I AM in control

Yesterday was a great day food-wise for me.  I ate good at work and then for dinner, I made the realization that I did not NEED 2 slices of greasy italian cheesy bread.  It was gross.  So I gave the other slice to Mikey (every one knows, Mikey eats EVERYTHING).  I actually ended up having 3 points left for the day, and I didnt' want anything else, because I was full.  So I just left them.

The 4 pounds that I was up as of Sunday are now gone.  Back down to 234.6!!  But, vacation starts tomorrow, so we'll have to see how I do then.  I do plan on indulging in some adult beverages while we are there, amost definitely some calamari, so we'll see :)

I went to Zumba and it totally rocked.  Even without Tassie (the normal insturctor) there.  Nellie and I have this theory that Tassie is pregnant.  But we're not sure.  If she's at Hip Hop tonight, we'll have to investigate further.....I would hate to lose her if she is, but I would be happy for her at the same time!

After Zumba, met Jody and Mikey to walk.  We did 2 miles yesterday evening.  Mikey needs to get some new running shoes so that we can start running.  He is going to be like my running coach.  We are doing a 5-mile race in July - The Yellow Brick Road Run in Roxboro.  It "says" it's flat with a 1/2 mile hill at the end - thought it doesn't say if it's uphill or downhill.  But that's ok...most of my walking/running is already in a hilly area, or on hill intervals on the treadmill, so I should be good.  Just got to build up to 5 miles from 3.

My daughter just uploaded these to her facebook and  I thought I would share....these are from my mother's day/birthday dinner at Asahi.  I love going there for Japanese food.  They have the best sushi.  They also try to feed you way too much!!!

My 2 awesome offspring, Megan and Michael Jr.

Meg and Mikey being silly as we were going back out to the car after dinner

Chicken and shrimp

Spicy yellowtail mango avocado roll

Onion volcano!!!  boo!!  Be scared!!

Daddy's girl :)

Crunchy spicy tuna avocado roll

Me and the hubby....a picture that actually doesn't suck of me!!

Hip hop tonight~~  Then walk with Mikey and Jody.  Megan is supposed to give both dogs a bath today and Mikey is supposed to spray down the couches and dining room carpet with flea/tick spray.  After hip hop and walking, home to run 1 load of laundry, then finish packing.

Outer Banks tomorrow, baby!!!  Woot~~

2 days to go....and a new knitting project!

It was a great weekend.  I worked on Saturday because guess what...

The hubby and I are leaving for the Outer Banks on Wednesday!!!  No kids....just the Libby Lou (my bouncy boxer girl).  I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO excited!!!

I bought 3 sundresses to wear out to dinner while we are there.  Not that we have to dress up for dinner, but I WANT TO.  This trip is going to be AWESOME!  We have never been to the outer banks, and have wanted to go for a long time.  We are both hoping that this will turn into something that we do together at least twice a year - once in the spring and once in the fall.

We are staying on Hatteras Island.  We will be less than a mile from the lighthouse.  I am going to climb the lighthouse steps and not die.  That was one of my main goals before the trip (other than a smaller sized bathing suit) that I wanted  to hit.  I also wanted to go to Corolla and see the wild horses, but Corolla is over an hour from Hatteras, so I don't think that is going to happen :(.  Unless we do it Saturday morning on the way home. 

There is also an awesome fish market at the lower end of Hatteras that I want to go to and get some fresh fish to take home.  I love fish.  And I like it either broiled, grilled, or baked.  I'm not big on fried, at least anymore.  And, it's what I eat about 75% of the time.  It's just better for you. 

I found out last night that the main restraunt that I want to eat at is within walking distance of the motel.  A bit pricy at between 17.00 and 24.00 a plate, but to be honest, that is good for the coast.  And from what I have heard and read, it's GREAT food. 

Ok, enough jabber about the Outer Banks.

The main reason I changed the name of this blog to Running Stitches is because I wanted to incorporate my sewing blog into it. 

I started a new knitting project this weekend.  This is going to be for my brother's girlfriend's daughter.  This kid is so sweet.  She's 13, I think?  She has been through a hell of a lot for a kid.  And I really enjoyed meeting and talking to her while I visited mom in March.

She likes bright colors.  I decided to do a 2-color pattern - it's a plaid stitch.  And I enjoy doing it.  I really didn't need to buy ANOTHER knitting stitch book, but I'm glad that I did....I have used 3 stitches out of it already and they are all really easy to follow.

I hope she likes it.  I haven't decided if I'm just going to do a scarf with it, or make panels and make an afghan out of it. 

Now, from the weight loss standpoint.....

Last week was aweful.  It was that time of month, plus my birthday last week.  I didn't want to go to the gym or eat right.  So, after I saw a 4 pound gain this week (Sunday is my weigh in day), even though I know that most of it is probably water weight, I need to buck up and get my head on straight.

I did 9 miles yesterday - 5.5 in the morning with my walking buddy, then another 3.5 yesterday afternoon with my son.  He wants to get back to his wrestling shape, so we are going to start running, playing some tennis (yeah....this ought to be interesting) and trying disc golf.  I am so happy to have him home for the summer....extra encouragement is always great~~!~~

Let's see....zumba tonight, then walk w/ Jody and Mikey......Hip hop tomorrow and walk again....then Wednesday, I get to run on the beach for 4 days.  YAY!!!

Wordless Wednesday

Loco Moco breakfast style :)

So, on Sunday, I made Jody walk 4 miles.  I didn't twist her arm, but that may have helped.  I didn't get my run in that morning, so I made her suffer with me :).

Actually ,we got lost.  I thought this one road connected with another which lead back to the main road we walked from, but it was actually a cul-de-sac.

Soooooooo, to get back to our regular walking area, we had to back track...that added about 1/2 a mile to our total...YAY!  Since I am used to doing over 6 miles on Sunday, this wasn't a problem for me. 

Needless to say, poor Jody was dead by the time we got back to our cars.

By the time we were done, I was STARVING.  I had had a banana before our walk, but that was long gone.

The other day, I saw this amazing recipe for Loco Moco on this blog Success Along the Weigh .  You should check this blog out, btw.  She and her hubby have done amazing and she has some great recipes there. 

Loco Moco is a Hawiian dish, apparently, containing rice, 2 hamburger patties, 2 eggs, and a boatload of gravy.  She has a lightened up version of this recipe on her blog that amounts to 507 calories.

I decided I wanted to make a breakfast version, so I did :)

I used 1/2 c grits made with 1c almond milk, an egg + one white, 2 turkey sausage patties, and about 3tbsp sausage gravy.

The nutritionals look like this:

So, about 346 per serving, not counting the grapes....those were just a bonus :)  Well, make that 386....forgot to add the almond milk.  That was another 40 calories.  But still, very reasonable and very, very filling. 

Libby decided she was going to look utterly pathetic while I was eating.......

The face didn't work....she didn't get any.

Hip Hop tonight....didn't do Zumba last  night because I was too crampy/bloated.  I did do an hour on the treadmill and 40 mins of weights.  Hopefully it won't be raining again tonight so Jody and I can walk, too.

Friday Lyrics - I Am

Probably one of the best songs to describe me right now.....

I Am
by Hillary Duff


I'm an angel
I'm a devil
I am sometimes in between
I'm as bad as it can get
And good as it can be
Sometimes I'm a million colours
Sometimes I'm black and white
I am all extremes
Try to figure me out
You never can
There's so many things
I am

I am special
I am beautiful
I am wonderful and powerful, unstoppable
Sometimes I'm miserable
Sometimes I'm pitiful
But that's so typical
Of all the things
I am

I'm someone filled with self-belief
I'm haunted by self-doubt
I've got all the answers
I've got nothing figure out
I like to be my myself
I hate to be alone
I'm up and I am down
But that's a part of the thrill
Part of the plan
Part of all of the things
I am

I am special
I am beautiful
I am wonderful and powerful, unstoppable
Sometimes I'm miserable
Sometimes I'm pitiful
But that's so typical
Of all the things
I am

I'm a million contradictions
Sometimes I make no sence
Sometimes I'm perfect
Sometimes I'm a mess
Sometimes I'm not sure who I am

But I am special
I am beautiful
I am wonderful and powerful, unstoppable
Sometimes I'm miserable
Sometimes I'm pitiful
But that's so typical
Of all the things
I am

I am special
I am beautiful
I am wonderful and powerful, unstoppable
Sometimes I'm miserable
Sometimes I'm pitiful
But that's so typical
Of all the things
I am
Of all the things
I am
Sometimes I'm miserable
Sometimes I'm pitiful
But that's so typical
Of all the things
I am
Of all the things I am

What's your support system?

So I talked yesterday about my "wall".  I had hit it.  I hate hitting it because I get so darn down about everything when I do.  I didn't want to go through that again....I thought I wouldn't, but I did.  I'm still not completely over it, I don't think, but I'm getting there.

Anyhow, I went to step class last night after doing my running intervals (I really, really didn't want to do either), and this is how the conversation went:

Jane: "Hey!  We missed you at class last night!"

Me:   "Yeah, I was having a bad day...I hit the "wall" I always hit when I get about 6 weeks in where I don't want to do this anymore."

Jane: "You know, I get that way too.  Last night at class, I wanted to stop in the middle of it, but I didn't.  I just kinda marched in place."

Nellie:  "I feel that way too sometimes"

Me:  "It's just so HARD to get passed it.  It's like saying "why bother.""

Jane:  "Just remember, the next time you feel that way, that we are right here feeling like we are going to die with you.  You can get passed it."

I never really thought about it before, but I NEED that kind of support.  I don't get it at home....not that my hubby doesn't support me, he does.  He just does it in his own way, which is sometimes not the best way.  Sometimes it's more insulting than encourageing. 

That conversation makes me very thankful that I started this 6 weeks ago.  The hard work I have put in IS worth it and everyone is starting to see a difference.  The 20 pounds gone has been worth it.  The changes in the way I feel and the fact that I can now run for 3 consecutive minutes has been worth it.  The muscles I see in my arms have been worth it. 

I AM WORTH IT.

The Proverbial Wall

Yup.

I've hit it.

I hit it HARD this morning.

I was sitting here litterally crying to my co-worker (who is also my work out buddy) that it's getting so hard to keep doing this.

Every time I hit this point, this is where I quit.

Why?

I have no clue.

Could be the little voice of my hubby in the back of my head that nags me saying "You'll never finish...you never do".

Could be fear of finally getting to goal, then what do I have to strive for?

Could be my body telling me "I hate you for making me work so hard"

Or it could be just the fact that it's getting near that time of month.

Who knows.

All I know is that if I don't make it past it this time, I'm officially just going to give up for good.  It's been over 19 years that I have yo-yo'd.  19 YEARS. 

But, I can't give up.  I have a great support system - at least here at work.  Even if Michael doesn't get it.  Or my kids.  At least Nellie and Jane and Ginny and Jane get it. 

But do I get it?

That's the biggest question.  Because if I don't get it and this is not for me, then what really is the point?

I didn't go to hip hop last night and I should have.  I have no excuse.  I AM going to run my intervals this afternoon.....then do step class with Nellie, then walk with Jody if it's not raining.

Tomorrow is the big class day....weight lifting (LOVE that class), Core class (abs/lower body) then BELLY DANCE...if there ever was a class I would marry, it would be belly dance, lol.

Ok, at least I'm partially laughing by the end of this post.  Let's see if I can get myself out of this funk....