The 5k

Good morning friends!  This weeks McFatty Monday will be a bit different because again I am at the plateau that I can't get off of!  It is ok because it has been a stressful few weeks and I think I need to focus on something else and then the scale will move!  So because I did my first 5k on Saturday we will focus on that!

Saturday morning started off pretty chaotic.  I could not find anything I needed and was a hot mess!  I had to take a few minutes to remind myself I have run plenty of 5k races...just by myself!  I was not in it to win it, just in it to finish. 

Dave and I got to the race and prepped ourselves for the start.  We pinned on our numbers, put on our shoe sensors so they can track us and got lined up.  We showed up a the start about 5 minutes before race time so there was little waiting thank goodness!  I think the next race I do I will show up the same time!  It was a corral start so they line us up by mile times.  Dave and I lined up between the 9 to 10 minute mile group and the 12 and under/stroller group!  I did not want to get run over!

I realized as I lined up that this was awesome people watching. You had a person from every walk of life...old, young, baby, large, small, beginner, advanced, etc.  On that day we all joined together to be runners!

They played the National Anthem and then set off the siren and off we went!  The run was beautiful.  The weather was perfect and the neighborhood we went through was so pretty!  The only problems were the damn hills!  There were a ton on this run! 

I was making good time, at one mile I was at 11:30 and at two miles 22:30.  I thought I was on track to finish the 5k at 34:30 but then came those last few hills.  I tried my hardest but at around 2.5 miles I had to walk it off for a minute.  After 60 seconds I went back to jogging and pushed to the finish.  As I came up to the finish line I could see my David waiting for me!  I told him at the start that if he wanted to he could go ahead because he is faster.  I am happy I said this because he was front and center as I crossed the finish! 

As I came in the official clock said 35:30.  So like I figured a minute later then expected because of having to walk the hills.  But for a first time runner and racer I like to think this was a strong showing!  This was a great first race to show me what I need to improve on and that is my hill work!

I loved this race, everyone was so supportive.  The people that live in the neighborhood stood outside their homes and cheered as you ran by...it was so much fun!  And everyone cheered as you crossed the finish line.  It felt great!  And if you want to see a shot of me crossing the finish and looking good doing it check out the picture by Jennifer Romanowski! 

When I signed up for the race I set three goals.  They were:

1. Finish
2. Jog the entire time
3. Finish in under 40 minutes

Well, two out of three I will take!  Next time I will still have goal 1 and 2, but will change number 3 to come in under 35 minutes.  I will jog the entire time next time!

We already found a race for next time.  On July 9th there is a race near us we are going to do!  So this begins my training again!  Happy McFatty Monday and here's to hoping I see a loss next week!

I am having a McFatty kind of day

I think this morning I woke upon the wrong side of the bed...the fat side.  This will not be the normal McFatty Monday type of post.  I am not going to list my weekly progress or goals.  I just kind of want to crap out this week!

I am in a funk today.  Not about weight loss...about nothing in general.  I woke up on a plateau this morning...the same weight as last week...and I didn't really care.  I said FU to the scale and hopped in the shower.  I went on to have a pretty crappy day.  It was just that kind of a day.

I know all I really need is to go to sleep and have a relaxing evening.  So that is what I plan on doing.  I have a big week coming up so I am only allowing myself one crappy day, which was today.  Tomorrow I am back on track and pushing through this bad day funk!  I have my 5k on Saturday and I want to enjoy it.  So that is what I am going to do.

I hope everyone had a better Monday. 

Baby kisses and hugs

It is amazing how Nathan has the ability to make me want to send him away with the mailman one minute, but then the next minute he makes me want to cry.

This weekend was tough.  Nate put me through the ringer running me ragged.  He tore apart every nook of the first floor, threw tantrums, threw food, and made me want to pull my hair out.  By the time Dave came home from work this evening I told him to take the child away from me because I needed space.

And then he did two things that melted my heart.  The first happened when I lied down on the couch next to Dave when he sat down.  Nate walked up to me, bent over, and gave me a wet kiss on the lips while saying ahhh!  It was probably the sweetest thing I have ever experienced.  I didn't even ask for the kiss...he chose to do it because HE wanted to. 

Then an hour later...after some more throwing of food and tantrums I sat down on the couch to finally do some school work.  Nate walked up to me and wrapped his arms around me and gave me a big hug.

I always need to remember that when days get tough and I want to crawl in a hole and scream, that Nathan is my sweet and innocent baby that will always give me kisses and hugs.  No matter how hard of a day we have as long as he gives me those kisses and hugs my heart will be strong.  And as long as he keeps doing it I promise to not send him off with the mailman.

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...

McFatty Monday came quickly!

Hello Friends!  I am not going to post my loss today because my weekend sucked!  Actually my weekend was great, it was my eating that sucked!  I am ok with it, I have been so strict over the past two months that I enjoyed the party.  As many of you read last week I got to the 20 lbs lost goal.  Well, not anymore!  I can tell you I am not higher than last Monday, but I pretty much eliminated the hard work I did!

I know by Wednesday I will be back to 20 lost so I am not to worried.  I am now looking to the future.  The next 20 lbs!  It seems like it is very achievable now!  I never thought it could happen!  But it will because I will keep training for my 5k and eat well.  I feel great, I am getting into clothes I haven't been able to in years, and people are noticing my loss!  So I will keep going.

I have two goals for this week.  The first is to lose what I gained over the weekend!  The second goal, which will be the tough one, is to see my weight in the 170's by next Monday.  It has been a long time since I saw that number...about 4 years!  So that is what I am pushing for.  Luckily there will be no travel this week so I don't have to worry about that throwing me off.  So lets get this started!

Have a great Monday everyone! 

20 lbs!

I wanted to post this now because who knows if I will still be this low on Monday after a weekend of parties and travel!  As of yesterday morning I weighed in at 180.8 lbs!  That is 20 lbs lost!  Half way to the 40 lbs goal and I can taste it.  I won't jump the gun and schedule my massage until I weigh in on Monday because that is my official day and I am playing by my rules!  But I needed to share with everyone how excited I am!

3 days in...

And I am already overworked.  I realize why they fought so hard to get me back...I need to fix everyone's mistakes from the past few months!  I decided I am going to fix everything, document it, and use it as a platform for a promotion and raise in a few months.  Oh...and they had me training a new manager today.  I had my welcome meeting with this guy so why am I training him?!  That is what I get for coming back!

I would type more, but I am so tired that it will come out all nonsensical.  Now I need to take care of my child and do school work...I can't wait until I finish school in October so I have one less thing to worry about!  Too much in my brain right now.

McFatty Monday

This week's post is going to be a short one.  I start my new job today and I have to go in a half hour earlier so I have less time this morning!  This week was good until Friday when we had Chinese food!  I got the shrimp and vegetable meal and drizzled a bit of garlic sauce on it so it wasn't too bad, but it still wasn't good!  On Saturday I had a bad eating day.  All I wanted to do was eat!  And I did!

Sunday I recovered, and I worked out four days this week, so that helped.  As of Friday morning I was 182.6 and was so excited.  But then the weekend came and I effed that up, but I still managed a loss!

Here are this week's stats:
Starting weight: 200.8 lbs
Last week: 184.6 lbs
This week: 183 lbs
Loss (gain) this week: -1.6 lbs
Total loss: 17.8 lbs

Actually I managed a really good loss, but obviously I am capable of more so next week I will aim for it!  My one and only goal for next week is to get to my 20 lb weight loss goal.  So that would be 2.2 lbs.  It is high aiming, but it would be awesome and I know I can do it if I really work hard.

One final note, tomorrow I will be on week 6 day 3 of Couch to 5k!  From this point on out it is all running, no more interval training!  I am so happy I made it to this point, it truly transformed my body and I can't recommend this program enough!


Happy McFatty Monday everyone!

A fresh start

I am ready for this.  These past two weeks have been hell ending my last job.  I am happy to say I never have to go back to that place.  Some of the residents were so terrible it made me look at society in a whole new way.  At the end certain people were so horrible to me I couldn't run out of there any quicker.  I think it would have been better had there been another person working in the office with me, but that was not able to happen. 

I am very excited to go back to the old job.  It is a fresh start, in a new position, with a staff to work with!  I will go into it with a new attitude that I did not have two years ago because I am a different person.  I have a house and family now, so I have different worries.  I am school, losing weight, and training for my 5k and beyond!  So this time I can separate myself from the craziness!  I can handle this craziness, unlike the other place!

I am ready to move on...and tomorrow it begins!

My child is a bully

I realized this today when dropping him off at daycare.  He is now the oldest one in his baby/toddler room and is the next to be pushed up when space is needed.  I almost wish that they would just push him up with the older kids.  I say this because him being in the semi-baby room has turned him into a bully! 

Today I dropped him off and sat in the room watching him play for about 15 minutes before I went to work.  In that time he pushed over one boy 3 times, and another smaller boy one time.  Each time with a big smile on his face.  Now I know he is doing this because he doesn't know any better, but I feel that if he was with the older kids he would meet his match!  He is now so much bigger then the other kids that he looks like a 12 year old pushing around some 7 year olds!

I think it is about time I start pushing to get him up with the other toddlers.  I know they were hanging on to him because of his walking skills (or lack there of), but now he is motoring around walking more than crawling, so it is time to push the move!  These poor babies can't defend themselves against godzilla when he is coming over to them!  They are just learning to stand and my kid comes to push them down!  All the moms are going to hate me...

Wow...I did it!

I did something today that I don't think I have ever done in my entire life...I jogged 20 minutes straight!  Today was the dreaded week 5 day 3 of the Couch to 5K, and it had me stressed out since I finished day 2 on Sunday!  Thinking all the way back to childhood I can honestly say that I have never jogged that long, I always stopped and walked for a bit, but not today!  Today I sucked it up and pushed through.  The people at the gym probably think I am crazy because I talked my way through it..."you can do it you can do it you can do it."  I did that for the last 13 minutes of the jog!

This run came on the perfect day, I was just verbally harassed in the parking lot at work...so I had major frustrations to work out.  I will not even go into what was said...but it was enough to make the average person want to quit their job, so I am glad that I already did!  I needed this run.  As I jogged I told myself at first it was ok if I didn't make it through.  As I got further I said eff that...I am going to go all the way and tell those ignorant people from earlier to SUCK IT!  I just did something today that you will never do in your life because you are miserable and want everyone around you to be miserable.  But not me...and not today!  Today is my day!  Today I transition to the new and better me!

Next week I will be ending with a 25 minute run and then the final 3 weeks will be 25 to 30 minutes...I feel like I can do this!  While 20 minutes was tough...10 minutes is nothing.  So I will look at it as 20 tough minutes and 10 easy minutes!  It may not make sense to anyone else...but I am going with it!

My husband took some pictures this morning for my progress report...I will post them tonight in order from fat to now!  I can see a major difference!