Balance for MEre

Word Press

2010-01-31T11:53:00.000-05:00

Guess who got bored due to being snowed in? Yep! I got a little bored so I decided to change Balance for Mere from Blogspot to Wordpress. Check out the new site. It is a work in progress.

Please update your Google Reader and Blog Rolls.

http://balanceformere.wordpress.com/

Thanks!

Snowed In Weekend

2010-01-30T10:35:00.001-05:00

It looks like I won't be leaving the house much this weekend. We have about 8 inches of snow outside and it is still lightly falling. I am looking forward to keeping busy but enjoying the peace that snow brings.

This morning I was excited to make Kath's Classic Oatmeal. Stove-top oatmeal beats microwave oatmeal any day of the week.

I made his and her bowls.

Her bowl: a close-up

Here's my To Do list for the weekend:

Complete report cards
Do No More Trouble Zones (maybe twice)
Finish cleaning and vacuum
Do some major cooking
~~Laundry~~
Go sledding
Have a dance/cardio party for one or two (if Husband decides to join in)
Organize clothes closet
~~Organize dresser~~
Finish my current book so I can read Salinger in honor of him
Do some other school items that are complicated to explain
Drink hot chocolate

What do you have planned for the weekend?

Oh the Weather Outside is Frightful...

2010-01-29T19:55:00.000-05:00

but cleaning can be so delightful ~~when you have nothing better to do~~!

Well, we made it through the day without an early release but around four o'clock the snow arrived. By six o'clock it was snowing heavily.

And of course ~~Ansel~~ Husband wanted to photograph it.

I decided to use the time to clean out our cabinets. And they were a mess! I hope my mother-in-law doesn't ever see this. :)

Pantry Before:

Pantry After:

Refrigerator Before:

Refrigerator After:

While cleaning I discovered I had a stock pile of Evaporated Milk (all expired). I have no idea how or why it's all got there but it is not longer in the house. Have you ever noticed an item that you stock pile for no good reason?

Have a great Friday night!

Update: We have already gotten about 3-4 inches and it is still snowing.

Three Thing Thursday Focused on Snow!

2010-01-28T19:42:00.000-05:00

The weekend is almost here! My week went by quickly (thanks to two workdays) but I am still glad it is almost over. Anyone have big plans for the weekend? I don't because... it's going to snow! I'm looking forward to being shut in.

1. There is a really good chance that it will snow tomorrow afternoon through Saturday. I live in the South (North Carolina) where we might get one good snow a year but that is not very common. In December we got 4 inches of snow before Christmas and that is a lot for us. Now the forecasters are predicting 6-10 in my area and the models show it to start snowing around 3 o'clock in the afternoon. Which means school will be crazy! The kids will be excited but who could blame them? Then the day will be crazy because there is a good chance we'll get an early dismissal. My goals for tomorrow are to stay calm and relaxed and make sure everyone goes home safely.

2. Tonight Husband picked up Jason's Deli for us for dinner so I could go to the grocery store before the above mentioned snow hits. I love take out from Jason's. Where is your favorite take out place?

3. As of today I have run 80 miles in the month of January. There is a good chance that might be my last run of the month. I'm ok with that. I was hoping to get in 15-20 miles between now and Monday but even without it, I hit my January goal.

Picture from the December snow (photographed by Husband). This is the view from my dinning room window.

Wake Up MEre!

2010-01-26T10:43:00.001-05:00

Aside from my lovely 10 mile run/walk on Sunday I don't have much to be proud of. My diet has been less than stellar, even knowing that I am competing in a weight loss competition. This morning I tried to use the weight loss competition to motivate me to make better choices and it simply didn't do it!

So what motivated me? A reminder that I have PCOS! I made myself get on Web-MD and look at the symptoms and problems associated with it. It clearly states that a good diet with exercise is the best thing I can do for me. The bottom line is if I want to have a baby I need to treat my body better.

Motivation isn't a horizontal line; there are curves, peaks and valleys along the way. What motivates you when your resolution wanes?

I think I'll be enjoying a healthy spinach and vegetable quesadilla and fruit for lunch and a great sweat session this afternoon, before attending a work function with Husband tonight. And in the meantime my job today isn't teaching but assessing. I have a love/hate relationship with report cards.

Last Call

2010-01-24T17:19:00.000-05:00

Have you ever closed down a bar? Did you stay until the last call? I don't think I ever did but would stay until the party ended. Today I didn't close down a bar but closed down the gym. The YMCA that I am a member of closes on Sunday at 5:00. I stayed until the employee said they were turning off the lights.

I did 10 miles today! This is a personal record! It was a combination of running and walking and took about 2 hours. It felts great! I love seeing how far I can go or how far I've come.

This is one of my favorite songs to listen to as I run. I try to time a race so this is towards the very end.

And now the rest of my evening will be stretching and eating tacos with my mom and family! Have a great Sunday!

In My Own Biggest Loser Competition

2010-01-19T19:45:00.001-05:00

Last year the school nurse held a Biggest Loser competition and I didn't join in. And to be honest I felt ~~like a not cool loser~~ left out. This year I had to participate! So I'm in. Today was day 1 and our weigh in day. I don't anticipate losing much weight. If I lost 6 pounds in the next 10 weeks I would be thrilled. Losing 2-4 would be really great too. So clearly I won't be much help to my team in my percentage but I am helpful in other ways: for every 100 minutes of exercise my time loses 1 pound. I don't quiet get the math but know that me sweating is good for my team.

I am excited about the competition because of the team effort. I don't want to let my team down. And I would love for my team to beat the other team. My team is comprised of teachers and the other team is administration and office staff. It's all in good fun but the winning team and Biggest Loser does win some cash. I am already trying to clean up my diet and focus on better choices. Eating a pretty clean diet last year helped me drop weight last spring so it's worth the effort. Have you competed in a weight loss program at your work or gym? How did it go? Any tips?

I may or may not watch The Biggest Loser tonight. I am kind of indifferent to this season. Are you going to watch it?

image source

Eating Lunch in Under 15 Minutes

2010-01-18T20:15:00.000-05:00

If you're a teacher you completely understand this title. If you have to eat a quick lunch then you understand too! When I plan my lunches for the week time and effort are things I consider.

Here's what I am planning for lunch this 4-day week:

Tuesday: Spinach quesadilla from the microwave (grill marks not necessary) and clemintine

Wednesday: tomato soup with carrot sticks and ranch mix and clemintine

Thursday: hotdog with carrot sticks and ranch mix and clemintine

Friday: clean out the frig salad (spinach, lettuce, apple, avocado, carrots, etc) with crackers and laughing cow and clemintine

This is what my daily lunch is like:

Minutes 1-5: get food in microwave and help students get lunch and to their seat
Minutes 5-15: eat lunch quickly with some chit-chat with other teachers while students come up to get help with pudding cups, ketchup packets, etc.
Minutes 15-17: check on students and throw away my trash
Minutes 17-20: go to bathroom, put up lunch box and get jacket for recess
Minutes 20-23: get students up from tables, help with trash issues, pick table washers and monitor line of students.

This is a picture my lunch bag. I love it! It is big and from Target!

Home Gym Survey

2010-01-17T18:59:00.000-05:00

Husband and I are planning to make a small bedroom into a home gym. We are planning on purchasing a new, nice treadmill and then a few years from now get a used elliptical trainer. Husband sees it as an economical move. I see it as a family friendly move. We have been members of our YMCA for over 3 years now and are regular gym-goers. Our membership is $50 a month. We're planning on saving for a good down payment then use our membership money to pay off the treadmill. I think that having a home gym in our home will be the difference between getting in our workout and not once we have children. It will also set a good example to our kids about being active and healthy.

Image source

So here's the survey:

Do you have a home gym?
What equipment do you have? Do you like it? Where did you purchase it at?
What equipment do you wish you had?
How often do you use it?
Is your commitment greater, lesser or equal to when you worked out at a gym?
What color are the walls in your home gym? Or what color do you suggest? I'm planning on painting that room in the next month or so.

Bringing Up the Down

2010-01-16T14:20:00.001-05:00

Thank you so much for all the kind comments about feeling down yesterday. I spent the evening relaxing and doing things that I enjoy. I gave myself a mani/pedi and went to bed early.

This morning I made sure to get in a long run/walk at the gym. I did 8 miles! And the high following it was wonderful. I came home to clean, pack and shower. I made sure to put on one of my favorite outfits. I like simple, timeless outfits: jeans with a black 3/4 length turtleneck. When I look and feel pretty, my mood changes!

And I love this jacket!

Have a great weekend!

Ups and Downs

2010-01-15T17:25:00.000-05:00

This blog helps me be honest with myself and others. So here is the truth: for the past 2-3 days I have been feeling "down". Normally I am a up, sunny, cheerful, ~~annoying,~~ happy person. But for the past few days I have felt like I was in a funk. My diet has been bad and I feel like that is a good portion of my feeling but it isn't the only thing. I am just feeling kind-of lonely, unmotivated and just in a bad mood. I didn't feel that way during the school day; the energy and the business of the day consumed me but after the school day was done I felt those feelings.

This weekend Husband and I are visiting his family and going to a college basketball game as a group. So I know my energy will have to be "up" because if not my mother-in-law becomes paranoid. I wish I didn't have to pretend to be "up". I wish I was just feeling that way.

What do you do to get out of a funk? What makes you happy?

Teaching isn't a Sprint but a Marathon

2010-01-13T06:55:00.000-05:00

Wordless Wednesday

The Art of the Budget

2010-01-12T20:40:00.001-05:00

My husband is spreadsheet crazy! He records every bill, dream and plan on them. He can tell you different options and plans for each of our major bills (student loans and mortgage). I love it! I know he is working to take care of our financial future .

Most days I think of my eating as a budget. If I want a bigger dinner or a dessert in the evening then I need to save calories during the day or earn "extra spending" calories through exercise. Each day that I burn more calories than I consume my calories go into "savings" towards losing weight. Some days I eat poorly and dip into savings.

Yesterday I was WAY over my calorie allowance. I went crazy! It was bad! I dipped into the savings that I had created during the weekend, when my eating was great. Today I focused on my budgeted calories. I splurged at lunch with a cookie but had a great workout and light dinner so I feel like it balanced out.

Knowing that I can "spend" certain calories each day allows me to make better choices. I want to get the most bang for my calorie buck. That cookie did nothing for me aside a few moments of enjoyment as I ate it. It did nothing for my body and didn't fuel my workout at all. It was a waste! Better choices make me feel better and gives me more fuel for the day.

My Savior of Strength Training

2010-01-10T18:55:00.000-05:00

I am terrible at strength training. At the gym I don't push myself and really don't know what to do. Enter: Jillian Michaels and No More Trouble Zones. She is my savior of strength training.

I love this DVD. I love the circuits and how it is broken up. It is a killer and my body currently is hurting. I also love that it is just strength training and not cardio; I'm getting my cardio in with my miles. Yesterday I did circuts 1-3. Today I did circuits 4-7. Both days I had run 4.5 and 6 miles so I didn't want to push myself to do the full DVD. On Wednesday I am planning to do the DVD in its entirety instead of going to the gym.

I was such a fan of the 30 Day Shred that I thought nothing could compare to it. But I now love this DVD in a different but equal manner.

Recipes Don't Go Bad

2010-01-09T19:45:00.000-05:00

Last year for Christmas my mother-in-law gave me a subscription to the magazine, Cooking Light. I enjoyed getting the magazine each month and seeing the wonderful new recipes. However, I probably only cooked 1-3 recipes from the magazine each month.

Luckily, I saved the magazines and the recipes.

I even marked a couple recipes that I really liked, when the magazine was "new".

I was happy to fill in a couple nicer ~~and more intensive~~ dinners into our meal planning calendar for the weekends. I'm looking forward to homemade (slightly light) fried chicken later on this month.

I loved going back through the magazines and discovering new things to cook. The gift given Christmas 2008 is still being used in 2010.

Today I made Cajun Red Beans and Rice from the January/February 2009 issue of Cooking Light.

What magazines do you like to read for recipes? I like Cooking Light, Clean Eating and Weight Watchers.

Running Away From the Week

2010-01-08T20:45:00.000-05:00

Do you have a favorite day to workout? I do. My favorite day is Friday! I love Friday workouts. I generally get to the gym earlier and far there are less people; the latter is especially important during "Resolution" season when the gym is more crowded. I feel like a good workout puts distance between me and the week. It helps me de-stress to begin the weekend.

Today I "ran" 7 miles! I took a couple walk breaks but the majority of it was running. The miles ticked my quickly and I was happy with it. My mind just wandered and the running felt comfortable.

Happy Birthday Elvis!

2010-01-08T08:55:00.000-05:00

Today would have been Elvis's 75th birthday.

In honor of that I decided to make my Hunky, Hunky of Burning Love a breakfast that Elvis would love!

I made oatmeal with banana and peanut butter.

Normally Husband eats a packet of High Fiber oatmeal. I am trying to show him the better way to eat oatmeal. His only request was "please no blueberries". He doesn't share the same respect that I have for blueberries.

I'm heading off to school now. We had a 2-hour delay! Yay! Teachers love those too. After school I am heading straight to the gym for a fun, long workout. And my Friday will be capped with one of my favorite meals: a turkey wrap from Jason's Deli. Sounds like a perfect Friday to me!

Have a great Friday!

It's A New Day!

2010-01-05T19:50:00.001-05:00

I had a great day! Life felt new. I woke up

excited and ready for the day; "yay" for 8 hours of sleep. I was excited to be with my class. I had fun teaching. I was also happy with my Eats today; I felt satisfied, content and not-deprived. I enjoyed my meals.

My EATS:

Breakfast: 1/2 cup oatmeal, 1/2 cup blueberries, 1/2 cup water, 1 tspn brown sugar
Snack: 1/2 an apple, 1/2 Harvest Power bar
Lunch: Greek salad sandwich on a pita with shrimp, clementine, Dove chocolate piece
Snack: 1/2 an apple, 1/2 Harvest Power bar
Dinner: salad, fresh pineapple, home-made calzones
Dessert: decaf-coffee

Calories consumed: 1765

Calories burned: 535

Net calories: 1230

Yep! You read correctly! I owned that treadmill today! I did high incline, interval walking/running/sprinting for 6.5 miles!

Now most days are not this good. Many days are "blah". But I think it's so important to remember that each day is new! I can make changes each and every day! Each day is a new year and a new day!

Who's excited for The Biggest Loser? I'll be making my predictions again this season, even though last season's prediction was WAY off. Biggest Loser predictions are to me what March Madness and brackets are to the college basketball fan.

Picture Info: I took this picture in January 2004 on the beach of Normandy in France. I was studying WWII and was amazed that such a beautiful beach could hold such a terrible past.

You are Beautiful!

2010-01-03T16:45:00.001-05:00

Be sure to check out my 2010 Goals and my January Goals.

I really like this song. I love the message. Who doesn't like hearing they are beautiful?

I am one lucky girl! I received the same award from 2 different bloggers, both of which I respect and enjoy reading. Ms. Holly of The Balance Broad and Lizzio of Fit Lizzo's Blog gave me this lovely award. Holly is one beautiful lady; she is sweet, focused and thoughtful. Lizzio is another gorgeous woman; she is tough, determined and talented.

For this award I need to give it out to 7 other bloggers and include 7 things about myself. I would like to give it to Angie of Angie Eats Peace, Ashlee of Ash is Fit and A Year in the Kitchen, Devon of Run, Sleep, Rinse, Repeat, CJ of Mrs. CJ Running and Travel, Rachel of 365 Runs, Hopefully, Kelly of Fitting Back In, and Tyler or Life of Ty.

Seven Facts About Me

My favorite movie is Forest Gump. I love it! I never get tired of the movie.
I had my wedding dress made for me. I kind of regret it. My dress was beautiful (in my opinion) but I never got to have that "WOW" moment in the store. I decided to have it made because I felt like I was too "big" for the wedding dresses that were in the stores. I also didn't want strapless and so many of the dresses were strapless.
I'm obsessed with my planner. I have to have a place to record dates, appointments, projects, etc. Now I also use it to track my calories. I've had a planner every year since middle school. Yes, I am a Tpe A personality.
I love my job! Teaching is all I have ever wanted to do. I love being silly with my kids and being creative with my teaching. When I don't force myself to be creative and original I get bored.
I really don't enjoy the summer break or long holiday breaks. I usually enjoy about 2 days to a week of quiet time but generally get very lonely by myself all day. Most days I have 20 little people who need me. On days off it's just me and the pup, Ella Blue. I think it won't be so lonely once I have a child, but until then I almost dread long breaks.
I can't go to bed without having my outfit for the next day laid. This isn't important during the weekends but is during the week. I put WAY too much time and focus into picking out my outfits. I mean who really sees me? 7 year olds!
I love the music group Hootie and the Blowfish. I've loved them since 8th grade. We saw them in a mini-concert when we were on our honeymoon in Charleston, SC. Charleston is also my favorite southern city.

January Goals

2010-01-02T09:05:00.001-05:00

I love goals. Creating my list of 2010 goals was a lot of fun.

Here are my January Goals:

Do more "special" things for Husband... romantic, fun, a surprise, etc.
Have a detailed plan for my National Boards lesson.
Track my calories 25 of 31 days.
Workout at least 5 days a week.
Run at least 80 miles.
Strength train at least 2 days a week.
Lose 2-4 pounds (holiday weight)
Read 2-3 books.
Read a daily devotional most days.
Prepare to paint our last bedroom.

1,000 miles in 2010

2010-01-01T22:10:00.002-05:00

Miles to date in 2010: 58.5 miles

January Miles

1st-2nd: 4 miles

3rd-9th: 25 miles

10th-16th: 21 miles

17th-23: 8.5

24th-30th: 21.5 (as of Thursday, January 28)

31st:

I'm running or walking my way to 1,000 miles!

10 Goals for 2010

2010-01-01T10:10:00.004-05:00

I hate the word "Resolution". Goal sounds so much better.

My 10 Goals for 2010:

Love on Husband more and more.
Work on National Boards in Teaching
Run 1,000 miles this year (inspired by Kelly of Fitting Back In) and
Train for and run a half-marathon.
Expand and strengthen my circle of friends
Maintain my weight through tracking calories and work to become as healthy as possible
Go meatless for 1 week.
Create a recipe.
Read at least 25 books (children or educational books don't count).
Blog more. Perhaps I'll become a dot-com this year.

10 Things I am Looking Forward to in 2010

Becoming tenured as an educator.
Paying cash for a "new" used car.
Paying off one of our student loans
Going to Las Vegas (more info to come)
Repeating and PRing races I ran in 2009.
Completing all major home-projects.
Going on weekend trips with Husband.
Finishing our Wedding Photobook (by our 3rd anniversary)
Holding Enrichment Week again in August
Continue to make memories and enjoying just being a married couple. 2010 will be the last year before we start trying to have kids.

What goals do you have for 2010?

What are you looking forward to in this new year?

My 9 Big Events of 2009

2009-12-31T11:25:00.001-05:00

These are my 9 big events of 2009. They are mainly focused around running, health and fitness and our home.

I started running.

I became much more interested in cooking thanks to Ashlee of A Year in the Kitchen.
I decided to go Meatless on Mondays and become much more cognoscente about my food.
In April I started this blog. Here's my first entry.
Husband and I bought our first home. It's my grandparents' former house.
We cleaned, painted, worked and planted and we're still not done but I'm so proud.

We celebrated our 2nd Wedding Anniversary and we're planning to have 60 more together.
I planned and taught Enrichment Week at my school.
We made our house a home. See the "Before" and "After" of our Dinning-room.

I said "YES!"

2009-12-30T08:45:00.001-05:00

Four years ago today the most amazing man asked me to be his wife!

Of course I said "YES!"

Here is what we wrote on our wedding website:

Husband had imagined the proposal idea years earlier, even before Meredith and he had met. The proposal itself is hard to describe in short because of all the planning involved – Nate asking Meredith’s mother and brother for their blessing, purchasing hundreds of Christmas lights off of eBay, and the ring, and so much more.

But all that matters is that on a cold December night, "Husband" brought Meredith to a spot underneath a Magnolia tree, situated right next to her family’s farm house. And underneath the glow of thousands of white lights scattered amongst the many tree limbs, "Husband" attempted through tears of joy and love to profess his adoration and love to Meredith. And then, down on one knee, he asked her if she would marry him.

Neither "Husband" nor Meredith can recall if she said yes to his proposal. Yet, they stood underneath the Magnolia kissing, hugging, crying at times, and largely attempting to cherish this wonderful event in both of our lives – "Husband" took that as a yes.

Our Professional Engagement Pictures (July 2006):

And I became the happiest lady ever when I became his wife on July 14, 2007.

I am so lucky, loved and happy!

New Year... New and Old Races

2009-12-29T09:35:00.005-05:00

It's almost a new year and I have NO firm race plans to begin my year. I so enjoy having plans and a purpose for my runs. I definitely want to repeat many of the races I ran this year, including our first 5K (in May) and the night 8K race, which is my favorite race to-date (in July).

I have other plans as well. I want to run a half-marathon! As someone who never considered herself a runner before December 24, 2008, a half-marathon is an exciting goal! The half I am planning to run is around Halloween (score) in Husband's hometown and it is an afternoon race (double-score). I'm excited! I will definitely have to regain my mileage that I've lost in these colder months but I know I can do it! There is also one in Charlotte (an hour south-east) from where I live that I would LOVE to do too!

More timely, I am hoping to run a Valentine's Day race. Husband and I have run all of our races together but I think it will be extra sweet to run together on Valentine's Day. Then the rest of the day can be spent resting and enjoying our time together. There is also a Spring race (March 20th) that could be fun. Snow is more common in January-March where I live so that could make things interesting!

What races do you have planned in 2010?

Finding My Niche

2009-12-27T09:57:00.001-05:00

Merry Christmas (a few days late)! I hope everyone had a very wonderful Christmas. I know that I did! I am happy to say that pretty much everything from my Wish List was received, including a heart-rate monitor.

Earlier this week a high school friend asked what I wanted for Christmas I listed off a few things... new running shoes, heart-rate monitor, etc. She gave me an odd look after the heart-rate monitor was named. She asked if I was concerned about my heart. I gave her a confused look and explained it that it helps me know how hard and well my heart is working as I work out so I know how many calories I'm burning and if I am working out efficiently. She had never hear of it before. It showed me how at home I am in my niche of people and interest. I am living in a bubble of health and fitness related blogs. I read fitness magazines and know my heart the hours of the gym. I can pretty much track calories in my head but I know recording them is so much more beneficial for me. I am living in a bubble of Greek yogurt, spaghetti squash, organic milk, oatmeal, Meatless Mondays, etc. I LOVE LIVING IN THIS BUBBLE!

Do you ever feel like you're living in such a bubble?

Run-Anniversary

2009-12-23T08:05:00.000-05:00

Tomorrow, Christmas Eve, is my running anniversary. Last year I was of the elliptical trainer and was jealous of runners. I decided to change things up. After my typical 30 minutes on the elliptical I decided to try running. I had no expectations. Previously I had decided that I was NOT a runner so there was no way I could fail. That day I ran 1/4 mile without stopping. And when I was done I felt so proud! I even told my mom and brother about it.

It was several days later that I returned to the gym (after Christmas and visiting Husband's parents) but I decided to get back on the treadmill and that day I ran a little farther. Within a several weeks I ran 2 miles and had the goal of a 5K! The day I ran a 5K on the treadmill I felt like a CHAMP!

Since then I ran a 5K race as a running buddy for Girls on the Run.

A week later I ran my first 5K race.

Then I ran an 8K race.

I ran another 5K race and won my age group.

I ran my first 10K race.

And yet another 10K race. This was my last race and I ran it the Saturday before Thanksgiving. I met my goal and completed it in under and hour (59:11).

So what I have I learned?

I have realized how therapeutic running can be. I love it! It clears my mind and relaxes my body.
I can do ANYTHING I set my mind to! The only limits I have are the ones I put on myself.
My body is powerful, strong, beautiful. It has imperfections and bumps and humps but it carries me and allows me to do amazing things!

These are the lessons I learned in 2009. I can't wait to see the lessons I will learn in 2010.

What have you learned this year?

Funny Pics, a Confession and an Update

2009-12-21T14:25:00.000-05:00

Yesterday after a great run on the treadmill we came home to do some things outside. I took off my running shoes and put on my snow boots (it snowed Friday -- 4 inches... which is a lot of snow for us) and a fashion funny was documented! Don't tell Clinton and Stacy!

Earlier today I came across a lovely bag of white chocolate chips and before I knew it, I had consumed over 300 calories of white chocolate goodness. When I woke up from the chocolate-high I quickly threw the bag in the trash. I do not do well with temptation. They were left behind after a Saturday of baking with my mom. Have you ever trashed a perfectly good food because of it being too much of a temptation?

Last week I posted that we had entered Ella Blue in a Christmas Cutest Pet Photo Contest. Thank you so much for everyone who voted! I love this blogging community! Today they announce the winner. Even if Ella doesn't win, she's still my cutest pup.

Calling EVERY READER, One and All!

2009-12-15T18:11:00.000-05:00

I need everyone's help! If you are a reader, a regular commenter, a stalkers (whatever), PLEASE HELP ME! We have entered our pup into a cutest Christmas pet contest and NEED EVERYONE TO VOTE! You all know Ella Blue is cute! You have seen this cuteness for months!

Vote now! Click the link, type in your email address and then select pup #144.

Please leave a comment if you vote! I'll love you forever if you link this post to your blog or send it out to your friends.

I LOVE My Gyno!

2009-12-14T19:30:00.001-05:00

Yes, you read that correctly. I love my gynecologist!

Today I had my yearly lady-physical. And aside from the normal "procedure" everything went wonderfully. My doctor is a very straightforward, kind and honest lady. Last year we discussed the fact that I have PCOS (Polycystic ovary syndrome); I've mentioned that before. This is likely to make it difficult to get pregnant but she said the best thing I could do was to maintain my weight, work out and try to be as healthy as possible. That was my focus and mission this past year and will continue to be -- it is a lifestyle.

So after the physical we sat in her office and had a chat. My doctor was very happy with all I had done and even commented that I had lost a few lbs from last year. She said there was nothing else I need to do but continue the track I am on. These changes aren't going to mean I'll get pregnant without drugs or procedures but it could help. And of course the healthier I am, the better my pregnancy may be. She also discussed with me the plan and the steps that we'll take once Husband and I want to get pregnant... in about 1-2 years. Once we're ready the plan will begin and that is a such a joy for me. I have a doctor who understands my concerns and needs and it taking them seriously in order to aid in us having a baby. She is giving me hope and a plan. I need both.

Driving home it hit me. This past year I have met many milestones. I have lost pounds, ran miles, changed my eating and ran races. But even more exciting that those things is the joy and the acknowledgment that these changes will help me to be a Mommy and I don't think any joy but that can compare.

My Sick Day

2009-12-11T14:39:00.000-05:00

For an idea of my activities today, see Ella Blue's picture.

As a teacher I think it is 10 times harder to miss a day of school. It is so hard to prepare for, get a sub and deal with the following school day's mess. I hate missing school. I know so much about my students and teaching that I don't like a stranger with them.

Yesterday (after a late night with Husband's work party on Wednesday) I developed a low-grade fever around mid-morning. So I called the doctor for an appointment. I rarely get fevers. They were able to see me yesterday and thought I had the beginning stages of Strep Throat. I then came home and went to sleep. By the time Husband came home I had developed a fever to 101.8. I decided then that I would not be going into school today. After calling some subs, I was able to secure one (a good one, thankfully) and went back to bed.

Today I have not left the bed much. There have been lots of naps, some medicine for the pain of my throat and of course a pill from a lovely Z-Pack the doctor gave me yesterday. I am feeling a little better. The most difficult thing that I have done has been input some typical meal and food items into SparkPeople which I started on Tuesday.

Unfortunately, I won't be able to attend our Young Professionals Christmas party tonight. It makes me sad because I was going to be cute in black tights, a shorter than typical gray wool skirt and a tight 3/4 length black turtle neck. And I was going to do some fun things with my hair using hot-rollers for a big, holiday party style. Too bad... PJs and a messy ponytail it is tonight (as it has been all day).

Back to napping!

Sparks and Sparkles

2009-12-08T21:16:00.000-05:00

Today I decided to join SparkPeople. I have been having a hard time consistently tracking calories so I thought this may just be the "spark" to get me back on track. Any one out there who uses it? Any tips? I think it'll get much easier after all my typical food has been entered in.

Anyone watching the finale? The weight loss is amazing... almost too amazing and slightly scary. What do you think?

Here's my prediction back in September. I didn't predict the winner but did enjoy watching lives change.

Motivation and Inspiration

2009-12-05T19:20:00.002-05:00

365 Runs, Hopefully

A Year in the Kitchen

Angie Eats Peace

Ash is Fit

Balance is Best

CAUTION: Redhead Running

ChasRunner

Christina Butter

Delicious Ambiguity

Discom-BOB-ulated Running

Fit Lizzio

Fit to Wed

Fit, Sexy, Super-Wife

Fitting Back In

From Ms. to Mrs.

Healthy, HOTT, Housewife...

Highway to Health

I Know She's There... Finding My Domestic Diva Within

In the Skinny

Iowa Girl Eats

Madison's Healthy Happenings

Life of Ty

Let Me Put This Into Perspective For You

MegaNerdRuns

Mrs.CJ Running

My Mantra: Everything in Moderation

N Her Shoes

No One Said It Was Easy

Part of Life is Having a Good Ponytail

Prevention RD's Blog

Run, Sleep, Rinse, Repeat

Running To Slow Things Down

She Wears a Red Sox Cap

Small Steps for Lola

Something to Crow About

Sound Eats
SueMac on the Run

The Balance Broad

The Stary Life

The Ups and Downs of Losing Weight

Whit's Getting Fit

Yet Another Weight Loss Blog

All I Want for Christmas is...

2009-12-02T18:55:00.000-05:00

This year there is a major theme to my Christmas Wish List:

new running shoes

image source

Women's Health Magazine Subscription

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Polar F6 Heart Rate Monitor

image source

Digital Food Scale

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Banish Fat, Boost Metabolism DVD

image source

What is on your Christmas Wish-List?

Race Recaps

2009-12-01T22:40:00.002-05:00

In December 2008, I decided to start running and it changed my life.

Here's a list of the races that I've run

November 2009:

Turkey Trot 10K

I PRed and completed it in under and hour (59:11).

October 2009

HOP 10K race recap

August 2009

Old Solider 5K race recap

I PRed and won first in my age-group (out of 3 people)

July 2009
Crazy 8s 8K race

I loved this race!

May 2009
Race for the Rock 5K race recap

Buddy Runner for Girls on the Run 5K recap

Explanation

2009-12-01T13:22:00.001-05:00

I feel that I owe all the ladies that read my blog and explanation. I have not been blogging lately and let me explain why. When I was blogging regularly I felt like I was ignoring Husband. We only have a few precious hours in the evening together and I was spending close to an hour (some days) staring at a computer. Of course, my great Husband ever complained or said anything but I just had this guilty feeling in my core. I don't want to go through the motions and not be present with him when I can. Now of course there are times when he's busy or playing Wii and I do plan to use those times for blogging and commenting.

I hope you can understand. As much as I LOVE this community, I know being a good wife is a job for life.

I will be back in a more sporadic/regular fashion; blogging a few times a week but not daily.

Here's a highlight list of what I've been up to:

landscaped the front yard (brick, pansy flowers and mulch... oh my!)
planted pansies for my Mom
decorated for Christmas
gained a few lbs (but nothing that can't come off with a little more focus and determination)
fixed a great Carmel Apple Cranberry crisp from my Cooking Light cookbook
made 3 Thanksgiving food items that were well received: low fat pumpkin dip (cool whip, 1 can Pumpkin Purree, box of Vanilla pudding mix, 1 tspn pumpkin spice), spinach salad with feta, nuts and craisisns, and broccoli salad
ran crazy barely marked Turkey Trot 10K (the Saturday before Thanksgiving) and PRed
wrapped several Christmas presents

What have you been up to?

Favorite Posts

2009-12-01T13:00:00.001-05:00

Here is a collection of my favorite posts:

Precious!

2009-11-15T16:02:00.000-05:00

One of the best experiences from college was being a part of a sorority. I am a sister of Alpha Chi Omega, the Elon University chapter. Any other AXOs out there? Through the sorority I learned so much about myself and others. I had a lot of fun and have so many wonderful memories.

There was one sister that I was pretty close with. We were both on the Exec Council. I was in charge of Recruitment and she was in charge of New Member Education so we worked together a lot. We were both Elementary Majors together so we took some classes together. I remember one semester we had a MWF 8:00 am class together and of course it was funny seeing how the other looked coming in to class after a party the night before.

She was a year younger but we stayed in touch a little bit. After she graduated she too got a job as a 2nd grade teacher so we had decided to do a buddy letter writing project after her first year of teaching. Well at the end of her first year of teaching (May 2007) she was diagnosed with Lymphoma that was in the form of a large tumor in her chest. From then on she fought and for 29 months she fought. There were good days and bad days and months of high hope and months of hopelessness. Thankfully her Dad had set up a website to keep family and friends in touch. On Friday she lost her battle.

My heart hurts. It aches for her and her family. It hurts that she had to go through such a struggle. My heart hurts for the students that will never experience her beautiful smile. Life is just so precious. Enjoy it! If you've been beating yourself up over small mistakes, 5 lbs, or regrets... get over it and forgive yourself. If you're having problems with someone... forgive, work it out or get over it. Life is here and gone so quickly.

Ain't No Sunshine When She's Gone

2009-11-12T20:27:00.000-05:00

Ain't no sunshine when she's gone.
It's not warm when she's away.
Ain't no sunshine when she's gone
And she's always gone too long anytime she goes away.

What Have I Been Up To?

2009-11-08T19:15:00.000-05:00

What have I been up to?

Conferences with parents
Painting our guest bedroom. We picked a very pale light green color that may make a nice nursery room color (one day)
Raking leaves. We seriously bagged 20+ bags yesterday. This was a major workout!
Cleaning
Buying and planting bushes at the front of our house
Addressing "We moved" postcards which Husband will mail tomorrow.

I've been busy but I'll return to more regular blogging very soon!

What have you been up to? Give me the Cliff-Notes version. My Google Reader is pretty full!

Dear Lovely Readers

2009-11-03T11:18:00.001-05:00

Dear Lovely Readers,
I am still alive. I have not been kid-napped by my students or lost in the boxes left from Friday's Fall Festival.

This weekend was a mix of crazy, fun, and nasty! Friday was fun but Saturday our weather was nasty. After an adventure to the YMCA to workout and a crazy time in Wal-mart buying groceries I decided to stay home for the remainder of Saturday. I just enjoyed some lovely tootie-roll pops that were meant for kids (or me!). On Sunday (following my dye and HFCS high) I decided to clean, clean, clean and begin our next painting project. Clearly I was insane!

Last night my Mom and I had a painting party. And boy was it a party! The fumes of Primer mixed with shut doors and little air movement caused me to get dizzy and feel sick. I even tripped off a ladder. Definitely not my best moment! I wish I could blame it on the alcohol but no it was the paint. I spent the rest of the evening trying to make the room stop spinning. This was too much of a reminder of my 21st birthday. I'm sad to think of the brain-cells killed last night.

Now all summer I painted. I painted the dining room, kitchen, living room, bedroom, bathroom and hall. But the difference was the whole house was opened. Now that we're living there I decided to shut the room off... big mistake! Lesson learned.

My eating is still on track. I am going strong on Level 2 of the 30DS. Walking push-ups aren't nearly as hard (to me) as regular push-ups. But those military presses with kicks are no joke! Have I told you yet that I'm doing this Challenge with 8 lb weights? Yep, I am. It's one of my goals and I am rocking it!

Love to all!
Meredith

Trick-or-Treat? Treat!

2009-10-30T09:20:00.001-04:00

I know I said I was going to wait until tomorrow to hop on the scale but Friday is my usual weigh-in day so I decided to do it this morning. In the last 2 weeks I have lost a pound. Now most people would laugh at this. I don't. I'm happy with it. I am happy to be in the losing direction and not the gaining.

I still need to work on tracking my calories (especially on the weekend) and staying focused on my exercise in the afternoons even when my schedule gets crazy with meetings, conferences, meetings and more meetings. Exercise should be a part of pretty much every afternoon for me.

I did pretty good yesterday. It was not easy but I managed not to indulge in "snack day" at school. But once I got home all the effort that I had put into making the best choices went out the door. My ability to resist had been put to the test during the day and so I became more lax when I got home. I love me some Newman Os!

Today is a crazy day at school. Students can wear their costumes to school if they meet this criteria (good behavior, no unexcused absences, etc.) so the majority of my kids have on their costume. So all morning I've been adjusting cat tails and witch's capes. Then this afternoon we're having a costume parade and doing Trunk-or-Treat around the school's track. It's fun but I definitely don't feel like a teacher on this day. I am excited for a more normal routine for next week. Then tonight is the Fall Festival. I'll be staying at school for over 12 hours today. I'm hoping between school and the Fall Festival I can get in a run. Last night I packed a TON of healthy snack options to keep me going this long day. I am going to need all the good (non-candy) energy I can get today!

4 Weeks Until Turkey Day!

2009-10-28T19:35:00.000-04:00

Two weeks ago I created the Thanksgiving 30 Day Shred Challenge. Today I started Level 2 and it felt good! If you have yet started the challenge or haven't been consistent, refocus today! You still have 4 weeks to change your body and life before the rush of the holidays. I would personally love to lose 4 pounds in the next 4 weeks. I'd rather not start the holiday season with "baggage".

Tomorrow is going to be a TOUGH mental day for me! It's "Snack Day" at my school. Teachers and staff bring in lovely, yummy (unhealthy) items to share and enjoy. It is located perfectly in the teacher workroom. My goal tomorrow is NOT to go in the workroom. This is more than just a little bit of temptation this is going to be a challenge in itself. If I stay out and away from temptations, I will feel victorious.

Please give some tips for avoiding tempting food and situations!

A Night As A Single Lady

2009-10-27T20:05:00.000-04:00

Before I begin let me state this, I love Husband and adore spending time with him. He is my favorite person. Understood? Good!

With that being said, I am one happy lady tonight. Husband is busy with work stuff tonight (don't feel bad, he's having dinner at a local Country Club) so that means a quiet evening at home. I only had to cook for myself tonight and were under no pre-set routines or schedules. Typically I work to have supper ready by 6:15. Tonight I didn't end up eating until 7 or so and I left a big mess in the kitchen; I've already cleaned it up but it was nice knowing that no one witnessed it or rolled their eyes at my mess. I fixed spaghetti squash with sauce and reheated chicken. I made a lovely salad with tons of extra veggies. And have already fixed a lunch portion of it tomorrow. I am digging spaghetti squash. It's spaghetti with out the carbs or crazy calories.

I have watched hours of Bravo and E!. I have played with Ella. We have just enjoyed each other's company and it has been quiet. The tv has not been on Sports Center once tonight! Victory. And to top off my evening - The Biggest Loser!

Husband should be home later tonight -- maybe 10 or so (late for us). And I will be happy to greet him with a kiss and a hug. But for now my love goes into making pumpkin mini-muffins (for my class) and cheering on the lovely BL contestants.

What do you enjoy doing when you get an evening alone?

Dining Room -- Before and After

2009-10-26T20:20:00.000-04:00

Before

(Grandparents' House that sat empty for a few years).

After

Dining Room Table: Husband's Grandmother's Table

Dinning Room Chairs: $20 each from Garden Ridge

Dinning Room Tablecloth and Placemats: Walmart

Pumpkin Runners: $1 each at Walmart

Vase with leaves: Vase from Target, fabric leaves from ????

Curtain panels: from JCPenny

Old Radio with Record Player (acts as a buffet): My Grandfather's wedding gift

to my Grandmother (March 1950)

Wall Leaves: From Pier One ($8 each)

Crystal and Wall Display: My Grandmother's

Light: Overstock.com

This was the first room I painted but seemed to be the longest room to complete. I love it now! I love the colors and the mix of materials.

Things I Don't Do, But Should

2009-10-23T20:55:00.004-04:00

Things I Don't Do, But Should:

Read each day. I require my students to do it but rarely touch a book during the week. Could I count reading blogs?
Floss. I start about a week before the dentist and the week after my visit.
Clean my car. It is a mess. I love my car... it's paid-off and drives wonderfully but not worth the effort of cleaning it. I no longer see my car as a "status" symbol. It is a mode of transportation. Geez, I sound old! Maybe if I had a nicer car I'd take more pride in it.
Take a vitamin each day.
Keep in contact with high school and college friends at times other than at weddings or Christmas.
Read the Bible often.
Email or call my mother-in-law. We have had a less than wonderful relationship. The wedding planning process created some tension between us. I have good intentions of creating a better relationship with her but I don't act upon it like I should.
Go out of my way to be romantic. I need to flirt with Husband more.
Cut coupons. My mom gets the paper daily but I always forget to go over to her house to cut coupons. I know it would help me save money.
Water my flowers. I just pray for rain every 3 days.
Take compliments to heart.
Dance! I love dancing. I never think to do it as a workout or try to get Husband to dance with me.
Appreciate people as much as I should.

Thankful Thursday

2009-10-22T21:15:00.000-04:00

I am so glad that it is Thursday! This week has seemed longer than normal.

1. I'm thankful that Husband and I took our "We Moved" picture. We're sending out picture postcards to family friends with our new address. Now I can order them, get them addressed and mailed. That was a goal for October.

2. Pumpkin oatmeal! It is a wonderful and super easy! Mix 1/3 cup quick cook oats, 1/3 cup pumpkin puree, 1/3 cup water and microwave for 90 seconds. Top with 1 tspn brown sugar, raisins and pecans on top.

3. I've been doing a good job of counting calories and exercising this week. I'm focused on the Thanksgiving 30 Day Shred Challenge! I feel better! My mood is better. It feels great to be re-focused again about being healthy.

4. Different projects that have been incomplete are starting to get done around the house. We have replaced all the storm-doors, got our dining room light and programmable thermostat installed, and after this weekend we'll have the back bedroom ready for painting and hopefully hang our curtains! It feels great seeing the house become a home!

Love Your Body Day

2009-10-21T19:55:00.000-04:00

Today is the day set a side as by The National Organization for Women as Love Your Body Day. Of course, we should all love our body EACH and EVERY DAY but I know, for me personally, that doesn't always happen. There are days that I don't feel pretty or feel fat or just not happy with my body. But TODAY is the day to focus on the WONDER that ARE OUR BODIES!

When I worked as a camp counselor I would sometimes work with middle school girls. At least one devotion during the week would be about the beauty of our bodies. I had a beautiful quote framed to share with the girls: Part of it included a quote by Oscar Wilde:

"To love oneself is the beginning of a lifelong romance... My greatest mistake, my fault for which I can't forgive myself is that one day I ceased my obstinate pursuit of my own individuality."

There were also a couple Bible verses that I would read to the girls.

"He said to the disciples, "Therefor I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food and the body more than clothing." Luke 12:22-23
"You are altogether beautiful, my love; there is no flaw in you." Song of Solomon 4:7

What do you love about your body? I love curly hair, body, teeth (no braces!), and feet that move me! Do you have a favorite quote that deals with loving your body?

image source

My Food Soul Mate

2009-10-20T20:15:00.000-04:00

Do you have a favorite food, snack or meal that you LOVE... no matter what? I call it a Food Soul Mate. Well, I have found mine!

Jello 60 calorie pudding

(LOVE the new Cinnamon Roll flavor)

One Lovely Apple

(sliced)

My Amazing Afternoon Delight!

I also reserve the right to have more than one food soul mate and/or food fling. I'm currently having a romantic rendezvous with pumpkin oatmeal. And most days I'm having mid-morning fling with 100 calorie bags of kettle corn popcorn.

Don't judge. It's LOVE!

Do you have a Food Soul Mate? What is it? Share the love!

A Sweet Start to the Day

2009-10-19T19:10:00.000-04:00

Love Poptarts? Do you think they're a great breakfast (every once and a while)? Check out Lindsay of Banana and Chocolate. She is having a giveaway from Fiber One, featuring their Toaster Pastry.

A (Wo)Man with a Plan

2009-10-19T07:00:00.001-04:00

As a general rule I enjoy Sunday nights. I enjoy the calm, relaxed nature of them. Most Sunday afternoons I am busy preparing for the week. I pre-cook many items for the week's meals, plan any outdoor exercise by the 10 day weather forecast, create a plan of other exercise including the Thanksgiving's 30DS Challenge and do any number of things for school. So after the business of Sunday afternoon comes the quiet of Sunday evening.

This Sunday evening I spent on my bed with this week's agenda page staring right back at me. A whole new fresh week is beginning.

My goal this week is to plan out my eats as much as possible the night before and stick with the plan. I did this last spring and it really helped me lose some weight. I don't need to lose much weight right now (3 lbs) to get back to where I was maintaining during the summer but I know the key to success for me is tracking my calories. I tend to be a grazer so without a plan I will graze. So I wrote out Moday's plan.

I am also not going to weigh myself until the end of the month (a few days less than 2 weeks away). I'm going to use my calorie-tracking as my progress instead of my weight. I will weigh myself the morning of Halloween. I hope the number will be a "treat" not a "trick".

Then I enjoyed some time with my favorite person and canine.

Do you make a plan for the week? Do you have any goals for the week?

Yard Sale Find

2009-10-18T08:40:00.000-04:00

One of my goals at the beginning of this month was to prepare for and have a yard-sale. Yesterday was the day. It was a good yard-sale but really, really cold (45 degrees with wind -- burr!). We sold some furniture that we don't need for this house and some clothing. And of course Goodwill got a lot of donations. Yay for tax write-offs!

The most exciting part of the day, aside from selling our old dinning table and chairs for a nice price and having major cash in my pocket, was getting this collection of Yoga Booty Ballet DVDs.

My mom's co-worker was going to sell them but when she saw me admiring them she gave them to me with the ball and band! SCORE!

I haven't yet tried them but I love dancing and ballet. Also I'm just excited to have some more options in my workout DVD collection. I'm also planning to ask for some more DVDs for Christmas as well.

Any workout DVDs that you LOVE that

I could add to my Christmas Idea/Wish List?

Kreativ Blogger Award

2009-10-16T20:10:00.000-04:00

Wednesday I was pleased to read that Kelly of Part of Life is Having a Good Ponytail gave me an award. I love Kelly's blog! She always incorporates a good balance of real life and health and fitness information. Thanks Kelly!

With this award I am to list 7 things you don't know about me. So here goes:

On my wedding day I sat in bird-poop. Bright purple bird poop was on the back of my dress. We were having a picture taken sitting on a bridge, but a bird had enjoyed the location before me. Thank God for Shot spot sticks!
One of my favorite jobs was working at an overnight church camp. We worked from Sunday afternoon - Saturday lunch and got paid only $125 a week. It was still the best job ever!
When I'm bored I think of what I would in order to make-over people. In grad school classes (imagine a room of middle-age to older teachers/day care owners) I had to work hard not to focus on that. I know that sounds means and cruel but really a good haircut/dye job, make-up and a well fitting outfit can really change someone's look.
My Mom never drove a mini-van and I have never owed Uggs or Crocs. And I have no regrets.
I live in the country and I like it that way (country song reference) but sometimes would love to live in a big city for at least a month.
I loved the t.v. show Dawson's Creek and still do! I am so proud that it was filmed in my state, NC.
I love Julia Robert's movies. I have more of her movies than any other. I have seen Steel Magnolias many times but still cry. I think Julia and I would be friends.

Jennifer Q of Finding My Stability

Therese of Healthy, HOTT, Housewife

Angie of Angie Eats Peace

365 Runs, Hopefully (who is running a marathon this weekend!)

Kelly of She Wears a Red Sox Cap

Thanksgiving's 30 Day Shred Challenge

2009-10-14T20:15:00.001-04:00

Do you believe we are 6 weeks out from Thanksgiving and the beginning of the holiday season.? Six weeks from tomorrow is Thanksgiving. Crazy, I know. And with Thanksgiving and the Christmas season comes family commitments, parties, shopping, snack days/treats at school, etc. Although I love Christmas, the music, the movies and the fun I also know it is a crazy distracting time.

So I decided to create a Challenge for myself. I am going to complete the 30 Day Shred (again). I love the 30DS and how it so quickly changes my body. I have 6 weeks (5 days/week) to complete it so I don't have to do it every day. This plan works for me. Following Thanksgiving and this Challenge I plan to continue with the Shred but vary the levels.

Most days during the week I'm going to get up early (5:15) and Shred before getting ready for work. I did it this morning and felt great all day. Like Julie, of Julie Golean wrote, it's all about preparing the night before and having a plan.

Anyone else interested in being

Shredded by Turkey Day?

Tomorrow I'll share my newest Blogger award (so happy!).

Happy 200th Post!

2009-10-13T20:00:00.001-04:00

This is the 200th post of Balance for MEre. When I began this in April I couldn't envision what this blog would be like. Now I realize how valuable it is for me in their journey of health and well-being. I have NO friends that are interested in fitness. Husband is the only workout partner that I have. Having this blog has allowed me to create friendships with people with these similar interests. So thank you to all the readers out there who have read and commented on this blog. Your support is very much appreciated!

I found this quote and I really like it and thought it was appropriate.

You must begin to think of yourself as becoming

the person you want to be.

David Viscott

I decided to include some pictures from where I blog. Our computer is set up in the living room. Where do you blog?

Ella had to be included too!

It's the Great Pumpkin

2009-10-12T20:00:00.000-04:00

Last year one of my teacher friends, who attends Weight Watchers meetings, told me about this awesome recipe for pumpkin muffins. It is super easy... only 3 ingredients: a box of spice-cake mix, one 15 oz pumpkin puree, 1/2 cup water.

Mix together and pour into muffin tins.

It makes about 24 muffins with each muffin being about 100 calories. I love these! They are moist, easy and well stay fresh for several days. I have plenty for the week and plenty for sharing at work.

About MEre

2009-10-10T11:05:00.003-04:00

I am a newly wed.

I am an elementary school teacher.

I am a daughter, sister, friend.

I am a person who wants to be
strong, healthy, and fit.

I want to work to balance all areas of my life.

My name is Meredith. I am 27 years old and live near Hickory, North Carolina. It isn't the most urban or hip area to live but it is home. I grew up and live on my family's farm. I love the land and the beauty it contains.

I attended Elon University and majored in Elementary Education and Special Education. While there I became a sister of Alpha Chi Omega. At Elon I met the wonderful man I would marry. After graduating from Elon, I earned my M.Ed. in Literacy and Language at Salem College.

I currently work as a second grade teacher and absolutely love it! I love teaching skills that my students will use for the rest of their lives. I enjoy fostering a sense of respect of self and others within my students. My favorite time of the day is when I read to them, their mouths agape and eyes sparkling.

On July 14, 2007 I married the most wonderful man! On that day I felt proud of how I looked. I had spent the previous 6-8 months watching my diet and working out.

After getting married I fell into a diet and workout rut. I still worked out and tried to eat right but had no passion. But in early 2009 I got the "running bug". Since then I have enjoyed running 5Ks, 8Ks and 10Ks.

I have goals of completing a half and full marathon in my lifetime.

View My Complete Profile

Change the Point of View

2009-10-09T19:35:00.001-04:00

This morning I woke up and I was feeling "uh". I didn't sleep well, woke up in a bad mood and wasn't feeling "it", even on a Friday. I went to the bathroom and did my Friday morning ritual of weighing myself. The number is 3.5 pounds higher than I was maintaining this summer but I'll can refocus and get back on the track that got me to the maintenance number.

In the foul mood that I was in, I looked at my naked self in the mirror and didn't like it. I didn't like my thighs or my stomach. I got in the shower and started thinking. I realized my thighs have not grown in the last week or month. My stomach isn't that different than it was when I was maintaining the weight. Nothing has changed but the way I was looking at myself. I decided that once I was out of the shower I would dry off and focus on 2 things I loved about my body. I did it. It took me about 30 seconds of time to change my mood around.

I have a beautiful body! It's an amazing and lovely piece of work. I've got banging curves and strong legs. Am I built like a model? NO! But I'm still GORGEOUS!

Anyone else loving their body?

Pretty Is As Pretty Does

2009-10-08T20:45:00.003-04:00

Growing up I remember asking my mom if I was pretty. Her reply back to me was "pretty is as pretty does". I hadn't thought about that line in years until I was reading with a my reading group kids.

I was reading the book Cindy Ellen (a Western version of Cinderella). For all the teachers out there the genre of the month is Fairy Tales, Tall Tales and Folk Tales so I was reading different versions of Cinderella. Cindy Ellen's fairy godmother told Cindy Ellen that "pretty is as pretty does". I told the group that I could make a "connection" to this story (yet another teacher term) because that's what my mom would tell me. A particularly sweet girl in the group raised her hand with a big smile on her face and said her mom had said the same thing!

Do other moms say this to their daughters? I hope so. It's amazing how many ads are out there and everything our kids are exposed to. What did your parents teach you about beauty?

The Best Wedding Present Ever

2009-10-07T19:00:00.000-04:00

Two years ago my brother gave Husband and I the best of all wedding presents. He gave us a dog. He gave us Ella. It is hard to believe that two years ago this little fuzzball entered our lives.

She is definitely our baby!

Do you celebrate your pet's birthday? We do! I also like to remember her adoption day (today). If I'm this celebratory with our pup, I can't imagine what I'll be like with real babies.

Task Master

2009-10-06T20:28:00.000-04:00

Do you use Gmail? If you don't, you should! I love Gmail. Each day I use Google Reader and the Calender function. It makes my life easy. One thing that I really love are the Tasks function. I have about 6 different task lists -- meal ideas, blog ideas, things to do at home, school things to do, goals, etc. Today I decided to use the Google Task function to create a workout before going to the gym. I was then able to print it out and take it with me to the gym. Super easy!

Unfortunately, I have been suffering with bad allergies and currently have a nasty cough. I didn't feel comfortable running or doing things that might make my breathing too labored. So I decided to do high incline walking at the beginning and end of my workout then do lots of arms and abs.

It was a great strength workout. I would have loved to have felt better and be able to really push myself with cardio but that wasn't in the cards today. I think having a plan for me with strength training is really important. I don't know much about strength training (I am hoping to get an appointment with a strength trainer soon) so I often just play around with strength training, get bored and leave. Having a list of tasks to complete made a big difference in my workout.

Do you have a plan when going in to workout or do strength training? Did you notice a change in your actions?

If you want to learn more about Gmail, check out Kath's tutorial.

Keep Smiling

2009-10-05T20:05:00.000-04:00

Today was a Monday from start to finish. I just wasn't feeling today. But instead of focusing on the bummer of today, I have decided to focus on things that make me happy (in no particular order):

Flowers. I love flowers, cut or potted. I think God's laughs are flowers.
Our cute pup. We've had her for almost 2 years and she is truly our baby.

Fuzzy socks. As the weather gets cooler the floors have become very chilly. I am thankful for fuzzy socks even if they are the opposite of sexy.
Husband. I honestly think I married the best man possible for me. Life with him is easy and just natural.

The lovely people that read this blog. I really don't have any friends that are interested in health and fitness so having this community is so important to me.
Sitting outside and listening to the night.
Rolling over in the night and feeling Husband next to me.
Chalk. I don't have a chalk board in my room but I love drawing with it outside.
Singing songs but making up half the words.
My Mom's hugs. I have a great Mom.

Scarves, fleece jackets and pajama pants
The fields of my family's farm. It is beautiful.

What makes you smile?

Using My Strength

2009-10-04T20:05:00.001-04:00

As a teacher I know it is part of my job to go to workshops in order to learn more about the art and science of teaching. One of the workshops that I went to last year were about different principals of teaching. The workshop instructor was very good and informative. A key part that I really took from the workshop was the importance of using your own areas of strength. Areas that you are really strong in are the same areas that you can most improve. It is harder to overcome and strengthen a weakness (consistently) than it is to strengthen an already strong area. The big reason is that the area of strength is natural and doesn't seem difficult so any changes seem easy.

This rule also applies outside the classroom. I know one of my strengths is that I am a really good planner and preparer. I generally do a really good job planning the weekly dinner menu and do a good amount of pre-cooking each week. But I don't always do a good job of planning my breakfasts and lunches. So this week I have decided to strengthen my area of strength and plan out all of my meals. I have a plan for all my food this week. I am going to really focus on calorie counting (something I was really good at last winter-spring but haven't done so well with lately). I am hoping by relying on this strength it will help me in other areas that I'm not as strong in. I am not very good of coming up with meal ideas on the spot. I am really good at finding ideas online and recreating them.

I'm hoping this week will be a time when I can get back on track. I have kind of gotten off course with my eating and I don't like the way I feel when I do that. My body feels so much better when I'm eating the best foods for me. Several years ago (like the cartoon says) I didn't fully comprehend that what I was eating mattered in how I looked and felt. Now I know how the two are so connected.

What areas of health and wellness are you really strong in? What areas do you have to compensate for?

Questions? Comments? Wanna Chat?

2009-10-03T20:00:00.001-04:00

Question?

Comments?

Want to chat?

Feel free to email me at BalanceForMEre@Gmail.com

My First 10K

2009-10-03T16:50:00.000-04:00

I did it! I ran a 10K! Yesterday I wasn't exactly excited because of so many things going on but I woke up today ready for the race!

The day began with stretching and foam rolling and my favorite pre-race breakfast: peanut butter and banana on a slimwich.

Once we got to the race place and our bib and goodies, we preceeded in try to stay warm. It was cool and fogging.

The race began and I was very cold the first mile. Then it got better and warmer. The race course was an out and back route. The first mile was an easy down-hill and the realization that the last mile was going to be a hard up-hill. The race took us down a 4 lane road, through a neighborhood with the majority of the course being on a greenway. The greenway part was nice and flat. The miles were marked and my only disappointment was the lack of water stations, only 2 (one more would have been better).

The 5K and 10K race both began at the same time and there were probably 150 in the 5K and maybe 30 in the 10K. So after about a mile we see the 5K racers speeding past us at the turn-around. We knew we were just getting started and had to pace ourselves, especially for the last mile.

The last half mile was rough! I wanted it to be over! And the end was in sight but from the bottom of a big, long hill. My goal was to finish in an hour. Sadly I missed the goal my 20 seconds. I finished in 60:20 but it's a PR because it is the first time I've run a race that distance.

*****

The funeral went well. We were supported by many family members and friends. I'm going to take a nap now before going out to dinner with Husband (as a better birthday celebration). It's going to be a dinner adventure from my ancestry homeland.

Twas the Night Before the 10K

2009-10-02T20:35:00.001-04:00

Twas the night before the 10K and all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even Ella Blue

The race gear was laid out in the bathroom with care

In hope that the morning air would be warm and fair

The runners were snuggling together in their bed

With visions of quick feet running through each head

And Ella Blue in her crate all curled and warm

Had settled in for a cool October slumber for good form

If I didn't have to go to bed soon to get ready for the run, I'd finish it.

Thank you so much for all the play-list suggestions. I'm excited to have new running songs tomorrow. I'm kind of nervous about tomorrow. I didn't really exercise this week due to my grandfather's death and just so much going on. I'm hoping my run will be therapeutic. My biggest race concern is the weather, the estimated temperature for the run is 57 degrees. I am much happier with warmer weather, like 70ish. I'm also worried about tomorrow being a physically and emotionally draining day. We're having the funeral tomorrow afternoon. It will be a busy day.

I'll post the race recap tomorrow once we get home.

October Challenges

2009-10-01T21:05:00.002-04:00

Thank you all so much for the kind comments. I appreciate your prayers for my family.

I decided this month to list some things I want to do. This month I want to...

bake with more seasonal foods
send out "We moved" cards
begin and almost complete Christmas "to buy" list
buy Christmas cards
sign up for "Take One" of National Board Certification in Teaching
run 10K (this Saturday)
clean and set up our dinning room
prepare for and have a yard-sale
run 7-8 miles
decorate our home with seasonal/fall items
plant pansies and new bushes at the front of our house (see yard-sale for extra cash)

There are several things I hope to do this month

go to winery with Husband
attend a football game at my high school
attend my school's fall festival/trunk-or-treat
carve a jack-o-lantern with my class. They love pulling out the strings and pulp.
drink hot chocolate outside under a blanket

Big plans for the month?

Prayers

2009-10-01T06:37:00.000-04:00

Last night my grandfather passed away. He did so peacefully in a Hospice centered that he was just moved into yesterday. He had been in pain a lot due to pancreatic cancer but now is no longer in pain. Please pray for my mom. She is his only daughter.

Happy Birthday to the Hub!

2009-09-30T20:45:00.000-04:00

So last night I made Husband his birthday cake, a cookie cake. This man LOVES cookie cakes so it was a huge hit. I'm glad that so many people responded with similar views about desserts. It's all about balance.

Tonight we had a mini celebration for Husband's birthday. We went out to dinner at a local pizza spot and then came home for the dessert. This weekend we're going out to a nicer German restaurant that Husband has been dieing to try out.

Happy Birthday to the most wonderful man!

*****
My eating and exercise has been very hit or miss the last few days. Tomorrow I am going to really refocus and get back to the smart choices that my body enjoys.

"Dieters" and Desserts

2009-09-29T20:00:00.003-04:00

One of my biggest pet peeves about dealing with others and dieting/living a healthy lifestyle is that people think I never eat sweets or desserts. I think this is a very common misconception. Desserts and sweets can be a part of a healthy lifestyle. It is all about balance!

Tomorrow is Husband's birthday and I was excited to make him a cookie cake. Tomorrow I will gladly enjoy a big piece of this yummy dessert. Life is to short not to enjoy sweets when the appropriate time arrives. I wouldn't eat this type of treat every day but on a special day it is a necessity, in my opinion. However, I do usually have something sweet everyday.

I decided to put together a collection of different desserts that I have seen on other blogs or ones that were liked to me. I know there are many holidays/functions quickly approaching. It's all about moderation!

Christina Butter also suggested Eat Better America for other dessert ideas. The site looks great!

Tomorrow after school I plan to decorate the cookie cake. I'll be sure to take pictures!

Are there any recipes you would like me to add? Are there any you really want to try?

Signing Up for My First 10K

2009-09-28T19:45:00.001-04:00

If you haven't already done so, send me your favorite dessert recipes.

I love how addicting running is. Once I run one distance, I want to run an even longer and longer distance. It is definitely like a drug!

Since starting this running journey in late December I have ran in a few different races. I ran my first 5K in May, an 8K in July and another 5K in August.

Now I am stepping up my distance and running a 10K this weekend. The registration is in the mail!

I'm going to be working on my play-list this week. Any suggestions? I need some really high energy songs especially towards the end of the list.

Favorite Desserts

2009-09-28T12:01:00.002-04:00

With the holidays rapidly approaching I decided to compile a list of favorite healthy (or slightly unhealthy) desserts. Very soon I'll post a complete list of desserts from readers.

If you have a blog and have already posted this desert you can simply include the link. If you don't have a blog or have yet to post it, please include the recipe in the comment section or email it to me (balanceformere "at" gmail "dot" com).

Thanks! Can't wait to add more favorites to my recipe collection!

A Walk Down Memory Lane at Camp

2009-09-27T20:35:00.001-04:00

Growing up I was a camp kid. Every summer for 9 summers I spent a week at camp, Lutheridge. Then I worked there for 3 summers as a counselor and area director. What is really cool is that Husband and I were both campers at this camp. I don't think we were there the same week but it was something really cool to discover the night we met.

On our way home from Husband's parent's home we stopped by camp to walk after visiting a nearby camping store. We walked around the entire camp and even on a trail that leads to the chapel at the top of the campus. It was great thinking back about all the memories I have as a camper and staff member. The weather was perfect, especially after the many days of rain.

Here's a quick tour:

My last year on staff I was area director of Pioneer A. There are several areas but this area was were campers in grades third-fifth stayed. While working here I perfected my ability to deal with homesick campers. Generally many kids in my area were taking part in their first "sleep away" camp experience.

Did you ever attend camps as a kid? I attended this church camp and also basketball and chorus camps at different points growing up. Did you like camp? Tomorrow I'll be back with more things related to health and fitness but today I was happy with this "walk".

Rainy Days Friday and Saturday

2009-09-26T20:25:00.000-04:00

Last night we drove through crazy rain coming to visit Husband's parents.

After about an hour of rain it finally stopped.

I was thrilled that it had ended in time to enjoy dinner at my favorite road spot: a Subway/TCBY. This is my food heaven! I enjoyed chips and a lovely veggie delight. Husband calls my sandwich a salad between bread. The sandwich was good but not nearly as good as the TCBY. I enjoyed a mix of coffee and white chocolate mousse before hitting the road for the 2nd half of the trip. The combo was the perfect blend. The coffee muted the sweetness of the white chocolate.

Once at the in-law's house we sat around and talked or "visited" as people in the south say. By 10:30 I was ready to go to sleep! Hello, I'm the girl that crashes early on Friday nights so this was late for me.

Husband and I decided to wake up early and go for a run along some neighborhoods and through the town's greenway. The forecast via Husband's blackberry was not good: rain, rain, rain. Luckily we got in about a 5 mile run before the rain began.

After reading so many posts about races this weekend, I am really excited for next week's 10K!

The rest of the day included lunch out with his parents and a relaxing afternoon of college football. Husband's mom had wanted to do a fire-pit weenie roast with marshmallows tonight. Sadly the weather had other plans so we had one inside. Birthday smores for Husband and I; our birthdays are both in September.

Now we're playing with their crazy cat and more laziness. LOVE IT!

Today's EATS and Exercise

B: slimwich, 1 tbspn PB, banana

L: grilled chicken salad, Kashi pumpkin bar

S: apple

D: turkey hotdog, homemade potato salad, baked beans, carrots and celery

d: 2 smores... yum!

Playground -- Not Just for Kids

2009-09-25T16:05:00.004-04:00

Back in July while spending a lot of time at a hospital with my grandfather I made a stair landing my gym. Today after school I made the playground my gym. I started off by running and walking in intervals around the track. I became bored with the running so I decided to mimic my kids and move how they move. I then began doing butt-kicks around the track. I also pretended to hopscotch, skip and gallop. No matter what I did, I was moving and sweating!

After about 20 minutes of cardio I decided to use the playground equipment for strength-training. I used the ladder of the slide for calf-raises and then later as as an single leg step-up. Then I used the balance beam for a raised platform for push-ups and also mountain climbers. I used the monkey bars for a few attempts at pull-ups. It was an awesome workout. I WISH I could do this everyday during recess but sadly I have to supervise the 60 students in 2nd grade and of course they would get in my way.

(mountain climbers... I think)

This workout was so much fun! I love workouts where I decide on a whim what to do. Sometimes I enjoy not having a plan and just doing what I feel like. And of course NO GYM REQUIRED!

We're now heading to visit Husband's parents for the weekend but I hope to post and stay current with all of your happenings.

Today's EATS and Exercise
B: pancake with cooked apples
S: Greek yogurt, peach, cereal
L: tomato soup, cheddar bunnies, orange, Dove chocolate
S: 14 almonds, banana
E: playground exercise
below planned
S: grapes
D: Subway 6 inch sub roast beef or veggie (to be decided), baked chips
d: TCBY (can't wait!)

Thankful Thursday -- The Body Edition

2009-09-24T20:30:00.000-04:00

Going off my Dear Body letter from Monday I have been trying to appreciate, regonize and honor my body more. If you really take time to think about it, our bodies are AMAZING! They grow, move, elvove. Bodies allow us to reproduce. At any point our body is converting food to energy and repairing and cleansing itself. That is COOL!

So what parts of your body are you THANKFUL for or LOVE?

I love my curly hair. It wasn't curly until I hit puberty, which is just like my dad's hair. The back-story is that my dad died when I was really young so I have NO memories of him but I am connected to him through my curly hair and long legs.
I am thankful for my feet. Growing up they were used for 16 years of dancing and now running.
The crazy internal organs that I never think about or acknowledge. I think about my lungs and heart when I'm running. I think about my bladder when I have to got o the bathroom. I think about my uterus and ovaries every 4th week. But there are a lot of other organs in there that I have not once thought about. Thank you organs!
My teeth. I never had braces but have good teeth.

What to know some interesting things about your internal organs? Check out this article in the September issue of Self Magazine. Want to find ways to love your body just a little bit more?

Move Over Martha, Forget Rachel, I Make Ashlee's Recipes

2009-09-23T20:25:00.002-04:00

To say that I am a fan of Ashlee and her A Year in the Kitchen blog would be an understatement. In all honestly this girl taught me how to cook! My mom cooked for my brother and I growing up but her recipes weren't very inventive or too healthy (sorry Mom, I still love you!). So going into marriage I was nervous about having to cook. But in all honesty it did not hit me until we're home from the Honeymoon that I actually had to cook and use all the new pots and pans. I had the equipment but not the interest or knowledge.

After a year of floundering in the kitchen I found Ashlee's blog and began using her blog to help me meal plan. I love the fact that she is roughly my age. My thinking is "if Ashlee can create the recipe, I can follow it." And knowing that the girl has lost a lot of weight is another great aspect. I know her recipes are healthy and I trust that if there were any healthier substitutions that could be made she would have made them. So when Ashlee wrote that she was creating a cookbook I said, I HAD TO HAVE IT! I was thrilled to see it in the mail today! I ripped into the package!

I quickly browsed all the great recipes. There are several favorites and many I have got to try ASAP! I was so happy to see that I have a signed copy! Thanks Ash!

Now anyone can claim to be a fan but I have the goods to back it up! I have made many of her recipes including the following:

White Cheddar Mac and Cheese
Penne with Broccolini and Crispy Prosciutto
Herb Butter and Goat Cheese Linguine with Fresh Tomatoes
Spinach and Sausage Lasagna
Sausage and Peppers Baked Pasta
Quiche
Latkes
Spicy Potato Wedges
No Mayo Coleslaw
7 Layer Dip
Crispy Oven Friend Onion Rings
Southwest Cobb Salad
Chicken tenders
Chicken and Black-bean Enchiladas
Parmesan and Sun Dried Tomato Turkey Meatballs
Pulled Pork BBQ
Philly Steak Wraps
Tomato Soup (one of my personal favorites -- I make it at least monthly or bi-monthly in the fall and winter but use turkey bacon)
Creamy Broccoli and White Bean Soup
Grilled Summer Corn Chowder
Garden Harvest muffins
Chunky Everything Blondies
Sugar cookies
Carrot Cake
Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake
M&M Cookies
AND MANY OTHERS!

Check out all the recipes that I have record on notepad paper. All these recipes are at my finger tips in my notebook of recipes I've collected. Now I am still keeping my handwritten recipes as they are like old friends but I am happy to welcome a new and improved edition to the recipes already recorded!

So if you haven't already, check out Ashlee's food blog A Year in the Kitchen. You can easily browse recipes by ingredient, ethnic background and result. There are so many options! She has begun adding more vegetarian options but her meat recipes are still there. Also make sure you check out her weight loss blog: Ash is Fit! The girl is inspirational and a great cook!

Today's EATS and Exercise
B: 3/4 cup h2h, 1/2 cup ff milk, chopped apple
S: some animal crackers, Greek yogurt and strawberries
L: veggie wrap (sprouts, broc, lettuce, green peppers and laughing cow), orange, Dove chocolate
S: 14 almonds, banana
E: 2 miles treadmill, various strength training
D: taco soup, baked mexican chips, a peach
d: Cliff Z Kids bar

Happy Fall!

2009-09-22T20:30:00.002-04:00

Welcome to my favorite season! I love fall! As a teacher I enjoy summer because of having the summer off but fall is really my favorite. I love fall:

clothes (3/4 length shirts, jeans, light sweaters, boots, etc.)
leaves falling
pumpkins
warm afternoons but cool mornings
hot chocolate
Friday night high school football games
pumpkin flavored products
Halloween candy
Thanksgiving food
OH SO MANY THINGS I LOVE ABOUT FALL!

What are your favorite things about fall?

I also love that new seasons and shows start in the fall... including the newest season of The Biggest Loser!

Today's EATS
B: chopped apple, 3/4 cup h2h, 1/2 cup milk
S: Greek yogurt, 1/2 cup bb, 1/4 cup h2h
L: tomato soup, fruit salad, Annie's bunny cheddar crackers
S: banana, 14 almonds
D: baked chicken sandwich with broccoli salad

A Letter to My Body

2009-09-21T20:00:00.000-04:00

Dear Body,

I am so sorry that I have mistreated you today. I forgot to acknowledge your beauty and strength. When work forced me to miss the cardio class I decided to punish you with too many crackers and chocolate. I am sorry. You do not deserve to be treated in such a way. It wasn't your mistake. It was my mistake.

You deserve so much respect. You deserve to be worshiped not chastised and littered. You, my strong body, have carried me the last 27 years and I pray you will continue to do that for the next 60+ years. Each Saturday when I say "run", you run. Each day when I ask you to work, clean and cook you don't give attitude. You gladly accept any challenge. You know the truth in life and don't get confused by the stresses of life. You are an amazing work of art.

Sadly for several years I behaved everyday like I did today. But you didn't turn your back on me when I gained 40+ pounds. You didn't give up on me. Instead you stayed with me through all the challenges and attempts to lose weight. And now when I feel like I am moving in the right direction, I stupidly make poor choices. I give you garbage and expect beauty from you. Please forgive me. Unfortunately, however, I can safely say that this won't be the last day that I shove trash at you. I will try to do better but know that won't always happen. Continue to forgive me.

To atone for my poor mistakes I can only promise to do better beginning now. I wish I could go back and make better choices but sadly I can't. I can however improve my choices. I can select better quality food. I can give you plenty of sleep. I can give you enough time to complete tasks instead of making you feel rushed and hurried. I can look at you with appreciative eyes. I can also say "thank you" for runs and strength sessions. So Body, again I am sorry. I will always try to do better. All I ask is that you don't give up on me!

Sincerely,

Mere

P.S. Thanks for the rocking curves! I am curvaceous and beautiful!

Today's EATS

B: 3/4 cup h2h, 1/2 milk, apple

S: Greek yogurt, 1/2 cup blueberries, 1/4 cup h2h

L: portabella mushroom slimwich with cheese and sliced tomato, orange, Dove piece

S: almonds, WAY to many crackers and chocolates

D: baked macaroni with veggies, fruit salad

Success Stories

2009-09-20T20:25:00.001-04:00

When reading health and fitness magazines my favorite types of articles are always the success stories. Skinny models with perfect hair don't inspire me. Seeing REAL women doing small things that produce BIG results is so inspiring!

Check out this collection of success stories from Women's Health Magazine

One of the reasons that I like it so much is because the tips are real and have been tested. What lesson have you learn? What is your secret weapon(s)?

Lesson learned: I learned that being healthy is so much more important than being skinny. Learning to value my health is an on-going (for life) journey. Reaching a particular goal weight is nice but knowing that I am becoming healthier is so much more rewarding. As a result of focusing on becoming healthy I have lost weight so it's been a win-win.

Secret weapon: I felt like I had figured out the health/weight loss universe when I found out my BMR and activity multiplier (Harris Benedict Equation) and then started tracking calories. When I record what I eat I do much better with my eating. I like to review my eats each day and see how many fruits and veggies I ate. I can also notice trends. When I eat a lot of carbs I want more. I still eat carbs and sugar but try to use some restraint because I often want more and more. Also find several different workouts/exercises/classes that you enjoy. Don't rely on one love. Have some variety.

Interested in sharing your own story? Email Women's Health at

youloseyougain@womenshealthmag.com

Today's EATS and Exercise
S: 1/2 banana
E: 3.1 mile run
B: chopped apple, 1/2 cup milk, 3/4 cup h2h
L: Bojangles: potato rounds, pinto beans, green beans
S: 14 almonds, grapes, Jason's Deli cracker and laughing cow cheese
D: 2 small slices of homemade veggie pizza, 1 small piece of turkey bacon/pineapple pizza, salad
d: my Mom's homemade persimmon pudding (a southern delicacy) and coffee

Check out Paige at Running Around Normal! She is doing a banana holder (that's what she said) giveaway. I joke about it BUT I seriously want it!

Need Motivation?

2009-09-19T20:30:00.001-04:00

Check this video! The man workout for a year and saw these results. I'm sure diet played a roll too. You can change your life in just a few short months to a year!

B: slimwich, 1 tbspn PB, 1 banana

S: Greek yogurt, peach.1/4 Heart-to-Heart

L: baked mexican chips, 1/4 cup black beans, sprinkle of shredded cheese, green peppers, onions, salsa, Dove chocolate

S: Cliff Z bar

D: tialapia, sweet potato with apple and pecans

d: ice-cream with coffee and chocolate

Sweaty Date Night

2009-09-18T21:15:00.001-04:00

Get your minds out of the gutter! It was a date night that included a trip to the gym!

After school I had a retail therapy session at Target! I'll pics of the purchases tomorrow. Then I met Husband at a gym different from our typical spot. We have access to this gym since it's a part of the YMCA community we belong to. The gym was standard and the people weren't friends but the gym redeemed itself with a cool indoor track. After 25 minutes on the elliptical we headed upstairs and ran 1/2 mile around the track.

Post workout we were all smiles!

For dinner we hit up my favorite spot again, Jason's Deli. I highly recommend the spinach veggie wrap. It is good and has a spicy kick.

And now (post Walmart grocery trip) I am relaxing with some decaf coffee before going to bed (sweaty date night continued? we'll see). I'm expecting a long run in the rain tomorrow. Any ideas/suggestions on what to wear for running in the rain? The next week looks like days and days of rain.

Will It Matter in 5?

2009-09-17T19:50:00.003-04:00

Will it matter in 5 day?
Will it matter in 5 weeks?
Will it matter in 5 months?
Will it matter in 5 years?

For the past few days I have been dealing with a higher than normal amount of stress at school. It involves lovely teaching things including new assessment materials, report cards, workshops, etc. The first several weeks of a school year are busy and stressful but this year has definitely been more of a challenge than normal.

The problem is that I AM ALLOWING this stress to consume me. I allow this stress to follow me home and weigh on my heart. For the past 2 days I have allowed the stress to be my excuse for not working out. I had intended on going to a toning class this afternoon but I had a meeting and talked with some other teachers after the meeting (about the above stressers) and ended up missing my class. Sadly I didn't go to the gym and do a different workout and instead came home and ate my stress. I am definitely a stress eater! I hate being that way!

But then I started thinking "Does this really matter?". NO! Whatever the stress is, none of it will be remembered in a few years, months, or weeks. It simply won't matter! So why I am letting this bother me? I shouldn't! So tomorrow I am going to work really hard while at school and then LEAVE IT! I intend on having a great weekend. I am WAY MORE good things in my life than I do stressful items! Let's focus on the good

So I'll leave with my Thankful Thursday list

1. Coffee! Coffee says fall/winter to me. I am glad fall is here. I wish the weather could stay like this much longer than it does.

2. Ella's kisses! I know some people think it's gross but I let my dog lick my face and I don't care about the germs. She is my baby. Her kisses are my 2nd favorite. Husband's are my favorite. I'm hoping you assumed that.

3. The Real Housewives series on Bravo. I LOVE THIS TRASH TV! I think my favorite is New Jersey. I love it even though their "bubbies" aren't real!

What Do You Do When No One is Looking?

2009-09-16T20:15:00.001-04:00

Oh I loved The Biggest Loser last night! But we'll talk about that later.

This morning I woke up with energy and ended up dancing in the shower. I am sure I lose points for upping our water bill and safety as I am sure I'll fall the next time I try such craziness but it was still fun to dance. This early A.M. dance was inspired by and was to honor Patrick Swayze. I love Patrick, especially in Dirty Dancing. I have seen that move hundreds of times. In fact our last dance at the wedding reception was to "Time of Your Life". That was my personal request and I loved it! Isn't this picture great! It was during the last dance and I was channeling Jennifer Grey (pre-nose job).

Anyway this water-dance got me to thinking about things we do when no one is looking. I really love to pose in arabesque while going over a bridge. Sometimes I do running split jumps too. I don't know why but I love being silly while going across bridges. If you ever hear about a runner falling to their death from a bridge, say a prayer for me! So that's enough about me and my silly/dangerous discussions.

What do you do when no one is looking?

Who all watched The Biggest Loser? Husband and I did and while watching I took notes and made predictions about the contestants. Some people create brackets for the NCAA basketball tournament. I write my predictions for the winner of The Biggest Loser.

My Choices

To Win: Abby (green team)
Favorite: Rebecca (pink)
Wild Card: Sean (red), Shay (orange)
Least Favorite: Tracy (purple)

Husband's Choices

To Win: Rudy (blue)
Favorite: Rudy (blue)
Wild Card: Coach Mo (purple), Allen (green)
Least Favorite: Julio (black), Liz (green)

Who are your favorites? Who do you think is going to win? Who do you dislike?

What Have You Done Today to Make Yourself Proud?

2009-09-15T20:00:00.001-04:00

Tonight begins the newest season (season 8) of Biggest Loser and I can't wait! I so love this show (aside from the "commercials" that take place between the real commercial breaks). I am excited to see the different contestants and how they change.

I also love the theme song! It is just such an inspirational theme song. So what have you done today to make yourself proud?

One thing that I'm proud of today was a workout that I did at home. After not leaving my "box"/classroom all day I NEEDED to be outside! The idea of working out indoors was not appealing. I needed to breath in freshair and feel the sun on my back. So I decided to come home and workout. I decided to break the workout into parts as it makes it go quicker.

I did 10 minutes of cardio

1 lap (between home) walking
1 lap running
1 lap sprint
1 lap walk
1 minute jumping jacks
1 minute of stepping up and down on the porch (about 20 inches off the ground)
1 minute of punches
1 minute of jumping rope
1 minute of torso twists
2 laps running

Then 5 minutes of arms

1 minute of bicep curls
1 minute of hammer curls
1 minute lateral raises
1 minute tricep kickbacks
1 minute of shoulder presses

Followed by 5 minutes of abs

1 minute crunches
1 minute of reverse crunches
1 minute bicycle crunches
1 minute of plank: 25 seconds of planks, 10 seconds of rest, 25 seconds of plank
1 minute crunches

Finally 10 minutes of running

I am proud of this workout. I enjoyed it! It went by quickly and I was in control. I really like workouts where I dictate what I do.

I can't wait to talk with you all about The Biggest Loser! Be sure to leave comments about what you think.

Also if you haven't yet done so, check out MY Biggest Loser story. Feel free to share part of your journey with weight loss! The picture above is part of my weight loss story.

Today's EATS and Exercise

B: 1 chopped apple, 1/2 cup milk, 3/4 cup heart-to-heart

S: banana, 14 almonds

L: portabella mushroom and cheese sandwich, Stoneyfield yogurt, orange

S: Cliff Z bar

D: salad, chicken with steamed veggies and asian noodles.

d: Dove chocolate

Blog Award

2009-09-15T14:30:00.002-04:00

Yesterday I was pleased to receive A.Leo of Delicious Ambiguity's blog award. THANKS A.LEO! I always enjoy reading her blog. A. Leo has such a balanced and realistic view of weight loss and healthy eating. She has met some amazing goals and has so many reasons to be proud. She loses weight and eats healthy and still enjoys her recipes and treat! I really respect that and try to eat in a similar way.

As part of the award I am suppose to pass it on to other bloggers. So here goes:

Angie Eats Peace

Chas Runner

Fit, Sexy, Super-Wife

Healthy, Hott, Housewife

In a Fit Frame of Mind

Madison's Healthy Happenings

Mrs. CJ Running and Traveling

Yet Another Weight Loss Blog

365 Runs Hopefully

Life According to Mrs. LC

In the Skinny

Highway to Health

Caution: Redhead Running

Christina Butter

Discom-BOB-ulated Running

A.Leo's and mine list overlapped. I chose not to give the award to those who were on her list.

2/3 Vegetarian

2009-09-14T20:10:00.000-04:00

In July I decided to start going Meatless on Mondays. I wanted to find a new way to challenge myself in the kitchen and knew about some of the health benefits. Since then I have become phasing in more and more meatless meals. It began slowly and have developed into being pretty much a 2/3 Vegetarian. I often (not always) go meatless at breakfast and lunch with the majority of dinners involving meat. One of my goals is to go vegetarian for a week (and perhaps for a month).

Since going Meatless I have noticed serveral things:

I don't miss meat very much. I've made many typical meat meals meatless and they're often just as good. Check out my interview with Husband.
I may not crave meat but I do still crave protein. I am working to incorporate other beans, dairy products and nuts into my diet.
There are a lot of really great vegetarian options at options that I really never noticed before.
Although it has become routine in my life (and Husband's too) some people have really weird reactions to me explaining why I'm not eating as much meat.

Today's EATS and Exercise

B: 3/4 cup Heart-to-Heart, 1/2 cup milk, chopped apple

S: 2 trash crackers, Stoneyfield strawberry yogurt, 14 almonds

L: flat wrap, 1/2 avocado, green peppers, sprouts with spinach and apple

S: Cliff Z bar

E: cardio/interval class

S: grapes

D: salad, grilled cheese slim sandwich, 1 cup veggie chili

d: Dove chocolate

Sunday Night Reading

2009-09-13T19:55:00.004-04:00

Where oh where did the weekend go? My Sunday was busy -- church, Subway lunch, painting, and over an hour of cooking/prep for the week. After all that work and dinner I was happy to sit down at the computer and do some reading. I love reading magazines but enjoy even more reading articles online. There is just such a wealth of information out there (probably half is true but still!) there is no excuse for not knowing.

Here are some articles that I read:

Stay Motivated -- Women's Health

Conquer Your Fitness Fears -- WebMd

How to Start a Day Healthy -- Fit Sugar

Top Ten Rules of Weight Loss for Runners -- Women's Running

6 Simple Ways to Reach Your Best Body -- Shape

Top 100 Workout Songs -- Fitness

Danger of Detox Diets -- Self

Your Message Here -- Runner's World

Clean It Up -- Oxygen

Thoughts on articles listed above?

Most Christmas I ask my Mother-in-law for a magazine subscription. I currently get Shape, Self and Cooking Light. I have purchased Shape and Self as a way to avoid buying it in stores. My MIL bought me Cooking Light this past Christmas but I think I am not going to renew the subscription. I haven't yet touched a 1/3 of the fabulous recipes in the magazine but will given more time. So I need to think of a new magazine to request. What magazines do you read/enjoy? Suggestions, please.

Today's EATS and Exercise

S: 14 almonds
B: 1/4 cup honey oats cereal, 1/4 cup cinnamon squares, 1/4 cup heart-to-heart, chopped apple, 1/2 cup milk
L: 6 inch Veggie sub and chips, Dove chocolate
S: Cliff Z bar, plain ff yogurt
D: turkey burger, bean salad, sweet potato/apple combo
E: abs and arms weights
d: sips of wine

Red Wine

2009-09-12T19:45:00.001-04:00

Can you tell what fall color I am really digging?

I am loving this Merlot wine color. I am digging it as my purse color, nail color and lip color.

It is also very pretty and tasty in a wine glass. I'm loving the Duplin (made in NC) Hatteras Red Muscadine Wine.

Today I ran a distance I only once laughed at, 6.2. Husband and I are preparing for our first 10K in October. The distance went by quickly today. Before I knew it we were at the 1 mile mark, the 2 mile mark and the turn-around location. The second half of the run continued the same. I was hoping the feeling of running that distance would remind me of the way I felt when I ran 3.1 the first time. I felt proud when I was done but there were no Rockie type movements with arms in the air.

The rest of the day included cleaning and painting. I cleaned Husband painted count one on some of our windows. Coat two comes tomorrow. I'm not sure if we'll run our "easy like Sunday morning run". We're both pretty tired and sore. The soreness from the Thursday toning class was not helped by today's long run.

Today's EATS and exercise:

B: slimwich with 1 tbspn PB and banana

S: Annie cheddar bunnies

L: soup, 1/2 tuna salad sandwich, orange (a repeat of yesterday because it was so good), piece of Dove chocolate

S: cereal with chopped apple

D: grilled steak tips, green peppers and onions, brown rice

d: glass (or 2) of wine

Do you find yourself gravitating to a particular fall color? Black is always a staple in my closet but I also really enjoy forest green colors in the fall.