Weigh-In Wednesday: The Shrinking Days of Summer

It's Wednesday, and you all know what that means.  It's weigh-in day over at the Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans.  It has been blazing hot here in Michigan all week, and no matter how much water I drink, I still feel as bloated as my hair from the humidity.  It ain't pretty, people. Coupled with the humidity and last weekend where I spent many hours in the car, 2 days in a hotel, and "meals" at an arena to watch my daughter do this:



I was not thrilled to weigh in.  I decided to suck it up and get on the scale, resulting in these numbers to start our new challenge:

Challenge Starting Weight: 146.8

Last Week's Weight: 146.0

This Week's Weight: 146.8

Change This Week:  up 0.8

Loss for Challenge: N/A

Total Pounds GONE: 19.0

Considering how puffed up I currently feel, I'm not disappointed with those numbers, but I am excited to start this new challenge.  Mini challenges along the way sound like a lot of fun.  Outside of this challenge, I somehow got roped into volunteered to join the Sisterhood's own Lissa in a 10 day sit-up and push-up challenge!  It's even been broadcast across twitter, so I guess I'm committed now (or should be committed for agreeing to this)! You know I love you @LissaJoy!

I wasn't planning to set any specific goals for this challenge, but I really, really, really want to be under 140 by August 15.  That's my 2nd annual 39th birthday and the day we jet off to Disney to celebrate.  Wouldn't you know that's just after this challenge will come to an end.  Help me out, ladies!  Surely I can lose 7 or 8 pounds in the next 10 weeks, right??????

I've also just started running again after my 1st 10k just about killed my foot left me feeling a bit injured.  I was hoping to do another at the end of June and another in Mid July, but now I'm just hoping for the July one.  It's in my hometown and a beautiful course along the bluffs so I hope I can stay healthy enough to run it.

So, friends, are you ready to shrink this summer?  I know I am!

Weigh-In Wednesday: 21 day challenge report card

Challenge Starting Weight: 149.2

Last Week's Weight: 148.4

This Week's Weight: 146.0
Loss This Week:  2.4

Loss for Challenge: 3.2

Total Pounds GONE: 19.8

It is Weigh-In Wednesday over at the Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans and to be honest, I just don't get it.  I've been eating crap and not logging my food.  Check that, I just logged my breakfast-yeah me.  Due to a minor foot injury from my 10k, I haven't run, or really done any decent exercise, in over a week.  I did bike 10 miles on Saturday and sorta did the Tworkout last night, but over the course of a week when I'm used to working out pretty hard, that is nothing that isn't much but should count for something.  Considering how hard the strength moves were last night, my loss this week could very well be muscle.  That would totally suck.  Either way, I'm going to take the loss and be happy with it.

Since this is the end of the 21 Day Challenge, I should report how I did on those goals.  In the spirt of the school year coming to an end, I'm grading myself.  Here were my goals back on April 28th:

• 
  
  No late night snacking. Nothing to eat after 9 pm. I chose 9 pm because there are some nights that we don't even eat dinner until close to 8:00, and I still need to be able to eat dinner ;)

This one I met for 20/21 days.  Last night I grabbed a cookie before bed.  Oops.  As soon as I ate it I realized what I'd done.  Nobody is perfect, and that's like a 95%, so I'm giving this goal an A.

• Get some form of physical exercise every day for at least 25 minutes. This might be with Jillian's shred (hence the 25 min stipulation), Wii EA Active, take a walk, ride my bike, or do a run. Obviously, if I run I'll get in a lot more than 25 minutes, but this is just the minimum. I'm keeping it flexible to accommodate my tapering for the 10k and due to wanting to stay as un-injured as possible in the next 10 days.

EPIC FAIL on this one.  Preventing injury before my race and then dealing with injury after meant this goal went down the crapper. I could have sucked it up and tried the pool, done strength training, or biked more, but I didn't.  F

• 
  
  Oops, just thought of a 3rd. I'm going to keep running after this 10k. I'm thinking about another one this summer and I'd like to keep improving my times. That means I don't take months off like the last time I did a race.

I'm giving myself an INCOMPLETE on this one.  I had every intention of continuing my running training after my race, and actually tried 3 days later, but my fraked up foot has me on the DL for now.  I've been told to rest 1 more week, then I'm going to get back out on that pavement.  I'm thinking the 10k at the end of June is probably out, but there is another in mid July that could happen.  Keep your fingers crossed for me.

So how did I do overall?  Did I pass?  I'm going to say, yes.  My average is a C, and I've been given a timeline extension on that last goal.  Not what I'd hoped for overall, but my scale and head seem to be moving in the right direction.  I'm committed to getting back on track.  Let's hope I can keep moving forward.

Thanks Sisters for the great challenge.  I can't wait to see what you have in store for us next week!

True Confession Tuesday: In a Rut

It is True Confession Tuesday over at the Sisterhood and these are my confessions:

• Due to my stupid foot still giving me grief, I have done next to nothing in the way of exercise this week.  I'm hoping to tworkout a bit tonight, but I saw my chiropractor today and he said no impact for another week since I still feel some twinges with walking and biking.  Sucks @$$ bigtime.
• I had to make cookies for the Wonder Twins' confirmation class on Sunday.  Yes, I've eaten my fair share entirely too many cookies.  Leftover cookies someone else made also made it back to my house.  I may have just had 3 (ok, it was 5) cookies for dinner Sunday night and nothing else.
• It is Teacher Appreciation Month at school and there have been lots of healthy snacks treats in the lounge and I haven't been very good about staying out of there.  Chocolate covered macadamia nuts.  Really?  I'm thankful that our parents love us, but seriously!  It's a wonder the entire teaching staff doesn't need to go on Biggest Loser.
• I feel I am in a complete rut when it comes to tracking what I eat.  I ♥ my Livestrong Daily Plate app, but I haven't been very faithful about logging what I've been stuffing in my pie hole eating this week.  Pretty dangerous combination of no exercise and eating without tracking has me a bit concerned that I"m losing control.
• Not being able to run also has me very scared.  I know it's only been a little over a week, but I'm worried that I will lose everything I've gained physically and mentally, not to mention gain back the 20 pounds I've lost.  I need to get my freaking head screwed back on straight.

Those are my confessions.  How did everyone else do this week?  Did you stay the course or take a little detour?  Go blog about it and link back up with the Sisterhood and tell us how you did.

Weigh-In Wednesday: The What the Frak? Edition

Challenge Starting Weight: 149.2

Last Week's Weight: 145.8
This Week's Weight: 148.4
Gain This Week: up 2.6

Loss for Challenge: -.6
Total Pounds GONE: 17.4

 

It is Weigh-In Wednesday over at the Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans and I am feeling very pissed at myself.  So pissed that I almost took the 20# button I earned last week back off of my blog. 

 

I had a tremendous accomplishment this past Saturday of running my first 10k race.  You can watch my vlog about it here.  I felt amazing afterwards and extremely proud of myself.  However, by Saturday night I felt like I'd been hit by a bus.  Parts of my body that are usually sore after running weren't, but I had pain in both feet unlike anything I'd ever had before.  That wasn't something I'd expected.  I could barely walk, much less workout this weekend, but I still seemed compelled to eat everything in site.  (Although I hardly ate anything Saturday after the race other than a Mudslide and a salad from TGIF's for dinner because my stomach was a mess.)  My weigh-in today reflected those very poor choices and only proves that I am no where near finished with this weightloss journey.   The sad thing is that I gained all 2.6 pounds SINCE SATURDAY.  I was still at 145.8 on race morning.  Apparently taking a few days off from exercise isn't going to be allowed.  EVER.  Neither is eating pizza (which I made at home with only about 1/2 a sausage link and tons of veggies on my share).  Neither is hamburgers and fries (also made at home).  I even tried running again last night and it was a disaster. I felt fine for about 1.5 miles and then the pain in the feet came back.  I hobbled home from the gym in tears.  I'm scared and frustrated and pissed off and I don't like it.  How am I supposed to continue to lose weight or even maintain if I can't run or do any cardio?????  What the frak am I supposed to do now?  I know one gain shouldn't send me into this much of a tailspin but it did.  I literally gained 10% of my weightloss back in 4 fucking days!

 

Oh, and those new habits we are supposed to be forming?  Obviously getting 25 min of exercise a day in didn't happen, but I did manage to avoid eating after 9 pm all nights last week.  I would have thought that would count for something, but apparently not. 

On a positive note, my kids are performing the National Anthem tomorrow night at the local minor league baseball game with their middle school band.  That is very cool, except dinner is going to be baseball food and the weather is calling for thunderstorms. 

Also, K qualified for the conference track finals in long jump!  She is THE 7th grade long jump champ for her middle school and competes against 7th grade champs from around the conference Monday night.  She also has a band concert that night, so we have to haul butt back from the meet 40 minutes away in time for her to perform in her concert.  Thankfully, there are only 21 days of school left and then maybe I will start to feel sane.

True Confession Tuesday: The Post Race Edition

It is True Confession Tuesday over at the Sisterhood and these are my confessions:

1. I ran my 10k race last Saturday.  Woot!
2. Apparently in my mind this has given me carte blanc to eat whatever the hell I feel like eating.  Boo!
3. This has also given me permission to not work out since Saturday in the thought that I needed to recover.  (In my defence, my hip is still quite sore.) No excuses.  Boo!
4. I have managed to still avoid snacking after 9 pm.  Baby Woot!

I need to get back on track.  'Nuf said.

ps-there are some cool giveaways going on right now:

• You can win a Thriv Natural Performance Shirt here
• You can win a bunch of Sisterhood favorites here

Shrinking Jeans is Having a Giveaway!

Did you know May is Sisterhood Running Month over at the Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans?  You didn't?  Well, now you do!

In honor of running, the Sisterhood is giving away a prize pack of some of their favorite running gear!  Wanna enter?  Go here: http://bit.ly/aorL1e

Here's the short-list of some of my favorite running essentials:

1. Asics Gel Nimbus 11 shoes - great combo of support, pronation control and cushioning.
2. My iPhone with C210K app, Nike+ and iTunes (I cannot run to silence-I start focusing on how I sound like I'm going to die). If it is really raining, I run with my Nano clipped under my shirt.
3. One More Mile t-shirts (really, any wicking fabric will do-but these shirts are Hi-larious).
4. Nike+ chip attached to my shoe. (you don't need Nike shoes to use this)
5. Wright Sock running socks - double layer design means no blisters!
6. Body glide so my armband doesn't cause scarring.
7. Nike dri fit capris or long shorts. Great wicking and no chub-rub.
8. My Nike Fit sports bra. Only minimal uniboob and they come in great colors :)  My current fav has been discontinued it appears, but I bought 5 bras last time I went shopping, so I'll be good for awhile.  Nike does have a great bra-finder on their site.  You should check it out.
9. The rail-trail near my house (If you want to come to Michigan, I'd be willing to share!)
10. Just bought a fuel belt for water. Haven't tried bloks or gu but my longest run has been just over an hour so I haven't felt like I needed that.
 
Here's a taste of what can happen to you if you decide to start running.  You might actually find yourself running a 10K and *gasp* actually loving it!
 

Race Report and a Vlog!

May has been declared Sisterhood Running Month my the Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans.  I've added their button to my blog and am loving the camaraderie of all my sister runners.

Today I competed in my first 10k race, the 5/3 River Bank Run in Grand Rapids, MI.  The weather reports the entire week were for rain, rain, more rain, massive winds, more rain, and cold temps.  The rain never really materialized (thank goodness) but the cold (low 40's) and winds (20-25 mph gusts) were definitely there.  I obsessed the entire night before about what I was going to wear.  I even went so far as to buy a new pair of Nike running pants and a long-sleeve Reebok running top.  I ended up just wearing the Nike capris that I always run in, the Reebok top, and my favorite One More Mile tee.  I was definitely chilly at the start but warmed up nicely by mile 2.  I had a great race and loved all the spectators that came out and cheered us on.  All-in-all, the River Bank Run had 17,240 finishers over the 25k, 10k, 5k, handcycle and wheelchair races.  (Early reports were of around 20,000 pre-registered runners/walkers) and downtown was crowded to say the least.  I met some awesome women and men on the course and got lots of complements on my shirt (it's the one that says, Dear God, please let there be someone behind me to read this). 

The injuries that have plagued me for the past couple weeks were really not an issue.  My calves and shins felt great the entire race and my right knee only hurt in the last mile or so and on the short downhill sections.  Tonight, I'm dealing with a very sore left foot and my left knee has a funky popping going on, but I'm surviving.

Since my girls at the Sisterhood love it when I vlog, I created a vlog to document my weekend.  I hope you all enjoy it and have a nice laugh at my dorky expense.  Go ahead, I can take it ;)

Thursday Three: When I Look in the Mirror, I Like My....

Today over at the Sisterhood, Lisa asked us to lift ourselves up, focus on the positives, and answer her this:  When I look in the mirror, what is it that I like or love about what I see?  I think many of us who struggle with weight and body image spend too much time focusing on the negatives.  I love that Lisa is asking us to reverse that thinking, at least for today. 

So what is it that I love about myself?  For me, this one was actually pretty easy.

I love my eyes.  They are this amazing green color with flecks of gold. 

I also love my nose.  It is small and cute and perfectly proportioned to my face.  See that little mole on the side of my nose?  My mom had one in the exact same place and because of that, I always feel a connection to her even though she's been gone for over 20 years.

I'm also a big fan of my hair.  It is thick, but not too thick, and I can wear it straight or with a bit of wave.  It is finally getting to a length that I love.  Here it is at the end of the night tonight, all messy, and I still love it. 

Thanks, Lisa, for getting us to find some light in the darkness many of us often see. 

So what do you all love about yourselves?  I'd love to hear what you have to say.

Bari

Weigh-In Wednesday: It's a Vlog, Yo!

Challenge Starting Weight: 149.2
Last Week's Weight: 149.2
This Week's Weight: 145.8
Loss This Week: -3.4
Loss for Challenge: -3.4
Total Pounds GONE: 20.0 !!!!!!!!!!!!

It's weigh-in day over at the Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans and here are my results:



We are also working on establishing some new, healthy habits.  They say it takes 21 days for a habit to form and we are 7 days into this challenge.  Now, how am I doing on those goals I set for myself?

• No late-night snacking: For me this meant no snacking after 9 pm.  I'm happy to say I met this one every day, except for Saturday, which you can read about here.
• Exercise at least 25 minutes every day:  I probably set myself up for failure thinking I'd get in actual exercise EVERY day, but I have been physically active in some way and I'm sure if you add the minutes up, they total 25 or more each day I'm totally reaching here.  Only a few of the days were actual workouts.  I'm actually resting my body for my 10k this weekend.  My right knee is a complete mess and it has me scared.  I'm really hoping to finish that race under my own power and not by transport from the medics!
• Keep running:  Aside from the wonky, squishy, hyperextending knee, the running is going just ducky.  I'm looking at the weather reports for Saturday and I am not happy thrilled at the thought of running in the rain, with temps in the high 30's and winds of 20 mph.  It's gonna be GREAT! (That's my attempt to pump myself up).  Speaking of running, did you know May is Runnng Month at the Sisterhood?  You do now!  So even if you don't think of yourself as a runner, you are hardcore McSpeedy, or you think you might want to give running a try, head on over to the Sisterhood and check it out.  They're even giving away a pair of running shoes!  Doesn't get much cooler than that.

To say I'm not happy with how this week has turned out weight-wise would be a huge understatement.  I don't think I'd be where I am today without the love and encouragement of my shrinking jeans, bloggy, and twitter sisters.  I love you ladies!

MWAH!

Bari

True Confession & a New Blog Layout!

I have to admit, I've been pretty good this week.  As for my 21 days project, I haven't snacked after 9 pm, except for Saturday night when I went out with some friends.  I haven't quite made the "exercise everyday for 25 minutes" pledge, but I have gotten some in, including a 3 mile run today and a 2 mile run in a downpour on Saturday.

As for my confession:  I had a lot to drink Saturday night.  We went to a new bar/restaurant that opened Saturday night.  The menu was primarily vegan and we had the most incredible, vegan "chicken" wings.  They were loaded with buffalo sauce (but no butter-vegan, remember) and I swear they tasted better than the wings from Hooters.  I ate a delicious burrito (black beans, rice and sweet potato-yum!).  Then there was the sangria.  OMG.  After we ate here, we walked around downtown and hit a couple more bars.  We then went to a very nice restaurant for dessert.  I had creme brulee and a Spanish coffee.  The server lit it on fire at the table.  Yeah.  Went over my calories a bit, but had a great time out with friends.  I'm not ashamed.

Here's a glimpse at what my Saturday debacles looked like.  My picture mosaic didn't quite turn out how I hoped, but if you click on the image, you should be able to view each individual picture.  I'm still working on this techie thing:



PS-did you see I have a button for my blog now!!!!!  Thanks to my wonderful friend, Mendie, for creating it for me.  Doesn't she just RAWK!  She's also helping me with my photo mosaics, but clearly I am a work in progress.  You should follow her here.  Go ahead, I'll wait.

Bari

Monday Project Link-Up: Outside

After a week of abso-freakin-lutely beautiful weather in Michigan, my daughter and I decided today would be our workout-together day.  I did a short, 2 mile run, while she biked along with me.  The light drizzle that was happening when we started out turned into a downpour within minutes.  I had planned on 3 miles, but it was looking like possible lightening, so we turned around at the 1 mile point.  We are wusses. Safety first!

I hate love running in the ran! I needed to do an early morning run to get ready for next Saturday's 10k and running in the rain made it that much more bankable.  It really wasn't so bad.  Granted, I only ran for a little over 20 minutes.  Talk to me again next week if the weather is the same and I've had to run in it for over an hour :)

I hope everyone else's outside activites were a bit drier than ours!

Bari