Primal Hippie Eats & Workouts

A week's worth of totally non-Paleo foods did a number on me. I stepped on the scale when we returned from vacation and nearly cried. I've done my best to stick to strick Paleo this week. The sugar cravings hit pretty bad yesterday and today. I ate some dried fruit and a Larabar even though I know I should have starved those sugar cravings right out.

But workouts have been terrific. I finally conceded that my Vibram Toe Shoes had bit the dust. I've been a devotee of them for three years now. There is no telling how many miles I ran in those bright pink and orange five fingered shoes. Rather than buy a new pair right now (because I'm trying this thing called not spending as much money) I pulled out my like new pair of Brooks Pure and did my workout in them today. My feet felt much heavier than normal but I'm sure I will get used to them again.

Today's workout was especially nice because the weather was gorgeous and I got to do the whole thing in my backyard. Have a peek at my playground...

I've got a tire for flipping, a slackline for core, nice soft grass for planks, a trampoline for fun, and I drag my kettlebells out when needed.

I use the closest log for log jumps and presses.

It's pretty much my favorite place to work out. There is a very steep hill where I can do repeat hill runs.

This morning I started with a 1 mile run on the treadmill and then did 2 rounds of:  
5 log jumps
10 inclined pushups on the log
15 squats with a 20lb kettlebell
5 hill sprints
2 min. plank

Pizza & Yarn

There is a bonafide artsy type store in the town over from our little hamlet. It just recently opened up, and the kids and I went on our last playday to get our pottery painting on. I noticed then that they had a small yarn selection. When I went back the next week to pick up our finished creations, their small selection had grown. I tried hard to behave myself and only came away with two new lovely skeins. Oh how I do love yarn! And I loved this article on the health benefits of knitting.

 

 

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For the most part I believe that chores and generally just being active can keep you pretty fit. But, I am also a former distance runner and novice gym rat. I miss how fit I was just three years ago. Our current schedule doesn’t really leave me a lot of time to run 8 miles or lift weights for 45 minutes unless I get up while its still dark, and then the gym is still a 20 minute drive. It’s a lot easier to have a buddy for motivation. A good friend talked me into setting up a gym area in our shop (I had all the stuff already) and she is coming over at 5:30am, three days a week to workout with me.

After my 30 days of being sober, I felt like I needed another challenge. Because I’m crazy and I feel the need to torture myself with some kind of deprivation. All joking aside, its not really deprivation. Just choosing to abstain from certain things that aren’t really that good for me. This month will be grain free, beer free, raw dairy only, and no eating after dinner. Notice I said beer free. Not alcohol free. I’m doing quite well with my moderation after seeing with clear eyes the true effects booze has on me. Today is the first day, because yesterday I went totally nuts and ate some nachos. I love nachos. Last week, Stella and I made the best gluten free pizza I have ever had. I won’t be indulging in anything like that during my 30 days, but it was so so good. Here is the recipe for the crust if you care to give it a try. FYI: I didn’t have xanthan gum to make the gf flour mix so instead subbed BRM GF Biscuit and Baking Mix and it was awesome.

 

Do you ever limit yourself from certain things for set amounts of time? If so, what?

Being Kind to Myself

 I feel like I have been way to hard on myself the past couple of years. I have tried and failed miserably to lose 10-15 pounds that I gained after my major weight loss. I have restricted my calories and ran 5 days a week for a month straight with no change on the scale. I have eaten a strict primal diet and did a mix of running and crossfit 5 days a week for two months and saw no change in the numbers. I did notice toner muscles during that time but my jean size didn't go down.

I'm tired of it. I don't enjoy lifting weights, even in a sporadic crossfit exercise routine. I'm not a big fan of getting my heart rate up during sprint intervals (even though I do love to run fast).

I am completely burned out on road running any distance. I used to live for a good run. The longer the better. Ten miles was a piece of cake. These days I complain about doing three.

My diet is what I would call modified paleo. I eat a lot of meat and veggies, a lot of healthy fats, minimal fruits, moderate dairy, and a very small amount of sugar. We're talking sugar from fruits, honey, or whatever they have added to the dark chocolate I am consuming. I use coconut sugar in all my grain free baking. And I drink.

That might be the biggest obstacle to my weight loss. But I've decided to stop berating myself about it. I really enjoy a bottle of good red wine. My husband is an excellent homebrewer and I don't want to turn down his amazing brews. When drinking, its all about moderation.

I might just have to accept the fact that this is my healthy weight and that is why I am not gaining nor losing. My brain seems to think my healthy weight is ten pounds less because that is the number I am always shooting for. My body disagrees.

So for now I am going to do what I love to do.

 

I love to practice yoga. As many times a week as I can. 30-45 minutes at a time. It makes me and my body so so so happy.

 

 

I love to trail run with my dogs and hike with my kids. The presence of Mother Nature calms me down and the exercise is amazing. Now that the weather is cooling off I can do this weekly.

These activities are gentle on my body and my soul. The kinder I am to myself, the better I am to those around me.

What are you doing to take care of yourself these days?

Rise

Last night I went to sleep at 9pm.

Wait....that's untrue.

Last night I drank three beers and went to sleep at 7pm on the couch and then woke up at 9pm and put myself to bed properly.

In my defense I did get up at 5:30am and work out. I also did that again this morning.

I used to be an early to bed early to rise kinda gal. Like every day. And you know what? I loved it! I was more productive. I was healthier. I actually enjoyed exercising. I drank less.

And of course I had to bring that up. The pesky drinking thing. I feel like I spend a lot of the little time I am actually on this blog whining about drinking.

I picked myself up a nifty little leather cuff the other day to add to my collection. I had the word balance inscribed on it. I was going to go with moderation but that was a bit wordy. Thats all I want. All I am seeking on a daily basis. Balance and moderation. Moderation and balance. Just staying on an even keel. Sure life can be tumultuous but just because the boat is rocking doesn't mean you have to fall off.

Here's to another early bedtime this evening and the fortitude to rise with the sun.

Sugar Is Sweet....But Can We Do Without It?

So I decided to quit sugar.

Right after I had a couple Little Debbie chocolate cupcakes at 5am. Stress eating. I tell ya...gets me every time. Why I was stressed at 5am is a whole nother story. It involves the police, the alarm on our store, and security camera malfunctions. Also an employee who needs to remove his head from his you know what.

I digress.

I have been considering breaking up with sweet sweet sucrose for a while. After losing my initial 50lbs, I have since put 12 of it back on. And taken it off. And gained it back. Again. And probably one more time. Right now I am sitting pretty at 140lbs when I really should be more like 130lbs. My clothes are just a bit too tight. I don't like it. Normally I eat very well. Since we follow a whole foods way of life for our kids health and our own, my daily eats should keep me lean. And they would, if it wasn't for the daily sugar binge. It happens. Every damn day.

Now I have taken the first step and realized that I do have a problem. I cannot control my sugar cravings. At all. They have no pattern and can strike at any time. Like 5am. Or right after I just had a nutritious, high in good fat, filling lunch. Or right before bed when 5 minutes previous I had no inkling to ingest anything at all. I also have taken measure of its physical effects on me. The energy ups and downs. The mood alteration. The burning hole feeling in my stomach after a large dose of sugar. The weakness and overall feeling of ugh. I don't like feeling that way. Would you?

Next step...a plan. I downloaded Sarah Wilson's I Quit Sugar 8 Week Program. Don't read Sarah's blog? Oh you should. This girl is a wanderer, a seeker, an inspiration. To stow away in her pack would be lovely. To see the things she sees and meet the people she meets. I totally want to be her when I grow up. Or when my kids are grown and travel is easier. It doesn't hurt she's Australian. They always seem so happy and healthy.

The program is straight forward. Simple really on paper. Wean yourself slowly off carby sugary treats. Incorporate more fat into your diet to fill you up and curb cravings. Eventually eat no sugar at all. I want to do this. I need to do this. But I absolutely have to figure out what to do to outsmart a craving. Because they will happen. This I know.

I'm looking forward to a less doughy middle and a clearer mind. The ability to say no thank you to a chocolate chip cookie (my weakness) and ice cream (my other weakness). Anyone care to join me? Or help me out? Talk me down off my ledge when need be? Find me on Twitter! @sugarbritchesyo Help keep this girl on the straight and narrow.

Will quitting sugar help my running?

I don't see how it could hurt it. Since going on a month long sugar binge my running has been suffering. I don't have the energy or willpower to make myself do it half the time. When I do force myself out there, bellyaches and tiredness just make it miserable. This is a feeling I can not stand! I used to fly thru my miles. The longer the run the happier I was. Now I just want it over and done due to my overall feeling of yuck.

On a happier note, a honest to goodness yoga studio opened up in our little mountain town. I have attended two classes and am head over heels in love with it. I often practice at home, but am surely too easy on myself and the interruptions are nonstop. I get to spend 20minutes tops at home on practice but in a class I get a full hour of instruction, stretching, sweating, and relaxation. I am hoping that getting more in tune with mind and body will aid me in my sugar recovery.


Will I be as calm, centered, and lean as this girl? Probably not, but it can't hurt to try. When stress is getting too me and the urge to sugar binge hits, I really need to remember how lucky I am. I have a healthy family, a loving husband (who mostly supports my crazy hippie ideas), the physical ability to practice yoga and run and hike and play with my amazing children. Stress should not rule me or my body. Happiness is everywhere as long as you look for it and seek it in the form it takes for you.

Besides, I am way happier when my clothes fit right. Aren't you?

This Is Why They Prescribe Xanax

Detoxing off alcohol, sugar, dairy, red meat, white flour + PMS = not such a good day.

I'll be the momma curled up in the corner rocking back and forth.

Regular eating to resume on Monday. Must get this junk out of my system.

(I even did Jillian's Shred this morning. I must be desperate)

I Call Uncle

I booked our summer vacation this week.

Then, I went and stood on the scale. I was not happy. 139lbs is not my happy weight.

I spent a whole year shedding 50lbs of yuck just to put 10 of it back on.

So tomorrow it starts. No matter what style of eating I adopt: Paleo, low carb, whole foods strict, vegan, vegetarian, I know that only one thing works for me.

We'll call it the SugarBritches Plan. No dessert, no alcohol, and counting calories. No more than 1300-1500 a day. Exercise 3plus days a week.

Now admittedly I would rather die than quit eating dessert and stop drinking. But, I do want to look bangin' hawt when we hit the beach this summer. Even more so because the husband is coming this time.

So here we go peoples.

If I come off as a little cranky, cut me a tiny break.

If I take to Twitter needing someone to talk me down off a ledge of Rocky Road, please help me. (You can find my Twitter follow in the sidebar)

Don't invite me out for Girl's Night or Happy Hour.

It's only 4 months. One cheat day a week.

I can totally do it. I have got this.

This Post Brought To You By Adverse Weather Conditions

So...as much as we need rain in our drought stricken area of the country, I am none to happy at this moment that my morning run got cancelled by a thunderstorm. Rain is okay to run in. Lighting...not so much.

Not to mention I've been up since 4:30am when my phone rang. Phone calls at that hour are either a) an emergency or b) some idiot drunk. This was option b. No, I'm not Josh and I bet Josh wouldn't appreciate it if you had actually gotten his number right. That is unless it was an emergency for him. But I'm betting not.

Random beach picture thrown in for good measure. This is me and my absolute best forever childhood friend, Lindsay. We spent a good 7 years attached at the hip. We literally lived together for about a year at one point in time. Meaning, her and her mother shared a house with me and my mother. She is my sister, one of my all time favorite people, and isn't she just the cutest thing? We stayed at her MIL's condo on our Florida trip, because lucky Lindsay lives in Gulf Breeze. Must be hard being her.

The point of this photo is to illustrate that I am officially 14lbs heavier than I was this time last year. Something has to be done. In fact something is being done. I am down 4 of those pesky pounds from last week already. It's not that I stopped working out, although I did become a lazy ass runner, it's that I was out eating my workouts. Did you know that is possible? Yes. Yes it is. You can go to the gym 4 days a week and spend an hour there each time and gain weight. I know some of it was muscle but way way too much of it is not fitting in my jeans right. Luckily I know how to fix it. I've ramped up my running and cut back my eating.

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School started last Tuesday and if you have read this blog ever in your life before this post you know that second only to Christmas and Thanksgiving, it is my favorite day of the year. This is how excited I was last year. 

And here is the obligatory first day photo.

I should have lined them up under the house numbers. But...whatever. I now officially have a Kindergartener, a Third Grader, and a Sugarbaby. She was all set up to start her first of two years of preschool, but at some point over the summer her father and I decided to send her back to her beloved Miss Christy. Preschool is not ready for Sugarbaby. She is rotten. Bad to the bone. Hell on wheels. She defines the phrase "payin for your raising."

Two cups of coffee down and the house is still asleep. I'm going to whip up a batch of homemade cinnamon rolls and score major points with the family. Maybe enough that they will let me take a nap.

Catching Up

I keep finding it necessary to remind myself that I didn't get down to 140lbs by eating brats, ice cream, pizza, and drinking beer. I'm mostly good but when I cheat, I cheat all the way. But only for a day which I suppose is a blessing instead of turning a cheat day into a weekend or a week or a month. But...I must quit this because I have a few actual legitimate excuses to cheat in the next three weeks and I just have have have to behave myself before then.

One is of course Sugarbaby's second birthday. Yay for cake pops, pinwheels, cupcakes, and fruit dip!

The other is a long weekend to see GG with Supergrandma and Sugarbaby. And what do we do when we go see GG? We eat. A lot. And drink. A lot more.

Can I get some motivation for my lovely readers? Please tell me to behave myself and not

ruin all this hard work I have done.

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Today Cashman took a tumble at school and had to make a trip to the ER. He's fine, but entirely convinced that the x-ray machine gave him a new bone. He's silly and super cuddly and I love him so. I hate when my kids give me scares like that. Sort of like when someone (although I won't name names but you can be damn sure it wasn't me) lost the baby outside last night. While I ran from the highway to the storage buildings around the house in circles screaming her name and alternating with very bad words and generally freaking the eff out, she popped out of the doghouse laughing. She was hiding and thought it was funny her Daddy and I were suffering separate heart attacks. Not funny at all. Still not funny today. Probably won't ever be funny.

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I logged just under 14.5 miles jogging last week. SUMS is making me say jogging because when he reads my Garmin data it shows that I am in the fast jog range nearly the entire time. Since I only dip into the slow run range every now and then he now refers to my jaunts as jogs and not runs. Tomaytoes, tomahtoes. Whatever. I'm trying to build up my endurance for longer runs and I've stepped up to 4 days a week instead of 3. I'm also pushing Sugarbaby in the jog stroller two of those days and that is a sure fire way to clock in at a slower pace. But I manage and I'm convinced it helps me burn extra calories, ya know adding 30lbs of resistance.

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In other news we are getting a new family member. We finally broke down and picked out an Australian Shepherd puppy. That's the breed we are most fond of and what we should have gotten originally after our last Aussie died. But instead we had a rollercoaster ride with a few dogs and ended up with none. Our new Aussie is 4 weeks old and we are naming her Allie. Allie the Aussie. She comes home the day after Mother's Day.

Oh and for anyone who is interested, we ended up feeding the cat that I wished would go away. She is very sweet, and not too terribly old. Probably just under a year. The kids named her Carly. Carly the Cat. Anyone seeing a pattern here?

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Laptop still down so posting will still be light. I'm sorry. It's the best I can do.

I'm Not Perfect, But I'm Damn Close

Yesterday I received a "challenge" (they were adamant about it being a challenge and not a pitch) from a PR person for the book, The Perfect 10 Diet by Michael Aziz, M.D. The "challenge" being to follow the diet for 3 weeks and reveal my results.

I was intrigued, obviously. If you've been following my blog for any amount of time you know I've moaned about my weight, fought cravings, learned to love exercise (running specifically) and lost a significant amount of extra padding. About 25lbs to be exact. What's funny to me is that this "challenge" would have been so much more exciting to me 6 months ago. Now....well now it seems, not so exciting. The book claims you can lose 14lbs in the first phase or three week period. Dude, if I lost 14 more pounds, I wouldn't look very healthy. I would be skinny, sure. But probably a heroin chic looking skinny.

To put it simply, I am happy with my weight. I could stand to lose 5 more pounds, but that would about be it. Especially for my frame. Everyone is built different and weight looks very different on everyone. But I digress. I AM OKAY WITH ME RIGHT NOW. I feel very healthy. More so than I have ever felt. I can run almost 4 miles without a problem. I eat a very well balanced diet. Let's defer to a quick list of what is in my fridge right now:

• Lean protein- chicken breasts, round beef steak, shrimp, white fish.
• Strawberries
• Avocados
• Broccoli
• Bell Peppers
• Asparagus
• Spinach
• Fat free cream cheese
• Yogurt
• Skim milk
• Cheese
• And in the pantry: whole grain cereal, whole grain bread, wheat tortillas, tuna, beans, peanut butter and so on.

A typical day for me starts out with a choice of peanut butter on whole grain toast, or a bowl of Special K with skim milk, or egg whites with some combination of veggies mixed in. I then have a snack of fruit or cheese or granola bar. Lunch is either lean protein and veggies or a salad with lean protein and low fat dressing and lots of veggies. Sometimes a sandwich if I'm feeling frisky. Another afternoon snack of either fruit, cheese, or granola bar, but sometimes I just have an iced coffee. Dinner is basically a repeat of lunch just a different combo.

Everything is still very flavorful. I just watch my portions. I also track my calories using SparkPeople (because seriously that site has been fundamental to my weight loss). I still drink coffee and lots of it. I just use Splenda and skim milk. I order my lattes skinny. I still eat chocolate, but I eat it dark and only on my cheat day. I still drink alcohol. I just try to balance it in with the rest of my calories and I make sure to only drink wine or vodka and diet soda. Now that could be a problem this summer cause I am a summer wheat beer drinking gal. And rum and coke. But hopefully I'll be running more and putting in more outside activity to equal it out.

What I'm trying to say here is that I know that the diet I have created for myself is working and working well. I exercise enough to offset any diet mishaps I might have and I do have them. There was a night last week during a particularly rough patch of PMS and well, we'll just say some ice cream was involved and it wasn't pretty. But aside from that, I eat well, I eat healthy and once you find something that works, why change it?

I'm very curious to see what The Perfect 10 Diet is all about and I'll be sure to share what I find with all of you.

Checking In

I'm back. Kind of.

I mean I will still kind of be touch and go on the blog because I came home to a house filled with sawdust. Yuck.

But on the other hand I came home to a house with gorgeous new floors. Booyah.

It was a great trip filled with much shopping and eating as it should be. Not so much drinking cause yeah, my hostess is prego. And I did take my camera, but... I didn't take a single picture. Bad blogger. Bad.

And also, I need a moment to brag. Cause this is my blog, it's mainly about me and well anyone who knows me knows how hard I've worked to get to this point. Anyone who has read this blog for any amount of time over 6 months knows my struggle with my weight and how much I hate it. I actually tried on clothes (in a store) for the first time in a long time and I'm pretty sure I scarred all the other dressing room patrons for life with my extremely loud "Hell yeah!" as I slipped on a size 8 and they were loose. Size 8. Eight as in two sizes smaller than I was. I have to tell you that size 8 tastes so much better than chocolate.

But it's not over. The exercise has become a routine and although my routine has slowed down due to Spring 2010 Renovation, once that is over it is on full time again. The eating needs to be improved cause having your house in shambles and traveling kind of makes one want to eat whatever is easiest and that is usually junk.

Huge pinky promise that the very next post (which might not be until Friday or something) will contain before and after pics of the living room and kitchen. Hell I might get all fancy and do a video walk through for you. But if I did that you would all hear my accent and make fun of my like my Yankee bloggy BFF Michelle. I tend to channel my inner Sookie, especially after a few drinks.

Y'all have a terrific week and I'll be back in full force sooner than later.
Probably.
Maybe.
Hopefully.

Confession

I feel like such a slacker.

A blogging slacker. A running slacker. An eating slacker.

I only ran 5 miles this week. Sugarbaby is disappointed in me.

I've really fallen off the eating wagon. Especially at night. I need someone to come along and kick me in the ass. Please, someone talk me down from this. I don't want to lose these hard earned results. I don't want to relapse.

Whatevs. Enough whining out of me. Nothing to do but pick myself up and get back in the groove.

But the groove is so hard when your house is in shambles, your refrigerator is in the garage, Boy Scout chocolate bars are taunting you from the counter, and it is so damn cold outside. Aaaahhh! I said enough whining right? Right!

Okay done.

I will be a rockstar this week. Eating right. Running enough. I got this.

No more remodeling peeks until the floors are done which will be the second week in March. I'm headed out of town next weekend for a baby shower (yay Baby Phoebe!) so until then, don't expect to much from me. Not that you did anyways, just saying. I know I've been a blogging failure lately. It's just one more thing fallen by the wayside since my routine (and life) has been turned upside down by the SPRING 2010 RENOVATION. Ugh.

The end is in sight folks. Until then...

I Am So Hungry

You guys are powerful. What you have to say is very motivational and very supportive. I mean you totally talked me into buying the skinny jeans. So I have to tell you something cause I know you'll understand and fix me right up. I've totally bombed on my diet the last two weekends. I eat perfect every weekday, but my cheat day has turned into two consecutive cheat days. And today....whoa boy. Cheated my ass off.

I know tomorrow I'll be fine. I'll run and eat great. But I've got to break the weekend habit right now before it gets out of control. Help!

*** * ***

I've got this idea to post pictures of the house projects as they are happening. I'm lacking blog material and I'll be busy with this so why not. Right now I finally feel that Sugarbaby's room is done. Here is the entire room from all angles minus the closet. I just forgot that one. It's white. Use your imagination.

The Master bedroom (which is tiny but does have its own bathroom) isn't done. We still need a new light fixture and some wall hangings. I'm severely lacking in decor. Lots of furniture. Little decor. Anyways, just got new bedding and y'all...it is sexy! The sheets are like buddah. And they better be, cause sexy doesn't come cheap. Or maybe it does. We are in Arkansas.

Finally, the before picture of what I am tackling this week. My extremely long, extremely 80's kitchen. It has a updated stove and dishwasher and that is it. This week will be spent prepping, priming and painting. Then in a few weeks the husband is going to install a new floor. I'm leaving that weekend. My poor ears couldn't handle the installation process. He's going to need a lot of beer.

(in this picture I'm leaned up against the kitchen side of the bar. that is a lot of damn counter space)

Random Thursday With Pictures! And Sound!

On Sunday, Super Ultra Mega Stud had a birthday. Not a big one mind you. That one is still two years away. And since he absolutely hates to celebrate and wanted no presents or recognition, I just cooked for him. All damn day. Let me just clarify real quickly that yes I am still eating healthy and dropping weight and exercising like a fool, but I take a cheat day every week. Either Saturday or Sunday depending on what is going on. So SUMS's birthday was cheat day. Okay? Good.

We started out the morning with a generous and I do mean generous helping of Eggs Benedict. I nearly fell to my knees on that first bite. The creamy deliciousness of the yolk mixed with the hollandaise. Heaven on a plate, I tell ya.

Next you will witness the boys and I whipping up a Stawberry Cream Cheese Poundcake. It was my first time trying this recipe by Bakerella. And while everyone was pleased with the end result I felt the strawberries were a little too mushy for my taste. But the thick cream cheese icing took care of any doubt I had.

The boys were a huge help and did most of the work. Except the egg cracking, and the strawberry slicing, and the removing of the hot cake from the hot oven. You know cause I didn't go crazy overnight or anything.

I mean look at this dude. He's all, "Yeah I'm a 4 year old baking a cake cause I love my daddy so much more than my mommy and its his birfday and he's old!"

And can I get a pardon for the paneling on my walls. Just y'all wait. By the middle of March my house will no longer be paneling and will have new floors. Spring 2010 Renovation is under way and starting this weekend.

We ended the evening by making sushi together and threatening to make the kids eat it. Don't worry though, they had boring old quesadillas. Except the Monster. He wanted some sushi and he ate it all. Even asked if I would pack him

some in his lunch box the next day.Didn't surprise me a bit. The kid has grown up taste.

Alright so later that night it appeared that Cash was coming down with something. That something was fever, cough, ear infection, and pink eye. The kid hit the sickness jackpot. He stayed home sick from school for three days. I had a three day long headache.

Here is what a sick day looks like at our house. Bacon, eggs, and jelly toast. Yum! Oh and lots and lots of movies on the couch.


But obviously she's not sick. Just ornery.




Here's the mischievous little thing playing with her favorite toy. She has a
mommy doll, daddy doll, and baby doll. She likes to throw the mommy doll
out the second story window and put the baby doll in the bathtub. She carries
the daddy doll around all the time extolling its virtues. She has made her favorite obvious.
Kind of like in real life.




Have you seen her room in a while?

I picked up this shelf at the thrift store the other day for a few bucks. Gave it a coat of
paint and voila! New shelf for Sugarbaby. I also found a kick ass bench for $15 bucks
that I am going to paint a shocking shade of red and set on my back patio
for plants and shoes and the like. Pictures to come.

It's raining. Has been since sometime in the early morning hours. I bolted out of bed at 1am because I was absolutely sure I heard the front door open. I jumped up, heart racing and ran in the living room. It was nothing of course. Merely the heater kicking on and startling me in my sleep. Isn't it strange how you sleep so lightly after becoming a mother. I think that when I was young I could sleep thru a hurricane but now every little sound rouses me.

I ran 3.25 miles on Monday and then came home to torture myself with "The Shred". I'm not attempting to do it every day. Every other day or so is good with me. Tuesday I did nothing, if you count sitting at the doctor for 3 hours and caring for a sick kid nothing. Wednesday ran 2.25 miles. And today I am going to Shred just as soon as this blog post is done. I'm holding steady at 150lbs and if I can just break through and drop below that I will no longer be in the overweight range. On that note, I'm off to my date with Jillian. The bitch.

I Need Smaller Pants

Excuse me for just a moment.

I want to take a second to brag because it keeps me motivated to share my excitement with you all. Also it holds me accountable should I slack off later in the week.

I've lost 7 pounds since New Years.

I ran 3 miles in 28 minutes today.

That is an average 9:30 minute mile. The fastest pace I've held so far according to my Garmin.


To celebrate all this healthfullness and junk I'm thinking of starting "The Shred" again.

Who's with me?

Hey guys! Guess what?

It's still raaaaaaaaaaining!

Despite my initial need to be all negative and Debbie Downer and wax poetic about all the things that are really chapping my hide (and have ya'll noticed my propensity to use phrases that make me sound like I was born in 1910?) I've decided HEY! let's stick with this positive streak.

• I've lost 15 pounds in about 4 months. It would have been much much more but you see that fancy new blog header? Yeah. I like cupcakes. And chocolate. And lattes. Mmmm a chocolate cupcake latte sounds really good. Get on it Mickey D's, since that's the only place to get cheap coffee around here.
• Cashman is really loving school. In fact he likes it so much, he asks to go on Saturday and Sunday. Are we really that bad?
• I didn't get sick. I really felt like I was going to but obviously all that water and vitamin C really worked. Who knew taking care of yourself came with great benefits such as warding off head colds?
• Black Bean Chicken Soup. Nuff' said.
• Christmas Shopping!!!!!!!! Me and Amazon and Etsy? We are the perfect trifecta.
• This site. I like this chick and her tips are useful to people looking to be future skinnies.
• Cub Scouts. I really enjoy taking the Monster there. The people are really nice and the lady in charge, she makes them behave. I love well behaved kids.
• Pumpkin anything! Pumpkin cookies, pumpkin buns, pumpkin bread. Have I ever mentioned that fall and winter are my favorite times of the year?
• Ya'll tired of the bullet points yet?

I Might Turn Into A Fit Person Yet

I'm having a bad day.

A few days every month I just want to barricade myself in my bedroom and growl at anyone who dares to enter. Except Sugarbaby. She's welcome anytime. Actually anyone without testicles is welcome. There should be a Beware of PMS Dog sign on the door.

I love my bedroom. My king size bed, my laptop, a big thick stack of magazines, and the new lamp I put in a few months ago. It's a happy happy place and as long as I stay in here no one gets hurt.

But really, I don't want to be all negative today. I want to focus on the positives. Like the fact that I feel better than I have in a really really long time, not counting the attitude. I'm going to chalk this up to all the steps I've taken to improve my health. The C25K program is going great. I started it on a Wednesday and since I wasn't sure I could handle it, I modified the first week. So this week I am doing the actual Week 1 schedule. It feels great and I can do it! My super sweet new running shoes that were a gift from my step-dad have helped the leg pain so much. I can't thank him enough. Besides when someone drops a load of cash on something for you, you are much more inclined to use it.

So yesterday's walk/jog went well. I love that it breaks up the monotony of the three mile walks I was doing. And that is one more modification I'm doing to the C25K. It says to only do it for 20-30 minutes, but I'm just keeping with the same distance I was going anyways and its taking me anywhere from 40-45 minutes depending on how many distractions I have. I always see people I know, I have to stop and do something for Sugarbaby, or I really really have to pee. I've been drinking more water than I ever have in my life and I know that is making a big difference.

As far as weight loss, I weighed myself at the beginning of the Shred and then I weighed myself last week. I'm only down 5 pounds but I'm going to just say that its because I've gained some muscle. I can really tell a difference in my legs and rear end. Now if only my arms and belly would get with the program.

See! I managed to turn this post into something positive, telling you all about how great I am feeling physically and that has made me feel a lot better about my day.

But I'm still not talking to my husband.

It Hurts and I Think I Broke My Funny Bone

"The Shred" has done it.

I just thought I was breaking up with Jillian but in the end she broke me. So I give. I made it through Level 1 & 2. I can not do Level 3. The jump training, the boob flopping, the lifting of something and then something else alternating into oh my gah it hurts!

What hurts, you may wonder? Not my muscles. They have the usual soreness of being worked and stretched but that I can handle. Nope its the bones. Specifically my shins. In addition to "The Shred" I was still walking my three miles, three days a week and on a day I walked and shredded... holy snikes Batman! The pain! Oh the pain!

So I'm taking a break from anything high impact. Still going to walk it out three days a week and do some strength training but it will be low impact. We're talking static lunges, push-ups, crunches, etc. No jumping or flopping involved. And most certainly no double jump rope.

I am kind of ashamed because I really wanted to finish the program and be able to say I finished it. But I know when I'm beat and when I need to change it up. I'm out of shape and although I'm doing my very best to change that, sometimes a girl just needs to put her feet up.

Wordless Wednesday: All Shredded Out

This is me after doing "The Shred" today. Kicked back on the couch, wishing I could make my arms do the necessary movements to reach the keyboard.

I kid. Actually it was a bit easier today. A bit. A tiny tiny bit.

Hurts So Good

So I've been exercising. Not sure if I had shared that little tidbit with ya'll or not. Probably because I didn't want to look like a complete fool when I quit after one day of walking. Walking being the least strenuous exercise one could do, besides lifting an Oreo to your mouth which would be completely counterproductive. Duh!


I've walked 12 miles in the last 7 days. Not too shabby for a self proclaimed couch potato. But I decided I need to take it up a notch and I got my chance after reading about the 30 Day Shred. Reviewers of Jillian Michaels' amped up workout DVD claim they can't even squat down to sit on the toilet after the second day. The DVD cover itself says you'll lose up to 20lbs in 30 days. So I decided to give it a shot. After all, it's only thirty days and if I don't tell anyone I'm doing it then I won't feel like such a loser when I quit. Except I went and signed on with another bunch of crazy women bloggers and we're documenting all the gory details of our 30 Day Shreds over at Shredding in September.

So now I will be shredding in addition to walking three miles on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. I also asked Supergrandma to pick up some hand weights for me to use with the DVD. She went me one better and grabbed some leg weights for my walking days. Now not only do I get extra sculpted calves, I get to look like a dorkfish while walking the park as the whole town drives by. Hi there! I'm the one with giant black leg warmers. Don't mind me, just trying to get all hot and sexy while wearing these super stylish leg weights.

No really. I kid. I'm glad she's helping me out. She is a great motivator. Just looking at her makes me want to drop that piece of pizza and put my hands in the air. In fact, I had another genius idea for increasing my motivation to walk faster and shred harder. I'm going to picture both of these extremely good looking men is in front of me and if I can just catch up to them, then they are all mine. Yum!

By the way, the shred officially starts tomorrow. So if for some reason I don't post, it's because I can't lift my fingers to type or I'm laying prone on the bathroom floor trying to make my muscles move. Either way, send help.