4th place & other randoms

So I am in 4th place in the competition. Guess I need to step it up a little more, huh?

I got my bike out and went for a ride this weekend. Pulling Emmy in the trailer. It was great!

They are changing the rules in the competition to include having an eating plan and sticking to it. Something like doing weight watchers or my fitness pal or doing a gluten-free or paleo diet. This is stressing me out! I need to find an "eating plan" that I can live with and works with my crazy life right now. And that works with nursing. My food plan right now is eating at least 5 fruits & veggies a day, drinking 90 oz of water, not eating treats, and not having seconds. And keeping a food journal. But all those are different categories in the competition so I need to come up with something else on top of all that. By Friday. Any ideas?

Competition Week 2

I am down another pound this week, bringing me to 172. As of Week 1, I was only in 5th place as far as winning, so I really tried to step it up this week in hopes to move up in the rankings. I should find out if it worked or not later today or tomorrow.

I was a tad disappointed that it was only a 1-pound loss because I felt like I worked really hard, but I was happy with my efforts.

I have really been increasing my exercise and veggie eating with this competition. And decreasing my treat eating. This has been really good for me so far. Hello Week 3!

The Fit Christy

Sometimes it doesn't seem that long ago that I was in shape enough to run a marathon (well, finish a marathon...)

And then I realize that it was 4 years, 2 kids, and 25 pounds ago. Since I moved into my new neighborhood when I was preggo with Zach, nobody around here knows the "fit Christy". They only know the "fat Christy". When I try to talk to people about races or triathlons or whatever, they kind of look at me in disbelief like, "really...you do that kind of stuff...?"

In fact, just the other day I was talking to someone who is running the same marathon that I did and I was telling her about it and it was like she did not take me seriously. And when she asked what my time was and I told her, she said, "Wow, that's a long time." NEVER say that to someone who has run a marathon. It is an accomplishment just to put in all the training and finish the darn thing--no matter how long it takes.

Anyway, I am looking forward to the day when my new neighbors get to know the "fit Christy" and not just see me as the "fat Christy". I'll show them!

Competition Week 1

I made it through the first week of the health competition! And I lost 2 pounds this week, so I'm down to 173. I am really liking it so far. I have no idea how I'm doing as far as winning but it is really motivating me.

For example, I went the whole week without any treats. In the competition, we get 1 "free" day that we can eat treats. I kept saving it for something that was worth using my free day for, and there never was. And so I didn't end up using it.

Also, we get a point for every 10 minutes of exercise we do. So I was trying to find ways to fit in 10 minutes here or there. I still don't always have time for a "regular" workout every day, but I did a lot more than usual because I do have time to do 10 minutes of situps and pushups or squats or whatever.

Plus, Zach is doing a little better at night, so I've been able to get up early at least 2 mornings a week to go to the gym before Matt goes to work.

Bring on Week 2!

Compression sleeves

I have finally started running more consistently again. I started over from scratch with a walk/run program. I started with jogging 2 minutes and then walking 3 minutes for a total of 30 min. Now I'm up to jogging 3.5 min and walking 1.5 min. for 40 min. It's still a far cry from where I was, but I'm getting better!

Several months ago, Matt got some compression sleeves for his calves. He kept raving about how great they were so I decided to get some. I got them from Pro Compression. They make full socks too. Anyway, I have really liked them so far.

They really help my legs not to cramp/ache during or after a run.

Oh yeah, and I finally signed myself up for a 5K so I'd HAVE to get with the program. It's in June. I'm gonna rock it!

Week 20 & Health Competition

So I mentioned I was going to do this health competition for the next 8 weeks. After 20 weeks of trying to lose this darn baby weight (and only losing 15 lbs, besides the 25 that came off during the first 6 weeks after baby) I was ready for something new. There will be 2 winners: the person who loses the most weight and the person who gets the most health points. We get points for things like exercise, drinking water, keeping a food journal, eating fruits & veggies, not eating treats, not eating after 9, and encouraging our teammates.

It started last Friday. For the competition we are weighing in on Fridays so I'm going to be changing my weigh-in day for the next 8 weeks. We also took measurements to start off with, and then we will halfway through and then at the end. So I'm going to be changing my measuring days for this too, and tracking how much I lose in the 8 weeks and then add it to my post-baby total at the end.

Starting weight: 175 pounds

Measurements
Waist: 33"
Hips: 43"
Chest: 34.5" (They are doing chest measurements for the competition, which apparently is different than a bust measurement, which is probably better for me anyway since my bust measurement sometimes depends on how recently Zach has eaten.) Click here for tips on how to measure properly.

And, as much as I hate to post this (remember how I said I think I look fine until I see a picture?), well, here are the "before" pics...

So, here's to the next 8 weeks of this competition! I'm excited to have something new to keep me motivated. :)

My Disney dilemma

Ever since I started running in 2006, I have always wanted to run a Disney race. Problem is that they are mostly on Sundays. And I don't like to do races or run on Sundays because I like to worship on Sundays. And part of keeping the Sabbath day holy for me is not doing sporting stuff. Several years ago I decided I was going to someday run the Disneyland half marathon, which was on Labor Day (a Monday). The very next year, they changed it to be on the Sunday before Labor Day. RUDE!!!

Disneyland has a couple of shorter distance races that are not on Sundays.

1. The Neverland 5K (in Jan.)
2. The Disneyland 5K and 10K (over Labor Day weekend)

Disney World has a few more options:

1. Disney World 1/2 Marathon, 10K, and 5K (in Jan.)
2. Disney Royal Family 5K (in Feb.)
3. Tower of Terror Twilight 10 Miler, which is run at like 10 p.m. (in Oct.)
4. Wine and Dine 1/2 Marathon, also at like 10 p.m. (in Nov.)

I was originally planning to do the Disney World 1/2 marathon in Jan. 2014, but my family is going to San Diego in Jan. 2014 so I don't think I'll be able to swing both. So now I've gotta decide what to do. Postpone it til 2015 or do something else? I don't think I want to go all the way to Cali or Florida for a 5K. And I kind of don't want to do one of the nighttime ones. It just seems weird to me to run at midnight. And going to Cali is MUCH cheaper than going to Florida. 

Hmmm.....

A sad realization

So I said I gained a lot of weight when I was pregnant with Zach. 55 pounds to be exact. Ugh! Plus, I never lost the last 10 pounds of baby weight from my pregnancy with Emmy, so by the time I was ready to deliver Zach, I was 65 pounds over my goal weight. Yuck.

The first 25 pounds melted off like butter in the first 6 weeks after I had Zach, and I've lost 15 pounds since then, for a total of 40 pounds lost. I've still got 25 to go. But I realized that if I had only gained 30 pounds during pregnancy (like I should have) then I'd probably be at my goal already, cuz I've already lost 40 pounds total. That was a sad realization.

Another realization I had this week was that sometimes I still see myself as not that overweight. I still see myself as active and I look in the mirror and I don't think I look that bad. Until I see a picture of myself. Then I have the sad realization that I really am carrying those extra 25 pounds. Why is it that I think I look ok in the mirror but not in pictures???

Anyway, I'm starting that healthy living/weight loss competition today and I'm ready to seriously get rid of those 25 pounds!!!!

Healthy living/weight loss competition

I know this is short notice, but my friend is putting together a healthy living/weight loss competition that starts TOMORROW (Friday, April 12). It's not only about losing weight, but about developing healthy habits so you get points for things like drinking water, exercising, eating fruits & veggies, not eating treats, etc. There will be 2 winners, one will be for whoever gets the most health points and the other winner will be the one who loses the most weight. There will be cash prizes for both winners. The entry fee is only $20. Email Teri at teriannking@gmail.com by Friday if you are interested in participating! I'm going to do it!

I feel like I started off really strong on this whole healthy living thing at first (when Zach was 6 weeks old and I got the ok to start exercising again), but then I got overwhelmed and have been slacking off. I think I just had too high of expectations for myself and started too big and too quick and then got frustrated that I couldn't keep up with my goals. It's been 20 weeks and I've lost 15 pounds. I think I'm ready for another push though to get me back on track. So that's why I decided to do this. I think I realistically can do it this time, and I'm excited to meet new people too. 

Week 19

I lost 2 pounds this week, so I'm back down to 175. I felt mostly good about my efforts this week. I read a post from a friend about how she doesn't weigh herself anymore and bases her feelings of success on her efforts and how she feels rather than the number on the scale. It gave me something to think about. I don't know if I'm ready to do that, but I do think I need to focus more on my efforts and how I am feeling rather than the number on the scale.

She also talked about how when you are feeling down about your post-baby body to go look at your kids while they're sleeping and think about how your body created those chubby little thighs or that sweet little smile or that peaceful little face, and even though your body isn't the same, it created those precious little beings, and that is something to feel good about.

Anyway, I have my exercise plan for this week and I still need to do my menu plan, but I'm ready for another week!

Week 18

I started trying again this week. I stuck to my menu and exercise plan. I indulged in all those things I said I was going to. And I still gained a pound. Which brings me back up to 177. But at least I TRIED. And I don't feel bad about gaining that pound because I know that I put forth the effort. Little improvements here and there that I know I can make and keep are better than one week of drastic change that I know I can't keep up with.

I also feel like I did better on letting go of guilt and comparing. It wasn't easy, mind you. I was surrounded by people this week who seem like they can do everything I want to do, and it was hard not to compare myself to them. But instead of focusing on what they are doing that I'm not, I tried focusing on what I am doing right and the small steps I am taking to change my health and well-being.

And, even if I gained, I still lost inches this month...

Bust: 41.5 (-1)
Waist: 33 (-.5)
Hips 42.5 (+/- 0)

Inches lost: This month=-1.5. Total= -6.

So, I'm going to keep trying. I made another menu plan and exercise plan. It may seem lame, but I am focusing right now on making it to the gym one morning (Thursdays) and one evening (Tuesdays) a week. And going to my church yoga class on Thursday nights. It may not seem like much, but it is something I know I can do right now. Even one early morning a week is hard for me, but at least it's something. I also walk at least 3 days a week if the weather is nice.

Keep on keeping on...even if it's a slow shuffle...