as usual, late to the party

I love Mindy Kaling - like for real. I even impulse bought a digital copy of her book, which is a really big deal for me because I loathe spending money on digital media. that's like one thing I'm hyper old school about. I don't hate digital media, I love it actually. I just insist on using the free kind.

lately, for work, I've been doing a lot of driving to northeastern PA casinos. they're generally over an hour away, which means I lose my radio signal at some point.  so instead of the radio, I listen to (free) podcasts. last week, I listened to Terry Gross interview Mindy Kaling on Fresh Air.  for some reason, Terry was getting on my nerves during the interview, but I forgave her when she mentioned Mindy's blog. wha???? More Mindy for free???? I totally wish I could be her friend, but since I don't happen to be batshit crazy, I've reconciled myself to the fact that it's just not going to happen. that's ok though, and now I have her blog! she hasn't posted in like six years, but whatevs!

shhh! super-quick sneak post

very slowly finished the half-marathon.  nothing to brag about, seriously.  ok, well, just a little: I didn't walk at all! plus, I really didn't train during the month leading up to it, so I can't complain about how slowly I jogged.

this is a breaking news announcement post: I am going to commit to losing 30 pounds in 30 weeks. yeah, I know that isn't crazy or anything, but have you seen me lately? I've been a total commitment-phobe. so it IS a big deal, ok?

I've been doing a blogilates beginner workout every day for the past week.  it's beginning to get addictive.

I also love the idea of not having to run whenever I can.  but still, I'm going to keep running, of course and I've signed up for a 15k in April, which is perfect timing for the 10mile Broad St. Run, which I want to do every year.

and that's all for now! stay tuned to see how I progress.  I promise to weigh in weekly on Wednesdays.

Reader, are you ready?

I'm back to blogging!  Since last I posted, I've lost about 10 pounds, but I feel like only 7 of those are permanently gone.  The other 3 fluctuate and I'm still terrible at doing the things I have to do to lose weight.

Other things that have happened since I posted last:

• Finished the 10K
• Ran a 5-mile run
• Cruised through the Broad St. Run (10 miles)
• Training for a half-marathon (it's next weekend!)

What I am going to stop doing: running so much
What I am going to do more of: strength training

OK, so "running so much" is a somewhat dramatized statement. Yes, I'm notching more weekly miles than I would usually...but I'm not really doing the mileage most people in training to run a half-marathon would be.  I'm following a training program, but I've been somewhat lax with the speed workouts for the last month.  I just haven't felt much like running and I sort of think that the weekend long runs are dragging me down.  Once I'm finished with this race, I'm going to forego all organized runs and go back to running and working out in private.

The only exception will be the Broad Street Run, which I loved.

I'm going to try the Pop Pilates monthly calendars, starting with the one for Beginners (thanks, Heather!).  I'm also going to run, but in much shorter increments (3-6 miles).  I'll be posting through this  experiment.  Be back soon!

really? Really? REALLY? sigh...really

yesterday marked the beginning of the sixth week of my 10k training regimen.  I have been nearly slavishly devoted to the schedule...except I've been doing a teensy bit more than required for the long runs (I'm up to 5.4 miles in roughly one hour!).

I've been making great progress with the running, but terrible progress with weight loss.  I have not lost one single pound since the beginning of the 10k training!  I'm not exaggerating or anything. the scale has been stuck. no weight gain, no weight loss.  so now what?

well, Heather says go radical.  that means that I have to cut down on calories. ugh. it's going to be hard.  I'm at 1500 per day now, which means that the next step is 1200 per day.  smaller meals...sniffle sniffle...no beer (not that I've been too indulgent, but I did have three beers this weekend)...or if drinking no eating (HARD!).

OK, that's the plan.  we'll see how it goes.

quote of the day



quote from david lebovitz at davidlebovitz.com



in lieu of having class

best thing to do with an ipad: string various 10-minute fitsugar classes together into a decent strength workout. yesterday, I went to the gym and worked out in the class room to 3x10 minute classes. I wanted to get at least 5 of them in, but chatting and husband conspired to cut the workout short. still, it was a worthwhile effort, and all in all, it's the next best thing to having an actual teacher in the room. besides, you can mix and match the segments that appeal to you, and you have someone to call out the timing and reps. so, if you're like me and need external discipline for non-cardio workouts, try the "tablet" method. here are the three I did yesterday (in order):







if you try it, let me know what you think! or tell me which ones you liked.

if you can't view the videos from my page, go to the fitness video page of fitsugar.com and look for the following workouts: (1) Victoria's Secret Model Workout: 10-Minute Fat-Blasting Circuit, (2) Get a Calorie Burning Workout With This Yoga Flow Series, & (3) 10-Minute Bikini Body Workout

carbs carbs carbs - I lurv carbs

have I mentioned that I tried the infamous nearly zero carbs diet for a few weeks? it (surprisingly) wasn't a disaster, and actually helped me to lose about ten pounds without cutting calories and without wanting to kill anyone. I was pretty liberal with the fats - as in, sure, I'll eat that slim jim (yes, I did).

the oddest side affect of the diet was that I couldn't stop myself from having KFC extra crispy. my friend, Heather, set me off by reminding me that KFC existed, and once that happened, it was all over. a couple of months later, I was at the drive through buying 8 pieces...I didn't wolf them all down at once, or anything as sordid as that, but I certainly ate a few of the pieces throughout the week.  they were SO GOOD, obviously not zero carb due to breading, but if you're judicious about it, you can still eat low carb and lose weight while incorporating fried chicken into your diet (hm, maybe I can publish the fried chicken diet).

finger lickin' good, y'all

I'm over it now, thank goodness (ask me about McDonald's and pregnancy #2 sometime)...

I'm also over the low carb diet. it stopped working after that initial ten pounds. I suspect that the lack of sustained efficacy had something to do with the fact that it was impossible for me to cut the fatty things out and still feel OK with eating so few carbs. to actually begin moderating my caloric intake, I added carbs back in so that I'd feel happier - rice is AWESOME (stay tuned for the bi bim bop diet). I'm not sure that running and low carb go together. vegetarian and low carb is really hard. vegan and low carb is nearly impossible. not that I'm either or those, but I am trying to be more conscious of how much meat I consume.

even still, it's really annoying that body chemistry has to be so complicated. why do I have to trick my body into using fat as energy? if my body has so little intention of using fat for fuel, then why is it so good at turning food into fat and packing it away? I'm not a hoarder and it bothers me that my body is. I swear that my body is utterly determined to keep as many calories as it can. take my pregnancies as evidence: I've had two children and have not gone into labor once. why is that? well, obviously because my body was intent upon resorbing those nutrients and energy! I rest my case.