Challenge Accepted

One year later...

Tue, 04 Sep 2012 20:40:00 -0400

Today marks the one year anniversary of one of the scariest days of my life. A year ago right now I was sitting in a hotel lobby after helping my parents evacuate their home while the worst wildfire in Texas history threatened to destroy it. Luckily, the fire only came within half a mile of their home, but they were displaced for over a week, and people had come in and looted. So many people lost everything, and that weekend and the months that followed I will not soon forget. Here is the long story:
http://maxandamandawimmer.blogspot.com/2011/09/bastrop-complex-fire.html

This weekend, we all came back together at my parents’ home. It was a great weekend that included the Burning Pine 10k in Bastrop State Park, 96% of which was destroyed by the fire. It was bittersweet and emotional. So much of the greenery is back, but the pines will never be the same. Parts of the run felt like there had been a bomb that went off a year ago. There were so many people there! The race had a limit of 1000 people, and it sold out on Saturday. I was reminded this weekend of what an amazing community Bastrop, TX really is.

Here is a link to a video of the fire burning in the park where I ran. It was taken a year ago today. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhJeDYQVtdQ The photo I posted was taken (not by me) about a quarter of a mile from the turn off to my parents’ home. Their neighborhood is to the right of all that fire and black smoke.

I was also in my best friend’s wedding, which has been a long time coming! I’m here to tell you, standing and walking in high heels all afternoon after running the hardest 10k course I have ever seen…not an easy task. But it was so much fun! I hope everyone had a great Labor Day. Mine was very blessed…and I have to send a special shout out to my buddy Real Deal. Congrats on finishing your second half!

Stomach bug + LapBand = Rough

Thu, 16 Aug 2012 21:04:11 -0400

All this week I have been battling a stomach bug. I have a LapBand and learned this week that any stomach virus symptoms tend to irritate the band, causing me even more discomfort and stress. I have been worried all week about the band slipping, or being too tight…anyway, it has made for a rough-ish week. Silver lining-WEIGHT LOSS!!! Isn’t that terrible?!?!

Despite the bug and band issues, I powered through each day this week by working in my classroom, which started out a disaster, and is now looking like something off of my Pinterest boards. I’m pretty proud and super excited about the coming year. I don’t actually have to go into work until the 20th, so this early planning and organizing will really jump start my year.

The one thing I am not proud of this week is my lack of exercise. I guess you can sort of count my classroom…moving furniture and boxes from one end of the campus to another (most of which was done for me by the amazing custodians), climbing on top of desk and hanging things on the walls, covering chairs…etc. I am determined to get out of bed at five tomorrow morning and run for 30 minutes. I have a seven mile run scheduled for this weekend, and after my awesome showing last week, I can’t let that momentum die down.

I am ready for whatever is next…teaching 9th graders, running (a lot more), and making new friends since many of my co-workers left at the end of last year. There is something so refreshing about a fresh start!

I can't stop eating everything in sight...

Tue, 31 Jul 2012 16:55:14 -0400

…and what is 5 miles down the road with an easily accessible drive-through window. This is bad. This is really bad. I have slipped back into some old, disgusting, shameful habits. The only difference is that I am actually still working out, which is helpful. I actually am holding myself accountable for my lunch (Taco Cabana) which is why I’m putting this out there into the interwebs. Part of this slip is that I’m stuck in my summer laziness and I desperately need to go back to work, where I am on a schedule and cannot leave my classroom all day. There, I am forced to eat what I brought for breakfast and lunch. Don’t get me wrong, I love having the time off, but I am so much better off working. I also think that this past weekend, which was a rollercoaster, has not quite worn off.

Okay party people, don’t let me eat junk food anymore. Alright, alright, that’s not y’all’s job, it is mine. I feel better now that I have vented on my tumblr blog.

Comanche Park Training Run 5 Miles

Sat, 21 Jul 2012 10:39:43 -0400

This five miles came a little easier, even though I didn’t do it on a flat track and added in quite a few hills, than last week. I had fun today! I love running at Comanche Park. There are some really easy trails, and then some tougher, steeper ones, and just kind of mixed it up. My favorite thing about this park is that there are always groups of military people out running there, in combat boots. That’s always so inspiring to me! If they can do it in combat boots then I can freaking do it in my Brooks. An added bonus, they usually encourage me, “You’re doing great! Keep it up!” Happens almost every time I go out there. Today there were also about 10 or so old white guys with little white yappy dogs. I just think that’s funny.

Even though this was a good run, I still find myself thinking that I can’t do 13.1. I start thinking, “If I am doing this bad after just 5 miles, how in the Hades am I going to pull of a half marathon?” Why do I do this to myself, instead of just saying to myself, “Holy crapola! You just ran 5 miles! You’re a beast!” Constant struggle.

Here is my new inspiration:

And, this is pay week!!! NEW RUNNING CLOTHES TIME!!!!!!!!!

5 Mile Training Run

Sat, 14 Jul 2012 10:57:49 -0400

Oh goodness. Last weekend I pushed myself to run 4 miles without walking…I couldn’t do 5 without walking. We have had so much rain here in the last week, which is super great, but running in the humidity SUCKS! I was sweating so much that my Sweaty Band hair thing-a-ma-jig fell off! My hair was so wet from sweating, that my band couldn’t gain traction and stay on! Anyway, I’m still proud that I stuck to my mileage today, even though I walked more today.

I was really uncomfortable today. I need some new running gear if I’m going to keep adding mileage. My shoes are fine, but my pants are no good, my hair was in my face, and worst of all (TMI Moment!!) my sports bra has little metal hooks on the sides and they were digging into my skin. I can’t wait for my next paycheck!! I’m going to get some new stuff!

Next week is 6 miles…I’m getting pumped!

Question

Sat, 07 Jul 2012 18:48:43 -0400

How do you make a comment on your own post, like, in reply to someone else’s comment? I want to make comments to others, but I can’t do it!!! I’m somewhat technologically incapable!!! HELP!

4 Mile Training Run

Sat, 07 Jul 2012 09:59:34 -0400

I woke up in a crappy mood this morning because I didn’t sleep very well, it is like a sauna here all the time in the summer, and I didn’t want to do 4 miles today because I was scared.

I am now to a point where doing 3 miles is really not difficult for me, which is great. But, pushing past 3.25 is mentally daunting to me. I know, though, that if I don’t push past that, I won’t complete my goal of running a half. So today I did it. I ran 4 miles without walking (much, other than little 20 second water breaks), for the first time in my life! IN MY LIFE!! I am typing this and not really believing that I did it. And I feel good…scratch that, I feel GREAT!

I am gearing up for the Do Life Summer Weight Loss Challenge. Thank God for it, because I need it badly right now. Remember when I posted that I was below 200 pounds for the first time in 10 years? Yeah, I’m 205 again :( Oh well, no more wallowing! I have even talked a friend into joining Do Life and doing the challenge with me. I will be posting about it beginning on Monday.

Hello again!

Tue, 03 Jul 2012 07:14:39 -0400

I decided to start posting here again. The last time I lost any weight was when I was posting on Tumblr. I feel that, even if no one is reading this, people are reading this! I can’t let anyone down! I like feeling that I am being held accountable by some one other than myself. I will work harder.

Anyway, I “started” training for my first half marathon. It has not been going well. I have had some mental block issues. My school year sucked, bad. And now many of my good friends are leaving and I can’t find a job at another school, so I feel stuck. That’s what I do…look for the absolute negative aspects of any situation and dwell. This morning when my alarm clock went off, I hit snooze and then something inside me said, “NO! Not today…go run!” Here is what I thought about on my run:

1. The fact that there will be many new replacements at work, therefore, many new friends to be made.

2. I can’t control the fact that I’m not even being called in for interviews, but I can control the planning of my lessons for next year. I’m going to focus on planning excellent lessons for my kids.

3. I can also control the cleanliness and organization of my household. I’m going to focus on keeping a clean, orderly home.

In short, I’m going to focus on the positives and the things I can control, and pray that the things I can’t control don’t break me. That is the best I can do.

My run was really nice this morning, despite the sticky heat (which I also can’t control, LOL!).

lifedoesjed: regainingmymoxy: A good goal for me would be to...

Mon, 19 Mar 2012 21:22:25 -0400

lifedoesjed:

regainingmymoxy:

A good goal for me would be to make this an unchecklist…

…well maybe not a “goal”…

iamjennbee:

10 Surefire Ways to Achieve Unhappiness (aka Don’t Do These Things)

I’m printing this out and posting it at my school.

Yeah, I’m guilty of ALL of these things right now, which explains why I am so angry and unhappy. WORKING ON IT!

mariadoeslife: jazzybootsgetsfit: Bye bye average 2 year...

Sun, 11 Mar 2012 07:43:20 -0400

mariadoeslife:

jazzybootsgetsfit:

Bye bye average 2 year old!

Wow - I’ve lost the amount of cheese the average person eats in a year. Hoping to lose the rest - the World’s Largest Ball of Tape!

This is pretty awesome! I have lost an Irish setter!

Went to the track anyway...

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 19:50:09 -0500

I have kind of been out of the loop lately. I got a little sick last week, I really hate my job, my best friend lost her dad, my mom slipped and broke her hand…the list goes on. I have been on a vacation to FUNK CITY. Well, I wanted to use the scary looking sky as an excuse not to go run. I am so glad I didn’t. I set a goal to run 2 miles without stopping. I did it! In the rain!! When I finished, I walked a quarter mile and cried and cried and cried. I was proud of myself, sad for my friend, I was thinking about another friend of mine that I lost in October, I cried about my job and how my passion for teaching is really waning and I realized that I need to run. I need to run to get all that stress out of my body, and by not running for a week, I couldn’t deal with all the things going on in my life. NO MORE VACATIONS!! Except for next week when I go to Washington DC. But I am not, and I repeat NOT, going to use that as an excuse to quit. NO MORE EXCUSES because I need to run. I am a runner now, that is who I am.

Headed to my track…having second thoughts.

Thu, 08 Mar 2012 18:50:10 -0500

Headed to my track…having second thoughts.

I LOVE OATMEAL! healthysexyhappy: Knock out your fiber needs...

Fri, 02 Mar 2012 20:44:57 -0500

I LOVE OATMEAL!

healthysexyhappy:

Knock out your fiber needs with cholesterol-lowering oatmeal! Just one serving of oatmeal (1/2 cup dry) has 2 grams of soluble fiber. According to the Mayo Clinic, 10 grams or more of soluble fiber daily decreases your total and LDL (bad) cholesterol. We’ve got tasty ways to get your day started right by enjoying high-fiber oatmeal. For each bowl, start with 1/2 cup of instant or dry oatmeal. Cook according to package directions, then add our delicious themed toppings.

Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal

You’ll definitely love the pumpkin flavor in this sweet bowl of oatmeal.

Ingredients:
* 2 tablespoons fat-free vanilla yogurt
* 1 tablespoon pumpkin butter
* 1/8 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

Nutrition: 137 cal., 2 g total fat (1 g sat. fat), 0 mg chol., 44 mg sodium, 27 g carb., 2 g fiber, 4 g pro.

Cheesy Hash Brown Oatmeal

This recipe is a staff favorite! The oats blend right in with the hash browns for a south-of-the-border taste.

Ingredients:
* 1/4 cup cooked hash brown potatoes
* 2 tablespoons shredded Monterey Jack cheese
* 1 tablespoon salsa

Nutrition: 244 cal., 11 g total fat (4 g sat. fat), 13 mg chol., 310 mg sodium, 29 g carb., 3 g fiber, 8 g pro.

Tropical Coconut Oatmeal

Get whisked away to the tropics with a bet-you-never-tried-it combo of flavors in this oatmeal.

Ingredients:
* 1 tablespoon macadamia nuts, chopped
* 2 tablespoons toasted, shredded coconut
* 2 tablespoons dried pineapple

Nutrition: 262 cal., 13 g total fat (6 g sat. fat), 0 mg chol., 54 mg sodium, 34 g carb., 4 g fiber, 5 g pro.

Hot Cocoa Oatmeal

Think hot cocoa mix only goes a mug? We’ve re-envisioned it as an oatmeal topper.

Ingredients:
* 1 tablespoon instant hot cocoa mix
* 2 tablespoons mini marshmallows

Nutrition: 221 cal., 3 g total fat (1 g sat. fat), 0 mg chol., 156 mg sodium, 44 g carb., 3 g fiber, 5 g pro.

Bacon & Salsa Oatmeal

This oatmeal recipe proves that you can still enjoy bacon on a heart-healthy diet if you eat it in moderation.

Ingredients:
* 1 strip chopped, cooked bacon
* 2 tablespoons reduced-fat cheddar cheese
* 2 tablespoons diced tomato
* 1 tablespoon sliced green onion

Nutrition: 172 cal., 8 g total fat (3 g sat. fat), 17 mg chol., 295 mg sodium, 16 g carb., 2 g fiber, 10 g pro.

Blueberry Nut Oatmeal

No pancakes here! Transition traditional flapjacktoppers into oatmeal flavor-boosters.
Ingredients:
* 1/4 cup blueberries
* 1 tablespoon chopped walnuts
* 1 tablespoon maple syrup

Nutrition: 204 cal., 7 g total fat (1 g sat. fat), 0 mg chol., 7 mg sodium, 34 g carb., 3 g fiber, 4 g pro.

Apple Crisp Oatmeal

Crisp apples, granola, and almonds put bite in your oatmeal bowl.

Ingredients:
* 1/2 cup chopped apple
* 2 tablespoons low-fat granola
* 1 tablespoon chopped almonds
* 1/8 teaspoon apple pie spice

Nutrition: 200 cal., 6 g total fat (1 g sat. fat), 0 mg chol., 40 mg sodium, 34 g carb., 5 g fiber, 6 g pro.

Peanut Butter Cup Oatmeal

A dab of peanut butter and a sprinkle of chocolate chips are all you need to jazz up your oatmeal.

Ingredients:
* 1 tablespoon creamy peanut butter
* 1 tablespoon mini chocolate chips

Nutrition: 257 cal., 14 g total fat (5 g sat. fat), 0 mg chol., 78 mg sodium, 27 g carb., 3 g fiber, 8 g pro.

Turtle Sundae Oatmeal

Pure indulgence, this sweet treat hardly seems like another boring oatmeal breakfast.

Ingredients:
* 1/4 cup fat-free whipped dessert topping
* 2 tablespoons pecans
* 1 tablespoon sugar-free caramel dessert topping

Nutrition: 252 cal., 12 g total fat (1 g sat. fat), 0 mg chol., 45 mg sodium, 34 g carb., 3 g fiber, 4 g pro.

Trail Mix Oatmeal

Bring trail mix to your breakfast table by tossing the grab-and-go bits on your oatmeal.

Ingredients:
* 2 tablespoons mix dried fruit bits
* 2 tablespoons dry-roasted mixed nuts
* 1 tablespoon flaxseed

Nutrition: 276 cal., 14 g total fat (2 g sat. fat), 0 mg chol., 18 mg sodium, 33 g carb., 6 g fiber, 8 g pro. Can’t get enough oats? Read on for even morerecipes that use this heart-smart whole grain.

Funk

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 20:17:58 -0500

Some kind of bug has invaded my body, my job completely stinks right now, my best friend’s dad passed away last night, and I can’t seem to pull myself out of a funk. Also, I’m addicted to Pinterest, and it just makes me want to eat everything I can get my hands on. I just want to yell, really loudly, the word that sounds like funk. Was this post an over share?

Is anyone else having trouble posting something other than a title?

Sun, 26 Feb 2012 16:15:00 -0500

Beautiful Weather does not always Equal Beautiful Run

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 20:20:07 -0500

I was excited all day about my scheduled “easy” run this afternoon. Spring has pretty much arrived here in South Texas…it is my favorite! The Mountain Laurels are out, everything is fresh and green, it has rained a lot here (thankfully) and it smells amazing out. Unfortunately, I’m very allergic to mold and several grasses that grow here. I also got started on this run way later than I wanted, and felt rushed to get out there. So I came home with asthma, itchy eyes, and a crap mood. I wish I could say I was glad I did it, and I suppose a part of me is, but I just feel icky all over. My demeanor has been a little lowly the last couple of days. Not sure why…I think it’s my job, but after the great week I had last week, I feel like I should be feeling much happier. I think it is time for me to watch the most inspiring video ever made…The Honeybadger Video, because he just don’t care.

Um, yeah. Who wouldn’t want to get out and run in this?!?...

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 19:02:44 -0500

Um, yeah. Who wouldn’t want to get out and run in this?!? I love you South Texas. Well, until June, that is.

Week Seven Submission

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 16:39:28 -0500

Write a list of your trouble foods. What do you habitually struggle with? Write them down.

I pretty much struggle with every kind of food, but mostly sweets. Baked goods, cereal, and chocolate. I’m not a big salty food fan, but I’ll eat it if it is around.

Stay away from those foods this week. We will make this a long-term commitment, but for now, focus on making it through the next six days without those foods.

I pretty much did this…I ate chocolate a couple of times. Valentine’s day was a killer, and Friday I stayed home with my 3 year-old who had pink eye. I was bored and irritated because it took our doctor a very long time to call in a prescription, so I got a little angry and anxious which usually leads to severe overeating and poor choices.

Talk grocery lists with your buddy.

We decided we would try Brussels sprouts together…I don’t know how Josh did, but I LOVED IT!!

Write down three foods you’ve never eaten. Ever. Something you’ve always been scared to try.

Bok Choy, Brussels sprouts, and bell peppers…tried the b-sprouts and bell peppers. Loved both!

FOCUS ON EATING. Count calories if that’s what you’re comfortable with. Just be vigilant.

I joined My Fitness Pal and started counting calories. I lost 3 pounds this week by doing so. I think I will continue!

Stay accountable to your buddy. We all know food is tough; we’ll need a friend this week.

I haven’t actually “talked” to Josh much recently, but we did get to Skype on Monday, which was awesome. We talked about how difficult it is to really eat the food we are supposed to, for whatever reasons. Convenience, emotions, anxiety, whatever it may, the food part of losing weight sucks.

Pushups, planks, jumping jacks. Stick with your exercise routines, but this week is all about food.

I stuck to my running schedule for the most part, but I am off one day. My husband ran the Livestrong Half-Marathon in Austin yesterday, so the weekend was all about that. We expoed, stayed with friends (and didn’t sleep well), and the race was yesterday morning. To stay current with my schedule, I was going to go out yesterday evening, but I was so tired that I couldn’t wrap my head around running 4+ miles. So I got up this morning and went out. It was nice, but I hate being off. I also did a couple of circuit workouts that I found on my new obsession, Pinterest!

Try to eat in. Make it fun. Find great healthy recipes. Cook with friends and family. Cook with your kids or your significant other.

Holy cow did I cook a lot this week. Luckily, my daughter is very interested in food and cooking, so it was nice that she would come into the kitchen with me and watch and “help.”

A couple of final thoughts on food week:

I watched Food Inc. with my brother last year. That movie changed the way I look at food completely. Knowing how the chicken, in particular, is processed for consumption pretty much made me never want to eat again. Of course, after a month I was back to my old fast food habits. Lately, though, I read “Fast Food Nation” and showed a portion of Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution to my students at school…I feel like I am back on track. I can’t even remember that last time I had fast food, even a drink from Sonic (I also read a horrible report on diet soda…NEVER AGAIN!) I wish I had the resources, the green thumb, the room in my backyard, to raise my own food…bake my own bread, all of those things. But, I have a black thumb (no really, I have managed to kill every plant I’ve ever owned), and I don’t have the money to constantly buy organic, grass fed meat. We visit the farmer’s market as much as possible, which is a big help, and we do our best to buy the right kinds of proteins.

The night before my husband’s race, we stayed with some friends who have a lush beautiful garden, they keep bees, and they have farm fresh foods delivered to their home. DAMN YOU AUSTIN, TX!!! They made us the most wonderful meal: homemade pasta (from scratch), sauteed chicken, with a lemon-pepper and caper sauce, and fresh spinach. It was DELICIOUS. And all of it came from their garden or a farm to market store. I wish everyone could experience that for every meal, every day. I’m so jealous that they eat like that every day. That is now one of my goals…grow a garden, focus on healthy food for my family.

Can’t wait for week eight!

Roasted Brussels sprouts with balsamic vinegar. Surprisingly...

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 20:10:05 -0500

Roasted Brussels sprouts with balsamic vinegar. Surprisingly delicious!

For the first time in about 10 years, I weigh under 200 pounds.

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 06:28:30 -0500

For the first time in about 10 years, I weigh under 200 pounds.