Spring-Fling Weigh-In #5

Challenge Starting Weight: 155.2

Last Week's Weight: 150.4

This Week's Weight: 150.8

Gain This Week: +.4

Loss for Challenge: 4.4

Total Pounds GONE: 15.0

• So I gained back the .4 I lost last week. Suck. Not a huge surprise since I know what I did and didn't do. It sucks just the same.
• I did complete the 30 day Shred challenge and you can read about it and see my before/after pictures here.
• My step dad is not doing well at all and than has me very stressed out. He had a procedure on Monday to put a stent in his liver duct. He was doing better on Monday but then all hell broke loose on Tuesday. His liver enzymes were climbing, as was his white cell count. He had a horrible reaction to his pain meds (morphine plus something else) than made him hallucinate and combative. This totally freaked out my dad. This morning they rushed him back in to surgery to have the stent revised (it was totally blocked). He also has a massive infection now and his kidneys are not working properly. He finally urinated around 7 tonight. I honestly don't know how long his body is going to be able to tolerate all this. Continued prayers are much appreciated.
• To top everything else off, I think I screwed up my lower back working out yesterday. It has been in spasm since I woke up this morning, like a giant menstrual cramp wrapping around from my back to my belly that won't go away. Stupidly I shredded again this morning thinking I needed to just work it out, but that only made it worse. I need to run tomorrow but I won't be able to if it still feels like this. Double suck.
• Debbie Downer is going to sign off now. I hope everyone else had positive, successful weeks.

I love you guys,

Bari

True Confession Tuesday: I Finished the 30 Day Shred

Woot-Woot! Over at the Sisterhood, we had a little challenge going on for the past 30 days. Workout to Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred every day for 30 days and see what happened. Here is what happened for me:

Start of Challenge

Bust: 37.75"

Waist: 32"

Hips: 41"

Thighs: 24.25" each

Arms: 12.5" each

Weight: 153.8 lbs

After Challenge

Bust: 36.5 (down 1.25)

Waist: 30.75 (down 1.25)

Hips: 40 (down 1)

Thighs: 24.75 each (down 1 total)

Arms: 12 each (down 1 total)

Weight: 150.8 (down 3 lbs)

Because I wear my "fat goggles" pretty much all the time, it is hard for me to see changes in these pictures, but I know they are there. I've lost 6.5 inches and 3 pounds! I've had several pairs of pants taken in and my clothes are definitely fitting better. I know I'm a little stronger simply because I've upped my weights and can actually do a few real pushups before I wuss out and switch to girlies. I also know my flexibility has improved. When I started this challenge, I could not do a proper lunge with both legs at 90 degrees. Now I can, and it doesn't even hurt that much :)

Keep in mind, I haven't only been doing the shred. I've also been working on my c210k training. Because of major shin issues, I've backed off on the total miles I do each week. Last week because of a conference I had to attend, I only ran 5 miles total. That was pathetic, but I plan to remedy that situation this week.

Since this is True Confessions day, here they are:

• I didn't run as much as I should have this week
• I drank beer and ate artichoke asiago dip (with chips)
• I had 3 (or 10) Hershey miniatures and baby Kit-Kat bars at the exhibit tables
• Did I mention the beer and dip?
• I hardly drank any water over the weekend

I plan to keep at this workout. There were definitely moves that I hated (hello anterior raises, rockstar jumps) but it really made me sweat. I love that I could get a total body workout in less than 30 minutes and feel like it really kicked my ass. Thank you Shrinking Jeans for the DVD and the motivation and encouragement to keep at it EVERY FREAKING DAY FOR 30 DAYS!

Spring Fling Weigh-In #4

Challenge Starting Weight: 155.2

Last Week's Weight: 150.8

This Week's Weight: 150.4

Loss This Week: .4

Loss for Challenge: 4.8

Total Pounds GONE: 15.4

• I was hoping to hit a new decade this week, but considering the craziness that is my life right now, I should be rejoicing over a .4 loss. I did not track calories all weekend (actually just started tracking again this morning) and have run since last Friday. Even with all the travel between the hospital, my dad's place, and home, I've managed to keep up with the 30 day shred, so I'm at least getting a little bit of exercise in. It is fairly nice today and I'm hoping to get in a short 3 mile run in between taking my daughter to the doctor and then getting her to gymnastics. I am feeling a bit guilty about not getting in my training runs, but it is what it is. I have an extra week built in and really had no intention of taking the c210k all the way to the end with continual running. This week's ratio is 5:1, which for me sounds about perfect. We'll see how I feel about it after I try it this afternoon, though.

• For those of you who have been praying for my family, thank you from the bottom of my heart. It means the world to me to know that you are out there thinking of us. We did tell the kids about Bob this past weekend and they have taken it pretty well so far. They were able to visit with him on Sunday for a little while and he was looking pretty good, all things considered. The biopsy confirmed stage 4 pancreatic cancer that has spread to his liver and probably his upper colon. He's having another CT scan later today to compare with his CT from a couple weeks ago. Bob is still at U of M and we don't have any treatment options outlined yet, but they are doing what they can to keep him comfortable. We did get good news today that his IVC filter (a screen to keep clots from the lungs) is positioned correctly and won't need to be revised, so that is one less procedure to worry about. On the downside, he has developed an infection which requires gown and gloves and has some fluid in his lungs. My dad and Bob are hopeful that he will be able to go home possibly this weekend.

• My dad is doing much better, too. When we were down on Sunday, my hubs and I convinced him to let me drive him back home (about 2 1/2 hrs) so he could get some rest. He seemed much more relaxed and rested after spending the night in his own home (he'd been staying with Bob's daughter but couldn't get any rest at her house). We also convinced him to stay in the Inn that U of M has for family members and he slept there Tues and Wed night. Today he told me he is driving home again tonight. I'm glad he is seeing that he needs to take care of himself before he will be able to take care of Bob.

Again-thank you all for the prayers and positive comments. I love you all. *hugs*

Bari

Spring Fling Weigh-In #3

Challenge Starting Weight: 155.2

Last Week's Weight: 152.8

Today's Weight: 150.8

Loss This Week: 2.0

Loss for Challenge: 4.4

Total Pounds GONE: 15.0 (I have a new button!)

• I've managed to lose 2 pounds this week, in a week where I was hoping to maintain. Clearly, my body is going to do what it wants, when it wants.
• I'm not completing all the blog challenges (true confessions, monday project, etc), because frankly, I can't deal with adding anything else right now.
• I have shredded every day for the past 17 days.
• I have continued my c210k training, but on the advice of a running coach and a very good runner-friend, I am backing off on the distances a little bit. As my friend said, "It's better to be under trained than over injured." I'm still having tons of shin pain, but it seems to be a little more manageable.
• Family matters have added much stress and anxiety to my life at the moment. I am blessed to have my beautiful sisters here at the sisterhood for support. I am also blessed that I have the outlet of exercise. In years past, I would have probably just turned to ice cream for comfort.

My family continues to need your prayers. My dad's partner's cancer appears much more advanced than they originally thought. He needs a procedure to unblock a liver duct and drain fluid from his liver. This is a procedure his local hospital attempted a couple days ago but could not complete. His pain is also worse and the morphine is no longer effective (they've put him on something else, but I don't remember what it is.) They were also unable to get a sample for biopsy, so we still don't know exactly what type of cancer we are dealing with. As I write this, we are awaiting a bed at University of Michigan Hospital, where, hopefully, they can successfully complete this liver procedure, do the biopsy, and get his pain better controlled. He also has a daughter who is really struggling right now. She does not have a good support system in her mother and grandmother (they are quite toxic, actually) and she is devastated at the thought of losing her dad. We have also not told my children yet. I'm waiting until we hear more about prognosis and treatment, either that, or I'm just too scared to tell them. I do feel the prayers from all of you and appreciate all of your good thoughts and love. Thank you.

Spring Fling Weigh-in #2

Starting Weight: 155.2

Last Week's Weight: 153.6

Today's Weight: 152.8

Loss this week: .8

Loss for Challenge: 2.4

• I've had a half-way decent week this week. I'm disappointed in my .8 loss only because it was 1.8 down Saturday morning, but I ate my way through the weekend and ended up gaining it all back by Monday morning. I'm glad I've gotten it down to where it is now.

• I've kept up with my c210k program and ran/walked my farthest distance ever on Monday: 6.3 miles! I did another 4.8 miles today and I am feeling very injured at the moment, so that is discouraging. I hate that I'm making huge gains in my endurance, only to have a friggin' pulled inner thigh muscle sideline me. ARRGG.

• I've been shredding every day and I'm moving to level 2 tomorrow morning. It was those damn side lunges that pulled my muscle, so I'm glad to say Adios! to those for a while. I'm sure Jillian will find something else to torture me with, though.

On a totally personal note: It has also been a stressful week for my family. My dad's partner (yes, you read that right-it's what you think) is in the hospital with pancreatitis, gall bladder issues and pulmonary embolisms (clots) and is not doing well. Dad's frustrated and scared and I'm frustrated and scared for him. The doctors can't operate on the gall bladder with the lung issues and the pain from the pancreatitis isn't well controlled. They can't fully diagnose the gall bladder problem without an MRI and he won't fit in the standard machine because he is so overweight, plus his stomach is very distended from multiple hernias. They've been told he would not survive any surgery right now anyway. Either he'd die from the pulmonary embolism or bleed out from the blood thinners they are using to try and shrink the clots in his lungs. Dad lost my mom to cancer after 15 years of marriage and now he's facing that possiblity again. I can't do anything living 1 1/2 hours away and I'm trying to not worry my own kids. I feel totally helpless. It sucks. Prayers would be great if you are the praying type. Thank you.

True Confessions Tuesday

Today is going to be brief. I ate pizza on Saturday. A Lot of pizza. 1/2 of a medium Papa John's Garden Fresh Vegetarian Pizza. Now for the excuses (I mean reasons):

I was with my daughter's gymnastics team at a hotel in Northern Indiana.
It was really late (like 8 pm) and I was starving.
I figured since I shredded and did a wii workout in the morning before we drove down, then walked around an outlet mall shopping for 2 hours, and then did my 1 hour run/walk when we got to the hotel, that I'd be ok with eating anything I wanted since I burned about 1000 calories during the day. Apparently not.
I was still within my calories for the day after factoring in the exercise earnings but I felt like total shit and could not get to sleep because of the heartburn.
I did not drink enough water this weekend, but I also stayed away from the beer and wine that some of the parents were sharing around the pool while the kids swam.
I also ate hospital cafeteria food Sunday night while visiting a friend of the family (grilled chicken caesar wrap without dressing and a handful of potato chips).

Why was this a problem? I weighed myself before we left on Saturday and I had lost 2 lbs since Wednesday-Yeah Me!. Then I weighed myself Monday morning and I had gained the 2 lbs back. Boo Hiss.

On the positive side, I did have my longest ever (distance and time) run/walk on Monday. I went 6.35 miles in 77 minutes. My legs feel like crap today.

The Monday Project: What if I'd Waited?

This week's project has us pondering what our lives would be like if we had not started our weight loss/fitness journeys when we did. What would our world be like 2 years from now if we had waited.

• I would be in my 40's feeling fat and unhappy
• My self esteem would be so much lower because, not only would I have gained back the 50 pounds I lost at 33, but I would probably be even heavier than when I lost weight the first time. It would have just kept creeping up, and up, and up....
• I would not be training for my first 10K.
• I would not have gotten my husband to run his first 5K.
• I would not be setting a good example for my children. They would be teens eating the same crap their mother is eating, rather than at least having some healthy foods to choose from. Who am I kidding, they will be teenagers and probably still be eating pizza and cheeseburgers.
• I would not have brought workout clothes with me to my daughter's gymnastics meet and hit the treadmill at the hotel before visiting and eating pizza with all the other parents. I would have been at the pool with a beer and eating pizza (but not having burned any calories first-so it would have all ended up on my ass).
• I would not be frantically blogging in a hotel room in Indiana as my daughter tries to get some sleep because I didn't get my cyber-homework done on time.
• I would not be getting up at 6 AM every morning to shred with Jillian (damn Jillian).
• I would not have shin splints (sometimes making healthy choices have some painful consequences, too).
• If I had not started this journey when I did, I would not have "met" a group of wonderful women through the world of cyberspace. Although I have never met them face to face, I am truly blessed to call them my friends. I receive more support and encouragement from my "sisters" around the US and the world than I do from my friends next door. I'm so glad I didn't miss this.

Spring Fling Challenge-Weigh-in #1

I am happy to report that I am DOWN 1.6 to 153.6. I lost what I gained the past 2 weeks, plus a little more.

I'm most happy about the serious deposits I've been adding to my bank this week. I am picking up in my 10K training and managed to run outside twice this week. Since last Thursday, I've run/walked 15.25 miles! (Since I started posting on dailymile back in November, I've logged 106 miles!!!!!!!!!! Holy Crap!) The intervals are getting closer (I'm 50/50 now with 2 1/2 minute intervals) and next week the tide shifts to more running than walking. According to my Nike+, I'm also running those intervals faster than I've ever run before. Today's run segments were between 8.5 and 10.5 mph pace. I'm extremely proud of that!

Today's run was particularly emotional for me. I was on the home-stretch and "The Climb" by Miley Cyrus shuffled into my playlist. Have you every really listened to the words? I finished my run with tears streaming down my face. I am going to run a 10K in a little over 2 months.

"Ain't about how fast I get there. Ain't about what's waiting on the other side. It's the climb." This song is about the journey. We are all on a journey, whether it be a journey to work out a little more, lose weight, walk your first 5k, run your first 10k, or train for a 1/2 marathon to fight cancer. We are all on a journey, and no matter how long it takes us to get there or how discouraged you may get from time to time, we will get there. And our friends from the Sisterhood will be with us every step of the way.

True Confession Tuesday: Not So Bad

I don't think I have much to confess this week. I've been a very good girl, so instead of confessing just the naughty, I'm going to confess some of the nice.

• I added a MAJOR deposit to my bank this week. I walk/ran (2.5 minute intervals) 5.8 miles in 73 minutes on Sunday! I did this outside for the first time in the winter. I learned very quickly that I was horribly overdressed and was shedding layers before I hit the first mile.
• I changed my status on daily mile to "runner".
• I bought a new, smaller, belt this week.
• I started the 30 day shred with the DVD I won from the sisterhood (thanks, girls!). While starting this workout, I'm 3 workouts from completing the EA Sports Active More Workouts 6 week challenge. So I'm doing double workouts until next week.
• I've been getting up really early to do the shred, but I also haven't been going to be early enough, so I'm really wiped out.
• I've been staying around 1200 calories a day (I eat my exercise calories). This is really hard on run days because I burn 600-700 calories. I hate eating just because my calorie count is low, but I'm working on the "food as fuel" mentality.
• I've been drinking at least 8 glasses of water a day, but my skin is still really dry and my lips are so chapped they hurt, so 64 oz may not be enough for me. (Excuse me while I go fill up my glass again.)
• I have not been eating enough fresh fruits and vegetables. Don't know why. Just lazy, I guess.
• I posted "before" pictures on The Hood. Scary, but I just wish I'd taken before pictures at the beginning of this journey. I've lost over 10 pounds and have several pairs of pants taken in.
• I ate Stacy's Simply Naked Pita Chips right out of the bag last night while watching The Bachelor. (I guess that's a double confession-admitting to the late night snacking and admitting I watched The Bachelor.)

After 2 weeks of slight gains (while being extremely good in the food/exercise department) I am really hoping and praying for a good weigh-in tomorrow. But if it doesn't happen, I'll get over it.

How did you do this week?