Bustin' My Chops

I'm so mad.  I'm so aggravated.  I'm over it.  Oh yeah I am.  We are only in month one of this challenge.  I have dropped a total of 3-4 pounds this month being generous withe the scale.  That's it.  That's all.  I'm eating 1200-1400 calories a day.  I'm working out at least five times a week.  I'm not saying I want to give up or quit or anything of the sort.  I just have to figure out how to make this work for me and my life.

Steve and I are on totally different planets when it comes to the diet part of this program.  He is happy to eat chicken and veggies with virtually no flavoring.  That just nauseates me.  I mean totally, queasy nauseates me.  He has never had weight issues.  He doesn't get it.  I adore working out with him, but I can't (or don't want to) do what Steve recommends.  It just doesn't fit my life at all.

I live in a house where I have to feed three kids who need calories and carbohydrates.  I can skip eating a lot of it, but I break down and have a small portion.  Then I feel like a complete and total failure because I have had some bread or frozen yogurt.  I continue to do the best I can, but I'm frustrated with myself and the situation.  I understand this diet is to help me lose weight fast, but I will never be able to keep it up, so why not try something that fits my lifestyle?

I feel there is such a disconnect on this one issue.  Is there any way to just eat healthy and lose weight?  How many calories should I eat a day?  How many grams of protein should I eat?  How many carbohydrates are acceptable?  These are the questions I need answered, but no one seems to know the answer.

I hate feeling like I'm a bad person for sneaking a few of my kids' jellybeans when in reality, I'm being super successful.  See, last Easter, I would have eaten three or four bags of jelly beans and too many Peeps to count.  Where am I going wrong?

I feel like I'm bustin' my chops and not seeing any results.  Urgh.
This all from your frustrated mom and contestant.

Fun Race With Two Of My Critters!

I love running in races!  They are great fun to me.  Generally, I don’t run a race a week though!  However, living in Suwanee, with Town Center Park as a wonderful starting point, we have numerous races.  If I choose, I can even walk to the start!  There is no way to beat that one!

Today’s race was sponsored by the SPCA, so there were tons of dogs running the race too!  I only have a cat, and I’m certain she didn’t want to participate.  So, I took Maggie and Josh!  Since they were both awake before I left this morning, I dressed them, gave them each a Nutri Grain bar and took them with me.  They love getting to ride in the stroller while I run.  Our discussions while I run really crack me up.  The major themes on this run were how it is not safe to ever stand on railroad tracks (since we saw a dad and his two kids on the tracks) and how we were going to win the “Piston Cup” (from Cars the movie if you don’t already know that one)!

Numerous runners commented on how hard it must be to run pushing two kids.  All I could think is three in a triple stroller is much harder!  Running with kids isn’t the easiest, but when you use the run/walk method, anything is possible.  I run for two minutes and walk for one minute.  During my one minute walk, I let the kids hop out and run.  It is really a great way for all of us to get a little exercise in each day.  If you haven’t tried this method, give it a shot.  I love it.

It was great to see some of the Get Fit Challenge at the race!  That was super encouraging to me.  Also, since I was having stroller issues, a friend loaned me her stroller to use for the race.  Thanks so much!!  

After the race, the kids and I went to Planet Smoothie, then to the park where Raj road he and Evie down to play with us.  What an awesome end to a great morning!

I only have a month until the half marathon!  That will probably be my next race!  You will hear a lot from me between now and then!

Tomorrow

Tomorrow, I'll go with no dairy....tomorrow!  Steve seems to think that's the reason I'm not losing weight.  I'm not sold, but I'll definitely give it a shot, I guess.  I like cheese and yogurt.  That is what's been keeping me sane. Oh well.  I'll give it one week to see what happens.  However, I'll start that tomorrow after I enjoy some more of my low-fat, sugar-free fake keylime pie stuff I made tonight.  Yeah.  Tomorrow.  I hope.

Busy, Fun Weekend

It has been such a wonderful weekend!  Raj and I have gotten so much accomplished around our house!  We now have two fans and a swing on the front porch!  We have flowers in our new planters, and the pine straw has been put down!  I'm pretty terrified it's going to be a sweltering summer, but I'm going to enjoy all of these wonderful warm Spring days until then!

I actually ran a 5k here in Suwanee yesterday.  It was sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Suwanee, and it was great fun!  We ran through Old Town Suwanee, and I heard a lot of people discussing the hills and how hard the were to run.  For me, the hills were okay.  I'm used to running through this area because it's where we live.  All I could think is the hills could have been much worse had the route been different!  It really is all in your perspective I guess!

The other thing I loved about the race was the cool temperature and the drizzling rain!  It was so cool and comfortable.  Had it been pouring rain, I may not have liked it as much!  It was also awesome to see Divya, another "Get Fit Suwanee" contestant at the race!  That was such an encouragement to me.

Today, I went for my long run!  I'm training for the Zooma Women's Half Marathon at Lake Lanier on April 22, so I ran 9.5 miles.  I must remind myself waking up early for long runs is highly recommended when the high will be in the 80's.

One of the wonderful things about running from my house to the new section of the greenway and into George Pierce Park are the water fountains.  I was able to refill my water bottle to stay hydrated.  That was truly a lifesaver.  I started trying to ration my water before realizing I would pass a fountain.  It would not have been wise to do that on such a hot day.

The negative part of the run was the hill from the bottom of the greenway all the way back to my house!  I think the last two and a half miles were all uphill.  Brutal.  Since I went for the run without having eaten enough, I stopped by the smoothie shop in Town Center, bought a bottle of water and a low calorie, high protein smoothie.  It may have looked a little odd to see a person running with a water bottle and a smoothie, but it saved me!  Plus, when I got home the kids took it and finished the other half of it for me!

I hope you had a wonderful weekend too!

Good Reminder

These are scrub pants I want to fit and wear.

This was me several weeks ago (Ignore the expression on my face, I'm post call and tired.)

This is me today!  I'm losing something for sure!

Gotta Love Warm Weather

Today was such a beautiful day.  Warm, sunny days in the middle of March do something for the soul.  I didn't wake up very motivated, but once I realized my babysitter was at the house helping the kids since I accidentally scheduled her for today, my got better.  I have felt weary lately.  Not really tired, just weary.  I think everyone understands how kids, life, work, and everything else can just make one feel weary.  This has been my week of weariness.  Just having Megan at the house this morning to help with the kids before school while I rested (and freaked out wondering where I was supposed to be) turned my day into a wonderful one.

After dropping off the kids at school, I went to Lowe's and bought flowers and planters for the porch.  Then, I got to visit with my neighbor for a little while before going to workout.  Today's workout actually felt good.  I didn't feel exhausted while I was there or after I left.  That was such a relief after how hard it's been for me this week.

Once I picked up the kids from school, we came home and planted all my new plants.  The kids loved "helping" me, and I enjoyed their company.  The warm sun hitting my back, the buzz of the bees and three squealing kiddos made this day wonderful.

Plus, the scale was down another pound today :).

8-10 and 2

8-10 inches is what I have lost by my measurements.  Two pounds is what I've lost with the scale.  I keep reminding myself that if I continue to do what I'm supposed to do, the scale will also show a difference.  I hope so.  I've been so hungry for "real" food, and I think that has been one of my issues.  Now that I'm counting my calories and trying to keep my diet full of protein, I know I will see a change.  It's just a little challenging when I'm working so hard and not seeing the results where I want to see them on the scale, even if my clothes are fitting better.  

Lots of the other contestants are losing big numbers on the scale already.  I want to be losing big too.  I'm working really hard.  I know I am doing what I need to do.  I know I'll soon be seeing the results.  I will just call it what it is, jealousy.  I'm jealous, but thrilled, by how much others are losing.  I'm a very competitive person, so I hate feeling like I'm behind.  I'm going to be like the little red car in the Berenstein Bear's "The Great Race".  My little engine is going to keep going pit-pit-pit-pit-pit until the end.  I want to get healthy.  It's going to happen!

Time and patience is what I have to give it right now.  I just want to be below 200 pounds when my kids turn 4 May 14th.  Last year I tried my hardest not to be in any of the pictures.  In fact, the ones I'm in, I deleted.  I hate seeing myself so heavy.  I don't want Raj or the kids to see me like this for much longer.  Thirteen pounds.  I can do that in one day less than two months.  Cheer me on!  This is my first real goal for the challenge!

I'm Alive!

Wow!  Call just really can kick me in the hiney.  There were tons of babies and tons of excitement.  Nothing less than what I anticipated.  It was harder trying to watch what I ate than dealing with all the other drama.  I have come to one conclusion, high protein and virtually no carbs doesn't work for me and my life.  I'm going to talk to Steve about it tomorrow.  I'm a numbers person, and I would prefer to know how many calories, proteins and carbs are okay for my diet.  In fact, I'm starting to think using a Weight Watchers-esque diet is going to work best for my crazy life.  Then, I can just count my calories and not beat myself up about "cheating".

Yesterday, I was totally bummed about the scale not showing any loss that I proceeded to eat any sugar I could get my hands on.  It was ugly.  I'm not ready to fess up to the world what sugars those were though.  Let's just say it was better than good.  I will admit to stealing and eating one of Raj's Cadbury Creme Egg!  It really wasn't as good as I remembered it to be.  However, I did like a lot of it though :).

Today I'm much more on plan, or shall we say "my plan".  My calories are below 1200, and that's all I'm aiming to do right now.  I met up with a friend and we went on the Tuesday evening run with the Big Peach Running Company starting at Suwanee Town Center.  It was so great!  We ran 5.4 miles on part of the redone Suwanee Greenway.  It was amazing!  I am ultra impressed with what the city has done for the greenway into George Pierce Park.  I plan on running through that area again very soon!  I had always avoided that area because it wasn't paved and there were tons of roots to trip over.  I don't have any of that to worry about anymore!

Tomorrow we will be doing measurements.  I'm not real excited, but it will be interesting to see if all the work I have done is showing at all.  I really hope it is, because I feel a little discouraged today.  Tomorrow will be a  better day.  I know it will be better! Plus, quitting is NOT an option!  Good night!

Walking The Halls

So Steve, my trainer, has this horrible obsession with lunges.  I truly think he likes watching us grimace with pain!  Those suckers are hard!  Have you ever tried skipping lunges?  Well, if you think lunges are bad, then skipping lunges are just evil!  Tonight I told Steve with all the different lunge-like exercises we do, my butt is going to look great this summer!

Towards the end of our workout, Steve said we needed to do one more set.  I proceeded to ask if we had to "walk the halls" one more time (thinking of lunges)!  I was contemplating one more set of lunges as punishment!  Steve heard what I said before I even realized it.  We all got a good laugh out of my incorrect verbiage!  From now on every set of lunges done with be called "walking the halls"!  Gotta love it (I think:))!

It's great to be able to joke through the hard work.

By the way, not a single cookie today!

Tomorrow starts the 48 hours of call between tomorrow morning and Monday morning.  I think I'm mentally ready to succeed!

Weakness

Chocolate.  Chip.  Cookies.
'Nuff said.

Thanks for the advice and tips on sharing and snacking with the kids!  I am going to be using some of the tips, probably tomorrow!

Today was really a great day.  I swam the entire time the kids were taking their lessons, so I was able to multi-task.  It sure is nice to be able to do that on occasion.  Plus, I love swimming!  There's a "Try a Tri" race at Lake Lanier later this Spring I'm contemplating trying this year.  We'll see.

For a moment, I would like to share a Maggie story.  I love that sweet girl.  She loves to swim.  When I say loves, I mean LOVES to swim.  She walked around the house yesterday before swim lessons in her bathing suit.  This morning, she woke me up with her bathing suit already on!  She proceeded to tell me we needed to get up and go swim.  So precious!  In fact, she told me tonight she wants to go to swimming lessons tomorrow.  Eek.  We only have lessons scheduled for once a week.  I think I may try to get her into a Saturday morning class without her siblings!  I love knowing how much she loves to swim!!

Well, the three small chocolate chip cookies I ate tonight were good.  I wish I wouldn't have eaten them, but at least I stopped.  That is actually a small victory for me.  Normally, I would have eaten 6 or 7 of them before getting a drink to wash them down and eat more.  I do call that a success tonight!

The week's about to add some challenges  for me.  I have 48 hours of call before Monday.  I will be interested in seeing how it plays out.  I hope I can keep the Krispy Kream doughnuts to a minimum :)

Anyone Else With My Problem?

I have one major issue. Whatever I pull out to eat, my children decide to come"share" it with me. Sometimes I really think I eat double not really knowing how much I've eaten. It is really one of the most frustrating issues for me. I know you may be thinking I just need to tell them no, but it just isn't that easy. My kids much prefer my healthy foods, so I don't mind sharing.

Oh well. I'm trying to learn to be healthy with the life I have. This is just another little challenge I have to overcome. any ideas are greatly appreciated.

I did get to work out again last night. I have decided it may never get easier, but I am definitely enjoying it! Steve is the kindest, yet toughest, trainer. Sometimes I think his kindness tricks me into being okay with him increasing the speed or incline on the treadmill. I'm relishing these moments I love working out, because I know every day won't feel "fun". However, the results sure are going to be worth it!

Welcome!

Hi!  Welcome to my life!  This is the one place I can easily "verbalize" my thoughts and feelings as I work towards becoming healthy and fit!  Some days will be good, some will be great, and others may be a struggle.  I have so many goals I want to reach this year.  The first is I would like to lose at least 40 pounds.  I also want to run two half marathons.  However, my first small goal is to weigh less than 200 pounds when my children turn 4 May 14th.  My weight as of last week was 215 pounds.  I will be stepping on the scale again tomorrow when I work out.  It will definitely be interesting to see what it says.......

I will probably also be posting what I eat a lot of days on here and my exercise from that day.  That will definitely keep me honest.  Any encouragement or advice is greatly appreciated!

One more quick thing, I ran 7.36 miles today in 1 hour 26 minutes!!

Ginny