The Twelve Days....err Gift Baskets of Christmas

Christmas is usually my favorite time of the year. I wait all year for it! I love the music, the decorations, wrapping gifts(even though I suck at it) and all the gift baskets we receive at the office. Okay, maybe I love the gift baskets a little too much. Fortunately and unfortunately with the recession the baskets have not been arriving quite as often. I will admit, I am one of those people who tend to put on a little weight during the holiday season and, this year is no exception. So far, I've put on a pound. Yes, one whole pound! I'm not following the Weight Watchers plan. Haven't even really thought about it much. My life is sheer stress and hell these days and the thought of measuring, journaling and holding myself accountable for what I put in my mouth takes energy I simply don't have right now, which is utterly ridiculous! Can't even believe I thought that let alone typed it. It's thoughts like these that causes the pounds to creep up...thoughts and actions. Let's see...I need something to celebrate? Oh, I have remained under 200lbs. I will celebrate the small things. Ha!

It's been 5 days since I've worked out or done any running. Five very, very long days! I'm down to the wire with this school semester and every waking moment I'm not at my desk I need to be studying plus, I'm still pretty banged up and sore from my car accident. Luckily for me, I'm too depressed and stressed to overindulge. Wait, did I just type luckily and depressed in the same sentence? I usually overindulge when I'm happy or anxious. Clearly skipping meals because I'm depressed is not the healthiest way to be but, it is what it is. What is healthy is, I plan to venture out on a nice 5 mile run this weekend. Hope all goes well!

With the year coming to a close I counted 8 organized races I ran so far this year(I say so far like I have more planned...I don't!). My goal was to do one race a month. Actually since I set that goal back in September of 2010 I've ran 14 official races which included 4 10 milers and one half marathon!! Yay me! I was so upset about my time at the VA Beach Surf N Santa that I forgot why I do this. I discovered why I 'train' better than I race...it's because when I train it's just me and nothing but time! :-) I saw this quote on a Facebook Group page and instantly loved it, "You are a RUNNER! There is no such thing as slow!". I was really disappointed in my attitude. Instead of celebrating my FINISH and not just any finish, a finish that was my best 10 mile finish ever, I was bitching about nothing. Lesson Learned!

VA Beach SurfnSanta 10 Mile Race & Frosty 5K!!

Unfortunately this race will always be eclipsed by the awful 7 car accident that I was involved in on the way home from the race. We had ran/walked, celebrated, cheered with beer and was heading home when, 30 minutes later we were involved in a pretty bad accident. It was my girls first race and they as well as I was thrilled for them! They even had a finishers medal to prove it! Haha!!

At any rate, I did the 10 miler and was able to set a PR for my 10 mile run. I was not pleased with my time. Yes, even though I set a Personal Record! I was on course to finish my race in 1 hr and about 48, 49 minutes. At 1 hr and 27 minutes I was already well into the 8th mile(lately, my time for 8 miles has been 1.32). Then....cramped legs and toes hit me! It was God awful! My feet and toes normally goes numb at about mile 9 but I've never experience this and I couldn't figure out what was going on with me. I started to feel them going numb at mile 7 which was odd. This guy said to me 'what are you doing? you're motivating me lets go!". Then again at mile 9 when I was just barely making it I stopped to stretch my calves in hopes that they would release the death grip that my toes were in so that I could run across the finish line, when this woman said, "come on, you're motivating me, I am pacing with you and I need you to bring me home!". Wow! I told her you're the second person to tell me that today. I actually felt like a failure because they both finished the race ahead of me and, I was hobbling to the finish. I don't know what it is but I've been told that many times during a race when I would start to struggle..."come on, you're motivating me or come on I'm pacing with you". I figured I must look very confident and strong during my races or, they like looking at my ass. Either way, works for me! :-)

(every time I would straighten them out, they would cramp up again...my sister looked on with both horror and laughter, lol)

In the end, I finished strong sprinting across the finish line! It took me 1 hour and 53 minutes. I'm literally shaking my head in frustration just thinking about it! I actually wanted to cry and not from the obvious pain I was in but because I was feeling sorry for myself. Thinking why does this always happen to me?! Who knew that a little over an hour later I would really have something to cry about? The trip home from hell! That car accident really put things in perspective. I was laying in the back asleep without my seat belt and anybody that knows me knows that I don't play around when it comes to safety. I don't care how old you are or where you sit in my car a seat belt is mandatory. In fact, I constantly get teased about my strict ways! It was scary thinking my sister and bff were crushed then scary when I remembered I wasn't buckled-up. Thank goodness we all were okay. Including the passengers and drivers of the other 6 vehicles! That 1 hours and 53 minute time finish seemed like heaven compared to that! Today I am really sore, have a really bad headache and have a car that may or may not be totaled 200 miles away! But, I got the coolest medal ever! A medal that goes from a medal to a key chain to a bottle opener and not just any bottle...beer! Which I could use lots of after the trip I had!

The Good:
1. I finished the race with a 10 mile PR (personal record)
2. My sister and bff walked their first 5k...so damn proud of those ladies!

3. Great post race celebration that included great stew, a great band and beer and plenty of funny costumes to laugh at!

The Bad:
1. Numb, cramped, deformed toes and legs for the last 2 miles
2. Feeling like I let myself down

The Ugly:
1. Car ride home from hell!
2. Very briefly feeling like my toes would be deformed for life(dramatic much?)
3. Being told by the ER doctor that I have a heart murmur (all I could think was, what does this mean for my running). I'm always thinking like a runner!

"The three qualities necessary for training. Great faith. Great doubt. Great effort" ~Anonymous.

Sometimes, I don't know how I do it? When I first started my run this morning, I didn't think I could finish a mile but, I pushed through and finished 10 instead! I do not exaggerate when I say I didn't think I would finish 1 mile. It was a major struggle. I don't know what was going on with me but I was extremely exhausted. I think it was about half a mile in when I thought I'd throw in the towel and try again tomorrow. Running is hard but, quitting is harder! The Good came when I got past the half point mark (mile 5) and I knew I could and would make it to 10. Also, I like having my long run out of the way so that I can enjoy the rest of my weekend and by 'enjoy' I mean studying algebra. The Bad came fairly early into my run when I wanted to quit at mile .52. I couldn't get my breathing steady and it felt like I was lugging dead weight. It could be all the crap I ate while hanging out with my family the day after Thanksgiving. I did so well Thanksgiving by not overindulging AND journaling but somehow I more than made up for it the day after. So much so that the scale was up a pound or tw0 (sigh). The Ugly was definitely the moment when I felt so tired, so exhausted so over my run that it seemed as if I wasn't even moving and trust me I was! I literally felt like I was running in place.

I am definitely getting 'faster'. I'm never going to run 4, 5 or even 8 minute miles but, I am getting back to my 10 minute pace. When I first started running I was faster. I believe carrying the extra weight has affected my speed ( I use the word speed lightly, lol). Today's fastest mile was mile 2 (again) which, I ran at 10.29 and my slowest mile was mile 10, ran at 11.37. In fact mile 10 was the only mile that I ran over a 10 minute pace. The fact that I even made it to mile 10 is cause for celebration. I don't care if I ran it at a 15 minute pace actually, it kind of felt like I did. :-)

It's days like today that shows me what I'm made of. I went from wanting to give up at half a mile in to finding the strength and determination to finish strong 9.5 miles later. This is why I love running!

2011 Thanksgiving Turkey Trot!

This is my third year running a 5k Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving. They're sort of my tradition now. The Turkey Trot is a special race for me because it was to be my very first 'official' race two years ago. When I first started running I decided to pick a graduation race and had registered for a Turkey Trot in June of that year. Telling myself that six months was enough time to prepare myself to 'race'. Who knew that I would end up running three 5k's before that first Turkey Trot ever took place? Let's just say I am now hooked! Overall it was a great race! Though those hills were a killer! I remembered them from last year and I was not looking forward to them at all(have I mentioned, I don't like hills?). This year though, I figured I was in perfect shape to tackle the hills and finish the race strong. At this point in my runs there are NO walk breaks before three miles and if it's only 3 miles(5K)no walk breaks...period! Cut to the last hill and a walk break was definitely in order. Although it was a very brief break to recover from the hill, it was a break nonetheless. I finished the race in 32.41. I looked up my time from last year and surprise, surprise I finished the 2010 Turkey Trot in 32.41. Figured if I hadn't taken that walk break, I could've finished in 32.00. Lol!! Great race, lots of fun and I like starting Thanksgiving day off in the negative, calorie wise.

I did not overindulge this year. I didn't have seconds nor did I take leftovers. I actually decided today was the day to start journaling and tracking my food intake. I figured if I can get through today keeping track then, I can get through the rest of this holiday season. I'm going to try my hardest not to take all 10 of these pounds into the new year!!!

I hope you guys had a wonderful Thanksgiving!! I'm now off to bed. I have an early morning spin class.

The Good:
1. Negative Calories before Thanksgiving feast

The Bad:
1. Needing a walk break during a 5k race

The Ugly:
1. I hate hills!

Some Trot for Hunger 2009, 1st race I ever registered to run

crossing the finish line at today's Turkey Trot, I am smoking that woman with the stroller! :-)

"Even if you fall flat on your face at least you are moving forward" --Sue Luke

I am maintaining my weight. That would be great if I was back at my goal weight. I have not been journaling, measuring or counting my points but, what's new? I've been saying this in every single post! I know I've been saying for weeks now, that I am going to get back to tracking. News flash...I'm Tracey and I'm a procrastinator. So, it could be another 3 months before I do what I say I'm going to do. Luckily for me, I'm not putting on weight. I work really hard to make the proper food choices and to not overindulge too much though, it doesn't always work out that way. All in all, 10 pounds down and 10 more to go. Who knew it would be so freaking hard to lose 10lbs?!

It's Saturday evening and I'm happy to report that I have gotten my weekend long run out of the way! However, I do not miss getting up at the crack of dawn on a Saturday morning to run 8 plus miles. Nope, don't miss it at all! I typically run on Fridays so, no Saturday runs for me. Unfortunately this past Thursday, after leaving yoga I twisted my knee a funny way while heading home. I SCREAMED out in pain!!! Yes, there were looks. Lol! I was so worried that something was torn. It was still sore Friday so, I made a very wise decision not to run. In the meantime someone from my running club asked if I was up for a 7 mile run this morning? I agreed even though 1. again, I do not miss getting up at the crack of dawn on Saturdays and 2. 7 miles is simply not enough for me these days. It was a tough run. It was really cold, really windy and have I mentioned really early? :-) She runs a slower pace than me so, I had to slow down a lot but, I wasn't complaining because I wasn't having the best run. Once we made it back to our cars, I told her I was going to keep going. I really wanted to do 9 miles and, that's what I did. Two more miles...two more really hard miles. In the end it took me 1 hour and 48 minutes to run 9 miles. This is what I meant in my last post when I said, no two runs are ever the same. Last week I ran 10 miles in 1 hour 52 minutes and the week before that, I ran 9 miles in 1 hour and 43 minutes. Sometimes I go faster, sometimes I go slower, sometimes I run and run and run, sometimes I need walk breaks, sometimes I go farther and sometimes shorter distances are more than enough but, I always finish!

The Good:
1. Finished
2. Was able to get my long run over and done with

The Bad:
1. Very cold, very windy


The Ugly:
1. I did not miss getting up early to run

No Two Runs Are Ever The Same!

Ice Cream, soda, fried chicken, french fries, bacon and Belgium waffles are just a few of the things I enjoyed this weekend. I know what you're thinking...WTH!?! It all started with having Friday off for Veterans Day. I vegged in bed, watched trash TV, worked endlessly on algebra and ate!! I usually run on Fridays but, the legs felt unusually tired. I first noticed it on Wednesday after my spin class. By Thursday(after yoga) they were done! So, I decided to give them a break and they thanked me. :-) However, being in the house all day doing school work only encouraged my overindulgence. I am an anxious eater. With the stress of trying to 'just barely' pass my algebra class, my stress and anxiety are through the roof! I really need to do better managing my stress and anxiety otherwise, I'm going to be a 300lb runner and, that can not be good for my knees. I'm not completely hopeless. I started today off right  by having a bowl of oatmeal for breakfast and not waffles and bacon and, I'll finish it by having a nice healthy balanced dinner and NO desserts! I will celebrate the small things!

Lake Artemesia

What a run, what a run I had today. 1.52 hours, 10 miles, a lot of sweating, bitching, moaning and, complaining. Five minutes into my run, I was over it. The wind was brutal and all I wanted to do was turn around, get back in my car and drive home but, that didn't happen. So, I talked myself in to running a 5K before I could take a break but, 3.1 miles in I kept going. Then, I told myself get to five miles before you take a walk break but, I reached 5 miles and kept right on going. I get to 7 miles and could no longer use psychology to push through (running for me is 90% mental and 10% physical). I took a much needed 2 minute walk break before I was right back at it. At mile 9  a woman and her husband passed me and she asked 'geez are you still going?!'. It was just the boost I needed to get through that last mile which, ended up being my fastest mile. As if my complaining was not enough to annoy me on my run, my fear of 'nature' was at play also. I am a big chicken and there are deer along the trail/course where I run and I'm sorry but, I don't want to end up like this guy. In the end, what started off as a questionable run turned in to a pretty good run. Last week's long run, I just kept going and going and going and didn't need to use a lot of peep talk or mind trickery to get me there but, 'No two runs are ever the same!'


The Good:
1. Got it done & finished 10 miles with only a two minute walk break
2. Lake Artemesia is a beautiful place to run, one of my favorites

The Bad:
1. Too Windy
2. Side cramps

The Ugly:
1. Runners Trots(sorry but, imagine how I feel?)

"Running is real and relatively simple - but it ain't easy." - Mark Will-Weber

I must confess. I spent all of one and a half days journaling and measuring my servings. I tried, but have not been disciplined enough to stick to it. It takes 21 days of doing something before it becomes habit. At 2 (not even) days I didn't even scratch the surface, oh but there is good news. I'm back under 200lbs. Actually, I was only 200lbs for one day. I'm thinking that may have been what left me unmotivated. I am one of those people who do not get serious about something till the crap hits the fan. Example: tons and tons of homework, does not get done till the very last minute and, getting serious about my 10lb weight loss will not get done till it's a 20lb weight loss. Yeah, I'm complicated like that. Even though I'm not measuring and journaling I'm being pretty good about my food choices. Dessert was, is and always will be my biggest weakness. Dessert is okay...dessert x3 not so much. All is not lost. I actually realized I hadn't had a soda in a week till I went to grab one to drink today(it was a reward for a 9.01 mile run). So, I will celebrate the small things!

I have been putting in the miles to help prepare me for my 10 mile run that's less than a month away. I'm so looking forward to it because 1. I really enjoyed it last year and 2. My bff and sister will be joining me (they're walking a 5K). Today was my long run and it was a pretty good run. I had planned to 'run' 9 miles and, I did better than 'run' I actually ran! What I mean by 'run' is, whether it's a run/walk, a walk/run or a nonstop run, to me it's always running. I actually surprised myself today. I ran 9 miles without stopping well  not technically, I stopped after 8.15 briefly before I took off running again! But, I don't sweat the small stuff like, details such as those. What's even better is feeling pretty good afterwards. I guess I've been putting in the miles long enough now not to feel like I've been hit by a bus when it's over and done with. Plus, it helps when I stretch after. I don't know about other runners but for me, my goals when it comes to running changes from one run to the next. Some days, I want to go faster, some days I want to go farther and some days I'd love to do both and there are always those days you just want it to be over! Today was a day where I wanted to run as far and long as I could without stopping. I love it when I accomplish my goals!

The Good:
 1. Ran 9.01 miles

The Bad:
 1. I was carrying Gatorade and it kept dripping down my legs

The Ugly:
1. Runners Trot (why oh why does this keep happening to me?!)

This is me crossing the finish of my 1st half marathon(with two injuries). Hard to believe isn't it? Well, this is how I felt today after my 9 mile run minus the injuries of course!

Here We Go Again

It is time to face the music. I have gone to that place I said (20+ times) I would never go again. The dreaded 200. In fact, it's the dreaded 200.2. What the heck?! You know what? I can't even fain surprise. I saw this coming 3 pounds ago. I can be an unconscious eater which is why it's very important that I journal. I know this like I know the back of my hand. I still don't understand why it's so hard for me to get back on track? All the stresses in my life aren't helping but, that's NO excuse. Today, I'm on a mission (seriously, now I'm on a mission?) to get back under 200. I know for myself and a lot of people hitting 200 is the kiss of death. It's like I don't care if the scale reads 199.8 it's better than 200! What is it about the 200 pound mark? I know I've been saying for weeks now that I would start journaling again but, today I mean it! Nothing like seeing 200.2 on the scale to make you mean it. I started the day off great by skipping the bagel and cream cheese and I ended the day by weighing, measuring and journaling! One day down, 6 more to go! I will celebrate the little things.

AIDS 5K Walk/Run (notice how I'm the only one smilling? lol)

No long run for me this past weekend. Surprisingly I haven't ran since last Tuesday. 6 days of no running is like a lifetime! But, I had an excuse, I volunteered at the Washington, DC AIDS run/walk. What a dreary rainy day it was. I would have ran it in honor of a very special person but, I had maxed out my allowed race registration fee for the month(I need a part-time job just to keep up with all my races). Instead, I thought I'd volunteer. The weather was awful! Rain, cold and sleet! Wow! I was up at the crack of dawn (which is a miracle if you know me). I was so drained by the time I made it back to my bed. I stayed in bed the rest of the day which was a huge mistake. I had tons of homework that was left for Sunday hence, me missing out of my long run. I just could not find the time to run my planned 8 miles. Luckily I got out today for a nice cool fall 5.5 mile run.

So little yet, so hard!

What will it take to get me back on track? Back to counting my points, measuring my foods, consuming one 12 ounce coca cola a week (and not a day)?  I said a few days ago that I was 'okay for now' well, I'm not. It's just easier being okay for now, than it is to get it together and refocus. You would think it wouldn't be so hard for a person who has lost over 100 pounds to lose 20 10 lbs. Oh, but it is! If you have any suggestions please share! I've turned into one of those people I envied when I was 100lbs overweight. The ones who complained about the 10, 15, 20 pounds they needed to get rid of. I use to think...it's 15lbs, it's not that hard! When I first started this journey it seemed effortless. I was very consistent. For roughly a year and a half, I would lose up to 2lbs or more a week. Of course, there were the few weeks I wouldn't lose or the weeks, I'd gain a pound or two but, for the most part I consistently dropped weight. What happened?! I will cut myself some slack, I haven't been totally out of control just not in control? I am not eating bags of cookies but, I am eating one really high calorie, high fat cookie a day.  I think for me, it all boils down to accountability. When I account for what I'm consuming I'm more aware of the amount of food that goes into my mouth. I was talking to a friend at the gym yesterday and the subject of 'bad foods' came up. I asked her, what did she consider bad food? She paused for a while. Exactly! Ultimately she came up with Chipotle but, even that isn't so bad if it's eaten in moderation. If it's one thing I've learned on Weight Watchers it's all foods can be good food (except fried butter, lol) it's the portion size that can be bad. I know it's okay to have the cookie hell, it's even okay to have the fried butter(once in a lifetime!) but, I have to be very conscious of how much I'm consuming. I've said it before and I'll say it again. Wait, I take the fried butter comment back...it can never be good consuming fried butter. LOL! Where was I? I've said it before and I'll say it again. Battling my weight will always be a problem but, it doesn't have to be one I can't get a hold of! I know the real problem is my awful ability to 1. procrastinate and 2. avoid.

Every day I say I'm going to start tracking my points but, don't. Let's hope today is the day that, that all changes. Wish me luck!

Hyattsville Volunteer Department 5 Mile Run

Start/Finish Line

This morning I ran the HVFD 5 mile hill run and it was tough! It was in my neighborhood and I knew when I registered what I was signing up for. Hills, hills and more hills! I've ran those hills before during some of my runs and I'll admit oftentimes I would avoid certain streets like the plague when it's too hilly. Well, today I did not have that option. There is a course and you follow the course...period! Boy oh boy was I wishing I could've mapped out my own 5 mile route back to the finish line but, I digress. I had one and only one strategy going in. Run every single hill and, I did. Okay all but one, I guess that's technically not every single but, you can't blame me for trying, right? :-) There was some walking but, I walked the flat parts and stuck to my plan to run every single almost all the hills. We ran right past my building which was right after hill number 3 and two miles in (a brief flash of my bed entered my head).  It was a nice little crowd. This was their second annual race and, I'm sure in time it will get bigger and better. They gave out pretty nice schwag bags which was great. You got an actual bag with lots of goodies and a technical tee. Not bad for a small 5 mile race. I'd do it again next year for sure! Seeing as how it was right in my neighborhood, I decided I'd run the 1.65 miles back home.

6.65 miles done!

So all in all, I ran 6.65 miles. My mom dropped me off and, I got to see her twice along the course and according to her, she thought she saw me three times (she mistook someone else for me). LOL! After the race, I called to tell her I was done. She goes, you sure you don't want me to pick you up? Nah, I was side-lined this week because of the plantar fasciitis. I desperately wanted/needed to get more miles in and running back home made me feel like Dean Karnazes on a much smaller level of course. This man runs to a marathon then, runs the marathon so you see, I was feeling a little Deanish this morning. Lol!

So now, I'm going back to bed. I have two English papers and lots of Algebra homework due by Sunday midnight. You know you need  a life when the highlight of your weekend is running hills during a 5 mile race (it's a lot more fun than ALGEBRA)!

The Good:
1. Finished!
2. Ran 1.65 miles more
3. Supporting my local volunteer Fire Dept.

The Bad:
1. The first hill that was 3 minutes into the run!
2. I look huge in my photo. Must. Get. Back. To. Counting. Points!

The Ugly:
1. Every hill that followed the first one! :-)

Getting faster, not smaller

I'm getting faster! So, yesterday was my long run and by long, these days we're talking 8+ miles. Last weekend I covered 9.25 miles, this weekend I decided to stick to 8. Overall it was a pretty good run. Because I do nothing early and, I'm a perpetual procrastinator I didn't start my run till 2:40 pm(to be exact). Luckily for me, it wasn't as warm as last week. It did get a a little heated in certain spots along the course but overall not too bad. The bugs were on the attack yesterday. As usual I was a hot sweaty mess and the bugs were loving it or me? I actually ran 6 minutes faster than my last few 8 mile runs (1hr. 32 min.). Getting faster, yay!!! Even my shorter runs are getting faster. My Friday run was 5 miles ran at my 5k pace....not bad! My 1hr 32 running did include some walking. I ran the first 5 miles straight, mile 6 I was checking my voicemail (9 messages...I really should check my vm more often) then, miles 7 and 8 I sailed through. I'm noticing a trend in my runs. Mile 2 is always my fastest mile.  Physically I'm doing well aside from the plantar fasciitis. No knee pain, no IT band pain just this God awful heel pain. I'm seeing the orthopedist this afternoon and I'm praying he doesn't say I have to rest for a few weeks. My runs have been going so well lately, I'd hate to have a set-back. I'd like to be in the best shape possible for the Surf n Santa 10 miler that's only 47 days away. Depending on what the doctor says this afternoon, I'm shooting for 9 miles next weekend. My race time for the Surf n Santa last year was 1 hour 57 minutes. I'd like to shave 7 minutes off that time. Wishful thinking? Perhaps!

The Good:
1. Got it done!

The Bad:
1. The bugs were loving my sweaty face

The Ugly:
1. Did I mention the bugs? :-)

I'm not getting smaller and, I'm okay with that (for now). I haven't been doing too much to drop the weight so I'm certainly not surprised I haven't dropped any. I'm just thrilled I've been able to maintain my 10lb weight loss. As for the last 10? Well, I feel indifferent about them. I'm happy I'm under 200 and STAYING that way!! I did promise myself I'd journal this week. I've been doing this long enough now to know that is key if I want to drop the weight. I've been so stressed and so busy and well that's no excuse but, it's why I haven't been as diligent as I could be. Guess right now I'm  just thrilled I don't look like I weigh what I weigh ( total sarcasm). I'm going to try and do better! On the bright side I didn't buy a 490 calorie muffin with coffee this morning. Small things, small things! :-)


Tri Update: I think I'm going to postpone training for my tri. Life is just too stressful right now! Between work, school and all my other work-outs. There isn't enough hours in the day. But, who knows...I just may change my mind like....next week?

Impulse will be the death of me!

My breakfast this morning was a high calorie, high fat muffin. Clearly I am doing everything possible to not lose these last few pounds. This is what happens when I work on impulse. I was running late(which is always the case these days). Actually, I was running later than usual and couldn't stop for coffee. Once I was in the office and settled, I ran out to get coffee. On impulse, coffee turned into coffee and a muffin.

I took the liberty of highlighting the 'good' stuff. I'd also like to add that is was so not worth the 12 Weight Watchers points it cost me. :( I would love to blame this little splurge on hormones but, this was nothing but pure impulse!

French Toast Muffin:
A moist blend of cinnamon and maple flavors. Topped with coarse sugar and a generous portion of maple icing.

Serving Size (g)	142.0
Calories	490.0
Fat Calories	170.0
Total Fat (g)	19.0
Saturated Fat (g)	4.5
Trans Fat (g)	0.0
Cholesterol (mg)	20.0
Sodium (mg)	280.0
Total Carbohydrates (g)	74.0
Fiber (g)	0.0
Sugars (g)	50.0
Protein (g)	6.0
Vitamin A (% daily value)	0.0
Vitamin C (% daily value)	0.0
Calcium (% daily value)	6.0
Iron (% daily value)	4.0

Bitching, Moaning, Complaining (my apologies in advance)

This is the worse time of year for me. For the last ten years without fail, I've come down with a case of SADS. Yes, I'm a hydrocondriac and no, I was never diagnosed with SADS but.... Anyway, I need sunshine, lots and lots of sunshine. To make matters worse, I'm hormonal. Can you begin to imagine the amount of chocolate I've consumed in the last few days?! For the last few weeks I've been a very naughty girl. I haven't journaled consistently(ok, at all!), I haven't been weighing my food and somehow I manged to find myself drinking a can of coca cola last night while snacking on buttered sourdough toast. Did I mention it was 12:10 am? Yeah, well that's where I am these days. The stress of school, work, money, SADS, hormones and I haven't been getting much sleep. It has not been good. On the bright side, I'm keeping up my workouts and I"m maintaining my 10lb weight loss. I will celebrate even the small things!

So, all is not lost! I got in a 4.5 mile run yesterday with hills(ok, 'inclines'). It was a great run because I was conquering the inclines and running at a faster pace. Plus, once reaching the top I just kept right on running. This is major for me because, hills were not my friend. All my training has paid off. According to my Garmin, I burned more calories than I usually would during a 4-5 mile run. Guess I was working hard? Speaking of hills...I've been having major heel pain. I think it's plantar fasciitis. No, this is not undiagnosed. I suffered from plantar fasciitis several years back. I always assumed it was weight related because, the podiatrist would mention losing weight when he was treating me and, once I dropped the first 50lbs it went away. Well, now it's back with a vengeance! It's extremely painful and I'm scheduled to see the doctor in a couple days. I'm pretty sure I'm going to need physical therapy....again. I tell you, turn 37 and my body falls apart. Actually, let me tell it, my body fell apart at 27. :-)

Going forward, I need to do better. My goal today is to journal every single thing I put into my mouth, good or bad. We shall see how that goes.

'Some people say I am insane for running; I say running keeps me sane' author unknown

The plan today was to run 8 miles. Well, I ended up running a total of 9.25 miles. I haven't ran more than 8 miles since my half marathon. In the three weeks since that race I've managed to run a total of 17 miles. That's an average of 5 miles a week so, I knew before I started my 8 9.25 run that it would be challenging, after all I was used to running at least 20 miles a week. Your body literally forgets what a long run feels like, at least mine does. I can't speak for others but when it comes to running, it is never easy for me, not even a 3 mile run.

Surf n Santa December 3, 2010

Like I've mentioned a few posts back, my goal is to hang out at around 8 miles. This way, when it's time to train for a 10 miler or half marathon the transition won't be as grueling. Speaking of training. I have decided to run the Surf n Santa Va Beach 10 miler!!! I'm so excited! I ran it last year and at the time, it was an inaugural race.The race organizers who put on this race are great! They're also responsible for the Shamrock half which is another fun run. Every participant received a finishers medal, the water bottle I'm holding, the jacket I'm wearing, Santa hats and bells for your sneakers(I opted not to don my hat or bells for the run...guess you could call me Scrooge? lol). This year it will be even more fun than last years race because two of my favorite people have decided to walk the Frosty 5K that takes place before the 10 miler. This way, I get to do something they always do for me....cheer them on!! I'm like a proud mama. Lol! So, back to my 9.25 run. The first 3 miles(like usual) were tough but, it got easier. It was a little warm. I actually found myself wishing it was cold but, it was a beautiful sunny afternoon. By the end, I was thinking...bring it Surf n Santa, I could take you on today! :-) I totally could have ran 10 miles today but I had to remind myself that I haven't done a long run in a few weeks and I didn't want to overdue it and cause myself to get an injury.

I was in the checkout line looking like this!!!

Overall it was a pretty good run until, I remembered on my way home that I needed to stop at the store and pick up toilet paper. Everyone was looking at me funny and I couldn't figure out why? I knew I was sweaty and I'm pretty sure I smelled but, I totally forgot that I lose a lot of salt and once it dries I look like a complete freak--->Exhibit A









The Good:
1. I finished
2. Ran 1.25 miles more than I'd planned
3. Beautiful Sunny Day!

The Bad:
1. A bit warm

The Ugly:
1. Exhibit A , lol

OOC aka Out Of Control!

I'm feeling so much better! That cold was no joke and, it kept me in bed for a full week(my vacation at that!).

I've been OOC!! It all started with the birthday pies. Unfortunately it didn't end with them, in fact, it was just getting started. Life got in the way and I got a little distracted(you can relate, right?). In other words, I didn't bother journaling, counting points or measuring my portions. Luckily I only managed to gain 2lbs. It is so hard to lose and maintain weight loss. I realized a long time ago that I will always struggle somewhat with my weight. For the last year and a half I've been battling these same few pounds. Up, down, up, down....repeat. I even found myself repeating one of my old mantras like 'I don't look like I weigh'. So, why bother with these stubborn 10lbs?! Umm ok, keep telling yourself that Tracey! I got to the point where I decided I may not 'look' like I weigh as much as I do but, clearly I weigh what I weigh. Yes, it helps being able to hide a few pounds but, what good does that do if you're still not happy with your weight? At any rate. I'm back in the saddle! I took a minor detour but, now I'm back on course.

I haven't managed to get in a long run since my half marathon...three weeks ago! That is all about to change. I plan to run 8 miles this weekend. I'll will blog all about it. I'm sure there will be stories to tell. :-) My longest run was this past Tuesday. I managed to get in 5 miles. It felt pretty damn good. Well, after the first 3 miles. The first 3 miles are killer for me. Hate, hate, hate it!

Now, I'm off to my yoga class and boy do I need it!

Sick as a dog!

Ugh, there is nothing worse than getting sick while on vacation. It's awful! Luckily for me, being sick has kept me from eating myself out of house and home and, I didn't pay to go away so I'm suffering in the comfort of my own bed. I got sick on my birthday! How sad is that? Good thing it happened after the race and not before. Otherwise that would've been one hell of a 13.1 mile run. I believe the first thing I said to my sis and bff at the finish was 'my chest is killing me'. It wasn't pain from running but that pain you get right before you're about to come down with something awful?

I went out for my first run yesterday. It was hell! Between, the headache, chills, fever and body ache it felt like death. Fortunately I was only looking to get in 3 miles because, I needed to move my body. I didn't need it to get too comfy. I had plans to take an afternoon spin class today but, that didn't happen. I can't sleep, everything hurt and I have to go into work tomorrow. Sigh...

As usual, I've weighed in daily and I'm happy to see not only did I not gain any weight this week, I've actually lost a pound(so far). Even with the two birthday pies...err one birthday pie! So, good news...didn't gain weight, bad news...sick as a dog. :(

Post Race

I'm feeling pretty well today. The first time(and last time)I ran a official half marathon I felt like I had been run over by a bus the next day. I'm talking, walking backwards up and down stairs. I knew that wouldn't be the case this time around because, I always felt pretty good after our long runs during training. Although, there was this one run where I had the worse quad pain ever! Overall, my recovery has been great. I don't even have any knee pain! Thank God for small favors. I feel even better after having a massage earlier today. The post race massage is always nice. I used to think I ran for the medal now, I think I run for the post race massage. :-) I think I may be done with long runs(for now). Every time I make that statement to my Mom she goes....'until the next one, right?'. Lol! I'm not saying I'll never do a 10 miler or half again but, I think I'm going to stick to 10K's for the time being. I really want to give my knees a break and figure out why the hell my feet go numb EVERY TIME I run more than 9 miles?! Now, I think it's time to focus on learning to swim. If I'm going to do a triathlon this is going to be key.

Update on my timing, this is from the Philly Rock n Roll official website. A lot of people where wondering why their GPS had them at 13.33, 13.5 and the one I had and read a lot of people commenting on 13.40?
What if my Garmin is slightly more than the official race distance?

On race day, if the distance shown on your Forerunner is slightly more than the official race distance, it just means you weren’t cutting corners—quite literally. According to the IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federation) course measurement guidelines (pg. 20), a road race course is defined by the shortest possible route a runner could take without being disqualified. For most races, a certified measurer rides the course on a bike, staying near the curb and taking every available tangent. This ensures that all runners will run at least the declared race distance. After the race, if Forerunner shows that you ran a little farther, this just accounts for extra steps you took to run around others participants, hit a water stop or stay to the middle or outside lane.

Staying on point when you're away and fueling your body for a long run staying on plan/point can be difficult. I did not journal one single thing! I did try to be really good and make decent food choices. So far, the scale has me a little under what I weighed before I took off to Philly for the weekend. I'm so excited to be getting closer to my goal weight. I can see the difference, I can feel the difference and I'm really happy! Could this be why my run was better, why I didn't have any knee pain? Perhaps!  I'm down a total of 9 pounds!! I don't usually like to put a time limit on when I want the weight off but, I think it's safe to say by December I'll be back in my skinny jeans! I'm pretty sure if I keep up the work and stick to my Weight Watchers points, I could lose 11 pounds in two months. Of course, I'm being conservative. I'm giving myself a little wiggle room since my mom made me not one, but TWO sweet potato birthday pies!! I'm thinking that'll set me back a pound or two or three? o_O

Philly Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon...Happy Birthday to me!

"The miracle isn’t that I finished; it’s that I had the courage to start." 
John Bingham, The Penquin

Happy Birthday to me! Running the Philly half was a wonderful way to kick off my birthday. It was one of my best races yet! I had such a great time. The weather was great, nothing ached, my breathing was steady from the start and I kept the pace I wanted. I had managed to get out of my own damn head and enjoy the run. I mean, I actually enjoyed the run! When it was all over, I felt like I could've run another mile...though happy I didn't have too!

Philly Rock n Roll Finish!

A few highlights: First of all, I have the best support system ever! My sister and best friend were troopers and, I love them for being there for me! As usual, I'm a procrastinator and I'm constantly running late. Why would today be any different? I had planned to get up, eat breakfast, drink lots of water and get to the start in order to hit the 'few' Porta Pottys before the race. After fussing around, we headed downstairs for breakfast. I had lots of water, a dry bagel and a bite or two of a banana. It was all I could get down. For some reason up to that point I started eating breakfast, I wasn't the least bit nervous. Suddenly, that all changed. Anyway, I get to the start and stand in line and stand and stand and stand. I'm checking my watch and watching a group of people 'cop a squat' on the side of a building. I debated...finally, I turned to my girls, took off my jacket and said, 'I'm going in!". 'In' meaning out, if you get my drift. Lol! Never thought I'd see the day but, there is a first for everything and why not choose your birthday for a first, right? Unfortunately there were plenty of outdoor bathroom users and not all were #1. Ugh! Moving on...

The weather was great, the crowd (16,000) was great but, for it to be a Rock n Roll run there wasn't a lot of rocking and rolling in my opinion. It just didn't seem to be enough bands along the course but the ones that where there were great! I had many strategies on how I was going to run the race. It went from run/walk combo to, run till I hit a wall. In the end, I went with run the first 3 miles, walk a minute then, I ran the next six miles and then miles 10, 11 and 12 I ran each and took a 1-2 minute walk break and of course, whenever I got water/Gatorade, I walked for that. Overall I'd say I walked about 6 or 7 minutes in total. The best part? Not feeling like crap at the end. I hydrated before the race, and during the race. Plus, no aches and pains! Even though it was a pretty good race without fail my feet went numb at mile 9. This is consistent with all my long runs, even during training. I still have no idea what that's about but, I didn't let it hold me back. According to my Garmin and plenty of runners on the Philly Rock n Roll Facebook fanpage, we actually ran 13.40 miles. So, I have it as running 13.40 miles in 2.37.11 BUT, the official race results have it at 13.1 miles in 2hrs. 38 minutes and 19 seconds. At any rate, I'm happy with my finish! It was a Personal Best/Record. I'm so looking forward to my post race massage tomorrow. Can't wait! In the meantime, I have homework to do (yes on my birthday, the horror) then dinner and my personal favorite...Moms sweet potato birthday pie. What a great day!

The Good: 
1.This time, it was all good! :-)

Garmin: Philly Rock N Roll Half Marathon - Birthday Run!

Sun, Sep 18, 2011 8:10 AM Eastern Time (US & Canada) 

Activity Type: Running | Event Type: Special Event | Course: -- 

Summary

Distance:	13.41 mi
Time:	2:37:11
Avg Pace:	11:43 min/mi
Elevation Gain:	156 ft
Calories:	2,114 C

Details

Timing

Time:	2:37:11
Moving Time:	2:34:06
Elapsed Time:	2:39:00

Avg Pace:	11:43 min/mi
Avg Moving Pace:	11:30 min/mi
Best Pace:	4:36 min/mi

Speed

Pace

Elevation

Elevation Gain:	156 ft
Elevation Loss:	143 ft

Official Race Results:
2.38.19

On my way to the start

Corral 8

At the finish with my girls

Finding Perspective

Tuesday night was my last run before my half marathon on Sunday. It was the first time in a long time I actually realized that not only can I do it but, I'm looking forward to doing it.That nights run was only a three mile easy run but somewhere between the 1.5 mile mark and the finish, I started to feel really well. My breathing was great, my stride was great and I had finally gotten out of my own damn head! It was nice to run alone and clear my head and find some perspective. I decided I'll run to the best of MY ability and, I'll finish which is always the ultimate goal. I don't have to keep up a certain pace or run a certain way. In the end, it's all about me and my own two feet. I'm ready to claim my medal and sport it proudly (only for the pictures of course, lol) and put this race behind me. I'm now looking forward to my next goal. Training for my very first triathlon or better yet, learning to swim. First things first, right?

“Distance has the same effect on the mind as on the eye.”
 Samuel Johnson 

The Good:
1. I finished!
2. Finding perspective

The Bad:
2. Got dark early on the trail so, I ran A LOT faster!

The Ugly:
3.Hit me that the race is in less than a week

Why run when you can swim, bike AND run?

I have decided to train for a triathlon! I'm so excited! Well that is, until I realized 1. I can't swim(actually, I can but only a little) and 2. I don't have a bike. Lol! Small obstacles, I'm sure I'll be able to overcome. Last year around this time I was gearing up to run a 10 mile trail run for my 36th birthday(UNTRAINED). After that race, that very same day, I registered to run a half marathon for my 37th birthday(which is this Sunday). Now, here I am, registering for a triathlon for my 38th birthday. What will I do for my 40th? Bungee Jump? I don't think so! Hey, that's what birthdays are for, right? Nothing says happy birthday like some endurance sport to remind you that, you're a year older. Can you believe I already have a race in mind? Yeah, neither can I! So, what's my plan going forward with this swim, bike, run? For starters I just paid to take swimming lessons and, I'll keep up with my spin class(es) while I look into buying/renting a bike.. The run...oh, not a problem! o_O. Remind me I said that after Sunday's race.

I honestly think this will be good for me. It gives my knees some much needed rest and it pushes me to get out of my comfort zone. I'm sure during my training there will be many blogs titled...what the hell was I thinking?! I hope you guys will tag along on this crazy, unpredictable, spontaneous journey with me.

Back under 200lbs! - 10 mile run!

When I first lost the weight, my biggest milestone was getting under 200lbs. Yes, there was the 25lb milestone, the 50lb milestone and even the 75lb milestone but nothing and I mean nothing brought me as much joy as seeing the scale read 1..! I don't think I was as happy reaching my goal weight than I was when the scale no longer read 200. So, stepping on the scale this morning I said something I'd said the very first time I saw 199 during my weight loss journey. I will never again get over two hundred pounds. Well let's hope so because since around June 2010 I have hit the 200+ mark a few times and have uttered those words each and every time I've done so. I hope this is the very last time I have to uttered those words for I am sick of going up and down on this twenty pound roller coaster. For now I will celebrate this milestone and, that I'm closer to my goal weight. :-)

 Last Long Run

Today was my last long run before my half marathon next Sunday. Most of the ladies in my group are running the Park Half Marathon in Bethesda, MD Sunday, September 11th so most of them did their last long run last weekend however, there were a few who had planned to meet this morning I being one of them. I just could not get out of bed to save my life. I was tired and the last thing I wanted to do was run 8 miles. I did eventually realize that I needed to get that last long run in (like at 2 pm). I begrudgingly got dressed and headed out to make that happen. First, I charged my iPod. I haven't run with music in months somehow it felt like one of those days when I was going to need it and, I was not wrong. It wasn't a good run. In fact it was more of a walk/run not to be confused with a run/walk. It was hot! I got dehydrated and felt like I was running on empty. It took me 1 hour and 50 minutes to reach the 8 mile mark. Last week it took me 1 hour and 35 minutes to reach the 8 mile mark so you see, I was struggling a bit. In the end, I completed 10 miles. More than I had originally set out to do. I kept asking myself, am I ready for next week and, I kept coming up with NO for an answer. I have struggled this summer training for my half. There was the knee injury and the excessive heat and humidity. Not to be outdone by the extra 20lbs I'm carrying around and not fueling my body properly. There use to be a time when I could push myself and just keep going and going and going. Somewhere along the way, I've lost that ability. I think it's time to reevaluate. However, I too have accomplished a new goal. I'm now capable of running every single hill without stopping. You see before, there wasn't a hill I wouldn't walk up. My motto was...why run a hill when you can walk it? Lol! But, I'm officially a 'hill runner'. Yay!!  I got sick and yes, this is becoming a 'theme'. I don't know what's going on with my body but after a run, now I'm dehydrated, sick to my stomach and lightheaded. Again, it's time to reevaluate. I would like to get back to running where I'm enjoying myself and it's hard(running is never easy for me) but not difficult. No matter what, I WILL cross the finish line on Sunday September 18th at the Rock & Roll Half Marathon! I may not set a PR but I'll accomplish what I always set out to do when I run, whether it's an official organized race or a causal 3 mile run through my neighborhood.....finish!

"The miracle isn’t that I finished; it’s that I had the courage to start." 
John Bingham, The Penquin



The Good:
1. I finished!
2. Ran 2 miles more than I had planned

The Bad:
1. Took a lot longer than it should have
2. Hot ass hell! Middle of the day running(during the summer)...a NO NO!

The Ugly:
1. Getting sick, yet again at the end of the run

Stress + Overeating = More Stress and Overeating!

I'm stressed to the max, so naturally that means I've been pigging out all day and making poor food choices. Example: Eggo Waffles for breakfast. They're a lot of points but most days totally not worth the splurge, today being one of those days. It's extremely frustrating when you're fully aware of what you're doing. It's one thing to sit and be mindless while eating. That was not the case with me. I knew with every bite I took that I was well over my daily Weight Watchers Points. I wanted to stop but, I couldn't. To make matters worse, I saw the Orthopedist today and good news...I'm okay(well mostly). The bad news, I got a cortisone injection to help me cross the finish line in less than two weeks with as little pain as possible. So, because of this injection I cannot work out for two days. I would feel a whole lot better if I was at least burning some calories but, the only calories I'm burning today includes my trips from the sofa to the kitchen and back to the sofa...repeat x20. This gloomy, rainy, sunless day isn't making things any easier for me. Let's do a tally shall we?...depressing weather, stress, unable to work out and overindulging with food. Not good, not good at all! Though all hope is not lost. I will not let this one day get in the way of my ultimate goal, to lose these last few unwanted pounds. I'm going to journal all that I've eaten (I'm a little scared, lol) and let the rest of today be a fresh start. Why wait till Sunday?

The hit list:

2 Eggo Waffles 
2 slices of bacon
2 tsp of butter
2 tbsp of syrup
Cup of coffee w/ cream and sugar(1 tsp each)
16 Townhouse  Flabread Crispers
2 tbsp Salsa
16oz Caramel Macchiato (skim)
1 cup of pasta w/ 2 Italian sausages
1/2 cup of Marinara Sauce
1 piece of garlic toast
1 Klondike Bar ice cream sandwich
1 mini Entenmann's chocolate donut
lots and lots and lots more of Townhouse Flatbread Crispers

A total of 48 points, not including all the Flatbread Crispers I didn't bother portioning out (my daily point value is 31). Typing this list has actually made me feel fuller. Seriously!

My troubled 8 mile run (deja vu?)

What is it with me and 8 mile runs? We ran three 8 milers this summer, training for our half and all three were tough for me. The first one back in July was an extremely hot and humid day. It was the first time I had ran 8 miles since April when I ran the Cherry Blossom 10 miler and yes, your body can forget how tough it is to run 8 miles after three short months. Our second 8 miler was just a few weeks ago and I shared that lovely story with you guys on my first official blog. Again, it was hot and humid but, running at 12 noon didn't help any. Saturday's 8 miler was bad and, not in terms of running but because I had eaten a bad egg. Uh huh, I know what you're thinking....a bad egg? I was pretty sick to my stomach by mile 4. I was running along with a pretty good pace. My breathing was great and I wasn't feeling like I couldn't run the entire 8 miles. Well mile 4 changed all of that. One second I was running along and the next I was bent over head in the bushes, getting sick. I'm a procrastinator and never ever do things on time. I'm also a big avoider. Great traits to have, right? Wrong! These traits caused me to not check my stock to make sure I was prepared for breakfast because I didn't want to make the trip to the grocery store. Anyway I woke up late (as usual) boiled my egg and, when it was done I take a bite and I'm going hmmm this doesn't taste right. So naturally I check the expiration on the egg carton and sure enough....expired eggs! Too late, I had eaten most of it. That little mistake cost me. And, if eating the bad egg wasn't bad enough, I followed that up with a big spoonful of peanut butter. Hey! I was running late and had very little to choose from in terms of eating before a 7 a.m 8 mile run. After my little 'pit stop'. I got myself together and finished strong. So, my troubled 8 mile run wasn't so troubled after all!

The Good
1. I finished!

The Bad
2. It was our last long run as a training group :(

The Ugly
1. getting sick during (and after the run) from eating a bad egg

Ups, Downs & In betweens

How many times a week is too many times a week, to step on the scale?

I'll confess, I'm a slave to the scale. A lot of people feel it's not healthy to be, but me? I believe it keeps me on track, for the most part anyway. During the entire time I was losing the the weight, I weighed myself practically everyday. Not everyone feels the need to weigh themselves more than once a week. It's a personal choice. Here's a quote from an article that addressed this topic. 'According to a December 2006 Nutrition Action Health Letter article “The Weighing Game,” people who want to keep the pounds from returning should check in with their scale daily. In an eighteen month study, only 26 percent of the participants who weighed themselves each day regained five pounds compared to 58 percent of those who did not weigh themselves every day. In another research study, Natalie Gingerich in “Make Friends with Your Scale” published in Prevention says, people who weighed themselves daily lost twice as many pounds than those who weighed themselves weekly. Perhaps making the scale your friend can be the best way to lose weight'.

You should check out the rest of the article. It goes on to say, 'don't be consumed by the scale'. Here's the link.----> http://www.bestwaytoloseweighthq.net/should-i-weigh-myself-every-day/

Below are a few pics of me through the span of a three year 100+ pound weight loss(and gain). The one thing these pictures all have in common (except for the first one) is, at some point during the day the photo was taken, I had weighed myself.

July 2007 (around 280lbs)

December 2008 (85lb weight loss)

December 2009 (Goal Weight! 100lb loss)

December 2010 (10lb weight gain)

May 2011 (20lb weight gain)

Plateau?

It's week two and I haven't lost one single pound this week, in fact, the scale has gone up. Clearly at week two I couldn't possibly have hit a plateau could I? No, of course not! So what gives? I've looked over my food journal to see if I had veered a bit off course. Nope! I stayed within my points range and, earned a whopping 85 activity points. You read it right, 85 activity points. On average Weight Watchers recommend you try and earn around 28 activity points per week. Can we say I surpassed that and then some? Typically I don't earn so many activity points but, I am training for a half marathon and with increased miles comes increased activity points. On average I typically earn around 50 activity points per week(still a lot). So, how could I stay within my allowed points, earn a huge amount of activity points and not lose a pound? Better yet, how could I have gained a pound?!

I will be the first to admit that I do not always make the healthiest choices. I am not in denial. If I drink a soda, not only will I own up to drinking said soda but, I'll gladly write it down in my food journal. If I have an ice cream sandwich, it too goes in my food journal. It's all about accountability. I'm not going to say, I've been really good, how come I haven't lost anything? How will that help me? I would only be lying to myself. However, looking over this past week, I was indeed making pretty good food choices though, they could've been better(there's always room for improvement). I even decided against that little visit to Coldstone Creamery after my 13.72 mile run, after burning 1,822. How will this week affect me going forward? It won't, at least not negatively. It's all a part of the weight loss process. You have weeks when you're really good and ...lose nothing. You have weeks when you're really bad and....lose a pound, sometimes more. You have weeks when the scale doesn't move at all no matter what you've done! It really is a part of the process. I'm hoping that this weeks weight loss will show on the scale next week. That does happen. It's like a 'delayed' reaction. So, at this point 'claiming' a plateau is a pretty big stretch. Nice try though. :-) So what is my strategy for next week? More strength training. It's a must. You really need to focus on cardio as well as strength training and I've really been lacking with the latter. Bottom line, I'm carrying around 4lbs less than I was two weeks ago. Now, that's a cause for celebration!!

Monday blues on a Tuesday

Yesterday was one of  those bad days I addressed on a previous post. I think the days I know I'm going to run and burn lots of calories I tend to be a little loose when making food choices. I'm really trying to work on that. I would like to consistently make healthier food choices and not just on the days I'm not running. It's hard but, I have no doubt it can be done! Even my run yesterday was trying. First, I decided that I didn't feel like making the drive to meet my group for our last official training track/speed work. Instead, I decided to run on my own. Funny thing is, part of me was hoping I wouldn't motivate myself to do so...no such luck! I first talked myself into at least walking, then I convinced myself to shoot for a nice easy 3 mile run. Well, by the time I stepped out the door I knew there would be no walking and in the end, I had covered 4.5 miles(running, of course)! Yay me! And you know what? It actually made me feel better. It definitely helped cure me of my Monday blues on a Tuesday.