Weight In Wednesday: Last one of 2014

Weight last week: 205.4

Weight today: 205.0

Lost this week: -0.4

Total Lost: 76.6

Total to Onederland: 5.1

Total to Goal: 65.0

Another loss!  Small, but still hooray! Well, that's it, my last weigh in of the year.  This year, I lost 76.6 pounds in 10 months, so not too shabby.  Hope everyone has a wonderful New Year's, be safe, and be well.

Housekeeping

Ok, I'm back!  I didn't really go anywhere, but craziness at work and holiday craziness at home do not lend themselves to consistent blogging.

A little housekeeping:  Here are my numbers from Weigh In Wednesday last week (12/24/14):

Weight last week: 207.4

Weight today(actually 12/24): 205.4

Lost this week: -2.0

Total Lost: 76.2

Total to Onederland: 5.5

Total to Goal: 65.4

Another loss!  Yay!  I'm getting so close!  I had hoped to get to Onederland by Christmas, but that didn't happen.  But it's getting really close and I'm loving how my clothes are fitting.  Plus, I lost my hump!  I used to have a hump of fat right at the base of my neck.  I couldn't even tilt my head back very far.  But now it's gone.  I find myself reaching back there to touch it and feeling surprised at how I can feel the bones.  

I did some shopping over the weekend and I am now in a size 16 pants!  I'm so excited.  And they are normal 16s, not 16W or 16 curvy.  Just regular 505 straight leg Levis. I'm also in a size Large shirt.  Both of these things are so strange!  I bought some leggings at old navy and got an XL, and honestly, they are big.  I should have gotten the Large.  And not maternity leggings!  Doh!  I wondered why the stomach was so much higher.  Duh!  lol  Oh well.

I hope everyone had a good holiday.  The kiddo got his train set and a noisy fire truck so he's in 7th heaven.  My hubby is finally on board with doing Paleo with me which is making dinners much easier.  And he got a smoker for Christmas and last night smoked a pork tri tip.  So delicious!  We had it with some mashed sweet potatoes.  It was perfect.  I'm already looking forward to next weekend when he smokes a beef tri tip.  And then I found a recipe for smoked maple bacon wrapped pork loin which sounds INSANELY good (and totally paleo!.)  

Less than 3 weeks until the Star Wars 10k!  I went for a run with my dad yesterday, but it didn't work out.  We did about a mile when we both admitted we were just too cold to keep going (it was only 38 degrees out.)  Hopefully we can try again on New Year's Day.

Well, that's it for today.  I'm hoping to post some Disney stuff before the run and also show off my costume (I'm waiting for a couple more pieces to arrive.) 

An Awesome Run with My Dad

Sunday was so great.  I met my Dad at a local bike trail to do a 6 mile run to prep for Star Wars weekend.  He is doing the half marathon (he's done a few before) and I could never keep up with him.  He was always WAY too fast for me.  Well, those days are over.  I slowed down to stay with him!  Here's my splits:

It was so nice to be out and we had a great time together.  My dad and I don't really spend time just the two of us, so this was really nice.  We are going to make this a weekly thing for a while and try some different paths.  I'm really excited about it and can't wait for next weekend!

Belated Weigh In Wednesday

Weight last week: 210.0

Weight today(actually 12/17): 207.4

Lost this week: -2.6

Total Lost: 74.2

Total to Onederland: 7.5

Total to Goal: 67.4

Hooray!  I lost weight! I'm so excited.  Less than 8 pounds to go to Onederland and only 0.8 pounds until I am 75 pounds lost!    

I'm sorry for my long absence from posting.  I have plenty of reasons (work, the holidays, traveling, etc) but most of them feel like excuses.  The truth is, I just didn't really like how I was feeling and didn't really want to write about it.  

But now, I'm feeling much better.  I just returned Tuesday night from Disneyland!  We flew done Saturday morning and back Tuesday afternoon.  We met my parents down there and had a great Holiday trip.  I'll be posting some reviews about eating Paleo at the parks early next week.  I stayed mostly true to my diet (though I hate calling it that) even though it was more difficult than it was in previous trips.  I'm actually really surprised I lost weight given that I did have a couple of treats.

It was also the inaugural Disneyland trip for my Fitbit Flex and it was awesome.  Here's how my steps broke down:

Saturday: 19,336

Sunday: 11,325

Monday: 21,995

Tuesday:10,708

Monday was my top day.  Over 20,000 steps!  And I checked a bunch of times and it did not count rides as steps, so that was very nice. The reason Monday is so high is because I got up early while everyone was asleep and went to the gym at the Grand Californian (where we were staying) to do my 30 minute training run.  I'm doing 5.75 miles this weekend, so I wanted to be sure I got in a training run.

Anyway, sorry for the lack of posts and the belated Weigh-In Wednesday.  I'm hoping to get back on track with posted every day, so fingers crossed for that.  

Weigh in Wednesday 12/10/14

I realized after I posted on Monday that it was kind of silly to post the whole30 days with numbers since clearly I was not sticking to the whole30.  So, I guess that was a failed experiment.  I know I'll be going off it again this weekend, so I won't start again until likely Wednesday.  I'll explain why then.   For now, my weigh in:

Weight last week: 210.0

Weight today: 210.0

Lost this week: 0.00

Total Lost: 72.8

Total to Onederland: 10.1

Total to Goal: 70.0

0.  Yeah.  No miracles, but no surprises either.  Oh well.  Maybe next week (but I doubt it.)  I'm planning on a gain next week, so maybe I won't be disappointed when I see one. I hate plateaus.

5 miles

Day 4

Breakfast:

1 apple

Almond butter

apple pie Lara bar

Lunch:

Organic tuna

grape tomatoes

kalamata olives

Dinner

Gluten Free Pizza

Day 5

Breakfast:

3 eggs

3 slices of organic bacon

1 mandarin orange

Lunch:

Dinner:

Paleo Chili

Coconut milk hot chocolate

Day 6

Breakfast:

2 poached eggs

1 ham steak

Lunch:

Paleo Chili

Coconut milk hot chocolate

Dinner:

So my whole30 completely went out the window this weekend.  I didn't even stay completely paleo!  Friday night was bad.  I ran out of cumin, so the tacos I had planned to make weren't going to happen.  For some reason, all I could think about was pizza!  Again!  And it wasn't even that good (which you wouldn't know since I ate AN ENTIRE MEDIUM PIZZA by myself.) *sigh*  Then we had some friends and their kids over for a holiday party and I made them all hot chocolate and all kind of yummy things.  So I had some hot chocolate which I had been craving for weeks.  So, if you have read The Polar Express, you know the part where the hot chocolate is described as being "as thick and rich as melted chocolate bars"?  Well, I'm never had hot cocoa like that.  Until Saturday.  Holy cats it was AMAZING.  So amazing that I made more on Sunday.  So good.  

My only saving grace this weekend was that I did a 5 mile run on Sunday.  It went really well, despite a surprising number of annoyances (which normally derail me.)  

I had an overall pace of 13:42 which included a 1 minute warm up at the beginning (which is why my pace was 14:00 for the first mile) and a long cool down at the end (hence the 17:38.)  I had hoped to stay at around 13:00 and I stayed pretty close.  I'm proud of myself.  

I tried out my new vest from LL Bean and it was awesome!  It's so thin, but it kept me really warm which was nice.  I had left my Garmin at the gym at work and couldn't find my husband's gym boss, so I added the MVP option to Mapmyrun because they have an interval timer.  Boy was that crappy.  I couldn't hear it unless I had it almost next to my ear.  Especially if there were any cars around.  I once again forgot to bring water with me and around 3 miles, I was hungry and thirsty and pretty miserable.  I perked up and actually was able to get water from a park drinking fountain late in my run, so I felt better.  This next two weeks is all about figuring out my running nutrition.  I really don't want to do shot blocks so I'm hoping to find a more natural solution.  We'll see how that goes.

Owie

Day 3 (12/4/14)

Breakfast:

1 apple

Almond butter

Lunch:

Organic tuna

grape tomatoes

kalamata olives

Dinner

Grilled salmon with steam broccoli

HOLY COW, I hurt so much right now.  My abs are still killing my from my workout on Tuesday and now my legs are sore from yesterday.  The combination is killing me.  

My eating is going pretty well.  A lot of apples and almond butter this week, since it's what I had in the house.

Otherwise, not much to report.  I'm planning to run 5 miles this weekend per the Jeff Gallaway/Run Disney plan.  I believe that it is the furthest I have ever run, so wish me luck.  

Well, that's all for today.  Sorry it's not much of a post. 

Whole 30 Day 2 and Weight Training

Note: This was supposed to post yesterday, but I think I forgot to click something.  So there will be 2 posts today.

Day 2 (12/3/14)

Breakfast:

1 apple

Almond butter

2 hard boiled eggs

Lunch:

Leftover Meat sauce

2 clementine oranges

Dinner

3 eggs over easy

4 pieces of Applegate Sunday Bacon

Yes, I had bacon.  I made Homemade Hamburger Helper for the family, so I made myself some bacon and eggs.  But it's organic bacon and while it's not technically whole30 compliant, I just can't afford the US Wellness meats stuff and I cannot eat any more chicken apple sausage.  So, I got organic since I figured it's better than the farm factory stuff and moved on.

I did my second day of weight training today.  For a while I was doing an hour a week with a trainer that is a cousin of my husband at a crossfit gym near my work.  I'm just fascinated by crossfit, but I felt like I would never be fit enough to actually go to a crossfit gym.  I was really surprised.  Not only was everyone not a paragon of fitness, but everyone was really welcoming!  I envisioned it being filled with the kind of people you see on American Ninja Warrior (such a great show) but there were all ages and sizes.  Even some bigger than me!  My first workout, I was really stupid.  I didn't eat beforehand and I nearly puked twice (and also nearly passed out!  Way to go, dummy!) So, I got smarter after that and while I was always exhausted and dripping sweat after a workout (and usually sore for 4-5 days afterword) I felt really great. And I started getting really definition in my arms and legs prompting annoying comments to my husband like "Look!  I have bones in my knees!  You can see and feel them and everything!"  But now we are having some financial issues at home and so I can't afford a trainer right now.  

But today, I decided was the day I was going to figure out how to do a weight training program by myself.  With sweating.  Not just halfheartedly lifting weights.  On Monday I did arms and abs and it seemed lackluster to me, but the agony in my abs right now tells me I did something right.  So, I checked out some beginner crossfit workouts only and came up with this:

5 minute warm up on the treadmill

Then two circuits of:

20 lunges

20 air squats

20 plies

20 steps up (each leg)

20 leg lifts (each leg

20 kettlebell swings

5 minute cool down on the treadmill

I felt great when I was done.  I was even sweating!  I had my ipod on which was different since I don't use one when I run.  I enjoyed it and I felt like I got a good workout.  I'm going to see how I feel tomorrow and Saturday and see if I need to increase my weights, but I'm hoping to try to go a little faster next time.  We'll see how that goes.

Weigh In Wednesday and Whole30 Day 1

Weight last week: 209.4
Weight today: 210.0
Lost this week: +0.6
Total Lost: 72.8
Total to Onederland: 10
Total to Goal: 70

I'm not surprised I gained this week.  I was bad on Sunday and went out for pizza.  I got gluten free crust, but there was cheese of course.  Honestly though, it was the best pizza I ever had.  And it had been FOREVER since I had pizza.  So, I'm not thrilled about the weight gain, but I get it.  Hopefully I get a big loss next week.  

As if the weight gain wasn't bad enough, I also had an absolutely horrible run today.  I was just doing a 30 min maintenance run.  I do my weekday runs on the treadmill at my gym at work and there are only 3 treadmills and only 1 really good one.  But there are only maybe 15 people who use the gym right now (there will be more come January) so usually that isn't a problem and I score Awesome Treadmill (as I call it.)  I do time interval training and on Awesome Treadmill I just set it up with my running speed and my jogging speed and I only have to push 1 button to switch.  But today, I did some trigger point therapy on my ankle/shin so I was late and someone else got Awesome Treadmill.  That began a series of little annoyances that added up.  I tried one of the other treadmills and couldn't figure out how to set up the intervals, so I switched but that one would only do heart rate intervals.  So I just did a quick start, but it was hard to change speeds.  Then my ankle brace was in a bad place in my arch so it was hurting and that was throwing off my knee, then my ipad fell off the treadmill.  And yes, I know I'm whining but everything was just wrong!  Needless to say I will be early on Friday and get MY treadmill. 

I decided that in order to get myself back on track with whole30 and add some accountability, I would go ahead and share what I eat each day.  So, here goes: 

Day 1 (12/2/14)

Breakfast:

2 clementine oranges

2 hard boiled eggs

1 Cashew Cookie Lara Bar (I only ate 1/4 of it because it was awful!)

Lunch:

Leftover tri tip

grape tomatoes

steamed zucchini

Dinner:

Meat sauce with sausage and sauteed zucchini

Well, I think that's it for today.  Hopefully tomorrow I'm in a better place emotionally.  I'm planning to do weights at the gym tomorrow, so we'll see how that goes.  

Cravings and Injuries

I didn't run this weekend.  I used the rain we've been having and the pain in my ankle that I've had the last few days as an excuse.  Luckily it was just a 30 min maintenance run, so I did it on Monday and I'll do Wednesday and Friday this week too to make up for it.  Sunday will be my next long run.  5 miles, which I think will be the longest I've ever run before.

As for my ankle, it felt ok yesterday when I was running, but hurts when I just walk around the house or the office.  I thought it might be my work shoes since none of them see to fit any more.  I guess my feet have shrunk.  It doesn't help that most of them are worn crooked on the bottom.  Stupid pronating feet.  But then I wore my sneakers the rest of the day and it still hurt.  Last time this happened, I went to the doctor who put me in an immobolizing boot for 4 months.  And it never did a thing.  It was only when I did my whole30 that the pain went away.  My run in just over a month a way, so I have to get serious and get back on the whole30.  The problem is that I've been saying that for a while now.  But I really don't want this to halt my running like it has in the past.  I've just got to do it!  So, here it is.  Today is the day.  I'm doing it.  No more excuses.

It doesn't help that I've been eating so much sugar lately.  I have an addiction to Luna and Larry's Organic Coconut Bliss coconut ice cream (dark chocolate flavor, of course.)  It's dairy and soy free and totally delicious.  And while I like to pretend that it's totally ok to eat since it's paleo and all, it's still ice cream.  And I can usually resist it for a while.  I do my grocery shopping online so it's easy to keep from being tempted.  But once I get it, I just want to buy more and more.  Like the paleo baked goods, ice cream should be a sometime thing.  Not an every night thing.

Wish me luck!  I have a feeling I won't have a loss tomorrow for Weigh In Wednesday, but I can hope!