Weekend Plans... and side stories

We Gardner’s like to see how much fun and excitement we can cram into one weekend. We are all headed up North. Friday night football at West Jordan, and Friday and Saturday volleyball at Bingham High, a long overdue Gardner get together with all the Sis's and Bro's on Saturday night (missing the Hatch's big time :( and becuase that wasnt enough I decided to throw in this.........

and this is why....

This is so true! You really do forget how painful these things are and they sound like a really good idea a short time after, kinda like baby amnesia you find yourself wanting to do it again only to get a few days away from it and the flood of memories comes rushing back to you, and you think “oh crap this is gonna hurt!” However nothing beats crossing that finish line, not as good as giving birth to a beautiful child, but close hahah.

My friend Melanie has been my long distance running buddy, we have trained for a marathon and a half marathon together all while living 6 hours apart. The runs are pretty boring but calling each other afterwards to give a full report of how the run went has honestly helped me so much. I cannot count the times I called her or she called me after a long marathon training run and we said “I CANT DO THIS” we would offer encouragement to each other and remind ourselves why we are doing this (ya that parts still fuzzy).

My favorite times are when we have gotten to actually run together doing 2 Ragnar’s together and the marathon, which she smoked me at! I honestly hope I can keep up with her for the TOU Half, we have agreed to make this an experience and just have FUN.

(Side story) The first time we did Ragnar the van was full of people I knew but Melanie didn’t, she was being so thoughtful and helpful with buying supplies and things for our van. There was a full Costco size box of Veggie Straws that was being moved around the van and just seemed to be in the way, Kelli decided to finally just sleep with them.

Finally getting annoyed with them she says "WHO brought these Damn Veggie Straws?"

Melanie raised her hands and said "I DID, you want some?"

Every one laughed and the next 35 hours together was sure smelly, sleep deprived bliss.

Re-Do

So I am starting over, yep that is right I caved in, fell off the wagon, I wouldn’t say I was ran over by the wheel so I am able to pull myself backup and put myself in the driver’s seat.

A few things I realized:

It is hard to stay sugar free on “special events” more specifically birthdays. I noticed while on my 7 day no sugar streak that I felt great and did not have my normal afternoon crashes in energy.

I did not have any headaches, other than a small brief one on what I believe was my detox day.

When I did fall and eat the sugar I had a headache brewing within an hour!

I was so tired and grumpy the day after I had the sugar.

While not eating the sugar my hunger seemed to keep itself in check I didn’t have those afternoon and late night cravings. I attribute this to keeping the blood sugar balanced instead of peaking and dipping.

So I shall continue my quest to find balance, to be 99% sugar free. I am not going to count the days I am going to note the positive benefits from continuing to be sugar free.

Daddy needs to lock the doors, someone turns 16 today!

My baby girl turns 16

Happy Birthday to my Kyndall May! I can hardly believe your turning 16, some random things I love about you.

You ARE your father’s daughter!

You are one of the most compassionate people I know.

You always have something good to say about others, and often times see qualities in them no one else does.

You are a great competitor and have worked SO hard for your spot on the volleyball team, even when things got tough you never quit.

You love and would protect your sister to the ends of the world and back.

You are loyal.

You are humble.

You are always willing to help me.

You are not afraid to try new things.

You are a great student and work really hard to get good grades even when it doesn’t come easy to you.

You have an amazing testimony of your Father in Heaven.

It is hard to see your baby grow up, to start to date! To drive! I try to remember and cherish all my memories of you as a baby, and a toddler, and a child and I am so excited to do the same for the memories you have yet to create. You continue to make me so proud of who you are.

Day 5 CARBS!

Carb’s are important if you are training for a half marathon!

I went out solo Thursday morning for my run and really struggled, it was as if my muscles were screaming for fuel. I will load up today (Friday) for my long training run of 11 miles tomorrow (Saturday, a little late posting this) with “Good Carbs”.

I am still free of the sugar and feeling really good, a bit of a headache Wednesday afternoon but all clear since, which is amazing because the most obnoxious part of my sugar addiction was the brutal headaches. The weekend will be the real test, it is usually when I fall off the wagon tumbling to the ground and most often end up being run over by the wheel.

Day 3

So far so good, having some fruit has helped. Cari said basically what I wanted to do sounds like the South Beach diet but on that you can’t have fruit! My main objective is to get the “White Stuff” out of my system and if some fruit is how I do it then I guess I am not a South Beach’er.

I have noticed the times of day that trigger me, afternoon and right after dinner. There are so many great sugar free options out there however I don’t think that the artificial sweetener is any better for you then sugar, actually I think sugar is better for you at least your body knows what sugar is my favorite line goes like this “If it takes a factory to make it, it takes a factory to break it down in your body”

The weekend will be the big test the big "Gatorade Bowl" (basically a pre season scimmage game against oursleves) is Friday and Friday night games usually equate to some amazing sugar creation by Cari. We might have to break down and get some sugar free life savers to suck on :)

The White Stuff!

I was watching a commercial during the Olympics of various athletes talking about what they had given up or sacrificed to follow their dreams of been an Olympian; a male gymnast said “I have not ordered dessert in 2 year”. Oh my start the award ceremony right now this guy deserves a gold medal just for that!

Why are we so in love with the white stuff? I have been on a quest to find out I have read and read and searched I have come to realize just how bad this stuff is for us (like I really didn’t know that on my own?) and that they put it in everything! I decided to find out why I cannot seem to shake the excessive sugar habit, below is a survey which by the way I FAILED! See how you do by answering yes or no to each question

Take this quiz to see if you are addicted to sugar:

• Have you ever used sugar as a reward for something? YEP

• Have you ever used sugar to change your mood, like when you felt sad, tired, or when you needed a lift? YES

• Have you ever eaten sugar even when you weren’t hungry? THAT’S A POSITIVE!

• Have you ever tried to stop eating sugar and couldn’t? ohh YES

• Have you ever taken a small bite of something sweet and felt compelled to finish the whole thing? ABSOLUTELY

• Have you ever banished sugar and carbohydrates from your diet, but began eating them again because you couldn’t resist the pull they had on you? SI

• Have you ever quit eating sugar and when you started eating it again, couldn’t stop binging? UH HUH

After realizing that I answered YES to everyone of those questions, and the second but not insignificant fact that I am borderline Type 2 diabetic, I have decided to make a change. I believe in moderation and that if you tell yourself you cannot have something that is all you think about but considering my desperate state of addiction it is necessary that I go on a strict NO sugar challenge.

My friend and I decided to do this together, because I cannot lie to her if I cheat and its great accountability. The one stipulation was that we not start until after her daughters b-day party on Saturday hahaha, call it what you will one last hooray, the last super, and the fact that Carie makes the world’s best treats! She’s a baker and a good one she has made the most beautiful wedding cakes for years, in retirement from that now but I am crossing fingers shell come out of it for at least two more occasions (my girls:) This will be tough on her too when you’re a master of sugar creations like she is.

We decided to start with a 2 week challenge and believe at the end we will feel so good that we will extend it 2 more weeks, after that maybe adding back in some things like natural sweeteners, honey, molasses, and agave.

Also this just in! Brad is going to join us, more on why in the next post.

Being a Mom

I used to pray for the day they would dress themselves, feed themselves or just entertain themselves for long enough that I could take a nap. Now I pray that they are dressing themselves (modestly) feeding themselves (healthy foods) and I guess the difference is that I lay awake worrying.

I think there is a point or an age that as a parent you just hope you have taught them well, that you have taught them enough for lifes harsh lessons. I don’t know that you can pin point that moment, and that is the hard part, harder than diaper changing, messes, and sleepless nights.

Is it when your heart breaks because kissing it better just isn’t enough?

Is it when you see them turn from a girl into a woman?

Is it when you see them stand firm in their convictions?

Or is it when as a parent you step back and let them lead their lives, when you become a bystander?

I think it is when you see them put into action, in their lives, the things they have been taught , taking responsibility for their actions and consequences, coming out the other end of a trial a stronger and wiser daughter of God.

I am so blessed beyond words to have been given two beautiful daughters and I marvel in the young women they are becoming, and that they still value my opinion and thoughts in their lives.

Being a mom is the BEST!