Roni's Weigh

Wednesday Weigh In: Sick of Being Sick and HOLY Bullfrog Batman!

roni — Thu, 17 May 2012 02:42:24 +0000

Still stuffed up. Still throat issues. Still feel like crap.

I’M SO SICK OF TEA

and soup

and coughing

and not begin able to talk

AHHHHHHHH.

OK, I’m done whining. Just had to get all that out.

I was actually curious what the scale would say today. I ate pretty much whatever I wanted all weekend. Before the Tough Mudder I wanted to make sure I had enough fuel. After the Tough Mudder (I’ll admit it) I celebrated with pizza, but since then I’ve been living off soup and some salty snacks. It’s all I real have an appetite for.

Anyway, I wasn’t shocked to see this..

I’m been maintaing that weight for months now without an issue.

I’m heading to bed but I wanted to share this fun photos of a Bullfrog we took after Little Guy’s baseball game.

How cool is this guy??

I even Instagram’ed him.

We had fun watching him hop across the field.

It made me smile. Then I coughed.

I hate being sick.

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Sharing the Skinny on Obesity

roni — Wed, 16 May 2012 03:48:19 +0000

I rarely talk about the “obesity epidemic.” I think it drives too much negative attention to the wrong issues, focusing on weight instead of overall health. I have no desire to argue with fat acceptance folks, throw statics around or rant about how fat we’ve become. I’d rather inspire people to live more consciously, show them that small changes equal big results and prove that it is possible to live a balanced life and reach weight loss goals.

All of that being said, I got completely sucked into The Skinny on Obesity series on YouTube from the University of California. It skews a little too much away from personal responsibility, in my opinion, but I’m not denying any of the science. I think we have a serious problem with the type of food that is readily available, cheap and around us all the time. However, I think we can start to fix this problem the more we educate ourselves and make conscious choices about what we put in our bodies.

I’m embedding the entire playlist here. There are 5 complete episodes plus a trailer for the 6th.

I’m shocked that life expectancy is actually starting to decrease (ep. 5). I want my kids to live a long, healthy, active life and I want to be around as long as posible to enjoy it with them.

Our diet is far from perfect but I feed myself and my family more unprocessed than processed foods. We eat fruits and vegetables with every meal, we don’t drink sugary drinks at home (except for the husband and his soda habit which I’ve tried to alleviate without success) and we enjoy treats (candy, cupcakes, etc) in moderation and without guilt. This series has validated all of these choices for me and made me feel even more justified in being the “mean mom” who doesn’t buy things like Fruity Pebbles, PopTarts, or Capri Suns. (I’m still trying to wean us off the Dorritos and Tasty Cakes, just give me a little more time. ;)

If you have time to watch the series, I’d love to hear your thoughts.

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Wouldn’t it Be Fun to Find Out?

roni — Tue, 15 May 2012 03:27:43 +0000

It was a pretty lazy day. I think I’m still coming off the high of finishing the Tough Mudder (click here to see my video recap of the event). That and I’m sick. The allergy attack I had on Friday really turned into a head cold and now I have laryngitis. I can barely talk over a whisper.

Anyway, I’m here to share a few fun photos, talk about my weekend as a whole and make a fun announcement.

Saturday I left the family to frolic at the hotel pool while I tackled the mudder. Here’s some photos I didn’t have time to share yesterday.

My arms aren’t that long. I swear. lol

My Team. :)

Mound of muddy shoes. Love that they clean them up and donate them!

The pedicure just isn’t quite the same after a mudder. :)

When I got back to the hotel I ate pizza and chilled with the family. The next day we hit the pool and had a little fun with the GoPro.

I LOVE having a completely waterproof camera! There’s no viewfinder so you don’t know if you got the shot but being able to shoot under water videos…

with a camera that can survive a 1 year old…

is priceless.

Ok, I can share cheesy family photos all day but I’m actually here to make an announcement.

I’m seriously considering signing up for another Tough Mudder event.

Actually, no, I’ve decided I AM signing up for another one.

That’s how much fun I had.

I loved every second of it. The mental challenge, the physical challenge, the team work, the sense of accomplishment, the fact that my success is solely determined on how hard I work. There’s no scale involved. I’m not trying to sculpt some perfect body or fit into a certain size dress. I’m not working out to earn more points or work off a slice of cake.

It’s just not about that anymore.

I think this is why I needed to shift my blog identity a little. Weight loss will always be a big part of my history but it doesn’t define me anymore.

I hesitated sharing my desire to run the mudder and share my training. I’m not who I was when I started this blog and that’s scary for some reason.

The change didn’t happen over night. It took 6 years…

Some of you may not know but I was NOT an exerciser at ALL. I lost weight by just mostly "staying active" and a lot of that was dancing around my house like a nut-ball.
Then I started Thinking About It which led to me actually joining a gym and declaring myself a gym rat soon followed.
Then a friend put the running bug in my ear. (Re-reading the end of that post is exactly how I felt when I started running)
I ran my first 5k run on a treadmill and I nearly died from shock.
Then I took my running outside and even "the toddler" was impressed. :)
After my first 5K event I was hooked!
Then I found the Nike+ and fell in love!
Soon I was training for a relay in the Baltimore Marathon Relay
My first 40 minute run was a milestone.
Then someone called me Racing Roni and it made me examine where I came from.
In 2008′s Marathon I ran 6 miles and it was SO amazing! I decided to take a leap and sign up for the 2009 Marathon!
With some training I ran the 10 mile Cherry Blossom and my first ever half marathon!
My training was far from perfect but I managed to get in a few long runs like 12 miles in Chicago, 15 miles and and unbelievable 20 mile run on my own!
Then I crossed the finish line of my very first marathon!
Determined to keep running a part of my life, I set a goal of running 1 event a month in 2010 and pretty much reached it. (Darn snow storm!)
I started 2011 6 months pregnany and running.
On Little Beans 6 month birthday I ran another Half Marathon.
Another year starts with another run.
In Feburary 2012 I decided to challenge myself by signing up for a Tough Mudder and I started sharing my training.

I share this history in links not to pat myself on the back or gloat about how far I’ve come but to show you change is possible. I used to avoided physical activity like the plague and now I find running around the woods and jumping in mud a perfectly acceptable way to have fun. A lot of fun.

It’s crazy, I know, but I can’t stress that my progression happened not only slowly but took me down a path I could have never predicted. It all started with a goal to move my body more and take walks. I wonder where you would end up in 6 years if you made a simular commitment.

Wouldn’t it be fun to find out?

Curious how I trained for the Mudder? Click here!

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I’m a Tough Mother, I mean Mudder!

roni — Mon, 14 May 2012 03:07:24 +0000

Happy Mother’s Day fellow Moms!

I have SO much to tell you but it’s late and I spend all my time video editing. That’s right. I’ve got it! I don’t think I’ve every been asked for anything more than this video. It’s cracking me up!

SO…

Without further ado..

Now… let me say this… It was AWESOME!

A fun, confidence building, physical, mental experience of a lifetime.

I attempted all obstacles across the (approximate) 12.5 mile run…

Kiss of Mud: Completed.
Arctic Enema: Competed.
High Stepping: Completed.
Berlin Walls #1: Completed with hoist help.
Death March: Completed.
Trench Warfare: Completed.
Fire Walker: Completed.
Devil’s Beard: Completed with help from fellow mudders holding the rope.
Log Bog Jog: Completed.
Hold Your Wood: Completed.
Spider’s Web: Completed with help from fellow mudders holding the rope.
Walk the Plank: Completed after a slight freak out :)
Crawl Under: Completed (not sure if it’s considered an obstacle)
Everest: Completed with help at the top.
Electric Eel: Completed with a few screams.
Berlin Walls #2: Completed with hoist help.
Funky Monkey: ALMOST completed! Slipped out of my gloves 3/4 of the way across.
Mud Mile: Completed.
Boa Constrictor: Completed.
Mystery Obstacle – The Rings: Attempted.
Twinkle Toes: Completed.
Electroshock Therapy: Completed with a few screams.

Wow. I think I still have to let that all sink in. I can’t believe I did it.

I FREAKIN’ DID IT!

Curious how I trained for the event? Click here!

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I’m Under Attack!

roni — Fri, 11 May 2012 15:06:58 +0000

I don’t think I’ve ever been hit by allergies this hard. Ever!

My eyes are itchy. My ears are blocked. My throat is scratchy. My nose is running. I’m sneezing. I have postnasal drip.

Ugh. It’s horrible and the worst part…

The Tough Mudder is TOMORROW!

I can only pray that what I’m allergic to down here isn’t growing up in the Poconos yet.

I was planning on posting last night but honestly, I took a Benadryl and couldn’t keep my eyes opened. I even fell asleep during Awake and missed the end. :(

Side Note: LOVE this show. I just hope they don’t cancel it.

Anyway, so here I am Friday morning hopped up on Allegra and nervously preparing for the weekend. Yesterday I cleaned half the house and finished up the laundry. The Husband is away on business so it was just me and these two…

I made salmon for myself and had fun with an Indian inspired spice mix I made up. On the side, the rest of the Brussels Sprouts I roasted after making this for lunch…

Warm Brussels Sprout and Couscous Salad – Click here for the recipe..

It was a great day despite feeling like I was hit by a truck.

Today I’m finishing up the cleaning and packing. As soon as Little Guy gets off the bus we are heading to the Great Wolf Lodge. It’s 5 miles from the Tough Mudder so while I’m running, climbing and jumping in mud, the boys will be frolicking in the pool.

Nice. lol

OK, so I’m charging the GoPro. I’m not going to promise a video but I’m going to do my best. I’ll check in on Sunday night but I’m not sure when we’ll be home.

Wish me luck.. I’m nervous!

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No Judgment, Just Notice.

roni — Thu, 10 May 2012 03:20:45 +0000

I actually enjoyed a quiet breakfast, by myself, in front of the TV, watching the news.

Heaven! Right?

Somehow I hit a sweet spot between getting kid 1 on the bus and getting kid 2 out of bed. I took full advantage making myself a 2 egg omelet loaded with veggies and watched 10 minutes of the Today Show without being interrupted.

I told you… heaven. :)

Little Bean woke up and I made him eggs and myself a big class of iced green tea.

After breakfast and a little cleanup, I took Bean to the gym for my Wednesday morning Yoga class. I LOVE this class! Somehow It’s challenging AND relaxing. The instructor shares the simplest ideas that get you thinking too. This morning she asked us to think about where our minds went while in a pose. Did it return to what we were thinking about in the car on the ride in? A moment in our past? Something in the future?

She then said…

No Judgment, Just Notice.

I love that.

Be conscious. Be aware. Live with your eyes open but without guilt or fear or blame or judgment.

It was exactly what I needed to hear. Earlier I didn’t get on the scale for my weigh in because I didn’t want to deal with the gain I knew I’d see.

After class I decided to notice…

…and not judge myself.

I can’t go back to the weekend and eat less but I can make better choices today and move forward.

Each day is an opportunity to travel back into tomorrow’s past and change it. ~Robert Brault

Love that too!

I was in an inspired mood today. :)

Lunch was a BIIIIIG salad.

Mom sent me home with leftovers from the party on Sunday and we are still eating them. I made a HUGE pile of the salad and topped it with a scoop of Mom’s homemade Sloppy Joe’s, a bit of cheese and two crunched up Dorritos on top.

DELISH!

When Little Guy came home from school we shared a bit of cantaloup while making dinner.

Dinner was a 3oz burger on a sandwich thin with a side of asparagus and corn on the cob.

Little Bean got in on the corn action too!

After dinner and a baseball game (Little Guy did GREAT!) I enjoyed a sugar free fudgesicle.

Then I enjoyed another cause that’s how I roll. ;)

Hope you had a great day! I’m off to bed a little late tonight. I have to skip my morning workout tomorrow (schedule conflict) which means I have officially wrapped up my tough mudder training!

T-3 days… YIKES!

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Never Give Up

roni — Wed, 09 May 2012 02:36:26 +0000

My friend Charlie posted this on Facebook. It made me cry. I had to share.

We are all capable of great things. We just need to believe it.

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Forgive Yourself and Stop the Cycle

roni — Tue, 08 May 2012 03:24:58 +0000

There was a time I’d punish myself after a weekend eating disaster like yesterday.

I’d (try to) starve myself the next day, skipping breakfast and sometimes lunch. Then, when I’d get too hungry, I’d binge, again, and feel totally out. of. control. Depressed.

This cycle went on for years.

I remember one of my old Weight Watchers meetings while I was losing. The night before, I had gone out and ate a little more than I would have liked. The leader asked if we had any non-scale victories (NSV) to celebrate.

I raised my hand and said, “I ate breakfast today!”

She had no idea what I was talking about but, for me, it was a HUGE step in stopping the cycle.

Now after a night (or day or weekend in this case) of overeating, I make a point to eat a healthy breakfast the next day. I forgive myself, nourish my body, and MOVE ON

It sounds so simple and so basic but my brain is STILL wired to skip meals the next day which always has, and always will, sabotage me.

This morning when my stomach growled the thought crossed my mind, again.

I ignored the voice, of course, and enjoyed a grapefruit and hard boiled egg.

It was a perfect breakfast and such a better choice than punishing myself by starving for eating too much.

No?

I also decided I would do something nice for ME instead of wallowing in self-pity.

My fun pedicure put a smile on my face all day.

Be kind, forgive yourself, and remember… give yourself what you wish someone else would give you. :)

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Overstuffed Sunday

roni — Mon, 07 May 2012 02:46:23 +0000

This weekend we traveled to PA for my nieces Communion. I ate WAY too much. I mean like right-now-feel-sick too much.

I don’t why I do this.

Ugh.

I don’t want to talk about it. Tomorrow’s a new day. The running clothes are already out. No guilt. End of story. Moving on.

PJs are on. I’m gonna make a cup of a tea and watch TV with The Husband. Here’s a few fun pics of the day. Hope you had a great weekend.

One of my favorite pictures of the day. A Father Daughter moment.

He’s so stinkin’ cute I can’t stand it!

Crazy Dad/Goofy Kid

Crazy Grandpa/Indifferent Kid lol

The ride home. :)

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They Couldn’t Decide!

roni — Fri, 04 May 2012 21:04:07 +0000

A few weeks ago I announced the The VitaCake Date Mate Contest and we received over 40 awesome recipe ideas!

Vitalicious was going to pick a winner but they couldn’t decide! Instead they chose 4 finalist, made each recipe, photographed it, and are now allowing YOU to go vote.

How much fun is that?!?

So go.. go vote! Click here to see the photos and nutritional information of the finalists recipes using the mini VitaCake!

Don’t forget if you’d like to order a case make sure to use the code RonisWeigh for 10% off! Click to check out their other products.

Full Disclosure: Vitalicious is a paying sponsor of Roni’s Weigh. However, all opinion expressed in this video and all my reviews are my own.

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