Our 1st Official 5K Run

This past Saturday we finally experienced our first official 5k run, "The Halloween Hustle". We were a little nervous about the race since we really didn't know what to expect. Upon arriving at the check-in site, we saw many individuals dressed up in some awesome costumes. At this point, I thought the race would be a joke. I wondered how those people were going to take the race serious dressed for a Halloween party.

As we got out of the car we could not help but notice how chilly it was. We checked, and the temperature was about thirty-eight degrees; I began to think that maybe this was a bad idea. After checking in and drinking a cup of coffee, I was relieved that some of the tension and nervousness were beginning to die down. I noticed one individual with some ultra-short running shorts on warming up; I thought, "Wow, either he is serious about running or he is seriously crazy." Well, come to find out he was seriuos about running. More on that later.

As we lined up to begin our race, I tried to signal for Bridgette to come up to where I was. She wanted to stay back, so I went to where she was. It was crazy to see so many people taking off with costumes on, but my attention was quickly turned away from others and to the race. We began at a pace that was faster than normal for us; however, I felt pretty good about it.

About a half mile into the race I have to admit that the inner competitor in me wanted to come out. I wanted to blaze  through the crowd and compete, but I know I would have not made it far and would have burned myself out. I found myself about twenty feet ahead of Bridgette but I was happy to see her still pushing on behind me. I knew in my heart that I could have finished with some of the runners who were ahead of me. Still, I didn't want to finish without Bridgette being that it were our first race.

After Bridgette caught up we finished our last mile or so together. Right before we made it to the finish line we heard a runner quickly approaching. And who did we see? Yeah, the individual dressed like it was eighty degrees out instead of forty. I found out that he was a very serious runner: he actually was one of the runners racing in the 10K run. Yes, he finished his 10K before we finished our 5K. This made me feel motivated to continue with my healthy lifestyle because one day I want to be in the same position as that fellow. In the end Bridgette and I cross the finish line together with her time being a couple of tenths faster than mine.

We finished our first official 5k run without walking. This was an anticipated non-scale victory for us both.

Running Alone

In working to achieve a healthier and fitter self, it's important to have more than one way to measure success. Since I'm trying to lose weight, one of the ways I measure success is with a scale - pounds lost of course. I'm grateful that I am wise enough to want more than to weigh 150 pounds (or whatever magic number). I want more! I want to naturally gravitate towards healthy food choices. I want to become stronger and lift heavy weights. I want to run longer AND faster. I want to look good in my clothes. I want to feel great and be grateful each morning I wake.

I didn't actually run SOLO, I just went for a 3.1 mile run WITHOUT Fred. One of the anticipated victories on the NSV tab is running without Fred. (It was mean that I would run alone. If there were a indoor track nearby, I'd be all for it!)

It was this past Sunday: we had eaten lunch and Fred was absorbed in NFL games.  I suited up and enlisted our twelve-year-old son who is interested in running with us. I had to warn him that I was slow and that he would need to proceed slowly as he had never completed the distance. At times he was ahead of me; other times, he walked. I ran without walking though and finished four minutes faster than my typical pace for the distance. It was slow, but progress nonetheless. Go me! (Fred has gone without me several times already.)

Weight Watchers Weigh-In No. 22

Down . . . Down. . . Down!

This past Saturday at my meeting I was down 2.6 lbs. I was so happy to hear that bell. I have officially lost 30 pounds. About eleven or so more pounds gone will leave me weighing what is printed on my license. That's my next goal.

Fred was down 3.6 lbs at weigh-in. Woot, woot!

We will likely end up weighing Thursday due to having our first official 5k this Saturday. We won't break any records but we will SHOW UP!

Headed in the Right Direction

In working to achieve a healthier and fitter self, it's important to have more than one way to measure success. Since I'm trying to lose weight, one of the ways I measure success is with a scale - pounds lost of course. I'm grateful that I am wise enough to want more than to weigh 150 pounds (or whatever magic number). I want more! I want to naturally gravitate towards healthy food choices. I want to become stronger and lift heavy weights. I want to run longer AND faster. I want to look good in my clothes. I want to feel great and be grateful each morning I wake.

This week I have not been making the best food choices, and I have been struggling to track. Today, however, I was determined to track and stay within my points. By dinner time I only had four points. I get sooo hungry when I get off work and want to eat everything. Then, I want to eat when the family eats too. Tonight I decided to cook only vegetables. We had whole okra, squash with a bit of 2% cheddar cheese, steamed string beans with onion and bacon (not a veggie but just a bit). Fred and the kids also had corn on the cob, but that would have taken all of my points! I am so glad I went to the grocery store yesterday and bought plenty of fresh fruits and veggies: apples, mandarin oranges, pears, squash, green beans, spinach, onion, and mushrooms. We had sauteed spinach, onion, and mushrooms for dinner last night with some chicken. If I hadn't gone to the grocery store yesterday, I might have eaten fat free Greek yogurt or cereal with milk for dinner.

Fred has been fitting into some smaller sizes lately. Here is a blazer he bought at the end of July. It is now too big. He is holding the back so that the front looks proper. He tried on one size down at the store, and it was a bit loose. Two sizes down looked great on, but he said the arms were a little snug. I couldn't tell though. (The blazer doesn't match; he was trying it on while getting ready for work.)

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Weight Watchers Weekly Weigh-In No. 21

This week Fred and I were both up at weigh-in: I gained one and two tenths pounds and he gained one and eight tenths pounds.

We aren't throwing a pity party over this way. We biked ten miles yesterday and ran five today. The scale does NOT get the final.

Both of us were a bit lax in our tracking last week, so we are working on that.

Weight Watches Weekly Weigh-In No. 20

I can't believe I forgot to update.

This Saturday I was down two pounds.

Fred was down two and four tenths pounds.

I love that the scale is moving down, down, down. I put on pants in the a.m. and by the time I get home from work they are a mess - baggy, sagging, and unflattering. Oh the joys of being in between sizes. The amount of spandex in women's pants needs to be reduced. It's hard to find pants without spandex these days. Uugghh . . .

Fred has lost at least one pant size (almost two). I've lost twenty-nine pounds and no pants or dress sizes. MEN! Maybe one pound will make all the difference. As hungry as I've been today, that pound may have to wait til the weigh-in after next.

I See Progress!

In working to achieve a healthier and fitter self, it's important to have more than one way to measure success. Since I'm trying to lose weight, one of the ways I measure success is with a scale - pounds lost of course. I'm grateful that I am wise enough to want more than to weigh 150 pounds (or whatever magic number). I want more! I want to naturally gravitate towards healthy food choices. I want to become stronger and lift heavy weights. I want to run longer AND faster. I want to look good in my clothes. I want to feel great and be grateful each morning I wake.

This week I was able to put on and zip up (and breathe easily) in some jeans I haven't worn been able to fit since the Fall of 2011. I do believe they can stand to be a bit looser, but they weren't pulling at the side seams, squishing my stomach or cutting off my circulation. What do you think about how they fit? (I know you  have nothing to compare them to - I couldn't find anything.)

 

 

Fred was also able to fit in a shirt he hasn't worn in a while.

 

 

On Sunday we ran five miles. Our longest distance previously had been four miles, which we've run a couple of times.

 

So our NSVs for this week include fitting into smaller clothes from our closet and adding a mile to our longest distance ever. Fred went grocery shopping alone this week, and he didn't buy any JUNK. (unless he ate it on the way) I think this too counts as a victory.