For the Runners

I've got a recommendation for you runners out there.

No, it's not something that will help you to increase your speed or distance...it's actually a book. Behold:



This book (well, book of comics, really) is brought to you by the author of such nonsense as "How to Tell if Your Cat is Trying to Kill You", "My Dog: The Paradox", and "Why Grizzly Bears Should Wear Underpants". This author tends to make very hilarious observations about every day life - his books make me laugh until my sides ache. Now, I should warn you...the author doesn't watch his language (I'm not a fan of cursing myself) and occasionally his examples can be crude, but if you think you can stomach that...then I recommend this book for you.

Actually, you can see some of the comics on his website here.

I don't find these ones quite as funny as some of his others I've read, but if you are a runner (even a new runner), I am SURE you can relate to some of these!

Happy Reading!

Starting Over, Yet Not Starting Over

I am struggling to find the best way to word this post. There are so many things that I want to say, so many thoughts and emotions swirling around in my brain that it feels darned near impossible to put them together coherently. Don't you hate it when that happens? I know I do. I'll try my best to get this out, but as always, no promises.

I am starting over again with my weight loss. As I've mentioned before, a few weeks ago I decided that I'd just about had it with worrying about everything I put into my mouth, and I vowed to give myself a break until the new year. No counting calories, no counting points, no clean-eating goals. Nothing, nada! Well, as you can imagine, that really added up, and I officially weigh the most I've ever weighed outside of pregnancy-related pounds: 207 lbs.

I'm actually not as upset about that as I thought I'd be. (Except for the fact that the BMI chart says I'm obese!) I don't hate what I see in the mirror - I'm not impressed, but I don't hate myself. I have come up with a plan for the New Year, joined a diet bet (where my weight is just slightly different than it will be here because for that you have to weigh in wearing clothes!), and am ready to get back in the swing of things. My mindset is also better than it's been in months. I could waste my time being angry with myself for "letting myself go", but that would just be wasted energy. I'd rather look forward, not backward. So with that attitude, I start over.

And, yet, in another way, I am not starting over.

Because last time I weighed this much, I couldn't run for 30 seconds without feeling winded. Heck, Icouldn't run for TEN seconds! I could barely squat with just my own body weight, yet now I can use a fifty pound bar. I couldn't do a "girlie" push up, lunge with any weight on my shoulders, or do a proper sit up. I can do those things now. So while yes, I am starting over with my weight, I am NOT starting over with my fitness. So what that means is that my health hasn't suffered quite as much as it could have. So, I am happy about that.

Here is to moving forward...

Confessions from Blogland

Confession #1: I have eaten and eaten and eaten for the past two weeks.

Confession #2: The scale is awful.

Confession #3: I don't even CARE.

Confession #4: I'm not thrilled with how I look, or even how I feel, but I'm nonetheless happier than I've been in awhile. I think it's because I officially decided to give myself a break for the second half of December.

Confession #5: I know I'm not setting a great example to others, but again...right now, I don't care. What I eat isn't healthy, but mentally and emotionally, I think this is the healthiest thing I've done for myself in awhile.

I promised myself to do some soul-searching, learn about my struggles, figure out why food and emotions are so interconnected with me, and then recommit to a healthy lifestyle on the first of the year. I hope that you will stay to join me.

Happy Holidays

Christmas is quickly approaching, Hanukkah is almost over, and the New Year will be here before we know it. This past year has just flown by.

I want to wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season. Maybe you eat lots, drink in moderation, and be as merry as your heart desires! And for those of you who find Christmas to be an especially hard time of year, please know that I am thinking of you and that you are in my prayers.

For everyone else...Merry Christmas...

Goings on...

Just hear those sleigh bells jinglin’, ring-ting-a-ting-a-ling too
Come on it’s lovely weather to eat my face off with you!

It’s the holiday season, and there are parties and food and goodies (oh my) everywhere I turn. And you know what? I don’t care. I am enjoying myself. While I still want to lose weight during the holiday season, I’ll be happy to just maintain. I can always give it a better go in January. I just want to enjoy myself and not associate food with guilt, especially considering that this is my favourite time of year! And I’m still aiming to hit the gym 3 times a week, which makes my clothes fit better and give me a confidence boost.

Now, here is something funny…or not so funny…

I accidentally caused an Elf on the Shelf to be set on fire in our house. Whoopsie. It was truly my fault. I tried to blame my husband, but it didn’t work. What happened was this: I put the two pixies on top of our new chandelier, thinking that surely my husband would see them before trying to turn on the light. I was wrong. And the bulbs are halogen bulbs, which get very hot. VERY hot. Poor Judy has a third degree burn on her back. Thank goodness that her skirt took the brunt of the trauma. With a new skirt now, you can’t even see the burn. The downside is that I’ve now spent almost 20$ on Elf attire this year. Sigh…

Tis the season to spend money?

Back and Forth

This week has been very back and forth for me in the eating department. One day good, the next day bingey, the next day good...it's a vicious cycle that I need to stop. Like, yesterday. Some of you may question why I am choosing such a busy and food-heavy time of year to try to get myself back on track, but I figure, if I can manage it now, I can certain manage it during the rest of the year!

In other news, my kids wrote their letters to Santa today. Well, I did most of the writing. I asked Donovan (the 2 year old) what he wants for Christmas, and he said, "A Mickey." Now, he has a bunch of Mickey Mouse toys, so I can only assume that he wants a real animated mouse to show up at our house, and that isn't going to happen. So I convinced him to ask for Thomas trains and Batman stuff. My daughter wants Ever After High dolls and some Megablocks Barbie things.

I want there to be a real Santa so that I wouldn't have to pay for this stuff, ha ha.

Less than a month until Christmas. I can't believe it...

Winter Wonderland!!!

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!!!

I realize that I may be one of the few people who are actually THRILLED about our early snowfalls this year. It’s making me so happy! Granted, I don’t live in a place that has had a horrible storm (like the poor, poor people in Buffalo!), but we are getting a nice dusting. It is putting me into the early Christmas mood. I know that the snow isn’t likely to last more than a few days in our area, so I’m enjoying it while I can. I treated myself to some hot chocolate at work today (yes I counted my points) and felt really festive. It’s only about 5 weeks until Christmas and I KNOW that time will pass quickly!

I guess it’s time to think about changing the Hallowe’en wallpaper on my blog, eh? I’ll get on that…soon…

In the meantime, wish me luck staying on track from now on. Apparently I gained 7 pounds in a week, although I suspect my scale is lying because that just doesn’t seem possible…