That title just about says it all. But instead of just hammering out a list of songs, I’ve added how they make me feeeeeeel as I’m running down the street, all invincible ‘n’ shit.
1) Katy Perry’s Firework pulls me along the pavement, and I totally imagine fireworks flying outta my boobs and propelling me forward, which totally goes against the laws of physics, but WHATEVER. No sports bra could hold the love I have for a good run. Even brighter than the moon, moon, moon. Katy makes me feel so good about myself. I no longer feel like a plastic bag, drifting in the wind, cuz Baby, I’m a FIREWORK.
2) Pink’s Perfect is another song telling me how amazing I am. Perfect, even. I have this one on my running playlist 7 times so I hear it often. I’m kidding. I only have it on there once. Truth time: I think about my friends – how they are all beautiful and perfect to me. I know that sounds super corny, but I really have some wonderful people in my life and it’s a good thing they are all so fucking perfect. *wink*
3) Waka Waka by Shakira is one that makes me feel so stupidly worldly in my Small Town, Ontario, Canada. It’s a song we dance to in Zumba class and the dance is all bird arms and twirling and even though it looks like our whole class is in a tampon commercial, I really, really enjoy this song. Whatadork.
4) Work It Out by Lil Jon and Pitbull: I feel a little silly admitting this. But when this song comes on, I’m all HOUSEWIFE GANGSTA, running through the streets of Detroit, dodging bullets ‘n’ shit. Oh and I’m totally skinny in this daydream. Also, Lil Jon and Pitbull are chasing me cuz I’m so hot. WOW, I know. I have a wild imagination.
5) Go Girl by Pitbull is much the same as the last one, but this time, I’m like a running stripper, with huge knockers and a booty to kill. Pitbull is totally in my ear, telling me to work it and GO GIRL. So I GO. It’s a wonder I ever come home from these runs. They’re like a p0rn movie.
6) It is SO hard not to sing along to Only Girl (In the World) by Rihanna. All I can say about that is the only reason I don’t, is because I’m out of breath from running. But you should hear me in the car! Supastar!
7) The Club Can’t Even Handle Me Right Now by Flo Rida – this one has a great beat, and I totally brain-sing things like “This Town Can’t Even Handle Me Right Now,” “My Shoes Can’t Even Handle Me Right Now,” and “The Dog I Just Ran Past Can’t Even Handle Me Right Now, (but maybe he has rabies so I’m gonna run faaaaaaster…” I blame Stef for my love of this song. Stef can’t even handle me right now. I make her stop and stare as I zone out.
Pink is amazing, always. Raise Your Glass is one of my favorite songs by her and this one makes me all tough and strong and okay to be nerdy. It IS okay to be nerdy, yanno. Talk Nerdy to Me. *wink*
9) Hell by Tegan and Sara: you wanna pound some serious pavement at a high speed, without having to inject heroin? Play this. LOVE.
10)Bottoms Up by Trey Songz feat. Nicki Minaj – Nicki Minaj isn’t always as edgy as she tries to be, but this song makes me haul ass. It’s a good way to get through the last 1-2 kilometers when you just wanna put your foot-bottoms up, chow down on some cherry cheesecake and fall into a food coma. Plus Nicki Minaj’s gnarly deep voice in a couple of spots, makes me laugh. She’s pretty kick-ass in this song.
Sooo, now that you know I’m a weird-ass runner, what’s on your playlist? And why?
So it’s been 3 days since Adam and I started the Avita-Sugar bet and I truly thought my downfall would be food. I mean, once I’m in a groove at the gym, which truly sets in after a day where I’ve run (I crave it – it’s so sick and weird, more on that in a sec), I’m good to go. But I think losing weight is 30% exercise and 70% food. I read that somewhere and it’s always stuck with me. When I did South Beach and didn’t exercise, I lost 10 pounds quickly.
Confession: the reason I like to run is so I can eat ice cream.
I love food. Like many, I love food more than I’d like to admit. So much so, I hide my “extra” eating from everyone, Daren included. I once had this friend I worked with who smoked during the day with everyone on their smoke breaks, but she hid it from her husband. He was in some sort of respiratory field and he hated smoking. She would freshen up before returning home every single night and not smoke again until work the next day. I asked her once if she craved it over the weekends. She did, but she was so ashamed, she just didn’t smoke. She thought he would divorce her if he found out.
That’s how I am with eating, minus the divorce part obviously. I wait for Daren to be asleep on the couch or at hockey to sneak goodies – usually sweet stuff – and mow down.
I’m not proud of this – in fact, I’m very ashamed that I haven’t been able to control this until now. I’ve done it all my life. It probably stems from having a mother who portion controlled everything on our plates and how she made us ask for anything from the kitchen, including a glass of water. Acknowledgment of the problem, check.
So in reading up on the best ways to get eating under control and chock full of nutrients, I started a food diary. I’ve never kept one for longer than a week, but I found an iPhone app that keeps your info and I make myself use it. It also records your exercise, and tracks your poundage daily. (It’s called LoseIt!, and it’s FREE.)
What I’m quickly learning is that if I choose the right foods, I stay fuller, longer. (In my head I knew this but always rationalized these thoughts away when a tempting treat was available.) While Daren and kids have always eaten healthy, I have gained a lot of this weight because I eat stupid things. Confession # 2: many days I would have a Rockstar Roasted Coffee (sometimes 2, though you’re not supposed to do that) and nothing else all day until dinner, so many times I ended up with headaches. Then I’d gorge all evening. Confession # 3: some days I would eat nothing but a bag of Smartfood along with that Rockstar in the morning and then wake up in the night to throw it up because of the heartburn. SMRT. Not.
My metabolism? My body? She is confused. She is so used to starving, binging and purging, (and often just binging) that this last 3 days have been an awakening. With this little plan, I hope to sort her out.
I have made myself eat a healthy breakfast.
I have taken the time to make and eat a healthy lunch.
I have drank water like a freaking fish.
Dinners are always a bit wonky with the paper route and the kids’ sports but I managed to get it right all week.
I have stayed in the proper calorie zone and I’ve only been super-hungry once when I got busy doing things with the kids and had a late dinner Wednesday night.
I have recorded every calorie, even the semi-bad ones made possible by homemade Rice Krispie squares.
I have gone to the gym three days running. Literally. Running. Dudes. So happy to be running again, I can’t even tell you. The craving for running is so fucky and weird and awesome. I love it so much, except when I’m doing it. I just like the aftertaste of running. Ha.
And though it’s only been three days, I feel so. damn. good.
Last night I slept like a log. My focus is returning, I’m getting things done that I’ve been meaning to do. I feel GOOD.
I feel tight though. Running tightens muscles and tomorrow I’m treating myself to a Yoga class. I was thinking of running beforehand but is it bad manners to show up to a Yoga class all sweaty? If I have to ask, I’m going to assume it is.
My point: I’m back, bitches!
p.s. as of this morning, I’m down a pound. It’s probably water, but I’ll take it, thankyouverymuch.
p.p.s. This week has been one thing after another tragedy/stress-wise, and normally I would have bailed on this 10 times over, but I haven’t. Thanks for the push Adam, and thanks to everyone who commented on the last post for all your encouragement. It truly means so very much.
p.p.p.s. If anyone has recipe sites to share, I’m mostly sticking to South Beach type foods, and my husband would be grateful if I never again made tilapia the way I did on Tuesday night. The word “drywall” was tossed around. I used olive oil, limes, lemons, salt, pepper – but apparently not enough.
I have been baaaaaad. Very very bad. Halloween might as well have been called Sugarpants Sugarfest 2009. *oink*
It’s showing. My belt? She is tight. My jeans? Bunching in the wrong places. I feel like shit. I am generally pissy about my appearance, to the point I move Daren’s hands away from parts of my body that I feel shameful about.
Poor Daren.
I want to get back to how I felt when I was running lots, back to the confident feelings I had when I felt good about my weight.
Adam and I went with stakes I knew would kill me if I lost. Plus I’m super competitive so that helps.
So here’s the deal:
The loser has to videotape themselves dancing to a song of the winner’s choosing* and post it on their blog.
(imagine the jiggle if I don’t do well at this. so not pretty.)
I already have Adam’s lap-band working against me so this should be even more difficult. And I’m not sure but I think Adam would be okay with dancing for his readers. Um, he’s done it before! But still, this is less about losing the bet than it is about feeling better. It’s nice to have stakes that freak me out though, even though my competitor is an attention whore.
My plan?
South Beach, more water, walking, running, and The Shred video – DAILY.** For 69 long, difficult days – a few of which are over Christmas. Ouch.
Leave any tips, prayers, well wishes and miracles in the comments. I’m going to need all the luck I can get! Feel free to Twitter Adam every day with tempting food suggestions too. Like ice cream. That’s his kryptonite.
*my only clause was no Devinyls’ songs. For obvious reasons.
** and possibly mail Adam chocolate, and candy from the Great White North. And arrange for weekly cupcake deliveries.
Pink is amazing, always. Raise Your Glass is one of my favorite songs by her and this one makes me all tough and strong and okay to be nerdy. It IS okay to be nerdy, yanno. Talk Nerdy to Me. *wink*
