Day before one of my biggest life events...

It is the day before the half marathon...!

The big day is just around the corner and I couldn't be more excited. I am nervous yes and a bit of a basket case. (Anyone who REALLY knows me knows that that is a normal thing :P) 7 months. 7 months of training, tears, amazement and unfortunately some kneeling before the porcelain. It has been one of the best adventures that I have been on. I feel like I really found myself through all of this.

I couldn't have made it through all this training w/o my training partner! My friend Jamie is always in for whatever adventure is up for conversation. I asked if she would like to run a half marathon... she said "okay". It started from there. This will be her first race as well and has worked so hard to get to this day. I think our friendship has grown through this adventure of ours and I couldn't be more proud of her.

 We ran together once a week for 7 months. If we couldn't run together, then we made sure to text each other once we were done. We kept each other accountable and discussed different ways of training. Our motto has been "If it seems legit...". We had no training plan and just went for it. Again, anyone who really knows me knows that I love google.com and will research everything that I change in my lifestyle. We got a lot of tips from websites, articles and just the people around us.

One big thing that I learned from Jamie was... chill out. I put a lot of pressure on myself to do the best and do it well. If I had a bad run, I was apologizing all the time and upset that I didn't do better. She taught me how to "run for fun". Just go out, run and have a good time. I am finally learning that after 7 months w/ training. Running is fun to me, it is a stress relieve and I can't imagine a time where I didn't do it.

Did I mention that we always make our runs an experience? Between dancing at the stoplights, mother nature's treadmill, running w/ glow sticks and tripping on the sidewalk... I definitely have some memories from our runs. All I have to say is... thank goodness I was running w/ a nurse!

So here I am. I am about to accomplish one of the biggest goals I have set for myself. It is an overwhelming thought.

I have received so many phone calls and messages from old friends, new friends, co-workers and family. Everyone has been so supportive and amazing. It brings tears to my eyes to know how great the people I surround myself with are. The ones that wish they could be there... they have no idea how much that means to me to know that they wanted to and just even had the thought. The ones that will be there... I can't wait to see them all when I cross the finish line. This journey that I am on has showed me how damn lucky I am to have these people in my life.

Thank you to the friends and family that have been there giving advice, giving encouragement, cheering me on and picking me up when I was down. You mean the world to me and there is no way I could ever repay what you have given me.

**Best of luck when running your half marathon Jamie, Justin, Cindy and my Uncle John. I could not ask for better people to have this adventure with.

Test run...

Finally did the 13 miles!!! I did it in 3 hours... I am ready for the race in 2 weeks!

(BTW this was the hardest run by far! So hard to keep going and finish.)

Complaint: I hate it when someone asks if I ran the whole time. I just did 13 miles and you take my thunder away w/ that question. Yes I had to walk on and off, but you know what? I ran 10 miles none stop... so there. I also finished when I wanted to and I didn't give up... think of the positives people.

Frustration and nerves

I had thought to be way closer to my ultimate weight loss goal at this time. I had been consistent with the 1 lb. loss every week and now it is sticking around the same number again. Where are the big losses? I hate these plateaus that come so often now, that it is hard to get excited when I start losing. I know I will just hit another wall in a week or so.

Something else that is making me feel self conscious, is the fact that I am getting droopy skin. That has been my biggest fear w/ losing the weight... the excess skin. I am getting healthy and that is ALL that matters... but I can't help but want to look good too. My arms have the droop... my legs and stomach have the droop... ugh!

Game plan: I am going to focus a lot more on weights and trying to tone and tighten. I know I still have 50 lbs. to go... but I need to do something now.

Nerves: 2.5 weeks until the race and I still have yet to run 13 miles...! This weekend is my outing for that... wish me luck!

Running on the Tread...

I hated it. Flat out did not like running on the treadmill. What a boring experience after being able to run outside multiple times. It is worse than the track. The main reason I am very anti-treadmill with distance running is... that I couldn't do my distance. I made it 5 miles before I gave up.

When running my pace changes too much. While running  on the treadmill it got to a point where I feel like I am wanting to walk more and more. I know it is probably a mental thing... okay I KNOW it is a mental thing. I just gave up. SO. I will probably not run distance this week. I ran 5 miles on Monday  (gorgeous out) and 5 miles tonight. I am doing my first 5k of the season on Saturday too. I suppose that is pretty good, but the race is in 3 weeks. I have 3 weeks to get my butt in gear to be able to make it through a half marathon.

On a brighter side: I have lost a total of 130 lbs. That is an adult. WOW. I have dropped into a size 12 a while ago and am gearing up for that size 10. I have gotten my bridesmaid dress in from one of the weddings for this summer... I ordered a size smaller at the shop and probably should have gone 2. It is already too big! Love it!

The weight loss is still slow and steady. I will take it. I didn't become over weight in a day, so it will take time for me to get healthy.

Keeping the head up and moving on.

It has been a while!

Time for some catch up!

It has been busy around here and will only get busier! However, that does not mean I have been slacking with my healthy lifestyle.

I have kept true to my healthy ways and have made it out of Easter without gaining a lb. I will have the official weigh in tomorrow, but things are looking good.

I started a new weight loss contest. Most of the people on my team are ones that I have never met, but still work at MCHS. The winning team gets a fruit basket. Some would say "wahoo a fruit basket?". Myself personally... heck yes I wanna win that basket! I can be a competitive person and the weight loss contest will hopefully help keep that fire burning to lose the last 53 lbs. I have to go.

53 lbs. yes that is it! Starting at 313 lbs. a little over 2 years ago... and now I only have 53 to go. CRAZY to think about. I can't wait to reach the goal, but the biggest thing I got out of this contest: My Life.

The race is only a little more than 1 month away...! I am getting excited and nervous and well... just flat out amazed that I am going to be doing this. Run, walk or crawl... I am going to do this. I can't wait to see everyone that day... the friends and family that are running and coming to cheer, it is going to be a day to remember! I have finally stopped puking after my distance runs. As soon as I got outside and started running w/ water, I have been doing great. Still takes a lot out of me, but at least I am not getting sick. Progress!

That pretty much sums up what has been going on around here. I will get better at doing posts more timely in the future!



Ya gotta keep you head up.

Everyone has an opinion...

1. "You would think all the running you do, you would be smaller..."
2. "Your small everywhere else except your butt."
3. "You still got that gut on ya."
4. "If I am not careful, pretty soon you will be as small as me."

I was at the gym on Wednesday night running and 3 girls who spent more time on their hair than in the gym, thought my running was extremely funny. They kept looking back and laughing... I was the only other person on the track, so I can safely assume I was being amusing?

The comments and laughs can still sting... and make me self conscious... but I kept going  on Wednesday night and I will keep going now.

(These are just the most recent in the past few weeks)

Keep your head up...

Real Reaction...

I am sitting here after my workout thinking about how far I have to go. 56 lbs. away from meeting the biggest goal I have ever worked for. Why is it taking me so long? Why am I treading water and not losing more? These are all questions I keep asking myself. I am so close, but still stuck at that number that doesn't seem to want to go away on that scale.

As much as that is frustrating and annoying, I am living life. The changes I have made are forever. I just need to keep pushing and get myself there. I am so close to that goal number, it feels like that is all I am thinking about. I got a good pep talk from a few friends at work. They told me just because that number isn't moving doesn't mean I am not getting fit. (which is the most important part!). The number is only one part of living healthy, I love that my friends are here for me when I need that extra dose of sunshine at my parade.

 I can still look in the mirror some days and see that person that I was before. After losing 126 lbs. that seems like a silly statement. I can't get that person out of my head obviously, but I am seeing her less and less!

Staying positive is the only way to finish this journey. It is a journey of a life time... so worth it.