Weight Loss FAQ
How did you lose the weight?
Running! I set a goal to run in the Disneyland Half Marathon in 2012 and I stuck to it. It wasn’t pretty. My first day I ran for 9 minutes then thought I was having a legitimate health emergency. I set up diet rules: no alcohol, no fast food, no soda, no caffeine, no dairy. I crosstrained. In short, I worked really hard and it paid off!
What was your motivation?
First off, myself. I wanted my college body back, and I’m still working to get there. I wanted to feel good in my clothes and in pictures. I wanted to be able to walk around Tokyo without getting winded.
Second, Slim Katie at Runs for Cookies. She lost 125 lbs in 16 months, and with the time difference between her and I, she would post her blog entries just before I headed out to run. Perfect boost to get me out the door! I owe her a really big thank you, and when I reach my goal weight I’d love to buy her a race entry or something 
What do you eat?
This is a really hard question to answer. I can eat something daily for weeks, and then one day get completely sick of it! Here are some foods I love or have loved munching on during weight loss: apples, apples with peanut butter, dry toast with a nut butter spread, tuna, tuna on toast, protein shakes (smoothies or from a Blender Bottle), egg whites with diced ham, deli turkey with mustard and veggies in a tortilla, TEA, baby carrots, fruit, edamame, and chicken breast with steamed rice and Yoshida sauce.
But you love to bake!
It’s true, I do! In the beginning, I simply replaced butter with applesauce and ditched the egg yolks. That worked out really well. Then I joined my running club and developed a reputation as a baker, and I didn’t know how they’d respond to my diet desserts. These days if I’m baking for just Dan and I, I use my healthy substitutes, but if I’m baking for running club (as I do every Friday!) or even my dance group, I will bake them normally with butter and eggs, and package them all up except for 2. That way, while everyone is eating yummy treats at running club we know we have one waiting for us at home, and when we’re home, we can’t overindulge because I took the rest to running club!
Japan FAQ
Why did you live in Japan? Are you of any Asian descent?
Because.. I never know how to answer this. Why not?! I met my love Dan in 2009 and he mentioned a desire to live abroad, which is a desire I’d never had. By summer 2010 his opportunity arrived and he was packing his bags to go live his dream. It was ridiculously inspiring. While looking for a place to live when he moved, my mother was diagnosed with stage III breast cancer. That decision was easy- I moved in to her home in Portland Oregon to be with her for that. During that 6-7 months, I developed an urge to just start living life to the fullest. I met all sorts of cancer patients who couldn’t. And with that, come March 2011, I packed up and moved to Tokyo. I’m not Asian at all. I’m mostly Italian and Jewish 
Were you there for the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami?
I was! It was my 5th day in Japan. You can read about it here. What was more impacting on me though, was the volunteer work I did in Ishinomaki 3 months after the disaster. You can read all about it here.
What was life like in Tokyo?
Busy and crowded. And that’s an understatement! I grew up in suburbs, so to suddenly live a life where I depend on trains and subways, walk everywhere, carry my groceries home (?!), don’t own a car and live in a tiny apartment, let’s just say it’s a really big change!
What did you do in Japan?
For work I taught English to business men and women. I was contracted through a company to teach at Google in Roppongi. On the side, I also aspire to be a voice actress with one of my ridiculous voices I also lead a few tour groups through Tokyo for families living on nearby military bases. For fun, I ran with the Hash House Harriers every Friday night with the Tokyo chapter, Japanese dancing with my Tanabata group, and of course- bake!
What did you miss about the US?
Mainly not having a clothes dryer or a dishwasher. We had a washer, then put clothes on a laundry line. While it was nice being able to read on the trains, I missed jumping into my car to grab something. I missed wearing cute shoes or heels because I walked so much. And when I’m dieting and hearing about awesome products like PB2, coconut oil, flax seed, etc, I really wished they carried that stuff there!
Just Me FAQ
Besides running, what do you do for fun?
Did I mention I LOVE baking?! Besides that, I love watching movies, reading, hosting little get together over cocktails or other goodies, making cards with my pink Cricut, shopping, Pinterest, vacation planning, blogging and tweeting, collecting coffee mugs, hiking and knitting.
How did you meet your husband?
I first saw Dan in 2007 at a board game party, but we hardly spoke and were with other people. Then in 2009 we were both staying with a mutual friend in Las Vegas and got to know each other then. It was fun having all our first dates be in Vegas! Soon after I moved to Seattle and we commenced dating.
When’s the big day?!
Even though we married in 2010, we eloped and kept it to ourselves. It made to process of me moving to Japan a little easier. Eventually, over the years the truth came out though, and we plan to have a 5 year vow renewal in 2015 with all our friends and family present.
What’s your worst habit?
Oh man, definitely laziness. If I don’t spring out of bed and start my day with a glass of water and a run, I won’t do anything. Seriously.
What’s your favorite thing to bake?
I LOVE making cupcakes with a perfect puff of frosting on top!
Why don’t you drink caffeine?
It’s basically a drug to me that can be abused. I don’t want to be reliant on a drink to get my day started. I don’t like the headaches from not having it for a day or two!
Can we connect via Facebook/ Twitter/ Instagram etc?
Sure! Though I try to keep my Facebook private, for friends I have met in person. I tweet all the time @hayyitslaur, I instagram @hayyitslaur, and I’m on Pinterest and Goodreads as well
