oops

Weigh in this week for me was - in a word - shocking. I have been in this holding pattern with my weight for the last little while. Despite not seeing the scale go down, or my clothes fitting loser, I refused to quit. I knew (and still know) that my body wants to hold on to this excess weight because that it all we have ever known - it is what is comfortable. The persistence paid off.....and my body morphed! The scale went down 2 pounds - for a total of 62 pounds gone. And though it seems crazy, when the changed happened, I noticed it. I had purchased a pair of pants at Wal-Mart that were a size smaller as a motivation tool. To my surprise when I woke up one morning and slipped them on....they fit! I am so proud to say that I am wearing a size 14. That may seem huge to some, but when you consider I started out at a 26, it is pretty darn amazing! I think the last time I wore a 14.....I was 14 years old! I am finally able to see my life as it will be without the weight....p...

This was a monumental day for me - the longest run. I felt very apprehensive at first - and thought all the way to the start line that I should have signed up for one of the many other events they were holding that day. There was a 5k, 2 mile, and even a 10 mile walk that left 30 min earlier than the run, but there I was - signed up for the 10 mile run! There were some 1200 participants, and the energy was so high...it was a really fun experience. Here is a picture of us before the race began. The race started, and my goal was just to keep a steady pace as long as I could, which I was able to do for the entire race. 2 minutes walking, 3 minutes running. I didn't really start to hurt until about mile 8. It was at that point I wondered if I was moving in the right direction because the finish line kept getting further and further away! My reoccurring thout for the duration of the run was that during the last Pear Blossom Festival the most exercise I got was walking to and fro...

Well whether I am prepared or not, the Pear Blossom Run is this Saturday. 10 miles - more than any other race I have done. When I signed up, I had great plans to train and be able to run the whole thing non-stop. Life didn't cooperate. I had a vacation, and I have nagging cough that will not leave! I seriously sound like I am trying to hack up a lung. My breathing capacity is shot, and I am feeling a little worried about how I will do. Trying to take it easy this week, yet not sit around. I have done my Body Sculpt class 2 days so far, and then today I went for a light walk with Isaac while he rode his bike. We went 2.25 miles! He is such a trooper! He either rode or walked the whole way...and I even ended up burning over 700 calories! It was such a nice walk, and I couldn't help but think of how hard that would have been 18 months ago.

Saturday was an awesome weigh in. Honestly, I was really nervous. I hadn't weighed in in 2 weeks. Those 2 Saturdays were spent in Utah with family. Usually vacations tend to send home a few extra pounds in my suitcase...but not this time! I dropped 1.2 pounds ....which means I have LESS than 50 pounds to go. I know that may sound like a lot to some folks, but when you consider that starting this journey my "golden number," my goal, the ultimate number to lose was 111. I have less than an Isaac to go.... I am going to let go of the old me gracefully, and enjoy these last few pounds. I will not come this way again!

One of the obstacles I faced at home was finding time and "umph" to exercise. I had big plans to jog every morning before breakfast and hike on the mountain in front of home. I found myself measuring distances from my parents to different stores, etc. to see where I could run to. I did jog on a couple of days...and 6 miles...while I was there, but with the snow and coming down with a touch of a flu/cold my big plans didn't end up so great. Eating was a bit of a struggle. I wasn't in my kitchen, and sometimes didn't have a choice as to where or what was available to eat, but I really tried to remain focused and center my energy on making healthy choices for food and exercise. Besides jogging, we also swam, went for short walks, and played outside. I haven't weighed in yet, so I don't know what the final results were, but I did feel pretty good about what I had done.

One of the most exciting parts of my recent trip to Utah was my ability to make healthy choices and suggestions without feeling bad or guilty, and without creating tension with my family and friends! I made it the entire 10 days without stepping foot into what I call a "sit and slop" restaurant (all you can eat buffets). It has always been a family favorite as it is the place to "get your money's worth." My first full day at home I went to breakfast with "my girls" Angie and Jamie. I have been friends with Jamie for literally 30 years, and Angie joined our group in high school. We were an inseparable trio, and really look forward to getting together when I come home. One thing we love to do together is eat! My goal was to enjoy the time with them yet stay true to myself. I felt like I had done pretty good, and as I was driving home, I noticed the sign on the local sit and slop. It read "10 DIFFERENT KINDS OF SEAFOOD EVERY NIGHT." Seri...

So, throughout this journey, I have had some special "moments" that remind me that I am literally stepping up and leaving an old lifestyle - making serious positive changes in my life and truly embracing a new one. For the purposes of my blogging, I am going to call them stepping stones. One such moment happened yesterday when I went in to Weight Watchers to weigh in before the race. I achieved an awesome goal of losing 60 pounds, and the scale lady was so excited! She said she could not imagine me with that weight back. That made me feel so good. But perhaps the best part was after I told her I wouldn't be staying because of the race, she smiled and said, "Thats' right, you are the runner!" AT NO TIME in my life have I EVER been referred to as "the runner." If she only knew me "back then" she would realize how monumental these changes have been for me!