Just 10%

Yesterday at Weight Watchers I reached a milestone, since April I have lost 10% of my original starting body weight. For reaching this dubious accomplishment, I received a key chain. Its kind of like being a kid and getting the prize in the Cracker Jack box, that little thing means so much more than it should. The stop along the way on my journey is nice. Its like the trip we take to my parents, there is much expectation to get to the stopping point and a recognition that if we just keep going we will get there although it will take time.

What else comes with losing 10% of your body weight?

Lower blood pressure & cholesterol-with a family history of heart disease and prior problems of my own this is important to me. My doctor recently put me back on BP meds at a very low dose because in his office my BP was high. Hopefully I can get back off these meds soon!

Lower Risk of Type 2 Diabetes-again its in the genes and I showed my susceptibility to it when I was pregnant, I'd like to continue to ward it off for as long as possible.

Gain energy-I have to say I do feel better and am able to keep going longer, whether it be in triathlon training or just making it through a hectic day at home and work.

Reduce pain-Check, this is one I can definitely see. My joints were surprisingly tolerant of running at a higher weight but I have noticed lately that even after a long, hard workout I don't feel it later nearly as much. Part of this is certainly the muscle and stamina I've gained as well.

Wild Wild Week

Last week this time I was gearing up for my trip to Ohio to pick up PDQ & Boobah. As it ended up my best friend's new baby was rushed to a medical center out of town so I ended up driving there on my way to Ohio. Wow, even a major city in WV is culture shock after living on the East Coast for 10 years! Everyone had a twang, there were hair cuts I haven't seen (nor wanted to) since 1987! Can you say mullets and hair sprayed for height? It was a good distraction from the business at hand. As it turned out poor little guy had an E Coli infection, very scary stuff. Good news, he got to come home yesterday, much to the relief of his incredibly tired parents!

The girls and I spent the weekend with my folks, sister and nephews. We saw all the other relevant relatives, swam in grandma's pool and made the obligatory trip to the mall. My sister and I ran together on Saturday morning for the first time ever. She is the jock, having rowed in high school and trained for a half marathon but getting pregnant stopped her from actually completing the race. My new found running ability and her being 6 months post-partum made for a fun, comfortable run for both of us. It also made me think I'd love to have a running partner well matched for pace or who would push me just a bit.

Finally it was back home in time for the Brownie end of the year party followed quickly by the beginning of Vacation Bible School at our church. I am the craft lady again this year and was totally unprepared. Thank goodness for the great Power Lab craft kits from Group, good instructions, not much else I needed to buy. Easy Peasy. The kids this year have been fun and good to work with. Bonus, it starts with dinner every night so NO cooking! We will see how that plays at my weigh in today!

George Carlin--RIP

I remember feeling naughty listening to George Carlin and his 7 dirty words. I read today that he never thought his legacy would be what people are allowed to say on television. I have never watched George and not laughed, no matter how irreverent, he is just plain funny. So enjoy a little bit of George Carlin, gone today at 71.

Bikini Blues

The bikini blues are nothing new for me, I've never, ever had a bikini ready body. At this point in my life, even if I get to my goal weight, I am pretty sure that I wouldn't want to be seen in public in a bikini. Thirty odd years of stretched out skin doesn't bounce back so well. I would guess, if there was any bikini-ness in my future it would be a bikini top. My two c-sectioned belly and mutant thighs are not something anyone else should be sujected to.

That being said, being comfortable wearing a bikini is not one of my goals. Being comfortable in my skin is. Being comfortable in a tri suit is another goal I'd like to reach. Moving from the world of the sedentary into the world of triathlons is certainly an eye opening experience. The amount of skin, really taut, muscular skin is amazing! As are the number of women who aren't so taut and toned but are still in great shape and are out there proving it to the world swimming, biking and running no matter what they look like. Its these women I find far more amazing than the hard bodied bikini babes.

The folks at BOCA are sponsoring this Bikini Blues Blog Blast along with my friends at Parent Bloggers. Have a bikini story of your own to tell? Write a post, let them know at Parent Bloggers and have a chance to win one of three $150 gift cards!

Death and taxes

We got a notice a few weeks ago that they'd found issues with our 2006 tax return and we owe the government money. Since I generally do the taxes I was of course freaked out. I was also amazed that we had gotten a BIG FAT ENVELOPE FROM THE IRS and my dear husband didn't open it! I can let a lot of things lay around but a BIG FAT ENVELOPE FROM THE IRS can't possibly be good. Thus began the search for all of our 2006 tax information--yes, the year we sold a house, bought a house and carried three mortgages for a period of time--paperwork hell.

Given that our deadline to respond is Monday I finally sucked it up and re-did the 2006 taxes this evening. According to my estimates we owe but we don't owe as much as the IRS says we owe. So now, do I send a check for the whole amount or just what I think I owe plus the interest? How do I figure the interest on a lower amount? Its not that much difference but I really don't want to give them any more money than I have to, I also don't want to have to pay additional interest on money they've loaned me for the last year. Ugh.

I've got to say that the whole you owe us interest thing really ticks me off. I made a mistake, fine. But you are going to make me not only pay back the money but interest for my mistake that it took you over a year to find? Gheesh, that seems unfair somehow. Oh well. Gman's turn now, I will never, ever send in another tax form until he has gone over it with a fine tooth comb!

I AM a triathlete

South Carroll Tri to Win Sprint Triathlon

SWIM 13:27 400m


The swim was uneventful, it was a pool swim and someone held us at the mat until a lane opened up. The guy in the other half of my lane was doing some bizarre frog-like thing for a lap or two, I was so glad when someone else got in.

T1-3:29
On with the cycling jersey, gloves, socks, shoes, open up the beans, chew a couple. I have to say the big surprise here was WET socks! Had a great rack position right next to the bike & run out.



Bike 1:04:51
This course is really hilly, I conquered the first couple of hills without problems, felt strong. The third in the series always gets me. My HR was creeping up so near the top I walked a bit to save something. Did the same thing on the next really long, gradual hill. Got passed by several people here. After these hills were done I knew it was time to hammer. Passed 3-4 people in this stretch. One poor guy lost a crank at mile 8 of 14.7 and was riding in with one leg. There are two climbs at the end, I walked the top part of the first one, its an increasingly steep hill up and around a bend--crankless guy and I walked it together. I got a head of steam and determination and ground up the final steep hill and after that it was back up the driveway into the transition area. There was a dude on a motorcycle who kept showing up at every intersection screaming you can do it. It was cool the first couple of times, after that it got annoying!





T2 2:57

Quick out of the shoes, on with the running shoes. Love my lace locks! Took a big drink, my hydration on the bike was so-so. Almost ran out with my cycling gloves, ran back and took them off.





RUN (or trudge as the case may be) 43:24


The beginning of the course wound back behind the swim center on grass and then a rough gravel path--I heard several people say it was longer than 5K. I took it easy here worrying about a twisted ankle. I walked through the water station and then started jogging up the hill. Stopped to walk one more time on the uphill. Walked through water at the top of the hill and was glad to start the mostly downhill trip back. Walked through the final water station and ran the rest of the way back UP the driveway across the line. My girls came out and ran with me.


It was great fun and only 68 days until the next one. Definitely need to go out and ride hills to prepare!

I finished!

2:07:59 of swimming, biking and running all done by 10:30 this morning. Great experience! Will write more later, now I need a NAP!

Updated: Because of my long name I read the wrong time, its actually 2:08:08. :)