Still around... sorta

Well, we're here still.  Just trying to get through life day to day it seems.  I know Heidi would agree with me that we've both fallen off track, but haven't lost the goal of health.  I think we're both also putting self-love and self-confidence in front of being skinny though.  Being people we like, and live up to the awesomeness that we both know the other one has - others see it too.  We both need to learn and remember that being fat does not make us second class citizens who have to give 110% to others, only to be left with a deficit when it comes to ourselves.

I am still working on making changes in my life that are healthier.  In fact, I've had two pretty amazing opportunities open up to me lately.  First of all, I am working at a gym a couple times a week providing childcare during fitness classes.  Since they are at night, I can leave the Rowdy Bunch at home with Brian, and workout for an hour when I am done,  ALL. BY. MYSELF.  I am not digging the nights, but I am loving the time alone.  I think a friend would be more fun to work out with, but I don't know if I would work harder or not.  Also, a friend of mine, who manages the gym, has offered me some personal training for FREE.  I haven't taken her up on it yet because I haven't found a time that works well for me.  Plus I think if I am honest, I want to get to point where I can do a little more.  I guess maybe what I really need to do is talk to her, and see what she thinks.
 Secondly, I have been given the opportunity to take over the social media and website of a local Organic Farm in exchange for fresh produce and other farm goods, that are ALL organic.  I watched Food, Inc. the other night, and O.M.G.  if you haven't seen that, you really need to.  This May, we have Joel Salatin of Polyface, Inc. (and heavily featured in Food, Inc.) coming here to town to speak. I am still trying to get Brian on board with it, but my plan is for us to slowly switch to more and more organic foods.  Living where we do, our choices for organic foods are quite limited in the grocery store, but we can get there, I know we can.

I haven't run since the end of October.  I was having pain in my foot almost constantly while I ran, and then after a marathon shopping trip with a friend, the pain lasted for almost 3 weeks.  I finally bit the bullet and went to the doctor.  My PCP put me in a walking boot, but then after having pain a few days later still, he referred me to an Orthopedic doc.  Apparently my right foot is not the foot of a 30-year-old.  I have arthritis in all the joints, causing me to walk/run wrong, and this is causing cysts on the bones of my toes.  So I spent quite some time in the walking boot, and now I am trying to stay away from things that are high impact on my feet.  So no running for a long time for me.  I will get back there though.  I've been doing weight lifting, and riding a stationary bike.  I plan on getting to the pool soon, too.  Just need to get a new swimsuit.

Hope 2012 is finding you doing well, and loving life!

*ahem* Forget about me?

It's okay.  I did too.  I took myself off the list again.  I let life happen and put lots of other people in front of me and my health.

I am trying to get back to me near the top.  At the top seems so hard for me with 2 kids not in school yet. It seems like someone always needs something.  I know it's stupid to not put me first and foremost, but I haven't quite figured out how to make an almost 2-year-old and almost 4-year-old understand that the world doesn't revolve around them.

I started over with the Couch to 5k program.  I just finished Week 2.  I didn't want to come post right away, kind of because I needed to prove to me that I was ready to do this again, and was serious about it.  Not a "Oh hooray! Look at me!" kind of post.

So, good things about this -

• I started over at a faster pace than I did the first time.
• I know I can do it because I've already been there, run that. :)
• I have the shoes already (and let's face it, every girl needs the right pair of shoes)
• I know how to make it work for me

Not so good things - 

• I don't seem to be getting the same runner's high as I was before.  It still feels slightly torturous.
• I have been dealing with costochondritis since July, and since I am such a big fan of doctors, well... yeah.

That's how it is now.  I know Heidi's been dealing with some stuff too, but she's working on getting back here, too.  So don't lose hope in us.  We're just struggling a little is all. :)

LIGHT BULB!!!

This doesn't need much introduction, but just imagine Mr. Gru from Despicable Me

with the "Light bulb" scene when you see this next image.

Yeah, that was me, too.

Borrowed from Tara's blog.

Quick check-in

Look at that - it's not even 10:00 here, and I've already done something to make me feel better. :)  Aren't you proud of me? I even did something last night.

A few days ago, I decided to start the 100 Push-up Challenge again, but this time I am going to do them the "girly" way.  I am a girl, so I might as well embrace it, huh?  Seriously, I decided to do it because last time we got to a point on the challenge where it was moving up in repetitions faster than my muscles were building or weight was coming off (or a combination of the 2), and it was discouraging.  So this time I am going to go with the girly way up to 100, and then start again.  I did the exhaustion test that day, and surprised myself with 12!  Last night at about 10:00 I figured there was no time like the present to start, so I did my pushups in my jammies.

Today I figured I would run again, since I know how awesome the runner's high is, and I could use that kind of feeling now especially.  I've run a few times in the last couple weeks, and went back to the C25k intervals. I know the program works, so it's a good thing for me.  I did Week 2 Day 2 this morning, and I feel great.  I am trying hard to not focus on the negative, and just go with the positive.

So, it's a start. :)

♥

Rough Day...

Today has been hard for me.  Really hard.  I got on the scale to see just how much I've gained back.  17lbs.  Ouch!  I am so mad at myself, and for letting everything be more important than me again.

This starts such a spiral in me, too.  It's where the "what does it matter" thoughts come from.  And the "it's never going to happen" thoughts.

I HAVE to get back on track.  And I need to learn to like me again.  I think part of the down in the dumps crap is all part of being female and having wacked out hormones for part of the month.  And part of it is that I realize NOW how much better I felt.  It sure didn't seem like I was getting anywhere, but I know better now.  Why is it that hindsight is always 20/20?  And why is it that getting back there now seems so much harder than it did before?

I wish someone could give me answers to these questions, though they are more rhetorical than anything.  Tomorrow is another day, and I will do something for me to make me feel better... I just need to figure out what it is.

Regaining Lost Ground

So I've been pretty quiet.  The quietness has been my refusal (or denial) to accept that I've lost a lot of ground.  Both on the scale, and with the running.  I could tell you all my excuses reasons why, but I won't.  Because no matter what the issues were, it doesn't change the now. The simple fact is that I wasn't putting in the effort, and I wasn't eating like I should.

One thing I think that has put up a road block for me is fear of who I will be when I get to goal.  Everyone talks about this "new person" they become when they lose weight, or go through any major life altering event.  I don't WANT to change.  I like who I am.  Do they mean personality, or habits, or likes, or what?  I don't do well with change.  I am a planner.  So I have a fear of myself.  Pretty stupid and irrational, but I believe that's the definition of true fear.  Why can't I shake it?  Any suggestions you have on the matter would be HUGELY appreciated.

So I am trying to regain the ground I lost, and just find a "new normal" for me, and go with it.  I want this, I want to be healthier, and know that I will be around for my boys, and that's my driving factor right now - the 3 (okay 4, Brian is one of the Rowdy Bunch, too) of them.

Back in the Swing of Things

I've been trying to get back into the swing of things.  The day after we got home from Salt Lake City, I woke up with a horrible chest cold.  I had to say a prayer of thanks that I hadn't gotten it any sooner than I did - that would have seriously derailed me.  But it's still lingering.... ugh.

I am also heavily involved in two projects/events that are taking up a lot of my time.  Both of these things are very near and dear to my heart, so I am okay with them consuming me for the time being.  One of them is this Saturday morning... the other is the end of May.  That one is a fun run/walk, which I am excited about... I've walked it the last 2 years... this year I plan on running it.

So I am basically saying that I am getting back to the running, slowly, but surely.  So don't think that I've forgotten about it... it's ingrained in me now! :)

Salt Lake City Adoption 5k Recap

*giggle*  Do you know how cool it is for me that I get to write a RACE recap???  For a race that I ran?!?!?

Okay, let's start at the beginning shall we?

It was a cold and stormy morning.... really.  It was awful.  Our drive from the Frozen Tundra to the Big City was ho.rr.ib.le.  But we made it safe and sound. Just before we headed out for some supper Friday night, I got an email from the race director that the race would NOT be canceled, no matter what the weather was like, but he was trying to modify the course to keep us out of the 3 - 4" deep mud on the original course.  Saturday morning we got up bright and early to get the Rowdy Bunch fed and bundled up before we headed over to Wheeler Farm for the race.  I was pretty nervous when we got there, but I went over and picked up my race bib (can I just say that 125 is my new favorite number???)

We unloaded the Rowdy Bunch, and tried to kill a bit of time before the race started.  I am guessing the temperature was in the low 30s.  And the snow was pretty heavy.

The Rowdy Bunch and I

The new race route had us running a block race rather than the 3 loops originally planned.  I was a bit bummed because it meant I wasn't going to see Brian and the boys a few times like I thought.  It was me on my own until the finish line.  As everyone was getting ready behind the starting line,  I made my way towards the back. I zeroed my ipod stopwatch, and started the tunes.  Raise Your Glass by P!nk came on just as the gun sounded, pretty perfectly.  I had my Broncos hoodie on, with the hood up, that's how cold I was.  I tried to stay near the back because I knew I wasn't going to be the fastest.

The snow made things slick, but not as bad as I'd feared.  About 15 minutes into the race, I started feeling odd.  It took me a few minutes to realize I was HOT! lol  I had been cold so long that morning, I didn't recognize what the feeling was.  I lost probably a minute or so stopping to take my hoodie off and get everything situated again. I was feeling great, enjoying myself and just running.  As I rounded the last corner and could see Wheeler Farm, the tears just came.  I had to walk for a bit because I couldn't breathe.  I knew finishing was going to be emotional for me, but I didn't expect it to hit me that hard.  I started running again, and was so happy (as evidence by my official race photo, which is rather cheesy in my not so humble opinion).  

And then I saw Brian and the boys, and they were cheering (along with all the other spectators at the finish line) and I lost it again.  I ran across the Finish Line, tears streaming down my face, so overwhelmed. 

 The boys ran over and gave me kisses and hugs... it was awesome. So much better than I ever could have imagined.  Matthew kept telling me "I'm so proud of you, Mommy."  And Christopher said "Good job racing, Mommy." ♥  I forgot to stop my ipod as soon as I crossed the finish line, but when I did remember, I didn't think it had been too long.  My ipod said 44:35 - best time yet.  I figured my official time would be close to that, but when the results were finally posted tonight, I was BLOWN away - 41:20.  That's a 13:20 minute mile.  So much for my goal of 50:00 or less, huh?  41:20 is a PR for me.  And such an amazing accomplishment.    I am absolutely going to do this again.  The difference between going out for a run and running in a race is night and day.  

I am so proud of myself, and the fact that I met a MAJOR goal that I set for myself is amazing.  Less than 6 months ago, I made a goal of running a 5k.  To say that I accomplished that is still just amazing to me.  

♥  

P.S.  I am so letting myself feel like a BAMF for running my first 5k in all that damn snow! lol  At least for a little while.  It's okay to be hard core now and then.  :)

This is it...

Tomorrow is the big day.  My first 5k.  MY FIRST 5k!!!  

Okay, whew. Sorry, I had to yell it for my head.  I still don't think it's quite sunk in.  I am still nervous, but it's getting better.  Except for one itty-bitty, teensey-weensy little thing.  I like to call that thing Mother Nature.  Apparently Mother Nature is under the impression that if you live in the frozen tundra, and you travel anywhere before, say April 15th, you should take normal frozen tundra weather with you.  Yes, you read that right.  The forecast for the rest of today (our travel day) and tomorrow from the Frozen Tundra to SLC is SN*W!

Snow.... not quite what I bargained for, but I think it will be okay.  I haven't run in over a week.  Stupid legs think I enjoy being in pain.  And I'm prepared for that again for tomorrow, but I WILL push through it.  My goal is 50:00 or less.  I don't know what kind of a monkey wrench the weather will throw into that plan, but it's going to do something! :)

All I care about though is seeing Brian and the Rowdy Bunch at the finish line.  I've come a long long way since October, and after 3.1 miles tomorrow, I will have met a goal that I didn't know was possible!

♥

12 days and Counting....

And I am FUH-reaked out.  It's just a 5k.  I've got 4 of them under my belt so far.  But this "real" one scares the heebee-jeebees out of me.  Seriously.  Like I think about it, and I feel like I am going to puke.

I've been trying to keep my head out of my running.  All it's doing right now is making the running feel way more difficult. I KNOW I can do this.  I am going to do it.  But damned if the whole stupid thing doesn't make me shake in my running shoes.

Brian's been kind of "eh" in the support department about this, too.  I've told him I am a LOT little scared, and his reply is "So then why are you doing it?"  Makes me want to smack him.  But then the fear subsides a teeny bit.  Because I know why I am doing it.  I've WORKED for this.  I've worked hard. I've been running for 5 months, 1 week and 2 days.  I'm not going to be the fastest runner out there, but I AM going to be the fastest me out there.  And that's the most important thing.  I just need to keep repeating it to myself over and over and over and over for the next 12 days.

I Like Them, Sam-I-Am!

While I'm recovering from a cold that's left me feeling like something Mike Rowe from Dirty Jobs scrapes off his boot (nice mental picture, huh?  No silly, Mike Rowe - NOT the boot scum), I thought I'd share a TASTY recipe I came up with.


I present to you....


Mushroom Onion Tomato Mini-Frittatas


5 slices bacon, cooked and chopped into chuncks

1 medium yellow onion, minced 

6 medium white mushrooms, chopped 

2 roma tomatoes, chopped 

8 large eggs 

1/4 cup non-fat cottage cheese 

1 tbsp. dried parsley

Using a non-stick pan or griddle, saute onions on med. high heat. Add mushrooms when onions begin to turn opaque. Saute 4-5 minutes, until mushrooms reach desired consistency. Let onions and mushrooms cool slightly.

In a large bowl, beat eggs until foamy. Add remaining ingredients, and fold to incorporate.

Spray a 12-serving muffin tin with non-stick cooking spray. Fill each cup with 1/4 cup of the egg mixture. Bake at 350 degrees F for 15 - 20 minutes, or until frittata is springy in the center. Remove from oven, and loosen with a knife. Serve warm.

Makes 6 2-mini frittata servings.

All I can say is yum-O!

For nutritional information, click here.

I made these last week in honor of Dr. Seuss's birthday.  The only change I made was that I added green food coloring to the mixture, and called them Green Eggs and Ham Mini-Frittatas.  The Rowdy Bunch was thrilled with them.  In fact, I tried to give Nicholas the 2 that didn't have food coloring in them.  He wanted nothing to do with them.  However, he did eat THREE of the green ones.  Guess the green made them a little more tasty!  Enjoy!

I do so like
green eggs and ham!
Thank you!
Thank you,
Sam-I-am!

A Letter to Me

 Dear Me,

You're stuck.  I get that. Getting below 235 seems like the impossible right now.  You are amazing at self-sabotage.  The scale showing 240 again today proves that.

What I don't get is WHY???  What is it about 230 that seems so scary to you?  It has to be fear that's keeping you from moving forward.  It's not lack of knowledge.  You know what to do, and how to do it.

You've been doing great (for the most part) with exercising and running.  Last week you even ran your first sub 15:00 minute mile!  That's HUGE!  That's FIVE MINUTES less than when you started, PER MILE!

I wish you could see what other people seem to see.  And stop being so damn self-critical.  You're not going to be perfect, ever. No one is.  Get over it and on with it.

Rather than focusing on what you can't do right now, it seems about damn time we start focusing on what you CAN again.  You CAN run so much farther and faster than you could in October.  You have stuck with this since then, too.  That's 5 months.  That in and of itself is amazing.  This is a life change for you.  Not something temporary.  Better get used to the idea, though I do have to say that your outlook for the most part is a positive one.  Not wanting to lose any more ground is a good place to be.

I know you can do this, and more importantly, I know you WILL do this.  We just gotta find a way to get around, or over, under, through, whatever, this boulder in the road!

♥,
me

P.S.  You finally found a 5k to run!  GOOD JOB!  The Salt Lake City Adoption 5k Family Fun Run and Walk is only 6 weeks away.  Stop being scared.  You can do this.  You will be great!  :)  And I know there will be a few people excited to hear about your first race.  So breathe.  just breathe.

You Know You're a Winner When...

You wrote comment #10!

Congratulations Jessica!  I will be contacting you for your shipping information.  Thanks to everyone for entering the giveaway.  We're hoping to bring you more, and soon!

♥ Erin & Heidi

I Amazed Myself Today!

After my first 10 mile week, I decided 10 miles every week would be my goal.  Last week's long run was a tad thwarted by 3 spills on the ice in less than 24 hours.  Gotta love living in the frozen tundra.  Anyway, last week I only managed to run 3 times, but still got in a solid 6.13 miles, thanks largely in part to the virtual 5k.

This week, I am on track for an 11-mile, yes, ELEVEN, as in 10 + 1, week.  I ran another 5k on Monday, 2 days after the Running Mate 5k.  This one was another virtual 5k for ♥Valentine's Day♥ on dailymile.  I figured I would just get it done, no matter how long it took.  2 days after the first 5k, I had no real hope of any kind of PR, but lo and behold, I finished in 49:21, a full :50 faster!

My long run this week was another 4 miles.  My first 4 mile run, I managed to keep a 17:34mm pace.  Today, I totally blew that out of the water.  4 miles at an average 15:20mm pace.  I've been doing a lot of walk/run intervals on the treadmill.  I have such a hard time running for long periods of time on that stupid thing.  I really have started to think of it as the DREADmill.  I love the running, but I just can't seem to keep running, even though I KNOW I can.  I hope this is still moving me forward, getting me closer to my goals.  I do have to say though, running at 5.0 - 6.5mph is a lot easier now than it was.  I can run that fast for a solid minute at least now, and before, 15 seconds made me feel like I was going to puke or die or both.  So that is progress!

Oh yes, one other thing.  I have *gulp* decided I am going to do the Pinedale Half Marathon in town in September.  I am a tad scared, but since it is walker friendly, I am going to give it my best shot.  I have 7 months to train for it from now, so I am hoping I can walk less than half of it, and run the rest of it. Still working on finding my first 5k - Brian's schedule conflicts with almost every one I have found that is somewhat close to the frozen tundra.

The giveaway closes tonight at 10pm.  I am getting a night out with some girlfriends, so I am not sure when I will get the winner drawn and posted on here.  I fully intend to NOT be home by 10, but stranger things have happened.  If nothing else, early tomorrow morning I will have it up.  The 10pm closing still applies - any comments left after 10pm will be deleted! :)

Making strides!

So the pun is sort of intended.  :)  Yesterday I ran my second Virtual 5k hosted by Running Mate.  This was the Running Mate Sweetheart Virtual 5k.  You were supposed to try to get your sweetheart to run with you.  I don't know that I am ever going to be able to get Brian to run with me, so I am okay going it alone.

However, the big news... I knocked 1 minute and 36 seconds of off my January Virtual 5k.  I got my 5k done in 50:11.  Still turtle pace for most, but I was very happy to see I have gotten a little faster in a month!

My running week wasn't as good as I had hoped.  On Wednesday/Thursday, I managed to fall on the ice 3 times, each time hurting/landing on my right leg.  I have a nasty bruise, some scrapes and a really sore knee.  I managed to get in 6 miles last week, so I am still pretty happy about that.  I can come back strong tomorrow and get another 10 miles this week.

I will leave you with a quote my buddy Jess shared last week that resonates with me so much.  I need to try to remember it all the time when I am running.  ♥

"If you run, you are a runner. It doesn't matter how fast or how far, it doesn't matter if today is your first day or if you've been running for twenty years. There is no test to pass, no license to earn, no membership card to get. You just run." - John Bingham

Running Down a Dream

Yeah running down a dream
That never would come to me
Working on a mystery
Going wherever it leads
Running down a dream


I felt so good like anything was possible
I hit cruise control and rubbed my eyes
The last 3 days the rain was unstoppable
It was always cold, no sunshine

- Running Down a Dream by (the great) Tom Petty

Okay, so it wasn't a dream I was running down this week, but it was a goal.  One I needed to meet after the last weigh day.  One of my dailymile buddies challenged me to set a goal I knew I could reach this week, for the confidence boost.  I decided to set out to run more in 7 days than I've ever run before.  Last week I had my personal best week at 9.22 miles.  I figured even if I got to 9.23 that would be an accomplishment, and more than I've ever run.  Well, before Friday's run, I was sitting at 4 miles.  I knew I'd be getting in 3.1 at least, but I figured I could push it a little more.  I ran 4.01 miles Friday.  I started by following the Week 1 Day 2 of the Bridge to 10k, and when I got done with that, I just continued with the run/walk intervals until it was time for the cool down.  4 miles!  In one go, I double my weekly mileage.  That was an amazing accomplishment for me.  My legs felt like jell-o when I was done, but the amount of pride I had was worth it.

Yesterday, I added a nice round 2.0 to that for a grand total of
10 miles!
In one week!  For me!  The fat chick that runs.  Ahhh, the sweet sweet taste of success! I needed the boost in confidence.

Today is Super Bowl Sunday, and I've decided it's a free day for me.  I got on the scale this morning, and it was 235 again (*sigh*) so I am going to use today's weight for this week, and skip Monday weigh day tomorrow.  Maybe I can figure something out this next week that will switch things up a tad.

Have a fabulous weekend!
♥

Sweat Managed.... and a giveaway (closed)

Okay, so remember how I posted here about how I was sweating so much during my runs that I lost focus around the 25 minute mark?  And I kept forgetting to grab a towel so I was basically SOL (your hand is only so absorbent, you know).  


Houston, we no longer have a problem.  I have discovered the secret to absolutely ZERO sweat in my eyes while I am running.  

Enter      .

A few people mentioned them to me after I posted that I needed to work on sweat management.  After spending entirely too much a little bit of time on their site, I knew I was hooked!  They have some really cute light sweat wicking headbands that are cute and patterned.  But for those of us who look like drowned rats sweat a little more while working out, they have heavy sweat wicking headbands, too.  And let me warn you before you go over there... they have a TON of them.  Literally page after page of fun sayings, and fun ways of displaying your accomplishments (I will have either the 10k or half-marathon one come September). There are neat wicking hats; regular style, pony tail style and also pig tail style! They also have fun things for your kiddos or furry friends, too!

I got my Bondi Band last week, and I've used it on all of my runs, and other work outs too.  Let me just say, I  am SOLD!  I freaking love this thing.  Not once have I had sweat in my eyes.  Not once.  Granted, when I am done with a run, I can wring sweat out of it like you wouldn't believe (ew, yes, I know), but I don't ever have to worry about going sweat-blind again!  I got this snazzy little number right here - 

It says I run like a girl.  Also on my list to get are Suck it up, Cupcake, breathe., and about 10 others. :)  You know, just because.

I am absolutely in love!  They stay put, even on my big head, and keep fly away hairs out of my face too, which I find a tad bit distracting.  

♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦

THE GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED! CONGRATS TO OUR WINNER!

Soooo, I bet you're wondering about the giveaway part, aren't you?

Well, Bondi Band was cool enough to send me another band for one of you!  Staying with the whole "journey" theme that Heidi and I have here at 2 Fat Chicks, one lucky reader is going to get a  The JOURNEY is the reward headband.  It looks just like this - 

Wanna win it?  This is what you've gotta do: (mandatory entry)   Head over to Bondi Band and check it out.  Then come back here and tell me what your favorite item is on THIS post.

Additional entry methods (leave a comment for each):

1. publicly follow 2 Fat Chicks with a Mission on google friend connect (1 entry)
2. tweet about this contest, be sure to include your time stamp in your comment (1 entry per day)
3. blog about this giveaway, be sure to include a link in your comment (1 entry)
4. like 2 Fat Chicks With a Mission on Facebook (1 entry)

Contest Deadline:

Friday, February 18, 2011 at 10pm MST

The fine print:  Open to residents of the United States.  The winner will be notified by email and will have 48 hours to respond, so make sure I have a valid email address. Email addresses will not be sold or used in any other way than to notify the winner.

Disclaimer:  I was provided one Bondi Band free of charge for my honest review, and also one for the giveaway.  I received no other monetary compensation.

And the Award Goes to....

US!  Brandi over at Ohhhh... Flaxy Lady likes our blog so much that she gave us the

Thank you so much Brandi!  We're very honored. :)

Now, the nitty gritty of this award...

1. Link back to the person who gave the award to you
2. Share seven things about yourself
3. Pass the award on to recently discovered great bloggers.
4. Contact those bloggers and tell them they’ve won.

Since there are 2 of us, lucky you, you get 7 things about each of us!

Heidi's 7 Things:

1) I live in the Upper Penninsula of Michigan, on the border of WI, deep in the heart of Packer country. We are so proud and excited for the superbowl!

2) I am addicted to Diet Pepsi. I get horrible headaches without it. I'd like to wean myself off, but for now its an indulgence that I hang on to.

3) I love music. I live for hard rock, metal and alternative music, but I will sing and dance to just about anything, just because I can't help myself.

4) I love to laugh, and I have a very inappropriate sense of humor. Tosh.0 is a favorite in our home, along with most anything on Adult Swim. Except for Squidbillies. I do not understand that show.

5) I am a huge reader. I read mostly Paranormal Romance novels. My favorite series ever are the Black Dagger Brotherhood series. JR Ward is a genius! I also love Gena Showalter, Kresley Cole, Sherrilyn Kenyon and Lara Adrian.

6) I am a horrible housekeeper. My house is constantly messy and out of control. I do not know how to change this, although I'd love to.

7) I keep the hours of a vampire. I work midnight shift and now my usual waking hours are all night long, and I get my best sleep during the day. If I have to sleep at night it takes me a long time to fall asleep, and I still am tired during the day. I complain about my job a lot, but I really do enjoy it. I get to help people who truly need it all night long and I wouldn't give that up for a good nights sleep!

Erin's 7 Things:

1.  Brian and I have been together almost 1/2 of my life.  We started dating when I was a sophomore in high school.  This November will be 15 years, and 1/2 of my life.  He still makes me feel like he did when we were in high school.  

2.  I stopped going to college after 3 years.  I never could decide what I wanted to be when I "grew up," so I stopped wasting my time and our money.  I've had lots of different jobs, and liked all of them for different reasons.  I've been a portrait photographer, CNA, medical biller (sorta), and nanny, to name a few.  If I had to go back to school for something, I would be a nurse. My favorite though would have to have been a barista (though not at Starbucks, sadly).  See #3 for clarification.

3.  I LIVE for coffee.  I drink it all.day.long.  All night, too.  And no, I don't switch to decaf at some point during the day.  I prefer it light and sweet, but I can do black if that's my only option.  I really, really like the Caffe Verona blend from Starbucks right now (you know, in case you wanted to help support my habit or something - jk).

4.  I am pretty creative.  I do lots of crafty things - I paint, sew, bake, design, decorate cakes and on and on and on.  I can't stick to just one thing ever, and always have about 100 projects going at once.

5.  I am not adventurous. I tend to stick the the straight and narrow whenever I can.  I don't even like to speed.  BUT, if give the chance, I would be on The Amazing Race in a heartbeat.  I don't care about the prize money... I just want to travel like that.

6.  I have a ridiculous memory for song lyrics.  I also have a very eclectic taste in music, so I can sing along with Miranda Lambert and Taylor Swift, then turn around and sing along with AC/DC and Def Leppard.  I consistently surprise my mom with the lyrics I know.

7.  In most relationships, it is the guy that is the techie.  Not mine.  I have a list of electronics that I want that's about a mile long.  An iPad , a Cricut , but the Holy Grail of electronics that I want right now is this - the Garmin Forerunner 305 .  Brian on the other hand is content with his vinyl albums and reel-to-reel tapes.  How  I managed to find an 85 year old man gallivanting around in a much younger guy's body, I will never know! :)

Now, for our nominations... in no particular order:

• Taking Less Space
• From the Couch to the Concrete
• Fat Like Me
• She Likes to Run
• Cupcakes to Carrot Sticks
• Singing for a Smaller Me

We enjoy these blogs, and we hope you'll check them out, too!

♥,

H & e




pssssttttt...... if you are keeping track, this is post #49!  You know what's next, right???

Broken... and Monday Weigh Day 1/31

Broken.  It's how I am feeling today.  I got on the scale hoping for a loss.  One stupid pound would have made my day.  What did I get?  Another big fat 235.  Again.

I couldn't help myself, and just cried.  I told Brian I was ready to stop, and didn't care. The tears streaming down my face said otherwise.  The words were just my way of trying to hide my insecurities and fear though.  I know the scale is not the best judge of progress, it's just the most convenient.  But knowing that in my heart doesn't mean my head wants to listen.  I do care.  I am not content to stop here.  But this mental game is hard.  So much harder than the work.

 ♦Weight Loss the Game - Mental Edition♦

Object:  Lower the number you see each time you step on the scale.

Strategy:  Expend more calories than you consume.  For every 3500 calorie deficit, you will lose one pound.

Tools:  Exercise, nutritional labels on foods, willpower. **

Players: 1 **

Winning the game:  Set your sights on a goal, and actually make it there.

** other tools available, though not always used, include: friends, family, huge support networks.  People with these tools in place tend to do better than others.  As such, playing this game with someone else will increase your ability to play, and ultimately win, thus making this a multi-player game if done correctly. 

♦♦♦

New in this edition -   To make the game more interesting, we've included the most difficult option we could come up with!  We like to call it, "Your HEAD!"  If you can overcome your HEAD and still manage to lose weight, fabulous.  Please remember your HEAD will throw things at you that are difficult to surpass - fear of failure, lack of self-worth, doubt, just to name a few.

Reviews for ♦Weight Loss the Game - Mental Edition♦

"Whoa!  This game was intense.  I was plodding along, doing great, when out of left field, my HEAD got in the way.  Made it hard to want to play anymore."

"Intense.  How people overcome your HEAD still is a mystery to me.  I haven't finished the game yet."

"Weight Loss the Game - Mental Edition is so much harder than I had expected.  It's 99.8% about overcoming your HEAD, and .02% about doing the work. "

I am still plodding along though.  I want so much more than 235.  I have to break it, instead of letting it break me.  So I ran this morning, even though I didn't want to.  I pushed it hard, even though I didn't want to.  Because though I didn't want those things, I DO want what they will get me.  So even though I don't like them today, I am using them to get me what I want.

For me, this is where it ends today.  Call it self preservation if you will.  I know I am.


*I apologize for the "poor me" post today, especially to Heidi.  I hate feeling like I am raining on her HUGE victory post.  I just can't beat this broken feeling today.  I fully expect to be back to my ass kicking ways soon. ♥

 

 

Because I Can't Just Leave Well Enough Alone...

I am straying from my new running plan already.  Yeah, I know.  It hasn't even been a week.

But let me explain.  I am not going to change the frequency of my runs. I'm not even going to change how many miles I am planning on running -  for now.  I am just going to change my long run on Fridays a bit.  I started the Bridge to 10k running program today.  It's very very similar to the C25k program.  Even down to the I-look-ahead-and-freak-out part.  It just increases endurance and hopefully my speed a little at a time.  I love the set-up of the C25k, so I am thinking that the B210k will be just as awesome for me.  As the distance/time increases on the B210k plan, I will slowly up the ante on my other runs throughout the week, too.

I am on Day 3 of 4 this week, and am pretty happy with what I've gotten done.  I have my first 7+ mile week, and I ran 3.15 miles this morning on Day 1. It was a slower pace than my other 5k from 2 weeks ago, but that's okay.  I walked less than I did during that one, and I was sore sore sore from my day yesterday.

Monday, a friend gave me The Wave.  It really challenges your core, and I need all the help in that area that I can get.  I didn't have a chance to try it out until yesterday morning.  Let me just say this - doing lunges and squats while trying to keep you balance on a rocking platform is interesting.  And one hell of a workout.  I enjoyed it though.  Then, after I picked the Munchkin up from preschool, we headed to a friend's house for a play date.  About a mile before her house, I got S.T.U.C.K. in a huge snow drift.  In my defense, the road looked okay.  I could tell it had snow on it, but I never ever would have expected it to be like that.  I managed to call her before the cell phone died (oops!  guess I need to make sure I always have the car charger, huh?)  and tell her what was going on.  She sent 2 of her kids over to us with sleds and I pulled 90 lbs. of kid through 3 and 4 foot snow drifts to her house.  Talk about a workout!  I woke up this morning just aching.  Quite the adventures we have out here in the frozen tundra!

I am excited that this is our 46th blog post.  Heidi and I have been blogging away for almost 4 months.  Our 50th post is just around the corner!  And in case you've missed our NOT SO subtle hints, we have a give away coming up.  Something fun that I love!  Like maybe a fun piece of running (or any kind of workout, really) gear.  And maybe that post around the corner would be a good one to give it away in! :)  Keep your eyes peeled!

♥