Monday Musings: Sun, Fun And Of Course Training

This Summer ROCKS! Okay I am not sleeping as much as I would like or having as many lazy weekends or trips as my wife would like.

But we are definitely doing more than we did last summer.

Last summer on July 19, my wife had her ACL replaced, which led to a pretty uneventful summer.

Thankfully this year she is healed and we are taking advantage of it.

The weekends have been full of adventure and something I'm looking forward to recapping every Monday. :)

***

Friday kicked off with a phenomenal weigh-in, where I finally shed the weight I had gained during my temp job and I am feeling AMAZING.

After attending my Friday morning meeting, I subbed the Noon meeting for a coworker. I love meeting new groups and hearing about people's journeys.

When I got home from work I had a present from Misfit Wearables!!

I am wicked excited to try another activity monitor and report back all my thoughts. I am going to give it a couple of weeks before I write a post on it. It has the feature to track your swims so I already love that it is waterproof. :)

Once the work day was over, I had to turn my attention to the training plan. Which called for a 2 hour and 15 min bike ride. Now the weather was forecasted to be crappy and I was waiting for the wife to get home to enjoy dinner so I opted for a ride on the trainer.

But how could I be in my living room for that long without going crazy?!?! A movie would do the trick.

Yay Frozen to the rescue.

After a grueling training session - Hello Sweatfest - it was a low-key evening in our household: Zensah compression, pizza, wine and snuggling in bed. Success since I was getting up early Saturday morning.

***

I must've gotten up early for a training ride or run on Saturday? Nope! The alarm went off at 6am so I could sub two Weight Watchers meetings for my friend Heather. I had attended the 8am meeting as a member in the past and I knew it was a fun group. I was looking forward to see the good times that most Saturday groups convey. :)

Now I made sure to adjust my training plan accordingly so I could work and keep my afternoon free to spend with the wife.

So I wore my bathing suit underneath my work clothes to keep me accountable. I walked straight from the Weight Watchers Center to the gym, which was easy since it is on my way home. :P

The swim workout was easily laid out: 300 WU, 2000 meters and 300 CD. To my knowledge that would be my longest consistent swim.

2000 meters = 80 lengths of my pool = 1.242 miles

The Half Ironman swim distance is 1.2 miles and has a 1-hour cutoff.

The 2000 meters took me 40 minutes and 55 seconds. I was happy with the outcome. I felt strong and consistent the entire time. I knew I could've pushed it more, which made me happy. The plan wanted you to swim it at moderate pace and I think I kept it that way. Besides some bursts when I needed to change lane mid-swim and my lane mate wanted to chat briefly. Ha!

With work and the workout done, it was Date Afternoon time. For the wife's birthday, I gave her a Date Afternoon consisting of Stand Up Paddle Boarding and dinner at the Boston Burger Company in Davis Square (Somerville).

Neither of us had done Stand Up Paddle Boarding before so it would definitely be an experience for both of us.

I have seen the Charles River Canoe & Kayak kiosk on countless runs.

Finally time to step on up and try it!

After taking a brief quiz - of course we got 100% and a smiley face on it - we signed away our lives and hid our stuff in the car to keep it safe and dry. I had no idea how many times we would potentially end up in the water. :P

The SUP boards were $15/hr and we were figuring one hour would be a good starting off point for us.

We were fitted for our life vests before having the oars properly lengthened for our heights.

In order to shimmy on to the board, we headed down the dock where the dockhands were ready and waiting. Thankfully I trusted the 15 year old (if that) to hold the board steady, while I slid onto the board.

You start on your knees and work your way to standing up once 10 feet from the dock.

I don't have the best of balance so I was hoping for the best.

Success!!

We started our trip upstream. It was a beautifully sunny day in Boston and perfect to be out on the River. We were boarding among canoers, kayakers and even some boaters.

Now the boaters can be tricky as they leave wake behind ... which is why my love ended up in the water! ;) I wish I had pictures of it. :P

She did a great job quickly getting back on to the board and reclaiming her balance. Go babe!

After that little blip the rest of the hour was smooth sailing. It is a good upper body workout as well as a lower body workout to keep balanced.

Once we hit a boat house along the water, we decided to make the turn and head back to the dock.

We started upstream- against the current - which proved to be more of a workout than downstream. I know a Duh sort of moment. But both were fun.

We returned to the docks and the dockhands helped us shimmy back on to land and check out.

The service was great and the payment process quick. They did take credit cards, which was nice.

Now I will say I didn't bring the camera with me on the River. We actually went back to the dock so I could run to the car, retrieve my car and snap some action shots of us. :)

I kept the phone in a little pocket on the life vest in between pics.

It was nice to just enjoy time with my wife away from technology and the real world. I even said to her during the trek that I would've never imagined doing something like this when we first met. I am thankful for so much from this weight loss journey - including a more daring personality.

We actually finished up paddle boarding just before 4, but we ready for an early dinner so straight to Boston Burger Company we went.

This restaurant features my wife's favorite burger: The Killer Bee.

Can you tell how happy she is?

I am not a burger person so I opted for a Garden Salad with chicken and french fries.

We both cheered her birthday with our favorite Slumbrew beers on tap: Happy Sol for her (right) and Porter Square Porter for me (left).

What a delicious meal!

It was one perfect Summer Day in Boston. I could've asked for a better time or person to spend it with.

I was getting sleepy so we called it an early night to watch some Netflix, snuggle some pups and turn in early.

Okay I fell asleep before anyone else ... it happens!

***

Sunday I made sure to get up early to get my 5-mile training run in before the wife and I headed to New Hampshire for my friend's daughter's baptism.

It was great to catch up with college friends. The original party would've been outside, but with inclement weather coming down on us the festivities were moved inside. After some baby snuggling, we all headed home.

We caught a little bit of weekend vacation traffic, but thankfully not too much.

I was home, changed and on the bike trainer by 4pm. I could've ridden outside, but I wanted to spend more time with my little family so I hopped on the trainer for the 90 minute ride.

Luckily the trainer isn't so loud that it drowns out the conversation. :)

But if you haven't caught on with the pattern so far, the night was low-key and I tried to recover with my compression and bed.

***

Once again the weekend was superb (and I tracked every delicious bite of it), but ended on a tough note. I have signed up for something in 2015 (which I will reveal soon), but now I am nervous that it was a bad choice. I need to listen to my gut so instead of regretting the decision I am going to accept the challenges.

I spent a majority of Sunday also glued to my iPhone as I tracked seven people I knew attacking Iron Man Lake Placid. It was a phenomenally inspiring day. 6 of the 7 were able to Finish after battling tough weather conditions. But all 7 are winners in my book as they had the heart to sign up, train and show up on Race Day!

A DNF (Did Not Finish) is better than a DNS (Did Not Start)!

Now I must recollect myself and get back to my own training plan... six weeks until Pumpkinman Half Ironman. Eek!

***

PS. There is still time to sign up for my virtual fundraising 5k – F.A.S.T. (Fight Against Stroke Together) 5k/10k. You can click here to find more information about how you can help Fight Stroke AND get a sweet Finisher’s Medal.

Friday Five: ASICS Triathlon Edition

#BetterYourBest

The new ASICS ad campaign speaks to me. It's something that I've been working on for years: to end the comparison game and focus on bettering YOUR best.

Well it looks like ASICS agreed. They sent me a note stating how they thought I embodied the "Better Your Best" mantra and liked my passion for training that I've shared through my blog.

I was speechless. But it got better!

They would be sending me the Escape From Alcatraz Triathlon Survival Kit designed by elite athlete Andy Potts. The Survival Kit was a collection of ASICS gear Potts felt would help triathletes perform at their best.

Ahhh I jumped at the opportunity and now I can share with YOU what that kit included.

(Note: I did receive the gear free of charge, but as always all thoughts are my own! Ain't nobody got time for lyin'!)

While I am new-ish to triathlons (three sprints under my belt so far), I still know what gear I like and what I don't. So let's get right to it.

***

1) Sneakers: Gel-Hyper Speed 6 ($85 value) to be exact

I have been running in ASICS sneakers since I first started running in 2005. The GT-2000 series has gotten me through countless miles and races. So I was open to trying this racer flat.

 It was DEFINITELY an adjustment from the more supportive GT-2000s that I wear, but I could see the benefit in the racing flats for the Sprint or Olympic distance triathlons. The lightweight seamless construction reduces irritation and friction while running, but the shoe also offers a Rearfoot Gel Cushioning System, which I appreciate for impact.

Personally I wouldn't be comfortable running farther than a 10k in them, but that is for my own personal preference. These have already become a staple for meduring speed workouts.

Plus, I adore the color combo. Priorities, right?

2) Backpack: Kayano Backpack ($75 value)

First and foremost I love that the Kayano Backpack offers a chest strap. I really dislike having to hold my straps up while walking to the gym or heading to a race. The Kayano has padded straps, as well as a padded laptop pocket that zips open flat for travel ease.

There is also a stashable water-resistant bag cover, which is great for transition areas they may get a little wet on a rainy race day.

But I really appreciate the bag having two water bottle holders (one on each side), which comfortably fit a water bottle in each. I hate when the water bottle pocket isn't deep enough and my water bottle goes flying while I am in transit. So thanks ASICS for making the pockets deep enough.

The backpack has ample space within the two main compartments to handle your gear for all three parts of the triathlon.

3) Accessories: Dawn-2-Dusk Cap ($20 value), Long Haul Handheld Water Bottle ($18 value), and Kayano Single Tab Socks ($14 value)

An athlete is only as good as their accessories. Ummm??

I'm not sure if that is a thing, but we will go with it.

The versatility of this cap takes you from dawn (with lightweight, quick-dry functionality) to dusk, effortlessly transitioning into a high visibility reflective cap.

The 20oz water bottle features an adjustable Airmesh handle, which keeps sweating to a minimum. The easy to open zip pocket keeps your valuables in reach. I did find the grip comfortable, but personally I am not into the hand held water devices ... listening to the water sludge around just makes me have to pee. ;)

Last but not lease would be the sock featuring PROfit™ Technology for a comfortable fit, while providing a dry and stay-put sock. The worst feeling is having your socks slide down mid-race so thanks ASICS for helping avoid that hassle. 

4) Long-sleeved training top: Thermopolis LT 1/2 Zip (on sale $39)

While I appreciate a long-sleeved zip, this wasn't the time of year to be testing it out. Ha. It is hot hot hot out there so I do not need any extra warmth. I will look forward to breaking this out come September or so.

The PR Thermal fabric allows for breathability and it has the ability to insulate your body and keep you at an ideal temperature. 

It will be joining my weekend comfy clothes rotation this Fall as well because I am in love with the neck. ;)

5) Top/Shorts: Performance Fun Starburst Tank (on sale $22) and Speed Short (on sale $35)

Now I think we all know I am NOT a shorts person, but as always I wanted to give them a try. And they were just not for me. A little too short. But for those that like shorts, you will love the lightweight, breathable fabric, the flatlock seams which help reduce chafing and the reflective elements on the sides of the shorts.

Now I think I ordered the top a size too big. It was loose fitting in the chest area, which wouldn't fly for a run. But I loved the style in the back!! It was lightweight and airy. Plus, it has such a fun pattern and it pairs well with the sneakers. ;)

***

Overall, I loved the first four parts of the Survival Kit, but wish there was a capri option for the bottoms (personal preference).

***

But now that I've shared my thoughts with you, it's time for me to suit up and get back to training.

Now off to find the training plan! :P

Face It Friday: I Didn't Throw In The Towel 7/25/14

Last weekend was FUUUNNNN! I do not regret a single food or drink choice I made.

I celebrated the wife's 34th birthday AND completing my third triathlon. I filled some cravings that I had had for months... and they were delicious.

Now my week starts on Friday as we know. So Friday itself was a 109 pt day. Yup you read that right. We went out to a big dinner and I ate delicious pizza and drank decadent beer. It was great.

Now Saturday and Sunday we were on the go with the race so I didn't track.

I knew I was over, but didn't have the energy to see how over.

But, Monday morning I looked at myself in the mirror and said the only person I am hurting is myself. So I sat down and estimated the best I could.

Yup, three days into my Weight Watchers week and I was -114 pts in the hole.

That was a punch to the gut moment. But I patted myself on the back for owning up to it.

At that moment I decided instead of throwing in the towel and "restarting" on Friday when my WW week would be fresh, I decided to see how much I could earn back through Activity. It was lighting a fire under my training butt.

So I worked and I happily saw the number decrease.

I knew I would never get back into the positive, but I felt okay.

I really didn't care what the scale said this week because I was living on my NSV (Non-Scale Victory) of sticking with my game plan and reaching out to friends for support.

Every day I hit my DPT, filled all of my Good Health Guidelines and was staying well hydrated with H2O. I was feeling GREAT.

So I woke up this morning feeling light and lean, but reminding myself that even if the scale showed a gain I would NOT take away the accomplishments of the week.

I took out the scale, dusted it off, closed my eyes and stepped on.

Down 2.8 lbs!

Woo! Now I do not get into the habit of going into the negative with my points. I've been doing Weight Watchers for almost 5 years and know that weeks will vary because well life happens.

Do I want to keep this pattern of being in the negative going - of course not. But I made it through two tough weeks and still came out on top.

So next time you have one bad meal or day and think you ruined the whole week remember this post, track it and move on.

***

Since June 13, I have successfully shed 16.2 of the 15.8 lbs gained during my temp assignment. Yes that means all the weight plus a little extra is GONE. Yahoo!! What a great feeling getting back to the balance I know that works for me.

Sometimes we need to go through a bumpy road to find the focus again and the reason we started this journey to begin with.

***

This week I will be participating in my own fundraising virtual 5k - F.A.S.T. (Fight Against Stroke Together) 5k/10k - and would love for you to join me. You can click here to find more information about how you can help Fight Stroke AND get a sweet Finisher's Medal.

***

And finally, if you all could take a moment and vote for me I would really appreciate it. There are some sweet prizes on the table and you all know I love my low-fat chocolate milk.

VOTE HERE!

I think you can vote once a day! Thanks!!

***

I hope everyone has an amazing week. I am race free this weekend, but have some social engagements to attend. I will once again track it and own it.

I will keep the following mantra in the back of my mind:

Eat To Live Don't Live To Eat

REVIEW: Apera Bags

What's that smell? Oh no ... that would be me. Ick!

<<Runs to take quick shower>>

Hmmm ... the smell is still there.

What could it be?

<<Looks to the floor>>

Ooohh it's my gym bag.

<<Hides in embarrassment>>

Ew!

Anyone with me on this?

Well after complaining about it the best way I know how - on social media - a company came to my rescue.

Apera Bags

Have you heard of them? Met them at a Race Expo or two?

If you haven't, I'm here to share the love.

I received the Performance Duffel to review (value $124), but as always all thoughts and opinions are my own. Ain't nobody got time for lying! Am I right?

Do you like that I picked the bright fuschia? I used to shy away from color, but now I think the brighter the better.

Of the seven styles of bags Apera offers, I believe the duffel is the roomiest. I figured it would be PERFECT to lug my triathlon gear around. Three sports in one bag.

Like every Apera bag, it includes antimicrobial product protection inside and outside. Ventilated compartments, a water resistant base and wipeable linings keep your bag clean, dry and healthy.

I love having a separate compartment for my sneakers or bike shoes. Don't you hate when dirt from your shoes gets all over the inside of your gym bag?

There is a pocket on both ends of the bag and each can hold a pair of shoes up to men's 11.5. So now I can keep my bike shoes on one side and my sneakers on the other when heading to a BRICK workout or triathlon.

The Duffel is loaded with pockets, which allows for quick and easy access to any of my little accessories that tend to get lost in the bottom of the bag.

How many Sparkly Soul headbands have you found when finally cleaning out your bag? I think my max was 5 or 6. Ha!

I used the large pocket on the backside to keep my wet bathing suit away from my dry running gear. Such a simple joy.

I started using the pockets on the top to hide my Garmin. I get paranoid that it will turn on while in transit to a race or it will fall out of one of the front pockets while tossing the bag around.

Or goggles and sunglasses.

Plus the shoulder strap is wide and padded making travel less painful on the old shoulder.

You may be wondering if I could use this bag for anything other than the gym. Absolutely.

We took a quick weekend trip to Maine a few weeks back and it was perfect to separate my fun relaxing clothes with my running gear. I mean you know I had to bring sneakers with me. :P

But I think what really puts Apera ahead of their competition would be the antimicrobial product protection.

The material Inside and outside of every Apera bag* is treated with antimicrobial product protection which works continuously, 24/7, to help prevent the growth of bacterial odors on the bag. And because the antimicrobial aspect is built-in during manufacturing, it will last for the useful lifetime of the bag.**

Finally my bag isn't the smelly one in the house. That honor can be returned to my wife's hockey bag. :P

So would I recommend Apera bags to a friend? Absolutely.

Apera is more than a great product they are a great company as well.

Apera’s cause is simple – to inspire all athletes. Apera has created a unique business model that reinforces the social and benevolent components of the Social-Athlete market.

Apera will donate one bag to a Special Olympics athlete for every three bags we sell.

How cool is that?

If you are ready to get your Apera bag act now. They are having a 20% off anniversary sale through July 31: Enter SUMMER2014 at checkout. Check out their website for additional sales.

***

When do you use your Apera bag?

Iron Girl Webster Race Prep w/ Got Chocolate Milk Expo Fun

It's almost time for...

IRON GIRL WEBSTER

YAY!

I cannot wait for this medal to me miiinneee!!

On Sunday (July 20) I will be taking on my first triathlon of the season and my third triathlon overall (all Sprint Tris). The Iron Girl Webster race, which I will be completing on behalf of Got Chocolate Milk, consists of a

1/3 mile swim ... 12 mile bike ... 3 mile run

But before I can even make it to Sunday, there is some race prep that has to go down.

Where to begin?

Step One: Lay out everything I need for Race Day

I find it helpful to lay my gear out by category.

Category 1: Outfit.

Choice for Iron Girl Webster? My Got Chocolate Milk Tri Kit, my Garmin watch and a Sparkle Athletic Skirt.

Not pictured Zensah sports bra.

This will be my base for the day, except I will NOT be wearing the Sparkle Athletic skirt in the water. ;)

Category 2: Transition Area.

I love to use my Asics towel as my base. On top of that base goes all accessories, fuel and "just in case" stuff. I like to keep a water bottle, a handheld water bottle (if I want it for the run), a KIND bar, my ENERGYBits and sunglasses.

Category 3: The Swim.

So apparently I cut off the most important part of the swim attire - goggles. Ha. So my swim gear includes goggles, swim cap (usually one issued by the race itself), wetsuit and a towel to clear off my feet to transition to the bike.

Do you like the sweet Nestle towel I have? I got it when the Nesquik Bunny visited me back in March. :)

Category 4: The Bike.

Once I maneuver the wetsuit off - hopefully without falling :P - and the feet are dry, it is time to secure my Sparkly Soul headband before putting on my helmet. You can get penalized if you are moving with the bike and not having your helmet on so I make sure it is one of the first thing I put on for the bike.

This will be my first time using Bike Shoes so once the helmet is on, I will put on my Zensah compression sleeves, attach my race belt which will already have my number on it and slip into the shoes.

Category 5: The Run.

The final transition should be the easiest. Bike shoes and helmet off ... visor and sneakers on.

Once I give everything a once over - adding the race bib and bike number - it all goes into my big IKEA bag (yup classy) and it sits by the front door. This way I won't forget anything.

But since it is Friday and I have everything in order I can pick up last-minute times at...

Step Two: The Expo

On Saturday (June 19), I will be heading to Webster to attend the Iron Girl Expo - pick up my bib, purchase anything I might be missing and to hopefully see friends and readers. Oh and I won't just be attending, I will be co-hosting some things.

Whhaaa??

I know.

My Got Chocolate Milk teammate Chrisann and I will be co-hosting:

** Q&A Panel at 12:30pm

...to answer any last-minute questions participants may have, while sharing some of our stories as well. Oh and of course I will be sharing how much low-fat Chocolate Milk plays into my training. :)

** Shake Out Run at 1:30pm

...to shake out the legs, but also the nerves. It is will light and easy and topped off with some low-fat Chocolate Milk. Yay!

** Booth Time til 3:00pm

...Chrisann and I will be at the Got Chocolate Milk booth following the Shake Out Run to meet participants. Please come by and say hi!! Let's take a selfie!

After the Expo I will be heading home to...

Step Three: Refuel, Recharge and Rest

Saturday Night will be a nice lowkey time spent at home with my foam roller, compression shorts and socks and a little pasta. Oh don't forget the water too. Staying hydrated is important.

Plus the alarm clock will be going off super early on Sunday so I need my beauty rest. :0)

Step Four: Race Day

HAVE FUN!! In case one forgets, these races are supposed to be joyful and exciting. So I will be turning the butterflies into fuel and remembering what Tedy Bruschi told us:

The Start Line is the Finish Line and the race is the party!

***

Now many folks might be wondering how to refuel after the race itself.

Here are the top five tips from Got Chocolate Milk and I:

1. Ice muscles. Cooling down muscles post-exercise in short bursts (10 minutes on, 10 minutes off) could reduce inflammation, muscle soreness and speed the path to recovery.
2. Compression. To get back to your training schedule and regain energy quickly, try wearing compression garments, which can help decrease the time it takes for muscles to recover between intense bouts of exercise.
3. Active Recovery. Gentle movement improves circulation, which promotes nutrient and waste product transport through the body to help muscles repair faster. Try a light jog at the scenic Midstate Trail or explore Lake Chaubunagungamaug.
4. Lowfat Chocolate Milk. Looking for a convenient post workout snack? 20+ studies support the benefits of lowfat chocolate milk for post-exercise recovery and research shows it has the right mix of protein and carbs to help athletes recover quickly so they can start preparing for their next challenge.
5. Roll it out. Much of the soreness that goes along with exercise occurs when muscles become knotted; rolling out muscles with foam rollers can help remove these knots and promote recovery.

***

What's left?

Goals.

Number 1: Have Fun!

Number 2: Finish!

Number 3: Learn! I am using this as a test for the Pumpkinman Half Ironman I am doing in September. I will need to remember what worked and what didn't so I can alter the plan before The Sharon Tri on August 10.

***

Are you participating in Iron Girl Webster? Will I see you Saturday at the Q&A or Shake Out Run?

Replacing "Before & After" with "Then & Now"

Transformation Tuesday is a big craze where folks share their Before and After photos for weight loss, fitness accomplishments, etc.

Before and After photos have been around for ages. We all know what they are I assume.

This was in September 2011 and should've been titled Before and During

I couldn't wait to share my own Before and After photos once I hit Goal with Weight Watchers. I would finally reach my after and blast those comparison pictures wherever I could.

The dreaded Before. I look back on those before pictures with disgust at how big I got. I can remember how pained I was. Smiles forced.

Being able to post that hatred next to a beaming After photo pushed me through tough patches both mentally and physically.

But as I reached that forsaken After in January 2012, it didn't feel as euphoric as I wanted.

I was ready for more. The After wasn't truly the end... to me at least.

New Afters were swirling through my head:

* Run a sub 4-hour marathon

* Try a triathlon

* Tackle my fear of obstacle races

* Improve my pace

* Run farther

* Race around the world ... okay that is more race in places around the world ;) I'm not that much of a distance runner yet

How could I use the phrase "Before and After" when I wanted to
stop hating my Before and what I defined as "After" kept changing?

For months this little thought has been growing and cultivating in the back of my mind. What could I use instead? Sharing my story helps keep me motivated, while inspiring others to chase their dreams. But I can't handle the Before and After title.

Here's my idea:

Let's replace Before and After with Then and Now.

Then and Now offers a more open-ended comparison between two different phases in my life. It takes any negative connotation I may imply by shunning the Before and celebrating the After. I can continue to work to love the former me even when comparing it to the current me, which I am still working to embrace - faults and all.

Then and Now allows me to spread my wings and continue pushing my own envelope and expanding that comfort zone.

Will you join me in the movement? Let's celebrate the Then and Now!

Face It Friday: Feelin' Good 7/11/14

Livin' La Vida ... balanced! Okay that doesn't really flow like Livin' La Vida Loca, but work with me.

I hit the massive reset button on June 13! I faced the scale and realized I was up 15.8 lbs from the week before I started the temp job (Feb 20).

Not okay! There are plenty of excuses I could throw out there, but the blame lies on me.

It is the most amount of weight I had gained back since hitting goal in January 2012.

But it took that shock to snap me back to reality. To reassess what was working and what wasn't.

So I have gotten back to basics.

I've refocused and am holding myself accountable.

And it has helped 11.8 lbs to be gone. Now the first week of being "back on plan" resulted in a 6+ lb loss, which was mainly bloating and water weight.

***

How did it start?

Getting back into the meeting room!

Sitting my butt back into the green chair has been exactly what I have been looking for. Since becoming a WW leader, I didn't have the time to get to a meeting since I was mainly leading all the convenient times. ;) But now I am making it a priority and it feels nice to put the member hat back on.

It was my Success Story that really sparked that for me. Since I went on and on about my love of meetings.

I got over attending a meeting I used to lead and it's been worth it.

After refocusing the meeting room, it has been tracking.

Novel concept I know. ;0)

Has it been perfect tracking? Absolutely not, but guesstimating - especially on the weekend - is a form of accountability.

My food scale and measuring cups are back out on the counters. Oh portion control!

Especially chips!! I love throwing broken pieces of chips on the food scale to get myself spot on with the serving size. Grams are easy for me to work with than "about 6 chips."

Oh hey Good Health Guidelines! Allowing the WW Healthy Checks to shape my day has made me feel healthier overall.

But at the heart of it all, I had to remind myself that I am worth it as well as my fitness goals. Eating for training and my activity goals has reframed my choices.

Still asking myself that question:

“Will X help me achieve my goal?”

And yes pizza and sangria sometimes do help! ;)

Balance!

So limiting my indulgences to the weekend or a special occasion during the week has actually been easier than I thought. Sometimes climbing back on the wagon is tough, but it has felt easy. You know that means my body and mind were ready for it.

During this time, I felt ashamed of the weight gain, but life happens - which can be an excuse. But it has been a learning experience, there are things I have learned from WW that I must continue to relearn and keep as a priority if I want to have success with weight maintenance. :)

Some people don't have to keep tracking, but this girl needs to. It keeps me accountable and my portion sizes in control.

***

It was funny after indulging on Saturday with the wife in Ogunquit, Maine, I was ready to get back to "normal" on Sunday. I think that is a good sign.

***

How was your week?

Dani Dishes 6-30-14

On this episode of Dani Dishes, it's time to reassess the first half of 2014 and what I want to accomplish in the second half! I challenge you to do the same!!

Reconnecting With Why I Started Blogging

"Why do you blog?" "What do you blog about?"

"Why would people read your blog?"

Probably the top three questions I get when I share with someone why I blog. Now it's actually only recently that I start to lead with blogging when I am asked what I do for a living. I usually never brought it up because it's not like I am making money from it so it technically isn't a job.

Maybe more of an obsession ... joy ... a thing that gives me life?

None of those seem to fit. So I normally say I am a Weight Watchers Leader and leave it at that.

But, the more I hear folks enjoy reading and relating to Weight Off My Shoulders, the prouder I get. Plus, I LOVE talking about the amazing adventures and sweet races I have completed thanks to this little slice of the internet.

Lately however I've felt like I am getting away from why I truly started this blog: as a space to share my ups and downs about weight loss, the struggles I've had with eating disorders and depression and learning to make maintenance work.

Now those pieces are still here, but recently I've felt like I was in a long stretch of race recaps and product reviews. Outside of my Dani Dishes vlogs which are a great outlet for me to ramble through a topic plaguing me that week.

I don't want to feel unappreciative of those opportunities, but it was taking over my mind space that how I was truly feeling inside was being hidden.

Exactly what happened BEFORE starting this space.

Thankfully I am all caught up on race recaps (I know this wouldn't be a problem if I didn't race so much ;)) and am ready to get back to sharing the experiences that have molded me to be the person I am today and how I still fight to overcome negativity, the comparison game and more.

Bringing balance back to the blog will bring balance back to my life. I think. Well it's worth a try, right?

***

I need to take a moment to thank you all for sharing this journey with me. I never thought when I started this blog three years ago that anyone would even read it or it would morph into what it is today. I am honored to be given the opportunities I have and I can't wait to see what else awaits.

A blog must evolve as the person writing it evolves. I just think I allowed some aspects to overtake others. It happens. I'm human and still learning about how this whole social media thing works.

All I know is that I love it and I couldn't imagine not having Weight Off My Shoulders and @IrishEyes1982 in my life.

***

So be ready for more consistent posting here on the blog. But you can always check me out - hey not my booty please ;) - on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Relapse...

It happened again. It has been months since my dark demon reared it's ugly head, but tonight it won.

I feel weak.

I feel pathetic.

But I have to admit defeat.

Tonight I gave in to the eating disorder ghost that haunts me and I purged.

I know this isn't something that folks probably want to read, but I need to get it off my chest.

It is something that I still deal with on  daily basis.

I overate and instead of accepting what I did - I gave in to the deep thoughts in my head.

"Get rid of the evidence."

"You F-ed up again now you must pay."

It isn't something that I am proud of, but this disease is a part of me and my journey.

So tonight I admit defeat, but I am taking away the positive.

I recognize what I did. I am looking into why it happened and why I will NOT let it happen the next time.

Eating disorders - binging, purging, starving oneself - it is as much a mental disease as it is physical. To me one that will never go away, but one that I will always battle.

I share this with you all because if I kept it inside it may lead to more negative thoughts and a deeper spiral that I don't want to happen.

This space was created for me to share the battles - the good and the bad.

Tonight it was the bad.

But I will forgive myself and know that tomorrow is a new day.

A better day.

I am not defined by my mistakes...