Day Six - Workout done and weekend challenges

Well, my workout is done. My kids like to workout with me. On and off I had Cameron (doing crunches and push ups with me.) Catie and Caroline did a bit of the cardio. I just smile when they do this! They get so excited to do it with me. LOVE it. Today, I was actually able to do the whole DVD which felt great, because on Tuesday, not so good. I am feeling way stronger, and I think I am starting to feel my abs underneath all of this blubber.

Today is day six of my plan. I of course started on Monday. I have always had success starting at the beginning of the year, because it is a fresh new year. I love having a clean slate.

Whenever the food calls my name, I just say to it. You are just *blank* you don't control me. So far it just works!

I have stayed at my calorie level of around 1300-1500 per day. It is working! I record EVERTHING I eat at livestrong.com and it allows me to chart my water with a click of a button. And, also add in my exercise (which allows me to eat more if I wish!--LOVE that) I totally think this helps!

For weekend challenges, it is that going over to a friends house to eat, and tomorrow a baptism. So, food of course maybe not the best choices. I will give myself a bit, but realizing I am weighing in on Monday morning. That should keep me from cheating. I don't really cheat. I like being on this plan.

Last night I had Subway (a six inch, with a bag of baked lays and 1 square of dark chocolate) and it felt like a cheat. And, I was actually going to have a few cookies but I was too FULL! Crazy how the stomach shrinks down so quickly!

I was watching Dr. Oz last night on TV. Talking about waist management. Not weight management. He just makes so much sense, and light bulbs just click when I read his book, or watch him on TV. His program, that Cliff and I used two years back when I lost the weight, well I still use ideas from then. And they work! They really do. I still eat a small turkey roll up with fresh salsa for lunch. Or, a handful of nuts before a meal. And, I eat the same breakfast everyday. This time, 1/3 cup of oatmeal and half a cup of frozen blueberries. SOOO satisfying, and filling. AND healthy. And then food is just for eating. No fuss, no obsessing.

I realize this has to be for life, and not just a fad. So just like Dr. Oz said last night...you have to wake up EXCITED about your eating/your plan. If not, you are bound to fail. I couldn't agree more.

The eating is a no brainer, leaving time to do the things you REALLY need to do. Like exercise daily. Did I tell you how much I love to exercise?

And, when eating well, EVERYTHING tastes so much better. Life just feels better!

Happy Weekend!

Tomorrow, I submit my #500in2010. Tomorrow, we do about a 6k run...I am so excited to run with my half group. I LOVE them.

Day 4 - July 30th

Well, day 4 is here. And I am really not having any trouble with sticking to my plan. I have so many great options to choose from. All this summer fruit etc. And I am feeling so much more energetic. Maybe it is all the water, maybe it is the healthy eating? Maybe just a better frame of mind? Whatever it is? I will enjoy this ride. I am trying to remember what if feels like to run effortlessly. And smoothly. I don't look like that anymore running. I think also this heatwave has a lot to do with it. I think it was over 4o degrees today. I waited until almost sun down to go out for my run.

I drank many, many ounces of water today. Lots of fruit. I even had a bowl of salad greens with a whole tomato and low fat italian dressing for an afternoon snack. I had that with a hard boiled egg. I actually LOVED it! Weird for me to love a salad like that. I tasted awesome in this heat. 

Anyways. It is Thursday night. Weigh ins will now be on Saturday morning. (This week I weigh in a few early)  That is to keep my weekend in check. And, one of my final-ish weigh ins will be week of my reunion which also falls on a Saturday. How convenient for me :D

WORKOUT

5.99 km

50:36 minutes

Best pace: 4:54 km

Average with walking: 8:26 km

414 calories burned.

Did my stretches, bridging stuff from physio. Also, I did about 100 crunches, and about 10 girlie push ups. Still sore from the other days. I will get back up there. I know I am not able to make a come back over night. But I am taking all of the right steps to get back there. Sooner, rather than later. My goal is to get back to 5/1's hopefully all next week. Then go for the 10/1's again. Then hopefully back to the RR to run with my running family again. I have missed them so very much.

I am really enjoying keeping my eating/fitness on livestrong.com this time around. So easy, and quick. Just what I need to stay in line. And I get a good idea of where I am at. I learned from the first go around, to keep it simple. Eat similar things for breakfast and lunch. That way portion and calories are no brainers. For dinner keep it light. And have a couple of healthy snacks. That is exactly what I have been doing. So far I am loving this change of pace from all the crap I was taking in. Food was filling a void. Too bad it took me this many pounds to get out of it. Always learning.

Day 3 - July 29

Well, after such a good physio appointment, I had to celebrate and go for another walk run. Cliff joined me tonight. It was so hot, but it felt so GOOD! We did 30 mins of 1 min walk/1 min run and then walked and talked. I would have liked to have walked more briskly, but that is OK. We got out there, and we were able to chat a bit. Thanks MIL for coming over tonight. xo

I have been eating well. My energy level (even with a cold) has been way higher when eating well. And eating the right things. I find I am not having that afternoon slump anymore. And I have increased my water back to where I used to love! So, I am going pee a whole lot more, but today it was not as bad as the first day. 

WORKOUT 

1:06 

Best run pace 4:50 km

Average walk pace 9:20 km

Distance: 7:17 km 

Calories burned 464 +

I have decided to make my weigh ins on Saturday morning...that way I will stay on the 80/20 rule a little bit better over the weekend. Sunday night we will have our splurge night.  I have momentum going and I don't want to lose this feeling again! I forgot how good I feel. I remember this always...nothing tastes as good as being thin feels. I believe this to be true. I know I am not near down where I was when I was hardcore training, but I just feel less bloated. I am enjoying all of the WONDERFUL fruits of the season. Like plums, nectarines and blues. 

I did my stretches tonight, and my crunches and some push ups (arms are really sore!!) I will ease back up to 50! 

My first weigh in will be this Saturday, a couple of days early, but that is OK! 

Day 2 - July 28

Well. I am still sick. My ears feel a bit better. I could taste my food more today. I still feel clogged up. A bit of a cough.

Eating was great! Water intake was great. A really good day!

EXERCISE

1:06

Distance: 7.41 km 

Best pace of the run was 4:59 kmh

Average pace (walking) was 8:57 kmh

Calories burned: 466

My goal is to burn 400 ish calories 6 days per week. 1 splurge meal a week like I did the first time. I am FINALLY feeling OK with this not running a lot business. Just the fact that I could run tonight for about 32 minutes of 1 minute run/1 minute walk felt amazing. I know I do not LOOK amazing, but I feel amazing right now. Cold and all.

I took my before photos, and let me tell you...I am not PLEASED. I will do those in a separate post. Uggh. I have to get real. I do not want to go to my 20 year reunion looking like this. The most weight gain is in my breasts, hips, waist, and but. 

Size Eight Bottoms

Today, I broke down and bought myself a pair of 24 dollar pants in a size eight. I know I shouldn't focus on sizes, but this afternoon when I looked in the dressing room mirror at the size of my rear I thought...how come I let myself go. I wish these were size six. Now I have to lose those 10 ish pounds AGAIN. Whoa is me. I was the one stuffing the extra treats down my throat.  I was the one eating the larger portions. Eating for pleasure. Eating to just eat. Eating to celebrate. This weight loss stuff is tough. Eating is tough. You HAVE to eat, but it is hard to stop once I get going. So, tomorrow I start to go back to the way it was, with healthful eating, good exercise and a positive attitude.

Anyways...these jeans are going to be loose by the time my weight is off at the end of this challenge. I will take my photos in them. I will also take a photo in my size small pink hoodie. That is tight across the arms and chest. I know that will be just right once race day is here. I can feel its warm and cozy factor after I run 42.2 km. 

Tomorrow is a new beginning, a chance to start fresh, get back to the 150 I was in June. And, now is the time to get down to my ultimate goal. There is no time like the present time.

Tonight I weigh in, take my measurements and have a couple of 'before' photos taken.

The Plan

Well, Cliff and I have entered another weight loss competition (this time with many running friends and their spouses etc.) We will put in 100 dollars (50 per couple) and first prize takes 500, second, 100 and third prize takes 50 dollars. Our plan is to take first and second...that will pay for our yearly trip to Victoria and a little bit more. 

The group has already started, and we are late joiners. We joined because they extended their contest, and not a lot of them were losing weight so, we thought now is our time to get lean again. I am sad that my size five/sixes are a distant memory. And the button popped off my lucky 7's. And my eights...muffin top. Time to strike back! Take control back. I had my fun, and now I am DONE. I am ready to be the best Cathy I can be!

I/we will weigh in and measure tomorrow night (Sunday), and my 'plan' starts on Monday morning. Although my plan and formulations have already been turning in my head for a week or two already. 

I plan on documenting this whole experience here on this blog. Hopefully on a daily basis.

We have TEN weeks. Ten weeks to lose as much as we can! I cannot WAIT to get started!

{The Plan}

*Run: Tuesdays, Wednesdays and long run Sundays.

*Jazzercise: Monday, Tuesday morning, Thursday morning and Thursday night 

(that gives me good cardio and weigh/strength training that I really need!)

*Extra cardio:  Friday and Saturday (at least half hour of something...)

(My cardio will be daily--perfect for fat burning!)

Eat:

*Whole grains, veggies, fruits, lean protein (based on the YOU Diet)

*healthy eating, stopping eating at 9 pm

*drink at least 8 glasses of water a day

*Starbucks: Non fat latte's and half a biscotti

*I will record my food online at Sparkpeople.  (EVERYTHING I take in!)

*No take out (except for Subway or Quiznos)

*Splurge once a week on Sunday nights on whatever we want (probably nachos!)

Calories: I will around 1200 - 1500 daily. 

Cliff will eat between 1500 - 1800 daily.

Vitamins:

Women's multi, vitamin C, D, fish oils, calcium, magnesium.

Sleep: I am going to try to get into bed by 11 pm each night for 10 weeks

Weigh In:

Every Sunday morning for 10 weeks (final weigh in bring scale and weigh in with the group)

Before Photos: To be taken and posted

After Photos: To be taken and posted

Measurements: Before and After for sure!

Rewards:

Fitting back into my size sixes, and maybe size fours?

Feeling good about myself

Every 10 pounds: A pedicure

When I hit 145 pounds: I will go for my very first facial (I never went when I hit 199 pounds first time around) maybe a deluxe facial.

Goal Weight: Zoom teeth whitening (Zoom)

This contest, and marathon will take us almost until our 11th wedding anniversary. I hope to reward each other with a pair of new wedding bands. Maybe even a vow renewal. September, well that is the month of my 20 year high school reunion.