Shrinkaversary Final Weigh-in

Well, this pretty much sucks. When I started the challenge, I had made it into a new decade: 158.8. Today's weight: 161.0. That is up 2.2 lbs - S**t! But considering how busy I've been the past 2 weeks (no exercise what.so.ever. and eating crap, crap, and more crap) then I'm lucky to have only gained 2 lbs. I did really good on mileage for the first few weeks, but like I said, NOTHING, in the past 2, so by my count on dailymile, I walked 30 miles. I never counted the walking I do all day long at school, so it's probably a little more, but I don't really have a way to track that.

I'm very frustrated and I don't like that feeling.

• I hate that I have to watch every morsel that goes into my mouth.
• I hate that my body seems to retain water like crazy if I've had so much as a couple shakes of salt. Forget about what happens if I go out to eat. Why restaurants have to put so much salt in the food is totally beyond me.
• I hate that one of my coworkers is dropping weight like crazy, but says, "I don't know why I'm losing weight." She was thin to begin with and is beginning to look downright skinny. TOTALLY NOT FAIR.
• I hate that no matter how much weight I lose or how much I exercise, my fat calves will never fit into cute, knee-high boots. (They barely squeezed in when I was down to 140).
• I hate that when I joined the sisterhood this past summer, my weight had ballooned back up over 165, but I've only lost about 5 lbs. I just keep losing and finding the same few pounds. It is beginning to look like I will never see 140, much less my low of 138 a few years ago. My doctor says 150 should be my goal, but even that seems very fat on someone who is only 5'3" on a good hair day.
• Obviously, I'm feeling the need to bitch, moan, and whine. I apologize.

What does this tell me? I need to get my a** in gear-literally. Luckily, I am starting Christmas break in 2 days and I really hope to get to the gym. It is waaaaay too cold now, with snow and ice on the ground and major amts of darkness, for me to even attempt outdoor workouts. I'm a total wimp when it comes to the cold. Why I live in Michigan, I may never know. The only explanation I can think of is that I was born here and this is where my family lives. We are also getting a Wii for Christmas (don't tell my kids) and Santa is bringing me the EA Sports game. I can't wait to start the 30 day challenge. I probably also need to start tracking my food again. Can't wait to see what the girls at the sisterhood have in store for us beginning on the 30th. Bring it on!

True Confessions Monday

We ate at Tony's I-75 in Birch Run, Michigan on Saturday. after my son's Lego Robotics tournament. This place was featured in an episode of Sandwich Paradise on the Travel Channel and has been a Michigan icon for over 30 years. The BLT has a full pound of bacon - 'nuf said.

This is not me eating, but this is what I ordered:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtEzRTBRC_c

I've done absolutely no exercise, except Power Shopping, and most of that has been done with my mouse. My daughter also insisted we make Puppy Chow this weekend (you know, perfectly healthy Crispix cereal, coated in a blend of butter/chocolate/peanut butter, and dredged through powdered sugar). I truly live in fear of the scale - he is going to be quite unkind on Wednesday.

I just learned how to add video to my blog (yah, I'm really techie when you compare me to most of my coworkers, but compared to the rest of y'all, I stink).

Here is some video of my daughter doing her thang:

And here is my son:

Shrink-A-Versary Weigh-in: Week 3

This is going to be brief because I have no real time to blog.

This week: 158.0 (down 1.2 from last week).

Miles this week: 10.5

This next week is going to be rough-I'm fighting a sinus infection and somehow managed to cause a blood vessel in my eye to burst, so I look and feel like complete a** , my dad's 70th b-day is on Friday and we are taking him out for dinner on Saturday (I think I'm having a harder time with him turning 70 than he is), and my kids are busier than usual. I don't know if I'm going to even come close to the 10.5 miles I logged this past week. I'd like to average 10 per week, but it is getting harder with the weather getting crappier.

UGH, stop the ride, I wanna get off......

Virtual 5K

Hey Sisters!
Congrats to everyone who ran this weekend. I did not sign up to participate since I'd been having so many knee and hip issues, but I did manage to get out and walk on Sunday. I finished my 3.1 miles in 45 minutes, which is about 14 1/2 minute miles. Not too shabby, and sadly not much slower than my most recent running pace of about 12 minute miles. I think I've resigned myself to walking from now on, with the occasional short burst of jogging.

Thanks for this new challenge, btw! I'm definitely looking forward to logging the miles. I did another 3.1 today (my usual trail), so I'm on my way to that first button!

Shrink-A-Versary Weigh-In #1

I'm up 0.2 to 159, which is basically like staying the same. Pretty good, since I was up 2 lbs Sunday morning (darn those delicious pickles and olives I ate Saturday night, not to mention the Halloween candy) and it is Parent-Teacher-Conference week this week (anyone who is a teacher knows how "well" we eat during this crazy time).

I know we aren't tracking miles yet, but I have to report that I managed to get out twice this week for 3.1 miles each time. That's 6.2 miles this week. (I've pretty much given up on running at this point-my bod just can't handle the impact anymore.) Also, I was surprised at how sore my butt was after my first walk-guess I'm more out of shape than I realized. The first day I walked was the first day we've seen sun up here in Michigan in quite some time, so I thought "whoo-hoo, I can get out and get some exercise." Wouldn't you know it, it was still only about 40 degrees and it started raining about 3/4 of a mile into my route. So those 3.1 miles should count double for being so sucky! Today was much nicer-sunny and about 50-wopping degrees. I've decided I really need some cold-weather workout gear, so if anyone has any suggestions, send them my way. I'm tired of my legs freezing and turning bright red from the cold.

I hope all the rest of my sisters out there had a great week and good luck to anyone running this weekend.

Happy Shrink-A-Versary!

Starting this new challenge 2 lbs less than last week - I'm at 158.8. Pretty good considering I haven't found the time or motivation lately to exercise. Running kids to umpteen different activities after school really puts a crimp in the workout time. Oh-well. At least is seems I've adjusted my intake to compensate since I'm still losing weight.

I've gotta say, though, I'm very excited to start this next challenge. With the upcoming Michigan winter, getting those miles in is going to be very difficult, but I will certainly try. I just wish it didn't get so dark here so quickly. Good thing we "fall back" this weekend :)

Happy Shrink-A-Versary, sisters!

Weigh In Wednesday - A New Decade!

Wow, I finally made it to a new decade. 159.4 lbs. That's down 2.2 lbs from last week. Granted, this was after sweating through a run, but by golly I'll take it. If I drink a glass of water, I'll probably be back over 160, so I'm just going to stay dehydrated for a while and revel in my new decade. I finally feel like I might be getting back on track. I've started running and again and I'm watching what goes in my mouth. Heck, I even did some strength training yesterday and it didn't suck. Have I been perfect this week? Absolutely not, but I think I'm moving in the right direction. I still need to start tracking, but at least I'm getting in my water and I have been faithful about taking my vitamin. I guess I'm really in this for the long haul.

Some days, I'd like to call up those Ultra 90 diet pill people they keep advertising on the radio, but I know that taking some stupid pill is not the solution I seek. There is no magic pill or potion that is going to turn me back into the slimmer person I was a couple years ago. I need to work with my lifestyle and my crazy-a** schedule and just make it work. It might mean more workouts to youtube (thank you Spark People!!!) and late evening runs/walks, but somewhere in all the craziness, I will find what works for me. Now let's see if I can get this decade to stick!

On a completely unrelated note....my hometown area has a kick butt art contest going on right now. 1262 artists in 159 venues around Grand Rapids, Michigan are vying for a $250,000 top prize. Check it out at http://www.artprize.org/about-artprize One of my husband's friends has an entry: Motawi Tileworks of Ann Arbor Michigan. Here is their page: http://www.artprize.org/artist/id/2444

Here is a crazy video about one of the entries. I was in the crowd that the camera pans over about 21 seconds into the video but I'm hiding behind some tall people :) Now, I don't necessarily think this qualifies as art, but who am I to judge? Enjoy! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXxJ9i91vfE