I guess it actually does work...

Okay.. just went upstairs to get dressed for subbing.  Put on a pair of pants that "fit" last year (meaning I only looked slightly like a stuffed sausage when I wore them) and now they won't stay up even with a belt! Don't know if I should be thrilled (yes of course) or horrified because I might actually have to go shopping again!  I guess eating healthy and actually doing some exercise really does work. Was going to treat myself to a muffin - cause that's how I roll.  Hmmm... worked out today how about a nice bag of gummy bears to treat yourself!  But now I think I'll hold off, try and be strong.  Ran again today... by running I mean I ran for 1min intervals - 8 times.  But it's still running.  Now I feel certain if I actually needed to run to the bathroom I could make it!

0 to 5K... in honor of Zombies

I don't like to run, I always tell people, "I don't even run to the bathroom!"  But just recently I found this 5K race called Run for Your Life 5K.  It's a zombie 5K!  Now if there is any sort of 5K I could possibly run it would be one where zombies are chasing me.  It's also an obstacle course along with the 5K.  So you are jumping over obstacles, mud pits, wall climbs etc...  I thought I might issue a Mt Burnside 5K challenger and see if we can get a big group from the neighborhood to run.  But....if I"m going to do that, then I need to be able to RUN. A. 5K!  Now this race isn't until next year, but you can never plan to far ahead... So.... I found a Iphone app called 5K Runner.  Apparently it's suppose to take me from couch to 5K in 8 weeks.  I've tried something like this before and I made it through the first week, but as soon as I had to run longer than 90 secs... I totally bailed.  Cause I hate running!  But, I've decided to try again.  The thing I like about this app, is that it uses my own music.  So instead of gay elevator music "motivating"me to run - I get to listen to my own rad tunes.  Then the instructor just beeps in and tells me when to run and when to walk.

I'm hoping I'l be more successful this time.  Mainly because I've already lost about 8lbs this summer and I like the way I feel.  I like that I can wear jeans that I haven't had on in a year.  Same for 3 pairs of pants I found in my closet that I forgot I had because they had been too tight for the last year.  I like that I can wear them again.  I'm worried now that I'm not doing the Fit in 15 amy more that those lbs are going to creep back.  I really can't walk any longer than I already do.  It's hard enough to find 60-90mins to walk everyday, so trying to add on more time is just not going to happen.  So, it looks to me like my only choice is to up the intensity.  This program starts out with only about 15 mins of running with a walking cool down before and after.  I am going to try and just sandwich it in the middle of my walk.  No harm, no foul...  Today was day 1.  I did it with no problem, Zoey wasn't completely happy with the idea of running, but she warmed up to it eventually.  It was a beautiful, cool, fall day and was just nice to be outside even if part of the time I was running.  We'll see, I have high hopes, but don't we all at the beginning of any project or plan!?  Let's see how I feel on week 4!  I'm hoping the combination of being able to eat more and still escape from the Zombie hordes will serve to keep me motivated!!

I miss my juice!

   Back on the eating bandwagon,  making a real effort to eat smart and I think I am, but it takes so much effort!  You have to think about what you are going to eat, then make it and then eat it!  It's much easier to be unhealthy.  Doritos and Slim Jims just sit there mocking me in their easy grab, ready to go packets!  I find myself really missing my juices.  All the work and effort taken out of it...hungry? Go in grab your juice and go.  Done.  If that juicing bar was closer, I'd be there everyday!  I miss my Mean Lemonaid, my Easy Green, and believe it or not even my Carrot/Coconut Water!

   I guess it's conceivable that if I really wanted more juice I could actually make my own with the jucier that I own, but talk about effort... that is TOO. MUCH. WORK!  So, not sure what I'm going to do... maybe I'll make a pilgrimage to the juice bar and stock up... Drink one or two a day... I don't know....
                                                                 

     VS. 

Oh my dilemma!

Made my choice...

Oops! I did it again...Done, but it's not about the number.

I woke up this morning and realized I was done with the juicing.  Of course I pranced right over, in my panties and zombie apocalypse t-shirt, to the scale I borrowed yesterday from a neighbor.  We don't own a scale, haven't owned one since I was in my 20's. As a matter of fact, when I was walking into the house with it, John said..."Why are you bringing that evil machine into our house!"  He actually seemed quite perturbed!  I don't believe in scales, I know they aren't good for me personally.  I see a scale and I have to step on it and then there's a number in black and white that you can't get out of your head.  And for me aside from Freshman year in college when I gained the "freshman 25"(thank you Munich West Germany and a "major" in Beerfest!)  I've never been that worried about my weight.  True story... the end of my freshman year of college I weighed the same thing I weighed when I delivered both my kids!!!  Even then I didn't really diet, just quit with the beer and alcohol and most of it went away.
So for me - it's never really been about the number... more about do my pants fit,  does John roll over to my side of the bed when I lie down or do the airlines "suggest" I buy and extra seat just in case!  And lately, more importantly it's been about health and fitness... can I run away from the zombies when the Zombie Apocalypse hits!  I don't want to be the slowest, juiciest, fat-padded runner in the pack!

But I digress....Back to my story... I pranced over to the scale and stepped on it and Lo and Behold...I saw a number I don't remember seeing much even in high school!  123.5!  SAY. WHAT...I stepped on the scale 3 more times just in case.  Sort of like the time when I first worked in the lab and I did my own pee pregnancy test and it was positive, so then I drew my own blood and did a serum test and it was positive and so then I drew my blood from the OTHER arm, I guess just in case I was only preggers on one side and it was positive!  Sorta like that, 4 times on the scale and still the same number!  It was pretty exciting,  now I know as soon as I start eating that number is going to go away.  I understand that that's not even a number I'm interested in trying to stay at.  As a matter of fact as soon as my neighbor is up I will return the evil machine to her and not worry about it again.

But that number and the sense of accomplishment I feel, ARE motivation for me to step back from the Doritos and Slim Jims (but not the Drunken gummies, I'm heading for those when I finish here) and go back to making conscious choices about what I stuff in my mouth.  I almost don't feel like eating yet, because of the pressure to make that first bite a good one....

Oops! I did it again...Day Three

I'm on my last drink...almond milk and then I'll be done.  Went over to borrow my neighbors scale just for the hell of it and I'll weigh myself tomorrow.  Today really wasn't too bad.  I spent most of the day up at the high school doing spiritwear and other stuff and then home working on the computer so it was pretty easy to avoid eating.  I was definitely hungry, but I was easily able to ignore it and by the time I was REALLY hungry it was time for another juice.

Now it's almost done and I feel pretty good about the whole thing.  I don't know how much actual "cleansing" got done or if I'm any healthier but I do feel more ready to get back on the eating healthy bandwagon and after all that was the point of the whole thing.

Would I do it again... probably if I felt like my eating was out of control.  It's a good reminder that you don't always have to eat every time you feel a twinge.  I didn't particularly notice a lag in energy.  Food or no food, by 3 o'clock I'm ready for a nap!  And I really only noticed a headache on Day Two and it wasn't bad enough to even take anything for.

All in all.... now that it's only a good night's sleep away from being over...pretty decent experience... minus the carrot juice!

Oops I did it again...Day Two

Well....Day Two...It wasn't awful, but it has been a little more of a challenge since I was stuck at home waiting for window people to show up.  It's a lot easier to not eat when you are out running errands or in meetings. I've also spent more time in the bathroom... jeez with the peeing...

Pretty much the same juices as yesterday except for two substitutions because the juice bar ran out.  So instead of Easy Green, I had Coco-Phyll which was spinach, romaine, kale, cucumber, celery and coconut water. It was fine, not as good as the ones with apple in them but not awful.  It certainly made me feel healthy drinking it.  The other adjustment I made was I mixed my carrot juice and coconut water - halfsies.  It helped a little bit, I had twice as much carrot to drink but half as strong.  I'm just not a fan of the carrot!  Still absolutely loved the Mean Lemonaid, I could drink that stuff by the gallon!  Yummy!

I also had a different milk to drink tonight. Choco Maca Milk - almond milk, cacao powder, maca mesquite (what the hell is that?) and cinnamon.  It was okay, a little bit like watered down chocolate ice cream.  Probably really good if you like milk and ice cream to begin with, but not really my thing.  But by 845pm I was so hungry I was thankful to have anything!

I was definitely hungrier on Day Two and it freaking amazes me how much "food stuff" is all around us!  Every TV commercial, book, magazine is full of food.  I must have downloaded 15 recipes from Pinterest, it was all I could do to keep myself from licking the TV when a commercial for Stouffers MeatLoaf came on!  MEATLOAF... I don't even like meatloaf... but it looked so moist and gravy-ful and warm....STOP!  I had to go hide down in the basement while John and Zack ate dinner for fear I would snatch that Ramen right out of Zack's hands and slurp it down before anyone could stop me!

I do feel skinner, emptier than when I'm stuffing my mouth with Doritos and cheese and slim jims.  But getting through today is going to be a challenge....

Oops I did it again - Day One

I survived Day One.  I gotta say it wasn't as easy as the cleanse I did myself a few months back.  That one, based on the Blueprint Cleanse, had juices mixed in with smoothies and smoothies are much more filling than straight up juices.  I found myself much hungrier than last time, but as long as I kept myself distracted it worked out okay.

First up instead of my regular tea - Hot water with lemon and 1/2 ginger shot.  It was okay, not particularly tasty, but at least warm.
1st juice - Mean Lemonaid - water, lemon, cayenne pepper and coconut nectar.  It was freaking AWESOME! I was really hesitant at first, but this was really delicious!  Got me started off right.  Although I did find myself mourning a little for my traditional 1/2 bagel with tomato, bacon and a little mayo spread.  But I powered on.
2nd juice - Easy Green - Kale, cucumber, apple and lemon.  It was also pretty good.  I like the green juices - they definitely taste like you are drinking something healthy.
3rd juice - 22 Karat - it's straight up carrot juice.  It definitely tasted like carrots, but I found it a little hard to take.  It tasted a little dirty and it did make my throat itch a little.  I had a hard time getting through it.  I added half a beet shot - but it didn't do much to help.  I might actually skip the carrot juice tomorrow.
4th juice - Coconut Water - It was okay, but I think my stomach was still wonky from the carrot juice and I couldn't make it through the whole thing.  I think if I hadn't had the carrot juice I would have been okay.
5th juice - Green apple - Green apple + cucumber.  It was fine.
Last drink - Almond Milk - not my favorite, but I don't like regular milk.  I drank it all though, because supposedly the extra protein and fat in it helps you feel full and sleep better.

I wasn't starving, but I did spend most of the day at least slightly hungry.  The biggest challenge was the mindset of grabbing a snack when the hunger pangs kicked in.  That and watching TV is a pain in the ass... sweet lord do you know how many FOOD commercials there are???  EVERYTHING starts to look good by about juice #3.  I even found myself a little jealous as a scooped Cooper and Zoey's food into their bowls tonight.  I also have a wonderful bowl of Drunken Gummies "brewing" in the refrigerator and their allure is growing daily!  I keep telling myself "one gummy won't make that big a difference."  But we all know it's never just one gummy!  And really, when you are trying to cleanse your system I don't think the best thing to sneak is processed, artifical perservatives and sugar + vodka! Stay Strong! Stay Strong!  I think today may be a challenge.

Oops! I'm doing it again!

I've decided to try another one of those 3-day Juice cleanses.  Only this time I'm paying someone else to do all the work.  I found a fancy Juice Bar in Maryland, through one of the bloggers I read and I thought Why Not?  I've been doing really great all summer watching what I'm eating, not dieting, but just trying to be more aware and consciously making good choices.  Only eating when I'm really hungry, no mindless snacking, measuring out appropriate portion sizes and making healthy choice instead of always defaulting to a slim jim and some Doritios when the first hunger pangs hit.  That, in combination with our Summer Fit in 15 had 6 lbs falling by the wayside.  Yeah!  Pants that were a tad snug are now loose and flappy.  Anyway,  all that has fallen by the wayside over the last 2-3 weeks.  I know it's all stress.  Brenna going back to college, Zack starting high school, I've taken over a huge administrative position on the Crew Board and am still doing all the same stuff for Athletic Boosters. With school starting sometimes I have 3 different meetings in one day not to mention all the little "critical" shit that's gotta get done so the big stuff doesn't go down in flames.  Let's not forget the upcoming bathroom remodel. Can anyone say Post Traumatic Tile and Paint Syndrome!  It's all starting to get to me, I'm having the "can't find my locker" "can't find my class that I forgot to go to" and  "can't catch the hundreds of snakes appearing in my house" dreams.  Those are always an indication that I'm feeling overwhelmed and out of control.
Long story short (too late), I've been partaking of the snack food just a little too much and been feeling yuck!  Soooooo, I saw this bloggers Blog and I thought "Hey, I should do that again."  But I just couldn't add the stress of having to make it all myself, and shop and blah, blah, blah.  I've been tucking away "Mad Money" every month forever, and what better to spend my mad money stash on than  Juice Cleanse torture therapy!

I drove out to Bethesda yesterday and picked up my 18 bottles of juice, my 3 beet juice shots and 1 ginger shot and tucked it all away in the refrigerator.

Today's the day... of course, just like when you make an appointment for your kids at the doctor and they suddenly get better, I woke up this morning, the first morning of my juice fast....STARVING!.  Not just a little twinge of "Hmm I think I'll eat a little earlier this morning" hungry.  Freaking, stabbing hunger pangs hungry.  Oh well...

Right now I'm "enjoying" hot water with a slice of lemon, and 1/3 of the ginger shot (it's very spicy).  Not nearly as satisfying as the bagel and cream cheese I would love to be eating.  But I bought, I committed and I will persevere!

This "free, public" education costs how much???

$119.73 for SCHOOL.SUPPLIES!  Are you kidding me???  All I can say is....Momma better get me some A's!!!

First Day... We survived.

 Kindergarten

We both survived the 1st day of high school!  I think it was probably rougher for me than Zack.  I do think he was a little more nervous than he let on since when I woke up at 6am he was already in the shower!  He also voluntarily picked out his own school supplies.
    I worked in the Spiritwear Store all day and he actually came up to the store at lunch time and said hello.  Quite different from his sister who use to walk the extra long way around the school to avoid me! :o)  I got to see him at lunch and he apparently found someone to eat with and seemed to be smiling and fine when he exited the cafeteria.

9th grade

     He found his bus just fine, got home safely and proceeded to regale me with tales of his day....NOT!
This is how our recap of the day went:
Me - "How was your day?"
Zack - "Fine."
Me - "Come on throw your mom a bone, tell me something..."
Zack - "It was good."

That's it... that's all I got.  This child should become some sort of super secret spy, he's so good at keeping mum!  But from what little I could pry from his tight closed lips... it seemed to be fine.  His teachers are "cool." And that's about it.
But I'll take it, no drama, no tears and seems to be fine going back tomorrow... I think I consider it a success!

Nervous, worried, hesitant and little excited with a few small seeds of panic thrown in...

       Tomorrow's the day... I know I've said it before but I cannot believe my baby boy will be in HIGH SCHOOL!  It's exciting, heart-wrenching, gut-clenching all at the same time.  I know in my head that he is totally ready for this.  He is happy, confident, strong.  He has plenty of friends, he's been up at the high school with me, taken tours, for heaven's sake he's been in this same school system since he was in the 3rd grade.  It's as close to a "home town" as any military brat could ever get.  I KNOW he's going to be fine, but my heart is FREAKING OUT!!  Now is the time that I try not to project all my insecurities onto him.  Will he be able to find his classes, will he have any friends, will he have someone to eat lunch with, will he be able to find his bus home... you know the drill....
      I dont' think I even worried this much about Brenna, of course part of that could have been that she was deep into the obnoxious, rude, snotty teenage years, so maybe we didn't like her as much! :o)  Zack is just barely dipping his toes into those rude, obnoxious years!  We still like him a lot...mostly! :o)
    It makes me laugh, if you ask any of the boys...Zack, Tyler, Sal or Wyatt if they are excited or ready for school,  they are like, "yeah, sure, whatever."  If you ask any of the mothers, they are likely to fall into a quivering ball of nerves and doubts.  That's why we're all meeting for mimosas and drunken gummies as soon as they get on the bus!
There's noting wrong with drinking at 730am...right???  Just a small orange juice drink...it's actually a healthy breakfast drink...

He's ready.  I know he's ready so I'm just gonna hold on tight (but not too tight) and go along for the ride!