What Works For You?

I'm trying to eat the right things, in the right quantity and I think I'm doing okay, but I need your wisdom and tips to help me do better. Here are a few of our tricks. What are yours?

1. Eat off of a small plate (Thanks to Grandma for teaching me that one).
2. Substitute unsweetened applesauce for oil in baking (it doesn't work with brownies though).
3. Use egg whites instead of egg.
4. Don't eat after 7pm (that's a hard one).
5. Don't drink your calories. Jake only allows himself 1 soda a day. I don't like soda of any kind (I'm strange) so limiting soda is an easy one for me. We mostly drink water and milk. Hot chocolate is my weakness though.
6. We grill everything and fry nothing.

My ticker has stalled out much sooner than I thought it would so I guess it's time to step it up.

Friday

Remember when you were a kid and you needed to get somewhere? You hopped on your bike, roller skates or you walked. This morning, instead of hopping into my car I decided to ride my bike to get to where I was going. It's a beautiful day and Jennifer and I had decided instead of meeting for breakfast after dropping of the kids at school we'd pass on the bagel and play tennis. We have tennis courts in our neighborhood about 2 miles away and as I crawled into bed last night I decided my month off after the marathon needed to officially end. We had such a great time that we're playing again next Friday. I say play, but really I just hit the ball around. I took lessons about 8 years ago, but can't remember a thing I learned. Jennifer hasn't played in a long time either, but at least remembered the rules!

I made the chicken nuggets out of the Desperately Delicious cookbook. I loved them, but the kids immediately spotted the "orange stuff" (sweet potato) and refused it. I would certainly make them again for myself and maybe I'll try a different puree that isn't orange. Off to eat leftovers for lunch.....

Normallcy Returns

What I thought was allergies or just a little case of the sniffles turned into a cold that has kicked my butt for 5 days. Each day I thought I felt better, but it wasn't until yesterday that I began to feel good again.

Cheryl and I had scheduled our last run together before the marathon which is in just 11 days. I was determined to make it. I aimed for distance since I was on the rebound and we walked our 6 miles. The course is such a scenic, quite trail and it was really nice to walk and chat. When we run we don't usually talk since iPods are in our ears and we're trying to ignore the huff and puff of our own breathing.

I haven't posted my weekly running entries simply because there hasn't been much to report. I've really enjoyed my short runs (2-3 miles), but the long ones bore me. The great thing about this training is that I am exercising consistently which has never been a strength of mine and intend on keeping that up.

Week 3

I'm starting to get into a pretty good routine of exercise now. I'm actually enjoying it. I'm still on the treadmill and haven't attempted an outdoor run yet. That will have to wait until the kids start school. I've worked up to 2.5 miles and hope to run my first 5k by the end of the week. As my runs get longer I have to make sure I find something good on TV so my mind doesn't focus on the running. Commercials are torture to run through!

I've always been good at setting a goal and sticking to it so I'm already brewing up my next challenge once the half marathon is over. I'd hate to see myself work so hard just to let it all go after the run. Ann-Marie said she's always wanted to do a mini-triathlon so we've tossed around the idea for 2008. First, she has to give birth to that little baby growing in her belly and I have to finish this run I've committed to! I think I can handle the biking and running I'm just not sure about the swimming. I have a thing about swimming in river or ocean water. I'm always concerned about what's lurking below that I can't see. I guess I'll have to get over that.

Walking No Where

Jake talked for years about getting a treadmill. For years I was against it. We didn't have anywhere to put one in the old house and I was convinced after a few weeks we wouldn't use it and it would sit there in the way. When he brought it up again a few months ago I finally agreed. We put it in the Man's Room above the garage so there's no risk of hanging laundry on it or tripping over it as you get out of bed. Just as Nate was finishing school for the year I thought it might be possible to get a workout in while hanging out with the kids (I've never been one to formally exercise). I decided I'd use the treadmill 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Five weeks later, I've actually done it! The kids watch TV in the adjacent room while I walk and watch the Today Show each morning.


The upside to all this is that I can see definition in my legs...the downside is I haven't lost one pound. It hasn't discouraged me from walking because I feel so much better, but I'm bummed I haven't shed a few pounds. I guess it's time to incorporate some sort of diet change. My weakness......sugar, especially in the form of chocolate.