Weigh-In Wednesday: The Post-Treadmill at the Mall Version

Good morning everyone!

Well let's see. Besides my 26 miles of walking on a treadmill at the mall on Saturday, last week I only did about half my training (I swam once and did spin class once. Wow. Really, that's not even half.) I was so busy leading up to the fundraiser that my exercising (and eating) slipped a little and plus I didn't want to wear myself out for the long day I knew that Saturday would be.

I'm happy to say I maintained. Officially. (Whew! That was close.)

I would also like to point out that I hadn't gone food shopping in a week and a half, and can I tell you how AWFUL I am when I don't go food shopping and plan out my meals and snacks? I cannot be trusted! I eat out all the time! I have candy and cookies and ice cream! When I plan it all out, I stay well within portions and eat with the big picture in mind. But when I don't go food shopping, it's just one meal to the next, no rhyme or reason and whatever I'm in the mood for. This is a real eye opener for me on one hand because I'm glad I'm so good about my eating when I go shopping right, but what a slippery slope for when I don't!

So, it's time for me to focus. I have a mock tri Saturday and my first tri of the season in a week from Saturday. I want to ROCK IT. So I'm putting my game face on. Join us weighing in every Wednesday at the Sisterhood!

* * *

Please help me fight cancer by donating HERE. I'll even give you a present! Check it out and read about who I'm running for HERE!

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Weigh-In Wednesday: The Post-Treadmill at the Mall Version

http://babytealeaves.blogspot.com/2010/03/weigh-in-wednesday-post-treadmill-at.html

Finally, A Treadmill Recap in Race Report Fashion

Well here it is, my treadmill in the middle of the mall! The wonderful people over at Lifestyle Family Fitness delivered it, set it up and the Westfield Countryside Mall people roped it off and set up the table for me and this is what I walked into the mall and found at 8: 30 a.m!!

You always picture things going wrong and something not working or going according to plan, but not here! Not at all. It was perfect.

Then my dad and I started setting up and my nerves were a complete wreck. All night the night before, all morning, my nerves were just a complete wreck. It was a little better when I got to the mall, but not much. The fact that I was about to become a spectacle for 10-11 hours in the mall was really starting to sink in. (Whose idea was this again? Why did I think it was such a great idea again??)

Anyway, what went on the table: lots of stuff to bribe people to come on over, like purple beads, Hershey's dark chocolate kisses that are wrapped in purple and other purple yummies. And coupons for free massages by Hydromassage (they were AWESOME!) I had also made a big "science fair project" looking backboard with the information about myself, my team, Team In Training, LLS, the whole shabang. I had a "schedule" of what I would wear and when, along with a list of the raffle prizes, and my 1993 prom dress all laid out and ready to wear should someone come along and donate $200 (which they didn't, and honestly, I don't really mind. It's one thing being able to fit my prom dress from 1993 (hurrah!) but it's another thing to have to suck in and squeeze and tuck and breathe in real deep just to zip it up. Then walking on the treadmill on it.. yeah, not sure it was in the cards.

I had a bevvy of hats and attire and "costume" changes, like my fluffy purple pimp hat, a clown hat, some antennae, a cape, and a feather boa (which completes any occasion, including shoveling a sandwich in my face on a treadmill at the mall!)

Then there was my 80's wear, complete with leg warmers and stirrup pants (which were $4, but the getup=priceless!)

And then there was my 8  mile training run, which was in a word, painful. However, I will say, that the people-watching involved in being on a treadmill at the mall kept me distracted enough to gut my way through it. The aftermath was pretty rough though, I was nauseous for a while after that.

And then it was time for the green swim cap to come out. Which as you can see was the hottest outfit of the day. Brought to you by the Tri-Warriors, my tri-group that won the auction with their high donation a couple of weeks ago. That's hotness right there.

Hi, Tri-Warriors!!!

Honestly, not much embarrasses me anymore. I was one with the green swim cap.

And then the tv guy showed up! Hooray! (Post-green swim cap.)

And then the crowds started to thin out, (I had Chick-Fil-A on the treadmill and got scerred when I dropped a bite of sandwich on the treadmill but was relieved when it just flew off the back!) and it started getting dark out and I was running out of steam.

My legs started to revolt and I put on my sombrero (my husband poo-pooed the mustache) and I started getting all teary-eyed. I didn't want to give up, but it looked like things were ending.

It was getting toward 8 o'clock, my legs hurt so bad I was holding my body up on the treadmill handles to take most of the weight off my legs, and we were just past $1400. Not all the way to goal, but I had been there 10 hours. And then right after I put on my sombrero, my phone died. (Another sign...)


My husband turned to me and told me how proud he was of me. And said that it was ok to call it a day. Which we did.

And boy did sitting feel nice.

The great moments: seeing all my friends come out to support me. From my tri-group, to my softball team, to parents and teachers at my son's school, to my husband, my children and my daddy -- and my mom who was there in spirit cheering me on from Facebook because she was at the tail-end of a horrible flare-up.  

This hilarity right here:

My Twitter buddies and Facebook friends who were literally ON the treadmill with me cheering me on from my phone like Pubsgal and Lissa who tweeted me pictures!!!! All the people who donated and supported me (the one guy who was milling around, only to pull out three $50 bills and put them at the bottom of the bucket and walk away...) or the little girls who took a hershey's kiss and dug into their tiny 7 year old purses to donate their change. The maintenance men talking about how we'll do it again "next year..."

I don't know why or how 10 hours passed so quickly and that it only really started to hurt at the very, very end, only to say that I was meant to be there. I was meant to stand on that treadmill and raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and I was meant to be there to see all the people who would help me rally around fighting cancer. I would never have pictured this for myself but it was an experience I will have forever. I have a video I'm going to edit together and put up soon too. My only wish in hindsight was that I wish I took more pictures of my husband and dad! (Also, if you missed it on the news, the link is HERE.)

The next day, my legs hurt and my stomach was in tangles and I had a lot of Pepto Bismol, but it all cleared up and I feel fabulous now!
The biggest news is that I met my minimum fundraising goal!! (Hooray!!) And THANK YOU!!!

What a crazy, crazy fun ride this has been.

* * *

The fight's not over, and we are still very much raising money for cancer, so if you haven't donated you still can, either to me or my team and those links are  HERE. I'll even give you a present! (Check it out and read about who I'm running for HERE!)

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Finally, A Treadmill Recap in Race Report Fashion

http://babytealeaves.blogspot.com/2010/03/finally-treadmill-recap-in-race-report.html

The Hangover

OK so I'm a little sore.

My legs are hung over. They partied like rockstars yesterday.

I'm pretty sure they're pissed.

I went home last night and sat in a cold bathtub, which felt good on my legs, but not on the rest of me. I am wondering if one takes an ice bath, if you can wear a parka up top? What do people normally do? Because sitting in a cold bathtub is paradise for my legs, but torturous on the rest of me!

Anyway, my husband was sweet enough to let me sleep in until 10. And this morning I woke up 2 pounds lighter, literally. Awesome. (I totally ate Chick-Fil-A fries on the treadmill, too, just like Coach Joe said I could. It felt weird shoveling food into my piehole on the treadmill, especially fries.)

Right now it's 6pm and I'm still in my pajamas. It's been raining out all day and I'm thinking today's a perfect day to go from one pair of pajamas to another.

I had spent night and day on this fundraiser leading up to yesterday, so it is so nice that I can and will literally do nothing today. When I'm less lazy, I'll upload more pictures, but here's the link to the news story! They didn't get me on my good side (should've told him to swing around to the other side!) but oh well!
http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/dpp/news/local/pinellas/treadmill-fundraiser-032810

Thank you so much to everyone who supported me! I will e-mail you separately anyway, but if you contributed more than $20, please pick out a necklace HERE and e-mail me your choice! mailto:christieo_7@msn.com). (And Ps. the necklace offer still stands any time you donate, so you still have time!) And seriously, thank God for inventing Twitter, because what would I have done all day without you all keeping me company???!!!!

* * *

And if you still want to help me fight cancer, you can do so by donating HERE.

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The Hangover

http://babytealeaves.blogspot.com/2010/03/hangover.html

Humbled.

I will have a complete "Treadmill at the Mall" report a little later, complete with pics and probably video.

But my final tally was: Hours run/walked: 10. Miles run/walked: 26. $$ raised: $1435, between the folks at the mall and the people who donated online while I was on the treadmill, because I sent live updates to Twitter all day and some of you took pity on me supported me 100%!

I am so humbled by the long list of people who supported me in doing this, from my family to all the wonderful friends who came to the mall to support me, to the wonderful group of friends I have online who kept me going with their encouraging words and the pictures they took of themselves supporting me (Pubsgal, Lissa and children!) I'm also humbled by the stories I heard from the strangers who supported my mall adventure and all the names that went on my shirt. I am humbled by the mall staff and the gym staff who shook my hand and cheered me on the whole entire day (and to the Regis salon who let me borrow their "facilities" and cheered me on from inside the salon). And the little girl who reached into her tiny pocket and dropped her change in my bucket. And the people who stopped by in the morning and came back later just to see if I was still there. And the one kid who kept passing me asking, "Are you still the same lady?"

Thank you. I might not have reached my $2,000 goal at the mall, but I have reached my $2,900 Team In Training goal. I'm there. Because of you.




Psst! Become a fan of Christie On a Treadmill At the Mall on Facebook!

Please help me fight cancer by donating HERE. I'll even give you a present! Check it out and read about who I'm running for HERE!

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Subscribe to my blog.

Humbled.

http://babytealeaves.blogspot.com/2010/03/humbled.html

OK, This is It. Don't Get Scared Now.

At this time tomorrow, I'll be on a treadmill in the middle of my mall, Westfield Countryside, from 10 a.m. until closing. I'm sure you're probably glad it'll be over so I can stop talking about it! :) Me too. I'm nervous.

Here is my itinerary (subject to change):

10 a.m. GO!
11 a.m. Hat hour (I have a sombrero, Uncle Sam hat, some leprechaun ones, a furry pimp hat, etc etc etc.)
11:30    Lunch on a treadmill (Coach Joe from Team In Training says I can eat fries. But that just seems so wrong.)
12p:   Training run, 8 miles!!!!! Yikes. Talk about not a pretty sight. Oh well!!
1:30p, cool down, possible crazy hat, 1st prize drawing.
2pm: Tri-Warrior hour! Which means bright green swimcap, goggles and other tri decor.
3pm: Retro-throwback hour round 1!!
Just before 4: 2nd prize drawing
4pm. Memorial Hour (please email me or comment below with the name of someone you want me to run for, I will put their name on my shirt.)
5p.m. Dinner on a treadmill
6p.m. Retro throwback hour round II.
Will I still be on here at this time? Please say no.
Hats are making a second appearance, if so.

That's pretty much what I got. Suggestions still being taken.
Follow me on Twitter, @christieo all day long for live updates! Hashtag #treadmillatthemall

* * *

Psst! Become a fan of Christie On a Treadmill At the Mall on Facebook!

Please help me fight cancer by donating HERE. I'll even give you a present! Check it out and read about who I'm running for HERE!

Follow me on Twitter.
Subscribe to my blog.

OK, This is It. Don't Get Scared Now.

http://babytealeaves.blogspot.com/2010/03/ok-this-is-it-dont-get-scared-now.html

The Monday Project: Fill In the Blank

This week's Monday Project over at the Sisterhood was to fill in the blank. Take whatever activity you do and fill in the blank with why you do it.

I have a few activities. So I'll fill in a few blanks.

I run... because I can. I run because I like the feeling of flying, even if it is only at 5 miles an hour. I run because I like the wind in my face. I run because I like to dance and when my IPod's all the way up, it makes me feel like I'm dancing. I run because my legs let me and I don't want to say no to anything they can do. I run because my metabolism hates me and running tells it to shut up. I bike because it makes my quads feel like machinery. I bike because I like speed. I bike because I like to feel in control. I bike because it gives me power. I bike because of the cute jerseys and matching equipment. I bike because I want to be badass like my husband. I bike because I was afraid of it and now I'm not. I swim because I like to glide. I swim because it's easy on my legs and it's like taking a break but not. I swim because all the other triathletes do it, and if I want to be one of them, I have to swim. I swim so as to not drown. I swim because I like to frolic in the water when I'm done.

I tri because one day I didn't believe in myself. And then one day I did.

* * *

So what about you?? Why do you do what you do?? Tell me in the comments below or link up your post over at the Sisterhood! Ps. I realized after I was ready to hit 'publish' that throughout that whole thing I never once said to lose weight. Interesting.

* * *

Psst! Become a fan of Christie On a Treadmill At the Mall on Facebook!

Please help me fight cancer by donating HERE. I'll even give you a present! Check it out and read about who I'm running for HERE!

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Subscribe to my blog.

The Monday Project: Fill In the Blank

http://babytealeaves.blogspot.com/2010/03/monday-project-fill-in-blank.html

THIS is What It's all About. Thank you.

When I posted about three things about the Sisterhood today, what I really wanted to show was sort of the backstory. What's really going on when we fundraise and when we train. Because it's hard. And it's not pretty either. Because we've had injuries and toenials fallin off, we've sent a zillion e-mails and snail mails and some days it feels like there are crickets in my inbox or email box, and sometimes people you're talking to about your cause just simply aren't very nice about saying "no." And I don't have thick skin. I pout after someone's mean to me.

But then there are the other days. When people you don't even know show their support. When someone leaves you a comment about who they are donating for and how special that person was or is to them. Or tells you how much what you're doing means to them. Or says, "Yes! I will let you put a treadmill in the mall so you can make a spectacle of yourself for a good cause!"

You find inspiration. You find people who believe in you. You find that even though you come across some negativity -- I mean, after all, it's a tough time for a lot of people! I know that! And after all, we're just another cause that is asking for donations -- there are still people with so much *good* inside them that it makes me cry and it makes my heart melt.

The other day I went to go ride on the spin bike for a while because I missed my rides on account of the Fitbloggin. Spin class was wrapping up, so I popped onto a bike and started talking to the spin class teacher. We ended up talking for a good 40 minutes about pretty much everything and finally got to talking about my treadmill fundraiser and she shared the story of her uncle, a Marine, who died of Leukemia in his 20's, leaving behind a 3 month old daughter he never met.

She had tears in her eyes talking about it, and for some very random reason, she had his picture in her car and we walked out together and she showed me his beautiful face. Taken so very young.

My heart broke.

I believe that God brings people into my life and I into theirs for a reason. That on that day, we were supposed to meet. That on that day, He wanted to remind me about who I was doing this for in the first place and why.

Because it's not easy. But it's not supposed to be. Nothing worth fighting for is ever easy. That's the beauty of the fight. It's hard when you're doing it, but it's amazing when you've won.



Over the weekend, as you know, a bunch of us from the Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans went to Fitbloggin. Above is the view from our hotel room (gorgeous!) and me showing the number "6" because we were up to 6 miles last week! I ran it on the treadmill on Sunday and boy it was not pretty. My face is all red, there was no air conditioning in the gym and there is mascara running down my face. But hey! It's done! It's in the bank!

Because this weekend, I have to run 8 MILES! And on a treadmill no less! And with tons of people watching me! (Gah!) Because I can't have an 8 mile run on the schedule, be on a treadmill all day long and not do my training run. Right? So I am in the process of building my itinerary for the day. It will consist of the following ( and take note of the bright green swim cap.)


The outfit that my lovely friends from the Tri-Warriors have picked out for me! Remember how they won the online auction I was having?? Well, I will be running for an hour, wearing a bright green swim cap, goggles, their t-shirt and they will have a million magnets for me to put all over the treadmill. I am not a pretty swim-cap wearer. But I'll make the best of it! Of course they had to pick the bright green one. But I do want to thank them from the bottom of my heart for donating.  It makes my embarrassing myself totally worth it! And I'm not even being sarcastic!

I'll also do a "Retro Throwback Hour" where I will wear my 70's-wear, some 80's and maybe even finish that off with the prom dress my parents have been bugging me about. It's as 80's as you can possibly get. Although I think technically it's early 90's but you wouldn't really know that because of the degree of puffiness. I will also be having a "hat hour." I have a sombrero, a pimp hat, an uncle sam hat, a couple of Irish-y leprechaun ones, a big clown hat, and of course my Team In Training ball cap. I will also have an hour dedicated to running for people who have been touched by blood cancers or any cancers for that matter. I have a t-shirt and I am writing down all of the names of the family members that people donated to me in honor of on my shirt, and anyone who visits the mall that day, they can write the name of the person they're donating in honor of, and I will wear it and run for all of them. Do you have someone you want me to run for? Please leave it in the comments or email me: christieo_7@msn.com.

While I'm here, in this incredibly long and full post, I want to thank a few people whose *good* was really showing over the past few weeks.

I want to give my profound thanks to Kelly from Westfield Countryside Mall, for somehow picking up my e-mail, looking at it, scanning it, mulling it over and thinking that somehow this would be a good idea. I knew it was a shot in the dark, but for some reason, she believed in it enough for me to do this in her mall, and I thank her from the bottom of my heart for allowing me to do this! Thank you, Kelly!! I really have no idea what I would have done if you said no because I had no good Plan B option!! So thank you!

And thank you to Lifestyle Family Fitness for sharing your treadmill with me! There is a very good likelihood that I may have even run on that very one in my past (who knows! unless of course, they've gotten new ones and that very well could be true.) But thank you for this vehicle that will allow me to remain stationary whilst going really, really fast or really really slow for a really really long time.

Also, thank you to Hydromassage, who is providing a free massage for every person who donates! I got a chance to try it out myself and it was amazing! If I worked there, I don't think I'd be able to even help other people because I'd be too busy laying the massage bed (of course then I'd be fired...) Anyway, it's a massage bed that pulsates water against your body (it's under a lining though, you do this fully clothed, shoes and everything!), working you from head to toe while you're laying on your back. You can pause it and let it hit you in your lower back or your neck or whereever you want (like I did), you can watch movies while you do it, there is a tv screen above you, you can adjust the speed or the force, it's up to you. It's awesome.

Chick-Fil-A, StrollerFit, Moe's, IronMommies, Mia & Maxx (my favorite hair place with my favorite hair gal "Aly"),  and a British pub by me Grind House, have all provided some really great raffle prizes. THANK YOU SO MUCH!

And now I'm still runnning around making sure I've got everything and I'm nervous, but I'll just have to remember why I'm doing it in the first place. Because it's not about me anyway.

Thank you, everyone, for supporting me. I love you.

* * *

Oh! The winner of the book is Tirah! Sending it out today!!

Psst! Become a fan of Christie On a Treadmill At the Mall on Facebook!

Please help me fight cancer by donating HERE. I'll even give you a present! Check it out and read about who I'm running for HERE!

Follow me on Twitter.
Subscribe to my blog.

THIS is What It's all About. Thank you.

http://babytealeaves.blogspot.com/2010/03/this-is-what-its-all-about-thank-you.html

Weigh-In Wednesday: What works and what doesn't. Just so you know.

Today I am all angsty.

My "Christie On a Treadmill at the Mall" event is Saturday and each day that passes, I won't lie, in theory I think it's hilarious that someone will make a spectacle of themselves by walking on a treadmill in their mall wearing whatever, but on the flip side, I am becoming increasingly aware that that person will be me. My self-consciousness is showing. Maybe if I can get through another cup of coffee, I can be awake enough to maybe shut my brain off. My chest is starting to hurt a little and I have nervous knots in my stomach!

I'm sorry. That's not why you're here. You're here for the weigh-in. Which is not good news, my friends. So, I will sum it up for you.

What works: daily accountability posts in "The Hood" with the rest of my friends at Team G.
What doesn't work: Throwing all caution to the wind and stuffing my piehole with the only bacon buffet I can find at a convention aimed at bloggers who blog about health.
What works: Finding the time to run more than 12 miles during the weekend of a convention aimed at bloggers who blog about health.
What doesn't work: Immediately after, splitting an entire pizza. And dessert. (And I am not naming names with whom I've shared this experience.)

All of that equals a 1 pound gain and that's the end of that. So now that I know what doesn't work, I will try to spend the rest of the week working on what does. Not that I've started off well this week because I drowned my stressy sorrows in McDonalds cheeseburgers today.

OK so. Starting over. Startinggggggggggggggggggggggggggg NOW! And by the way, head on over to the Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans -- visit the other sisters who are trying to get healthy, show them some support and read about the awesome party going on!

* * *

Psst! Become a fan of Christie On a Treadmill At the Mall on Facebook!

Please help me fight cancer by donating HERE. I'll even give you a present! Check it out and read about who I'm running for HERE!

Follow me on Twitter.
Subscribe to my blog.

Weigh-In Wednesday: What works and what doesn't. Just so you know.

http://babytealeaves.blogspot.com/2010/03/weigh-in-wednesday-what-works-and-what.html

More from Fitbloggin + a Post Fitbloggin (David Grotto) Giveaway

Look at that group! That's pretty much all of the bloggers who went to Fitbloggin 10. Awesome.

The key note speaker when Fitbloggin wrapped up was David Grotto, nutritionist extraordinaire, speaker, tv and radio personality, spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association (the list goes on!) and finally, author. He's hilarious, he's got a gigantic personality and he makes nutrition fun.

Case in point: his version of WTF is "where's the fiber?"

In one week from now, our Monday Project at the Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans will be to read a healthy book or a book about nutrition or cooking or fitness or something health-related. (I know, what am I doing spilling the beans already?!) I will be reading this book:

101 Foods That Could Save Your Life, by David Grotto. I've heard of it before and I've been wanting to read it for a while. Since he was a guest speaker there, I got one and I got it signed! But the cool part is I have a signed copy to also give away!

• So. Just leave me a comment telling me if you've ever heard of this book or David Grotto!
• Become a fan of my Facebook page about my event Christie On a Treadmill at the Mall - which is this Saturday already! Whoa! (Raising money for Team Shrinking Jeans for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Team in Training!)
• You can tweet it for an extra entry.
• You can get up to three entries but you must leave a separate comment for each entry.
• The contest closes at Wednesday night at midnight EDT so I can ship it out Thursday and get it to you by next week in time for the Monday Project!

If you're not doing the Monday Project, that's ok, it's still a pretty great book (or at least I'll be sure of that next week after I read it!) If you don't know what the Monday Project is, I write up a post at The Sisterhood with a project, you get all week to do it, then you link up your post on Friday so we can all come by and read it. (In fact, you can see what this week's Monday Project is HERE.) Anyway, leave me a comment, random winner gets the book and we can compare notes after we've read it next week! Have a great week!

* * *

Psst! Become a fan of Christie On a Treadmill At the Mall on Facebook!

Please help me fight cancer by donating HERE. I'll even give you a present! Check it out and read about who I'm running for HERE!

Follow me on Twitter.
Subscribe to my blog.

More from Fitbloggin + a Post Fitbloggin (David Grotto) Giveaway

http://babytealeaves.blogspot.com/2010/03/more-from-fitbloggin-post-fitbloggin.html

Coming to you from Fitbloggin

Fitbloggin is over. *sadpoutyface*

And to think, I was actually nervous about meeting all these wonderful girls (and a few dudes, too)!

Fitbloggin was a convergence of health and fitness bloggers and it was held in Baltimore. A lot of us have met online through Twitter and The Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans and have been blogging together, following each other and supporting each other for a while. None of us had met in person yet and it was amazing when we finally did. I had terrible nervousness because it felt like how one would feel if you met on E-Harmony, got all close and personal and were finally taking that next step of meeting in person not that I would know. I mean, really. I'm a dinosaur. E-dating practically hadn't been invented when I was still dating. Or maybe it was. I digress. 

The conference itself was inspiring and full of so much life. It included a 5k at 6 a.m. (and a new personal best for me of 28:40!!) even after a late night at the hotel bar.



I never feel like I take enough pictures. However, I do have video documentation of our run, as soon as I edit it down and take the seizure-inducing shaking out of it, I'll post it!

But for now, we're wrapping it up and heading home today. Can't believe it's over already! Oh, and while I was away, I got this itty bitty suprise: ME IN THE PAPER!!! WOOHOO! If you're here from the paper article, thank you! Come back! Leave me a comment!! Hope you had a great weekend, can't wait to fill you in on the rest of Fitbloggin!

* * *

Psst! Become a fan of Christie On a Treadmill At the Mall on Facebook!

Please help me fight cancer by donating HERE. I'll even give you a present! Check it out and read about who I'm running for HERE!

Follow me on Twitter.
Subscribe to my blog.

Coming to you from Fitbloggin

http://babytealeaves.blogspot.com/2010/03/coming-to-you-from-fitbloggin.html

I've Packed Way Too Much

Well, I'm off to Fitbloggin '10!

I'm at the airport and I've packed way too much. But there were things I just couldn't part with.

For instance, there are the workout clothes, and when you work out (as I am planning on as of this writing and I am planning on it A LOT but we'll see how that all shakes out, I mean, as a sidebar, I am arriving first today and can actually spend 6 hours in the gym if I want to today and I have strategically dress comfortably in workout clothes so there really is no excuse to not drop off my bags and go straight to the gym and do not pass Go and do not collect $200. And to be honest, since I always have these childcare windows to work out in, that is sounding pretty luxurious at this point...)

Anyway. There are the workout clothes and the shoes. And when you work out, sometimes there are multiple daily showers, so that would mean multiple daily outifits. Not to mention having no idea whatsoever what everyone else  is going to wear and then there are cocktail receptions although they're being called "casual", but what does that really mean? It means black pants. (Just in case.) So there are jeans and black pants and a multitude of shirts for any occasion that might pop up, like for instance a tragic spill of ketchup down the shirt. Or a hurricane. Or a blizzard. What if it's actually hot? Well then, I'll need a tank top. And shorts.

And a hat. Just in case.

Pajamas, which I always forget. And what if I sweat too much at night for some reason because there are five girls in our room? Then I need to bring more pajamas of course!

So my luggage is obese. It does not blog about fitness. It doesn't even know about fitness. But that's ok, because I like my luggage just the way she is, even if I won't wear half the stuff in it.

I have become proud of the fact that I have mostly become less high-maintenance, you could maybe call it "Lower Maintence" because it's not quite "Low Maintenance" but I have learned to pack minimally for most trips, when I know what to expect. However, this is a case where there are a million possible scenarios which require an outfit for each one of them and really I was just lost with an inability to make choices. 

So. That's my bag situation. I also have an obese electronics bag (video camera, Nikon and laptop...) but that's another story.

We will be blogging from the conference (there is FREE WIRELESS!), both here and over at The Sisterhood of theShrinking Jeans! I'm about to take off, have a wonderful day!!

Psst! Become a fan of Christie On a Treadmill At the Mall on Facebook!

Please help me fight cancer by donating HERE. I'll even give you a present! Check it out and read about who I'm running for HERE!

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I've Packed Way Too Much

http://babytealeaves.blogspot.com/2010/03/ive-packed-way-too-much.html

Tutu or Tattoo? We have a WINNER!

UPDATE: VOTING IS CLOSED!!

The official winner at 5 P.M. EDT (on my stove) is: WEARING A TUTU!

I will be wearing a tutu during the half-marathon in June with Team Shrinking Jeans! The voting was hilarious. There were almost 2,000 votes total! Someone (or a few of you) sure were voting a lot! It was very unofficial and I did let people vote as much as they wanted, so it was hilarious to watch the tutu and the tattoo people pass each other for hours today. But at the last minute, the tutu people rallied and pulled ahead, 1021 votes to 608! Someone's still voting (thank you! that's the spirit!) but I've closed the vote, so those votes won't count. That was really, really fun to watch, thought, and I really had no idea there were people that adamant about my getting a tattoo or wearing a tutu. Honestly, I thought purple hair would win, but that wasn't even in the running! Thanks for voting! Now all I have to do is raise the rest of the money and I promise to follow through! You can help me reach my goal here!!

* * *

Wow, I am shocked at the life this voting has taken all on its own! It's been funny to watch! (If you don't know what I'm talking about, see that little poll on the top left corner of my page). TODAY IS THE LAST DAY TO VOTE! VOTING CLOSES AT THE END OF BUSINESS TODAY, 5PM EDT!!

Whatever my fate will become will be up to you. That is, if I raise the $3,000 I have set out to raise. So far, I am nearly halfway there, all because of so many of you! If you have been thinking about supporting me but haven't yet, please feel free! You will get a present for giving (a gift for giving!) If you have been thinking about supporting my team, but haven't yet, feel free to do that too, here and while you're at it, look at the huge massive prize list you'll be eligible for.

In other  news, early in the morning tomorrow, I am headed to Fitbloggin' 10 in Baltimore!!!

And I'm going to be meeting lots of the faces behind the Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans for the very first time in real life, I'm so excited!!!! It's going to be a blast! Thankfully, there is a  pool a the hotel, a gym and there will be a 5k on Saturday morning sponsored by New Balance! All right up my alley and I won't miss a workout.

So anyway, you better get to voting, it's all done tonight! I'll announce it shortly after 5pm EDT! Oh yea. And that whole "unplugging" thing? Yeah. Not so much. HA! Guess I like talking to you all too much! :P


Psst! Become a fan of Christie On a Treadmill At the Mall on Facebook!
Please help me fight cancer by donating HERE. I'll even give you a present! Check it out and read about who I'm running for HERE!

Follow me on Twitter.
Subscribe to my blog.

Tutu or Tattoo? We have a WINNER!

http://babytealeaves.blogspot.com/2010/03/tutu-or-tattoo-last-day-to-vote.html

Weigh-In Wednesday and A Happy St. Patty's Day!

Happy St. Patty's Day!!! I'm not Irish, but my last name says I am!!! So I'm going with that...

We woke up and we had some green milk and some green eggbeaters (yum!) so we're in the spirit!

And I was totally stoked when I woke up because I was just planning on maintaining this week. But noooooo! I lost anyway!! Despite missing two workouts because the little boy was sick and eating only kind of half ok and definitely not counting points because we went to Disney last week.

I lost 2 POUNDS!

Woohoo! Thank you, body, for not listening to my diet and workout last week. I'll be good to you this coming week, I promise.

I'm sure you've seen our great big party at the Sisterhood by now, right??

If ever there was a time to get something for giving, this is it! We're giving away dozens of prizes and hundreds of dollars (yes, real cash!) for your donation. Plus, every penny that goes to our team, helps ME get off the treadmill FASTER when I go for my "Christie On a Treadmill at the Mall" fundraiser one week from Saturday. I will be on that thing from the time my mall opens to the time it closes or until I raise $2,000! So not only will you be saving me, you could win something HUGE, not to mention the great feeling that you will come away with from helping to stamp out a horrible disease which so many of us have been touched by. So what do you say... You can donate to Team Shrinking Jeans right HERE. And take a look at all the prizes here!

Have a great St. Patty's day! I am sending you all a virtual green (light) beer! Don't forget to visit all the other sisters at the Sisterhood today and support them on their journeys! Want to join us? Head on over -- it's never too late!!

* * *

Psst! Become a fan of Christie On a Treadmill At the Mall on Facebook!

Please help me fight cancer by donating HERE. I'll even give you a present! Check it out and read about who I'm running for HERE!

Follow me on Twitter.
Subscribe to my blog.

Weigh-In Wednesday and A Happy St. Patty's Day!

http://babytealeaves.blogspot.com/2010/03/weigh-in-wednesday-and-happy-st-pattys.html

Well I Don't Know About You, But Right Now I am All Social Media'd Out

So how much social media is too much social media? How much social media-ing do you do? Where do you draw the line? When do you call it quits?

Do you think blogging, two message boards, two e-mail addresses, Facebook and Twitter is too much? And then texting? And Blackberry Instant Messaging on top of that?

Can I call a 'social media counselor' and have them consolidate all my social medias?

There are probably other forms of social media I'm forgetting but my brain hurts. (I remember when I refused to carry my cell phone at all. Around the time I walked to school in the snow for 7 miles in bare feet...)

I can't necessarily bash social media, I mean, I am a part of it and it has its advantages and you connect with people on all sorts of levels. Plus, it is sort of fun and all...

But, it can get overwhelming, can't it?

Even now, writing this post, I get distracted and hit refresh on all the other windows that are open to check those and then get sidetracked doing something entirely different and 9:30 turns into 10:30 and I had perfectly good plans of being in bed by 10.

So I'm going to try and unplug on Tuesday for as long as I can and see what happens. I want to see if I can control myself. (Will I go through withdrawal? Will I get the shakes? Will my fingers start magically air-typing all on their own because they, too, are obsessed? Will I be able to turn my brain off from wondering if someone responded to my email or if I got a TNT donation or if I got any comments?) Maybe while I'm at it, I'll establish special off-hours for my social media-ing. So I can free my mind a little and stop obsessively hitting 'refresh'. Maybe I should go to a support group, like SMAA (Social Media Addicts Anonymous). Which hopefully does not use social media to keep in touch when they're away from each other because I don't think I can handle another message board. Social media is a tough place for someone with an obsessive personality like me.

So I'll report back on my progress. You know. When I plug in again and 9:30 turns to 10:30 which turns to 11:30 and before I know it it's 1 in the morning.

Have a great day! Feel free to leave me a little SMA (Social Media Advice.)

* * *

Psst! Speaking of social media, become a fan of Christie On a Treadmill At the Mall on Facebook!

Please help me fight cancer by donating HERE. I'll even give you a present! Check it out and read about who I'm running for HERE!

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Subscribe to my blog.

Well I Don't Know About You, But Right Now I am All Social Media'd Out

http://babytealeaves.blogspot.com/2010/03/well-right-now-i-am-all-social-mediad.html

Back in the Saddle Again

A few weeks ago, I talked about something I don't talk about much, but I'm glad I did.

I took my lucky shell with me and yesterday, was back in the water for the first time since October. That's part of my tri-group right there and that was after our bike. We donned our wetsuits, a few of us breaking them in for the first time, and we swam.

It.was.GORGEOUS.

And by the way, this is what it looked like before we biked.


By far, my best swim ever.

* * *

Psst! Become a fan of Christie On a Treadmill At the Mall on Facebook!
 Please help me fight cancer by supporting my Team In Training Team by donating HERE. I'll even give you a present! Check it out and read about who I'm running for HERE!

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Back in the Saddle Again

http://babytealeaves.blogspot.com/2010/03/back-in-saddle-again.html

I Heard Snoring

I guess he's a little tired of being sick.

* * *

Auction ends tomorrow! Me on a treadmill at the mall = Your ad space! Donate HERE. I'll even give you a present! Check it out and read about who I'm running for HERE!

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I Heard Snoring

http://babytealeaves.blogspot.com/2010/03/i-heard-snoring.html

Playing Catch-Up With The Monday Project

So I want you to know that even though I missed posting about one of my Monday Projects, I did actually do it! The week I missed was "Doing Something Different," where we were supposed to venture outside of our comfort zones to do something, well, different. Something we've never tried before. Ever.

I don't know why this was so hard for me but it totally was!

You see, there is a machine.

A machine at the gym that has always intimidated me. I've always thought it was for the hardcore. The buff. The already-fit. The not-me's. And I don't know about you, but I approach a new gym machine sort of like a cat sniffing out a new type of wet food in his dish.

I notice it from afar.

I long to go to it, and eventually I do, but I am unsteady and unsure-like and untrusting.

I eventually head over there and I circle it. Pretend not to care.

Pretend I know exactly what I'm doing and where I'm going while scoping out the directions of the machine without the knowledge of onlookers. Sneaking a peak here and there and eventually putting it together in my head.

Because actually setting up the machine means commitment. By that time, it's do or die. So you have to scope it first before you commit. Because once you've committed, you must start working out on it or you look silly setting it up and leaving. Unless of course you've carried your phone with you and you're pretending you missed a really important call and you totally have to return it. Or you pretend you've forgotten something really important in the locker room and make that "hit your forehead, duh!" move and you rush away as if it must be done right.now. Not that I've done any of this.

And you all do know, of course, that no one in this world in the gym environment is actually paying attention to you, right? No one cares! And I know this. But it feels as if everyone in this world in the gym is watching you like they've announced over the P.A. that Christie is about to try a new piece of gym equipment. But they're totally not! And no one cares. Just so you know.

Anyway, back to the machine.

Bet you're wondering right now which one it is, huh?

I have looked at this machine from afar since college and if you're into math, that's about 12 years. I even took my husband to the gym once to help me and we stood around it and looked and he made some hypothesis about how to work it and really he was no help at all and we walked away. I was so disappointed. Dudes are supposed to know these things. (Sorry, honey, for calling you out on it.)

Here it is: the assisted pull-up machine.



After days of circling this machine and having it cackle at me from across the room (nemesis!!), I finally went over to one of the trainers and asked him how to use it.

Novel idea, huh?

He tells me, you take your weight, you subtract about 30 from it and you put the pin in that weight in the machine. So, if you're 150 pounds, you subtract 30, then you put the pin in the 120 lb weight on the machine. I needed to subtract a little more, but whatever. I finally went over to it and did it (and it kicked my butt in a good way!) But I'm excited now I can finally do this stupid thing without feeling entirely stupid! I still feel like everyone is staring at me and that I need practice looking "cool" on it, but still. I did it and I won.

The end. If not for this project, it would totally still be cackling at me.

Wanna catch up on Monday Projects at the Sisterhood? Check em out here!

* * *

I'm running on a treadmill at the mall on March 27th to fight blood cancers. I'm auctioning off one hour of treadmill time until Sunday where you can advertise on me or choose what I do for the whole hour. The highest bid is now $18.71! Don't you wanna beat it?? More deets HERE. And donate HERE!

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Playing Catch-Up With The Monday Project

http://babytealeaves.blogspot.com/2010/03/playing-catch-up-with-monday-project.html

Wanna a piece of me? (Sort of..)

Lucky you! I am extending the "auction" here until Monday morning (Sunday night) 12 a.m. What is this auction? For one hour, I'll do anything you want during my stint on a treadmill at Westfield Countryside Mall in Clearwater on March 27th. (I am running/walking on a treadmill from the time it opens till the time it closes, and it's being sponsored by Westfield Countryside Mall and Lifestyle Family Fitness!)

I realize this may have been a little confusing in the beginning, so here are the rules: Bidding is starting at $5.

Which means, if you donate $5 right now, the hour will be yours, until someone donates higher. I will keep you posted on the bidding on Twitter if you follow me on @christieo. I will also Tweet and update this blog post AND let the highest donor know that they've been outbid and give them an opportunity to donate higher. Highest donor by 12 a.m. Monday morning, March 15th wins.

OK, so what do you win? For an entire hour, which will be tweeted and facebooked and videotaped, I will wear what you want me to, I will advertise your website or blog and I will have a sign with your blog and/or website on it and even wear a tee-shirt with your info on it! (Unless of course, you're making me wear a prom dress on the treadmill.) Anything (non-offensive) is fair game. There is not much I won't do (for charity.) I will also blog about you here and at The Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans, the best weight-loss and fitness website EVER. And not to brag or anything, but we have a LOT of readers. I will also Facebook and Tweet about YOU, whoever you are, until then. You be my #1 supporter and I'll be yours!

Here is the link to my page: http://pages.teamintraining.org/vtnt/rnr10/cosullivan

NOTE: *During this time, EVERYONE who donates, wins the necklace of their choice and that link is HERE! So even if you don't win the hour, you still win! Everyone's a winner!*

* * *

Please help me fight cancer by donating HERE. I'll even give you a present! Check it out and read about who I'm running for

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Subscribe to my blog.

Wanna a piece of me? (Sort of..)

http://babytealeaves.blogspot.com/2010/03/wanna-piece-of-me-sort-of.html

A Very Belated Weigh-In Wednesday

Well, I've made it!!!  For this week, anyway, I have officially made it.

A 1.5 lb loss this week and I finally broke into the new decade of the 120s!!!! THE HOLY GRAIL OF CHRISTIE!! I feel like throwing a party! I don't every actually remember being here EVER! EVER EVER EVER! Except for high school when I remember being 117 pounds but I only knew that because I had a weigh-in in gym class. After that, I knew what size I was, but never really paid attention to the scale until my mid-20s (when it alllll went downhill or when my sizes went uphill, whichever way you wanna look at it.)

So here I am!!!

Makes me wanna eat a burger, to tell you the honest truth. Is that wrong?

Anyway, the best thing I have ever done in my life was set parallel goals (like a 5k or 10k or half-marathon or triathlon) to take my mind off of the amount of weight I had to lose. Because somewhere along the way it became more about fitness and less about weight and it actually started to come off. If I can just stay focused on that,  I'm going to have a great year.

By the way I am late in posting because I was out of town for the day yesterday with the kids and my best friend's family at Disney and couldn't post so I was all bottled up inside all day wanting to burst and do cartwheels! Oh sure, there were a few marginal food choices Reuben sandwich  but I am sure I earned about 150 activity points by going to a theme park with two toddlers and no husband -- do you have any idea how hard it is to carry a 30 lb toddler who's throwing a fit because he hasn't napped, up an entire grandstand of bleachers for a stunt show and down again while holding the hand of another squirmy toddler? The legs and arms burning, and my God the sweating...

This was my life all day yesterday. (Of course, we had a blast, we saw Mickey and my 3 year old's first crush (Snow White) and we danced in the streets during the parade -- but man was it work!)

How did you do this week??? Can't wait to see the leaderboard!! Woohooooo!

* * *

Please help me fight cancer by donating HERE. I'll even give you a present! Check it out and read about who I'm running for HERE!

Follow me on Twitter.
Subscribe to my blog.

A Very Belated Weigh-In Wednesday

http://babytealeaves.blogspot.com/2010/03/very-belated-weigh-in-wednesday.html

And then the stunts get crazier.

So by now you've read about the crazy stunt I'm planning (where I run on a treadmill in the mall). Well, now I'm building my itinerary.

Because not only am I walking/running on a treadmill in the mall on March 27th, I'm going to do things on the treadmill. I'm going to put on a show. Because just me on a treadmill is boring! (Who wants to see that?!) And walking/running on a treadmill for 10 hours can get pretty redundant for the person who's doing it (me).

So I'm going to have a little fun. I'll be doing things like having a Retro Hour, where I wear my knee-highs and headbands and whatnots. Possibly legwarmers. (No leotard.) Then there's my hour where I wear weird hats/slash/wigs. My hour of high heels.

And then there is the one hour that is ENTIRELY UP TO YOU. One whole hour!!! I will wear ANYTHING (that is not nakedness or a bathing suit or anything offensive since I will be treadmilling pretty much right near the Easter Bunny and all...) You want me to wear a hat? A clown nose? A prom dress? A tux? Something that you have on hand that you want to send me? I will do that.

Of course, there is a catch (this is a fundraiser, there has to be!!): the one hour goes to the HIGHEST BIDDER!! I am auctioning off ONE HOUR. The highest donation between today, Friday, March 5 and Friday, March 12th at midnight eastern time, gets to pick what I wear. Remember, I will be tweeting and vlogging and blogging this, so I will probably be cursing talking to you that entire hour. You will be the official sponsor of that entire hour. I may even make a sign for you and if you're a blogger, with your blog address on it! And I will tell you, the invites have gone out, the press releases are going out (I used to work at a tv station.. I'm just sayin) and my wonderful sponsor, Westfield Mall, is behind me 100%, so there will be lots and lots of people there! Plus, my embarrassing display will make its way onto the Vlog Wrapup, along with your blog (if you have one). So, any takers?????

Also, every person who donates $20 or more gets a necklace handmade by me for my undying love and appreciation!

And I've got a few new necklaces out! Besides the "I Need More Cowbell" and "I Do All My Own Stunts," I've got a couple new ones: "Good Luck" with a shamrock on the back (click on the pictures to make them larger),

a circle "Peace, Love, Faith, Hope, Truth," and a purple running shoe, which is so fitting in my life because purple is not only the color of Team In Training and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, but it's the color of the March of Dimes, of which I am a huge supporter. I wear one of my own now.

I also have a big huge list of others and it's HERE. So choose away! The link to donate is HERE. And even though I am fundraising light-heartedly, I want you to know that it is still a very, very serious cause to me. I am running for a dear friend of mine who was diagnosed with Non-Hodkins Lymphoma in 2007 and today she is a survivor, a strong, beautiful woman and the mother of a 4 year old boy and you can read more about her HERE. I run for the heroes who have and are battling blood cancers, and every cancer for that matter. Because I don't know many people in my life who haven't been touched by cancer in some form. What about you?

So what do you think? Help a sister out? There's so much in it for you!

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And then the stunts get crazier.

http://babytealeaves.blogspot.com/2010/03/and-then-stunts-get-crazier.html