R2P4D62- 2.9 loss

Daily Loss 2.9 Current Weight 145.3 Above LIW 1.8   It sure is hard to get back to posting after being on vacation for a week.  Especially when my mind is still back at the beach :)...I cant believe its been 15 days since I last posted...   I gained a little more than 5 lbs at the beach, but already am back down below where I was the day we left (1.8 above LIW).  Somehow, without trying, yesterday, I lost 2.9 lbs, more than the Steak Day the day before.  Go figure.  Today was my son's kindergarten meet up, and I had a cookie there.  And a piece of french bed pizza for lunch with some doritos.  Not the best choice of foods, but at least Im not overindulging like I normally do when I eat those foods.  And roasted chicken with brussels and salad are on the menu for dinner, so I should be ok.  I definitely want to get back to below LIW soon...   TOM arrived yesterday with no hoopla...and again, my appetite has been decreased since his arrival.  Still wondering about that.  I also wonder how my next short round (ETA Oct 1st) will affect my hormones in the next few months...   How are you guys doing? How was your summer (and can you believe its over :(?   Ps- I did another sprint Triathlon (Tri the Wildwoods) on the 21st, and did really well.  29 minutes on the beach run, 33 minutes for the 10 mile bike, and a slow ocean swim (but it was the ocean!): 18 minutes for 1/4 mile (definitely felt longer than that though)...I still have yet to sign up for an olympic and time is running out.  Not sure its going to happen, especially since the pool I go to is closed for a week, and the only Olympics in the area are on Sept 12th...not much time to practice...

R2P4D47-2.0 loss

Current Weight 146.3 Daily Loss 2lbs (steak day)   Friday weight: 146.5 (still working to get down from sisters visit) Saturday weight: 147.4 (Friday night neighbor great together-lots of cc cookies) Sunday weight: 148.3 (Hersheypark junk food fest)   The summer takes the posting enthusiasm right out of me...that in combination with my sisters visit, tons of work, and getting ready for next weeks vacation makes it hard to find the motivation or the time to post.  And I think this being above my LIW for more than a week makes me really uncomfortable too...especially since I dont feel good even 3 lbs about LIW.  My clothes fit differently, my waist expands.   And I know that unless I have tremendous willpower next week, I will definitely be up above LIW so I want to get down way below this week before we leave.  With only 5 days, though and another book club tomorrow night, and being 3 lbs above it right now, Im not thinking its going to happen.    So am I ok with that?  I have it in my mind that with all the exercise Im going to be doing for the rest of my life, with the fall and winter coming and many fewer get togethers, and of course, with my committment to this new body, I should not be concerned.  But weren't excuses what got me here in the first place?    How do you balance the scales to allow fun and pleasure in without breaking your spirit or the scale?

R2P4D43- .2 loss

Current Weight 147.1 Daily Loss .2 Above LIW 3.6   Working to get down to my LIW, even though you wouldn't guess it with all the fun stuff I ate at book club last night.  I hosted and served steak and cheese taquitos, pepperoni and cheese savories, nutella and pretzels, lots of fruit and veggies, and foccacia with vegetable bruschetta.  Yum!  I also had two glasses of wine and was very excited that I didnt gain anything this morning.  Fingers crossed that the loss continues...after all the brussel sprouts I ate today, I dont know what to think.    Have to get some exercise in today.  I did a Jackie Warner DVD last week encompassing weight and core training and really enjoyed it.   While Im thinking of it, might as well get my butt up...and then Masters tonight if we miss the thunderstorms?   Whats your favorite type of workout?   And who's ready to see Eat Pray Love tomorrow?  (i cant wait, I LOVED the book)...

What a weekend!

Sis and her hubby left today.  We had a blast: Phillies Game, Atlantic City, the beach, Stockton, NJ (where my hubby and I were married and lived for a little while)...we ate a lot, laughed a lot, and I sure will miss her, as will the kids.   Up 7.8lbs from Thursday (141.5 then, 149.3 now), and doing a steak and nut day to get myself back within LIW range.  Hosting local bookclub tomorrow and then another busy weekend awaits, so hopefully the weight will just drop right off before I start piling it back on.  I will learn moderation when traveling...just not yet.   See you tomorrow...hope you all are well!

R2P4D35- up 1.5

Current weight 145

Ate lots of sugary highly caloric stuff yesterday... Mint ice cream, pizza, nutella, so the gain is understandable. I'm hoping my clean eating today gets me back down, since I'll be eating out most of the weekend. My sister and her husband are coming to visit tomorrow night and staying til Tuesday so we'll be away doing the touristy thing. My hope is that I don't have a repeat of the Lancaster 9.3 gain...though I do plan to enjoy myself this weekend.

Did my normal wed pilates/ yoga/ running routine today. Tomorrow I'm going to try to get to the pool after work for a swim before giving blood, picking up my food club food, and then heading to the airport.

What are your plans for the weekend?

R2P4D33-SheRox

Weight 143.5 Up 2 lbs from Sat Exercise: 560m swim, 15.5 m bike, 3.1m run in 1:47:30   So guess who finished the bike portion of the SheRox Philly triathlon with a flat tire, which blew around mile 11, and for which said triathlete did not get off the bike because she wanted to finish in under 2hrs?  Yep, that would be me.  I thought I heard something happen with the tire on the second lap of the bike course-it sounded like it popped, and then it got much more difficult to ride on, but I figured, maybe I was wrong, since I was still able to pedal and keep my speed up, and since I assumed if it was flat, I wouldnt be able to ride it, right?  Nope, after the race I found out that tire was way flat...so much so that Im surprised I didnt hurt myself by flipping over the handlebars when the bike decided it was done. I was so focused on finishing, that I didnt have time for flat tire.    I had a few guardian angels yesterday in addition to the bike finish fairy...the forecasted thunderstorms (or almost hail storm) that could have canceled the swim and made the race a duathlon, or which could have called the race altogether didn't start until we finished the race and were walking our bikes back to the car (after I changed out of my wet clothes, just to be back in wet clothes again).  And I was guaranteed a under 2 hr finish if I did ok, just because they shortened the swim course by 200yds without giving us a good reason.  But even with the longer course, I would have finished in under 2, because I had a REALLY awesome race.  My best ever bike time and run time.  Even when I run without doing anything else, the best I was able to do for a 5k in practice was 31 minutes and I finished in 29:36...I beat my time from 2007 by 37 minutes!!!!!  Minus the max 10 that it would have taken me to do an extra 200yds,and thats still a whole lotta time!   It was a great day...I wasnt tired afterwards, I actually had lots of energy, and I really think if I keep up my training regimen that I can do an Olympic distance next month (1m swim, 30m bike, 10k run).  Not sure if my schedule will allow it, but Im going to look...   Hubby and the kids came down to watch, which was AWESOME.  And since the race parking was next to the Please Touch Museum and since it was pouring, that's where we spent the afternoon drying off.  The kids had a blast, and Mark and I were able to wear them out a little so we wouldnt have to work as hard once entertainign them once we got home...that time was for relaxing in front of the TV.  And then taking a long hot bath, and bedtime by 9pm.  All in all, I was very pleased with Sunday, August 1st.  And I think I look pretty good in my pics too!  Let me know what you think...

SheROX race results

KELLY SCOTTI #644

DOYLESTOWN, PA

Age: 38 Gender: F

Distance	Short
Clock Time	01:47:30
Overall Place	300 / 993
Division Place	50 / 159
Swim	00:17:07
Swimrank	549
Trans1	00:02:05
Bike	00:56:42
Bikerank	286
Mph	16.4
Trans2	00:01:47
Runrank	398
Run	00:29:46
Pace	00:09:36
Penalty	0

YEAH!

R2P4D29- .2 loss

R2P2 Highest Loading Weight 165.3
Current Weight 143.7
LIW 143.5
Over LIW .2
Food Tracker (choose July 29th)
Exercise Tracker (yesterday): 25 minutes pilates, 40 minutes yoga, 36 minutes running (10:30min/mil)

Finally got my background back up, and my weight back down.  Im .2 above LIW.  Ive been trying to stick close to my calories limit of no more than 1550 plus the calories I burn during my workouts, so I should be good today, since Ill be swimming in an hour, and yesterday since I worked out hard.  Even though I had skinny cow ice cream sandwiches yesterday and today, and primo's hoagies too!

Sunday is the big day, my first tri of the season.  I have to get up at 4:15am Sunday morning to get down to the race site in Philly by 6ish and ready to race by 8.  Then it'll be all over by 10:30, and Ill get to spend the day with the kids at the zoo or at the Please Touch Museum (depending on the weather) before falling into my bed by 4pm, Im sure.  Im really looking forward to it...the race AND the sleeping.

Lots of things going on in my head, and soon in my world, even more than normal.  Im hopefully going to be traveling abroad for vacation in Sept or Oct, either to Italy, Costa Rica, or my favorite, Thailand.  Hubby has given me the thumbs up to leave him and the kids for a week so I can travel with a friend.  He's not really big into international travel, so its more desirable for him to have me spread my wings, and he can stay home and watch sports without being bothered :)...truly! 

I am also thinking of doing either yoga teacher training in Oct or getting a personal trainer certification.  Dont really want to do both at the same time, because I think that MIGHT be a little too much, and I dont want to overwhelm myself too much.  When I do the yoga training, I also want to make sure Im not distracted, and immerse myself fully so I get the most out of it.   It should be wonderful.  And since I cant travel for a month without the kids, I have to stay local to do the teacher training, even though it would be amazing to go to India and train.  So thats big.  Just gotta find the studio I want to work with.  Theres one in town that Im going to do unlimited classes with in Sept to see if its a good fit.

I also have something in the works that Im pretty excited about...Im thinking of doing a jewelry line (specifically bracelets for now) that relate to weight loss and would serve as a constant reminder of how important it is to be aware of what we eat.  I am having a prototype made right now, and if it works out like I hope, Ill be offering them for sale on my blog, and of course, having a giveaway for my bloggy peeps!  Anything you'd like to see on a bracelet (up to 6 words)-you're welcome to post it here:

Here are the sayings I've come up with so far (and Ive tm'ed the first one):
Every bite is a choice and a pleasure (thats the one Im making for myself and may mass produce)
Vote with your fork (for my food coop buddies)
Delicious, sublime, serene awareness
Slow and sure, you're doing it!

Wait till you see it, its going to be awesome, though it might take me a month or so...

Technical Difficulties

Looks like my blogger background is gone, so Im going to have to reload it this week.  Pardon my appearance while I update it...   And just as an fyi, Im up 3lbs from Friday.  Doing steak day today.  Rode 30 miles yesterday, lots of hills.  It was VERY hot all weekend.  And I am ready to rock SheROX on Sunday...goal is sub 2hr...but I figure Ill be closer to 2:15...all ok!

R2P4D23- .7 loss

R2P2 Highest Loading Weight 165.3 Current Weight 143.7 LIW 143.5 Over LIW .2 Food Tracker (choose July 22nd) Exercise Tracker (yesterday): 3 miles walk/run; Swimming 50 minutes   Oops, forgot to post yesterday.  Yesterday I lost .7 and today I lost .4.  So Im right back into LIW again, just in time for the weekend.    This summer Ive been eating lots of whole foods, and loving it.  I've been trying to make a new recipe every week, and trying new veggies, so yesterday I did both.  I made okra fries for the first time (okra lightly coated in olive oil and sea salt, oven for 15 minutes at 400 degrees)...and really enjoyed them.    Next on the agenda is zucchini.  Ive had it before, but never found a way to cook it that Ive enjoyed, so this time I am going to try it roasted, in a lasagna, and in a raw dish.  Ill share the recipes after I try them...dont want to share anything that isnt delicious and nutritious, right (says the poet who doesnt know it)?    Got one week before my tri, so biking is first and foremost on the exercise schedule for this weekend.  When I ride, my knee and neck still hurt, so I have to find a way to get a little more comfortable.  There is the TOUR DE TINICUM this weekend, and one of the routes is 34 miles, so Im probably going to do that Sunday morning if the weather cooperates (yes, Ive only done 12 miles so far at a single session this season).  And then next week, Ill focus on doing bricks (two sports following one another) on M, W, and Friday and tues and thurs Ill focus on practicing transition.  I still need to figure out how to get my shoes to stay on the pedals without dragging during transition from swim to bike and bike to run (since I got new tri shoes that stay on the pedals and then you slide your foot into them once you are on the bike-saving you time), in addition to figuring out how to get my foot into the shoes without toppling over.  Thats going to look pretty comical to passerbys, Im sure.    If any of you want to take a step towards triathlon, let me know, I would love to put together a coaching group.  Maybe help you guys do you first one next spring?    On that note, back to work.  See you on Monday...hopefully in one piece!

R2P4D21- .7 gain

R2P2 Highest Loading Weight 165.3 Current Weight 144.9 LIW 143.5 Over LIW 1.4 Food Tracker (choose July 20th) Exercise Tracker (yesterday): Nada Today: 30 minute pilates, 40 minutes yoga, 1hr biking (only 12 miles :(   Made it to the cemetary and the reception yesterday, but not without crying, most of all because my sensitive hubby couldnt stop the waterworks, and I cant help but support him in his endeavours.  Really, it brought up a lot of issues, most of all, the fact that my friend, who means a great deal to me, is suffering from thyroid cancer herself, and her father's death just brought out the fear that she might suffer a similar fate.  When I spoke with her at the reception, however, she said that she is at peace because of the truths her father was able to speak to her about before he passed.  He told her that he asked god to spare her and take him instead, and that god agreed.  And whether or not you believe that or not, its pretty powerful stuff.  I know I would make the same deal for my kids' lives.   We decided not to stay and eat yesterday because the emotions were a little too high, so we went to Primos instead and got some hoagies.  I admit I ate the whole 8 inch one I got: whacked chicken: chicken tenders, sharp provolone, pesto and bruscetta.  Amazingly good.  I didnt even check the calorie count, but Im sure it was in the 1000 range.  So worth it.    Today, I got back on my bike, deciding I need to be on it every day it doesnt rain until my tri next Sunday, August 1st.  Not sure why Im scared of riding lately...especially on the street, but I guess Im more afraid of getting injured now when Im in such good shape, because that could lead to not such a good shape, if you get my drift.  Im still struggling to lose, and somehow get to my goal of 125/130.  And I have 5 lbs to lose by next Sunday if my goal of getting in the 130s before my tri is to be realized.  i just have to buck up and do it, if Im serious.  No eating out until then, no junk, cleaning eating and daily exercise.  Do I want it that bad?  Yes, and no...   fyi...Books im reading right now (that I highly recommend): The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin The Beck Diet Solution by Judith Beck The Four Day Win by Martha Beck Our Lady of Weight Loss by Janice Taylor

R2P4D20- 1.1 loss

R2P2 Highest Loading Weight 165.3 Current Weight 144.2 LIW 143.5 Over LIW .7 Food Tracker (choose July 19th) Exercise Tracker (yesterday): 4 mile run (10min/ml); 40 minute swim   Hovering around my LIW, so thats good.  I splurged a little last night, having two skinny cow ice cream sandwiches, so I wasn't sure what to expect, even with the 800 calories I burned working out yesterday.   Its strange, but I can burn 800 calories, only take in 1500 calories, and still not see much of a loss.  Do you find it the same way?  I want to get tested in one of those bod pods to see how fast my metabolic rate is, since Im assuming its really slow...I always gain when Im over 1600 calories no matter how much exercise I did that day.  And I still want to test the food combining principle for myself...gotta remember to do that.   Today I am attending the funeral of a friend's father.  Well, actually, since I have a work meeting that I cannot get out of, I will be only going to the cemetary and the reception, but at least my husband will be at the mass.  Her father passed away only 3 weeks after being diagnosed with gallbladder cancer.  For me, I think I would prefer to live only a short time after a terminal diagnosis like that, since I wouldnt have to suffer as much.  And my family wouldnt have to see you in such a horrible state for months on end.  But I also know how hard it is to lose someone so quickly when you are not expecting it, and to not have time to say goodbye.  My father died in 1999 at age 73-he decompensated very quickly due to a host of issues after not being sick once in my memory.  I didnt make it home to see him before he passed, and maybe thats good because he didnt suffer long.  But it was hard for me.  I had lots of issues with my dad, and I never really felt that I had closure.  And oh, the guilt of not being there...thats rough too.     M-our hearts go out to you and your family.

R2P4D19- I didnt weigh...

R2P2 Highest Loading Weight 165.3 Daily Loss/Gain NO IDEA Current Weight  NO IDEA Saturday weight 144 Sunday weight 145.3 Exercise Tracker (yesterday):  Saturday-yoga Sunday1 hr slow walk pushing jogging stroller, 20 minutes spin bike   I actually skipped the scale today.  Had to come to the office, and I just didnt feel like it.  It was freeing, liberating, a little scary, and honestly, Ill probably go back to weighing again tomorrow, but I feel good.   I didnt eat too much over the weekend, and I didnt obsess about eating either...which was wonderful, and probably why Im not worried about the scale.  Ever since TOM arrived on Friday Ive felt different about food...and yes, he did arrive, I forgot to tell you.  First time since D13 of R2P2.  Very weird TOM, though, he is not as effusive as he normally is, didnt cause me any mental strife, didnt announce his coming, and he seems to want to stick around for a while, causing bloat and confusion.    Since Friday, I haven't had my thoughts clouded by food, when is my next meal, oh I cant wait to have that, etc.  Im really enjoying it.  And I havent been very hungry at all, which could be him as well, or the heat.   Lots happened this weekend, especially in terms of my parenting skills.  I have been reading The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin, and she mentions some of the parenting tips she has come across in her research that have been most helpful to her...and Im loving trying to employ them with my kids.  This weekend, without argument, I got my oldest to clean all the dog poop in the yard, take a shower on his own, walk the dog 1 mile (normally he doesnt walk the dog, and he has never walked a mile), watch his brother for a few minutes (without ignoring him for the TV, which is huge!), and go to bed without argument and without asking for more TV.  Yes, I am $3 poorer, but it was worth every penny, and Im teaching him responsibility, respect, instilling confidence, self worth and security in him.  I just hope I can keep this up....no yelling, talking respectfully to him, hearing him out, acknowledging his feelings-its a lot of work!...and yes, he deserves every bit of it, and I promise I wont be too lazy...   On a darker note, he reported to me that a kid at school was punching him in his private areas.  I had read a blog post on Friday about being open and honest about talking about this with your kids....ie making sure they use the words penis and vagina, making sure they know that no one is to touch them in these areas (unless mommy and daddy for washing if needed, or for potty training-depending on age), and also that they know how to report it if someone is touching them inappropriately.  So I had that talk with him last night, and found out the news.  I made sure he wasnt just joking around, and made sure he knew that he had to tell his counselor and I would too the next day.  This morning when I talked to the asst director, the camp indicated that a lot of time kids goof around like that when they are that age (5), but that they consider it very serious and will discuss it with the child and the parent.  I just hope this hasn't effected my son long term.  And what if I hadn't asked?  I urge you to have a discussion about this with your kids, if you dont already.  Its so scary to think about all the ways they can be hurt that arent visible...   All of you, take good care today...

R2P4D16- .7 loss

R2P2 Highest Loading Weight 165.3 Daily Loss/Gain .7 Current Weight 144.6 Thurs gain/weight: 2.4/145.3 LIW 143.5 Over LIW 1.1 Food Tracker (choose July 15th) Exercise Tracker (yesterday): 1 hr slow walk pushing jogging stroller   Too run down yesterday to post, and with a big gain as well due to nutella and homeade zuccini bread; sausage, velvetta and salsa dip; chicken tenders; and lots of pita chips at Weds book club.  Down a little today, even though I had two glasses of wine at book club yesterday.    Stomach not feeling so well today, so Im going to eat light.  Also, really congested again..wonder if thats due once again to the change in temp like a few weeks ago-wed was mid 70s and today back in the 90s.  Got lots of work to do today, so post will be short.  Just wanted to make sure I kept up with documenting my weight and food...its so easy to not do it and then fall off the path of eating right since you can deceive yourself about being good when the evidence is not laid out in front of you.  Plan today is to run and swim, though we'll see what my belly thinks about that.  Also, summer hours are in effect today, so I have appox 1.5 hours to get 4 hrs of work done...and then Ill be off to run errands.    This weekend, Im going to do yoga tomorrow and maybe check out a few garage sales, and then help my friend by babysitting her kids while she works.  Tomorrow night is date night...really looking forward to that!  And Sunday will most likely be brunch with the inlaws and lots of needed house cleaning (since our cleaner has been MIA for over 3 weeks now!).   Hope you guys have a great weekend.  See you on Monday~

R2P4D14- 0.0

R2P2 Highest Loading Weight 165.3 Daily Loss/Gain 0 Current Weight 142.9 LIW 143.5 Under LIW .6 Food Tracker (choose July 13th) Exercise Tracker (yesterday): 10 minute abs, 40 minutes spin bike (light workout)   Yesterday wasnt a bad a night as I thought it would be.  I down about 16oz of diet mountain dew around noon knowing that that much caffeine (since I rarely have any lately) would keep me up easily until 1am, and I was right.  My coaching sessions went well, and I even did an ab workout during my 1/2 hr break at 10pm (to keep me wide awake).    Even steven this morning with my weight, and considering I consumed about 1700 calories yesterday, and included chocolate in the mix twice!, I am happy with that.  This morning I had a cup of chocolate granola (a whopping 520 calories and some dried figs, and am looking forward to some chorizo on the grilled and roasted brussel sprouts for dinner.  And for dinner, I am going to eat at Book Club...what a rare treat.  Normally I try to eat before I go to avoid temptation, and so I can finish all my food intake before 8pm, but I am going to moderate my eating, and let myself enjoy whatever I want within limits.  I feel free, and hope my body agrees with me tomorrow.  Since its book club again tomorrow night...   Just did a grueling workout...1/2 hour pilates, 50 minutes yoga, and then 40 minutes on the treadmill (3.5miles).  I am tired, good tired, and not hungry at all.  Though I definitely need to go stretch.   Hope you guys have a wonderful day today...as well as BIG LOSSES!  And dont forget to watch the summer premiere of Pysch on USA at 10pm EST (love that show!).