Accomplishments!

Something dawned on me this morning. 

I turned 34 in November and at that time I said that the year 34 was going to be my year of accomplishments.  I've always been a person with good intentions.  I've just also always been a person with bad follow through.

So, it's a little surprising to look at what I HAVE accomplished so far in THE YEAR OF 34  ;o)

• Joined Turbo and go regularly 2 to 3 times a week (3 to 4 if I'm not runnning).
• Trained for and ran in the Steamboat Classic (this was HUGE for me).
• Have lost 50 pounds.
• Have joined a running group (GO SOLE SISTERS!)
• Have joined a Track and Field Club.
• Have signed up for 2 more races in the near future.
• Started a garden.
• Encouraged others to get fit and started a walk/run/bike challenge.
• Became a Beachbody Coach.
• Am starting to study for the personal fitness instructors certificate.
• Am in a good mind set to start tackling my financial debt. 

 And I've taken my face from:

To this:

Yay!!!!!



WRB Challenge - Week 4 Results - Sorry so late!!!!!

Okay...I really wanted to make sure that I didn't rush this blog.  I'm glad that I didn't because 1) I got a few more updates and 2) I have a snack/meal I want to tell you about!

Together we:

Walked - 38.6
Ran - 52.85
Biked - 2 spinning classes
Lost - at least 10.6

Individually:

Tracy Durr Fox - walked 3 miles, drank 120 oz, and lost .8 pounds.
Jackie Wristen - lost 2.8 pounds and walked about 20 minutes.
Christine White - walked 10 miles and lost 4 pounds.
Laura Meyers - ran 6.25 miles.
Bobbi Millinger - walked 16.6miles and ran .6 miles - ON VACATION!!!!
Merideth Zeitlow - ran 9 miles, walked 7miles, and lost 3 pounds.
DeAnna Johnson - ran 12 miles.
Gina Smith - ran 20 miles, drank 32 oz a day.
Naomi Shea - ran 5 miles, walked 2 miles, did 2 spinning classes.

I however did a horrible job at tracking.  But, I've made a committment to be better this week and so far have followed through.  So, please send a few messages throughout the week to let me know how you are doing.  This helps to keep me on track  ;o)

Now for the fabulous snack (that you could turn into a meal...I did!) that I just had for the first time before I started writing this post.  I will definitely be buying it again!!!!!

Now, because of the picture on the box, I thought I was buying a meal.  I didn't actually read the box that it had 2 servings in it.  So I was a little surprised when I opened it up and saw that they were just little bowls of soup/dip.

However, any surprising disappointment that I experienced when first opening the box was gone quickly once I actually tasted it.  It was delicious.  It ended up my dinner for tonight.  LOVED IT!!!!  Can't wait to go grocery shopping!!!!!

Hope you are having a good Week 5!  Stay active challengers!!!!

TWO Hungry Girl Recipes!!!!!

Last night I had some friends over and the theme was "diet" snacks (and fully loaded alcohol)  ;o)

I made my Weight Watchers Graham Cracker Chocolate Chip Cookies which I have posted the recipe to before.  I tried two new Hungry Girl Recipes that I am SOOOOOOO excited about!

I will be posting these recipes as I made it, not exactly as it is written in the cookbook.

Recipe #1 - Egga Pinwheels (I will be calling them HG Breakfast Pinwheel Burritos)

1 can of Pillsbury Crescent Rolls
8 slices of deli ham (I used 97% fat free)
1/2 cup of egg substitute
4 slices of Kraft Singles (or whatever brand you like)

• Preheat the oven per the crescent roll directions.
• Scramble the egg substitutes in a skillet and set aside.
• Grease baking pan.
• Unroll the crescent rolls keeping 2 crescent rolls attached to each other.  Pinch the seam together so that it becomes one solid rectangle. 
• Place the 4 rectangles on the greased baking pan.
• Place 2 slices of ham on each rectangle.

• Place a piece of cheese on top of the ham on each rectangle.  (I made these again today and left the cheese off on Josh's.  He was pleased with them as well.)

• Evenly distribute the egg among the 4 rectangles.
• Roll the crescent rolls into a log, pushing the ingredients inside as they start to spread out.

• Pinch the end of the crescent roll into the log seeling the seam. 
• Flip the log over so that the seam is down.
• Cook per directions of the crescent rolls.

 
Once the logs are cooked, you can either eat it as a log (breakfast burrito) or you can cut it up to be individual pinwheels.  Either would be delicious!!!!!


Recipe #2 - Pepper Skins

This is such an awesome twist on the idea of potatoe skins!  I am so excited about it!

4 bell peppers (whatever color you prefer.  I prefer the reds, oranges, and yellows - which also make for pretty presentation)
8 servings of Oscar Meyer Pre-cooked Bacon Pieces
Scallions
4 servings of shredded cheese
low fat sour cream

**the amount of bacon pieces and cheese are estimates and can be done to taste**

• Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees.
• Clean and cut your bell peppers into quarters.
• Arrange on a baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes.

• Place 1/2 serving of bacon pieces on each pepper quarter.

• Place 1/4 serving of cheese on each pepper.
• Place desired amount of scallions on each pepper. 

• Put back in the oven and bake until the cheese is melted.
• Spread low fat sour cream on them and enjoy!!!!!

Both of these were a hit and great examples that you don't have to either go with out food or eat icky unenjoyable food to lose weight!

I'm not saying I want to go to Nashville and become a Country Star!

People were skeptical when I set a goal of losing 100 pounds.

People didn't think that I could do it when I set my short term goal at 50 pounds.  But, I've lost it and I'm on my way to the 100 pounds. 

People didn't think I could run when I said I was going to run a 5K this year.  Yet, last week, I completed a 4 mile race as my first race ever.  By the way, a 5K is 3.1 miles. 

So, why is it that when I say I would like to become a personal fitness trainer and fitness life coach, people are still skeptical?  Why do I get the idea that people think these ideas are absurd?

It is true that I've led a pretty sedentary adult life.  My hobbies prior to 2011 were reading and crochet, which one past boyfriend once referred to as "sit on your ass hobbies".  (You may have an idea of one reason he and I are no longer together.)

I do understand people being leary at first to put too much faith in the personal change.  However, I think at this point I've proven myself.  I don't know...I realize I have lost a good amount of weight before, just to gain it back.  But, I did it much differently before and not with the same support that I have now.  And it could be said that the things I'm looking to do are the types of things that will help continue with this lifestyle change.

So, I'm just thinking....I find it funny that it seems like I'm getting the same responses from people when I say I want to be a personal fitness trainer and fitness life coach as though I had just said I want to be the first woman to play NBA basketball or I want to move to Nashville and pursue a country singing career.  Although if I wanted to do that, I think people should believe in me.  But, even I recognize that those things are much more far fetched than the goals I have.

So, I'm going to pursue my current dreams until I have a reason to believe that they will be utterly unattainable.  What happened to, "You can be anything you want to be?"

Hey Sole Sister - Aint that Mister Mister ;o)

I was beginning last week knowing that I only had one week left to train for Steamboat and in 6 short days I would be wondering how I was going to stay motivated to run.  My friend Jenn and I have some goals based around running, but they are kind of far off and I wasn't sure exactly how we were going to train.

Then, just in time, I received an invite to Sole Sisters - a women's only running group.

Sole Sisters is a women specific running group sponsored by the Peoria Area Track and Field Club. Sole Sisters caters to beginning runners -- implementing a "couch to 5K" program that will be paced according to participants abilities. Participants with more experience will find groups to meet their needs as well. This program is a running program but it is also a "girlfriend" time where we are each others biggest cheeleaders. We will set goals together, accomplish them and celebrate! We hope that the ladies in this program realize how much power they really have and find empowerment from this group!

What great timing!  I was a little disappointed it was on Wednesday night because I was looking forward to Wednesday Turbo.  But, I decided this was the type of group that if I wanted to do Turbo one Wednesday night, that was okay. 

The night started with everyone signing up and then shopping, trying on shoes and bras.  Members got a 10% discount tonight only.  This pic was taken early in the evening.  This place was PACKED by 6:15pm.

The club started with Marianne Miller telling us what running has done for her and what it will mean to us.  She says it will change our lives! 

After the leaders were introduced, we took off on a one mile run to get an idea of the others that ran at our pace. 

Now that I pretty much ran the whole Steamboat Classic without walking, I was more willing to push myself.  Or should I say allow myself to do what I could do. 

Jenn and I did the whole mile and it felt awesome! 

And the support in that one night from a group full of strangers was awesome!  We waited for everyone to finish and cheered and gave high fives!  It was exactly the love fest that Marianne said it would be!  Loved it!

WRB Challenge - Week 3 Results - Must Have Been a Busy Week!

Here I thought I would get this out earlier today, and I think I'm later than normal.  ;o)

It must have been a busy week for everyone, updates were a little lower than normal.  But that's okay.  And the updates we got were fantastic.

Together we:

Ran:  30.1
Walked:  45.5
Biked: 4
Elipticalled:  2

Individually -

Bobbi Millinger - Walked 24 miles and lost 1 pound!
Jenn Morgan - Did a combined 14 miles among running, walking, biking, and eliptical - AND SHE WAS ON VACATION!
Laura Meyers - Ran 8.1 miles and drank 64 ozs of water and Gatorade a day.
Tracy Durr Fox - Walked 7 miles, drank 120 ozs of water, and lost .4 pounds.
Christine White - Walked 6.5 miles and did 2 Turbo classes
DeAnna Johnson - started Couch to 5K
Me - Ran 6 miles, walked 2, and did 1 Turbo class

We also gained a new challenger this week!  Gina Heartsfield Smith.  Her goals are to walk 3 day per week, working up to 5 and maybe to running.  She would also like to lose 13 pounds by the end of July.

I apologize that I wasn't on the ball with reminders and encouragement for the WRB Challenge this week.  With all the excitement, the week got a way from me. 

If you did not send an update for this week, IT'S NOT OVER!  Pick right back up for week 4.  We are only 2 days in!  Remember that we are all going to have bad days or weeks.  What makes us successfull is not letting them get us down.  We just have to get back on the Fitness/Health Train and chug along!

Also, in case you've missed it, there is a new running group starting tomorrow night (Wednesday).  Watch the video below for info.  You can also go to my facebook page to find the invite. 

http://centralillinoisproud.com/fulltext/?nxd_id=182717&shr=addthis

Hope you all have a great Week 4!!!!!!!

Steamboat Classic 2011 - "Am I really doing this?"

AMAZING!!!  That is the only way to describe what I did yesterday and the feeling it produced.

For the last 11 weeks, I've been training to do something I never thought I would do.  I "tried" running several times throughout my life, but it never really took.  And I remember my family teasing me when I was very little about the way I ran.  I used to joke and say that I wanted a runner's body, I just didn't want to run.

Back in February or March my friend Naomi sent me an invite to Building Steam and I thought, "If I am going to meet the goal of running a road race this year, I have to do this.  If I don't, it's just not going to happen."  I was really not sure I could do it.  But I was really going to give it my all!

So, every Wednesday for 11 weeks (minus one for bad weather) I met up with hundreds of people to train.  Training usually consisted of running a specific distance alternating running for 3 minutes and walking for 1.  We started out covering a mile and after a few weeks running 2 or 2 1/2.  In the last couple of weeks, we began running a full 4 miles including the course a couple of times. 

I met a great group of people who have now become awesome and supportive friends. 

I said from the very beginning that this was going to be an emotional event for me.  I'm a pretty emotional person anyway, extremely touched by big events or the feelings (good or bad) of others.  I really couldn't believe that I had accomplished this. 

I got up yesterday morning and went downtown by myself; my family would be meeting me downtown after the race.  I got ready, grabbed a bagel, and left to head towards the Riverplex.  It was in the car that I started to feel nervous and a little sick to my stomach.  I did not finish the bagel.  I was fighting back tears. 

Then I saw a friend in the locker room at the Riverplex and I gave in to the tears.  From then on, it was very hard for me to hold back.  I think I said to one person, "Don't be overly nice to me cause I'm really trying hard not to bawl"  ;o) 

I was waiting in the back of the Gateway Building for my pace group to gather.  When we walked out to get in line and I saw ALL THOSE PEOPLE ahead of us, I LOST IT AGAIN!

And I pretty much cried (trying to hold it back, but it was too much to keep all of it in) from then till I was half a mile in. 

I would gain composure and be in a good concentrated run and then we would pass complete strangers that would throw their hands up in the air and scream at the top of their lungs for us.  And I would start crying again! 

I did do my best run ever and I was completely shocked.  I told my friend Linda that my habit of procrastination probably kicked in a little bit during the training.  I think the furthest I ran during training without walking was .8 miles, maybe a little over a mile.  I probably walked more than I actually needed to.  I did push myself during training, but probably held a little back, knowing it wasn't my last chance to do my best run ever. 

But yesterday was my last chance when looking at just my training for this one event.  It was the first time I was going to have to obtain an official personal best. 

And so I ran and ran and ran (really jogged and jogged and jogged - slow and steady).  And I didn't hurt and I didn't run out of breathe.  I basically ran for 3 miles straight before I REALLY walked.  In the first mile or mile and a half I tried to walk once or twice, but I wanted to walk faster than my knees would allow.  I guess they were telling me that if you are going to go that fast, it feels more natural for us to go ahead and jog.  So I did.  And before I new it, I had gone 3 miles. 

I really think that I could have gone the whole thing running, but they stress to you during Building Steam that the stretch that you really don't want to walk is the last corner that takes you onto Hamilton and then down to Water Street for the finish line.  Not that you CAN'T walk there, but that is basically the finish and where the most people are lined up and cheering you on the loudest.  So, I did NOT want to find myself needing to walk there, so in the last mile I did walk for about a minute or two. 

Then I was able to do that last stretch at a faster pace, one that I would feel even more accomplished if I worked up to doing the whole thing in. 

My gun time (the time from when the gun goes off for the very fastest runners to the time I crossed the finish line) was 54:06.  In order to determine my "chip" or "net" time (starting when I myself crossed the starting line to the time I crossed the finish line) they said I should subtract 3 to 5 minutes from my gun time.  I would be surprised if it took me 3 minutes to get to the starting line after the gun went off, so I'm think 2 to 3 minutes.  Since my goal was to finish in 52 minutes or less (that would be a 13 minute mile pace and what I had been training for), even if I only subtract the 2 minutes I'm right on track. 

I did lose it one more time as I crossed the finish line.  I couldn't believe I had done it, had done it so well, and now it was over.  But, then I stood around waiting for my family to find me and had a chance to calm down a bit. 

It was absolutely an amazing feeling to do the Steamboat Classic and absolutely will be something I will continue to do, adding other races to the agenda in years to come.  I am really finding that concentrating on fitness and goal setting is what I enjoy and it is what is making me a more productive person. 

Deciding to take this path has definitely added so much value to my life and I am so thankful that I am in a position to be able to pursue it. 

WRB Challenge - Week 2 Results! Oh Yeah!

Can you believe that you have completed 2 FULL WEEKS of the challenge already?!? 

I think we have some fabulous numbers this week.  And I love how excited you all sound in the emails I'm getting.  I love seeing you succeed.  I know you can ALL do this! 

Okay...Now for the numbers!

As a group we:

Walked:    71 miles
Ran:  52.5 miles
Biked:  35 miles
Drank:  1456 OUNCES OF WATER!!!!!!

Together, we covered 158.5 Miles!  How Exciting!!!!!

Wanna know how your fellow challengers did?

Bobbi Millinger             Walked 22 miles/Ran 2 miles
Anne McSorely Hollis   Walked 13 miles/Drank 80 ounces of water 6 days  (480oz)
Jennifer Wyatt Lee         Walked 10 miles
DeAnna Johnson           Walked 10 miles
Tracy Durr Fox              Walked 3.5/Drank 136 ounces of water
Jackie Wristen                Walked an hour
Laura Meyers                 Ran 16.5/Drank 64+ ounces
Tiffany Taapken Schoepke    Ran 14 miles/Biked 35 miles
Meredith Zietlow           Ran 10/Walked 3/Did 3 group classes
Jenn Morgan                Ran 4/Drank 64 ounces 3 days  (192oz)
Sammi Hines                 Drinking her water
Me                        Ran 6 miles/Walked 9.5/Drank 584 ounces of water

FABULOUS!  WONDERFUL!  AMAZING!  INSPIRING! 

Every one of you are ALL of these things!!!!

Not everyone in the group is tracking weight loss and that is A-OKAY!  I didn't when I first started either.  I knew that for me it was more about creating good habits first. 

BUT.........there are some people in the challenge that ARE tracking weight loss and so here is what they have reported so far......

Bobbi Millinger              Lost 6 pounds this week!
Jackie Wristen               Lost 6 pounds this week!
Jennifer Wyatt Lee         Lost 2 pounds this week!
Tracy Durr Fox              Lost 1.2 pounds this week!
Meredith Zietlow           Lost 1 pound this week!

I'm looking over my chart and hoping that I haven't forgotten anyone....I don't think I have, but if I missed your update or got something wrong....please write me and let me know!  It's such an important part to succeeding in the challenge so I want to make sure I get it right!

Thank you so much for how excited you are about the challenge.  I've said it before that one of the things I love about my journey is the support system that I've developed.  I hope that you all find that with this challenge and other challenges to come. 

Great job this week and GOOD LUCK with WEEK 3!

WRB Challenge - Week 1 Results - I'm so excited!

And I just can't hide it!  This was an awesome week for you guys!

One thing to keep in mind here in the beginning of the second week is what you want to track and report. 

• Keep track of how many miles or minutes you walk/run/bike.
• How close are you to the goals you sent.

I may not have been completely clear in my instructions before.  The main challenge is the walk/run/bike.  But, because we shouldn't plan on doing it for no reason at all, we associated goals so we'd know from the start what we wanted to get out of the challenge by the end of the 2 months.  I hope that clears up a little what you should be looking for when sending your update.  ;o)

Now for the good stuff!!!  As a group we:

Walked:  55 miles
Ran:  14.5 miles
Drank:  1075 ounces of water!!!!!!!!

I think this is AWESOME!!!!!  The walkers could have done a relay back and forth between Peoria and Elmwood!

Individual Stats are:

Shannon Jones               12 miles Walked
Bobbi Millinger              10 miles Walked - 2 miles Ran
Jennifer Wyatt Lee         10 miles Walked
DeAnna Johnson            10 miles Walked
Jenn Morgan                  3 miles Walked - 3 miles Ran
Tracy Fox                      3 miles Walked
Laura Meyers                 3.5 miles Ran
Jackie Wristen               20 minutes Walked
Jenn Stanley                  1 mile Walked - 6 miles Ran

Yay everyone!!!!!!  This is an awesome start!  See why I'm so excited!

Some other noteables to mention:

Tracy Fox lost 3.4 pounds.
Jenn Morgan met her water consumption goal on Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday (192 ounces).
Jennifer Wyatt Lee lost 2 pounds.
Shannon Jones met her water consumption goal 3 days (192 ounces).
Anne McSorely Hollis drank 80 ounces of water every day Wednesday through Sunday (400 ounces total).
Christine White was sick most of the challenge week, and got her 6 miles in in the last 2 days.
I drank 291 ounces of water between Wednesday and Sunday.

Excellent, Excellent Job! 

So, for everyone, those who updated and those who didn't, let's make Week 1 the worst week we have through the whole challenge.  Week 2 - you just have to do better than Week 1. 

What do you guys think?  I'm glad that you are joining me in this.  I can't tell you how much having you here pushes me a long.  Thanks so much!

Please comment below, provide some feedback and encouragement to your fellow challengers!  That is one of the best ways to keep yourself motivated - develop a support system.

Good luck with week 2!

Bye-Bye Food Pyramid!

As of today, the food pyramid is being replaced with the food plate as our guideline for what and how much we should eat. 

Instead of using a shape that has NOTHING to do with food we will now use something that we need in almost every meal.  Well, if we are going to follow the guidelines, we'll need one.  ;o)

It was decided that the previous food pyramids were too confusing and tried to unload to many nutritional facts on us.

The idea with the new guide is that there are 5 groups.  Fruits, Vegetables, Grains, Protein, and then Dairy on the side.  Fruits and Vegetables should make up half of your plate.  So easy for us to determine! 

They are not however telling us exactly how much of one group a person is supposed to eat, because each person has different needs either because of gender, age, health and other factors.  The idea is to eat less and take smaller portions.