Days 49 (Sun) and 50 (Mon - Pres' Day)

Sunday (Day 49):

Sunday I was still in TC visiting family, feeling very homesick for my hubby!

I didn't calorie track, but I had a GREAT workout on my dad's treadmill!  I did a 5k and then some.  (Program 5k on the treadmill.)  I was running 8 -10 min. at a time!  Not too fast, but I can totally tell that my endurance is doing AWESOME!!  I'm getting back to the level that I was at when I was actually training for my half marathon.  I'm really itching to race now... Gotta look for some local races, I think!  Spring is usually the time when they start popping up! :-D

As for my nutrition on Sunday, no tracking, but I know I still did really well.  I had a 6 in long Subway for lunch, and kept hydrated.

Monday (Day 50):

For the most part, I didn't eat most of the day.  I don't really know why; I just wasn't very hungry!  I woke up kinda late (wahoo - 8am! - lol) and had wonderful spice tea - I think it was pretty filling!  And then my hubby wanted to make me something special (it was a secret!) for lunch.  We went shopping for ingredients, and had a good time all morning and part of the afternoon.  It wasn't until about 3pm, when he finally made a smoked sturgeon appetizer on baguette bread.  It was very good, and I'm so impressed with his surprise!

While he made that, I made the Greek dessert baklava.  If you've never had it, splurge ONE TIME!  It's very rich, very sweet, and very good!  I couldn't even finish my whole piece!  But I made a whole pan for my family of sweet-toothed teens (and hubby too - who happened to finish his slice AND the rest of mine)!

The 9x13 pan...after the family got to it! ;-)

Side view - see all the phyllo dough? And nuts?

It IS truly yummy!

Then in the later part of the evening, it was my step son's turn to make his weekly dinner (I wasn't really hungry at all)!  And that started a good evening with the family watching "The Help."  Getting 100% back on track tomorrow!  Easier to do with a "normal" schedule!

Day 48 - Saturday of President's Day weekend

Well, I'm currently out of town, and I only have internet off and on.  (Right now I'm on my aunt's laptop she thankfully let me borrow!)

We were going to wake up and climb/hike up Badger Mountain here in Tri-Cities (which I've never done, but WANT to do!) and really couldn't because the wind is HORRIBLE today!  It's been blowing all night (last night), and all day today.  I'm actually really bummed!  I was really hoping that the climb could really help mix up my workouts! Bummer.  So no workout today...

I did go to Runner's Soul today.  It's the local runner's store that I've been horribly missing in Lewiston (there's nothing like that there).  You can buy running "stuff" around Lewiston, but not a "runner's store." *sigh* I really missed it, and got to meet up with the owner again - great guy - and talk shoes.  I'm thinking that my sore hip is a hint of needing new foot ware.

Day 47 - FRIDAY! :)

Ok, I just have to laugh...

Today I had GRAND plans - starting with SLEEPING IN! HA! Nope - got up "late" at 6:15am.  Sheesh, can't get a break?  But that's good, because I've been up for a bit over 2 hours at this point, and I've already got quite a bit done in that 2 hours.  I've already called Garmin to send back my watch (*cue: sad music*), wrapped up and ready to ship at the post office, got a few applications ready to take back, and my devos done for the morning and my blog from yesterday finished and posted. WHEW!

Next on my list is a good, decent-sized workout to start off my "weekend" right!  I have a whole list of things that I need to do, and a few "wants" on my list.  For having a day off, it's probably going to be a busy day.

On a "female" note, I've seen signs of mother nature starting up today. (ick)  I should have known: the craving for chips yesterday (although I picked the "good" sweet potato/organic ones), and really wanting a SODA again.  But I wasn't supposed to start until Monday.  I guess that's ok, though.  If I am (indeed) starting, I should be almost wrapped up by Monday, and ready to do something with the family.  I'm not one of those who just SIT when they have their period, but I do lack in some motivation because I just feel BLAH.  However, I have to say, that I haven't had the cramping (yet) - 2nd month in a row!  (However, I'm expecting some probably tonight.  That's just the norm.)  So I think the regular physical activity, better eating and lack of soda is really helping.  No bust-bloat/tenderness, and I'm thrilled about that!  However, I WILL be scale-shy for the next week until the bloating disappears.  Hopefully next week will show good numbers after Mother Natures LEAVES!  I'm thinking it will.

Workouts:
Treadmill - 60 min, SP estimate: 397 cals burned.

...lunch time...

Well, other than a long phone call with my aunt on the phone and my treadmill workout, I haven't done much else...urg!  Kids will be home in 2 - 3 hours and I've gotta get moving!

I'm contemplating going to the Tri-Cities (where I'm from - 2 1/2 hrs away) for the next two days.  Why not?  Well, I know I won't get the workouts that I NEED, and eating healthy at my dad's is "questionable."  But the itch to get away is there, especially after talking to my aunt (who also lives in TC). hm...  Wonder what my hubby would say?


Nutrition:
Goal: 1,200 - 1,550
Calories Consumed: ???

...later...


Well, after talking to the kids and hubby, we have decided to head off to Tri-Cities and visit family.  It will be a short visit, but I might be MIA for a couple of days considering how much internet access I may/may not have...

Wish us luck! ;-)

Day 46...Heading into the weekend with a positive outlook! (Or trying to!)

Today is only Thursday, but it's my "FRIDAY!" (whoop, whoop!) 

I will say, one of the FEW perks about working in a privately owned school is that although we go with the local schools' calendars (for the most part), we can also create our own.  Because this weekend is a typical 3-day weekend for most (President's Day on Monday), our calendar has us of on Friday as well.  And now that my daughter is going to the public school instead of private school, that means I have the WHOLE DAY TO MYSELF!!!  (What the heck am I going to do?!?!)

Well, I know for sure that I'm going to have myself a great jumpstart workout to my weekend!  Since hubby has Monday off (normal schedule for him), I don't anticipate me wanting to get out of bed early to do a workout! lol  I may sneak one in later, but we don't have many days "off" together, so we tend to spend as much quality time together on those days that we can.

And per the parenting plan, we have his kids this Monday as well (schnitzel!), so we'll probably do something together as a family...usually involving a movie?? (i.e. popcorn...urg...)  So I need to make sure that I get my groove on this weekend FOR SURE!

But anyway...back to my POSTIVE OUTLOOK for the weekend....

I am pretty pumped about tomorrow.  I was thinking of trying to hook up with my SIL who lives a bit away, and I enjoy her company, but I don't get a lot of "me" time.  I might try to sew up a quilt (that I want to make for a fundraiser for our school), or "try" out a local gym.  (I'm not really looking to spend the money on a gym membership, but I hear that if you tell them you'd like to check it out, they usually give you a 1-2 day pass free???  Might check that out...)

I don't know!  The possibilities are ENDLESS! :-)

Workouts:
Treadmill AM: 40 min., SP estimate: 275 calories burned

(P.S. I'm still not happy about the SP estimate.  When you have a HRM, you just never vision going back to anything else.  I KNOW I'm a slow jogger...I KNOW that.  But it doesn't take into account my intervals of speed that I do, or the incline, etc.  Sad, sad....  I guess I'm just going to have to do THAT MUCH MORE to make sure I make my weekly 2100 calorie burn goal.)

Nutrition:
Goal: 1,200 - 1,550
Calories Consumed: 1165
**Disclaimer: I actually did not TRY to go under, but it happened that way.  I had a GREAT dinner, but got filled on this great Spinach salad with Red Onion, Pear & Pomegranate!  So although I had dished up a full bowl of Clam Chowder soup (light, Progresso, thank you!) I ended up having my hubby finish over 1/2 of the bowl!  I was full! :)  That's a good thing, though!

I'm so super impressed with Deb and Tina-Marie.  How can they continually get UNDER their calories?  (I know that getting under goal consistantly is not necessarily good - your body needs to be FED.)  But I'm a snacker by nature, and although I enjoy having dinner with my family, I would also much rather have a snack tray (ie. meats, cheeses & crackers) as well!  But I know that the 3 meal/2 snack model is supposed to be pretty good.  But my snacks (I've noticed) are mini-meals.  But then again, I hear that 5 mini-meals a day are good too!  Where am I messing up?!?! LOL.

Day 45 - Bouncing back

I noticed that as I increased my water intake for the day, that the mid-afternoon cravings that I normally experience just weren't there today! :)  YAY!

But so far, that's really the only "hurrah!" thing.  My Garmin HRM is flip-flop.  One minute it seems to be working, the other minute.... not.  I really hate working out and not getting a CORRECT calorie burn reading, so I am avoiding working out.  Isn't that silly??  Working out is still working out - whether or not I have a watch or whatever!  Am I using this as an excuse?  Maybe...  I DO really like number crunching, so calories in vs. calories out is really my "thing."  So it's frustrating. 

I plan on sending off my "baby" back to Garmin tomorrow.  Just got paid today, so after I cash my check I can go and do that.  *sigh*

Nutrition:
Goal: 1,200 - 1,550
Calories consumed: 1596 lol...I was UNDER by 7 measly calories until my husband put a tiny bit of wine under my nose and said "try this." 

lol.... It was Saki Rice Wine.  Not a lot of calories, and we had just a couple of sips, but of course, I HAD to count it! (Darn, that guilt!!!)  It was pretty good....would like to have it with Sushi sometime, but not my favorite wine to have.

Day 44 - Valentine's Day confession....

Ok, this blog is going to make me sound like a single person (which I am happily NOT)!  But I truly hate Valentines' Day. WHY?  Here are a few reasons:

First (and foremost), I'm one of those sappy people who think that you should show your loved ones 365 days a year that you love them.  Disclaimer:  I am NOT one of those sappy, lovey-dovey people/parents/spouse!  But if you don't show the people you love them on MOST days, what if today is their last day on earth?  Would they know how much they mean to you?

Second - today is my exhusband's bday.  Yep.  Up until last year, I didn't have a Vday simply because it was his birthday.  I know how much it's gotta suck having your bday on a holiday, and to share it.  My bday is AROUND Thanksgiving, so I think I get the general idea.  But with my ex, there was no sharing - it was just simply HIS BDAY. End of story.  *sigh, the romance....or not*

So that's my story, and I'm sticking to it.

Although, as far as hubbys go, I've got a good one.  It's mid-afternoon as I write this, and he's already come and take me to lunch at one of my favorite Thai places (since we can't go out tonight...I refuse to leave The Princess in my home without parental supervision), and brought me tulips.  Yes, tulips.  My favorite flower.  He even mentioned that he tried to find PURPLE tulips, but couldn't.  (Yes, purple my favorite color.)

...later...

Anyway, I pretty much tracked my food until the Vday party here at school started, and frankly, gave up.  Yes, I had a few sweets, but not over-load.  At least I didn't feel pukey sick later.  And no workouts.  Gave my body a break, and honestly, didn't feel like testing the Garmin and finding it didn't work....sad, sad....

Day 43 - I almost had a melt down...

I almost had a meltdown - truly.

In the middle of my last workout yesterday, my Garmin HRM/watch blanked out!!!  Ok, ok...tried to calm myself down... Maybe it just needs a software update, etc.  I can NOT afford to get a new Garmin right now!  This one I bought for myself while I was training for my first 1/2 marathon as a "prize" to myself for reaching some goals.  So it's more than just a $250 watch... it's MY WATCH! 

Long story short, it wouldn't budge all night...screen still blank. 

So, this morning, I called Garmin Support (who are GREAT!) and they couldn't even help me!  So I hung up with the guy, and I was about ready to put the "exchange" on my credit card (you send in yours, they send the same exact model - but refurbished - back to you), when I just felt a nudge "no."  So I quickly backed out - told the guy I needed to talk to my hubby.  Went along my business and back to my computer to post my blog and guess what???

MY GARMIN IS ALIVE!!! 
I could cry tears, I'm so happy!  It's funny how the simplest things make my day!

However, since I didn't have the use of my Garmin for this morning's run on the treadmill (which made me very grouchy, by the way), I'm using SparkPeople's caloric burn estimate (which I think is low and doesn't take into account that I'm a bigger person).

Workout:
Treadmill with Vibrams: 36 min, SP caloric estimate: 241 calories (My treadmill says 382 calories, which I know is "off" too - it's too high.)

Treadmill in the PM: 30 min, SP caloric estimate: 207 calories

In the evening, the Princess was just really ticking me off, and instead of lashing out (like I really wanted to), I decided to go run it off.  Although it was really only 2/15 min. miles (which is frankly slow - even for my standards), I'm NOT a PM exerciser, so that wasn't bad, because I don't tend to exercise well at night.  Plus, I burned off a bit of aggervation.  ON TOP of the Princess acting (normal) up, my Garmin was still acting up. :-(  So I had to revert to SP caloric estimation.  Urg... hopefully tomorrow is a better, less stress day!

Nutrition:
Goal: 1,200 - 1,550
Calories consumed: 1632 urg!  What put me over? The avocado at dinner (too much of a good thing?) and the rice cracker mix at snack.  NUTS!  And I thought I was doing so well!  urg...