Debkakes’ blog

5 miles in 55 minutes and change! I didn't realize until mile 4 that it was important to me to come in under an hour. That I came in 5 minutes under an hour just blows my mind. I think a little more adrenaline was running just from having a number pinned to my shirt, actually. So now, I actually begin to understand runners' obsession with bettering their time. 

I gotz it. 

One of the by-products of Extreme Nest Building, for me, is the strong desire to bake. In the oven now, blueberry nut oat bran muffins. Friday was blackberry buckle.

And recently, since last year anyway, planting colorful perennials in containers on the back deck. It is quite lovely now, and I want to spend time out there. A few years ago, David's parents gave us a little fountain thingy, and it is bubbling away midst the pots. Yesterday I noticed some wrens drinking from it.

I'm enjoying these quiet, domestic days.

For some insane reason, I've started doing something I NEVER thought I'd enjoy: running (well, jogging, actually).

Sorry, that one's been done a million times and better ;-)

DebNarratingEac2009.03.21

Okay, so, I know that the two backpacks I'm taking to Malaysia are going to be all light and efficiently packed. That's a given, and a necessity.

Why are my lists so long?( I think they are mostly comprised of light and/or small-sized items.)

Why have I spent so much money? And must spend more because:

Why oh why don't my hiking boots feel okay on my feet any longer? Maybe they never really were the best fit, but they are one of two (yes, that's right, TWO) footwear choices for the trip, the other being sandals. They have been fine tromping through the woods with medium thickness Smartwools. Now, with lighter weight sox, the bendy part at the toebed is hitting my big toe in the wrong place. Grrr. Must buy new boots TONIGHT for proper breaking in.

(Good gear and high-tech clothing costs more money, even on sale.Would have liked it if the $79 TravelSmith dress had been on sale, but really, it IS perfect!)

I am not really complaining. Just observing. I always pack every damn thing when traveling, so this is an interesting exercise.

I totally answered my own question.

Mostly been Twittering! As you all know.

But here, I shall expand on my personal challenge: Before I leave for SE Asia, I really  want to get down from my current plateau of 168 lbs to 160 lbs. I had originally hoped to hit my goal of 155, but that will be impossible. 8 lbs I think I can do in 5 weeks.

It's going to be hard. On top of losing weight, I need to be exercising relatively hard about 4X/wk. We may or may not climb to the top of Mt. Kinabalu in Borneo (I hear if you don't reserve 4 months in advance you are SOOL) -- but we will climb at least a portion of it. Plus, traveling for two weeks with a backpack will require some degree of strength/fortitude more than what I possess at this time. So, working out more can interrupt weight loss momentum due to muscle gain.

It is more important to be strong than it is weigh 160 lbs, so I can let that go, as long as the reason I am NOT 160 lbs on February 12 is because I have been exercising more.

This time without David has been hard in a way -- I really do rely on him more than I like to admit for certain types of motivation. I AM having fun, and doing lots of fun stuff with friends. But I have not been eating as well as I do when he's around, nor exercising as much. I also have fallen down (but not out) on a project I hoped to get a good start on, redecorating our big Pink Bathroom. I will cop to indulging my TV-watching desires, a little to excess this past month. Like a deprived kid in a candy-store. Bones, Lost, and Battlestar Gallactica my sweets of choice. Tastes great less filling!

Now, it looks like three of the weekends I was going to spend on the bathroom are getting co-opted by Funner Things (Gorey Ball on 1/24, Tahoe weekend 1/30, sister visiting 2/7). I don't feel badly about this. David will be the first to testify that just getting a project started is a good thing. It will eventually be finished.

In the meantime, my glass-making inspiration has dried up. I need a serious kick in the ass on that score, and it involves overhauling the lab where my studio is. Sigh.

I guess what all this points to is, my energy has flagged and I need it back. And that can occur if I see out my goals of eating well and exercising.

Onward!

One weekend of dining out, snacking and drinking.

I weighted 164.4 lbs this morning.
By noontime, Weight Watchers meeting-time, 167. It's only .4 lbs up from last week, but still:
ARGHHHHHH!
Guess I shouldna had that oatmeal for b'fast ;-)

ALSO: Why am always ravenous after finding out I've gained weight???

I'm hooked on "Bones"! Besides having my big crush David Boreanz, the story lines are really good, it's an excellent ensemble cast, and there are corpses and stuff. 

I've been losing weight in dribs and drabs, at least my "official" weigh-in weights.

Down another .4 lbs today, and I'm finally at 13 lbs. lost in 17 weeks. Hopefully, this slow, steady pace means I'm finally learning how to do it, and it'll stay gone this time.

My new goal is to get down to my goal weight of 155 lbs by Jan. 4. That's probably a little ambitious, what with holidays coming up, and David going to Malaysia during the toughest (read: hungriest, least active) weeks of winter. I've got to find some good "tools" for that time -- engaging my local friends in activities, inviting the housies up for healthy dinners, making sure I ride my bike even when the weather is a little yucky (a lot yucky, like last Saturday, I give myself a pass). It may be easier than I think at this point. But if it's not, I won't be too upset.

I've found that the last 10 lbs, from 165 to 155, are the very hardest for me. I've somehow convinced myself that I'm a 160-lb girl and that's that. Gotta slap my face and move past that this time.