WW - Like a Boss

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Motivational Monday - 3 years

This month I hit the 3 year mark in my weight loss journey. The following picture is of me almost 3 years ago. It was actually June of 2009 after I had been dieting and exercising for a few months and had lost about 18 pounds.
[caption id="attachment_1306" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="2009 - me at around 220 lbs"][/caption]

This next picture is from this weekend. I haven't taken recent measurements to see how they compare to my measurements from 3 years ago. I do know that my current weight is around 154 pounds. I've lost around 85 lbs since April of 2009. I'm not at all focused on what I've lost anymore. Instead I focus on what I have gained...
[caption id="attachment_1307" align="aligncenter" width="203" caption="April 2012 - 154 lbs"][/caption]

I use this as my motivation to keep working hard. I've gained health, fitness and so much more due to my hard work and dedication to myself over the last few years. I have years of hard work ahead of me. If there is one thing I can say to you to use as motivation it is that if you truly want to lose weight and keep it off make it a lifestyle change. I cannot tell you how different my life was 3 years ago in comparison to what it is now. I am happier and healthier and cannot imagine a life any different than the one I am living today.

I am determined to continue my journey to my weight loss goal. I am determined to reach my fitness goals.

It will always be my favorite.

I've mentioned before how we occasionally schedule a date night and plan for the kids to be away for the night. Turns out the last few times we have done this was so that we could go run the next morning. I love how that has become our life. Many years ago, before marriage and kids, our date nights included a Friday evening out to dinner eating some not so healthy big meal then lounging around afterwards watching movies and probably snacking on more junk. Saturday mornings usually involved a big breakfast out and there was little to no activity for the rest of the day unless you count shopping as a calorie burner. Our lives are very different and to say we have made a lifestyle change would be a huge understatement.

Friday night we took an overnight bag to my inlaw's house for the kids. They were spending the night because we had a long run the next morning. Saturday morning was a scheduled social run with our local Fleet Feet group. The run started at 7am in the beautiful Smoky Mountains. We were up by 5am and Terri was due to meet us at the house at 6. We had to stop by Kroger to get some kind of food to share with the group. The best part of these social runs is the food after. If you're local and haven't ran with the Fleet Feet crew at Cades Cove you should definitely put that on your list of runs to do. The best pancakes you ever tasted will be waiting on you at the finish.

There were 3 distance options for the day. 4 miles, 8 miles or 11 miles and there were pace goals for anyone from the slowest walker to the speediest runner. We all had planned to do the full 11 mile loop and figured we'd stick around a 10:15 pace though we weren't really focused on pace as much as we were focused on enjoying the run. For me a run in Cades Cove is all about taking in the beauty surrounding me. Every single run up there is better than the last or at least as far as the scenery goes!

Terri and I set out with one goal. Enjoy it. It's a long run. We weren't going for speed. She's still taking it easy on a sore hip and tight calves and I was dealing with a bit of a grumpy groin muscle. Early in the run we both felt really well. It was a cool morning with temps in the lower 50s. It was cloudy and there was a bit of a breeze. About a mile or so in we were both ready to shed our jackets so we stopped for a quick break. At that point in the run my husband passed us. We were back and running quickly and as we were coming up one of the first hills and rounding the curve in the road I said to Terri, "It's funny how those tree stumps resemble bears." We kept running and as we got closer I we both realized they WERE bears. A mama and her baby, in fact...


And just like a couple out of state tourists, we totally stopped to take pictures (this one courtesy of Terri!). We always see plenty of turkeys and deer any time we run Cades Cove but seeing these two black bears yesterday was a real treat!

The few miles after that were mostly uneventful. We would speed up and decide to slow down. Still my husband was ahead of us. Terri told me a few times that if I wanted to catch up to him and run with him she would be fine but I wanted to hang out with her. She and I at least talk to each other when we run and I like that. My husband always uses music so we do very little talking when we run together. Eventually my husband wasn't too far ahead of us (maybe around mile 5 or so) and she was like, go on and catch up to him. I was like I probably could and at least smack him on the butt. haha So, I decided to try to catch up to him. I had to really haul butt for that short period of time just to catch him and at one point looked at my Garmin to see I was at 7:50 pace. And I felt it but I caught up to him and took him by surprise when I smacked his butt real hard. Fun stuff.

We were just about to the half way point or the bathroom stop. My husband let us know he was feeling really good and would not be making the stop. Terri and I always take advantage of the stop because other than ducking in the woods it's the only chance to potty. I'd rather take the opportunity to stop than take chances otherwise. lol

Splits for the first half are..
Mile 1 - 9:35
Mile 2 - 10:32
Mile 3 - 10:14
Mile 4 - 10:38
Mile 5 - 9:52

The second half started out great for me but like I said before I was having a bit of an issue with the grumpy groin. Terri was dealing with an angry calf. We might have been an almost mess if we hadn't decided to just be smart this second half and slow down or walk when we felt the need. For the most part I felt great. I could speed through the flats and down hills but the up hills were giving me fits. It was the cardiovascular aspect of it but rather my groin. Every pull of my leg up my groin would scream. So, as much as I wanted to run every hill up like I did the last time we ran there it just didn't feel great on my grumpy groin so I chose to walk. I got very frustrated a few times and cursed the fact that I had any trouble at all but it's a training run and we were only out there to log some miles.

We stopped to stretch at around mile 8.5 and took a photo op too!
[caption id="attachment_1298" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="Thanks Terri for the picture!"][/caption]

We plugged our way through the next few miles. When we hit mile 10 I knew my husband was probably done or close to being done. I was looking forward to getting back to the campsite to hang out and eat! Since it was only (haha, yes only) 11 miles I hadn't really eaten anything during the run because I wasn't hungry and at the pace I was holding didn't need to fuel. However, by mile 10 or so I was ready for breakfast for sure!
I got back to the parking lot but hadn't quite hit the 11 miles I planned for the day. I couldn't just end my run at 10.80 miles so I kept going further into the picnic area to make up the mileage.

splits for the back half.
Mile 6 - 10:32
Mile 7 - 10:34
Mile 8 - 11:04
Mile 9 - 11:03
Mile 10 - 10:05
Mile 11 - 10:03

Once we got back to the car my husband was there waiting on us. I shed my fuel belt and jacket. We also posed for pictures.



After a few pictures it was time for food and a brief ice bath.
I tried my best to sit in that water as long as I could but barely made it five minutes and that was after going in twice. And believe it or not even though I wasn't in there long my grumpy groin did feel a little better.


I had my yoga mat in the car and told Terri we'd at least plank for picture purposes. The ladies from the Mon/Weds night running group can appreciate the next two pictures. However, I will be honest and say that we were both pretty spent so our planks were not that stellar.
[caption id="attachment_1302" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Plank it up!"][/caption]


Overall this was a great day and a wonderful run. The company was awesome, as usual. The food was delicious. Cades Cove will always always be my favorite place to run.

Three Things Thursday

1. I have been slacking on the blog front lately. I feel like I repeat the same stuff week in/week out or even day in/day out. I guess that's ok since this is my blog and my place to keep up with how I'm feeling daily with "things" in regards to running, training, food, weight loss or whatever all "this" is but some days my thoughts are just so all over the place that I don't even know where to begin. I'm going to work hard on putting my words down though because I have a great opportunity coming up that involves lots of guest blogging and prizes. Cool stuff. Can't wait to share that!

2. This week has been great for me in the gym. So far I have made it to the gym daily and on a couple of those days I have gone twice. Friday is a rest day and I am looking forward to taking that though I did give some thought into getting up for a 6:30 am Core Challenge class. I decided against it because we have a long run planned for Saturday. I like taking a rest day just before my long run so I feel fresh.

3. I've thought about writing a confessions post this week. I'm not doing as well as I would like in the food department. My weight is hanging out around 154-157 depending on the day. I shouldn't weigh daily but I feel like that at least keeps me somewhat accountable. However, there are some things in my "diet" that definitely need some major attention. I've been in denial about that though. I mean I KNOW what needs work I just am not working hard enough to change those things. While the scale isn't going down, it's not going up. I want it to go down, period. So, I need to make changes so that I see the changes in me that I want to see. I'm still very much a work in progress.

Be confident.

While browsing Pinterest tonight I ran across a quote that hit me at just the moment I needed it so I thought I would post it here for you as well because maybe someone else out there needs to read it too.

What are you capable of?

Do you ever find yourself settling for where you are whether that is your current running pace, how many pounds you have on that bar or what you can achieve when it comes to the scale?

I find myself questioning my running ability a lot especially when it comes to pace. However, there are many times I set out for a run not expecting much but finding out that I am capable of so much more than I credit myself for being capable of. My last few runs I have surprised myself especially and am realizing that what my husband, Terri and other running friends have told me is true. I won't bore you with the details of my last few runs and paces but let me say that my fastest mile last week was an 8:38 mile (on a 3 mile run with J) and my slowest was a 9:53 (11.5 mile run with the crew). Pace doesn't always matter, no, that is true. However, for someone like me who is always on a mission to improve and make myself better it is important. Why? Because I like being able to see the progress I have made. I like knowing that my continued hard work is paying off. It feels good knowing that while I don't always see it those around me do see that I am pushing myself beyond my limits and making great strides. I am proving to myself what they have been saying.

I AM capable of doing and becoming more than I realize. Every time I go out for a run I am making little improvements. Each run is an opportunity to prove to myself that YES, I am capable of going the extra mile or pushing a little harder to run faster. And that is what will help me achieve each goal I have set for myself.

What are you capable of? Are you pushing yourself beyond your limits to meet your goals? Are you putting everything you have into what you're doing?

Friday the 13(th-ings) I love

Because I am not superstitious I didn't let the fact that today is Friday the 13th get me down. Nothing crazy happened to me either unless you count the fact that almost everything I touched when I was getting ready for work this morning ended up on the floor. haha So, I have no fabulous Friday the 13th running story to tell but thought I would share 13 running things I love with you. In no particular order...

1. Nike Tempo Shorts. I would live in these if I could get away with wearing them to work. I already use them as pj bottoms. I love me some universal clothing items. Nike Tempo shorts...not just for running. lol


2. Garmin 305. I try my best not to run outside without my trusty Garmin. I don't know how I ever ran before without it.


3. Sugoi Piston Knicker. I love love love my Sugoi Piston compression tights. I wear these year round. I can't say enough about them. Breathable and fantastic support.


4. BICbands. Unless it's winter and I need to cover my ears to keep them warm you can see me wearing a BICband on my head. I have so many I have lost count and now keep them in my dresser in the "running apparel" drawer. My favorites are the sparkle bands.


5. HoneyStinger. I love to fuel during my long runs with HoneyStinger chews and waffles. You know I fueled my way to 26.2 with some HS chews.


6. Team Tough Chik. Love these ladies and being part of the team. You too can be a part of Team Tough Chik!! Registration opens back up in May! TOUGH CHIK


7. Running books/magazines. My most faves are Runner's World (mag) and Run (or Train) Like a Mother (the book).

8. Running buddies. Every single one of them. Whether I am running with them, beside them, in front of them or behind them I love every single one of my running buddies for all their individual reasons but mostly for sharing my love of running.


9. Foam roller. We actually have a love/hate with each other. I hate having to use the darn thing after a long run because lets face it.. it hurts! But the feeling after coming off the foam roller is great.


10. Immodium. 'Nuff said. My running buddies will understand.


11. The bling. What's not to love about that!? Whether it was the best race or the worst crossing the finish line and having that bling put around your neck is awesome.


12. Oakley Commit sunglasses. I have the breast cancer awareness ones and love them. My husband bought these for me a few years ago and it is rare that I run outside without them. They stay in place even on the hottest summer day when I am sweating like a beast.


13. Cupcakes. What? Don't go tellin' me that cupcakes have nothing to do with running! If you know me then you know that cupcakes are almost always involved when it comes to long run days. They are ALWAYS a part of any race day celebration. And actually there isn't much I won't do for a cupcake. Running just happens to be my favorite thing to do for a cupcake.