Just Heather

Jun 16, 2011 | Filed Under: Uncategorized

Thank you to Yahoo! Mail for sponsoring this post about staying connected. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do.

It all started with email, and that’s the way our relationship continued. We flirted, we planned dates and even sent hugs & kisses through our college years. As time went on, though, we kind of got away from all that.

Email was used to share grocery lists, pass along info for the kids’ events and send details or to-do lists for work, websites & the house. A little less romantic than the song lyrics or poems he sent long ago, but effective nonetheless. Then, we hit rock bottom—our story looking a lot like a tragedy—until we realized the communication method that brought us together could have a part in bringing us back.

We turned to email to hash out all the things we couldn’t say in person, without a massive argument. I used it to apologize, when the words stuck in my throat. We used it to share things we couldn’t seem to get out when faced with the other’s tears. It didn’t always work—sometimes the words still hurt, no matter how they’re delivered—but I think it helped both of us learn how to communicate again.

Now, we’re back to using email in a pretty utilitarian fashion, but it’s always there, ready for a surprise ‘I love you’ or emailed kiss. I miss when there was more of that, but our lives are so full now—in many ways—that it’s easy to get caught up in the mundane. Who has time for flowers & poems when there is carpool to drive, uniforms to wash and band-aids to apply?

And, I suppose, that’s where alphabet dating comes in. We force ourselves take a break from parenting & working to reconnect. In between, we plan our out-of-the-ordinary dates (often by email!) and enjoy one another through the process too. Still, I need to remember our roots & send more fun, flirty emails just because.

Mamavation Monday: Portion Control Edition

Jun 13, 2011 | Filed Under: 40x40, Living Large

I’ve been averaging 2 pounds per week, since beginning the George Foreman Knock out the Fat Weight Loss Challenge. This week? I only lost a single pound. That could have something to do with the fact that my poor George Foreman grill went out on me, and I’m waiting on a replacement. It truly drains an amazing amount of meat from our meals! As for the rest of my nutrition, I had a pretty decent week.

I’m continuing to use the nutrition plan Alysa mapped out at the beginning of the challenge. It’s helpful that it follows a format my family is used to. I’ve always kind of balanced carbs, proteins and vegetables for dinner—I just didn’t know the right portions to keep it healthy. We eat together every evening, so I don’t want my meal to be different from theirs. With this plan, I just work our favorites into the meal plan each evening.

There were a few ice cream treats this week, but I made appropriate changes to the day’s menu to balance it out. I also made smarter choices than I usually do—smaller sizes, for one. Hello, portion control! Nice to finally get to know you. My hope for the rest of this challenge is to really make portion control my friend—I think that’s what will help maintain my weight, once I finally reach my goal.

My fitness levels were pretty spotty this week, with some lazy days and some decent days. But, no real good days. I started to tackle the 30 Day Shred DVD but forgot to take it with me when we made a spur of the moment trip to my parents’ house. I did swim some laps at my Mom’s pool, rather than just spending our lazy day lounging around it. But, I only ran twice the whole week.

I squeezed in a mile on Saturday, which just felt pretty awful. When I saw my time, I realized I’d been pushing myself harder than I usually do. It was my 2nd fastest pace so far, which made me feel a little better about it. Last night, I began the Couch to 5K program with my teen—we set out together on the Day 1 workout.

Sometimes, we’ll go together. Others, we may each take a run on our own. I think this is going to be a good thing for a lot of reasons. Not only will we be working towards running a full 5K, but we have the chance for some bonding time. With the hubby running, too, it’s becoming a real family affair. It’s nice to have something active to do with my family, other than taking turns at the Wii Fit now & then.

Plus, I’ve officially decided on the Wine at the Line 5K—and this time, I want to run the whole thing!

Starting Weigh-In: 195 pounds
Today’s Weigh-In: 179 pounds
This Week’s Weight Loss: 1 pound
Total Mamavation Weight Loss: 16 pounds
Total Knockout The Fat Weight Loss: 9 pounds
BMI: 25.6

Sistahood Question: How often do you and your family eat meals together and get active together?

This post is sponsored by Together Counts and I’m writing this to be entered into a Qlip Any-where Pedometer giveaway hosted by Mamavation.

Disclosure: The George Foreman Knock out the Fat Weight Loss Challenge is a compensated program. As an ambassador for George Foreman, I received a George Foreman grill and will be paid for my time at the end of the 90 day challenge. All opinions are, as always, 100% mine!

Read the comments.

Mamavation Monday: First 5K Edition

Jun 06, 2011 | Filed Under: 40x40, Living Large

Showing off my Sparkle

I ran my first ever 5K this weekend—and, I’m still a little surprised by that sentence. It isn’t like that was ever a 40×40“>life goal or anything. You’ll notice a lack of fitness goals on my 40×40 list. The only reason it was in my sights is because completing a 5K is part of the Mamavation Mom contract.

I registered for Outrun the Sun the same week I applied—because I wanted to lock myself into something, in case I wasn’t selected. So, even though I wasn’t contractually obligated to participate in a training program, exercise daily or complete a 5K, that’s exactly what I did.

Originally, I just wanted to finish it. I thought I’d walk 5K and call it a day. Then, I decided I should set a goal for myself and wanted to walk it in under an hour. Somewhere along the way, though, I made the choice to start running—okay, jogging—a bit. So, I thought I might try to finish in under 45 minutes.

I never quite got there in my training, not that I knew what I was doing with all that anyway, but I came pretty close & hoped race day adrenaline would give me a little extra boost. And, then I saw the massive pack I had to work through to even start running. Not to mention the hills. Holy crap, the hills!

I honestly thought I’d be lucky to finish in under an hour, even with the running. I run intervals, actually, with a whole lot of walking breaks in between. I did learn to pick up the pace on my walking from pre-walks with my long-legged friend, Michelle. And, I have worked on running more & more of the distance. Plus, Angie & Emily really pushed me to run more than I had planned.

With My Indy Mamavation Support Team: Chris @punkinmama, Angie @katydid6, Emily @designhermomma, Michelle @gotchababy, Julie @fairytalemom

It really helped to have friends long for the journey. When I first mentioned the 5K requirement, Michelle volunteered to walk with me for support. Then, Julie jumped on board for a walk—always the supportive friend, though I think she’s cursing me after those hills.

Finish line pics by Angie's hubby

They walked together while I ran ahead with Chris for a bit, though I wish we would have had more time to enjoy the evening together. Alas, Outrun the Sun became Outrun the Storm, and everyone rushed home. I definitely enjoyed our “training” ~~chats~~ walks. We’ll have to keep those up. Especially since many of us have decided to make this a regular thing.

We’re eying 5Ks throughout the year—Greek Festival, Wine at the Line and the Underground Railroad are the current front runners. I can’t say I’m in love with running, but it’s such a fast, easy way to burn lots of calories—which is how I lost 2.5 pounds this week, even though my nutrition could have been better.

I definitely made better choices than last week. Weekdays go pretty well, but there were a few moments of weakness over the weekend. Yesterday’s turtle pecan cluster blizzard definitely ranks at the top of that list. You know, because I totally earned it after finishing my first 5K in 44:11!

I’m living off salads & veggie filled sandwiches for lunch and George Foreman grilled dinners at night. Although, I did cave and make myself a grilled cheese sandwich for lunch once. They’ve been so hard to make since going gluten free—the bread is crumbly & difficult to flip. So, I’ve resorted to cooking them in my toaster oven. It is just not the same.

George Foreman Grilled Cheese

Since the George Foreman grill cooks both sides at once, I can easily make yummy, gluten free grilled cheese sandwiches—hooray! I’m going to really miss my GF this week. I’ve used it daily since it arrived 4 weeks ago, and the other day it just went out. They’re sending a new one, I believe, but I really hope this was a fluke.

Because cooking my dinner in half the usual time and watching the fat drain right off has really kinda grown on me.

I’m all set with what to cook—Alysa has armed me us with the right tools & knowledge to plan healthy, balanced meals. It’s the random treats along the way that really throw me off.

I’m totally not willing to give them up altogether. It’s simply not realistic. I just need to get better about exchanging and planning around the extras. ‘m going to watch my exchanges a little better this week, so when I hit the sweets it will be within my meal plan.

I’m also going to start the Couch to 5K program. Yes, I know, I just finished a 5K, but I want to build up to running one. I think. Either way, the training should help knock off the rest of my 40 pounds.

I’ve lost 15 so far, and I’d love to pickup the pace on the other 25.

Starting Weigh-In: 195 pounds
Today’s Weigh-In: 180 pounds
This Week’s Weight Loss: 2.5 pounds
Total Mamavation Weight Loss: 15 pounds
Total Knockout The Fat Weight Loss: 8 pounds
BMI: 25.8

Mamavation Topic: What gaps in your nutrition knowledge do you want to fill?

This post is sponsored by Omron Healthcare, and I’m writing this to be entered into a Omron Go Smart Pedometer giveaway hosted by Mamavation.

Read the comments.

Mamavation Monday: Bad Nutrition Edition

May 30, 2011 | Filed Under: 40x40, Living Large

We have just finished Week 3 of the George Foreman Knock out the Fat Weight Loss Challenge, and I’m gaining weight. I have the tools, I have the knowledge—I just need to stick to the plan! I kept up with my workouts, walked a few times with friends and ran a couple times on my own. But, I had a pretty lousy food week, proving you just can’t outrun bad nutrition.

I went out a few times and indulged in cravings a bit more than I should. By the weekend, I was making better choices and being more careful about balancing my indulgences. I just should have been paying more attention to what I was doing all week. At least, I stuck with water every time!

This week will be better because I do not want to see those numbers on the scale going up again. I have full confidence that I can do this—I know I’ll have the full 40 pounds off by the end of the year. And, confidence isn’t usually my strong suit. This time, though, it comes from the success I’ve had so far (2nd place in the MiLi challenge!) and the support I need to continue.

When I need an extra shot of confidence, I just don my favorite purple high heels. They make me feel powerful and sexy. Of course, running into people you haven’t seen in months who tell you how awesome you look doesn’t hurt either. I like when people notice and ask about my weight loss.

Because 12 pounds doesn’t sound like a lot to me, but if people can see it, I know I’m doing something right. The key is to keep doing it! I slacked a bit this last week. I had a meal plan, but I didn’t always stick to it. I had an exercise plan, but I didn’t finish all of it. This week I’m determined to follow through—especially since it’s race week!

The 5K I signed up for right after applying for Mamavation is coming up on Saturday. Originally, I just wanted to finish it. Then, I decided I’d like to finish in under an hour. And, somewhere along the way, I decided to try running some of it. I’ve been building up to it, and I’m ready for this.

I’ve even got my purple sparkle skirt to give me a little extra confidence—you know, since I can’t run in heels.

If you want to offer a little extra support for my race, I’d love if you could donate to the cause! I’m running a night race for melanoma. Outrun the Sun raises funds for skin cancer research & education, and any support you have to offer can make a difference!

Starting Weigh-In: 195 pounds
Today’s Weigh-In: 182.5 pounds
This Week’s Weight Loss: -1.5 pounds
Total Mamavation Weight Loss: 12.5 pounds
Total Knockout The Fat Weight Loss: 5.5 pounds
BMI: 26.1

Mamavation Topic: What are your go-to tricks for when you need a confidence boost?

This post is sponsored by Your Best Face and I’m writing this to be entered into a giveaway hosted by Mamavation and sponsored by Your Best Face.

Read the comments.

Mamavation Monday: MiLi Final Weigh-In Edition

May 23, 2011 | Filed Under: Living Large

Today is the end of the Move It, Lose It challenge—it’s been an interesting few months. I’ve built some good fitness habits, planned healthier menus and even started running regularly. I’ve lost 14 pounds so far, 12 total inches and worn things in public that haven’t seen the light of day in years.

But, I’m not finished yet! I am well on my way to the ultimate goal and looking forward to the next few months. Especially because today also begins Week 3 of the George Foreman Knock out the Fat Weight Loss Challenge. After two weeks of amazing meal plans from Inspired RD, we’ve been unleashed. I created this weeks meal plan on my own, based on the exchanges Alysa laid out for me.

As we move forward on this challenge, I will be continue creating my own meal plans, circuit training and running—and working to increase that. I currently run only part of the mile or two I set out on each day. Sometimes, I head out at night alone. Sometimes, the hubby and I will take a walk together. And, lately, I’ve been walking to a playground with Lorelai to run laps while she plays.

Kabobs & Corn = Dinner on a Stick for the ball diamond

It increases my distance, gives her something fun to do and motivates me to get out there when I would otherwise have the excuse of caring for kids to keep me home. With our last week of school ahead of us, I’m planning our summer activities. This will be a large part of weekly schedule.

I am, however, cutting back on the daily exercises just a bit. After twelve weeks of twice daily exercise, something just has to give. I’m behind at work, and the house is falling apart. I am stepping back to one set of circuits each day, since I’m planning to increase my walks & runs.

As long as I continue on the healthy meal plan Alysa has created, I think I’ll be satisfied with my continued weight loss, even when it slows a bit. This week will be a bit of a challenge for that—we have several on-the-go days ahead of us. The key is to plan ahead and pack healthy meals & snacks to get us through.

Loving my George Foreman Healthy Cooking Grill!

Clementines are a current favorite—they come in their own packaging and are small & easy to handle on the go. Nuts are another favorite snack—the girls especially like to make their own, healthy versions of trail mix.

If I run out of time to pack healthy treats or don’t think ahead to what’s going on, we’ll find ourselves in trouble. I get in my own way a lot, too—sometimes the only thing stopping me from snacking healthy is that I really, really want chips.

Or candy. Or, ice cream—twice last week. Once was in taking our daughter out for a Frosty to celebrate her elementary graduation. The other was on a rare afternoon with my mom—no where to be, no family dinner to get to—just my mom, the girls and I out for shopping & milkshakes.

Grilled Chicken & Veggies

I tweeted that sometimes an experience is worth going off plan, and Alysa chimed in with whole-hearted agreement. She is adamant that this is not a diet. It’s a plan for healthy living, and occasional treats do have their place in it. The second I start feeling deprived or disappointed at missing out, I realize I’m treating it as a diet. Which will inevitably fail.

A healthy meal plan that works into our lifestyle, with allowances for special occasions or the occasional treat, is long term. This is something I will stick with, even once I hit my 40 pounds. Especially since the food is so yummy anyway! And, finding a plan I want to stick with means I’ll get to keep the weight off!

So, I can officially cross it off the 40×40 list.

And, now, since we are at the end of my Mamavation Move It, Lose It journey, it’s time for another swimsuit edition! I honestly didn’t expect to see this many noticeable changes in the 8 weeks between pictures. I feel different, but I am blown away that my body has changed shape so rapidly. I’ve lost 14 pounds in 12 weeks and am down 12 inches so far, including 5 inches in my waist.

I’ll definitely be taking pics at the end of the George Foreman Knock out the Fat Weight Loss Challenge, too!

And, in case you’ve forgotten what I looked like a few months ago:

MiLi Final Measurements

Bust: 36″ (-.5″)
Waist: 32″ (-5″)
Hips: 40″ (-2″)
Thigh: 22″ (-1.5″ each)
Arm: 12″ (-.5″ each)

Total Inches Lost: 12″

Starting Weigh-In: 195 pounds
Today’s Weigh-In: 181 pounds
This Week’s Weight Loss: 2.5 pounds
Total Mamavation Weight Loss: 14 pounds
BMI: 25.9

Mamavation Topic: What keeps you from having healthy snacks on
hand when you are out of the house?

This post is sponsored by Grunt Style and I’m writing this to be entered into a giveaway hosted by Mamavation and sponsored by Grunt Style.

Read the comments.

Once Upon An Email

May 19, 2011 | Filed Under: Love Him

Thank you to Yahoo! Mail for sponsoring this post about staying connected. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do.

Boy meets girl. Boy asks girl on a date. Boy falls in love with girl. Boy & girl live happily ever after.

Except, ours went more like: Girl meets boy. Girl falls in love with boy. Boy barely notices girl exists. Girl stalks boy through email for 6 months. Boy asks girl on a date. Boy falls in love with girl. Boy & girl live together ever after. The happily part came & went through the years, but that’s another story.

This is the never told story of a long ago email ~~stalking~~ flirtation. The story of us.

The story most people remember is we were engaged less than 6 months after beginning our relationship and married when I was 5 months pregnant. My version is better—we met in 1995 (my freshman year of college), were engaged in 1996, married in 1997 and had our first child in 1998.

And, none of it would ever have happened, if it weren’t for one impulsive, late night email.

But, I suppose I should back up a bit. I first met Spencer when I needed some help finishing a project. The super cute geek in the computer lab came to my rescue, but I didn’t think much beyond “Oh, yum!” and “Crap! I hope I can get this finished on time.” So, I didn’t even get his name.

Then, I bumped into him again, a few weeks later—on my turf. I served him ‘mocktails’ at my dorm’s Casino Night fundraiser and brazenly introduced myself. This is sort of not like me, but I figured seeing the same cutie twice in one month was fate. We flirted (yes, even him—it was awhile later before I realized he kind of isn’t good at it.) a bit and that was that.

Everything in me wanted to call him up the next day and invite him to our dorm’s formal that night, but I figured it would be a bit much. So, I settled for bumping into him the next week at the computer lab & sending random, light-hearted emails to stay on his mind—a tactic I employed for the several months. I flirted. He blushed. Lather, rinse, repeat.

Until the night I stayed up way too late and ended up sending a completely different kind of email, about how much I liked him. I can’t begin to tell you how much I wished for an undo button that night. It was completely candid & totally humiliating, probably even more so because he didn’t even bother to respond. But, it did put things out there and make my feelings completely obvious to a clueless college kid.

It would be several more months before he did anything about it, but it didn’t take much from there for everything to click. And, that’s a story for another day!

Read the comments.

Mamavation Monday: Knock Out The Fat, Week 1

May 16, 2011 | Filed Under: Living Large

This has been an interesting week for my healthy living journey—and I’m so excited to step on the scale this morning! Who knew I would ever say that? We have just completed our first week of the George Foreman Knock out the Fat Weight Loss Challenge, and I’m feeling pretty good about my progress.

I had hoped to hit 185 this week, so I could finally match the number on my driver’s license. Unfortunately—or, blessedly!—I blew right past it to 183.5! It has felt good this week, so I’m not too suprised to have nearly doubled my weight loss goal. And, I’ve officially passed the 10 pound milestone so I’ll be treating myself to a bottle of my favorite bubble bath.

It’s been a combination of healthy eating, exercise and running, most of which I’d been doing since starting with Mamavation. Having a bit more guidance on meals through the George Foreman Knock out the Fat Weight Loss Challenge is what really put me over the edge. I’m learning what real serving sizes look like and finding ways to work my favorites into a balanced diet.

The meal plan is amazing—Alysa from Inspired RD has created a menu for me based on the American Dietetics Association exchange lists. I’ve tweaked it a bit for my own tastes (turns out? We don’t like Greek yogurt. At all.), the grocery budget (jicama? Way to expensive for me to even try.) and our daily schedule (including straight through dinner softball games!).

The steak fajitas were the biggest hit this week—especially the leftover steak salad I enjoyed for lunch the next day. This included avocado as my evening fat source, and we’ve decided we rather like it. I do like guacamole now & then, but using avocado as a spread or salad dressing is new to me. And, so yum!

Aside from marinating the steak overnight, the whole thing went together in about 15 minutes. In fact, most of the meals have been super quick. Part of it is Alysa choosing simple recipes for a busy mom, but it’s also my new George Foreman grill. Being able to grill both sides of my dinner simultaneously cuts cook time in half.

Which gives me more time for fitness! I’ve been hitting Stephanie’s twice daily circuits, plus I finally started running. My 5K is next month, and my original goal was just to finish it. I’ve been walking for months, since that was the plan. Somewhere along the way, though, I decided to try this running thing.

I hit the road for the first time last Tuesday. Well, I hit the neighborhood trails. My first run/walk was a mile loop near our house, which I finished in 17:10. I was pleased with my time, since it’s my first, but I was even more thrilled when I mapped the route and learned it was 1.25 miles.

I ran again a few days later and plan to make it a regular part of my weekly routine. Maybe I’ll even run part of my 5K! I do need to stretch more before & after, though. My legs were a bit sore & tired the next day each time. I think I’ll go with a yoga/run combination. I always feel so much better after a yoga session. It just relaxes me—almost as much as my bubble baths!

What’s your most centering healthy habit?

Starting Weigh-In: 195 pounds
Today’s Weigh-In: 183.5 pounds
This Week’s Weight Loss: 4 pounds
Total Weight Loss: 11.5 pounds
BMI: 26.3

George Foreman Knock out the Fat Weight Loss Challenge total: 4 pounds

This Week’s Mamavation Topic: In your wellness efforts what is the simplest healthy habit that makes you feel most centered after doing it?

I wrote this blog post while participating in the Mamavation Blogging Carnival for a chance to win a pair of Earth Footwear sandals.

Read the comments.

Mamavation Monday: Lazy Week Edition

May 09, 2011 | Filed Under: Living Large

Today is Day 1 of the George Foreman Knock Out the Fat Weight Loss Challenge, and I couldn’t be more excited! It’s a lot like Mamavation, for me, in that I’ll be receiving the same support I was seeking. Leah from Bookie Boo is there to lead the way, Stephanie from Fit Mom in Training will be kicking my rear with an exercise plan and Alysa from Inspired Results has created a meal plan just for me—featuring healthy recipes I can cook on the George Foreman grill I’ll receive.

I started the morning with Elvis oatmeal—peanut butter with bananas, of course. It’s made from scratch, incredibly healthy and fits into the dietary exchanges laid out for me by Alysa. I am loving this type of menu plan because I can make simple swaps if I don’t like something, need to use up what’s already on hand or want to buy less expensive items at the store. I definitely had to trade the watermelon Mom & Dad brought me for some of the fruit she had listed. Yum!

Today, it’s time to get back in the game and tackle Stephanie’s circuits. I slacked off a bit a few weeks ago, then had trouble getting back into it. I think I slid back so much during my mini-break that the exercises got a little out of my league. Then, I had my eye thing and took most of last week off to baby my body. Not to mention the fact that I didn’t want to get sweaty when I couldn’t take a proper shower. (What? You try to shower without getting your eyes wet!)

Sometimes, it’s just necessary to just take a step back to regroup, recover or relax. The key is not to take it quite so far. A few relaxing walks, rather than naps, would have done me some good during last week’s fitness hiatus.

I’m glad Stephanie is starting us a little slow, for those who haven’t already been participating in a fitness program. It will be easier for me to get back into it. Don’t get me wrong, it hasn’t been a total loss—I managed to lose another 1.5 pounds this week! I’m still making healthier food choices and staying more active than ever before. I just wasn’t as active as I should have been for the last few terrible, horrible, no good, very bad weeks.

But, I’m ready to get started now!

George Foreman Knock out the Fat Weight Loss Challenge Starting Weigh-In: 187.5 pounds
Before Pictures:

Starting Weigh-In: 195 pounds
Today’s Weigh-In: 187.5 pounds
This Week’s Weight Loss: 1.5 pounds
Total Weight Loss: 7.5 pounds
BMI: 26.9

This Week’s Mamavation Topic: Do you know when to back off of your efforts? When is the last time you took a step back in the name of gentle kindness to yourself?

I wrote this blog post while participating in the Mamavation Blogging Carnival for a chance to win a Jillian Moriarity workout DVD from Jillian Moriarity.

Read the comments.

More Information

My Dreams, Your Inbox

Categories

Scrapbooking the Journey

MiLi Final Measurements