St.Patty's Day, Green Ketchup, and Luke

First off let me say Happy St. Patrick's Day!!! 

 

  Today, I celebrated St. Patty's Day with a handsome red head and FREE FRIES WITH GREEN KETCHUP!!! I took the computer genius out to Burger King because it was free fries all day !!! He had been waiting and talking about it for a week.  The green ketchup looked gross, but tasted just like ketchup. The bad thing was it dyed anything it touched green, I wondered what it did to our insides? Oh, well I think it will be okay for one day.

      In running news, my runs keep getting stronger and faster. Yesterday, I dreaded it all day to the point that I told the hubby, "forget it I'm just not going today!!" Wonderful, encouraging husband, that he is, he ended up talking me into it. I got on the treadmill and once I started going I felt great!!! I felt one with the run (so to speak). 

I really am starting to feel like this after a run!!

     I also have had a good week with strength training. When, I first started squats, I could not learn the proper form. I thought I knew how to do squats, but let's just say I didn't know squat about squats (no pun intended :)) But lately, I have been getting stronger in that area too. I think I have said in the past that my strength trainer, is a world record holding power lifter AKA my son Luke. 

Yep, folks he can really lift this much!!!

But there is another reason this mom is so proud of him. He recently lost almost 30 pounds and he has joined his mom and dad running!!! He is a natural athlete, so running is coming easy to him. As I said in my previous post, it is so important as well as fun to make your children part of your fitness program. As many of you have read in recent reports, so many children and teens are overweight,  becoming diabetics, have high blood pressure, and many other health issues. When kids see their parents enjoying a healthy lifestyle,they want to do it too!! We never pressured Luke in anything he chose to do. My husband has been power-lifting since he was a teenager. And he gradually helped Luke along. We are very proud of the things Luke has accomplished, but if he decided he didn't want to do this anymore, that would be okay too. He is very good at training me as well. He loves to switch up my strength training. It is never boring when I train with Luke.

     Well, I hope everyone enjoys their St. Patrick's Day!! And if you get a chance go by Burger King, and get some free fries and green ketchup!! You won't be sorry.

The blog post I needed!! And a great giveaway you need to know about!!!

I know, I know I already posted today. But when I came across this blog post by Too Tall Fritz: I just had to post it. I fell in love with it!!! It was brilliant!! Here is the link: http://tootallfritz.com/2012/03/08/dont-count-yourself-out/.There are a lot of my friends, and other people out there who are struggling with their weight loss and fitness journey. I should know, I have been struggling quite awhile with this myself. But if anybody read some of my past post recently. You can see how great a challenge it is just to overcome the voices in your own head. She covers this and so much more in this post. So I would like to say Thank You Too Tall Fritz for writing this wonderful post. And just when I needed it the most too!!! Also Too Tall Fritz is giving everyone a chance to win a great pair of Aspaeirs Compression Shorts. Here is the link if you are interested in entering: http://tootallfritz.com/2012/03/13/i-won-heres-a-giveaway-aspaeris-pivot-shorts/

"Running on Sunshine"

If anyone out in blogland has been reading my blog, you know that the last few running days I've had ended up miserably. But yesterday was a totally different day. It was a lot better. I was able to run longer and even beat my time. 

I still have a lot more in common with this guy

Than with this guy!!!

 

But hey, I feel like I am making progress!!! In fact yesterday, I felt so good, I literally felt like I was "running on sunshine". I also felt a lot of improvement on my squats and dead-lifts. Each time I feel like I am stronger. It still a struggle, but in the end it feels great. 

     In other news, I have been enjoying the beautiful weather we have here. I have been doing a lot of my walking days outside. Sunday, I took Jessi and Sammy with me. I wanted to share some of the pictures we took.

Me and the famous Mr. Buddy!! 

Miss Sammy Waffles

My gorgeous diva girl Jessi!!

My two bookends!!

We had so much fun walking and enjoying the gorgeous day. My advice for anyone with teenagers or really any age, if at all possible include them in your exercise plans. It not only benefits everyone's health, it is also a fantastic time to spend quality time with them. Trust me they grow up way to fast!! It is so much fun to enjoy exercising while finding out what is going on in their lives. These are some of the best memories for me and hopefully them as well. Then today I walked my 3.1 miles with my hubby!! Another great bonding day. Well, I hope tomorrows run will go just as well as yesterdays. I will keep you posted!!

Running Blahs!!

Yesterday, was another running day for me. I was hoping it would be better going. Sad to say, not even close. I started out strong again. I decided to start at a lower speed, so that it wouldn't be so discouraging. Sad to say, it just kept getting harder. I think the problem may be in the fact that I am trying to push it too hard, and also this keeps getting in the way.

Yep, my brain!!!! I just start thinking such negative thoughts. It goes somthing like this: "Man, I am having such a hard time breathing, I just can't finish this mile!!" or "I knew I wasn't a runner, why am I even doing this? I will never be able to run a 5k or any kind of race. Why don't you just go back to walking?" See what I mean? It's just awful. But, I will tell you this, I am determined to get over this negativity. I WANT to be a runner. I want this more than anything, I want to have medals, and wear cute running skirts. I want to become faster, and be able to run without feeling like I panting for every breath. And I know that the only way to achieve this is by giving it time.

I did pick a hard age to start running. But, I did say hard not impossible!!! I am just going to try to keep focused on my goals. And just keep working at it until it does get easier. So this is focused me signing off. Hopefully, Monday I will have a much better report to give.

Slow Going

A few days ago, I said that I would be running again Monday. I also said I would post how it went. Well, it went  HORRIBLE!!! I thought since I had taken a week off, I would be back to my old self. Well, it hasn't turned out that way. When I started my run, I felt great I ran quicker than I ever had for the first mile. Then, I slowly started to become wore down. I had to walk/ run the rest of the workout. I felt so frustrated. I wanted to scream !!!

Then today, I went back to try again. Same thing!!! I started out strong, then gradually became weaker. By the time I was finished I was exhausted. I feel like I am starting all over. I have read a lot of blogs about running and working out, and they have said that this could happen. So, I guess I will start from this point, and gradually build up again. I guess I will just listen to my body, and take the good as well as the bad. I am just thankful, I am able to run and strength train at all. I am going to work on taking this negative and turning it into a positive.

I'm Baaaaack!!!!

I know it's been forever since I last posted. But there is a very good reason. Last Sunday, the hubby, Wesley and me caught a very nasty stomach virus. I have never been so sick in my life.

I am pretty sure this is the bug that attacked me!!! :)

Let's just say that I have whip-lash from all the volatile vomiting I did. Anyway, there was a plus side to it, I ended up losing about 3 pounds. I am just now finally feeling better. I guess I could look at it as a violent form of cleansing?? LOL. I really wanted to hold on to those 3 pounds I have lost, I decided since I "cleansed" my body of all bad toxins; I tried and  managed to stay away from sweets and have cut my intake of coffee down to 1/2 a cup a day. And the best news of all I am down another pound!!!  I am excited because I thought the scale would never budge. I love the following 2 cartoons, because most days this is how I feel.

I haven't really been exercising at all since I became sick. I thought I would give myself a week to recover. I did go to the gym, Friday and did a little weight training with Luke. But other than that, I have not been running. I think when you have been really sick, you should give yourself time to recover. Then, jump back in. I plan on going back Monday, and adding my running back in. I will let you know how it goes. Last Friday, I did my last run. I was so excited because I was really trying to up my PR.As I neared the end, I covered up the time, so that I would not get discouraged and slow down. When I reached my goal of 3.1 miles, I went to take off the towel and my treadmill cut off. I felt like Charlie Brown when the football is pulled out from under him.

As you all know (if you have checked out my blog list), I love to read blogs!! I just found a new one that I just love. http://www.runsforcookies.com She has a great story to tell. She lost over 125 pounds in 16 months. Her eating and exercise plan is very simple and straightforward. She is inspiration to anyone who is on the weight-loss journey.  Well, I hope everyone has a good Sunday afternoon. 

Welcome Wednesday

Welcome to the "Welcome Wednesday" blog hop, hosted by Take It From Me, Happy Hour Projects, and Let's Move It Mommas! Welcome Wednesday is a great way to meet new people and learn new things as well as increase your blog followers! So let's have some fun!!

If you want to be a part of Welcome Wednesday, just follow these 5 simple steps:

1. Follow us via Google Friend Connect, Google+, Facebook or Twitter, as well as the Spotlighted Blog of the Week! 
2. Link up your blog name and URL with our Linky. (You only need to add your info once for it will be seen on all the blog hops) 

3. Grab our Welcome Wednesday button and include it in a post about the event on your blog.

4. Go to as many blogs on the MckLinky as you want and Follow them. Be sure to tell them you are from Welcome Wednesday!
5. Be sure to Follow back any followers you have gained from our Welcome Wednesdayevent!