Ok it is sideways and I have no idea how to fix that! Today I am joining my friend Gigi and the Motley Shues at ROC Race NYC! We are all dressing as minions!
Tons of pictures tomorrow!
Have a great weekend!
Saturday, September 13, 2014
Thursday, September 11, 2014
An Epiphany While Watching Biggest Loser
Last night was the season premiere of The Biggest Loser. I'm not gonna lie, I was apprehensive. I didn't really approve of the weight loss of last year's winner Rachel. She looked SO thin to me! I was also a little put off that all of the contestants would be pro athletes.
I must admit, though, that I really enjoyed it! I love the Bob twist, it is very Survivor-like, and a fun surprise. I love that no one knows about him until elimination.
What hit me the hardest was Lori telling Jessie about her multiple miscarriages. As I listened to her story I realized that my miscarriage was where all of my weight issues began.
In February of 1998, right around my daughter's first birthday, I found out I was pregnant. We were surprised but very happy! Shortly after, I went to a birthday party for the son of a casual friend. It was at a sort of kid gym, and I climbed the ladders and ropes to the top and slid down the long slide with my daughter.
At the bottom, the birthday boy's mom looked at me with disgust and said "you just killed your baby".
Yeah. That happened. She said it, and it weighed on me.
Shortly after, I miscarried.
I was devastated. Her words haunted me for weeks. I ate everything in sight. I went from 150 pounds to about 180 pounds in a matter of a few months.
The next time I saw that woman, she said "I told you that you killed your baby."
I kid you not.
No matter that my doctor told me I absolutely did not kill my baby.
No matter that the ultrasound showed the baby had died weeks before, and not the week of the party.
No matter that I had fibroids and come from a family with a history of miscarriages.
All that mattered were her words.
The baby would have been a Halloween baby, so that was not a fun holiday for me for a long time. It still sits wrong with me 16 years later, but now it takes me a few hours to figure out what is bothering me.
I know that I am a stress eater, I know how to eat properly. I have lost the weight before, after the birth of my son, so I know that I can do it.
I guess what I need to do now is face my demons and move on. Is that even possible? I'm not sure.
Now that I have realized where the problem began, I am hoping this will help me take the steps to build a healthier me!
I think I need a little angel on my shoulder pin to keep me motivated and remind me that it wasn't my fault.
Did you watch the Biggest Loser? What did you think? What do you think of the new trainers?
Wednesday, September 10, 2014
Wordless Wednesday
Ominous day of running
Mile one shin stretch
Not a bad finish considering how sore I was.
Full moon during our nightly Dogwalk.
Monday, September 8, 2014
Via Half Marathon Recap
Rules of the road: when coming up behind other runners, it is customary to call out "on your left" so that they know to move out of your way. Screaming, at the top of your lungs "MOVE! GET OUT OF MY WAY!" is rude and unnecessary, especially when no one is actually *in* your way. That branch that jumped out at you, dangling from that tree? That was karma. Yes, red shirted marathon woman, I am talking to you!
Now that I have gotten that out of the way, let's talk about what a great weekend I had with my running besties at the Via Half Marathon! My friend Eileen and I drove together from my house, it is about a two hour drive, maybe a little less, that I make all the time! Bethlehem, PA is on the way to my parents' house, so I drive past it every time I visit them!
I booked the Sands Casino Hotel, because it is next to the expo, and because I thought the race started there. It is where Runner's World started last year. Note to self: check these things out in advance! But I digress!
We parked easily enough, checked in easily enough, and walked over in the sweltering heat to the expo. We walked along the final stretch of Runner's World Half Marathon, which was fun, and brought back some crazy memories!
The Outlet Mall was smallish, but I managed to do some damage at the Peeps outlet and got the teenie a little change purse at Coach. Then it was back to the room to kill some time before dinner.
We decided to eat in the casino, and Emeril's didn't have a table until after 7, so we headed over to the Carnegie Deli.
They put pickles on the table while you wait for your food. This grossed me out but thrilled Eileen! I had egg salad for dinner and asked for bacon on it. They gave me a side of bacon. Yikes! We shared the cheesecake, they even sliced it in half for us!
Back up to the room to wait for Gigi, and she arrived with the storm! She just made it inside! Check out the spiderweb right outside our window!
We woke up way too early the next morning, got dressed, and started the 2 mile walk to the start. It was very scenic, and we got there with about 20 minutes to spare before the start. There were about 1500 half marathoners, so it was very laid back, no corrals. Of course, we snapped some pics....
And we were off! Eileen went ahead, but Lisa, Gigi, and I stuck together. Gigi and I were both running somewhat injured, and Gigi had forgotten her sneaks and was running in new ones! Ouch!
Being the mature individuals we are, we immediately veered off course for a selfie.
So we ran down the hill and around the corner, and entered the park that we would basically be in for the duration of the race. The first quarter mile was on the road, and then we were on compacted gravel until mile 8. The scenery was amazing, although it rarely varied...
The temp was nice, and it was almost always shady, and the day was pretty perfect. I was nervous, since I haven't gone more than 5K since July, but there was never much more than an ache. The tiredness in my legs, from disuse, was actually worse! Yay!
We also got to meet Alvin the dog, who had his own bib and earned his own medal!
There was also my favorite sign of the day, held by these lovely spectators!
Yeah. That was embarrassing. Maybe. I don't think we really cared though! We really were having as much fun as two gimps and a running buddy could possibly have! Lisa was a good sport to stay behind with us!
Soon we were approaching the finish, and we could hear the music and lots more marathoners and relayers were passing us. This is where the aforementioned rude lady passed us by.
We had done a lot of walking, but we ran the final third of a mile in, and finished in around 3:21 or so.
We got our bling and ice, and sat to ice our feet before we went for our food. Aaaahhhhhhh
The food system was awesome. You traded your ticket for a bag of food, and then they had some extras you could throw in. It really was awesome! Soft pretzel, Mike n Ikes, squeezable apple sauce, banana, granola bars. Perfection. After stumbling around a bit, we found the shuttle back to the start, and iced up some more, while Gigi picked up a new boyfriend.
Alvin was on the bus with us!
After a short ride to the start, wewalked limped the two miles back to the hotel so we could check out. There were no shenanigans, we were too tired, but Eileen did spy this:
OMG Stephen King would be so proud!
What a great weekend! I am in very little pain today, mostly just morning after aches and pains, which makes me happy! I did ice it a lot yesterday after I drove home, which I think helped a lot. Today there is some stiffness, but they will work out as well! I will try a short run and PiYo tomorrow!
For more about Alvin, check him out on YouTube, he really is amazing!
Did you race this weekend?
Now that I have gotten that out of the way, let's talk about what a great weekend I had with my running besties at the Via Half Marathon! My friend Eileen and I drove together from my house, it is about a two hour drive, maybe a little less, that I make all the time! Bethlehem, PA is on the way to my parents' house, so I drive past it every time I visit them!
I booked the Sands Casino Hotel, because it is next to the expo, and because I thought the race started there. It is where Runner's World started last year. Note to self: check these things out in advance! But I digress!
We parked easily enough, checked in easily enough, and walked over in the sweltering heat to the expo. We walked along the final stretch of Runner's World Half Marathon, which was fun, and brought back some crazy memories!
The expo was super small! We went inside and go tour bibs, as well as Gigi's and our friend Lisa's, because the expo closed super early and they couldn't get there in time. Then we had to go outside to get our shirts. This worried us because we were due for some thunder storms! Yikes! The shirt table was a disaster, they asked what shirts you wanted, not what you ordered, and then they didn't have Gigi's size. It was chaos. I managed to get shirts that I though would fit everyone, and the huge drawstring backpacks, and then we went back inside to check out the expo. It was the usual stuff, and we were in and out in about 10 minutes! We decided to go back to the hotel and walk the Outlet Mall, since it looked ominous outside!
The Outlet Mall was smallish, but I managed to do some damage at the Peeps outlet and got the teenie a little change purse at Coach. Then it was back to the room to kill some time before dinner.
We decided to eat in the casino, and Emeril's didn't have a table until after 7, so we headed over to the Carnegie Deli.
 |
| the menu!!! |
They put pickles on the table while you wait for your food. This grossed me out but thrilled Eileen! I had egg salad for dinner and asked for bacon on it. They gave me a side of bacon. Yikes! We shared the cheesecake, they even sliced it in half for us!
Back up to the room to wait for Gigi, and she arrived with the storm! She just made it inside! Check out the spiderweb right outside our window!
We woke up way too early the next morning, got dressed, and started the 2 mile walk to the start. It was very scenic, and we got there with about 20 minutes to spare before the start. There were about 1500 half marathoners, so it was very laid back, no corrals. Of course, we snapped some pics....
And we were off! Eileen went ahead, but Lisa, Gigi, and I stuck together. Gigi and I were both running somewhat injured, and Gigi had forgotten her sneaks and was running in new ones! Ouch!
Being the mature individuals we are, we immediately veered off course for a selfie.
So we ran down the hill and around the corner, and entered the park that we would basically be in for the duration of the race. The first quarter mile was on the road, and then we were on compacted gravel until mile 8. The scenery was amazing, although it rarely varied...
The temp was nice, and it was almost always shady, and the day was pretty perfect. I was nervous, since I haven't gone more than 5K since July, but there was never much more than an ache. The tiredness in my legs, from disuse, was actually worse! Yay!
We also got to meet Alvin the dog, who had his own bib and earned his own medal!
There was also my favorite sign of the day, held by these lovely spectators!
I must say, the course was darn near perfect. No cars to worry about, great water stops, and we got to mile 9 before the marathoners went by. They started 13.1 miles behind us.
Soon we were approaching the finish, and we could hear the music and lots more marathoners and relayers were passing us. This is where the aforementioned rude lady passed us by.
We had done a lot of walking, but we ran the final third of a mile in, and finished in around 3:21 or so.
We got our bling and ice, and sat to ice our feet before we went for our food. Aaaahhhhhhh
The food system was awesome. You traded your ticket for a bag of food, and then they had some extras you could throw in. It really was awesome! Soft pretzel, Mike n Ikes, squeezable apple sauce, banana, granola bars. Perfection. After stumbling around a bit, we found the shuttle back to the start, and iced up some more, while Gigi picked up a new boyfriend.
Alvin was on the bus with us!
After a short ride to the start, we
OMG Stephen King would be so proud!
What a great weekend! I am in very little pain today, mostly just morning after aches and pains, which makes me happy! I did ice it a lot yesterday after I drove home, which I think helped a lot. Today there is some stiffness, but they will work out as well! I will try a short run and PiYo tomorrow!
For more about Alvin, check him out on YouTube, he really is amazing!
Did you race this weekend?
Thursday, September 4, 2014
Starting September Off With Calendar Challenges
This was supposed to post on September 1, but my phone didn't seal the deal!
I love monthly challenges! I don't always stick with them, but I do love them! I found a nice variety for the month of September, to cover total body!
This calendar was chosen by my Fitbit Facebook Group Leader! I have really slacked off on my plankaday challenge, so this one really makes me happy!!
Another Facebook challenge, glutes and planks!
Wall sits with FitFluential, I love this one, because you are basically just working to. Way your best time! I started off with one minute and will work up from there!
Are you doing any monthly challenges?
Wednesday, September 3, 2014
Loving My New Swirlgear and Being a #swirlsister
As an Ambassador for Swirlgear, I get the skinny on new products a little earlier than many, and back in February we were able to pre-order the new line! I admit, I went a little hog wild!
I treated myself to a pair of capris, a new cap sleeved shirt in red, a long sleeved shirt (In race day grey, the color that I named in a contest!) and 2 tanks. I have not worn the long sleeved shirt yet, but I have worn everything else at least once!
I almost immediately wore this outfit for a 5K. The capris are a little loose, but not uncomfortably so, so I kept them. The tank, in Berry Good Run, was a little baggy under the arms, but it never bothered me during that super sweaty 5K, and after one wash, was much better! The pants have a great pocket in the back of the waist band for your keys or money. The tank also has a pocket, but I haven't used it yet.
I did wear a Running Buddy during the race, and because the pants were a bit loose in the waist, it drooped a little, but enough to be annoying. The comfort level was SO high, that noting else mattered! It was a very sweaty 5K, and nothing stuck to me, it moved fluidly and felt amazing! I wear it every chance I get!
I also have the tank in All Over Spray Dye, and wear that about as often as I wear the Berry tank! They are definitely roomier than the cap sleeves, and many people have gone down a size, but I really love it the way it is! It doesn't chafe, and it feels amazing!
I really cannot wait to wear my long sleeved shirt and my cap sleeve once the weather cools off! I am sure there will be an overabundance of photos once that happens! There are a few other pieces I hope to order in the future, once the weather cools off! Swirlgear offers free shipping on orders over $75!
Do you own any Swirlgear? What is your favorite piece?
I treated myself to a pair of capris, a new cap sleeved shirt in red, a long sleeved shirt (In race day grey, the color that I named in a contest!) and 2 tanks. I have not worn the long sleeved shirt yet, but I have worn everything else at least once!
I almost immediately wore this outfit for a 5K. The capris are a little loose, but not uncomfortably so, so I kept them. The tank, in Berry Good Run, was a little baggy under the arms, but it never bothered me during that super sweaty 5K, and after one wash, was much better! The pants have a great pocket in the back of the waist band for your keys or money. The tank also has a pocket, but I haven't used it yet.
I did wear a Running Buddy during the race, and because the pants were a bit loose in the waist, it drooped a little, but enough to be annoying. The comfort level was SO high, that noting else mattered! It was a very sweaty 5K, and nothing stuck to me, it moved fluidly and felt amazing! I wear it every chance I get!
I also have the tank in All Over Spray Dye, and wear that about as often as I wear the Berry tank! They are definitely roomier than the cap sleeves, and many people have gone down a size, but I really love it the way it is! It doesn't chafe, and it feels amazing!
I really cannot wait to wear my long sleeved shirt and my cap sleeve once the weather cools off! I am sure there will be an overabundance of photos once that happens! There are a few other pieces I hope to order in the future, once the weather cools off! Swirlgear offers free shipping on orders over $75!
Do you own any Swirlgear? What is your favorite piece?
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