Weekend in NY

Let's see...on Friday, I was going to run since I wasn't going to be home for the weekend, but I ended up not having enough time.  So, instead, I packed my running gear with hopes of getting a run in early Saturday morning. 

We left Friday around 4:45pm and arrived in NY around 9:00pm.  I was so disciplined about my eating the whole day. I had missed breakfast, so for lunch, I ate a half an acorn squash stuffed with chicken sausage and kale.  (I know, I shouldn't have been eating carbs, but I made an exception for today)  We decided to not stop for dinner while in the car. We really just wanted to plow on through those miles and get there!  While the rest of my family was snacking, I was trying really hard not to.  But by about 7:30, I had to have something, and I went with my best option...and Oat n Honey granola bar (pack of 2).  Surprisingly, this held me over until we arrived, at which point, I ate some lunchmeat and cheese (minus the bread).  I woke up Saturday morning, and while nothing was really going on, I decided to go for a run.  It worked out so well that there just so happened to be a bike trail a block away from my sister's house.  I didn't have a GPS, but I only had to do 2.5 miles, so I estimated 30 minutes of running would do the trick.  It was cold and drizzling, but I enjoyed my run. And I was glad I got to accomplish it! 

Also, I lost 1.0 lb!  That made me happy! 

Ok, so we're on "vacation", and as much as I was going to stick to my diet, I also was willing to give in a little.  So, while I did eat my usual salads, meat, cheeses, and eggs, I did allow myself to have ice cream after dinner Saturday night! I did pay for it the next morning when I had gained back that 1.0 lb.  But I knew once I was home again, I would get right back on track. 

So, on Monday morning weigh in, I was down 0.4 lbs.

And today, I am down another 0.6 lbs...the same weight I was on Saturday morning.  Talk about a quick recovery!!

Also, since I was so tired last week with my runs, I decided to take Sunday and Monday as rest days to hopefully store up my energy for my runs this week.  We'll see how this goes.

Still tired

I feel like I haven't been getting very good sleep.  I've even used my Spoonk mat the last couple of nights because it helps me sleep better.  Last night, I went to bed around 11:30 (after I watched the day's episode of Days). Ronnie woke up around 1:00 AM and was walking around.  I got up to go to the bathroom.  Then, his alarm was going off around 4:30 AM, and he wasn't hearing it.  I had to wake him up to tell him to shut it off.  So, by the time my alarm started going off at 6:30 AM, I felt like crap!  I didn't get up until after 7:00.  Ugh!  The thought of running right now just makes me cringe!  Hopefully, I feel better this afternoon. 


Ok, so I did run. I pumped up my 5.5 run speed to 6.0 for the last 5 minutes.  It was all I could muster up today.  

Tired

I'm tired today.  And a bit sore.  Should I take a rest day or should I pound out 1 hour of strength training with Bob Harper?

We're going to New York this weekend.  I plan on doing my Saturday long run on Friday and doing my walking while in New York.  So, I have to run Thursday and Friday.   Hmm...we'll see.

On a good note, I lost 0.6 lbs.  It always feels good to lose after a gain. And I'm at a total of 15 lbs down! WooHoo!

So, after dropping off Julia at school, stopping at the grocery store, stopping at Brenkle's to pick up my vegetables, coming home and putting groceries away, I had about an hour before I had to go pick the kids back up from school.  Why not throw on some workout clothes and get to it?  So, I went down and started Bob Harper's 1 hour strength training...which is actually 65 minutes with warm up/cool down.  Just before he started his plank work, my phone alarm started ringing.  Time to pick up the kids!  Talk about "Saved by the Bell"!!!  haha! I hate planks!

Today:

Weight: -0.6 lbs

Workout: Bob Harper 1 hour strength training...but I only did the first 45 minutes.

Food:
 Breakfast: 2 eggs (over hard), sauteed spinach, mushrooms, onions. 1 cup decaf coffee, 1 packet Sweet Leaf, almond/coconut milk

Lunch: none

Dinner: 2 pieces of cauliflower crust pizza with turkey pepperoni, spinach, mushrooms, onions, 1 hot stuffed pepper, 15 tater tots, small soft pretzel, 1 can diet CF coke

Doubt

Today is the first day I have doubted myself.

I used the treadmill to run my 30 minutes today.  After the first 15 minutes running at 5.5 (11 min/mile), I kicked it up to 6.0 (10 min/mile) for the last 15 minutes.  I was dragging.  I was huffin' and puffin' harder than usual.  And, even when I tried to focus on getting my breathing under control, I could not. So, at 25:51, I went to hit the 'Pause' button...only I hit the 'Stop" button instead, ending my run. I'm usually able to push on through, but, today, I just could not do it. I got off the treadmill, walked around a little bit, caught my breath, contemplated being done, then decided to jump back on the treadmill, and finish out my last 5 minutes at 6.0.

<enter the doubt>

I thought once I walked around a bit, I would be fine to finish out that last 5 minutes.  I was wrong.  I was right back to my huffin' and puffin', STARING at the seconds and minutes as they slowly fell away.  It was hard.  I tried to focus on the thought of fitting into those skinnier jeans or weight loss on the scale, but it was a complete struggle!  If I can't recover and get right back to my running, how am I going to accomplish a marathon?!?  We shall see.  The good thing is that the marathon is not tomorrow, not next week, not next month, but next year!  6 months away!

I'll get there...somehow!


Today:

Weight: +0.4  Boo!

Workout: 25:51 minute run- 2.44 miles +  5 minute run - .48 miles   =   2.92 miles

Breakfast : 2 eggs scrambled with 1 slice American cheese

Lunch: None

Dinner: sauteed spinach with mushrooms and onions, 2 ( 4 halves) hot peppers stuffed with chicken/turkey sausage and cheese, 15 candy corns, a large apple with PB2, 2 crunchy Oat N Honey granola bars, 1 can diet CF coke

My Workouts

Today: I lost weight over the WEEKEND!  <THAT NEVER HAPPENS!!

Weight:   -0.4 lbs (total = -14.8lbs)

Workout:   Shred Level 2

Food:     Breakfast: 2 eggs scrambled with 1 slice American cheese, 1 cup decaf coffee (1/2 packet Sweet Leaf, almond/coconut milk)
           Lunch: sauteed radishes (with radish greens)
           Dinner: sauteed kale and chicken sausage, 1 1/2 hot peppers (stuffed with chicken and turkey sausage, diced tomatoes, seasonings, cheese), 1/2 acorn squash (stuffed with chicken and turkey sausage, kale, parmesan cheese), 5 small sugar cookies, 2 fun size peanut M&Ms, 12 oz almond/coconut milk, 1 can of diet caffeine free coke

My Workouts:

Mostly running..especially now that I signed up for a marathon. I run on the treadmill or at a nearby walking trail, but with the longer distances I'll have during training, I'll probably find some new places to run.  I also use Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred and Bob Harper's 1 hour strength training DVDs.  My schedule right now looks like this:

Monday and/or Wednesday: Shred or strength training
Tuesday and Thursday: 30 minute run
Friday: walk
Saturday (or Sunday if I don't have time on Saturday): Long distance run

I use the 30 minute runs to increase speed. Each time, I try to go a little bit faster for a little longer.  So, one day, I might start my first 25 minutes running at a 5.5(about 11 min/mile) and then run the last 5 minutes at 6.0 (10 min/mile). The next time I run, I'll try to split my time 20 minutes at 11 minute/mile and then run the last 10 minutes at 10 minute/mile.

For my long distance runs, I try to run at a slower speed the whole time, around 11-12 minute/mile.

 *My new, SMALLER clothes that I ordered arrived a couple days ago!  I've gone down one size in my jeans! I wore a pair of my regular jeans today with a belt and it was just baggy and uncomfortable!  What a great feeling!  Finally feels like I'm getting somewhere!  Can't wait to go down to the next size!

Getting Started

Some things on my mind:

1.  All I keep seeing are the blogs where the people are ALREADY skinny.  While I love to read all about the journey these people have been on to go from fat to fit, I would like to find one with someone who is just starting off on their journey to skinny. 

2.  I've been on my journey since, well, I've been on again off again ever since the birth of my 3rd child, Jillian, which was August 2013.  I did a lot of running in the beginning, but also A LOT of eating.  So, my weight never changed.  In March of 2014, my brother got married.  I wanted to lose weight fast, so I cut the carbs for a few weeks and lost my first 10 lbs.  I've been able to keep it off, but I was back to my old eating habits.  Finally, around the end of August/beginning of September 2014, my cousin had the brilliant idea to create an accountability group on Facebook where a few of my family members can record the workouts they did for the day and share words of encouragement with one another.  This is where I came across the "Carb Addict Diet".  I started this diet September 8th and I'm in love with it!  *I have a completely different outlook on eating now.  I used to eat all day long, everyday.  With this diet, there is no snacking.  All you get is 3 meals. This was a BIG change for me.  But 6 weeks later, I've totally adjusted my eating habits...my mindset...everything!  Most days, I only eat 2 meals...whether this is a healthy approach or not, I don't know.  But what I do know is that it's working for me!  So, for now, I'll stick with it.

3.  I signed up for a MARATHON.  Not a half, but the whole, 26.2 miles!  I've never been more determined or more confident in my abilities.  Not sure why?  I'm not a very confident person.  But, for whatever reason, I can only see myself successfully completing this 5+(maybe 6+ hopefully not 7+) hours of running.  On another note, the only person I really talked to about it(aside from my sister who is also running the marathon and encouraged me to do so) is my husband.  After all, the training will take TIME(which we don't really have any to begin with)!  The #1 reason I don't want to share is because I don't want to hear people's doubts or negative comments.  And, really, if I walked up to myself and told me that I was going to run a marathon in 6 months, I would have some serious doubts just by looking at me.(do you follow what I'm saying here?) Also, I don't want anybody to burst my confidence. 

4.  I want to wear cute, fashionable clothes...and look good in them.  I am taking a HUGE leap of faith by getting rid of all (ok, honestly, it was MOST) of my summer clothes.  WHY?  Because I wholeheartedly believe that by next summer, those clothes will not fit!  Worst case scenario...I get to buy a whole new wardrobe next summer...of the sizes that I just got rid of. 


5. Here's a picture to show progress from my heaviest until now...about 20 lb difference.

 

That's all for now.