Spring Hurrah Anyone???

I know the activity has slowed down on this blog, but is anyone interested in gathering for a Spring Hurrah? I was at Northgate yesterday with my Grandmother and I couldn't stop thinking of you gals. So, what do you think?

Let me know.

Jules

Spring FLING!

I don't know about any of you, but I'm seriously having some spring cleaning anxiety. I've purged a ton of paperwork, books, old cds and VHS tapes and I'm making room.

Tell you a secret -

If you make your home roomier, you feel thinner because there's more room to walk around!

Who's gonna fling with me? Old clothes? Old magazines? Old attitudes?

Throw Em Out and get yourself some more room to live!

Death by Chocolate BUNNY

I did not have ONE bite of chocolate yesterday.

I fought the Easter bunny and WON.

How did you all do???

Well, if it works?

I have confessed on several occasions my often habitual use of Coca Cola. The Costco sized flats of red cans filled a cabinet, and created a large amount of garbage space in loose, used cans. Between the bottled water waste (Perrier) and the Coke, I felt I was leaving a huge footprint in a landfill. Embarrassingly, this is just ONE way I am NOT green.

Yet another reason to re-evaluate.

So, I told my DH not to buy coke at Costco anymore, and instead, to pick up 2, 2 liter bottles of Coke instead. One I put in the fridge, and the other in the pantry. The idea being that if I wanted a coke, I would serve myself a glass, with ice (the way I really like it) instead of grabbing a can. Sometimes I would dilute it with Perrier (yum!) to make it last a bit longer.

I find that if I keep it for a treat rather than something I can have thoughtlessly, I drink less.

Not only have I lost a bit of weight, increased water intake, (the ice cubes melt and make for a shot or two of water) but I have lessened my mess I'm leaving behind for my grandchildren's grandchildren. I'm not very green, but this gives me one more excuse to do something good for myself.

Water Bottles

Ladies,

I have been hearing a lot lately about how much space individual, plastic water bottles take in landfills.

With the drinking of water that goes with a healthy lifestyle, how do you find yourselves filling up? Do you use bottled water? If so, why (practical, inexpensive) and do you refill, recycle or trash the bottles when you are done?

Do you use a water filter at home? Do you drink water from the tap? Do you fill up a canister for the family like I do, or do you subscribe to a water service like Culligan?

I'm curious. Do tell!

Committed

First of all, let me say YAY FOR JULES AND MANDI! It's awesome that y'all are back on Prism, rededicating yourselves, and seeing results.

Now, onto my own little committment. Today I registered for my first marathon which I will run in San Antonio next November...and there's a rule that once you pay money for a race you have to run it, so I guess I'm officially committed. Of course, I have been trying to get anyone I can to run it with me - so far I'm up to five friends who will be there with me so if any of you (ahem, Kristina!, ahem) have ever thought about training for a marathon, let me just say that I'd love to meet you.... :)

The other thing going on it that I now have new incentive to kick these pounds I've put back on. In June I'm going to a weeklong trial boot camp which requires 7 straight days of suits. Now, my office is dress casual so most days I wear slacks and a blouse, not a suit. I have enough suits to make it through the week, but - and here's the catch - only if I weigh about 10 pounds less than I do now. At $400-500 apiece for nice ones, I don't want to have to buy any new suits for this program (and I'd need at least 2 more) so let's just say that I have MOTIVATION to kick this weight.

Now, I've been running my little tush off. I run 4-5 days per week, between 4 and 14 miles a workout, but the catch is that I have a bad attitude towards eating. M&Ms? I ran 10 miles Sunday, I can have those. Starbucks mocha? I ran 10 miles Sunday so I earned that too. Cake in the kitchen? Well, that's what those miles I did Sunday was for, right? I trust that you see the problem. I'm not the only one in my running group who gained weight training for a half marathon but that's still ridiculous.

So, my resolve is to keep running (I have 2 half marathons in the next 4 weeks - that shouldn't be a problem) and keep what I'm eating in check.

In the meantime, I hope everyone has a great St. Patrick's Day. Get out there and shake your shamrocks, Ladies!

(P.S. Jenn, I've been wondering how you've been doing. I know you were pretty down awhile back so I just wanted to know that you're in my thoughts)

Down 2.2 lbs. after week 1 phase 1 (SCARY) of Prism!

Mandi, her sister and brother in law and Blake all started Prism, phase 1 last week. I wasn't planning on going "drastic" and starting phase 1, but Mandi challenged me. So I accepted. It hasn't been easy, but it is simple.

The scale has me down 2.2 lbs. for the week. I will take it! I am officially within 25 lbs of my ultimate goal of 139 lbs. On my way! Thanks for supporting me here, ladies.

Photo of me on my 38th bday.

Typically, I'd be at home in a lump on a Wed.

But today, I wanted to grab the monkey (11 year old) who got off early from school and drive up to Snoqualmie for some spontaneous shredding.

We had so much fun, and I'm so proud that I was able to get OUT!

I'm still spinnin', and still lovin' it!!

I've been going twice a week to this group cycling class, this particular instructor is super tough, and I love her. She teaches it Tuesday and Thursday mornings. I even ventured out and asked someone new to join me, and they DID. : ) And let me tell you, the instructor kicked our butts this morning! But it felt so GOOOOOD! : )

Is it another Manic Monday?

Monday is

A great way to start a new attitude
A great way to categorize bad moods

A day that starts with the word 'mon'
which in French means "My"

So when I hear Monday,
I think "its MY day today."

Grab your day!

Are you a drinker?

You should be.

Chime in if you've glugged today!

How'd it go?

Julie, Mandi - how was Prism?

Kris - have you taken another spinning class? Is that butt still made of steel? Are you swamped with out of town visitors? How does that effect your eating?

Jan - how is it to be on your diet plan without the Meridia? Is it like a whole new world?

I love to hear about how everyone is doing! Tell me busy ladies! I'm sure you're sick of me by now!

This is me, taking a break while I watch other skiiers and boarders learn. Ahhh, I don't miss those early days of slamming down frontwards and breaking my fall with my wrists.

I don't miss slamming down on my butt and hitting the snow with the back of my head either.

Ah, but I am so proud of me for being able to snowboard at all. I stuck to it and I am telling you - I feel so cool doing it I could burst.

This year ladies, keep on truckin. Try something new, try something hard, do something hard again until its not so hard.
The rewards my friends, are priceless.

Mandi and I are headed to Prism on Thursdays again!

Hey all, Mandi and I are going to join Prism again....I left my class in Jan of '07 to lead one of my own and I have just maintained for the last year or so. It is time to get these final 20-25 lbs off me. Mandi has had an emotional year and is ready to put the pedal to the medal again. Pray for us, as our new meetings begin next Thursday and we both plan to have a full meal journal filled out to turn in. It will be hard, but so worth it.

PS It was Mandi's birthday today, girls! Lets all flood her with some WAIWMIWLI love! (She is GlitzyGuru on the blog)


Back to fat splat, Jules

Checking In

It has been super-busy here at Chez Lisa, what with all the working (good), playing (better), and keeping out of trouble (best). I think have gained some weight but I'm scared to step on the scales. That said, I have never been fitter. Go figure.

I just ran my second half-marathon last weekend and improved even on my really good time from the first. I am going to run one (or maybe two) more this spring and then start marathon training. Who thought I would ever say that? Not me!

Anyway, I'm just checking in, posting a pic from Mile 13 on Saturday, and thinking about maybe getting serious about this losing weight thing here soon (I look so "fluffy" in the picture and that was the best one).

Hope the rest of y'all are doing well!

Love, Lisa

I've started a new class

Last week, my girl friend at the Y persuaded me to take a spinning class with her. She normally does it twice a week, I'd only done it once, last year. Once I tell you, because my back side hurt for like 2 1/2 days, and it was HARD, so I avoided doing it again. Last Thursday though, I thought that I'd give it another go, and I'm so glad that I did! I did it again this morning, and my butt's not even sore this time. That, and it's not quite as hard as I remember... probably because I'm stronger than I was several months ago. : ) At any rate, I'm going to be doing it twice a week for a while, just to change up my work out. So here's to trying something new, even when it's really tough. : )

Ahem....anyone?

Is there anyone out there?

Helllooooo?

Up the Mountain

I'm on my way up to the mountain. It is a gorgeous day and I'm sure conditions will be well awesome. I'm sore, tired and achy, but I can hear my husband griding beans in the kitchen which means a latte is on its way.

Enjoy your day - I hope to!

Hi all, I have been absent for a while. I have spent the better part of the last two months eating my way through winter. I gained back nine pounds and found myself at 167. So I have been working on getting it back. I am sticking firmly to 1500 calories, have ditched meat completely and have managed to stop eating at night. It's only 6 days since I quit eating after 8 pm, but I am already back down out of the 160's. It just goes to show me that I can't budge if I want the scale to budge.

It has been hard getting off the Meridia and settling into my own weight loss plan, but I am hanging in there. The alternative of gaining back all the weight is just too scary. With this weight gain coming on in two months, it would take hardly any time to gain it all back again. Especially since we all know that it snowballs and the more you gain, the faster you gain it.

I don't want to go back to how I was. I was ready to quit this month and say, screw it, I'll just say I am in maintenance. But I wasn't in maintenance, I had not hit my goal and had not stayed at that goal. I was quitting and gaining.

Hopefully I am back for good. Wish me strength. Luck just won't cut it when it comes to hot dogs and fries. That's what the family had for dinner last night. I had veggies. It was really hard.

Today I went to the barn again. I worked on three horses, cooled out two, and was basically WHOOPED when I got home.

I think its been over a month of working there regularly. I wish I could say that I've lost weight, but my arms are getting stronger!

Today I had the pleasure of cooling out (walking slowly after workout) two horses - and I had a couple of Paradise Moments.

It sure is fun to have a workout activity that you enjoy - and on a stunning day!