I am woman, hear me RAWR

Fri, 10 May 2013 13:04:55 EST

Today I did something that the old me would never have done.

The flower beds in our front lawn were in desperate need of a fix... late last fall we had ripped out the old wooden retaining wall because carpenter ants were swarming on/eating the wood and crawling all over our neighbor's house. But after ripping out the offending old/maybe a bit rotting wood, we never did anything to fix the beds. the weeds grew and it looked awful. (I wish i had taken a picture, but I didn't.

Been awhile

Mon, 6 May 2013 12:45:42 EST

And this blog is likely to be a short one. The past few weeks I've been trying to get back on track...but if I have to be 100% honest with myself I've been 'tracking' half-a$$edly.... really going through the motions.

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different results.

I'm ready to stop being insane.

I'm not sure what I'm going to do to make sure this time is different...but I honestly feel like I'm waking up from a fog. I...

Running update, Boston thoughts

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 19:23:24 EST

Friday 4/12, I had one of the BEST runs I have had in a long time...and not just because it was one of my faster runs. (and when I say runs, I mean run/walks, because I do a lot of walking... no set intervals, yet..thats something I intend to work on)

connect.garmin.com/activity/29682622
1

It was one of my best because during the run segments my legs didn't feel (for once) heavy as lead slogging through mud...but almost felt like they were floating a...

Marine Corps Motivational video

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 19:41:31 EST

Let's see if this works:

www.marinemarathon.com/Community/MCM
_TV.htm

Video to inspire about the Marine Corps Marathon.

If I get this teary just watching a 7 minute video.... how much more so will I be WHEN I finish this race?

Feeling Hope for Humanity

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 13:57:38 EST

Two stories I've seen and/or read today that really give me hope for humans as a species.

screen.yahoo.com/disabled-girl-makes
-brighton-middle-022902987.html

gma.yahoo.com/blogs/abc-blogs/autist
ic-girls-broken-cheeseburger-story-goe
s-viral-234305060--abc-news-topstories.html

Race report 17.75k (3-23-13)

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 12:14:30 EST

My husband got me up at 5am. My mother was driving down from Hanover, PA to our house in MD (about an hours drive or maybe 1hr 15/20min) to watch the kids while he took me to the race.
We were on the road by about 5:30 I think... a quick stop at McDonald's for breakfast for me...even though I wasn't so sure I could eat.. nerves... but I did manage it..and for once did not feel guilty about fast food.. I knew I'd run it off during this race.

But I was nervous as heck. This ...

Do you want to play a game?

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 13:56:04 EST

Well, this is something I'm going to do for myself, but anyone who wants to join in is welcome to do so.

Everyone knows I've been dealing with see-sawing weight and weight creep at the scale. I USED to set weight loss goals and tie rewards to those goals..but that becomes problematic when the scale refuses to cooperate. So what's a girl to do?

My idea... set a "points" goal for myself and tie the reward to when my "score" reaches that number of points (which I'm tryin...

REBOOT 2-26-13

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 14:55:39 EST

This morning I faced another gain on the scale. From last week's 218.4 to this week's 220.2.

I've now officially regained half of the 60 lbs I've managed to lose when I started on 6/25/10. (From my heaviest of 253.2 to 193.2 and now back to 220.2. (I guess my body just naturally loves that .2... lol)

Anyway, I reset my ticker. Its time to buckle down and track and get down to business... Given how much weight I have to lose to get anywhere near a healthy weight... ...

So... I had a scale snit this morning...

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 20:13:16 EST

Actually, I had quite a crappy day going.

Last week, I expected a gain on the scale (because it was "that time") and I had a loss of 1.4 lbs. I thought "woohoo, maybe after 3 weeks of staying the same the weight training is paying off..."
Then this week... not only did I find the 1.4 I lost last week, I was up *another* 1.4 for a total of 2.8.. sigh.. and I did NOT expect that. I thought at worst I would maintain.

So on one of the private forums I belong to, I ...

Some days...

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 20:31:36 EST

Some days my bodymedia doesn't give me credit for the exercise I do.. Running on the treadmill (or outside) it always give me credit...the elliptical I think pretty good... the arc trainer, not always gives me credit... and the bike.. hehe it will give me some.

I think its because bodymedia relies on arm movement as one of its things to measure....

Anyway, some days it doesn't give me credit..and other days it gives me MORE...

Now I always thought of my job as...

Give me an...Ooooh.... Rah!!

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 15:16:33 EST

Registration for the Marine Corps 17.75K race and Marine Corps Historic Half Marathon opened today at noon, EST. I had storytime this morning until about 11:50...so I get right out of storytime and rush to a downstairs computer. Log into the Marine Corps marathon site.... no active link.
The site is running slow. My clock is reading noon..then 12:05, 12:06, etc. Site is slower than molasses in mid-January. (I know its because I'm not the only one with the bright idea for this.)...

Keep it to yourself?

Tue, 8 Jan 2013 19:35:29 EST

Because I can link up my bodymedia and myfitnesspal accounts I use MFP for food tracking... and there is support there too and I enjoy it, but I really, really enjoy Sparkpeople's support and blog features.

Anyway, I sometimes cruise the MFP threads just because...and came across a thread about keeping your goals to yourself vs not. There were all sorts of views and people had good reasons for the views they espoused.... and one person mentioned that research has shown that when y...

2012 recap.... 2013 goals? (Angel of belief, devil of doubt)

Wed, 2 Jan 2013 16:44:44 EST

2012 was the year of new achievements, and a year of setbacks.

Achievements: first half marathon in May, 2nd one in November...and with bronchitis! lol
Setbacks... weight gain... more than I'd like. (from a total loss of almost 62 lbs to gaining weight where my loss was "only" 37 lbs)

For Christmas, my husband gave me a bodymedia core armband. I am really enjoying it and find it motivating... if nothing else its a physical reminder / anchor to myself that remind...

Trying something that feels radical

Thu, 6 Dec 2012 10:34:33 EST

Eating MORE to lose weight.

On the suggestion of a friend of mine from facebook, I found an food/activity calculator... and doing what she did... I input my GOAL weight and current activity level (I put moderate 3-5 times a week)... and am going to use the figures it gave me as my calorie goals.

It feels a bit scary, 'cause the numbers seem high to me. But the low calorie thing hasn't been working for me, so what do I have to lose?

calculator-converte...

Fall Classic Half Marathon

Thu, 29 Nov 2012 11:58:23 EST

This is late... really, really late. The race itself was on Sunday, 11/18.

The only thing I can say to my excuse is it took me awhile to sort through my own feelings on my performance vs expectations vs hopes.

I'd had the flu about a week and a half to two weeks before and that was quickly followed up by bronchitis. And before that.. well, I'd been slacking on my training. I can't even begin to say why.

So realistically there was no way I would even be ...

The end is near...

Sat, 10 Nov 2012 14:01:34 EST

LOL (well, the end of the year).. coming up faster than I'd like to think about.

At the beginning of the year I had some goals:
www.sparkpeople.com/mypage_public_jo
urnal_individual.asp?blog_id=4647382

so how am I doing so far?
last week of 2011 my weight was 194... current weight as of Wednesday 11/7 was 211.8 so to meet the goal of ending the year less than I started this year off with... I'd have to lose 17.8 lbs. ... in 7 weeks. Hmmm....

Marine Corps 10K 2012 (10-28-12)

Sat, 3 Nov 2012 22:30:37 EST

Writing this entry almost a week late. But I blame a combination of getting ready for Sandy (which thankfully didn't hit our area as hard as it could have... definitely nothing compared to New York and New Jersey!!) and then my husband and son then me getting sick. My daughter was the only one (so far -- knock on wood) to stay healthy.
www.sparkpeople.com/mypage_public_jo
urnal_individual.asp?blog_id=4563818
Is a link to last year's 10K report.

Diff...

Run like the wind, with the wind..against the wind?

Sat, 27 Oct 2012 15:57:49 EST

Well, it might be one of those! lol

Tomorrow is the 37th Marine Corps Marathon (and also the 10K, which is what I'm running again this year.)

And Hurricane Sandy is menacing the east coast. But MCM/10K is still on.
So..yeah..this ought to be interesting!

My hubby is also sick with a fever (maybe the flu)... and our son Thomas (who is on the autism spectrum) is freaking a bit ... well, very worried at least... about the hurricane. Fun times, huh?
...

Contemplating the Scary

Tue, 16 Oct 2012 18:35:28 EST

Seems appropriate with Halloween only 15 days away. ;)

I've mentioned a goal I'd like to aim for in 2013. Literally this time (well, one year and two weeks away.)

And just putting it out here is scary enough for this girl... or so I thought. Then, as I was cruising around I found a fitness blog that linked to a challenge/contest Underarmor is running for women.

What's Beautiful?
...

10 things I'm grateful for... and,, Oct.

Mon, 1 Oct 2012 23:01:56 EST

October goals I'm still contemplating, But part of our BLC20 challenge this weekend was to write a blog post (which I'm doing now)... and list 10 things we are grateful for.

So in no particular order:

1. My children. They challenge me, exasperate me, make me laugh and are simply everything for me. They're the reason I got started on this road to health. (Though I started for their sakes I'm now doing this for them.. AND me.. before it was all about them. And they'...

This made me giggle

Thu, 20 Sep 2012 12:29:09 EST

A joke shared by a friend, courtesy of her mother:

********
A man on his Harley was riding along a California beach when suddenly the sky clouded above his head and, in a booming voice, God said, "Because you have tried to be faithful to me in all ways, I will grant you one wish."

The biker pulled over and said, "Build a bridge to Hawaii so I can ride over anytime I want."

God replied, "Your request is materialistic; think of the enormous challenges for...

Still struggling, still... (BLC 20 plan?)

Mon, 17 Sep 2012 21:38:03 EST

Fighting? Trying to fight?
I don't know.

I haven't given up, but I have to question whether my joining the Biggest Loser Challenge was the right one or not. Its like I join these things all gung-ho and then ...pfft... a challege comes along and I just suck at it.

Or maybe not. This weekend's was a "back to school" type challenge and points could be earned by taking full length pics, etc.. as a before picture. (This was as close to full length as I could get tak...

Wednesday reboot...streaking day 1

Wed, 12 Sep 2012 12:05:23 EST

Yeah, I never finished logging my food last night. So I'm restarting my streak. Still I did manage for 36 straight days...and don't think I messed up last night really.

BUT:
Weight last week: 205
Weight this week: 205.8

I'm sitting here feeling really, really discouraged. At least I'm not paying weight watchers for the privilege of see-sawing like I was before. But dang it... I want back into Onederland! I want back in the 190s...then finally breaking i...

Kissing Concrete on Tuesday, streaking day 37

Tue, 11 Sep 2012 14:33:04 EST

I had been weighing in on Tuesdays and I did sneak a peek at the scale this morning, but at least while I'm doing Biggest Loser challenge, I figure I would change my official weigh in day to Wednesdays... at least while I'm doing the challenge.

So this morning I ran.. okay, ran/walked.. High Tor Hill (road name) has two extended hills, some walking was required for me at least. I did see my kids, which made me happy. So I decided to be a bit bold and extend my run down a differe...

Monday, why must you come so soon?

Mon, 10 Sep 2012 10:52:04 EST

It was a nice, relaxing weekend overall.

Actually, I felt like a bear most of Sunday until my husband pushed me out the door for a run. (I had been snapping at him and the children, a fact I feel bad about in retrospect.) Things were better about 1 hr and 5 miles later. 246

This morning we took my husband's minivan in to the shop...its got to get some sort of sensor repaired if its to pass inspection. Money is really tight and I'm not sure how much this...

Saturday streaking, day 34

Sat, 8 Sep 2012 17:23:16 EST

I don't know what you'd call today... It started off with me catching up on some sleep by sleeping late... then giving hubby his turn to nap. After he got up, he got laundry started, then cleaned himself up and went to visit a college friend of ours for awhile... while he did that the kids and I just hung around the house... playing our various games, getting lunch together, etc.. and for me, getting dinner started.

allrecipes.com/recipe/jerres-black-b
ean-and-pork-ten...

TGIF, streak day 33

Fri, 7 Sep 2012 10:56:56 EST

Well, I finally got to talk to Thomas' school. Turns out the teacher who told me *any* day to meet would be okay was mistaken. (She said she hadn't been looking at her calendar when she told me that on the phone.) Turns out the school has some sort of teachers meeting Monday, so that's not good. So now I have to cancel my leave request for Monday and I emailed my husband to let him know to do the same.

On the plus side, it turns out Friday afternoon is better for the school. (A...

Thursday, Return of GIRL, streaking day 32

Thu, 6 Sep 2012 14:21:56 EST

I never did get a call from Thomas school, so I sent a note in his backpack this morning. I said that my husband and I had gotten Monday afternoon (Sept 10) off and we would be available for a conference from 1pm on. I gave my work#s I could be reached at... so far no call. We will check his backpack tonight.. if there is no note I will be calling the school tomorrow morning.

Last week was technically the first week of GIRL -- a Women's running training group. GIRL: Getting In...

Still streaking Wednesday!

Wed, 5 Sep 2012 13:53:13 EST

Day 31 of my tracking streak!

As for my weigh in yesterday, I had gotten a higher weight pre-run, and the 203.8 post run... so I decided to weigh in again this morning. Just to see which one was more "real".
205 (sigh)
which is +1.2 but still down 1 from two weeks ago.
so -48.2 overall

Eh.. in terms of this month's exercise challenge (my personal challenge to myself, not part of BL20) as of yesterday I'm at 170 / 1200 fitness minutes.

The b...

Monday...er... Tuesday, Streaking day 30

Tue, 4 Sep 2012 14:04:38 EST

Weight last week: 203.8
Weight this week: 203.8

I'll take a maintain. (If indeed it really was).. when I first stepped on the scale it said something a little higher, but then I got this number after my run. Yes, I know the difference was water loss, and I really should go with the higher number, but I suspect that was water the other way thanks to the holiday. So I'm going to count the maintain. It makes ME feel better.

And I need to feel better right now. I ...

Labor Day, Streaking day 29

Mon, 3 Sep 2012 09:45:47 EST

So far its been a lazy morning. I didn't sleep well last night... broken sleep. But I'm fairly rested anyway. At any rate if I really need it husband and I will trade nap times later... I let him nap this morning - he's still napping now in fact. LOL

The kids and I did a few minute walkabout the neighborhood, but not enough for me to really count it towards my fitness minutes. hehe

The other thing I've accomplished this morning was to register my son and I for "his...

Streaking day 28

Sun, 2 Sep 2012 10:54:01 EST

Not much has gone on so far. Sunday is the day we typically run errands.. well, hubby does the shopping, etc while I watch one or both kids. (Sometimes Georgia accompanies hubby shopping... and for awhile there not being allowed to go with him was part of her punishment for shoplifting those barrettes...but that's over now and all is forgiven.)

I do need to get a run in and at some point we are also supposed to take the kids to the pool, weather permitting since all the pools wi...

Welcome to September, tracking streak day 27

Sat, 1 Sep 2012 10:23:04 EST

Entering the homestretch on my attempt to track 30 days in a row. That book will be mine! ;)

And as that draws to an end (but like I said, I'd continue to track)... I have to think.. what next? Now as much as I like World of Warcraft there's another game that I've been wanting to play again..but I'd need to buy the disks for it because Miss Georgia when she first came home she went through a packrat phase and lost many of the ones I had. The game was Sims 2, which had many expa...

Thursday Streaking day 25

Thu, 30 Aug 2012 11:38:37 EST

Today is going to be a rough day, but I'm determined to not give in to it and make poor choices.

I'm a nite owl. I typically go to bed around 11pm or midnight. Its one reason evening exercise - even on the dreadmill, is easier for me than early morning exercise. Last night I went to bed around midnight. (Okay, technically that makes it early this morning..whatever! lol) Anyway, Thomas woke up this morning at 2:20am. And since he is on the autism spectrum we feel he needs to...

Midweek! Streaking day 24

Wed, 29 Aug 2012 10:26:08 EST

Woohoo, 6 more days of tracking until I've "earned" my book! yay
of course I'm going to keep tracking and streaking even after that...

Last night I had intended some additional cardio on the treadmill after work, but when I got home I decided those school forms absolutely had to get filled out...and by me. My husband is a dear, dear man..but if you had to judge his profession by his handwriting, you'd swear he was a doctor! (lol)
Then after those were done I wanted to...

Weighing in and streaking day 23

Tue, 28 Aug 2012 14:22:40 EST

Hehe, I really could weigh in and streak since I weigh-in in the buff. LOL
Weight last week: 204.4
Weight this week: 203.8

-.6 this week
-49.4 from my heaviest

At first I wasn't that thrilled with "only" a 6/10 lb loss. Until I thought about it and realized... with last week's 1.6 loss and this week's .6 = 2.2 over 2 weeks... or an average of 1.1 a week. That's not shabby at all. :D :D Sometimes the law of averages works in our favor! LOL
<...

Streaking day 19

Fri, 24 Aug 2012 11:06:26 EST

Well, I didn't actually finish day 18 until this morning, but I did log things honestly (and went a tad over my calories...) Peeked at the scale too and it had me up but #1, its that TOM, and #2 I had some salty stuff yesterday (probably in reaction to #1), so I'm not getting stressed about that YET.

What did have me stressed is worries over bills. I am sure with a little juggling things will work out, its just a stressor that's all. I probably should have run or at least walke...

Streaking day 18

Thu, 23 Aug 2012 09:33:30 EST

Well, all that fussing (on my part) didn't amount to much.. lol.. Tom chose not to take his kindlefire to childcare today. I am fine with that since its his choice. He's 11 and knows if he wants something there or not. I think he doesn't need it as much as he did earlier in the summer because now he knows school will be starting on the 27th. He's looking forward to school.

This morning was actually an EXCELLENT morning with the kids... no bickering or anything! I could easil...

Streaking day 17

Wed, 22 Aug 2012 17:28:33 EST

You know, I am rather impressed with myself. (lol) I went from only being able to track 3 days, to 4 days... to this.. day 17. And I know I'm not yet at 30 and having earned my book...but I have made it this far. And as each day goes on it adds a bit of weight and strength behind continuing that streak. Its becoming a source of pride.

That said the day did not start off well. There has been an issue at daycare with another child trying to take Thomas' kindlefire...so the teach...

Tuesday, streaking day 16

Tue, 21 Aug 2012 09:33:52 EST

And my traditional Weigh in day!

I plan on keeping this as my official day, even though I've signed up for BLC20 which weighs in on Wednesday mornings...so I guess once BLC starts I'll be weighing two days a week... but my Tuesday weights are what I'll post here and keep on my ticker. Chances are good the Tuesday and Wednesday weights will be pretty darned close anyway. lol

Anyway... Weight last week: 206
Weight this week: 204.4
-1.6 lbs this week, -48.8 fr...

Monday, Streaking to Health day 15

Mon, 20 Aug 2012 18:11:05 EST

The weekend... was nice, but hectic. We made ourselves presentable (haircuts/styles for most of us in the family), a present for the happy couple...then traveling down to get our daughter there in plenty of time to change with the bridal party and pictures, etc.

I didn't get to see much of the ceremony itself because Thomas didn't like the loud organ music and had trouble sitting for as long as was required. Before he could meltdown or otherwise disrupt the ceremony I took him o...

Friday, Streaking day 12

Fri, 17 Aug 2012 17:08:40 EST

Its been a fairly quiet, laid back kind of day. I had today off, so the kids have been home with me. I did some cleaning around the house, played some on the computer, etc.

Food tracking continues on My Fitness Pal... in some ways it is the same and in some ways easier than the SP tracker. I don't know. I figure whatever works for a person, right?

Anyhow, my husband got off early to take our daughter to the rehersal and rehersal dinner. We weren't sure Thomas would...

Thursday, Streaking to health, day 11

Thu, 16 Aug 2012 10:56:08 EST

First off, a note on Georgia... my husband did take her to the mall last night. She apologized and paid for the barrette. When I asked her if she'd ever do this again, she shook her head no. I told her because if it *DID* happen again, the store might have to call the police. But I hugged her and told her we loved her and that she was a smart girl and I was SURE this was never going to happen again.

I corrected my settings on myfitnesspal to make my diary public. I have no se...

Its only Wednesday?!?

Wed, 15 Aug 2012 15:58:32 EST

After the weekend of broken sleep, getting up to run 1 mile on Monday and getting LOTS accomplished, then the DRAMAZ of Tuesday... it already feels like the week has been.... well, a week long. LOL

Then there's the fact that Wednesdays always feel like *they* are at least 2 days long... my morning and storytime feels like 1 day, then everything that happens after lunch feels like a second day.

The situation with Georgia hasn't been 100% resolved yet. That will happen t...

Parenting, the hardest job in the world

Tue, 14 Aug 2012 18:49:05 EST

It can also be one of the most rewarding...but when it sucks, it sucks large.

I debated even posting anything about this, but decided it was going to make me sad no matter what, so maybe I ought to share.. I copied and pasted the story as I told it to my mom, aunts and sisters in law via email:

***

This morning I saw a barrette I've never seen before in Georgia's hair. So I asked her, "Where did you get that?" and she tells me that a friend at childcare ga...

Bumming on Weigh in day

Tue, 14 Aug 2012 08:33:24 EST

Weight last week: 205
Weight this week: 206

+1 this week. Yes, I'm still -47.2 from my heaviest, but considering at one point this year I was at -60 this is getting depressing. Also I went to the mall to try and find a nice dress to wear to my niece's wedding which is this coming weekend. I know, I know, nothing like waiting until the last minute...but I really do hate shopping for clothes and shoes. Maybe I should turn in my "girl card".

Speaking of sho...

Well hello Monday, adding to the streak?

Mon, 13 Aug 2012 15:58:50 EST

Okay, I have to confess that yesterday I did peek at the scale (and it did NOT give me good news, but since its not the official weigh in date - that's tomorrow) I tried to pay no attention to it.
Instead, I basically decided to keep doing my tracking and maybe even add to it. (yes, the basic idea of spark people, to build up on good habits, but I had sort of gotten away from that and am now getting back to it.)

Yesterday was my first run since I came down with my cold..and ...

Stress, I haz it, but still I streak

Sun, 12 Aug 2012 22:25:10 EST

I woke up this morning at 4am. I can't even blame Thomas for this one (he slept until 6am, late for him!)

I basically stressed about the bills and it woke me up..so the only solution was to do them. And it helped. I stayed awake until 6am (after the bills were done I had some quiet time with the hubby and then destressed and went to bed at 6am-9:30am. heh

Some cleaning happened in the dining room and kitchen. (Its not 100% done, but way better than it was).. hubby w...

The fun of broken sleep

Sat, 11 Aug 2012 15:39:50 EST

Soo... every time I plan a morning run I am doomed to failure. Last night Thomas went to bed at 8pm, which is about normal for him. I should have done something on the treadmill, but did not.. and I stayed up until midnight.. normal for me.

Unfortuately for me, and my plans to get up and run this morning, Thomas decides to wake up at 2am. I woke up with him and stayed with him until my husband woke up and then I went to bed from 5am-10:30am. Didn't eat breakfast/brunch until ...

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Marine Corps Historic Half 5-19-13