If I were a betting gal...

but I'm not.  Right?

I mean, I'm that girl who cringes every time another dollar, quarter, nickel, penny goes in the slot I want to throw up a little bit!  I mean, those pennies might not be worth much on there own - well, clearly in Canada they're about to worth much, much  more, but hey!  They still add up, right?

Let me peddle backwards a little bit here so that you actually understand where I'm going with this one.

I've clearly been lazy as of late.  My last post went up on February 11th.  That's almost an entire month ago.  Remember how I promised (and I quote):

Until then, my promise to you is my head is back in the game.  That means I'M BACK IN THE GAME!  That means you'll be hearing a lot more from me.  Hope you're ready for it!!

 So, clearly, well, I lied.  Ok, ok, that might be a bit strong.  I haven't been sitting on my butt doing absolutely nothing.  I have been running and I still L.O.V.E. my treadmill.  However, I have been getting sloppy with MFP and tracking everything honestly.  I haven't been measuring and weighing foods the way that I should and clearly the scale has been noticing my indiscretions!  This morning, that  bitch had the gal to tell me that I've gained about 2 lbs.  She told me that I'm weighing in at 156.6.

Crapdidilytasticassmonkeyballs!

This is not good.  We're definitely going in the wrong direction if I'm ever going to lose these last 10lbs.

So, what did I do?  I made a bet.  That's right, this girl who would rather buy a pair of shoes than pull on some lever - just ask the Husband ;) , put some money down that I can, in the next 4 weeks, lose 4% of my current weight.  That amounts to about 6 1/2 lbs over the next 28 days.

Several of my awesomesauce online ninjas pals have joined in past DietBet competitions before and have liked the extra motivation of winning a few doll-hairs at the end of the 4 weeks.  I'm finding that I need that right now - extra motivation to keep me on top of things.

I really want to feel good going out and buying a new bathing suit for the summer this year and I'm hoping this little battle with myself will help get me there.  I mean, the buy in was only $15.  I spend more than that at Starbucks in a 4 week period!  So, guess what?  No Starbucks for me.  Not for 4 whole weeks!  Yikes!!  Ok, maybe that's extreme.  Right?  Like, let's not push me off the rails and straight into the depths of crazy town!  Ok, new plan!  No SB for 2 weeks.  That, I can do.  If for some reason I do end up going there, all that I'm allowed to have is a brewed coffee with whole milk and raw sugar.  No handcrafted music of my soul goodness for 2. long. weeks.

So, I do have some good news to report!  I finally went out and bought a few new items of clothing!  It was well past due!  I'm doing some contract work for a couple of organizations and felt really embarrassed going in wearing the same thing each week!  Wanna see a few of my finds??  Ha!  Too bad!  Here you go!

Why, oh why is there always one picture that doesn't format properly?

So, now I don't look like a bum off of the streets, but I still feel like there's much room for improvement!  Time to kick this game into hiiiiiiiigh gear!  Those there hips need to get smaller and those there arms need to get more toned because summer, she's a comin'!

Hopefully these two work horses can help get the job done!

Who else wants to help keep me on track besides these two, adorable, furry bundles?

This train is bound for glory!

I cannot, CANNOT, believe that I've had my treadmill for more than a week now - actually wait!  It's been almost two freaking, treadmill-filled weeks and I've yet to post a single word about my new BBF (butt blasting friend!)

So it all happened a little bit like this.  Two days before the BBF arrived, I was worried.  No wait, I was scared.  I was scared that I'd just convinced the Husband to spend $1000 on a machine that I might not actually be able to use.  My hip was still bugging me.  I'd been trying to stretch that MoFo out, but nothing was working.  Every time I flexed my toes or downwarded my dog, I sort of winced a little bit at the greeting my hip gave me.

However, the doorbell rang on that Wednesday night and the two guys grunted and groaned as they hauled my BBF into the front hallway.  Secretly, I was kind of hoping they'd take it down to the dungeon, but apparently the union and the Husband weren't hearing any of that request.

The Husband got me to help him push the box down the stairs.  That exercise was, well, a bit tense to say the least.  If you've ever hauled a really big box, containing really expensive stuff in it then you know what I mean.  I'm pretty sure some of the dye jumped off of my greys and ran away that night because FOR SURE there were more of them the next morning!

I digress!

The Husband got the old treadmill out of the way and within two and a half hours, had the new one all set up and ready to go.  I said to my hip, 'OK hip, listen up!  It's time to make nice with the BBF, so let's stop these shinanigans and do a little bit of running here, ok?!'  Ummm, well, maybe it didn't quite go down like that, but well, you get the point I'm sure.

2 miles.  That's how far I said I'd for for the trial run.

2 miles.  I could do that.  That's only 20 minutes.  I'd go slow.  No faster than 5.3 (which is what I log all of my runs at in MFP anyway - might as well actually do it!)

2 miles came, and I felt...FAN-FREAKING-TASTIC!  I could feel my hip, but it wasn't hurting, it was just a bit tight.  The treadmill itself is AMAZING to run on.  I've never, ever run on anything like that before and honestly, I've been around the block a few times - well, at least on the little display screens I have.  I've never really run around the block on a treadmill.  Or with a treadmill.  That would be, well, odd.

So, I've been running.  And I've been loving it.  We ordered the iFit module for it, but of course there's a problem with it.  I'm not quite sure why they wouldn't have told us that when we ordered it, but oh well!  In the meantime I'll just keep doing what I'm doing!  I'm actually having to stop myself from running every day.  That's how much I'm loving it again!

The even better news is that I feel recommitted to this crazy journey.  I feel like I have what it takes to get down below that 150 point again.  I'm aiming for 145 as my goal.  I'm confident that if I get down there, I can maintain between 145 - 150 and be happy there.  I want to train to do a few 10Ks and hopefully the 15K again this summer if we're not away for it.  I'm not sure that I'm committed enough to take on a 1/2 this year, but hopefully next year I will be.

AND, I can't believe that I didn't mention my haaaaawt new kicks yet!  I love them.  I thought I was an NB'er for life.  I really did.  Then I went to a local running store where the woman there Blew. My. Mind.  She had me try on a pair of Sauconys because she had that I had very little pronation and that NB's were best for people with fairly pronounced pronation issues.  I swear - like on my life, that when I put these shoes on my feet, it's like I'm walking on pillows.  They are a-maze-balls.  I'm in love.  All over again!

Hmmmm, that's a really bad picture.  Clearly it's time for a new iCamera!

I'm still playing around with my big scary thing for 2013.  I've got a few ideas that I'm mulling.  I should be ready to share those with you.  Soon.  I promise!

Until then, my promise to you is my head is back in the game.  That means I'M BACK IN THE GAME!  That means you'll be hearing a lot more from me.  Hope you're ready for it!!

Same %^*+, just a different week!

Blaaaaaaaah! That is what every pore, every fibre, every ounce of my body is screaming right now. Just blah!

I know that yesterday was Blue Monday and all, but come on! Enough already! I need to get my butt into gear and get this show back out on the road. I haven't really gained anything, but I haven't lost. More importantly though, the lack of exercise in my life is starting to show in obvious ways - like the thighs in my pants are getting tight again. My tummy is getting jiggly and my bum is starting to reach out to shake hands with next week. None of these things are good. None. Of. Them.

So, whose fault is it? Oh, you know. Mine!

Every day I wake up and am steadfast in my resolve to make today a better day than the last. I WILL drink my water. I WILL log everything that goes into my mouth. I WILL chose good, clean foods over heavily processed/easy choices. I usually make it until about 3:00 and then something happens. I don't know if that's when the boredom from not working out goblin invades my body or if its my butt sliding down the side of sugar mountain or what but I've got to get past this little funk because its gonna be bad news bears reeeeeeeaaaaaaalllllly soon!

So far today I've had about 50 oz of water. I'm going to at least double that between now and when I go to bed. For breakfast this morning, I had a yummy smoothie packed with greens, blueberries and other frozen fruit. I also put almond milk, Greek yogurt, chia seeds AND for the first time ever, I threw in some raw pumpkin seeds for fun! I am still full from it and I drank the last bit about 2 hours ago! I will have salad with leftover Mexican night offerings when I start feeling hungry in an hour or so. Then for dinner tonight, I think we'll do some stir fried veggies and chicken with rice noodles. It's quick, yummy AND hits all of the above points!

I think it's time I make a move and commit to that scary thing I was talking about before. I've got a couple of ideas that I'm mulling over and will put out there toute suite, er, I mean PDQ? Before I get there though, I think I need to post about the Big Boy turning 8 tomorrow.

So much to enlighten you with over the next week or so! Hold on to your yoga pants, things are gonna get...real!

Water chugging makes me and the bathroom BFF's. gotta fly!

It's square to be hip...

Whaaaaaat? I don't even know what that means and I'm the one who just typed that. Like, with these two hands. Weeeeeeird...

So I tried running a couple of times last week and both times I ended up having to walk because my hip was hurting. I can't decide if it's a muscle issue, a joint issue... Even worse, I really don't know how to deal with it. Do I go see an RMT who specializes in sports injuries? Do I go to my Dr? Do I just keep trying to stretch it out and see what happens?

So many questions.

I think it's time for new shoes. They are a year old now and they've definitely seen some miles over the last year. I know for sure that they've done more than 300 miles, but probably more like 400. I know they say replace them at the 500 mark, but I think that once a year or 500 miles is a good plan. Which ever comes first.

The husband though? Yaaaaaaaaa, it's pretty safe to say that he'd disagree with that statement.
I mean, he wears theeeeeese on his feet all the time (keep those gag reflexes in check everyone, it's about to get real scary in here!)

So clearly he and I have veeeeeeerrrrrrry different points of view when it comes to the timely replacement of foot bling! I swear, if they still fit him, he'd probably still be wearing the very first pair of shoes he ever purchased by himself!

So, new shoes are on the agenda for this week. You know what else is? This meal plan, that's what!

What's happening in your house this week?

ps, does anyone know how to place pics in your posts from an iPad? I'd really love to figure this shizzzzzle out before toooooooo long!

Oh Mr. Sun, Sun! Mr. Golden Sun...

Where the heck are ya?  I seriously need some good vitamin D inspiration to get my butt outside.  I still haven't broken in my new lulu's and we're almost at 3 weeks post Christmas now.  What the haaaaaaay?

These are the ones Santa brought me.  I should REALLY get my ass outside and run in them before they don't fit this ass anymore!

Honestly, it's been about 4 weeks since my last run and can I EVER see a difference in my butt and thighs.  I was actually pretty happy with the reflection I was seeing in the mirror before Christmas happened.  I KNOW RIGHT!!  What?  What was that?  Did she really just say she was HAPPY with what she saw?  Yup, she sure did (ok, I should probably stop the 3rd person thing now, right?)

So, what happened since then?  The cold and snow and lack of a treadmill.  That's what happened.  I've been sitting on my lazy butt, ignoring my squatting and planking rules (every time I pee, I squat and plank - also part of the reason why I liked what I saw!)

We've been in our Christmas break mode for the last 2 weeks.  Allass, that comes to an end on Monday morning at 9:00 am!  The boys are back in school, so that means I'm back in my routine!  I can run whenever I want and not worry about whose making sure the kids aren't lighting the house on fire!  I can go to hot yoga - which I'm hoping to do at least once if not twice a week with my regular yoga date, EP.

Today, after I get my butt outside and finally get that run done (the garmin is charging on my lap - well, it's sitting on my lap under my computer, not actually charging from my lap.  Although that would be crazy impressive, wouldn't it?  I wonder how I'd track those calories burned in MFP?) I am going to plan out my meal plan and grocery list for the next week.  I'm done with flying by the seats of our pants!  We need order and routine around here and it's starting today!

I found this today on pinterest.  It spoke to me.  Like really did.  I think I'm gonna make some decisions over the next couple of months and then a plan to work towards something just for me.  2013 really is going to be a phenomenal year!

I want to do something scary this year.  Who wants to join??