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...