Amazing!

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

I had a coworker tell me yesterday that my pants were too baggy (i.e. lots of loose fabric in the zipper/crotch area of my dress pants). She was talking with me and asking me how certain things fit and were things really tight or was I having difficulty accepting/realizing my new figure. I haven't been that stumped in a long time.

The scale, as we all know, can really drive us nuts. I just read an article by Nancy Clark, MS RD CSSD on Active dot com this morning about 'What to Eat and When for Top Performance'. Number one on her list - Don't weigh yourself daily. I really wish I could step off the scale. I really should step away from it. My measurements are down (I've lost 4 inches off the hips, 4 inches off the waist, and 2 inches (if not more) from my bust since the beginning of February), I am training for a marathon, and my focus has to be different or I am going to do myself a great injustice. I may go up a handful of pounds and I have to accept (and realize) that I'm fat burning. I lost those inches from fat burning. I'm gaining muscle. I know it. My husband tells me so because he sees the changes and he tells me (and also tells me not to get too muscular. LOL).

So...I went to my fave shop-a-holic/frugal site (QVC) and looked at their sizing chart based on my measurements. I still cannot believe my eyes. A size 10. Really? I was a size 18 at the beginning of this year. Wow. I won't believe it until I try on a size 10. Wow. Isn't it amazing? Just amazing. I never had a clothing size goal...just a BMI goal. Crazy! Just plain crazy!

So I could sulk that my weight for my final BLC weigh in is not what I anticipated, but I'll take the loss of inches and clothing sizes during the challenge, along with my ramping up on marathon training.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

MYTHREEOS 7/16/2009 5:05PM

Oh Julie, How very, very, VERY exciting for you. I'm excited for you too! WAY TO GO!!!! See, you put your focus on BMI & totally took it away from what people see on the outside so you could just simply feel better on the inside & know you were physically healthy (which is brilliant)...& then look, not only is it on the inside; but you should also be thankful that your pants haven't fell off :) lol. That is great news Julie & I hope you're so proud of yourself. You're doing awesome & you inspire me all the time. Thank you! Report Inappropriate Comment

LIGHTNINGRUNNER 7/15/2009 5:49PM

This is just totally awesome. . You deserve a big shopping trip. I think that is amazing...It is so neat that someone else had to tell you. Report Inappropriate Comment

SUZYQUZY7 7/15/2009 1:51PM

You are AMAZING and inspiring. Keep it up! Report Inappropriate Comment

PATTI24 7/15/2009 1:40PM

Congratulations. I know what you mean, some of my jeans are baggy and loose. I used to step on the scale daily but now it is only on Sundays and on the days that the weigh in is for my spark group weigh ins. Keep up the good work Report Inappropriate Comment

ANEWVERSIONOFME 7/15/2009 12:41PM

You are down four sizes!!!! Keep up the good work! Report Inappropriate Comment

TRILLIUM22 7/15/2009 11:07AM

Great job lossing inches. I've been searching my house for my tape measure---I want to know my waist measurements and what I've lost. My husband was commenting on how much different I looked on our bike ride last night. Good luck and keep working on your health. Report Inappropriate Comment

_MSAPRIL17_ 7/15/2009 10:40AM

That is great news!!!! I am a big believer in inches as a better way to measure succes and you, my friend, have MAJOR success!!!! Be proud of yourself!!!! April Report Inappropriate Comment

Marathon Training: Week 11, Day 3

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Chugga.........chugga......chugga......cho
o.....choo!!!! Man it was hard to move this train down the track tonight. Holy smokes. I think there are some things, when thinking back, that I need to do better or I'll have more of the same:

~ walk 15 minutes post LSD
~ carb up and maximize the required calories on LSD and the days to follow

My legs felt like cinder blocks. Funny that I ever questioned why a marathon trainee would ever need an easy LSD/break. I can't wait for mine on Sunday!

Despite feeling like I was slowly chugging along, I did not do too shabby...and was actually rather consistent...but it sure didn't feel that way in the midst of it all!

Temps: High 70s
3.64 miles
51:12 duration
14'01 pace
682 calories burned

I'm fitting in a Twilight 8k on the fly on Saturday...so I'll get a little extra mileage. I don't think it will do me any harm. Besides....it keeps me up in the ranks on the Nike+ Spark Challenge

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

_MSAPRIL17_ 7/15/2009 9:13AM

I can relate!!! Congrats on sticking to it!! Keep up the great work! April Report Inappropriate Comment

2WHEELER 7/15/2009 9:01AM

job!! Especially in the heat. That really slows down the engine. Every finish is a reason to celebrate. My attitude has changed since training for a marathon. I'm less concerned about speed these days. It's a long journey and the goal is to finish feeling fine. Have a great day. Keep up on the good work. Report Inappropriate Comment

LIGHTNINGRUNNER 7/15/2009 7:04AM

I so know how you feel. Too often I feel like I attached a 50 pound weight to be when I go run. Hey the important part is that you finished. My motto is it isn't how fast you do the distance, it is the fact you did the distance. Report Inappropriate Comment

TRILLIUM22 7/14/2009 10:14PM

I've had days when my legs had just no zip. It's hard to feel like your accomplishing much as you run on those sluggy legs. I haven't been increasing mileage much lately and my legs are doing pretty well. Great job, keep up the strong work. Report Inappropriate Comment

FIT-4-JESUS 7/14/2009 9:52PM

That's how I felt all weeeeek! I guess we can expect to have days like these! High 70's for you today! I'm so jealous...our high today was 102. I'm ready for it to cooool off. It's putting me in a slump! Your doing great, keep training hard and rawk your 8k! Report Inappropriate Comment

Marathon Training: Week 11, Day 1

Monday, July 13, 2009

So much leading up to this run. I was away from home, so I had to map my run in advance. Then I had a fear of the unknown...so I drove the route in advance and felt heaps better. Then I did my inventory the night before, only to realize that I did not pack enough clif bloks. Ugh! Thank heavens for the electrolyte tabs that you can break and drop into 16 oz of water. Whew. Only downside was that I had to carry a bottle (plus camelbak) until it was time to use it. I did have plenty of energy bars.

I did not sleep solid the night before the run. I heard thunder and saw lightning flash at 3:30am...so I was not sure what would happen. I knew I'd get up early (although I managed to sleep about 15 minutes too long). I got out there and boy was it humid! Ack! Lots of kind car riders. Some were not and it was a good thing I did not count on them to be kind and kept to moving into the brush as soon as it was best to move (for all passersby). Only downside was the left hip that took enough of a beating that it was tough to move later in the day. The shade and the breezes during this run were much appreciated. I did stop at the golf course portable toilet, and squatted behind a pile of firewood once. LOL.

Starting Temp: 96% humidity and 68 degrees
13 miles
3:08'06 duration
14'27 pace
2900 calories burned
Finishing Temp: 73% humidity and 79 degrees

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

TRILLIUM22 7/13/2009 2:26PM

Oh my! That sounds like quite a challenging run! Awesome job getting it done! Report Inappropriate Comment

Marathon Training: Week 10, Day 6

Monday, July 13, 2009

Wowza was it hot today. I took the 3 youngest kids. Made sure that everyone had water. This last run of the week is always so precarious because of scheduling. I ended up being a drill sargeant to motivate everyone to keep moving. Between that, water stops, and the heat...the performance was poor. But, alas...it was better than sitting like a blob on the couch!

Temp: 84 degrees
3.26 miles
49:59 duration
15'17 pace
680 calories burned

  

QuickFire Challenge

Thursday, July 09, 2009

This sparkler needed more in her regimine. Yes, I could be content with marathon training...but the nagging feeling that I could help my body prepare and endure the training and the event itself was weighing on me.

The glow of reaching my BMI goal was fading. Not a shabby achievement, but I still see that maintenance is required to improve myself that much more.

After putzing around the SP teams, I came upon a group that sets daily challenges. They tell you what to do, and how much to do. I might have days where I cannot squeeze it all in...but they won't ding me for it. But the challenge, should I choose to accept it, will still be there.

My primary goal with QuickFire is to, in short periods, incorporate moving my body...especially while at work. In addition, I'll be especially happy with the ST challenges. It has been painfully absent in my routine, and I have to stop with the excuses.

Where's your fire? I'm gonna find mine!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

2WHEELER 7/15/2009 9:03AM

QuickFire is great. I'm not good about doing it every day, but I love our leader's energy and enthusiasm. I try to work in whatever I can. Report Inappropriate Comment