Thursday, March 3, 2011

Three Things Thursday

1. Last night, my Facebook status read,


"Tonia is about to attempt something crazy. Lots of NCIS on the schedule ..."

Within seconds, people (mostly other runners) were commenting/hypothesizing about my run. Heather threw it out first, "a marathon on the treadmill?"

Um, no. But, I was going to attempt my last REALLY long run of this training cycle - 22 miles. It went a little something like this ...

Turn on NCIS. Run 7 miles (1:06:41). Reset the treadmill (my 'mill only lets you run 90 minutes at a time). Drink some water. Run 8 miles (1:15:50). Reset the treadmill. Take a GU. Drink some water. Run 7 miles (1:05:11). Reset the treadmill. Drink some water. Contemplate running another 4.2 miles.

Ultimately, I decided not to add the miles. Although I felt like I could handle it, it was already after 10 p.m. and I wanted to go to sleep. So, that's what I did. 3:27:02 after I started, I turned off the treadmill. (Yes, I realize I am insane.)

2. I have been thinking a lot about my food choices recently. As you may know, I eat a pescatarian diet (think vegetarian who eats seafood). The transitition to this way of eating has been quite easy for me. In fact, I don't feel like I am sacrificing anything by cutting beef, poultry and pork out of my diet and I have very little trouble meeting my protein requirements. For me, it's a sustainable way of eating.

But as simple as that change has been, I realize that there are some dietary changes that I don't think I could handle. For example, I am a sugar addict. I crave sweets and I LOVE chocolate. I consume some form of "junk" everyday. I honestly wish I had the willpower to have cookies or chocolate or ice cream in my house. I don't. If it's there, I will eat it. J thinks I'm crazy. I think I'll always be wired to binge.

3. Yesterday, while we were eating dinner, Dizzle refused to stay in her chair. So, after several warnings, being the hard a** mother that I am and all, I took the chair away from her and made her stand at the table. She will be standing for all of her meals until she can figure out the correct use of a chair. Harsh, maybe. Effective, yes.

41 comments:

Karen said...

Dang girl, you are a hard a** mother! 22 miles on the treadmill. Painful just to contemplate although plenty of TV helps! I totally get keeping snacks out of the house. I would forever be taking bites here and there. Not into self sabotage if I can help it. BTW I like the idea of having her stand at the table, makes sense to me.

Meggan said...

I had to eat standing up when I was a kid. I was probably 5 or 6 and kept rocking the chair backwards. I remember it clearly.

Anonymous said...

My kids would have LOVED to stand on the table during dinner!

Marlene said...

HA! I think that chair tactic is brilliant!

All I can say about 22 miles on the treadmill... on a Wednesday night (!!!) is wow. Congrats on your last long run. Nice pace too!

"Wired to binge"... OMG, that is ME. I have never out it that way, but it is so true. Can't have stuff in the house. period. And when I decide to have a treat, I ALWAYS get carried away. I should look into hypnosis. :S

Carly said...

I think over eating can be like any other addiction. Once an addict, always an addict.
And I like that your punishments are related to the original offense. :-)

Kurt @ Becoming An Ironman said...

Now that is some dedication to running! I can't even push past four miles on a treadmill. Outside, I'll run forever, but inside I go crazy. Kudos to you!

I don't keep sweets or junk in my kitchen. I rarely ever eat sweets (my vegetarian binge kicked my sweet tooth), but if I go looking for a snack, I'll look to the junk/sweets first and I regret it every time.

You may be a hard a**, but I would have done the same thing. As long as it works, go with it!

Emily said...

I also realize you're insane.

Laurie said...

I threatened the exact same thing with my 7 year old. Luckily the threat was enough. I also have absolutely no control with sweets in my house. If it's there, I will eat it. Great job on the crazy mill miles!

fancy nancy said...

22 miles on a treadmill at 10pm...that's dedication! Way to go!!!

Love the idea of taking away the chair! When I was younger I would slam the door of my bedroom when I got mad about something....well off went the door until I could control myself!

Stephanie F said...

AWESOME, awesome treadmill run. and good job with dizzle and her chair... very effective! : )

Running Ricig said...

It was about 10 when I finished my 20 miler. I'm glad I'm not the only one!

Your dinner solution sounds like something my mom did to us when we were kids. Definitely effective

misszippy said...

I am in awe of anyone who can run that long on the treadmill! Way to go.

Love the parenting approach--wish I had thought of that one when mine was younger and doing that kind of stuff!

MCM Mama said...

I could not do that. If I could read while I run, maybe, but TV won't hold my attention long enough for more than 10 miles.

LOL at making your daughter stand. When Shoo can't sit still, we belt him into his chair - if I let him stand, he'd wander away from the table.

I'm the same way about foods. We recently opened a box of Trader Joe's cookies. I knew if I ate one, I'd eat most of the box. It wasn't pretty.

Rachel Durazzani said...

Holy crap. You are a rock star. That's awesome.

And I like the standing idea although my little girl would probably think it was cool and wouldn't see it as a punishment. :)

Unknown said...

Way to go on the run.

I think I'll always be wired to binge too. There was a time I thought I'd be able to eat "normally". I think it actual is "normal" to be wired to binge. Feast or famine, right? Evolution just hasn't caught up with our current surplus of food.

Team Serrins Springfield said...

1i saw your tweet and was blown away.
2you just describes my diet perfectly except that right now I'm on a gluten free experiment.
3 we go through that every night. Also using a fork.

Cat B. said...

I Love the chair idea...I'm totally stealing that! My kids never sit still for dinner and it drives us nuts! Thanks for the great parenting tips.

TNTcoach Ken said...

That's just crazy, watching that much NCIS!

Beth said...

I am so impressed with your treadmill 22 miler! craziness. Especially immediately after your PR half marathon!

Rachel said...

22 miles= amazing. I'm with on the pescatarian diet- except the rest of my fam eats regular meat, so what do you do for their meals? I also like your way of thinking on taking the chair away. I am a hard mama too.

KovasP said...

I'm guessing my boys would prefer to eat standing up.

Runners Fuel said...

way to go on the tm!! Awesome job!!

Shellyrm ~ just a country runner said...

Running 22 miles on the treadmill that late at night quailifies you as a bada** runner no doubt!

Taking the chair away because Dizzle wouldn't sit is not being bada** it's teaching her that sometimes we have to do thing we don't "like." It's a big lesson. We all have to do (at least moderately) things we don't like to take care of ourselves and live the healthest longest possible life. I think your approach was spot on! In fact, I may use it when my kiddos think they should play musical chairs at dinner time.

Your sugar cravings are probably okay considering you eat an otherwise clean diet. I mean you record everything...even your cupcakes. I dont' think you'd have too many binge days.

Enjoy the weekend.

Meredith said...

Amazing run on the 'mill! Amazing! As far as crap in the house? Yeah, I can't have it hear either. Every once in awhile I'll say, "I want ice cream." Hubs will say, "you should buy some at the store." Me? "Then, I'll just eat it!" I don't make good choices when craps around! And the chair? That's the threat in our house if our kids tip in their chairs. Thankfully, they've listened thus far, but I don't think Ella's too far away from standing while eating!

giraffy said...

I did the same thing to #2. That kid cannot stop moving. It's maddening.

Kara said...

I can't do more than 6 on the treadmill without dying of boredom, you are hardcore!

I don't have problems with the baby not sitting in her seat...yet. I'm sure we'll get there!

SupermomE13 said...

Great job! Those long runs on the treadmill are miserable but you get awesome bragging rights when you are done. :)

And you are nicer than me... I made my 11 year old kneel through a dinner when he kept rocking his chair after multiple warnings. TOTALLY worked. Good for you! :)

Anonymous said...

I love that I'm not the only one who doesn't have it in her to say 'no' to sweets. Confession: There were 12 cupcakes left over from Fancy's birthday party on Sunday. Now there are none. I'm not responsible for all of them, but most of them, yes.

Tami said...

awesome idea about the chair. i wish i could cut my sugar intake. we don't buy any processed "junk" food but I can whip some a batch of cupcakes or something! in 20 minutes

5 Miles Past Empty said...

Nice job on the mill!!!

And thanks for the idea of taking the chair away! Levi wont sit down to save his life...

workout mommy said...

that is a crazy amount of time on treadmill! But you did it...and that's all that matters!

2. I too am a chocoholic. If i could figure out how to quit it, I would in a heartbeat. (now where did I put those M&Ms???)

3. I never even thought of the take away the chair idea, I love it! Although, my boys will not stand or sit still and it drives me crazy. Maybe I should duct tape them to the chair? Harsh? ;)

Emz said...

YAY for a long mill run.

nothing
freaking
better
[to me, anyway]

Pam @ herbieontherun.com said...

I freakin' love the chair thing. I don't think it's harsh at all, but I bet it got her attention!

ajh said...

It's funny what pushes our buttons. I don't care (that much) how my students sit but when they make repetitive noises (which they ALL do) look out!

Trish said...

Love the standing at the table!! You rock! (what would you do with kids that keep picking at each other??)

Terri said...

22 miles? You are an animal!

OrangeBlossom said...

I thought that you were going to say that you duck taped her to the chair.

You are a treadmill animal!

Unknown said...

I have read that sugar cravings are related to not enough protein. Just something to think about.

I actually really like treadmill running :)

Bethany + Ryan said...

wow! 22 miles on the tmill? thats insane! I saw your status and i assumed it meant a very long run on the t-mill but didn't think THAT long! wowzer! wtg!

Twila said...

I did 20 last week! Glad to know I am not the only one that is determined to get them in wherever they can.

Unknown said...

Amazing run! :)

And I personally love that you took the chair away. It'll teach her the lesson she needs very fast! Not mean at all!