bleh

Well it was the ugliest day I have seen on the scale in a couple of months.

141

I went to bed last night almost in tears. I know it might seem really lame to some people I am upset over a few gained pounds... and normally it would to me too. But I am working sooo hard and being so concious and I am just totally feeling crazy inside. If I didn't know better I would guess I was pregnant or something because that would be the only thing that logically would make sense considering what my workouts/eating is entailing right now.

Don't worry, I can't be pregnant. So I wont even waste the 8 bucks on a test. I have an IUD and you don't get pregnant with an IUD thank the heaven above.

I went to another step class today, but didn't stay for the last 30 minutes of strenth training because nobody else was. Oh well yesterday was a hard core strenth training session so I don't think it is a big deal. I think Jared is working tomorow so I will be back up to attend Sabra's cycling class at 8.

I am having a ton of fun in these classes. I am learning a lot and am taking notes of things I like: certain music, switching up hill workouts with speed workouts in the same classes, & yelling (encouraging yelling, or cueing), and things I don't like: talking during workouts, not cueing, and some instructor's music selections haha)

I guess I am just going to have to ride out this next few weeks. I am trying so hard not to get down and gloomy because of the scale results. I am trying to focus on my strenth and my new learning curve.

Experiment

Well i just got off the scale for the night and it looks the same as last night, which means tomorow morning will be the same too. Isn't that weird I only lose 2 pounds from night to the next morning? It seems like I used to lose like 4 or something... but not now. Always 2.

I keep thinking and thinking. Analyzing, talking to myself even.

I can't for the life of me figure out what is going on with the weight.

It could be the soda I am still drinking. But it's weird because the soda is diet, there are no cal's in it.

So, I was going to not have any soda today, and stop drinking it all together again. But then I was thinking that if I do that, and drop some weight in the next 2.5 weeks I have left of my no sugar experiment, I will never know if it was the no sugar or the no soda.

My next experiment will start 3 weeks from the original experiment, where I will continue to sugar for 2 weeks, and then add in the no soda. That way I have a solid 3 weeks of testing to see what just no sugar does, then 2 weeks of none of either.

Somethings gotta change. Or else no sugar wouldn't really be worth it to stay the same/go up in weight.

I guess it still kinda is because I know it is healthier for my body not to have it. I kinda wanted to just try it out (not eating sugar) to lose my belly number 1 but number 2 just to train my brain that just because there is dessert there, or candy there.. it doesn't mean I have to eat it. I have always been someone who eats it-- like say a piece of dark chocolate, because it is in front of me, even though I don't like dark chocolate. Or I will eat homemade icecream because everyone else is, even though it really isn't my favorite. I really want to be one of those health consicous people who eats dessert or something that isn't "healthy" because I love it, like cheesecake-- but not feel the desire to eat something that isn't my favorite just because it is in front of my face.

I believe I can teach my body new tricks, and that I am in control of my eating. I believe that I can teach myself to eat and enjoy healthier choices and I believe I can lose 5 pounds. COME ON HELP ME LOSE 5 POUNDS!!!!!!

Discouraging

There is nothing like the scale moving up up and up to discourage a girl from a goal.

I can't believe this dumb weight! I have thought back to every piece of advice I have given, I have thought logically, I have tried to tell myself it's a fluke. I just can't figure out for the life of me why the scale is not dropping. I am working out like a crazy woman, resting 1 day, eating healthy food and having absolutely NO sugar, with the exception of diet dr pepper.

This is weird. Very weird. I came home from the gym today and thought extremely hard about eating a whole bag of licorice, or going and having a cheese burger and fries (technically that would not be cheating). But I didn't. I just continued to have an annoying day that consisted of cleaning, grocery shopping, and fussy kids-- sans sugar.

I have committed to the 30 days (minus my 2 days I have scheduled for cheat days.. one being a birthday cake I have to make for Friday, and the other my cousins bachlorette party/girls night at Cheesecake Factory). And I will finish my 30 days. But I am going to do it kicking and screaming if the weight doesn't start coming off. I know I have said a million times who cares about the number, it is about the strength and how your clothes fit, but COME ON!!! I am not eating candy and dessert anymore!! That has got to be worth some weight~

I am a work in progress, every day is a new day... and Every day wont be perfect, but I am hoping one of these days SOON I am going to jump on the scale and see some results for the will power and dedication I am putting in here.

is it possible?!?

I was in the middle of a speed workout in spinning class today and I looked in the mirror. For the first time in my entire life I thought to myself "I look good."
No stomach bulge, no fat thoughts, no ugly words to myself. I really truly thought I looked good. (could have been the busy print on my tank that hid the bulge?!)
Wow, at 24 years old I don't know if that is a good thing or not to admit. I wish my self confidence could have come earlier in life, but since it didn't I am sure appreciating it now, and appreciating what my body has been able to do for me.
Speaking of spinning class. WAHOO!! It is so much fun it is getting addicting too. Yikes! I sweat like a crazy lady. Whoever said girls glisten must not have been an athlete because I do not do anything like "glisten" I drip like a sweaty hog!!! But it feels good to pump my body that hard to have the sweat roll of my shoulders and drip down my arms, and go through not one but 2 sweat towels because I have that much perspiration running everywhere. Thank goodness for dark colored clothes so everyone doesn't know my clothes are soaking wet in nasty stinky sweat. I guess, they might be able to smell it... but I do wear marathon fresh deoderant so I think that covers up some of the stench. Thank goodness!
Another week of learning, pushing my body to its limits, and enjoying the time in between. It's a great week!

Hmmmm...

Well I wont lie. I was a little ticked off to see 139.7 on the scale this morning. My soreness is all gone. I should not be retaining any water now.... I still have not had any sugar so this might be rain on my friggin parade. I did have pizza last night, but it was nothing wild... and I had as many raw veggies as I did pizza.

Hmmm... well I deserve several awards for the week. I made brownies yesterday for a lady from church. I even had to cut them out of the pan to put them on a paper plate for her... and I didn't even have a lick of batter, or bite of a crumb. If you know me, you know this was a major trial for me. I also let my little girl pick out a candy bar at the store this week, and I didn't have a bite lick or taste of that either. I mean really, come on you stupid scale. That is AMAZING coming from me. No fruit snacks, well I accidently took a mini bite of a fruit roll up forgetting that I am not eating sugar but that was Monday and I quickly repented. I mean really!! That was my only cheat!!!!

Well, maybe it will take a week or two for the scale to realize I stopped putting stupid processed sugar and other crap in my body. Let's hope or this sugar boycott is going to be a drag for a whole month seeing no progress on the scale.

What a Happy Day

I was feeling a little exhausted/overwhelmed when I went to hit the sack last night. I plugged my phone in and noticed a text message. Not just any ol text message but the kind you want to save for the rest of your life to remind you that you are ok when you think you bite the big one.
The instructor I am taking classes from/learning under, had texted me and told me she thought I was doing a great job, that I will be a great instructor and that my hard work is paying off.

I couldn't have felt happier if someone sent me a million dollars in the mail. Well, maybe I mighta been a bit happier then... but rest assured I still would have gotten my butt up this morning to go to spin and learn a little more from a different instructor.

Sabra is an amazing lady. She is, I don't know 40 ish and has a few kids. She has been through some major trials, I really don't know her well but unfortunatly one of her biggest struggles the public knew about. Anyway, she is great. I have loved her classes from the beginning. She is a kick booty instructor, always pumping everyone up yelling and singing and sweating it up with us. She is the mom I want to be when my kids are teens and going to college... the kinda mom that can kick her kids butt in a run, the kind that makes them get up a little early to train a little harder so they will be the best on the varsity team, and the kinda mom who shows her kids all about what a healthy lifestyle really is. I am so exicted to learn under her and hope one day I can be almost as cool as I think she is.

Anyway, her text made my week... and will help push me a little harder at my workouts and at my learning curve.

Half a Week is Over

Here I am on Wednesday already, and just barely had my first opportuntiy to attend step and strength training class today. My little man has been sick with an ear infection, and day care was not an option until today. After my work out I walked in to the child care area to see my 9 month old in the middle of a circle of three 4 or 5 year olds. They were taking turns kissing him. While this is tender they love him... they are too big to be playing with him and I definitly do not want their slobber all over my baby. So, I will have to mention that tomorow as I drop the kidlets off. :o) haha, but seriously I don't want other people's kids' slobber on my baby!!!

Step class. Hmmm... I was nervous to go, but knew I had to start sometime. So, I got started and was amazed that some of my prior knowledge came back. However my prior knowledge was limited to a months worth of classes, so that only got me through the first couple of songs before I was off beat and totally off step. All in time. It was fun though, a great work out. I was sweating up a storm, as much as I do when I run 10 miles or so. I would be interested to know the difference in caloric burn between the two. I definitly had my heart rate up as high, maybe even bursts of higher during class then I do on a run.

We finished step and went into some walking lunges, squats, abs, tricpes, shoulders, and a few biceps. It was WORK. I felt like I was definitly getting as good of a work out in as I do on my own (strength training wise) and maybe even better because it was higher repetitions. Maybe this will help my muscles lengthen, and in turn shrink my arms/legs/ABS!!!

What the crap? I can not get rid of my stomach. I am sick of it! I saw my dr today and asked her what the heck. She said give it time, keep doing what I am doing, and give it more time. It isn't like I am trying to say I want a 6 pack. I don't. I mean I like 6 packs and all, but all I really want is this flab to burn off my belly. Flatter. That's all I am asking.

I think it is interesting that I haven't worked out (until today) since Saturday and my total weight loss on the no sugar is 1.5 pounds. This is encouraging. I have had a soda every day. Jeez, I know I have no self control. Well, that isn't true-- I do have self control. I am just choosing to still drink the damn pop... for now anway. Anyway, I haven't seen my weight at 138.anything since I was runnning 20-25 miles a week. I haven't ran since my race July 10th. So, this translates to me that I can bust my ace off running or kill myself in the gym and eat whatever I want and stay at 139ish, or I can cut out the sugar and ease up on the gym possibly.?!!? Step/cycle/strength is not really what I call easing up on the fitness, but it is definitly changing up my routine. Maybe my body was just at a pleateau and needed some change up. Anywho, I am interested to see what the next week or so brings with out the sugar and adding the workouts back in.

I see some runners out and about and I feel a craving to go run and sweat with my ipod on. I feel good that I miss it, but I worry that with cutting out the running and doing the classes my endurance for running will slither back to squat. I can't do both. I physically can't do both with out killing myself (see lost insurance post haha not a good idea to kill yourself when you have no insurance). I don't know, I just kinda miss the running though and having the schedule to follow and the workouts planned. My workouts are planned now too, just in a different way. I think I am just having a little sadness in my heart at the thought of letting go of the running that occupied my time for 5 months, and helped push me through to a new level as an athlete. I don't want to give it up.

Balance. I need to find the balance, in more than one area in my life. :o)

A New Goal in Mind

Well I have come to the conclusion I stay on track with my eating and fitness with a goal in mind. So now, I have chosen a new goal, and have been prompted by the fact that our health insurance is being cut, to eat healthier and stay stronger than ever before. It is no longer just about being strong, and fit. It is now survival mode. It seems to me that it has been proven that by eating healthy whole foods, avoiding high calorie, fat and highly processed foods one stays healthier, (like does not get sick as frequently) and has less chance of onsetting certain diseases, maybe even cancers. I could be off base, but I don't think I am.

So with that in mind. Exercise will continue to be a part of my daily life style. I don't have a problem there. My body craves the exercise and the exertion just like it craves the chocolate and the cake. Well, so sorry body. You are going to have to start training for "boot camp", in order to help us achieve our next goal which is....

To become a group fitness instructor at the gym!!! I am so so so excited about this new challenge I have set out for. I have always thrown the idea around in my head, thinking I would love to be one of the teachers at the gym. I have thoroughly loved doing this blog. I love helping to motivate others to be their best self, and watching people go from trying something new to mastering something, or just watching their progress along the way.

So I spoke with the head instructor this week, wanting to know the steps to accomplish this goal. She was excited I asked! She needs subs for cycling, step, and strength training classes like.... NOW!!! What the heck?! I was like, well how do I go about this? Where do I register to learn. She said right here. Take all my classes, and take other instructor's classes and we will get you ready. In other words, SHE IS THE CLASS!! I wouldn't qualify to teach at all gyms, but with this experience I could probably qualify for some, and then work my way in to new programs so I could work anywhere there was a demand.

This has me very excited and hopeful. What is great about this is that I am a stay at home mom who works out every day, while taking my kids to the daycare at the gym. Win win. I accomplish this task--I still take kidlets to the gym, I still work out but I get PAID!!! I know right?! What a great idea.

Monday the offical bootcamp for Teri starts. This means I will be getting up a half hour earlier everyday, so will the kids. :o( Step class and stregth class three days a week-- and spinning two or maybe 3 days a week. Boot camp also consists of cutting sugars out of my diet (like candy, cake, the soda I started drinking again since my race!! moron I am, I know) I am not going to go crazy and cut out bread, or fruit or anything like that, just processed foods and obviously unhealthy sugars.

The cutting out sugars initially came from the thought that crossed my mind to do the forbidden HCG craze. I am so annoyed with my stomach that seems to always have a handful of fat on it. The thought went through my little brain to go ahead and try it, to see if I truly could rid my belly fat. Then the light bulb went on and I decided that if I can get rid of the sugars and highly processed foods (which I would do on the hcg anyway), and not inject myself with a shot of hcg from a lady who learned how to make it on you tube, I should probably go that route. And maybe, hopefully, I am praying will have similar results.

Anyway, the cutting out sugars/bad foods secondly came from the unfortunate news my insurance is going by the way side. Now it is out of necessity. I heard once that cancer patients used to live to eat, after going through hell and making it through some survivors choose to eat to live. I can be like that. I can choose to eat to nourish and strengthen my body so that I can stay healthy, fit, and sniffle free as much as possible.

Fit For Life 2010

The Start line. I am three rows back in the BSU hat

All the half marathoners

After I finished strutting my stuff

Crossing the finish line at home plate Hawks Stadium

I did it.

I finished 13.1 miles today in 2 hours and 9 minutes. Without a second of walking, not even at the hydration stations.

It was amazing! I felt so proud, happy, strong, and excited.

I was nervous all the way up until I got to the race and got stretched out. I talked to a girl who was racing for the first time too. My nerves were really settled by time the air horn went off to let us start, I had just seen my Mom, Aunt and Cousin who came to cheer me on.

I am not sure how many half marathoners there were. There were a lot who passed me in the beginning, and I ran by myself almost the entire way. Until the last two miles when I picked it up a little and decided no body else was gonna make it by me. Hell or high water I was going to pass and beat those 6 people who were close with me.

I have no idea how many people I beat, or how many beat me. I was glad to have made it in under 10 minute miles, but was hoping secretly to make it below 2 hours. Maybe next time I will train my body to move a little quicker.

It was so empowering to finish 13 miles. I have been busting my butt since January 1st and it felt great to put all my training to work. My body pushed through for me today and performed. It feels beyond great to have set a goal and accomplished it. I am so happy.

What a great day!

I was 6th place out of 10 in my age group and 128th overall, I think there were aprox 270 half marathoners

Less than 24 hours....

I picked up my race packet yesterday from Shu's Idaho Running Company. Great store, super friendly employees and really helpful too.

The excitement started, I had been feelin some self doubt, and worried that maybe I was crazy. Well, I still worry I might be crazy. But the atmosphere of just the store got me pumped. I am starting to stretegize and make plans for tomorow morning. I am anxious to get going, and I know I will feel the adreneline rush when I show up at 7 am tomorow.

It'll all be over by tomorow at 10 am. If I am not done by then I must've died on the trail so somebody, plese come lookin for me!

McCall Run

I got to do my last training run in McCall yesterday. It was absolutly gorgeous and so refreshing. It was just a quick 3 miles, but it took me from our hotel to the lake and back around some cabins I stayed in as a kid.

It was a fun run. And it made me love the outdoors and running all over again.

I pick up my race packet today and run Saturday for 13.1 miles.

Woohoo! I am nervous but ready. Bring it on!