Friday, May 30, 2014

Weekly Weigh-in #27

Nope, it isn't Saturday, but with this crazy new schedule, I'll be posting my weights on Fridays (or could be Wednesdays!). Today was 187.4, which is +0.2 from last weekend.


I am really eager to lose 2 pounds, but I've just got to put my mind to it and lose the pre-dinner munching/unorganized dinner. 185.4 = BMI of 29.9 = No longer obese!


Tomorrow I am doing Color Me Rad with my 7 year old. Not a "real" race, but I can't wait!



Thursday, May 29, 2014

4 Mile Morning

Yesterday I had my first At Work WW meeting. I am just going to get over what my weight is at WW - to me my real weight is what it says at home. Yes, it matters when it comes to getting charms (someday I will hit 50 lb!) but for now I can't care.

I was way up at home, as expected, since I went on a mini-binge Tuesday night. And then the WW scale was 2.2 lbs heavier than that (but I was wearing jeans, and I didn't take off my belt, and I had eaten breakfast).

The meeting itself was kind of boring, because it was all review (and I never did Simple Start). But I still felt really good being there.

Last night I ate a normal dinner, and then made pancakes and waffles to freeze - Experimenting with different flavors so I can stop buying so many Eggo's for the kids (I do get the Nutrigrain Waffles....so annoyed they no longer make Nutrigrain pancakes).

This morning I ran 4 miles. 1 mile out, 1 mile back, then ran to a nearby road that had a gradual hill - not real long, like .3 miles, but I ran up and down that twice and then back for a total of 4 miles. I wear my Garmin, but not because I really care about my time. Just so I can log it on Connect.

The killer this morning was having to dig out my tights, that I had JUST put away this weekend, because it was 37 degrees! Hello May 29!

Wednesday, May 28, 2014

I don't like change....

Today is our first WW meeting at work and I am just not feeling it. But I will go anyways, because otherwise I wouldn't get to a meeting.

I like my neurotic rituals of Saturday morning weigh-ins. Eating only a PB&J sandwich for dinner the night before, wearing the same comfy outfit, and knowing that the difference between me weighing myself naked and stepping on the scale at 7 am, would be 1.4 lbs.

Yesterday morning I didn't even bother getting on the scale - the first time i had done that in weeks. I just didn't want to see it. And then last night I made dinner mid-week for the first time in weeks. The rest of the family was at my son's t-ball practice. I made pasta and salad, but after 45 minutes, even though I knew they would be home soon, I started munching like crazy.

This morning the scale was up 2.8 lbs since Saturday! Today is a rainy, raw day so I wore my normal outfit - jeans. I ate my normal breakfast. I figure I am still going to do that. Especially since I plan on doing strength training on Wednesdays. Whatever the scale says it says. Yes, I do plan on wearing a lighter outfit, but it being 55 degrees and pouring, wasn't going to happen today.

I think part of my uneasiness is trying to figure out what number I am going to put in my weekly tracker. Wednesday or still Saturday? For the next 4 weeks, Saturdays won't be the lightest number because I will have races 3 out of the 4, so won't just be having PB&J for dinner. But not sure I want to do Wednesdays. I figure the next 4 weeks will be just playing around with the new routine. It will be a time of flux anyways because the kids will be wrapping up school, then having a small break before camp begins, then trying to figure out the 8 week camp routine.

But I am going to try to eat well. The last few days haven't reflected that but a hurdle I can easily get over.

Saturday, May 24, 2014

Weekly Weigh-in #26

Starting Weight (12/1/2012): 232.2
Last Week: 187.6
Current Weight: 187.4
Change Since Last Week: -0.2
Total Change: -44.8
Height: 5'6"
Goal: 149


So close to 45 lbs!


I finally threw out the 2 bags of flavored almonds that were plaguing me - Wasabi and Habanerro. So yummy, yet so many points!


Today will be my last meeting at my current WW meeting for a while - at least for a month, but most likely for the summer. I am definitely worried about changing my weigh-in from 7 am Saturday to 12:30 Wednesday. But I figure maybe it will help me eat even better on the weekends. Once Ellie's summer soccer starts at the end of June, Wednesday will be take-out-pizza night, but then maybe I will experiment with meals on Thursdays and Fridays, have pasta Saturday night pre-Long Run on Sunday, and then eat lightly on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday nights. I think it is the "eating lightly" on Sunday which worries me the most, because as I start to have longer and longer runs on Sundays in training for my 1/2 in October, I tend to overeat on those days out of fatigue and knowing how many calories I burned. But I also tend to be dehydrated that shows up negatively on the scale for a couple of days.


But what I know I will not do just because my weigh-in is Wednesday - I won't eat badly for the rest of the week AND the weekend!


I need to get off the 5.2 lbs! I need my 50 lb washer!


I think I am most nervous about seeing what the weight difference between my scale and the WW scale. I am used to 1.4 lbs. I know it will be more than that, I am just eager to find out what the difference is....and find a cute, light weigh-in outfit :)

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Happy 9 Year Anniversary to Me (and my husband!)!

I had hoped I would be down to my wedding weight by today, but I am 4 lbs above, but for the first anniversary since we got married, I am able to fit into my honeymoon clothes. By our first anniversary I was 7 months pregnant and for our 2nd anniversary we went on a cruise, but alas I was still above my pregnancy weight at that time (I gained 22 lbs in the 6.5 months between getting married and conceiving my daughter). I did almost reach my wedding weight in February 2011, for one day, but then immediately commenced my 21 month - 50 lb gain, so 3 months later for our 6th anniversary I couldn't fit into my wedding clothes.

So where will I be in 1 year for the Big 1-0??? I'd like to think that I will have lost 34 lbs and thus be "normal" weight of 154 (my final goal will hopefully be between 142 and 148).

But I know I don't do well with time goals. I never, ever hit them. Usually I end up gaining weight instead. My weight loss has definitely slowed, so I have concerns about being able to loose 34 lbs in a year (I've averaged about 27 lb loss year-over-year since December 1st). I know I need to step up my weight loss effort though - I definitely have not been putting my heart into it lately.

We have a info session today at work about bringing WW to work. I am a little excited about this, at least for the short term, because weekends are so busy in the summer. But having a Saturday weigh-in does help stay accountable for Thursday night and all day Fridays, days that in the past that have been notoriously difficult for me. If we get enough people for work, the weigh-in would be on Wednesdays at lunchtime. In the past I was nervous about having WW at work because it was my only option because I didn't live near a center, so every time we had to re-up, I was always nervous if we'd have enough people or not. At least now I know if we don't, I can go back to my old meeting or another meeting. I think I may still go to my old meeting after my 4 weeks away, or maybe after the summer. I am going to make it clear with the work group not to count me towards the 15 people because I am not sure how many meetings I will attend.

Sunday, May 18, 2014

Weekly Weigh-in #25

Starting Weight (12/1/2012): 232.2
Last Week: 188.0
Current Weight: 187.6
Change Since Last Week: -0.4
Total Change: -44.6
Height: 5'6"
Goal: 149


This loss is kind of cheating. I woke up on Saturday morning, amidst a torrential downpour, the scale said 188.2, so I went back to bed until 8:30. After 2 more trips to the bathroom the scale was down :)


Friday I tried to act like I was still going to WW. My husband came home from the hospital on Friday morning and the kids had an early release from school so I took them to do errands, the first stop being the Cheesecake Factory for lunch. I got 2 small plates - they said each was 490 calories or under. Yummy, but not a ton of food. We got cheesecake to eat later, which for me meant on Saturday after weigh-in. Friday night dinner was my normal PB&J sandwich and a piece of fruit.


Saturday my Matron of Honor, who I hadn't seen in 4 years, came to visit. Turns out she wanted to do Foam Fest too so now I have someone to do it with me!


I was feeling very mentally weak about what to do for my Long Run. I wasn't feeling 8 miles in my bones. I was actually feeling like blowing off the whole thing. I already had a packed day planned and sleeping in felt like heaven.


My running buddy has been plagued with infected poison ivy on her feet for several weeks. I chose to reach out to her to see if she wanted to run - I knew that I would be motivated to get out, even for just a bit. She was thankful I reached out because it motivated her as well. She chose to do 3.25 miles - they were pretty slow miles. I was telling her the story of my father's illness and my husband's hospitalization. I felt more like talking than running. I chose to turn around with her and then would decide how much to tack on to what we already had run. I figure a mile out and back would be easy. My music wasn't on and I ran a mile without it. I was miserable. I was running (practically walking) at 13:00 mile. I again was doubting my ability and desire to ever do a 1/2. I put my music on when I turned around, but still never really recovered. I ended up doing 5.5 miles.


Not sure how long I will run next weekend. We are going to run along the river in Boston, and then I will drive the course for my 10K.



Thursday, May 15, 2014

What a week!

I had such high hopes for this week, but it all came slamming down when my husband was admitted to the hospital on Monday. He had gotten bit by a tick Saturday and got a blood infection from it. Not Lyme disease (Lyme doesn't come on that quickly) - He is still in the hospital and may not get out until Saturday (they are waiting for his white blood count to come down and for him not to have a fever). So besides being a single mom for a week, we are adding hospital visits on top of that. So the eating has definitely not been stellar, but could have been worse!

Tuesday I went to Panera for lunch - I hadn't been there in over 10 years. I got my old favorite - onion soup in a bread bowl and a greek salad, and a lemonade. I ate the whole bread bowl and then my friend didn't want her onion soup so I ate the additional roll with her onion soup.

Wednesday night my husband wanted us to bring him pizza to the hospital. I also got pasta for the kids, mozzarella sticks, garlic bread (which we didn't touch) and we made him brownies - I only had 2 and left the rest at the hospital.

Obviously running hasn't been happening, though my husband was cute and told me I could go for a run when I came last night with the kids. But I was exhausted and the hospital is on a huge hill. But it was a nice thought! Even if he gets out by Saturday, I don't think a long run will happen on Sunday as it is supposed to pour all weekend.

Sunday, May 11, 2014

7.5 miles - not all runs are perfect

Originally I was supposed to run with my running buddy and couple other mom friends of her (we run on a bike trail in her town). My friend ended up having to bow out because of foot issues, 1 woman had sick kids, and the 3rd had to get 10 miles in. Honestly I was a little worried because I knew I had to get in 7 miles. And so I ended up running on my own, which I am used to - I just kind of hoped to be running with other moms.


The day didn't start out too well. I was up at 5:00 am - An hour before my alarm was to go off.


Then when I was filling up my 10 oz hand-held water bottle, I realized the valve was broken, hence why it was leaking all over me last week. The other 2 small water bottles I have, the tops didn't fit, and those water bottles are supposed to fit on the strap of my pants, but I never had tried it and then didn't fit right. I contemplated wearing my camel bak (all this at 6 am), but instead decided to carry a water bottle. What a mistake!


And then I forgot to turn on my Garmin so am pacing back and forth in the woods waiting for it to locate satellites, which seemed to take extra long.


On a "good note", the black flies were in full force in the parking lot so I put on bug spray before I got on the trail. Good choice!


I decided to try Orange sports beans this time, since the chews could rip out my already delicate fillings.


Carrying the water bottle just made me miserable- My thumb was cramping up by Mile 2. I seriously considered turning around at 2.5 miles. I couldn't carry the water bottle in my left hand - it just didn't feel right.


But I trudged on. I turned around at 3.75 miles. I wasn't quite ready at 3.5 miles.


At the turn around I started eating the bag of orange sports beans - they were yummy, but I am such a mouth breather that trying to breathe while eating is hard and made my noise run like crazy. But I was better once I finished the pack (100 calories).


I never got the pick-me-up I did last week. I just slogged through the second 3.75 miles.


During that time I really started questioning doing a half. My face was getting the feeling it does when it is warm, and it was only 60 and not humid. How would I survive during the summer months? I looked and I did get up to 6.22 miles on the bike path in the height of the summer. But I would need to be getting up to 11 during the same time.


I knew that I would have to start wearing my camel bak. I need more water than most people and no way that I could wear that much around my hips. I'll try it out I guess.


But I did end up buying another 10 oz handheld, and then a larger 22 oz handheld today. I also picked up some Gu to give it a try....ugh.


My knees are definitely feeling it today. I question whether I want to try for 8 next week. I only need to get to 6.22 by June 7th (with lots of hills, which I am NOT doing right now!)


But I am not feeling completed dejected. Even if I don't end up doing a 1/2, it isn't the end of the world. But I am not ready to go there yet.


A year ago I completed C25K (for the second time), I ran on Mother's Day instead of sleeping in, I am 28 lbs less than I was  year ago. Lots of good things here!

Saturday, May 10, 2014

Weekly Weigh-in #24

Starting Weight (12/1/2012): 232.2
Last Week: 190.4
Current Weight: 188.0
Change Since Last Week: -2.6
Total Change: -44.2
Height: 5'6"
Goal: 149


Happy, happy dance! Getting there - so close to some nice milestones (187.2 = 45 lbs lost, 185.4 = BMI under 30, 184 = Wedding weight (our 9 year anniversary is coming up in less than 2 weeks)).


Not sure what the next week will bring - some incredibly stressful stuff is happening in my family (not with me and my husband or my kids), TOM is coming up, stressful stuff at work. But these milestones on the horizon will hopefully help me push through. This past week with the dual kids sports and dinners was a little bit better than last week, but still not 100%.


Today is kids sports and putzing around the house. Tomorrow (Mother's Day!) I am slated to do a 7 mile run. Last Mother's Day I completed 3 miles and declared myself graduated from C25K. How far I've come!



Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Slow run, but a run!

I redeemed myself with 3.5 miles this morning. At first I wasn't going to set the alarm - just scrounge in the closet for clothes if I happened to wake up in time. But before going to bed I chose to put out my clothes and set my alarm.

It was in the high 30s in the morning. Brrr. I don't always check the temperature but someone had posted on Twitter how cold it was so I checked.

My time was pretty sad for 3.5 miles. I realize I wasn't pushing myself at all. My legs felt like lead the first 2 miles, but I was feeling good at the turn around so went out of my way on a side street to increase my mileage.

I am almost at 100 miles for the year - will be there sometime in my long run on Mother's Day.


Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Back on track after a bad, bad day!

I was out of sorts all day - I don't know if I was dehydrated or just stressed or what, but I ate my morning snack and my lunch carrots early. And while waiting for my Lean Cuisine to heat up, someone had left snack mix in the kitchen and I was munching on that and brought some back to my desk AND I had my afternoon snack at lunch time.

So I was starving when I got home and was all excited to watch '24' (which didn't start until 8:00) and we were grilling fajitas for dinner, but I had bought salsa, guacamole AND queso so I think I had more than a full dinner's worth before dinner was even served (late...why do I ever suggest grilling during the week - it takes too long!). I was full when I sat down to dinner and stuffed myself more and then the kids had been itching for banana splits for dinner.So yep...painfully, sickenly full. I hate that feeling. I had to go lie down.

I pulled out running stuff for this morning but I got such a horrible night sleep because my stomach was so uncomfortable, so I slept in.

But today is a new day!




Saturday, May 3, 2014

Weekly Weigh-in #23 + 7 miles

Starting Weight (12/1/2012): 232.2
Last Week: 188.8
Current Weight: 190.4
Change Since Last Week: +1.6
Total Change: -41.8
Height: 5'6"
Goal: 149


The gain was expected, mainly because I wasn't eating on Friday like I was going to WW, but instead fueling for a 7 mile run. But the week was not good to me, or should I say I wasn't good to myself, so I would have had a gain anyways.


Last night I hit the grocery store and made sure I was stocked up for the week - Since having 2 kids in activities is new to us, we didn't plan well for ourselves. The kids can exist on simple foods, but I found myself hungry and grazing.


I am not going to make sure I have the following in the fridge at the end of each weekend:
--Hard boiled eggs
--Grilled chicken
--Hot dogs (for the kids and the husband)
--Cut up veggies and low-calorie dip
--Cooked shrimp
--Cooked pasta/grain


I slept horribly last night - I was so nervous about my run. Not sure why! I was doing it alone so I didn't have to "perform" for anyone.


I had only done 7 miles once before, last November, and I did it in 1:29. I really didn't know what to expect to day. I chose to try to wear my belt for the first time, with no water attached, as I wanted to try some chews. I chose to carry my water carrier - big mistake. I hate that thing! That is what all these practice runs are for.


I tried 2 Cliff Bloks after about 45 minutes. I am not sure if my dental work will be able to handle them. GU or Beans may have to do. They went done all right and I drank almost all my 8 oz of water with them.


I did the 7 miles in 1:24 - 5 minutes faster than November. I'll do another 7 miles next weekend on Mother's Day.



Friday, May 2, 2014

Excited for the long run....

I ran on Tuesday, but only 3 miles. So I haven't run more than 3 miles at a time since Marathon Day, and even that was only 4 miles. So it has almost been 3 weeks since I ran more than 4. Since our soccer schedule is messed up for the weekend, I am blowing off WW tomorrow morning and going to attempt 7 miles. Maybe only 6.5. We'll see. Bowl of pasta for dinner tonight :)

I may bring my belt to wear (a first!) and maybe try to eat a chew or 2. I've only done 7 miles once (in November) and I could feel I was on low fuel by the end (though I can't remember what I ate before - I don't think I was planning on going for 7).

Food has not been very good this week. Between ovulation (which I have decided it another trigger time for me) and our first ever "we've got 2 kids each doing 2-3 sports" week, dinners have been poorly planned and not very healthy. Bette luck next week!