An Uphill Battle

Well a lot changed AGAIN in my life this week.  I ended my tenure with one company and began a new journey on Monday.

 

I have also been training for the Miracle 10 Miler race which takes place in just 5 days.  For my local readers you know "big bertha" all too well as the massive hill inside of Malden Park.  This 10 mile hilly race treks up Bertha 3 times...

 

This will be my 2nd time running the race.  I ran it last year and if not for my amazing mom who didn't leave my side the whole race,  I would have finished dead last.  She finished 1 second behind me crossing the mat.

 

This week as I prepare for my new career challenge and my 10 mile race I am reminded that the only competition I have is myself.  

 

I set my goals; it is up to ME to reach them.

 

Running, weight loss, career choices.... the loneliest set of challenges on the planet.  No two people will experience the same, no two people will have the same highs and lows...   

Together though, we know, we just gotta keep goin'.

WEIGHT CHANGE 

+1lb - I did extra weights and hill training so I'm hoping that's a pound of pure muscle that will power me through this race and help me kick the proverbial ass of the finish time 1:59:30.

HOW MANY LBS TO GO

13lbs

GREAT HEALTHY FIND OF THE WEEK

I went back to a suggestion from a friend this week (thanks M) - awesome recipes can be found at www.eatshrinkandbemerry.com 

Time to break out some new spring and summer recipes!

INDULGENCE OF THE WEEK

My colleagues from my old position took me for greasy battered chinese food.  *twist my arm*

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I gained a new "follower"! yay!! I'm also starting to get flack  from people when I don't post on time... guess that means I'm mildly entertaining - which is awesome! 

 

HAVE A GREAT WEEK EVERYONE! AND WISH ALISON, PENNIE, AND I LUCK AT THE 10 MILER!!

COME ON SPRING!!!

An ounce of warm weather did wonders for my soul this week.  It was awesome to spend the better part of Thursday walking through the downtown core celebrating on behalf of the Irish.  Walk enough and you can negate that green beer!

I got back into my strength training DVD and capped my week off doing Yoga last night.

I had a bit more chocolate than is necessary for a grown woman, but I really did attempt to buckle down.

This week I focused on my mood, and focused on stress levels.  I leaned on my friends QUITE A BIT for support when I needed it, and tried not to bottle any emotions inside.  I also learned to let things go... 

I decided on a new mantra:

I DO NOT HAVE THE ENERGY TO WORRY ABOUT ________ .  WHATEVER WILL BE WILL BE.  I HAVE DONE MY BEST IN THIS PARTICULAR SITUATION AND NOW ITS TIME TO SHIFT MY FOCUS TO SOMETHING I CAN POSITIVELY IMPACT VS. SENSELESSLY WORRY ABOUT. 

Its not groundbreaking I know, but its maybe a nice reminder as a focal point, especially for people like me who focus our energy on things we cannot change.  

WEIGHT CHANGE 

-1lb (whoohoo)

HOW MANY LBS TO GO

12lbs

GREAT HEALTHY FIND OF THE WEEK

I baked Talapia for the first time this weekend (a thin mild white fish).  It was great (and cheap), and very low calorie.  If you like breaded fish (like I do), cut half the calories by only battering and breading the top side of the fillet.  All the flavour and half the bread/batter.  Next time you bread chicken or fish or anything, give it a shot!

INDULGENCE OF THE WEEK

I did have a green beer, and  I did stop for food at the end of the night on St. Patty's day.  

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I am brutally honest in every blog.  I'm not looking for compliments or reassurance.  I am simply telling my story.  I'm not just trying to get a reaction.  Since this is the case - I am always pleasantly surprised and thoroughly enjoy every reaction I get, whether its here or on my facebook or in person or otherwise.  I'm glad to know that you not only get something out of my story, but also can offer some tips for me as well.  I do NOT have all the answers.  I am NOT a professional.  I'm just a girl that hopes her story can help you in whatever life throws at you.

Enough with talking the talk.... TIME TO WALK THE WALK

OK BRANDY ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.

I know what needs to be done, I know how to do it, and I know it will give me the results I am so eager to achieve.  

Why am I not following my own plan? 

Why am I sabotaging my own success? 

What am I so afraid of? 

Why don't I have the discipline?

Please tell me I'm not the only one that asks these internal questions... Help me to know that I'm not a nutcase lol.

I was a pastry disaster this week.  Paczki day wouldn't have been so bad if I didn't have TWO AND A HALF.  The next day would have been alright if I didn't proceed to eat 2 Eclairs (and not even think to bring one home for my son).  And there are PLENTY of people that would appreciate a tab for a free donut from Timmys Roll Up The Rim if I'd only give those away and not feel the need to cash it in same-day.

I used the excuse of stress and the fact that I was resigning from my position with my current company as the 'reasons' I 'deserved' crap food.

Why do I have this sense of entitlement to sabotage my success? UGH! The only thing that's worse at the end, is when I finally decided to smarten up on the weekend, I worked my BUTT off and actually ran 18 miles in one day.  EIGHTEEN MILES - IN ONE DAY.  

I had to run 18 miles in one day (on top of my regular workout routine) just to negate the horrific pastry choices of the week.  Weight Change? ZERO.

Enough with the excuses.  Enough.  Enough with having to put my honesty on here about the crappy food choices and the insane workouts just to get back to zero.  Enough with the embarrassment of having to publish this information on this blog where my same friends and family call me an "inspiration".  

Its time to walk the walk.

WEIGHT CHANGE 

NO CHANGE 

HOW MANY LBS TO GO

13lbs

GREAT HEALTHY FIND OF THE WEEK

Beverages have calories too.  Be careful what you pick up.  For me, energy drinks will soon be back in my diet as they seem to really help me in warmer weather runs.  Thanks to Aymee I have an obsession with orange G2 Gatorade.  Be Careful though! It boasts "20 Calories" per 8oz serving.  Their bottles are normally 24oz or more - so make sure you do the math and adjust accordingly.  *read the serving size every time*

INDULGENCE OF THE WEEK

Really... do I need to go there... 

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I ran into a girl from highschool this weekend... we don't really talk but she's on my facebook, and we were very close as teenagers.  We're on the dancefloor at a nightclub and she says "you're an inspiration to me" .... this from a fit woman looking to stay that way as we gracefully enter our 30s.  If you are trying to achieve ANYTHING and you are having success, don't be ashamed to tell the world... you never know who may really benefit from your story.

Its all relative...

So, I had a good week! I worked out relatively hard and ate relatively well... until Saturday.


Saturday I had a good hard run, followed by an evening with WAY TOO MUCH wine and snacks... so when I stepped on the scale to a zero change, I was not exactly unhappy.


I'm glad to know I can maintain! But that's not my focus.  I need to lose.  I have 13lbs to go.  I can do this.  One thing I cannot do is count calories when I'm intoxicated, so this needs to be the last time I deal with intoxication as well as temptation.


The loss on the scale is worth so much more than the hangover I endured... Another lesson learned.

WEIGHT CHANGE 

NO CHANGE 

HOW MANY LBS TO GO

13lbs

GREAT HEALTHY FIND OF THE WEEK

Pho with Candace.  Asian restaurant with AMAZING spicy soup... it was delicious and filling and healthy!! If you're looking to eat healthier food, you don't have to LIMIT your options, rather, expand your taste-buds to other cultures... what you find may surprise you! I'm glad miss Candace  talked me into this one!

INDULGENCE OF THE WEEK

As if the wine wasn't bad enough (approx. 200cals/glass) I also had WAY TOO MANY pieces of pumpernickel bread with spinach dip and snack cookies Saturday night.  To think... I ran 8 miles in the pouring rain on Saturday, with hill work halfway through the run for THIS?

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I am so excited that many of my friends are focusing on getting and staying healthy... My best friend will be back to running soon, and it appears there's a number of us running in the Miracle 10-Miler in April!! All of your efforts help keep me in check.  Thank you for leading by example!