Small Victories

Quite an uneventful day, but I said I was going to post my food, so here it is:

Getting a little more balanced...

I came in under my daily allowance and refused to eat a monster cookie (small victory!)...even though it looked REALLY GOOD!

Kali and I had a discussion about how we need to celebrate the small victories because those are the ones that we notice and that truly matter.

Example...

Putting on my black knee-high boots last week and finding that they are too big in the leg area now.  Felt like I should be stuffing some newspaper in there to make them not look odd!

Or getting to buy a shirt a size smaller than I used to because I now swim in the shirts that used to be so tight!

HEY, YOU!

Smile and celebrate the small victories...health or otherwise!

Also, a bit of random for you before I head to bed...

Best. Mugshot. Ever.

Kim's Boyfriend

Have a great night :)

XOXO

And I Ran...I Ran So Far Away

I did it!  I got out there today, as promised, and ran!  I know I shouldn't be so excited...it should be natural for me...but it isn't, so I'm excited I did it!

The running portion of my workout...

I ran 1.55 miles in 16:11.  That puts my pace at about 10:27 per mile.  For not running in three weeks, I'm okay with that.  My total workout (including my walk) was 1.96 miles.  Not terrible for my first time back on the horse and having a time crunch.  I can do this!

And for the secret "holding-the-Cookie-Girl-more-accountable" thing that I mentioned earlier today, I give you...my Lose It! log:

I ate how many carbs...?!?!?

The running log isn't quite right.  My pace was a minute/mile faster and a minute longer, but it isn't very exact when you log it.  Also, I prefer to round up with calories I'm not positive on (or over-budget).  I'd rather find out I entered too many calories than I didn't enter enough.  That is that for now.

Day 1 of being back on track: DONE!

XOXO

I Swear It Isn’t An Excuse!

Monday I blogged about “no more excuses” and getting back on track and I had full intentions of doing so.  Monday was gorgeous out, so I was going to stop at Target and then head home and go for a run before dinner.

FAIL!

I was 3 miles from home waiting at a stoplight in front of the high school when I glanced in my rearview mirror and said, “Oh, $#!*...”  There was a white truck headed for me at a good clip and he wasn’t stopping.  I tried to slightly pull to the left, but that would have been into oncoming traffic.  I gripped the steering wheel and tightened up my whole body for the impact…and he hit me…

He hit my new car…my poor baby…my 2012 Ford Focus…and no, that is not a bullet hole (though I have NO idea what poked it...)...

Apparently…it was a dealer car and it was a huge mess, but we are getting it taken care of.  I thank God that Lee picked up Lilly that day and she wasn’t with me.  I’m alright except for a sore back for a few days and this…

I get in a car accident and I get a bruise the size of a dime.  Seriously?!?  The girl who bumps into something and that body part turns black and blue!  And less than a week later, it is just about gone!  *sigh*  Regardless, I’m glad I’m okay.  The sore back kept me from getting back into a workout regimen.  To be honest, last week was rough and even after my back was better, I was just way worn out physically and emotionally.

But today is the day!  I'm getting back on track with my calorie counting and watching what I'm eating and exercising.  Unless I break an ankle or get hit by a bus (*knocks on wood*), I'm going for a run tonight and perhaps doing some Jillian...?!?  I have an idea of how to keep myself more accountable, but we will see how it goes and you may be seeing another post from me tonight.  After all, I have 19 days until the Monster Dash 5k (and the costume pieces are starting to fall into place)!!!

Wish me luck!!!

XOXO

I Pretty Much Suck...

It has been a rough couple of weeks...

I know I'm always quick to offer up excuses, but things have been a bit tough lately.  We have had some stressful stuff going on with Lee's job which has stressed me out...big time...  Super stress leads me to have even more trouble sleeping.  EXTREME lack of sleep leads to a weakened immune system...leads to...

Katie being sick.

I promised myself early last week that I would hop back on my running train...and then I got sick...because I suck.  I'm getting better, but I need to just hop back on track.

No excuses.

I'm not going to be changing my life by falling back in the same shitty patterns that I allow myself to fall into time after time.

Making excuses.

Eating like crap.

Being Lazy.

My family deserves better from me than that.  My baby girl deserves a better role model.  I need to change and I need help staying on track...I clearly suck at this...

This week I'm dedicating to getting better and sliding back on track.  How am I making my transition back?

• Drinking More Water - A HUGE KEY TO MY SUCCESS
• Getting Myself Well Again - If it doesn't hurt me to sit/stand, it will be easier to work out
• Friday Weigh-Days Are Back - If I'm seeing where I'm at, it will keep me motivated
• Listening To Jillian Again - Listening to her podcasts makes me WANT to be more healthy

I've been trying to drink more water today...not too successfully.  I will work on it.  Also, I've been listening to the Jillian Michaels podcasts that I've missed recently.  I'm hoping it will just *HIT* me, ya know?

I also bought the Ripped in 30 DVD last week with full intentions of starting to incorporate it in my routine last week.  Stupid getting sick...grrr...

I'm going to do better.  I will keep you all in the loop on how things go...

XOXO

A Race That Ended With the Funniest Moment...Ever

Today was the big day.  It was Dave Ryan's 5K for Special Olympics...the day that Kali would run her first ever 5K.  My brother Jason was going to run it with us.  A few days ago, Kali's boyfriend Sean was talked into running it, too.  Yesterday, Lee finally decided to run it as his first 5K, as well.

Jason, Lee and I headed out this morning into the chilly, breezy air.  I had intended to run in short sleeves, but when I got there and couldn't warm up, I decided to keep my long-sleeve shirt on underneath.  We went and got Lee registered, got our bags and coffee and water and bagels and went up to the car to prepare before heading to meet Kali and Sean.

Jason, myself and Lee right before heading to meet Kali and Sean

After meeting up, we headed to the starting line.  Before we even started, the race was a big fail because my cat had apparently chewed through the wires of one of my headphones and so I was left with just one ear of music to listen to.  Lee flat out forgot his...nerd...  I wish I would have taken a photo of the people behind us.  It was super neat to be right at the front of the pack for the start, but also quite a bit intimidating.  Regardless, we stayed and jumped around to stay warm

A quick pre-race photo of us all (minus Lee, the cameraman)

After a quick few words from Dave, his son Carson sounded the horn and we were off.  Jason, Sean and I took off running with Lee and Kali right behind us.  I soon realized that there was NO WAY I was keeping up with Sean or Jason, and that attempting to do so would put my finishing the race in jeopardy, so I settled into my normal run pace and went with it.  I had people jogging past me the entire thing, but I sure felt like a winner for a few seconds.

The run was beautiful...if you have never been down by the river in St. Anthony Main or on the Stone Arch Bridge, you are missing out.

Here is the route for the 5K...ending by crossing the Stone Arch Bridge

After feeling like I wasn't going to finish the entire thing running, Sean and I met up magically and ran together for a good while.  While we didn't really chat, it was nice to have someone to run with for a while.  Steve and Lena from the Dave Ryan in the Morning Show were right by us for quite a while, talking about how good barefoot running is for you (which it really isn't).  It found some humor in this, which helped take my mind off feeling like I was dying.  By then, we were almost to the Stone Arch Bridge.  I knew if I could make it there, I could finish.

That damn bridge seemed to go on forever...but I punched it to the end of the bridge where my brother was waiting.  I thought I had finished, as the end of the bridge was supposed to be the finish.  He yelled at me to keep going, as the finish was about a block up the road.  He ran with me and I punched it again and finished.  The great news?  I shaved 18 seconds off of my first run's time!  My time was 33:10...about 10:15/mile.  I'm okay with the fact that it wasn't more.  It was pretty windy out there and I overheated a bit with the long-sleeved shirt on.

The funniest moment ever that happened at the end of my race?

Slightly Awkward and Gross Warning!!!

I peed myself a little...

Apparently, I had to pee pretty bad and my muscles thought they were all done functioning and working after the 33:10 of running.  I promptly waddled to the Jimmy Johnny, finished my tinkle, tidied myself up and went to wait for Kali and Lee.

 A while later, I saw Lee coming to the end of the bridge, so I hoped back on the course and finished with him.  A little while later, Kali comes running down the bridge and Sean and I hoped back in to finish with her.  I was super excited for both of them because a VERY short while ago, I was finishing my first 5K and I think it feels better to have people you like finish a race with you.

Both of these fine folks did a pimp job at running their first 5K.  They are both super awesome and deserve mad props!  You guys have worked hard for it and will get better and better!

WAY TO GO, KALI!

LEE, YOU ARE COOL!

After the race, we cooled down and I even won a door prize (door prize at an outdoor race...???).  Then, we took off for my motivation: breakfast at Al's!

I forgot to snap a photo of us all (because I suck), so I leave you with this photo of the three of us folks!

Jason, myself and Lee after finishing the race and before heading to Al's

XOXO

Couch 2 5k: Week 9 Day 1

I have really been a running slacker, so I decided to suck it up and jump up to W9D1, which is the 30 minute run.  I forced myself and it went alright.  Here is the run breakdown for W9D1:

• 3 Minute Warm-Up Walk (should be 5 minutes)
• 30 Minute Run
• 5 Minute Cool-Down Walk
• Total: 38 Minutes

And here are my stats for today's run:

• Run Time: 30 Minutes
• Walk Time: 8 Minutes
• Distance: 3.28 Miles
• Run Pace: 10:45
• Overall Pace: 11:33

My run pace got a little better, which surprised me since I didn't feel like it went all that great.  I felt about the same as the last one.  Oh, well.  Just gotta keep going!

"Just keep swimming.  Just keep swimming.  Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming."

My 2nd ever 5k is on Saturday.  I will be running Dave Ryan's 5k for Special Olympics with Kali (props to her...it is her 1st 5k and she is going to rock it!), her boyfriend Sean (perhaps?) and my brother and Race for the Cure companion, Jason.  It shall be a good time, as the weather will be nice and brisk, and I vow to eat Al's Breakfast, afterward!!!

Ah...my true motivation comes out...

XOXO

Couch 2 5k: Week 8 Day 1

I'm baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!!!

The State Fair did not do what I had hoped it would.  To be honest, I had hoped it would make me gain about 5 to 7 pounds and that I would be mad at myself and get  über motivated to get in gear again.

Not so much.

With all of the delightful foods at the Fair and spending eight days there (yes...I said eight), I gained about two pounds.

That is it.

I don't know if it was the fact that I was already eating better or I just got sick of food right away, but I didn't eat a whole lot this year.  On top of that, the State Fair is a LOT of walking.  I walked over six miles the first day alone.  Whether the walking mostly countered the caloric intake or what, I don't know.  I do know that I did NOT want to run tonight.  The motivation has yet to return.  I was going to go this morning, but just couldn't do it.  I made Lee promise to make me go tonight.  And he did...ugh...he was a nag.  But it worked to get me out there and it wasn't for a lack of revolting on my part.  I told him I was tired, that I had a headache, that I already went, that blah blah blah...but he still made me go.  And here is the run breakdown for W8D1:

• 5 Minute Warm-Up Walk
• 28 Minute Run
• 5 Minute Cool-Down Walk
• Total: 38 Minutes

And here are my stats for today's run:

• Run Time: 28 Minutes
• Walk Time: 10 Minutes
• Distance: 3.08 Miles
• Run Pace: 11:09
• Overall Pace: 12:19

I am shocked at how much better I did tonight, despite 12 days of the Fair in town and not running in over two weeks.  Maybe I just needed some time off...???  I actually set my app to run the W7D3, but then I would have ended up walking my cool down with some weird lady and her dogs, so I kept running...and knew that W8D1 was only 3 more minutes of running...and I did it!  I was .02 miles short of a 5k, but I still have a week to get there.  :)

Tomorrow is weigh-in day, so we will see how it goes!

XOXO