H20~ Keeping the Pounds Falling Off

Jen - You're so smart to order clothes and have them waiting for you in the states. Shipping costs add up SO quickly.

Crystal - Small walks are definitely better than nothing! I hope it rained on Thursday for you.
Rain is wonderful! Happy anniversary! So sorry you about your little lovie getting the pox. How yucky. :frown:

Nikki - Glad you decided to go shopping! IKEA is one of the best stores E.V.E.R., and that Peppermint Patty cupcake sounds divine! I'm a cupcakeaholic, so I'm all atwitter over the one you ate! I'm so impressed with how consistently you're running. You get your running time in there no matter what is going on. You're a rock star!

Linda - I really like the idea of your presentation! Joints Matter really does sound like an important part of the joint replacement surgery process...getting all of those answers before you realize you need to ask the question really does add assurance and confidence. I hope the interview with the paper really highlights your work!

Lisa - I too think about Nikki just pushing on through her 9 mile runs and going :embarassed:

Cazz - *positive vibes coming your way*

Chantal - Hi!

I think the theme for this weekend was over-indulgence! Yikes stripes, man. It started on Thursday and went up until yesterday. It wasn't necessarially eating too much, it was just eating crap...my "don't eat that *kitten*" alarm turned off in my head and I just kind of ate whatever I wanted. Like, seriously...lemme break it down...since I ran on Wednesday, I justified getting Jack in the Box for lunch (boss requested it, so I grabbed us lunch on the way back to the store), then dinner was Burger King (hubby and I were too lazy to cook and that's just where we ended up), Del Taco (took my dog to the groomer and as a treat for her being a good girl, I got her her most favorite food ever, a classic chicken burrito from the Del and since I had to run off to work as soon as I had her home I had three regular tacos and that was it), In-N-Out (Friday dinner was such a good choice of tortilla soup, but we went to the bar afterwards with friends and that created the satiable-only-with-the-actual-thing-Double-Double monster), Saturday I was good and had a salad at lunch but that was overshadowed with pizza and drinks at our neighbor's house...and then Weinerschnitzel for lunch yesterday. :huh: :sad: :noway: I'm so very not proud of these choices.

HOWEVER, I did have a great time shopping on Friday morning while waiting for the puppy to be done at the groomie. I hit the mall 30 minutes before it opened and found a Coffee Bean, grabbed an iced joe, and did laps with other mall walkers. I got in lots of walking and then had a great time shopping the sales. I used a gift card for some tops (actually bought one at regular price! WTF?!) and jeans at Macy's and then at GAP they were having an addt'l 40% off clearance items sale, so I found SIZE 8 jeans normally priced $69 for $22 plus tax. I took the Macy's jeans back and now have more gift card money to spend. Yay! And then I went to Sephora and found an awesome Tarina Tarantino lip gloss normally $18 on clearance for $5. Now I'm wishing I'd gotten a few more to have in stock for presents and such. Dang I got wordy fast...you just can't shut be up when it comes to shopping!! I sales and clearance sections SO much! Now I just need to get my *kitten* to Kohls or Sports Authority or Marshall's or something to scour their sale racks for some adorable running capris/skirts.

Hi all! Hope you're having a great Monday... mine's been super busy! I'm glad to be working at a busy office, but sometimes I would just kill for a nice quiet afternoon!!!! Anyway... not complaining, just sayin...

Pink, I love you're shopping trip! Sounds amazing... I love getting bargains like those jeans! I'm going to need new ones (again) when fall hits, but I'm waiting until it cools off so I don't buy the wrong size!! LOL!

Chantal, welcome back!!!!!

No exercise for me today... I'll be back running tomorrow after work! Is it wierd that I'm already planning my 10 miler for Saturday? A little excited... and I drove the race route yesterday for my 1/2. I'm planning on using that route for one of my long runs in a few weeks, even if I walk a little or take a small shortcut, just to get a feel for the distance. Plus, I wanted to check on the bike path situation. Should be good!

Have a great Monday....

Happy Tuesday everyone! I decided to make a good choice and stay up after my hubby went off to work. Usually I go back to sleep but while getting him out the door I was much more awake than normal. So, yay! Early bird gets the worm, right?

Crystal, I have absolute faith in you that you WILL kick what you gained to the curb! You've got a great attitude and such a wonderful reason to get yourself into the best shape you can be. I have a feeling we'll see that ticker of yours hit 20 in no time. *hug*

Crystal, I have absolute faith in you that you WILL kick what you gained to the curb! You've got a great attitude and such a wonderful reason to get yourself into the best shape you can be. I have a feeling we'll see that ticker of yours hit 20 in no time. *hug*

Thanks, Pink! :flowerforyou:

Down a little bit this week. Gotta run off to the store, I'll catch up with you ladies later.

Okay... feeling a bit better today... after a rough workout! Go figure! My butt and thighs... killing me! My triceps - I swear I still feel them burning! Still, somehow the pain feels good... and somehow, I know you will all understand! Thanks for putting up with my whinging!! (Now you know a bit of what the Slave Driver has to endure.)

On a more somber note... my son got into some trouble a few weeks ago and we got the notice yesterday that his court date is next Friday. Please pray they scare the crap out of him enough that this will be the one and only time he ever has to go to court as a defendant!!!!! He's 12. He was caught with three older boys breaking into a building. It was stupid, and he's been grounded ever since. This will not be cheap for us!!!! I'm a little nervous, but I do want them to scare the living crap out of him!!!!

I could go on for DAYS about stuff like this! LOL Thankfully, THAT kid turned around... he is now a cop - well, a sheriff - he says there IS a difference! So, I pray it works out for your son and your family!

On a more somber note... my son got into some trouble a few weeks ago and we got the notice yesterday that his court date is next Friday. Please pray they scare the crap out of him enough that this will be the one and only time he ever has to go to court as a defendant!!!!! He's 12. He was caught with three older boys breaking into a building. It was stupid, and he's been grounded ever since. This will not be cheap for us!!!! I'm a little nervous, but I do want them to scare the living crap out of him!!!!

I could go on for DAYS about stuff like this! LOL Thankfully, THAT kid turned around... he is now a cop - well, a sheriff - he says there IS a difference! So, I pray it works out for your son and your family!

Hang in there...it will all work out. If he knows he did wrong and understands it and has remorse..then he learned.

Thanks you guys. I really hope he gets it. When I read him the paperwork he was pretty shocked at how much this could cost and how long he could be in trouble... and I hope it really sinks in! What a hoot it would be for him to be a cop someday... actually I think he would be good at it... so thanks for the encouragement!!!!

I got a really long walk in this afternoon/evening which felt amazing. I also got to spend some time hanging out with my sister which I always love!!!! We even swapped some pants/shorts because she was being optimistic this spring and bought some size 6's that are just too snug (she's gained a couple pound this summer) and my 8's are falling off... so we are swapping! I love this, because the 6's are fitting great and I just don't want to buy any more clothes right now!!!! She's happy they are getting used and will wear my 8's as long as she needs!!!! Sisters rock!

Crystal - Happy Anniversary and I'm sorry to hear about the chicken pox! I can't believe your daughter has them in her hair...that must suck so badly for everyone. And you CAN do it again, you will eat healthy and hopefully it'll be easier now because you know it can be done.

Nikki - It's awesome that you ran 4 miles and then shopped for 10 hours - that kind of makes you my hero We're finally getting an IKEA here, but it won't open until fall of 2012, which is completely unacceptable! How am I supposed to buy furniture for my newly finished basement if IKEA doesn't open for another year and a half? And congratulations on the loss - it's amazing that you are so close to your goal, but even more awesome that you've turned into such an inspirational athlete!

I hope things go well for your son and with any luck the seriousness of having to go to court will scare him. It must be hard on your entire family, but I hope he gets scared straight. Is there any way to get him to hang out with different guys? Sports or something?

Linda - "Joints matter" sounds like a great way for you to combine your practical skills and teaching skills. I'm sure your patients are thrilled to have a caring health care professional that takes time to explain the important parts of their recovery. I'd get sick around you any day!

Christine - LOL @ getting your dog a take-out burrito!! That's fabulous! Not that it's a bad eating competition, but you'll see below that I have you beat on the "terrible eating" front...vacation eating for me I'm super envious of your shopping expedition and I'm so glad you found some awesome sales.

Chantal - welcome back!

Jen - congrats on making it to level 3! That's a great accomplishment. How are you finding it compared to level 2? I have to get back to the 30DS this week, but I'll probably do level 1 a couple of times before starting level 2 because I've been out of it for a week or so.

BJ - congrats on the loss!!! That's such a huge accomplishment!

Cazz - that burning and pain is progress! You're going to kick butt at your next weigh in and your trainer is going to be seriously impressed!

Well ladies, I'm back from vacation and officially back on the healthy track! I had a fabulous trip to the US - we went through North Dakota, shopped in Fargo (I got my Asics for less than half of what they cost in Canada...great but kind of annoying!), then drove to Brainerd for some fun mini golf. We stayed in really cute cabins and ate s'mores!

Then it was on to Duluth, and we loved Canal Park. We walked around the whole area, strolled on the Lake Walk, and yes, ate s'mores every night. Plus I ate fish and chips (more than once), enjoyed a margarita at a restaurant famous for them, and may have choked down popcorn and chocolate truffles a time or two...

Then we drove to Mackinaw City and spent the night there - what a cute town! And the FUDGE! It was literally everywhere...Nikki had told me, but I didn't really understand until I got there. It was INSANE. Even stores that sold other things (books, curios, etc) ALSO sold fudge. It was a challenge to find a store where you couldn't buy fudge. And they just give it away so you can try it, over and over and over again.

But my favourite was Mackinac Island! We walked around, ate lunch at the Pink Pony (love the name!) and tried (you guessed it) FUDGE all over the place. Then we rented bikes and rode the 8 mile path around the edge of the island. And we stopped and hiked 800 feet up the side of a cliff to check out geological rock formations...fun!

So the Island was awesome, and we got a lot of exercise that day from walking everywhere and riding bikes, plus I went for a run that morning. So I managed to run twice while away for 6 days, and I was happy with that.

Oh, and this happened accidentally, but somehow I ate pizza every single day we were away. Some gourmet pizza (prosciutto, red pepper and goat cheese with arugula...I still dream about you), regular pizza at Pizza Hut or Old Chicago, and in the middle pizza in Mackinaw City - Pizza Palace, you made me so happy...

BUT now I'm back home, I started off right by getting up early and heading out to running club at my gym, where we put in 4.4 miles, and then I had a protein shake and a healthy lunch. I've grocery shopped and bought ridiculous amounts of fruits and vegetables, and planned a run with a new running buddy early in the week. No more fish and chips, no more pizza :frown:, and no more FUDGE :grumble: Oh, and apparently no more s'mores every night. Huh.

Thankfully my husband is on board with healthy and he's getting up to run tomorrow. That makes it so much easier!

Now I have to go and deal with a million emails, but I'm glad to be back!

By the way - I'm so envious of all your US food options! We stopped at a Super Target and I spent $140 on food I can't get in Canada. And it was so annoying to see how much cheaper it is down there. We need to triple or quadruple our population up here!

Nikster - thinking of you and your son-

Great job on the 10 miles

Alegria- glad to hear you loved Mackinac Island- I have been to the pink pony as well- how funny! You think you are envious of the food in the US-try being an American in Belgium- the food choices are appalling- other than, perhaps beer and cheese, maybe bread- we have tons of choice there

for me level 3 is a LOT easier than level 2- but this is partially because I have to do all of the modified versions of the exercises- I Imagine if you do the harder versions level 3 might be tougher, but then again maybe not- it's different -

btw I cannot do situps- at least not without using my feet/legs to help pull be up-

great job Nik!

Happies for today:

New shorts fit!
Pants that I could only pull up to my knees in Late January I can now zip and button (too tight to wear out in public though, and are white so intend never to wear them as next time it is white pants season again I intend to be smaller!)
leaving on vacation soon!

Jenn, yay for smaller pants!!!! I love dropping sizes... I can't believe how much better I feel when I shop now!

BJ, yay for another milestone!!!! So happy for you!

Realized tonight during my 3 mile run that I really prefer to run in the morning and not after work. The problem is, unless it's my day off, I can't get up early enough!!! On my days off I usually run around 8am-ish... and it's awesome. After working a long day mostly on my feet, the last thing my feet and legs feel like doing is run. I suppose this is normal, but I'll keep pushing through because I can't afford not to run just because I'm tired! No excuses... just jogging and logging!!!!!

I have the next two days off thanks to working overtime a couple weeks ago. I'm so freaking happy about that!!! And, I have plans with girlfriends tomorrow night!!!! I'm planning to do something to burn some calories so I don't feel bad about the food and cocktails that will undoubtedly be consumed! Either walk/bike ride/weights... I don't care, just as long as I burn about 500!!!! I'm planning on a really fun night!

I lost 1lb
Puts me at 139lb yay, hello 130's

great job!!!:drinker: