With my kidney disorder, I’m supposed to limit salt. Anything I want/crave is salty; even a lot of so-called healthy stuff has too much sodium for me. I have to avoid a lot of processed stuff. To boot, I don’t like sweets. No, really. I don’t. So even the protein bars/etc that are supposedly good for you and may contain less salt that other things simply don’t appeal to me. I love fruit and veggies, but they all taste horrible right now. Minus oranges and grapefruit. So maybe I’ll just stick with those right now.

Snacks make me nervous and stressed out. So I just don’t snack. Which makes me eat too much at meals. Sigh.

Anyway, I wanted to tell you a few things as I purposefully missed last week’s Eat Live Be. (Apologies to other participants.) I needed a week off from talking about all things healthy. Why? I just needed to be doing all things healthy. I really stepped up my workouts last week and logged a total of 25 miles (see me at Daily Mile). I am now into week 3 of my second year of Couch 2 5K. I had to restart this year as I had an injury late last year that ruined all of my training. I’m doing well; my ankle hates the treadmill but I’m working on it.

And tonight I start a new session of classes at the YMCA. I’m not just doing one yoga class per week now. Tonight is Zumba (what? oh no!) followed by Power Yoga. That’s right, two hours in a row. Wednesday will be Hip Hop Cardio (no video, kthx) followed by Yoga. That’s right, two hours in a row. I think I might be slightly insane, but it’s okay. I’ll be keeping up my running and elliptical as well. Thursday will remain my definite day off from the gym with options to go on Sunday if I feel so inclined. Or not if I don’t.

I feel great as of late. Physically. I have more energy. I’m sleeping better. My pants fit! I’m not seeing a huge difference on the scale, but my face lost its post-holidays puff. I know you know what I mean. I am super proud of myself — not for the weight loss aspect but for a photo I shared last week. I pulled the wagon with both boys — both of whom have gained weight — and I was not winded. I was not sore the next day. In fact, I felt amazing afterward. I am getting back to the healthiest version of me.

And it feels great.

Now if only I could figure out my snack issues. Hmm. What do you snack on that is low-or-no sodium?

Don’t forget to visit the Eat Live Be Facebook page and check out the other participants. I’ll be scouring their posts for healthy, sodium-free or sodium-lite snack ideas today!

Sarah at Cucina Bella | Cate at Sweetnicks | Maris at In Good Taste | Chris at Mele Cotte | Faith at Bon Appetit | Kristen at Dine and Dish | Joanne at Eats Well With Others | Casey at The Starnes Family | Patsy at Friends, Family and Food | Claire at Cooking is Medicine | Allison at Sweet Flours| Jen at NJ Epicurean | Jennifer at Lick-a-Plate | Rivki at Healthy Eating for Ordinary People | Sarah at Sarah’s Sweet Creations | Denise and Lenny at Chez Us

Eat Live Be: I Need a Go-To Snack is a post from Stop, Drop and Blog. Want more of Stop, Drop and Blog? Like our page on Facebook! If you have questions, contact me or hit me up via twitter.

But real ruts are a little more difficult than that, aren’t they? And yes, I was in one prior to the beginning of the year. What changed? Support, a friend willing to meet me at the gym for my gym days and a raging desire to do better by myself. Changing up my workout routine, rewarding myself with positive speak and the occasional treat and generally loving myself for who and where I am at any given time also help me get out of and stay out of ruts.

There’s no concrete advice in that except that whole loving yourself part. It works. It really does.

As I said last week, I’m not checking in this week. Not only am I bloated (yay womanhood!) but yesterday was the Super Bowl. So, pfft. I’m still counting myself -3 total, which is what I was before the weekend. I won’t apologize for my genetic femaleness nor my first real indulgence since the New Year. Yesterday was a holiday for the sports lovers among us. I celebrated. And I hit the gym before 9:00 this morning. Points for me. And I’m going back again this evening for yoga. Points again.

Don’t forget to visit the Eat Live Be Facebook page and check out the other participants. I know several have checked in with progress, so go celebrate with and encourage them.

Sarah at Cucina Bella | Cate at Sweetnicks | Maris at In Good Taste | Chris at Mele Cotte | Faith at Bon Appetit | Kristen at Dine and Dish | Joanne at Eats Well With Others | Casey at The Starnes Family | Patsy at Friends, Family and Food | Claire at Cooking is Medicine | Allison at Sweet Flours| Jen at NJ Epicurean | Jennifer at Lick-a-Plate | Rivki at Healthy Eating for Ordinary People | Sarah at Sarah’s Sweet Creations | Denise and Lenny at Chez Us

Eat Live Be: Rut Rescue 101 is a post from Stop, Drop and Blog. Want more of Stop, Drop and Blog? Like our page on Facebook! If you have questions, contact me or hit me up via twitter.

This week we are supposed to talk about Our Favorite Healthy Change. I laughed. I hate change. I’m no good at it. I dig my heels in. I might whine. (I do.) I like things to be the way they are… even when they aren’t working.

But in the spirit of Big Changes, I’ll think about it.

To be fair, I’ve been living kind of healthy, minus last year’s slip-slide into the holidays, for awhile now. But I have made a change that is working for me and that I kind of like. Actually scheduling in my workout time means that I workout. Who knew? Minus last week when the Viral Ick crept through our house, downing each and every one of us. I only worked out once, but I’m 100% okay with that. I ate well — when I could — and I will not feel guilty about resting to let my body heal. Hopefully this week as we all begin to get better, I will get my 3:00pm workout in along with a morning workout with a friend three days per week. Hopefully. We all need to get fully better first! (Note: Today is a bust. I STILL can’t breathe. And, again, that’s okay. The not exercising part, not the not breathing part.)

Another great change? Well, it’s half inspired by a post Melissa Ford made on BlogHer last year and half inspired by this challenge. And HGTV. You see, on weekend days, I watch HGTV while I lounge about. Sometimes it inspires me to clean, even when I’m sick. Yesterday I de-cluttered our kitchen, including the cabinet above our sink which holds all those one-purpose-only things. I decided we could do without something — our deep fryer. To be fair to us, we haven’t used it in nearly three years. But it’s there, it’s taking up space and it is a temptation. Until yesterday. In its place? My cookbooks! Or, some of them. The rest are all on our shelves in my office. But now they can go here! WOO!

So, two great changes. Whew. That’s enough talk about change. Back to normal.

Next week is official Weigh In Week, being the first Monday of the month. I will attempt to step on the scale, but it’s a bad week for me to think about weighing in do to cycle related bloat. The truth is that I am currently down three pounds (-3 total) right now (the most recent pound likely due to the aforementioned Viral Ick) and I won’t be next Monday. And that’s okay. I know my body. Life will return to normal shortly thereafter and I’ll be back where I am right now. However, if I’m grumpy next week, please point me to this paragraph. Thanks.

Don’t forget to visit the Eat Live Be Facebook page and check out the other participants.

Sarah at Cucina Bella | Cate at Sweetnicks | Maris at In Good Taste | Chris at Mele Cotte | Faith at Bon Appetit | Kristen at Dine and Dish | Joanne at Eats Well With Others | Casey at The Starnes Family | Patsy at Friends, Family and Food | Claire at Cooking is Medicine | Allison at Sweet Flours| Jen at NJ Epicurean | Jennifer at Lick-a-Plate | Rivki at Healthy Eating for Ordinary People | Sarah at Sarah’s Sweet Creations | Denise and Lenny at Chez Us

Eat Live Be: Favorite Change? I Hate Change! is a post from Stop, Drop and Blog. Want more of Stop, Drop and Blog? Like our page on Facebook! If you have questions, contact me or hit me up via twitter.

The obvious answer is: Myself.

I decided that after five days of two workouts per day, I would allow myself a day and a half off. Meaning I wasn’t going to do any workouts on Friday (though I did take the kids sled riding which must account for something, right) and then, on Saturday, I was going to do a very easy yoga workout. And on Sunday, I’d get back into my groove. Except Saturday came and I went out with friends instead of working out… and ate way too much. And then Sunday came and I really just felt like relaxing (and taking the boys to their first soccer practice of the year) rather than working out… and ate way too much.

So now it’s been three days. And I haven’t done anything. And let’s not even talk about the portion sizes from the past three days, okay?

So, yes, I’m my own biggest challenge. I’m working on it — on myself — as best I can.

I don’t quite know if this is weigh-in week or if it’s next week. The good news is that I stepped on the scale this morning and I’m down two pounds (-2 total) since we started four weeks ago. The bad news is that I find that number completely and utterly frustrating. Granted, if I hadn’t been a complete waste of space this weekend, it might have been different. But now I’m frustrated and want to quit. See? My own biggest challenge = me. Sigh.

Don’t forget to visit the Eat Live Be Facebook page and check out the other participants. Maybe they’re more inspirational this week. I sure hope so.

Sarah at Cucina Bella | Cate at Sweetnicks | Maris at In Good Taste | Chris at Mele Cotte | Faith at Bon Appetit | Kristen at Dine and Dish | Joanne at Eats Well With Others | Casey at The Starnes Family | Patsy at Friends, Family and Food | Claire at Cooking is Medicine | Allison at Sweet Flours | Jen at NJ Epicurean | Jennifer at Lick-a-Plate | Rivki at Healthy Eating for Ordinary People | Sarah at Sarah’s Sweet Creations | Denise and Lenny at Chez Us

Eat Live Be: Biggest Challenge is a post from Stop, Drop and Blog. Want more of Stop, Drop and Blog? Like our page on Facebook! If you have questions, contact me or hit me up via twitter.

It is cold outside. 21 degrees. While some people can put on some warm layers and go for a run despite the biting wind, I cannot. Maybe — and that’s a big maybe — if there wasn’t ice involved, I could suit up. But it’s doubtful. So I’m stuck inside until the ice melts and the air doesn’t hurt to breathe it.

Here’s what I’m doing indoors right now:

• Jillian Michaels’ 30 Day Shred. I downloaded it via iTunes last year and break it out when I know I can’t get out and about on the trail. I hate it. I hate Jillian Michaels. I hate the advanced chick who very obviously cheats when she thinks the camera is not on her. But? It works. It’s a great workout. I just started a new 30 days, and the best thing about this time around is that FireDad is doing it with me.
• Exercise.TV yoga workouts. Most specifically Cardio Yoga and Yoga for Hips, Buns and Thighs. I also downloaded these from iTunes last year. These two are my favorites, though I have some others that are meant for easier “off” days that aren’t really off days. ExerciseTV also has some other great videos for download (I prefer downloading than their free videos because our Internet is slow and makes live videos skip), so I might add some more non-yoga ones in for some variety. Their website actually has more downloadable stuff than they have on iTunes, so check it out as well.
• I signed up for a yoga class at the YMCA. I was, at the time of registration for this session, only free on Monday evenings. Which only left Power Yoga with one of the more difficult trainers as the instructor. I almost didn’t sign up, intimidated by her awesomeness. I signed up anyway. I’m not as advanced as I probably should be for this class, but it should be a great learning experience.
• Just Dance 2. I didn’t ever put this into the context of a workout until Carmen mentioned it. And now I add it in on days that FireDad is at work (meaning that I have a day off from 30 Day Shred). I do one of my yoga workouts and a 20-40 minute session of Just Dance 2. And I get so darn sweaty — and feel so darn awesome — that I can’t deny it’s a great workout. And it’s fun.

I should be working out at the YMCA on the elliptical and a few machines as well, but I hate the January crowds. Probably by mid-February, when everyone else has gone home, I’ll try to get back into a groove at the gym. Until then, I’ll be working it at home and ignoring the cold.

I honestly can’t wait until it warms up and I can get back outside. I do love winter. And, let’s be honest, sled-riding with your kids is a total workout. But I need some air that I can actually breathe before I can get back outside and start trying to run again.

So tell me, what do you do to stay fit when it’s too cold to go outside? I could use a few more ideas for variety! Do share! I’ll be checking out some of the other participants’ posts today for some great cold-weather recipes.

Don’t forget to visit the Eat Live Be facebook page and checkout the blogs of the other participants!

Sarah at Cucina Bella | Cate at Sweetnicks | Maris at In Good Taste | Chris at Mele Cotte | Faith at Bon Appetit | Kristen at Dine and Dish | Emily at The Anderson Crew | Joanne at Eats Well With Others | Casey at The Starnes Family | Patsy at Friends, Family and Food | Tri-Fit Mom at Tri-Fit Mom | Claire at Cooking is Medicine | Allison at Sweet Flours | Jen at NJ Epicurean | Jennifer atLick-a-Plate | Rivki at Healthy Eating for Ordinary People | Sarah at Sarah’s Sweet Creations | Denise and Lenny at Chez Us

Eat Live Be, Week #3: Baby, It’s Cold Outside is a post from Stop, Drop and Blog. Want more of Stop, Drop and Blog? Like our page on Facebook! If you have questions, contact me or hit me up via twitter.

While they’re racing to see who can lose 40 pounds first, I’m joining some other bloggers in a healthy new year. I do have a weight loss goal — 20 pounds — that would put me back in the healthy BMI range and back to where I got last year before I jumped off the wagon. As I said yesterday in my 2011 Projects post, I’m also working very hard on food consumption, regular exercise again, and water, water, water. So, very simply, those are my goals. More specifically:

1) Really focus on portion size. My problem is that I really, really like food. I like the way it tastes. I like to prepare it. I like it. A lot. And so I have this tendency to fill my plate. And eat it all. I’m mindful of portion sizes when I give the boys’ their plates; I want them to eat enough but I don’t want them to have too much (because they WHINE). And so I need to do it myself. Maybe I need to start making yucky food. Ha! And no pop. I mean, c’mon. I have a fire department specific issue with this as well, which I’ll talk about in a post soon. Other fire families will understand when I post it, too.

2) Exercise 5 days per week. I’m not talking marathon exercise lengths of time. Just something. For 20 minutes. Five days per week. I can do more, but 20 minutes is my minimum. I will start running again — when it warms up. Sorry, I don’t do cold weather running. Nor do I run on treadmills as my ankle cannot handle it. Yoga and Jillian Michaels will be my cold weather exercise resources.

3) Eight glasses of water per day. I used to be great with this, and, yes, I threw myself off the wagon. Time to get back on. I feel so much fuller and so much cleaner when I have my water intake up, up, up!

And so, we’re supposed to share out starting point. Yeah. Hmm. I weighed myself for the first time in, oh, five months… right in the midst of holiday consumption. Silly FireMom! Last week I ate well and exercised, so for my first check-in, I am xx2 pounds. I won’t tell you what that weight is as I don’t have to: I am more than a number. It’s not a horrible number, and it wasn’t overly surprising as I could tell the difference in how my clothes (and bras, people, BRAS) fit. When I check-in next week, I will report I am xxx, which is + or – x pounds from my start of xx2. That’s how I’m rolling with this one. Someday when FireDad is home, I’ll have him take a full body shot. Yay?

Next week’s topic is Where Is Your Support Community? If you’d like to join in, go ahead! You can also check out our Facebook page. The more the merrier.

For more motivation, check out the blogs of the other participants:

Eat. Live. Be. For a Better 2011: Week 1 is a post from Stop, Drop and Blog. Want more of Stop, Drop and Blog? Like our page on Facebook! If you have questions, contact me or hit me up via twitter.

You don’t run in Central Park in a tutu? You’re doing it wrong. Read more here.

(And yes, I just posted a no-makeup-picture on my blog. EGADS.)

Running In Central Park is a post from Stop, Drop and Blog. Want more of Stop, Drop and Blog? Like our page on Facebook! If you have questions, contact me or hit me up via twitter.

I started running. Again.

It’s been a long time since I ran any distance unless you count chasing the boys around the yard. Or down the hall. Or up the stairs. Or down the stairs. Or around and around and around. Perhaps the constant chasing has just helped in rebuilding my endurance. Whatever the case, I started working on the Couch to 5K program. Yes, I’m kind of insane.

I used to be really in shape. Remember those days? High school and early college were a time when I could run three to five miles without huffing and puffing and generally falling over. I had ankle issues due to a softball injury but I could still make my way around the track. And then late college (read: beer) happened. And then marriage and babies (read: lots of weight) happened.

For awhile, I felt too embarrassed to even try running again. In the weeks leading up to the decision to start the c25k program, I really dealt with the self-conscious issue of meeting other, or rather, real runners while I was out for a run. The morning that I finally made myself strap on my sneakers and head to the track, I said to FireDad, “But what if there are real runners there?” He pushed me out the door. He’s very supportive.

I had to restart my first attempt at the program a week later because the pollen level in Ohio is somewhat ridiculous. I was down for the count for about five days. As soon as I could breathe again, I restarted with week one, day one. I am proud to announce that I have completed my first week. I know this doesn’t mean much and that if I attempted to run a 5k right now that I’d probably throw up shortly before I passed out. I’m also sure that people who are also utilizing the track are thinking to themselves, “Why is that woman running and then walking, over and over?” Interval training looks funny unless you know that someone is interval training. Even then it does look funny, doesn’t it? (A big tip for anyone wanting to attempt this program: download the podcasts. Good running music with audio cues. There’s also an app for that.)

As for how I’m feeling? Flipping fantastic. My ankle is coming along with me so far though I may need to reinvest in a quality brace in the near future. My mood has improved greatly, especially right after a run. I am more tired at night when I’ve run earlier in the day but that’s also mostly acceptable as I fall asleep with more ease. And, as an added bonus, do you remember how in high school gym class your gym teacher tried to tell you that if you exercised, your cramps would feel better? She was right. I still don’t like her but she was right.

I’m never going to run a marathon. I wasn’t a super long-distance runner even in my most fit of days. I am, however, going to run a 5k this year. I’m going to keep running because it makes me feel good about myself. And for thirty minutes, I’m alone. I do hope that this added exercise helps me get into more shape. I’ve hit my ten pound goal and, BMI wise, could use to lose another ten, though I’d be overjoyed with just five. I’d like 29 to be my healthiest year ever.

And, yes, I still take pictures when I’m running. Bless the Hipstamatic app.

If you’d like to follow my progress, feel free to follow my #c25k tweets on twitter (@FireMom) or follow me on DailyMile. Also, if you have already completed the program or are actively working on it, let me know. I’d love to talk about your progress and learn things!

I’m Always Running but This Has a Purpose is a post from Stop, Drop and Blog. Want more of Stop, Drop and Blog? Like our page on Facebook! If you have questions, contact me or hit me up via twitter.

And so, I joined the Our BlubHer Overhaul blog. (See my introduction here.)

In short, I have a new goal. If I can lose my ten pounds by the BlogHer conference next year, I will attend. I know. I’ve previously said that I won’t attend because of scheduling conflicts during that week. But I can make something work. Granted, for me to attend, I’m going to have to lose this weight no later than February 2009 so I can save money appropriately for travel and hotel and gifts to take home to boys. And that Husband. And, to be honest, if I can lose the extra five vanity pounds, well, I don’t know what I’ll do! Other than be super excited.

But, I need some help. I’m stuck. I’m honestly of the opinion that the stuck-ness comes with nursing and we’re not ready to wean. (He’s not even a year yet! Hush!) I won’t do anything unhealthy that could adversely affect my son, our nursing relationship or even my own health. And so, I just keep trucking along. I’ll get there. Right? Someday?

This week is far less busy than last week. Yet I’m keeping the same goal of three workouts at the gym and three home/outdoor workouts alone or with the boys. I think I need to suck it up and lengthen my amount of time on the elliptical, don’t you think? My legs, arms and general body cry at the thought but, well, it is time.

In the meantime, head over to Our BlubHer Overhaul and read about others’ weight loss goals and how they’re reaching them together. And leave me a comment, here or there, with some kind of inspiration. Because, man, if I don’t see some weight loss soon… sigh.

Burnin’ Fat & Gettin’ Fit with FireMom: BlubHer Overhaul! is a post from Stop, Drop and Blog. Want more of Stop, Drop and Blog? Like our page on Facebook! If you have questions, contact me or hit me up via twitter.

And I did!

I ended up with the Nike Dart V Extra in pink and white. It’s not in stock on Nike’s sit anymore considering they’ve released things like the Dart VI. As such, the Dart V was on sale in my store. Here’s how I ended up choosing my new sneakers.

1. I walked up and down the aisle, looking for something in green. I tried on something in Nike with a light green swoosh. It did not fit well. I then tried on an Asics with green. It fit even worse. These were my only green options.

2. I walked up and down the aisle, ruling out anything in blue. And black sneakers. Because my legs are too pale for black tennis shoes.

3. I ended up pulling off the pair that I bought, another pair of Nike’s in a silver and pink and a pair of Adidas with pink as well. (Of note: I would prefer green. Sigh.)

4. I tried on the two Nike pair, one on each foot. The pair that I bought had the best arch support though the silver pair came very close. I walked up and down the aisle with these two different shoes on, trying to figure out if they would have enough arch support.

5. Then I put on the Adidas pair, prepared to fall in love immediately and pay a greater price. It had absolutely zero arch support. That made it easier for me.

6. I chose the Dart V because it had better arch support and, while not as cute, was cheaper. I’m a stickler for a sale.

7. I walked to the counter to ask the girl to retrieve the other shoe. The manager came back and offered me another ten bucks off the sale price if I took the pair in which the display shoe was slightly yellowed. I’m not vain. I bought the cheaper, barely noticeably different pair.

8. I walked out a very happy customer.

That’s right. The shoe was originally $49.99. It was marked down a few times to $29.98. And the manager gave it to me for $19.98 (plus tax). I say that’s a pretty darn good deal! My Dad would be proud. These shoes are already laced and in my gym bag for today’s workout. I’m hopeful that they will be supportive enough for my insanely high arch. Of course, I worry that my OCD tendencies will freak out about the color difference betwen the two shoes. So, I took a few different pictures in different white balance settings and am posting them here to make myself feel better.

Yes, the one on the right is the more yellowed one. But, I can’t get over my deal. And I don’t care. I DON’T CARE! I’ll toss my OCD tendencies to the wind for shoes that fit and didn’t cost me an arm and a leg.

And, as for this week, my goal is to hit the gym three days, do some home workouts for two days and take the weekend completely off, without guilt, for my sister-in-law’s wedding. I’m hoping that the dress I bought last week will still fit. I’m not particularly worried about my mid-section. It’s more of a nursing-mommy-issue. Such is life!

I Found (and Bought) Shoes That Support My Arch! is a post from Stop, Drop and Blog. Want more of Stop, Drop and Blog? Like our page on Facebook! If you have questions, contact me or hit me up via twitter.