Back.

Well...I'm back. It's been a while but not because I haven't thought of this blog and what I have here. I like this place. My generous bosses gave Ashlee and I these nifty things called iPad's for Christmas. So fun...but also opens up a whole new opportunity for me in terms of this and here. And hopefully pictures. Like downloading them and posting them for the two people who read this. :)

So...here's to being back. I've missed you.

YIKES! Cuteness Abundant!

This little thing WORKED the pumpkin patch we were at yesterday, taking only this quick minute to have her picture shot by her favorite photographer, Mariah.  I had to share. :)

I do need to check in...report on how my plan is going/went...next week I'm sure... :)  For now, preparations for our compliance audit are in full swing.  Yah!

Planning to Plan...or Plan to Succeed...or something like that

If I have a plan, I can accumulate the necessary elements to follow through with the plan, and the plan has a higher chance of being carried out.  Right.  It sounds all fine and dandy, and all the magazines tout it's success rates and you know how I love success. :)  So...I'm going to post some "plans" for the week in the hopes that I will follow through because I made it public (well, posted to you, my dear friends, who in all actuality, will give me more crap for not following through than strangers!). :)

Dinners
Monday--stuffed zucchini
Tuesday--something small, make soup for Wed night (girl's night--just Abby and I so I eat light)
Wednesday--Chard/sausage/potato soup
Thursday--pasta with homemade sauce (lots of veggies) and garlic bread
Friday--pizza with some kind of toppings...
(wow--it looks like I'll do anything to one-pot cook, doesn't it?  Everything has the veggies in there already so I don't have to make/dirty/whatever another dish)

On another food tangent, I'm trying something for breakfast and lunch.  I'm cooking up an egg, melting a little cheese on top and putting it on top of a slice of toasted bread.  For an am snack, if I get hungry for one, I have apples and peanut butter.  For lunch I'm having burritos (I make, refried beans/rotel/cheese) and salsa OR a piece of protein (today it's a hamburger patty) AND fruit and/or veggies.  I read somewhere that if you have the same thing everyday, it takes some stress away because that's not one more decision you have to make.  And I don't have too much trouble with needing variety.  I figure it's worth a shot. :)

Fitness
Monday--C25K
Tuesday--video on NetFlix
Wednesday--C25K at 530am (this is going to be hard but if I only make myself do it one morning a week...wish me luck!)
Thursday--Stroller Strides
Friday-Sunday--do C25K or something VERY active (not gardening Katie!) for 1/2 hour.

OK...what's your week look like?
Happy Monday!

Friday Five

As I develop this blog, I know that I will copy things I've seen and liked on other people's blogs.  And I do like the idea of a "this-happens-on-this-day" situation because...well, you know...it allows me to obsess and have a "rule." :)

Mary (http://amerrylife.com/) does a Friday Five.  It's usually multiple lists of five things each.  I'm going to start with one list of five and build from there.

5 Things That Made Me Smile Yesterday

1.  My sweet kiddos face--she played, she ran, she laughed and she got shots yesterday--and her face still makes me smile every time I see it (this is going to be a problem when she's really in trouble and I'm trying to be serious, I'm afraid).

2.  New babies--twins in fact--who are healthy and happy...and don't keep me up all night long. :)

3.  Dear friends--one who took Abby and I to the new yogurt shop, which culminated in the tasting of an AMAZING cucumber tart yogurt that is still on my mind, and one who called out of nowhere to remind me that I'm important to her.  I hope she knows how important she is to me too!  Struggles seem easier when you know you're not alone and she did exactly that last night.  I feel lucky to have such great friends who fill my life.

4.  Birthdays--we celebrated one today.  And they're always fun.

5.  A dear hubby who came home with a smile on his face, good bowling scores, and a kiss for his wife.  Life is good.

Weekend plans--I think it's pumpkin patch time!  I bought a groupon a while ago for a pumpkin patch out in Wilton so I think the Wilmot's will venture out sometime this weekend.  Yah for the fall!

Happy Friday!

Wow...A Week!

The good part is that I thought it'd been WAY LONGER than that since I posted something.  The bad part is it has been a whole week.  And I wanted to do better than that.

I'm thinking of starting something...Wednesday Week In Review (WWIR?  Wednesday WIR?)  Obviously still working on the idea in my head...

Last Thursday Abby and I tried a new route to Stroller Strides that did indeed help us to escape some traffic so if that continues to be the situation, we'll continue to go.  I love the workouts, know I would not do as good of a job left to my own devices, and it's fun.  Then we raced home and hosted some kiddos and their parents for an afternoon of crafts, which really ended up with the kids playing and us talking.  It was nice.  Friday night Jason, Abby, Mom and I went out to Esparto for Homecoming--all I can say is that the halftime routine KICKED MAJOR BUTT!  Great great job!  Saturday Jason kept Abby so I could have an adult breakfast with the bugs and then Carrie, Abby and I hit Vacaville and did some damage.  That night Jason and I had a date night in--watched Bridesmaids and ate pizza and ice cream.  It was awesome.  Sunday I helped Mom clean out her garage--her birthday gift was my assistance and she cashed in.  Her garage looks AWESOME.  She's very happy.  Monday and Tuesday were...well, Monday and Tuesday.  Nothing exciting to report.

C25K has made no progress.  I've felt slightly achy--I don't know why--so I've easily (and I mean EASILY) talked myself out of doing my next workout, which consequently is also the last time in week one.  Am I scared to move onto week two?  If I wait too much longer, I'll have to start over.  This weekend is looking good for getting back on track.  Maybe I'm achy BECAUSE I haven't done anything...

Eating has been HORRIBLE.  Recognizing the problem is the first step.  YIKES.  But I need to figure out something because we are upon the holidays and if having a bowl of candy out at work and at home is going to be my downfall, I'm in big trouble.  I'm trying something today so we'll see.  I was very tempted to go get something yummy and bad for me but in the end, I resisted and ate what I brought and felt satisfied.  I wonder if food-journaling would help right now...?  Maybe that could be a tact I try...

Overall, I'm so lucky.  If the worst things I'm working on in my life are getting enough exercise and over eating, well, I'm a lucky girl.  I'm thankful.

It's Wednesday! Yah! :)

First, let me share this shot:

Thanks Jackie!

This was Abby helping to prep for her first retirement party for our dear friend Berta.  I guess she was hugging these bears and kissing them and once everyone started running for their phones to take a picture, she was easily distracted by what everyone was doing. :)  That's my girl!  (And I'd like to observe--she was obviously helping with the "dirty work" going on--look at those feet!)

Last night was girls night at our house.  Jason has singing so Abby and I tear it up...we walked through all the yards on our way to get the mail, which we never did get because we got distracted at Aunt Kimmy's house.  We rocked bath time, put on our new Minnie Mouse pjs, kicked some Good Night Moon and Ladybug Girl butt and went to sleep without a sound.  She was a tired cookie.  So was I--I fell asleep reading a book before Jason even got home.

All this leads me to a discovery I've been thinking through.  I seem to be falling into a routine and if you know me, you know this is making me a happy girl.  Monday nights I walk after dinner, Tuesday nights I girl time it with Abby (pedicures in our future?), Wednesday nights I get to hang with Jason and get things ready for whatever plans I've made for our Thursdays.

The only bad part is I'm realizing that I'm only leaving myself minimal times for working out.  If I want to stay true to the day of rest between each workout, and I walk on Mondays and have SS on Thursdays, then I should get another walk in on Saturday.  That's not really a problem but I think I need to figure out how to get planned exercise (because lets face it--chasing a toddler IS exercise) on my schedule.

OK...and I made another goal to go dessert-free.  This time my goal was until October 31--so 20 days.  That lasted about 15 hours.  UGGG!

I write this and realize...if these are the issues that are plaguing my brain, life is pretty darn good.  I'm a blessed girl!

Happy Wednesday!

Tuesday--o sweet Tuesday!

So...I'm reading this while the Today show is reporting on the chick who ran and finished the Chicago marathon hours before giving birth to a baby.  OMG!  Really?  I would love to be a runner, would love to experience that precious runner's high, but I could barely walk when I was that pregnant.  I'm really speechless.  Eat a freakin' box of cereal and act like a normal pregnant lady, will ya?

Last night I went on my fifth trip through week one.  I speed walked most of the circuts but did finish with a jog.  I chatted a little with my friend who went to the running clinic and she shared that one of the things she learned was to run on the balls of your feet rather than heal-to-toe (like walking) because that sends the shock up the muscles instead of the bones.  I tried to pay attention to that.

I also was finally successful in locating the stretching poster that I always used at the gym.  For some reason, my mind can not/will not memorize these stretches so I printed it out and put it in the drawer where I keep my ipod.  Last night I stretched really good after my walk and have felt so much more limber and less tight since.  Yah! :)

Thanks Pinterest!

On other notes, while Abby had one of her most tantrum-y weekend ever, Jason and I also introduced her to the park, which she cannot get enough of now.  Yah! :)  It's so cute.  And the plastic slides make her hair stick up with static, which is so cute.

Happy week!

Deklan! And C25K Week One AGAIN!

First, let me share this:

That right there is the cutest boy in my world!  He makes my heart sing.  And he's such a big kid--growing up without me.  I need a transporter NOW! :)

Last night I did my walk--IN THE RAIN (which actually was AWESOME)--and instead of running, I just kicked it up a couple notches and got into a crazy-lady-speed-walking mode.  It was kind of cool.  I definitely felt the workout and it was very similar to when I run except for the wobbly-ness.  I felt more in control and like my core was strong and powerful.  There were a couple times I could feel my body want to start to run and while I didn't stop myself from that, I also didn't ever kick into a run.  So maybe I just needed a couple weeks to get myself into better shape before I start trying to run...?  We'll see...I'm up for an experiment of sorts. :)

Lastly, eating is my next challenge.  I have a terrible entitlement issue--I worked so hard last night that I "deserved" a treat this morning.  That's just bad.  And I've pretty much decided that ice cream in my house has a very short shelf life so it should stay away.  I'm working on an idea of making a somewhat limited list of what should be in my house for healthy eating and slowing adding to it things that are good for us.  We'll see.  I read an article this weekend that said that if you eat the same thing for breakfast every day (of course, choosing healthy components), that it will reduce your stress.  I guess most of us stress about what/when/how we're going to eat breakfast so if you just have the same thing every day, it takes that stress away.  I can see that...makes sense to me.  And I am totally one of those people who can eat the same thing everyday.  I'm going to try it.  And I'm going to give myself the weekends off but weekdays, I'll have my standard.  Now to decide what...cover the food groups...  When I was pregnant, I had a piece of toast, a fried egg with a slice of cheese on it and an apple every morning.  And it lasted me to lunch.  Maybe that's the ticket...

Happy Tuesday!

Ms Abby

Because I'm terrible at taking pictures, downloading pictures off my camera, printing pictures...OK, EVERYTHING to do with pictures...at times, if you follow my blog, there may be a crazy surge of Abby-ness that may take over.  Forgive me and we'll be fine. :)

Here's Abby back in August (I think) at Zachary's birthday party.  Please don't mind the boogie crusties.  Oh, and those eyelashes we totally credit my dear dad with.  Pair them with those eyes from her daddy and we're in trouble.  Big trouble.

Then these pictures are from yesterday, visiting at Gma and Gpa's in Lodi.  In this series, Abby goes from coy to mischievous in four quick pics.  Too fast for her mother's liking.

Here she is, looking all innocent and cute.  Man, I'm a sucker.

So...Abby LOVES her Camelbak.  The only thing she loves more is mine.  So this happiness exhibiting isn't because she is drinking from her favorite "cup"...



Yep...you probably saw it coming.  She is squirting mouthfuls of water.  And I have to admit, it was funny!  And it didn't help that there were seven adults sitting around her, laughing at her antics.  (oh...and her dad called to let me know that she did the same thing with her milk at breakfast.  Oooppps!)

But really--what can be wrong with anything that makes your baby girl laugh like this?  I'll tell you--NOTHING! :)  (Is it bad that when I was looking at this picture, I realized that she finally broke through that last bottom front tooth?)

So that's the Abby update.  Glad to pass along the joy of a munchkin who's really got life by the...umm...goldfish. :)  Happy Monday!

Week One Down

So...yesterday I did my third installment of the C25K program.  It took me a full week because I allowed a day of rest after Stroller Strides (lunges=dead butt muscles).  I think I'm going to do another round of week one.  There is a spot in the podcast I listen to where he says "you should be feeling the effects of your running but should not be out of breath."  I am totally out of breath at this point.  What does that mean?  I am thinking that I just need to do another week and reevaluate.  I will be the first to admit that I am starting at a less-than-fit place.  Maybe it'll take me another week to be at that "not breathless" place?  And if not, well, I'll figure it out then.  And you'll probably be part of that. :)  Don't worry...the suspense is killing you, I know! :)

I'm also finding that I don't LOVE running like I thought I would.  I am definitely feeling stronger in my running and the 60-seconds don't feel so terrible.  These last two walk/runs have been/felt much different from the first one.  So that's a plus--I'm getting stronger already.  But running...I don't feel graceful or fluid or even fast.  I feel floppy and uncoordinated and discombobulated.  But I appreciate that the intervals of running and walking is what burns the calories, and that was the reason I decided to try this...to jump start...well...something.

So.  For this second week of C25K, I'm going to speed walk during the running parts.  I walk pretty fast but I know I can kick it up and I think that would give me the increase in heart rate that running does without all the...well...floppage!  I'll let you know...today's my day of rest! :)

So...the plan for the C25K is to do week one again, speed walking instead of running during the intervals.  Hey--every neighborhood needs some crazy lady fake running around to make fun of, right?

Hasta!  Lodi-bound today.

Oh Goodness Lunges!

Yesterday was Stroller Strides and we must have done a lunge or two--I barely remember, I think I black out a little--because my bum is SORE.  Like walking sore but also lower-to-the-toilet-seat sore.  Goodness!

Since the C25K program says you need a day of rest between the workouts, I'm going to apply SS to that regimine so I'll get my last day of week one in this weekend.  Yah!  I can't believe this is happening.  CRAZY.

What else...I have a weekend of fun planned.  A 4-year-old's birthday party and dinner with some couples who have kiddos Abby's age tomorrow and Sunday we get to see Jason's family.  They haven't seen Abbykins since she's walking so it'll be fun to visit with them.

Hope you have fun things planned too!
  

It happened again!

So...the C25K plan says to go out three times a week, with a day of rest in between.  Since I went Sunday, yesterday would have been my next day.

I went through all kinds of excuses--Jason had singing so I was in charge of Ms Abby and she hasn't historically been easy in the stroller.  I was tired.  I'd had a root canal that morning--doesn't that require a little R&R?  But in the end, I threw on my tennies and a sports bra (one is as crucial as the other) and we went out.  And I did it again!  And Ms Abby was totally cooperative (with a little bribery in the form of goldfish, craisins and banana chips).

I felt slower but I was pushing a stroller.  But overall, I'm just so glad that I can move to the third day of the first week.  For me, this is huge.

It's a happy day in Katie-land.  Hope the same is true for you!

And Nothing Was Chasing Me!

I think that everyone, in some way or another, wants to be a runner.  Or I may just be speaking for myself.  As much as I joke about "nothing chasing me" and have pretty much always been a walker (unless I'm running bases or up/down a court--yes, it did happen at one time!), I've always watching longingly at graceful runners, cruising along and...well...getting there quick.  I have many excuses--some of them even good ones--for why running isn't for me but there still is that little desire to, well, run.

So yesterday I started the Couch to 5K plan.  The idea was to start last week but jury duty knocked that out of the water (I can honestly say it was one of the most stressful things I've ever done--I was exhausted all week).  Sunday I strapped on my tennies, I had already downloaded the podcast that walks (hah!) you through the program, and set off.  And I'm proud to report that I actually ran for all of the 60-second bursts in the program!  And I'm walking today with only a couple minor pains, which could as easily have been from gardening.

So the report is that I lived.  Today I'm getting a new pair of tennies because mine are grumpy about running (they barely were liking walking) and taking today off but getting out there Tuesday or Wednesday.  It was so exciting to get to that point of the podcast where he told me that I was done with the runs and it was time to cool down--so excited because I had done it.  I wasn't fast--that wasn't my goal, and I wasn't graceful--not sure that'll happen, but I was successful.  Yah!

Hope everyone is ready for Fall...because I think it's on it's way! :)  Happy Monday!

Jury Duty

Enough said, right?  I just wanted to check in and let you know what is ruling my life right now (besides Ms Abby!).  Hope to be back, more in touch, all that good stuff next week.

Cheers!

It's starting again...

Last night was again the beginning of...Chamber Singers!  I LOVE LOVE LOVE that Jason sings.  It's beautiful.  Something that I wasn't accustomed to and have easily gotten used to over the past eight-plus years.  What's not to like about someone crooning around the house?  But Chamber Singers brings together Jason's love of singing and his hatred of commitment.  I know, sounds weird, but there's something that just makes him squirm.  I feel bad for his internal turmoil.

But the start of Chamber Singers also brings about the start to Girls Night at our house! :)  Last time Abby was a new baby, not as exciting/entertaining/interactive as she is now.  Maybe we need to start some kind of tradition.  Tuesday nights--Dad's singing so the girls will play?  Suggestions?  Anyone else want to play? :)

Yesterday was Dex's number two birthday!  Yah Dex!  He's an amazing little boy--I LOVE HIM SO MUCH!  Happy birthday little friend!

I mentioned a while back that I was struggling with what to do when I'm not hungry for breakfast, even though I know it's so so so important and "the most important meal of the day" and "jump-starts your metabolism" and all that.  I checked in with my buddy Steph for her opinion on the subject.  (Have I mentioned she's a rock star?  She is!)  She said her philosophy is that yes, breakfast is important and that she tries to wait until she's hungry to eat in the mornings but that if she knows that she will get hungry in the near future but her chance to eat will only be for a limited time, she goes ahead and eats.  No reason to set herself up for a hunger-induced over-eat because she didn't get something in her tummy before work, etc.  Love it.  That's what I love about her--common sense advice.  Why is it that I can be pretty common sense about other things but this stuff just swamps me?

On another note, I have a friend out there who is trying the new Weight Watchers program...I'd love to hear how that's going.  She's a super busy mom of two sweet little girls and had mentioned she was trying this out.  How's it going?!

OK...cheers for now!

168 HOURS

I am happy to report...I DID IT!  I went a whole week with no desserts!  And it wasn't so bad. :)  I lived and enjoyed myself and didn't feel deprived.  I even allowed for a couple "cheats" because I had a couple events to attend and...well...if you know me, you know I LOVE cake! :)  But I didn't need them.  Circumstances worked so that I didn't even have to decide...I just didn't go get any and it wasn't passed out.  Yah!

I'll write more later...just wanted to report my huge success!  (Sadly, for me, it is HUGE!)

I do my monthly weigh in Thursday but I'm not expecting my week of non-splurging to show up there.  It was more about showing myself I could do it. :)

Happy Monday!

Oh Goodness!

I knew it'd been a while since I'd posted but really, Katie, 18 days!?!  Get it together! :)

Good news is that I've been so busy with family being here and parties and work that my sweet blog has been pushed aside.  If I'm going to have an excuse for blog-slacking, that's a good one, right?

Life in our world has been grand.  AWESOME visit from the Iowans--I LOVE LOVE LOVE them and wanted to hide them under my bed so they couldn't go home.  But they did, darn it!  So we FINALLY set up the next best thing--Skype!  And tried it out for the first time Sunday.  And we have a date for tonight.  Yah!  I'm so excited!

In the past two weeks, Abby has cut FIVE teeth!  What?!  That's just crazy!  And they've been the hardest so far.  But she's such a trooper and I think we're past the worst of it.  She slept through the night last night--the first time in over two weeks!  Everyone in our house is feeling much more refreshed today. :)

Ashlee and I made a pact--is it wrong that we decided to start it AFTER county fair?  We are not eating any dessert for a week!  That may not seem like a big deal to some of you but for me, that's huge!  I usually will have something sweet for lunch dessert and something sweet after dinner--and sometimes Ashlee and I decide we need something in the afternoons.  Yah...it's gotten bad! :)  It's been hard but I've totally kicked butt and have successfully gone four days without any dessert!  I'm allowing myself a cheat this weekend because we're celebrating a friend's graduation tomorrow.  Yah for Jen! :)

So...I'm thinking of extending it.  Or adding it to my treasure chest of healthy living goals.  Like...no dessert during the week.  Monday through Friday, if there is no reason to celebrate, why should I be eating dessert?  Thoughts?

Back on track...

Happy Monday!
Did you see what the market did today?!  OMG!  EVERYTHING is on sale! :)

Anyway, it's my birthday week!  Woo Hoo!  35, here I come!  Busy girls are happy girls, which is good because this week is busy!  And my sweet sister, Deklan and Derek come Friday--Woo Hoo! :)  Not only am I a busy, happy girl, I'm also feeling quite lucky too!

RE iVillage challenges, I can honestly say last week was so busy, with the market craziness and major computer issues here at work, that I didn't even read them.  And I'm making an executive decision here that I'm just going to erase them and start fresh.  Today's challenge is to get the WHOLE family involved in outside activities, including the pets.  Much to Abby's chagrin, we don't have any pets so...  And as I'm thinking about this, how to do you involve the fish?  Anyway, for another time.

RE weight loss-ness, I'm in a weird place.  I am at peace--seems like even more than my mom is, sorry Aaron, I think she's grieving--but since I started "paying attention," I've actually gained eight pounds (which is actually ten because one month I lost two and I'm eight over the starting number!).  And in these months--I think I started in April--I've totally upped my activity levels, started doing Stroller Strides, and my eating has been much more conscious.  Who knows what the deal is.  And to be honest, I'm in no mood to figure it out, which is bad.  But I'm not feeling like "who cares" or anything like that, so that's good.  No binges or craziness around here, just more status quo, which is not working.

I'll need to figure something out--SUGGESTIONS ARE TOTALLY WELCOME!  But for this week, I'm going to enjoy life, try not to let work drag me under, keep ramping up the excitement levels for the the Iowa family's arrival and celebrate my 35th.  If you want, play along! :)

Cheers, Katie :)

Quick Weekend Review

Weekend=GREAT!

Not on the exercise/food front but on every other front, definitely!  And not awful on the other either! :)

Friday night--dinner at Burgers and Brew with dear friends.  Nothing to complain about there--good friends, good food, weather was perfect.  (Oh yeah--totally get credit--ordered salad instead of fries!)  And we went on a sweet little walk after dinner that was perfect.

Saturday Abby and I had lunch with Mom and an old 4H friend--AWESOME.  Abby ate a half of a foot long!  I don't know where that kid puts it!  Then we went to shower a mom-to-be with some love and the cupcakes were to die for.  Then off to Putah Creek Cafe for dinner to celebrate Carol's birthday--I shared the chicken dinner with Abby and Jason.  It was HUGE!  And so delicious.

Sunday was clean the garage day!  Abby and I ran over and picked up my book for book club--the library was never going to get to my turn in time--and then we started on the garage.  Goal is to get the car back in because if I'm not careful, the water that hits it when I water the lawn is going to stain.  And that would be bad and sad.  Jason and Abby went through the box of toys Jennifer gave us forever ago while I just started sorting the random piles I've started since the car first vacated.  Report: by the end of the week, if everything goes according to plan, I'll have the car back in the garage.  I have three trips to deliver the three piles I have made and then Lola is back in the garage.  Reward: car wash.  Yah!

So I guess it really wasn't a bad weekend.  I didn't over-indulge ever.  And I'm sore so I know I did get a good workout of some sort yesterday cleaning out the garage.

Today eating wasn't so good--I had jury duty and had to do something quick and since I didn't know what the day would look like, I hadn't packed anything.  Fun splurge...I don't do it often...live and let live.  Jury duty hardship granted--I'm going on vacation with the family in a couple weeks--and I'll be back there in September.  Oh well!

Cheers!  Happy Monday!

I Forgot--iVillage Update!

Just in case you're following it through me, which I must say, would not be the smartest thing! :)  Just kidding!

Wednesday's challenge was to experiment with intervals.  They challenge your body and works it much better/harder/etc.  I've heard this many times before.  It's like you keep your body in a steady state of anticipation for what's going to come next, which really works it out.  I deem Stroller Strides the MASTER of intervals in my world.  OK, I'm going to admit this only because it's so amazing: I've run two weeks in a row.  Nothing like a huge distance or at a speed much more than a jog, but it is amazing that Julie, our leader, has talked me into actually running twice now.  I cursed her under my breath each time but really, didn't even realize it was happening until I was already doing it.  Is she a genius?  Maybe... :)

Thursday's challenge was to have a dance party.  Isn't every day a dance party?

Today's note was about keeping your workouts fresh.  Try new things.  Don't get bored.  Mix it up.  OK.  Thanks.

Umm...what happened to the week?!

But hey!  That means it's Friday!  Yah!

Wednesday was...well, Wednesday.  The problem with waiting a couple days to blog means that I forget what the heck has been going on.  Yesterday was Stroller Strides and a picnic with the Moms in Davis.  Tonight is our "Last Friday of the Month Dinner Date" with the Miguel's--I hear we're doing Burgers and Brew so YUM!

Food and exercise has been bad this week.  I bought a tub (literally) of ice cream because it was a GREAT sale.  Sales and healthy eating do not always go together.  I wanted some ice cream and would have been content with a half gallon of churned something.  Instead I come home with TUB of ice cream.  Because it was the same price!  Ugg!  Anyway, now I pretty much can't be home without thinking lovingly about a bowl of ice cream.  As soon as it's gone, I'm done.  Ice cream just can't be in my house!  I have been wanting to walk with my lovely Heather and for one reason or another, we are not meeting up.  One night it's me, the next it's her.  So I haven't walked either.  I did do Stroller Strides Thursday and am walking a bit funny because of it but other than that, nothing to brag about.  Can I blame the heat?  Cause it's been HOT!

This weekend will be hot.  Abby and I are baby-showering-it on Saturday and I am going to make a good effort to work in the garage on Sunday--I need to get my car back in there so I can quit "watering" it every time I water the grass, depositing hard water stains for eternity.  I feel my window of opportunity to avoid the water stains is creeping up.  Plus, just clean out the darn garage, Katie! :)

Happy weekend!  14 days until Deklan, Aaron and Derek are here!  Woo Hoo!

Wow! Chocolate!

I can't tell you why but the magic word is CHOCOLATE!  And I had a small piece and it was exactly what I needed.  Sometimes it is so satisfying to fulfill a need.  And I do type need with a little smile. :)

Tuesday's are fun!

I have not much to write about, I guess, because my pull to write wasn't strong yesterday.  Maybe its because I feel a little stalled with eating and exercising, probably because of this crazy heat.  Maybe it's because I've run out of things to say?  Doubt it! :)

This weekend was delightful!  Friday night we hung out and chilled.  I made brownies--my contribution to the family BBQ Saturday--and they turned out awesome.  Saturday we went down to Richmond Point to see family and Aunt Gerry/Uncle Mike's new place.  It was an awesome day--lovely family, the weather was windy but the sun was strong (I have the sunburn to document the strength of the sun) and Abby got to swim so you know she considered it a win!  Sunday we had a birthday party for Aidan and then went over to Uncle Mark/Aunt Jamie's with Mom to take over her birthday gifts.  Ended the weekend with a dinner visit with Jenny and we were ready to head right back into the week.

Here's a couple of my favorite pictures from Saturday:

And that's where we are here.  Yesterday was good too.  Nothing too exciting.  I should have gone for a walk last night but could not get motivated to get going.  So I read and went to bed early.  The sunburn has prevented good sleep the past couple of nights (yeah, it's that bad--ugg! how old am I?) so I probably really needed the sleep.  And I did sleep better, so success.

Success: Yesterday I paid attention to my eating.  I was hungry and lunch was ordered but I knew it'd be at least a half an hour so I had a celery stick with PB.  It was perfect--I was able to eat without urgency.
Challenge: I still need to exercise even when I don't really feel like it.  I'm always glad that I did and always feel better after and I've found a route that is easy, uses little thought and I can just glide through so I need to just push though and DO IT next time.

Yesterday's iVillage challenge was to mix things up and get in the water.  Thanks to Abby, I've been in a bathing suit more this summer than I have in the past five years.  Check!

Today's iVillage challenge is to mix it up re the walk.  Like take a new route, walk at the mall or in the pool.  And wasn't I just saying that I have a walk that requires no thought?  Maybe that's the problem...  I'll have to think of something new to try tonight...

Happy Tuesday!  Let's do this! :)

Looks like the picture didn't come through...here's a try again...

I'll write more soon...
Happy Monday!

Happy Friday! And Abby news...cause she's my little rockstar!

Wednesday night--did not try the wii fit...went for a walk instead.  I'm reuniting myself with my ipod and loving the totally crazy selection I deemed worthy to grace my ears.  Some I do not still agree with...others make me smile like a crazy person listening to the voices in my head.  Whatever...walked Wednesday night. :)

Once again, singing the praises of Stroller Strides.  After we went out to Maria's for Abby and Joesph's birthday party with the mom's group.  Oh my, what would I do without them?!  Glad I don't have to find out.  It was super fun, the babies had a GREAT time in the pool, and we all got to enjoy the afternoon.  Abby was down for the count by 7pm and I got to go out for some yogurt with Kim and Carrie once Jason got home.  All in all, I'd order another one of those days again! :)

Today...work...did a little sweating out at the storage unit, cleaning up/out again but nothing to really brag about because I still needed to stay presentable for work.  Also...umm...remember the whole singing the praises of Stroller Strides?  Yeah, I'm pretty sure she's stepping up the intensity.  But it's a good pain.  And I'm feeling stronger all the time.  And that's a good feeling.

Eating = SUCKS.  But I'm trying to pay attention to my hunger tells, so there's something...

Abby news:
First, Monday Nana told us she's retiring at the end of the year.  Sad face.  Mostly because we LOVE her so much and are so very thankful for all that she's done for us and especially Abby.  Abby is who she is in a large part because of the care and love Nana gives her.  I'm so glad that Nana is at a place in her life that she can make this decision--they have had some terminal diagnosis in her family lately and she and her Mr are just thinking why waste this healthy, valuable time together when they could be having fun.  Good for her.  We'll always love her and be so thankful for all she's brought to our lives.

On the good side of this, it looks like we got Abby into a program where she can go at 18 months (which she'll be Jan 13th) and only for MTW so we can still have our days off with her.  Yah!  And the added cost is very minimal, so that rocks too.  It looks like this just might work out. :)

Second, THREE NEW WORDS YESTERDAY!  Abby's been saying "da-da" "mom" and "titty," which I deam to be "pretty" because that just makes more sense (and makes "mom" feel better...I'm mean, what has she been watching, right?!).  Yesterday she said "cake" "keys" and "book."  Along with clapping for the first time on Wednesday, all I can say is WOW!  Our littles is growing up! :)

Happy weekend!

Credit?

Do I get credit for knowing what I'm supposed to be doing...even if I'm not?  I wonder how long I can use "it's one of those days" as an excuse?

Yesterday's Eating=YUCK and Today's Challenge (repeat iVillage!)

So yesterday morning I was feeling so powerful.  I was hungry...I ate until I was satisfied...I stopped.  And then the day erupted!  There wasn't any rhyme or reason to what I was doing.  I blame Aunt Flo...is that wrong?  But whatever it was, it wasn't pretty.

Today is a new day.  I've already eaten when I wasn't hungry for social reasons.  But that was the past.  Moving forward.

And maybe I can get some advice.  The book, and lots of other places, say only eat when you're hungry.  What about the mornings, when you aren't hungry but know that you should because that's what gets your metabolism working.  What do you do then?

Today's iVillage challenge is to play with the virtual games again.  Might actually do this tonight since it's supposed to be a scorcher.  We'll see because a walk sounds nice.  But I still have been wanting to try the stupid wii fit...send me wii fit vibes. :)

Found this...thought it rocked...posting it here:


Have a great one!

Small Victories...

I just got hungry...normal because I had oatmeal for breakfast and I always get hungry about 1030 after having oatmeal for breakfast.  So I got some peanut butter and celery and had one.  Then a second and a third.  The big deal--after each one, I analyzed if I was still hungry before I had the next.  And I only needed three today.  Tomorrow may be different but this morning, three pieces of celery with peanut butter was exactly what I needed.  Wow--I am learning from OFF--this is what she's preaching about.  Eat when you're hungry.  Satisfy your cells so no one in there feels like they need to hoard food for the starvation period that's coming.  But only eat what you need because anything over what you need is extra and will be stored because it isn't needed.  Am I processing this right Steph? :)

OK...done with my ramblings. :)  Back to work!

Loving our Summer!

I know that it's totally uncharacteristic to be having such a lovely July but I'm going to enjoy EVERY SINGLE MINUTE of it!

Yesterday I was going to try the wii fit.  But there was a breeze outside.  And after a FABULOUS dinner of zucchini boats, I didn't want to stay inside.  Oh--and that DARN FREAKIN' MAKE-ME-INSANE stroller tire was flat again.  UUGGGGGG!  So I went out, put more slime in that freakin tire, and went for a walk.  It was glorious!  And bonus--the tire was still inflated this morning. :)

Today iVillage says to try out a piece of equipment that is sitting in your house being unused.  Or, if you don't have any (I don't), check into gyms in town.  I don't want to gym it...did that for a while, liked it, but can't figure out how to get my money's worth with Abby around.  If she's awake, I'm all over her! :)  And really...with weather like this...why go inside.  Bad week for "indoor activities" in California! :)

Tonight I'm not going to get anything in.  Already a little bummed.  I am TA'ing for an ESL class that the Kathleen Barsotti Non-Profit for Sustainable Agriculture is sponsoring.  I've done it once before and it was an amazing experience.  I'm looking forward to it.

iVillage challenge continues...week two

This week's focus is on indoor activities (remember--last week was outdoor activities).  Today's challenge is to explore the possibilities of virtual workouts.  So I guess I'm busting out the wii tonight! :)  Hey--maybe I'll finally try out the wii fit I borrowed from Ashlee way back before Maddie was born...  Wish me luck...I'm slightly afraid of that body I've heard it makes when you first start... :)

Cheers!

Oh Happy Summer Days

So...I wasn't at my best this weekend when it comes to health and fitness...unless you're talking mental health and happy body! :)  I slept...I played with my little person...I spent time with family and friends...I cleaned my windows and screens (thanks Mom!).  So, all in all, I feel like it was a successful weekend. :)

But first things first!  Saturday, Ms Abby wrapped her arms around my neck and HUGGED ME!  OH MY GOODNESS--that was the best feeling ever!  She's never done that before.  It was the sweetest thing and felt so good!  Now I know why Mom always comes in for a hug! :)  Fine with me--if you know me you know I'm a hugger--but goodness, the BEST FEELING EVER!  And she did it a couple more times and then yesterday too so I'm pretty sure I'm not crazy.  Pretty sure... :)

I didn't focus on food or exercise this weekend.  But I can say I didn't eat to "stuffed" and I did exert myself at times.  I had relaxing meals with people I love.  I walked with Ms Abby and explored a garage sale and bought a ball--remember those bouncy ones from school?  Yeah!  One of those!  Abby loves it!  I put on a swim suit and in front of other people, got in a pool so Abby could play.  So worth it.  I may not be a hottie in a suit but I care so much less when I get to see Abby playing in the pool.  You don't like my body in a swimsuit--you can suck it!  Cause look at this cute baby girl having the time of her life!  In fact, let's be honest...they aren't even noticing me because she's so cute! :)  And yesterday, thanks to my mom's sweet prodding (only needed because Aunt Flo came and left me with NO MOTIVATION), I got my windows and screens cleaned, which lead to the porch getting cleaned off and the lawn mowed.  I went to bed a happy girl last night...maybe because I didn't focus on food or exercise and just focused on living...?

This week...it'll be a great one!  Only 25 days until Aaron et all get here and I can't wait!

I read a little more on the OFF plan (Outsmarting the Female Fat Cell) and have gotten to the chapter that talks about the first two weeks.  I should get through that tonight.  I'll report more later.

Happy Monday everyone!  Here's to a happy and healthy day!  Woo Hoo!

Whew! We Made It!

Yesterday was a whirl wind!  And I loved it!  Abby and I got up and went to Stroller Strides for the second time.  AWESOME.  And today I'm feeling the awesome-ness of the reverse planks we were doing--my butt is screaming!  But in that good way...yes, there is one! :)  After that we went to Davis and had lunch with Mariah and Sydney at Dos Coyotes.  We walked...I'd say it's about a half a mile or so...it was nice to catch up with them.  After that we went to Abby's one year doctors appointment.  She's a rock star--25% on everything, which is good for her, and the doctor proclaimed her "perfect."  I asked that be included in her records. :)  Then we were off to book club, where Abby proceeded to introduce herself to everyone in the Panera Bread.  At least she's cute...no one seemed upset by her.  Total nap time = 40 minutes.  She practically begged me to put her to bed by the time we got home.  Such a sweetie--my heart swells just thinking about her! :)

On the iVillage front, all is well.  Yesterday's challenge was to head for the hills--literally.  Since my day was jam packed full, that wasn't happening (besides the fact I didn't even have a chance to check email and didn't even know that was the challenge).  But I do like the variety hiking adds.  Maybe I need to start looking for hiking opportunities.  Not quite like my new friend Cori who just hiked Half Dome in Yosemite--I'm not ready for rock star status yet! :)  Today's note was written by Michelle Kwan and she talks about how she likes to incline skate.  Nice for her.  (Bad Katie)  OK...so I guess just keep up the activity.  OK.

Eating was OK.  Choices made were good but there was a lot of food and it was all good.  Today has been TERRIBLE but it's that week so I'm just hanging in there.  My friend Steph recommended a long time ago "Outsmarting the Female Fat Cell" and after chatting with her last night some more, I found it last night and started reading it again.

Other than that...life is grand.  It's Friday, the weather is ROCKIN' and we have a fun weekend ahead of us.  I'm a lucky girl!

Abby's One! And A Little Walk Will Do me

Abby's ONE YEAR OLD today!  Oh my goodness!  (that OMG deserved to written out!)  She is the light of my life!  Amazing!  I'm so blessed!  And a shout out to her birthday sister, Ms Colleen!  Yah that Abby gets to share her day with such a wonderful person.

Now on to real life! :)

So the plan last night...take the mile-route.  I ended up doing the modified route because Abby went with me and I just feel so bad making her stare into the sun.  I'd say it was more like 2/3 mile, so still not bad.  We played outside when I got home, watered the yard, took a bath and then I thought, how about that bottle while Mom walks?  It went pretty good except she was way more interested in...well, everything...than relaxing and drinking her bottle.  Oh well, she went home smoothly and easily when we got home so it all turned out A-OK.

Also I was supposed to find my pedometer and start playing with that.  I did...and found that it's not working.  Not surprising.  It was cheap and I bought it years ago.  So I think I'll put one on my birthday list.

On another note, Dixie the Scooter is back at it!  I had decided to non-op the scooter last year because I just had no idea how life would be with Ms Abby and didn't want to pay to have it sit in the garage.  But life is great!  And would totally support me using less gas, taking up less room, and having a little fun on the ride to and from work.  So I sent in the registration yesterday and got insurance again.  Jason helped me pull out the battery and get it charging.  Maybe by Friday, I'll be riding to work instead of driving...  Here's to hoping! :)  Yah!  I can't wait!

Today's iVillage challenge is to dig out your bike and go for a ride.  We'll see...I HATE riding bikes--why would you do something voluntarily that hurts your butt SO BAD?  And besides, tonight is the family BBQ to celebrate Abby's birthday.  Way more fun than pulling down and cleaning up a modern form of torture.  But I do have one (thanks to Ms Ashlee's hand-me-downs) and I even bought a big-girl seat so maybe I'll pull it down this weekend and put that new seat on and at least give it another try.  For tonight, hopefully I can sneak in a walk after everyone leaves.

Tomorrow will be BUSY!  Stroller Strides...lunch with Mariah and Sydney...one year drs appointment for Ms Abby...book club.  We will be tired tomorrow night! :)  But tired after a day with wonderful people and for sure feeling blessed and happy and healthy and loved.  Yah for friends and family!  I'm a HUGE fan!

iVillage Always Sucks Me In

So yesterday was the first day of the iVillage Get Moving Now challenge.  I kind of forgot that I'd signed up for it but iVillage ALWAYS sucks me in.  I don't know what it is...besides unexplainable...but if they put a challenge out there, I'm there to sign up.  And I'm not the one who loves a good challenge.  So what the heck?!  Anyways, this one seemed healthy and...well...I don't know what else because there isn't even a prize or anything!  And you can't measure your success with anything other than feeling more healthy.  Like I said...iVillage SUCKS ME IN!

So it looks like they are splitting the challenge up into weeks.  This week's theme: Outdoor Activities.  The first assignment was to play in the dirt.  Do some gardening.  Get my hands dirty.  Well...they didn't know who they were messing with, did they!

Last night Ms Abby and I went out back and while she played with her outside toys and pulling up all the watering tubing, I pulled weeds.  For twenty minutes we did this.  Abby was content in her reconstruction of what needed to be watered so I kept weeding.  Until she was finished. :)

Then...get this...after she went to bed and I had dinner and Jason got home...I went for a walk.  The tire on my stroller really needed to get fixed so yes, as I alluded to the possibility of yesterday, I went for a walk with an empty stroller.  Hey--it's not as bad as the lady who pushes a Siberian Husky around in one over by my mom's.  I wonder how many of those looks were people wondering if I knew the stroller was empty?

All in all, I'd say day one of the challenge was a success.  I may feel healthy as a bonus but the really good parts: I got a good chunk of weeding done AND got the tire on the stroller fixed.  Yah!

Today's challenge just came in...  Pay attention to how many steps you take.  I do have a pedometer...I'll have to track that down.  They say to find a mile-long route (clock in your car if need be) and make a goal to walk that every day of the challenge.  Well...on a good start there--I've done this and walked my route last night.  So...so far so good. :)

Happy Tuesday!

Wild Weekend...NOT. Fullfilled Weekend...YES!

So...Friday ended on a note.  Jason was busted from a short-made-long week.
**insert note: I had this discussion a couple times with a couple different people.  Why is it that short weeks, where we get a day off and the work week only has to be four days, ALWAYS feels like two weeks squeezed into one?  And it's a short one at that?!  note over**
I was ready for the weekend.  Heather and Bella rode over to say "Hi" and Bella thought I should wake Abby up so she could say "Hi" to her too.  Cause Heather's two years from having a one-year-old, I forgive her but my response to her cute daughter was still "Are you crazy?"  Oh well...I can just hope that Bella forgives me.  We watched some stand up--Big Fan: Kathleen Madigan--and I went to bed.

Saturday I went to the Davis Farmers Market with Ashlee/Maddie and Carrie.  Got some goodies for Capay Tomato and had fun with the girls cruising the market.  (is there a country song in that sentence somewhere?)  I'm so glad Abby is still rocking the backpack--it's AWESOME!  I've taken to calling it the Abby-pack.  She took a nice-enough (read OK-long-enough) nap and we were off to Capay Tomato!  Between the market and the tomato festival (OK, there's GOT to be a country song in that!), I think I might have walked enough, and sweat enough because it was 95 degrees and I was outside (!), to burn off almost what I ended up eating! :)  All in all, Capay Tomato was a raging success--great family time, AWESOME bluegrass music, good food and the breeze that picked up in the afternoon was heavenly.  Abby hasn't quit dancing since...commercials, the radio, some sound in her head... :)

Yesterday was a restore-sanity day...and I think it almost worked.  Abby was having a hard time communicating what she wanted and was getting frustrated.  So what was a mom to do but stick her in the Abby-pack, grab my coffee and head out for a 45-minute walk.  It was awesome--the perfect time of day--and Abby chatted my ear off.  Her baby-nonsense-jibber-jabber is my favorite sound right now.  I could listen to her "talk" to me forever.  I'm almost in the mood to tape it and play for when she's older and I just want her to shut up. :)

So it's Monday again.  And I'm glad.  I love routine...I'm most comfortable when the expected it happening.  And it's a big week.  My baby girl turns one on Wednesday!  YIKES and OMG!

Eating...I can't believe that after years and years of eating oatmeal for breakfast that I still am surprised when it doesn't last much past 10am and I start getting HUNGRY...not just hungry but HUNGRY.  Snack is required on oatmeal days.  Katie--you are almost 35 years old and you should be at a place to start remembering things!

Exercise--it's too hot.  I'm just saying.  But Abby's stroller has a flat tire and I'm thinking that tonight I'll have Jason put that tire sludge in the tire and take it for a spin (because you have to use the tire right after putting it in so it coats the inside really well, or something like that).  Hey...maybe if he does it when he gets home, I'll take her (instead of being the weirdo who pushes an empty stroller) and see if she'll fall asleep in it.  Or she'll fit for so long that I'll end up being the mom who is pushing an empty stroller and carrying her baby who is happy as a lark as long as she's riding mom instead of the stroller.  Uggg! :)  We'll see what the evening holds...wish me luck.

Happy Monday!

Big Fan: Stroller Strides

So...yesterday I tried Stroller Strides for the first time.  Basically a work out with the kiddos and strollers.  Fun.  And I'm not crazy sore today but I do have that tired-all-over feeling that is slightly invigorating.  And it was fun to see all the kids and this great group of women who are all perfect exactly as they are.

Ice cream is almost gone from my house again...and it needs to be!  Although, this heat is easier to bare with a taste of ice cream.

Today is Friday!  Yah!

Big Fan: Ice Cream

Major fail: I bought ice cream.  It was on sale, chocolate was SCREAMING out for me, and it was so hot here that I thought it might melt on the way home.

But now it's in my house.  And that means that I can't think about anything else.  I will end up eating it all and that is bad.  But I'm learning.  It's been a long time since I've bought ice cream and this is reminding me why.  I need to not buy ice cream.  It needs to be in the house for a special occasion or reason...and it being on sale is not a special occasion or reason.

Stating the obvious seems to be important.  Hopefully it'll help...

Back to It!

So...the heat finally caught up with me and my little family and we all ended up in bad moods by early yesterday afternoon.  Solution: go to Sac family's house for 4th BBQ!  HUGE motivation was their pool, I have to admit.  And it definitely did the trick.  Ms Abby got in a pool for the first time ever...and LOVED it!  We have a crazy water bug on our hands.  Absolutely no fear.  Oh well...I pretty much knew from the start that my hands would be full with her. :)

I did not get a walk in yesterday but Mom and I did hit Target and F4L...but I'm not claiming that counts at all. :)

Best news of the day--my co-worker is back from maternity leave today.  YAH!  She's been missed!
Happy Tuesday!

Big Fan: Long Weekends!

My sweetie seems to relax the minute he walks in the door, the prospect of extra time with Ms Abby is exciting and--amazingly enough--I have planned nothing for the whole weekend!  Including the extra day! :)

Last night Mom made dinner--yah!--and we had it over at her house so when we got home, there were no dishes to be washed and barely anything to tidy up.  Oh--and as always, after a day with Gma Cathie, Ms Abby was POOPED!  She didn't even fight the bed--felt like she was barely tolerating her bath just so she could go to bed--and fell asleep before I even left the room.

This would have been the perfect time to go for a walk.  The sun was almost down, the house was quiet, J had sat down for his nightly review of the world and what was happening...but I have to admit, I did not walk.  I sat down in the big chair and read my book (Firefly Lane, 5 Ladies and a Baby book club) for...wait for it...three hours!  So fail on the walking but here's the success: I did not snack.  The entire time.  I was tempted but when I really thought about what I wanted, or if I was really hungry, it was never enough to get up.  Yah Katie :)

Darn Summer Ginger and that darn book though.  When I finally went to bed, I couldn't fall asleep because I kept thinking about the book so I stayed up and read more until my eyes were crossing.  And then I got up this morning--after J got up with Ms Abby and let me sleep in--and finished it! :)

OK...one last surprise.  After playing with Ms Abby for a while, and drinking a cup of coffee, I decided to get my walk on.  And when I went to tell J, he wanted to go too.  Yah!  So we went on a family walk, J tried out the backpack (and LOVED it) and all got a little sweaty.  Ms Abby was almost falling asleep so she was ready for her nap--no fight--when we go home.  Nice conversation, almost too hot but not quite, and we all got a little sweaty--in a good way! :)

Now it's a day of WHATEVER THE HECK I/WE WANT!  Sounds like we're going to the library (I have a book ready to be picked up) and to the Guad for some food and fun.  Yah!

Happy 4th of July weekend!

July 1--Oh My!

Half the year is over! OMG!

Last night Ms Abby and I took off for a 30 minute walk that only ended up being 20 minutes. I am having a hard time making her look directly into the sun for very long and my options for shaded paths are few. I think the route I took Wednesday night is better for her. Once again, she rode like a champ and I'm feeling good for the extra exercise.

It's the first of the month so for me, it's also weigh in day. Up from last month but that wasn't unexpected. My clothes have been fitting a little tighter and I've been bad about watching what I eat (and drink--those coffees have been a lifeline this month!). Also, let's be honest--a bad side effect of starting an exercise routine is that you do gain a little weight right at first. I'm not bummed. I'm actually feeling stronger and ready to settle in and do this.

And if I'm honest with myself--it's for a lot of reasons that has nothing to do with wanting to be healthy. I'm a perfectionist so...I love that it's the first day of the month (from this day forward...) and that my weight was a round number (no pesky partial pounds to worry about). I've been here before. What will make this time different, I don't know. Maybe a place to write about it? Who knows...

Big Fan: Carrots

Except when I eat too many, like I did earlier today. You'd think, after this happening pretty much every time I overeat the yummy little bits of goodness, I'd remember that when I eat too many, I get a TERRIBLE stomach ache. Like my stomach aches. Ouch. Ugg.

Not feeling especially smart right now.

Will look up the serving size of mini carrots and stick to that amount.

Happy Thursday!

The Goal

Goal: to walk in the Thanksgiving 5K without wanting to die, rather than enjoy dinner, later that day.

I don't feel like this is unrealistic--I am pretty confident in my walking and can usually walk much longer and farther than I think I can. It's more like I want to keep up, I want to be able to chat and enjoy the day and I want to do so without being so out of breath, it's uncomfortable. I don't want to run--or I don't need to to feel successful--and really, at this point, running doesn't even sound appealing. I have no doubt that I am one of those "she shouldn't run" people. As much as I'd LOVE to be one of those people cruising along in their cute running shorts, I don't see it. Also, if I'm honest with myself, my knees wouldn't approve either. Maybe at a lesser weight but not now.

I decided I needed a plan so I looked up the Couch-to-5K plan and printed that out. In reviewing it, there was talk about running and walking. Besides my lack of desire to run, I have Ms Abby with me and there is no such thing as running with the backpack on. So I kept looking. I found the Mayo Clinic 5K run: 7-week training schedule for beginners. Besides the word "run" in the title, it looks perfect. It talks about walk/run throughout the schedule and says only follow the "run" part if you're trying to incorporate running into your plan. For me, at this point, that's a no.

So yesterday I took a walk. 30 minutes with Ms Abby on my back and at a constant stroll. No heavy lifting, besides the Abby-ness, and stops here and there to let Ms Abby feel the leaves or see a random guy at the park flying an electric something. It was nice. I watched my time and weaved around randomly in order to get the full 30 minutes and ended the walk with a meeting of new neighbors and hellos to old ones and a chance meeting with an old buddy/neighbor and her mini biker. Yah! And Ms Abby did great in the backpack--she seems to like the cruising and TALKED THE WHOLE TIME! Cutest thing ever.

So today the schedule says: walk 30 minutes. I can do that...did it yesterday, right? Food-wise, it's payday, which means coffee day for my treat. Not a great choice--I'm not feeling fabulous and know I should have gone with a healthier choice. And tomorrow is weigh-in day...

So...brainstorm...what would be a better/healthier/cheaper payday treat?