Baking up a storm but also working out - gotta work on my fitness

We're one day away from Christmas, and I baked up a storm in preparation. I made yummy caramel corn, delicious chocolate chip cookies, tasty oatmeal scotches, sweet and salty turtle bites (left) and then there are the chocolate cookies that were supposed to be dipped in chocolate. I say supposed to be because that didn't quite happen. The white chocolate I tried to melt in my microwave just didn't turn out right. I think I heat it too much and it just turned into this hard crumbly mess. So no dipping for me. Oh well, the Hubs says the cookies are still good.

Why all this baking? Well, first off I love to bake. I think it's the sound of the mixer and the smell of the yummy goodies in the oven. I also have a bit of a sweet tooth. My sweet tooth has not been my friend over the years as I gained more and more weight, which I am now trying to lose.

If you have followed me for awhile, you might remember that I've lost 50 pounds this year. Lately, I haven't been too strict on my diet, but I'm still working out. So maintenance is my goal during the holiday season, and so far I'm doing good. I haven't gained any of the weight back, and I think that's because I've upped my workouts by signing up for a personal trainer and doing more running. That's right, I'm running. I don't plan on running a marathon or anything, but my goal is to do a few 5Ks next year. So far I'm doing good, but I know that it will be different running outside than on the treadmill. I've been stuck on the treadmill because it's been pretty chilly in the morning.

Now the personal trainer thing is new for me. I did that boot camp that wrapped up a couple months ago, and that was the first time that I did organized workouts with someone telling me what to do. It wasn't too bad. Then my instructor sent me an email saying she was moving gyms and offering personal training sessons. The gym is really close to work, so I go in the morning, shower then just walk over to work. Let me just say that she has found muscles I never knew I had. What seem like small little moves with weights make my arms feel like jello, and if I don't get a good booty soon, then I will just think I am doomed to always have a flapjack. She has me do so many lunges and squats that it is sometimes hard for me to walk down the stairs the next morning. It's not that painful though. It's a good burn. I'll continue going to her in the New Year, and my goal is to lose another 50 in 2010.

So here's to a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all my readers. I hope to close out with a year-end kind of post later, but in closing here are some pics of my yummy treats. Like how I do that? Tease with treats, sandwich in some workout updates and close it out with more delicious bites. It all balances out, right?