Advocare 24-Day Challenge

My review on the Advocare 24 Day Challenge Weight Loss Bundle (Max3):

 

I bought the 24-Day Challenge Max 3 Kit with the Chocolate flavored shakes. I am on Day 17 of the challenge and have not lost any weight. I also bought the Catalyst and the ThermoPlus pills thinking that would help me lose weight more, but I don't see how it has helped me in any way?

First off, I have had the worst tummy issues with these products. I thought at first that it was due to the "cleanse" part of the challenge. I expected the gas and the bubbly stomach, but I did not expect the sharp-shooting pains nor the diarrhea that has so far lasted the past 17 days. I thought the tummy issues would have gone away by now since the cleanse part is over (which is only the first 10 days) but my tummy still hurts a lot and I have a bowel movement 4-5x a day! Being regular is nice, but I hate feeling like I need to be near a bathroom "just in case", which in fact has deterred me from running trails since I'm afraid to not have a toilet nearby.

Granted, I warned the rep that I already have a sensitive stomach. I react to pills quite strongly and let her be aware of my issues beforehand. She acknowledged my concerns but reassured me that I am going to feel awesome and will lose a TON of weight, especially with the Catalyst and ThermoPlus pills. Unfortunately, not in my case at all.

After 11 days, thinking that the herbal cleanse pills were the culprit, I still had issues with my tummy and the diarrhea continued. So I talked to my rep at length and she told me that I must not be following the instructions. I indeed have been the whole time! So I finally read the box (DUH on my part) and realized that right there on the box, there is a warning that the cleanse pills contain senna. I researched senna online (on WebMD, in particular) and discovered that some people can have a bad reaction to senna being that it is a natural laxative. Not once did she ever mention senna. It's MY fault for not checking in the first place but I was just surprised that after talking to her for days and days about my symptoms, that there was never any mentioned of possible side effects. Everything I was experiencing were stated right there on the WebMD site. It also stated the effects of long-term use of products containing senna is dangerous. :(

Anyway, since I have already spent over $200 on these products, I have decided to continue using them. I have to, for my own sanity, know if they are at least going to work at some point. I kept hearing such great things about this challenge so I had to try it for myself.

The one thing people talk about the most is how energetic and great they feel because of the Spark drink. I have noticed that I do feel a bit more energetic after drinking it. I used to drink a cup of coffee a day so I felt as if I've had my cup of coffee. It is optional to take Spark more than once a day (up to 3x a day, in fact). I tried taking a 2nd one on Day 12 and I had a REALLY bad reaction to it. I started seeing zig zag lines which really freaked me out. I sat there on my couch feeling like I was on drugs, seeing these zig zag lines (I have NEVER experienced this before!!!). So I looked it up online and discovered that it's called a migraine aura without headache. I called my Dr after feeling like I was going crazy after 30 mins of seeing these zig zag lines and she said that I must be having an allergic reaction to something or my body purely cannot take the ingredients, that it's too strong. Let's just say, I haven't taken 2 Sparks in a day since!!! It tastes good so I don't mind drinking it but now I'm afraid of how it's going to make me feel for the rest of the day. So far, one has been safe for me.

As I mentioned before, I have also been taking the Catalyst and the ThermoPlus pills and haven't noticed a significant difference in how I feel? The pills in general make me feel nauseated all day long and every morning I've had to run to the bathroom and it takes about an hour to flush my system out until I feel better again. Why, do you ask, am I continuing to torture myself? I, for one, don't like to waste money. My husband thinks I'm crazy for continuing to take these products considering how miserable I have been feeling since day one. But like I said, I need to complete the program for me to make a complete judgment on it. So far, it's not looking good for Advocare. :(

I must admit, I like the convenience of having the chocolate protein shake for breakfast in the morning (in the MAX phase). I make it with one cup almond milk (original flavor), 1/2 banana, 1 tbsp almond butter and 7 cubes of ice. Yum. You're supposed to just add it with water but I have felt like it wasn't "enough" to last me until the next meal. Even with a snack in between, I just didn't feel content so I added the almond milk, banana and almond butter to help me feel fuller. Also, after comparing the ingredients of this meal replacement shake with other protein powders, the other protein powders contain more protein, less sugar and costs less in general.

The MAX phase requires you to take 4 sets of pills (30 minutes before breakfast, 30 minutes before lunch and 2 sets during lunch). There's a LOT of pills to take. I mean, a LOT. Too many, if you ask me. However, with the Max 3 pills, I have found that it has helped curtail my cravings and pangs of hunger. I rarely feel the need to snack (even though I make myself). I still eat a complete meal when it's meal time to make sure I am doing everything right. I just never feel as hungry as I have before. I was usually feeling STARVED all day long and craved for sugar. Now I don't ever crave for sugar...which for me is great! Since sugar is my "danger zone".

To give a little background on me, I have been eating clean for the past 6 weeks. I decided to cut out sugar, dairy, grains (except for brown rice and oatmeal on a rare basis), alcohol and have gone Paleo for the most part. I thought it would be best to put full effort into eating well first before trying these products so that my body could detox from all the crap I had eaten over the holidays. Plus, I didn't want to confuse the symptoms or side effects with anything else. I also work out 7 hours a week, mostly interval training with personal trainers at my gym.

I am 5'7" and weigh 158 lbs. I normally weigh 135 lbs. I usually gain a ton of weight during the holidays and have almost always lost the weight before the next summer purely from eating clean and working out regularly. But as I have gotten older (I am 37 next week), it has gotten tougher and tougher to lose the weight so that is why I thought I'd try Advocare in the first place.

I feel that the inches I have lost so far is something I could have accomplished on my own (clean eating and exercising regularly). I have done it many times before and I am right on track with the results I have accomplished within the same time frame, according to my past journals. So that's why I don't feel the Advocare has really "helped" me in any way. Aside from feeling miserable while on this program, I feel that it really didn't add anything to my current status (eating well, working out almost every day, getting good sleep, drinking 1/2 my weight in water in ounces, etc). I know I am sensitive to vitamins and minerals anyway so I am kicking myself for wasting so much money on products that I feel have been a complete BUST. I could have achieved my goals (like I have done many times before) without shelling out $200+.

I will update my review in a few days after I have completed all 24 days! Hope I have better news. :)

Which diet to do this time?

Yes, I said the forbidden word again...DIET. Realistically, I would like to say that I could continue eating healthy on a regular basis, as a "lifestyle".  But I don't live like that.  I enjoy food too much to give up anything permanently. I can go for weeks, even months, without certain things (sugar, dairy, grains, etc).  I can even try to go for a year without some things.  I've done it before, well kind of.  I omitted soda from my diet for 3 years.  I just didn't care for it.  Then again, I was drinking a lot of alcohol at that time. I'll save that explanation for another day.  LOL

Anyway, I have several more days left until the next Biggest Loser competition begins.  Last diet I did was Paleo aka the Caveman Diet.  I lasted 6 weeks and as much as I liked it and appreciated losing 15 lbs during that time, I just don't know if that's something I want to go through again.  First off, it's expensive.  I don't normally eat red meat.  I eat a lot of chicken and seafood (fish, shrimp, tuna, crabs & lobster) if I'm lucky. But I find that I NEED red meat when I'm eating Paleo.  You kind of feel ravenous for a period of time and you just want to eat a lot.  Considering it's so limited to veggies, meat, eggs and fruit...I felt like I needed something different (other than chicken) to continue Paleo.  You end up eating a lot of the same stuff.  Makes it kind of boring to eat eggs everyday.  But it also forces you to find new recipes to keep you going.  My point is that meat is expensive!  Secondly, even though I liked many different Paleo recipes (my family did too), it's a LOT of work trying to make things.  My kitchen ends up looking like a bomb went off at every meal.  Yes, you heard that right.  EVERY MEAL.  Don't get me wrong, I like cooking.  But I would rather not have to cook every single meal.  It's much more convenient to grab a yogurt out of the fridge or pour myself a bowl of cereal for breakfast than having to cook eggs and bacon.  Not to mention all the veggies you end up cutting just to make the meals more filling.  Which in turn creates MORE mess.  Which leads to cleaning. MORE cleaning.  Eh.

Another reason I am not really wanting to do Paleo is that even though I lost 15 lbs in the 6 weeks I attempted it.  It is not something I can see myself doing for a looooooooooong period of time.  Like I said, it's too limiting.  No dairy.  No (refined) sugar.  No refined anything. No grains.  No processed foods.  No beans.  No alcohol (sometimes this becomes a NEED).  No Thrifty's chocolate malted crunch ice cream!!  This is also a NEED.  Who can live like that for life??!?!  I know I certainly can't. 

I'm trying to be realistic here.  I know I love my sugar.  I can go without it for days, weeks, months (3 months being the longest when I did the South Beach Diet a few years back).  Ideally I would like to be able to enjoy some of the finer things in food.  You know, sugar, dairy, grains, beans...yes, even beans.  I want to be able to make it last longer than a few months.  You know, make it a lifestyle.  Is that even possible???

I met someone recently that told me about the S Diet. It's a few simple rules. 

"There are just three rules and one exception:

• No Snacks
• No Sweets
• No Seconds

Except (sometimes) on days that start with "S"

That's it." 

Why in quotes? Because I copied it straight from their website.  The rules are really that simple. 

So that means, I can eat what I want (as long as I don't go crazy) on Saturdays, Sundays and special days like holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, etc.  I like the idea of not having to say no to every single meal offered to me at parties, at restaurants, at other people's houses.  I like the idea of not having to omit anything from my diet. 

Ofcourse this all piqued my interest enough to buy the book.  I literally held it in my hands this morning and thought to myself how cool it would be to read it all in one day. 

Suffice to say...it's still sitting on the table.  Untouched...all day. 

Tonight might be the night! 

The research begins...

Back to Reality...

First off, I would like to say...DANG, I have not written in this blog in like forever! I have no idea what happened.  I really wanted to keep up with this thing but it just didn't happen.  Oh well. 

I just came to a realization today that since school has ended in June, we have only spent a few weeks at home.  The week after school got out, we went to San Diego to visit my sistah Charmaine for 8 days, spent 9 days at home and then took off for 26 days on our ROAD TRIP!!!  So that means, I have spent over a month eating out and eating everything in sight.  We literally ate like Kings and Queens, enjoying dessert almost after every meal.  Granted, I enjoyed every minute of it.  It was definitely worth the 15 lbs I gained during vacation. (Honestly, I haven't even weighed myself yet.  I am guessing that's the # since my pants don't fit. Tell-tale sign.)

But the fun must end someday and that someday is now here. 

Booooooo.  Hissssssss...

I would much rather be on vacation enjoying anything and everything I can shove in my mouth.  Heck, I do that during the holidays anyway.  However, this yo-yo dieting is wreaking havoc on my poor body.  Eating healthy for a few months then gorging myself for a few months after...it's a vicious cycle.  It's such a love/hate relationship with food. People hate the word "DIET".  I, on the other hand, use it without remorse.  I diet.  Plain and simple. 

To think, I just won one of the pots of a Biggest Loser contest back in May.  It's only August and I've already gained it all back.  Sad! 

I have no one to blame but myself.  I'm all about "Life is short.  Enjoy it."  But I am also all about fitting in my clothes.  LOL.  Which unfortunately for me, my fat pants are now becoming too tight.  These are usually my WINTER pants and it's right smack in the middle of summer.  Blah.

So today was my last hurrah.  I was trying to start my new weight loss journey today but I wanted to rebel and go against the norm.  Didn't wanna start on the first day of the month, I will start on the 2nd.  So there.

The next Biggest Loser contest begins Sunday, August 11th.  I thought about eating everything in sight before then (and who knows, I might still do that!  LOL) but my mental state needs to be in GO mode now.  Otherwise it will be that much harder when that Sunday rolls around.  I love doing contests.  It's such a great motivating factor.  I like money.  Who doesn't?  I like money even more when I WIN it.  I also like the camaraderie with all the wonderful ladies that are there with you every day TRYING.  The support we have for each other is phenomenal and it's truly a positive experience.

Anyway, wish me luck!  My belly & thighs needs this. 



And oh yeah, pictures to follow.  Eek!

Size 6 is now PLUS SIZE?

In response to "Plus Size Bodies, What Is Wrong With Them Anyway?"

Goodbye 2011, Hello 2012!!!!

Happy New Year!!! I am really looking forward to the new year. I like the feeling of being able to start anew and let bygones be bygones (well, I try). I love making New Year's resolutions. I like checking things off my list and that feeling of accomplishment makes it all worthwhile. I have yet to compile this so-called list. LOL. But in the meantime, let's look back at 2011.

Here are 20 questions that can get you started on your end-of-year review:
• What were my resolutions or goals for 2011?
• What were my greatest accomplishments for 2011 that I am most proud of?
• Now, what was one more?
• What are the actions I took to achieve these accomplishments?
• What strengths did I tap into to be able to take these actions?
• How can I apply these strengths to move forward in 2012?
• What did I intend to do in 2011 that did not get done?
• What were the biggest challenges or barriers I faced in 2011 that contributed to not accomplishing everything I wanted?
• How did I deal with each of these?
• Where do I get my strength to overcome barriers?
• How have I grown from these accomplishments and challenges?
• What am I most grateful for as I reflect back on the year?
• What have I learned?
• Who are my greatest supporters or support systems that I can rely on as I move forward?
• How can I show my gratitude and appreciation to those who have supported me?
• What would I like to be different in the upcoming year?
• What would it feel like to experience this difference?
• What am I willing to do to make this change a reality?
• What barriers do I anticipate and what strategies can I put into place to overcome these barriers?
• What is the first step I need to take to get closer to my goals?

Source: examiner.com

A look back at 2011...

This past year has definitely been one of the roughest years I've ever had. To think, 2010 was pretty rough too. I still have a difficult time saying that my Mom passed away. I can write it, I can hear it, I can talk about her. But it's saying out loud "My Mom's gone" has been particularly challenging. Just hearing songs she once loved is challenging. If I can make it through one day with no crying, I consider that a "normal" day.

I am hoping for lots of healing (in many areas of my life) in 2012. I would like to be able to work on myself, to get past THE PAST and just move on to a brighter future. My children and husband have definitely helped me become a much better person than I've ever thought I'd be. But I want to be a "shinier" version of myself. I know I can do better. Be better. To do that, I have to do a lot of self-reflection...and well, that's the toughest part.

My Mom and I had a very volatile relationship. We had very high highs and very low lows. My sisters and brother can attest to that. With her passing, I feel so lost...and guilty. For so MANY things. I know she's in a much better place. I believe in my heart that she's watching over us. I think I know a lot of things...at least in my head, it seems so real, so right. I have never lived with regrets...until now. 2011 has proven to me just how much our past haunts us. How we truly shape our present and our future. How we can single handedly ruin our own day by one mistake...all unknowingly or even purposely. But the impossibility of "going back". If only.

I wish I could go back and tell my Mom just "one more thing". All I want is just that one last phone call. That one last hug. That one last...anything, really.

But I guess I can consider myself lucky...I can talk to her anytime I want now. I can finally be really honest with her and not be afraid of the circumstances that may happen after. If only she can reach out and let me know she's listening...

2011 was not full of sorrow however. Although our family experienced 4 deaths in the past year...I can't help but think about all the happy, wonderful times we shared with them. Just by looking at my children and the joy they exude on a daily basis, I have to at least try to look at the positive. To look at life with more joy than I really feel inside. If not for me...for my children and my husband. They are the reason I make it day to day.

I say GOOD RIDDANCE to 2011. Actually, let me re-phrase that...

FUCK YOU 2011.
(Pardon my "French")

Well...let's just say. I needed to say that. But quite truthfully...HEALING IS A CHOICE. Therefore, I choose to heal by saying F U to all the bad things that happened this past year. Yes, WRITING THIS IS PART OF MY HEALING.

Thank God for renewal, spiritual rejuvenation, good family and friends. I have even met some new friends this year that have become very dear to my heart. I have been very blessed to have really wonderful people in my life to make me WANT to be better, people that encourage me to look forward to tomorrow. 2012 is a NEW YEAR and I am looking forward to a fresh start.

Today was not a normal day.

The Rest of the Advent Calendar Activities

December 16: O, Christmas Tree!

December 17: The Polar Express

December 18: Classic CHRISTMAS MOVIES Day!

December 19: Presents!

December 20: Christmas - Part I

December 21: Holiday Extravaganza, Melodrama in Oceano

December 22:

December 23:

December 24: Waiting for Santa

December 25: MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

Advent Calendar of Activities continued...

December 9: Winter Wonderland, Atascadero

December 10: Time to Decorate for Christmas - Outside

December 11: "The Great Late Potentate" musical, ABC Church

December 12: Time to Decorate for Christmas - Inside

Photo courtesy of Isabella :)

December 13: Gingerbread House

December 14: Singing Christmas carols

December 15: Elves and the Shoemaker

Grow, hair, grow!

 

I have been having a lot of migraines lately. Maybe it's stress, maybe it's the weather, maybe it's something else. I want to pull my hair out sometimes.

Speaking of hair...I really miss my long hair.

Yep, that's it. That's all I wanted to say. Lol.

Activity Advent Calendar for Christmas!

One of the moms posted on Facebook that they're doing an Activity Advent Calendar for Christmas this year. I thought it was a great idea so I'm copying it! :) I am hoping to find something to do every single day!

December 1: Letters to Santa!

December 2: Holiday Lighting of the Trees at Sunken Gardens, Atascadero

December 3: Holiday Walk Around the Lake, Atascadero

December 4: Elegant Evening, Arroyo Grande

December 5: Christmas Crack (toooo dangerous to have this hanging around in the house!)

December 6: Cracking Walnuts (Christmas presents for teachers)

December 7: A Charlie Brown Christmas movie

December 8: Personal Christmas Tree Painted Projects

Connor's such a trooper!

 

 

Last night, Connor was in tears as he was really nervous about his dentist appointment. I explained that it's OK to be nervous and that everyone is afraid of the unknown. I tried to ease his fears by reassuring him that he can ask the dentist what he's going to be doing exactly and I would be there right next to him, holding his hand...which I didn't end up doing since there wasn't much room for me to do it. :(

Why did he have to go to the dentist, you ask? Well Connor went in for a check-up last week and the dentist found that he had a very mild ("almost a cavity"?) on his bottom left molar. So today, Connor went in to get it taken care of and they used nitrous to take the edge off. I've never used it before so I was kind of worried how it was going to affect him. Surprisingly, he wasn't loopy or anything like what I've seen those kids do on "Ellen". LOL. The whole procedure took less than 20 mins and Connor did awesome! Dr. Cottrell said that most boys are a little more "active" in the chair and Connor was pretty mellow. Shocking. Connor and mellow in one sentence. LOL. :)

The real test will be next Friday. He will be having oral surgery. Apparently, he has an extra tooth growing upside down in the middle of his two front teeth. Imagine that! (Totally explains the monstrous gap between his 2 front teeth!) It's causing such a protrusion and is preventing his smaller upper teeth to come in that it has to be removed soon. I am really nervous about the whole thing and I KNOW that he's going to do just fine, but you know how it is. You just want to protect your baby from anything that might seem painful. He's going to be put under so please pray that he doesn't have any complications. Thanks! :)

Isabella, you little stinker!!!

This morning was just like normal: wake up, give kids breakfast, something to drink while I take my vitamins and get myself to wake up by washing dishes, etc etc.

Isabella asked for some water in our special light-up cup (you know, one of the ones you get at the concerts at the fair). Isabella and Connor were sitting at the dining table chit-chatting about this and that, arguing about something (like usual) and laughing REALLY loud about silly things (like usual). Ofcourse...as usual, I had to remind them that Daddy was sleeping and they needed to shush it a little. They're still cracking up about something and then next thing I know Connor just walks away.

I asked Connor what happened (as I noticed his fruit cup was still full). He said that Isabella swished some water in her mouth and spit it into his cup. YUCK. This whole time Isabella is cracking up and is just happy that now, she gets to eat the fruit cup. Yeah, you know, so it doesn't go to waste. Ingenious! Ofcourse, I had to quickly remind her that wasn't a nice to thing to do, yada, yada, yada.

Anyway, a few minutes later I picked up the light-up cup she was using and drank from it. As I'm doing this, she's just laughing and just had this sly look on her cute little face. After I finished drinking, I asked her "What's so funny?" In between her snorts, she tells me that she was swishing the water in her mouth and spit it back out...back in the same water cup I just drank from!!!! Ugh, GROSS!!! Then she had to add a little detail and again through her snorts, "Haha, I made you drink my slobber lemonade!!" HAHA, real funny. You little stinker!

*Don't worry, I will get her back*

 

I have to admit. I am probably the luckiest mom in the world to have such beautiful children, inside and out. :)

Go Connor Go!

 

Daddy decided it was time to teach Connor how to mow the lawns. Our electric lawn mower is super easy to maneuver & the blades are hidden well so it's safe to use. Connor didn't think it was a great idea but after a little persuasion (well ok, he didn't really have much of a choice), he did it and he did awesome! It was kind of a hot day so he did take multiple breaks to sit in the shade ("It's soooo hot! I'm all sweaty.") but we are super duper proud of him. The lawn looks great and he did a wonderful job! Go Connor Go!

Kids say some of the funniest things sometimes...

CONNOR

We were driving by Dove Creek Church yesterday and Connor noticed the banner they have posted in front of the church.  It said "FREE FAMILY FAIR FESTIVAL"... 

C: "Look Mom, that church is having a carnival on August 13th!"

M: "Oh cool, maybe we should go.  That sounds like fun!"

C: "You know Mom, I don't know about going to these free events."

M: "Why would you say that?  I like free events."

C: "Well you know, they say it's free, but all they really want is your money."

(I'm just about as shocked as you can be hearing this coming out of my 7-year-old son's mouth)

M: "Oh really, why do you think that?"

C: "Because every time we go somewhere that's free, they make you spend money there by making you buy things or if you want to do anything."

M: "Yeah I guess that's true, come to think of it."

Funny kid...

ISABELLA

So Isabella and I were snuggling on the couch this morning and talking about things we want to do for the rest of the week.  We're planning to go back to the Mid State Fair on Friday with Daddy (we went yesterday to ride the carnival rides while Daddy was at work) and the kids are super excited to go back.  Well Isabella fell in love with this nail polish set called the "Migi Nail Art" set that a vendor was selling at the fair.  She really really really wants them for her birthday...which isn't until September.  But there was just noooooo way I was going to spend $25 on a set of nail polish for her 5th birthday.  Mind you, I thought it was pretty cool too, but handing out that much money for something incredibly overpriced (and those who know me, I have a tough time buying anything without a coupon to begin with!) is just insane to me.  So Isabella was trying to reason with me and trying to persuade me to buy the nail polish...

I: "Mommy, I really want the nail thing.  Didn't you like it?"

M: "Yes I really liked it too.  But it was kind of expensive."

I: "Well you can get it for me for my birthday."

M: "You're right, I could, but I don't think so..."

I: "Well maybe I can give you 10 kisses and then you have to buy it for me."

M: "Really? 10 kisses huh?  How about 10,000?"

I: "Oh Mom, come on, I can't do that."

M: "Why not?"

I: "Ummm Mom, I can't count that high!"

LOL!  :)

Wish there were just 2 extra hours more per day!

I feel like I am always playing catch up with everything.  Now that school is over and summer vacation is here, I once again have a full schedule. We just ended Awanas, T-Ball, and Cub Scouts.  Then here we are, all signed up again for a whole summer of "fun".  It sounded good months ago when I signed up for everything but now it is just exhausting just thinking about what we have going on this summer.  Between swim lessons, reading class (for Isabella), VBS @ several churches, going to the Ravine (we got season passses), and making sure we have other "fun" in between...I just wish there were just two more hours per day so I can catch up to basic necessities (you know, like organizing coupons, grocery shopping, cleaning, etc.).  I wish I wasn't so addicted to Facebook, blogs, and Words with Friends either.  LOL.  That probably explains what happens to all my extra time! 

I am just amazed at how much we try to accomplish in a given day.  To think, mothers back in the day had to cook food from scratch every day (I try!), had to wash clothes by hand, give their children real baths as there were no showers, and at some point in time...they had no hot water or electricity!  Talk about accomplishing a lot, THEY accomplished way more than I ever have in my lifetime and here I am complaining about all the fun times we get to offer our children.  Maybe this is a good reality check...maybe my kids just needs me to bake them cookies and play board games with them all day?  Ever wonder how simple life COULD be?!

Interesting (but funny) conversation...

So the kids and I are going through their bedrooms trying to collect stuff to sell at our yard sale.  Connor is doing awesome looking for things to sell (and donate to Goodwill).  He is breezing through his room stuffing boxes with toys he no longer plays with.  Isabella, on the other hand, is a hoarder like me so she is having a hard time letting go of things and is actually asking Connor if she can take some of the stuff he's willing to let go of. Go figure.  Lol.

Connor decided to donate his blow-up dinosaur he got at the Dollar Tree not too long ago.  He says he never plays with it (which he does by the way) but is willing to let go of it (and just about everything in his room because he "wants to make room for more toys that he will be getting for his birthday in a few weeks").  As he puts it in the box, Isabella picks it up and decides it's now hers.  It's a fun toy, so what the heck, I let her keep it.  Fast forward a few hours later, Isabella's walking around the house, shoving the dino in Connor's face...

I: "Hi, my name is Cutie!"
C: "His name is Dino.  It's a boy."
I: "Well I changed its name to Cutie.  It's a girl now.  I like to snuggle it and it's Cutie!"
C: "Well it's a boy.  It was born that way and you can't change it from boy to girl.  So his name is Dino."
I: "Well it's a girl now."
C: "Nope sorry, but it doesn't have a vagina. It has a penis."
I: "Well I'll just take it off.  Now it's a girl."
C: "You can't just take it off.  It's always been a boy and that's that."
Isabella walks away "Cutie is soooooo snuggly and I looooooove snuggling with her."

Those kids crack me up!

Triathlon Training

The Triathlon Training Center Swim Better at MensHealth.com

A great guide for Triathlon Training! I am really really hoping to be able to do the SLO Triathlon this year. I have been "training" for about a month now, not hardcore or anything, but enough to build my endurance. I'm able to do interval runs of 5 miles in 55 mins and swim 32 laps in a 25 yard pool within 11 mins. Not too bad. I am having problems with my right knee still but it has gotten a lot better since I've lost 10 lbs and been working out more. I was able to run 25 mins straight the other day w/ no pain! I was so ecstatic. I tried to push it but I could feel my knee start giving out so I started doing interval runs after. I ran 35 mins total so enough to do a 5K. I figure if I can push both kids in the BOB stroller and run a 5K in 30 mins or a 10K in 1.5 hrs then sheez, I can run a 5K now in less than 30 mins! It's just so frustrating when I know I CAN do all of this and in good time, but my body is failing me. Sucks getting old. Well, I can't really blame age entirely. It's my fault for always going into hibernation (eating all I want and barely working out) during the winter months. I can't expect that my metabolism and endurance will always snap back like usual. Now that I am getting older, I am finding that it's not as easy as it used to be. I used to be able to pick up right where I left off from 3 months prior but no such luck these days. Well, I just realized I have to swim 36 lengths at the Sinsheimer Pool (where the triathlon is held in July) so I need to start doing that. Off to go for a run then swim in the cold! Brrrrr!