Progress

For the first time in almost 6 years I am under 250 pounds. Wow what a feeling to actually know I am making progress. No I not dropping 10 pounds a week or more but at least I am getting ride of the pounds. I have stuck to the 1200- 1400 calorie diet and it has worked. 6 weeks have passed and almost 30 pounds are gone. Now for the next stage.

I met with a fitness trainer a little over a week ago and had an Microfit Assestment done. I met with him again last week at O My GOD Its Early 5 am, with Dani to go over some Core Exersises with the weight equipment. I need to work out 4 days a week so 2 days will be in the morining and 2 days in the evening. So now it is the time to make the exersise a habit.

Between the exersise and the change in eating, these two habits should equal sucesses in meeting my goals. Not sure if it will be a few months til I meet the goal, or a year. I will get there.

Avon's Walk for Breast Cancer

I have decided to walk in the two day Avon's Walk for Breast Cancer here in D.C. May 2nd and 3rd. The total distance is a marthon and a half. The first day is the option to walk the whole marthon or half and the second day is a half marthon. I figured walking this is a win win situation. I get in shape by walking and in the processes I provide support for a great cause.

Here is the link for the information I will provide my walking information for donations when I get the final registration information.

http://walk.avonfoundation.org/site/PageServer?pagename=walk_homepage

Do or Do Not.....There is No Try

So I am on my way of changing my eating habits and activity level. I realized something, though I should have known better from past experience. Its not that I am an over eater. I actually dont eat as much as I am suppose to. I know I have eaten more sodium then I should and due to my love of dairy I obviously eat too much fat. In the past week I realize that I just dont eat enough period.

I would go days without eating a breakfast or lunch then come home snack a little then eat dinner (and usually after 6 pm...I know that is a BIG no no)

Knowing what my goals are I came up with a menu for my meals for the next three weeks. Something I have never done. Usually we just plan the meal for that day and MaYbe we will plan for 2 days in a row.

So I showed my husband my menu, based off of a 1400 or 1600 calorie day. I know at my size it should be 2000 but honestly I am going to have trouble eating the amount of food for a 1400 calorie diet. And its A LOT of food.
Really with exception of the low-fat milk, low-fat cheese, fat free dressing and the natural organic peanutbutter, the meals on the menu are very close to what we already eat. So I am not over eating I am not eating enough plus I needed to get my butt up and do some working out. If I am not teaching I am spending all my time in front of the computer at work. When I get home I plopp right back down in front of the computer. And honestly I can not say it has been productive time.

Now starting this week I will need the extra time in front of the computer since I start my college classes back up. So that can not be avoided. But instead of just being online to be online. I am going to limit myself to the time I need to do my classwork and post my blogs and journals. Right now I have no clue how long that is going to be. It could be as little as an hour or as much as 3 hours. But if I know I have to be on for a long period of time. I will take 10 min breaks for every half hour I am online and go on the treadmill. Speaking of which my older daughter just informed me I have to get off the computer and do 10 min on the treadmill.

I have a great family, not only are two of my girls running the marathon with me but they are all eating close to the same meals (mostly dinners) as I am. My husband likes to do the grocery shopping which is ok with me since I a spontanious shopper. If there are set things we need to get to he sticks to the list.

The goals I have set will be succeeded. With the motivation and support from my family and friends I am suddenly more motivated then I have been in...... you know I have never been this motivated. I guess I have tired, but like Yoda says "Do or Do not...there is no try". (Yes I live with a few Star Wars freaks) So I will DO this.

I will lose the wieght
I will run a 5K within a year
I will run a 10K within a year and a half
I will run a half marathon within two years
I will run the Honolulu Marathon in Dec 2012

So now it is time for me to go do my time on the treadmill.

No such thing as a New Years Resolution

Ok I think I might be losing it. My mind more then the weight. But I just realized I don't want to make a New Years resolution to loose weight. Instead I have a 3 year and 11 month goal to run the Honolulu Marathon in 2012. Crazy? Maybe.

But here is my thinking on the matter. If I am focusing on getting myself into shape to run a marathon, the weight will be coming off anyway. So I have a year to loose 60-70 pounds since that will put me at around 190-200 pounds and a size 12-14. When I was that size before I could run and not do any kind of damage to my feet, legs, and back. Yes I am getting older so things will be changed a bit and granted when I was at those sizes (a whole decade ago) that is when my downward spiral started of packing on more and more pounds and less and less activity so really this time around I will be more in shape then I was a decade ago at a size 12/14.

OK so when I get the 60-70 pounds off I should be already in a good work out routine so little by little I will extend it. I live near a Marine base and I know a lot of Marines who do run Marathons so either I will try and find a trainer there or actually pay for a professional trainer. Just for health reasons alone I want to make sure I am monitored. Plus if I knew how to prepare for a marathon already I would not be the size I am right now.

In 2012 I will be 40 years old with two daughters in College (hopefully) and one still in High School. I let my health waist away in the first 30ish years of my life. I want to be in the best health of my life to enjoy being around my daughters as adults.

I have already talked to my daughters and a few friends about this. It looks like I might have some company in the race as well as on the sidelines. If you want to join me as well please let me know!

And as a quirky side note. According to the Mian Calender the world as we know it is supposedly ending in December of 2012. I can't think of a better place to end once cycle of life and begin another. In Hawaii with friends and family completing one of the biggest accomplishments of my life.