The Joke...

We were driving down the street the other day, just hubby and I, and we passed a terrible hole-in-the-wall kind of place you wouldn't normally go to eat unless a friend goes, "Oh have you ever tried ___________? It is so good! It's a real secret gem!" As we were driving passed, it reminded me of a time earlier in the year when just this conversation took place.

The girls and I were all ready to lunch and we were playing the game: "Where do you want to go? Oh, I don't care' what do you feel like? I'm good with whatever... (this goes on until someone who is really hungry says...) How about (insert name of a place you've never walked in because the outside looks sketchy)? It's a real hidden treasure!" So you all go there and it ends up being yummy but an hour later you're in that scene from Bridesmaids minus the wedding dress.

Long story short, I told hubs the whole story. Then I asked him if he wanted to go in and try it. He looked at me like I maybe have really lost my mind so I had to explain myself. You see, I saw this on Pinterest the other day and it really struck a chord with me...



Don't worry! I'm not really seeking out food poisoning! Like I said in my title... this is a joke. I have been having a much easier time choosing healthy options when I go out to eat! I don't know if you've tried it, but Wendy's makes a great salad with apples and cranberries.... I'm a fan. I am also in love with Poor Boys', (an actual Kankakee gem), Greek Chicken Salad. Things are going VERY well on the weight loss front!!! You'll be proud to hear as of today I'm down 8 pounds! Things are getting exciting and I am always so thankful for all of the positive comments and support! I can do this... probably!

The Gift...

I may have told you this already but we don't own a scale... or should I say we didn't own one until today! Hubby and my daughter hit Target today so she could sweet talk him out of a new dress she had her eye on. While they were there hubby bought me what I've really wanted since I started this whole adventure... a SCALE! (Note to men: most women will not be happy with you if you buy them a scale. I am a freak of nature. Do NOT try to win a woman's affection with a scale unless she specifically asks for one!)

So, I know you're probably just DYING to know... so I'll just tell you... I've lost 5 pounds!!!!! Woo Freakin' Hoooo! I may or may not have done a dance right there on my new, (and very cool/high-tech looking), scale! I only danced until I realized dancing on the scale makes the numbers go up and I wasn't interested in that nonsense. So, needless to say... today was a good day!

You may have noticed I haven't been writing much about my "running" efforts. We hit the gym hard on Wednesday and I got brave again and did my run/walk routine until I got a crazy pain in the back of my left leg near my ankle. I must have pulled something because it hurt all night! I was asking some more active friends and one asked me what shoes I ran in and did they offer me enough support. I didn't really consider this until they asked. I've been using the same gym shoes since I was pregnant with my 4 year old. Bottom line: hubby and I both bought new gym shoes today. If you were wondering... yes... they're gray and pink.

I've been thinking a lot about my tag line. I'm pretty sure it could use some more optimism. I'm really happy with my progress for today so I've decided to change it for the occasion. Thank you to everyone for the advice, support, and love. I CAN DO THIS... PERIOD!

The Diet...

So, on my quest to get skinny again, I've encountered a lot of free advice. As an only-child-people-pleaser I find myself saying "Oh thanks! I'll have to see if that works for me!" way more than usual. I haven't stepped foot on a scale and I feel like I've been taking this diet thing seriously for about a real week now. I know what my start weight was... I may devulge that at some point... when I'm feeling brave. I have to admit I'm curious but I'm just happy my pants are starting to fit a little more comfortably!!! I think this might be the weekend to finally break down and buy a scale for the house. With that said, I loved this picture I came across the other day. I hope my kids will know it's a scale. I try to not talk diet nonsense in front of them. Kids hear enough body image nonsense. They don't need to hear it from me too!
For now, I've been sticking to a calorie-counting diet. I MUST tell you about the tool I'm using! It's incredible and if calorie counting is your thing you should look into it! It's called My Fitness Pal. They have an app for my phone, tablet, and a website! They make it SO easy to keep up with my food diary/calorie counting!!!  Check it out!!! My Fitness Pal --- There's the link to help ya out!
I'm curious... what's your diet style??? Take my poll at the bottom of the page! If you have something that I didn't give as an option please leave it here as a comment!!! I can use all of the help/advice I can get. I can do this... probably!

The Cupcake...

  I've been doing a pretty darn good job with this whole "eating better/exercising" idea... until my weakness walked through my classroom door. Two things I struggle saying no to waltzed into my classroom today right around 2:00 - a cute kid that I know holding a case of birthday cupcakes. I know I'm not the only teacher with this weakness. I really tried to think of a way around it. I just couldn't. There she was with her cute birthday girl smile. There I was asking the same dopey teacher question, "Oh wow! Is it your birthday??? Happy birthday!" This is always followed by the same question, "Would you like a cupcake?!?" --- What kind of question is this??? Of course I want a cupcake! Should I eat one --- NO!
  So there I was... birthday girl gone... my students at art class... just me alone in my room with the cupcake. I thought if I just took the little happy birthday pick off the top and tasted the frosting I would settle my craving. That was wrong. I, then, did the logical thing. I went onto my calorie counter and checked the nutrition facts. They weren't what I was hoping for. Tons of carbs (obviously), high in fat, and around 250 calories! I looked at my calorie count for the day and made the logical decision to maul the cupcake as quickly as possible.
  I found this image after my speedy consumption of said cupcake. I think I need to print it out and tape it to my teacher desk. I also think I need to figure out what to do when someone offers me a cupcake! Do I take it and toss it? Maybe bring it home to my kids for a surprise desert? Raffle it off to good students? I think I need some suggestions from my friends at work.
To end on a bright note... I wore pants to work that haven't fit me in a LONG time!!! It really put an extra pep in my step this morning!!! It just reminds me that I can do this... probably.

Running...

I had a pretty firm policy on running. Everyone I knew undrestood my policy. It was easy to remember. "I run for urgency and even then, not so much!" I broke policy today. It was actually by accident. You see, hubby and I have been going to the gym together for months now. I've built up some stamina on the eliptical, the bike, and even a quick walking pace on the treadmill. I'd watched other people run on the treadmill so I knew it was possible but I always had this vision of me trying and falling off or running like an idiot. So, I stuck to my "brisk" pace walking. That all changed today!

I was setting the treadmill and I'm pretty sure I must have hit a wrong button because the speed went from 2.9 to 5 almost instantly! The gym was pretty empty and I don't know what came over me but I started running! Ha! You shoulda seen hubbys face!!!! He was rocking out on the bike next to me. It's probably best he was sitting down. I did slow it down, but only for a few, then I would speed it up again. Hubby came by with a tip. He said he heard Jillian once say that if you walk a minute, run a minute, and keep going it will shock your body. That sounded good to me so that's what I did! I did my quickest mile EVER at 14 minutes! Yay!

I felt so good about this I went home and boasted about my running on facebook. I was overwhelmed with love and support!!! I also got hit up to run a half marathon and two 5K's (these may be the same thing... I should probably look into this). I told those friends to hold their horses until we see how I really feel about this running thing. I can do this... probably.

The Deal...

If you know me, you know I was a dancer. A tiny, skinny, and long ballet dancer, (of course at the time I would have sworn I was fat... hindsight... what a pain in the curse)! When I was dancing with a community company in college, I screwed up my knee and my doctor said it was either stop dancing or start saving up for a knee replacement now. Awesome!

That was my third year of college. I finished my education degree, had some fun, made some amazing friends, met my husband, graduated, and moved back home. I taught for one year, got married, and 3 months after the honeymoon we found out we were pregnant! I was excited and I quickly took to the idea of eating for two. Sadly, nobody explained to me the other person was the size of a grapefruit and not a pro-football lineman. Around the end of my third trimester it occured to me that I had gained 35lbs and I really wasn't planning to give birth to a 30lbs baby.... so I was in some trouble!

Now, I know you probably think, "She's an educated woman... surely she would've figured out how to eat better for #2". You, my friend, are incorrect! With our son, I did a little better! Sadly, there were only 24 months, (I know... it just sounds better than 2 years) between kids. As any new mom knows, your own appearance tends to hit the back burner when you reproduce a human. I still had weight gain that didn't mysteriously go away from the first angel and after bringing cutie number two into the world I was at my large and in charge state of motherhood. Bottom line... my kids will be 5 and 3 this spring and I'm out of excuses!

So, the deal... my husband knows me. Better than that, he "gets" me. Having just lost close to 100 lbs himself, he thought I could use some motivation. The deal is if I lose 30lbs (my goal) by May 22nd I get to splurge on a new summer wardrobe! It might sound trivial to some... but the thought of not looking like something they might put on that "people of walmart" site THRILLS me! Not that my current wardrobe is bad... it might be but I think its fine, (a statement I now realize has been uttered by every person on "What Not To Wear" YIKES!). I'll be tracking my progress here as well as posting any nonsense I find from Pinterest and other motivational places that help me along the way.

Maybe my story will motivate you to go back to the healthier, happier, more active you! Hopefully writing it keeps me going too!!!