we brought the gym to Thai 9

I am so blessed to have some really great friends. I have Bible study friends, house church friends, neighbor friends and gym friends (and more that I’m forgetting to mention, I’m sure). Tonight, my gym friends and I went to Thai 9. (We probably should have apologized to all the other patrons for our raucous laughter, horrified gasps and random suggestive language…we can be quite a rowdy bunch!)

Here’s the lovely group of ladies, sans myself…I was taking the picture! (A sweet girl came over to take a group shot, but they did not turn out well at all. No, that isn’t code for I-looked-terrible-so-I-won’t-put-it-online, but I will say the way I was hunched over in the photo wasn’t exactly flattering.)

Here’s the group of lovely ladies who sweat it out just about every day here at the local L.A. Fitness:

Here are Nicole (L) and Kelly. Nicole is a homeschooling mom whose children range in age from pre-teen to college. She just ran her first marathon and is one of the most disciplined runners I’ve ever met. Kelly is a mother of two boys whose husband is about to return from a year-long deployment–woo hoo! She’s also incredibly dedicated to her gym routine and has a lost a whopping FIFTY-ONE pounds!

These ladies are two of the funniest around! Mia/Mimi (L) and Kathryn are both commanders’ wives, yet they know how to cut loose…pretty much whenever they want to! Mia is the kind of woman who says exactly what’s on her mind (which may elicit a gasp or two) without a second thought. I wish I could have just a tenth of her confidence. I’ve had such fun with these ladies. Kathryn was in Bible study with Susy and me this past year and started coming to the gym with Mia.

Kathy is also a marathon runner and mother to a daughter in elementary school. She enjoys aerobics and weights as well. Susy and I got to cheer for her in Cincinnati this May when she did the Flying Pig Half-Marathon and Nicole did the full (her first!).

And of course, my dear friend, Susy. She is my running inspiration, a phenomenal friend and an amazing Christian woman who I look up to so much. Knowing her has changed my life forever. I love you, Susy.

Oh, and if anyone is in Dayton with a mind to go to Thai 9, do yourself a favor and order the coconut ice cream with fried banana pieces and honey for dessert. It’s rich and sweet and light and exotic and fruity all at the same time. Other things not to miss: Chicken Spring Rolls with peanut sauce and the Tom Kha Kai soup. You won’t regret either of them!

ANOTHER list

Because I’m feeling especially honest…

-multiple cups of coffee (a.k.a. coffee creamer)

-a banana

-a yogurt

-a piece of toast with peanut butter and jelly

-more coffee and creamer

-grilled chicken salad with even MORE coffee with cream and sugar

-grapes and cherries

-the last of the raspberry yogurt-covered pretzels

-Pasquale’s Pizza and Wings (only 1 piece of pizza and 3 wings–victory!)

-TWO slices of angel food cake with Cool Whip icing

-half a slice of the now cold pizza (not so much victory anymore)

-TWO mini Cow Tail candies (I had a craving while we were at Tops)

-the last of a can of Sour Cream and Onion Pringles

-a couple slurps of Andrew’s Gatorade

…yeah, it was a “no self control” kinda day!

back on the band wagon

I gave up calorie-counting for Memorial Day weekend. It really just wasn’t going to be practical to be jumping on-and-off the computer all day with everything going on. Not to mention all the yummy goodies everywhere! Cinnamon rolls and mimosas at Heather’s promotion! Rita’s gelati TWICE! Birthday cake, outrageous brownies, lemon bars, mojitos, sangria…and that was just FRIDAY. Raspberry angel food cake with raspberry buttercream icing awaited me in Carmel.

I went into the weekend knowing I’d be faced with temptation at every turn. I did my best, most of the time, to make good choices yet still enjoy myself and the food. I am a foodie, after all.

Well, you win some, you lose some. According to the scale, I didn’t do too much damage, but I didn’t lose any, either. So, basically, I’ve been at the same weight for a couple weeks now, which is fine, don’t get me wrong. But I’m supposed to be LOSING two pounds a week… I’m fine until I think about how much I COULD have lost if I’d just been stricter. And then I remember how good the cake tasted.

Thankfully, all has returned to (relative) normalcy around here, so I’m back on the calorie-counting band wagon. Yippee! After four days off, I realized I actually feel better when I’m counting. Maybe it’s a control-thing, maybe it’s just my personality, maybe it’s because I’m typically eating healthier food, maybe it’s a combination of all three, but I really do enjoy it. I know it stresses a lot of people out. Or they think it’s too complicated or time-consuming. But I love it. I just wish I had an iPhone so I could do it when I’m on the go, too…

Between eating more produce and cleaning out my fridge, I’ve come up with some great meals since last night. Dinner last night was roasted broccoli and cauliflower (leftover from the party), hummus and tomatoes and fruit. Breakfast this morning was a banana, followed by a post-workout yogurt, mango and granola parfait. Here’s what I had tonight:

Roasted cauliflower (olive oil, cumin and paprika), a Wasa Fiber cracker spread with a Laughing Cow cheese wedge and four dried figs. Yum. I spooned up a mixture of mango and watermelon as well, but I may save that for dessert–I got full!

I really do feel better when I’m eating smaller meals (like 200 calories) every 2-3 hours. I’m a fan of cottage cheese with pineapple, or an apple and peanut butter or cheese and crackers.

Off to get some more exercise: disassembling Hadrian’s crate, lugging it upstairs and into the car, followed by a walk (for him) because the weather is so nice!