Races galore

I'm finally getting back into the running groove, and getting excited about some upcoming races! Here's what I have on the agenda so far. . .

• 3/18 - Shamrock Run with the sister in Portland. 15K.
• 3/25 - Mercer Island 10K. I signed up for this before my lovely sister corralled me into the Shamrock Run, since I'll already be in the neighborhood for a birthday party. :-)
• 5/13 - Kirkland Half Marathon. On Mother's Day! So excited about this.
• 5/20 - Currently registered for the Portland Rock & Roll Half Marathon. Not sure if I can handle running two halves two weekends in a row, so we'll see if I end up doing this one. :-)

Weight & cardio, also, how I'm a dork
In other news, I lost 1.8 lbs in January. I'm actually not completely devastated by this, because I feel so much fitter! I had a huge month of cardio (I track minutes of cardio for a variety of reasons, but the biggest is it's just the best way to ensure that I get to the gym - it's motivating for me to see my progress. I track it in Excel, and I'm a Super Dork, with graphs & all :-). I did 1135 minutes of cardio in January, and made it my goal to crush my previous month's high - May of 2011, where I had 1128 minutes. Just barely, but I'll take it! My goal for 2012 is to complete 10,000 minutes of cardio, so I'm well on track for achieving it.

There are a few small nutritional tweaks that I think will help me keep the weight loss moving along, so I'm working on that. I'm very focused in February, and with two small exceptions - I *will* be having cupcakes on my birthday (after skiing, so hopefully I'll burn off some of the calories) & I'll be indulging on the night that Michael makes me his amazing traditional Persian dinner. Kabobs + rice + more kabobs + some sort of heavenly yogurt sauce. Truly amazing - and, it's the only thing I want for Valentine's Day. :-) Other than that, my goal is to keep my nutrition on track in February, focus on eating fruit & vegetables & lean proteins, & keep the splurges/treats to a minimum.

Outfit of the day
For total transparency, this is yesterday's outfit. I thought today's outfit was okay, but looking at the pictures, it's not so cute. I'll save you. :-)

Details:

• Black wedge/flats - Anne Klein, Macy's
• Jeans - Seven, Dojo
• Purple top - Loft
• Black sweater - Loft
• Necklace - courtesy of Michael
• Dorky smile - as usual

Cookies and such:

My favorite salad bar restaurant at work (we have a giant food court to choose from) offers free cookies on Monday with a salad. Seriously, it's just so wrong. They were still WARM, so of course I had one.

Breakfast - coffee with milk, egg on a english muffin + 1/2 a laughing cow, fruit
Snack - celery with tzatziki dip
Lunch - run through the salad bar, so various salad components plus some roasted sweet potatoes
Snack - chocolate cookie with white chocolate chips
Dinner - leftover pasta with vegetable sauce & 2 small meatballs

Workout/Running:
In exciting news, I ran 4 miles without stopping! The last time I managed that was in the spring before my injury, and since I was starting from scratch at the beginning of January, so excited that I've built up to 4 miles. Finished in just under 45 minutes, which is slow, but good for me. YEAH!!!!!! I'm officially kicking off my training plan next week, so it feels awesome to know I can run 4 miles without stopping.
Questions for you:

• How did you do on your January goals, if you had any?
• Favorite kind of cookie? My favorite is easily a frosted sugar cookie. Boom!
• Are you registered for any upcoming races? :-)

Two milestones

We've had a ton of snow, so the kids have been home with me all week while I attempt to do conference calls and work. It's always an interesting experience to keep them entertained as Michael & I trade off meetings.

First up, good news! Two milestones for the week. . . One, I ran three miles without stopping! This was my goal and a requirement for kicking off my 1/2 marathon training plan. I did it yesterday (we won't discuss the child shouting for me to retrieve carrots for his snowman & how I had to hop off to deliver these extremely necessary items). Yeah! I know, three miles is not very impressive, but I'm slowly building my endurance after 6+ months without running.

And, the second milestone - on Monday, all four of us (me + Michael + Sam (our almost 6 year old) + Nick (our almost 5 year old) rode a ski lift together & skied down a run. May not sound like too much, but our long term goal has always been to instill a love of skiing in our kids, and eventually get to the point of taking family ski vacations. I'm not going to lie - teaching two small kids to ski is no small endeavor. I have sat through so very many ski lessons, packed more lunches, endured freezing rain for three hours while I stood at the foot of the magic carpet and cheered on novice skiers. The *TIME*, the money (seriously, $$$$), sliding off the road and hitting a snowbank because I'm a terrible snow driver, the potty accidents (it's hard to get all of those ski clothes off when you're 4 years old) and the lack of skiing Michael & I got to do is a little mind boggling. But, I feel like we've turned the corner! Our goal is a family ski vacation at Whistler next year.
A little look back:
Sam, at the mountain for the first time (just before his third birthday). (Don't worry - now that he skis real runs, he wears a helmet.)

Nick's first time at the mountain, about 2 1/2. Ditto the helmet.

Nick did not take to the snow right away. In fact, it wasn't until this year that he would even try the magic carpet. But, he's a fast learner & a constant surprise. He has absolutely no fear (and doesn't really understand the concept of stopping), so Michael & I are forever chasing him down the mountain. Sam, on the other hand, is Mr. Conservative. Taking the two of them on a run together is a study in contrast. ;-)

Workout:
I ran just over three miles yesterday! Goals for today are strength training (abs & legs) + more running. I'd like to cross train, but we have six inches of snow & no plowed roads, so I'll be at home on the treadmill.

Food:
Yesterday was a great eating day. I usually struggle with snacking when I have an unexpected day at home, but I kept things under control.

Breakfast - coffee (lots of coffee) + an egg on a english muffin + fruit
Lunch - 1 piece of homemade chicken pesto pizza (it's amazing!), celery with tzatziki sauce, and a pear
Snack - handful of cashews + sliced red pepper with tzatziki sauce + a clementine
Dinner - 1 glass of wine and 1 mahi mahi taco with mango salsa

Weight:
My weight has been holding super steady since the first of the year. I started 2012 at 150 pounds, and I'm at 149.6. I know, small change, but I'm happy to be back in the 140s again. Finally. :-) I'm eating well, working out, & the weight will come off. (I keep repeating this to myself.)

Outfit:

I have no pictures of my current, extremely glamorous at home/lounge around outfit. Instead, I'll leave you with one from last week.

What's the weather like near you? Snow? Sun? I'm just crossing my fingers that we don't lose power. Please, oh please don't let me be trapped in the house with two restless kids, no treadmill, & no power.

Back to training

I need all of your experienced opinions. I'm planning to do a 1/2 marathon sometime in the spring. I'm registered for a 10K in March, which should be fine. I'm currently up to running about 4.5 miles per run, with a little walking sprinkled in. My goal for the 1/2 marathon is May - enough time to train & stay motivated. I originally planned to run the Rock & Roll 1/2 Marathon in Portland on 5/20. However, I just discovered that there's a much smaller 1/2 marathon near my house. Maybe less than 5 miles away. It's the weekend of 5/13 - Mother's Day. I love the idea of running my first 1/2 on Mother's Day. Couple of questions for you - 1) would you prefer a large or small 1/2 for your first? 2) It's crazy to think I could run both, when they're a week apart, right? I've already paid for the Portland race. . . 3) Is anyone else thinking of running the Portland R&R?

The return of ugly bathroom pics!

I'm meeting my lovely husband for a lunch date today, so I decided to dress up a bit. I'm wearing heels to work for the first time since my foot injury, so we'll see how that goes. I even curled my hair today! I'm thinking I need a bit more hairspray, because pretty much all the curl is gone now. :-)

Outfit details:

• Purple sweater - Jcrew
• Purple tank - Banana Republic
• Silver necklace - Macy's
• Black pencil skirt - Jcrew
• Black tights - Gap, maybe?
• Black boots - Loft
• Security badge - courtesy of work

Weighty details:
I've been eating well & working out hard since the first of the year. My weight is exactly where it was on 12/31 - 150 pounds. I know good things are happening, since I can see a small difference in my face, and my jeans are fitting better. My ultimate goal is 130 lbs, although I'm thinking 135 might be reasonable as well. Mostly, I want to be healthy, fit & feeling good. I lost weight last year by eating around 1500 calories/day, focusing on 5 servings of fruit & vegetables (each)/day, and working out. I'm also attempting not to have my evening glass of wine, except for on weekends. *tear*

Food:
Here's what I ate yesterday! And, I apologize if this is heinously boring. Please feel free to skip over - the accountability is super helpful for me.

Breakfast - egg on wheat toast with 1/2 a Laughing Cow cheese, mixed fruit, coffee + milk
Snack - cottage cheese
Lunch - 1 piece of homemade chicken pesto pizza, sliced red pepper with yogurt dip, apple
Snack - Protein smoothie
Snack - Luna bar. (I wasn't planing on having this, but I was starving!)
Dinner - 1/2 glass of wine (I know, it was desperate times. The kids were like rabid animals last night, & I just had to have a glass while I made dinner.) + small serving of almond chicken penne.

Total calories for the day = 1560. The unplanned Luna bar threw me over my calorie goal a bit.

Workout:
Yesterday was my non-running day, so I did 50 minutes on the elliptical + arms. I'm focusing on 10 strength training workouts/month, in addition to cardio. I get obsessed with the cardio burn, but my arms suffer (aka batwings) if I don't lift. I know it also helps with the weight loss, so I'm trying hard to get in my strength workouts each week.

Goal for today is running this evening, since I have my lunch date.

What's on your agenda for today? Any fun runs? 1/2 marathon advice?

Long time!

Sweet lord, has it really been 2 months since my last post? Slacker! The sad news is that I am still not running. It's been six months since my injury & my foot is not healed. It's depressing & haven't been motivated to write any "I'm still not running, but I am gaining weight like it's my job" posts.

Okay, enough fooling around. I've gained 6.5 pounds since July. *gulp* It's hard to be motivated, and I don't even feel like a runner anymore. *insert sad face*

I was planning on running the Las Vegas 1/2, but clearly that's out. I'm hoping to be run/walking again by the first of the year, but I don't know what to expect for recovery time any more. Certain things hurt my foot more than others - driving is one of the biggest.

I also desperately need to get my weight back under control & lose the 6.5 pounds I've gained. That's my goal - by the end of the year to be back at 142. I can do this, even if it's slowly & with a slight limp. ;-)

And, because what fun would a post be without any pictures?!

Here's me rockin' the fashion don'ts at the Tillamook Cheese Factory. YUM - cheese! Why yes, I am wearing a faded black zippered jacked I scored at Costco, rolled jeans, my old running shoes, & beach hair. I'm like a model!

And, me + my favorite boys on a hike this weekend. And no, it wasn't raining, but the umbrellas & rain boots were new & the boys insisted. . . ;-)

And, because the entire family struggles with looking natural in pictures. . . this one kills me. Sam has the most random facial expressions going on. Love it!

Okay, I'm back, ready to focus on my weight & getting into shape again, even if it's not running right now. How are all of YOU Lovely ladies? I need to catch up!

Off track

I'm off track with my workouts lately, & need to vent. My work schedule has changed, and I can no longer work out at lunch. Finding an alternate time to work out has proven to be a huge problem. My choices are either: 5:00 am or after the boys go to bed - around 8:00 pm. I have to be up by 6:00 am either way, so working out at 8:00 means I'm not going to be falling asleep until 10 pm at the earliest. . . I know I need to just suck it up and choose one of the non-appealing options, but I'm in denial at the moment. :-) I get grouchy & anxious when I can't work out, so I need to get this figured out ASAP.

I can't run (still injured), but when my foot is feeling better, I should be able to sneak in runs a bit easier than making a full-fledged trip to the gym. I'm hoping to be at least up to a walk/run combo by October.

Weight:
I'd like to lose a total of 15 more pounds. I'm *just* under the BMI mark for being overweight, & want to be a little thinner. My anniversary is quickly approaching (third week in October) & Michael & I are going away to a lodge for a kid-free evening. Massages, dinner with wine, and a relaxing evening. Can't wait. I'd like to lose the first five pounds by my anniversary.

Outfit:
I'm back with the ugly bathroom pictures! Here's my look for today & yesterday.

Details:
Coral sweater - Loft
White tank top - Martin & Osa
Dark wash jeans - Dojo/Seven For All Mankind
Ballet flats - Nordstrom/Me Too

Details:

Black sweater - Loft

Black & gold necklace - Jcrew

Black tweed pants - Banana Republic

Black flats - Nordstrom/Me Too

Food:
Eating has not been stellar, & I need to get back into the habit of regularly tracking my calories & making healthier choices.

Summary:
I feel like I'm still evolving to my new schedule, life with a school-aged kid, the ongoing injury - and I need to adapt. How do you deal with flux and change in your life & adapt, from a fitness & nutrition perspective?

All you party rockers in the house. . .

The current favorite song of summer. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQ6zr6kCPj8 :-)

The boys have possibly been listening to too much music in the car. Top 5 favorite songs are:

• Afrojack - Take over control
• Adele - Rolling in the deep
• LMFAO - Party Rock Anthem
• Jessie J - It's all about the money
• Katy Perry - TGIF

And yes, I've been a huge slacker. The boys summer program was moved to a different location, & my commute is now triple the time each way, which has interfered with my blogging time. ;-)

But, in awesome news. . . the doctor thinks I'll be able to slowly start running again (think run/walk combos) in September! I'm thrilled.

Weight:
In weighty news, I'm up a few pounds after my latest vacation to Las Vegas with the girls. However, it was an epic trip, so I'll deal with the fall out. :-)

Outfit:
Scary bathroom photos are back!

Details:
White sheer sweater - Loft
White tank top - Loft
Peach skirt - Forever 21
Sandals - American Eagle
Dorky face - still here

I bought the skirt for a party this weekend - my nephew had a Mario themed birthday party, & I was supposed to be Princess Peach. Of course, it ended up being hot on Saturday, so I wore a sun dress instead. I decided to rock it today, as the sun is actually shining. Summer has finally arrived in Seattle, it seems. :-)

Food:
My eating has been pretty good, punctuated by wild days of summer barbecues (umm, Saturday), vacations (lots of champagne & steak). I'm committed to dropping the couple of pounds I've picked up, and hitting my summer goal - I'm about 4.4 pounds away, which seems doable.

More to come, but here a few vacation pictures!

Can you guess which one is my sister?

Running: help me get back in the groove! Any tips for someone starting fresh and/or coming back after a long break?

The weight debate

For those of you who liked the purple dress I posted on Saturday, I got it for $20 or so at Express - cute & reasonably cheap. :-) I picked it up in black for $12 over Memorial Day weekend at a huge sale, so expect to see it again soon.

Here's what I wore yesterday, for running errands & hanging out around the house. I know, so glamorous, but keep in mind that I can't wear pants these days, so I'm trying to be flexible with my around the house looks. Normally it's yoga pants. :-)  Note that I did not style my hair after swimming.

Details:

• Black tank top - Ann Taylor Loft (new, bought it last weekend in Las Vegas)
• Denim skirt - Jcrew

I made a super yummy breakfast yesterday - oatmeal & protein pancakes:

Sadly, that's not ice cream with breakfast - it's plain Greek yogurt with a drizzle of agave. Yum.

Food:
I've been doing well with eating, avoiding snacks & junky carbs, focusing on lots of protein & fruit/vegetables. In general, I aim for 1500 calories/day. I find that as long as I'm active, that's a good calorie range for me to lose a slow but steady one pound/week.

• Breakfast - coffee & fruit, protein pancakes + Greek yogurt
• Snack - protein shake
• Lunch - cottage cheese + handful of peanuts + 1 piece of pizza
• Snack - handful of almonds
• Dinner - corn + 1 glass of wine + 2 mini burgers wrapped in lettuce with tomatoes & mustard
• Snack - grapes

Workout:
I lifted weights yesterday & swam laps. I'll say this for swimming - laps are a killer workout! I don't know how you swimmers do it. I was ready to collapse after 10 laps. I need to find a training plan or something that shows me how to build on my laps.

Outfit, part deux:
Here's my look for today.

Details:

• Black top with slight ruffle detailing at the top - Ann Taylor Loft
• Bean necklace - Tiffany & Co
• Brown skirt - Ann Taylor Loft. (New, purchased over Memorial Day weekend)
• Solo black sandal - Chinese Laundry - Ross. (New, purchased a few weeks ago on my infamous girls beach trip which resulted in the awesome boot)

Weight:
I'm concerned about my weight, but not for the normal reasons. My weight is actually down from before I left for Las Vegas. And trust me, I ate well in Sin City. Champagne, wine, cookies, ice cream, steak, etc. I didn't go crazy or anything, but I certainly wasn't on a diet. Which makes me suspect that the change in weight is a result of losing muscle tone. :-( I am consistently doing strength training, fueling myself well, & doing what I can to keep myself in shape, but I already feel flabbier than I did several weeks ago. It's mostly in my head, but I don't feel as good about myself when I'm not running. I think this may be the first time in my life that I'm concerned about weight loss. ;-)

Does anyone have any experience with losing weight after you stop running for a period of time?

Ooh La La

Do you have any favorite purchases or souvenirs that you've brought home from a trip? I went to Paris about ten years ago & bought a pair of red shoes that I adore. Every time I wear them, I'm reminded of that trip, & how I fell in love with the city. I needed a little shot of inspiration today, so I'm wearing them!

Outfit:

Details:

• White sweater - Jcrew, Audrey
• White tank top - Martin & Osa
• Blue necklace - Tiffany & Co
• Blue skirt - Liquid - purchased at an outlet in Orlando 8+ years ago
• Red shoes - not sure on the brand, Paris
• Toenail polish color - California Raspberry, OPI

 Apologies for the crooked shoe picture. It's harder than I thought to take a picture of your own feet. :-)

Workout/Running:
Yesterday was my cross training day, so I got up at the crack of dawn yesterday & did 50 minutes on the elliptical, and used the Gravitron (it's an assisted dip/pull up machine). I'm slated to run 6 miles today. I've done it before, but I'm a little nervous. Any mileage over 5 still makes me a little anxious.  Fingers crossed.

Weight:
My weight has been hovering at the same place for the last couple of weeks. I have less than 5 pounds of baby weight to lose, & I'm starting to get frustrated. I am still trying to figure out the right balance between eating enough to fuel myself as I expand my mileage, but continuing to lose weight. I haven't figured it out yet, clearly. My goal has been 1500 calories/day, focusing on lean proteins, fruit, & vegetables. There are some days when I'm so hungry (yesterday is a great example), that I just can't do it. Or, choose not to, I suppose. My goal is to eat 1500 calories/day for the next 7 days and see how I feel & if I make any weight loss progress. More on this to come.

Food:

As I mentioned, I was starving yesterday, and ate a much bigger dinner than planned. 

• Before workout - peanut butter toast
• Breakfast - Emerald City Surprise (aka spinach, green pepper, and broccoli sauteed with an egg and a tbsp of feta cheese, on a bagel thin) + a pear and coffee
• Snack - 1/2 protein bar
• Lunch - Small serving of leftover chicken, rice, and vegetables + strawberries, hummus & a Dr Kracker
• Snack - apple
• Dinner - 1/2 glass of wine & a handful of cashews + a Greek salad & 7 fries

Questions of the day:

Do you have any memorable souvenirs?

Are you losing weight, or have you had success in the past? Have you balanced that with a workout plan or training for an event?

A case of the Mondays

Greetings, lovely ladies. I'm having a hard time being back at work today after my wonderful vacation! We had a great Easter & the weather at the beach was awesome on Friday & Saturday. Now we're back to rain in Seattle. I didn't get a chance to wear anything very Easter-y yesterday, because I had to wear my fleece & rain boots for the egg hunt. So today I wore hot pink in honor of my favorite Easter color. I have to get our Easter pictures off of the other camera, but I will post them soon.

Outfit:

In the first picture, I really look like someone who is overjoyed to be back at work, don't I? ;-)

Details:

• Hot pink sweater with gold sequined pockets - Ann Taylor Loft
• Cream tank top - Ann Taylor Loft
• Bootcut jeans - Vigoss, BP/Nordstrom
• Gold pearl necklace - Jcrew
• Black sequined wedges - Alfani/Macys
• Frizzy hair - courtesy of dropping the kids off in the rain this morning
• Gorgeous bathroom setting & dorky face - always mine!

Food:
For the first time ever, I did not totally gorge myself at Easter. Small steps, people! I think I had about 100 calories of candy in total yesterday, which must be some kind of personal record. I think my calories netted out around 1700, so higher than I normally shoot for, but definitely okay for a holiday

• Breakfast - spinach, egg, & laughing cow on a wheat english muffin + coffee & strawberries
• Brunch - 2 mimosas, 2 mini Costco sandwiches, pasta salad, a ton of fruit, & 2 handfuls of baked cheetos
• Snack - 1 bite of Sam's cupcake, & a handful of Easter candy
• Dinner - 1 glass of wine, a sliced tomato, 1/2 cup pasta salad & 1.5 mini burgers

Weight:
The scale says I'm up .2 lbs from Thursday, so I'm not terribly worried. Hopefully after a few days of being back from vacation, I'll be on a downward trend again.

Running:
Today my training plan calls for 4 easy miles, so I'm planning to run at lunch. In the rain. Ick. But, preferable to the treadmill.


Questions of the day:

1) How much Easter candy did you eat yesterday?
2) Would you rather run on the treadmill, or in the rain?

Closing the gap

First up, the sun is out in Seattle & that always puts a smile on my face. It's cold (35 - brrrr!), but it's supposed to warm up later in the day. Michael is always saying that we need to move to San Diego so I can enjoy the sunshine year round. Maybe someday! :-)

 

Weight:
I am very excited, because when I got on the scale this morning, I discovered that I only have 5 pounds of baby weight left. I'm officially in the home stretch! Michael & I are having a fabulous adult only weekend in Las Vegas over Memorial Day (36 days away, not that I'm counting down or anything), & my goal is to have officially lost the baby weight by that trip.

 

Because I will be rockin' this little beauty (I wear mine with straps, but close enough. . . ):

 

Trina Turk Palm Sola Bandeau - Nordstrom

 

PS - if I could ever manage to achieve that color on my pasty white skin, I'd be thrilled. Sadly, self tanner gives me a Snooki-like-look, even when I use the palest color. I believe I've tried every product on the market, but I'm giving it another go next week & will do a product review. Bad or good, I'll share my results with you, in case you too are seeking a slightly tan, non-oompa loompa look.

Running:
Today is my cross-train/strength day. I'm planning to do 30 minutes on the bike, 30 minutes on the elliptical, & then arms/abs/back. For those of you who are currently training or have trained before for a 1/2 marathon, do you have a training plan you would recommend? I just started yesterday, & I'm currently doing the Fitness intermediate training plan. But I discovered that it's only 8 weeks, & I have 12 weeks until the 1/2.

 

Food:
I tried a protein smoothie for the first time yesterday, & it wasn't bad. I think I still need to work on tweaking it, but it was drinkable. I blended apple juice, greek yogurt, protein powder, a banana & frozen strawberries together. Next time I'll cut the apple juice & greek yogurt & add water.

• Breakfast: coffee, gatorade (post-run), coffee, protein smoothie, split an egg on a bagel thin with Michael
• Snack: handful of dried fruit/nuts
• Lunch: apple, 1/2 of a chipotle burrito bowl, chocolate milk
• Snack: mandarin, apple
• Dinner: tortellini with 1 tbsp shaved parmesan, diced tomato, edamame

Outfit:
I'm thinking that these pants are ready to retire, unless I can get them to shrink. Which is a bummer, because I love them! They are getting baggy in the crotch region, which is never cute. And yes, I did cut my head off, but managed to get my shoes in the picture today. Small steps, people. :-)

 

Details:

• Black cardigan with jewel buttons - Ann Taylor Loft
• Purple gathered shell - Ann Taylor Loft
• Silver necklace - Macy's
• Black cropped pants - Jcrew, City Fit
• Black wedges - Alfani (Macy's)
• Dorky smile & frizzy hair - still mine!

 

Hope you are all having a fabulous day! Please recommend a training plan, if you have one. Or a self-tanner for super pale chicks, if you also have that. :-)

Solo 5K

Today promises to be a crazy day. I have a million things to do at work, plus training in the afternoon, and I absolutely need to squeeze a run in at some point. My plan for the moment is to hit the treadmill after the kids are in bed. *fingers crossed*

Running:
My first ever run (5K) is on Sunday, & I'm excited! It doesn't look like Michael will be able to join me, as my mom won't be able to watch the kids. So I'll be running solo. I'm a little sad about it, because I think I'll need the encouragement. Oh well - I'm sure I'll manage. :-)

Outfit:
I really wanted something "spring-ish" today, so I opted for sandals, despite the fact that it's chilly today. We'll see if I regret it when I'm in my cold office.

Brownish-green jacket - Nordstrom
"Vintage" cream tshirt - Jcrew
Mixed metal necklace - Nordstrom
Jeans - Joes, Honey Fit
Brown peep toe wedges - American Eagle

Weight Loss:
I had a rough night last night. I found out that an old friend from high school was murdered, which was so depressing. I hadn't spoken to him in years, but he was a close friend of my high school boyfriend, so we spent quite a bit of time together. He was sweet and thoughtful, always kind to others. Even though we hadn't spoken in years, he will be missed. RIP Bruce.

I was very stressed after I heard the news & spoke to some old friends, and ate a bunch of crap as a result. I feel like I've made tremendous progress on my emotional eating, so I was sad to see that I still sometimes fall back into that pattern. It's something I used to really struggle with, but over the past few months, I was taming it pretty well. All I can do today is pick myself up & move on, continuing to think of new ways to deal with my emotions & stress that don't involve eating.

In positive news, my son's preschool teacher complimented me on my weight loss, which made me feel really great and started my morning off on a high note.

Skinny jeans

It finally happened. I fit into a pair of my skinny jeans. Seriously, I know it's silly, but it started my Monday off RIGHT! Can I get a woohoo?? :-) I actually have been plateaued at the same weight for a while now, so it's good to know that at least my body is shaping up, despite lack of progress on the scale.

Outfit:

Black long-sleeved tshirt - Jcrew
Gray vest - BCBG
Boot cut, dark wash jeans - Hudson, can't remember the fit
Black patent pumps (new) - Macy's, Style.com
Dorky face & awesome bathroom ambiance - always

Workout:
Today is my cross training day, so my goal is to hit the cardio hard and tackle both weights & stretching. I need to tone up my arms for summer.

How is Monday treating you? Any recent successes?

Weight

I forgot to mention - I've finally lost 10 lbs (since January 1st). Woo!!! And, I've now officially lost the baby weight from my second child. (Nine pounds to go for the first child). I'm feeling good and I'm remotivated. It feels like I can actually do this. :-)

Here's a little before & after:

Pre-kiddos (excuse my sunburn):

Massively pregnant with my first child:

And you all know what I look like now. So, onward & downward! My goal weight is to be back at 130. I'm 5'5", so that is a comfortable weight for me.

You Don't Own Me. . .

The scale, that is.


 I will admit to being completely obsessed with the number on the scale. If the number was lower than expected, my day was wonderful. Higher than expected? My day started off on a sour note. No longer.

I'm eating well, working out, and staying within my calorie goals for the day. As long as I'm doing that, I'm going to stop weighing every morning & make it either a once a week or twice a week endeavor. I can still track my progress & know if things are getting off track and I need to make tweaks, but I won't be obsessed.

My ultimate goal is to lose 25 pounds. I've lost 25 pounds since last Christmas (Christmas - 2009), so I'm half way to my ultimate goal. Although it's been a slow go, I know I'm healthier than I've been in a long time, and changing my eating habits for the rest of my life. I'm not dieting - I'm eating more whole foods, not mindlessly eating junk, and listening to my body.

I'll try to be more patient with my body as it adapts to my lifestyle and reflects the changes I'm making. I'm not a very patient woman, so this is certainly a work in progress. :-)