Guess what?  It’s SNOWING!!!

Right this minute, even as I type this update. Not enough to stick and pile up, but by golly, we’re getting snow.  The boys are positively giddy, convinced we’re getting a blizzard and there won’t be any school tomorrow.  It’s hard not to laugh at them.

Here’s the prescribed update for Week Six.

1. Item of clothing and a picture of me. Mir probably needs to smack me upside my head on this.  No progress on a new dress. Or even a used dress.

2. Weight This Week: 161.0. Waist 30″. Weight up a bit more, waist down. It’s freaky, but really?  I don’t give a fig. My clothes continue to get baggier – my new dress pants are a size 8, and I no longer wear a large. As a matter of fact, the mediums are no longer tight, either.

3. Goal Recap

Shed Five Pounds:  Today I’m doubting it will ever happen.  I’ll probably feel more optimistic tomorrow!

Do Five Pullups:  This week I worked a series of “Dropdowns” that made me really really sore, but I’ve been assured that eventually I’ll be able to crank out more than a single pullup. Yep.  I feel stronger already.

Firm Up the Arms:  Yes again. We worked double kettle bells on Thursday.  I did presses, cleans and snatches with 24 pound bells – one in each hand!!

4. Books

The End of Overeating by David Kessler.  Holy Cow, what an eye opener!  I’m in the middle of the information about restaurant chains and the descriptions of how their food is so processed and laden with fat, sugar and salt…I may never eat in a chain restaurant ever again!  It’s just as bad as fast food.

I continued to read along with Jenny at  A Minute Captured.  Reading my Bible is proceeding.

5. Catch up with the Challenge Buddy.  Hey Jo!!

7. Visit Other Challengers:  Yes!  I find that I’m better at catching up midweek, as Sunday evening is spent prepping the offspring for school on Monday.

8. I do hereby solemnly swear to NOT QUIT.  Amen.

Snow! Keep the Faith.

Mule Headed Crazy Stubborn. 

That’s me. At least, that’s what I want to think I am. Mr. Pea would agree, and I’m pretty sure my Mom would back him up.

I’ve had to have some serious self talking this week, reminding myself that it is persistence and not perfection that is going to get me to healthy.  Thank the Lord, because perfect I’m not!  Persistence I can handle.  Getting up every day, making wise food choices and choosing to move instead of sitting on my fanny at lunchtime I can do.  It’s days like today that I waver a bit.  The Pea family wanted tamales for dinner, with black beans, chips and salsa, to be enjoyed while watching the SuperBowl.  Chips? Definitely my Achilles Heel. Especially with my own homemade salsa. And a margarita. Oh yeah, I’m a huge fan of my own cooking.

Today was the Chainring Massacre, and The Architect did GREAT!!!  He finished in 3 hours and 21 minutes.  I was SO PROUD of him!  Doubly glad I decided not to race today, because after several weeks of warm weather, winter decided to return today. The wind was pretty brisk and terribly cold.  The Architect used my thermal gear to ride today, and was glad to have it. LOL..I’ve come pretty far insomuch that my teenage son can borrow my gear and it isn’t too terribly large on him.  Short, yes, but not really that big around. 🙂

Here’s the prescribed update for Week Five.

1. Item of clothing and a picture of me. Princess Pea just said “I’m working on it”.

2. Weight This Week: 160.0. Waist 31″.  Whoop it Up!  One Tenth of a Pound Loss!

3. Goal Recap

Shed Five Pounds:  It’s coming. Eventually.

Do Five Pullups:  Oooh…I couldn’t do my one this week.  May be due to the fact that I tried it after a majorly awesome kettlebell class where I did twelve bazillion sets of single presses, sweeps and snatches with the 18 pound bells. Yes.  That’s ARM and SHOULDER work, with EIGHTEEN POUND BELLS, one in each hand.  I was so proud of myself!

Firm Up the Arms:  See Above.

4. Books

I set aside Refuse to Regain this week and picked up End of Overeating by David Kessler. Talk about eye-opening.  I’ve only read through the first few chapters that explain the science and psychology behind our cravings, and the deep dark secrets of American Food manufacturers who are seriously out to get us addicted to fat, sugar and salt.   I didn’t get

I continued to read along with Jenny at  A Minute Captured.

5. Catch up with the Challenge Buddy.  Oh, I was a slacker this week.  Hey Jo!!  I promise to pop by this week and check up on you.

7. Visit Other Challengers:  I missed Sunday posts, but did manage to pop by the mid week posts.

8. I do hereby solemnly swear to NOT QUIT.  Amen.

Persistence, not Perfection. Keep the Faith.

It’s a woman’s prerogative, you know. 

Mr. Pea, The Architect and I went out today to check out the race route for next Sunday.  When I signed up for the race several weeks ago, I knew that the route was on back country roads; however, I was under the impression that the roads were at least paved.    Guess what?  Not only are they not paved, but they are also not compacted, as in a combination of muck and large gravel. Big rocks, not your typical worn gravel road gravel.  I managed to complete 15 miles today, but it took two hours. Two long, hard hours.  I seriously overestimated my abilities when I signed up for this one.  I came home, logged on to the race site and voluntarily relinquished my slot to someone on the waiting list.  The Architect?  He’s totally in. He finished about 23 miles today in the same two hours.  *sigh*  How cool it would be to have the muscles, stamina and confidence of a 15 year old boy!

So.  I’ll try another race on another day, hopefully a mountain bike race.

Here’s the prescribed update for Week Four.

1. Item of clothing and a picture of me. Princess Pea found a gorgeous sweater for me, but not a complete outfit yet.

2. Weight This Week: 160.1. Waist 31″. Up. Really?

3. Goal Recap

Shed Five Pounds:  It’s coming. Eventually.

Do Five Pullups:  Just one again this week.

Firm Up the Arms:  Yes again. Two hard core kettle bell sessions including single arm swings and lifting a 26 lb bell over my head.  Pushups?  150 for the week three sets of 50.

4. Books

Refuse to Regain.  I didn’t get any reading in this week.  Too busy helping DirtBike and Princess Pea with projects and homework.

I continued to read along with Jenny at  A Minute Captured.  Reading my Bible is proceeding.

5. Catch up with the Challenge Buddy.  Hey Jo!!

7. Visit Other Challengers:  Yes!  Everyone is hanging in there. Go us!

8. I do hereby solemnly swear to NOT QUIT.  Amen.

Stay Steady. Keep the Faith.