Fangirl

1.
Tonight I met Brittany Gibbons. You might remember her from my bikini post where I referenced her ad nauseam. (I’m not going to give you the link- go dig.). She is beautiful (yes, as pretty in person. I KNOW!) and an advocate for the curvy girls. Aside from that? Funny and our kids share names. I say that too often but I think that is just so WEIRD. Anyhow, she posted an invite on facebook to an evening in Seattle at a restaurant with her and I thought, “Sure, sounds fun.” I thought I was going to be one of a bajillion women there. Turns out, one table suited us just fine.
Also turns out? I was flabbergasted to learn she peeked at my blog after I applied to be one of her makeover girls. Isn’t that cool when someone who inspired you to do something actually has the occasion to see the product they didn’t even know they even inspired?! Full circle.

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It was so nice. Like SO nice. I quickly got over my celebrity-type-fangirl-girl crush I have had on the woman since first discovering her a few years back and just really got comfortable with a glass of wine and super interesting people. I loved tonight.
2.
I went on a run yesterday with Rhiann, my friend who did the couch to 5k recently. It was crazy good. I like running with Bradley. I do. But it was fun to run with someone else and see what that was like. It was amazing because I suggested just running a short two miler or ’round thereabouts and before I knew it we were done. We talked the whole time about who even knows what and I was so distracted that I didn’t even feel the run. I felt frustrated, however, upon discovering my Strava app crashed during my run sometime and it didn’t record. I was so looking forward to having a new map in my feed! Next Monday I’ll make it up when we run again, but Rhiann sent me this to placate me until then (I actually kinda begged for it).

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3.
I let myself wear my 40 before 40 boots. It was rainy. But mostly? I justified it because for a little while this weekend I did weigh 225. I did show my 40 before 40… It just didn’t stick around! It will be back, I’m not worried. And when it stays longer I’ll create a big, ole hootenanny and stomp REAL loud in my boots!

Rain, Rain

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Today was a three mile loop with the kids to the store and back. We had just gotten dressed and ready to go when the clouds burst overhead. We waited fifteen minutes or so until the deluge settled into a downpour, then we headed out. Jude was decked out in his Spider-Man rain boots so puddles were very attractive to him, while Gigi kept saying, “I’m dressed for exercise, but I’m still fashionable!” It was a wet walk, but a really fun one.

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Yesterday we spent the morning winterizing the yard. Bradley and I went for a run in the early morning then came back and started this. It was so fun, pulling out all the plants, stripping the tomatoes off the plant, digging up potatoes, picking the pumpkins… I was dripping sweat and was happy that I managed to find a second workout in one day. We loaded all the compost greens out to the truck and marveled at our harvest. Tonight we are eating tomato soup, made from a share of the hundreds of cherry tomatoes we picked. Yum!

Scale Problems

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The funny moment, when I got on the scale, saw that number, and got off in disbelief. Weighed myself again, same number.
“Bradley? I think there’s something wrong with the scale. Would you come weigh yourself?”
He does. It’s his correct weight.
Again, I get on and see that same number again.
Hop back off, reset the scale, weigh myself AGAIN and at last I accept that I am only one pound away from my goal of losing forty pounds before I turn forty on October 29th! ONE POUND!
Booty dance!
***
Incidentally, I have run my three best times around Big Loop over my past three runs. I think I see a definite corollary between my speed and losing six pounds in the past few weeks. That is fun to realize! I remember thinking a long time ago that when I hit around 220 running would be so much more fun and easy. It definitely is. ๐Ÿ™‚

Fry Guy No More

When one becomes a vegetarian they hear tales about how you should never go back to eating meat- the stomach pains alone will kill you once that first morsel of animal hits your belly. I’ve been vegetarian pretty much since I was 15. I’ve had brief sojourns as a carnivore- when traveling abroad mostly- but never really had the meat bellyaches. That said, it’s been about 15 years since I’ve eaten real meaty meat. I have tasted crustaceans (crabs, oysters) from time to time, but otherwise, nada. Perhaps now I would have the much feared gut ache if I ate the beef…
Anyhow, the same thing is said of really healthy eaters. Like, remember when Morgan Spurlock ate his first supersized McDonalds meal in the documentary Super Size Me? He only got halfway through it before he yacked it out his window. Then, this summer, on Extreme Makeover: Weightloss Edition, the trainer, Chris Powell, exchanged diets with his trainee and ended up having to eat lots of fried foods. He threw up too. I rolled my eyes like, sha. Right. Drama kings.
But lately…
Things are changing. I don’t want to say that I’m such a healthy eater now that I throw up when I eat crappy food, but I think I am one of those people. Or I’m becoming one. Over the past few months, whenever we’ve eaten junky- like Chipotle burritos or OCB breakfast, we don’t feel so good after. It’s becoming a regular enough occurrence that I’m beginning to see the connection: when I eat crap I feel like crap. Except now I feel so gross after that I don’t even want it anymore.

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Tonight was a unique night. It was Jude’s half birthday, my daughter killed the state standardized test and we got the results, I had curriculum night and Bradley ‘unhacked’ our meanly hacked family website* all day and was successful! We earned a night out! So we went to Red Robin- a place I’ve always loved. I like a good burger and fries. Yum! Even if I do actually sub the salad for the fries but eat a bunch of Bradley’s anyways. Anyhow, tonight? The picture above is remarkable because I just stopped eating fries. Didn’t tell myself to stop, just stopped eating them. Without thinking. I didn’t continue to compulsively Hoover down the remainder of the basket. In fact, I had stopped several fries prior to this and Bradley had eaten them down to this. When I realized what had happened, I was so proud that I actually took a picture of those two little fries, all lonely and dejected down there, destined for the trash. I felt accomplished, somehow, like the worm had turned and no longer was I an obsessive fry freak.

A half hour later, while in the middle of my curriculum night speech in front of my students’ parents…
burp… gurgle… burp… weird stomach squeal… gurgle…
Inwardly I’m thinking all those things about how Chris Powell and Morgan Spurlock were right- this feels awful! Forget that I only ate about eight fries, half my burger, a salad- this was not right! I smiled and joked my way through the night then as soon as the last parent exited my classroom I took the most bumpy ride in my truck (which I lovingly call ‘sh*tkicker’ – it’s a 1985 Chevy who looks her age. Nuff said.) all the way home! That did not help. I walked in the door to my house, about to lose my stomach, and Bradley was feeling the same. Then we both said what we didn’t want to say- that we can’t eat like that anymore. We need to find a new family restaurant.
It’s a little sad, but also a great celebration.
Cheers!
*
We were hacked by some dude that left a pirates skull and appeared to have erased our site. It was un-awesome but my husband is the bees knees and was able to find the hackers code within ours and pulled most of it out. Now we have to sift through the rest, but I’m glad to have it back!

More Running… And Other Stuff.

Today we ran. Running is becoming that thing again- just an after work habit. Just one more thing in my repertoire. The best thing of late is that I’m killing my times. Yesterday I had my best ever time on Big Loop (1.4 miles) and today I had my third best time. Woot woot! My times are improving. While I know I’m not supposed to run every day, I can’t help but think that the consistency is making me a better, faster runner. I like running every day, and find that when I miss a day I get all that icky lung burn and muscle exhaustion during my next run. From just one day missed! So I’ve decided that lots of short runs are better than intermittent long ones mixed with elliptical. And goodness gracious if the weather isn’t perfectly glorious to run in- 65 and sunny. Sheesh!

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This picture is here for one reason alone: I have not been taking relevant blog-worthy pictures lately and realized that this would be two posts in a row without a picture! Eek! We can’t have that! Since I’m a copyright worrywart, I can’t just take a random online picture and post it on my blog without being anxious that I’ll get a letter from someone’s lawyer in the mail suing me for copyright infringement. No, I’m not kidding. I really worry about stupid stuff like that. So this is me. At school. Bradley texted me a charming picture of himself wearing his adorable outfit of the day (he’s a snazzy dresser) so I tried to return the favor but failed without the full length mirror. Aren’t you glad you read all of that? I’m all like, “Are you happy now?! Here’s your picture!!! Call your mother!” You know what I mean. Guilt trip guilt trip guilt trip.
***
One of my running dates will begin on Monday! My friend, Rhiann, who just started running using a couch to 5k program, and I are going to start meeting once or twice a month, depending on schedules, to run together. Truth be told, I’m a little worried she’s going to run faster than me and I’m going to be slagging along behind her all red faced and panting. She’s a nice person though so I also think she will be cool about it if I do. ๐Ÿ™‚
***
My arms race is slacking. I haven’t worked my arms in five days. Yep. I was killing it then one missed day turned into two and so on and so forth. I’m pretty much writing it here so I’ll be more accountable. I want to report that I’m halfway to Arnold Schwarzenegger status, but I’m more like Greg from Diary of a Wimpy Kid. If you don’t know, he’s a kids’ book character with the muscle tone of a stick figure. Cuz he is a stick figure. Read a teacher blog:get kids’ book references. Ha ha! So now, as soon as I hit publish I’m going downstairs to get my Bowflex on! Cheers!

SQUIRREL!

Today as I was running there were animals everywhere- cats, squirrels, rabbits… Methinks autumn hath arriveth. Or something like that. The animals all were full of hustle bustle of epic proportions, as if winter is next week!
I saw two cats chilling in the road. Right in the middle like no cars ever drive there. I’ll go ahead and say it- they had a real arrogant vibe like they just owned the whole thing. Cats. Sheesh. Sadly, my favorite cat that I regularly see was on the side of the road sitting in the grass, still as stone. He is the sweetest cat- one of those that rolls all over the ground and cocks his head just so with his big ole kitty cat eyes, and you can’t resist but to stop in the middle of your run and pet him. Except this time he just sat. And as I neared, his tail was ramrod straight out and quivering and the cat didn’t budge an inch, except to roll his eyes around the periphery to creepily watch me run by as he sat there going potty. I was at once horrified and pitying of the poor guy, having to make on a public street!
My favorite was the squirrel on my home run, though. Apparently the squirrel is either trying to flatter me or I run a lot faster than I used to. He thought I was chasing him and the silly thing ran like the dickens through the grass, then leapt on a stump to look back, fear evident in his eyes, and yes, I was still coming! He turned back, dashed toward a tree, looked back in terror one more time then scrambled up the tree and out of sight! I’m so amazing that even the mighty squirrel fears me.
I am woman, hear me roar!
๐Ÿ™‚ Ha!
(I did run faster today. Slowly, slowly she improves.)

Six Months

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Bradley and I ran 3.4 miles today like it ain’t no thang. On this run I told Bradley that it was only a little over six months ago that I started running. He stared at me like I’m crazy for a second and tried to argue that we started a year ago.
But it was a year ago that we started walking the neighborhood every day. I was on ‘The Slowest Diet in the World’ which entailed just making sure the scale didnt go up. I would, generally, lose 1-10 pounds every 4-6 months. It was working, s-l-o-w-l-y. Then in January I decided to step it up a little. Control my food more. Add some weights or something. But nothing really changed. Then on January 28th I just got SICK of it. I can’t even remember the trigger anymore- but I think it had something to do with an inspiring story from Runs for Cookies Katie and I thought if she can, why can’t I? So I committed. I learned about determination, will power and on March 5th, 2013, I took that first wobbly block by way of jogging during an especially inspiring moment with Katy Perry’s song: Firework. From there it’s been 215 miles, about 40 pounds and 47.5 hours of running my roads. It’s been one of the best times and experiences of my life and I’ve never felt more proud or complete.
***
One of my major goals last spring wasn’t just to ‘diet’, but it was to makeover our family diet. This meant realigning our taste buds with whole grain goodness and vegetable-lisciousness. I’m proud to say that we have, thus far, been successful! Today we were out at ye olde mom and day’s ranch (they are in town from Idaho for a week) celebrating my nephew’s 11th birthday. They had steak, we had veggie tube steak and when I looked down at my plate, it was covered with vegetables! We had green beans, Brussels sprouts and salad to go along with our respective ‘steaks’!
I was reflecting on my way home and realized how much things have changed in our house. Gigi asked for whole grain hot dog buns today. Jude will eat vegetables now (and prefers brussel sprouts). We eat more fruit than pasta now. I eat dried fruit and nuts instead of chocolate when I want a sweet snack. We eat serving sizes. We buy brown rice now. Vegetables and fruit rarely go bad anymore while our bread often goes moldy. We integrate cauliflower and grated zucchini into everything we eat to add fiber and low-cal filler and no one complains! We are eating totally different from a year ago. That is pretty cool!
***
I’ve lost 4 pounds since I’ve gone back to work. 4 pounds!!!

A Day of Awesome

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Today we found a coupon in our inbox to OCB so we went to a buffet for breakfast. A buffet. We ate more than our fair share, I’m sure, but I did pretty well this time. Lots of fruit, a salad even. There were also eggs and potatoes of course, but I didn’t go nuts. I was a good kid. That said, it’s 8:00 as I’m writing this and I’m still not hungry. We ate at ten this morning. Talk about sticking to your ribs! HA!
We got home and needed to run. It was an imperative. We headed out and, to my surprise, we kept a better pace than yesterday by 50 seconds. That was pretty rewarding, considering this run was hard and yesterday I felt like I was flying. I’ve come to realize how much I love running with Bradley, now. It was a difficult thing for me in the beginning, but now that I can talk while we run I look forward to our runs like I used to look forward to our walks where we would unpack our days, talk and catch up. It’s been lovely, and the miles fly by when I’m distracted by not only the view, but the excellent conversations. I’m a lucky girl.
Today while we were running, a woman complimented us. She said she sees us out all the time, that we are just so good and consistent. Yesterday, as we were running past a grandpa who was outdoors with his brood he asked me why my husband always runs ahead? I answered that I like to chase him and he creates a nice motivating view in front of me! He laughed and we continued on!
My purpose in telling this story is because we have noticed how antisocial people in our neighborhood are. People avoid eye contact, cross the road, stare ahead, and, for the most part, ignore the presence of another human at all cost! Bradley and I hate it, so, of course, we say hello to every person we run near as we go around. We think it’s our duty to be present in our neighborhood, to foster friendship, safety and community. One way we can do that is to say hello. It would seem that we are making progress if people are reaching out to us now. Pretty cool!
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After that I was awesome craftilicious mom. My daughter is having a circus-rainbow-Katy-perry-candy themed birthday party (I know, right?!). We made this frame, a punch box and finished an incomplete art project we had started over the summer.

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Lastly, I found these atrocious mom jeans, all painted up with puffy paints by yours truly in 1990. Yep, you’re looking at genuine pants I wore in high school. And they fit. Color me triumphant.

Chugging Along

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{derpy run face of the day}
Yesterday I sat, looking at my iPad wondering where my active thinking is. What should I write for my blog? I always have a bajillion things I’m anxious to put out into the ether. My mind whirs constantly, processing my feelings about weightloss, information about nutrition, finding out more and reporting about building muscle and then just my long, ranty feelings about things having to do with fitness, fat and losing weight.
But lately my mind is whirring over my new students, my school, the school year and the ever present looming question of what’s going to jump out and surprise me. That can be anything from the social side of working with other grown ups to responding to the government’s take on education. You just never know… And I’m on weightloss and fitness autopilot. My exercise is solid, my diet is ridiculously good. I’m not thinking, I’m just doing. It’s the beginning of the school year and I just have to allow myself to be present there, I suppose, and just be happy the scale is going in the right direction. That I’m still feeling fit and capable. That my weightloss project is not and will not stall because it’s September. I should feel proud that I’m on autopilot, right?
***
Remember that 12 hour fast thing that I’m trying to do every night? It’s working quite well. It is not hard at all to do it and is just the right level of motivation for me to remind myself not to eat when I really don’t need calories.
***
Today I made my personal record on ‘big loop’! I ran it in just a little over 16 minutes (1.4 miles)! Woot!

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(I really was running in this shadow picture. ๐Ÿ˜‰ )

Sweater

Today I borrowed one of Bradley’s sweaters to wear to the kids’ curriculum night. As if that isn’t enough that it actually fit, my husband’s (who can easily fit a child’s size xl) sweater was too big. TOO BIG! I couldn’t resist talking on and on about how I was wearing my husbands sweater so it just about falls off of me since its just SO big!
Ha ha!
I really wasn’t that much of a weirdo. Mostly those things were all said in my head as I traipsed around my living room, the sweater dropping off my shoulder and dangling down my arm. But I did talk about it to Bradley in that high-school-prom-sentimental kind of way that showed my husband what a big deal this is. He was appropriately admiring of me and understood the significance. Compliments followed while I swooned under his gaze. While wearing his sweater. His big, giant, too-sloppy, sleeves-hang-past-my-fingertips sweater. I would take a picture but I’ve already taken off my bra for the night. I love my readership, but not enough to put it back on for one picture of me in this humongous, gargantuan sweater. (Maybe a little carried away?)
Instead, I’ll placate you with ‘The Sweater’ song (not the one by Weezer). Really. I’m not kidding. Click the link down there!
๐Ÿ˜€
Remember this song? I’m kinda feeling it. A sample of the lyrics follow…
(lyrics are spoken)
Girls,
I know you will understand this
and feel the intrinsic incredible emotion
You have just pulled over your head the worn,
warm sweater belonging to a boy
Now, you haven’t had a passionate kissing session or anything,
but you got to go on a camping trip with him
and eight other people from school
And you practically slept together,
your sleeping bag right next to his
And you woke in the night to watch him as he slept
but you couldn’t see anything ’cause it was dark
so you just laid there and listened to his breathing
and wondered if your heart might burst
The sweater has that faintly goat-like smell
which all teenage boys…
Just watch the video. ๐Ÿ™‚
Meryn Cadell – The Sweater