Cake Free Until The Year Ends In 3!

Yesterday we had our group run. It had an increased running time. It was running for 60 seconds at a time instead of 45. I know it was easier this time, because when I would start to get tired, I would start counting up starting at 45 seconds and almost every time, I didn't even get to 50 before the whistle blew. So that means that 60 seconds felt about the same as 45 did last time! They took a photo of our group. I was in the front and I was hating that I was in the front, but when the picture was posted on Facebook, I was really surprised that I didn't hate how I looked.

That is me in the front left in the white hoodie. Now I'm glad I was in the front, because it helped me see some progress!

I went to my friend's daughters first birthday yesterday. It was fun. Elliott had a really good time playing with all the kids. The cake looked SO good, but I didn't have any! I smelled it though! It smelled fantastic! I didn't even feel sorry for myself for not having a piece, I felt good about the decision! That makes 1 cake event down, about a thousand to go for this year. I know I can do it! She posted a picture of me and my daughter on Facebook and it also helped me see my progress! After the party we went over to the park and I felt a lot different from the last time we were there several months ago. I felt like I had the energy to actually play with my daughter and not want to sit down the whole time!

I can't wait to see where I am another 3 1/2 months from now!

October 2, 2011 260lbs

 

January 14, 2012 228lbs.( I feel like I can really see a difference in my face, neck, and chest.)

So Badass!

I'm up and ready to go at 630am on a Saturday! Ready to go get my run on at 730am with the S2F group!

We had a group run on Wednesday at 6pm. I headed out to work at around 5pm to meet Kim and Stephanie to car pool. When I got out of my car, it was freaking SNOWING! When I got inside and told them it was snowing Stephanie said "I wonder if they are going to be doing it tonight?" and I said "Yes they will!" When Kim and I went to the informational meeting about S2F, someone asked if we'd be doing the running inside, or outside. They said outside and that there are only a handful of days that would not be safe for running and it would be due to extreme icy conditions. So we went out. When we got there, they told us that the final count for people who signed up for the program was 304. There were about 30 people that showed up to run.... We headed out and it was not only snowing, but SUPER windy. We had 30mph winds with gusts up to 40mph. We ran the first half into the wind and came back with the wind to our backs. It was so cold and so windy, but I'm SO glad I did it! I felt like a badass afterward! They congratulated us on being committed and coming out in the crazy weather! After the run, there was a clinic on how to make healthy smoothies. We got to try some, and now I have a few smoothie recipes in my head that I want to make.

I went to Old Navy yesterday because I keep seeing a commercial on TV about their new workout line with moisture wicking material. I went on my lunch break yesterday to check it out and bought some stuff. I got a long sleeved running top, a light weight running jacket, a pair of long compression pants, a pair of compression capri pants, 4 pairs of compression socks, a sports bra, a cool hoodie that has ear buds built in to it, a running hat, and a duffel bag all for $127. I spent way more than I expected to, but it was all on sale and I saved $85. I hadn't bought anything for my birthday on Monday, so it was to celebrate my birthday and to celebrate my 30 pound weight loss.

My motivational quote for today: The only workout you'll ever regret, is the one you didn't do!

I never really understood this one before Wednesday. I totally would've regretted it (and maybe not even known that I did) if I hadn't gone out to run in that windy snow!

Wednesday Weigh-In

I had my weigh in today and I lost 2.2 pounds this week! I was happy with that loss. I'm officially down to pre pregnancy weight!

I went to the Y last night to do my cross-training as part of the Start2Finish program. I did strength training and then 20 minutes on the elliptical. We have a group run tonight with Start2Finish. I hope it is easier than the run I did by myself on the treadmill on Monday!

I had a horrible day yesterday. Not in the fact that I ate bad (I did really well) or that I didn't exercise. I was just feeling down mentally. I kept second guessing myself, asking myself if I really had it in me to follow this through. Then my cousin posted some pictures on Facebook and said that she had lost 62 pounds, and it made me feel like my 30 was nothing and that I still have a LONG way to go. Because of this I spent a good portion of the day on Pinterest looking up motivational saying to help me through. There were two that stuck out to my feeling of yesterday:

 

I love, love, LOVE looking up motivational shit on Pinterest. It really helps me gain some prospective and keep my head in the right place!

Haters

Saturday was our second run with Start2Finish. It was at 730a and it was pretty cold. We did intervals of 30 seconds of running with a 90 second recovery. It was easier that time. We were told to meet someone new, so we introduced ourselves to a woman named Miranda who seemed nice.

After the run, I had my first meeting at the Y with my personal trainer at 9am. I almost didn't go, but am really glad I did. Of course it was with a young, cute guy! ;)We went over my goals and made a specific plan for me to follow. One of the questions he asked in my assessment was "On a scale of 1-10, how confident are you that you will reach your goals?" I said "10" but I meant 11... 12... 20! That what is different this time, I KNOW I can reach my goals!

Yesterday was my birthday. At work we always get everyone a cake on their birthday. This year I requested chocolate covered strawberry and orange slices and apples with peanut butter. Cake is my favorite food in the WHOLE world, but I felt great about not having it! I didn't feel deprived at all! The night before, I was talking to Paul about the cake thing and I said "I wonder if I could go a whole year without eating cake?" and he said "You can't!" and I said "Challenge accepted!" The last time I  had cake was NYE, so 2012 will be a cake free year for me!

I had a run on my own on my training schedule and I went to the Y last night and did it as my cardio. It was pretty much awful! I realized I like running outside WAY more than inside on a treadmill. I was struggling through the whole thing and wanted to quit half way through, but I stuck it out. I was SUPER sweaty by the end! When I was walking out, I was walking by some people on the elliptical behind the treadmills and as I walked by a girl looked at the guy next to me and said "Well, I guess she didn't die!" and I KNEW that they were talking about me. I normally would've been SO embarrassed and maybe never would've ran on the treadmill again. But this time it didn't bother me. Of course there are going to be haters. This is MY journey and no one elses. I'm not going to let what ANY one else say or think stop me. I'm doing this for ME!

Well, Elle is asking for a banana, and I better comply to avert a crisis situation!

Start2Finish

OMG, I have had a fantastic day! I lost 3.4 pounds at my weigh in this week! I was thrilled! I'm 0.4 pounds away from losing 30 pounds! I cannot believe it!

And tonight was the night that Start2Finish started! There is a TON of people. Almost 200. We split up into 3 different groups, Novice 1 (being the easiest) to Novice 3 (being the most advanced). Kim, Stephanie, and I are in Novice 1. We did our first run. We did a 5 minute warm up walk, then we alternated running for 30 seconds and then walking for 90 seconds for 20 minutes. I realized tonight that it is so much easier to run with other people. I have started a 4 weeks to 1 mile (similar to C25K) several times that had about the same run/walk times. This time was much easier. I don't know if it was because I've done it before or the people or both. I was happy to see that I was not the fattest person there. I was actually worried about that. Crazy, I know. But I had already resolved that I was going to be, and I was okay with that.

During the last running stint, I felt SO good! I didn't feel like dying and it felt as my legs were carrying me automatically. I was even passing people! People skinner than me too! I'm so pumped and SO glad I'm doing this program! I'm even more glad that I have friends to do it with!

I had a great week! I'm so proud of myself!!!!!!!!!!!

PR

Last night I made my first trip to the YMCA. I did a mile one the treadmill in about 17 minutes, which is the fastest I've ever done. My first PR! Lol! I don't think I've ever broken a 20 minute mile. I ran/walked/jogged for 20 minutes completing 1.1 miles. I was able to run for 3 minutes straight, which came out to be about a 1/4 mile. I've never run that ran/long before. I was so proud! It seems a bit easier to keep running when the floor beneath you is moving you at a steady pace. I was tempted to do more after the 20 minute jog, but I don't want to over do it. There was also a TON of people there. New Year's Resolution-ers, I'm guessing.

S2F starts tomorrow! I'm excited! Another girl from work, Stephanie, is going to do it also. She went and signed up yesterday. She is my receptionist and the person I spend most of my day talking to. I'm glad she signed up. We spend a lot of time talking about weight loss and how much of a mental battle it is. I love talking about it. It helps to keep me going.

I used to never talk about it if I was trying to lose weight. Somehow it seemed as though trying to lose weight was embarrassing. More embarrassing than being obese? I guess that's what I felt. Even this time I didn't start talking about it until I'd lost about 15 pounds. Talking about it helps keep me motivated and accountable.

I was talking to Paul on Sunday night and I finally admitted to him that I had gained a pound last week. I feel good that I ended the year with a 26 pound weight loss. I said "I'm that much ahead of everyone who is starting today!" And it made me feel good, regardless of the gain.

Tonight, Elliott and I are going to my friend Lindsay's house. She has a daughter that's one and we have 2 other friends who have daughters that are 1 and 2 months younger than Elliott. I love that we all have girls so close in age. We get them together to play pretty often and have since they were very young, and us mom's get a chance to talk and hang out. They are all stay at home mom's so they don't have an outlet of adults daily, like I do.

Well, tomorrow is weigh in day. I'm feeling that I'm going to have a good loss this week!

Happy New Year!

I gained a pound this week :(. I almost didn't go to WW on Wednesday because of it, but I knew that if I didn't go, I would stay off track and never go back. So I went. I saw my gain, had it recorded, and I have moved on. I'm trying to concentrate on the good things, like how I lost (even with the 1 pound gain) 15.2# between Halloween and Christmas. How I still, on January 1st, have Halloween candy in the house! I normally wouldn't last until November 1st! How I lost weight the week of Thanksgiving. I'm proud of what I have accomplished in 2011, even when I just started this journey in the last quarter.

Last year, I was really sad to see 2010 go. It was the year I had my daughter and that was one thing that made it so very special. This year I've been so glad to see 2011 go, and I'm not sure why. When I reflect on it now, it wasn't all bad. We bought our first home. I got a promotion with a really good raise. My daughter started walking and talking. We got new furniture. I think it has to do a lot with all the weight I gained (and that Paul and I had a HUGE fight on our anniversary, that really sticks out). But I'm determined to get to a healthy weight in 2012 and I know it's going to happen.

I joined the YMCA yesterday. I want to take an exercise class. I think it will be fun. I hope it will be fun. I want to do a swimming class with Elliott, but I want to lose some more weight before I have to get into a swim suit.

I start my running program this coming Wednesday and then I meet with a personal trainer at the Y this coming Saturday. I think that is a great start to my weight loss goals in 2012.

We went to Paul's brothers house last night to celebrate NYE and despite my bringing vegetables and clementines, I still managed to eat more sweets than a person trying to lose weight. I did however track everything I ate. My goal for this week has been to track truthfully and I'm doing well so far. I keep telling myself: Your body keeps accurate record of everything you eat, regardless of what you write down ;)

Well, here's to another week and another wonderful year.