Back At It!

For the last two days I have been stuck on the couch recovering from what I think is the flu.  So I've had a lot of time to think about my next challenge.  Having a goal helps me to stay focused and keeps my training interesting.  Next year I will have several races to prepare for, but they are months away and I want something to strive for today.

As many of you know in 2010 I was diagnosed as prediabetic.  My A1C was .1 away from the diabetic  level.  I worked really hard on my diet and my training and lowered my A1C without medication.  I still monitor my A1C and it's OK, but I think I can do better.  Why am I concerned about these numbers?  Most people think that if you train as hard as I do you don't have to worry about diabetes.  I have had so many people tell me, "I bet you can eat whatever you want!"  Ummmmm...no.  I have a family history of diabetes.  I do not want to go down that road.

Thus I come to my challenge (not sure why I used thus, but lets just go with it :)  Starting on Tuesday November twentieth I will be lowering my sugar intake...a lot.

Why not start tomorrow or better yet right now?  Because tomorrow I spend the entire day cooking and baking to prepare an awesome Thanksgiving meal for my kids and husband.  I'm giving myself tomorrow to just chilax and have fun with the fam (yes, I am cool enough to use words like chilax and fam).  But watch out Tuesday because I am coming!!!!

Why don't you join me on this exciting journey!  It won't be easy to change bad habits, but it will be rewarding.  I will do my best to keep you, my fellow work-out buddies, updated on my progress in the coming weeks and even share helpful advice.

Here's my first tip- just leave the table.  After eating your healthy lunch or dinner just get up and do something else.  If you sit there and think about what you want but can't have, you will set yourself up for failure.

We Couldn't Wait :)

With an empty Saturday staring us in the face (that NEVER happens) we decided to do something fun; we set up the Christmas tree and decorated the house!

Kids helping dad organize the tree parts.

My beauty putting ornaments on the tree.

 Yeah, he's 11 and sometimes gives mom these silly looks :)  Love this guy!

 How did these boys get so tall!!!!

 Stockings up and waiting for some loot!

We are peas in a pod.

 Asher concentrating on putting up the star (you can tell he's focusing, his tongue is out).

 The boys were excited to set up the train under the tree.

Love this little reader!

I love being a homeschool mom for so many reasons.  That is another long post, but I can say that teaching my kids to read is my favorite subject to master.  This ability to read and comprehend what they read will be so important their entire lives.  It will, in many ways, determine their success in education for years to come.  

Elliana brought a book she was reading to the dinner table :)

We love our big reading chair.  

New favorite running mantra...

After throwing out my back by sitting....I took a day of complete rest and was back to normal the following day :)

I started my Turbo Fire workouts and they are crazy!  I am mostly a long distance runner (with some swimming, biking, and weights thrown in for fun).  I don't jump high, kickbox, or move in quick movements.  Long distance running is all about pacing yourself and endurance.    I'm excited to be tackling something completely different from my "normal" training.  I won't be dropping my regular workouts, just adding this in as a little extra.  I'm thankful that at this point most of the workouts are 30 minutes or less.  I will have to get creative when they start getting longer.

After an injury it is advised that you only increase your running distance 10% each week.  Last week I hit 6.25 before my knee started acting up.  This week my goal was 7 miles.  Check it's done and my knee felt great the ENTIRE time!!!!  I have to add in that I did this run right AFTER completing a HIIT workout (only 15 minutes long)..my legs felt pretty heavy toward the end :)

So all is well in the land of Amy killing herself and loving every minute of it :)

Blah!

I am a leader at our local Awana program.  I enjoy spending time with the kids and helping them learn God's word.  Last night I was just sitting and for some reason my back gave out, at the beginning of the night!  I had to deal with 5 year olds while trying my best to not move back, pretty much impossible.

So I'm teaching from the couch today.   The pain isn't that bad, but I want a speedy recovery.  The more I rest the faster I will heal and can get back to the activities I love (like vacuuming, laundry, picking up the house....nah, I mean running, swimming, and my new work outs that I am dying to try called Turbofire- the box is just taunting me....)

Worms!

A friend of mine has put together an awesome worm unit; you can find it here.  She posted this hilarious worm song and I gotta pass it along.  I warn you it will get stuck in your head :)

:)

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My house if full of cuteness

Ballet and Potential Cavities!

Elliana has been attending Nutcracker practices every Saturday for the last month.  It's a special mommy-daughter time that we love.  I wanted a picture with the two of us, minus Corduroy.  You can tell by her facial expression that she didn't like that idea :)

 And she has Corduroy !!!  Just love this girls smile :)

The kids had a blast trick-or-treating (Princess-Kitty-Fairy, Harry Potter and The Edge).  We came home with 12 pounds of candy!

All of that candy will not be eaten right away.  I packaged most of it into freezer bags and stuck them in the big freezer.  On movie nights we can grab a bag and have fun snacks.