Hot 100 Update #3

Happy Friday everyone!  Here is my Hot 100 update!  I hope everyone has a wonderful Fall weekend and that the weather is fabulous in your neck of the woods.  (Does Al have a trademark on this phrase?)  Guess who is wearing size 14 jeans today??  Yea baby!!

1. Get more sleep.  Negative.  This is a big fail for the week.  I did fall asleep on the couch a couple times trying to watch TV but I didn't make progress on actually going to bed earlier.   
2. Lose 20lbs.  Weighed in at 215.4 that is a 6.4 pound loss!  I guess I made up for the Aunt Flo week!  Win!
3. Meal planning.  The menu is going as planned.  I really need to post some of the recipes I've made recently.  I am really bad about it.  I'll work on that soon!  Win!
4. Balance.  I feel like it is getting better.  But don't get me wrong I still fall over when we put more than one thing together, lol!  One step at a time or leg at a time!
5. Tracking.  I have tracked all week. 
   

OctGTD Challenge update:  I completed 47.30 miles of my 100 mile challenge!  I am ecstatic about being almost half-way through this challenge at well the half way mark!  I think this is better than I expected!  I can't believe that I have run with some walking of the puppy 47 miles.  I am so proud of all the things I have begun to accomplish!  

Good luck to all the hotties!  I will be looking forward to all your successes!    

Weigh and Measure Day - Month 4

This month's weigh and measure day brought disappointment to myself and my trainer.  Oh sure, I lost 10 lbs and now weigh 215.4.  That is a huge accomplishment and I can't even tell you the last time I weighed this little.  But and it is a huge BUT....8lbs of my loss was muscle.  I even gained a percentage of body fat.  The two main explanations as to why this occurred are a) I don't eat enough calories each day particularly protein and b) I am exercising more given the challenge to complete 100 miles and preparing for my 10k.  

So how do we fix this....
I know I should eat more but I can't help that I'm not always hungry.  I don't crave protein either.  I force myself to eat what I do intake each day.  I need to suck it up and eat the 1700 calories that my body requires each day.  But I have a mental block about eating more.  I KNOW that you need to eat to lose and trust me poor Ms. All-star has all but beat it into my head but I still have a hard time doing it.  It is hard to admit that you need to eat when all you want is the weight to disappear.  It is 100% all in my psyche and something I have to work through.  There is no easy answer to fixing my internal dilemmas.  I need to convince myself that eating properly didn't make me fat that it is okay to eat the right foods in the right amounts.  

As for all the running and meeting my challenge, Ms. AS is not telling me to stop or to discourage me from finishing.  She knows that it is important for me to push myself and see what I can accomplish this month.  I just need to better fuel my body to handle all the extra activity.  This muscle loss is totally my bodies way of telling me that we aren't getting what we need and we need more so that you can succeed.  I need to start listening to it better.  And for those saying that I should cross train and strength train, I do 3 days a week.  I just run/walk like a mad woman on top of all the other cool stuff!  I enjoy doing all of it but maybe next month I need to dial it back just a little.  I do sort of need this body for years to come and now would not be a great time to burn her out! 

There was some inch lossage but I was too distracted by the muscle loss and fat gain to pay attention to it.  I think my waist shrunk, okay I know my waist has shrunk because I have to pull my pants up Urkel-style!  I also need some new bras so there is more shrinkage!  I need to stop focusing on the negative parts of last night and remember that I have made huge changes to my body.  I just need to be a bit nicer to it!  

Challenge updates tomorrow!

Super run today!

Just a quick update on my running progress!  

Today was my low workout day (aka long run day).  I almost made it 7 miles.  I ran 6.88 miles in the freaking heat!  It wasn't my fastest time but it was a good long run.  I shocked myself!  Yay!  Now if the weather would act more like October, lol!  I am feeling super ready for the 10k and maybe just maybe I could pull a half out of my rear end in the Spring!  I love being able to run and not feel like my body is falling apart.  It feels great being able to accomplish something that at one point was the most difficult thing in the world.  Don't get me wrong it is still difficult but it gets easier with every step!  I can't wait to see what happens next weekend!  

Hugs to all my bloggies! 

Hot 100 and OctGTD updates

Good morning friends!  It is time to update on my Hot 100 progress.  It has been a difficult week since I've been inhaling food like a vacuum cleaner but it has gotten better!  I had to hit the gym early this morning and knocked out my miles for the OctGTD challenge.  So all-in-all a productive Friday!  Woot!

1. Get more sleep.  Still a work in progress but I am consistently making it by 10:30!  Baby steps in the right direction.  
2. Lose 20lbs.  Weighed in at 221.8  so I was down 0.4 and I will take that and run with it!   Absolutely a WIN! 
3. Meal planning.  We stuck to the plan all week!  I did make a few edits last weekend because of some upcoming events!  So total WIN!  Already picking out meals for November! 
4. Balance.  Is improving!  I am trying to work in a little balance while doing ordinary every day things.  Yesterday, one of the docs laughed because I was doing it while faxing!  :)

I feel like I am meeting my goals!   I think I should add one.  I have been slacking on tracking my food intake.  I really need to get back to doing that every day.  It is something that has always helped and I suck at it.  But overall a bright spot in an otherwise not great week!  

OctGTD Challenge update:  I completed 23.27 miles of my 100 mile challenge!  I am feeling good about my progress so far.  It is tiring trying to fit all the miles in but it wouldn't be a challenge if it wasn't, right?  So go me!! 

I hope everyone is doing well with their challenges as well!!  I have a 3.7 mile walk tomorrow with one of my awesome friends and I can't wait!  Have a great weekend!

Highs and lows of the Weight Loss Journey

This week is a mix of highs and lows and maybe TMI (sorry dear readers).  The high being that I am so glad my health is turning around.  I was diagnosed with asthma earlier this year.  It was horrible in the beginning and although my numbers were never awful they were bad for me.  I am happy to say that after 10 months of treatment and diligent supervision, my numbers are improved and I am currently asymptomatic!  And since June, which was my last PFT and right before starting with Ms. All-star, my lung capacity has improved by almost a liter a quarter of a liter (apparently I need to read the test better)!  Still an improvement though!  More benefits of following an exercise and weight loss plan and using proper medicinal control!

The low of the week and probably the TMI portion (boys run away from the girly speak) is that for some reason my ability to control the cravings thanks to Aunt Flo is non-existent this month.  A bonus from losing weight is she comes like freakin clock work now.  I can almost pinpoint the hour.  But the bitch is driving me to potato chips.  I shoveled them in last night like someone might yank the bag out of my hands.  You might be wondering, where did I get chips in the first place?  Well lovely readers, my mother is my biggest sabotuer.  She knows better than to bring them in the house.  This never deters her from buying them.   Normally, I can have a few and then ignore them.  But last night they were all I wanted.   I can't even say I regret eating them becasue the hormones are telling me otherwise.  I'd eat some right now if I had them.  Ugh.  Why are my hormones worse now that I have less body fat to make them?  Seriously....stupid girly things....stupid chips....stupid hormones....

This means tonights weigh-in will suck but that is okay.  Next week is my monthly weigh and measure day so it's more important.  I will be ready to rock it and not worry about the fact I can't control my cravings.  I am going to eat lunch now and not think about chips.  Although they would be mighty tasty!!        

Celebrate Good Times!

Lots to celebrate in this post!  This marks my 50th post.  Woo hoo!  And I've hit the 100 lb mark in weight loss!  I've been here once before in my journey.  I don't like to dwell on the last year and the 30+ pounds I regained but it happened.  I didn't feel well and let things get out of hand.  I am thankful that I am healthy now and can push through to the next goal!  I have an amazing support system that has always cheered me on even in the tough times.  I can now add the most awesomeness of trainers, Ms. All-star to the mix!  Together we are unstoppable!  You rock sista! 

I promised in an earlier post that when I hit the 100 lb mark I would post a before and after picture.  So as promised! 

September 2004 ~323 pounds

Now ~ 222.2

It's weird to post that earlier picture.  I haven't seen that girl in a long time and I hope to never see her again!  I still have a long way to go but I think I'll enjoy celebrating this milestone for a little bit longer!  :)

Hot 100 Update!

Good morning and Happy October!!  It's time to update on my first week of the Hot 100 Challenge!   

1. Get more sleep.  It is definitely a work in progress.  I managed to get to bed by 10:30 most of the week!   I think my goal is 10!  
2. Lose 20lbs.  I started this challenge at 226 and weighed-in on Wed at 222.2!   - 3.8 WIN! 
3. Meal planning.  This is a bit of a cheat because I already have October done.  However, I do need to abide by it!  Still a WIN! 
4. Balance.  Not as good with this goal.  I have had to stand on the train more and that takes quite the balance.  So it's something.  Yep, need more work on this one. 

Over all not a bad start.  The best part about 100 days is that there is plenty of time to reach my goals and improve my life one step at a time.   Here's to the next 7 days and making strides to further my health!  

OctGTD Challenge starts today!  I have to average 3.2 miles a day which seems really scary now but bring it!!  My friends are all being super helpful and offering to walk with me.  The puppy is going to be going for loads of walks too!  Plus, the running to be ready for my 10k! I BELIEVE I can do this!  

Welcome to the Autumn of Change!  Good luck to everyone embarking on these and other challenges!