This makes a lot of sense

Nineteen total posts so far this year.

Only two in the last 3 months.

What to do, what to do?

Start an additional blog, of course!

Yep, that's logical ...

to a T

Tomorrow
Ten miles
Trails
Trained (somewhat)
Time?
To be determined ...

Brain dump

What to write, what to write?


Hmm, so I have a few quiet minutes here with the laptop. I've ignored my blog for too long but now that I have the time to sit down and write a post, I have absolutely no idea what I want to say. 


Solution? Random thoughts in a bullet points list, of course!

• My struggle to lead a more disciplined life continues. I've had a lot of success losing weight these last 10 months and that has certainly required a lot of discipline. Heck, it's the most success I've ever had as I've discussed several times on this blog. I've just got to find a way to be more disciplined in other areas as well.
• Since I started this blog as a place to capture my thoughts about running, I'll point out that's one area that I'm still lacking discipline. I'm in the midst of training for the Medoc Trail Races in October. It's so freakin' hot here in NC that I'm having a hard time getting in my mid-week runs. I really, really, REALLY need to get these runs out of the way and do them in the early morning. And again, we go back to the lack of discipline thing. I am not a morning person - never have been. I swear it's like my semi-awake, early-morning self is another person. I go to bed with the best intentions to get up early. But that other person takes over and my feet never even hit the floor.
• Speaking of waking up early, school starts in 5 weeks. Yikes! Kate will be in the 6th grade and Will starts kindergarten. I can't think about that too much yet. I just can't believe he's old enough for school ...
• It may be stifling hot outside (even now at 9:00 pm), but it's very cool in my house (my husband Taylor and I definitely have different ideas of what room temperature really is). I stopped writing for a few minutes so I could put on my pajamas and socks.
• Kate's softball team has a tournament this weekend in Angier. The temps are supposed to be around 100. Already dreading it even though we love watching her team play. 
• I'm thinking of giving Taylor a short list of running "things" that I'd like to have for my birthday in October. I really don't want to put anything big on that list (although a Garmin would obviously be nice). The first item I've thought of is a fuel belt. I enjoy having a bottle with me but my handheld has started leaking so I need something else. It would be nice to have my hands free. Christy has a Nathan fuel belt for women that she recommends. Anybody else have any suggestions for a fuel belt or other gift ideas?
• We have Vacation Bible School next week. The pictures taken of me last year during VBS were what finally gave me the motivation to take control of my eating and lose weight. So, in honor of the changes I've made during this past year, here's a "before and after" collage of pictures to close this post. Based on the noise my children are making, I think my quiet time with the computer is over for now ...

What a difference a year makes

Pacing, Schmacing

I haven't written much about running lately, but in a word, it's been GREAT lately. It really is amazing how much easier it is now that I've lost weight and have improved both my health and fitness in general. I'm currently in the early weeks of training for the Medoc Trail Races 10 miler in October. I created a moderate intensity plan using the online SmartCoach tool at Runners World. It's only included short runs of two and three miles so far. I can't believe I'm actually looking forward to increasing the distance next week to 4 miles. 


But, even though, the effort associated with running has improved so much I've discovered that my pacing still completely sucks. I feel like I'm running at generally the same (although slow) pace most of the time, but my runkeeper app shows some strange peaks and valleys still.


Maybe it's just the GPS/app software? Yeah, that's what I'll blame it on.

But the most important part is that I'm using words like GREAT in the same sentence as running. There was definitely a time when that was not the case ...

Wordless Wednesday: Running on the Farm

Me Likey

I had to take a picture last night for a Body by Vi ad that will be running soon in our local newspaper. Luckily, I had my hair cut earlier in the evening and was thrilled with my new 'do. I kept looking at the camera after my husband took each picture and thinking to myself "that's really me!"


A lot has changed since September. I'm still kind of in shock.

The pictures that started it all (don't look at the hair, it was very hot) - late July 2010

Yikes!

My "official" Body by Vi "before" picture September 2010 - so bad that I rarely show it to anybody

The most current "after" picture - completed by the huge smile

Even the cross on my necklace hangs lower now. This is a complete pat-myself-on-the-back post but I am just so FREAKIN' excited that I had to share.

Giveaway winner!

It's so fun going through the process of picking a giveaway winner! Here is the result ...

There were 26 total comments

I plugged those numbers into random.org

I counted to 10 (I'm talented that way)

And the winner is Kittee at Running Half Crazy. Send me a message at gisrunner (at) gmail (dot) com, Kittee, so I can send your prize to you.

Thanks so much to everyone who entered my giveaway and are now following my blog. I sincerely appreciate it. If you want another chance to win a Body by Vi Balance Kit, be sure to enter Teamarcia's giveaway before June 3.

Now for a little running update since I'm only doing a little running now. As always, I'm not making running a priority in my schedule. When am I going to change that?

I did run a little under 2 miles last night. I waited until 8:20 as it was another day in the mid-90s here in NC. It was slow and tough due to the heat and humidity. I was so hot when I finished I jumped in the pool to cool off in my running clothes. Heck, my clothes were soaked with sweat anyway so the pro's definitely outweighed the con's. It felt so good and is a wonderful way to recover!

I'm also registered for the Medoc Trail Races 10 miler again this year. This will be my third year running it and it's my favorite event by far. Apparently it's a favorite event for a lot of runners as it's completely sold out with the the 10 miler filling in 62 hours! Medoc is a small event and they definitely take care of the runners. They give a finishers prize each year (last year was a running vest). I would love it if this year's prize are compression socks but no one knows what the prize is until the day of the event. 

Someday I would love to run this event's marathon, but my lack of commitment/discipline makes that impossible at this point. But the 10 miler is very doable and is so much fun. There will be a lot of hot and sweaty training runs to report here between now and October!

Making Memories: American Idol Edition

My husband Taylor and I often talk about "making memories" with our children. Those moments that last a lifetime are so important. I know I certainly have childhood memories that still make me smile today. I decided a few days ago that this goal of making memories blends extremely well with American Idol.


Say what?


My daughter Kate has been following Idol this entire season and is a huge Scotty fan. She absolutely loves country music (spending a huge amount of time with her grandfather is the primary reason for that). The fact that he is from North Carolina just makes him even better in her eyes. So when he advanced to the finals last week and the plans for the huge finale party were announced, I decided to surprise her with a trip to the RBC Center in Raleigh.


Even though I haven't watched Idol in many years, I have to admit I had just as much fun as she did. It was very exciting being in a coliseum with 12,000 or so screaming fans. The RBC Center is also home to NC State University basketball and that made the night even more fun as Mr. and Mrs. Wuf entertained the crowd (I'm an NCSU grad).  It's hard not to smile and have fun when you're in an atmosphere like that, especially when your daughter has just declared that you're the best mom ever.


I'm posting a few pictures taken with my phone camera, so excuse the quality. We'll both have those memories forever, but it's nice to preserve them here, too.

Loving the poster of Scotty with Mr. Wuf

Approximately 1/4 of the crowd

Scotty won!

(don't forget about my Body by Vi giveaway - enter here)

Another BBV Giveaway!

I'm so excited about the wonderful lifestyle changes Body by Vi has helped me to make the past 9 months that I decided to share with my fellow bloggers again. In fact, the wonderful Marcia is also hosting a giveaway for me, so hop over to her blog for another chance to win. 


Hopefully, you've also read my prior posts written during my first BBV challenge. They're not all about Body by Vi and ViSalus Sciences, but I think you'll be able to pick up on my enthusiasm about how great I'm feeling in those posts. I've lost a total of 23 pounds and at least that many inches since September 2010 (I really need to update my measurements). So now I've started my third 90 day challenge with the focus of losing the last 10 pounds or so and build lean muscle.

I've really been thinking about the three pillars of the ViSalus Sciences' mission: Life, Health and Prosperity. I can honestly say that these 3 words speak volumes to me. I was in a funk (midlife crisis?) last year this time and regaining control of my health by making better food choices has vastly improved my overall quality of life. As for the prosperity, well, who couldn't use extra income each month to help plug those holes in the family budget?


From the website ... 

ViSalus™ is a community dedicated to making a positive impact on the life, health and prosperity of everyone we can reach. Our creed is so important to us that it is rooted in the very name of the company. "ViSalus" comes from the Latin "Vi," meaning Life, and "Salus," which means Health and Prosperity.

Life ViSalus Sciences® enhances the lives of our members through incentives and rewards designed to create new experiences, build relationships, and create lasting memories. Click to learn more.
	Health ViSalus™ offers a line of innovative wellness products developed by a world class Scientific Advisory Board and backed by some of the most advanced scientific technology available. Click to learn more.
	Prosperity ViSalus™ gives people of any experience level or educational background the entrepreneurial opportunity to grow and fulfill their financial potential in this exciting industry. Click to learn more.

With that said, I'm giving away a free ViSalus Body by Vi challenge "Balance Kit." The balance kit includes 1 bag of the Vi-Shape shake mix and a 5-pack assortment of flavor mix-ins. To better describe the Vi-shape shake mix, I copied and pasted from the corporate website again, of course.

The "Balance Kit" is designed to help you begin your journey by giving your body good nutritional balance. This kit contains 30 servings of balanced nutrition with our Vi-Shape™ Nutritional Shake Mix for once-a-day balanced nutrition. The kit includes an assortment of our Health Flavors, to add flavor variety, and added health benefits to your shake.

The Vi-Shape™ nutritional shake mix includes patented ingredients to help you maximize nutrient absorption while cutting calories. Shake mixes with milk or water for nutrition on the go. Low sodium, no trans fat, and an amazing Sweet Cream flavor. Our version of the perfect “fast food.”

The balance kit includes enough shake mix for 30 meals, so you can use it once a day as a recovery drink after your run, for a meal on the go in order to not hit the drive-thru, or to replace 1 or 2 meals a day if you're like me and looking to lose a few more pounds.

This is a $49 value and I'll ship it to anywhere in the US or Canada. The giveaway ends Tuesday, May 31 2011 at midnight EST and I'll use random.org to choose a comment number. 

- 1 entry for leaving a comment describing your initial reaction to the company's mission to impact Life, Health & Prosperty. Don't sweat too much over this ... I'm not looking for a deep, philosophical insight. Just write what appeals to you.

- 1 entry for following my blog (please leave a separate comment below that you are a new follower or already are one)

- 1 entry for mentioning this on your blog (separate comment)

- 1 entry for a mention on your facebook or twitter (separate comment)

Good luck and I look forward to reading everybody's comments!

Note to self ...

After using Runkeeper on the phone while sleepless on the train, it's best to delete this activity from your profile because it REALLY throws off the year's statistics ... just sayin'

Friend Makin' Monday

From Kenz at All the Weigh


If you've taken part in FMM then you know the rules. If you're new, please take a moment to answer this week's question on your own blog then add your link in the comments section here at: www.alltheweigh.com so we can all see your FMM questions and answers. 

Please invite your blog readers to add their links here too so everyone has to opportunity to be seen.  The idea is to connect with other awesome bloggers so take a moment to post your own FMM post and comment on a couple of other posts. Now it's time for this week's topic! 

What makes you awesome? List at least five qualities/hobbies/habits make you cool and unique?

I find it difficult to even accept compliments from others without replying "thanks, but ..." It's even harder to compliment myself like this! But here goes.

1- I am fairly easy-going and "laid back." I try not to let situations and/or people get the best of me. As I try to teach my children, the only thing you can can control is your own actions and reactions. 

2-I generally view life in a positive way. Maybe it's naiive of me or even simple, but for the most part, I believe things are everything is going to be just fine. I'm definitely a glass "half-full" sort of person.

3-When I really, really, really set my mind on meeting a goal, I can do it. Obviously my latest accomplishment is my weight loss and that's still ongoing. Here's the "but" to that statement, though ... if I haven't truly made up my mind to do something, I'll procrastinate and make every excuse in the book why it's not the thing to do. So just a little bad thrown in with the good.

4-As my Daddy used to say, "she's tender-hearted & there's nothing wrong with that." Yeah, I like to think I'm a compassionate, sympathetic (or is that empathetic) person. Being able to relate to others in a kind (and Christian) way is important.

5-I'm awesome because I'm ME & I'm the only one (yeah, stretching here for that number 5 - told you it's hard for me to compliment myself!)

So what about you? What makes you awesome? Give yourself a compliment today!

I think this tree likes me ...

or it knows a really great joke even though it's on the other side of the fence.

3rd Body by Vi 90 Day Challenge: Dealing with Vacation

I'm 2 weeks into this 3rd Body by Vi Challenge and my weight has not changed. You might think that lack of progress is a downer, but no, it's actually the opposite.

We returned from a family vacation to that most magical destination: Walt Disney World. We absolutely love Disney and go every other Spring. Your first thoughts of Disney might include a certain mouse, castle and pirates hailing from the Caribbean, but also stuck in the middle of all of that is FOOD and lots of it. I made the decision going into this vacation that I would not stress about food choices, but instead would do what I wanted to do. Mission accomplished! I began each day with a BBV shake but then ate from whatever overpriced, calorie-filled menu that was in front of us each day in Mickey-land.

And, you know what? I enjoyed straying away from healthier choices and I'm not going to lie about it. But I also looked forward to returning to better nutrition once we returned home. I score that as a major WIN on lots of different levels!

Oh, and the vacation was the best one my family has had in many years as you should be able to tell from these pictures.

A-ha!

I just knew my job is killing me & here's the proof ...

Via: Medical Billing And Coding

3rd Body by Vi 90 Day Challenge: Chaos!

I've decided to keep an online record of my 3rd Body by Vi Challenge. I'm going to do my best to post periodic updates here on the blog as another level of accountability. I'm down 23 pounds so far since September 2010. The best part is that the inches have melted away - I'm now wearing size 10 pants and large tops (some mediums and that's quite the accomplishment with these big boobs). I never in a million years thought I'd be this size again. So for the record, that's down from a tight size 16 in pants and extra large tops. Yep, I'm excited!

My goal for this next 90 days is to lose 10 pounds and go down to size 8 pants. I'm not going to set a goal for a smaller top because, again, big boobs ... don't think it's reasonable to expect a lot more change there. The way I'm going to have to meet this goal is to concentrate on exercise and building lean muscle. Luckily for me, the Vi-Shape does just that!

I may be a little crazy starting this challenge right now because there's a lot of craziness going on. We're going through a small remodeling project at home, so my den is currently in this state:

The project is almost complete although there are repairs to be made to the floor that can't be seen in this picture. Obviously, this empty room means all of the den furniture is in other parts of the house. The demolition that has since been cleaned up left plaster dust all over everything, so there's the added chaos of washing everything in the kitchen. The calm in the middle of the storm: the day's 2 shakes and my morning coffee!

Of course, it could always be worse. My husband's office literally no longer exists. The tornadoes in NC destroyed his building leaving him with an unwanted skylight. Thankfully, the tornado hit on a Saturday when the office and other commercial buildings were empty. God is good!

I know I'll face some unique challenges during this third 90 day challenge. I have many positives in my life that will help me overcome the obstacles: a supportive family, motivation to succeed and a great arsenal of tools at my disposal. Stay tuned for updates!

Canal Trail 8k - quick details

Today was the Canal Trail 8k. Here are the very quick details since I need to shut the computer down. I will do my best to post again tomorrow with a recap.

My splits:
Mile 1: 11:09
Mile 2: 22:17 (11:08)
4k: 27:15
Mile 3: 34:13 (11:56)
Mile 4: 46:01 (11:48)
8k: 57:32 (11:31)

Chip time 57:31 - instant PR since it's a new distance for me!

69/107 overall men & women, 12/21 40-49 females

Taylor - 49/107 overall men & women, 8/11 40-49 men 50:59 chip time. I am so proud - this was his very first race ever!

Three Things Thursday

I'm still here and still suck at establishing at any sort of blogging routine - so nothing new there. So I'm going to write this post the easy way: three things Thursday, bullet-style!

• I'm still doing really well with my weight loss, nutrition and fitness. I'm at my lowest weight in years - 158.5 this morning. I found my wellness program numbers from 2008 a few weeks ago. I was 188 that August which I believe is my heaviest non-pregnancy weight. Most of those 30 pounds have been lost since September 2010 when I started my Body by Vi challenge. I feel so good and am so energized that I now go to the gym 3 mornings a week at 5:30 a.m. I'm not exactly jumping out of bed with a huge smile on my face at 4:50 a.m. in order to make the 20-minute drive into town, but I love it afterwards. Tuesday and Thursday mornings are group classes with hand weights and steps. I am a drippy, sweaty mess afterwards but it's an incredible way to start the day. Wednesday mornings are treadmill runs, which oddly enough, I really enjoy. I guess it's because I don't normally have easy access to a treadmill so I try to turn it into a speedwork session. Routinely hitting the gym this early in the morning is a HUGE accomplishment for me as I have never been a morning person!

• The Canal Half Marathon is this weekend. This is the half I ran last year with such a horribly slow time thanks to the muddy trail. It's also the event that started an emotional downward spiral that made my self-confidence hit an all-time low. My plan since last fall has been to conquer it this year. Unfortunately that's not going to happen. I didn't stick to my training plan close enough and my right heel still gives me problems for a few days after long runs. But here's the positive outcome. I downgraded to the 8k and best of all, my husband Taylor is going to run it with me. After 2 1/2 years, he's finally given in to my pleadings to join me in this "running thing." He won't admit it quite yet, but I think he enjoys it (sweetie, in case you're reading this, just agree with me).

• The ACC tournament starts today - my absolute favorite time of the year when it comes to sports. I have to say it since it's my alma mater ... go wolfpack! I don't think there's much of a chance we'll play any more this year after tonight's game with Maryland, but it would be wonderful to be wrong.

Body by Vi Giveaway Winner!

I'm so excited! The deadline for my first giveaway has passed, so now it's time to determine the winner of the Body by Vi Balance Kit.

There were 16 total comments ...

So like I've seen on other blogs, I went to random.org to find out who is the lucky winner ...

Then I checked to see who had the 5th comment ...

and it's TZel!

I'm not sure how TZel initially heard of my blog and giveaway, but I'm very glad she did. Her new blog and its posts are very well-written and are obviously very purposeful in expressing her thoughts. Her posts about prayer and her relationship with God speak volumes to me. Although this giveaway is just one small act, reading her words in her post on Tuesday just seem to round out this giveaway in a very nice way. She wrote:

"Now, here is where balance really comes into play. We have already discussed our relationship with God and taking care of our own needs. But Jesus advises us that there is more happiness in giving than in receiving ... Nurturing involves helping fulfill the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of others. Volunteer work, taking care of family members,' workmates' and friends' needs satisfies in us that basic human desire to serve others. Without working hard to help others, our lives will seem empty and without purpose."

Looking back at the first 8-9 months of 2010, I realize now that I was not living and enjoying life as God wants us to do. I was not leading a life of purpose. Was I depressed? I honestly don't know. There were no huge factors going on in my life to bring on a depression. I am incredibly blessed: I am married to my best friend since childhood and we have 2 wonderful, healthy children. I have a job which I enjoy. Materialistically, there is nothing that we truly need that we don't have. Spiritually, I know that I am a child of God who gave us all the gift of His Son so that we may live forever in a relationship with Him.

Why was I in such an "inner funk" for much of the year? Why did I feel that I couldn't love myself as others love me? I haven't resolved all of the emotions associated with this, but what I do know with certainty is that I felt that a part of my life - my health, my body - was spinning out of control. Finding Body by Vi changed that for me and for the first time in 20+ years I am loving my body - and all of me - again. To say that is a good feeling and that it has changed my life is a tremendous understatement.

That is what I want to share with others and why I write about Body by Vi on this blog. Yes, I'm selling the product because Taylor and I need the extra income to help patch some holes in our budget. But even if I did not have the financial needs, I would still be telling everybody I possibly can about how Body by Vi has helped me gain control of one part of my life which obviously makes everything else so much better. I want to nurture others and help them gain that same control by reclaiming a healthy lifestyle.

So, TZel, I do not know your story but since you entered this giveaway, I hope that in some small way this balance kit can help with nutrition and weight loss. I sincerely thank you for entering so that I can now follow your journey.

To everyone else who entered, I thank you as well! I know this will not be the only time I host a giveaway as it has been a wonderful blessing for me.

God is good!

Goals for 2011 - Recycling is the Key!

Geez, way to start the new year. My first post of 2011 is kind of late. Oh, well, my blog, my rules, right?

Like so many others, I have set New Years resolutions for countless years. And, then again like so many others, those resolutions fall to the wayside by February not to be looked again until it's time to set resolutions again for the next year.

A new strategy for this year: recycle last year's specific goals for this year. Recycling is always good!

Anyhoo, let's take a look at last year's progress and what I'm working towards again this year.

Lose weight: reach and maintain 150 pounds - FAIL

I'm actually quite pleased with my weight loss success in 2010. According to my Buckeye Outdoors training log, I weighed 181.5 1/1/10. At some point during the year, I distinctly remember weighing 186 pounds because I had setup a weight loss ticker for this blog that I deleted once it started depressing me. I didn't reach the 150 pound mark, but I am in the low 160s for the first time in years. That is a huge accomplishment! I will weigh 150 pounds or less on 12/31/11!

Run more miles: run 520 miles before January 1, 2011 - FAIL

Not just a FAIL but a big, fat FAIL! The disappointment of a super-slow time at the half-marathon in March resulted in a huge let-down and no running at all until June. Not only did I fall out of love with running, I moved past like and viewed it as a chore for several months. It took a long, long time to start enjoying running again. I've hesitated setting this as a goal again, but I'm going for it anyway since running is so much easier and enjoyable now that I've lost weight.

Race different distances: complete at least one at each of the following distances - 5k, 10k, 10 miles and half-marathon - SUCCESS

Well, that's better. I'm not sure which of the distances I prefer. I liked them all, actually, and would love to run a race of all these distances again in 2011.

******

Don't forget my Body by Vi giveaway that ends tomorrow (Thursday, January 6). A little self-promotion never hurts, does it? And you have a pretty good chance of winning because there aren't a lot of entries yet!