Anyone Up for a New Challenge?

Registration is open for the Fort Half.

Now is the time to plan your summer ... what races are you going to do? You gonna bike? You think you might want to try to run? 5K? 10K? Pick the full marathon and impress me.

You can walk. You can run. You could do both ... in the SAME event! Or try a tri. Or a lovely bike ride.

I'm trying to decide if I want to do a course I've already done or try something new. There's something nice about not knowing exactly where you're going for me ... not being able to obsess about how close or far the finish line is works best for me.

http://www.forthalf.org/index.asp
http://runwhitewater.com/
http://www.active.com/lake-mills-wi/triathlon/races/lake-mills-sprint-triathlon-2014?int=29-101-4
http://www.janesvillemorningrotary.org/

If you make your commitments now, by spending the money for registration or by declaring your event of choice here, you'll be more likely to follow through.

Challenge: Done!

Tomorrow is the final day of our 24-Day Challenge.

Here's what I know:

1. It was a good smack-up-side-the-head, get-on-track reality check for me. It snapped me back into eating right. I've said it before, the eating has been very much like the eating I did when I was actively losing weight ... though the no dairy, no diet soda and no chocolate was a bit MORE restrictive. It's not like I don't know HOW to eat right, but there's something about shelling out a few Benjamins for the program that makes you more determined to actually do it.

2. Supplements ... some I like, some I'm on the fence about. I really like the fish oil/Omega 3 and the protein/amino acid supplement. My knee joints genuinely feel better with the fish oil/Omega 3 and Jim's shoulder feels great. The protein just makes me feel better, though I'm not sure why. I'm also not so sure I feel the effect of the energy drink, though Jim digs it.

3. I had trouble with the fiber/cleanse drink and the timing of the Phase 2 vitamin packs. The fiber drink was just a mind-over-matter deal. Yeah, it's going to be a bit gross, but you just gotta slam it. And the vitamin packs had to be taken 30 minutes before breakfast and 30 minutes before lunch. I don't wear a watch and I eat lunch at my new job when I have time ... so I admit to not hitting it right every day. I just took them when I remembered.

4. I like having the meal replacement shakes around and bought extra to have on hand. Jim takes them in the truck ... you just need a bottle of water and you're done. They fill you up, get you to your next meal without stomach growling and taste pretty OK.

5. I like that we did it together. It made the whole thing easier.

6. Contrary to popular belief, there was no caffeine withdrawal. No headaches. And I don't feel different with all the "fake" stuff out of my body. I am craving bubbles. (For the record, I have not had a soda the entire time and I want you to be proud of me!)

7. I also did not lose my appetite for sweets and crunch. I still want them plenty. (For the record. take 2 ... I have not cheated with a single square of Dove either!)

8. I did not execute to perfection. I had a derailment at a potluck birthday party gathering. It wasn't awful, but it was off. And I also wandered last weekend in Chicago. I had too much red wine Saturday night. And I ate Garrett's popcorn and a few other "group meal" no-no's because that was all there was available. I did the best I could without making a production of bringing my own food or asking for special considerations. For instance, I ended up at a table with the event planner/corporate HR head at the fancy dinner, and had to make an attempt at the delicious chocolate dessert, in order to not offend. Literally. I'm new, he was raving about it, I had to eat some of it. I ate about half ... which I thought showed amazing restraint.

9. I lost some weight. I haven't weighed myself this week, but as of last week, I was down 7 pounds. My pants fit better. Jim has taken his belt in a notch or two. I feel leaner.

10. I didn't poop all over the place! I was so worried about that. But we both think we pee more and I think my pee is greenish. A quick internet search says this can be caused by eating veggies like asparagus or taking a lot of vitamins. If it persists, I'll worry, though I suspect it won't.

11. I'm not sure Jim followed all of the instructions to a T, but he did make an effort. And he saw some results ... his clothes are fitting better and his always-hurting shoulder feels pretty good (Omega 3). He's most surprised about the shoulder thing. He says it wasn't too hard to follow.

12. I missed dairy. I don't drink milk much, but I like cheese and sour cream and yogurt. In moderation, I don't think these are "bad" foods and I don't think I'll avoid them in the future.

13. This plan forced me to limit carbs. That was good.

14. We ate a LOT of eggs. A LOT. More egg whites than yolks, but a LOT of eggs either way.

15. I'm off my every-day-dose of Aleve, now taking only as needed after long runs or high heel days. I'm also not taking my sleepy medicine (OTC serotonin or melatonin or whatever that is) nearly as much. I think that was a psychological habit in the first place, but I'm glad it's gone. Though, I suppose, it could be related to the caffeine? No, there's caffeine in the energy drink mix, so I'm still getting caffeine, even late at night.

16. I'm glad we did it. I'm happy it's over. And I might do it again if I feel a little out of control.

Toasted Cecchi

I have a new snack obsession.

This 24-day challenge includes no pretzels. Yes, you read that right. NO PRETZELS. That's like saying, "No crack" to Dennis Rodman. I need crack ... err, umm ... I mean, pretzels.

Pretzels give me salt. And crunch. Mostly crunch. I love to crunch.

You get crunch from pointless, calorie-laden, nutrient-missing snacks. So, as you can guess, there's not a lot of satisfying crunch on the old cleanse and purge.

(If I'm being honest, in addition to missing crunch, I'm also missing bubbles ... Cherry Coke Zero. And smooooooooooooth ... cheese and chocolate.)

And that, my friends, leads to snack recipe experimentation.

I think I'm on to something. It's not perfect yet, but you'll get the idea and can try it your own way if you think it has legs.

Toasted Cecchi
1 can garbanzo beans, rinsed
Olive oil
Spices of your choice (Think Mexican combo of cumin, Tajin or chipotle lime. Or try Indian with curry and cumin. Or BBQ with one of those pre-mixed rubs. Or Italian with garlic, basil, oregano. Or even sweet ... sugar, cinnamon ... but then use canola oil instead of olive oil.)
Salt

After rinsing the beans, pour them out on a towel and pat them dry. Throw them in a bowl and dump a little oil on them. Or you could even spray them with oil in a can. The idea is just to coat them enough so that the spices stick. Next, add the spices. Sweet or savory, add a little salt. Dump them onto a cookie sheet/baking tray and put in 350-degree oven. Cook them until you smell the spices. (I totally have not timed this.) The goal is to get them hard like corn nuts, but you can stop the cooking any time before that if you prefer less crunchy. I usually turn off the oven and let them stay in there for a while so they really dry out.

In my opinion, you don't taste the beans. You taste the spice. Jim sort of disagrees. But if I hadn't told him it was a garbanzo before he tried it, he would have reacted differently. He thinks he hates garbanzos. (Like how I "hate" venison.) Fair warning: They're addicting. And protein vs. empty chip calories.

I Haven't Told Anyone

Whew. Finally back from Chicago. What a whirlwind weekend! The occasion was a 2015-2017 strategic planning session for my new company and its sister companies from across the country and world. (Hello, Vietnam and Ireland ... gotta figure out how to "need" a trip to visit their operations, right?) It was combined with a 40th anniversary party for our parent company.

All of this meant leaving work Thursday at noon and we hit the ground running: a cocktail reception Thursday night, meetings Friday, cocktails/dinner at the Museum of Science + Industry, more meetings Saturday, Phantom of the Opera matinee, Saturday night cocktail hour complete with an ice sculpture and oysters, lovely 40th anniversary dinner and, last but not least, the all-bets-are-off-work-stuff-is-done-drinks-are-still-free-and-people-are-loose party after the dinner back in the cocktail room.

This morning it occurred to me.

Never once in this new job, not during last week's trip to Florida, not during the few days I had in the office this week and not during these past few days have I mentioned to anyone that I used to be bigger.

They don't know. Not one of them.

They only know this me.

They've noticed my little Ziploc bags of raw vegetables in meetings and at lunch. They've poked me pretty hard for passing up dessert when we're at a meal together. They know I run in the morning before work. They've seen me taking my goofy little vitamin packs.

The new me used to feel like an impostor somehow.

I think I'm officially over it.

Benefit of Being Thinner #35

People can pass by you in the grocery checkout lane without touching you.

Dress Pants Drama

You know I tell you stories about me in hopes that if you see yourself in them, you'll know you're not alone, right? 

I want you to know what's in my head, in my heart and in my ass ... so that you won't be surprised by or worried about or fearful of anything on your journey. 

And every once in a while, I need just get something off my chest or I need to talk about it so that I'm no longer afraid of it. In those times, YOU'RE helping ME. 

So here's a story you might be familiar with. 

It's the story of bigger pants. 

I started my new job last week with a trip to Florida. Monday was the first day in the office. Although I knew the environment was billed as "business casual" and my boss wore jeans, I wanted to make the right impression and err on the side of more, if you know what I mean. 

So Sunday night, the search for dress pants was on. 

Do I have dress pants? Lord, yes. But I haven't worn the normal, long, church kind in a long time. I've been hanging out in cigarette pants (ankle-length) during the summer, opting for dresses more than pants and adding in a bunch of leggings (No Pants Thursday). 

I pulled out my old stand-bys ... size 6 and black ... and slipped them on. 

Ugh. 

Could I zip 'em? Yes. Did my butt and thighs look like sausages? Yes. Were they wearable? 

Hell to the NO. 

These were the same pants that were sliding off my hips at my dad's visitation nearly two years ago. I remember thinking that I needed to retire them then because they were just too big. 

What a difference 12 pounds makes. 

In the old days, 12 wouldn't have showed much. In this body, 12 matters a lot. 

And so I started trying on a bunch more stuff I hadn't worn in a while. I found some size 6 cords that fit. I found two size 4s that clearly did not. I found some size 8 jeans that work, but I don't need jeans. 

I had to go to the closet in the spare bedroom to dig out two pair of size 10s for this week. 

I wore the black pair Monday and the brown pair today. They're plenty roomy, and the truth is I wouldn't buy them that big, but they're what I've got right now and they're not remotely close to falling off. 

I gotta admit, it's a bit of a bummer. 

But it's also a good lesson. 

Lazy eating will catch up with you. You can't out-exercise bad eating. It's that simple. 

The good news is that I'm back on the way down with this 24-day challenge thing. I've put the brakes on my lazy eating and am doing better, making a new, better habit ... again. 

Best of all, I "caught" it before it went too far. I didn't put on those pants and give up. I didn't throw in the towel. Once again, I didn't beat myself up. 

My expectations are realistic. There are going to be good days and bad days. Good months and bad months. My weight is going to fluctuate. My exercise regiment is going to change. My eating is going to waver because there's just no such thing as perfect. 

If I acknowledge that going in, KNOW it, accept it, I can ensure that when it does happen, I don't panic. 

No panic. No demoralizing self-pummeling. Just acceptance. Understanding. And resolve. 

Losing weight isn't a "thing" that's over with one day when you hit a goal. 

In fact, losing weight isn't even the "thing" you start with. 

Your goal is to be the healthiest you possible. 

Which means eating right most of the time. Exercising enough to be fit and strong. Living every day in the way that's good for you. 

Every day. Forever. 

Because it's GOOD for you. 

When you do that, your old pants fit.

Wouldn't it be awesome to have to retire them because they're out of style instead of too small? 

I Screwed Up

Here's the truth: I "cheated" on my 24-day challenge yesterday. We were gone all day and I didn't plan well. The family potluck gathering did not offer much in the way of on-plan options.

And I caved.

My cheat foods? Nothing awful. But I let myself down. And that's the part that bothers me more than the 4 meatballs, the forkful of lasagna, the two spoons of angelfood/butterfinger/Cool Whip dessert and the 4 cups or so of snack-aisle-bagged popcorn.

In hindsight, not worth it.

It hit me as I snuck in that last bite of dessert. It was in my mouth and all of a sudden I thought, "Sure, this tastes good. But I made a commitment to myself and I just wrecked it with two stupid bites of something that I could have later."

Normally, that's when the guilt starts. That's when the self-beating begins. That's when you're programmed to start telling yourself what a spineless, pathetic, weak, incompetent failure you are.

Which leads to you internalizing all that self-pummeling. Believing it, if only subconsciously, and eventually giving up on doing what you know is right.

And that's when we throw up our hands, declare we have no willpower, undo all the good we had done up to this point, to start the cycle all over again.

(You see, I don't think there is such a thing as willpower. And I think believing that there is such a thing just sets you up for failure because it gives you an excuse. And if there's no willpower, what is there? There are choices we make. Sometimes we make them minute-by-minute. But if you make the right ones, often enough, good things follow. See it here: It's a Choice.)

I'd love to tell you that after those bites of dessert, I stood up stoically, declared I was done eating and drank a bottle of water, ran 5 miles and went to bed, like boss.

The truth is I DID stop and think about what I was doing. I literally went through the "Am I going to beat myself up about this and sabotage the whole deal or not?" conversation in my head. I called a spade a spade and told myself that I couldn't undo what was done.

Then I forgave myself for the detour and ate some more popcorn. It just didn't taste as good as it had earlier. So I stopped.

And I recommitted to doing better today.

It's 9:34 a.m. and all is well.

If you're the poetic sort, the first of these messages will appeal to you. The second says the same thing and might be easier to commit to memory.

The 24-Day Challenge, New Job Travel and Me

HRGirl asked for an update on my progress with the 24-Day Challenge, so here it is. (She's powerful, that HRGirl. She asks, I deliver!)

The first 10 days of the challenge are long over. That was the "cleanse" part. The truth is I thought the cleanse meant pooping and it wasn't that at all. It was really just buckling down with my eating, taking some fish oil, fiber and probiotic tablets and drinking a chunky, gelatinous, gross fiber drink.

All manageable. All complete. And at the end of the 10 days, I felt pretty good, wasn't hungry due to lack of food, my jeans fit better and I lost a few pounds. I very strictly followed the eating plan. No white food, no processed food, no simple carbs. My energy level dipped about day 5 through day 6, but my solution to that was eating. I just ate a bit more.

Today is day 12. The fiber drink is done. The fiber tablets are done. We've moved on to new supplement packs that must be taken at specific times, related to breakfast and lunch. The packs include fish oil, probiotic, a multi vitamin and a thermogenic. In addition, breakfast must now be a "meal replacement shake."

Jim likes the convenience of the shake. I think they're better than the fiber drink. But I gotta admit, I'd rather chew my food.

Traveling was fine. I managed to pack/buy/find enough good food to make it work. As you saw in my Facebook photo, a little store-bought hummus, broccoli, cauliflower and hard boiled eggs went a long way.

In our group meal events, here's what my choices were:

• Grilled grouper sandwich, hold the tartar sauce, white bun and french fries. Yup, just a hunk of fish. With a compensatory leaf of lettuce and slice of tomato. 
• Seared ahi tuna over an Asian slaw from the appetizer menu as my entree. There was oil in the slaw, but I hadn't had much of any fat that day, so it was OK. Oh, and a glass of red wine. Antioxidants. 
• Box lunch ... turkey wrap with lettuce, tomato and mustard, minus the tortilla. I gave the lady at the front desk the chocolate chip cookie and bag of chips. And I saved the apple for later. The meat was technically processed, for the record. 

I'm at the airport now, on my way home. For the flight, I still have some hummus and veg to eat, an apple and a Cutie. Plus nuts and raisins if I need them. Oh, and a protein bar in reserve, just in case. 

I'm happy with that. 

Just How Thin Do You Want to Be, Anyway? (AKA ... You Skinny Bitch!)

I asked what holds you back the other day.

One of the answers I received was "Lack of support from those around me."

And that makes me a little sad.

I've heard the writer of that comment talk about this before. She says that sometimes, her family/friends don't seem to understand why she spends time working out, why she goes to the trouble of eating well, why she has, in the past, gone to Weight Watchers.

You see, the writer isn't heavy. She's not even a little plump. And in 23 years, I've never known her to be. In fact, if I remember right, even pregnant she looked pretty damn good.

Her comment about Weight Watchers really made me think. I hope I'm representing it right. What I heard her say was that she went to WW to learn how to eat and how to keep pounds off when she was noticing a few extra hanging around. And she felt like others were judging her for being there. Not favorably.

Because she was thin.

Well, thinner than many in the room.

It made me think of all of the times when I was the biggest one in the room and how bad it felt because I believed everyone was judging me.

Isn't it odd that it works both ways?

I mean, I get it. I know how I would have reacted to a skinny minnie walking into "my" WW meeting. I would have been suspicious of her motive and assumed she was there to eventually poke fun at me. You know, find out how much I weigh and then share it with her other skinny friends.

So they could laugh at me when they had their secret meeting of the Skinny Minnie Club in the fitness center. Or when they saw me help myself to a birthday treat on the counter by the mail bins. Or when they went out for pizza, nachos and beer ... because they can eat that stuff every night of the week and it has no impact.

Because she's SKINNY. She doesn't have to actually try to be that way. She just IS that way, right? She's genetically blessed and this all comes easy to her. You know, because she's SKINNY.

Right?

Or maybe not.

Maybe she has issues and worries and fears and problems like the rest of us. Maybe she works really hard to look like she looks. Maybe her story isn't that different from mine.

Maybe there's something I can learn from her.

Isn't it a crying shame we can't find a way to support each other in our quest to be healthy, no matter what our individual path looks like?

We support you, girl! You go be the hottest, baddest, healthiest, strongest, BEST version of you you can be. No matter what anyone else says. (And that goes for you, too, everyone else!)

P.S. For the record, this chick can out-lift me. She's strong for a "skinny" girl. And someday, I'm going to be just like her. In fact, it's my goal to kick her ass. And I kind of hope it's her goal to stay ahead of me ... because then we both get better.
P.P.S. I hope everyone understands I use Skinny Bitch as a term of endearment, not to offend in any way.

Sneak It In

Where can you sneak in extra strength-building or calorie-burning activities during your day? The possibilities are endless!

Before you climb out of bed: Full body stretch. Then lie flat on your back, bend your knees, and do 25 super-concentrated butt lifts, clenching your cheeks as hard as you can at the top of each lift. Of course this works on the floor, too.

Brushing your teeth: Leg lifts, four ways. Straight back, back corner, side and front. Again, be sure you're clenching your butt cheeks when going back/back corner. Try not to hand onto counter for balance, as the balancing on one foot is good for your core.

Blowdrying or curling your hair: Squats ... and yes, you have to clench your butt cheeks on the way up every time.

Getting dressed: Before you put on the finishing touches, find a space on a wall and do Wall Pushups! Scoot your feet back a bit and think about controlled, deliberate movements on the way in and the way out. Fast is not the point. Feeling your muscles working is the point. Whip out 25, then put your perfume on and go.

In the car: More butt clenches. No one will know what you're doing and it just might make you giggle.

At work: Stairs vs. elevator, obviously.

Before the meeting starts when no one else is there yet: Tricep dip on sturdy (non-rolling!) chair. Knock out 15. Or 25. Or 50 if you're feeling smurfy.

At  your desk: Bicep curl. Feel free to use a full water bottle as your weight. Or your stapler. It doesn't matter that the weight is heavy. It matters that the movement is intentional and controlled. FEEL your bicep pinching at the top of each curl. Again, speed and going through the motion is not the point. Feeling it is.

Stuck in traffic: Shoulder shrugs. Concentrate on feeling all the muscles in your back and chest. And more butt clenches.

Making dinner: More leg lifts.

Washing dishes: Standing oblique crunches. You Tube video here! You don't need a lot (or any) weight. You'll know when you find the right movement because you'll feel the muscle. Squeeze it. Move your hip forward if you're not feeling it.

Putting laundry away: Don't just go get the laundry basket. Run there. And run back up the stairs. A few extra times, with the kids, to get your heart pumping and the little ones giggling.

Watching TV: Bicep curls during the show. Planks during commercials!

Sex: You figure this one out on your own. Be creative.

The point is you can "find time" in many ways/places if you're looking.

What Holds You Back?

We all talk about wanting to "be better" ... eat healthier, exercise more, be less stressed, sleep sounder.

But then we don't do those things. Or maybe we don't do them as well as we want to.

Ever wonder why that is?

I do.

I knew what healthy eating was. So why didn't I just do it already before agreeing to do this 24-day challenge thing? And what is it about this thing that's "making" me stick to it?

Way back when, I knew that carrying around 100 extra pounds was hard work. I knew how badly it made me feel inside. I knew I wasn't healthy. But yet for all those years I didn't do anything about it.

So, what is it?

Are you afraid you won't succeed? That you can't?

Do you really just not WANT to put the work in?

Or is there something you just love more than being healthier? (Because we both know eating fast food three times a week, sitting on the couch all day doesn't equal dropped pounds, right?)

I'm curious what YOU think, what you really think, when you dive deep into your head.

Maybe your thoughts/ideas/fears could help someone else. Maybe we could find a way to help each other ... simply by letting one of us know we're not alone.

If you're brave enough, comment below.

WHAT HOLDS YOU BACK?

Clean Restaurant Eating

As you know, I'm at the beginning of a 24-day challenge where the goal is totally clean and regimented eating.

No processed foods. No sugar/fake sugar/sweets. No white food: bread, pasta, potatoes, rice. No starchy veg like corn and peas. No alcohol, soda, diet soda. Limited or no dairy and red meat.

This makes restaurant eating very difficult because you lose all control of ingredients, portion size and preparation methods.

Here are two good things I managed on Wednesday, when I had both lunch and dinner out. (Great planning on my part, eh? In for a penny, in for a pound, I guess.)

1. Appetizer for lunch: shrimp and avocado ceviche, hold the chips. Shrimp, tomatoes, onion, lime juice, cilantro, avocado ... about a cup in total, served in a pretty margarita glass. No oil, butter, or bread in sight.

2. For dinner: fish tacos, minus the taco part. Grilled mahi mahi with a cabbage-salsa slaw that was really the filling of the tacos. I just asked them to keep the corn tortillas in the kitchen, so I wouldn't be tempted. Because you and I both know if they're on the plate, they're likely to be in my mouth.

To top it all off, Saturday night I have to go to Prime Quarter for Symplified Trucking's holiday party. I'm already planning my meal so I know what I'll be ordering before I get there. Wavering between half of the filet (it's a 9-10 oz. hunk of meat ... split it with Jim) or the catch of the day, provided it's not catfish. No potato. Mixed greens, no dressing, fresh veg for a total of 2C of salad.

The key is to look for lean protein, simply prepared and fresh, whole, steamed or raw veg. Grilled, baked, broiled all OK ... fish is my first choice, chicken my second and pork/beef last.

Skip anything with butter- or cream-based sauces. In fact, skip sauces altogether. Salsa is your friend ... lots of flavor with nothing bad included. Avoid cheesy, melty things. And anything likely to be a huge portion. PORTION SIZE WILL KILL YOU! Package half up immediately so you're not tempted to nibble as everyone else finishes the platters in front of them.

Don't let something like a turkey burger fool you. Sure, if you just ate the turkey burger patty it might be fine. Add the enormous bun, the special sauce (BBQ is loaded with sugar and salt, and don't get me started on Ranch/Thousand Island-ish burger accompaniments. If the texture is like mayo or creamy salad dressing, it's not good for you.), the cheese, the whole avocado, the onion straws ... you get the idea. Your 200-calorie patty turns into a 700-calorie wasteland.

This will all be good practice for the next two weeks where I have two business trips and a couple of fancy group meals.

Where there's a will, there's a way.

Cleanse Check-In

Day Three is almost in the books.

Positives: 

• Not as hungry as I anticipated. We're eating every 2-3 hours, and it's all good stuff, so we're not getting hungry. 
• Not pooping as much as I anticipated (let's call a spade a spade, sorry for those easily grossed out). In fact, there's no "extra" evacutory incidents at all. (And yes, I made up the word "evacutory." Care to guess what SpellCheck suggested? I'll give you a hint. There's an ejaculatory in it. Tee hee.)
• The Fiber Drink, while plenty disgusting, is tolerable if I mix it with carbonated water and the energy drink mix. 

Negatives: 

• It's HARD to eat every 2-3 hours ... my busy retirement/unemployment lifestyle is crammed with important activities like hanging with my nieces, having lunch/dinner with friends, going to RIPPED class, working out, watching Renovation Realities. Sometimes I get 4 hours past the previous eating time and then I'm off schedule. 
• Drinking 80 oz. or so of water a day is not my favorite thing. It disrupts my sleep, if you know what I mean.
• Today I didn't have all of the energy I needed for my workout. To be fair, I didn't eat beforehand like I should have. But I'm going to bed early tonight, to take care of this issue for tomorrow.  

Update from New Runner ... Domino Effect

I received a note from New Runner last week. And I love it. You'll see why:

"Two days back to work and I have learned that two of my dear friends and colleagues have actually been inspired by me! They both downloaded the C25K programs and have started the journey! 

Isn't the Domino Effect wonderful?"

I say, YES!!!!! And if it makes you feel good, just imagine how it makes me feel! 

I think as women we forget how important that a community of women can be. How much inspiration and power we can find if we just open ourselves up a little. Sometimes we have to be brave and take a step forward that we are unsure of. And sometimes we can be the one giving the hand up to someone else ... knowing we also get something rewarding/fulfilling out of that act. 

New Runner, I am thrilled that you get to know how good that feels!

Anyone else want to start the year giving a hand, taking a leg up ... passing the baton as it were? CC Nation is here for you! 

Pay it forward, sisters.

I'm Taking a 24-Day Challenge

... and This is Day 1!

I don't know about you, but after the holidays, I'm feeling a bit out of control. Off the rails. Spinning.

While I have kept up with my workouts, my eating is just waaaaaaaaaayyy off target.

So, in an effort to get back on track, I've decided to try a "pre-packaged" program that will help me re-set my system.

In a nutshell, the program cuts calories by requiring VERY clean eating, managing the "when" to eat as well as the what to both feed muscles and stoking up the metabolic furnace and then supplements the clean eating with some Omega 3 and probiotics ... and, drumroll, please ...

... a "cleanse" element.

(Seriously, is there an uglier word than "cleanse?")

Yes. Cleanse. As in fiber. To get the old gastrointestinal tract cleaned out, shined up, greased and lubed.

(I hope you're not eating dinner.)

The rules are fairly strict. I'm giving up some of the things I dearly love ... like candy. And most dairy. And sourdough pretzels.

And Cherry Coke Zero! (Did you just gasp? I know! I am having a hard time imagining this, too. Repeat after me ... it's only 24 days. It's only 24 days. It's only 24 days.)

The reality is that the eating isn't really that different from my very early weight loss days following the Mediterranean Food Pyramid. We all know if you want to lose weight, you have to stop eating crap (empty calories from processed, salt- and sugar-filled faux foods); white flour; stuff that's fried; chemicals like fake sugar. And you have to eat real food: protein; lean meats; fruits; limited whole grains; nutrient-dense vegetables (peas and corn don't count as veggies). Oh, and you have to eat less and move more. You know, burn more than you consume. Simple math and all that.

But what I like about this program is there's a "list" for me to follow ... what to eat and when to eat it. I am viewing it as fine tuning or maximizing the concept of clean eating and exercise. A jump start, if you will. A great way to start the new year. And because I have Jim doing it with me, along with some friends, I feel accountable to them and won't cheat.

Or at least I hope I won't.

And, for the record, the fiber drink is not nearly as delicious as this:

I am keeping that can in my fridge and I'm going to look at it every single day. On day 25, I just might wake up early to drink it.

P.S. Both the can of Hershey syrup and the jar of olives are hideously past their "Best By" dates. Someone should clean that damn shelf. And the others, no doubt. There's probably some 3-year-old mustard in the door, too.

Not-So-Uplifting Words

In an effort to pretend that 20 below zero wasn't a coming reality, we hit an indoor waterpark in the Dells this weekend. In tow, my husband, mom, sister, brother-in-law and two nieces.

(And, yes, we carried in more luggage than is typically required for a a week-long, bi-coastal, multi-climate adventure ... but that's another story. I'm totally counting it as a strength workout.)

We were lucky that when we arrived three hours before official check in, one of our two rooms was available and we could drop off all of the crap, jump in our bathing attire, and hit the slides.

Now, I admit that I still get a little anxious when I have to don a swimming suit and parade around in front of a bunch of people. Lots less terrified than I used to be, but still not totally comfortable. To make matters worse, rumor had it that the high school basketball team from my hometown would be staying in the same hotel ... which meant the PARENTS of the high school basketball team could also be there. And at my age, those parents are people I went to high school with ... and you get my moment of hesitation, right?

So, I jump into my red one-piece with a rather plunging neckline and am getting ready to leave the room when my oldest niece says something along the lines of, "Why are your boobs so deflated?"

Talk about a potential confidence killer.

Thankfully, I am able to laugh and fully appreciate her honesty. It's a teachable moment.

"Look," I say, "the truth is someday your little perky self will look like tennis-ball-in-a-tube-sock woman, too. This is what happens when you get old and lose weight. But check this out."

And then I start flexing my newly developed chest muscles for her.

She was thoroughly grossed out.

Win, Auntie Daisy.

P.S. I also just had my annual mammogram and received the "all clear" letter. This is your reminder to get yours done, too. This must be the easiest life-saving test we take ... I swear, the whole shooting match took 5 minutes, tops. Schedule yours NOW!

HIIT Me Baby, One More Time

I don't know if you've heard, but it's cold outside.

(Man! I kind of wish they'd quit talking about it because the more they talk about it, the more freaked out I get.)

And because it's cold ... and snowy ... and icy ... and WINDY, I'm obviously not running outside. I'm hitting the trusted treadmill in the basement.

But as many of you know, once you're accustomed to running outside, it can be hard ... as in BORING ... to run on the treadmill.

Did you know it's a scientifically proven fact that if you watch the timer on your treadmill, the world starts spinning slower and the length of time you know as "one minute" takes approximately 10 minutes to transpire? It's true. Google it.

So, I've decided to switch it up.

I'm doing intervals. Working on my speed. Dreaming of spring.

While I'm still doing the usual 4-5 miles, I'm not running at a steady 5.5 - 5.8 mph as I normally would. I'm alternating a half-mile's worth of 7.0 with a walking 4.5. Then going at a 6.5, slowing to 5.5, before walking again, then firing back up to 7.2 for a quarter mile.

I'm using distances ... half mile, quarter mile, whole mile occasionally ... to manage my intervals. But you could also manage them by time. Run a minute, walk a minute, run a minute even faster, walk a minute, run three minutes at a medium pace. You get the picture. You can find dozens of sample plans by searching on "interval training" or "interval running."

The switches are good for my brain and the time seems to go faster. Keeping your body "guessing" is also good for the post-workout calorie burn, raises your metabolism, increases your speed, increases your aerobic capacity and more. (See this SHAPE magazine article about High Intensity Interval Training http://www.shape.com/fitness/workouts/8-benefits-high-intensity-interval-training-hiit)

What I like most about it is that I feel energized when I'm done. There's something about doing those "fast" bursts that fire me up. It's a much different feeling from the occasional self-torture mode of pounding out 4 miles at a steady, monotonous pace. The intervals are more of a game ... my head says I'm going to conquer this little, fast challenge.

If my brain is happy AND my butt is happy, how can this be bad?

Resolution 2014: Be Good to Yourself

I have one wish for you. One simple wish for the upcoming year.

And it's this:

Be good to yourself.

It's the same wish I have for myself. And while it sounds easy, it's also easily misinterpreted. As in, harder than it looks.

Being good to yourself means actively making a choice to do something, or a few things, that make your life better. Taking action ... mindfully. But not just thinking about it. Not just wondering if something better is possible. Not wishing and hoping. Really doing something.

It also means understanding what is GOOD. Treating yourself to a piece of pie, every day of the week, is NOT being good to yourself if that pie makes you feel like crap the second you swallow the last bite. It's not being good to yourself if you spend one minute of beating yourself up for failing to control your fork. It's not being good to yourself if you have to feel that pit in your stomach when you step on the scale.

Being good to yourself means keeping in balance the things your body and soul really need. It's getting enough sleep, eating food that nourishes you and makes you stronger, sweating a little, moving a lot. It's not letting work stress get in the way of family time. It's remembering what's most important to you and making sure that is the thing you give your best to.

It's believing you are worth the effort being truly good to yourself takes.

Because you are.

10 Reasons I Like GGG

10. I like testing myself and the sense of constant improvement I get on a strength program. Every time you lift, you have the opportunity to do a little bit better than you did the time before. A couple more reps, an additional set, a heavier weight. Those "wins" are good for your brain and build you up, helping you believe you can take on bigger challenges (physical and otherwise).
9. I like the small group. If you know me, you know I'm not a big "joiner." I'm not truly comfortable in a group setting. But this small group of like-minded women was perfect. It was comfortable. Personal enough, but not too personal, if you know what I mean. The five of us filled up the little workout room at the country club, but didn't overfill it. Close enough to cheer each other on and help each other out.
8. I like being accountable to someone and making the commitment ... to myself, to Peggy and to the group. Let's be honest. It's easy to break a promise to yourself because your the only one involved. No one ever knows. But when someone else is dragging their butt out of a warm bed at 5:30 a.m. on a freezing cold morning makes it a whole bunch harder to skip.
7. I like the 5:30 a.m. wake up call to get my weekend off to a good start. Now, not every future GGG group will meet before dawn. But for me, this time was perfect. It made me feel tough to turn what was my normal "rest" day into a workout day and getting up before the sun just added to the GRIT factor.
6. I like having someone to toss ideas around with. As you know, I "created" my own plan for losing my weight. I didn't really know if I was approaching things correctly. And while I figured it out as I went, it was nice to have a guide to learn the strength training part the right way the first time.
5. I like learning how to do things properly. Weight lifting is more complicated than I thought. Just going through the motion of bending your arm is NOT the same as doing a correct bicep curl. For maximum results, the form has to be right. This is where I hear Peggy's voice, "Squeeze!"
4. I like having a plan ... and that it kept switching up. The program has a specific course of action, but the weekly workouts kept changing. Structure and variety. Structure to keep my OCD happy and variety to keep my easily-bored-brain happy.
3. I like the 6-week time frame. Long enough, but not too long. You can see the finish line, but it's far enough away. It's enough time to see significant changes in your body, too.
2. I like knowing that I don't have to do all cardio to stay cardio-fit. This is perhaps the best gift of the program for me. My knees can't take daily running. That's the reality. I now know that alternating strength and cardio keeps me strong enough to pick up and run 6 miles when I feel like it. I don't "lose" anything by not doing cardio every day. What a relief.
1. I like carrying around the title of a Girl that has Grit! I gotta admit ... I simply love the title. I like being a girl with grit. I'm not flowery and dainty and neither is this program. Bring it on!