I really have enjoyed the summer with my boys; however, swimming everyday with a 4 1/2 and 2 year old, can be quite draining - especially on the work out side of it. Tonight, after a pizza dinner and swimming all afternoon, I forced myself out on the bike...grumbling. I start my ride and 1/2 mile into I'm already in pain. Every workout this week has been progressively harder - my weekend away is really affecting me (I won't whine forever abt it, I promise) - naturally I start in with the "I'll just cut my ride short" "It won't matter this one time" "It is hot out here" bit. I was even telling myself the old people who ride "ultra" cruises (you know I only have a 7 speed cruiser) have more pimped out rides than I do. I don't know how I got off on that. It's funny, these workouts always tend to be my best. I shaved a few seconds off my pace, and the scale (even after pizza) reflected more of what I should be seeing.
I love that I can push myself through to the end and not give up during the workout - in the end it does alot for my psychie. And I'm feeling pretty good these days.
I have 29lbs left to lose. I am going to break it up into 10lb chunks, viewing it this way will make it easier to work harder toward my end goal.

Stuffed Potato

Amazing that I can go away for a week to my parents house and do great eating wise, but send me away with the girls for a weekend and I come home feeling like a stuffed potato. Considering the food options I thought I did farely well. I'm sure the BBC's did not help a bit. So I'm on a smoothie diet for a day or 2 to see if that helps.

Yesterday I rode. I figured out that the trailhead to White Rock is open so I can now start going that route. It was a little tough, I'm not used to that route - good thing for sure. I was not hydrated enough and that added to it. All in all, it was a decent ride.

Today I did abs and circuit training. So wonderful to pump some iron! I was going to run tonight, but my foot is hurting and I do not want to make it worse. Hopefully it will calm down by morning or tomorrow evening and I can get my run in.

BIG NEWS!!! I finally found a pair of shorts! One size smaller. I pulled them off the rack, in a hurry, they looked small; I decided I should save the disappointment for home and waited to try them on. I tried them on when I got home....THEY FIT! For real? I even think I could wear another size smaller - I went and bought that pair too. I'm going to let JRo help me decide which ones to keep. The mere fact that I could even pull a 12 over my hips AND button them leaves me in complete wonderment bliss! Things are going my way!

One more piece of good news. I know running shorts get stretched out the more you wear/wash them...but today, I bought a pair of Nike shorts (my new favorite, quality really is better) in a size SMALL! Yes, I still have a lot of weight to lose. Yes, they do make one of my bulges bulge. However, in another 5 lbs and that will be gone. Basically, it is just fun to get to look at a variety of sizes and not have to go to the end hoping you find what you love in XL. Nothing wrong with XL. It is wrong for me.

Aside from being stuffed. I've had a fantastic day in all other departments. Thank You, Lord for little surprises along the way.

Weekend Getaway

I went on a scrap retreat this past weekend. It was fabulous, and a great time to be with my gals and goof off. We had as much fun swimming as we did scrapping. I finished my goal of no sodas until this weekend. I had Sonic on Friday and Sunday, neither of which I finished. Sweet! The food was not all out junk, but not so clean either. Good thing JRo and I brought stuff for our green smoothies, can not imagine how tanked I would have been w/o those.

Hobby House Hill had a GREAT pool and 7/10 mile mowed path. We did water aerobics 3 times, Lynn was a fabulous instructor and told us she even gave us a moderate workout. I can't imagine what the hard ones would be like. JRo and I ran one evening, that was great. I kept apologizing to her the whole 1.6 miles about how slow I was, on and on. She finally got irritated enough w/ me saying that, and how she was breathing heavy. We sprinted to the end, and bonded!!! ha ha ha (inside joke) JRo finished out her run, and when she got back said, "You said you normally do about a 11:45 pace? Well look at this..." Folks, when I was running with her our pace was 10:32. Wow! I have not even run off the treadmill yet. What a fabulous surprise!!!

Now I am back home and hitting my plan hard. 21lbs gone does not give me a reason to slack off. I feel great, now I am ready to physically see more results.

Upcoming Goals: (have not figured goal dates yet)
off sodas again
run the entire MK5K in September
weights 3x a week
have a strong strong core
clean eating, and fun foods for the family

Ask Me...

I went on a great ride this morning. I think running has made me alot more "cardio" fit, I will have to work even harder on the bike. This morning I was able to keep my speed up, on the tough parts of my route - it was easier...all very exciting.

I am going away on a scrap weekend with the girls tomorrow, so I decided to go ahead and weigh myself before the ride. You can ask me...how much did I weigh? 176, baby. 21 pounds lighter. As promised, I took a picture of myself - right after my ride.

Me at Easter, Me today
I feel so great, and so excited that I finally reached that first 20lbs. It is definitely time for a few new key pieces of clothing. My one pair of shorts I can now pull down w/o unbuttoning them. JRo told me the other day it was very sad looking - it's total baggy britches. I finally feel I deserve to get a smaller size. ha ha ha Anyway, please rejoice with me in the first big milestone in my journey to 50lbs lost.

On another note, I have been searching for a water bottle cage that has straps so I can actually reach the water bottle. You know I have a granny bike, but it works. In my search, the boys and I were heading into yet another bike store yesterday and I saw the most fantastic awesome solution...just bummed hubs and I didn't think of it first...

ZIP TIES!!! So genius. Now I won't die of dehydration.

Off to begin a busy day...3 cheers for me.

Heat Stroke

I did not wake up this morning to work out. My mom, s-i-l, and nephew are in town visiting and we stayed up late talking. After lunch, pizza, I thought enough of this. I'll hit the treadmill while mom and s-i-l shower and let son #1 and nephew play outside.

Poor poor boys, nearly slipped into heat stroke coma's. It was 98 degrees and hot hot hot. I did my 8-2 run/walk 3 times, on the treadmill, in the garage, in the heat. My punishment for eating pizza! ha ha ha At least I was able to pass the doughnuts this morning.

So, I ran. I may never stop sweating. I'm trying to cool down and it just keeps pouring off me. The boys are watching Monsters, Inc. in a coma like state and son #2 is snoozing. The best part...I FEEL GREAT! Glad I did not procrastinate another minute.

Off to relax a few minutes...

Miscalculation, but Happy

I thought yesterday I only needed a 1/5 lb to get to my first 20; I actually need a 1.5 lbs. That's ok. I'm still happy that I lost 2.5lbs. I'm a few lbs behind schedule; but, with all the stress of hubs being sick these past few weeks...I think I'm doing pretty darn good. I'll get to that 20 mark in a few days. I have made some big breakthroughs on eating habits and that is just as good as 20lbs.

I'm debating on whether to take my "off" day of working out today or tomorrow. Family comes in town tomorrow and I won't want to be bothered w/ training. Ha ha ha I guess this evening after the heat cools off (ROFL) I'll ride. Good idea.

More news on the running front...last night I decided to go ahead and pound the treadmill - since today was weigh-in - and I did great. I started a 10week beginner running thing...skipped ahead to week 5, run 8min walk 2 repeat 3 times. I did it, I pushed myself through and did it. I skipped ahead since I had already been doing my own version of beginner running. The moral of this story is...I was telling this to JRo today, she is the "runner" of the 2 of us. She looked at me and said "You realize I am only 2 weeks ahead of you, I'm on week 7." ARE YOU KIDDING ME? I actually might get on the same playing field as her? Not beat her, but be able to possibly hang? WOW! Go Ruthie* Go Ruthie Get Your Game On!

*my middle name is Ruth, hence the nickname

Excited/Nervous/Proud

Ok, it's Friday evening...there is a VERY good possibility when I step on the scale tomorrow I could make my first 20lb goal. If I don't it will not spoil my day or workout/eating plan, BUT it really really may happen. It's even more exciting because Hubs was telling me how hot I looked today, love that.
If it happens, you will know. AND I'll post a pic. I did not do before pics, but I'll find one and show you the difference.

One the picture topic. I have been preparing for a scrap weekend coming up; I am amazed when I see myself. Horrifying. I asked Hubs if he knew I had gotten that fat, his look said yes. I asked him why he never said anything, the look again and "I can never say anything to you like that." I know, it has never set well in the past. It is a tough place for him to be in. Anyway, no pictures I'm ashamed for people to see.

Till tomorrow...

ER Revisited

I've had great workouts this week. So happy about that. As crazy as life has been the past few weeks I've still managed to make them a parital priority. Pat my back! But now on to the real breakthrough stuff...

As you may have read in previous posts (anything else), hubs is in a flare up of his ulcerative colitis. Last night was date night, before we even left the house hubs was not feeling well. He was a champ and we went out anyway. It was wonderful to just sit at dinner and talk. Throughout the evening we had some hiccups with his UC, which brought us to consider the notion of going to the ER. Make a long story short, the boys stayed at our friends, and we ended up in the ER. Our second visit in 2 weeks! erg. This flare up has lasted a good 5 weeks now. It takes a toll on hubs, but me as well. I am emotionally tapped. As they took hubs back for a CT, I decided I needed something to eat and drink. Went out to the vending machines, nixed the sodas (keeping to that goal); settled for peanut butter crackers, and got some hot tea. Back in the room I looked at the crackers and dropped them in my purse without opening them, drank my hot tea.

This is the good part...I did not emotionally eat, I decided against it. I did not want them, but somehow buying them filled that need to eat them. WOW! My friend and I discussed this today and what a milestone/hurdle I have crossed. Under such duress the past weeks and I have conquered it twice. I cried. I really am growing on the inside as well.

This morning I did a mid-week weigh-in. I won't give you numbers, it could change by saturday, BUT I was down another 2lbs. SWEET!

One Size Down Please

When Paul was in the hospital, I went to Lukes Locker to get new running shoes and shorts. I like fitted knee length shorts, in case you were wondering - I got a Nike pair and they fit and feel so good; size Large. I wore them at my parents house to run in, I was constantly having to pull them up...ERG! Today, my friends, I bought another pair; size MEDIUM! I have not lost a ton of weight over the past 2 weeks, but my body is starting to change shape. It's great. I can not remember the last time I wore medium anything. Size does not matter, but knowing that I am shrinking does!!!

On vaca atthe parentals, I amazingly managed to lose 2 lbs. One I had gained while hubs was at his sickest - but at least I lost that and one more, while relaxing. It was a good test for me to be out of town and still be committed to my goals, I was. Go Me.

Now for the bestest news of all. I am a beginner runner, never have been good at it, etc. This morning I got up and decided to pound the treadmill. And pound I did. Before starting, my goal was 2 miles not matter how I did it. I warmed up for a few minutes and then ran, ran, ran. I ran the whole way. THE WHOLE WAY! I could have cried. I am so very proud of my body. And the bonus, I have been much happier today!

Goals for this week:
Lose 2.5 lbs
Begin core training, 3 days
Cardio, cardio, cardio
Eat clean

Visiting Home

It's Thursday, and I have done great since I have been here. Doing my green smoothies, working out, and for the most part eating well. Naturally, my SiL made queso when we scrapped the other night. AAAGGGGHHHHH!!! I will not be ashamed for eating it, it was delicious! I have been made fun of for the green smoothies, even my uber clean eating Dad; but I will not be put off. Here's my rundown of workouts so far:
Tues 6:15am: bike, 6 miles, not too far but a good ride, core strengthening
Wed 6:20am: walk/run 2miles, 26.4 minutes, slow but GREAT for me, core
Thu 3:30pm: bike, 6 miles w/ brother - FUN, core

Tomorrow I plan on running again. Garmin helped me on Wed stay ahead of my time; however, the tree cover on the greenbelt makes him bleep out of signal alot.

I'm happy, this time out of town, I do not feel so bloated and icky. I guess I am finally in the right direction. Not sure of weight loss, but that worry is put aside until actual weigh-in.

I did not weigh-in yesterday morning. I know I have gained a pound. Considering the stress of this past week, is pretty good. I completely bombed on my "no sweets" until the scrap weekend. That darn cookie bouquet was the devil himself taunting me, enticing me; but, it was ooohhh soooo good! I have kept with my "no soda" rule. The night hubs was in the hospital, I called JRo telling her how bad I wanted one. She and I talked me out of it - thank you. It would have only made me feel even more bloated. Speaking of bloated...I now know when I am that ridiculously bloated its STRESS! I've got enough to share if you'd like any...

This week will definitely be challenging. I am taking myself and the boys to my parents house in Houston. I have to keep the mindset of training and weightloss, with a little relaxation. I have alot of ground to cover since last week I gained a lb. This week I need at least 3lbs. ACK! I will be taking my own bike, instead of using my Dad's, and I think that will help keep me motivated. Plus, the greenbelts are so much fun to ride on...take me back to being a kid. AND, my li'l bro lives there; so his happy butt will be riding with. After all, he's doing the duathlon with me and I know he has not started training - even if it is in November.

Also, this week, I need to hit my core training hard. That will be tough in Houston, but I could use a little challenge while I am gone. That's all for now...my brain is just too fried.

Do you want to see the cutest boys in the world? We walked in the neighborhood 4th parade. It was HOT HOT HOT! I counted it as cardio for the day, I was dripping sweat!

Beat it...

I've talked about the much dreaded hill, that I have been avoiding. Well today I did it. Not only did I do it, but I cranked it up that hill. All those memories of trying to beat it last summer, were left in my dust. Sometimes I really do doubt myself on how far and better I actually am. That is one thing I could work on. On another note, it was not my best ride. Once again, dear ol' Garmin's battery died. And the trailhead was closed. I need to find an alternate route to get to the trail...I'm just not real fond of having to get on the feeder road to 635.

I will be taking my new running shoes back today, make my toes numb. So, I plan on running today as well. After the boys and I have fun swimming - or the sprayground.

It is time for me to get back to writing down everything I eat. Hubs being sick, I have really let some things go by the wayside. NO MORE. I will say that during all this, I held strong and did not get a coke. Oh I wanted one so bad right before his surgery, but JRo talked me through it. I know it's just a coke, but I was very stressed. I've also added on "no sweets." Totally screwed myself on that one last night...hubs work sent him a cookie bouquet. I only ate the head of the turtle and it was soooo good. But not really worth it. Thank goodness each morning is a new day.

Anything Else?

As if life wasn't stressful enough around here; my hubs has been sick with a flare up of his ulcerative colitis...yesterday we went to the hospital because of some pain he was having on the right side of his abdomen. You guessed it...late last night he had his appendix removed. Once I get him home and settled in, my cardio is going to rock. I have so much pent up stress and emotion - I need to let it rip.

While we were waiting in the ER exam room yesterday, I went to Luke's Locker to get a new pair of running shoes. Lovely! I also bought a new pair of running shorts - a whole size smaller. Very exciting!

Thank you to my incredible friends who have kept the boys during all this!