We are Warriors! My first (and definitely not last) Warrior Dash

I’m still trying to figure out why I did it, but I definitely want to do it again.

On June 1, I completed a Warrior Dash.

What’s a Warrior Dash, you ask? Oh, it’s just a 5K race with obstacles. Like super steep ski resort hills. And mud, barbed wire and fire. And more mud. And walls. And lots of cargo nets.

And did I mention the hills? Because my legs still hurt from the hills.

Thankfully, I didn’t do it alone. Like my other races, this was a team effort — with my husband, siblings and a couple friends. We all committed to the race several months ago, but I don’t think anyone was prepared for what we would encounter.

The Warrior Dash series takes place at venues all across the country, but ours was in Butler, Ohio, which isn’t far from Mansfield.

Before the race, after the race, and after our rinse in the pond

Now, I promise I passed state history in school, but apparently my knowledge of Ohio geography is a bit lax. I knew the area would be hilly, but it never occurred to me — or anyone else in my group — that the site was an actual ski resort, with hills that we would never find in northwest Ohio.

We didn’t put two and two together until we pulled up on the shuttle bus and saw racers running down the first giant slope.

Yes, I said first. I can’t really remember how many ski slopes were on our course, but let’s just say my knees still remember.

We got to the race before our scheduled 6 p.m. start time, and we took in the atmosphere. A Warrior Dash is definitely not your average 5K. The start/finish area is basically one giant party, with music, food, drinks and mud. From the spectator area, we could see the first big hill of the course as well as the two final obstacles: Racers must leap across fire twice before sliding into an 80-feet-long mud pit covered in barbed wire that they must crawl through to reach the finish line.

What we couldn’t see were the walls we would climb, the mud pits we would fall into, the cargo nets we’d have to scale and the long, hilly trail that by the end of the day was completely ravaged by the near 8,000 people who had already gone before us.

Don’t get me wrong, I knew going into the race that it would be intense. What I didn’t realize was no amount of running could train me for that day.

We took off early, in the 5:30 p.m. slot, before anyone got the jitters and decided to punk out. OK, before I decided to punk out.

After hiking the first hill, we were finally able to run for a bit before we hit our first set of obstacles. There was water, mud, climbing and wire, but I can’t remember the order because it all came so fast. I do remember, however, that I had to walk around two 5-foot walls because there were no foot holds and my shoes were sinking in the mud, making it hard to get a running start.

Racers can walk around any obstacle, but it just disqualifies them from awards. I knew I wasn’t competing for a medal, so I don’t regret my decision to skip one. For the record, however, it was the only one I skipped for the duration.

The only other obstacle that worried me was a 15-foot wall. Unlike the smaller walls, it at least had footholds and rope, but I knew it would require a lot of upper-body strength — something I don’t have.

But, as I turned the corner from a muddy trench and looked at the wall, I told myself I had to try. I couldn’t just walk around without knowing that I gave it my best shot.

I grabbed the rope and just pulled, pulled, pulled until I realized I was near the top. My arms started shaking, but I realized the only way down at that point was a 12-foot fall to the ground. So, I had nowhere to go but up and over.

As I muttered a few obscenities and swore at my middle school gym teacher, I actually pulled myself to the top and over the other side. Kyle, who is afraid of heights and decided the wall would be his one skip, was on the ground waiting for me. He gave me a fist bump of pride and we continued on.

We didn’t get halfway through the course before running turned into walking, or mostly hiking, due to the hills and slippery mud. But I’d say a good third or even half of the competitors also walked most of the way, so we weren’t alone.

When I could finally hear the music coming from the finish line, I picked up my pace. Wanting to finish strong, I sprinted through the fire leaps and crawled as fast as I could through the final mud pit. Holding hands with our entire group, we crossed the finish together, in 1 hour, 16 minutes.

You may think that’s slow, but I actually placed 5,181st out of 8,271 Warriors that day. And, I was 665th in my age group. Not bad for a rookie Warrior, in my opinion.

At the end of the race, we danced in the mud and celebrated with our one free beer — it was the best I had ever tasted. Because it tasted like pride.

You see, I did get more from the race than sore muscles, scraped knees and bruised shins. I got a sense of accomplishment, knowing that I challenged myself. I looked my fear right in the eyes and climbed over my insecurities — quite literally.

I’ll never forget what it felt like to dig deep within myself for the strength to climb that wall, and I’ll never forget what it felt like to leap over fire like it didn’t even burn.

I’ll also never forget how good it felt to rinse off in a pond afterward, or how good my cheeseburger tasted a few hours later.

Hopefully, however, I will forget my sore muscles and aching joints in time for next year’s dash.

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Couch to 5k and beyond

Yesterday, I finally stopped doubting myself.

Yesterday, I firmly believed myself when I said, "I'm a runner." It took a while to accept what I had become and believe that I could really do it, but I'm here.

I'm not fast and I'm not amazing, but I can do it.

It all started March 1, when I decided to take my fitness to a new level. Workouts in my living room weren't cutting it, and I didn't have a treadmill, so I forced myself out into the snow to start the Couch to 5k program.

About six weeks in, I finished my first 5k. Yesterday, after 12 weeks of preparation, I finally ran the RBS Memorial 5K in Edon. Yes, it's the same 5K that I've walked for several years, including in 2012 when I finished dead last amongst the walkers. It was definitely a turning point for me.

Now, I am by no means a running expert or a fitness professional. However, I'd like to offer my own tips and experiences as a rookie runner and a Couch to 5K graduate.

• Run three times a week - no more, no less. I followed this rule diligently in my training. Sometimes, I wanted to sneak in that fourth run, but I held back to avoid injury. And, obviously, sometimes I didn't want to go at all. But I kept telling myself "A bad run is better than no run at all," and it pushed me to finish. I never, ever have regretted a workout thanks to this rule.

• Have the proper gear. You don't have to spend a lot of money to get a decent pair of running shoes, so don't try to get by with the same pair of tennis shoes you've worn for three years. Your feet deserve better. Next, find some clothes that make you feel comfortable and free. Even in the winter, I didn't want to be weighed down, so I invested in clothes that were both warm and light.

• Don't let your stats define you. I previously tracked all my runs with a Couch to 5K app, and now I use the Runtastic Pro app on my iPhone. While technology is helpful and can push you to meet your goals, it can also be disheartening. Don't get down if you have a bad day, and DON'T compare your stats to someone else's. When you're just starting out, you've got plenty of time to catch up to the pros. By running standards, I'm slow. But when I start feeling sorry for myself I just think of how far I've come.

• Reward yourself. I set mini goals for myself throughout the last 12 weeks to keep me going strong: New shoes, Bluetooth headphones, new workout gear and (coming soon) an iTunes gift card for a fresh music playlist. All these things are motivating to me AND make me want to keep running.

• Sign up for a race - or three. For me, taking the plunge and registering for races pushed me to keep going. Also, I signed up with friends so the peer pressure would keep me from dropping out. I've already run two traditional 5Ks this year. This coming weekend, I am running a Warrior Dash (a 5K with mud and obstacles) and in August, I am running in Color Me Rad (where you get blasted with color powder along the course). I think another race might happen in July, just because I'm having fun with it all

• Be social - because even if you train alone, there's an entire nation of other runners out there. Even though races are technically competitions, I've come to learn runners are just a friendly bunch of people who like to support each other no matter how fast or how slow they are. At races, it's not so much about winning or losing, it's about not being alone for the journey. My sister likes to high five people as we cross paths at races, and I got several "great jobs" and thumbs ups from fellow runners at both of my 5Ks. Running is a mental sport, as they say, and we are all insane.

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Attitude is everything; go run your race

Note: This column was also published in The Bryan Times today. I wanted to share it here to document more of my weight loss journey.

Attitude is everything.

As humans, we know this, but somehow we let our thoughts keep us from achieving our goals. Mental roadblocks get in the way before we even attempt a new task or face a problem.

“I can’t do that. There’s no way.”

But a change in your frame of mind can change the outcome.

“I can do that. I will find a way.” 

At least with a positive mindset, you stand a chance of reaching your goals. With a negative mindset, you likely won’t even try.

I have a sticky note on my work computer to remind me to stay positive daily. It says, “Negativity is a choice. Choose something else. You have better things to do.” 

I think I found that saying on a blog I follow or a Twitter feed. Either way, it hits the nail on the head for me.

Because we choose our attitudes every day. We choose how to face the situations we are dealt.
Another great quote  about attitudes comes from Capt. Jack Sparrow of Disney’s “Pirates of the Caribbean.” He said, “The problem isn’t the problem. The problem is your attitude about the problem.” 

It’s an unusual source, but the message resonates with me. Actually, I think it’s going on another sticky note. (Note: It did. I stuck it right next to the other.)

Trouble is, I can’t carry sticky notes around with me all the time. My attitude can’t always be perfect, and I can’t always stop those mental roadblocks from getting in my way.

But last weekend I was able to bust through a huge mental roadblock and reach the finish line of one of my goals — literally.

Saturday morning, I finished my very first 5k run. Ok, I would say jog rather than run, but I didn’t walk at all — which is a first and a huge deal for me.

My brother was coming home for the weekend and convinced my family to do the Run for Your Health 5k at Fairview Elementary School. When he asked, I was only three weeks into the eight-week Couch to 5k running program, which slowly builds up your endurance to run an entire race. Knowing I would only be on week six when race day came along, I said I’d try, but I might have to walk.

Fast foward to the week of the race, and I felt unstoppable. I had this spark in me that told me I could do it — I could run the whole thing if I really wanted.

Then Friday came and my plan fell apart. My brother and sister-in-law could no longer come home, and my husband had to work in the morning.

That left me, my sister Jan, and her friend Danielle at the race. With no one left to watch my daughter, I decided she would have to come in my jogging stroller. I have taken her for runs in the stroller before, but never for a long distance. I was upset that pushing the extra 30-plus pounds would hold me back.

After working at the Cage Classic Friday night, I didn’t get home until 1 a.m. As I went to bed, I told myself I might have to call off. There was just no way I could run on so little sleep, right? 

But I woke up with a fresh attitude at 7 a.m. I got out of bed and thought, “If I’m getting up this early, I’m going to make it worth my while. I’m going to do my best and run as far as I can.” 
And with that new mind set, everything fell into place.

As I was getting ready, still worried about pushing Kenlee in the stroller, my dad called. He was on his way to the race because he wanted to help with Kenlee while I ran.

Thank you, dad! There was nothing holding me back now — nothing but my attitude.

As I ran with Jan and Danielle, they helped me to extinguish every negative thought with a positive one. They helped tear down every mental roadblock and put a boost in it’s place. I couldnt’ have done it alone.

“I’ve got this. I’ve got this.” 

“If I can do two miles, I can do three miles. 

“Look how far I’ve already come.”

“I can’t stop when the finish line is in my sight.”

Of course, I didn’t actually say much of that out loud — I saved every breath for my tired lungs. But the thoughts in my head and in my heart were what kept me going.

Jan and I crossed the finish line together, almost last among the runners, with a time of 37:23. The race organizers cheered us on for the last bit and congratulated us at the end. They knew I wasn’t in it to win it — I was just in it to finish.

Out of breath and exhausted, I simply mustered, “I didn’t walk!” and hugged my sister. Then I went back up the road to find my dad and Kenlee, who were almost done walking the course. 

Being the trooper he is, my dad didn’t finish far behind us, with a time of 45:45.

As I scooped up my daughter she said, “Yay, mommy!” It could have been that she was just happy to see me, but I like to think she was proud of me.

And I’m not too humble to say I am proud of me, too.

As I write this, on Sunday, I feel unstoppable. Nothing is unreachable if I don’t want it to be. Nothing is impossible if I don’t let negativity get in the way.

I found a way to run my race and get to the finish line — can you? 

We all have races to run, goals to reach and mountains to climb. As you make your way, just remember one thing: Attitude is everything.

Tami Brigle is the editor of The Bryan Times. She would like to thank Curt Foust and his team for putting on a great race — a race that changed her life.

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You still need journalists

I’m not oblivious to what’s happening with journalism. 

I can accept that the traditional newspaper format isn’t as popular as it used to be, and I can accept that the Internet plays a big role in the future of journalism.

I cannot accept, however, that journalism must be reduced to the 140 characters of a tweet. Or that we should use Facebook posts as legitimate “sources” of news.

Social media certainly plays a role in journalism. Otherwise The Times wouldn’t have its own Facebook and Twitter accounts. But if you’re only getting news from your feeds, then you’re missing out.

Ever since The Times launched it’s full news website in 2008, we have used a paywall system, meaning only subscribers can access complete stories and content. Certainly, anyone can read the headlines, but we’ve always valued our product and don’t want to give it away for free.

Last month, after reading what seemed like the thousandth complaint on our Facebook page asking for free content, I got on my soap box. I posted the following on the Bryan Times page, and my personal page: 

“If we gave away all of our content for free (online) we would not be a profitable business, and then there wouldn’t be any news to share. We try to give our Facebook fans pieces of what’s in the paper so they know what to look for in that day’s edition — in print and online. Home delivery subscribers can read the full paper online for free, so they can check the news at home or work before it even hits their doorstep. We also publish breaking news outside of our paywall to alert all interested readers of big events.

“Many media outlets are realizing now that the free news system doesn’t work and are switching to a paywall system like ours. It may be an inconvenience to you, but selling our product pays our bills, which in turns pays our employees who all live and work in the area. Thank you to those who can understand and support us for that.”

Then last week I was even more frustrated by what I saw online. A local agency sent The Times a press release, which prompted an interview and a complete story for the front page of the paper.
It wasn’t breaking news, just interesting, so I did not send out a web post before we went to print. Just as we were finishing for the evening, sending the pages to press, the agency which sent the release posted about the event on its own Facebook page, which I happen to “Like.” 

The post was the bare basics of the news, but still informative, which is good. I’m glad they share their news online. It was the comments below that frustrated me. Users essentially implied that the paper was late to the game because we hadn’t instantly posted the story. And that the paper didn’t matter any more because people could just get their news from Facebook. So why even bother with The Times? 

Why? Oh, I’ll tell you why.

Because without journalists, you will never get real news!

Sure, anyone can post about events online and share information quickly. It’s great, and it’s what makes social media popular. But what are you getting by relying solely on that content? 

You’re only getting what they want you to know, what they want to share.

You’re not getting details that could impact your life directly. And you’re not getting information from other sources that may change the way you view the message.

Think about the news you see in the paper. A lot of what we report is public information. Without journalism, however, the information doesn’t carry the same value.

For example, the minutes and agendas of many public meetings are available as public record and anyone can obtain them with little effort.

But will reading a budget resolution tell you why a council chose to cut funding for its utilities department?  And will reading a school board agenda tell you why they are letting go of three teachers? 

The answer is no. That’s why we have journalists. They find out. They tell you why. And they take the time to make sure you have a complete and accurate account of the news.

My same argument applies to social media. You can rely on the friends in your news feed to give you the news, but you’ll never get the full story without journalists.

Did your friends go to last night’s school board meeting? Have they been to a hearing in the commissioners office? Did they interview each candidate for office before the election or did they just share a funny picture they found in their own news feed?

Based on the low public participation I see at open government events — which have a direct and immediate impact on all local residents — I’m gonna say no, you can’t rely on social media.

And, let’s not forget, with the rising use of “promoted content” on Facebook and Twitter, sometimes you still won’t see the information that is important to you. You’ll see what companies are paying to tell you. That’s called advertising. That’s not the news.

So, going back to my previous rant... Who would you rather get your news from? Someone who is advertising for their own interests? Or someone who has the public interest at heart and needs to charge a fee for the valuable information they offer?

I choose the latter.

My final rant for this column is for those of you who argue that you can get free news from a TV station’s website. It’s true, sometimes we get crews in our area from Fort Wayne or Toledo. Please understand, however, that their much larger audience and web traffic make it more cost-effective to give away news stories online. And their large coverage area is also a drawback.

They have so much territory that it’s not often they come out our way to cover a news story. I would guess it’s once a month, at best. Are you really staying informed by only getting news once a month? And from someone who doesn’t live or work where you do? 

Again, I say no.

So yes, the Internet may be the future of journalism. But free content, from sources you may or may not be able to rely on consistently, is not the future I chose as a journalist.

Tami Brigle is editor of The Bryan Times. She may be reached at 419-636-1111 or tami@bryantimes.com.

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She's my motivation

Thanks to my beautiful daughter, I am getting re-motivated.

The winter brought on a nasty case of the uglies for me. I was tired, moody and unmotivated for several weeks. Luckily, my healthy eating habits helped me drop 10 pounds during the cold and dark months, but I know it could have been better.

For the last couple of weeks, I've been trying to get rid of the blahs and get motivated again. Slowly, I've been pulling myself back up and into a better routine. But it hasn't been easy. 

Today, I realized I need to look back at what got me motivated in the first place. Last April, when I got serious about my health and started Weight Watchers (again) with Kyle, it was Kenlee that made the difference. As she was eating more and more solid foods, I was become more and more concerned with what we were eating as a family. I was afraid and downright ashamed of the idea of feeding her the same meals we had on the table. 

I wanted to model a health lifestyle for her. I wanted to show her good eating and exercise habits. And I wanted her to be proud of me. 

Things have changed a lot since then, and today I realized that no matter what the scale says, I am reaching my goals. 

First, Kenlee is eating well and she loves healthy foods. She has fruits and vegetables with every meal, and she tries new foods all the time. Most importantly, I am no longer ashamed to feed her the same meals that Kyle and I are eating. 

Kenlee also loves to share snacks, and today, instead of munching on goldfish, she decided to share bell pepper and homemade ranch dip with me. It was not only a great appetizer to our lunch, but it also was a proud moment for me as a mother. Someone had to buy that healthy snack, someone had to make it. And, someone had to show her several times before that it was a good choice. 

That someone was me. 

My second proud moment came as I was getting in a quick workout. I have been following a simple circuit training workout I found on Pinterest a few days a week.



Today, Kyle was calling off the next move for me as I progressed through the list. 

And Kenlee was "working out" right beside me. At first, she was trying to do all the same moves — jumping jacks, squats and even jack knife sit ups. When things got a little tough, she decided to run circles around me instead. But still, she was running! 

And just as I wanted to give up and give my abs a break, she shouted "Yay, mommy!" 

I mean, come one. You can't stop when your toddler cheers you on. 

So yes, I am thrilled to have hit a milestone on the scale (down more than 50 pounds now), but I am more thrilled that I am becoming the role model I wanted to be. My family is eating well, getting active and living happily. 

If that's not motivating, I don't know what is.

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Getting jolly without the jelly

WARNING: This post is going to come off as rude. And Grinch-like. But that's not my intention.

Don't say I didn't warn you.

I should start by saying I LOVE the holidays. I start listening to Christmas music sometime before Halloween, and I have all my decorations up and running the minute the turkey is in the Tupperware.

But this year, I have to cut back if I want to stick to my weight loss goals.

Thanksgiving was the trial run. Lunch was decent, with smart portions and a low-fat, low-sugar dessert that I made from a Pinterest recipe. But then I left for our next celebration, where all the food was left out for grazing. I told myself, "What's one day going to hurt?" and dug in for some treats. And then more treats. And then we had a dinner of leftovers. And then I needed another treat when we got back from shopping. And wine — liquid calories count just as much as solid ones.

Then I told myself that I might as well be bad for the rest of the weekend and restart on Sunday. Hahahahaha. I'm so good at joking with myself.

Then vacation happened. All hell broke loose. I'm actually quite surprised my belt didn't break loose with as careless as I acted.

To put it simply, that one day turned into two full weeks of bad choices. I lost 14 days of progress and gained back more than three pounds. I essentially shot myself in the foot because the couple weeks prior had been great, and I was finally starting to see the scale move in the right direction.

These sure were tasty ... but way too tempting. Sorry, family!

I won't be making the same mistake again.

Yes, I can enjoy the holidays. Yes, I can treat myself. But I can no longer allow myself to binge like a ravenous beast and then expect to jump back on the wagon the next day. It just. Doesn't. Happen.

What does this all mean? A few things:

It means I won't be making my annual giant batch of Christmas cookies. My willpower is not strong enough to resist 15 dozen cookies sitting in my kitchen. Last year, I had at least five a day for an entire week. That's not an exaggeration either. Actually, it may be an understatement.

It means that as much as I love my family/friends/coworkers, I won't be eating their goodies either. Sure, I may have one here or there (so please don't judge if you see me with a sweet!), but most of you will be shot down. Don't take it personally. I'm just on a mission!

It means that I'm going to search for and create some new recipes this year. So when I show up to your party or gathering with some strange concoction, don't freak out. If I can arm myself with at least one Weight Watchers-friendly dish, I'll be more confident that I can enjoy the meal without losing progress. It's either that I don't show up at all. (I'm kidding... kind of.)

And HOPEFULLY it means I learned my lesson with Thanksgiving, and that I'm giving myself a head start on my New Year's resolutions. 

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Don't forget the moment

Peeking over Papa Herman's bridge during her 18 month shoot

Things I don't want to forget about Kenlee right now:

• She is learning new words every day. We stopped counting at 50. She pretty much repeats anything you ask her to, and she'll use simple sentences like "I get you!" "I funny" and "Up, please!"

• She asks me for snuggles several times a day, and will bury her head in my shoulder and curl up tight, usually requesting a blanket to be wrapped around her. My heart melts every time, even though the word snuggle usually sounds like a cross between soccer and taco.

• She is obsessed all things Disney Junior. Part of me wishes she wasn't so into television at this age, but part of me can't stop laughing when she names all the characters from Mickey Mouse Clubhouse as they appear on screen in the opening song.... but yet she won't say Grandma. Oops!

• "Dancing" usually consists of her spinning in circles until she's dizzy and stumbling like a drunk person. I assure you it's adorable.

• Mommy and daddy's coffee mugs have been a favorite "toy" of hers for a while, so last week I bought a sippy cup that looks like a travel mug. She loves to drink her milk from it because it's her very own "coffee."

• While she still likes to be read to, she's also learning to "read" herself. I often catch her sitting in the living room flipping through pages and babbling while pointing at the pictures. She even will take her farm animal books and point out all the animals and what sounds they make on her own. In the car, I can hand her a book and she will happily look through it for most of the trip.

• She definitely has become a "mommy's girl." I can't seem to leave the room for more than a minute without her following me or clinging to my side. I feel conflicted sometimes, wanting my personal space back, but overall it's just nice to be needed.

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Six weeks later, I'm still going

My last blog weigh-in was Sept. 16. I was ecstatic for 230.6 after the Williams County Fair.

The next six weeks would prove to be some of the craziest of my journey so far. The weigh-ins were like a trampoline: Up, down, up, down, down, up, up, down.

It was frustrating. It was upsetting. It was the perfect time to give up. I didn't blog because I didn't feel like I could inspire myself, let alone anyone else.

But here I stand six weeks later, and I'm still pushing through. I weighed in this morning at 227.8 - 2.8 pounds down after six weeks. It's nothing to brag about, but at the same time, I'm DOWN. It was six weeks of pure struggle for those pounds, and I'm damn proud of them.

I've realized that now is an adjustment period, for several reasons:

• I am having a hard time finding a workout routine that both motivates me and is conducive to cold weather. I had a goal of running in the YMCA Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning, but my training was cut off too many times. At this point, walking in the 5K is the best I can do. And it's very hard to even walk these days as I don't want to take Kenlee out in the cold as often. (Though I promise she gets bundled up very well when I do.)

• Obvisouly, the change in season and approaching holidays also have impacted my decisions. A healthy salad isn't very tempting after a cold and windy afternoon, and I've already started stressing about the million things I need to get done by Christmas. Being an emotional eater, a huge bag of tortilla chips is usually what I turn to.

• In recent days/weeks, Kenlee has cut back on breastfeeding. We are down to just one session per day, in the mornings. I KNOW this has screwed with my metabolism. On Weight Watchers, mothers exclusively nursing their babies get 14 extra points a day. Once a child starts eating solids, mom gets seven extra points. When you're done, you drop to zero - and there's unfortunately not an almost-done-but-not-quite set of points. So now I'm trying to drop my daily points gradually, but it's taking my body and mind a while to adjust.

So those are the excuses. But they don't matter. All that matters is I'm still in this.

A lifestyle change lasts a lifetime, so six weeks are just a tiny bump in the road, right?

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Keep running

I can hear myself breathing, panting as I round another corner. There's music playing on the speakers of the stroller, but only the beat registers. I feel the wind on my face, sometimes pushing me back.

But I run.

I run because it's simple. It doesn't require a membership or a DVD or any tricky movements. I run because walking became too easy, too mundane to start my mornings.

I run for me, and me alone.

Walking is still part of the route — I'm pacing myself, pushing myself a little further each day. But still, it's running.  And one day I won't walk at all.

The scale didn't show progress this week, but my shoes did. As I hit the road this morning, I tried to remember that my journey is about my health, and it's not a race. It's just one big running path, with hills and slopes and twists and turns.

And as long as I don't turn around, I'll find the finish someday.

I've just got to keep running.

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Slimming down, but still satisfied

I almost fainted in the bathroom this morning.

The scale said 230.6. 

That's a 3.4 lb. loss from last Sunday. 

AND IT'S FAIR WEEK!

That's right, I went to the fair this week, four different days actuallly, and I LOST weight. I never thought I would see the day. It's INSANE!

But here's what I want you all to know: I didn't do anything drastic this week, and I definitely did not deprieve myself. I had all of my favorites: A sausage sandwhich, fried pickles, pulled pork, taco salad and TWO amazing chocolate milkshakes. I think what made the difference was planning. 

Coming into this week, I was nervous as hell. I was fresh off a slump, and my confidence was still low. But, instead of throwing in the towel and declaring the week "off," I decided to plan each day to make the most of my points. I came home for lunch one day instead of staying to each a burger, I planned my meals at home to be low in points for the days I knew I would eat at the fair, and I even left the grounds and went to McDonald's for my trusty grilled chicken snack wraps on the very last day (instead of pigging out on the food I wouldn't get to eat for another year). 

Also, I should note that I had a serious craving for chips and salsa Friday and Saturday, so I didn't deprieve myself at home either. It was gooooood. 

I firmly believe it's the key to long-term success - keeping yourself satisfied. If you deprieve yourself, you'll always want more. The trick is finding your own comfort levels for what you can and can't live without. 

For me, chips and salsa will probably always be a downfall. And no, I can't stand those whole wheat or low fat chips. They'll never do it for me. But I CAN tolerate things like turkey bratwurst instead of sausage or grilled chicken instead of crispy. 

I guess that's the beauty of working on the points system - nothing is off limits. That means I can give in and have what I want every once in a while as long as I count the points and get back on track. It's the "get back on track" part that I tend to struggle with, but it's getting better with time. 

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