149.8

This is a post I’ve been waiting years to write.

Most people would rather die than announce their weight for anyone to see. Do you see that number? It may just be 2 measly tenths under 150 but I don’t care. My weight is in the 140’s for the first time in my adult life. EVER. I couldn’t even tell you when I last weighed this much (or little!) because I don’t even remember how much I weighed in high school but it sure as heck was higher than this. By a lot. I know because I remember what weight I lied and said I was on my first driver’s license. No more lies here.

If you’re like me and have struggled with weight all your life, you know there’s no quick fix. It’s been said a million times before that you need to make a lifestyle change if you want to achieve your goal. I am now down 50.2 lbs from my all time high. It was not easy. In fact, for the last 25 months (that’s over 2 years, folks), I have only lost 15 lbs. And that was me gaining and losing the same 5 lbs over and over. Extremely frustrating. Counting calories, 6 days a week of exercise. That’s what it took for me. If you’re struggling too, that’s what it may take. I’m warning you now.

Here’s what worked for me (and again, none of this is new information and it's what worked for ME, you need to find the right balance of what works for you)

1.     I chug water like it’s my job. In fact, all day long at my job, I’m drinking water. Yes, I go to the bathroom more than the average person. You get used to it. Your body will love you for all the water you’re drinking. It can help curb your appetite until that next meal or snack and it helps ensure that you’re not drinking your calories. I hear you people saying diet soda is calorie free, and I’m ignoring you.

2)      You have GOT to move. Walking? Probably isn’t enough of a calorie burn if you want to lose a significant amount. It might be in the beginning, especially if you were pretty inactive before. But over time, your body becomes far too accustomed to workouts. If walking is your thing, be sure you’re pumping your arms and adding time/distance to the routine. In this entire journey when my workouts got stale and I plateaued, I switched it up. I plateaued a BUNCH. For whole years even. Somewhere in there I was dubbed Queen of Plateaus. You know how when I started running I could only go for 45 seconds at a time and now I run for over an hour? There’s a reason. Also, please add in some weight bearing exercise days too. I didn’t buy into this before and thought cardio was the only way to go. It’s not. Pick something you'll stick with. I've also taken zumba classes for the last 5 years, various dance classes, countless workouts through TV and DVD, etc and so on. If you'd rather bike or swim or hike. Do that! I do not love running. I love finishing my run and I love what running has done for me. There's a difference. I would thank my lucky stars if one day I could be one of those people who could think of nothing more fun than lacing up and hitting the pavement. So far, that's not me. But I do it anyway.

3)      Getting the right amount and right kinds of calories for your body. PLEASE use one of those handy online calculators to figure out your BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate). This will give you a better idea of how many calories you should be consuming each day. Starvation is not the goal here. You’ve got to fuel up for that burn (see #2). It took me a long time to learn this. And not all calories are equal. That took me a long time to learn too. Protein is not the enemy I used to think it was. It’s crazy important! Track your food. This is probably the biggest pain and I don’t do it anymore but after one of my first plateaus, I tracked everything and really learned what a proper portion size was. Portion control is your friend. I still use a measuring cup for cereal, rice, etc. I want to make sure I'm not eating more than my fair share. Do I still let myself have a juicy burger at a restaurant? You bet. Do I still get cravings for calorically dense sweets? All the time. It's a choice. Everything in moderation.

That's it! Easier said than done, right? Another important factor is to try not to get discouraged. If you have a bad weigh-in, there is no beating yourself up about it. If you had to skip a workout, get back at it tomorrow. You cannot go into this with a defeatist attitude or you'll never make it to the other side. There were plenty of times early on when I forgot to stay positive. You don't gain anything from negativity, except maybe more weight.

Some day you won't have to wear the biggest size available in the regular stores. And you won't be shoved on kitchen duty during your sorority's rush events with the other chubby girls. You won't have to lie on your driver's license out of shame. You won't be called 'large' to your face. 

Someone will refer to you as skinny and you'll turn around thinking they're talking to someone else. You will hold back tears of happiness in a dressing room when you try on your first single-digit size piece of clothing. You won't hold them back when you reach your goal. That's okay. You deserve those happy tears. You worked hard for them.

Bloom

Via

Bloom: Finding Beauty in the Unexpected - A Memoir by Kelle Hampton was recommended to me by my sister. I don’t read Hampton’s blog so I was unfamiliar with the story except for what my sister had told me.

Good Read’s Synopsis: "Love me. Love me. I'm not what you expected, but oh, please love me. "
That was the most defining moment of my life. That was the beginning of my story.

From the outside looking in, Kelle Hampton had the perfect life: a beautiful two-year-old daughter, a loving husband, a thriving photography career, and great friends. When she learned she was pregnant with her second child, she and her husband, Brett, were ecstatic. Her pregnancy went smoothly and the ultrasounds showed a beautiful, healthy, high-kicking baby girl.


But when her new daughter was placed in her arms in the delivery room, Kelle knew instantly that something was wrong. Nella looked different than her two-year-old sister, Lainey, had at birth. As she watched friends and family celebrate with champagne toasts and endless photographs, a terrified Kelle was certain that Nella had Down syndrome--a fear her pediatrician soon confirmed. Yet gradually Kelle's fear and pain were vanquished by joy, as she embraced the realization that she had been chosen to experience an extraordinary and special gift.

With lyrical prose and gorgeous full-color photography, "Bloom" takes readers on a wondrous journey through Nella's first year of life--a gripping, hilarious, and intensely poignant trip of transformation in which a mother learns that perfection comes in all different shapes. It is a story about embracing life and really living it, of being fearless and accepting difference, of going beyond constricting definitions of beauty, and of the awesome power of perspective. As Kelle writes, "There is us. Our Family. We will embrace this beauty and make something of it. We will hold our precious gift and know that we are lucky."

What I Thought: I am not a mother so I can only imagine the gamut of emotions having a child with Down’s Syndrome would put me through. I thought Hampton’s story was poignant and honest. If faced with it, I hope I’d come out on the other side of an experience like this with the grace and growth she showed. The insight into DS was interesting as well as I am not versed on this topic. It was a conversationally-written, quick read and a thought-provoking departure from my normal read. The family photos of her cute kids were a nice addition that gave the story a beautiful face.

Rating: * * * 1/2

Recipe Reblog

Two summery recipes for you this week!

Perfect Summer Panzanella: A quintessential summer side dish. Still plenty of time to enjoy those fresh from the garden veggies before summer wanes.  If you’re unfamiliar, panzanella is a combination of cubed bread, tomatoes, onion, cucumber and a vinegar/oil dressing. It’s light and refreshing and this was the first time I had ever made it. We thought it was quite tasty. However, the leftovers were pretty soggy. Best to eat this all in one sitting. Mixed up quick and easy. Give this a try!

Spicy Honey Glazed Chicken: This recipe comes from an old issue of Everyday with Rachael Ray. June 2007, to be exact. The back of the page has a side dish I made years ago but I had never mixed up this recipe on the flip side. This was a good summer recipe too. The chicken gets salted and peppered and grilled like normal, then the sauce is brushed on when finished. It was sweet with a hint of heat and you probably have all ingredients in your pantry. Grill it up tonight!

You guys. My feet are throbbing. I went to Zumba in the Parking Lot just before I typed this up. It was 2 hours of straight zumba on asphalt. I want to die. Or just be carried everywhere for the rest of my life.

Autumn Beer 2012 Edition

It may only be August 21st but the fall beers are here! They excites John to no end as the fall variety are his favorite specialty brews. For me, it's a tie between summer and fall. But, having sampled a number of summers already, I'm ready to move on.

For your sipping pleasure..........

This Pumking from Southern Tier is the end all be all of pumpkin beer. It's their seasonal Imperial for fall. At $8.99 for the 1/6th keg bottle size (22 oz.), it had better be. But, oh my heavens. If you are a pumpkin lover, you need to splurge on this. The brewer says you should taste pumpkin, buttery crust, pie spices, vanilla and roasted pecans. This description is spot on! It packs a punch at 8.6% ABV (alcohol by volume). PLEASE try this. You'll never go back.

Via

Maple Bock from Hinterland has been in stores for awhile even though it's their fall release. I spied this in my store at least a month ago and pined after it for just as long. Because there were so many summer beers to try, I passed it up on many occasions. But, last weekend, I handed over my $9.99 for 4 - 16 oz. bottles and poured a glass. Unfortunately, this did not live up to my hype. I so wanted a strong maple flavor to punch my taste buds without apology. Instead, I got a smoky, brown ale that was so so but nary a maple note to be found. This was the first from Hinterland I've tried. I would attempt others with caution and lowered expectations.

Via

Much like the Maple Bock, this seasonal offering of Caramel Apple Spiced Ale from Blue Moon was quite intriguing. So intriguing, in fact, that we had already purchased that weekend's beer but bought the mixed 12 pack anyway because of the inclusion of this beer. It's only available in the Autumn Brewmaster's pack. Again, I was hoping to be inundated with caramel and apple and got only the slightest hint of it. So sad. Good thing there are only 3 bottles in the pack because it's not their best.

And that's all she wrote, folks. Sorry to end on a down note.

 Want to see more about fall beers?

 Here's what I posted last year. And more can be found here.

Ultramarathon Man

Source

For a little motivation as I continue through my half marathon training, I read Ultramarathon Man: Confessions of an All Night Runner by Dean Karnazes. This is the second book of his I’ve read but it’s the first one he wrote. This man is amazing! Ultramarathon Man chronicles how he came to be a runner, the heart and strength behind his races and perseverance, and what brought him to the ultra stage of the spot. Karnazes talks about the first time he ran the Western States 100, a 100 mile foot race through the mountains that he attempted to finish in 24 hours, his attempts at the Badwater Ultra (racing through the desert), and a chilly marathon in Antarctica. I found his story very interesting and really enjoy his writing as well. As he discussed some of the pain and strife he encounters on his runs, I was right there with him. It definitely solidified the fact that I do NOT aspire to be an ultra runner. However, I applaud all that he’s achieved.
A fast and captivating read, even for non-runners. But, give it a try especially if do lace up on a regular basis.
Rating: * * * ½

Recipe Reblog

I’ve been trying to mix up my diet and incorporate a lot more protein, especially on days that I do strength training. I used to be afraid of the fat in protein but I got over that. You should too!

Overnight Oats: These are all the rage in the blog world but if you don’t read any cooking or health blogs, they might be new to you. There are lots of reincarnations of Overnight Oats and for my first foray into the subject I tried three different varieties and played around with the amounts a bit.

Day 1: (no pic, sorry): ½ cup rolled oats, ½ cup plain Greek yogurt, ½ cup skim milk. Mix it all up, put it in the fridge. In the morning, you can eat it cold but I threw it in the microwave for 20 seconds to take the chill off. First bite was…..tangy. If you’ve never had Greek yogurt before, you probably won’t like the plain version of this. I am a Greek yogurt lover and still decided to add some cinnamon and about a teaspoon of brown sugar. That helped a lot!

Day 2: Same ratios on the ingredients but this time I threw in a squirt of honey and a few blueberries and strawberries. I really liked the addition of fruit but today, the oats were kind of soupy.

Day 3: Overnight Oats in a Jar. This is probably the most popular version I come across online and I can see why. I went a little lighter on the milk today, only about 1/3 cup. Then, I used an empty peanut butter jar that was destined for the trash. The mixture takes on the PB flavor plus in the morning you can scrape up those delicious left behind traces of peanut buttery goodness. I also added some strawberries but no extra sweetener. Much better with less milk, and you can use any kind of nut butter (almond, cashew, etc.)

The downside to this breakfast is that buying the extra Greek yogurt costs more than the instant oatmeal I was eating 3 mornings a week (cold cereal on Tuesdays/Thursdays). But, it helped me add more protein and it shakes things up a bit. Plus, the instant oatmeal that John also eats will last longer if I’m not eating it.

Verdict: I’ll keep adding this into my diet when possible. I’m really looking forward to mixing in pumpkin this fall.

Put-In-Bay Day

If you didn't grow up or live near Lake Erie, you may have never heard of Put-In-Bay. A few miles from Ohio's beachy coast (there's a sentence you don't hear often), sits South Bass Island. Put-in-Bay has somewhat of a party reputation and I believe if you're staying overnight, you can find yourselves all sorts of trouble to rouse. Don't be assuaged though; it's also a family destination with lots of activities for all ages to enjoy. One recent Saturday, John and I hopped aboard the Miller Ferry with my dad and stepmom to take in the sights and visit a place none of us had been to in a good 10 years or so. You can also take the Jet Express but it costs twice as much. Miller Ferry leaves Port Clinton every half hour during peak season and costs $13/person. Save a buck with the coupon on their site! A quick 18 minute ride and you're on the island, ready to explore!

The main modes of transportation on the island are golf carts and bicycles. You can rent both at many locations by each dock. We rented a 4 person golf cart for the day (which I never photographed!) It wasn't cheap, about $80. They also have hourly rentals. The ferry will transport your vehicle for you but where's the fun in that? John was our driver for the day as I'm not licensed to operate a golf cart.

Our first stop was Heineman's Winery.....at just before 11:00 am. We skipped the Crystal Cave tour (world's largest geode) because we've all done it before but it's worth seeing if you never have. Instead, we did what any normal folks do at 11:00am at a winery. Drink wine! My dad is not a wine fan but he was pleased with his Diet Coke. We shared a bottle of Gewurtztraminer (sweet and crisp) and this fancy cheese plate. Yes, those are plastic cups for our wine.

Dixies and saltines!

 I would have preferred a tasting but when I asked the staff (not super helpful) what the tasting situation was they said $2.00 for a 5 oz. glass or you can buy a bottle. We ended up with the bottle thinking multiple varieties of tastings wasn't the best deal. As it happens, the raucous crowd at the next table shared their Island Chablis and a red I can't remember with us as well. When on the islands, beware that tipsy folks are oftentimes happy and will come visit your table! Don't be alarmed. They were nice, and entertaining.

Back in the cart we headed on down the road. You can't really get lost here as there are only a few main roads with a lot of side streets. PIB has some year-rounders but it's mostly vacation homes and rentals. Lake Erie in December is typically not somewhere you'd want to hang out.

Check out that sky

The pinnacle attraction (for height and popularity) is Perry's Monument. I'm sorry. Its full name is Perry's International Peace Memorial and Visitor Center. This 352 foot monument was built to honor those who fought in the Battle of Lake Erie during the War of 1812. We were lucky that recent renovations were completed ahead of schedule so we could take the elevator to the top. We got in line just in time and had about a 20 minute wait for our turn. No bathrooms inside (you've been warned). $3 admission charge as well but the views from the top are spectacular!

You CAN see Pelee Island but that's not it

Busy Marina - we also ate lunch down there

Back down on the ground and much to my father's pure joy, a cannon was about to be shot off in a reenactment.

Thar she blows!

Windy

There is a visitors' center with artifacts and a movie but we didn't stick around there long. We were HUNGRY. There are a number of eateries to choose from in the main marina area of the island. We selected The Upper Deck at the Boardwalk. They are known for their lobster bisque but I had a perch sandwich. Yum!

We walked around a bit and popped into a couple shops but ultimately landed at the Put-In-Bay Winery. I regret that I took nary a picture here! I'm sorry as the grounds were lovely. Check out the link though, you can see it there. This joint was classy. Real wine glasses and everything. And true tastings, but pricier than our first stop. We sipped outside and enjoyed the vino. We also tried their Celebration drink with was lemonade, pomegranate and a bunch of herbs topped off with their sparkling moscato. The ladies loved it, the gents not so much. We purchased a couple bottles and went on our merry way.

I should note that we had an absolutely gorgeous day weather-wise. Up until that day, we had been slogging through upper 90's and suffocating humidity. Today started out a bit shaky as we drove through some rain on our way to the ferry. The lake was pretty choppy on the boat ride, white peaks and all. But, once on the island, the sun came out, the temps hovered in the low 80's and the humidity was almost non-existent.

We drove around a bit more and after having been on the island for about 6 hours, we decided it was time to go back to the mainland. There are other attractions, Perry's Cave, Butterfly House, etc. but we skipped those. I can't say enough about how perfect our day was. The weather, the sights, spending good, quality time with family. This was a belated Father's Day/Birthday outing for my dad and I think we delivered.

Lake Erie - smooth as glass

If you haven't ever been, you really ought to check it out! I think it would be fun to go for a weekend some time. An island getaway in Ohio!