I did it. As of today I am down 20.2 lbs. I cannot adjust my extrapounds start weight, but I actaully weight 234 at the beginning of my weight-loss on 4/1. That is why the picture looks like I have lost more that 15lbs.
I am so excited! Seriously. Now if I can just amintain that weightloss through Monday Weigh-in, I will be estatic. I have met my first mini-goal!
My second mini-goal is to be at 200lbs by August 7th. And then down to 198 by my half-marathon on the 12th.
Now is the time, historically speaking, that I would give up and revert to old ways. fall off of the wagon or even go WAY off of plan.
Well guess what my fellow sistahs in the battle - I am not gonna do it this time. I am chugging full ahead! *toot toot* (does little train-horn-blowing arm movement for emphasis)
So today I am at 213.8. I was expecting to be over the 214.6 I weighed in at yesterday. But nope! I ate on plan, and ran my 4miles. I did it!
Today is an off running day, so I will actually be resting my legs. They have been sore the past 3 runs, resulting in some walking. No issues though. I am getting stronger! And I am only waht, 50 days away from the Chicago Distance Classic? Awesome! I love my plan, I love that I am following my plan... and I love that I still am getting excited about this race (my 9th half) as if it was my first. *giggles*
So tonight Mike and I are heading to the gyma fter work, where we will work on some strength training, then I really would like to hit the pool and get in some laps. Just for fun. I will see if Mike is willing to do that with me. I need some freestyle swimming help.
Why you ask? Oh.... just because. ;) for those of you who follow me on my running blog - http://13point1milejourney.blogspot.com - you are aware of my little secret.
I am a half-marathoner. Habitual even. Well as of 2008 I am adding two new titles to my fitness resume: TRIATHLETE, and DUATHLETE. ;)
I have gained the confidence I was lacking, so I am taking my fitness to the next level. In May/June next year Mike and I will be doing a Duathlon together (run-bike-run), and I will also be completing 2 indoor and 3 sprint distance outdoor triathlons. (swim, bike, run)!
Oh yes you heard me! I am gonna be a triathlete. SWEEEEEEEEEEEET.
I hope that you all have had a wonderful week so far, and are looking forward to an active weekend! Get out there and move it, move it!
I decided to start a Positivity post every Tuesday. I will reflect on the positive things about this journey we are all on, and post some words of encouragement to my fellow sistahs in this fight.
Today's Topic: Every little bit is a victory.
I think that we really need to remember that. As long as the net resultant is a loss of weight, don't sweat the little gains here and there. (You can tell I am an engineer, right?)
I started to look at my gains as a sign of failure. But weight loss is systematic. Meaning - it involves the whole system.
I started to really get down over the past few weeks yo-yoing, but I am back on track, and honestly I think it is just my body's way of adjusting to the new lifestyle. Not good or bad... just the adjustment period.
Our bodies do not like us to loose weight, as they are quite comfortable in the place they are now. Today. Remember - our bodies are efficient. The goal of our body - the scientific wonder it is - is purely to sustain living. Any deviation from your current inputs and outputs literally shocks the body into the fear of death. So we yo-yo. And then we plateau. These are all natural progressions as our bodies are doing exectly what they were made to do - sustain life.
The little losses are as big of victories as the major ones. I look at my recent 1lb loss (today) as a victory over self-doubt. I am tearing down the blocks of the former me, and building mysel fup stronger and better. Wiser, Healthier.
Now for me that translates into a thinner me as well, but I consider the slimming down a bonus of getting healthy. :) It is a fun cycle, is it not?
So if you are out there, and feeling blue over a stall, a slight gain, or a little binge. Just remember that you are not derailed completely. You are human, and just as your body needs to adjust to the new you and the new way of life, so do you.
So today, let us celebrate all things good about ourselves.
Today I celebrate leaving my 30's healthier than I started them.
So last night before bed while I was thinking about what to wear to work today (and yes I always plan the outfit the night before!) I decided to pull out the skirts and shirts I have stowed away due to weight gain.
When I went on some meds for my siezures 2 years ago, I experience severe weight loss. It was nice, however once I switched meds to regain a good quality of life, I gained the weight back... and then some.
During that weight loss time, I bought a whole new wordrobe of skirts and shirts. All so cute, and all pretty expensive!
When I gained the weight, I threw out the cheaper items, but held on to some that I was going to use as progress gages, as well as they were too nice to not wear again.
I think you see where I am going with this.
Last night I tried on this really long white blouse that I purchased last year, but it never really fit me. It fit me great now! Holy cow!
I then pulled out all the clothes and much to the amusement of my boyfriend tried on each and every one. All but 2 fit me!
I felt so great! I lost another 2lbs and am no 4lbs (3.6 truthfully) away from my first 20lb loss.
*clapping* My goal is to get there by next Monday.
I feel great. i was less than perfect the past two weeks - all but giving up, but even during my bad eating days - I sitl was mndful of my choices... and I lost weight.
So this week I am being dilegent. I am walking every day at lunch the typical 3.4 miles (weather permitting), I will be running all of my scheduled runs (Tuesday - Thursday, then Sunday's long 6 miler), and I will be watching what I eat. Sensible and in moderation.
I feel full, in control, and healthier than I have been in a long time.
I am SO leaving my 20's in better shape than I started them. Granted I am much heavier still... but my strength and endurance is by far the best I have had in my life.
On the running front - 8 week sout from the Chicago distance Classic! My training i sgoing really well - I have been doing speed work even and it has paid off. I am now running a quite a quicker clip than I usually do (I am a historical 12 minute mile runner - now facing sub 11's!!!!!) I have been running UPHIL at a 9:30 pace.
Baby - i am on fire.
I want to thank you all for your continued support and motivation. I am at a milestone, with many more ahead for me. But I knwo taht in time I WILL lose that weight. baby steps.
You live life forwards... but learn from it backwards. From now on I am looking forward. And that my friends is the best view of all.... the future.
OK so I am loosing the weight I had gained over last week. *wipes brow* Thank goodness.
I have been a little under the weather the past day or so, so my exercising has really taken a dump. However I do walk every day for 3 - 3.5 miles at lunch.
Yesterday I was so good on my eating until my boyfriend comes home with tonss of leftover items from teh plane (he works in the airline industry, so there are alway bags of nuts laying around.)
Anyhow - I ended up weighing myself last night and saw taht I was down a few pounds (which I quickly ate up in snacks mind you), but I now see where I need to be during the day in order to achieve my goals.
My breakfast conssits of cup FF skim milk, packet of Carnation Intant breakfast in choclate malt flavor, and large banana blended together. YUMMY and only 5 points.
For lunch I have 1 Cup of zero point veggies (today is green beans) and a 6-point microwavable entree. I also have 1 piece of string cheese. Dairy count 2, and lunch is only 8 points.
As snacks I have a 2-point serving of applesauce (not the sugar free ones - as I hate those), and another cheese stick. Snacks for the day 4 points. Dairy goal met.
This leaves me points for dinner, of which I typically eat 9 or so. Some lean meats, lots of veggies, and a bit of oil.
I see that this i a good spread out of points to help me stay on track. ;) And I like that!
Last week was rough towards the end. Not gonna lie - went Off Plan like cray - but only ended up gaining a little over 2lbs. Not bad. I am home ssick today - ugh.
Tonight starts the OFFICIAL half-marathon training program I am following. TOnight is a rest night for running (thank goodness due to my being sick) but it i a strength training day.
I have decided to go for lower weight and more reps, versus my typical increase weight and do 3 sets of 2 reps. I think this way I will tone and strengthen, but not bulk which is always good for running.
It is amazing what happens when you set a hard and fast goal and really want to succeeed.
I call this my "steak in the ground" moment. I put down the steak and live with the choices I make - however there often come with that a fear of the unknown. A fear of failure *gasp* A fear of success. A fear of actually sacrificing to make it work.
Why?
So here is the little inner dialogue I just had withmyself as I logged in my points for today on WW online. (side note here - I am currently set for 27/27 points if I follow my dinner! I am having a hard time with the adding of gatorade or Accelerade, bt I have to count these, so my point values will actually be over 27. I think that I will have to start taking them as trade for my APs. Grrr. Hydration woes. But honeslty - who ever gained weight by drinking a sports drink while exercising? ) Anyhow - I digress...
217.4 at weigh in today!!! Next weigh in goal - 215. Come on girl! You can so do this!!!! What is your excuse this time? Failure? Sorry... errrrnt... wrong. Not an option chica.
I love how I have to psych myself out. does anyone else have to sit there and argue with themselves in the mirror?
I like seeing the body I am developing and that in itself should be all the motivation I need, right? However I STILL have this freaking fear of success. I am almost afraid of commiting to the goal. I know - sounds rediculous, and obviously I want this bad enough if I am spending both time and money on loosing weight and getting stronger and healthy.
I am just afraid that everyone thinks that I will fail, so what will they think if I succeed.
This is one fear that I can do without.
So - I did something about it. I read something Friday that really jolted me awake. In it I think I have found the answer to my fears.
Read this and let me know if this answers any questions for you as well, because friends, this was my wake-up call. And it is my new mantra... well it is a little long for a mantra... so this is my new philosophy.
Live the lifestyle instead of paying lip service to the lifestyle. Live with commitment. With emotional content. Live whatever life you choose honestly. Give up this renaissance man, dilettante bullshit of doing a lot of different things (and none of them very well by real standards). Get to the guts of one thing; accept, without casuistry, the responsibility of making a choice. When you live honestly, you can not separate your mind from your body, or your thoughts from your actions.
Tell the truth. First, to yourself. Say it until it hurts. Learn the reality of your own selfishness. Quit living for other people at the expense of your own self, you're not really alive. You live in the land of denial - and they say the view is pretty a long as you remain asleep.
Well it's time to WAKE THE %&#% UP!
So do it. Wake up. When you drink the coffee tomorrow, take it black and notice it. Feel the caffeine surge through you. ...finish it, and walk away, forward. Only acts undertaken with commitment have meaning. Only your best effort matters. Life is a Meritocracy, with death as the auditor. Inconsistency, incompetence and lies are all cut short by that final word. Death will change you if you can't change yourself.
-Mark Twight, "Twitching"
So this is how it is going to be for me from now on. I am a runner. I am a woman. I am a girlfirend, a daughter, and a friend. I am an employee. And the one thing that I can do that will make me better at all of these things... is to wake up, and make that choice.
And my choice is to shut up and do it. I AM going to make my goals, or at least knwo that I aimed for them. I am NOT going to talk and talk and talk about how I wish I were... I am going to BE the person I want to be. No more excuses. No more fears. Failure is NOT an option at this time.
Sorry for the absence. I have been travelling for work, and super busy in general.
OK - Quick update on the week that has passed!
MONDAY - gained 3 lbs since last weigh in. Super not happy.
Ugh. TOM was a killer this time, but I am getting that under control. ;) I am also working on my eating habit... every time i hit the magic 27 points allotted through WW I gain. When I hit 28 I loose. And I mean allotted, no actually eat. Because of how much I work out I eat a lot more than the allotted amount. I think that it is all mental. All of a sudden I see some real progress... and I go back into eat eat eat mode. UGH. I really need to get this in check.
TUESDAY - Ran a bit, walked 3 miles at lunch, Worked out at the gym, Legs and shoulder.
Felt really good. I really enjoy getting in the 3 mile walk at lunch. If only the weathe can hold out next week as it did this week I will be all set!!!!
WEDNESDAY - Audit at supplier - no workout
Did pretty well given I walked a lot during the audit. ;) Eating was good - made smart choices and felt full all day.
THURSDAY - Audit at supplier no workout
TOday was good as well - until dinner!
FRIDAY - super tired - no workout!
Went to bed early.
SATURDAY - Strength training, planted flowers, rain!!! No run.
SUNDAY - Strength training, rain all day - no run.
Well that was my week in a nut-shell. I will be ablke to post more frequently this week! Right now I need to hit the shower and head into work though!
Thank you TOM for being absolutely rediculous. Oh and than kyou DBF for making sure that we were well stocked with all the Hershey's Kisses and Cherry Cordial kisses I could throw down my wide open throat.
I failed miserably last week - but then again I look at it more so that I just wanted to get it all out of my system. I was in such horrible pain and felt like crap all week - so I used that to my advantage - and only walked away 3lbs heavier than last Monday. Quite a feat considering that it is TOM, and my anniversary, and a holiday weekend!
I ate all the chocalate my mind could grasp at, I ate anything and everything I wanted - and only gained 3 lbs. Hooray!
I am back on track, back on plan, and feel great!
So here is a recap of this past weekend... enjoy the hillarity that is my mind.
FRIDAY - Anniversary night, ran 2.28 miles
I ate sushi, had a martini, passed out. No kidding. I am a light weight now! Ate lots of choclate. Oh man - i fogot that I ate Einstein bagels sandwich for breakfast, and then an olga's three cheeser for lunch... with 1/2 a BASKET of snackers. Can you say Obese?
On a good note - I have my hotel reserved for the Chicago Distance Classic! 2 double=beds, 2 bathrooms at the Palmer House Hilton off of Monroe, right by the start/finish. I am going to be in Chi-town 8/9 - 8/12 for the festivities. How excited am I? I start my training officially 6/11... but I am getting in some good base miles now!
SATURDAY - Ate lots of chocolate. Ran 3 miles.
Went to DEMF iN detroit, had a slushi, ate whitecastle, had a triple chocolate cheesecake from Astoria in Greektown. Again, seriously.
SUNDAY - Felt like crap.
Had taco bell twice. Lunch and dinner. Lounged around. Ate tooooo much chocolate. Hated hershy's for making Cherry Cordial kisses!!!!!!!!! Slept all day.
MONDAY - rearranged bedroom, cleaned. Ran 4 miles.
Ate on point for the most part. Went to BBQ and had chilean sea bass, steak, veggies, no-fat brownies, chocolate sorbet (WOW), berries, and loads of homemade guacamole. I love memorial day!
I felt amazing on the 4 mile run. It felt like 1 mile to me, no kidding. I am working out a good hydration strategy. So far so good!
TUESDAY - returned to work.
Ate breakfast smoothie, Lean Cuisine pizza, 1 FF choclate pudding snack, 2 applesauces, and have 12 points left for dinner.
Depending on weather, I would like to get in another run today - 1 mile if at gym, 4 miles if at home. Workout chest and tris tonight. Maybe walk a mile or so at lunchtime... that sounds like a good idea!
Well I hope that you all are having a wonderful day!
WEDNESDAY - Ran 0, walked 3 miles (55minutes), ST 0. TOM sucks.
Well I was a bum after my 55 minute workout at lunch. No running, no ST, just eating and sleeping! I need to work on that I think that I deserve a reprive due to TOM eating! Deal? LMAO
THURSDAY - 27/27 points, waled 0, Run TBD, ST - TBD
Off for home, then eat, to the gym for ST of Legs and Shoulders, then ou tfor a cooled down run of 3 miles or so. We will see how cool it gets after the sun goes down a tad!
I read today that if you do cardio AFTER strength, you actually burn 10% more calories! Hey - cooler temps and more calories burned? Um, yeah. Count me in!
Ok well here is Tuesday's recap. Maybe you can see why ;)
TUESDAY - a bizzilion/27 points. 8APs earned Walk 30 minutes, run 44minutes, ST - legs/shoulders
Where to even begin? OK well I was doing so well yesterday. I saw a 2lb gain literally overnight, so I think that that is my TOM calling. I weighed in Wednesday (today) morning and I was back down to 217. Who knows!
Anyhow - so yesterday I walked at lunch for 2 miles. Then I walked around a little bit more at work. I got home... ran.. in 80 degree weather, no shade, 40% humdity - and not feeling well 1/2 mile into it. I stuck it out, but had to walk a few times due to exhaustion. It is sad how the sun can both provide and drain energy. Ah the duplicity of it all. LOL.
Anyhow - that is why I am crazy in the head - I ran stupid last night. 1/2 mile into it I had already either drank or dumped my water on my head. I still had 2.5 left to go!
But I did it regardless. I was just happy to get out there!
But I digress. I then went to the gym with Mike and we worked on legs/shoulders.
Then we got home so late, I was too tired to cook - so we went to Red Robin. I was fully intent on eating the chicken breast dinner, however I changed my mind and ordered the sauteed 'shroom burger. LMAO - how healthy is that? I went way over on pointss (44 or so out of 27 allotted) however since I am trying a modified Wendi plan, I can count yesterday as my Super High Point Day, and make today my normal day. I am still very fine on flex points because I earn so many APs!
Anyhow - I am off to work - crap! It is late! Oooopsy!
Hope that everyone has a wonderful day out there! TOnight I am going to try runnin gwhen it cools off at night. Wish me luck on that one!
So today, let us celebrate all things good about ourselves. 
