running challenge

So the challenge continues with some tweeks.  this week I started the pre training to training for a 5k.  I want to run a 5k in less than 30 min.  Ultimately about 24 minutes.  I aim high,  I also am determined and bull headed and do what I set my mind to do.  So for the next four weeks I will be running 5 days a week.  After that starts the 5k training.  I absolutely adore running.  I use it to de-stress.  There is a euphoric feeling that comes with running that only runners understand.   I like that feeling.  I used to attempt that feeling many years ago with drugs and alcohol except with running my mind is clear.  I now get why people run marathons.  I also like to beat my times I run.  Today I averaged 8:40 per mile.   Best time ever.  So I was able to run 3 miles in less than 30 minutes.  Something I never thought I could ever do.  Something I announced to a lot of people during church that I wanted to run 3 miles in less than 30 minutes by the end of 2012.  Well I have changed that goal.  I am now setting a goal to run a half marathon by February of 2013.  I plan to run the princess 1/2 marathon at Disney.  So I will train up to it in small goals.  Plus I have to make sure that the older two are mature enough to stay in the house to babysit because running a half marathon will take two hours when I get to that point.

Day 30

I cant believe it is already day 30.   I also can't believe the slacker in blogging I have become.  I also did not do as well as I would have liked.  However, i don't dwell and I continue forward.  When I weighed myself a coupld days ago I was 169.4.  So this journey will continue.  For now this blog with be my weight loss journal and tracking my running progress.  I am on track to start the pre 5k training.  well sort of I missed yesterday but that was for circumstances beyond my control.  Not an excuse.  Legitimate reasoning of places I had to be yesterday.  So I will run today.  :)    3 miles.  I will continue to count calories while I am on vacation.  I will even run on the beach.  that will be my ultimate joy.

Yes I will get a picture on here later :)

day 23

It has been a few days but I have good reasons.  Over the weekend we took an unexpected mini vacation for a marriage retreat to Hilton Head, SC.  Courtesy of the Army.  Very nice hotel, food included, and  childcare included.  It was fabulous.  I also have had two sick children.  They are better now.  i did cheat over the weekend but not in excess so I did not gain but I did not lose either but we shall see by the end of this week where I am at.  I am still running every other day about 3.5 miles.  Next week I am going to start a pre training program for a 5k.  Once I am done with that I will move on to training for one.  I will then enter some 5k races locally.  Then I will start training for a 10k.    All the while the scale will continue to go down and will be more tolerable to run while not carrying the weight of a small child.

Day 17

No pictures this week.  no real weight loss.  There was cheating this week that I have paid for with no difference on the scale.  Next week however will be a different story.  I am pumped after my run yesterday.  I am doing ab workouts which will also make a difference within the next few months.  My abs do not like me at the moment but the more I do it the stronger I get.  I am only doing it three days a week for now since I pretty much have not done ab work in about 12 years.  This gives my body the recovery time it needs to strengthen those muscles.  It also lets me be able to move and function it without being painfully sore.  I am sore but it is just irritating.  I did take a picture of my stomach but I am not posting that until after the work is done.  probably about 4-6 months.  So day 22 will have a new picture because that will be the start of week 3 and I am confident that it will be 2 pounds less than the last picture taken.

day 16

so the past two days I have been semi depressed.  the scale hates me and I wanted to throw it out the window.  I decided chocolate was necessary which then made me even more mad that I indulged but then this happens

ignore current pace look at the upper right corner.  this is after a 5 min cool down

I actually ran 3 miles in 30 minutes!!!!  I am ecstatic.  I don't even know I could do this or could run that fast.  I also while running was averaging 9 miles in 10 minutes.  GO ME!!!  I may just may start training for a 10k soon.   Oh the happiness I feel at the moment.  I am giddy.  

day`14

Super Bowl Sunday equaled for me eating everything I should not have and now pay for it today.  lesson learned.  Move on.  I gained about 5 pounds of water weight and just feel blah today.  However, I like that yesterday can stay where it is and each day starts new.  Starts with back to healthy choices, lots of water to flush everything out and a 30 minute run.  2.2 miles in 30 minutes.  I love the feeling while running when you get those bursts of extra energy and feel like you can continue running longer than 30 minutes but I don't want to hurt myself either.  That is what I love about running most of all.  I love the way it makes me feel.  I love the energy it gives me.  I love that it makes me accomplish things I never thought I could.  so this week I continue running for 30 minutes each run and then next week starts increasing speed training.  I also am starting abs training and arms this week.  I am over the flabby arms and will enjoy a flatter stomach in the process.  A six pack would be nice but that wont happen for a few months.  You have to have a certain body fat percentage to see that and I will not be there for a few months which is OK and in the meantime I will just strengthen for it.  I made this and it was a hit and I will make it again.  It is healthy as well and super duper tasty.  Even the husband loved it

grilled corn and avocado salad 

day 12

nothing exciting.  I ran.  1.7 miles in 25 minutes.  I am pleased.  I also while running had an epiphany and  realized running with an extra pounds of weight is like running with a toddler strapped to my body.  So I have decided to not be so hard on myself about the distance I run while I have this extra weight on.  It is what it is for the moment.  So I will continue to run.  I will continue to strive to run faster.  I will no longer beat myself up as to the speed I run.

I will now go make my grilled roasted red pepper mushroom goat cheese sandwich and have a salad.  It is so yummy.  after I finish cooling off.  Tomorrow is Superbowl Sunday.  There will be wings and good foods to enjoy and I can still stay on track.  I am going to indulge a bit.  I am going to aim for a deficit of 500 calories tomorrow.  There are too many good tummy foods to eat.

day 11

Some things get me excited.  such as when I discover with my calorie counter that my lifestyle was sent to sedentary and 1300 calories a day.  THAT was completely way off.  I reset it to very active and 1700 calories.  Needless to say my deficit has changed from 300-500 per day to 800-1000 per day which is my goal and makes more sense.  If I want to lose 2 pounds a week then I need a deficit of 1000 per day.  3500 calories= 1 pound.  however if I lose two pounds a week with an 800 deficit on some days then I will just keep doing it until I plateau.

I have also discovered fartleks.  sounds the way it is spelled.  It is bursts of increased speeds at intervals.  I was able to get close to two miles in 25 minutes yesterday.  I will see if I can do them a little longer tomorrow.  I would like to be able to run two miles in 25 min by the end of next week.  eventually I want to get to a 10 minute mile.  It will happen...just got train the body to do so.    I do like the fartleks.  However I may say not so much when I do them for longer time frames.

There are more frozen bananas to eat,  this time they have coconut on them

day 9

I have a new love.  frozen bananas.  especially when they are topped with peanut butter and chocolate.  I would totally be OK if ice cream became non existent with this new found love.  This is coming from the person who hates eating a regular banana.  It is the texture not the taste.  I love the taste but I just can't stand the texture of a regular banana.  I am making more of these tomorrow except they will have coconut on them.  here are the recipes.

chocolate bananas with coconut or peanut butter chocolate bananas

You don't need vegan chocolate chips but I am staying dairy free as much as possible and they are way more expensive and taste just as yummy.  

We also had lazy lasagna chili  and salad for dinner.  Delicious!!  the husband liked it as well which is the most important thing when making dinner because I know if I can make it again.  Filling and only 284 calories per serving.

Now for the weekly progress picture  :  total loss for the week 2 pounds.  My goal is another 2-3 this week.

week 2  170

Please excuse the lack of makeup and hair undone.  that is the main reason a picture was not taken for two days because I just could not get the time to get that done for picture taking worthiness.  You just will have to deal with the me that is just me.  I will wear the same outfit until it becomes too big to wear.  Until tomorrow...I will have the Sleepytime tea