So I waited all day today to find out the outcome of my appeal today with financial aide. They meet on Tuesday so I have sat around on pins and needles waiting. I called for an update when the nice gentleman informed me that they didn't have time to meet today so I will have to wait until next week. Sigh. This makes a huge impact on if I can take classes or not. And money. I had kind of banked on this money and now waiting another week to find out is really, really going to eat at me. The thing is they have 30 days so they can technically make the decision after I would have to pay for courses. I am hoping and praying for next Tuesday. I don't have the credit to apply to Sallie Mae - currently I am on hold with my financial aide office. We are reviewing options. Please keep your fingers crossed. I don't want to have to sit this semester out.


My running partner and I ran inside last night.  It was hot and muggy but the sweat felt great. I am a little sore today, shin pains.  Hopefully, swimming tonight will make those go away.
 
Only 40 more minutes of work.  My mind is worried about money, I wish the financial aide wouldn't wait till next week. So is life.

This week won't be pretty.

My lovely running partner had some work related things to do (so she says, I think she just wanted to torture me and make me dread this 20 min run coming up) so our last day of week 5 will be tomorrow, bright and early.

We did use our local health club/gym and swim last night. It felt great. I know I burnt some calories but I felt amazing after. And boy did I sleep well! Something about being in the water just makes me feel so relaxed.

Speaking of relaxed, tonight is my massage. Ahhhh, thanks Insurance for covering those! I love them!!!

Now food wise this week, well I have struggled. I have had a lunch meeting at Ihop, Mexican, pizza and Olive Garden this week. Stayed within or very close to points but lets face it, those bread sticks are mighty tasty and they go down mighty fast.It has been a week of eating out (not by my choice really) lots of company in town and friends meeting up before school starts back in session. One thing I promised my self when I started my health kick and losing this weight is I would never be without things. I can't eat an entire pizza anymore, I know that - but if I want a few (2) slices, so be it. I will hit the gym a little harder, drink water with it and have a big salad with low fat dressing to make me feel full faster. I won't live in a box in my house to lose this weight. It isn't practical or smart. I love food, LOVE it ( duh, look at my weight) so I have to make good choices and plan better. I still will live this life loving food, just no longer letting the food be in control.


I didn't mean to get off on a tangent. Point being I am nervous for weigh in tomorrow. I don't think I will be getting any awards lol :) or motivational prizes!

It is funny, I have friends and family, that call or text every Thursday after lunch (or sometime in the day) to see how weigh in goes...it embarrasses me and upsets me when I can't tell them at least 2lbs gone. I hate reporting back to y'all about how I did if I don't have a good week too. For some reason it makes me extra accountable and I love it. Weighing in with the girls from work is also great motivation. I know I want to beat them in weight loss (I love them all but who wants to be the one the loosest the least?) so I am really going to channel this motivation and make next week even better. Whatever happens tomorrow is this week, next week is on my mind now.....

Another Monday is almost done. 90 mins and I am home. I have a lot to do this week and a big weekend coming up, so as much as I want to go home and be totally lazy - I can't.

This weekend was...well HOT. Tons of traffic for an event going on locally, 100 degree days and no motivation made Sat a lazy day. Rebecca and I took off running for the weekend. It was literally too hot and on Sunday we had nothing but storms. I did get some pool time in Sunday, nothing to aerobic but something none the less.

II enjoyed being lazy on Sat. It was nice. I cranked the A/C to 68 (sorry global warmers, I rarely do this and it was such a treat, don't yell, please?!) covered up and watched movies all day. My body was really appreciative!

Yesterday I went to visit my friend & her pool - we are planning a girl's trip in October. We are going up the East Coast and a fall Foliage tour. We did Seattle last year, so this year we are driving different places. Girlcation...Niagara Falls (Canada side), Adirondacks, Burlington, Acadia, Bar Harbor, Portland, UConn (for a football game of course), Scranton (Hello Office) , Gettysburg, Home. I am excited.

This morning I met my running buddy and we did Week 4, Day 2. I did Ok, but the end kicked it for me, that last 5 min run is tough. Especially the last 2 mins or so. That is when the music comes in handy. Big time.
Do you know that at the end of week 5 I am supposed to run 20 mins? HA. Note to self, have ambulance ready after that day.

My childhood best friend gets married Sunday. It would be nice for a big number at weigh in this week just so I have a little extra pip in my step at this shindig. I still have nothing to wear. Last minute shopping trips usually make me happy or borderline heart attack range. We shall see what this one does to me Sat morning, lol.

TGIF

So I didn't post after weigh in yesterday, I got busy with work. But I am down another 1lb. Now after coming off a 5lb lose - I knew it would be small, but come on let me see at least a 2!

This week I vow to run harder, lift heavier and eat lighter!

Speaking of running, Rebecca and I started week 4 yesterday. I got some new shoes, prescription strength muscle rub and some serious stretching in before hand. I felt pretty good during the run. Now I am slow and poor Rebecca has to run ahead of me and then circle back when she gets to far ahead, but she is a GREAT sport and doesn't seem to mind :) I was slow this run, I mean helllllloooo we ran 5 minutes at a time! This girl has never done that before so I was happy. My leg, muscle whatever is going on felt pretty good, tight still and by the end it was hurting but nothing like the run before. This heat though is killer, I got in my car and I was dizzy and hot - we are talking near 100 degree heat during the day. Running at 6:30am and it is still 80ish degrees. Too hot! Sometime this weekend we need to get in day 2 of week 4. I mean after that run, we are kinda like half way done. Wow.

Life is going Ok. I am getting a room mate next weekend to help with some financial issues. Not totally happy with it, but I need the financial assistance right now. I am trying to figure out my plan, what God wants from me and what I need to do. The big picture is just so unclear right now. So until the light bulb goes off, I will keep working on getting the weight off ;)

Weekend recap

I had a very nice weekend, I ate my share of junk this weekend. But I am letting that go, LOL. Weigh in is Thursday so I should be OK as long as I stay on track this week.

I was pretty lazy this weekend, although I did get in a good run. And I even did a little extra yesterday just to help me feel better. Has anyone else ever suffered from shin splints? Or pain in the legs after running? I am researching better shoes and going to look into orthopedics, but was wondering if y'all had any advice. (Yes, I am stretching ;) )

Also, if you want - tell me about your running shoes!

I hope everyone had a nice and happy weekend. Here is to a healthy week!

Week 3 of Couch to 5k....

Last night we started week 3 of Couch to 5k. Rebecca was kind enough to use her Itunes gift card to download the application to my phone so I didn't have to use the free podcast anymore. This way we could still run with the program and I could listen to music. I graciously (haha) offered to repay Rebecca's very kind gesture with supplying the Gatorade for the next couple runs.

Let me tell you it was the best 3$ present EVER! I love the app, way better than the free podcast!

I was nervous about week 3. Lots more running time. But let me tell you - I loved it. Now, it still was tough at the end ( I didn't stop, just slowed the pace down), but I felt great. Tomorrow we do day 2. And we will do it alone. My partner is going to visit family so I will have to run alone. I am nervous about running alone. Will I feel the need to push it and make it or will I cheat myself and slack? Hopefully I will still push it, I am preparing myself to still push it with all I have!

I am going to admit it here. People who know me in real life may never believe me...

I am enjoying running. I really am. :)

74lbs away

I am currently 74lbs away from my overall weight loss goal. I didn't realize how heavy I got until a return trip to the OBGYN last week. I had last been there in February. I forgot how much weight I have actually lost. I battle with posting numbers here. I am afraid, ashamed and embarrassed. I don't want people to wonder how I let myself go. Really though, how did I? I am sure it has something to do with the year I spent alone and feeling friendless. It was a horrible time for me my junior year of college. Horrible room mates left me feeling alone and so upset with the way girls treated each other and how catty women could be - I turned to food. Once you turn to it, it is hard to stop.

I went home for the summer, where food was always good, lots of it and soooo yummy that I just couldn't stop eating one plate. My weight sky rocketed and I slowly started climbing up the mountain of obesity. I am kicking fat's ass though. After an awesome weigh in yesterday (down 5lbs) and starting week 3, of C25K - I am feeling good. So I have goals. Goals I want to beat and achieve and really, I KNOW I CAN!

1. BIG GOAL - GET OUT OF THE 200'S - so that means I have to loose 38lbs to be at 199lbs. (ugh did I really just type that?!?!?!)
2. Our first home football game is 9/4/10 I want to be at no more than 210 for kick off. I think I can, I think I can.
3. 9/25/10 - Ideally this is when I'd be out of the 200's...
4. Halloween - I want to be able to go out and feel good, dress up in something I would have picked years ago.
5. Thanksgiving - I want to be in the 190's or less. I have to be. PLEASE :) And thank you.
6. I will run my first 5K Early to late September. I am hoping Rebecca will run it with me :)
7. Make healthy choices no longer a choice, just a way of life.
8. I want to shop for new skinny clothes this Christmas. When we take our girlcation, I want to not be plus size. I want to make 2010 the last year I will shop plus size.
9. I want to help motivate my mom and dad into losing weight. One day, I pray, I will give them grandchildren. I want my parents to be around forever. They need to be healthier.
10. I want to appreciate every single day. I deserve to be healthy. I deserve to give my body, mind and soul all the nourishment it needs. I AM WORTH IT :)

Weight Watchers, Couch to 5k and diet....

So I joined through an at work program. We are on week 15. I have lost some weight. 18lbs (I think) I am ok with that number. I am ok with the program. But I know I have to start getting more veggies, I do Ok here, and FRUITS in! I am doing the Couch to 5k program. Really having fun with it. I am starting week 3, as you all know from the last post, and really have enjoyed my time. Although I feel like I am dying and boy is it hard. I know it is for what is best. I have p90x and Insanity. Both are killer work outs and tough. But right now I am ok with the Couch to 5k. Once I get the car situation figured out I am going to start doing some water aerobics, water running and water zumba - Throw in a few other aerobic classes and I will be happy. It is soooo much easier gaining weight. I am not happy with myself or the way I look right now. I have lost more weight in the last year than I knew - thanks to a drs visit in Feb then following up this month I am down 40+lbs. But that stills leaves me a lot to lose! Weigh in is Thursday - wait that is tomorrow! Wow, yeah! I am excited, nervous and ready. I get anxious before weigh ins, they can either make or break my day.

As far as body changes go - You can tell in the chest area, ahem the girls, that I have lost weight. New bras are needed BAD. But I want to lose another 15-20 before I buy them because these are working ok and the next set will have to last a few months. If I have to give up my boobs to get skinny, so be it.

Good bye boobs, hello small waste :)

Couch to 5K End of Week 2

Well week two is over. Whew, it was a hot week - we added hills and the time increased. Did I mention it was HOT!?

Tonight we will move on to week 3. Running the same amount of time each sprint but our walks get shorter - so we will be running more really. Clear as mud, right?

I am nervous. Really nervous. But I mean worse case I have to walk a little bit of it I guess.

I am also nervous for weigh in on Thursday. I have done pretty well eating wise and getting my water in. Last week I gained .5 so that was hard but I am hoping for a great weigh in this week! :-)

Week 2 Day 1

Whew, this was a tough day. We incorporated hills and the running increments increased. We also got up and met at 6:30, it was going to be the coolest part of the day, 68 or so degrees and not a ton of humidity. It was tough but I took a half break (walked) part of one of the 90 seconds run and I really didn't go very fast. But I did it. And I feel great! Really proud of myself. We will rest tomorrow and then get back on the horse Friday. It will be under 90 degrees so hopefully it won't be too hot. I am excited to keep the progression and I am proud of myself. I am actually "running" Thanks Rebecca for going back to the basics with me! I wouldn't have made it through Week 1, Day 1 without you!

Couch to 5k, completed week 1

I stared the Couch to 5k program last week! I have an amazing running buddy/friend that has completed it already and is backtracking her progression to start over with me! REBECCA thanks again :) I def wouldn't have made it through week 1 with out you!

If you aren't familiar with Couch to 5k check it out!

Week 1 was a bit tough -

Day 1 - I felt great - I thought I can do this, this is awesome. Had some minor leg cramps at home that night but nothing that some Potassium and water with lots of stretching can't fix!

Day 2 - Ughh, it was harder than Day 1 but I still completed it and felt OK after we were over.

Day 3 - My thoughts were - SHOULDN'T THIS BE GETTING EASIER?!?! I did it, it was tough and man did I sweat. It makes me wonder how bad week 2 will be tomorrow.

Over all I am really pleased with this and really enjoying the runs and making myself healthier. I worry about the impact on my knees (sadly, I have put on enough weight where that concerns me) but so far so good and hopefully with Weight Watchers and working out and running my weight will continue to go down and those worries won't matter!

Tomorrow starts Week 2. I think I can, I think I can....