Run Baby Run! Oops.

Happy New Year!

Fun fact the dress I'm wearing in this picture I bought for my honeymoon almost seven years ago. I didn't get a chance to wear it then and then I couldn't fit into it. So on Christmas Eve I had a moment of celebration when I put it on and it looked and fit so good. 

So as the new year started I decided to make a move...

And so now it's official I registered for the Dallas Rock and Roll half marathon yesterday and today I began some serious training.  I've been training before but sort of slacked off on my cardio for all sorts of reasons over the past couple of weeks. After Ice-mageddon hit the dallas area it was a challenge to get out and move in the cold and then I got a cold. So when my folks came into town for the holidays my mom and I went on a nice walk and got my blood flowing again.  

Until my oops. 

I was doing pretty good today up until I realized I had to use the restroom and I was in the middle of no where.  What do you do?  As a walking runner in training I was unsure as what to do. The last thing I need when in the middle of the 1/2 marathon is to have to use the bathroom.   

What would you recommend?

I would love to hear your ideas.

Over the hump with My Fitness Pal

Finished the Dallas Turkey Trot with a personal best. Felt a little bad that I left my husband behind as I creeped towards the start line. But when I finished the 3 miles in a personal best time of 38 minutes I was very happy.

I got caught up with the running group so by the end of the race I jogged about a total of a mile.  

Since then I've struggled for the past few weeks with a plateau. Now plateaus happen especially when losing weight it's how you respond to them that matters most. I initially thought I had been doing pretty good with my calorie and water intake but I was so wrong.

A good friend of mine introduced me to Fitness Pal. It is a great app that helps you track your calorie, water and fitness both cardiovascular and strength.  You can also connect with others on a similar journey so that you can mutually support and cheer each other on.

By taking each day and inputting all of my information I was able to see I wasn't eating enough for my body to burn or drinking enough water to keep things moving.  Since I started using MyFitness Pal I have been able to get over the hump and lose another 5 pounds. Yeah!

So here is my recommendation for the day and for your journey, download the Myfitness Pal app and start tracking your journey.  You will be surprised how your journey can get a jump start.

Staring the Holidays Down

Holidays can be the hardest time for a dieter. If you have ever been on a diet, whatever it was and you  were trying to stick to it during the holidays it was probably very hard.  I mean REALLY hard.  All of the treats, delicious food, gifts in the shape of cookies and loafs of bread.

Well I love the holidays. No really I'm sort of obsessed about them.  I am that crazy woman up at the pre-crack of dawn on Black Friday shopping.  I start my count down of the days until I can decorate my home sometime in June.  At this point I am practically counting the seconds until I can put my tree up on Friday.  There are so many wonderful memories with loved ones that center around the holidays. But I also remember all of the great food, my dad's hickory smoked turkey, snacking on egg salad before the big dinner.  And it doesn't hurt that I love to bake.  I make a mean apple pie.  Some of you might have even had some in the past and so you know it is a tasty treat.

Well my conundrum this year with my new journey is how I can stare down all of those delicious temptations and overcome my desire to dive into the stuffing, mashed potatoes and bread rolls.
So here is my plan.  I am going to face those temptations in their buttery faces and say, "I'm sorry but you are not worth the extra hour in the gym or having my trainer Kevin give me me painful lunges."

I will have the right portions of turkey, green beans, and salad. I might even have a small slice of my apple pie.  But I won't eat the entire thing and I won't feel bad when I do enjoy that slice.

Just make a plan for yourself but don't beat yourself up if find yourself indulging a little.  Just get out and move around whether it's Friday morning ;-) or even after dinner on Thursday.

So that's my plan.  Enjoy the right portion of the right foods and move afterwards.

Enjoy your journey.

Reevaluation of Giving Thanks

I have always tried to express my love and thanks for those around me through gifts.  What happens though are those gifts tend to turn out to be food.  While on this journey I have found that there needs to be a reevaluation of how express my love and the gifts I give.  Especially if I want to have "Healthy" relationships.

I have found that when I have given gifts whether it was food or something else I have always wanted the receiver to know how I feel for them and the impact they have had on my life. I hope that I have been in some way an impact on someone else's life especially in a positive way.

For so many people today we take advantage of our friends, family and those people we "love" assuming that they know how we feel for them.  We don't say the words that need to be said or take moments that need to be taken. So maybe taking advantage is a bit strong but do the people in your life know how you feel for them? Do they know you appreciate them and the impact they have had in your life?

With Thanksgiving fast approaching and all of the celebrations that come with it.  Families being reunited, traditions being continued and new memories being made. I will continue on this journey reevaluating my expressions of my love and thanks.  Take the time with your family and take a moment to express your love and thanks to the loved ones in your life.

Enjoy the journey.

Lights, Camera, Selfie!

When I got home from church this morning I was thinking about posting a picture for you all to see.  I then quickly realized the only ones I have been taking are me in my work out pants and sports bra.  I most certainly am not up to showing you those pictures. At least not yet. :-)

And since I haven't taken a selfie (in non work out clothes) in a while I figured today was a good day to start.

The hair is a little longer but you can certainly see a difference.  

Here is the shot that started it all.  The last selfie.   

(My eyes are nearly closed because of my cheeks!)              

Here I am today...

And a full body for good measure.

55 lbs. lost, 7" from my waist and 2" from my chest (I'm not sure about my legs but I am down 2 pant sizes).  The fun thing about this picture is the rolls in the sweater are from it being too loose!

Well, there you have it.  

Enjoy your journey.

Season of Thanks

On this crisp November Sunday morning I just wanted to take a moment to say thanks.

Thank you for all of you who have supported and cheered me on over the past months.  When I hit my mile stone of 50 lbs lost I sent out a text to a few of you expressing my shock and disbelief.  Those of you who responded to me weren't shocked but ecstatic! You were so excited to celebrate with me that mile stone.   Reminding me that my hard work was paying off.

As I have finished my first week of training I have found myself looking back on how I was when I first started this journey. I would get so tired after just walking a mile and now I find myself wanting more when I have just finished three miles.  I am so thankful for a body that has adjusted to the changes and is responding so well.  This lifestyle change is just that a change in my lifestyle.  I might have those cravings every once in a while (the other day I wanted a huge diet coke) but I take each of those cravings and think about what it would cost me in the end. Is it really worth it?

I am thankful for my husband who in so many ways expresses his delight in my weight loss.  He is so proud of me!  And I am so thankful for Spritz who just looks at me with a comical expression on his face when I parade/dance our apartment in clothes I haven't been in for so long!

So thank you.  I have passed through some rough times and there will be more but for now I just want to celebrate and say thanks!

Enjoy your journey.

I am what I am...

Have you ever tried to convince yourself that you are something you have never been before?

Well that has been the next piece of this journey. Telling myself that I will be a runner. I am a runner. I want to be a runner.

 Here is an interesting point to make, I have never had any interest in running before. Those of you who have known me from the beginning know I would rather take a leisurely stroll than run.  My brother is the runner in my family. My word he played soccer practically his entire life! I was content playing catcher or right field in softball (slow pitch) or I would put my whole heart into cheering others on.  As long as I never had to run. So this whole challenge of a half marathon is just that, a challenge.

So are you telling me you have never seen anyone strolling along during a marathon? No.
Why? Because marathons are designed for runners or even sort of runners.

So that is what I will be, a sort of runner!  I have started my training this week and thankfully I have only had to do 3 miles on the first and third days of training.  Now I have been walking some of those 3 miles but pushing myself to jog parts of them. At some point over the next 20 weeks I will work up to running. It will be a challenge simply because of my size but that will change over the next 20 weeks which us good to know.

At this point I have lost over 50 pounds. Which in itself is a big piece as to why I can easily walk/jog 3 miles. When I first started this journey I was glad to get around my building. But all of those small steps are leading to big steps in March.

So I am going to put this out there. If you are in the Dallas area on March 23 and would like to cheer me on, I would love the support!!

Enjoy the journey.

(I might post a pic soon)