Thursday, December 30, 2010

Remember it is a journey.....

I need to remember that it is a journey and I want to enjoy my journey to health. Since I weigh every day, the scale wasn't kind this morning it was 241.2 - yesterday I was at 240.2 and thought I was well on my back down to my low last week of 239.8 but I wasn't.  Yesterday I didn't exercise so of course I thought that had to be it. So today, not just because of that I went running. I ran 4 miles. I didn't have that hard of a time but for some reason I was slower than I have been lately. But I did it. Then I felt like going to jazzercise since my favorite instructor teaches on Thursday night. So I went to jazzercise and boy am I sore tonight. But a good sore.  When I was running, the song below came on my iphone. I am not a fan of Miley Cyrus but I do like this song. It is called "The Climb" and it reminded me that I want to enjoy the journey.

I can almost see it
That dream I am dreaming
But there's a voice inside my head saying
"You'll never reach it"

Every step I'm taking
Every move I make feels
Lost with no direction
My faith is shaking

But I gotta keep trying
Gotta keep my head held high

There's always gonna be another mountain
I'm always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be a uphill battle
Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose

Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb

The struggles I'm facing
The chances I'm taking
Sometimes might knock me down
But no, I'm not breaking

I may not know it
But these are the moments that
I'm gonna remember most, yeah
Just gotta keep going
Some of the things that have been great about the journey is how many good lifelong friends I have made.  I am doing Weight Watchers but that isn't where I met my friends. I met my new friends on a internet message board called http://www.dwlz.com/ but most of us know it as Dotti's.  I have ran a 5K and a 10K with these friends, I have vacationed on a lake a few times, I have traveled to a yearly event three times that we call the "Amish Luau", other dinner meetups, and chats online. We post daily on the board about our struggles, our triumphs, our questions, and our daily activities. We post more than about weight loss; we post about life.

Other things I have learned is that I am stronger than I thought. I can run a 5K and even a 10K. I can change from drinking regular cokes to diet cokes to water.  I can give up candy and ice cream. Having a hard time with cookies though :)  I am learning more about myself every day and loving it!

Enjoy your journey!!

Monday, December 27, 2010

First Day back to Work

First things first, scale was down a few pounds but I still have a ways to go before I get back to my lowest. I was 242.2 this morning. I ate light yesterday and I ran.  Today my plan was to eat light and I did but I had the munchies late in the day - I tried to fill it with nuts.  It kind of worked. I also went to Jazzercise after work. I haven't went to Jazzercise in a few months so I was looking forward to it. It was good to be back. I love running but Jazzercize helps with the toning. Hopefully tomorrow the scale will be down again.

Today I did a few things at work but then I spent alot of time cleaning up my old emails. I had folders of emails from 2004 and on. So I tried to delete the old ones and organize the rest of them. This makes me feel good! I like organization. I like to feel in control. I like to be able to find any email when I need it. So I still have some work to do on my emails and then I go on to my files on the network. Then come January 3rd, I will be organized and ready to have a great year at work.

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Lesson learned

Well I gained a few pounds this morning. I ended up having some homemade sweets that my son brought over yesterday and then I had some Christmas cookies when I went to our friend's house for dinner. Dinner was amazing - prime rib, baked potatoes, salad, and asparagus. Then I ended up having a piece of red velvet cake.  So I put on a few pounds. Almost 4.  I can't believe in one day! But I had a plan as soon as I got over the shock of the scale. One of my friends said the scale screamed at her this morning and that is what I felt this morning. So I drank water, ate lightly and ran 3.25 miles. Hopefully tomorrow the scale will be lower - probably not what it was Christmas morning but lower than this morning.

The run this morning was amazing. 24 degrees and snow on the ground. I had to be careful because the road was a little icy. I bundled up with my Christmas presents and I was fine and it felt great out there.
My dog was so happy to go for a run. He LOVES to run with me. Here is a picture of the neighborhood and also of me bundled up with my dog before the run.

 I am so happy to be able to run, no matter how slow I run. I know I can lose the weight I gained yesterday and I know I am on the path to a healthier life.

So smile and get back on your path.

Saturday, December 25, 2010

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!
I had a great morning just relaxing with my husband. Kids are coming over in a few minutes. I made chicken chili since everyone is having a big Christmas dinner somewhere else. I was going to make a dessert but broken oven means I couldn't. Isn't that terrible?  Then we head over to our friend's house for dinner tonight. Should be a fun day. I received lots of running gear for christmas (what I wanted)
- new shirt and jacket
- running socks
- balaclava (I think I spelled that correctly)
- mittens/gloves with removable "fingers"
- small can of "mace" or something like it when running in the dark
- reflector strips for running in the dark
- really really good earphones with a microphone for my iphone.
This is all from my husband - my kids presents are ahead of me - will report in tomorrow.

And I did it. I was back at 239.8 this morning. I doubt whether I will be tomorrow but that is okay.

B  pancakes, coffee, orange
lite chocolate soy milk (YUM - I love this stuff)
L chicken chili
planning
D prime rib, baked potatoes, asparagus
and going to try and limit myself to the dessert I brought - cookies and red velvet cake (purchased because no oven again).

Merry Christmas and have a great day!

Friday, December 24, 2010

Christmas Eve

Hello well after last night's Mexican dinner, I did gain a little bit back last night 0.6. This morning I was 240.4. 

I slept in this morning and I had the day off. I went for a 3 mile run this morning because it was supposed to start snowing after 1 but it is 3:30 and no snow yet. I am glad to get it done though - my day always is better after a run. I ran my neighborhood as usual with my dog Brady. But we hadn't even gone a mile and this little white puppy that the neighbors let run all over the place, kept following us and bothering Brady and trying to play with him. I can't believe the dog hasn't been run over yet the way it runs all over the place. Brady wouldn't behave, which usually he is the best running dog. So I had to drag him for 1/4 of a mile. I finally decided to take the other route into the new section of the subdivision. I ran over there for 2 miles and then I headed back to our section of the subdivision. I had to make up time so I could hit my goal of staying under 16 minute miles. I DID IT! even with the hills in the new section and that dog slowing us down.

B (before run)
coffee, oatmeal made with skim milk, cinnamon/splenda, a few walnuts and 1 tsp of oil
3 mile run
almonds
ran some errands which included going to a bakery and picking up some cookies and a red velvet cake to take to dinner tomorrow night (YUM - I hope I can stay away tomorrow from them, at least I get to leave them there)
L 1 chicken fajita taco (leftover from dinner last night) and then some ritz whole wheat crackers and weight watchers spreadable pepper jack cheese
planning to head to church for Christmas Eve service
Planning for dinner
D grilled pork chop, sauteed spinach in olive oil and garlic, butternut squash

Hoping to be back in the 230s tomorrow - we shall see!

Thursday, December 23, 2010

New low!

I reached a new low in my weight loss journey. 40 pounds down and a new decade. I hope I can keep my weight in this decade. I have been hesitant to share my weight but I am trying to be honest here.  Today I weighed at 239.8 at home. It has taken me almost 2 years to lose the 40 pounds but I feel new life in this journey of mine. A few reasons:
- my husband is on his own journey which makes it easier for me
- the new Weight Watchers Plan
- turning 50
- some success (seeing a new decade) gives me more motivation
- my desire to run faster

I am going to start posting my weight on my blog and being accountable on here.

Today's Menu
Breakfast - coffee  ( I should have eaten but I didn't)
Lunch - leftover beef whole wheat noodle tomato and bean casserole, brocolli and cheese, and apple microwaved with splenda, cinnamon, and spray butter.
Dinner - my husband really was hungry so we went to Mexican - one of our "old" favorites. We did have some chips but not as many as usual  and then I had chicken fajita tacos (there were three and I ate two and took one home)

I am hoping to get weighed in tomorrow at WW since Saturday (my usual day) is Christmas and WW is closed.

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

I'm Back!!!

Well it has been awhile. I have been swamped at work and had alot of personal stresses so I took a break. I don't want blogging to be a chore but something to help me on my journey.

I have at the lowest weight I have been for awhile. My husband started on his journey even though he was pretty healthy anyhow. He lost over 30 pounds in just a few weeks. He has done so well - he started running along with his biking. He has cut out bad starches and sugars like ice cream and chips. We don't go out to eat as often and when we do we choose better. Another thing that helped is that I had my first colonoscopy and couldn't eat for a day but I did drink alot and had some beef broth and jello. It went well and now it is over but my appetite wasn't crazy after so that is good. I have been eating more fruit for snacks. The new Weight Watchers Plan - Points Plus - has been good for me also. I think I am on a roll. 

I ran 3 miles today and my time was pretty good for me. I thought I would be slower but I was just as fast. I really need to lose weight to get faster I think. I want to try and go back to Jazzercise - it really helped me lose inches. I need to do some strength training along with aerobic.

Also I received a great present from one of my best friends, she sent me a journal she made for me out of a book called "Busy Feet".  She wrote a lovely message to me on the first page and inserted blank pages for me to write in throughout the book. It was awesome but the thought was what really touched me. I am writing about my running in the book.

Enough for today, hope to be back tomorrow.