Leave Your Camera at Home- Follow Up Rant

I thought I was done but I am not apparently....
I'm seriously considering enlisting a no cell phones or cameras rule for the next few months, at least at events where I am involved. 
It's been done many times before.  Celebrities do it all the time.  Have you seen any pictures from Beyonce's wedding?  I'm sure she had a baby shower too...


I'm just saying..pictures are evil. 


At least they aren't being so kind to me right now. 


Sure, go ahead blame my outlandish request on hormones.  I dont care. 


Just leave your camera at home.


Thank you

Are we there yet? Weight rant

The past 6 months have really been a blur-so much in fact that I did not realize that it had been six months already.  Everything has gone great with the pregnancy so far (glucose test is at the end of the week) but in letting the time get away from me I haven't really been taking care of myself like I wanted to.  I've gotten so caught up on what's going on inside that I haven't paid attention to what's going on outside.  Back before this all started, I was on a roll as far as my discipline with what I ate and working out.  I felt great physically as well and I was certain that I would be that person running throughout my entire pregnancy.  That thought was out the window at week five.  Honestly, I don't know how safe it would be to start up now. 


I was supposed to be walking and doing this prenatal yoga dvd that was loaned to me but the truth is none of that has been done.  I figured walking would frustrate me because it took so long to do (running is so much quicker) plus cold, dark evenings have also been a great excuse for me not working out.  I was totally OK with that because I had been eating pretty much the same things I was eating pre pregnancy-I just wasn't exercising. 


Then March came...and last night, my dear, sweet husband and I were cheering on one our favorite college basketball teams (the VCU RAMS) and I asked him to take a picture of me in my gear.  Enter: regret!  I wish I had not done that.  I hadn't specified that neck up was sufficient for this photo and boy do I wish I had.  I didn't realize how (excuse me) fat I had gotten!  My face has gotten fat-even my shoulders are fat!  How one gets a fat shoulder is a mystery to me.  The fact that I previously had to buy larger undergarments should have served as an indicator but I ignored that of course.  Although I was fired up and so happy that my team came out with a win on Monday night sending them on their way to the "Big Dance"-I really wished I could turn back time and get a do over.  

This is not how I want to remember my first pregnancy.  I would love to enforce a no photos rule for upcoming baby showers and am really wondering if I really want to take maternity photos. 


I don't want to gain another pound but of course as the baby grows, so will I and I have three months until I am due.  To this point, my doctor has not been concerned with my weight gain but I have exceeded the one pound a week rule by far!  I recall asking about the weight gain at the ten week mark and my doctor didn't see it as an issue so I let it go.  Literally.   

I am going to try and go forward and be as active as I can within reason (since we are coming down to the wire here) and continue to eat what's right and cut out what's bad.  This means a no pizza rule from here on out-sorry Babe.  (I hadn't told him yet) 

Let's see if I can take some time in between my eagerness and excitement for Baby R to get here for myself.  At this stage in the game I think its moot but....we'll see what happens.

don't call it a comeback

Hello Folks-
I am back from my extended vacation and boy do we have a lot to catch up on!  It is going to take me a while to fill you in so for now I will just leave you with the following. 

That's right- the stork paid me a visit while I was on vacation from Blogland.  So my last post about losing pounds and inches...let's act like that never even happened because my scale and tape measure don't seem to remember it.  Ah well!

"A grand adventure is about to begin"- Winnie the Pooh

I will try to keep you posted (from this point on at least :)

9.13.11 Announcement

So remember yesterday when I mentioned that I had an "announcement"

Weelllll! The announcement
is that
to date
i have lost a total of
13 pounds....and 7.5 inches.

At one point along the way, I weighed two pounds less- equating to 15 pounds lost, but I will chalk that up to fluctuation and keep it moving.  I am happy about 13 lbs although I have quite a bit more to go,  I would have loved to say 15 total lbs lost but I don't want to push it.  I would be curious to see what my body fat is so I can track that also.  But this works for now. 

I would love to see the scale keep going the way that its going and I now know what I need to do to make that happen.  I will continue to monitor my portion sizes and eat balanced, clean meals with "good" carbs and protein.  I will continue to work out with a good mix of cardio and cross training.  I will continue to be strong willed and make good choices, even when those around me are not.  This is going to prove especially difficult right in the midst of football season.  Who cuts out drinking in the middle of football season?!  Am I setting myself up?  Anyway, I'm on the right track and I have worked too hard to hustle backwards.  

I will weigh in again in roughly three weeks since that is when my cousin gets married- and me being in her wedding is riding on whether or not this dress fits.  I will make sure to have progress pics then too. The one I have attached isnt as effective as a 'fat pants' picture. 

Thank you for your support! Have a terrific Tuesday!  



 

Ready to Race???

Happy Monday!  I have been totally m.i.a. for a while now and its a dirty shame.  During my absence I have had a serious realization.  It is SO HARD to maintain my workout/eating regimine AND blog about it.  I mean it is pretty stinking hard, hence the reason for my not doing it lately.  I will commit to do better in the near future.  After all I owe at least that to my followers.  Both of you.

@#*! its race week!
Time has flown by and the half marathon that I have been "training" for is Sunday.  That's right six days from today- I will have to run 13.1 miles and there is no backing out of it because the Rock N Roll Philly Half costed me a pretty penny.  And since I don't have it like that I should probably man up and face the music-despite the anxiety that I am beginning to experience.  My original goal was to not only beat my time from last year (2:13) but to finish in 2 hours.  That would require me to run 1 minute per mile faster than I did last year.  Honestly, I could not have set a more ridiculous goal for myself.  I don't know that I have the endurance to maintain that pace the whole way.  But I am sure going to try.  Please keep me in prayer.

i broke down...& made a purchase
I made a purchase for my race..that I have been contemplating for some time now.  I know I will look like a total dork but I'm not even worried about that.  It's a race-not a fashion show, right? What I am worried about it not having a chance to train in these prior to the main event!  What would "these" be? {might you ask} 

RaceReady shorts! 
I can not wait to get these in the mail.  I saw someone with them on at a group run I went on once and just knew I had to have them.  Here is what the website says about the shorts..

Our traditional mid-length style (3" inseam) is our most popular style for women. These comfortable running shorts have gray CoolMax liners, draw cord, and all the great pockets. Five mesh pocket compartments, plus two velcro-closure pockets on the sides, make these shorts functional for carrying many and various items. We have styles longer and shorter, but these running shorts are the happy medium!


Specifications:

• • MicroMove and CoolMax Fabric
• • Ultra-lightweight
• • Moisture-wicking
• • Non-chafing CoolMax liner
• • 3" inseam
• • 5 patented rear mesh pockets + 2 front pockets

Sounds pretty good right? I will let you know how they work out! 
p.s. tune back in tomorrow.  I have an "announcement" of sorts. 

Temptation is a Dirty Witch

At lunch at Matchbox with my team.  I had a salad prior to getting here to stick to the strict parameters of  lunches consisting of salads-only-with-no-exceptions!

Sniffing these mini burgers and onion strings while I sip on my tea is torture.

Oh the agony!

Photo Update

HI

I know I have been gone for a while.  But I promise that I have still been working out and eating right (at least trying to).  Workout buddy and I have begun a breakfast and lunch challenge.  Here is how it works:  We will eat either oatmeal (yuck) or yogurt for breakfast....and for lunch...salads (yummy).  We are also supposed to do 100 crunches or situps every day.  

So here is how its been going...for me at least.

I have failed miserably on the abs portion.  Like for real.  I think it is day 9 and I have only done my 100 situps like once.  Pathetic, right?  But to compensate I have been running still...even when I have been on travel (treadmill in Salt Lake City, sucked major booty but running in Belle Isle (see photo) in Richmond was awesome). 

I have also run in the rain (a couple of days after the EARTHQUAKE and in the midst of IRENE).  I am up to eight miles for my training and even tried out trail running- and I'm not sure that I am a fan.

But I digress...

As far as the food part is concerned.  Success!  Kind of...I got a little thrown off after the earthquake happened and my evening was thrown off so I was unable to prepare my salads.  I think that's a legitimate excuse, right? So I missed one day.  Other than that I haven't been doing too bad.  I have been able to stomach the oatmeal and have been doing fun things like adding peanut butter and nutella (separately of course) but both delicious in their own way.  

See...

I am eating more oatmeal as opposed to yogurt but I have even made homemade granola- to create a parfait of sorts and its not too bad.  Recipe to follow.

I have even designated froyo (with cocoa pebbles among other things) as my new reward food.

Not bad if its non-fat froyo, right?

During my hiatus, I traveled to Salt Lake City and my buddy and I ate so bad.  Bad meaning good that is.  The food wasn't what you would call healthy.  But it was delicious.  Just so you know, the work travel trip was exempt from the food challenge.  We stumbled upon a place called Bay Leaf, where we had a three course meal. We also had some of the best.sushi.ever! at Ahh Sushi.

(Course 1) Fried pickles

Course 2: Fried Catfish, Hoppin John, and Collard Greens

 

Course 3: Peach Cobbler

which was gone in 60 seconds

ahh sushi/oh shucks... some of the best sushi and beer I have ever had. 

Despite all of the food, we still got in some good strength and cardio workouts and even went on a three hour hike.

During the hiatus, I also celebrated a couple of pretty important birthdays-like milestone birthdays- not your everyday-just-another-year- birthday.

Bar Crawl for Whit's (Cheerios And Beer) 25th

My Hubs turned 30 and we had a kick ass house party (<---thanks to the hurricane)

video of the 30 y/o doing a keg stand. 
watch out college kids...he's still got it

I also need to share that I have lost a couple of additional pounds bringing my total weight loss since June-ish to 11 pounds.  Six weeks until my cousin's wedding I wonder if I can keep going.

Moral of this update is that.. 

It's all about balance.

ta-ta for now,

<3 Shaunté