Exercise

I exercised again this morning for the first time since the beginning of my third trimester. Its amazing how much thinner I feel just because I exercise. It's like I see myself differently in the mirror. (Maybe it's because I wear black?)

We (my exercise buddie, Cynthia, and I) went up the canyon and speed walked a trail and back up the mountain. The last half was all up hill. I'll be feeling it.

Cynthia and her daughter made a goal to run a half marathon next September. She challenged me to do it with them and I accepted. Although I would like to run a half sooner.....we'll see.

Presently, I'm feeling really motivated to get a grip on nutrition and exercise.......yesterday I swore off refined sugar again (after feeling guilty about the cookies for breakfast....). Except for special occasions. I need to define "special occasions" though. Not family get togethers- there are too many of those. Maybe I could bake one Sunday a month whatever I like and than "unrefined" treats the other Sundays? I hesitate to give myself any leeway considering Sunday I ate about 10 of the cookies I made (truly, the food snob in me thought they were divine. Browned butter and molasses chocolate chip cookies? Who could go wrong with the browned butter? Heaven!) And than 4 for breakfast yesterday ironically with my green smoothie....*sigh* its a problem I really struggle with. It really is an addiction. They say you must completely remove the addiction. If it were alcohol or drugs I would completely remove it right? What's the difference? And yet, I still feel I should have liberty to "cheat" every so often. The fact is that it's NOT drugs or alcohol.......justification.........but it will still do bad things toy body! *sigh* a true struggle.

And here I go out on a limb-Exposing myself to the world.......this is me. I tried to make the photos as ugly as possible so when I drop a few pounds I can make them as beautiful as possible ;). I have to admit I was hoping the black would help me out a little. Nope. This is me. In all my postpartum but almost-back-to-normal state. Ugh.

I have to post this other photo so ya'll know I'm not always frumpy old woman.......

Oh- and a few updates: 

• Baby GIRL was born emergency c-section at 9.5 pounds (or did I already say that in a previous post?) Guess the sugar did nothing to contribute to the baby's weight and 
• MY eczema literally DISAPPEARED after I had been rolled into my recovery room following the c-section. Must have been a pregnancy thing
• Green smoothies going GREAT!!!!!
• And have I showed you this?:
  

All natural whole wheat sourdough bread!  And it is sooooo yummy!  I have to be careful! I'm not a bread person but I could eat a whole loaf of this stuff!

Blah.

I should never had had sugar again.........................

However, the green smoothies are going real well.  Had some I didn't like.  Had some I LOVED. My husband has only missed a few days as well............!

Green Smoothie Challenge

Unbelievably my husband agreed to the Green Smoothie Challenge from this website:
 http://simplegreensmoothies.com/30-day-challenge

I'm completely amazed that he agreed- with the condition that I will get up with him every morning and make it.  Done!

I personally needed something to get me going again and this was it.  We did real well this week until yesterday.  He left early and I didn't want to make it with leftovers (I personally don't like the leftovers a day or hours later) and today was fast Sunday (Something our religion does on the first Sunday of every month.)........which was a lame excuse being that I only fasted one meal.  I kept saying I would make a smoothie for a snack but I didn't. HOWEVER, I made this FABULOUS dinner (It's one of my favorites) with mostly zucchini noodles:

http://www.ourbestbites.com/2012/07/zucchini-ribbon-pasta-with-light-creamy-lemon-basil-sauce/

YUM!  That counts as greens. Sort of...................

Looking forward to the challenge this week and.................I'm 8 weeks postpartum so I am determined to start exercising again this week.  YAY! Maybe start out with some yoga however, I want to run again...................

Later days.................