Preparation

Today I decided I needed to start preparing for the 5K run that we are going to do. Yikes. I went to the gym first thing this morning and hopped right on the treadmill this time. Not after I did the eliptical. I had in mind to run as long as I could, take that as my starting point and work my way up to 3.1 miles (the length of a 5K).

So I began by warming up for 5 minutes, then began my run (ok, it was definitely more of a jog than a run, but it was faster than a walk. LOL). At the 1.5 mile mark, I was done being comfortable. I was tired, my breathing was heavy, my legs were tired, my face was bright red, and my shirt and pants absolutely soaked from sweat. But I wasn't done in my mind. I had to go farther. I pushed myself to run 2 miles continually, without stopping, without walking, without slowing the pace. I actually increased my speed the last 1/4 mile, cause, I was so done. I just wanted it to be over with faster. The faster I ran, the sooner the torture would be over. And yes, this is voluntary. I am certifiably crazy!!!! Because, it did feel like torture.

BUT.....

I did it!!!! And that felt great......well after I cooled down and didn't have jello legs anymore that is. Whether I will be able to walk tomorrow is up for debate, but that is ok. I did it!!!

So that is my news for today. Besides, the fact that hubby is away again, so I am flying solo for the next 3 days. He was gone last week for 2 days, and has to go away at the end of April again for another 3 days. I know it could be worse, but it still is hard when he is gone.

Ow

That's all I have to say today is....

"Ow, Ow, OOOWWWWWWIIIIEEEEE"

Yep that's all I can say with every step I take. I guess I really did push myself yesterday. Ugh!

WoW!

Today I decided to push myself a little. I haven't been to the gym in 3 days, with hubby being away and work being very busy, I just haven't been able to get there. So today I was able to get there.

Boy could I tell it had been a few days. I started out on the eliptical machine and did a fat burn routine (killer), but couldn't keep my heart rate low enough so it kicked me out of that program into a manual one. Ok, I will roll with it. So I did 45 minutes on the eliptical at level 6 (I started at level one so I am improving) and went to go grab my coat and leave. Then I got an idea in my head. Scary I know.

"I wonder how far I can run now?" So I hopped on a treadmill and started running. Maybe not such a great time to see how far I could run AFTER I already killed myself on the eliptical, but here I go.

Well at a slow run I was able to run a mile. WOW!! I was very excited. I can't remember the last time I ran a mile. My legs were burning though, it really was legs that gave out before my breathing did. So I was VERY excited. I wonder between the 2 workouts if I will be able to walk tomorrow. Yikes!!

A dinner jingle by Widget

I just had to laugh and share a new little jingle that Widget was singing as he was eating the Beef Stew

"Your stew, stew, stew,
Is not ew, ew, ew"

That just hit my funny bone. I am at least glad Widget doesn't think my stew is ew. LOL.

A funny

Today I picked up my oldest son up from middle school baseball tryouts. On the way home he asked "What's for dinner? I am starving"
So I told him "I am trying a new twist on an old recipe."

He responds "Aaannnddd, it is........"

I say "Beef stew, and I have tried it. It is so yummy."

There is a moment of silence that lingers on for a few moments and then he says

"I know we are trying to be healthy and all. And it is good and all. And I am not trying to complain. I am really not. Cause I really know it is good for us......

(Wait for it here it comes)

BUT...... (LOL. I told you it was coming) when are we going to have normal meals again? I mean we haven't had cheeseburgers, or tacos or poppy seed chicken (a very creamy chicken casserole) or macaroni and cheese with ham in forever. I can't remember when the last normal meal was."

ROTFLMBO (rolling on the floor laughing my butt off)!!!!!!!!

I guess I really am changing the way I am cooking and it is noticed. I think my oldest thought
"Here mom goes on one of her tangents. It won't last long. I just need to grin and bear it and make it through until she reverts back to her old ways."

ROTFLMBO!!!

So I told him friday night will be his night, and I will make whatever he wants for dinner. He chose cheeseburgers on the grill. Little will he know I will make soy burgers, or veggee burbers, or turkey burgers with shredded zuchinni mixed in to hide some veggies. LOL. Just kidding. Although that is how I will make half of the burgers.

Yummy dinner

Oh my. So much for me trying to lose those 2 pounds I gained. I just made (well it has been cooking all day) a huge pot of beef stew. I made it a little different today. I tried a new recipe, pretty much the same but this called for some red wine vineager, garlic powder and a few other different spices that I don't remember or ever used in my stew. It turned out sooo yummy that I have been nibbling, or shall I say taste testing it all day, and then just had a huge serving for dinner. Somehow it probably was a serving for 3 people, not one. But it was so yummy, I couldn't stop. UGH!!!! I did work out today so maybe that will help..... a little?...... maybe?

Yikes!

Today I went to my very first spinning class. And let me say.......

OH MY GOODNESS!!!!!

I wonder if I will ever be able to walk again. Owie! I can't imagine how sore I am going to be tomorrow. How do those crazy people do it??? I only took a half hour class and I thought my legs were going to fall off. I am in awe of those who do the hour class. Yikes. Wow. This getting into shape thing is definitely an adventure. Maybe I will lose the 2 pounds I gained this weekend.

I got called in to the hospital and have worked the last 4 days in a row, one of which was a 12 hour day from 3am to 3pm. My sleep was off, my eating was off, I skipped taking my vitamins, forget working out, and my stress level was through the roof (we had some extremely sick patients who were literally on the brink of death...kinda stressful). All that does not help one to lose weight. So now I have to work to lose those 2 pounds all over again. UGH!!! It was hard enough the first time around not to mention doing it again. But I am committed to it. So I went and killed myself at the spinning class, thanks Bron.

Progress

Well I am making progress, albeit slow, it is still progress. An update on the weight loss, gym, eating healthy and passing it along to my family lifestyle. I have lost 8.5 lbs in the last 6 weeks. I have had my blood work drawn, and have made at least 2 new healthy meals a week (except this week has only been one new recipe, but 2 weeks ago, it was 4 new recipes). Hubby is still working out with me, and we are consistently hitting the gym 5 days a week. Two nights ago we had the older 2 boys working out with us at home and they were loving it.

Well we have even taken it to the next level (at least for us) we have found a 5K run that we are going to sign up for. Not only are hubby and I going to do it, but we are going to sign up the older 2 boys as well. They are so excited. We really want to stimulate and enforce a healthy lifestyle. It has not been that way for so long, so we have a lot to make up for, but at least we are trying now.

AHHH!!!! What are we doing? I can't run 3.1 miles. I have a lot of training to do before then. Thankfully we have time. I am going to see how far I can run next weekend. I have done a 6K on the eliptical machine, but does that mean I can run it. I don't think so. We shall see. Yikes! I am a little nervous about this.

Another adventure in cooking

Tonight I am trying another new recipe. It has become a regular thing around here, especially with trying new HEALTHY recipes. Most of them have been a huge hit. As my oldest said after one of the new meals "Mom, you're hitting them out of the park here lately." He's all baseball can you tell? LOL.
So tonight I am being even a little more daring and making.......
Zucchini Gratin
It has zucchini, squash, artichoke hearts, ground turkey, swiss cheese and several other ingredients but those are the main ones. I sure hope it is another home run!! I will post the family's results later.

Next on the list is possibly Seafood lasagna. Now that sounds yummy too!!!

Movie Review

This weekend we hosted a "Fireproof"' movie night. Unfortunately, each time we planned to see it, either in the theatre or at home, something came up and we needed to reschedule. So, we finally made it happen, with only one couple having sick kids and not being able to come. Not too bad for a third attempt. LOL.
We had many couples coming and not one had seen the movie yet. We were all in for the anticipation together. We all had heard the movie was great and had produced lots of tears.
One of the couples that came, brought "manly tissues". If he was going to cry, he was certainly not going to use flowery girlie tissues. LOL. So they decorated boxes of tissues. Manly ones with nascar theme, and girlie ones with gold and gold coins. It was hilarious!!
It was indeed a great movie. A must see for any married couple. I won't tell what happens in case anyone hasn't seen it, but definitely go see it!!!!!