Blissful Mochatini

What’s better than coffee or alcohol? Not a whole lot. Except maybe coffee AND alcohol mixed together.

I'm a member of the Coffee-Mate Brew Crew and got word that Coffee-Mate Natural Bliss has a recipe contest happening on their Facebook page right now.

I think Jarod did an outstanding job with his video, so I wanted to share it with you. I really want to try this, but may not be able to until these blood sugar numbers are a bit better controlled.

This is where you come in. Give it a try and tell me how good it is! Please! I will live vicariously through you, my friends.

Looks like some good prizes, so if you have a recipe you’d like to share, do it here. Hurry though, the contest ends June 25th.

This Is What A 5K (plus some Zumba)

looks like for me.

Please forgive the squinty eyes. It was very sunny. And the gray hair. One of these days I will get around to dying it or something. Fucking gray hair. And the caterpillars that are hanging out above my eyes.

I was the only one who ran. There were 4 or 5 people who walked about half of it.

I was slow. However, I’ve come a long way in the last month and a half. I’ve knocked about 4 minutes off each mile. My goal is to knock about 5 more off, but we’ll see how that goes.

Words Cannot Describe

how I feel right now.

Just a short while ago I purchased my entry ticket to the 2012 Wine & Dine Half Marathon at Disney World in November.

I bought the plane ticket too, sooooo….there’s not getting out of it.

There are so many emotions running through me right now.

I’m excited, mostly. But in under that current of excitement is a bit of nervousness and maybe some self-doubt.

I never – in a hundred bazillion years – thought I would ever be signing up for a 5K (I’m registered for 2 of those already), let alone a half marathon. Just ask my friend, Carly. Just a few short months ago I was giving her props for running a half marathon, while telling her that I would never be able to run one.

I know I can do this. That’s what I keep telling myself. I’ve been training, and still have many more months left to train. I’ll be fine. But then there’s that little voice underneath all that. I’m too old. I’m too fat. I’m not strong enough.

It’s not fair that I allow myself to talk like that. The only way to get past all that is to just DO IT!! And that’s what I’m going to do.

Carly, in a roundabout way, made me do this. And I love her and thank her for that. I started running a little over a month ago. For the first time in years I am having more good days than bad. There are still many rough days, but the fact is, I just feel a whole lot better. She provided that encouragement and inspiration.

Wow. So anyway, I had no idea that this post was going to go there….I didn’t even realize there were so many crazy emotions swirling around inside of me until I was typing it all down.

Here are my plans for the months ahead:

• Summer Bash 5K Run – June 16, 2012 – Pueblo, CO (My 1st 5K!!)
• The Color Run 5K – August 11, 2012 – Colorado Springs, CO
• Step Out Walk to STOP Diabetes 5K Walk – October 20, 2012 – Denver, CO (Please consider donating to this cause)
• Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon – November 10, 2012 – Disney World, FL (This will be the 1st time I miss my husband birthday – Sorry Baby!!)
• Disney Tinker Bell Half Marathon – January 20, 2013 – Disneyland, CA

I’m still working on more things to add, but I think this is a pretty good start.

Near & Dear To My Heart

I was diagnosed with Type II diabetes around 5 or 6 years ago. I can’t remember the exact amount of years, but what I can tell you is that it was absolutely devastating.

Yes. Devastating.

Even though I was pretty much expecting it.

I had a family history. I had gestational diabetes with all three of my pregnancies (one that even required insulin to manage), and I was overweight.

When I got that call from the doctor, it was like a punch in the gut.

How? Me? But I’m too young. I’m not THAT fat. Do over?? Please?

I have battled it since. My blood sugar numbers have never been perfect, no matter how “good” I eat. No matter how much exercise I do. No matter how compliant I am with my meds. (Yes, “MEDS,” I have to take 2 different ones).

Currently, I can eat 1 serving of carbs a day. Not that bad, you say? A diabetics serving of carbs is only 15 grams. Just 15 grams!! Tiny! That’s about half a banana, 1/2 of a cup of potatoes, or 1/3 of a cup of pasta. And that’s a day. Not per meal.

I’d love to help find a cure for this disease.

On October 20, 2012 I am going to do the 5K Step Out Walk To Stop Diabetes. The one I’m participating in is in Denver, Colorado.

I encourage you to click the link above and donate. Even if it’s only a few cents. You can make a donation here using your credit card or PayPal. (YES! They take PayPal now!).

If you don’t have anything to spare, that’s okay!! Spread the word to your family and friends. Help me make this Viral!!

Orrrr…..You can join me if you live close enough. There’s always room for one more. It would be fun to have a teammate or two.

Still At It

Yep, I’m still running.

It’s kicking my ass!!

But in a totally good way.

I feel so good after I run. That’s never happened in the past. You know when they say all those feel good endorphins kick in while exercising? I finally know what they feel like.

And I’m addicted.

I’ve been doing Zumba, as well. I found a place here in town that has FREE!! sessions 4 times a week.

Zumba kicks my ass too.

In a totally good way.

Today we went for a hike.

Hiking is a lot harder than I thought it would be.

Hiking kicks my ass.

In a totally good way.

Plus, I got a pretty picture.

P.S. If you use Runkeeper to track your fitness let me know! I’d love to add you to my Street Team.

I Finished It This Time!

As my 13 year old is asking me how C25K is supposed to help us and my 9 year old is literally running circles around me, I thought I just might die.

Not quite, but almost.

Ohhh, to have the energy of a 9 or 13 year old.

I did Day 1 Week 1 of the C25K running program over. It pissed me off that I didn’t finish it the first time.

I was able to finish that last minute of running tonight.

I stopped for a split second, but then kept running. I only had 13 seconds left. It wasn’t going to beat me.

My pace was a little faster.

I was happy about that, until I realized that I’m actually running twice as slow as when I was in the Army.

That was a few years ago…..but that’s besides the point.

I’m happy. I feel good.

I can’t wait to wear that sparkly skirt!!!

First Run!

Week 1 Day 1 of the Couch 2 5K program.

It was tough. Not too tough, but much harder than walking, that’s for sure. And yes, you can all say, “duh” here.

My 9 year old son, Michael, ran with me. In fact, towards the end of the run, he was doing laps around me. Brat. ;)

I wasn’t able to finish the entire last minute of running. Other than that, it was good.

I’m going to keep plugging on.

I want to finish that Tinker Bell Half Marathon in January 2013!!