The first week of our WL challenge has come to an end. We all did well but realize there is a long way to go -- 11 weeks to be exact. We can accomplish so much during this time and I can't wait to see what each of us can do.
I made the decision to be all in this time. In previous years of the gym's corporate challenge, I gave up after the first couple of weeks. I had little motivation to succeed or a reason to keep going. It feels very different to be in a challenge with some of your best friends. We can support and motivate each other to succeed. We all understand exactly what the other girl is thinking or feeling. There is nothing more encouraging than tackling this battle with your girls.
I was talking with my friend and workout buddy last night about my reluctance to share my weight with the group. I wanted to control the spreadsheet because that way I wouldn't have to tell them. I ended up sharing but I hated it. I realized the reason is because I have failed myself and I've failed those I care about (including these girls). I conquered this mountain once and I was embarrassed that I was having to do it again. I gained 80 pounds in a year-ish. Who does that? Especially someone who runs half marathons and works out. The answer: a person who actually struggled through half marathons and ate whatever the hell she wanted. My diet choices had flown out the window. I didn't want to cook or take care of any of those mundane details anymore. I wanted life to be easy. And sadly, the bad choices are usually much easier. In addition, my job had gotten super stressful and I was barely treading water. The stress from that hectic study was alleviated so I am starting to feel more like my old self again. I can do this and I need to do this.
My starting weight was 278.8 pounds. Yikes. It actually feels good to put it out there.
The first week went really well for me. I planned out meals through March (long reason for this). I tracked my food. I cooked. I measured. I exercised and tried to reach my step goal. I even drank water (not nearly what I should but some is better than nothing).
I lost 9.4 pounds!
That is a pretty good start to this challenge. Here's to Week 2.
Thursday, January 9, 2014
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
Meal Planning for Week January 1, 2014 and January 5, 2014
January 1 - I planned meals to start on Wednesday.
Here is the menu for this week:
Here is the menu for this week:
Wednesday: Chili
Thursday: Fish
Friday: LO
Saturday: Tortilla Soup
January 5
January 5
Here is the menu for this week:
Monday: LO
Tuesday: Chicken & Rice in Crockpot
Wednesday: LO
Thursday: Fish
Friday: LO
Saturday: Taco Soup
I need to ease into this eating and cooking thing. We haven't planned meals and our house since um, well I can't remember! I think the first success was sitting down and planning out three months of meals!
I need to ease into this eating and cooking thing. We haven't planned meals and our house since um, well I can't remember! I think the first success was sitting down and planning out three months of meals!
2014 Here we go....
Welcome to 2014! That seems weird not sure why...but I digress. Today marks the start of our group weight loss challenge! I have some great and amazing girlfriends that need encouragement from all who read this entry! Feel free to comment here or on whichever social media outlet got you here!
Today was weigh-in day. We probably all had to force ourselves on and off the scale. I know I made myself re-do it about 10 times. I was shocked at how much weight I had gained. Wow!
The good news is that all changes now. We have all lapsed and we have all had weight loss success. As a group we can't help but succeed!
Personally, I did my first workout to motivate me. I ran 4.33 miles (pacing). It was rough with an ankle that is cranky but I did it!
I can't wait to see what the next 12 weeks bring!
Girls, let's kill some fat cells!!!
Today was weigh-in day. We probably all had to force ourselves on and off the scale. I know I made myself re-do it about 10 times. I was shocked at how much weight I had gained. Wow!
The good news is that all changes now. We have all lapsed and we have all had weight loss success. As a group we can't help but succeed!
Personally, I did my first workout to motivate me. I ran 4.33 miles (pacing). It was rough with an ankle that is cranky but I did it!
I can't wait to see what the next 12 weeks bring!
Girls, let's kill some fat cells!!!
Wednesday, December 25, 2013
Scavenger Hunt for Runners aka #RunChatHunt
What could be better than a scavenger hunt during the holiday season? Running while doing it! I got to run some amazing runs and check off some fun hunt items at the same time!
1. Body of Water. I took this picture during a run in Forest Park. It was a beautiful evening and it had warmed up a bit. The snow was still around and one of the lakes was partially frozen. It had little duckie prints all over it!
2. Snowman. It had snowed all night. I didn't want to risk driving to a Santa Dash so I took my pups out for a little run/walk. We came across this snowman in the snow! It was fun to be out on the road without anyone around!
3. Mile Marker. The day after our snow, the sun came out and I was itching to run. I headed out to the local train -- Grant's Trail -- and had it all to myself. Took this along the way!
4. Animals on a Farm. The same run along Grant's Trail allows me to run past the majestic Budweiser Clydesdales on a regular basis. The hitch horses were out in their pen and all bundled up in red blankets!!
5. Porta Potty. Blessed to always have this porta potty available along the trail. Although, I haven't needed it!!
6. Santa. One of the local running stores, Big River Running, sponsors a run along some of St. Louis's famous holiday light displays. A group of us went for a fun run to look at lights!
7. Inflatable decoration. Hippie Santa!
8. Picture with Runners I don't know. These are girls I've chatted with in a FB group but have never meet until this night!!
I wasn't able to find a train crossing or a local coffee shop but I am still pretty excited about my finds!! I figure 8/10 isn't so bad!! I can't wait for the next scavenger hunt!!
Merry Christmas!
1. Body of Water. I took this picture during a run in Forest Park. It was a beautiful evening and it had warmed up a bit. The snow was still around and one of the lakes was partially frozen. It had little duckie prints all over it! 
2. Snowman. It had snowed all night. I didn't want to risk driving to a Santa Dash so I took my pups out for a little run/walk. We came across this snowman in the snow! It was fun to be out on the road without anyone around!
3. Mile Marker. The day after our snow, the sun came out and I was itching to run. I headed out to the local train -- Grant's Trail -- and had it all to myself. Took this along the way!
4. Animals on a Farm. The same run along Grant's Trail allows me to run past the majestic Budweiser Clydesdales on a regular basis. The hitch horses were out in their pen and all bundled up in red blankets!! 
5. Porta Potty. Blessed to always have this porta potty available along the trail. Although, I haven't needed it!! 6. Santa. One of the local running stores, Big River Running, sponsors a run along some of St. Louis's famous holiday light displays. A group of us went for a fun run to look at lights!
I wasn't able to find a train crossing or a local coffee shop but I am still pretty excited about my finds!! I figure 8/10 isn't so bad!! I can't wait for the next scavenger hunt!!
Merry Christmas!
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
Stronger Than Gold's Gym Corporate Challenge
I fell off the blog wagon. I am vowing to rectify this habit! Thanks to some of my friends, I will be back on the wagon at least for a few months. Hopefully, the habit continues.
We are starting our own weight loss challenge for 2014! The Stronger Than Gold's Gym Corporate Challenge will begin on January 1st and continue for 12 weeks!
We are super excited about changing our lives! I will be posting weekly updates with our progress.
The fun begins soon.....
We are starting our own weight loss challenge for 2014! The Stronger Than Gold's Gym Corporate Challenge will begin on January 1st and continue for 12 weeks!
We are super excited about changing our lives! I will be posting weekly updates with our progress.
The fun begins soon.....
Monday, May 13, 2013
Reflection on Boston - one month later
It has been a month since the tragedy in Boston. As a runner, April 15, 2013 will always be a day close to my heart. I didn't express my feelings much at the time because I needed time to process what this terrible event meant to me. We all took to twitter and FB to comfort each other.
Runners are a family. We make up one of the largest communities in the world. One that doesn't judge your color, race, religion, weight, height or ability. We lend a hand to each other and offer words of encouragement. Our community includes not only the runners, but our spectators (most of which are family and friends), race volunteers and above all the police officers who provide safety along the race. None of use would succeed without the support of this community. One month ago, two cowards went after my community.
Nashville was my first race after the attack; just two short weeks. It just happened to be pouring rain. Neither of these factors stopped any of us from making this race a success! The volunteers were out in force. The spectators came out to support friends, family and all the random strangers. The police officers were at every intersections protecting all of us. Every runner was ready to support our brothers and sisters and run our hearts out!
However, this attack reminds me when I run that I am vulnerable. Not to injury or pain (which is true) but to the outside world. I have never run a race and ever been concerned about my safety. Who would attack a bunch of runners? Why would someone attack a bunch of runners? It never crossed my mind that the racing community was anything but safe. After all, we are supposedly the crazy ones for running 13.1 or 26.2 miles for FUN!
Reality of the racing future hit me upon arriving at the start line in Nashville. The SWAT team was assembled in full gear, ready and waiting should a threat arise. The mounted police were patrolling the park. I can only imagine that the same increased security measures were occurring at the finish line. This was the first time at a RNR event that security was standing guard at my corral. While all the extra protection did increase my anxiety (full disclosure I worry about everything), it did not diminish my desire to run. I'm glad that someone was watching out for me so that I could continue my beloved sport!
This weekend I head to the busiest city in America to run. The Brooklyn Half is my way of saying you can attack the running community but you will never stop us! If those cowards did anything, they encouraged more people to run and fulfill their dreams!
Runners are a family. We make up one of the largest communities in the world. One that doesn't judge your color, race, religion, weight, height or ability. We lend a hand to each other and offer words of encouragement. Our community includes not only the runners, but our spectators (most of which are family and friends), race volunteers and above all the police officers who provide safety along the race. None of use would succeed without the support of this community. One month ago, two cowards went after my community.
Nashville was my first race after the attack; just two short weeks. It just happened to be pouring rain. Neither of these factors stopped any of us from making this race a success! The volunteers were out in force. The spectators came out to support friends, family and all the random strangers. The police officers were at every intersections protecting all of us. Every runner was ready to support our brothers and sisters and run our hearts out!
However, this attack reminds me when I run that I am vulnerable. Not to injury or pain (which is true) but to the outside world. I have never run a race and ever been concerned about my safety. Who would attack a bunch of runners? Why would someone attack a bunch of runners? It never crossed my mind that the racing community was anything but safe. After all, we are supposedly the crazy ones for running 13.1 or 26.2 miles for FUN!
Reality of the racing future hit me upon arriving at the start line in Nashville. The SWAT team was assembled in full gear, ready and waiting should a threat arise. The mounted police were patrolling the park. I can only imagine that the same increased security measures were occurring at the finish line. This was the first time at a RNR event that security was standing guard at my corral. While all the extra protection did increase my anxiety (full disclosure I worry about everything), it did not diminish my desire to run. I'm glad that someone was watching out for me so that I could continue my beloved sport!
This weekend I head to the busiest city in America to run. The Brooklyn Half is my way of saying you can attack the running community but you will never stop us! If those cowards did anything, they encouraged more people to run and fulfill their dreams!
Sunday, May 12, 2013
RNR Nashville "po" down
Thank you all so very much for the kind words and motivation from my last blog entry. It was hard to write but even harder to admit that my 5 month pity party wasn't helping me move on. I still have bad days. I'm still not great at handling stress and sometimes let it consume me. I'll get to the point where I can handle the stresses better. After all, Rome wasn't built in a day and I won't kick this depression in one either. Keep encouraging me to move forward. Big thank you to my trainer who is running with me twice a week and helping me return to my routine. I am forever grateful for her pushing me back out there!
I am so happy to be running again. I'm slow right now and definitely not breaking any records but I out there. I completed the St. Jude's Country Music Half Marathon (RNR Nashville) in 3:24. My worst time ever. I could blame the pouring rain but that wouldn't be fair. This finish time is on me. I didn't train properly. Sure I was soaked to the bone and miserable but with so much spectator and volunteer support there was never a chance to think about the conditions. I truly had a blast while out there. 30k people all enjoying the rain and laughing about how wet we all were was the best bonding experience I've had at a race yet. Now, once I was no longer moving was another story. It was then that I realized just how wet, cold and in pain I truly was and spent the rest of the afternoon cuddled up in bed with my puppies. :)
I was able to meet some Half Fanatic friends. It was so exciting to hear all about their races and moving up strategies. It's nice to know so many other crazy people exist out in the world. Many non-running friends and even some of my running friends don't understand just how much joy and accomplishment we get out of running halfs! There is nothing like being able to chat about your runs, etc and not have someone give you the "oh no, there she goes again look"! Thank goodness we have the group to make us feel normal!
Now I am gearing up for the Brooklyn Half on May 18th! I am going to give it my best effort and fingers crossed that I finish within the time limit! I am trying out the Galloway run/walk/run method for the first time. It went well for 9 miles yesterday and for my short runs the past week. Yay!
I also have some really awesome new shoes that I am breaking in. So far, I am in love with my Hoka One One Stinson shoes. No offense to my Asics Kayanos (that I adore) but these are so much softer and absorb shock like crazy. I hope they continue to give me the wonderful feeling I had yesterday! My heel didn't start to bother me until mile 6 because it is usually killing me by 3 miles! Being able to walk without limping post-run was the biggest plus of all, however, once I took them off and wore my Kayanos at the baseball game it was back to limping. I may need to buy another pair to wear while not running. I shall ponder this idea!
I am sure you are all sound asleep now from my race recap and running rambles but it feels so good to be running again. :)
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| Crappy, rainy finish pix! |
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| Smiling despite the rain! |
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| New HF friend, Betty! |
Now I am gearing up for the Brooklyn Half on May 18th! I am going to give it my best effort and fingers crossed that I finish within the time limit! I am trying out the Galloway run/walk/run method for the first time. It went well for 9 miles yesterday and for my short runs the past week. Yay!
I also have some really awesome new shoes that I am breaking in. So far, I am in love with my Hoka One One Stinson shoes. No offense to my Asics Kayanos (that I adore) but these are so much softer and absorb shock like crazy. I hope they continue to give me the wonderful feeling I had yesterday! My heel didn't start to bother me until mile 6 because it is usually killing me by 3 miles! Being able to walk without limping post-run was the biggest plus of all, however, once I took them off and wore my Kayanos at the baseball game it was back to limping. I may need to buy another pair to wear while not running. I shall ponder this idea!
I am sure you are all sound asleep now from my race recap and running rambles but it feels so good to be running again. :)
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