runners? help me.

what a weekend. there was so much debauchery involved i don't even want to get into it. nothing too scandalous... just too much of everything. too much sun, too much booze, too much food... too much! not enough sleep and not enough water. i need to take it easy.

last night i slept over at my parent's house because i had a doctor's appointment this morning in the burbs. i am back in the city now.... phewf!

i have some questions for the runners out there. on saturday, i went for a 5-mile run. it was HOT outside. at least 32°C... more like 40°C with the humidex. we are talking 90°F to 104°F for the americans out there. HOT.

so i put on sunscreen, and drank some water before i went... but am seriously overheating. thank goodness i found two parks along the way with water fountains... i glugged it down and put some on the top of my head, but i need to buy some summer running things.... and soon, if i don't want to go back to the dreadmill.

1) i need some sort of portable water. i do NOT want to hold a water bottle while i'm running... so i guess a belt? does anyone have any recommendations?

i found this belt online - the ultimate direction thunderbolt belt.

what a stupid name haha. i can't really find anything else that evenly distributes the water around the waist. online reviews at mountain equipment co-op said that it's ok, but that the belt stretches when it gets wet from the water and from sweat.

2) i also need a good running hat. any tips or recommendations? i want something that isn't heavy, isn't annoying (because i'm not a hat wearer) and that also protects my delicate features from the sun. anyone?

today on the menu is:

small peach
granny smith apple

pc blue menu multigrain oatmeal with flax, wheatberries, splenda, cinnamon
1 t natural peanut butter

fat free vanilla yogurt

ezekiel english muffin with
3 slices spicy fake chicken
lettuce
mustard and a bit of bbq sauce

cherries

salad with breaded chicken breasts, tomatoes, quinoa or wheatberries

pressure to stay thin

no matter how much weight you have lost, or how much weight you still might have to lose, do you feel the pressure to stay thin? i would have to say that i do. and it's more of a pressure of my own making, but with the help of others... this might not make sense so i'll try to explain myself.

when i was heavier, nobody (except my mom) really said anything negative to me about my weight. guys i dated said they didn't care (i did and still do believe this), and girls certainly didn't mind having a friend heavier than they were. now that i am a thinner person, i feel a lot of pressure to stay this way. obviously i like getting compliments about my shape, i really do because it's very gratifying and i work really hard, but sometimes these comments just add to the pressure to stay thin. for example, my mom tells everyone that i run... everyone... even when i am right there which can be a little weird if i don't feel like talking about it. my parents are always telling my sister that she should be more active like me. i can tell that my friends who are on diet and exercise plans are envious that i am already at my goal.

it's like once you reach your weight loss goal and manage to keep it off for any amount of time, you are kind of held up on a weight loss pedestal. i can imagine that it is also this way for people who have lost a more significant amount of weight than i have, be it 60 or 70 or 100 pounds. people think you hold the key to the secrets of weight loss and getting fit.

i feel like if i fell off the wagon now, not only would i be letting myself down, but i'd also be letting down all the people in my life that build me up so much for living a (for the most part) healthy lifestyle. my boyfriend (who really loves ketchup chips) said that he used to eat ketchup chips every night, but doesn't anymore because of me and my healthy influence on him. that's pretty big! so my question is: do you feel the pressure?

this morning i ran 5 miles on the treadmill... it was pretty easy except my bum is hurting now. stupid bum! tonight is date night which i am looking forward to. i haven't had a wednesday date in weeks! is anyone (in canada) watching that new "make me a supermodel show?" i am... i am so happy there are male and female models... finally!

today on the menu:

1/2 cup cheerios
coffee

weight control cinnamon oatmeal
1 T flax
1/2 cup all bran
2 T pumpkin
1 t baking powder
1/2 t nutmeg
1/2 banana
2 strawberries (all i had left)

28 baby carrots
10 baby tomatoes
2 T skinny dips hummus

200 g plain 2% yogurt
100 g fat free vanilla pear yogurt
blueberries
blackberries
2 T pumpkin

plain oatmeal (if hungry)

probably homemade poutine and a turkey grill 'em and frozen veggies