Friday, May 26, 2017

The week that wasn't......

What a week - thank goodness it is Friday!

It isn't that it was a BAD week, I just felt a little lost that seems to happen when the tv season is over (officially I still have 1 episode of Prison Break coming on Tuesday). The weather was pretty gross. It was just heads down trying to get to the weekend. The LONG weekend!

We had sports, sports, sports through Wednesday and then we have a week off until next Wednesday - it feels like vacation!

Eating has been pretty bad but the worst is I haven't weighed myself since last Friday. I tell myself I WILL weigh myself next Thursday - June 1.

Only 3 more weeks of school then vacation and 1 week off for me! But it is going to be a busy 3 weeks!

I didn't get in any running this week :( I had everything laid out for today (okay, I've had it laid out since Monday night). I've just been really tired this week - weather, period, depression, who knows. This morning I was definitely going to meet a friend even though we knew it was going to be raining. I am okay running in the rain. But it was POURING. And 48 degrees. So we bagged it.

Sunday is our 5 mile race. It's going to be in the high 40s so I am not complaining! And I've ordered a new pair of sneakers. I do every 100 miles. Even though my feet feel okay because I haven't been running real far, but I want to get ahead of myself. And new sneakers makes me feel good - and starting NEXT weekend I will increase my mileage up to 5.5 miles to get up to 7 miles later this summer.

Besides the race we are going to get some yard work done, camp organization, summer organization, and a Memorial Day parade on Monday if the weather holds out.

Enjoy the long weekend!

Monday, May 22, 2017

Overall sucky eating

Things have been pretty bad food-wise since Thursday.

I was on kid-duty Thursday because my husband was out of town. I got us fed before sports activities so we ate around 5:00. After the games were over, which went really late despite the 90+ degree weather - around 8:00 people talked about going to dinner, which we did. We were all starving. We went to the 99 - I had water to drink, a chicken wrap sandwich with coleslaw instead of fries, so not terrible.

Some time Friday I decided I definitely wasn't going to Weight Watchers. My period still hadn't come at Day 30 but I was eating like crazy. With lots of activities Friday evening, I decided we all should go out to dinner - something we NEVER do on a Friday night. I also never suggest going out before  long run. It's not like we went for Chinese. But Italian - I had some bread, some pasta (with a creamier sauce) and greek salad.

My run Saturday morning SUCKED! I was so dehydrated. But I got the 5 miles done (I did take 2 small walk breaks). Then it was go-go-go all day until Date Night.

Date Night was great - 2 bottles of red wine, lots of bread, cup of onion soup, salad,  8 oz fillet au poivre, sauteed green beans, and chocolate cake and ice cream (shared). Heaven. But I was definitely hurting the next day with the 2 bottle of wine, more of which was drank by me since my husband was driving. And red wine, ugh....We should have gotten white.

So I ate like crap on Sunday because I was hungover.

But finally the monthly visitor arrived at Day 32. Ugh. So now I will almost definitely have it for our vacation - the next 2 cycles will indicate where during the vacation.

This week is going to be another crazy one but I am REALLY going to try to eat fairly clean this week because I have my 5 mile race on Sunday.

Thursday, May 18, 2017

Too busy to eat badly - can I keep it up?

For a third day in a row, I ate what I was supposed to at work....well, almost!

Yesterday morning I was so busy running around I forgot to eat my banana, or drink much water, so when I got to work I realized my stomach was growling. I borrowed one of my fruits from my afternoon snack instead of stopping in the cafeteria on the way to my desk (another great reason not bringing cash or plastic into the office is a great thing!)

A meeting was called for 12-1, which is allows annoying. I had planned to go home at 1:00 so I could do a load of laundry and cook something for us to all eat later before another crazy evening of activities. The 12-1 meeting went to 1:45 and I had a 2:00 call with many of the people on the call. They wanted to keep chatting but I forced me and colleague off the phone because neither of us had eaten lunch (everyone else was working from home so probably was eating lunch while on our very long call). I didn't have time to heat up my Lean Cuisine pizza, but I had my morning snack (which I hadn't had yet because I also had meetings from 10-12) and some of my afternoon snack.

Finally at 2:45 I was able to run home and cook some pasta to eat between 5:05 and 5:15 when we were home for 10 minutes. The stress was at an all time high, but I didn't cave. In that 10 minutes I heated up a tiny bit of the pasta for myself (and more for the kids) because I had made pesto with some leftover basil and I wanted some. And then I made myself a Shakeology smoothie and out the door.

I really wanted to fit in grocery shopping last night, so I decided to drop the kids so they could do warm ups, ran to the grocery store (it was a medium-light load), ran home, put it away and ran back to the fields. Okay, I didn't literally run, but you know what I mean. I only missed some of the games and we got home at 8:00 and I didn't eat anything else, even though the kids were famished. I didn't have the excuse of exercising to eat!

I had laid out my clothes for this morning, but after a restless night sleep, I turned off my alarm around 3:00. I just couldn't bring myself to run in 70 degrees, 80% humidity so early in the season! I wish I had run, but everyone who did said it was awful.

Scale was way down this morning which means my monthly friend should be arriving (Day 29 today) - I don't know why I also see a huge (like 2 lb huge) dip on the day it arrives. So weird.

Wednesday, May 17, 2017

Hanging in there....

It is already Wednesday. Too bad it isn't Thursday! Hard to get excited for the weekend when we have SO much going on, but one of those things is a date night for our anniversary, so I can't complain.

My period hasn't shown up yet, which isn't a bad thing. Hopefully it shows up today and if I keep the 28 days for the next 3 months then I will get it right before we leave on vacation which would be perfect timing. Traveling with it sucks, but since as of late, my best 2 weeks out of the month are right after I get it, which would mean those 2 weeks would be the 2 weeks I am on vacation. That would be perfect timing!

Tuesday morning I went for a run with a couple of people. It was perfect weather - 50 degrees, no humidity. I ran 3 miles in 35:45 which is less than 12:00 miles, so I am not complaining. Tomorrow will be 70 when I run with probably 100% humidity so I won't be quick. But I will get it done!

I've been working on my long run schedule for the rest of the year. During the summer I will be switching to Saturdays so my Sundays are free for family stuff (hopefully some hiking). I don't want to completely forego Weight Watchers this summer,  so I am thinking that I can run down and get weighed in before bringing the kids to camp. It means I don't get to go to a meeting, but I need some of the accountability.

Eating has been okay so far this week. Scale isn't moving, but that is not to be expect at this time of the month. I am not sure if I will get in my meeting this week - Our Saturday is jam packed and trying to run 5 miles at 8 am will leave me too little time, but since we are going out Saturday night maybe I will just be stinky until I can shower in the afternoon. It will probably be a game-day decision.

Yesterday was perfect weather - 80 and no humidity and sun. I wish every day could be like that. It will be hot, hot, hot for the next 3 days and then back to the 60s for the weekend. I know we aren't allowed to complain about the weather when it gets home because it has been so crappy so far this year.

Monday, May 15, 2017

Bring on the new week....

I am glad it is Monday - really! I have lots to look forward to this week (lots of season finales, but then I also look forward to TV being over!) and then next weekend celebrating our anniversary (12 years!)

Last week through Saturday were pretty busy. I felt off for days, wishing my period would come (it isn't due until this Wednesday) and as of this morning it still isn't here. I just feel so much better the first 1/2 of my cycle. Bring it on!

Friday the kids had a half day. My husband came home mid-day so my son wouldn't have to go to the dentist with me and my daughter. Then she and I went to the mall, mainly window shopping. She is at the age where she is kind of inbetween stores. At almost 11 she has outgrown (in terms of style, not size) Justice, but in other stores, she would be the smallest size and even then I feel like some of the styles are too grown up for her.

Friday night she had a softball game and we went through McDonald's on the way home at 8 pm. By that time I had decided that I wasn't going to Weight Watchers. Saturday was going to be such a busy day and I hoped to get in a 5 mile run after. Sleep had a different story. I chose to not turn on my alarm and slept until 9:00. From 10-4 we were busy, busy, busy with sports. My mom came to see both the kids' soccer games and do a mini-Mother's Day celebration.

At 5:00 me and a friend ran our 5 miles finally. Sundays weather was going to be awful, so I knew I had to get it in. It felt great! I never run at that time of day. I was definitely sluggish at first, but got some energy towards the end.

Sunday I slept late, late, late. My husband made us brunch around 11:30. Then until 4:00 I ran around like a maniac doing all the normal weekend chores that I had hoped to do on Saturday but didn't have the time. And then finally at 4:00 I went up to our room and watched TV for the rest of the night (and later convinced my daughter to paint my toes :) )

So now it is Monday. The scale is way up (222.8) and has been for a few days. But even with my period coming, I am going to try to be "good" this week. I know I feel so much better when that happens. And I NEED to feel good!

Wednesday, May 10, 2017

Feeling down

It isn't always easy to figure out why you are in a downward mood. I wish I had the easy answers.

Yesterday at work was fantastic - A couple of people were out, so I had few meetings, few distractions and was really able to be heads down and get a ton accomplished. And I ate well!

I went home mid-afternoon because my husband and son had a tight schedule of them getting home and then needing to get out the door for a baseball game. I did think about joining them later, but honestly, I didn't want to go because it was too freaking cold. It was only about 50-55, and probably dipped more once the sun started to go behind the trees at the field. So I opted to stay home with my daughter. And then some nibbling and grazing happened :( We finally made some pasta around 6:30 and I headed upstairs to catch up on DVR and get under the covers because it was chilly (the heat is still on though).

Maybe I was feeling down because the firing of Comey was just another reminder of what a screwed up country we are living in right now. I have been watching a few shows (Quantico, Scandal, Designated Survivor) that are dealing with a someone "alternate" universe in terms of Washington, but knowing that is so easily could happen. It is all a little scary.

I was really looking forward to going hiking with my family on Sunday for Mother's Day, but now it is looking like it will be raining. I may still chose to do something, even on my own. I'll have to wait and see. My mom is supposed to come up on Saturday to watch the kids' soccer games, but even those seem a little damp.

And the next few nights are pretty crazy as well. And Friday afternoon I am taking a 1/2 day, not for fun, but the kids have a 1/2 day and I need to shlep them around a few places.

I am trying to enjoy this mid-May week when everything is green and lush and blooming, but the temperatures in the 50s just isn't allowing it.



Tuesday, May 9, 2017

3 Fails But Not Out

Today is Tuesday, another day. A day I hope to be more successful. I've had 3 fails in the last day

1) Work was crazy yesterday - but not really bad, just crazy. At 12:30 I was starving. I had my credit card in my back pocket because I needed to order something for my daughter's camp. Yep, ran down and got lunch, including the regular Coke. Credit card going back in the car this morning.

2) Last night we got Blue Apron for the first time in a while. The kids didn't eat it so I had 2 helpings. There are just not enough vegetables in those orders. So I think I am going to go ahead and actually cancel my subscription. It is such a pain to constantly go in and skip a delivery. And it is so expensive.

3) I laid out my running clothes last night. I was going to go on my own. I just didn't sleep well. When my alarm went off this morning it was 35. No thank you. Come on spring!

Here is to  better day. I am eating the food I brought. I am making a healthy dinner for myself before baseball.

Monday, May 8, 2017

The weekend

Last week was fairly rainy, but Friday afternoon it start pouring buckets. All sports Friday evening and all day Saturday were cancelled.

I kept up my good eating on Friday night, but once I knew all sports were cancelled, I turned off my alarm for Saturday morning. I woke up at 7:10 (so 10 minutes after my meeting started) and the scale said 219. I could have gone to the 8:30 meeting, but I didn't want to leave the house if I didn't need to. Since I was awake, I got up and got a ton of stuff done around the house. It was wonderful.

Friday my husband was angling to go out to dinner for Cinco de Mayo, but there was no way I would go to dinner on a Friday night (and he admitted when he drove by the mexican restaurant at 5:30 on Friday that it was mobbed). But Saturday I did want to go to lunch - we hadn't been out to eat as a family in a long time. So we celebrated a little late. And I had a huge margarita. Saturday afternoon I did break open the Hersey bars I had bought and had 1 - the rest went in the trash this morning. I just can't have them in the house.

Sunday started with a 5 mile run at 8 am (so I got to sleep in an extra hour) with a friend. We ran a route in town that had lots of up and down. We chatted through the first 3 miles and then I told her to run ahead. The last 2 miles were long, but I ended up running 2 minutes faster on a route with elevation, than I had the previous week on my own on completely flat ground.

Mid-day we picked up my mom and brother and headed to the cemetery. This cemetery is famous (ie famous people are buried there) but is also an arboreteum and a great place to bird watch. Being such a perfect day, it was pretty crowded.

Last week I ordered lenses to attach to your iphone. The pack was only $20. So I had fun playing with it.

This is the wide angle.

This is just normal with my phone.

This is the telephoto - which is the hardest lens to get right.

And these next few are with the macro lens.



This is the path where my dad is buried.

Family shot. My dad is buried further down the pond near where the weeping willow is.

Mother's Day came early this year.

On the way home after dropping off my mom and brother, we stopped for ice cream. Big ice creams. It was almost 3:30 and we had had lunch at 11:00 before we left, so we were all hungry. By that time the clouds were out and it was chilly. But the ice cream was yummy none-the-less. I hate to know how many calories my large scoops were. The drive to the ice cream stand is gorgeous - all huge houses, with beautiful grounds and the lilacs are out. May is my favorite months and this week is my favorite week when the trees and flowers are in full bloom (the leaves on the trees aren't out all the way, but the flowering trees are).

Another crazy week coming up - and a not-very-warm one as well :( While it looked (and felt) like spring yesterday, the rest of the week won't. I am crossing my fingers that Sunday will be nice enough to get a hike in with the family.








Friday, May 5, 2017

Cinqo de Maio and Friday

I love Mexican food. Next to pasta, it is my favorite ethnic food. But I won't be celebrating Cinqo de Maio today (or should I say, another fabricated holiday I think brought to popularity by Corona) because today is Friday and even though I will be up tomorrow, I am still going to Weight Watchers.

Yesterday was another "bad day" - For lunch I made myself a box of Kraft Mac & Cheese and ate almost the whole thing, and then in the afternoon I got myself into the leftover Hersey Bars and Marshmellows from last weekend. To the tune of 3 Hersey Bars and lots of Marshmellows and then I proceeded to take a nap on the couch for 2 hours.

But it is done. Today I went grocery shopping this morning and I didn't buy anything "bad". I did buy my 1 single serving of Nutella to have with my banana and flaxseed tortilla to have for my dinner. But even though I am working from home I WILL eat well today.

This weekend is pretty up in the air because of all the rain coming. Who knows how much of the kids' sports will be cancelled (or potentially postponed until Sunday). We have no rainy day plans. I have a few things I want to get done around the house, but all the things I WANTED to do aren't rainy day activities. What a rainy spring this has been so far.

Sunday I will get out for a 5 mile run, even in the rain. Then the next 2 weeks I need to run 5 miles on Saturdays right after Weight Watchers.

Thursday, May 4, 2017

May the Fourth

For the Star Wars fan in me, this is a good day. And a day to be distracted. But it is also a solemn day - it is the day my dad passed away 2 years ago.

And how did I start the day? With a 3 mile run! Girls in my running group were going out at 5:45 so I decided to join them instead of doing it on my own. And we did the less flat 3 mile loop which I hadn't done in a while - it is the same route as 1 of the 5Ks our town holds. It is the site of my 5K PR 3 years ago (31:32). I am glad we did this route so I can use it as a baseline - 36:15 (ie 12:05 minute miles).

I can't help but think about how far I've fallen in the last 3 years. My dad was diagnosed shortly after my PR. I told myself I wouldn't let him illness affect my weight loss - by that time I had lost about 42 of the 50 lbs I ending up losing. Right after that PR, I started 10K training and then 1/2 marathon training. I continued to lose until the 4th of July and my weight kept steady until the end of September 2014. But once the 1/2 was over I started gaining. I just looked and I gained 20 lbs between then September 2014 and May 2015. I kept that steady for 5 months but 2 bouts of bronchitis in October 2015 and February 2016 both put on 10 lbs each. And for the last 15 months I've been floating around in the 220s, low 230s. It could be worse - it could have been a lot worse!

 But I really do feel like I am starting to come out of this 2-3 year fog. The spring will do it to you also - May is by far my favorite month of the year. But with the selling of my mom's house done, the basement done, the family room done, vacation this summer planned, summer camps planned and booked and paid for. Yes, spring sports are hectic, but there is room there for me to go to WW on Saturdays and do my long runs on Sundays - those routines that bring me peace and joy.

And speaking of our vacation, today is 100 days - The real countdown begins!


Wednesday, May 3, 2017

Nutella Won

I need to do a better job of using the journal I bought at Weight Watchers to try to keep track of my cycles, eating habits, etc.

This week is another stressful week in terms of work (things I majorly procrastinated last week in favor of fun more challenging work items now need to be done) and lots of school sports and activities. Add to that ovulation time which I now feel is a major trigger for me eating wise. And then add on tomorrow (May 4) is the 2 year anniversary of my dad's passing, but in good news, it is the 100 day countdown to us leaving on our trip.

I woke up on Monday with the scale 221 - so 1.6 up, same Tuesday. This morning 221.8. I need to reign it in.

But yesterday afternoon I came home from work early to WFH and the crap in the house won. First it was a bowl of hot fries and potato chips (hey, at least I put it in a bowl) and then the jar of Nutella. Yup, the whole freaking jar (not the huge jar but still a good size) - I was working like crazy (and actually getting a lot done). At least I followed that up with a Shakeology shake for my dinner (we had a school concert to go to so no real time for anything more).

I know I should give myself a break this week being the anniversary. But I do need to reign it these behaviors. I've told myself time and time again Nutella is not something I can have in the house. No more.

And I worry about next school year when I will go back to being home more in the afternoon like I was last school year and I gained weight like crazy because I would binge before the kids got home from school. So I really do need to work on these triggers so they don't repeat themselves.

On a good note, it is Wednesday. And tomorrow I am taking a 1/2 day off to take the kids to the vet and attend an event at my son's school, and we have NO sports tomorrow night. And my husband is making dinner! AND I can hang up our countdown to vacation and start crossing off the days!