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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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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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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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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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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Then me and Nyah were off to my parent’s house.  I took a different route and saw houses and side streets I didn’t really know existed.  I almost got lost which is totally ridiculous since my mom’s house is only a mile away from my house.  When I found my way, my mom and my little sister were just getting home from Thanksgiving church service.  I stayed and talked for a while, and then my mom brought me back home.  Later that afternoon, I packed up my homemade double layer pumpkin cheesecake and headed to the first family meal.  The food was delicious especially the beef brisket that my mother made.  Then it was time to go to dinner with my Dad’s family.  I was too full to eat again but I definitely packed a plate to go.

My Big little sister likes to shop as much as I do.  We have been researching Black Friday sales for about two weeks.  We had our lists and stores mapped out days in advance.  Wal-Mart is trying to cut back on the chaos of people rushing in the doors and nearly trampling each other at 4 AM, so they decided to start sales at 10 PM on Thanksgiving, after being open all day on the actual holiday.  Of course it was still chaos, but there was a little order, they have lines for each special item.  I saw small catfight over $1.98 Bath towels, while I got my 600 thread count sheets for $19.  I was however very disappointed that they only had 11 Xbox 360 with Kinect in the store.  My Nintendo Wii, died a while ago so it was time to upgrade.  Luckily, my Gym Cousin was at another Wal-Mart and was able to snag me one for the low price of $199 plus a $50 gift card.  We had so much fun it’s like a holiday for shopaholics.  I came home still excited (at 2AM) and set up my new X-box & Kinect.  I dogged balls and water rafted in my living room until 4 AM.  It’s 10 times better than the Wii, your body is the controller.  You can jump, squat, swing and push, and the camera picks up your every move.  Thank goodness Friday was an off day on the training schedule, because I was exhausted.

Today, Saturday, I was supposed to go to group training, but I stayed up all night playing Dance Central 2 on the Kinect again.  I was too tired to go, but I promised myself I would still get in my mileage.  Even though the weather called for a 50 percent chance of rain I got dressed and Nyah and I went to forest Park.  I was only able to get in two miles before the down pour, but I was okay with that since I danced in front of the TV for hours for two nights in a row.  Do you have a Kinect?  What games do you play?

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The new training schedule distances vary according to your current level of ability.  I’m between a level I and the level II.  Level I required one mile and level II required two miles.  Me and the other walker completed a brisk 1.87 miles together.  It was fun to train with the team again and have the support of the staff and the coaches.  My Big little sister invited me to attend a boot camp-like class called Butts n Guts also on Saturday morning.  After group training, I cleaned out my car to keep myself busy before class, because I knew if I went home I would get back in bed.  I met my sister at the community center and we had our first Butts N Guts class with the ex-military man named Omega.  He worked us out!  I was especially tired since I had already walked nearly 2 miles before 8AM.  The class was an interesting interval mixed workout.  We did the stair step, jumping jacks, leg lifts, bicycles, and even ran a couple laps around the gym.  My sister and my niece and I went to Soulard Market after class to get some fresh veggies and new spices.  I was exhausted and slept well when I got home.

Monday was a beautiful day, 70 degrees in November.  Unfortunately though, we had 25 pleadings to be filed in court that day, so there was hardly time to breathe.  I wanted to walk outside so badly, that I walked a couple quick loops (about one mile) around Kiener Plaza downtown.   Only a few of the occupy protestors were still there since the police put them out. By the time I got back to my desk my attorneys were hunting me down.  It was risky for me to leave, but in hindsight I’m glad that I did since I stayed at work until 9:30 PM and would not have had time to go to the gym.

Today however, felt more like November typically feels, a cool 50 degrees.  It was dark and cold by the time I got off work, and I just wanted to go home.  I couldn’t find my Walk at Home DVD, so I turned on my new show “Ringer” with Sarah Michelle Gellar, and walked circles around the living room.  I fast forwarded through the commercials, but walked the entire time.  I guess I walked about 45 minutes.  I certainly wasn’t sweating, because you can only build up so much momentum and speed while avoiding the glass coffee table and fighting the dog that thinks it’s all a game.  But, I still felt good about being active.  I felt dizzy, but good.  Maybe I should invest in a treadmill? Duh! …Anyway, I’m so happy to have fitness as a priority again.

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I dragged myself to the gym, since the temperature has dropped, and daylight savings time has reared it’s ugly head.  It’s totally dark outside by the time I leave work.  Anyway, since I’m not really accustomed to running or jogging anymore, I went back to basics.  I started with Week 1 of the Couch to 5K.  I haven’t heard that podcast in a while, and it was kind of exciting not to know which song was next.  For the first few runs, I thought, oh this is easy; I could’ve skipped a few training weeks.  But, for the last two interval runs, my body started fighting me.  Everything hurt, my knees, my ankles, my calves.  I can fairly easily walk a couple miles and hardly break a sweat.  But, I quickly remembered that running is nothing like walking.  In the end I finished all of the 60 second run intervals, no cheating.  Week 1,  Day 1, 1.67 Miles, done….For those of you who follow my blog regularly, you know that I was dating a guy I called my “Special Friend.”  Because of hurt from the past, I was scared to open up.  I faced my fears, and allowed myself to enjoy the experience, since he truly is a good man.  Soon after, he told me he felt that I was “too emotionally involved, too soon.”  And, I got hit with “we should be friends.”  But, here’s the weird part.  We still talk on the phone every day and text like actual “friends.”  I even inspired him to do a half marathon and he wants to train with me. Do I regret facing my relationship fears and opening myself up? Nope, not at all.  I think I would feel bad, if I never gave us a fair shot.  Do you think it’s possible to remain “just friends” with someone that you dated for a month? What are your thoughts?

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OMG! Where do I begin? On Friday when I went to the Expo to pick up my race bib number a lady came up and started talking to me. We soon realized that we were both in Team in Training with LLS and we were both walking the half marathon. What a coincidence! We exchanged numbers and planned to hook up on race morning. Saturday evening I went to the carb-loaded inspiration dinner with all of the team members. Our team raised over $160,000 for cancer!!! Parents of first grader Hayley got up and told their story of how she went through chemo and how Team in Training helped make it so that her last chemo treatment was in March. She’s cancer free! (pic of Me and Coach Tina at the Dinner)
I went home less stressed than I felt all week and gathered up everything for race day. You guys saw the major list that I had to get ready. Once I had everything laid out I made a failed attempt to go to sleep.

You’ve heard me say over and over that I’m a night person. I paced around and finally got in the bed a little after 11 pm. I tossed and turned and tossed and turned. I was glad that the coach warned us that this was normal the day before a race. I don’t know what time I finally got to sleep.
At the inspiration dinner they said that they wanted the team to meet at 5:30 AM and walk to the starting line together so that there will be up “Sea of Purple Shirts.” I decided to be a team player and woke up a little bit before 5 AM. I forced myself to eat a muffin, as I had absolutely no appetite at that time of morning. Aside from avoiding alcohol, one of coach Tina’s final pieces of advice were to go to the bathroom before the race. Like “really go” like, number 2. I figured this would be no problem as I’m pretty regular (sorry probably too much information.) Anyway this morning my body was very confused, and had no clue how to function at 5 AM. I danced outside with Nyah I walked up and down the stairs nothing was making number two happen. I gave up and made it downtown around six o’clock, terrified that I would have to use the Porter potties. Luckily by the time I made to the host hotel my mind was awake and so was the rest of my body. Whew, thank God, porter potty avoided. I hooked up with the nice lady that I met the Expo via cell phone and we were off! Everything was groovy as I had driven the race path on Saturday after the dinner. That was until I tripped and fell over a pipe sticking up out of the street shortly before mile 2. I am “tangle-footed” as my Dad calls me, so I’ve learned not to fall on my face or my knees. I let my hands catch me, as my water bottle and new iPod went flying. Contrary to elementary school days all the other participants were genuinely concerned and helped me up. I was so worried about passing out and oddly enough falling had never occurred to me. About mile 4 I started to “feel it.” It was nearly 90 degrees already, nothing like my freezing cold training conditions for the last 4 months.

 When we got to mile 6 most of the walkers and runners had passed us and there was a small group of us walking together. Two of the ladies dropped out. I couldn’t believe it; I was finishing this race, if I had to limp across the finish line. At about mile 7 or 8 my personal cheerleaders waved signs with my name. My Mama, my Big Little sister and Auntie’s baby girl cheered for my little walk group. My other Little sister promised the pastor she would be at church and she text me throughout the race. They gave us all a moral boost. However, around mile 9, it started to get kind of grimy. It seemed that we would never get to Mile 10. Then we ran into Coach Tina, she walked with us almost all the way to the finish line. Everytime we said something negative like my feet hurt or I don’t think I can do this, she gave us something positive to focus on. At one point we started naming body parts that didn’t hurt, like my ear or my walk buddy said her tongue LOL! Soon thereafter, the blazing sun heated my silver earring to the point that it burned my neck. Coach said it was so hot that they shut down the rest of the marathon race. My heart went out to those people that trained and weren’t allowed to finish their race. There were so many ambulances and I saw several hurt people on the ground. The heat was getting to everybody and really slowing me down.
Around Mile 11 I started to get pretty crabby. And I told the ladies I was walking with, “Nice Carli is gone and I’m warning you that I have a bad attitude.” Just like the guys that I date, I give you fair warning if I’m about to flip the switch, since that’s typically not my character. One lady cheered “way to go!” And I think I rolled my eyes at her as I envied her standing on the sidelines. My coach said I guess she didn’t get the attitude disclaimer. LOL! I kept looking at my biblical scripture temporarily tattooed on my wrist that read “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” I said it about 1 million times in my head, when nothing Christ-like wanted to come out of my mouth. Finally, as we approached mile 12 “Not Forgotten” a gospel song came on that helped push me through. My feet hurt so bad, it was beyond hot, and I was exhausted, I didn’t know how I could go any further. And then almost miraculously I saw the finish line. I actually started to get a little emotional which is totally not my style. I started thinking about all of the encouraging comments on Facebook & my blog and all the people that I would inspire as Roni inspired me. I decided to suck it up because I didn’t want to do the “ugly cry” in my finish line photo, and I was wearing eye makeup. As I got close to the finish line I saw my Dad, I waved at him and decided to run it on in, I dug deep and gave it every tiny bit that I had left. I ran across the finish line pumping my fists in the air to “Eye of the Tiger” which was playing over the loudspeaker. My homeboy with the video camera was nowhere in sight. I could have strangled him. I was a little disoriented and the volunteers had to tell me to get my metal and get something to eat. I hobbled my way over to the Team in Training tent. They gave me my 13.1 mile pin and finally I sat down. I decided to put away the crabby witch and be nice to my Dad and my homeboy that were nice enough to stand in the heat until I finished nearly an hour past my projected time. It took me a while to get back to feeling quasi-normal. They drove me to my car and we all went to Red Lobster for a victory dinner. I ate as many cheddar bay biscuits as I wanted and didn’t care about WW points. I felt that that was okay since I walked for nearly 5 hours and burned over 2000 calories. Thank you family and Running into Shape supporters for believing in me. Now, since I almost fell asleep in the bath tub, I think calling it a night.

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