NEW RECORD!!

So first let me apologize for not updating for the past 12 days. My life has been totally crazy. So lets catch up.

Latest workout / weight update. I am proud to report that I am under 200 lbs. I am no longer in the 200s and will never be back. So setting my final long term weight loss goal of 50lbs. Just so everyone knows my weight goal is to be in the 140s. I signed up for my second month with my trainer on Friday and already my November schedule is posing some scheduling roadblocks.

WASHINGTON DC- I found out last week that I will be going to an Immigration Training in DC Nov. 12-16th. So my training sessions will have to be Mon-Tues-Wed. Three days in a row and then i'm going to party my butt off in DC. Thursday it will be Zengo (i can't help it- I miss the mango mojitos). Friday may be at La Tosca (Cindy tells me great music- plus the sangria isn't that bad). Sat & Sun who know where I will be. But know that I will in town cutting up. So watch out everyone...Artie is coming back for a long weekend.

THANKSGIVING- I will be leaving for Thanksgiving on Tuesday...so that means i'm going to only be able to train Monday and Tuesday AM. Unless my trainer is a saint and takes me on Sunday. PULEASE!

OH and now this week. I have had a death in the family and will be leaving town tomorrow for Houston. Also, my uncle doesn't seem to be doing all that well. So that means now i'm hoping my trainer will be able to train me tomorrow at 7 am. Crossing my fingers.

NEW RECORD: Last night I decided to take my first evening run. So at 5:30 i left the house planning to run about an hour when it gets dark. BUT i ended up running 2 HOURS for a total of 10.5 MILES!! That's right...a new mileage record for me. I can't believe I did it without struggling. I finally found my real distance zen. It felt so fantastic...my knee and my ankle twinged a little but it wasn't that bad that I had to stop. I kept running through. The funny thing that occurred to me was that I believe I could have kept going. I know now I am ready for my half marathon. Crazy huh? 13.1 miles. My run isn't until Dec 6th but at least I know it's possible.

Well....that's enough for now. I hope everyone had a great HALLOWEEN and that you didn't get the crap scared out of you. But today we should be honoring the dead. So for the fallen loved ones -- Shout Out from Big Girl Runner. Miss you and love you always. Maria Trevino Montealvo, Juan Jesus Montealvo, Evangelina Colunga Blanco, Able Blanco, Sr., Agatha DeLaCruz, Paul DeLaCruz, Sr., Mia Nicole Heredia.

TOOTLES....

LONG WEEKEND!!

Hello All, it has been a crazy busy weekend. It's crazy to think I haven't even had anytime to update my own blog. Here is another picture of my neighborhood. This is what I see when i'm running outside. Isn't it incredible?

Well, Friday was an okay day. I ended the evening at the movies to watch Couples Retreat. Vince Vaughn is hilarious. But most of the funny parts are already in the previews. Saturday was a busy day for work then it was on to a new church. Yep, I went to some crazy Christian church service where one of my staff was getting baptized. It was quite interesting. I can't help it i'm just a simple Catholic girl.

Sunday was hella busy. I got up early to start cooking my Blanco Frijoles a la Charra (borracho beans) for my softball team get together. Then I had to run an errand, then I had to get my run in which I was so struggling. I ran for an hour and only did 4.3 miles. Talk about LAME!! I was so disappointed in myself for that. That's the worse I've ever done. I think it was because I started at noon, the sun was out, it was hot and I didn't really have much to eat or drink before I went out. I know now that I can't be messing around with that. Then when I finished I had my massage with a real sports masseuse at the gym. I've paid more for an hour massage and not get the attention I need on my legs. I think we figured out why my knee has been bothering me. My hamstring is all tense and cramped up. I didn't even realize it. So i'm going to see him again this week. I need to work out all of these tense spots.

Oh and Lori Ortega is in town from DC for a family wedding and we got to hang out Sunday night. I may not see much of her the rest of the week because of the family obligations but it is always great to catch up with folks. I hope that means that many more of you are coming to visit soon.

Next weigh in should have been this morning but now I'm gonna have to do it tomorrow. Crossing my fingers under 200 is the goal peoples!!

One last thing. What the hell is wrong with the Dodgers? How is the world can they lose a close game. Last night they had the Phillies and Broxton choked. Seriously? Walks? I understand you don't want to pitch to them but really bro we are talking about the world series!! UGH - I have hope that they can come back but with the Phillies pitching staff that is going to be tough. Come on Dodgers...GET IT TOGETHER!!



TOOTLES...

TGIF -- MLB POST SEASON!!

Good Day my peoples...It has been a crazy busy Friday. Good times were had last night at club MOON in the Palms Casino. It was my first official club night in Las Vegas. It was a RedBull Beat Battle event. It was fun for about two hours...then my feet where like get me the hell up out of here. I was wearing my 4 inch heels and let's just say standing for 2 hours and dancing is not fun in 4 inch heels. I didn't have any cocktails but I still had a great time.

This morning was painful waking up. Finished my first two weeks with my trainer. I can't believe it's been two weeks already. Well, he worked me out pretty good. Did some stretches, suicides, lots of ab work and then some push ups. There's always other stuff but let's just say after the workout it felt AWESOME!! Can't wait to keep the weekend going with activities. I meet my 2nd softball team on Saturday and then Sunday i'm hoping to have another long run followed by a massage and finish the evening with the Monday softball team gathering. I'm making my frijoles a-la-charra. I know how my DC peeps miss my cooking. Sorry but it's time to take the Blanco recipe out west baby!! Of course I won't have any...(not in the food regimen) but I will have a great time.

With that I just have to say that the DODGERS must win this afternoon. They need to get it together so they aren't 2 down going East tomorrow. As for the Yankees and Angels...I have to root for the ANGELS. Even though lots of folks are saying it would be great to have a DODGER / Yankee World Series...come on. I'm so done with the Yankees. A DODGERS / ANGELS world series would be great as well. WOW...I've been in Vegas for 6 weeks and now i'm all WEST COAST. Craziness...

Everyone...have a great weekend!! Stay active...at least get out for an hour walk sometime this weekend. It's a start.

TOOTLES...

HYDRATION -- REUNION?

Since I've moved to Vegas I realized how much I must hydrate my body. Not only in drink water. It is recommended that we drink 8 glasses of 8 oz of water a day. To me I calculate that to 4 - 16 oz bottles of water. So however you choose to hydrate you also must hydrate your skin. I put on lotion sometimes 2-3 times a day. My skin was getting all ashy and hey I want young looking skin. Just because i'm 35 I don't want to look it!!

Well, I had another great session with my trainer. I got up by 6:30 (a little late) and hit the pavement at 7:15. I ran 3.2 miles with a 10:48 pace. Not bad. I need to work on that time. I'm registering for a Halloween twilight 5k Friday Oct 30th. Sounds like fun. I just wonder if I need to get into the Halloween spirit. I like Halloween but I usually like to do is put on a track suit, curl up on the couch and watch scary movies. Hmmm that sounds like a real plan. I just have to make sure to only each my Healthy Heart Orville Redenbacher popcorn. They have the 100 calorie popcorn mini bags. It tastes great without all that extra butter and fat. I will splurge by have a few raisenettes. My buddies know me too well. And yes, while i'm watching what i'm eating it doesn't mean I can't have a few chocolates with my popcorn.

So one last topic. Catching up with old school mates from junior high to high school. I think it's kind of cool that my old classmates from St. Christophers and Milby High School are finding me on Facebook. I really like facebook...hell thats the way I generate visits to this blog. But I just feel awful because I don't remember a lot of people from school. I know it may sound mean and all but this is why I will never run for office. If I can't remember people how can represent them. I have had one rule with Facebook. I don't friend people I'm not familiar with. If I remember you at the time that you friended me than I don't have a problem with it. But at what point do you become selective about who you are friending.

I'm having a great time catching up with a few folks but I'm apologizing right now to the people that I haven't friended. I just don't remember you. If you send me a message to give my brain a spark then i'm all about it. Until then...I guess we can meet at the next reunion or gathering.

Until next time...TOOTLES

LUCKY # 7!!

OH YEAH BABY!! I ran 7 miles this morning with an 11 minute pace. Like I said I'm just happy to be getting in my distance. The wind was killer again today. It is such a pain...makes it harder. My quads are sore. I think it's time to reserve a massage.

BTW I may be coming down to San Antonio NOV 15th for the Rock 'n Roll Half. That way when Dec. 6th rolls around I can really be good for the Vegas one. Plus maybe I get an extra medal for doing more than one Rock 'n Roll.

Well, so far I have burned 2,380 calories today. Over 1000 was for the 1:17 minute run this morning. I have done 15,435 steps so far. Many more to go. Goal is to burn 3100 calories a day and eat about 1200. That's what is going to help me lose the weight each week. Plus the supplements...Women's vitamins and a Fat Burner from the gym. Not the ridiculous stuff you find at the drug store but something that doesn't have bad caffeine etc.

So, I finally took a picture of the area that I run in. This is on Town Center Circle so it's not the best view I see while running outside but it's what the area looks like. Today the skies are really blue and the clouds are crisp white and puffy. I took this picture with my blackberry so sorry for the poor quality.

I hope everyone is having a great week.

TOOTLES...

GREAT NEWS!!

Last week's weigh in on Tuesday was 209 this week it's 204.8. It's crazy because my goal weight loss per week is 4.2 lbs. And I lost exactly 4.2 lbs.

I did it by controlling my food intake. I moved back on the Body Bugg and it is helping as long as I input my food. Another key tool in keeping me honest about what i'm putting in my body. Went back to eating Baby Spinach leaves; Tyson grilled chicken; Newman Light Cranberry Dressing and a sprinkle of sliced almonds. Mmmmm it is tasty. Then I have 1 kiwi fruit and about 1 cup of strawberries. Breakfast is my protein shake - Gold Standard Whey and Light Vanilla Soymilk. Then my breakfast snack was a Danon Activia Yogurt with a little extra granola, cup of coffee and water. Later today I will have my Sara Lee bread and 1 tbsp of reduced fat Jiffy Peanut Butter. Then tonight for dinner. More spinach, chicken and some fruit.

So my session with my Trainer went well today. I told him that I want to work on getting a butt. Damn, that is putting it out there. This is the new Artie. Put all out on the line.

Softball game last night was fantastic. We won! I did okay...i'm getting better but I need to practice more on my hitting and damn can I learn how to throw a ball. They called me butterfingers last night after one of my most ridiculous throws. It was sad...really sad. I wanted to crawl into a hole under a rock. And damn...these cleats are killing my quads while i'm out there. What is the deal? I'm busting my ass to get to first base and then I ran through the bases and realized I pulled my quad and then my ankle was bothering me a little more. A friend of mine likes to remind me that I'm no Spring Chicken. Well, if that's his way of telling me i'm old that is just WRONG!! Being OLD is a state of mind. Not my age! F'm i'm 35 and yes i'm training for my first half marathon.

Oh geez...so i have to get my miles in this week. Need to keep them up to 15+ miles per week. Last week results I ran 18.33 miles. DAMN!!! That is awesome. I didn't even know I ran that many last week. Need to keep it up to keep losing more poundage!!!

One last topic for the day. So sad about the Rockies and Jason Giambi. I know he is not the only player on this team but since I didn't know my boy was in Denver this season...I had to throw in some props. GO DODGERS!! What can I say, i'm a National League kind of girl.

TOOTLES....

SUNDAY BLUES!

Well, I have decided that Saturday's would be my day off on the blog. That's if I can remember to write every other day! And so let's get started. I'm a bit irritated right now with Nike+. Because I just ran for 1:20 and it is telling me I only did 4 miles even. That is BS. I know I ran well over 6 miles. In fact I know that I ran at least 6.2 miles. I could feel the pain etc. I have sent an email to Nike to try and get this taken care of. I mean really...what kind of crap is that? I will not be happy if I have replace this thing if I just bought it less than a month ago. I better get a response.

Anyhow, I will find out later what my BodyBugg recorded. That will be interested. I'm going to see if I can come up with a chart that will have how many calories i'm burning and how many i'm eating. That will help keep me in check. Talk about putting all my stuff on front street.

On a lighter note...I went to a movie last night. Paranormal Activity. DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY!! It was crap. It was a movie date with a strange friend. UGH!! Some people need help. With that I must confess, i'm feeling a little bit of love pain this week. So I think that is another reason why I have been a little distant this week. I'm hoping it won't last much longer but I'm afraid it may last longer than I would like. As long as I stay focused I should be okay. It's just a little hard to do. It's hard to push forward when you really miss someone. Mi LUNA...te extrano mucho - viviendo sin ti es el mas deficil cosa en mi vida. Hasta que reunamos de nuevo! Con mucho carino!

Okay...enough of that for now. I just thought I should stay honest with what is going on in my life. Appreciate all the support and comments. Keep them coming. I gotta keep on fighting. Fighting for a better me and a better day! Coming soon to a future near me! :)

Enjoy your Sunday!!

TOOTLES