In search of my body...not the one I ate! Part Deux... We sit at the popular table!

[3DisneyKids]

On Running....

So I continue to yo-yo with the whole running thing. But here is what happened last night. I didn't get to run until 6pm, but it was AWESOME.

Seriously, I think it was the best run I ever had. 5 miles...could have been 5 minutes it went by so fast and I wasn't even a bit fatigued or tired. In fact, I would have turned it into my long run, but I didn't have time to run for another hour plus (my long runs are about 2 hours now...a little bit over) and it would have been dark if I had continued on.

I was running near my house and we are in a rural part of town...so I just felt like one of those motivational posters (you know the kind...the ones that you see in a doctor's office or something with a picture of a lone runner running down a country road with a beautiful sun...and it says something that is supposed to be inspirational like ENDURANCE or whatever). Anyway, it was such a beautiful evening that I felt like that poster.

I was feeling great and suddenly I realized, (and yes, it was a light bulb moment) that I am a runner. I have felt like I was faking it until that moment. But yesterday, on that run, I became a runner. And I just started laughing...I mean full out belly laughing as I was running. Thank God I was on this country road where the houses are really spread out, etc. People would have thought I was crazy!

As for today...well, since the 5:45 wake-up call, Karen has called two more times. I am now headed to the gym (where I do not take my cell phone!) so that I can get some peace and quiet. And then I have a tennis match at 12:30. It is a GORGEOUS day here, so I am psyched for tennis. But it is COOL...starting to feel like Fall in the air. I think the high today will only be about 70 or so. Yesterday it was 68--beautiful and sunny, but crisp. So the pool is still up in the air, but I would love to go after tennis and just RELAX. Karen belongs to the pool club as well, but she is not going today, so I am very motivated to get there, kwim?

LYZ-- turning your kids over to the state! HI LAR IOUS. Glad you are gonna to get your schedule in order. It will feel great!

STEPH--can't believe you were here and we didn't connect!

DEB--WOO HOO for getting back on the bike!

I will check in later this afternoon.

 

[DisneyWorld Delight]

On Running....that I felt like that poster.

I was feeling great and suddenly I realized, (and yes, it was a light bulb moment) that I am a runner. I have felt like I was faking it until that moment. But yesterday, on that run, I became a runner. And I just started laughing...I mean full out belly laughing as I was running.

What direction do I go with this? Heck, lets cover them all:

loving friend: EriKa, I'm glad you had this lightbulb moment. It's what you needed for sure. I'm happy for you. (I feel like a poster too, sometimes.)

questioning friend: so are you a runner (i.e. for health) or a marathon runner (i.e. for your own crazy competitive spirit fullfillment)?

sarcastic friend: EriKa's a runner? Who knew? Well apparently everyone BUT EriKa. (oh and her toes, they are in denial.)

statistic friend: It only took 8 (EIGHT, count them, 1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8)months of running, what is that, at 5 days a week, 160 days of running, to be hit that you are a runner.

sarcastic friend: (you know I have more than one...) you probably looked like you escaped from the Kennebunkport Mental Ward.

 

[DISNEY4XMAS]

What direction do I go with this? Heck, lets cover them all:

loving friend: EriKa, I'm glad you had this lightbulb moment. It's what you needed for sure. I'm happy for you. (I feel like a poster too, sometimes.)

questioning friend: so are you a runner (i.e. for health) or a marathon runner (i.e. for your own crazy competitive spirit fullfillment)?

sarcastic friend: EriKa's a runner? Who knew? Well apparently everyone BUT EriKa. (oh and her toes, they are in denial.)

statistic friend: It only took 8 (EIGHT, count them, 1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8)months of running, what is that, at 5 days a week, 160 days of running, to be hit that you are a runner.

sarcastic friend: (you know I have more than one...) you probably looked like you escaped from the Kennebunkport Mental Ward.

OMG you are to FUNNY! I like the last one!!!! and the
sarcastic friend: EriKa's a runner? Who knew? Well apparently everyone BUT EriKa. (oh and her toes, they are in denial.)

 

[DISNEY4XMAS]

vacation pictures

 

[AKASnowWhite]

Here it is, WEDNESDAY, and I'm finally back after our insane week at 4H fair.

The good news: All went well. The kids did GREAT - DD was like the Grand Champion Ribbon Queen! Took home LOADS of trophy's, etc. I have a great picture of the cake that she decorated (gotta pull it off the camera still - and for SURE I'm going to figure out how to post that one! )

The better news: I was able to maintain my weight thru it all. I think it's because I was on my feet all day, every day, walking what seemed like MILES back and forth around the fairgrounds. My poor feet hurt!

The BAD news: Ok - so it's not that bad, really....but I'm taking a deep breath here and repeating over and over to myself: "it's my job as a parent to support my children in their endeavors".....DD has indicated that she *maybe* would "really like" to be the Publicity Chair for the fair again NEXT YEAR. Holy CRAP was that a lot of work. For BOTH of us. But she did an incredible job. She's only 12 and was on live in-studio tv interviews, she was live on the radio 3 different times, and was interviewed by countless newspaper reporters. She coordinated a food drive for Foodshare (big non-profit food pantry that covers 2 counties here), met with local celebrities (tv and radio personalities mostly) and had a "Celebrity Goat Show" at the fair...Actually - one of the radio guys made a video and posted it on his website. I'll post the link to that - it's kinda fun! (plus you will see that I really DO exist!)

I'm working out still - biked yesterday and got caught in a downpour. Didn't realize that raindrops could HURT so much! Ran today with DS and DH - of course they do "easy runs" at a 7 minute mile or less....but I was quite pleased with my time - getting back to my "race pace" from when I did the marathons It's such a delightful day here today - and my run felt so good I actually remembered how it was I survived all that marathon training! I scared DH - he thought I was going to say I wanted to do another

Ok - gonna go find those links to post....Missed you guys - I'm so glad to be "home" again!

 

[AKASnowWhite]

What direction do I go with this? Heck, lets cover them all:

loving friend: EriKa, I'm glad you had this lightbulb moment. It's what you needed for sure. I'm happy for you. (I feel like a poster too, sometimes.)

questioning friend: so are you a runner (i.e. for health) or a marathon runner (i.e. for your own crazy competitive spirit fullfillment)?

sarcastic friend: EriKa's a runner? Who knew? Well apparently everyone BUT EriKa. (oh and her toes, they are in denial.)

statistic friend: It only took 8 (EIGHT, count them, 1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8)months of running, what is that, at 5 days a week, 160 days of running, to be hit that you are a runner.

sarcastic friend: (you know I have more than one...) you probably looked like you escaped from the Kennebunkport Mental Ward.

Awesome response (the supportive friend....)

 

[DisneyWorld Delight]

Here it is, WEDNESDAY, and I'm finally back after our insane week at 4H fair.

The good news: All went well. The kids did GREAT - DD was like the Grand Champion Ribbon Queen! Took home LOADS of trophy's, etc. I have a great picture of the cake that she decorated (gotta pull it off the camera still - and for SURE I'm going to figure out how to post that one! )

Great news! Sounds like a successful week at the fair! And that is awesome about being the Publicity Chair again! She's a natural.

Glad your back too!

Steph - loved the pics. Felt like a good summer trip.

 

[DISNEY4XMAS]

Steph - loved the pics. Felt like a good summer trip.

AWWWWEEE thanks just filling in the captions right now!

 

[AKASnowWhite]

Here we go! This first link is to the video made by one of the celebrities in the Celebrity Goat Show that Becca coordinated. The goat he talks so much about, Willow, belongs to me and was leased by one of our 4He'rs. DH has been calling her "Sweet Willow" ever since the fair (you'll see why) - which is funny because he always says what a pain in the @ss she is! You can catch an ever-so-brief glimpse of me toward the very end of the video (where the 2 guys are posing with their ribbons) - I have on a lime green t-shirt and I'm standing in the announcers booth in the background.

http://www.965tic.com/New-96-5-TIC-TV/1018026 then click on "get your goat"

The 2nd link is to another video - a morning DJ on one of the local country music stations came out and did "phone-in's" to the radio station (that's what he's doing when he's on the cell in the video)....I don't think DD is in this video, but if you are patient, I'm there trying to show this poor guy how to milk a goat (in a dark blue hoodie....). It was quite amusing. Poor guy never got a single squirt out! And he really was trying DD had him doing stuff with the pigs (that's the picture on the web page), donkeys, beef cattle, rabbits and of course the goats.

http://www.kix979.com/pages/shag.html and click on "watch me try to milk a goat".

Looking back, I can see why Becca would want this job again - for all the stress, all the work - it was a TON of fun once fair arrived...

 

[HockeyKat]

KAT--feel like I haven't hung out with you in ages. Hope we can catch up soon!

Me too. Everything has been so crazy lately.

And I have to say, I HATE THOSE %&*$ Fiber One bars. They are good, but so not worth the gas. I ate one last night, out of my desire not to eat cookie crisp cereal. And I AM PAYING.

I am eating half of a caramel one right now. Disappointed in the caramel. I love the apple though. And yes, embrace the gas. Maybe they will tell me to go home early.

Lyz, that was fargin hysterical commentary on E and her revelation.


I want to go home. Or to Target. I need shoes.

 

[DisneyWorld Delight]

KAT!!! Long time, no post!

Nancy, I watched the first video. Very Amusing. (Have to watch the second at work tomorrow.)

1. Is there a DJ in every city named "Mark the Shark"?
2. Now that I've seen a "glimpse" of you, I gotta see more. More, More, More. K? No excuses. Your techie teens can help.

 

[3DisneyKids]

I have been trying to post all night and things have just not been going my way. Argh!

 

[3DisneyKids]

Steph and LIZ....I need your weigh-in results from WW this week so I can update the challenge.

 

[SeptemberGirl]

Hi! didn't weigh in yet - in Hershey this morning! I will weigh in tomorrow and let you know.

Off to disappear again...

 

[DISNEY4XMAS]

No weigh in this week Hello I was in MAINE!!!! eating blueberry cobbler ice cream mmmm it was good too! i will weigh on my scale and let you know in the am. MMMM k

 

[3DisneyKids]

Hey...let me know if your numbers are wrong...

NAME......GOAL.............THIS WK....TOTAL....LEFT TO GO

LIZ.........15 by 9/15......???...........-5.2........9.8
PAULA.....15 by 9/15......-1.5...........-1.5.......13.5
DAWN.....15 by 9/15......-2.0............-7.0.......8.0
LYZ........15 by 9/15......-0.3...........-6.3........8.7
STEPH....15 by 9/15......-0.3...........-4.2........10.8
DEB........12 by 9/15......-2.0..........-2.0........10
KAT.......150 lbs by 9/15..163.......... ???........13.0
ERIKA.....10 mi by 9/15....10.0.........10.0........GOAL!

 

[3DisneyKids]

Good morning! Time to wake it on up! I know that LYZ is already up and going since she has to get the girls off to school. (Man, that just seems so early to me. We always go back after Labor Day.)

Today is my long run. 11 miles, give or take. I am scared sh*tless. Wish me luck.

We are in a gorgeous stretch of weather right now, so I will definitely be spending the rest of my day on my a$$ at the pool club while the cabana boys cater to me!

Have a great day everyone!

 

[DisneyWorld Delight]

ERIKA.....10 mi by 9/15....10.0.........10.0........GOAL!

Today is my long run. 11 miles...

Look at you! Miss Thing! Goal Already! And then some.

 

[princessrunner]

Good morning everyone. Sorry there are so many problems lately with you questioning yourselves. Take stock of what you have overcome thus far, look to the future for what you want to accomplish and be happy with where you are right now. Accepting yourself is part of the key to losing weight.

Here are some tips that I found particularly interesting in this month's Triathlete Magazine. They call it "sensible splurging" not overindulging or cheating. See what you think about these "rules" for splurging.

1. Accept your spurge foods. Don't feel guilty when you have them but enjoy this simple pleasure in life.

2. Prepare the food yourself and fo gor flavor boosters. Instead of cheap grocery store brownies, go for homemade brownies with gourmet chocolates, local cream and fresh eggs. The homemade treats will taste better and are better for you.

3. Take time to taste the flavors. While slowly eating your splurge, consider all of the joyous flavors that are triggering the pleasure receptors in your brain and contemplate why you love this food.

4. Have a plan to be a conscious eater. Any food can fit into a healthy overall training diet as long as you have a plan. Plan to eat splurge foods on an occasional basis and only in moderation.

5. Go for quality not quantity. Instead of hastily throwing 5-6 Muhcnkin donunts into your mouth at work, consider sitting down after dinner and having a small piece of homemade apple pie. You will ejoyy this treat considerably better than downing donut holes.

6. Splurges don't have to be high-calorie and high-fat bombs. Consider reaching for a handful of fresh local strawberries or pherhaps a fancy olive oil to drizzle on a tomato and mozzarella salad.

7. Compromise and save yourself a bunch of calories. The reap the pleasure benefits of a creamy frozen dessert, consider low-fat frozen yogurt instead of real ice cream.

8. Structure your splurge around activity. Allow yourself the pleasure of the food splurge but do it on a training day not an off day.

9. Splurge after a healthy meal. Head this suggestion to prevent overeating your splurge.

Oh, and Erica, don't sweat the 11 miles, after 6 it becomes more of a motion than an effort. Just concentrate on breaking it into smaller things. Halfway there, just "x" more miles, just a 5K left, etcetera. It helps me wrap my head around the miles better. Best of luck today!

I hope everyone has a great day and remember, be the best you that you can be!!!

 

[AKASnowWhite]

Good morning! Time to wake it on up! I know that LYZ is already up and going since she has to get the girls off to school. (Man, that just seems so early to me. We always go back after Labor Day.)

Today is my long run. 11 miles, give or take. I am scared sh*tless. Wish me luck.

We are in a gorgeous stretch of weather right now, so I will definitely be spending the rest of my day on my a$$ at the pool club while the cabana boys cater to me!

Have a great day everyone!

SCHOOL? We start after Labor Day as well....makes for a late "end" date however....

Erika- 11 miles is NOTHING. Absolutely not a thing to you. You know you can do it. This is what you've worked so hard for all these months - 2 hours of "alone time" on a gorgeous morning. Let us know how you do...

As for me - today I'll be biking....don't have a route planned yet, so I don't know how far - but I've been so busy that I always think "I just want to do a short ride today" then I get out there and don't want it to end! I've become addicted... Then it's more "back to school shopping" with the kiddos.