Doing my happy dance!!!

OMG, I just did my weekly weigh in and I am down 2.4 lbs.  Now ladies you need to remember I am on vacation. I normally GAIN at least 6 lbs on vacation.....this is totally amazing!!!
I am going to finish week four of the C25k either today or tomorrow depending on the weather. We were going to go to the beach today but there are some dark clouds rolling in.


I spent the day yesterday at the Eaton Centre in downtown Toronto. I walked the mall for 5+ hours carrying my laptop. I brought the laptop, as I figured I would be finished shopping before my family was done at the Science Centre. The funny thing is when I finally did sit down for a rest, my laptop was dead. I had forgot to power it off before I left. DUH!

Well I am off to figure out what to do today with the family....just wanted to do a quick update.

On My Holidays!

Saturday morning at a very early 7 am, we packed up our kids,sent the dogs to the grandparents, and headed on our holidays! Happy,happy,joy,joy! Two days of travel to get to St Catharines, to see my husbands side of the family.  We had already flown one child ahead of time, as hubby had business in Toronto, early on in the week.  Another stop in Montreal to pick up my oldest daughter and we were on our way. 

The drive was great and I had no problems finding healthy eats along the way. I had baked up a big batch of Cosmic cookies from Planet Organic to bring along too.  Fresh blueberries are very easy to find right now, so all was good in my little food world.

We arrived around supper time on Sunday evening and Chinese food was ordered in so we could all relax and enjoy each others company.  It had been two years since we had all been together.  Yummy it was,and I ate things that I shouldn't have, and wow what a difference in how I felt. It hit me so fast....bloated stomach and gassy,along with cramps.  It really proved to me, that when I don't eat properly, I will pay the price!
Needless to say I have watched every bite since!

I started week 4 of C25K and so proud of that.  I am sure I have mentioned before that I had done week one, a few times, and never had success.  This time I am LOVING IT!!!! Now it was a bit harder to do here in St Kitts, as the humidity is high,but believe me I was doing my best.


We were out doing tourist stuff this afternoon, when I got an email from Crystal at http://www.byebyefatpants.com/.  OMG I won a bracelet......I was ecstatic.....I never win anything!!
This is what I won:

One bite at a time.
One decision at a time.  

Wow I love the bracelet and my favorite color is pink...doing my happy dance!

Everyone is in bed and sound asleep,so I am signing off to get some zzzzz's too! Big day tomorrow, as we are all going to Wonderland.  Thursday is visiting some wineries, and Friday the Science Centre in Toronto, and fingers crossed......The Eaton Centre!!!

PS Please take a look at Crystals website for a chance to win this book too! Operation Beautiful is a huge hit and I need to buy a cute pack of post it notes to start leaving my notes for women.

Need a giggle.....

This lady has the funniest blog and has had me giggling for months now. I don't ever drink coffee, when I know I am going to go to her site, for fear of ruining my laptop. 

Take a minute out of your crazy day and enjoy!


Highly Irratable

Smoothielisious!

I am on a quest to make the best smoothie ever. This last one I just made for supper came pretty close to being perfect. Although I am sure I lost weight by having to suck so hard to get it through the straw. In went some of my new ingredients I just purchased tonight

Into my Kitchen Aid blender went :
1 cup Unsweetened Almond Milk
1/4 cup Organic Vanilla Yogurt
2 tbsp Salba
1 scoop Vegan Smoothie Infusion
5 Frozen Strawberries
1/2 Cup Frozen Blueberries
Drizzle of Agave Syrup

Gave that a quick spin around and poured it into a nice frosty mug....YUMMY but a bit too thick. Next time I will add a bit more almond milk.  I am not sure what makes it so thick, the vegan mix or the salba??
Anyways I am sure I won't be hungry for a while after that workout supper!

I went and bought the agave syrup to replace the splenda I have been using in my coffee in the mornings.  I have been eating so well the past few weeks,and realized this morning I needed to break free from the splenda too.

Here is a food day in the life of Conny:
Breakfast:
3 cups of coffee in one gigantic mug (please be aware this is my only coffee of the day)
1 cup of organic rice puffs with almond milk and 1/2 cup of fresh blueberries on top

Mid-morning snack
1 golden delicious apple

Lunch:
2 slices of carrot spelt bread
4 ounces tuna with a bit of mayo and green onion

Mid afternoon snack: (I knew I was going to be having a late supper)
1 plum
5 sesame rice crakers
8 homemade roasted almonds

Supper:
Smoothie above

I am also on my last water bottle, which will bring me to 10 glasses for the day.
I am thinking not great on the veggies today, but hoping that what was in the Vegan Smoothie Infusion will partly make that up.

One of the biggest changes since I started eating healthy, is that I have given up diet grapefruit pop.  I was addicted and drank almost a 2 litre a day. I really think since I gave it up, it has taken away my night snacking and the craving for chips/popcorn crackers etc.

I just want to leave you with a funny story about my C25k run yesterday.  As you might have read I have started running on a trail near my home.  I peed before I left the house, but after my second run, I knew I really,really had to go again.(remember too I have had 4 kids).  Since I was on the trail I took the chance....I looked ahead...nobody in site.....I looked behind.....nobody in site.  I stepped two feet off the trail and with my lily white butt facing the direction I was running I peed......and while I was looking at the direction I had just come from, with my panties and capris around my ankles, doesn't a guy on a bike go by.......I promise you this.....I will never wear the same outfit I wore yesterday to run in, for fear of seeing this man again and having him recognize me or at least my ass!!!!

 I am getting a bit nervous about being on vacation and keeping up the great eating.  I just feel so determined this time that I think know I can keep in control of what goes in my mouth.
Fourty- five with fourty- five pounds to lose.....I'm on my way!!

Week 2 weigh in was another success

I was excited to get on the scale on Saturday morning, as I was pretty sure I was down some weight. The loss was great - 2.2 lbs.......I'll take it!!! Such a great way to start my day.

  I quickly got dressed and headed out for my first session of Week 3 of C25k.  The running part was fantastic and I even ran on the trail for some of it. My husband is leaving for Toronto for a golf tournament meeting on Tuesday until Friday of this week.  I already have picked out the days to do my runs, and I needed to figure out a way to bring  two of my kiddies (on their bikes) with me. I mapped out the perfect run, so there will be no excuses not to do it!!

I went to visit a friend Wednesday night, who is also seeing the same gentleman I saw to help me eat properly.
They were talking about roasting their own almonds which really sounded yummy and easy to do.
First you soak the almonds over night in water to remove any pesticides or yucky stuff .

Then rinse and drain really well, and spread on a cookie sheet.

Sprinkle with lots of sea salt and roast until they are nice and dry and crispy. I had the almonds in the oven at about 400 degrees for about 30 minutes.....but watch them closely so they don't burn.

OMG these are so tasty! I must tell you it was hard to keep my hand out of the jars but what a nice snack!

I also found a wonderful salad dressing on another blogger's site. I made it on Friday night and it is a keeper. So simple but so tasty. I will not be buying salad dressing again ever!!
Here it is:

Better Than Bottled Balsamic Vinaigrette

The easiest and most delicious homemade dressing I have ever made!
Adapted from Dreena Burton’s Eat Drink & Be Vegan ‘Back-to-Basics’ dressing.
Ingredients:

• 2.5 tablespoons balsamic, white, or red wine vinegar
• 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard or regular mustard
• 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
• 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
• Ground black pepper to taste
• 1/2 minced clove of garlic (optional)
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

Directions: Toss all ingredients into a bowl and whisk! Makes about 1/2 cup of dressing.


I think I could eat the dressing all by itself.



Remember my before picture ? Well I told you I would be blowing it up and I did!! This is what is on my fridge and cupboard:

Fridge

                                                              Cupboard

Baby steps.....but I'm on my way!

I'm Doing it........Muir Winery here I come!!

My first official 5 km run.....and I am psyched!!

Here are the details of where the run is:


     Wine Run 


Isn't this place beautiful??

I am sure I read a detailed version of "running by the dykes and vineyards" so it should be a picturesque run. I also received an email from the ladies at Runalicious  on Facebook and I quote them :

So guys just wanted to let all you runners out there know that I just registered for a really fun run....The Muir Murray Wine Run it's happening November 6 in Wolfville we are hoping to be able to get out and sell some shirts here as well...check it out and register--- by the way all the water stations are wine stations for adults...how fun is that!!! get a DD for your drive home.... 

Sounds like the best way to have your first real official run...don't you think?? I am giddy with excitement.


I finished week 2 of the C25k today, and that was a wonderful feeling! I started the two hundred squats last night, so my quads were pretty tight. I didn't care. I was on a high when Mr Ulley (the man who does the podcasts) told me I was starting my last run.  I kept telling myself "you're a runner,you're a runner",to the tune of the train who said "I think I can" LOL.

Have a great night ladies!

Anyone up for a Challenge??

As mentioned in earlier posts, the C25k is going great.  I really wanted to finish up week 2 today, but it looks like I have gotten rained out. Please believe me when I say I could do it today in the rain,but I am a little scared of falling and hindering all my progress.  I did do one of the workouts Saturday morning in PEI in a light rain which felt wonderful! Today it is pouring here.

I feel I need to start something else and remembered I had bookmarked a site a few months back. Here it is ladies and you need nothing but time to complete it!

200 squats

I am going to start tonight and hopefully this will complement my running program.

My eats are going really well.  I don't think I really mentioned what I am following, but I have cut wheat out of my diet and most dairy at this time. I really think the lack of bread/crackers and eating more protein is really helping me lose the weight. I am excited to get weighed this week as it looks like I have lost more weight which I never want to find nor recycle again!

What are you doing this week to challenge yourself?

I gotta feeling......................that its gonna be a great week!!!

Try singing that to the tune of the Black Eyes Peas.....LOL

Had a nice couple of nights away in PEI, with no over indulgences on my part. The great part is that my friend is very into healthy eating and even had spelt bread for my morning toast. I also got a great recipe for a smoothie.  Any suggestions on protein powder? I was thinking of buying some of the vanilla whey from Costco. Please feel free to leave some suggestions.

My girlfriend and I got up and went to the Charlottetown Farmers Market on Saturday morning and I was in heaven.  I wish I would have brought my camera there to capture some great pictures.  What a great little market with so much fresh produce! If you are ever in Charlottetown it is so worth it!

I did have a delicious ice cream from the Cow Ice Cream Factory. I needed to get the kiddies out of the house for a drive and they knew the Cow Factory was very close to where we were staying   : )
Our friends don't have children at home so there wasn't a lot for them to do.