Too Wong Foo...Thanks for everything Hardy Toll Road!

It's official!  I've forked over more money than anyone in my family believes should be spent on a race and have signed up for IMTX 2017 - my 3rd Ironman.  The big day will be Saturday, April 22nd and I've already given my family the heads up to mark the date down. And we even have a bike course - the Hardy Toll Road.  Time to get a toll tag for my QR! 

Lunch for the week is all made.

Well, as I mentioned in May, I'm all signed up for Oilman Half Ironman and my training for that officially started this week.  I'm easing back into the training saddle and so far, can't complain.  I also started back on my meal plan this week.  For months I've been saying I needed to get back on the wagon as I've definitely packed on some unwanted pounds.  While I'm not as heavy as I was when I first went on this plan back in 2012, I'm heavier than I want to be and certainly carrying more weight than I want to drag around a long race course.  I'm finding there are certain things I missed about meal plan life.  In no particular order, they are:  (1) no brainer when it comes to what I'm going to eat in a day, (2) absolutely no work other than maybe popping something in the microwave, (3) Bragg's Liquid Amino - enough said and (4) feeling good after only a few days - no bloating and no tummy aches!  On the flip side, there are a few things I DEFINITELY don't miss.  In no particular order, they are:  (1) having to run the dishwasher every other day due to the obscene amount of tupperware I'm going through, (2) getting a stomach ache any time I get my allowable cheat meal, (3) no wine during the week - insert sad face here, (4) having to eat every 3 hours so therefore, having to be mindful of where I'll be when it's grazing time, (5) no Starbucks except for the weekend and that's only if I get my long workout in, (6) did I mention no wine during the week, (7) tilapia.  every.  day. -- week 1 only though, (8) debating whether or not anyone would notice if I moved my computer to the ladies bathroom given the amount of times per day I have to pee and (9) "pudding".  Keith & I are traveling part of next week so I won't be able to cook all my week 2 meals so I'll just have to be really good about watching what I order when we're out.  No biggie.  

Keith will be doing a lot of my training with me which I'm super excited about.  We'll be getting on our bikes this weekend and easing back into riding on the road.  It's going to be awesome awesome awesome!  He's even going to hit the pool with me on Friday.  What, what?!??!  That's right, he's finally going to make good on his threat to show me up in the pool.  At first I thought maybe, just maybe he was fast.  But then he told me he needs to learn to breathe so I'm thinking I'm ok.  More on that.  :)

Of course, training for an Ironman with the complication of having an incredibly demanding job is something many balance.  We decided my long work weeks and terrible commute weren't challenging enough so we got a puppy.  This was totally by chance or if you were to ask Keith, #giftfromgod.  Any of you reading this are probably FB friends with me so know the story but for those of you who were unlucky enough to stumble upon this blog when you did a Google search for "Ironman Texas" or "completely awesome blogs", I'll give you the Cliff's Notes version.  A week ago today, I found a dog on our front porch.  Filthy, tired, scared and flea infested no less.  My youngest step-daughter rushed over (mainly b/c she wanted naming rights) and helped me clean the beast and then went to Wal Mart with me to get her some essentials.  The vet visit confirmed what we suspected, no chip.  From saying, "if she's a Great Pyrenees, we are not keeping her" to seeing her sweet face and then saying, "we have to keep her", it was meant to be.  So yes, the vet believes she is a full Great Pyrenees who is about 4 months old.  They have also told us she will very likely weigh more than 100lbs.  (Side note:  we purchased an at home DNA kit and are hoping to learn she's a Pyr/Yorkie mix and will only get to be 40lbs -- she's 29.9lbs today so that's probably a pipe dream).  

So that's what I know. It feels good to slowly get back into the swim, bike, run of things.  Happy training, y'all!

Breakfast & snacks for the week.  So yummy.  Not!

And....dinner for the week.  At least there's color!

Sugar-free, almond milk latte for the win!

Our new dog, Ellie Stormy Chalfant.