Are sober people boring?

I was privy to my first hangover in months on Wednesday of this past week after a fun night out with colleagues in a snowy Asheville. The good thing? It's been months since I drank enough or an odd enough mixture to get a hangover. The other good thing? I don't want to ever have that feeling again. So, I've made an odd decision. To stay hangover free for the rest of my life. OK, well...most of it. I'm NOT going to stop drinking wine & yummy beer or bloody mary's BUT I'm going to continue to reign it in even more. It's the right decision financial. It's the right decision for health reasons and it's the right decision mentally. Don't you love it when it works out that way?

The question becomes "are sober people boring"? 

I know a few people that choose not to drink at all-- and they are actually some of the kindest and most fun people I know. I'll take heed from their example and see how it goes. Wish me luck. 

Tri the Parks

I've gone ahead and done it. Registered for my third triathlon today.

April 26th-- John Tanner Sprint Tri-- part of the Tri the Parks series

I'm super excited to be doing my third race and am hoping to be competitive in the Athena category. I've been working on my swim, bike and run and plan to be more prepared than any other race.

Goal times:

Swim 600 meters: 15 minutes
Transition: 4 min
Bike 13.8 miles: 45 minutes
Transition: 4 min
Run: 36 min
1 Hour 44 minutes

Today I did my first brick workout in a LONG TIME. No wonder I struggled with the run in Naples...that shit is hard.

My focus between now-race will be the run & swim. I know I can bike well and will continue to build those muscles-- but I must get better on the run and the swim.

GO TRAINING GO!

Intro to Hip Hop

I haven't taken a single dance class since I moved to Atlanta. There I said it.

Until tonight.

No joke, one of the best dance studios in the city is .5 miles from my house. But, mostly I'm out of town on Tuesday's when the Hip Hop for Beginners class takes place. (excuses, excuses). But not today.

I took my overweight white girl ass to Dance 411 and walked into a class that was NOT a beginner class. For the record, I shouldn't be taking actual beginner classes as I've been dancing my whole life- BUT-- i'm rusty-- so I thought, beginner class is where I should start. IF THIS IS THE BEGINNER CLASS THEN I DARE NOT EVER TAKE ANOTHER LEVEL. No joke, I'm pretty sure Janet Jackson's sister was in the class as was Usher's cousin and Britney Spears' look alike was also right up front.

I want to be clear of what I looked like vs. what EVERYONE else looked like.

Me:

Everyone else: 

But-- it was so much fun. We learned a routine to Burn (Ellie Goulding) and the choreography was awesome. I loved the teacher and everyone was kind AND SO GOOD. Just like my swim coach said yesterday-- you have to be in the pool more than once a week. Well, I have to dance at least once a week to not feel like an idiot. And I need to get some cooler dance clothes--- Britney was dancing in a flannel shirt, blonde hair down, bedazzled boots and bright red lipstick. WTF. 

Swima Bika Runna

I feel like today I went back to my first sorority pledge night but actually I was going to my first Atlanta Triathlon Club training session. It was similar except for back then I was in great shape and had tons of self confidence. Clearly, I was nervous and I almost didn't go at all...but something made me get in the car and drive-- to Washington Park pool. AND IT WAS AWESOME.

I followed 2 people in with Ironman bags...so clearly, I was in the right place. I immediately introduced myself, told them I was a newbie and asked them where to go. Everyone was so kind. I plopped myself in the "beginners" lane and started following the instructions of coach Chris. No joke-- had I joined ATC just 2 months sooner I would have been prepared for the Olympic. It was that beneficial.

So, on to the other news. I know I've been gaining weight. I can tell, I can feel it-- I just know it. I've been a big pussy about getting on the scale but tonight after swim practice I felt so good and had enough confidence to face my situation. I was right. I've gained quite a bit of weight back. BUT. I'm in the best shape of the past 5 or so years-- and I know that I can lose the weight. But I have to stay with it. AND KEEP IT OFF. I'll properly weigh tomorrow AM so i'm comparing it to my other weigh ins.

More vegetables. Less pasta and grits. More water. Less beer.