Run for a Tiara

Trials and Tribulations

2010-01-17T19:53:00.002-05:00

Well, for those of you wondering what I have been doing the last couple of weeks, I apologize. I have ran 30 minutes twice in the last two weeks, and that's about it. I have been battling several illnesses, which all started two weeks ago with a simple cold, which turned into what I believe was a sinus infection, then was proceeded by a headache for 4 days. Then on Friday, I was actually taken to the hospital because my hands went numb, I was extremely dizzy, and I was vomiting. It was concluded that I had a combination of a migraine and a viral infection (which I am told is what they say when they don't know what's wrong with you). After that little episode, I have finally decided to let my body really rest and start again when I am healthy.

So please pray that over the next week I can recover from all these illnesses and start again on my half marathon training. Thank you to all who support me!

WEIGHT LOSS TIP: Don't cut out your favorite foods. If you aren't eating what you like to eat, then you'll be a lot more likely to fail. Instead, see if you can find lower calorie alternatives, or portion out your foods so you know exactly how many calories you are eating.

Week 9 - Day 1

2010-01-07T10:44:00.003-05:00

Okay, so I know it has been more than a week since my last post. I completely derailed over the weekend and did not run much. I also ate a ton and felt terrible by Sunday. I got on the scale Sunday morning and was SHOCKED to see that I had gained 7 pounds since the start of the holidays. This was 3 pounds more than what I weighed just after Christmas! I was NOT happy and decided I needed to get back in gear by going to the gym. I got a pretty good workout - though I only ran a mile. I walked uphill and did the elliptical machine the rest of the time. I wanted to ease back into things, yet get a good enough workout to burn some serious calories.

Thankfully it must have just been a freak incident with the scale because two days later I weighed myself again and was down 4 pounds, yesterday down 1 pound, and today down another pound. So if you do the math, I'm only 1 pound heavier than when the holidays started back in the beginning of December. YAY! This is a PERFECT example of how the scale can sometimes LIE to you and toy with your emotions. I was so upset on Sunday after seeing those numbers - but of course it did kick me back into gear, so perhaps it wasn't all bad.

Tuesday I went back to the gym. I did get my 30 minutes in, but I ended up walking some of it. I went to the gym right after I ate dinner and struggled through a really bad side cramp. I'm just going to have to make sure I don't eat right before running, because it really sabotages my efforts. I ran about a mile and a half total, walking the rest. Lets hope the next run goes better!

WEIGHTLOSS TIP: Get Support. Having a support person or group can really have a positive effect on your efforts. Two years ago my mother-in-law, sister-in-law, and I decided we would have a race to see who could lose the most weight. This is what kick started my weight loss efforts. I just needed a little support and accountability to keep me on track. From there I learned a lot about eating healthy and exercising, and got to the point where it was no longer difficult to keep losing weight. Now I have my husband for support, and as he starts on his own weight loss journey, I hope to be a support for him.

WEEK 7 AND WEEK 8 - DAY 1

2009-12-29T10:28:00.003-05:00

I am combining all of last week into one entry because lets face it, the holidays were here and I was a very busy person! I was able to get some exercising in, and did do some running. I had full intentions of running 7 miles this past weekend, but just could not find the time to do it! I know this is a terrible excuse, but it is what it is. It just goes to show that even though I'm motivated, I too get off track and just don't always get my exercising in.

The good news that comes from the previous week was that I only ended up gaining 4 pounds total and pretty much ate whatever I wanted. Thats much better than the 12 pounds I had gained last Christmas. =) The exercise was a big factor for why I didn't gain as much this year. Last year not only was I eating what I wanted, but also wasn't exercising. I'm expecting my weight to drop back down pretty quickly since I have now gotten back into routine and am running more again. I've decided that I would like to lose 10 more pounds by the Half Marathon - RunnersWorld says you have a faster pace for each pound you lose. That doesn't seem unreasonable, though it has gotten a lot harder to lose the weight.

Yesterday I went to the gym with my sister-in-law and worked out for about an hour. We went right after dinner, so I was dreading trying to push through the side cramps (I get side cramps if I try to run right after eating). It wasn't too bad though, and even though I got some cramping, it wasn't bad enough to hinder my workout. I went 2.55 miles in 30 minutes, which is slower than my last 30 minute run, but not bad considering I just spent four days eating everything in sight. =)

I am going to exercise every day this week and will probably do my next 30 minute run on Wednesday rather than Thursday. I would like to burn a lot of calories for New Year's Eve so I'll most likely go to the gym and workout on the elliptical for 60 minutes. That machine seems to burn the most calories for me. Depending on the weather, I want to run outside again for my long run this week, though I don't think I'm going to attempt to run on 202 anymore. There are just too many cars and the road slopes, which causes one foot to constantly be at an angle. My right knee was pretty sore at the end as a result.

I've decided to change my current gym to the Planet Fitness in Sanford rather than Dover. It was working out very well for me to drop the kids off at daycare, then go to the gym near my work, but now that I have to drive into Sanford, it makes more sense to drop him off, go to the gym, then drive to work. So if any of you want to do early morning workouts at the gym, I'll probably be there!

WEIGHT LOSS TIP: Its all about the calories! No matter what diet you try, or what you eat, it all comes down to calories. A lot of people tell me they are trying to cut out this or that - such as carbs or sugar or soda - and although these things can affect you (sugar can give you a high, then your body crashes), it really all comes down to the calories. The reason you lose weight if you cut out sugar is because you're cutting out calories. There are two scenarios: You can eat grilled chicken, a baked potato, and broccoli for 350 calories. You can also go right down the street to your local Dairy Queen and get yourself a sundae for the same 350 calories. In terms of weight loss, which is better? The first scenario seems like it would be better for you (and to some extent that is true because it will keep you full longer and there are more nutrients) but in terms of WEIGHT LOSS, they are considered the same. It's just that if you choose the sundae, you are more likely to be hungrier sooner and eat more overall.

WEEK 6 - DAY 3

2009-12-21T16:01:00.002-05:00

My Saturday run was AWSOME! I never thought I'd say running was awsome, but it really was! I decided that I was going to attempt to run outside - and I must say I was quite nervous because I thought I would struggle with it since I have been primarily using the treadmill. But to my surprise I was able to run 6.58 miles without a problem! It made me feel a lot better about using the treadmill for my training during the winter.

It was about 30 degrees out when I was running and I actually didn't even notice! I wore a long sleeve shirt and a fleece-lined windbreaker, a pair of leggings, and a pair of yoga pants over that. I also wore a hat and mittens. When I first started running I was a bit chilly, but I warmed up quickly and it was quite comfortable. I even ended up taking my mittens off about half way through because my hands were too warm. I think I'm going to start running outside more now that I know it's not as uncomfortable as I imagined.

WEIGHT LOSS TIP: Just because you exercised, doesn't mean you can eat whatever you want. This is such a hard mindset to break free of. I know for me, I like to reward myself with food after I exercise, and that can sometimes backfire on all my hard work. I've especially been struggling with this one the last couple of weekends. I'll eat whatever I want on Saturday because it was my long run and burned 900 calories. Then I'll just continue right into Sunday, and before I know it, I've gone right over those 900 calories and then some. Its VERY easy to do.

Week 6 - Day 2

2009-12-17T15:00:00.003-05:00

Yes, I once again missed running on Tuesday. Its the holidays and I'm having a hard time juggling all these things I have to do! Anyways, now that I have gotten the excuses out of the way... I had a really good run today and finished the 30 minutes with 2.63 miles, which beat my time last week. YAY! My runkeeper says my pace was 11.24 min per mile.

In reading an article recently I am now motivated to start running outside. The article mentioned ways to keep warm while running in the winter and the clothing you should do it in. Take a look at the article here: www.runnersworld.com/article/1,7124,s6-238-267-269-12420-0,00.html. Why I haven't really wanted to run outside was because I wasn't sure what clothing I should wear, as well as the fact that I just don't like being cold. I'm thinking though, if I have the appropriate clothing, it won't bother me as much as I think. I'm going to take a look at some stores and see what I can find. Some things they mention I already have, its mostly just the first layer - like the "tights" they refer to and the long sleeve shirts with "technical fabrics" that wick sweat away from you - that I really need to buy. It seems like these would be the most important pieces to keep dry while still keeping warm. If any of you runners out there have suggestions as to what I should get, please feel free to comment.

The Disney Princess Half Marathon is now 65% full! I was quite surprised at how fast it is approaching! I read more on the discussion boards on Facebook about others' experiences and so many people have mentioned mile 11/12 as being the most difficult, because it involves going up those on/off ramps on the highway. I'll have to make sure I am prepared for that once I get into running the 10-12 mile runs. Maybe I can incorporate some hills in the last miles to simulate how it will be on the actual run.

WEIGHT LOSS TIP: Drink Coffee or Tea - I know this seems like a strange tip, and may not work for everyone, but for me it worked VERY well. I like drinking coffee for several reasons. The most obvious is because it gives me more energy throughout the day (they actually recommend you drinking a cup of coffee half an hour before you run too). The other reason is because it seems to keep me feeling full and there are very little calories involved if you use Splenda and sugar free creamers. Even if you use an individual packet of Half and Half, its still only 20 calories.

Week 5 - Day 3

2009-12-12T13:36:00.001-05:00

I ran 6 miles today on the treadmill! There were no interuptions, no crises to rush home for, nothing! :) There were several things I observed during my run:

I can now run 3 miles without too much effort - it's just a matter of keeping my mind occupied

The Gu stuff that's supposed to energize you during long runs wasn't all that helpful. Plus it was pretty nasty to gulp down.

The fourth mile wasn't too bad, but the fifth and sixth miles were pretty tough. That was the time when my mind wanted to tell me I couldn't go anymore. It's great to be aware of when my mind does that because that's when I start telling myself I CAN do it. It kind of counteracts what my mind wants to say and being able to do that is crucial to me being able to run for so long. I can't believe that something so simple can work so well!

It's weird to be running and watch people come and go - there were a couple of women that came in and started around the same time I did, and stopped walking after 20 minutes. Not that there is anything wrong with that because any exercise is good, its just a very different perspective than im used to. That was me a year ago actually and I remember seeing people that would run thinking they're crazy. Now I'm the crazy one I guess. :)

WEIGHTLOSS TIP: Any exercise is better than no exercise! Even if you can squeeze in just 10 minutes here or there, just incorporating it into your schedule really makes a difference. That 10 minutes can give you an extra 100 calories for the day!

Week 5 - Day 2

2009-12-11T10:47:00.002-05:00

If you're wondering why I did not post for Week 5 - Day 1, it is because I did not end up running that day. I've come to realize that sometimes life just gets in the way, no matter how much you plan. But I've also realized that I can put that behind me and continue on.

Yesterday I did my 30 minute run on the treadmill and was able to run 2.5 miles - the farthest I've been able to run in a 30 minute span. I also incorporated hills this time, and also ran at speeds of 5.5 to 5.7 mph for short periods of time during the workout. I really felt great, even at the end - which doesn't usually happen for me. Usually by the end I am exhausted. I'm also noticing that my recovery time is becoming shorter and shorter and I don't become fatigued as easy.

Its good to know that even if you miss out on a workout, you are still able to bounce back. That was my biggest worry - that if I missed a workout that I would lose momentum and lose the strength I've been building. For some reason I was in the mindset that even though it takes awhile to be able to workout for long periods of time, you could lose it quickly. That is just not the case and I'm so glad!

WEIGHTLOSS TIP: Measure everything! At least at first - I know when I started measuring it was a pain! But it made me feel much better knowing EXACTLY how much I was eating. It also made me realize how much MORE I was eating than I should. Its really a wake up call. After awhile you get used to it, and can start to visualize how much you really should be eating. Pretty soon you'll be able to look at food and know how much you should eat without using the measuring cups and spoons.

Week 4 - Day 3 Long Run Day

2009-12-07T13:07:00.002-05:00

I knew this weekend was going to be crazy busy and that I'd have to squeeze in my long run somewhere. I was planning on going over to the gym after our Christmas Play practice Saturday afternoon, but was very happy to learn that I didn't have to stay the whole time. That allowed for an extra hour I wasn't anticipating on having. I went over to the gym, got dressed, got on the treadmill, and was feeling good. I brought with me the Jelly Belly Sport Beans to try out while I ran.
I started running and really felt very good! I started using the sport beans at about the 30 min mark, since that's when I started feeling really tired and ready to give up. Then my energy started to pick up again and I felt like I would complete the 5 mile run. I was up to about 4 miles, when I got a call from my husband. He informed me that while he was showering, our daughter decided it would be a good idea to take red food coloring (I had it on the counter for making Christmas cookies) and squeeze it all over herself and our new sofa chair. Needless to say, I got off the treadmill, went over to Shaw's to pick up some upholstry cleaner, and went home to try and help my husband. The good news is that after 2 hours of trying to take care of the stains on the couch, we got it ALL out! The bad news is I had to stop my run and didn't get to my 5 mile goal on Saturday.
I will be attempting to run outside on Tuesday and Thursday over lunch - its in the low 40's on Tuesday and I want to see if I can handle running outside. I would really like to run outside rather than on the treadmill because it is such a different workout, but I don't want to be freezing either. I'll let you know how it goes for me. =)
HOLIDAY WEIGHT LOSS TIP: At Christmas parties, do not mingle anywhere near the food table. Its a lot harder to pick at the food if you're far away from it. I know for me it's hard to not gravitate toward the food. I had to stop myself a couple of times at a party yesterday and still somehow managed to eat more food than I wanted to.

Week 4 - Day 2

2009-12-04T10:49:00.001-05:00

I had a pretty good run yesterday. It was in the 60's outside, so I was pretty happy that I was able to take advantage. I took a different route from work than I normally do - mainly because I wanted to incorporate some steep hills.

I joined the Disney Princess Half Marathon group on Facebook and learned some GREAT info about the race. First of all, it sounds AWSOME and I am looking forward to the race more than ever. We start off at the Epcot ball, then run over to the Magic Kingdom, run through Cinderella's Castle, then end back up at Epcot. Sounds great to me!!! Secondly, I found out that the race route includes running on the highway AND running up one of the on-ramps, which is why I am now going to add in some hills on my running routes. I also found out that there are a lot of people like me, that are just starting out running and this will be their first race. Its very encouraging to read others' stories.

Another tip that was suggested on the group Facebook page was to use Jelly Belly Sport Beans. I had never heard of this before, but apparently they have electrolytes and some vitamins in them which give you a boost of energy while you're running. I bought some on my way home last night and am going to try them on my long run this weekend. I also bought this item called "Gu" that pretty much does the same thing, except its a liquid you drink rather than a jelly bean you chew. We'll see if they make a difference in my performance. =)

WEIGHT LOSS TIP: Find a variety of exercises you like to do. I started out using the elliptical machine a lot because I felt like I was burning the most calories using it. Then I started to get bored with that, so I started trying to find other activities I really enjoyed. I now go ice skating, biking, swimming (when I can), running, walking, and attend Zumba classes. Now I don't get bored and burn more calories because I am working different muscles all the time.

Week 4 - Day 1

2009-12-01T23:04:00.001-05:00

I felt back on track today. I had been fretting all morning about whether or not to run outside. Just when I decided to take a chance and run outside, I realized I didn't bring a sweatshirt to run in. I ran on the treadmill instead and it actually went really well. I was able to do the treadmill for the full 30 minutes and stayed at a speed around 5 mph. It was good to get back to normal now that Thanksgiving is over.

I realized after last week that food has more to do with running than I thought. I started reading some articles today and what food you eat makes a difference in performance. I'm going to work hard at finding what works for me the next few weeks, because food definately worked against me last week.

WEIGHT LOSS TIP: Measure with inches as well as weight. One of the things I noticed while I was losing weight was that the loss of weight and inches alternated. I'd lose weight and still be in the same size. Then I'd notice that even though I hadn't lost any weight, I'd be down a dress size. Getting on the scale and not seeing results can be discouraging, so I recommend having a couple different measurements, such as waist, hips, etc.

Week 3 Day 2 and 3

2009-11-30T15:35:00.000-05:00

Wow, I just realized I have not written in awhile! Its probably a good thing, because I did a lot of eating and not a lot of running due to the Thanksgiving holiday. I ran early Thursday morning, but really struggled again. I'm not really sure why, though I had not eaten before running, so it might have had something to do with it. Still, I made it through that day.

Saturday and Sunday were complete disasters. Saturday was extremely windy and I was still recovering from staying up all night Thursday into Friday. I decided to run on Sunday, which wasn't a problem, except I ate pizza and THEN tried to run. It did not work, because as soon as I started running my stomach started feeling queezy. I made it only about a mile and a half before I just had to stop. So - the moral of the story is - DO NOT EAT PIZZA AND THEN TRY TO RUN. I don't know what it was about that food, but it definately did not agree with my exercise plans!

I am back on track now and am planning on redoing last week this week. This means I will do my 30 minute runs on Tuesday and Thursday, and a 5 mile run on either Saturday or Sunday. This week I will also be doing Zumba today and Wednesday, since I have a couple classes to make up. Thats just as well because I'm sure I gained at least a couple pounds over the holiday!

WEIGHT LOSS TIP: Don't beat yourself up if you fall off the wagon - what's important is that you get back on the wagon and start again. As you can see just from today's post, I fall off the wagon occasionally - but what makes all the difference for me is being able to start over again and get back to healthy eating and exercising.

Week 3 - Day 1

2009-11-25T18:43:00.000-05:00

I officially signed up for the Disney Princess Half Marathon yesterday! YAY! Its becoming more of a reality that I will be able to do this, and its a great feeling!

Yesterday was a difficult run for me. I was planning on running over lunch, but forgot my shoes, so I ended up running just before dinner. I just was not in the right mindset for running(I wasn't feeling well and had a headache) - and just did 4 min run/1 min walk intervals for 30 minutes. Even though I really had to push myself through the run, I STILL got a better time than I did last week on the same run! It's great to be able to look back and see that I am making significant progress, regardless of the setbacks. Its amazing to me that I can run 4 miles straight one day, then two days later struggle with an easy 2 1/2 mile run. Hopefully tomorrow I will recover from the bad run and have a good run!

My knee has been bothering me the last couple of days - it hasn't really been hurting, its just been very stiff when I bend it. In talking with my Zumba instructor, she gave me some great tips - including getting gel inserts for my shoes, and getting a knee brace. Although I did not yet invest in the knee brace, I did go today to get the gel inserts. We'll see tomorrow how they work. =)

WEIGHT LOSS TIP: Eat at least 5 fruits and vegetables a day. I can always tell that I am less hungry on the days I eat more fruits and veggies. Also, when I am hungry, but know I don't have that many calories left, I will reach for broccoli, or green beans with spray butter. You can eat a lot for just a few calories!

Week 2 - Day 3

2009-11-22T21:25:00.000-05:00

After a busy day on Saturday, I decided to do my long run today instead. That was an interesting challenge, trying to squeeze in enough time to run 4 miles in the middle of an already extremely busy day. I was able to do it though, and I actually ran the entire 4 miles without stopping. It wasn't quite as easy as last Tuesday, but I certainly wasn't having any trouble with it at all. Its very strange to think that I can run 4 miles, when a year ago I could barely run at all. And if I think back even further, I can remember the days when I would reach the top of the stairs and be out of breath. WOW. Back then I had NO desire to endure pain, or even think about doing exercise. I'm glad I said goodbye to that lifestyle, and I do not plan on ever going back.

WEIGHT LOSS TIP: Don't deprive yourself of food over the holidays, just make sure you are eating small portions and make up the difference in exercise. I find that I am much happier if I let myself have a piece of cake, with the understanding that I will then go walk off the calories, or go to the gym. Exercising more during the holidays will make up for the extra calories, as long as you don't overdo it. =)

Week 2 - Day 2

2009-11-20T08:48:00.000-05:00

I ran on the treadmill over lunch yesterday and it was tough! I have a feeling as the days get colder, I'm going to be using the treadmill more and more. The difficult thing about doing that is they are two totally different workouts. I had a hard time yesterday because I wasn't used to it now that I've been running outside. It was more difficult to stay focused, and the boredom of staring at a wall was terrible! The treadmill also seems to be harder on my knees and the last thing I want to do is injure myself. I think being able to run outside as much as possible is going to be crucial for me. I'll just have to get all bundled up and go run in the snow! =)

Driving into work this morning I got a gleam of inspiration. I was sitting at the stoplight by the bus stop in Dover, when I saw an older gentleman running. He was running in the pouring rain! I thought to myself 'now THAT is dedication!'. I think that's the mentality I will need to get through this training - knowing that I am going to run no matter what the condition is. I would rather not use the treadmill if at all possible, so I'm just going to have to endure these weather events. Who knows, maybe I'll be running in the rain through Disney!

WEIGHT LOSS TIP: Weight yourself once a week, not every day. This is one of the toughest things for me to do, and even now I slip back into wanting to get on the scale daily. But really it doesn't do me any good. My weight fluctuates from day to day - and the fluctuations aren't just .2 pounds, they are like 1-2 full pounds! I have never been able to figure out a pattern as to why my weight jumps around that much, but I'm sure it has to do with stress, sodium, water weight, menstrual cycle, etc. I am the type of person that gets all stressed out if I see that number increase and my whole day is more gloomy. Rather than put myself through that every day, I weight in once a week and usually if I give myself a whole week to lose weight, the number is almost always lower. There have been some weeks where I did everything I should and didn't lose any weight - which can be discouraging, but usually the next weeks after that I drop significant weight.

Week 2 - Day 1 in Training

2009-11-17T14:07:00.000-05:00

I went through and renamed all my old posts today so that it would be easier to keep track of the days I ran, and the days I just record my thoughts, plans, and ideas. On the days I run it will have a heading like today's heading. On other days I'll just name it whatever pops into my head.

Today's run was EXACTLY the way I want all my runs to go! We had a benefits fair at our other office building, so I took the opportunity to run, rather than drive over. Not only did I complete the 30 minutes, but I ran 5 minutes longer because I just felt like it! It was such an awsome feeling to still be going after 30 minutes and not be tired! I don't know where the energy came from, but I hope it continues.

On Sunday I was pretty discouraged because I didn't run the 3 miles like I wanted to and I was taking walk breaks. I don't know what it was - must just have been one of those days. I'm wondering if it is more difficult to run with a stroller - since that is what I have done the last couple of runs. It doesn't seem like it takes more energy while I'm running, but there is a huge difference between the way I felt Sunday and the way I felt today.

I am planning on registering for the race in the next couple of days - making it official that I will be attending. That will be an exciting moment for me - I never thought I would run one mile let alone 13! Believe me, if I can do it, anyone can do it.

I just wanted to take a moment and say thanks to all of you who have reached out to me since I started blogging. It is so great to hear what everyone else is going through and knowing I'm not alone in this lifelong stuggle to be healthy. Like everyone else, I struggle day to day - I have my good days and my not so good days. I still struggle with healthy eating habits - especially now during the holidays. I just can't seem to leave that pie alone! =) I have now become more focused on the exercise aspect rather than the eating aspect. Don't get me wrong, I still try to watch what I eat, but I am far less rigid now than I was - probably because I know I am burning calories all the time. I still have my weight goal, which I am about 15 pounds away from, but I've become comfortable with who I am, and that is most important to me.

WEIGHT LOSS TIP: Chew Gum. Don't like gum? Have a cough drop, or a mint. If you reach for one of these rather than dessert, you'll be saving a lot of calories! Also, If you can take only one, a hershey's kiss is a really good alternative to having a candy bar, or chocolate cake. It still satisfies the sweet tooth and they are only around 30 calories, rather than 300.

Week 1 - Day 3 in Training

2009-11-16T08:43:00.001-05:00

Yesterday did not go as expected, with many more things to do than I had planned. Saturday was washed out by rain and wind, so I opted to run on Sunday instead. Sunday turned into a day of running around like crazy!

I went to church yesterday morning and had originally planned on being there to do the spotlight. The person that normally does the lighting was not able to be there that day, so I took care of the lighting for the service. (Its actually a lot of fun) While at church I was reminded that I needed to go shop for Operation Christmas Child, so we made the plan to have lunch, take TJ to hockey practice, then go shopping with TJ for the OCC boxes. By the time we got through all that it was almost 4 pm. I had a meeting at the church last night from 5-6pm, so that pretty much gave me from 4-5 to get dressed, run, then go to the meeting.

The good news is I did get out there and run, but the bad news is I did not get to 3 miles. It was actually a pretty miserable run, only because I was so worried about the time constraint that my mind was very preoccupied. I didn't feel like I could really ENJOY it. I also had little battery left in my iphone (because I didn't plan well enough in advance) so I couldn't run both my music and the program that measures my distance. I decided to run my music, so I timed my run, which was around 30 minutes. I know I did at least two miles based on my previous runs, but I know I didn't get to 3.

My plan for this next week is to continue on with my program - Tuesday and Thursday I will run for 30 minutes, then Saturday I will run 4 miles.

WEIGHT LOSS TIP: You've all heard this one I'm sure, but I think every little bit helps. Park far away from stores or work, so that you have to walk farther. Also, use the stairs instead of the elevator. Very rarely do I ever use an elevator now. These are calories I know I burn, but I don't actually add them into my daily calories.

New Issues Emerge

2009-11-13T22:28:00.000-05:00

Today was a rest day, but I certainly spent a good portion of the day trying to figure out what I'm going to do about tomorrow. I heard on the radio this morning that tomorrow will be very rainy and windy, which interrupts my plans to run tomorrow. I have two options: I could go to the gym and run on the treamill, or I could hold off another day and try to run at some point on Sunday. Either option isn't all that great to me. It has shown me, however, the type of challenge I will probably see over and over. It's also probably the reason so many people start off with good intentions in exercising, but soon fall back to old ways. I remember when something would happen to my exercise schedule and my reaction would be "oh well, I guess I just won't exercise".
I have come far enough now to know that when I am faced with a challenge, I need to figure out a way to make my running happen, no matter what. It may be more inconvenient for me, but I know I need to keep to my training program or it won't work. Feel free to comment on the types of things you go through on your weight loss or training journey. I would love to hear what you struggle with and how you push through it.

WEIGHT LOSS TIP: Eat using a salad plate, rather than a dinner plate. I swear this one works. If I use a salad plate, I put less on my plate AND my plate looks more full. It's all a visual trick where you trick your mind into thinking you're eating more than you actually are.

Week 1 - Day 2 in Training

2009-11-12T21:20:00.000-05:00

My run today was great. I can already start to feel that running is getting easier for me. I brought Lexi with me in our new jogger stroller and she said it was "fun!!" I ran around 5pm today, and of course because it is becoming winter, it was already dark. I stayed right along main street, though, and it wasn't so bad.

I did what I mentioned in my last post and ran in intervals tonight. I ran 4 mins, walked 1 min throughout my 30 minute workout. I compared my time/distance tonight with my stats on Tuesday and found that the intervals caused me to have a better time!

TUESDAY STATS:
Time: 30 min 57 sec
Distance: 2.23 miles
mi/min: 13 min 52 sec

TODAY'S STATS:
Time: 30 min
Distance: 2.24 miles
mi/min: 13 min 22 sec

Today I ran farther in less time and improved my pace from Tuesday, even though I ran in intervals rather than try and run the whole thing. Very interesting and encouraging! Jeff Galloway talks about this at his website jeffgalloway.com, but I really had my doubts about it. It certainly worked for me! We'll see how my 3 mile run goes on Saturday, as I still haven't decided whether I'm going to run the whole thing, or run in intervals.

WEIGHT LOSS TIP: Change white bread to wheat bread, sugar to spenda, butter with spray butter, and pasta to either wheat or smart taste pasta. These are just some of the "changes" I made to my lifestyle. They definately took some getting used to, but now I can't imagine going back to eating the way I was. These changes help me stay under my calories easier. NOTE: Changing to wheat bread doesn't change the calories much, but what it does is give you a lot more fiber, which helps you stay full.
TRY: I Can't Believe Its Not Butter Spray, Smart Taste Spaghetti, Light Wheat Bread (any brand, just make sure it says "Light") , Sugar Splenda Blend

Week 1 - Day 1 in Training

2009-11-10T21:50:00.001-05:00

I decided today that I would make my own training program using a combination of the two training methods I mentioned in my last post. I will run on Tuesdays and Thursdays for 30 minutes, then run long runs on Saturday. The long runs will increase gradually the next 17 weeks, working up to the half marathon. I chose to do it this way because I don't have a whole lot of time during the week to do 4 or 5 miles and 30 minutes can be done over lunch if it needs to be. On Sundays and Mondays I am still planning on walking so I have more calories to eat on those days, and of course Zumba on Wednesdays. Did I mention that I LOVE Zumba? The class is great and it burns 700-800 calories in an hour session!

I bought a jogger stroller yesterday - YAY! Lexi is very excited about it, and although she didn't come with me tonight, she enjoyed sitting in it! I didn't want to bring her because it was pretty dark by the time I went out to run.

Tonight we arrived at my mother-in-law's house for dinner and I was very happy to know that Jim would be cooking on the grill. This was great for two reasons - it gave me time to get my run in and my husband is a master at using the grill! I went out tonight and although it was a little chilly, I got used to it quickly. I started out feeling really good and didn't get as tired as I was getting in my previous runs. I went for 13 minutes straight, then walked for two minutes, and finished off being able to run the last 15 minutes! The interesting part about this is that I'm pretty sure I had a better time per mile when I was doing the intervals. According to the jeffgalloway.com website, runners get a better time if they run with the walking intervals because they don't tire as easily. I dismissed that idea at first, but perhaps it is true? I'm going to run the intervals on Thursday instead of straight through and see if there is any difference in the pace. I will plan on following the advice on the website and do a 3:1 run/walk.

On Sunday when I ran my long run, I used the free version app on the iphone of RunKeeper Pro. It definately did the job as far as tracking my pace, miles, time, etc. What I missed having, that C25K did for me, was give me audio cues to tell me when to run and when to walk. I was constantly having to look to see what time it was. It was pretty distracting. I am contemplating buying the paid version because it says it will give you audio cues on your time, distance, etc. It also says you can set it up so it will give you interval cues. Anyone else use this app? Anyone know of any other programs that are cheaper?

WEIGHT LOSS TIP: You have probably heard this one before, but I swear it makes a difference! When going out to eat at a restaurant, I usually ask for the waitress to bring me a box right away when I get my meal. I then put half of my meal in the box. For me, if I "see" that I have eaten everything on my plate and can't "see" the extra food, I feel full and satisfied. Before, I would know I was full, but keep eating because it was there. Try it and let me know if it worked for you. =)

Training schedules for Half Marathon

2009-11-09T11:04:00.000-05:00

I took the time today to do some research on the best approach to traing for a half marathon. There are a TON of great sites to choose from! I noticed that although each site has a different training schedule to follow, they are all pretty much the same and emphasize rest days for recovery. The two sites I like best were: www.marathonrookie.com and www.jeffgalloway.com/training/half_marathon.html. The Marathon Rookie seems to have a good schedule that runs 10 weeks. This would get me ready in plenty of time, and I could redo a week or 2 if I needed. The Jeff Galloway site has a 19 week schedule, which may be better for me given that the marathon is 4 months away. It also has 30 minute runs during the week, which I can do on my lunch breaks, so time constraints wouldn't be as much of an issue. I'll definately be taking a look at others too, but these both caught my eye.

DAILY WEIGHT LOSS TIP
I have been getting a lot of questions since I started this blog about how I lost weight over the last two years. There are so many things I have done to change my eating/exercise habits over that two year period that its hard to write it all down. What I think I will do is give one tip a day throughout this journey. That way others can try them out and see if it works for them! That is one thing I have learned - not everything that works for one person will work for the other. Some people have a lot of success on programs like Weight Watchers or Nutrisystem. I am not one of those people. Good Ol' Fashioned counting calories and exercising worked best for me!

TIP: Keep a food journal. Start off by taking a normal day and write down everything you eat. You may be amazed at what you find out! Then look up how many calories you have eaten that day.

I recommend sparkpeople.com, but you can find calories at many other sites on the web. If you have an iphone, I recommend downloading the "Lose It" app. Its free and I think its the best app for keeping track of calories. If you don't mind spending a little money, I HIGHLY recommend DietPower. It is a program for your computer and you can do amazing things with it. If you use any of these programs, you can also find out how many calories you should be eating to lose 1-2 pounds a week (recommended weight loss per week).

Even if you do nothing else, keeping a food journal will cause you to eat less calories because you are holding yourself accountable. Being aware of what you eat can change your mind quickly about eating that extra piece of cake! =)

Just Getting Started

2009-11-08T20:45:00.000-05:00

Today I ran farther than I have ever run. My goal was to run 6 miles at the 5min running/2min walking intervals and I completed it, YAY! I ran on Main street - starting at House of Pizza in Sanford, running just past Rite Aid in Springvale, and back. I was about 15 minutes from completion when my iphone died, which was very difficult to get through! I rely heavily on my music to keep me going and it was very difficult to run the rest without music. My phone also tells me how long I've been running and gives me the times for running/walking. I kind of had to "guess" when I was at 5 minutes and 2 minutes. It was also pretty windy. For those of you who know that I am pretty religious, you would not find it strange at all that I was cursing satan for trying to sabatoge my efforts. =)
I am finding that I am having a very difficult time quieting my mind through these runs. It seems like I am constantly battling boredom, so I have to try and focus on either my feet, or one position in the concrete. I think this is what they call getting in "the zone".
I'm also realizing that there is always a point that I have to get to before it starts to get easier to run. I start off running and feel really good - then there is a period where keeping myself going is VERY difficult. This is where I have to really tell myself "I can do it". It's almost like I have to force myself to put one foot in front of the other. (This happened to me shortly after the first mile this particular run) Then once I get through that part of my run, it just becomes a little easier to continue on, and I don't have to work as hard to get through each interval. Does this happen with anyone else?
Over the next couple of days I am going to look at various training programs to work up to the half marathon. So far the one that looks the best is the RunKeeper Pro app on the iphone. I already use the free version to time my runs, but I may go ahead and buy the pro version. If anyone else has a recommendation for a training regime, please feel free to email me! =)
My next run should be on Tuesday and I'm hoping it will be nice enough for me to run outside.

Training for the Disney Princess Half Marathon - Day 1

2009-11-06T13:20:00.000-05:00

IN THE BEGINNING...
I am starting this blog to keep myself motivated during my training and to hopefully motivate others to do things they never thought they could. When I weighed over 250 pounds, I never thought I would be able to run a mile, and I certainly couldn't given the lifestyle I was living. What I realized through a two year quest for weight loss is that the decisions I make every day determine whether I meet my goals or not. I also realized that 90 percent of what I struggle with on a daily basis is mental, not physical.
For the last two years, exercise has only been about adding more calories into my diet so that I can lose more weight. And although I am still not at my ideal weight, my focus has slowly been shifting towards exercise goals, rather than weight loss goals. I am no longer concerned with the number that pops up on the scale, but the number of miles I can go, or the amount of time I can run. It's a shift that I am truly enjoying because for anyone who knows me, you know there were times I would become VERY frustrated at that number on the scale. There were weeks where I did EVERYTHING right, and lost no weight at all.

WHY THE DISNEY PRINCESS HALF MARATHON?
A couple of months ago I had thought about training for the Disney Princess Half Marathon. I am a new runner and since losing 90 pounds, have found a new zest for exercise and meeting goals. I was already in the process of training for my first 5K (which I completed on October 31, YAY!) and I thought that if I could run the 5K, perhaps I could go even farther. Then reality set in and knew that taking the time off and going down to Disney probably wasn't going to happen. I let the thought fade and went on training for my upcoming race.
All of a sudden, last week my mother-in-law tells me she has booked a week in Disney for the entire family, which just happened to include the weekend of the Disney Princess Half Marathon! I have since thought about it, and I have decided to go for it. With the 5K race behind me and with a new found confidence in my running ability, I will be spending the next 4 months getting ready.

MY GOALS
Obviously my number 1 goal is to complete the Half Marathon. I'm not too concerned with the time at this point, I just want to finish. The minimum pace that you must meet during the race is 16 minutes per mile, which to me seems very generous and allows for some walking if needed. During the 5K race, my first mile was at a 10 1/2 minute pace, so I have some wiggle room. Although I will be training to run the entire 13.1 miles, I am not going to beat myself up if I need to take a breather now and then. This IS my first race after all.

DAY 1
I started my workout on the treadmill today because it was extremely cold outside. That is an issue I will have to figure out, because I have found that running on a treadmill is VERY different from running outside. It may be that I will have to learn to love running in snow...
I have decided that the best plan of attack is to continue to train using intervals, like I did with the Couch to 5K program on my iphone.
Today I started off with a 5 minute warmup walk, then did intervals of 5 minute runs and 2 minute walks for about 50 minutes. According to the treadmill I did a total of close to 4 miles. I felt really good about the workout and could have gone longer if I didn't have to go to work.
Issue to overcome: Working into my schedule enough time to be able to run 13 miles.
Perhaps I will have to invest in a jogging stroller so I can bring one or two of my children with me on these runs. I may also have to consider running in the evening, since I rarely have more than an hour in the morning to workout.