Beautiful Day for ...."Running?!?!?!"

65 degrees in February...can't turn down a day like this to try the whole running thing after a 10 month pregnancy hiatus due to doctors orders...

Running after pregnancy - OH MY

and

With Baby - TOO FUN

and 

With Dog - TOO MUCH!!!

This was quite an experience.  First off running, well as you can imagine running after almost a year of not running is not easy ..at all.  Then tack on 20 pounds still sticking around from pregnancy (that's in addition to the other 20 extra pounds I had on before I got preggo), this was not pretty.  My legs felt like tree stumps, a deflated belly bump is not cool- kinda lump whump whump whump with every step- gross, and boobies 3 sizes bigger than usual - ouch!

Then you add a baby, of course- because I won't do anything without him..he was easy.  Ryan slept the entire time and OMG I love love love my BOB!!!  The BOB doesn't really even require any pushing, it just kinda glides and you just have to steer - easy peasy!

Then you add a not so well trained but super sweet heart dog.  Rocco was my old running partner and I always feel super guilty leaving the dogs at home when I do something outside, got over it with Callie as I am sure she would rather lay on the couch then go running but Rocco was waiting for me at the garage door.  Okay fine Rocco you can come, leashed him up, and off we went.  I was yelling "Rocco Rocco Rocco" the whole time, he looked so sad when I got mad at him, and hey it's not his fault he doesn't know how to walk with a stroller but that was super duper frustrating.  He kept cutting me off, so I ran into him with the stroller once to try and teach him a lesson, didn't work...

Mission: Get in Shape!!!  You know for my first time out, we went 3 miles I would say I jogged/trotted about a mile of that, of course not all at the same time, but more than I thought I would be able to do.  My goal is at least 2 miles 5/7 days a week for the next 6 weeks, hopefully it stays nice out because I am not a huge fan of taking this bod to the gym!

Lessons Learned for next time: Locate my IPod charger and charge it, two sports bras, one extremely tight tank top to hold in that gross belly, then a looser shirt on top to cover it all up, anddddd leaving the dog at home (although prob not).  And most of all, I got to keep it up to get rid of this left over preggo-ness.  Not being preggo (looking back I really loved being preggo and kinda miss it) but still looking it, is not cool.

What a beautiful day to be outside, nothing beats some sunshine and fresh air!!!

Happy New Years Eve!!!

2010 was a good year, I have a feeling 2011 is going to be even better...But you have to have goals, so here are the top 10!!!

Let's face it setting every day goals for an entire year and sticking to it is virtually impossible.  I was reading a fellow bloggers blog recently and noticed that she sets them a month at a time, making them that much more reachable and measurable more often!!  Everything is easier if you just have to do it for 30 days right???  I have 10 categories and will have a goal in each every month, here goes January...

1.LIFE:  For my safety and YOURS- absolutely no more, texting, reading texts/emails/gchats etc while behind the wheel of a car, YES that includes even at a stop light.  Therefore, if we are in the middle of a conversation and I disappear into thin air, you now know why!!

2. HEALTH: 2011 is the year of my 30th birthday, not 21st...this January good bye vino...well not totally because that would just be crazy, BUT I am now limiting myself to 3 (3oz) glasses PER week....

3. EXERCISE: Come spring time I want to be ready to get my run back on, therefore I am not going to put a number of times to the gym because my schedule is absolutely insane...goal: 10 miles on the treadmill per week!

4. MONEY:January is going to be the month of no, I repeast absolutely NO extra spending!!  After a Christmas like we just had, what else could we possibly need!!  Gas and Groceries it is, plus we get 5% cash back through Chase in Jan on those items!  

5. HABITS: No more nicotine, while I have quit smoking, I am talking Donezo this January.  No more drags, no more "only because I'm drinking," no more it's the 3rd Friday of the month, no no no bad Brooke!!

6. DIET: Starting the month off with the Cabbage soup/GM diet...this is just for a week to get the boost I need, then it's back to Weight Watchers, only now STRICT!!!  Goal: 7 pounds lighter January 31st.

7. MARRIAGE: I am going to be the absolutely best wife to Eric, and plan 3 surprises this month!  Since January is also no spending, light drinking month, I think Friday nights= date night IN!

8.WORK: I am going to work hard everyday, and my goal is going to be to learn at least 1 new thing EACH week of the month to expand my skill set. 

9. Other Important Relationships: Visit Gma and Papa Parker twice in the month of January.

10. FUTURE PLANNING: put money into savings!!!

power balance

Like most of you when I first saw my friend wearing her power balance band I made fun of her and said yeahhhhhhh like that rubber bracelet is going to make you "balanced" and thus a better athlete???

Well I kid you not, Eric and I both ordered them a few days later and haven't taken them off, it's been about a week. While we aren't finishing a marathon in 10 minutes, I am able to run a lot longer without stopping and Eric proclaims golf was much more natural and "balanced." Plus it's a great topic of conversation and humor with the occasional power wrist dap.

While yes some people say this is a total scam, some athletes absolutely swear by these things...so hey even if it's in my head it seems to have my life on the whole much more "balanced."

And look at this they come in a ton of colors, great with any outfit for the sporty look :)

very first 5k

Well I did it :) I have signed up for my very first 5k for Thanksgiving morning (8:00 am eeeek), figured that made sense as I would just be stuffing my face the rest of the day!! The race also falls the morning after the Biggest Loser competition is over at my office, giving me 6 weeks to prepare. If you are around for Thanksgiving, join us (Whit and I), 3 miles can't be too hard, it's right in Centreville and for a great cause, and only $25- if nothing else you will get a super cute t-shirt with the design below on it!!

All proceeds go to Life with Cancer®

plain and simple

Myself and the majority of my family has struggled with our weight for most of our lives. Maybe because we played at least one sport a day/7 days a week for 18+ years and ate whatever we wanted or at least whatever we could squeeze in on the way from school/practice/friends houses to more practices. Well now it has caught up with me, sitting at a desk all day doesn't allow me to live the same type of active lifestyle. I was able to lose some weight before the wedding but that didn't even get me to where I want/need to be and have since gained that all back plus a few extra married lbs. Motivation is what's hard for me as it always seems like there is something better (more fun) to do. Well I think I have finally reached my breaking point, I am back on weight watchers recording everything I eat/drink (including yummy vino), I started the Biggest Loser competition at work because let's face it- I am super competitive and winning and being held accountable is a source of motivation for me, and I have hit the pavement 4 times a week for the last 2 weeks with my buddy Rocco for 3 miles each time on days I don't have soccer or tennis!! Running sucks, I hate it, although it does seem to be getting easier each time. Still not sure I will catch that running itch it seems the rest of the world has, but 12 miles a week from me and the Rock plain and simply will get us to where we need to be before I break out the jeans!!