carbs ahoy!

I have managed to recoup from the damage done in Illinois this past weekend (wedding reception with cake and open wine bar; thanksgiving dinner with noodles, mashed potatoes and pumpkin bread; fast food only options along the drive).

To counteract the food, I attempted running in the country. It sounds like a nice retreat, but this is hard-core country. The kind with coyotes, skunks, and hunters who have been known to shoot "stray" bullets. Makes for a stressful jog.

I took my protector Padre down the only road there is, but before long we came across two large stray-looking dogs staring us down. We quickly headed back and I turned down the "lane" next to Luke's parent's house, which runs between the now-empty corn fields. The image of the big black cat-looking animal I saw earlier that morning and the thought of the groom from the night before who had his combine windshield shot out while he was in the field started messing with my head and we turned back towards the house yet again.

I ended up settling for lunges, squats and jumping jacks in the garage.

When all was said and done I woke up this morning to two less pounds! It's a miracle!

Now the challenge for the next 24 hours is Mexican food and Margaritas, cheese and wine, crepes and nutella tonight with Erin. Yes ALL tonight. We're foodies, what can I say? She's only with me one night so we have to fit it all in!! Then wake up and do it all again with Thanksgiving at Aunt Brenda's. I'll be doing my best to run it all off this weekend! Thankfully this time without the scary wild animals and reckless hunters.

safe harbor

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." - Mark Twain

My brain and my heart constantly argue over what is best for me. I know they both have my best interests at heart (or in mind) but they can never seem to get along. I would love to think that I live up to this quote by Old Sam Clemens, but in reality I do enjoy being stable and somewhat predictable. I know.. Borrring!

So what will I do? I will keep firm grasp of my dreams and not give up. I will prepare myself for the perfect opportunity so that when it comes around I will be ready. Ready to sail away from my safe harbor.

get mad at it

From July 2007-July 2008 I lost about 30 pounds. Yay me! Since then however I have stalled out.

I'm great at maintaining weight. I've got that part down. I work out regularly, eat pretty decently, but indulge in a treat almost whenever I feel like it. Maintaining is fun and fairly easy. As long as I work out I can pretty much eat what I want - within reason - and stay around 170.

But the time has come to get mad at those last 20 pounds. If I can shoot for 1.5-2 pounds a week, I should be able to manage 10 pounds by the end of the year.

Here is my game plan:

Over the past couple weeks I have tried to eliminate or greatly reduce cheese (gasp!) from my diet. It's one of my favorite things and I sure eat a lot of it, so it's kinda a big deal. During the first week of swearing it off I even had a cheese dream. That's right, a whole dream dedicated to eating cheese. I've had one relapse while watching Top Chef and drinking a lovely glass (or two) of Pinot. But other than that, I've got this cheese thing nipped in the bud.

I'm kicking my workout up a notch. Running a little longer than usual. Running a little more often than usual. I need to lift more and hopefully start a class or two to mix things up.

I think this week I will drink more water and swear off.. chocolate! Let the choco-dreams commence!

Ethan fun facts at 3 1/2 years

Mostly because I don't want to forget... Here are some Ethan fun facts!

E's a really great eater. Here are some of his favorite foods:

• egg & cheese sandwich
• black olives (pronounced AH-libs)
• cookies (pronounced TOOK-ees)
• green beans
• whole raw carrot
• mac & cheese
• salmon (he says he doesn't like it, but almost always clears his plate!)

Favorite sayings (he's full of stories and talks up a storm):

• donkey-kick!
• yeehaw!
• woohoo!
• ya got that guys?
• hey mom, look what I can do!
• puppy, how many times do i have to tell you? quit it!

Favorite songs (I refuse to play kiddie music in the car):

• Big Green Tractor - Jason Aldean
• You Belong to Me - Taylor Swift
• Single Ladies (put a ring on it) - Beyonce

Favorite movies:

• Shrek 1&2
• Wizard of Oz (saw it for the first time last night, froze, and didn't move/talk for an hour)

New tricks:

• somersaults
• opening the garage door
• saying the Pledge of Allegiance