Friday, March 7, 2008
Baseball Tickets for Sale
The 2008 baseball season is about to begin, and if you're a Nats fan hankering for tickets, you're in luck! I have two tickets for the bargain price of $10 each (OK, they're in the nosebleed section) for half of this year's games. If you'd like to enjoy the new ballpark without paying exorbitant prices, this is a great chance to do so. E-mail me for schedules and ticket availability. Thanks!
A Four-Star Movie
A few weeks ago, my friends Melanie and Kelly and I saw "Spirit of the Marathon," a wonderful documentary that followed seven runners -- pros as well as amateurs -- as they prepared for the 2005 Chicago Marathon. I highly recommend it, especially if you're in a bit of a rut. The movie played just two nights in theaters, but will be available on DVD. For more information, visit www.marathonmovie.com.
It Starts This Weekend!
The 2008 race season, that is.
On Sunday, I'll be participating in the St. Patrick's Day 8K in Washington. It's a timed race and, since it's the first one of the year, my expectations are low. But it will great to be back outside and walking again!
Also, I am thinking of organizing a 5K walk later this year to support our troops abroad. If you'd be interested in helping to organize it or participate in it, please let me know. Thanks.
On Sunday, I'll be participating in the St. Patrick's Day 8K in Washington. It's a timed race and, since it's the first one of the year, my expectations are low. But it will great to be back outside and walking again!
Also, I am thinking of organizing a 5K walk later this year to support our troops abroad. If you'd be interested in helping to organize it or participate in it, please let me know. Thanks.
Friday, February 1, 2008
My One-Year Anniversary
Yesterday marked one year from the day I made Lifetime status with Weight Watchers (which occurs after you maintain your goal weight for six weeks). This means I've kept off 45 pounds for a year. It hasn't always been an easy road and I definitely allow myself to indulge more than I did when I was on plan, but I'm hopeful it's a weight I can maintain for the rest of my life. Thanks to everyone for their support!
Friday, January 11, 2008
I'm Almost There!
Thank you to everyone who has donated to my Avon Walk! I am now 94 percent of the way to reaching my fundraising goal, a figure that is overwhelming, personally and financially. To know that I have that many people supporting my effort is truly, truly humbling and inspirational. I'm preparing for the walk and hoping you know how much your contributions mean to me and how helpful they'll be in the cause of fighting breast cancer. More individual thank yous to come, but I just wanted to express my sincere gratitude right now. I'll let you know when I'm 100 percent of the way there!
2008 Race Schedule
It's been too long since I've posted a new entry, but with a new year and a new walking season coming up, I'm getting motivated again. I have many people to thank for their kind contributions to my Walk, which I'll do shortly, but here's a list of races I'm participating in this year. Come join me if you have a chance!
Feb. 16: George Washington Birthday 10K, Alexandria, Va.
March 9: St. Patrick's Day 8K, Washington
March 16: Shamrock Half-Marathon, Virginia Beach, Va.
March 30: Scope It Out 5K (for colon cancer), Washington
April 6: Cherry Blossom 5K, Washington
April 13: International Race to Stop the Silence, Washington
April 27: George Washington Parkway Classic 10 Mile, Alexandria, Va.
May 3-4: Avon Walk, 39.3 miles, Washington
May 18: Marine Corps Historic Half, Fredericksburg
June 1: ZOOMA Half-Marathon, Annapolis
Sept. 21: Philadelphia Half-Marathon
Oct. 11: Baltimore Half-Marathon
Nov. 15: SunTrust Richmond Half-Marathon
My goal is to complete six walking half-marathons this year. Should be a great 2008!
Feb. 16: George Washington Birthday 10K, Alexandria, Va.
March 9: St. Patrick's Day 8K, Washington
March 16: Shamrock Half-Marathon, Virginia Beach, Va.
March 30: Scope It Out 5K (for colon cancer), Washington
April 6: Cherry Blossom 5K, Washington
April 13: International Race to Stop the Silence, Washington
April 27: George Washington Parkway Classic 10 Mile, Alexandria, Va.
May 3-4: Avon Walk, 39.3 miles, Washington
May 18: Marine Corps Historic Half, Fredericksburg
June 1: ZOOMA Half-Marathon, Annapolis
Sept. 21: Philadelphia Half-Marathon
Oct. 11: Baltimore Half-Marathon
Nov. 15: SunTrust Richmond Half-Marathon
My goal is to complete six walking half-marathons this year. Should be a great 2008!
Friday, November 16, 2007
Holiday eating tips
With Thanksgiving just days away, the holiday eating season is about to go into full swing. It would be impossible -- and no fun -- to try to banish all sweets from your diet from now until the new year, but there are some smart choices you can make to lessen the damage to your waistline. Here are a few tips:
1) Don't drink your calories. It's so easy when it's cold outside to hit the nearest Starbucks for a hot chocolate, but resist: a tall hot chocolate with whipped cream at Starbucks has 290 calories; a venti with whipped cream has 440 calories! Instead, opt for Swiss Miss diet hot cocoa (made with water) -- it has just 25 calories (some other Swiss Miss varieties have 160 calories, so be sure to read the label). If you do find yourself in a Starbucks, skip the whipped cream and ask for non-fat milk. That will knock at least 80 calories off your total.
2) Remember portion control. There are few days when I don't have a hankering for chocolate. But instead of buying a package of chocolate -- which I know I'll finish quickly -- I choose a single-portion item instead. That way, when I'm done, there's no more left to tempt me. My recent favorite: A Russell Stover marshmallow-chocolate Santa that has 140 calories (it's 69 cents at CVS).
3) Look for reduced-calorie sweets. At this time of year, it's easy to find candy canes. A regular size candy cane has just 50 calories. Candy corn, another seasonal favorite, is a good choice, too. Twenty-two pieces have 140 calories.
4) Boost your exercise. One easy way to fight weight gain is to step up your time at the gym. Last week, I spent 60 minutes on the treadmill Tuesday morning at a speed of 4.1 miles per hour. I upped it to 65 minutes on Wednesday and 70 minutes on Thursday. Gradually increasing my minutes allowed me to make progress without too much risk of muscle strain or shin splints, and the extra time meant that I boosted my total by about one-third of a mile each day. Over a month, that can really add up.
5) Know that the buffet will always be there. If you go to a party and there's a big spread on the table, don't feel compelled to pile everything on your plate at once. Instead choose a few healthy options, such as shrimp, deli slices of (lean) meat, fruit or veggies (skip the dip), and then move away from the table, preferably to the other side of the room. If you want more, go back once.
6) Alternate spirited drinks with water. This one can be hard to follow if you're having a good time and everyone around you is imbibing. But try to alternate each glass of wine, beer or hard liquor with a glass of water. Not only will you reduce your chances of a nasty hangover in the morning, you'll be less likely to make the bad food choices that drinking can encourage.
7) Forgive yourself, and give yourself a day off. It's a hard concept for anyone trying to lose weight, but you need to give yourself some breathing room. If you mess up one day, don't write off the whole week -- just start fresh with your weight-loss commitment in the morning. And be sure to give yourself a (planned) day or two off between now and Jan. 1 to fall off the bandwagon and enjoy the holiday spirit (and food). But remember, you'll need to hop back on board the next morning.
Happy holidays!
1) Don't drink your calories. It's so easy when it's cold outside to hit the nearest Starbucks for a hot chocolate, but resist: a tall hot chocolate with whipped cream at Starbucks has 290 calories; a venti with whipped cream has 440 calories! Instead, opt for Swiss Miss diet hot cocoa (made with water) -- it has just 25 calories (some other Swiss Miss varieties have 160 calories, so be sure to read the label). If you do find yourself in a Starbucks, skip the whipped cream and ask for non-fat milk. That will knock at least 80 calories off your total.
2) Remember portion control. There are few days when I don't have a hankering for chocolate. But instead of buying a package of chocolate -- which I know I'll finish quickly -- I choose a single-portion item instead. That way, when I'm done, there's no more left to tempt me. My recent favorite: A Russell Stover marshmallow-chocolate Santa that has 140 calories (it's 69 cents at CVS).
3) Look for reduced-calorie sweets. At this time of year, it's easy to find candy canes. A regular size candy cane has just 50 calories. Candy corn, another seasonal favorite, is a good choice, too. Twenty-two pieces have 140 calories.
4) Boost your exercise. One easy way to fight weight gain is to step up your time at the gym. Last week, I spent 60 minutes on the treadmill Tuesday morning at a speed of 4.1 miles per hour. I upped it to 65 minutes on Wednesday and 70 minutes on Thursday. Gradually increasing my minutes allowed me to make progress without too much risk of muscle strain or shin splints, and the extra time meant that I boosted my total by about one-third of a mile each day. Over a month, that can really add up.
5) Know that the buffet will always be there. If you go to a party and there's a big spread on the table, don't feel compelled to pile everything on your plate at once. Instead choose a few healthy options, such as shrimp, deli slices of (lean) meat, fruit or veggies (skip the dip), and then move away from the table, preferably to the other side of the room. If you want more, go back once.
6) Alternate spirited drinks with water. This one can be hard to follow if you're having a good time and everyone around you is imbibing. But try to alternate each glass of wine, beer or hard liquor with a glass of water. Not only will you reduce your chances of a nasty hangover in the morning, you'll be less likely to make the bad food choices that drinking can encourage.
7) Forgive yourself, and give yourself a day off. It's a hard concept for anyone trying to lose weight, but you need to give yourself some breathing room. If you mess up one day, don't write off the whole week -- just start fresh with your weight-loss commitment in the morning. And be sure to give yourself a (planned) day or two off between now and Jan. 1 to fall off the bandwagon and enjoy the holiday spirit (and food). But remember, you'll need to hop back on board the next morning.
Happy holidays!
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