pajama pants, hoodies, and PB2

i'm feeling a little more on track than i was, and it's good to feel that way. not complacent, but diligent, and trying not to get down on myself for those little "mistakes" that are just living life. the last few days - especially with the 2 feet of snow we've seen in the first 7 days of the month - have been a great time for remembering those little things that make life, especially life with a weight problem, tolerable.

1. pajama pants and hoodies. nothing beats coming home from the gym, stripping off sweaty clothes and putting on snuggly warm pajamas and a hoodie. and they're good for getting to/from the gym without freezing.

2. my trainer, marko. even when i hurt for days after a session, it's a good hurt. when i come to a session in a bad/stressed mood, he helps it dissipate and helps me channel my frustration in a productive way. plus, he doesn't speak english too well, so trying to understand him definitely distracts me from the hard workout he's putting me through.

3. reworked comfort foods. amazing chili and delicious mac and cheese - the things that i want to eat on a cold, snowy day - without all the fat but with all the taste.

4. PB2. if you haven't discovered this peanut butter from bell plantation, get yourself some. it's powdered peanuts and sugar and salt - that's it!- you add some water and have a great tasting peanut butter without the oil. it's creamy and definitely helps this peanut butter addict get some protein with her apples and celery without the high PPV cost. 2 Tbsp = 1 PPV.

5. protein powder. an odd thing to be happy about, for sure, but honestly, i started drinking it after my workouts again, and i'm less famished. i drink it alongside a banana or other fruit, and it helps sate me until i can get to a real meal, which is usually 20-30 minutes after i leave the gym, at a minimum.

6. friends who challenge me. the fight for air climb is in 2 weeks, and i'm going to kick tush. i did the 56-story climb in 12:10 last year, and i will break 12 minutes this year. after that, it's time to start training for the bolderboulder, a 10k race on memorial day.

7. new jeans. i bought some new 10s the other day online, and they fit perfectly, even out of the dryer. nothing feels better than a pair of jeans that are warm from the dryer, not from the sweat you worked up trying to get into them.

there's more, i'm sure. but today, these in particular are helping me stay sane.