fresh picked whimsy

Been there, done that!

I still cannot believe I did it!  We did it!  We completed the Indianapolis 500 Festival Mini Marathon.

{picture of mark and i crossing the finish line...}

I know this is old news...(it was over a month ago) but i'm still catching up on my blogging.  And...it was a HUGE HUGE accomplishment.  Plus, everyone asks me about my experience, so i thought i would share.

To be completely honest, it was one of the hardest things i've ever done.

We trained, we prepared and it was HARD.  But we got 'er done.  What an experience! 

This is the view from our starting position.  We were in corral z (for those of you who have never been in a mini or regular marathon...they place you in order of experience and time).  We were at the back of the pack because we had never done it before.  The start line was actually around the corner past the glass Artsgarden, to the left and a few miles down the road.  It took us a half hour just to get to the START LINE!

finally...the start...

There was a lot to see...we first walked past the zoo.  They brought the elephants over to the fence so we could see them.  I loved that!

There are live bands and musical acts all along the course.  A few miles into it, I saw Griffin's friends {5th graders!} and their band.  They yelled "Hi Mrs. McDonough!" on their microphone as i ran up to take their picture.  THAT WAS COOL...i got a shout out in this huge crowd of walkers.  They made me feel like a rock star!  They were AWESOME!

Mid way, we walked around the track at the Indianapolis Speedway...home of the Indy 500.  That was the worst part.  Walking on blacktop...in scorching heat...on uneven pavement...2.5 miles around. 

The track was lined with cheerleaders from state high schools, colleges and universities.  They would cheer for you and call you by name as you walked by {your name is on your bib}. 

We passed these firemen walking in full gear...they walk it every year like this.  CRAZY!  We hurried up and passed them because there was NO WAY they were going to finish before us!!!!  It was 90+ degrees that day.  I don't know how they did it.

With about 4 miles to go, i was really feeling the burn.  I honestly didn't know how i was going to finish.  I was praying hard and then, i think a little miracle happened.  We spotted one of our friends sitting on the sidewalk nearby.  She was also walking the mini, and she was ready to give up.  She was hurting and wanted to quit.  Well, it was like a little switch went off in me and i immediately went into "mom mode".  Mark got on one side of her and i got on the other and we got her walking.  We distracted her and we encouraged her and she kept on walking.  It distracted me from my pain, too.  So, we walked the last miles together and we finished it together, too.  I'm certain God put her in my path as i prayed for him to just keep making my legs move!   

The very best part of the day was when our kids and my Dad met us at the finish line.  I couldn't stop the tears...i was completely drained of energy and feeling sorry for myself and my legs were killing me.  When i saw them, i turned to mush.

That day happened to be Katie's 18th birthday, too.  They took us home and we all went to Bub's Burgers for a celebratory lunch. 

Our friends who live across the street from us...Casey and Joy...helped us with training and encouragement (they are both runners and have run the Mini multiple times).  They brought us this fun gift later that day...for checking this off of our bucket list!  It was so clever! 

We will train differently next year.  Yes...i said next year.  We will train harder.  We followed the Hal Higdon training program, but i can't say that we followed it to a T.  More like a Q.  We kind of slacked off a bit around spring break time.  Looking back, that was a mistake.  I will be way more strict in our training next year.  I hope i read this blog post next January.  Ha!

But, for the next year...i will savor in the victory of crossing that finish line! 

We did it!

Thanks to all of our friends and family who have been encouraging us and cheering us on throughout this whole process.  You are the best!! xoxo

the other side

hello friends.  i am still here.  i am.

i've been on a roller coaster.  a crazy, up and down, nauseating, exhilerating adventure. 

Life. 

You're never prepared in advance, for the twists and turns that come at you...fast and unrelenting.  All you can do is hold on for dear life and lean on the ones who are closest to you and take it as it comes. 

Since we last talked, mark and i completed a mini marathon!

 

soaked up the last days of our elementary school years with Griffin's 5th grade completion

 

enjoyed the sweet success of Craft Casserole

celebrated the four scholarships won by our Katie

 

 while savoring the many "lasts" of her primary school days,

 

 beamed with pride as she graduated high school last week

and tearfully said good-bye to our beloved Kismet. 

Something had to give.  I just couldn't keep up with it all...mostly emotionally.  So, i put the blog on hold for a bit.  Thank you for your sweet messages of concern for me.  I've missed you, too.  I'm back now.  and, i will tell you all about it.  Little by little. 

Feels good to be here. 

Thanks for not giving up on me.  Hugs to you. 

6 Miles!

Still trucking away at our training for the Mini Marathon.  We are 8 weeks out from the event and are right on target for our training.  Yesterday we walked 6 miles on our local walking trail {the Monon Trail}. Our plan was to walk 3 miles and turn around and head back.  {G scootered along with us}

Good plan...and we really had no problems except for the fact that at the end of the 3 miles we were so thirsty and had completely forgotten to bring any money with us.  The trail water fountains are still closed for winter, so we were out of luck.  Lesson learned. 

i love this sign along the trail...{random}

With this AMAZING spring-like winter we are having, and the new-found daylight in the evening, our remaining training should be a cinch!  On our walking days, Mark and I have been going to the city gym and walking on the indoor track most nights after dinner. 

{My drumstick legs while we are walking}

There's fewer people using the track then, and, it's the only time Mark has had open to walk.  It's been great, but it's so much better walking outside!  It has been a crazy winter...i'm not complaining, but it just felt odd.  No snow to speak of.  I took this pic at Target last week.  No snow = 70% off sleds!!!! 

My daffodils are blooming, everything is greening up and we are praying that Mother Nature isn't planning a sneaky winter attack as winter comes to an end...only 7 more days!!!  I took this picture on the day of those horrible tornados in southern Indiana and Kentucky.  The clouds were so low and there was this one opening. It was so spooky. 

Then i spotted this horizontal spiral cloud, which had me completely freaked out.  I was in a carpool line for Griffin and everyone in that line was watching it.  Eeeeeery!  {I guess those were kind of random, too}

So...my biggest challenge on this journey is still meal planning.  We are a busy family, with lots of activities and some picky eaters.   I'm really trying hard to keep it healthy and to manage portions.  My weight isn't coming off as easy as i thought it would with all of this exercise.  A few people have recommended apps for tracking calories and food.  I did download mapmyfitness, but just haven't had the time to set it up yet.  This was today's lunch...i love fruit in my salad...especially apples!

tonight we will have turkey burgers on portobello mushrooms.  Yum.  Everyone loves the burgers...the mushrooms, not so much.  Oh well.   Not gonna lie...i'm kinda sore from yesterday's walk.  Going to try to head to bed early tonight.  Wish me luck! 

Gettin' my sweat on

"You're crazy"

"Who do you think you are?"

"You can't do this."

"You never finish anything."

These are just some of the things i hear in my head as i continue my everlasting battle with the bulge.  Do you hear those things too?  I don't think i'm alone in this.  But, somehow, someway, i manage to push them to the back of my mind and try to scream these things even louder...{in my head, so as not to alarm the folks who might be within ear-shot}

"crazy determined!"

"I'm worth it!"

"oh, yes i can!"

"watch me!"

I made a GIANT committment to my fitness goals and registered to walk in the Indianapolis 500 Festival Mini Marathon. 

Yup.  You read that right.  And, yes...i may be crazy.  I've never even walked a 5k.  But, i'm going to do it.  In fact, my hubs Mark is doing it with me.  We are 13.5 weeks out from it and on are following the Hal Higdon training program that our good friend and seasoned marathon runner, Joy gave to us. 

I have been submerging myself in all things motivating...pinning fitness motivation like crazy, reading inspirational weight loss blogs like Mama Laughlin and Runs for Cookies, praying for God to move my feet and pouring over the last 12 months of my Fitness magazine issues.  The weather has been unseasonably awesome up to this point, which made getting outside and walking easy.  I have been taking advantage of it.  But, now, it's actually winter-like again.  And, i HATE the cold.  I so wish we had a treadmill or a gym membership, but we don't.  And, i'm not going to let that keep me from attaining my goals.  I feel like i do so great throughout spring, summer and fall and then, once the cold weather hits, i put the brakes on exercise.  So, I have become a pro at improvising... 

• A gym membership is not in our budget right now.  But, i can still use the indoor walk/run track at the local community center, because that is open for free public use.  On super cold days, you can find me there. 
• On milder days, i have been trying to find different routes to walk and i am LOVING the imapmywalk app on my iphone.  It literally maps my walk, tells me how far i've gone, and how fast i got there.  (i know there are awesome pedometer apps out there, but truth be told, i'm not brave enough to input my weight yet onto my phone, which is required if you want to gain all the benefits of those apps)
• My church offers a free fitness class once a week, which is led by Beachbody fitness coaches. We do a lot of P90 and P90x stuff, Hip Hop Abs, Turbo Fire and Turbo Jam.  It's hard stuff.  But i feel so good when it's done.  I LOVE to sweat.  The sweatier the better.  I like to envision that my fat is melting!!!  Even though it's only once a week, i love the way it breaks up my walking routine.  It's a nice change up.
• Joy took me to the YMCA with her yesterday to walk on the treadmill.  She had a bunch of free passes and i'm going to try to go with her once a week.  Another change up...yay!  I LOVED the treadmill...it felt great even though i felt like i was walking on a moving sidewalk for a while after i got off. 
• I'm anxious for the warmer weather, when i will get my bike out again.  I have tried in the cold weather, but my eyes tear constantly, even with sunglasses on.  Then i can't see and i'm just an accident waiting to happen.

My hope is to walk/lightly jog the Mini.  However, ultimately, i want to become a runner.  I can't even believe i just typed that.  That's crazy.  The only running i've ever done in the past is running to the store to buy ice cream.  But, this is my goal.  Perhaps, next year i will run the Mini.  eek!  In the meantime, i need to stay focused.  I need to figure out how to cook healthier.  I hate cooking, but i do need to find some simple ways to make healthier meals for my family of 5.  Also, i'm in search of a great sports bra {for busty girls}, because what i've got now isn't cutting it.  If you've got a recommendation, let me know! 

Wow, this was a long-winded post.  But, i'm a believer in putting it all out there...you guys are always so supportive of me.  And, i'm just trying to keep it real.  Really real.  So, if you're fighting this battle too, we're in this together.  We can do this!  Let's go!  Let's get healthy!!!! {If you were here, this is where we would high five or fist bump or somethin'...  but, you're not, so consider yourself virtually fist bumped...}  xo

i love margaritas, but they don't love me back

 
Aaaah, summer.  I do love you so.  But, i admit, i let you get the best of me.  Too little exercise in the heat and a little too much indulging on summertime cocktails (hello, summer beer, no offense, but i wish i had never met you).  Thankfully, i didn't slide too far backwards and gain a lot of the weight back, but i certainly haven't moved forward, either. 

Ok.  that's over now.  not going to dwell on it.  not gonna beat myself up over it.  i'm moving on. 

Woulda.  Coulda.  Shoulda. 

So, now what?

BEGIN TODAY.  Don't say i'll start tomorrow.  or Monday.  START TODAY.  You don't have to go out right now and buy special food or join a gym.  Just committ to eating less and moving more.  Make what you had planned on making for dinner tonight.  Just eat less of it.  Then, make the time to go for a walk, or ride your bike or blow the dust off that workout DVD you have and just do it. 

I went to a free fitness class yesterday at my church.  We did "Turbo Jam" together in the gym.  Whoa!  Evidently, i used muscles yesterday that i didn't know i even had.  Because today they are screaming at me.  I hurt.  Seriously...ouch.  But it feels so good, at the same time, to be moving again. 

 
I know that many of you had been following my fitness progress and working along with me.  I apologize for letting things slide over the summer.  But, i'm back on track.  To date, i have lost 20 pounds and am down two sizes in clothes.  Just last week, i was at Old Navy and was so excited to have to say to the fitting room attendant "this is too big...could you get me the next size down?"!!!!  That is THE BEST!  If you are still on this journey with me, i'm proud of you.  If you've had a set back, too, let's move forward together.  Keep me posted on your progress!  We can do this!  We'll motivate each other!

 

{image via www.theentertaininghouse.com}

If you need a refresher of what i am doing to get fit and happy for life, visit my posts here.  I needed to revisit them, myself! 

Downsizing

 

{image from yeh-yeh girl}

You know, i'd rather get a pap smear than go shopping for a bathing suit. Sorry...was that a little too graphic for this whimsical blog? Just keeping it real here.

 

{image from rockalily}

We are heading to the beach with the kids for a family vacay soon and i absolutely had to buy a new suit. My old ones were pilled and the elastic was shot and there was just no way around it...ugh. I don't want the beach police coming after me...

 

{image from pixdaus}

And even though my clothes are sort of falling off of me now, i haven't wanted to buy any new clothes because i know that i'm just going to keep losing. So, Katie and I went bathing suit shopping last night. And much to my delighted surprise, i have dropped 2 sizes! 

 

{image from rockalily}

As we walked out of the popular plus size store that i got mine in, i told Kate that i really wanted to tell the gal at the check out, "i hope to never shop in your store again!" What a fabulous feeling! I still have a LONG way to go, but i am so excited to be bringing less of me to the beach!

 

{image from rockalily}
 
Down 2 sizes and 17.5 pounds! YAHOO!!! 

Many of you have been telling me about your fitness triumphs, too.  I'm so proud of you...you can do this!  We are doing it together!  Yay us!  Keep it up, friends!  and, keep sending me your updates...you totally inspire me!!!!

 

Breaking up is hard to do...and a giveaway!

 
I have had a love affair with Diet Cherry Coke for many years now.  I told you all about it and my love for My Coke Rewards here.  I was faithful...even when it wasn't so easy to find.  But, over time, i realized i loved DCC much more than it loved me.  So, i decided it was time to for us to go our separate ways.

 
I gave up DCC for Lent in February and made the decision that i would never go back to it again.  Although my habit was minor...a can or two per day...that first week was rough.  DCC was my 4:00 pick-me-up.  You know that witching hour when you're getting ready to make dinner, kids are under foot, sports practices, carpools and you're not sure you have enough oomph to make it through?  Yeah, DCC was my ace in the hole. However, my decision was in conjunction to our new get fit, get healthy life change.  So, out with the DCC and in with the water.  Exciting, delicious, tasty, water.  Not buying it?  Well, i wasn't either, so i went out and got me one of these...

 
something about drinking out of a straw, like a fountain drink, makes it so much more desirable.  I don't know why.  But, i have found that when i keep my cup nearby, i finish it and go back for more.  Now, i can't get enough.  And, thanks to my super sweet friend Ronni, of Snappy Traditions, you won't be able to get enough, either!!!  She is giving away one of her fabulous personalized insulated plastic tumblers to 2 lucky readers!

 
Here are the deets: 

There are several ways to grab a chance to win...

1. Become a fan of whimsy studios on facebook
2. Become a fan of Snappy Traditions on facebook
3. Follow me on Twitter
4. Follow Snappy Traditions on Twitter
5. leave a comment on this post, telling me all the ways you entered
leave a comment on Snappy Tradition's blog, telling Ronni all the ways you entered

each one of those actions will get you another chance to win.  If you already follow me or Ronni on FB or Twitter, just let us know that in your comment, and we'll give you credit for that. :)  We will announce the winners on Monday, June 6th. 

You will want to stick around the Snappy Traditions website and check out all the awesome stuff they have to offer.  Check out this darling customized t-shirt she made me!!!

 
and now a...

 
Drumroll...2 weeks since my last update and i've lost another 4-1/2 pounds!!!  That's a total of 15 pounds lost and my hubs Mark has lost 20!!!  Our clothes are loose, and our energy level is through the roof!  We are super psyched.  If you're on this journey with me...keep up the great work! 

motivate me!

 
{image found here}

I can honestly say that in all my life, i have never been so determined to accomplish something like i am now.  That doesn't mean that i don't have difficult days and moments of weakness.  My ultimate motivation is simply living a nice, long life with my husband and children.  But to be completely honest, i can't wait to have more energy, to ditch my plus size clothes and shop in any store i want, and to live in a beautiful fit body.  These are the things that i think about to help me through the weak moments. 

In a few short weeks, Mark and I will be celebrating our 20th wedding anniversary.  So, currently my summer focus for motivation is the knowledge that in the fall, we will be going on a second honeymoon here:

 
That, my friends, is the tropical islands of Turks & Caicos.  And, i am not taking this body with me.  Oh no, no.  I plan on packing very lightly and i don't mean my suitcase!!!  Now, that's "thinspiration"!

As part of an assignment from the book that my group is reading, one of the things it tells you to do is find pictures of people (can be celebrity or non-celeb) that you find to be healthy and fit and then visualize yourself in their body.  Amy, one of my friends in the group, who is a photoshop wiz, asked us to each send her our "celeb" inspiration, along with a head shot of ourselves.  Oh my gosh, how fun is this?...

 
isn't that a hoot!!!!???  hahahaha!  I laughed so hard when she sent that to me and then i made copies of it and keep one in my food journal and one near my computer.  You are welcome for the giggle.  heeelarious, but yet, totally motivating!!!  So, who's your celeb wish look-alike?  You know you have one...and right now you're trying to think who knows photoshop well enough to do this for you?!?! :-)

So, what lights your fire?  What is it that can help you push the candy bowl aside or to say no to dessert or get you up off the couch to walk around the block?  Find that motivation and no matter how silly it seems, use it!!! 

Lettuce eat smarter!

 

Ugh!  How to undo the bad eating habits of my life?!  Where do i begin?  As you may know from past posts on this blog...i grew up in a loving, Italian family.  In our house, growing up, food was comfort, love and reward.  Holiday, birthday, celebration or funeral...it was all about the food.  The four main food groups were bread, pasta, butter and sweets.  My mom is and my grandmothers were amazing cooks.  Portion control and moderation were never figured into it.  We loved food (still do) and it was a major part of our family gatherings.  Now, i'm not blaming my family for my battle of the bulge.  I definitely got myself into this.  I'm just saying that i didn't get here overnight and i am educating myself to learn how to balance my love for food and a smarter way to eat it. 

My plan is not a radical one.  It's simply common sense.  It's smart choices and self control.  It's not about deprivation.  Here is the foundation of my everyday plan for healthy eating...

Eat only when you actually feel hungry.  This was eye opening for me.  I used to eat because there was food in front of me, or because it was just time to eat.  This is something that babies and toddlers have mastered and sadly, we break them of this divine instinct.  We say, "it's time for dinner, you must eat."  They say "but, i'm not hungry" and we make them eat anyway.  Eventually, we un-learn how to listen to our bodies for that innate signal that we should nourish our bodies.  So, now, it's time to re-learn that instinct.  Listen to your body.  It doesn't take long before you will feel those hunger pangs and know it's time to eat.

Portion control.  Your fist is the size that your stomach is supposed to be.  Eat any amount of food beyond that at any one time, and the excess will stick with you...literally.  I'm not going to lie...in the beginning, i was still hungry after a meal.  But, that changed very quickly.  And you will see, that if you would just allow your food to digest for 20 minutes after eating your fist-size meal, you will find yourself quite satisfied.

Whoa...slow down!  Don't even think about taking another bite while you're still chewing on the last one!  I know you've done that...mindlessly...we all have.  But, smaller portions mean appreciating every single bite. 

Eat a small healthy snack between breakfast and lunch and between lunch and dinner.   This keeps your metabolism working constantly through the day and prevents you from overeating during your main meals.  My typical between meal snacks are some kind of fruit, cheese stick, almonds, or hummus and carrot sticks. 

  
Satisfy your sweet tooth or it will bite you.  I know that after i have a savory/salty meal, i have to have a small little morsel of sweet or it will drive me crazy, or worse, drive me to indulge in something that i will regret.  I told you my plan is not about deprivation.  My go-to sweet tooth saver is the Brookside dark chocolate acai with blueberry from Costco.  OMG!!!!  These little bites feel like you're being so bad, but they're actually a smart choice.  3-5 of these little guys after lunch and dinner is all i need to feel satisfied.  Dark chocolate is good for you and these are loaded with antioxidents, too.  YUM!!!

 
 
 Eat more fresh and less processed.  You've heard it before, shop only the foods around the perimeter of your grocery store to eat well.  It's the boxed, processed foods that sabotage your new, healthy way of eating.  It's true.  Start small, by making sure that you are eating at least one fresh food item (fruit, veggies, protein, dairy) at each meal.  Then, slowly replace your processed foods with more fresh. 

 
It's okay to partake in an occasional dessert.  Just don't over-do it!  The family is going out for ice cream?  Order a kiddie size.  Family birthday party?  Ask for a sliver of cake or simply take a few bites and throw your plate away!  Dont' let it sit in front of you, taunting you.  Split a dessert with someone or opt for fruit instead.  You still get the sweet, without the guilt!  My personal rule is a small dessert only one time per week.  It's not a daily choice for me and it is never a reward.  My reward is seeing that number going down on the scale and my clothes not fitting anymore! 

Keep a journal of your daily choices.  Sometimes it's surprising to see how much you are actually eating in a day.  A friend recently introduced me to www.myfitnesspal.com . It's a FREE website that allows you to keep track of your food choices and exercise everyday.  It tracks your calories, fats, proteins and carbs for you.  This has been a great tool for me and helps to keep me on track.  There's even an app for that!

Let everyone in on your "journey".  Wow, the best thing i did was announce on my blog that i was doing this.  The support is amazing!  People want to help me succeed.  And, i feel less desire to "cheat" because i know others are following my progress.  Tell your family, your friends and co-workers.  They will support you and celebrate with you as you succeed. 

I'm certainly not perfect in this.  I'm doing the very best i can.  I'm learning this new "in moderation" lifestyle as i go along.  I just know that in this short amount of time, i'm seeing results and LOVING it! 

here's the skinny...

 

Step 2 - Get active!  Once you committ to get fit, you have to committ to get active.  I don't belong to a gym and don't have a personal trainer.  I don't have any fancy equipment at home, either.  In the past, this would have been an excuse not to exercise.  But, not anymore.  I've never been athletic, so where was i going to begin?  I decided it would all start with walking.  Totally basic, no skill, equipment or coordination required.  Sweet!  One and a half months later, here's what i recommend:

 

• Invest in a really good pair of walking shoes.  At first i couldn't go even 1/4 of the distance that i'm going now without serious pain in my shins and feet.  In fact, i think i even had a bit of plantars fasciitis.  So, i figured if i'm going to be really serious about this, i needed to go get some really good shoes.  I went to an actual running store and got properly fitted by professionals who watched me walk, measured my feet and took the time to make sure the shoes i purchased were going to really work well for me.  They were a lot more pricey than any other shoe i've purchased, but in the long run, they've been worth every penny.  No more foot pain...no more shin pain.  i ♥ them.  Now, I usually go for a 2-3 mile walk every evening with Mark and the kids.  Sometimes, i will walk earlier in the day, too.

 

• Get a pedometer.  I bought mine at Target for $10.  Quite simply, it keeps track of my miles and steps per day.  Experts say everyone should aim for 10,000 steps per day.  I try to challenge myself to hit 15,000 per day.  It's a little game i play with myself.  I put it on my waistband first thing in the morning when i get out of bed and don't take it off until i get back into bed at night.  When i hit my target, it's a huge sense of accomplishment. 

 
{via Pinterest here}

• The internet is a huge source of fitness information. So many free videos, instructions and knowledge!  I know what areas of my body i want to work on most.  So, all i have to do is google "easy inner thigh workouts" or "how to get killer abs" and i find tons of videos, tutorials, etc... that i can use to create my own personal workout!
• My cable provider offers an Exercise on Demand channel.  Check with yours, you might be surprised.  I've been able to try zumba, yoga, and kickboxing on this channel.  Very cool and very thankful that i can embarass myself in the comfort and privacy of my own family room!!! Ha Ha!  Denise Austin is my favorite instructor...she's so encouraging and upbeat...

 

• Mix it up.  Now that the weather is nice, I try to start my every day with a bike ride to my church for morning Mass.  {having a purpose for my bike ride, helps motivate me to actually do it!} When i get home i like to do some crunches and then work on target areas of my body.  I like to switch up what i do so i don't get bored.  When i find a good exercise, i will teach mark and the kids how to do it at night after our walk.  Nobody wants to keep doing the same stuff over and over again.  Boring!  I have found some great exercise ideas on pinterest.  Like this one for upper arms using water bottles for weights. It's one of my favorites: 
• You're losing inches, not just pounds.  Not only should you be weighing in (how often is up to you), but also measure yourself!  Sometimes you can hit a plateau on the scale, but still you are sculpting your body.  Losing inches can be even more exciting than pounds!  I actually took "before" pictures of myself.  Some day, i want to be able to see how far i've come!

 
The most important thing is to just get out there and get moving!  We can do this!  If you've got any great exercise/work out tips that you want to share, i'd love to hear them! 

Keep up the great work!