Christmas Wish List, Triathlon Style

11/05/2009
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Christmas Wish List, Triathlon Style

I walked into Walmart the other night to get a winter coat. My coat from last year does not fit anymore…in a good way. It’s going to Good Will, along with other wintery clothes that don’t fit me anymore either. I was surprised that already, Walmart is all set up for Christmas. That was fast. It was just Halloween. What happened to Thanksgiving? I know it’s been like this for the past few years, but it always surprises me the first time I walk into a Christmas-ready store. I love Christmas. And I love buying presents for other people…when I know what they want…and I have money…. However, I’m not the easiest person to buy for, and I am a real source of frustration for my hubby and family. I never know what to ask for. I don’t wear jewelry, I don’t like other people buying me clothes, and...

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The Stress Effect

11/04/2009
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These last couple of months I’ve been under what seems like a never-ending cloud of stress. I’m not complaining. It just is what it is. The stress has emanated from events that I have not had a whole lot of control over but have required hours of my undivided attention. Of course, in the end, I do know that much of this stress could have been avoided if I’d had the forethought to be organized two years ago or to have paid closer attention to things that were happening around me. Unfortunately, that’s not the way these things generally work, and 20/20 hindsight? Well, that’s not much help now. This year, my focus was on my health. And going forward, while that will still be my main focus, maybe I’ll keep one eye glancing to the left and right on the other household/work stuff that crept up this year....

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Trainer Tuesday: The Ab Killer

11/03/2009
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Trainer Tuesday: The Ab Killer

I’ve started working out with a friend/trainer on Monday nights, and I thought having a Trainer Tuesday post to talk about those workouts might be a good feature. While these workouts aren’t directly related to triathlon training, we are doing a lot of core, balance and strength training, which can only help my performance in future races, right? Besides I feel less jiggly after Monday’s training night. Jen, my friend and now personal trainer, will be referred to in the rest of this post and going forward as The Ab Killer. ‘Cause that’s what she does best. She kills my abs. And secretly works in all kinds of other toning exercises in the process. And when we’re concentrating on other toning exercises, like arms, she’s sneaking in ab work. The Ab Killer’s primary tool of torture is that benign-looking medicine ball on the left there. Pretty colors… round and...

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Thinking About Triathlon? Start Training Now

11/02/2009
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Thinking About Triathlon? Start Training Now

This week will mark my year anniversary with the gym I go to. I never thought I would join a gym, much less actually use it for a full year. Throw my money at it, sure. Go? This is something new for me. It is also a year since I set my sights on becoming a triathlete. I joined the gym to begin winter training. Considering the physical condition I was in when I made this decision, I really surprised myself when I completed my first race in April.  It was a small duathlon (1 mile run, 6 mile bike, 1 mile run), but as I’d never run a mile in my entire life, it was a feat. Starting training 6 months prior was a good idea. It was still a really tough race for me. And the one in August was tough too. It wasn’t until my third...

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Trick or Treat?

11/01/2009
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Trick or Treat?

Yesterday was Halloween. It was a Saturday. Here in New York, it was on the warm side and not raining. We expected lots of trick or treaters. Expecting lots of trick or treaters, because it was Saturday and all, we went overboard on the candy. Now that I more or less have control over my own junk food addiction, I still like to push it onto others. And I wanted to be prepared for all the little kiddies in costumes. I waited until Friday night to bring any candy into my house, but Friday night, I picked up four bags…Reese’s peanut butter cups (which I don’t like), Butterfingers, M&M’s and Milky Ways. The only real danger candy here for me was the Milky Ways. I didn’t even open any of the bags on Friday night. But Saturday morning, we tore open all four bags and threw them in a...

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A Skinny Day

10/30/2009
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I find that on my blog and in my everyday life too, I focus a lot on the challenges of losing weight and staying fit. Struggling to get to the next level, finding time to work out, avoiding the evil foods that are everywhere….especially right now with Halloween tomorrow. I’ve yet to let Halloween candy in my house. One day of that is enough. But today is one of those rare good days. I’ve had a good food week (after a couple of slip-slidy weeks) and while I’m still resetting my workout schedule (looking forward to the clocks changing so I get back to my morning routine), I’ve had a decent workout week too, with a 4-mile after-work run, well walk/run, on the treadmill at the gym last night. And this morning? This morning I woke up feeling skinny. My jeans are a little loose, the sweater I’m wearing...

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Best. Apples. Ever.    

10/28/2009
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Best. Apples. Ever.    

I’ve gone back to my beginnings with my weight-loss food choices. I had been rocking the boat as of late, letting some of the old, “not so good for me” foods back in and leaving some of the “better for you” foods out. I’m a convenience eater, meaning my food has to be quick and easy because I always seem to be on the run. So to stay on track, a routine and an arsenal of foods that are a) healthy, b) easy or c) less bad for me than other choices always have to be in my house. That said, and it being fall, one of my favorite staples, especially at this time of year, is apples. More specifically, Gala Apples. They are the Best. Apples. Ever. They are crunchy, sweet and juicy and almost always stop my cravings for other sweets dead in their tracks. While I’ve...

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