January 04, 2012

I knew it would catch up with me!

I did not have a very good weigh in today. Not good at all. I can't really say I'm surprised, though--because I indulged in a lot of unusual stuff this week. I was 136, which is up two pounds from last week. I didn't take a picture (or even do my body fat) because I'm going to stay in denial and pretend I'm still at 134 ;)  I'm still binge-free though! 52 days now.

I AM going to buckle down this week, though. My #1 goal for the week is to not eat ANYTHING straight out of the jar--meaning Cookie Butter, peanut butter, peanut butter spread (see below), or anything like that. I think I had a few too many spoonfuls. But thankfully, I can't just run to the store and buy the Cookie Butter or the peanut butter spread. The peanut butter spread is this stuff that my mom bought when she went to Shipshewana, Indiana last weekend:

No wonder it tastes so good! Look at those ingredients :)
It has the texture of a creamy marshmallow fluff, but it tastes like sugary peanut butter. It's a good thing I don't live near Shipshewana! I'm on my last jar of Cookie Butter, too, which is probably a good thing.

This morning, I had a bowl of warm oatmeal, which I haven't had since before my surgery. I was trying to hard to get in a lot of protein post-op, so I was having protein shakes every day for breakfast. Today, I made a delicious bowl of oatmeal--oats cooked in milk with brown sugar, chopped dates, raisins, and walnuts.
I always see the instant oatmeal at the store, and while it sounds good, it always tastes disgusting. I saw one called something like "dates, walnuts, and raisins" so I decided to make a real bowl of oatmeal like it. It was SO good--maybe just because I haven't had oatmeal in so long, but I'm going to make the same thing tomorrow.

After I ate breakfast, I decided to go for a run outside. It looked freezing outside, so I was tempted to run on the dreadmill, but I always regret the dreadmill before I even run 1/4 mile. I felt really good--the second and third mile actually felt better than the first.
Three miles in 29:44.
Post-run glow ;)
We still don't have much snow, so the roads were clear and I think it was about 26 degrees. Not too bad for January in Michigan!

After I showered and got dressed, I decided to go visit my friend Sarah who is in the hospital right now (not to be confused with Sarah from Arizona). Sarah and I were very close friends in high school, and then after we graduated, we went our separate ways. I've only seen her a handful of times since.
Sarah and me in 10th grade

Anyway, I found out on Facebook that she has stage three melanoma, and that she is having some complications from her treatment, so she's in the hospital all week. I didn't tell her I was coming--I wanted to surprise her.

I'm SO glad that I went!! I've really missed her. She's still as goofy and funny as she was in high school, despite being sick. She has two kids (I think they are about 10 and 8 years old). She said when she's feeling better, she'd like to start running, so I told her that I'd run with her any time she's ready. It was really good to visit with her today. She said that she has no family history of melanoma, and that the cancer was most likely from tanning; and it's interesting, because Sarah and I used to go tanning together in high school. I wish that we knew then how bad it was for you! I'm happy to be pasty white now.


So yesterday was the new season premier of The Biggest Loser. I think I'm going to be happy with this season. I'm so glad that the trainers are Bob and Dolvett. I hated that they sent home one pair before they even stepped foot on the ranch--it always breaks my heart to see that! I hope they make it back on.

I was super excited for Dolvett when his team won the weigh-in. I think it helped establish some credibility for him, since Bob always seems to be the favorite trainer. Dolvett is really good--I loved when he was very drill sergeant-like during the first workout! The only person who was really on my nerves last night was Santa's wife (I don't know any names yet). She just didn't push herself very hard at all.  It looks like it should be a good season!


25 comments:

  1. I am sorry to hear about your friend. That is great that you went and saw her.
    I totally need a running buddy! I should look for one....

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  2. Santas wife is much younger than him! She's only in her 40's but looks older. I thought his wife was another lady but that was someones grandmother!! woops! lol

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  3. I haven't watched The Biggest Loser for the past couple of series but I turned in last night and I'm glad I did. I missed the first 20 minutes but from what I saw, I'm hooked. I love Dolvette, too, and googled him to find out his story. Very credible! So far I really like Kim, the former wrestler. Oh, and Ben's brother (I think Ben went home last night). Santa's going to get a major overall if he makes it to the makeover show!!!! Hah hah

    I have a jar of chocolate PB2 sitting on my desk at work. It's mocking me as I type this. But, I did just order 4-1b bags so me and a coworker could share the Peanut Butter love.

    I'm sorry to hear about your friend, Sarah; I hope she gets better soon. I was just talking about tanning again just to get a little color but my husband keeps telling me not to. Well, after hearing Sarah's story, I think I'll learn to cherish my pastey Indiana skin.

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  4. You run when it's only 26 degrees? Wow! I look up to you, really.
    I'm from Switzerland but I'd like to watch the biggest loser. Do you know where I can watch it or at least tell me the season? :)

    Thanks and you're awesome ;)

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  5. Everyone that I've known with melanoma used tanning beds A LOT in the past. So far all of them have been treated and recovered (not sure what stage they had). Tanning beds should be outlawed. People are in denial and say it's not from tanning beds, but there seems to be a huge correlation.

    I love Biggest Loser. Dolvett is not hard to look at either. Remember how Bob used to lose a lot to Jillian? I hope it's more equal this time. :)

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  6. I'm so sorry to hear about your friend. I'll keep her in my prayers.

    Loved that Dolvett finally won. He has to be one of the best looking African American men I know of (Will Smith holds the top spot). What a frickin' smile on him! I was so glad to see Bob lose for once, even though I love him, too. I was thinking the same thing as someone else- Santa's going to make a phenomenal make-over if he lasts!

    I found those dang Biscoff cookies in Walgreen's of all places. 8 2-pks. for $1.99. They remind me of the Archway windmill cookies! Now I HAVE to get the Biscoff butter!! Darn it Katie! LMAO!

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  7. I'm so sorry about your friend. I'm 28 and last year I was diagnosed with Melanoma. I too used tanning beds when I was a teenager. Tanning beds should be outlawed - I know that's unlikely - but how about regulating it, taxing it, warning labels on the bed, and an age limit. Young girls are way too young to understand the consequences of something as simple as tanning.

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  8. Sorry to hear about your friend so very sad!!!
    Yes I love that Dolvett won, I like him and Bob this should be a good season!!!

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  9. You're my idol! :) It was 39 degrees here in South Florida this morning and there was no way I was running in it! I actually love the cold, but I don't really have the right clothing for jogging in it!

    I was diagnosed with Stage III melanoma when I was 21 years old. I had never stepped foot into a tanning bed or really even been in the sun. I hate the beach and always have. I have no family history and have no idea where my cancer came from. Tanning beds (tanning period...it's not just the beds) are bad, but it's not always where it comes from. Around the same time I was being treated for mine, I had a good friend who was diagnosed with melanoma in her mouth!
    There are always such misconceptions with melanoma and, to this day (15 years later), it drives me crazy. People also always seem to say "oh, it's 'just' skin cancer" - it is very, very deadly.

    Anyway - didn't mean to go on about the melanoma. I wanted to just let you know that I'm thinking about your friend and her family and that just had to have made her day to have you show up for a visit! =)

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  10. Peanut Butter Spread.....OMG I haven't had that in FOREVER!! I totally forgot about it, I think that's a good thing. My Aunt used to pick it up for me every Christmas as a kid. She went to Amish Country in PA all the time. I used to put it on ice cream. It was dangerous stuff. LOL. Buffalo is having some nice weather this winter too. Yesterday and today were chilly, but back to the 30s tmrw. Sorry to hear about your friend, I used to tan all the time too. Once my Grandma got skin cancer I decided to stop and I use sunblock now. I LOVE DOLVETT!! Bob is always a favorite, but it is nice to have a new fresh trainer that I actually like. I think he will give Bob a run for his money =)

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  11. You are doing great with your pace and your binge free streak. :)

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  12. Love Shipshewana...It is so weird to see that on your site....I am from Elkhart, Indiana...about 20 minutes from Shipshe and most people have no clue where any of that is! Thank you so much for sharing!

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  13. That Peanut Butter Spread looks so good! I recently found out my husband didn't even know what a fluff'n'nutter sandwich was! INSANE!

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  14. LOVE Shipshewana PB!!! WIll your mom pick me up a jar too? They also have a WONDERFUL popcorn place!! My husband is from that area!! Small world!!!

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  15. Sorry to here about your friend Sarah, praying she makes a full recovery soon with no reoccurrences -- it is so scary! I had stage 1 Melanoma and had surgery to remove it 3 years ago it was a spot the size of a pencil dot, but my dermatologist warned me it is deadly and can progress rapidly if not removed. I now have to go twice a year to be checked from head to toe, it's so embarrassing, but a must to remain safe and not sorry. The 1st thing the dermatologist ask me was did I ever use a tanning bed which the answer was yes I have, he told me if you value your life please don't ever again ( my husband was in the process of ordering me one because I went to a salon and he felt I could put that money towards my own: needless to say we never finalized that order) and the day of my surgery the surgeon told me if you ever see a tanning bed again run! I am a blonde have blue eyes and have fair skin--high risk.... By the way that pencil dot ended up causing me a big chunk out of my leg ( behind the knee) four stitches on the inside and eight on the outside, not very pretty. Sorry for the long post but hoping it will be beneficial to at least one person :-)

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  16. That peanut butter spread is SO addictive. I live about 1/2 hour from Shipshewana and I know where every yummy thing hides around those parts, including the best bakeries on EARTH! So glad I don't live any closer!

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  17. Would you feel any better to learn I gained 4 pounds in 2 days?

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  18. Wow, your friend is much too young to be fighting such a serious illness. I wish young people were more informed about the risks of tanning. It's really so ridiculous to be baking our skins like potatoes! I'm about as pale as it gets, but I'm good with it. I use sunblock on my face everyday all year round. To be honest, I just want my skin to stay looking young as long as possible and sun is the enemy of looking young.
    One of our tenants was diagnosed with melanoma at the age of 52 and died 5 months later. Such a terrible disease!

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  19. I never comment but I just had to add something after reading this post. I'm trying to get more protein in my diet (~100 g a day) but, like you, I'm an oatmeal fiend.

    Since I wasn't really willing to give up the oatmeal but I wanted/needed to prioritize protein (and the morning is a huge glaring hole in my protein intake) - I started adding protein powder to my (hot) oatmeal. I have a chocolate protein powder that I use with peanut butter and a vanilla protein powder that's good with lots of fruit flavors - banana, pumpkin, apple, whatever.

    Anyway, you seem like an oatmeal master so maybe you've already tried and rejected that idea but I wanted to make sure to mention it - I've noticed that my weight loss and general health are so much better when I'm incorporating the protein.

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  20. I sometimes have trouble to stop myself eating something out of a jar..
    But if you really put your mind to it and remind yourself not to eat out of the jar you can totally do it!! :)

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  21. What is this cookie butter? I generally don't eat stuff out of the jar, but I do eat things out of the bag/package. I don't do it as much any longer thankfully.

    I hope your friend feels better soon.

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  22. Katie - kind of off topic from the blog. Did you find it easier to run (jog) on the treadmill than outside when you first started running?

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  23. @Jen

    Jen, when I first started running, I found that I was able to go much faster on the treadmill than on the street. But the effort felt easier. I think street running feels a little harder, but mentally is MUCH easier for me.

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  24. I went to San Francisco the other day and the Biscoff US headquarters is there ... so naturally, I had to introduce the cookies (and the spread) to my friend. In their shop, they sold two varieties of the spread ... creamy and crunchy! I bought one of each :] and I will tell you how the crunchy is in February, when I will be eating it. (Trying to go easy on sweets until I get the holiday weight off!)

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  25. i just found this blog and first, i'd like to thank you for the inspiration! seriously, thank you. second, i am from shipshewana! born and raised. how crazy is it that you speak of it here! if you ever visit, check out the local coffee shop ;)! third, cindy... what up northern indiana native! represent!

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