Dear Self

Weekends in Detroit are a bad idea.  I don't know how we're going to get around this issue seeing as how we'll need to be there frequently over the next few months, but we need to formulate {and stick to} a better plan in order to survive.  We have been working really hard the last 7 weeks and we just throw it all away as soon as we arrive in the mitten, and really, we know better than that.

That heaviness you feel isn't just the crap you ate, it's guilt, but this isn't a reason to chuck the whole rest of the week out the window.  There are 3 full days of eating and exercise left until weigh in and it is inexcusable to give up now.

Drink water.  Eat 27 points per day ONLY.  Run like the wind.  Don't give up.

Sincerely,

Girl Who Still Wants to Lose 6 More Pounds

Thursday Weigh Day

Happy to report that I'm down 2.2 pounds!  Current weight is 156.

Now, if I can refrain from continuing to stuff my face after a very long, very stressful day, maybe I can weigh in at my lowest to date next week!

Silent Goal

While I've been hoping to be able to actually RUN in this half marathon I keep talking about, they way I felt at about 2:15 into one of my 3 minute jogs on my training made me skeptical that I would ever achieve it.

Last night at the gym, on an ordinary treadmill, I hit one of my silent goals. Week 4, Day 1 of my training called for not one but TWO 5 minute long jogs, each after a 3 minute jog and some rest. And I did it without giving up.  I didn't rest my hands on the treadmill.  I didn't jump off to catch my breath.  In fact, I was pretty impressed with my breathing overall!   This is the same person who could barely breathe after a minute of running 4 weeks ago!

I finally got to that level of feeling that I keep reading about on the motivational signs on Pinterest.  Like running was exactly what I needed to conquer my bad day, release all my stress, and get me to the kind of healthy I want to be.  It was incredible!

Between 50 minutes of Zumba and 2.0 miles of run/walking {16 minutes total of running!!}, I ended the day with 13,342 steps and 13 earned activity points!  And today, I still feel amazing, even if I was up at 6am with my 3 year old needing to use the potty.

My reward for my silent goal is going to be fit for a purchase a new pair of running shoes!  Brand spanking new, clean ones!  {The ones I run in now are 5 year old Asics that I was professionally fit for at Roadrunner when we lived in San Diego!}

Can't wait!

New Favorite Lunch

I have already admitted my addiction to Feta cheese.  I use it on salads, in sandwhiches, and now in my new favorite lunch.  It's quick, easy, and filling!  I really would eat three helpings of this every day if I wasn't working on my self control problem.  It's that delicious!


Spicy Chicken Sausage with Spinach, Mushrooms and Feta:
1 Serving = 5 WW+ Points

• Trader Joe's Spicy Chicken Sausage {Or any kind of chicken sausage you prefer - points may vary}
• 1 tsp I Can't Believe It's Not Butter
• 3 Cups Organic Spinach
• 1 Cup Sliced Button Mushrooms
• 1 oz Feta Cheese {President Feta is only 1pt for 1oz}

Heat sausage in pan according to directions.  Remove and slice into chunks.  Add 1tsp butter to pan, sautee spinach and mushrooms.  When almost completely wilted, add chicken chunks to pan.  Finish cooking.  Plate it up, and toss with feta while still hot.  

Enjoy!

A Confession and A Compliment

Confession: I dove headfirst off the wagon at the Superbowl party. 

No one pushed me, there wasn't a bump or anything.  I saw Salmon Artichoke Dip and I just willingly dove head first off the wagon.  I really stayed pretty close to good, despite the 2.5 cookies I ended the night with.  I dipped veggies in the dip instead of crackers -- that counts for something, doesn't it?  I also stuck close to my homemade, baked chicken nuggets, but the buffalo sauce I made was just too good, so I ate a lot of them. 

No regrets.  I had a good time.  I ate good food.  And I'm working out every day until weigh in.

I got a really nice compliment at MOPS today.  We were discussing our ages, and I was asked what mine was.  I asked them to guess, and the reply was "26".  TWENTY SIX was almost 7 years ago, as I'll be 33 next month.  It was a really nice compliment and really helped perk up my day. 

I even remembered it mid-run on the treadmill tonight when I was thisclose to giving up before my second 3 minute run was over.  It definitely helped.  :)

I peeked.

I've been hard core point counting since my week flipped on Thursday, and this morning I felt the overwhelming urge to check my progress for 3 days work (one of those days included an Insanity work out).  I have been faithfully trying not to weigh every day, but I wanted to peek before the Superbowl Party tonight to know what I was up against. 

And I'm so glad I did. 

I have already lost 2.5 of the 3 pounds I gained back!  This totally motivates me to behave this evening.  Although, we're partying with my workout buddies, so we were already going to be eating healthily.  I'm contributing the SkinnyTaste Baked Chicken Nuggets with a buffalo dipping sauce, and I plan to eat a big plate of veggies and drink a whole bottle of water before I leave.  I'm not going on an empty stomach, that's for sure! 

I'm rooting for the Patriots this year simply because I hate Eli Manning with a passion {which is weird since I'm head over heels for his brother!}.  Plus, Thomas Brady is my son's name in reverse order {NOT done on purpose, believe me!} and he's from U of M.  What more can I say!

Happy Superbowl!

Easy to Put On, Hard to Take Off

158.2

That's a gain of 3 whole pounds in one week. 

It was effortless, if I do say so myself.  So super easy to put that hamburger and those onion rings in my mouth, to devour that deep dish pizza and antipasto salad, to choose to stuff myself full of popcorn and Reese's Pieces.  I don't mean to brag but seriously, it was just so painless to gain that weight back.

{Insert sarcastic eyeroll here}

I totally let emotional eating control my life last weekend, and subsequently my entire week suffered.  We are in the process of letting the bank foreclose on my Mom's house and in a few months, the home will be emptied and padlocked.  My sister has decided to move back to San Diego, my brother is moving in with his girlfriend, and yet again, my entire life is changing.  There will be no central place for me to go "home" to anymore.  The chances that my siblings and I will all be together in the same house is slim to none.  Not to mention the fact that we are tasked with going through all of the home's contents and either donating, selling, or trashing 26 years of stuff. 

I miss my Mom.  I miss her leadership.  I miss her friendship.  I miss her shoulder to cry on.  I hate that this is all happening and there's nothing that I can do to stop it.  I hate that my Dad's "Little Plot" is going away.  I hate that there will be no place for me to feel grounded in this transient military lifestyle anymore.  I hate that my siblings and I will be in totally different states.  I really, really hate change.

So, it was super easy for me to turn to stuffing my face to not deal with all of that. 

I will have to do better, though, in the coming months as we make several trips back and forth to clean things out.  I can't let my emotions control how I'm going to eat.  I'm going to have to plan better in advance and bring prepared dinners, and not give in to junk.

Back on the wagon this morning -- and holding on for dear life!