Not Expecting Autumn

After seeing the beautiful weather outside the past couple of days, I just had to lace up the running shoes and get out there! The highs in the afternoon have been in the 80s, but in the morning the weather has been in the 40s and 50s. So cold that I can see my breath. This brings up the dilemma of what to wear when working out outside.

Today, I opted for running shorts and a sweatshirt, but it still wasn’t the right combo. My legs were freezing the first portion of the run, and then I felt like I was burning up after the first 10 minutes. There just isn’t a way to balance it, I guess.

Because my knee has been hurting lately I was a little nervous about running, and I actually forgot to wear the knee brace that I purchased to help give me a little extra support. I set out and told myself that my goal was to run for 30 minutes, and as soon as I felt any sort of discomfort in my knee that I would stop and walk….and guess what! I never felt any discomfort and was able to complete the entire 30 minutes pain free, thank goodness!

After the run, I walked Bella around the block, then came inside and did Jeanette Jenkin’s 10 minute Booty Bootcamp video again, then did the following:

50 center crunches
10 push-ups
50 crunches on each side
15 bicycle crunches
10 push-ups

Breakfast

Because it is sooo dark until practically 7:45am here in Indiana I definitely ate breakfast before my workout (I woke up around 6am). Since Brian and I are dog-sitting, it was easier to transport buckwheat than it was to transfer all of my frozen fruit and blender so I had buckwheat for breakfast!

The buckwheat was mixed with cinnamon and half of a banana. It kind of tasted like banana bread!

Not Expecting Autumn

Ok, so it is clearly autumn. The weather is cooler, the leaves are changing color and falling, pumpkins and cornstalks are adorning each house. I have purchased and cooked up pumpkin and butternut squash, apples, and started cooking warm soups.

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But to me it just doesn’t feel like autumn. Maybe it’s because this fall is totally different from any other fall has been for me. Usually I am getting out all of the fall decorations, planning my halloween costume, making trips to haunted houses and apple orchards. This year is different. Because I leave in a couple of weeks, I did not get out any fall decor, there is no reason for me to plan a halloween outfit, and I have yet to purchase a pumpkin to decorate and carve. I have realized that because I am leaving, I mentally planned to not be here for any holidays, and therefore did not anticipate being here for the season change. But I am here!! Brian has his big exam on Monday, but after that I am going to plan plenty of fall activities for us to do so I can get out of “season limbo.”

What are some ways you have adapted to the season change? Decorations? Special baked goodies? Visiting an apple orchard? A fall festival? Let me know!!!