My First Run

My sis and I started the C25K program Wednesday evening. I was full of excitement and anticipation. I was under no impression it was going to be easy, in fact, I was a bit afraid I was going to quit halfway through. We started with a 5 minute walking warm-up. With every minute that passed  I got a little more nervous. Before I knew it the timer read 15 seconds, then 14, then 13, and so on, and the moment of truth was right in front of me. The first 60 second jog was okay, followed by a 90 second walk. The second one seemed a bit harder, and by the time I got to the fourth and fifth ones, it seemed the 90 second walk was barely enough time to catch my breath. But I made it! All the way to the end.

Friday was our second day of week one, same plan as the first day. I started the day feeling a little sore in the abs and shins. I was anticipating my shins possibly bothering me. If they did I have no idea because everything else I felt was trumped by feeling like I couldn't catch my breath between jogs. It seemed just the slightest bit harder than the first day. In fact, I literally cried the last 35 seconds of the last 60 second jog. When my kiddos saw my tears they sprang into action. Katelyn hollered, "Mom! Mom I'm getting your water!" She then ran down the entire length of the track to get it to me. And Joshua told me, "Mom, you can do it. Just keep doing hard things. You'll get this." Precious!!!

So, we'll see how Monday goes. I think my head has got to be all in to make the difference, and Friday I was struggling with unrelated things. But I still consider it a successful start, and am so very thankful to have my sister on this journey with me. She is a blessing beyond measure.

And the weigh-in! Today was my 12th weigh-in. I needed 5 pounds to get under 300, but was expecting 1 or 2 pounds at best. I stepped on the scale and was pleasantly surprised with a 4 pound loss. So I am sitting exactly on the number I want to be under, and that's okay by me. This coming week with every workout I do, I'll be picturing a crumbling 300 in my mind's eye. When it's gone, it's gone for good and I'll never see it on my scale again!

Starting weight: 336 lb.
Goal weight: 150 lb.

Week 1: 328, -8 lb.
Week 2: 325, -3 lb./-11 lb. total
Week 3: 323, -2 lb./-13 lb. total
Week 4: 317, -6 lb./-19 lb. total
Week 5: 314, -3 lb./-22 lb. total
Week 6: 312, -2 lb./-24 lb. total
Week 7: 312, -0 lb./-24 lb. total
Week 8: 306, -6 lb./-30 lb. total
Week 9: 306, -0 lb./-30 lb. total
Week 10: 306, -0 lb./-30 lb. total
Week 11: 304, -2 lb./-32 lb. total
Week 12: 300, -4 lb./-36 lb. total

I Can't Stand the Rain

On my windoooooow. Sorry, channeling Missy Elliot there. Lol! But really, rain always puts a damper on my day, but never as much as it did yesterday when I was so fired up to start the C25K program and couldn't... because it was cold and rainy ALL day. But that's life and tomorrow is the now the big day! My sister, Lisa, will be doing it with me and I keep picturing us crossing the finish line at our first 5K together. :-) I realize running is not something I've ever done before and I really don't know how it's going to go, but I 'm still excited!

Another Zero?

As you could tell from my post last Saturday, I spent the day a little out of sorts. By Sunday I felt much better and by Monday I was ready to get the ball rolling again. The week was pretty uneventful. Oh, but I did finally buy my first pair of running shoes!!! I plan to start the C25K program next week.  I can't wait to let you know how it goes.

As for this week, did the scale finally budge again? Am I getting closer to weighing under 300 for the first time in a really long time? See for yourself.

Starting weight: 336 lb.
Goal weight: 150 lb.

Week 1: 328, -8 lb.
Week 2: 325, -3 lb./-11 lb. total
Week 3: 323, -2 lb./-13 lb. total
Week 4: 317, -6 lb./-19 lb. total
Week 5: 314, -3 lb./-22 lb. total
Week 6: 312, -2 lb./-24 lb. total
Week 7: 312, -0 lb./-24 lb. total
Week 8: 306, -6 lb./-30 lb. total
Week 9: 306, -0 lb./-30 lb. total
Week 10: 306, -0 lb./-30 lb. total
Week 11: 304, -2 lb./-32 lb. total

*Sigh*

Okay. So, week 10 has come to an end and once again I step on the scale and it doesn't budge. Stuck at 306. In the past 4 weeks I've faced 3 zeros. Now I'd be lying to myself if I said I wasn't feeling some disappointment. The first one was okay, it happens. The second one really was okay too, it came in the heels of losing 6 pounds in one week, completely understandable. But this last one made me want to eat a piece if pizza and go back to bed. *sigh*

I am by no means quitting or giving up, but I don't understand why the standstill all of a sudden. I'm eating my points like I should, still exercising Monday-Friday (switching up the type of exercise every 2 weeks). I'm drinking a bit more water everyday. So what gives?

Gah! I probably shouldn't even be writing this post until I've had time to mull it over for awhile, but this is real. This is what's going on this week.

Starting weight: 336 lb.
Goal weight: 150 lb.

Week 1: 328, -8 lb.
Week 2: 325, -3 lb./-11 lb. total
Week 3: 323, -2 lb./-13 lb. total
Week 4: 317, -6 lb./-19 lb. total
Week 5: 314, -3 lb./-22 lb. total
Week 6: 312, -2 lb./-24 lb. total
Week 7: 312, -0 lb./-24 lb. total
Week 8: 306, -6 lb./-30 lb. total
Week 9: 306, -0 lb./-30 lb. total
Week 10: 306, -0 lb./-30 lb. total

No Room for Disappointment

I didn't post week 7. I meant to, I just didn't get around to it. There really wasn't 't much to report, as the scale did not budge at my weigh-in. It happens. I know it happens. In the past it would have dampened my spirits, but this time I wasn't upset in the least. I literally said out loud, "Eyes on week 8" and got on with it. 

I did decide to do a couple of things differently at the start of week 8. I've been drinking only water since December 29th, but realized maybe I wasn't drinking quite enough. So I set a goal of 10 8 oz. glasses a day and kept track. I also decided a change in exercise might do me good again. After two straight weeks if walking 17 miles, I decided to try my body at Zumba. At first I was a little worried that my 20-minute Zumba DVD wasn't enough because the walking I had been doing took 45-60 minutes each day. I quickly realized Zumba is crazy intense! I likely burned more calories in those 20 minutes than in an hour of walking. I said all week it was torture. It was HARD! I wanted to quit halfway in every day, but I didn't. It'll be a little while before I work up to the 50-minute DVD. 

Yesterday was weigh-in day. Did my changes pay off? Did the scale budge, even a little? It sure did...  6 pounds, to be exact!!! That brings my total weight loss to 30 pounds. 7 pounds to go before I'm out of the 300s. Pretty good week if you ask me. 

Starting weight: 336 lb.
Goal weight: 150 lb.

Week 1: 328, -8 lb.
Week 2: 325, -3 lb./-11 lb. total
Week 3: 323, -2 lb./-13 lb. total
Week 4: 317, -6 lb./-19 lb. total
Week 5: 314, -3 lb./-22 lb. total
Week 6: 312, -2 lb./-24 lb. total
Week 7: 312, -0 lb./-24 lb. total
Week 8: 306, -6 lb./-30 lb. total

Bumps In the Road

Week 6 brought  with it a few minor setbacks. I started the week out with a blister on my left heel from a bit of walking I did Sunday afternoon (sock rode down in my shoe without my realizing it). Then Tuesday evening I stood up from Joshua's bed and felt immediate pain in my right ankle. It was bad enough that I hobbled the rest of the day. I was afraid I wasn't going to be able to walk the rest of the week. Wednesday it felt a bit better and I was able to walk, just had to modify a bit. By Thursday I was good to go, and by Friday I had put in all 17 miles I was aiming for this week! So it was a week of learning to roll with the punches, as I'm sure the punches will come again and may be much harder from time to time.

And here are the results:

Starting weight: 336 lb.
Goal weight: 150 lb.

Week 1: 328, -8 lb.
Week 2: 325, -3 lb./-11 lb. total
Week 3: 323, -2 lb./-13 lb. total
Week 4: 317, -6 lb./-19 lb. total
Week 5: 314, -3 lb./-22 lb. total
Week 6: 312, -2 lb./-24 lb. total

Still Here and Going Strong

Sorry for the delay in posts but I'm having computer issues and finally attempting this from my daughter's iPod.

So week four, after three weeks of walking 13 miles, I decided to do something a little different. You may think I'm nuts but Sweatin' to the Oldies won out and Richard Simmons kicked my butt that first day! I didn't quit and at the end of the week it really paid off with a 6 pound weight loss! Can you say  one happy mama? I know I will have really great weeks like that here and there so I wasn't exactly surprised, but I was really excited to see that number.

Week five I decided to stick with Richard Simmons for one more week. After my 6 pound loss the week before I was expecting 1-2 pounds this week, if that. That 's just how it goes and that 's okay. I was pleasantly surprised with a 3 pound loss when I stepped on the scale! I am down 22 pounds in my first 5 weeks!!!

Numbers out of the way, let's talk about other important stuff. Exercise is no longer something I dread. In fact, I look forward to it. It's just what I do now, first thing in the morning usually. That's a milestone for me. Also, went to a birthday party Sunday and realized for the first time I didn't have to resist the cake and ice cream and other fatty foods, I honestly didn't want them in the first place. That  is major.

Looking forward to next week's weigh-in, I'm back to walking this week but with The Biggest Loser: Powerwalk this time and it is crazy hard! I'm aiming for 17 miles this week. Also taking this advice: Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a pauper. So eating most of my points early on in the day and eating nothing after 6:00 pm. We'll see if these changes make any difference come Saturday.

Starting weight: 336 lb.
Goal weight: 150 lb.

Week 1: 328, -8 lb.
Week 2: 325, -3 lb./-11 total
Week 3: 323, -2 lb./-13 total
Week 4: 317, -6 lb./-19 total
Week 5: 314, -3 lb./-22 total