I love interaction. I love asking questions. I love thinking (that’s not a surprise:)). I try to ask a daily question to my Twitter followers. And I love sweets. Duh, don’t we all?!

It may come as a surprise to you, but I struggle with food. Mainly sweets. I like chocolate brownies, cake, chocolate chip cookies. See the theme? Yeah, it’s bad. We ALL know that I have the determination to do pretty much anything. But why are sweets so damn hard to “say no to”?! So with that I asked my question “what is your biggest challenge when it come eating the right food?”. Here are some of the responses I received.

Ali: “My Effin sweet tooth”

Rachel: “The bad food you could be eating instead!”

Brian: “The bad foods are so good and way too easy to get!”

Ryan: “Having the time to cook vs the cost of having fresh all the time”

Liz: “Portion control. Oh and chocolate. I swear my body begs for it daily!”

Ashley: “Portion size!”

Kate: “Peanut Butter!”

Tyler: “Fresh food spoils too quickly and leftovers get old after a day or two”

Roxy: “Peppermint Latte from Starbucks”

Jason: “Other people. For some reason people like to try & get me to eat badly”

Oliva: ” Ditto! Portion control is my downfall! I will eat the healthiest foods, just too much because I love it all!”

Nathaniel: “The time it takes to prepare fresh and healthy meals every day. It’s hard to take time for yourself!”

Luau: “Getting my family to eat the same way I do”

Julie: “Portion size!”

Zoe: “The fact I love to bake cakes!”

Any: “Time. Or lack of it.”

Jen: “Boredom, Mexican food and office snacks are my downfall. Not necessarily in that order.”

Nahlan: “All the saboteurs in my family.”

I love the responses. Some of them are SO true. How often does someone give you an “excuse” to eat something that you know you shouldn’t? They convince you that you earned it (“you just ran 200 miles in an hour” or “you went to the gym, you deserve a treat” or “you only live once”). These are awesome reasons to eat whatever what is on your spoon. Or fork.

But here is the fact of the matter. In 9 years, did you know that the number one cause of death in the USA will be obesity? Yes, you only live once, but let’s live our life healthy. And with purpose. So here is what I am going to do. I invite you to join me:)

#1) Every time I am tempted to have something “bad” I will ask myself, will this make me faster on race day?

#2) If I had a Bikini shoot tomorrow, would I be ready?

#3) If a Navy SEAL were next to me, would I eat this?

#4) I am setting an example to all around me. Will this be positive?

#5) Knowing the feeling of the satisfaction, pride & determination that I said no.

Quick note. I am NOT saying to NEVER have chocolate. I am not saying to be a size zero. It’s all about balance. It’s a lifestyle. Makes yours healthy.

Sweetie, I love you, but only on birthday’s. Or Christmas.

Photo by Chotda

Happy 7th birthday to my little friend Jake! Well, not the “offical” day yet, but today was his birthday party. Hence the chocolate cake title:) You know how I LOVE birthdays, right?! It’s not about the presents. It’s about the chocolate cake & ice cream! Yes, I like my sweets.

So, because the birthday party was in the morning, I moved my training ride to the late afternoon. Felt a little strange to ride as the sun set, but a very welcome change. Had a nice ride. I rode down to Mt. Vernon again.

Sun was hot. Bugs were BAD. (I didn’t realize how bad till I got home). Saw a lot of cute guys. Planes. Cars determined to run me over (that never changes). And happy boaters on the Potomac. Did I say it was humid out? Well it was.

I don’t usually stop to buy anything on rides, but I was pretty hot (as in sweaty:)) so I decided to stop at Safeway on the way home & get a cold beverage. Of course stood in line behind ANOTHER cute guy. What is today? Cute guy can’t have day?

Well a bottle of Smart Water AND a Vitamin Water overflowed my 2 bottles. With me drinking some too! So, without any other option, I stuck the Vitamin Water bottom-where else -but my shirt!  Thank god for sports bra tank tops. It stayed in the middle for the next hour. I got some funny stares, but hey it worked and that is what counts! Thinking I might be on to something.

Almost back home and about dead, but my eyes recognized a familiar face. It was Wolf Blitzer walking with his wife. I waved hi. They did the same. I am sure they were glad the sweaty girl kept riding.

I knew I had swallowed a lot of bugs. But wow. I was WEARING them. My upper chest was BLACK. So to say a shower was delightful was an understatement. Well, the chocolate cake was pretty delightful as well:)

Rode 68 miles in 4:27 (15.8mph) kind of slow. Bleak!

Photo by ThaRainbowRaider