It's been a while since I've weighed in at the Sisterhood, I know! I have taken a short hiatus from weighing in, but the good news is, I've bounced up and down the normal 2 pound range but hovered around maintenance for the past few weeks. I haven't been trying to lose weight, I have just been trying not to gain. And I've been successful at that!
As far as exercise goes, we did the half-marathon in San Diego, I took it easy on exercise the following week, just did a couple workouts that week (scored a new pr in a 5k at a beer run and came in before my husband!) and since then, I've been slowly getting back into things. I have my first sprint triathlon since the Olympic distance in April this Sunday. Woot!
And I am excited!
Because it's my one year anniversary of triathlons! Sunday, I'm doing the same exact race I did one year ago. It was my very first one ever and I'm going back! I'm returning to the scene of the crime! I'm so so excited to see how I do and if I have improved over the year. So so excited! Because I looked at my time and in the "newbie" category, I did ok, but if I had raced in my age group, it would have been dead last. Not that there is anything wrong with coming in last, someone has to, but I'd like to think that I'd come in a little bit higher this go around. We'll see! I think the only way I'll do well is if I kick butt in the run, and that's pretty hard because it's just so hot when it's time for that run. I don't care if I come in last (well, maybe a little), I just care that I improve my time. Of course it would be nice to finish somewhere in the midpack....Anyway, I have a secret target time and I'm going to try and hit it.
I'm going to start joining back in on the weigh-ins in a week or two, once I get my new training plan in place because I have a few large races at the end of the year I'll be training for all summer, like:
-The Disney Wine and Dine 1/2 Marathon Oct. 1
-Miami Man 1/2 Iron Distance Triathlon (which includes a fresh water alligator lake-- yikes!)
-My very first marathon -- The Disney Marathon in January, and if you're part of the Sisterhood or not, we're gathering a big group of us to go do this! This is an open invitation! Calling all runners! Calling all sisters!
Anyway, the training officially starts for these things in a week or two (20 weeks out from Miami Man.) For those, I will want to get into better shape, so I hope that weight-loss will be included in there although it won't be my primary focus.
Oh, and ps. my new blog is in the works, I can't wait! It's almost here!! Baby Tea Leaves is headed for retirement, but there are great new things happening with the new blog (at least I think so!) so please don't go anywhere!!!!!!!!!
Happy Weigh-In Wednesday!
This 21 Day Challenge at the Sisterhood is awesome and I'll tell you why. My goal was to eat clean and as I go through day 3, I'm finding out I have lots of naughty naughty habits, even if they don't add up calorie-wise to over the limit, they're still not really healthy habits!
Like for instance, I mindlessly eat. Who knew?!
Because eating clean, for me, means no unnecessary snacks and eating whole foods when I'm hungry and only when I'm hungry so I am listening to my body. So imagine my surprise when I'm wandering around the mall after getting the birthday gift I went in to buy and I pass Auntie Anne's and their pretzel sticks, which completely fit into my points regimen with Weight Watchers, but not into the "eating clean" category. See, I wasn't hungry. But it was there. And I totally would have gotten them on any other day, for absolutely no reason.
So goes, too, with Starbucks. I didn't need the coffee or the caffeine, but it was there.
After wandering around the mall for a few minutes and having nothing to do and wanting to just sit down and have coffee or pretzels and stare off into space, I decided I would take the yummy, cleansing, white tea I bought and just go home because there was nothing left to do at the mall besides eat or drink something. Sure, eating those things would not have been that big of a deal, but the reason why I would have been eating them was really sort of interesting to me, because it wasn't out of hunger, it was entirely out of boredom.
Tonight is date night and normally I would have configured my points to include some yummy (bad) dinner with my husband. And bad to only a certain degree, because my version of "bad" now is so much better than it used to be, i.e. we no longer go all the way with the liquory coffees and desserts and the whole shabang like we used to.
But since I'm committed to my version of clean eating (and I say "my version" because I don't know if it fits in with whatever anyone else's idea of clean eating is, it is just mine and cleaning up my personal patterns and habits) instead of eating out, we're eating at home (wow!) and then we're going to the gym to play racquetball and swim (wow again!)
Now, normally after that, we'd go to Buffalo Wild Wings afterward because it is literally in the parking lot of the gym and normally I would have had beer (within my alotted points) but I have also given up alcohol for a few months, so if we do go, I will drink water and probably not eat anything unless I am actually hungry. And if I am hungry, naked grilled chicken tenders it is! It sounds really super boring, but the activities are not, they're super fun, I'm just trying to fill up my life with fun instead of food and trying not to look at my life as boring if it's not centered around food. Because we think about food all the time and how it spices life up so much! Why do we do that? I don't know. I do it, but I don't know why.
The thing is too, I've found that by stopping all this mindless snacking, I'm adding more whole foods to my meals so I'm not too hungry in between. And I've got apples and fruit and probiotic yogurt and whole wheat tortillas or tea and lots of other yummies to snack on if I'm starving. And that's another thing, I'm finding myself turning back to tea, I'm trying new things to try (today was a new guacamole recipe because I want my kids to try avocado!) And by making sure that what I'm doing is not food-centered (bored eating at the mall, sports night as a date night), it's almost completely taking the importance out of food and it's making me view it as fuel instead. And purely functional.
I am wearing my "discipline" necklace to help me along, because when all is said and done, it's really not easy for me to change behaviors especially ones I didn't realize really existed! And especially as I get Happy Meals for the kids (I know, I know, hypocritical mom here!) I'm doing this because as I continue to train for the half-marathon and the couple of sprint triathlons I'm doing this summer, I want to think like I'm training. I wouldn't half-ass a training run or ride or swim, so I don't want to half-ass my eating either. And I want to see what happens if I am truly, truly serious. Will this stick after 21 days? Will I make it to day 22 and shovel my face with Tijuana Flats? Will I have cravings? How will I fill them? These are all things I want to know! If you have a habit you want to change, join me in this 21 day challenge, it really is interesting and fun! And it's not too late, either! You can read more about it here.
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In following with true Christie O. traditions, I have, again, gained weight after last Saturday's triathlon, followed by our longest Team In Training run yet, the 10 miler. For some reason, I gain weight after a tri (I'm going to have to do some scientific research on this) and it disappears on Thursday or Friday but it never disappears by Wednesday, which is, unfortunately weigh-in day. Today, I'm up 1.5. Suck.
So in keeping with the tradition and in lieu of I-knew-it-was-going-to-happen-I'm-sorry-dear-teammates, I'm looking at the cup half full here and going with the non-scale victories.
As in, like, I ran 10 miles. And I did it without wanting to entirely die! Usually my breathing gives out before my legs, but this time, even the first 1/2 mile of the run didn't suck, the whole thing went fantastic! And it was beautiful out and I ran and I ran and I ran and at one point yes, it did feel like it was forever but that's because it was, it was an hour and 42 minutes of just running. And stopping just once to take a picture of this:
And this:
Two separate (and huge) guys swimming in the bay! It wasn't even a lake it was a tiny inlet of the actual bay! Crazy gators.
It took me 1 hour and 42 minutes and the only part that stunk was the massive migraine I had for the rest of the day (exercising for long periods of time tends to trigger migraines in me, and boy, you learn a lot about your body when you do these things.)
Anyway, the other NSV was my first triathlon of the season last Saturday! I swam 1/2 mile, biked 10 miles and ran 4 miles in 1:32, beating my last swim by 3 minutes and instead of running 3 miles in 30 minutes, I ran 4 miles in 34 minutes! Which honestly makes me question the actual length of the run, because that pace just doesn't seem possible to me, I am thinking they are probably off by at least a third of a mile.
It was kind of a rough food weekend as I give myself a freebie on race days (BBQ-yum!) but then there was the little issue of my son's birthday party on Sunday (which honestly didn't go that bad, little cake, little pizza...ok maybe the chips and coke weren't necessary) and then Monday, which was his actual birthday and he requested hot dogs... But by Tuesday my body was rejecting all bad food and it craved plain grilled chicken and rice and plain cheerios, and plain goodness. Plain plain plain.
That's all for today. I have so much to post that's tri-related, like my race report and my swim updates and pictures and stuff that's just plain old life-related, because even when all my events are all over it still feels like there's always stuff going on, and well, life is getting in the way of my blogging. What I really want is one full day to just write and write and write. Anyway... cheers to another week, and my weight-loss by Friday. Ha!
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!
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!!
I cannot even believe that you all have helped me raise almost $650 already!!!! I am so overwhelmed and amazed!!
Thank you SO.MUCH!
I told you that I have a crazy fundraiser planned and I am finally going to unveil it here. On March, 27th, I am going to run on a treadmill. IN MY MALL. For all to see. Complete with velvet rope. For hours upon hours. From the time the mall opens, until it closes, or until I meet my fundraising goal, whichever comes first. I will be vlogging it. I will be blogging it. I will be Facebooking it. I will be Tweeting it. Because I will need A LOT of distractions to help me through this one!!!
The wonderful people at Westfield Mall are allowing me run and I will be holding raffles the whole time also so there will be prizes! Woot! I am so excited and nervous about embarrassing myself in this manner. !!
I know that most of you are not in Florida and that is ok, but please watch out in one month for all my Tweets and updates as I will need your blogging-tweeting love whilst this is going on to keep me going.
Also, if you haven't noticed the poll up in my top left sidebar, I'm letting YOU vote for what I shall do on race day. So please vote! I think tutu and tattoo are tied! How's that for some alliteration..
Without further adieu, the winner of the $50 giftcard raffle is: PUBSGAL! Isn't she going to be excited! You have a choice of Barnes and Noble and/or Dick's Sporting Goods, so let me know! I'll send you an email shortly.
Won't you consider helping me fight cancer by donating HERE? I'll even give you a present! Check out the necklaces you get and read about who I'm running for HERE!
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I've told you I'm going to do something crazy when I meet my fundraising goal! Now it's time to vote!
I've put together a list of all the suggestions given to me, by you, and now you will get to tell me what to do. Here's your shot to embarrass me! I'll blog and vlog and take pictures of whatever it is that you force vote on for me to do. Just vote in the poll right there on the top left on my sidebar.
(Why is all of this again? Refresh me.)
OK. I'm running a half-marathon in June with Team Shrink and the girls at The Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans. We are helping to fight cancer by raising money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. I am running for a dear friend and co-worker of mine, Rose Astorina, who was diagnosed in 2007 with Non-Hodkins Lymphoma.
Now, I promise do my part by following through, but I have to make my fundraising goal to do it *hint hint*. And I'm just $120 away from drawing my the raffle which is a $50 gift card to Dick's Sporting Goods or Barnes and Noble winner's choice!
Also, if you donate, not only do you get an entry into the raffle, you get your choice of the following necklaces, I will send them to you. You can see them here:
Here is the list of necklaces to choose from:
Circle charms:
"Imagine"
"Passion"
"Strength"
"Focus"
"Courage"
"Discipline"
"Faith"
"Harmony"
"Power"
"Miracles"
"I Need More Cowbell"
"I Do All My Own Stunts"
"Be Yourself"'
Charms:
"Strength" - this one's a silver charm, not a circle
"Live Light" - also a charm, not a circle
Voting closes March 18th. Vote as much as you want until then! Have a great week!
Please help me fight cancer by donating HERE.
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I make these necklaces, it started out as a necessity because I couldn't find one that I could work out in that was short like a choker. So I bought the leather myself and started making them and I put affirmation rings on them ("Discipline," "Focus," "Courage," "Strength"- inspirational messages.) Of course, I also have silly ones (like the one I'm wearing), "I Need More Cowbell."
Running a race is very much a metaphor for life and all of its milestones. The ones you plan on and especially the ones you don't.
You spend a lot of time working up to something. You get nervous before the big day. You face your fears, you hope you "studied" enough and that all the work and hours you've put in were enough, and finally, the big day comes. The day you've been training for. Whatever that is. And that's when you see what you're made of. And it almost always surprises you.
Because you do so much more than what you thought! Every time.
Every day of our lives, we're in training for something. Getting a promotion. Having a family. Getting married. Every day's experience contributes to whatever milestone lies ahead. And sometimes milestones in our lives happen whether we plan for them or not and they're not always the happy kinds of milestones.
Like finding out you have cancer. Like one of my dear friends, Rose, a former co-worker and former roomate.
We were producers and our company was closing our bureaus. Mine in Tampa, hers in Chicago. They gave us the option to move to the New York headquarters. We jumped at it and decided we'd get an apartment together and take on the big bad city like two Mary Tyler Moores, hats and all. We shared all of the ups and downs that came with moving to an unknown place and working together and sometimes competing, but we stayed friends. We both moved back to our hometowns and got married and started families.
In 2007, she found out she had a tumor. She was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. She battled the cancer in the way I knew she would, boldly and with reckless abandon. She went through chemotherapy. She went through radiation. She lost all of her hair. Her four-year-old noticed her new "haircut" and told her he liked it. She's a fighter and today she's cancer-free. She tells her story so much better than me, go meet my friend Rose and watch her story, she was on FOX News channel.
Why am I telling you this?
Because I am running for her this June in San Diego at the Rock and Roll Half-Marathon that benefits the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. I am running with my favorite virtual sisters in the world, The Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans as part of the Team In Training program. And I am running for Rose and for all who battle cancer.
The fun part is that right here, I vow to do some crazy to raise some money. Because I have to raise almost $3,000 and I am at the very very beginning and time is ticking. I'm starting to panic!
Won't you consider going over to my page right here and donating? In the next two weeks, I will let YOU vote for what CRAZY I will do IF AND WHEN I reach my fundraising goal! Yes! You decide! You decide just how silly I will be. And there is not much that I won't do in the name of fundraising for causes I believe in! (Just so you know!)
Some of you have already made suggestions that will go on the list. They are:
-dye my hair purple for the race
-get a (temporary) tattoo. Some of the girls on the team have talked about getting actual tattoos. I think I know how my husband feels about this one, but I love me tattoos (I have two.)
-get a mohawk. Unfortunately, I won't cut my hair to do this, but I might be willing to make a faux-hawk out of the existing hairs.
-eat mushrooms. *gag* I hate mushrooms with everything inside me. But someone my mother in law suggested this one, I really thought she liked me! and so here it is on the list.
I will blog and vlog and tweet about what I do so you will see it all for yourselves if you care to.
In the meantime, suggest away here in the comments below! And please help me reach my fundraising goal! Again, my fundraising page is here! I will open up voting 2 weeks from today!
Love and hugs!
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