Today was one of those mixed bag kind of days. I got some things done, let some things slide. You’ll have those.

I’ve noticed that my “rest days” tend to follow that pattern. I think the exercise endorphins fuel me on the more productive days. Maybe I’ll set aside that hour of rest days for something equally enjoyable that doesn’t involve sweating a lot. Or cupcakes.

Oh, and speaking of cupcakes, according to this article, cupcakes may be losing their cool factor. I’m hoping this is just another case of irresponsible journalism. (Assuming yahoo Shine can be considered journalism. They did make up for the ugly article, a little, with this article about wellness-promoting iphone apps.)

Anyway, back to rest days…when I was first starting this fitness quest and was exercising vigorously, I followed the must-exercise-every-single-day path that so many neophytes choose. I was afraid if I missed a day, I’d lose my momentum, plus I was convinced I was helping myself by burning extra calories. After about the fifth week of that, my body rebelled. I was sore, fatigued, and stalled in my weight loss. That’s when I listened to the folks who had been telling me I needed the rest day (sorry, trainers, you were right; I was wrong. But I already told you that.)

Today’s rest day replacement activity was time spent with my parents and grandmother. While enjoyable, to say the least, it didn’t fire me up the way exercise does. There was some excitement, when my grandmother (Memaw) showed off her first watermelon of the season:

Memaw’s First Watermelon, admired by Daisy Dog

This thing was so huge that Memaw had trouble lifting it (she’s 90, after all, and I think it was the girth as much as the weight), so she rolled it into her gardening wagon for transport. She’s so proud of it as she’s never had luck raising watermelons. I felt bad when she challenged me to “try to lift it” and I, of course, picked it right up. In retrospect, I think I should have pretended to struggle a little. It IS a heavy melon, but for someone 40 years younger, not too heavy to lift. Oh well, she still invited me to come down this weekend for the grand cutting. No matter how it tastes, it will be the best watermelon I ever had.

And tomorrow it’s back to the gym. I’ve had two 1-hour gym workouts this week and two 1-hour walks. I usually like to vary the workout times, mixing shorter workouts and longer ones to keep my body wondering what’s next, but for some reason, this week has been all even-steven. Tomorrow I may try splitting the workout with a half-hour on the weights and a half-hour (or so) on the walking path. Sounds like a plan!

Oh, and exciting news for Memphis peeps: Have you heard about Yo-Lo?

It’s a frozen yogurt shop opening soon on Poplar at Erin (and one out in Collierville) and will feature locally-sourced yogurt and toppings. (They mentioned “local bakers” in a Flyer article. Be still my heart.) It’s all gluten-free and low- or no-fat and some of the flavors sound scrumptious. Oh, and it’s one of those serve yourself places, where you serve yourself and pay by the ounce. I love that, because if my decadent nature gets out of control, my wallet will reel me back in. Anyway, I can’t wait to try them out. (Note: No compensation received. Just spreading the joyous news. Logo used with permission.)

And that, my friends, is my scintillating commentary for the day. How was your day? Are you taking your rest days? Or are you taking too many rest days? I can nag for either. Enthusiastically even.

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Whew! I apparently needed that “talking to” yesterday. After a somewhat shaky start to the day, I kicked it into gear and Got! Stuff! Done! Today has been more of the same. Not as much as I’d like, but I wore myself out with pats on the back for just getting a foot on the mountain.

One thing I wanted to clarify from yesterday’s post on goal slacking, with a nod to Lori for helping me see that I may have been a little fuzzy. In her comment, Lori wisely mentioned the category of goals that require more than we currently have in our possession to achieve. It might be finances, a certain educational level, a particular career, etc. For me, those types of goals fall more into the realm of dreams. Achievable dreams, definitely, but only after a long series of stepping stone goals are met. Those stepping stone goals are what I was fussing about yesterday and encouraging (or trying to) us to take action on, because goals are things we CAN take action on but sometimes, um, just don’t.

As an example, one of the things I did this morning was to arrange to have some professional photos taken of myself. A few of my in-the-works projects (a couple that fall into the “dream” arena) will require a photo, a simple task that I’ve been ignoring (thus costing myself two hours outside on the hottest day of the year trying to do a halfway decent self-timer photo for a small surprise to be announced in September). In a wonderful moment of serendipity, this deal popped up on Groupon:

$59 for a One-Hour On-Location or In-Studio Photo Session Plus Full Access and Reproduction Rights to 25 Digital Photos from LJJ Studios ($495 Value)

I checked out the website of the studio, liked their work, and signed up for the deal. I have a year to use my certificate, but I’ve put it on my calendar for September, when the air will be cooler and my hair has an iota of a chance of not looking like fermented spaghetti.

Anyway, there were more little steps like that over the past two days, nothing monumental, but items I can take care of now, if only I will buckle down and DO THEM. Not just talk about them or write about them, but DO THE WORK necessary to achieve them. I lost 100 pounds tippy toeing along similar stepping stones, which is all the proof I need that I can achieve some of my other goals, too. And those will lead me to my dreams.

Speaking of dreams, it’s time to begin my bedtime ritual (proper sleep being another personal goal.) See? I just can’t stop achieving all of a sudden.

Wishing you ALL success in achieving your goals and fulfilling your dreams!

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I always feel like I have to start these kinds of posts with a bit of a history lesson. I know if I saw some running lunatic post a training schedule like this I’d assume there were always an athlete. At least naturally active and would never suspect they had body image issues or have ever wanted or needed to lose weight. So for long time readers please skip over this link history. New readers… just know if you asked me 2 years ago if I would ever run or want to run a marathon I’d say maybe, 5 years ago I’d say you were crazy and 10 years ago I’d say you were freakin’ lunatic for even asking such a ridiculous question.

• Some of you may not know but I was NOT an exerciser and I lost weight by just mostly "staying active" and a lot of that was dancing around my house like a nut-ball.
• Then I started Thinking About It which led to me actually joining a gym and declaring myself a gym rat soon followed.
• Then a friend put the running bug in my ear. (Re-reading the end of that post is exactly how I felt when I started running)
• I ran my first 5k run on a treadmill and I nearly died from shock.
• Then I took my running outside and even the toddler was impressed.
• After my first 5K event I was hooked!
• Then I found the Nike+ and fell in love!
• Soon I was training for a relay in the Baltimore Marathon Relay
• My first 40 minute run was a milestone.
• Then someone called me Racing Roni and it made me examine at where I came from.
• In 2008’s Marathon I ran 6 miles was SO amazing I decided to take a leap and sign up for the 2009 Marathon!
• With some training I ran the 10 mile Cherry Blossom and my first ever half marathon!
• My training was far from perfect but I managed to get in a few long runs like 12 miles in Chicago, 15 miles a few weeks ago and my most recent 20 mile run.
• Then I crossed the finish line of my very first marathon!
• Determined to keep running a part of my life, I set a goal of running 1 even a month in 2010.

After getting some wonderful feedback when I posted about registering for the Rock ‘n’ Roll Las Vegas Marathon I edited my initial training thoughts. This is what I came up with. I’m not going to lie.. I’m scared to death! But I’m also looking forward to it. It’s not about losing/maintaining weight or getting to a specific size it’s about seeing what my body is capable of. For the first time in my life I actually feel like an athlete and that’s a complete head trip for me. It’s unbelievable, yet here I am posting this.

• mi = Miles
• WT = weight Training
• BC = Boot Camp Class
• All *bolded items are events I’m running. Details can be found on my 2010 Running Goals page
• Note: Will be making an effort to go to 1 yoga class a week as my schedule allows. I will add them in when I do as well as adding check marks for completed workouts.

Let the running begin! :~)

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It’s not completely finished but I wanted it up before heading into full time blogness. Only 2 weeks left!!

SkinnyMinnyMedia is now RoniNoone.com, the place for all my non-weight loss, non-food talk babble. Head on over and tell me what you think!

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Kepa already posted the engagement video and the story of how he did it on his blog. Since he put so much time and effort into it I thought that was only fair. I got to announce I’m engaged first, he gets to explain how he did it. But since I LOOOOVED it and some of you still don’t know the story, here’s what happened.

I knew it was coming eventually because it’s hard to be completely smitten with someone and not discuss the future together. I am moving to New Zealand in August and that has been the plan for quite a while. My only uncertainty was when exactly Kepa would ask the question and how. He had taken my mom to coffee without me, so I figured he had asked her permission then, because we are all traditional like that here, but I didn’t know for sure. He likes to keep things secret and surprise me so I really had no idea. I guessed one of his plans, but since our road trip plans changed it completely threw me off the scent. I had no clue.

Yesterday before we went to lunch while I was getting ready, Kepa asked me to stay in the bathroom. He had tried to get someone else to get me out of the house but everyone was at work or busy. So he just asked me to stay in there… or go outside. Since it’s hot I chose the bathroom/bedroom option. I saw him putting post it notes all over the house but didn’t think much of it because he has done that before for me. (We like using post its.) I figured it was just something fun to do to make up for the house being so boring.

When he finally said he was ready for lunch we walked outside. I asked if it was okay to leave the notes around and if I should just ignore them being there. And then after a few steps toward my car, he said I could go back inside. HA! Okay!

So I went inside and started at the beginning, walking around the house collected the post it notes that all said sweet things (they are in the video below if you want to see what they say). My youngest brother actually interrupted in the middle, which was funny. At the end of the notes they told me that Kepa made something for me and I needed to go watch it.

He made me a flipbook video! It was the cutest thing ever and he worked for so long on it. I absolutely freaking loved it. It’s got my favorite song, our story condensed, and lots of pictures from when we were together in New Zealand. He made it a while ago and it’s been on YouTube secretly, because he showed it to some of my best friends to ask if it was okay.

If you want to watch the flipbook video:

Obviously the end of the flipbook video is the proposal. I saw that then looked at Kepa and he was on one knee. AHHHH! Then he said the most awesome, perfect for me, amazing speech ever.

From the day I first saw you, I was smitten.

Every day since then, my feelings have only grown deeper.

I love you, Mary.

I love you for everything you are.

You are everything flowers and hearts and sunshine and butterflies and rainbows.

All the magic and wonder in my world.

You know why I hold on to you so tight?

Because life is a maze full of twists and turns and I want to get lost inside with you.

Because when I’m with you the world stops turning and gravity disappears and it’s all I can do to stop floating away.

I want to be the one you take great leaps with and face lightning storms with,

the one who holds you up above the waves and laughs with you all the while being drownded,

the one you split your desserts with,

the one who’ll sit in the seat facing the wall so you can have your back to it,

the one who will push you around in shopping carts,

ad the one who knows just how important it is to never put pickles in anything.

You would make me the luckiest man in the world if you would say yes to this next questions….

Will you marry me?

Yes he really talks like that. And it’s amazing. And I cried.

And I obviously said YES!

It really was amazingly sweet, romantic, perfect-for-me proposal. Kepa knows me so well and it’s obvious from how much thought and work he put into this to make it special. I am in fact the luckiest girl ever.

We had the best day afterwards as well, telling everyone we loved and also going to all my favorite eats in Memphis. It was the best day ever.

I’m so happy with my new fiance! Fiance!

If you would like to watch the entire engagement video, it’s below. Kepa recorded everything (I had no idea) so you can see the whole event from the post it notes to me saying yes and all.

It’s pretty special to me and I’m so glad I get to share it with all of you. Thank you so much for all the lovely messages, emails, comments. You guys made yesterday extra special and I’m grateful. I’m bursting with love right now for everyone. <3 <3

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Kepa asked me a question and I said yes. Of all the things this blog has changed in my life, this is by far the best.

(Check out the story of how we fell in love if you haven’t already.)

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Looks like quite a few of us have at one point had picky eating habits (or still do). It’s one of those things that you have to work around or grow out of when you are trying to become healthier. I really believe that you can change the majority of what you like to eat. It’s a mental process that you have to force yourself to change, and it’s hard work, but it’s possible. It is doubtful that anyone just wakes up one morning after deciding to become healthy and suddenly loves all the vegetables they previously hated.  No, even your eating habits require work.

The fact that even the way you eat involves work made me start thinking about all the work required for weight loss.

Losing weight involves a lot of work.

Losing weight involves a lot of work for the long term.

You have to work to change your food. You have to learn what is healthy and good for you all  the time (fruits, veggies, lean proteins, etc.) and what needs to be reserved for eating “once in a while.” You have to then make sure you stay on top of things and read food labels to count calories if that’s your method or to pay attention to things like sodium (me!) or fat. You have to come up with recipes to use that you like and make the plain foods something you delight in (because few people last with boring food). You have to buy, prepare, and cook your healthy food and have it ready so that you won’t have to rely on vending machines or fast food restaurants. If you have a full time job and a family to care for, or even if you don’t, it’s a lot of work.

And in addition to the food you have to do real work: exercise. Exercise is crucial to changing your body. If you want to lose weight efficiently exercise must be part of the equation. So you must find something you enjoy or at the very least can tolerate doing a few times each week. Or it involves things you don’t totally love (in the beginning) that grow on you. Or it involves things you hate, think are hard, but you still do anyway (hello, 30 Day Shred). Additionally you must educate yourself on exercise and how it affects your body and how to do it the right way. Or you can hire someone to teach you this as your personal trainer. Either way, you have to know what to do and then DO IT. Exercise is often something you don’t want to do, feel like you don’t have time to do, make excuses not to do, but you still have to do it anyway because it’s necessary. weight loss requires work in the form of exercise.

So you work to change your food and you work to fit in and complete enough exercise. But the most exhaustive work is not on the outside. It’s on the inside.  You have to constantly work on your mental processes when you are losing weight. If you were/are over 100 pounds overweight like I was, you most definitely have some mental things to work through. And along the weigh losing weight you will have to mentally work through plateaus, setbacks, injuries, failures, struggles when your body doesn’t do what you think it should, changing body image, and more. Most of us will admit that weight loss is mostly mental. And we would also admit that the mental games behind weight loss involve a lot of work. It’s hard work to change who you are mental. Involves a lot of mental strength and power to change yourself from being the person who didn’t care and stuffed themselves to being the person who eats healthily and exercises no matter what. Many people underestimate the mental work that change takes, but it is work and it can be exhausting.

I know it never really ends, but I feel like most of my exhausting mental work is behind me. I feel like I’m not at the point where I’ve just got the physical I-have-to-do-it kind of work left. And that’s really exciting. It’s taken me a lot of work to get to this point. It’s taken all of us a lot of work to get to whatever point we are at in our journey.

It’s all a lot of work. But it’s worth it.

Anything that’s worth having is worth the work required.

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Ahhh summer. The hot sun, the green grass and the lazy days spent reading out in it. So take your laptop outside, slap on those shades and relax with these sunny links from around the web! So many fitness apps, so little time! —CBS News Talk about inspiring: Two brothers lose almost 300 pounds together! [...]

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We’ve all heard about those fancy spa and fitness resorts where you travel to a beautiful part of the country and spend a week or so eating only delicious, organic food, working out with fun and unique activities, and spending a lot of time just relaxing with a massage or some meditation. Ah, it just sounds glorious. [...]

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Oh, there’s nothing worse than finding out you’ve been hoodwinked, bamboozled, and most especially tricked into devouring tartrazine-infused mac & cheese.(Sounds fancy, right? It’s really just a nerdy way of saying yellow dye.) I made this “straight from mama’s kitchen” dish the other night. It warmed my soul. Now I’m learning that warm sensation might [...]

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