Confession

Underwear. Everybody (ok, most people) wear them. So I don't care if this is TMI for some people. It's just underwear, come on.

When you are obese, it is not easy to find cute underwear. Even if you do, it's still not that fun because they are uncomfortable or fit funny or whatever. Doesn't matter if they're technically your size, they still just don't feel right.

So, after years of feeling unable to buy "cute" underwear due to my obesity, it came as a welcome bonus when I realized I could finally buy pretty much any underwear my little heart desired...no problems with finding the right size and no feelings of ridiculousness or like a huge sack full of jello being squeezed into a small sandwich baggie. No more embarrassment at buying something stylish when really I feel like I look as though I should be wearing a tarp. Nope.... I can buy whatever kind of underwear I want and feel physically and mentally comfortable doing so.

And it.is.amazing. Like I say, you should embrace both the small and the big successes - while this may be "small" in comparison to good health and fitness, and being a positive role model for my kids - it's still really damn exciting, and I'm not afraid to say so!!

It's a big week!

This week is the MN Wild Game that I will be attending as the Lifetime Fitness "Fit Fan". I am crazy nervous but it should be fun! I am also glad to report that I am doing fairly well eating healthy and exercising, in fact this weekend I had what I would consider a "good" weekend...the first in a long time. If I can stay "on the wagon" this week, I am excited to see another pound or two drop off. Hitting 90 lbs is so close I can taste it. I am trying not to be impatient, because I realize the last few pounds are always hard. Not to mention, when I started this journey, my goal was to lose 77 lbs and weigh 150. That seemed to be a ridiculous, lofty goal as it was. My blog even said "My journey to losing 77 lbs". Now, well over 2 years later, I've lost almost 90! I never imagined in a million years that I would get to where I am, but at least now I finally know how strong I can be. How strong ANYONE can be, if they make the changes and prioritize and balance things as needed in order to meet their goals in a healthy way.

It just takes dedication. Scratch that - you have to be stubborn! I guess I am stubborn....I am sure my husband would NEVER say so, of course ;-)

Updates

I apologize that I do not update as often as I used to; I have gotten busier, plus my weight loss has slowed significantly as I've gotten closer to goal. Whatever that is...at this point, I'm still not positive.
I think I will know what I get there, although I'm sure it won't be much more than 10 lbs more.

My last official weigh in put me at 139.8. That's right folks - This former gym class failure...this lazy-ass obese woman who huffed and puffed going up a flight of stairs in my small house.....THIS GIRL...weighs in the 130's. Barely...I could have taken a big gulp of water and been up above 140 again...but hey, 139.8 is good enough for me :-)

April 11th is coming up fast - that is when I will be representing for Lifetime Fitness at the MN Wild game as the "Fit Fan". Still freaking scary, but I have faith that it will be a fun experience.

I have started training for the Maple Grove 1/2 marathon, only to decide that I won't be doing it. I'm bailing, because that weekend is the only weekend that really works for my hubby and I to take a much-needed mini vacation. Florida, here we come! We have had a crazy year, and we have another crazy year or two ahead - so we really need this. Races will come and go, but this opportunity to reconnect with my hubby is priceless and so that is where I need to be.

I did 6 miles this past Saturday and plan to do a few more weeks of 6-7 mile long runs before climbing up more in preparation for the Garry Bjorklund 1/2 Marathon in June. I figure I already am at 6 mile long runs, there is no use backing off and building back up - might as well at least maintain that base for a few weeks. Why not? After all, running is my bodies own personal weight loss bullet. I remember last year when I started training for the 1/2...that is when I started dropping weight again after being stuck. Same thing happening this year (only slower, because I have a lot less to lose).

In any case, rest assured that I work my ASS off for every pound, every ounce I lose - especially these days. When I work out, I don't go to look pretty and move my body around casually while I people watch, like some women do. NO. I WORK OUT HARD. I love to have sweat literally dripping from my nose, running down my back and stomach, pooling in my elbow crook. When I go to get a good work out in, that level of sweatiness is what I work towards. It's not easy. Sometimes, it's miserable.

But I sure feel great when it's over!!!

Get Lucky 7k

So. The Get Lucky 7k for St. Patty's day. I did this race in 2012, and it's the first race I've done twice (many more to come this year, but, this was the first).
Last year, we had record highs in March. We ran the race in 75 degrees. It was warm. It was dry. It was beautiful out! This year....it was cold. It was windy. And we had gotten a few inches of snow the day before, so some of it was icy. Completely the opposite of the previous year. In fact, it was kind of miserable conditions.

However, despite the race being much more challenging in 2013 than in 2012...I still managed to rock it. I weigh a good 30 lbs less, I'm fitter and I'm faster. Even with the cold (while waiting to cross the start line, my legs got so stiff and cold...it took a good 3/4 a mile before they were warmed up and stopped wobbling from being so stuff) and the ice (most of the slippery spots were within the first mile) I cut my time by 11 minutes...coming in at 41:25. I firmly believe, if it had been dry outside and less windy, I would have done it in under 40. However I am still thrilled with my time, averaging a 9:30 min/mile. Even cooler were my specific results - I passed something like 1200 runners, and only 35 passed me. I came in around 2000 out of 9000 (roughly).

My husband did it as well...he has barely run for several months, and STILL managed to beat his own previous time, in the cold and on the ice, by a minute and a half. How spectacular is that?! I am so proud of him, and of myself.

Next up for me is a local 1/2 marathon in May, followed by another in June. I've begun training...tonight I just got back from Zumba followed by a 5k on the treadmill. Wednesday I will do 4 or 5 miles, and this weekend I need to get a 6-7 miler in.

Let the half marathon preparations begin.

Lifetime Fitness - FIT FAN!

I got a call from the Lifetime Fitness Corporate office last week, asking me to come to a MN Wild game as a "Fit Fan" which is just a thing they do as a part of their partnership with the MN Wild.

So on April 11th, I will be heading to the St. Paul Xcel Energy Center...they will record a little segment of me and about my weight loss/fitness journey (and of course how Lifetime is now helping me in my journey). That segment will be aired on the big screen in the arena at some point during the game. I assume they chose to contact me because of the positive feedback my story had on their blog awhile back. In fact, it is now one of the "Recommended Posts" that is listed off to the side of every page you view. (You can see my little feature on their blog HERE).

Anyhow...can we say HOLY CRAPBALLS?!?! This is an NHL game. And this crazy face is going to be up on the big screens in the arena, talking?!

I would be lying if I said I wasn't scared shitless. But I'm doing it anyhow, because I am not the person I used to be...somebody who let fear and self consciousness run their life. And I just keep telling myself, it's for a good cause. Because maybe, just maybe, somebody will see it and it will be one of the pushes they need to get themselves on the right track. Maybe they can change their life the way I've changed mine. I want people to see that no matter how hopeless it feels, it truly CAN be done. No, it's not easy...but anything that is worthwhile never is!

And there was movement!

After being stuck since August....so....6 months... I FINALLY lost! My weight this morning was 140.4, putting me at just about 87 lbs lost. So close to being in the 130's, and so close to 90 lbs total... AAAAH!!! There was a point in time...well for much of my life, that it was unfathomable to me that I would ever be a normal, healthy weight. Now I'm staring the 130's in the face. I really wish I could remember what I weighed as a kid or young teenager. The farthest back I can remember is when I was 15/16...I wore a size 13 and weighed probably around 160? I wish I knew. Perhaps the last time I was 140 lbs was when I was, I don't know...12? And for 12, 140 lbs wasn't a good thing.

Why did I lose all of a sudden? I have 2 gueses. These are the 2 big things I've been doing differently. First of all, I've been drinking more water. Second, I have increased my running mileage. Same thing happened last year after I had been stuck - I started running more this time of year, and the weight started coming off again. Apparently the key for me, is running.

And speaking of running, my mom's running group is going WONDERFULLY. It is growing fast, we are currently at 42 members with more joining almost daily. The feedback has been absolutely amazing. Amazing enough to make me cry at times. There are some awesome ladies in my group who I am thankful to be able to call my friends.

I don't think a lot of local people read my blog, but if so...and you are interested in joining me in Moms RUN This Town (it is very laid back and member driven) all you need to do is REQUEST TO JOIN our Private Facebook group. That is where all of our communication, planning of events, etc. happens.

I also do a blog for potential new members to check us out and for current members to see the latest and greatest about whats going on with us. You can find that HERE.

And here we go!

I am officially running the Maple Grove 1/2 Marathon in May, and the Garry Bjorklund 1/2 Marathon in June. I am so excited!

I will be doing the Garry B. with my inspirational hubby and my awesome sister in law; her hubby is doing the full Grandma's Marathon. We had a great time last year; this year will be no different. Hopefully I can avoid the GI issues I experienced last year...UGH!

As far as the Maple Grove 1/2 marathon, I will be running that with my new friend via Moms RUN This Town, Courtenay (and I am hoping that we could get a couple more signed up for the 1/2 with us....but we'll see...) There are also several ladies from my chapter who are signed up to do the 5k. This should be an awesome, though perhaps challenging race. Lots of hills, I hear....but that's okay. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, right? I am mostly excited because so many members of my chapter are planning to be there, and it's SO convenient being right in my city and all - that definitely makes it nice.

Last year, when I had been stuck in my weight for several months, the thing that got me unstuck was when I began training for the Garry Bjorklund. I am hoping the same thing happens this year. As it is, I have slightly increased my mileage (running 4 or 5 miles at a time rather than 2 or 3 as I had been) and am noticing less fluctuations. I am actually hoping to hit a brand new low tomorrow when I weigh in....I'll keep you posted on that...I haven't been able to stop thinking about Girl Scout cookies this week so one slip up could send me back in the other direction, weight wise. Because seriously. There is no eating "just one" Girl Scout cookie. Nope. If I were to buy a box and open them here in my office (yes, I have boxes in my office...coworkers have been buying them)... my intentions would be to have one or two after lunch. If I am honest with myself, the reality is that the box would be empty by the end of the day. Aaah...Samoas...thin mints...shortbread...I'm not picky. I am not a cookie racist. All cookies are welcome in my tummy. Ahem...enough about that....