Before Picture

https://www.weighandwin.com/MyCoach/Dashboard.aspx

I can't wait until this body gets smaller. It will happen!

I Will Win

My husband and I have started a contest. We have a daily water and exercise (other than work) goal. The one that reaches those goals the most in the next month will get to pick a movie, and we will actually have a date night. We are tracking our water intake and workouts through the FitBit website. (If it is not tracked it doesn't count.) So far, I am doing well. Contests are good motivators for me. My main goal is to be able to run the Bolder Boulder next spring. By doing this contest, I am hoping it will help build my endurance while I am waiting for it to warm up.

Reboot

I am embarrassed to say that I have not done much to lose weight for quite a while. I lost some weight while I was in training at work and right after my grandma passed away, but that was really due to grief and a weird schedule. I went to the doctor and told her that I didn't lose what I had wanted to lose during the summer while I was running and eating better. She believes that I will start losing again when I get back on my meds. (I know that I shouldn't have stopped taking them, and that I would be healthier if I would take them.) I am also going to start working out again. I am hoping that by working out again and taking my meds, the pounds will melt off like they did in the past. 

Success

Yesterday, the hubby and I completed our first 5K! He ran the whole thing, and I ran probably about half of it. When I was done, I couldn't believe that I had actually finished. It was both hard and rewarding.
Most of the difficulties of the run were self-inflicted. We procrastinated signing up so long that by the time we did the earliest we could start was 10:30. That was a good time to get well rested before the race, but it meant that we were running in 80 to 90 degree weather. The next problem was that I didn't drink any water before the race. If there hadn't been a watering station in the middle, I would not have made it through. The worst mistake that I made was to eat a fast food breakfast on the way down. It was too heavy and too greasy to eat before running and caused problems.
I think the reward is obvious. I finished. I didn't give up. When I was ready to give up, my sister, my nephew husband, and one of my best friends along with her sons were there to cheer me on. I finished in about 47 minutes.
I am so glad that I did this. I will definately run another 5K, and I can't wait until I can do my first 10K, the Boulder Boulder, next year!

Quick note:
My favorite quotes of the day came from my little 5 year old nephew:
     "This doesn't taste like corn..." (Talking about the "color bombs" made of colored cornstarch.)
     "That is devastating right there." (Pointing out that I had lost a safety pin that had been holding on my running bib.)

Before the Race

At the Finish Line

My Cute Nephew and Me

Hubby, Awesome Friend, and Me

He Got A Bit Messy

Sickness and Progress

My eating has been getting worse and worse. We haven't been buying as many fruits or vegetables, I have been slowly drinking more soda, and I have worked out less. Last weekend, I had a reminder of what all of that does to my body.
Friday night, I was starting to feel crumby. Saturday, while at work, I was feeling worse and worse, but I tried to convince myself that I could handle it. (I don't have a primary care doctor right now, and I didn't want to have to pay for an urgent care appointment.) Sunday, I decided I couldn't handle it anymore. (This may be too much info, but here it goes.) It burned so bad to pee, and even worse when I needed to pee. I got online and searched for an urgent care facility and found one. I toughed it out through church since it was my turn to teach, and headed there as soon as the kids were dropped off at home taking the little one with me. As I suspected, I had a UTI. I was given prescriptions  for the infection and the pain and sent on my way without any mention of side effects.
Monday morning, I woke up still feeling sick, but the original symptoms weren't as bad. I knew that I still couldn't workout and needed more rest, so I slept until 6 instead of getting up at 5 to workout. As I went through my day, the rest of me was feeling worse and worse. I didn't know what was going on. My manager suggested I go home an hour after I got to work, but I thought I could handle it. I made it to lunch, and ended up having to go home. I couldn't figure out what was wrong. I was, dizzy, light headed, experiencing nausea, exhausted, and I don't even know how to describe the rest. I looked up the medications on WebMD. It was the side effects of the drugs.
I wasn't able to get up to go running until Thursday, but I did get on the stationary bike Wednesday night. That helped kick things off for me again. When I went running Thursday morning, and I set a new personal record. I ran/walked the 3 mile loop I have been working on in about 51minutes. It felt great! Once again, that was motivation to get out and do better.
I didn't get out on Friday morning, I had been procrastinating homework all week and really had to get some done. I had to spend the time reading before work instead of getting out. I really don't have an excuse for after work other than it was date night.
Yesterday, as the hubby and I were getting ready to go running, the dogs were all getting excited thinking they were going too, so we took them for a walk instead. In the afternoon, when I needed a study break, we went for a 5 mile bike ride (we basically took our selves on a tour of Lochbuie).
This morning, I got up, got dressed and went for a run. I ran/walked the same loop hoping to complete it in under 50 minutes (my goal is under 45 by Saturday). I did better than that! I was done in a little over 47 minutes! I am going to reach my goal. I can feel it. 
Other than having a time goal so I am not the slowest person doing the 5K this Saturday, I have a few other goals for myself. I will have fruit with every lunch. (I pack my own lunches,so I have complete control over this.) I will have veggies with every dinner. (Again, I have complete control over this as well.) I currently fill my water bottle at work that holds about 3 cups of water 2-3 times a day. I will fill it and drink it all 4 times a day leaving me with no need or excuse to drink anything else while I am there. I will not go a single day this week without either riding a bike (indoor or outdoor) or running. I will be down a pound by Friday. I CAN DO THIS!

Time to Get Serious

I feel like I am not serious enough about reaching my running and weight loss goals. I am changing that. I am going to reach my goals. 

 

Hubby and I have officially signed up for the Color Me Rad 5K. We have been doing the Zombies Run! app, but I am not sure that I will actually be ready to run 5K by race day, August 17. I am going to finish the training app in the next 2 weeks, but I am also going to do more. I really want to be ready for this.

For my birthday, my brother-in-law gave me a Fitbit Flex. The Fitbit will help me track my steps, distance, sleep cycle, calories in, and calories out. I have been playing with it since I got it. It is so easy to use! This tool should help me with my goals of running a 5K and losing weight.

Back on Track?

I am hoping I am back on track. My daughter and I found a Yoga series on Netflix geared towards kids and teens last night, so we did the first one. It was about a half hour. I felt great and more relaxed when we were done. We plan to do it again  today.
This morning, I got out running again. I really pushed myself, and I did better than last time! That always feels good.
I gained a bit of weight, but I know I didn't eat well or exercise as much as i needed to. I will do better this next week.