What is that annoying noise? Oh yes, my alarm.

6am came awfully early this Monday morning. I was blessed with a two week holiday from work and I slept in most days. I don't normally need an alarm since my circadian rhythm (and two 4 1/2 yr olds) has a +/- 10 minute window of accuracy; however, this cold morning required an extra step. I'm back to work, the kids are back to school and so goes the weekly routine.

I will be walking/running 4 miles today after work. Inside of course -- it is still 10 degrees outside. Currently my pedometer has 2106 steps. This little contraption is very sensitive. I went to check my progress yesterday, after running errands with the kids, and my forearm must have hit the reset button because total steps equaled 601. Only 601! I know that before the movies I was over 6,000. To be fair, I didn't want to estimate. My first day of tracking ended up being n/a.

Today's goal -- not fall asleep at work. daily naps during the holiday is the culprit.

Diet tidbit -- fat makes you fat. Only the good fat will do!

A kick in my step. A pedometer on my hip.

Health practitioners say you must walk 10,000 steps a day. One of my Christmas gifts this year was a pedometer. I measured my stride, attached it to hip and have my begun my journey to 10,000. One of the races I'm participating in this season is the Annapolis 1/2 marathon. My training partner is H and we couldn't be more excited to be racing together. Our plan is to spend every Sunday doing our 'long' segments. Week 1 was a 4 miler. Not today. It is currently 22 degrees with a -12 wind chill. We don't live in Chicago or Buffalo where that type of day is a walk in the park. Our closets are not filled with the necessary layers of wool, cotton and fur. We decided that hot chocolate and a movie were our better option. We start next Sunday.

A savvy young lady shared with me her favorite diet tip - you may love food, but you have to love thin better. As I embark in my first 10,000 steps, I'm also designing a new eating regime of less of everything, but more fruits and veggies.

breakfast - egg white omelet w/ roasted red peppers
snack 1 - apple

lunch - 1/2 cup oatmeal w/ pumpkin
snack 2 - trail mix

dinner - veggie pizza w/ goat cheese and tofu sausage

total calories consumed = 1500. total steps taken =

first goal = 10 pounds lost = a brand new nook from Barnes & Noble.

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A cold weekend wouldn't be the same without a trip to the movie theatre. The twins have been begging to go see Alvin and the Chipmunks (the Squeakquel). Today I will make their wish a reality. The Washington Post movie critic, who is usually disappointed in sequels, wrote that this one is bearable. I hope he is right or I just wasted $27 + money for snacks.

I rubbed my eyes and the calendar said January 2010

This blog appears every time I open internet explorer, but I just realized that my last post was February 2009. That was 10 months ago. What a year it was. I won't type a long summary of 2009, but let me just say that we hit some major bumps in our lives. On to 2010!

I may be the only follower of my own blog, but if you happen to read my posts from time to time, you'll remember that I challenged myself to a triathlon last year. I am happy to report that I finished four and added a few 5ks in for fun. I was one proud athlete. The problem with signing up for so many was I was physically exhausted most days. I have decided that in 2010 I would continue on my path to keeping active and healthy, but my body has kindly asked that I not do so much. I will do longer, more challenging races, just fewer of them. So far I have one triathlon planned in August and a 1/2 marathon in June. Having taken the last three weeks of December off from training, I am excited to be back in the gym as of this morning.

I don't like making too many resolutions, because I must be 100% dedicated to them in order for me to complete them, but I do have many 'must dos' in 2010. I will share a few:

• Post at least three days a week (with training schedules and diet goals)


• Relearn how to sew and continue my knitting


• Enroll the kids in Girl/Boy Scouts


• Be a better recylcer.


• Save $2,000


• Use less bad language.

I am currently purging closets, drawers and storage boxes. A clean slate for the new year.

My hubby the carnivore

The challenge is getting harder by the day. Why? Well because, I enjoy eating meat. If the doctor told me no more red meat, fish or chicken for the rest of my life, I think I'd rather dive off the Key Bridge with a bloody fillet in my hand! I'm enjoying the tofu and the added vegetables, but preparing two meals where the aroma of grilled meat in the kitchen makes it cheating very easy.

I HAVE NOT cheated, but watching KG eat his meal while smiling with satisfaction is just breaking my heart. I know the pluses to living a 'green' lifestyle, but why can't tofu be just a bit more tasty. Two evenings ago, I pulled out pork chops from the freezer. They were breaded and baked and looked so scrumptious.

I'm trying to find some more vegetarian recipes. I just don't know if I can do another night of sauteed veggies. My FB friends have been sending me suggestions. I'm still in my research phase of this challenge.
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Day 4 -5

Breakfast - Yogurt and granola
Lunch - Hummus w/ veggies & pita chips
Dinner - Leftover couscous
Snack - an entire bag of Hanover's baked cheese curls (I couldn't help myself there!)

Temptation

There are many positives about working from home - less work interruptions, mileage savings on the SUV, lower household expenses (ie - gas), walking John & Kathryn to school, being a classroom mom, etc. The list really could go on for miles. One of the negatives of working from home - grazing opportunities.

It's harder to graze at the office. I take my lunch almost every day that I'm on campus (snacks, too) and the candy bowls don't have the goodies that I like. I focus on the tasks of the day without ever thinking about my hunger. My house, on the other hand, has everything that I like. When I'm sitting with my laptop, I'm constantly thinking about what I can snack on. It doesn't matter how busy my day is, I find myself wandering to the kitchen. I've found that having a cold drink (water, iced tea or lemonade) has helped me stay away from the 'danger zone'. I've also stocked my pantry with nuts and dried fruits.

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Day 3

Breakfast - shredded wheat with Soy Milk
Lunch - Hummus with baked Parmesan chips
Snack - McDonald's fruit & walnut salad
Dinner - Couscous w/ pine nuts, tomatoes and silken tofu

Exercise

30 Minutes of lap swimming
3.5 Mile run