Thank you dear baby Jesus, it's Friday!

And I'm down a pound to start off this Christmas Challenge.

I'm happy for the loss, but honestly, I would've shed 2 pounds if it hadn't been for my "on vacation" excuses. Ah well. Next week.

I lived to report my time for my first 5k last night: 00:50:49! I'm quite pleased with that. If we'd started with the runners, the time would've been more accurate. I'm really just shocked at how competitive I got and how much I ended up running! I'd see the gray haired lady in front of me, and that would push me to keep running. I'd hit a downhill stretch and it would push me to keep running. I'd try to stop for a second to catch my breath, and then Joe would push me to keep running. And to think, I had really only planned to walk the entire 5k!

Oh, after I had oh so carefully put together the 5k playlist, I read on the race guidelines that headphones weren't allowed. I reluctantly left my ipod at home...only to get there and see that everyone else brought theirs! (are there no 5k police at these things??!)
*sigh*

Looks like I'll have to use that playlist for a walk this weekend instead.

Have a great weekend, everybody!

It's not just a safeword anymore

How'd I spend my last day of vacation?
Why, making applesauce of course!

3 1/2 pounds of rome beauty apples; peeled, cored, sliced
1/4 cup light brown sugar
1/2 cup Splenda
1/8 cup lemon juice
2 tsp cinnamon
1 1/2 cup water

Throw all ingredients in a big pot. Cover. Bring to a boil.
Reduce heat to low and cook for 40minutes.
Transfer to food processor and pulse until smooth.

Divided into 8 servings, approx 1/2 cup each, 2 points!

5k = 3.1. So why am I nervous?

Tomorrow is my first 5k. I am suddenly fearful that every measurement I've taken of my regular walking route is only 2 miles instead of 4.5. I am just sure that the entire 5k will be a 20% incline. Or perhaps I'm only anxious because I'll be wearing spandex in public.

I'm trying really hard to just focus on the free t-shirt and the perfection of the 5k playlist. I'm sure that after my 4-hour hiking (mis)adventure on Saturday, tomorrow's walk/run will be a piece of cake! (that means "easy", not followed by a celebratory piece of literal cake)

The playlist for my 5k works out like so:

1. Crazy - Gnarls Barkley

This song has been my #2 playlist spot following KT Tunstall's "Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" for at least the past 3 months. I had to drop KT for the race. The pace is just too slow and only one warm-up song should suffice. I'm not sure I could get my groove on if I dropped them both, however.

2. Get Up Offa That Thing - James Brown

Sure to turn a regular walk into a bounce.

3. Tears Dry On Their Own - Amy Winehouse

I've been digging Amy since a friend sent me Rehab a year ago. "he walks away, the sun goes down", this tune makes me feel like i'm on a mission!

4. Suspicious Minds - Dwight Yoakam

This one jumps me up to 124bpm, but Dwight makes me not even notice. Plus, Joe digs this one, so it stays.

5. Crazy on You - Heart

Nothing gets me more motivated than Ann Wilson's voice. Damn.

6. All These Things That I've Done - The Killers

I pray that I'm climbing a hill during this segment of the playlist. This song was made for that purpose, I'm sure of it!

7. Back to Black - Amy Winehouse

A fast-paced, yet mellow song to trick the mind.

8. Get Back - The Beatles

For my Joe-Joe.

9. The Sweet Escape - Gwen Stefani

After realizing that she's only nearly every playlist I make, I think she must be my girl crush.

10. Ain't No Other Man - Christina Aguilera

This one could easily be replaced at any moment. I've just heard it too many times. But still, a good solid motivating walking song.

11. Honky Tonk Women - Rolling Stones

I feel the need for a break after the last few songs. And another bonus, this one gives me my daily recommended intake of cowbell.

12. Stuck In The Middle With You - Stealers Wheel

Ahh yes, the ear-slicing classic. Hark?! Is that more cowbell I hear??!

13. Lose Control - Missy Elliott

Will probably be on every walking playlist I ever make. I never get tired of it.

14. The Way You Move - Outkast

Showin' a little ATL love.

15. Shallow - Ryan Adams

It just wouldn't be right to not include him.

16. It's My Life - Gwen Stefani

I've always loved this remake, even more than the original. Sometimes the remake is just better!

Original:

This was me a year ago. I resemble a pumpkin!

The playlist above will run one hour and 33 seconds.

Fall...

Here's my harvest from yesterday.
Any ideas as to what I can do with all these Rome Beauty's?

(less of me will be) Home for the Holidays

13 pounds is the goal.
December 25th is the deadline.

But I think it may be easier to reach that goal than it is posting this 'before' pic of myself...

ugh.

Thanks to Joe for taking this wonderfully blurry full-length shot in case I ever need or want to claim anonimoty on those thighs.

Difference a Day Makes

The scales were kind to me this morning. I'm still two days from weigh in, but if this morning's numbers are a sign of what's to come, I will be one happy camper come Friday! The downside is that a group of girls from work had a lunch shower thing at the worst place possible for me to try and eat healthy - chinese buffet. Ugh...

I *did* manage to stay away from the fried stuff, all of the sweet and sour and sesame nuggets that I love so much, and that right-to-my-ass-fried rice. I went for the veggie/unbreaded chicken dishes instead, a side of fruit, and only had a couple of bites of that decadent chocolate cake one of the girls picked up on the way (cake is made by the devil, I'm sure of it). Still though, I'm feeling unsettled. As if I need to be walking the rest of the day, at least to Brazil, to avoid a gain tomorrow. I'm just hoping that a moderate walk and 0-point soup will do the trick tonight.

I can't believe it's already Wednesday! 2 more days of work and I'll be on vacation for 5 days. Joe and I are loading up the pups and taking off to the mountains for a weekend of grillin', a little bit of hiking, and just plain doin' nothing! I cannot WAIT, as evidenced by my grocery list and menu I've already made for the three days we're there.

On a side note, I've been a non-smoker for 10 days. I've been tempted, but it gets easier with each day that passes. The next 10 will be easier for sure.

5 Miles Playlist

The walking shoes are out. The playlist has become an art. I've logged 15 miles in the past four days and quite frankly I'm having a hard time making myself NOT walk tonight (my aching legs tell me otherwise). These cool evenings bringing the first signs of fall don't help the urge either.

The scales have barely budged, so I'm hoping this does the trick. That goal for October is now quite unrealistic, but my body is definitely changing. I'm starting to really see a difference. FEEL a difference. But why does it always have to disappear from the chest area FIRST? Sheesh!

Day One

You may recall my 'mayday' post from earlier this summer in which my attempt at being a non-smoker (again) failed miserably. And boy did I. It's been all downhill from there. You know the pattern if you've ever tried to quit smoking and started back. You have one with a glass of wine one night. Just one. No big deal. Then you're having one with every glass of wine. Then you're sick of bumming off friends, so you break down and buy a pack. And soon enough, you're back to your x packs a day, or more, regretting that decision you made after glass of wine you had on that beautiful afternoon in May on Jaimee's patio.

I've been in a funk - or depression - ever since that day. I don't know if it's that decision or the cigarettes themselves that cause it. But either way, it has to stop. I have too many things in my life that are wonderful to be sad every single day.

And so, today was my first whole day without a smoke. I'm sticking to the same method that worked so easily the first time, Allen Carr's "The Easy Way to Stop Smoking". I plan to read it and re-read it. I plan to make notes and highlight lines for easy reference later on as I wish I had done the first time. You, my faithful reader, might even be forced to read passages.

I'm planning to do whatever takes, without repeating my first mistake of doubting the very important rule of "there is no such thing as one cigarette".

I want to be free!!!

Before

How come it never quite turns out like the picture in the magazine?
*sigh*

Oh well. Happy 34 to me.