Inaugural Star Wars Weekend: #RebelTweetup, Course Maps & Costume Sneak Peek

T-minus 17 days until the wife and I pack our bags and head to Disneyland! Woo! This will be the first trip to Disneyland for both of us and the start of our Coast 2 Coast medal goal for 2015.

For those that don't know, the inaugural Star Wars weekend will take place in Disneyland from January 16-18, 2015! I will be taking part in all three races: 5k on Friday, 10k on Saturday and Half Marathon on Sunday. My wife will be taking on the #RebelChallenge, which is 10k and Half.

I can't wait to walk away from the weekend with four of these amazing medals. If only I could pass off as young enough for the Kids Race. ;)

Now I don't just take these trips for the medals (shocking I know), the wife and I will be hitting up the parks and trying to soak in as much as possible in our four days in Cali.

I keep hearing that Disneyland is more laid back than Disney World, which I can already see with fewer parks and no magic bands. It'll be like stepping back in time? :P

In addition to racing and parks, I'm wicked excited to see as many friends as possible. So you KNOW a meetup would form! Linzie from Sharp Endurance and I will be hosting the #RebelTweetup on Saturday, January 17 from 1-3pm PST at Trader Sam's.

Sharpie and I hosted a meetup together with Kat from Katrina Elle for Dopey Challenge in January and had a blast.

We WILL once again have some sweet prizes to hand out, but really want to get together and meet some online friends in real life for once AND pass on some sweet high-fives.

So please feel free to join us, tell your friends and RSVP here on Facebook to add it to your calendar! :)

We look forward to seeing you then!!

***

Now thanks to the interwebs I was able to check out the course maps ahead of time.

5k

10k

Half

Since I've never been to Disneyland, it really doesn't mean anything to me (right now), but they look like similar to how they work at Disney World. Am I right? More out of the parks for Half.

***

My favorite parts of Disney races are the character stops, medals, and costumes!! One can run a Disney race without wearing a costume, but I like to go with a theme.

The Star Wars theme has proven a little more difficult for me. I'm not the biggest Star Wars fan so choosing must-do characters is tough. Thankfully the wife is a huge Star Wars fan - yes the reason we are doing the races - so she is trying to help me out.

While I am still working on 5k and 10k - last minute I know - my half costume has been decided: an Ewok.

Here is a sneak peek at the cute tank/hoodie we got.

I mean amazing, right? I love it. It is super comfortable too.

First and foremost a costume must NOT interfere with my running. I need practical costumes over cute ones. There are a lot of miles being run here.

***

But I cannot wait to make this trip happen. I am looking forward to every minute of it.

Are you going to be at the inaugural Star Wars weekend?

Tedy’s Team Group Run – 10 Miles (12/27/14)

Emotional. This run was destined to be a roller coaster of feelings.

Why?

December 27, 2012 - we unexpectedly lost my Grampa (my #1 Stroke Hero). While I miss him on a daily basis, it is always tougher on the anniversary.

But since I run for Tedy's Team, I try to make it proud each and every time I lace up my sneakers (and everyday really). So today I added a little special reminder on my hand...

My teammate and friend Page picked me up just after 7:30am and we headed into Kenmore Square. Page had to cancel our Friday run so it was great to make up our catch up session. :)

With little traffic on Storrow Drive, we made it with plenty of time to spare. Enter an extra session with a painful foam roller. I should've snapped a pic of it with its extra painful spikes on it. :P

After a quick bathroom break, it was time to head out and enjoy the gorgeous New England morning. Now last year was one of the coldest winter training sessions I've had since I started running. This winter has been one of the warmest. <<Runs to knock on wood>>

So I happily headed out to run in the sunny scenic morning...

Page and I actually run really well together, which is awesome. Great to find a running friend that keeps a similar pace, falls easily into conversation and says "yes" when you ask them to run on a weekly basis. ;) Yay!

Page usually works on Saturdays so she hasn't done many of the group runs (despite this being her fifth year on the team) so it was fun to have a newbie along for the ride. :)

Mile 1: 8:54 Mile 2: 9:09

As we made our way through Brookline Center, I thought we were pushing a much faster pace than the Garmin was giving up credit for. Thankfully Page agreed so I didn't feel crazy.

We opted to grab water at the first water stop and say hi to Coach John.

Like how he dresses up for us. ;)

After a quick shot of water, we were off. We fell back into our rhythm as we approached Coolidge Corner. Some folks were taking this opportunity to turn around and go for a shorter 6-mile run. It is nice that folks have options to run however many miles they feel up to and still have the water stops/support.

Mile 3: 8:57

As we ran, I was getting warmer. I know I'm the only person that happens to. :P But I was wicked happy I opted for my new Lululemon 1/2 zip shirt and just a vest on top of that.

I love when we get to run by the Chestnut Hill Reservoir. A simply beautiful sight.

Mile 4: 8:57

While running up the hill next to BC, I told Page all about the Heartbreak Hill weekend I had done back in June.

I didn't want to run another hill. I just wasn't in the mood. Page pushed me through. "Just run towards the light at the top." Oh sure that's easy enough. Then I spotted teammate and friend Nancy in front of us. That was a better target for me to push through. Yes I opted for a moving target rather than the stationary target of the traffic light. :P

We caught up to Nancy and guess what? We got to enjoy the downhill. What goes up must come down, right? YAY! I dished out some high fives to fellow teammates who had already hit the turnaround.

Mile 5: 8:33

And there she was - at Mile 5.21 there was Margaret, our waterstop and the turnaround spot. Woo!

We are 3-for-3 with selfies at training runs. :)

Nancy joined our party so we decided to all run back together and catch up! Page and I are training for the Boston Marathon, while Nancy is running the Vermont Marathon (5/24/15) with Tedy's Team.

Nancy lives in New Hampshire so I hadn't seen her in awhile so it was great to catch up on all things life.

Mile 6: 9:22

Chatting with friends also keep the miles moving pretty quickly. I love a good distraction.

With Coolidge Corner in our view, I knew the bigger hills were behind us... literally! ;)

Mile 7: 9:02

As we were running back towards Kenmore Square, the folks of the Liver Foundation team were running towards us. Among the crew was my friend Kim so it was great to give her a big high-five as we both grinded out an early long run.

Mile 8: 9:25

My left hamstring as always was a constant dull pain. It is more of a nagging annoyance than anything else. I am working on strengthening the leg to help it heal per suggestion of John.

When we came upon the Holiday Inn in Brookline, we picked up another friend Julia to join our little crew. :) The more the merrier, right? Absolutely!

Mile 9: 9:05

I wasn't really paying attention to our pace since I felt great during the whole run and sort of let the folks around me set the tone for the run. It is a great way to shut the brain off for awhile. Sometimes I can be too into the pace and mileage and it takes over the feel of the run.

While we headed back towards Kenmore and came up on the Mile 25 mark of Boston, the feelings about my Grampa really hit me. Some tears were shed and I let them happen. I'm usually one that masks my feelings in public, but I find that usually backfires. Running is therapy and whatever happens on the run is taking place for a reason.

So I let the memories - especially of those when I told my Grampa I would be running Boston in his honor - replay in my brain. A smile emerged as I remembered how proud he was. That was all I ever wanted to do - make him proud.

Wow the screen is starting to get a little blurry at this point... <<Runs off to get tissue>>

Okay I'm back.

Mile 10: 9:16

Since I'm a stickler for the mileage number, Page and I ran just past Joint Ventures (our hub) until we hit 10.5. Woo!

It felt great to have another training run under our belts.

Overall the run felt great. I had a mini luna bar (2PPV) at the turnaround with Margaret and felt satisfied the whole run. Man I love those little bars!

We headed upstairs to hear how everyone else's runs went and to do a little more stretching. Oh we meet again foam roller. As a reward, I treated us to Dunkin' Donuts iced coffee. #DaniRunsOnDunkin

Thankfully Page gave me a lift home so I could get ready for my first Spin class at Soul Cycle in Chestnut Hill. Ummm why did I sign up for a spin class after a long run? Because I'm crazy... and it was free! :P

***

Week 3 Workouts:

Sunday, December 21: 6-mile run Monday, December 22: 5-mile run & 5k-walk Tuesday, December 23: 5-mile run & 45-min walk Wednesday, December 24: 4-mile run Thursday, December 25: 9-mile run (broken up as 3.1, 3.1 & 2.8) Friday, December 26: 5-mile run Saturday, December 27: 10.5-mile run &56-min cycling (Soul Cycle)

Goal for next week? AGAIN – Adding in strength training and additional cross training. This week was lacking in both – AGAIN!

***

Looking to Donate?

Are you interested in helping to fight Stroke? Please feel free to click on the link HERE to share a donation.

Wicked pumped to be $417.60 away from goal! :)

Face It Friday: Different Holiday, Same Result 12/26/14

Does anyone else have those out of body experiences when in the middle of an activity? I felt like I was flying above my body on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and just shaking my head at poor choices left and right. Now I made the mistake of weighing in on Wednesday morning rather than waiting until my normal day on Friday morning.

Why did I weigh in early? Well I could tell you that it is because I was subbing the meeting I normally weigh in at ... but that would be an excuse.

I really wanted to get the weigh-in over before choosing to overindulge on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Yup I set myself up for failure disappointment there. You would think that I would be smarter five years into Weight Watchers, but we are all still learning.

My weekend wasn't that great. I had a few more beers than the past two weeks and could feel the bloat stay with me all week.

I ended up being up 0.6 this week (12/24 weigh-in) and accepted that.

It wasn't what I wanted, but I did the best I could on Monday and Tuesday to get back on track. I missed two days worth of on spot eating and extra activity. Life is life.

I was happy to be within free lifetime range for the second-straight work. Woo! Tiny victory.

Now once the weigh-in was over I tried to stay on plan for as much of Wednesday as I could... until our Christmas Eve tradition would start.

Well I promptly emotionally ate 14 pts worth of Simply Tostitos. Now I made the mistake of opening the bag in the car! NOT AGAIN! Remember: Never Failure, Always Feedback. So remembering that for future reference.

I am proud that when I got home I calculated how many grams of chips were in the whole bag, weighed the amount of chips remaining and did the math to get an accurate PPV for the incident in the car. That is how I figured out it was 14. I will take THAT as a Bravo moment.

We enjoyed the holiday tradition: Chinese food, wine, PJs and National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. I inevitably had the extra helping of Chinese food I didn't need and same with the wine.

BUT I did track it all. Another tiny victory.

I woke up at 7am on Christmas morning to get in a 10k run - 5k with my dad biking with me and 5k with a friend - in the rain! Go me.

Once home from the second 5k, my friend Lori and I each had a beer to celebrate. :)

We - my parents and I - opted to stay home for the Holiday, which I was behind. I thought it would help me stay more on plan, but actually backfired. I made one poor choice after another. I had more on plan food downstairs in my apartment, but instead went with the higher PPV foods my parents had. Ummm hi Dani you know better.

I think my downfall was giving myself permission to enjoy the Holiday as long as I tracked it all... which I did. I made sure to practice self-kindess and self-forgiveness... but maybe a little too much! You know what I mean?

Next Holiday

**I need to give myself a PPV cap. I think that will give me the flexibility to have what I want, but to keep it in control.

**I need to stick with my normal weigh-in day which would also keep me more in check on the Holiday in question.

Now, I am proud that I saw how my Christmas morning went and opted to get out for a third run to bring the total of Christmas miles to 9. Woo!

While I am happy that I tracked all through the week, I didn't like the choices that I made. This folks is why it is so helpful to track no matter what - I have something to look back to and see what worked and what didn't.

We know this isn't the first or last Holiday I will experience so I can improve each time.

I did end up hitting 94 APs earned over the week, which is my highest in a few months. Woo!

***

Overall not my best week and not my worst. It was kind of there. BUT I did move more, tracked it all and didn't feel like I "wasted" any PPV.

***

How did you Holiday go? Did you practice self-forgiveness for choices made?

Merry Christmas To Me...

I can admit I am not a huge Holiday person. I don't know why, but they usually give me a lot of anxiety. So this year I was wicked excited to learn we would be staying home. Well my parents and I would be. The wife would once again be heading home to Chicago to see her family. :/ The pups and I miss her.

I was happy to be staying home since my alarm is set for 6:15am on Friday morning so I can get to work by 7am. Woo... not! :P No I am happy to be subbing for a friend since I need the money. The problem will Thursday holidays is I miss out on 4 meetings worth of pay, which stinks.

After my Wednesday Noon meeting in Newton, I took to the highway to get home... and sat in traffic. Oh the holidays. ;) I was a little jealous of the people in the other cars heading out of town for a long weekend, but the traffic wore the jealousy off quickly. Haha.

Once I did some last-minute errands, I was ready to be home and away from the masses. I had planned to get in a second workout (had run 4 miles before work), but after surviving traffic and people - I opted for a beer. ;) Smart choice, right?

Around 6pm the pups and I headed upstairs to my parents' place to start our Christmas Eve tradition: Chinese food, wine and National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. Oh oh and PJs. Thank you comfort.

It was great to just kick back and relax for an evening. I am not good at putting away work (both for Weight Watchers and the blog) and just be. It is a sweet treat.

I was wicked excited about my parents' gifts that I made them open them Christmas Eve so I could set them up.

Yup I got them Fitbit Ones! I'm ready to compete against them already. Feel free to friend me on Fitbit if you want (email above on the pic).

Oh and my dad made these little devil cookies!

I am waiting for him to give me the recipe so I can actually calculate the Weight Watchers PPV.

Since I would be waking up early for a couple of run dates, I headed downstairs around 10pm. Not that I would go right to sleep, but I was ready to be laying down in bed. Thanks wine. :P

I bounded out of bed at 7am so I could get the pups ready for the day and myself clothed for my run. The game plan was a 5k run with my dad biking with me at 7:30 and another 5k with my friend Lori at 8am. Great way to get 6.2 miles in before 9am.

It was downpouring the entire time, but we felt badass for getting out there and getting it done.

Yes that is Lori and I drinking a Slumbrew (Porter Sq Porter for me and Happy Sol for her) at 9am. It was part of the main reason why she agreed to run with me. Lori and I went to high school together and are both part of the Slumbrew Happy Soles.

Lori is training to run her first marathon - Boston Marathon 2015 for charity. Amazing and so great to chat with someone training for their first marathon.

After Lori headed home to spend the holiday with her family, I was on my way to find an open Dunkin' Donuts. Yes priorities folks.

#DaniRunsOnDunkin

It took two stops, but I found an open Dunkins and was ready for the day to continue.

We did a small gift exchange. Well the parents had already opened the gift from me the night before and they just went to Universal Studios for a few days as their gift to each other. Sooo it was really me opening gifts.

Oh it was a great haul.

I received:

* Dunkin gift card AND two pack of French Vanilla K-Cups

* $75 in gift cards to Disney, which paired with the ones Tori and I received means we have $275 for our trip to Disneyland in January (YYYAAAYYY!!!!)

* Some minions - plush and plastic - from their trip to Universal

* Two sweet new Alex and Ani bracelets. I have a runner one so now I just need them to create a swimmer

* A sweet picture frames from the pups

* A Visa Gift Card (also will use at Disney)

* Replacement pair of sparkly black TOMS since I wore mine so much they have a hole in both soles

* Some great office supplies for my new standing desk

All in all a great and practical haul. I am big on practical gifts. ;)

Once I was finished with gifts it was the pups turn.

Yes they had identical stockings.

Inside they sniffed out: a stuffie, 3 tennis balls and two snacks. Molly immediately devoured her two snacks. She is not one for portion control.

After hugs, thanks and puppy kisses, we turned on Madagascar 2. I somehow had seen 1 and 3, but missed 2. So it was great to finally see it. Super cute.

As the morning went on, the weather improved. At 1pm the weather was sunny and warm so I had to get back out there and take advantage of it. Yes I went out and did a third run.

I squeaked out 2.8 miles to round my daily total to 9 and hit 1,075 miles for the year.

It was a great way to spend some time while my parents and the pups were all napping.

After I got back, it was really time to relax: Zensah compression shorts and socks, Harpoon beer and Puss In Boots on TV.

I could really get used to this "relaxing" thing. I should make it more of a routine.

My dad was experiencing some grill issues so dinner was delayed from 2:30 to 4:30. Fine by me since I was perfectly content on the couch.

We were able to have a low-key dinner: steak tips (delicious Hawaiian Cowboys from Dom's), green beans, carrots (with honey, brown sugar and orange juice) and mashed potatoes.

This is the first time I've had real mashed potatoes since probably last Christmas so it was an awesome treat.

Mmm mmmm mmmm! It hit the spot and was the perfect way to cap off a relaxing day with the family.

So now I will tuck myself in on the couch, finish tracking all of my Weight Watchers PPVs and watch How To Train A Dragon before calling it an early night.

***

I want to remind everyone how thankful I am for your support on this journey. I love every like, comment, email, tweet, Facebook message and hello at a race. It truly means the world to me.

***

What was your top gift from Santa this year?

My Nike & Lululemon Purchases Sponsored By Gift Cards!

Gift cards have been burning a hole in my pocket for almost a year. I couldn't find the right time to use them... until yesterday!! Why not shop for myself on December 23rd - Christmas Eve Eve, right? :P

As I was doing my usual 45-minute walk after my Tuesday Weight Watchers meetings, I made a pitstop over on Newbury Street.

And what would appear before my eyes, but Nike and Lululemon. I just happened to have gift cards to both - $300 to Nike and $150 to Lululemon.

It was time to Carpe Diem it up and treat myself to some new running gear.

So what did I find?

Let's find out.

First stop - Nike Store!!

Nike Aeroloft 800 Women's Running Vest ($180)

Nike Aeroloft is a proprietary baffle and ventilation system. It features a welded baffle construction with engineered laser perforation that delivers lightweight warmth while simultaneously dispensing excess heat. Ideal for high aerobic activity in cold weather conditions. Hello training for the Boston Marathon in a New England winter. ;)

The 800 down fill is a great insulator because of its natural ability to retain heat and loft even after it's ben compressed. Clusters of down have been added to this product for lightweight warmth and comfort. the 800 fill delivers Nike's highest warmth-to-weight ratio for maximum insulation with minimal bulk.

I opted to size up to a Large in case I want to layer under it as it hits negative temps in January/February.

Nike Thermal Running Tights ($75)

The Nike thermal tights offer lightweight warmth and tight fit for comfort and coverage to brave the cold. The tight, streamlined fit provides enhanced coverage for reduced distractions. PLUS, gripper elastic at the ankles keeps the tights in place so they don't ride up during running. :)

I really liked the grip feature.

I was nervous buying these in a size medium, but they fit and didn't budge during my run.

Nike Run CW Reversible Running Headband ($18)

The Reversible headband is made with Dri-Fit fabric to help keep you dry and reversible design for two great looks in one. I love the elastic on the top and bottom - it allows for extra snug-ness. ;)

Nike Dri-Fit Cotton Cushioned Socks ($16)

Dri-Fit fabric pulls away seat to help keep you cool and comfortable. The heel and toe are reinforced for enhanced durability. Thanks for denoting left and right for a better fit Nike. :)

Nike total: $289.30

Gift Card: $300

Woo!! I left the extra $10.70 for the wife to buy something with. ;) Aren't I sweet?

After a successful trip to Nike, I decided to try my luck at Lululemon.

Run: Swiftly Tech 1/2 Zip ($88)

Lululemon designed this lightweight, moisture-wicking pullover to wear as a base layer under a wind-resistant jacket or on its own. Anti-stink technology gives freedom to sweat hard then hug it out when we cross the finish line.

I loved the thumbholes and picked it out to wear under the awesome Nike vest I had just bought.

Ohhhh and it was a size 8! Say whhaa???

Run With Me Neck Warmer ($28)

This soft,versatile neck warmer was designed for cool-weather running. You can pull it up to cover your nose and mouth and cinch the drawcord to lock in heat. There are also some reflective details to help keep you visible in low light.

I'm definitely excited to try this out this winter. I always struggle with "wear a scarf or not" for a run.

Women's Ultimate No Show Run Sock *Ergo Toes ($14)

I love how Lululemon hides inspirational messages on the inside of socks. I have another pair that says Run Fast. :)

The breathable mesh and wicking nylon yarns keep your feet cool and dry. The right and left foot-specific ErgoToes design and seamless toe construction engineered to reduce bulk. Oh oh and the "y" heel helps keep the socks from slipping into your shoes. Yes!!

I've worn these shoes once and have already fallen in love!

Lululemon Total: $130

Gift Card: $125

Out of Pocket: $5

Now this was one successful day of shopping where I spent just $5 out of pocket. It is hard for me to keep new running gear in a bag so I tested it all out as soon as I got home - minus the neck warmer.

I didn't experience any wardrobe malfunctions. I wished the vest was a little snugger, but new I sized up for colder winter runs.

***

What do you think of my purchases? Do you own any of these pieces?

The Winner Of The $100 Visa Gift Card Is...

Oohh it is my favorite time of a giveaway... selecting the winner! Thank you all for reading my post about the Bakken Invitation 10 honorees.

Weren't those folks inspirational?

Well let's get right to it. :)

The winner of the $100 Visa Gift Card is: a Rafflecopter giveaway

YAY Congrats Krissy!!!

Dani Dishes: I'm A Closet Eater

On this episode of Dani Dishes It's time to get real with myself and admit that I am a Closet Eater!! It's true.

Hi! My name is Dani and I am a Closet Eater.

It is a tough thing to admit, but I have and will continue to work on recovering from it.

Can you believe this guy said only "fat" people can be closet eaters? Sooo not the case.

FullSizeRender

So what is helping me work through my closet eating?

1) Buying pre-portioned foods. There is something about opening a second bag of something that makes me second guess the decision.

2) Track. Honestly facing the choices I make when in that mindset has helped lessen the closet eating incidents over the years.

3) Share your struggle. If you can't find someone in your personal life to reach out to, please know I am here. There are also therapists, overeaters groups and folks on social media available.

4) Eat on a schedule. Since some of my closet eating will happen when alone during the day while working from home, I try to eat during a schedule. Keeping myself satisfied throughout the day can sometimes help the secret eating stay at bay.

5) Try not to feel alone. It is when I start feeling lonely that it can really come on. So if no one is physically home - besides the pups - I will call, text or tweet a friend that would understand my situation.

***

These are just a few of the avenues I have been trying with some success over the years.

If you are someone who suffers from closet/binge eating, how do you handle the urges?

Weekend Wrap-Up: Wine, Early Christmas & Hockey

I live for the weekends. I know I am the only person out there that does that so you should all catch up on this train. Mmmmkay? ;)

Friday kicked off with a very happy weigh-in! Finally back in free Lifetime range. Yay! :)

I was wicked stoked to see a number 22 lbs lighter than that on June 11. Back to a good weight.

With a big smile on my face, I met Page for our Friday Five - our weekly 5-mile run.

It is a great way to start the weekend and it is always fun catching up. Page and I are on Tedy's Team together.

After my final Weight Watchers meeting of the week, it appeared to be present time for this girl. The WW meeting I lead on Fridays surprised me with a Dunkin' Donuts gift card. It's like they know me! ;)

And Kohl's surprised me with a sweet little relaxation present.

I am in LOVE with the running headband. What an awesome color!

Final delivery came in from Special K. Time to taste test the new snack bars that will hit the shelves in January 2015. Each bar is 3PPV.

My triplet cousins - 12-year-old girls - were staying over with my parents so we all went out to dinner before tucking in with some wine to watch Muppet Family Christmas. My absolutely favorite Christmas movie.

The girls picked out the snacks so I had the opportunity to try 3 of these chips for 4PPV. In my opinion, too chocolately (like thick chocolate and thin chip) and not worth the Weight Watchers Points. I like sweet and salty combined, but would rather chocolate with pretzel combo.

I had to call it an early night since I had a long run the next morning. But before I hit the sheets, I found out I was selected as a #RockNBlog RnR blogger for the second-straight year. Woo!!

I cannot wait to meet up with my fellow bloggers at some races in 2015.

On a runner's high, I bound of bed on Saturday morning to meet up with the Tedy's Team crew for 8-sunny miles through Boston.

With the wife heading out on Monday for home, I wanted to soak up as much time with her as possible. So while she ran errands including a haircut, I hopped on the old bike trainer to get some extra activity points.

Gotta love multi-tasking.

With two pups and two people in bed, we all snuggled in to enjoy some Twin Peaks on Netflix. Boy that show is odd, but we are sucked in to watch the entire series (just 30 episodes total). Have you watched this show? It was a night-time soap opera in the early 90s. So the cheese factor is high. ;)

I put the Kohl's mug to use right away with my hot cocoa (2PPV).

Sunday morning started out with an awesome 6-mile run with my friend and fellow WW leader Heather.

She is also training for the Run Disney Princess weekend so it is great to run together. Plus I love running with folks - whatever the pace.

After the run, I needed a good post-race beverage (following my water, coffee and chocolate milk of course) so the wife and I headed over to Slumbrew's American Fresh at Assembly for a beer and some christmas carols.

Oh and we even ran into our friend Kim! :) Slumbrew Porter Square Porter for me and Attic & Eaves for Kim.

It was the last afternoon with the wife for six days, so we got in a little extra snuggling.

Do you think she is tired of my selfies yet? I was trying to capture her new haircut, but it didn't work. You can take my word that it is cute.

Since the wife would be away over Christmas, my parents wanted to do an early Christmas with her. She got some sweet gift and one of the awesome joint gifts we got were $100 gift card for Disney for each of us. Yes! These will come in handy in Disneyland next month.

Do they know us or what?

With holly and jolly in our hearts, it was time to make the trek to the wife's hockey game. Look at me attending two games in a row. Go me. :P

I tested out my first Special K bar for a snack and it was nice and chocolately. It also wasn't as tough as some other snack bars can be. Does that make sense?

It was a tough 3-1 loss for the Sharks, but the wife did great in goal.

I successfully used the time during the game to pace around the rink to 1) keep warm and 2) get in extra activity. ;)

I also got to experience a role reversal and play Sherpa for her.

Like my stick? :P

The smelly lady and I hit up a late dinner before heading home to snuggle with some pups.

Overall it was one sweet weekend. It was weird not to race, but I think I still did enough activity. What do you think?

***

Did you enter my $100 Visa Gift Card Giveaway? It ends December 24 at 5pm EST! Enter here.

***

How do you get active on the weekends?

Tedy’s Team Group Run – 8 Miles (12/20/14)

So remember that time (last week) where I promised to start doing strength training? Yeeahhhh I dropped the ball on that! Big time! I need to make it more of a priority this week and stop finding excuses not to just because it makes me nervous.

But I am looking to a new week and feeling confident I can make it happen... as long as I make it a priority.

This morning called for an 8-mile run with the Tedy's Team crew. Meg (my teammate and weekly ride) wouldn't be in attendance so I needed to be my own accountability to get to the run. My lovely wife offered to drive me - Thanks Babe!

And of course I was running late, but I made sure to remember my Garmin. Success! We got to Kenmore Square with just enough time to get in a quick foam rolling session before the run began. Phew.

I layered up, threw in some extra dynamic stretches and headed out. Most of the crew had already left so I would be flying mainly solo for the run. Now there are always folks along the sidewalk as we do an out and back route for the 8-mile run so I wasn't really alone alone.

It would just be me and my thoughts... scary!

I clicked Start on my Garmin and was off. As I mentioned before, I love the familiarity of running the same streets and routes for the third year. I can truly zone out and not worry about taking a wrong turn. Well let's revisit that again when the distances start getting higher than 14. ;)

Overall my body felt good under the shining sun, but my stomach was angry. I ate too much last night - not following my normal Friday night routine - and I was paying the price. It was a little reminder to not let others sway me from the plan I had set. Now I could say they were being food pushers, but really I wanted the Pizzeria Regina food. I hadn't been there in months. So I have no one to blame, but myself. Lesson learned - moving on.

Mile 1: 8:34

Oh first mile was a little faster than I wanted. I was hoping to keep the run at an even pace in the high 8s/low 9s. I have learned that when left alone I am not good at pacing myself. I need a buddy to keep me in check.

My legs were feeling a little heavy as I made my way through Brookline. It was only that one mile though. It was odd.

Just before Mile 2, I hit the water stop. It is always a great sight to see familiar faces waiting for you.

Oh hey Margaret!

Mile 2: 8:50

After a quick pick-me-up from some great folks, I continued on. For some reason the mind wasn't in it today. I knew I needed the run, but the mind wanted to just skip it. I also knew that I would be happy I did it once it was over, but in the moment I was having a tough time motivating myself.

So I refocused on WHY I was out there and pushed through putting one foot in front of the other.

Mile 3: 8:33

Once through Coolidge Corner, we continued by the Reservoir towards BC. The turnaround point for our 8-mile is an entrance to BC. As I headed around the Reservoir, I was brought back to June when I was there last for the Heartbreak Hill Half weekend with some amazing bloggers. Those memories made me smile and pick up the pace.

Mile 4: 8:25

Just before I turned around, I was running in the bike lane and got angrily honked at my a passing car. Ummm hi lady I was right in the middle of the bike lane and nowhere near you so simmer down. <>

As I ran back towards the Reservoir, I had a mini celebration in my mind over being 22 lbs lighter than when I was here in June. Yay! I wish I never gained that much back, but such is life. I am happy I was able to retake the reigns and move forward. Being in this area in June was awesome, but I was uncomfortable in my own skin. Today I ran those same roads with confidence and pride.

Mile 5: 8:23

I passed back through Coolidge Corner and was almost taken out by a woman and her dog. She didn't look where she was going before stopping in the middle of the sidewalk to put her dog down. I had to do a sweet little turn to get around them without tripping on the dog leash.

Unfortunately the crowds are a tricky thing to navigate on the back part of the route since more folks are out heading to brunch or to the store than when we start the run. It becomes a lot of bobbing and weaving unless you want to run in the bike lane. I selectively choose the bike lane since I don't like to be in the way of the bikers either.

I stopped back at the water stop. I stopped to chat with Lauren, Sr Director of Tedy's Team, and ended up being there for a good 5-10 minutes. I finally turned to Lauren and said: "I should probably finish this run. Only at 5.69 miles." Ha. Oops!

So off I went...

Mile 6: 8:25

With two miles to go, I was feeling great besides the pain in my left hamstring, which I have grown accustomed to since May. The Tedy's Team coach and I are going to work on strengthening the hamstring to help lessen the pain.

I'm not sure what happened during Mile 7, but I was feeling magic. I was also picturing myself crushing my goal for 2015 Boston Marathon and that might've affected my pace.

Mile 7: 8:04

The final mile of this run is along Mile 24-25 of the marathon. Now this incline on it's own wouldn't be so daunting, but at that point in the race it looks like a mountain!

Flashback moment to Mile 25 of this year's marathon when Christine, Tom and I powered up this sucker together to make this awesome shot happen.

Knowing there is a sweet view of the city and Fenway Park at the top of the incline doesn't hurt either.

Man I love this city. I am lucky to be able to run here. :)

After a quick run through Kenmore Square, the run was done.

Mile 8: 8:07

I finished right in front of the Joint Ventures door. Perfect!

I made my way upstairs to get another foam rolling session in before heading to Dunkin Donuts to wait for my wife to pick me up. :)

Now I definitely didn't run as consistently as I wanted to so that will be my focus for next week's 10-miler. I should have some folks to run with which will help keep me in check!

***

Week 2 Workouts:

Sunday, December 14: 3.1-mile run & 1.5-mile walk Monday, December 15: 2.9-mile run & 60-min cycling Tuesday, December 16: 3-mile run & 45-min walk Wednesday, December 17: 5-mile run Thursday, December 18: 4-mile run Friday, December 19: 5-mile run Saturday, December 20: 8-mile run, 60-min cycling & 2-mile walk

Goal for next week? AGAIN - Adding in strength training and additional cross training. This week was lacking in both - AGAIN!

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Face It Friday: A New Goal 12/19/14

When we last met, I was feeling back in the groove with my weight loss progress. 2014 proved difficult for my weight maintenance plan, which I think we are all caught up on that now. ;) So on Saturday, I asked the Tedy's Team coach during the group run what weight he thought I should be at to really attack my time goals at Boston in 2015. I shared with him that I was back down to 158 and my lowest weight as an adult is 153.4 (thanks WW). He thought for a moment before responding with: "Can you lose 10?" <<Enter my blank stare>> 10 pounds? Yeah. Well I have always wondered if I could maintain a lower weight.

At that time I decided I would try to get back to my lowest weight with Weight Watchers and re-evaluate then. Now either way this conversation lit a little spark under my booty.

This past week I continued my streak of being a Track Star (which sits at 42-consecutive days as of 12/18) and really took each food choice to heart. Before making any decisions I checked in with myself and asked one of the following questions:

* Is this worth the points?

* Do I need to eat a second ____?

* Will this help me reach my goal for Boston?

* How do I really feel right now?

Now I continued to indulge, I had a few beers, some fries and onion rings... but it was relegated to two days and I had the Points available. I don't believe in deprivation, which is why I love Weight Watchers so much.

I don't have much of a social life so there weren't many challenges on my plate this past week besides a surprise attack on Monday and focus group event on Wednesday night.

On Monday, my wife asked to order Chinese Food. I stuck to my guns and politely declined having anything ordered for me. (High Five) She opted to still order. So when the food was on its way, I hopped on the bike trainer and committed to riding for one hour. While I was on the bike trainer in the living room, the wife decorated our Christmas tree near me, we listened to music and I thought about her food. It arrived while I was on the bike, she ate it while I was on the bike and it was put away while I was on the bike. (High Five) I successfully distracted myself while the tempting food was a few feet away from me. I knew my dad and I would be splitting Chinese Food on Christmas Eve (tradition) so I decided in that moment the Chinese Food wouldn't be worth it on that night, but will be on Christmas Eve. (Who am I? Go me!)

On Wednesday, there would be free food and free drinks. Ahhh *Red Light* I still get very anxious when I hear the word free before any food situation. My immediate impulse is to eat everything in sight because it is free and hey why not. But I didn't want to fall into that trap. I went in with a game plan. I brought my own food: salad, yogurt and strawberries. My goal was to stick to my own food and drink water. The food served looked great, but nothing too special. I happily ate my food and never went near the food cart. I saw the desserts and pictured germs all over them to help pass any desire to eat them. :P And you know what - I did it! I definitely gave a fist pump to myself when I left the event on plan.

Yes it is one small instance, but it gave me HUGE confidence for the next time I am in that same situation.

And you know what?

It freakin' paid off.

Today I made it back to a weight within my Lifetime Range!! Wahoo! It has been too long for my liking since I was in that range.

Yay being down 1.8!

I am now 1.4 lbs away from being back at goal. My Lifetime Range is 153-157.

For the second straight week, I earned 90+ Activity Points AND was not in the negative! Woo!

I needed these past two weeks to snap the rut I had been in since early September.

I felt stuck during that time and now I am feeling waayyyy better.

NOW, I know the next two weeks will be a little bit tougher. Now again I don't have any real parties to go to, but there are some family traditions and just changes in my normal routine.

So I will commit to tracking this week, weighing in on Wednesday and doing the best I can. I am already mentally planning when I want to splurge and when I will get extra activity in.

I will take whatever happens on the scale this week, practice self-forgiveness and enjoy the time with friends and family!

But for now I am wicked proud of myself and am going to head off and do a little happy dance. Yay extra APs! ;)

***

How will you be handling the Holidays when it comes to your weight loss journey?