Hits and Misses

In keeping with the theme of food this week I went to a cooking party last night that featured Homemade Gourmet products. Say what you will about home parties but I like them. Yes, its often a free hard sell but you are a big girl and should be able to say no. If you don't find anything you like at minimum you had a fun evening out of the house with a group of women who are likely your friends. At best, you find products you like.

The premise of the company is to make simple meals using a meat (fish, chicken, pork or beef), one of their seasonings, a veggie and perhaps a canned good. Some recipes only required their seasoning and one other item. Basically you prep the meals and freeze them and then can throw them in your slow cooker, on the grill or in the oven when hungry. After thawing of course.

I found a dip mix I loved so I was happy and a few spices I can see myself getting a lot of use out of. Double bonus that I now have several meals ready and waiting in my freezer when I want a real meal. I'm excited to try Grandma's Sunday Roast, Beef Burgundy, Asian Pork Lion and the Garlic Basil and Sausage.

The nice part is that I often cook this way so the concept was not foreign to me. Being single it is sometimes hard to just cook for one so I make a big meal and then portion it out into single servings for future use. It works for me.

So all in all. The evening was a success. A hit.

The miss came when I arrived home. I was so excited to relax in the hot tub and take a pic of it with the new camera using one of its fancy night enhancing shots. Not of me in the tub. Just of the tub. No one wants to see that.

But then I stuck my leg in and realized the water was only luke warm when compared to the zero degree temperature.

A quick check of the control panel told me the water was 84 degrees. F....

Off to find the manual I went and it was then I discovered that I put the hot tub in sleep mode. Which, when searching for the silver lining, I realized this is a good thing to know how to do when I travel.

Sadly that meant no hot tub time for me. Major miss.

This morning I tried something new. I went to a TRX class at the fitness center and it quite frankly kicked my ass.

SO very hard. And this is coming from a girl who runs 3x a week, does yoga 2x per week and lifts 3x per week. Really, really hard.

The entire premise is that if you have these straps you can do the workout anywhere using your body weight as the resistance. It was developed by a Navy SEAL. Halfway through the workout I wanted to find that Navy SEAL and kick his butt.

So after the 30 minute workout I wanted to die. During my prayer for death I walked to the front desk and signed up for a 6 week session of classes every Wednesday morning.

Hello? Swimsuit season will be here before we know it.

Then I ran 2.5 miles in 24 minutes (and I walked the first 3 minutes).

Another hit.

I started my day off feeling challenged and was excited to dive into work. Especially when I finally got a much sought after meeting.

I'm thinking my batting average is going to be pretty high this week.

Just Another...Friday

Its been a while since I have had a Friday.

Since I moved home I have developed several new habits. Habits like going out on Fridays. Being more social.

Habits like going to the gym. CONSISTENTLY. A routine that includes, when I am not on the road for work, 3 days of cardio, 3 days of lifting and 2 nights of yoga.

Habits like tracking my calories. Losing 9 pounds.

Habits like taking back control of my spending. Tracking where I spend my money. Setting goals and practically worshiping at the alter of Ramit and his I Will Teach You to Be Rich principals. 

But sometimes you revert back to what you know. Tonight I lay curled up on my couch with my dogs and the cat, catching up on mindless television shows that are stored on my DVR.

Its glorious. Its soothing. Its what I need. Today.

Midnight Madness

After a month off from running I ran Midnight Madness.

In the heat & humidity.

It took me forever. My pace was 12:03.

Someday I will make my goal of getting to 10 minute miles.

But we did it.

Afterwards there was a pasta feed and a beer garden. Who turns that down?

One more 5k to go and I will have another to scratch off the list!

Overconfident

When I set out to run 4 miles this morning I may have been a little overconfident in my abilities.

I may have forgotten that when one doesn’t run for 5 days, or 7 before that, that they lose strength.

All of that came back to me this morning.

But the key is that I got up and ran again this morning. I accomplished another goal.

I did 3.25 miles in 45 minutes (told you I was tired) and burned 321.7 calories. All before I got in the shower.

Now I am going to take 2 days off before I run again. Saturday’s run will be with my sister. When I go home for the weekend.

Baby Steps

As I write this it is 6:57 a.m.

So far today I have woken up, brushed my teeth, let the dogs out, fed them, got their kennel water ready and ran a mile.

Yes, ladies and gentleman...I got up and ran.

Well, I did a run walk routine this morning but I feel good. (mile time 12:33)

I feel like I have accomplished something and its not even 7 a.m.

Tomorrow will be a bigger challenge as I need to do 4 miles and will have to get even earlier. I hate mornings.

But I can do it. I know I can.

Next challenge; eating healthier. I don't eat a lot but what I eat is super high in fat.

I love all things fried, made with heavy whipping creme and red meats. Basically anything the American Heart Association warns you against.

But small steps.

Consistency

My running routine is anything but consistent. Like at this point I would be delusional to call myself a runner.

I talked to my sister today about my need to get up in the mornings for runs because my evenings are so packed. She suggested that I run when I get home from my evening activities and see if that is enough to get myself up and at it on subsequent mornings.

Shoot. I think the threat of that is enough to get me up and going!

I ran tonight when I got home from work. This is my only free evening this week.

My run, as expected, sucked.

That is what happens when you don't do something consistently.

I ran a full mile again but added 4 seconds.

12:10 first mile. 26 minutes at 2 miles.

But tomorrow, I will get up and run at least 1 mile before work.

Tomorrow will be the beginning of a new habit.

My early morning running habit.

Good & Bad

Let's start with the bad.

Last night my youngest dog, Bella, threw up a couple times. I figured she had an upset stomach but brushed it off. She woke me up several times throughout the night for various issues but by morning she seemed to have shook it off. She ate a bit of food and drank some water.

To be safe I came home over lunch to check on her. And she was still throwing up.

I decided to take her to the vet. On the way there she threw up everywhere. I knew it was coming. I pulled over but she jumped in the drivers seat. She threw up there. I reached for her. She jumped to the passenger seat...and threw up there. I knew there was a reason I carried so many reusable totes with me.

No fever and the probing check did not indicate a foreign object in her belly and since she is keeping water down - she isn't dehydrated. Most likely viral or parasite.

So 2 injections, some meds and $102 later we headed home knowing that if she wasn't better by morning we would come back for X-rays and blood work.

I had to go back to work but was able to cancel my after work obligation. I decided to concentrate on the positive; this would give me a chance to run after work.

I hop on the treadmill.

I take off.

I run the full mile (no alternating running and walking) in a recent personal best of 12:06.

At 1.2 Bella's stomach issue kicks in again.

Scratch the running plan.

I'm vegging on the couch with one sick puppy.

Lessons Learned

If you run everday 2x since May 1st, eat healthy eat like crap and act like a responsible adult a college student when you go home...your running time will be terrible.

You should always prepare for Memorial Day plans even when nothing is on the calendar. Because as soon as you think you will be home with your dogs you will find out you are lake bound and totally unprepared to be in a swimsuit. 

And sometimes, like last night. You just need a night to veg. To curl up with your DVR, 2 dogs and a cat. Just enjoy doing nothing. Because sometimes, that is the best therapy for your soul.

Shaving A Second

I told myself I needed to get up and run this morning since I hadn't gotten on the treadmill since Friday.

I got up.

Late.

With a stuffy nose.

So I let the dogs out, fed them, found my allergy drugs and realized I had about 15 minutes to run.

Not a problem - I will push myself and run a mile.

And I shaved a measly second off my last 1st mile time. But its a second and I am more than happy to keep shaving them off. It is progress after all.

200th Post

I wish for my 200th post I had something more relevant to blog about. Something compelling. Some big announcement or progress in the starting over journey.

But really, 200 isn't anything more than 199 or 135.

Its a milestone sure.

You have stuck with me As I have stuck to documenting the ups and downs. Much like a toddler I am slowly learning to walk again or to navigate single land. And I am finding I kind of like it. I like not having to worry about finding out whether or not someone else wants to do what I do, or where they want to eat or the movie they want to see. Its nice to be able to do what I want, when I want.

So this is another post. Like the others; about me, my life and moving forward...

I think I have established my total disdain for Friday's. Tonight was much like the rest of them.

I tanned. I ran 2.1 miles and shaved more time off. Mile 1 was 19 seconds faster at 12:22 and mile 2 was done in 13:20. So I am getting there. Slowly but surely I am getting there.

And then I started cleaning. Followed by more cleaning. Who knew you could work up a sweat just by mopping your hard woods?

Now its time for rest. In bed before 10 and up at 5:45 a.m. tomorrow. I am off to host the Kids in the Kitchen event for Junior League before making the trek north for the AC/DC concert.

I May Very Well Be Crazy

Agreeing to run a 5k on May 1 is making me feel a little crazy.

First of all I am the slowest somewhat thin girl on the planet. Promise. Like each time I run there are old people, and I mean like 80+, that finish ahead of me. Obese people (yea for them for getting out there!), cancer survivors (I run the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure each year), women with strollers and even small children.

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay ahead of me.

So I am training again on my own made up plan. On Monday it took me 43:25 to do 3.1.

See! I told you I was slow.

Tonight I was off to a great start.

I finished the first mile in 12:41. I was pumped.

And then, and then...I started coughing, choking, coughing and finally...I threw up. I threw up the gosh darn mucus that resides in my throat because of the joys of spring.

So what did I do? I cowboy'd up.

And away I went.

Puking and all I finished at 41:28 which is 13:32/mile. Had I of not puked I really think I would have been well under 40 minutes.

The May 1 goal is 35 minutes total.

Wish me luck.

I'm Boring

As you know, I am just not very exciting on Friday's.

And this Friday? Well, it is no exception.

I am home. Alone. Well, not entirely alone. There are the 2 dogs and the cat.

I ran/walked 4.25 miles and burned 475 calories (or so my treadmill tells me).

I watched 3 episodes of 24 (Kiefer Sutherland is my number 1 on the list of celebrities I would sleep with. I love him. Accept it).

I've watched countless basketball games and my bracket is fairing decently.

But the point is. I am home. I am not out.

I am boring.

A part of me wishes I were out. Or rather wishes I had a desire to be out.

But the truth is the idea of being out in a bar around here...makes me want to rip my skin off. I'm supposed to go out tomorrow with my best friend.

But really? I don't want to leave my house and go.

Because I am boring.

The Bounce Back

When I was in college I never had hangovers.

Ever.

All night drinking...next morning I was fine.

That ability has gone away, likely because I am not out all night drinking anymore.

Sometimes being an adult is just not as fun as you imagine during your youth.

But I can still bounce back. From illness.

Yesterdays fever came and went so today I started my 5k training plan.

I am back at it. In 12 weeks, or less if I am an overachiever, I will back to running for 30 minutes straight.

That makes me happy.

Once my Nike+ starts cooperating...or I buy a new one since the battery is basically dead I will start posting my runs.

Like I used to.

On the blog I had before.

Before I found out.

Before I knew the truth.

Because I am, as per usual, StartingOver.

Mind Racing

Me. Always wanted to ask me a question but not wanted to let me know who it was that asked? Go here and see what I say.

Working Out. Still loving my treadmill. Even last night when I didn't sleep well. I got up this a.m. and did a run/walk combo. Monday starts training. Training again for a 5k. Starting over.

Why do I always feel like I am starting over?

Boys. And B. So much there. Why can we talk about everything, absolutely everything, except for that one topic?

I think about you all the time.

I love talking to you.

I have lots of feelings for you.

Don't think like that.

Are you just there enough to keep me from moving on?

Concerts. In the last 2 days I have got tickets to Tim McGraw with Lady Antebellum, Rascal Flatts with my favorite Darius Rucker and Black Eyed Peas. I am currently on the prowl for tickets to the one and only Garth Brooks. Oh and if I can get reasonable Eric Clapton tickets I am in for that too. Oh and John Mayer? Sign me up.

I may have a problem. Apparently I need a part time job to support my concert habit.

I'm In Love

With my new treadmill.

Sole F63

I love you.

Now my dear Sole F63...if you can suddenly become 50 lbs lighter when MX comes over next so that its easier to move you I would love you even more!

K. Thanks. Bye.

Working Towards a Vision

Today I accomplished a piece of my 2010 vision.

I am the proud new owner of the Sole F63 treadmill!

I am so excited about my purchase. I work in sales and we wrapped a fabulous quarter and this is what I am putting a part of my bonus towards.

I cannot wait to have this treadmill in my home. It means no more excuses. It means I can work out whenever I want.

It means I can work for the body I want.

It means I can run 3 5ks this year.

It means I can accomplish my vision.