February, Good-bye and Good Riddance!

It's the last day of February and I am so happy to see this month go away.  February has not been a good month on many fronts: health, running, weight loss, personal life, work, kid, weather, you name it.  I am excited for a fresh new month tomorrow.

To recap, I did log one final run for the last day of February bringing my grand total to 5 runs and 15.9 miles!  That is seriously low.  But given the fact that I spent the first half of the month in bed, I will have to accept that these things happen.

I also did not lose any weight in February.  My total loss for the month is .8 pounds, but considering I weighed less in January than I do now, I'm not really considering that an accomplishment.

What is an accomplishment is that I am determined to keep going.  I am not going to let this "bad" month derail my efforts and get in the way of my success.  It is what it is and I can't change that.  I can only strive to do more in the coming weeks and months.

To begin with I am making plans to register for some running events in 2011.  At first I wasn't sure that I wanted to sign up for any official events for a couple reasons.  First, I basically have no one to do them with and my family doesn't love the spectating.  So second, do I really want to pay to run by myself when I can just go outside my house and do that?  From last year, I have several ugly race shirts so the shirt is definitely not a draw.  But, having events on the calendar really kept me on track last year.  You know what they say, "Pain is temporary, but your finishing time posted on the Internet is forever."  Those registrations brought with them a certain amount of determination to keep moving forward and to keep running.    So I'm checking out my options and will sign up for something soon.  I know I will be running Bloomsday which is a 12K race on May 1st, beyond that I don't know.

Thanks for following my journey!

Stride Right

When I first started the Couch to 5K program, I had absolutely no idea how to run properly.  Even though I have always dreamed of becoming a runner, and even pretended to be one several times for short periods of time, I had never acheived a comfortable running stride.  Running always felt extremely difficult and I never stuck with it for this reason.  Last year was different in that I felt like I was literally running for my life.  I was going to lose weight and become a runner because the alternative was to coast through life in a horribly unhappy state.  It was time for me to make permanent changes.

When I began the C25K program I was worried about my past failures as a runner and decided that using a formal (proven) program to get started was the first step to success.  So I started the program, followed it to a T, and graduated some nine weeks later.  I can still remember those first runs, when a minute felt like too long, when at the end of the 25 minute run/walk session I felt like I might faint from exhaustion.  It was brutal and exhilarating.  I was scared and excited.  I looked forward to and dreaded each running session at the same time.  It was simply awesome!  And all the while I was running, I was saying to myself over and over heeltoe, heeltoe, heeltoe, and I was striking my foot in exactly that rhythm:  heel then toe.

At one point I told my husband this was how I got through the running intervals and he was like, "Um, you're not supposed to land on your heel, you're supposed to land on the middle of your foot or closer to your toe."  I looked at him like he was crazy.  Not possible, I thought.  You land like you do when you're walking only faster.  So I kept going.  I finished the program and I kept running.  Then I started having a lot of trouble with my leg and knee, problems that were caused by wearing the wrong shoe.  I read a lot about running stride and foot strike when I was reading about shoes.  So often I read about the benefits of a midfoot to forefoot strike as opposed to a heel stike.  Interesting, but food for though until after I get the shoe issue worked out, I thought.  Luckily I finally found the right (ugly) shoes sometime in late November.

It was in the latter part of December that I finally decided to start actively trying to change my running stride.  And then winter hit and it's been a long one.  I've been running less and less, both indoors and out, so it has taken awhile to notice any real positive change.  But I am finally noticing!!  A midfoot strike feels so much better on my body!  I have watched lots of running videos on YouTube and I know how I should move my body, legs, and feet.  I still have to concentrate on landing with my foot more parallel to the ground, and sometimes I forget what I'm doing and revert to the heel strike, but then I start feeling more fatigued and it isn't long before I remember what I'm supposed to do.  I know that if I keep practicing, I can successfully change my stride for the betterment of my running experience.  It's just a matter of relearning what I thought I knew and clearly did not.  Thank goodness for Google, YouTube, and running blogs!

Are you a midfoot, forefoot, or a heel striker?  Have you actively worked on changing your running stride and/or foot strike?  Why or why not?

Experiment Complete: Don't Try This at Home

Over the past couple of weeks I've been conducting an experiment.  I thought I'd share it with you so you don't have to conduct the same one.

The experiment asked the question, "Can I eat chips and/or buttery popcorn daily, skip exercise, and still lose weight?" 

Well, the results are in and the answer is a resounding, "NO, YOU DINGBAT!"

(PS: After publishing I noticed the typo in the title.  Why don't I proofread before clicking 'Publish'?)

Pictures: The Pet Edition

For today's viewing, I give you the household pets. We have 3 cats and 1 dog. I personally think you cannot go through life without pets. You'll notice far fewer pictures of the dog.  I love our dog, but I'm a cat person.  I can never take too many pictures of the cats!




Tucker




Dash & Disney - my son named Dash when he was 5 after Dash on the Incredibles.  Super!




Dash & Disney again




Disney in the back, Tucker in the front - They are littermates--we adopted them in Aug. 2009.  They are kittens here.




Tucker prefers Mac.  He's still my friend.




Tucker & Disney-they love each other.




Chance--she just turned 8 last month.




This is why there are few pictures of her.  She's the ultimate "Yellow Dog".  Points for who can name that movie.



This blog needs more pictures!

I absolutely love blogs with lots of pictures, therefore, I'm planning to attempt posting more pictures on this blog.  I say attempt because I'm human after all!  Here are some random photos for your viewing pleasure.  Tomorrow I will post "Pictures: The Pet Edition"



My family - Christmas card photo 2010 (taken Oct 2010)




My son and me - October 2010




My son and me - Christmas Eve 2010




My family - Christmas Eve 2010



Kid Tested, Mother Approved

When I was a kid, I loved Kix cereal.  My favorite bowl was always the one at the end of the box when all the crumbs and sweet powder came out like snow.  I loved the commercial for Kix too and could sing along with every word.  We were not allowed to have sweet, sugary cereal as kids and we rarely had name brand cereals at all. Kix became my favorite because it was not generic and tasted so yummy. Unfortunately I learned to eat several bowls at a time even back then.

Little has changed in my relationship with Kix now that I am an adult.  I still love it so much.  Case in point: tonight I ate 13 PointsPlus worth of Kix, including that last bite of sweet powder.  This was consumed after I'd already reached my daily allotment of 29 PointsPlus.

Tomorrow is a new day. (Insert heavy sigh here.)

What was your favorite cereal when you were a kid?  Do you still love it as an adult?

Were you subjected to generic cereals in the 80s?  The ones in the plain white box with black lettering? 

Back in Business

I realized today that I've been missing something during my most recent runs.  The fun has been missing.  I've slipped over into thinking it's a chore, a task, something I need to check off my list.  I've hated being sick because I keep feeling like I'm getting behind. My mileage for the month is low, my regret over it has been high.

I worked at home today (yay, for that) so I was able to get in a run outside.  (Yesterday my back felt so much better and today was even more so!)  I took advantage of being home and cut out for a run about 10:30.  I had my iPod with Nike+ because I'm keeping track of all mileage, but I knew I would not be using it to check my pace during the run.  I just went out to run my usual 5K loop without worrying about pace.  I also knew that if my back started hurting more I would head home without regret.  But luckily all went well and I was able to complete the entire loop with a decent pace even though I didn't care about it.  It was only about the run today and that's what it should always be about!

Why do I forget how much better it is to not worry about anything but putting one foot in front of the other?  It really doesn't matter how fast I am running or even how far.  Sure, I still would like to run under 10 minute miles, but the pace I currently have is fine too.  I'd also like to log 15 miles a week.  But what if I don't?  The world isn't gonna end, I know this.  I just want to run to get/stay in shape and to have fun.  I want to run without feeling like I'm dying, without feeling like my body is going to give out at any moment, and without feeling like I've failed EVER.  Getting in a run is never failing.  And missing a run or two (or ten) when you're sicker than snot isn't failing either.  You just pick up where you left off and continue about your running business. 

I'm back in business!

Thank You

Thank you to everyone who responded with encouraging words to my last post.  Clearly I was in a funk.  Today was a much better day.

The good news is my sinuses feel much better today, much better.

My back?  Not so much.  I woke up at around 4:00 this morning and was miserable.  I thought I'd be counting down the hours until the urgent care clinic opened at 8:00.  But I took some more Aleve and laid on the couch with my heated rice bag, and I was finally able to fall back to sleep.

There is some debate in this household about whether heat is good for my back pain.   I have never used it before, but I didn't have a rice bag before either.  I would like to tell you that the rice bag has become my buddy over the past few weeks!  I've soothed my sinuses by laying face down on it, I've soothed my head by using it as a pillow and head cozy, and now I'm using it to soothe my back.  If you don't have a rice bag, get one, make one, steal one, whatever you have to do to acquire one.  You simply must have one.  I can't wait until my next stomach ache so I can use this baby!  Okay I really don't want a stomach ache, but I've no doubt the rice bag will soothe that too.  I'm grateful to our dear friends who made us three rice bags last month! 

I didn't end up going to urgent care.  I will go tomorrow if there is no improvement, and I won't hesitate to request some Vicodin.  I just want to see if I can manage it without the strong stuff.  Thank goodness my coughing is subsiding because each cough is misery.

I have tomorrow off so I'll be able to take it easy.  I hope everyone has had a fabulous weekend.

It's Just a Bad Day

In general, I still do not feel well.  I am so tired.  And thanks to my back, I am also in pain.

Yesterday I felt pretty okay.  We ran some errands in the morning and then I went on a 3 mile run in the afternoon followed by a shower, a visit with family, and then dinner with a friend.   My nose was so stuffed and I was coughing all evening.  I stayed up until 1:30 which was probably too late.

I got up about 8:30 this morning which was too early.  I thought about running today, but my legs are sore from yesterday.  This depresses me a little bit.  Look how much I've lost in such a short amount of time.  The run yesterday was also very difficult.  I was coughing too much and had to force myself to stay out there for the full three miles.  It was a bit brutal and I even stayed away from all the big hills.

This morning I sat around until noon drinking coffee and catching up on Grey's Anatomy from the past few weeks.  Our son slept over at a friend's house last night so my husband and I just had a lazy morning.  But I didn't really have any gumption to do anything else.  At one point I went to refill my coffee cup and picked up my cat who wandered into the kitchen with me.  Crack!  Something in my back tweaked and now I feel awful.  I have tweaked my back before much worse than this so I'm grateful it's on the minor side, but it still infuriates me.  Don't I have enough to deal with at the moment?

This afternoon my sinuses were killing me again and I just felt so tired.  I layed down and took a nap for a couple hours.  I probably would have slept longer, but we had to meet family for dinner. 

Right now it's about 10:00 and I'm ready for bed, but I'm trying to stay awake to watch a movie with my husband.  I should just go to bed.

Why can't I get well?  Why can't I wake up one day and just feel better?  I am still taking the antibiotics, but my nose is still stuffed, my head hurts, my eyes water, and now my back joined the pain party.

To top all that off, my eating has been terrible. It really has.  I still can't taste or smell very much so the only thing I seem to feel like eating is salty foods, and not healthy foods.  I know this is just an excuse, but I guess I might be eating too much just because it gives me something to do.  Reverting to old habits?  A bit.

I'm a hypochondriac.  I keep worrying that I have some underlying health issue which is making it so I can't get well.  Maybe my immune system is compromised by a brain tumor and that's why I wake up sick day after day.  Maybe a brain tumor is why my head hurts.  Or maybe I have cancer in my sinuses.  I know such a cancer exists and I can't stop thinking about it.  It ruminates in my head, round and round.  I can't stand it.  All the usual techniques for redirection aren't working.

It's just a bad day today.  :(

I Think I am not a Gym Person

For months now I've been agonizing over the Y membership I have been paying for since July.  Keep it?  Dump it?

Dump it.

Wait, no, keep it.

No, I think I'll dump it. 

I'm just not using it.  I just don't think I am a gym person.  I want to be.  I love the concept of getting up, getting out the door, carrying around my awesome Nike bag, working out with those like minded individuals and feeding off their momentum.  That all sounds wonderful.

But sadly it appears that it's just not me, at least for now.  Going to the gym adds about a half an hour (at least) to my already packed life. I mean I need time to read my Kindle and eat snacks don't you know?  Right now, fitting in exercise is getting harder and harder.  I'm still trying to change my workout schedule to morning (although February is clearly a bust) and adding in extra commute time for a gym trip just isn't happening.  It feels like too much.  I'm sure you saw the writing on the wall.  I kind of did too, but I wanted to give it a bit more effort before admitting it.

Once at the gym, I like it, even love it.  I've got my awesome bag, I'm awake when I get there (as opposed to stumbling to my basement half asleep), I get my run on and finish up with some ab work.  I admire the people around me while I sweat it out.  We're all there for a common good.  Life is swell.   And then I gather my stuff from the locker room and go home.

(Side note: I have a serious pet peeve when it comes to a gym locker room.  What is with the women who feel it's okay to parade around in the nude for all to see?  Seriously.  If you're one of these women, I don't mean to offend you, but you offend me!  Put some clothes on, a wrap, a towel, something.  I do not want to see your butt and boobs while you're blow drying your hair.  I honestly admire the confidence some of these women have, but I still think they need to cover up and consider the rest of us.  It's a public place, not their house!  Obviously since I'm just in the locker room to change my shoes and put my coat and pants on, I don't linger too long, but it's long enough for an eyeful.)

Anyway, while annoying, nudity is not the reason I'm cancelling the membership.  The 15-20 minutes to drive there, the 15-20 minutes home, and all for the use of a treadmill which I happen to have in my basement doesn't feel worth it.  I wanted to take a yoga class but haven't done it.  I just think it's best to stop the automatic monthly draft and say goodbye to the gym, at least for now. Cha-ching!  $76 added back to the budget.   After all, it will be warming up and I will be able to run outside.  I would never, ever choose a gym treadmill over that.

I wanted to post this so that you know I am a normal person who struggles.  I make decisions, I change my mind, I'm fickle.  I'm trying to find my fitness and exercise groove. Someday I might go back to the gym or I might not.  My goal is to keep running, and for now it won't be at the gym.

Just Call Me Corky!

Corky is the name my husband and I give to everything dumb, stupid, or silly that one of us does.  Forgot to put out the garbage?  Corky!  Tripped over your own foot?  Corky!  I don't know why it started.

Yesterday I wasn't feeling well.  In fact, I felt worse than I had the previous two days.  I was feeling annoyed about still being sick, wondering if the antibiotics just aren't working. 

Last night I decided to read the prescription bottle.  "Take two capsules every 12 hours."  I've been taking one capsule every 12 hours.  So I've been getting half the correct dose!  Corky!

Now I wonder if I've only prolonged the illness or if I've negated the effects of the antibiotics completely.  I guess time will tell.

All that to say I didn't run yesterday.  I was too stuffy and sleepy.  I went to bed.  But for some reason sleep evaded until after 1:00 a.m.

The Person I Am

I am not a morning person.
I am a night person.

I am not an outgoing person.
I am a shy person.

I am not a big group person.
I am a close friend person.

I am not a travel person.
I am a homebody person.

I am not a dog person.
I am a cat person.

I am not a Mac person.
I am a PC person.

I am not an Android person.
I am an iPhone person.

I am not a TV person.
I am a Kindle person.

I am not a fashionista person.
I am a comfortable clothes person.

I am not a blue person.
I am a purple person.

I am not a messy person.
I am an organized person.

I am not a spontaneous person.
I am a planner person.

I am not a steak person.
I am a pasta person.

I am not a tea person.
I am a coffee person.

I am not a soda person.
I am a water person.

I am not a skinny person.
I am a healthy person.

I am not an athletic person.
I am a person who runs.

Weekly Weigh In

I remembered to weigh this morning.  154.6.  That is a loss of 1.8 since last week. 

This week is going okay.  I had not planned to tap into my weekly points, but that didn't even last one day when we had a birthday party to attend and I overindulged in Mexican food.  Not too badly, but still over my daily points.

I had the one run and plan to log another tonight. 

All over the blogging land it seems many are struggling right now.  It must be the time of year. 

I am ready for spring.

I am ready to run outside without all the layers.

I am ready to start really losing weight again.

I am ready for my husband to find a job.

I am ready for my nose to stop running, my head to stop hurting, my cough to stop suffocating me.

(At least I can kind of control one of those things.)

I am ready to end this post.

I Underestimate My Own Power!

(Said in my best Arnold Schwartzenegger voice.)

3.1 miles, 34:15, 11:00/mile

 This photo was taken mid-run at mile 1.  Contrary to how it looks, I DO NOT have that much eyeliner on!  Action photo with the iPhone = not that great of a photo.

Now you'll have to excuse me while I go cough my brains out.

Get Thee Behind Me, Excuses!

I admit it, I've fallen prey to the Excuses Demon.  I thought I would feel so much better last week admitting that I haven't been following WW for the past couple of months, blaming it on the new program.  I went away from publishing that post feeling like a complete dolt.  I mean, I know how to eat right and I know how to count calories if nothing else.  I can even count WWPs in my head--the old way if necessary.  To blame the program change is just a copout.  Only I am to blame.  Out of that whole long post, this line is the gist:

Maybe it's not about a new program or old program, but more about my lack of efforts, period.

I don't know why I decided to take the past couple of months off losing weight, but I can't change that fact now.  What's done is done and I must keep moving forward.  I didn't plan on being sick for the past two weeks, but I couldn't help that.  I think I am getting better, although today I've decided to cough my head off.  I still plan to log that mile, though.

And now I must get back into things.  I must make the decision to go back on my "diet".  I believe it is is a diet, yes.  I don't think that's a bad word.  I am making long term lifestyle changes, but I am "dieting" in order to lose weight.  I want to reach my goal weight and in order to do that, I need to cut calories/points and get it done. 

My plans for the week are not huge or unattainable.  I will track everything I eat and stay within my daily points.  I hope to leave some of the weekly points and all activity points on the board.  I also plan to run some.  I still feel pretty zapped so I'm not going to push it.  One mile today; it starts there.  Secretly I hope one mile feels awesome and turns into more, but given the fact that I'll be running late tonight after a birthday party, I'll be happy with one.  I will report back tomorrow with the results.

I forgot to weigh in this morning which might be a good thing since we went out to Olive Garden last night and I did not eat on plan.  I expect recovery will be needed.

Happy Valentine's Day!  Will you celebrate today?

My husband and I don't really do a lot for Valentine's Day.  I usually give him a card and some candy and he gets me something small, too.  I also give my son a card and some candy.  My stepmom's birthday is on Valentine's Day so we usually have dinner with my parents.  Tonight will be the same.

Tomorrow I Run

My last run was on 1/31/11.

I have logged exactly zero miles for February.

Tomorrow I will log at least one.

I Really am Sick

Yesterday was a long day in bed and today I woke up feeling even worse if that's possible.  I decided to consult my favorite physician, Dr. Google, who advised that a trip to the urgent care clinic was in order.

Sinus infection.

While I am not happy to be on antibiotics for the next 10 days, I feel a bit vindicated in knowing that I really am sick.  I look forward to feeling better someday.

The Sickness Diet

This morning I weighed 151.2 (ha! I first typed 121.2!  I wish!).  While I love seeing these numbers, I know it's just the effect of eating hardly anything over the past couple of days.  Give me a weekend and I'll see the pounds creep back on.  Or maybe not.

It has now been 10 full days since my last run.  TEN DAYS!!  I am starting to care about this, but I am afraid that today will be day 11.  Yesterday was so beautiful outside and I did have a slight desire to get out there and run.  But then I coughed and blew my nose and that desire went away quickly.

Today will be filled with sleep again (I hope).  I do think I am on the mend, but I had a terrible night of (no) sleep last night so I will be catching up today.  Right after I get my work done.  Why can't my reports get ready already?!

Anyway, I don't recommend this sickness diet.  I hope it doesn't catch any of you!  Or at least any more of you.

Comment Problems on Blogger and Other

Still stuck in the land of snot here so not much to add.  I did weigh 153 this morning, but I think it's not real weight loss since I just stopped feeding my cold and took yesterday off to sleep.  I still like seeing the number, though.  Will I ever be well again?

I was catching up on a little blog reading this morning and commenting.  I finally need to ask, what is the deal with commenting on Blogger and even WordPress blogs, but especially Blogger?  I always have to "post" like three times whenever I comment on blogs.  Is it the same here?  I really don't get it and it's kind of annoying so if the same problems exist here please leave a comment to let me know.

Confession Time

Alright peeps, I posted before about my excitement about Weight Watchers and upcoming changes to their plan.  I also listed a few of the specific changes.  And last week I even shouted about my excitment about the free fruit.

Today I come before you with a confession which is this: I have not fully embraced this new program.

The main reason for this is that I don't know the program.  I cannot look at the nutrition facts on the package and just know the points.  I have to calculate everything.  I have memorized some of the PointsPlus values for everyday things like my favorite breakfast, but I haven't taken the time to figure everything else out.  It's not that it's difficult, I just need to spend a little time looking over the new program.  At this point I can barely keep track of how many daily points I am allowed, and weekly points?  Not a clue.  Do you know that I have not tracked my points for one whole week since the change?  Not one whole week.

Now if we take a look back, we will see that I have not lost any weight since Thanksgiving.  Weight Watchers introduced their new plan right around Thanksgiving. 

Coincidence?

I think not.

I think you see where I am going with this.

I truly believe in Weight Watchers.  I believe it is a program that works IF YOU work it.  I believe it is not a fad diet, or a quick fix.  I have embraced every single change to the Weight Watchers program through the years.  I have even embraced these most recent changes and figured out many of the benefits.  What I haven't done is taken the time to learn the new program and figure out how to make it work for me.  I haven't figured out how to make it a way of my life. 

I know all the information for the new plan is available online, and I enjoy having an online only membership.  However, since I was a prior meeting attender, I have all the paper materials and a points calculator in my kitchen.  I use the online system for tracking and keeping track of Points, but I like having the program information at my fingertips.  I have been missing that information ever since the new program was rolled out, but for some reason I haven't done anything about it.  I briefly read some things online and thought about purchasing the materials, but I never got around to it.  Now I am getting around to it, but wouldn't you know it, the kits and calculators are sold out.  Even the expensive $90 kits are sold out.  And would you believe the $12 calculators are selling for like forty bucks on eBay?  That is pure craziness, or desperation.

I won't buy the materials on eBay because I don't think it's right and I wouldn't pay that much anyway.  I'm just going to have to wait until the supplies are restocked online.  Or I suppose I could visit a meeting nearby, maybe they have stock.  Regardless, I need to make some changes and start being more accountable.  I ask myself if I'm just making excuses and I shouldn't rely so much on Weight Watchers to help me lose the weight.  Maybe it's not about a new program or old program, but more about my lack of efforts, period.  Maybe a lot of things.  Maybe Weight Watchers just works for me and relying on a "program" is not a problem.  Maybe I want to be a Weight Watchers success story and tell my story on their website and get a free makeover.  Or maybe I'll just be a returning Lifetime member who rejoined Weight Watchers online and lost a 100 pounds. Maybe I should get back to work, both at my job and on my weight loss efforts.

Maybe I'll write more later. 

Maybe not.

Probably will; I can't shut up.

While I Was Sleeping

I didn't let myself get completely sick last week.  I couldn't.  I missed running, but I could not miss work.  I knew I was even going to have to work a full day on Friday, my usual day off.  So I felt miserable, but I muscled through. 

Until Friday night.

Friday night I drove straight home from work, went to bed, and did not surface again until this morning.  Well, I did emerge a few times for food and power cords for my various electronics, but I stayed in bed all weekend.  What a waste!  While I would love to spend the weekend in bed just for the fun of it, coughing my brains out until my head feels like it will explode and my ab muscles are more sore than after any of Jillian's workouts is not my idea of a perfect weekend in bed!  Actually I could have used another day in bed today, but again, had to work.  Don't you love it when you're at the office and you start coughing your head off, can't stop, start choking then gagging, sound like you're dying, all the while you have someone sitting in your office because you're supposed to be training them.  And to top it off that person is also afraid of germs.  Yeah, good times.

You know what else is a good time?  Bladder control after pregnancy/childbirth with the cough from hell heck.  Yepper, that's fun.

Anyway....

I subscribe to the theory that you FEED a cold.  And my cold craved salt and carbs which was weird because my throat was already dry enough.  You'd think a couple sleeves of Saltines would not be on the list of eats, but sadly, they were.  And peanut butter sandwiches.  And really bad sodium filled chicken noodle soup which reminded me of my childhood and I inhaled anyway.  And cereal with milk, there were a few bowls of that.

After all that, I managed to maintain my weight this week.  Not one tenth of a pound gained or lost.  I'll take it.  I ran once last week.  Today officially marks the longest I've gone without running since I started C25K last February.  I wish I could care, but my head hurts too much to think much about.

I'm going back to bed now and will continue watching the silliest show ever, The Secret Life of the American Teenager.  Thank goodness for Netflix which allows me to watch such enjoyable trash!!  I tell you I would never want actual teenagers to watch this show, but as an adult, I'm finding it quite addicting.  And who doesn't love Molly Ringwald?

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Check out Janae's giveaway at The Hungry Runner Girl.  Even if you don't win the giveaway, you'll meet one of the cutest (craziest) runners ever!!

So let's recap what I'm doing here.

I'm not an elite runner or even an athlete.
I may never finish a marathon or even a half.
I just like to run.  I like the miles to add up, I like the speed to go down, but mostly I like to have fun with it.
I am not a vegan or vegetarian.
I do not eat clean.
I do prefer eating whole foods and try to eat very little processed foods and preservatives.
I do love me some Diet Coke, though, and sugar free syrups in my lattes.
I drink too much coffee.
I also drink lots and lots of water.
I am not perfect and my eating is not perfect.
I eat too much bread.
I eat lots of fruits and veggies, too.
I try for optimism, but I am a pessimist by nature.  I'm trying to change this.
I am human.
I am a regular mom and wife who works full time.
I fit in exercise when I can, while I try and not feel guilty when I can't, or don't want to.
I am making sustainable changes in my life.
I want my son to learn that eating healthy and exercising is not a fad but a way of life.
I have days when eating sounds more enjoyable than running, but obesity never sounds better than healthy.
I am learning to accept myself, flaws and all.
I am learning that I am strong, though.
I am learning what I am capable of.
I know that I will reach my goal weight in 2011.
I know that I will keep running, too.
I am taking it one day at a time.

It Caught Me!

The sickness, that is.  I'm coughing, I'm aching, and my nose is running.  I took yesterday off from running, but I've been active in the evenings this week helping my son rearrange and organize his room.  My goodness he has a lot of stuff! 

Anyway, not a lot of info to share today, just trying to lay low until I feel 100% again.

From Julie over at Peanut Butter Fingers, I learned about Pssst.  I signed up today and can't wait to find out about (and possibly sample) new products.  If you're interested, sign up too.  Here's what their website has to say:

Pssst…is all about some of the best known food and consumer brands in the country. If you would like to receive news about new products (and even samples and coupons from time to time), you can become a member.

Pssst… also offers a behind-the-scenes look at General Mills and occasionally an opportunity to give your opinion about products and initiatives. Pssst… is fun and it’s free to Join.

Free and fun?  I'm in!
 
I'm ready to host my first blog giveaway!!!  I just have to figure out what it will be.  Stay tuned...

It's the Great Bread Hunt, Charlie Brown

We need a new bread at home.  I don't eat a lot of bread, unless I overdose on it.  But my family eats a lot of bread regularly.  Toast and sandwiches are part of everyday life.

The problem is the bread they use is not altogether the most healthy.  It's this kind:

INGREDIENTS:

ENRICHED UNBLEACHED WHEAT FLOUR (WHEAT FLOUR, MALTED BARLEY FLOUR, NIACIN, REDUCED IRON, THIAMIN MONONITRATE [VIT. B1], RIBOFLAVIN [VIT. B2], FOLIC ACID [VIT. B9]), WATER, CRUSHED WHEAT, HIGH FRUCTOSE CORN SYRUP, YEAST, CONTAINS 2% OR LESS OF THE FOLLOWING: VITAL WHEAT GLUTEN, SALT, VEGETABLE OIL (CANOLA AND/OR SOY), HONEY, MOLASSES, RAISIN JUICE CONCENTRATE, DISTILLED VINEGAR, YEAST NUTRIENT (AMMONIUM SULFATE), DOUGH CONDITIONERS (MONO-DIGLYCERIDES, SODIUM STEAROYL LACTYLATE, ASCORBIC ACID, AZODICARBONAMIDE, MONOCALCIUM PHOSPHATE), CALCIUM SULFATE, ENZYMES, CALCIUM PROPIONATE (MOLD INHIBITOR), SOY FLOUR, NONFAT DRY MILK.

This bread has 80 calories per slice, 1 gram of fat, 1 gram of fiber, and 2 grams of protein.

Could it be worse?  Well, yeah.  Could it be better?  Totally.

So begins the great bread hunt.  We have tried other breads in the past, but nothing goes over very well with my son.  And if he doesn't like it, he won't eat it.  And I don't really force it because it's bread and he can survive without toast for breakfast.  But I'd really like to find some new healthy bread that we all enjoy because I want to get back into eating sandwiches especially with warmer weather coming.

It is coming, right?

I'm Up, I'm Down, I'm Up!

I gained again this past week.  I have not really lost any weight since November and that is becoming frustrating. Some might say it's a plateau, but since I know I haven't been doing everything right I don't think I will say it's a plateau.  It is quite indicative of what I've been doing.  I haven't been exercising as often and as much as I'd like and I've been eating too much.  The quality of the stuff I've been eating is good, it's the quantity that's too high.

Yesterday I weighed 156.4 which is a gain of 2.4 this week!  On 11/30/10 I weighed 157.0 so at this point it looks like both December and January have been a wash.  I guess this is good in some ways as in years past December always brought additional pounds and January too with birthday parties in the household.  But I am still disappointed in myself because I'm still chasing 100.

I would like to say that I have a new plan in order to start making progress, but I really don't.  It's the same old plan of moving more and eating less; calories in, calories out.  I just feel stuck in a rut for some reason.  I'll blame it on the time of year which has led to a bad attitude kind of.  I'm a little burnt out on the process, too.  But not so much that I'm throwing in the towel because I will still reach my goal weight.  I will.

Yesterday was an awesome start to the week.  I ran my 5K before work which left my evening free for family time.  I also ate completely on plan.  I set a goal for this week to track everyday!  I seem to quit tracking lately around Friday which never helps my cause.  So I want to track all week and get in all my runs and add in some other workouts. 

Speaking of working out, is there anyone else that feels like lifting weights is too artificial?  I am finding that I like the more organic exercise of just moving more, stretching, push ups, sit ups, things that your body can do without equipment.  I think that is why I'm intrigued to give yoga a try.  I want to be leaner and stronger, but jumping around with Jillian feels forced and fake.  I don't know, maybe it's just me, but that's also why I like running.  Running is something you can just do, no equipment required (except during winter, grrr!!).  Same with walking, another thing I love.  You just need a pair of good shoes and you're off. (Although I still love me some gadgets, like my Nike+ iPod/GPS.)  Biking isn't my favorite, but it does feel more natural than an elliptical or stair climber.  I think I would rather run up and down the stairs in a building than get on a stair climber ever again in this life time.  Hiking is also something I really enjoy and hope to do more of.  It's just those natural movements of the body that feel right and fun to me.  And more sustainable.

Oh to be Free

I read someone's mommy blog the other day.  This mommy is fun and "normal" and lives a healthy life.  She also does not own a scale.

No scale?

How freeing!

I have owned a scale every day of my life.  When I lived with my parents, they had a scale which I started using around age 11.  When I moved out on my own, I bought my own scale.  Even at my heaviest weights I have always owned and used a scale.

But oh wouldn't it be wonderful to be free of the scale?  Wouldn't it be wonderful to have no idea how much you weigh, not needing to know, and not caring either?