My Journey

My weight loss journey has been truly amazing. I am nearing one pound away from losing 30 pounds. I did not even know that I had 30 pounds to lose nor did I realize that I could lose it if I tried. The truth is, what I am doing today is not much different than from what I did on the very first day I started this journey. I am still counting each and every calorie that I put into my body and I am still working out as much and as frequently if not more than when I started. What has changed is my attitude, my outlook on life, how I view myself, and how I perceive the food in front of me.

I am a much happier person now and my attitude now is so much more positive than it ever was before. I finally know what it feels like when people say- don't let anyone or anything stand in the way of your dreams... This may not be the dream of becoming professional basketball player or a rock star, but I have always had a dream of being a very happy, healthy and fit mom. And now, here I am. I look at our lives as a family completely different than before, we are an active family now. We hike together in the White Tank Mountains and even run races and train together. It feels wonderful to love life in this way again. I have also accomplished dreams I had never thought about accomplishing before. Together, my running partner and I completed a half marathon without slowing to walk - we ran the entire thing in 2 hours and 20 minutes. We also ran a 10k with a 500 ft elevation change at 4500 feet in altitude. We finished barely over an hour and I took 5th place in my division out of 25.

I am finally starting to like the way that I look. It has taken me almost 30 years to appreciate my body and to like what God has given to me, but after being overweight for the last 5 1/2 years, I have a new appreciation for my body. Yes, my body has changed a lot since having kids, but having a trainer has helped to shape my body again into a strong, attractive and healthy form. I have put on a lot of lean muscle that I haven't had in a long time. Before I could not even sit straight up in my bed without using my hands, today I can do that and more. I did 2 pull-ups on a pull up bar - yes different muscles, but it is an example of the strength I have gained in this process. My arms are a part of me that I have always hated, but today I look at them and think, I have have skinny arms! I love my arms. It is great to feel this way about myself and proud of the way I look and all of my hard work.

For the first time in a long time I can now honestly say that I am a great example to my children of how to live well, eat well, and be healthy. Before I felt like a hypocrite telling them what they should and should not eat, however I myself, was overweight and ate poorly myself. Now I have rid myself of all of the horrible foods including coffee and sodas. I do treat myself every now and then, but it is no longer a part of my daily life. I can't remember the last time that I had McDonald's and I do not even miss it. In fact, I have a permanent reflux even thinking about that food. I do still eat some fast food - I will usually opt for the grilled or flame roasted chicken sandwiches, however I am very picky in regards to where I will get them. McDonald's and Burger King are not one of those places. I prepare food better than before, I even shop better. I have left my local grocery store with mass production of corn syrup based products and now buy almost everything at our local Farmer's Market. Yes, it is a lot more expensive, but the food is REAL. You cannot put a price on that.

I cannot believe the different person that I have become and feel, inside and out. I am proud of the influence I have had on my family. Being so close to 30 pounds, I am happy with the weight I have lost. I cannot believe I have come this far and do not know how much further I am capable of going. I just know I am going to continue to eat well and exercise as I have been doing since I started this journey on October 17th and see what happens. If nothing else, I am happy to maintain the health I have created for my new self.

Today's Run

My longest distance without walking... never thought I would ever be this person.

20 pounds

I am very close to 20 pounds now. If someone would of told me that I would be twenty pounds lighter running the PF Changs, Phoenix 1/2 Marathon then I was when I ran the PF Changs Denver 1/2 Marathon three months early I would of never believed them. Since Oct. 18th I have been keeping tracking, logging EVERY thing that enters my mouth. Even on my bad days. My goal - 1200 a day, adding an additional 100 for every hour of cardio that I do that day. Training for this half has been much different than Denver - this time I am actually training. Five days a week I run or walk/run/walk depending on what the training schedule is that day. The average number of miles per day is around five. Yesterday was seven and today is a vigorous nine. My fastest mile (only one) was about 8:30 min/mile. Before Denver, I could not run a single mile without slowing to walk. The Denver half, I walked the last 6 miles while running the entire first 6.5 - very proud of myself, but it was a long walk to the finish. My goal in two weeks from today will be to run the entire time. No slowing to walk, although I will be very happy if I finish in less then 2:30 hours.

I believe there have been four major factors (four different people) to the success of my weight loss. The first one is having friends to hold me accountable for what I eat. Someone who can regularly view my online food diary and speaks up when I eat poorly or exceeds my daily calorie limit. They can also view what I log in as my daily weight. The second is having someone I meet to work out. We plan it the day before what time we will be meeting and where and we stick to it. No backing out. We find a time everyday - no matter how much we have going on, we make it work. It has helped to keep both of us committed. Third, having a friend who is a personal trainer, training me in my home. She is a friend, so the cost is minimal for me, however I could not put a price now on how much she has helped the success of these twenty pounds. My workouts with her are MUCH harder then I would have EVER pushed myself. There are many times I have wanted to quit, but with her, I don't have that option. I am also much stronger now then I was before I started training with her. I have a gym membership, and I know how to use the equipment, but my workout changes with her each and every time and having someone there to say - 10 more when you would have determined you were finished makes all of the difference in the world. The muscle I have gained working with her has saved me from days that I do eat poorly. The muscle continues to burn the fat I put into my body instead of packing it all back on. I have always known this but never experienced it to this extent. And finally, having my husband be there to support me each and every step of the way - to encourage me and tell me how great I look, how good of a job I am doing, and how proud of me he is.

Without all of these factors I am not sure I would be 20 pounds of FAT less then I am today. There are not words to how much better I feel about myself and life. I cannot thank any of them enough.

Back on Track - lowest weight since Baby #3 was born!

I am back on track now after the holiday weekend and have been eat GREAT since Sunday. 1200 each day. I have reached my lowest weight since before I was pregnant with my third child!

Did I mention how great I am feeling?! Still have some to go... but I am on my way!

Here I am playing around on my son's bike after a one hour training session, then two miles of running.

Not So Healthy Holiday Weekend

The food I ate was very healthy however I still managed to consume 3000 calories on thanksgiving. And it did not stop there. I ended up in a downward spiral and ate an unhealthy 3000 calories each day for the next two days. Luckily I was able to stop myself from spinning on Sunday morning. I finished yesterday with only 1100 calories and a two mile run. Doing great again today. I plan to see the weight I put back on quickly disappear and then some. 

It's Happening!

I have lost 10 pounds eating right and exercising, but it took me making a bet with friends to get me on track. It is $100 that I must place in a pot. We all put $100 in a pot and must reach our goal weight by January 16th. Whomever makes it shares the pot - those that do not, lose it. The bet was made after the Denver 1/2 Marathon that we all ran together and I have been counting Calories since very day after I got home.

I have about 5 pounds to go to my goal, but I have extended my goal an additional five pounds - secretly for myself.

Meals include lots of white meat including chicken, turkey and some pork. All groceries are being purchased at the local Farmer's Market. I have been buying lots of Organic and Natural foods. Eating Out has been minimal, in fact, it has been over a week since I last ate out, which may not seem like much, but is a LONG time for my family and me.

My training for my next half marathon continues. It will be the PF Changs Phoenix 1/2 Marathon. I have not ran further than the over 5k I just participated in, but the marathon is 8 weeks out from next Sunday and my official training starts on Tuesday - walking two miles, running one, and walking another two. I did go 6.3 miles on the Elliptical Trainer today as well as an addition half mile of running on the treadmill.

I ate well again today. I consumed 1200 calories and have been keeping track in MyFitnessPal. MyFitnessPal has been my life saver this time around. It helps me keep track of ,y calories very easily.

Another HUGE part of my motivation this time around is my friends all think that diet pills are the answer. I am tired of hearing the "I've tried everything and can't lose weight" speech...

Also another dear friend of mine, has considered taking these pills without trying anything at all.

I hired a personal trainer to come into my home twice a week. She is a new friend of mine. I have been coaching both of her kids in gymnastics for the last three sessions. I talked to her about the fitness pills and she agreed with me that it will in fact, mess your body up. It shuts down your metabolism completely she confirmed She is very educated in health and fitness. I told my friends, I will show you - I will lose weight by eating right and exercising, you will see.. so I am bound and determine to show them that it can be done. Most of all, I want to help them lose the weight they want to without taking these unhealthy pills.

My trainer has been amazing. She challenges me each time and thus far, I am sore each time. I am not sure I could do this without her either. She has been a major part of my eating habits, staying motivated and continuing to excersize.

I feel like everything is in the proper place right now for me to be successful.

My First 5k!

I ran my first 5k this morning. The Aflac Iron Girl 5k.  My time was 31:24 for a pace of 10:08 min/mile.  I finished 26/141 in my division ages 25-29 and 209/1014.