A Year in the Life

Oh hey there...

It has been a year since I last updated and no progress was made. Okay, that isn't fair. There was some decent progress but being the saboteur of my own destiny, I ensured that I would fail. Eating crap and getting loads of take out are not conducive to weight loss. Well not when you pick all the comfort foods. I exercised only when I felt like it. So practically never. I basically laughed in my own face and said why bother losing weight. It takes work and a commitment. I didn't want to commit. That was clearly the answer. After all, the past year and a half taught us that slug life was truly okay. I was really good at being a slug. A fat, depressed, anxious, sometimes happy slug.     

But...

I can't control the past.  I can only move forward.  

I saw my PCP a couple weeks ago. My physical went okay and my BP was better than normal. I did my lab work this past Friday. I saw the results in MyChart. I work in medicine and know enough to worry about some of the results. My doctor called me Saturday afternoon to discuss them. Yep, a Saturday. He knew I would stew about them and also he wanted to stress his concern. The take home message is they can be redirected with lifestyle changes. None of them are at the point that medicine should be started but I have to commit to fixing this now or that is the road I am heading down. I don't want to take more medication. I take enough already. I have a familial history that reads like a heart and vascular novel, so avoiding my genetic future as long as possible, has always been my goal. I just lost sight of it. 

Again...

I can't control the past.  I can only move forward.  

I wrote out a workout plan for the month. Time to put that Peloton to the test. I am focusing on eating better but that is going to take time. I can't break all the bad habits at once. One step at a time or I guess one pedal turn at time. 

Getting older is hard work. It take a commitment. 

Starting weight: 311 (9/4/21) 

PS: Still in racing retirement but maybe that will be a goal to work toward. 

Quarantine weight

It is so easy to fall on and off the weight loss wagon. I was doing so well. Then I started living life, celebrating a Stanley Cup and running a bunch of races/traveling. I fell off the diet wagon. Way off! I'm pretty sure I set fire to it.  I had great times but lost my focus. 

Then 2020 happened.  For most of us, we have never lived during a time of global crisis. We have not seen a pandemic of this magnitude.  So like any rational human, I ate my feelings.  I have now completely put on all the weight I had lost. Well minus 17 pounds that did not seem to return. Yay me...I mean I need some glimmer of hope to hold onto. 

The struggle is real.  

Here I am starting over from the bottom.  

I have no live races or travel to derail me. No outside factors influencing my behavior (I mean, we can't do shit).  Now is the time to get my act back together.  I want to stop feeling miserable.  I want better control over my health. 

I am starting over.  I have a plan.  I am a work in progress and I know that it will take time.  

Follow along...I do not know how frequent updates will be. Work is crazier than ever but I will update as time allows. It has always helped me to blog about my journey.  It seems when I stop writing the whole thing crashes down.  

Stay safe out there! 

Starting weight 9/26/20: 319

Sorry for the delay

I promise that I haven't abandoned my blog.  Life has been busy! March kicked off a super busy race season.  I am having a blast running all over the place with so many of my amazing friends.  I have 13 states left and hit half #63 last weekend! I'm not as crazy as some and it is going to take me a solid 10 years to reach every state but there is a goal insight. Right now, I am having fun and enjoying this journey.  

All this fun has caused me to be on the diet struggle bus.  I have been trying to make good choices but sometimes the tasty food wins out.  My weight loss has stalled a bit the last couple of months.  I keep losing/gaining the same 6 pounds. I am not too worried about it as I am still done 65 lbs.  I will eventually right the ship and get all systems back on track. I know you can't out run a bad diet and I really am trying to stick to the proper foods.  It is just hard sometimes.  

Instead of focusing all my energy on my diet, I am focusing more on increasing my activity.  I am getting back to running intervals.  Walking has been much easier on my joints but now that I am lugging less weight around I want to add running back into the mix. I am up to 4 miles with intervals of 0:45/1:00. Slow and steady! It is amazing how training actually effects your overall performance.  My half times are slowly getting better! I suppose the weight loss helps there too! 

I also started attending classes at Orangetheory Fitness.  I am great with going to the gym for cardio but I ignore all the weights.  I know what to do.  Kate trained me well over the years but I just didn't want to do it.  So insert OTF.  I am trying to do 2 times a week and loving it so far.  I like the mix of activities and the encouragement to keep pushing yourself.  I am hoping it too helps me be stronger during races! 

I am still a work in progress.  Life sometimes interferes.  But each and every day I am out there pushing to be better.  I will do my best to keep updating the blog.  I know many of you enjoy reading it.  

Off to Revel Mt. Charleston next weekend. A bit worried about the downhill but excited to see many friends!       

5 month Journey Update

Oh hey there.  I suck at this blogging thing.  Good thing I have zero aspirations to make it big in the blogging community!  

My life has been pretty average the last month.  I've been sick recently and fighting off some sort of respiratory virus.  My grand plan for lots of training miles in February was derailed because of it and the cold weather.  I am so over winter and we haven't even had it that bad. I am feeling better(ish) and hoping to get some training in this week. 

This amazing weight loss journey is still going strong.  I lost 9 pounds over the last 4 weeks with a slight gain last week (0.5 lb).  I take a pass since I wasn't feeling well and wanted to eat all the bad foods. I bought those delicious sweet and spicy Doritos and I devoured them.  I made up for it this week!  Overall, I am still sticking to my low carb ways. 

I made pizza last night with a keto friendly crust (Fathead pizza crust, google it there are 100s of versions).  It was better than I thought it would be.  You can't really go wrong with cheese.  

March brings with it some new challenges.  Race season is about to kick off in full swing! Weekends with my girls are sure to test my willpower.  But I wouldn't trade them for the world.  Note to self: you need more fireball shots, LOL.  Ocean's Run Half in Rhode Island, Tobacco Road Half in North Carolina and 7-miler at Run the Bluegrass.  I am excited for all the fun times ahead! 

Now can Spring hurry up and get here!

New progress picture!  I think that the people that see me every day can see the difference now.  I am good at hiding some weight so even I have a hard time seeing the changes.    

September 2018 and February 2019

Stats:
Weight Week 1 (10/8/18):       336.2
Weight Week 20 (2/25/19):     270.6
Total Lost: 65.6

Week 16 Update

Monday marked 16 weeks since I started on this journey. I can't believe the changes that have happened in 4 short months. I am able to see the physical difference and feel the difference of not lugging around an additional 56.6 pounds. The chunk rolls are losing some of their width.  The shirt I wear for my monthly picture is getting looser! 

This journey has many miles to go but I am excited in all the positive changes that I have made.  I spend time meal prepping and figuring out how to eat more veggies. I have a good handle on portion control. All the little lifestyle changes that add up to noticeable success. 

Eating well, trying to exercise and getting enough sleep (that part has been difficult of late due to work, can I interest anyone in a pager?) are the cornerstones for success.  Above all believing in your self and your ability to do the unthinkable.  

I can't wait to see what next month brings to the table!  Thank you all for continuing to offer support and love!  It helps more than you will ever know.  

Sept 2018 and Jan 2019

Stats:
Weight Week 1 (10/8/18):       336.2
Weight Week 16 (1/28/19):     279.6
Total Lost: 56.6

What in the world do you eat?

Happy New Year! 

2019 has been off to a busy start.  Therefore, I am a little behind updating the blog.  I hope this new year is treating all of you well.  

I completed lifetime half #60 and state #34 on January 13th at the Mobile Marathon.  I was super proud to have cut some time off from prior races.  I guess losing some weight does indeed help speed!  No races on tap until March, so I will have time to work on my pace and perhaps make more progress before the next race.  

This week brought me to a total of 54 pounds lost.  I can't believe the changes that have occurred in the past 15 weeks.  I made some questionable choices while traveling but you have to live life! I regret nothing!  I am back on track and spent this past weekend meal prepping.  This  brings me to the topic for this update.  What do I eat?

I have been asked a few times what my meals are like.  I am going to try and share an average week.  Keep in mind that I am incredibly boring and eat a ton of leftovers.  I don't mind the repetition but realize others may not love leftovers.  

On the weekends, I try to prep the foods that will get me through the week.  So I'll cook a bunch of chicken (pretty much the only protein I eat) and cute veggies for use in recipes for the week.  I figure out what days I will convert these ingredients into meals.  

I plan my meals to keep me in a range of 50-70 grams of carbs per day.  I also eat when I am hungry and not because it is a meal time.  I seem to make a bunch of casseroles.  They are cheap and easy to parse out into servings.  A big plus, most of them are easy to throw together on a work night. 

Breakfast:  2-3 scrambled eggs, turkey sausage crumbles/bacon, some days cheese and some days I add half a slice of 90-second bread. Sometimes Keto waffles (I make several batches and freeze them) .  This weekend I made an egg sandwich with turkey sausage patty, cheese and 90-second bread (it is as close to bread and I get)

Lunch:  Leftovers 

Snack:  I don't always eat one.  It depends on my hunger.  Usually, a cheese stick and some almonds.  Pork rinds if I need something crunchy.  

Dinner:  Protein, fat and veggies (in various forms).  Recent examples: Chicken Cordon Blue Casserole (cauliflower, ham, cheese and chicken).  Tonight: Taco skillet (ground turkey, black beans, fire-roasted tomatoes, spaghetti squash, spinach and cheese).  A favorite dish that I make often is Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole (chicken, cauliflower rice, broccoli and cheese). Sometimes I have fish and brussel sprouts or spinach.  I often add cauliflower rice to bulk recipes.  I usually add a salad.  

Recent finds that I love are the various riced veggies from Green Giant.  They have beets, sweet potato/cauliflower mix, squash, etc. To help the pasta fix, I use zoodles or spaghetti squash. There are also veggie pastas that are pretty yummy (although fairly high in carbs but still better than real pasta). 

I hope this helps a little.  The goal is to bulk up the veggies!  I am happy to pass along recipes.  Most are pinned on Pinterest (follow me).  Make the foods you love but figure out how to make them healthier.  

Cheers to a healthy and happy 2019!! 

Stats:
Weight Week 1 (10/8/18):       336.2
Weight Week 13 (1/7/19):       289.2
Weight Week 14 (1/14/19):     288.8
Weight Week 15 (1/21/19):     282.2
Total Lost: 54

2019 Race Schedule

Here is my race schedule for 2019!  I am sure it is subject to change because I am easily influenced by the run bullies err I mean race enablers.  Y'all know who you are and I love you for it!  I hope to see many of my running family out there on the pavement.  I am looking forward to an amazing 2019!  

Jan 13           Mobile Marathon Half, AL (60, 34)

March 3        Ocean’s Run Half, RI (61, 35)

March 17       Tobacco Road Half, NC (62, 36)

March 30       Run the Bluegrass 7-miler

April 14          Coastal Delaware Running Festival, DE (63, 37)

April 28          Revel Mt Charleston Half, NV (64)

May 11            Running with the Cows, KS (65)  

May 18           Martha’s Vineyard Half, MA (66, 38)

Aug 11            Bridge of the Gods, OR (67, 39)

Aug 13            Mainly Marathon – WA (68, 40)

Aug 14            Mainly Marathon – ID (69)

Aug 17            Revel Chilliwack, Vancouver, BC (70, P:2)

Sept 14           Revel Big Cottonwood, UT (71)

Sept 22          Quad Cities Half, IL (72)

Oct 27            Koala Health & Wellness Houston Half, TX 
                       (73, 41)

Nov early        Marshall University, WV (74, 42)

Dec 7              Rehoboth Beach, DE (75)

Dec 14            Kiawah Island Marathon, SC (76)