Lucky Charms

Lucky charms. Another food item that I apparently should not have in my house. Yes, I had a lucky charm diet mishap. On the plus side, I feel very accomplished, exercise wise, for the last few days. Saturday was my 27:31 5k. Sunday I did 9 miles for Half Marathon training. Yesterday I went out for the Virtual 5k.

Now my legs need some recovery time...they aren't used to running 3 days in a row!

This week IS the week.

After being stuck at a 79.x weight loss for the last month, I am confident that this week is the week I will break 80. I always fluctuate, especially over weekends, and Mondays are always my highest. Today I'm starting out lower than I have on any other Monday, and I'm confident I can reach my goal this week! Heck - if I can run a 27:31 5k, considering where i came from, I can't see why not.

You know what's messing with my weight loss mojo? Dairy Queen. Plus a hotter than normal summer. I CANNOT say no to ice cream!! EVER! I need help. ICA, perhaps? Ice Cream Anonymous?

I bet there are others out there who would join ICA with me, right?!

I CRUSHED my time goal!

I wanted to post a little update about my most recent race...I did a 5k today and it went great. I would have been okay being under 32 minutes, thrilled to be under 31, and secretly hoped I could squeeze out an under 30. I figured it was possible, but would be tough and unlikely.

Yeah...my time ended up being 27:31!!!!! HOLY SHIT! Excuse my french but really! HOLY SHIT!!
Not bad for a girl who got out of breath on a flight of stairs not even 2 years ago.

What a difference.

It's hard not to reflect from time to time upon how far I've come. I've changed and grown in so many ways.

I used to be overweight (obese even). Now my BMI is in normal range!

I used to be a size 20/22. Now I'm an 8/10!

I used to be lazy. Now I'm full of energy (in general, that is. Not saying I don't still have lazy days where I just wish I could sleep or sit around reading or watching movies for hours).

I used to be scared. Scared of having any attention on me (talking with a group of strangers for example) and scared of taking charge. Now I am actively working to overcome that, and am making great progress thanks to leading a local chapter of the national running group, Moms Run This Town. Also working on the Lake Superior Zoo virtual 5k...both of these are things I would never, ever have done before.

I used to cover up and wear loose clothing. I hated shorts and tank tops in the summer because I felt gross in them. I hated shirts being fitted. I preferred pants to be a size too big, so they'd still be comfy even when I sat down (which causes fat to "spread out", even for thin people. So that effect is 10 times worse when you're overweight). I hated shopping. Now, I wear clothes that fit! I love shopping. I wear shorts and tank tops. I even wear the right size pants (that is, sometimes, but only because I need lots of new stuff and am holding off until I hit goal...so I am making do with some too-big things for now. but not because I feel like I have to in order to be comfortable)!

I used to be the most un-athletic, out of shape person. If there was a category for it, in high school I'd probably have been voted least likely to ever do anything requiring physical strength or endurance. I never joined any sports and i failed gym in 8th grade (hated it so much i barely even attended). Now, I'm a runner. I love it, I love participating in races (for fun, not competition). I've done a half marathon and I'm training for another. I can do TWO WHOLE PUSH-UPS! Yes, TWO!! Regular ones even! My goal is to get to 10...someday...lol

I used to have no sense or consideration for what I put in my mouth. I ate like crap and in too-big quantities. On a regular basis. Now, I'm eating healthier with normal portions. I still fall off track, more often than i care to admit...and I do allow myself "bad" stuff, but I'm able to control it much better, or get back on track afterwards.

Most of all, I used to be unhappy with myself, disappointed in myself, and ashamed of myself. Now I'm proud, happy, excited, and motivated to keep this lifestyle forever.

Seriously!

I can't have anything "bad" in my house. Because I will eat it. I've been at this for 19 months, and I still have this issue.

Stupid butter spindle pretzels.

Make a difference!

Lake Superior Zoo "Run Like an Animal" 5k and virtual 5k!
All proceeds benefit the zoo and will help them rebuild and work towards a bright future after a devastating flood last month!

Skinny?

Out of the two pictures below...who do YOU think is "sexier" or healthier looking? To me, and I think millions of women, the "plus size" model wins for sure. Do then why do so many fashion magazines and clothing designers cater to, and promote sickly skinny looking women? Not by any stretch of the imagination is it "average" to have your hip bones protruding out, or to be able to count every single rib at a glance.

I've read that the average model wears a size 2 or 4. And we know it's not uncommon to see models who must wear a size 0 or 00. Yet the average U.S. woman wears a size 12! It's ridiculous.

I realize that some women are naturally very thin and built like a stick. I am not dissing those women in any way! I just wish there was more respect/visibility for women of an "average" build, or women naturally built like pears, or naturally built like apples. Or watermelons or whatever! We are all beautiful in our own ways. Every shape and size...so I don't understand why the need to have skeletons representing a brand, when the majority of our population are nowhere near those proportions.

Who's brilliant idea was it in the first place that size 00, bony, and 5'11" was hot??

It's really not.

Before and current: Head shot

To be honest, the main motivation behind this post is to try out the Blogger iPhone app. Technology...geez. Whatever gets me posting though, right?

So here is a thoroughly embarrassing "before" pic, taken probably in summer 2010. The second pic is more current.

Distracted

I haven't posted any weight loss updates in the last couple of weeks because I haven't lost any weight. Between traveling over the 4th of July, then heading a few hours away mid-week for a concert one day, and then traveling yet again the following weekend...my head has been spinning. My house is a disaster with all of this coming and going! But worst of all, I am finding it very difficult to stick to my healthiest eating habits when I come and go like this. Not to mention it has been HOT and hubby is a sucker for DQ on a hot day. And I don't have the willpower to say no to ice cream on a hot day. I could make it through without suggesting the idea myself, but I just cannot say no once somebody else suggests it!

Is this a sign of weakness? Eh. Maybe. Or maybe I should just STFU and enjoy my ice cream now and then.

Though I do need to get back on track, and this week is the week to do it. I had a great day yesterday and I have a plan for the rest of the week. I got this. Damnit. I have to...I have come too far to get stuck for 4 months like I did this past winter.

What do you do to get yourself back on track and find your motivation again, when you've "fallen off the wagon" like I have the last couple of weeks?

Honored!

I am SO honored and excited to have been chosen for this weeks "Super Mom Sunday" on the blog at www.momsrunthistown.com (the main site for the national running club I am a chapter leader for). I have been getting great feedback via comments and I can't even say how awesome it is!

If you want to check it out...Here it is! I am just thrilled. I truly love the opportunity to get my story out and hopefully inspire others. I am also totally open to anybody contacting me with questions because any chance I can have to help others...I want to take it.

Super Mom Sunday - Kandi Ganoe!

A little break

It's been several days since I've blogged due to the crazy 4th of July holidays and what not. I had quite the interesting 5 days off, that is for sure. As far as my diet and exercise...it wasn't great but it could have been worse. I did indulge in a lot of good bad food and drinks. I took a 3.5 mile walk one day, did some swimming, and tonight did a 6 mile run (and was happy to find that it was easy-peasy, despite being twice as long as the longest run I had done in the last 3 weeks). I would liked to have gotten one other run in, but I am glad I at least managed the 6 miler tonight and the nice long walk.

I also have not weighed myself this whole time. Sometimes over the weekend I get awfully bloated...lots of water weight that disappears fairly quickly once I get back on track. After this mini-vacation I actually don't feel as bloated as I sometimes do after a weekend...not sure if that's a good sign or bad. It could be good. It could mean that the scale will be similar to what it was at my last weigh in. I sure don't expect to have lost, but it would be great if I was at least close to even. OR. It could mean that I'm not bloating but I gained actual FAT weight, but am being lulled into a false sense of security since I don't feel terribly bloated.

Yes. I over-analyze. I can't help it.

And I leave you with an oh-so-true "ecard".