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Operation Drop 20

I've started a new journey seeing as I seemed to have gained some new motivation out of nowhere!!! LOL

I'm going to try my hardest to drop 20 lbs by Christmas Day!!! I believe in my own experience, the hardest part of losing weight is eating healthy. Personally, I love food BUT losing weight and feeling more comfortable in my own skin is more important. So, here's my plan for operation drop 20.

**Nutrition**

I'm going to shoot for eating a certain amount of calories per day.

1500-1600 calories on non-workout days

1800-2000 on workout days

I'm also going to try to pick out healthier choices, instead of just eating whatever I want as long as the calories are low.

**Running**

Right now I'm currently following Nike+ running program to run a 10K.

To keep myself motivated, I've signed up a 5K on Thanksgiving and a 10K on New Years Day.

The training entails of keeping up with 3-4 runs per week.

When 10K training is done, I plan on following through with half marathon training.

**Crosstraining**

I plan on trying new things such as spinning, biking, classes at the gym, etc.

I will continue using the elliptical, and possibly working in the stairmaster as well.

**Strength Training**

This part is VERY important to me. The past couple times I've lost weight after having my kids, I seem to have slacked in this department. But, when I started encorporating weights after hitting plateaus...I broke through.

Also-ab exercises need to be done first. I usually leave them til last and end up skipping out...and that's a huge problem seeing as abs are my biggest trouble spot!

I plan on lifting 3 times per week!

Here's my week so far this week:

Mon-off

Tues- 1 mile running, 3 miles cycling, weight lifting

Weds- 1.5 miles running, 3 miles elliptical, 6 miles cycling

Thurs- 4 miles running

Fri-plan to weight lift, 3 miles on the elliptical

Sat- plan to run 6 miles

Sun-off (I work a double which burns a lot of calories)

So it should be a pretty big week...or it would have been if I had eaten better at the beginning of the week!!

So here are my starting numbers....

Total Pounds lost ~ 29 lbs

Pounds left til my Christmas goal ~ 20 lbs

Pounds left til my end goal~ 40.2 lbs

It's All In Your Head

I think for me personally, I really have to do everything at once. I can't just run without eating healthy...or vice versa. The moment I really put two and two together...it makes a world of difference. So this week, I made sure to only buy healthy groceries, so I really can't squeeze out of eating unhealthily. Also, no excuses on not being able to run or make it to the gym. For instance, the childcare room was closed yesterday due to flooding but I was supposed to run. I went to the gym at night (even though I loathe it), and got my 2 miles in. It's also close today, but I will probably go to strength train and use the elliptical.

I've made some new goals now that I finally seem to be getting back in stride. I hope to lose 10 lbs or a jean size by Dominic's birthday party which is in 4 weeks. I also hope to strength train 2-3 times a week as well as keep up with running 3 days a week! No more excuses...time to get back in the game!!

Weekly Training Report

This week was much better than the last. Probably because last week, I literally did nothing. LOL

Here was what my training looked like last week!

Mon~nothing

Tuesday~ 1.36 miles running, 1 mile elliptical

Wednesdays~ 1 mile running, weight lifting

Thursday~ 2.02 miles running

Friday~ nothing

Saturday ~ 3.10 miles running(outside)

MUCH BETTER!! Can't wait to see results!!

Back At It Again

Ok, so after falling off the planet for 3 months (aka summer vacation), I'm back and ready to get back into the groove. I've made a new goal, one which is totally doable. I find that when I make specific goals, I'm more likely to want to succeed. I just need to get into a good routine, which isn't easy since Dominic's in preschool now, I have classes and am working doubles on the weekend...BUSY BUSY! :)

Today, I ran a mile and lifted weights. I want to get back into a good routine, which hopefully will be as follows...

Monday~ weights, elliptical
Tuesday~ long run
Wednesday~weights, spinning
Thursday~ long run
Friday ~ weights, elliptical

Total Pounds Lost ~ 31.4 lbs
Pounds til pre-pregnancy weight with Dominic ~ 7.8 lbs
Pounds til Dominic's Birthday Party ~ 12 lbs
Pounds til long-term goal ~ 37.8 lbs

August can come anytime now!!

So in continuation with my previous post....seems like July just wanted to make us sick the whole month!! Dominic caught another nasty cold, which he passed to Jackson. Then a couple days later, I wountd up with the flu. Right before leaving for a weekend trip to Ohio. Then, on the day of the actual party, I lost my voice. What kind of crap is that?! lol So needless to say, I had only run twice ( 1 mile each time) before July 24th...augh. It's mentally tiring to have all this sickness and get gym time taken away from you. You try to get back on the horse, but its HARD. Luckily, I'm mentally tough...so I got back on! I'm trying to just focus on the running, and not on the dieting as much bc it's really important to me to complete the half marathon this year! :) So I ran 1 mile on Wednesday and it was actually easier than I thought. Then I ran 2 last night (Saturday night)...hoping to do 3-4 tomorrow as well. Then I can get back into actual marathon training!!

Here are the stats for the past couple crappy weeks!

Pounds lost these 2-3 weeks ~ 1.2 lbs
Total Pounds lost ~ 32.8 lbs
Pounds til pre-pregnancy weight with Dominic ~ 6.4 lbs
Pounds left til 20% goal ~ 9 lbs
Pounds left til Sept 1st goal ~ 12 lbs

Weekly Weigh in 23

This weigh in is for the past 2 weeks. If you already didn't know, I have a rough couple weeks between nasty colds and Dominic getting a stomach bug 4th of July weekend. Luckily, it didn't set my running back too far. I managed to get back out there today and do 3 miles. I need to get in all I can because half marathon training starts on Monday of next week!! :) I'm so excited and I really think the weight is just going to start falling off me once I up my weekly mileage and keep up with my weight lifting. Just need to keep my diet in check!!

Now for the stats!!

Pounds lost this week ~ 1.2 lbs
Total Pounds Lost ~ 31.6 lbs
Pounds left til my pre-pregnancy weight with Dominic ~ 7.6 lbs
Pounds left til my 20% goal ~ 10.2 lbs
**new goal**
Pounds left til my Puma 5-miler goal : 15 lbs (I want to lose 15 lbs before that race on August 20th)

Goals Completed:
I have officially lost 15% of my original starting weight!! :) Go me!! It's taken me a little longer than I would have liked...but I got there. After all, slow and steady wins the race!!

Frustration

Sorry all, but this is mainly going to be a venting post! I'm becoming VERY frustrated with weight loss and all.

1st- Just when I start to make some progress on the scale or maintain a good nutrition routine, someone (me or the kids) get sick. Now, I'm not the kind of mom to drag my kids to the gym while they are sick, and obviously I don't go if I don't feel up to par. These past 2 weeks we all (except Nathan) had nasty colds. It made me miss out on quality gym time, as well as a very important trip to NY to see relatives. So, I'm obviously upset about that. Now, Dominic has a stomach bug, which I'll most likely catch (anyone but the baby is fine with me!). So, this is going to set me back YET AGAIN! Ugh...I know there's nothing to do to prevent this stuff, but it just irks me to no end to get a good rhythym going, and then have it taken away from me so easily.
2nd-Why the frig does my husband lose weight like it's going out of style?! He eats more than I do, and lately has done less running than I do. Yet, his number on the scale keeps heading downward! He's up to 55+ pounds lost now. Makes me want to punch the wall out or something!!
3rd- I have been stuck at the same weight since mid-April. Do you know how crazy that can make a person?! lol I just want to see that number move, or I'd even settle for being a size smaller but having the same number on the scale. ARGGGGGGGGGGGGGH Makes me want to give up and just maintain my current weight. I won't do it, I'll keep going...but ah, the FRUSTRATION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Week 21 Weigh In

From now on, I'll be doing weigh-ins on Mondays! I seem to forget to post during the week, as my mind gets lost in many other things! :) This week I started adding weight lifting to my normal routines because my weight was staying static. It seems to REALLY be helping because my weight is finally moving on the scale! I also am VERY sore...but that's great because it means I'm working hard. I'm also adding HIT...high intensity intervals. I'm hoping that lifting 2-3 times a week along with my 3-4 runs and 2 HIT sessions, I can really boost my muscle mass and lessen my weight simultaneously. Also, I need to keep the good hold I have on my diet right now as well! I did EXTREMELY well this week with eating healthy and under my calorie count :) I know it's only a 1 lb loss...but its a BIG pound for me, and I'm proud of it!! I'm going to NY this weekend for my cousins graduation and I really need to keep things in check while I'm gone. I need to get a run or two in while I'm away! So I'm hoping my mom will watch the kids so I can get that done effectively.

Now for the stats!
Total Pounds lost this week ~ 1 lb
Total Pounds Lost ~ 30.4 lbs
Pounds left til 15% goal ~ 1 lb
Pounds left til Jackson's b-day party goal ~5 lbs
Pounds left til my prepregnancy weight with Dominic ~ 8.8 lbs

Weigh in Week 20

This week was a little better in terms of diet. I really seem to be keeping track of EVERYTHING I'm eating! :) I'm working hard on the diet right now...because it's essential for me. I always make sure I exercise but I haven't been losing weight. It was because I wasn't eating under my allotted calories. So hopefully the scale will continue to go down from here on out!!

I also ran the Smuttynose 5K this weekend. Rolling hills galore! Lots of fun though! I beat my last 5K race time of 36:20, and posted a 34:14!!! Not to mention I did my first mile in 9:48! Woo hoo! Can't wait to run my next race, which is in August. The PUMA 5 miler! I will probably do another 5K before that though!

I'm also looking forward to the nice weather! I've been very active outside in the garden and mowing the lawn! Who knew I'd be so interested in that type of stuff?! Anyways, on to the stats!!!

Total Pounds lost this week ~ .4 lbs
Total Pounds lost~ 29.4 lbs
Pounds left til my 15% goal ~ 2 lbs
Pounds left til my prepregnancy weight with Dominic ~ 9.8 lbs
Pounds left til Jackson's birthday party goal ~ 6 lbs

Getting Back Into It

Lately, I've had a really tough time in terms of my diet. Yesterday I finally controlled my calorie intake without really diving into sweets or anything. It's just a matter of me sticking to it for a week, then it's pretty much routine for me. I just need to learn to eat healthier and within my means, then I'll start losing again! My diet has been what was killing me lately. I've been keeping up with the exercise, NO PROBLEMS. But when it came to eating, I was being a human vaccuum cleaner :(
I had my longer run on Saturday! 6 miles! I remember before when 6 miles seemed impossible, but now I feel as if I can conquer the world when running. I also very much enjoy running outside. I look back on my life before and always being too shy to run outside, in fear that everyone was staring at me, thinking, god look how fat she is! What is she doing running?! I don't even think twice now...I just do it. I must say, I do enjoy the treadmill, and I'm mentally strong enough to stay on forever. It's not for everybody but apparently I make it work.
I have a 5K coming up on Sunday...the Smuttynose Will Run For Beer 5K. Can't wait to sport that t-shirt while running. I still want to buy a t-shirt that says "I run so I can eat cake later!" lol. It's so true...sort of. I love the exercise and the way it makes me feel. It makes me so much happier and I am able to get more done during the day. I'm more motivated. Anyways, 6 miles is almost half of the half marathon!! So I'm almost there!!! :) I can't wait for October...I'm going to be SOOOOO proud when I can accomplish that.
Anyways, here's to another week...
goals for the week are...
-Follow my 10K training to a T!
-LIMIT calorie intake!!
-AB exercises 3 days this week
-Weight training 3 times this week as well

I'm not even worrying about the scale this week since I gained like 3 pounds since Maryland due to my bad eating habits!!! At least I'm getting back on the horse....I don't wanna stay this way!

Weigh In Week 19

Wow, I can't believe I've been doing this for 19 weeks...that's just nuts. I'm trying to get back into a solid routine. I did make it to the gym 6 out of 7 days last week! I'm sticking to my running training sternly. As I up the miles, I can feel myself getting better. I also strength trained twice last week, and it's already helping me on my runs! I did 4 miles on Monday in 40:21. That's a 10:04 mph pace. Amazing, especially when I started running I was only doing 12:30 per mile lol. I still need a get a hold of my diet though. We are vacationing in Maryland for 4 days, and I'm hoping I can tame it while we are there. I also have to do a 5 mile run there as well. Should be nice though. So the goal for next week, is to get a better hold on diet. Then I should be ALL set :) Didn't lose much this week, but hey, it's still a loss!! Also think my weight might hesitate to move because I'm lifting weights now. If only I could force myself to do crunches lol.

Now for the stats!!!!

Total Pounds lost this week ~ -.6 lbs
Total Pounds lost~ 29 lbs
Pounds left til my 15% goal ~ 2.4 lbs
Pounds left til my prepregnancy weight with Dominic ~ 10.2 lbs
Pounds left til Jackson's birthday party goal ~ 19.4 lbs

Weigh In Week 18 & 7K Race

Sorry that it's been awhile since I last wrote an entry. After going on vacation for a week in NC (which was fantastic), I've been playing catch up ever since with my two classes. Thankfully, this week marks the last week of the semester and all the craziness will be over...at least until summer semester starts after a week break!! So, since NC I've managed to gain a little weight back, but I have gotten it to come off for the most part. I think in total I gained around 3ish pounds in the last 4 weeks, but I've lost most of it already.
My goal for the gym this week is to workout EVERY day. Also, I am trying to get back on the eating healthy track. My diet has really gone off the deep end lately, and I need to get back into the groove.
I also ran my first 7K, which is 4.4 miles. I did pretty well considering I did no training and the course the mostly hills and off terrain! Their timing was off, so we aren't sure of our exact times because we think it was faster than what their clock said. Their clock said 52 min, but we think I was more around 49 or 50 min. The race was very poorly organized and the route was horrible, so I'm sure we won't be running that one next year lol. Anyways, on to the results even though they aren't good!!

Here are the stats!!

Pounds gained since my last weigh-in 4 weeks ago! ~ +.4 lbs (isn't bad at all lol)
Total Pounds Lost ~ 28.4 lbs
Pounds left til my 15% goal ~ 3 lbs
Pounds left til my pre-pregnancy weight with Dom~ 10.8 lbs
Pounds left til Jackson's birthday party goal~ 20 lbs

Weigh In Week 14 and First 5K

My first 5K was Sunday! The weather was beautiful and the race was a fun one. I ran the whole thing with my friend Amanda. We didn't plan this actually, but that's what ended up happening. It was nice to be able to pace one another. We got down to the first mile marker and they said our time was 10:21...WHAAAATTT!!? I normally run a 12-13 min mile, so that's a lot faster pace than I normally keep. My husband got down to that mile marker and his time was 8:06, and he usually runs a mile at 10-11mph pace. Crazy! I tried to start slow, but it's really difficult to pace yourself with so many other people around you. But this was legitimately my first race EVER so I'm learning...and I'll know a little more for our next race. My next one is a 7K in Lowell that I'm running with both Amanda and Molly. 7K is just a little over 4 miles. So not a drastic jump from the 5K, which is good. I also have registered both me and my husband Nathan for a half marathon in October! Very excited for that! I'm also very excited for the vacation to NC we have coming up! The key will be to eat healthy and exercise WHILE on vacation, because I want to try and lose 2 pounds while I'm down there!!!

Week 14 Stats!!

Pounds Lost This Week ~ 2.4 lbs
Total Pounds Lost ~28.8 lbs
Pounds til my 15% goal ~ 2.6 lbs
Pounds left til my NC goal ~ 6.4 lbs (probably won't hit this one considering we leave on Saturday LOL)
Pounds left til my prepregnancy weight with Dominic ~ 10.4 lbs

First Run Outside

So yesterday I went to the gym for my run, and I ended up getting talked into running outside. I'm really happy I got to do it once before my race on Sunday! I ran around Laconia in a close vicinity to the gym, just in case my kids needed me while in the childcare center. It was invigorating running outside, even though it was early in the morning and chilly. But I warmed up very quickly. I even ran a couple hills...and as a result, my body as a whole was a little sore today. I knew I would feel it in my quads. The surprising part was that I actually run faster outside. The best part was that I didn't have to look at a screen telling me exactly how far I was and what lap I was on. I had my nikeplus going, but my ipod was completely covered by my sweatshirt sleeve, so I had no idea how close I was and what my time was until it gave me my half mile updates! It's almost nicer that way! I think that now that it's getting nicer outside, I'm going to have to run outside more often!! And for longer since after our 5K race, we'll be training for a 10K and eventually a half marathon in October! Crazy...considering the longest I've ever run is 3.5ish miles. lol Either way, I'm very excited and very glad that Paula pushed me to run outside yesterday!! I've only been listening to every tell me how much better running outside is, and now I finally understand why!!

Weigh In Week 13

So, I completely spaced and forgot about week 12. Oops. I had a busy week last week with us all being sick/recovering, so I get a free pass lol. So I can't believe it's been 13 weeks since I started this crazy journey. Speaking of crazy things, I set a new goal for me and the hubby. I registered us for a half marathon coming up in October. CRAZY. I'm very excited though, because keeping up with the long distance running means lots MORE weight loss! Also, after the 5K this weekend, I'll be strength training twice a week with Nathan...so more muscle should boost my weight loss as well. This week was an ok one. I would have done a lot better if I controlled my diet, but lets face it...I have a huge sweet tooth! Plus, Nathan and I had a rare date night to ourselves, so we went all out :) Yesterday I also got back into the habit of tracking my food. I've gotten kinda lazy about that and its obvious when I don't count, I don't lose as much. Nathan also gave me a tour of a new strength training workout he'll be doing with me after race weekend...this way I'll be gaining muscle to tone up. I've barely gone down one jean size, and that's because I haven't been doing any strength training...just cardio. So that's going to help MUCHO! Also, I want to push myself outside my comfort zone. I want to start taking classes on crosstraining days or something...try spinning. I am going to try ZUMBA with Pam next Monday. Anyways, I think I'm finally back on track! :)

Here are the Week 13 Stats!
Pounds lost this week ~ 1 lb
Total Pounds lost ~ 26.4 lbs
Pounds left my 15% goal ~ 5 lbs
Pounds left til my NC goal ~ 8.8 lbs
Pounds left til my prepregnancy weight with Dominic~ 12.8 lbs

2 weeks til our 5k

After a pretty rough week full of sickness and recovery...I think I'm ready to hit the gym again tomorrow. Dominic started it all last week with his nasty cough/cold, then I picked it up starting Tuesday night, but unfortunately, mine turned into the full blown flu Wednesday afternoon! Then Jackson started a fever that same day, one that ended us up in the ER that night when it hit 104! Scary stuff! Turns out he had a double ear infection that was causing the high fever. So the rest of the week/weekend was spent in recovery mode. I think everyone (including me) is starting to feel somewhat normal again. To be honest, I'm worried about the week of running time I lost, seeing as today is 2 weeks til our 5k! So, to help me out in the next 2 weeks...I made some goals. I think I need something to kick start back up again! Goals for this week!

• To lose 4 pounds before next Tuesday (April 5th)


• To strength train 2 days per week (Tuesday and Thursday)


• Run 3.25 miles (a 5k) Monday-Wednesday-Friday


• Get in a short run this weekend OUTSIDE

Yes, I still haven't ran outside. Ever. Well at least not recently. The last time I ran outside for distance was probably freshmen year of high school...maybe. IDK.

Anyways, that's my post and I'm sticking to it. Here's to some pound loss this week and to shredding some inches as well!!

Weigh In Week 11

Well, this was a crazy week!! I had my first 3 lia sophia shows 3 days in a row with 2 being held in Mass and 2 in Rhode Island!! So I was all over place, including getting my car fixed. Seems like its never quiet around here....always something going on. So I didn't get in ANY exercise sessions Fri-Monday...sad :( I ate ok, but not stellar. Luckily, I managed to barely lose weight.
I really need to get my eating back on track. I'm having a hard time with my diet right now. I think that going through the rut kind of hurt me :)


Now for the Week 11 Stats!

Pounds lost this week ~ .2 lbs (shocked, I thought I really would have gained this week!)
Total Pounds lost ~ 25.4 lbs
Pounds left til 15% goal ~ 6 lbs
Pounds left til my NC goal ~ 9.8 lbs
Pounds left til my prepregnancy weight with Dominic ~ 13.8 lbs

Weigh In Week 10

Yesterday was the last day of 5K training for me! I did a personal best time, and felt spectacular doing it! Yes, I'm still slower than most of you avid runners, but I'm pushing my limits and getting faster every time!

I made a new goal that I want to lose 10 more pounds by the day we leave for our North Carolina vacation. So I'm hoping I can accomplish that one, as well as tone up a lot too!

Now for the week 10 stats!

Pounds lost this week ~ 2.2 lbs
Total pounds lost ~ 25.2 lbs
Pounds left til my 15% goal ~ 6.2 lbs
Pounds left til my NC vacation goal ~ 10 lbs
Pounds left til my prepregnancy weight with Dominic ~ 14 lbs

Goals:
Gym Challenge Goal ~ I did hit my gym challenge goal in time. So I'll be seeing a portion of the money in that pot! :)

Week 9 5K Run 2

I've been a little behind this week in terms of my running. I've had a busy week with tons going on. Jackson was under the weather on Monday, then Tuesday Dominic had his first round of swim lessons! I managed to get in my first run on Wednesday with class and a major lab practical afterwards, then Thursday I covered someone else's gym shift and drove down to MASS. I then dropped my hubby's car off for its 60,000 mile service...which involving moving kids and car seats into a rental, then doing it all over again when they were done working on the car...plus a trip to La Caretta for lunch and Old Navy afterwards!! Woah, that was exhausting just writing all that down!!

Anyways, I did my 2nd run of the week this morning. It was fantastic! I think this was my best run yet. I ran the first 2.25 miles at a consistent 4.6 mph, then I upped my pace by .1 mph every quarter mile. Then on my last lap, I started it at 5 mph and finished it at 5.5 mph. So pretty much busting ass at the end! Finishin' strong! Also, I ran the full 5K instead of just 3 miles, which is what I was supposed to do.

I'm pumped and very proud!! Also, on a side note...I made my weight loss goal for my gym challenge! So I'll be seeing some portion of that money pot that I put cash into! Woo-hoo!! I also set a little goal for myself for the race...I'd like to finish in under 40 minutes. It took me 42 min to run the full 5K, so I just need to shave 2 minutes off my time! I'm really looking forward to this upcoming weigh-in. I think it's going to be a good one!

Weigh-in Week 9

Oops, I forgot to write in here yesterday, but heres what my stats were as of yesterday morning!! The last week has been difficult for me. I was going through a little rut, and wasn't feeling motivated to do anything at all. I think a combination of things has contributing to this. I have quite the hectic schedule between the kids, housework, classes (which are thankfull more challenging than any semester), work, and car issues. I haven't been doing well in terms of diet and exercise so it's important that I get back on track. I know I will, I have no doubt in that. We just booked a vacation to North Carolina for April vacation week, and we are also going to Maryland in May!! Then we are also going to NY in June for my cousin's high school graduation. It's looking up to be quite the vacation year!
This is also the last week of my 5K training program!! Crazy huh?! This week consists of 3 3-mile runs! Then I'm DONE!!

Here are the stats for week 9!

Pounds lost this week ~ .8 lbs
Total Pounds lost ~ 23 lbs
Pounds left til gym challenge goal (March 11th) ~ 1.2 lbs (not sure if I'll complete this goal or not) Pounds left til my 15% goal ~ 8.4 lbs
Pounds left til my prepregnancy weight with Dominic ~ 16.2 lbs

Weigh In Week 8

Unfortunately, I seem to have hit a plateau. Although, I haven't been going to the gym on non-running days for extra crosstraining sessions. That would probably help. I also think I need to start strength training and that will help out! My biggest problem is my fear of the weight room lol.

Here are the stats for week 8!

Pounds lost this week ~ .8 lbs
Total Pounds lost ~ 22.2 lbs
Pounds left til gym challenge goal (March 11th) ~ 2 lbs
Pounds left til my 15% goal ~ 9.2 lbs
Pounds left til my prepregnancy weight with Dominic ~ 17 lbs

5K Training Week 7

Week 7 of 5K training is officially over!
I'm in absolute disbelief that I was able to run 2.5 miles 3 times this week without flinching. Granted, on Wednesday I didn't really want to run because of my mood, but I did it anyways. So that middle run was probably my worst this week. Today's was very easy. I do the first 1.5 miles @ 4.5 mph, then I up it by .1 each quarter mile lap afterwards. This morning, I even got the speed up to 5.3 mph. It's a huge improvement, and it's nice knowing that I'll be able to really push it at the end of the race!!
Our first 5K is April 9th, and I can't wait. After 5K we are planning on training for a 10K, then eventually...(dare I sat it?) a half marathon. Just 2 months earlier I would have said you were crazy if you thought I could run 3 miles lol. In just 2 short weeks, I'll be able to EASILY run 3 miles, 3 times per week. CRAZY!! I'm very proud of myself, and the running is definitely helping shed the excess weight I have still. I really need to work in some strength training though...especially to tone my stomach. And yes, I know it's impossible to spot tone, but I really need to lose some of this belly fat!!

Week 8 of 5K training consists of:

3 Runs all the same
Run 2.75 miles (with additional warm-up and cool down)

Weigh in Week 7

Well, I'm not going to write that much, because my weight stayed exactly the same! lol
I didn't eat so well at the beginning of the week, so I went up a little then did really well at the end of the week! :)
I kind of figured this would happen because I had HUGE loss of 4.6 pounds last week :) My pattern has been BIG week little week. Oh well...I'll keep on truckin!

Week 7 Run 1

I was really shocked at how easy this morning's run was! I ran 2.5 miles with no problems.
I even started at 4.5 mph for the first 1.5 miles, then upped my speed by .1 mph every quarter mile, until the last quarter mile which I started at 5 mph and ended at 5.2 mph. It felt great, too! Totally doable!
I'm really looking forward to running now...and can't wait to finish training. I do plan on following up with 10K training after this 5K stuff. Even possibly training for half marathon in October....feeling very ambitious!! :)

Success

I know it's Sunday, but I really needed to post this!
On Friday, my 3rd run of the week was to run 2.25 miles (or 25 minutes). At this point in the training program you can choose to run for distance or for time. Now, because I only run at a 4.5/4.6 mph pace, it takes me a lot longer than 25 minutes to run 2.25 miles. So I decided to run for distance, because honestly that's what most important when training for the 5K. If I can't run the distance for the race, I'm screwed lol.

First of all, my iPod was dead and couldn't find the charger :( So I was forced to bring my headphones and listen to the The View while I ran...boring! I got on, and wanted to quit around 10 minutes in...usually that's the hardest for me. But I kept going!!

I shocked myself. I was able to run 2.25 miles! It's funny because the longest I'd run before then without walking was 1.5 miles-ish. So I really surpassed that! It may seem like a small victory, but I'm VERY ecstatic about it! I haven't been able to run that long since before my wedding...and even then, I could only jog at 4 mph...I'm going faster that I did before! Now I'm done with week 6 of 5K training and on to week 7...3 weeks left!! Here's what week 7 entails:

3 Runs all the same
Run 2.5 miles (or 25 minutes)

I will be running the distance obviously. Unlike previous weeks, this is the first week with NO walking whatsoever (besides the warm-up and cool down).
I'm looking forward to this upcoming week. I don't think the weigh-in on Tuesday will be a big one...since I had a big week last week, but the week after should be awesome because I'll have done 3 solid runs!

Weigh-in Week 6

I can't believe I'm already on week 6. Time really does fly by! I did really well this week, even with going to a birthday party and having Valentine's Day thrown in there! I think the most important thing to take away from this is that it's ok to eat whatever you want sometime, BUT you have to get right back into the healthy routine the next day...otherwise it will lead to binging or just bad eating in general.
I also managed to hit 3 goals this week!! Woo-hoo!!

Here are the stats for week 6!

Pounds lost this week ~ 4.6 lbs
Total pounds lost ~ 21.4 lbs

Goals:
Pounds left til my gym challenge (need to lose 10 lbs by March 7th) ~ 2.8 lbs
Pounds left til my 15% goal ~ 10 lbs
Pounds left til my pre-pregnancy weight with Dominic ~ 17.8 lbs


Goals Accomplished This Week:
1. I have now lost 10% of my original body weight!
2. I lost 15 lbs in time for Valentine's Day!! (just a random goal I set)
3. I now weigh less than I what I did before my pregnancy with Jackson!

Week 6 of 5K Training

Here's what week 6's 3 runs consist of!

Run #1
Run 5 min
Walk 3 min
Run 8 min
Walk 3 min
Run 5 min

Run #2
Run 10 min
Walk 3 min
Run 10 min

Run #3
Run 25 minutes

(all with 5 min warm-ups and cool downs)

Run #1 went well tonight. It was an alright run. My body wasn't really into it, but oh well. I still managed to do the the run, then walk until the clock hit 60 minutes after. Then, I did the elliptical for 10 minutes, before heading home to make it in time to watch Pretty Little Liars! Tomorrow is weigh-in day...really hoping to see some good results!! :)

5K Week 5 Run 3

I did my 3rd run of the week yesterday for week 5 of 5K training. I was supposed to run 20 minutes straight. This is the first run where it was ALL running and no walking at all. Surprisingly, it was pretty easy. I even ran a little faster towards the end, too! Next week gets a little bit harder (0bviously), but I'm really enjoying this. I can really see myself as a runner!
We plan on picking out a couple 5K's to run this spring, too!

I was shocked at how good I felt. Now that week 5 is completed, I have 4 more weeks left in the 5K program! I'm sure they are going to go fast, then I'll have to start the 10K program. :)

Weigh-in Week 5

I got in a solid workout today! I didn't attend my first class like I had initially hoped I would.

Today's workout
Elliptical weight loss program ~ 30 minutes
Walk @ 3.5 mph ~ 20 minutes

Now here for this week's stats!!

Pounds lost this week ~ 1.6 lbs
Total pounds lost ~ 16.8 lbs
Pounds left til my pre-pregnancy weight with Jackson ~ 2.4 lbs
Pounds left til my Valentine's goal ~ 3.2 lbs
Pounds left til my 10% goal ~ 4.1 lbs
Pounds left til my gym challenge ~ 7.4 lbs

Run 1 Week 5

Tonight's run was rather easy, although I wasn't feeling myself. I had a little tummyache earlier :( My body felt lethargic when I was running, so I'm hoping that I'm not coming down with anything!
It was my first run breaking in my new running shoes, too. They felt a little tight, so I'm hoping they loosen up a little bit.

I can't wait to see what the scale says tomorrow. I don't predict a big loss. The hubster and I had a cheat weekend in terms of our diet. I was exercising over the weekend, so we'll see what the scale says. I think I might even attempt my first class at the gym tomorrow. We shall see. It depends on how I'm feeling in the morning. :)

5K Training

I completed week 4 of 5K training on Saturday. The running portions were significantly easier than they were the first run of the week. Now, I'm on to week 5! Week 5 is where it really starts to get difficult! The 3 runs a week aren't the same for each run any more. They change, and it ends with a longer run every week. Yikes!! My hubby is a week ahead of me in the training, and he just did his first 20 min straight run....crazy!

Here's what week 5 looks like:

Run 1
Warm-up walk ~ 5 min
Run ~ 5 min
Walk ~ 3 min
Run ~ 5 min
Walk ~ 3 min
Run ~ 5 min

Run 2
Warm-up walk ~ 5 min
Run ~ 8 min
Walk ~ 5 min
Run ~ 8 min

Run 3
Warm-up walk ~ 5 min
Run ~ 20 min

I bought new running shoes this week, and some new workout clothes. Kind of makes me excited to hit the gym :) I've been wearing my husband's oversized t-shirts and pants currently...it will nice to feel better about the way I'm looking!

Rest days

I was supposed to be taking today off from working out, but just HAD to get out because the boys were couped up in the house yesterday due to the snowstorm. So I went to the gym, without really any idea as to what kind of cardio I was going to do. Sure enough, I went over towards the treadmill....I'm a sucker. So I jumped right into my second run of the week...even though I told myself I was going to wait til Friday so my knees could get a break. Oopsie :) Anyways, it went really well. It was much easier than the first time around! Then my friend Jess that I work with at the daycare got there, and I finished up my workout at 60 minutes on the treadmill! It's really nice having someone there beside you to chat with!! You don't even realize that you're exercising.
I'm really glad she's been there the past 2 times I've ran. Helps me go a little longer and avoid ducking out after 35 minutes lol :)
So Jess-thanks!!

Anyways, I will use the elliptical tomorrow (as much as I really want to use the tread!). I'm looking forward to Tuesday's weigh in already. I'm thinking this is going to be a really good week for loss. Also-I'm getting new sneakers this weekend WOO HOO! I really need them, and I hope they'll help with the sore knees. Although, today, I didn't feel any soreness.
Just goes to say, that the body really does need rest days...even though I feel like working out everyday to keep up my weight loss....
REST IS IMPORTANT!!

Weigh In Week 4

This week marks the beginning of week 4 of my 5K training. This is when it starts to get interesting!! The runs get longer and you're actually running more than half of the time!

Here's what week 4 of 5K training looks like:

Brisk Warm-up Walk~ 5 min
Run 3 min
Walk 1.5 min
Run 5 min
Walk 2.5 min
Run 3 min
Walk 1.5 min
Run 5 min

Today wasn't that bad, especially since I ran a mile on Sunday. Although, I was pretty tired because I literally ran the night before. Also, my knees are getting a little sore, probably because I need new shoes, which I plan on buying this weekend. I didn't really give myself a break from running this week...oops. Normally I use the elliptical on cross-training days but I was kind of sick of it, so I stuck to running! So as far as weight loss goes, I only lost .6 lbs this week. I attribute that to a couple bad food choices as well as muscle gain. My body comp scale says I gained a good amt of muscle so I'm not worried. As long as I keep up with my calorie counting and exercise I know I'll be fine.

Now for the stats!

Pounds lost this week ~ .6lbs
Total pounds lost ~ 15.2 lbs
Pounds left til my prepregnancy weight with Jackson ~ 4 lbs
Pounds left til my Valentine's Day goal ~ 4.8 lbs
Pounds left til my 10% goal ~ 5.7 lbs

First Mile!!

Yesterday morning I hit the gym at 7am, my earliest time there yet! I like getting up early and getting it done on Saturdays and Sundays. That way I have the whole rest of the day to spend with my family, or at work (unfortunately) lol. Sunday wasn't a running day, but I felt like running instead of using the elliptical.

Here was my workout:
Warm-up Walk 5 min @ 3.5 mph
Run 13.5 min @ 4.5 mph (my first full mile!!!)
Walk 2.5 min
Run 1 Min @ 5 mph, Walk 1 min @ 3.5 mph (2 of these intervals)
Run 30 sec. @ 5.5 mph, Walk 30 sec. @ 3.5 mph (4 of these speed intervals)
Walk 8 min, cool down

I RAN MY FIRST MILE!! (since Jackson was born)

It was a huge milestone for me, and I just wanted to prove I could still do it. I'm really looking forward to tomorrow's run, which is the beginning of week 4 for my 5K training. I'm not sure if I'll hit the gym tomorrow night for crosstraining or not...we shall see. I def need to tomorrow running to get my run in since it's going to be snowing cats and dogs on Wednesday...so I'm not planning on going anywhere that day! :) I don't think I'll have lost any weight for tomorrow's weigh in either...I'm thinking my weight will stay put this week. I made some bad food choices...nothing too crazy. Plus, I've gained a lot of muscle this week...so eh.

Faster, Stronger

I hit the gym pretty early today! I can't make up my mind as to whether I like going first thing in the morning or in the evening. It's quieter in the evening, and I enjoy that. Also, I usually weigh myself every morning...don't worry I'm not obsessive :) I just like to see the miniscule changes throughout the days. Believe it or not, it actually helps. Then sometimes I'll do days between weigh-ins. Just depends on my mood, and lets me know if I need to work a little harder. The scale's weight has kind of been stuck the past couple days (which is fine) and I figured out why. I have a body composition scale that measures not just your weight but muscle mass, water weight, body fat %, etc. So since I've started working out, I've lost almost 5% of my fat and gained 4 lbs of muscle!! That's huge...so I'm guessing I've just gained muscle recently and thats why it's stuck because I've been doing everything right. The key is to not get discouraged! Keep on truckin! I also track all of my calories and fitness at Livestrong.com's MyPlate. It's statistically shown that when you keep a diary of all the food you eat, you lose more weight. I think it's because you're making yourself more aware of what and how much you are eating!!
Anyways, on to todays workout!!
Today was run #3 of week 3 of my 5K training! I also wasn't paying attention during 1 part, which made my run a little different than usual. I also improvised at the end, and did more running!

Workout
Brisk 5 min warm up walk @ 3.5 mph
Run 1.5 min @ 4.5 mph
Walk 1.5 min (all walks are at 3.5)
Run 3 min
Walk 1.5 min (actually was supposed to be 3 min, but I wasn't paying attention oops)
Run 5 min (was supposed to be 3 min, but I improvised)
....and this is where I completely added on to the run....
Walk 1.5 min
Run 1.5 min (all runs were @ 4.5)
(did those alternating intervals 3 times)
Cool down walk of 6 min @ 3.5 mph

Total Miles ~ 2.39 miles!

Also, my trainer gave the P90x dvd set. I tried the ab ripper one yesterday, and it was pretty intense. My abs are def. hurting today, especially when I laugh. I'm definitely looking forward to week 4 of 5K training! This is where it starts to be mostly running with only minimal walking! I'm psyched!!!

Cardio Fun Time

I told myself last night that I was taking today off. Well, that didn't happen lol. Well it wasn't going to take it off because I'm lazy or anything. I just had a lot of anatomy and physiology homework to complete before class tonight. Luckily, Jackson was up at 5 am, so I just stayed up after he ate to finish it off, which gave me time to workout today. My newest goal is that for any workout I go to do, whether it be 5K training or crosstraining on the days I'm not running, I need to go cardio for a total of an hour. So today here's what I did:

Workout
Elliptical (weight loss intervals) ~ 30 minutes
Walking @ 3.5 mph on an incline of 2-4 ~ 30 minutes

Instead of just doing the elliptical and burning 350-360 calories...just that extra 30 minutes of walking burns another 222 calories! It just allows me to eat a little more during the day, or not...depending on my hunger status. I usually am not hungry after a workout, but I always eat because I know it's bad not to refuel your body up! I already planned all my meals and snacks out for the day, so I know what times I'm eating and what exactly I will be eating. I have to plan...especially on days like today when I have class. We only get a 20 minute break during class to eat...and it's not like they have good food to eat there. So I started bringing a Kashi bar and something else thats low in calories.
Anyways, I am looking forward to my running training tomorrow. I seriously think I might become a long distance runner if I really push myself!

Weigh-in Week 3

Ah, week 3 :) I'm very pumped for this week because the 5K training seems a little more difficult. Or at least it did, until I did my first workout this morning. It actually wasn't too bad. Week 3's workout consists of:

Brisk Warm-up Walk ~ 5 minutes
Then 2 of these intervals:
1 1/2 minute run
1 1/2 minute walk
3 minute run
3 minute walk

Surprisingly, I was very able to do the 3 minute stretches. It wasn't easy but it wasn't super difficult at the same time! Afterwards, I went in the weight room (that scares me) and did a couple upper body exercises. Then I got my butt out of there fast! Seriously, I have a big fear of the weight room, not too sure why. I wasn't afraid when I was personal training with Pam, but that's because I had my own bodyguard lol.

I had a little lapse on Saturday in terms of my diet. I ate a little bit more of my dinner than I should have, but I was staaaaaaaaaaarving! I also was craving something sweet. So I bought a bag of those little Dove chocolate hearts. They make a great treat if you want to indulge but not use up tons of calories. There are only 230 calories in 6 pieces! Now, I won't eat 6...but eating 2 makes my craving go away and then I don't binge out on cookies, ice cream, and candies! I think it's important not to ignore cravings because if you do, it only makes it worse and then you end up having a really bad day in terms of eating!

Now for the stats!!

Pounds lost this week ~ 2.8 lbs
Total pounds lost ~ 14.6 lbs
Pounds left til my pre-pregnancy weight with Jackson ~ 4.6 lbs
Pounds left til my Valentine's Day goal ~ 5.4 lbs
Pounds left til my 10% goal ~ 6.3 lbs

Becoming a Runner

On Wednesday I had a really hard time with week 2 of the 5K program. I went through a lot of running blogs and articles between then and tonight. I came out of it with a lot! I learned that not every run will be a good one, and if you're feeling overworked, slow it down. So instead of running at 5 mph today, I ran at 4.5. And guess what?! The workout was a piece of cake! It definitely helps my self-confidence to know that I was able to do the whole workout and not cringe at all.
Also, my gym is having a "after the holidays" contest. You put $10 bucks in the pot, weigh in, have 7 weeks to lose 10 pounds (totally doable!), and then the people who achieve their goal of losing 10 pounds get to split what's in the pot. I am participating this year :) I think I can easily do it my controlling my diet and keeping up with my exercise regimen!
I happened to hit up CVS after the gym to grab a couple things for my husband, and ended up snagging a Women's Health book and a Runner's magazine. I'm really starting to enjoy running, and would love to make it a sport for myself. Maybe someday even run a marathon! I would love to achieve that long-term goal a couple years down the line!! I also bought the Jillian Michaels 6 week 6 pack dvd. I watched it today...looks pretty difficult but I'm up for the challenge! Jillian reccommends doing the workout 5 times a week. I think I will start off with 3...I don't want to overload myself. I have a lot going on between the boys, school, work, and the house!
I'm really excited for my Sunday run that will conclude Week 2 of the 5K program. As for the gym tomorrow, we shall see. I'm learning how important rest is :)

Weekly Weigh-in

Last night I managed to hit the gym at 7...AT NIGHT! This is totally out of the norm for me considering I always go in the morning and usually conform to the thinking of if I don't get it done in the morning, it won't be done at night. I guess I've just started changing a lot of things :)
I got there, and kind of liked it. There was barely anyone there, and I didn't have to fight anyone for a treadmill or elliptal! Kind of quiet and more low key for sure!

My workout
- 30 min on the elliptical doing the weight loss intervals
- 15 min on the treadmill (ran a mile in my fastest time yet)

I felt good but definitely know when I'm tired. I wanted to go for longer on the treadmill but I could tell my body was fatigued. So I listened to it, and stopped. Better to prevent injury than end up injured for 2 weeks, right?

Now for the exciting stats!
Weight loss for the week ~ 3 lbs
Total weight loss~ 11.8 lbs
Pounds left til I hit my 10% goal~ 9.1 lbs
Pounds left til I hit my Valentine's goal~ 8.2 lbs

So, I hit my first goal of losing 5% of my starting weight AND my new years goal of losing 3 pounds per week :) Today is a GOOD day!!!!

Motivation

Motivation is key in achieving your goals! Luckily, I think I'm becoming more and more motivated with each workout I do. I wanted to hit the gym today, but I began putting it off. I finally ended up dragging my butt out of the house around 11:30 to get it done! I got in a really nice workout, too! Originally, I told myself that I was going to do the elliptical trainer for an hour. Yikes...I got tired. So here's what I actually did :)

Elliptical Trainer for 30 minutes ~ weight loss interval program
Treadmill~ 1/2 of a 5K training workout...with some extra sprinting (I even managed to get up to 5.5 mph, a lot faster than I ever go)

My body feels fantastic, and I'm glad I got my bum out of the door. That seems like it's the biggest step for me. Once I get out the door, I'm totally down for some workout time!! Weigh in is on Tuesday...can't wait to see how much I've lost this week!!!

Week 1 of 5K Training DONE

This morning I woke up early, ate a good breakfast, and geered up for my last workout on this 1st week of 5K training. I hit the gym earlier than I ever have before...at 7AM! It's not that that time is too early for me, but the daycare isn't offered until 8:30 :) I followed the routine to a T, except that the last 4 "runs" of 1 min, I split into 30 sec @ 5mph and 30 sec. @5.2mph! It's just nice to prove to myself that I can run a little bit faster!

It was amazingly easier than the first time I ran! Next week the routine gets a little bit more difficult, but not by much. Here's what Week 2 of 5K Training looks like:

• Brisk warm-up walk for 5 minutes
• Alternate running for 1.5 minutes with walking 2 minutes for a total of 20 minutes
• Cool down walk for 5 minutes

Total workout time: 30 minutes

I can't wait to start! I'm feeling really good and getting into the running now. Also, I will be doing crosstraining on off days, probably just the elliptical for 30 minutes and strength training!

5K Training

Today, I started my 5K training program! The first week is pretty basic. You choose 3 workout days to run a week. I'm going to be doing Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. The first week's workouts are all the same.

• Warm up with a brisk walk for 5 minutes
• Alternate jogging for 60 seconds and walking 90 seconds for 20 minutes

It doesn't say anything about a cool down, but I added one of 5 minutes walking to the end of it.

So, I did this workout today. I did all my "jogs" at 5mph and all my walks at 3.5 mph. Then I dropped the cooldown down to 3mph. It certainly wasn't easy for me, especially since the highest speed I've done so far was only 4 mph. I also did 1 mile in 15:15...my fastest time yet so far!! :) Very proud of that. I think the last time I had done it I was just over 16 min or so!

Now for the stat updates!

Total pounds lost ~ 8.8

Pounds left to lose before my Valentine's Day goal ~ 14.4

Pounds until my 5% Goal ~ 1.6!! (so close to this one!)

Pounds until my 10% Goal ~ 12.1

2011 Goals

It's that time of year again. Everyone always makes these unrealistic outlandish resolutions for the new year, and then they usually never follow through. In past years, I have been one of those people. But not this year. This is year WILL be different. One of my resolutions has always been to lose weight, but I never set specific goals for myself, leading to failure. So this year, I'm setting a specific guidelines so I can hit a bunch of small goals on the way to my big one! So here they are:

2011 Goals
Ideally I would like to be down to my goal weight before we go on our Disney vacation the 3rd week of April. So, I want to lose 70 pounds to be at my goal weight. That means I have to lose just under 5 pounds a week to get there. I realize that's not really realistic, but I can work my butt off to try and get there.
My first personal goal is lose 3 pounds/week. That would mean losing 43.5 pounds before April 15th.
So, that's one of my big goals.
I would also like to lose 15 pounds by Valentine's Day (6 weeks away). I just used Valentine's for a specific date...I don't really care that I look good for Valentine's day lol.
I would also like to run a 5K outside the beginning of March. This means I have to perfect my running, and get back on track. I've been avoiding the treadmill lately and just using the elliptical.

That's it for now. I plan to weigh in every Monday from now on. I've been kind of lax about it, but I'm going to start doing it every Monday now to track progress. I'll set more goals as 2011 progresses :)

Happy New Year

So, I managed to get in a little run today somehow between all the craziness. My older child woke up with what seems to be a migraine, but is better now, thank God! After caring for him for the better part of the morning, I managed to get him down for an afternoon nap which he needed so badly. I wasn't planning on running today either. I just spontaneously got dressed and headed down to the treadmill.

I actually walked/jogged a mile in 16 minutes. Previously, the fastest I've ever done a mile was in a little over 17 minutes, and it was strictly walking. This time, I was able to run for 5 minutes straight...shocking, since I haven't run in a while...just been doing the eliptical mostly.

This is how my workout went!

5 minutes walking @ 3.5 mph
5 minutes jogging @ 4 mph
2 minutes walking
2 minutes jogging
1 minute walking
1 minute running
and honestly can't remember what was after the mile...I alternated jogging and walking, but I changed speeds frequently. I was on the treadmill for a total of 25 minutes.

I'd say it's pretty good for my first workout of 2011! Bring on the new year and new me. I'm highly motivated right now, so watch out, here I come!! :)