Bits and Pieces

We are on Snow Day #6 and still have tomorrow off as well!  It's been a crazy Snowcation!  The roads are fine and everything is starting to melt, but the sidewalks are still not shoveled so there is no way for the kids to get to school except to walk in the road.  So for safety reasons we are home!  I'm loving it!  

I've gotten completely caught up on my scrapbook for 2015.  It was a major push.  And involved hours of binge watching Supernatural (23 episodes) and White Collar (18 episodes).  Binge TV watching is no joke... It takes stamina, planning, proper nutrition... I'd venture to say, I'm pretty much a professional now!

I may be done with 2015, but I still have 2 years of Zack's crew seasons to take care of, my racing scrapbook and soon I'll have Hawaii to keep me busy.  I better find a new show to binge on!

I can't believe we leave for Hawaii in 2 days.  It's kind of snuck up on me, which is a good thing, otherwise I'd totally be freaking out about leaving Zack and all my other obligations.  I'm not good at change, or disruption to my routine.  I love my routine.   But after our last week and Snowzilla, this is looking pretty good!

 
I got my packing taken care of today.  I'd be a lot happier packing, if those pesky 5-7lbs I don't like, had melted away like our snow.  But... I'm not going to let (I'm going to try not to let) it bother me too much.  I'll be ready to back on the bandwagon when we get home.

Resolution update....
I'm doing pretty well with my working out.  I had 3 days off with our Snowcation, but since I've done something everyday.  I've Erged, I've run and I've gone to Spin class.  I've been feeling pretty good about the working out, it's just the eating that has been a little more challenging.  It's hard when you are staying home all day and doing nothing but watching TV.  I figure a week off in Hawaii, where I am NOT going to worry about what I am eating, and then I will be recharged and ready to get right back on the healthy train!  Zoey needs to get back on that train as well... that girl is growing... it's been hard to walk them and when I'm having a snack... they are having a snack... all our progress has been undone.  So...Choo Choo... healthy train here we come!

I've also kept up with my 5 year journal cards as well.  Gotten each day done, there have been a couple where I had to double up on one day because I forgot, but I have a new routine in place and they are going well.

First step on my road to resolutions....

I ran 4 miles today... 2.5 up to Gold's Gym and then 1.5 home!  I also did the Sunday Erg class - 10,295 meters....

Also, decided to hit up the juice to get me in the right frame of mind...  Today's the first day and it's hard...seems harder than usual... maybe because John and Zack are eating stuffed crust pizza RIGHT NOW!  Bastards! 

I stepped on the scale this morning and it's not where I would like it to be.  Despite making an effort to eat better and work out, that number seems to be creeping up again.  I know it's not about the number...but that's really not true... it's always about the number.  Granted I am in far better shape than I've ever been in and muscle weighs more than fat....which is what everyone says when they gain weight....but could it be true?  I'd really rather prefer to be muscley and have a really low number on the scale! :o)  In the mean time... I'm just going to keep fighting the good fight!

New Year, New Blog, New Resolutions 2015

I have been really remiss in keeping up with my blog.  I'm going to try and go back and fill in eventually, but for now, I'm just going to start fresh.  We had a very quiet New Year's Eve.

 Brenna jetted off off to Brazil to spend 9 days with Melanie and some family friends.  John, Zack and I destroyed some crab legs, watched a movie and went to bed hoping the new year would arrive without us actually ringing it in!

It did!

I ran my first race of the year - The Resolution 5K.  Which led me to think about my Resolutions for 2015.  I found a website called Run this Year.  You can either run 2015 miles or 2015 kilometers.  I'm going to go for the kilometers instead of miles, it will be easier.  Either way it's going to be insanely hard to accomplish, it's 3-4 miles everyday, but it will give me something to aim for.  I'm also going to include all the meters I'm erging as well.  Since I'm erging 3 days a week, that will hopefully help me get there.  I won't worry about races every single month, but will still try and do some as I feel like it.

The 2nd part of my Resolution - is MUCH MORE DIFFICULT to accomplish.  I've decided that I need/should attempt to GIVE UP FRUIT SNACKS!  Oh how I love fruit snacks!  I blame it all on little Evey Price who first introduced me to them about 2 years ago.  It's not like I eat an inordinate amount of them, but I do eat more than I probably need to, maybe 3-4 little snack packs a day.  Which isn't that bad until you consider each bag has 90 calories, which again isn't the end of the world 4 bags = 360 calories, until you realize that a 3 mile run is about 300 calories.  In essence, if I eat 3-4 little packs a day, then I have totally negated my 3 mile run - I might as well have not even run!  Say What??!!  

The other part that will make this difficult is that the entire Crew Team is addicted to fruit snacks as well.  We call them Fruit Crack.  I will have to continue to be the Crew Team Fruit Crack supplier, but refrain from partaking myself.  The True Test!

Here's to 2015 - resolutions, health, happiness and success in whatever guise it takes.

Race #2 - Run Your Heart Out

Did another 5K this weekend in my quest to run 12 races in 2014.  I haven't branched out past 5K's yet, but I'm going to.  I have my eye on a 5K trail run, a 4 mile run and my first 10K race in the next couple of months.  Also considering signing up for the Air Force Half Marathon in Sept.  I just found out Ian is going to run it as his 1st Half and Cari is going to run the 5K that goes along with it.  I think it would be awesome to fly out and run it with Ian.  It would surely give me incentive to really do it!  We'll see…

This weekend I ran the Run Your Heart Out 5K in Reston.  My goal was to beat my best time, 29:10.  It was a decent course… tons of people, but I like the company that puts on these races.  They always do a really nice job.  Unfortunately I forgot my GPS watch and only had my phone so it was difficult for me to monitor my time.  I felt pretty strong - I was going along great, I hadn't stopped at all and then… there was this freaking HELLACIOUS hill right at the very end.  You had to get up this hill, before you turned into the stadium and finished on the nice flat track! :o(   The hill did me in,  I ran all the way up it - but at the top I had to stop and walk for about 10-20sec.  I was bummed.  Then I turned into the stadium and I did my best to sprint at the very end.  I never use to be able to do that, but recently it seems I've found a little extra right at the end and been able to sprint the last bit.  Anyway, my time when I came in said 29:13!  I was so freaking pissed… 3 secs off my PR!  If I hadn't walked that last little bit, I would have beaten my previous time… :o(
BUT THEN…. I checked my official time today…. 29:08!!!  Hells YES!!  I forgot that the time at the race is the time the gun goes off, not necessarily the time I cross the start and finish!  So, my PR streak is intact.  I think that will be the add on… to my 2014 resolution… 12 races in 12 months and each one try and PR.

What's my Resolution???

I've been mulling and debating and trying to decide what I'm going to do for my 2014 Resolution.  I'm really proud of myself for completing 12 5K's and finishing my resolution.  I never would have run that many 5K's if I hadn't made the resolution…so now how will I challenge myself?  I've been thinking of a couple of things… Zack suggested I do a 10K every month, but that's just running and I'm not sure I can actually find a 10K every month.  David Tatum wants me to run the Marine Corp Marathon, but I already told him I wasn't ready for that - at least not yet.

Here's what I'm contemplating right now…
#1 - I will continue to run a race every month, I mean why stop since it's been working.  I will just make an attempt to switch it up.  Maybe I'll run a 5K, maybe I'll run a 10K, maybe just a 2 miler, but something every month!

#2 - One of those races will be a half marathon, Zack said he'd run it with me! I have run 10 miles before.  It wasn't easy, fast or fun, but I did do it.  I probably could do 13.1 if I put my mind to it and tried training for it.  Although,  I might save this for next year, especially if I decide to focus on #3.

#3 - The thing I think I really want to do is run a Sprint Triathalon.  Not a full fledged one, but they have smaller ones where you swim about a mile, bike about 20-25 miles and run a 5K.  I think that would be the most challenging thing for me.  I have the run down, I'm sure I could learn to bike, of course I'd have to buy a bike first, but the swim is where it would be the most challenging.  I know how to swim, but I don't know HOW to SWIM… but I think I can figure it out.

What's my resolution…

Welcome 2013

We celebrated New Year's Eve in Mt. Burnside Way Style!  We ate until we were ready to puke and then we got dessert out!  The big kids played Xbox in the basement, the men watched football in the living room, the ladies hung out at the table solving all the world's problems and the little ones ran around like chickens with their heads cut off, spilling things, spreading toys every where and in general having a great time. It was great!  I had lots of craft supplies ready for everyone to make their own hats, but sadly no one was very interested.  I does make me a little sad when fun traditions fall by the wayside, but I just had another 15 cookies and it was all fine!  Most everyone left about 930pm, a few die hards made it until 10pm and Zoey and I hung on until the ball dropped.   Brenna has had 3 college friends spending the weekend and they were just heading out as the rest of us were winding down.  Oh to be young again.  We're so lucky in the friends we have and the place we live.   Where else in the history of the world, would you find 6 different families who's husbands all get along, wives all get along and kids all get along.  I mean that just doesn't happen, but it does on Mt. Burnside Way!  It's like the Leave it to Beaver life I always dreamed about when I was a kid moving around all the time. 

Austin, Evey and Laney

Like pigs at a trough

Brenna and roommate Brooke, Jack and Zack

Me and my midnight buddy

2012 was a very good, uneventful year and here's hoping that 2013 is more of the same.  Excitement is over-rated!  

I don't generally believe in doing New Year's Resolutions, mainly because it's not the date that makes a person ready to make a change, it's an internal thing.  But I have decided to go with a 2013 goal... I will attempt to run 1 - 5K every month this year.  I really don't think it will be that hard, but we'll see.  I finished by 5K trainer program, so I'm feeling a little pleased with myself.  I can't believe that I ran for 35 minutes.  I still have to stop and walk once or twice, but never more than a total of 60-90sec.  That's pretty good!  At least in my book that's awesome.  Never in a million years did I think I would be able to run for that long.  Sometimes, even while I'm running I can't believe it!  I've dropped 14 lbs and kept them off through the holidays.  Down to 120 lbs, I don't think I've weighed this since I was a freshman in high school and I gotta be honest - it feels pretty good.

Bring it 2013!    

Curses on my friend Kristie!

I love my friend Kristie... she is my blogging and pretty much life idol. If you want to read some wonderful writing check her out at http://www.notquitewhatihadplanned.com/ You won't be disappointed I promise.... but back to the curses I'm lobbing her way....

I've been struggling along on my New Year's "bat shit crazy- what was I thinking- how could I be so stupid" Resolution. Then I read Kristie's comment... All I can say, is God she's a smart woman!
Here's her point... and I think a very validate point at that....

I don't drink, I don't smoke, I don't overeat, I don't beat my children or my husband (wishing doesn't make it so) maybe I yell a little too much, but last time I checked that didn't cause cancer. So, if my only vice is Diet Soda... is that really so bad??? I am screaming out a resounding NO! Can you hear me? Cause my ears are ringing... No, dammit it's not so bad at all! So maybe I want to rethink my resolution.....

Do I think I'd be healthier if I gave up caffeine, soda and artificial sweetener...probably yes. But on the other hand does the world want a healthier longer-lived me if I'm a total BITCH???? I think we all know the answer to that... I'm almost more bitch than most can handle when I am fully caffienated and sodafied! I hesitate to imagine a crankier, bitchier me...

So, all day today, I've been rolling Kristies arguments around in my head and when the raging headache and nausea hit and I fell back on the Excedrin Migraine - I began to wonder...

Step #3

Step #3 - Today I ordered a White Chocolate Mocha at Starbucks...DECAF! I put back the Coke Zero I was clutching to my chest in line at the Commissary and got a Diet Crush instead....

I am caffeine free so far today... I have a small headache... it could be caffeine withdrawl or it could be that we are on day 8 of Winter Break and my family is driving me crazy.

To Resolve or Not to Resolve

Well it's that time of the year. Everyone is talking about resolutions, some are making resolutions and a few are already breaking resolutions. I don't make New Year's Resolutions - I haven't in years. The last successful New Years Resolution I made was in 1986, I was a sophomore in college and I resolved to stop smoking pot. The catch was... I didn't really smoke pot, my boyfriend did and all his skeevy friends did. So, instead of always having to say "no thanks" I made a big production of this "It was going to be tough...but I could do it" crazy resolution. Then when the situation arose... problem solved. My momma didn't raise no stupid girl! :o)

But about a week ago, a resolution came to me... I've been toying with it, but it's a BIG one! I think it's a good one, but it will be TOUGH and honestly I'm not sure I even WANT to do it. So, do I tell people and then feel like everyone is watching me? Is it added incentive to succeed? Or more proof of my inadequacey? Or do I keep it a secret - thereby pretty much insuring that I'll quit about halfway in??? Hmm..... decisions, decisions... So, I'm telling...

I have decided for 2010 that I am going to give up (attempt to give up).... artificial sweetener, caffeine and SODA!!! I know... Bat shit Crazy!!
Here's my reasoning and if anyone sees a flaw - shout it out!! I am more and more concerned about the amount of artifical sweetener I consume in coffee, soda etc... So that is the main driving force, I'd like to give that up. Here's the catch... if I give up artificial sweetener - then that means no more diet soda (I could never drink a regular soda again) it also means no more coffee. I only drink one cup of coffee a day, but the main reason I drink coffee is because it's a vehicle to get the sweetener and creamer into my body. Once when my brother-in-law saw me making a cup of coffee he said... "Julie, are you drinking coffee or making cookies!?" So if I'm not drinking coffee or soda, then really I've given up caffeine as well. I could drink decaf coffee, but I can't use my sweetener... so no go. The three are really interconnected, give up one and you give up them all. Damn... Now again if anyone can show me an article or a study that proves I don't have to worry about the artificial sweetener and that it's really good for me.... Please for the love of God show it to me and save me from myself!

Now all this being said, I'm not stupid! I'm doing any of this cold turkey... I am a firm believer in the wean yourself gradually off things, because as soon as you tell me I can't have something, then by God that's the first thing I want! Physically, I more worried about caffeine withdrawl and headaches, but psychologically I'm worried about soda. I love me my soda!!!! I heart soda!!!
So, Step #1 in my gradual weaning off is
#1 - once my Diet Mountain Dew runs out, I'm not buying any more. I have one lone can left in the refrigerator... it's been alone in there for 2 days now. Sometimes I just go out there and touch it and look at it. Once it's gone, it's gone.... that's sad....
#2 - I have converted over to Caffeine Free Diet Coke.

I'm still drinking my one cup of coffee in the morning, but I feel like I'm on my way to being caffeine free. Another week and I will eliminate the coffee and then I'll tackle the soda issue.
But before I can give up the soda completely I need to figure out... what I am going to drink???
I HATE water... HATE water... HATE water... everything else has calories.... I'm sure I'll be adding some juices...hitting the grocery store tomorrow, so I guess I'll look for some alternatives.

So, for the first time in 24 years I'm making a resolution...here's hoping it's as successful as 1986!