A Great Saturday Run With My Boys

Running. I love running...

The last little while with Carmelo in competitive soccer, and Diodato and myself wanting to be fit, I've been meaning to take my boys running. Real running on a real track.

We tried doing the running on the street with Carmelo. However, being close to home...never seemed to pan out, Carmelo would soon be back on our step with a 'no freakin' way I'm doing this." Trust me, he's no piece of cake when it comes to fitness.

A few times, the kids in our neighbourhood have attempted to work with Carmy. Hamooda had the great idea to build Carmy's leg muscles...jump ups on our steps. "I have no clue what this has to do with soccer, so...no thanks!" Fine, twenty sit-ups would be the punishment. Hill side up. "I'm only doing 2...I did not sign up for this." ARGH!!!! The only kid who remotely got close to training him was Massimo, and soon afterwards Carmelo sweaty, was at the patio door with a look of an imprisoned, abused child on his face. Let's not get into RUNNING. "What does soccer have ANYTHING to do with running? eh?! Tell me...that one!" We tell him everything, but he's a stubborn as they come. The only successful trainer he's had is Mark Hatfield of Hatfield's, and my hat goes out to him!

So, the other day I had an "AHA" moment. "Boys, how about we go to the track, do a run then I will take you to "Booster Juice". It was a great idea. But, would it work? Would I have a whiny four year old, and a crusty Carmelo? I had to chance it. I had to walk (or in this case) run the talk. We all geared up with running shoes, water bottles and i-touches.

It was a clear, cool sunny day. The weather was perfect for a run around the track. No excuses. The first run around the track, I thought for sure, I was going to die right there. I have to say, running on the real thing as opposed to a treadmill is way harder. When I finally reached the the starting point again, my lungs felt like they were bleeding. Seriously! I thought for sure, if I spit...there would be blood. Every breath hurt like my lungs were being stabbed over and over! However, Diodato (my 14 year old) ran by, and continued on. "umm, I thought...this was my idea, and here I am panting like a hot cow in July!". So, I pumped up my i-pod, and sprinted on.

There is something mysteriously motivating and enlivening about running on a track. I cannot explain fully into words the energy that one spans from the track. Whether it be the energy of the moment, or the aura of the runners past who have ran this very track too. With every new breathe, with every step forward and push forth of my arms, my body got into a running groove. Soon, my lungs settled down, and my legs worked hard on the track underneath it. The wind blew a gentle breeze amongst the trees around us. Even the clouds above seemed in sync with our run. It felt wonderful to be training outdoors. I let go, and felt free as I jogged on. Even Carmelo ran and loved it! Now that is a huge milestone.

During our run, Tony (my hubby) came by and watched us. The kids treasured it. I realized that this was the most fun (believe it or not) that my family and I had had in a long time. It was just us, no stress, no mess, the track and a familial achievement. We all did approximately 3k together. We all jogged at our own paces. Even my four year old Antonio ran with us. At one point he held my hand as we jogged around the track together, it was priceless. Nevertheless, there is never a dull moment in my household, and today was no exception. While running Carmelo turned to me: "Mom, when we are done burning fat, how about we go to Dairy Queen and celebrate!" That child!!! After their run, the boys and Tony then played a soccer scrimmage, while I did a few more sprint/walks around the track. It was wonderful.

It really is exhilarating to get moving as a family. I felt motivated by Diodato, inspired by Carmelo and joyful by Antonio. I felt loved by Tony who watched us run around the track with awe and pride.

I hope time will allow us to continue this running journey we have embarked on. Our goal as a family (Diodato, Carmelo and I) is to be able to easily run 5k, so that we can run the CIBC Run for the Cure, Breast Cancer Run in October in honour of my two mother-in-law's who have passed from the disease.

Be well and run on,

I Caved!!

BLAHHHHHH!!!!!



I finally caved, gave my rings to my hubby and had him bring them to the jewelers to have them re-sized. I had been hinting for so long, but deep down I didn't want them sized up. However, after nearly five years of being seen as a 'single Mom', it was time for my beautiful rings to be put back on. So Tony mentioned it again and offered to bring them in...and I handed him the platinum.


I'll be very honest, because that is what my blog is intended for: raw truth. After he left, I laid on my bed and cried. It was one of my long time goals; to have my rings fit me again. But, let's be honest...after five years, my diamonds are made to be worn, and not stored in a safe. It is what it is...and chocolate is my ENEMY!


Nonetheless, don't be fooled...I'm back to smiling (on the outside anyhow!).


The Universe never let's me down for too long though...lol (A Surprise Diamond upgrade would make me feel WAY better...!)

Nevertheless, I attended an open house at my son's school yesterday, a woman from my son's class came up to me randomly and thanked me for this blog. Cheers to you..."P's Mom". She said to me: "a woman I know well, recommended your blog to me to read about your struggle ( that's for sure!) with weight loss and how inspiring you are...I recognized it as being you when I read about Carmelo (the one and only!)...your blog is a wonderful read and such an inspiration (really?!)".

Yes, I do write to de-stress myself. Writing is extremely therapeutic for me. In addition, my wish is to inspire others because we all struggle with our body image, our family responsibilities, our marriages, our journeys, and with life in general. I love to share, learn and hearten. In return, I am the one that is inspired. Thank you!

So what have I been doing as of late? RUNNING!!! Fat girl runs! ha ha ha ( I know, not supposed to say that...!) I ran 3.5 km the other day on my treadmill and it felt AMAZING! I love running (am I trying to run from something?!). Then my sister came for a random visit...and my work-outs stopped and eating began. Gosh, I am so an emotional eater. HOWEVER, I was more controlled.


I am more in control of my eating because I am reading a FANTASTIC book. I have recommend it before, now I HIGHLY recommend it.

"Women Food and God" by Geneen Roth

I am reading it slowly, and doing some internal cleansing. I have to say, that it's like peeling an onion layer by layer. Years, and years of emotional baggage and stuff. The AHA moments are striking faster than I can read the words. More importantly, I have changed the way I view food, and the way I eat. It's very difficult to explain in words. But, I do know that I feel so FREE. I am so liberated, and by that I do not mean that I am gorging myself with food with a 'who cares attitude'. Not at all, it's like a huge grey cloud that has been hanging over me since I was 10 and realized I was chubby (thanks to my grandmother!) The grey cloud titled "DIET" is gone. When I eat, I have no guilt, and don't struggle. I ended a war with food, and all that is associated with it. Surprisingly, I am making great choices, drinking water and treating my body well. I appreciate my body more, and look at myself in a whole new light (aside from the rings incident...lol). It's like these chains that have been choking me for so many years are gone. I can breathe. I cannot emphasize enough about this book. There is something to it...and it's not a religious book at all. Nonetheless, run out and buy it!


You know there is something to be said for letting go. It is such a liberating feeling. Amazing things happen when you let go. I have found a new strength within me (along with a challenge/competition and a Starbucks win...with my friend C (who's a HUGE inspiration)! Part of that was also handing my rings over to be fitted. I am more than diamond rings that I wore when I lost 100 lbs, had to take them off when I gained it back and hoping to lose it again to re-wear them. So I let that go too (with a few tears...)


I hope you will treat yourself to the book, and experience the same enlightening growth that I am experiencing.



Be well (and go get the book!),

I'm BAAAAAAAAAACK!

It's a whole new year, a time to re-discover ourselves, out with the old, in with the new...

Like everyone else, the holidays are an extremely busy time, and we set ourselves aside, and go with the flow. After two weeks, of guests, entertaining, eating, eating and more eating, Tony and I set January 4 as our 'back on track' date.

Come the end of the year, we both realized we had been starting to feel like 'crap' again. All this eating, and drinking had caught up to us. I noticed that I wasn't sleeping well, and my body was achy all day. In addition, I had no energy and had cravings all day long. Tony noticed that his persistent back problem was ten fold, and that he was more irritable. We both looked forward to eating well, and working-out again. Date set: Monday, January 4.

I woke-up Monday morning feeling awful. I was running a fever, had a headache and a soar throat. I noticed that this was my first 'sick' day in a long time...probably since I started eating better. Obviously, the holiday's had finally caught up to me. "Great, why does my body insist on sabotaging me?"

As though it had heard me a little voice inside me replied: "your body tried it's best to sustain you through all of the craziness that has been around you, on top of that...you have nourished it with nothing 'good', you haven't worked-out, you haven't hydrated your body...what do you expect?!"

Very true! However, there is always more than meets the eye. Today, my sister was expected to arrive. Starting to eat better, train etc...with her around is a challenge to say the least. No disrespect to her at all, and I love her very much. But, this is the woman who once sat on a couch watching me run on the treadmill while she ate a bag of chips, drank a soda and said: "wtf do you do that shit for?!" Another time she came down to watch me work-out and actually fell asleep! She may be a good cook and all that...but healthy lifestyle she ain't! She hardly ever eats her cooking (ummm...) and loves to eat 'junk'. So trying to eat healthy with her around just adds to the stress of being sick, getting back to routine and all that. Still such is life, and in times like that I have learned that survival is best. Just getting through it all and doing the best you can sometimes means success.

In she came like a hurricane with her chips, her cheesies, her chocolate bars, her Pepsi, her butter shortbread cookies, her homemade perogies, chicken pot pies, meat pies and cakes! Yiiiiiiiiiiiiikes!

Nonetheless, I wasn't going to let it get the best of me. Even though my fever was wearing me down, I still attended my core circuit training session. I must admit that it felt pretty great to get back on track again. I wanted so much to get back on track this week...

Unfortunately, the rest of the week was a void. By Tuesday, my body was beat and the cold had overtaken me. I decided to try my best to eat well, avoid the junk food and start back strong Monday. Per contra, I did cave a little, I had some delicious perogies ( I mean you can't pass those up!), and a shortbread cookie or two. But, I was controlled and didn't go overboard like I would of in the past under the influence of my sister.

My body is now relieved of temptations as my sister has now gone back home, and the house is back to normal. I know with Tony and myself: we CANNOT have any 'junk' food in the house. If it's here, we'll eat it. So out with that too. Furthermore, we watched the season premiere of "The Biggest Loser" (great way to be inspired), and both decided that our healthy journeys' must continue.

I weighed myself this morning, and my body has been good to me. I have gained maybe (give or take) 3lbs or so. I am at 210 lbs. Honestly, I'm happy with that. I didn't gain the usual 7 lbs that most gain over the holidays. So I must look on the bright side to all this. I had a wonderful holiday season, I enjoyed myself immensly, even my visit with my sister, but now it's time to get down to business.



What better way to get on track, but to set a goal. This year promises to be an exciting year. My 37th birthday is around the corner. I love, love my birthday (hey, if I don't like my birthday than who will?! :>). What better gift to give myself than the gift of health! My birthday is February 22nd, so I have six weeks to get to my goal of 199lbs. That is six weeks to lose 11 lbs. I'm going to work hard and do it! No excuses...I'm starting year 37 in the 100 club!



Now hopefully...my sister won't be coming to visit anytime soon, and I'll be all set!



Set your short term goal and get to it...out with the old and in with the new!

Kimmy

Breaking News!

5 x

(5 lbs of Fat)

=

- 25 lbs!!!!

I took a peek at the scale today. I'm so happy I did. What a day to do it on: Happy Anniversary to us! (I'm having wine and Fratelli's tonight! :>)

So as I said before I was on the cusp of a major milestone breakthrough. I am there! 205 lbs is a major turning point for me.

• 
  
  In 2003-2004, I lost over a 100 lbs and reached my goal weight of 150 lbs. In the midst of a turmoiling year to say the least, I began the journey of gaining it back. When things settled in my life, I found myself at about 165-170 lbs. I was training with a new trainer, and when he made the moves on me...I quit. (I was never used to getting attention from men.) Then my hubby and I got back on the right track, and I began fertility treatment to try for our third child (after having lost one). As anyone who has ever done hormone treatment: weight gain is inevitable. I packed on some more weight...but I didn't care as my goal was to have another child. I got pregnant.


• 
  
  However, reality hit me when I stepped on the scale at the ob/gyn's office. I was four months pregnant and the scale read: 206 lbs! I was devastated. I was back in the 200's officially. I had mixed emotions as my pregnancy had had a few road bumps, and the baby's life was in jeopardy. So I closed my eyes, thanked God for my healthy baby and vowed to turn the page once again.

• One year after the birth of my miracle baby Antonio, I set on the weight loss journey again. I had gained all of my weight back. It took me about a year and I was down to 205 lbs. I was in the groove, losing it slowly and working-out with a new trainer consistently. I had organized my time, and was on a new path. Then my huge cyst on my ovary came, then my hernia. It was November 2008; http://alightway.blogspot.com/2008/11/another-hurdle-on-my-journey.html. I had no choice but to stop working-out. I weighed 205 lbs - 207 lbs. Everything stopped. Lost, and frustrated...I piled back the weight on.

It has taken me an entire year, to get back to this point. I had surgery in May, and my recovery was very slow and painful. Nonetheless, lying on that couch with nothing to do but think, I envisioned finding myself back to 205 lbs and continuing the journey where I had left off.

I am here!!!!

Cheers!

Seatbelted to the Wagon!

Hello all!

Hope this finds you all drinking your water, eating well and taking the time to move that body.
Things are always so busy around here. My most famous line: a good busy! I am blessed to be surrounded by such great people. Sometimes it can be very overwhelming, and every now and then I just have to say to myself; that's what life is about! I usually like to keep to myself. I grew-up quite lonely and was always alone. Thus, I have been created into this girl who enjoys quiet and peace. With three boys, a rowdy hubby and a string of amazing friends, neighbours etc...it's difficult to have moments of silence! Add in fall TV and creeping facebook regularly...and you've got quite the busy life! LOL

Now try fitting in a weight loss routine in that! I've come to realize that there will never be a day where I will wake-up and there will be no laundry, the kitchen will be immaculate, the beds will be made, no errands to run, payroll to do, neighbours and friends popping in for a visit, my nieces calling for some advice etc...Getting along on this journey really means learning to incorporate that healthy lifestyle into the jam of it all. It's about balance, it really is. It's not an easy task. But, it is do able. It just takes patience, perseverance and persistence. (Now if those ladies at Joseph's could just STOP bringing some sweets in for my hubby...I could get him fully on the band wagon too!)

Most recently, my brother and his wife came to visit. So I had a week of juggling, school work for me, homework with my boys, activities for the kids, dinners, and visits from our friends and neighbours. I managed quite well except for the healthy lifestyle part. In my life, I'm always the first thing to take a back burner. That's why I look the way that I do. Sometimes, I wish I had more time in the day. What it essentially comes down too is balance. Thank God for PVR!

My favourite show to watch besides 24, Brothers & Sisters, Melrose Place, Dancing with the Stars, Oprah and Dr. Oz (to name a few!) is THE BIGGEST LOSER! Now that is inspiration! If you need a tune-up, it's surely the show to watch. Albeit I will admit, working out 8 hours a day is highly never within my reach as a Supermom (ha ha ha). I figure if they can squeeze in all that time, than I have really no excuse for not getting in half and hour to an hour.

So I am off to the gym...after I fold the load of laundry in the dryer, throw in the laundry from the washer into the dryer and empty out the dishwasher. Tony and I have a major event upcoming October 11th. My goal is to be 4-5 lbs lighter. That's not going to happen sitting here typing away all my complaints and excuses regarding my busy life! In the end, I'm seatbelted to the wagon no matter what happens.

Take care of yourself and ALWAYS make time for a healthy lifestyle!
xox
Kimmy

You Can Hear a Pin Drop!

Can you hear that? No? Me either! Stillness, quiet, peace, whatever you want to call it, you can hear a pin drop right now in my house. AH!

The boys have officially gone back to school and without to much hiccups. Carmelo has started grade 3. That little guy is lucky. All summer long he hoped he would get Mr. Armstrong for grade 3. With three grade three's this year, his chances were 33 %. I'd bet on his horse anyday! Guess who Carmelo has? Yep...Mr. Armstrong who according to Carmelo personally asked to have him in his class. Carmelo was even welcomed back to school by the janitor with a hug and a 'hey Carmy! How was your summer buddy?! So good to see you back!"

Diodato started grade 9! Hard to believe I have a child in highschool. I had tears in my eyes yesterday morning as I seen my baby, now a big big boy leaving for school with his backpack over his shoulder, walking and talking with his friends and just glancing back to wave bye. Long gone are the days, where I needed to walk him to the bus stop, wait with him while trying to convince him to unbuckle the packsack front buckle. I thought of him all day, as he transitioned to this new phase of his life. He came home and said: "highschool sucks...I have homework already!" To be young again...

Antonio is off to Oxford this afternnoon. So the house is very peaceful. I will go do some yoga today. No distractions, no door bell ringing, no phone ringing and no "MOM!" for a bit. This week it's back to routine and back to seriously taking charge of this weight loss situation. My goal is to be 199 lbs by December 1! I can do it....I just have to get off the computer now, do yoga and start the journey to a new and improved moi!

*quiet cheers! :>
Kimmy