Yes I Am...A Glorified Slacker

It's been quite a while...and for good reason. I've had nothing to post that is even remotely related to health. Okay, maybe I am just SLIGHTLY exaggerating...but whatev....

I am ready for a new year (isnt that a phrase that everyone uses???). I am ready for a new beginning (again, same phrase)...but it still rings true for me. I am tired of the saying...its okay, I can eat that because...well....it IS THE HOLIDY SEASON!!!!!! Holy hell....what a cop out....

I am not happy with my body and with what I have been eating. It hasn't been horrible, but too many sweets and too many carbs will do something to ya thats for sure. Its funny how your mind works, well atleast mine. I will look at myself in the mirror and think...sheesh I need to change some things. THEN... five minutes later go in the kitchen and eat a cookie and say, oh its not gonna matter. DUH!

One problem is that I am still breastfeeding. So I still need to find that balance between eating good and still having enough to provide for the little one. I do believe that my body won't be exactly where I want it until AFTER I am done nursing. But I can STILL eat better and start to feel better about myself.

I have missed running. I have been so busy with working, holidays and everything else going on that I just haven't had the time. I ran 5 miles on New Years Day and it felt great to get out. But it was a hard 5 miles!!! I couldn't believe it...I was definitely out of my normal rhythm and it had been too long since I had run.

So, it's a new year. What are my fitness goals for this year? I actually have no idea....how sad is that? I haven't had time to even THINK about it....boo

Hoover Dam Marathon

I am so overdue with this post...oh well...it is what it is!!!

I completed my FIRST marathon!!! Wahoo!!!! I was so nervous the morning before...and the morning of! Especially since we got lost and couldn't find the start line to the race...HA! I was late starting, I started like 2 minutes after everybody else!!! Oh well!!!

Nathan took lots of pictures, I'm just putting a few on here:)

I was very proud of myself...and for sticking with the race. The first half was beautiful AND I felt really good...the second half was HARD. There was SO MANY HILLS....ouch!

My time for the race was 4 hours 45 minutes. That comes out to be about 10:50 per mile. I felt real happy with that time, especially with the amount of hills that were involved! I KNOW I could have gotten a better time, if it was more of a flat route. But thats okay. I am taking a bit of a break from the intense training...still running, just not nearly as many miles as before. It takes SO MUCH time and my sweet hubby needs a break too:) I am hoping to do another marathon next year though!!!!

The Wellness Challenge is officially over. Me and 2 other girls got a perfect score!! So we won. yay!!! So this week I have been eating whatever the heck I want...and it hasn't been pretty. HA

Too many sweets thats for sure. I haven't been taking any pictures of food at all...haven't been in the mood I guess. That and I basically eat the same things over and over....which I've already posted pictures on here before. SO! I guess that's it for now!!!

Happy eating...and exercising!!!!

Really???

Can this girl do it?

Last week I officially registered for the marathon. I almost had a panic attack! It's only just over a week away until the race. I'm feeling very nervous...having lots of self doubt...WHY???!!!! I hate that I do that. I have trained very hard...I really feel like I'm ready. I put up a sign in my bathroom and my kitchen that says...I am a marathon runner...I can run 26.2 miles....Just to remind myself that I CAN do it. Can I Really??!!! Yes, Yes, Yes.......I have to constantly remind myself....envision myself at the finish line.....

Here's a few food pics! I love, love, love this cute little bowls...

and I love putting food in them to eat! It makes eating more fun...hahahahaha

Only 2 1/2 weeks left on the challenge. I still have a perfect score! Go me!!!

So, So Good

I had this sandwich for lunch this week. It was SO YUMMY. Just a veggie sandwich. Toasted the bread a little bit (homemade of course!)...then put a tiny bit of miracle whip...then added lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, red cabbage and red bell peppers. I have been CRAVING it ever since.

Running is good. This week was my recovery week...and I was very grateful!!! So my long run is just 7 miles tomorrow. Next saturday I tackle 20 miles...and I WILL succeed this time!!

Wow

It's really been a while since I last posted!!! Every day I think I'll have time...and it just doesn't happen! Who knew that having 4 kids would take up so much time??!!! hahaha

So, today being Labor Day...hubby is home and we are all just hanging out. So, thought I'd take a quick few minutes to update this here blog-a-roo....

The challenge is going well. I am glad to be doing it again! And I'm loving the point for doing a personal goal. I love checking off the things I've accomplished every day and I love that my cute hubby is doing it too. My overall goal for the challenge is to get a PERFECT score...so far, so good.

My running is doing amazing! Saturday I ran 18 miles...YES you read that right! 18!!! Seriously can't believe that I did it....well, I can...but I can't...you know?! It was a BEAUTIFUL morning for a run...and I got POURED on the last 6 miles. Not just a sprinkle...but poured on. When it first started sprinkling I was like, yeah! This is awesome! Then as it got harder...and harder...I was like...um....having many doubts of wether or not I wanted to keep going. BUT I did. The last 2 miles of my run were...well, not gonna lie...they totally sucked! I was ready to give up...my whole body hurt...BAD. My calves were on fire and both my knees were killing me. BUT (again) I didn't give up. I kept thinking that if I did...I'd be letting myself down. So, I just kept plugging along. That last little bit took me a while...but I just kept going! I was seriously VeRy proud of myself for pushing it. I was very sore on Sunday and am still today. I had only 2 miles (hallelujah!) to do today....and I didn't even want to do that! BAHA! But, of course I did!!

It makes me even more nervous for my next long run this saturday...20 miles...I was so tired after 18, I don't know how I'll make it the full 20. But every week I wonder that...and yet I still manage to complete my goal. AmAzInG!!!! It's a great feeling to know that I can do something so difficult and challenging. I have been talking with family members about the race and many have said that they'd like to go....we'll see what happens. I think we'll be taking our whole family up there for the event!!! It makes me very excited. I am SO grateful for my husband and for his support in all of this. He is so sweet and takes good care of me after my long runs. Oh how I love him!!! :)

Sad news is...I already need new running shoes. I just got these for Mothers Day! But I guess with as many miles as I've done the last month...they are just shot. There is no way I can do my 20 mile run this saturday with the ones I've got. So I'll be going down to get some more on Wednesday probably. Well, Babe is crying and ready for a nap...so guess I'm done for this time...hopefully it won't take me as long to update the next time!!

Food!

Just a few things that I've eaten over the last few weeks. Time is short these days!!!

Lunch: Chicken Salad w/spinach and nectarines...(nectarine was DIVINE! so juicy and yummy!)
Breakfast: 3 egg whites, onion, red pepper and zuchini. Nonfat plain yogurt w/fresh strawberries and blueberries

Breakfast: Oatmeal w/fresh strawberries and blueberries (my most favorite breakfast!)

Lunch: Salad (spinach, red leaf lettuce, peppers, brocolli, carrots, zuchini, cucumbers) w/fresh grilled chicken topped w/some balsamic vinagrette (so yummy)

More nonfat plain yogurt w/fresh strawberries and blueberries...isn't that the cutest little bowl you ever did see??? (50 cents at TARGET!!! LOVE IT!!!)

Workouts are good. I am on phase 3 of P90x. And have been sticking to my running schedule. This saturday my long run is 12 miles!!!! I am gonna have to go WAY early so I don't get overheated in this Arizona heat!!! My long runs will just be getting higher and higher. Makes me a little nervous. This week 12, next week 14 and the next is 16!!! Then I'll have a recovery week (whew). Then I start getting into the 20's!!! Oh. My. Gosh.

My meals have been good and healthy. My snacking and sweets, not so much. I am definitely a stress eater!!!! At night I just wanna sit down and relax and not think about anything! After the kids finally get in bed, I'm exhausted and always looking for SOMETHING !!!

Love this quote

Love yourself, for who and what you are; protect your dream and develop your talent to the fullest extent.

Joan Benoit Samuelson