Mark Your Calendars

Most Fattening Chips and Dip

Most Fattening Chips and Dip

Life of Questions

I always say life is a series of questions. When we were in high school it was what college were you going to attend and then what's your major. Then it moved on to what do you do for a living and then are you seeing anyone, are you married, do you have kids.

I started my blog because of the questions I got about how I lost the weight so I decided to put all the tips I did in one place. Now the questions are back to are you seeing anyone, are you dating, why are you still single...this is my least favorite.

I recently had five of my high school girlfriends in town to celebrate my birthday and of course they are all married with children and none who have had the pleasure of dating in the 21st century with online dating, texting, instant messaging, etc. They just can't understand why I'm single trust me I ask myself that as well because I'm FANTASTIC...lol. So I sat down with two of them and enlightened them on how this lovely process works. Now of course they always hear my dating adventures and those of my friends and now as I watch the reruns of "Sex in the City" Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte, and Miranda we're pioneers for us single women and we're so right on.

The question I ask myself is with all the fabulous, beautiful, smart single women I know where are those great guys? It's a question that may never be answered but you'll going to have fun hearing how we try to find them. Stay tuned.......

Where's your smile?

Do you ever wonder what it would be like if your life was a reality show? I'm a reality show junkie from the Real Housewives to the Bachelor. In watching these shows I sometimes wonder what character would I be the sarcastic bitch, cool and laid back, mysterious and moody, or crazy girl. I like to think I'd be the cool, sexy, fun girl however in real life there is no editing!

The reason I bring it up is because recently I was traveling through the airport on my way to Colorado skiing. As I stood in the security line with my ID and boarding pass I stepped up to the agent and happily handed over my information. I love giving my ID because I LOVE my photo in which I have a big smile on my face. He looked at my ID and then at me and asked "Why aren't you smiling"? As I walked through security I thought you're right why am I not smiling I'm going on vacation I should be beaming. It made me wonder is this how people see me with no smile? What if the camera was following me for my reality show, would I be the girl with no smile?

We all can loose our smile from time to time and sometimes we need someone to reminds to do so, but when life gets to be to much and we all know it can, ask yourself what character do you want to be in your reality show!

New Year.....New Goals

Happy New Year! We're now 18 days into 2011 and I'm struggling with those winter blues and I think it's because I'm ready to strap on my running shoes and hit the lake front. Since it's not the most optimal running weather I decided to start to update my blog. I realized it's been way to long since my last posting and that one of my goals this year is to dust off my computer keys and make my blog a priority this year. I forgot how much it helps me and what I've heard from others they enjoy as well.

I started to get excited about planning my 2011 race schedule. Now, don't get the wrong idea I'm not one of those crazy, obsessive runners. I do it for pure enjoyment. This year I'm looking for different races around the country and the Chicago area. As much as I love my beloved Chicago I'm ready to pound the pavement and see some new destinations.

One goal this year is to try a triathlon. I did my first marathon last year, the Chicago Marathon, which was an amazing experience and will do again this year. It was a last minute decision last year and my training was horrible, my finish time even worse, but to cross the finish line felt like I won the lottery considering where I started in this journey. I always hate the phrase "if I can do it anyone can do it", but I have to say it's true. If you have two feet and physically able you can do it and it doesn't matter how fast the point is you did it. Ok, enough from the soap box.

20 years later and still lookin good.....

Class Reunions for some can be anxiety ridden, but for me I was actually looking forward to going back to see my friends. Maybe because I see many of them throughout the year and of course Facebook has helped to keep tabs on everyone.

I think it also helped that I was going home healthy and in better shape than I was in high school. My best friend surprised me with coming in for the reunion and she brought in some photo albums. It was fun to look back and laugh and how fashion forward we thought we were.

Lesson learned that no matter how old, how fat, divorced, single, unemployed, etc. We all have things in our lives we struggle with but the love and support of good friends is what helps us get through the tough times and celebrate the good ones.

I look forward to the 25th...........

Word of the day "Refocus"

I went for a run tonight the first time in about 10 days and for a girl who's training for a marathon I need to kick it into gear. My runs usually help clear my head and tonight I definitely had a breakthrough.



I ran through the Loyola campus and as I stopped in front of the chapel I saw the door was open. I popped my head in to take a peak of the church and as I did I felt a very peaceful feeling, so I decided to stay. As I sat there in this very quiet and calming place I thought about how life can get get so crazy and you can loose site of the important things. I realized I'd lost focus of what my goal is and got distracted. By what you ask? Life which includes family, job, friends, and do I dare say men.



For the last few years my goal had been focused on loosing the weight and now it shifted to finding someone to share my life with but what I need to remember is I can't loose focus of why I started this journey. I had three goals to get finacially, physically, and career healthy. Now that I've done this I need to REFOCUS and really decide what is important what is important to me for my next set of goals. If I'm not happy then nobody around me will be happy. It may sound selfish but I still have a goals to reach and need to find the balance and how to handle it all.

My Favorite Photo

How many of us really enjoy getting their pictures taken? I don't think many women ever really love pictures of themselves, but every so often there is that one that we look at and go hmmm.....we'll maybe that's not so bad. That's how I felt when I went in to get my driver's license renewed.

Technically it expires on my birthday next February, but I just couldn't stand looking at the old photo. As I sat their waiting for my number to be called I kept staring at the old photo wondering who is that person. When they announced B262 I proudlyjumped off my seat and walked up to the counter ready to get rid of the old me.

The clerk looked at my license and then looked at me and asked if I'd ever had trouble using this, "sadly no" I said. Surprisingly nobody every questioned if it was me so I guess they could see some resemblance of the old me in there somewhere. He then proceeded to ask all the standard questions including the dreaded, "what is your weight"? I was ready to tell the truth, no more lying, fibbing, of fudging of the truth. The clerk as and I proudly told the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth. However, it's between me and Gasper, the clerk.

2009 Dam Challenge

The 4th Annual Kickapoo Dam Challenge was the best yet. Each year I get a new partner and we keep improving our time. It's one of my favorite races to do because it combines the canoe, biking, and running. It was a little soggy this year but it didn't take away from the fun. Tom's sister Kelly was my partner in crime this year plus she's a kayaker so I knew we'd have a leg up this year. I decided to do the run this year since I biked it last year and I'm glad I did it was so pretty running through the fields.

Home Sweet Home

As Dorothy once said "there's no place like home" and I couldn't agree more but Dorothy wasn't trying to loose weight on her way back to Kansas.  

I was home for my mom's 70th birthday and it was a food fest weekend.  It started with Pizza on Thursday night, steaks on Friday night, chili on Saturday night and the pinnacle was the birthday party.  We had pork sandwiches, you know the other white meat, served with cheesy hash brown potatoes, creamy macaroni salad, some pudding and whipped cream cookie mix that I know was packed with thousands of calories.  The ultimate was the b-day cake which was so yummy you couldn't have just one piece.  Oh and I forgot the nuts and candy corn combo on each table which my fingers made their way to several times.  

I stopped trying to count the calories and points and just let myself enjoy because of the special occasion.  I did do extra workouts that day knowing what was on the menu.  I can happily report after a high calorie weekend I maintained my weight.