Short and sweet post today!
The good? - I worked out three days this week - two days at the gym 60 minutes on the StairMaster each day and then ended the week with a 25 mile bike ride.
The Bad? - My food intake, stress and hormones - we had goodies at work three days this week and any other week I usually do a good job of eating in moderation and controlling my food intake - not this week - stress and hormones got the best of me and I overate big time. It has been a very long time since I have felt that out of control in this area.
The Ugly? - My weigh in this morning - 173.7 - Up 6.6 pounds.
As the saying goes - it is what it is!
Today starts a new week and I'm going to make the most of it and don't look back!
My Weight Loss Ticker!
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Recovering, Running and Losing!
Dads surgery went well and he is doing great! He was released from the hospital on Thursday and is at home now doing better than he did after the first surgery! He amazes me and I think of him often during runs when I'm breathing hard and I think - my dad has to go through the rest of his life without two lobes of his lungs. Modern medicine is an amazing thing!
Speaking of runs - I did my first trail race! I signed up for The Dirty Little Secret Trail race sometime ago and I completely forgot about it! I got distracted with my surgery then my dads and it wasn't until I got an email reminder about the race coming up that I remembered! How embarrassing!
My friend Dasie and I both did it (she did the long course 10.2 miles and I did the short course 5.8 miles) She started before me and then I waited for my start time. I was sunny - but windy and cold at the start line but I knew once I got running I would warm up! they made announcements about possible snakes on the trail, the creek crossing and that if "nature called" that we should leave our water bottle on the trail so the sweepers would know we were out on the trail still. Things that road runners don't usually have to worry about!
Dasie and I at the start line! Right after this pic I ran back to the car and grabbed my long sleeve running fleece - it was cold and very gusty!
Dasie took this pic along the trail - 
I decided before the race that I would run without my phone and Ipod so there was no picture taking for me - On one hand I'm glad I made that decision because if I would have stopped to take pics I wouldn't have made my time goal - but on the other hand I would have loved to have taken a pic of the creek crossing and the hill on the other side of the creek! It was so beautiful out there! I did take in some of the scenery, but I was working so hard on my footing and watching out for the snakes and poison oak they mentioned I don't think I took my eyes of the ground very much. I also really enjoyed running without my Ipod - at most times I felt like I was the only one out there - the nice thing about trail races is they are usually small and with the wave start they had I was running by myself for most of the race.
There was a very significant down hill heading towards the creek crossing and then the "creek" was about 20 steps across and really, really cold and then a really hard uphill that seemed to last forever. We had several water crossings but most of them were only two steps to get across. My feet stayed wet pretty much the entire race - just when I would think to myself that my feet were starting to dry I would approach another water crossing. The last water crossing only one foot got wet so the last mile was with one squishy shoe and one non-squishy shoe. Interesting feeling. I learned to appreciate trail shoes that drain well and the part wool trail socks that were recommended to me - no blisters!
My shoes!
Speaking of last mile - I did a really good job of fueling at the right time and conserving my energy at the race - I passed 6 people in the last mile - including a guy! I kept coming up behind him and he was walking and as I approached he would run ahead but then walk again. He did that four times and the 5th time I approached him he stepped off the single track trail and let me run past him!
Me and Dasie at the finish line! - I took off my blue fleece around the middle of the race, but then had to put it back on after I finished.
This race and a run I had on Wednesday is the first time since my surgery that I have been running any distance again and I feel great! Still just a little puffy but that will go away in time...
Last but not least - weigh in! I lost 1.8 this week!
I'm looking forward to getting back to the gym this week and getting some good workouts in!
Speaking of runs - I did my first trail race! I signed up for The Dirty Little Secret Trail race sometime ago and I completely forgot about it! I got distracted with my surgery then my dads and it wasn't until I got an email reminder about the race coming up that I remembered! How embarrassing!
My friend Dasie and I both did it (she did the long course 10.2 miles and I did the short course 5.8 miles) She started before me and then I waited for my start time. I was sunny - but windy and cold at the start line but I knew once I got running I would warm up! they made announcements about possible snakes on the trail, the creek crossing and that if "nature called" that we should leave our water bottle on the trail so the sweepers would know we were out on the trail still. Things that road runners don't usually have to worry about!
Dasie and I at the start line! Right after this pic I ran back to the car and grabbed my long sleeve running fleece - it was cold and very gusty!
Dasie took this pic along the trail - 
I decided before the race that I would run without my phone and Ipod so there was no picture taking for me - On one hand I'm glad I made that decision because if I would have stopped to take pics I wouldn't have made my time goal - but on the other hand I would have loved to have taken a pic of the creek crossing and the hill on the other side of the creek! It was so beautiful out there! I did take in some of the scenery, but I was working so hard on my footing and watching out for the snakes and poison oak they mentioned I don't think I took my eyes of the ground very much. I also really enjoyed running without my Ipod - at most times I felt like I was the only one out there - the nice thing about trail races is they are usually small and with the wave start they had I was running by myself for most of the race.There was a very significant down hill heading towards the creek crossing and then the "creek" was about 20 steps across and really, really cold and then a really hard uphill that seemed to last forever. We had several water crossings but most of them were only two steps to get across. My feet stayed wet pretty much the entire race - just when I would think to myself that my feet were starting to dry I would approach another water crossing. The last water crossing only one foot got wet so the last mile was with one squishy shoe and one non-squishy shoe. Interesting feeling. I learned to appreciate trail shoes that drain well and the part wool trail socks that were recommended to me - no blisters!
My shoes!
Speaking of last mile - I did a really good job of fueling at the right time and conserving my energy at the race - I passed 6 people in the last mile - including a guy! I kept coming up behind him and he was walking and as I approached he would run ahead but then walk again. He did that four times and the 5th time I approached him he stepped off the single track trail and let me run past him!Me and Dasie at the finish line! - I took off my blue fleece around the middle of the race, but then had to put it back on after I finished.
This race and a run I had on Wednesday is the first time since my surgery that I have been running any distance again and I feel great! Still just a little puffy but that will go away in time...Last but not least - weigh in! I lost 1.8 this week!
I'm looking forward to getting back to the gym this week and getting some good workouts in!
Monday, May 9, 2011
A Sunday update really Early on a Monday
Just a quick update on things in this neck of the woods -
Dad ended up not having surgery last Monday - he got bumped for emergencies and then was finally told that it would be rescheduled - so that is why I'm up at 4AM on a Monday morning and blogging - I'm picking him up at 5AM and he will have surgery today.
I earned exactly 1 activity point last week - I didn't get any workouts in because it was my first full week back to work after my surgery and I was wiped out! I have also been puffy, swollen and have had pain off and on - I called my doctor and he said it was normal and could last up to three months! I'm just going to do my best to go with the flow and do what I can when I can.
Now for the good news - I tracked everything and stayed within my points. I didn't use a whole lot of weekly points since I wasn't very active and I lost 2.4 pounds for the week!
Stay tuned to see what this week will bring!
Dad ended up not having surgery last Monday - he got bumped for emergencies and then was finally told that it would be rescheduled - so that is why I'm up at 4AM on a Monday morning and blogging - I'm picking him up at 5AM and he will have surgery today.
I earned exactly 1 activity point last week - I didn't get any workouts in because it was my first full week back to work after my surgery and I was wiped out! I have also been puffy, swollen and have had pain off and on - I called my doctor and he said it was normal and could last up to three months! I'm just going to do my best to go with the flow and do what I can when I can.
Now for the good news - I tracked everything and stayed within my points. I didn't use a whole lot of weekly points since I wasn't very active and I lost 2.4 pounds for the week!
Stay tuned to see what this week will bring!
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Walking Half-Marathons and Yo-Yoing!
Yesterday I walked the American River Parkway Half-Marathon! The good news? I finished! Two and a half weeks after surgery I walked a half marathon and finished! It took me 4 hours (that was my chip time - I stopped at several aid stations and made use of a chair a couple of times and once stopped to have a blister patched up) had I not stopped I'm not sure what my time would have been but probably in the 3:30 range. My surgery site didn't hurt at all - I kept expecting pain and never had any! I did have puffiness but not pain. I took it slow and kept evaluating everything to make sure I wasn't overdoing it but I felt pretty good. The one issue I did have was a blister on the bottom of my left foot. I don't get blisters so I'm not sure what caused this one, same shoes, same socks etc... go figure... I stopped at the 10 mile aid station and the medical guys there patched it up so I could keep on going and that helped.
Now to the Yo-Yo part of my post - I finally stepped on the scale this morning to evaluate the damage I did while recovering and it is 7.5 pounds. I need to lose 7.5 pounds to be able to weigh in within goal again. I know what I need to do - get back to basics and goal setting once again. Since Sunday is the first day of the week for me I have tracked everything and I have a plan in place for the rest of the week that involves staying within my points and tracking everything 100%. Workouts might have to wait because my Dad is having surgery so I will be visiting him after I get off from work and once he comes home he will need some assistance - but I'm going to try and get in whatever I can. I have to stop the Yo-Yo that is my maintenance right now.
Goals for this week
100% tracking
Don't go over my points
Workout 2 days this week (I'm sure I can get at least that in)
Now to the Yo-Yo part of my post - I finally stepped on the scale this morning to evaluate the damage I did while recovering and it is 7.5 pounds. I need to lose 7.5 pounds to be able to weigh in within goal again. I know what I need to do - get back to basics and goal setting once again. Since Sunday is the first day of the week for me I have tracked everything and I have a plan in place for the rest of the week that involves staying within my points and tracking everything 100%. Workouts might have to wait because my Dad is having surgery so I will be visiting him after I get off from work and once he comes home he will need some assistance - but I'm going to try and get in whatever I can. I have to stop the Yo-Yo that is my maintenance right now.
Goals for this week
100% tracking
Don't go over my points
Workout 2 days this week (I'm sure I can get at least that in)
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
The road to recovery is paved with cupcakes!
I knew I was having surgery, I knew what they were doing and I still didn't expect to be so "down" to recover. Surgeons are a funny sort. They sound very optimistic and tell you that you will be "Up and around in no time." Well my "no-time" and his "no-time" is very different - as well as my "up and around" and his "up and around". In two weeks I have done very little physically and I'm still not 100% - I walked on Saturday but then paid the price and ended up puffy, swollen, exhausted and in bed the rest of the day.
My food was completely thrown off - I did OK most days, but when I over did it, I really over did it! I ate for comfort a lot!
I will do a weigh in on Sunday to asses the damage - that will give me time to get back to work tomorrow and get back into my routine. It will also give me time to work off a little bit of what I have already gained.
I really missed my routine and I even missed my healthy lunches and I'm looking forward to starting them back up tomorrow. I will not be hitting the gym again until next week (I hope!) to let my body get used to working again and see how that goes.
I asked my doctor when I was scheduled for surgery if I was going to be able to do the half marathon that I have already registered for on April 30th and he told me I should be able to, I might have to walk it instead of run it, so I am planning on walking it depending on how the rest of this week goes. One good thing is the race is on a Saturday and I will have the rest of the weekend to recover before the week starts over again!
My food was completely thrown off - I did OK most days, but when I over did it, I really over did it! I ate for comfort a lot!
I will do a weigh in on Sunday to asses the damage - that will give me time to get back to work tomorrow and get back into my routine. It will also give me time to work off a little bit of what I have already gained.
I really missed my routine and I even missed my healthy lunches and I'm looking forward to starting them back up tomorrow. I will not be hitting the gym again until next week (I hope!) to let my body get used to working again and see how that goes.
I asked my doctor when I was scheduled for surgery if I was going to be able to do the half marathon that I have already registered for on April 30th and he told me I should be able to, I might have to walk it instead of run it, so I am planning on walking it depending on how the rest of this week goes. One good thing is the race is on a Saturday and I will have the rest of the weekend to recover before the week starts over again!
Monday, April 11, 2011
Blog updating and accountability.
There is a direct link from the number of times I update my blog and the number on the scale - when I'm posting frequently and staying accountable the scale goes down and when I don't - well you know...
There has been some stress eating in my life right now - I have to have surgery on Tuesday morning and the thought of having stuff done to my body kinda worries me. Once I get through that though it will be at least two weeks of no or very little activity. I had to give up my 11 miler on Saturday so I went out to the pond and cheered everyone out and then met everyone at the aid station and encouraged them from there as well! It was great still being out there. On Sunday I got in a bike ride (which was followed by a very large and high point meal) but I needed to be out with friends and get my mind off things for a bit. I have only had surgery once before and this is a more involved procedure so I'm nervous, but it will also be interesting to see how my body heals and responds to anesthesia now that I'm not Obese.
The one thing I am debating on is when should I step on the scale and asses the damage. I was thinking of doing it Tuesday morning before surgery since my wonderful hubby is going to be basically controlling my meals and will keep me on track (there is really nothing bad to eat in our house, I'm not going to be able to run out myself to get stuff and the youngin' isn't old enough to drive!) - but then again the hubster will also get me pretty much whatever I ask for since he does know I eat for comfort. I also probably don't need another thing hanging over my head on Tuesday morning.
On another note - on the first of January there was a 100 day challenge set up by John Bingham and it got HUGE! There was a calendar and a website and I was thinking - I wanna do that!! Well for me it lasted less than 3 weeks, but for my - Daughter in law Jess - she rocked it!! She completed the 100 day challenge and I'm sure she learned a lot in the process!
There has been some stress eating in my life right now - I have to have surgery on Tuesday morning and the thought of having stuff done to my body kinda worries me. Once I get through that though it will be at least two weeks of no or very little activity. I had to give up my 11 miler on Saturday so I went out to the pond and cheered everyone out and then met everyone at the aid station and encouraged them from there as well! It was great still being out there. On Sunday I got in a bike ride (which was followed by a very large and high point meal) but I needed to be out with friends and get my mind off things for a bit. I have only had surgery once before and this is a more involved procedure so I'm nervous, but it will also be interesting to see how my body heals and responds to anesthesia now that I'm not Obese.
The one thing I am debating on is when should I step on the scale and asses the damage. I was thinking of doing it Tuesday morning before surgery since my wonderful hubby is going to be basically controlling my meals and will keep me on track (there is really nothing bad to eat in our house, I'm not going to be able to run out myself to get stuff and the youngin' isn't old enough to drive!) - but then again the hubster will also get me pretty much whatever I ask for since he does know I eat for comfort. I also probably don't need another thing hanging over my head on Tuesday morning.
On another note - on the first of January there was a 100 day challenge set up by John Bingham and it got HUGE! There was a calendar and a website and I was thinking - I wanna do that!! Well for me it lasted less than 3 weeks, but for my - Daughter in law Jess - she rocked it!! She completed the 100 day challenge and I'm sure she learned a lot in the process!
Monday, March 28, 2011
Getting outside my comfort zone and a Tweet Up!
Part of the deal with my stair climb was, I joined a team of 9 others that I didn't know in real life. I knew two of them on Twitter (and then on Facebook) but we hadn't met in real life until the morning of the climb!
This is our lovely team right before heading to the concourse level and then to the stairwell! Hazel (Our team captain) is in the little miss T-shirt in front and Susan is right behind and to the right in the black shirt! Hazel has a ton of energy and her and her husband John (the lone guy in the picture) joined us for breakfast after the climb - they are both so great! Susan is a fellow Weight Watcher, cupcake lover and all around great person! It was so nice to get to meet them both in person! Susan and I did two events on Saturday together - the stair climb and the Oakland Running Festival's twilight 5K. We parted ways and then I rode BART (outside my comfort zone #1 for the day) into Oakland to meet up for the 5k. (Race re-cap to come later).
We had plans to meet a large group for dinner at one place, it fell through, then it was just going to be me and Susan at a different place and then some others wanted us to meet with them and I said sure - so we met up at a place called Souley Vegan. (Outside my comfort zone #2 for the day) The menu was a little intimidating to me since I had never had vegan or soul food before and the table decided to do large platters of everything on the menu and we would just share. At this point I was thinking I could just grab a burger or something on the way to the hotel and I would just pretend to eat some and like it. I LOVED IT! They had both a deep fried tofu and a BBQ tofu that were wonderful! The fried Okra was delish! They had wonderful red beans and rice and a cornbread that would have been the death of me, but I had to be polite and not eat it all! I also tried greens! Yes greens! They were spicy and flavorful. The best part was a vegan Mac and Cheese - so yummy!! Not the type I place I would have chosen to eat at - but will go back to if I ever get the chance!
This is our lovely team right before heading to the concourse level and then to the stairwell! Hazel (Our team captain) is in the little miss T-shirt in front and Susan is right behind and to the right in the black shirt! Hazel has a ton of energy and her and her husband John (the lone guy in the picture) joined us for breakfast after the climb - they are both so great! Susan is a fellow Weight Watcher, cupcake lover and all around great person! It was so nice to get to meet them both in person! Susan and I did two events on Saturday together - the stair climb and the Oakland Running Festival's twilight 5K. We parted ways and then I rode BART (outside my comfort zone #1 for the day) into Oakland to meet up for the 5k. (Race re-cap to come later).We had plans to meet a large group for dinner at one place, it fell through, then it was just going to be me and Susan at a different place and then some others wanted us to meet with them and I said sure - so we met up at a place called Souley Vegan. (Outside my comfort zone #2 for the day) The menu was a little intimidating to me since I had never had vegan or soul food before and the table decided to do large platters of everything on the menu and we would just share. At this point I was thinking I could just grab a burger or something on the way to the hotel and I would just pretend to eat some and like it. I LOVED IT! They had both a deep fried tofu and a BBQ tofu that were wonderful! The fried Okra was delish! They had wonderful red beans and rice and a cornbread that would have been the death of me, but I had to be polite and not eat it all! I also tried greens! Yes greens! They were spicy and flavorful. The best part was a vegan Mac and Cheese - so yummy!! Not the type I place I would have chosen to eat at - but will go back to if I ever get the chance!
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