When you least expect it

Yesterday was my first day back at work after my va/stay-cation. I had a headache, I was exhausted and the last thing I felt like doing when I got home was going to the gym. Yet all day long I kept thinking "I just want to go for a run, a run would make me feel better." I canceled plans with a girlfriend for dinner because I was just miserable. I got home, looked at my couch and almost gave in. At 5:10 I called my friend and put dinner back on the schedule for 7pm. This gave me about an hour to work out, so I headed to the gym.

I ran a quick 2 miles on the treadmill:



and then headed into the weight room where I worked on arms and abs. By the end of the work out that I totally did not want to do I felt AMAZING. My headache was gone, the blahs were gone and I was bopping my head along with the music.

THAT feeling, the one that comes after a really great work out is the greatest high. It always comes when I least expect it. I think I have the best workouts when I make myself go to the gym when I really don't want to. Now, if only that feeling were strong enough to get me out of bed without fail at 6am, all would be right with the world.

Happy Weekend to those who have them! After work today, I may just head to the gym again. :)

I'm not Dead, like Pink!

I promise I haven't fallen off the planet or anything drastic. I haven't been eating very well or exercising very well (since my 5k) and that doesn't leave me much to blog about. Have I done terrible? No. Have I gained weight? Yes. Do I know how much? No. Have I completely derailed? No. Do I like to ask myself questions and answer them? Yes.

I have a few weeks until Christmas and New Year's and my goal is to keep things in check until then, enjoy the holidays and then get back in check. I can do this.

Anyway, another reason I have been quiet is that I have been on vacation for a week. It was half a visit to my family's home and half a stay-cation where I caught up on movies and decorated my home for the holidays. I really needed to just spend most of my time "unplugged". I turned off the CrackBerry and the computer and just enjoyed being at home. It was blissful and something I don't think we do enough these days.

Today I'm back at work and totally swamped. I did come back to a lovely gift from one of my vendors.



It's always nice to get a non-food related gift at the holidays. :)

I promise to write soon with good news about how healthy I'm being or some awesome run I had...and if I don't, bug me until I do! :)

Happy Thanksgiving!

I ran my 5k this morning and it was such an amazing experience. It was 40 degrees and foggy when I arrived. I wasn't thrilled with the temperature...



but after the race I was left with this feeling of accomplishment that I can't even begin to describe. It brought me to tears.



My chips stats were:

91 of 105 Age Group
1102 of 1311 overall
finish 36 minutes 32 seconds
average 12:25mi

Living at the beach did not give me the hill training I needed for this race, but I finished running, that was my main goal, and I did it!



Happy Turkey Day!

Giving Thanks

I knew my post today wasn't going to be about weight loss, I knew I wanted to write about what I am thankful for. Then I saw Roni's post asking what we are thankful for and realized I wasn't the only one with that idea and I think it's a great one.

I am thankful for my husband who puts up with me regardless of my antics on any given day. I know it's not easy to live with me, but he only rarely seems to mind. :)

I am thankful for my family. Some days they drive me absolutely nuts and some days they make me cry but I love each and every one of them more than words could ever express. They are amazing people and I feel truly lucky to call them family.

I am thankful for my health. I have the ability to get out of bed every day. I think I take this for granted too often. This in itself is an amazing gift.

I am thankful for my friends, they make me laugh and pick me up when I fall.

I am thankful for BlogToLose.com, everyone on that site is there for me when I feel like people in my "real life" don't understand the struggle I am going through changing my life. They just get me.

There is so much in my life that I am truly thankful for. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday because it really makes you think about all of the wonderful things in your life and gives you time to be with those you love. No pressure, just love and be loved in returned.

I won't be around much for several days, I'm going to see my family and won't have constant internet access. On Thursday morning I have my first 5k race and I am nervous and excited! Thanks to some extra motivation (in tee shirt form) from my dear friend Heather, I think I will just:




Happy Thanksgiving to all of you!!

Can you remind me?

Today makes 1 week since I've ran at all, longer since I've run well. I woke up last Saturday morning with a water balloon for a knee and I've not worked out since. It has been very painful, but it's finally starting to ease up. With my race on Thursday, I haven't wanted to risk it. I want to run that 5k. Tomorrow I am going to try and do an easy two miles, walking as much as I need to. It feels so weird now when I'm not exercising a lot, but I like that.

This weekend is going to be an emotional one. My best friend is moving away and this is our last hurrah. I just have to remember to keep my habits in check. Food will not make me feel any better and neither will booze. Ok, booze might temporarily help, but the next day I will feel worse.

On Wednesday I leave for Greensboro for Thanksgiving and I know that will be a test in willpower. I am going to allow myself to eat what I want...in moderation. I'm not going to be so concerned with counting points that I don't enjoy myself. I would feel worse for that than I would for eating poorly. I am going to fit activity in where I can and since I will be responsible for a good amount of the cooking on Thanksgiving Day and for our Tree Trimming party on Friday, I will substitute healthy options whenever possible.

I think I am writing this more for me than anyone else. I always tell people "Can you remind me to (insert random thing here)..." because if I say something out loud, even if they don't remind me I am always more apt to remember it, so if you guys don't mind...

Can you guys remind me to enjoy myself in moderation, enjoy the time with my friends and family and cherish every moment of the next week while keeping myself healthy? That would be great...Thanks. :)