get fit

weigh to stay: 12 months in!!

Posted on by mommyinthemidwest

To see the previous updates, click HERE.  Progress photos in previous posts.

Technically, my December post should be “11 months in” but since it’s the end of the month and almost a year since my original post, I’m skipping a month.  It has been one year since I decided enough was enough and that I was tired of feeling gross and eating gross.  My goal for the year was to lose 20-24 pounds and stay in that range. I started off using My Fitness Pal on both my phone and on the computer to log EVERY single thing I ate.  I don’t think I skipped a single thing I put in my mouth until about May of this year.  I was hardcore!  This was the catalyst for my success going forward.  Mid to late January I joined the gym and started doing cardio and weights a few times a week.  In March, I decided to try Couch 2 5k.  In May I surpassed my goal of a 20-24 pound weight loss. I completed the program in June but didn’t do the race I had signed up for.  (C25k is a 9 week training program in which you run 3x per week in increasing intervals until you can run for 30 solid minutes).

I continued running in the summer but it was much more intermittent just because it was so hot out and I was busier with playing with the boys outside.  I continued managing my diet well and hit my highest weight loss in 2013 at about 28 pounds lost.  I picked up running again before our vacation in October and was really on a good roll.  Even after Thanksgiving, my weight loss to date was about 25 pounds.  In December, well….

In December, I’ve weighed myself sparingly.  And watched my consumption of junk very sparingly.  I’ve put a few pounds back on but I think for today, it’s safe to say my weight loss is around 22 pounds for the year.  Still within my goal range but I’m definitely not feeling the best that I have felt all year.  I was in the best shape when I was running three times a week. I feel squishy and out of shape right now and my pants are tighter than they were a month ago.  With that being said, I can’t believe I was 20+ pounds heavier this time last year.  I’d call my new year’s resolution a success, but I still have work to do. I will do a separate post with resolutions for 2014, which will include continued health/fitness goals.

At the end of 2013, this is me:

And I’m okay with that.
Still a work in progress,
~C~

weigh to stay: 10 months in + the ugly sweater run

Posted on by mommyinthemidwest

See previous updates HERE.

Before vacation, I committed to 12 runs in four weeks and did fairly well.  I made the mistake of saving that 12th until the day before we left and there was just too much to do.  Still, I was proud for sticking to my plan to get back on track with running and exercising.  Since we’ve been home from vacation, I’ve gotten lazy.  For one, it’s cold, not to mention completely dark, by 5:30pm.  At that point, I just don’t even want to leave the house, let alone run around when I can see my own breath.

I’ve slacked off.  I’m all but a stranger on MyFitnessPal these days.  My original goal was to lose 20-24 pounds and remain within that range thereafter.  I made it!  It’s been about 5 months since I met that goal and for the most part, I’ve done really well maintaining. I went beyond my goal and I think my greatest loss was around 28 pounds, but that was kind of a fluke as I never stayed there for more than a day or two.  Usually, I’m around a 26 pound weight loss.  Since vacation ended, it’s probably safe to say I’m maintaining a 23-24 pound weight loss.  Still within my goal, but I’ve definitely loosened up on calorie watching, portion control, and exercise.

I haven’t thrown caution to the wind, and I’m still aware of what’s going on, especially on the days when my jeans fit a little tighter.  Just slowing down on exercise makes a difference there, regardless of my weight.  I definitely feel softer and squishier when I’m not running on a regular basis.

A few weeks ago, a friend of mine at work approached me about doing The Ugly Sweater Run.  I hadn’t heard of it before, have you? If you click the link to that website, you’ll see that it’s about as festive as a run could possibly be during the holiday season!  Sounded like lots of fun and I figured signing up would kick start me into running again so I said “why not?”  I only ran once per week between the time I signed up and race day, but I was still happy overall.

The week before the race, the forecast predicted clear skies and 32 degrees. Yikes – cold.  Too bad it was 13 degrees when I woke up this morning!!  It was 24 degrees when the race started and 25 when it ended.

How does one plan to dress for a race in 24 degrees?  Well, naturally I sought out an ugly sweater.

IG caption: Ugly enough for the #uglysweater race ?
I posted this photo on Instagram and got some mixed reviews.  Most thought it was too cute for an ugly sweater race, but my sister and best friend both thought it was pretty gross.  I bought it in hopes of finding something else.  I ended up not wearing it because I figured that $25 was better off in my wallet than spent on something that would potentially make me look like an idiot. So I’ll be taking this back to Kohl’s. 
We got these pretty cool hats.  (No, really. I like it). 
Look at that sea of hats!  The people watching was fantastic. Sooo many people were all decked out.  If (when) I do this again, I’ll be more prepared.  More festive. 
Before the race – we were jogging in place to try to keep warm so I should probably add that to my total distance ran, right?  These are two lovely ladies I enjoy working with. 
I ran the first mile, then walked maybe half a mile.  Ran another half or three quarters before stopping to walk again.  I was happy with this because when I ran in 40 degrees on Friday, I only made it 7 minutes before walking 5 and then running another 10.  During the race I ran intermittently, stopping to take short walking breaks about 4-5 times.  I lost track, but I knew starting out that this was not going to be a race I ran from start to finish because of 1. the temperature outside and 2. the layers made it a little more difficult to move.  I was just happy to run the first mile.  Thinking back now, I don’t even know why I stopped. I don’t remember feeling out of breath or any pain. I must have just seen that first marker and made it my goal to make it that far.  I probably could have done more. Rats…
The Finish Line!
Post-race reward. 
After the race – we picked up some pals along the way.
And finally – what does one wear to a race when it’s 24 degrees outside?  (Not pictured – gloves, scarf, and sweater hat).  North Face fleece.  Thermal moisture wicking long-sleeved shirt.  Cotton long sleeved shirt.  Sports bra. Tank top.  Knee socks (CHRISTMAS!). Fleece socks.  Long john thermal underwear.  Yoga/running pants. Truthfully, it was kind of okay. I was warm enough with excitement before the race.  During the race, I had to take my scarf off and unzip my jacket. My back and arms were sweating.  After the race, my hands and feet were freezing but the rest of my body was okay. I was super thankful for the sunshine and no wind!
I’m excited to have done the race and looking forward to participating in one that I can actually run, start to finish!  
xo,
~C~

weigh to stay: 9 months in

Posted on by mommyinthemidwest

Before October’s over, I wanted to get my weight loss post up.

Previous updates HERE.

I was excited to weigh in a couple of days after we returned from vacation to find that I actually lost 1.5 pounds on our trip.  I’m pretty sure they’ve caught back up with me since we’ve been home.  I’m still successfully keeping the weight that I lost away, and in excess of my original goal.  My goal was 20-24 pounds and I’m staying around 25-26 pounds lost.

I knew I wouldn’t log in to MyFitnessPal on vacation and I’ve had a really hard time getting back into it since we’ve been back.  I’m sure I’m eating more than the recommended calories, but not enough to gain all my weight back (in the last 2 weeks anyway).  About 4 weeks before we left, I made a goal of running 12 times before vacation and I came pretty close – 11 runs.  I saved the last one for the day before we left and that was a mistake – there was just WAY too much to do.

I walked nonstop while on vacation, but haven’t gone on a run since we’ve been back.  Do I have excuses? Sure.  Are they good? Eh.  Kinda – I’ve been coughing since before we left and pretty sure I had the flu this past weekend.  Just kind of waiting to feel better. I was looking for some inspiration yesterday and came across this quote:

I don’t know who said it.  It’s relevant for many things, but couldn’t help but immediately relate it to losing weight, living a healthy life, etc.  There’s always an excuse.  So, in short, I’m still doing okay.  I could be doing better.  I don’t plan on getting back into the bad habits I had a year ago when I could barely stand to try on clothes or look in the mirror at myself.  
I’ve talked about it before – I hate winter.  It’s no secret.  I feel a little sad in the winter. Tired. I don’t like to be cold so I don’t like to leave the  house.  I’m euphoric in the springtime.  So it will take a little extra mmmph to get me up and out and moving, but I know this is what I want for my self, my life, my health. So I have to find a way instead of an excuse.  
xo,
~C~