c25k: w2d1

Today was the start of Week 2.  It about killed me.  I don't know if it was because I took 2 days off between my last run or because the running time this week has been upped. 

1.80 miles in 30 minutes. 

c25k: w1d3

Week 1 is completed!

1.75 miles in 30 min.

Day 3 was pretty easy.

I start Week 2 on Monday!

Let me start by saying that getting sick with a head cold is no fun in the summer!! Now that I have gotten that off my chest I can breathe (wait no I can’t because my nose is stopped up!!  Ugh!!). Well the week started just like any other Monday, up at 6am and waking up my sweet baby girl up by 6:15am only to find she has a 102.4 degree fever!!  Needless to say I haven’t walked any this week.  I did do P90 on Monday, Tuesday, and by Wednesday I was sick. Good news is that my E was well!! I think I am too now!!

I have had scale and non-scale victories the past week!!  The scale victory is obvious but here is the non-scale which may be better than the scale….My sister is getting married next month and the bridesmaid dress that I was measured for and was ordered came in a couple of weeks ago and did not fit at all (in a very soft voice…. it was too small.)!! Now for the non-scale part…The lady was able to let the dress out and make it fit. However, at my last fitting she had to TAKE THE DRESS BACK IN!! YES!!! That felt great!!

I am kind of moving all over the place today. So bear with me… In my last post I told you about my new way of life. I don’t want to call it a diet because I am committed to living the vegetarian life.  Here are some websites that were given to me by some of my Facebook friends:

 http://www.goveg.com/ 

http://www.tryveg.com/cfi/toc/

I also thought I would share the book I am reading.  I have laughed and cried all in the same chapter.
Disclaimer: I must say that the language in the book is rough, but if you can get past it there is some good information.  The name of the book is “Skinny Bitch”. http://www.skinnybitch.net/

c25k: w1d2

Today was day 2 in week 1 and it went great!  I am actually enjoying it.

1.71 miles in 30 minutes

3,519 steps

260 calories


And I earned another 60 points for my replay!  (PS--if anyone is interested in a replay, I can send you an invite and you get 20% off your order!).

The 10 Best Poses for Runners

 I thought is article was very helpful!  I am always looking for new stretching poses!

C25k: w1d1

C25K =  The Couch to 5k in 9 weeks running program.  I have started this program many times before and never made it past the first week and always repeating week 1 for many weeks.  I have been debating starting it up again and FINISHING the 9 weeks.  Debating.  I came across Momma of 3 On The Run.  I sent her an email asking her about her c25k and she inspired me. 

I downloaded the Podcasts over the weekend to my iPod.

Today was Week 1, Day 1.  I did 1.61 miles in 30 minutes (the podcast ended at 28 minutes after a 5 minute cool-down, but I am weird and had to walk to 30 minutes).  I did the warm-up & brisks walk at a 3.0 mph and the runs at 5.0 mph. Sadly and stupidly, I forgot to turn on the pedometer on my iPod. 

And I feel great.  I had NO problems with the workout.  None.  I was able to do and enjoyed it. 

I WILL finish this program. 

15 Best Diet Tips

I saw this article from Web MD linked from another blog and thought I would share.

15 Best Diet Tips

1. Drink plenty of water or other calorie-free beverage
2. Think about what you can add to your diet, not what you should take away.
3. Consider whether you're really hungry. 
4. Be choosy about nighttime snacks
5.  Enjoy your favorite foods.
6. Enjoy your treats away from home
7.  Eat several mini-meals during the day
8. Spice it up.
9. Eat protein at every meal.
10.  Stock your kitchen with healthy convenience foods
11. Order childrens portions at restaurants
12.  Eat foods in season
13. Swap a cup of pasta for a cup of vegetables
14.  Use non-food alternatives to cope with stress
15. Be physically active

Checking In

I haven’t posted anything in a long time so I thought  that I would check in. Also, I haven’t been walking with the girls this past month (its so hot here). I have chosen to get up earlier and walk with my dad. It has been a wonderful father-daughter time.

 My weight loss is going well. I have lost 1/3 of the amount I want to lose!!! I also have decided to become a Vegetarian!!  It has been a week since I had meat and I love it!! My husband….not so much. I am still working on him.

Things I Can't Workout without

Bondi Band: these headbands are amazing!  They keep the hair back, the sweat off the face and don't slip off!  I have 3 and just won another one, but want a Wicking Ponytale Hat.

My ipod Nano and the armband.  I do want the Nike + iPod Sport Kit. 

I decent ponytale holder, Goody StayPut (which I have ran out of).

A BPA Free Re-usable water bottle, 32oz. 

I have a S2H Relay, but could live without it.  It is a good concept and I loved the idea of earning 60 points for every 60 minutes of activity (which I am doing almost everyday), but it does not work unless your arms are moving constantly.  So, pushing a stroller does not work with this.  I emailed the company and complained.  They reimbursed me my money and promised to send me their new product (a pedometer that you earn points for every 10,000 steps).  I like it because with the points I can buy itunes giftcards!  Hopefully, the new product works better.  I do try to remember to wear it when I am not pushing the stroller.  It is really hard to push the Triplet Stroller with one hand though!

Our group workouts have gotten smaller.  Shannon and I are the only ones walking in the morning now  :-(

The pictures from Shannon's Mountain Post don't do the mountain justice. That thing is huge and steep and we did it!  I had serious doubts and am still surprised I made it.  That stroller is HEAVY.  My van had trouble going up it when we drove over there to take pictures of it! 

Aint No Mountain High Enough

Evey time we walk we get to a place in the road where we can turn left and climb "The Manchester Mountain," otherwise known as Pine Mountain, or we can turn right continuing on a relatively flat track. Today, Jen and I chose the Mountain. It took us a while; we stopped several times to catch our breath. But, wow! What a sense of accomplishment!

By the time I was half way up it, my thighs were burning. In all honesty, I was getting ready to quit. I said a little prayer asking for the strength to continue on and I thought of Isaiah 40:31 which says "but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Low and behold, we made it all the way up. By the time we made it to the top, we were rewarded for our efforts with a spectacular view.

















On an unrelated thought, since the climb this morning, I have been singing Ain't No Mountain High Enough. I thought I would share this little ditty. Maybe it will brighten someone's day or offer a tid bit of encouragement. I guess this means that we will fording a river next!

Clean Your Plate!

My husband and I shared an amazing day at Six Flags recently. One of the best things about going to an amusement park--the food. First of all, you walk approximately one million miles, which offsets any caloric intake. Secondly, all food, even the mundane, seems foreign and exciting when eaten in the shadow of a sky-scraping roller coaster. In short, diet be darned.

Instead of lunching on the $7.99 kids' meal, which my painfully frugal, coupon-clipping soul yearned for, I chose to get the overpriced chicken tenders and fried sides. Having already consumed my liquid weight in PowerAde, I honestly didn't have much room left for solid food, but I gave it the old college try.

As I sat there staring at the leftovers--one monstrous piece of chicken and assorted and sundry deep-fried root vegetables--I attempted to allay my guilt at not wanting to clean my plate. Could I stuff down the food anyway? (Yes, but they might have to shut down Batman: The Ride for some impromptu cleaning of the rails.) How long would chicken last, wrapped in a cheap paper napkin in my pocket? (Probably until I unwittingly laundered the pants.) That childhood imperative was ringing so strongly in my ears: clean your plate. Don't be wasteful. Show your gratitude in times of plenty instead of turning down perfectly good food.

And then it occurred to me: the ways that I view food are sometimes unhealthy or antiquated. How many times have I used food in an inappropriate way, causing myself to become physically ill or, at the least, overweight and unhappy?

What if, instead of gorging on earthly food, I overate at the table of the Lord?

What if I woke up each morning and treated God's word as fresh-fallen manna, being sure to lick the plate clean? What if I chose to share the abundant blessings of love, resources, and talents I have been graciously given, instead of wasting them? What if I thanked God with a genuine heart?

I wonder how God might use me, should I be able to turn my bad habits into a desire for all the good things He's been cooking up.

Anybody hungry?

Go UP a size

In shoes!  Ever since I started walking almost everyday, my feet have been killing me.  Mostly, my toes and heels.  Towards the end of each walk, it took everything I had to make it back to the van.  I always wear toenail polish and one night when I took it off, I noticed that some of my toes were black-n-blue (from hitting the front of my shoes when we walked downhill).  I asked around and got the best advice: go up a size.  My current shoes were old and falling apart and since my birthday is next week (I turn the big 3-0!), I bought new shoes (Nike running), going up a size.  And I did and my feet could not be happier!  My feet actually have room to swell in this GA heat and for all the uphill and downhill work we do.

So, if your feet are really killing you, go UP a size!  

Lean, Mean Learning

Every year one of the community churches offers a three day workshop in which church members share their expertise and talents with others. This year, some of the M&M moms decided to participate. We took a photography class, a tai chi class and a cake decorating class which was the best. We had a ton of fun! Although by the end of the workshop Haley B. and Shannon were a little punch drunk off the huge quantities of icing. (No worries, calories were reduced and exercise increased to make up for all that sugar.) Check out the pictures of the yummy madness!







You may learn more about the First United Methodist Church's "Gift to Pine Mountain" here: http://www.lagrangenews.com/view/full_story/8845310/article-Church-classes-to--8216-give-back-8217--to-community?instance=secondary_stories_left_column

Shopping Spree

Perhaps it wasn't so much of a shopping spree as it was two shirts, a pair of shoes and a whole bunch of school clothes for Peanut. Regardless of what it is called, those two tops that were purchased for me are a whole size smaller than the size I have been buying for the last 4 years! Kudos to me!