’t really an issue during the run, but all day afterwards I felt an uncomfortable twinge in the right hip at the joint whenever I moved my leg from the hip. I could feel it when walking, and it didn’t lessen until I took some Advil in the afternoon. It was gone by Tuesday morning, and I barely felt it except for the occasional twinge from any strange movement.
Today, it was the same — it only has the slightest twinge when I put my leg in an awkward position or when I jogged across the crosswalk. Though the pain was slight, I felt worried enough to mention it at today’s PT session.
Today was my 6th of 8 PT sessions for my runner’s knee (left knee). I haven’t had issues with the knee for weeks, but the hip pain has slowly built from just a weird sensation, to something that’s begun to actually worry me. They decided to stop my PT sessions for the knee since my medical insurance only covers 8 sessions a year, and you never know if I’ll need those remaining sessions for my hip.
The really cool PT assistant said to me that I should choose a different sport, and I said, “yeah” but in my mind knew I wouldn’t. Not just yet, anyhow. I think she might’ve been kinda joking too, but am not sure. hehe. I’m willing to try to work through my weird body mechanics so I can continue running. Hopefully I don’t get some sad news that I can’t run anymore, because I don’t want to give it up. I’ve done two marathons, before I changed my running gait.. so..?
I made an appointment with the orthopedic physician again, on 4/2. (Their earliest available appointment). Hopefully it’s nothing additional physical therapy can’t help, and even more importantly, I hope she doesn’t advise me to quit running! *fingers crossed*
Squirrel was adopted from the Hawaiian Humane Society on June 4, 2011. She’ll be seven years-old next month. The name Squirrel was given to her by the people at the Humane Society and I kept it. They said she was turned in as a stray, but appeared to have had a previous owner since she was already fixed when they got her.
I went many times to the Humane Society, looking for a good match, and I finally found her. There were many nice kittens and cats, but Squirrel’s overall great personality and cuteness won me over. I’d highly recommend adoption if you’re looking for a pet… and I think it’s worth it to go down to look at the animals as many times as it takes until you find a good match.
Here is a picture of her in her cage at the pound the day before I adopted her:
I knew I wanted a furry companion since I moved out of my family’s home in Mililani, and into an apartment in Honolulu. The condo docs didn’t allow rabbits, so I had to leave my bunny, Pancake, with my sister and her family.
((I miss you, Pancake))
Squirrel, is a mellow cat. She’s able to play gently with my niece, who is a toddler. She doesn’t scratch or bite hard at all. She seems to love people, and allows everyone to pet her. She stays indoors 100% of the time. I’m lucky she hasn’t destroyed my apartment according to other cat-horror stories I’ve read online. The worst she does is claw the old couch I brought with me.
