12

That number right there is the size of pants I purchased this weekend.  I have NEVER fit into a size 12... I say that but I am sure it hasn't been since maybe high school, if that.  I have been larger than that since I can remember.  I almost freaked out in the dressing room, and I am not stopping there.  I was needing some new pants desperately going into the next couple months.  My pants were too loose, making my butt look saggy and I hated feeling like a bag lady everymorning before work.  I just struggle to figure out my clothes on a daily basis.  I'm kinda excited about measuring myself on Wednesday.  I will say I weighed in at 183.5 today, so no change since the beginning of the month but if my measurements changed then I know I am still doing some good.  I will say it's enough to drive me nuts though.  I am pretty good about watching my intake and I have a difficult time believing that all the running and lifting and watching the calorie intake isn't making a difference... frustrating.  I have to remind myself that the number on the scale or inside my pants does not define me... but it makes me feel damn good when the numbers go down.  So, here is the August goal: we are going to get into the 170's people!

I did try to take a few photos to show my current progress.  I think the last time I posted pictures I was in the 190's.  I'm getting there, it's just taking forever!

Feeling Sluggish

Last week I made my 20 mile goal... in 5 days.  That may not seem like a big deal but when you are fighting your body to get your ass out of bed when the sun doesn't even want to be up, AND you still have to fit in your lifting as well - it's crazy hard.

I ran 5 miles Monday, Wednesday, and Friday and then 2 miles on Tuesday and 3 miles on Thursday and lifted both of those days as well.  I have to tell you, I felt great and really it's the most mileage in a week I have accomplished since training for the Dam to Dam in June.  I know I will be really happy with this goal and I feel like it's doable.

This morning I underestimated the mileage on a new route I tried thinking it would be 5 miles and it turned out to be 5.75 miles.  Not bad but after 5 I walked the rest of the way home.  I haven't done much walking for fitness and it just felt nice to do a walk after my run vs. getting in a quick stretch and hitting the showers.  It was humid this morning but overall very nice.  I was out late at a girlfriends house last night and was not looking forward to my 4:50 alarm but at 5:23 I convinced myself to get moving. 

My nutrition this weekend was terrible, I really don't want to dwell on it.  I was sluggish my first two miles and picked up the pace the last three miles.  I am working to consume more water which will hopefully help me to feel less bloated and maybe my short run I have planned for tomorrow morning will be better.  I just hate the sluggish feeling but I was encouraged by the end of my run.

Oh and before I forget, I spaced weigh in this AM because with my misjudgement in distance, I was in such a hurry to get ready and out the door, I forgot to weigh so I will do that this week and report in.  After this past weekends small binge... not hoping for much.

A little lesson in compliments

This morning (hell, every morning) I wanted to stay in bed.  I desperately wanted to go back to sleep.  I wanted to not go to work and I wanted to be lazy.  But each morning I remind myself that I never regret a workout, I always regret not working out so I literally stumbled out of bed and got myself to the gym.  I decided to run 2 miles today giving me seven miles this week so far.  It is also a lifting day so I needed to fit that in as well.

I tried to push myself on the dreadmill to do a 6.3 pace and was successful!  I didn't have side cramps, my feet and legs didn't feel heavy - I felt awesome. 

I have been going to the gym since January 1st when I began this whole 'get fit' mission and 80% of the time, I see the same people.  We don't really talk much, mostly just acknowledge each other's existence and move on with our workouts.  Every now and then we will have short conversations.  One guy looks just like the husband of one of my friends.  Every time I see him, I think it's her husband.  I've talked with him a few times but today as I made my way over to the weights he motioned me to go over and talk.  I took my ear buds off and the conversation went something like this:

Guy: 'you're Sam, right?'
Me: 'yes'
Guy: 'we've been working out at the same time for a while, yes?'
Me: 'yes'
Guy: 'how long have you been coming here?'
Me: 'january 1'
Guy: 'please don't think I'm a total creeper but your body looks great.  I remember when you started and I just think you look great.'
Me: 'thanks, I've been working hard.  I appreciate the compliment'.

That was a great way to start my Tuesday!  Thanks guy at the gym!  Losing weight has been and continues to be really hard for me (lets face it, it's hard for most people) and I guess the lesson learned from that conversation is that when you see people you know who have dropped some weight and are working toward something, say something to them, acknowledge their effort.  By doing something that simple, it encourages people to continue on their journey.  I get up every morning for me - not for anyone else.  My effort benefits Henry and Ryan so that they can have a mom/wife that is active with them.  But ultimately it's me who benefits, it's my health and I am determined to have control over it.  

30 pound milestone met!

I made my next milestone goal!  Weighed in this AM at 183.7 which gives me just over a 30 pound loss.  I'm feeling really great right now because I feel like my nutrition is much better the past 9 days than it has been the past 6 weeks.  I am making healthier, more filling choices and making sure I get some physical fitness in, even if it is just power shopping at the mall so that my family doesn't get all upset that I am gone for hours. :) 

This past weekend was my dad's birthday.  It's a big deal to him and I think that is where I get it from.  My sister and I decided to surprise him by showing up at dinner on Friday night.  He was so excited.  His favorite thing is to have his family together so we all came together at his favorite restaurant.  In the morning we met up with our best buddies for the farmer's market.  I love the Des Moines Farmer's market.  We picked up fresh veggies and a few sweet treats.  I hadn't been in over three years so it was nice to visit and be with friends.  That evening we spent with family and on Sunday morning we got up at 5am to play golf with my dad.  I haven't played with my dad in YEARS and the enjoyment of the game one thing we have in common.  I didn't shoot great but I was happy to be spending time with him and on the course.  I definitely proved to myself that I need more practice and I hope to get some time in this week because we are playing in a charity golf outing on Saturday.

So, I ran 5 miles this morning and it made me think of something I read online and for the life of me, I cannot remember the source... anyway, they said if you watch your nutrition and run a total of 18-20 miles per week, you are sure to lose weight.  At first that seemed like a lot of mileage but when you break it down, it's not too bad.  So I have a new goal: 20 miles each week.  This is my first week at this goal and we will see how it goes.

 

End of June Stats

I know, I'm late on the stats and I have neglected my blogging.  This month I plan to get back at it.  Have no fear I made sure to do my measurements at the first of the month and here they are:

	Start	Month 1	Month 2	Month 3	Month 4	Month 5	Month 6
Chest	45	42	41.5	39	39	37.5	37
Belly Button	41	39	38	37	36.5	35	35
Hips	48	45	44	42	41.5	41	41
L Arm	14.75	14	13.5	13	13	12.5	12.5
L Leg	27	27	26.5	26	26	25.5	25.25

Not much different from last month.  I have to confess my nutrition was atrocious the past six weeks.  I pretty much ate whatever I wanted.  I weighed in at 187.  Not too proud of my stagnant weight and less than stellar inches lost.  I took some time off after the Dam to Dam and over indulged with the food intake. 

So, I decided to focus on nutrition.  Funny how working out used to be such a chore and now it's just a norm in my life.  They say you get fit in the gym and slim in the kitchen and I believe it!  So, I went back to recording my calorie intake and guess what, it's working.  I won't post the weigh in until Monday but so far I am happy with my progress even within the week.  I do struggle on the weekends but here is the thing - even if I go off track, it's not nearly as bad as when I wasn't counting my calories.  I know there is something to success and tracking intake, I just need to be consistent and put fourth the effort.

So, I got back to training consistently because I ran an 8K yesterday on the fourth of July... and it was HOT.  I did my fastest run/mile yet!  I finished in 49:42 and I am so excited about it.  I also did a run with H.  I think he had fun but he was exhausted.  I think getting up at 6am and the 95 degree heat did him in.  Can you blame the poor kid?  Now I am not sure what I will run next, still deciding.  I want to run another 1/2 but truthfully I think I want to continue towards my 150 goal and when I was training for the 1/2, my nutrition stunk.  It was like I couldn't get enough calories or something and I really want to focus on eating healthier right now so I think I stick to the 10Ks and below for the next few months.