Love is in the air...

Sorry I’ve been kind of m.i.a. from blogging the last couple of days.  I have a confession to make.  Every time I sit down to do something (like write a post), I remember the Olympics is on and well, then it’s all downhill from there! J I have the fever, and have defintely been bitten by the Olympic bug like everyone else, and absolutely cannot get enough!!

This weekend we went to a wedding and it was the most fun we had had in a long time!!

The couple that got married was Victoria and Trey.  Victoria is my good friend (and co-worker) Kelly’s little sister.  Victoria is an Aggie like me, and I have known her for a while because every time she would come visit her sister Kelly, they would come by to say hi to me.  I still remember meeting her for the first time, about seven years ago, while she was still in college.  She’s the cutest, sweetest thing, and I (in a sense) have gotten to watch her grow up.  Therefore, it was such an honor getting to watch her take the “big” step.

The wedding ceremony was at a pretty church in a small town outside of Houston, and the reception was held at a ranch a few miles away.  When we arrived, the first thing we saw were beautiful peacocks roaming the grounds. 

The reception hall was gorgeous and as soon you walked in you could smell the Cedar because the entire hall was made of Cedar wood. 

We found a table waited for everyone to arrive.  Seated at our table were: my hubby, our daughter and I, my boss (who was the wedding planner), her husband and their youngest daughter, and Patrick, the wedding photographer who also happened to be one of my husband’s best friends. 

Once the wedding party arrived and were introduced, we were served dinner.  Dinner was a salad appetizer, and the main entrée was a chicken breast in a cream sauce, cheesy mashed potatoes, green bean almondine, and a roll.  It was delicious!!    

After dinner came the toasts, the first dance, and a traditional Polish Wedding dance that everyone was invited to participate in.  It was like one big Conga line and was so much fun!!



Then it was time to get our DANCE on!!!

Now, for those of you reading that are new, GETTING MY DANCE ON is one of my favorite things to do!! I took ballet/tap/jazz throughout my childhood and have always loved to dance.  I got really into Salsa dancing after I moved to Houston, and was actually out dancing when I met my husband in the summer of 2002.  He was a ballroom-dance instructor at the time and by the end of that summer I knew how to Merengue, Bachata, Tango, Rumba, Fox Trot, Samba and Quick Step too!  Plus, I had dropped one boring boyfriend and had gained an awesome new one! J 

The DJ played an excellent variety of music and once we got on that dance floor, we did NOT come back off!  Even the little one stayed on the dance floor!  One of the things that I love about my boss, aside from the fact that she’s like family to us, is that she is so much fun!! 

When I say she’s like family, I mean it!  We go way back - matter of fact, she interviewed me when I was still in college!  I have only ever worked for her and can’t imagine working for anyone else.  Her best friend was my daughter’s daycare provider when she was a baby, and her daughters would always babysat the little one when we had Open House nights at the school. 

My boss (she hates it when we call her "boss" LOL!) and her husband were getting their dance on too and their beautiful daughter, Alex, was kind enough to hang out with our little one all night!  She even taught her how to wobble! I have known Alex since she was eight – my daughter’s age – and have watched her blossom into the beautiful young college lady that she is now!! J 

I have to brag for a moment, so please forgive me!  Halfway through the night, as my hubs and I took a rare break from the dance floor, we were approached by a lady who complimented us on our dancing.  She said that she and the rest of the people seated at her table (who happened to be the groom’s mother’s side of the family) were really enjoying watching us dance and how beautifully we moved together!  She switched into Spanish and started telling us about how much her and her Cuban family loved to dance too.  It was such a flattering compliment; although I must admit it’s not the first time we’ve gotten that.  But I guess that’s what happens when you are dancing with a pro!  That’s one of the first things that I loved about my hubby…the sexy way he danced (think Maksim on Dancing With the Stars!) and moved around the dance floor!!  I’m not going to lie, though; it’s nice to know that I've still "got it" too! ;-)

At the end of the night, we bid farewell to the bride and groom with sparklers, and then called it a night.  We came home with lots of party favors, including a mason-jar mix to make “Cowgirl Cookies,” which I can’t wait to make!  We also came home with lots of Peacock feathers that Alex and my daughter collected after walking around the grounds earlier in the evening.

It was a perfect summer “love-is-in-the-air” kind of night, complete with good friends, good food – and LOTS of dancing!!  Does it get any better than that??

"Liebster Award" - my first award ever!!

I was tagged! Divya, my friend over at Eat, Teach, Blog tagged me with the “Liebster Award,” which is:

“……given to upcoming bloggers who have less than 200 followers. The meaning: Liebster is German and means sweetest, kindest, nicest, dearest, beloved, lovely, kind, pleasant, valued, cute, endearing and welcome.”

Thank you, Divya for the award!! 

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Answer the following 11 questions:

1. What inspired your blog name?
I knew I definitely wanted to have something about eating or food in the title…and something about running or working out.  So I was sitting in front of the computer one night, trying to decide if I was really going to start a blog or not and my daughter was helping me out and I was coming up with as many phrases as I could that involved eating, hungry, running, etc.  When I said “Running Around Hungry” she was like “oooh Mama, I like that!  Pick that one!” so I did.  I liked the way it sounded, and liked that it was a sort ofp play on words and when my husband got home from work, he loved it too so it stuck!

2. What do you like most about blogging?
My love for blogging is two-fold!  I love that I have been able to connect to so many great people…and that blogging friends are fast becoming real friends!  Also, I love that blogging is so therapeutic.  It’s like a diary where I keep track of my everyday life…in words and pictures!  It has really reminded me how much I love to write and that I used to want to write a book when I was little.  I can’t wait to look back (or for my daughter to be able to look back) in the future and see what life was like “back in the day” for us.

3. What was your dream job when you were a child?
I wanted to be an author and write a book (because I loved to read!) and also wanted to be a lawyer.  Yet, I was playing school every chance I got so my mom says she always knew I would end up as a teacher.  She was too, and so was my father, so it kind of runs in my blood! J

4. What has been your favorite travel experience thus far?
I did an International Public Relations Study Abroad in Mexico City in the Summer of 2000.  Best.thing.i.ever.did!  Not only did I form life-long friendships with these girls and a great group of guys that were like brothers to us, I got to study at a prestigious university, intern at an amazing PR firm, and traveled all around the country.  Traveling around México helped us discovered its beauty in not-so-touristy towns like Taxco, the silver capitol of Mexico, Oaxaca, which was so colonial and was my absolute favorite of all, and Cuernavaca, the city of “eternal spring”.  It helped me improve my (business and academic) Spanish, and connect more with my heritage and culture.

5. What is the strangest or most exotic food you’ve ever tried? And did you like it?
My family and I love – and take pride in – trying to eat as many different kinds of food as we can.  As far as “strange” or “exotic”…hmm…I guess the tacos made of worms in Mexico probably takes the cake.  It was yummy; crunchy and salty, just how I like it!  Don’t think I’m weird, though.  You see, I’m half Mexican, and was raised by my mother with the help of my grandmother and aunt (neither of whom spoke English).  I grew up on freshly made Mexican food, so you could probably throw anything inside a fresh tortilla and I would eat it! J

6. What is your favorite movie?
I think my favorite movies of all time (it’s a tie) are Forrest Gump, Ghost, Dirty Dancing, and Pretty Woman.  I’ve always been a sucker for a good chick-flick!!

7. Who is your favorite TV show character?
I think that would be a tie.  Back in the day I loved me some Will&Grace, does anyone even still watch that?  I loved the dynamic between the two but loved the crazy Karen and Jack too.  I don’t watch much television now, and when I do, it’s usually reality shows or talk shows.  I am dying to get into “Modern Family” since I’ve heard so many great things about it, but since I go to the gym every night, it’s hard to get into sitcoms.

8. What is a current goal you are trying to accomplish?
I try to always have lots of different goals.  Two of the biggest ones right now have to do with running and teaching, since school’s starting up again soon!  Right now, I am looking forward to training, running, and hopefully PR-ing at the Aramco Houston Half-Marathon on 1.13.13.  I am also trying to squeeze in some more reading (mostly Young Adult novels) this summer, to prepare for the school year and be able to make good book reccomendations to my 5^th graders. 

9. What’s one thing you are most proud of?
One thing that I’m most proud of?  Hmmm…that would have to be the family that my hubs and I have formed and maintained.  We fell in love after a whirlwind romance and had our daughter within a year and a hlaf of getting together.  We were still pretty young (by my standards) at 23 and 24, and struggled as we went about trying to mature and fulfill our roles as wife/husband and mother/father.  Ten years later, here we are, stronger and happier than ever…and I know it has everything to do with the fact that we didn’t just “go” through those tough times, we “grew” through them.  Thankfully, we are still together, when so many friends of ours (and other married couples around the country) aren’t anymore.  For this, I am proud.  Proud that this awesome little family (the “three muskateers” as we sometimes call ourselves) is healthy, loving, happy, and blessed!!

10. If money were no object, where would you live and why?
Definitely Bolivia!!  I would love to live there mostly because the majority of my husband’s family still lives there (in Santa Cruz and La Paz), and, well, because it’s beautiful!!  Plus, being that Bolivia is the heart of South America, it would be so easy to hop skip and jump over to so many other beautiful countries!  First on the list - Brasil (that’s how they spell it, in case your wondering why I misspelled it). RIO DE JANEIRO, here I come!!  I would also love to visit Argentina, Colombia, Chile and Uruguay, amongst others!  

11. What is your favorite book of all time?

OMG, narrow it down to one?!  I can’t do it!!  But I remember loving Harriet the Spy a lot as a girl, I think I read that book like 12 times. As far as books I’ve read recently, I love, love, love the Hunger Games series…and Life As We Knew It.  As far as adult books, I’m reading Andy Cohen’s “Most Talkative: Tales from the front lines of Pop Culture” and am thoroughly enjoying it!  It made me laugh so hard I almost dropped my Nook!

  

Thanks again, Divya, for tagging me!!  Answering those questions was fun!!

Hello August!!

Wow, I cannot believe that it is August already!  July – and the whole summer in general – feels like it just flew by!  While I’m sad to see July go, I’m excited for everything that August has in store for me!  Besides that, it also means that we are one month closer to my birthday, my daughter’s birthday, Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas.  I LOVE fall!!!

AUGUST being here means quite a few things for this lady:

1. My vacation is almost over…and it's Back-to-School time!
2. …so no more staying in my PJ’s all day (unless I have something really fun and important to do) until it’s time to get dressed for the gym.
3. School will be starting soon and this tends to be a little bit of a stressful time for me.  New school year = moving to my new classroom, lots of boring insightful teacher meetings, setting up my classroom, and getting back into routine and the daily real-life “swing-of-things.” 
4. This year I’m getting a new partner after four years of being with the same awesome lady. L  At my campus, which is a 5^th grade/6^th grade only campus, we team-teach.  In my case, I teach the Reading/Writing, we co-teach social Studies and my partner teaches the Math/Science.  While I am looking forward to working with my new partner, I will definitely miss my old one!!
5. It also happens to be fun and exciting too, though!  New school year means seeing all of my work friends again, a fresh new batch of students with new personalities, and a new opportunity to get kids obsessed with books!!!!

I just need to make sure to enjoy these last few weeks of vacation and mentally prepare myself for the first month of school, which is always so busy, busy, busy!  I have a classroom to set up, routines to set in place and kids to scare train!  I must admit I can’t wait!!  Rest up, Leti!!

With that being said, I also took some time today to reflect upon my July goals and made new ones for August.  Here are my goals for August:

AUGUST Goals

- plan, execute, and enjoy our yearly family vacation!!!…sometime in the next three weeks! J  Think it’s possible?!?!

- complete these projects in the next two weeks: 1.      Make a new vision board. 2.      Finish cleaning out the closets and make a Goodwill pile.  3.      Make a cute pin board for little one’s room. 4.      Spring Summer Clean!

- read at least 4 more books by the end of this month.  I’m being much more realistic than I was in July when I said 8 and then only read 4. J

- continue my Summer RUNstreak and try to log at least 25 miles per week all month.  I’m at a Day #61, a little over 8 weeks, and only have the month of August to go to complete my Summer RUNstreak!!

- start early with the moving/unpacking/setting up of my classroom so that I may take my time to do it just right…which will alleviate lots of unnecessary stress for this anal-retentive perfectionist!

- continue to tighten up on my eating.  I want to continue to meal plan…and grocery shop from the meal plan.  I tried that last month and it really worked!! Plus, I want to get really good at it since school is starting soon.  Also, I’m currently shopping for a digital kitchen scale (anyone have any recommendations??) to help with measuring out food portions.  The hubby thinks he’s in for a shocker when we start doing this.  I think he’s right. J

- do CrossFit at least once a week, and try out the new 5:45 am Cycle classes on Tuesday and Thursdays to see if it’s something I might possibly continue throughout the school year.  Once upon a time I used to go to these early morning sweat fests at another gym but had to drive too far to get there so I stopped going.  I was ecstatic when I found out tonight that our gym will have this class from now on too!

 Speaking of CrossFit, I just realized it’s Wednesday, which means it’s WORKOUT WEDNESDAY!!  This particular “Workout Wednesday” was exciting because I had my first CrossFit workout ever!!!  The guy that gives the Wednesday killer class that the Hubs and I love so much kicked our butts today!!  We talked to him afterward and he told us he had just recently got certified to teach CrossFit, which was where he got the inspiration to do the things he had us do in class today.  I wish I could remember them, and I distinctly remember repeating the stuff to myself so that I might remember it to type up for the blog, but I think all of the sweat and endorphins from my gym session washed it all away.  Today was a heavy cardio day; I did the CrossFit class, ran 2 miles on the treadmill and then did the last 45 minutes of my favorite Step Aerobics class.  Yep, that one is definitely going to hurt in the morning!  And probably worse the morning after that.  Ohhhh, but it hurt sooooo good and I think it’s safe to say I may have a new obsession on my hands! #CrossFitistheshiznit

Five questions for you:

1. What are some of your goals for August?
2. Read any good books lately that you can recommend to me? 
3. What’s your favorite dish on your dinner menu for this week?
4. Have you ever tried Cross Fit? 
5. What is your favorite type of workout?

  

How I lost 75 pounds - Part 4: How I MAINTAIN my healthy lifestyle

On my journey to changing my lifestyle and creating a healthy life, I learned quite a few things.  It was only after making the vow to Get FINE in 2009 that I decided to get my MIND healthy and my BODY healthy too.  I knew three things going into this:

 1)    I wanted to get healthy

      2)    I wanted to lose weight
      3)    I wanted to stop the life-long yo-yo weight cycle that I had fallen into.

I got my mind healthy by reading everything I could get my hands on that had to do with fruits, vegetables, protein, grains, calories, portion control, fiber intake, vitamins, water, healthy recipes, running and weight training.  I got my body healthy by getting active; I started taking step aerobics, weight training, spinning classes, Zumba, Pilates, and I even became a runner.

It’s tough work to bust your butt and lose weight…but it’s just as hard to not gain it back!  I think all of that crazy-fast-weight-loss stuff doesn’t work in the long run because it doesn’t really fix the problem, which usually has to do with a lack of knowledge, motivation, commitment and follow-through.  The truth is, anyone can lose weight but it takes a completely committed person to keep it off.    

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I made up my mind and committed to getting healthy and all of the hard work paid off. It certainly wasn’t easy – and it didn’t happen fast either! The steps below explain how I did – and continue to do – it without giving up and reverting to bad habits.

How I maintain my health

I am conscious of everything that goes in my mouth.  The problem – actually, I don’t see it as a problem – and never did – which is what led to the real problem – is that I love to eat!  I am a foodie at heart and have never been good at denying myself and have been guilty of over-indulging a time or two (or two hundred).     Source    To be completely honest, it bugs me when people I’m around (usually women) go on and on and on about “being so bad” or “oh, I shouldn’t eat this!” or “I’m going to have to workout extra hard at the gym tomorrow to work this off!”  Talk about ANNOYING!!!  To avoid this, I try to stick to the 80%/20% rule.  I try to eat right most of the time so that I can eat the desserts and treats that I want (when I want them) and not feel guilty or bad about it.  I still love food but make smarter choices because at the end of the day I want to remain healthy more than I want that second slice of chocolate cake!  It’s worked pretty well so far. J

I continue to workout. I go to the gym five, sometimes six times a week and take a variety of classes like step aerobics, weight training, spin, Zumba, and Pilates.  I also designed my own weight program, which I change up about every five to six weeks and make sure to cover all the major muscle groups and vary the weight, which includes alternating between “light weight/high rep” and “heavier weight/lower rep” weeks. Source After all, there is nothing wrong with girls having a few muscles, right?!?!

I surround myself with positive, supportive people. 1. My family (husband, daughter, mother) is my biggest supporter!!  My husband, who still says he never saw me as overweight (love really makes us blind, doesn’t it?), was my biggest cheerleader!  Not only did he verbally cheer me in, he supported me 100% in other ways too.  He became a gym rat with me, never complained when I completely revamped our pantry, fridge, freezer, and daily meals, and is there to photograph my races, even the early morning ones!  Our daughter is my second best cheerleader; although she’s only eight, she constantly tells me I’m the best cook in the world and that I should have a healthy cooking show on the Food Network!  2. Girlfriends (like this girl, these girls, and these girls) and co-workers who were witness to the progress.  They motivated me through every step of my weight loss journey, whether it be by coming to work out with me or by simply noticing when I started shedding the pounds and the praise and compliments they showered on me.  I am blessed to have this support system! 3. Gym-Rat friends that I see every evening at the gym.  We hold each other accountable and have fun while working out, thus we’ve actually ended up going from just “gym” friends to real-life friends too! J 4. Online community, like the healthy living blogging circle.  I have been reading healthy living/healthy eating/running blogs for about two years.  It feels good to surround myself with like minded people; other people who are just as obsessed concerned with eating healthy, working out, and running!

I feed my mind the right things. 1. church – a weekly does of Pastor Joel always does the trick! 2. informational texts about health and wellness (I’m always brushing up on my favorite topic!) 3. reading healthy living blogs like Hungry Runner Girl, One Fit Foodie, Blonde Ponytail, Peanut Butter Fingers, and Bess Be Fit to name just a few of my favorites 4. collecting motivational quotes (especially fitness motivation) – along with collecting quotes in the binder I started in sixth grade, I also pin cool stuff on my “Inspire Me” and “Getting’ My Sweat On” Pinterest boards to look at when I need some “getup-and-go”.

I constantly try new things… …so that I never get bored!! 1. When I hit my first plateau, I hit the gym hard everyday twice-a-day for a month. 2. When I hit my next plateau, I started running, a habit that I continue to enjoy to this day!  ...and set new goals!! 3. During this past fall and winter, I felt like I had lost that lovin’ feeling for running.  Such a shame, too, because I love to run in the cold!  I rekindled the romance by starting a RUNstreak.  This year for Lent, instead of cutting something out, I made a promise to run at least 2 miles a day.  I ran 46 days straight without missing a single day, which was exactly what I needed to jump-start my passion for running again!  This summer I decided to do the same thing and I’m calling it “Leti’s Summer RUNstreak.”  If I manage to make it though the whole summer (June, July and August) without missing a day of running I am going to reward my self with some new running shoes, a few new workout clothes, and *fingers crossed* a new Garmin.  RUNstreak: as of tonight, 58 days and counting… 4. Now that I feel it’s time to kick it up another notch, I am itching to try CrossFit and WILL try my first session this week using this girl’s awesome workout plans!

  

For anyone out there reading this that is on a journey of their own, one thing is for sure, and PLEASE remember this:

THERE WILL BE TOUGH TIMES!!

Go ahead and mentally prepare for that.  Be ready and have a game plan for what you are going to do when that happens.  In these tough times you just have to remember that yes, eating healthy, working out, and staying motivated can be hard, but there are other things that are just as hard, like being unhappy in your own skin.

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What did I do to continue through the tough times?  Honestly speaking, probably the biggest thing that inspired me to continue was my stubbornness. J I am the kind of person that has to finish what they start and will do whatever it takes to make it happen!  Aside from that, though, I would have to say that the support from family and friends were my biggest motivators when times got tough.  Find what works best for you and motivates you…and HANG IN THERE!!  You will succeed!!

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And now for the grand finale…and the real reason you should hang in there?!?!  You should hang in there because you will feel such a true sense of accomplishment at knowing that you set a challenging goal, committed to doing whatever it took to reach it, stayed motivated and persevered through the tough times, and, above all, followed-through.  It’s the BEST feeling in the world!! 

What is the BEST PART about being in shape for me now? EVERYTHING!! 

·        I love the way I can run three miles without even really breathing hard. 

·        I love that I can lift weights at the gym with all the big boys and they leave me alone because they can tell I know what I’m doing. 

·        I love the way my arms look in sleeveless shirts and the way my legs look in a dress. 

·        I love that I can walk into a store, see something I like and try it on, and that it actually fits the way it’s supposed to. 

·        I love knowing that I finally have my mojo back!  I had really lost her there for a while!

·        I love the way my husband can wrap his arms all the way around me now when he hugs me. 

·        I love that I see my former students at the store and they are shocked and they compliment me tell me that I look younger than I did when I taught them years ago. 

·        I love that I can still eat what I want – in moderation, of course – and not feel guilty because I know that I will work it off anyway.

·        And above all else, I love that I am setting the example for my daughter of what healthy living looks like!

HERE IS WHAT I LOOK LIKE NOW:   

**DISCLAIMER: please keep in mind that my hubby’s an artist/photographer and always has me posing!!**

Hubby and I at the 2011 Blue Bell Fun Run.

4th of July celebration with our friends!

Me in San Antonio on the River Walk.

The bambina and I on the Galveston Ferry.

  

Our friend (a theater professor, can you tell?) and I striking a very dramatic pose!

  

My little one and I at the Astros Race for the Pennant last year.

Not too shabby, if I do say so myself! J

So where am I now?

Get FINE in 2009  Action Plan
Step 1	admitting I had a problem that I wanted to fix. –  CHECK
Step 2	form an action plan to carry out that plan – CHECK
Step 3	get informed and acquire the knowledge that I would need to best tackle my problem – CHECK
Step 4	follow-through and WORKING MY BUTT OFF, no pun intended! – CHECK
Step 5	Continue to eat well and stay active to maintain the weight loss and live healthy from now on. – LIFE-LONG CONSTANT WORK IN PROGRESS…

Just in case you missed something:

PART ONE – to read about my Action Plan and see BEFORE pics, click here.

PART TWO – to read what I learned about getting healthy, click here.

PART THREE – to read about what I actually did to get healthy and drop the weight, click here.