FitHungryGurl

On Being 35

2010-03-11T15:30:00Z

Today is my 35th birthday and I thought I'd share just a few of my personal thoughts on being this age.

Things are not perfect for me right now. I am still unemployed and am not sure the direction my career is headed, however, I LOVE LOVE LOVE my life.
I am relatively healthy, except for a few annoyances here and there. There are many people in worse physical condition than I am, many of which are younger than me. I appreciate the fact that my body allows me to do mostly what I want to do without too much fight.
I have a crazy daughter who is almost three years-old, but I love her to death and wouldn't change being her mommy for anything in the world.
I don't like the width of my nose, nor do I like that my eyes are so uneven. Yet, with that, I love myself enough to know that I am much more than an imperfect face. I am a heart, a mind, and a consciousness and that is worth more than what I see in the mirror.
I have grown more in the past three years than I have at any other point in my life. I am still working on being less judgmental and more compassionate to others, but I am a work in progress and really love the changes I've made so far.
My relationship with my husband has gotten so much better since Olivia was born. We fight a lot less, don't take things so personally, and laugh a lot more. We are learning to be parents together and that bring has brought us closer.
I feel as if life is just beginning. When I was young, I thought being in my thirties would mean I'd be old. However, I feel full of life. My 30's have brought great challenges, yet the rewards have been ten-fold. There is nothing better than feeling comfortable in your own skin, happy with who you are, and looking forward to the years ahead.

My name is Irene and I am 35 years-old!

Crazy Week in Review

2010-03-08T13:15:00Z

I know I am all late with this, but its been a helluva week/weekend.

Last week I was stressed about my bday party. It seems no one who said they were coming was actually going to show up, so I was a bit saddened by that. However, I said "fuck em" and decided that I am going to enjoy my day even if I have to spend it with just the hubby. Of course Raquel is down for any type of party so I know that she will be wherever I am, celebrating my special day. Everyone else can bite me! :D

In health news...

I got a notice from my OB/GYN that she needs to see me regarding my second pap smear. *duh duh duh duhhhhh* Two abnormal ones in a row is not good.
On top of that, I discovered an odd lump on the bottom of my right chin.*wondering will I end up like Roger Ebert*
Was finally diagnosed with Trochanteric Bursitis (in other words - hip bursitis). I will need cortisone shots and physical therapy in order to be able to run again. *watches as my triathlon season flies out the window*

Yeah, so its wasn't a great week.

Weigh-In
On Friday Mr. Tanita and I had a falling out. He kept insisting that I weighed 194.2 which means that I gained 1 pound. Well, I know he's right, but he didn't have to keep throwing it in my face.

My next weigh-in is going to be skewed because I have a pound of hair on my head now. Oh, you didn't know...I got my hair done. I finally got it braided. Wanna see? Awww...okay.

So that was my week. Only 2 weeks left of school so I am hoping to goes quickly. I am taking the next session off to find a job. This girl needs some mon-ay!

That's all I've got for now. Off to do some play-robics in the suddenly Spring-like air.

Question: How did your last week go?

-Irene aka FitHungryGurl

Oh, btw - I want to give a major HOORAY to MizFit , Workout Mommy (and others) for completing the Disney Princess half-marathon yesterday! You ladies give me the motivation to do more. Congrats!

The Cake Is Down

2010-03-03T12:59:00Z

I think I just had an epiphany.

My hip was hurting (yes, still) and so was my wrist (Olivia sat on in Friday afternoon) so yesterday I was a hot mess. However, I still took my walk. As the rain began to lightly fall, one of my recent favorite songs came on my MP3 player "If Today Was Your Last Day". It got me thinking about my health and how I have fallen off the wagon so badly that I was not sure if I could even catch it anymore. But even with that, before I got home I bought some milk and Entemanns Chocolate Cake. It was so good.

Last night, after everyone had gone to bed, I took a shower. I felt disgusting. Why did I even buy that cake knowing I had no self control and was going to eat it all? I went to bed frustrated with myself.

This morning I got up in a huff. I was thinking about that cake all night long.

So I got up, put a slice on a plate, place it in the microwave for 30 seconds, poured myself a glass (or two) of milk, then sat on the couch to eat my "breakfast". As I am eating it, I am feeling more and more sick to my stomach. Then, the inevitable happened...the cake fell. In slow motion, I watch as the cake tumbles off my plate. yell out "NOOOOOOOOOO", reaching out to grab it - just missing it by millimeters - the layers of chocolate frosting and cake hitting both of my legs and then hitting the carpet with a thud.

As I sat on the floor pulling up pieces of now dirt and hair covered chocolate cake and putting them into my drooling mouth, I caught a glimpse of my reflection in the TV looking like a ravaging animal and realized something; THIS IS WHY I AM FAT AND UNHEALTHY. What the hell am I doing? I picking up cake that is covered in rabbit hair, dog hair, random dirt specs and probably mouse droppings and shoveling it into my mouth as if I hadn't eating in weeks. I'd lost control.

I have to stop.

And I don't just mean the chocolate cake. I have to stop making excuses for not exercising (my hip hurts - wahhhhhhhh); for not eating right (I don't have anything good in the house - wahhhhhhhh); for sitting on the couch watching TV all day (it's too cold and snowy to go outside - wahhhhhhhh). What happened to the Irene of last summer. The Irene who powered through everything, who fought for every victory? The Irene who did not allow for excuses to stop her from reaching her goals? Where did she go? I want her back!

That's all for now. I'm off to find Irene the go-getter. I need to get rid of Irene the slouch cause I don't like her very much.

Snowed In

2010-02-26T14:26:00Z

I have to tell you, I am so sick of this snow. It's snowed more this winter than it has the previous three winters, combined. I just spent an hour shoveling pounds of the white stuff and while I don't mind the unexpected cardio, I just wish it would stop. Thing is, I spent all that time removing snow, but it's still falling and is expected to until this evening. *sigh*

Anyways...

Body
Two medical things taken care of this week. First I had my IUD removed on Tuesday. Everyone at the medical office thought I did so in order to have another baby. Sorry to disappoint them, but I had it removed because the ultrasound found that I have some really menacing fibroids. You cannot use an IUD as birth control when you have fibroids because, as I have experienced, they cause it to move. So, I feel good knowing that the IUD is no longer in there. It caused me a lot of non-menstrual cramping and Aunt Flow would visit longer than she used to. Now, lets see if my cramping will go away.

The second issue is my hip. I had an MRI yesterday and actually, that was fun. I lied there on the table being scanned while listening to Kenny G and nearly asleep. I was so relaxed. A pretty good excuse for a mid-afternoon nap. I won't get the results until next week, but I am hoping the MRI will show what is bothering my hip. *Crosses Fingers*

Weigh-In
Mr. Tanita and I are good friends again. I got on the scale this morning and Mr. Tanita said I weigh 193.2. That means I lost 1.4 pounds this week, even with Aunt Flow's visit beginning today. Woohoo! That makes me happy. I am so close to getting back into the 180's. I'm planning on going to the gym next week so hopefully that will give me a boost.

School
My classes are kicking my butt. Taking two graduate classes is a struggle, but I can't get financial aid unless I go at least half-time, so struggle I do. I think I will stay out of school during the summer though. I'd like to spend my free time with the family.

In other news...
I am having a bowling birthday party on March 13th. My birthday is actually on the 11th. I will be celebrating the big 35. I was really hoping to have my first race of the year under my belt by then, but alas, that won't happen and that's ok.

So, that's all I've got for now.

-Irene aka FitHungryGurl

Question: How are you all coping with this prolonged winter season?

Non-Running In Circles

2010-02-19T14:00:00Z

*SIGH*

Exercise
Another week has driven by and I feel like it passed me by. I concentrated mostly on my schoolwork. Since my body ached so much, I didn't really exercise. I did my evening walk 3 of the last 4 days, but yesterday I could only do 10 minutes on the elliptical machine. The less I workout, the weaker I feel. I'm gonna have to actually start going to the gym again. I need the classes to boost my cardio since I still can't run. Its so upsetting.

I'm supposed to be getting an MRI today, however, there is a slight issue with my insurance. Not a big deal, but I'm have to reschedule my appoint for Monday. What kills me is that I have a $150 deductible for the MRI. HUH? WHAT? $150? Jeez!

Weight
Mr. Tanita and I are at an impasse. This morning he said I weigh 194.6 pounds. That means I had a gain of 0.4 pounds. It's not a lot but since I ate relatively little this week (no meat for 6 days) I thought I would have lost a pound or so. Oh well. It's nothing major so I cannot be all that disappointed.

I'm tired. I have nothing witty to add. Nothing funny to say. There are a lot of things I need to do and no energy to do them. I'm just gonna go and eat and hopefully I'll find my mojo somewhere.

Hope you all have a great week.

Hair Health

2010-02-18T14:59:00Z

Since I haven't been working, I haven't been consistent in taking care of my hair the way I used to. Sure, I still get it done, but not as much as I should, because getting a relaxer every 4 weeks at $45 a pop and a wash and set at $25 every other week is expensive.

My hair these days is a hot mess. Th problem is the crown (the middle of the head). The hair has all broken off and is about 2 inches long, compared to the rest of my hair. So, I've thinking really hard about what I should do to make my hair healthy. I start swimming in the pool next week and chemically treating my hair is not going to be a good idea for extended tri training.

I know one thing...I am cutting my hair. Its going to probably be 2 inches long all over - this is so I can cut all the damaged and chemically treated hair off. I am swearing off relaxers from this moment on. Chemicals aren't good for the body or the environment and the expense is ridiculous.

I will most likely be putting braids in my hair, so I can have some length (I hate short hair on my big-ass head). Below are two of my favorite styles.

I like them the most because they aren't braided all the way down to the ends. So tell me, what do you think?

Bitches Get Stiches

2010-02-16T13:40:00Z

If you've missed the previous installments of "Bitches get stiches", please read here. When we last left "Bitches Get Stitches", "L" had pissed me off so much that I had pretty much disowned her. I made a decision to not be around her anymore. The mere mention of her name raised my blood pressure. From what I heard, BIL yelled at "L". Good!

It's been two weeks since the "You're an Ass" incident and not not a peep except a call from BIL saying they were celebrating their son's birthday on the 20th at 7pm. Eh ok.

Sunday was Valentine's Day. Gary took Olivia to church and I stayed home, as usual. I heard a noise downstairs, assuming they were home, but when I heard BIL and "L"s' voice, I knew who it was.

When I heard it was them, I locked the door up here. I didn't want them upstairs. Gary came home from church and brought Olivia upstairs. We decided to pack her back and get out the house for awhile so we didn't have to sit in the house with "L" downstairs. We were gonna take Olivia sledding.

Well, in the middle of re-dressing Olivia, there was a knock on the door. It was THEM. WTF did they want? Apparently the kids wanted to give Olivia gifts for V-day. This heiffer had the nerve to bring herself up to our apartment acting as if shit didnt' happen. Really? Is that how shit works these days? Well, she definitely got the cold shoulder from me. I didn't look at her once. As a matter of fact, while she was talking, I walked out the room, went into my bedroom ,and closed the door. No mas bitch! If the kids hadn't been there, I would have told them to get out. But alas, I can't punish the kiddies because their mother is a twat.

They went back downstairs and we went to the park.

When we got home I was talking to Raquel about the whole thing when Gary sad to me that MIL told him that "L" had said she wanted to apologize to me. MIL said to her "why didn't you? You were upstairs weren't you?" Ha! Someone has sense.

I am so sick of this woman, so much so that if she even apologized, I might still spit in her face. While talking to Raquel and my grandmother - they both said the same thing. They think she may just have an issue with the fact that I am not white, therefore she thinks she can treat me poorly. Up to this point, I've allowed it to allow peace to exist in the family. But no more. I can't. What upsets me most is that in trying to keep the peace, I've allowed myself to be disrespected by this person on a regular basis. There is a limit to what I can take and I have reached it.

"You're An Ass"

2010-02-15T12:59:00Z

Good morning all! I hope you had a good weekend.

Something happened 2 weeks ago that I am finally ready to tell you all about. It's a long story, so sit back and relax.

In January I discussed a problem with a family member I called "L". If you don't remember, the post is here. Go ahead, read it...we'll wait.

All caught up? Ok, let's move on.

On Sunday, January 31, my extended family was invited to a baby shower for a cousin out in Massapequa, Long Island. I was planning on driving my MIL, and SIL there. About a week before, "L" (my other SIL) chatted me on Facebook and asked if I could take her. I didn't want to for 2 reasons. One - because of the issues stated in my previous post. Two - because her house was out of my way and would add 20 minutes to my commute. However, because in 2010 I am trying to be a better person, I agreed to do it.

BIG BIG BIG MISTAKE!

The morning of the shower, I go to wrap cousin's present (a little late in the game, I know) and discover that it is broken. Crap! Now not only do I need to drive out of my way to pic up "L", I need to find a Buy Buy Baby to change the present before going to the shower. Ugh! But that's my fault because we had the present for a month and I shouldn't have waited to wrap it.

In any case, we take my car. Now you all know I have a 2 year-old and she still uses a car seat which is places in middle of my back seat. That's important to note for future reference.

We arrive at "L"'s house and are ready to go. I honk the horn and she comes out. I pop open the trunk so she can put her bag in, then she gets in the car. I wait...

ME: Seat belt please.
"L": Just go. I can't fit
ME: Well, SIL fit enough to put her seat belt on.
"L": It's too tight, just go. I'm in the back.
ME: Sorry, but the car doesn't move until everyone is belted.
"L": You know, you're an ass. If you weren't too lazy to take the car seat out I would fit. It's not that hard, I have two kids.

Yes...you read that right. She called me an "ass" in my own car because she didn't want to put her seat belt on. And please note, I was doing her a favor. I'd like you all to absorb that for a moment.

My first instinct - pull her out of the car, punch her in the face, and leave her on the sidewalk bleeding. However, these days I am thinking of how my actions affect what happens next. So what did I do? I drove.

The car was quiet. I could tell that my MIL and SIL were shocked. But none of us said anything. As I drove, I got angrier and angrier - in part because of what she said to me, and also because I didn't throw her out of the car. It was not good.

The farther I got away from her house, the more I could feel my blood boiling. I really wanted to ram the car into a poll on her side...but that wouldn't have helped the situation.

Instead, I called Gary (he was at home), told him to get Olivia dressed and that I was coming back. I wasn't going to make it to the shower in the same space as that women. It wasn't gonna happen. So I drove home and as soon as I walked in the house Gary asked me what happened and I broke down. I threw my phone across the room and started to cry. I was so intensely angry, it was my only recourse. The emotion flowed threw my eyes.

I told Gary what happened and he was appalled. The thing was, we had a shower to go to. So I calmed down enough to suggest he drive my car to the shower, while I take Olivia and return the gift to Buy Buy Baby and would meet him at the shower afterward. This worked perfectly.

At the shower, "L" sat at a different table than I did and I didn't even look at her. Gary hung out at the mall nearby with Olivia in case there were more issues. When it was time to go "L" made like she was coming home with me. Nah-uh bitch! No mas! I called Gary and he drove her home with my MIL and SIL in his car. I drove my car home with Olivia. A nice, peaceful drive.

When I got home, Gary said "L" apologized several times for causing a problem on the ride home. Eh, she didn't apologize to me.

And that is where it ended.

But wait, there's more. Check out my next post for the rest of the story.

Weekly Review

2010-02-12T14:35:00Z

Good morning and Happy Friday all!

I am pleased to report I actually lost weight this week. Mr. Tanita and I have kept our relationship on the good side this week. Today, he tells me I weigh 194.2 pounds. That means that in the last 7 days I have lost 1.4 pounds. Woohoo! I'll take it.

In other news...
I finally went to the orthopedic surgeon yesterday in an effort to find out what is wrong with my hip. Well, we found out that...well, we don't know yet. There wasn't anything clear on the x-ray so he's sending me for an MRI. However, I have to wait for approval from my insurance, so I need to wait about a week before I can make the appointment. That means at least another couple of weeks before I will know what is wrong.

This is very depressing.

I've already missed a week of running training for this 5K and triathlon season.

Ok, I am not going to allow myself to be sad. I am simply going to switch over to swim training. Swimming should put less stress on my hip and still allow for some cardio.

It's snowed twice here in the last week and we are expecting more snow on Monday. I cannot explain to you how tired I am of winter. This cold, coupled with my inability to run (or even walk), is making the winter blues so much harder to overcome. I want to be outside, enjoying the warmth of the sun. But its been too cold to spend more than a few minutes outside and the snow makes it impossible to push Olivia's stroller up and down the street. *sigh* Spring can't come soon enough.

Challenge-
I am giving myself an new challenge this week. I am going to eat vegetarian beginning tomorrow. No meat at all for 6 full days. I want to give myself a fiber and antioxident boost. Who's gonna join me?

That's my week in a nutshell.

Question: What are you going to do to give yourself a boost this week?

-Irene aka FitHungryGurl

Run Report - 2/7/2010

2010-02-07T21:12:00Z

Distance: 1.26 miles
Time: 16 minutes
Pace: 12:39

Slightly uphill run on the outward bound, downhill on the return. Hip began hurting on the return and by the time I got back to the starting point, the pain was excruciating. Was tired throughout, but I completed the run I was planning.

I'm going to have to call the orthopedic specialist on Monday. Three months with no running and my hip still hurts? Ugh!

First run of the year is done.

No More Worries

2010-02-05T14:37:00Z

This will be short and sweet.

Mr. Tanita and I are getting along again. I got on the scale this morning at it read 195.6. That means I lost 2.4 pounds this week. Yay! Now I just need to keep the scale moving in the down direction and I will be a happy girl.

My triathlon training starts on Sunday, so I think its safe to assume that all the working out will keep Mr. Tanita and I in good shape.

I went shopping yesterday and bought loads of fresh fruits and veggies so on that point, I am good. I need to go to the regular market today and get the rest of my things. I need some fish, frozen veggies, light ww bread, etc.

I'm pretty tired and busy these days. With school, the house buying, my family, and everything else going on, I haven't had the opportunity to post every day like I should be. But please be aware that I am watching my food and exercising a bit. It's the weekend so the real challenge is upon me.

I hope you are all doing well. I am gonna go respond to some of your blog posts now.

Have a good day!

-Irene aka FitHungryGurl

On You Mark...

2010-02-03T13:15:00Z

People, I have to say it. I AM SICK OF WINTER!

Actually, I've been sick of winter for the past 3-4 years. I am so done with snow and high temps under 50 degrees. If I have to be unemployed, I would at least like to be outside, enjoying the fresh air, running or playing in the park with Olivia.

But instead, I am stuck inside.

Boooo!

Speaking of running, February 7th is the day I officially start training for the Iron Girl triathlon. It takes place on August 7th and I have already registered for it. I'm giving myself 6 months to get my running and swimming up to par. The problem? I'm not sure if my hip is up to it. I haven't seen the orthopedic surgeon as of yet, however, the medicine my GP gave me seems to have taken the pain away. It's an anti-inflammatory usually given to arthritis patients. I don't know if the problem has been solved and I won't until my first run. This scares me. But, I am going to take it one step at a time.

Even though my main tri for the year will be the Iron Girl, I am planning on doing the Town of Islip tri in Long Island on June 6th and the Danskin tri in Sandy Hook, NJ on September 11/12th. Unfortunately, they did not schedule a Trek Woman tri in NY this year.

I am focused on the Iron Girl however, because I have a personal record I want to beat. My goal is to take 39 minutes off last year's time. It's important to me to do better. I have something to prove to myself. That means 6 minutes off my swimming, 20 minutes off my run, and 13 minutes off the bike. Last year I was hurt, so my run was a job. If I hadn't cut the bottom of my feet, could have finished the race 10 minutes faster than I did. But no worries. This is a new year and I have learned from my mistakes. I didn't give the triathlon the respect it was due, but this year, I am competing against myself. I will do better.

Other than the triathlons, I am planning on doing five 5K races this year. The first, being the JFK Run on the Runway race on April 18th. Again, my goal is to beat last year's time. It's a fantastic race at JFK Airport with planes flying overhead. The course is flat and the only problem I had last year was the wind. Holy Moly, there was some intense wind on the return loop. But it was loads of fun and I am hoping to have a new personal record.

Another reason I am sick of the winter...I could have been bike training already. But no....too much ice on the roads, too much freezing wind. Argh! I am so ready to get outdoors, my skin is itching.

Welcome to February!

2010-02-01T20:37:00Z

Hello and good morning friends. It was a terribly exhausting weekend - house cleaning, 2 baby showers, and an incident with my SIL whom I will NEVER speak to again. I need a break, but I don't have the time. Gotta catch up on school work.

In the meantime, I am not creating any kind of plan for this week. I am starting the month at 198 pounds. Only 2 pounds lighter than on January 1st. Oh well, it is what it is. I am going to try to get back in the hang of things. All I want to do is exercise every day. If I can accomplish that this week, I will be very happy.

My Apologies

2010-01-29T13:08:00Z

I haven't blogged all week.

If you know anything about me, if I'm not blogging, I'm not doing well.

I think the months of improper sleep patterns have caught up to me. I've been so damned tired this week I spent most of it on the couch. I've only worked out for 45 minutes and my eating was a joke. I ran out of healthy veggies so I've been eating whatever is left in the house. Money is really tight right now so I couldn't justify buying stuff.

And last night Aunt Flow came to town.

Because of all that I've gained 2.4 pounds, now weighing in at 198 pounds. Ugh! Not good. This month has been a struggle, maybe I should just write it off. I do have 2 parties this weekend that I am sure are not going to help my eating.

I'm not giving up. Not at all. I just need to rest, eat right, and exercise more. If only it were that easy.

That's all I've got right now.

-Irene aka FitHungryGurl (mostly hungry these days)

How are you all doing?

2010, Week 4

2010-01-23T01:45:00Z

“…Our beliefs seem reasonable to us,and so we believe them with confidence. We walk about the world with confidence that things really are the way they appear to us. We judge some people to be ‘good’ and some to be ‘bad’. We make decisions, react to people, go our way in life,without seriously questioning the thinking that largely determines how we live,without questioning the implications of our thinking.

Though we don’t realize it, our egocentric tendencies […] play a dominant role in our thinking. We lack the skills and the motivation to notice how self-centered and prejudiced we are, how often we stereotype others, how frequently we irrationally dismiss ideas simply because we don’t want to change our behavior or our comfortable way of looking at things.”

This quote is from "Critical Thinking" by Paul and Elder which I am reading for my Survey class. It is a powerful statement of the ignorance we live in as individuals. I felt it was worth posting because one of my goals for 2010 is to get rid of my judgemental side. I need to become aware of my thinking. I need to change my thinking. I want to be free of the poison in my mind. I want to be mentally healthy.

Now, on to the show...

This week's challenge was IMPOSSIBLE. I was only able to do 250 lunges 2 days. The rest of the week, I did as many as I could.. I tried. I really did. But my thigh muscles were on FIRE.They begged and pleaded for me to stop and I did all I could to keep myself in the game. In the end, I did 668 lunges in 7 days, which averages over 95 lunges per day. Not a good showing, but whatever. I'm not superwoman damn it!!!

I did my crunches almost every day, totaling 600 this week. Not too shabby. My cardio was not great. I am not doing well with this elliptical machine. I need to run. I need to run badly. I miss it so much. Now that I've got the referral to the orthopedic surgeon, I'm hoping her will find out what is wrong with my hip and we can work on solving that issue.

Now, the numbers...

Mr. Tanita was still reeling from my eating last weekend. This morning he said I weighed 195.6 pounds. That's exactly the same I weighed last week - a ZERO POUND LOSS. Well, at least it's not a gain. I will kick ass this weekend to make up for last weekend's fiasco.

Next week's goals:

1 - I am doing the push-up challenge starting today.

2 - Since the push-ups are only done 3 days per week, I am adding a "100 minutes of cardio" challenge on the days I don't do the push-ups.

3 - Food: I'm gonna challenge myself to cook without adding fat - no butter, margarine, or oil - all week.

That's all I've got now. Have a successful week everyone!

-Irene aka FitHungryGurl

I Hate Lunges!

2010-01-20T20:09:00Z

I know I chose this challenge, however I must say that I absolutely hate lunges. Why? Because they H-U-R-T! My legs are killing me due to doing all my lunges yesterday, yet I am still supposed to do another 250 lunges today. I was nuts when I decided to do this. I honestly thought they would be easier. In addition, I did 100 crunches and only 10 minutes of cardio. I really got get better with being consistent with the cardio.

Last night I made a stir fry using Italian sausage, beets, mushrooms, scallions, and escarole. It was delicious. The spiciness of the sausage, plus the bitterness of the escarole and the sweetness of the beets was a terrific combination and low in calories.

Today I am sending out resumes, desperately trying to find a job before we close on our house, which seems like it may be next month. Since I cannot seem to find a position in education, I've been reduced to looking for an administrative job. Whatever to pay the bills at this point. I really hope I find something in the next couple of weeks. The lack of an income is beginning to stress me out and I don't like stress.

I don't have much more to add right now. I have a lot of things on my mind, including school, fidninf childcare for Olivia, and planning her birthday party. I just need to remember to breathe.

Later people!

-Irene aka FitHungryGurl

Long Weekends Suck!

2010-01-19T12:18:00Z

Someone forgot to tell Saturday and Sunday to cooperate. Seriously, those bitches have got to get on the wagon already. They made my eating all whacked out even though I gave it my all with what I was given.

During the day, I was okay. I ate reasonably and drank nothing but water. But in the evening I met friends at a Latin restaurant called Sofrito and my hard work went down the drain. Honesty, could I really be expected to not eat (I had already had dinner at home to avoid being hungry) when the food looked amazing? Really? Eat and drink I did...the food was delish and I didn't regret my food intake too much at the time.

The next morning however, I felt like poop. I had that kind of dazed feeling you get after you've had just a little too much to drink. Also, I was starving. I couldn't satisfy my hunger for some reason. So I ate, and ate, and ate. Of course, since I was home I could control what I was eating and tried to keep it reasonable. But my stomach began to rumble. It did not appreciate what I had done to it. Some time on Sunday afternoon, it evacuated its contents violently and I felt all better.

I got on the scale Monday morning to see how much damage I had done - hmmm - only 1 pound higher than my weigh-in on Friday. I could happily live with that. I had expected it to say 3-4 pounds and I was going to cry. But 1 pound I can deal with.

The Lunge It Forward Challenge
Saturday I was able to do over 100 lunges, but that was all. I only did 10 minutes of cardio, which was a disappointment.

Sunday, I decided to give my body a rest. My ass, legs, and back hurt something fierce and after looking at the calendar, I realized I had worked out 9 days straight. Woah, what? Eeek. It was break time so I sat back and watched TV at the rain fell down.

Monday, after waking feeling refreshed and less sore, I decided to attack those the challenge head on. By 8:30am I had done all 250 lunges. Woohoo! It's the first time during the week that I could complete the entire required amount. On top of that I did 100 crunches. No cardio, but that's ok.

No new healthy foods this weekend. Eh, what can I say? I screwed up. But I went shopping yesterday and I fully prepared for the next three days. Tonight I am going to try some radicchio. I am not even sure what it is or how to cook it. yet, I bought some and I gonna try it out. I also bought some swiss chard. Again, not sure how to cook them, probably like all the other greens. But since this life is an adventure, I figure just by it and work it out later. No point in being afraid of food. If I don't like it, I don't have to buy it again.Surprisingly, I've almost run out of new foods to try. I never realized how many options I've already eaten. I found it difficult to grab new things while shopping. Made me proud and sad at the same time. Obviously, I have an adventurous spirit, but that also means that I am nearing the end of my food rope. Isn't there anything else out there?

I have a dr.'s appt. today. Hopefully he will either find out what is wrong with my hip, or he will send me to a specialist who can. Let's hope. I need to start running again really soon. There are a bunch of races adn 3 triathlons I am signed up for this year. If I can't run, I can't do them.

Here's to hoping for the best.

Question - How are you planning on moving forward with your health this week?

-Irene aka FitHungryGurl

Quinoa, How I Love Thee

2010-01-16T12:53:00Z

Yesterday's challenge results kind of sucked.

Let's see...I was able to do only 118 lunges. They are a lot harder than I remember; in addition, my daughter just insisted on sitting underneath me like the root of a tree which made the lunges absolutely impossible to do. My new food of the day was Quinoa. I made an asian inspired dinner last night so I paired it with broiled fish and szechuan green beans. It was light and pretty darn good. Because I cooked the quinoa in chicken broth and lemon juice, it had a lot of flavor. This meal has about 400 calories.

On the other side, I was able to do my 100 crunches, but only 10 minutes of cardio. By the time the evening came my entire body hurt, but in a good way. Today I will try to do better.

It's the weekend so here goes the challenge of eating right on Saturday and Sunday again. I am gonna rock this weekend by making the right choices. Weekends will not beat me damn it!

Question: How are you gonna rock the weekend?

-Irene aka FitHungryGurl

2010 Week 3, Here I Come

2010-01-15T12:24:00Z

This morning I am feeling strong, confident, and full of energy! Oh, this is what being healthy feels like? Ah, well thank you sir, may I have another.

And now for the true test of my hard work. This morning Mr. Tanita said I weigh 195.6 pounds. That means I've lost 1.4 pounds this week. I am quiet pleased with that. This means I only have 10.6 pounds to lose to get to 185 pounds by my birthday which is in 8 weeks. I can easily lose 1.325 pounds per week over the next few weeks.

In addition, I've changed my weight goal to a more immediate one. Besides being 185 by March 11, I am really concentrating on milestones. The larger one is getting to a healthy BMI which means I need to weigh 174 pounds. I'm hoping to get there by Memorial Day.But let's get to March first.

This past week was insane challenge-wise. Again, I must reiterate that I did 1,750 crunches in 7 days. THAT'S CRAZY! But that's the meaning of a challenge - pushing yourself to ridiculous limits. And I love love love it!

Lunges and Crunches and Cardio,
oh my! I started my own challenge and I am going to kick its ass. This coming week is going to be another go get 'em one for me. I am working hard to whittle down my middle. Daily requirements: Crnches = 100, Lunges = 250, Cardio = 30 minutes. Anything on top of that is a bonus. I think I might actualy go to the gym on Monday or Wednesday to take the cardio kickboxing class. I haven't been to the gym in months.

For food, its all about healthy ingredients I've never had before, so I'm gonna try some bulgar, quinoa and/or barley. Maybe I'll throw in some dried prunes and swiss chard in for good measure.

It's going to be an exciting week!

Question: How are you kicking things up this week?

-Irene aka FitHungryGurl

Challenge: Lunge It Forward

2010-01-15T11:41:00Z

Good morning!

Since Seth is not able to create a challenge for this week, I decided to create one. If you would like to join in, please feel free to let me know.

The last challenge was two-fold - part exercise, part food - so in keeping with that tradition we're doing that again.

This week's exercise concentration is on the lower body - we will be doing lunges. Below is a good video displaying a variety of the basic lunges you can do. The goal for each day is 250 (125 per leg). They can be any of the lunges shown in the video, or even some more advanced ones (with weights) if you want. It doesn't matter as long as you feel the burn at the end.

The food portion of this challenge will be an adventure. Every day, for the next 7 days, we will try a new healthy ingredient. It can be anything from tofu, to beets, to flax. The point of this is to increase the amount of healthy go to products.

See. Not so complicated, but not too easy.

I will post a brief blog post every day for those who want to check in. So, who's with me?

Double Crunch Challenge - The Final Day

2010-01-14T13:00:00Z

If you include today, in the past week I have done 1,750 crunches. Can you friggin believe it? I cannot understand how I was able to do it each and every day, but I did it.In addition, I ate loads of vegetables - part two of the challenge. I am glad the week is done though. What do you have for us next Seth?

I need to tell you about what I made last night. It was a gnocchi dish that I just conjured out of nowhere and because it was so tasty, I am going to share it with you.

Gnocchi & Vegetables in Wine Sauce.
-serves four

Ingredients

16 ounce package of gnocci
10 ounce package of mushrooms, sliced
3 large leeks, sliced thin
3 medium carrots, sliced thin
2 TBSP of I Can't Believe It's Not Butter
1/2 cup of White Wine
1 1/2 cup Low-sodium chicken broth

Directions

Fill a large sauce pan with water. Once the water is boiling, drop in the gnocchi and cook as directed.

Meanwhile, put the margarine in a saute pan. Immediately drop in the leeks, mushrooms and carrots. Let the vegetables cook for 15 minutes on medium-heat.

When done, drain the gnocchi and put them in the pan with the vegetables. Raise the heat to high and add the white wine. Let the alcohol cook out for 3 minutes, then add the chicken broth. Lower heat to medium once again, and cook for 5 more minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Nutritional Info

Servings Per Recipe: 4
Amount Per Serving
Calories: 360.6

Total Fat: 8.8 g
Cholesterol: 37.0 mg
Sodium: 324.1 mg
Total Carbs: 53.9 g
Dietary Fiber: 7.7 g
Protein: 11.5 g

The flavor is slightly sweet with a light feel. No heavy dinner here.

Where My Girls At?

2010-01-13T13:37:00Z

I'm feeling a bit lonely and sad the past few days. No, not depressed, because there is no need for that. Just feeling as if I have no friends anymore. These days it's just me hanging out with my daughter. I guess that should be enough. But it's not.

I need adult interaction. I want to be around other women - smart, ambitious, optimistic women who take care of business and don't care that I'm a bit crazy and love to argue. But there aren't any women like that here. Friends I used to have don't involve me in their lives anymore. My cell phone: it never rings. NEVER! No one calls to see how I am doing. And when someone finally does call, it's because they want something from me.

On top of that, I don't get invited anywhere. Case in point, there was a party last night that a few ladies I know where going to being hosted by someone I know and I would have loved to have gone. Did I get invited? Nope. It's not the first time that people I know have ignored my existence. I get left out of a lot of stuff going on, things I would love to go to.

Why am I left out? Eh, could be lots of reasons I guess. Maybe it's just me.

Mondays are Beautiful

2010-01-11T14:33:00Z

Good morning all and welcome to another episode of Days of Irene's Life. I have a lot to update you on, so take a seat, sip your wine, and enjoy.

Double Crunch Challenge:
Today is Day 4 and I have been able to stick to it so far. The crunches are starting to really hurt my upper abdomen, but I am going to keep on doing it. By strengthening my core I am working on my posture, stabilizing my back, improving my balance, and increasing flexibility. So I am going to keep on doing it, no matter how tired or sore I am.

It's not even 10am, but I already have 150 crunches down and only 100 to go. My green veggie of the day is broccoli. Yum-o!

Exercise:
I am committed to doing 30 minutes of active cardio EVERY SINGLE DAY. So far its been the elliptical machine. But I may try a class on FitTv or even speed walking. I cannot sit around waiting for my hip to heal and use that as an excuse not to workout. I need to exercise. I want to exercise. So I am doing it.

Food:
This is going to be another great week for experimenting with vegetables. We've eaten the last of the beef in the house and since weaning red meat out of our diet is on my overall goal, I will not be buying anymore, except small portions for special occasions only. I am in need of a good recipe for leeks, if you have any. I've never made them before.

I am still finding it a challenge finding healthy alternatives when we eat out. But I am working hard on this so it is no longer a challenge. All weekend I only drank water. I'm no longer buying the iced green tea powder nor am I drinking juices. It's these little things that are going to make this healthy living a lifelong change.

One good thing is I've gotten Olivia eating a little bit better these days. I am kind of forcing her to eat a veggie or fruit with every meal. That child LOVES her carbs, but I really want her to eat healthy, so I put something good on her plate all the time now. And to my surprise she's been eating the broccoli, beans, and everything else I've been feeding her. Woohoo!

Goals:
I'd really like to be 185 pounds by my birthday which is in 8.5 weeks. That means I need to lose 1.4 pounds per week which is so damned doable if I keep myself on track. And since my size 12 clothes are tight, this means my clothes will fit again.

House and Home:
After an emotional breakdown around this fukakta house purchase, we finally came to an accord. The issue was the contractor was refusing to go back into the house t finish the work because there is a raccoon in the house. We argued that we shouldn't have to pay to have him removed since we don't own the house yet. There was a lot of arguing back and forth and eventually we decided to hire a raccoon trapper (the seller refused). On Saturday he set up some traps and hopefully the beast will be caught so the work will continue. The work should be done in just a couple of weeks and then the inspection will need to take place so they can get the CO. After that, we can close, hopefully by the end of February. Please note, we went into contract on this house in June. Yes...that's how long we've been dealing with this sale. I think our lawyer is an asshat but we are stuck with him and we are close to the end now...so I am dealing. One good thing is that the new vanity is in the bathroom and it has a granite counter top. THERE IS GRANITE IN MY BATHROOM> woohoo! LOL! It's odd how something so small made me so happy to see.

School:
My masters degree classes started today and I already have 3 of the 4 assignments done for the week. Staying ahead of the game will keep me from being stressed and help me get the grades I want. I am really impressed with Capella University and their technology. they are way ahead of any other school I have been too. I am so excited to be in school again.

That's all I've got right now.

Question: How is your week going to be?

Drive by...

2010-01-11T01:56:00Z

Just a quick note:

1st - did my 250 crunches, as part of the Double Crunch challenge.
2nd - did 30 minutes (360 calories) of cardio on the elliptical machine.
3rd - ate within my goals (including my veggies of collard greens and green beans) and I'm very happy.

I said "COOK"!

2010-01-10T02:30:00Z

Fridays are often part of the weekends from hell when it comes to eating right. This Friday, I made smart decisions.

In the morning I went shopping for some fresh vegetables and I feel like I really scored some goodies.

Cabbage, bananas, leeks, peaches, sweet potatoes, green beans, apples, mushrooms, & beets.

If you don't know this about me by know, I am simply going to come out and say it: "I LOVE TO COOK"! I get a rise out of trying new dishes with ingredients I've not used before. But what really excites me is that I can do anything with these items. There are no rules to follow except I have to make them heart-healthy. When people tell me they don't like to cook, I don't get it. To me, cooking is like creating art. It may not always be perfectly beautiful or even specifically tasty, but in my kitchen, anything I make will be made with love and passion.

For dinner and a movie night I made a typical steak dinner and rented Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs. Both were deliciously fun. I used london broil marinated for one hour in lime juice, olive oil, garlic, onions & oregano. Then I took the steak out and put in under the broiler. I plated it with braised collard greens and baked sweet potato chips - all for 315 calories. Amazing!

If I could eat all of my meals at home, I would lose weight faster because I would have total control over what was in my food. Since I can't be a hermit, I try to replicate my good meals wherever I am when its time to eat. It's not possible. So, I just try to control my portions while I am out. I chew my food longer and generally eat slower. When I feel like I'm nearing satisfaction, I stop eating to make sure I don't get over-stuffed. Its all I can do in order to keep control of what goes in my body.

In addition, I have joined Seth @ PrimalStride.Com in this week's Double Crunch Challenge. Part One -I had a very successful day, doing 5sets of 50. It took all day, but I got them done. Secondly, since I had collards for dinner, I had a good day meeting the requirements of the challenge. Day 1 is Done!

Hope you are all doing what you need to eat right and get some exercise daily.

-Irene Robertson

In the Raw and other news

2010-01-08T13:00:00Z

Well, 2010 is now one week old. What have you accomplished so far? Me? I've tried a bunch of new recipes, kept within my fat and caloric intake, and was active almost every single day. Not a bad start.

Since today is Friday, that means it is weigh-in day so here is what I've been waiting for. I began the week at 200 pounds. This morning, I got on the scale and Mr. Tanita read 197 pounds. That means I've lost 3 pounds this week. GREAT! Eating right and walking just 30-60 minutes a day is helping to move in the right direction.

The Raw Movement
As promised, yesterday was my Vegan Raw day. A challenge I resolved to participate in, if only for 1 day per week this month, rather than the full 30 days. It was a an experiment in tolerance. I am a meat lover. I love animal flesh and the flavors they provide. I know that I am participating in the process of killing animals, but I have a strong belief that they were put on this planet to provide nourishment for us. You may disagree and that's fine. But I am going to avail myself (and my stomach) of their existence.

That being said, I do love veggies and I also love a challenge, but when the opportunity came to try a month of eating VeganRaw for a month, I cringed. However, I felt that I could try the challenge, if for only 4 days during the month. So, I agreed to do it. And when yesterday morning arrived, I was already regretting my decision. I kept thinking "how am I going to do this, even if for one day"? I didn't know, but I was gonna try.

I started it off with a Green Smoothie - spinach, banana, & strawberry. It was Incredibly easy to make and uber-healthy, loaded with fiber and potassium.

My recipe:
1 cup of filtered water
1 large banana, sliced
4 large strawberries, sliced
2 cups of baby spinach

Place all of the ingredients in the blender and mix until smooth - simple as that.

Calories: 160., Total Fat: 1.2 g, Cholesterol: 0.0 m, Sodium: 54.2 mg, Total Carbs: 39.2, Dietary Fiber: 6.2 g, Protein: 3.5 g

This concoction was quite surprising. It tasted delicious - I could not detect any of the spinach flavor at all - only banana and strawberry. I would definitely make this again, possibly trying new fruits such as oranges or blueberries.

What next? Well, that was it. I was going to go to the specialty store and pick up some additional stuff needed for the challenge, almond milk, protein powder, dulse (organic seaweed), and some other items. But when I got there, I realized the ingredients cost a fortune. I couldn't justify paying so much money for things I would only be using a couple of days. Add that to the grumbling in my stomach (my tummy wanted oatmeal and milk) and I decided that a vegan raw diet, even only for a coupe of days, was not for me. I was terribly disappointed, but at least I discovered a really delicious and healthy smoothie out of it.

My goal for next week is to continue doing what I have been doing - eat right and 60 minutes of movement per day.

How was your week?

-Irene aka FitHungryGurl

Primal Stride Challenge - Week Two

2010-01-08T12:00:00Z

I'm no punk. So, to prove that point, I am going to join in on Seth's challenge this week. It's actually a pretty simple challenge.

Primal Stride Challenge 2 – Double Crunch!

Begins: 12:01am Friday, January 8th, 2010

Ends: 11:59pm Thursday, January 14th, 2010

THE CHALLENGE:

Exercise: 250 crunches per day. Split them up however you like. 250 crunches every 24hrs will do it.

Health: Eat a different green vegetable each day. Suggested modifications include eating a different fruit each day or preparing a green vegetable in a different way each day. It’s up to you! Be creative!

Remember: You can customize the food and amount of crunches to suit your needs. Just make sure to include the changes when you sign up by leaving a comment!

Please remember, Jell-O is NOT a vegetable no matter how green yours might be.

THE RESULT:

It’s possible that by day 7 you will either be grinning or groaning.Perhaps both. No matter how you feel, if you are able to complete this challenge you will have solid proof that you can follow through on things you promise yourself.

Additionally, you’ll meet other cool people, perhaps make a new friend, and have joy in the knowledge that you’ve made a real effort to improve your health.

Wanna join in? Just comment on Seth's blog.

7 days down

2010-01-07T13:00:00Z

Eating healthy so far this year has been fun. I've been thinking about food as fuel rather than something just there for me to consume. In addition, I've been really good at tracking my food on SparkPeople. It's allowed me to know when I need to eat less or more of something. I had forgotten how much I loved that site.

I've been trying lots of new ways of preparing foods, like steaming frozen veggies rather than boiling the nutrients out of them. I am using my grill pan more for chicken and other proteins. I have been using pre-chopped frozen onions, garlic, and green peppers in order to save time.

Anyway, I found this healthy recipe for Chicken & Turkey Stroganoff at EatBetterAmerica.com. I made it as is, except I used 1 pound of chicken breast and cut out the turkey. It turned out very bland, but I think I can work with it without adding a lot of fat or calories. Additional garlic, some more herbs. It really has potential, so we shall see.

I also found a recipe for Spinach and Chicken Enchiladas. I added more spinach than the recipe called for, and in the process, created a meal that has 4.7 grams of fat, 8.4 grams of fiber, 21 grams of protein and only 191 calories.

I am doing all of this cooking in order to achieve one of my goals - to have a cookbook loaded with over 100 healthy, yet tasty family-ready meals by the end of the year.

In other news...
Last night Gary returned the elliptical machine to it's spot in the dining room with plans to get on it every night for at least 30minutes. I am going to try to get on it as well and see if my hip can tolerate it without much pain. Oh, did I tell you that I called my doctor only to get the following message: "The number you have dialed has been disconnected. If you think you are receiving this message in error, please hang up and try your call again." Uh, ok. Now I am on the hunt for another doctor that will give me a referral to a sports medicine specialist.

This Is Me!!!

2010-01-06T13:00:00Z

You can buy your hair if it won't grow
You can fix your nose if he says so
You can buy all the make-up that mac can make
But if you can't look inside you
Find out who am i, too
Be in a position to make me feel so damn unpretty - TLC

For me, a part of living a healthy life is working on my mental health. Last year I was able to conquer a long term problem - depression. I let go of a lot of things that either worried me or made me feel like less of a person for whatever reason.

This year is about acceptance of what cannot be changed. There is only so much about myself I can change - weight, hair, even some of my bad personality traits. But the one thing I cannot change is my face (not without surgery at least).

I've never liked my face. I have a nose that was inherited from my father and I know this because all of my siblings have the same nose. It's the only physical trait I have from him so I want to keep it. It connects me with part of my family. I've always wanted a nose job, but I'm not sure I could really do it.

Then there is my five-head, my left eyebrow which it higher than my right, and my eyes themselves which slope downward. The only thing on my face that i have always loved was my smile. It really makes my eyes light up.

And if you've ever heard me speak, you will know that I have a very deep voice, of which I also cannot stand.

But since this year is about acceptance I am working on loving my face. It is the only one I've got and I need to be thankful that it is healthy and everything works. I want to be able to love all of me - the scars on my knees, the stretch marks from pregnancy, my crooked eyes and all.

Question: What, if any, issues do you have with your body, besides weight, and how are you working on them?

-Irene aka Fithungrygurl

Ugly Is Not Only About Looks

2010-01-05T13:44:00Z

It's when we feel bad about ourselves that we try to make others feel poorly about themselves. Often it is done unconsciously and unintentionally. I have to admit, I have been guilty of this in the past. But I am fully aware now of who I am, how I behave, and why I do the things I do. Now I just try to be supportive and honest, no matter what is going on in my life. Or I simply keep my mouth shut. These days I am an optimist. I try to see the positive and possibilities in everything around me.

There is someone in my life, let's call her "L", who is an extremely negative person. She is constantly making comments on the negative side of almost any situation. Now, I know a very sad thing happened a few years ago that, according to people close to the situation say, changed her. They say L used to be a nice person, happy and sweet. Well, I never met that person. The person I know is nasty and I absolutely abhor her presence.

Have no fear for giving in
Have no fear for giving over
You'd better know that in the end
Its better to say too much
Then never say what you need to say again - John Mayer's "Say"
What I am truly afraid of is that one day, in front of everyone - including her kids) I am going to lose it and everything I am feeling is going to spill out for the entire world to hear. And the stress it will cause within my circle will not be good, even if what I say is what everyone else is feeling. I am surrounded by people who just don't say anything to anyone. I feel like I am stuck in an abusive relationship.

One of my 2010 goals is to get rid of negativity, be it from family, friends, or any other person, place, or thing. How does one handle a situation in which someone close to you is the downer of the entire group, particularly when cutting ties with this person is impossible?

In With the New

2010-01-04T12:46:00Z

The Christmas tree has been taken down. The confetti has been swept up and carried away. All of the holiday hubble bubble is over. It's time to get back to reality. For me, that means kicking ass and taking pseudo-names only.

Today I am making an appointment to see my doctor again. I am going to request a referral to a sports medicine specialist. I figure since I hurt my hip will running and my GP can't figure out what is wrong, maybe I should go see a specialist is I ever want to run again. The first 5K of 2010 is in February so I need to get myself back to training. But pain is pain and I need to figure that *ish out!

I've been cooking a lot the past few days and I plan to continue the trend. Everything has been so tasty. I love that healthy food can be so damned tasty.

Pumpkin Pancakes with Apple Compote

Broccoli, Mushroom & Cheddar Frittata with Apples

Salmon Cake with Warm Broccoli Slaw and Cumin Yogurt Dressing

I'm still learning how to dress my plates for the photos, but I am getting the hang of it. I want to be like so many other blogs that have terrific photos of food. LOL!

Speaking of food, there are a few great challenges going on right now, one of which I am going to try in my own way. I want to thank Fitarella for introducing me to the 30 Days of Vegan Raw Challenge. Yeah, I said it. VEGAN RAW. I know. I was frightened too when I heard about it, and it's not a lifestyle I aspire to. However, it is a challenge and I really am into trying new things, so I said I will do 4 days of the challenge - one day per week for the month of January. If you want to know what Vegan Raw is, check out the link above. Some of the recipes I've found sound scary, but since I am open for anything, I will try a few. I know what you're thinking, and yes, I'm a meat lover too. But how do you know if you like something if you don't try it? I'm going to consider it an experiment in tolerance.

For another challenge, check out Primal Stride. That dude has a simple challenge that requires consistency going on now. If you're not an early riser, then the challenge is going to give you a kick in the frozen pants since it requires you to get up at 5am every day. But, like I said before, you've got to try new things to find out if they work for you.

Question: What new things are you going to try this year?

-Irene aka FitHungryGurl

My Mouth Wants, But My Body Needs

2010-01-03T12:00:00Z

Yesterday was a fight between what I wanted versus what I needed.

In 2010 I have decided that consistency is the key in getting to where I want to be. And that means making the right decisions on Saturday and Sunday in addition to during the week.

Yesterday evening, after having 2 healthy meals, we wound up in the mall food court to have dinner. Now, I am not one for cold foods - salads and cold sandwiches are a turn off because I feel as if I haven't eaten. It's odd how the temperature of my meal determines how full I feel. Anyway, normally I would get something unheatlhy, such as a burger with french fries, fried chicken, or other fat filled meal. My mouth was craving some salt laden Chinese food. The BBQ chicken with sweet sauce was calling to me. Yet, I didn't give in. I made the conscious decision to make a good choice in my dinner. So I went to the sushi counter and had a California roll, Miso soup, and large diet coke.

Alas, I was still hungry. I browsed my choices and knowing that what I really wanted was something sweet and sinful (did you read my brownie post yet?) I decided to do the right thing and get some fruit. I wound up with a package of the apple slices from Subway. My belly was happy. I have to say that I am proud of myself and my ability to find a satisfying meal that was pretty good for me. I stayed away from the deep fried, the creamy, and the sugar-filled - my old holy trinity - and opted for the lean, the clean, and the fiber-rich. Yay for me!

I am making conscious decisions at each and every meal by asking myself these 6 questions:

Does this have fiber?
How much fat?
How much cholesterol?
Will I end up in a diabetic coma?
Is there a lot of sodium?
What is the proper portion size?

Its a lot of work making decisions that are right for me. Most of us just grab and go without much thought to how what we are eating is going to affect our body. I am aware now.

What conscious decisions are you making for yourself these days?

-Irene aka FitHungrygurl

Brownie Sundae

2010-01-02T13:00:00Z

The other night I got up to use the bathroom and I couldn't get back to sleep. My mind began drifting and I started to think about what made me truly happy. Then I came upon a recent memory. It was of food.

One of me and my husband's favorite places is On the Border. It's your average Tex-Mex restaurant filled with delicious, yet bad-for-you enchiladas, empanadas, and fajitas. Sometime last week we stopped by for lunch (I think it was Christmas Eve) and since Gary had a coupon for a free dessert, we opted for the Brownie Sundae.

Now, if you've never had a really good one of these these then you are not going to understand when I say this but eating this was like dying happily. As I allowed the warmth of the brownie and the coolness of the ice cream meld in my mouth and go down slowly, I was euphoric. The hair on my arms stood up and my skin tingled. I let myself melt away into such a blissful state that I felt as if I were watching myself eat this delicious concoction from somewhere outside my body.

I have NEVER felt that good in my life. Not while having sex; not when I crossed the finish line at the Iron Girl; and, sadly, not even when having my daughter.

So, as I lay here this morning remembering this feeling, I also feel guilt. Food should not be an experience so enjoyable that it tops everything I have experienced in life. What was it about this simple dessert that would have made me sell my soul to the devil in order to have a second portion?

I don't have an answer. But I think I need to find one and fast. I've never been an emotional eater. I eat out of pure boredom. So having such a a strong emotional response to a sundae worries me. Is this something I need to worry about? Is there some hidden psychological distortion in my brain that connects food to happiness and I don't know it?

Or was the sundae just that damn good?

-Irene aka FitHungryGurl

Dear 2010,

2010-01-01T09:30:00Z

You are finally here and I am so incredibly glad to meet you.

I found 2009 to be challenging in both good and bad ways; so while I am proud of some of what I accomplished during the past 12 months, I am glad that bitch is outta here.

I expect that you are going to be another challenging year. I have to find a full-time job, train for 3 sprint triathlons, lose 60 pounds, attend grad school and fight all of my demons to reach my healthy lifestyle goals - all while raising a 2-year old and moving into/renovating a new house. Talk about a clusterfuck!

In 2009 I set a lot of goals I came nowhere near completing. Not this time. For you, my dear 2010, I am thinking realistically about what I want to accomplish. I not only set annual goals, because we all love those, but more importantly, daily goals. I believe living each day as a healthier Irene is going to get me a lot closer to my long term goals than striving for some far off prize.

2010 overall goals

Be active every day
Make healthy eating choices every day (eliminate red meat from my diet)
Complete eight 5K races
Complete three sprint distance triathlons
Lose 60 pounds

The word for 2010 is CONSISTENCY. Last year I had the motivation and energy to do what I should have been doing, yet I lacked the purposefulness in being consistent. My efforts were scattered and not well thought out. I began a lot of challenges, but never followed through. I made loads of promises to myself, but never put my well-being upfront. I made a lot of fucking excuses. No mas! Living each day, each moment, conquering individual goals is going to help me achieve all I want to. No more putting off for tomorrow...

So, my darling 2010, I want you to know that I love you. I am going to put all of my effort into our relationship. I will not hold back. I will hit obstacles head on. I will stay true to us. All I ask in return is that you make this the best 2010 ever.

-Your friend forever
Irene aka FitHungryGurl

2009 - A Year In Review

2009-12-31T13:00:00Z

BYE BYE 2009!

You were pretty good to me.

Overall, I was able to cure my depression, achieve my event goals, and finish something that was a long time coming.

Weight
Well, what can I say? The year went well, until October, when I hurt my hip. That was the end of exercise for me. My weight got as low as 179, but went back up to 200. So sadly, my weight goals are exactly the same as they were this time last year.

Fitness
I did well in accomplishing some of my event and exercise goals. First off, I participated in five 5K runs. My time ranged from 40:23 to 35:39 and that is great. I didn't run as much as I should have and I found a good training program only to have my hip throw me to the sidelines, but when I start running again, I know exactly what to do.

Secondly, I completed the Iron Girl triathlon. What an amazing event! It you'd like to read about that experience, click here.

School
The biggest thing 2009 brought me was completion of my undergraduate degree. I graduated college with a Bachelors of Arts in English from Queens College officially on September 1, 2009. This was 15 years in the making and I am not only proud of myself, but very very happy.

My experience at Queens College led me to want to go into higher education as a new career and I am now enrolled at Capella University in the Masters of Science program in Leadership for Higher Education.

Miscellaneous
In other things, we bought a house. We haven't closed yet, but hopefully that will happen by the end of February. Also, we took Olivia off of her pacifier and have started potty training. It has been a bit of a struggle, but it is slowly moving forward.

SuperBloggers
Before I end this year I'd like to thank some of my favorite fitbloggers for their inspiration, motivation, humor, and advice:

Jacqueline @ http://fitarella.com/
Roni @ http://greenlitebites.com/
Lynn @ http://lifehealthfit.blogspot.com/
Steve @ http://logmyloss.com/
Carla @ http://mizfitonline.com/
Jamie @ http://trihardist.blogspot.com/
Lisa @ http://workoutmommy.com/
Kim @ http://charmcitykim.wordpress.com/

All of you ladies and gentlemen bring a little joy to my daily grind and I thank you for it. Please, never stop writing.

Ho Ho Ho!!!

2009-12-25T12:06:00Z

It's Christmas morning and I have been sitting here since 5:45am unable to sleep because the heat our bedroom is so high I couldn't breathe. While I wait for the fam to awaken from their slumber, I would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas!

In the meantime, I'd like each of you to try your hand at creating the best caption for this unexpected photo taken last night. What could have caused such a reaction?

In other news, if you missed the Blogger Virtual Talent Show you can still upload videos and check out the submissions by clicking here.

But if you'd like to see my entry, here ya go:

She seems so cute, doesn't she? LOL!

Have a great day everyone!!!

Beware the Ides of December

2009-12-15T13:13:00Z

Yes, I am back from vacation. It was, well, a very busy, but fun trip. No relaxing (except for one day at the pool). The next trip is going to be to some Caribbean island I hope.

Anyway, I got on the scale on Sunday (we returned Saturday night) and I was up about 2 pounds which was quite good, considering all the crap we ate during the week - hamburgers, chicken wings, french fries, pizza, etc. However, the weight is beginning to fall off. Being back home eating healthy food again has already gotten rid of 2 pounds. I've made sure to drink lots of water and eat lean protein and loads of veggies. I have 16 days in order to get myself back to 192 pounds (I'm at 198 now). Probably won't happen, but I can try.

I'm in the mood to go swimming. I wish I had day care of some sort, but I cannot trust my MIL to watch my daughter. She is too old and can't walk and I am too afraid of what might happen. I am determined to get some exercise in that won't hurt my hip. I have 2 more weeks of recovery until I try any real cardio again. I feel the need to get moving.

I went food shopping yesterday morning and I am really pleased with what I bought. Three packages of boneless, skinless chicken breasts, vanilla soy milk, 10 packages of frozen veggies, orange juice, and yogurt for Olivia. I have loads of apples and peanut butter for snacks. I am really happy with my kitchen right now - its loaded with healthy choices.

I am probably going to the mall today with Olivia. This will be a challenge since I usually eat a really bad lunch while there. So, I am adding a new word to my healthy lifestyle vocabulary - consciousness. I need to stay aware and make purposeful choices that are going to not just be whats easiest but whats best.

Hope you all have a successful day!

-Irene

Vacation

2009-12-05T17:18:00Z

Oh Lord...

When I started the 31 days, I forgot that we were going on vacation. sorry. My bad! LOL!

We are leaving today for a full week - including the drive to Orlando.

So I will leave you with this motivation:

What have you done today to make you feel proud?

Have a great week!

29 Days

2009-12-03T13:21:00Z

Yesterday I completed all 600 seconds of the Beginner Burpee Challenge. At first I felt it was too easy, but as I did mine in just 2 - 5 minute sets, it got harder and harder as time went on. I thought it was a fun way to get my heart rate up.

The meditations was much easier, especially since over the past 4 years I've worked on all the issues in my past that affected me adversely. So there was nothing really to meditate on.

How did you do? Were you able to complete the challenges or did things to get in the way. Please reply with your successes or failures from yesterday.

Recipe of the Day: Seafood

Whole Wheat Pasta with Shrimp and Broccoli (single serving)

Whole-wheat pasta
1 tbs olive oil
1/3 cup small shrimp
1/4 cup chopped tomatoes
1 tsp minced garlic
1/2 tsp dried rosemary, crushed
1/2 cup frozen broccoli florets, rinsed and drained
Grated Parmesan cheese
Directions

Prepare pasta according to package directions. Heat olive oil in a nonstick pan. Add shrimp, tomatoes, garlic and rosemary; saute 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add broccoli; cook, stirring frequently, for 2 minutes more. Toss shrimp mixture with cooked drained pasta. Top with grated Parmesan cheese.

Nutrition facts per serving:

Calories 341
Total Fat (g) 10
Saturated Fat (g) 2
Carbohydrate (g) 47
Fiber (g) 6
Protein (g) 17

Exercise of the Day: Arms

Chair Dips
Today we are going to work on getting our arms toned and hard. To do this at home is very easy with the Chair Dips as seen in the video below. You challenge today is to do 100 Chair Dips. You have all day to do them but you should make sure you do a set of at least 10 each time.

Meditation of the Day: The Future

Today we will be meditating on th future and what we want from it. Some people say that its better to focus on the present than worry about the future. And I do believe that is partially true. However, I also think its important to consider long term goals. Today your job is to write down 10 long term goals. They can be anything from getting an advanced degree, running a marathon, or even learning to knit. Whatever these things are, its not just figuring out what your goals are, but also deciding WHY these goals are important to you. In figuring out the WHY, you may realize that the goal you were considering is not really that important after all. So take your 15 minutes, and write these things down.

30 Days

2009-12-02T13:00:00Z

Yesterday I was only able to get in 3 sets of 10 push ups. At times I forgot I was supposed to be doing them.

Finding 10 things that I liked about myself was harder than I thought. But I was able to come up with things I thought I would share with you.

I have the strength to get over impossible mountains.
I am ambitious.
I succeed at everything I put my mind to.
I am honest – always.
I am fully aware of my faults.
I do not allow others to determine my self worth.
I will drop everything to help a close friend.
I am dependable.
I am open-minded.
I love my daughter more than the world itself.

How did you all do? Were you able to complete the challenges or did things to get in the way? Please reply with your successes or failures from yesterday.

Recipe of the Day: Beef

Chipotle Beef Wrap

2 tsp olive oil
1 6-8-oz lean steak
1 tbs canned chipotle in adobe, chopped
4 tbs fresh cilantro
2 large whole-wheat tortillas
2 tbs fat free sour cream
Lettuce and tomato

Directions

Rub olive oil in a heavy skillet. Saute steak over high heat until medium rare to medium, turning once (7 to 10 minutes). Set aside until cool; slice thinly. Stir together chipotle in adobe and mayonnaise; spread on tortillas. Add 2 tbs.fresh cilantro to each; top with beef and lettuce and tomato. Roll up.

Nutrition facts per serving:

Calories 373
Total Fat (g) 12
Saturated Fat (g) 3
Carbohydrate (g) 47
Fiber (g) 4
Protein (g) 30

Exercise of the Day: Cardio

Beginner Burpees
Today we will be doing Beginner Burpees. Now, I know many of you know these and HATE HATE HATE them. Well, these are a more elementary version of the evil Burpee exercise, for those of us who just cannot do the standard version yet. What's great is that this is a unique style of cardio that will really get your heart rate going while doing something that isn't running, walking, or gliding on the elliptical machine. Today's challenge is to do ten 60-second intervals. You have all day to do the 600 total seconds required, but it is important to do at least 60 seconds each time. You can choose to do all intervals at once or do just one an hour. It's totally up to you. The video below explains how to do this exercise.

Meditation of the Day: The Past

Today we will take our 15 minutes to think about the past. Specifically, any regrets we may have. The purpose of this exercise is to finally accept and be rid of any negative thoughts on experiences or people from the past and to move forward. You are going to take this time to consider all the negative things that have occurred and the negative people from your previous life. Then you are going to write out a letter to those people, places, or things. Afterward, you will take the paper and set it on fire ( in a safe place please). The burning of this letter will signify the release of all negative energy, ideas, and thoughts, and finalize of acceptance of things that cannot be changed. Once completed, you should feel lighter, freer, and happier.

31 Days

2009-12-01T13:33:00Z

Today is December 1st. That means 2009 ends in 31 days. How do you want to remember the year gone by? Were you slothy or super? Me? I want to know that I fought for everything I wanted and tried my best. The past 2 months haven't gone well due to body aches and pains and well, laziness. But I am uber-motivated to get moving again - pain or no pain. So I am going to share my motivation with all of you.

Being healthy is three-fold:

The first part is healthy eating. I am going to post a new healthy recipe every day this month gotten from various sources.
The second is fitness. I am going to post a daily exercise challenge. Thanks to MyTrainerBob for this great idea.
The last part is mental. This is going to comprise of 15 minutes of meditation on a specific subject.

Are you ready to end 2009 with a bang? Let's go!

Recipe of the Day: Chicken

Rosemary-Mustard Chicken

2 4-oz skinless, boneless chicken breasts
1/2 cup white wine
1 tbs fresh
1/2 tsp dried rosemary
2 tbs whole-grain mustard
Salt and pepper
Cooking spray

Directions

Spray a nonstick pan with cooking spray. Sauté chicken over medium-high heat until browned, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Deglaze pan with white wine; stir in rosemary and mustard. Reduce heat; simmer 5 minutes, or until chicken is cooked. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Nutrition facts per serving:

Calories 156
Total Fat (g) 2
Saturated Fat (g) 1
Carbohydrate (g) 5
Fiber (g) 1
Protein (g) 26

Exercise of the Day: Core

Push Ups

We are going to start with the basics today. You need to do 50 push ups today and you have all day to do them. You have the choice of standard or modified version (as displayed in the video below).

Meditation of the Day: You

Today you are going to think about 10 things you love about you. They should be physical (pretty nose, great legs), but must be character traits (generous, selfless, etc.) You are going to write these 10 things down and post them in a place you will see them regularly (fridge, bathroom mirror, computer monitor, etc). The goal is to remember that you have great qualities which no one can take from you. You will be able to revert back to these 5 things when you are feeling particularly down.

I Know It's Been Awhile...

2009-11-16T22:14:00Z

Hey all!

I haven't been posting as I should. Part of it is because I am kind of ashamed that I haven't been sticking to my lifestyle - no working out, not eating right - not even trying to follow what I know is right. So what...why post about how badly I am doing? I may be catching a Ballet class tonight that my cousin is teaching. Not sure if I have the time.

Speaking of time, I've been really low on it these days. Amidst trying to potty and bed train my daughter, I've been trying to find a full-time job. It's not going very well. I have a great resume and terrific coverletter, but no one is calling. I knew starting a new career while stuck in a crappy economy wasn't going to be easy, however, I thought I would at least get a few interviews. Oh well, I am not letting it get me down.

The house thing is going ahead as planned. The contractors or working on the house this week. We should be closing in January some time. Can't wait to move into our new house.

In addition to that, I am also cleaning out my house trying to get it ready for Thanksgiving. But first I have to clean out my dining room full of stuff that needs to get sold. And Thanksgiving is 10 days. Boy oh boy!

What I do have to show you is the final part of my work as an undergraduate student. The thing all we Bachelor students work for..the holy Grail, per se.

It's amazing how great a $30,000 piece of paper looks in a $30 frame. But it's mine and I love it. You know where I hung it up? Above my nightstand next to the bed. I want to be able to see it as soon and I wake and right before bed. It's a beautiful thing.

That's all I have for now. I hope to be getting back on track health-wise this week. I promise to update you all again soon.

Let's Hear It For New York!

2009-11-05T13:53:00Z

There is nothing to be said that can capture the feeling I had at midnight last night. My boys - The New York Yankees - won their 27th World Series Championship.

After years of people (haters I call them) saying that we no longer had our mojo; after people calling our players has-beens; after the steroid scandal; and after people complaining that we "buy" our players (uh..they gotta eat, right?) we finally got it right.

New Stadium
Regular season that could not be negated (103-59)
Brought our brooms out for the Twins (3-0)
Sent LA back to its sunny shores (4-2)
Went all Rocky on the Phillies (4-2)

In the end, it ended up like this:

Thank you to my New York Yankees for a fantastic season. You earned every win and this championship is all yours.

BTW...EFF YOU RED SOX!!!

That is all!

Hello, My Name is Foofa!

2009-11-04T13:21:00Z

Howdy Y'all!!!

Yep, it's me again. I am back on the saddle, so to speak.

I am feeling good and after a weekend of total food debauchery, I am back to eating healthy. I even went for a run last night. You can tell, because I am in so much pain this morning, you'd think I had a night of debilitating sex or something. The outside of my right hip is KILLING ME! I really need to spend some time finding a doctor who specializes in sports medicine. If you know of one in NYC or Long Island that takes Aetna, please, let a girl know.

I have a 5K this weekend. Hmmm, not sure how that is going to go. I am going to do it because it's an important cause to me. It's the Run for the Warriors and supports our men and women who serve our country overseas. So whether I am flying down the course, or limping through the streets, I will be there rain, snow, or shine.

In other news, I am considering signing us up for the winter Share of the CSA. Its' 15 weeks of seasonal fruits and veggies for only $100. I think the value and the quality of the food will be very worth it. Gotta see if Gary will allow me to spend money on that.

In child news, I am spending this week sleep training my daughter. I took apart her crib and bought her a temporary toddler bed. From now on, no more going to sleep in our bed. She is taking her naps in her bed and I don't care how much she cries, it has to be done. I haven't slept well in months and this cannot be healthy for any of us. We need to cut there proverbial cord.

Oh, I forgot, I have really great news...
Last night I decided to apply to Capella University's MA in Higher Education program. After months and months of research and almost making the wrong decision, I am so excited to be attending this college. The technology is off the chart, the program is highly rated, and the cost is minimal.

Of course, I still don't have a job. However, once I am enrolled in classes, I can put this on my resume and hopefully that will give me an advantage.

Lots going on...I think I covered everything.

I hope everyone has a successful day!

I'm Not Dead

2009-10-28T18:18:00Z

Hi!

It's Irene.

Yeah, I'm still alive.

The past few weeks have found me bitter. But I'm feeling much better now.

It all started when I lost my ability to run. The neuritis was keeping me in pain and thankfully the Dr. prescribed an anti-inflammatory that appears to have worked. I won't know until I go for a run, possibly Saturday morning or Sunday evening. Until then I am going to keep trying to keep my muscles and joints relaxed. Let's just hope I will be fully healed. I never knew that not being able to run would throw me into such a funk. It is quite surprising actually.

Also, you take some disappointment with friends and the house buying that has turned into a disaster and you get on cranky girl. But that's all behind me.

I have been able to keep my weight between 189-190 pounds. My food portions have been good, but I am still not eating the best I could be. I blame the supermarkets. There's been no lean chicken on sale for weeks and I can't bring myself to spend $4 per pound for chicken breast. So this week it is roast pork. Last week it was...damn...I don't remember. I have been eating more veggies, but I am still running to the PB on WW bread or apples for snacks 2-3 times per day. Or the cheese sticks. I need some new healthy recipes. I am bored with my go to meals.

My weekend eating has not gotten any better. I struggle with making good choices. My head tells me to order one way, but my taste buds desire something else. Of course, the easiest thing to do is avoid eating out. But I don't want to run away and live in fear of restaurants. I want to be able to go in and know exactly what I am going to eat without the battle between my wants and needs.

That's all I have right now. I will be back tomorrow for some inspiration.

I'm a Judgmental Bitch!

2009-10-22T22:44:00Z

I'm not 100% sure when it started, but I am petty damned sure I can blame my mother for it.

I've noticed in the past few months that I am such a bitch. Not your run-of-the-mill bitch, but an extremely judgmental one who will hold anything I find wrong that you do against you. Dayum!

I judge EVERYTHING people do, from what they where, to how they speak, to what they eat and how they run their lives.

Who the hell died and made me ruler of the universe? And by what standards do I base my judgment on? I DON'T KNOW!

What I do know is that it has got to end. No one can live up to my standards, not even me. And if I can't live up to my own requirements, how can anyone else?

It's going to be a challenge for me not to give the *side eye* to every Tom, Dick, & Harry I see. But I need to start to realizing that no one is perfect. Yes, that includes myself. Only God can judge us...and I am not He.

Happiness is the Yankees

2009-10-21T14:39:00Z

Because right now nothing else is looking good.

I really thought today was going to be better. I really did.

I was going to get an answer from the doctor regarding my hip/muscle pain and would have a definitive plan of action for recovery.

That didn't happen.

Because yet again I couldn't see him.

My appointment was for yesterday. Yet, because of my idiotic MIL who refuses to accept the truth about her physical abilities and health, I had to reschedule it for today...or so I thought. When I arrived this morning, I was told that a mistake was made and that my appointment was for tomorrow. Uh, I would not have rescheduled my appointment so I could live with pain for 2 more days. And I had to wait a week for the appointment to begin with. ARGH!!! Maybe tomorrow it will work out.

The house thing...that's done. Two weeks ago we finally had an agreement and signed a revised contract but now there was a problem with the estimate which means more money and the seller isn't responding. I emailed the attorney yesterday that it was done. We want our deposit back and that's final. No more hogwash. And if you had any idea how much I hate living where we are living now, you'd understand how serious that is.

The job thing...that's an absolute joke. The only companies calling to schedule interviews with me is for insurance sales. WTF? I don't have any experience, nor do I have any desire to sell insurance. Do these people even look at the resumes I post?

No job +
No home +
No exercising =
I am in a deep ass funk with no end in sight.

At least this time, the funk doesn't have anything to do with my self worth. This is not about me. It's about everything around me, about things I can't seem to get past. But as for me, I am doing the best I can.

And now I have ot deal with a child I love to death, but really need a break from. Some ladies I know just went for a spa day, yet here I am without the time to take a shit in peace.

I'm drowning in a sea of shit I can't control.

"I'm Going Down..."

2009-10-15T13:23:00Z

I'm supposed to be writing an update post for a few challenges, so here it is:

Exercise: sucked! The muscle in my abdomen hurts too much to run more than once this week. I can barely walk, actually.
Food: sucked, but not too much. Need more vegetables, less peanut butter.
Motivation: sucked. I don't even know what that it.

As you can see, my week simply sucked.

There...there's my update.

I'm feeling a bit down these days. I know it will pass, but right now I am stuck in it. Hopefully next week will be better.

A lack of connection...

2009-10-14T15:07:00Z

I haven't posted anything in a few days because I am not in the mood. I have been feeling a bit down as of late because, simply, I've been lonely.

And since yesterday, I've been pretty mad too. I feel like I am surrounded by a lot of people who pretend to want to be my friend, but are really disinterested in true friendship.

I am unable to connect with people.

I try, but nothing seems to work. At first I thought it was because I had a young child. But then there are people around me with toddlers too, who don't seem interested in becoming my friend.

So, I hang around with my daughter day in and day out. With no adults to talk to. I hate feeling like the red-headed stepchild who no one wants to play with.

Makes wonder what is wrong with me.

Weigh-In Week # 40 or 41

2009-10-09T13:33:00Z

First things first. For those of you who missed it yesterday, there is a new challenge on the board for the last 12 weeks of the year. If you haven't had enough torture the last few months, I invite you to check it out and join us.

This week has been a good one. I got on Mr. Tanita this morning and he said I weigh 189.8 pounds. That's an increase from last week, but that's ok. I had a bit too much peanut butter and not enough fiber this week. But with this new challenge, I am now eating more fruit and vegetables so hopefully I will be getting more fiber. Also, I will be eating less carbs (the bane of my existence). By next Friday I will be down to 187 pounds.

My running was pretty good this week. Saturday I had a race where I had my best time so far for a 5K. It was a great event. I ran 4 days this week, however, last night's run was not good. The pain in my hip flexor muscle made it impossible to continue running after 20 minutes so I had to stop. I am supposed to run again tomorrow, but I think I have to see how I feel before I push my body too far and really hurt myself. I can tell I am really becoming a runner though. As I walked home last night, a woman jogged past me and I was actually jealous. I wanted to be running but I couldn't. I just hope this muscle strain doesn't keep me sidelined for long.

I am posting this video of the Burpee Exercise. It's a really challenging combination of movements but I think if you can do these successfully, you will have an incredibly strong heart.

So tell me this - how many Burpees can you do?