Back in the Ring

I just signed up to participate in the new challenge at the Sisterhood. The Power of One Challenge. Of course it starts next Wednesday, and I will be out of town with absolutely no internet connections, but I will try to find some place to jump on to blog and find out what the first challenge is. I am excited to get back to blogging and to the Sisterhood and their challenges. I know that I needed a break with how crazy my life gets this time of year, but I am really looking forward to getting back at it. 2011 is going to be a great year! I can't wait to get started!
Have you signed up? If not, what are you waiting for? Lets make next even better than this year. I can't wait to see all the good things that are going to happen for all of us!
In case I don't get a chance to blog again before then, Happy Holiday's Everyone!

Still Here

I am still here, trying to catch up on everyone's blogs and seriously ignoring my own. I need to get back in the swing of things, I just rarely have any time to do that. I have continued to try to eat right and exercise. I haven't gained any weight, but I haven't lost either. I feel like not gaining is a victory by itself with all the holiday treats that are around these days.
I have been extremely busy at work since due to down sizing we went to 4 day work weeks, so now I have 40 hours of work to do in 32 hours. I am not complaining though, I like the job and the benefits and it is only for a month, hopefully, and I have so much stuff going on that I keep my day off filled with appointments and errands.
Gary dropped a bomb on my Monday that he needed me to plan his company holiday party, for this Saturday, oh and it is 2 hours away. I have been running around trying to get that all taken care of too. Thank goodness for the wonderful people in my town that I do all the company embroidery with, I now have all the guys gifts embroidered with the company logo and their names in less than 5 days. What a life saver that is. So now I just have to finish the food, and well, since I can't cook I freaked about the food. Luckily for me one of our very good friends is an amazing cook and he has offered to make all the food for me.
Other than the usual holiday madness things are going along well for me and my family. We had parent teacher conferences for both boys last month and they are both doing amazing. Kris is reading 2 whole grade levels ahead of his class and he is doing awesome in everything else too. Bill is getting A's and B's across the board and we are really pleased with how well he is doing with school and work and still finding time to be with friends and stay out of trouble. Sometimes I get so caught up in the day to day hustle and bustle that I forget how great my kids are, I get too wrapped up in what they didn't do, like clean their rooms, to remember how awesome they are, messy rooms or not.
This week Kris wants to make presents for his friends at school for Christmas, he even wants to buy the supplies himself. I think that is pretty neat for a 7 year old boy to be thinking of others, he is really getting into the spirit this year. We are working on helping a family that is less fortunate too so that both boys see how truly lucky they are.
We have 4 Christmas parties in the next 2 weeks, 2 of them back to back and then we jump in the truck and go to Florida. With all the planning, shopping, wrapping and packing you can see how I don't have much time to blog, but I will get back to it. Ok well I will try. I miss you all, but I have been trying to keep up reading all of yours!
How is your season going?

Crazy Busy

Life has now entered the crazy busy period. Everything always gets hectic around this time of year but this year it has hit 10 fold. Work is beyond chaotic and home isn't much better.Tis the season I guess. I have been bustling around trying to get everything taken care of during my work day that I am completely zapped when I get home. Not that it matters that I am running on empty because I still have a family to feed, homework to supervise, laundry and dishes and dusting oh my! I know it sounds like I am complaining and really I'm not. I love to be busy, the busier the better. It gives me a huge feeling of accomplishment when I can cross multiple things off my list. But at the same time something has to give. Unfortunately it has been my check ins here, but have no fear. I am still working out and eating right. I didn't join the newest challenge at the Sisterhood due to my schedule and feeling like right now just isn't the time for me to take on anything more. Just know that I am still here, still working hard and still trying to read everyone's blogs when I can. It just came down to would I rather get my work out in, or a blog post. In a perfect world both, but for right now, I am taking the work out. Good luck to everyone in the challenge and those like me that are just going to try to follow along on the sidelines.

True Confession Tuesday

It has been a loooong time since my last confession. Maybe because I have been too busy to dwell on anything lately, good or bad, and the scale keeps moving down, so I figure my indiscretions probably aren't worth mentioning. But with the latest Shrinking Jeans Challenge being over I think I should probably confess to keep myself honest and on track. Without the fitness challenges to push me I need to push myself, which leads to my first confession.
I have been horrible at pushing myself lately. I should qualify that, once I actually start something, like a run or a video, I push myself. It is the getting started that is killing me lately. I keep thinking, oh I can do it later and then later comes and I don't do it. I need some more incentive to push myself to get off my butt and move. Which leads me to my next confession.
I have not been very good about getting my c25K runs in this week. I have gotten on the treadmill and run, but not nearly as often as I should. I like to use my husbands work schedule as an excuse. That I should spend time with him before he leaves for work and that after he leaves it is too late to run, but really that just an excuse. I could run before he goes to work since he is probably sleeping on the couch anyway.
So those are my not so stellar confessions, but I do have some good things to confess.
This past weekend started our holiday crazy schedule. We had our first of many many Christmas parties (I know, Christmas parties already, heaven help us) and not only did we go, eat, drink and be merry, but I didn't overeat. I got a few things I really liked and ate slow and didn't get that ugh full feeling. I even stepped on the scale the next day to find I had not gained.
I have also been working very hard and been very good at taking my iron supplement. I know this doesn't sound like a big deal, but it is for me. Mostly because I totally hate taking the stupid little pill. It makes me feel terrible for at least an hour after I take it, so I like to pretend to forget to take it. But this whole month I have been super diligent about taking it.
So I guess that is all for now. I need to get off my tush and starting moving more so that next week I can confess all good things...... well mostly good things. I can't be good all the time or life would get boring. :)

The Last Shrinkvivor Weigh In

As with all good things, they must come to an end. It is the last weigh in for the Shrinkvivor challenge and I am sad to see it come to an end. It has been a great journey and a successful one. I am hoping that even without the challenge and the weekly fitness and non-fitness challenges that I can keep up with the progress I have had this entire time.
It has been a great experience and I have "meet" some really awesome and inspiring women. I have pushed myself to try new things and to overcome my boundries. I have even got my husband thinking about living a healthier lifestyle, and in all honesty that might be the biggest reward of all. I have regained my excitement about working out and sweating and challenging myself and reaching new goals. I am no longer complacent, I am ready to push for the next milestone in my journey, to gain strength and stamina and prove to myself that I can accomplish anything I set my mind out to do. I am so glad that I signed up for and completed this challenge.
So now down to the numbers.............drum roll please.

Starting Weight: 213.8
Week 1: 213
Week 2: 210.2
Week 3: 206.6
Week 4: 205.8
Week 5: 204.8
Week6: 203.8
Week7: 202.6
Change: 1.2 lbs
Total Lost: 11.2 lbs

Another pound bites the dust, and I couldn't be more excited. 11.2 pounds gone in this challenge. Success every week both on the scale and off. Clothes fit better, I feel better, I can't wait to see what another 7 weeks will look like. The Shrinkvivor Challenge may be coming to an end, but the weight loss journey is only just starting.
This week the fitness challenge was to try something new. So I got out a new video that I hadn't tried before and made my first ever attempt at Plyo-pump. It was hard and it was super fun. It pushed me to do things that I feared and I loved the rush I got when I did it. I was also super tired with jello legs when I was done, but it is definitely a video that I will be doing again and again.
So how did all of you do? Check out the rest of the sisters and spread a little congratulations! Oh and while your at is make sure to vote for the ultimate Shrinkvivor!

Perfect Timing

I am so super excited about what I read in my email inbox this morning. As some of you will recall I never get online over the weekend or at home due to a miserably slow dial up connection. So I try to get to work extra early on Monday's to catch up on my email and my blog reading before the days starts. So I was perusing my inbox when I came across my email from The Sisterhood and I was so excited when I started reading it. They are hosting a virtual 5k. Training starts today and the run is scheduled for January 8th, 2011, nine weeks from today. This could not have come at a better time for me.
I have really let my running fall by the wayside since I ran my first 5k back in the end of September. Over a month ago and I have just not had the heart to get up and keep up with my training. What a waste. This gives me something to train for again. And although I will be running the race in my own home on my treadmill it is still going to push me to get stronger and work on my pace and form. Besides that I was looking for something new to do. I was laying in bed last night with a horrible case of insomnia! Ahh, and I was thinking,"Hey, tomorrow is November 1st, this is a great time to set some new goals for myself and get moving again, hmmm, but what to do." So this could not have come at a more perfect time. And I have a Christmas trip planned for Florida in two months and the training will help to ensure that I don't gain the dreaded holiday weight and that I can fit into my capri's for my vacation.
I can't wait to get home tonight and start training again. I really needed this to keep my going through the holiday's and the winter months when it is so much easier to snuggle up on the couch with a warm blanket and watch endless hours of TV. Not this year! Maybe this will be the year that instead of setting a New's Years resolution to get healthy, it is the year that I set a resolution to stay healthy! Who's with me?

Shrinkvivor Check-In

Its that time again! Time for another check in, so lets get right to it.

Starting Weight: 213.8
Week 1: 213
Week 2: 210.2
Week 3: 206.6
Week 4: 205.8
Week 5: 204.8
Week6: 203.8
Change: 1.0 lbs
Total Lost: 10.0 lbs

Holy Moly! 10 pounds! I am totally shocked. I have lost weight every single week of the challenge. It is a great feeling. I am starting to see the changes in the way my clothes fit and I feel really good. The weekends have always been the worst for me, I can't imagine how I would do if I was lucky enough to be a SAHM. But I have been working on this hurdle for a long time. Making good decisions when I don't have to think about cooking for anyone else, and when I can eat whenever I am hungry. During the week this isn't a problem, I pack my lunch and snacks and I don't have to think about it again. Weekends that all goes out the window. Until this weekend, I was more careful, more vigilant with my choices. I didn't eat whenever I wanted, I didn't eat junk because I wasn't cooking for anyone else. In fact I made a nice roast chicken this weekend. I think having a successful weekend really helped me lose this week, I didn't have to try to fix a rotten weekend, I just stayed steady. It took me a long time to learn that lesson....ahhh but there it is.
So as far as the fitness/non-fitness challenges go, I didn't do as well. I did get out and get 2 miles in. I wish I could say it was more, but I am only counting the official miles of exercise, I can't count the number of miles I put down in a day running around taking care of kids and house and husband and at the grocery store or getting the mail, if that was the case I am sure most of us would have huge numbers to report. I did stay away from the trans-fat for the most part. I know I got in more than I should have, but I was more conscious of them this week. Still doing really well with the water and getting better with the fruits and veggies. I am sure if I keep working on it someday getting all the fruits and veggies in will be second nature, until then I am trying to get them in with every meal somehow.
So how did you all do?

Shrinkvivor Check-In Wednesday

Another Wednesday, another check in. But that is ok, I am happy about this week again.
Lets get the official stuff out of the way shall we:

Starting Weight: 213.8
Week 1: 213
Week 2: 210.2
Week 3: 206.6
Week 4: 205.8
Week 5: 204.8
Change: 1.0 lbs
Total Lost: 9.0 lbs

9 pounds gone since this challenge began! Oh my gosh I can hardly believe it. 4.8 pounds to go until I am in Onederland. 4.8 pounds! Less than 5 pounds. My goal has been to be into the 100's by Thanksgiving, and with 4.8 pounds to go that is totally do-able. I am so excited. It is really giving me something to strive for each week, to see one more ounce lead to one more pound coming off that number on the scale. To see clothes fitting just a little bit better, to feel better and have more energy. This is a great place to be. I have now successfully lost every week of this challenge, I know that on this journey that will not always be the case. At some point I will plateau, or I will gain. I am ok with that, I know it is all part of getting where I want to be. And I also know that I will get there.
This challenge has been awesome for me. When it started I didn't know if my heart was really in it, I wasn't sure after I signed up if I had what it takes dedication wise to do this. I didn't want to let my team down or myself. But I had signed up and so when it came it to start I put my mind and heart and feet into it. I could not be happier that I did that.
This weeks non-fitness challenge was to expose ourselves, and as you can all see (or not see) I did not participate. There are several reasons for this. First I should mention how proud and impressed I am by everyone that did participate, what beautiful woman you all are. I really don't want to delve into the reasons you don't see any pictures of me in my bra and panties, but just know that I was there is spirit. I fully appreciate the body that God gave me. My hips might be a little wide and my butt isn't perfectly firm, but I am proud of it. I don't hate my body, I did for a long time, but over the last few years I have learned to love it.
As for the fitness challenge, I logged in 200 minutes this week. Not as many as last time if I recall correctly, but still got out and moved. It helps a lot that I am still not watching TV at night so that frees up my time, what doesn't help are the endless meetings I have had lately. But on a very positive note, our oldest son Bill who is a senior (heaven help me) this year had a parent teacher night at school last night and he is getting all A's. I am so proud of him, so it was worth missing a work out to get a report like that.
How did you all do this week? Check out the sisterhood and see how everyone else did.

Wednesday Check-in Shrinkvivor Style

So another week of Shrinkvivor has passed. I am loving this challenge. I have had another good week and I am please to report the following:
Starting Weight: 213.8
Week 1: 213
Week 2: 210.2
Week 3: 206.6
Week 4: 205.8
Change: .8 lbs
Total Lost: 8.0 lb
Not a huge loss this week, but after my weekend Up North I am pleased with anything I can get! I am also really excited that I have continued to lose every week. That is a huge accomplishment no matter what the number is. I didn't get a lot of miles in this week for the challenge, I only logged in 5. But I did get one of those miles in over the weekend without the benefit of a shower, so I think that is pretty hard core right there. My poor husband having to ride 5 hours with me smelling like sweat, to me, shows how much he loves me! Or it is pay back that he works in a very smelly industry and is usually the stinky one. I did get my water in, I even packed extra for the weekend so I would not be tempted to drink any other beverages. The fruits and veggies didn't all make it in everyday but I am trying and that is saying something. I have to admit failure on the food log, I completely let it slip my mind and didn't journal at all. I am going to work on that one this week. I know that it will help with accountability.
I find myself running out of time long before I run out of day and that makes it hard to get everything in that needs to be done. Work, home, school, workouts. Something always seems to fall through the cracks, so this week I am taking out my TV time. I started last night and I got through so much more last night than I usually get through the entire week. I am hoping that is gives me more time to workout. If not at least I will have a clean house. I got that idea when I was given a rare treat of being home alone for a couple hours Monday night and I was so excited to get to watch whatever I wanted on TV and realized there was nothing I wanted to watch even on, so instead I watched a TV show I had on DVR that I had already seen. I made me more aware of how much of my day gets wasted. So I have a few things to work on this week, but I am really excited to get started and see where the week takes me.
How are you all doing??

Wednesday Shrinkvivor Check-in

Lets get right to it, since I am super excited about this week's check in.
Starting Weight: 213.8
Week 1: 213
Week 2: 210.2
Week 3: 206.6
Change: 3.6 lbs
Total Lost: 7.2 lb
I am having a great week. I doubled my weight lost this week. I am working really hard at making better food choices. Staying away from any beverages that are not coffee and water. I should probably try to cut back on the coffee too, but I need it in the morning. That and I like it a lot! I stayed away from the fast food, which is getting easier every day and I drank all my water. I didn't get in all my fruits and veggies but I did make an attempt most days. I need to keep working on that one. I ran my fastest mile this week at 12:43. I want to work on that too, I would like to be faster, but I figure just getting out there no matter how fast you go is better than just sitting there.
I have had a really good week. My mood has been really good and I haven't been as tired as I was a few weeks ago. I have even been good at remembering to take my iron supplements, and that is saying something because I hate them. If you have never had the pleasure of taking them they make your belly feel really yucky for a couple hours. I did discover if I take them at night I can avoid the yucky belly feeling.
All in all it has been a great week. There have been some huge changes happening in my life this week, mostly work related (all good), and I know that feeling better about myself has helped me handle them with stride. I am so looking forward to next weeks challenge. I am headed up North to our cabin this weekend with Gary and my sister and her boyfriend and I am determined not to let this time away undermine my success so far!
How did you all do?

Scariest Corn Maze Ever

This morning Kris and I decided that we would join Grandma and Grandpa for a trip to a local pumpkin patch. There was a craft show and lots of activities for kids. We took my neice Abby with us and loaded in the cars. It was cold and drizzly and we quickly went through all the craft booths. I bought Kris a donut and we all started back for the vehicles. Just as we were getting back to the parking area Kris noticed the corn maze. No one else wanted to go through it so Kris took off alone. We have been to lots of corn mazes with no problem and looking at it, it looked really small so I wasn't concerned to have him go through on his own. He began running down the row and I watched waiting for him to turn to start coming back, only he didnt. I called to him to come back, but it was windy and he couldn't hear me. I took Abby and together we ran into the maze to catch up to him and bring him out. Only when we looked up, he was gone. I continued running calling him name. Nothing, no response. Ok, I thought, this just seems to be a straight path, no other paths running off from it. I could see another path through the corn rows so I decided to cut through to head Kris off, and thats when I realized that there were more paths running through it. I started to panic. I went back to my original path and began running and calling for Kris again. Abby and I ran and ran. Horrible thoughts were running through my head and I was really starting to panic. Where was my little boy? We finally came across a group of kids in the maze and I asked if they had seen him? They said he was still just a little bit ahead of us. I took off running. The rational art of my head losing to the irrational part, I watch way to many crime shows. I was panicked. Finally the maze opened up into a wide field and there, half way across the field was my little man. I yelled for him and he finally heard me. He turned and we both started running toward each other. When we reached I realized that we were both crying, ok, maybe sobbing is closer to the truth. We were both highly shaken by the experience. We walked back to the car hand in hand. We had stopped crying and I put him in the back seat to buckle up. I said good bye to my parents and climbed into the car. I looked back at Kris and he was crying again. We both thought that there should be a warning on the maze that it was for older kids. I know that corn mazes are part of the fall and Halloween, but I have never been so scared. I can bet that neither of us will go near one ever again.

Finally Friday

It is finally Friday. It has been one of those weeks that Friday can't come soon enough. Maybe it was the added stress at home and work or maybe it was the knowledge that I was going out with friends on Friday. Either way it has been a brutal week to get through.
Be finally it is here. Bring on the friends, the gossip and the adult beverages! We will worry about tomorrow later, right now I am ready to meet up and hang out! I have the my favorite CD ready in the truck I will have the windows rolled down and I will on my way to a fun filled evening.
I love Fridays, don't you?

Thursday is Close to Friday

So I know that the weekend has not started just yet, but I feel like it is Friday. For one this has been an abnormally long week. It seems to be dragging on forever. For another thing Gary is gone hunting this weekend. Now don't get me wrong I will miss him, but at the same time I love having the house to myself to do whatever I want whenever I want. Well I guess not completely because both the boys are home, but still. I have seniority so what I say goes. I love being the MOM!
Kris and I area headed to my parents house Friday night and I am more than a little looking forward to it. They are having a Marti Gras parade that I think Kris will really like. It isn't like New Orleans, it is kid/family friendly. Then Grandma and Grandpa are going to watch Kris while I meet up with some friends for a night on the town. I am secretly hoping for an early end to the night, because I have so much I want to get in this weekend I don't want to waste my time sleeping in. I never in my life thought I would feel that way, I guess I am getting old.
My Dad also wants to take us out to breakfast on Saturday and he is not one to wait around. My Dad is a breakfast conisour! He loves breakfast, which is so funny because my Dad isn't a big eater. He is one those people that need to be reminded to eat. Why could I have not gotten that gene from him?!?
Saturday Kris and I are going shopping before heading home and then Sunday we are getting ready to start the week all over again. Oh and I have runs scheduled through out the weekend. I am working on my fastest mile for the Shrinkvivor Challenge. My average in my 5K was 13:17 and I am hoping to knock some time off of that!
What are you doing fun this weekend?

Wednesday Check-in Shrinkvivor

Well it has been another successful week of the Shrinkvivor challenge. Lets get right to the numbers, shall we.
Starting Weight: 213.8
Week 1: 213
Week 2: 210.2
Change: 2.8 lbs
Total Lost: 3.6 lbs
So far so good. Every pound counts and I am feeling good about it. I haven't deprived myself or starved myself I have just been trying to be more careful about what I eat. Some days are easier than others. I also got 5 hours of workouts in this week which is 300 minutes, and lots of water everyday. Between 60-100oz a day, I only drink water after my morning coffee, so I am not always good about counting the ounces. I even stayed far away from the drive thru, which was easier than I thought it would be. I just had to plan ahead and pack my lunch, I did forget it one day and had to have Subway, but I didn't tempt myself with a footlong even though it is more cost effective I only get a 6 inch. I think my family is benefiting to, we aren't snacking like before and becasue I am eating better, so are they. All good things!
I am excited to see what next weeks challenges are it keeps things exciting.

True Confession Tuesday

Its Tuesday again which means it is time to confess, and this week I actually did really well and my confessions are almost all good.
Lets start with the not so good.
* I did not train hard enough for my 5k on Sunday. I should have gotten in at least 1 more run before the event, but on the plus side, I ran the 5k anyway and completed it.
* Gosh, that's it for the not so good.
So the good confessions.
* I have gotten in some sort of workout minutes everyday for the Shrinkvivor challenge.
* I have gotten in lots of water everyday.
* I have NOT had fast food this week.
* I have packed my lunch everyday, I did forget to bring it with me one day, but it was packed!
* So far I have lost some weight this week, the official weigh in being tomorrow, I will not mention how much. A lot can happen overnight!
I feel really good this week. I feel powerful and successful and that is a great feeling to help spur you on to bigger and better accomplishments. I am planning another nice run for this weekend. I am going to visit my parents and they live in a nice neighborhood with sidewalks and lots of hills so I am planning to run there over the weekend. My Dad said he would plan a route for me and he would tell me when I got back how long it was. I think it will be a lot of fun. It will be a nice change of pace to run in the city than the long country roads I currently have to run on.
I did go out for a mile and a half run last night, it would have been longer but K came along on his bike and he was complaining so much about his bike not working right that I had to give into the complaints and head home to take a look at it. It drains my energy to have to deal with other things on my runs. On the bright side though I ran almost the entire time, only stopping to talk to K, and even then I was jogging in place. Lets hope I can keep this positive momentum going!

My First 5k Race

Yesterday I ran the Capital City River Run 5k. It was an adventure to say the very least. I have spent the last week debating on whether or not I was ready for this, had a trained enough, was I prepared? The answer was a resounding no. Every day leading up to the race I wavered on whether or not I was actually going to drive to Lansing and participate. One day I definitely was, the next definitely not. Until Sunday morning when I actually rolled out of bed I still knew in the back of my mind I did not have to do this. I could roll over in bed and sleep til 9 if I wanted to. But by then I had made up my mind. I was going to do this. I wanted to do this. So at 5:30am Sunday morning my alarm went off and I got out of bed. I had already laid out my clothes the night before. Black shorts, my favorite pink t-shirt (it says Princess on it) and a long sleeve t-shirt over top. I knew I needed to leave the house around 6:15 to give myself enough time to make the drive and get there in time to pick up my packet and shirt. I got in the truck ready to go and realized that my lovely husband had left my truck on under a ¼ of a tank of gas. Crap, I knew now I needed to stop for gas and that the closest gas station was 7 miles out of my way, crap again. I drove to the station to fill up and see the signs on all the pumps that there debit/credit machines are down! Ahhhh, luckily I had cash on me. So I fill up but now it is closer to 6:45 and I know I am seriously running late.

I drive down to Lansing as fast as I feel safe going since neither an accident nor a speeding ticket are worth it. I arrive at about 7:45, and quickly realize I am not where I need to be. I throw a new address into the GPS and start seeing runners as I drive; I know I am getting closer. I park the truck, grab my music and start following the crowd. I quickly ask some guy I see walking if he knows where I need to go and he walks me to the start of the race, I never did get his name, but I was so thankful to him. We wished each other luck and I ran inside to get my race number. I got my bib and my shirt and headed back outside. I had 13 minutes to spare before the race was to start. I stood in line next to another first timer and we chatted a little. I kept thinking to myself, oh God here we go, I am never doing this again. Before I knew it they were signaling the start of the race and off we went. She had the same pace to begin as I did so we stuck together for the beginning. Eventually she got ahead of me and I needed to walk a minute to catch my breath. That is how the rest of the race went, I would run for a few minutes (I didn’t have a watch so I have no idea how long) then I would walk a minute. I ended up following a mother and daughter team that were pacing themselves the same way and seemed to have a watch on them so when they ran I ran. I barely remember the race, I was focusing on my breathing and my running and not tripping on anything or running into anyone. Before I knew it we were rounding the corner to the finish. I put on a last burst of speed to get to the finish line. I remember smiling as I crossed the line and thinking, that was awesome, I can’t wait to do it again. I didn’t run a fast race, but I finished, my official time being 41:14 for a 13:17 mile pace. I finished 70 out of 83 runners in my age bracket and 669 out of 843 runners overall. The numbers don’t matter to me, what matters is that I did it. I was really proud of myself and I want to do it again.

I thought that once I was done with this race I would cross this off my bucket list and never sign up for another race again. Now I can’t wait for the next one. Now I feel more like I know what to expect and like I belong. I don’t want to quit running I want to improve my time. My goal for next year is to run the whole race without having to walk at all. Who knows maybe by this time next year I will be up to running the half marathon? No matter what I sign up to run though, the 5k or the half marathon, I will definitely return to this race. The capital was a beautiful place to run and I had a great time. I’m hooked.

Only next year, I will plan a lot better. I will find out where I need to be beforehand. After the race ended and the adrenaline rush was over I realized I had no idea where I had parked. I spent 45 minutes walking around downtown looking for my truck. Next year I will make my husband drive me! He had to work and couldn’t be there. (bummer) My sister and her family did come down to watch me finish but they got lost and couldn’t find the end of the race. (That is a huge long saga there I will have to tell another time.) So I ended the race with no one there for me but really I was ok with that. I understood the reasons my family couldn’t make it and I know they were there in spirit and I would probably be more upset if it was the one and only race I was ever going to run, but I know now that it was only beginning and they will be there for some of the rest of them. Gary even said he might like to join me! Time will tell!

A day late and a dollar short?!?

So I am a day late for the Wednesday check-in. Yesterday was crazy for me, so I guess you get the Thursday Check-in this week. I did officially check in with the Sisterhood for my Tribe, the Groovy Gray Chicks, and that is the check-in that mattered the most.
So officially here are my Wednesday results.......on Thursday
Starting Weight: 213.8
Week 1: 213
Change: -.8
Goal for the Challenge: As much as I can and keep it off.
I have not, as you can see, set a number to get to or an amount to lose for this challenge. I just want to work at getting it off and keeping it off. I am happy with any loss that stays gone. I don't want to yo-yo from week to week, so if that means I only lose a little bit each week so be it, although I hope it is a little bit more than this week! lol
So as I mentioned before yesterday was crazy and here is why. For the past year and a half or so I have been battling with a few little health problems, mostly fatigue which is directly related to low levels of Iron and vitamin B-12. I was doing better a few months ago but I can physically feel my levels are low again. I am in bed and sound asleep by 9:00am, that is totally crazy for me. So yesterday I had a doctors appointment, 2.5 hours from home. My doctor recommended I try a new supplement kinda drink of his own invention. It is packed with protein, Vitamin B-12 and Vitamin D, he said the protein in it is like eating a hamburger, but it only has 48 calories per serving. I was sold. He also said it gives you energy like a 5 hour energy shot, but without the caffeine or the crash. I tried a 1 oz shot yesterday and felt pretty good afterward, I was still in bed by 8:45, but hey you can't expect miracles. I took another shot this morning and felt better than I have in awhile. It doesn't curb my appetite as much as he described it would, but it helped. I am hoping more so that the B-12 in it helps me get my energy back than anything, but I feel pumped and revitalized. Weight loss is just as much mental as it is physical and I was feeling so tired and warn out that getting the physical part in was killing me. Lets hope this helps for next week. That is if I survive and haven't been exiled! Fingers crossed.

Confession Time

Time to confess. I have always heard that confession is good for the soul, I am hoping that is true.
*I have a 5k run on Sunday that I do not feel at all prepared for. I have slacked off at the worst possible time. I do have this week to get on track, but I wish I had another week. I contemplated skipping the whole thing, but I have definitely decided against that. I figure even if I walk the whole thing I am going to do it.
*I feel like I am living my life in avoidance mode lately. I am trying to keep myself busy with everything else than to dwell on the things that are out of my control. I am working on this one. Taking control of my life, my family, my eating.
*I am a slacker lately. Once school started it killed my schedule and it shouldn't have. I feel like I am using school as an excuse to not do things I should do, like, I don't know, RUN!
*I did not eat very well over the weekend. We were at our Cabin in the U.P. and it is really hard to eat good when everything you are cooking is over a fire. In my defense I did make squash in the fire and ate that, but I added butter. I also didn't workout very much this weekend either. Again in my defense there is no shower up there and if I get stinky and gross from a run, I am stinky and gross til I get home.
Ahhh, that did make me feel better. I feel bad about my eating and workouts because of the Shrinkvivor challenge and I feel like I am letting the Groovy Gray Chicks down. I have gotten back on track since I have been home, getting a 2.2 mile run in yesterday, but I know that my totals for the week are pathetic. I will get back on track, I will get my life in order and I will succeed in this journey to lose weight. I feel better when I get my workouts in and eat right and I know this, so I just need remember it. I feel better now, time to get a move on. I can still get a walk in on my lunch and I have a run scheduled for after dinner. Lets see what I can do in a last push for the miles.
How did you do this week? Have you confessed?

It Starts Now

Shrinkvivor starts today. It is the official first weigh in. It is not a pretty number, but on the bright side I have no where to go but down. I am really looking forward to the next few weeks, the teams and the dreaded Exile island. My plan is to stay far far away from Exile island.
I have 10 days left until my first ever 5k run and I am hoping that training for that and this new challenge keeps me on track and accountable.
Are you ready to shrink?
Starting weight: 213.8 I am hoping that is the last time I ever see that number. It is up from my previous challenge, but I think part of that is that I needed new batteries in my scale. Let see how low that number can go. I am pretty confident that by the end of the challenge I can kiss the 200's good bye for good! I can't wait to see what our first physical challenge is for this week.

Just Checking In

Its check in Wednesday at the sisterhood and since the challenge is over I almost forgot. I did just randomly jump on the scale this morning and I am holding my own. I think I was up .4 lbs, but after a weekend of hot dogs and smore's I didn't think that was too bad. I also haven't gotten in much exercise in the last week. The last hurrah of summer and school starting has really thrown me for a loop. I am ready to get back to my usual schedule of workouts and get our eating back on track too. Summer is hard to get a routine going, but for some reason cooler temperatures signal that things need to get organized. I think having to get kids up for school and ready to tackle the day pushes me to be super-mom. Showers and teeth brushing and lunch packing and homework and lunch money and gas money and permission slips signed and well I think you get the idea. If I wasn't organized things would get missed and forgotten and a long day would be all that much longer when all your free time is spent trying to catch up.
I am actaully missing my workouts so I think that is a very good thing. I need to make sure not to miss too many more since my race is in 18 days and I need to train. My nephew has decided he wants to run with me so I am pretty excited about that too, of course he will leave me in the dust but it will be nice having him there. So on to bigger and better for next week when the Shrinkvivor Challenge starts. Are you signed up? I can't wait, it sounds like it is going to be alot of work and alot of fun!
So how did you do this week? Are you reved up and ready to go for next week?