Oh hi there friends! A few quick things…

  • I went home sick yesterday. I made it an hour and a half before a 24 hour stomach bug wiped me out. It sucked. But I’m back, and feeling much better!
  • I’m heading to Denver TONIGHT for the 3rd time in as many months. And look how cool that is: It will only take 16 minutes to get there! 🙂
  • The overuse of words makes me nuts. I think that is because when I wrote scripts I wouldn’t repeat words in a script because it makes you sound like you aren’t smart enough to find a synonym. Or it grates on the ear. So imagine my extreme dislike when people use the same two words constantly to describe changes being made in our office. The words “piece” and “process” have become my most hated words. And I don’t generally hate words. Not even “moist.”
  • I haven’t run since Tuesday and don’t see a run in my future until Sunday. That sucksssss.
  • That also means that I won’t let myself listen to Serial until I get to run. It’s like dangling a freakin’ carrot in front of my nose. Can’t wait!
  • I need fun Secret Santa ideas for my co-worker. $25 is the limit. got any good ones? Please help! She’s a girl, newly engaged, likes moscato, music, wedding planning, crafts, etc.
  • Have a great weekend friends!! 

Let’s Chat, shall we?

  • Monday morning Selfie: Red pants, curly hair, and I’m DOWN 4 POUNDS OVER Thanksgiving!! What the wha?!?! (I know, right?) I got on and off the scale 5 times before I believed it. But I’ll take it. Steps slowly away from the scale.
  • Look at my new lover: A cherry red Kate Spade purse. I got her for $200 off on Saturday!! Happy Dance!!
  • I spent some wonderful time with both of my besties this weekend. Boardgames, laughing until we cried, and a random photo shoot. I adore these girls. 
  • I heard from the 22-year-old (The child) on Thanksgiving day. He told me that he was “Thankful to have met me”. Okay, thank you? Boys.
  • I’m heading to Denver on Thursday night for the 3rd time in as many months. This time its for another wedding(!) and the friend in the bottom picture without the glasses’ birthday. It will be a quick trip, the other bestie and I fly out Thursday night and come home Saturday.
  • That being said, I just realized that I only work one full week the rest of this year as I have Friday off this week, and then I work the full week next week, and then the week after that we only work through Thursday before we’re off for our Christmas Vacation. Our Offices Shutdown on the 19th and don’t reopen until January 5th. And I get paid for ALL OF IT. And it’s NOT vacation time. It’s just like I’m working…but I’m not. Glorious! 
  • So, best job ever or best job ever?!
  • I’m nearly caught up on Serial and I’m freaking out. That’s some good stuff.
  • Also, the mere thought of Christmas shopping is seriously stressing me out. But then everyone asks, what do I want? Year-round I can think of dozens of things that I would like to have. But this time of year, I can’t think of a darn thing. That’s the way it always goes, I suppose.
  • I met a friend for lunch today. When I walked in, right inside the door there was a table full of 5 military men. I kind of made a dramatic entrance and they all looked up and stared at me. I was doing the same at them while I whipped off my stocking hat and tossed my hair out of face. I stood there, blinking at them for a quick second before I realized staring is impolite (hey! They were doing it too!) and walked back to find my friend. She saw the whole thing and just laughed at me. I think I get my flair for the dramatic from being in TV News?

That’s all I got. Have a great week friends!

4 miles on this Black Friday in some pretty fantastic weather. Another Serial podcast kept me company today. Made it go fast.

While I was out for my run, I encountered an older woman walking on the sidewalk coming towards me. I made the choice to run out on the street as she was taking up the entire sidewalk and not appearing like she was going to move. As I passed her, I looked over, smiled and said hi. She looked at me and said “you shouldn’t be running in the street.”

The smile froze on my face and I just kept running past her. I think I grunted something noncommittal at her. But really lady? You were in the middle of the sidewalk and saw me running towards you, and didn’t make any effort to move over so I could stay on the sidewalk! I thought I was being respectful and polite by moving into the street! Whatevs.

When I synced my Fitbit, I was in second place! Again, I’m sure it won’t last long. But I’m excited while it lasts!

Yesterday I ended up with a little over 20,000 steps! On Thanksgiving day no less!

I’m currently watching the Husker game. It’s not pretty. I’m having a pretty great holiday weekend. Hope you are too, friends!

Turkey Trot 2 miler with my family.

My 8 year old nephew and I ran this one together. I’m so proud of him…He ran the whole thing! First time he’s done that in a race! And it was 15°! My legs are finally thawing.

We did it in 22:59. He’s awesome!

He won’t make a normal face when taking pictures. These were the best of the bunch.

My brother won a free Turkey and the boys each won a raffle bag. I’m the Susan Lucci of drawings…so I didn’t win anything, per usual!

Happy Thanksgiving friends! I’m thankful for all of you!

Tuesday things:

  • Brooke has me drinking the Hanson’s kool-aid. (Fun fact: Kool-Aid was invented in Hastings, Nebraska by a man named Edwin Perkins!) But, since I’m too lazy to actually read the book and make a schedule for myself, I asked her to do it. And because she’s the most awesome, she did. My plan starts the week of New Year’s. With a fitting 3 mile run on the first day of the New Year. A good way to begin I think. 
  • She mapped it all out so that I have no excuses. Crap. 🙂
  • Today is my Friday. I’m having a rough go of focusing. Get your head in the game Melissa.
  • I gained a bunch of new followers after this post. Welcome new friends! A little bit about me: I’m Melissa, I work for a non-profit that deals with Honors programs. I used to be in TV News for 10.5 years. I’ve run 10 Halfs and 1 Full Marathon. I have a crazy dating life and probably should write a book about the weird men I’ve gone out with. Tell me more about you! I won’t bite! 😉
  • Today’s OOTD. I really like stripes. I wear them a lot. Mint strips are one of my favorites though! 
  • I got up and was on the treadmill at 5:15am for 2 miles this morning. AND I’m going to the gym after work for my weight lifting class. Two-A-Day FTW! 
  • In other news, my 8-year-old nephew is texting* me now! It’s so fun! I love that kid. And, like a true man, he never replied to my last text message that I sent him, asking him a specific question. Apparently, texting mind games start early with some boys! 🙂

Talk soon friends!

*The 8 year old has a cell phone because he walks home from the bus stop each day and has to call my brother while he’s walking. Safety first!

Relationship Status: It’s Complicated

These feelings will never go away. Every day, for the rest of my life, will be a struggle to forget. A struggle to be healthy. Normal. Someone who is unfettered by such a simple action. 

Eating.

The holidays are the worst. Particularly Thanksgiving. A holiday basically devoted to food. Eating and drinking and gorging yourself is celebrated. It’s what we do on this day. (And the weekend after it.)

And that’s ok. You’re allowed. I’m allowed. It’s normal. The body must have food to survive. We need it. But do we need 3,000+ calories in a single day? And then leftovers the next day? And the day after that?

Probably not.

…..

Despite losing 150 pounds and maintaining that weight loss for more than 3 years now, I still have some pretty major issues with food. Each day is a very real struggle for me. I have to eat. And I do eat. But sometimes, the very act of eating stresses me out. 

Will I overeat, and gain back the weight? Will I eat too much? Will this one meal be the meal that starts the out-of-control spiral? 

Intellectually, I know that one meal isn’t going to make me gain 5 pounds. But when you stop caring about one meal, do you then stop caring about them all? 

I spent most of my life overweight. I will admit, it is hard for me to remember what it felt like when I was heavy. I don’t really recall how it felt to live in that body anymore. Perhaps that is my mind’s way of protecting itself. I see pictures and I have a hard time remembering that girl.

But the thing is; unless you’ve been overweight, unless you’ve ever struggled with food, then you have no idea. It’s as simple as that. You can sympathize, but you can’t empathize. Eating isn’t always complicated for some people. I wish I were one of them.

Every day, for the rest of my life, (and I’m guessing this is true for a lot of you too) I will struggle with food. With wanting to eat the sweet treats because “I deserve it.” I will battle the demons that tell me don’t eat lunch so you can eat more crap later. I will rage against the quiet voices in my head that tell me I need to run harder or more now to punish my body for the Jr. Mints I consumed.

I like to think I beat back some of these monsters. that I’ve conquered a few of them. My relationship with food has gotten better, talking about it helps. But I know that I will forever struggle to have a successful attitude towards food.

And maybe, that’s good enough for right now.

Monday, Monday.

  • Short Week, FTW! I only work Monday and Tuesday!! First Thanksgiving off in A DECADE. I’m deliriously happy. I get to help with Thanksgiving dinner, run my first (real) Turkey Trot with my brother, sister-in-law, and 2 of my nephews, and enjoy some down time.
  • I got up and ran before work this morning! First time since I was at my conference 2 weeks ago. I was on the treadmill by 5:10am. Whoo-Hoo!
  • I’ve jumped on the Serial bandwagon. I am only 3 podcasts in, but crap you guys! That’s good stuff. I ran while listening to it this morning. I really enjoy doing that as opposed to always listening to music during my runs.
  • As of 8am, I’m less than 2500 steps away from my goal for the day. That’s a great feeling.
  • I had to screenshot where I’m at on the leaderboard for steps! I know things will change once everyone syncs their fitbits, but for one brief, shiny moment in time. I’m pretty high up there. Hooray! 
  • Today’s OOTD: Leggings, a dress that I’m waaayy too tall for so it has now become the kind of dress that I will wear with leggings, and my gray boots. A solid choice. I’m digging the whole Jail escapee thing I’ve got going on today. 😉

Happy Monday friends!

Random things just keep happening to me

I was out for my morning run today when I heard a car slowing down in the road next to me.

As I looked over, the man inside rolled his window down, smiled and yelled at me, “can I give you a lift?”

I shook my head, said “no” and promptly turned the corner off that street.

The man sped off and I booked it home.

I don’t think he was going to abduct me…But you can never be too sure…