If the Pants Don't Fit

I took a little break from blogging.  I hadn't been doing so hot with the healthy eating and wondered, in part, if it had to do with the blogging.  But of course, that was ridiculous.  I took a week off from blogging and if anything, I became even more unfocused in the weight loss department.

However, things have become serious.  As I pulled on one of my more forgiving pairs of pants this afternoon and had to suck in a little to get them zipped, I realized I had to face the music.

I'm lazy.

I always have been somewhat lazy in life.  Currently my laziness is a major contributor to my week off from blogging and my recent weight gain (I haven't weighed since the beginning of September, but I know I've gained. I can tell by the spare tire that has appeared where my stomach should be.)  I was being too lazy to even think thoughts that could eventually become blog posts, preferring instead to read children's books voraciously. (Harry Potter is technically a children's book.)

So to end, here's today's motivation for being healthier (in no particular order):

• The Mud Run is in four weeks
• I'm going to be seeing my granny (an avid reader of this blog) in 2 months. I haven't seen her since I started this journey just after her 90th birthday party two years ago. I want to look my best for my November trek to see her and other extended family members.
• I prefer it when pants fit
• Tomorrow is Monday and Mondays are great days for clean starts.
• I would rather my stomach not look like I swallowed a spare tire

Now, the trick is to carry this into next week.  Who's with me?

Taking a Break

I've been kind of quiet on the blog front the past few days.

It's not you, it's me.

I just haven't had a lot to say.  I haven't been doing well with diet, exercise, goal meeting, or basically anything that this blog is about.

I don't want to be inauthentic, so I'm taking a short break.  I hope to be back to regular posting again soon.

Love you!

Photo Friday: September 9

Another Fabulous Photo Friday!

Got to watch my nephew Zach play soccer last Saturday.  That's him with the moves at goalie.

My niece Natalie is as cute as ever.  She loves her Aunt Jill.

The workout plan that I have not been following this week.  It involves pull-ups, push-ups, lunges and crunches in alternating and huge amounts.  I'm back to full on Mud Run training soon.

Started a new study with friends this week based on this book.  

Mud Run

I've gotten a few questions about my upcoming Mud Run, so I thought I'd spend a post telling you a little more about it.

On Oct. 15, I will be tackling the United States Marine Corps Mud Run in Columbia, S.C.   The event raises money for the Greater Columbia Marine Foundation and turns girls into men.  (err, scratch that last part. There will be no gender switching.)

In 2010, the Mud Run reached capacity with 3,600 teams and over 14,000 participants. Because of this, they now hold two Mud Runs a year.

Enough about that. On to the good stuff: the course and its 32 obstacles.
The course has what I'd call a lot of  haulin' and crawlin' obstacles.  


Haulin' = hauling our bodies over walls that are five feet, 10 feet and 15 feet tall, under and over logs, up the side of a steep ravine with only a rope for help. 


Crawlin' = under cargo nets, through a mud trench, and under logs.

I am very worried about all of this.

I know what you're thinking:  I am crazy. Maybe. But, luckily, I'm not the only one, as I will be completing the course with three other lovely ladies: Abigail and Abominable Amie and our good friend Kristy. We'll all be crazy and muddy together.

I'm not exactly sure what my best plan for training should be.  Right now, I'm thinking lose as much weight as possible so I have less to haul. I'm also thinking I need to get serious about being able to do a pull up and I need to get serious now.  Other than that, I have no concrete plans.


What do you think? Are we crazy? Are you jealous? Are you excited at the mere thought of the pictures we will have from this event? (I am.)

*Photos stolen from USMC Mud Run website for educational purposes only.

A Jumble

I'm kind of a jumble of thoughts today. Thus the blog will be a bit of a jumble. Apologies.

Last week I was unstoppable.  I was, as they say, flying high. (eating and workout-wise)
This week it does not seem I can control my own behavior.  (eating and workout-wise)

I used to learn from my mistakes. "Used to" as in back before I ever started this blog.
Now I see my mistakes and say, "Oh, there's that tricky mistake again. I hate it, but there's nothing I can do about it. Guess I'll just make it again."

A year ago, I was so optimistic about my chances of reaching 100 pounds lost that I put it in the title/URL of this blog.
Today I am no closer to losing 100 pounds than I was at this time last year.  In fact I am a handful of pounds heavier than I was then.

Weighing once a month is not working.
Weighing once a week was also not working.
What does work?

I need a new mattress. My current mattress is quite old and makes me wake up with a back ache between 4 a.m. and 5 a.m.
I am always tired.
I'm tired of What's Up Wednesdays.

Today's behavior was poor.
Tomorrow's another day.

Happy One!

Guess what!  Today is the one year anniversary of Lost and Not Found!

I can't believe it, but on September 5, 2011 I wrote my first extremely long blog post.  A year later and I'm still a little too long-winded, but at least I'm consistent!

Thank you so much for your comments over the last year.  I've successfully been maintaining my weight loss for over a year, and I know a lot of that is because of your interest and support of my journey.

 I thought that to look back at the year, I would include links to my most popular blog posts.  This is as determined by number of all-time page views. If you've missed one of these posts, you might want to take a few minutes and check them out.


10. Saying Goodbye to Diet Pepsi
9. Fashion Play-by-Play
8. Self Confidence Secret
7. Free Fallin'
6. His Compassions Never Fail
5. Bon Voyage
4. The Journey Thus Far
3. The Happiest Post on Earth
2. Love Where You Are
And the most popular all-time blog post:
1. Announcing: the Walking Club


Are there any posts that you think should be on this list of popular posts?  Or, more importantly, is there anything you think I should try and tackle in the second year of Lost and Not Found?

Photo Fridays: September 2

Start the weekend out right with another photo Friday!

I realized I was out of milk after making my bowl of cereal and strawberries...so I mixed in applesauce instead. It worked! It was super sweet and delicious, and I did it two more times this week.

Bonnie got a bath this week because we have visitors coming this weekend. She was very suspicious of me both before and afterward.

Starting a new training plan to get ready for the Mud Run. Pull ups (pictured) and push ups factor heavily in the routine thus far.  I am so sore.

As a special photo Friday treat, here's a video of me crossing the finish line at the Heels N Wheels Duathlon last weekend.  Thanks to Bryan for the video...