Getting Crafty!! and it's about time!!

Well everyone, I have seemed to 'misplaced' my nutrition book. (under a pile of yarn, laundry, or I am just not looking very hard for it, it just happened to show up as I was waiting for photos to upload) Too bad, I get to finish my post now!

I has been too long since I have posted anything much that is crafted. Not for lack of wanting to. I just haven't finished many projects until now... YEAH! and best of all I have MORE in the works!

This is a close up of the needle felting I did for my neices slippers... My first needle felting project These are a photo of the slippers. They were knitted and felted. They were a fun project to work on. The pattern was from a kit from knitpicks. This is my second needle felting project. Did it like a paper piecing project but with felt and then needle felted the penguins on the slippers. I love how the penguin turned out. Thanks to Brian for helping cut out the tiny tiny pieces! Here's the completed slippers. I debated about putting laces in these guys and decided not to. I can if you girls decide you want them! Just let me know! Here is Sackboy. I have never seen the game. My youngest has played this game with his friend, and since his friend is moving away, it's his gift from us as a going away present.. Shh don't tell.. ha ha Nikolas already told him before I got the yarn! What a stinker! Here's Sackboy in pieces... my first knitted toy, so much fun to make. I will definitely be making more knitted toys in the near future! I already have plans for some more things! For now they are a secret! Not entirely crafty, unless fixing the hole in the wall and painting is crafty; however, I did sew up the curtain. One more bathroom to go and then we have to get painting outside and pretty much start painting the inside all over again. (sigh)

So any of you crafting anything fun out there? Please share!

Chi Running Clinic

I had the privilege of attending a chi running clinic this past weekend. I had read the book a few years ago, and have tried to follow the principles in the books as much as I can. I am excited to say that one clinic wasn't enough, however it was excellent! It was led by Ann Margaret McKillop of My fitness Recovery. I can't say enough good things about Ann Margaret or her clinic!

Chi running principles are focused on injury free running, utilizing good posture and the strength of your core to keep strength through your core. Keeping your core strong to be able to relax the rest of your body will help you remain injury free when running. I can see that this process can take years to master just as it would if you were to take Tai Chi or another martial art form.

First she walked us through some great postural exercises, some felt really weird as I suppose I really don't have perfect posture (sigh). I have to say, it is amazing how strong our bodies are when they are in alignment! That would be the chi part of it. Strength and alignment. The strength comes from the core. She explained so many things about posture and injuries and how they interrelate to each other. I am sorry to say that I can not remember all the things she said.

I do remember the practice of walking we did lifting our knees and letting our ankles relax! Yes, we need to relax our ankles when we run, who knew! Ann Margaret says this is how knee injuries are born! It amazed me the difference I feel already, even just walking focusing on relaxing those ankles! We sort of joked about feeling like zombies doing this exercise, however I can see with practice the difference it is going to make in my body and my running.

I will be reading the book again to be sure that I refresh my memory on posture, gait etc. She was unable to got into much more detail because it was a large group. I am excited to have new things to focus on with my running and that my running buddy was there with me so we can help each other out with the techniques we learned yesterday!

Thanks to Ann Margaret for a great class and to The Hudson-Mohawk Road Runners Club for sponsoring it!

Weight loss and the stress of it the scale

So I saw this video in a newsletter and really wanted to share it with everyone. I know that the weight loss journey seems like a forever battle and the scale isn't always gracious no matter how hard we feel we are working at it! This video is a reminder that things within our bodies change rapidly. A whole pound this lady gained in a matter of minutes just by drinking water!

My point is, that we can't just measure the number on the scale because it is forever changing, if we are working out, we are sweating out water, if we are drinking or eating, go to the bathroom etc. Now I am not saying that you shouldn't ever pay attention; however, it should be a guide and not gospel!

When I lost the bulk of my weight, the measurements were very important. I think I had lost over 88 inches (That's over 7 feet!) in girth! I knew that I had lost fat! I didn't fit in ANY of my clothes I could move and for longer! Health was the key, I was and am healthy! So to those of you that get on the scale constantly, if it works for you, great, just don't base your day and how you feel about yourself on the number. I can get on my scale four times in a row and it could be .2 or .4 different each time. Take your measurements, and see how your clothes fit that is the real test! Even more real, how do you feel and what are you capable of doing now that you couldn't do before!

Live your journey today no matter what your size or shape, if there is something you want to do, do it! Don't wait until you are (________) just work towards the goal and get it done.

We are here for the journey and not just the destination! Always have a goal, away from the scale. If you want to walk, run, ride, create art, learn a new skill don't let yourself wait because of how you feel about yourself and your size.

The REAL change is on the inside! Accept yourself and love yourself not for a number on the scale but for the wonderful, creative person you are, this will ensure your success!!

Have a great day all!!

Why Can't You?

So today I was in the grocery store, nothing new with my big hungry family! However, I have never had the cashier say, gee I am so jealous of the healthy organic foods you are buying! I didn't really think they ever noticed or cared, just rang up your stuff and hoped to get you out of there as quick as possible!

Well I thought it was interesting because she said working here and having 4 room-mates makes it impossible to eat healthy? She went on and on, well the truth is, there was a time 100 plus pounds ago I would have had a million excuses why I couldn't eat healthy too... No time, too busy, to expensive you name it, I could have give all the excuses in the world!

Despite the 100 people in line behind you, I asked her as I was walking away to let her help the next customer, Why can't you eat healthy foods?

And now I am asking you, Why can't you eat healthy foods? Really what's your excuse? Let's bust it right now! You deserve to have a healthy life and a fulfilling one too. It starts with nourishing yourself from the inside out.

So let's have it and bust those excuses!