WRB Challenge - Week 8 Results

Okay friends, you've almost reached the end.  By the time you read this, you'll only have 4 more days! 

Tracy Durr Fox - Walked 4 miles, drank 200 oz of water, and lost 3 pounds!
Christine White - Walked 6 miles
Bobbi Millinger - Walked 12.2 miles, lost 2 pounds, and tried lifting weights for the first time
Naomi Shea - Took 9 spinning classes

Okay all you WRBs, here is what I would like to get from you in your next update. 

• The normal things you've been telling me
• If you've been tracking your weight during the time, how much have you lost?
• How close you came to the goals that you set

I would also like to know if you would like to do another challenge in the future.  I am going to take August off as far as a challenge goes, but if there is interest I would be totally cool with doing one in September.  And if you would like one, do you want it to be exactly like this one?  What do you think would make a challenge good and motivational for you? 

I just want you all to know how proud I am of you.  Even though we didn't get as many updates this week, I know that everyone was out there working HARD!! 

10 Months Down

So, it just dawned on me that as of August 6th, I will have 10 months down on my fitness journey.  It's hard to believe that I've been working that long.  It's been so much fun that I can't believe it hasn't been 3 months!

So, there was a time when there was no way I would post a picture like this.  In fact, it was taken a year ago this past Sunday at my very first NASCAR Nationwide Race.  I LOVE NASCAR and this day was like a holiday for me.  Yet, I didn't post this picture on Facebook.  And I'm a facebook photo whore  ;o)

July 17, 2010

WOW!  Unbelievable.  I just told Josh he's just been being nice the last couple of years. 

Up until the start of April and Building Steam, I was doing Turbo a minimum of 3 times a week but for a while I was doing 4 Turbo classes AND 1 R.I.P.P.E.D class a week.

March 3, 2011

But since the start of Building Steam, I have not done my Wednesday night Turbo class which I REALLY miss.  And because I was striving so hard for a good finish in the Steamboat Classic, I felt my extra Thursday night workouts were too much.

So, I've cut down to 2 Turbo classes a week at the very best, and some weeks only 1.

I was telling Naomi tonight that in regards to workouts, Turbo feels like my thing.  It's the first thing to get me excited about losing weight, which is an aspect that always makes an activity special to someone. 

     

    

I have specific goals revolving around learning to teach Turbo.

And so tonight I made a decision on what August was going to be for me.

TURBO MONTH!!!!!!



Since Sole Sisters is meeting at the Riverplex on Wednesdays starting next week, I'll be able to do Turbo and then join the Sole Sisters at the end. 

Without putting any pressure on myself, I am going to try to see how much weight I can lose in August. 

I DANCE, I SWEAT, I TURBO!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WRB Challenge - Week 7 Results - Why didn't you guys tell me I'm crazy!?!

So really?  Why when I said this was the last week didn't you guys ask me who I was to think I could reorganize the calendar?   LOL

There is a whole other week that we can work towards our goals!!!!  Yay!!!!!  (I know that's what you were saying  ;o)   So, we WILL still have the challenge from the 25th through the 30th.

But, how did you do in Week 7?  Let me tell you!

As a group:

Ran:  14.4 miles
Walked:  63.7 miles
Lost:  15.8 pounds

Individually:

Amber Selman  - Walked 5 miles and lost 5 pounds
Christine White - Walked 12 miles and lost 1 pound
Bobbi Millinger - Walked/eliptical 17 miles and lost 3 pounds
Meredith Zietlow - Ran 8 miles, walked 6, did 3 classes, lost 3 pounds
DeAnna Johnson - Walked 9 miles, ran 2
Me - Ran 4.4 miles, walked 3.6 miles, lost 3.8 pounds

I hope that I don't embarrass her, but I HAVE to tell you what Christine White posted on her page just now.  In fact, I think I'll just copy and paste her status. 

A few things have excited me this week...all my weight loss peeps will understand...
1 - Someone I haven't seen in a while told me I look awesome and have I lost a lot of weight
2 - Went to a work lunch at Granite City, and could cross my legs AND sit up to the table.
3 - Had to readjust my seat in my car, and my mirrors because I finally realized my tippy toe was driving!!

I can not tell you how excited I am to see a post like this from one of our WRB Challengers.  Since Christine actually works out with me, I have been able to see how hard she is working.  Christine and I have know each other since 1996, and I would say that since then we have both battled our weight. 

Christine - How empowering is it that you can say this is happening?  Doesn't it feel awesome?

Last week Bobbi Millinger wrote me (an extra message, not in her WRB update) and said she just had to tell me how she had fit into a pair of "pre-pregnancy" jeans and was dancing around the house while her young sons laughed at her. 

Again, I hope I didn't embarrass Bobbi, but these non scale victories are absolutely amazing and should let you know that you are doing something absolutely FABULOUS for yourself and for your friends and family.  How wonderful is that you are going to be so healthy that they will have you lively and active for so long!

I am truely proud of all of you!  Send me pics this week!!!!

The Runner I Think I Am/Plus a repeat recipe

It seems that I am the best about getting out and running by myself on Mondays.  I'm thinking that it is just that it's a new week and I like fresh beginnings.  If I don't start my stride on Monday, I may not until the following Monday.  I know this about myself.

I have different feelings each time I work out.  Sometimes I know that I had to dig really deep to get the workout in.  Sometimes it just feels like a normal workout.  But tonight, tonight I left feeling like an athelete.

Jenn Morgan was stretching at my starting line and as I passed her the first time around I yelled, "I hate the first couple laps."  On the fourth lap I said to her, "I'm imagining myself as the runner I think I am.  And that was the truth.

In the middle of the day I will get restless and I will wish that I can just get up and start running.  I imagine myself doing so and I imagine that run being so smooth and painless.  Then I REALLY start running and I think to myself, "THIS isn't how it felt in my daydream." 

But tonight while I was running I was picturing that daydream in real time.  I still finished that run at 13:00 which is about my norm.  But it felt better.  The first couple laps were somewhat painful, but then my muscles warmed up and it really felt like smooth sailing.  On the fifth or sixth lap I said to Jenn that I thought it was going to be my best mile ever.  It wasn't, but it felt good enough at the time to think so. 

But my second mile was (I think).  I don't think I've had a better mile than 12:28.  I know earlier when practicing for Steamboat I thought I was doing them in 10 minutes, but someone had told me the wrong distance for what I was running.  For the Firecracker I ran at a 12:41 mile pace.  In the last couple of laps of my 2nd mile, I really pushed myself.  I definitely didn't have to dig deep.  It felt good.  I didn't try to sprint it, I just tried to pick up a little speed.  And it worked!  When I was done I was really breathing hard.  I left everything I had on the track.

When I walked out of the gym I still had that sweaty, sticky glow.  I felt fatigued and I was still breathing hard.  And I actually thought, "I think this is what atheletes feel like."

What a great feeling.

On a different topic, I was asked what Spaghetti Tacos are.  I am reposting the recipe and pics.  ;o)

iHungry Spaghetti Tacos

Per Serving (1/3rd of recipe, 2 tacos);  253 calories, 7g fat, 778mg sodium, 29.58 carbs, 6 fiber, 4g sugars, 18g protein.  These nutritional facts are from the cookbook if you use the exact ingredients from the recipe.  I did not and so will list what I used in paranthesis next to the ingredients in the book.

Ingredients:
1 cup frozen ground-beef-style soy crumbles (Morningstar Farms Veggie Grillers burger style recipe crumbles)
3/4 teaspoon taco seasoning mix
1 bag House Foods Tofu Shirataki Spaghetti Shaped Noodle Substitute (Barilla Whole Grain Linguine)
1 cup canned crushed tomatoes
6 corn flat bottomed taco shells (we used 10)
3/4 cup shredded fat-free cheddar cheese (reduced fat)
1/3 cup chopped onion (did not use onion)
1/2 cup shredded lettuce

Place soy crumbles in a nicrowave-safe bowl and sprinkle with taco seasoning.  Microwave for 1 minute, or until hot.  Stir and set aside.

Use a strainer to rinse and drain noodles well.  Pat dry.  Place noodles in a microwave-safe bowl, and microwave for 1 minute.  Drain excess liquid.  Dry as thoroughly as possible, using paper towels.  Cut noodles up a bit with kitchen shears (if you've got 'em)

Add the crushed tomatoes and seasoned crumbles to the bowl of noodles and mix well.  Microwave for another minute, until hot.

Give spaghetti mixture a stir and then evenly distribute among the taco shells, about 1/3 cup per shell.  Top each evenly with cheese, onion, and lettuce.

Josh liked the veggie grillers burger style crumbles, but I wasn't a fan.  Next time I will use a lean beef.

They were very messy.  But sooooo good!

Drinking the Kool-Aid with the Cult I Joined...

So, recently I joined a cult....a cult called Sole Sisters....and they suggested I drink the Kool-Aid.   ;o)

By Kool-Aid, I mean Vita Coco Coconut Water.  Those who have known me long enough to have discussed food likes and dislikes know that I HATE coconut.  I don't eat Mounds, Almond Joys, the frosting on German Chocolate Cake, Carmel Delights, or anything else that has coconut in it.

So when Marianne said that they had samples for us after our run on Wednesday, the chance of me trying it was very iffy.  I asked my new friend and pace leader, Toby, if it had a strong coconut taste.  She said that it was not strong.  More of a sweet, aquired taste.  She also mentioned that you can put flavors in it if you like and that after a long, hot run, drinking coconut water really hit the spot. 

With a slogan like, "like sticking a straw into a coconut," it is absolutely shocking that I tried it.  But, after the run, I took a sip of my friend Carrie's open bottle.  Both Carrie and I were trying it for the first time and we both said, "Well, I don't HATE it, but I don't know if I like it either." 

I took a bottle and put it in my fridge.  Remember that this was on Wednesday.  Today is Saturday and it took me this long to try it again. 

I did just open it up and took another sip.  It is sweet.  I still couldn't say if I liked it.  I decided to add my Energy Pomegranate Lemonade flavoring to it.  This improved it greatly.  Again, not sure whether I liked it or not, but with the flavoring, I was able to drink it steadily. 

There are several flavors that I would like to try.  Peach and Mango, Pineapple, Acai & Pomegranate. 

So, why try Vita Coco?  Well, the bottle touts the following:

• all natural
• 15 times the electrolytes than leading sports drinks
• more potassium than 2 bananas, which helps keep your body properly hydrated and prevents cramping
• no fat, no cholesterol, low in calories

Also found on the website:

• No sugars are added, but there are natural sugars from fruit used in the flavored drinks
• Should be drank within 24 hours of opening
• Is pasturized
• Safe for pregnant women
• South Americans drink it like orange juice
• Brazilian woman use it as a face toner and to rinse their hair when shampooing

Locally, they can be found at Krogers and Schnucks.  I will probably try some of the other flavors, depending on price.  If any of you do or have tried them, let me know your recommendations  ;o)

(Oh - BTW - if there ever was such a thing as a "Good" or "Positive" Cult to join, Sole Sisters or any part of the fitness world would be it!)

WRB Challenge - Week 6 Results - You are almost there!

TWO MORE WEEKS!  TWO MORE WEEKS FOR THIS CHALLENGE!

Can you believe it?  You've been working towards your goal for almost 2 months.  While you are working these next two weeks, think back at the goals that you sent me.  Have you been thinking about them throughout this time, or did you just think to yourself "Oh yeah, I did set some goals."  ;o)

Together in week 6 we........

Walked  - 39 miles
Ran - 26 miles
Biked - 5 spinning classes
Drank - 436 oz

Individually you.......

Tracy Durr Fox - Walked 5 miles, drank 180 oz, lost 4 pounds
Christine White - Walked 8 miles
Laura Meyers - Ran 8 miles
Jenn Morgan - Ran 6 miles, drank 64 oz of water 4 of the 7 days
Bobbi Millinger - Walked 20 miles
Meredith Zietlow - Ran 9 miles, Walked 3 miles, and fit into a new size
DeAnna Johnson - Ran 6 miles on a bumb knee!  (I could take some lessons  ;o)
Naomi Shea - Ran 3 miles, Walked 3 miles, and did 5 spinning classes

And thanks to Christine for sharing a picture of her and her daughter, Kiara, out walking.  If I remember correctly, this night was a scorcher!

Keep the pictures coming!

And....Anyone want to do a Turbo Fire Challenge next?

Feeling 100% and New and Improved

Today, for the first time in years, I feel 100% myself. 

The truth is that I lost myself somewhere along the way.  I can tell you that since I was 15ish, I've suffered from depression at some level.  Although I'm not prepared to go into detail, I can tell you that it is because I had been keeping a secret from my family that I knew would hurt them.  I did not recognize at the time the reason, or that I even was depressed for a long time. 

The depression was it's worst about 3 years ago, to the point where I knew that I needed to talk to someone.  At 31 years-old I chose a family member that I felt would be least hurt by my secret (although this did not mean not hurt at all).  After taking the first step, I found it easier to tell another family member.  However I did have to stop there and let that person tell the rest of the family.

And I can actually say that the healing started to happen then.  It was a slow process, but I started to become more open and honest.  Then positive changes started to happen.  I was able to move in with my best friend and start a home.  I got a new job that I loved and seemed to be a great fit for me.  And then I started to get into fitness.

Today for the first time I really feel slimmer (not skinny).  I have wanted to grow my hair out and so decided today that if that was the case, I needed to start doing it.  So, I got up, did my hair and put on make up.  And when I looked in the mirror I thought, "Hey!  That's me"

Although I've known that I've made great progress so far, I have also known that I have a long way to go.  And I've also known that there are aspects of my life that are even better than they ever were, like my new fitness habits.  But even still, with the improvements, I wasn't totally me. 

Today I can say that I feel I'm back, and with some improvements.  It is very exciting to me to continue on this journey.

First Day Back Into the Gym

Awwwwww....I feel better!

Came straight home from work and got into my gym clothes.  I was so excited.  I missed the gym soooo much.

I walked half a mile, jogged 1 mile, and then walked another half mile.  When I started the first walk I wondered if I REALLY wanted to do this...but about 2 laps into the run I started feeling really good about it.  My knees did feel "funny".  I still won't say that they hurt.  But they felt tight.  They felt like I was sucking them in like I would suck in my tummy.  But since I had no pain and I wasn't out of breathe I kept going.  And then I stretched my quads and I felt really good afterwards.

Some observations that I made today:

• My body (and mind) really craves the physical activity now.
• Even though I took a week off, I was still about around the same pace.  I jogged the mile in 13:46.
• I ran the whole mile.  I know this seems like it should be given by now, but when I run by myself, I tend to not push myself as hard.
• I was able to do all 2 miles before my playlist ended...I used to need an extra 2 or 3 songs.
• I actually had to make myself stop.  I kinda wanted to keep going, but didn't want to over do it.

And so now I'm.......................................................

I hope it helps!  I'm so happy to have gotten active today.

Setting and Re-evaluating my goals

I've mentioned before that I have always been a goal setter, but that in the last couple of years I've been bad about my follow through.

You've probably also heard me talk about my push goals and making a plan.  I thought I would share with you what I mean by my push goals and a little bit about it.

In June I started Chalene Johnson's 30 Day Challenge to master organization and achieve your goals.

http://www.30daypush.com/

Here's the basic idea.   How can you set goals and make to-do lists if you don't know what your values are.  You can't; at least not goals or a to-do list with any real meaning.

So the first step is determine the top 3 values in your life.  What are the top 3 things that are absolutely the most important things for you to not lose (or to gain or to accomplish).  And we can't just say, "Family".  What aspect about your family do you not want to lose? 

Once you've decided on your top 3 values, then it's time to set some goals.  We first brainstorm, coming up with as many as possible that all honor our top 3 values.  Then we narrow them down to our top 10 goals. 

From the top 10, you then decide on 2 or 3 that without them, the others aren't possible.  And these are your Push Goals.  1 or 2 of your push goals MUST be financial.  As much as we hate to admit it, money is important.  There is very little we can do without it. 

Then every day, you do a to do list.  You only put things on it that you HAVE to get done that day and try to make sure that there are at least 2 items that honor your Push goals (or other goals) and values. 

If every day you do a task or two that honors your Push goal, there is no reason why you shouldn't meet it.

Since I'm going to be resting and babying my knee, I'm going to spend the weekend re-watching my videos from the 30 day challenge and looking at my goals I had at the beginning and seeing if they are the same.  It is just as important to re-evaluate your goals occasionally as it is to set them in the first place.  It's important to make sure you are honoring your values, when even those can change.

WRB Challenge - Week 5 Results - Still Going Strong

More than half way through!  How are you feeling?  I can't tell you how awesome it is that you've stuck with it this long.  Whatever your results,  you should be feeling very proud about your determination. 

As a group we........

Walked - 44 miles
Ran - 13 miles
Biked - 6 spinning classes
Drank - 792 oz

And individually.......

Tracy Durr Fox - Walked 3 miles and drank 120 ounces of water
Christine White - Walked 9 miles and lost 3 pounds
Bobbi Millinger - Walked 18 miles
Meredith Zietlow - Ran 9 miles
Gina Smith - Ran 10 miles and drank 32 ounces of water a day
Naomi Shea - Ran 6 miles, Walked 4 miles, and did 6 spinning classes

Excellent job everyone!!!!  I mentioned in my note post this week that I would love it if you sent me pictures of you fulfilling the challenge.  I CAN use pictures I already have, but I was actually looking for you take some in the next 3 weeks of the challenge and send them as you get them.  For instance, if I had had my camera with me when I was out talking to Tracy Durr Fox and her granddaughter Kailynn as they passed my house on their walk, I would have taken a picture and used it.  ;o)

Please know that you are all doing wonderful!  And if you've missed some updates in the last couple of weeks, don't worry, you are welcome to jump back in any time!!!!

The Universe Fought Against Me - And LOST!!!!

First off, it took me longer than it really should have to decide and get signed up to do today's race.  Combined with deciding whether I was going to spend the money on it with the fact that July really snuck up on me, I found myself not registered a week before the race.

But my friend Jenn, pictured with me above, offered to get my packet on Friday.  THANKS JENN! 

On Saturday I was feeling exceptionally fit.  Don't ask me why cause I don't know.  But I normally do not do any tuck jumps in class. 

On Saturday I decided to do SIX!!!!!

About 5:00pm that night I noticed a tight feeling in my left knee.  I had Josh stand over my legs and compare both knees and the left was definitely swollen.  I spent Saturday night and Sunday icing and babying my knees.

On Sunday night, the night before the race, I prepped my shirt/bib and my timing chip on my shoes then went to bed.  I rolled over and felt something under my leg.  I had dumped my race packet out on my bed so figured that I had forgot to pick something up.  I picked up what was under my leg.......and it MOVED!!!  It was an ugly bug!  And I'm not a fan of bugs on my wall, much less to find one under my leg in bed.

So of-course I jump out of bed screaming trying to find a shoe.  I knocked it off my bed and then smashed it (I'm sure much more aggressively than needed).  But how REALLY am I supposed to fall asleep in that bed after that!  I did a very detailed look of the bed and the floor.  No sign of other bugs.  I knew it was a fluke but I was grossed out.  I went out to the living room to sleep on the couch but then Josh came home and he was going to want to watch tv so I went back into my room.

I was pretty tired so I figured that I would fall fast asleep.  But then it was like 7 or 8 hours since I had had dinner and I was laying there with my tummy growling.  So I got up and ate a 98% fat free hotdog and drank a glass full of water.

I don't remember going back to bed.  By that time I was tired enough to not worry about the bug and I must have fallen asleep before my head hit the pillow.

Glad that I got my rest, cause I was able to get up much earlier than I like to get up on a day off and run a fabulous race with these wonderful ladies.  Jenn and I have been friends for about 4 years, but we just met Carrie this past week at a Sole Sisters run.  Once again, the great benefits of being apart of the fitness world!

When I left for the race I was thinking with the knee and the lack of sleep, my goal was just to run and finish the race.  I wasn't really concerned with pace.  Glad I didn't fret about it, I improved my time by 51 seconds.  My new PR is 12:41 per mile.  YAY!!!  Very happy with this. 

Now Jenn and I are looking to start training for a half marathon.  We haven't chosen one, but are definitely looking for the end of year and the flattest one we can find.   ;o)