I posted on my feed earlier about having a hard decision to make...and I'm sorry if it felt/sounded more dramatic than what it actually is, but I didn't want to post a blog about my decision until I knew my mind was made up.

The choice? Proceed with my LASIK procedure on Wednesday OR run the Fargo Half Marathon on Saturday.

Through getting prepared for the procedure, it hadn't dawned on me that running 13.1 miles may not be a good choice 3 days after getting LASIK. Until my best friend, who also has had the procedure, told me about how you are not supposed to do something to get sweat in your eyes or rubbing your eyes. Hence why you have to take a bath for 2 weeks following the procedure and not a shower.

I argued that I would be wearing my Bondi Band, and sweat would NOT get into my eyes. Was I sure? was the counter argument.

Well....

And was I willing to risk hurting my eyes in order to complete this HM?

Well....

So, why can't I just reschedule my LASIK?

Because the procedure is $350 off as long as you have the procedure done before May 31, their spring special.

Yes, I know....Sounds like something straight out of King of Queens, but I have done my research on this doc, and he is pretty danged respected in the LASIK community, and I trust him.

And $350 is a LOT of money to us right now, especially with a cosmetic procedure.

A cosmetic procedure that will allow me to run and SEE!!! (I can't wear contact lenses and I refuse to run with glasses).

Umm, but I will still be running the Fargo 5K on Friday (yay!) and meeting up with a few Sparkers beforehand (yay!). And, with the change in plans, my daughter and DH will be watching us at the finish line (yay!!!).

I am still running the 5K for the Charity that I solicited donations for, and even if the doc says not to run the 5K, I will walk it.

I am seeing this as a sign that the half at this time was not meant to be. I plan on taking a week off after the 5K and then starting from scratch with doing the Couch 2 5K program over again, then after that running 3 miles Tuesdays/Thursdays and then upping my mileage on Saturdays by 1 mile a week (so 4 miles, then 5, then 6) and go from there. If I don't have any comeback of injuries, I plan on running the October half marathon in Fargo, the same one I ran my first half last October.

If I continue with nagging injuries for anything over 6 miles, I think I will have to reconsider half marathons and the idea of a full marathon for a few years and stick with 5K and 10K races. I need to do what is best for my body in the long run!

So, onto the contest....I have been in a serious rut with my workouts and eating, and while I am not out of control, I am gaining weight, and I really seriously need to nip this in the bud.

I LOVE competition, and a good reward dangling like a carrot ahead of me doesn't hurt.

SO, I challenged my husband to a contest. We weighed each other this morning (he was 184.8 and I was 166.4) and the first one to, in a HEALTHY manner, reach 180 or 160 pounds will win a reward of our choice. Mine? I started out with it being getting my hair done. But then I thought....that was my 155 goal. So, I changed it to a mani/pedi.

Then, I thought...that's small potatoes and really...will that motivate me to leave DH in my dust? Not really. So, I changed it to my serious goal of pedis for me, my mom, and my sister. I really, really want this because I want us ladies to get out and get pretty nails :o} And my sister bought me and mom a pedi last year and I really want to repay that.

SO, I told them about it, too, so they are on board with me kicking my DH's butt. :o} Yes, I have the fact that he has less to lose and that he is a man to my disadvantage.

But, I have the fitness (he doesn't work out). I have the lack of temptations (he is a teacher in his last week before school is out, cupcakes and other goodies GALORE while I work at home and can use my lunch hour and breaks to walk, mow, work out, etc). I also feel like my body will do my bidding, as long as I do what I am supposed to be doing. I feel as though my plateau is gone, and I just have to plow through into the 150s.

Once I win this contest, 155 is my next goal, and I am psyched to get there!

Well, I just wanted to update you all on where I am, and I will post an update on how my day went below this and will do this every day so I know what I am doing to win this "contest."

~Calories were GREAT today (if you're interested, you can look at my nutrition tracker). I was in range for most things.

~I drank 100 ounces of water

~I went spinning for 25 miles

~ I mowed the lawn, raked, weed whacked, and worked on the landscaping

~I walked my dog for a total of 2 miles

~I walked my daughter to daycare, and then took her for a before-bed walk for a total of 2 miles.

~I avoided temptation. I made plans, and stuck to them.

The only downside to this challenge is we are weighing each other every morning in order to truly see who hits it first.

Today's weights: Me - 166.4 Him - 184.8

I am updating my tracker to reflect this now!