Losing Fluffy Bunny

Vacation - Day 1

Wednesday, October 31, 2007 22:01:20

We did everything I wanted to do today, and then some! Slept in until 5:30. Went to Denny's for breakfast (good news, I only ate about half of the French Toast slam, maybe less). Went to the LL Bean grand opening at Ross Park Mall. They were giving away 500 gift cards, up to $500. I didn't think we'd get one however talked DH into going with me. An alien must have taken over DHs body because he agreed to go (he hates shopping anytime, any store). We arrived at 8:03 and figured we were about 600 or 625 in line. No gift cards for us. However, we had fun talking to each other and the girls and the older lady next to us. The Cheesecake Factory brought around coffee (DH enjoyed it, I just warmed my hand by holding his cup) and samples of their Pumpkin Cheesecake. Yum! It was 27 degrees, windy, and snowing. I think if we had gotten the 1-3 inches of snow they predicted for last night, we probably would have gotten gift cards. I actually went there to buy silk underwear (was going to order it last week however decided to save the shipping charges) and came home with 2 pair (one lilac and one ecru) and $20 in gift cards because we spent more than $50 each.

Next, we got lost trying to find a new sporting goods store (in a part of town we don't know) so DH could look at holsters. Finally found the store (like a Cabela's) and looked through their holster selection however he didn't see anything he wanted. Next, went to Casey's for lunch then went home.

The best part of going home:

We took a 2 hour nap. Oooo, nap! It was wonderful. Can't remember the last time I took a nap. Got up and ate leftover pizza with a few beers. Enjoying some left over Halloween candy tonight while watching a movie (Legally Blonde 2).

Have to study for my tax final now. Again, thoroughly enjoyed the day. Eating today was totally off plan so have to get back on the wagon tomorrow. It was a really nice day.

Have a great Saturday!

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Free At Last!

Wednesday, October 31, 2007 22:00:21

At 4:36 p.m. eastern time, vacation officially began! Woo hoo! We're not planning anything big - sleeping in a little, eating out, finishing up our art projects for school, passing my tax final on Saturday, going shopping (new LL Bean store opens here tomorrow - we're planning on going however we're supposed to get up to 6 inches of snow between tonight and tomorrow night, so don't know if we'll go or not. I would love to get one of their $500 gift cards they are giving away!), going "out of state" one day next week for an art exhibit, working out, etc. We should have a great time. We don't have to be anywhere, with the exception of the art exhibit, until 8 a.m. on Monday, December 1st. Ahh, the luxury of vacation days.

Breakfast - Sunshine Sandwich, 1 slice fat free cheddar, ruby red grapefruit, 1 c skim milk

AM Snack - ruby red grapefruit, Diet Coke with Lime

Lunch - MOMO at Heinz Lofts Cafe - chicken salad sandwich on rye with lettuce and onions, Diet Coke with Lime, 2 bags of chips

PM Snack - 1 bag of chips

Dinner - MOMO at Carnivores - late dinner while watching Thursday Night Football (Steelers, of course - tied at 7 all when we left just after the 2nd quarter started) - 3 pieces pizza, some wings, lots of Jenny Craig fries, 4 Miller Lite drafts - hey, it's vacation!!

Today went by really quickly since I had a project due and everyone knew I was leaving after today. Walked to the 9th Street Bridge and back to work at lunch time, just to get out. 5 mile run training for 45 minutes (2.85 miles) before we went to Carnivores. Have 2 more training sessions (Sunday and Tuesday) before the run on Thanksgiving. Can't wait to see my friend Louise at the race next Thursday. We should have a good time.

Hope you have a great Friday and a magnificent weekend! I'll update you with our vacation activities as we complete them next week.

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Early Thanksgiving Dinner

Wednesday, October 31, 2007 22:00:08

The cafe at work had their Thanksgiving Dinner yesterday. Believe it, or not, their version of Turkey Day is actually really good and the best meal they make all year. I totally pigged and totally enjoyed it!

Breakfast - Silver Dollar Pancakes & Veggie Sausage, JC lite table syrup, ruby red grapefruit, 1 c skim milk

AM Snack - ruby red grapefruit, Diet Coke with Lime

Lunch - MOMO at the cafe - 2 slices roasted turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy, yams, green beans, dinner roll, slice of pumpkin pie, Diet Coke with Lime

Late PM Snack - at school - Chocolate Graham Twists, Perrier, Diet Coke with Lime

I only drank 11 oz of water. Also, since it was artsy-fartsy night, no exercise. Because I ate at the cafe, and I'm swamped at work, I didn't even get out for a walk at lunch.

Again, thoroughly enjoyed the special lunch. Glad it only happens once a year!

Have a great Thursday!

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Week 52 WI

Wednesday, October 31, 2007 23:08:20

So, tonight's WI wasn't too bad. I'm up .2 pounds. Lucky girl! I'm looking at my menu for the past week and the only day where I was completely OP was yesterday. Good thing! That's OK because I am still better off than I was at this time last year.

Breakfast - Sunshine Sandwich, 1 slice fat free cheddar, 1/2 c OJ with Perrier, 1 c skim milk

Lunch - Grilled Chicken and Andouille Sausage Gumbo, Subway Veggie Delight Salad, 2 JC balsamic vinaigrette dressings, Diet Coke with Lime

Dinner - MOMO at El Campesino after WI - chicken fajitas, queso y chorizo, guacamole, chips & salsa, medium margarita

Late PM Snack - 1 piece of carrot cake from the Italian bakery next to JC - Bad DH, bad! Good carrot cake, good! 1 c skim milk

As a treat for doing JC for 52 weeks, I bought a JC "designer" freezer bag. We did measurements tonight and determined I lost 32 inches during the past year. Nice way to end one year and start off a new one.

Took all vitamins and drank 72 oz water. Walked to/from work. Walked to/from downtown at lunch. Walked home. We had a fire drill at 3 p.m. today - meaning I hobbled down 5 flights of stairs so no 5 mile run training tonight. The marg really took away the pain in my right knee however it will come back before the night is through. So, I'm going to take a hot shower, turn up the electric blanket, take some ibuprofen, and read (a sleazy romance novel) until I fall asleep.

Hope you have a great Hump Day! 1 day and a wake up until vacation!!!

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Living In A Snow Globe

Wednesday, October 31, 2007 23:07:19

If you watched any of the Steelers/Chargers game yesterday, you saw the weather. We had more of the same today. Not much of the white stuff stuck to the ground (still too warm) however the flakes were sifting down off and on all day today. While I was walking into town tonight, I looked up and thought that the city looked like it was in a snow globe! It was very pretty.

Breakfast - Silver Dollar Pancakes & Veggie Sausage, JC lite table syrup, ruby red grapefruit juice, 1 c skim milk

Lunch - Southwestern Style Chicken with Rice & Beans, Southwest salad (sans meat) from Mickey Ds, Newman's Own Southwest Dressing, Diet Coke with Lime

PM Snack - ruby red grapefruit juice

Dinner - Chicken Fettuccini, 2 Diet Cokes with Lime

Late PM Snack - Chocolate Cheesecake, 1 (heaping) Tbsp fat free Cool Whip, 1 c skim milk (I forgot I had milk with breakfast)

Took all vitamins and drank 64 oz water. Walked to/from work (snowing both ways). Walked to/from McDs at lunch. Curved out. Walked home. Steps at the time of this writing: 16257 (123 aerobic minutes; 6.67 miles)

Looking forward to WI tomorrow night. I think I'm the same as last week (just hoping I didn't gain any or much with all of the eating out this week). Won't be going to WI next week due to vacation so have to make up my food list, tonight, that will last two weeks (minus a few meals out with DH). 2 days and a wake up until vacation. Woo hoo!

Have a great Tuesday!

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1 Year on Jenny Craig

Wednesday, October 31, 2007 23:06:17

One year ago today, I started Jenny Craig. I can’t believe time has gone by so quickly. Some weeks, it seems as if I have been on an eating plan for years and other weeks it seems as if I just started. However, it’s been a wonderful year. Here’s the 1-year anniversary pic! It's the new "after" pic. Please note, I'm wearing size 12 relaxed jeans and a medium top. In my "before" JC picture (not the before pic here at EP), I was wearing a 2XL sweater and 22W jeans. What a difference a year makes!

I invested in myself – not just money on JC food, Curves, a pedometer, an iPod and MBTs (shoes). I also invested my time, which is very precious to me. I enjoyed the “me” time during running, working out at Curves, and the walks to/from work and downtown. I enjoyed the “we” time when DH and I ate at home, when we ate out, or when we were just together doing nothing. I enjoyed the “he” time when DH gives me the look (you know what I’m talking about girls) and when he tells me he’s proud of me. I’ve enjoyed the time spent on EP reading your blogs that made me laugh and sometimes made me cry. Thank you my friends for spending time with me (reading my blog and leaving comments) and letting me spend time with you, reading about your world. You have all made my little world a better place.

Breakfast – MOMO at Casey’s – 2 poached eggs, dry English muffin, small orange juice, iced tea

Lunch – MOMO at Silk Elephant in Squirrel Hill – 2 chicken spring rolls with sauce, Red Curry Chicken (spicy 10, of course – it was about a 6.5), 2 bowls of rice, iced tea

PM Snack – MOMO at Café at Barnes & Noble in Squirrel Hill – venti skinny pumpkin spice latte (milk from breakfast), Pumpkin Spice Bundt Cake with a shot of espresso in the middle

Dinner – leftovers from the Silk Elephant (red curry chicken and rice)

Thoroughly enjoyed sleeping in a little (practicing for next week’s vacation). 5 mile run training after breakfast – at the track amid the snow flurries - 3.97 miles in 60 minutes (at DHs suggestion, counted laps too - 16 and about 3/8s in lane 1 so the pedometer is just a little off for running at the track). Got to try out the new bucket hat and fingerless gloves that transform into mittens. They both worked perfectly! You’ll probably see them in the picture from the 5k run on Turkey Day. Doing laundry (endlessly). DH and I ended up in Squirrel Hill for lunch because I had to take a pair of MBTs back to Little’s Shoe Store. Mmmmm, shoes.

I had them for two months on Friday and the sole of the left shoe was worn out in spots all the way down to the next inner layer. Not good especially since MBTs, along with the weight loss, are the main reasons I can walk so far every day and even run a couple of times a week. The pair I bought in March are just starting to show wear. Connie, the best sales lady at Little’s (her husband is DHs salesman there), handed me off to Gina, the manager. Gina helped me when I picked up the multiple pairs of MBTs back in September. She was surprised at the wear and gave me full credit for that pair toward a new pair. So, we ordered a new pair of the sport sneakers and I have a $15 credit (that I can't wait to spend when I go back to pick up the replacement pair of MBTs). They did exactly what they were supposed to do, as I knew they would. We shop at Little’s, which is way out of the way and way too expensive, for the very reason we went there today - THEY HAVE FABULOUS CUSTOMER SERVICE! I can’t wait to go back, without DH, and let Connie show me some new stuff for spring.

Steps at the time of this writing: 14812 (78 aerobic minutes; 6.07 miles)

Hope you all have a wonderful week!

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Snowy Run

Wednesday, October 31, 2007 23:06:11

OK, that's a bit dramatic. However, I've never run while it was snowing before today. Yes, that means it was a bit cold. It actually wasn't too bad after the first 2 laps as I warmed up a bit. Not a bad showing since I haven't run in 4 days. 3.97 miles in 60 minutes (3.02 at 45 min).

Last night, I downloaded a bunch of songs, from CDs, to my iPod. I really enjoyed using the shuffle feature so I wouldn't know what was coming up until the song started playing. I have some tweaking to do (a few songs were just way to slow for running).

Have a great Sunday!

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Christmas Shopping

Wednesday, October 31, 2007 23:05:21

One of Santa's elves (aka vmigirl) enjoyed Christmas shopping today for some Angel gifts. After tax class, I started at Joann's. They had an easel I wanted however it was $100 and on sale for $60. No offense to the kid, I only paid $112 for my easel and I'll take care of it. I can't imagine what a 7 year old kid would do to a good easel. Actually, I don't want to know what my 53 year old kid (DH) may do to our easel. So, found a kid easel at Big Lots and picked it up since they didn't have many. Also checked the easel out at Target. You can guess what happened - I came home with two easels and made DH pick one. Have to take the first easel back to Big Lots tomorrow because DH agreed with me (I know, I almost had a heart attack, too) that the one from Target was way cooler. Also at Target, picked up a bunch of art supplies - 2 drawing pads, colored pencils, a pencil sharpener, and a box (looks like a see through tackle box) of art supplies (chalk, markers, watercolors, crayons). Getting an easel without art supplies would be like getting a toy with no batteries. It would be a bummer.

Next on the Angel gift list was a manicure set for a 9 year old. Got that at Target too with nail polish remover and two colors of nail polish - nearly clear and light, frosted pink. I figured those colors should be safe with anyone's mom. Only one Angel gift to go - DH has to pick out some Matchbox and Hot Wheel cars tomorrow for a 4 year old. I'm hoping we can find some kind of cool storage box or some type of race set. I love Christmas shopping for kids!

Breakfast - Sunshine Sandwich, 1 slice fat free cheese, 1/2 c OJ with Perrier, 1 c skim milk

Lunch - MOMO at Houlihan's with everyone from tax class - bacon cheeseburger, fries, Diet Coke

Dinner - MOMO from Quiznos - black and bleu salad (a favorite of kimquilts55), 2 JC balsamic vinaigrette dressings, Perrier

PM and Late PM Snack - while watching the 3rd installment of Pirates of the Caribbean with DH - Jenny's Cheese Curls, 100 cal pack of Pecan Sandies, more leftover Halloween candy than I want to admit (however snack sized: 8 boxes of Milk Duds, 2 Three Muskateers, 3 Whoppers)

Due to my lack of willpower with the leftover Halloween candy (very unusual for me to eat that much chocolate), I've banished the remaining candy to the dungeon (aka DHs lair in the basement). I don't venture into his office very often (because it should be declared a disaster area) so I should be safe from the candy (or the candy should be safe from me, depending on your POV).

Took all vitamins and only drank 22 oz of water. BTW, forgot to buy flavored water when I was at the grocery store today. I'm claiming today as a rest day so no running. My right knee is fragile once again so it's getting 2 rest days between runs. Steps at the time of this writing: 6090 (0 aerobic minutes; 2.49 miles). Picked up a hat and a pair of gloves, at Target, to use for running. Should be able to test them tomorrow since it's supposed to be cold and I have to run tomorrow.

Joined the holiday challenge at the 100 pounds to lose support group. Gwynn arranged it so it should be fun. Feel free to join in so we can all be losers in time for New Years.

Have a wonderful Sunday. Go Steelers!

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Spicy 10

Wednesday, October 31, 2007 23:05:08

Yesterday (Friday), was probably the last nice weather we'll see for a while. It got up to 67, with blue skies, and the sun shining. I walked to downtown, for lunch, and thoroughly enjoyed being outside.

Breakfast - Silver Dollar Pancakes & Veggie Sausage, JC lite table syrup, 1/2 c OJ with Perrier, 1 c skim milk

Lunch - MOMO at Villa Reale - 1/2 steak and cheese hoagie, fries, Diet Coke

Dinner - MOMO at Zaika - mixed grill platter (lamb, chicken, shrimp), palek paneer, 1 piece of naan, 3 Coors Lights (BYOB), golub jamin; this was the first time that they actually got close to a spicy 10, they actually made it to about an 8 or 8.5

Took all vitamins. Drank 11 oz of water (I have no idea why I forgot to drink water all day - too much going on I guess). Walked to/from downtown at lunch. Steps: 9337 (55 aerobic minutes; 3.83 miles)

Looking forward to tax class - final review and group lunch. Have to do some grocery shopping, a little Christmas shopping (we chose 3 kids from the Angel Tree at work so we need to pick up an easel, a manicure set, and some Matchbox cars). Also looking forward to 5 mile run training today (since I blew it off yesterday to go out for Indian).

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

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Bumper Sticker of the Day

Wednesday, October 31, 2007 23:02:20

"Where in the hell are we going and why am I in this handbasket?"

Hope this made you laugh. I sure did when I read the bumper sticker (on a mini van) on the way home from work tonight.

DH and I skipped school (after we got there, we told the teacher we were bolting, got our assignment, and said good night). We're sooo bad!

Breakfast - Silver Dollar Pancakes & Veggie Syrup, JC lite table syrup, 1/2 c OJ with Perrier, 1 c skim milk

AM Snack - Cookies & Cream Anytime Bar

Lunch - MOMO from Heinz Lofts Cafe - chicken salad sandwich on marble rye with lettuce and onion, bag of chips, Diet Coke with Lime

PM and Late PM Snack - 2 bags Lays potato chips

Dinner - MOMO at Chick-Fil-A - Chick-Fil-A sandwich, fries, cole slaw, 3/4 strawberry shake

Took all vitamins and drank 80 oz water (no wonder with all the salt from 3 bags of chips). Walked to/from Subway (yes, I picked up a salad just didn't eat it). 5 mile run training (3.51 miles in 60 minutes). Steps at the time of this writing: 19902 (108 aerobic minutes; 8.16 miles).

Have a great Thursday!

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