Explaining to do.

I realized that I never said anything after my last run. My shin splints were so bad (hence me needing to run so slow & walk a lot) that I've decided to take a running break until spring. Of course, I'd have to do that unless I had a gym membership or wanted to run in freezing weather & snow.

I want & need to hop back on my elliptical, but for this week, I'm focusing on getting to bed at a decent hour. If I can tackle that, then I should be able to wake up early enough to exercise before my little terrors wake up...I mean, my little sweethearts.

I do plan to put my running shoes on in St. George this week, but I'll probably just walk. An early morning walk in not-so-cold weather sounds great, especially with my family!

Cold & Dark

I had to run with a head lamp half of the run today. We started out on the trail, but it was spooky, so we got off at the first chance. We weren't as speedy as I had hoped, but I'm just glad that Janell's patient with me & my need to stop and walk on occasion.

Running (with a few doses of walking, per my request): 2.38 miles, 28:51, 12:07/mi

Total: 2.85 miles, 36:43, 12:52/mi

Running again

Tiff and I decided a few weeks back that we would not be doing the Snow Canyon Half. My legs were hurting too badly to continue the training. Instead, we will do the Butch Cassidy 10k on the same day. So, after a 3 week break, I went running with Janell today (who has continued to run in my absence). My break felt much longer than 3 weeks, by the way. Well, my legs felt great. My Garmin's battery was low when I started & didn't make it, so here are the stat's from Janell's.

Running: 2.22 miles, 25:55, 11:42/mi

Total (I'm estimating): 2.9 miles, 38 minutes

4 and hanging them up...for now

Running (w/ a fair share of walking): 4.03 miles, 50:21.30, 12:30/mi

Total: 4.48 (plus another probably .22 that I didn't clock) miles, 58:24, 13:03/mi

My legs were feeling decent yesterday, so I figured I'd try 4 miles today. Seemed easy enough. Until I woke up and felt tight calf muscles. Needless to say, the run was painful for me, and riddled with walking. Janell humored me & walked right along when I needed to slow down. I made it the whole way, but I also made a determination, too.

I'm going to hang up my running shoes for a while. I'm not sure how long. At this point, my shins & calves & ankles couldn't carry me 13.1 miles, it's just too painful. So I'm going to give them a break. I still plan on doing the 100 & 200 challenges, and I'll have to dust off the elliptical to keep myself moving. All in all, I think my legs will thank me.

Undecided

I haven't made it back out running yet. As of today, my legs still really hurt--mostly my shins and my right ankle. I want to keep running, and yet I want to quit. The pain is sometimes pretty intense & I've been taking ibuprofen every day. I'm sure I'll keep going, and hopefully I'll feel good enough to get out on Saturday.

I'm not sure what to do because two of my long runs before the half-marathon are going to be difficult or impossible to do. Randy will be out of town for several days when I need to do one of them, and we'll be in NM during another. I could do a treadmill in NM, but I don't know what to do when Randy's gone, since I want to be able to do it early in the morning.

A blog that I follow talked about the one hundred pushups challenge, the two hundred situps challenge, and the two hundred squats challenge. I'm needing something to continue pushing me along on the days that I don't run. Yes, the elliptical is always staring me down, but I've yet to hop on it in a while. So, I'm going to do the challenges. I tested myself tonight & will begin them next week. I'm actually excited & hopeful that I can tone my flabby arms a bit. Oh, the pain of needing to lose weight & not getting it done!

9.5

Running--9.5 miles, 1:53:13.93, 11:55/mi

Total--10.13 miles, 2:04:53, 12:20/mi

Calories burned: 1118!!! Wow, no wonder I'm tired!

Today's run was not easy. I felt like I was just trying to keep up with Janell, and I had to make myself keep going much of the time. We walked the first 5 minutes, at the halfway point (to let me eat my jelly beans & drink...not sure how Janell goes a whole run without anything!), and then a little after 7 miles. Around the 7 mile mark is when I felt like I wouldn't be able to keep going, but after a walk, we picked it back up and ran the rest of the way. The last half mile running was hard, but I knew the end was in sight. I'm expecting to be really sore, but my whole motto today was "I can do hard things!" And I did!

Wednesday the 9th

Is the really the first day I've run in September? It is. I decided to take last Wednesday off to let my legs heal. I was supposed to run Saturday and Monday by myself, but that didn't happen. Why is my bed and sleep so much more appealing?

Janell and I did another Magic Mile this morning. It wasn't super fast, but after our long break, I think we did well. We're planning on 9.5 miles on Saturday. Wish us well!

Magic Mile--1 mile, 10:40.46

Total--3.24 miles, 41:34, 12:49/mi--not too bad considering a decent amount was spent doing our 1 and 5 minute walks before and after the magic mile.

Monday the 31st

Not my finest day of running. My shins are really bad from the run on Saturday, and I'm still sick with my cold. My cold's not too bad, but it makes me dizzy & today has been the worst. We ran for a little less than a mile & then streched & walked. As soon as I dared to suggest we run again, dizziness hit me hard & I decided I'd better just stick to walking. This cold has got to go away!! Thanks for sticking with me, Janell. Yes, sometimes I'm a wuss.

Running: approx. .9 mile, about 11:00/mi

Total: 2.95 miles, 46:28, 15:46/mi--I guess I really did force us to go slowly! Yikes!

Wahoo!!

8 miles, 1:31:15, 11:24/mi

My entire goal today was just to finish it, even if that meant walking. However, my prayers were answered: my lungs didn't bother me, my legs felt good, I had enough energy, and I didn't need to use the bathroom mid-run. It sure helped having Janell run along side me and music on the Ipod, too.

Janell and I ran the first 4 miles (well, we technically walked the first tenth of a mile getting our Ipods set). When we hit 4 miles, we walked for .25 while I ate my special jelly beans. I knew I needed to eat something before I felt my energy was drained. (I also ate toast & juice before running. I normally don't eat before.) After that, we pretty much ran the rest of the way, except for a really short bit when my ear buds got tangled up while getting water. We even (slow) sprinted to the end! Ha ha.

I honestly can't believe how good running felt today! So, so glad to have Janell to run with & so, so glad that my prayers were answered. If all runs felt this good, I could do it for a living....err, okay, maybe not. :)

Wednesday the 26th

Running: 27:30.44, ,2.43 mi, 11:19/mi.

I'm not sure on my totals. My Garmin had a really hard time finding the satellite this morning, so I started without it. At one point, it said my pace was much faster than we were going, too, so I'm not sure about that. The time and the mileage were the same as what Janell's Garmin said, though.

I still feel like I'm having a really hard time. Extra weight + being sick are what is making it tough, I think. I just hope I can do better for my Saturday run. By the way, Janell's going to go with me. Hooray! She seems to be doing much better at this running thing than I am. She did another 1/2 mile today when I was done. I'm having a hard time not being down on myself about my runs, but at least I'm getting out. I sure hope my cold is gone by Saturday...that just might make things easier!!

Monday the 24th

Running (w/ a few walks): 29:31, 2.56 mi, 11:31/mi

Total: 37:40, 3.06 mi, 12:18/mi

I felt pretty sluggish today, but by the end I felt like I could keep going. I've been mildly sick with a cold that just won't go away, so my lungs don't feel 100%--especially when I try to chat while I run! Janell's smart. She just listens to me while I talk myself out of breath.

I just tried doing the air squats that Ollie recommended. So nice to have a video to show me! They actually felt good to do! I wonder if they will help my back out, too, because I can feel it in my lower back--in a good way. I can hardly imagine running without shin pain, but I can't wait for some results!

All in all, I'm feeling good. I'm just gearing myelf up mentally for my 8 mile run on Saturday...and praying that Janell will do it with me!

Friday the 21st

Today was my/our first day timing our "Magic Mile". (See jeffgalloway.com)

Magic Mile--1 mi, 9:56.27, which is a...9:56.27 minute mile. Brilliant, I know.

Total (included a good dose of both running and walking): 2.99 mi, 37:14, 12:28 min. mile

My shins still hurt to run, but they hurt WAY worse when I walked. I guess as long as I can keep running I should be okay! I iced them after my run & also took some ibuprophen and I feel good tonight.

Shins

I thought my shins were going to fall off after my run today. They hurt SO, SO bad. Now my calves hurt. I must do lots and lots of stretching so that I can run again on Friday. And, yea!, Janell was able to run today! Apparently, she had been chasing me on Monday, but I didn't double back like I normally do, so she was never able to catch me. Sorry again!

Running: 2.64 mi, 29:16, 11:06/mi

Total: 3.05 mi, 36:09, 11:52/mi

I kept running anyway.

I sure felt like walking today. I especially planned to walk at my halfway point. But just before I got halfway, Chad (one of my many running neighbors) came up behind me. He said he'd been trying to catch me for a mile. So, that did it. I kept going. Instead of doubling back, I decided to follow him on his loop. He quickly moved ahead of me, but I could see him, and that kept me going. In fact, I'm pretty sure it made me run faster. When I wanted to stop and walk, I just make myself slow my pace a bit. Oh, and I passed my cousin, Courtney out for a walk. She said some encouraging words, too. That helped a bunch. And I made it!

One question: Are all of my runs as difficult as the last two? I'm not sure if all runs are unpleasant...but just have the reward of what I've done at the end...hmmm. I think my brain lets me forget from one day to the next.

Running portion: 25:46, 2.48 miles, 10:23/mi

Total: 35:21, 3.07 miles, 11:31/mi

Not too shabby for me wanting to walk!

Friday the 14th

SOOOO glad to get back with Janell today! I've put on about 5 pounds and since I haven't run in 8 days, it was a little more difficult. I'm just glad to be out again...and determined to stop eating so much crap!

Ran 2.62 miles in 31:17.73, which is 11:56/mi.

Total with warmup and cool down was 3.1 miles in 39:43, 12:50/mi.

Wednesday the 5th

I did 2.55 miles in 28:52, 11:19 avg. I only actually ran 2 miles. I meant to reset my Garmin when I started running, but I forgot. I'm pretty sure that I averaged 10 minute miles or less when I was actually running. I was pooped. I know that's not fast for a lot of people and it feels slow running it, but it was actually pretty fast for me. I hope to work up to being able to run a 10 minute mile for longer distances, though. And Janell, I need a running buddy again!!

Back in my running shoes again

I've been feeling depressed lately & I can't believe how much running did to lift my mood! I ended up running alone, but I should have a running buddy again after today. I did 2.77 miles in 30 minutes. That's a 10:50 minute mile average. I worked hard, but it felt good. In fact, I'm aching a bit today. So glad that I was able to get myself up & go.

MIA

I had good intentions this week...good intentions that never materialized. My calves were still pretty sore Sunday night, so I decided not to run on Monday. Really, the nights before I would typically be running were either late or rough, which means that I haven't run at all. I'm not sure I'll be able to get a run in tomorrow, but I did smell the morning air this morning & sure wanted to get out. I'll be back next week.

Speedy Spaniard Pics

Tiff and I post 10k

Like how I have water slobbered on my shirt? Typical me.

Due to camera operator malfunctions, these are the best shots of me running. I'm in the pink shirt/black pants & Tiff's in front of me in the white shirt/blue shorts.

You wanted a rear shot of me, right? You can see Tiff in the distance, too.

Tiff & I with my girlies.

A little out of order, but here's our pre 10k shot. Thanks for dropping us off so early, Randy.

10k w/ updates

For those of you dying to know, I ran the 10k in 1:04:32. I'll fill in more details later. I'm off to take a nap! ...

Okay, now that I'm rested and sore, I can tell you all about the race.

Race starts at approx. 6:30. Tiffany (my sister) and I wait until the massive crowd is past the starting line & then reset my Garmin. Her Garmin battery died before the race...but I just think it was a blessing to me, since she had to stick with me to know how she was doing!

Mile 1 & 2--I had a good start. We took a walk break at around mile 2.7 for 1 1/2 minutes. Tiff doesn't normally need walk breaks on a 10k, but she humored me.

Mile 3--I felt good & we were going at a good pace.

Mile 4--This one was hard for me. Right after we hit the 4th mile, I abruptly had some acid reflux and it kept me coughing for a bit, which stopped me from running. I was still able to walk, but I think my body needed to slow down. We walked this time for 1 minute.

Mile 5--I was doing okay, knowing that we were getting nearer. We took our last walk break right at mile 5 for about 35 seconds (are you loving my Garmin yet? I am!) Tiff was so anxious to beat her 1:06 time that she thought we walked for much longer. :)

Mile 6 to finish--The last 1/2 mile I was toast. Tiff decided to run faster. She wasn't much ahead of me, but it was hard. We passed our hubbys and kids. I slapped Sydney and my brother, Alan's, hands as I jogged by. Nice to have a little cheering squad. :) Once I got past the last corner, the finish line didn't seem so far away. I ended up running faster to get to it. Since we kept track of our time on the Garmin, we didn't pay much attention to the race clock. Tiffany finished 21 seconds faster than me at 1:04:11. We averaged a 10:33 minute mile--really good for me!

After we got past the finish, they immediately turned us around and said to "get in line." Being my first race, I had no idea what they meant & there were huge crowds...I couldn't see a line anywhere. They handed me water and I met up with my family, who had missed me crossing the finish line because of the crowds. Turns out the "line" was so that they could record our finish times. Oh, well!

Now on to training for a half-marathon...although I'm glad to have a few days to rest before my next run. The thought of it is quite overwhelming right now. I'll post some pictures when I get them emailed to me from Randy's phone and from Tiff.

Wednesday the 22nd

This is my 200th post on this blog. Crazy?!

I did 2.03 miles in 21:38 today. 10:41 minute mile. Not too shabby, eh? 2.63 miles total in 30:53. (That includes my warm-up and cool-down walking, in case you ever wondered...)

Thoughts today:

• I had to run solo this morning, so I headed for the high school track, knowing that I didn't have a long run & thinking it would be safer to run alone there than where I normally run.
• The HS football team was just beginning practice when I got there. When I was a lap and a half from being done, the cheer team entered the track and started running. In their really short shorts. The football team was doing sit-ups at the time. I'm sure they were loving the view. After a while, the football team let out a chant. And some of the cheer team squealed with delight. Oh, high school. I thought it was pretty funny.
• I had a hard time not running too fast today. It felt like I was running so slow, even though it was faster than normal. I wore my heartrate monitor for the first time today, too. It says I overdid it.
• I have a few minor blisters on my toes, but they don't really bother me. I'm hoping they callous (You know I had to look that up in the old fashioned dictionary to see how to spell it, right?).
• Pretty excited & a little nervous about Friday's 10k. Tiff just might kick my butt...Or the 6.2 miles, at least.

Monday the 20th

2.95 miles in 36:49. 12:30 avg mile.

I'm beginning to think that Monday mornings are harder...I feel so sluggish and tired, but I love when I break past that. So, so grateful that I've got Jana and Janell to run with, even though Janell's off having fun right now. Thanks, ladies!

I'm also starting my healthy living challenge again. I need to do it to motivate me to make good choices, and I need the good habits to stick! I was at 142 this morning, and I know I can do so much better than that. I've promised myself a new bra if I do well. Sad that I motivate myself with a necessity, but whatever works...gotta justify spending $70 on a good bra somehow!

Friday the 17th

5.83 in 1:19:08. 13:35 min mile avg.

Today's run was the hardest yet. Jana and I did really well for the first 2 1/2 miles. And then came the hill. It didn't seem so bad until we were nearly to the top & we both were about to die. The hill really did us in. After that, we did plenty of walking. Our only goal was to finish. I just hope the 10k next week isn't so hard on me so I don't embarass you, Tiff! Of course, you could always leave me in the dust!

Wednesday the 16th

Jogged 2.02 miles in 24:45, making it 12:15 min/mi. Total was 2.56 miles in 34:09. We ran the whole 2 miles at a nice, easy pace & it felt good. I'm still not 100%, but at least I was able to run today. Gearing up for 5.5 on Friday...

Monday the 14th

I was supposed to run 3 miles yesterday. After running the first 1/4 mile, I knew that my sick lungs weren't going to have it. Janell was kind enough to let me turn our run into a walk. From my house, I did 2 miles in 32 minutes. Not the fastest, but at least I woke up to do it!

My weight was at 143.0 when we returned from CA. I'm not surprised. Food was my solace during the trip. However, this morning I was at 141.0, so that's good news. I need to keep it going down now!

Past week

Friday the 3rd--approx. 4.75 miles in approx 56 minutes. I ran on a treadmill in Las Vegas. Staring at a wall & a too-close-TV. And I accidentally pulled the emergency stop partway through my run, that's why I don't know the exact time or mileage. Nothing makes a run seem longer!

Monday the 6th--3 miles in 35:43

Wednesday the 8th--2 miles in 22:38 (2.41 total in 30 minutes)

Friday the 10th--5 miles in 58:09. My run felt great. We'll see how tomorrow goes. My sleeping's messed up and I'm pretty sick. Hopefully I can make it out of bed.

Wednesday the 1st

2.55 miles in 34:48. Avg pace was 13:40. Everything felt good today--shins & back. I plan to pick up speed the next few times that I run, since I will be able to control it on a treadmill.

Monday the 29th

3.1 in 41:56. 13:31 min avg. I was so sluggish this morning & we ran quite slow. I didn't feel like even being out, but I did it. My mid to upper back has been hurting me each evening & today I wore an old bra, so it got my backache off to an early start. I think I need to gain more back & chest muscle to help hold my load.

Friday the 26th

4.01 miles in 51:05. Average pace was 12:44 minute mile, which is improving! If we wouldn't have walked at the end, we would have been really close to 12 minute miles. Jana and I were able to be really consistent on our pace the whole time. It was a nice run and my shins didn't hurt at all. Yea!!

By the way, Tiff, these are my shoes. I'm actually glad to see that I got a better price than what the link has! I didn't even pay that much with tax. Runner's Corner didn't have a treadmill for me to run on. They just had me to run outside to test the shoes out. And, funny thing, they were so busy when we got there that a K-Swiss rep actually fitted & sold me the shoes...he did everything but take my money. Kinda funny. He watched me walk barefoot to see if I had the pronation. I could tell the difference when I wore one shoe with the plate & one without. Anyway, that's my story. :)

Wednesday the 24th

2.52 miles in 33:something. Average pace was 13:13 minute mile. Just a tad slower than Monday, but not much.

I got new running shoes last night & they felt good today. I found out that my ankle/foot pronates, so the news shoes that I got have a plate in them to prevent it. Hopefully it will help my running. By the way, I almost wonder if my pronation is why my ankle hurts when I walk a lot in my flip flops.

I also got some advice on shin splints from the guys at the running store. I need to strech a lot more & do some painful rubbing & icing. One of my calfs really hurts since yesterday's walk, so I'm also trying to nurse that back. My run today was actually quite painful with my shins & calves hurting. Am I saying calf & calves right? Are my body parts really spelled the same as cattle terms?

Monday the 22nd

3.04 miles in 39:35. Average 13.0 minute mile. When we were actually jogging, we were doing between 11 and 12 minute miles. We're going to cut out a bit more of the warm-up walking from now on. It was tough to get going, but in the end, it felt great. Now I'm starving!

Oh, and I'm down 1/2 a pound. Not much, but it finally puts me into the 130's! And let's just say that having extra family around and their, not one, but two requests for me to make them cookies this past week didn't help. But I was sure glad to have them around!

Friday the 19th

4 miles in 57:26. (14:21/mile average) It was a slow jog & we were sure to take a few walking breaks, but I sure felt like I could have kept going! I guess that's good. I know I need to speed up to run with Tiff, but I don't think that will be a problem. I iced my shins again after the run. I'm hoping to get new running shoes next week, which should help. I also received my Garmin on Wednesday & today was my first day to use it. I love it! One of the reasons that I enjoy running on the treadmill is being able to track my speed, time, etc, and the Garmin covers that. Thanks again, Tiff!!!

Monday morning

3 miles in 40 minutes. I can't wait to get the Garmin that Tiff's sending me so I can better track my time and mileage. Who knows how exact either are up to this point. It was really hard to get up this morning, but I knew Janell was expecting me. Yea for having someone to go with!

I've also officially lost 10 1/2 pounds! Joining Radene's health challenge has really helped me. Now I need to find a way to keep at it when the challenge ends next week. I really like the concept of allowing myself 3 cheats. (Although I hate calling it cheating. I just can't think of a better word for it, but having dessert or skipping exercise on occasion aren't really cheating, just real life. Oh, and an occasional free day isn't bad, either.) Anyway, HOORAY! I love feeling my clothes get looser and looser and seeing a difference in the way I look!

Friday the 12th

Jogged/walked 3.5 in 45 minutes with Janell. So glad she came with me!!

Admission

Okay, I have to admit it. I've been looking over the training schedule for both the 10k and half marathon. And I'm freaked out. Looking at maps of where I will have to run to get my miles in, and just thinking about the time it will take (not that I don't have plenty) is scaring me. Lots. I've never run more than 5 miles. Whew. I can do this, right?!

First 10k training run

2 miles in 23 minutes. I was actually shocked that I did it this fast...especially since I walked probably 3/4 of a mile. The distance seemed pretty short, too, but I'll be increasing to 3.5 miles on Friday. Wish me well!!

Health Challenge after 2 weeks

2 weeks ago, I started the health challenge at 145. Today I was 142...after being on vacation for 3 days! I ended up using my free day this weekend. It's really difficult to eat right at my in-laws, and having Mexican food didn't help. But it sure was good! Anyway, I'm headed down the right path. The health challenge is really helping me with a few of the things I struggle with: getting enough fruits & veggies, being sure to exercise, and limiting my sweets. So, all is well.

My plan of action

I forgot to weigh & post on Thursday, but things have pretty much been the same.  My dessert consumption this past week has been shocking, though.  So...I've decided several things.  1.  I'm going to start taking Alli again.  It gave me the definite motivation to keep my fat intake lower.  I bought it today & started taking it with my lunch.  2.  My former roommate, Radene, is doing a 4-week health challenge.  I'm going to participate.  I already do much of what is in the challenge (or want to do!), but it will give me an incentive to keep up with it on a daily basis.  I can win some cash if I'm one of the top point earners.  I think the best part is that it will motivate me to do better.  The challenge doesn't start for another week, but I'm going to make this week 1 for myself.  It can't hurt.  I'm embarrassed to be heading home for my class reunion in a few weeks looking the way I do...and it would be lovely to not be completely embarrassed when I don a swimsuit at the beach in 6 1/2 weeks!  

By the way, if you're interested in joining Radene's challenge or want to know more, let me know.

Endorphins

I exercised this morning, and boy do I feel good!  Wow!  Last week was busy with family and Randy's surgery, so I didn't post.  My weight has been in the 142-145 range the last little while, though.  It was 142.5 this morning.  I think I really need to set my sights on getting into the 130's, but I am happy that I'm maintaining.  It's easy to think that weight should just magically fall off when we really set our mind to it.  Not so.  I'm going to be happy with where I'm at and keep working at getting the weight off, however slowly it happens.  I also measured this morning for the first time in 2 months, and it wasn't bad, either.  I honestly think I've done really well, considering the immense stress I've been under, so yea, Keri!

No news is bad news

I really don't feel like posting this week.  My weight was up 2 pounds.  I'm not surprised, since I've hardly been exercising & have been eating too much & too many treats.  What's funny is that I've had 3 or 4 people tell me how good I'm looking...not sure why.  I really want to kick myself back into the process.  I've been having good days (emotionally) this week until today, but none of that excuses how I've been treating myself.  I need to put a plan of action together and get with it.  Does anyone have any extra motivation for me?

I guess...

...I should have weighed without my clothes today.  I was in too much of a hurry to take care of my girls that I only weighed quickly before heading out of my room.  I probably would be down 1/2 a pound or more!  I did get on the elliptical this morning.  I hadn't been on it since Friday.  Any other working out this past week was purely because I had to get things done like gardening and vacuuming, and occupying Jenna with a walk around the block.  I'm really not all that satisfied with myself, though.  I've let myself go.  Wish me well as I dig deep to find the strength to care and to do something about it.  :)

MIA

I spent 5 days this week in St. George helping Tiffany take care of her house & kids (minimally), so I didn't have my scale to weigh on.  In all honesty, I had a burger, fries, and a pop twice, pizza twice, and I stuffed myself silly at the fondue restaurant.  I only exercised Saturday and Monday.  And I took my last Alli pill early in the week.  But you know what?  My weight was at 143.0 this morning.  I'm guessing that my metabolism has adjusted & is helping me not gain weight as quickly as I would have before.  It's good to be home & I'm going to try my best to eat healthy, exercise consistently and still enjoy life.

Unusual week

First off, I only exercised 2 of the last 7 days.  The ends of the week are more difficult for me to want to exercise, and then I was quite sick yesterday.  My eating needs to be re-vamped.  I've noticed that I have been eating beyond just being full, and I need to stop that.  I was sick on both Tuesday and Wednesday.  I pretty much only ate what sounded good, which wasn't the best food choices.  And my body quickly rejected everything I ate.  It was really bad.  Now that my stomach and intestines are seemingly on the mend, I should be able to get back to normal, too.  All in all, I'm actually surprised and happy that I still lost 1/2 a pound this week!  Here's to more exercise, fruits & veggies this coming week!

Still coming along

This week has been a normal, real-life week of eating and exercising.  Again, I didn't exercise on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday.  I also ate out with family last night.  I looked online at the nutrition information and planned what I was going to eat beforehand.  (I highly recommend doing that--before you go to eat, or it you frequent a place a lot.  It sure helps to know what you're eating!)  I think my weight would have been down a little bit more without the high-sodium content and the extra that I did eat, but that's life.  I went running on Tuesday night.  By running, I mean that I jogged until my lungs were going to explode, then walked a bit, then repeated the process.  I was able to do 3.5 miles in 45 minutes, which I won't complain about.  Running definitely uses more/different muscles than the elliptical, though.  Anyway, all in all I'm still on track and doing well.

Standing Still?

For some reason, this past week has been harder for me.  I missed exercising Friday& Saturday.  I had thought about exercising Sunday, but that didn't happen, either.  I just had too much (unexpectedly) going on in the evenings to fit it in.  For the first time that I can remember, I definitely noticed how good my body did NOT feel when I missed all of that exercise.  It definitely made me want it!

My eating hasn't been quite as good, either.  Okay, so plugging everything I eat into SparkPeople is a pain, expecially when I make a recipe from scratch or have to write down the nutritional information of whatever I eat just so I can put it into the Nutrition Tracker.  I feel like I do better when I am more aware, but I'm not sure the work is worth it.  Overall, I know my food choices are good, but I've done extra snacking on Jenna's birthday cake & some cinnamon rolls I made for a service auction.

Despite my weight being up 1/2 a pound today, I still feel like I'm seeing some results.  Hopefully my exercise stuff is something I can work at being better about when obstacles arise, and I'm hoping some of my snacking has to do with my period being about to start.  I definitely don't want to lose momentum now!!

Another week, more success

My weight is down again today.  Hooray!  I actually weigh myself most days, even though some say not to.  It just lets me see that I'm on the right track (not that I've worried about being on the wrong track the last 2 weeks, but still).  So, I really wanted my weight to be 144.5 or 144.0 this morning and I got what I wanted!  I took my measurements this morning, as well.  They were all down.  They didn't seem to show as much progress as I'd like, but I can see areas shrinking that aren't part of my measurements, so I know the shrinking will eventually go to where I'm measuring.  And any decrease is good!  Here are a few observations from this past week.

1.  I have been able to increase my speed on the elliptical, which also means I've got more endurance--both with speed and going longer!  I love it!

2.  Last weekend, Randy and I went on a date & got ice cream at Coldstone.  I got the Founder's Favorite (brownie, hot fudge, caramel & pecans) which wasn't skimping at all, but I had them do it with fat-free ice cream.  So, I had a really good treat and didn't feel bad about it one bit.  (Although I still really do love chocolate ice cream w/ peanut butter & stuff...that'll just have to wait until I'm down to my goal weight, and only on a rare occasion.)

3.  When I sat down to eat my ice cream, it tasted SO sweet.  I think I'm actually weaning myself off of sugar without even noticing it!  And here's the real kicker--I ordered the smallest option & only ate half of it!  My entire life I haven't been known to eat a treat slowly, let alone only half of it!  This is definitely and improvement.

4.  Although I am easily staying within my calorie and fat ranges, I still am not eating enough fruits & veggies.  In all honesty, I love a good salad, but hate making them.  I need to go to my fridge and cut up veggies to have around for snacking and dinner to make it easier.  So, that's my goal for this week--add in more fruits and veggies.  Ideally, I'd like to have one with each meal & snack, although I don't do much snacking.

So, that's it!  How was your week?

Drumroll please....

Everything I'm doing is working!  I've lost 3 pounds!  I haven't taken my measurements because I don't want to have to do that every week, but I can see a difference in my stomach.  :)  Some nights when I go to bed I feel like I'm starving, but then when I wake up I'm fine.  My body is just getting used to not having as many calories.  I haven't had any "treatment effects" from the Alli, either.  In fact, I probably need to work at adding a little more healthy fat to my diet.  I think some of my meals are too low in fat.  (No wonder I have skinny girls!...but I refuse to make them something different than what Randy and I are eating!)  Exercise is going well.  I missed yesterday, but when I've been exercising 6 days a week, I figure I'm just fine.  I've been doing strength training on top of cardio 2 days a week.  I should probably try to do 3 days of it.  Anyway, so far so good!  Can't wait for more!

I AM alive!

I know, it feels like I haven't posted here in forever!  Last week, I was in Idaho, and today has just seemed crazy.  So...

Earlier this week, Randy and I had a really positive conversation about my weight & my efforts to lose it.  The good news up to this point is that I've been maintaining.  Which is really good news considering how much weight I put on last year!

I've redoubled my efforts the past few days.  I'm puting in at least 30 minutes or more of exercise each day.  My legs are actually sore!  I've also begun taking Alli.  It's definitely not something I would normally do or have ever done, but after reading about it, I feel like it's safe to take.  It basically stops your body from absorbing some of the fat that is ingested.  If I were to lose 5 pounds on my own, Alli would add an additional 2-3 pounds to that total.  The biggest thing really is that I am limited to 15 grams of fat or less each time I eat, or else I could face dire consequences (oily toots, greasy poo, etc).  I knew I already ate well (when I cook, but NOT when I eat out!), but I've actually been surprised at how little effort it has taken to eat 15 grams or less.  I haven't had to change any of my meals!  (Maybe that's why my girls can't gain weight?!)  The hard part has been snacking & making sure I don't overeat for fear of going over my fat grams.  Like right now, I ate dinner an hour ago & I'm starving!  I plan to go eat 2 of my Zonya recipe cookies & a glass of milk.  I think that will do me good.  The pills I have will last me about 40 days, and I hope to not need to buy them again after that.

Another thing I'm doing, which is helping me keep track of my fat grams, is using SparkPeople's website.  It's free and it does a lot of things.  Right now, I use it to track what I eat each day & also to track my exercise.  I'm really liking it.  So, that's where I'm at.  I expect to see some great results next week.  How are all of you doing?

Another Opt Out

Late last week and early this week, I was feeling good about things.  I even peeked early to see my weight had gone down from my last weigh-in.  HOWEVER...I have eaten out 4 times in the last 3 days.  The last two nights were with family who had come into town.  And Monday was just a crazy day of running around.  I have such a hard time eating well when I eat out.  Between that and the tons of salt that I know is in restaurant food, I'm not weighing myself this week.  No need to make myself feel bad over it.  I can do better, and I will.  This week, I've done well with my water.  There has only been one day (except fast Sunday) where I didn't easily drink 64+ ounces.  I'm going to keep working on all of it and keep getting at least some exercise in every day--after all, I have to make a habit of the exercise, even if my dear hubby thinks only spending 10-15 minutes on the elliptical is a waste.  :)

Despite...

...my weight being up 1/2 a pound this week, I'm feeling good. Sure, it's no fun to see the scale go up, but I feel like I've been reinforcing some good habits. Yesterday was probably my worst day of eating, so I wasn't surprised by the scale. I also didn't work out yesterday, but I have nearly every other day. I've been filling a 2-quart pitcher each morning to see how much water I'm drinking--and I was surprised at how well I do. It's good to have a reminder that I need to drink, though, because some days I could go for hours because I'm not downstairs or just don't think about it. So, I'm just going to keep on keepin' on. Increasing my good habits will be rewarded, even if it is slowly.

Feeling good

After a week and a half of what I hope was just crazy hormones, I'm finally feeling leveled out! Although my weight is up a pound from 2 weeks ago, I know that it is definitely down from what it would have been last week, so I'm satisfied. I also have worked out for 15-35 minutes each night for the last 3 nights. I'm feeling good about how things are going. I've been re-reading Zonya's Water With Lemon, and it's inspiring me again. I think it's also helping me to not feel guilty about what I eat. I've also come up with a plan for eating more fruits & veggies--because that's what I really struggle with. Zonya's Lickety-Split Meals is a recipe book that I use a lot. However, I haven't really delved into many of her "Salads and Sides" recipes. So, for my menu the coming 2 weeks, my meal planning is starting with a salad from her recipes, and then I'll add the other stuff. I'm trying to make the salad the main focus of our meals. I'll have to let you know how it works out.

Another week...

...not another weigh-in. Really, I did not weight myself today. I've had a tough week, and instead of feeling guilty when I step on the scale, I avoided it all together. And I don't feel bad about it either. I'm trying to get good habits in place, and that's all that matters to me right now. Anyway, that's my story.

Quick side note: Tiffany, I don't know if you are even alive (I really should call you, shouldn't I!), but I thought it would make you proud to know that the last 3 times I've had toast, I've eaten it dry. And it's not so bad! At least with an egg on top!

Quick update

So, I've lost a bit of weight. I was aiming a bit lower, but considering we ate out last night, I think I'm okay. At least I went down! I can do so much more, so I'm just glad I've seen some results this week. Now if I could get my 22 month old to stop being so cranky & me to stop being so tired! I need a break!!

Good bye holidays!

Apparently, I havent' done as well as I thought I was doing during the holidays. My weight is up several pounds. I really just wanted to wear a mu-mu around today...I feel that fat. But today is my starting day. I'm not off to a great start, but I can still work out tonight & then eat more healthy tomorrow.

Something I'm trying to keep in mind is that eating temptations happen during small moments in time. Dr's Phil's book says that we typically experience 4-7 of these incidents a day, and we just need to focus on getting through each one. Within a few minutes, it will pass. At the times when I've tried it, it worked. Anyway, not the best news this morning on the scale, and I don't know what else to say. I have a week to work on it.