Running

I have tried every diet out there. Weight Watchers, The Belly Fat Diet, Beverley Hills Weight Loss, High Protein/Low Fat and Low Carbs/Low Sugar. Heck, I even tried the Chips and Dip diet. I don't recommend that one at all. It doesn't work. I've done the personal trainer, the treadmill in the basement and the workout DVD's. But I was recently challenged to start running and participate in the Oktoberfest 5km run.

My first reaction was "Ya right! Me? Run?" I think I even laughed out loud. Then I started thinking, why not? So I went out and bought some new shoes.



Cute, aren't they? Anyways, I started out on my journey. I was sent a link to a program called "couch to 5k in 9 weeks". I found an app for my ipod touch that keeps track of the time and it beeps and tells you when to start running and when to walk. It takes all the thinking out of it as well as all the time watching. Once I got started with that, it seemed to go much easier. Below is the schedule that I am to follow. It is to be done every other day with either a rest in between or strength training. I just finished week 5.

Payton came with me today. She scootered right beside me the whole way. Not only did she scooter the whole time, but she talked the whole time too. But it worked out pretty good. I was so busy listening to her, before I knew it the buzzer went and I was done.


Week 1, Day 1 - 5 minute warm up, then alternate 60 seconds of jogging with 90 seconds of walking for 20 minutes. 5 minute cooldown.
Week 1, Day 2 - 5 minute warm up, then alternate 60 seconds of jogging with 90 seconds of walking for 20 minutes. 5 minute cooldown.
Week 1, Day 3 - 5 minute warm up, then alternate 60 seconds of jogging with 90 seconds of walking for 20 minutes. 5 minute cooldown.

Week 2, Day 1 - 5 minute warm up, then alternate 90 seconds of jogging with 2 minutes of walking for 20 minutes. 5 minute cooldown.
Week 2, Day 2 - 5 minute warm up, then alternate 90 seconds of jogging with 2 minutes of walking for 20 minutes. 5 minute cooldown.
Week 2, Day 3 - 5 minute warm up, then alternate 90 seconds of jogging with 2 minutes of walking for 20 minutes. 5 minute cooldown.

Week 3, Day 1 - 5 minute warm up, then do this twice: jog 90 seconds, walk 90 seconds, jog 3 minutes, walk 3 minutes. 5 minute cooldown.
Week 3, Day 2 - 5 minute warm up, then do this twice: jog 90 seconds, walk 90 seconds, jog 3 minutes, walk 3 minutes. 5 minute cooldown.
Week 3, Day 3 - 5 minute warm up, then do this twice: jog 90 seconds, walk 90 seconds, jog 3 minutes, walk 3 minutes. 5 minute cooldown.

Week 4, Day 1 - 5 minute warm up, run 3 minutes, walk 1.5 minutes, run 5 minutes, walk 2.5 minutes, run 3 minutes, walk 1.5 minutes, run 5 minutes. 5 minute cooldown.
Week 4, Day 2 - 5 minute warm up, run 3 minutes, walk 1.5 minutes, run 5 minutes, walk 2.5 minutes, run 3 minutes, walk 1.5 minutes, run 5 minutes. 5 minute cooldown.
Week 4, Day 3 - 5 minute warm up, run 3 minutes, walk 1.5 minutes, run 5 minutes, walk 2.5 minutes, run 3 minutes, walk 1.5 minutes, run 5 minutes. 5 minute cooldown.

Week 5, Day 1 - 5 minute warm up, then alternate 5 minute jogs, and 3 minute walks for 20 minutes total. 5 minute cooldown.
Week 5, Day 2 - 5 minute warm up, then jog for 8 minutes, walk for 5 minutes and jog for 8 minutes. 5 minute cooldown.
Week 5, Day 3 - 5 minute warm up, then jog for 20 minutes with no walking. 5 minute cooldown.

Week 6, Day 1 - 5 minute warm up, run 5 minutes, walk 3 minutes, run 8 minutes, walk 3 minutes, run 5 minutes. 5 minute cooldown.
Week 6, Day 2 - 5 minute warm up, run for 10 minutes, walk for 3 minutes, run for 10 minutes. 5 minute cooldown
Week 6, Day 3 - 5 minute warm up, run for 25 minutes, with no walking. 5 minute cooldown.

Week 7, Day 1 - 5 minute warm up, run for 25 minutes, with no walking. 5 minute cooldown.
Week 7, Day 2 - 5 minute warm up, run for 25 minutes, with no walking. 5 minute cooldown.
Week 7, Day 3 - 5 minute warm up, run for 25 minutes, with no walking. 5 minute cooldown.

Week 8, Day 1 - 5 minute warm up, run for 28 minutes, with no walking. 5 minute cooldown.
Week 8, Day 2 - 5 minute warm up, run for 28 minutes, with no walking. 5 minute cooldown.
Week 8, Day 3 - 5 minute warm up, run for 28 minutes, with no walking. 5 minute cooldown.

Week 9, Day 1 - 5 minute warm up, run for 30 minutes, with no walking. 5 minute cooldown.
Week 9, Day 2 - 5 minute warm up, run for 30 minutes, with no walking. 5 minute cooldown
Week 9, Day 3 - 5 minute warm up, run for 30 minutes, with no walking. 5 minute cooldown

It's not even about the diet thing anymore. I actually like the running. Especially outside. Come and cheer for me. See you in October!

The Sellers Girls!!!!

Watch out boys! The girls are growing up!

I Love You Mom and Dad!!!

Merry Christmas!!!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your family. Have a safe and cheerful holiday.

Halloween

So it's almost Christmas and I am just getting to my Halloween post. It will be Easter by the time I get any Christmas pictures up.

I am not very imaginative when it comes to dressing up. To tell you the truth, I'm not actually a fan of Halloween. Because of my lack of enthusiasum towards this "holiday", Payton kinda gets the short end of the stick when it comes great ideas for costumes. I just usually ask her what she wants to be and we find a way to pull it off. Thankfully she is about as imaginative as I am. So this year she wanted to be a kitty cat.



I think she makes a pretty cute kitty cat.

In past years, Payton and I have always hooked up with Alex and her parents from down the street and made our way around the block. This year Alex had other plans so we invited Sabina and Andrea to come for dinner and join us on our outing. Payton and Sabina were born 10 days apart and will both be turning 10 this coming March. I have always known that Payton was small for her age be these pictures show very clearly how small she really is.



I can't sign off the Halloween blog without posting the annual trick-or-treat picture of Payton and Andjela from next door. Andjela is two years older than Payton but they are quite the pair. I am sure there will be many more pictures of these two.

Time Flies....

So, I realize it has been way too long since I posted a blog. As soon as summer ended, rather than getting back into a routine, everything went hairy scary and we have been running six ways from center ever since. Lots of things have happened in the last three months. Starting with back to school, Payton was very excited to get back to school. As much of a challenge as school is for Payton, she never wants to miss a day because I truly believe she really loves it there. Here she is on the first day of school.





So after school started, the trips to the trailer were limited to the weekends, and they couldn't come fast enough. And with fall in full swing the fairs were a plenty. Having spent the entire summer in Port Elgin, the talk of the town is Pumpkinfest. And it finally rolled around. Of course it was the coldest Saturday in September but we dressed for the weather and had alot of fun.





Next came Thanksgiving. I have to admit that Thanksgiving is my most very favorite family holiday. Each year the entire family goes on a hike and enjoys each others company and idle chatter. Great family memories are created each year and many family pictures are taken to savor the moment.

This year we went to a trail in the forest that we have been to before. I think everyone enjoyed themselves.






Here is just another couple examples of a very special bond Payton has with her oldest cousin. Amanda and Payton have always been very cute together. I have many pictures of these two peas in a pod....





I'll try not to have such a long time between posts. But there are no guarantees. Blog ya later!

Port Elgin Sunset

So Payton and I have spent the entire summer at the trailer in Port Elgin with the exception of two weeks. I am ashamed to say that during that time, we never once went to see one of these famous Lake Huron sunsets. Well last night we decided to head to the peer and watch the sun go down. Of course we had to treat ourselves to another ice cream to have while we enjoyed the scenery.

Everyone was right, it sure is a sight to see.





We will have to do that again, with Jeff, when he is here so we can get some family pictures with the sunset in the background. I am gonna miss this place come September.

Long live Summer!!!!