It’s the night before FitBloggin’ and I thought I’d take a moment to tell you why?

Why did I embark on such a crazy endeavor?

In short, I LOVE blogging! Can you tell? I mean seriously, I started with a family blog when I got pregnant 5 years ago and now I have a small media company, a thriving weight loss community, a food blog and more domain names then I’d like to admit. I was seriously born to blog. It’s in my blood.

Blogging allows me to explore and practice so many of my interests and passions. Web development, food, photography, design. My blogs are in a way, my canvas. They allow me to be creative in ways I never thought possible and, honestly, they’ve changed me.

Being a serial dieter for most of my adult life it wasn’t until I started blogging that I was able to begin to move past the "yo-yo diet cycle of hell" I was in. By facing my feelings about food and body image in a journal style format online I discovered that this wasn’t my struggle alone. MANY people shared my dysfunctional relationship with food. I was no longer alone and I found the support that I desperately needed.

Am I going out on a limb by saying blogging changed my life. I don’t think so. From my health to my career, it’s had a major impact. That’s crazy, I know… but it really has.

Pair my personal experience with blogging and my natural inclination to share knowledge and teach and well, what’s a better forum then a conference? I love to connect people. I love to see people succeed. I love to use my talents and experience to help make those things happen.

Hosting this conference seemed like a natural next step in this crazy journey I started 5 years ago. I wonder where I’ll end up but I have no time to ponder that now. I need to get some sleep before tomorrow. I have quite a weekend ahead of me!

If you are going to FitBloggin’ I hope you have fun, meet new friends, and learn something new. Oh! and you better not leave without saying Hi! ;)

Oh and those Swedish fish were not a mistake, or bad, or whatever other ridiculous label you are want to give them. They were just Swedish fish, that’s all.

Table provided by Roni’s Food Tweet, Eat, Post Generator. Follow Live @RonisFood

My weekend started Friday night when @ResourcefulMom pointed out my mug was in the New York Times…

Yup, that’s me and my famous computer with the FitBloggin’ sticker. :) The article didn’t mention me at all and it was a little condescending but I’m not going to get into it now.

Saturday was SUPER busy. I woke up to the glorious smell of chicken stock and got started making Overnight Chicken Broth Turned Bulgur Soup and breakfast for the little guy. We made the BEST smoothie with a banana, frozen wild blueberries, frozen strawberries and some light chocolate soy milk.

Then I headed to my morning boot camp class. I love that I have a date at the gym every saturday morning at 8:30AM. No matter what goes on during the week I will get my time then. After class I snuck a quick trip to Trader Joe’s (it’s right next store to the gym) before heading to my accountants office to get started on the taxes. Normally I’m done by now but I’ve been so stinkin’ busy! I even had to hire a book keeper to help with my business finances. I just can’t do it all. Its not possible.

Anyway, after the meeting I headed back home and played with the little guy. We love this game called Blokus and the little guy totally kicks my butt. It’s funny. . .

We finally got dressed and headed to the little guy’s soccer game, had dinner at Chick-Fil-A and then went to see Alice in Wonderland, which we loved! I thought it was a little slow in the middle but over a wonderful family movie night!

At the end of the day Saturday I was wiped! It was a fun, active day!

Sunday wasn’t quite as busy. I ran in the Shamrock 5k (28:02), came home, made Spinach Calzones, and took a nap. Can you ask for a better Sunday then that?!? I’m just excited I got my running event this month. I feel like I’m back on track for my yearly running goals.

All in all it was a great weekend! I even kept my food journal both days, which rarely happens on the weekends. :)

I have 4 days until FitBloggin’ so I may be a bit absent on the blog. Thankfully I have the week off work so I’ll be making all the final preparations for the conference.

OK, I’m off. Hope you all had a wonderful weekend!

RONI! I am SO thankful for you and your site – you inspired me to get back OP!! I started WW last Friday weighed in at 169.5 – it’s ALMOST a week later (tomorrow) I am only at 167.0 :( I have been counting my points went over 1 day (used 8 flex), and running (i’m a runner) all week. 3-4 miles a day. I know when I did this before the 1st weigh in was like 5 lbs. I guess I was expecting a lot more than 2.5 – do you think running has something to do with it? I am finally back on track and sticking with it. I don’t want to let a 2.5 weight loss discourage me, just because I thought it would be more. I am almost 30 too so MAYBE now it’s going to take longer to lose. My lowest weight was 130, I’m 5′7 .. so I am desperate to get this weight off. Please give me any insisted.

Thanks!

Hi LeeAnn!

Only? ONLY?!? God do I hate that word. Don’t do that you yourself and don’t get discouraged! Let the weight come off in its own time and it will more then likely stay that way! Just keep reminding yourself of that.

Remember.. even though you want "the weight gone" this is a lifestyle change FOREVER. It can’t just be about getting to a number on the scale… it HAS to be more then that.

Congrats on the loss but don’t depend on that scale too too much. Keep up the healthy choices and don’t consider dipping into your weekly flex as “going over.” Use the points to teach you how to balance your meals, especially since you are running so much.

One day at a time, make the best choices you can without guilt or shame and stay active. That’s been my philosophy for almost 5 years now and it’s serving me quite well. ;)

Does anyone else have advice for LeeAnn? She’s expressed feeling I know I’ve had and many of you may have experienced as well. How do we get past the number on the scale and adopt that healthy lifestyle, stateless dieting mentality without getting discouraged?

Only kidding. I’m having fun with the final planning stages of FitBloggin’10 just a little busy, ok, a lot busy. But fun busy! ;)

I had a good day. Started off with a run, relaxed a bit with family friends at Outback for dinner and I’m ready for tomorrow. Now all I need is sleep. :)

Here’s my food journal for the day. . .

Table provided by Roni’s Food Tweet, Eat, Post Generator.

On May 23, in Boston, I will be running in the Run to Home Base 9k (that’s just over 5.5 miles.) To enter this race I had to commit to raising $1000 for veterans with combat stress disorders and/or traumatic brain injury and their families. From the web site. . .

Your support to the Home Base Program will help to ensure that local veterans who served their country receive the care they need for combat stress disorders and/or traumatic brain injury, and that their families get the support they need. The Home Base Program also seeks to advance innovative treatments that hold the most potential for helping veterans with combat stress disorders and/or traumatic brain injury and their families.

I’m running with my best and oldest friend in the whole wide world. Here we are in second grade, I think, and us at her son’s, my Godson’s, Christening (he’s turning 11 this year! Holy MOLY we are getting old!) . She may kill me for this one. . .

We have never run together (we live about 3 hours apart since I moved to Maryalnd). She actually started running a few years before I did and tried to convince me how great it was but I didn’t listen. I rarely listen. ;)

We will be running through scenic Boston and ending in Fenway Park. I’m not a huge Red Sox fan, heck, I’m not a huge Baseball fan but she is and let me tell you… she’s is FREAKING OUT!

If there are any Bostonians out there that want to or will be running in the event let me know. And if you are able to support us financially, please click here to make a donation. Every little but helps and we only have a few weeks to raise $1000 each.

Oh! and if you are looking for charitable running events check out Charitymile.com, the popular Team In Training, The Komen Race for the Cure, I can go on and on. There really are so many opportunities out there! Fitness and philanthropy is a popular mix. Are there any events you know of and would like to share? Please leave a link in the comments.

You had a busy day and have an even busier week ahead. It may be a good idea to take tomorrow morning off. You’re sore. You’re tired. You can use an extra hour of sleep. Overdoing it isn’t any healthier then “underdoing” it.

The first 2 miles were great and then it got hard. Real hard. I was crampy, tired and my legs felt SO heavy. BUT it was BEAUTIFUL out. I’m so glad I got out there to enjoy it.

Chart taken from the Nike+

After the run the little guy and I BLASTED the radio and danced around while cleaning up. We made a new dance around the house mix. When I have a bit more time I’ll post it. It’s super fun.

After the house was sufficiently straightened up (because let’s be honest, it’s never really clean) I put the little guy to work on FitBloggin‘.

Call me a slave driver.. go ahead. It’s better then plopping him in front of cartoon network, no? Plus in our house everything’s a learning opportunity. He counted bags and asked lots of questions, it was great Mother/Son time. :)

We actually got a lot accomplished. Each one of these bags represents a person coming to FitBloggin’10.

How cool is that! Notice the 4 year old in the middle. ;)

We worked up a big appetite from our productive morning so it was time for lunch. I whipped up something new for me, Quick Bulgur Chili and sandwiches for the boys.

Afterwards we decided to take advantage the beautiful day and hit the Driving Range.

Look at how stinkin’ cute a 4 year old is with a set of golf clubs is.

And look at those pants on him! We just bought them, he’s growing like a weed! A really “cool” weed but a weed all the same…

Here’s the hubz and I. I usually go makeup-less on Sunday’s so no wise cracks.

After the driving range we hit the grocery store and I’m happy to say that the husband WAS affected by Food, Inc.. He was ACTUALLY reading nutritional labels and he limited his processed snack purchases. I was shocked! Seriously.

Once we got home the groceries went away and we enjoyed the crock-pot meal I put on earlier knowing I would have desire to cook after our busy day. I made top sirloin similar to this paired with my creamy mashed potatoes and a salad with lite dressing.

Post dinner we played a bit in the basement, watched a Scooby movie and put the little guy to bed. Lunches are made, the kitchen is cleaned and the last thing I need to do is pack my gym bag for tomorrow morning. I have to sleep in my workout clothes or I’ll never get my butt out the door.

So I’m off. I’ll probably fall asleep on the couch with the husband watching the Oscars. That’s my favorite way to end a Sensational Sunday. The falling asleep on the husband part, not the Oscars part. ;)

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend!

Oh! and here’s my food journal

Table provided by Roni’s Food Tweet, Eat, Post Generator.

Don’t answer… just a rhetorical. Let me tell you about my great day…

Today I attended Bloggy Bootcamp in Baltimore. I thought it would be good opportunity to meet some local bloggers while getting pumped for FitBloggin’. Call it conference research. I really wanted to attend an event so it was fresh in my mind when hosting my own in two weeks… TWO WEEKS (omg, omg omg I’m not freaking out. Nope. Not me. It’ll be fine. FINE, I’m sure. right? RIGHT??)

Before heading out to the conference little guy and I had a great morning making waffles out of our Quick Whole Grain Banana Pancake batter.

Afterwards we pulled out the old dominos and had some fun. :)

Then I was off to the city. I’m 20 minutes outside of Baltimore since moving and I love it. In no time I was at the Pier 6 Hotel, right across the water from the Marriott where FitBloggin’10 will be. SO cool!

Anyway, the conference was good. I felt it was mostly geared towards "Mommy bloggers." I’m not using that term derogatorily. Mommy bloggers are cool chicks but I just don’t understand why we don’t categorize ourselves as just "bloggers." Women who happen to have kids are so much more then just "mommies." Maybe I’m splitting semantic hairs here but if you are a mom and a blogger you are still just a blogger. I don’t know any other field that prefixes itself with the word mommy. Mommy Lawyers? Mommy Chefs? Mommy Doctors? No no no you are just Lawyers, Chefs, or Doctors, right?

Ok, stepping off my blogger soapbox. I realize this doesn’t apply to most of you reading. Just something that’s been bugging me lately. If I have more time to post about the conference details I’ll do it over on SkinnyMinnyMedia. There was some cool tips passed around.

So lunch there was INSANE. Did I really need to eat the entire salad (which had WONDERFUL mozzarella cheese and balsamic vinaigrette,) a roll, the whole chicken breast with veggies and potatoes, AND the BIGGEST PIECE OF CHOCOLATE CAKE I’VE EVERY SEEN?!? Seriously this thing was insane. I wish I took a picture.

No. No I didn’t. But it was so darn tasty!

Am I regretting it now? Yes. But not because I feel guilty or ashamed or any nonsense like that but because my stomach feels yucky now. Sorry, there’s no other word I can use that describes it better then that. Yucky.

When I eat a meal like this I’m reminded how I used to feel ALL the time. I’d go from one meal to the next eating way too much thinking that this is what it meant to be full. Now I know better. Stuffed is in a whole other category then full and I don’t think I like it very much.

Again, no sense in beating myself up. I’m already moving on. Tomorrow I have my first longer training run for the half. 5 miles. I think that will be my longest run this year so far! I’ll tell you how it goes tomorrow. I’m off to watch Food, Inc. with hubby. I hope it scares him into eating a little better. Then again, Super Size Me didn’t, so my hopes aren’t that high. :)

I’m only kidding. I’m having a blast but boy is it a lot of work! FitBloggin’10 is 2 weeks away. I’m SUPER excited but I also can’t wait for it to be over. Right now I feel like I have 3 full time jobs. Somethings gonna have to give, it’s just not healthy.

On that note, I’m off to bed. Sleep is nonnegotiable. :)