Photo update

In the comments of my last post someone suggested I post some updated photos so here they are... the ones on the top were taken the day I started this blog and the photos on the bottom are of me today. Do you see a difference? I am never sure I do. My mom has commented that I look really different and one day I saw my sister at the Y and she wasn't sure it was me so I know I look different but I don't really see it too much.

Today I cleaned out my clothes everything that is bigger than a size 18 went into one pile and anything smaller went into a different pile. I ended up with two laundry baskets and a garbage bag full of clothes I never want to wear again. In the past I would have just piled then in my closet but now I am thinking maybe I should just give them away... it could be cathartic. What do you think?

Weigh-in Day

I must say I have been a terrible blogger lately. I haven't posted since Monday but I have been reading - I promise. I have just had some things (unrelated to weight) on my mind this week. A couple weeks ago I, quite accidentally, came across a job posting for a position I think I would really like but it would involve moving to an even smaller, more northern town. I thought about it for about 1/2 a day and decided to apply anyway... hey maybe they wouldn't even call and then at least I can say I tried. Well this week they called for an interview. Just to set the scene; I enjoyed living in the city and I hadn't planned on moving back to the "North Woods" of Wisconsin but things just happened that way. Really, I am perfectly happy here and I don't regret trading concerts and vegetarian restaurants for more time with my family. Right now I don't see much of a trade off in moving further north. I told one of my Milwaukee friends about the job and he asked, "There is something north of you besides Canada?" I go back and forth between praying I don't get the job and excitement about having a different job (aka making more $).

Anyway, that is what has been on my mind while I was MIA this week just to reassure anyone who suspected I was elbow deep in a turtle cheesecake or something like that.

This weeks weigh-in was good... 209.8, a 3.8 pound loss.

Next week I am going to Milwaukee for Halloween. Hopefully I can keep up the diet over Halloween.

Hot 100 goals are still going strong... only 9.8 pounds to go before I weigh less than 200, that's exciting!
I am planning on running 4.5 miles again this week but am planning an increase to 5 miles next week. 6.2 miles here I come!

Temptation

If you read my previous post you already know that I hit the 50 pounds gone marker this week so I received the milestone award from 266 and I would like to say thank you. It's a great reward-award that I appreciate it.

Because of the number that appeared on the scale this week I was feeling pretty good about things so I decided to try on the size 16 jeans I had sitting on my dresser. I held up the first pair and I thought "these are never going to fit." To my surprise I pulled them all the way up and buttoned them without any struggle at all. I didn't have to lay on the bed to get them zipped and I felt comfortable wearing them. I thought maybe I misread the size so I took them off and sure enough they are a 16... the second pair also fit. Awesome! These are jeans that I had sitting in my closet for a few years (since the last time I lost weight) and every year when I go to dig for my Christmas decorations or an old text book I stumble across them and look at them longingly for a few seconds before sighing and putting them back in the box.
The last time I lost weight I moved 1500 miles from home for a temporary job. I was away from my family and friends for six months (although I met a lot of great people there) and I focused on work and eating healthy. I didn't have friends around to ask me if I wanted to split a pizza or share a popcorn at the movie. When the job was finished I returned to my friends and family and (unfortunately) my bad habits. On my trip home I was a size 16 and wearing the same pair of jeans I am wearing right now... it took me over a year to put all the weight back on.
Suddenly it dawned on me, from this point on I am in completely uncharted territory I have never in my teen or adult life been smaller than a size 16, I have jeans in my closet that vary in size from 22 to 16 but nothing in a 14 or a 12. I am not even sure what I will look like as a size 12 or a 10.
In my previous attempt to lose weight I completely removed temptation from my life, I didn't go out to eat and I bought single serving size portions of food so there wasn't even the opportunity to snack at night. This time, however, I have gone out to eat, went on vacation, had parties and met friends for a night out. Now the holiday seasons are upon us and I have considered banishing all things sweet (including ingredients to bake sweets) from my cupboards. However, I am thinking maybe this isn't the way to go maybe it would be better to face temptations head on.

How do you plan to confront the holiday season?

Weigh in Day: Week 15

I have been feeling extra vigilant this week about not eating sweets and getting my workouts done everyday. I wish I could say this comes from my own determination but really I think it is coming from fear. This is the time of the year when (in past experience) I give up on the weight loss and start eating my own weight in Holiday cookies. The vigilance paid off (whatever the reason is) because I lost 4 pounds this week, that puts me at 213.6 - drum roll please - that means I made the 50 pounds gone mark! Please excuse my while I dance around the room...

Ok... I'm back.

Accounting for the Hot 100!

Goal #1: Be 200 pounds or less by the end of the year (that is a 2 pound a week loss). Still doing good on that one... only 13.6 pounds to go.

Goal #2: Be able to run 10K. I increased to 4.5 miles this week and my pace didn't change, I am so happy with that.

Be careful what you wish for...

Be careful what you wish for because those wishing gods can really have a twisted sense of humor sometimes. We have really gotten a lot rain this week and not only does that make me not want to run but it also means I will have incredibly busy days at work because we have to test all our waste water and it really adds up when mother nature decides to drop a ton of it on us. Anyway all week I have been complaining about the rain... actually I enjoyed running in that light summer rain but this cold, windy, stinging rain is just annoying. I got up one morning at it was raining and cold and I finally said, "I wish it would stop raining." Well guess what? It stopped raining and started snowing. Yeah you heard that right... one of the worst four letter words I can come up with at the beginning of October, SNOW. Welcome to Northern Wisconsin. The leaves aren't even off the trees yet and I had to run in snow. It got a little slick and I took a good slide on my stairs but at least I didn't fall. It is all gone already but I will be very careful about sending out wishes in the near future.

I also realized I forgot to account for the Hot 100 goals on weigh-in day so I will do it now:

Goal #1: Be 200 pounds or less by the end of the year (that is a 2 pound a week loss). Still doing good on that one... only 17.6 pounds to go. Although the idea of holiday meals are starting to scare me a little.

Goal #2: Be able to run 10K. I am doing pretty good with the four miles and my pace has improved (back to the 3.5 mile pace) so this week I want to up that another 1/2 mile.

Weigh in Day: Week 14

Is it really week 14? It doesn't seem like I have been here that long. I can definitely see the results and sometimes when I walk past a mirror or window and catch a glimpse of myself from a different angle I have to stop for a second and admire.

Sometimes life gets in the way of plans.. for some reason this week at work things just kept breaking. I had planned on running 6 days but the one night I ended up at work for several extra hours because of faulty GC method, and after working 15 hours all I could think about was food and bed. Then the next day was so stressful that when one of the guys suggested a night out with the crew I just couldn't resist the fun. So my plan of 6 days fell to 4 days. But... I really don't feel all that bad about it.

This week was not the best in exercise or food but the scale was still my friend and I lost 2 pounds so that puts me at 217.6.

This week I am off from work so running and/or Zumba every day! I am really loving Zumba now that I know the routines.

I put some new shoes on and everybody's smiling

New shoes day! I went on a short shopping trip with my parents and my little sister. The one thing I said I needed was new running shoes (those things wear out fast). Well we stopped at a couple thrift stores first and I bought a pair of jeans and we were just about to leave when I saw the first pair of shoes. See top photo of yellow shoes with a red bow... I just had to have these shoes for Halloween. I don't know what I am going to be but I am going to wear these shoes... the girl at the cash register suggested Minnie Mouse (but I'm not to thrilled with that idea). Anyone else have a suggestion of a costume those shoes would go with?

I also got new running shoes, pink and white Nikes. I haven't tried them out yet but I will be doing it at sometime today.

I am off to Zumba class. Talk to you all tomorrow.

An Award!

Am I really that fat passed along this award to me... after about 10 minutes of dancing around my office singing - "I got my first award. I got my first award" repeatedly I am going to say thanks and answer the questions to the best of my ability. Hope you enjoy them.

1. Where is your cell phone? IDK (I'd look in the couch cushions first)
2. Your hair? messy
3. Your mother? The greatest person I know.
4. Your father? The one I could always lean on.
5. Your favorite food? Pizza
6. Your dream last night? I don't recall
7. Your favorite drink? XXX Vitamin Water
8. Your dream/goal? Get to a healthy weight
9. What room are you in? Office
10. Your hobby? geocaching
11. Your fear? Failing at work
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? In a job I enjoy.
13. Where were you last night? Home
14. Something that you aren’t? Shy
15. Muffins? Yummy
16. Wish list item? A puppy
17. Where did you grow up? Wausaukee, Wisconsin
18. Last thing you did? Called my mom
19. What are you wearing? pajama pants with puppies on them.
20. Your TV? Is off
21. Your pets? Two cats (Lyle and Morton)
22. Friends? My sisters.
23. Your life? Happy
24. Your mood? Happy
25. Missing someone? Greg
26. Vehicle? Saturn Station Wagon
27. Something you’re not wearing? A Pink Fedora
28. Your favorite store? Barnes and Noble
29. Your favorite color? Blue
30. When was the last time you laughed? 10 minutes ago (I laugh a lot)
31. Last time you cried? When I saw Love Happens
32. Your best friend? Terri
33. One place that I go to over and over? Barnes and Noble
34. One person who emails me regularly? Aunt Linda
35. Favorite place to eat? Blue Bike Burrito


I will tag a few of my favorite bloggers with the same award... Enjoy!
Confessions of a + Sized Girl
Fat in College
Joania's Weight Loss Journey
Weight Loss Mama
Doublechinned

Amazing

I stole this image from my sister's blog (you should stop by and tell her she has awesome kids). Anyway, this is my 12 year old niece crossing the finish line as the first woman overall... yeah you heard that right. Not the first one in her age group, the first female to cross the finish line. I wonder if the guy running just ahead of her had friends at the finish line yelling, "Hey! You are going to get passed by a little girl!" I like to think he did. Why am I posting this you ask? Well as a proud aunt I reserve the right to brag a little about my niece, but also because I think we can learn a lot from from niece and nephew.

They are tough and they are always give it 100%, even when they take a fall or they are behind. When I went to watch them in a triathlon recently I watched my nephew finish the run portion and tag the next member of his team. We were all telling him how great his time was when my mom noticed he had a bloody knee. We asked what happened and he said "Oh, I fell." Here is a kid running 5K, not only does he fall and hurt his knee and then gets back up to finish the race but he doesn't even mention it. My niece finished the entire triathlon on her own and came in the second woman overall... did I mention she's 12?

These kids are amazing! I want to be amazing too.

Weigh in Day: Week 13

I did my weigh-in first thing this morning... 219.6 pounds (that's a 3.8 pound loss this week). Something about that number makes me giddy. I don't know what it is... maybe it just seems so much closer to the hundreds.

Accounting for the "Hot 100" goals:

Goal #1: Be 200 pounds or less by the end of the year (that is a 2 pound a week loss). Still doing good on that one... only 19.6 pounds to go.

Goal #2: Be able to run 10K. I increased my run by 1/2 mile this week (3.5 to 4 miles) and my average pace went way up, the last mile seems really long. However, I have decreased my average pace every day so I figure I will give it a couple weeks and increase another 1/2 mile.

God bless endorphins

When I woke up today I was still very sore from working out but I had planned a 4 mile run today. That is a half mile farther than my usual run because of the Hot 100 goal of increasing my running distance. I was skeptical I would be able to do the entire thing. I put on my running shoes and headed for the door. When I got outside I realized it was really really cold today, an icy cold morning. So I put on a long sleeve shirt and my new hat and started out. I started with a fast paced walk hoping the endorphins would kick in before I finished my 5 minute warm up, no such luck my legs still hurt. I decided to suck it up and start out on the full 4 miles. It was actually an amazing transformation... after only a couple minutes the pain in my legs was gone... Thank You Endorphins!
I finished the entire four miles with a 5 minute walking warm-up and 5 minute walking cool down. To be honest the last mile was a really slow run and if any elderly people with walkers had been out for an early morning stroll they probably would have passed me. I am still glad I finished the entire thing and my legs actually feel better tonight. I still can't lift my arms above my head but I'm ok with that.