@greenbutton, I sure do believe that some - many! - people can’t stop at a 3 or 4 - but I felt like the “serving size” on the back of the package was almost like “permission” to eat at least 9!
I definitely have my vices (here’s looking at you weekend bacon and occasional donut) and I’m thankful that candy, while enjoyed, I can enjoy in small doses. 
The serving size on the bag of Tostitos we have is 7 chips.
Yeah… maybe per handful. 
I may have set a new dietary low for this forum. I had a late lunch and was watching a very stressful basketball on TV this evening. I decided dinner would be red wine and peppermint stick ice cream topped with chocolate balsamic vinegar. It was awesome, actually.
^^That’s my kind of eating, MOfWC! 
BB approves.
Speaking of weird eating, I had a sour cream sandwich for lunch: half of a fiber muffin topped with thick, fat sour cream. It was delish! Watermelon for dessert. I guarantee I am not pregnant, LOL.
I am thankful for the candor we have discussing food! Although I must say a sour cream sandwich does not appeal to me!
I did not run this morning as I am scheduled for my first Barre class tonight as part of my commitment to trying new things this month. This is a “basic” class and then next week I am going to try one which incorporates Pilates - all at my trainer’s suggestion. My running group is running a new route to incorporate a lot of hill repeats and my bad ankle just isn’t up to that right now. Off for a pup walk.
My coworker does barre and likes it but gets really sore. She is 50 and in a class with a bunch of Vandy coeds. She says she’s a dinosaur.
Did a 42 mile ride yesterday. Beautiful weather. Then you want to talk about food? Last night was the first night of Hanukkah. Had the kids with their spouses/fiances over for dinner. Dinner started out fine with grilled salmon. But then came the latkes and dessert. Had half each of huge plain potato, spinach and root vegetable latkes on top of half a sweet potato. Finished up with a piece of hot apple pie with a scoop of oatmeal raisin cookie dough gelato. OMG, I think I’m carbed and sugared out for the next month.
Michael, I think after a 42 mile ride you can eat whatever you want!
My trainer is actually teaching tonight’s class - she’s been really good at making recommendations so far so let’s hope I’m not paralyzed tomorrow! Physically I feel strong but appearance wise I’m not thrilled. The studio caters to a wide range of ages, so there are actually several dinosaurs in tonight’s class!
Any leftover latkes MK?! I’ll put some of BB’s sour cream on top!
How long is a class like barre? I do not think something like that would be for me - unless it’s like 15 minutes long! But I am curious how long.
It’s an hour, abasket - but there are also happy hour and lunch hour classes that are only 45 minutes. I don’t think they’re any easier though!
This is definitely “beast mode”! Or “nut mode”!!! :
BOSTON (AP) - Seven marathons in seven days on seven continents? You’d be forgiven for thinking Becca Pizzi is seven kinds of crazy.
“I get that a lot,” said Pizzi, who’s vying to be the first U.S. woman to complete the World Marathon Challenge.
The 35-year-old day care center operator from Belmont, Massachusetts, is one of 15 competitors from around the globe who will attempt the feat in January.
Pizzi is no stranger to the rigors and ravages of the classic 26.2-mile distance. She’s a veteran of 45 marathons, including 15 Bostons, and she’s 27 states into her quest to run a marathon in all 50.
Friends say she’s got one setting: Beast Mode.
But she’s never tried anything like this. Nor has any other woman from the U.S. - a singular enticement to tackle the ultimate endurance test.
“The second I heard about it, I knew I was born to run this race,” Pizzi told The Associated Press. “I’m doing it to represent my country and to inspire the world that you can do anything you put your mind to.”
On Jan. 23, 2016, she’ll be in Union Glacier, Antarctica, to run the first of seven full marathons. Next up, on consecutive days: back-to-back marathons in Punta Arenas, Chile; Miami; Madrid; Marrakech, Morocco; Dubai, United Arab Emirates; and Sydney.
Within a span of 168 hours - 59 of those spent recovering in compression socks aboard a charter flight shuttling competitors 23,560 miles from race to race - she’ll have conquered all seven continents: Antarctica, South America, North America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia.
“It’s going to be an uncomfortable seven days,” she said. “We may not even get a shower. It’s basically going to be run, sleep, eat, repeat.”
Four other Americans - all men - will join her, along with competitors from Australia, Germany, Japan, Morocco and Singapore, including three other women. So far, only one woman, Marianna Zaikova, of Finland, has completed the Challenge; she did it in its first running in 2015.
It’s not just exhausting; at $36,000, it’s expensive. Pizzi fronted the cash but has been lining up corporate sponsors to help defray the cost. So far, two companies - Ultima, which makes electrolyte replacement drinks, and Dr. Cool, which sells compression sleeves and other performance items - are covering about half of her expenses.
A busy single mom, Pizzi has been training 30 hours a week. That includes 80-100 miles a week of running, plus yoga and cross-training workouts.
Boston lawyer Jenny Rikoski, who does long runs with Pizzi on weekends, is flying to Chile - and possibly to Antarctica - to cheer for her friend on an odyssey she finds both inspiring and empowering.
“It shows how far we’ve come,” said Rikoski, 37. “Forty years ago, women weren’t allowed to run the Boston Marathon. Now we have a Bostonian who’s ready to run not just one marathon, but seven in a week. It shows how strong women are and what they can accomplish.”
Training partner Janet Chambers, 43, of Boston, is confident Pizzi has the right stuff: “She can do anything. She finishes everything she starts.”
Pizzi, whose marathon personal best is 3 hours, 25 minutes, plans to pace herself by running each of the seven races closer to four hours. She’ll have to cope with extreme cold and heat as well as wildly varying running surfaces: snow in Antarctica, sand in the Sahara.
What’s stressing her out the most? Thinking about being apart from her 7-year-old daughter - and just thinking in general.
“It’s all going to be about focus. Mind over matter,” she said. “If I let my mind go, the race is over. I’ll really have to take this one marathon at a time.”
I’ve taken a couple of barre classes - I’ve gone with a friend who swears they’ve totally changed her body. It’s neither strength nor cardio – more like toning. Despite the fact that I’ve been diligently lifting weights and doing other strength exercises for the last 15 years, I found it really tough – there were things I couldn’t do, or couldn’t keep up the whole time. I was sore after.
I like doing it when I visit her, but not sure I want to fit it into my regular rotation of exercises.
I like the camaraderie at the studio that goes along with the group exercise - I’ll never know if I want it in my rotation unless I try it. My legs are really strong, my back is so much stronger than it was, my arms and core too - but I still have jiggle where I don’t want it. I’ll give you a full report tomorrow!
abasket - only $36,000? That’s a bargain. She is smart to start with Antarctica - that is the hardest one to register for. And in January, it will be summer there!
I am sure the screen on my elliptical is not accurate. There is no way I am doing a consistent 10 min mile. Regardless of how fast or slow I go, and even for a few strides when I pause, the distance continues to register. I didnt do much this morning ( only about 8 minutes) but I have the trainer later today. At least I did something. I might do some more in a little while.
Was in NYC this past weekend. Step count was 17k, 23.5K and 16 K. Gained two pounds. Both knees are barking abd yelling at me.
And my DH REALLY needs to quit making cakes with chocolate chips (he makes them for work, so at least the cake’s not at home tormenting me). The leftover chips in the cabinet keep calling to me in the wee hours.
I need to wipe the food hard drive in my brain. I could not fit in the dress I had planned to wear for the wedding I attended this weekend. Am up 17 from my low and am panicking.
Mondays for me are a cross-training day. I usually spend an hour and a half with a friend doing dog training in the morning and then swim with another friend in the afternoon. It’s raining here. Really raining. Heavy rain. Streets are flooding. The dogs refuse to go out the door. I tried to get to dog training (which happens indoors, once I get there)–and spent an hour in traffic before giving up and going back home. I have errands to do this afternoon before swimming and am afraid I’m not going to get anything done today with this traffic. I don’t even want to go for a walk.
CD, I would not worry about two pounds over the weekend (unless your physician thinks you should). I have noticed weight gain after a weekend long run of 8 or more miles. Are you drinking enough water? Worrying about my weight and panicking only causes me to eat more and gain more - the “I’m depressed because I’m gaining weight so I’m going to make myself feel better by eating” diet plan. Hint - it doesn’t work. Plan what healthy foods you are going to eat for the rest of the week. No more chocolate chips. You can get back on track, I know you can.
Jym, you did something - that’s the best kind of attitude to have. Come back and tell us about your trainer workout.
Yesterday, I was craving pizza like nobody’s business. We have a NY pizza parlor near us that is owned by some actual former NYC guys (at least they claim that). It’s sooooo good.
As I was having the inner debate, I noticed some soup I had bought at a nearby salad/soup joint in the fridge, so I went for that instead. A good choice, I have to admit, but that was a close call. After Thanksgiving, I really need to get the carb intake back under control.
Went for an hour long ride today. Cool, sunny, 61 degrees, no wind. Very nice!
@jym626, the point is you got your body moving. Most people don’t do any kind of exercise on any given day. Good job!
Just got caught up with all the posts - I missed a lot! Sounds as if everyone is going to some fabulous parties!
I got home late Friday night and did an 8.6 mile run on Saturday. Yesterday was just a really long walk and enjoying the sunshine. Not sure what exercise will be tonight. I may go run on the treadmill at the gym.
I have been out of the office for a month - two weeks in China, then a week of vacation in Seattle for Thanksgiving, and then another week back in China. I have a co-worker who was diagnosed with ALS earlier this spring. I saw him this morning and was shocked at how much the disease has progressed in the past month. It is such a sobering reminder to be grateful for good health.