A Wonderful Day

On January 6 I started my own weight-loss challenge. I challenged myself to lose a pound a week, which would total 13 pounds by my birthday. Well...today is my birthday! I stepped on the scale this morning and am happy to say I have lost a total of 12.4 pounds!!!!! This is so close to my goal and I am just thrilled!!!

I went shopping this morning with some birthday money and was so happy to be buying a size smaller than before I lost the weight. It was so much fun! I will post some pics of what the kids got me as soon as I get myself organized.

The running forum that I am a member of started a biggest loser challenge 2 weeks after I started my own challenge. I joined the team challenge, which continues until May. The bad news is that tomorrow is my weigh-in day for that and I had a lovely birthday dinner and dessert tonight. :( I will have to get started working that all off....tomorrow.

Week 13 and where I have been...

I have been missing in action this past week because it was MissyMiss's birthday week, which means lots of parties!!

Here she is the day of her birthday. I appliqued a "6" on her shirt for her to wear to school. She was thrilled with it.

For her kiddie party, we rented out the local skating rink. The older kids could skate or ride their bike and the younger ones brought ride-on toys. Here is Bubby with his ride-on rocket. He had a ball!




Here is MissyMiss cruising around the rink. Daddy taught her to rollerblade last year and she is quite the pro now.




We had pizza and then the 6 dozen cupcakes that I baked. Here they are...talk about temptation! There is nothing better than homemade frosting. I had to stop myself from eating it by the spoonful.

This weekend we went to breakfast with the Easter Bunny and then had family over to celebrate her birthday.




So...it was a fun, but exhausting week. I made 6 dozen cupcakes for the party, 2 dozen for Open House at school and 2 dozen for her to bring to school on her birthday...a total of 10 dozen cupcakes in one week, all with homemade buttercream frosting.

I am fairly shocked to say that I lost .2 pounds this week. I had been planning on a gain and was very happy to see a loss, even if it was small.

My personal weight loss challenge ends on Saturday, my birthday. I had planned to lose 1 pound a week, for a total of 14 by my birthday. Right now I am at just over 11. So, while I may not reach my goal, I will have come close and be keeping at it. My biggest loser competition runs until May, so I will still be weighing in for that one.

Week 12

I only lost .1 pound this week. :( But...it is better than gaining weight!

I also hurt my back on Friday and have been dealing with that. It was feeling better Saturday morning, but I spent Saturday walking around NYC with the hubby and kids and it was pretty bad again Sunday. It seems to be a bit better today, but I am still taking it easy. I haven't run since Wednesday and it is killing me! I am trying very hard to be patient. Today it feels very tight, but at least I am walking fairly normal again.

We had a lovely trip to NYC this weekend...I will post some pics later.

This will be a very busy week for us. It is MissyMiss's birthday week and tomorrow is her kiddie party. 30+ kids at the skating rink. I have to frost 6 dozen cupcakes tonight and only do frosting from scratch, so it will likely take up my whole night. I will just have to keep myself from tasting too much frosting!

Week 11

I think that my virus helped matters this week, as far as weight loss is concerned. I am down 1.2 pounds this week. Go me!!

My running definitely suffered though. I ran Tuesday, hours before getting sick and got a great hill workout in. I took off completely Wed and Thurs and then did an easy treadmill run Friday. I headed out yesterday with a plan of 7-8 miles, but everything seemed to go wrong.

First, I got there and realized I had forgotten both my Garmin and my i-Pod...oh no! Then, I realized it was much colder and windier than I had anticipated. Once I got started, my body just felt awful...very tired and run down. So, I only did 4.5. A year or 2 ago, I would have been happy with 4.5. But, I have my sights set on a half marathon this fall, so getting my long runs up is important right now. I did 7 last week and felt awesome, so maybe my body is still not 100% after the awful bug I had.

A Before and After

I have been at this weight loss thing for 10 weeks and am at 9.4 pounds lost. My goal was to be down 10 by now...but I am pretty close.

I had planned on posting a before and after pic at 10 weeks, so here they are.

Just below is my before. It was taken in December, the week before Christmas.

Here is my current after. It was taken this past Sunday

I do notice some difference. I notice more of a difference in the way my clothing fits. I was shopping this weekend and am definitely down a size.

I showed my husband, who speaks exactly what is on his mind. He said "definitely less junk in the trunk" and "definitely less chins." Yes, he is just so very sensitive.:)

After comparing these pics, I noted a few things:

1. My hair looks better when I straighten it.

2. Eating lots of Christmas cookies may add on the pounds, but man do I look happy!

3. My kitchen looks cleaner in pictures than it does in real life..always good to know.

Overall, I am happy. I still have a ways to go though.

Week 9

This week I am down .9 pounds, which is great. My goal is 1.0, but I'll certainly take .9....close enough I figure. I had a great 6.5 mile run yesterday. I only had to wear 2 layers on top, which is a nice change. I am really looking forward to the spring...my bulbs are coming up, which means it can't be too far away!

I stopped at the sporting good store yesterday and was checking out fuel belts.

I am trying to decide between one with two smaller bottles on each side and one with a large bottle at the middle of the back. I know that I want one that has a zippered pocket where I can also fit some sport beans in. There is this one and this one.

Anyone out there try either one and have any tips for me?

Week 8 results

Well, I have some bad news and some good news. The bad news is that I gained a half a pound this week. The good news is that I am down 8 pounds overall, which averages out to 1 pound a week, which is my goal. So, I am on track to where I want to be. I just need to lose a pound this week...better kick it up a notch.

I did 6 miles yesterday outside. I had thought it was going to be a bit warmer. Luckily, I took my frustration of the .5 pound weight gain out on my run and completed the 6 miles without a problem.

After the first 4, I tried these Luna Moons.

Supposedly they are made for women. I have no idea what is special about them that they are made for women...I think it is just a marketing ploy. But, they did have a good flavor and kept the hunger away. My problem with the consistency. I had expected them to be chewy like a Gummi bear. They were VERY chewy...more like DOTS. It was actually hard to chew them and I was worried about losing a filling. When I ate them, they had been in my pocket for about 45 minutes in 30 degree temps...maybe they were frozen a bit?

I have been meaning to try the Clif Shot Bloks. Has anyone out there tried these? Are they hard to chew as well??

On another note, what does everyone think of my music? I have been thinking of taking it off? Do people find it annoying?? Please be honest...I can take it...I think.

We are getting just a little bit of snow today. It is only supposed to total an inch. My poor relatives on LI are getting 12 inches. It is supposed to warm up as the week goes on. I am hoping to get back outside for running by Wednesday.

Week 7 Update

I weighed in yesterday morning and was down 1.2 pounds from last week. So...I dropped the .8 I had gained the week before, as well as an extra .4. So...since I started on Jan 5, I am down 8.5 pounds. I am very happy with my progress.

I had planned on a long run on Sunday, but only did 4 miles. For whatever reason, I just felt exhausted and my legs felt like lead. My eyes were so heavy...I kept wondering if it is possible to fall asleep while running. So, I decided to listen to my body and cut my run short.


In good news, on Saturday we took the kids to a kids Science Museum and a good time was had by all. MissyMiss loved being able to touch and explore all of the exhibits. She was really into the educational part. There was a special section for the younger kids that had an awesome water table that Bubby loved. When I asked him what his favorite part of the museum was, he told me "big tubby".

Week 6 weigh-in and V-Day!

I got on the scale yesterday and was up .8 pounds. I am not going to worry too much, yet. I had been down more than a half a pound from last week, but had a salty lunch at the diner on Saturday. So...I am attributing the sudden increase to the salt. Hopefully the scale will start heading in the right direction. :)

On Sunday I had an AWESOME run! I did 6 miles and it was a gorgeous day. It was a bit chilly, only about 35, but the sky was bright blue and the sun was shining. I felt great at the end.


We had a nice Valentine's day! The kids were really excited.

First, on Friday night MissyMiss and I decorated some cookies. They were inspired from some adorable cookies that Rue made at Christmas time. (She has the most wonderful blog...love it!)



This is what the kids found when they woke up Sat morning. Each kid got a heart of chocolates, note pad, book and stickers. Daddy got peanut butter chocolates and some VW matchbox cars for his collection.





I took MissyMiss to a "Young Ladies Tea" at the library in the morning. They made hats, had snacks and cocoa and listened to stories. It was just adorable!




This is what we had for dinner. I think that I was most excited about it though. :)




In my rush last post, I neglected to include a picture of the adorable V-day towels my friend Beth sent. Aren't they cute? I LOVE the cupcakes!





Hope everyone had a nice day!

Week 5 Weigh-In

I got on the scale yesterday morning and am down another 1.1 pounds....yippee! That is just the loss that I was hoping for. I had a great week of workouts and had a nice 5.5 mile outdoor run yesterday. It was fairly mild (40s), but VERY windy at the start, which made it feel much colder. Luckily, by the end the wind died down and the sun started to peek through the clouds, making for a nice end to the run.

I have been mall walking at least 2 mornings a week, in addition to 3 runs and 3 cycling workouts a week. It is great because I can do it with Bubby in the stroller. I usually get to the mall about 45 min before the stores open and can get in a nice walk before it gets crowded.

The other mall walkers are mostly senior citizens and a few other moms. The moms tend to socialize, while the seniors are much more hard-core about it. They walk fast and will run you down if you should get in their way. :)

Since I have been going there regularly, I have started to recognize the regulars. One man always comes over to say hi and talks to Bubby in the stroller. He comes to the mall with a tote bag with books and crossword puzzles. I have actually known him since I started mall walking when MissyMiss was a baby.

I remember he used to always sit by himself. Most of the other seniors tend to walk and go for coffee in groups. When I saw him again this winter he was still by himself. I was talking with hubby one night over dinner and told him about it and how I wondered if the man was lonely. My husband's response was classic hubby. He said "Maybe his wife just yaps at him all day and he goes to the mall for peace and quiet." This promptly earned him a pinch on the arm. :)

No worries though...in the last few weeks I have seen him sitting and chatting with some other seniors. It used to break my heart wondering if he was shy and lonely.

Week 4 weigh-in

I have redeemed myself! I lost 1.9 pounds this week...go me! That means since Jan 5, I have lost 7 pounds...not too shabby. Only 6 to go until I reach my first goal and can buy that hat I have been wanting. :) I did have a slice of pizza and garlic knots yesterday just before the game, so I am going to have to crack down now. Hopefully the 5 mile run in the morning cancelled it out.

So...as far as my running goals for 2009, January has come to an end and I have done well with them. I had hoped to lose 4 pounds this month and was able to lose 7. I wanted to exercise 5-6 days per week and was able to exercise (run or bike) 6 days each week. I also doubled up some days and mall walked in the morning and ran or biked in the evening. Between the increased exercise and the 7 pound loss, I have felt awesome on my last few runs...very strong. I hope for just as good of a February.

I have determined that my problem is that I have a very loud and opinionated inner fat chick...I just couldn't seem to shut her up. I would see a plate of cookies and my inner runner would say "Go ahead...1 cookie is fine...sweets in moderation". But then my inner fat chick would sit on my inner runner and make her yell "Uncle" and let her have 3 more cookies. Luckily, lately my inner runner has been winning these battles.

I am hopeful that my weight loss will continue, even if it drops to just a pound a week. I hope to start racing season lean and mean. Yesterday I put on my running gear and noticed that I was already looking leaner...go me!

Week 2 Weigh-In

I did my weigh-in yesterday because I have joined a "Biggest Loser" style competition on my running forum and the weigh-in day for that is Sunday. While on the forum, we discovered that quite a few of us were interested in losing some weight. A challenge was made, and others joined in, and now we have a weight-loss competition. It officially started yesterday and runs through May.



I weighed in yesterday and I lost 1.6 pounds this week!! I am happy with that. My goal is at least 1 pound a week. When I reach my first goal (I have about 8 pounds to go), I am going to order this hat...love it!

I had an interesting run yesterday. It broke 20 degrees and the path I run on was clear, so I headed outside. I wore a lot of layers and would have been fine, but it started snowing. It was driving me crazy because the snow was hitting me in the eyes and my eyes kept tearing. But...it was still better than on the treadmill. I did 4.6 miles and felt great.

I was in our local sporting goods store and saw that Nike had some new shirts out. I had to buy these two:

I love them. Now...I would never wear the top one in a race for 2 reasons:

a. It would be rather obnoxious.

b. I am slow, so it doesn't really pertain to me at this point. :) But...I thought it would be fun to wear for my training runs.

1st Weigh-In

I got on the scale today and I lost 3.4 pounds this week!!! Now, I thought that my initial weigh-in last Monday was a bit high, so it may have been a bit of water weight from too much salt. But...the scale is definitely headed in the right direction! I was very happy with that.

I have been good this week with my eating choices. I have been trying to eat a lot more whole foods, fresh fruits and veggies and lean meats. I have an awful sweet tooth, so I would never cut out sweets all together. I have been having a small piece of chocolate every day and of course my daily "tall, non-fat, no foam, no whipped hot chocolate" at Starbucks....I just can't give it up!

I have been trying to add more activity into my day, besides my running. On Sunday I went out and did the snow blower, then we took the kids sledding, then ice-skating with MissyMiss and then 4 miles on the treadmill in the evening...by that night I was beat! I have also been doing a lot of cycling and also got back to mall walking with Bubby in the stroller. (It is great for a snowy day, but can get expensive!) All in all, it has been a good week!

I have an arrhythmia and it has been giving me some trouble during speed workouts. I went to the cardiologist and they did some further testing and I went back today for a follow-up and was given an all-clear. Unless my symptoms change, I am free to exercise as much as I want to...thank goodness!!

So...what do y'all do to add more activity into your day????

And so it begins...

I did my first official weigh-in yesterday for my weight loss goal....I have about 2 pounds more junk-in-the-trunk than I had thought. I will weigh-in each Monday and am hoping for a 1 pound loss per week.

In quilting news, I just finished a quilt for Bubby. It is a construction zone front panel with roadway fleece for the backing. I had bought the fabric quite a while ago, but got sidetracked with baby quilts and the holidays. I put the last stitch in today and gave it to him...
To say he was thrilled is an understatement. I would love that kind of reaction every time I give someone a quilt. First, he jumped up and down. Then he spread it out on the floor and ran and got his cars and lined them up on it. Then he ran circles around it cheering. It was the cutest thing I have seen. Here are some pics of him enjoying his new quilt: