I won, I won! I won the 2011 fitness challenge!

I rarely win anything, so you can imagine how surprised I was to win the 2011 fitness challenge [hosted by my friend from back in the day, Karen].  Check it out!

Thank God for photo editing software! lol

You might remember me chatting about Karen in a post about here and here.  She ran it with me when I was in town to visit my parents.  Well, she diligently kept track of each participants numbers throughout the year.  Would send an update monthly.  I had good months....and some not so good.  It really depending on if I was injured or not. You know what was funny about this challenge?  I followed through with more cross training and  physical therapy exercises because I knew someone was watching me!  How sad is that?  It all boils down to accountability for me in some way.  My goals for the year helped me stick with the challenge, too.


At the end of the year, it all added up to something good.  $81.00 worth, to be exact!  Kent told me to spend it on something for me, but I decided to hand over the check for our savings account.  We're paying off December's Disney World trip, and every little bit helps.  Since I had such a fun time there, I consider that "something for me".  :)

[Side Note: I'm proud of myself.  I don't say that often...or nearly enough.  Winning this challenge was just as emotional for me as making to the 1,000 mile mark on 12/31/11.  Thanks to Karen for coordinating it all.  Thanks to everyone who ran with me in 2011, or supported me along in some way.  Thanks for reading this post.]


Whoops.  I meant to post this on my running blog, but I'm going to leave it since it kind of pertains to the topic of living healthy.  I sure as hell wouldn't have been writing about winning a fitness challenge 11 or 12 years ago!  Thank goodness for goals, life changes, and sticking with it even when the going got tough.  :)

Injured...a set back with exercise

Ouch!

I'm reaching out to all of you for a bit of input.  I've somehow hurt my knee (again).  I don't think this is running related since it started hurting during my time off from running.  However, it hurts.  It really hurts.  Especially when I run, walk, sit, stand, move in my sleep, breathe, blink, cook, do laundry, vacuum the carpets, scrub toilets, etc.  This injury is gonna get me out of a TON of housework, friends!  That might be the only good thing about it, though.  lol

I'm making an appointment to go see what could be wrong.  I feel as though that's kind of a theme in my life.  I go see the sports med doc every 6 months or so with a new injury.  Gotta keep those insurance companies in business, right?

Anyway, what time of DVD workouts are you guys liking these days.  I'm thinking a lot of my gym routine will be put on hold until this stops hurting.  Maybe home workouts are in order for now.  Something that doesn't require running or jumping.....or lots of knee bending.  Does such a DVD exist?  I think I own all of the WATP (walk away the pounds) DVDs.  I'm really not wanting to buy  more at this time.  Plus, the walking/running movement hurts at this point in time.

With allll that being said, I'm headed to the gym tonight to sit and pout as my favorite class gets their groove on find a machine that doesn't hurt me.  I know the pool would be a great option considering the knee pain, but the rules at my gym are super strict.  The class times are crazy, and one of the local colleges hogs up a good portion of the non class times.  Plus, I'm feeling a tad lazy, and don't want to partake in any strategic shaving of the bikini line just for an aquatics class.  :)

Aloha, I'm back from Maui!

ALOHA!

I'm back from Maui!!!!  I said that like I'm excited to be back in Vancouver, but I'm so not.  Kent and I did not want to leave.  We wanted our kids to go back home, but we would have stayed in a heartbeat had someone volunteered to be temporary parents for my cherubs.  Just one more week.  Alone.  Without anyone whining about being bored.  Check out what we came home to...

Snow.  Boooooo.  Anyway, sticking to a plan of any sort is often times beyond difficult on vacation.  I think I finally figured out the trick to it.

1. Journal, journal, journal!  Activity and food.  It's amazzzzzzing how things rapidly get out of hand, and it starts with just a handful of chips.
2. If you can be in charge of cooking your own food....DO IT!  We stayed in a resort with a full kitchen in each room.  We hit Costco as soon as we picked up our rental car, and then we were off to the grocery store for items not needed in such large amounts.  No worries, I bought pineapple wine at Costco. That is always needed in bulk amounts when traveling with extended family! lol  Pineapple wine is 0 Points when traveling with a party larger than 4.  ;)
3. Take advantage of ANYthing active.  We ran, we biked (sort of), we swam in the ocean, we swam in the pool, we hiked, then we hiked again, we walked everywhere.  It was SO MUCH FUN!  Trust me when I say, the Heather from 10+ years ago would not have put fun and active in the same sentence.  Who am I kidding?  I wouldn't have said that 5 years ago.  The love for activity has popped up in recent years.
4. Indulge only in things you cannot get at home.  Kent and I celebrated his birthday alone Saturday night.  We decided to hit a local restaurant with traditional Hawaiian cuisine.  I had Lau Lau that evening.  I ditched all of my vegan goals, and enjoyed every single bite.  It was amazing.  Totally worth it.  No guilt!
5. If you require special foods, pack them along in your suitcase.  I did.  I wasn't sure how readily available gluten free bread would be, so I packed some bagels & a burger bun.  Sounds weird, I know.  However, they sure did come in handy!  I never once saw a loaf of GF bread in any of the stores.  Oh, and my GF granola bars came in handy during our hikes!

I would love to hear your own personal tips for traveling & staying on track!  I'm not talking about perfection.  I'm sure we've all been to that point in our journey where we strive to be perfect....and pull it off.  That gets old after a while.  Learning to be real about what happens on vacation, rolling with the punches, and figuring out how to live life without being a slave to your journal eventually falls into place for those of us who have kept off the weight for a long period of time.  So what are you doing on vacation that helps you stay focused, on track, or get back on track once you get home?  I don't want to hear what your Aunt Joan does or about something you read in a magazine.  I want to know what personally works for you.  Do tell!

PS...here are a few snippets of activities I participated in while in Maui.  They are links to my other blogs that you might or might not pay attention to regularly.  I'll update the links as I add the hikes, other runs, etc.  It takes so much time to to all of this blog stuff!  I would love to sit here all day blogging my life away, but life doesn't let that happen.  Funny, really.

The 1st Run Of 2012...
http://www.willrunforcoffee.com/2012/01/first-run-of-year-in-maui.html

The 38 Mile Downhill Sunrise Bike Ride...
http://www.willrunforcoffee.com/2012/01/38-miles-in-mauidownhill.html

The Food...
http://365daysglutenfreevegan.blogspot.com/2012/01/days-11-12-13-14-15-16-17-vacation-in.html

Day 4 of the year & I'm already off track with my goals!

Gahhhhhhhhhh!  What the hell happened?  How does everyday family life suck the energy out of me?  I'm not sure how, either.  However, it ends today.  Do you hear me?  TODAY!

Now, I did make a pinky swear to myself last month.  I promised my legs (and very blistered feet) that I would take the first couple of weeks off running in 2012.  Mentally, it's killing me.  I need to run.  On that same note, I also made a follow up pinky swear to myself stating I would hit the gym on my regular gym days (3 days per week) AND my running days (3 days per week) to make up for the non-running commitment I made to my body.  Have I done that yet?  No.  No I have not.  I have been toting kids around to orthodontist appointments, dentist appointments, going to the grocery store, then off to another one, then another, cleaning up after Christmas, getting the next few months of life in order which has meant being on the phone or computer all day long, gearing up for our trip to Maui, etc., etc., etc..  I feel like a mobile secretary who doesn't get paid!

On top of not exercising, I've been eating double portions at dinner.  Luckily, it's only happening at dinner.  I blame myself for being such an awesome cook.  I mean, it's really fabulous stuff I'm making here, people.  Sigh.  However, that cannot continue.  I think it all started a few days back when I was finally able to taste and smell food again (after being sick for a couple of weeks).  Whatever the reason, it has GOT to stop!  Sadly, I write it all down in my little journal.  Double portions and all.  Oh, and I washed it all down with half a bottle of wine last night.  Nice.  At least I was happy when I realized I had eaten that way 4 nights in a row. lol

I am here to tell you, it ends today.  Today, I have my workout planned.  Literally written down in my journal.  It will be a home workout, but it's an ass kicker.  My favorite group cardio/toning class is tomorrow night at the gym, and I will be there.  I've already written down what I'm going to eat today, like a road map of sorts, and I'm sticking to the plan.  I made sure to add yogurt & nuts as an after dinner snack.  The water bottle is full.  I'm wearing my favorite sports bra AND my workout shoes.  I'm set.

Thanks for listening.  You would think I was new at this instead of a seasoned veteran of weight loss & maintenance.  This is why it's so important to keep track of it all.  So you can see the pattern forming.  I hope your week is going better than mine.  If it's not going as swell as you'd hoped, what needs to change?

Off to do my first 25 push ups of the day (and year)....

So long 2011....hello 2012!

So....how'd it go?  2011, I mean.  I've heard a lot of people complaining about it.  I'm actually pretty pleased with the way it all fell into place.  In my opinion, I had a fairly crappy 2010.  So I deserved a good 2011.

I followed through will each of my health goals.  Including big one....running 1,000 miles in one year!  You can read about it by clicking here.  I'm still riding the high of making it to that goal.  I haven't decided if I want to give myself a high five or cry tears of joy.  Once the reality of it sinks in & the blisters heal, I might just do both.  There were other goals I knocked out of the park, but I'm tired of talking about last year.  Let's chat about 2012....

I've created 10 goals for myself.  Some are health & fitness related.  Some are not.  They might sound crazy or trivial, but these are things I've wanted to do for a while, and never seem to get around to.  I do pretty well if I create a goal for myself, so I figure that's really the only way I'll ever get around to accomplishing the items on the list is if I put them on an official list.

1. Make myself a quilt.  Yep, I love to sew. I seem to not create enough time to actually do it, though.
2. Run a marathon.  26.2 miles of bloody & blistered toe bliss.  Lucky for me, Santa signed me up to run one this summer!  I found the registration Christmas morning, under the tree, with a note that said, "I believe in you."  :)
3. Journal each day.  I'm pretty good at journaling anyway,  but I'd like to be more detailed with it.  Keeping track of day to day life as well as what I eat.
4. Cut ties with negative family members & acquaintances.  I've already done this to some degree, but there's always room for more.  How sad that some of them are relatives.  Sigh.  Negative people are energy vampires, and I have no time for that.  Life is too short!
5. Try at least one new recipe each week.  This one is pretty self explanatory.
6. No more weighing in (on the scale).  I haven't in quite a while, and MAN have I been happier.  I fit in the same old clothes I've been wearing forever.  In my book, that's maintaining.  
7. Workout 6 days per week.  3 days running....3 days cross training.
8. Give myself a rest day.  Not just from exercise.  From EVERYthing.  I need a day to just enjoy life.  Enjoy my family.  Enjoy being me.
9. Learn how to use my DSLR camera.  I've had it for at least four years, and still have no clue how to use it.  Since it cost an arm and a leg, I damn well better learn how to use it.
10. Go vegan.  I know.  As if being gluten free isn't bad enough, right?  Veganism is something I've been considering for quite some time.  Since I'm the designated family chef, the rest of the family will follow along.  Will they be happy?  Of course not.  They never are...so I might as well do whatever I want.  Life will go on.  I've created a new blog where I will document my journey throughout 2012.  Check out 365 Days As A Gluten Free Vegan by clicking here.

I hope your 2012 is healthy & happy!  Do you have any goals set to ensure healthy & happy will happen for you?  

Can you limit your sitting & sleeping to just 23 1/2 hours a day?

The new year is taunting us from around the corner.  Have you thought about your goals for 2012?  If one of them is to exercise more, and that has traditionally been something you struggled with in the past, watch the video below.  Perhaps it's time to reframe the way you think when it comes to exercise.  Same concept we've know about since grade school, just a new, updated frame around the big picture.  Even though I'm an avid runner, and have learned to enjoy cross training alongside the miles spent pounding the pavement, this video was very enlightening.  Keep in mind, 36 years of my life were lived with a strong hate for exercise.  It took seeing things in a different light to change my mind.  I hope this video does the trick for you.

Can't view the video on my blog? Click this link to watch it on youtube. :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUaInS6HIGo&feature=share
FYI:  I'll be posting my 2012 goals once the kids are out of school for Christmas break.  Until then, there's very little time to even turn the computer on....much less type a blog post.  Start thinking about YOUR 2012 goals now so we'll have something to chat about. :)

Pumpkin Spice Pie

Ohhhh, poop!  I meant to post this recipe last week, but never turned on my laptop.  Kent was in Japan for the week (business trip), and I was on my own with two very busy teens, precooking all of our Thanksgiving goodies, prepping for a party I had at my house Friday night, etc..  I'm so sorry for the delay, and hope someone gets to enjoy this recipe (other than my family). lol


With Thanksgiving just days away, two kids, one husband, limited time, waaaaay too many things to do between now & Thursday, two races to run this week including one Thanksgiving morning....I'm baking pies today.  Not tomorrow.  Not this evening.  Today.  If they don't get baked today, I'm screwed! Pie-less and screwed. I better hurry up with typing this blog post & get back into the kitchen.


I picked up two gluten free frozen pie crusts at Whole Foods last week so I could make a double dose of my favorite pumpkin pie.  I found the recipe years ago in Weight Watchers magazine, and never looked back.  Everyone in my family, including my super picky 80 year old father, loooooooves this pumpkin pie recipe.  (Don't deny it, Dad.  We watched you inhale nearly an entire pie all by yourself last year!)  Anyway, give the recipe a whirl.  It's easy.  Calls for the most common ingredients.  Including a frozen pie crust!  What's not to love? 


Not only that, a slice of this pie is less than half the calories of traditional pie.  If you check out the Thanksgiving Points Cheat Sheet I posted earlier today (here's the link), you'll find that traditional pumpkin pie is 9 Points per slice (old Points...not Points Plus).  This is just 4 Points for 1/8th of the pie!  I loooove more bang for my weight watchin' buck.  The first time we tried it, I was a bit leery of the molasses.  I am NOT a fan of molasses.  I was surprised to find I couldn't detect a molasses flavor at all.  :)


Pumpkin-Spice Pie 
2/3 cup sugar 
1 Tablespoon corn starch 
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon 
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger 
1/4 teaspoon allspice 
1/4 teaspoon salt 
1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin 
2 egg whites 
2 Tablespoons molasses 
1 cup fat-free evaporated milk 
1 (9 inch) deep dish pie crust, thawed 

1) Whisk together the sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon ginger, allspice, and salt in a large bowl. Add the pumpkin, egg whites molasses: whisk until well blended. Gradually add the evaporated milk, whisking until smooth. If not serving immediately, cover and freeze in an airtight container up to 1 month. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, whisk until smooth. 

2) Preheat oven to 425. Place the empty pie shell on a cookie sheet (The cookie sheet is for easier transport from the counter top to your oven - it also helps eliminate an oven fire if any filling oozes over the pie shell edge while baking.   Ask me how I know about this!).  Pour the filling into the pie shell and bake for 15 minutes. Reduce the heat to 350; bake until knife inserted into center comes out clean, 35-40 minutes. Cool on rack for 2 hours. Serve once cooled.  Cover & refrigerate up to 1 day. 

Recipe came from the 2005 November WW magazine.

Serving size: 1/8 of pie
4 Points Per Slice (old Points....not Points Plus)


PS...If you're searching for MORE pumpkin recipes, I have a printable batch of them here.  Everything from this pie recipe to a super delish pumpkin pasta with sausage!  Check it out by clicking here. 

Thanksgiving Cheat Sheet

Everyone needs to pick a path to travel when  it comes to holiday gatherings.  That's part of learning to cope with food, emotions, traditions, making new traditions, etc.  This year, I'm in charge of most of the cooking. That means I get to make things MY way.  I realize not everyone gets that luxury.  Going into a holiday meal with a plan is your best bet!  Listed below are traditional Thanksgiving foods.  Pick and choose.  Some of this stuff can be eaten any old day (like mashed potatoes & gravy).  Other things might only roll around once a year, and be worth every calorie spent.  You might decide to simply not care that day & then get back on track once the holiday is over.  It's up to you.  Which path will you take?  Whatever you choose, remember one thing, it's a holiDAY not a holiWEEK!  


DISCLAIMER: This information does not reflect any Points or plan changes made in 2011. In other words, this info is Points based....not Points Plus.  :)  

TURKEY LEG (WITH SKIN), 4 OZ, 6 POINTS

WHITE MEAT TURKEY (NO SKIN), 4 OZ, 4 POINTS (FF)

GREEN BEAN CASSEROLE, 1 CUP, 5 POINTS

GREEN BEANS (STEAMED), 1 CUP, 0 POINTS (FF)

CORN CASSEROLE, 1/2 CUP, 8 POINTS
CORN, 1/2 CUP, 1 POINT (FF)

CANDIED SWEET POTATOES, 1 CUP, 8 POINTS

MASHED SWEET POTATOES, 1 CUP, 4 POINTS (FF)
BAKED SWEET POTATO, 1 LARGE, 3 POINTS (FF)

GARLIC MASED POTATOES, 3/4 CUP, 6 POINTS
PLAIN BAKED POTATO, 1 LARGE, 3 POINTS (FF)

CANNED CRANBERRY SAUCE, 1/4 CUP, 3 POINTS
HOMEMADE CRANBERRY SAUCE , 1/4 CUP, 2 POINTS

BREAD STUFFING, 1 CUP, 8 POINTS
WINTER SQUASH, 1 CUP, 1 POINT (FF)

PUMPKIN PIE, 1 SLICE, 9 POINTS
PECAN PIE, 1 SLICE, 12 POINTS
APPLE PIE, 1 SLICE, 7 POINTS

WHITE ROLL (WITHOUT BUTTER), 1 ROLL, 3 POINTS
WHEAT ROLL (WITHOUT BUTTER, 1 ROLL, 2 POINTS
WHIPPED BUTTER, 1 TBSP, 2 POINTS
LIGHT MARGARINE, 1 TBSP, 1 POINT

BROWN GRAVY, 1/4 CUP, 2 POINTS

WINE, 2 OZ, 1 POINTS

(This list was compiled from a few different sources: my 2009/2010 Complete Food Companion books, a list WW leaders were given to share with members, and my etools account from http://www.weightwatchers.com/.)

I'm no longer swimming toward pie!

So, I haven't had much here on the blog in quite a while.  Nothing relevant or juicy, anyway. A calendar here or there (which I've decided to discontinue, by the way).  A lot of you have noticed the uncharacteristic quietness.  Part of me appreciates the kind notes you send.  Other times, I don't want to be reminded of the past.  I'm not exactly sure what's going on in my head.  I feel like I'm kind of over talking about "my journey" all the time.  For a while, it was therapeutic.  I even talked about it for a living as a Weight Watchers leader!  I made videos.  I blogged religiously for years.  Here's what some of you didn't know, I had a web site from the first day I started my journey way back when nobody else had a web site.  I have been talking about this for years!  For someone who was clearly born to talk, I feel all talked out.  Since this blog really is all about me, I don't want to chitter chatter about something just to have a blog post published. I want the posts to have meaning.  For months now, I've been searching for something to blog about that helped explain where I'm at with this strange new chapter in life.  Who knew the spark I needed would come to me via late night television?

Kent and I were watching Conan a few nights ago, and one of our favorite comedians, Patton Oswalt, was a guest on the show.  I knew I liked this guy.  His stand up routines crack me up.  He has a bit he does about '80s rock videos stating they all look like they're being filmed in a "spark factory"!  So true.  Remember all of the big hair, tight pants....and tons of SPARKS that seem to come from no where?  lol  Anyway, this interview where he speaks of his weight loss journey sent me to a new level of ultimate like for the guy.

"If Kevin James or Paul Giamatti drop weight, I'm done.  

I don't want to be the last Pudge out there!"

"But damn it, I'm gonna go swimming.  I lost 1.2 pounds this week.  So I get there, and there's pie...."

Bahhhhhhh!  I'm not sure if it's so hilarious to me because....

1. I could so totally relate to the "I'm swimming toward pie!" story.  How many times have we ALL done something like that?  Crazy, but we have all done it to some degree.  Don't get me started on how I used to go to ______ (fill in the blank with any of the fast food restaurant names in the Salem, Oregon area), pay with cash (no paper trail), eat in my car - IN THE PARKING LOT - so nobody would see me, then toss the wrappers & cash receipt before leaving.  Nobody knows, right?  I honestly had no clue that everyone could see it.  They could see my weight climbing, my health declining, and my sense of worth no longer existing.  
2. Oh, or maybe it's because I heard so many similar stories over the years working as a leader for Weight Watchers!  I've heard it ALL and then some.
3. Perhaps the "not being able to have a dance party with my kid because I was too fat & out of shape" scenario hit a little too close to home.  I spent many, many years of my life, even before I had kids, overweight and out of shape.  My weight was not baby weight, folks.  It was years & years & years worth of eaten emotions showing up in the form of pounds.  It was exhausting to be me!  I needed to lean up against a wall to catch my breath when I hauled laundry upstairs.  I literally sat & watched other people being active because I was too out of shape to join them, too embarrassed to do anything about it, and too ashamed/scared to admit I needed help.  To be honest, I didn't even know where to start!  I cannot imagine going back to that phase of life again.  

For me, that's what was so comforting about Weight Watchers in the first place.  Knowing I wasn't alone was a huge plus. My entire life, I thought I was the only one.  The.  Only.  One.  Totally alone.  Nobody else could possibly understand why I ate.  I myself didn't understand it at the time.  The crazy ass stories you hear in the weekly meetings (or on the message boards & web sites if you're an online member) are a crucial part of the healing phase.  Self realization.  Recognizing destructive behavior patterns.  Patton is so right about the meetings, though.  Super helpful & informative, especially when you're first starting out.  However, the stories are simply not nearly as interesting as those "I T-boned a bus" blurbs from AA meetings! I mean, come on.  What weight watchin' story can compete with that?

With that being said, I hope Patton finds his path.  I hope everyone out there trying to improve their health does.  I hope that, like me, you are able to look up one of these days & realize you're no longer swimming toward pie!  In the mean time, I'll be talking about other things here.  Stuff that's more relevant to what I'm doing now instead of what I did back then.  I don't really give a hoot about Weight Watchers.  It was simply the tip of the iceberg for me.  Counting Points started a chain reaction of better health.  Simple...yet effective.  However, I no longer wish to talk about it.  Things I care about these days?  There are so many, I'm not sure where to start.  I'll give it a shot.  

• I care about living the healthiest life I can live.  Period.
• I care to not get wrapped up in what others are doing (especially if what they're doing does not support the things I care about).
• I care to not let energy vampires suck the life out of me (which leads to stress, stress eating, emotional damage, etc).
• I also care about keeping them away from my veins once I realize what they're up to (which leads to a power shift, empowerment, self worth). 
• I care about continuing to journal my food intake because it helps me stay focused, properly fueled for the amount of activity I'm hammering out, and thoughtful with food choices over a period of time. 
• I care about becoming a super fit individual.  
• I care waaaaay too much about running, and talk about it almost daily on my running blog, www.WillRunForCoffee.com!  
• I care about anything and everything gluten free/Celiac related.
• I care about fueling my body with foods that will help me be & stay active.
• I care about facing my demons instead of hiding from them like I used to.  
• I care about learning to forgive those who triggered my "fattitude" in the first place.  
• I also care about getting those negative people out of my life once they've been forgiven.  
• I care about being a healthy, active role model for my kids. 
• I care about creating dinner menu, after all these years, because it makes family life flow, the budget stay on track, and evenings calm. 
• I care about routine, being organized, sewing, cooking, sleeping, resting, walking, exercise classes, running races, decorating my home, becoming stronger (in more ways than one), letting my friends know they are appreciated & loved, etc.
• I care about keeping my husband healthy so we can spend as much time on earth together as humanly possible.  
• I care so much more about "treating my body as a temple" than ever before.  I get it now!
• I care about setting new goals.  
• I care about reaching those goals - no matter how many tries it takes or who tries to hold me back.
• I care about me, and that's something I sure as hell wouldn't have said 11+ years ago!  

I simply need to figure out a way to talk about all of these cares here in Blog World. Be patient.  I'll figure it out.  Moving forward. 

If the embedded video isn't working, here's a direct link:
http://teamcoco.com/video/patton-oswalt-thinks-disney-is-corrupting-the-youth

Kentucky Pork Chili (and another half marathon under my fuel belt)

I know, I know.  I've not been around much.  My little family keeps getting busier and busier.  And I thought toddlers were a lot of work!  These teens & tweens keep me on my toes.  Not only are they busier than ever with school activities, scouts, friends, etc....but they eat A TON.  Holy smokes, can they pack it down.  Luckily, I'm making the most incredible chili today.  It's super hearty, and will be ready as soon as they get home from school.  I needed something fast to throw together because it's a jam packed day today.  In comes the slow cooker.  Perfect since we won't be around this evening to cook.  Plus, whatever I decided to make had to be loaded with veggies, protein and carbs.  Why? Because the day before yesterday, I ran another half marathon (you can read all of the nitty gritty details & full race recap on my running blog, www.WillRunForCoffee.com).  Today is a recovery day, and my body needs healthy fuel to rebuild.  This chili recipe is perfect for today's needs & ferocious post half marathon appetite!

Anyway, I had to take a minute to share the recipe with you.  It's from the old WW Slow Cook It book.  Full of delish ingredients that can be easily substituted for whatever happens to dwell in your pantry, fridge or freezer.

Pardon the cutting mat backdrop.  My sewing room gets the best light for pictures. lol

Click image to read and/or print.

For me, I subbed the zucchini for butternut squash.  Why?  Because I had it in the freezer - chopped up into bite size pieces & ready to cook.  Plus, it's finally fall!  What's more fall'ish than squash?  This recipe creates a sweet chili.  Think you won't like it?  Give it a shot before snubbing.  I felt the same way when I first read the recipe, but quickly changed my mind once it hit my pie hole.  It's totally different than the same old, same old chili.  Don't get me wrong, I love my favorite, go-to chili recipes.  However, sometimes a change is nice.

I'm crossing my fingers you're able to print it so the text is large enough to read.  I don't have time to type it out for you (sorry).  You'll have to convert the Points yourself if you're following the new plan.  All of the nutritional info is listed on the bottom of the recipe page.

Happy cooking!

Making time to get stuff done....

Chicken & Spanish Rice

The past few weeks have been loaded with chaos.  The kind of chaos that makes you want to sit and stare at a wall for a while.  With no children around you.  No noise.  Just.....quiet.  I'm not going to whine about it.  I've decided I'm going to start taking Mondays off in an attempt to get "family stuff" done.  One of the things on the list is cooking ahead.  Even if it's just cooking that will serve my family for the current week, ahead is ahead.  I'm so sick of scrambling at 7pm trying to wrap up the loose ends of dinner.  Even with my weekly dinner menu planned, it's so much nicer to have some of the items prepared & ready to roll.

Use those baby spinach containers!

Now, this cooking ahead thing is something I used to do on a regular basis.  Life throws curve balls.  Things change.  Schedules change.  Tastes change.  Kids get older.  Pickier.  It's time to get back into the groove of what works for my family. Cooking and freezing ahead does take a wee little bit of planning.  For instance, today, I pretty much focused on working with chicken.  I like to focus on one thing & hammer it out.  It makes for a much easier clean up, in my opinion.

Today, with determination & 3 hours of time, I...

• ...threw 24 frozen chicken breast tenderloins in 2 gallon zipper seal bags.  One bag got doused with BBQ sauce.  The other with salsa.  Into the freezer they went.  Two main dishes are now ready to roll.  All I need is to either thaw & grill....or toss them frozen into a slow cooker (great for shredded chicken tacos or BBQ sandwiches).  Easy.  No thinking involved. Just yank it out of the freezer & go with whatever floats your boat that day.  I love having options.
• I also made a giant batch of Spanish rice.  Brown rice, a jar of salsa, chicken broth, salt, pepper, garlic powder.  Again, easy.  Once it was done cooking, I spread it out on a jelly roll sheet to cool quickly.  Then I dished it  up into quart size zipper seal bags.  I can either counter top thaw it or nuke it in the microwave.  We eat a LOT of Mexican food, so this will be so handy for me.
• I also cooked down a 5 pound chicken for homemade chicken broth (because I like it better than store bought).  Now I have tons and tons of chicken meat off the bone, ready to add into recipes.  I bag both the broth and the meat.  [Yes, you can bag broth.  It's strange looking, but thaws quickly if you lay it flat while freezing.]
• Oh, and I made  banana pumpkin bread (made a double batch so I can freeze one loaf to eat in the future).  I had to swap the flour(s) listed for my special gluten free stuff, but I can't wait to try it! [recipe link] 
• And a couple of pots of soup that can be frozen for quick lunches.
• I almost forgot about the rice casserole.
• I also chopped 24 green bell peppers, bagged them into zipper seal bags, tossed them into the freezer.  Perfect for cooking with during the fall & winter months when peppers tend to get expensive at the store!  I wish I would have chopped them into smaller pieces, but I was in a hurry 7 doing my best to get it all done today.  :)

Need a couple of tips for getting the biggest bang as far as freezer space goes?

1. I keep all of my baby spinach containers from Costco & use them for storing small freezer items. Especially baggies of stuff.  Like the bell pepper I chopped today.  It allows me to keep the deep freeze fairly organized.  I blogged about it a couple of years ago.  Read about it here. [tip link] 
2. Label your bags BEFORE filling them!  With a Sharpie, write what the dish is, how many servings, the nutritional info, etc.  Everything you'd want to know come serving time.  
3. I do my best to freeze all of this stuff flat before loading the bags into spinach containers.  Broth, casserole fillings, pasta, rice, diced veggies, etc.  I even freeze my cooked steel cut oats in zipper seal bags!  No kidding.  It makes for easy stacking.  I can even set the frozen bags upright in those spinach containers if I want.  Just squish out as much air as possible before you seal up the bag. Place the flat bags on a cookie sheet & stick the whole sheet of whatever you're freezing into the freezer overnight.  From there, you can organize it however you wish.   Yes, a frozen baggie of cooked oatmeal looks strange, but it tastes good once it's warmed up!  :)  Check out what I'm talking about as far as the "flatness" of freezing stuff flat...

Quart size zipper seal bag with 1 cup steel cut oats.

Same bag shown from the side.  Very flat & stack-able!

PHEW.  I'm tired.  I did a lot of cooking today, but I did forget to cook one thing.  Tonight's dinner! lol  Guess I better get crackin' on that.  It's breakfast for dinner night.  I'm sick of looking at chicken.  I've looked at it all day.  I agree with my kids....pancakes are sounding pretty awesome right about now.

I would love to know what "think ahead" things you guys do that help you stay on track with healthy eating.  Fast food & convenience meals are really not options for my family now that I can't have gluten.  Plus, it's expensive to eat out with teens! Oh my GOD they eat a lot.  Please share your ideas.

Ready for fall weather & recipes!

Taste Of Home Stuffed Pepper Soup

1. I'm so ready for fall!  
2. I am thankful my darling cherubs have gone back to school!
3. I've missed blogging!  

All three statements are true as true can be.  In celebration of fall lurking around the corner, kids going back to school, and reentering the blogging community.....I cooked.  Oh, how I cooked.  I dug my crock pot out & fired her up.  It's time.  If I cook enough delish soups, stews, and casseroles in it....fall will come sooner.  I just know it.

Some of the recipes (links below) I whipped up this week have been posted on my blog in years past.  However, the pepper soup recipe....I couldn't find here on the blog.  So strange.  I make it all the time, and would have bet money on it being listed here, but it wasn't.  I've been holding out on you!  Be angry...because it's one of the best soups EVER.  Well, if you like stuffed peppers, that is.

{DISCLAIMER}
So, the Points listed are old Points.  They're fabulous tried and true recipes.  I know you can figure out the value(s) of them on your own.  The pepper soup recipe has all of the nutritional info so you can do the conversion easily.  The other two do not.  I will do my best to list recipes with nutritional data from now on.  Pinky swear.

Stuffed Pepper Soup 
This is a tweaked version of the original Taste Of Home recipe.  I never but the beef bouillon in it, and it always tastes great.  This week, I used 2 pounds of ground chicken breast (not just plain ground chicken which has a much higher fat content due to the dark meat added in) instead of half beef half chicken.  Use whatever meat you would like.  Play with the recipe, and see what works best for your family.  I've used TVP in it instead of meat before, and the taste was odd.  Just a heads up.  :)  {Click here for recipe.}


Slow Cooker Lasagna
This was a recipe we passed around at Weight Watchers several years ago.  You might have it in your own collection if you've attended meetings for what seems like forever (like me!).  So the Points listed are old Points.  Since I can no longer have gluten, we swapped regular noodles for a gluten free rice version. (I need to remember to cut the cooking time in half next time when using gluten free pasta.  Not only does my slow cooker seem to cook hotter than most, but GF pasta gets too mushy when cooked too long.)  Despite the mushiness....this was an awesome dinner!  I could have easily eaten it 'til I popped, but I had on my big girl panties & stayed in control. (Because clearly the answer to not being in control is wearing big girl panties, right? lol)  {Click here for recipe.}

Mexican Corn Chowder
The only item I have to omit due to gluten issues is the cream soup.  To be honest, I don't even miss it.  If I were you, I'd leave it out.  This is the BEST soup.  My son, who normally dislikes soup, love it.  He is a teenager now, and could seriously eat the entire pot on his own.  (Why do teens eat so much????)  I have learned the hard way to make a double batch of this one.  {Click here for recipe.}

Happy Cooking!!!!!

September 2011 motivational calendar

It has been HOT out.  We could all use a little motivation to keep us from losing our cool. Print the calendar below.  Keep it somewhere you'll actually see it throughout the day.  Enjoy!

Click here to download and/or print the calendar.

It's September...so get ACTIVE!

Oh my goodness.  Can you believe it's SEPTEMBER already?  Where has 2011 gone?  I feel like I'm still new here, but I've been in Washington over a year.  Life is passing by quickly.  I don't spend much time online anymore.  Mainly...because I don't want to.  I'd rather be out in the yard working, or grilling up fabulous new recipes, hanging out with my family, or running in the glorious sun.  (The rainy season is so long here, I don't want to miss a single ray of sunshine.)  Perhaps you'll hear more from me once it starts raining again.  Until then, here are the activity calendars for September.  Print one.  Place a sticker on the days you workout, or write whatever your exercise was for the day on the calendar.

Click here to download and/or print "blackboard".

Click here to download and/or print "one big sunflower".

Click here to download and/or print "goals".

Click here to download and/or print "plain Jane".

Don't use the excuse that it's too hot out.  Crank up the A/C, and pop in a Leslie Sansone DVD.  I joined a gym a while back, and have loved taking cardio/toning classes.  I've been going two hours at a time at least 5 days a week, and the membership came in super handy when the doc said I needed to take a two week break from running so my shin splints could heal.  What better time to take advantage of the gym than in the middle of August???  Today was my first run in weeks, and nothing hurt.  It was amazing!  Better go print myself a calendar & write down my 3 miles before I forget.  Until next month....

Weighing in...week 3 (8/9/11)

I shared with you a couple of weeks ago that I bit the bullet & went to see a sports dietitian.  It was difficult to wrap my brain around running 26-35 miles per week, counting Points like a pro, and GAINING WEIGHT.  It was beyond maddening.  Quite frankly, it was time for me to move on from the whole Points system.  A frightening thought for me at the time.  Well, the dietitian helped me get my priorities straight, and three weeks into eating about 1,000 calories more per day, I'm down 1.3 pounds!

So, how's it going, you ask?

The first week was the toughest.  Eating more made me feel like I would burst.  I was so full....there were several days I came close to vomiting come 9pm.  Not cool.  I did notice around day 4 or so, I was still feeling beyond full, but three hours later I was STARVING.  I for sure woke up my metabolism. 

The second week, I was simply trying to find my groove with the concept of food exchanges vs. counting calories/Points.  Now I'm good with it all. I get to count exchanges, and I feel as though getting to count something has helped me transition from Points to exchanges a little easier.  You all know journaling my consumption is important to me.  It's how I lost the 80 pounds to begin with, and is almost like therapy for me.  I have to keep track of everything for the dietitian....so I'm still happily journaling for now.

"I want it now!"

This is the end of my third week.  To be honest, I was hoping to have lost more by this point.  I think we're all that way, right?  It's the whole instant gratification thing.  I'm like Veruca Salt in a way.  "Don't care how...I want  it NOW!!!"  (See video clip here.)  However, I can instantly see the positives, and put my Veruca-like tendencies aside.

• I'm happy that the scale did not go up (again).
• I made it through a "lady cycle" staying under my starting weight.  I typically gain 3 - 5 pounds in water weight each month.  I was extremely bloated this cycle, and managed for that to not show on the scale.  That gives me hope. 
•  I'm no longer running down the road dreaming of cheeseburgers!!!  I'm finally satisfied!
• I reached way beyond my comfort zone, and asked for help from an outside source.  I did it when I joined Weight Watchers, and it was time to do so again. 
• I've learned what my body needs.
• I've learned the perfect combination of foods for anyone into endurance sports.
• I've learned how to merge it all together while living a gluten free lifestyle.
• I get to eat 1,000 calories more per day....and not gain weight.  What's not to love about that?
• I lost 1.3 pounds while firing up my metabolism!!!
• My list goes on and on.

It doesn't matter what plan you're following, as long as it's a plan that's healthy, fits your current life, and is working for you.  Here's to all of us striving for better health! 

Activity calendars & charts for August 2011

Happy August, everyone!  Phew, it's hot out this month.  Who wants to get out in this heat?  I do....that's who.  I'm switching back to morning workouts in an attempt to beat the heat.  Now is the perfect time for me to get into the gym because it's air conditioned!  I'll also be trying my hand at pool running this week.  All kinds of new workouts for me that don't require going into the horrifically hot outdoors.  lol

These work the same as they have every month for the past 5+ years.  Pick one. Print it.  Keep it where you'll see it.  Exercise.  Mark what you've done in the date box or give yourself a sticker on the date for a job well done.  I like to mark what I've done AND give myself a sticker.  What can I say?  I'm a child of the 70s/80s.  I respond well to extrinsic rewards.  :)

To print the low color "plain  Jane" calendar click here.

To print the "sunflowers" calendar click here.

To beat the heat, print the cool, refreshing swimming calendar by click here.

August motivational calendar

All you weight watchin' folks out there should print a copy of this free calendar. Keep it somewhere you'll see it each day.  Have a healthy August!

Click to download / print calendar.

A new food plan for me

So I finally bit the bullet, and went to see a sports dietitian last week.  I wrote about it over on my running blog. It's clearly a food related article, but came to a head to due the amount of exercise I'm putting in each week.  So I felt it fit that blog better than this one.  However, if you're interested in reading about my new food plan, check it out. [LINK]

The one thing she said that stuck with me the most was, "It's time for you to think of food as fuel instead of as numbers (calories/Points).  Weight Watchers clearly worked for you, but you're a runner now.  Your needs are different." 

Very interesting.  I guess it is time to roll with this particular punch and move forward.  I feel a little bit sad about it, but I'm not sure why.  It's kind of scary moving away from something that worked so well for so long.  However, a change is needed.

http://www.willrunforcoffee.com/2011/07/i-went-to-see-sports-dietitian.html

Trying new things....like Zumba!

I did it.  I reached waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay outside of my comfort zone, and attended a Zumba class.  I didn't sign up, pay, and then not attend like I've done in the past.  I actually went and worked out!  6 hours later, I'm still sporting sweaty clothes.  Yep, it was that much work.  Yep, I haven't showered yet [eeeew!].  I was dripping with sweat by the time I left the building. 

I cannot tell you how I feel about Zumba because I haven't decided how I feel about it yet.  I'm going to give it at least two more tries before making such a decision.  Why?

1. I'm not a dancer. 
2. Not at all. 
3. I have no rhythm.   
4. This class takes place in a mirror lined aerobic / dance studio. 
5. That means I got to watch myself in the mirrors for an entire hour while I dance around rather badly. 
6. Every move I make looks like I'm a giant sasquatch ready to attack. 
7. Or like I was trying to do basketball drills rather than Zumba. 
8. Either way, it wasn't pretty.
9. Do people really like this Zumba thing?
10. Really?

The mirrors everywhere were....awful.  I had to get over it pretty quick in order to somewhat keep up with the group.  I'm kind of thankful for the mirrors, though.  I discovered I'm developing the leg muscles of a runner!  I didn't know that before today.  [See picture to your right.  Those are not my legs in the photo.  I have no idea who they belong to, actually.  I stole the image off "the interwebs".  However, my thighs are starting to take on some definition like the legs pictured.  Not nearly that much, of course.  It's nice to know the past two years of running my ass off has done some good, though.]  Anyway, I was mesmerized by my own legs.  Only this time it wasn't over their whiteness.

PS...my Fitbit tells me I burned 532 calories during my hour long Zumba class.  Not too shabby.

July 2011 activity calendars (charts)

I started making an activity calendar for myself many years ago.  I found it was really helpful to log what I was doing (in detail) with activity.  Just as important as logging every bite of food I was eating.  anyway, it's a habit for me to log my exercise now.  If it wasn't for these calendars, I wouldn't know how many miles I ran for the week.....or how few cross training workouts I did.  I still need to work on getting in more cross training. 

Here's how the calendars work.  1) Print a calendar.  2) Keep it somewhere you'll see it each day.  3) Place a sticker or color in the little squares in the little date box on days you workout.  Easy peasy.  Personally, I write in how many miles I ran for the day with a special Sharpie I purchased especially for charting my exercise, and I give myself a sticker.  Over the top?  Yes, but who cares?  I even buy special stickers for myself.  Different ones each month.  Summery stickers for summer.  Springy for spring.  Fall'ish for fall.  And you guessed it....wintry for winter.  Hey, whatever keeps me motivated!!!!  I think this month I will try something new.  I want a running calendar....and a cross training calendar.  Perhaps this will whip me into shape.  If I see the cross training calendar looking sad and blank, that might motivated me to follow through with what I need to do.  I'll be sure to let you know how it goes at the end of the month.  :)

Click here to print "bumble bees" activity calendar.

Click here to print "hummingbird" activity calendar.

Click here to print "plain jane" activity calendar.

OK, I printed the bee chart and the hummingbird.  I've taken the first step in following through with my activity goal for July.  Keep running, but add in more cross training.  Wish me luck!

July 2011 motivational calendar

Thank you Zig for making another great calendar for all of us!  Zig always does such a great job whipping up these calendars.  People often think I'm the one creating them.  Not true at all.  I'm simply the one sharing them with the world....with Zig's blessing of course.  :)

Hope everyone has a safe & healthy 4th of July.  Remember, it's a holiday....not a holiweek.  Have a great holiday weekend, everyone!!!

Click here to print the July Motivational Calendar!

When pictures speak louder than words....

We all have pictures that have somehow stamped the timeline of our lives.  This is for sure one of those pictures for me....

I was about to cross over the finish line during the Vancouver USA Half Marathon last weekend. I could hear my husband calling my name.  I somehow managed to find him in the crowd, made eye contact with him, and shot him a little fist pump action while blurting out a loud, "YESSSSS!".  That was to let him know I had totally blown my time goal out of the water.   You can read everything I have to say about this picture - the good, the bad, and the ugly - over on my running blog, www.WillRunForCoffee.com. [LINK] 

I wanted to be sure to share it here on my weight management blog because this photo would not exist had it not been for my weight loss journey.

I have to say, sharing this picture with you is way more fun than sharing my fattitude laden "before" shots.  It's even more fun for me than posting before & after comparisons!  The gal you see pictured here is a completely different person than before my journey began.  This picture sums up my entire journey in one snapshot moment.  On top of all that, it was time for me to find a new picture that represents who I am now. This is it, baby!  I'm a world away from the "old Heather", and I totally deserve to have an image that reflects the current me.  :)

What goals have you set for summer & beyond?

I finally reached my goal!

I have a list of goals for summer.  Some of them pertain to my weight management / healthy living journey....some don't.

One thing I usually don't have is a "Plan B" when it comes to goals of any type.  I need to work on that.  It's never an issue unless I meet one of my goals right off the bat.  For instance, one of my summer goals is was to run a half marathon in 2 hours 30 minutes or less.  I'm happy to announce, after 1 1/2 years of busting my ass with countless training runs, 3 prior attempts, and a lot of sweat, a lot of tears, and a lot of physical therapy, I met my goal Sunday morning at the Vancouver USA Half Marathon!  Please go read all about it on my running blog, http://www.willrunforcoffee.com/2011/06/vancouver-usa-half-marathon-recap-psi.html. [LINK]

Yay for me, but now what?  My main goal for summer has been met, but summer is just getting started.  Some of us living in the Pacific North West question whether that's true given the mild temps & constant rain, but it's here.  I have a history of spending time twiddling my thumbs after a big goal has been met earlier than planned, and then I'm easily thrown off track.  Granted, I'm rarely thrown off track for long.  Over time, I've become the master of picking myself up & dusting off rather quickly.  Waiting longer never helped me feel better (or get from Point A to Point B any faster) so I learned to not wait.  Kind of like ripping off a band-aid.  Faster is better!  For me, the key to creating shorter windows of "floundering time" is to plan ahead.  So one of my goals for summer is to be more on top of setting long term goals. Setting a few long term goals will make it easier to set short term goals.  Those long term goals will create a path for me.  In a sense, I will always have Plan B to use if need be because all I have to do is follow the path of my long term goals.  It will lead me where I need to go.  Yes, it all sounds very anal retentive, but sometimes it's a necessary evil.

Today, I'm sitting down and mapping out my five year plan - just as a business would do.  Why?  Because my health (physical, cognitive, emotional, and spiritual) depends on it!  I need a road map to help navigate me in the proper direction.  I would never set off for a huge family vacation without a plan.  Why in the world would I expect such an important life journey to deserve less attention to detail?  I'll be asking myself several key questions in order to whip up the plan.

• Where do you want to be with your healthy lifestyle / weight management journey in one year?
• Where do you want to be with this journey five years from now?
• Name five specific health and/or fitness related goals you want to hit by July 2016.
• What will it take (be specific) to master each of those goals?

Even if you're not a plan ahead person, read the questions I posted above.  Plant the seed in your brain.  It's great that you want to lose weight, maintain the loss, and be a healthier human, but what good will it do if you have no idea how you're going to pull it off?  

While I sit and re-vamp my own set of goals...tell me yours.  What are your summer goals?  Better yet, how about your long term goals?

It took a newspaper cartoon to make me appreciate my journey

I found this while thumbing through the newspaper a couple of weeks ago.....

Lovingly borrowed from The Oregonian - Friday, June 3, 2011 edition.

I was saving this clipping so we could chat about the modified food pyramid layout, but had a change of heart this morning after having a fashion show in my closet.  I decided to use the cartoon for a totally different reason.  However, if you want to check out the new info, visit http://www.choosemyplate.gov/.  Instead of the pyramid most of us grew up with, the symbol is a plate showing a balanced meal.  Very cool, and totally what I believe in.  Moving on....

I totally fit into the "obese American" category at one point in my life.  *GASP*  I'm sure you're shocked as hell to read that, eh?  I was that dude in the cartoon [except I'm not a dude].  There was a time when I thought adding a few veggies to my pizza was more than enough veggies for the day.  [Insert the barrel of laughs here.]  It might have been close considering I would consume an entire pizza by myself, right?  I mean, an entire pizza worth of veggies is a lot of veggies, but clearly eating the entire pizza wasn't the best choice.  I'm not alone in my "obese thinking".  My husband felt as though the fruit in fried fruit pies (those Little Debbie / Hostess types) counted as eating fruit for the day.  Yes, we were both adults when we thought this way.  [Sorry for throwing you under a very publicly viewed bus, Honey!]  So when I ran across this drawing, I had to laugh!  Slap some long brown hair on that person in the drawing, and all of a sudden you have THE OLD ME.  Anyone else finding yourself in the same boat?

The cartoon reminded me that many things have changed in my life over the past 10+ years.  Sometimes, I get in a funk about stuff & feel as though nothing has changed.  I feel as though I'm traveling the opposite direction even though I'm not.  Every now and then, I need a little reminder that lets me know everything is A-OK.  Something to tell me I'm still working hard, striving for better health, and doing the best I can do.  I honestly think feedback, whether negative or positive, plays a critical role in the weight management journey.  After trying on all of my summer clothes today, I'm happy to announce.....they still fit!  All of my old work & casual pants.....fit!  All of my sassy summer halter tops....fit!  Those adorable skorts & shorts.....fit!  My sand might be shifting in directions I don't like as I age, but the clothes I have cover that sand, and that's really all that matters.  Plus, I bought a size "smaller than normal" skirt at Goodwill the other day, and have never been so thankful for vanity sizing.  I picked it up and immediately knew it was not true to size by any means.  It looked like all of the skirts I have at home (as far as size goes), and none of them sport that particular size on the label.  However, it felt good to be able to buy it, put it on (without Spanx!), and not have to be flat on my back as I zipped it up! lol  [It's the little things in life that keep me motivated.] 

To give you an update on my weight, I'm still packing 3 extra pounds around that I really don't want, but I've decided I really don't care.  I'll continue to work on shedding it from my body, but I feel great despite what the scale tells me.  I'm more active than ever (quite literally).  I'm happy.  I'm more than a number on my scale.  Even better, I'm no longer the obese person in the cartoon shown above thinking the "cheese powder" sprinkled on my cheese crackers count as dairy. Come to think of it, I don't even eat those crackers anymore (they contain gluten).  Things really have changed, and this journey keeps evolving before my eyes.  Amazing!

I would looooove to hear some major / healthier changes you've made in your life since starting your journey...so leave me a comment!  For those of us not so new to the topic, it's difficult to go back and think of the things we used to do in our "before" life.  All it took was a silly cartoon to get my mind working.  I hope it triggered something in your head as well.  :)

A comment inspired goal thermometer chart

Chris left a comment on my blog that made good sense to me.  "Could you create a goal thermometer chart for tracking pounds lost?".  Yes, I can!  I created it in what might perhaps be too general.  With everyone having such different goals, there's really no great way to make one chart fit the needs of everyone in the world of weight loss.  It might be basic, but you can personalize this to represent whatever you want.  Single pounds, 5 pounds, ten, etc.  Total weight loss.  Pounds lost per month. The ways you could use it to help create or maintain a healthier lifestyle is limitless.  How about exercise?  Or tracking home cooked meals for those of us dining out too often?  Or the number of new foods to try this month? 

Not only am I going to print a copy of the chart to help me focus on getting rid of the 4 pounds I seem to like hanging onto so much, but I'm going to use it for my "1,000 miles run in 2011" running goal!  So far, I have 4 blocks colored in to represent 440+ miles run so far this year.  I'm hoping to have 5 colored in by the end of the month. 

Click here to download / print the goal thermometer chart.

You know what?  After posting the image here on the blog, I can't help but think of Austin Powers & all of the wiener jokes.  "One eyed monster.  Step right up, and see the one eyed monster!"  Haaaaa!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GiWQZhUmmRw

Just a little monthly housekeeping (both literally and figuratively speaking)

1. I've spent the past two days spring cleaning the kid's bedrooms & bathroom.  All I have to say is...GROSS!  Not only are my children possibly the nastiest little tweens walking the planet, but I thought I would have burned more calories with all the work & effort.  Nope.  Yesterday....1,733 calories burned.  That's it.  Do you have any idea how many times I walked up and down the stairs, lifted, reached, scrubbed, hauled bags of Goodwill stuff, etc.?  How disappointing! 
2. I was taking  some time to plan ahead for next week, including planning out my exercise schedule.  That's when I noticed I royally messed up my summer/fall half marathon training plan.  Ugggg....there's nothing like having to go back and re-do what you thought was finished. lol  Here's a link to the new one for those of you following my crazy running adventures.  Oh, and I hired someone to give my running blog a new look.  Check it out when you have a moment.  I'm looooving the new coffee / pink theme she created!
3. I've set a few goals for June.  Simple stuff.  Realistic stuff.  Most of it is food related, but I did add in a few others.  The most important one to me is walking.  I'd like to add more walking into my life.  Probably sounds strange considering I'd really rather run.  However, I love taking walks with my husband.  My goal is to squeeze in 20 miles worth in June.  Our neighborhood walks are 3 miles (or more) long.  If we stick with it just a couple of times per week...I'll hit my goal easy peasy!
4. I ran 100.09 miles in May!!!!!  That's two months in a row of hitting the 100 mile mark.  Who knew that I would go from 0 to 100 in two years?  Woohoo!
5. Last, but not least. I gained back almost all of the weight I lost last week. Sigh. I did really well with food & exercise. I wrote down every bite I consumed, and kept up with all of my workouts. Unfortunately, this is my "bloaty week", and MAN did it kick me in the pants this time around. [I feel like a fat little roly poly bug stuffed in a sausage casing.] As if things weren't already bad enough, my dinner last night was way too salty which makes me bloat even worse. I'm not letting it break my stride, though! I know I will un-bloat soon, and have a better weigh in next week. :)