Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Outside running at 5:30 am!

It felt so wonderful! Still a bit chilly (41), so I wore a hat and long sleeves. I wish it could be this light at 5:30 am all year long! But I will take it being able to run outside in the morning for the next 3+ months.

W7D1, 25 minutes, 2.0 miles. 4.8 mph/12:30 min/mile. I rate reading about people training and 4.8 is their walking pace! But whatever. It's better than sitting on the couch!

I was tempted to run an extra 2:30 out, so I could run a total of 30 minutes, so in essence graduating from C25K, but I chose not too. Maybe Thursday I will since I won't get in a run this weekend - just a lot of walking on Saturday. And then I can gradually add a few minutes on to get back to my 5K. And then what, not sure. Fitting in a 5K in a my neighborhood is going to be a squeeze - My street is about 1.3 miles end-to-end - going off my street you get into either traffic or very tight, windy, so-so busy street (with no sidewalks).

Monday, April 29, 2013

Beautiful weekend! But way too short!

Monday morning brain here, because I am trying to remember what I did!

Saturday I went to WW - I got my 16 week charm (shows how many times I have skipped since I just hit weigh-in #22). Then I went grocery shopping - I didn't have a ton to buy, just fresh fruits and veggies and dairy. Filled up with gas and was ready to go.

I took my daughter to soccer. Her team isn't very good. She is trying though. I couldn't help but notice that 3 of the 8 girls are overweight. Fantastic that they are doing soccer, but I can already tell at age 6 that they seemed miserable, weren't able to run very fast. One of the girls has a sister who at age 5 is already overweight as well. I saw both her parents and a bunch of grandparents and they seemed fine. I was always a very thin child, though I did gain weight around puberty, but that was also due to me then having money to buy junk food. I was never overweight according to the BMI scale until I was 29-32 (in that period of time I flucuated in the 150s). Once I stopped training my weight rose to 172 where it was when I met my husband, then it ballooned from there.

But back to my daughter - I worry because lately she has gotten so much pickier. She doesn't seem to want to eat anything remotely healthy. But I also don't want to deprive her of junk food (we do it in definitely moderation).

After soccer we all hung around at home doing stuff. We went out to our favorite Italian restaurant. I had no wine, no bread, a caeser salad (I know, not the healthiest). Their portions are enormous. I immediatel cut off a portion and stuff a spoon in my bowl to act as a barrier so I would only eat a small bit.

Sunday I got up to meet a friend for a run. I think we ran a little over 2 miles - nothing very fast as she is recovering from surgery. It was the first time in a long time that I had run while talking, so our pace was definitely slower. I could have gone further - I almost wanted to go running again when I got home, but I didn't.

TOM arrived last night - Hopefully I won't do too much damage this week. I so badly want to get to 216, my starting point in March 2010. But this week may not be it - but I am going to try to eat well this week since I am going to NYC next weekend and have lots of yummy meals lined up!

Saturday, April 27, 2013

Weekly Weigh-in #22

Starting Weight (12/1/2012): 232.2
Last Week: 220.0
Current Weight:  217.6
Change Since Last Week: -2.4
Total Change: -14.6
Height: 5'6"
Goal: 149

I was pretty surprised by the # this morning - though I always seem to have a dip right before TOM. But I will take it! I am away next Saturday, but if I like the # on the scale on Friday morning I may try to go get weighed in. I am anxious to get to 216, which was my starting point 3 years ago, plus it will drop my BMI under 35.

Friday I had a training class all day, so lunch was served. Pizza and salad. I had a 12 oz coke but didn't finish it. I did have 2 pieces of pizza, but vegetarian. I had salad with oil dressing. Last night was swimming so I had my typical PB&J sandwich.

A friend of mine, who is recovering from gall bladder surgery, the one who got my into running in the first place, asked if I wanted to meet on Sunday morning for a short run. C25K would have me running 22 minutes, but not sure if it will be slightly longer. I am okay with that!

Last night at the Y I saw that they have bootcamp on Tuesday and Thursday mornings at 5:30 am - I think I may give that a try. Probably not this week, but I would like to start the week after.

May is coming - by far my favorite month of the year :)

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Took a little to get up, but I did!

I got a good nights sleep last night - yeah! I made myself turn off my Kindle right at 10:30, even though I wanted to keep going. My alarm woke me up, which it barely ever does. It was so dark in my room, so I knew outside wasn't going to happen. Granted it was cloudy (and a little wet, but not raining) which helped contribute to the darkness, but I am not sure if 5:30 am runs are going to happen. I do have a reflective vest somewhere and I have a few shirts, shortsleeve and long, which are neon colors. I really would like to get outside more. I realize that I could start going running during my daughter's soccer practice on Wednesday evening! I wish I could change before i get her, but as it is I am having to leave in the middle of a work meeting, so I can't get out any earlier.

So I did W6D2 - I just skipped Day 1 all together. Today was just 2 10-minute runs. I revved up the treadsmill to a whopping 4.8 which is what I did C25K at last time. But that is really what made me decide that I need to be done with the treadmill. I want to be able to slow down if I need to and do a few sprints, and I would like to be able to do that without fiddling with the treadmill. So we'll see what happens.

The scale was so-so this morning after being horrendous yesterday - I saw numbers I hadn't seen in a while. Pizza water weight. For a while yesterday I was thinking that I might stop getting on the scale every day. I am just not sure if I can do that though!

I am already looking forward to the weekend when I can get running outside again!

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Not sure what is up with me!

The last 2 mornings I haven't gotten up to work out - I am so pissed at myself.

Monday night I slept horribly, so around 4 am turned off my alarm. It was freezing, it was raining, I was still sore from Sunday. Move it a day, no problem, I can still get in runs on Wednesday and Friday and Sunday.

This morning I still couldn't get up. It was like my body was a lead weight. Bed was just so comfortable!

And also the last 2 evenings I've totally been chowing. Monday night I had to take my son to get repeat bloodwork so my husband was making dinner. When we got home there was still more than 1/2 an hour until dinner (and I hadn't had my afternoon snack), so I was completely grazing the pantry. Last night my son was away and my husband was bringing home a pizza for dinner, still about 1/2 an hour after we got home. Despite having had my snack at work, I was devouing the pantry once again (and we don't have a lot of junk so I was definitely being creative).

I hope my mood brightens - The sun is trying to peak out and we are supposed to have beautiful (like 60's/70s) for the foreseeable future.

Seeing the weather, I realized I hadn't bought new black capris. The only ones I have are awful - not my style at all (there is beading!), but in desperation last summer, that was all I could find. I decided to get Land's End with a hidden synch elastic waist). Of course when I went to order them they were backorderd until 8/9 - Really? Who needs to buy capris in August?! At first I was going to get Navy, but really didn't like that idea, so settled for an 18 versus an 18W - I am afraid they will be too tight in the derriere. But we shall see. I have tons and tons and tons of pants in 16W and 16....now if only I could stop eating and lose more weight (TOM is still a week away, though I sware these days I am PMSing for 2 weeks every month).

Sunday, April 21, 2013

W5D3 - 20 minute run done and outside too!

Being back outside felt so great! Not the easiest run in the world - I am a little afraid I have exercise induced asthma now, or maybe it will just be easier once I loose some more weight. Or maybe I just need work on my breathing. It wasn't like I was dieing - just not as fluid as I would have liked. It was 36 degrees when I started so I wore a hat and a long sleeve shirt as well. I need to get running sunglasses.

I went 1.6 miles in 20 minutes - pretty much the same pace I was before. .2 miles every 2:30.

Not sure if I will just keep running outside - It is definitely light enough at 5:30 to be able to go  outside and it will just get lighter for the next 2 months.

Eating on Saturday was so-so. It was the first Saturday we didn't go out, but we had friends over for dinner. Appetizers were veggies and dip and hummus and chips so not the worst thing. I did have dessert - brownies and strawberries (we skipped the ice cream because it was 8:00 by the time we had dessert). But I did sneak in an additional brownie before bedtime because I am going to try to only do one dessert a week so I had myself mentally convinced it was the same dessert, just 2 hours later :)



Saturday, April 20, 2013

Weekly Weigh-in #21

Starting Weight (12/1/2012): 232.2
Last Week: 217.8
Current Weight:  220.0
Change Since Last Week: +2.2
Total Change: -12.2
Height: 5'6"
Goal: 149
I am actually surprised my weight was so low - I was expecting 223 or higher.

I didn't even go to WW this morning. I had hoped to sleep in, but at 5:30 I was awoken by one of the cats meowing like crazy like it was trapped somewhere. I opened every door in the house until I finally found him in the attic - I have no clue when my husband even went up there.

I had hoped to sleep in on Friday was well. I had arranged for my husband to take my son to school so me and my daughter could sleep in and have a wonderful day. But as soon as he woke up he saw an email talking about the lockdowns in Watertown and the surrounding towns (my parents live the next town over) and that began a day of worry. He couldn't go to work because the trains weren't running. We chose not to send my son to school because I didn't want to be away from him. But the day didn't go as planned. I didn't feel comfortable even going outside - we didn't know for so long that Suspect #2 did not have a car. We didn't go grocery shopping so we picked at what we had and then finally decided that we didn't want to go to swimming classes, but did choose to go out for Chinese food.

I was up way too late watching all the coverage and was exhausted this morning - I did go back to bed until 9 am and I am still out of it. Mental exhaustion and Chinese food.

I am going to try to drink a ton of water today and get ready for my 20 minute run in the morning.

What a long, strange week it has been.....

Thursday, April 18, 2013

No more predictions of a good week - they never work!

As of this morning I was up almost 4 lbs! Ugh. When I gain, I don't gain a smidge, I gain a lot! I don't expect to take much of that off in the next 2 days.

But I did get up this morning and do W5D2 of C25K. Sunday will be a 20 minute run! Not sure if I will do that inside or outside. I still need to work on my breathing - it just feels off.

I really need to stick to just 1 dessert a week - Saturdays. No more needed!

I definitely haven't been good about my water this week. Wednesday night is pizza night and I don't think I had anything to drink after dinner - not good!

One day I didn't eat my snack at work which led to the snacking before dinner.

But I will keep my head up and keep going and know this is just temporary.



Tuesday, April 16, 2013

I was mentally exhausted this morning....A run made me feel better!

Monday was Patriot's Day in Massachusetts - it is our Spring Break and none of the camps are open, so I was home with my daughter. We watched the Marathon on TV from 8:30 am until 1:30 pm and then went for a lovely 2 mile walk. I have no dreams of running 26.2 miles, ever. But I do have dreams of crossing the Boston Marathon finish line next year at the BAA 5K.

Around 3:00 my husband, who works in Boston, texted me to ask me what exploded. I didn't see anything on my phone. I went to my laptop and couldn't get on any of the local news websites. One person on FB mentioned it, so I went upstairs to turn the TV so my daughter wouldn't see it. 5 minutes later she ran outside to go sell lemonade with the girls across the street as I watched the TV in horror. 30 minutes later I had to go get her to drive her closer to Boston to spend the night with my parents. I hated doing that. I hated not being with her last night. I didn't know how or when my husband would be able to get a train home.

As soon as I picked her up she asked me about the bombings - turns out that an eldery man who stopped to buy lemonade from them told them. Who does that??!!! I was so mad. But like Newtown, she wasn't really phased by it.

Luckily my husband was able to get a train out of Boston in time. He said that all the trash cans along his route to the train station were open, and there were a lot of announcements in the train station and on the train about the suspicious packages.

His company wouldn't let him go into Boston today (he works full time at a client in Boston). He was mad because he wanted to be with his client, but he had to agree to go to company headquarters instead.

So how did I react to the news? I ate.....I had been resisting the homemade chocolate chip cookies all day long. But I found myself having 2. And then after dinner, I found myself eating a heaping spoonful of peanut butter and chocolate sauce. But I left it at that. I didn't fish the Easter candy out of trash. I didn't eat all the cookies, or all the PB, or all the chocolate sauce.

I got into bed at 8 am and was glued to the TV and the Internet and got a fitful night sleep. My husband didn't sleep well either. I found myself turning off my alarm, but my husband was up early. I was fighting myself in my head - oh, switch to Wednesday and Friday to run this week....But I wanted to run, I needed to run. So I did. I completed W5D1 of C25K. So glad I did.

I need to try to reign in the eating. The weekend wasn't stellar. Not horrible, but the scale was up 3 lbs on Monday, 2 lb today. Just trying for maintenance I guess this week.

Saturday, April 13, 2013

Weekly Weigh-in #20

Starting Weight (12/1/2012): 232.2
Last Week: 219.4
Current Weight:  217.8
Change Since Last Week: -1.6
Total Change: -14.4
Height: 5'6"
Goal: 149

This could be a challenging week, but I am going to try really hard! If I do really well, if/when I make it to 216, then I will finally be back to where I was when I joined WW in March 2010. And -.6 will bring me to 15 lbs. And a loss this coming week would bring me to a loss 4 weeks in a row, something I haven't seen yet.

Challenges for this week:

My in-laws are in town tonight, so my husband requested dessert - brownies, ice cream and strawberries. I will just have a small amount. Unlike a few weeks ago when I was at my parents and my mother dished out dessert, I will be doing the dishing so I can give myself whatever I want.

Tomorrow night we are going to my parents house to celebrate my dad's 75th birthday - we are just going to a local high-end pizza place and then back to their house for dessert.

It is my daughter's spring break this week - I will be home with her Monday and Friday, but we don't plan on going anywhere  so I should be able to eat like normal. But overall our schedule this week is mixed up because she will be at a variety of places Tuesday - Thursday.

Another attempt this week to do more exercise than C25K. WW is all about Activity this month, so I will have extra incentive to be more active.

Here is to a good week!

Thursday, April 11, 2013

Slicing off a piece of the pie

I am a creature of habit - I bring to wok with me 2 meals and 2 snacks every day and they are always the same (though the flavor of yogurt and the flavor of Vitatops may change)

Breakfast: Dannon light greek yogurt, 3/4-1 cup of Cheerios (combination of plain and honey nut)
Snack: WW cheese stick, fruit cup (in juice, but I dont drink the juice, so I count it as 1 point (if I am actually tracking)
Lunch: Carrot sticks, Lean Cuisine Pepperoni Pizza, 8 oz regular coke
Snack: Fruit cup, Vitatop

It is quick to put together - the only "preparation" I need to do is put the carrots in a bag and measure out my cereal (I put the combination of the 2 cereals together in a bag each weekend).

I am okay with all of it except for lunch.
The Lean Cuisine Pizza is a whopping 10 points!
The coke is my guilty pleasure - I don't drink coffee, I don't each much chocolate, so the coke gives me the umph I need to make it through the afternoon - I've tried diet coke and Coke 0, I've tried going without and I've been miserable, so this is what it is. I am thinking though of trying to give it up on Fridays when I work from home and on the weekends - but sometimes on the weekends being with the kids all day, this is what I need!

Back in 2010 when I lost 30-35 lbs I used to cut a piece of the pizza off before putting it in the microwave cutting the pizza off by a couple of points (back then the Pizza was only 8 points, I think I cut off 1 point). Since the logistics of heating up my pizza has changed since i am not sitting in the same place at work, it makes more sense to cut it off after heating it, so today that is what I did! I'll see how it goes.

I have a long list of lunches I can make that are about 8 points, but they all require pre-planning and with 2 kids lunches to makes and breakfasts and dinners, I just don't know if i have it in me to take that on right now.

Today is Day #2 in Size 18W pants - they feel great!

I woke up yet again to do C25K (W4D2) - I still need to work on my breathing. Lifted some weights as well. I am going to try to download videos from Bootcamp for tomorrow morning instead of trying to stream them as I have a lot of issues.

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

20W/1X pants upstairs!

Last summer I had the most horrendous elastic waist, mommy pants ever - I had reached desperation when my 18W didn't fit and the selection was not great. I felt so frumpy the whole summer because of what I had to wear. The feeling continued into the fall as I continued to gain weight and had to buy 20W pants.

A message board I have been part of since I got married has a thread where people post cute clothes (ie they take pictures of themselves) to get feedback. I never remotely wanted to post there because I just haven't cared about clothes. I never really have cared - I am a jeans, t-shirt and flip flop person. But I do have do dress 'business casual' for work. While I don't see myself posting to this thread, I've been more inspired to care a little bit more about my wardrobe.

Last night I was doing laundy and decided it was time to put the 20W and 1X pants upstairs and hang up all the 18W pants I have (I have long pants and khaki capris - I need to buy 18W black capris). So this morning I am finally wearing 18W to work again and it feels great - Some of them are a tad small, but keeps me honest all day versus pants I was afraid would fall down.

You'll notice I said 'upstairs' with the bigger pants - not donate. I may donate some because IF (and I want to say it will NEVER happen) I were to gain weight back, there are some of the pants I would never, ever wear again. But I won't be quite as quick to donate everything, though I completely intend on going to WW for the rest of my life if that is what it takes to not regain weight.

*sigh* I didn't get up this morning. I don't know how to get myself out of this 'It isn't a C25K day, but you still need to get up and work out'. I need to get over this hump, fast!

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Actually got myself out of bed this morning....

After not having worked out in 2 1/2 weeks, I managed to get myself up. I really didn't want to get up. It was thundering and lightening and bed seemed so inviting, but I made myself do it. I had not excuses. I went to bed at descent hour.

I decided to repeat Week 4 of C25K. I went back and forth between 4.6 and 4.7, my turtle pace. But it was better than nothing. I need to work on my breathing - My nose was kind of stuffed up so I had a hard time breathing well which helped contribute to going between 4.6 and 4.7.

We are going to have 1 day of almost 70 degree weather so I decided to dress kind of cute. My daughter told me I looked thinner. I love her! I can't wait to ditch all of my baggy winter clothes. Most of my sweaters were 1X which I was completely swimming in and look ridiculous. XLs are kind of so-so. Pants are still 18W :( Will be for a while. Though I was glad to find that my pants had the adjustable waist like my kids' pants because I felt like they were going to fall down. I am pretty close to ditching my size 20W - they reall are ridiculously big.

I still need to figure out a good work out schedule. I am okay with working out 6 days a week. Thinking:

Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday - C25K
Monday, Wednesday, Friday - Strength training/Bootcamp work outs
Saturday - Enjoy life with the kids!

Sunday, April 7, 2013

Another weekend done :(

The weather wasn't as nice as I had originally thought it would be, but it was a very productive weekend.

After my WW meeting, I went to BJ's and then to Target. At Target I got a bunch of shorts and capri's (unfortunately in Size 18W, since I donated all mine when I was this size 3-4 years ago and last summer I had clothes I absolutely hated - I need to embrace the size I am and dress cute (while trying to get to a smaller size).

The VFW was sponsoring a shredding truck so I brought 3 huge boxes which contained all the bank statements I've had since I moved out of my parent's house 20 years ago and I've moved them around - I know I still have more than 7 years in this house, but it was such a relief to finally be rid of them.

We had my daughter's first soccer game - 2 years ago at age 4 she tried soccer and hated it. This time she seemed to really like it. It was so freezing though!

I spent all afternoon organizing parts around the house. Earlier in the day I had suggested going to Applebee's so I could get a WW meal, but we needed to go to Lowe's which is right next to our favorite mexican restaurant. I had my "normal" "bad" entree of guacamole and queso and way too many chips, but I drank water and ordered a salad off their healthy menu and barely ate any of it except lettuce. I did have some leftover dessert insanely late in the night, but barely made a dent in it and threw it away.

Sunday was another hectic day - Skating, then a birthday party. I had to whiz through McDonald's between the 2 - I got myself a cheeseburger and water and ate my son's fries (no soda, didn't get myself my own fries) and I passed on cake and pizza at the birthday party (I wasn't expecting pizza since the party was from 1-3). Dinner was our first grilling of the season so sausages, pepper and onions, potatoes. And chocolate chip cookeis for dessert.

Way too late...I WILL get up on Tuesday and work out.

Saturday, April 6, 2013

Weekly Weigh-in #19

Starting Weight (12/1/2012): 232.2
Last Week: 219.8
Current Weight: 219.4
Change Since Last Week: -0.4
Total Change: -12.8
Height: 5'6"
Goal: 149
I squeeked out a tiny loss - I am okay with it. The scale actually said 220 when I first woke up but being neurotic as I am, I weighed myself again after going to the bathroom (which required taking all my clothes off again, but to see under 220 and a .6 loss was worth it!) I probably won't register that at WW because last week the differential between the 2 scales was less than normal (usually it averages 1.4 lb, I think last week it was only 1.0 lb)

So another week ahead of me, with really no plans. If we go out to dinner tonight I am going to suggest Applebees so I can get a WW meal.

I need to get back to exercising this week!

Friday, April 5, 2013

Week has continued not so well...

I'll be up tomorrow. I just got to live with it and move on. This coming week SHOULD be a good week.

Leftover cake and Easter candy has not been my friend (but has been SO good!) - though I haven't eaten a ton of it. Reeses eggs (just the little ones) - I am NOT buying them next year. I could have eaten all of them.

But I also found myself not working out at all. I don't know if it was a quick bout of depression (seeing that it was very chilly after a few beautiful days) or just my mind being completely elsewhere, wishing for the weekend so I could do my spring cleaning. But I found myself exhausted at the end of the day and wanting to get 7-8 hours of sleep.

But I don't want to continue sleeping in - hoping to work out come Monday or Tuesday - the weekend will be hectic and I should get in lots of house/yard work, so I'll count that.

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Trying to get back on track....

After a beautiful, warmish holiday weekend, I am now in a funk. It is only 40 degrees today, should be in the 20s tonight, TOM arrived yesterday, and I am trying to get the house back in order.

Saturday was a crazy day - as usual, I bit off way more than I could chew in terms of getting stuff done for Easter. I love Spring and I wanted our first Easter in the new house to be perfect.

I got an email in the morning saying what my daughter needed for soccer on Wednesday, so we found ourselves running out late Saturday afternoon. We headed to an early dinner first where I had Lobster Bisque (so yummy, so fattening - I have it maybe once a year or every 2 years - so I didn't want to pass it up) and Shrimp Scampi Mac & Cheese. Comfort food.

Easter was a bundle of craziness. I didn't really have time to eat that much. I realized though at 8:30 pm that I hadn't eaten a thing since 2 pm so heated up some leftover pasta. I didn't go crazy on the Easter candy.

Monday day was a typical work day, but by the end of the day I was crampy and bloated and cranky so dinner was mainly leftovers, but I found myself chowing on leftovers even as I put everything together, so i couldn't even finish my dinner.

Today was trash day and I did a major purge - my fridge is practically bare - I haven't really menu planned. Tacos tonight, now that soccer is on Wednesday pizza day will move to Wednesday, pasta on Thursday with leftover ham, and a PB&J sandwich on swimming night.

I am annoyed with myself iwth how much candy I bought - and the majority will end up in the trash.