I just ate a billion points....

Oy!!!!

Monday again.....

I made it through the weekend. Although just barely. I have been pms'ing so badly. Yesterday I was on the way to the Club with husband and we had an argument while leaving the garage (a stupid one, of course!). I actually ended up telling him I didn't want to work out with him anymore and made him pull over to let me out of the car! UGH!!

Fortunately, by the time I walked home I had calmed down. I took the dog for a 45 minute walk and then brought him home, put him in his kennel and then went back out for my run. I felt much better when that was all done. I found the PERFECT running route by my house - FINALLY!

Today not much on the agenda. I'm going to start doing the EA Sport Active on the Wii again for the month of September. So, I will do that and I have spinning scheduled for tonight. I took the dog for a walk this morning, but I might need to take him again. I met my girlfriend with her dog. Unfortunately for her, she has a broken toe and so it was a slow walk.

Well bloggers, have a healthy day!!

Still on plan.....

but only by the skin of my teeth! Daughter had me SO frazzled yesterday I reacted with a bottle of Baileys!! HAHA!! Actually, in the end, it was only 3 shots of Bailey's. Thank goodness.

She was meeting friends for the finale of Global Fest fireworks competition. This is in... well, rather a rough part of town. Husband wanted me to walk daughter to the gate and wait with her until the friend she was meeting came to meet her. OMG. She was SO mad! Ranted about us treating her like a 4 year old. On, and on, and on. I was so upset by the time I got back to the car. I tried to explain to daughter that we were not trying to humiliate her, but simply stop her from, you know, ending up... dead. She would have none of it though. She is going to be the death of me! I swear to God I could feel my hair turning grey while standing there!!

Once home, husband and I watched Defying Gravity. We hooked the computer up to the tv and watched off the internet (CTV). We were on vacation when the series started up, so we had 4 episodes to watch online. What a great show!! It is also on Space and ABC. I highly recommend it! While it is set in space, it is actually more drama than sci-fi.

This morning I had my most painful massage ever. My feet and right shoulder have really been bothering me. Massage therapist figures I have damaged my rotator cuff. And as for my feet - well, she suggested freezing a water bottle and rolling it under my arches. I'm going to give it a try. Can't make it any worse I don't think.

I didn't run at all this week because my feet have been so sore. Since they continue to hurt - Monday I will start running again. I missed it. I'm feeling quite emotional today, and I wonder if it isn't just build up from not having the outlet running provides.

Hmm. Not much else to report. Today is my last day of my WW week. I'm out of flex and have 2 AP's left. I'm considering this week a complete WW success! Huge pat on my own back!! I'm starting back at meetings on Saturday. I need the "umpf" you get from the meetings.

Have a healthy day bloggers!!

Weigh In

short post 'cause I'm on my way out for breakfast at my cousin's house, but I'm too excited to wait for a proper post.

I weighed in this morning (not at WW, just my bathroom, cause I still have no $$) and I'm down 2.3!! Woohoo!! This sounds boastful - but I really had a great points week. What I could have done better was exercise. I moved every day, but none of my exercise was "intense". This week I will do better. I didn't eat any of my activity points yet this week, and I still have over 20 flex.

To H-Woman: when I do finally go back to meetings.... I will be doing the 7:00 a.m. Saturday morning meeting - so happy to hear that is Faye meeting - she is one of my favourite leaders!! I'm going to start again in September.

More later - just wanted to share my good news!!

OMG What a Freakin' Day!!

What a stressful day I had yesterday. How stressful you wonder? Well, let's just say that I think it was divine intervention that all I drank out of the bottle of Cab-Sav that I bought IN THE MIDDLE OF THE AFTERNOON was 8 oz (4pts).

Yesterday morning I took daughter to the walk in clinic for her 2nd shot of Gardasil. When she had her first shot she passed out. This is unusual for her as she has no problems with needles. So, yesterday, in she goes, because she is 16 now and likes to go on her own. She also had an infected toe that she needed more medication for. Anyhow, I'm sitting in the waiting room listening to Harry Potter on my iPod when the nurse comes to get me. Daughter has passed out again. Or so I think.

When I get in there, the nurse is asking all kinds of questions. I don't really understand what is going on - to be honest - I thought she was fishing to see if I thought my daughter was doing drugs. I was getting a bit frustrated. Finally, she is able to communicate that she thinks that my daughter didn't faint - but that she had a seizure. Then the doctor "du jour" comes in and tells me that I must immediately get daughter to our family doctor so that he can give her a referral to a neurologist. A NEUROLOGIST. I'm just trying to guard my daughter against cervical cancer here and they are telling me I have to get her to a neurologist ASAP.

Now, you guys don't know me in life. If you did, you would know that this news would IMMEDIATELY bring on tears. Just 'cause that is how my body processes stress. Yes, this is annoying for me to live with, as well as the people who know me, but....

I get myself together enough to make it out through the waiting room. Daughter wanted to run into Starbucks (in the same parking lot). I give her $$ and tell her she has to go alone, because at this point I know I'm going to REALLY break down, and I don't want to scare her more than I have already. So she leaves and the sobs start. I get a hold of my doctors office and can you believe they could fit me in? I had an hour to get to the complete other end of town, in an area I don't know, but I did it - I was only 3 minutes late! Total miracle that we made it there in one piece.

Not only did my doctor fit me in, but his office was actually closed when we finished the appt because one of his nurse's sons had DIED and they were all going to the funeral. I have to send a thank you note. Talk about going above and beyond.

Anyhow, sorry this is long, but I just need to get it out. Doctor does his thing and says that he thinks that quite likely daughter did in fact only faint and that the nurse mis-diagnosed it as a seizure. He has set up a test (through the Children's Hospital) just in case, but thinks she is just fine. Yes. FINE.

We stopped for subs on the way home. Daughter went in to get the subs, I went into the liquor store. Yes. I actually did that. When I had then later taken daughter to work and was done driving for the day I poured myself a glass of wine (I drink from a 2 oz port glass).

What an emotional roller coaster I was on all day. Husband, of course, is the type to not panic until all the tests are done. He therefore, did not have the same ride on the roller coaster. He also cannot even understand why I do that myself. Sigh.

So, tally at the end of the day - 9 flex pts used - 4 of those on wine. The other reason I was over was because I had a 3pt snack while watching tv and daughter got me the wrong sauce on my sub (she got me the sauce I like, but not the one I usually get!!). I did not stress eat. Normally I would have finished the whole bottle of wine AND snacked the whole time. I guess that is some progress!

Today is daughter's first day of Grade 12. Sigh. She just spent the morning changing clothes 80 billion times and her school time snarkiness is back in full force. It is going to be a looooong year.

Have a healthy day bloggers!!

Monday Monday

Made it through the day! Didn't go to cycle class 'cause husband was stuck in meeting at work until too late. Did walk puppy during the day and ran at night. Want to hear my latest puppy walking story? WELL, I'm toodling along walking the dog and he is prancing ever so perfectly beside me. I take phone out of pocket to check messages, take napkin out of pocket for runny nose..... more toodling. We get on the 2nd half of the walk and puppy does his business. Put hand in pocket for bag. Panic. Check other pocket. Tons of panic. NO POO BAGS. Must have fallen out of my pocket when I was taking the other stuff out!!!!! I'm a responsible pet owner, so out comes the napkin again. Sigh. Finished my walk with poo in a napkin!!!!!!!!!! What a loser!!!!!

My run last night wasn't great. I never hit my stride. My breathing wasn't rhythmic. My arms kept crossing in front of my body. I finished it - ended up doing over 5k, but it wasn't a good run. I suppose it is good that I at least finished.

Today..... walk with dog. Tonight I will go up to the Club with husband and do some time on the spin bike.

I'm making split pea soup for supper tonight. Mmmm, it smells so good in here right now. I make mine with 450g split peas, one large onion, one carrot and one cup of left over ham. I chop the veggies & meat in my little food processor so that the bits are all tiny. Works out to 1 pt per serving! Scrumptious!!

My daughter just got her schedule for teaching swimming lessons. She will be a busy little girl! She does better in school if her time is more structured (from all those years of competitive synchro) so I'm quite happy. It will also help me separate a bit before she goes off to school. And if that wasn't great enough already - she will be making a shit load of $$ - which will make going away to University a lot more likely. I think it teaches good lessons for them to help pay for their education. We have tons put away (although it used to be more before the recession!!), but I want her to really understand what a privilege her education is, and what kind of hard work goes into saving $$ for it. We have been saving since she was 2. I think a year of her saving will give her a good idea of some of the sacrifice that goes into that.

Not much else to report. Picked up the latest WW magazine. Haven't gone through it all yet. I like to take my time because it only comes out 6 times a year.

Hope you all have a healthy day.

Running without the pup

I waited until the pup was in the backyard and snuck out of the house for my run. And, oh, what a run it was!! It was nice to have no distractions. I finished my run quickly and my pace was really good compared to when I run with the dog. I really think as long as he gets a good walk every day at a quick pace.... I should be ok to run on my own. Plus, he couldn't have been too mad with me - he still went nuts when I walked through the door after my run!!

Yesterday afternoon I went up to the Club with husband. He did weights while I did 30 minutes on the spin bike, 20 minutes on the elliptical that has a running stride (you know the machine that you can do either step, elliptical or running on?) and then I stretched for 10 minutes on the stretching machine. I love that thing.

Today I was supposed to meet husband for a spin class @ 5:30. He now might not be able to make it. I could go without him, but... I don't think I will. Today is a run day for me and I'd rather do that. If it turns out he can make it, then I will have a super duper cardio day!

I made it through last week on program. Today I not only start a new WW week but a new FitBook! That is right - yesterday I finished another one! Yay me!! I just love, love, love those books! I really like being able to track both my fitness and food in the same place.

Hmmm, not much else to report.

Seems like most of the Eastern bloggers I read made it through Bill without any major happenings - good news indeed!!

Have a healthy day bloggers!!

Facing the music

I don't have a pot to piss in right now, so I did not go to WW. I did however hop on my scale here at home. The final tally? 2.8 gain since my last weigh in. Honestly, I was expecting more. There was a time I would go away for a week and come home 5 pounds heavier. I guess that is some progress. I'm not giving up my dream to come home from vacation with a maintain though!

Not much else on the go. Took the pup for an hour long walk this afternoon and it was so nice out. He was so good. No pulling. We passed one dog on our walk. Despite my best efforts, he got ballistic excited. Sigh. We will work this kink out if I have to have the Barkbuster lady to my house every week!!

I am getting ready to go for a run this evening. Sans puppy. I'm feeling kinda guilty about this EXCEPT that he did have a long walk already and my running I've decided is really all about ME!! I don't want to have to stop for pee or poop breaks. I want to be able to hit my stride and just enjoy the feeling that comes with that. I know my resolve will weaken when those big brown eyes look up at me when I get my socks & iPod out, but...... I'm not wrong, am I??

Oh, and I'm completely freaking out because my daughter is starting Grade 12 this coming Thursday. Her graduation date is already posted on the school website. I'm so not READY!!!!!!!!!

Have a healthy day!

Stupid House song

I'm sure you've all seen that commercial for the 2-hour season premier of House. Well, the song from that commercial won't get out of my head!!

Newest Obsession

I forgot to tell you all

One of the bloggers I read regularly just celebrated her 21st wedding anniversary which reminded me that I had a story to tell you all.

While we were in Montreal, just like every year when we go, husband & I had an anniversary. Husband rolls over on the day before when he wakes up and says "tomorrow is our anniversay". "I know" I tell him. He says "I just want you to know that I am really, really happy". How cute is that?

Fast forward to the next day. Husband rolls over and says "Wow. 19 years. That's a looooong time". "I know - doesn't feel like a day over 25" I tell him....... "be honest.." I whisper "did you ever for one second think we would actually last this long?" I can see him thinking "should I be honest?" (seriously - I swear I smelled wood burning!). He decides to be honest. "Hell no!!" and then breaks into a fit of laughter. Oy!!

We went out for dinner that evening just the two of us - to the Brasserie Manoir - which was so close to my friend's house we could walk there and back. It was quiet but quite nice.

So, now we just have to make it through the rest of our lives!

Training Tip: 3 Strength Moves for Runners (and Walkers) - MORE Magazine

I thought this article might interest any runners reading!

Training Tip: 3 Strength Moves for Runners (and Walkers) - MORE Magazine

Shared via AddThis

Hmmm, what to say, what to say

I finished my vacation by the pool at my BFF's. We enjoyed spectacular weather, food and drink and more than the occasional dip in the pool. I even played my first ever game of Marco Polo. Every time my girlfriend or I got close to catching each other we would have fits of laughter that would render us unable to move out of the way. What a good time.

I ran 8 times on holidays and I was happy with my pace. All of them were around 6:40/km. I wasn't a runner (jogger) when I grew up in Montreal, so I've never run in the humidity. That was not fun. I prefer the thin air where I live to the humid air there!!

So, how to move forward from my vacation. Yesterday I walked the dog and that was it for activity. I was still kinda tired and had a really bad headache. Today puppy is at daycare getting a much needed grooming, so I might toodle out for a run. I know I will feel better once I have.

Started tracking again immediately on Monday. My body is adjusting to wholesome foods again. The family we stayed with was more into fruit than veggies. My family is really more veggie heavy. We ate a whole head of cauliflower last night for supper trying to make up our deficits!! HAHA

Not much else on the go. I am planning to weigh in on Saturday morning. I usually weigh on Wednesdays, but I need the extra days to undo some damage.

I had e-mailed Amy that I was going on vacation so that I wouldn't be dropped from the challenge but she never responded. I hope I can still report in, no matter how bad it will be!

Oh! I almost forgot! Daughter asked me if we could hire a personal trainer up at the club for her & I to workout together once a week. I told her I would do that if she would commit to workout on her own two other times per week, either up at the fitness center or swimming with my husband. She agreed!! So, as soon as she find out her schedule for work at the club teaching swimming lessons in the fall, we will be searching out a trainer! I'm excited to work with one again. I was really doing well when I worked with mine last year.

Have a healthy day bloggers!!

Weekly Challenge - week 8

Our Weekly Challenge this week is to share some figure friendly summer dish.

I would like to offer up what I do for side dishes.

The first is to grill corn on the cob in the husks. We soak the corn in water and then place it directly on the grill. I like my corn crunchy, so it only takes... 20 - 30 minutes. Mmmm. I also top it with the Becel toping spray. 5 squirts for 0 calories and it gives that buttery feeling.

The second is a family favourite. Grilled asparagus. We very lightly brush it with EVOO and then sprinkle lemon pepper on it. OMG. SO good. We have to cook two bunches just for the three of us!!

Anyhow - these are two staples in our house in the summer. The best part is, with these two side dishes I don't need to make potatoes or rice!

Back from Vacation!

I just updated my profile picture - that laugh pretty much sums up how much fun we had. Will catch up properly tomorrow.

Catch up

Daughter and I went to the CN Tower for lunch with my friend and her daughter. What a great restaurant. Plus, what a great way to get to the top. You don't have to wait in any lines! I would never go up any other way. You have to pay quite a bit to get up anyhow - might as well be paying for food. The view was so nice. I'm afraid of heights, so I had to face the wall in the elevator (I felt like an ass) and I just about shit my pants when daughter went to stand on the glass floor with, oh, I don't know, a MILLION other tourists, but.....

After lunch we drove to Vaughn where we stayed at a brand spanking new Holiday Inn. It was nice. We just grabbed subs from the Subway that was right beside the hotel and relaxed in the room.

Friday I was up early and did my run on one of the two treadmills in the "fitness" room. Then we had the breakfast buffet that comes free with the hotel room - it was tiny but really good.

Once breakfast was out of the way we were off to Canada's Wonderland. Oy! 9 hours of walking around waiting for everyone to be done their rides and water slides. I went on one roller coaster and one water slide. Other than that I was the official bag holder. Everyone had a great day and the weather couldn't have been better.

When we finally got back to the hotel - more subs from Subway (my family could eat there ever day!) and relaxation!!

Next day was a travel day back go Montreal, so back to the buffet (again good) and into the van for what seems like a billion hours. But not before I did my run on the treadmill!!

My high school had a mini reunion last night - what could be better after a billion hours in the van, right?? So, off girlfriend & I toodled for fun and frolic and a couple of drinks and a couple of dances. Fun times. I was laughing so hard at one point that it hurt the muscles in the back of my head!!

Today is a pool day. I think I've earned it!!

Please take a minute to look at my NikePlus Mini Me. Specifically, look at how many kilometers I've walked/run since Christmas. Better than a kick in the ass, eh????????

Have a healthy day Bloggers!!

I heart the Blue Jays....

Even though they can't win a game to save their lives.

That's right people, today we piled into the van, drove 5.5 hours to Toronto and went to the baseball game.

We are staying at the Westin Harbour Castle which is just walking distance away from the Rogers Center. What a great job they did on that Sky Dome. Since I'm from Montreal, I'm not really comfortable watching a professional baseball game without cement blocks falling on my head - but even though the Sky Dome doesn't have that - it was AWESOME!! What a top notch facility. We had a ball at the game. I had my requisite hot dog and beer and then switched to water. Sadly, my husband did not - and the beer was $10 a pop!! Oy - was he drunk by the time we got home!!

After we checked in my girlfriend & I met an old high school buddy for a drink in the lounge. After ONE I excused myself (buddy was more my girlfriend's friend than mine - and I thought they might like some one on one time) and went for a run on the treadmill at the fitness center - where there was no air conditioning, but lots of humidity. I was sweating so much that I had to keep wiping my eyes! That never happens to me when I'm running. Anyhow - the run was great. Of course, my knees are screaming today from being on the treadmill, but....

Tomorrow husband goes with girlfriend and her family to the Hockey Hall of Fame and daughter & I go to the 360 Restaurant at the top of the CN Tower for lunch with yet another girlfriend from high school and her daughter, who is celebrating her 13th birthday!

Have a healthy day bloggers!!

Humidity Bloat

How did I live with this humidity? OMG!! I feel like the Stay Puff Marshmallow Man from GhostBusters movie!!!

We had a ball up north - I even put my feet in the lake!

Graciela: I don't like to swim 'cause I hate being wet! HAHA (although, in the spirit of full disclosure - I'm also not comfortable in a bathing suit - but have been wearing my two piece without cover up in an effort to overcome that silliness - not that I think it is silly cause I look good - just that life is too short!!)

Having said THAT - I was SO sticky today when we got back from up North that I did it again! No, I didn't jyrate to my favourite Britney Spears song - I jumped into the pool!!

I didn't run yesterday, since we were up North, and today when we got back it was just too humid. I was planning on running tonight, until the awful thunderstorm started. Sheesh.

Tonight we unpack - laundry - pack again because tomorrow at 7:00 am we hit the road for Toronto where we will be watching a Blue Jays game!!!!!! I CANNOT WAIT!!!!!

Am so sick from not eating properly. Daughter's stomach was so upset she didn't even eat dinner! I did - but most of what I ate were grilled veggies. They were good and I was craving those vitamins! We had LaFleur's for lunch. Mmmmmm. My steamed all dressed hot dog and poutine was so good. It just about killed me, but what a way to go!!

Sorry - these posts are short and all over the place- but.....

Hope everyone is staying on plan and is ready to talk me though what will be a long road back to program! I will make a good choice for my next meal. I can do this. Just one meal at a time.

sodium hangover

it rained all day today. men folk went to video golf to golf 18 - husband of people we are visiting just bought new clubs day before that HAD to be worked in - and lady fold had a movie day. Rented Bride wars on the satellite. Not an oscar award winner, but fun. We also watched Adventures of a Teenaged Drama Queen. Lindsay had so much potential.

Didn't get my run in until around 5:00, which is when there was a break in the weather. Holy freakin humidity batman!! I had a great run, but f*ck was I wet by the time I was done. Gross. So hot was I that I jumped in the pool right away when I got back. I NEVER GO IN THE POOL. But I was sooooooooo hot.

Rest of the evening was quiet. Watched a ton of Gene Simmons Family Jewels. So funny.

Off to Gratten Lake tomorrow. Men are golfing in a tournament, women & children - having a beach day. Life is goooooood.

Oh, I ate decent and only had 4 glasses of wine the whole day. I'm a rock star. HAHAHAHA

Cinemarie - if you're reading this - this is my hometown too!! I grew up part in Verdun & part in Pierrefonds - you??

Allo!

I'm on vacation in Montreal right now.

I ran this morning.

I also ate my weight in potato chips sitting around the pool drinking sangria enjoying the very best day

That is all.