Ok so I lied to you all again, I said I would blog about Bay to Breakers as the next post buuuuut I'm waiting on a friend to post his pictures. Funny thing, when you're actually running a race, it makes it pretty hard to take pictures of all the goofy stuff going on around you. It was a ton of fun, I've never seen so many sweaty naked men up close before... Lots of great costumes and the mood was just jovial. The pace was especially nice, considering I'm a slow poke. So while my time was worse than the 10k by a min/mi or two, I felt better about the run and my recovery time was only about 1 day, versus the 3 day utter incapacitation from the 10k. Now I'm faced with how to motivate myself to continue running without the pressure of a race to train for... I did just yesterday, purchase an app that has audio simulation of you being chased by zombies while you're on missions to collect items for your base camp (it's called Zombies, Run!), and it's pretty amusing. I'm excited about the idea of just being a runner, someone who can go out and just do a couple miles to stay in shape. And it will certainly make strength training and weight loss easier now that I'm not pushing for distance. Someday I'd like to get back into distance running (if you're interested, 7.46mi is my longest distance to date), but for now I'm gonna really buckle down on the weight loss aspect. And that's what I've been doing for the past two and a half weeks I'd say... and it's finally starting to pay off.
I've officially lost about 4lbs from my recent efforts after maintaining a solid 200lbs for the past 3 or 4 months of training, I've now left the 200's. I haven't been under 200 in maybe... a year? Two? So it's a fantastic feeling. Of course I'm impatient and really ready to lose more, but it's slow goings. Mostly, I'm so proud of myself. I've never really lost weight before, only gained, so being able to be completely in control, to be the only reason I have lost the weight is amazing. Ed was supportive but it wasn't because he forced me to do anything. I didn't have to resort to any program or book or diet plan as a crutch. I didn't have a traumatic experience. I just pulled myself up by my bootstraps and realized the only way to do this, is to do it.
A big (truly, a HUGE) thing I had to come to terms with is that there is no way to lose weight by exercising. You have to modify your diet. (I can hear you readers saying 'duh' as I type this, I know) Even if you exercise like crazy, there's no way you can burn off all that you eat - and like I found, your body will probably just shut down on you if you try. All the exercising makes me feel strong, and hell, I am strong now. I can do a ton of push-ups, and I can press 5 (well now almost 10) pounds more than my entire body weight with my legs. That's kinda awesome right?! I think so :) I notice all the little things that have changed... My arms and legs have definition, I don't get winded so easily... I can do videos and exercises that a year ago made me ill with exhaustion. Such a great feeling.
On another note, it's officially under 100 days til the wedding!!! The invitations are in the process of being put together as we speak and if you must know, they are incredible. I cannot wait for people to get them. They fit the wedding and our personality so well. I hope they make people smile like I did when I saw them. Joe has done beautiful work. It's crazy to think in a little over 3 months, I'll be married to an amazing man and off to the Grenadines.. .to work on my tan of course. And by tan I mean freckles. And by freckles I mean burns. All the little pieces of wedding things are coming together: I have the bridesmaids gifts, hair & makeup plans, wood working things are being built, photobooth backdrop, rough plan for food and snacks - possible popcorn machine?, guestbook quilt is coming together, bunting, memorial candles for Opa and for Ed's dad... all the little things are actually starting to get done or taking shape. It feels great and I can't wait to have all our friends and family come in and just have fun with us. I'll start documenting my crafts soon since all my races are over with and it's crunch time for building things.
Ok so I promise, I'll post pictures and give a full recap of the craziness of the race and post-race loveliness with friends and Dad & Debbie next time... or the time after that possibly :-P til then!
Friday, May 25, 2012
Monday, May 7, 2012
"I'm sorry but I'm beginning to hate your face"
So this will be a very meeee centered blog post without many exciting tales of our adventures... you've been warned! :)
Regarding my weight loss endeavors, I've been really stalled out. I'm still running as much as I can, yesterday was a solid 6.5 jog. And yes, let me clarify, when I say I run, I really mean I jog. Those of you that read this blog know that I am no lithe dancer who floats off the ground. So in reality, my zaftig self is really doing more of a plodding jog. But it's a plodding jog for 6.5 miles so I ain't ashamed of anything in that department. I have faith that when I shed a little more weight I'll may truly be 'running' in the future. But weight loss? Nada. I've even tried checking my measurements, and we're looking at nada there too. Impossible you say? Well I guess not.
So spurred on by my first fitting for my wedding dress (which fits perfectly as is, so this weight loss is just icing on the cake... mmmmm icing...) in June, I've doubled/tripled my routine. I'm still weight training and running, and I'm adding Jillian Michaels videos, more Just Dance cardio time, and more general body weight training on top of my previous schedule. This brings me to the title of the blog, because some days when I am beat to hell, I really hate Jillian Michaels face. When she calls me out on my excuses or slacking (rightfully so), I want to throw my dumbbell through the television. I'm sure Bob would be much nicer.... :-P
I am tired. It's kind of amazing the difference between training for distance runs and training to lose weight. My runs are so much more difficult after all the extra training time. And another thing that's changed? My alcohol tolerance. I've not been very aware of how dehydrated I've become from the extra work, so the past week you can imagine my shock when I was under the table with a debilitating headache from two beers! Oy. Just another readjustment. Strangely, my eating seems to have improved along with my increased exercise, but that could also be because the grocery store is literally flooded with amazing produce right now. It's been really fun loading up on all the fresh greens, and mountains of fragrant berries.
Another major thing helping me? So many of my friends and friends of friends are exercising right now. And I've discovered I am an insanely competitive person. That competitiveness can take me pretty far. Ed, who is training for a marathon, has lost so much weight and looks amazing. I joined Fitocracy thanks to Evyan, and not long after Michelle and Felicia joined the bandwagon. Mac is training for the Tough Mudder in the fall, and his wife Megan rejoined Jenny Craig. I've long been inspired by my friend Lisa who has already done the Tough Mudder and a whole host of other races. With all of them working so hard it just makes me want to sprint to catch up and not get left behind.
I love that there are just so many people trying to change their lives, and it makes me want to work all the harder. It's a popular quote on pinterest too, "Somewhere there is someone busier than you, running right now." And I remind myself: I am unemployed. I live in beautiful California where the weather can never be my excuse. I have a wedding coming up. I have a super supportive partner/friends/family who is/are cheering me on. There is no reason to not be exercising like my life depends on it... which it kinda does, doesn't it? And not that it'll be happening in the before-the-wedding-future, I want to be in the best shape possible for when we start a family thanks to news like this New York Times article. And if you were wondering? My BMI is 30, right on the qualifying line for obese - about 40 lbs away from healthy weight BMI.
I'm hoping the next post will be lighter and cover more wedding stuff. The following post should address Bay to Breakers!!! :) As long as my iPhone cooperates, you can expect many pictures of amazing costumes and some nudity (definitely not my own). I'm pretty excited. After that event it'll be about time for me to visit MD. And I'm more than pretty excited for that.
Regarding my weight loss endeavors, I've been really stalled out. I'm still running as much as I can, yesterday was a solid 6.5 jog. And yes, let me clarify, when I say I run, I really mean I jog. Those of you that read this blog know that I am no lithe dancer who floats off the ground. So in reality, my zaftig self is really doing more of a plodding jog. But it's a plodding jog for 6.5 miles so I ain't ashamed of anything in that department. I have faith that when I shed a little more weight I'll may truly be 'running' in the future. But weight loss? Nada. I've even tried checking my measurements, and we're looking at nada there too. Impossible you say? Well I guess not.
So spurred on by my first fitting for my wedding dress (which fits perfectly as is, so this weight loss is just icing on the cake... mmmmm icing...) in June, I've doubled/tripled my routine. I'm still weight training and running, and I'm adding Jillian Michaels videos, more Just Dance cardio time, and more general body weight training on top of my previous schedule. This brings me to the title of the blog, because some days when I am beat to hell, I really hate Jillian Michaels face. When she calls me out on my excuses or slacking (rightfully so), I want to throw my dumbbell through the television. I'm sure Bob would be much nicer.... :-P
I am tired. It's kind of amazing the difference between training for distance runs and training to lose weight. My runs are so much more difficult after all the extra training time. And another thing that's changed? My alcohol tolerance. I've not been very aware of how dehydrated I've become from the extra work, so the past week you can imagine my shock when I was under the table with a debilitating headache from two beers! Oy. Just another readjustment. Strangely, my eating seems to have improved along with my increased exercise, but that could also be because the grocery store is literally flooded with amazing produce right now. It's been really fun loading up on all the fresh greens, and mountains of fragrant berries.
Another major thing helping me? So many of my friends and friends of friends are exercising right now. And I've discovered I am an insanely competitive person. That competitiveness can take me pretty far. Ed, who is training for a marathon, has lost so much weight and looks amazing. I joined Fitocracy thanks to Evyan, and not long after Michelle and Felicia joined the bandwagon. Mac is training for the Tough Mudder in the fall, and his wife Megan rejoined Jenny Craig. I've long been inspired by my friend Lisa who has already done the Tough Mudder and a whole host of other races. With all of them working so hard it just makes me want to sprint to catch up and not get left behind.
I love that there are just so many people trying to change their lives, and it makes me want to work all the harder. It's a popular quote on pinterest too, "Somewhere there is someone busier than you, running right now." And I remind myself: I am unemployed. I live in beautiful California where the weather can never be my excuse. I have a wedding coming up. I have a super supportive partner/friends/family who is/are cheering me on. There is no reason to not be exercising like my life depends on it... which it kinda does, doesn't it? And not that it'll be happening in the before-the-wedding-future, I want to be in the best shape possible for when we start a family thanks to news like this New York Times article. And if you were wondering? My BMI is 30, right on the qualifying line for obese - about 40 lbs away from healthy weight BMI.
I'm hoping the next post will be lighter and cover more wedding stuff. The following post should address Bay to Breakers!!! :) As long as my iPhone cooperates, you can expect many pictures of amazing costumes and some nudity (definitely not my own). I'm pretty excited. After that event it'll be about time for me to visit MD. And I'm more than pretty excited for that.
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