Your Best Friend Can Sometimes Be A Treadmill

There is only one treadmill at the gym that likes me. It's off to the side, in the second row, well out of sight from anyone who I might know that could enter through the gym doors and see the sweat dropping off my arms and face. This treadmill likes me because when I set the speed, it actually goes that speed. Some of the treadmills go faster than the speed I want, while others are slow and loud. But, this particular treadmill and I have a special connection. It's always open. It was the one I ran on the day my grandma died. It was the one I was running on when I face planted. And, it was the one I was on when I ran my personal best 5k at 34:32 minutes.

There are a few reasons why this milestone means so much to me. For one, I had set a goal a few months back when I ran the Cape Cops 5k to do it in 37 minutes. That was in May. After that run I had an epiphany; I realized that a friend of mine who didn't train at all had run the same distance three minutes slower than me. Here I was training my ass off to reach this goal, and really it wasn't that fantastic. So, I set my goals higher. Because, at this point I need goals. You need goals too. You can't just jump on a machine without having something in your head that you want to reach whether it's to do 30 minutes, go a certain distance or just make sure you look cute while you're trotting along on the treadmill. I've given up on the latter. So, my goal now is to run a 5k in roughly around a 33 minute mark. I know I can do this because I have several months to continue training for the one in October, it's just keep up the motivation to get to the gym and workout.

So far that stupid number on the scale hasn't moved. Not even one little black line over closer to the left. I just lingers there, taunting me, waving its stupid red arm over that same numeric until I get frustrated, kick the scale and shove it back in the towel closet. I wish I could vow never to get it out again, but I can't make that promise. I'm neurotic about the number.

Now it's picture time. I sent a few pictures to my friend who asked for an ass shot. Only a select few would get such a picture and I'm not confident enough about my ass to post a snapshot of it to this blog. I don't know who is reading it. Probably no one. But, to give you an idea of where I was a few months ago and what a little sweat, determination and goal setting can get me here is a comparison:

Ok, here's me and TGIM about a year ago when I wasn't as dedicated to my running as I should have been. I'm wearing a size ten pants but as you can see, they're begging for some room around my thigh area. Cute shoes, though, right?
So, here's me a few days ago. Pink Marble took 360 degree shots of me, but this one shows the thigh and I just want it noticed that it does look smaller, right? RIGHT????

I'm looking forward to the day when I can post my 100 lbs weight loss picture on this blog and then everyone can applaud my accomplishment and send me gifts, perhaps pay for my tummy tuck and put me on the cover of People Magazine.

No, I Didn't Run Away

Things have been crazy busy around here lately. Visitors. Summer Break. Work. But, I am keeping up with my workouts and finding that I am enjoying cross training. One day I am on the stair master. Another day I am on the elliptical. And yet, another day I am running on the treadmill.

I have been reading that incorporating sprinting into your workout is a great way to boost your metabolism and burn more calories. So, I have started doing that while I am on the treadmill. Granted, sprinting is probably easier to do outside on the regular pavement but I have figured out a way to do it on the treadmill that seems to be efficient.

I start my normal one minute walk while adjusting my headphones, getting my playlist going and turning on the fan and track view setting on the treadmill. Then I up to the speed to about 5.7 and jog for about five minutes to get my muscles warmed up and my head in the game. Then I bump the speed up to 6.0 and watch on the Track View screen until I noticed I am round the curve on the track which pretty much is a computerized track you'd see going around a football field. When I am at the curve, I jump up to 7.5 and haul ass to the quarter, half or mile mark. I do this at every curve I come to switching up walking and jogging in between sprints. Doing this I have cut over a minute off my 5k time. Which I am now down to less than 36 minutes. Yea me!

Motivation is the one thing that I find is the hardest part of running. Getting my ass to the gym and feeling the desire to be there it a mindfuck all the time. I constantly have to remind myself why I am doing it and how good the outcome is going to be. A long time ago when I first started Weight Watchers I was given a quote which read, "Nothing tastes as good as thin feels." I think about this phrase often and I wholeheartedly believe it. Since, I started working out up to five days a week, I have found there is a small boost in my self esteem. Clothes fit a little better. I feel healthier. I notice a change in my body. That damn scale still says that same stupid three numbers and I am thinking there might be some sort of meaning behind those numbers. I just can't quite figure it out. Perhaps I need to play them in the lottery?

It would be nice to have someone to work out with and anytime anyone wants to join me in a run, I am always eager to have someone run along side me. Last time I was at the gym I chose a treadmill next to a girl who looked about my age that was running on her treadmill. I figured I could run alongside her and pretend she was one of my friends and we were working out together. Then about three minutes into my warm-up she took off. Bitch!

"Oh My Gawd. I'm Totally Riding a Bike!"

The other day I was at the gym on the recumbent bike. It seems almost useless to use that machine to work out because it's like sitting in a La-Z-Boy with a flat screen in front of you pedaling. How hard can that be? It wasn't. So much so that I spend the better part of my workout yapping away on the phone with Autumn annoying all the intense Gym Rats working out around me.

Being Strong. Staying Strong. It's Not Always That Easy

Having done this gym thing for a few months now, I have noticed that there are some days that I feel awesome. I can workout and nothing hurts. I have stamina and endurance. My breathing is on target. The sweating is dripping off my forehead and running down the sides of my face.

Then there are the days when doing just ten minutes of something feels like I ran a marathon. (Ok i have no idea what that feels like but perhaps one day I will.) But, there are days when the strength just isn't there and it's a mental game I have to play with myself to not just hit the Stop button on the machine and call it quits for the day.

I have bumped up my workout routine to an hour a day now. I had been doing 30-40 minutes, but I figure the extra 20 minutes might help shave off some of this weight. I have been working out religiously since mid-march and still have not seen a drastic loss of weight per my evil scale. Clothes fit differently. People are noticing. But, that wretched scale doesn't want to help me out at all.

I have also decided to make some alterations to my eating habits. After not following The Biggest Loser and then watching the season finale at work the other night, I saw the winner had lost a ton of weight and her starting weight was my starting weight. She looked amazing. And though I completely understand that the contestants on that show have nothing better to do than lose weight and exercise, I figured I might change things up a bit.

First thing that is getting a overhaul is my cheat day. The last few cheat days I have gone entirely overboard on the eating. To the point one might say I was bingeing. So, I have decided that perhaps just one big cheat a day, like an ice cream or a Brownie Earthquake at DQ will suffice instead of allowing an entire day for cheating. Saturdays are my cheat day. I will start this new regime next Saturday.

This next week will also start a full week of my one hour workouts, altered eating and cross training. Fingers crossed I keep my head in the game!

Cape Cops 5K

And it's over..... The run was yesterday and somehow even though I trained for several months for that day, my thighs and arms are killing me.

The morning started out tense. I was nervous and anxious and it was clearly visible to all those in the car going to the run.

My friend Amanda and I noticed several participants running, sprinting, stretching before the race. I didn't want to waste my energy on warming up, but Amanda convinced me to take a quick walk before the start of the race.

Once we made it back to the mob of runners the nerves almost got the best of me. I looked around and saw people who looked like they had been running for years and were in much better shape than I was capable of ever being. There were people in shirts with team names on them. They had leg muscles that were toned and firm. I felt slightly out of place. I had to remind myself that the only person I was racing was myself. I had my set time in mind as the goal that I wanted to finish by and that was all I needed to focus on.

Once it was time to run I felt like I was going to be trampled by all the people who were behind me, but I was able to run .75 miles without needing a rest. I walked a short time and hit the mile mark at about 14 minutes. I wasn't too happy with this time so I knew I needed to pick up the pace if I wanted to reach my 37 minute goal. By mile two, I felt strong and nothing was hurting. The only thing was my breathing. It was hot and humid and it felt like I was breathing in mud. There were a few people around me who'd run for a few and then walk and sometimes I'd be ahead of them and sometimes they'd be ahead of me. It kept me motivated to keep moving and jogging along.

As I rounded the corner at mile three I could see the big blow up finish line. I switched on Eminem's "Lose Yourself" and hauled ass to the finish line. I was scanning the crowd for TGIM and Yellow Marble but I didnt' see them anywhere. It wasn't until I was almost to the finish line I saw them standing on a transformer box cheering me on. I couldn't help but feel emotional. My goal to complete a 5k had come to fruition at 37:06 minutes. I was so happy that I did it!! I was proud of myself for setting a goal and sticking to it.

I remember just a few months ago when I couldn't even run a minute without feeling like I wanted to quit. It's amazing how good it feels to be able to complete this 5k and know that I could do it. I can do it. And I will do it again!

Thanks for all the support!! Knowing I have people watching my progress makes me work harder. I hope I have inspired some of you to put on your walking shoes and get out there and start moving.

Bottomless Pit

When I was pregnant with all three of my Marbles my stomach always felt like a bottomless pit. I never felt full. I would eat and eat and eat and there was never that satisfaction of, "Wow. I'm full." Today was one of those days for me and with my mom being in town, I say I am going to go to the gym but the last thing I feel like doing is going for a run when my mom is literally righthere.

The will power I had today was only there because my mom has decided to do this different way of eating along with me. When you have someone there with you, pushing away the end of the year Young Astronauts Party cake, not eating the pizza at the school function, not ordering a double scoop of ice cream it makes being able to lose weight a lot easier. I only wish I had her here all the time to journey down this road with me as she was a huge part in my original weight loss endeavor.

The 5k is just days away and i haven't been to the gym since Monday. That's a huge deal for me because I was going six times a week. My mind is telling me that I will be fine on Saturday and I know I will be, but I am worried that I am going to fall off this bandwagon once the race is over which is why I have set my sights on a 10k in October. We will see what the cross training brings me in the months after this race on Saturday, but I am hoping to continue losing weight and attempting to get in shape.

Today my mom and I went to Kohl's and I bought a pair of shorts. Not capris. Not those roll up pants. But shorts. They come to the top of my knee. And... get this.. THEY ARE A SIZE TEN!!! Now, granted they aren't a ten in the ladies section, nor were they purchased in juniors. In fact, they're from the older lady section but nonetheless they were a ten and they fit nicely. (I thought, my mom.. not so much.) I have a few pairs of pants that are tens that I wear to work and depending on the store and cut of the pants will depend on what size I actually wear, but buying a ten in SHORTS was a big deal for me as you might know I never wear shorts because I am so freakin' insecure about my legs. Baby steps. Baby step. Who knows, by the end of the summer you might hear me saying i went on the boat in a bathing suit!!!

I just gotta keep running......

Cheater Cheater Pumpkin Eater

Cheat Day! My favorite words. Every week I afford myself a Cheat Day which I should rename "Binge Day" because that is basically all I do is binge. I eat myself into a stupor. My coworkers have never seen such a sight, nor have they seen me eat like I ate these last 12 hours. Here is a run down of what I ate:

Large Wendy's Fries
Medium Wendy's Frosty
Piece of Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
Two chocolate donuts
Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich on white bread
12" turkey sub with mayo and provolone cheese
Red Velvet Cupcake with cream cheese frosting
Fries from Bear Rock Cafe


I think that's it. Wow!! It looks bad when I write it all down.

6 days until the 5k!!!