Impressing 7 Year Olds, Ethnic Meatless, Teach Me Strength Training

I promise, promise, promise not to talk about school too much but really it is a big portion of my day --- 7.5 hours. Today during writing time I was talking about different parts of my weekend because they are things that I could write about. I was trying to show them they can write about the little moments of their weekend. I mentioned that I ran 4 miles on Sunday and how that would be a great story. Their faces boosted my ego! At least one student said "Wow! You ran 4 miles!" They have to do a mile run a few times a year for the Presidential Fitness test so they have an understanding of that length. I know they're 7 but it still felt good to get such positive feedback, even if it comes from some knee-biters. :)

Tonight was another Meatless Monday. I find it so much easier to make meatless meals if they are ethnic in nature. We have had meatless enchiladas, meatless fajitas, meatless stuffed peppers, meatless quesadillas, meatless lasagna, meatless spaghetti, etc. Tonight was meatless tacos. I think next week I'm going to pick a non-Mexican, non-Italian meal. Perhaps meatless Japanese or Chinese. Some other ideas that I have are casseroles but those seem so heavy in cream sauce or cheese. Do you have any healthy, meatless "American" meal ideas? I find that most of the "American" meals that I can think of have meat at the heart of the dish. Interesting observation about our culture, I know.

I have a big weakness in my fitness regimen. I do not nearly do enough strength training. Even when I plan for it I sometimes completely skip it. How do you get yourself to do it? Do you enjoy it? Teach me what I should know about it. My knowledge is somewhat spotty. The most strength training that I've ever done is when doing the 30DS. I'm wondering if I should do that again in the mornings like I did back in the spring (when I was looking much more toned). Please give me advice and tips. I don't really want to lose more weight but would like to be more toned. Am I doing thing to really achieve this goal? Sadly and lazily, NO.

Today's EATS
B: 1 cup cereal, cut strawberries, 1/4 cup ff plain yogurt
S: 14 almonds, orange
L: broccoli salad, Greek yogurt, Dove bar
S: Cliff's Kids Z Bar
E: None :(
S: Crazy emotional eating due to stress that caused me not to workout (very cyclical)
D: meatless taco with blackbeans, corn, lettuce, tomatoes, sprinkle of cheese, sour cream and salsa on a flatout wrap

ABCs of Fitness

For a few days I've been thinking of the ABCs and components of a healthy lifestyle.  Please feel free to add your own ideas.  

• A:  Agua -- drink water.  I drink about a gallon a day.
• B:  BMR -- Basal Metabolic Rate
• C:  Calories -- every bit, lick, and taste counts; I record my calories in a food journal
• D:  Diet -- it's not a 4 letter word, it's a lifestyle
• E:  Exercise -- move and enjoy what you do
• F:  Food -- natural and clean; weight loss is 80% diet, 20% exercise
• G:  Goals -- set goals of what you want to accomplish
• H:  Help  -- ask for me when you struggle; reading other blogs have been a huge help for me
• I:  I, Me, and Myself -- I am in charge of what I do and eat and how I react to stressful situations
• J:  Jump -- plyometrics
• K:  Keep going -- when you make poor choices, self-correct at the next meal/snack
• L:  Listen to your body --  it gives you warnings before an injury
• M:  Make it at home -- take a meal that you love to eat at restaurants and try to re-create it at home.  You'll probably save a ton of calories
• N:  Need motivation/inspiration?  check out blogs
• O:  Open -- be open to different foods and cooking methods
• P:  Play-list -- create one that pumps you up!
• Q: Quiet time -- balance busy times with quiet time to relax
• R:  Rest -- rest your body, mind and spirit
• S:  Sweat -- when you workout push yourself and workout a good sweat.  Sneak in ways to sweat during the day; there are many benefits of exercise
  
• T:  Training -- it's more than just strength training   
• U:  YOU CAN DO ANYTHING!
• V:  Vitamins -- pop a multivitamin daily
• W:  Weight --monitor it but don't obsess. 
  
• X:  eXtra planning -- getting in exercise and preparing healthy meals takes extra time
• Z:  Zzzz -- Go to Sleep 

Today's EATS and Exercise

S:  banana with PB

E:  4 mile run 

B:  1 cup heart-to-heart, 1/2 cup blueberries, 1/4 cup ff plain yogurt

L:  turkey bacon, cheese, spinach and tomato sandwich, baked chips, homemade chocolate ice-cream AND IT WAS GOOD!

D:  salmon, broccoli salad, steamed new potatoes
d:  2 pieces of Dove chocolate

Sometimes You Feel Like a Run & Super Foods

Sometimes you feel like a run... and sometimes you don't!  I went to bed last night so excited for my morning run.  However, my body had a different plan.  I woke up feeling kind of sick to my stomach and not feeling run ready.  So I decided to postpone it until Sunday and stayed close to the bathroom all day.  I would have loved to have done it today.  Longer runs work better for our schedule on Saturday than Sunday.  On Sunday we have to get in the run before getting ready for church.  Oh well.  I am going to go to bed excited for it tonight and hope the run will happen as planned.

Today while playing around on the computer (and staying close to the bathroom) I visited different sites about weight loss and fitness.  I came across two really good groupings of Super Foods!  Several months ago (March/April) Ashlee of Ash is Fit featured different foods and recipes that use these Super Foods.  I found it really interesting.  I also enjoyed seeing things about the Super Foods on TV and realizing that I am eating some of these foods daily:  blueberries, yogurt, almonds, etc.  I find it really interesting that certain foods can do so much good for our bodies in different ways.  

Women's Health 25 SuperFoods for Your Body

Self's 20 SuperFoods for Weight Loss

What Super Foods do you eat?  What ways to use incorporate them into meals?

Happy Friday!

Happy Friday!  I am beat after the busy week of back to school.  I am ready for a relaxing weekend at home.  Crazy plans?  Heck no!  My plans are to do some things around the house, clean, and bake/cook.  I use to wish for crazy plans but for the weekend I am really content to be at home.  

Here were my eats for the day:

B:  1 cup heart-to-heart cereal, 1/2 cup blueberries, 1/4 cup ff plain yogurt

S:  14 almonds, grapes

L:  spinach quesadilla with just a sprinkle of cheese, orange and Dove chocolate

S:  Cliff Z bar

D:  turkey wrap from Jason's Deli, baked chips, cantaloupe

d:  natural ice-cream

I didn't exercise.  I'm resting for a long run tomorrow.  I really enjoyed today being a rest day.  Some days I feel lazy on these days but today I feel like it is prep for tomorrow.

Big plans for the weekend? 

Let's Talk Romance

Romance!  I don't know about you but romance doesn't seem like something I think about often.  It is important but somewhat elusive.  So spill your tips!  How do you keep the romance going in your marriage or relationship?

I definitely think that Husband and I were more romantic when dating than we are now.  Now we're old married people with a list of other priorities and responsibilities that are above romance.  Husband is also VERY predictable.  He loves schedules and routine and I can honestly say that besides proposing he has never surprised me.  The whole spontaneous aspect of our marriage has really faded.  I think one of our big hang-ups is thinking that money is needed to be romance and that's not the case. 

As the title of my blog hints, life needs balance.  Balance is needed in our diet and in our exercise routines.  Balance is needed in our lives (balancing work/fun).  Balance is needed in our relationships.  My relationship with Husband feels more life oriented and less romance oriented.  Please help!

Friday Coma Came Early

Pretty much every Friday evening I feel like I enter into a coma.  The business of the week catches up with me and I hit and wall and CRASH!  I usually go to bed on Friday early, earlier than normal.  Well my body must have been really confused when I got home yesterday because it thought that it was Friday.  Around 7:30 I fell asleep on the sofa and by 9:30 I was in bed!

 

So this morning I woke up kind of tired, after a shower and some primping in the bathroom looked presentable for the day.  I then began the lovely task of packing my lunch and deciding what breakfast would be.  I really wanted a banana and PB sandwich but Husband took the last of the bananas.  So I improvised and made a PB and apple sandwich.  For lunch I packed the leftover tomato soup (after 2 days of lunch stress I am hoping today I can have time to microwave my soup), Annie's cheddar bunnies, and grapes.  I am happy with that!

 

 

I feel really sad about the poor quality of my posts as of late.  I promise I will do better!  I have some really great post ideas that I just need to sit down and write.  Stay with me!  I swear I will return to a more normal person very soon.  I have decided that today I will leave school as soon as I can!  I am going straight to the gym and run some intervals and then relax and enjoy the rest of my evening.  I will post again tonight.

Lunch Ideas

Today was a very busy day!  I think I only sat down for a total of 30 minutes in my day (and that includes when I was assessing a few students, lunch, and potty breaks).  BUSY day!  My legs are tired just from being on my feet all day and stupidly breaking in a new pair of shoes.

Lunch was particularly crazy.  On the schedule my class has 25 minutes to eat but today the cafeteria was backed up then it took many several minutes to get the class settled.  I quickly enjoyed my GM and PB sandwich before bathrooming and checking on some students.  Usually I enjoy to pack soups, quesadillas, dishes with blackbeans and other things that need to be warmed up but not this week!  This week I need food that doesn't have to be heated as there isn't much time for such luxuries.

This evening I really struggled for ideas for lunch tomorrow.  I usually try to get in at least 1-2 veggies at lunch as my typical breakfast and snacks focus on fruits.  I finally decided to take my new typical breakfast (1 cup Kashi heart-to-heart cereal, 1/2 cup blueberries, 1/4 cup ff plain yogurt) for lunch.  Tomorrow for breakfast I'm going to fix some eggs, toast with tomato on the side.  I am now happy and content with this plan. 

Do you have any suggestions for none-microwavable meals that are quick and easy?  I need some more ideas!

Trash the "To Do"

Tomorrow is the first day of school.  Last year I was very prepared and ready basically a month before school started.  This year... not so much!  I am ready for tomorrow with all the "must" things but am not ready with all the "I wanna" things.  I have been told this before and definitely believe it:  the job of a teacher can consume a person's life because there is ALWAYS something else that can be done.

Tonight I am really trying to focus on all that I have done (my accomplishments and preparations) and forget about that never-ending "To Do" list.  My kids don't know what I wish I would have gotten done.  It is only a list that I know about.

My eating today stared out ok but then definitely took a WRONG turn.  I am deciding not to post it together.  My workout was definitely a redeeming grace of the day.  I sweated it out on the stair-master after doing some various arms moves.

Now's the time for a long shower and some relaxing before bed.  I have 23 lovely 7 year-olds who need a well-rested, patient and kind teacher tomorrow.  Good night!

School Daze

Wow!  Where did the summer go?  Today we had our Back to School event.  Parents and kids come for one of two hour long sessions to go over school information and class information.  It is a busy afternoon for me.  I feel like a motor-mouth for the 30 minutes that I'm talking about classroom things.  We are to cover pretty much everything -- schedule, rules, behavior, communication tools, etc.  And the worst thing is that I try to have really HIGH energy during this because really my information is boring BUT I try to make it more interesting through compliments and reassurances that this is going to be a great year!  I also try to get across the idea that I am confident that this will be a wonderful year for their child and that I am eager to help make that happen.  First impressions (as their child's teacher) are important and TIRING!

So after all this school talk, "school" me on your school year memories:

• Favorite subject
• Favorite grade/teacher
• Public or private
  
• School supply you were more excited to get
• Bus rider?  Car rider?  Walker?  After-schooler?
• Favorite fieldtrip

Mine:

• Favorite subject:  Math
  
• Favorite grade/teacher:  Eighth grade/My English teacher
  
• Public or private:  Private...K-4; Public 5-12
  
• School supply you were more excited to get:  I loved binders and trapper-keepers
  
• Bus rider?  Car rider?  Walker?  After-schooler?:  Bus rider in elementary; car-rider in middle and high
• Favorite field trip:  We went to a ropes course in 6th grade.  That was fun!

Today's EATS and Exercise

S:  1/2 banana

E:  2.5 run/walk intervals
B:  French toast with Arnold's sandwich thins & cut peaches

L:  serving of greenbeans, serving of pinto beans; serving of baked potato rounds

S:  grapes and handful of Annie's cheese bunnies

D:  boneless BBQ pork ribs; corn on the cob; cantaloupe

d:  natural fruit Popsicle

Indifferent Run --- with PR

Today we ran a 5K.  I really had not thought about it.  I wasn't excited about the run and I wasn't nervous.  I was just kind of indifferent.  We arrived and were in a hurry to get our things through the maze of unorganized lines.  We got our bibs, bathroomed and dropped our goodie bags right before the start.  There was little time for stretching or nerve.  We just went!

As much as I didn't enjoy the before race craziness, I enjoyed the race.  There were 200-250 people in today's race.  I was excited to see my school system's superintendent in the race.  I waved, smiled and mentally thanked him for allowing me to still have a job.  I started in the back and wove my way through the grounds and got in a spot that wasn't crowded then just ran.  I started out pretty fast (for me):  17:30 minutes -- 2 miles.  The last mile was rough.  I finished in 27:13.  My only goal was to do better than my first 5K in May.  And I did!  I beat my time by a little less than a minute.  I was happy.  Husband also PR (26:10). 

After the race Husband and I regrouped, chatted with some people we knew, enjoyed free oranges and left.  We were tired and we ready to head home.  Once home I did some things around the house, posted on Facebook, and cleaned.  A few minutes later I noticed a post by a fellow-teacher that ran the race.  She said that I had won FIRST in my age-group.  I have NO idea how many people were in my age-group but I am PUMPED!  Husband also placed in his age-group.

I am purely a recreational runner.  I just started running in January.  Winning my age-group is cool but I know if I ran in another race I probably wouldn't place.  I am just happy to have run.  I don't take this running thing too seriously; I have goals of what I want to do but all I really care about is enjoying it and doing my best.  

My EATS and Exercise:

B:  1 cup Heart-to-Heart cereal, 1/2 cup blueberries, 1/4 cup ff plain yogurt

E:  5K

S:  orange slice, a few gold-fish crackers, Green Monster

L:  last night's left-over pizza

S:  bowl of cinnamon cereal

D:  crab-cakes, baked potato, baked zucchini and squash chips

d:  2 pieces of Dove caramel
* not a great day of eating, too many carbs and a little more junk than I would like.

Foodie Friday, a Fur Baby's Birthday, and Race Tomorrow

Happy Foodie Friday!  

• Friday:  home-made pizza -- my 1/2 was chicken and pineapple and salad
  
• Saturday:  homemade crabcakes (for me), filet milon (for Husband), baked potato and salad
• Sunday:  Clean Eating's Boneless BBQ Pork Strips (Husband is weird and hates anything with bones in them so I am thinking he'll like this meal), grilled corn and salad
• Monday:  spaghetti with Ashlee's homemade marinara and salad
• Tuesday:  FreeBird Chicken tender salad inspired by Chop House, Ashlee's homemade tomato soup (I use bacon instead of pancetta).
• Wednesday:  calzones (egg-plant and spinach for me and a random mix of meat and veggies for Husband) and salad
  
• Thursday:  Kashi pizza and salad

A Fur Baby's Birthday

Yesterday is the estimated day of Ella's birth.  We adopted her the first week in October and she was 6 weeks old at that time.  Last year we took birthday pictures and I wanted that tradition to continue.  Here are pictures of my beautiful, neurotic, and hyper pup!

 

Race Day Tomorrow

Tomorrow we are running in a local 5K.  The route includes some good hills (boo!) but some really beautiful neighborhoods (yay!).  I am sure there will be a bunch of people there that I know.  I would love to beat my first 5K's time.  We'll see.  The forcast is calling for rain tomorrow so I'm not sure how that's going to work.  I don't have a problem running in the rain but would prefer not having to do so. 

Hourly Forecast    more details

6 am 69°F Feels Like 69°F

9 am 72°F Feels Like 72°F

12 pm 80°F Feels Like 84°F

Have you ever run a race in the rain?  Any tips?  Do you celebrate your pet's birthday or adoption day?  I am sure I'm not the only one. 

Photoshop

Growing up I loved reading magazines.  I still do!  Back in the day I would read Seventeen, Teen and YM.  Like many girls I would look at the beautiful, thin ladies on the cover and wish to have their bodies.  My body was changing and becoming more womanly with hips and curves.  The models seemed to be thin and still have a chest.  Their hair was perfect and their clothes were cool.  They were confident and I was not.

It was not until later that I thought about and realized all the work that went into making the models look that PERFECT!  I feel like a lot of people could look model-like with a someone to do their hair and make-up and select their clothes. Perfect lighting and the right angle always helps too!  And of course let's not forget photo-shopping.  Faith Hill was photo-shopped for RedBook.It has been suggested that Kelly Clarkson was photo-shopped on Self's cover.  Now both women are beautiful!  Why not just leave them alone?  The average woman has wrinkles and curves.  Why not show them?  

As a teacher and future mother, I worry so much about trying to instill good self-confidence in my girls/daughters.  I want them to value their body but know they are so much more than their body.  I teach in the lower grades (thank God!) and don't have to do deal with too many body-issues but am always cognizant of comments about I hear about Miley Cyrus or the cast of High School Musical.  I try to stress their inner beauty and accomplishments.  I wish there was a way that I could shield girls from these kinds of influences.  I wish there was a bane on photo-shopping.  Real life can't be photo-shopped so why do we allow these images to seem like reality to readers?  Can we add a warning to every picture (much like the Surgeon General warning on cigarette's and alcohol) stating that this image is not real and if you think it is real it can have a detrimental affect on your view of your body and self?  I would gladly subscribe to a magazine that promises no photo-shopping on any of their stories, models or advertisements.  Let's show some cellulite, wrinkles, and reality!  

(image borrowed from jezebel)

Right on Track

Today was the first day of school for me.  I don't have students until next Tuesday but today was the first workday.  It is typically a high-stress day.  We're in meetings all day with a room that needs to be prepared and materials to be gathered.  I decided to really focus on sticking to my planned eating today.  And I DID IT!  I was tempted at times -- a lovely cake made by our cafeteria staff and an aisle of candy in the grocery store but I resisted.  I think it is so important to celebrate the moments where a person resisted.  In some ways it is as important as celebrating a great workout (both save you calories).

So here are today's EATS and exercise:

B:  oatmeal, 1/2 cup blueberries, 1/4 cup ff plain yogurt

S:  14 almonds, banana

L:  spinach quesadilla and grapes

S:  Cliff's Kids Z bar and apple

E:  1.5 tempo run with warm-up and cool-down

D:  orange, salad, Kashi pizza

d:  smores

I ate everything that I had planned to eat!  Let's just celebrate that for a moment. 

My Cheers

Making your way in the world today takes everything you've got.
Taking a break from all your worries, sure would help a lot.

Wouldn't you like to get away?
Sometimes you want to go

Where everybody knows your name,
and they're always glad you came.
You wanna be where you can see,
our troubles are all the same
You wanna be where everybody knows
Your name.

You wanna go where people know,
people are all the same,
You wanna go where everybody knows
your name.

I definitely missed my blog, all of my blog-friends and this wonderful community! This is definitely my Cheers. I know that I am addicted to internet and the feeling of being connected. I am glad to be back with my peeps!

 

Here's an overview of the moving process with regards to activity and diet. Swam Friday evening. Ran Saturday and Sunday. I didn't workout Monday or Tuesday but will for the rest of the week. My meals weren't too bad but I definitely enjoyed a few too many Dove chocolate pieces between meals. I could have done better but I could have done worse.

 

Today is the last day of my summer vacation. Tomorrow begins a new school year. As a kid I loved the start of the new year. I love the starting over period. I still do! Each year I get to start fresh. I had a wonderful year last year. I loved my class and was able to really focus on becoming healthier. I am proud of what I did last year and want to continue the progress I made.

Moves and Changes

Holy Google Reader!  I have missed keeping up with you all and sharing my thoughts and EATS with you!  We moved in on Thursday then had a "stay-cation" day on Friday.  We went outlet shopping (my favorite) and I discovered I am a size 6 in both JCrew and Gap!  I NEVER thought I would see that number on my body.  I also bought a really cute dress in a size small.  Now I know that sizes are very skewed and not true but I am still really excited.  My closet use to contain XL, L, 14, 16, 12, 18 so this is huge for me!

 

Moving has been adventure.  Saturday and Sunday we worked on organizing and placing things.  There is just so much to do.  I really don't like things when they're messy or out of place and that pretty much describes our house right now.  If I can't change it (as quickly as I want) then I must change the way I look at it.  It is a work in progress!

 

I am currently emailing this post from my computer at school.  We don't have cable installed yet (hurry up Tuesday afternoon!).  I look forward to reading your older posts and joining back in the lovely world of health and fitness blogging.  I am also excited about a more typical schedule as workdays begin on Wednesday and school starts next Tuesday.  With a routine schedule I will have more consistency in my eating and exercise.  I am a creature of habit and love routines so I am excited!

 

See you Tuesday afternoon!

I'm Still Alive

I feel like it's been forever since I last posted.  Well, Monday to be exact but a lot has taken place since then.  I have moved in pretty much all the small stuff (with the help of Ella) and tonight while using a friend's dad's moving van we have began moving some other major furniture like dressers and stuffed seats.  The goal is that we will get everything (beside washer/dryer) else moved tomorrow night.  Tonight is probably our last night in this house.

Below is a picture taken the day we came home from our honeymoon and officially moved in and a picture we took tonight.  Over two years passed between the pictures and a whole lotta love!

 

Running Stars and Fabric Walls

I had the best run ever this morning. I woke up early and was running by 6:30 (early for a person who didn't have to get up early). I got up at 5:50 to go run but it was still dark so I went back to bed for a few minutes. The run was PERFECT! I ran at my own tempo. I didn't worry about time. I ran 3.1 and felt great with that accomplishment. My form and breathing felt good. My mind was focused on everything but the run. The beautiful running stars were all in alignment!

The rest of the day was full of boxing up things and taking them to our new house. AND REPEAT! We worked this evening on putting up fabric on the bathroom walls. We are redoing and buying my grandfather's house and living in it for 5 years and then building our dream house behind. Once our dream out is built we'll tear down my grandfather's house; the house is not in great condition. So anyway, fabric --- the walls had an old faux tile on it to about waist level and when I took it down the wall behind it was very uneven and just not at all smooth. So simply painting it was not going to be an option. So to cover the bad condition of the lower wall I bought a really cheap paisley-print fabric and have adhered it to the walls using spray adhesive and staples. We'll then put a molding (kind of like chair railing) across the top of the fabric to hide the staples and the top of the fabric. The wall and ceiling above the ceiling is cream and the fabric is green and blue with accents of cream in it. I am really proud of this room and the work we did. With my mom and Husband's help we were able to get the fabric on the wall in two evenings! It is going to be a very cute bathroom now. We basically took the ugliest room in the house and changed it into the room with the most personality.

Do you enjoy home-projects? I really don't like painting but love how much better things look once painted. Beside painting I really enjoy most other projects. I really like planting flowers!

Blogging 101

I have been blogging for over 4 months now but I have been doing it in secret. Only Husband and my mom know about it. I have not linked it on Facebook or told any of my friends about it. I don't want people I see every day to read about my daily struggles and victories in becoming healthier. I am much more honest on this blog than I would ever been in person. Why do you think that is?

Who have you told about your blog? Do you foresee yourself telling others about it later? I would really like to include more pictures of food (especially out to eat) but I worry about what others would think.

One of the big reasons I started blogging was because I felt lonely in my weight loss/fitness journey. I don't have any friends who I can talk exercise with or go workout with (outside of Husband). I didn't have anyone to vent to or share tips with. This blog has given me a community to share those things with. Blogging has been really good for me. It has forced me to think about my actions and reactions. It has also allowed me to make some great "internet friends". I swear I think my blog buddies are the most supportive people I know. It has allowed me to share my victories and mini-successes.

What do you enjoy most about blogging/reading blogs? Do you use Google Reader? This is such a great tool and has helped me so much stay current on what you're writing and/or reading. When did you start blogging? What made you decide to create one? How has blogging affected you?

Forgiveness

For I so loved myself that I allowed forgiveness to wash over me; when I make mistakes I will forgive myself and not allow guilt to ensue.

Balance for Mere 8-8:09

Tonight I had to forgive myself for the lack of exercise this week and the poor eating that has occurred. Feeling guilty does nothing and doesn't help in any way. I forgave myself for not being Super Woman -- the woman who can have a crazy life and still maintain focus on food and exercise. I also congratulated myself for the good choices that I did make this week.

Husband and I are preparing to move this week. We hope to be moved in by next weekend. Today we painted, packed and moved items. It was a very busy day and I don't see much being different tomorrow.

Good night!

*Note: I am not mocking this beautiful verse in the Bible. I am simply writing something in a similar fashion. I am a firm believer in God. Please don't take offense to the reference.

Squiggly Line Effect

I try to adhere to the squiggly line effect.  Most days I try to eat in order to maintain my weight or slightly below.  I do this to do this to compensate for when I don't make the best choices.  For the past few weeks I kind of forgot about the squiggly line and was kind of relaxed with my choices.  I am now trying to get back in the habit of eating to maintain/lose weight.  

I believe in recreating habits and making adjustments.  What I am doing is merely adjusting my calorie intake and outtake in order to get back on the line.  

This past week my exercise has been close to non-existent.  I was really busy with my Enrichment Week.  I am looking forward to a really early morning run with my favorite running partner, my wonderful husband!

Today's EATS:

B:  1/4 cup Heart-to-Heart cereal, 3/4 cup plain ff yogurt, strawberries, peach

S:  banana

L:  flatout wrap with spinach, strawberries and a sprinkle of feta cheese with light balsamic vinaigrett; apple; fruit leather

S:  a few spoonfuls of homemade peach ice-cream (SO GOOD!)

S:  Kashi Crunchy bar

D:  veggie wrap and baked chips

d:  vanilla ice-cream cone

Earlier today Jen of No One Said It Would be Easy included a link to this awesome site Lift Your Sole.  It has tons of really cool running jewelry!  I plan to make some purchases from this store very soon!

Three Things Thursday

1. This is the week of my Enrichment Week. It has gone really well. We have had about 13 kids each day. I think this week is going to give the students a big boost when it is time to return to school. I doubt if many have read any this summer so simply reading with and to them is important. We have also worked on math and writing skills. My school system's Director of Communication interviewed me for a story for the website. She also contacted a local paper who is going to come tomorrow to do a story about the week.

2. I realized today that I eat a lot of the products all from the same companies. I eat a lot of Kashi: Kashi pizza (every Thursday night), Kashi Heart to Heart cereal, Kashi Go Lean Crunchy bars for my afternoon snack. I also eat a lot of Stoneyfield products: Stoneyfield milk and yogurt. And I am proud to announce that I have several varieties of Peanut Butter and Co. peanut butter in my cabinet. I really love White Chocolate Wonderful. I find many opportunities to enjoy this peanut butter!

3. My favorite time of the year for clothing is beginning. I really love late summer-early fall clothes. I love pairing a light weight sweater with a skirt or dress pants with a tank-top.

Questions: What products do you often buy? What's your favorite time of year in terms of attire?

The EATS
B: 3/4 cup Heart-to-Heart cereal, 1/2 cup milk, banana, some strawberries

S: Stoneyfield Pomegranate Berry yogurt with some cereal added for crunch

L: Jason's Deli Chibatta Garden sandwich and baked chips

S: Crunchy bar

D: Kashi pizza and salad

d: PB & Co. peanut butter on a graham cracker

It's a Life Style

It is a lifestyle. It is a lifestyle. It is a lifestyle. It is not a day to day, week to week, month to month decision. It is not about dieting to fit into skinny jeans. Although I one point I thought that was the only point in dieting. It is not about losing your summer/winter/fall/spring weight. It is a lifestyle.

Now I am not saying this in a holier than thou way. I am not. I falter and make poor choices. I am definitely not a perfect. But I am a believer in learning from this journey. But I have stopped viewing this process as a period of time that I'm going to be really strict with my food then relax and eat whatever I want and be shocked when I gain weight back.

A very good friend of mine is a chronic dieter. Every new school year (we're both teachers) is a new diet. She emailed me today about her latest diet. I tried to explain that you didn't need a diet but just to make better and more balanced choices. She said that didn't work for her. I respect the fact that she needs stricter perimeters but it doesn't work long term. I have tried to explain that. After a few emails back and forth I GAVE UP! I didn't give up on supporting her but I did give up trying to explain in a rational way how that will give her the same results as all the other diet programs she has tried.

The definition of insanity

is doing the same thing over and over

and expecting a different result.

This Fit Sugar article bothers me.

Running Baywatch Style

Thank you all so much for the kid comments and advice about how to feel more beautiful. It's nice to know I am not the only one. I realized after I posted it last night that I am probably close to my time of the month. Hello hormones!

This afternoon it was really hot! And that has not been the case for the majority of the summer. Lately it has been rainy, cloudy and cool for July. But today the sun was shining. I decided that instead of running at the gym I wanted to go the pool to do some water aerobics. However, the quick pop-up storm had another plan. So Husband and I ate dinner and waited for the skies to clear and finally hit the pool.

We were there for about 45 minutes. This time I didn't write down what I did like I have in the past but I still did a great workout. I tried to do a minute of many different moves. I did shadow boxing, leg lifts (to the side and back), sumo squats, push-ups, tricep dips, bicycle crunches, crunches, oblique twists and other things I can't recall now. The funniest part was running around the part "Baywatch" style and then running backwards. Talk about a workout for the legs!

Water aerobics is definitely my favorite non-gym workout because it doesn't feel like a workout. Running is a close 2nd. What is your favorite workout that takes place outside of the gym?


My EATS and Exercise:
B: 3/4 cup ff plain yogurt, peach, 1/2 cup blueberries
S: banana
L: veggie delite sub from Subway, apple, fruit leather
S: Kashi Crunchy
S: 1 cup low-fat ice-cream
D: watermelon and bbq sandwich and coleslaw
d: piece of chocolate
E: water aerobics

What Makes You Feel Beautiful?

I am pretty sure only ladies are reading my blog. I am assuming that by the people who leave comments. IF by chance there is a guy reading this blog you probably don't want to continue reading this post.

Here are my questions: what makes you feel beautiful? Are there things you do (fix hair, new make-up, etc.)? Are is there a particular outfit that you rock that makes you feel attractive? Is it a an inner confidence?

I'm struggling with this right now. My hair has had paint in it for I swear the last 3 weeks. It is only a few specks and I've washed and washed and it won't come out! My nails are chipped, even after trying to do them last night. My legs are white and covered in bug bites. Side note: the sunless tanner I've been using hasn't made me look any darker. I can apply it every day for a week and the shade does not deepen. Most days this summer I've worn paint-covered clothing. I have some newer clothing but the majority of my closet is clothes that just don't fit right anymore (too big). But what do I do when I feel blah about my looks? Eat! BOO!

And yes I know that beauty comes from within. I've spread Caitlin's (Healthy Tipping Point) Operation Beautiful notes. I cognitively understand it, there are just times where I don't feel or look my personal best. I'm a pretty lady but I don't feel like that right now.

Advice please. I know I am not the only women who feels this way at times.

The EATS and Exercise

B: oatmeal, 1/2 cup blueberries, 1/4 cup plain ff yogurt

S: 14 almonds, apple

L: Green Monster and 1/2 PB sandwich

S: Kashi Crunchy and 3 crackers and cheese

E: mile run and step-climber

S: dried apricot

D: scrambled eggs with a tomato and sprinkled with cheese, 2 whole wheat pancakes with grilled peach diced on top

d: TOO many pieces of chocolate

Life After Only Water for 17 Days

 Like an addict returning to a drug, I really enjoyed my Diet Dr. Pepper at Jason's Deli Saturday evening.  

 

In mid-July (July 15th to be exact) I joined Jen in her challenge to only drink water for the rest of the month.  Now this was not easy and I really wasn't sure when it first started.  I definitely had issues the first few days.  I craved it.  I wanted the rush that only a diet soda can offer.  I also realized that I missed the chill of those drinks.  We keep our soda in the fridge while the majority of the time my water is slightly cooler than room-temperature.  In addition to missing diet soda I also missed my sweet tea.  In true southern girl fashion, I love sweet tea!  We make it almost daily and generally enjoy it with our supper.

 

So what did I learn/notice while doing this challenge?  I am not as addicted as I once thought.  I think I have reprogrammed my body not to need the caffeine during the day.  The headaches lasted about 5 days and then went away.  I don't see myself returning to my mandatory diet soda each day.  I do see myself enjoying it every once and a while.  I am not giving it up for life.  One problem that I encountered while giving up soda was my evening sugar fix.  Before starting the challenge I would enjoy a diet coke after dinner with a piece of chocolate.  The diet coke was a treat and kept me from wanting more sugar.  During the challenge I definitely enjoyed more sugar than I would typically.  To remedy this problem, I am going to try to get in the habit of drinking chilled green tea (sweetened with Honey or Agave nectar)after supper.  I also plan to drink sweet tea (sweetened with Truvia) during supper.  Prior, during and after the challenge I have kept my water intake about the same.  On average I drink a gallon of water each day, in addition to other beverages I may drink.


I am glad I took on this challenge.  I have also felt like a prisoner to soda.  I felt like I HAD to have it!  Now I realize I can choose to have it and enjoy it in moderation.  I am hoping I maintain a sense of moderation with diet soda and other drinks.  

Are you (or were you) addicted to soda or diet soda?  Have you ever tried to kick the habit?

My EATS and Exercise

S:  banana

E:  3.1 mile run

B:  apple and toast with jam

L:  pinto beans, green beans and potato bites (from a local restaurant)

S:  fruit leather, Kashi Crunchy bar

D:  shrimp and grits

d:  Sweet Plums

Let's Play Tag

I was just "tagged" by A.Leo  of Delicious Ambiguity to describe 6 of my favorite things. So here goes:

1. My favorite human and non-human are Husband and Ella Blue.

2. I love new school supplies and office stores. I have had a planner every year of my life since 8th grade -- that's 12 years. I get really panicked when I can't find mine.

.
3. I love sweating and working out! I love the really tired feeling from pushing myself. There is a major sense of accomplishment in that sweat.

4. My favorite work related activity is reading to my students. I feel like that I am genetically predisposed to be a teacher. It just feels natural. And although I LOVE teaching, I really love reading to my students -- their little mouths agape, eyes on me, hands in lap. It is pure bliss!
.

5. My favorite movies are Forrest Gump, Steel Magnolias and Dirty Dancing. I would also rather watch an old movie that I love and have seen 20 times than a new one. I know the old movie will be good and I'll enjoy it. I don't know that about the new movie.
.

6. My favorite places are the mountains and the beach. We were married in the mountains. We left the mountains the day after our wedding and drove several hours and made our way to the beach. I love having the option to go to both in just a few hours.

.
Now I am suppose to "tag" 6 others:

1. Ashlee -- A Year in the Kitchen and Ash is Fit!

2. Meredith -- In a Fit Frame of Mind

3. Therese -- Healthy, HOTT, Housewife

4. Madison -- Madison's Healthy Happenings

5. Mrs. CJ -- Mrs. CJ Running and Travel

6. Nate's Mama -- Yet Another Weight Loss Blogg

Eye Candies and Prayers

My Saturday began with a banana and some peanut butter and a 5 mile run (with negative splits) with Husband.  This was followed by some wine tasting at our local Farmer's Market.  We bought a bottle of wine and some homemade Strawberry Rhubarb Jam.

 

My breakfast was a sliced peach, 1/2 cup blueberries, 1/4 cup ff plain yogurt and a Kashi granola crumbled on top.  Now that is a beautiful breakfast!

The majority of the day was spent working in the yard of the house we're buying.  We dug up the roots of some old bushes. It wasn't fun but I did have eye candy -- my husband.  I think manual labor is HOT on a man who typically wears a suit during the week.

Lunch over flowed my plate:  a spinach, provolone cheese and tomato sandwich, Kashi crackers and some cantaloupe.

I enjoyed some unpictured snacks though out my afternoon of digging.  They were a piece of fruit leather from Target and a Kashi Crunch bar (my new favorite afternoon snack).

We had designated this evening as "date night".  We ran some errands and then had dinner at Jason's Deli.  This is one of those places that I sometimes forget so am really surprised by how good it is.  I enjoyed my first soda in over 2 weeks, a turkey wrap, baked chips and of course some free ice-cream (that's some definite eye candy too!).  The cone is always my favorite part.  The rest of our evening included a huge stack of magazines at Barnes and Noble.  

I am sure a movie is in store  for the evening.  I'm not sure how much of it I'll see.  I am really tired.  

But before my eyes close for the last time before sleep I'll be saying a prayer for Jen, her mom and Jen's family.  My heart breaks for Jen!  As soon as I read it I was over at my Mom's house just giving her a huge hug.  Life is so precious.