It seems it has been a while

Last time I talked about finishing my first half marathon! Well, I am signed up for TWO (2!) more! One in late February and one in November. I ran a marathon relay in November and loved the race. My leg was about 5.3 miles and it went fast. My time was great too. I ran a 7:45 pace! I surprised myself. I planned on running about an 8:30 pace. Ha! I had also signed up for a 10K a few weeks later. It was much more difficult and it was cold/raining. I finished that in 2nd female and 5th overall. My pace was 7:35!

I have also kept my weight off. I didn't weigh in much over the summer and had to pay. Since September I have been keeping my weight down around 129-132. I am happy with that. I need to take some pictures so I can put them up here for reference. I don't think there is much of a difference, but that is okay. I'd rather there be no difference than a lot of difference by gaining back the weight!

Half Marathon

Well....I finally ran my first half marathon! I learned that I do not like long runs alone. I like about 6 - 7 miles and that's the farthest I like to run. The long runs alone are boring. There aren't many running groups around that can run when I run. Plus I run faster than one group I ran with in January.

With the long runs, my weight is weird. The calories out versus calories is very noticeable. If I don't eat enough on the day I run, I will be ravenous the next day.

I did my monthly weigh in at the beginning of Feb so I could focus on my half, instead of my weight. I wanted to fuel properly.

I had an original goal time of 2:20. I quickly realized that was going to be slow. When I got closer I could see that I could change that to just under 2:00.

On race day I ended up having to drive down there by myself. My husband would bring the kids later to cheer me on. Welllll, around mile 7 I see a flash of a person jumping around then see that it's my step-mom. We weren't supposed to meet them until later because that's when their flight got in. But her and my dad surprised me!

The last 3 miles were the hardest. They hurt the most. I just wanted to finish. I looked at my watch at mile 12 and realized that if I kept my pace I could finish in under 2 hours.

I pushed hard. And it paid off. I came in at 1:58:06! I made my goal. I did it!

I still don't know if I will do one again, but I am glad I finished!

Update Update get your Update

I realized I have not done any updates since I earned lifetime. Right now I am weighing in once a month. I have to make sure and be no more than 2lbs over my goal weight of 130.

Here is the run down of my weigh in since July:

08/26/14: 131.4

09/26/14: 131.0

10/21/14: 130.8

11/25/14: 129.4

I have actually liked my "maintenance" mode more than my weight loss time. Since I only have to weigh in once a month I can plan ahead when I am going to weigh in that month. Then it gives me time to get my weight back down to where it needs to be when I go in.

I have also started running again. I ran a race in July, and I have a 1/2 marathon planned for February. I trained for one 4 years ago but a month before the race I twisted my knee and couldn't run. I was really disappointed. I start actually "training" next week. I ran 5.1 miles last Sunday. I bought the inexpensive Garmin (my health insurance actually reimbursed me for it!) and I like it because I know how far I've gone. If I want to go just a little farther I know how much farther I need to go. It's been one of my better running purchases in a long time. I ran some while I was at my Dad's house for Thanksgiving. One of my step-mom's running class people asked if we were marathon runners. That made me happy to think someone thought I was a marathon runner.

My next weight goal is 125. I'd like to be about there and see how I feel. I was 128 on my scale last week so I am not that far off. I have some pants that I use to fit into comfortably...they do not fit anymore. I also fit into size 25 and 26. The waist is a little tight but it's where I carry by weight so I have ways around that. But it fits perfectly in the butt and legs. Overall, I am happy with where I am at weight wise. It's taken some time to be happy where I am at, which I think running has helped my mood too...endorphin's and all. :)

Weight Watchers Lifetime

I struggled the last 6/7 weeks to get my act together to weigh in. I had this to do and that to do. We went on vacation. Or my scale would say I was more than I should be to earn Lifetime. I finally sucked it up and went in for the 6 week weigh in. I wasn't sure I had done all the right things to earn it. On the WW website it said I had to weigh in twice...which I had not done. Ugh. I was depressed and really REALLY didn't want to wait another 6 weeks to earn Lifetime. But like I said, I went in. I gathered all the kids up, told them they need to behave and be patient and went in.

My scale at home said 131.2 right before I left. That morning it said 130.8. I have to be within 2lbs of my goal weight to earn Lifetime. Before I weighed in I told them I hadn't been in twice because of xyz. They said that since I was a monthly subscriber that I didn't have to weigh in, that only the 6 week mark would count.

On to their scale:

131.0!!!

I earned LIFETIME! YAY! I was so excited.

In other news I ran a 5k yesterday. My walking friend told me she wanted to run the July 4th race and so I said I'd sign up also. I ran 3 times before yesterday. Oops. But I did better than I expected. 26:06. 8:11/mile pace. I was really happy with my time and myself. I felt great the first 2 miles but the 3rd mile was the hardest. I had to dig deep for that. 

I'd really like to start toning but I have no idea how. I guess I will google that.

Until next time!

GOOOOOOAAAAAAALLLLLLL!

I finally made it to my goal weight at Weight Watchers!! Exciting!

At home weight: 128.7
WW weight: 129.4
Weekly loss (2 weeks between weigh in): -1.4lbs
Total Loss: -31.8
Weight Loss since E was born: -50

Now I need to maintain for the next six weeks. I have to be no more than 2 lbs up or 2 lbs below. Then I'll have lifetime! :)

I got my goal charm too.

I've been MIA!

I struggled for a few weeks to get my act together with eating. I ate whatever and it showed on the scale. I promised myself on Tuesday that if I stuck to my plan all week, I'd get donuts on Sunday. Well I did and it also showed on the scale! Plus yesterday was my monthly weight and pics.

I'll start with my weight today since it's the lowest I have been since I was pregnant with my 7.5 year old!!

128.6!! Woot. I really stuck to my points this week. I walked 7.8 on Wednesday and made sure to get extra moving around in also. Last week I walked 8.5 miles on day!

On to my monthly measurements:

Weight: 129.4
Waist (stomach): 34.5
Natural Waist: 31
Hips: 37
Bust: 38 (I was full when I measured)
Left Arm/Leg: 10 in/20.25 in
Right Arm/Leg: 10 in/20 in

4/17/13     05/17/14

04/17/14       05/17/14 

Visually there isn't much of a difference. But the numbers are down so I am happy.

Here is me from last night in normal clothes.

If I stick with my points until Tuesday I should make my goal weight at WW. So then I'll be in my 6 weeks make my goal weight. Yay!

One Year and One Week

One year and one week after I started my weight loss journey I finally weighed in at 130.8! Now I have to be 130.0 to be at my 'goal' with WW but that's only .8 away. Then I'll have to maintain for 6 weeks to be eligible for Lifetime...which means I do not have to pay for WW as long as I weigh in with them once a month.

Weight at home: 129.5!!
Weight at WW: 130.8
Weekly loss: -1.4lbs (WHAT THE HECK?!)
Total weight loss: -30.4lbs

I changed the where I was walking. Added hills but the distance is the same. We area also walking the same distance in less time! I am definitely feeling motivated to keep walking. My friend did a good thing in suggesting we change where we walked, not only for our safety (we did the same route and the same time but different days), but for a change in our routine. I mean it totally showed.

I even ate TEXAS BBQ on Friday night. I did not count those points. :P