Secrets and progress

I figured I would start off this post by giving you a few of my secrets. This one I have shared with a few fortunate souls, but now it's going public. When I would have trouble seeing results on the scale over the course of a week or so, I dedicated one day to only fruits and veggies. I would eat as much as I wanted, but only fruits and veggies. Somehow, this changed things up enough for me to see results on the scale the next day and keep me motivated and feeling like I was making progress. I would have some PB with an apple if I really wanted or dressing on my salad, but other than that, just fruits and veggies.

The other secret is one that I just recently picked up and had to use tonight. When those urges for late night snacks hit, go brush your teeth. There is something about having a minty fresh mouth that seems to ward off those cravings and makes it easier to resist. And it's great hygiene too.

I don't know if I mentioned this here or not, but I know that I told several people that I was not a runner. I was a firm believer that I would never run nor did I ever believe running was fun. I was wrong. I have started to run. Not because I think it's better excercise, but because it's fun. I know, I'm a little sick and twisted, but I am enjoying it. I would like to run my next half marathon in April 2012, so I have started the couch to 5K program. I jumped in at the end of week 3 with a friend and that was pushing my limits. I did the first day of week 4 yesterday and made it. I'm quite proud of that. I do find it a little overwhelming though to think that when I am done with that program, I will be trained to run 3 miles and a half marathon is 13.1 miles, but I guess I will get there, hopefully.

For those of you who get jealous or discouraged to know about my progess, you can stop reading now, but I really like to keep track of this part too because it's so awesome to be able to look back and see where I was at.  I weight 153. 97 pounds down only 3 to go. I am having a bit of trouble because I feel I have hit a mental block, but I am trying to power through it so that at least I can hit this HUGE goal and feel I have succeeded. If after that I gain 5 pounds back, I'm not going to sweat it. And I am wanting to schedule a final photo session to document my achievement and I will make that happen.

The Marathon Experience

I don't even know where to start. Completing a half marathon (13.1 miles) last weekend was such an amazing experience. If you have given any thought to doing one, go for it. I don't think you will regret it.

We had to go the day before to pick up the race packets and to check out the expo.

A side note that I find interesting is that auditions for the tv show America's Got Talent were going on that same day in that same building. Kind of cool seeing some of that.

We went for dinner and back to a friend's cottage to hang out together, watch an inspirational documentary, and head to bed somewhat early. We awoke on race day at 4 am. (That part was not so much fun.) Then took off towards St. Louis at 5. We arrived and traffic was not as bad as I was expecting, so we got parked and headed on foot about a mile to the race area.

Another side note. I have heard about homeless people. I have been close to those that ministered to homeless in St. Louis, but I have never seen it with my own eyes and been so close. During our walk to the race area we passed several people sleeping in store doorways and I was completely humbled. Then, on the way back to our cars after the race, we saw a tent community and signs about the bad economy and how it needs fixed. Wow! I think I have it bad when I can't afford new shoes to run in. Talk about perspective.

Once we got to the race area we stretched and found our corral. And we watied, and waited, and waited some more. See the funny thing is that if you aren't really racing or planning to run very fast, they put you at the back. And in a crowd of 21,000, that's pretty far back. The first racers started at 7:30, but we did not get to cross the start line until 8:00. But, off we went. And after all that standing and waiting, I was ready to start sprinting, but I didn't. We walked, and walked, and walked.

Jim had planned to come see me cross the finish line, but he texted me during the race and said that he wasn't going to be able to make it, but he also told me that he was tracking me on the computer. You see, you wear a tracking device and at the start line, you cross a tracker and at a few other intervalls along the race, so he was able to see how quickly I was moving and a projected finish time. After about 9 miles, he said I should finish in 3 hours 8 minutes. One of the other girls said that she would love to finish in under three hours, so we decided to make that the goal. So we ran some. At mile 12, we split up and decided to make our own best effort to get to the finish line. I have never ran so much in my life (and it wasn't even that much). I crossed the finish line after 3 hours 1 min and 41 seconds. I am not sad. I am ellated. That seems to be a great first finish time.

After crossing the finish line, I was handed a medal. A really cool medal. I am so proud of it.

The experience was one of a kind. They were so many people there to support their loved ones and even strangers. There were people holding signs and ringing cowbells, there were cheerleaders and bands. I had a lot of fun. And it wasn't as hard as I thought it would be 5 months ago when we began training for this.

I am already planning my next one. I think these are a bit contagious too, because Jim says he wants to do the next one with me. And several of the girls said the same about their husbands. So, unless you want to be sucked into running a half marathon, don't get too close to me.

Time for a little catch up

I'm sorry I haven't posted in a while. It's not because I haven't been making progress.  I have great intentions and then, it just doesn't happen. Life gets in the way. It goes to prove that whatever you make as a priority in your life will get done and the things that aren't a priority won't. And sad to say, this has not been a big priority of mine.

Now, on to the exciting stuff.

My half marathon is tomorrow!!!! I am really excited! I feel that I could be better prepared for it because I haven't walked all week, but the 4+ months prior, I have, so I think it won't affect me too much. My fellow Bacon Lovers (anonymous) are all geared up to leave town around 2pm to go pick up our race packets and spend the night together in anticipation of this big event. Surprisingly, two of the girls in my group are planning to run a full marathon in the spring and two others are considering running a half marathon (because we are walking this one).  I also have been contemplating running a half marathon. I have really been enjoying this form of excercise and I would love to see myself pushed a little farther. I also know several people that I could run with, so that makes the thought of it so much better. Anyway, I will let you know after the race tomorrow how it goes.

On to other news. I have reached my WW goal weight of 155 lbs!! This is not my official goal weight of 100 lbs lost, but only 5 lbs away. I know this sounds kind of silly, but I have a reason. When I first thought about losing all of this weight, I never thought I would really lose 100 lbs. It seemed so unrealistic and out of the question, so when I signed up on Weight Watchers the highest healthy weight for me was 155, so I plugged that in. It seems so long ago now and I am completely amazed that I am about to reach 100 lbs lost. It also seems crazy to think that I might even lose a little more after that. We will see. I am going to do it in a healthy way and not get too crazy with it, so please don't worry about me, but now I feel that it is possible and that is an amazing feeling.

I went shopping last weekend to spend a Macy's gift certificate that I received for Christmas last year, and although very overwhelmed in that store, I had a blast. I tried on so many things and loved that everything fit well, and I wasn't examining myself at the store, just the clothes. Wow. Really, that is huge for me. I hope you are doing as well and finding great things to be excited about. It does take time, but when you reach it, it's like nothing else.

Keep yourself inspired somehow. I am finding new inspiration from watching this season of Biggest Loser. I really love that show and it gives me the motivation to keep going. I have heard lots of people say that they have quit watching because they end up sitting on the couch eating ice cream while watching. I know that feeling. I have done that. But, there is an alternative. Let it motivate you. Let it inspire you. Get up and move a little, even while you watch it. I mean, I have a hard time getting out my step and doing some aerobics while watching CSI or House, but when I'm watching Biggest Loser, I have the motivation to do it.