Juicing!

Happy holiday season everyone! I love this beautiful time of year. The month between Thanksgiving and Christmas is always so full of activity, and lights, and decorations, and shopping, and of course trying to relax and enjoy it all before New Year's Day comes and it's over all too quickly.

Thanksgiving was at Robin and Buff's home on the Eastern Shore this year. We enjoyed good food, family and the boys even enjoyed themselves some football. This year we decided to stay the night rather than try to drive home late when we are all tired. This way the holiday continued into the next day. Cousins played out in the barn, on the ATV's, on the golf cart, in the hot tub, in the game room on computers and the Wii. Todd and Buff got to go play some golf and Robin and I got to chill in front of the TV watching whatever we wanted and caught up with each other.

One of the highlights for me was breakfast! No, I don't mean my apple cranberry crisp. I mean the delicious juice that Buff made with his juicer. I haven't stopped thinking about it. It was incredible!

Sooooo, today Todd and I went shopping and Merry Christmas to me... we bought a great big giant blender thing called a Ninja! Emilie would be proud to hear that after years of hearing about it I finally made her green monster. Mmmmmmmm so good!

2 cups baby spinach
1 banana
1.5 cups almond milk (vanilla)

It was so simple and so very good. We also went shopping for lots of fruits and veggies so the fridge is stocked with healthy goodness just waiting to be pulvarized by my Ninja into yummy juices and smoothies.

I can't wait for breakfast tomorrow!

Catching Up

Hello. Is anyone out there? Anyone who hasn't given up on me and still checks in from time to time to see if by some miracle I've posted?

So much life has been lived since Todd posted on May 4th!

Here are the posts I'd like to write in the following days to catch myself up. We'll see how I do.

~Big Sur!
~Frederick Half Marathon
~Swim Team
~St. Michael's/Fourth of July/Robin&Buff's boat
~Swim Team Banquet
~DISNEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
~DISNEY CRUISE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
~death
~DEEP CREEK LAKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
~First Day of School
~Homeschooling
~Kyle's Birthday

I'm sure there are more to be written inbetween some of those but who am I kidding... I'll be doing well to just manage to post a couple of those.

Of course there are the running updates and the Freedom's Run Marathon that I'm training to run on October 1st. And the Army Ten Miler that I'm running on October 9th. I'd like to quote Pop-Pop regarding the Army Ten Miler: "Is that the race that has me driving all the way around the beltway to get to church?"

Yes, Pop-Pop, sorry about that. See the race starts at the Pentagon and goes through D.C.

Oh and then there is Meredith's and my bucket list!!! We decided that we will run a race in every state in the U.S. before we... you know... kick the bucket.

So far I have Maine, Maryland, California, and Virginia checked off the list. West Virginia and D.C. will be added to the list after October 9th. We are especially looking forward to Hawaii and Alaska and (by the way) did you hear that the Bahamas now has a race or two to be run??? Pretty cool way to see the country, er... the world, huh?

Tomorrow we are off to the Baltimore Science Museum for a little homeschooling field trip!! Should be fun provided noone decides to jump into the harbor as we walk to the Museum.

ONE AMAZING WIFE

My wife ROCKS. More specifically, she rocked Big Sur this past weekend!! I could not have been more proud of her. I am sure she will recount her experience here for you soon but I want to tell you how amazing she is first. Big Sur is a picturesque, hilly (more on that from her) (and 26 hills to be exact) marathon route. It literally and figuratively takes your breath away with how beautiful it is and how physically demanding it is. Michelle completed the marathon with her sister and had a smile on her face to boot. It was fantastic to watch her run this race. She amazes me with her dedication to running and it is a pleasure to support her in this endeavor of hers. I love you!

Todd

Big Sur and a new running partner

This is crazy!!! I did not publish this post as one long paragraph. Blogger won't let me edit!!! Agggghhhhh!!! We are now under 2 weeks away from Big Sur!!! I'm getting over the fact that the race route has been changed from point to point to an out and back. I no longer bother dreaming about myself running across the Bixby Bridge. Just FYI when I started training for this race I bought a Big Sur calendar with pictures from previous marathons. There is a picture of that bridge in more than half of the pictures. Half way across the bridge is the (oh excuse me... WAS the) halfway point of the marathon. Now the start of the race will take place where the finish usually is and we run south to just north of where the road washed away... which is just north of the Bixby Bridge. Then we turn around and run north back to the finish. As my nephew Danny says, "Oh my gosh, darn, fricken!!" So we don't even get near it. I wonder if I'll see it off in the distance taunting me. Beckoning me to come back another year when the road is repaired... As for training... I feel so much stronger this time around. I'm not even all that sore now after my long runs. 20 miles came and went without all that much fuss. Last fall I would lay around in a lazyboy for the rest of the day acting like I'd lost the ability to use my legs after a long run. Now? I'll be a bit tender going downstairs for maybe 24 hours but nothing more than that. Last fall I battled blisters constantly. I remember after our 18 mile long run I actually had a blister that wrapped completely around one toe. I did eventually end up losing that toenail... nice, right? Now? I have none of that!! Halleluia!! Meredith and I have been running the hills in her neighborhood. I know this makes me sound crazy but I'm secretly proud of how much I feel like I just might need to vomit when we reach the top of a hill. Then when we level off and I get my breath back I get this proud feeling. Who knew that I would like hills so much? Not me that's for sure. Today I gained a new partner. JULIANNA!!! She ran with me for a 1.3 mile loop in our neighborhood then she went home and I finished my 4 miles for the day. She was so cute. She chattered away the whole time about the pretty flowers we saw and how much fun she was having. When she got a stitch in her side we walked it out. I was so proud of her. She did really well for her first time out there. I'd say that she ran for about the first half mile then we alternated walking and running till we returned her to home. She kept saying how much fun it would be to run a race with Aunt Meredith and I. I'm sure that by the time she is up to running several miles her long legs will take her farther and faster than I can handle but for now I'm going to love this time with her!

the new jakey...

Got gum?



Got gum in hair.



Got gum out.



Got no hair!!!


hmmmm... Got BIG ears!

12 weeks down!! 6 to go!!

I can't believe it! If this were a pregnancy I would be starting the last week of my first trimester! The time goes by so fast!

Yesterday Meredith and I ran 18 miles... our longest training run in our preparation for running Big Sur on May first. (We were supposed to do this last weekend but we had to tweak our training plan because I was away last weekend and felt it would work better for me to miss a 13 mile training run instead of the 18.)

My quads are so sore and it is pretty hilarious watching me try to go down the stairs. This past week I started incorporating hill work because Big Sur has BIG hills I'm told. This meant that my legs were still sore going into the run. By mile 15 I was like,"Three more miles?? Are you kidding me??" My legs were killing me! I dug deep and slowed down considerably but refused to stop till I reached the 18 mile mark.

Afterwards Meredith and I were comparing how we felt and she said that she was trying to assess how, if this had been the marathon, how much she would have had left. I told her that at mile 15 I truly felt like I had nothing left and really had to dig deep to get to the 18. So if this had been the marathon already I doubted I could have finished.

However, being that it was a training run, I was so proud of myself for running the whole thing! I realized that since running Richmond I really have not had and "I'm proud of what I just did!!" moment.

Yesterday was it for me!!! I felt like I dug deep, gave every ounce I could give and didn't stop till I accomplished my goal. I left everything I had out there on the road. There wasn't any point where I felt like I didn't give it all I had and that feels so good.

All this to say... The training is going GREAT!!!! So far.

Now...

All you highway workers out there on Route 1, I'm cheering you on. Please, please get my marathon route fixed!!!

TMI

WARNING!!! and please do not say that I didn't warn you... because I am warning you...
If you shy away from candid discussions of body parts with children... more accurately candid discussions about MY body parts with a 3 year old Jake then look away my friend... LOOK AWAY NOW!!

It all started last night when Jake and I needed to rush out of the house to pick up Julianna, Drew, and Kyle better known by Jake as "my kids". (yes Tiercy right after I hung up with you!)

I needed to go to the bathroom and was in such a rush that I didn't close the door properly. In all of 2 seconds Jake sashayed into the room to join me. Now I should probably tell you that we are in the thick of potty training with him and he is VERY curious about how the whole going pee and poop works for different individuals.

He peeks between my legs and says, "You going pee pee with your penis, Mommy?"
"No, honey, Mommy doesn't have a penis. Only boys like you and Daddy have a penis."
He peers closer. (I am getting stage fright and trying with all my might to end this quickly!!) "What's that?"
"Hair. When you get bigger you get hair there. Daddy has hair there too, remember?"
"NO HE DOES NOT!! MY DADDY NOT HAVE HAIR ON HIS PENIS!! THAT'S NOT FAIR!! DON'T YOU TELL ME!!!"
He storms out of the bathroom. (Not sure what that was all about because he showers with Daddy fairly often.)

Naively I think this is over. Right? This will never be brought up again, right?

Please?

This morning Jakey comes up to me and smiles at me so sweetly that I am about to kiss him right on the tip of his cute button nose.
"Mommy? You got a hair penis?"
(cue needle scratching across record album)
"No... honey, I have a vagina. Girls like Mommy and Julianna have a vagina and boys have a penis."
"NO!! JULIANNA HAS A PENIS!!" (Mind you, he has never seen his sister naked.)
(Julianna shrieking from somewhere in another room) "I DO NOT!!"

So anyway, like I said, I warned you.

Now it's your turn. What crazy discussions have you had with your kids lately?

Scrapbook Challenge

The other night I watched the movie Julie & Julia for the first time.
I loved it!
I found myself wanting to go out and buy Julia Childs' cookbook and cook my way through it too. I like the idea of a challenge and pushing myself just to see if I can do the thing (whatever the "thing" may be). The amusing thing was that while I was watching the movie I was trying out a new recipe. A beef soup recipe that had cilantro and lime as ingredients. I have to admit that I am a sucker for any recipe that has cilantro and lime in it. Mmmmmmm!!! I'm getting hungry just remembering how wonderful that soup was..... but I digress.

Where was I?
Oh yes! A cooking challenge!

But that's not me. Me? I like to run. AND scrapbook.
So I got to thinking. I'm waaaaaaaaaaaay behind on our family scrapbooks. I mean I still haven't finished Julianna's baby years! That means I'm like 10 years behind. That's a lot!

Last night I sat down and completed a 2 page spread/layout in our family's 2001 photo album. While I was doing this little Jake came up to see what I was doing. "Look at baby Julianna!" I said to him. He looks up at me with those big brown eyes and asks, "Where is baby Jakey?" My heart twisted inside my chest. I quickly found some pictures of him as a baby for him to Ooooh and Ahhhh over and he skipped off to play oblivious to the guilty Mommy he had left behind. I looked down at the pages I had just completed in my album and I thought to myself, "That was fast and easy! If I could do that each and every night then I bet I could get caught up in one year's time! Then there would be a whole album of baby Jakey for him to look at!"

My scrapbook challenge was born!

Here are the facts:
2 pages a day for a year means 730 pages completed!!
If each of my albums holds 45 pages then that is 16.2222222222.... albums!!
I'm figuring on trying to keep it to one year per album but that might be too conservative considering how many pictures I have. So that extra 6.22222... albums gives me a little "wiggle" room.

So, is scrapbooking your thing too? Do you, like me, need to "get cooking" on your album projects? Care to join me in a little scrapbook challenge?

I am accepting my own challenge to complete 730 pages on or before January 25th of 2012. With 2 pages down that's 728 pages to go!

If you do decide to join me and find yourself needing supplies... well you can go to my website www.mycmsite.com/michellebumgardner and take a look around!

Excuse me while I go scrapbook!

Happy Scrapping!
------------------------------------------------------------

***UPDATE***
I have decided to name my challenge "Let's Get Cookin' on our Albums" in honor of the movie Julie & Julia that inspired me.

Do you care?

I'm a geek I know!
Today I have spent a few hours organizing my scrapbook station and am almost done with my 2 pages for today. I might even have time to do some more!

Again, Happy Scrappin'!!

So, I'm angry

This morning I was running on my treadmill as Todd was getting ready to leave for work. We are, as you know, in the midst of basketball season. Last night he had a game which means he got home late and we really didn't have time to talk before we went to sleep. His team won in overtime by the way!! Pretty cool!!

So, like I said, I'm on the treadmill and he is getting ready to leave for work. He came down and broke some bad news that almost made me fall off my treadmill. News that is not mine to share, so I won't, except to say that it has to do with yet another loved one battling cancer.

I HATE you cancer.

It made me recall a saying on the inside of a card that I got years ago from someone else who was battling cancer. I thought I would share these words as they brought me a small amount of comfort this morning.

Cancer is so limited...
It cannot cripple Love
It cannot shatter Hope
It cannot corrode Faith
It cannot destroy Peace
It cannot kill Friendship
It cannot suppress Memories
It cannot silence Courage
It cannot invade the Soul
It cannot steal eternal Life
It cannot conquer the Spirit
-Anonymous

I hope these words bring you peace today.

Week One... check!

Last week marked the beginning of the end.

The beginning of the end of 2010.

The beginning of the end of the holidays.

The beginning of the end of Todd's winter break.

The beginning of the end of Julianna's first decade of life (sniff, sniff).

AND... the beginning of the end of 6 weeks of rest from training runs.

The day after Christmas was day one of week one of training. Talk about getting right into it after all the holiday feasts. (and in case you were wondering I DID NOT take my last post seriously... lots of healthy eating going on around here!! more on that later.)

So here I am reporting in on my first week of training for the Big Sur Marathon.

Sunday(26th)- rest

Monday(27th)- rest

Tuesday(28th)- rest (what can I say we were away on a little trip)

Wednesday(29th)-3.1 miles (I can't do just 3 miles anymore. When my goal is 3 I have to do the extra .1 to make it a 5K)

Thursday(30th)- 5miles + yoga to stretch

Friday(31st)- 3.1miles

Saturday(Happy New Year)- 8miles

I have to say that I was surprised at how easy all the runs for last week were. I wasn't very sore at all. Saturday's run was hard at times but I think that was mostly because I was so tired from staying up late to bring in the new year. I found it harder than usual to hold a conversation with Meredith without gasping for breath. I guess I need to relearn how to run and talk at the same time again :)

So here we are after running 8 miles:

I think my hat makes me look bald.

Eating Tips for the Holidays!

I got this e-mail today with tips on eating through the holidays.

I personally like #9. We need to be VERY careful about setting standards for ourselves through the holidays! :)

Happy Eating!

***HOLIDAY EATING TIPS***

1. Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table knows nothing of the Holiday spirit. In fact, if you see carrots, leave immediately. Go next door, where they're serving rum balls.

2. Drink as much eggnog as you can. And quickly. It's rare... You cannot find it any other time of year but now. So drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It's not as if you're going to turn into an eggnog-alcoholic or something. It's a treat. Enjoy it. Have one for me. Have two. It's later than you think. It's Christmas!

3. If something comes with gravy, use it. That's the whole point of gravy. Gravy does not stand alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat.

4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they're made with skim milk or whole milk. If it's skim, pass. Why bother? It's like buying a sports car with an automatic transmission.

5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control your eating. The whole point of going to a Holiday party is to eat other people's food for free. Lots of it. Hello?

6. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year's. You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This is the time for long naps, which you'll need after circling the buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog.

7. If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa, position yourself near them and don't budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the center of attention. They're like a beautiful pair of shoes. If you leave them behind, you're never going to see them again.

8. Same for pies. Apple, Pumpkin, Mincemeat. Have a slice of each. Or if you don't like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin. Always have three. When else do you get to have more than one> dessert? Labor Day?

9. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it's loaded with the mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean, have some standards.

10. One final tip: If you don't feel terrible when you leave the party or get up from the table, you haven't been paying attention. Re-read tips; start over, but hurry, January is just around the corner.

Remember this motto to live by:
"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand and wine in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO what a ride!"

Have a great holiday season!!

Here we go again!

So basketball season is upon us once again!

Last year's season marked a huge turn around in my attitude towards Todd's coaching job.
I went from a miserable stay at home wife who whined and complained about her husband's long hours and how "I had to do it all" with the kids all by myself from the time they woke till the time they went to bed to a happy and content wife who took it all in stride. I went from a wife who couldn't care less about basketball and never went to a game to an avid fan who couldn't get to enough games and truly didn't want the season to end.

I had decided before last season even started that I was going to give myself an attitude adjustment. I had decided that in the 2009/10 season the kids and I were going to make the half hour trip to where Daddy coached as many times as possible to support him.

So that is what we did.

An amazing thing happened last year. The girls NEVER lost.

I'm not saying that this is due to my support or my attitude adjustment. I am saying that I believe that God kicked in an extra blessing just because He could. That the girls were going to have a winning season is an undisputed fact. They were great. They had a great coach. But to go undefeated? And win the state title? Not only do I believe that this is the stuff great sports movies are made of but I also believe that we had a bit of Help on our side.
My belief is that when we get on board with God's plan for our life (without whining and complaining) the blessings are beyond compare.

Thank you God for a great season! AND for the blessing of getting to experience an undefeated one!

Sooooooooooooo, like I said... here we go again.

Our record as I write this is 4-2. Todd says this is a rebuilding year and he is excited about the challenge.

I am excited to be a part of it once again. Winning season or not!

Go Seneca Valley Screaming Eagles!!

Gingerbread Houses

********UPDATE********

So in reading back over this post I must ask you: Aren't we amazing??? Look how CALM and enjoyable we make this all look!! Please keep in mind that together we had 6(!!!) boys ages 7 and under, one girl, and one dog, all doing an edible art project at the same small table that seats 6. Of course I suppose I should fess up and admit that Mindy is a kindergarten teacher and I homeschool my older three so there is a slight possibility that we have control issues... but still.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Today my sister, Mindy, came over with her crew of 3 boys to make gingerbread houses with us.
The kids had a great time decorating their masterpieces.
Here are Mindy, Luke and Elliot working on their house:

Kyle, Julainna, and Drew:

Jake and Ryan don't seem to mind that noone wants them "helping" out! Luke is being so careful to place his candy in just the right spot.
Hmmm, look who needs to be in the spotlight. Silly Elliot!

Oh kids! The candy is for your houses... not your noses!
Of course a little icing on the finger never hurts either!

Penny volunteered to be the clean up crew! This is one of the reasons why I love having a dog.

Running update

Thanksgiving morning I ran in the Frederick Way Station 5K Turkey Trot. I ran with my sister Meredith and our running buddy Ann.

We woke up to down pouring rain and I thought, "Hmmm, 35 degrees and pouring down rain... NO WAY!" I got up anyway because I had this thing about not being the one to opt out. Maybe one of them would and then I would just agree with them that it was a better idea to stay in and be warm and sip coffee.

I got a text at about 7:30 that said, "We are still running, U???" I looked outside... still pouring.

So I put on my brave face and said that I was still in if they were.

We got to the starting line and it was just misting. I felt great and a little frisky as we started to run. Then out of nowhere the song Rhythm of Love by the Great White T's started playing in my head. So now I'm a human iPod? Whatever works.

After a bit I asked Meredith if we had gone a mile yet. She looked at me strangely and told me that we passed it a while ago and were at 1.4.

Hey! That's like almost halfway! I start to speed up a little.
At mile 2 she looks at me and tells me that I'm fast for me today. I smile and go a bit faster.

We take the last right turn and the finish line is just up ahead. Still frisky. I glance at her and say, "What you got left?" She responds by turning on her afterburners. I hang with her as best as I can. I'm laughing and running so hard that I think I just might throw up as I cross the finish. 29:52 she finished 4 seconds ahead of me 29:48

That's a new PR for me!!
Hmmm, what will it take for me to feel that good doing 26.2?

Now I've got a few weeks to relax before the training for Big Sur begins!

Race report!!

Want to see how I did running my first marathon? Head on over to One Mom in Maine!!
Thanks Emilie for letting me guest post!
Enjoy!

FAMILY

It was great to be with my Family on my 40th birthday.

Mom and Al: You rock. Thanks for dinner and the memories and the gift. It was great to see you and hope to see you again soon.

Buff and Robin: We have such a great time with you and love you all so much. You are amazing and we are continuing to pray and hope for the very best. Thanks for everything which is too numerous to list here but know that you have a special place in our hearts. Thanks for the I-Pad.

Andy,
Thanks for hosting the party and it was great to see you more this week thank in the last 6 months combined. Come and lift with me. I miss hanging out with you.

Paige and Tiercy,
Thanks for the memories. Friday at Go Ape was a blast and I am glad it worked it well. Tiercy, thanks for coming out and Paige thanks for winning free tickets. You are great sisters and I hope you all had as much fun as I did and can't wait to see what we look like at 80. Thanks for the jacket and Panera card.

Blair,
Come on over so I can beat you in backgammon and poker or at least try.

My Dearest Michelle: You are simply an amazing woman and I love you very much. Good luck at your first marathon and I will be cheering you from afar. You are simply the glue that keeps or family all together and I don't know what I would do without you.

Torin, Thane, Grayson, Tobin, Noah, Brenna, Laney, Tyler, and Ethan: You guys and gals are cool nieces and nephews. Love you!!

Julianna, Drew, Kyle and Jake: I am proud to be your Daddy and don't grow up so fast. You are too big already.


Todd

WHAT I LEARNED

What I learned on my weight loss journey. I doubt it will be anything you haven't heard before but sometimes if you are like me, you need to hear it 20 times before it sinks in...The following are my experiences, you may disagree with them. And that is okay.

1) Food has one purpose and one purpose only....to fuel the body. It helps if the food tastes good but its main purpose is to fuel the body. That means we must watch what we eat if we want to lose weight or to maintain weight. If we don't care if we gain weight, then eat whatever you want. In other words, be purposeful about what you eat. You may feel that I completely changed my diet 180 degrees, but I didn't. I just ate healthier and cut out the desserts. The adage is true: You are what you eat.

2) If you are planning to go on a diet or are on one, then what you are doing is making a change of some kind right? Less calories or less carbs, less sugar, etc... Make the right changes and you will lose or maintain weight either quickly or slowly but what does it matter if the weight comes off? I saw results quickly and no doubt that spurred be on. Plus, I set a deadline, by Nov. 5th because I would be turning 40. Treat yourself every once in awhile to something. I knew I would have some dessert on my birthday and surely I could give it up for 2 months.

3) Sugar is not the enemy. Our choices are. Most people know what to do about losing weight, they just need to do it. Exercise regularly, eat healthy, be absolutely committed and get the sleep you need. Plus have support. It didn't help when everyone would offer me some cookies or something and I had to say no. When I would say no, they would be like,"Oh yeah that's right, I am sorry." But It was easy to say no because of my results and willpower. Huh, which came first, will power or results.... don't know. Sounds like something for another time.

4) Don't drink your calories. Your body doesn't need them. Drink water or tea. Limit juice. Like everything else, you can have juice in moderation.

5) Chocolate milk is a great recovery drink. Much to my kids dismay, they knew the chocolate milk in the refrigerator was Daddy's and if they wanted some c. milk, they were to get the mix out of the pantry and it to cold milk. This is a great way to replenish after a workout. This may seem to be a contradiction about not drinking your calories, but my sole purpose was to replenish after a heavy workout of lifting weights. (BTW, I lifted a total of 35,000 pounds during each of my workouts. I hope you are impressed because I was!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

6) It became easier to make these changes as time went along. It was a lot harder at first b/c it was new but it gradually became easier. I knew the end was in sight and I was having great results. I looked forward to weighing myself every morning and seeing what I weighed. it amazes me how much your weight can vary in a day. This is why I say my weight range is to be between 220 an 225 pounds.

7) There are numerous benefits to having undertaken this challenge. I am definitely more healthy and have more energy. I look good and feel good. I can't wait to get my 40 year old physical and see what my cholesterol numbers are, blood pressure is and resting heart rate.

8) My kids and wife will see a healthier me and know that it is important to take care of yourself physically. We don't know how much time we have while here on earth but the benefits of being in shape are great.

9)Good food tastes good and bad food just tastes bad. Your taste buds come alive and I can honestly say that I really looked forward to eating my salad, salmon, broccoli, peppers, etc... because it tastes good and is good for you. The though of eating McDonalds or a Little Debbie snack made me think there is no way I am going to eat that.

10) Do you know how hard you have to work out to offset a donut? Really hard. Eating that donut takes like two minutes and to work those calories off it easily takes at least like 25 minutes. That coorelation alone is enough to make me give up donuts. It isn't worth it.

I hope you enjoyed my journey. Take care and if you are planning to undertake a weight loss endeavor, you can do it!!!!!!! Good luck and be healthy.

Todd

THE RESULTS

225 POUNDS THIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

AND MAN DOES IT FEEL GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I will write over the weekend what I learned and gained from this endeavor. But I wanted to post the results for you who anxiously were awaiting my results.....LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Birthday to Paige and Tiercy. Love you!!!!!!!!

Todd

Fit and 40 Plan

Once upon a Time....

There was a young lad whose weight was like a yo-yo. He would lose ten pounds and then gain it back rather quickly. This process went on for about the last fifteen years or so. His weight hovered around 240 pounds for the last 5 years or so. I know, none of you can relate...He had many reasons why this happened and always justified that it was because he had kids, worked horribly long hours and had a bad commute to and from and work. These are all reasons that he came up with to make him feel better and besides, he always felt he could lose 15 pounds whenever he wanted. He had done it before and he could do it again......or could he?

Well, with his 4oth birthday fast approaching (about 2 months away) He decided it was time to see if he really could get down to 225 from a high of 242. He said, let's see if you really can do it. Game on!!!He made serious changes to his diet, workout regimen and went for it. It was not an easy task. The first change was to make the decision to give up all sweets (cake, cookies, doughnuts, candy, ice cream, milk shakes, etc...) from his diet. If you know this guy, you know he loves warm chocolate chip cookies out of the oven and ice cream. He knew this was a tall task for him because he had tried to do this before but had always failed and failed miserably. He decided to eat more vegetables, drink water and tea instead of sodas, and generally eat more healthy. A typical food day went like this for our lad:

Breakfast:
Multi grain Cheerios with banana or a bowl of Raisin Bran
Snack: Fiber Plus Bar ( they are actually pretty decent)

Lunch : Salad, Lean Cuisine, Healthy Choice or sandwich

Snack: peanuts

Dinner: normal dinner with the family

Portion Control as well was important.

Didn't eat after 8 o'clock

Exercise Regimen:
He also decided he would get up at 5:10 or so and get in early to workout. This lad happens to be a PE teacher and his school has a weight room that he would use 2 to 3 times a week. He also decided to run as well. So he would also run 2 to 3 times a week as well.

THE RESULTS:

Well, you will have to wait until Friday until his actual birthday to find out the results. Did he make it??? Was it worth it???? What did he learn during this process?? Can he keep the weight off?

STAY TUNED.

TODD

I love this man...

I just got this e-mail:


"Hey,
I am going to set up a date night. I was thinking about this Saturday. I say I will arrange a sitter, you and I could go to Dutch’s Daughter (after this past weekend, u deserve it.) And then we could walk hand in hand around a Baker Park while we digest dinner and then maybe we can go get a coffee for you and just enjoy each other’s company. If you could do me the honor of being my date, I would really like that.

Your Hubby who loves you more than you know,

Todd"


and it made my day!!!

of course I said yes!