Timely question. I have been thinking about food combinations for weight loss, etc. I came across an article on how important it is to have protein with every meal. I need to start thinking about it. Honestly, I have been trying just make sure I get in 4 fruits and veggies, a little dairy, easy on the carbs, and 1200 calories. That's about it.
I was so scared over the way I was feeling. A couple of possibilities: I had taken 2 doses of Midol over the course of the day to help with water weight, even though TOM was pretty much finally gone. Maybe my body doesn't like diuretics? I had only had about 500 calories, mostly watermelon, up to this point of the day? Temp was 99 at 6pm yesterday, heat index of 106. I wasn't outside that much, but we had to go outside to get to a bathroom during class (construction in the school and waxing floors), took the dog out, so in and out a lot? Also, running on 4-5 hours sleep for the last 3 weeks. I wonder if all that just combined.
I need to remember that my goal should be health, not a fast track to looking like the girl on the Runner's World cover.
I hope you are able to add more protein into your diet, it can't hurt! Here's a

, I understand being scared after feeling like that! I think more sleep and paying attention to how you feel and getting enough calories is a great idea

Not everyone can look like a magazine cover, but you can look your personal best!
QOTD: We're going to WDW from Dec. 1-9 in celebration of my 40th b'day in 4 weeks! I will be in the best shape of my life and plan on enjoying every minute of the trip. We're still waiting on our waitlist for BCV or BWV which will be the best gift of all!
What a wonderful way to celebrate! I hope you get off the waitlist and get to enjoy Stormalong Bay!
QOTD- I look forward to watching my kids the most. They just have such a great time during the holiday season. We have so many traditions and its great now doing them with my own family. We also like in the city of bethlehem so its a big christmas city during the holiday. Lots of fun stuff to do.
Traditions are wonderful, and a great way to bring the family together for fun and memories
You are already planning your exercise for December??? WOW...I am barely able to process what I am doing this week and next!
Anyhow, to answer the QOTD..... I plan to be FIRMLY at my goal weight at Christmas time and that will be my inspiration to not gain the usual 5 pounds of holiday eating weight!! Other than that I just look forward to the usual Christmas stuff.... time with family, a bit of time off from the "routine"... things like that.
The only reason I know what I'm doing that week is I've gone to 10M for all my long runs, so I know I'll have to get it in. I noticed Christmas is on a Saturday, my normal LR day, so I either have to move it before or after. I like before, because it gives me something to do to burn off the excess energy I'll have for the holiday. Maintaining over the holidays is a great goal and will be a huge accomplishment!
Everyone seems to be running around. We need to take time to breath. Today sit for 5 minutes. Slowly breath in and slowly breath out. Try to make in the same length as out. Concentrate and slowly say "Breath in Breath out"
Have a great day everyone.
Great pampering exercise! You can totally change your outlook by changing your breathing, we should all take more time with this every day!
Yay! Christmas in July! I am looking forward to having our Christmas tree up with all of our ornaments. We didn't put up a tree last year since we were gone at Christmas. It will be nice to just have a quiet Christmas at home.
And for those of you who want to add to that Christmas in July feeling, subsonicradio turned on the Disney Christmas music station for the month of July in case you want to hear some Disney Christmas music.
Enjoy your day, Maria! I am so impressed that you already have your training planned out through the end of the year.
I love the sight of the tree up, it kind of makes it the official start of the season for us. Our tree usually goes up right after Thanksgiving. Thanks for the subsonicradio plug, I forget it's there but it's awesome!
I really don't have my whole year planned out yet -- I just plan to keep my LRs at 10M, and Christmas falls on my LR day. I usually plan out 2 months ahead. I'm just finishing up my July plan, and I'll be constructing my August/September one this weekend.
Wish I could be your laundry fairy!! That is one household chore I don't mind too much
I'm with you, I actually enjoy

I think it's because I feel like I accomplished something since there's something to put away!
Well, if all goes according to plan, my folks should be moving into their new house about then, so it'll be nice to have our Christmas get-together in the new house. And, of course, DD should have a pretty good grasp of Santa Claus and even have a pretty good idea of what she really wants for Christmas. So, it'll be fun to see how this Christmas is different than last year.
Wow, it sounds like it will be a big celebration all around! You'll still have that "new house" smell, and dd will be ready for Mr. Claus!
Jumping in to say hi to everybody.
Last week was very tense, as the job from the previous week had originally said they'd narrow down to their top choice and do reference checks then the job offer. Well, Tuesday afternoon I got the message they wanted my references, so Wed I emailed them, and now I'm just waiting to hear.
Shannon this is fabulous news! I know you are really hoping to make a change, I'm crossing fingers and toes!
QOTD--Looking forward to having DS for a month. Looking forward to what has become our annual family vacation at Disney--though we only have a 3 day reservation right now and a waitlist for the rest. I'll be glad when that is straightened out! At least we have the 23, 24, and 25 at BWV.
Maria--I thought I was a planner when I scheduled my workouts two to three weeks in advance. Very impressive to realize you have to get a run in on Christmas Eve! And you will definitely be used to the 10m by then.
Thanks for the suggestions about more fuel during the long run! Mike said I was being very stubborn and cranky yesterday--waited too long to take the Gu, because I was hot and tired, didn't want to take the second endurolyte, waited too long to start drinking the gatorade--I was starting to get a few cramps. Anyhow, I eat a banana before we run, so the new plan is a banana and endurolyte at home, gu every 45 min, endurolyes every hour and gatorade during out cool down. I did feel better for a little bit after the Gu (even as nasty as it tastes--I like chocolate, and we only had a lemon at home) so maybe more fuel will help.

It is definitely worth a try. I checked the forecast for next weekend and fingers crossed, I think its' going to be a little better!!
I know you will love the nice, long break with ds! And it sounds like you have a fabulous plan to deal with the long runs. Sometimes it takes experimenting to get it exactly right, but it will be so worth it when you find the exact formula you need!
OK, so now time to state my goal for the next week (several weeks)!
I will only drink alcohol on Friday nights until my birthday weekend (in just under 4 weeks)! I will walk 6-10 miles a day M-F including or plus my morning walk! I will drink 90-120 oz of water a day, 1 can of soda a day and count my calories. I will also have my protein water daily!
There I have said it so therefore I feel bound to it!
TIGGER IS BACK!
Tracey you sound very motivated, and you have a plan for success! I know you will do well and be ecstatic with the results!
Hello Everyone! We are still on vacation in South Dakota but we are having a lazy afternoon and I have an internet signal so I thought I would check in.
Diet: Not going so great. We are eating things I normally do not eat. I am trying to limit some of it but have actually had ice cream, hamburgers and other treats that are not good. We had ice cream on a super hot day after hiking miles though the desert like conditions so I am not going to think twice about it.
Exercise: Getting a lot of it. Have hiked miles and miles through the state parks. Yesterday we hiked to the top of a mountain...over 7 miles of hiking to a peak over 7300+ feet high. It was amazing.
Jen -- The family photo is awesome, and I think all that amazing exercise is definitely helping with the diet, and I agree, I wouldn't think twice about it. I suspect when you've been home a week you'll see it all evened out.
We eat fried, stuffed squid (calamari tubes) for Christmas Eve dinner. It is a once a year meal and it is so good. We look forward to it every year. We were actually just talking about how much work it is to make. I honestly think that's part of what makes it so special. There's definitely a lot of love in the meal.
Once a year meals, especially ones that are complex, are really special

It's so nice that your family works together to make them. That is a fabulous tradition!
Our New Year's Eve trip to HHI! We went last year, and had a fabulous time. Can't wait to go back for 4 days of rest!
That sounds heavenly

I'm sure you will enjoy every minute!
We bought a garmin forerunner 305 this afternoon. It has a heartrate monitor and does some of the navigation stuff which Mike is trying to figure out. We tested the heartrate monitor on a walk and it doesn't seem to mind the skips. The best part is I can wear the monitor and Mike can wear the watch! Then he can mess with all the screens and buttons etc. We got a decent price on it, cause I think they have introduced the newer model.
Lots of people swear by their Garmins, I'm sure you will come to love it!
I have managed to maintain once again (at least it's not going up)...I am struggling with being rigid with myself! I need to cut some carbs but running leaves me so hungry...fruit and veggies only do so much and I don't like a lot of meat (once a day is plenty)...my husband laughs at me, he thinks I should be a vegetarian because I get squimsh sometimes when we eat meat, it's all a state of mind. I really do enjoy chicken and the odd hamburger
I suggest you find some non-meat protein sources to add to your diet. I am not a vegetarian, but I know that it is a fine balance between fueling enough when you are running regularly and not eating too much to lose, and I often get it wrong.

Just look on it as a learning experience, and keep trying to find the balance that will allow you to both lose and run.
I need to get rigid, too, pinkle. I am going for all out this week. Anyone want to join me, other than Tracey? I need some serious motivation, last week before school starts!
Count me in the "rigid" group -- I went crazy this weekend with stress eating from the outlaw visit, and now I need a big recovery. The scale this morning was

and I know it's from the gorging on junk and not eating without any scruples. I also missed my run this morning, I just couldn't get out of bed. Tonight it's early to bed and I am going to eat reasonably today. I have to have lunch out, but after that I have no commitments this week that will take me from my course!
sat qotd- on the meal planning, I definitely plan my meals around protein now, and try to minimize the breads/pastas and add more vegies. For breakfast if I have egg beaters I'm definintley full longer than cereal, so I tend to do that or peanut butter on toast, but that's more point heavy, so when I'm tracking i don't do that as much. It's all a game in my crazy little head, which is why I'm again, going up and down with the same few pounds for another bl challenge. Never give up, never give up.
sun qotd- 5 months from to day is Christmas!!! I am looking forward to october when I hope to be able to run/walk 7 miles, and use my christmas club money to book my wdw trip for the princess in feb. So for christmas, I do love getting together with family, and last year was tough, being the first year without my mom, so I guess I'm looking forward to it being easier. I have Christmas eve, and love doing it.
Maria- I love that you are already planning your runs into december. You are so inspiring to me.
Never give up is right! Sometimes it takes awhile to find a formula that works, and then of course it will stop working and you will need a new one. That's ok, just learn from it and keep moving forward!
The first holidays without a loved one are really hard, and you did a great job

I do think this year will be a little easier, and you will have more happy moments.
What I should be doing is planning my food in December, that is my real downfall!
Good day, because DH & I both got active in the yard. We started a list of what we have to do if the job comes through. We did okay with food for breakfast and lunch, but we ate dinner at the circus (popcorn and snowcones) and then had ice cream when we got home as we were so hot. Overall the activity should balance out the dinner.
Now to get busy and enter those weigh-ins
Shannon -- You are so busy and you still manage to be our weightkeeper

Thank you for giving us all a little nudge when we need it, never being judgemental, and always having a positive thought to share!
Just finished 3 solo miles walking/jogging the neighborhood! I plan on doing more later such as 5-6 miles of WATP and if time 1-2 miles on the elliptical if I can get to it! My dad has stuffed piled on it and beside it!
For breakfast I will have a strawberry smoothie and my BL protein water. For lunch I will have a WW meal. For supper we are making pasta with ground Italian turkey on top. I will have my handful or M&Ms later and probably a small dish of lite ice cream. TOM arrives today so I hope I can keep it together. Some months I have done well during "this" week! Hoping that will be true this week. Need to do well this week so I can afford to have Chinese food on Friday night. I will also be drinking at least 100 oz of water today.
There's today's story now to getting to that plan!
That's a big plan -- it's good to have a lot of details so you know exactly what you intend to do -- makes it easier to follow through when you have detailed steps!
Three mile run done. 5 seconds from a PR on 4K Thought I had it.
Great job getting that run in early! Sorry about the PR, but you'll get it!
QOTD: Peridot. I have a pair of earrings and my grandmother's grammy ring that has it in it. I used to have a ring.
I have a pin with peridot, it was my mother's birthstone and is very special to me

I know having your grandmother's ring must mean so much!
QOTD my birthstone is emerald and I just have a pin my mom gave me for my 40th birthday. It has my birthstone, dh's and ds's. What is funny about that pin is that my mom had one done for my twin sister and her dh has the same birthmonth as my dh so the only way to tell the pins apart is to look at the bottom two stones.
How thoughtful of your mom to give you and your twin the pins, I think that was an inspired gift!
qotd- I'm amethyst and i have a ring with 3 stones I bought as a mothers ring for myself from sears. The center is an oval blue topaz which is michael's birthstone, and there's two amethyst hearts on each side for me, and I love it. It was from sears and it was all three the same stones, but they sent it out to switch the center stone for me.
I think I still have an old broken amethyst ring in my jewelry box too.
Your ring sounds beautiful! What a wonderful way to keep him close to you all the time.
Maria
