{Skinny} "Bruschetta"

Hey all!

I posted one of my favorite snacks on my other blog.  I'm in the process of combining the two blogs so I don't have to split my focus anymore.

Feel free to follow me at Exploring Domesticity.  I will hopefully be moving everything there within the month.

Until then, check out this yummy and super easy 3-ingredient snack I love!

What a difference a few months can make

I started running in April. Don't let the snow fool you, it was April in Minnesota. I had hoped I'd be a bit further along by now and feel more confident about my upcoming 5K, but I also couldn't fathom doing some of the things I'm doing now.

That girl on the left was just starting the C25K app and struggling to run 3 minutes straight. She had previously had no intention of ever becoming a runner, and had only recently decided she and her kiddos were worth it and running would help her meet her goals. She had nothing to wear that was appropriate for running but she still got out there in some hot sweatpants and a "Beer 30" shirt. She had her ups and downs but stuck with it.

The girl on the right is over twenty pounds lighter and consistently runs 2 miles straight. She is still fighting to get to three, but she sticks with it. She is no longer embarrassed to be seen running and doesn't hide in over-sized sweats and t-shirts. She is modeling great habits for her kiddos and her 2-year-old asks her if she's going for a run and can demonstrate push-ups, jumping jacks, and squats.

The girl on the left is the past, the girl on the right is the current. Before long there will be another picture to the right and this girl will be the past.

Bring it on!!!

Not a whole lot...

Well, it has been completely and utterly boring around here... Sorry about that!  I think my third week at the cabin is turning my brain to mush.  I was solely focused on my weight loss for a bit and I even took a hiatus from my favorite creative outlet (Exploring Domesticity) to write here and keep that focus.  However, an extended vacation and plans for a Way. More. Exciting. Vacation have shifted my focus.  (More about that in a minute.)

Don't get me wrong.  Things are going well on the weight loss front.  I got rid of the weight I gained on my week off - and then some, I think, but I won't know for sure until I weigh-in tomorrow.  My running has taken a bit of a hit with a busy family weekend and a busy (and HOT!) week stuck inside with just me and my mom to wrangle the kids.  I managed to fit in a quick 1.8 mile run - who am I kidding, I'm slower than a snail so it was not a "quick" run, but by "quick" I mean I would have preferred to go a bit longer.  Eating has been pretty good too.  The exception being today when things were so crazy I skipped breakfast in favor of a huge early lunch, then only grabbed some zucchini for dinner.  I don't know what it was today but I was not hungry and I couldn't force myself to eat just to fill my cals.

Here's a little bit of adorable-ness from post-run playtime in the lake.

Gah!  I hardly even know what day it is up here!  Guess I should throw in some non-scale victories while I'm at it.  Let's just do it bullet-style.

• I had to finally make the decision to stop wearing my only pair of capris because they look awful!  The are SOOO big!  I refuse to spend the money on a pair this late in the year.  Although, I have to say I found one of the last remaining pairs at the store the other day.  They weren't in my size (a good one or even two sizes smaller than I was looking for) but I tried them on and they fit perfectly!  Also,  not sure if I ever mentioned my fantastic Target find.  Jeans on sale down to $6 AND a coupon for "buy one get one half off."  Perfect for someone hoping to fly through sizes.  So, I picked up 14, 12, 10, and 8.  Um... The 14's are too big!  And, for kicks, I slipped on the 8s and... They fit!!!  The upper sizes may fit a bit better but it's only a matter of time until those are retired too.





Yep, my 2-year-old photographer could use a few more lessons, but "hello size 8 pants, long time no see."



• Hubby came up last weekend.  He doesn't say a lot about my weight loss but he did say, "so how much weight are you losing?"  In super-sensitive-guy-talk, that's as good as saying, "you look smokin' hot" so I'll take it.
• Oh, back to that exciting vacation I'm giddy over....  We're going to Disney World!  Ok, we'll head down to Florida to visit my grandparents and hit up Disney for a couple days on the way back, but I'm excited!  How can you not be?  Well, the NSV of that is that one of the things that popped into my mind while planning today was creating a meal plan.  I would have never thought about that before.  It would have been "Vacation!  Drop the diet. Anything goes!!"  Not to say there won't be some of that thinking, but I'm hopeful that the decisions I make will be light years away from what they were last year.
• I have a meeting with a business mentor next week and I'm super excited/nervous.  This journey has sparked some awesome ideas in my head to make fitness a fun part of life and I can't wait to get started and try to turn it into more than an idea!  I also can't wait to figure out what the heck I'm doing enough to finally be able to spill the beans!
• Last, I've been consistently hitting two miles when I actually do run.  It's been a struggle, but at least I know I can push myself to two without letting the pessimist jogger in my head convince me to walk.

How are you all doing this week?  Any NSVs to share?  Any lucky ladies with poetic hubbys like mine?  Anyone read through that novel to get here???

Tips and Tricks Tuesday #3

Hey all!

Thanks for visiting our third Tips and Tricks Tuesday! We had some great posts linked up last week and we're excited to see what you have to share this week!

<div align="center"> <a href="http://likea2-year-old"><img border="0" alt="Like a 2-Year-Old" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinv1wOR_cln-TimfMZRf2SmPSrgVc7qVqFQH0SxRfbVt2yI5eyZlZIcrVgv98ZLxxNeeLJDOBxKNSCvL6JKKseSlxFJ6h7IkZmiR9TQc8XYxOCaSbO41Cm9zUM6v8J4jA2l1797rp-wwk/s640/blogger-image--1974888572.jpg"/></a></center>

Just like last week, we're sharing the most viewed link. We had a tie this week for most viewed, so we'll be sharing them both!

Julia over at A (Future) Weight Loss Success Story shared some great sources of inspiration.

Bethany the ngnrdgrl shared her 10lb loss and the goals she has for her journey.

Make sure to check out the rest of the links last wee - you won't be disappointed!

if you were featured, make sure you grab a button!

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I know I am always looking for advice on this weight loss journey.  I also, occasionally, stumble upon some tips and tricks that work for me.  I decided to start this link up as a way to gather, in one place, all those brilliant tips as well as pleas for advice.  This way, we can all benefit.  We can easily view who could is searching for our help and send them some encouragement, and we can share our own fabulous tips and tricks.

So, here's the deal:

• Link up any past posts you have that you think may benefit others in any way - advice, recipes, reviews, workouts, motivation, inspiration, etc...
• Link up any past posts in which you are searching out advice from others - help staying on track, products, workouts, food, motivation, etc...
• Make sure to include the topic of your post in your title (I've noticed putting "Kristin @ Like a 2-year-old" in the title spot is a total weight loss blog trend - we're looking for the subject so people know what they're clicking on.)
• Follow your lovely hosts, Kristin and Kristin - let us know and we will gladly follow you back!  Hey, we're all here for the same support, right?
• Place our button somewhere on your blog or link back in your posts - let's gather as much advice from as many people as we can!
• Last, visit as many links as you can - help answer questions from those looking for help and let the others know how much you appreciate them sharing their own tips and tricks.
• Each week we will try to feature the most clicked link, as well as others that seem particularly helpful and deserve a little more recognition.

Now on with the show!

A crappy week, but full of revelations!

Last week, after my DietBet ended, I went off the deep end and ate everything I felt like and don't get much exercise in...

However, I felt like crap and came to some conclusions that made me feel really good!

Everything I ate made me sick. I still over indulged but I felt so awful after. None of that would have phased me before, but I was feeling it this time! we had chocolate cake for my Mom's birthday and it made me feel so gross I couldn't even look at another piece of cake the next day. I definitely felt the ill effect from all that junk and, by the end of the week, I was craving a nice big salad!

Even through all the junk, I kept up with tracking for the most part. My food diary is visible to all friends on MyFitnessPal, so it felt really hard to be truthful. I are the crap so I darn well better be able to admit it! I also tried to compensate with some runs. Ugh! That was tough with all the crap I was eating! I wrote all about that here, but the gist is: that run that was so awful, would have easily been considered my best run a week before. That's progress!

I am now back in the game and it feels good. I still crave that crap that made me feel like junk more than I do when I stay away from it, but I'm committed again! I also would like to complete another full two miles without walking and I have proven I can't do that without the right fuel.

The best part about all this was it showed me my body is craving a healthy lifestyle. I thought I wasn't at the point where I could try to make these changes for life and I needed a cheat day week after a full month on. The truth is, my mind may feel that way, but my body was not happy. Hopefully the feeling of how yucky I felt will help tame the beast next time I want to go crazy!

Breaking records running! Do I need new shoes?

So, the kids and I have been up at my parents' cabin for the past week and we will stay another week.

Next to the great family-time, beautiful scenery, and help with the kiddos, the best thing about being here is how much easier it is get my runs in. I have one old hand-me-down stroller up here, so I take  one of the kids (usually the little one), and my parents watch the other one. So nice!

We also have a circle (Circle Road, to be exact) that is about a mile long, so it's pretty easy to keep track and know how far I've gone or need to go. The scenery isn't too shabby either. There is one portion that smells wonderfully of maple syrup (no joke) and a deer ran out in front of us the other day. I can do without seeing the bears that have been sighted, though!

Last week I actually hit a personal best of running TWO straight miles and continuing on for a third that I ran more than half of. I was in a really good groove and let my mind wander rather than focusing on running.

I haven't had a great run like that since. Shortly after, my dietbets finished and I let myself to a little wild with my eating. When I tried to pick back up it was a struuuugle! I pushed it for a mile and ran/walked another mile. I felt like poo, but then I thought about it... That awful run would have easily been considered my best run a week ago! It would have been unheard of a month ago!

I've still been struggling a bit... Yesterday, I ran one full mile and walk/ran the second. Today was also a struggle. I hit that full mile, but the Little Lady ended up a bit fussy and, after doubling back to pick up a dropped Nuk, I brought her back to the cabin. I quickly picked up 2YO and headed back out for another mile run. It ended up being about half and half. I totaled about just over two and a half miles with all that, and some running around the yard with 2YO after we returned.

I need to get back to that great head space I was In when I made it two miles. It felt great!

So, here's my question... How important are the shoes you wear? I see so many people proudly showing off pictures of their new Brooks and raving about the night and day difference. Is it really that great?

Let me show you what I run in...

Yep, those are some ancient Sketchers Tone-Ups. See the double knots? I don't even tie them - I slip them on each time. Is that awful?

I thought I needed some new shoes and I bought some cute Addidas. I thought they'd be great because they were light, they looked like a running shoe to me, and they were cute. I brought them up the last long stint at the cabin and immediately called Hubby to bring my old shoes because they rubbed at the heel and didn't have any cushion.

I'm hoping it's not just a matter of time before I really mess up my already weak ankles or something. I really don't want to shell out a ton of cash for new shoes either.

What do you wear?

Do you feel like the right shoes are super important, or do you run with whatever?

Are Brooks really the best and, if so, we just passed my Half Birthday and these are really cute!

Weekly Goals and another round of Dietbets

Whew! That last week was pretty gross. I thought I could eat like I used to for a few days, but yuck!

I tried to track all the junk, and it really made me aware of how terrible I used to eat. I also got some runs in at the beginning of the week and one awful one tonight. It really made me realize how badly I was fueling my body.

I start another dietbet tomorrow, and I'm really happy to get back to healthy eating and good workouts.  I love the players in the new game - completely supportive and fun right off the bat!  The game is open to anyone, so feel free to join us.  This has been the best motivation for me and helped me loose 15lbs each month - now I just need to work on not gaining 5 back in between!

I thought I wasn't quite at the point yet to make a full lifestyle change. I was really looking forward to letting myself indulge in everything I hadn't let myself have for a month. What I found out was that I am closer to the goal of healthy living all the time, not just yo-yo dieting. The way I felt wasn't worth the indulgence. At. All.

My goals for this week are pretty simple

1. Back to my healthy eating and meal planning of last month
2. Workout every day. I'm going to try to keep up with shooting for a full 5K. If I don't have time for that, I need to at least get a quick little at-home workout in.
3. Keep up with the blog and get some of the half-finished posts out. I've got some great thoughts floating around out there, and maybe if I can spend my time on them it will help keep my mind in the right place and keep me on track.




A little view from our window tonight. Did I mention that one of these guys ran right in front of me during my run the other day? There have also been some black bears sighted not too far down the road from my route - I wouldn't want to run not one of those!

Do you see them?  We may have witnessed quite the show if my Little Lady hadn't started banging on the window!

Don't forget to link up your posts with any tips and tricks you may have - old or new - or any posts looking for help or advice!  We had 20 fabulous links last week - be sure to check them out!

Linking up here too!