Jane Fonda? Billy Blanks? What's it Gonna Be?

January 7, 2009

I'll be back later this afternoon (or maybe tomorrow) with a fabulous post, but in the mean time, I'd like to let everyone know that I just checked my site meter for the first time in a long time, and yesterday this website got three times as many hits as it usually does.

This goes to show one thing: Technology may change, natural disasters continue to occur, and sadly enough, there are still starving kids in China--but my goodness, people will always love butts! Bums are a light spot in a darkened world, I suppose. A little gift that we should all be grateful for.

I'm signing off for a couple of hours, but during that time, there's something I'd like to know. Whether you're an asstastic contestant or not, what's your New Year plan for shaping up? I know you have one...everyone has one. Even if you've already abandoned the plan, what did it used to be?

Luckily, I don't have anything major to accomplish at this point. I'm six pounds away from my fighting weight (150), which I hope to get back to by the end of February maybe? At that point my favorite jeans should fit again. In celebration of that momentous event, I'll put them on, do cartwheels down my driveway, and probably split 'em up the seat.

Thanks to some serious inspiration from my cousin Kelly (the one in leopard print Snuggie), I've been doing Weight Watchers online for the last couple of months, and I really like it a lot. I'm eating five to ten fruits and vegetables every day--which I don't think I've ever done before. I still eat some kind of a sweet every day, but I've cut way back on my sugar intake. Honestly, the difference is so, so, so noticeable. I'm in a happy mood, my skin looks great, and my energy level is pretty good for a new mom.

Other than that, I'm back to running four times a week and doing some at-home strength training three times a week. I'm thrilled to be moving in the right direction, because I have a really big goal for 2010. I'll give you two clues:

It's been my dream for the last twelve years. Honest to goodness, I can still remember the day it crossed my radar screen for the first time in 1998.

And it rhymes with Paulify tor da Moston Karathon.

If you're not a runner, I apologize in advance. There's likely to be a lot of running talk on this blog this year. But there's good news...running talk always comes with fabulous illustrations.

You'll want to click on each of those words individually--trust me.

So really, what are you doing to shape up this year? Nosy people want to know.

28 comments:

Amy said...

Woops! There ya go, Jess! I accidentally turned the comments off...

Jes said...

Yay, thank you! My New Year's plan is to see how many of the 52 weeks in the year I can commit to running at least 3 days. I do not have any limitations on my running, just simply to get out there and do something. I must say that this first week which has held record freezing temperatures in Florida has been quite interesting. I also decided that I want to try the Jeff Galloway method of training for a marathon. The marathon will not be until the end of the year, so that will give me plenty of time to train and build up.

Kirsty said...

I would like to run a 1/2 marathon in less time then my friend ran the Boston Marathon. I'm not kidding. He's that good. Also, I'm that bad.
Ok maybe too lofty. How about I would like to beat my 11 year old son in the 1/2 marathon this year? It did not turn out that way in 2009.

Thank you for the SOL (Snorts Out Loud) over your illustrations.

"not that there is anything wrong with that" really put me over the top.

I have to say I have been the recipient of the excreting gas (see how delicate I can be?) person in front of me in both spinning class and the treadmill (I'm a farters magnet I guess) and in both cases I literally thought I had inhaled mustard gas (of the WW1 variety) It BURNED MY LUNGS... I swear! I was moving toward the light....WHAT DO PEOPLE EAT?????

Good luck with qualifying. No sweat. You'll totally do it.

funderson said...

Hooray! I LOVE more running talk. I'm such a geek about it. MY own goal is to do a sub 5 hour marathon. I hope to acomplish this in May at the Shiprock marathon in New Mexico. I want to take an hour off my Vegas time and as I know you can "schmalify" I know I can do this. We'll get faster together!

Mia said...

Can I claim wishing as my weight loss plan? Or chasing after my crazy kids?

Really, my lazy butt is hoping for a few nights of wii fit a week. Because running is too much work. Plus meal planning to avoid grabbing whatever is easiest. I'd say cutting out soda, but we all know that just isn't going to happen.

Luke & Kelsie Frazier said...

My plan is to do wii fit and/or kathy smith videos and strongly ignore the fudge that is currently staring me down from the desk in my office. So far so good, I've lost 3 lbs. But its only week 1. I think that being weighed everyday on the wii is a strange motivation. I dont' want to make my mii fatter than it already is!!

Bootchez said...

My plan is to manage to train for my first marathon, in Reno in May. So far I'm off to a slow start, but then again I always start slow (and finish slow, but that's another story). I also plan on lots and lots of yoga.

God luck with YOUR running plans this year!

TheOneTrueSue said...

I'm working on the couch25K thing, then on off-days I walk nd do strength training.

I'm trying to eat better - really watching my portion sizes and trying to make better choices about what to eat - more water, less sugar, more fruits and veggies, less random crap that I eat when I'm stressed. No more chocolate doughnuts for breakfast, in other words.

Sarah said...

eating healthier, no soda, utilizing Weight watchers to help with that. Couch to 5k running plan because I am SO NOT a runner, but MIGHT want to be. And various workout videos for the strenth training (Lotte Berk Method seems to kick my butt the most.)

Catherine M. said...

Amy the Utah Valley marathon is a gradual downhill marathon that was new in 2008. It has great reviews. It is on June 12. You should do it.

I was going to with Matt but he is "called" to be young mens pres and was "called" to join their high "adventure" camp out that week. I'm not bitter.

Bahston Beans said...

That brought a tear to my eye, as I was eating my sandwich of course. :)

Last year I worked on "eat less". This year's goal is "move more".

You'll have a support team at the 8 mile mark of the Karathon!

Mike Russell said...

What is your qualifying time for Boston? It has always been a goal of mine, and I would need to cut ironically about 26 minutes off of my time to qualify. You can do it!

X-Country2 said...

Oooooh, I figured out the clues. I know! I know!

Mindy said...

LOL... loving the "rhymes with"! :) You'll do it.

My fitness goal this year is to increase my flexibility. Seriously, I'm so unflexible that most men can outstretch me without breaking a sweat. I'm doing more stretching every day and throwing some more yoga in too.

MsDarkstar said...

I'm hoping that finding gainful employment, which will take me away from my fridge, will be enough.

Amy said...

Mike...3:40
My last marathon was 3:48 and some change.

What's your qulaifying time? 3:10?

Pam @ herbieontherun.com said...

My goal is to take about 13 minutes off my half-marathon PR in April. And I am toying...JUST TOYING...with the idea of doing the Marine Corps Marathon in October with a friend who ran it last year.

Chief said...

Im gonna call up the Barnum and Bailey goofballs and have them come pick up one of their ass midgets that they misplaced when the first was born 13 years ago.

enough is enough... they owe me a crapload of money for the food this sob has eaten

Amy said...

I like to run for 30 minutes 4 days a week and do 90 minutes yoga 1 day a week. I'm also trying to eat leaves, which I hate, but I'm trying. I did put some in my burrito tonight.

Jen said...

Hmmm...I believe that one of those fabulous illustrations was supposed to be mine when I came in 3rd place in your Haiku contest two years ago. It has yet to appear in my mailbox. My shape up plan will continue to involve my daily, hopeful trek to the mailbox.

Blaine said...

Moston Karathon...German, right? You're going to do a Karathon in Germany. Do you have to wear Lederhosen for that?

Joy Through Cooking said...

eeeee! Im SO excited for lots of running talk this yr! Which marathon are you aiming for to qualify? RW said that Wineglass in upstate NY is the fastest course around... if I decide to do one this year (with the same goal obv) that would be it. Yes, 3 months later (when I said "yeah Ill do a marathon again but DEFINITELY NOT in 2010") Im considering it now.
I just found out i made the lotto for the NYC half in march so at least I cant slack through these terrible winter-running months.

I have 29 minutes to drop myself.

JAMIE said...

You can totally qualify!! Go Amy!

My resolution this year is to run 500 miles, which shouldn't be too tough. But I also signed up for my first half marathon in July! I hope all this goal setting helps me achieve the last 40 lbs of weight I would like to have fall off my butt. I'm not in the challenge, only because time got away from me and I never took a picture. dumb excuse, I know.

paige said...

i plan on dropping a few lbs when i have my baby in 3 weeks. *Then* - i want to start figuring out if i can run again... (i feel like i only began when i got sidelined with the new babe...) i'm not sure how everything will fit together - taking care of my body, my family & a new little one - but i sure hope i can carve out a tiny piece of the world for myself... (my tiny goal being a 5k completed this year...)

M said...

So clearly I will be losing this contest....I have no intention of running a marathon, a 1/2 marathon or even a 5k....does that make me the devil? Although all this running talk makes me want to try - but then my lungs and quads burn some sense into me.

My plan is to walk....lots of walking and stretching. I just can't bring myself to care about food yet because I'm more interested in actually making changes than getting all hyper excited about weight loss and if I care about food then I'll just end up watching Grey's with a big ol' back of Cheetos and moving my toes for exercise.

Oh, and I do plan to cheer for all the runners. My vocal chords will be able to bench 150 by the end of the year.

Morgan Hagey said...

Amy you can totally do it! WOOHOO! I love WW online. SERIOUSLY LOVE IT. The skinnest I ever am is when I'm faithfully counting my points and eating peapods as a snack. :) So, this year, I am working my butt off. We're joining the Y, I'm riding my bike 7-8 miles a day right now, doing pilates and trying to shower on a daily basis. BOOYA! :) All happening during nap time. Yup. I'm awesome.

wendy said...

I am going to try to just sit in a dim room --surrounded by incense and some aboriginal chanting, in the lotus position, and VISUALIZE my weight loss.

Kristine said...

I have 4 or 5 races on my calendar this year. Getting to the start and finish lines respectably is my goal - so that means doing the required training all.year. long....

On the upside, the first race is just 4 weeks away....or is that the downside since I don't feel ready?