One Week

One week until race day!  I can't believe it is almost here.  When I started Couch to 5k 12 weeks ago I really wasn't sure if I would actually do a race.  I wanted to, and a few people didn't think I would follow through with it.  I love that I going to prove them wrong!  I am surprised I am not nervous.  I am also surprised that Dave is nervous!  The reason why I am surprised is because Dave runs.  He never had a problem with it.  Now he has in his mind that I am going to go too fast for him!  I find this to be really funny.  He has never seen me run so I don't think he realizes how pathetic I am and how fine he will be!

The plan this week is to run twice and cross train twice leaving Friday as a rest day.  I feel like I am ready though.  I am super excited and just want to do it.  The only thing I am really worried about is the crowd.  Hopefully I don't fall!  My plan is to start 3/4 of the way back and let the rush go so I can move at a good pace for me.

My goals for this race are:

1. Finish
2. Jog the entire 3.1 miles
3. Come in under 40 minutes

The last one I am pretty sure I can do even if I walk a bit.  On my Friday run I had to walk 2 of the 5 km because my allergies were so bad it messed with my breathing and I still came in right at 40 minutes.  So I am fairly certain number 1 and 3 are in the bag, but I don't want to get ahead of myself because who knows what the pollen will do to me that day!

On a side note I started using the new OTC Allegra 24 hours and I have to say within 20 minutes of taking it I felt awesome!  When I woke up this morning I felt like crap from allergies, but after taking the medicine it was a major difference!

So on that note it is time to relax and prepare myself!  I can't wait to update everyone on what happens!  I will be sure to get some pictures for you all to see!

I think I need a big hat and some tea

Unfortunately I don't have either.  But I need them because I have Royal wedding fever!  Am I the only one?  I read somewhere recently that the majority of the US population does not care about the royal wedding.  I find that hard to believe because TLC has been running royal wedding shows for weeks now!

But to be honest...I don't care what everyone else thinks because I love it!  I have my DVR pre-set to 5 am on Friday to catch every bit of it.  I asked the ladies at work if they wanted to wear hats that day to get into the spirit...they laughed.  I don't know if it was with me or at me...

I have decided I can't get enough and will be sad when it is over.  I guess I will just have to relive it by watching the wedding over and over, and watching the William & Kate movie on Lifetime that I have saved on my DVR!

I can't help this obsession I have.  I can remember being 15 with my best friend cutting pictures of William out of teeny bopper magazines because of how cute he was.  I still think he is super adorable and so is Kate.  I can't wait to see them get married! 

Bring it on royal wedding week!

Whatever happens is ok!

Wow...this has been a busy week.  I wanted to post more but just did not have enough time!  I hope to be on a bit more soon but with the holiday this week and daycare being closed a couple days I was working an odd schedule giving me little time do do even my schoolwork!  Hopefully things will calm down now and I can do some posting about stuff besides my weight loss!  But because today is McFatty Monday, and I made a promise to myself to keep posting until I reach my goal, you can be sure I will keep up with this!

Just as it was hard this week to keep up with everything else in my life, it was just as hard to keep up with my plan.  I made sure to run every other day to keep up with my 5k training, and I did well for most meals, but some days I just did what I wanted.  This is what happened yesterday!

At one point this week I was down to 174.8 and I was so excited, but knew it would not last to today.  And I was right!  I am ok with it because I had a great Easter meal that was totally worth it!  We went to an Easter barbecue that had steamed crabs, burgers, hot dogs, and all the good sides.  Like I said I was mostly good all week, and I ran 3.34 miles yesterday morning so I felt ok about it!  But because of it I had to accept a way lower weight loss number this week.  It is ok because I will come back strong next week!

Starting weight: 200.8 lbs
Last week: 176.0 lbs
This week: 175.4 lbs
Loss (gain) this week: -0.6 lbs
Total loss: 25.2 lbs

I will take 0.6!  I think we all have to realize that not every week is going to be a big one and that is ok!  I think I am starting to see an ok theme today!

On a side but completely related note I am only 12 days away from my first 5k!  I have been training hard and I am feeling really great.  I have increased my speed and distance since completing the Couch to 5k so I really think I am going to do well!  Yesterday I did my own 5k around my town and managed to finish in 34 1/2 minutes!  My goal for the race was under 40 minutes and to run the whole time and I am fairly certain that will happen.  I have about 5 more runs to get in before the race so I can get my endurance up.  I am so excited to race and plan on signing up for many more after this one!

If you are looking for a plan to help you jump start your exercise I feel that the c25k is the plan.  I was not a runner at all, but after I started week 1 day 1 I needed to keep going.  Now I love to run (maybe not the last 1 km) and get angry if I can't find time to do it.  I am seriously considering picking up one of those jogging strollers so I can get out on the weekends with Nate.  I think he would love it!

I hope everyone is doing well on their journeys!  I love to read them each week!  Have a great McFatty Monday!

McFatty Monday-Three months down!

Another week another McFatty Monday.  This weekend was a great one with activities and eating and I enjoyed every minute of it.  And in the end when I weighed myself this morning I somehow managed to come in with a loss!

I did this weekend the only way I knew how, I ate out with my family, went to Pork in the Park, but I also stayed active by walking 5 miles on Sunday, and by walking a lot the rest of the weekend. 

The proof is in the numbers!
Starting weight: 200.8 lbs
Last week: 177.6 lbs
This week: 176.0 lbs
Loss (gain) this week: -1.6 lbs
Total loss: 24.8 lbs!!

I am feeling really great.  This time last year I tried  to avoid the pictures at all costs.  I compare last year's March for Babies to this year and it is an amazing change that I needed to make!  Take a look!

I can't wait to see what I will look like next year!  Oh and I totally have to shout out to my husband who has also lost an amazing 24 lbs!  He looks great!  Happy McFatty Monday!

March for Babies 2011

Today was the March for Babies walk and it was a great success for Team Super Nate!  While we did not raise as much as we did last year, we were still able to bring in $700!  I think this is very good for our 6 person team!  It was a beautiful day outside with bright skies and a great breeze.  It felt great walking 5 miles!

The only problem was my poor Nate came home with a sunburn on his face!  Mommy fail.  Or should I say mommy/daddy/mom mom/aunt/uncle fail because we all forgot about sunblock.  We are asses.  The good thing is Nate is fine and doesn't even notice it...we just feel terrible because it is so noticeable!  Oh well...it happens and we learn from it!

Here are some pictures from the beautiful event with an amazing turn out!

Nate getting ready for the walk

 All ready in our team shirts!

 Mom Mom and Nate Nate

 

Nate starting off his march

 Playing with his aunt Abbey

 Hanging at the picnic table with daddy

 Team Super Nate...minus me

 Crossing the finish line!

 Our happy little family!

Moving forward

I have finally moved forward from the dreaded plateau!  I am not sure what was up the past few weeks but that scale did not want to budge.  Finally this week it moved.  And it moved hard!  I finally hit the 170's!  I have been waiting for this moment since I started my journey.

About 6 years ago I started doing the Weight Watchers points plan with my mom.  I didn't do the meetings or online, just followed her books to know how many points I was allotted and she helped me by cooking and in about a month and a half I got down to my lowest adult weight of 160 lbs.  That was the last time I was truly successful at losing weight.  It didn't last because I stopped exercising, moved here, and stopped caring.

When I started that weight loss I was 177 lbs.  I told myself when I got to 177 lbs from the 200.8 lbs starting point that I had no doubt I could get down to my goal weight of 160.  And today I am at the 177 lbs!  Ok...177.6 but still the same!  I am beyond excited to have lost 23.2 lbs.  I can't believe I have had enough control to make it this far.

So enough of the mushy stuff!
Starting weight: 200.8 lbs
Last week: 180.8 lbs
This week: 177.6 lbs
Loss (gain) this week: -3.2 lbs!
Total loss: 23.2 lbs!!

Goals for this week:

1. Finish Couch to 5k today!
2. Begin Gateway to 8k this week.
3. Keep loading up on water.
4. Try to not gain at all.

Weight Loss Goals:

1. Lose 10 lbs - Spa Pedicure (goal accomplished 2/14/11)
2. Lose 20 lbs - Massage (goal accomplished 4/4/11) (I need to schedule this!)
3. Lose 30 lbs - New dress and bathing suit for Florida in June
4. Lose 46 lbs (new goal is 154) - New Coach purse and matching wallet!

I decided starting next week I will weigh in on Sunday mornings.  I will still post McFatty Monday, but it will be Sunday's numbers.  The reason behind this is that over the next couple months when Dave has a Sunday afternoon game we will go to dinner after as a family, so I would like to not have to worry about the Monday morning weigh in!

You also may ask why one of my goals is to not gain.  That is because next Saturday we are going with family to the Pork in the Park festival.  It is a huge bbq festival in the area and I plan on enjoying a little bit of eating!  It is ok because the March for Babies is the next day and I will participate in the 5 mile walk which I am sure will work off any crap I eat!  But like I said, I plan on enjoying it.  I will not eat myself into a coma, but I will partake in some pulled pork bbq!

Well, I hope everyone has a great Monday!  Oh and if you would like to see a proof picture of my 23.2 lb loss, take a look at the post below of me and also one of my handsome husband 23 lbs lighter as well!

Baseball Season

This time of year Nathan and I lose daddy to the baseball season.  As I may have mentioned before, Dave is the head groundskeeper for a minor league baseball team, so we rarely see him 5 months of the year, unless we make the trip to the game, and let me tell you, with a toddler that will not happen very often!

But today we made the trip to the stadium to cheer on the home team!  Who won you ask?  I have no idea because I spent more time chasing after said toddler instead of watching the game. I will have to ask my husband when he gets home!

But here are two pictures of the occasion!  As you can see in both  pictures Nate has no interest in his parents...

Also what you can see in these pictures are both mommy and daddy each 22 lbs lighter!  Yay team!

What is wrong with the youth today?

Yesterday I had a pleasant conversation with a mother over the phone about her son getting a late fee on his rent.  I gave every answer I could to this mother and she would not accept that her BABY who is the smartest child in the world would be in the wrong with this situation. 

Well lady...I hate to break it to you but according to the MD state landlord/tenant law book you and you baby are completely wrong in this situation...even though you claim you are a landlord and what we are doing is illegal.  Well let me tell you lady...apparently everyone I talk to on a daily basis is a landlord and you are all the experts...not me and my rulebook I follow!  Can you tell I am not a customer is always right type of person?

By then end of the conversation I told her we will agree to disagree and we will giver her son the answer when a decision is made, not you because you are not the co-signor...and remember you are a landlord so you should understand the laws!

So to bring this post back to my original thought...my problem isn't necessarily with the mom...who does need to cut the cord...but with the son.  If you are old enough to go to college, and to live in an apartment without mommy and daddy, then you are old enough to fight your own battles.  I really hope this kids is not an education major, because if he is I would like his information because I will not let my son be taught by a BABY that cannot fight his own battles!  My baby will learn to fight his own and accept the consequences of his actions.

Ok...vent over!  Have a great Wednesday!

Plateau

For the first time in my weight loss journey I have hit the dreaded plateau.  The week that I hit said plateau I usually quit.  I trick myself by saying I am comfortable at this weight, my body doesn't want me to go lower so I will stop now.  It is a mean trick.  Even though I have told myself this in the past I need to make sure I don't today.

Although I think I look good right now, I am still not comfortable at this weight.  20 lbs lost is amazing, hell...if you count baby weight I have lost 34 lbs in the past 1 1/2 years!  While it is an amazing accomplishment, I am still not comfortable.  I want to see the 170's again, and not just the high numbers, I want to see 170 itself!  And then I want to see 160.

I was comfortable at 160.  Maybe a little too comfortable because I then stopped the plan and put on the weight.  I will say after I reached 160 the last time I then picked up and moved 3 hours from home and had to cook for myself again, and was working crazy hours, so that didn't help.

To my benefit, this time I did it.  I have done it with normal food that I make, I have added the work out plan each week, and now I am in a set schedule.  I just need to figure out what that next change will be to go the next 20 lbs.  I am going to try to adjust my meals a little bit more, I am trying to have one less lunch snack and work a little bit harder while training.  We will see where that takes me.

This week is my final week of Couch to 5k...yay me!  I am so excited to reach then end of something!  I feel like it will be the first time I followed through with something...I never follow through.  After the program ends next Monday I will keep up doing week 9 for the next three weeks preparing for my 5k...then I need a new plan to start!  I will keep running, because I feel like that has done the most for me...I just need to figure out if I want to work on speed or distance or both!

I just need to get off this plateau!  So this week I will work hard and hopefully see a change!

Stats from pas two weeks:

Last weeks numbers:
Starting weight: 200.8 lbs
Two weeks ago: 183 lbs (for the 2nd week in a row)
Total loss: 17.8 lbs

This weeks numbers:
Starting weight: 200.8 lbs
Last week: 183 lbs
This week: 180.8 lbs
Loss (gain) this week: -2.2 lbs (but not really because I was re-losing what I was at Thursday a week and a half ago!)
Total loss: 20 lbs

So now I am done re-losing what I have for the past week and a half.  It is time to move forward.

Goals for this week:

1. Finish Couch to 5k by next Monday afternoon.
2. Majorly increase water intake.
3. Research and choose new running plan.
4. See the 170's by next week!

Well...that is it!  I hope everyone is doing better than I did last week!  Here is to the future weight losses!

I am still here!

Yes I know I have been absent all week!  I am sorry, I am crazy busy with all that has been going on!  Between starting the new/old job, taking care of the boy, niece's 2nd birthday party, ending one class/starting new class, Couch to 5k training...something had to suffer.  And this week it was the blog to suffer! 

But today I wanted to check in, tell you I am still here...still trying to lose what I gained last weekend.  As of this morning I was 0.2 away from being back...then we went to Red Lobster today...so hopefully I didn't eff up too much.  Tomorrow I will be good and I have a run scheduled so it should be ok (week 8 day 3!)...but I am pretty certain I will not make it to the 170's by Monday!  I will try...so we will see!

In other news...Dave came downstairs this morning,with no shirt on, big smile and said "guess what!  I have lost 21.8 lbs so I am winning!" 

ASS...