A challenge from "The Penguin"

No.  Not the infamous Penguin from Batman.  Like I would accept a challenge from him.  Sheesh.  I'm talking about John Bingham.  If you didn't know it already, I *heart* John Bingham.  It's true.  If you have no clue who he is, let me tell you a few facts about him.  His running philosophy is solid.  His former fatty story is relatable to most of us who has ever been or currently is overweight.  Best of all, his method to get you moving WORKS!  I am living proof of that, as I followed much of his advice to get started with running.  Feel free to read more about his fabulous training plans on his web site, http://www.johnbingham.com/. 

John has hit us with a challenge to kick start the new year.  [For those of you not in love with running, no worries.  It's a challenge to simply be more active...not to run 'til you puke.]  100 days of intentional movement.  30 minutes a day is all he's asking for.  Intentional movement. Doesn't matter what it is as long as you're moving & active.  It does NOT mean you must step foot in a gym.   Do it all in one lump sum.  Break it up into 5 minute increments if you like.  I'm up for the challenge!  Please take a moment to read more about it here:  http://johnbingham.competitor.com/2010/12/30/the-100-days-challenge/ .  There's nothing official to fill out in order to join in.  Simply make the commitment to yourself. 

I've created a special chart to keep track of the challenge if you'd like to print one.....

Click here to view & print the chart. 

I'm hoping this challenge encourages me to cross train more!  I tend to not want to do anything but run...which is not a good thing for many, many reasons.  My body needs more than that.  What do YOU want to gain from this challenge?

PS...this reminds me that I meant to tell you about a new blog I'm starting as of 1-1-11.

PSS...the new blog is alllllll about running.  It also reflects my bizarre love for coffee, the ongoing need to look for motivation, my progress & setbacks, almost daily reports on training runs, product reviews, and more).  I'll send a link soon.

PSSS...I did not make it to my goal of running 1,000 miles in 2010.  BLAH!  Didn't even come close, but I made it one third of the way!!! Even with our family relocating across the country & an ongoing knee injury!  GO ME!  That counts for something.  I have a few new goals for 2011.  I'll be sure to chat about them here once the new year begins.

Love & rockets,
Heather

BEWARE: Flying sap ahead!

I wanted to take a moment to write & say Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Groovy Kwanzaa, and have a Fabulous Festivus!  Instead of hanging out on the computer working my life away this season, I decided to sit around & watch a ton of movies with my kids during their "winter break".  It has been beyond great! 

The knot in my stomach!

With all of the sitting around / movie watching, I've had plenty of time to focus on what I'm thankful for. [This kind of stuff starts popping into my brain because I am way to A.D.D. to simply sit and watch a movie like a normal person.]  I've spent a good portion of this year with a ginormous knot in my stomach.  It was the knot of all knots.  The "mother knot", if you will.  It's time to untie it, and let it go.  I know, I know.  It's so sappy of me to do this to you.  Especially this time of year.  A time of year when sap is flying left and right.  Sap, sap, sap.  I feel as though I deserve all the sappiness.  It has been a crazy year for our family.  Actually, the past year and a half qualifies in the "crazy" category of life. Instead of focusing on all of the crazy, I decided it's time to switch gears & move into gratitude mode. 

I'm thankful to finally have a home again.  Not just a place to stay or a hotel room to crash in for a few nights or a temporary dwelling.  A real home.  A place we plan on living for years to come.  [For anyone who is unaware...I am never, ever, ever, ever moving again.   Ever.  I will live in this house forever.  Because moving really blows.]  On that note, I'm thankful our house in Ohio sold so promptly! The thought of living so far away & having to keep tabs on a winterized, vacant house freaked me out to no end!  I'm thankful to be living close to family again.  Thankful for legs that somehow continue to tolerate running.  Oh, and thankful to have a husband willing to run with me on cold, dark nights when he'd much rather be sitting on his ass watching TV after a long day of work.  Thankful for his new job.  And, despite their quirky issues & disabilities, healthy kids. And awesome schools for my cherubs to attend.  Ohhhh, and nice neighbors (thank you Jesus for nice neighbors...we deserve them after dealing with all we did in Ohio!).  And, though it did go up a tad, hovering around my "happy weight" during, again, what has been one of the most chaotic, mentally draining years of my life.  And, and, and....so much more.  As a matter of fact, there are so many things to be thankful for, I cannot possibly blog about them all.  So I won't.  However, I'm keeping track.  I'm literally writing all of my "thankfuls" in my food journal.  On some strange level, doing so helps me stay on track.  Plus, focusing on this stuff is way more pleasant than focusing on all of the crap I've put up with in 2010.  I'm looking so forward to 2011, and the changes to come. 

I'm signing off until next year.  New activity charts & the January 2011 motivational calendar (made by Zig) will be posted January 1st!  See ya then.  I wish you a happy _______________ [fill in the blank with whatever it is you believe in or celebrate]. 

*~*~*

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL,

AND TO ALL....

A FABULOUS 2011!

*~*~*

You can help your community - Pound For Pound!

The Pound For Pound Challenge is back!  Ooooooo....I love watching The Biggest Loser.  It's one of the few shows I look forward to watching each week.  The contestants in current weight loss mode keep me motivated.  Those who gain weight back remind me how truly vulnerable we all are.

Anyway, I have made a pledge each year they've offered the challenge.  Basically, for every pound you pledge, The Biggest Loser will donate 11¢ to Feeding America® — enough to secure one pound of groceries on behalf of local food banks. 

Searching for motivation?  Join a team on the Pound For Pound web site OR form your own team!  I mention asking for help because one of the Tools For Living (from Weight Watchers) that is so often overlooked is "Asking For Help".  Maybe this your moment to reach out & ask a friend, co-worker, family member to help you stick with your plan. I have asked for help more times than I can count.  It works!

I'm sticking with what works for me

I've received oodles of emails asking how I feel about the new Weight Watchers plan.  [I had no idea anyone gave a hoot about my opinion(s) regarding this topic.]  Quite frankly, the old plan worked beautifully for myself & my husband.  We're choosing to stick with what has worked all these years.  For those of you ready for a change or just starting your journey....go for it.  I will support you 1 million, billion percent.  However, I don't feel the need to go back and re-do any of the recipes or videos I've posted here.  With that being said, I'm not going back and reconfiguring any of my recipes to fit the new plan.  They are what they are.  For me, they'll be totally accurate.  (Yay!)

I'm going to close this post to comments.  I'm certainly not trying to come across as rude, but I really don't care what anyone else is choosing to do in terms of sticking with the old or trying something new.  I'm not posting this to argue with people who think one plan is better than the other.  This is my journey.  I'm a total success with what I set out to do as far as a healthy lifestyle goes.  I will continue to do so for the rest of my life.  

Rock on!

December 2010 printable activity calendars

I'm ending 2010 by kicking some serious ass in terms of activity.  Serious in the world of Heather, that is. I've already started by starting a new spin bike cross training routine Thanksgiving week.  Yes, my butt is really hurting.  Just sitting here typing this message to you, I am very uncomfortable.  On a padded office chair.  (That's not a good sign as to how my evening ride will feel.)  Tonight's ride will be an hour long.  30 minutes longer than what I've ever done before.  My butt is screaming, "NO!!!!!!  What's WRONG with you, woman?" , but my mind is saying, "It's 30 minutes of my life.  I've been through worse.  I can do it!".  Plus, I really want my chart to say I rode 20 miles in one day. It might as well be today.  I borrowed a pair of my husband's super special gel padded (in the tush) bike shorts.  [Crossing my fingers they help a little....]  Why am I doing this & staying so very determined to finish the year strong? I'm running another race January 1st of 2011.  Finish 2010 strong....in order to start 2011 strong.  Speaking of races, I ended up running in 6 this year!  I'm aiming for 11 in 2011.  Already setting goals for next year.  But before I jump ahead of myself too much, I'd like to show you December's goals.  Read 'em & weep, peeps....

1) run 15-20 miles per week (getting back into training mode)
2) bike 50 miles per week (yikes!)
3) yoga 2 hours per week (gross...I hate yoga, but I need it)
4) stretch DAILY (for the sake of my poor hip)
5) have a super-fetch December! (enough said)

If you don't know what the word "fetch" is, you should really watch the movie Mean Girls.  Put it in your Netflix queue.  Before you do so, print yourself a December activity chart.  Peace out!

{santa}

Click here to print and/or download "Santa" chart.

{hanukah}

Click here to print and/or download the "hanukah" chart.

 

 

 

{the gingerbread house}

Click here to print and/or download "the gingerbread house".

 

{a christmas mouse}

Click here to print and/or download "a christmas mouse".

 

 

{add your own motivational image}

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

 

 

{plain jane}

Click here to print and/or download "plane jane".

December 2010 printable motivation (aka: the monthly calendar)!

Just thought I'd share the motivational calendar for the month...even if it is being posted a day late.  Better late than never!  Print it. Read it.  Be motivated to end this year healthier than you ended a few unmentionable previous years of your life.  I know I will. 

Click here to download and/or print the calendar!