So, I'm at it again!  I'm fundraising for cancer.  This time it's for Blood cancers as part of the Team in Training sponsored by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.  I'll be participating in a triathlon in Philly in late June.  I should probably have my head examined, but I am so excited about it.  I'll swim almost a mile (in the schuykilll yuk), bike for 25 and then run for a little better than 6 miles.  

 

If you told me 4 years ago that I would be doing this, I would have laughed out loud.  If you want to donate, you can do so by following the link below:

http://pages.teamintraining.org/epa/philtri13/mmullene43

xoxo,

 

Maura

Nan,

 

So glad you decided to share this!  Such an awesome Wow.  This is a Wow Chart topper!

xoxo,

 

Maura

I haven't been posting here, but a few people reached out to me and I appreciated it, so I am posting about my 3 year. I only had this in my blog, but decided to post here.  It's going to sound like a boast, because it is.  I'm proud of myself.  Wow... I'm saying that.. I'm proud of myself. 

This journey has been surreal.  In October, I took the most amazing trip - half way around the world to China, Tibet, Nepal and Thailand.  Hiked to an elevation of 18,200 and am blown away at being able to accomplish this feat.  It did not come without hard work, discipline and an amazing support network.  Am blessed.

Am happy to be maintaining.  Am blown away that I am actually making time to exercise to maintain.   I catch myself and need to keep my food in check.  I am on the scale daily.. just part of my accountability routine.  Am a size 4/6 from a 22/24, am 135 lbs down from 256, have a BMI of 21.8  from 41.3, have a body fat percentage of 21.3 (god knows I was 80% grease before), I have a new lease on life, am loving skiing, biking, hiking and taking classes at the gym. 

I allow myself some indulgences, but try not to allow it in excess and have been able to keep myself in check.  Regain scares the crap out of me and I have seen so much of it.  I know I'm still a baby in this journey as I have the rest of my life ahead of me to continue to maintain, but I am determined to do so.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

loving this new life,

Maura

 It is with national geographic.  Peter Hilary is our guide.  Start in Beijing, then through Tibet to Nepal to hopefully mt. Everest if china cooperates, but that may not be in the cards( boo).  Then to Thailand.  Am going for almost 3 weeks.  Been working out like a madwoman and enjoying it!  Who am I???  Thanks for the responses.  Although few in comparison to the old days.  

Hope everyone else is well.  

Laureen glad u r enjoying life!  Donna., the right op will come in time!  Keep the faith!  

Xoxo, 

Maura

Its to easy to feel "normal" now.  Need to constantly keep myself in check weight daily and allow my husband to nag me about excercise for my own good :)  We ride bikes together regularly and I enjoy it, so that's good!  Hope you are well.

Hey Donna!  That job is out there looking for you, it just hasn't found you yet and boy will it be happy when it does.  I'll be around again, I'm sure we will see one another.  Hope you are enjoying this sweltering summer we have going here.  Am heading out to Penn state for the annual arts fest.  We go every year, just love it. 

Be good to you! 

Maura

Lauren.. I use Starbucks via decaf crystals, milk, ho****er and chocolate flavored protein every morning.... 2.5 years and counting and it is still my go to morning protein insurance policy!

be careful with ho****er with the protein powders though.. they can "curdle". I put quite a bit of milk to ho****er and then heat in the micro 10-15 seconds at a tine..

I use unjury chocolate... will bring you a care package at barix ;)

Congratulations on your Surgiversary Laura!!   If you don't hit those baby lbs in advance, You will certainly shake em off as soon as Lily Anne starts walking! 

xoxo,

Maura

hurtful words are many times born from hurt, not a true desire to be mean.  Have you ever said something that is not "normal" for you to do or say because you are hurt?  just offering perspective.

Glad to see the food posts are back!!  Am behind the 8 ball, but here is what I ate!

1: My daily decaf chocolate protein coffee (suprised that after 2 years I'm not sick of it yet.. )
2: Protein steel cut oatmeal
3: salad with grilled chicken
4: fresh cut fruit
5: grilled chicken (just a little meat snack)
6: OMG.. really Chicken? Can't be!  But this time in Piccata lemon sauce
oh.. and I tried NSA Redberry cheesecake frozen.. tasted GREAT.. impacts.. not so great!!  Got foamy icky reaction.. guess I won't go back there!

It's a healthy fear in my opinion.  I probably would classify my daily weighing as an obsession, but I need to keep myself in check and adjust daily as necessary.  I'm 2 years 3 months out and need to remember not to get too comfortable or it will creep up.

Continue to challenge yourself and be proud of what you can do now and it is like an aphrodesiac.  A new world opens.  One that I never thought I would be a part of.  

You have it in you to continue to succeed, just be true to you Jackie!

xoxo,

Maura

Am not necessarily a veteran..., but... here's my routine.. I read both posts and am responding here...

No soda of any kind

Low Low sugar - will I have a bite of candy or cake, yes, but not to an extreme - I can handle a bit more than that and have like many others, tested my boundaries.. a volume of sugar does make me sick, but I know I can handle up to ~ 10/12 grams of refined sugar - more of natural sugars.

I don't drink through a straw and actually never realized it until you asked - I guess because I never get soda anymore..

I try to be good about working out at least 3 times / week - varying amount of time and intensity - I should do more - skiing this winter has helped with that alot.  Still getting back in the swing after plastics in November.. boy does the muscle soreness from a tummy tuck last....

I still have a protein shake every morning (actually protein coffee) - starbucks decaf via with water, milk and chocolate protein - it is my daily protein insurance policy to ensure that I get enough.  I have one cup of 1/2 caffeine coffee when I get to work

I portion every  weekday - pack food for the next day every night.. the weekends are little more fluid and I do notice the "estimation" of the amount I am eating off of a plate when I go out has become more liberal and I need to watch that..

I am mostly good about my water intake daily usually 64-70 - I am NOT good about "countering" caffeinated and alcoholic beverages with equal water. 

I do stay lower in carb land - do I eat chips and snacks - hell yeah.. but again.. I weigh daily and adjust..

I never have and just don't have it in me to count calories or carbs... 

I was at a point where I had lost 50% of my body weight and got down to 128 - was looking gaunt and withdrawn and pale.  I am staying at about 132 now - amazing the difference that 4 lbs has on this new body size.  That was nothing before and now it could mean something fitting or not... it's crazy. 

I play around with the same 3 to 4 lbs.. and stay around 130-134 - and you better believe when it hits 134, the hyperventilating starts..

I weigh every day and when the scale is up a pound or two I think.. that's it.. the regain is starting, then I try to talk out the negative "I am going to fail" mindset and change that days eating.  1/2 slice bread for a sandwich or no bread and have a rollup - cut out a snack or go for a lower calorie one.  I try not to eat it anyway and say "Oh, I'll work it off during a workout".. then if that workout doesn't happen.... well you know..

I am honestly just starting to see myself as the thinner person I have become.  I still put 5 different outfits on in the morning though :)..  It is strange how I second guess if I can walk out of the house in a tight fitting shirt.. the angel/devil scenario happens - "who do you think you are going out in that" to "go girl, wear it, you worked your ass off for this"..  My husband rolls his eyes and says he can't believe that I still obsess about how I look as much as, well.. no actually MORE than I did before.  I'm coming around on that front and getting used to this new body...  I don't love me yet, but I do think I have a crush on me... I won't walk out of the house without makeup on either.. I guess because I have more pride about how I look.. and that's a good thing!

This new life is amazing, I wouldn't change it for the world.  I am doing, seeing and enjoying more things than I ever thought were possible.  I owe it to me to stay on top of it.

Well Geez, did you think you'd have to read war and peace???  I haven't been on here much, so I guess this is an update on me at the same time!!

xoxo,

Maura

That's an amazingly wonderful report Nan!  So happy to hear that news!