Words of Wisdom from Nancy!

Girl! Are you from Kenya? No! So your time 

means nothing. The fact that you have a time 

posted by your name means YOU DID IT!!!  

Don't diminish your awesomeness! I won't 

hear it! (I just yelled at you but it was done 

with a very loving tone!)

Change IS Happening!!!!

Since my last post, things are changing!!!!  Mike has been going to the gym for a couple weeks now and Mike and I have changed our diet in a good way!  Our daily diet goes somewhat like this: 

1. Preworkout shake
2. Post-workout shake
3. Breakfast consisting either of oatmeal or egg/egg whites with lots of veggies in it.
4. Lunch: Either egg or egg whites with veggies.  Or a low-carb wrap with chicken, veggies, and mustard.  Or a salad with chicken on it.
5. Snack of some sort, or a shake.
6. Dinner: No carbs or very, very low carbs. Veggies and protein and lots of it!
7. Of course I drink A TON of water all day long!

I put spinach in everything I eat, including my shakes!  I love it and it's a great way to get my greens in!!!!  Since then, my body is finally shedding pounds again.  I had gotten down to 274 but, went up to 276 and sometimes 278.  I was stuck there for the longest time!!!  Now, I can say I weigh 268, and have lost 41 lbs. so far!!!!!

I signed up for the St. George Marathon 4 days ago.  It was a very scary thing for me to do.  I had to do lots of breathing and thinking about the race before I committed to it.  But, I signed up and it's official!!!!

I won an entry in a race for tomorrow!  It's called the Breathe Easy 1k/5k/10k race.  It's taking place where the old St. George airport was.  I signed up for the 10k part.  It makes me nervous for a couple reasons.  First, this is my first race where I'm going there alone and not starting with anyone.  Really nervous about that! Second, some of the rail is on an unpaved, rocky trail.  I just hope and pray I don't fall on my face and/or get hurt!  I'm excited though!!!!  Any race experience can only help me!

It's exciting to see progress and it's exciting to know that what I"m doing is working.  The hard work is paying off and it feels great!!!!!!!!

These pants used to be tight on me, especially in the bum area.  Now I'm saggy, baggy, elephant pants!!!!!  

Word of the Day, Week, and Month: DISCOURAGEMENT!!!!!

I haven't written in here for a while, too long!  I really wanted to use this blog as a way to keep my thoughts, accomplishments, set-backs, etc. on hand to read on and remind myself of my journey.  I really need to be better about this!  Since my last entry, I ran another race.  This one was the Spectrum 10k, which began in Snow Canyon and ended in downtown Ivins.  It was a beautiful run, full of gorgeous scenery!  I did ok.  The day started out rough.  I woke up with a headache so, I decided it'd be a great idea to take a pain pill.  Bad idea.  I was already sick to my stomach from being nervous and having a headache.  It only got worse.  We loaded the bus to ride up to the starting line.  On the way up I threw up everything in my tummy!!!!  I will say that I did feel better after!  I started out the race actually feeling good!  I ran for 12 minutes straight, which for me is an accomplishment!  After that, it was stop and go the rest of the race.  It felt very up and downhill to me.  I also had problems with my feet going to sleep quite a bit.  I discovered and attribute that to traveling the day before.  Whenever I travel long distances, my feet swell pretty big and take 4 or 5 days to go down.  So, from now on, no big traveling before a big race!  I was one of the slower ones, which wasn't a surprise.  However, I did pick a few people out that I wanted to beat at the end, and some others that I didn't want to pass me up.  Well, I accomplished those goals so, I felt good about that!  Along the way, I feel the Lord gave me some tender mercies!  Around mile 4 I came around a corner to find Cheryl and Nancy standing there and cheering me on.  Tears instantly came to my eyes!!!!!  It meant SO MUCH to see them standing there and meant the world to me that they came out to see me run!  Their faces and encouragement were what I needed at THAT MOMENT!!!!  It gave me a boost!  Then, some runners that had already finished, came back around.  At first I though, 'Oh my gosh, how rude!  If you finish then stay there and don't come back to discourage those of us still running!"  Then, my heart changed and realized there were wanting to help!  2 of them stuck with me for 1/2 a mile, telling me the best part of the road to run, encouraging me, and pumping me up!  That helped a lot!!!!  Then, the last little stretch, when I didn't feel I had anything left, I saw my friend Amber Sheffield!  She ran a block with me, until I rounded the corner to head to the finish line.  Once I headed that way I was really struggling to breathe and keep going.  At that point I saw my dear friend and trainer, Amber Blair, coming towards me to help me out!  That was followed by Jocelyn and then "Sally"!  Amber literally held my hand and pulled across that finish line, with the help of my other buddies pushing me!  I tell you what, I work out with the best group of ladies EVER!!!!  I love the feeling of family in the running world!  Nobody is there to put you down or make you feel defeated!  Everyone wants you to succeed and accomplish your goal!!!!

 My best and favorite fans EVER!!!!

My AMAZING and AWESOME running crew!!!!

Our next race isn't until July 13th, at the Bryce Canyon 1/2 marathon.  We won't start heavy training for that and the marathon until the end of May.  So, until then we'll focus on endurance, speed, and doing our 6 mile long runs on Saturday's.  I've been really discouraged the past few weeks.  I'm stuck at the same weight, same inches, and can't seem to improve my speed, endurance, or time.  My calves are in so much pain the majority of the time!  I really thought I would lose more weight by now!  Granted, I'm so grateful for the 35 lbs. that I have been able to lose but, I'm wanting more.  I can't help but think that I'd run better if I had less weight on me.

 Dogtown 5k Race - Feb. 23, 2013

 Amber, Laura, Jocelyn

 St. George 5k - January 19, 2013

St. George 5k Finish Time: 45:06

Dogtown 5k Finish Time: 39:34

OXYMORON of the century!!!!!

I am so dang sick of going to the store to try and find an ok and maybe even, heaven forbid, a CUTE workout shirt in my size!  I don't know why I put myself through the same torture time after time.  All I end up doing is heading over to the men's clothes to find the same red, blue, or black shirt.  So, I either run in a shirt that fits me up top and barely hits below my belly button (in the women's section), or go to the men's side and have it fit below my waist but then the arms looked all weird and boxy.  I know, I know, it's not anyone's fault but my own that I am Miss Chub-a-rama but, you'd think that the makers of workout clothing would provide clothing for all sizes and shapes IN THE STORE!!!!  I think it's such an oxymoron that they want us obese, soft, curvy creatures to lose weight but, to do so we have to look like a walking box or the Koolaid Man!  If I was rich I would open a store that provided cute, stylish, fun, and well-fitting clothing for women of my size!  And stinkin' sports bras for "the girls" my size!  Ok, the end!

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!