Blah, blah, blah

It's been almost a month since I've written anything...mainly because I've been pretty boring here lately.  My weight has gone back and forth between 156 and 157 lbs, so that's a little victory I've had!  I've found that I have a little more freedom with what I eat, and I can eat a little more as long as I don't go on a hellacious bender. I've had my bad days and plenty of splurge meals but nothing that has made me pack on the pounds.

I attribute some of that to the fact that I'm still running and still training for the half marathon on 10/7.  I've started getting into the higher mileage long runs and it's really hard.  I struggled through 8 miles last Saturday and almost felt sick the rest of the day because of it.  Since my training schedule had a "10k race" on deck for me this Saturday (I guess ole Hal Higdon didn't know I live in the sticks and races don't come around very often, oh and that we're broke) I decided to repeat 8 miles again.  I also decided I needed a change of scenery so I decided to go to Rose Rudman to run.  Well in true Kristi fashion, I overslept and didn't head to the park until about 9:30am.  A combination of the heat, humidity, and the fact I could only find 1 water fountain really got to me.  I trudged through 4.5 miles before I was just absolutely done.  I felt light headed and was gasping for air.  So I headed home feeling like a failure.  I made myself feel super guilty the rest of the day....until I finally sucked it up and finished the other 3.5 miles in a run around the Brook.  So yay-I did my 8 miles....in a roundabout way.  Then I rewarded my total 1185 cals/14 APs earned with 3 slices of pizza from Papa Murphy's and I don't even feel bad about it.

I've been feeling really blah and having myself pity parties on the weekends because of the fact that I don't really have anybody to hang out with her.  My good friends are spread all over Texas but none that I can just call up and say "hey let's hang out today."  I tried to join a Meetup group but that fizzled out pretty quick.  Honestly..I need a hobby.  I guess you could say running IS my hobby but I need something to do AFTER I've run on Saturday morning and I just can't watch anymore TV....something that doesn't cost a lot of money.  Some folks at work have started having group runs to prepare for the half so maybe I will join some of them.  Also, the Women's Leadership Forum group I was accepted to meets for the first time on Wed, so hopefully I will meet some friends there.  I dunno...just this weekend and last weekend I was feeling pretty sorry for myself.

Pics or it didn't happen....my cals burned from my 8 miles last Saturday.

Just what I needed

Until about 10 minutes ago, I had been having one of those "I don't really care what I eat" weeks.  I had food, fun, alcohol and sweets this past weekend at my mother's house and used all my weekly points in 2 days.  I got back home and attempted to stay OP for the rest of the week...but I brought those damn cupcakes home with me.  As the week went on I couldn't stay out of them, having 1 per night (or 2 last night.) Then at work I couldn't keep my hand out of the Cheez It box.  I had brisket tacos for dinner tonight. 
I still did my scheduled training runs on Sat, Tues and Thurs.  But I know I lied to myself about the amount of snacking and grazing I did. So I ended up gaining 1.4 this week.  I know a lot of it has to do with another factor in my life that I just don't want to blog about yet...but it's also my mindless eating.

But tonight I started reading a Weight Watchers friend's blog.  She's a wonderful woman that I talk with on the message boards on a daily basis.  She's such a great writer too...her blogs are quite articulate, not just word vomit like mine are.  But she touched on a subject that has been on my mind this week.  WHEN will food just be food to me?  I think way too much about food.  What I'm cooking for dinner, ooh this looks good, do I have the points do eat this after dinner, etc.?  It's exhausting! Why can't I just eat and not obsess about it?  Not have to plan every single thing I put in my mouth because of the fear that 60 lbs is going to come rushing back at me. 

I know my relationship with food is a little effed up.  I can't seem to comprehend that one bad meal or even weekend will not bring back on the 60 lbs I've lost.  I just want to eat a meal, and it be just that- a meal.  Nothing else. 

But then I start thinking about everything I've accomplished.  I'll be totally honest..when I started my WLJ a huge part of it was I wanted to look and feel attractive again.  But now it's almost become pushing myself to accomplish new things, things I never thought I'd do before.  Nothing major...as simple as cooking zucchini strips as "pasta" or as physically challenging as training for and running my half marathon in Oct.  Then eventually doing more halfs and at some point in my life, possibly a full marathon?

So I realized that sometimes a piece of cake at a family birthday is going to be more important that a small gain on the scale...but now I have the tools to not let that define me.    Life happens....but I'm never going back to where I was.

                           Michael and I on our honeymoon in Grand Cayman in 2009

                           Christmas 2011 at Michael's Nana's house

baking for the lazy girl

Weigh in: 156.4


Whew...TGIF, seriously.  This week has seemed super long. No real reason, I've just been looking forward to relaxing this weekend. 


I've been doing my scheduled training runs on Tues, Thurs, and Sat.  I've been doing my long runs on Tues afternoons but I'm going to TRY to get up early in the morning and change to Saturdays.  Once I get to 8 or 9 miles, am I really going to want to be doing that on a weeknight?! I feel like I don't have enough time then anyway.  If I'm going to be serious about this training thing, I have GOT to get my butt out of bed before 9am.  It's already unbearably hot and sticky, nasty humid in my fair East Texas by then.  Last Saturday I barely made it 3.5 miles before I felt light headed.  Too hot and I hadn't eaten anything.  I'm trying a different approach tomorrow.  Maybe if I put it out there, I'll actually get up and do it.


Tomorrow is my mom's birthday.  After I do my run Max and I are loading up and heading to Athens.  It's always a good time at mom's with lots of yummy food, drinks, and conversation.  I'm not sure how but it just seems so much more relaxing there than here.  Anyway, I decided to make some cupcakes for the occasion.  I've never really been that much of a baker.  I could say that I'm bad at it but the truth is I'm just lazy! I don't like to be in the kitchen for 3 hours making a dessert.  But I may have found the perfect thing for me...the 2 ingredient cake.  I've tried many different combinations, some better than others.  It's become my "thing" at work when we have birthday snacks.  Here's some of my creations:


 Angel food cake mix and light cherry pie filling=yum.  Several of my co-workers have remade this. 


Devils food cake mix and greek yogurt= eh.  It was okay, I don't think this was anybody's favorite. 


Spice cak mix+pumpkin pie filling= another win.  Perfect for fall


Strawberry cake mix+ 1 can diet cherry 7up + 2 egg whites= great summertime cake.  I paired this with Skinnytaste's light cream cheese frosting and it was a hit, I didn't bring any leftovers home. 


But my new fav is funfetti cake mix+  1 can diet cherry 7up+2 egg whites.  Obviously I have extra diet cherry 7 up around the house.  Unless I'm pairing it with vodka, I don't really drink it.   Who doesn't love funfetti?!  It reminds me of when I was a kid and would buy funfetti icing and eat it straight from the container.  (Reason #87564 that I'm on WW).  If I can have a lighter version of this fun little cake I'm all for it.  I decided to make these for the birthday festivities tomorrow and once again used the Skinnytaste light cream cheese frosting.  Pretty it up with some colored sugar and voila! Lazy girl baking at it's finest.

I might have already eaten 2 tonight........

Running motivation

Taking it up a notch

Weight on Friday WI: 157.6

It's been awhile...I've really just been super lazy and haven't felt like posting anything.  I'm still maintaining, which is good considering I've had 2 weekends in a row that I just didn't care what I ate.  I had a 0.4 gain on Friday.  It's weird, I still can't wrap my head around the fact that I'm not trying to LOSE anymore.  I know that in maintenance I'm going to both gain and lose here and there but seeing the scale go up, even a little bit, makes me stabby. 

BUT I decided to take my running to the next level...I signed up for a half marathon on Oct 7th! Eek!  It's the Tyler Rose half marathon.  I had orginally planned on running the 5k with the bestie and cousin.  But I found out that my employer is a sponsor of the race and would pay the entry fee.  I went back and forth about it for awhile.  I said I was going to do it but it took me awhile to actually sign up.  I knew once I signed up I would have to start hard core training.  I could get away with not training for a 5k but there's no way I could do a half without preparing.  But I sucked it up last week and signed up and officially started training.  I decided on loosely following Hal Higdon's training schedule which is basically 1 long run and 2 shorter runs a week and the long run's distance increases each week.  I'm up to 5 miles so far.  I know that I more than likely won't be able to run the whole thing and I'm prepared to walk a little bit.  But just actually finishing will be something that I would have never in a million years imagined I'd do.  Something to cross off my bucket list.

This was the absolute best weekend I've had in a very long time.  The bestie came down to stay with me and we all had a girls night last night.  We went to see Magic Mike, which honestly was kind of a beating and I would have rather watched it with no sound, and then to Julian's for dinner and drinks.  A few drinks and some good conversation later 3 of the girls decided they wanted to go get a tattoo.  So we loaded up with the boys and headed across town.  Erin and I walked across the street to Posado's to get a margarita while we were waiting.  Such a good night!  Then today was lazy pool day with a yummy lunch of deli style sandwiches. I actually mustered up enough confidence to wear a triangle bikini top to the pool.  My tummy hadn't seen sunlight since I was 17!  Everybody swore it looked good on me so I decided to say f it and just do it.  It's been such a fun weekend and I'm really not wanting it to end.

                                                                  Me and Batman!

30 something

I officially turned 30 this past Monday.  I wasn't looking forward to the number but I sure as hell was looking forward to my fun filled weekend and mini vacay from work.  It definitely did not disappoint!

I was counting down the hours at work on Friday 6/29 until I could leave at 2.  The hubs picked me up and we headed to Forney.  One change of clothes later and we're picking up my BFF and heading to get my tattoo! Even though this is my 3rd tat, I was starting to get a little nervous.  It hurt a little but I definitely love my hearts!

After my tattoo the hubs, BFF and I headed to Ojedas for some dinner and famous swirl margaritas.  Erin wasn't lying about them....I had one and hello I'm buzzed.  Definitely a good time with good conversation.



Saturday was spent preparing for my luau party.  It ended up being a blast...family and friends, just what I wanted.  If I'm being 100% honest, I was hoping for more people to come out but we seriously had the best time.  Thank you so much to everyone, especially Michael and Erin for all they did to host and prepare for it.

Sunday was a lazy recovery day then on Monday, my actual birthday, the hubs and I headed to Run On Dallas to finally get me fitted for my running shoes!  I was overly excited for this.  I ended up with an awesome pair of Asics. Then it was time for sushi! Mmm....I could for reals eat sushi every day, its my absolute fav.  We ate and then it was time to head back to East Texas.  It was an amazing weekend!

I didn't track a damn thing until today either! I ate like a crazy person...I enjoyed myself over the weekend but actually ended up going overboard once we got back to Tyler.  Buffalo Wild Wings and Taco Bueno in the same day?!  That's a little ridic.  I felt gross and bloated all week and was prepared for my massive gain today.  I actually ended up only gaining 1.2 lbs which I'll totally take after all the food I shoved in my face this past week. I'm still 1.2 lbs under my goal weight so I think I'll be okay.  I only ran twice last week too...but my new Asics are fabulous!  They really do make all the difference.  But I'm back OP today and I feel in control. 

It was a great week, 2 days back at work, and hello weekend! 

Progress Picture

So it's no secret that I'm not exactly very technically saavy.  That's Michael's dept around here...he is super smart with computers and has actually built his last three. 


That being the reason that it's taken me this long to get a side by side before and after picture of my weight loss journey. But I finally discovered Picasa that seems to be pretty user friendly.


So voila!  The before pic is when I believe I was at my heaviest.  I wasn't exactly weighing myself a lot those days (there wasn't a scale in our house).  The after was Saturday June 23, 2012.