Need to Remember This

It's my choice. I'm the one in charge. The only one who can stop me is me.

Wow...I Suck

I'm so sorry! I can't believe I haven't been on here since College Station. :( Since then, I have run another 5K (3 minutes slower), hurt my leg and recovered for two weeks, kept (mostly) to the eating, and dropped another 6 pounds. I broke the 150 mark yesterday by .4 pounds. This morning I was a solid 149. Committing to never going back over 150!! Today is also a run day! :) I have restarted the C25K program, this time concentrating on going faster during my runs. Whereas I started the program last time at 4mph and was up to 4.8mph when I finished, this time I'm starting at 5.5mph during the runs.

I am still not back on WW proper. I'm trying to get used to using SparkPeople, which was recommended on a blog I love (Runs For Cookies). I really like Spark, in that they have way more foods in their database, but I'm not a huge fan of their recipe builder. Most of the time, I don't want to actually put in a recipe, I just want to find out what the calorie count, etc is on the completed product, and each serving. SparkRecipes actually wants you to put in the directions, etc for the recipe.I guess I just need to commit a whole day to putting our favorite recipes in there so I can access them easily.

So, I know I've said this before, but I'd really like to recommit to this blog! I don't know what's wrong with me that I'll spend 5 hours surfing Pinterest, but can't give 10 minutes to update the blog. The blog helps with accountability! So let's take it one day at a time, okay? :-)

Weight: 149lbs

College Station 5K

What an amazing time we had in College Station! Kris, Sara and I got ourselves into all kinds of trouble and had a great time relaxing with girl time. :-) I seriously hope we make an annual pilgrimage to C-town for the Rock the Casa 5K. What an amazing time!

The race itself wandered through a neighborhood beside the sorority row. Every now and then, cars would be heading towards us, but the cops did a good job of keeping us safe. The most notable thing about the 5K was the enthusiasm of the group putting it on. The Theta girls (and I'm assuming their boyfriends) lined the roads with signs, ran with speaker-backpacks playing good music, and cheered like crazy for their runners. There was never an opportunity to contemplate not finishing, because there was always someone there screaming for you. Seriously a great event I'd like to repeat. And that being said, I PR'ed!!!!! :-) My time on this run was 34:14!! That is 10 MINUTES and 20 seconds off my previous run. Holy moly!! I know there is still a lot of room for improvement, but I am pretty damn happy with those results. :-) Hoping the Yuri's Night 5K coming up this Saturday will be just as awesome. :-)

Day One Back, Not a Smashing Success

Something totally crazy is going on with my food. I fell like I'm starving all day long at work (though I eat breakfast, and have a sandwich, strawberries, grapes and carrots at work), then I get home and I snack ALL NIGHT LONG!! Yesterday, I ate all my nutritious food I brought for lunch then went home and enjoyed my nutritious dinner PLUS:

a gingersnap
3 pieces of candy (my brother-in-law is a chocolateur)
a flour tortilla
3 chips (Chester Cheese Poofs - they're 1 PPV for 10 poofs)
4 Ritz crackers with 1 T blue cheese spread (Rondele - YUMMY)
2 beers

I'm thinking the beers might hold the answer. Perhaps they're making me let my food inhibitions down... Wow - writing down all the little things I snacked on last night really depresses me. Is it any wonder I've been having weight issues when I'm grazing on high-carb/fat foods all night long? At least I put all the ice cream down the drain Monday night, otherwise I'm sure there'd be at least 1/2 cup of ice cream up there too. :-(

So goal number one tonight is to run (got a 5k coming up on Saturday!); goal number two is to NOT drink tonight. Or maybe consider a beer my "dessert" to drink later in the evening instead of while I'm making dinner...

Remember Me?

I'm the dunce that completely feel off the wagon. As in "Wagon? What wagon? I don't remember no stinkin' wagon." And subsequently, I've gained 5 pounds back. This just will not do!

I've unfortunately had to cut out Weight Watchers because of a financial constraint. I'm going to have to go it alone for a little while. That scares me a bit, but seriously, if I stay committed to exercising and (as crazy as it sounds) I spend some time every day online looking at healthy living stuff, I think I can do this. I really, really need to get it together. I had hoped to be at goal by May and that isn't going to happen now. Adjusted goal is July.

I did a virtual 5K on my treadmill on Saint Patrick's Day as part of the Running Mate C25K program I was incredibly slow at 44:34, but at least I ran 3.1 miles! My best friend and I are running a 5k in a local college town this weekend. We're running another one closer to home next weekend. I have downloaded the training plan for the 10K program. I can do this! I love running! I like feeling healthy. I like that my skin looks better when I eat healthy and exercise.

Help me do this!

WW Weigh In

So I'm at 152.4. Not bad considering the three weeks off. I also picked back up the C25K training Monday. Redoing week six (two 12 minute intervals) but at least I didn't have to back track.  A toast to being back On Program though!! :-)

It's the Little Things

I didn't make it back to my WW meeting on Wednesday and I haven't gotten back on the treadmill yet. Still working hard on the food front though. Hoping my life will once again take on some resemblance of "normal" soon. Probably not till Sunday though.

The scale at home says I'm hovering around 154, which isn't bad after a 2.5 week bender. BUT!! When I tried to wear my favorite pair of capri pants today, I couldn't!! They barely set on my hips! When I put on a belt with them, I looked like a kid wearing their parents' clothes and synching them in. :) YAY!! for the little victories. :)

So I'm still plugging away. I'm not back to where I was (where I need to be), but I'm also not floundering on the side of the road. I am on the wagon! ;-) Hopefully I can get my behind back in the game over the weekend. Sunday is looking like my best bet. Going to be a busy Friday night and Saturday...

Hope you're having a marvelous weekend! If you're in the process of fighting this weight loss battle and trying to build a life of healthy choices, I hope the weekend is easy for you. See you Monday!

Here We Go Again

I started tracking food again today on WW eTools. It's amazing how accountable it makes you feel. I'm not eating any different than I did yesterday, but just writing it down makes you more aware of what you're doing. Seems to help remind me that I have a goal and I am actively working towards it. All from writing it down!

My sis and I did well last night at the Rodeo. We each chose to eat two small chicken fajita tacos (just grilled chicken in a tortilla). We put a miniscule amount of sour cream on them and shared an order of rice and beans. We also had a margarita. Considering all the walking we had to do and the amazing selection of seriously unhealthy food and beverages that were available to us, I think we did an AWESOME job! No funnel cake or Frito Pie, not even a roasted ear of corn (with butter and Parmesan cheese). We done good and I'm proud of us. Baby steps toward being 100% back on program!

Wow. Time Gets Away

I have to admit, I fell off the wagon HARD while family was in town. Then my nephew left me a present upon departure in the form of a very nasty head cold. I think I've gone through two boxes of Puffs in the last week. Still trying to make good eating decisions, but even there, I've gone astray (stuffed avocado, anyone?). My sis, who is also on WW, and I are going to the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo tonight to see country legends Alabama perform. We will be eating fair food, but we've been plotting what is acceptable and what is not. I will do my utmost to be on program tonight. I want to be back in my meeting and feeling motivated tomorrow (and hopefully, hopefully running tomorrow night). I can *almost* breath normally again. ;-)

Wish me luck! And I swear I'll be back here more. I need the accountability and I've been letting myself slide. :(

I So Sorry

The last week was just nasty. I caught a case of the depresseds and hurt my knee all at once. I tried to stay on program with WW and somewhat succeeded, but "almost" only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades. My knee was such that there was NO exercise. So last night, I RAN! And took some steps afterward to prevent future knee pain. My sister in law and her family are flying in tomorrow. They'll be staying with us for a week (her, her husband and my 3 year old nephew).I will be trying to squeeze workouts into all crevices! Just wanted to give you a shout out. I will most likely not post until after they leave, as I won't be coming to work and I hardly use my home computer. Wish me luck! I've come too far to get derailed now!

Plan B

I ended up not working out last night afterall. My knee was seriously cranky and I did not want to do anything I would regret. Instead, I took a long hot bath and tried to relax. Today, my knee feels sooooo much better. So maybe I should listen to my body occasionally at least as closely as I listen to my vanity. Today, still not wanting to push it too far, I am going to do 45 on the elliptical and save my knee for tomorrow's run (week SIX!! 12 minute intervals! WOOT!). I am not expecting great things for tomorrow's weigh in. I will be disappointed, but not surprised, if there is in fact a small gain. I am back on program with my eating. Just trying to get the knee issue settled so I can dive back into exercising full throttle.

And...I Hurt

I did not do my Active 2 workouts at all this week. Thursday, we had plans with out-of-town friends. Saturday morning, I was in pain from Friday's long run (shame on me for pushing myself!). Yesterday, I did my C25K run as scheduled and I'm hurting again today. I honestly don't know if I should do Active 2 tonight! Is this the kind of pain that can lead to injury or is this the kind of pain that is muscle development and normal? :( These are the questions I keep asking myself. Do I workout tonight and risk making it worse? Do I put off another workout (that'd be three A2 workouts in a row!). Is it just because C25K has me running for 30 minutes in a session now? Rest or workout? Aaaaaaaggggghhhh!!!

Weight Watcher-wise, I fell completely off the wagon this past week. We went out twice with our friends from Virginia, I had Girls' Nite Saturday and yesterday, we had people (and their food) over for the Super Bowl. I fully expect a gain on Wednesday. :( Which makes the rest or workout question all the more compelling. I also noticed this past week that I've gotten a little bit more lax with the little nibbles. I have some "pita pocket" snacks which are like tiny puffed crackers. I'll grab four or five of them (which, granted, you get 32 for 3PPV) and not count it. I need to start treating every nibble as 1PPV, even if it might not be. I am only halfway to my goal. Now is not the time to be relaxing. I think I just answered my workout question. I don't know if I'll manage to finish the workout (will not "work through" pain), but I'm sure going to at least try to workout tonight.

At Work Challenge... Drum Roll PLEASE!!!!

I did it!!! I did it!!!! I did it!!!!!! That is my chorus for so many things today!

1st - Last night, I got in an Active 2 workout AND 45 minutes on the elliptical!!

2nd - I got up at 5:30 this morning and did W5D1 of the C25K - that's right baby, I ran three 8 minute intervals!! I felt like a goddess this morning (a sweaty, achey goddess mind you, but a goddess none-the-less)

Last but definitely not least - Today is the last weigh in for the Challenge at work that started this blog... I started out at 177 pounds (October 21) and made some allowances while setting my goal. I knew that hubby's birthday, my birthday, Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas (and New Year's) ALL fell between then and the end of the challenge (February 3). So I tried to figure 2 pounds most weeks with every other week being a 1 pound loss and maintaining for a holiday/birthday. So I set myself a goal of 151 pounds. The WW scale at today's meeting said 151.4!!!!!! I DID IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Even though there's been no official "Let's keep it going!" decision made here at the office, I've set a new goal for myself. It took me roughly 15 weeks to lose 25 pounds. I realize that the start of the journey is always the easiest. So, my new goal for 5/25/12 is to get down to 135 pounds. That is a really attainable goal from where I sit right now, but I totally expect to have issues along the way. My body is getting used to exercise, so I'll either have to exercise more/harder or adjust the way I eat at different points in the future. So 16 pounds in 16 weeks is what we're looking at.

What are you waiting for? Let's get out there and do this thang!!!

Umph

When I was talking to my bestie earlier about my workout plan for tomorrow (get up at the butt crack of dawn to run), I TWICE used the word "try" and had to change it to "will." These seemed like an appropriate quote. Tomorrow, I WILL TRIUMPH over my laziness and run before work!

 

 

Ouch

Last week, I decided I wasn't getting quite enough of a workout on Active 2 with the resistance band, so I switched my preference to 5lb hand weights. I am definitely thinking this was a good decision for me.With the resistance band, I felt I was just repeating a motion without "working out." No more!! Yesterday, I did two Active 2 workouts to make up for being a slacker on Saturday. 55 mins of pure video game torture.  I HURT!!! The pain is good though. It's the kind of pain that reminds you that you have muscles and that you've been active, or in my case, Active 2 (sorry, I couldn't resist!).

On deck for tonight: another Active 2 workout and hopefully also 45 minutes on the elliptical. Not that I want to use the elliptical, but I'd REALLY like to have a good loss this week. I'm planning to run tomorrow morning before work (we have some friends visiting from out of town and will be meeting up with them after work), so I don't want to do two A2 workouts and be all sore for my first 8 min runs tomorrow (Yep - starting week 5 tomorrow!). I figure the elliptical will burn some calories and count as a workout without being too exhausting. Since we're going out with friends tomorrow night, I am also planning to take an hour at lunch to go to a WW meeting at noon. So I need to get up before the sun, do W5D1 of C25K, get to work at a decent hour, take an hour at lunch for WW and then meet up with hubby and friends. Tired just thinking about it! So let's get out there and do this! And keep your fingers crossed for a really kickass weigh in tomorrow! :-)

Damn Sloth

Aaaaand....the SLOTH came back over the weekend. Friday night was a zoo of activity and I never got onto the treadmill. Saturday I just didn't do a whole lot of ANYTHING. I am happy to say though that I hopped on the treadmill yesterday for W4,D3 of C25K. I'm halfway through the program! WOO HOO!!!! I think I need to reassess my workout calendar. Right now, I'm supposed to be exercising 7 days a week (Sun, Wed and Friday running, Mon, Tues, Thurs and Sat Active 2). That just doesn't strike me as plausible. I need to figure out a way to do some doubling up. I just don't know how I'm supposed to run for 45 minutes and then do Active 2 or vice versa. But I need a day (at least ONE!) of rest every week!Will need to figure that one out sooner rather than later. In the meantime, I haven't had any ice cream (go me!) lately. Hoping my two days off of exercising doesn't put me behind. As it is, tonight's Active 2 workout will be a double since I missed Saturday. I did it to myself.

WW Weigh In Fail and a Little Inspiration

So last night's WW Weigh In was not the smashing success I was hoping for. Though I have still not had a week of gain, I have now had 2 weeks in a row of minuscule loss. This week I am down .6. I have not used all my daily PPV this past week and I used like 5 of my Weekly PPV. I earned (and didn't use) 25 activity PPV. A little discouraged, but I think I know where the problem lies, and I am actively fixing it. I have been putting aside enough PPV every night to have a scoop of homemade ice cream. Even though it was within my PPV, it was SIX PPV every night of pure sugary, fatty goodness. That little trend needs to stop. If I must eat ice cream every night (and really - I don't), I can eat the 1 PPV fudge bars by WW. Save the divinely yummy homemade stuff for the occasional treat. So that is my plan going forward with this week. Keep up the exercise and eat less ice cream. :) Hubby and I are going to a Stout Beer festival this Saturday at a restaurant with amazing burgers. Going to have to behave myself not just with the beer, but with the food! Wish me luck!!

So one good thing did happen with yesterday's weigh in. I happened to look at the receptionist's name tag. I can't for the life of me remember her name, but I remember seeing "I lost 120 pounds in 2010"!! I looked over at the other receptionist's name tag and saw (even better!!) "I lost 170 pounds in 2008"!! HOLY MOLY!!! My goal at the outset of this journey was to get healthy...and lose (AT MOST) sixty pounds along the way! I would be happy with 40 pounds and ecstatic with 50. Sixty would actually put me at the unhealthy end of BMI. The one receptionist (pretty, petite young lady about 30ish) lost more than I weigh right now!! Can you IMAGINE?! That takes perseverance and will power!! I was blown away with pride for them and admiration for what they accomplished. If they can do that, I know I can reach my goal as well!

I know I haven't been updating too much lately. Just to keep you in the loop, I have finished W4,D2 of the C25K program. I'm working on my breathing rhythm and pace and feeling wonderful about the program! I have also been doing my Active 2 workouts! So all in all, I am getting in AT LEAST 7 workouts a week (3 running, 4 Active 2) and occasionally, I also jump on the dreaded elliptical machine for 45 minutes of TV viewing.

So that's where I am right now. I'm disappointed with this week's weigh in, but moving forward with a plan to improve future ones. I'm on program as far as working out, progressing nicely with C25K and feeling upbeat about my journey in general. Just gotta get that scale moving again!

Two Requirements for Exercise

Still on Program

Did TWO Active 2 workouts last night. Totally whipped my butt, too! But it was totally worth it! Planning to get in at least one tonight, and quite possibly two again. Tomorrow is a run day and my WW Weigh In. Seriously hoping this week of being OP has worked! My 90 Day Challenge ends in two weeks and I need to lose almost 4 pounds to hit the goal I had set! :-D MUST WORK OUT!!! ;-) I promise to post a REAL blog post soon. This week has been a little crazy and stupid. Hoping things settle back down starting tomorrow.

Monday Funday

I finished W3 of the C25K program last Friday, going strong. Saturday I went prom shipping with my sister and nieces, so other than walking for 5.5 hours, did not exercise. Yesterday, I did W4, D1 which required 4 minute runs. I cannot believe I did it! The 5K101 coach, Todd is stressing getting your breathing down during Week 4 and I have to admit, that is a problem for me. I have got to figure out my breathing! LOL! Can't wait till Wednesday's W4D2! Tonight I have to make up for Saturday's laziness with an extra Active 2 workout. Been keeping myself within points so I'm super hopeful of a great weigh in on Wednesday. Sorry for the flyby post, but today was crazy busy and it's not even close to over! See you tomorrow!

Continuing On

Even though I have been living in a cloud and operating on auto-pilot, I have been on program. I got back in to Active 2 last night. I was having password problems and couldn't get my profile to access the interwebs, so I gave up and created a new profile. Figured not working out because I was fussing around with trying to get online was counterproductive and it wasn't like I was actually losing credit for previous exercise in the only way that actually matters (weight loss and health). Yes, my online profile says I have one workout under my belt instead of 40-something. I know the truth though, so I just let it go. I also cut my daily serving of homemade ice cream (ADDICT!!) from a 1/2 cup to a 1/4 cup. Today is Week 3, Day 3 of C25K. I'm looking forward to my run!! :) I'm up to 4.5mph which I know is nothing to crow about, but it's a huge improvement from where I started! :) So life is going on. Even though we're ticking off days left with our sweet puppy, we are also ticking off days in our own lives. I want each day to count in every way it can! Have a great weekend everyone!

My Beautiful Baby

Eight years ago, Hubby (then Boyfriend) gave me the most wonderful birthday present I'd ever gotten (and HAVE gotten, to date): an 8 week old Golden Retriever puppy. We named her Abbey and I had HUGE plans for that puppy! I wanted to do competition Obedience and Agility with her. I wanted to make her my running buddy when she was old enough (you shouldn't run a Golden until they're 2 or you can damage their bones). We found out when she was a little over a year old that she had dislocating kneecaps and would need surgery on both her hind legs. All dreams of competition went out the window. Abbey became our resident couch puppy. She is the sweetest, most pure soul I have ever had the privilege to know. A few weeks ago, we noticed she would occasionally choke while she was eating. Since she is VERY fond of her food, we figured she was just being a little overzealous in her inhaling and started giving her meals a little at a time. I kept worrying about it though and made Hubby go with us to the vet on Monday. Abbey has cancer. :( We took her to a Canine Oncologist on Tuesday and he said there is nothing they can do. The tumor in her throat is inoperable. Radiation would ruin her esophagus and she'd never be able to eat or drink again. This type of cancer does not respond to Chemo. We've been told we have maybe two more months with our baby. The beautiful, sweetsie, Perfectly Precious Princess Pooh. I should tell you that Hubby and I practically own a zoo. We have three dogs and three cats at our house.But Abbey is special. She has always been special. We've always told everyone we know that the boys are indeed dogs, but Abbey is human. That's our child. I've had a bit of a hard time staying on Program. Monday night, Hubby made queso and I DEVOURED it! And topped it off with a big ol' bowl of ice cream! I know food shouldn't be used as a crutch or for comfort, but knowing that and practicing it are two different things right now. I'm also using running to make myself feel better. I'm trying to get myself together and keep myself there. Just so, so sad! :(

WW Weigh In

There has been a lot going on. My life has been turned upside down and shaken to the core. I promise to post about it soon.  I'm still trying very hard to be on program and exercise. I'm having limited success. Today's weight is 154.2. Down .8 from last week.  I'm not happy about it, but I'm not surprised. Hoping I can get past all this sadness and get back into the swing of things. Baby steps right now though...

Before and After

I found a cool website off of Pinterest today that lets you "build" a model of yourself using your height/weight and general body shape. Here's my before and after (where I hope to end up)... That's the current me in the middle. :)

                   

 

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