UGH!

Going out of town is always lots of fun but I also have an unfortunate tendency to let my system get out of whack when I'm not at home.  I don't drink water the way I should, because I don't want to have to take the time to search out and use the bathroom.  I don't eat enough fresh fruits and vegetables because, let's face it, part of going out of town is going out to eat.  I should be more vigilant about requesting restaurants to prepare my food healthfully (I hear they will do that, although I've never tried, because I like to try it they way they think it should be eaten).  That means that I had lots of rich foods that I don't normally eat, and even though most of those things were split with my husband so I didn't have full portions, they still weren't the best choices.  So today I am feeling a bit sluggish and overstuffed.  Why do we do that to ourselves?  It only tastes good for a minute and then it makes you feel ugh for days - but at the time it sure feels worth it!  Oh well, water under the bridge.  Today I am back to drinking plenty of water (and making plenty of trips to the bathroom), eating nice healthy food, and planning a visit to the gym this afternoon.  The ugh feeling will pass and as I will probably not learn anything from my experience and will do the same thing the next time I go out of town, I will just have to keep in mind how to get right back on track.

Today's trick or treat: Add 5 minutes to your cardio workout today.  I know I am going to!

October Challenge - Day 15

My husband and I are in Nashville this weekend, for the following reason (choose one):

1. We are headlining at the Grand Ole Opry Friday and Saturday night at 7:00;
2. He is here for some continuing ed and I tagged along;
3. We decided to run away from home and this is how far we got before the money ran out.

The correct answer is, of course, #1.  We have matching sequin outfits and tease our hair up really big.  Just kidding!  They asked but we had a previous engagement.  Anyway, he is spending a couple of days in a seminar and I am spending a couple of days spending.  Once he is finished with the seminar we are going to hang out for a couple of days seeing some of the sights.

The hotel we're staying in has a "fitness center."  I put that in quotes because, come on, really?  So I went out and ran this morning, but was only able to go about a mile because my knee started to hurt.  I don't think I'm quite over the half-marathon aches and pains yet.  So I went in the "fitness center" and tried the elliptical - something was wrong with it.  So I used the one lonely weight-lifting machine (no free weights available) and walked on the treadmill for a little bit.  Then I finally convinced myself that trying was equal to actually working out, and went up to the room.  However, I did participate in today's trick, which is to do as many push-ups in one set as you can.  I made it to 20, which is not one of my most outstanding records, but it will do for today.  See how many you can do, and then you can make me feel bad by telling me how many it was.

10 Best Things About Thursdays

Once upon a time Thursdays were my least favorite day.  Now, I don't know if they deserved my disdain, but my disdain they got.  Since then, I am happy to report,  I have adjusted my attitude toward this fourth day of the work week.  Thus, my list.

The Ten Best Things about Thursdays (in no particular order)

1. Friday is just one day away.
2. Great Havest bakes one of my favorite breads, cheddar garlic, on Thursdays.
3. My daughter and I are guaranteed some time together, which doesn't happen nearly often enough.
4. I have a two-hour block in the afternoon during which I get to read and/or work on some of my puzzle books.
5. The early morning YMCA crowd makes me smile.
6. I get to run!
7. I have no evening commitments.
8.  I have time to run errands.
9. If the first part of the week was less than stellar, there's still time to salvage the week with a good Thursday.
10. I end the day watching Grey's Anatomy with my daughter--another rare moment.

I could probably come up with similar lists for the other six days.  After all, it really is all about the attitude.

TREAT:  Mail a funny Halloween card to a friend.

Change

Change is hard. Change is scary. It’s so much easier to sit back in the comfort of the life you know, even if that life is not everything you want it to be, than it is to get up and do something different.


Change is taking a couch potato life and finding the strength to turn it into a life with purpose and activity. Change is setting aside the choices you’ve made that have held you back and exchanging them for better choices that will give you the life you want.

Change your eating habits? It’s hard, but it can be done, one little bite at a time. Change your exercise habits? Or actually get some exercise habits? Also hard, but if you start small you will be amazed how soon you’re actually in that habit. Change your life? Definitely the hardest change of all. But once you start feeling good about your health and your body, you will begin to feel good in your mind and your life. Soon you will be making choices based on how well those choices impact your life. There will be no stopping you!

I’m proud of the people in my life who are brave enough and strong enough to shake off the past and move on to something better in the future.

Trick-or-Treat – with change in mind, add a mini-interval of 15 push-ups, 30 second jump rope, and 15 bicep curls to whatever other exercise you do today.

My 10 favorite things of fall

Finding my favorite fall things is a struggle for me.  You see, I really, really, really like summer best of all, and when fall arrives that means my summer is over.  So....coming up with my 10 favorite things about fall is a challenge.  But don't let it ever be said that I shied away from a challenge--however daunting it may be.

Ok, here goes. 
1. I like the color orange; it's a happy color don't you think?
2. I LOVE pumpkin pie, and there seems to be more pumpkin things around this time of year.
3.  Hayrides and campfires are fun and much more appealing when it's not 100 degrees.
4. Harvest moons can be unbelievably beautiful, and make driving in to work at 5AM well worth it!
5. Fall provides lots of opportunities to wear my favorite comfy hoodie.
(Whew.  Halfway.  This is hard!)
6. You don't have to run the air conditioner any more.
7. Sunday afternoon football.  I'm not saying I necessarily watch the games, but it's good snoozing time.
8. Chili is no longer a forbidden food.  Yum.
9.  Coffee tastes even better on those brisk fall mornings.
10. There is a finite number of leaves that need to be raked, so EVENTUALLY that job will be done!

Ok, that's my list.  Not exactly prize-worthy, but at least I was able to come up with 10 things.

Now for your trick:  Do as many jumping jacks as you can without stopping.  Use light handweights if you want it to be even trickier.

Race Results

I did it.  The Half Marathon is over and I finished in 2:16:40.  I ran the whole thing without stopping, except for a couple of short breaks at the water stations.  Now my knees are a little sore but what a feeling of accomplishment to run across that finish line.

Here are some of the highlights of my day:

• The Star-Spangled Banner being sung by one of my favorite local voices.
• Seeing my friend Crystal, a police officer, helping with the race at about mile 1.5.
• A couple at around mile 2 or 3.  The man was sitting in a lawn chair and the woman was standing next to him, playing "The Chicken Dance" on her accordion.  What better song for one of the buff chicks?
• The water stop in one of the parks.  The people at the water stop had set up an entire Halloween  scene and all were dressed up in costumes as they handed us our water.
• A group of kids of all ages, all dressed in sky blue track suits, near another one of the parks.  They read our names off our bibs and chanted them as we ran by.
• Seeing Crystal again at about mile 10.  This time she took my picture.
• Realizing at mile 11 that I was almost there.
• At mile 12, knowing I had this race and nothing was going to stop me from finishing.
• Hearing my name over the loudspeaker as I crossed the finish line.
• Seeing Becky as I crossed the finish line.
• Finding my husband after the race and discovering he had taken my picture right as I finished.

I'm too tired to trick or treat anyone today so check back tomorrow to see what's in store for you on Monday.

October Challenge - Day 9

I don't know what it's like where you are, but where we are it is a beautiful fall day!  Bright blue October sky, warm but not too warm, the trees are changing colors...too nice to trick you today.  For a treat, enjoy something tasty that reminds you of fall: a caramel apple, a cold glass of cider, popcorn, or whatever floats your boat.  Remember that it is okay to treat yourself to something you want every now and then, and enjoy whatever you choose!