What a week! and...LOOK!

Whew! I can't beleive this week. So busy, so crazy, soooo...half over, praise the Lord!  I haven't had time or opportunity to post until now and it was starting to piss me off. I decided I didn't care how late I had to stay up I'm finishing my work and posting to my blog.   With my NP still out I am struggling to keep up with the work load.

Yesterday was good. Really good. Day 2 of the challenge and no problem. The level of food is fine. I haven't been hungry as I've been eating 1200 calories for a while. The water is also no problem as I've been doing it for a while. The interesting thing I've noticed is that I'm kinda enjoying the food plan. There are a lot of things on there that I like but haven't been eating in a while. It's funny how we get in a rut. I totally enjoyed the oatmeal yesterday.  I just haven't been eating it much. I don't know why. Carb avoidance? Time? I used to think it made me hungry faster, but I'll tell you I was FULL until lunch time.

And I can't tell you the last time I had a waffle. It was actually yummy. I had all but given up fruit juice, but the plan calls for it.  I was not drinking much milk either, mainly eating yogurt instead. But, I have to say the milk has been filling and tasty for a change. And I actually enjoyed the tuna and crackers and salad at lunch today. I did decide not to do the snack this afternoon. It was supposed to be 1/2 oz of chocolate. At first glance that sounds great, but I know me.

Chocolate is my gateway drug and 1/2 oz isn't enough. I do occasionally let myself have chocolate, but not on a routine basis. A little chocolate and I'm craving Coke and bread and desserts and then...who knows what. Instead I had a small banana. I love them. I consider them a treat and it was great.

Be careful about indulgences. In theory the thought that "I can have just a little" sounds good. But, the truth is there is a a biological basis for cravings, especially sugar and carbs. That's one theory why diet sodas seem to increase obesity rates.  BTW I believe that is the explanation for the study that came out this week regarding diet sodas being associated with an increase in cardiovascular disease. Give em up. Drink water!

OK, where was I? Oh yeah.....

Unfortunately my exercise plan for Tuesday didn't work out. Patients ran late so I didn't make it to TKD. I hate that. But, it's kinda hard to say, "Mrs. Smith I realize you are depressed, but gee, I need to make my TKD class. We'll talk more later."  PLUS I am currently teaching a NP student and while I enjoy it and love it, it does slow me down. He is a great person and doing well, but it's his first rotation so he basically knows nothing yet. He's learning. Of course he has an awesome teacher, ha ha.

So, I ended up running a few errands and working through lunch. BUT, I did make my appointment for my trainer. OUCH! I'm hurting today. We did lots of squats and lunges. With and without weights. Up downs and V-ups and crunches and...you get the idea.   Last night I got home and tried to post, and damn it but our wireless router died. Up and died. Sigh.

That means that I didn't get my work caught up yesterday OR this morning. Sigh. The really bad thing was that after dinner last night I decided I wanted coffee. Knowing I needed to stay up working I indulged. Soooo guess who was up very late? THEN I woke up to sleet hitting the windows early this am. SCREW YOU, Jack Frost!  I'm tired of this crap. I live in Texas for a reason and it is NOT snow or sleet or ice.

I got up early anyway as planned. School was canceled AGAIN. So I went up and did my C25K. Finished week 1 again. I'll say my speed is much better this time through. I am lighter by about 25 pounds and I find it makes a HUGE difference. Damn when I'm thin I'm gonna fly! (Ha ha! I wish.)  Anyway I am remembering how much I like to run and getting into it again. The challenge helps a LOT as walking and jogging intervals are the prescribed cardio.  I've got to get new shoes, it's just time. But between work and the weather, no go yet. SOON!

Me after my run this am. Can you see the sweat?

 I love that shirt. My blog friend Shelley was nice enough to get it for me when I couldn't find one near where I live. I think it's inspirational. It sure fits better and better these days. My commute in to work was not too hot.

Our back yard.

Weee!  Fun slide.

No one on the road, just the way I like it!

But, the roads were a lot better than in Dallas. I'm glad I didn't get stuck on the interstates.  Made it to work without much trouble at all. Thank you traction control and anti-lock brakes!Work was slow this morning so I went to Target at lunch. Best. Shopping. Ever. Hardly anyone was there, but I got tickled at all the husbands clearly dragged there by their wives because they didn't want to drive. Got a new router at Best Buy. THUS I can post now. Yeah! Delivered groceries to the house and back to work I went.

Over the last few weeks my wedding ring has gotten progressively looser. Now with the cold and washing my hands all day, I had to start wearing it on my middle finger. I really need to get one of those ring guards.

I don't want to re-size until I'm close to goal. Hmmm....GOAL.....Rewards.....I see an upgrade in my future. Ha ha!  Until then I gotta find a way to wear it safer or stop wearing it. Dang thing flew off several times in the last couple of days.

But the BEST news of all is THIS

My weight yesterday! FINALLY!!!!!! Officially I have now lost 50 pounds and 65 from my highest weight, at least highest known weight to me.  I have reached onederland. And now...

I have to set my next goal. Hmm..Well, I've been thinking and I guess I'll set it at 182. A weird number, but I have my reasons. FIRST, it is half way to my goal weight predicted in the challenge which is 166. A number which frankly I can't get my head around yet. The 182 is 17 pounds and that number I can fathom. I honestly have never weighed 166 in my adult life. Pretty sure I was in junior high last time I saw that number. I was about 185 my freshman year of college which is the lowest weight I can actually remember. That was 1988-1989, twenty-three years! Dear lord. I'm getting old.

Well, now I'm tired. My work is done and my butt hurts from all those squats yesterday. I'm going night night. I'll be up tomorrow to do the challenge exercises and then to TKD tomorrow, lord willing! I keep drinking water and peeing. I hope all of you are on your way and doing all those things too. I can't tell you how proud I was to see that number on the scale yesterday. Don't you ALL want to feel that?  And those of you who already have...don't forget how it feels!  Everybody, EAT right and MOVE! I mean it!

GOOAALL!!!!!! and Running tips from a Newbie

I can't wait so here goes: I weighed 211.2 this am! That's a loss of 2.4 pounds, 38.8 total pounds! AND, that means I've finally reached my first goal of 212 pounds, surpassed it actually. This is the lowest weight I've been in at least 12 years. The lowest number on my scale that I can remember in recent history was 213 and now I'm under it!

I knew I had to show a loss this week after none last week, but I was pleasantly surprised by 2.4 pounds. Then I looked at my spreadsheet and realized I have a small gain or maintain week exactly every 6th week. Isn't that weirdo? And guess what week last week was? I am so proud and astounded at the fact that I'm almost to the 40 pound mark. I've never lost this much weight at one time before. I've lost 20 pounds at least 10 times in my life, but never 40 at once. It feels Grrrrrr-eat! (Channeling Tony the Tiger, but you young 'uns probably never heard of him)

Yesterday was a great day. I had Cheerios and milk for 224 cal for breakfast. I don't have cereal very often because I'm still learning to show it who's boss, but it sounded good. I ALWAYS measure cereal, even though I use my kid's small bowl and I KNOW it only holds 1 cup. I am making my brain learn what a NORMAL portion is by measuring, so I do.

Lunch was a weight watchers frozen dinner and a piece of the pumpernickel bread we picked up at the German bakery on the way home from Oklahoma. YES I went in there and didn't have strudel. Didn't buy it even. Bought one piece for the kids none for me. We did get the pumpernickel and a loaf of Rye bread which I'll eat sparingly,but enjoy when I do. Lunch was 320 cal.

Dinner was YUMMY! My Nanny made hummus. The only great part of all 3 kids in school is that she can cook more often or at least start dinner for me. She had made hummus and spaghetti and meatballs. I ate hummus w/ pita chips, green peas, green beans and 1 cup spaghetti and one meatball. Dinner was 671 cal.

BTW-Do you guys like me posting what I eat? Or is it too much info, boring, etc?

Exercise was great yesterday as I went to my second TKD class. I love love love it. It's so much fun and HARD, but fun. WOW you have to have good balance and core strength. The only down side is the uniform which is soooo hot. BUT, I guess I burn more calories that way. I wore my Polar this time, but it kept beeping and I didn't want to stop and figure out how to stop it so I turned it off. I still don't know the exact calories I'm burning, but based on past experience I'd say it's about 650-700.

As most of you who've read my blog a while know, I am a newbie runner. I'm coming to love it, truly love it. I don't know if I totally love running itself or how it makes me feel that I CAN run for the first time in my life. I remember struggling with running in elementary school. I was one of the only kids bummed when we got to go outside and have field day all day in school. Oh how I wish I'd figured this out earlier, but that's a topic for another day.

Today I want to share a few things I've learned about running so far. I am by NO means whatsoever an expert on running. I've only been doing it for about 10 weeks now. But maybe my ideas and thoughts will help encourage those of you just starting of thinking about starting. Here goes:

1) Always eat a small snack before you run a long run. Last week, I ran before I ate lunch and hadn't had a snack. I was tired and lethargic by the end of the run. Plus dizzy. Not good.

2) Always hydrate prior to a long run. When I'm behind on my water before my runs, I have less energy and more muscle pain. Running never helps that deficit. Who knew?

3) Always pee before a long run. Maybe it doesn't affect you fellas the way it does us gals, but running and full bladder don't mix. After 3 kids and years of obesity, my bladder is shot. Usually I do just fine, but when my bladder is full all I think about is, "I need to pee, I need to pee" On the bright side, all I think about is , "I need to pee, I need to pee." I guess that's better than, "My legs hurt. My legs hurt."

4) When you run, you sweat places you never thought you'd sweat. When I run I sweat EVERYWHERE. It is gross. And in places I never dreamed. By this I mean, my ears sweat. My ears sweat and my ear buds fall out. Weird. I have to come up w/ a better solution. I have a BondiBand thing and it helps, but still. Ewww.

5) When they say to "stay loose", they mean it. It is much easier for me to find a comfortable pace if my upper body, hands, arms, and neck are relaxed. When I'm tensed and gritting my teeth, It is so much harder. So now, I tell myself, "Relax INTO the run. Don't fight it." And it helps soooooo much.

6) Breathing is important. Yeah, I know this is not shocking news. But, I find that if I'm feeling like quitting or slowing down, taking a few slower and deeper breaths helps. I imagine oxygen flowing all the way through my body and into what ever area is feeling tired. It helps, it really does. The breathing and the relaxation imagery help me to keep going and stay loose. (See #5)

7) What you are wearing matters. About 2 weeks into C25K, I decided I was going to heed the advice I'd been seeing about going to a running store and getting fitted for shoes. While there the very nice and friendly skinny girl who was supportive of fat chick wanting to run, recommended I buy special socks and not wear cotton socks or clothing. She said beginning runners get overheated really easily and cotton can cause friction leading to blisters and such.

My gut reaction was, "yeah right." But, I have come to realize she is right. The socks she recommended are sooooooo much better than the ones I've bought at Target. And those were athletic socks. When I wear them, my feet sweat less and feel less tired and sore. Well worth the money. And last week I wore new shorts I got for cheapo at Wal-Mart which are going to be great workout shorts, but NOT running shorts. They are cotton and fat chick thighs with cotton shorts while running is not good. I didn't get blisters, but I was uncomfortable for the entire 2.6 miles and I will now be spending a little extra dough for the better clothes. (My old ones are too too big.)

8) Try mini-intervals. Lately I've gotten far enough into C25K that I'm doing longer runs, 28minutes today. GRIN. I've learned that running at the same speed on the treadmill feels hard after a while. If I shake things up by varying the incline or increasing the speed just a little for a short time, it makes going back to my usual pace feel so much easier. So now when my legs are getting tired, I actually speed up for 1-2 min, then slow back down and I find that it helps me keep going.

I hope that helps anyone out there new to running or thinking about running. Don't be afraid to try new things, even if you think it might be too hard. Sometimes you find something you really like that you never dreamed you would. That's how running has been for me.

And so I'll close today with announcing my new goal weight: 199 pounds. Being under 200 seemed like a fantasy a few months ago, now it is just a reality waiting to happen.

How about you? Have you recently reached a goal? Is it time to set a new one? Do you set small goals or are you an end of the line only goal person? Have you discovered something new in your workouts that you thought you couldn't do, but did and liked it?

Just Keep going.....