I know- summer doesn’t actually end until September 21- and in South Florida, the heat and humidity will stick around through October. But school starts Monday, so I’m declaring the summer season to be OVER, at least for those of us on the early school schedule (side note- on this week’s Girl Next Door podcast they said Arizona schools started in July- eep!!!)
Last week I lamented that I didn’t accomplish enough this summer- but now I’ve changed my mind. The summer wasn’t so bad after all. In the comment section of that post, Birchie reminded me that I accomplished the daunting task of staying on a very restrictive diet. Well… YES I DID.
I started an anti-candida diet on May 25, stayed on it for seven weeks, went off it in some ways while I traveled, and am now finishing up the last four weeks of it. I say I’m finishing it because… my digestion is now in a good place! I’m just about ready to slowly add back certain things (not to go on and on about it, but starting with my beloved Earl Grey tea. I’m thinking “T-Day” will be next Wednesday).
That is a big thing! Also… I had a really great run today. I ran five miles outside in the heat, and I remember how hard that was at the beginning of the summer. Sometimes it’s hard to see progress unless you take a step back- but I started the summer recovering from a big race and nursing a hamstring injury. Now I feel like I’m ready to start some serious training. Progress!
Strength-wise… I guess you could say I was consistent. I did go to the gym, just not often enough. But I didn’t get any weaker! Seriously- this will be a rollover goal for fall.
I read a lot… traveled with my son, chauffeured my daughter to the gym, and to Tampa for a flute workshop. I worked, had a week of “jury duty” (aka I stayed home and cleaned out my closet) and oh yes, I had pink eye for the first time. Like everything else in life, you have to take the good with the bad.
Maybe it’s not actually fall yet, but we’re starting Quintile 4, and I’m ready for it!
25 Responses
From where I’m standing, it feels like you did a lot this summer! Maybe it wasn’t what you thought it would be, going in, but that’s how it goes I guess.
I am clinging onto summer vibes around here!
Cling away, Nicole! There’s still plenty of summer left for you. And- yes, the summer didn’t go exactly as I had hoped, but there were still a lot of good things.
I think you had a very full and successful summer! So I hope you feel nothing but a sense of accomplishment and pride! You had a lot going on in your life!
Summer is so not over for us, as you know. We haven’t even had our big annual week at the lake yet, so summer is far from finished for us. But it is PRIME season for Minnesotans so we will hold onto summer with our cold, dead hands for as long as possible. Ok, fall is prime, too, but summer is really special in the Midwest since it’s short compared to our cold season. I feel pretty good about how our summer has played out so far. I was home way more than usual which was nice and my training is going pretty well (although I am terribly slow, even compared to last year, but oh well).
Yes, when I was growing up we didn’t start school till after Labor Day. So August was definitely still a full summer month. It must be kind of annoying to hear people talking about “back to school”- I can see how you would cling bravely onto summer, knowing what’s to come. As you said you still have a lot, including our week at the lake- enjoy every minute!
Yay for your upcoming Earl Grey day!! Honestly, you did so much this summer! We don’t start school up here in my part of MA until after Labor Day; we haven’t even received teacher assignments or supply lists… best of luck on your daughter’s start next week!!
Thank you Lindsay! I’m feeling good about the start of school, and my daughter is excited. Enjoy the rest of your summer!
You had a pretty busy summer.
Om clinging to every second as winter lasts forever up here.
Can’t wait for some beach and pool time finally when I go to the Hamptons next week.
Oh you have a vacation coming up! You should have plenty more summer weather up there- enjoy every moment.
You’ve had a busy summer and your’s starts and ends (hypothetically, since your weather stays much warmer than mine) earlier than mine here in Nova Scotia. We still have almost a whole month until we’re back into the routine of school and such.
I’ve enjoyed the summer but I’m also looking forward to routine. It can be hard to find the right mix of being busy enough to keep the kids occupied and not wanting constant screens or fighting AND having down time. Most days we do pretty well, other days everything descends into utter chaos.
Ha- it definitely gets easier as the kids get older! It sounds like you’ve done very well so far- enjoy another month of freedom.
I am here to call you out anytime that you don’t give yourself enough credit! The work that you did this summer to heal your gut will translate into a solid training block this fall and into the finish line of 60 miles next year.
I have been frustrated with a number of situations this summer, but right now I’m in my happy place on one of my long trips, so I’m very much living in present tense. It’s a good feeling.
You are on an amazing trip right now! I can’t wait to hear all about it. Soak it all in. And thanks for calling me out- in a good way.
Huge props for running five miles in the heat! Great that it’s feeling easier than at the start of summer.
I was thinking of you the other day – my angry hamstring is slowly calming down. I think stretching is really helping! Did you foam roll at all? I’m not sure if I should start that, too.
Foam rolling helps me, a little. Stretching seems to irritate mine though, so I have to be careful. Glad yours is calming down!
I think you accomplished a lot this summer! Sticking to the restrictive diet must have been tough, but you are seeing results so that’s gotta feel pretty good, and you can reintroduce your beloved Earl Grey soon!
Summer is technically over here too, as the district I work for started on Monday (fortunately we don’t start in July — too early! — and it would mess up my plans to take off work for my birthday which isn’t ok). But apparently it wasn’t hot enough in July because we’ve been in the 110s all week here, and I’m very much over it. But we won’t have “cool” temps until at least October either. I’m just hoping for more seasonal temps, like the 90s would feel glorious right about now!
I guess it was too good to be true! But let’s just get through August, then we can start hoping for slightly (?) cooler weather.
I’m glad you don’t start in July- that is WAY too early!
It sounds like you mostly enjoyed your summer and feeling better after your diet is great. We still have two and a half weeks until the kids go back to school so I’m soaking up the end of our Midwest summer.
It’s funny how everyone has such different school schedules! Enjoy the rest of your summer.
Yes, the kiddos start school on Monday here, too, and even though that doesn’t affect MY life in any way, it does feel like it means summer is over and we’re into back-to-school season. (Which means FOOTBALL and PSLs are right around the corner, yasssss!)
You did a lot with your summer, even if it wasn’t quite the season you had envisioned. Sticking to your diet was a BIG THING!
YES STEPHANY- Dolphins preseason starts TOMORROW, woohoo! There’s a reason this is my favorite season.
I think you did plenty. The trip with your son alone was so fun plus a closet clean out. Boom- summer success.
End of summer is a mixed bag here. Will miss my college kids, but I’m excited for reg. I have to get back to babysitting. I do think we’re ready for a schedule. Maybe some college visits for Curly too.
I recently listened to a podcast where they discussed probiotics, and how we are told that they are live cultures, but the majority of the cultures, if they are alive when you take them, are long gone before they get to your gut, so don’t help a lot. I take probiotics daily because I am on antibiotics long term for my rheumatoid arthritis. I am trying Spur Probiotics, supposedly they make a big difference. I wonder if you might look into that for your maintenance phase. Something to discuss with your doctor at least.
The podcast if you are interested was Better! With Dr. Stephanie – Why your probiotics are not working and what to do instead.
I didn’t buy the brand that they discussed, I bought a different one, probiogen. I’ll let you know if I feel like it makes any difference in my gut health (I don’t have a lot of gut health problems…this was was about the same price as the one I was already using, so I thought I’d give it a try.)
Busy, successful summer–check!
On to the next quintile. Are the big plans revealed in teh next post?
I know you it’s not yours and you credited Unsplash for the lead photo–but that photo colors are amazing!
All written out, I think it sounds like a very full and busy and successful summer! That’s the magic of keeping track of things we do… I think it’s so easy to overlook things otherwise. I mean, it’s a lot to just “survive” the basics of normal life these days plus keep up a house and work and family etc… I feel like most of us also have SO many additional things going on, that it really adds up to be so much, even if on the surface we still feel like we somehow didn’t do or accomplish or even just enjoy enough, etc.
Do not discount consistency and survival! You showed up, in the weight room and the kitchen. You were so amazingly consistent and dedicated all summer, despite challenges. Here’s hoping for a shift to *positive* changes for the fall, starting with T day. 🙂