// …and may the odds be ever in your favor. //

have you heard of a little book trilogy called ‘the hunger games’?  it’s apparently really big now. :) i finished book 2 in a couple of days, book 3 in one day.  they’re definitely not going to win the ‘feel good story of the year’ award, but they definitely have something to give you.  if you’re me, you get dreams.  i’m not talking about dreams that include the movie’s leading men, josh & liam, either.  i’m talking waking up because you’re out in the woods and find giant tics under your backpack. dreams where you’re living your own version of the games.  let me just say, it’s a little unnerving.  mostly because i know i wouldn’t survive long.  not just because i’m clearly not in shape to run from people carrying spears, or have the ability to climb a tree, but because i take for granted the food that i have and would not be able to survive any other way.   i tend to watch/read about things that couldn’t happen.  those are my favorites because i can escape from reality. however,  i think i’ve been so effected by the hunger games story, because it isn’t so far fetched that it could never happen.   that being said, i’m taking a week off from my luxurious style of eating.  i’m going to try and eat foods that are mentioned in the books.  granted, there won’t be any ‘wild dog’ or ‘turnips’ on the menu, but it’ll be more of things that i could grow, like fruits & vegetables.  nothing crazy, but i’m sure the week change will benefit me in the long run, anyway. 

even more importantly, i’m not looking at this as a “DIET”, but as a fun challenge.   i told some of my girlfriends about my idea last night and got some really fun responses to it.

last night, my friend gwen said, “my the odds & the scale be ever in your favor”. with another text this morning saying,
“happy hunger games!!! in honor of today’s reaping and our first volunteer ever from the Kansas district, we have all brought you a special treat of unsalted, unsugared, steel cut oats with berries and soy milk.  may the games begin!!!”

i joked and told her i should have some theme music and she said i should go with old school “eye of the tiger”.  haha. 

i’m not gonna get all crazy with hunger games stuff and start planning themed weddings or whatever(seriously have already seen one online), but to be able to do something like this that is 1. promoting healthy eating for myself and 2. challenging & fun at the same time, i’d say it’s a good deal.  tack that together with the daily squats & push-ups that i’ve been doing and we have a good thing going.

happy hunger games…and may the odds (& the scale) be ever in your favor!

// 5 miles. //

5 miles today.  i had my son with me, so i was able to stay a little longer.  i wanted to get a double workout in today, since i won’t be out again this week.  however, the boy needed lunch, so i didn’t get to hit 6 miles.  if base was a little closer, i wouldn’t have to ration my gas so much.  i’m hoping tomorrow’s weather is like today’s, only not so windy, so i can go walking at the park.

i also weighed in today.  202.4 lbs.  i wanted to go hop back on the treadmill for another 3 laps, but the boy wouldn’t let me.  so close to 201.

i’m already under what i weighed in at when i found out i was pregnant 6 years ago.  next, i’m shooting for what i weighed before the blasted birth control started killing me.

5 days to go to reach goal #1.

// down one. //

this morning i had to tie the drawstring on my workout pants.  i’ve never had to do that before!  odd to have to do it & exciting all at the same time. 

knocked off another pound today.  203. 

i think it’s been extremely helpful having my husband gone during this process.

just 3 left to remove by the 1st.

// better than i thought. //

i was pressed for time today, so i was only able to get 2 miles in.  Better than nothing.  i hadn’t worked out in a week and missed weigh in last friday, so i weighed myself today. 

204. 

i lost 3 lbs since the 13th just by eating right and not cheating!  honestly, it’s been very surprising how easy it’s been to not eat junk.  i don’t want it.  in fact, it kind of makes me sick thinking about eating it.  there’s a switch that’s gone off in my body and i am so amazed at my progress so far.

 4 lbs to lose by feb 1st.  i’m on it!

// keeping my head in the game. //

i had planned on hitting the gym 3 times this week.  so far i’ve gone once.

holiday on monday, rationing gas & watching my niece have come in between me and my goal this week(my SIL just got out of surgery, so the niece one will be excused). 

progress is showing.  maybe not in my clothes, but in my thinking of food & other things.  not only is my wedding ring too big, but my glasses kept sliding off this morning.  granted i haven’t needed to wear them for over 6 months, so it’s not a big deal.  still.  i have donuts and pizza in my house RIGHT NOW and i happily chose fruit and yogurt for breakfast, salad for lunch.  no big deal.  that’s even during my craving time.  keeping my head in the game.  i may not get under 200 by feb 1st, but i’ll be closer to it than i have been in years.  i’m having my wisdom teeth out at the end of the month, so i’m sure that the liquid diet will be helpful.  if you have stomach flu, let me know so i can get it, too.  i’m only 15 stomach flu’s away from my ideal weight.  ha!

i did get a small workout in today.  herding two pre-k’ers around a kid’s science place for 2 hours.  up and down the stairs, through small doors, running in the parking lot…

i prefer the treadmill.

// no rest for the weary. //

my ‘day of rest’ wasn’t very restful.  workout was a lot speedier today.  best time yet.  even threw in a little bit of jogging.  nyquil and i may be friends tonight. :)

// 207.//

weigh in: 207 lbs.

2 weeks to go.

// 208.//

during my workout yesterday, the girl next to me had just finished her time on the treadmill, whipped out her phone and shot a photo of her screen.  i told her she had a great idea…and also that i went to high school with her.  ha! 

here’s today.  i got to 2.3 miles and my feet were killing me, as blisters were forming again.  i told myself i couldn’t stop til i reached 2.5 miles.  my feet are pretty sore, but it was all worth it.  i weighed in at 208!  yes.  i think i’m going to wait til friday to hit the treadmill again, though.  my feet need a rest!

// 3.5//

treadmill day.

3.5 miles walked in 1.2 hrs. 

i did some serious splurging last night, so i needed to add that extra time.  my weigh-in had me at 211 before the workout and 210 afterwards.  not sure how reliable that scale is.  i need to find a scale for my house.  either way, i’m keeping that 211 in my head to hold things into perspective in terms of eating.  do i want to splurge and gain 2 lbs or do i stay on task?  personally, i’d rather be at 209 and have just worked off a pound, instead of weighing more today than i did on friday.

3.5 miles, though, is the longest i’ve ever gone on a treadmill.  granted, i’m usually interrupted by a child or a schedule, so i usually stop at 2 miles.  i typically walk with the incline set at 3.0, but i didn’t add it today.  helped my shins out a lot.  last friday, my whole left side had issues: shin, hip, lower back.  it was crazy.  my shins are a little tight today, but the most annoying thing is that i have blisters starting on the bottom of my feet!  ha!  guess it’s time for new shoes.

my sister’s have added another goal for me, too. i want to always weigh less than them. so far i do, but not by much.  i love me some good ‘ole sibling rivalry.