I'd rather get up super early!

Chilly temperatures make me want to run faster to warm up. I didn't have any trouble going a bit faster today while running my 6 miles. I'd much rather get up early to run before my work day starts.

Steve and I drove up to the lake for the day. I was really hoping it would be a warmer day like we had the day before, 80*F.. nope.. it was more like 50's but at least we got the dock out of the water and the camper closed up for the winter. 

Sure signs of fall.. the colors were so pretty on our drive.. 

It's always sad to have to close things up for the long  winter. You realize we won't be back till the end of May.. 7 months away.. 

Just a few photos that I took while Steve was getting the dock ready to pull out of the water. 

We are going to need a new dock in the spring. After 20+ years, this one is pretty much done. 

I am done.. done, done, done

That was difficult.. nothing easy about running. Stepping into the house after running 6.09 miles I sang  out.. I'm done, done, done, done, done...I  am done! 

Half my run was in the dark. I found out sprinklers make me scream. Didn't know that would scare me!

Just was running a pace I could get through the miles. I just think about one mile at a time. Getting around 3x's and then switching directions till I finish 6 miles or 18 laps around our little loop. 

Eating dinner at 8pm is not really a good idea but we were tired and starving after Logan's soccer tournament. 

Logan and I split a bacon, cheddar burger with onion rings at Shamrocks last night. The best burger I've had in a long time. Cooked perfect and I was STARVING! 

This was a new rules kind of soccer game. Took the kids awhile to get use to it. A fast game with lots of fancy footwork. 

Look at this cutie. Kendra posted some photos on FB and I took this off and had to share. He is just the most handsome little boy.. Look at those big brown eyes..

Just a little road trip.

Before the sun came up this Saturday morning, we all piled into the car and headed to Mankato on a little road trip for Logan's early morning soccer game. 

We had promised to take Logan to this enormous candy store the last two years of traveling past it going to soccer. 

So much candy to choose from and this is what we bought. 

And Zero time to workout..... ;0(

Getting a late start.. can't let myself go off track.

It was sad not being able to have the time to get in an early Sunday morning bike ride or run. We had Logan's soccer game bright and early at 8am.. No time to workout until after. 

I'm not very good at working out later on.. I like just getting up and going to run or bike to get it over with ASAP. No time to think or do anything else but go workout. Well, when I have to do other things like soccer during the time I usually would be doing my own workout.. that's when things go off track. I didn't want that to happen two days in a row.. 

It was a sweaty afternoon ride. A beautiful fall day in the 80's, so I have zero regrets about forcing myself out to bike 14 miles. 

In fact, the morning started out really great too. Logan got to play soccer as a sub for his old soccer team he use to play on for the last two years. They all tried out and made the select team. It requires more practice time 4x's a week and out of state travel. That just wasn't for us or Logan as he doesn't like to even go practice 2x's a week, so we didn't have him try out. 

It was nice that Logan was asked to sub for this game. He did really well, scored a goal and played excellent. It was fun to see the kids all playing soccer together again. Maybe next year.. we'll see if he's up for more soccer and practice to join the team again. For now.. he is enjoying a new team. 

We've been having such nice weather. It was so warm out last night and not windy, Steve and I had a bonfire in the back yard. We had to wait up to pick up Celina from her first Homecoming dance.

She just went with friends. I like how the girls just go without dates and go in groups. It's so nice that things have changed and they can still go to a dance with or with out any boys. 

They all felt a little like celebrities with all the picture taking.. and flashes going off. 

While the girls were all getting ready and have a pre-dance party at a friends house. We all went to dinner. Pizza at Green Mill. 

What's a dance photo with out Logan getting in it too. These girls grew up over night.. Where did the years go? 

Celina received a pretty flower wrist corsage from her Pepe and a silver bracelet from her Meme. 

There is always a lot of behind the scenes prep that goes into these dances. We had to get the nails done.. french pedicure and manicure. 

I just did a color change.. to try and cover up my ugly toe nails.. 

Dances are so much prep that it almost feels like you are wedding dress shopping. There is the stop at Pink.. and trying on all the cute fancy dresses at Macy's. Thankfully, we got really good deals on every thing. I think the whole package was around $150 for the night. She will be wearing this dress for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter!

How do you do it? I have no choice!

While I was running my 6 mile around and around the neighborhood loop, a neighbor walking by asked " how do you do it?". My answer was simple "I have no choice, if I want to keep the weight off". I take the choice out of the equation and there is no excuses or should I's.. I just do.. 

I'm proof that if you take off weight and exercise you can maintain given a 10 pound fluctuation. I am contributing that to more muscle weight and 5 pounds of added gained back weight from my all time low. After 4 years of maintaining workout, doing cardio almost every day is paying off. I did not gain back the weight, in fact I gained strength, not only physical, but mental strength.. 

Working out every day sure has changed my life, in so many ways. I feel so much better about who I am and where I'm going in my life. It also inspired me to help others and become a personal trainer. I can't think of anything negative about taking time to do some cardio and resistance training every day of my life. 

Celina and Logan see me and their father working out every day. They both want to do the same. They each have fitness goals and they want to do it for life. They have learned from me, that its easy to put on weight.. but it will be much easier to not and keep working out and taking care of yourself now, and each and every day. It's that important!

 Done with my six miles for the day.. Feeling ready to start my day fresh and feeling great! Mornings that start off in the 50's or 60's is the idea running temperature. I just want to soak it all in because it won't last long before the cool down.. 

Finish STRONG!

I felt great this morning, unlike yesterday when I just felt awful from lack of sleep. I gave it a rest day, as I just didn't have it in me. It felt really good to get out and run especially when its in the 60's and still dark out. My kind of weather to run in.. 

Just my running route.. The first mile was a wake up, 3x's around easy, easy pace 10 minute mile.. the 2nd & 3rd mile I tired to speed up until I reached a mail box, garbage can or tree, then slowed down a bit to rest and repeat.

 I actually hit 8 minute miles.. for 4 miles! I'm really happy I finished strong and kept going till I was done with 6 miles. I have a lot of days where its just tough getting out there but I hold strong and just do it.. There are other but very few days where I want to go faster.. and this was the day. So happy to pick up the pace. Speed work felt really good and I'm not exhausted.. ready to tackle the day. 

Finished my run, then decided to make some sugar cookies with some new sprinkles I bought for Halloween. I always use parchment paper when I make cookies so they slide right off the pan to cool down. Keep the pan clean and no extra work for me. 

Logan wants to make some cupcakes and top them with sprinkles, so I'd better save some for him. 

Steve baked another apple tart last night. This might have been the best one yet. He used apple jelly on the crust and then topped with the apples, cinnamon/sugar. 

 I did one of my favorite things yesterday afternoon. Since I couldn't run or bike due to exhaustion, I picked up some runner magazines and some other books of interest at the library. It's been way too long since I stocked up on a bunch of books/magazines to read. I was in Reading heaven!

The perfect way to spend the night.. Reading and I got a good nights sleep, finally! I really needed this rest day! 

Food is all I have..

Sleep was not going to happen last night. I gave up.. then when it was time to get up.. I wanted to sleep. I'm kind of sleep messed up. I know how important sleep is to recover from the last workout and to help aid in losing weight. A nap might be on the agenda later on today. 

What do brownies have to do with sleep.. nothing but they sure tasted good. I added some caramel bites and semi-sweet chocolate chips to make them extra, extra good. Not on the diet plan, but I ate two anyway. 

Healthy choice for lunch to make up for the brownie snack.. Edamome and a salad with lettuce and tomatoes from the farmers market. 

I'm wishing summer will stick around for as long as possible. It's a good thing we are having  some 70*F days. Its important to get out and take advantage of the nice weather and run or bike as much as possible. I just wish my body would recover faster and not be so sore. I just have felt overly exhausted, especially last night.  Rest was more important then biking and trying to kill myself doing it. I just would like to feel great and head out for a 14 mile ride in the summer like temperatures. 

A new kind of fun.

Last night was the H.S. tennis team Irish Family night. You bring a parent and play tennis against other families. I actually got to play tennis. I really wish Celina and I had played more tennis this summer then just the one time I played a few matches with the kids. I need the practice. I still had a good time and did a new kind of cardio exercise for an hour. Might just have to take up playing tennis. 

I have to admit.. I'm not very good. I need to work on my serve and that's just for starters. You have to start some where and why not try something new even if I'm not very good at it right now. The main point is to do something you like and burn calories. 

I was really enjoying stretching this morning. Well, I love to stretch every morning as it feels good and wakes me up enough to go run, very early in the morning. 

The last mile of my 6, I raced Logan to the bus. I really wanted to be done running and the faster I run, the faster I finish! 

Evan was super happy yesterday even with a cold. 

Monday = Start Fresh Day

Taking the weekend off from my diet was not a good idea. It would have been nice to say I stuck with eating less and making good choices, but I can't say that. It's Monday and that means I can start fresh all over again. 

Even if I get off track in my diet and do less exercise, I still write it all down in my daily journal. 

It was a nice morning to run, but I didn't really feel like it. I gave it 3 miles and called it a day. 

Looking at my splits you'd never know it felt like I was dragging out there running. Each mile was faster then the one before it. 

Sunday night dinner. I ate Kale.. Not sure if I like it but it wasn't bad either. Beef Tenderloin, my garlic/honey salad dressing, green beans, and zucchini with red sauce. Everything was delicious! Of course I forgot to take a photo of my apple cool whip, vanilla pudding with snickers dessert. Didn't look that pretty but it sure tastes good.