SHOPPING!

The rain has been getting to me and last week was especially bad. I was torn between staying in bed or building an Ark. Neither choice won but my attitude was certainly sour. I have become increasingly annoyed with my lack of wardrobe. I don't buy much because I go through sizes quickly and until now have been able to get by with Goodwill and clearance racks. Well on Saturday I kinda snapped. I pulled out my favorite jeans and they were too big. Now i know this should be a yippee yay Hell Yeah moment. And it was but it also meant I needed clothes, again...
My husband is very giving when it comes to shopping trips but I am very frugal. I always think about the other places in our lives that we could spend the money rather than clothing for me. I kinda needed a clothing intervention so I went SHOPPING!
American Eagle has always been one of my favorites so I bought plenty. Tops, capris, summer cardigans, ect...
I also got a new Speedo Halter swimsuit that is more revealing than anything I have ever worn but the best part was my stop to Burlington.
I needed bottoms. Now I would prefer to spend most of my life in a-line calf length skirts of babydoll summer dresses because I have always had a strong dislike for my thunder thighs. (I think this is why I love fellow blogger, Bitch Cakes.) Anyway, I found cargo capris and cute little khaki cuffed cargo shorts. I took them into the fitting room in fear that the lump of fat next to my knee was going to show and my huge saggy thighs would look even bigger in the shorts. Well I slipped them on and I LOVE THEM. I love my legs, I love the length. I love that I can walk and the and the center doesn't ride up because my thighs are touching too much. I bought my first pair of shorts in over 15 years. I was so happy as I left that store I cried.

The scale does move.

Over the past few months I have been fighting the same 5 pounds over and over again. I was working out hard and eating healthy but I was getting no where. Back to the books I went. I spent days pouring over books about nutrition, glycemic index, weight training, metabolism types, ect....

With 1 week left of P90X I called it a draw and stopped the program. I went back to Body for Life workouts. I have adjusted my eating by limiting fruit to 1 per day and no more than 100 grams of carbohydrates per day, no more than 50 grams of fat and at least 90 grams of protein. And it Works!

I have lost that 5 pounds plus 2 more. I have a ton more energy and my workouts don't take up half of my day. I may return to another round of P90X once I hit my goal but not until then. It is too intense and too hard not to carb load to keep energy up. It is not a weight loss program, it is a get in crazy good shape program.

So ,YAY ME!!!! I have 18 pounds to go until my first goal I set. I think I am going to aim for 5-10 more beyond that and then go see about plastics. I assume when my "apron belly" of loose skin is removed it will be another 10 lbs or so. I really can't believe I am so close. When everything is said and done my total loss will be roughly 200 pounds. Sometimes it is hard to wrap my head around that number. What a trip! 

Eternally Happy

I'm never sure what my exact religious beliefs are. I was raised by an italian father who was Catholic and I was baptized Episcopalian. Whatever it is, my hope for an afterlife remains strong. This week my Grandfather passed. If you have read back to the beginning of my blog you now that my Grandmother's life and her passing greatly influenced me to change mine. I have struggled with her death as it was painful to watch cancer eat her away in just a few short weeks. The Grandfather that passed was her husband of 60 years and my last grandparent.

I have not cried a single tear.  I was so at peace with his passing and so happy to know that the two people I looked up to the most were together again. They loved each other like teenagers until the very end. Holding hands when they walked and even signing christmas cards with cute little names. They loved each other and their family with a fiery passion that you don't see anymore.

The service as amazing. I had the honor of choosing the music and what I chose summed it up perfectly. "What a Wonderful World" by Louis Armstrong. My Grandfather was a Merchant Marine and an officer in WWII. He went to Howe Military academy and West Point. So did my Uncle Ray and my Dad was in the 82nd Airborne. The flowers at the church were displayed in the Masonic Star because at one point he was the head Mason. At the graveside service they played taps and fired off the gun salute. It was truly beautiful seeing as the cemetery had already prepared for Memorial Day with the flags on display. 

2 1/2 years go when my grandma's cancer came back my grandfather had a stroke the same week. He went to the Masonic home for rehab and paid for my grandmother to be kept in the room across from hm as she battled with cancer. The doctors told us she had 6 weeks and in between rehab sessions my grandfather sat by her bed every waking moment. He fought to get stronger and recover from the stroke just so he could take care of his Evy.  She died and so did a large part of him. In a sense my grandfather has been gone since she died.

There is such a peace inside me knowing that they are together again. It makes me smile to think of them eternally happy.

Zoo-De-Mac 2010

What a weekend. We discovered two things this weekend. We no longer party and I can be pushed to high speeds.

I admit I was scared to be around 2,500 other cyclists. I didn't know if I could "hang". I didn't know how I would be looked at in my spandex. I didn't know if I could climb the hills. I had a lot of doubt about myself.

The started like a bad Nation Lampoon movie. Our 25' breakfast buffet at the hotel ended up being a 2 foot counter. The eggs were not real. Eggs are cheap so imagine a cheaper substitute...now imagine eating the slime from Nickelodeon. Yup GROSS. The waffle maker and toaster didn't work because of a blown fuse and the fruit salad was warm. I ended up with a  bagel and cream cheese. Then the trolley showed up with the bike trailer. Hahaha, it WAS NOT a bike trailer but we were prepared and actually wrapped our bikes in foam for transport. The company still managed to rip my brand new bar tape.
40 minutes later we were dropped at Boyne Mountain. It was hot and sunny.

A lady we met on the shuttle told us "The pain you feel on the first 25 miles is worth the view" Yup, she scared the shit out of me. We quickly got comfortable on our saddles and fell into a good cadence. After turning the first corner I saw a hill that compared to anything I had climbed so I worked my way up passing people. I looked down and we are only 3 miles in. I was warned that the bad hills were at mile 8 and mile 10. This was no joke. The hill at mile 8 had to be a mile long with  false flat and then another 1/4 mile of climbing. People were pushing their bikes up but I refused. I thought that was bad and it took me a while to get my legs back under me and up to speed. At mile 10 the hill was after a sharp turn. The look of it was horrifying. People were actually stopped at the top cheering people on that made it. The hill was so long that I had to alternate between standing time and saddle time but I made it up. I only managed about 9mph on that climb but I did it. Sweat pouring out of my helmet and legs on fire I did it.

After a few miles of flat and small climbs we came upon the "Tunnel of Trees", a sign before entry warned of the steep down hill. 36.6 mph on a road bike is a rush. I passed a girl with 2 hand fulls of brake and as white as a ghost. That road was amazing.

Mile 25 brought us to Leggs Inn in Cross Village for lunch. Rest, refuel and rehydrate. We didn't stay long. The second half was flatter with some long gradual climbs. The kind of climbs that leave you wondering why the hell you are going so slow if the road looks flat.

Mile 35 brought about an interesting situation. My husband and I ride together. Often we are not next to each other because the idea is to take turns in front. The rider in back burns 30% less energy. Well we picked up some people and had a nice pace line for a while but dropped them. I came upon another rider that was letting people (men) pass him. When I approached his wheel he saw me and picked up speed, I picked up. He kept picking up speed so I couldn't pass so I backed off. I then watched as he let 2 more MEN pass him. This truly pissed me off and I informed my darling husband that he needed to learn a lesson and I was the girl to teach it to him. My husband responded with "go get him" giving me full permission to attack knowing he would follow. Full sprint at 25mph I caught him, passed him and pulled him at that pace for 3-4 miles until he was just too tired to keep up.
Sir, if I ever meet you again I truly hope you learned a lesson on that long sandy stretch of road. I ride like a girl....try to keep up.

The rest of the ride went by fast and when we only had 4 miles left we attacked again because we were eager to be out of the saddle. Overall the views were breath taking, the weather was perfect and 99% of the people were friendly. We completed the 51 miles in a little bit over 3 hours and spent a well deserved weekend away doing what we love.

Why is it always so hard ?

Really? That seems to be my question for everything lately. Why is it so hard for my kids to listen to me? Why is it so hard for adult women to be nice to each other? Why is it so hard to lose the last of this weight?

As I type this my youngest is literally having  tantrum over not having enough bubbles in her bath. My oldest is screaming at my middle girl about some sort of drama and the only thing I can do is listen to it and hope to keep some of my sanity. It doesn't help to scream at them or separate them. Just  ride the chaos out and hope it ends without bloodshed.

I have decided I am going to actively start sending my husband's resume out west. I hate the area I live in. I was not raised to be rude and catty but it seems almost every woman in this area was. Details don't matter but I am sick of everything from glares to mindless chatter about my weight loss.

Speaking of weight loss, what the hell? I do this by the book. I am a good little weight watchers soldier. I work out damn near every day and yet again the scale just stays. I don't want to hear any more about muscle and size and the fucking measuring tape. I want the scale to move. It is true that I can physically accomplish a whole world of things I couldn't before but I am tired of this constant battle. I work out too much I gain, I work out too little I gain. I eat too much protein I gain. I eat sugar I gain. I live on fresh spinach, egg whites and chicken breast and guess what? I GAIN! Then the next week I lose what I gained and it starts all over again.

So many opinions and ideas on the subject leave my head spinning. I journal. I work out. I eat low sugar, healthy carbs, high fiber non processed foods. I run, I ride, I do plyo, I lift, I Zumba, I do yoga. I just want the scale to move. Just budge. Just a little at a time. I am not looking for biggest loser numbers but a pound a week isn't too much to ask for. Vent over. Now I am going to work out.

Total Loss to date 170

I haven't done this in a while so I googled 170. Most of the pictures were people but I did find this one of this big big fish. My goal I set in the beginning is now only 23 pounds away. I may lose 30 just to say I lost 200 pounds all on my own. So I guess I lost this:

Happy Feet

I just want some happy feet. Pain free, blister free happy feet.
When I started running in September I was wearing New Balance because of the support. In January I switched to Nike+ Vomeros which I LOVE. The problem I find is that there is still so much padding. I kept telling my husband if I could run in wrestling shoes or moccasins I would be a happy girl. Well, I was turned on to Vibram Five Fingers and they are creating some happy feet, no running in them yet per instructions but I will get there.
My feet are still sad on the bike.
As a person who rides 15-50 miles on average 4-5 times a week the points of contact must be happy. Hands, feet, and ass. These are your points of contact. My hands are happy. I keep the weight off of them with my core. My ass is happy, I have a $200 seat. My feet are horribly sad. I have high arches and a tiny hobbit foot. Last season I started with a pair of Bontragers. All season I got hot spots numb toes. This year I switched to Nike which fit like a dream and have a carbon sole. The problem comes after about 10 miles when my feet start to swell. The toe box room is limited so my feet start feeling like they are in a vice. Sometimes the pain is so bad it's hard to climb hills. Fast forward to Team Estrogen ladies who all swear by Specialized Torch shoes. The price caused sticker shock. It took me a while to even wrap my head around spending that much on shoes that didn't have a stiletto heel. So here I am waiting for my Specialized Torch shoes in silver with a fiberglass infused sole, vents and a ratchet closure system. I am told this will give my happy feet.

Weight Loss Update: 23 pounds to go until my "goal" I set when I started this journey. Will I stop there? I don't know yet. Depends on the size of my jeans :o)

Little bits of current happenings.......

P90X is going well. I follow the schedule exactly as written and as stated before add some cardio. Mostly cycling because that is what I love. I at the end of week 6 so I am officially half way though my first 90 days. The scale doesn't do leaps and bounds on this but I have seen some amazing body results. Inches lost and functional strength increased. Functional strength probably doesn't make much sense but let me explain.  Most of my weights I use are 10,15 & 20's and haven't increased in the past 6 weeks but I can jump higher, balance longer, do normal push-ups and hold the crane pose. Under the remaining 25 pounds I am strong and fit and the bonus is I actually feel it.

I am still counting points. I will probably count points until I am too senile to remember what points are. It works for me. It is what clicks and if I am a perfect little point keeper and limit my sugars and carbs I lose. Sometimes the intensity of my work outs makes me crave carbs. I am finding foods that help control that and are point friendly because anyone that does WW knows, the points get pretty low.

I ran the Yellow Jacket 5k and shaved some seconds off of my time. I was happy with that considering I had only run twice in a months time. I just wasn't feeling it. I got a pair of Vibram Five Finger Sprints and love them. I have been wearing them for daily activities and work outs but not to run yet. I want them perfectly broken in before I attempt that task. Soon I hope to be a "barefoot" runner. It is goin to be like learning to run all over again.

Speaking of running I wasn't going to follow through on my list and run the 5/3 Riverbank Run. I just got sick of it. I would rather pedal 50 miles than run 3. It is so hard for me. My back hurts and my knees swell. The osteoarthritis in my spine tightens up so quickly that I can't take "walk breaks". Once I am in motion I have to stay in motion. My knees swell. My knee surgeon said no running. I say you only live once. So fate stepped in and Pure Fit Radio sent me a complimentary entry to the Riverbank Run. The running gods say I must run so I will run. Hell, they have beer at the finish so that's worth it, right?

2 years later

 Wednesday it will be 2 years since I decided to change the way I was living. I almost feel like I should celebrate my birthday that day because that is when I really started living. So two years later and I am not at goal but that doesn't bother me. I give 100% every day and I live my life. There have been glasses of wine and slices of birthday cake along the way and I never beat myself up over eating them because I knew I had to live like this forever. The plan wasn't to change things only until goal, I needed to change myself for the rest of my life and I certainly have. I will get to goal.

So a P90X update:
I have been pushing play every day and this program rocks!! It is not a weight loss program that is for sure but I am faster, stronger and leaner than I have ever been in my life. A lot of people ask about doubles so here is what last week looked like:

Monday~ Run 2.75 miles a.m. / Chest & Back Abx p.m.
Tuesday~ Plyometrics (Death on DVD)
Wednesday ~ Arms & Shoulders Abx a.m. / 12.5 mile bike ride 15.1 mph avg
Thursday~ YogaX  (Best 90 minutes of yoga ever)
Friday~ 12.5 miles ride 15.1 mph avg a.m. / Legs & Back Abx pm
Saturday~ 22.5 mile bike ride. 1st half 20mph avg  2nd half 14 mph avg into a 20mph headwind in the pouring rain. That sucked, we poured water out of our shoes afterward.
Sunday~ REST....Thank God.

On average this is 2 hours of workouts most days and if you notice it is all different. This Friday I will substitute a ride with Zumba because I love Zumba and to me it doesn't feel like work. This kind of schedule is why god created coffee.

Bring It!

Well, I made it through week 1 of  P90X. I have been told by the Beach Body crew that what I am doing is referred to as "doubles". The proper days to add the cardio are the strength training days. Take a break and refuel between sessions if you want to give this a go.

So mid-week I wasn't sure I was going to be able to keep this up through the whole 90 days. There were some moments that I was so tired that I wanted to cry. Tears of exhaustion are the worst kind. Friday rolled around and I hauled my ass out of bed and to the gym for Zumba. I love Zumba. If there is one work out that ha got me through and increased my cardio levels the most it is Zumba. BUT, yes there is a BUT, I have been attending this class for around a year. The same people come to the class every morning and the class STILL has to be stopped for instruction. I love my Zumba ladies and I love that the instructor was modifying things for me to make them more high impact but lately besides yoga this is the only reason I have been going to the gym. Everything else is done at home or outside. So after a long discussion with my husband I ordered the Zumba Fitness set and am canceling our gym membership. GASP!

In the long run I would like to become a Zumba instructor. There are certification classes in the fall that I hope to attend and there are several buildings in the area that are large enough to house a weekly class. The great part is that I can even get certified in Zumba for children. As you look around the area we have a horrible childhood obesity problem and I would like to do something about it.

So the routine is staying the same but the environment is changing. No more monotonous cardio machines at the gym. Mindless cardio and I don't mix. And now that I have strayed completely off my original topic I am happy to report that I made it through last week. Took my rest day yesterday, ran 2.71 miles this morning with my best pace to date  and then came home and completed Chest/Back & ABX. 82 days left :o)
Today is just one of those days that I am so thankful for the changes I have made in my life I can't quit smiling.

The next 90 days might kill me.

I have taken the challenge. I have done some crazy things in the past 2 years to get fit. I have done things I have said I would never ever do. Running for example. I always wondered why someone would run. Were they being chased? Is something on fire? I never really understood the sense of accomplishment involved. I also used to wonder why anyone would ride a bike completely bent over for 40 or 50 miles. Now I completely understand. So on to another challenge for me.

I have started P90X.

I have attempted to start the program 2 times before. Both times I started I couldn't make it through 15 minutes. And let's discuss Ab Ripper X. This crazy guy wanted me to do "crunchy frogs" just sitting on my tail bone. I thought there was no way I would ever accomplish this.

Monday was day 1 and it was almost irritatingly easy. What I mean is that I was mad that I couldn't do that workout before. When they were out of breath and sweating on the dvd I was excited and ready to go. Day 2 was Plyometrics (jump training). This is high and I mean HIGH impact. It was so challenging I actually wanted more. I was sweaty and breathing hard and felt like I couldn't keep going but I did. I haven't been pushed that hard in months. Today was shoulders and arms. Again I was amazed at how simple the routine seemed but it has to be working because I wake up every morning thinking someone beat the shit out of me. So 87 days left !! We shall see if I have the amazing made for TV results like the infomercial people.

Here is why I may die. I refuse to give up running or cycling or zumba or yogalates so all of those things will be added to the P90X program.  Running or cycling 3 times a week, zumba once a week and yogalates once a week.

I WILL become a P90X graduate on June 19, the first day of summer. Challenge on!

2010 Irish Jig

I loved this race. Michigan weather was bipolar again on Saturday and we woke up to snow. Man it was cold. I was decked out in a green bandanna, Nike knickers and running coat. Good to go. Again it was COLD. I did all of the pre-race rituals. Hydrated, carb loaded, stretched, tapered ect. I will post the delicious alfredo recipe from runners world at the bottom.

We arrived to EGR HS and it was packed. We still had to pick up out packets so we made our way into the gym. Everything was so well organized and they had the cutest irish band playing for everyone. We got our packets and wandered around finding people we knew would be there. Men were running at 9am and Woman at 9:35am so Jeramy headed out to warm up and I stayed inside were it was, well, WARM.

I had found my friend Jessica (check out her blog Real Food for Real Life ) and we headed out together. She is a much stronger runner than me so headed towards the back and she headed towards the front. This was a mistake on my part. I underestimated myself and should of headed towards the middle more but oh well, live and learn. The snow was falling and it was freezing out but I was ready to go. Right on time the race started and I crossed the line about 2 minutes after the start. That's how many people there were. WOW. Right away I found out that I was behind some people that didn't run the same pace as me. We were headed downhill at the start and alot of them were trying to fight gravity and take short choppy steps. Right then and there I knew this would be a learning experience for me. From .5 miles to around mile 2 we were working slightly uphill with a few little downhill rollers in there. I am not a fast runner but I am consistent so when I would come upon a row of 4 women talking and jogging I would have to slow until I figured out how to get around them. Now I know why some races have pace markers in lineup. It didn't bother me that much.. I was there to finish. This happened a few more times especially after mile 2 when we started working downhill. One time it was with a husband, baby and stroller that had decided to join his wife for the last mile. I have never had the ability before to pass people so I really learned some lessons that morning. After the last corner I visualized my line and started to kick coming in at 37:54.  That is 10 minutes faster than my 1st 5k. It is not lightening speed but I have greatly improved.

Crossing that line I ran directly to Jeramy who finished with a strong 20:22. A little slow for him but the silly man was horribly under dressed for our 1st day of spring snow. By  the time we got back into the gym they were serving cake and the band was playing again. They started handing out door prizes, trophies and everyone was swapping stories. My cousins husband slid out in the first corner and had a nasty case of road rash on his leg but still finished 21:24...he is over 50, amazing!!! My friend Jessica, mentioned above, came in at 27:22 and another friend Joelle ran it in 36:xx and it was her first one :o)

Overall it was wonderful. Well organized, great course and FUN. It is definitely a must do if you are in the area.

Rocco's Healthy Alfredo:
8 ounces whole-wheat fettuccine
1 tablespoon butter
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 teaspoons cornstarch
Pinch of ground nutmeg
3/4 cup low-fat, low-sodium chicken broth
3/4 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
3/4 cup 5 percent Greek yogurt
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add fettuccine; cook according to package directions.

While pasta cooks, melt butter in a large nonstick saute pan over medium heat. Add garlic and cook two minutes.

Combine cornstarch and nutmeg in a small bowl; whisk in chicken broth until smooth. Pour into saute pan, raise the heat, and bring sauce to a simmer, whisking occasionally.

Whisk in 1/2 cup of the cheese until melted. Remove pan from heat.
Whisk in yogurt until smooth.

Toss fettuccine with Alfredo sauce. Season with salt and pepper. Top pasta with remaining cheese. Serves four.
CALORIES PER SERVING: 336
CARBS: 47 G
PROTEIN: 18 G
FAT: 10 G

Zoo-De-Mackinac

"The Zoo-de-Mack is a weekend of huge parties with great bands, one of the most scenic bicycle rides in the country, a lot of sunshine, views of the mighty Mackinac Bridge, and one magical island."

 Hotel is reserved. Trip is planned :o)
Originally we planned on riding the Dalmac in August/September. It is a week long cycling trip but my father in law is having his hands operated on and honestly I don't think he is up to the task of a tween girl, an overly intellectual 7 year old and a 40 year old in a 5 year old girls body. So we decided we would wait a few years to do that ride. It is almost 100 miles a day for 4 days. I would like to take the children on this ride in maybe 5 years. It will be the summer before Brianne's senior year of high school and I think it would be good for all of us.

Anyway we got turned on to the Zoo-De-Mackinaw. It is a 2 day bike party. Upon arrival in Boyne Highlands on Friday night you pick up your packet and all access wristband. The website says if you are smart you will then go back to your room and sleep until 7am....LOL. 90% of the riders don't and we probably won't either. There is a pre-party with lots of drinking and a band. The next morning a shuttle takes you to the start of the ride and you begin the 50 mile trip to Mackinaw City. There is a stop for lunch to soak up the rest of the booze in your system and the first 8 miles are constant climbing. Once in Mackinaw City you stop by your hotel, drop off the bike, freshen up and head to the Island for a night of cyclists gone wild.

You see the thing with cyclists is that we all consider beer a form of fuel and really if you have ever ridden any distance you already know how a nice cold refreshing beer makes everything seem a little less painful and a lot more fun. So after a night of debauchery the ferry brings you back at 2am and you stumble to your fancy room and pass out until check out time. YAY!

Some highlights of the ride include:
51 miles along Lake Michigan on a paved road with very little automobile traffic. Riders pedal through rolling countryside and trillium covered forests, along sandy beaches, and are surrounded by breathtaking views of Lake Michigan from 400' high bluffs. We stop approximately half way, at a unique place called the Legs Inn for a leisurely lunch and to swap stories. The ride continues on to Mackinaw City for a finish line party and where Arnold Ferry boats have been chartered for the ride over to Mackinac Island. There is also a downhill section called the "Tunnel of Trees" and some riders have reported speeds up to 40 mph on this section.For more info click here

A pound is a pound

I usually have Friday coffee dates with some good friends. This past week while chatting one of them mentioned Oprah claiming that muscle weighs more than fat. Wow. Oprah? I thought she was a little more aware than that. The truth is as most of us know that a pound is a pound. A pound is a until of measurement. A pound of flour weighs the same as a pound of butter. That is why it is called a POUND. The difference is the "space" that pound takes up. In general a pound of muscle takes up a lot less space than a pound of fat because the muscle is denser. A 1 pound cast iron weight takes up very little space compared to a pound of packing peanuts. This misconception has been around for so long that people really believe it. It is the same as people believing that the number on the scale dictates their level of health fitness and value as a human. I know the number on my scale. I have known it every day, good or bad, for the past 2 years.  Many times the number won't move and I get as discouraged as the next person  but as long as my clothes keep getting looser and my fitness levels keep improving I am a happy girl.

Speaking of fitness levels I ran 3.93 miles yesterday. My Nike+ Sportband only registered 3.7 but it needs to be re-calibrated. That is a common problem with the Nike+ system. As your running ability improves your stride length usually gets longer so you are covering a greater distance but your foot is spending the same amount of time on the ground as when your stride was shorter. The concept itself is slightly flawed but I still love it compared to the bulkiness of a Garmin Forerunner. My goal is 6-7 miles by October and my ULTIMATE goal is the GR Half Marathon in 2011.  I am still not in love with running but I do enjoy setting goals that seem unattainable and meeting them.

Product Review: Knickers

I have been on the search for the perfect cycling knickers. Last year I went through several pair (and sizes) made from Aerotech Designs but now they are huge on me. So the search began. I ordered a pair of Shebeest Pedal Pushers, Terry Bellas and Pearl Izumi Sugars. The Shebeest & Terry I ordered in a size Medium because that is my goal.  They both go on but I could never pedal in them because they are too tight.  So I decided to by just one more pair to get me through until the others fit. I went with the PI Sugars due to the short inseam and good reviews. I ordered a Large and they fit perfectly. The chamois is wonderfully thick but fitted well. The best part of all it the drawstring on these. I usually have a hard time because my waist is so much smaller than my hips but the drawstring is fabulous. I love these knickers. They fit like they were made for me. They earned a seal of approval after 30 minute on the trainer. My goal is 30 minutes a night on the trainer until I can get outside regardless of what I do during the day. This should get me ready for the roads and get my saddle ass back :o)

PS...Scary Blogger Stalker, I have no idea what you are talking about but if you keep harassing me Blogger can track your IP address. Have a lovely day and take your delusions elsewhere.

Funny Things that happen during Weight Loss...

So as I was in Zumba today I started thinking about all of the things that have happened to me while losing weight. Here are a few that came to mind:

• While doing forward fold in yoga I realized I probably have never been that close to my feet before and I need a pedicure.
• I woke my husband up one night freaking out about the bone sticking out of my ankle. Turns out it is supposed to be there.
  
• If I don't wear the proper clothing while running I swear I hear my stomach clapping for me..ahh loose skin, gotta love it.
• I was slapped on the ass by my brothers girlfriend. She couldn't help herself :o)
• Cycling knickers I used to love can now be pulled up to my chest, earning the name "boob pants"
• My poor husband is highly irritated when I drive the truck. Not because I am a bad driver but because he has to move the seat all the way back and now have to move it all the way forward. My fat booster seat is gone.
• Fat floats..seriously. We love the hot tubs and when we used to go my body had such a high % of fat I would float off the seats. Now I am firmly planted but my inner thighs float up.
• There are bones in my ass and it hurts to sit for too long.
  

These are just a few. There are also some not so funny thing like:

• My grandfather didn't recognize me in his aging state of mind. Once he figured out who I was he was impressed but I wanted to be fat again so he would know who I was.
  
• A girl at the gym talking to me about how she couldn't believe people could let themselves get morbidly obese. She had to be informed of my weight loss.
  
• My skin is screwed. From my knees to my waist I look like I was melted.
• I have had nervous breakdowns over going out to eat.
• High sugar and high fat foods make my physically ill now.
• Some people hate me for losing the weight.

The good moments far out number the bad and I usually laugh at something that has happened daily. I challenge you to think of things that have happened on your journey to make you laugh really hard or moments that have made you cry like a baby because these are the moments that get us through. These little non scale victories and challenges are what make this journey worth it. It is called living and I am happy as hell to finally be dong it.

Busting A Plateau

From Jillian Michaels:

There is nothing more discouraging than stepping on the scale after a week of diligent dieting and grueling workouts and not seeing any drop in the numbers. The plateau is a common problem among dieters and can typically be waited out, but there are measures you can take to keep your metabolism fired up even as you reduce your caloric intake.

The best way to approach a plateau is to keep your salt intake below 2,000 mg a day and drink lots of water. Don't eat any processed carbs for a week (that's right -- no chips, sugar, white flour, and so on) and hit the gym hard! The boost in exercise will make your body swell and hold a little water weight for a few days, but after a week you should see the benefits on the scale.

You can also play around with your caloric intake a bit, varying it from day to day throughout the week while keeping the same weekly total. The human body can't slow the metabolism to adjust to a reduced caloric intake if the intake isn't fixed from one day to the next. For instance, to bust my plateau, I might have 1,200 calories on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday and then eat 1,500 calories on Tuesday, 1,600 on Thursday, 1,400 on Saturday, and 1,700 on Sunday. Get it?

The plateau effect can also simply be a matter of flagging resolve. If mixing up your caloric intake just isn't working, make sure you're not slipping up on your diet or slacking off in your workouts. It happens to the best of us -- sometimes you just need a little reality check to get yourself back on track.

As with any program, there will be highs and lows, but the most important thing is to stay with it. Your body is trying to adjust to the weight loss. Don't get scared or discouraged. Just be patient and know you're worth it!

Complain, Complain, Complain...

I feel like such a Debbie Downer lately but I am sick of the scale just not moving. It was going down down down and then *poof* it has frozen at the same number for 2 weeks. It's not the end of the world but it is depressing. To give you a good idea why this is depressing look at my schedule:

Monday~ Run 40 minutes
Tuesday~Weights 1 hr
Wednesday~Run 30 minutes
Thursday~Yogalates
Friday~Zumba 1hr/weights 30 minutes
Saturday~Run 40 minutes

I stay within my points and eat healthy foods, drink my water and take my vitamins. I don't know whether to scream or cry. I mean who works out like that, eats healthy foods and nothing happens?
It has taken me 50 weeks to lose 50 pounds...stellar huh? Yes I have lost inches, yes I am healthier and more physically fit. I lost the first 115 pounds in 10 months. I am exhausted, I want the scale to move, I want people to stop playing copycat with me and more than anything I want Spring to hurry up so I can get out of the stuffy gym and on to the road. I need to surround myself with different people.
I don't like saying "yay, I ran a 12 min/mile pace" and them saying "wow, that's slow". It's not me, these people need a friggin' filter on their mouths. That 12 minute mile took me a long time to work up to. I am proud of that. I can't do it all the time and on the treadmill I am a lot slower but that is what I can do. I love when I get told people can walk a mile that fast because that's even ruder yet. It's as fast as my short legs can carry me right now and I am damn proud of it. I am stuck between two worlds. The athletic world where everyone is speedy and healthy and the diet world where everyone is working towards that. I don't fit in either place.

A Fuzzy Updated Picture

My phone has been taking crappy pictures lately, the kids messed with one of the settings but this is a progress picture none the less. Sweaty and after yoga.

Dear Spring..

Could you hurry up and get here already? I feel like a little kid waiting for Christmas. I am ready to feel the sun beat down on my face. I will never again complain about freezing my water bottles or my funny cyclist tan line. I have picked up some new goodies at "off season" prices and am even more excited about those. The list includes:

• Nike Carbon Cycling Shoes
• Giordana Gloves
• Terry Knickers ( in a freakin' medium)
• Pink Paisley Helmet
• Selle San Marco Aspide Glamour Saddle
  
• Fly Gurlz Race Team Jersey
• Primal Black Orchid Jersey
• Primal Beehive Jersey
• Topeak Seat Bag (my other one was too tiny)
• Cinelli Pink/Black/White Bar Tape

On average I got about 75% off on these items since it is the "off season" The shoes were the best deal. They retail for $149.00 and I paid $10.50....new in the box :o) Full carbon sole and a wider toe box should prevent hot spots. I still need to pick up some shorts and of course my new bike from the bike shop. The seat was a must have. It is one of the most comfortable women's saddles on the market today and it is smaller than the crap stock saddles that come on the bike. They should just leave them off like they do the pedals. My new bike will be the Trek 2.1 Black & White WSD with a compact chain ring. 50/34...I am so excited about this because I was riding with a 50/39/30 triple. I used the granny gear ring once and because the middle ring was a 39 it was really hard to find a sweet spot, it always felt like I was missing something. Can you tell I a excited.!?! I have been spending Monday nights on the trainer which is similar to watching paint dry but an hour on the trainer is like 1.5 outside so I should at least not die on the first ride of the season.
Weight wise I dropped 6 pounds last month which is my goal. I think at this point between 6-8 pounds a month is reasonable. I also am consistently running 3 miles in about 37 minutes in the freezing cold. On the treadmill I am slower but I am bored out of my mind on that thing so I am obviously not as focused on the task at hand.
So in a complete reversal from my last negative nelly post I am feeling pretty good. I have refocused on me, myself and I. Trying to ignore the small things that irritate me and look to the big picture. I see 100 glorious miles in my future and it looks good :o)