A new goal....

Well, I think I have a new goal.  It's to run a 1/2 marathon.  That's 13.1 miles.  As you can see from the above pic I actually did that this morning, but not in a competition, so it doesn't count :)

I was going to run 12 but I took a new route that was a little longer then I thought it would be, and I arrived back at my house at 12.30 miles.  Well, hell, if I'm that close, I might as well run the other .75 miles and round up!

I can remember with crystal clear clarity the first time I ran 3 miles straight.  It seemed SO FAR and I was so excited. But I had run a 5K. 

Do you know that I STILL don't think of myself as a runner?  I had someone at the conference look at my calves and say that I must be a runner.  The words "No, I just run a little" almost came out of my mouth. 

So, there's my lofty non-weight-related goal for this year.  What's yours?

A mixed bag...

Hi everyone!

I just returned from a training out of town.  The training was actually really good.  It was on my expertise of substance abuse, but I learned some new things and I continue to be amazed at what research shows and how a drug addict's journey can be SO much like the weight loss journey.  I'll be talking more about that later.

So this conference was held at a fancy hotel.  Let's talk about the bad first and get that out of the way.  The food they served during the conference was actually pretty healthy.  But there was a LOT of it, and I ate and ate and ate and ate.  It was absolutely pathetic.  I just am not able to regulate myself when there is a huge table full of delicious - and free - food.

However, I was pretty successful when it comes to exercising.  I left Wednesday afternoon and made sure I ran before I left.  Then, both Thursday and Friday I got up early and used the really nice fitness room they have.  As I was running on the elliptical yesterday morning at 6:45 AM I asked myself - "Who is this person??"  Who gets up at the crack of dawn when you could sleep in?  I guess that is me, as hard as it is to believe!

So it was a mixed bag this trip.  I weighed myself this morning and of course, I am up a couple of pounds.  We'll see what the real damage is in a few days.  But I know what I have to do to get back down and I will start that!

Happy weekend everyone!

Living well is the best revenge?

On the weight loss site that I'm on, someome recently posted a topic that she wondered if revenge was a "valid" reason for lising weight.  Basically she was dumped by a guy and wanted to show him by becoming thin and hot and show him what he was missing out on.  

There were a lot of interesting responses to that query.  Some people were very disgusted by her and commented that she should be losing weight for herself and no one else.

I don't know how I feel about this - I mean who is to say anyone's reason for losing weight is right or wrong as long as it gets the job done.  Most of my clients are only clean and sober because they will go to PRISON if they use drugs and alcohol.  Is avoiding prison any less of a valid reason then say doing it for your kids?  I would say the same about losing weight.

When I was losing weight, I truly never gave much thought to what other people thought.  I was just focused on what I needed to do.  But I was just talking the other day to Marc and remarked that I bet that people talked behind my back - making remarks about whether or not I would keep at this - especially the exercising, since it's pretty noticable when I go out to run during my lunch hour.  

Because I know human nature, there is no doubt in my mind that people did talk about me and certainly said things about how I would not continue this commitment to a lifestyle change and probably were a little snotty about it.

So there's a part of me that would like to know who said what so I could be like "That's right, bitch, I did it!"  Does that make me petty?  Probably.  But it doesn't make the weight loss any less real.  

What is your main motivation for losing weight?  Yeah, yeah, getting healthy, blah blah blah.  But what about some of your less admirable reasons?

Things I love: Quinoa

I know that I've mentioned quinoa before, but every time I bring it up to someone locally, no one seems to know what it is!  So I thought I would talk about it here.  It's pronounced KEEN-wah.  I'll be having it for dinner tonight with some Haddock! 

Quinoa is a grain that can be used as a substitute for rice or other startches.  However, due to a high protein count, it is also often used as a meat substitute and quinoa burgers are pretty common.  It's taste is a little more hearty and "nuttier" then something like rice.  

It is easily cooked - using either water or broth you boil it up.  Most people thoroughly rinse or soak the quinoa, because it can have a bitter outer coating that needs to be removed and the rinsing or soaking does that.  1 cup cooked has 222 calories - about the same as brown rice.  But it has a much higher protein count and keeps you full for a long time.  It also has about twice the fiber of other grain sources.

I find it extremely yummy and it's extremely versatile, so give it a try!  

What could have been...

Today is March 4th.  Had my father not died of a heart attack he would have been 65 today.  I'm not sure why, but this journey has made me think of my father more then any other point in my life since his death.

Maybe it has the most to do with me getting close to the age he was when he died - 42.  I was 18 at the time, and from then until just a couple of years ago, I was pretty much resigned to the "fact" that I was going to meet the same fate.  Not necessarily at 42, but young and well before my time.  

Things are so different now.  I actually think of myself as having a future.  Which is a good thing!  But it also makes me again reflect on what if?  I wonder what he could have done - what I could have done for him - that would have saved his life.  I realize there is no answer to this.

Marc's niece Maryann (hi Maryann!) is scheduled to have her baby Maxine today.  While I'll never forget my Dad, I'm hoping that next year I associate this day with her birthday instead of my father's and that it's a happier day.

Trying to remember this....

8 years!!

Marc and I got married 8 years ago today!  Happy Anniversary to us! 

As I've mentioned before, we met in 1989 when I was 16 and he was 22.  It was literally love at first sight.  At the time, I think I would have been described as "chunky but cute".  He was really skinny.  Over the years we both had our weight increase - mine more then his.  We've been through a lot together, and there were times I wasn't sure if we would make it.  But we never broke up, and instead we fought to keep US together.

I couldn't believe it when I looked back at our wedding photos.  First I should let you know that the main catalyst for our actual marriage was Marc getting covered on my fantastic state health insurance - romantic, huh?  So we decided on a Sunday to get married and had the Judge that I work with marry us in the courtroom where I work every day that Thursday.  So this is not a traditional wedding photo!!

Holy hell!  LOL  I loved that dress and thought it looked great on me.

Anyway, I wonder what that couple would say if they could see a picture of us today.  I wonder how 2005 Jennifer would react if I told her that on her 8th wedding anniversary she would start the day off by running 11 miles.  She would call me a psychotic liar I think!!  

Our lives were good then, but they are better now.  Losing the weight together - motivating each other and celebrating our victories - that has pulled us closer then we have ever been.  Marc caring for me after my surgery just confirmed our unconditional love for one another.  I am one lucky woman, let me tell you!

This is us today - 8 years later - before going out to lunch at Applebees...

Welcome March!!

March always seems to mark the unofficial start of spring.  However, here in Northern NY, Mother Nature did not get the memo!  The weather is miserable here - cold and snowy.  I'm getting really super sick and tired of running outside in ankle deep slush and freezing my ass off!

But here's the good news - it HAS to get better, right?  Here's the other piece of good news - it's the first of the month!  Although we shouldn't wait to start anything until the 1st of anything, so often times we do.  So today is a new start if you've had a bad week or month! 

Pretty soon it will be hot out, and you'll want to look great in shorts and tank tops and swimsuits!  You can make a huge dent in weight loss during the spring!  It is 13 weeks until June - what can you accomplish in the next 13 weeks?

For me, March is going to start off challenging.  I will be at a conference out of town for some of next week, and it includes working lunches and continental breakfasts where it will be hard to resist unhealthy temptations and getting a regular workout might prove challenging.  

But who has the power to choose my behavior?  ME.  The same as you!!  If you are waiting for a fairy with her magic wand, I'm afraid you are going to be sorely disappointed.  The only one who can make this journey is you!  You need to find the commitment inside and get to work.  

The other day on the weight loss site someone who had been trying to eat right and exercise for 2 whole weeks started a thread saying how hard this is.  Well, no shit, Sherlock.  If this were easy, EVERYONE would be fit and thin.  

Only you can decide to make the changes.  Only you can do the work.  Are you ready?

I'm ready to walk it with you!  Take my hand and let's go!