Thursday almost got away from me!  I've been thinking it's Monday all day long.  We had a four-day weekend and yesterday was so busy that I felt like I was just starting my week today.
In my previous post, I talked about all the memories we made this weekend.  I've been in a pretty good mood ever sense then!  I'm not having a hard time being positive!
Where I do need a big dose of positive is getting back on track. I did treat myself for my birthday - I ate an entire dessert by myself on Tuesday and I'm still paying for it!  I did see a change in my weight this morning and I've been feeling the carb bloat.  I have kept up with my Couch25k training.  I'll be starting week 4 on Saturday!

Here's what's on my TO DO list for getting back on track:

• Spend time in THE WORD every day.  I've got to get re-focused on why I'm doing this.  My body must be in the best shape it can be in so I can live a life worthy of the grace and mercy I've been given.
• Do the Mean Abs June calendar I found on Pinterest. 
• Continue C25k until I can run 5k in less than 40 minutes.  Then keep running!
• Try some Body Rock videos.
• Read I Quit Sugar and follow her tips.  I don't want to eliminate fruits, but I do want to eliminate all other sugars.  I think that is what my body likes to store as lard-o the most.

That should be enough for now!  I can do this.  I've done similar things already.  Maybe I should challenge myself a little more!

Hey fat girl!

I read this blog today and had tears streaming down my face as I read it.  I have always wondered what those fit runner-types think when they see my overweight body huffing and puffing around the track.  I wondered if they rolled their eyes as they passed or gave me an "atta girl" in their heads.  If you've ever felt out of place anywhere, this is worth a read!

Time Marches On

Well, the last couple of weeks have been quite busy!  I've thought about blogging, but I haven't cleared my head enough to just sit down and do it!
In the past 16 days, I've spent my last day with my little friend Micah.  He's been staying with me all day every other week since August. His mom is a teacher, so she's home with him for the summer.  She's so happy to be able to spend every day with him now, but I sure do miss that little man!  He was 7 months old when we started our time together.  I got to see him change and grow so much.  That last day that I put him in his car seat to go home was rough!
This past Sunday, my nephew graduated from high school - the same high school I graduated from EXACTLY 15 years before him.  I'm so proud of him!  He will be attending Millsaps in the fall to play basketball.  He's not just an athlete, but he also received an award from the Army for his performance on and off the field.  They choose one male and one female student athlete each year.  We were also able to bring my Mom.  She's been on hospice care since September, so being part of any holiday or major event is very precious.

 

Monday was Memorial Day.  The hubs was off work, so we went to visit one set of his parents in their small town.  We went to a little park with friends from their church for a cook-out.  It was so hot, but a lot of fun!  My MIL and I teamed up for a game similar to horseshoes, but with washers.  It was neck-and-neck at the end of the game and I got us the win!  Ha!  That was fun.
When we left the park, we stopped by his Grandpa's house.  He was in WWII in the Pacific, so Memorial Day has a strong meaning for him.  We spent a long time listening to his stories about the war.  It is still unimaginable for me, but so real for the men and women who have fought for us.  It was a perfect and meaningful way to spend the day.  Here's Grandpa showing us his medals and pictures.

Yesterday was my BIRTHDAY!  I love birthdays - not just mine, but any birthday. My sweet hubby took the day off from work.  We started the day with him joining me for my run.  That was a treat!  Then we went to breakfast at my favorite place and ALL THREE of my girls were there!  Then we went to the mall where Murphy's Law kicked in.  The hubs told me I had a certain amount of money to spend and to go shopping!  I searched the mall and left empty handed - figures, right?  Next time I got to the mall I will find all kinds of stuff I want and I won't have the money to spend.  

After the mall, we went to CPK for dinner. I was excited to see our best friends there, but it took me several minutes to realize that they were there for ME!  We had a great dinner and I got some really sweet cards.  

When we got back to the car to go home, I got another card and some pretty and "fun" earrings from the hubs. He was so sweet and spoiled me all day!

 
He's so silly - gave me a card that we had to reenact!

When we got home, I still had more presents to open!  I got the Tervis water bottle I wanted and a DREMEL!!!!!!!!  Those were from my other set of in-laws that I didn't get to see this week.  I can't wait to start on some projects with my new toy!
I also got so many sweet and thoughtful texts, emails, phone calls, and Facebook messages.  What a great day!
I took a couple of days off from eating cleaner and healthier.  It just wasn't worth it.  The desserts I had were so good, but a bite or two would have been enough.  I have learned another lesson!  My stomach is upset and I feel lethargic today.  Time to get healthy again!

Summer Wreath

Yarn wrapped wreath with flannel and felt flowers.  Can be customized with many color combinations!
$25-$30

Motivation for your Monday

After a plateau that lasted over 2 weeks, I'm in a much better frame of mind.  I've done some thinking and treated myself a little by eating what I felt like eating, but keeping the portions small.  I've kept up the exercise and changed it up enough to keep it interesting.
Here's what's on my mind:

• The amount of food that I waste in a day (from ordering too much at a restaurant, but over-buying and throwing out food that went bad) is probably more than some people eat in a week.  I think about my friends in Honduras who make a 40 lb bag of beans, rice, and lard last a month for their family.
• My relationship with food has been all wrong.  It isn't entertainment, it is fuel.  That doesn't mean I shouldn't enjoy my food or enjoy a meal with friends, but the point of the food is to make my body work well.
• This isn't my body.  God created it and has put it in my care while I'm here.  Why would I ruin and abuse a gift from the One who loves me most?
• I'm perfectly capable of all that I've attempted and so much more.  I. Can. Do. This.

I'm sure you've heard about Claire Lomas in London. 

She is  a woman who has been paralyzed from the chest down since 2007 who decided to run the full London Marathon.  How on earth does a paralyzed woman run a marathon when I can barely do half a mile?  Go to this page and watch the video.  You will be motivated too!

Couch 2 5k

I am going to do this!  I am determined to be able to run a full 5k without dying...or even stopping to walk.

Running has NEVER been my thing.  I was always one of the last ones to finish the dreaded mile in PE and I usually didn't even run the entire thing.  I've done a couple of 5k races that were for a good cause.  I did the most running I've done in my life in those, but the adrenaline and the crowd helped me move!  I want to run a 5k in the fall - maybe even a couple of them.  It is time to make it happen!

I've heard good things about the Couch 2 5k program, so I decided to give it a shot.  Today was my first day and I'm proud to say that I did it and I enjoyed it!  I was on my last round and decided to test myself.  Just how far can I run without stopping?  I pushed myself and made it half a mile without stopping and I was able to keep walking pretty easily when I was done.  My legs felt a little tired and I was fairly winded, but I wasn't miserable.  I actually kinda like it!  My pace was slow - about 12.5 minute mile, but that's ok.  I DID IT!!!

I use the Nike+GPS app to track my distance and pace and to play my music.  It runs in the background while I'm keeping track of my time.  I used a FREE app called RoundTimer to keep track of my walking/running intervals. 

It is pretty easy to use, but here is how to set the timer for week 1.

 Your Round Count needs to be set at 8.  You'll run for one minute and walk for 1 and a half 8 times for a total of 20 minutes.  This is after you've done your 5 minute warm-up of walking briskly.  I set my Countdown Time for 3 seconds, but you don't have to.  It just gives me a little heads up that I'm about to run.  Set Round Time to 1:00 - this is your jogging time.  You can set your round sounds, warning sound, and rest sound to anything you want.  I like the bell to finish my jog - makes me think of a boxer finishing his first round!  You don't need any warning time, so set this to 0 and the warning sound won't happen, so just leave that alone.  Set the Rest Time to 1:30 - this is your walking time.  I like the buzzer sound to end my walking - it reminds me of a basketball or volleyball game when a time-out is over and it's time to get back to the game!

Your volume level is up to you.  I run with my earbuds in, so I don't need it super loud.  I keep my Timer Sounds on and Vibrate on in case I don't hear the sounds over my music.  You can turn Auto Lock on or off, depending on whether you want the screen to lock while you're timing yourself.

It should be pretty easy to change the settings for each week.  All that needs to be changed is the Round Time and Rest Time.

Anyone wanna race?

Positive Thinking Thursday

Well, it's Thursday...
I'd love to be positive right now, but I'm having a hard time.  I've been fluctuating within the same .7 pounds for 2 weeks now.  It is so frustrating to know that I've stayed between 1200-1600 calories every day and I've worked out 5-6 days per week.  What is going on here???

Since i'm struggling, I decided to search for some positive thoughts to keep me going.

This is for life.  This isn't just about getting ready for swimsuit season in 2012.  This is about being the best I can be - the strongest, the healthiest, and the fittest.  What is lost can be found again. I'm BURNING it and it won't come out of the ashes! (OK, that was a little cheesy, but work with me!)

If I'm honest with myself, my body is behaving.  It just isn't behaving the way I want it to.  I can feel muscles in my arms. My rib cage is much narrower.  I can feel how much more muscular my legs are.  I do have a lot of fat left to lose, but it will happen.  I'm exercising to make a healthier and stronger me and it is working!

I really like this one!  I will try not to say "I am fat" ever again! 

Exactly - I have lot 11 pounds!  I HAVE LOST 11 LBS!!!

That's something to be pretty excited about.  I have reached 2 of my mini-goals and I'm on my way to another.  I have lost several inches.  I have muscles.  I'm confident enough to go to a dance class with an entire mirrored wall!!!  I work out 6 days per week and I've learned to cook new things that are better for me and for my family.  I have found ways to encourage my friends who offer me so much encouragement.  I am wearing clothes that have been sitting in my closet because they didn't fit.  I've gotten rid of jeans and shirts that are TOO BIG!!!  

I have a lot to celebrate and I'm looking forward to celebrating more!

OK...I think I feel a little better now.  I just have to figure out why I'm stuck right here and make some adjustments.  I'm thankful for God blessing me with a healthy body that can handle exercise and that has put up with junk I ate and the lack of exercise.  I can do this!  The longest journeys have the greatest rewards!

Trying New Things

This blog is all about trying new and different things.  I've tried painting, crafting, cooking, smoothie-ing, working out, baking, and being green.  Some of those things - most, even - have worked out well for me; even the green smoothies!

The 30 Day Shred is one of those things that worked well.  I lost several inches and over 5 pounds in 30 days!  I was very happy with my results, but burned out on Shredding.  My plan was to start the cycle over again and Shred for another 30 days using the advanced workouts.

But I just couldn't do it all over again.

Exercise was becoming a huge chore that I had no interest in and I knew I was dangerously close to quitting and having to start the cycle of weight gain - shame - try a diet - quit - get it right - burn out again.  I'm not having that!

So, I've been trying a few new things.  I went to another Dance Trance class yesterday.  I learned some of the dances I "waddled" through earlier in the week and felt much more encouraged at the end.  I can do this!  I'm hoping to talk the hubby into a membership there soon.  This won't be my only work out for now though.  I need things to do on the days I don't go.


A friend of mine let me borrow her Billy Blanks Boot Camp videos and I tried one today.  It was fun!  It is a whole like the Tae Bo videos I used several years ago - a good workout!  I was sweating a lot by the end and MyFitnessPal said that i burned over 500 calories!  That is so worth my 40 minutes!!!

Funky

So, I'm in a funk. I've been so gung-ho lately that I think I've burned myself out.

After doing Day 2 of the advanced version of the Shred, I went to Rock Your Body Studio for a Rock Your Core class and then Dance Trance on Tuesday night. It was so much fun!  But I was so sore the next day.  So sore, in fact, that I couldn't get through Day 3 of the Shred.  Actually, it wasn't even that I was sore.  I think my muscles were all exhausted and my brain was funky.

Here is how I looked after my first dance class in YEARS:

You see, I used to be a pretty good dancer back in the day.  Every time I looked in the mirror at the studio, I saw a klutzy fat girl who didn't know what she was doing.  I was really disappointed in myself because I thought about it too much.  The important thing about that night was that I was MOVING!  I was trying something new that I didn't have the guts 10 pounds ago.

I really have come a long way - I am active WAY more than I have been in a long time and I have lost over 10 pounds.  But I think I just focused too much on how far I still have to go.  Right now, my goal is to lose 4 more pounds and to keep working on getting fewer carbs and more nutrients.  THAT is was I need to FOCUS on!

Today I was still pretty sore, so I decided Shredding would only make me feel bad again.  I found a free yoga video on Hulu and tried that. I did a full hour of yoga and it is just what I needed!  the stretching helped my sore muscles, and I used the quiet time to talk to God about my goals and re-evaluate my motivation for doing all of this.

I've got to live a life worthy of Him!  I think I'm going back to the dance class Thursday and Sunday.  I'll keep up the yoga on days in between.  I'm hoping this will get me out of my funk!

How do other people get out of the funk???