Another Sunny Day!

Is this December?

What a beautiful day!  Contrary to the Christmas carol- The weather outside is definitely NOT frightful here.  I can't believe it is really December!  Today, when I ran, it was 72 degrees out.  The kids and I took a walk.  It was just a great day to be outside.  Here a couple of pics.

Ab Flatteners!

I've been working on my abs a lot lately.  And my same old routine has gotten a little monotonous.  So I found this great article on Yahoo and I printed it out.  It has 5 new exercises and instructions.  It felt good to change things up.  Jack was so kind to help me.  He read me the instructions while he was sitting on the couch, watching football, and eating a cake I baked!  I was laying on the floor trying to complete the reps for each exercise and he was just calling out instructions like "Feet 2 inches from floor. No, honey. Bring your feet closer to the floor."  How sweet of him.  Anyway, if you get a chance it is a great workout!

On the running front- I am having a little leg trouble.  My same old injury.  I don't want to talk about it b/c I don't want to freak myself out BUT- I am headed to a new chiropractor hopefully on Monday.  I also hope to get a new massage therapist.  I know all the things I need to do to keep myself from getting more hurt and I hope to avoid going back to PT.  I am still able to run.  I got in 7 miles today.  It just takes me a long time to get my leg prepared for a run.  Today I stretched, manipulated, and warmed up for 45 minutes!  Who has time for that?  Not me.  I will keep you all posted.  

P.S.-- Do the Ab workout!

A King is born!

Merry Christmas! From the Napier Family.

Getting Ready

New places. New faces.

I went to my new Jenny Craig Center today.  It was my first visit there and I was a little nervous.  I don't know why.  Everyone I met was super-nice.  I did get a little homesick for my old center and the staff there.  My new consultant is super-sweet.  I will miss Melissa (former consultant) a lot.  But my new one is encouraging and cool too.  She has lost 60 pounds and kept it off for 7 years!  I weighed in a little under my goal weight which is where I like to be.  And I picked up some soups and some gingerbread cookies.  Yummy!

Somebody Turned 5!

We had  a great big "Hello Kitty" bash to celebrate Lisa's 5th birthday this weekend. Jack and I are both sick and super-tired... but we think it was a good time!  I still cannot believe I have a 5 year-old.  It seems like she was a baby yesterday.  I know that makes me sound old... but that is really how I feel.  Here are some pics.  

  

Race Pictures!

Michelle Wins The Biggest Loser!!

Yay!!  I am so happy w/ the results of last night's finale of 

"The Biggest Loser".  My favorite contestant, Michelle,

won.  She looked fabulous! Michelle lost a total of 110 pounds and 45.45 percent of her body weight!

I was so happy to see her win.  Everyone's transformations were amazing.  I was especially impressed w/ Jerry, both Amy's, Phil, and Heba. Click here to see everyone's stats.  I just love this show.  I cried on and off throughout the whole finale.  Well, I cried on and off the whole season actually!  I am so impressed w/ these people's determination.  It hits close to home for me.  Way to go everyone!  You are all winners!

A day at the Races!

My family had an active day!  We were at one of the local parks bright and early at 7:45 for Lisa and I to run some races today.  First up was Lisa in the one mile fun run.  I ran w/ her and we had a blast.  She ran the whole way- no stopping.  We held hands and shuffled a few times but she was a trooper.  She told many people as we passed them (or they passed us) "Great job!"  It was cute.  The race organizers had people on the course to cheer us on and it was neat to see Lisa's reaction.  When someone would yell "You are doing great" or "You can do it" she would really pick up the pace.  She really booked it across the finish line!  Lisa finished in just over 13 minutes and I am so proud of her.  At the end of the day Lisa also participated in a race called "The Fastest Kid in Garner".  Kids ran a 50 yard dash in their age groups- Kindergarten through 5th grade.  Although she is not the winner of the title- we have told her she is the Second Fastest Kid in Garner!

My race took place about 45 minutes after the fun run.  I was nice and warmed up from the mile.  I did some stretches and a little more jogging and I was ready to go.  I started in the third row. I had one goal in mind.  To PR (set a Personal Record).  My PR is from high school and I desperately wanted to beat it today.  It was set my freshman year at 23:24.  I've been chasing it all season.  From the second the gun went off I felt great.  I was not concerned w/ placing or trophies.  I just wanted a certain time. (I thought I might place b/c this was the first year for this race and it was small. But that was not my goal.)  So the entire run I just chanted to myself.... "23:23. 23:23."  While running I decided that, if it was humanly possible, I would pass every woman that I saw.  In the first mile I passed 4 women.  In the second mile I passed one.  But after that I didn't see any more women. Hmmmm?  I just kept trucking along saying "23:23. 23:23." to myself.  I am sure all the men I was running w/ thought I was crazy!  As I neared the finish line I was surprised to hear an MC on a microphone calling out to the crowd.  I heard him say, "And here is number 53.  Sarah Napier! She is the second woman to finish today!  Lets give Sarah a hand folks!"  I almost stopped running right there!  The second woman!  Are you kidding me?!  I was so happy- I really almost just started walking over the finish line.  BUT- I could see the big clock.  And I could see it counting up the time.  (I had a timing chip- but I knew I was close to the clock b/c I started near the front.) I don't run w/ my glasses on so by the time I could actually read the clock I could see it said "23:15"!!!!!!!!  And I just started hauling it!  I don't think I've EVER ran so fast, so tired in my whole life.  I really wanted to get my 23:23 or better.  My heart was about to jump out of my chest!  So- how do you think I did?  Click here for the results.

Top 3 females w/ Mayor who handed out awards.

What carb-loading means to me...

One More Week...

until the season finale of "The Biggest Loser"!  I am so excited about it.  Just like last season, America gets to vote on who will be the third finalist.  It was hard this time b/c we had to choose between Heba and Ed, who are husband and wife.  Both totally deserve to be there.  Ed was so sweet in last night's episode.  He asked America not to vote for him but to vote for his wife! What a great husband!  I voted for Heba.  The two other finalists are Michelle and Vicky.  Overall- I would like Michelle to win b/c she is just soooo cute.  But if not her- then Heba b/c she was the heaviest girl.  We will see what happens next Tuesday at 8 pm!  I cannot wait!

Out of sight. Out of mind.

I have decided to put Jack's junk food out of my reach.  Literally.  I put everything unhealthy that I could find in the cabinet above the microwave.  It is so high I need a stool to get up there. I don't think I'll be too tempted to munch on these anymore.  I will problem forget they are even there!  Hopefully.

Dining Room- getting somewhere

Here are some pics of my dining room.  We have not been using it b/c the table was broke while in storage.  Well, my handy-dandy husband has fixed it and I am so happy to be eating at a real table in a real dining room!  Next up- I am hanging some sheers my Mother gave me and making some curtains.  I keep looking at curtain material and I only like 3 colors- black, white, and red.  Hmmmmm.  What to do?  Also, Jack is going to re-stain the table to match my dark wood cabinets and floor.  And look at this mirror!  It looks so SMALL!  Trust me- it is not that small.  Some of you have seen this mirror in person and you know it is not as small as it looks in this picture!  Do you think it is that big white wall making it look so tiny?  Goodness, I can't believe I have it up there.  I am going to have to hang 2 things on either side of it aren't I? What could I hang?  I like things that are symmetrical, clean-looking, and black, white, or red.

While I am talking about the mirror I will tell you....  Anna and I had a heck of a time putting it up!  Jack suggested that I have her come over b/c he knew that if he hung the mirror w/ just me there that the next day Anna would come over and insist it should be 2 inches lower!  So we had Jack stank holding the 50 pound mirror on the wall.  Then we had him move it up 2 inches, down 2 inches, up 4 inches, down another 2, down another 2, then up 2, then down 4, etc.  Then Anna suggested that her and I go outside and practice walking into the house and looking at the mirror w/ a fresh prospective each time.  So we had Jack move it to each of the various places while we walked in and out looking at it.  Then we had him hold it vertically.  This was all very difficult.  But I am happy to say we got it right where I want it!

Have a great night all!  I am going to hop in the treadmill!  Ta-ta for now.

Temptations

I've been getting my running in just fine.  No problems there.  However, I've bee having a difficult time w/ food.  It seems like I eat one thing that I shouldn't and then my whole day is shot.  In "The Thin Commandments" he says "Cheats should teach you.  Not defeat you."  Ha! Well, at this point I am being defeated!  One of the problems is- when Jack is home there is junk in the house.  When he is gone I just don't keep it here.  But when he comes home I feel it is his home too and he should be able to have the food he likes here.  Well, its here!  Its everywhere!  Here are some of the temptations lurking in my home.

Hershey Bars in the pantry.  I don't eat a ton of chocolate but this will work in a pinch if I haven't ate in like 6 or 7 hours!

Christmas mints.  Yes- the kind that become soft as soon as you bite into them.  I like the consistency.  I put them on this high shelf so they are out of my line of vision.  They are 60 calories for 3 pieces.  That is 900 calories for 15 pieces in case you are wondering. (That is a math error in case you noticed. I am leaving it there b/c it is rather silly of me.)

Marshmallows. Fig Newtons. Tostitos. Can you guess which on is a problem for me?  Yes the Tostitos. They are so salty.  This is mainly what I have cheated on.  I can feel all the water I am retaining!  To be fair- the marshmallows are for Lisa's hot chocolate. And the figs are for the kids.  Although Jack has been eating both too.

Oh- and what do we have hear in my dishes cabinet?  Mike and Ike's.  Now I haven't ate a single one of these but that doesn't mean I won't!

I have got to figure out what to do about all this junk!  Yesterday I told Jack he was going to have to get rid of it all.  But then I changed my mind.  I just don't think that is fair either.  I will be thinking on what to do about this and get back to you.  Right now I am headed to the treadmill for a quick jog.  Have a good day!

Sorry...

I've been a little distracted here folks.  I can't believe it has been a week since I last blogged. Well, has been going on.  We are pretty much moved into our new home.  We really love it.  There is so much more space.  I am adjusting to the new amount of time I have to spend cleaning!  I've been looking at things like curtains and draperies and such.  I've been a little overwhelmed the past day or two. 

The Thanksgiving holiday was great!  We enjoyed a visit from my parents over the long weekend.  It was so much fun to have them here.  The kids were soooo happy to see Memere and Pepere.... as were the adults.  (Thanksgiving photo.)

In weight news.... my loss is being maintained nicely.  However, I am worried about the holidays.  Mainly the food.  I am committing myself to running 20 miles a week through New Years.  No excuses.  And I am trying to keep my calories in check so that I can be at the lower end of my weight range.... just for some wiggle room during the next month.  Geesh!  What's a girl gotta do to look good around here?!