Down and Out

I'm down and out today with sciatica so I thought it would be a good day to catch up! 

I've been working on running more consistently and getting in walks or bike rides on the off days. I'm currently using Jeff Galloway's 10k training plan.

http://www.jeffgalloway.com/training/5k10kschedules/

(This is coming from my phone and I can't do hyperlinks)

Anyway, I'm doing a run 3 minutes walk 1 minute method. It's going pretty well. I will be starting week three this week so we will see how the longer times go.

The weather has been hit or miss lately but I've been getting out no matter the weather. I can't stand the thought of a treadmill right now! 

Mattie and I running at night. I fashioned a head light for her! 

New River in WV

Hiking the gorgeous Blue Ridge Mountains. Though I have to say I was disappointed that nothing was in bloom yet at the higher elevations.

My birthday present. A new bike helmet so I can try out more road biking. 

I've only had a chance to try the helmet out once. I was so nervous to go on the roads by myself for the first time. I made it though and had a good time! I could definitely tell my legs weren't used to biking hills.

The weather should be turning for the better so I should be able to get a lot of biking in soon! 

Unfortunately my weight is still in the 180's which is down a bit from the highest after being on prednisone. But as I'm becoming more consistent and the more I'm getting outside my weight is slowly creeping down. My sister is getting married in June so I hope to be down a few more pounds by then.

Celebrating her bachlorette party at the Biltmore in North Carolina. A truly gorgeous place.

Well that's all I have for now. I've got some races coming up so im sure I'll be posting more soon! 

Eating Everything In Sight

Damn you Prednisone. These steroids are making me crazy. I literally look like I'm going through puberty. My face is all broken out, I sweat more, my face is puffy, and I'm eating EVERYTHING I can get my hands on. Attractive, I know.

BUT I am mending. I'm still not whole, but I'm able to get my housework done and walk a bit. I've tried running/walking, but I get so sore the next day. My legs tend to feel like lead too when I run, but I'm going to keep trying it one to two days a week just to see how I progress and to hopefully build a little muscle back.

I've talked with the rheumatologist more about my polymyositis, she recommends not pushing myself right now. The problem is I can cause some serious muscle damage to my body if I push too hard. Right now I don't have any muscle damage that I can't recover from and I have a good chance of gaining all of my strength back (thanks to being young and in shape!).

I do have a small event this Saturday that I'm going to be volunteering with and walking a 5K. I did the same event last year, the Fast and Furriest 5K, but I didn't participate. My sister works for Starbucks and as part of their community outreach program, they are donating coffee and iced tea. She also got a small group together to participate in the 5K, so I told her I would do it with her! I just hope I can do it! I've walked 2+ miles so far, so I think I'll be okay.

Then on the 28th, I'll be participating in the Charleston, WV Biggest Loser Run. I thought about dropping out all together, but I want to see what I can do. I'll obviously not put any pressure on myself and if I'm hurting I'll stop, but I really want to try!

Hopefully those will give me something to talk about other than how much I eat in a day and how I feel like I'm 13 again!

WI #11 (I Think)

My weight is still up 164.4 today. That hurts to write. I don't know if I ate too much, exercised too little. I don't know. I've been down in the dumps about it and was almost to the point of giving up trying to lose weight and just maintain my weight. BUT, honestly I feel better when I'm trying to lose weight because I do eat better and get out more, so I won't give up!!

Instead I made a training plan for myself. And of course I forgot to email the plan to myself so I don't have an electronic copy right now to post, but it lasts until almost the very end of December. I gave myself two rest days a week. It involves cycling and running with gradual increase in distances/time. I didn't make it too crazy, but I think it'll really help me stick to exercising which generally leads to better eating for me.

I only got in three runs this week. A 4 miler, 5 miles, and 8 today. I also have planned an hour and a half on the bike tomorrow before me and my beau head to Pittsburgh to see the Penguins play hockey. Oh and ummm, maybe, perhaps, go to the Cheesecake Factory. His friend wants to go there and I've never been! So of course today I got online and looked up the menu. Unfortunately they don't list the nutritional value for their food, but they did have a 'skinny' menu. I'll probably try to order something obviously healthy and then I'm going to try to get someone to share a piece of cake with me, cause come on! I can't go there and not even try one!! ; )

I also might get back on track in a week or so with the low carb. I did pretty well until I went to my hometown for a week and my weight hasn't been down since! But I just bought some English Muffins and I'm not willing to waste the money throwing them out because I want to cut out some carbs! haha

And to leave with you another funny video that made me chuckle this week:

Watch out for those bike lanes!

WI #9 and Looking Forward

Another Friday is here! It would be exciting if I didn't have to work tomorrow! As you can see my weight is down to 160. So close to the 150's! So I am down .6 from last week. I'll take anything that is in the downward direction.

I have done more strength training this week than....ever, probably. It's been a little bit of crazy week, so I've done some quick home workouts with strength training. My week looked like this:

Sunday: 6 miles
Monday: Swim 2 feet a little in the river, plus the running around for the transition workshop. Then some arm strength training with light weights and some plank work.
Tuesday: 15 mile bike ride.
Wednesday: Strength training at home which consisted of squats, planks, lunges, and weights for the arms.
Thursday: Strength training at home again sit ups, push ups, squats, and more weights for arm work.
Friday: 1 mile run, 12 miles on the stationary bike, 1.10 mile run. (Small brick workout practicing for next weekend)
Saturday: Some sort of run.

Another point for myself eating wise this week! Skipped out on dessert at a dinner we had at work on Wednesday and just had the fruit I brought to substitute.

YUM!

 Then tonight I soooo wanted to just pick something up for dinner. But, but, I didn't! I was a good girl and came home to cook an omelet with turkey bacon (my latest kick).

I'm a little tired today. I couldn't sleep last night. So I played on Instagram. Isn't that what you're supposed to do when you can't sleep? No?
Anyway this picture got me thinking...

This is the place of my duathlon next weekend. I sooo want to work towards bigger races, but my swimming really holds me back. So I'm going to get stronger and force myself to practice more. I'm already not looking forward to that part, but I'll have to get through it if I ever want to enter races such as the Savage Man in the far future. This race is very close to where I live and one of the hardest triathlons in the world.

The Infamous Westernport Wall

If you have big desires, you have to put the work in, right? But, I'm still so new to the world of running, triathlons, duathlons, I want to start small and make sure I keep having things to look forward to. Having goals such as races is one of the reasons I'm still keeping on track with my weight loss and I can't let it get boring!



Well that's all I have for this week. I start vacation after Sunday, wish me luck that I don't eat everything in sight at my parents house! Yes, very exciting vacation I know...

I Resisted


Holy Moly Batman! I actually kept with my plan this weekend!

I didn't indulge in this:


Source

I didn't eat this:

Source

Or this:

Instant Karma Cupcakes

 

And these:

 

Rum and Coke



 

I even lost weight this weekend! (Okay only .2 pounds, but it's still a loss!!!) I did drink my weight in sweet tea this weekend, but what can I say? I can't give up my sweet tea just yet.

No my family and friends aren't sugar addicts. The reason for all the treats were due to a couple of birthdays. Two friends of mine have birthdays this week and my mom's birthday is Wednesday.

I think writing out my goal to show willpower and making small choices that lead to better things really paid off. I kept reminding myself of it all weekend.

The interesting thing is that I realized it's not ALL of my fault that when I go home I overeat. Not only are there temptations just laying around in plain view and for easy grabbing at my parent's home, but people can be pushy when it comes to food! My friends and family kept trying me to eat these desserts, but I remained firm. I stated that I wanted to lose more weight and to do that I couldn't gain five pounds every time I return home. I also planned like I said I would. I took water and either a granola bar or some 'trail mix' that I put together. I put trail mix in quotes since it was really just peanuts and dried cranberries and some raisins. But that mix of salty and sweet absolutely did the trick. I went to three movies this weekend and didn't get popcorn, even though I really really wanted it!! I saw The Big Lebowski at a new movie theater/playhouse that has an old feel, Planes at a Drive-In movie theater, and The World's End. all were great! haha.

I managed to get in one run on Saturday. I met a friend and we did five miles in 58 minutes together. It was so nice to have someone to keep me company and to talk to during the run. It made it go by much faster! I didn't run yesterday though. It was rainy and honestly I was really tired. So I'll either run or bike ride today after work. Yes I have to work on Labor Day!


WI #7 and 'Half-Assed'

Again with the sideways photo!?! Oh well.

160.4 Down .4 from last week. At least it's in the right direction, but it's a little disappointing. I had been down in the 150's at the beginning of the week and then it went up enough to push me back into 160.  I WILL GET DOWN TO THE 150's! Dang it! ;) I just want to be considered a healthy weight one time in my life!

I'm going out of town this weekend. I have been doing pretty well with my eating for the past few weeks, but I've also been at home a lot. My weight always goes up when I go out of town. I was thinking about my willpower at my parent's home versus at my home, when I read these few pages in a book called Half-Assed by Jennette Fulda. (Really funny book about her weight loss by the way).

"Willpower was good for getting me to speed up my grocery cart as I passed the Oreos strategically placed next to the milk section....But using willpower as the energy source for a long-term weight-loss plan was like trying to power an aircraft carrier with a hamster running in a wheel."

Meaning that we can use willpower to get us through the small daily choices we have to make, but you can't base your whole weight-loss on willpower. You have to have a plan, goals, and make actual changes to your life to get what you want.

"I was making a lot of choices these days. I would always go for the slice of whole-wheat over the white bread. Sweet potatoes would beat normal potatoes in all my vegetable wrestling matches. I peeled the skin off the chicken even if that made my a poultry scalper."

 

 

"All those little choices in the day added up to something bigger. It was like stacking every brick to make a glorious cathedral or sitting at a loom every day, weaving thread in and out to make a glittering tapestry. Losing weight required a lot of constant thinking and decision making."

 

 

This is so true. Weight-loss really requires a bunch of small choices that add up to something bigger at the end of the day and your end goals. To choose water over soda. To choose to skip seconds. Etc. These steps do take willpower. But to know what you are going to order before you get to the restaurant. Bringing your own food to the party. Getting your exercise in. These are all steps that have nothing to do with willpower, but planning. And keeping your end goal, whether it's weight loss, to train for a race, to avoid gluten, whatever. It will take planning.

 

Even though I will probably eat out more than normal because I will be visiting family and friends this weekend, I can CHOOSE to eat healthy. To go to restaurants that offer healthy options. And to get a couple of runs in. 

So don't use the lack of willpower as an excuse to not lose weight. The lack of willpower probably means the lack of overall planning. Also just because you have a treat does not mean you failed. Accept it and move on. The next meal can always be healthier. Yup still working on the acceptance thing, but I do make sure that I get right back on track.

We can all do this! I'm already planning tonight when I meet friends at a bar before a movie. Water at the bar and I may be smuggling in my trail mix for the movie, haha.

_______________

Workouts this week went like this:

Sunday: Rest
Monday: 46 Mile Bike ride - 4hrs 30 mins.
Tuesday: Rest
Wednesday: 2 Mile run and strength training, mostly arms with some squats and dip thingys
Thursday: 6 Mile run 1 hr 9 mins (slow, but I didn't look at my watch the whole time, it was nice).
Friday: Slept in, so I guess it'll be another rest day bc of traveling. Oops.
Saturday: I'm thinking 5 mile run.

WI #5

I'm not sure why Blogger keeps turning this sideways...

Bummer up .4 pounds this week. Even though I chose healthy foods this week, including not eating any chips or tortillas at a Mexican restaurant! I was still very snacky this week and I think I went overboard a few times. C'est la vie. Perhaps next week I'll be a little more strict.

Right now I've got more important things to think about, like running 13.1 miles tomorrow! Eeeep.
I'm nervous, excited, and nervous some more. I don't feel prepared and I just keep hoping that my legs hold up (mainly my ankle and knee).

I can do it. I can do it. I can do it.

I still have to go pack and take a shower so this is short and sweet. Have a good weekend all!

Weigh-In #2

Sorry I forgot to post my weigh-in yesterday, but I did take the picture:

Down two pounds! Couldn't ask for anything better than that! And please ignore my toe nail polish that needs removed....

Obviously this week went pretty well. Thursday West Virginia had gorgeous weather and I was so excited to go on a run. I had gotten busy that day and didn't eat a real lunch, just some yogurt and a granola bar. Therefore I decided to eat dinner when I got home and then go on a 4 miler. Bad, horrible idea. I guess I drank too much because a mile in I got horrible stomach cramps and I could literally hear the liquid swishing around in my gut. Not fun. So I ended up having to walk most of it. I still got the four miles in, but it took me over 50 minutes! It was still a nice walk though, lol. I saw at least four deer! And the trees were lush and bright green from all the rain we've been having here.

I will make a confession though. I exercised less this week than I had planned. But I still got my important runs in, but I actually think my body might be appreciating the little break. Is it possible that I've been working out too much? I don't know. I know that I like riding bikes and running, so I probably won't slow down on that front just because my weight goes down, but it's nice to know I can take it easy on some weeks and still lose weight.

This week was a big week for me. First my car got hit....again.

I've only had this bumper a couple of months after someone rear ended me in a four car accident. Then on Monday an ambulance hit me with their big steal bumper. I'm not upset about it, accidents happen, but I can't believe I have to get it replaced again!

Then yesterday (Friday) I finally told my boss some news that made me feel relieved. I'm not ready to reveal the news yet, but I definitely feel better that I don't have to hide it any longer from my work.

Big 10 miles this weekend. It's raining right now, so I'm going to hold off for either this evening or tomorrow and see if it clears up. There's no way I'm doing that long of a run on a treadmill!

And apparently this is going to be a very random post. A lot of people may hate the summer heat, but come on, you have to love the fruit summer brings. I've been loving watermelon, blueberries, cantaloupe, and peaches. and grapes. and apples. See, I love it all! Fruit really helped me stay on track at my family reunion last weekend and it helps when I have the munchies. Most of the fruit is full of water, this satiates thirst while providing a refreshing snack. Can't wait for Fall, but yeah, I'll definitely be sad when all of this goodness isn't in season any longer. Enjoy it while you can!

Not Every Week is Great

Life is not all sunshine and butterflies. You know this and I know this. This week and last week have not been great as far as eating goes and today I had a craptastic run.

It really started with some stress from work last Thursday. Instead of going on the run that I knew would make me feel better, my body felt tired from the stress, so I came home and ate the rest of the bag of honey Kernel things that I had. Then, then! we ordered pizza. I ate three slices instead of stopping at two. After that I was supposed to clean house in preparation for my dad coming, nope that didn't happen. I took a three hour nap! Who does that!?! When I woke up (very confused at what day it was) I got a little bit of cleaning done and then went back to bed.

I realize that sometimes your body needs a break and that you have to deal with emotions in some manner. I don't mind that I took a glorious nap, but I do mind that I ate uncontrollably and when I was alone. It felt like I was 240 pounds all over again, hiding my eating from my boyfriend, and then over eating at dinner when he gets home. Frustrated to say the least, but it's all about learning. Next time I'll go straight for the nap ;) or at least take a walk when I don't feel like running or biking.

Of course I ate more junk food then planned over the weekend while I was in Tennessee. Even though I worked out all week, you really can't out work a bad diet. My weight is up this week at 161.2. I know it will eventually head back down, but I tend to do this over and over and that's why my weight loss has been rather slow. Sometimes I just get frustrated with myself and need to vent!

As far as workouts go for the week: I had my 5K on Sunday, did a 1 mile run and 20 minutes on a stationary bike at the hotel gym on Monday, did 8 miles on Tuesday, worked on cleaning our backyard up on Wednesday, 2 miles and 25 minutes on the stationary bike on Thursday, which brings me to my craptastic 10 mile run today. 

Oi Vay, I just could not get my head in this run. I started out already not feeling it and it just kept getting worse. Around mile 3 my stomach started hurting majorly and the bathroom isn't until mile 5. I seriously considered using the bushes, but it creeps me out so I just held on as best as I could. I had to walk a little so that my stomach would settle back down. I made it though. But after the pit stop I just had to energy left. I even ate some new fruit gummies (which I can't remember the brand right now and threw away the package), but they didn't give me any extra energy. My legs felt incredibly heavy and I just didn't have it in me. I didn't quit though. Best things about out and back courses, you have to finish to leave! I did have to walk a lot though and ended with an 11:30 pace. I'm surprised its not worse due to the amount of walking I did.

Well over ten minutes slower than my last 10 miler, but at least I experienced a difficult run and know I can finish it in case this happens at my half marathon. I suppose you could say I hit 'the wall' that runners always talk about. Blah I hope I don't experience it on my next one.

A couple of things could have caused this bad run. Not drinking enough water, the day before or the morning of. I didn't take a rest day the day before and maybe my body was tired. Maybe I should have slept a little longer so that I would have felt more rested. And my water bottle apparently wasn't closed all the way so kept spilling water all over myself and ran out of water more quickly.

Oh well though! It's over and I finished it! For every good run there are three bad ones and I had a pretty good run on Tuesday, so I guess this is just par for the course.

Hope you have a healthy weekend! Maybe 4-wheeling tomorrow with Richard and his family (I'm not that into it, but its quality time together) and then work Sunday.

No Timeline

I occasionally listen to the podcast Half Size Me. This is a great podcast (available through ITunes or Stitcher Radio) dealing with various weight loss stories, maintenance, and different exercise. If you like strength training or kettlebells, you definitely want to check her out.

Anyway, I was listening and they mentioned reaching goals by certain deadlines. People need to understand that this is not a race. You are not the hare and you do not get $200 for passing GO. To truly change your body and health, you need to make changes that are for the long term. This means you keep exercising and choosing the healthier options even when the scale doesn't move! I've hit various periods where it took a long time to get past a certain weight (175 was a tough one for me for example). BUT I kept going! I don't ever want to go back to the person who struggled to move, to get out of bed, who had issues that people in their eighties experience! (That's a whole other post).

I've never given up foods that I like or continued exercise that I don't want to do forever. Yes this means that my weight loss is slower, but guess what, I've never felt deprived, I won't gain a whole bunch of weight back when I go off a plan (since I don't have one), and I'll be able to maintain my weight loss.  Through counting calories and really watching my portions, I've been able to eat the food I like. Over time though the food that I like has developed into healthier options and I can't stand half the food I used to stuff down my throat.

 My point is that even if  your weight loss or reaching your fitness goals takes years, what does it matter? As long as you continue to be healthy and live an active life, then you haven't wasted your time, you've bettered yourself! When you get frustrated with the scale or you feel like you're not losing weight fast enough, remember to continue down the path to health and your body will catch up.

If you need even more motivation, I was included in Runs for Cookies' Blog for Motivational Monday. She always posts people's accomplishments on Monday's and they are very inspiring! Make sure to check out her blog, it's one of my favorites.

Always being healthy isn't always easy, but to ignore your health is not an option. It's either live with the pain of obesity and being sedentary and pay those consequences. OR get up and move and push through the temporary pain of exercise so that you can live a life full of experiences and new limits.