House Hunting

Due to unfortunate circumstances, the boy and I are now house hunting.

As others have ranted about, it's so freaking hard to find affordable places in the area! We're looking for a one bedroom about the size of my current place, or maybe a two bedroom if the price is right.

We saw a lovely place in Pentagon City near the metro, where we would be spending as much as we do now. However, justifying the extra cost, instead of just renting by where we are now for a $500/month savings is tough. There's a lot we can do with the extra money.

Yesterday was one of many sleepless nights recently. I'm SO afraid in making yet another mistake. The Boy tries to calm me down saying that any place we pick is only for 12 months, if we don't like it, we can move on then. He is absolutely positive we will be happy wherever we end up.

I'm trying to figure out if location or money is more important for me. I'm surprising myself by not knowing the answer.

Either way, looks like we have to have a decision by Wednesday, since our over excitement of the Pentagon City place caused us to leave a deposit to hold it, that is refundable for only 3 days.

Fingers crossed we make the right decision.

Food Review

With the diet, I'm trying quite a few new foods, to give me feeling that I'm not depriving myself of anything. It's kind of interesting, since now I can eat ice cream everyday!

Ice cream, you say?

I have tried the Weight Watchers Giant Ice Cream Bars and love them. It doesn't taste like diet food, and it really feels like you're indulging. The giant fudge bar is a bit chewy, which makes it feel like you're really eating something. I'm not a fan of chocolate ice cream (usually if that's the only option, I chose not to eat any), but this one was really good. The Latte Bar tastes just like coffee ice cream, and the Cookies & Cream bar, though higher in calories, also tastes like the real thing (WW adds fiber to everything to lower the caloric content).
(WW points = 1 or 2)

I'm in LOVE with Gnu Bars. They are not cheap, but this website has the best prices for it, so I stocked up. They don't taste the same as granola bars, so don't have that expectation when taking the first bite, but they have 12 grams of fiber per bar, so it's totally worth it! The Banana Walnut and the Cinnamon Raisin flavors taste just like a cookie. I also like the Espresso Chip, it has a dark chocolate & coffee taste. I eat them after my yogurt for breakfast.
(WW points = 2)

I love yogurts in general, always have, and they have always been my breakfast staple since I was a kid (a habit I got from my mother). I've already been eating the Target fat free yogurts, which are fantastic, very thick, with only 100 calories, but the dessert flavored ones taste totally sinful. Definitely give the strawberry cheesecake and the honey almond a try (make sure it's the fat free version, the low fat contains sugar, so the it's almost twice the calories).
(WW points = 2)

I love Greek yogurt as well, and finally tried the fat-free Chobani (I like the plain, mixed with splenda), and I can't tell the difference between that one and the full-fat version.
(WW points = 2)

I have read a lot about the Vita Muffins and Vita Brownies, and found it at the Giant supermarket by me (in the frozen food aisle). They're very expensive (I believe $6 for a box of 4 tiny things), but they're only 100 calories, and have a bit of fiber. Not like the real thing, but as a treat once in a while, not too bad. They would be a lot better if the price wasn't so steep (looks like they're slightly cheaper online, pre-shipping costs).
(WW points = 1)

The Boy is a big fan of protein drinks and bars, but they usually have tons of calories. The ZOIC drink is the best I've seen so far in terms of ratio of protein to calories. It comes in vanilla and chocolate flavors, both have 110 calories and 21 (!!!) grams of protein. They only have 1 gram of fat, and 5 grams of carbs, as they don't have any sugar added. They taste ok for me, but are a bit in the watery side. I can drink them straight out of the can, but have been thinking about throwing the vanilla with some frozen strawberries in the blender for a milkshake taste. I know I definitely don't eat enough protein (I'm far from a vegetarian, but even pre-diet I easily go days without any type of meat), so for me this is a good way to complement to my diet.
(WW points = 2)

Yesterday I tried a pasta I had heard about tons of times, but couldn't justify the expense: the Fiber Gourmet pasta. Amazon had it for the cheapest price. If you think of the cost in term of a meal, and not compare it to normal price of pasta, the expense is not too bad. Anyway, this pasta has 18 grams of fiber per serving. 18!!! And though I was expecting something around the same texture of wheat pasta, I could not tell the difference taste or texture-wise between this pasta and regular pasta.

I've only tried the mac & cheese version so far, and though I love the pasta, the sauce leaves a lot to be desired. You're better off trying the normal pasta and using your own sauce (I am waiting for the regular pasta to arrive in the mail). The box claims to have 3 servings, and they're not kidding -- they're not small servings like most products, I made 3 bowls of pasta with each box.
(WW points/serving = 2.5)

I'll post here if I find anything else that I love. Would love to hear tips from others as well!

Update on diet

Remember how two weeks ago I said I was on a diet? So it's about time for an update.

I've been really really good at it, with the exception of Columbus Day weekend, since we drove down to the OBX (and got exactly 3 hours of perfect beach weather -- it was 3 hours more than we expected, yay!), and ate at Pigman's everyday, with frozen custard as dessert. We knew it was coming, so we saved up our extra "weekly" points for that week and the next so it would sort of even out.

So far, I've only lost a pound. I'm not frustrated, because it's exactly what I expected. I spent the last few months running 20+ miles a week, to all of a sudden having to stop due to injury, and due to my ankle sprain last Friday, I've been even more of a bum (though tomorrow we're supposed to hit the gym and work out those arms).

The diet then, is not making me lose weight, but instead preventing me from gaining.

Can't wait to start running again...

Here is where I come public to the blog world...

So I'm tired of this anonymous status. It was great back when I used to rant about my dates, now, that I'm no longer in the dating-mode, who cares who knows who I am? I am also disappointed with my job, but no longer deal with angry coworkers, so not much venting either.

And here it is where I come out to you guys...

Hi, I'm Carla.

And this is me:



What triggered this change of heart? For one, I sent a submission to Rachel's "love story project" because I thought it was such a great idea! I'll post the link here when it finally comes out. Of course, those of you who have read my account of meeting the Boy (Karl, by the way) are way too familiar with it. But, with my story there are also pictures!

The other reason, is that I talk way too much about running, and decided to create a blog just for my running adventures. And there? I have pictures from races. I just started it, so not much yet to see, aside from the account of the horrible ankle sprain I'm now dealing with, which made the one-block walk from my bus stop to work this morning a nightmare. But unfortunately, as I don't drive to work (not that I can, my ankle just can't move that way yet), I'm stuck limping my way into the office. Not bringing my crutches this morning was likely not the best idea either.

But I'm planning on keeping up there things about my training runs (as soon as I'm back on my feet), about races, I hope to train for a marathon next year (yep, no doubt I'll regret that decision once training for it actually starts). Since there's way more running things I want to share than it fits here with this blog, creating a separate blog, where I don't have to hide, seems ideal.

I named the blog after my running group on meetup.com: I Run, You Run.

I'll still post things here (god knows I never run out of things to bitch about). But join me on the other side if you want to see a bit of who I am, and how much running has become such a huge part of my life, even though I hate it!

Wordle

Now this is fun. And I guess I talk too much about running...


You can try yours at Wordle.

Runners High?

I have a confession to make. One that might surprise you if you've been reading my posts for a while.

I hate running. HATE it.

When I'm biking, I enjoy the process, love the wind on my face, think it's one of the most pleasurable things in life.

When I'm playing volleyball, I love the game, I don't want it to end.

When I'm swimming, I'm relaxed, de-stressing, hearing just the water and my breathing and it's like therapy.

Running? It's like torture.

But... but... When it's over, and I'm done, it feels so so good, that I keep going back for more.

Some people get the runners high during their run, it pushes them through, it challenges them. I get it the second I stop running. That very second. Maybe it's an immense sense of relief that it's over, but it just feels so good.

It's only been a few months that I finally mastered the whole "conversational pace." Up until this summer, the only conversation I could do while running was in the form of a grunt. Then, I'm not sure exactly when or how, suddenly I could talk while running. And I talked for the whole hour. And I could talk when I ran 2 hours.

The talking is important, because it keeps me out of my head. I love running with a group, and the running group I started has so many incredible people, it's wonderful. I started the group in October of last year to work as a motivational tool. If there's people waiting for me, I have to make my way out there. And it works, save for injuries and sickness, I haven't missed a run since.

And since then, I have left the ipod at home, and run with no music. Turns out, I prefer running with no music. You hear the sounds of the trail, the people, the wind.

However, whether I have music or not, the only thing I keep thinking is "this is hard" "this sucks" "I'm tired" "why do I keep doing this to myself" "are we done yet?"

If I'm chitchatting, I'm talking about boys and life and other fun things. I get out of my head. My head is always telling me it's much easier to walk.

And you think that after running a half marathon, or damn, being conditioned enough that I can run 10 miles with no issues or soreness, that the short runs would be easier. But they're not. Because when you find a pace that you can sustain for 10 miles, you no longer run 4 miles at that pace. You run faster, so it's harder.

Very rarely I have a run that feels good during the run, usually I'm just telling myself "why do I do this to myself? This will be my last run/race."

And then, I complete that run for the day and think "wow, this was fun, I want to do it again!"

Which is why, after running the half marathon and promising to myself during the run that it was going to be my first and last half marathon, I got back home to DC and signed up for the half next year.

Because apparently I like doing something that challenges myself, my body.

Either that, or I'm just plain crazy.

On a diet

I'm officially on a diet...

Last time I attempted to diet was back in January 07. I joined Nutrisystem after some horrible pictures of me from NYE. I followed faithfully for 3 months, and dropped 13lbs. My trip to Brazil interrupted the diet (I will never diet on vacation, that is just wrong!), and I had no motivation to get back into it once BBQ season started. And, though the NS food was truthfully yummy at first, I got tired of it pretty quickly. By the end, I was fatigued and borderline anemic.

I was good through spring and summer, but winter came, and I became a bit of a hermit, after not running as much as I wanted that winter. I slowly put most of the weight I lost back on. I was actively going to the gym, I started biking to work once the weather warmed up again, but nothing really helped me lose weight.

It seems I always put on pounds during the winter time, get some off during the warmer months.

Then, a year ago I created my running group and started running consistently. Short runs during the week, long runs on Saturdays. Of course, once spring came around, my weight went down again, as it always does. Increasing my runs to train for the Half Marathon and the Ten Miler made no additional difference whatsoever. Sure, my calves are more muscular, but nothing else.

One of my friends joined Weight Watchers a few months ago, and is now 25 lbs lighter. She started with a body very similar to mine. She inspired me.

I have done WW in the past, with no luck. After 3 months I had gained 0.3lbs -- I was eating healthier, but was also eating a lot more food than when I'm not dieting. At that time though, it was winter, and I wasn't running or biking, and my gym visits were rare.

Figured it is now worth another shot. As of this past Monday, I'm officially on Weight Watchers. Doing the online thing (no time or money for meetings), but am hopeful that this time, with all the running and such, it will work.

Of course, I'm nursing an injured foot right now, so cannot run for the next couple of weeks, but if I can keep my weight stable while I'm a bit of bum, it'll be a success.

The Boy? Has no weight to lose but will be doing it with me for moral support. He truly is wonderful.

I'll update on here as I go along. Hopefully, posting my plans here will keep me accountable.

If you have tried Weight Watchers before, please share your experience and any tips you may have!

And here's to hoping that when I run the Army Ten Miler next year, I'm not horrified of the way my sleeveless arms look like in the post-race picture.

Boy vs Ex

I knew it was coming. Sooner or later I was going to bump into the ex, who is now back in DC. (I have talked about him before here, here and here.)

The last time I saw him, it was hard. Not because there were still feelings there, but at that time I had not fallen in love again, still wondered if he had been my one chance, if he was the one that got away. I didn't even know if I was ever going to fall in love again.

Now, upon unexpectedly seeing him on Saturday, I didn't look at him as if he was an ex, a man that has shared my bed, but as if he is a long lost friend. Because it's been 4 years. Four years is a very long time. Four years is an even longer time for a relationship that only lasted 6 months.

I gave him a hug, welcoming him back in town. I was introduced to his pregnant wife, who looked like she was about to strangle me. I can only assume is immaturity on her part -- I truly do hope, that her insecurities aside, that they are happy together.

I introduced them both to the Boy. We were already on our way out the door, however, since we had to get up early the next morning to run the Army Ten Miler, so the night ended there.

It was funny seeing how threatened his wife was by me. I can't help but think "Honey, he married YOU and got you pregnant -- in that order! Don't you worry about me!" I've been terrified that his arrival back in town would mean our common friends would pick sides. His side, of course, since I met them through him. His wife feeling that way toward a girlfriend he left over 4 years ago, is not helping my case.

I hope his wife understands that I am not a threat. I don't want her husband. After meeting the Boy, I have no doubt that the ex was not the person I was meant to be with. No doubt.

My life with the Boy is spectacular. It's easy, it's loving, it's open. We have been together for just over 9 months, but we exchanged our first "I love you's" 2 weeks in. We just knew it. It was premature, sure, but nothing has changed. Our respect, love and understanding for each other just gets stronger each day. We've been officially living together for a month now, he's been basically living with me for 4 months, and my life with him is wonderful.

It's the way relationships should be like. Don't get me wrong, I had a good relationship with the ex, but it pales in comparison to what I have with the Boy. The Boy is not just my boyfriend, he is in every sense of the word, my partner.

I've never had to overthink things with the Boy -- if I think it, I can tell him about it. I don't have to worry about a reaction, or worse, an overreaction. He doesn't make me feel insecure. I know what he's thinking, what his plans are, where I fit into his present, and where he sees me in his future. We make plans. We talk about marriage, wedding, kids, even retirement.

I know that when he thinks ahead, he's assuming I'm right there with him. And he knows it is the same for me.

Life with him is comforting, it's exciting. We have shared our fears, we have shared our dreams. And the more we get to know each other, the more we realize that we are perfect together. He is my lover and my best friend. I cannot imagine my life without him.

Relationships shouldn't be work. They should just work. Sure, there are tough times, and there will be tougher times, and we'll get through them. We have disagreed (don't even get us started on politics), we have fought, we have cried, we have made up.

But neither of us ever doubt our love or our future together.

And every day, while I'm here at work, I can't wait to get home and give him the tightest hug I can. There's no better way to officially end my work day, than feeling his arms around me, his breath on my neck.

So to Mrs. Ex, I must say: don't waste your time being worried about me, honey. I wouldn't trade our lives for the world.

Rio!

As everyone already knows, Rio will be hosting the 2016 Olympics (yay!).

Jo posted this on Facebook, and I couldn't help but post it here. What exactly am I doing in DC again?

Now this is home for me:

A Marathon

Just like I have pet peeves with biking and with driving, it's not surprisingly that I have also developed a pet peeve since picking up running...

And I'm sure many people have a much bigger list than I do. I know I run with people who run funny (arms going all over the place, legs flopping about) but are still way faster than me, but surprisingly that doesn't bother me much. But one pet peeve of mine, I have heard a few times in the last couple of weeks is.

"This will be my first marathon!" (from a girl in my group who signed up for the 5k race)

and

"My friend convinced me to run a marathon" "Oh really, which one?" "Oh, some 5k in Rockville"

Ok, pay attention...

MARATHON = 26.2 miles.

A 5k is NOT a marathon, it's a race. Actually, a marathon is also a race. But a 5k = 3.1 miles.

A marathon? It will ALWAYS be 26.2 miles. The same way that a half-marathon will ALWAYS be 13.1 miles.

The other races? A 5k, 10k, 10 miler, etc, are just that, races with whatever distances that are posted. An ultra-marathon? It's any race with a distance over 26.2 miles, so that's also not a set distance.

Ok, now that I got that out of my chest, I can go on with my Friday.