Weekly Non Scale VIctories

Another week has come and gone already! Time continues to fly as I head into the last weeks of school! It is crazy to think that in just 1 short week, my kiddos will be moving on to 5th grade... I want to retain them all so I can keep them for another year :(

This week I can't help but think that I dropped the ball with anything weight loss related. I attended a funeral on Saturday and are a A TON!

When I got home. I was down 2.5 pounds.

Don't get too excited.... Instead of eating like I've been eating for the past 2 months, I continues to stuff my face with more food. EW! 

So now I'm up this week but got back on to good eating yesterday. (So we can say it took me about a week to finally accomplish an NSV).

Yesterday I also finally got back outside and started running again and it felt great! I ran about 3 miles and my body felt better this week than it ever has... It's amazing what rest can do for you! 

How do you know when it is time to rest?   

What are your  NSVs for the week?

Be sure to stop by Katie's blog, ktjweighingin.com and link up!

Madalyn

Spring 5K Challenge Update

Good Morning!

There isn't much to celebrate this week for me. As far as running goes, I am continually running at least a 5K when I run, which is great. I am really working on trying to get my mile times down, while not feeling like I am going to die... When I feel like that, then I tend to slow down to a really slow sloth pace, or I STOP running all together. 

If anyone has any ideas on how to make the mile faster, let me know. I am currently down to about a 9 minute mile pace, but want to get to about an 8:30. I KNOW it's mostly all mental, but I can't help but feel like I'm not capable of doing it. (I know it's not true - I know I could probably crank out an 8:30 pace for at least a mile, but my brain holds me back!)

The Lord greatly blessed me when I started this journey just three short months ago, and landed me an experienced running buddy. R, has been such a great help to get me back into running shape. She has consistently waited and encouraged me through the tough parts, and celebrated with me through the good. I am sooo thankful for her - and to make this story even more mushy, she is the girl I met on Valentines Day, when my husband kicked me out of the house when he was preparing our dinner. 

It has been stinky here for the past couple of days because R is on a work trip for over a week! Ugh! I feel like a total bum! But because she is gone, it has been a great way to show myself that all the hard work that I've been training for, I am able to do on my own! I ran 4 miles on Friday by myself and was SO proud!

R has also inspired me to help thers. I am officially helping another neighbor get into shape... I always loved that movie Pay it Forward. Now, I understand that whenever someone does something for me that touches my heart, that I too, need to so something for someone else to help them out too. 

I guess all of my ramblings today come down to the following:

1. I miss my running buddy

2. I want to run a 8:30 mile pace for an entire 5K

3. If someone helps you out, pay it forward to someone else

Have you ever paid something forward to someone else?

How is your 5K training going?

Madalyn

 

Weekend Recap

Good Afternoon fabulous friends!

I have been super busy this weekend with some great, and some not-so-great events. 

The first great thing that happened this weekend was being able to stay in Friday with the hubs and cooking a wonderful meal together. 

For the past couple of weeks, we have been searching for a new cutting board and knives... These are the knives and cutting boards that we found and Williams Sonoma. The cutting board was originally $250 but we got it on final clearance for $35! SCORE! I was so pumped.

The knives set was definitely difficult to finalize. We knew that we liked the German knives there, but had to figure out how much we wanted to put into out knife set. We finally decided to purchase the middle of the road knife set which included about 6 pieces.

For dinner we made, Seafood Alfredo and Peppercorn Seasoned Filet Mignon. It was delish. I was practicing my photography skills (yeah right!! I have none!) and pretended like I was an amazing culinary photographer.

I like this one the most!

I had to go home on Saturday for a funeral to celebrate the life of my aunt's mother-in-law. While the relationship sounds distant, she was like a grandmother to me. I was excited, but the car ride was painful, especially with all of the delays from a truck blowing up earlier this week.

I also had the opportunity to raid my mothers closet. The top is from my friend Mr. Calvin Klein and the navy blue crop pants are from my favorite store, The Gap. :)

(apologies for the bathroom picture and all of the bathroom related visible items!)

Lastly, Josh made some delicious Mulligatawny Soup and put it over some rice and added some Naan to the bowl. It was amazing!

I was tooooooo full to eat the strawberry shortcake, so I passed! Go me!

Tonight, we are headed to my husbands favorite place on earth, an english pub, to celebrate Mother's Day with his mom and sister!

What were you up to this weekend?

Madalyn

P.S. I am linking-up with Sami from Sami's Shenanigan's today for her weekly "Weekend Shenanigans". Be sure to stop by her blog and leave some love!!

Runner's Block

Have you ever felt like not running somedays and then regretted it the next morning?

Oh, you have? So I'm not the only one?

OK. Great!

Recently, I feel like I have hit a runners block. My milage is nowhere where it was in April. Even though my mile times have dropped dramatically, my milage is down. Which to me, feels like I am burning less calories because I am not taking the time to run for longer periods.

So, instead of having writers block, which I have had for the past three weeks, I think I have ran into another block... Runner's Block.

So after looking at my graphs, I know that I'm not anywhere near the 35 mile mark and don't know if Ill get there by the middle of May (which is Wednesday).

To continue the complaining, my runnin buddy is out of town for the weekend which means that I might have to run by myself tomorrow morning...

That makes me nervous!

If anyone has any tips or ways to overdone runners block, I'd love some suggestions! 

I'm hoping my runs will get longer and my times, shorter.

This weekend I hope to get a six mile run in with a slower pace so I can run the entire time. In other facets I my life, I have a funeral to attend and some healthy meal prep to take care of before Monday rolls around. 

Only 10 more school days until the year is over!

What are your plans for the weekend?

Madalyn

P.S. I ran my fastest mile this week! 

NSV's #18

 

Good Afternoon!

 

I promise you that I will become less flaky in June, after school is completed. I cannot believe it; only 11 more school days left for us. my first official year teaching over, George's 1st birthday, 15 pounds lost since I started this jouney in February, and almost 6 months of marriage. And of course, Mothers Day (Love you, Mom!). All this month. What a crazy month!

 

I cannot believe it is already Thursday! I was giving the kids their homework assignments, when I realized that the end of the week was drawing near. I don't know about your neck of the woods, but the weather has been pretty unpredictable around here... I would even consider it to be "flaky" if I had to personify it...

 

A little corny?

 

 I thought so too..

 

Just shedding a little light on my day job as a teacher. Nothing is too corny in 4th grade. Unless of course, you teach it!

 

Today I am linking up with Katie from ktjweighingin.com.

 

When I went over to her blog today, I was amazed. The 18th week of NSVs! And then I continue reading other bloggers linked-up posts and am amazed by all of the accomplishments: like less junk, and more moving! Or something so simple as making time for myself every day. I am just so in love with this linkup and if you have been a regular follower, you'll see that I haven't missed one NSV linkup since I started blogging.

 

This week I have a simple NSV question to ask you...

 

"Where are you?"

 

Did you know that this is the first question God asks in the Bible. It's found in Genesis Chapter 3.

 

Where. are. you.

 

I listened to a sermon today about this and not only does it connect with my spiritual life, but also my weight-loss journey. Where I am today is leaps and bounds from where I was just three short months ago.

 

I was:

 

Depressed, moody, 15 pounds heavier, the girl that could eat two dinners, no portion control, couldn't even run for a mile, sad, down, lost, uncomfortable trying on clothes, felt like I couldn't help myself... and there are so many more I was statements I could make.

 

Where am I?

 

I AM:

 

Running over 30 minutes (sometimes 1 hour and 30 minutes) at a time, eating a rainbow of foods, not living for food but using food for fuel. I am feeling more attractive to my husband, proud of my accomplishments, and thirsty for the challenges that the Lord presents me with day to day.

 

What I realize is that it's all connected. My body. My mind. and My soul. I have to know where I am so that I can figure out what to do next, or how to challenge myself to do things I never thought possible. At this moment in time, even though I have some pretty hearty goals, I am happy and KNOW where I am.

 

I ask you this simple question, because you HAVE to know where YOU are now to see where YOU'LL go in the future.

 

So, where are you?

 

Madalyn

 

Where in the World am I?

Yeah, I've been wondering the same thing too!

It seems that every year teachers hit this point where they literally have so much to do for the end of the year that taking care of themselves diminishes! The part of me that has diminished is my Internet time!

There ain't no time to blog! (Or so it seems.)

I will say though that in my lack of blogging, I have been running a lot more? Even voluntarily running up hills? As a matter of fact, I am sprinting up hills...

Quite a change from a couple months ago!

But that's exactly what is to be expected. When you make a change and stick with it, something is guaranteed to happen.

I can tell you that the changes I've made over the past three months determined my successes and my failures through this journey.

For instance:

I no longer want to eat "that" food, or I exercise at least 4-5 days per week.

I sleep better, eat better, and drink more.

I don't watch more than an hour of tv per day because who has time for that junk anyway?

I play outside with my dog more often

I eat the occasional scoop of ice cream. (Yes you can do this and still lose weight!)

I tell myself "you're beautiful" each morning in the mirror, even if I don't like what I see. 'Cause I don't know if you know, but I am a beaut! :)

All of these changes has made me who I am today from 66 days ago. 66 was that magic number I told you about before. That is how many days it takes to make healthy habit stick ( only 45 more trips to Starbucks and ill be their Iced coffee venti girl for life!) but it takes 31 days to break it!

You have to decide:

IS IT REALLY WORTH IT?!?!

because your outcome is up to you!

What changes can you make in your like to help you become the best you that ever existed? Is it physical? Mental? Emotional?

I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Also, I am linking up with Katie from ktjweighingin.com for her weekly dose of nonscale victories! I apologize, Katie, for not getting your button on here yet as I am posing from my phone! Forgive me!


Madalyn

Spring 5K Challenge!

Pretty amazing stuff happening all through blogland. I have been reading and catching up with everyone's blogs that either leave me comments or that I follow and there is a lot of pounds being shed and miles ran!

I am always amazed at how wonderful this community is and how wonderful blogger friendship can be made just by posting something sweet in your post or in a comment!

I digress...

Anyway, I am linking up again with Katie for her Spring Training 5K challenge! I am so thankful that I found her blog. She has totally inspired me to run again through this linkup and cannot thank her enough for that extra push each week to show results, (Even though, some of the weeks are pretty disappointing.)

But not this week!

This week I broke my 5K record! 

Newest 5K PR 

Previous 5K PR

When I finished my 8 mile run, the running app told me that I had broken my PR and I was thoroughly impressed! Throughout that entire run, I just wanted to knock off 10 seconds. As you can see, I knocked off about 1 minute! I am hopeful that by June 1st I can run my 5k in 29 minutes. 

Today, my inner fat girl, Regina, didn't want to get out of bed. 

Sidenote: I came up with the name Regina from watching Once Upon a Time, on TV. She's the evil queen.)  

Once I convinced her to wake up and get out of bed, she continued to want to WALK the entire RUN this morning. I'm sorry, but WALKING is NOT RUNNING. So where you see the red, Regina won the battle. 

Have you exercised this week?

Madalyn

Recap of The Weekend!

Good Afternoon!

I hope your weekend went well... Below is a recap of the adventures that took place at our home this weekend. I have to brag already and say that I did complete a pretty incredible run this weekend! :)

For readers who follow along daily, this is where our raised garden bed is going... Along side of the garage. It's a work in progress..

George LOVES helping us with construction. I am pretty sure he paced through that trench all day Saturday trying to figure out what was going on. 

This is what the wall WILL look like when we get enough stone to make the wall. We were given half as many small stones as big, so it was difficult to construct and we had to stop. We need more little stones. 

Okay, so this was the most exciting part of my weekend. The 8 mile run. As you recall from last week, I ran 10 miles with my running buddy. This week, I wasn't feeling as adventurous. I ate pretty terribly and my body was feeling like trash, so I decided to work on the pace, more than the distance. So with walking involved (you can see the red stopping points) we ran 8 miles at a 10:30 second pace! Proud running moment here!

Just when I thought I was done moving that day, our neighbor asked if I would walk with her and her baby... 

Makes me want to have my own. 

But we went another 2 miles which made my 10 mile mark for the day.

This is the most recent addition to our flower arrangement on our front patio. The hibiscus plant. This is one of J's favorite flowers out there... Got to love the Caribbean!

Sunday we went to church with J's grandparents who are in their early 90's. It is utterly amazing to me how mobile they still are. We even went to brunch at one of our favorite restaurants close to church. For the first time ever, I gave up eggs and toast for a salad. I know, I was shocked too!

After, I had a couple of students over and another teacher to make Whooooopie pies!

Another busy weekend for the books!

How was your weekend??

Madalyn

The Life of George

Good Morning Lovelies!

What a day to refresh from the work week, if you live in Pennsylvania, that is. Here is a photo shoot, courtesy of J, of what HEALTHY George has been up to this week!

Updates of the garden we are building to come early next week. Yes, I said it, we are making a garden this year so I can fill my belly with healthy veggies all summer long!

What are you up to this weekend?

Madalyn

Non Scale Victories #???

Oh blogging world, it has been a busy week!

I have been a bit MIA for the sheer fact that I am human, and have not had time to write. Please forgive me!

This week has been full of NSV's. I have to tell you that losing weight is becoming easier and easier because of the healthy lifestyle choices that I have been changing day to day. They are small, but they add up quickly!

1. I went on my longest run since 2010. Although I would really like to break this record during the weekend, I know that my body isn't ready. It's likely though that R and I will run about 8-10 miles this weekend. Also, if you're feeling like 8-10 miles is something far off from what you could do, I just started the Couch to 5k training 8 weeks ago and I am already up to 10 miles without stopping! Don't feel discouraged! 

2. I have made healthy choices when eating out. J and I love to go out to dinner about twice a week. With that comes a lot of calories and temptations. I have learned to view the menu beforehand if we've never been to the establishment, and to order the lowest calorie food possible... For instance, instead of ordering fried chicken wings, I order the grilled chicken sandwich. Less fat and less calories. 

3. I have been continuously drinking at least 100oz of water per day. I have noticed a HUGE change in my appetite because of this! I am hungry less and have learned to say no to tempting foods because I'm not as hungry anymore. 

4. I have ran over 55 miles this month. Enough Said. 

What are your NSVS?

What are you doing this weekend?

Be sure to linkup with Katie and Lex!

Madalyn

Happy With Where I am Going

Good Morning World!

As I sit here and blog this morning with my cup of tea, I am reminded of how great God is and how beautiful he make our world! I am also reminded of the warmth that spring is SOON to bring and the comfort I feel in my heart (my throat and nose feel differently) when leaves become green again and flowers start to bloom!

I have really been feeling the love recently from my readers! Thank you so much for your support, comments, and emails that you've sent. Please continue to love on not only myself, but others as well. 

In the past couple of days, I have been reminded of the love that my friends here have been sending my way and the love my friends have to run with me each and every day! I can say that I am so excited to share my NSV's tomorrow. There are some exciting adjustments in my journey that I cannot wait to share about tomorrow. 

But for today, I am just so please with where I am going in life. I finally have the feeling of being settled. If you are new here, or haven't read some of my posts about the past year I will quickly fill you in....

In the past year I have successfully obtained my BA in Elementary Education with a grueling year-long student teaching internship that required tons of my time and almost all of my energy, I got engaged to the most incredible man on earth, planned and got married in November, accepted a teaching job somewhat close to where we live, moved in with my husband, and began applying for my masters degree. 

A whole lot of transitions and changes. But I am so thankful for my readers support, my family and my husbands support through it all. I always am so happy to open my computer and see whatever picture of J and I plastered on my home screen. 

Sorry for the photo dump. Just thought I would share some of the pictures I get to see each morning when I wake up and check my emails.

Anyway, I have to say that each morning that passes, I am even more happy because of the man that I am married to. The man that encourages me when I need it most, helps me when I am down, and continues to inspire me on a daily basis. (I love you! :) )

I am also happy because every time I look at this pictures, I already see what an improvement I have made with my body and my healthy lifestyle.

I can't wait to try on my wedding dress in November and see the changes I've made! I especially cannot wait for my husband to see all the changes I have made.

It's so funny how quickly life moves and how rapidly things change. I used to think that it was easier to just lay on the couch and vegetate or to eat whatever I wanted. But desperately, inside, I was so unhappy. I must say that even now, as I am making these changes, I can already feel my confidence growing, and I am finally happy with where I am going. No one can change that for me. I made those choices to get where I was, and I am fighting and making choices to come back from where I was.

Are you happy with where you're going?

Madalyn

My Longest Run Since 2010

Yep! You read it right! I wet on my longest run yesterday to date!

I got up yesterday thinking that I would run about 6 miles, one mile further from last Saturday.

With that goal in mind, R, my running busy and I drove to our running trail and started out on my longest run ever.

If you have trail ran before, you know that the distance you run in, you must also run back out. With that being said, we set off to run 3 miles down and back.

Well...

We started talking and I mentioned how great it would be to run 10 miles today. (Yeah right! As if I could do that! I knew she could, but me... Ha!) she thought that was doable.

I chuckled.

Yeah, right!

When we reached the 3 mile mark, R asked me if I wanted to turn around or continue running.

I wanted to keep going.

We got to 3.25 and she asked again.

I wanted to keep going.

We got to 3.5 and she asked again.

I wanted to keep going.

We got to 4 and she asked again.

I wanted to keep going. However, B reminded me that we had to make it back out and that we needed to stop and get some water.

At this point I was feeling great! Unstoppable! Invincible!

On our way back, I joked saying that we should just go the entire 13.1 and be done with it.

She laughed.

We kept running.

We made it ALL THE WAY BACK!

8 miles.

We hydrated and then I opened my mouth again...

"R, lets do 2 more!"

So we did.

Our total mileage was a little over 10.1 miles.

Ill say it again.

Our total mileage was TEN POINT ONE MILES.

For all of you who are just starting the C25K or are considering it, do it! This is my 8th week of training, and I hit a 15k over the weekend! Those of you who are in the middle of the training, keep going! It gets sooo much easier!

Thank you to all who have been so supportive toward my training an process. Without readers like you, I wouldn't be as motivated to do the things I am doing! Thank you for your encouraging words and your ideas and advice!

My God bless you all this nice (at least in PA) Sunday! Get out and move! George and I have a walking date today. He is finally feeling better! Thanks for you kind comments and emails for him too. He's finally eating again! :)

Madalyn

Non Scale Victories: April 18, 2013

This would have to be one of my favorite posts I post each week. Coming together and sharing our victories OFF the scale (even though mine were pretty sweet last week - just sayin') and reaching out and encouraging others makes my heart warm.

This week was exceptionally great because of the weather that is starting to form around my area.  Truth be told that I would LOVE for the 70's to stick around longer, but I am pleased that it is no longer freeeeezing outside.

This leads me to my first NSV: Counting Saturday, my milage ran this week is 21 miles and I still have 2 days to go! This Saturday, I am going to run with my running buddy 6-8 miles on a trail that follows creeks and farms. My muscles are already relaxing as I think about it.

My second NSV is that I have drank 100 ounces of water each day this week and feel great! I am eating less, and craving less. On Sunday I went to a all you can eat benefit lunch for the food bank in our county and had some issues Monday trying to get back on track, but I got there!

My third NSV is that I finally have the energy to continuously do yardwork. Last year it seemed difficult to get moving, and now, after scooping 3 yards of mulch all over my yard, (yes I realize we got a head start this year) I feel great!

I am sad and nervous today because Gerogie is sickkkk like a dog! Ugh, I feel terrible. I found him this morning, sleeping on our spare bedroom comforter. Look at how sad he looks:

What are your NSV's for the week?

I'd love to hear what they are!

Madalyn

Pinterest Wednesdays: April 17, 2013

Good Afternoon! I meant to post earlier but it just didn't work out that way. Anyway, I am linking up with the Vintage Apple today! Head on over there and visit some other blogs with amazingly CUTE pins!

Recipe

Link

I had to add this into the mix. :)

Also, I have been staring at these donuts all day! 

The kids had a fundraiser this past week selling donuts and coffee so today is delivery day. Lucky for my students, a parent purchased a round of dough for them, and I was included in the count too. 

But... 

I. Said. No. (Thankyou)

What a great feeling to have to say no to something that I have been smelling all day. Did I go to the office and grab a few pretzels to help make the trusty decision? Yes. And I am glad to have consumed pretzels instead of dough. I am so relieved. 

What have you been pinning recently??

You can follow me on Pinterest by clicking here!

Madalyn