New Year, new you, new baby...

I love New Years Day.

It's a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the year past but more importantly to look forward to the year to come. It's not often that we get to 'start over' but as users of a Gregorian calendar, we can do this every year, on the same date. A Christian calendar will make a great argument to have this day of renewal be on Easter Sunday- which date changes yearly. What other day is more renewing than that? As I strive to be organized (as much as I fail at this daily) a January 1st, day of renewal just makes it easier to remember!

Ok, so onto some personal reflecting. 2011 was a wonderful year in may ways. There were points along the year which were a little rough, but worth mentioning nonetheless. We took an impromptu trip with my parents and 87 yo Memere to Hawaii. It was lovely to spend some much needed time together on a very unexpected vacation. 2 weeks later, my Pepere died, but right in my Mem's arms after saying I love you.... Shortly after Pep's passing (clearly he was needed in heaven to pull a few strings) we closed on our house, finally. A little divine intervention was needed after that saga...thanks Pep!

We moved in August and once again Mem and Mom came out to help. We've been settling into our new home and spent the month of September reorganizing, decorating and getting to know the place. In October, we found out we were pregnant, in November we both worked a ton and travelled home in December and... WHAT, Did I just say I was pregnant?!

Yes, I am! Due June 8th and already 17 weeks it's been an exciting few months. The hubs is ecstatic and so are our family and friends. I spent the first 2 months nauseated with multiple food aversions and left to eating PB&Js at practically every meal but then one day I awoke and felt great. We travelled for a much needed R&R trip in the beginning of December and spent Christmas in MA with my family. I'm feeling great, though it's still hard to believe there is a little life inside so dependent upon me. We're not going to find out if it's a boy or a girl, so an exciting surprise awaits!

Here's a picture of the little one...

11 week U/s, there's a little hand waving above the baby's face :)

Looking forward to 2012 are many exciting adventures both personally and professionally. With a little planning and preparation I hope it to all go smoothly.

I realize that having a baby means loosing some sense of control. You can't control an infant no matter how hard you try. So I'm giving in and expecting the cluelessness of a being a new parent to be as overwhelming as everyone says. No matter how much one might 'know' this parenthood thing is all 'on the job learning.' (Ha! Just like residency :) So to prepare there are few things to do...

We're going to work on getting ourselves in order. After moving we still have several little projects left to do. As I said before I strive to be organized but often feel like my piles have taken on a life of their own. So this year I resolve for the first 6 months to 'get my act together' and organize myself, my life and my house. This entire year though I hope to live by these words:

"Lord grant me the serenity to accept

the things I cannot change;

courage to change the things I can;

and wisdom to know the difference."

As far as pregnancy and parenting goes, I have wonderful parents and friends who are excellent examples of great parents. I hope my observations of them over the years will rub off a little on me. In the meantime, I'll continue working on the things I have control over, myself, my diet, the important relationships in my life, my professional endeavors, my hobbies, and a positive attitude (always a work in progress).

As for things I have no control over, there is prayer. I pray for a healthy pregnancy, and most importantly a healthy baby, the courage needed during parenting and for many blessings to be bestowed on the life of the baby we have yet to meet.

Happy New Year to all my friends. May 2012 be a time of health, self reflection, inner peace as well as peace around the world and much love to you all!

This old house

A little house update:

So far the hardwoods have been redone, carpets replaced and our bedroom furniture arrived. Movers came on Monday. This is actually happening we are moving! When I walked back into our rental on the last night we would sleep there I got a little teary eyed. Despite my grumbling about the lead paint in the kitchen and not enough cabinets, the tight bathroom with slow plumbing and just not enough closet space I might actually miss the old place, er...just a little, I'll get over it!

The 'shag palace' as it will be remembered, thanks to green shag carpeting, was the first place we lived together. It was where we celebrated our engagement and prepared for our wedding. It welcomed us home after vacations away and provided comfort and solitude after long days at work. We laughed at our goofy wallpaper and rolled our eyes at the landscaping which was just too much to keep up- especially since May when we found the new house there was no energy or emotion to invest in replanting and pruning the garden.

We hoped and prayed this day would come that we would actually be in our first home. It's been a week since we spent our first night and I still can't believe that we actually live here! Mom and Memere arrived this week to help with the french housecleaning, yah! I can't imagine moving without their help, exciting energy and guidance. Mem particularly enjoyed the 2nd opening of the wedding gifts.

Since we didn't have much room in our rental, most of our wedding gifts have been boxed and stored in the basement. It's thrilling to open them all, wash and now display in my built in hutch. We're enjoying each other's company as we 'putter' throughout the house. We know the process of unpacking will be unending for at least the next several months and home depot seems to be an every other day trip, thankfully it's only 4 miles away!

We are IN and that's all that matters! We are both so grateful to share this time with Mom and Mem it's really been a great week. Dad didn't make this 'girls' trip but will come next time. Looks like his plan worked out because he would been quite worried about the house in MA with Irene. Unfortunately he is still without power at home. Luckily the house survived minus one tree.

Hummingbirds

I realize it's been awhile and by now most of you know we have finally closed on our first home. We are thrilled and overwhelmed with the list of things to do and prepare before we move. We're excited and full of decisions to make on paint, carpet, washer and dryers etc. There will be many pics and DIY projects to blog about in the future I have no doubt. It is very hard to believe after waiting for so long we finally have our house. The gravity of it all hasn't set in yet and I am having a hard time believing it yet since we haven't moved. We closed the day after I had convinced myself it wasn't going to happen at all. All of those worries are behind us and I almost feel numb to the anxiety we experienced as we signed endless extensions. All I can see is our future!

First of all I'd like to give a little thank you to my Pep as I know he had something to do with the closing...

Leo, my Pep or Pepere as we say in french, came into my mother's life back in the late 1950s. He was a bachelor and no employer would hire him as he had lost 5 out of 10 fingers in an industrial accident years before. This prevented him from serving in WWII with all his buddies and left him searching for a purpose in life. He was a frustrated young man without much direction. My mother's father owned an office supply store and being the good man he was, gave Pep a chance and a job. My mom shared this story during the eulogy at Pep's memorial mass and her version is much more eloquent and thoughtful. She recalls: often times the day started in the basement of the family home with supplies and mom recalls only wanting "Leo" to take her out of her crib. He was a wonderful man, always brought the kids fun toys and occupied their curious minds with inquisitive tasks and projects as they grew up. Leo knew all kinds of trivia, could fix anything and always had a smile on his face. My mom's Dad grew ill and when she was 15, he died. Leo helped my Memere keep the family business afloat and was the support person for Mom and my Uncle Paul into their teenage years.

One day, several years after her husband's death, Memere asked Mom's permission if it was ok that Leo took her out to dinner. "Of course it was ok, it's Leo!" she exclaimed. The rest is history and 29 years ago, they married.

Pep was the only grandfather my brother and I ever knew. He loved his family and we were all that he had after loosing his sisters and brothers all at a young age to heart disease. Leo needed a family and we needed a father and a grandfather and God provided. It was as if it was in the plans so long ago that the perfect man came into a shop one day inquiring for a job, little did he know he was really receiving a family.

I grew up my whole life with my grandparents just upstairs in my house. I never needed a baby sitter and had the benefit of 2 sets of parents. (Except, my grandparents never disciplined, a fact my brother and I used to our advantage!) They were wonderful years, a gift you don't realize at the time but are so grateful for when you think back.

Pep's heart disease, loss of eye sight and development of dementia made his last few years difficult. He spent his last few months in a safe dementia unit surrounded by staff who knew how to keep Pep safe and calm. He enjoyed his music and looking at the flowers through the window, what little of them he was still able to see. Pep always told Mom he could see a hummingbird come to his window. Though no one else ever saw it, Pep insisted the hummingbird was there. On July 2nd, he died in Mem's arms after standing up to tell her he loved her. It was the day before his 86th birthday.

That day as my family mourned Peps loss in his room, Mom saw the hummingbird at the window...

So what does all of this have to do with our house? Pat and I flew home for Pep's memorial last week. My family knew we were stressing the closing of our house because it was plagued with delays and extensions all of which were out of our control. Mem told us "Pep is going to make this work, I just know it." She believed this and so did we.

On our way back to the airport after our trip, we heard the news that the 'golden ticket' needed had arrived and we were on path to an eventual closing. I smiled when our realtor said 'golden ticket'. He was only referring to a piece of paper escrow needed from the seller, but all I thought about was chocolate. You know, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory? Charlie and Grandpa Joe? When you had the golden ticket, anything was possible, even having Grandpa Joe walk! I thought of my Memere and her belief that Pep in heaven would make everything ok.

The day we closed I came home to meet Pat and our realtor at home. As we stood in the doorway of our rental before we set off for our first visit to our new home, Pat and I saw something near the flowers. It was a hummingbird.

Thanks Pep! We love you! xo

Better things to come

I'm not going to lie, I'm a bit sad that I wasn't able to run today in the Seattle Rock and Roll 1/2 marathon that I signed up for Jan 1st. In mid April my training schedule was derailed thanks to an mystery muscle pull in my side. My hubby was sweet enough to call it 'love handle-itis' and in truth is exactly where I was hurting. I was advised to not run for 2 weeks, I did pilates instead (which I love) and tried to take it easy and 'stretch'. Have you every tried to stretch your side above your hip bone? It's not really easy. Conservative management of this injury was tried, I saw a sports med guy and it has gotten better. In fact today, it's practically gone.

Nonetheless, I lost about 6 weeks of training and knew in the beginning of June when I could only run 2 miles there would be no way to up my miles to 10 over 4 weeks. It just wasn't going to happen. So I've known for several weeks this 1/2 marathon wasn't going to happen for me. It wasn't until yesterday when I walked into the Expo to pick up my number and T shirt (a very expensive T shirt now!) that it hit me, I wasn't going to be crossing the finish line today.

My running buddy Liz was also plagued with an injury, so this dream of a repeat for our 2nd 1/2 together also wasn't going to happen for her. We both enjoyed checking out the booths at the Expo, picking out some running accessories, Nuun's, headbands etc. Who knew there could be so much stuff for running other than a good pair of sneaks? My husband told me there is no one disappointed in me, and I am my worst critic. He is so right.

I thought about walking the 1/2 but even that would require some training or advancing miles. Honestly, walking it just sounded painful. In the end universe gave me a nice chest cold, asthma exacerbation and an ear ache, and even if I had trained and was prepared, I think my body was telling me NO! I know there was no way I could have run/walked today anyway.

So I will keep my bib number, (31527) which I love as it is has 15 and 27, both my lucky numbers. I'd rather be strong and healthy to enjoy the rest of the summer. Right now I can do about 2-3 miles comfortably and I'm just happy doing that. In the meantime we await positive news about our house and just hope and pray we close soon. I look forward to running in my new neighborhood this summer, healthy, strong and pain free.

No pity party

Some of you might know by now that we are in the home buying process and set to close in 8 days. Unfortunately a few bumps in the road on the seller's side could make it not happen at all. We've done all our part, inspection, financing, appraisal etc and now we wait to have all the other ducks in a row in order to make this happen. Boxes are out, work schedules rearranged, movers ready to call, family flying out to help and "hold on, wait a minute, not so fast" there is a road block. Emotions went from excited packing energy, looking at furniture, thinking about paint and carpets and the reopening of all the wedding gifts and putting them away finally after being stuck in the basement for so long...oh the excitement of almost finally being able to call our own house a home. Now they are anxiety, anger, frustration, annoyance, sadness and disbelief that it might not happen at all.

We realize that everything happens for a reason, and it is all in God's hands now. We know that someday we will be homeowners and will look back and realize what a small hurdle this is. We know that we are lucky to have our health, family and friends. We know that we're blessed not to be in the devastation of tornado alley. We watched the news in sadness last night as a widow described the last moments of her husband's life as he sheltered her body in the bath as the tornado blew over their home, killing him in the process. We held each other in gratefulness that we are ok and these emotions and this situation we are experiencing is so small compared to the burdens of so many others. We know we are blessed. We feel guilty to even be thinking that we are stressed when there are so many others in this world hurting and stressed from emotional, health, family, financial or work or safety worries. We now understand what everyone has told us "buying a home is the most stressful time in your lives." We get it.

In the meantime we are holding onto a glimmer of hope that it could still happen. We gratefully appreciate the prayers and well wishes from our family and friends. We anxiously await a time when we can invite you to our home and actually have a place for family and friends to stay- as our current shag palace is too small. Till then, we wait.

Running and rain

Today my running buddy L and I ran the Seattle "Beat the Bridge" 8K. The idea is to make the 2 mile mark and cross the University draw bridge before it goes up (usually 10 min miles). We signed up for this race weeks ago in the hopes it would be a good training run on our quest for our 2nd 1/2 marathon in June. Three weeks ago, our training and running schedule changed with some injuries. It's been a frustrating 3 weeks without running and enduring some hip pain when I tried. Despite the running drought, race day came and so did the rain.

We braved the weather, constant rain the whole 5 miles and we actually 'beat the bridge!" Having not run in 3 weeks, I did not think it was even possible. However when our heat started our options were to run or be trampled. So we ran, and our bodies felt ok, so we kept running. We had no aspirations to actually make the bridge in time but as we got closer we knew it was possible. The smiles across both our faces were evident and it was so inspiring to realize that we could do it!

With the rain, our drenched state and sore muscles we walked most of the remaining course; nonetheless we finished. We know that completing the 1/2 will be a challenge as our training plan is on standstill and progressing into longer runs is just not realistic at this point yet. These injuries are still a bother, but we will still try and see how it goes.

When I got home, I thought, "I'm not really that wet, I'll just change into new clothes", I was drenched, soaked down to the bone, hair dripping wet. It was the best feeling of accomplishment and the best hot shower in a long time. We topped off our morning with a victory breakfast and a little eggs benedict.

What are the odds?

This afternoon I was busy in the kitchen preparing lunch. Since we have non traditional schedules, sometimes a nice meal comes at lunch time. (chicken mozambique!) Typical activities were taking place, food prep, chopping, finding the right pan, digging for the cover, rearranging items in the fridge, you know the drill. Shortly after our delicious meal, after I had cleaned up my mess, I noticed in horror, "My ring...2 diamonds are gone!"

The hubby and I quickly started trying to retrace my steps (as if) in the kitchen and there we were hands and knees on the floor and we found not just one but both missing diamonds!! This was not my wedding band but rather my 'right hand ring', a gift I purchased for myself in 2005 right before I graduated from medical school. I am quite attached, as it has significant sentimental value, though much less now that I have my beautiful rings from Pat, but still close to my heart nonetheless.

Of course we found these sparkly gems along with several other not so fun items on the floor, crumbs, dust, veggie parts, chips, pennies, cheerios, rice, pen caps, markers, bag clips, the missing spatula etc. I've just returned from the jewelry store where my stones will be reset and the prongs fixed, thankfully for no cost from my little maintenance plan I bought many years ago. I just could not believe the stones would be found, just what are the odds? Now I'm off to clean my floors. :)

Live, Laugh, Run

Just got back from Texas after a week long conference. I'm not really sure I like that state as I was trapped in an industrial park hotel (which was very nice) outside of Dallas. We escaped one night for a $30 cab ride to another middle of no-where town which was Grapevine, your classic little Texas town with the water tower in the backdrop. If I saw a tumbleweed go by I think my experience would have been perfect.

Thankfully food was delicious at the conference and quite plentiful. Keeping up with my training program wasn't so easy. I thought about running outside, but I was not prepared for the dark morning conditions in an unfamiliar area. I managed to hit their tiny gym at 6a one morning, with another 20 people, so I cross trained on a stationary bike till the treadmill opened up. I ran for about 8 minutes till I excused myself back to my room. The bike work out was excellent, but jumping on the treadmill right after was a mistake as the muscle memory from the bike made my legs feel like bricks. It was hot in the little workout room and before I passed out or fell off the treadmill I just terminated the workout. (That would have been embarrassing! )

It was a long week and disappointing on the diet and exercise front. I returned home late Friday though to a little treat. A friend of mine and fellow runner, sent me a little gift in the mail. It was a total surprise and the best encouragement and inspiration that I needed to stay on target! A running headband which also keeps the ears warm and covered. "Live, Laugh, Run" Thank you M! Kudos to her for running in the Hyannis 1/2 marathon today in February winter conditions!!

Walking away...

After 2 counter offers from us, our seller is not interested in lowering his asking price, despite the listing price 10% over market. We are walking away.

We have no interest in buying something beyond value price. No surprises here, I'm a bargain shopper! We have heavy hearts but at the same time realize 'what is meant to be will be'.

I really thought that was our home, and maybe someday it will be- for the right price of course. Rather than wallow in this moment we are taking it one day at a time, walking away from a bad investment and running towards the hope of what the future will bring.

We'll be ok, in the meantime it's green shag carpets, small bathroom and lead paint in the kitchen :)

On a happy note, I completed Week 3 of the 'couch to 5K' (only 3 weeks late!) what can I say, I've had a busy schedule!

Get out of my head

Back in Seattle after a week of cold weather and more snow in Massachusetts! Had a wonderful visit with the family and shared Mom's Birthday topped off with a massage and pedicure. Running when it's icy and snowy outside is not an easy task. I was able to run on the treadmill at my parent's gym one day. (Yes, can you believe it, they joined a gym!)

I'm on 'week 3' of my running plan and am very aware that it is the second week of February and I should be on week 6. What can I say, there is a lot going on.

For those of you following along, we found a house, put an offer in this week and now are in the awful haggling process with a very delusional and unreasonable seller who thinks his home is worth about 150K more than what is appropriate for the location and market! He did counter offer last night, but only by lowering his price a smidgen. We're still in negotiations, but I'm not feeling too positive that this outcome will be successful. I didn't ask to fall in love with this property, it just happened. Therefore, rather than a business deal I feel it is an emotional process as well which makes it more difficult.

Given this stress, I couldn't wait to hit the trail and run last night. I had been up since 4am, but nothing was going to stop me from an evening run. My bestie Liz and I hit the trail and did our run in the dark and 45 degree weather. We had on reflective light-up vests and only wished we brought the head lamps to see the ground. It was dark out there!

I had always heard running helps clear your mind and last night I experienced it for the first time. Running is not only physically beneficial, it truly is healthy for emotional and psychological well being. I felt much better when I got home.

Long day ahead and an early morning tomorrow. I hope to get back out there again on Friday.

Could this be THE ONE?

OK, in all honesty the original reason for my blog back in July was to document and express thoughts and emotions during the heinous process of buying our first home. My hubby suggested it as a way to vent and commiserate with the masses who have done the same before. But who wants to read about that? So I found alternative topics to discuss and put the home buying discussion on the back burner.

Here we are, it's 3:15am and where am I right now? Awake, blogging and perseverating in my mind- as I'm sure my husband is too- about the infamous question: to buy or not to buy.

After 85 + homes, the pros outweigh the cons, walking in the door put a smile on my face and we both left with the same feeling "we could live here". No home is perfect, but this one seems to be for us. Since our walk though on Sunday, I can't get it out of my head, it's all I think about and dwell on. I really can see my life in that house. Well that is a first, after many, many duds.

This is sort of like finding your spouse. You date a fair number of potential options and then one day it hits you...he's the one! Home buying is kind of like this too. Just like porridge, really. Some too big, too small, too expensive, too much to do to move in....and then...to find 'the one'.

But how do you know it is THE ONE? Given my emotional attachment (i hear that is bad) I think it's been found. It's such a huge plunge, a giant leap into adulthood, the most expensive item ever purchased in our lives......AAAAAAH! No wonder I have insomnia right now!

Of course, those who know me best also know I am a frequent sufferer of 'buyers remorse' and occasionally return things or mull over choosing "which one". Again, at least I have a reason for my insomnia tonight! We hope that 'sleeping on it' will allow it all to sink in and find a place within ourselves where we feel comfortable to take the leap, put out an offer only to then.....wait. In the meantime hoping and praying that someone doesn't do it first and scoop it right out from underneath us....aaaah! This is so stressful!

Truth be told, I've never been so excited about a house before. I really think this one could be our home. Prayers tonight for guidance that this is all right and the way it should be.

The future is bright.

Whistler with the Litzler's

Ski weekend was a success! We headed up to Canada, to Whistler Blackcolm mountain. Great weather, great friends and lots of fun on the slopes. I never thought I'd consider myself a 'skier'. 3 years ago when I moved to Seattle my husband encouraged the idea of having my own set of ski equipment. He thought if I was ever going to learn, the process might be easier if I had the consistency of my own pair of skis. He was right!

The first year out it took me at least 5-6 trips to the mountain to actually feel like I enjoyed the sport. Over the past 2 years I've gradually advanced from green runs and this year to the blues...

I took a lesson the first day and was so proud of my ski success, blue runs all day!

Day #2 wasn't so fantastic - not for me at least. Legs were sore, boots too tight, fell twice (while standing straight mind you! ) and I had lost my confidence in myself.

(View from Gondola on Peak to Peak)

Day #2 on top of Blackcolm at 'Seventh Heaven", most gorgeous sites!

More from Seventh Heaven...

Sometimes pushing yourself beyond your comfort zone can be helpful to advance to new levels of skill and to really prove to yourself that 'you can do it'. This was all true on Day #1, and it felt great! Day #2, my body just wouldn't do what the mind wanted and in the end wasn't so fun.

Day #3 I listened to my body and stayed in the lodge! Hubby and friends went for some great runs themselves and got the most out of our last day on the slopes.

What I learned was to continue to build my skills and become a master of them on the easy slopes- greens. Then I can gradually advance to the harder runs. Maybe next time I'll have 3 great days instead of just one. :)

Nonetheless it was a great time!

On the running update, I completed Week 2 on the 'couch to 5K'. Would have been nice to keep it up onto Week 3, but thanks to a good old fashioned head cold I've been work and couch bound. Next week I'll hit the road once I recharge my batteries.

A 'losing' battle

So I had a little event with the weight watcher lady this week.

After 22 months of paying for an 'unlimited' membership ($39.99/month)the lady at the weigh in said to me :

"You are a lifetime member (don't have to pay anymore) and have been for along time"

Me: "I don't think I am" (thinking to self, 'yeah, you definitely are NOT at goal and haven't been..)"

Lady: "well you are" click, click... "Here is your new card"

Me: "Wow, thanks, whatever you say, when did I become a lifetime member"

Lady: "months ago when you held your weight at 1#4 for a long time...."

(Since I'm over goal, I still have to pay weekly now, till I loose 1 more lbs, then it's free!)

Me: "Ok... Thanks!"

I didn't care whether she was wrong or right, someone was going to help me not have to pay the full amount every month...sweet. Now this is certainly not a proud moment. I realize I have not made it to 'goal' and had adjusted my goal months back and think the computer didn't recognize the new change, only saw that I had held and maintained this new goal (artificial really, would like to weigh less but will settle for this computer 'goal' so that I can be a lifetime and stop paying.)I'm then advised to call the WW office and ask for a refund....

Well that was an interesting phone call. Embarrassing really, and I was probably misinformed initially by staff overall when told I was a lifetime (not surprised), but I did get a few months refunded. Since I'm above my 'goal' computer weight I still have to pay weekly when I weigh in. It's a total trick, I mean if you didn't loose and you're not working the plan, to 'quit' WW just sounds so lame, so I never did even during those times when I wasn't truly dedicated. In November I had my "Aha" moment and here we are. I'm still pretty sure I've paid my dues to the program and am a total advocate for the lifestyle changes they promote, especially with the points plus system.

All in all, I am technically, by the computer, a registered lifetime member (no cheers please) and someday I will emotionally be one too when I actually loose down to my real goal. Till then, I'm sticking to the plan, and its working. Down 1.2 this week and feeling great. I actually recruited my wonderful husband to the challenge and he is making major lifetime changes too. It's a marathon, not a sprint and we hope there to be less of us in the coming months...stay tuned!

As for the running. Week 1 of the couch to 5K was a success! 2 days outside in temps in the high 30s, 1 day at the gym sweating with all the UW co-eds. I also hit the pool for some water cross training and went skiing on my other day. Not too bad I might say so myself!

Week 2 Day 1 was yesterday, felt great. Oh and the best news of all....drum roll please....

My very dear friend Liz and running partner in the 1/2 marathon last year has signed up officially as well!!! Best news ever!

Day 1, week 1

I promise, I won't do this everyday, that is post on my blog about my daily run. However, today is a special day, it's the first day.

Ok, ok, so not really, I've done this before, but today I'm starting over. 6 months seems like a long time away but June 25th will be here before you know it and seeing as I've been rather lazy lately, I feel like I'm starting from the beginning all over again. I stopped running after my 1/2 marathon in June and though I've run occasionally, not on a regular basis. Yesterday was a great day of beginnings. 1/1/11 who doesn't love that?! I love New Years day, an opportunity to start fresh. To get my resolution off to a nice start, I treated myself to homemade eggs Benedict with great friends (30 weight watcher points that I did count, OUCH) followed by a brisk walk on a gorgeous winter Seattle day. I realize weight loss goals will NOT be achieved

with eggs Benedict; it's a sometimes food(Now the whole point of being good to the body does not mean treating oneself like an inmate....there have to be some splurges :)

Now onto the running...

Today was the first day of the training. Last year I used "the couch to 5K" to get started. It starts off slow and then builds up to a 5k. After the 5k distance was achieved I used Hal Higdon's novice 1/2 marathon training schedule. This year, I wasn't really sure were to start. I've been hot and cold with my activity lately and really want to train effectively (cross train, hill train, weight lift etc. ) but I am afraid of injury. I consulted Runners World and an article of coming back after a break suggested to really start slow. The article discussed an ultra marathoner who took an 8 month hiatus and on his first day back did an 'easy' run as a run/walk because he just couldn't do it. The risk of going out strong is that the body will fizzle fast and muscles are just not ready for it, must start slow.

So this is how I got back to 'the couch to 5K'. Day 1, week 1.

It was 36 degrees, (to seattle-ites this is FREEZING!) I took a familiar route, 2 miles, hat, gloves, neck warmer, 3 layers, good socks and my favorite sneakers. I ran solo and brought the ipod which I realized I could use some better running tunes (suggestions welcome). Run/walk every minute after a short warm up and lots of stretching. 30 minutes later I'm home, sweating and I feel great.

In 6 months I can't wait to look back at this blog and look how far I've hopefully come.

I pray for no injuries and for strength to keep up with this commitment.

I'm blogging about it so that I'm accountable to someone other than myself!

Now off to the showers :)

On Resolutions

So who actually makes a resolution and commits to it the whole year? The media will say that gym memberships, diets and exercise attempts increase during the first 6 weeks of the year and then slowly decline when motivation weakens. I certainly can appreciate some truth in that statement.

As some of you know, I've been on a 'diet' for months (ok going on 20 months now...). Healthy eating and changes to lifestyle are a lifelong process. So to say that "in the new year I'm going to commit and stick to a diet" is really a joke. Starting these attempts after the new year is however quite reasonable. The only reason I was thankful to be leaving MA during my recent visit was to get away from the food! Mom definitely knows how to cook! That being said, returning to our 'normal diet' does sound like a good idea, at least my body will think so. Which gets me back to my thoughts on health and dieting. Do you consider your body a 'temple' to be worshiped, or a 'machine' to abuse? Ask yourself this question the next time you are exhausted, sleepless, working to much, pigging out and quite obviously not being too good to yourself.

I'd like to think of it as a temple, but all too frequently I think it ends up being abused. So this year, as a resolution, I'm going to try to take better care of myself. Not to diet, not to become superhuman, not like I'm going to stop working, eating out, enjoying a cocktail from time to time, just to think of myself more as a 'temple' that needs to be cared for.

Sharing this with friends and family will only make me accountable to myself and those that I love. With that said, I also signed up today for the Seattle Rock and Roll 1/2 marathon!!!!!!!!!

Some of you might think that is 'torture' to the body. I disagree. Last year during the months of training leading up to the event were the healthiest and best I have felt in YEARS. Though weight loss surprisingly ceased (in fact I gained weight! ), my eating habits improved, I slept better at night, and despite a consistently busy schedule, I made time for myself.

I am very excited and looking forward to training and taking better care of myself. Now I have a goal and a commitment. June 25th 2011

Thought I'd share it all with you, helps me stay accountable to myself. To you and yours a healthy and happy New Year. I hope whatever you resolve to do today is something you can continue well into the new year.