November 18

Earlier this June I got the bright idea to start running again...after 11 years of no running, multiple injuries to my feet, and 30 extra pounds. I had previously started the couch-to-5K training program (before tearing a ligament in my foot) and thought I'd download the app. And I did! I faithfully went to the gym to run on the treadmill (softer and MUCH cooler) at least three times a week for a number of weeks...and then thought...I should sign up for some races to help me stay motivated.

And I did! I even secured a hotel room at this Saturday's race so my hubby and I could make a mini-vacay out of it...further incentive. 

Then we started remodeling our house and we had all kinds of contractors in and out all day long starting at 7:30 am. Some working, some bidding the next phases etc. for about two months it's been chaos at my house. Since I needed to be home with the contractors or out choosing/investigating various options, my days were eaten up and NO running (or piano practice either).

Well, I signed up for 2 races and the first is this Saturday. I've been working this last week and this to get back to be able to complete the full 5K (3.1 miles) without stopping. I seriously don't know why I care if I run the first 1.5-2 miles then do training runs the last mile but I do.

Races are hard for me in that I used to be quite the runner (before getting seriously sick). I looked at a 5K as a warm up to a running workout. For a brief time, I even had a running coach! When running a 5K, I'd run a good .5-1 miles BEFORE the run just to warm up. I was never a fast runner...but I could outlast sooooo many people. I was always the endurance runner. My 5K times were about 22-24 minutes. I don't think I ever went after a time in a 5K run, they were always just for fun. Here are how my goals changed for this run:

1. Be able to complete a 5K by November 2014 without injuring myself
2. Complete the Nov. 5K in 30 minutes
3. Just complete the 5K without walking and without injuring my feet
4. Complete the Nov. 5K in 35 minutes. (Then I remembered this course has lots of little hills...I haven't done any hill work outs yet.)
5. Complete the Nov. 5K in 35-38 minutes
6. Just finish the 5K without injury. It would be great if it's at 35 minutes, but I'd be thrilled if under 40.

I always have to keep reminding myself that running for me has to be about keeping my feet healthy! I am competitive with myself and I really want to run for time, but with caring around that extra 30 pounds...Hey...maybe I am actually doing quite well.

So the moral to my story is to keep the ultimate goal in mind, alter when needed.

Weight: 152.6 (size 12 comfortably)

Kelli

November 12, 2014

I've made a few decisions this past week. Notice that they all begin very selfishly with "I". I need to put Me first for a while in order to take control of the craziness.

1. I'll only publish weight once a week. Weight is the absolute worst qualifier of health. But it is a trend line. Muscle weighs more than fat so as you build muscle the scale won't show a difference but your clothing size will. I digress....long story short, once a week.
2. I will detox my body. My body needs a clean start with healthy food that doesn't come from boxes, bags, or pouches. So to this end I will do a detox program that I've done previously and had good success with. The whole program is almost 4 weeks long but I'll do at least the first week which resets the body. The second week starts adding in new foods daily and is tasty. The third is to detox each organ and the last is about bringing the body back to normal. I'll for sure do week one and I'd like to do week two but it can be challenging when I only eat certain foods and the rest of my family doesn't.
3. I will pickup my running program again. I previously signed up to do a 5k run on Nov 22 and haven't been running for the past few weeks. So I hit the pavement yesterday and it felt so rough but so fulfilling at the same time.
4. I also need to add in a light lifting program until after my race and then go to a regular lifting program. I've always struggled with this and really would like a personal trainer...just can't afford it right now.
5. I will get my piano practice in DAILY (except Sunday)!
6. I will better define what "Healthy" when it comes to eating!

After Thanksgiving I plan to wrangle in my various recipes on Pinterest and corral all my cook books and recipes into a more user friendly space. I have no idea what that will look like yet, but I need to be able to cook from my recipes more easily. So this month I'll consider what to do and next month I'll make it happen.

Weight: 156.4 Size: 12 (comfortably)

Kelli

Starting---Sunday, October 26, 2014

This post was published on Monday, October 27, but the information comes from yesterday.

Let me start with a bit about where I'm coming from.  Most of my adult life I've struggled a bit with my size. When I'm very physically active I keep the weight off. But in reality I LOVE TASTY FOOD! I LOVE sugar too! And most fried things (PF Changs Crispy Green Beans---hey, they are at least a vegetable!)  I started running again this June and find that it's MUCH harder with an extra 30 pounds but that I still love it...but haven't lost any size or weight--probably because of my love of Blizzards and cinnamon rolls!  My kitchen has been torn apart for the past three weeks due to a kitchen remodel and I've eaten at every fast food restaurant within 5 miles of my house more than once!

I sort of feel like I need a fast food intervention right now!! :)

By Thursday afternoon I should have a fully functional kitchen again...but then I am also faced with the old adage, what's for dinner.  I didn't grow up in a kitchen and what I do know how to make I've taught myself in the past few years.

Saturday I was Facetiming with my cousin and I couldn't get over how chubby my face looked. I was so embarrassed!

I weighed myself Sunday morning (always first thing) and I weighed in at a depressing 160 pounds. That's up 17 pounds from this spring! So I made that decision to finally do something about it.

Monday morning I went jogging outside---my favorite! I declined the cinnamon rolls for breakfast and the buskers and gravy, instead opting for a couple of granola type bars. (NOTE to self: find good recipes for my own bars!) I had Mexican food for lunch (sopes) and a Wendy's 1/2 pecan chicken salad for dinner. Basically I'm happy with my choices today. That's absolutely a step in the right direction!

Also, Monday morning I weighed 157.2. So tomorrow I jog again and try again to make healthier food choices.
Thanks!

Why???

I started this blog as a place to keep track of all the things I'm doing to become "Healthy".  Healthy means something different to everyone...it could be a weight goal, a physical fitness goal, a muscle goal, a food or diet goal, or even a mental health, financial or spiritual goal. For me I think the definition of health changes at different points in my life but for this blog I'm defining it as all the above. A balance of everything knowing that absolute balance is not reasonable but it can always be the goal.

Chances are, with my somewhat addictive personality I'll dive deep into one aspect or another for a time and then move on to another, then another, and back to the first.

Hoping that chronicling my voyage will help me focus and not go so overboard into one topic or another but balance me a bit. I can't imagine that my little story might actually help anyone but I do hope that through my experiences that others might be inspired.