Exercise and Weight loss: Progress

I haven't written in a long time and I haven't run a marathon. But I'm still running and exercising and I've made significant progress.

This is what progress looks like for me.

1. I've gained control over my eating habits and I enjoy eating healthily.

2. I exercise 6 days a week for an hour to an hour and a half.

3. I've lost about 30 pounds since my last post which probably makes for a totalof 55.

4. I've maintained a healthy relationship with my process and have not turned into the obsessive monster I was in my early twenties.

5. I RAN my FIRST RACE! a 10K on Oct 24th, 2010. I finally got over my fear and I crossed the finish line. I didn't run the entire thing but I ran the first 5miles.

5. I started p90xon Sept 2, 2010 and I'm still going strong on Nov 19.

6. I love myself and my body majorly! That in and of itself tops them all off. I pretty much enjoy looking at myself...All the time.

7. And I'm still working towards that marathon!

Here are some photos of me and my friends and family along the journey.

Still Running!

Well folks

It's been forever since I've posted but I'm back at it! I'm hoping to be consistent again.

I went for a fun today. I've kind of hit the running wall. I've been doing a consistent five

miles for the past month. But I can't seem to push past the five mile mark. I either get tired or I get bored. I'm hoping to find a ways to push past this mark. I think it might be time for me to follow a program. Up until this point the program I intended to follow initially was too hard. But now that I'm in shape I think it might be time to go back to it. I should help push pass this plateau.

Another Realization after my RUN today!

Although I've lost a bunch of weight. My budonka donk (butt just in case you didn't know what I was talking about) is still pretty large. And as I've started to run faster I've noticed that I've got some serious bounce in my trunk. AND It HURTS!!!

The first 20 mins of my run is inevitably painful. Each bounce I like my butt is gonna bounce right off my back. Its probably not possible but it feels like it!

CHAFFING! NOOOOOOOO

Today I ran 4.5 miles by marine drive. Its was beautiful. The Columbia river to my right. Mt. Hood in front of me. I ran two miles out and then turned around and came back. The way back was even better. I got to watch the sunset as I made my way the 2.5 miles back to my car. At mile 3.5 I started feeling the beginnings of chafing on my lower butt cheeks. Right where the pantie line meets the bottom of the rear end. Each step made it worse. NOW 4.5 MILES LATER I HAVE A FULL BLOW BUTT CHEEK CHAFE. I have a very sad face right now!

Sickness Recovery!

I'm slowly getting back into the swing of things after being sick. I did interval running yesterday! It was awesome. I realize my ability to run faster now. I did some treadmill running at 5mph and 6mph and I walked at 4mph. I had a great time. My legs felt strong, my lungs felt strong. When I was running at 5mph I felt like I was going slowly and usually that feels like a sprint.

So cheers to progress!

Too Sick to Run

I've been seek for the last week or so which is really hindering the running process. My post on daily mile were getting so frequent and encouraging. And now my training is at a stand still. We all know what happens when you get on a good roll and then stop! YOU LOSE SOME MAJOR MOTIVATION! Bah this sucks. I was feelings so good and looking good at the same time! Just hope I dont gain weight while I lie around the house sleeping and eating all day! BAH so stressful!

I just want to run!

Late Night Musing on weight

I've decided to take a break from the running banter and muse about life as a skinny person.

Don't get me wrong I do not plan on taking a break from running just from talking about it for one blog entry to muse about life as a skinny person.

I've always wondered what it would be like to be skinny. I sometimes watch my friend and just look as they interact with the world. How they eat without feeling ashamed, try things without doubting whether they are out of place or not, change in public without worry, pick lent from their belly buttons without wondering if others or scrutinizing/judging the sight of their bellies. What is it like to not have rolls on your side, back and stomach? What it it like to feel your hip bones and ribs on a regular basis, to know there is a skeleton underneath the flesh.

What would it be like to sit on the floor and not have your limbs go dumb from the weight inflicted on them or not need back support to keep you upright. To ride a bike and not have your knees hit your stomach or boobs. I've always wondered what it feels like to sit in a regular chair and then put your legs up and rest your chin on your knees or to sit cross legged at the at the dinner table. Is it a different sensation to not have your feet on the ground?

What is it like to live without as much mass our your midsections? Skinny people always seem more upright, more straight. Does if feel different move about in the world? What is it like to wear a two piece swim suit? To not be pitied by the aerobics instructor at the gym. What is it like to not have the instructor feel the need seek you out after class to tell you they are glad you came and good job for not "dying" during the class?

I can only imagine! So you see, its not just about marathon running, its about knowing what it means to exist on the other side of it all. 100 pounds lighter and 100x less self conscious. The marathon is simultaneously the end and the means to the end!

A 3 mile RUN in Spokane

A new day of pavement pounding has proven to be very successful. I am finally able to run a 5k without a problem which is really exciting. Today I went for a run in Spokane. I set my timer for thirty five minutes. And just ran, at the 18 minute mark I made a loop and came back. I realize now that it is extremely helpful to run a new route and to make a loop instead of going back the same way I came. AND...drum roll please...IT WAS ENJOYABLE. Today was the first day since college that I ran and enjoyed it. I didn't feel stressed about whether or not I would make it through the entire 35 minutes. I just ran, I felt the air in my lungs and the cement under my feet. I watched cars go by and just enjoyed putting one foot in front of the other. My pace was 12 minute miles...freakin awesome!

WHOOT!

Singing an ode to aches and pains

I am currently in a painful stage. Since my 5k experience 2 weeks ago. I've had a lot of knee pain. So I laid off the running and just kept doing strength training things mixed with cardio. I've been doing step aerobic and spin classes. AND THIS DREADFUL 24 hour fitness BOSU circuit class. SO PAINFUL and UNSTEADY yet so cool at the same time. My schedule has not permitted me to go back to the class but I am in the process of rearranging schedule so I can have it as a cross training class.

Anyhoo back to the aches and pains. My knee has been giving me so much trouble and its so annoying. Just when I'm feeling extremely strong like I can conquer the world my knee acts up and set me back. But its ok I will survive!

My housemate is a physical therapist and he told me to ice it after workouts and don't do anything that hurt! The one problem with that is that I live at the top of a steep flight of stairs and going down them hurt. So to avoid pain I had to hobble down using only one leg as my main support.

A bit inconvenient and my other knee started hurting as a result. But I was finally cleared to run again and that's what i did yesterday. But I did it on the treadmill to go easy on the knees, a 25min warm up on the elliptical and then a 45min run on the treadmill. DURING the first 15min of the run i felt awful but the rest was a lot easier. AFTER, IT WAS GREAT! I was sweaty and sore! TODAY my hips hurt a bit but its to be expected I guess. I just have to keep going.

A 5K

Recently I ran a 5K and it felt amazing. Usually I have a problem running on the street I often times feel like I 'm being watched and it makes me feel very uncomfortable. Like I'm an outsider who doesn't belong. What's she doing running, she'll probably stop pretty soon. I can feel the stares of people as they drive by, or wait at lights. Thus week after week this keeps me from doing anything.

What started out as a normal day turned into new day, a new set of rules a new state of mind. The day started as any other, I decided to go for a walk, to survey the land. I wanted to see what it would be like to do a run near my house that I see lots of runners doing. So I began walking and listening to a podcast along the way. It was a steady walk that took about 45mins to an hour. I noticed the flowers and the trees while I was walking. This rare clear spring day it Oregon was nice. As I walked I started to feel more and more confident to run. I happened to be listen to a podcast by heidi baker and at the end she spoke of a vision about God handing out shoes to each person based on their need. Some slippers for resting, some boots for hiking, some, flip flops for sunny places and finally to some RUNNING shoes. My heart leap, I realized those were for me. I knew that I am in a season of running hard both physically and figuratively. I felt motivated to run. So I decided go give this 5k a go.

I started to run...and I ran and ran, a few times I wanted to walk but I would say to myself just make it to that sign or just make it to that tree. About half way through the run. I got the most amazing second wind and I felt like I could run forever. I kept running until finally I got about 10 blocks from my house and at that point I wanted to quit but I was so close that it didnt seem like an option. The only problem was everything was starting to hurt. But I kept going, and by the time I made it to the last block I was so excited that I was almost in a full on sprint.

MY FIRST 5 K EVER! go me its your birthday!

Sore but Feeling Good!

I've worked out everyday for almost a week straight!

I feel both strong and sore! I can run faster, lift more and push myself a lot harder than I thought possible but I am paying for it. I thought it would be a good idea to start out with some hard workouts. I want to lead into running but I would like to start running as a stronger person rather than starting over again weak. The way I've decided to do this is by attending a class every day of the week. After each class spending another 35-45 mins on the treadmill doing a walk/run sesh. So far I've gone to a few spin classes and a few cardio lift classes. They have been so painful. But I feel so strong when I can get on the treadmill afterwards and push myself a little further. As a result I have a hard time walking after I've been sitting for a while. For a few days my complaint was that it HURT to EXIST. And most days I need a nap midday. BUT on the flip side. I have alot of energy when I'm interacting with folks. I'm forced to spend more of my day moving since if I sit to long I get sore and stiff. And I feel SO HAPPY pretty much for the entire day. Gotta love those endorphins. SO HERES TO A NEAR Week of work outs and a lot of pain!

STARTING OVER...again!

I'm hoping this will be the last time i have to write and say I'm have not been running and am starting over. But alas it is true. I have not been running not at all. I've been ashamed of it and therefore ignoring my blog all together. But I'm back. It is Jan 27th. I want to be a runner and run a marathon in October. NOW ALL I HAVE TO DO IS GET OFF MY BUT AND RUN RUN RUN!