Day 3

I wonder how long this will last. Long, I hope. I feel great--in control and healthy. Breakfast at 8:15 am oatmeal made with skim milk, 2 teaspoons maple syrup, a tablespoon toasted pecans, and half a peach Snack at 10:45 am 1/4 cup roasted/salted almonds with raisins Lunch at 12:15 pm cracked pepper turkey sandwich on whole wheat with baby spinach, Gruyere cheese, and 1/2 sliced apple other half of apple and 1/4 cup carrots Snack at 3:30 pm one tablespoon pesto spread over 8 Triscuits Dinner at 6:00 pm croque-madame sandwich--ham and Gruyere on ciabatta with soft-cooked egg salad of green leaf lettuce, carrots, tomatoes, cucumbers, avocado, and balsamic vinaigrette Dessert at 9:00 pm two slices of watermelon

Day 2

Breakfast at 7:15 am chai oatmeal with peaches and pecans Morning Snack at 9:00 am half a peach Lunch at 11:00 am cracked pepper turkey sandwich with baby spinach, half sliced apple, Gruyere cheese 2 slices of watermelon Afternoon Snack at 3:00 pm roasted/salted almonds and raisins Dinner at 5:30 pm I ate dinner at a retirement party at an Italian restaurant. I tried to fill my plate with mostly salad (iceburg lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, vinaigrette), but also took reasonable portions of the spinach/mushroom lasagna and ziti alfredo. Dessert at 8:30 pm two slices of watermelon

Mindful Eating Day 1

Here's what I ate today: Breakfast at 8:30 am bowl of chai oatmeal with peaches and pecans Lunch at 11:30 am whole wheat toast with almond butter and sliced half of a banana cup of carrots with two tablespoons hummus Snack at 3:00 pm glass of monkey milk (half banana, skim milk, lowfat vanilla yogurt, and ice blended) 1 tablespoon peanut butter spread over three graham cracker squares Dinner at 6:00 pm three breaded baked chicken tenders side of roasted potatoes and a tablespoon ketchup salad of green leaf lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, carrots Dessert at 7:30 pm half of a Harry & David almond/raspberry sandwich cookie Sweet Treat at 9:30 pm three dark chocolate covered toffee almonds from Harry & David Curse you, Harry & David!

Giving Mindful Eating a Try

Okay folks. I think I've got a handle on the exercise thing. I love doing it. If I don't do it then I miss it and I feel crappy. But exercise and eating right go hand in hand and I could use a little help in the nutrition department. So in order to get myself to my best self possible, I'm keeping my fitness plan the way it is and upping the anty on what I eat, how I eat it, and pledging to keep track of it. Right here. My mother started Weight Watchers a few weeks ago and has lost 8 pounds already. We were talking the other day and she said that writing down everything that you eat is really eye-opening. I'm sure it is! I can tell you what I ate for my meals yesterday but I couldn't tell you how many times I mindlessly walked into the pantry and grabbed a pretzel or piece of candy or a handful of chocolate chips (seriously!) because I was stressed out, obsessing over something, sad, or angry. Why do we do that? Wouldn't it feel better to overcome that? A few weeks ago I completely cut refined sugars from my diet for ten days. It was challenging at times, but physically I never felt better. I actually felt slimmer but that's probably 95% mental. After just 3 days, I wasn't craving sweets so much anymore. I had this streak going and I wasn't going to end it over a Skittle, was I? I felt in control, which is pretty fulfilling since there are so many things in life we can't control. Then one ice cream sandwich treat on a Friday evening led to a few margaritas at a party the next night, some cake and, well, then the whole streak was over. Notably, my emotions took a turn for the worst too, and yesterday's rest day combined with a salt water taffy gift felt like a new low. I can't stay down long. I'm looking up! With a little inspiration from my mother, I'm going to share right here everything I eat daily. Boring for you? Perhaps. But if you've read this far on this post, you must be bored already. I've been keeping track of my workouts on Daily Mile for a year and the incentive of posting a workout on there is enough to get me doing something, anything. I'm thinking that the thought of publically posting a pantry binge will be enough to keep me from doing it. At the very least, it should make me think twice before going for the wrong food at the wrong time. I pledge to be completely honest and post EVERYTHING I eat each day. Here we go!

The Big Plan

Here is the plan. For now. It may be adjusted. It probably will be adjusted. But I have this written on a sticky note attached to my monitor so my goals are always in my mind. Or at least when I sit at my computer.

2012
Sprint Triathlon
Half Marathon

2013
Full Marathon
Century Ride

2014
Half Ironman

2015
Ironman Arizona!

Reinventing Sara

It'sDecember 27th. It's the time when most everyone is thinking about New Year's
resolutions. I have plenty: stress less, don't take on too much, keep my
priorities in check, eat well, read more—or at the very least, read the monthly
book club selection, stop worrying about things that are so dumb (that was for
you, Jennifer), and maintain and build my fitness. Ironically, starting a
fitness regimen is probably the most popular New Year’s resolution for everyone. Maybe that’s why it’s so surprising to me that maintaining and building my fitness is what I believe will lead me to successfully reaching all my other goals.

Somehow,someway, in the last few years I’ve become somewhat of an athlete. I’ve never been one for team sports (too much pressure) but this year I realized that I’m better when I exercise. I’ve logged over one thousand miles in 2011 through
running, cycling, and swimming. And I’ve done most of it alone even though it’s a lot more fun if you have a buddy. But the alone time has been therapeutic. It gives me a chance to think things through,resolve some issues that fall on the shoulders of a thirty-something housewife,and gain a sense of peace for 30-60 minutes at a time. Exercise makes me feel better about myself. I’m more focused. I’m more productive. I’m more confident. I’m happier. And, yes, I think I look better. Gone(hopefully forever) are the days when I dread having to exercise. I’ve reached the point where I long for the time to get out and run, bike, swim, or strength train with friends. I don’t know how it happened, but I’m so glad
it did.

Although I participated in some races in 2011—several 5K runs, a 10K run, a duathlon, a mini triathlon—I’ve found that I no longer need to be registered for something to get me to exercise. That’s shocking in a good way for sure. I’m competitive, but I know what league I’m in so I compete mostly with myself. Though I’m proud to say my first attempt at a triathlon gained me a first place age group award. Validation indeed! Or more like a fluke. Seriously though, most of the time I’m working to better my time or simply finish. I would like to make the step from athlete to triathlete this year and I hope to gain enough confidence to do a real triathlon.

So right here, right now I’m setting a long term goal—to finish the 2015 Ironman
Arizona. I’ll be 39, my kids will be slightly more independent to allow for the training, and I’ll be even stronger in four years if I keep maintaining and building my fitness. And Ironman Arizona is in my backyard! I volunteered at that event last month and was inspired. I want to be able to say I finished that race. And when I do, I might even get a 140.6 tattoo…across my forehead!