One Day at a Time!

Went to the gym last night and finished week 6 of C25K!  Day 3 is a solid 22 minute run.  I pushed past my 10 minute wall and went to 12!  I was so proud of my self.  I finished off the last 10 minutes with a 1 min walk/ 3 min jog!  It felt great to creep up past 10!  I had a big smile on my face.  I start week 7 Friday or Saturday...so stay tuned!

In other news, I am always willing to try new fruits and veggies.  I bought this puppy at the store on Sunday and decided I was going to eat it after I got home from the gym.  It is called a Red Plummelo. 

Unless it is at a farmers market (which I don't even know what region these are local to) I won't be buying one again.  Once I got past the inch thick skin...it was so dehydrated!  No juice at all!  So, that tells me it was probably frozen.  I sucked on a few pieces...it was actually really sweet!  I was super bummed that it was so dry inside.  I will admit I am a little more daring when it comes to trying fruit...I need to start venturing out with some veggies too.  Last week I made Brussel Sprouts for the first time!  Can you believe at my age that I have NEVER had them!  I found this great recipe on pinterest....they were a hit!

So, I challenge you to try at least one new veggie and fruit a month...don't let the name scare you!  xoxo

I will be a runner!

I have been trying to find the time to blog...my life has seriously become so busy. 

As I said before, I am an asthmatic and suffer from osteoarthritis in my back.  I never really tried to run before.  Let me rephrase that - I never "wanted" to run - I tried the C25K program but never made it far.  I start week 7 today!  Only 2 more weeks left and I am still in shock that I have made it this far.  No, I can't run the full 22 minutes yet...I can do a solid 5-8, sometimes I can make it to 10!  Tonight, I am going to MAKE myself at least get to 11!  Baby steps, right?  Of course, if at first you don't succeed, try again!

I use to get discouraged because I THOUGHT I couldn't do it.  It may take me a while to be able to run a full mile ~ but I will achieve this goal! 

Here are some tips I have learned over the past 2 months that have helped me get focused and enjoy "being a runner"!

1) Shoes are VERY important. I suggest going to get fitted! I dropped $140 on a pair the guy recommended and they are worth every penny. Now, if you can't get fitted you need to go up ONE size! That's right, ONE WHOLE SIZE. Your feet swell and expand the longer you run...if you don't go up the size the shoes will cause your feet to burn, ache and blister! I like shoes with a wider toe box and since I have bad ankles I like there to be interior support on the sole. I purchased the Brooks - Glycerin!

2)  Do not wear cotton socks...they are one of the main causes for blisters!  This I did not know!

3)  Start off at a slow pace...I jog slower than I walk...but it allows me to be able to breathe.  Once I finish the C25K at my current speed (3.2-3.4) I will start it over outside OR at a higher speed.  Also, if you try to go too fast you can get shin splints.  Shin splints can also be caused from leaning into your run.  Try to keep your back straight and relax...keep your hands open.  When you clinch your fists it causes other muscles to tense up...R.E.L.A.X.

4)  Don't get discouraged if you have a bad day.  Suck it up and repeat that day over tomorrow or the next!  Just keep pushing forward!  Don't let your inner fat kid win!

And last - keep a journal of your runs...I have not been doing this.  I am going to start.  I notice that on days I don't drink enough water I have a hard time breathing.  I also notice if I ate shit the night before I feel heavier on the treadmill!  If you have a great day take notice of what you ate the day before and what you ate the day of as well!  Same goes for a bad day....I am sure there are more pointers out there from people who are really good at running.  I am just a beginner....and for people who are like me I know these little steps will help. 

Catch Up

So, I started my journey in November 2012!  As mentioned in my first post, October of 2012 was my heaviest.  I started out with Atkins for a few weeks ~ lost 7 pounds.  Thanksgiving week and the week after I totally pigged out!  I did Atkins for my husbands sake but soon realized that it is probably the hardest diet for me to stay on.

Around the beginning of December I joined a group of women that inspired me, empowered me and I snapped!  If these women can do it, why can't I?  I read through the posts in this group for HOURS...and finally I got it!  Its not about a number on the scale, its not about doing what everyone else is doing...It is about ME!  What works for ME!  What doesn't work for ME!  So, I signed up on myfitnesspal so I could have a place to log in my food and dug my body bugg out of its hiding spot and got to work!

On December 15th I began the couch to 5K program!  I had attempted to do this at least 4 times before in the past 10 years but NEVER made it past the 3rd week.  Today - I am on week 6!  I had to repeat week 3 over because it is at that point the running time increases...but I concentrated on breathing.  For me the scariest thing is not being able to breathe.  Today ~ I can go about 8 to 10 minutes at a time and if you knew me, you would know that is a HUUUUUUUGE accomplishment!  This is all on the treadmill at a speed of 3.2-3.4.  I know I can walk faster but my focus right now is breathing.  Once I complete it on the treadmill I will take it to the outdoors.  I have been trying to run outside on Saturdays...but the weather isn't always friendly.  I can NOT make it longer than 90 seconds at a time right now...but I know my pace is much faster outside.  I will conquer it!

So far, I have lost 18 pounds.  It has been SLOW!  But that is okay!  I am not really focusing on weighing and measuring my food at the moment...just cooking healthier and as clean as possible.  I know that I will eventually need to start doing this but I have to tackle one thing at a time...and right now that is just not it.  Besides, I am suppose to eat 1700 calories a day....I pretty know by sight what some portions look like and always add a little extra in the diary to account for not measuring/weighing...Another couple weeks and I will probably be at a good point to start.  Also, I am trying to focus on water.  I hate drinking water!  It has no taste!  I still am having my lowcarb Monster in the a.m. (that is my coffee)...but try to get in the min. 64 oz. 

So, as soon as I hit 20 pounds I will post a before and after along with some measurements so anyone who might be reading can compare and hopefully find some inspiration.  I am totally that girl that people say "If SHE can do, so can I!"  Also, since I am a mom I will post about food.  I have been crock potting for three weeks to allow me more time for running.  Tonight, I am going to join a gym!  I am scared as hell because right now I am THAT girl that all those meat head/bimbos like to poke fun at....and I don't like that feeling...which is why I have avoided the gym for 10 years.  I am inching up on 40 yrs. and I will be damned if I will look like the stay puff marshmallow dude!  I am not trying to go out on the town and be a cougar...I am happily married going on 13 years and we have a beautiful daughter who is 11 yrs old.  But I want to teach my daughter some good habits and show her that hard work pays off.  I also want to be feel GOOD about myself and get my confidence back!  I wanna be a frickin ROCKSTAR!

Surgery is Cheating!

Where to start! 

I have been trying to start this blog for a little over 3 months...but not losing in the beginning caused me to keep deleting it.  Since October of 2012 I have lost 16.8 pounds and I finally feel like I have accomplished something.  In fact, I have accomplished quite a bit in the last few months thanks to 2 awesome friends and a wonderful group of ladies going through the same journey.

My journey is unique...as is everyone's.  I am an asthmatic and I also have osteoarthritis in my L2-L5 and T12 along with my left hip.  Those two things created a "I can't do that" attitude over the past 10 years.  In October I was at my heaviest and went to the Dr. because I had been in so much pain with my back that I couldn't take it anymore.  It was so bad I couldn't put on my underwear standing up!  I could BARELY shave my legs in the shower!  I had to learn to wipe sitting on the toilet!  And that is just the surface of how bad the pain was...that was everyday pain.  When it would flare up things were much worse.  My Dr. asked if I would be interested in Gastric Bypass...I cried.  1) Because I had no idea I was even heavy enough to be considered for the surgery and 2) because I would finally lose the weight with out having to ANYTHING!  Thats right, I didn't want to move my body...for fear of pain, for fear of alot of little things...Long story short, I was told I needed to gain about 5 - 10 more pounds before I could qualify (Red Tape that HMO's lay before you) as well as go through counseling and shit.  So even if I gained the weight there was a chance I still wouldn't get it done.  Then I heard a voice of a friend...a conversation a group of us mutual friends had about the surgery.  I still don't agree 100% with the attitude or opinions of everyone...but I heard the voice say "Surgery is cheating!"  Then it hit me!  YES, it is cheating...I am not a cheater!  I cried because I had got my hopes up...  I needed a kick in the ass!  And my friends voice calling me a cheater (not literally) was that kick in the ass!  I just chose not to listen to it before.

My buddy shared her little support group with me....and that day changed my life.  Seeing all the before and after pics of all these women (Some heavier than me) who busted ass to change!  In December I set out on a mission.
So, I have decided to FINALLY get this blog up...if no one reads it then at least I have my journey documented and can have something to be proud of!