What We've Been Doing.....

Our workouts are getting longer and harder.  I look back and when we first started.  We would run 1 min., walk 1 min.  I just thought I was so hard core.  Now, we run 5 min., walk 3 min., and repeat that 2 more times.  I know, I know, it doesn't sound like much but, to me, it's a long time!  I think on Thursday we do 8 min. runs and then on Thursday, we have to run for 20 min. straight.  I'm scared but, I'll pray extra hard this week for help.  

I signed up for 3 races.  The first race I signed up for is the St. George 5k.  That is taking place this Saturday.  We did a trial run of this last week and it was a little rough.  #1: It was DANG COLD outside!!!! My lungs were on fire.  I checked my inhaler and found out it had expired in 2011!  So, I ordered and now have a new inhaler! #2:  I'm used to running on the treadmill, which makes me keep moving at the same pace. A lot of people tell me that they like running outside better.  I'm sure I will get used to it.  It will just take some time.  So, I'm excited for the race on Saturday!  I think it'll be fun!!!!  The 2nd race I signed for is the Bryce Canyon Half Marathon!!!!  That race is July 13th!  I'm nervous as heck and was surprised I just signed up so fast!  It'll be a great experience though.  I'm going with Amber Blair, Brian, and Amber Sheffield!  They will be such a FUN group to go with.  We sleep over the night before so, I'm excited for that whole adventure!  The Amber's are so motivating and positive!  I just love them so much!!!!  Brian is a fun dude too and I just can't wait, for the most part, ha ha!  The 3rd race is in February.  It's called the Dog Town Race, and it's in Washington City.  It's another 5k.  I'm hoping to beat my times.  

I found out that sign-ups for the St. George Marathon are on April 1st.  This came as a shock and a blow to me!  I was thinking it wouldn't be until end of July or something around there.  So, I thought I'd be able to run the 1/2 marathon and get a better feel for where I'm at.  I'll just have to sign up in faith and trust that I can do it.  I keep thinking that maybe I should do next year instead, or I'm just not cut out for this.  But, then I know how disappointed in myself I'd be.  I made this a goal and I WANT to and I HAVE to accomplish it!!!!  

I'm not down to 286 lbs.!!!!  I was so excited to get out of the 290's.  I was stuck there FOREVER!!!!  I was wondering if I'd ever move out of that phase!  Finally I did.  I've lost 2 1/2 inches in my waist, stomach, and butt/hips!  That makes me feel good!  So, I'm gonna' just keep swimmin', just keep swimmin', just keep swimmin'........

"I may not be there yet, but I'm closer than I was yesterday."

DISCOURAGED

I am one very discouraged chick-a-dee.  What it comes down to is patience with myself, the process, and my body.  I want faster results and feel like I'm working so hard.  I'm also scared!  The running is getting longer and longer.  My mind is very weak and talks myself into believing that I can't do it, I'm too weak, I'm not as good as the others, just give up.  Right now, it's making me feel that way very much!  I hope I get out of this funk soon and fast!

Down 1 More!

Just for documenting my accomplishments, I'm down another pound today.  So, I am 288.  Total weight loss of 17.9 lbs.!

Running in Style!

I got me some new running shoes, thanks to Amber!!!!  We took a trip over to the running store, here in St. George.  They watched me walk and run to evaluate my feet and how I run/walk on them.  After trying on 4 different pair of shoes, I found the perfect pair!  Oh how I LOVE them!!!!  They seriously feel so dang good on my feet and light as air!!!!

Before Photo's and Measurements! BEWARE!

So, here are some before shots I took of myself.  I want to puke looking at these.  However, this is who I am right now and I need to use these as motivation to continue pushing myself and working hard to become healthier!

I had a set back last weekend.  It was a Saturday afternoon, and my back all of a sudden gave out on me and I couldn't move.  I was in horrible pain!!!!  I stayed in that condition for 4 days!  I was finally able to go see a chiropractor, thanks to Amber referring me.  He did amazing work on me!!!!!  His name is Dr. Tye Williams!!!  I've only been to him twice and feel like a new woman!  My pelvic bone and hips needed adjusting.  Then he did some decompression, ultrasound waves, and some electroid shock thingie.  So, I'm back in the gym after missing a full week.  I'm not allowed to run for 2 weeks or lift free weights but, I can walk, do the elliptical, bike, and use the weight-lifting machines.

I now weight 289 lbs., which makes my total weight loss 16.9 lbs.  I was excited to see I had lost more weight, when I got on the scale this morning.  Made me more excited to go to the gym.

I took my measurements a week ago so, here they are:

Neck: 16"

Top of chest/around the upper back: 46 1/2"

Top Stomach: 52 1/2 "

Waist: 51"

Around Butt/Lower Stomach: 55"

Upper Arms:

L: 17"

R: 17"

Lower Arms:

L: 12 1/2"

R: 12"

Thighs:

L: 28"

R: 28"

Calves:

L: 17 1/2"

R: 17 1/2"

Ugh!  Scary how I let myself go like that!  But, now I am learning to love and respect myself, my body, and who I am more.  So, this will all change.  Oh!  And I'm no longer drinking pop!

The Beginning of Feeling Better

Back in October, I was a volunteer for the St. George Marathon.  I was helping out at the First Aid Table/Mile Marker 25.  I would help pass out water, ice, and any first aid help that was needed.  I was there from 7:30am-4pm.  Let me tell you what!  It was the neatest experience to be part of!  From watching the first person pass us to the last person, I was in awe of these amazing runners!!!!  I felt such pride for them!  I was so amazed and even had tears for some of them.  I especially felt such happiness, pride, love, and admiration for those I knew that passed us!  I admired what dedication, determination, control, and MIND POWER it took for them all to compete!  What amazed me the most was what type of people competed in this race.  I expected to see the typical runner that I'm used to seeing: lean, muscular, tiny, in amazing shape, etc.  While I did see many people that fit that description, I saw people that were my size, as well as bigger.  I saw people of all ages, from pre-teen all the way up to their 90's.  I realized something and it really put a fire in me.  There is no excuse for me to not be able to do the marathon as well.  The only thing that would stop me is if my body wouldn't let me.  I decided at that moment that I really, really wanted to do the St. George Marathon.

The next step for me was figuring out how to prepare and train for the St. George Marathon.  I had never done any type of race that involved running!  Heck, I didn't even run, period!  I didn't know where to start.  I don't know how the discussion came up but, my good friend Amber and I began talking about it and she offered to train me!  It would be perfect!  I really look up to Amber and admire her!  She's done the marathon twice, not to mention many other 1/2 marathon and other races, and improves each time!  Amber is definitely one who knows her stuff when it comes to preparing for a marathon.  I was so, so excited about her helping me out!

Previous to all of this, I had signed up to run the Color Me Rad 5k.  I had great plans to get all prepared, train, and be ready for the 5k.  When I signed up, I had 3 months to go.  I could do it!  Then, I started to have major back problems and was in A LOT OF PAIN!  So, I was not able to train at all.  Pretty soon race day arrived.  I didn't care how many pain pills I had to take, I was going to do that 5k!  I am so glad I did!  While I walked more than I ran, for sure, I loved it!  It was a rush for me and made me so very happy! Through it all, Amber stuck with me and was so fun to do the 5k with!  She was positive, and kept me moving.  She could've blown all of us out of the water but, instead she stuck with me until the very end.  That really meant so much to me and taught me a lot about her character and what kind of friend she is!  When I finished that race I really felt the desire to do the marathon.

So, on November 29, 2012, Amber started training me to be able to run the St. George Marathon on October 5, 2013.  Why start so early, you ask?  Well, I have a very long way to go!  I want to be able to take the training nice and easy and not push myself to hard, to fast.  I want to be prepared and know that when race day comes, I will can do it!  Right now I am scared, I'm not going to lie.  The thought of running 26.2 miles is overwhelming to me.  However, it's also a goal of something I know I can do.  Amber is helping me with the physical side of things and even the mental side of things.  I'm confident in the way Amber is training me!  I can already feel myself feeling better and gaining more confidence in myself.  I have been feeling very down on myself for quite some time.  It's safe to say that I let go of myself in a bad way!  I have hit the point where I can't feel this way anymore.  I want to feel happy, proud, and confident in myself.  I want me kids to see me that way too!  There will be so many benefits from me training for this marathon.  I"m excited to see my body, mind, and soul change from something very low, negative, and unhappy to something very motivated, happy, excited, positive, and full of energy!

I don't know what I would do without Amber's help!  I've worked out with plenty of people before.  They were all fun people to work out with but, for some reason I never stuck to our plan and workout.  I don't know why but, I'm sure there are plenty of reasons.  This time I feel like I want it bad enough, feel the fire, and Amber seems to be the exact person that I need right now!  I feel myself excited to workout the next day.  Granted, I am not a morning person AT ALL!  Once I am up an going, I do fine!  Amber puts a drive in me that makes me want to do better each time and improve myself!

The next post will include my measurements and pictures.  I wanted to start the measurements from the very beginning but, obviously I put it off and never did it.  I still have a long way to go so, I will still do it.  I will say that when I started on this journey, I weighed in at 309.9 lbs.  Today I weigh 292.6 lbs.  So, whatever Amber is having me do, is working!