What to do with myself?

I've served on my local running club board for the past three years.  I've been everything from a stringer to the VP.  I decided to step down in 2011 to "spend more time with my family".  Get it?  One thing I WILL be doing is focusing on my own running.  So, naturally instead of hitting the road I am spending time in front of the computer with my 2011 race calendar.  (That's why I'm a Turtle people...)

Half2Run State Count as of 2010: LA, OH, PA, NC, VA, MI, DE, NY, WV, NV, IN, WA

Tentative Half2Run Plan for 2011:

Licence Photo Panic

I knew it was coming...I knew that soon I'd have to surrender one of the only good licence photos I've taken since my 20s. I have to give up this sassy looking lassy before Dec 17th. I am 20 lbs over that weight. Oh the Humanity! Another chubby photo with a weight I'd like to lie out of.

I have 18 days to do something about it. Ladies and Gentlemen sounds like a crazy quest to me, no?

I signed up for the Naples half-marathon on January 16th. That should take care of the running part of things if my foot holds out. Now, about that food...

I also signed up on this blogger's site for the "Holiday Bootie Busting Challenge". I am NOT doing very well thus far compared to the other FOUR HUNDRED participants. I'm inspired to do much better this week. Now, about that food...

I am arming myself with my necessary items (yes, I do KNOW there is a ton of processed stuff in this list):

Yogurt
All-Bran and Oats
Kashi Bars
String Cheese
Fruit, fresh
Vegetables and fruits (frozen, tons)
Lean Cuisines and Boca burgers
Raw almonds
Stuff to make soup
Eggs
Turkey lunch meat
Popcorn

Let's get this party started...

How long are the lines between YOUR "Xs"?

As many of you know I went to Weight Watchers for two years and lost a lot of weight following that program. For a while I worked part-time with them as well. I've always shared what I felt was the good, bad and the ugly about the program. One or two things from the time I spent there were golden gems and I continue to use them to this day. Here is one strategy for getting through a "...season filled with holiday temptations, parties and other diet pitfalls." This comes from the Magnificent Melvin (an unusually great leader that I credit with keeping me there for as long as I was).

So you say that there is no way you can get through the holiday season with all of the office parties, coctail parties, cookie baking, too dark-after-work to run, things stopping you from your healthy eating/exercise routine?

Nonsense!

Take out a calendar or print one out for the month of December. Go through and make a big "X" on every one of the days that you are going to a party or other "diet dangerous" event. Then draw a horizontal line through the days between the Xs. E.G:

I celebrate my birthday, Christmas Eve, Christmas day, and New Year's Eve every December. I also organize a holiday run that ends with liberal Guinness drinking, and attend our running club party (at the Spaghetti Warehouse). I love to make Christmas cookies and make/eat traditional Polish food for Christmas Eve. Also, I've been invited to a massive drink-fest party this year. IF I were to eat and drink like my normal piggish self that would mean the 11th, 12th, 16th, 17th, 24th, 25th and 31st would have a big X on it. Despite having all of these events, there are far many more days with a line through them. Using the 80/20 rule (Eat well 80% of the time to maintain your weight; 80% of 31= 25 days). So, even in a holiday party-filled month there is still over 70% of the month where I could eat/exercise normally.

Somehow seeing this in black and white (or Xs and lines) it cuts through the excuses and helps to keep me on track. Try it and see if you agree?

Party On...

New blog, new post

I've been blogging for about a year and a half but have poured my soul out (as well as my running info and weight-related posts) and realized that all of that stuff just can't be out there for public consumption. So, I made the blog private but part of the joy of blogging is actually having feedback from readers and my few readers never comment on my posts, so I'm going to stick to weight/running/activities in this blog and keep it public in hopes of generating a little back and forth.

I just read about a weight challenge blog "Run to the Finish". Amanda's blog is hosting the 3rd "Holiday Bootie Buster Challenge" a contest to award points for activity with the goal of inspiring members to maintain their weight over the holidays. Since "maintaining weight" rather than "losing weight" is MY REAL goal, I'M IN!

If you want to learn more about it, or sign up go to Amanda's blog go here:
http://runtothefinish.blogspot.com/2010/01/hbbc-finale.html