Nutritious fastfood

My new life with no sugar and why wait until tomorrow to start a healthier life, started our in an interesting way..... ehhh..... Okey, I did eat sugars even if it wasn't much during Christmas holidays, but I also worked out every single day. However I have had loads of cheese, whole milk, cream products and buttery foods. Its been mouth heaven. I am telling you I have had the best meals ever..... Nothing beats home cooking with good ingredients. But Christmas is over, and I have no regrets. I actually feel good because I have honestly made up my mind to loose those extra pounds. Thinking about it.... I have made up my mind to get my whole life more organized, my training, my job and my private life. (I need to spend more time with people I love)

After consulting with my coach, we agreed on loosing between 0,5 and no more than 1 kilo a week. A faster weightloss than that isn't healthy considering all the training I am doing. I haven't weighed in yet. I have my first scheduled weigh-in on Friday the 10th of January. I guess your wondering why I just dont get on the damn scale and weigh-in? Well I have an idea about how much it is, and I am going to get depressed if I see the actual numbers. But If I feel healthy and feel that my journey is on the right way, it will not bother me as much. To help me on the way, I have reactivated "My fitness Pal" (The best free online weight loss system with the best Apps ever) I started documenting everything a couple of days ago. If there are more of you out their that want to loose weight together with me, get registered, and its like Facebook, we can follow and support each other on our journey. My user name is Queenblomberg... of course. To make things easier I have bought a kitchen scale. I have realized that I have a tendency to eat larger meals than I am supposed to, so to start with I am weighing everything until I have a better eye about how much everything is.

I love eating out for lunch, so one challenge I have, is to find restaurants that have healthy alternatives without eating cucumbers and slices of tomatoes. One new favorite is Ichaicha. Its been around for a couple of years but I ate there for the first time the other day. You have 3 choices, what type of meat you want, side order and sauce. My combo added up to 200 Kcal. It was healthy, tasty and it kept me filled up until dinner. It didn't only taste better, it was faster than Mcdonalds.

Enough about food, I have had the best training week ever. I have had so much fun, and It has been so much easier while being off from work. I feel stronger than ever, and I am starting to get excited about the New Year. Because 2014 is the year of my Ironman challenge. No more goofing around, this Triathlete, cocktail or not, is all about business, don´t think anything else.

Happy New Year!

Chistmas day munchies, eating "löjrom" and drinking a glas of Petite Chablis

My new found favorite in Mood Galleria Ichaicha

Small but good menu, each with amount of calories

200 Kcal lunch? Sooooo goood!

Even Happy loved it. And this one is NOT a health food fan.

So where do I go, on my rest day this week? To the gym to goof of with Madde. She had near 2 hours of biking on her schedule.

Its she and herself.... And lovley me for a quick visit.

This challenge wouldn't be as fun without my homies (My husband Björn and Madde) "family"

Why wait until after Christmas?

I have been thinking, why wait until after Christmas with eating healthier when I can start eating healthier today? When It comes to different goals we often say, "I´ll will start tomorrow, I will start on Monday, I will start after my vacation or It will be my New Year promise. It could be a healthier life style, quit smoking, quit lying or becoming a better person in general. Why wait until tomorrow? I don´t even know if I am alive tomorrow. Just do what ever you feel you want TODAY. Just make sure this is really what you want, and not something to please others.

I really need to loose weight before my Ironman in August. I do not want to carry excess weight during the competition. At the same time, I have a eating disorder that I have lived with for a long time. Bulemia. I have been okej for about 5 years, but I still have an unnatural relationship to food. I still start a new diet every week, I change the rules as the week proceeds. On Monday I eat really heathy, No bread or pasta and I bring lunch to work. On Tuesday I eat lunch out, and the bread they serve is so good, so I eat a slice. On Wednesday, I might just need a sandwich before bedtime cause I am hungry... and this is how the week is. Finally on Sunday I am so full of shit that I make up my mind to start my healthier life on Monday again.... Crazy if you ask me. It was so much easier when I was a member at Itrim, I worked with a consultant, and It was under control. I worked out 3 times a week, just to keep my body moving without specific goals. Today I train 5-7 sessions a week, some lasting up to 2 hours. I need food and I am constantly hungry. Training for Ironman is easy, learning how to eat right is really tough.

I quit eating added sugars for about two week ago, Which is a good start. And every day I am trying to eat as heathy as possible. Why wait until after the holidays? I might not lose that much weight, but at least I wont gain as much. 2014 I will be serious in my efforts. I put a lot of money and training in my Ironman mission. I don'
t want to mess up because I cant stay on a good diet. 

So today, Is going to be a good day, high goals, good food and first day of focusing on my Ironman weight journey. Please help me on the way! 

Wish you all a Merry Christmas!

XOXO

Our miniature Christmas tree, American Style

I didn't touch a single piece ......mostly because I am not a huge fan of Toblerone

My favorite winter dish in the making, boeuf bourguignon

A hungover cocktail triathlete

Last thursday we had a Christmas party at work and our theme was gold, red or blue. I luv parties. And I luv themes. I went shopping for a golden dress, and with the hair (wig) my sister Theresa gave me, I was ready to Party! I just forgot one important detail. I am a triathlete, training for Ironman 2014. Well, I am a cocktail triathlete, but a drunken one? Oh no! Not good at all. With the wig and golden dress all of my common sense kinda flowed straight out of my body. As the night proceeded, so did I.... and the wine bottle. I turned into a smoking idiot drinking straight out of the bottle. So without explaining more details about that evening, I paid a huge price, and trust me, it wasn't worth it and its not happening again, not before Ironman.

I was hungover for about 2,5 days. Friday was rest day, and Saturday I had swimming on my schedule. Its something about swimming and the day after.. I simply can't handle it.. Felt mostly sick to my tummy and my motivation was ZERO. Sunday I ended up doing a 20k run. My time was worse then ever, but I did do the full distance. My body ached for 3 whole days, since I used my Icebugs for the first time this season as a mentioned in the last blog. My coach kinda of laughed at me, but I never told him that I had smoked. It's crazy, I have to stay away from shit like that.... So what have I learned? As a cocktail triathlete, I have to stick to champagne, and no more then 2 glasses twice a month and NEVER EVER touch the smokies.......

My beautiful friend and Co-worker Cecilia, together with our fantastic co-worker Lotta (Funny)

Another Co-worker, I am kinda physical ... Always nice to get a hug

Ginger bread cookies, Glögg (swedish warm wine with spices..Not my thang)

Finally beddy time, 3:am in the morning. Was I tired Friday? Yepp, I want to forget last weekend as soon as possible

2 glasses of Champagne 2 times a month = High standard cocktail triathlete

Dark Sunday run

My husband came home with a fun toy the other day. A flashlight. Living in Sweden winter months is the same as total darkness sometime after 3 pm. It's one of those flashlights that is built in a headband. I know my husband means well and the flashlight is great, but I feel kinda nerdy running around looking like a miner. I wore it for the first time today when I did a 20K jog in my Icebugs that mom bought me 2 years ago. Actually I was happy that it was dark out, cause it wasn't a pretty sight. To the extent that my ponytail turned into a chunk of ice. It was tough today. I really had to switch on my Ironman brain, and just make up my mind. It was cold, slippery and dark, I felt kind of tired and my thighs, inner thighs and calves started to retract after about 14K. This has never happened to me before. I think it was because it was the first time I used my Icebugs this season, and they are heavier and the sole is harder than my normal running shoes. It like Andreas said. He think my legs are going to feel like frozen fish sticks tomorrow... No s..t... They feel like frozen fish sticks this very moment and it only been 4 hours.

However the flashlight worked well in the dark park, so I am really not complaining ... on the contrary, I am lucky to have a man that cares about my safety.... or is it that he wants a reason to buy athlete toys....??? Only he know the answer to that question. Have the best Sunday evening!

I luv these shoes that mom and dad bought me, cause they are good, but honestly... really ugly.. :-) (Not moms fault, I choose them all by my self)

Winter in Sweden, finally

Our newest toy, a present from Björns fantastic and generous brother, Jocke! Thanx man!

The home of 2 triathletes, Christmas decorations and sweaty cloths hanging on all the radiators. Happy complaining about a smelly home....

Triathlon fun - Triathlon economics not so fun

No matter how I twist and turn dollars and cents, triathlon is an incredibly expensive sport to do. There are three different sports that require different skills and different equipment.

I am torn by theories that staying healthy and active doesn't have to be expensive. All you need to go out jogging is a pair of good running shoes and some comfortable clothes, an old bike to bike on or a swimsuit, googles and some water to swim. You can take walks and do sit-ups at home. It takes a lot of discipline but its doable.

When It comes to healthy eating, its the same thing. Yes veggies are expensive and so is good fish and meats. But I honestly believe that in the long run, if you skip sugars, snacks, candy, sodas, processed foods and eat smaller portions of healthy choices the cost of eating would be the same.

So what tears me up if the equation is so easy?...... Boring..... My gosh, How fun would life be if you couldn't enjoy a bag of potato chips now and then, red wine or some home-made bullar? Its fun to buy a good bike, comfy wet-suit or to attend training-camps/races and learn techniques from experts.

I think it also depends on what level yo want to do things. I often think about this cool girl that I met at Vätternrundan, a Swedish bike race that is 300K long (186 miles). She had this old bike that she borrowed from her mom, it had 3 gears. It took her 24 hours to complete the race. I had a 20 geared racer and it took me 12 hours and 20 minutes. But her performance was so much better than mine. That mental strength to bike 24 hours, on a bike she had to push up all the hills? Simply amazing. And she is proof that things can be done affordable if you choose to do it your way. I keep her in mind so I stick with reality, because I am never going to be a professional athlete but I do want to make a serious effort in doing the best I can. (Desiree does not need a TT-bike, triathlon bike)

However I do spend ALOT of money on my journey to becoming an Ironman. So how does this work for me? I see it as an investment in me and my health, and I skip other things like shopping and I don´t eat out often. And like all elite athletes I have a sponsor, probably the best sponsor in the whole wide world. My mom. She supports me, she follows all of my achievements, races, everything. I love knowing that she is interested. And now and then, she supports me financially with a little something that makes my journey easier or more fun. Thanks mom, your the best!

My beautiful mom (I think she like my coach too... :-)

Yesterday at the gym, started out with weight lifting

My husband getting in the groove

Saturday special 3 hour spinning with a bike movie, however we left after 1:40. We had a tight schedule yesterday. (Champagne date at 15:00 with one of my new beautiful friends, Christina)