Wait...I have a blog?!

 Numerous persons have kindly told me that my current transformation journey is serving as a source of inspiration and motivation.  The feedback I am getting is CERTAINLY encouraging me to stick with the program day after day, even if things don't always go according to plan.  Though I am calling it a six month transformation, this is a lifelong process...not temporary fix.  

In thinking about more ways to stay accountable and share my journey, I have been contemplating vehicles to expand beyond the weekly updates and short videos.  As I was contemplating email addresses and domain names for a possible website, I today came across this blog that I started nearly 10 years ago.  My mind was and still is pretty blown by its rediscovery!

I don't yet know how often I will write here, but I am grateful that it is already set up and provides a platform for longer posts than my social media platforms.  If nothing else, it's proof positive that my health is something I have been thinking about for a LONG time.

20 Weeks to the New York City Marathon

I have wanted to run the NYC marathon for many years and I finally got my chance!  This summer serves as an excellent opportunity to focus on this race exclusively and make my best effort to get a marathon personal record (PR).  I am a little nervous about the hills, especially in Central Park, but all I can do is train and do my best once the day arrives.  If I see my training as my job for the next few months, I will be fine.

Let the journey begin...

Countdown to my 46th Birthday

Wow.  A lot has happened since I was last here.  I had and now don't have a boyfriend.  Summer came and went.  School ended and started.  There was some really happy times and some profoundly sad ones.  Now that I am on the other side of all of that I have decided to brush myself off and try again to get in shape.  

I've decided I need to lay out a plan comprised of small goals.  Perhaps it will be best to take this day-by-day, which will add to week-by-week.  The first milestone will be my 46th birthday on October 26.  Starting tomorrow - indeed a somber reminder of how unpredictable life can be - I will challenge myself to see what I can accomplish in the 45 days until my 46th birthday.

I read several books this summer.  Two of the more profound ones were 'The Last Lecture' by Randy Pausch and 'Tuesdays with Morrie' by Mitch Albom.  Both reminded me that I can ill afford to procrastinate indefinitely; I must live my life to the fullest NOW.  I must quit wasting time and NOW go about the business of making myself happy.  I must live in the present moment to live my life to the fullest.

Some may argue that I already lead a very full life.  I will agree that I have (and take advantage of) travel opportunities, have great friends and am fortunate to have a very satisfying job.  But I can, want and will do so much more!

So that's my charge and I am excited about seriously living a happy and purposeful life.  I deserve and am worthy of it.  Here's to me!  Thanks for sharing in my journey.  :-)

I got my MOJO back!

I admit it:  I had not been motivated to stick to a healthy eating plan for nearly a month.  On a few days I would eat pizza for dinner following by warm brownies or chocolate bundt cake topped by vanilla ice cream.  YUM!  I took 10 days off from exercising after the L.A. Marathon, but had since only exercised about half of the time I wanted to.  I was in a rut.

Then I went to a Weight Watchers meeting where the leader talked about going shopping in his own closet.  He talked about having clothes with the tags still on them!  I was thinking, "Has he been looking in my closet?"  I have so many goal outfits that I don't need to buy clothes for years to come.  Heck, some of the fashions have been there so long they might be out of style.  :-)  However, there are plenty outfits that I really want to be able to wear!

The next thing that happened was me watching the Biggest Loser last night.  There is (well now, there WAS) a contestant named Courtney on there from Valporaiso, IN.  She has lost a total of 204 pounds.  Two-hundred, four pounds.  That is a whole person!  What's more, she lost the first 100 pounds on her own at home despite the fact that her family owns a Dairy Queen!  Are you kidding me?  She has such an amazing attitude and has come so far that I was completely inspired by her last night.  She said we can reach our goals by just taking it one day at a time.  Her amazing progress is proof positive of this fact.

So I got up this morning with a plan to go to the gym and run on the treadmill.  However, something made me decide to run outside on the Lakefront instead.  I also decided I would comfortably jog the whole way, but not pressure myself to go at a certain pace.  It was my first outside training run in a long time and I just needed to see where I am.  I am SO glad I decided to run outside.  I did 3 miles which now serves as my baseline as I run on the Lakefront from now until next winter.

One of the problems I have is not recognizing the value in taking small steps toward my overall goal.  I feel like I have to lose 5 or 10 pounds a week or train 5 days a week to get results.  However, if I consistently lose a pounds a week, that would be over 50 pounds in a year.  There are people who lose as much as I weigh by being HONEST and CONSISTENT, even if they are not running marathons.  They walk, take in fewer calories than they expend and have fantastic results.  So I have a new attitude in that I will try to be honest and consistent and not pressure myself to lose X number of pounds a week.  I won't have an all or nothing attitude but just stay the course so that one day I will look up and have reached my goal.

LA Marathon - A Nightmare in a Monsoon

It's has been quite a while since I last posted, but I did reach my goal of completing the 26.2-mile LA Marathon...in a rainstorm.  Don't misunderstand me - it was not my goal for it to happen in the rain, but it poured the WHOLE time.  It was Jackie's first marathon so I decided to walk it with her once I arrived to L.A.  I have to give it up for the walkers because we were out there for nearly 8 hours!  Here is a clip of the weather situation (listen with the sound 'on'):

 

Can you see why I called it a nightmare in a monsoon?  Thank GOD it's over!  

Now I am on to the next goal...

Jackie and I have decided to lose weight together over the course of the next 12 weeks.  This is the timeline because my next race is Grandma's Marathon on June 18 in Duluth, MN.  I am going to lift weights as well as do some yoga this time to better prepare.  Thanks for reading and stay tuned!

9 Days to L.A. - 5 Pounds to Milestone

I cannot remember the last time my weight was in one-derland.  I think I was living in Virginia, so that would be at least 3 years ago.  I am less than 5 pounds from that milestone as of this morning.  And as of two days ago, I was 7 pounds away.  It will be soooo nice when my weight says one-ninety-something.  I can hardly wait; it's so close I can taste it.  Okay, maybe that's my problem...I've been tasting too much!

12 Days to L.A. - Beating Stress

Good morning!  As my friends and family know, the week before grades are due tends to be very stressful for me and Stress = Overeating + Lack of Sleep = Weight Gain.  

Well this year I will try to have a different outcome.  I am trying to keep myself busy getting work done, blogging and exercising as opposed to eating and watching lots of TV.  (Speaking of which, why didn't someone warn me about all the channel available on cable TV?  Oh dear!)  Today's meal plan includes egg whites with spinach, tomatoes and onions; baked chicken and a yam; and salmon with salad and Greek yogurt.  This morning I'm headed out for the run.  Have a great day!