How big is your stomach?

It's gorgeous outside! I just couldn't stand it. Corey called to say he wouldn't be home for lunch so I laced up my new green kicks and headed into downtown Fairhope. I had my heart walk in the sunshine while I browsed the shops. I see a shopping trip in my future. Corey and I both need smaller clothes!

This looks like ice cream but it isn't. It's my frozen yogurt and my goody of the day. I was surprised by the man that sold it to me though. He kept asking if I didn't want two scoops. Maybe a waffle cone? Some sprinkles? It's like my one scoop wasn't good enough. Really?!? What's up with this? Everything you order is giant these days. It's getting gross out there! I want a snack, not a giant waffle cone with toppings and a days worth of calories.

Did you know your stomach is about the size of your fist? It can stretch out and hold about a liter of food. Huh. Here's the kicker for me. Just because it CAN doesn't mean it SHOULD at every meal. A standard breakfast for me is something like a banana and a low fat cheese stick. If I'm really hungry I'm grab a handful of granola or something. Believe me, it's more then enough! I'll be eating again 3 hours later so why stuff myself? So here's the deal. Try eating a smaller portions more times a day. It's amazing how much better you'll feel without all the heavy meals!

Arts and Crafts!

It's Art's and Crafts time in Fairhope! I love this festival so much it's not even funny. I go every year and amble around for at least one whole day. Every year it gets bigger so you can spend hours wandering around without seeing the same thing twice.

This year, going posed some challenges but I went anyway. Parking was it's usual nightmare but I managed. I wore my heartrate and step counter just to keep an eye on myself. I walked 4 miles today! Very, very cool. My heart was still beating too fast but I managed to work around it. I sat when I needed to and stayed moving at a steady pace most of the time. Lunch posed a problem! This is the food court. Yum right? I made two whole laps around this thing...

I avoided THIS even though homemade ice cream on a spring day is one of my favorite things. It looks fabulous but it's really not heart healthy. Best to stay away right?

I settled for wok stir fry. I know, I know. It's still not heart healthy. At times like this you HAVE to eat. Skipping meals can be just as bad as eating a bad one. I should have thought ahead and packed a granola bar but I didn't think about it. I knew I had to eat something so I settled for something with veggies and noodles. When you get stuck in a situation where there isn't a salad in site just do your best. Considering the food here is mainly fried, I think I picked okay. Kinda sad though huh? Not ONE healthy option! You can order fried oreos, gator on a stick, funnel cakes, and gallons of sweet tea. Corn dogs, ice cream, and tons of fried seafood. The only salad I saw was a Greek monstrosity covered in feta and creamy dressing. Back. Away. Slowly. It's pretty sad to me that you can't get a healthy meal (or even a reasonable one) at the festival. We all love to wear the ribbons for heart health but we can't get the food. As for the restaurants? Crawfish boils, BBQ setups, and restricted menus. I struck out there to. Seriously. What's up with this?

This is the only thing I bought myself today. Some funny green sneakers. I saw them out and they made me smile so I brought them home. Aren't they silly? After a 4 mile walk I was tired! I love my new pills and I've definitely perked up. I feel full of energy and trapped a little bit. I wanted to stay longer but I came home. It's frustrating but improvement can be. I should have laid down but I couldn't bring myself to. Me and my silly sneakers pulled a chair out on my sun deck. I "rested" by spending an hour soaking up spring sunshine and listening to the classic rock from the band on the other side of the marina. It's not like I can't go back right? Tomorrow is a new day and I think I may just go walk a little more. I'll just pack and apple next time.

Lent

Mardi Gras is over and Lent is here. Do you know why you give things up for Lent? It's fasting. You're supposed to identify with Christ's suffering, learn self discipline, and pay for your sins. That's why you give up something you love like chocolate, coffee, or meat. You have to feel the loss. If you're not suffering a little bit, you're not doing it right. So that's what's up.

What am I giving up? Sigh. I'm really, really sorry Jesus but nothing. Don't get too huffy people. In the past 7 months this is what I've given up...

Smoking
Mammals
Fat
Salt
8 inches of hair
Jogging
My gym
Ice Cream
Booze
Regular Coca Cola
"Real" coffee, not decaf
My job
Traveling
"Stress"

I could go on but you get the point. Other then an addiction to cute pajama bottoms and a nail biting habit I've got nothing. Some of those things I can get back but quite a few are gone for good. Does permanent loss count for Lent? No? Sorry. :(

I am feeling Lent though. I walked right by all that Valentine's candy at clearance prices yesterday. Sigh. All that chocolate wasting away in it's heart shaped boxes. I also treated all of my moonpies like Christmas presents. It's more fun to give then receive. I didn't eat ONE!!! That's a hefty accomplishment for a girl during Mardi Gras.

But what about this year? How's this? I share some of my healthy tips with you! Check back and I'll post the food, fun, and workouts I've been picking up in the past 7 months. I've learned some handy things! Considering that I'm not even Catholic and don't really HAVE to give up anything, this sounds like a good compromise. Maybe some of you guys can pick up something to do instead of giving up something! Now wouldn't that be fun?

A bloggie blurb...

Just a baby post for you guys. What can I say, slow week! Other then figuring out that I can put my new short hair into the cutest ponytails ever, well, I got nothin' for ya. Seriously, they look like itty bitty horns. For an at home do it's just happy. It's enough to make you want to say something silly like Rawr! Yeah, yeah. I'm a dork. What else right?

Not much! The new pill may be working. I'm hitting perky but ever heard of placebo effect? Me and my new pigtails aren't celebrating yet. Let's give it a bit more before I party.

The new heart monitor comes in the mail tomorrow. Jeez. Crappiest package ever. Once it's here I call a number and the tech support guy will tell me how they want me to hook that thing up. Then it's 21 days of someone recording my every heartbeat before I take it off. Joy. I'm allowed a stink face on this one. It's a little creepy isn't it? On a good note, it's the laaaaast test. No more hospitals, needles, and wires. No surgery scares. I'll be done and focusing on STAYING better not being sick. Cool huh?

Most awesome kid ever.

I'm a sucker for redheaded little kids. I don't know why but I think they're awesome. Maybe it's because they're so darn cute or maybe it's because every one I've ever talked to has been super sassy. Heck maybe as a freckle face myself I just recognize "my people." Whatever it is, they rock.

While checking out in Publix I met The Most Awesome Kid Ever. There's me, with my groceries, waiting for my total. This kid pulls up with his momma and does this snappy dismount out of his chopping cart. Cool man. Good grief he's cute! He's got curly red hair and he's rockin' itty bitty cargo pants and Diesel tennis shoes. He stands on tiptoe and starts digging through the fruit I'm buying. O-kay? What's up with this?!? How do you shoo a 6 year old?

Kid - "You like fruit huh?"
Me - "Sure do."
Kid - "We have lots of fruit to."
Me - "That's good. It's healthy."
Kid - "Yeah. That's how we roll."

Oh no he didn't! That's how we roll. With apples. I only claim half of what happened next. His mom had that hilarious laugh that ends with a snort. You know the kind... you can't help but crack up when you hear it and Mr. Cutie Pie was getting all gangsta on me. I did what any person with no kids would do. I riled him up!

Me - "That's how you roll huh?"
Kid - "Oooooh yeah." He starts bouncing around.
Me - "I'll bet you got the pimped out swingset."
Kid - "Uh huh!!!!" This yelled in Grover-like voice.
Mom - Snort, snort.
Me - "Got the chromed out seesaw huh?"
The kid starts talking about bling! Holy goodness, he knows what I'm talking about!!! I pay for my stuff, load up my cart, and turn back to my new buddy. I kind of ask for his mom's permission and slip him one of the Snickers I bought for Corey. This kid deserves chocolate.
Me - "Bye little man. I like your outfit by the way. You're big pimpin' in those khakis."

He starts singing the song! If ever a parent needed to know the effect of social media on children, well, come meet this kid. He then walks me to the door and JUMPS to activate the sensor so it opened up. I think him for "opening" the door for me and he told me it wasn't a problem. I was a chick and stuff. Aw!

He stuffed his hands in his pockets and started to bounce/run back to his mom. I watched till he got safely there and managed to catch him busting his butt on the tile. He popped up and looked around to see if anyone saw it. I scooted out the door before he was busted.

Seriously. Isn't he cute?!?

New, new, new!!!

So stinkin' tired!!! Last Saturday was my birthday. I'm a big old 31. Don't be picking on the old either! Anybody rusty enough to be a tinman can use that word. This fatigue thing is kicking my butt. My heart works great... as long as I'm not doing anything. The minute I'm moving my heart rate shoots up. Straightening a headful of hair earned me a heart rate of 140. Now I'm sorry but being out of breath for beauty is beyond ridiculous. It's time to grow up.

What to do? Well, I'm a little tired, a little frustrated, and a whole year older. I gave myself a birthday gift. I broke out the scissors, grabbed a handful of hair, and started chopping! Yes, a headful of long, dark hair is gorgeous. Agreed, but so is being a grown up! I need a break and a short, sassy bob that takes 15 minutes to fix is just the way to start my year.

The only downside was the husband. Man was he PISSED! To be fair he woke up in the morning to find his crafty wife's hair neatly braided on the counter (I'm donating it.) and his scalped wife in bed. NOT a good way to have a hubby find out. I hadn't even had my first cup of coffee and I was already dust. The frantic phone call search for a stylist started on 2 iPhones while he shot me some stink eye.Darn it, I did a good job though! The bob I gave myself I got to keep. Luckily for me sanity set in before I tried to "fix" my handiwork and all I needed was some trimming and evening out. Not bad for a first (And only!) attempt!

So there you go! Yes it was a little extreme to chop it myself but I needed to do it. It's time to let go and start fresh. I said goodbye to the pretty hair that wore me out and hello to the sassy new do! It was the perfect thing to do... I haven't had a bad hair day yet and man is it easy! I'm now an advocate of the extreme lifestyle change. Just don't be crazy and do it yourself. Warn a husband first!