Project Weight Loss: Week 8

November 16th, 2012 | Posted by Alison Spath in Weight Loss - (16 Comments)

Zak and I were in college when we met and started dating.   He taught me how to play racquetball early in our relationship, and it came to be something we did together quite regularly at (my) school where we had easy access to racquetball courts.

Whenever we played, he always won.  I never felt bad about this, he’s bigger, stronger, a more experienced player – he kicked my ass quite regularly and I just rolled with it.  I mean HELLO, I’m hanging out with my uber cute boyfriend with whom I’m totally smitten, who the hell cares if I win or that racquetball is a little dorky?

Letters to Breakfast

January 15th, 2012 | Posted by Alison Spath in Breakfast - (9 Comments)

Dear Everything Bagel,

Everything Bag

I know you aren’t the best thing in the world to eat, but you’ve really got a hold on me right now, so I’m rolling with it. Like a bagel would roll down a hill, you might say.

I justified you today with an early morning two mile walk to the bagel shop and then a two mile walk home. Kids at Granny’s for the weekend, husband at home in bed – just you, me, fetus and Jillian Michaels on a sunny Sunday morning? There are worse things.

The Life Changers of 2011

December 26th, 2011 | Posted by Alison Spath in Motivation - (13 Comments)

With New Years right around the corner, I’ve been thinking about some of the things that made a huge impact in my life during 2011. I’ve decided to wrap them all up into neat little list for your consideration if you might be looking for some direction, motivation or new ideas as we approach 2012.

The Secret

The Secret

I’m a little embarrassed to admit I liked The Secret as much I did, but it’s true.  There’s the book, but there’s also the movie. (P.S., You can watch The Secret through Watch Instantly on Netflix).

Let’s Play Matchmaker

August 27th, 2011 | Posted by Alison Spath in Fitness - (1 Comments)

When it comes to what to eat after workout or run, I don’t think much beyond “eat real food” unless that workout has been particularly long and hard.  (I am purposefully ignoring the obvious joke here.  This post just started!)

The neighborhood running group I occasionally run with sent an email yesterday saying they were going 10 miles Saturday morning. I haven’t run much more then 4 or 5 miles at a shot all summer – but I decided to join them for 10 today, and my reasons for doing so were three fold:

I recently finished Jillian Michaels’ latest book, Unlimited: How to Build an Exceptional Life.

This book could also be titled “Unlimited: The Book I Didn’t Know I Needed to Read.”

Unlimited: How to Build an Exceptional Life by Jillian Michaels

To be honest, I wasn’t really looking for tips on How to Build an Exceptional Life, so while I knew she had a new book out, I hadn’t given much thought to reading it.  But then I listened to her talk about Unlimited in a podcast from May and my curiosity was officially piqued.  I snagged a copy from the library and after reading just the first page, I didn’t want to put it down.

Sprints Are Great, I Swear!

June 22nd, 2011 | Posted by Alison Spath in Fitness - (7 Comments)

I try to be a model parent.

I eat my vegetables.  I brush my teeth.  I make a genuine effort to not swear in front of my children – or so I liked to believe.

As it turns out, Maxine and I had a very revealing conversation at bedtime the other night while discussing homonyms.

(You know… their/there/they’re, two/to/too, you/ewe, know/no)

Maxine (contributing to our list of examples): Like, sit and sit!

Me: Sit?

MaxineSit like when you “sit down”, and sit like you say when you’re frustrated.

Oh, sit.

The Company You Keep

June 19th, 2011 | Posted by Alison Spath in Healthy Habits - (7 Comments)

Have you ever heard that you’re the average of the five people you spend the most time with?

Cobbs Hill

I slept late yesterday and inadvertently missed the run with my neighborhood running group.  No biggie – instead I hopped on my bike and went out for a solo ride when I got up.  (See my little bike shadow up there?)  These totally perfect, it’s-almost-summer mornings have been impossible to resist lately.

Can’t write much now, I’m busy downloading the latest Jillian Michaels podcasts! (Thanks Sharon!)

Jillian Michaels Podcast

Once upon a time I listened to Jillian with rapt attention via podcast from KFI AM 640 out of Los Angeles.

But then she left. And I was sad. And I have listened to those same 45 podcasts on my iPod over and over again for well over a year now – as pathetic as that likely sounds.

But now she’s back! On iTunes! And I’m glad! And you can be too!

Once upon a time I was that girl who tried and tried to lose weight and never saw any real, lasting results. While I never had a huge amount of weight to lose, I did know I wanted to be slimmer than I was for what felt like the majority of my life.

The post-pregnancy weight was always a little scary but eventually came off after each pregnancy with the addition of some moderate exercise. Then in early 2008 when I found myself back at my post-pregnancy weight and I hadn’t just had a babyI knew it was time to get serious.

New House Firsts

January 23rd, 2010 | Posted by Alison Spath in Morning Craziness - (12 Comments)

So I’ve got a couple of note worthy new house “firsts” to mention today.

1. Run the recycling bin out the curb barefoot and in my too-thin-for-29-degrees pajamas at 7:35 AM

Oh sure, I’ve done this plenty of times before at the old house, but yesterday was the first time I did this at our new house.

It’s a classic tale really, it goes a little something like this: