Sisters In Sweat

Yesterday was my Dad’s 60th birthday party. My mom threw a get-together at the house, because he didn’t want a “party.” So, this get-together included bar-b-que, green beans, corn on the cob, spaghetti, potato salad, pasta salad, appetizers, peach cobbler, birthday cake and ice cream along with about 50 of our closest friends and family. My family does not understand the definition of an small get together. But, we had a blast! My Daddy was so happy. My sister made a beautiful DVD with photos of my Dad from infancy, to meeting my mom in college, to us growing up in Kansas City, all the way to Christmas with my niece.

 There was so much food everywhere. I ate just one plate and loaded it with the corn and green beans. However, I did go overboard with the desert. I had cobbler and ice cream and cake AND ice cream. I didn’t beat myself up about it though. I am adjusting to the mindset that there is no “on plan/ off plan.”  I just enjoyed my family and the food.  However, I knew that today I had to make up for yesterday’s desert debacle. I packed my to-go plate with chicken and veggies only and at that for lunch today. No cake, no cobbler. This afternoon I watched “Water For Elephants,” a cute movie about a 1930s veterinarian that runs away with the circus and falls in love. Later on my little sister invited herself to my house. She wanted to play the X-box Kinect, but I really needed to walk  in preparation for my half marathon in a couple months. So, we put in Leslie Sansone’s walk at home DVD. I told her that we would walk for two miles, but really I knew I wanted to walk three miles. (She is sitting next to me now as I dictate this blog post, looking at me in shock and horror, that I once again tricked her into a lengthy routine.) LOL! Anyway, she was surprised that Leslie talks through the whole routine, I told her that’s just what Chatty Cathy does. We had fun and even broke a sweat. Leslie said we were her “Sisters in Sweat.”

I was glad that my sister came over and helped me stay on track. After the workout I was hungry and cooked dinner. Still making up for yesterday, I opted to prepare a meal with just a few carbs. I made baked tilapia seasoned with roasted red pepper and garlic with a side of mixed veggies and cheese. The fish was delicious, very similar to the Parmesan encrusted tilapia recipe that I posted a while back. I’m anxious to see what the scale will say at the weight watcher meeting tomorrow. But, honestly with my new approach towards being healthy, I won’t let it impact my behavior. I’m using the scale for information, not judgment. My pants feel looser and my attitude is brighter. So regardless of what the scales says, I tracked every day for a week (except last night), got in some activity, remained positive, and got right back on plan after a relaxed night of fun. In my book, that’s success.

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Walking in Winter Wonderland

Okay, I’m totally aware that the holidays are so “last year,” but I thought it was a fitting name for today’s post.   Last night, I promised myself I would get in some activity.  I’ve done such an incredibly good job keeping Weight Watcher points.  I’ve tracked every single thing I put in my mouth this week.  I tracked the Garrett’s popcorn from Chicago, I tracked the bite of pastry that I pinched off in the kitchen at work, I even tracked last night’s midnight Cocoa Puffs n Peanuts snack.   (gee thanks a lot Special Friend for introducing me to the salty sweet chocolaty goodness)  It’s not the healthiest choice, but I guess it better than late night chocolate chip cookies.  But, I also tracked the good things like fruit and yogurt for breakfast and grilled chicken and veggies for dinner.  I decided that today, I was ready to add the activity back in.  Although I’m training for a half marathon and shouldn’t have taken a break, I didn’t want jinx anything, I wanted to make sure I had to the food together.  I’m working hard on pacing myself, and not trying to be Miss Everything.  I have not been this successful with food in a long time, and it feels good to be in control.   I feels good not to be on some outrageous restricting diet.  I can tell you guys are rooting for me, and I appreciate it.

Anyway, I figured since St. Louis had record high weather nearly 70 degrees in the middle of winter that I would walk at lunch with my co-worker friend while it was still daylight. I called his desk at the other firm downstairs and a woman answered saying he was “no longer with the firm.”  I was so upset that my friend was no longer there, we’ve grown close like siblings over the past few years.  We still talk daily even though we work at different firms in the same building, so I was totally caught off guard.  Instantly, my brain told me to feed my emotions.  Then I realized I needed a plan…quick.  I called to make sure he was okay, he hated it there anyway, we both miss our old firm.  The legal field can be pretty cut throat.  Thankfully, he was fine, so I stuck with the original plan.  I walked around, probably less than a mile, and walked to get a salad.  It was gorgeous outside, it made me think, now this is a winter wonderland! I was able to walk back to work, with my head held high.  I did it…eating healthy and activity in the same day, even with the stress of missing one of my best friends.  I’m taking baby steps y’all.  Like I always say in my podcasts, if I can do it, anybody can!

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She Works Hard for the Money

Hey everybody!  I’ve been working…hard.  We have HUGE trial coming up next month, and it’s grind time.  We’re preparing thousands of exhibits and filing endless motions.  I worked several 12 hour days back to back.  I can hardly tell what day of the week it is.  But don’t feel too sorry for me, I get time and half, and that’s a nice treat right before Christmas.  Hence my blog post title reference to the Donna Summer’s hit song from the 80s.  I’m working hard for the money.  But, needless to say, working until midnight doesn’t leave a lot of time for working out, and the gym is usually closed by the time I get home.  When I asked my Lawyer Lady on Friday how late I would need to work on Saturday, she only half jokingly responded, “bring a sleeping bag.”  Saturday morning before heading in to the law office, I was tired, but recruited my mom to go to the gym with me.  No iPod needed, because we just talked the whole time.  We talked ourselves though 2 full miles (with an incline) on neighboring treadmills.  We had a good time discussing Oprah’s favorite things in the O magazine I brought along. 

Since, it will probably be busy like this for the next month or so, I just purchased 2 Leslie Sansone Walk at Home DVD’s.  I call her Chatty Cathy, because she talks so much that you forget that you walked 3 miles in front of the TV.  One DVD even has a power walk  for 5 miles.  That way, regardless of how late I get home, I shouldn’t really have an excuse to get off my half marathon training schedule.  Well…my house looks like it threw up on itself and my eyes are tired.  I just wanted to let you know I was alive and well.  And for those who want to know..I’m still chatting it up every day with my special friend, we’re texting now…

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Dedicated

Friday night, my best friend had a sleep over to celebrate her 31^st birthday.  We’re a little old for slumber parties aren’t we?…  Well, I guess not, because we had a ton of fun!  We played silly games, like each person picked a personal theme song that was sung by everyone each time she entered the room.  My friend is a professional party planner and decorator deep on the inside.  I’ll be glad when she lets it out.  Everything was purple and black, down to the candles floating in the purple water and the purple M&M’s in the champagne glasses that she gave as parting gifts.  I took my X Box Kinect , and we played, the Michael Jackson Experience, The Black Eye Pea Experience and my favorite Dance Central 2.  Both of my sisters were there and my little sister was showing off, getting flawless high scores with her dance moves.  I said she was cheating because she’s on the dance team at her high school and the praise dance team at church.  She showed us all that big girls can move! …  Anyway, we stayed up until the wee hours of the morning watching TV and having girl talk about relationships and overcoming the challenge being single and wanting a husband and kids, all while the biological clock is ticking.  Some ladies were ready for children now and others (like me) will take it when it comes.

In the morning I took my Little Sister to her school dance competition (they won 1^st place in the Beyoncé competition) and then I came back to my BFF’s house for brunch.  That afternoon, I got my hair done and ran errands setting up new tenants.  Everyone is happy for me, but me.  I want that crappy building to disappear, but apparently there’s a greater plan that I’m unaware of.  Anyway, enough whining about my real estate “investment.”

So, you know I have a “Special Friend” that I dated for a while, but then we became “just friends” (his choice not mine).  And, ironically, it worked.  We still talk on the phone every day, but the conversation changed a little.  Like some of my commenters said, the things I liked about him as a potential boyfriend, are the same things I like about him as a friend.  I inspired him to train for the half marathon with me, and we keep each other updated with progress reports on mileage.  Even though we talk nearly every day, I hadn’t seen him since October.  However, Saturday, he wanted to train together.  I told him I was still healing from my “rafting injury” but that I could manage a slow walk. I was super tired, from no sleep at the slumber party, and running errands all day, but I didn’t cancel our training session.  It was already dark outside by the time he met at my house to head to the park.  He’s a big tall guy, and as a former military man, he tucked a pocket knife in his camouflage vest, and we took Nyah, so I wasn’t really worried about safety.  We had great conversation as usual, and things were really “friendly” until my back started hurting.  My ginormous boobs really take a toll on my lower back.  He saw I was struggling and stepped in close, holding me, helping me turn and stretch my back.  He did stretch my back, but I can tell you, with this handsome strong man cracking my back, I wasn’t thinking “friendly thoughts.”  I told him I was still transitioning from “dating” to “friend”, but rather unsuccessfully, at that particular time.  He laughed thinking I was just joking.  Luckily the stretching session only lasted a few minutes and I was able to get my focus back. LOL.  Tired, limping, and hormonally flustered, I managed to finish up 2 full miles, and we ended the night with a friendly hug.

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White Water Rafting

Last night I was gliding down the river in a float boat and attempted to jump over a boulder but came crashing down hard on my knee.  Of course all of this happened right in my living room while playing the X-Box sensor motion detector game called Kinect.  I’ve played it nearly every night, in addition to my half-marathon training.  I was pouring sweat while tackling my newest unlocked Adventure and trying to beat the clock.  I figured since I jumped high enough to grab the tokens in the clouds, certainly I could stop running into the blocks, and just jump over them.  Well, I was wrong.  After a fun-filled hour of plugging imaginary leaks and serving make-believe dodge balls, my body was tired and my bum knee gave out on me.  On my fall down to the floor, my flailing arms managed to score more tokens and win me a silver medal to progress to the next round.  I hobbled into bed, in pain, but ironically excited that I beat the time clock.  I slept in a knee brace, but this morning it still hurt pretty bad.   Nyah couldn’t figure out why I was moving so slowly when it was obvious that she had to potty.  I considered calling off work, but I knew with all the trial preparation, that was not an option.  Most of my co-workers got a little laugh when I explained my river rafting injury.  I had to laugh at myself.  Then, when I told my Lawyer Lady that I took an 800 mg Ibuprofen to help numb the pain, she said, “oh good, I hope you brought more, I’ll check and make sure you’re not asleep at your desk.”  I’ve worked at law firms long enough to know that my little limp would not stop the trial process.   Hopefully, I’ll heal up in a couple days, and get back to training, and of course my next Kinect Adventures!
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