Weigh-In Wednesday: Week 18

WIW graphic for post
Weigh-In Wednesday Weekly Stats

Weight Watchers Week Number: 18

Lbs Lost this Week: + 1.4

Lbs Lost Total: – 14.0

WW Stars Earned this Week: None

Food of the Week

Let me just say it was nothing really healthy with my birthday last Friday and the Mumford & Sons Stopover Tour this weekend. I need to get back on track in the food department, for sure.

Activity of the Week

See above and modify to I need to get back on track in the workout department, for sure.

Personal Weight Loss Goals (crossed off when reached)

I want to lose…

10 lbs
20 lbs
30 lbs
35 lbs
40 lbs
45 lbs
50 lbs
55 lbs
60 lbs
65 lbs
70 lbs

Personal Fitness Goals (crossed off when reached)

I will…

Run a 5K  Read all about it here.
Run a Quarter Marathon or 10K
Run a Mud/Obstacle Race (Pretty Muddy Women’s Mud Run 5K; Columbus, Ohio September 14, 2013)
Run a Half Marathon
Start Strength Training (again)
Backpack (more)
Start Biking

Reflections

This is going to be a long weight loss journey if I can’t even make it past 15 pounds with any degree of consistency. I’ve said it before and I will say it again, food for me is closely tied with emotions (disappointments, celebrations, parties, etc.) and I need to make changes to not entirely eat unhealthy when certain situations arise. It’s okay to celebrate – and I think we should – but sometimes for me moderation goes out the window or I don’t make an effort to eat a vegetable and that is not okay for me. It will never cease to be amazing to me how quickly (granted I have other ‘issues’ if you will going on this week) weight is gained.

Reader’s Recap

I was pretty nervous to put this post out there about why Mumford & Sons means so much to me (because it is pretty personal and I’m not good at writing letters) so if you haven’t had a chance to read it, please do. Also, learn how to dry  hot peppers from your summer garden in my Summer Garden Series, which will be wrapping up with the season soon.

Photo Recap

Um, IT WAS ONLY THE BEST CONCERT I HAVE EVER BEEN TO IN MY WHOLE ENTIRE LIFE! I already miss it and am dreaming of when I can see Mumford & Sons again. I’m not kidding.

BLOG COLLAGE

Question of the Week

Do you like Mumford & Sons? Why or why not? What is the best concert you have ever been to? Are you an emotional eater too?

Until the next mile marker,

Dear Mr. Mumford (and Sons)

Courtesy of Troy [Ohio] Main Street.

Dear Mr. Mumford (and Sons),

I first discovered your music quite by accident and long after you had already been making albums and touring the world. While I am sure others have been fans since the beginning, I am a new fan, yes, but I am a fan for life. I stumbled upon I Will Wait on the radio one day while running errands and was captivated by the joyous lyrics, stunning vocals and soulful sound, not to mention diverse instrumentation and enchanting harmonies; but, much to my dismay, I missed who was behind the music I heard. By coincidence (or not since I don’t believe in such things) my brother-in-law came over that same evening and brought your music with him. I was elated and downloaded all of your songs within minutes.

There’s not a song I skipped and no repeat was one too many. I was captivated by Babel and Sigh No More; haunted by Ghosts that We Knew and Timshel; enthralled with Broken Crown and Little Lion Man; invigorated by Lover of the Light and Awake My Soul; and consumed by Lover’s Eyes and Dust Bowl Dance. I listened to these songs and more as if I was discovering music for the first time and no, I am hardly exaggerating. Be it in my house, in my car or in the grocery store, when I hear you Mr. Mumford, I can’t help but dance and sing at the top of my lungs. It’s uncontrollable, immersed, unfathomable joy that you bring out from somewhere deep inside of me.

So, when I read that you would be performing at a stopover on your Gentleman of the Road Tour in Troy, Ohio – a mere hour or so away from where I live – I had to be there. When I found out it was the weekend of my 31st birthday, I was convinced I would be there. And, after two rounds of ticket sales and a few tears on my end, I will be there. So, given how I feel, you can only imagine my exhilaration at holding this in my hands:

GOTR Stopover in Troy Camping Pass

GOTR Stopover in Troy Camping Pass

To be honest, I can’t stop talking about it and it was only natural that people – mainly my husband who has requested that I write this letter to you after seeing my passion for your songs – wanted to know why I feel so strongly about your music. Can I even describe it, let alone to you?

Your music rouses something in my soul, something I have only felt a time or two before and not from anything consistent. It is like hearing a familiar voice call my name – when I have spent a lifetime among strangers who don’t even know it. It is as if an intense longing is transformed into belonging and my heart and mind finally have a place to rest in your lyrics.

Your music drives me back to a time and place that is long past, and even longer forgotten. Your profound lyrics and endearing melodies are symbolic of something old and something deep and while I can’t yet exactly put a name to it, it calls me back to my previously unrecognized roots. Whether your influences are British, Irish, American Folk or even Tribal, I hear them all and am called to a heritage previously unknown to me. I am united by your music because it has become a part of my inner being. A being that is unrestrained amidst your songs.

The events over the last two years of my life have been immeasurable. Unexpectedly losing my mother, my career and nearly my own life have left me wondering why I am still here if only to consumed by sorrow, self-doubt and fear. Constantly crying out “Why did this happen to me?” was not providing any answers and I nearly resigned to what I was sure to be a life of pain, sadness, regrets and worry. I withdrew so far within myself that not even those who cared the most about me or knew me the best could at times, get me out. It was never going to get any better and it was never going to change. I resigned to believing I should have died with the blood clot that nearly destroyed my body last summer.

They say we never can never fully understand how what we say, feel or act truly impacts another individual and that’s exactly where you come in. Your music has reached down into the deepest, darkest, scariest places within my heart, mind and soul and pulled me back from the path I was heading down. As an artist myself, I started reading again, writing again and taking time to spend in nature and with my own, much relieved thoughts. If I have a bad day or start to stray down the path of no return again, I put your albums in and the light comes bounding back. I carry it with me, in my purse or pocket, and it has lent more grace than any other one, single thing ever has. Call it dramatic, call it crazy or call it what you will, but your music has saved me.

So, I will see you tomorrow, Mr. Mumford. I can hardly contain my excitement or the insurmountable feeling that Troy is exactly where I am meant to be.

Very sincerely yours,

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Weigh-In Wednesday: Week 17

WIW graphic for post
Weigh-In Wednesday Weekly Stats

Weight Watchers Week Number: 17

Lbs Lost this Week: + 1.2

Lbs Lost Total: – 15.4

WW Stars Earned this Week: None

Food of the Week

salad and spaghetti

I made homeade spaghetti and meatballs this week (gluten-free), which was a real treat! I made sure to include a fresh salad with fresh tomatoes and peppers from the garden. I bought a gigantic tub of spinach and baby lettuce leaves so we are having a salad with dinner about every night now. It has also served as lunch for me during the day with some tuna or other vegetables added in.

Activity of the Week

grace at wagfest

While my ankle is healing, it is still tender to the touch, which means I have been easy on it the past three weeks now. We were at Wagfest (a festival for dogs) all day Saturday and while I wasn’t exercising per say, I was moving around and got a lot of fresh air on a short dog walk Saturday and again on Sunday (Monday was National Dog Day in case you missed it). Being outside in nature definitely helped improve my mood, but I am sure a lack of regular physical activity for this much time now has contributed to my gain this week.

Personal Weight Loss Goals (crossed off when reached)

I want to lose…

10 lbs

20 lbs

30 lbs

35 lbs

40 lbs

45 lbs

50 lbs

55 lbs

60 lbs

65 lbs

70 lbs

Personal Fitness Goals (crossed off when reached)

I will…

Run a 5K  Read all about it here.

Run a Mud/Obstacle Race (Pretty Muddy Women’s Mud Run 5K; Columbus, Ohio September 14, 2013)

Run a Quarter Marathon or 10K

Run a Half Marathon

Start Strength Training (again)

Backpack (more)

Start Biking

Reflections

So my 31st birthday is THIS Friday and THIS is happening this weekend in Troy, Ohio. It’s really all I can think about (other than I wish my ankle would heal so I can exercise again and I think I heal slower on blood thinners for some reason). I cannot wait, I cannot wait, I cannot wait, but I will wait! Stay tuned for my post on Friday about why Mumford and Sons means so much to me. Many have asked and now I will tell!

Reader’s Recap

my article

I’m really excited to have had the opportunity this past week to do some writing outside of this blog. Don’t miss my published article in the premier issue of Fit Columbus, a new fitness and healthy lifestyle magazine now available in Columbus, Ohio. You can read my article here. Also, head on over to This Crazy Life of Mine by my fellow blogger Nanci and read my guest post.

Question of the Week

me collage

I’ve been feeling creative (not necessarily good!) with my camera lately. What do you think of weekly posts that are just photographs and maybe a caption? Yay or nay? Should I do that or continue including photos in the Weekly Weigh-In Post? Do you view photograph-only posts on other blogs or breeze by? Tell me your thoughts in the comments!

Until the next mile marker,

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