I've been interviewed about my latest obsession

Karen Katchur has a blog about writers and fitness and she's interviewed me HERE about my workouts, which just happen to be all about kettlebells lately. Check it out and say hi!

I woke up hungry

I woke up hungry and thinking about food, a sure sign that while my head knows it's time to get back on the diet, my body is rebelling.

I'll be honest and tell you that my appetite is frighteningly large. My capacity for food outdoes some men. I fight it, but it's always there.

But I've eaten like a death row prisoner having their last meal for long enough. Today I must return to eating healthy and getting some exercise. (Not to rub it in for those of you in other parts of the country, but the weather here is gorgeous and I plan to head out for a spin on my new bike later.)

With that in mind, I'm off to the store to fill my fridge with fruits and veggies. Conference season is fast approaching and besides being healthy, I'd like to fit into my clothes.

Are you dieting? Exercising? What approach are you using?

Never Say Never

I've never been a runner. I always thought it seemed like a cool thing to do and a great way to burn calories and get in shape, but every time I tried it, I collapsed into a red-faced, heaving heap. I couldn't breathe and I felt like throwing up.

Not really incentive to keep going.

But I'm a determined soul and about 4 months ago, I started running on the treadmill. Two minutes was about the most I could do without passing out. But I kept at it, doing run/walk intervals. The first time I ran for five minutes without stopping, I felt like I could conquer the world. When I ran for eight, I was pretty sure I had conquered the world (or at least a small section of my neighborhood.)

Then at RWA's National Conference during the end of July, I ran my first mile. Twelve minutes! A whole mile! Did this achievement make me a runner? I wasn't sure, but it felt like I was on the verge of something. A point of no return. A precipice.

This week I ran 1.25 miles. Fifteen minutes without stopping. I'm pretty sure I'm officially a runner. And by the end of next month, I hope to be running 1.75 - 2 miles. When the weather cools, I'll be taking the show outside - something I'm really looking forward to.

I sure didn't start out running a mile, but now that I have, I feel like there's no holding me back. I've even briefly entertained looking into the possibility of doing a 5k. I know! Who am I?

Writing a book is a lot like learning to run. It takes time, desire and constant work. Stop writing for a week and see how easy it is to get back into your rhythm. It's not. Just like running. You've got to keep pushing forward. So go. Push. Run. Write. If I can do it, anyone can.

A week of firsts

I'm over at Fictionistas today talking about firsts. Come and share yours!

I'm a steppin' machine

So yesterday I posted that the first day with my pedometer on I only managed 7500 steps. Well that changed yesterday. Maybe because I was more conscious of my movement, I'm not sure, but I did 12,424 steps. About 6 miles. Three of those miles were on the treadmill as part of my workout, but still, they count! I'm pretty psyched about that number and am hoping to repeat it today.

I also had a little breakthrough with my workout yesterday - I ran for five minutes straight without stopping, falling off the treadmill or crying like a little girl. I've been running for small intervals for a while now but never really more than 1 or 2 minutes at a time. I guess that work is starting to pay off. I'd love to be a runner. Seems like they can eat whatever they want.

Today needs to be a big writing day for me. I'd love to hit 3k words for the day.

Hmm. I guess I'm all about the numbers lately. 3000 words, 12,000 steps. Kinda bizarre for someone as math-challenged as me.

You've got to move it, move it!

Yesterday, I did two things to improve my life as a writer:

1. I bought a new chair, a Herman Miller Aeron, because it seems to be the one chair most writers mention when they talk about "great chairs" and the chair I have now...well, let's just say I have a love hate relationship with it. I loved it when I bought it, but now I hate it. It didn't hold up well at all and sitting in it has become a study in tolerance.

I can't wait to try this new chair out. I hope it arrives soon. I have high hopes! I'll keep you posted. (For those of you on the fence about spending this much cheddar on a chair, I'd like to remind you that you can write it off.)

2. I've started wearing a pedometer to measure my steps. I've read numerous places that you should shoot for 10K steps a day or about 5 miles. I only managed 7500 yesterday so clearly I have my work cut out for me. (And that figure included my work out time on the treadmill.) It doesn't take a genius to see that the writing life is way too sedentary.

What have you done to make your life better lately?

The perils of exercise

Yesterday, I went for my regular powerwalk around the neighborhood (I do this at least three times a week, sometimes as many as six.) You'd be amazed at how complicated a simple walk can be. Here are a few of my observations:

1. If you have a dog, leash him. I don't care if he's 5 pounds or 85 pounds (well, I care a little) - I have no desire to be bitten, jumped on, slobbered on or harassed by dogs of any weight. Also, when your dog does run after me, GRAB HIM. Don't just watch. I know where you live. Just saying.

2. If you don't have the common courtesy to watch where you're shooting baskets and you hit me with the ball as I walk by, I feel like it's up to me whether I A. kick the ball across the street, B. take the ball home with me or C. return it to you. (Safe money's not on C.)

3. If you're a duck and you choose to yell at me, prepare to be laughed at. Not because I don't take you seriously, but dude, you're a duck. It's funny.

4. In the name of all that's holy, stop parking your car across the sidewalk. It's a side walk, not an extension of your driveway. That big space in front of your garage? That's where the car goes. Figure it out.

5. If you say hi to me and I don't say hi back, it's not because I'm ignoring you, it's because those things in my ears connected to that little rectangle on my hip? They're blasting music into my head. I CAN'T HEAR YOU.

I don't know about you, but I feel better now.

Shake it like a Polaroid picture!

First of all, I'd just like to say that I crushed it in the gym yesterday. (And by gym I mean the space in our house dedicated as such, not an outside facility.) I can already feel that soreness that accompanies a new workout settling in, but it's a good thing and I earned it.

Now that I'm back to working out on a regular basis, I can honestly say I've missed it. Sitting at my desk all day isn't good for me and I know it. Working out gets me energized, makes me feel like I can accomplish anything and many times, helps me work out plot issues.

So here's my challenge to those of you not working out. Every couple of hours, play one of your favorite songs to dance to on your iTunes or stereo or whatever and get up out of your chair and shake it. Move your body! Cut a rug! Get your groove on! Try it a few times a day and see if you don't feel better. I dare you.

Enough is enough

I weighed myself this morning and let's just say the last few weeks of parents visiting, a trip to New Orleans and *snacks* have caught up with me.

It's time to get serious, get back on the good eating wagon and *insert wretched cry here* work out again. And by working out, I don't mean five minutes of vacuuming. (Amazing what we can justify, isn't it?)

Since it's raining, that means no power walk, but thankfully we have an elliptical and some free weights, which I am moments away from using. I'm also seriously thinking about joining the mega-gym down the street and hiring a personal trainer for a month or two.

Wish me luck. It hurts already.

Love/Hate Relationships

At this time in my life, I don't work out like I should. (I sit in a chair all day. I really need to move more.) I'm well aware of that. However, there have been other times in my life when I probably worked out more than I needed to.

Unfortunately, you can't "save up" extra exercising.

So at some point today, I will be dragging myself upstairs to our home gym and spending some quality time on the elliptical. I may even get crazy and lift some weights. I know I'll feel great when it's over, but until then...

I wish I could hire someone to work out for me. The Wii fit makes it look so easy. Maybe I should buy that. Anyone have that? Is exercising more fun with the Wii? I know, I'm stalling now.

Must go sweat. What exercising do you do?

I'm sweating, but I don't like it

I'm back to working out and counting calories. Not my favorite combination of things, say like shopping and sipping a chocolate milkshake, but a girl's got to do what a girl's got to do if she doesn't want to end up in a bigger size. I find that no matter what diet or change of eating I try, limiting calories and exercise are my surefire solution.

And of course, Nationals are coming up and don't we all try to trim down for that? So, I need to stop blogging and get my booty on the elliptical. Hopefully in a few weeks there will be less of it to haul up there.

Are you working out? What kind of exercise are you doing?

Chugging Along...

I've been taking a slow but steady ride on the progress train lately. It's good, but frustrating.

See, I like to go fast, but the progress train is no Ferrari. Am I getting where I need to go? Yes, but not fast enough.

I'm doing well pushing toward the end of my WIP, but I want it done already!

I'm struggling to keep up with working out daily, but I'm getting a decent workout in at least 5 days a week. Of course, that means I'm not losing weight as fast as I'd like either.

Why are we such an instant gratification society? Why don't I have more patience? What things do you wish would happen faster?

It's That Time of Year!

Spring is great, isn't it? Makes you want to clean out your house, turns your thoughts to new possibilities in your life, and reminds you that summer will be here before you know it. Summer. And swimsuit season.

It's that time of year when everyone starts to think about dieting. At least, most everyone I know - including me (and Hotrod). I've been faithfully working out and watching my food for about a week now and I know it's the right thing to do. I just wish losing weight was as easy as gaining it. *sigh* Of course, Hotrod just made the decision to lose weight and six pounds fell off him. Men.

Besides my daily time on the elliptical, Hotrod and I have started shooting hoops at the park (it's a five minute walk from where we live) which is a great way to burn some calories and spend time with each other.

Who else is working on reducing? How are you doing it? What's your favorite way to exercise?

Monday, Monday...

It's been chillyish in FL lately. And by chillyish, I mean I wore my fabulous (faux) fur to church last night. Yeah, that cold. Today I'm making soup - a lovely chicken & barley stew to get me through the week. I love soup (and chili)! Not only does the house smell great, but it's good for you. I could eat soup every day. Sometimes, I do.

Writing-wise, I'm hard at work editing the first book I ever wrote in hopes of giving it new life. I love the story, but I worry I'm too close to it. Fortunately, two fabulous divas volunteered to beta read it for me. My goal today is to edit 70 pages. It's doable, I just need to get on it.

Lastly, I need to get my booty back into exercise. My goal for that today is 15 minutes on the elliptical. Not much, I know, but still better than nothing. Maybe I'll throw in some abs and some push-ups. If it were warmer, I might go for a walk. Do you try to squeeze exercise into your day? What kind do you do?

Pow! Zowie! Bam!

I took a boxing class last night and man, did I get my butt handed to me. Wow! What a workout. I was drenched in sweat by the end of it. Even though it was strenuous, it was fun. Putting on those gloves and smacking that stand-up punching bag released a lot of endorphins. Kicking it really wore me out though.


Also, I discovered that jumping rope isn't quite like riding a bike. Apparently, you can forget how to jump rope. *insert eye roll here* At one point, the jump rope connected with the ceiling fan. I believe that's all of that tale I'm going to tell.

Anyway, it was a good class, even if I am walking around like an old woman this morning. A thrashing is good for everyone now and then, you know? And I'm not sure if it's related, but as of this morning's weigh in, I'm down 19 pounds!!!

Skinny jeans, here I come!!!

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Quick shout-out to Erica Ridley - one of my TARA chaptermates - who just signed with an agent! Go Erica!