Sunday, August 30, 2009

ok, people

Here is what happened: Last night, I went to Cheddar's to eat with friends.....well, I ate chicken fingers, nachos, potato skins and ranch dressing, in addition to fries with cheese and bacon.

Needless to say, when I woke up this morning I felt like I had slept upside down in a freight train car. I vowed to get it in gear today, right after I won my Mercedes M-Class on ebay.

Problem: while patiently waiting for my husband to come home from squirrel hunting, the auction ENDED!!! I thought I had an hour and forty minutes left, but it ended at a price I would have bid and it had EVERYTHING I wanted. I have been looking for the same kind of car for over a year and waiting for one to get in the price range I am willing to go. This was so it.

Sooooooo NOT it, apparently. AAAGGHHHHHH!

So, I decided I could sit here on the couch feeling bloated, fat and lazy and bemoan my lost car, searching endlessly for another one (which will probably take another year), or I could get off my fat butt and go for a walk because it is beautiful outside! That's what I did!!! Finally - some motivation kicked me off the couch! I left a sleeping husband, sleeping child, and sleeping dog in the family room and exited through the front door. (It wasn't that difficult; I really don't understand my laziness.)

I went two miles: ran the first 1/4 of a mile and then walked. By the end of the first half mile, my lungs were killing me. I started the asthmatic coughing thing and ran again for the last quarter of the first mile. I wanted to quit at the end of the first mile so badly. (What is wrong with me? Have I seriously become so fat and out of shape that I don't even want to walk more than one mile?) I trudged on - I only walked the second mile, but I walked briskly and I didn't quit. My legs, cellulite notwithstanding, were totally fine after two miles - not even tired.

Beth Moore says to "plan your victories. " I plan to drink a lot of water and eat an apple later today. I have already had a few handfuls of chocolate chips, a yogurt, a bag of crackers and some quakes (cheese, of course). This goal is aided by the fact that the crock-pot is full of squirrels. Yes, I said squirrels, and they smell really bad, so when coupled with the kind-0f-nauseous-post-exercise feeling, the apple-and-peanut-butter-for-dinner plan should be pretty easy to implement.

Vowing to keep searching for the right car. I am sure that one wasn't meant to be. Serious bummer, though, because I really wanted it. Also cannot decide whether or not to take another class this semester to advance my progress in the LME program......wanted to take a little break, but really want to get finished sooner. What should I do? I have to decide today, since classes start tomorrow. I think I can, I think I can, I think I can.

Going for another walk tonight - three miles with the dog and the weighted vest.....my race is seven weeks from today. I still weigh the same I did when I started two weeks ago (126 lbs.), but I feel like I am healthier and my body is getting more toned. At least that is what I am telling myself!

Psalm 118:24 : This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it! NIV

Thursday, August 27, 2009

crazy week for my crazy self

Well, I skipped a soccer board meeting tonight, which might sound weird, but is actually a good step! Today I ran/walked a mile because I woke up on time, but had to help Whitaker with his homework. Yesterday I was completely exhausted and I did not get up in time to go. Tuesday morning I took the dog and we went about 2 and 1/2 miles. I have overeaten for the last three days and I think I actually weigh more than I did when I started. Oh, well.

Enough of that: Project Runway is on tonight and I am so excited! I don't know how I am ging to like it in LA. Open-minded however. Same show, different setting. So far I can't figure out what the heck that girl who is standing on her hands is wearing. I LOVE the black girl who makes clothes for plus-sexy. I feel sorry for the Johnny guy who is recovering from a meth addiction.

Ragweed is high today. So immensely thankful that I had the surgery (septoplasty and endoscopic sinus surgery with turbanite reduction) this summer. Still love my iphone so much - everyone should have one of these! I am serious - it is so awesome!

I love my husband. He is great.......I am so glad tomorrow is Friday......tomorrow I am going to run more - hopefully a mile nonstop. Yay!

lyons - out

Monday, August 24, 2009

still slacking, but I'll write some cool stories

Over the summer in a desperate attempt to get to meet Kelly Ripa, I drove to Indianapolis at 3:00 am and auditioned for the Who Wants to be a Millionaire show. They were casting for the recent set of shows with Regis and I thought I could possibly get to meet her if I got to meet him.
Anyway, the "audition" is really just a freaking hard test that only about 10% of the people "pass." I could write a whole big long story about the process, but needless to say, I did not pass the test. The producers made us take both the general knowledge test and the movie test for the special week they are having with all movie questions. This trip was only 9 days after my invasive surgery, which rendered me in no shape to travel alone and without sleep, but Kelly-love was calling.

When they first let us into the auditorium, (after waiting about 50 minutes outside), they gave out magnets with a session number and a personal number written on the back. I was in the first session and #334 out of 375 that they let into the room (and I got there at 6:00 which was the earliest they would allow people to line up). There were enough magnets for four sessions.

We had 10 minutes to answer 30 multiple-choice questions on a scan-tron form that we wrote our name and number on. I took notes the whole time, writing down all the questions I could remember after each test.

The questions I remember are as follows:

Regular test:
  • What do statin drugs treat?
  • What computer company has cow-print boxes?
  • Who is Jimmy Wales?
  • Which of the following is a palindrome.....
  • What is the setting of Death of a Salesman?
  • With what Russian did Catherine the Great have a relationship?

Movie test:

  • What is the name of Adam Sandler's production company?
  • a question about some rapper-turned actor, but LL Cool J was the only one I could think of and he was not a choice
  • a question about members of the Brat Pack and which ones were in which movies
  • several quotes that we had to choose from which movie they came
  • several questions in which we were asked to identify which actors were in which movies, as well as directors, settings and plot details - not generalized plot info that one could obtain from movie trailers.
All movie questions were dispersed over the history of American film beginning in the 1930’s. There were also questions about Academy Award winners from before I was born and even one about the specific wording of an award given, if I remember correctly.

Out of the 375 people, 37 passed the first test, 19 passed the second test and about 5 people passed both. Even after being asked repeatedly by crowd-members, the producers would not tell what the passing score is. I have a feeling it is either a perfect score or missing only one question, based on the conversation with interesting but nerdy guy next to me, which is another story.

If I had passed the test, I would have had my picture taken and been given an appointment time to come back later in the day for an interview. I knew immediately upon completion that I failed the test miserably, but I feel like I could have been chosen for the show had I gotten to the interview stage. I guess I am just weird enough. Plus, I was hoping for the sympathy vote.
It was kind of a God-thing that I did not make it, however, because I was getting really light-headed and dizzy by the end of the second test. I had to walk to the nearby Walmart and rest in the bathroom before I could drive back to Louisville where Whitaker was in Art Camp at U of L's Speed Art Museum.

It was an awesome and unique experience and I was so proud of myself for doing it even though I did not become a millionaire! I got to keep the magnet and the pencil they handed out with the closed envelope containing the tests.

Other activities I did this summer were get a new dog, a new septum (for which I was part of a case-study), a new vehicle, and 6 hours of A's from WKU. I also was the grand-door-prize winner at my summer conference where I won a coffee mug (first) and then won a beautiful 8G iPod! So excited and could not believe it - especially since I was still recovering and felt pretty nauseous that day. There were over 200 people there. Yay me! Yay God!

James 1:17 : Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

slacker

So I took Saturday and Sunday, and Monday morning off. Well, I didn't actually take this morning off though, because I have been up for two hours grading papers and it isn't even 6:00 yet. I REALLY, REALLY am going to go tonight. The total body makeover starts today. Whatever it takes, however much it hurts, I am going to do it. Go me!

and please help me, God. I need some motivation.

Sunday, August 23, 2009

a little ranting

Okay so I took yesterday off. I am going to go run tonight. I am having a VERY hard time not comparing my progress to that of others. I mean, it is good that I am exercising AT ALL, but everytime I get on facebook, I have friends who are running more, stairclimbing longer, competing in full-body combat, swimming rivers, completing trail marathons, teaching spin and yoga classes, riding bikes up and down hills and on and on. I should feel inspired by this, but being the jealous bitch that I am, it just makes me angry.

I am vowing to turn my frown upside down and keep moving in the right direction. With God's help, I hope to learn to love myself and not be so dependent on the acceptance of others. Fat chance. No pun intended. :-)

I have a TON of housework and schoolwork to do and it is already getting kind of late, but I am still going to run/walk about three miles this evening. I am hoping I can get it done in less than an hour.....with no Tebow, that should be possible. I am also going to check a 5K in 8 weeks plan online since my race is now 8 weeks from today. I feel like I am moving in the right direction, but I have a loooooonnnnngggg way to go.

Saturday, August 22, 2009

quick update

Okay Thursday morning I tried to walk Tebow again, but again, he walked me, and pulled me, and drug me a little ways down the concrete. He chased after a skunk and I ate it right on the street. Luckily, it was only about 4:55 am so only one car saw me. (I HATE walking where/when people can see me, but I like to walk where it is well-lit.) With road rash and a hole in my sweatpants, I vowed to get him a new collar. We walked about 2 and 1/2 miles in approx. 50 min. Not great.

Thursday evening we went to PetSmart, (after a huge fight about communication and values). After consulting the experts at the store, we opted for a Gentle Leader. The Gentle Leader is a special, humane "head collar" that keeps them from pulling and fighting against a leash. It doesn't go across their windpipes; more like a harness, not a muzzle, blah, blah, blah.

Friday morning - new Gentle Leader worked like a charm and I was able to walk/run for about 50 minutes but did not go up and down hills because I wanted to stay close to my car (in case Tebow had breathing troubles because he is a flat-nosed dog and the video had a special alert for such dogs). He was perfectly fine, but I was just being careful. Monday I am going to start a different Couch to 5K plan that is geared for 8 weeks of training. My race is 8 weeks from tomorrow. I am going to walk the dog in the mornings enough to help him be calmer during the day and get the exercise he needs and then I am going to try to work up to my 3.3 miles by running in the evenings without him.

This morning I weighed 124.5 lbs. I can't even remember how much and what all I have eaten in the last two days. I am going to get a grip on my out-of-control eating, though. I got an iPhone today and I downloaded an app that keeps track of calories and another one called MapMyRun. I can't wait to start keeping track of how far I actually go and start trying to train for real. This week has been really good though because I walked all five morinings of school. That isn't exactly going to get me looking like Kelly Ripa, but it is a start. I have until April to get in rock-hard, totally cut shape for my reunion. Not just for my reunion, for me, and forever.

I love my students (mostly); they are so sweet - they are anxious to learn, they listen, and I don't even know what to do with some of them because they are so eager to please.

I love Kyle Busch now. I think he is misunderstood. And he drives the M&M's car, which is AWESOME! He is my guy. Not Dale Jr., not Jeff G., I'm going with the guy who wears chocolate on his chest.

My cousin had a baby and I can't wait to meet her. Her name is Grace. I think she is gorgeous.

Tomorrow: church, the river and grading papers.

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

just in case you were wondering....

I still hate my hair and I still don't like myself.

I woke up at 10 to 6 instead of 10 to 5 so I only was able to walk/run a mile and a half this morning. Accomplished it in about 20 or 25 minutes. We had a restless night (up and down and bad dreams and wet beds) so I was exhausted when I got up (in a different bed). I was somewhat proud of myself for going ahead and taking him for a walk....I so wanted to go back to bed.

As far as actually running, I think I may have to in reality work the couch to 5k program by walking in the evening sans dog. I cannot concentrate on anything except keeping Tebow on the right track when I am with him, but I have to give him props for working out my back, butt, shoulders, and abs trying to keep him from pulling me over and dragging me face down into the woods.

For the record, I'm still fat. I can't fit into any of my pants for school so I am wearing dresses and skirts everyday until some pants fit. Weight: 125.5 (ugh) What I ate today - breakfast - coffee; lunch - chicken nuggets, corn, mac and cheese frozen dinner and dmd; supper - one cup of white grape juice, one small plate of chicken alfredo pasta, one small tagalong blizzard. Yeah, I know, I shouldn't complain about being fat if I am going to eat crap like that. Bite me.

Goals: get more accomplished tomorrow, don't give up.

Romans 8:28 : All things work together for good for those who love the Lord, all who are called according to His purpose.

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

okay, that was rough

Here is how things went beginning at 4:50 this morning:
  • woke up the dog
  • took him out for a walk
  • encountered mean neighborhood dog who bit Tebow a few weeks ago
  • Tebow FREAKED out and started pulling away from me
  • it was totally black with no moon or stars
  • I got him in the car and he proceeded to step on my thighs and scratch them
  • I drove to a well-lit location approx. 2 miles away
  • began walking and running (off and on) with Tebow
  • he almost pulled me over one time chasing a phantom animal
  • he stopped at least 72 times to smell something, what, I have no idea!
  • he pulled and dragged and struggled against me the entire time
  • once, at a corner (a busy 4-way stop) we encountered another dog who was on a chain who decided to bark repeatedly at him
  • again, Tebow FREAKED out and tried to get at the other dog
  • he spun me around and around and I had to put one foof up on the curb and pull back with all my weight to hold onto him
  • two other very accomplished runners went by at a collegiate-track-runner pace and I immediately got a huge boost of inferiority
  • I wrapped the leash around my wrist and then around my shoulder so he was on a shorter lead
  • finally got back to my car after he pulled on me the entire way up a hill
  • got in the car and decided to figure out how far we had walked (at this point I am in a FOUL mood)
  • I roll the window down for him in the back seat of my car
  • as I drive, he sticks his head out the window and when I came to a stop sign, we saw another dog being walked on a leash
  • he jumped the entire front half of his body out the window while barking violently at the other dog (a tiny shi-zu with a rather grouchy-looking owner lady)
  • I completely turn my head around to yell at him and try to grab him and in doing so, completely turn the steering wheel to the right with me
  • I almost run into a trailer parked on the curb and slam on my brakes
  • Tebow then slides off the seat and slams into the back of the driver's seat
  • I realized that I needed some positive vibes and fast
  • I drove home, hugged my kids, and vowed to get a prong collar TODAY
Okay, so tonight, my husband would not let us get a sitter and go to a pet store because he wanted to mow the grass. He said I could go by myself but then he decided he wanted the house cleaned up and he started helping for the first time in weeks. Then I felt guilty and I didn't go because it is an hour away and I felt like I should help around the house. Now I have to take the stupid dog again tomorrow.
By the way - we only made it 2.9 miles in 62 minutes. That is not going to bode well in my 5K race. Holy crap I have a long way to go.......
weight: 125.5 breakfast: 2 cinnamon pop-tarts (420 cal.), lunch: one box of frozen lasagna (350 cal.), supper: 8 schezchan wingz and water.

Day 2 - up and at 'em

After going to bed at 10 last night, I woke up this morning at 3:30. The thought of running and the thought of going to school are NOT making me want to stab my eyeballs out with a knitting needle. In my crazy world, that spells P R O G R E S S!

I definitely believe that Tebow making gross sounds and the 8-year-old in my bed may have contributed to my alertness at this hour (4:06 am). However, I am only slightly in need of some caffienated beverage, so I totally see that as progress, as well. I am going to take the dog out around 5:00 this morning and I am going to try to create a 3-mile trek for us. That way I can go the same distance everyday and work up my running portions.

Other issues (prayers) right now: I'm searching for a different car, a different job and a plane ticket to visit my far-away friend. oh, and I hate my hair. However, since a friend of mine just learned her husband has a malignant brain tumor, I am thinking my life is pretty darn good right now. Another friend who is younger than me has MS and has to use a walker. That makes me realize that taking the dog for a walk a blessing for which to be thankful, not a burden about which to complain.

Blessings today: a new baby is about to come into our family (AWESOME!), my boys are loving school right now, my boys are beautiful and healthy, my boys are sweet young men. What more could anyone want? Oh, yeah, to be 20 lbs. thinner, I almost forgot.

it's better than nothing

Yesterday I got up at 4:40 and went out with the dog. I drove to a well-lit place and we walked/ran for about 30 minutes. I can honestly say that part of the time the dog (Tebow) walked me. I don't think I ran enough, but I was hot and tired when we got finished, so I'm sure it did some good. I don't know how far we went but I am going to figure that out today.

I am really proud of myself for actually getting up and going. I pretty much hated that part, but once I got going, I was happy to be out in the fresh air with my dog, even if he pulls like a maniac and he needs a pincher collar! (It is supposed to rain today, so maybe we can go get one.) I think if I can develop a habit of getting up early and going to bed early then I will not hate it after a while.

here's the hard part: weight: 126 (disgusting) breakfast: coffee, lunch, Banquet lasagna (10 for $10 at the grocery store - forgot to check the calories on the box), one piece of leftover cake; after school: one bowl of cereal with milk, one small cup of juice, supper: one bowl of chicken-pasta-cheese sauce (from a box, but at least I made dinner for my family!)

I spent two and half hours cleaning up the little boys' playroom, looked at cars on ebay and went to bed a little before 10 pm - I was DONE by then!

Sunday, August 16, 2009

why have a running blog?

Well here are my reasons for starting running and a running blog:

  • all my friends are running and I feel left out
  • I signed up for a 5K and I should probably train a little
  • the blog will help keep me accountable to myself and others
  • I quit therapy two months ago and at this point running seems better than drinking
  • the dog needs to run in the mornings to help with his separation anxiety
  • I'M FAT!
  • maybe if I get in a habit of running, I will finally like myself (probably not, but it's worth a try)

I have exactly 9 weeks until I am supposed to run, so the Couch to 5K program might be a good place to start.

Sunday evening; weight: unknown - too scared to get on the scale; today: chocolate covered chewy granola bar, 1 small package of skittles, a 100-calorie yogurt, two small slices of pizza (cheese only because I took the pepperoni and bacon off and fed it to the dog) 3-4 pieces of cinnamon cake with cream cheese gingerbread icing. coffee, water, dmd

tomorrow is a new day. I am going to download some songs now to "motivate" me. wish I had a friend who would walk/run with me.

Jeremiah 29:11 : "For I alone know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future."