So much for guns.

 

Friday, leaving work, this happened:

I backed into a huge metal trailer. The kicker? I have 1 car payment left. I made it through Friday night without a drink, probably because I was on-call for work.

Saturday, work was INSANE. I stayed late. I worked hard. I got mad as a hornet.  I came home and had two of these. I didn’t feel bad at all.

So, I didn’t make my goal of no booze until July 3rd. However, I am proud of myself for stopping at two and making it a whole week. The husband and I had a lazy movie night. It was our last Saturday night together until the fall. Sunday, I went grocery shopping for the week and then the husband left for work. I’m not used to him not being around on Sundays. It’s a bummer, I just keep reminding myself, it’s just until the fall. I used my Sunday time to make some homemade gnocchi and watch some chick flicks. That was my weekend.

Today, is Monday. Today, my half marathon training begins. I’m using Jeff Galloway’s training program. I want to build up slow and steady, especially to make sure my knee can handle it. I’m excited to get started!

Meal Plan for the week:

Monday - General Tso Quorn

Tuesday - Skinny Italian Meatballs (may flip flop with Wednesday if I go to the driving range after work)

Wednesday - Gnocchi with Vegetables

Thursday - Some sort of vegetable and polenta casserole type dish

Friday - Leftovers (I’m on-call again, leftovers are easier)

Goals for the week:

1. Track food Monday-Friday at least.
2. Continue the eating only food that I prepare until July 3rd rule.
3. Do the work outs as dictated by my training schedule, don’t skip any.

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
30 min. run	Cross-Train	Rest	3 mile run	Yoga	30 min. run

So, I’m ready to get this party started. I’m going to have a good week, you are too. Let’s just do it together.

How did you do over the weekend?

I’m not a lush, I promise.

 

I have to tell you. This no drinking until July 3rd thing is proving to be quite difficult for me. I’m not an alcoholic by any means, but I drink at least 1-2 times a week with my friends. That’s what we do. We get together and have a few drinks. I can’t go to a bar with them and not have a drink. I can not eat at a restaurant, but I can’t go to a bar and not have a drink. If we don’t go to bars, we go to each other’s houses or to the beach…where we have drinks.

This is an especially busy time of year for me, I’m under a lot of stress at work and a few drinks are always welcome. I’ve been asked several times this week to go out, even to have “secret beers” that no one would know about. It’s been tempting, but I am trying to stay strong. I want to prove to myself that I can go 2 weeks without drinking. I am assuming I won’t see my friends much. My husband even said “It’s going to be a long two weeks” he’s so right.

Wow. I sound like a total lush, don’t I? I wouldn’t blame any of you for thinking that I have a drinking problem. :)

Last night for dinner, I made Zucchini Parmigiana. I only deviated from  the recipe in a couple ways. I used non-fat or reduced fat cheese and instead of egg whites I used 2 Tbsp of Italian dressing, 2 for the ricotta cheese and 2 for the zucchini before breading. It turned into a cheesy, gooey, delicious mess. Next time I will use more zucchini and less cheese and sauce. On the side I just had a random broccoli slaw, spinach, carrot and onion salad with a little miracle whip, horseradish mustard and seasoning. It was an easy, comforting meal.

Today is my day off, it’s supposed to be 96 degrees with a heat index of 110’ish. :/ I am going for a run in the air conditioned gym on the treadmill, then I’m off to the library to return a few cookbooks and to pick up In The Defense of Food by Michael Pollan and I’m thinking some pool time will need to be in there somewhere. The husby and I are supposed to go to the driving range to hit some golf balls, but I assume if the heat doesn’t break a little bit we won’t be going. We’ll see!

So, if adults don’t get together and have cocktails, what do they do? What do you do with your friends?

What's up next?

If you missed my Lighthouse 10k Recap on Saturday, please go check it out. It was an awesome race and I had a good time! However, I am already ready for another race. Is that normal? :)

Due to my work schedule it's going to be very hard to participate in races until the fall. I have to work Saturdays. It's not an option from this point forward. However, I found two races within an hour's drive on Sundays in May. One is The Bellamy Mansion Race for History and the other is a Mother's Day 5k & Fun Run. Both are in Wilmington, NC and are on 5/2 and 5/9 respectively. I really want to do the Bellamy Mansion run. It sounds awesome. It's through historic Wilmington and you get to tour the grounds of the Mansion after the run. However, the 2nd is the day after a party my friend Kelly is having, so I'll have to weigh my options. I am going to do one of them though, that much I know.



Anyone local or nearby to Wilmington interested in coming out and doing one with me? You don't have to run, you can walk! Races are so much fun and these are only $20'ish and both are going to good causes. Let me know if you're interested!

In other race news, my good friend Heather (who I met through the wonderful blogging world) has finally gotten me to commit to running my first Half Marathon. I am excited and terrified. We chose the Myrtle Beach Mini Marathon and it's the inaugural year.
I like to train using Jeff Galloway's training programs, so this would mean my training will begin on June 27th. I just keep thinking to myself "You ran 7 miles once...just do that almost twice." Yeah. I'm having confidence issues, but I'll get past them and I have plenty of time to train!

When I start to think that maybe I can't do something...this is what I'm going to think of from here on out. At the end of the Lighthouse 10k, we were getting ready to leave and my Mom says "Oh no, someone fell!" We look over and about 100 yards from the finish line an elderly gentleman had taken a tumble where the road turned from pavement to gravel. He kept trying to get up and they kept making him lay down. You could tell he just wanted to finish the race. I heard through the crowd that he was having chest pains. The ambulance and medics finally showed up and the man tried to get up again. The medic, with a reluctant look on his face, helped him up. They walked over the finish line together, the man answering the medics questions for his paperwork before his ride to the hospital. I cheered and cheered for him as he finished. It brought tears to my eyes. You can always finish. Just don't take no for an answer.

My meal plan for the week!

Meatless Monday - Black Bean & Cheese Quesadillas
Tuesday - Chicken Salad Sandwich
Wednesday - Herb Parmesan Crusted Talapia
Thursday - Turkey Meatloaf with a Honey Mustard Glaze
Friday - Whatever's Left in the Fridge thrown together to make something yummy.

This will be a difficult week. My eating wasn't great over the weekend. I indulged in my cravings (in moderation, but I still indulged) with my Mom and I have to attend a conference for work on Tuesday and Wednesday. I an very type A and tend to panic a bit when my schedule isn't just so. Yes, I know this about myself and yes this is something I'm trying to work on.

I think I've yammered on enough for today. I hope you all had fantastic weekends! :)

7 miles

It's 5:40am and I am awake! I am bound and determined to get reacquainted with this hour of the day. Would I rather be sleeping? Absolutely. However I am proud that I am awake. With my work schedule really becoming something rather hectic for the next few months, I worry that the blog will suffer. So, I'm going to try to start writing early in the morning that way it's done and posted before the mad dash begins. So, getting up at 5:15am not only gives me time for a work out it gives me a little time to blog!

As for my workout this morning, I am going to do AM Yoga with Rodney Yee. I have had this DVD forever, but I love it. He has a very soothing voice.

I chose Yoga this morning because I am a little stiff from my 7 mile run yesterday. That's right, my 7 mile run.



That is my farthest distance yet. I am proud of myself for completing the run, however it was far from my best run. I was very sluggish and slow due to the fact I didn't get enough sleep, I had a bit too much drink the night before and I didn't eat appropriately the day before either. It was ROUGH. The Lighthouse 10k is in 2 weeks, this chick will be doing some clean living until after that. I can't put my body through another run like that. I felt like I was hitting the wall for the entire run. But, I did finish it! I wanted to quit so many times, but I didn't. I finished.

So, it's Monday morning and 2 of my goals have been completed. I completed my 7 mile run (finally) and I am awake before 6am. Go me! Let's put the Easter Candy away and keep the pendulum swinging in the right direction for awhile!

We are having a heat wave here in NC. It's supposed to be 80 degrees today! It would be the perfect day to sit on the beach or by the pool! How's the weather where you are?

A Friday Funny!

I want to start with one of my favorite jokes, it goes like this:

A guy was riding the elevator into work one morning and a lady got on and said "T.G.I.F.!" He looked at her and "S.H.I.T.!". A bit more determined she repeated "T.G.I.F.!", he replied again and said "S.H.I.T.!". She's a little angry now and says "T.G.I.F., you know, Thank Goodness it's Friday?". He looks at her and smiles when he says "S.H.I.T., Sorry Hun, it's Thursday."

I love that joke. :)



Well, it's Friday, this I know! I'm am so looking forward to the weekend! I don't have any real plans. Saturday I may take Chaser to the new dog park. Then the husband and I are planning to go out Saturday night, nothing major, just a few drinks, just us and then meet up with some friends later to celebrate a birthday. Then on Sunday I have a 5 mile run. The weather won't be nearly as warm as it was last weekend, but it will be sunny!

I know there's something I'm supposed to tell you guys on Fridays...it's slipping my mind though....

I have my meal plan ready for next week, here it is!

Monday - (Meatless Monday Meal) Spinach Lasagna Rolls
Tuesday - Oven Fried Chicken & Hungry-Girl's Butternut Squash Bake (the recipe link I can't seem to find now)
Wednesday - Beef & Broccoli Stir Fry
Thursday - Butternut Squash Orzo and Brussels Sprouts
Friday - BBQ Chicken in the Crockpot

Yummy! I'm looking forward to eating next week!

Man, I know something is slipping my mind...

I finished reading My Sister's Keeper last night and it was such a great book. I totally did not expect the ending. I haven't seen the movie yet, not sure I want to. I don't want to give it away, but if it's a great book and I recommend it!

Maybe I forgot to tell you my mini-goal for the next week.

Have only 1 snack after dinner. I have a problem of snacking several times after dinner. I know I'm a night-time snacker and I allot points for that. I want to limit myself to 1 snack after dinner.

I remember what I'm supposed to tell you know...I'm supposed to tell you to Have a great weekend!!!

Right?

Ok, ok, I remember! I weighed-in this morning at 162.7, -.3 lbs for the week. You were all right, the scale surprised me. I will take the .3 loss and be VERY happy about it. :)

Do you set mini-goals for each week? If so, what is your mini-goal for next week?

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?

Are you ready for some football?

Weigh-in this morning: 166.2lbs +2.8lbs from last week. Of course, last week I had an uncharacteristically big loss (-3.5lbs) and I know I made terrible food choices and did a lot of mindless snacking in Greensboro. I think the combination of that explains (although does not excuse, I still stand by my "no excuses" policy) why I had a gain. I will buckle down this week. I am also going to buy a real scale. I've been weighing myself on the Wii Fit only, so I'm curious to see how a scale compares. Coupons.com has a $5 off a Weight Watcher Con-Air Scale coupon, so that will help!

I am setting a Mini-goal, that's not so "mini" to me.

Stay on track this weekend.

That's it. Track everything I eat and drink and stay on on-point. I can and will do this even if it takes using all of my Flex Points. Did I mention my husband is a bartender? We always go to his bar for Super Bowl and they have a big party with loads of booze, food, shots and friends. It's going to be tough, but I know I can do it. Right while typing that, I heard the ESPN Sports Center jingle.

Weekend plans for me:

Tonight: Go see Dear John with my friend Kelly. Sneak snacks into movie theater. Come home, meal plan for next week while catching up on my DVR'ed shows.

Saturday: Chaser The Wonder Schnauzer goes to the Vet, then it's shopping for Super Bowl party stuff and groceries with the husband. Have no idea the plans for tomorrow evening but I'm sure they will be laid back since we will be out on Sunday.

Sunday: I have a 3 mile run in the morning and then I am going to eat a healthy breakfast and lunch before heading up to the bar for the Super Bowl! This year I'm mostly just excited about the commercials, but if I have to pick a team, it's probably going to be The Saints!

What should I sneak into the movies tonight? I know I'm going to sneak in a 100 Calorie bag of Pop Corn...anything else? What's your favorite movie snack?

Happy Friday everyone!

Rebirth

I have been doing WeightWatchers on and off as "diet" plan of choice for years. I don't consider WeightWatchers a "diet". Those who know me know I hate that word. I have changed my life. I have learned portion control and lifestyle balance with the help of my trusty Weight Watchers books. Here's a little secret for you though...

I have never actually joined Weight Watchers.

Shocking, I know. I have hand me down books, used any online information I could find and did my own thing. Well, that all changed today.

I could feel myself backsliding my new lifestyle a little more often than I was comfortable with. WeightWatchers was waiving their sign up fees with the New Year, so I decided to actual join the program that I have believed in for years. I joined WeightWatchers Online. I consider it almost a rebirth. A new start.

I am excited to use the new online tools and to see what the program has to offer...officially. I signed up for the 3 month savings plan. If I benefit from actually paying for the plan, I'll stay on...if not, I'll cancel. Either way, I like what I see so far. :)

Stick to your guns!

I am having a good week. I have been on-point all week, I've stuck to my goals that I set for 2010, I've done my training for the 5k on Saturday and I'm proud of myself.

I found this information today:

—About 80% of people who make resolutions stop keeping them by mid-February.
—Two-thirds of dieters gain back any lost weight within a year.
—Many people make and break the same resolution year after year.

I want to achieve my goals for 2010 and I want you to achieve yours! I subscribe to the Hungry Girl newsletter and she had some fantastic tips this week to help you achieve your goals and stick to your guns...at least as far as health and wellness goes. This advice isn't going to help me get my credit cards paid off any faster.

1. Don't go "on a diet." While diet plans can be helpful, if you think of yourself as being "on a diet," everything can become too black and white. If you're "on a diet" and suddenly you have a little setback, you may decide you're "off your diet" and go back to your old ways. Think of your new eating plan as more of a lifestyle change -- one that will have ups and downs, with good days and bad.

2. Don't deprive yourself. A food plan shouldn't be about deprivation. It should be about SATISFACTION. Find foods you LOVE -- things that satisfy you but are better choices than the fat-packed alternatives. This is KEY.

3. Drink lots of water. Water is good for you. It's good for your skin and your metabolism. And it helps fill you up. Plus, not getting enough water can make you cranky and more likely to make bad food choices.

4. Listen to your body. It knows things. If eating cereal for breakfast tends to make you hungrier throughout the day, then don't eat cereal in the morning. Pay close attention to your body cues. This will help tremendously.

5. Live one day (or even one MEAL) at a time. Don't be discouraged and beat yourself up if you fall off the wagon and eat badly -- just be aware and make better decisions at your next meal.

6. Get exercise with activities you enjoy. I used to HATE exercising. I feared it. Now I exercise but only do what I like (which happens to be walking on a treadmill five times a week, while watching reality TV, and weight training twice a week with a friend). Find something you actually enjoy doing, and you'll do it. Don't take on an exercise routine that causes pain or discomfort -- you'll just end up ditching it completely. (And I know this isn't an EATING tip, but it's important!)

7. Let yourself cheat a little. Everyone strays once in a while. It's totally normal. Splurge when you need to, and enjoy it. (Don't feel guilty!) Then get RIGHT back on track to prove to yourself that you can handle a cheat meal now and then.

8. Keep track of what you eat. Write it down. As dorky as it sounds, you WILL 100% without a doubt make better choices if you hold yourself accountable for what you eat by keeping a food journal. Just do it -- even if you only write in it every OTHER day.

I wanted to share this with everyone because it's hard to get back on track. I've had a great week, but I've been so tempted just to grab a piece of chocolate or skip a work out. I've also been tempted to shop like a mad woman at the after Christmas sales and work stress has made me quite snappy at the husband. But I take a deep breath and I focus. I remember my goals and I move forward.



This may seem like a rather silly post only being 7 days into the New Year, but I needed a reminder already. I doubt I'm the only one.

How are you doing so far with your goals and resolutions?

2010 Goals, not resolutions, but goals.

Last year I made a deal with myself that I would no longer set "resolutions", instead I would make a list of realistic goals and do my best to stick to them. I feel as if "resolutions" set you up for failure. There's just too much hype.

I did OK with my goals of 2009, my goal was 50lbs I lost 44 (gained back some of the 44 though going into January), I ran a 5k, I paid off a few debts....but some of my goals will roll over for 2010.






Tonyne's Goals for 2010

1. Continue on the path of health and wellness.


2. Run a 10k and at least two 5ks (first scheduled 1/9).


3. Pay off at least 2 credit cards using The Debt Snowball Effect.


4. Read 1 book per month.


5. Work on improving my marriage. It's not rocky or anything, but we did have a rough patch last year and I want to make sure that things only improve from this point on. I saw the following quote on facebook recently and I think that's what I mean by this goal:

   If all husbands and wives would make it a goal to treat their spouse better than their spouse treats them, how much better would our marriages be?

I think that's a good start. I constantly set goals for myself throughout the year, but these are going to be the main focuses.

I hope you all had happy and safe celebrations! I plan to make the traditional ham, greens (kale for me) and black eyed pea dinner tonight which I will get to enjoy with my Mom who has decided to come down for a weekend visit!

I look forward to the challenges and good things to come in 2010. I wish you all health and happiness in the new year!

What are some of your goals for this year?

What a difference a year makes.

My "Before" picture was taken 1 year ago on Christmas day. Since I know I will be busy on Christmas Eve and on Christmas day the only thing I plan to do is stay relatively "unplugged" and enjoy the day with my husband, I decided to take my "1 year later" shot today. So here it is, the difference 1 year of healthy living has made.



44 lbs lost.
A 5k Ran
A healthy lifestyle learned and maintained
An "I can do whatever I set my mind to" attitude that I have never had before
Respect for myself, physically and mentally.

It's been an amazing year. Some of the changes I've made have been easy, others not so much...but the changes I have made I know will be permanent.

I still have some pounds to lose, I wasn't as good around the holidays as I had hoped to be but you know what is different this year? I didn't beat myself up over it. I indulged, most of the time in moderation but not always, and the next meal it was as if it never happened. There was no "Oh well, I went off the wagon..." free for all. I just accepted the fact that this is a busy and difficult time of year, did the best I could and will move along. I know that January will bring back routine, healthy eating and regular schedule will resume.

I am so proud of myself. It brings tears to my eyes to think how far I've come and how much I disliked myself and the way my life was going a year ago. While being overweight was a big part of it, it definitely wasn't all of it. Once you begin fixing things, it makes it easier to continue to do so.

The difference a year can make can end up saving your life. I know it very may well have saved mine.

I want to thank you all for reading my blogs, giving me support and encouragement and continuing to do so. I honestly feel as if blogging has been a huge part of this journey, holding me accountable in a way that makes it easier to say no. Thank you. I wish you all a very Merry Christmas (or Hanukkah or Kwanzaa) and a wonderful 2010!

"Go Me!" Moments

I live on the coast of North Carolina, this weekend some friends asked me to dog sit for them in their beach house on Sunset Beach. Who am I to refuse a house for the weekend 1/2 of a block from the beach? Meet my pal for the weekend:

Jeter

We walked all over the island on Saturday evening, having a grand old time in the sand and on land. On Sunday morning he decided I should see the sunrise. While I wasn't happy at the prospect of being up so early at first, I was glad he did.

We had a lovely and long walk after which he crashed on the porch while I finished reading 1 book and started another...all before 10am, I might add.

So, this weekend I got lots of walking done, which was good since it was my "Rest" days for my 5k training plan but, did you know that staying by yourself, house sitting in a home full of junk food, missing your husband and your own dog will probably make you eat thus said junk food? Well it did me. I didn't make the best food choices, (too many ginger snaps, peanut butter on crackers, chex mix and M&Ms) I'll admit it and there are no excuses. I did it, I admit it and I'm moving along.

However, guess what did happen? Are you ready for this? I went to Football Sunday for a few hours with the guys and I only had....1 beer. AND I didn't smoke. I haven't had a single cigarette in 1 week and I have only had 1 beer 9 days. I know, my excitement over this leads one to think I should be in AA or something...but it's not like that. I just really like my beer. While sitting at the bar I almost asked my husband for a cigarette several times and then I thought:

"Think how disappointed you will feel if you do and think how proud you will feel if you don't."

and it worked! Then I was thinking instead of going to my house to cook a healthy dinner to take to my friends house for dinner last night (I didn't want to dirty their kitchen) I would just swing by Wendy's a grab a cheeseburger. A few minutes later I thought:

"Think how disappointed you will feel if you do and think how proud you will feel if you don't."

And guess what? It worked. AGAIN. :) Sure, it was a pain in the butt driving all over creation and having to bring food to cart back home to work today, but I had a vegetable full healthy dinner instead of a cheeseburger. So although I made some poor food choices I have to say this weekend was full of "GO ME!" moments.

Pause a minute and do the cabbage patch....and the roger rabbit....

Sorry ya'll, but I feel good. :)

No more excuses!

Today is the day I stop making excuses. I have been full of them lately for everything imaginable. My house is a mess, I haven't been eating well, I haven't been working out like I should, I can't tell you the last time I took the dog for a walk, I have been drinking like a fish and not sleeping well. Here are some of my excuses:

"I'm not feeling well."

Maybe because you ate yourself into a food coma, or drank yourself into an oblivion?

"I'm under a lot of stress at work."

You're only stressed because you're letting it stress you out.

"I miss my family in Greensboro."

You always miss your family, you'll see them next month...this is not new.

"It's my husband's birthday, so I have to celebrate!"

Yes, but when it's his birthday and he's driving you home...you celebrated too much.

"I ran yesterday, I probably shouldn't push my knees."

You only ran two miles yesterday, your knees can take a little more. You used to run everyday.


Well, today is the day I am done making excuses. I am going to set some goals for myself, right now:

1. I am only going to allow myself to have alcoholic beverages once a week (in moderation...probably on football Sundays) from now until Thanksgiving.

Reasoning: I have been drinking too much lately...way too much. Alcohol is not a coping mechanism, I need to stop treating it as such. I also need to be focusing on finishing my first 5k and keeping myself motivated to run while being hungover several days a week has not been working.

2. I am going to run a minimum of 3 times weekly from now until Thanksgiving. No excuses. If I can't run, I will walk and at least 2 times weekly I will do Yoga or weight training, something else that will keep me active.

3. I am going to make at least 1 new recipe weekly.

4. I am going to lose 6lbs (from Friday's weigh in on 10/23) by Thanksgiving. (and, I'm going to stop skipping weigh ins!)

Ok, 4 attainable goals. I can do this.

From Merriam-Webster, this is the definition of excuse:

1 a : to make apology for b : to try to remove blame from

Well, I'm done making apologies for neglecting myself and I take full responsibility for letting myself backslide.

I'm finished with excuses. Today is a new day.