Getting Healthy Update

Wooo Hoooo! I am officially Under 200 lbs. TODAY! NEVER GOING BACK THERE!
19 lbs. down, 64 to go!!!

I see that my last post was February 27th- I am Happy to say that I have lost 7lbs. since then and Bob is COMPLETELY on the wagon now! Amazing- I am so thankful to the Lord for Bob's change of heart regarding exercise and eating. He is saying to me daily that he is noticing that buffets and fast food are losing their appeal due to the work he knows is involved in shedding off the extra calories from eating there. Yay!

At first, he was steadily losing just by walking a little bit and only minor changes to his eating habits, but once the first few lbs. came off and he kept looking forward to seeing the numbers decrease- he found himself fitting in more and more exercise. Now he walks during his lunches PLUS he walks 2 or more miles from the bus towards home until he is picked up. If he doesn't do that he walks 3 miles at Lake Pflugerville. Since gas prices have gone through the roof recently, we are grateful to have the track around the lake that is close to our house.

I was starting to get shin splints after running at the lake, so I figured it was time for some new shoes. I did some online research and found a New Balance style that is made for stability and doesn't bend in the middle. I have orthotics, but the right shoe makes all the difference for my flat feet! My friend Suzanne gave me her expert advice to ice, massage, and stretch. I had been soaking in the hot tub or in the bath tub and that was the exact opposite of what I needed- So Thank You Suzanne!

Last Thursday I was able to run continuously for 1.5 miles at the track and then keep a good interval pace up and complete the route in 38 minutes! I am so excited to see progress and the 10K that is 2 weeks away seems doable!

I need to take the time to do the weight training on my alternate days- so that is a goal of change for me.

Cross Day

No-I don't mean Easter... The 10K training plan I downloaded here has Wednesdays marked out for a Cross Training day-- which means no running- just biking, swimming, kayaking, etc.

So- I did 10 miles in 40 minutes varying the tension between 10 and 12. My cooldown was 5 more minutes in which I knocked out 2 more miles. Felt So Great!

I am getting the hang of staying within my optimum heart rate zone while I accomplish the prescribed distance and time.

The other thing I noticed is that if I don't make sure to eat 30 minutes before and get some protein and carbs I crash and burn. The previous day I didn't eat before my workout and suffered through 2 miles barely running at 4.1. My legs killed me and people asked me why I was limping.

This is going to be a long haul, but eventually I know I will be fit and healthy. It has taken 18 years to get out of shape, lethargic, and unhealthy-- It's now time to stop being sick and tired and eat right and get out and do it!

Lately

Last week I only exercised that one day when I rode my bike to work. I even went out and bought a new seat and I STILL haven't used it!

This week has been me hitting a brick wall, too! I wanted to go to the track last night and there was a thunder,lightning, hail, and tornado storm!

Tonight, I see that there is another one cooking, so I'm going to have to be determined to get my butt to the gym or exercise with my video.

On a good note--I am down to 185 :)

Another Milestone!

I rode my bike to work this morning.

That seems so simple to say.

I haven't done that since February of 2008! It is 8 miles. It was NOT simple. I had to dig deep to keep going, feeling the burn in my legs and breathing through every uphill grade. Of course, the fast downhills were awesome and the variables in the course made it possible to keep going. The strategy of doing the ride TO work made it impossible to give up and go home or call for a ride. That is the beauty AND the scary part that kept my legs pumping no matter how slowly or how many times I shifted into a lower gear.

When the hospital was in view I didn't have the same rush I remember feeling the very first time I did that ride. Maybe it was because the June air was sticky and humid, but I was glad I had made it. I am determined to make it a regular part of my week.

It is just one more mile along the road to getting healthy. It feels really good to be going down the road. I can envision myself in a month from now jogging a half mile, walking a quarter, jogging 3 quarters, walking a quarter, and finishing with a half mile jog. I can envision myself riding the 8 miles in 35 minutes and breezing through it.

It's a healthy, strong, energetic, "athletic" me that keeps getting stronger and healthier.

188!

Broke the 190 mark! What a roller coaster ride! After last Sunday's weigh in I made the mistake of weighing myself on Tuesday a.m. and was @ 193 :( I was NOT a happy camper. I was frustrated to say the least after having told 193 goodbye forever! Lesson learned, though-pay attention to what week of the month it is and don't freak out to much. (Isn't it GREAT being a woman **sarcasm intended**)

Anyway, THE weigh in is tomorrow, so I'm off to get the groceries so that I can be back in time to do a 1 hour bike ride.

See ya!

20#

Woooo Hoooo! I hit the 20# mark this morning!!!
Never thought that the scale saying 192 would feel so good!

Now, on to the next 20!!!
I am in Medium Scrubs (probably size 14ish)

Yay!

Feel the Burn

Ouch Ouch Ouch. My shoulder will not let me forget that I had a good workout today! I am being very careful and methodical to have correct positioning when I do anything with my right arm at the gym. I do NOT want to send myself back to the doctor! However...I do need to remember to take the ibuprofen before I go. I may need to sit up against some ice tonight.

I really hope my new lens is coming in the mail today or tomorrow! My niece's birthday party is Saturday and I'm hoping to catch some good shots!

Well, we're NOT going to be able to see D.C. this summer as we had planned. I put in my leave request at work and it was denied because another tech had already requested that time slot. I resubmitted it and we will be leaving July 22 for Williamsburg, VA to visit Bob's friend Sherry and her family, then to New Jersey to visit the Statue of Liberty and say hi to the Story family in New York. From there we will head up to Buffalo to visit the Leubners and go see Niagara Falls on the USA side, then to Auburn to see Bob's family and have a family bonfire night and play cards and hang out. On our trip home from New York we will make a stop in West Virginia to see Jeremy and Emily Carpenter in their new home and THEN for the finale we will spend a couple of days chillin' on the beach at Myrtle Beach with Jenny and Orion!

That is a LOT of stops in a lot of different places! AND A LOT of Family to catch up with! My head will be spinning--but in a Good way :)

What are your vacation plans for the summer?

Mother's Day Dinner

Grrrrr... I finally hit 193 on Sunday and was good all day:
1 cup shredded wheat, 1 cup nonfat milk for breakfast
Orange for snack
Turkey wrap (whole wheat) for lunch
and even worked out! Jake went with me to 24 hour fitness and we did our Biggest Loser workout :)

The guys took me out to Texas Roadhouse for dinner and I had sparingly ate 2 cheese fries --that is "2 fries" not 2 servings of fries, 2 yummy melt in your mouth rolls and 1/2 of a steak kabob, a few pieces of steamed broccoli. So....Monday morning BAM! I'm 196! Hate that!

So, I ate right yesterday and I'm down to 195 again...and I'm spending an additional week making up for the 2 rolls and 2 cheese fries on Sunday :( It's so maddening!

Anyone else experience this? I know that I am still going to continue losing, it's just so frustrating to go backwards with such effort!