My Latest Obsession

Cooling Off

After my run today I jumped into the pool w/ Lisa.  Jack had just put some fresh, ice-cold water in and it was just what I needed.  (Studies show that ice baths after strenuous exercise help to reduce inflammation and slow blood flow to any injuries.)  We had a lot of fun playing around in the water!

Out and About

Here are some pictures from a day last week when we were up and at 'em early w/ the kiddos. I love getting so much outside time in the summer.  It is refreshing.  On this day (I think last Friday) we were all out of the house before 9 am.  I took a run and Jack walked to children to the park.  After my run I met them at the park and we all walked home together.  It was so much fun. Whenever we are out early like this the Lisa and Baby Jack take such great naps too!

I DID IT!!!

I reached my next goal!  I placed in the top three in my age group in a 5k race.  I placed second actually!  (I can hardly believe it.)  My best friend Tara and I ran a race at a the local Celtic festival last night.  It was a great run.  And the festival was a good time too.  I felt really good when I was running.  Just a little winded as I haven't been back to training for long.  But that is okay- I made it.  Final time = 27:58. Down 42 seconds from my last 5k.  When my name was called I was totally shocked to hear it.  I really couldn't tell where I was in the pack during the run.  I did get a little teary eyed as I accepted my silver medal so I was glad to have my shades on.... or rather Grace's shades on.  Anyway-  I have to set a new goal now.  I didn't expect to reach that one so soon.  Hmmmmm.  I'll have to get back to you.  For now I am just super happy.  Peace out!

Pool running...

is what I did today.  Different.  I've never pool run before.  But my leg was a little sore this morning and I have a 5k tomorrow.  I DID NOT WANT TO SWIM.  I am sick of swimming these days.  I was actually scheduled to run so this was a nice compromise.  I think I must have looked rather silly to people who don't know what pool running is.  I ran around the deep end in a square area and only my head was out of the water.  This had to look totally ridiculous!  I ran for a half hour and it seemed to be a good workout.  But my legs are not sore!  Fantastic!  Peace.

New sign on fridge

They are sugar-free and soooo many less calories than what I've been craving.  (See yesterday's blog.)

Things I am craving....

McDonalds

Pizza Hut

Mexican food

Chocolate Cake

Chips

Cheese

More Miles

My mileage went up today.  Just a little but enough to notice a difference.  I am running 2 miles at a time now.  It feels good to be running more.  I am doing a mile walk for a warm up and a half mile walk for a cool down.  My right hamstring is a little tight.... hmmmm.  I need to like live on my foam roller.  I am getting my runs in at better times.  Today I went to the YMCA w/ the kiddos at 9 am.  Last night I ran at 6 pm.  So much better than 10 pm!  Okay- I need to go to bed now... going to run in the morning again tomorrow.  Peace!

Ditto

Have you read yesterday's blog?  Crazy kids.  Missing husband.  Late night run.  Well- ditto.  (I took pic myself on treadmill.)  I've got to stop these late night runs.... it takes me hours afterwards to wind down.  For instance- I just popped a batch of brownies in the oven for Jack and we started a movie 10 minutes ago!  Some how I think tomorrow might be the same.  Oh well- I am still just happy to be running!  Ni-night.

Late Night Run

I've had a long day.  Baby Jack has a stomach virus and is teething.  Lisa is being challenging (read- extremely disobedient.)  The house looked like an atom bomb landed here.  And Jack had to be gone most of day.  So after a lot of cleaning, a lot of time outs, a lot of the BRAT diet, a ton of OraJel, and a little spanking- I was finally able to get a run in.  AT 10 PM!  It was dark so I had to run on the treadmill.  That is okay though- I was just happy to get to run.  It was an enjoyable run.  I ran at a moderate pace and was able to keep my heart rate in the correct zone. Yay for running.  Now I need to go to bed!  Peace out.

P.S. Check out my running skirt outfit my Mom gave me for my birthday!

Oh Jenny how I miss you

I spoke to my Jenny Craig consultant today.  She called to check on me and see how I was doing.  I am now going in only monthly for weigh ins.  I miss the center and am really looking forward to visiting on August 9th at 8:35 am.  (I am not counting down or anything!  Right.)  It is just such a great atmosphere and the girls are all so supportive.  My consultant thinks I am ready for once a month consultations and I think she is probably right.  (She usually is.)  I never thought I'd be at this point (maintenance)- but I've been maintaining almost three months!

In workout news.... my orthotics are great.  I am back to running according to my doctors plan. Today I ran a mile and walked 2.  I will do the same tomorrow and then the next day boost it up to running 1.5 miles.  It feels SO GOOD to run again.  I am stretching and following my doctor's orders perfectly.  Hopefully I don't get injured.  It is so nice to be running.  I will never take it for granted again.  Peace out!

Beef- It's not for dinner

After recommending this book to like everyone I know...I am finally reading it for myself.  And maybe I should have just left well enough alone.  OMG!  To say I am sick to my stomach is quite possibly the understatement of the year.  I cannot believe the junk I am putting into my body.... Into my children!  I find myself wondering if there is a book that plays devil's advocate to this... b/c this just cannot all be true!  (I know it is probably all true.  I am just astounded right now.) So how do I even begin to change my eating habits?  The idea of me being a vegetarian is laughable.... never mind vegan!  (I just started eating vegetables a year ago.  I thinking I might starve to death if I went vegan.  Very skinny bitch.)  Hmmmm- I will have to think about this some more.  For right now-- I physically cannot eat meat after reading the chapter I read last night.  Now that may change tomorrow or the next day- but for me, in this moment, I just can't eat meat.  Even the idea is making me dry-heave as I type.

WARNING- This book is written in an extremely crude, vile, and inappropriate manner.

See Jack Run

That is my honey running!  Yay Jack!  He is wanting to get back in shape and thought he would try running.  He has bad knees so we've always thought maybe he shouldn't run.  But after reading this article we think it might be good for him to try.  I told him that if he sticks w/ it I will pick up golf!  We will see what happens.  Peace out.

It's My Party

We just returned from my 30th birthday party!!!  It was so much fun!  It was Tara's idea to throw me a party and she did a great job!  We drank margaritas, ate tacos, and gabbed all day. (The party had a Mexican theme = awesome.)  The kiddos played in the pool and sprinkler.  A good time was had by all.  I was amazed and humbled by the people who showed up to wish me a happy birthday.  Thank you to everyone for being there. Thanks to my parent's who brought the children home and put them to bed for us.  Thank you especially to Tara and Anthony for giving me such an great gift and for opening up your home.  I thought I had more pictures on my camera but they must have been taken on other people's cameras.  Here are a couple great shots.  Peace.

They're Here!!!

My orthotics are in!!  My doctor called this morning at 9 am to tell me my long-awaited orthotics had arrived in his office.  I was on the road to Cincinnati by noon.  It took 3 hours on the dot to drive to Cincinnati, get the goods, and drive home.  The kids were super good and I was so grateful.  I was dying to get out and run all afternoon.  I finally hit the road at about 5:30.  I walked 2.5 miles and ran .5 of a mile.  The doctor has me on an exact schedule of running so I get used to the orthotics and don't get injured.  They felt good.  Nothing hurt.  My IT Band especially did not hurt.  I have no blisters yet.  (He said there is a chance I will get blisters and need an adjustment.)  Below are pictures of them.  The top side and the bottom side.  They just fit in your shoe and basically make you a super-star.  Ha ha.  I wish.  I'll be happy if they help keep me from getting injured again!

Cute haircut-Great Swim

I took Baby Jack to the barber shop today.  It was time for a haircut.  His curls were cute but they were starting to look a little ghetto.  Now he looks so grown up!  Like a little boy instead of a baby.

In workout news-- I put in a mile in the pool today.  I am doing a new workout and it really makes swimming less boring.  At the Y they have a few different swim workouts typed up and laminated.  They are hanging on the wall by the pool and if you want to use one you can just put it on the edge of the pool during your swim.  They are interval workouts like I do when I run. There are different levels and distances you can choose from.  I do 1 mile moderate or hard.

It breaks down like this:

Warm up- 2oo meters freestyle

3 x 100 meters freestyle (20 second break after each)

4 x 50 meters freestyle (10 second break after each)

4 x 25 meters freestyle (10 second break after each)

1 minute break

2 x 50 meters rotating back stroke and freestyle

200 meters of breast stroke

4 x 50 meters of arm pulls using buoy (foam piece between you knees so you can't kick legs)

4 x 50 meters of kicks using kick-board

500 meter cool down

It is a great workout!!  (As far as swimming goes.)  Doing a mile this way really breaks it up so it is not so monotonous.  I am completely exhausted when I am done.  Ni-night!

My 30th B-Day

Today was a good day for turning 30 and all.  Jack let me sleep in and had an egg sandwich ready for me when I woke up.  Yummy!  I took the kiddos to the library.  Then I took a nap w/ them.  When I got up I went on a 4 mile walk which felt super good.  It was high 80's today and I got some sun which I totally needed.  This evening my brother-in-law came over and watched the children so Jack and I could go out to dinner.  Can you say- La Fiesta?!!  We had a nice relaxing dinner and then did a little shopping.  I am glad to be passed today.  It was not bad.  In fact I only had one drink!  (See pic below.)  But it is always good to have these big milestones behind you.  Here are some pics from the evening.  Unfortunately, Baby Jack was already in bed.  Thanks to everyone who has called or texted me today.  My phone has been ringing off the hook!  Hope you all had a great day.  I sure did!  Peace out!

The Party's Over

As the sun sets on the eve of my 30th birthday I am a little nostalgic.  I keep thinking about so many years and so many birthdays when I was so much younger.  I know people say "30 is the new 20".  Frankly, I think that is crap.  That is just a phrase that people say as they age to make themselves feel better.  They are the same people who will say, in 10 years, "40 is the new 30". They will continue to say this until they are like "Death is the new 90"... or something.  

I say- "Nothing is the new 20!"  And that is okay.  A year ago if someone had asked me what I would be doing the night before my 30th birthday I would have said, "If I have not taken my own life I will be drunk, crying on the kitchen floor."  BUT- that is not the case anymore.   Don't get me wrong- I am not super-happy about the middle-agey way I feel.  However, I am not flying into hysterics every time I think about turning 30 tomorrow.  (Although I have gasped once or twice today when I remembered tomorrow is the 9th of July.)  

A year ago I set some goals for my 30th birthday and I've pretty much met them all.  I blogged about it here.  Goals include:

1. Take care of major medical problem.-- CHECK

2. Establish better prayer life routine.-- CHECK

3. Pay more attention to marriage.-- CHECK

4. Discipline my children in all areas of their lives.-- CHECK

5. Reach 125 pounds.-- CHECK

I also added the goal of becoming debt free.  This could not be achieved by my birthday but we are well on our way!

All in all I am very pleased w/ the state of my affairs at this time.  If you are going to turn 30 you might as well have your ducks in a row!  Get you life together- you are going to get old anyway!  I have made this last year all about me... I honestly think everyone in my home has benefited from that decision.  Now- as for actually telling people that I am 30 years old.  I'll think about that tomorrow.  Excuse me while I go open a Smirnoff.  Peace!

New Clothes!!

Mom and I were shopping for 11 hours today.  I had so much fun.  Thanks Mom!  What a great birthday present.  I love my new clothes.

Shopping anyone?

Tomorrow my Mom is taking me shopping for the whole day! Those of you who know me know I don't care to shop.  However, this is my birthday present from my parents and I really need it.  I have no clothes that fit.  And, honestly, I think my Mother is embarrassed to be seen w/ me in public in all my baggy-clothes glory.  (It is not that bad... I look kinda punk.)  I don't think I will mind shopping so much now that I can wear fun, cute clothes. My Mom is used to my power-shopping sisters though.... so we will see if I can keep up. Wish me luck!

Relaxing Holiday for Us

I had a good workout day today.  The YMCA was closed for the holiday so I was left to walking, as I am still not supposed to be running.  (I am not supposed to run until I get my orthotics. I've cheated a few times.)  Anyway- I walked outside in the rain and it was wonderful!  I wore a windbreaker of Jack's w/ a hood and didn't mind the rain at all.  I did 4 miles at a decent pace. It took a while to get my heart rate up b/c I wasn't running but that is okay.  Caloriesperhour.com says I burned 272 calories so I am fine w/ that!  We had a nice relaxing holiday here.  Jack let me sleep in since I was up late watching the trials last night.  (Which, BTW, were super-edge-of-your-seat exciting.)  The children just played or we read to them during the day.  We let them go out and play in the wet grass when it stopped raining this afternoon.  The baby was in bed and asleep for the night at 5:15!!!  Lisa went to bed at her normal 7 pm but we woke her up at 9:15 so she could go to the fireworks w/ Jack.  It is her first fireworks and she is soooooooooo excited.  Here is a picture of them on their way out the door.  Happy 4th!

Up Late

Tonight is another night of the U.S. Track and Field trials.  I love watching them.  Unfortunately, running fans cannot usually view their sports during normal hours.  Like tonight the trials are on from 11 pm to 1 am.  Geesh.  So I try to take a nap these days or at least sleep in on the next day. One night they were on from 12:30 am to 1:30 am.  I did have a few nights were the were earlier.  But- I don't mind staying up b/c the races are so exciting.

In swimming news I did another mile today.  I am getting faster and faster.  The reason why.... I started using flippers!  All the serious swimmers at the YMCA use them.  So I tried on a pair and went to town.  I am swimming the same amount of time as I always have but going twice as far!  What a great workout!

My Ring!!!

I got my wedding ring set back from the jewelers today.  (I had to stop wearing it in February.)  I had to take them down a whole size!  I went from a size 6 to a size 5.  It is nice to have it back but it sure feels weird on my finger.  This is a bad picture but it looks great because they polish it up, clean it, etc.

In workout news... I swam another mile today.  I figured out something that makes me faster.  (Thank goodness.)  I'll have more on that tomorrow.  Peace out!