Weigh Day - 1 month check-in

Well, I gained 2 lbs this week. I didn't think about Thanksgiving when I thought I could get under my big number by today. I am disappointed, however, I am looking at my 4 week results since this is my 1 month check in.

In 4 weeks, I have lost:
6.2 lbs
2 inches from my waist
1 inch from my hips

So... yay! That's good!

I did not do W3D3 today because mom and I ended up going out to the fairgrounds to a Christmas Craft show. For some reason, it totally wore me out. It was hot in there (and 70 degrees outside) and I ate some suspect food. I was just queasy. To top it all off, I ran into my ex-husband that I haven't seen in over 15 years. And GET THIS... he didn't recognize me! LMAO

That was a trip. I thought I was a little more memorable than that. Or maybe I have just changed in 15 years... A LOT. It was surreal.

So, now my new plan is to do Week 3 over this week - starting tomorrow. I keep hearing soundbites on the TV and reading blogs-bits about how losing weight and getting in shape is a journey and you should appreciate each step of the way.

I am trying... And I will keep at it.

Workin' off that turkey!

Did W3D2 today on treadmill:

I walked 1.63 miles in 30 minutes
Walk Pace - 18.50/mile
Run Pace - 15.00/mile

I ran the first 90 seconds, but for the 3 minutes, I ran the first and last minute with walking inbetween. I am definitely repeating Week 3 until I can run the total 3 minutes both times. I slowed down on my walking since my kneezles hurt. I iced them right after running, but they are sore now.

I've been at this for 4 weeks now and I thought I would be farther along... getting in better shape. I guess it doesn't happen overnight. I just want to be able to sail through C25K and I am not. It's discouraging, but I need to keep chipping away at it. Ultimately, I have more than a year to get 1/2 marathon ready so I don't really need to rush it. Right?

Sigh. I just didn't know it was going to be so hard this soon. I thought my major challenge would be Week 5 when I have to run for 20 minutes. Maybe C25K isn't the plan for me? I don't know...

All I do know is that I have to keep moving forward.

Happy Thanksgiving!

I did W3D1 yesterday, but did not do the full runs. If I can't do better tomorrow, I am going to repeat Week 3. This upsets me because I had my race schedule timed out perfectly, but if I can't DO Week 3, I should go on to Week 4. And there always will be another race if I have to push back. My knees still hurt, although not quite as bad today, it seems.

Today is Thanksgiving. I am not big on pigging out since I did have gastric bypass so my tummy is still not Thanksgiving Day friendly, but I do like to sample all the flavors and save room for a few spoonfuls of pumpkin pie. My kids are with their dad in South Carolina, so my mom and I are going over to our good friend's house for dinner. I have been there for T'giving several years and always have fun.

I am certainly thankful for all the blessings in my life... my children... my mom... my dad... and all my family. I also am thankful I have kept with an exercise program for 4 weeks now and am still going strong. It is daunting to face the C25K schedule each week, but I will overcome my fears and work though it.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving!

I have the kneezles.

Yep. It's official. I have runner's knee(s) and it SUCKS. I have been off running for 3 days and my knees still hurt. I am icing them and taking Motrin, and most vexingly, staying off them. My mother has started to refer to my malady as the "kneezles" which sounds very cute but feels everso crummy. I bought two knee braces tonight and am going to try to run tomorrow. Also, from reading on the internet, it seems like the problem with the treadmill might be that my incline is not high enough. This makes sense since I was mainly going UPHILL on my outside runs and only did a flat run on the treadmill. I will hike up the incline tomorrow and see if that helps my kneezles. The other thing that might help are squats and wall slides. These will strengthen my quads which will help my knees to feel better. Whatever works! I am discouraged to be taking so many days off but I have to take care of my knees long-term and not "push through" something that might be doing permanent damage to my body.

Tomorrow, tomorrow... I hope to run tomorrow!

Weigh Day

Sunday is Weigh Day and the news is good!

I lost 3.2 lbs this week. That makes up for the zero loss last week.

This week, I made an effort to journal my food intake and watch my calories. I was super good at it for about 4 days and marginal for the other 3. However, even when I didn't journal, I was aware of what I had eaten. I also cut down on snacking - which is my biggest problem. I LOVE Cheez-Its and anything salty and crunchy. When I got a craving, I would eat a handful of spicy Chex Mix because it satisfied my need to crunch and it was so spicy hot that I didn't want to eat anymore. Hey - whatever works! This week, I will continue to watch snacking and keep on course. I am pleased with my progress so far and I am almost under a big number. I should be under next week if all goes as planned. This will be a big accomplishment for me and will feel soooooooooooooo good.

My knees are a little sore today, but nothing too uncomfortable. I should be ready to hit the road again tomorrow. Week 3 of C25K means I have to run for 3 minutes straight. Yikes! I am nervous about the increase. And honestly, nervous that it only goes up from there... 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 20 minutes... can I do it? Right now, from here, I can't imagine it happening. But hopefully, I can do it.

Blah, Blah, Blaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah

If yesterday was made of WIN, today was made of blah. I primarily walked through my last day of Week 2, only running 2 of the 6 runs-the first and the last. I don't know if doing back to back days just knocked me out or what, but I was not working it today AT ALL.

Sad, sad stats:
I walked 1.65 miles in 30 minutes
Walk Pace - 18.50/mile (slow and steady)
Run Pace - 15.00/mile (when I ran)

Just BLAH.

Yesterday was my best day yet:
I walked 1.85 miles in 29 minutes
Walk Pace - 17.38/mile
Run Pace - 15.00/mile

Not sure if I'll continue doing 4X per week, based on needing a recovery date moreso as I move forward. I guess I had to have a bad day somewhere along the way. Hopefully, I will pick back up on Monday!

Yay! It's CHARM day!

Actually, tomorrow is the end of Week 2's training, but I was so pleased with my run today that I went ahead and gave my charm to myself today. I ran the C25K run exactly as directed. It was hard, but I did it! I really had to push myself on run 5 and I was enormously proud of myself for making it happen. As seen in the photo, my new charm is a little running shoe. It's very cute and looks great with my Princess charm. I love it!

Now the bad news... my knees HURT! They were somewhat sore this morning, but mostly felt like they needed a stretch. While I was doing my run, they didn't bother me a bit. But afterwards - yikes. They are SORE. So, I am sitting here blogging with ice on my knees just like a real runner.

What's that you say, invisible blog reader? I AM a real runner? Oh you are too sweet! But I think I will feel like a real runner when I can actually run longer. Right now, I am a baby runner in training.

I do think I will continue to use the treadmill to build up my endurance. I know I need to run on road - outside - to train... that's what they all say on the internet... but the hills just serve to discourage me and the fact that I can't finish the run as directed is upsetting. I want to know I can do what each week has planned for me and I just can't do that outside right now. I think what I'll do is run on the treadmill twice a week and outside twice a week. Then I can do the program to a "T" on treadmill days and give myself a break on road days. I mean, I'll do the best I can, but those hills are dream killers.

I need to bottle how I felt today after my run and take little sips when life starts to suck!