Weight Loss Secrets

Ocean City Half Marathon/Anniversary Weekend Recap

2012-05-06T23:08:00.000-07:00

………………………….

I had the BEST. WEEKEND. EVER!!

Friday afternoon The Husband and I embarked on our 11th Anniversary weekend getaway to Ocean City, MD where I was registered to run a half marathon with my friend’s husband Bobby.

Here we are waiting at the start.

It was Bobby’s first Half but don’t let that fool you. He flew by me after mile 4 and demolished my time by almost 20 minutes.

Darn boys and their natural speed. lol

Here’s the video recap… Shaky again.. just be warned.

In case you don’t want to watch the whole thing here’s the last frame that shows my results.

That’s my best time ever! I’ve run 4 halves now…

05/2009 Zooma Half – 2:07:57 (First one!)

05/2010 Pittsburgh Half Marathon – 2:26:38 (Didn’t train for)

09/2011 Rock and Roll Half – 2:18:12 (Little Bean’s 6 month birthday!)

04/2012 Ocean City Half – 2:07:49

I may set a personal goal of running one under 2:00. That would be awesome!

After the run we threw our bathing suits on and hopped in the hotel’s indoor pool. It was so fun and relaxing. Other mom’s will totally understand this. Once you have kids you rarely get to swim in a pool without them. Scratch that, you rarely get to swim. It was pure joy. :)

Saturday night the four of us went out to dinner. Bobby was so sweet to surprise us with this…

Then is was off to Fagers Island!

There were "fingers"… (No, not that one. ;)

photobombs..

and just plain silliness.

Did I mention alcohol was involved. Umm yea.. a lot of alcohol. lol

We had a BLAST! Best night out in a long time.

Today we had breakfast and walked the boards. I can’t go to the beach without walking the boardwalk. It’s just not possible.

Little did I know it was the Maryland International Kite Expo!

They were gorgeous! I took some fun videos of them. Hoping to get one up on Poop Butterflies this week but right now I need sleep! Having fun takes a lot out of you! ;)

Hope you have a great weekend too!

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Cheesecake’s Most Wanted

2012-05-06T18:28:00.000-07:00

8:15 pm. Somebody bangin’ on my door with a heavy, closed fist like they’re the dang police and I am Most Wanted. It scared the hell outta me. I’m an outrage in at least 49 states, after all.

So I go to door. It’s a neighborhood kid begging cheesecake orders for her softball fundraiser.

“Emmm. Sure, kid. Put me down for a whole New York style cheesecake. And be quick about it. I’ve got more couch-assing to do.”

((writes check for $22 and hands to snot-nosed kid))

So yeah. When it gets here I’m gonna eat a slice (or two) and force the rest on others. Maybe freeze it and wait for a good time to share it as party food or something. It’s a very magical plan.

I’m not going to restrict other calories or over-do my workouts for the sake of a cheesecake slice eaten. Just gonna gnaw on the damn thing and keep it moving. It’s not a big freaking deal if a slice of cheesecake steps into my life amid salads and lean proteins and sweaty, hardcore workouts.

I don’t give greedy isolated incidents the power to think it can trainwreck my healthy lifestyle. I cannot be threatened. I’m the one in control. Decadent food and fitness can indeed co-exist when you look at it from the right perspective. Total restriction makes for a very boring life, and that is NOT the way I chose to live.

I am cheesecake’s most wanted (yippeeee!!!). You got a problem with that?

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Five reasons I still love me some Dr. Oz.

2012-05-06T14:55:00.000-07:00

Oh people. I love me some Dr. Oz, but Ive been burned before.

Allow me to elaborate.

I used to HEART me some Dr. Phil.

Back in the day, when he was merely an occasional guest on the Oprah Show, I was completely smitten with that man.

Id Dr. Phil myself myriad times a day (“Whats the WORST that could happen?”)

Id find myself creating my own wacky Phil’isms (“You see, if a monkey cant read upside down then you should take that job or he might get himself a down pillow!”).

Basically I thought he was smart, stern, wise, and no nonsense.

UNTIL HE GOT HIS OWN SHOW.

And then, for me at least, he swiftly went the way of the Springer.

So you can see why I was sad & not excited when my healthy living boyfriend, Mehmet fave Dr. Oz got his own television show.

It seems Oprah has the golden touch—unless said ‘touch’ involves bestowing upon you a 60 minute TV time-slot.

That said, for me and for *now*, Dr. Oz has escaped the Oprah Curse & is still is somewhat of ‘balanced’ healthy living role-model.

Allow me to share exactly why.

His information is clear, concise & easily understood. I recall seeing him asked once what one unhealthy food we should all completely avoid. I was nervous & curious what he’d say. Being an intuitive eater I practically define myself by the fact NOTHING is ‘off limits.” His answer? Anything white which is not a fruit or vegetable. Clear, concise, easily followed and YES, even for me, VERY TRUE.He is consistently empathic. And authentic. I can’t imagine he’s ‘acting’ or as he’d be on the stage/in the movies rather than hanging with us in the healthy living realm. He possesses an inimitable ability to relate to everyone & discover/find commonalities where there seemingly are none. All of my favorite bloggers possess this skill, too. It’s truly a gift.He’s firmly anti-multitasking. As I am. Admittedly I should watch his show more (I pinky swear I will when we procure us that extra hour in the day), but Ive heard him say repeatedly how important it is to do one thing at a time, finish that task, and then move on. Sure he paralleled this to his time as a surgeon (insert joke here he DID NOT MAKE about jumping from body to body mid-operation) but in my opinion this applies to all of us. I know when I multi-task I end up doing nothing well and rarely completing any task.He believes ‘fitness small stuff’ adds up. (PLAYouts anyone?) In the land where too many trainers & experts advocate long, lingering workouts it’s refreshing to hear him sing the praises of his 7 minute morning workout. I have nothing against long & lingering, I just know for many of us that isn’t an option. I also know I had many clients skip workouts because they didnt have a a full hour to dedicate to exercise. Im anti-SKIPPAGE.He validates my repetitiveness, err, consistency. My morning meal tends to be the same. I love my breakfast. It works well for me time-wise. Ive also heard him say people who eat the same things over & over (day in and out) consume fewer calories overall. Im not sure there’s science here (anyone?), yet I do agree with him when it comes to repetition! Change is good. We need to shake our ‘stuff up’ so we dont plateau, but it’s ok to have a place in your life where you dont. It’s fine to have an aspect of your life where you just LET GO AND GET ROUTINIZED! For me that place is my morning meal.

Im a firm believer in & tell anyone who will listen:

Find gurus! Read books! Buy magazines! Watch movies & television shows! Listen to doctors and professionals around you—but remember, in the last analysis, you are the expert of your own body.

One of the people I listen to/information-gather from is Dr. Oz.

Now you.

Do you love you some Mehmet as I do or have you, as many have, turned on The Oz?
In your mind has he been a victim of the dreaded Oprah TV Show CURSE?
Please to also tell me how much you ADORE I rock the 1980's photo-shop in the picture above.

Edited to say: I just saw on Twitter, where I procure all my information, The Dr Oz show is reviewing the JumpSport Fitness trampoline tomorrow! My yammerings of love above remain, even though The Tornado & I werent invited on the show to share our rebounding wisdom.

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GoPro-ing in the Sole of the City

2012-05-06T11:24:00.000-07:00

Happy mid-weekend guys! I normally don’t blog on Saturdays but I had to pop in and share my new toy…

After killing my phone during last years Zombie run and with the Tough Mudder fast approaching, I thought it was time to equip myself properly. My goal is to capture, archive, and most importantly, share my experience in events. I want you to see what I see.

After much research I decided the best way to do that is with the GoPro camera.

From the manufacturer..

GoPro cameras are used by more professional athletes, sports filmmakers and core enthusiasts than any other camera in the world. The HD HERO2: Outdoor Edition is the most advanced GoPro camera yet. Wearable and gear mountable, waterproof to 197' (60m), capable of capturing professional full 170º wide angle 1080p video and 11 megapixel photos at a rate of 10 photos per second, the HD HERO2 is the world’s most versatile camera. Whether your goal is to capture a great day out with friends or you’re gunning for the cover of a magazine, the HD HERO2: Outdoor Edition can help you nail it and look like a HERO.

I’m psyched! How much fun is this thing gonna be?!

It takes stills…

That’s me, sitting on my stoop, eating a banana, waiting for my ride to the event.

I left the setting on wide angle. I kind of like the fish eye effect.

But it also takes high quality video…

Now, I held the camera so please accept my apologies for the shakiness, especially at the end. I was booking it! :)

I have a head mount that came with the camera and I’m considering a chest one, but honestly, I like the control of holding it. It’s so darn small it doesn’t bother me at all. We’ll see. It’s probably going to depend on the event I’m running.

Overall it’s a fun little camera and I’m hopping to get some great footage to share on the blog. Let me know what you think of the video. That is if you can stomach the shakiness. I REALLY had fun grabbing clips and capturing my experience.

View the original article here

Video Product Review and Giveaway: Quaker Real Medley’s

2012-05-06T07:06:00.000-07:00

Quaker reached out and asked if I’d be willing to review their latest product: Real Medleys. Before agreeing I asked a few questions…

Can I have a little more information on the product before I agree. My readers are looking for natural and low calorie options. Do you have ingredient lists and the nutritional information?

They sent back…

I’m including the Nutrition label for the Cherry Pistachio flavor oatmeal. All of the oatmeal varieties range from 250 -290 calories. The ingredients are not on this label, but I included them for your reference below as well. Let me know if it sounds like something your readers would be interested in.
Thanks!
Ingredients: Whole Grain Rolled Oats, Dried Sweetened Cherries (Cherries, Sugar), Multi Grain Blend (Whole Grain Rolled Oats, Rolled Barley,Whole Grain Rolled Rye),Brown Sugar,Pistachios, Almonds, Nonfat Dry Milk,Whole Grain Rolled Wheat,Natural Flavor,Salt.
Contains: Wheat, Almond, Pistachio and Milk Ingredients

After seeing that I agreed! I get all excited when big brands make convenient products with real food.

Our shipment arrived last week and I, again, put Little Guy to work helping me review…

He’s such a goof ball!

Anyway, as I said/showed in the video, Quaker Real Medley’s com in 4 flavors: Apple Walnut, Summer Berry, Peach Almond and Cherry Pistachio. To cook just add water and microwave for 45 seconds. You can’t get much easier than that! They are tasty, satisfying and convenient. A great combination for busy mornings and I love that you could eat them in the car on the way to work.

On to the Giveaway!

Simply leave a comment below to be entered to win a sample of Real Medleys and a $75 gift card. I will randomly pick a commenter and announce next Wednesday. Prize can only be shipped to the USA. Sorry my international friends. :(

Good Luck!

Update: People are asking about price in the comments and I realized I only mentioned it in the video. They are $1.79 each. Compared to bulk oatmeal it’s pricey but you have to take into consideration the additional ingredients and convenience. As they say, “Fast, Good or Cheap. Pick two.” These definitely fall in the fast, good category. Hope that helps!

This post is sponsored by Quaker. All opinions expressed are my own.

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Listen to your mother show (AKA leaving the zone of comfy.)

2012-05-06T02:51:00.000-07:00

The show on Sunday was fantastic.

The rehearsal on Saturday? Not so much.

I could ramble on and on about precisely why (the podium felt weird, reading from a binder felt wonky blather blather blather), but the only important point is I left the rehearsal wishing I could back out.

I felt panicked in a way which Id never felt before.

I love getting up in front of people.

I’m a performer at heart.

I longed to feign illness.

Not only was the Listen to your mother show a departure from my comfort zone—-it was a tribute to the Tornado.

I wanted, more than practically anything before, it to go flawlessly because it was essentially an act of love.

For her.

And after Saturday morning I was a frazzled mess.

I spent Sunday morning reading and rereading my essay.

In front of the mirror. At the breakfast table. Attempting from memory in the shower. Alone in my bedroom.

Over and over and over.

Mid oneoftheovers I heard a timid knock at the door & the Tornado came into the room.

“Mama,” she said with the confidence of one who has done myriad presentations. “When youre reading just pretend it is only Dada and me in the audience.”

And, as trite as it sounds, I immediately knew it would all be ok.

Id stammer. Or I wouldnt.

Id get tripped up. Or Id read it just fine.

I’d not make it through because I’d be sobbing too hard. I’d appear detached because I was working *so* hard not to cry.

I knew no matter how I did—-it would be perfect enough.

After the show was over (when the video is youtube‘d you can see how it all went down) we went out to dinner as a family.

“I knew you could do it, Mama.“ The Tornado told me in her most serious of tones. “Good job. Now you know it, too.”

Today begins month number five of striving to live my priorities.

I think it’s a toss up between when Ive learned more about life and about myself: the past 42.75 years or the past five months.

I cant wait to see what the rest of 2012 has in store.

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A Very Detailed and Shocking Wednesday Weigh In

2012-05-05T23:15:00.000-07:00

That’s what the scale read this morning. Down 2.2 on my scale from last week.

However, yesterday I had my Body Composition analyzed at the gym. Once a quarter they offer a Bod Pod test. This is the first time I’ve done it. In a nutshell it told me I was fat.

NOT KIDDING.

Here’s the details:

%Fat: 31.7%%Fat Free Mass: 68.3%Fat Mass: 48.768 lbsFat Free Mass: 105.080 lbsBody Mass: 153.848Body Fat Rating: Excess Fat 30.1-40%

Honestly, I’m speechless. I mean I know I’m not skin and bones but still, I expected to be in the "Moderately Lean" category. I also expected this not to bother me, but it did. I swear I went through the 5 stages of grief.

Denial — At first I thought it must be a mistake. There’s no way I have over 30% Body fat. I workout. I run. I lift weights. I workout 6 days a week for pete’s sake! Anger — F* you Bod Pod. F* YOU! Bargaining —I’ll skip all carbs for a few days. Maybe that will help? I know, I won’t eat after 7. I’ll give up ice cream. I’ll up my workouts. I just need to____.Depression — Why bother. It’s useless. Why do I keep trying? What’s the point? Acceptance — Whatever! It’s a feakin’ number. Like the scale. Like my size. It is what it is. I’m healthy. I’m strong. I’m happy. I just have to keep doing what I’m doing!

In all seriousness, the number stung. It really did. I know my diet isn’t perfect and frankly, I don’t want it to be. I can’t imagine not sharing ice cream with my boys or making smores after a BBQ or getting popcorn at the movies. I know if I cut these types of things out of my diet completely I could lower the number on the scale and my overall fat percentage, but I’m not willing to give them up right now.

I’ll say what I said to myself when I started this journey 7 years ago… If I’m going to lose weight I need to do it on MY terms. I’m living the lifestyle I want and that is WAY more than half the battle.

View the original article here

Pregnancy? Or Hooker Heels?

2012-05-05T19:19:00.000-07:00

Pic via imgur.

So anyways, last night I dreamed I gave birth to a very large child — about the size of a 5-year-old. It was the most horrific dream I’ve ever had since last night. I refuse to get knocked up again. I ban extra pregnancies from my life and denounce it from the very depths of my uterus. Four dang kids is enough. No longer lending my womb like it’s a cocoon. My body belongs to me now.

And yes, I did buy me some sexy hooker heels last week to compliment the awesome legs I’m sculpting (pic coming soon). Hooker heels and pregnancy don’t match, which is why I own the heels now.

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My Monday in Food Photos

2012-05-05T15:08:00.000-07:00

I thought it would be fun to photo food journal today. I wanted a bit of extra accountability after my fun, indulgent weekend.

I decided to start the day with a nice glad of water and a grapefruit. I wasn’t really hungry but I didn’t want to skip breakfast.

Late morning I cooked up the most amazing soup out of some stock I made on Friday. I was hoping to get it up on GreenLiteBites today but I just ran out of time. Tomorrow, I promise. :)

Lunch was more soup and a hard boiled egg sandwich on a whole wheat bun. Notice the husband’s snack of choice in the background. lol

Afternoon snack.

Bean had some too. :)

Another afternoon snack.

An after school snack. Cucumber slices smeared with the Laughing Cow and turkey pepperoni.

Dinner was a mish mosh of leftovers. I had beans, broccoli and leftover chicken tenders from takeout.

Finally, and I almost forgot, an apple smeared with a bit of almond butter.

That’s all I have in me tonight. I’m off to bed. Tomorrow’s an early morning work out day!

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Clean Eating Lunchtime Combo (it’s easy to do ya’ll)

2012-05-05T12:02:00.000-07:00

Lunchtime a la Josie

Check out my homemade, clean eating lunchtime combo: Seasoned, roasted chicken breast and a lightly salted, baked sweet potato.

…because I’m pseudo-fancy like that — not all the way fancy, because I forgot to sprinkle cinnamon onto the ‘tater.

But anyways, I prepared everything the night before and packed it up to feed my stomachs for lunch. It’s a protein/fiber powerhouse that’ll keep you full and energized, and your sexy bawwdy on the lean side. And yep, this combo is only around 375 calories, so I had room left over for a fist-full of popcorn (I have Hulk-sized fists, just take a look for yourself) and a tasty Shakeology Cookie. As if I’d skip out on dessert?

Clean eating makes me feel all powerful ‘n stuff.

It’s easy to eat this way and keep your fatty parts on meltdown when you plan ahead. Food planning is super important to your weight loss goals, so don’t you be lollygagging about pre-planning your meals.

Plan those meals, or else!!!

Don’t make me come after you if you’re failing to plan. I possess stalker-vision and will most certainly use it. O_0

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Cold Stone Creamery’s Frozen Yogurt Creations and Yogurt Shakes. You MUST!

2012-05-05T07:30:00.000-07:00

Strawberry Crumble Vanilla Frozen Yogurt: that’s what I sank my teeths into. (side note: “teeths” is plural for “teef”) Their Yogurt Creations and Yogurt Shakes came out in Feb 2012, but I hear only for a limited time. Don’t ya hate feeling limited ‘n stuff?

You better high tail your booty cheeks on over to the Creamery so you can indulge in a treat that’s delectable and tasty, yet downright sensible. I was NOT a Cold Stone fan until I tasted these new yogurt-thingies. Now I’m going back for more. They better get ready to feed me on repeat.

Yogurt Creations

Strawberry Crumble: Dreamy Vanilla Yogurt mixed with juicy Strawberries and Graham Cracker Pie CrustChocolate Banana Indulgence: Gratifying Chocolate Yogurt mixed with fresh Bananas and rich FudgeBerries Upon Berries: Luscious Raspberry Yogurt mixed with sweet Strawberries and Blueberries

Yogurt Shakes

Shake Them Berries: Divine Vanilla Yogurt blended with sweet, juicy Strawberries, Raspberries and BlueberriesPowered By Chocolate: Enticing Chocolate Yogurt blended with rich Fudge

The breakdown of my Strawberry Crumble Creation went like this:

Vanilla Frozen Yogurt: 170 calories (size small)Graham Cracker Pie Crust Crumbles mix-in: 180 caloriesStrawberries mix-in: 20 calories

My stomachs took in 370 calories of dessert-lovin’ delight. If you pick the same one I did, you can always ask the creations-maker to go easy on the graham crumbles to reduce the calorie count, but hell naw if I’m doing that.

See Cold Stone’s Frozen Yogurt Nutrition info and Cold Stone’s Mix-ins Nutrition info so you can tally your calorie (…hey, that rhymes) before you get there. And don’t you go ordering size large unless you are the infamous Dark Overlord of Greediness. You heard of ‘em?

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Do you make time for YOUR second wave?

2012-05-05T03:27:00.000-07:00

We love our morning bus stop time.

Today it is eight months since the Tornado started the Garten of the Kinder.

Some days it feels as though she’s always been in school, but most days I still miss my sidekick.

I pine (yep. dropping the p-word.) so much I had a fleeting notion we mightcould need more children up in herre.

(Ill let you digest that for a moment)

Beyond the fact Im older than the hills Ill be 43 in three months, I realize it’s HER I miss.

Her spirit. Her spunk. Her attitude.

But I digress.

Seriously.

That’s not what this post is about.

Lets return to the morning bus stop time pictured above.

We. Have. The. Best. Morning. Routine. Ever.

We’re early risers so we’ve plenty of time to do our ‘morning necessities’ and still git our PLAYout on.

We jump rope. We Skip It. We play tag. We play duck duck goose. You get the idea.

By the time the bus arrives it practically feels as though we’ve had an entire day together (we up EARLY).

Because of this, when the Tornado asks as the bus arrives: can you stay for the second wave? I panic a bit in my too-long-to-do-list-must-get-to-work-bus-comes-BACK-at-330p heart.

You see, the second wave requires I stand & wait while the bus loops around, picks up other kids, and when as it passes again Im there.

To wave.

For a second time.

I’m not embarrassed to say (even with my off-track yammerings about missing her) most days my answer is no.

I skip the second wave so I can work.
I pass on the second opportunity to flail my arms to return emails.
I give her a shrug & a sorry so I can begin my writing a mere 5 minutes earlier.

And, each time I tell her NO, she says “OK Mama!” & climbs on the bus.

No whining. No pouting. No glimpse of the two and three year old whose meltdowns very nearly wore me out.

And this made me happy. And proud. And think how amazingly grown-up & mature she’d become.

Until it occurred to me, on the 123rd day of living my priorities, the mom who skipped the second wave was not who I aspired be this year.

Do I really need a five minute head start on work? (No. I fritter away more than that during my day. I can steal the 5 minutes back from somewhere else.)

Is anything I “need” to do during the day more important than stopping, waiting & waving one more time when I know in a few short years she’ll be *begging* me not to do the first wave?

The answer, for me, is a resounding no.

Im aware how fortunate I am to work from home (& if I forget my troll informs me. she be helpful that way).

Im up-at-the-crack working & up late at night writing—yet I have the luxury of being able to live my priorities.

Today, day 124, these priorities include starting to stay for the second wave.

Im also closing the comments.

I know the collective-you dont adore that, yet I also know when they’re open people feel compelled or obligated to leave some thoughts.

I’d much rather you snag those same five minutes and spend them on your second wave.

Whatever form said ‘wave’ takes in your life.

View the original article here

More Hours Please

2012-05-04T23:43:00.000-07:00

I’m having a rough day. The Husband and I are out of sync which sucks because we had such an awesome weekend. I’ve been having technical problems holding me back from accomplishing a few things. And the conference is really starting to ramp up with new (fun but stressful) things happening daily.

I can’t seem to catch up and things just. keep. getting. piled. on.

*deep breath*

I don’t want to admit it but attempting to get anything done at home with this little guy is proving almost impossible anymore.

He’s lucky he’s so darn cute!

I kid but I find myself yet again torn between working and just hanging out with Little Bean. I feel so lucky and so grateful to be home with him but I’m not getting what I need to get done. Sometimes It takes me days if not weeks to get back to emails and frankly, I feel like I’m working around the clock. (side note: so is the husband, hence our disconnect. :(

I even missed my workout this morning. First time in months that has happened but I couldn’t wake up even though I went to bed early.

I’m tired.

This month Bean will be starting day care twice a week and I’m again struggling with guilt.

Guilt that I’m shipping him off and I’ll be home.

Guilt that it costs so much.

Guilt that I just can’t manage it.

There it is.

I’m mad at my self for not being able to do it all.

Typical. huh?

In other news…

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A Sensational Secret Agent Sunday

2012-05-04T18:49:00.000-07:00

This morning started bright and early with a Tough Mudder session. Normally it’s Saturday mornings but yesterday I ran the Sole of the City 10k so moved a few things around.

We met at 6:30 this morning and it was great! I’ll post a little more about it tomorrow. I recorded 1 fun video and snapped this photo in the car before heading home.

oh and yup. I joined Instagram. FINALLY now that it’s on the Droid. To be honest, I’m still trying to figure it all out. I’m more of a web girl than a phone girl and it’s more app based than I’m used to.

When I got home Ryan greeted me at the door all excited. He said I needed to see his "messy room." I told him we would be cleaning today and his room was a total disaster.

I could tell by the way he was acting that he already did it and I was so proud of him. Here it was barely 8AM and he woke up, cleaned his room and got dressed all while The Husband and Little Bean slept.

We had breakfast. I know it’s weird but I had leftovers.

Nothing else sounded good and I was out of eggs. :(

We had a good morning. Little Bean wasn’t feeling 100% so we just chilled a little.

Then it was down to business. The boys organized clothes….

while I cleaned the bathrooms.

After cleaning the upstairs and starting the laundry it was lunch time.

The Husband and Little Bean were both napping so it was just us. I had a leftover Salmon burger and Little Guy had leftover chinese food.

In the afternoon Little Guy and I had a Special Agent Birthday party to attend. We left the 2 sleepy heads at home watching soccer.

Our instructions said to arrive in disguise.

That is Cheetah Boy. We made the mask a few weeks ago and he’s been wearing it almost daily.

Once we arrived additional disguises were supplied.

There was Secret Agent Training,

code decoding,

and many other agent duties. It was a great party. Perfect for 15 – 7 year olds and so creative. They even had a homemade bomb shaped birthday cake!

I was planning on hitting the grocery store on the way home but honestly, I just didn’t have it in me. I’ll go sometime during with week. It was raining and cold and I was TIRED.

Instead we came home and planned our Sunday Picnic. I made a fun pizza in honor of Cheetah Boy…

The Boys played in the living room they just cleaned.

Little Bean finally decided to join us.

He slept most of the day but boy did he need it. I think his molars are really coming in. His drool’s been like a faucet, he was running a slight temp, and he was uncharacteristically GRUMPY!

This week our Sunday movie was The Lost World: Jurassic Park. We watched. We folded.

We played.

We annoyed the cat.

It was a great day. :)

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I’m Here! (And I brought along a “60 Minutes Australia” link)

2012-05-04T15:43:00.000-07:00

I apologize for my absence. Clearly, I can’t blog and learn medical terminology, medical nutrition therapy, employment law, and the names of bacteria, viruses and tapeworms that cause food borne illnesses (which I can thank for my newly acquired hand washing compulsion) at the same time.
I feel like I’m in boot camp for the left-brain inept. Geez-oh-man… Summer offers no breaks, either. I just registered for five weeks of chemistry and lab and 10 weeks of algebra. And as if THAT won’t be enough fun, I’m registered for biochemistry and advanced algebra in the fall. Like my advisor said, “You know how to party.”

So if I’m not here much between now and winter break, I’m probably drooling in a corner somewhere begging to read Jane Austen.

Oh, I kid! Life’s not been all work and no “weigh.” My jeans are looser and my legs are stronger. I’m still committed to my food plan, exercise, meditation, and the people who keep me sane.

Here’s a bit of a summary:

Daughter Carlene and Boyfriend Ben got engaged! (No, it’s not a shotgun wedding. Carlene’s holding baby Mae in that picture.) Wedding date TBD, but next April seems likely.
Grandbaby Mae rode in my Jeep for the first time since being able to legally sit facing forward. My stepson Andrew moved into his dorm. He’s studying filmmaking at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh. It’s good to have the boy so close. Claire helped.
Andrew’s brain food. When he was younger, we called him “Cereal Boy.”
I ate at bd’s Mongolian Grill with BF and his son a few weeks ago for the first time. Yum!
Got the bike in to the shop for a much needed tune up. I upgraded her seat and pack, too. Comfy seat means longer rides. Longer rides means I have to pack more stuff than just a cell phone and Kleenex. I also went to see the Moody Blues with Larry (my ex-husband, for those of you who aren’t familiar with his name). Larry and I have seen the Moodies 9 times in 15 years, and it was at one of their concerts that I felt the weight of my 300 pounds more profoundly than ever before, and that feeling contributed to my decision to finally lose weight for the last time.
It was 2003. The Moodies were playing a concert in a casino in West Virginia. Larry and I checked into the hotel, played a few slots, had dinner, and then about an hour before the show, went to the lobby to wait for the shuttle that would take us to the concert venue. A few other concert goers began to gather, too, when Larry nudged me and whispered, “Look to your left.”
Standing next to me was Moody’s front man Justin Hayward, whose music is the soundtrack of my life. I don’t remember a time I didn’t know “Nights In White Satin,” “Tuesday Afternoon,” or “Question.” When I need to remember to believe in myself, I listen to “The Voice.” And the song “Forever Autumn”… Gets me every time. Justin’s shoulder was no further than a foot from mine. I wanted to say hello and to thank him for the gift his music had been to my life. Then I remembered I had 57-inch hips and I said nothing. At the concert, I sat in the second row, regretting all the choices that had brought me to such disappointment in myself. Disappointment not only in my size, but disappointment for feeling so unworthy as to not thank someone who’d contributed such depth of feeling to my life. I recall that unworthiness every time I see the Moody Blues, and each time, I vow that if I ever stand next to Justin Hayward again, I will tell him – no matter what I look like – “Thank you.” My former body and the me who occupied it continue to be the source of my determination. I would dishonor she who was me by giving up the fight, because she is the one who thought enough about herself to start that march down the scale. ??David Ballment, Richard Malone, me, Howard Sacre, Liam BartlettWhich leads me to the “60 Minutes Australia” piece I participated in. It aired last weekend and I just now had the courage to watch it. I’m OK with my part in it, but what surprised me was the almost defeatist attitude of the Australian researcher, Professor Joe Proietto. (Liam Bartlett is the “60 Minutes” correspondent.)
LIAM BARTLETT: So if we’re not completely obsessive, we’re just leading a normal life, we’ll probably put the weight back on? JOE: Yep, yep. And that certainly explains the experience of all of us who treat obesity – that it’s a difficult thing. Not so much to get the weight off but the failure rate after a few years is very, very high. Thank goodness for, Dr. Rena Wing from Brown University, one of the researchers at the Weight Control Registry, of which I and many maintainers are a part. RENA: The Melbourne study was a very small study and I think that’s a very pessimistic message for viewers and listeners to hear because we know that many people are able to be successful at weight loss and so…LIAM BARTLETT: It may be pessimistic but is it reality?RENA: Ah, I don’t think it is. On average they’ve lost about 30 kilograms and they’ve kept it off about six years. One of the interesting things is that they report that they have tried many times before to lose weight unsuccessfully but this time they got it right okay.LIAM BARTLETT: So what was the difference?RENA: What they say is “this time I was more committed to behaviour change and this time physical activity was a bigger part of my regimen than it was in other approaches.”

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Epic Week of Fitness

2012-05-04T10:58:00.000-07:00

If you think you can’t have a flat stomach. Think again.

If you believe your legs will never be lean and sculpted. You’re sadly mistaken.

If you’re convinced your fatty parts won’t melt away. You need to think again.

Can’t? Never? Won’t?

Screw all that defeatest nonsense. You’re the one in control.

Commit to making this week an epic week of fitness. Only YOU can make change happen.

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No flipping time for fitness.

2012-05-04T06:02:00.000-07:00

I need more ideas or a smaller jar.

Ive ranted ad nauseum about how my workouts are brief.

The thing is, whether your workout du jour is 2 hours or 20 minutes, it *still* requires you find.the.time.

What about those days where, no matter what you do, life conspires to steal your exercise time away?

Or the days where, despite valiant efforts, every.single.thing. goes wrong as you strive to steal some YOUtime? (not that Id know anything about that one).

I give you my 5 best tips for days when the world seems to be against finding time for a full-on traditional workout.

With special emphasis & “try this! try this!” for numbers 3 and 5.

1. Meditate. Too often we view meditation as an act which requires tremendous time commitment (not to mention oodles of preparation). This does not have to be the case. Steal two or three minutes to stop, pause, unplug, and just be still. Use this time to wholly focus on releasing tension and capturing the same feelings you have after a challenging, sweat-producing workout.

2. Help others. Nothing makes us feel better than a good ole case of Helpers High. No time to volunteer traditionally? Email a struggling friend a note of encouragement. Heading out for coffee? Take a moment to see if you can bring anyone else a cup. Hold the door for someone. Heck, even a simple smile can be a kind act which changes someone’s day—and makes YOU feel better, too.

3. Laugh. (Or, if you’re me some days a tough customer in a grumpy mood, at least smile) Take a moment and grab whatever it is that makes you giggle. A silly movie. A television sit-com or even phone a funny friend. While exercise is fantastic for us laughter also serves as a powerful stress reducer. A good guffaw relieves physical tension (for up to 45 minutes!), can help boost your immune system, increases your blood flow (always good for reducing heart attack risk!), releases those endorphins we all seek and burns approximately 100 calories per twenty minutes!

4. Take full, deep breaths. When we are stressed (as we can be on the days life steals our workout time) we shift to shorter, shallower breaths. This manner of breathing causes fatigue, increased stress, and is even correlated with triggering anxiety/panic attacks. If time forces you to skip your workout make the time to stop and focus on your breathing pattern. Check out your posture. Don’t slump or hunch which encourages shallow breathing. Inhale and exhale deeply. Allow your abdomen to move as you breathe. Slow frequency of breaths. I’ve found breathing in for 4 seconds, holding for 2 seconds, and then breathing out for 4 seconds provides me stress relief which can rival my recumbent biking.

5. Create a fitness jar. No time for a full-fledge workout? Make today when you finally create a fitness jar. Snag some scraps of paper & write down as many non-gym workout ideas as you can think of (skating, hula hooping, exercise DVDs, jump rope, walking, basket ball, playground time, biking, pogo-sticking are but a few). Even if you dont have time for the workout TODAY you’re now all set up for success for the next time life has you harried.

Whats your approach when life gets in the way of fitness?

Do you chalk it up to a rest day or try, as I do, and fight back with “creative” fitness?

Would you be annoyed with me if I lovingly remind you 30 minutes of movement is only TWO PERCENT of your day?

please to hit us up with your suggestions, tips & whinings in the comments below.

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To those who can’t run, ride!

2012-05-04T02:17:00.000-07:00

Hello Mizfit-ers. Thanks for letting me hang out with you guys today. I’m Morgan and I blog at Life After Bagels.

I write about everything health related – food, fitness, I do some recipes, I chat about meal planning, budgeting … oh and studying. I’m a mature student.

One of my favourite “healthy” things to do is cycling. I’m new to it, but man I love it. This will be my third summer with my bike. I call him Jason Bourne. (Yeah I seriously named my bike. Serious. And for the record my boyfriend has the same bike as me and has named it Ted Dibiase) … moving along …

Have you ever read a blog and fell victim to workout envy? When I first started blogging I thought that I was supposed to run. Everyone was running it, so I did it too. But my knees suck. They weren’t made for pounding the pavement. I kept having dreams of running a marathon but couldn’t get my mileage up to even run a 5k. I top out at about 2k before my knees just give up.

I used to get upset. Why was everyone else running and training and racing?

And then I found cycling.

Hallelujah!!!

Cycling is way easier on the body and it gives you a major workout.

I use my bike for exercising, commuting, running errands, and for fun! My bike is a hybrid which means it’s tires are “in between.” They’re skinnier than mountain bike tires but fatter than road bike tires. It’s perfect for going to between our pothole ridden roads and gravel or dirt paths. Last summer I challenged myself to find new paths to ride on around my city. Toronto is a HUGE bike city. More than half of Torontonians are cyclists.

This year I get to join the most famous ride in our city. I’m so excited to be participating in the Heart and Stroke Foundation’s Ride for Heart fundraiser. On June 3rd I’ll be riding 75 km in the name of fighting heart disease and stroke. My fundraising goal is $1000. It’s a biggie! If heart health is important to you I would be so very appreciative of a donation towards my big ride

CLICK TO DONATE

Thanks for letting me invade your internet today. I hope you’ll check me out over at Life After Bagels or visit me on Facebook or Twitter.

So … holla if you’re a cyclist! What do you use your bike for? Anyone getting a bike for the first time this summer?

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It’s BADMINTON time, Baby!

2012-05-03T21:42:00.000-07:00

I yammered lovingly on Monday about how I adore our morning routine.

Active play is a huge part of what I love about our trio & since we’re all morning people we tend to git our PLAYouts on before school rather than after.

Additionally, asolutely nothing sets me up for a better day than belly-laughing at how flipping uncoordinated I am some movement as a family.Some of our PLAYouts are sweaty-active like the SKIP IT.

Others are more, uh, games of strategy (oooh brain fitness) like the below:

(disclaimer: yes I am wielding a marshmallow gun. in this highly organic morning PLAYout one of us shoots said ‘mallow gun in the air whilst the other 2 run around & attempt to catch plummeting ‘mallow with mouth. I am nothing if not a healthy living role model.)

Yesterday morning’s PLAYout was, to my tremendous surprise, the mac daddy of them all (to completely misuse a dated phrase): BADMINTON.

We grabbed the rackets & birdie pretty much ONLY because they were blocking the back door on a whim & yet quickly discovered how, for us, badminton is PLAYout perfection.

Allow me to share why:

There are rules, but we dont need no stinkin’ rules. As a family we like to stick to athletic endeavors where there are very few rules and regulations. We’ve learned through trial & error this works best for us. We have more fun. We waste LESS TIME debating proper protocol. We get RIGHT TO THE PLAYout & squeeze in more activity. Sure there exist hard & fast badminton rules but, really, who knows them offhand? We just hit the birdie back and forth. No out of bounds, or point system, or (if youre us) net.Anywhere works. We are rebels. We play STREET ‘MINTON (we neither endorse nor advocate this). The older two of our “we” recall playing lots of badminton at cookouts with and without nets. Pretty much anywhere from an empty parking lot, gymnasium or playground to a fancy grassy court will do!It’s working out without noticing you’re exercising. Hence the fact the three of us deemed it PLAYout perfection. You squat, you lunge, you run, you work on hand/eye coordination, you focus on balance, you tax your core as you LAUGH & attempt to keep the birdie aloft as you do so. It’s full body exercise your brain wont register as working out. This fact is always a WIN in my book.It’s inexpensive. Indeed badminton has been an Olympic sport since 1992, but let’s be honest none of us are headed that way. Our “set” is from the Dollar Store. It sat outside in the rain, and Texas sun for months before we FINALLY decided to give it a try and it STILL worked just fine for our needs.

(The Tornado is very proud of the posed pic above)

Now you.

When was the last time you played badminton? Was it an adult-organized game or more of the renegade Street ‘Minton (shhhh) we played?
And, if it’s been EONS or never since you’ve ‘mintoned, are you now sufficiently motivated to snag you a set at your local Dollar Store?

please to table the shuttlecocks & hit us all up in the comments below.

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Tags: family fitness, laughing, PLAYouts

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Weekend Quote: Clearly Defined Goals and My Anniversary

2012-05-03T16:58:00.000-07:00

By the time you read this I’ll probably be in Ocean City! Tomorrow, April 28th, is The Husband’s and my 11th Anniversary.

wow.

We’ve been together as a couple now for 17 years. SEVENTEEN YEARS.

I feel old.

In those 17 years we’ve built quite the life together.

There’s no doubt I’m the catalyst. The Husband tends to be a more content person then I. He’s been working the same job since college. I’ve had 4 plus now my own Business. He wants to eat the same thing at the same restaurant every time we go out. I’m constantly looking for new places and new dishes. He wears pretty much the same clothes and even has the same hairstyle since college. I, well, let’s just say I’ve changed, a lot, my hair, my clothes, even my body. Honestly, I think he’d probably still be living in the same apartment if it wasn’t for me pushing for us to move and buy a house.

I guess you can say I’m the goal orientated one.

“In the absence of clearly-defined goals, we become strangely loyal to performing daily trivia until ultimately we become enslaved by it.”
Robert Heinlein

That quote says it all for me. I don’t do well in the daily minutiae of life. I thrive off “the next thing.” I need to see something in my future or I start to feel stagnant, bored and depressed.

This is a blessing and a curse.

There’s no doubt I wouldn’t be where I am in life if it wasn’t for my goals but it’s hard for me to feel content. I recognize it in myself and it’s something I’m working on. The Husband helps. A lot.

Even though I get frustrated at his lack of motivation and foresight (seriously, he’s even the worst grocery shopper EVER because he can’t think passed what he wants to eat that day) I also, in a weird way, admire it. We are polar opposites and it works for us.

I push him. He grounds me.

Here we are 11 years ago on our Honeymoon.

I think he looks exactly the same. I barely recognize myself.

Ok, enough reminiscing. I have to go pack! We are leaving in a few hours and tomorrow is the OC Half Marathon. I’ll be back Monday with a full recap! My goal is to run it in 2:15 and record the experience on the gopro but I’ll be content with any time. ;)

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Food Trap Alert! Voskos Greek Yogurt, Dr. Praegers Sweet Potato Pancakes and Dole Fruit Smoothie Shakers

2012-05-03T13:08:00.000-07:00

Voskos Greek Yogurt: Huh? Who? What’s this yogurt? Can it compete with that big dawg, Chobani? Voskos is thick & silky. Tastes pretty good, too. But it has less fruit chunks than Chobani and a bit more tangy tartness on the taste buds. That tang actually points to less sugar, but it also has less protein than Chobani. Voskos is nice and fancy with the “no GMO’s and no artificial hormones” hoopla, so why the hells does strawberry flavor contain modified corn starch? It’s more than likely used as a thickening agent. Because it can’t get thick on it’s own? Modified corn starch is like Viagra for yogurt. Be careful because the Voskos label warns that the product “contains milk”. Are there really people out there with such deep levels of stupid that they can’t figure that out?

Price Paid: $1.50, Calories 120, Fat Cal 0, Total Fat 0g, Sodium 50mg, Carbs, 16g, Fiber 0g, Sugars 15g, Protein 12g

Dr. Praeger’s Sweet Potato Pancakes: Excuse me, but no. These are not the kind of cakes you drench in a tsunami of syrup. These cakes are made for healthy snacking, a light meal, side-dishing, or something along those lines. They’ve won a place in my stomachs that can’t be beat by any other sweet potatoe-ish packaged product. They’ll remind you of a hash brown. Nice and hearty, too. Just bake it up for a few minutes on each side and begin to bask in tasty clean eating gone all kinds of wonderfully right. The fine list of acceptable ingredients is “Sweet Potatoes, Egg Whites, Potato Flakes, Onions, Expeller Pressed Canola Oil, Arrowroot, Brown Sugar, Salt, Pepper”. Ahhhh. Now go. Go enjoy some for yourself.

Price Paid $4.29, Calories 80, Fat Cal 20, Total Fat 2g, Sodium 140mg, Carbs 12g, Fiber 1g, Sugars 6g, Protein 2g

Dole Fruit Smoothie Shakers: This is a “fruit & yogurt kit” that you pour juice into. Then you shake it up and it transforms into a smoothie. No blender required. The concept is great, but there’s too many gray area variables that can screw with the final result. My freezer is apparently freezier than the one at the store. I had to semi-thaw out the contents before it would even shake & mix. You pour the juice of your choice up to the “fill zone” before shaking. I did that. But the shake tasted more like the juice than anything else. It did achieve an impressive smoothie consistency, but overall, it’s not a win. People who don’t usually do smoothies might think the world of Fruit Smoothie Shakers, but if you’re a smoothie-making connoisseur like I am, it might just piss you off.

Price Paid: $3.99, Calories 90 (w/o juice), Fat Cal 20, Total Fat 2g, Sodium 35mg, Carbs 17g, Fiber 3g, Sugars 23g, Protein 3g

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Wordless Wednesday: RIP Rosa.

2012-05-03T10:03:00.000-07:00

Rodeo.

Home.

4-24-12

Resting place.

RIP

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Tags: goldfish

Sorry, I could not read the content fromt this page.

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Ghetto Grillin’

2012-05-03T05:38:00.000-07:00

{photo credit}

So let this be an example to ya. Whether it’s ghetto grillin’ or getting fit once and for all, if you want it bad enough you’ll find a way to get it done.

Raise those hands if you won’t let obstacles crush your fitness goals this week. Raise ‘em high!!!!

(…on second thought, after careful consideration, this may not be ghetto grillin’. There’s too much green grass and some woods out back. Let’s call it hillbilly grillin’ instead.)

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Ninja Fusion Circuit (Home Workout #6), plus My Eating Snapshot For Today

2012-05-03T01:00:00.000-07:00

My morning workout is done. This is how it went down.

NINJA FUSION CIRCUIT (after a thorough warm up)

50 reps Tuck Jumps (gah!)40 reps Abs on the floor20 reps Jump Kick, left20 reps Jump Kick, right5 reps Dive Bomber push ups (killer!)5 mins Kickboxing Intervals: 45 secs boxing / 15 secs high knee jog

Completed circuit 3 times: total time approximately 30 minutes. I am Ninja. Hear me R-O-A-R!

Tuck Jumps Demo

Dive Bomber demo

And gotta top off all that well earned fitness-funk with healthy eats all day long. Here’s what I’m eating today…

BREAKFAST GRUBBIN’: Tropical Shakeology in the blender with 1 cup water, 1 ripe banana, 6 frozen strawberries

MID-MORNING SNACKAGE: Nope. Never hungry for morning snack (thank you, Shakeology).

LUNCHTIME FEEDING: Steamed broccoli, baked sweet potato with nutmeg & cinnamon, no butter. Pack of Belvita golden oat biscuits.

MID-AFTERNOON FORAGING: Greek yogurt with fresh blueberries, plus coffee with cream, no sugar (around 4pm).

PRE-DINNER SNACK ATTACK: Godzilla-sized handful of organic tortilla chips with salsa.

DINNER FRO DOWN: Roasted chicken with vegetables and big ass piece of cornbread. Yesss!

EVENING COUCH-ASSING: Cup of mint green tea with Stevia. Bowl of cereal (maybe).

Recommended Grocery List

Make your fitness and eating choices count! Today brings you one day closer to achieving your goals!

XO,

Josie

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April Podcast: Finding Your Own Plan, Core Hurt Feelings, Helping a Family Member Lose, My Scale

2012-05-02T20:28:00.000-07:00

This month’s podcast may be the last I do in this format. I’m hoping to shift to a "live show" in May! We’ll see I’m *this* close to figuring everything out.

That being said, this week I babble on as usual. There’s a doorbell, an echo in my empty office and a synching issue. By far not my best podcast. :(

Topics this month include…

Blogs I followFinding Your Own PlanCore Hurt FeelingsHelping a Family Member LoseMy Scale

Links mentioned in video in order…

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