Something I did and something I ate.

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This should probably be the title of every post on here. Or maybe I’ll just rename the blog S.I.D.A.S.I.A. Sounds like a cool progressive rock band.

The running plan I’m currently following hates weekends. Alternately, it hates me, and wants to punish me on weekends. Saturday is usually an “easy pace” 3-4 miles and Sunday is the longer “race pace” endurance building run. Funny how it has you distinguish between your easy pace and race pace. Shiiiiiet, I just want to get that run over with as fast as possible, with minimal walking, and without dying.

Maybe I just don’t remember them correctly, but 6 miles started to become a comfortable, yet still challenging distance. The 7 miles on Sunday’s schedule didn’t scare me until I was about 2.5 miles into it. What keeps me going during 4-6 mile runs is looking at my watch at about the 5K mark and thinking to myself, “See, that wasn’t so bad! More than halfway done!” But I had 4.5 to go, and my brain started going into the bad place.

This is not natural human behavior.
You’ll never be fast and you’re not built for running.
Why are you doing this to yourself?
You look like an idiot and your tan sucks.
I HATE THIS SONG. Come on Pandora.
I want to go home and have a cigarette.

That last thought was the worst. Was I really going to throw away six weeks of training in favor of a disgusting and unhealthy habit? Addiction makes you think crazy things. (P.S. As of this entry I am 62 hours smoke free. That is a new record.) When the ridiculousness of the last thought hit me, I put on my big girl pants and finished. You see, I purposely plan my routes to make one giant loop instead of several smaller ones so that I won’t be tempted to cut it short. I’ll run as far away from my house as I can so that I have no choice but to double back the same distance.

Photo Jun 18, 8 36 02 AMPhoto Jun 18, 8 36 08 AM
The splits suffered towards the end because I was finding it incredibly difficult to breathe. Much more than usual, anyway. I really think I might have exercise-induced asthma. I have been meaning to talk to my doctor about it, but I’m afraid all she’ll say is “you don’t have asthma, just stop smoking.”

My body was tired, and sore all over like normal, but my recovery time is getting better. The first time I ran 6, I was completely and utterly useless the rest of the day. Laid on the couch in pain with a massive headache as if I was the first person ever to run that far. But right after this run I was able to shower and head over to my aunt’s house for some Father’s Day celebrating with the family.

Photo Jun 15, 11 17 57 AMPhoto Jun 15, 11 17 38 AM
Both my Saturday and Sunday runs were powered by EnergyBits. A huge thanks to them for sending me a sample to try (I reached out to them, not vice versa). A detailed review is forthcoming; probably tomorrow. I believe I’ll be able to give a sample away to a reader as well, so stay tuned for that.

And finally, the thing that I ate. Yesterday morning I defrosted a package of turkey burger patties so I had no choice but to grill them for dinner last night. I really just wanted to eat bread and go to sleep. Can I just say that I am the absolute worst grill-person ever? Especially with the turkey patties coming apart all over the place. Three of them stayed mostly intact, but one was a mess, so I used that one for a mushroom and provolone turkey burger melty wrap.

Photo Jun 18, 8 40 20 AM

Grill the turkey burger for like 80 minutes (shit takes forever), and just before it’s done, sautee garlic and mushrooms in a little bit of olive oil. Place the disastrous turkey burger pieces on the wrap, add the mushrooms (I left the garlic in the pan), add one slice of reduced fat provolone or swiss over top and place it in the toaster for a few minutes to melt.

I’ve got three more turkey burger patties for the week. I’ll probably make some lettuce wrap tacos for a couple of lunches and dinners.

Mae Day

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Exactly two years ago, my company decided to throw a “Mae Appreciation Day” party for no reason in particular. I think it was just a completely random act of kindness orchestrated by my boss; I wasn’t threatening to quit or throwing fits or anything. From that day forth, May 9th was to be known as “Mae Day,” and while we never celebrated it again, I celebrate “Mae Day” for a completely different reason: it was Day 1.

When I sat down to write this entry, I was going to say something along the lines of “I have no profound words, yadda yadda yadda” but laughed when I saw that I had already written something like that last year. Guess some things never change. I’m going to glaze over the fact that I am only 12 pounds lighter than I was a year ago and focus on the good things. Good things, like I am not 12 pounds heavier. I’m also going to venture a guess that I’ve got much more muscle tone and athletic ability now versus then. Not much, but more nonetheless.

Here’s the picture I posted in my 1st anniversary entry compared to present day. What do you think? Any difference? I think I see it most in my face. And maybe my super ripped shoulders. ;)

Photo May 09, 4 01 17 PM

I wish I could be more upbeat and positive with this entry, but the truth is I am not terribly proud of anything I’ve done this second year (difference of 12 pounds) compared to my first (difference of 114 pounds). Is it a sophomore jinx? Complacency? Abundance of attention? The good news is I’ve had a really good two weeks, which is the longest well-behaved streak I’ve had in recent months.

Once again, I am contemplating tracking solely with WeightWatchers again beginning this weekend, and maybe…just maybe even reactivating that ActiveLink I disliked so much. My main workouts are boot camp and running now, which involves a lot of movement, so I am curious what kind of APs they will award me. I refuse to believe that white piece of plastic is THAT useless.

Hopefully Mae Day 2014 will bring much happier, and goalier, news.

WeightWatchers Photo Shoot Update

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Remember when this happened? Honestly, I sometimes forget it happened too. That was last October, at the height of my “weight loss career” (because let’s face it, this shit is a full time job). Since then I’ve put out a few singles that have made the top 40 charts, but haven’t had a platinum record in a while.

The reason I bring it up is because yesterday, my friend Danielle rang me with what she called exciting news to share. She works at my company’s franchise location in NYC, which is also where WeightWatchers’ headquarters is. She was signing up a parent for classes (we do Mommy & Me type classes), and when Danielle learned the parent worked for WeightWatchers, naturally she brought me up. The parent mentioned that, at the WW office, they have a wall decorated with all of their favorite success story photo shoot alumni. Danielle gave her my name, she looked me up, and lo and behold, I made it to the wall!

ww-wall

This was my first time seeing a finished product of my shoot. I don’t remember my dress being that short, nor my legs being that tanned. I’m not on the website or published anywhere else as far as I know; they said they’d give us a heads up before our stories went live. My friend and fellow success story Trixie says it took them over a year to post hers, so I’m not holding my breath. To be honest, appearing on any WeightWatchers marketing materials is just an afterthought at this point. All of the pride, honor, and fun already happened. Still cool seeing my shit eating grin plastered on the wall nevertheless.

Oh WeightWatchers, you just love to love me, despite how badly I treat you. One day, after I’m done sowing my wild oats with MyFitnessPal and the like, I’ll realize that you were the best I ever had.