I did it! A weekend on-point!

Do you see that people? That is every drink and morsel of food that entered my mouth from Friday-Sunday night. (Just add 1 point for a bag of 100 calorie popcorn that I ate after I snipped the above image) I only went into my flex points by 3.5! They thought I was crazy last night, logging onto my Weight Watchers account from my Blackberry logging in every beer and even 1 shot, but I had to keep track! Too many times I just drink and say "forget it, I lost count!" Not this time!

So I would call this weekend a great success for me! I managed to go to the movies and resist temptation, I made White Bean Burgers on Saturday, I made 3 so I knew I would have healthy meals easily available on Sunday. I'm not going to share the recipe here because I didn't really care for them that much, no great shakes really. In summary, some simple planning made it easier to stay on track!

How about that Super Bowl? I was rooting for The Saints and I guess it paid off!



Me and Kelly with our Mardi Gras beads.

I had a wonderful time at the bar with friends. I missed so many commercials! That's my favorite part...I love the Betty White Snickers commercial though! And the Budweiser one with the Horse and the Cow on either side of the fence. So adorable!

Chaser Update: He is almost 100% back to normal. He's still a little groggy, but he's happy and playful and no worse for wear. He was so pitiful. For those of you who missed it, Chaser The Wonder Schnauzer had a vaccine reaction on Saturday.

Be sure to check back tonight for my Meatless Monday recipe. I'm playing with Tofu again with a Broccoli, Ginger and Tofu Stir Fry with brown rice.

Did you watch the Super Bowl? What was your favorite commercial?

Get off your ass! Here's your motivation!

Yesterday I shared one of my new favorite quotes with you and asked for you guys to give me some quotes in return. I got some really great ones. I had a 2 mile run scheduled for last night that I totally wanted to skip. The quotes I read gave me the motivation I needed to just go run! So, get off your ass! Here's some motivation!

Heather shared - "Brick walls are there for a reason. They give us a chance to show how badly we want something." -Randy Pausch

Kylie shared - "Reach for the moon. Even if you miss, you will land among the stars". Unknown

Elaine shared - "Beyond the very extreme of fatigue and distress, we may find amounts of ease and power we never dreamed ourselves to own, sources of strength never taxed at all because we never push through the obstruction." William James (she shared 3 amazing quotes, but this one was my favorite)

Shannon shared - "The future is no place to place your better days." Dave Matthews Band (I LOVE this one...of course, I love DMB)

Thank you ladies for giving me motivation and inspiration for yesterday and a blog entry I can look back on for motivation for the future!

The weather is still awful in NC, well, it's sunny, but it's 30 degrees. I am going to look for some cold weather running gear tonight, thanks to everyone's recommendations, I think I know what I'm looking for!


Yesterday was another on-point day! I wanted to hit the ground running in 2010 and I think I'm doing it. Hopefully the momentum pendulum will continue to swing positively!

Baby it's Cold Outside!

The current temperature in my little beach town in North Carolina is 24 degrees. I don't know if you know this or not, but it doesn't get that cold here all that often. Especially not for a week at a time. We are all freezing are bums off. Even the dog.



I have been doing my training runs on the treadmill, mostly because I've been running at night and I think my community has "hit a jogger win some cash" policy, but now I'm stuck in there because of the cold. Here lies the problem though. This is the forecast for Friday/Saturday (my 5k across the high rise bridge across the waterway is Saturday).



I don't own cold weather running gear and I'm not used to running in it. So, this should be a very interesting and cold experience for me. I am still looking forward to it though!

I can't say enough how much I love my Nike+Ipod and how it's made such a huge difference in my running. It showed me my stats for 2009 last night and I think the numbers speak for themselves.



Not too shabby for someone who couldn't run for more than 40 seconds straight a year ago!

If you haven't checked it out already, be sure to check out my post for Meatless Monday this week, the Roasted Veggie Pizza I made was was amazing! (If I do say so myself...) It also helped me have an on-point day yesterday, which was a double bonus. I always love when a recipe works out well and ends up being very tasty and healthy! :)

Anyone have any suggestions for good (affordable!!) cold weather running gear?

"You're gonna eat lightnin' and you're gonna crap thunder!"

Risin' up, back on the streets, did my time, took my chances....

Sorry, I was having a Rocky moment.

Yes, I was successful in my efforts to have a good, on-point day yesterday. It felt great!




I tracked everything I ate and I had a really great 4 mile run!



It felt really good to have an on-point, healthy day...to remember routine and to remember how much better "satisfied belly" feels as opposed to over "over-stuffed burrito belly". Let's see if I can make today equally as successful!

Coming up later today I'm going to post my 2009 year in review. I love seeing the changes through the months and looking back on the past year in preparation for 2010!

2010 is going to be awesome, I can just feel it in my bones. :)

A loss! Alert the media!

I had my weigh in this morning and I lost 1.3lbs this week! Yay! Alert the media! My first loss in a while! Totally doing the cabbage patch and the Roger Rabbit in my head. :)

Yesterday I had my 3.5mi training run:



And I wanted to do something different, so I decided to head to a nearby garden that has lots of walking and bike trails. I took some of the toughest bike trails, mostly on accident as I was in the middle of the maritime forest:



It was a nice change of pace, and the trails really challenged me! Some of the bike trails had really loose sand, so I equate it to running uphill on the beach. But the scenery couldn't be more beautiful.




It was definitely nice to change things up a bit, I made good time too. I wonder if running through the woods, alone, kicked up my adrenaline a little bit, it felt like it at times. :) I had this whole horror movie montage in my head. I ran a 10:28'ish average according to Nike+. Not too bad for my first trail run.

A funny note about my training, I messed up my schedule somehow when I adapted it for my race being on Thanksgiving day and I'm a week short. So, if I follow training as it shows on my schedule, my race would be 11/19 instead of 11/26. I have to repeat 1 whole week of training. So, I'm going to repeat this week. Next week's schedule pictures will be very busy looking that's for sure! Hey, it's all about rolling with the changes. :)

That's about it for today! I'm call this weekend at work, so that means no drinking and a lot of time at home, I'm hoping that will help me stay on point! Happy Friday!

I am thankful.

A friend of mine on Facebook is doing "30 Days of Thankful" and the idea behind it is to update your status everyday of the month of November with something that you are thankful for. I decided to steal her idea and start my own "30 Days of Thankful" yesterday. Yesterday I wrote how I was thankful for my husband who puts up with me regardless of my particular antics on that day, and for today:

"30 Days of Thankful" - Today I am thankful for the ability to run, while I may not be very good at it, I am very thankful that I can.

This morning, I woke up at 6am for my 3.5mile training run. It was 47 degrees.

47.

I've never run outside when it was below, say, 60? So I bundled up and headed out:



I was a bit nervous about the distance, I haven't run over 3 miles in awhile, but it ended up being a great run. My nose felt like it was going to fall off and my shirt sleeves were covered in snot, but I felt great. I probably could have gone 4 miles, but I had to get ready for work and I didn't want to break my schedule...which I forgot to take a picture of, again. :)

Anyway, after my run my legs ached a bit, but not bad and it was then that I realized that I was thankful for the ability to run. It may not seem like much, but I have 2 working legs (most of the time, I do trip a lot) that can carry me where I want to go. They couldn't run at first, but they worked their way up to it, kind of like my lungs, they're not the fastest and they struggle a little with distance, but THEY CAN. I am thankful for that, very thankful. Running has become such a huge form of stress release and happiness for me, I never would have even imagined that before.

Ok, moving on. It's Tuesday and so far so good. Yesterday was OP and so far today has been too. I made these yummy goodies:



...out of the recent Weight Watchers magazine, however I substituted Splenda for granulated sugar, omitted the hazelnuts and used sugar free jam, so by my calculations it's 1 point per 2 cookies. They are very yummy!

That's more than enough for today folks. Happy Tuesdays! :)

Atonement.

Saturday night I embarrassed myself. I made myself sick. I binged, right in front of people. I stuffed myself to the gills with Halloween Candy, mini-tacos, chips and dip. As fast as I could shove it in my mouth I did. Granted, it wasn't the binge sessions of my past, but it was bad enough that I was sick to my stomach all night long and for a good part of Sunday. Sunday I went for a 2 mile training run and I could feel every piece of candy, every unhealthy choice I made with every step.

I thought about not writing today, letting the weekend just kind of disappear into a week I plan to fill with healthy choices but that would not be accountability. I need to get this weekend thing handled and fast. I am very angry at myself and my lack of willpower this weekend. I only have 3 and 1/2 weeks to get things in check.

In other news...I was a Bumble Bee for Halloween and my Husband was God's Gift to Women.



I did find that if I have a glass of water with my beer and I choose a hearty full flavored beer, I drink a lot less. I've been doing this when I drink lately and it helps me to drink slower and drink less. Pumpkin Beer is fantastic, by the way.



Ok, so that's my disappointing weekend recap. Sunday was an on-point good day and I plan continue such success for the rest of the week.

Here's to a new week, a new month and a new day!

I am taking care of my body, and it will take care of me.

"I am taking care of my body, and it will take care of me." That was my positive affirmation for the day. I think yesterday was a good example of that! Yesterday I had a most productive and OP day. I have to say, I'm pretty proud of myself. After work, I went for a run...



My best run outdoors yet! Of course the entire first 1.5miles I had a stitch in my side the size of Texas, but I worked through it. I am on track with my 5k training schedule, but I forgot to take a picture of it this morning. Oops!

For dinner I tried 2 new recipes, both were amazing! If you don't make these for dinner soon you're just crazy. I started with Roni's Stuff Pork with Butternut Squash and Apples, I didn't have Bulgar, so I substituted whole wheat couscous and it worked GREAT! Make extra stuffing though, because you'll want it, it's tasty!

On the side, I found a recipe for Brussels Sprouts in Mustard Sauce and I love Brussels Sprouts. I added a little horseradish to the sauce and I chopped a little onion to go in there as well. This sauce is amazing. When you put the pork on the plate and it mixes with that sauce it's a wonderful combination too!

Yesterday at work I found a recipe for Pumpkin Apple Butter, it wasn't bad, but I wanted to do it my way. Here's how I reworked it...also, last night.

Pumpkin Apple Butter

Apples, 1 small raw, with skin
Water, 1/2 cup
Apples, 1 small raw, without skin
Pumpkin, 1 can
Pumpkin pie spice 1 tsp.
Sugars, brown 1/2 cup, loosely packed


Preparation

Combine 1 apple (cored and chopped) with skin on and 1/2 cup of water in blender and blend until liquefied.

Peel and core 2nd apple and then shred with a grater.

Combine apple "juice", shredded apple, 1 can of pumpkin, 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice, 1/2 cup packed brown sugar into a heavy duty saucepan, bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and let simmer for 90 minutes until thickened.

1 serving is 2 Tablespoons. Serve on muffins, in oatmeal, in yogurt or on toast!

Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 months.

I've attached the Nutrition Data that I figured using www.nutritiondata.com. I have calculated 0 points per serving, however I am going to count a serving as 1 point because based upon your apple sizes and how loosely you pack your sugar it could waiver a bit. This morning I mixed some into my yogurt, so good!

While all of that was cooking away, I opened my first pomegranate. It was a little messy, not too bad, but totally worth it! Yummy!

By the time I finally stopped moving last night it was after 9pm! Oh yeah, and I did 2 loads of laundry! :) I love productive days.

So far, so good...

One of the goals I've set for myself in an attempt to let go of my excuses is to lose 6lbs from my current weight today by Wednesday 11/25. That will be just shy of 5 weeks from today. I know I can do it, but it's going to take dedication. My current weight is:

165.1 lbs

So, if I lose 6lbs I will officially be at my first original weight loss goal of "Lose 50lbs" just in time to go home and visit my family for a long weekend of Thanksgiving activities. On that same day I will also complete another goal of mine, my very first 5k race. I think that will be a HUGE day for me emotionally and great motivation to make the next 5 weeks great! I'm doing well on my training:

On my first rest day, I did an Ab work out and yesterday I ran my 2.5miles with an average of 11:20/mi. I ran that outdoors on pavement. I am happy with that time, I really struggle running outside. I'm hoping that 5 weeks of outdoor runs whenever possible will get me over that.

Today is another rest day and my plan is to do an arm work out at home and follow up with a little Yoga.

My eating has been OK, Tuesday and Wednesday I did well, yesterday not so much. I didn't go totally overboard just a few extra pieces of this or that. I really need to get control of my late night snacking. I think a holiday craft project of some sort may need to come into play to keep my hands busy, that might be just the ticket.

I haven't had a drink since Saturday night.

I tried a new recipe this week as well, I made Roni's Spaghetti Squash Cakes from GreenLiteBites.com. They were so yummy! I will probably make a 2nd batch this weekend. I am trying to make it a point to eat more seasonably too, this is a good recipe to take through the fall months.

So, all in all, I would say that since Tuesday and my No Excuses approach, I have had a pretty good week. The momentum is swinging in the right direction, I hope plan to keep it going that way!

Happy Weekends to all!

They don't call it a "challenge" for nothing...

Yesterday I completed Week 1, Day 1 of the Push up, sit up, and squats challenge.

Push Ups
Week 1 Day 1
Max 7

Sit Ups
Week 1 Day 1
Max 15

Squats
Week 1 Day 1
Max 30

Holy Abs! The sit ups are going to be my biggest problem I think. Although my arms were shaking like crazy at the end of the Max set. Then I did 3 miles on the treadmill...a slow 3 miles because I am still having a lot of problems with my calf muscle on my left leg. I'm only 29 and sometimes it feels as if I'm falling apart!

I had an on-point weekend otherwise, which is HUGE for me. I usually use a good portion of my flex points on the weekend, this weekend I used 1 extra point. I worked out Saturday morning, running two 11:something minute miles and Sunday I did the above. I love having successful weekends.

Successful consecutive days, weekends especially, to me mean that this really is becoming my way to live and eat. It's not just something else I started to quit, or a diet to follow until the weight comes off. This is just who I am now and I like that. Granted, I still have remember to make the healthier choice and get my butt out of bed, but it's slightly easier every week.

I hope everyone had wonderful weekends! Here's to a healthy week!