When Nature Calls and it does!

Some times you just have to make a pit stop and thankfully.. there was one right when I needed it. 

I'm not one to set out to run 6, 7 8 or more miles and be far from a pit stop every 3 to 4 miles. I like that security knowing if I need to stop and take a quick break.. there is one I can count on. No one likes porta potties but when your in need.. I'm going to take what is available. 

Another nice morning to run... no rain today, just sunny skies and a bit cooler.. Easy 7 miles and my knee is feeling good. 

I'm still taking it easy for my running.. staying away from my ultra hilly 4 mile route for a bit longer. I usually need the variety of routes and I'll need that soon enough. 

I'm glad we have good weather because this morning, I really wanted to be one of those people that just looks at the alarm clock and rolls over to go back to bed. I attempted to be that person and then my guilt takes over. I refuse to go backwards with my fitness. I must push on, and with that.. I rolled out of bed and slowly got myself to wake up to head out the door. 

I've been taking my New Chiropractors advice.. Do lunges and squats before running to warm up and stretch out those quads and hamstrings. I had been skipping that part of the morning workout and now I'm back to doing more every morning along with my 2 minutes of bent arm and 2 minutes of straight arm planks. I still have 10+ push ups on my todo list and not the girly ones! 

Steve and I checked our blood pressure last night while at the store. It's always good to know what all your numbers are. You have to take charge of your own health. 

Evan really liked the guitar. He was so serious then started smiling and bouncing.. 

More photos of Evan because I have to wait a whole week to spend another day with him. 

I can run in the rain.. I really can

Faced with two options 1. run in the rain or 2. inside at the gym/cross ramp.. I took the light rain. I actually liked running in rain. I did have a back up plan.. If it started to thunder, Steve was to come get me in the car ASAP!  I do not want to be running if there is lightening or in hail. 

The only way to run in rain is to wear a hat with a visor. Without a hat, it would be really hard to see straight with rain in my eyes. The rain felt really good. It was pretty humid out and I get super sweaty regardless, might as well be rained on too. As I was running, I was thinking... wouldn't it be great to run a race through sprinklers. It would feel amazing on a hot sunny day. 

My running mile times are getting pretty consistent when I just run how I feel at an easy pace a 10:30 minute per mile average pace. I'm looking forward to being able to push myself and do a more challenging run when my knee is back 100% normal. Nice and easy for now.. I even wore my heart rate monitor. 

My little buddy is back. I get to spend the whole day with Evan. 

One happy little guy!

We found a bunch of baby stuff stored away. Glad we kept a few things.. Now Evan can enjoy Celina and Logan's baby toys too. 

I made a tomato tart last night. I really should have made my own crust but I bought a package one instead. It just didn't taste the same as homemade. I have some improvements to make on my next tart... Adding Parmesan cheese and more herbs. I completely forgot we have fresh basil I planted! Darn it!

Sunday family diner was pretty good. We tried some chicken sausage two different types of flavors.. I can't tell you which I liked better since they both were really tasty. Loved the pepper, onions and mushrooms too for a side dish and salad with Steve's homemade zesty dressing. A true summer meal. 

I'm going to go with the idea.. eat what I want Sunday. We had a delicious red velvet cake last night with fresh raspberries and vanilla ice cream. Not having desserts for a few days.. made this cake very delicious. Then again.. I love all cake! It's always delicious.

Kendra brought me a funny fitness gift from Florida, pickle pops. The kids wanted to try them last night..

 Surprisingly, Celina and Logan both said they weren't too bad. I wasn't brave enough to try frozen pickle pops. 

One last photo of cuteness.. Baby swinging.. He loved this!

Like who you are.. or become who you like.

Why have a hard time Liking who I am..? for me, the hardest thing to do is like all of me. I'm often too hard on my self and think if only I were smarter, more successful, a better athlete, a super mom, thinner, prettier and the list goes on... You have to start liking who you are.. Don't let anyone in your brain that is not on your side. You need people who like you, for you. Most of all, you need to like yourself and who you've become. 

I let a few bad family members get in my head for years. Telling me they knew me better then I knew myself. They had unkind labels put on me for no other reason then to hurt me. Stay away from unkind people.. people that don't have your best interest in mind. They need to work on themselves to like who they are, because if they did.. there would be zero reasons to try and take me down.. 

(another selfie.. just in case you didn't get enough...ha!)

I had to lose 50 pounds and start working out to like who I am today and every day. I don't need to be perfect or compare myself to others.. I'm happy being me and I like where I'm at today. Free of negative people..NO one is in my brain saying unkind words. If they try.. there is zero room in my life for that nonsense. Working out every day.. gives me the confidence and strength to like who I am... I've become who I like.. This is what I live by..and try to be the best me. 

Most of the afternoon I spent being a soccer watcher Mom at Logan's tournament. I came across this van with the "Soccer Mom" stickers. I would like to see Mom's playing soccer.. maybe some Dad's too, especially the ones who think the kids aren't trying hard enough. I'm all for supporting your kids, but lets be honest, we are the soccer watchers, car chauffeurs and sometimes volunteers helpers for our kids.. 

I was just happy the games yesterday weren't rained out. Today all are canceled due to flooding. 

The sky last night as we were waiting for the kids last game of the day. The sky looked like that this morning too. We had tons of rain, lighting and thunder last night. My workout this morning was at the gym on the cross ramp.. 6 miles and I couldn't wait to be done. 

I even got in another strength training of 20 minutes with abs, arms, shoulders and legs. That's 5 times this week! I'm determined to tone up my arms once again. I need muscles.. 

Moving on to day 4 of my rapid weight-loss plan. It's not so rapid.. have no clue to what I weight as I refuse to get discouraged by my weight not budging. I was starving last night when I got back from Logan's soccer. That darn Pinterest.. it's food city.. made me hungry looking at all the photos. I came home and had a small bowl of Peppermint chip Ice cream. Not on the plan at all and then 2 flat bread because I was still hungry. I'm not calling it a failure day. I stuck with my food plan for 95% of the day.. it was the last 5% that was a disaster. Back on track for today..