Down a little bit more

132.6 after my run today - the lowest number I have seen in ages.  That puts my real weight somewhere between 133.8-134.8 or so.  Getting under 130 by Christmas seems totally doable now.  If I can hit 125 by the time I go to California for New Year's Eve, I will be thrilled.

Thank you for all the well-wishes for my night out on Tuesday.  I met my friends at a tapas place, and my friend and I ordered a small sauteed mushroom tapas and a pitcher of sangria to share.  I ate very lightly during the day, so it worked out really well.  The sangria was enough to get me buzzed and I did not gain any weight in the morning.

We were supposed to go running, but it rained all day.  Instead, we went to Trader Joe's and the Asian market, where I stocked up on produce ($.99/lb persimmons and 20 for $1.00 clementines!).  We went to DSW, where I found my Saucony Kinvara2 shoes on sale for $50!

 

The last time I bought them, I paid somewhere right around $90, so I was thrilled.  My current pair have another 75-100 miles left in them still but I know I won't be able to find them cheaper anywhere else.  They are a minimalist shoe but more substantial than the Nike Free Run+ shoes I loved before this.  I went through two pairs of Nike Frees and found they were not holding up for my half-marathon training.  These have been great - I recommend them to anyone without major pronation problems who is looking for less cushy than a traditional shoe but on the more substantial end of the minimalist scale.

After shoe shopping, we went to a Lebanese place for lunch (for breakfast, I made us oatmeal, and made her double the amount I made for me) and I had unsweetened tea, a small salad and a cauliflower pita.  For dinner I made lentil and vegetable stew.  The only naughty things I ate on Wednesday were a few pieces of baklava (my weakness) and a few pieces of chocolate.  Yesterday was a good day eating-wise, again except for a few pieces of chocolate, but I managed to still lose a little and the chocolate is gone now.

Today will be a light eating day again, yogurt and fruit for breakfast, rice cakes for a snack, a small bowl of lentil soup, and steamed veggies of salad for dinner.  The only thing that would be better is if I could have run on both Wednesday and Thursday, but the rain ruined that.

This weekend I have to edit a group paper and catch up on some reading and other schoolwork, and then I guess I am going home for Thanksgiving.  I really don't want to, to tell you the truth, but my parents want me to come home.

I hope everyone is doing well and can breathe a big sigh of relief that is is Friday!  I hope you all have a lovely, low-calorie, exercise-induced endorphin-rushed weekend...

I can hardly believe it is October already

As is customary after a bit of an absence, I offer my apologies for not writing when I should be.  I am finally feeling settled in school and in my new neighborhood, so I think I will have more time for writing in the next few months before the semester ends.

I think I left off just a day after the half-marathon with a brief posting of my time.  Well, the race went wonderfully.  Apparently, people clocked the distance on their Garmins as being about a quarter-mile longer than 13.1 - in that case, I may have actually finished in just under two hours, which was my goal.  In the days since, I have been running, but not training (meaning, I need to sign up for another race so I don't get lazy), burying myself in schoolwork, the fourth season of Mad Men, and too much eating.  

Unsurprisingly, my weight is still hovering between 136-137.  Too. Damn. Much.  I think my newest plan - besides shunning carbs as a food-group - will be to skip one meal per day.  I normally do not advocate such a thing, unless one is fasting, but desperate times call for desperate measures.  I am also going to try and have a cup of tea before my two meals of the day in order to try and truly assess my appetite and hopefully fill me up beforehand. 

Today I have already consumed far more than necessary - a smoothie with half a banana, mango chunks, and equal splashes (1/4 cup each) of vegetable/fruit juice, almond milk, and unsweetened soy yogurt, a slice of homemade vegan, gluten-free pumpkin ginger bread, six almonds, and with my mid-morning tea, a four tea-biscuits (130 calories for the four).

I know that we are often always setting and not reaching goals in this community, but I am feeling particularly determined right now, and with the beginning of a new season, I think I can truly do this.  The pressure of school is going to make me stressed (in a good, appetite-suppressing way) and the weather will be absolutely perfect for logging many miles through the falling leaves.  I will eat more elegantly and sparingly - enough to let my body rid itself of all of the excess fat while still having the energy to run and write papers.  I am going to be faster, leaner, and more beautiful.  I want my arms, back, abs, and legs to be nothing but lean muscle, I've had enough cushion.

How are you ladies feeling about fall?  I think the cold weather we are experiencing right now will pass by the end of the week, but I love being able to hide in sweaters and tights and boots.  Being bundled means people can imagine you thinner underneath - or at least that's what I hope.

I have been reading all of my subscriptions this week, but I am terribly behind on commenting.  Thank you so much for the positive responses regarding my race.  I hope at least one person is motivated to run.  It is cheap, you can do it anywhere, it fills you with endorphins, allows you to escape, and there really is no wrong way.  You might be fast, you might be slow, but if you run - you're a runner.

I found these lovely photos on The Sartorialist this week - totally in love...

 

So where have I been?

Honestly, I don't know.  I have been running and taking my class at the gym.  Bouncing between liquid fasting and just eating too much.  Feeling uninspired to write a long entry here.  Busy with work and searching for a new job.

My weight this morning, post work-out, 134.8.  What am I doing???  I should be 124.8 by now for goodness sake.

Anyway, this morning I did 2.25 miles on the treadmill and one class.  It was too humid and sticky to survive another, but I burned 650ish calories in the process.  I came home and made an awesome smoothie (banana, strawberry, soy milk, almond butter, flax, kale, super-green food powder, and sf chocolate syrup) - I am not sure of the calorie content, but I know it will keep me full for most of the day (eliminating the need for a real lunch).  I'll snack on rice cakes and Crystal Light later and stick to tea and a salad for dinner.

All in all, I really need to up my game.  I need to eat less and train harder or I am never going to be comfortably under 120, which is my ultimate goal.  I want to wear light, pretty clothes this summer and look as good as I can when I go to meet Juan's family next month.  This week I must remain incredibly and intensely focused on keeping my calories lower.  Below 1,000 every day.  I took a rest day Sunday and yesterday (Sunday I was at my kids' race all day walking around and helping with boats and such, but it was a super long day and I was exhausted even on Monday).  I need to run tomorrow and Thursday, as well as take my class at the gym.  On Friday and Saturday I will be in Philadelphia for my kids' last race, the Stotesbury Cup, and I probably won't get much exercise in besides walking.  Therefore, I need to pack fruit, veggies, nuts, and rice cakes to keep me on the healthy track for those two days.  If we go out to eat, salads only.  Hopefully I will be able to update and read Tumblr from my phone and at least keep my focus.  By the way, this is the bathing suit I bought.  I love it, but it looks horrific on me...

http://endorphinsandveggies.tumblr.com/

Another week has gone by

I don't really think I am that much closer to under 130 by the time Juan arrives.  I am still keeping up with my exercise - 6 days a week, running, weight and circuit training - but my restriction just isn't enough.

I had a little bit of a breakthrough today, though... I did not weigh myself before/after the gym/before eating for the first time in... years!  I hope that staying away from the scale today, hitting the gym for a good 500-calorie burning workout, drinking a ton of water and tea, and barely eating will reward me tomorrow.  The other day I was 131.4 after the gym, but I feel heavier than that now.  Hence why I must behave today.

For breakfast, I drank this super green smoothie (kale, o.j., soy milk, mango, banana, peaches, flax seeds, ice) and I ate a piece of the gluten free vegan biscotti I made last night - the whole recipe had barely any sugar in it, so I don't feel guilty.  I am going to the health food store, Starbucks, and to the camera shop to try and make a decision about the Olympus PEN E-PL1 I am considering.

Tomorrow is Easter, a great day!  I won't ruin it with chocolate (plus, what does chocolate have to do with Jesus rising from the dead anyway??) and I will go for my long run, 7-8 miles, weather permitting.

My mind feels stable and healthy today, which is wonderful.  That, combined with determination, is going to help me get to my goal of 118ish.  I know I can lose more than 15 pounds.

How is everyone?  I've been using Tumblr a bit over the past week, so I'm quite behind on reading and commenting.  I hope you're all enjoying your long weekends and making healthy choices.  Fruits, veggies, green tea, water and exercise lovelies...

And lastly, a little thinspo...

  

Weekend ReCap and Goals for the Week

Saturday, as you, my faithful readers, know was my team's first race.  On Saturday morning I went to my class at the gym, came home and showered, and went straight to the lake.  The conditions were terrible, gusts of wind and lots of whitecaps, and we ended up losing the points trophy by a two second technicality.  Regardless, my boys won their race, which was great.  Afterward, I went out with my fellow coaches and had a big old salad and a beer.

Sunday started as a good day but then I ended up eating some jelly beans and other unnecessary junk.  I went for a fabulous run in the lovely cool spring weather, so the day was not a total loss.  I ran my normal 4.85 miles loop in less than 41 minutes.  I ran my first 1.1 miles in 9:08 - normally, since it's all uphill, I run it in about 10:20+.  I was completely psyched and just enjoying the spring air.

This morning, I ran four miles, but I have managed to completely destroy my intake with chocolate.  I managed to last the entire month of March without chocolate, so I think after today I need to just swear it off again.  I tend to be one of those all-or-nothing kinds of people when it comes to food.  I just need to get it out of my life.  I am sabotaging myself.  This is the week I get back on track, completely.

I am finding it harder to restrict now.  I am assuming it is because my life is in much better order lately - new job, boyfriend is being absolutely divine, getting along with my family, spring is here... last summer/fall I was easily dropping weight because I generally felt awful and stressed about my life.  I need to find the balance where I can restrict, varying the days (600, 800, 1000, etc.), exercise, and be happy.  I need to take some photos of myself, perhaps in my swimsuit, so I can see how awful I look.  That might motivate me.

My goals for this week are...
1. Record absolutely everything I eat.  I always eat so much less when I have to be accountable for it.
2. Exercise every day (Not unusual, but I am going to skip my rest day this week).
3. Not go above 1000 calories.
4. No nuts or nut butters
5. Take progress pictures.
6. See 130 on the scale again, even if it's dehydrated after my workout.
7. Diligently read and comment on as many blogs as I can each day.
8. Finally respond to the Versatile Blogger Award.

I just returned from the gym - 20 minute interval run and back-to-back classes (burned 1050 calories).  Then I had oatmeal with strawberries, spices, and yogurt (215 calories total). My weight was too embarrassing to even mention prior to my gym session, but that gives me an extra dose of motivation so I  will not quit today.  I want to be under 120 pounds so badly and yet I am barely working for it.  I want to be gracefully thin in my wedding photos, which hopefully will be within the next year or so.  I need to keep working and work harder.  I am not beautiful at this weight.  125 will be satisfactory, seeing as I am so far away from that now, but sub-120 is the goal.  I have to do this.

100th post... no celebrating allowed

I have to fast today.

Because I am still too far away from 129, I feel like I shouldn't be celebrating my 100th post.  Thank you to my new followers who have joined... I appreciate that you take the time to read my ramblings.

Yesterday, I was 131.8 after the gym - after a 5k and then one bursting class (I was too tired for the second class and I had already burned more than 800 calories).  Today, I was 132.8 after a 4.84 mile run (in 43 minutes).  Here is my route - it is particularly hilly, I promise...

Anyway, I'm not in the mood for much writing, so I am just going to leave you all with thinspo... I am dying to have cut abs this summer.  I have been working really hard in my classes and I'm putting on muscle but not losing weight.  I need to get rid of this pesky fat, get under 120, and then I will be gorgeous...

Joyeux Noël à Tous!

Hello my little chickadees... I hope everyone is enjoying their holiday weekend, even if you are not celebrating Christmas, I am sure you have a few days off from work or school.  It is nice to slow down and take a breath every once in a while, right?

Where shall I start?  Well, first of all, my weight was 129.6 this morning.  Not absolutely horrific, but I did take a laxative tea last night and I still think I gained between 1.5-2.5 pounds over the past two weeks.  Fortunately, I have no let everything go to shambles - on Friday, I went to a class at my local wellness center that I think I described a few weeks ago.  I signed my contract and joined, so I will be going Tuesday/Thursday/Friday mornings and running on Sunday/Monday/Wednesday at least.  I really need to supplement my running regimen with some weight and and core training.  I think this class is perfect, and if I manage to get down under 120, with this class I will look slim and toned and will probably have some abs to boot!  On Christmas eve I went to church with my family and then to my best friend's for their annual Christmas party.  I actually looked pretty cute in my new (via ebay) J Crew dress and sort of 60-ish styling.  I paired this dress with black tights, black patent leather ballet flats, and a black skinny belt to give it a waist.  I had cute gold ball earrings, winged eyeliner and a high ponytail after flat-ironing my hair.

On Christmas, I woke up early, bundled up and took my dog Lucy for a three mile run.  She was really well behaved and we had a great start of our Christmas morning.  When I arrive home my family was waiting for me to open our gifts.  We had such a lovely morning and everyone was pleased with the gifts I chose for them - an iPod shuffle for my computer illiterate father (so he does not have to sit and watch pseudo-music videos on YouTube any longer).  Sidenote on the iPod shuffle - if you do not have an iPod and have always been leery of/were unable to shell out the money for a big one, the shuffle is fantastic.  I have the first generation of color iPods - a 30G, which I do love, but Juan gave me his old shuffle because he did not use it anymore.  I use it everyday!  I love just putting a bunch of songs to get my psyched up for running and clipping it in my pocket.  It is light and practically unbreakable and I would absolutely recommend it to anyone, especially for fifty dollars!  For my mom, I was able to snag a signed copy of Ina Garten's latest book How Easy is That? that she absolutely LOVED.  I knitted a new hat for my brother because the one I made for him four years ago is practically worn to shreds.  For my older brother I bought him this groovy skin for his Kindle, since my parents bough both of my brothers Kindle 3s for Christmas.  I also filled my mom's stocking with some fun things - NARS lipgloss and a mortar and pestle from Sur La Table - and my dad's with great books and C.O. Bigelow shaving cream.

I was also the very lucky recipient of a few great gifts.  My parents were incredibly generous this year and bought my a Kitchen Aid stand mixer.  Additionally, I received some wonderful books, Mad Men seasons two and three on DVD, tea, and a great photo calendar from my younger brother.  It's poster sized and has a photo montage of my friend from France and me.  My aunt bought me a new air popper to pop popcorn, since our original one is from the 70s and smells like it might explode every time I turn it on.  Air-popped popcorn is one of my all time favorite low-calorie snacks/meals.  Basically, I was incredibly fortunate this Christmas!

Today, it is snowing like none other.  Luckily, I went out this morning for 4.5 miles with Lucy.  I do not think we'll get much accumulation, but it makes me want to snuggle up with some cocoa (check!) and write and knit and make up packages - I'm looking at you Cinnamon and Alice D!  If you have yet to see Alice's adorable Christmas video, please go now!  Behold my packages of tea ready to go to far corners of the world!

I hope you are all enjoying your weekends.  Warmest wishes for the next week as we get ready to welcome a new year.  I LOVE celebrating the new year.  I love making plans and resolutions and trying to improve myself.  Obviously, I do not reserve this only for January, but I feel like it is a clean slate to start afresh.

Thinspired

There isn't much rhyme or reason to the photos I chose... just enjoy...