Just Heather

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.


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!

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.


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!

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.


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!

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.


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!

Last week’s Terrible, Horrible, No-Good, Very Bad Week is bleeding right into this one. It started over Easter weekend, as we noticed our old, paralyzed dog deteriorating even further. On Monday, we had to say goodbye to Indy. He’s been with us for 14 years.

On Tuesday, the hubby had a doctor’s appointment—just a routine checkup, but he also needed to share some recent, ongoing symptoms. Which, resulted in an MRI on Wednesday to see if he had a brain tumor. (He doesn’t, but that was a scary few days, especially on the heels of our loss.)

On Thursday, the doc called—but not with the results of his MRI. Just to let him know he has high cholesterol. So, he’s now on cholesterol meds, and we’re making dietary changes. Luckily, we started that process months ago, at the beginning of Mamavation. Still, there are a few not-too-unhealthy foods he uses as lunchtime standbys that will have to go.

The weekend wasn’t too bad, really—with my Tiny Prints 4 Mom party being a major highlight! There was also a school picnic on Sunday. Both of these events generally equal indulgent dining, though I did my best to make wise choices. I’m a comfort eater, though, which means the week was filled with dessert and chocolate. I just love me some Easter candy!

But, today it became clear our rough patch is not over. I had a followup visit with the retinal specialist, to be sure my eye is remaining stable. Turns out, it’s not. The bleeding is back, and I required another shot in the eye. Yes, in my eyeball. The eyepatch is back for the week, and I’m hoping for an easier recovery this time.

I am, after all, much healthier than I was last year. I just wish my eyeballs would get on board with that plan. I tried to show them who’s boss by heading out for a salad after my appointment, instead of grabbing fast food. I even skipped the Reese’s egg I really wanted to chase it with. Though, I did snag a small handful of Easter candy corn later in the day.

With our crazy, awful week, I have over-indulged quite a bit. You know, because I deserved it! I still managed to lose a couple pounds, mostly because I tried to lose myself in exercise all week. Turns out, getting sweaty is a good stress reliever. Who knew?

I’ve got to find non-food ways to reward myself, though. I’m celebrating my weight loss with a new swimsuit this year. Corrin pointed out a few weeks ago that I deserve a good one. I’ve never felt that way before, but I have one picked out at SwimSpot.com, courtesy of an Eversave deal. I just want to wait another month or so to see where my size is.

I think for this particular journey, clothes will be my reward. So far, I have only bought a belt. I had to do something to keep my pants up, but perhaps it’s time to setup a specific reward system that fits with my goals. Of course, I had such an awesome time with Saturday’s pampering (Tiny Prints & Clever Girls really know how to throw a party!) that I’m starting to think along those lines.

A well-deserved massage. An earned mani-pedi. A special bubble bath. Granted, I take a bubble bath every, single night, but I just use whatever suds are on hand. I think I’ll start treating myself to my favorite scents or finally buy myself a bath bomb when I reach a goal.

Because I’m worth it.


Starting Weigh-In: 195 pounds
Today’s Weigh-In: 189 pounds
This Week’s Weight Loss: 2.2 pounds
Total Weight Loss: 6 pounds

This Week’s Mamavation Topic: How do you reward yourself after you have worked hard towards a goal? Do you have any pampering rewards thought out for future goals?

I wrote this blog post while participating in the Mamavation Blogging Carnival for a chance to win a Eco Ethical Skincare Basket from Tilvee.

I am a certified chocoholic. I’ve spent the last several weeks making improvements. At first, I just focused on not grabbing candy throughout the day. Once I got it nailed down to just my nightly bubble bath, I worked on reducing the quantity. Instead of 2-3 pieces each night and countless throughout the day, I’ve had it down to just one treat at the end of a long day.

I knew Easter weekend was going to be rough, so through the week, I really cut back. I went 5 whole days without a single piece of chocolate! Then, of course, I blew it all this weekend. Easter candy is my favorite—I have no willpower.

After the previous week’s low activity, I worked pretty hard this past week. I concentrated on Fit Mom in Training’s circuit training as well as spending some time with my new (to me) treadmill. Plus, MFJ and I went to Zumba on Thursday. It is amazing how out of shape I was after just a week of lazy. I’m hitting it pretty hard this week, too. I’ve gotta burn off all that candy, you know.

I really thought I’d have a weight gain this week, but the numbers didn’t change at all. I suppose that’s good news, considering my indulgent weekend. Of course, I didn’t lose all sense of nutrition. I went with salad & veggies instead of too many chips at my nephew’s cookout. And, I did manage to steer clear of soda. (Shout out to my momma for skipping the Sunkist in favor of stocking her fridge with bottled water!)

It’s going to be another rough week. I’m an emotional eater, and we’ve got a tough day to face. The dog, who was injured earlier this year, is now getting worse instead of better. Today, we’re facing a tough decision and a long road of grief. I’m hoping to lose myself in exercise, rather than chocolate. Wish me luck—with all of it!

I’m hosting a Fit & Frugal Twitter chat at Inexpensively, with KidGrade tonight We’ll talk healthy living, fitness and reaching your goals on a budget. I hope to see you there!


Starting Weigh-In: 195 pounds
Today’s Weigh-In: 191 pounds
This Week’s Weight Loss: no change
Total Weight Loss: 4 pounds

Updated Measurements: I’ve lost 5.5 inches so far!
Bust: 36″ (-.5″)
Waist: 35.5″ (-1.5″)
Hips: 40.5″ (-1.5″)
Thigh: 23″ (-.5″)
Arm: 12″ (-.5″)

This Week’s Mamavation Topic: Who in your world deserves a “shout out” this week for pushing you to better yourself? What did they do?

I wrote this blog post while participating in the Mamavation Blogging Carnival for a chance to win My Trainer Fitness 100 Calorie+ Workout featuring MizFitOnline from Mamavation.

Thanks to everyone who supported my bid to be Mamavation Mom—I didn’t quite make it, but I’m determined to rock the Move It & Lose It challenge. I want to continue my momentum, since last week’s before/after picture was so motivating. Plus, I have to prove everyone’s faith in me, through the application process, wasn’t displaced.

I know Mia & Andrea are going to rock as Mamavation Moms, and I’m looking forward to seeing how the rest of my fellow applicants fare in the MiLi challenge. Losing 3 pounds in the first week of the campaign is incredibly encouraging—it helps stick with it when you see the results of hard work & sacrifice so quickly.

In addition to sticking with Fit Mom in Training’s Twitter workouts, I’ve continued to make positive changes in my family’s diet. Salads have become a regular way to increase our veggie intake. I’m also getting better at eating three full meals myself—I used to skip breakfast & skimp lunch. Now, I try to have a healthy start to each morning, and have begun adding vegetables even in the middle of the day.

Peanut butter celery, fresh peppers & popcorn have become staple snacks. I haven’t had chips in over a week, but that particular craving hasn’t quite gone away the way my soda addiction did. I have also drastically reduced my candy habit—I can’t quite bring myself to completely give up my nightly bubble bath treat, but at least I’ve stopped snacking on crap throughout the day!

As we move on through the campaign, I am going to continue with this progress. More veggies, less junk and balanced meals, for starters. I also need to work on healthier meal options—I’m from southern Indiana where dinner = fried foods & gravy. I’ve been concentrating on reducing the amount of oil I use in cooking as well as the amount of gravy, butter & dressings I use on my foods.

I’m not 100% there, just yet, but I have been making small changes each week, for a total of 5 pounds lost in 5 weeks. Even at that slow rate, I’m noticing significant changes in my body. And, others are noticing as well—I’ve received several comments in the last few days about it.

The key there is not to dwell on the fact that everyone noticed how fat I was before!


Starting Weigh-In: 195 pounds
Today’s Weigh-In: 190 pounds
This Week’s Weight Loss: 3 pounds
Total Weight Loss: 5 pounds

This Week’s Mamavation Topic: How would you like to alter your family’s nutrition and eating habits? Do you have a plan to do this?

I wrote this blog post while participating in the Mamavation Blogging Carnival for a chance to win an Orville Redenbacher Very Important Blogger Gift Basket.

I did it, friends! I’ve made it to round 2 as a Mamavation finalist. Now, it’s all up to the votes! The two winners will receive support & equipment for their weight loss. They will document their journey and need the help & support of friends & family to make it through the intense bootcamp.

I’ve asked my friend Liz to be my Fit Friend—the changes she has made in her own life over the last year have been a real inspiration. I am so honored that she has agreed to be my cheerleader on this journey. I have also already registered for a 5K—if I am selected to the program, it is a requirement after graduation. I didn’t want to wait, though, because if I am not selected it would be too easy to get lazy on this.

I’ve never been a runner (or even wanted to be!) but I do want to make positive changes in our family fitness, and drop the weight. This whole physical fitness thing is completely new to me. I was a lifeguard as a teen, so there was plenty of swimming back then. And, I went pretty much everywhere on roller blades in college.

But, I haven’t been on them since my first pregnancy—14 years ago! That’s one of my goals this year. I even had my roller blades fixed earlier this week. (It took 5 minutes and 50¢—such a dumb procrastination!) When it warms up, I’m going to hit the neighborhood trails on a regular basis. Before it cooled off again, I’d started walking in the evenings. I’d like to make that a regular routine once spring decides to stay awhile.

I suppose it’s all in training for the 5K I’ll be running in June. I’ve selected Outrun the Sun (I’m not a morning person, yo.) at Ft. Harrison and have already corralled several friends to enter the race with me on the Indy Mamavation Support Team. Some will be walking, some will be running, but they’re all there to support me & kick start their own journey to better health & fitness.

I’m doing so much better on that front. I’m working out every day, including more fruits & veggies in our diet, eating breakfast and cutting out the not so good stuff. I haven’t had a soda in 2 weeks now—and I don’t miss it in the least! I feel like I’m starting over with the weight loss, though.

It had been dropping slowly since I started, but I’ve had a rough week. I’ve pretty much gained back everything I had lost so far. The good news is it’s all, ahem, water weight and should be gone by the end of the week. I’m still down 1/2 a pound from my starting weight, and I’m feeling pretty good. My body is more toned, my clothes look better and I’m much more confident than I was 3 weeks ago.

Which means the process is a huge success already!


Starting Weigh-In: 195 pounds
Today’s Weigh-In: 194.5 pounds
This Week’s Weight Loss: 0 (gained 1.5 pounds—boo!)
Total Weight Loss: .5 pound

Today’s Mamavation Monday Topic: Where will your feet take your this year? Any plans for a big hike, race, or just a lot of walking?


This post is sponsored by Earth Footwear and by writing this I’m entered into a giveaway hosted by Mamavation and sponsored by Earth Footwear.