Week 31: Day 3

Can I just say I still can't believe I am in week 30's?!?  That is super fantastic.  Seriously...I don't know if I've ever truly "completed" something this long-term in my life!  I guess pregnancy, but that doesn't really count since I had very little to do with the continuation of it.  Or something.

So, I have a couple of things to pursuade you to do announce!  I am pretty darn excited...

Both of these, by the way, are Nashvillian things.  I'm so sorry.  One day, I assure you, I plan to get out in the country and "Race the States" (right, Ash?), but for the immediate future, I will be in Nashville.  Feel free to visit!

#1.  I am forming a group to train for a 5K.  Check out www.mayorschallenge5K.com if you haven't already heard about this.  Registration is free, and so is the race!  When you register, please join my group "Mamas Gettin' Fit"!!  You will log your training here and we could win something!  I'm not sure what, but winning is always fun.  The actual race will be held on November 13, and we will begin group training the week of September 26th.  We will plan 2 nights during the week to meet at 7:00 pm and Saturday mornings.  Also, the website has further information about training sessions at various parks and YMCA's around town!  It looks like a great cause and a great "excuse" to start your training today (or the 26th)!!!  :)

#2.  Dude, you have to check out http://zombiebuffet5k.com.  I am so excited about this!!!  October 29th, downtown Nashville, we will have to run from zombies!  You can sign up to either be a runner or a zombie.  There will be a 5K race, the goal of the runners being to cross the finish line with at least 1 of your 2 health flags...goal of the zombies will be to cross the finish line with the most health flags stolen off the poor runners!  I am planning to sign up as a runner and Shaun will likely be a zombie.  I cannot think of a better way to celebrate my 32nd birthday.  3 days late.  Whatever.  (by the way, I just learned of a "contest" they are running...if you DO decide to sign up and why on earth would you NOT???, please make sure to reply to your registration e-mail with my name as your referrer!)

This morning's run went great, and I really am doing well with the diet plan this week.  Hooray!  I was only able to fit in 35 minutes this morning, so I'm planning another 15-20 minutes out this evening.  I found a blog posting last night that really reminded me about the importance of fitting in various little workouts when I really don't feel like I have the time to do a full run.  Read this.  There have been days where I overslept a little bit (like today) and thought "Ugh, I don't have 50 minutes before Shaun leaves for work.  Nevermind."  And then I feel awful about it later!!  I'm thinking, spacing out my runs on some days may just kick my weight loss up a notch, too!  It was a great posting.

I hope you are all having a great day!  I will end with a couple pictures from the other day's crazy run to the park.  It was quite ridiculous.

Capri-Suns for the ride!  You are looking at 39 lbs, 31 lbs, 42 lbs, respectively...

Henry was so motivated by me, he ran 2 laps around the park! 
The track there is 1/5 of a mile.

Wooohooo!  He looked so darn cute.

Okay, getting them home was LESS than easy.  They did NOT want to get back in the stroller,
 they did NOT want to stay at the park.  They did NOT want to share seats.  Ugh. 
Anyone looking to rid themselves of a triple stroller??  Haha.

We made it home and all was well.  Mama was super sweaty and gross, but I guess that was kind of the point, right? 

Have a great day!!  xoxo

Week 31: Day 1

One week of Jackie Warners plan = 7 pound loss; One week of Audrey's "plan" = 5 pound gain.  Yeah, I think we can tell who the professional is!! 

I'm not worried about it.  I look good, I feel good...I am back to focused.  I guess I just needed that teenager-stretch (basically trying things myself) and now I will go back to following a PROVEN diet.  Hahaha.

I am also going to try something a little different this week with my running!  I need to log 13 miles between Monday and Thursday, and I am so over getting up before the sun is shining.  I am taking a cue from a few blogs I follow and I'm going to split up my runs to get all the miles in any way I can.  I am about to load the kids up in the double stroller (yep, 3 in a 2-seater) and push them to the park a mile away...running.  Then we will, obviously, have to get back home.  If they are playing outside later and the neighbor "cooperates", I plan to ask him to watch them for 10 minutes while I run around the neighborhood.  Tomorrow and Thursday I have no kids with me during the day, but I do have some meetings and other things planned, so I definitely can get a few miles in each day, but I don't really have a spare hour or so to get lots of miles in.  The only reason I'm not running Friday is that I have a long run of 10 miles on Saturday.  Then we are into the final week before the half marathon!!!  I am so excited!!!  Every time I wake up overnight (to put a child back in their bed, or remove the cat from a child's bed, or change wet sheets, etc.) I have the hardest time going back to sleep while I imagine all the awesome scenarios for the finish line of the half.  Hahaha. 

Food wise I am following Jackie again.  Here's the deal with the Sensa - it definitely works.  I am decidedly FULL and NOT HUNGRY when I remember to sprinkle it on my meal.  However, the problem lies in ME.  I do not have to be hungry to eat.  I can always make room for Jello bread, honey, peanut butter, nuts, bread, fruit.  Even though these things may not singularly throw me WAY off course, combined in excess, they are not good.  No. Bueno.

This week is going to be great!  I am praying that I have a rather big announcement to make soon!  Today's devotional reading involved being with Jesus "quietly", so I am waiting patiently and quietly for His plan for me to happen.  The wheels are definitely churning in an exciting direction, but nothing is set in stone yet.  So, we wait.  And I promise you, I am fine with that.  There is nothing better than knowing your life is in the Hands of someone far more capable than you of doing Good!

Have a great day!
xoxo

Week 30: Day 6

Just a quickie...

I apparently have an issue with being "good" 2 weeks in a row.  Haha.  I was so excited about this meal plan and loving the foods, but somehow this week I have just been going astray!  Crazy.  It's all about the peanut butter and honey for some reason.  Why did I even buy the honey???  I actually had a recipe call for it...then I changed my mind on the recipe.  Grrrr. 

Turns out having a "baguette" in the house was a bad idea, too. 

Anyway, I am going to give this Sensa a shot.  I am going to really focus on that this week...I will try to also eat right, but let's really see if this stuff works!  The point appears to be to make you feel full so you don't eat too much...I don't usually pay attention to whether or not I am "full", but I will try this week.  Haven't I said before, "You can do anything for a week!"  Or two, or whatever.

That's my plan.  I will run and I will sprinkle (Sensa).  Yay! 

By the way, the running is going great...I'm heading out right now for a nice 9-ish miles...58 degrees and dark out.  I'm doing a large portion of the Half Marathon route, so that will be interesting.  I have been doing a separate portion so far.  Okay, gotta go.

Week 30: Day 2

Hey!  I hope you are enjoying this cooler weather!!  The kids all slept GREAT last night, so I would definitely say we are happy about the lower temps in this house. 

Yesterday was so strange to me.  Long weekends always are.  Thinking it's Sunday, but it's really Monday.  I also ke[t wanting to "cheat" and eat poorly because we were all hanging out at the house.  Cold and rainy day...I went grocery shopping and I believe I have already mentioned how having a full pantry just makes me want to snack!  I made it through the day relatively low-cal.  :)

So, this morning I headed out to do 5 miles and 5 min warm up/45 minute run.  Basically, I wanted to complete both goals, so a full 5 miles no matter how long it took and making sure to at least finish the time goal, as well.  I'm a multi-tasker.  Guess what?  I met both goals at the exact same time!  I used a 4 min run:1 min walk interval for the run and I will admit I sprinted the final 10 seconds of my final 1 minute walk, but I made it back to the 5 mile point!  Yay! 

I forgot to mention yesterday, but I ordered some new shoes!!  After the 10K on Saturday I talked to a "shoe guy" and I have been doing a lot of reading about shoes and training...basically, even though I feel fine and my legs feel good and today's run in my OLD tennis shoes went fine, I do see a need for a second pair of shoes for my training runs.  After the half marathon, I need to decide whether I want to RE-train for another half, or train for a FULL (eek!).  I am planning another 10K at the end of October, so I would like to do some speed work over the few weeks between the half and that...so many thoughts!  So many "plans"!  I just know I am enjoying this running and I really am enjoying no injuries, and I want to keep it that way forever.  Got it?

Diet-wise I am hungry today!  I had a bowl of cottage cheese with pineapple and almonds this morning before my run.  Immediately after running I had a huge orange.  Mmmmm.  For lunch I had a veggie burger (they were on sale and I had a coupon, so I figured I would give 'em a shot) on a 100% Whole Grain sandwich thin with some carrots.  Everything I have eaten has been satisfying, but now I'm wasting my final half hour before picking up the kids (yes, ignoring the laundry!) and I just want to snack! 

I forgot to use the Sensa on my 2 meals today.  Oops!  I will remember this afternoon and evening, maybe that will help to curb my hunger. 

I will post a picture of my shoes when they come.  I cannot wait!

Week 30: Day 1

Week 30?!?!?!?  WOW!!  That is so crazy.  At this point, if I were "on track" with the 2 pounds a week for 40 weeks, I should be at 58 pounds down which would be 180.5.  I'm a little sad to report I am higher than that, but I am pleased to report it is only a little higher!  This morning's scale picture? 

Fuzzy, but readable!

184.5!!!  That is 54 pounds down from the beginning, and 7 pounds lost just LAST WEEK!  Oh, yes, Jackie Warner, i love you.  For putting common sense knowledge down in black and white to make it even easier for me to follow, for publishing it in book format, and for helping me get back on track!  Yeeeeehaw!! 

I wasn't going to use the 2 "treat" meals this weekend, but I kind of did.  She allows up to 1500 extra calories each day, and I definitely didn't go there, but I ate the free chicken biscuit after my 10K race Saturday and I indulged in some bites of the kids' foods yesterday.  Nothing major, just nibbles!  I sort of recognized the need for some "treats"...it gets frustrating when you tell yourself NO all the time.  This way, I got to indulge and just reminded myself it was allowed and I moved on.  No big deal.  :)

This morning, the kids ran in their first Fun Run!  A 1K race in downtown Franklin...it was very fun.  At the beginning, the twins were running great, but then another kid darted in front of Henry and he fell pretty hard.  He was crying and Jack started crying because he was so overwhelmed with all the kids running and cheering going on.  Luckily, a friend was there to take the twins from me so I could sprint ahead and catch up with Conner!  He was so fast!!  Unfortunately, that lasted about a block and then he wanted a break.  I told him to walk, but he wanted to sit!  He kept getting spurts of energy and then he would stop again.  A little frustrating, but I realize it was a lot to expect him to run the whole time.  Ha, ha, ha.  When we got to the corner before the finish line, Jack and Henry re-joined us and we all ran across the Finish Line!  It was very fun, but only Jack has expressed an interest in doing it again. 

Conner, Jack, Henry, and Derek (our next door neighbor)

Conner, Derek, and Jack at the Starting Line!

Jack and Conner sprinting to the Finish!

So, I finally got the Sensa in the mail!  I haven't been consistent with putting it on foods just yet.  It's hard to remember!  I am trying to stick with Jackie's plan, too, so I'm not really sure how this Sensa will affect that?  Basically, after reading all the materials, it says it is supposed to make you feel full faster.  I haven't noticed that, but I haven't had a problem with being hungry on this diet.  Also, it does say to not purposely (purposefully?) eat MORE just because of the Sensa.  So, I think it's just a diet and exercise enhancer.  I'm going to go ahead and send the 2nd month back because I cannot afford $90, but I will give the Month 1 supply a good ol' try.  I feel no different yet, but I promise to use it consistently this week while still sticking to my meal plan.  If I have more great loss, then maybe I'll try a week of no diet and just Sensa?  I am so nervous to sabotage myself at this point!!  I cannot even let myself get excited to see 170's, but I am so close!!!! 

This week's running plan is 2 five milers and then 10 miles on Saturday.  After the 10K this past Saturday, I was worn out!!!  It was great, though.  I ran with a very motivating friend and she turned out to be the perfect running partner for me!  Yay!  Yesterday morning I went out with another friend for an easy 3 miles around the neighborhood.  We chatted throughout and walked a couple of times...she is easing back into some training after taking a few months off after her half marathon back in April (or June?), and I was just wanting my legs to stretch a bit because they felt super tight.  Today I had to do a little sprinting with the kids, but I am planning to REST for the remainder of the day.  Thank God for rain.  Not only did we seriously need it to cool the temps, but it should make for some good napping weather later! 

I hope everyone had/has a great Labor Day, and I will be back tomorrow!!

xoxo

Week 29: Day 5

Hey there!

I am pretty bored today...kinda being lazy and hanging on the couch.  I thought I could muster up some cleaning motivation and energy, but it hasn't happened yet.  Now two of the three kids at home are sleeping in my room and the third is hanging out with me.  I just might take a little snooze myself...

Diet still going well.  I am a definite fan.  I saw the lowest weight on the scale that I have seen through this journey, so that has kept me from "cheating" today.  The kids wanted peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for lunch, and I didn't even have one little nibble!  Also, I set out some wheat thins and cheese for them to snack on and it was definitely, loudly calling my name.  How awesome is cheese and crackers?!?  Didn't touch a one!  NOT ONE!  I just kept saying to myself - sure, eat one, but you better be ready to see that damn 190 on the scale again!  I didn't eat any. 

I switched up the order I am eating the allotted foods today.  First thing, of course, I had my apple and coffee.  For breakfast, though, I made a sandwich with a 4 ounce piece of chicken, spinach, and salsa on two slices of whole grain bread.  When the kids were enjoying cheese and crackers I ate carrots, then at 11 I had a bowl of cottage cheese with almonds and grapes on top.  That was SOOO yum.  I would have never thought of putting nuts on cottage cheese, but I am SO addicted now.

Last night I made some sweet potato wheels from Slim Katie's blog.  Delicious.  I also made an omelet with green peppers, seasonings, and a little bit of cheese.  Tonight, I'm planning to make more sweet potato wheels and turkey burgers!  I need one more protein for snack this afternoon, but I haven't decided yet what that will be.  It's too bad I don't like hard boiled eggs because those would be SO easy.

Sorry today is a little boring.  I took the kids to Target this morning for new sneakers...did I mention on here that they are all running a 1K race on Monday!?!?  Well, the boys are.  Zoe is still a little young.  So, tomorrow morning is my first 10K (I am totally nervous.  TOTALLY) and then the kiddos will begin their race "careers" at the Franklin Classic on Labor Day.  They are very excited.  Especially now that they have new shoes!  That light up!  It's 99 degrees outside today, so we played a little outdoors, but they got tired of that pretty quickly.

Happy Friday!  I'll post tomorrow after the race.  Wish me luck!

P.S.  Shanita - I haven't gotten the Sensa yet, but I will be sure to let you know as soon as I do!

Week 29: Day 4

Hey!!

Today has been great. Yes, it is a day all the kids go to school, but also I am really a big fan of this diet plan!! I have absolutely NOT been hungry. Today was magazine delivery day, so I got a lot of exercise in, for sure. Not to mention I was driving the van with no air conditioning and it was at least 99 degrees for a majority of my day. Whew. I am pretty sweaty. Nice, right?

I also got up early this morning and ran a cool 3.09 miles. Yeehaw. My knee has been bothering me a little bit....and my shins. It's doesn't really feel like a big deal, but it is a little bit creepy feeling. My knee sort of "knocks" (?). It really only does it for my first, maybe, 6 minutes of running. So, I tried out a new footing technique. Not sure if that is the right wording, but I have been doing some reading on the whole minimalist thing. Also, my good friend runs with the "correct" form for barefoot running. Last night I checked out a few blogs about this and I just decided my pain is coming from poor form. Especially since I bought the minimalist shoes, so I really should be doing it right! Well, Shannon has talked to me about it before, so I tried it out today. Basically, I tried to run on my tippy-toes. This would not be easy, so I didn't accomplish THAT exactly...is this making sense? Since I actually have shoes on and I'm running, my foot automatically lands all the way on the ground, but when I made it a point to point my toes as I ran, I noticed the pain went away! It actually felt really good. I shortened my stride to a 1, 2, 3 pace (thanks, Ericka), and I really enjoyed the last 2/3rds of my run! The only thing I noticed was how hard I had to concentrate to continue doing it right. I wasn't listening to my music that is at the "correct" BPM's, I didn't have anybody else around me to match pace with, and I didn't wear my foot pod, so I wasn't able to monitor my cadence or anything! I was trying to lose myself in the run and just let my mind wander, but I really had to focus to not go too slow and to keep my stride right and my foot just so. It was exhausting both physically AND mentally! Haha.

My sweet friend assured me it will get easier and more natural. Hooray!

This morning I had my apple and coffee before my run, then I made a Whey Protein shake with water and frozen strawberries afterwards. Yum, yum, yum! We got Conner onto the bus, packed everyone's lunch, gathered coupons for a quick grocery adventure, then headed off to the littles' school. I packed myself a 4 ounce piece of chicken, 2 slices of 100% whole grain bread, and a cup of carrots to eat during my deliveries. I thought I would try to wait until noon to eat, but I just couldn't wait. Something about knowing the food was just sitting there in the passenger seat? Crazy, I know. So, I ate it all by 11. My route took until 2 to complete, and then I stopped by the grocery store for a few things. Picked up the kids by 3 and headed home. It is now 4:44 and I just finished my 2nd lunch/afternoon snack of oatmeal with almonds and another 4 ounce piece of chicken. I wanted to make eggs, but just could not find the energy for it.

Dinner tonight will include a sweet potato, but I have no idea how I'm going to cook them yet! I cooked about 4 pounds of chicken last night and then separated what was leftover after dinner into 4 ounce portions. I do guess at this because I don't own a food scale, but I know the whole "palm of your hand" trick. This is where I'm getting all this chicken, haha. I baked them with cooking spray and some barbecue rub. Delish. I might make scrambled eggs for dinner (with sweet potatoes?) because I don't think anyone should have three servings of chicken in one day!

I weighed this morning for the giggles of it and was very happy to see a lower number than I've seen in a while! Wooohooo! I'll wait and share a picture of the scale on Monday. Here's hoping I can continue my good eating trend. Jackie Warner's plan actually calls for you to eat 2 "treat meals" over the weekend, but I'm going to try not to. Saturday morning I am running a 10K with a friend, so if she wants to go somewhere for brunch afterwards, I will join (hint, hint, Kristy! :)), but I really want to have a FULL good eating week before starting the 2 "treat meals".

**I heard from Kristin today, by the way! During her first couple of weeks, I was doing her grocery shopping. Mainly to see how much work it actually would involve if I started taking on clients, but also to make sure she would only have access to appropriate food each day. Well, she did great when I was shopping for her, but she admitted (to my answering machine) that she has not had time to get out and shop, so she's really trying to just eat LESS of what she would normally be eating anyway. I had a couple of thoughts. I might tell her to order the 30-day supply of Sensa to see if it works for her still eating "normal" foods. OR, I have also offered to be her full-time personal shopper. I figure, since I grocery shop at least twice a week, I might as well help someone else out at the same time, right? She has a 6 year old and 2 jobs! Also, she has been running every other day. She said she is at 210, so this is still 12 pounds down from day one and it has been less than a month. I say, Rock ON! :)

Have a great night,
xoxo