"Eat Like A Bunny"- the Diet for Life!

You know what is so strange?  I am more careful about what my rabbits eat then what I eat.  You know that old saying:

Part of my mission at becoming a better runner also has to do with eating better and losing a little bit of weight in the process.  Which as anyone knows who has tried to change their diet...this can SUCK ROYALLY.  Last night was no exception, got home prepared to go run-what did I do instead?  Ordered a pizza...sigh.

I think one of the hardest parts of any lifestyle change is breaking the old habits.  For me this is mostly due to emotional eating.  Not because I am down specifically, but because I come home worn out and don't want to have to THINK anymore :)  But the truth of the matter is, on those night I could just make peanut butter and jelly and that would be better than other alternatives.  Not just to my waistline, but to my wallet as well.

I obviously can't change last night but I can remind myself of the importance of eating like a bunny.  Where does this phrase come from?  DH told me that if I wanted to be able to train harder and smarter then I would need to start eating like a bunny.

Ok...maybe not exactly like this bunny but she is modeling the lettuce leaf pretty well! 



Bunnies are designed to eat lots of greens.  Do you remember Thumper and how he always got in trouble for only eating flower tops in "Bambi?"  Well, that's because greens are like bunny super food.  They keep their digestive tract happy.  It just so happens that greens happen to be good for people too!

While Bugs Bunny was a great cartoon, one thing it didn't do well was promote or help people understand what rabbits even eat.  Carrots are like our version of cakes and cupcakes-or what Cookie Monster calls a "Sometimes Food."  Same thing with apples, banana's, and any other fruit-bunnies may have small quantities, but too much can not only make them fat, but it can make them sick too!

So, keeping all this in mind I wanted to remind myself today to eat like a bunny.  No, I am not just going to have salads all day, but I am going to start limiting the numbers of sweets and junk food that I consume because it's not doing me any favors.

I even joined a group called "Cookie Free December" that some of my friends started.  I am not sure if I will make it through the whole month without eating a single cookie, but I am sure as heck going to try.  Every year I repeat the same mistake, bake cookies, work cookies, Santa cookies, then the New Year hits and my stomach is a hot mess because I've consumed nothing but sugar for a month and a half!

So, just remember "NOT THE GUM DROP BUTTONS!"

When in doubt think HAY! This bunny is like the food plate for humans, mostly veggies and fruits (fruits for hoomans ONLY) with just a smidge of the carbs (of the bread and pasta variety) and protein.

Remember those Bunny 500's?  When rabbits are happy they can use your room like a race track and zoom around at high speeds.  Think, if you eat like a bunny you can run like a bunny, and hopefully lose a little of that padding in the middle!

I am only going to meet my running goals if I start putting better fuel into the system.  Trust me, I really want to run those 500's!

Happy Thursday folks!

Motivation= Registering for a 50k

Since I am trying out the new me, before the New Year....I decided to locate a 50k training schedule to get my tush in gear!  I found one that I think will be handy dandy and it's nice because the higher mileage is on the weekend when I can get up early and still have plenty of time to work on my dissertation.  It also still gives me some time to work out or cross train during the week...

I found this awesome race series that is being put on at Alum Creek near Columbus Ohio.  It's a series of two races and you can pick from multiple distances.  The first is on January 20th and I opted for the 20k and then the monster is on February 17th which is the 50k.  I am totally stoked because I have a schedule that is doable, and a plan to keep active through the worst months in Ohio.  AND....I totally made it fit around writing a dissertation!

There are only 250 spots open for this race so if you find yourself interested register at Premier Sports and as mentioned there are a variety of distances that you can run. 

Did I mention that this is my FAVORITE TIME OF YEAR....I confess that I hate to run in the cold, but I just totally dig the holiday lights.  I started a tradition of running on Christmas Eve around my neighborhood to enjoy the lights.  One year I went out absurdly late but it was unbelievably peaceful.  A run plus hot chocolate is the way to go!

I started thinking about 2013 as I mentioned in a previous post and am slowly readjusting and defining my goals.  Never a good time like the present-I say why wait until the New Year.  What are your plans?



Dream Big

Happy Monday friends.  This was an appropriate pic today and one that I really needed to see.  So often I put things off with the idea that things (or I) will be better, stronger, healthier..etc at some future date.  The problem is that date never arrives and I've sadly missed out on doing something exciting with my life.

I have this friend in my running group named Mandy whom I just really admire.  I admire her because she is one tough lady with what I like to call 'lady b@lls'.  I first ran with her almost a year ago because she needed someone to pace her for her last run before her half marathon.  I think she finished somewhere in a little over 2:30 minutes.  A year later this chick has made an attempt at mountain climbing (she's going back I believe to take that motha on again!), finished several half marathons, other races and a MARATHON.

She inspires me because she just puts her nose to the grindstone and doesn't let anything stop her, not her post baby weight (which she has shed most of!), not yucky trainers, nothing gets in the way of this gal doing her thing.  And it reminded me last night after reading her blog that I've got to stop a) feeling sorry for myself and b) stop delaying my dreams because I am too scared or worried to pursue them. 

Most of you know that I am a recovering scale-a-holic.  I have room to improve, weight to lose, muscle to put on..but mostly I just have a life that I need to live.  If tomorrow was it, I would be pissed at myself if I hadn't made every attempt I could at chasing down my dreams.

The biggest dream of mine...a 100 miler.  Ever since I saw that people did those I've wanted to run one.  I'm thinking 2013 might be my year.

What about you?  What is your biggest dream?

Oh, and check out Mandy's No Standing Still

Hug a Runner...for that matter hug your family too!

Today is hug a runner day!  So on my blog I am handing out hugs to all the runners in my life, hoping I can remember all, or most of them :)

Corrie
Ann
Anne
Julie
Jeanne
Molly
Michelle
Rohit
Susanne
J.P
Randy
Richard
Bill
Michelle H
Kim
Amy
DH
Mandy
Melanie
Judy
Sarah
Abby
Emily
Chad
Joe
Jeff

If I forgot someone I SORRY and HUGS TO YOU!!

Make sure you hug whoever you run with...get 'em when they are sweaty or their paws are dirty!

On that note I just had to say that I conquered the little man on my shoulder who tells me to be lazy.  Yesterday I was so tired when I got home from work I really did not want to go for a run!  I promised myself  that if I got out there I only needed to do 2 miles...well 2 turned into 3!  One of the hardest things for me has always been consistency.  Many of my running buddies are champs when it comes to training.  They just seem to know how to STICK TO IT!  They run multiple races a year, complete ultra's and ironman events....me, I just bail out when it comes to the consistency of training week after week.

So, my goal is to run the mileage that I set out for myself this week.  I'm trying not to look ahead too much, just get through this week and see how it goes. 

In the spirit of stick to itness...get out there and move!

Somebody's got a case of the Monday's

This morning I was hating on the day just because it's a Monday.  It reminded me that I really don't want to go to my 9-5'er and that I would much rather be at home and able to work on my dissertation full time.  But I can't, so there you have it.

Riddle me this....why is it so freakin easy to put on weight and yet miserably difficult to take it off??? I've finally come to terms with the fact that I need to lose  few extra pounds that I put on after the Columbus Marathon...in 2011!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

So, what is the regiment?  Lots of exercise, lifting, cardio, my kinect fitness game and of course running.  Also, I've started saying 'no' to thing like cake and extra sweets.  Yesterday we celebrated my mom's birthday....I love chocolate cake but decided it would be in my best interest to say no.  I know in theory we can occasionally have something sweet, but until I learn how to do occasional I think I'm just going to say no.  There is always something getting celebrated, at work, at home, and it's not helping my weight loss efforts AT ALL.

So, to throw this out there because if it is in cyberland I feel obligated to do something about it (wasn't there a psychology study where they put a drawing of a pair of eyes next to a candy dish and people took less??)

My starting weight is 138
My goal weight is 120.

Gosh, I have a very long ways to go.  First things first would be to make it under 130.  Eat like a bunny my DH says...bunnies eat lots of greens and fruit (or their sweets are a limited treat).

So, I'm learning to 'eat like a bunny.'

I'm really excited to start back with the running group next month...and drum roll!  I actually applied to be an 'official' Cleveland Marathon blogger.  I really hope I get chosen as I think it will really help me out with my running, not to mention I really like the thought of meeting new people along the way.

Since it's Monday and a three day week- Happy Monday!

Chi-Town and Other Bunny News

Hi folks!  First off I would like to say that our veterans are amazing people.  My dad was in the military and I know many of you have loved ones who serve/d as well.  Kudos and hugs to you!

This weekend RnRBunny was in Chi-Town for some deep dish pizza...JUST KIDDING!  Sometimes I forget that my alter ego is working on her dissertation too, so what brought me to the windy city was a conference called the Society for the Philosophical Study of Education...that's geek for Philosophy of Education.

I got to present a paper for the (5th?) year in a row.  I really enjoy this group because many different ideas are appreciated and accepted with this organization.  Plus this was a chance to work on a portion of my dissertation...

No worries, we did have some deep dish which was quite fantastic!  But the rest of the trip was really spent at the conference.

I was registered for the Buckeye Classic 10k on Sunday but did not make it out.  We got back into C-Bus a little after 10pm and I just did not have the juice the next morning after all the travel of the last couple of days.

I did however, register for my first marathon of 2013!  It is right before my birthday and called the Circular Logic Marathon!!! This race is held in West Lafayette Indiana, and what was totally nifty was that you can choose your own race bib number and name on the bib...OK, so most places let you do that, but the race number has a fun meaning for me (more on that later!)

I might be adjusting my 2013 goals a little bit because I have seen multiple opportunities to run a race in drivable states...towards my quest for all 50 and DC...more on that to come.

Otherwise I hope training is going well for everyone and keep on keepin on!

For the record, I did lift when I got home from Chi-Town so I wasn't totally lazy :)  Today marks the start of training so I will keep you posted on that.!

Funny Bunny of the Week:
When you leave town for a couple of days your pets think you have left them!  The look of happiness and excitement my rabbits gave me warmed my heart :)

What's next for this bunny??

I tell you what!  Coming up with a game plan is something that I am TERRIBLE at.  I think I get it in my head as to what I want to do and then I change my mind.  I am rather ridiculous when it comes to trying to make plans...and following through with them.

Since this year was such a bust I thought I would write out a game plan for the rest of this year and into 2013.  I will put tentative where I am not 100%.

2012:

Buckeye Classic 10k

Beat Michigan 5k

Holiday Run (tentative)

2013:

Last Chance for Boston Half Marathon

Earth Day Challenge Half Marathon

Cap City Half Marathon (with DH?)

Cleveland Full Marathon

2013 Tentative:

Sunburst Marathon

Emerald City Half Marathon

Air Force Marathon

Akron

Columbus Marathon

Some of these I am not sure if I am going to do a half or full so I am leaving the option open and going with the flow.  Cleveland has this great contest where you can be an official blogger of their marathon and I would really like to apply for it.  Thought it could be fun and motivating to meet new people and share the experience.

10 Reasons why the scale was the worst invention EVER!

I've been doing a ton of thinking lately.  Mostly because I've started to run more regularly and when I run I think.

Today's run made me think that this year has been an entire waste.  Well, sort of.  I did have a wonderful time doing a half marathon with my DH, one of the best experiences ever and I ran my 12th half marathon!  But otherwise this year was a bust and let me tell you why.

Because I cared waaaay too much about what the damned bathroom scale said every morning, every evening and after every workout.  Yes, I was weighing in that much.  The logical side of my brain said this is ABSURD, a weight loss or weight gain is not a true reflection-at least not in one day.  I let it get in my head, let it define me and how I was living my life.  It is a monster that honestly took on a life of it's own!  I stopped wearing cute clothes, stopped feeling sexy, I even missed runs because I hated how I looked in my running clothes.

I was enjoying the sunshine today even though my legs were screaming after my 7 miler yesterday and I was thinking about life, politics, social issues, and a little self-reflection.

What the heck have I been wasting my time on?  An inanimate object that puts out a number...seriously?  I've all but stopped running and loving life because of that.  I've stopped  taking care of myself because of that...ordering junk food and not exercising because of that!!!

What a loser!!! No seriously, that is the most losery thing I could let myself do.  So, I came up with my top 10 reasons for why the scale is, quite likely, getting trashed.

1) It says absolutely nothing about who I am as a person.  It  bears no reflection upon my personality, good deeds, etc.

2) It wasn't making me a better runner...in fact I was letting it hold me back from doing one of the things I most love.

3) I wasn't paying attention to what I was eating.  When the scale gave me feedback I didn't like I used it as a license to eat whatever because 'who cares.'

4) Worrying about that stupid thing gave me a low self-esteem which in turn halted any progress I was making on my schooling etc.

5) If I lived on the moon it would give me a totally different number.

6) I could be super duper skinny and still be super duper out of shape.  I'd rather be able to do a pull up and bench press then be skinny and wimpy.

7) Jeans.  Pretty clothing. I stopped wearing them.

8) I should be finishing my school-so that I can then start volunteering more again.  My weight shouldn't impact my desire to help the causes I love.

9) I don't need the scale to tell me what/ how to live my life.  I know what I need to be doing.

10) It was a waste of time.  A HUGE FREAKING WASTE OF TIME! And I got absolutely nothing in return for it.

I know who I am as a person, I'm constantly trying to educate myself to become more informed on a variety of issues, I want to improve my overall fitness and health.  I want to live a long healthy life with DH where we are 80 and still running half marathons together. Mostly I just want to do the best I can with the time given to make a positive impact on the world around me.  I am really not sure how/ why I let that thing take on a life of its own, but it did.  Instead of worrying about the how and the why I am going to move forward.

So....I am out of my slump, I am going to embrace life and live it to the fullest.

Without the bathroom scale.