YIKES ... Catching up!

I am WAY behind on posting.  We got back from Disneyland Paris, and while my running didn't fall off, my posting did!  So here's a summary of the runs I've done since we got back a week ago.

Week 4, Day 3: Wednesday, November 7
Time--30:59
Distance--2.25 miles
This distance is an estimate; I ran on an indoor track and the GPS went all wonky on me.

Week 5, Day 1: Friday, November 9
Time--33:59
Distance--2.32 miles
Ran this in our little village.  The uneven sidewalks hurt my knees but I'm sure it's just a matter of getting used to the change of surface.

Week 5, Day 2: Sunday, November 11
Time--27:59
Distance--1.98 miles
Another run in our village.  It was COLD for this run--I could see frost on the ground for the majority of my run!

Week 5, Day 3: Monday, November 12
Time--29:59
Distance--2.10 miles
Back to the track on base today.  This run was hard--started off with a nine minute run!  I was a little surprised at how my body just kind of went on auto-pilot on that long run, though.

The next run (Week 6, Day 1) will be a doozy ... two nine-minute runs.  It's gearing up for the first 20-minute run.  TWENTY MINUTES.  Hopefully my body will go into auto-pilot with that one, too!

Bonjour ... voulez-vous faire le jogging??

So, I ran into a dilemma this weekend.  We had a trip planned, and our two travel days were Friday and Monday--two out of the three days I run during the week.  I had a choice: wait an entire week between runs, or take jogging stuff and do at least one run on vacation.  So, surprising even to me, I took my workout clothes and actually went for a jog on vacation.  And this is where I ran:

Photo taken by Dean Thomas at Aspex Design

It's the lake at the Disneyland Paris theme park.  Let me say that again: I RAN AT DISNEYLAND PARIS.  Dare I say it ... have I become *GASP* a runner?  I think when you make time to run when you're at a theme park in France, you can't avoid calling yourself a runner any longer.  And that's what I have been doing: avoiding labeling myself as a runner LIKE THE PLAGUE.  I think part of me is still terrified that I will fail at it somehow--stop running, or not be as good as I would like--but I also think part of me knew that if I call myself a runner, there's no turning back.  It's something that you ARE, and something that is a part of you.  And I guess I'm not afraid anymore to commit myself to that way of life.  Yes, running is hard, but it really does make me feel good after I've finished.

So, I guess I should say ... JE SUIS UNE JOGGEUSE!

Workout summary:

Time: 30:59

Distance: 2.25 miles

Ease Into 5K: Week 4, Day 1

Or, as I wanted to call this post: THE APOCALYPSE.

I had so many fears about this day.  Most stemmed from the fact that up until now, I was super-proud of myself for jogging an entire three minutes in a row, and even that was a struggle.  Then I saw today's intervals, and I nearly choked: Run four minutes, walk two, run six minutes, walk three, run four minutes, walk two.  Then collapse on the ground and assume the fetal position.  (Okay, so I added that last bit.)  So, after my eye appointment and a quick favor to a friend, I put in my earphones and headed out.  I was in my little village today, which was actually kind of nice; it's such a sweet little village and on my run today I actually got to go to parts of it that I rarely see.  And the change of scenery, coupled with some AWESOME music from my workout playlist, made today's run easier.  I won't say easy; the first run was extremely hard--my legs felt like lead pretty much throughout the run--and that six-minute run nearly did me in.  But it was only slightly awful, as opposed to the scene from Revelation that I was imagining.


Time--30:59
Distance--2.11 miles


Friday is supposed to be Day 2, but we are getting up early to catch a train to Disneyland Paris (yes, I said Disneyland Paris ... my excitement cannot be measured with current technology) so I am not sure what this will do to my training.  I have half a mind to get up extremely early and fit it in before we leave.  If you know me, you know how much I absolutely HATE mornings, so the fact that I'm even considering this is a big deal.  More than likely I will try to get it in while we are at the park, although I'm not even sure if THAT will work. In any case, I hope I can fit in at least one run while we are gone.  We shall see!

Ease Into 5K: Week 3, Day 2

Second verse ... same as the first ...

Time: 27:11
Distance: 1.8 miles

I finally got my app to allow me to make the in-app purchase to activate the GPS, so that it can track my mileage for me.  This makes things so much easier for me because I tend to obsess about how far I've gone. Now I don't even have to worry about it.  It's very nice!

Ease Into 5K: Week 3, Day 1

So, when my friend Megan told me that today's run starts off at three minutes, I was both shocked and terrified.  I mean, seriously?  I thought the 90-second runs were torture.  I thought I'd never get through that first run, much less the rest of the program for today.  And when I started, I almost psyched myself out; I began to think I was too winded, that my legs were too heavy, and that I'd never be able to finish this run.  Then I stopped that snowball and told myself to stop being such a wimp and do the best that I could.  And I'll bet you can guess what came next: yep, I finished that 3-minute run.  When the app directed me to start walking, my eyebrows raised and I said, out loud, "Hmm, not too bad I guess."  (Thank goodness the track was empty when I started--I don't need to be known as the crazy wife who talks to herself while running.)  It was still tough, but I think I was expecting it to be impossible ... and it wasn't.

Hmm.

I know that it's just going to get harder, but I think I learned an important lesson today: if I just push myself, I can actually surprise myself with what I'm able to do.  It's a welcome change from the defeatist attitude I've had for so long being overweight.

Workout summary:
Time--27:00
Distance--1.75 miles

Ease Into 5K: Week 2, Day 3

So I never got a chance to get out of the house with the Munchkin to get Day 3 done over the weekend.  I told myself that I would just start over today on Week 2, but then I realized that I didn't want to backtrack.  I actually WANT to move forward to Week 3, even though starting off with a 3-minute run scares the bejeezus out of me.  I think the fact that I don't want to repeat Week 2 says a lot about how far things have come for me.  Not to toot my own horn, but I'm pretty proud of my decision to keep moving forward!

Today's workout:
Time--33:14
Distance--2.25 miles (approximate ... I lost count on the track!)

Wednesday starts Week 3 and yes, I'm scared.  My hairdresser will also probably kill me because I have an appointment that morning and I will be showing up with a sweaty head.  I figure, if I can just get my hair to dry before I get there, it will be okay.  We won't tell, will we?

Weekly Weigh-In

On Take Shape For Life (TSFL), I weigh in once a week and record my weight and measurements at five different places on my body.  I will be posting those numbers here for the world to see, which some may call insane; I call it ACCOUNTABILITY.  If everyone reading this blog sees my measurements, I'm less tempted to cheat and make those numbers go UP rather than down.

Since this is my first weigh-in post, I will post my starting measurements, so you can see how far I have come in five months.

Starting Measurements:
Weight--238.0
Chest--48.75"
Left Bicep--15.75"
Waist--49.5"
Hip--51.5"
Left thigh--30"

These are the measurements I took this morning, at twenty weeks on plan:
Weight--176.6
Chest--40"
Left Bicep--12"
Waist--36.5"
Hip--40.5"
Left Thigh--22.75"

Total weight lost as of today: 61.4 pounds
Total inches lost as of today: 43.25"

WOW.  Just seeing those numbers again makes me realize just how far I have come.  I've lost more than a foot off my waist alone!  I also took another "in progress" picture today and the comparison to when I began is mind-blowing.

I cannot believe I ever looked that bad.  It is pure motivation to stay on plan, when I see that "before" picture and how unhealthy I looked (and was!).  It's not easy, by any stretch, but by following the plan I look and feel SO MUCH BETTER.

Yay for health!

Ease Into 5K: Week 1, Day 1

Got started today, and I think I'm going to like this program.  I was afraid I wouldn't be able to handle the running bits, but they're spaced evenly apart and aren't too long (that last 60-second one was the worst, though). I do find it funny that, since I bought the app in the UK, the voice giving me cues is British.  Anyway, my workout summary:

Time: 26:45
Distance: 1.75miles

I am actually really excited to get back out there Wednesday to get Week 1, Day 2 under my belt.  I never thought I'd be excited to exercise!

Today's workout

Went to the gym today and spent some quality time with the elliptical machine.  I almost wanted to hug it; it had been WAY too long since I stepped onto its lovely little foot pads.  I love my elliptical workouts because I sweat like a MO-FO and I feel like I can go faster and farther on it than on the track.  Got in two miles in under 30 minutes, too.  Yay!  Not sure if I will be working out this weekend or not ... if the mood hits me (and the husband is willing to babysit) then I might head out for a walk around our village.  If not, it's a weekend of rest then Ease Into 5K time on Monday!

Back on track

Got out and did a little walking today.  And I do mean "a little" ... I kept a pretty moderate 3mph pace and walked two miles in 40 minutes.  But I think the thing that shocked me was not that I actually felt like I got a workout (because I did, albeit a very light one), but that I wasn't completely and totally winded.  I know that sounds weird, so as my mom would say, lemme 'splain.  Five months ago, if I had been forced to take a three-week hiatus from walking, the first day back would have been TORTURE.  I would have been puffing for breath, my knees and ankles would have been screaming in pain, and I would have been cursing like a sailor the entire time (in my head, of course).  Today, though, NONE of that.  I am truly amazed.  No doubt it's because I'm carrying around less weight than I was five months ago.  It makes me want to cancel the massage I have scheduled for Wednesday just so I can get back on the track and do it again.  I won't, because HELLO--MASSAGE! But it makes me want to, and I should get points for that, right?

I don't have anything to do tomorrow morning, though ... Maybe I can bribe the Munchkin with some sort of goodie if she'll sit in her stroller and let me push her around the track.  Hmm ...

Ladies and gentlemen ...

Hey there, hi there, ho there!

Okay, so I should have restarted this blog about five months ago.  BIG changes in my life ... BIG!

First, you'll notice the name of the blog is different.  I am no longer trying to lose weight in order to conceive.  Obviously, the reasons are personal, but we just felt like it wasn't the right time for us.  So, moving on ...

I have actually found a plan that is working like gangbusters.  I have been on MediFast's Take Shape For Life plan now for almost five months, and I have lost a mind-blowing 57 pounds.  Yes, you read that right: FIFTY-SEVEN.  I can hardly believe it myself, until I get dressed in the morning and my "skinny" pants fall right off. I still have 43 to go until I reach my goal weight, but it seems like a much more attainable weight now that over half of it is gone.

I had been doing well with exercise as well, walking at least two miles about three times a week, and I had even been incorporating some jogging in as well.  Then I got appendicitis.  YEOWCH.  I'm about three weeks post-op, though, so I'm planning on getting back on track (pun intended) tomorrow.  Don't fret, though; I will be easing back into things.

So this is a formal "hi again" and a promise to try to update this thing more often.  If you're still following me, thanks for hanging out for so long!

Disclaimer: I am in no way being compensated by MediFast for mentioning their programs on this blog.  I just think they rock.

I'm baaaaaaaaaack!!

Bet y'all thought I fell off the face of the Earth, didn't ya???

Anyway, I was berated by a friend to get on here and update the blog, so here I am.  Sorry I haven't been around.  I guess I haven't had too much to say.  I said I was back, then abruptly disappeared again.  I sort of fell off the wagon (don't worry, no chocolate-donut binges this time) and got out of the habit of walking and tracking my eating.  I also haven't weighed myself in about two weeks.

I decided to start again this week because ... well, to tell the truth I'm not exactly sure what spurred me back on this track.  Not that I'm complaining, mind you.  I don't need to remember the reason why I restarted, just the reason why I'm here to begin with.

Anyway, today I got further on track by walking in a 5K on base with the other people in my husband's group.  The weather was less than stellar--about 50 degrees and a light drizzle--but we got the Munchkin into her stroller, all bundled up, and got on our way.  My husband even offered to walk with me to help keep me on track.  It was pretty hard--I'm used to walking on a track, which has NO hills whatsoever, while this route had some slight gradations in it.  My ankles started burning about 1/2 mile in and didn't stop the entire time.  About a mile into it, my legs were like LEAD.  But I pushed through and walked the two miles, and now I'm pretty glad that I did.  We would have walked the entire three, but the Munchkin was getting antsy and they were going to reopen the roads so we cut our route short.  Next time, though - three miles all the way!

I'm actually going to check into walking that route more regularly.  It will obviously do me some good to get those little hills into my workout, and it will be a nice change of scenery.  I also want to start using my jogging stroller, but I have to purchase a bike pump first and get the tires inflated.  Hopefully I can take care of that this weekend so I can start using it on Monday.

KNEES!

So, as I was walking today with my friend, we decided to take a different route than usual.  This different route took us down a small, barely-two-lane road with no sidewalks.  Normally, I'd be very concerned, but this road is hardly ever travelled; plus we could see cars coming with plenty of time to get over for them to pass.  So I wasn't too concerned.

Of course, we hadn't been in the road for two minutes when a large moving-type truck came barrelling toward us.  My friend had her little one in a jogging stroller, so she was able to get off into the grass.  I, with my dinky little umbrella stroller, had to fight my way through the thick underbrush (which, of course, was the same thickness as what my friend so easily navigated).  Once the truck passed, my friend was a little ahead, so I decided to jog up to meet her.  I shuffled along, pain in every step.  Definitely thought to myself, "This was a mistake.  I'm obviously not physically ready to run."

Another car came through, and again I found myself just a few yards behind my friend.  I don't know what possessed me, but I decided to jog up to her again.  This time, though, I actually picked my knees up more as I ran.  And lo and behold: it didn't hurt as badly.  It still hurt, so I won't be running any marathons anytime soon, but I may have had a small epiphany there.  It actually excited me to know that there was something I could do to my form to lessen the pain of running.  It makes me want to work harder, just to get to the point of jogging a significant distance, in order to test this new form I've discovered.

(Of course, those of you who are active runners are probably rolling your eyes and snickering behind your hands at my realization of something so obvious.  Well, to that I say: Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries.)

I will say, however, that I'm a little concerned that the pain in my knees isn't getting any better.  I mean, I'm not expecting them to be pain-free overnight, but I'm a little worried that I may have done irreparable damage to them by being so sedentary all that time.  If I can't see any improvement in a couple of weeks, I may go to the doctor and make sure there isn't something else going on.  I'll keep you updated!

If I wasn't already married ...

... I'd propose to my new running shoes.

SERIOUSLY.

They are so different from my old shoes, it's insane.  I started walking today, and I actually had to look down to remind myself I was actually wearing shoes.  They were so light, my brain kept fooling me into thinking I was walking in my socks.  My ankles didn't burn AT ALL.  Not even at the beginning, which I completely expected since I hadn't walked in earnest in a full week.  So that leads me to believe that those old shoes were too heavy for my feet.  It's a little weird, though; these new shoes are "walking" shoes, and the old ones are "running" shoes, and I'd think that the runners would be lighter than the walkers since you don't want extra weight keeping you grounded when you run.  Maybe that's just my uneducated guessing, though.

Anyway, I think I did pretty well for not having done any serious workouts in a week.  I'm going to walk on base tomorrow and break them in further.  Maybe The Munchkin will let me walk a full three miles this time!

Who new a new pair of shoes would make such a difference??

Walking on air!

I BOUGHT NEW SHOES!!

(doing the happy dance)

I went to the BX here and found so many choices, it was actually hard to choose.  Plus they had placards that said what type of foot each shoe was designed for, so I looked for the most "neutral" shoe just because I have no idea if I pronate, supinate, or just nate.  (I know there's no such thing ... right?)

So here's what I got:

It's the New Balance 759, which is described by the company as "a neutral trainer built on our ACTEVA™ LITE midsole to provide the runner a light responsive, cushioned ride."  When I put them on in the store, I loved them.  They seem so much lighter than the Asics I'm wearing now, so hopefully it will help to alleviate the ankle issues I've been having.

I am working out at a friend's house tomorrow, so no walking ... but as soon as I test-drive these babies, I will report back on their awesomeness.

Feel the burn ... or maybe not

I was a little concerned about today, to be honest.  My "walking buddy" took her daughter to gymnastics, so I was left to work out all on my own.  Usually, if left to my own devices a workout morphs into a shopping trip to the BX and a milkshake from Baskin-Robbins.  Not exactly melting those pounds away.  But today I was determined to keep working on my stamina.  Because, of course, I'm already disappointed that I can't walk faster than a 20 min/mile.  (Let's leave that thought for another post.)  So I got The Munchkin into the car and headed to base to the track.

Fate decided to tempt me, of course.  First, I went to the track only to find the gate closed and seemingly locked.  Confused, I turned around and decided to check my mail at the post office, which is right beside the track on base.  I met up with one of the fabulous ladies from yesterday's antiquing trip, and she told me that some of the moms were at the BX hanging out until their 11:00 circuit class started at the gym.  Oh, Baskin-Robbins, I hear you calling my name ... Mint Chip milkshake, anyone??

However, in talking to her, I mentioned that I was going to walk the track but that the gate was locked.  She proceeded to show me an alternate way into the track -- one that didn't have a gate on it.  SWEET.  So I started walking my laps, listening to my iPod and The Munchkin's babbling in front of me, hoping those two distractions would be enough to make me forget that I was actually exercising.

About halfway into the first lap, the outside of both of my ankles started burning.  BADLY.  I actually felt hobbled; every time I stepped, and tried to bend my ankles in any way, they hurt.  This has happened to me every time I try to start getting back in shape -- this exact feeling in my ankles.  I didn't think I'd make it through that lap, to be honest.  But I told myself to just push through until I got three laps done, which would equal one mile.  It wasn't nearly the distance I had walked on Monday, but at least I was logging in some time.

I pushed my way through the first two laps, and then about halfway through the third lap I noticed something odd.  My ankles weren't burning quite so much anymore.  They were still uncomfortable, but all of a sudden it was somewhat bearable.  And then, at almost the instant I passed the one mile marker, the pain just ... stopped.  I was literally shocked.  I've never pushed myself past that ankle pain before; I've always wimped out and stopped, afraid I'd do something to my ankles if I continued.  Now, as I sit here typing this entry, they still don't hurt at all, and it's been nine and a half hours since my walk stopped.  Truthfully, the only reason I stopped at three miles was that I was meeting a friend for lunch and I was going to be late if I kept walking.  But I could have walked another three, I think.  No exaggeration.

So tomorrow is, unfortunately, another off day for me ... doctor's appointment in the AM followed by lunch with a friend.  I do, however, have some workout shows recorded on my DVR.  Maybe I'll try one of those in the afternoon while The Munchkin naps.  So if you're in the Isleham area, and see a thirty-something fat girl bouncing around her living room to a Hip-Hop Abs Workout ... please, keep your laughter as quiet as possible.  You might mess up my groove.

(Postscript: Come to find out, the gate wasn't locked, but merely pulled shut.  I could have opened it at any time and walked right through.  Funny what your mind can make you see when it wants to believe something is real.)

Something's missing here ...

I didn't do any traditional exercise today.  Instead, I joined two awesome women to go antiquing in Lincoln, which is about two hours from here.  I will admit, I was a bit nervous about the trip, for three reasons:

1. I was meeting one of the women for the first time, and I didn't want to come off like either a big dork (which I am) or someone who can't control her crazy self in public (which I am);
2. I was taking The Munchkin, and a two-hour car ride one way is daunting enough, but add in a day sitting in her stroller all day, and it's bound to get messy; and
3. I know how my back, legs and knees feel after sitting in the car for twenty minutes, let alone two hours.

However, because I had already committed (and let's face it, I hate backing out of things for stupid reasons such as the ones listed above), I went anyway.  Met the girls at 9:30 and got on the road.  We stopped around noon to eat lunch and feed the kids (the "new" girl has a son the same age as The Munchkin), and got to the fairgrounds about 1:30pm or so.  Did about 4 hours of antiquing (which is TOTALLY different here than in the States ... I seriously enjoyed myself), got back in the car for an hour, stopped for dinner, then got home at about 8:15pm.  A long day, to be sure.  The Munchkin did very well, except for a short stint of screaming on the way home.  Add in all that standing at the antiques market, and I was certain that I was going to have to ice my knees down and take about four Aleve in order to be able to move tomorrow.

But I've been home for an hour now, and I just realized that there's no pain in my knees.  Well, maybe they're a little stiff, but not painful.  I don't think this is the result of only three days' worth of exercise, especially considering I haven't really done all that much.  But I was very surprised when I realized this.

I just wanted to tell this story as a positive occurrence.  I know that I may not feel like I'm doing a whole lot, but when I start forgetting that parts of me had once been painful, I count that as a point in my favor.