Spring Fling Challenge - Weigh-In #7 - The FINAL weigh-in

This has been a GREAT week... I am transforming into the woman I have dreamed of becoming!

First with the good news... I am cleared to run/walk again!  On Sunday I walked 3.38miles and last night I ran/walked 2.66!  It felt so great to run again (very slowly, but with the sweat dripping and the endorphins flying!)

Second, I have to introduce you to my theme song... Ever since I heard it for the first time, I identified with it and was motivated by it.  I put it on my iPod and wouldn't you know it... it comes on right when I need to hear it during my runs/workouts, EVERY TIME... and you better believe it will be the song that I listen to as I cross the finish line of my first half marathon!  Here are the lyrics and a link to hear it...


It's Your Life - Francesca Battistelli

This is the moment
Its on the line
Which way you gonna fall?
In the middle
Between wrong and right.
But you know after all...


Chorus
It's your life whatcha gonna do?
The world is watching you.
Everyday the choices you make
say what you are and who your heart beats for.
It's an open door.
It's your life.


Are you, who you

always said you would be?

With a sinking feeling in your chest.

Always waiting for someone else to fix you.

Tell me when did you forget?

Chorus

Live the way that you believe.

This is your opportunity

to let your life

be one that lights

the way.

Chorus x2

It's your life...

It's your life...

So there you have it...

My theme song!  Pretty profound!

Eating went well again this week.  I can't believe how well this supplement is working for me.  I continue to average around 1200-1300 calories, but I am NOT hungry AND the cravings have subsided enough that when I would ordinarily emotionally/stress eat, I have the control to deal with the moment without food.  Yea!  This is the first time I can say that since starting medication almost four years ago... and it feels like FREEDOM!

So, last week, my amazing TEAM INCREDIBLE over at the Hood

moved up to fourth place...   Wonder what this week will hold?

Okay, so here are the stats:

Starting Weight

208 lbs

Today's Weight

200 lbs

Change from last week

-1.4 lb

Total Difference

8 lbs

Sooo Close! I thought this might be the week to dip below 200, but I guess I get one more week to reminisce, being that once I say goodbye, I am NEVER saying hello again!

 

Spring Fling Challenge Weigh-In #6

This has been a NEW week... with new hope, courage and a bit of frustration!

Last Wednesday I made a visit to my dear friend and sports chiropractor Steve to evaluate my leg and establish a plan for recovery and return to training.  Steve is a marathon runner himself and very insightful about training and nutrition.  Steve and I have gone back and forth on the issue of my weight over the years and at my appointment several days prior he had mentioned that I should take the next month and really "attack my diet", now that I was having so much success in training for my race.  It was mentioned in passing and I didn't give it a ton of serious thought until I landed back there with more than a muscle strain, but likely a stress fracture on my right leg.

WOW... That is a big deal... It hit me like a Mack Truck that my weight plays a huge role in my being more suseptible to injury.  200 pounds is a lot to carry around on a 5'4" medium size frame.

So, I asked Steve the question...

You have told me what to do for my leg (ice, ultrasound, rest, non-impact exercise), so what do I need to do for my diet?  (at that point there was no turning back...)

Here was his answer (after discussing what I was currently doing):

Take a supplement to help curb appetite and cravings 

Cut calories down to around 1000-1200/day

No refined sugar - fruit as my sugar source 

No carbs in the evening

Focus on small portions throughout the day - Goal to never feel hungry

Pfew... Pretty drastic huh... The wild thing for me was that I "got it" and because I have had so many successes lately proving to myself that I am strong and able to conquer "little mountains" in my life.  I felt so triumphant when I made it 6 miles and then 7.5!  7.5 miles... REALLY?  Tiffany Zook - 7.5miles!?!?! On foot?  Running for any portion?

YES I DID and WHY WOULDN'T I BE ABLE TO CONQUER THIS TOO!

So here I am, today is day 7 of my new "plan" and I feel great physically.  The supplement has helped me tremendously and I have maintained 1000-1300 calories daily.  CRAZY!

The frustration has come in being injured and the reality hitting me in the last couple of days that it will take some time to heal.... TIME - A bit difficult for those of us that are type-A and impatient.  I have just been so scared of losing major ground and truthfully, I have just really become hooked to training and am MISS it!  Who'd have thunk?

Last week, my amazing TEAM INCREDIBLE over at the Hood

maintained a top 6 finish, however we all felt the effects of Easter - every one of us either maintained or gained...   We will see what this week has brought forth!

Okay, so here are the stats:

Starting Weight

208 lbs

Today's Weight

201.4 lbs

Change from last week

-2.6 lb

Total Difference

6.6 lbs

WOOOOO HOOOO!  It felt so good to write those numbers!

 

Spring Fling Challenge Weigh-In #5

This has been an EVENTFUL, WONDERFUL and CRAZY week!

So work is settling down a bit, but this week I encountered another friend and foe...

EASTER

Easter is my favorite holiday and you would think that I would learn by now that its not a good idea to put my favorite candy and chocolate in my kids easter baskets!

Why?

Because I STEAL!!! 

Needless to say... I have eaten a few chocolate robin eggs, jelly beans and more chocolate eggs.  I also had a very nice Easter dinner / birthday celebration for my mom and brother, complete with ham and scalloped potatoes.  On the bright side, I did watch portions much better than usual and didn't over stuff myself... Yea Me! (note the sarcasm...)


The second bump this week is that I haven't been able to run since last Thursday.  I have a little injury that MAY or MAY NOT be a stress fracture.  I will know more later today and should have a plan for the coming weeks... One thing is for sure, I have NO PLANS to not complete my Half Marathon - Hopefully by running and walking, but if I have to walk every single step, I WILL FINISH!

I have been through a ton of emotion over this and yesterday, when I spoke with my Sports Chiropractor and good friend, he gave me an interesting perspective... He said, "don't be discouraged, think of this as a badge of honor... You have committed to something that most won't even attempt and you worked so hard you just broke... but we will fix you and you will be even stronger"  WOW!  First of all, thank God for great friends and encouragers, but second, what a perspective!  So I am choosing to walk forward with this perspective, wear my badge of honor and do what it takes to heal and move forward STRONGER!

Last week, my amazing TEAM INCREDIBLE over at the Hood

maintained a top 5 finish!  We will see what this week has brought forth!

Okay, so here are the stats:

Starting Weight

208 lbs

Today's Weight

204 lbs

Change from last week

+0.8 lb

Total Difference

4 lbs

*could have been worse... thankful for only 0.8...* 

 

Spring Fling Challenge Weigh-In #4

This has been a STRESSFUL week!

Remember that crazy work situation that I have been in?  Well, I made a decision a couple of weeks ago, to stay in my current position - after MUCH thought, conversation with administration and prayer....  Well, lets just say my decision wasn't the popular one - I am the only nurse in our office that has decided to stay and the others are in a heavy resentment phase.  They are not only having a hard time understanding, but they refuse to be respectful and have done much to make my life difficult.  Why does change often get ugly?  My new motto has become, "everyone just needs to get to where they are going!"  Then we can all move forward and be confident in our decisions...

Okay, venting done....

Lets just say there has been some stress, however, that has brought out great things in my exercise and running.

I ran/walked 7.44 miles this weekend!!!!!  

Again, another week that I have gone farther than ever!

and

One of the greatest benefits of all of this running has been that I HAVE DROPPED A PANT SIZE!!!  In the midst of my stress on Friday, instead of going to Dairy Queen I went shopping and was pleasantly surprised to discover A NEW SIZE!  Needless to say, I left with a new top and two new skirts!  The best part was that it was on credit at my friend's consignment shop, so I got to "stress shop" for FREE!

Last week, my amazing TEAM INCREDIBLE over at the Hood

maintained a top 5 finish despite a challenging week!  We went from almost last to almost first!  Can't wait to see what we have created this week!

Okay, so here are the stats:

Starting Weight

208 lbs

Today's Weight

203.2 lbs

Change from last week

1 lb

Total Difference

4.8 lbs

 

Spring Fling Challenge Weigh-In #4

This has been a GREAT week!

Skiing, two nights away with my hubbie to celebrate our 10 year anniversary, college basketball...  Not much more I could ask for!

AND

I ran/walked 6.12 miles!!!!!  

That is the farthest I have ever gone!  I am more and more amazed by what my body is capable of - even at 200 pounds!  I love what I am discovering about myself.

I had a very profound "Ahh Haa" moment on the slopes this week - the story is HERE.

Last week, my amazing TEAM INCREDIBLE over at the Hood

finished in 3rd place!  We went from almost last to almost first!  Can't wait to see what we have created this week!

Okay, so here are the stats:

Starting Weight

208 lbs

Today's Weight

204.2 lbs

Change from last week

1.4 lbs

Total Difference

3.8 lbs

 

Spring Fling Challenge Weigh-In #3

This post is coming a bit late, but spring break interrupted much of my normal schedule!

I am going to get right to the numbers...

I am continuing to participate with my fabulous
TEAM INCREDIBLE over at the Hood

Okay, so here are the stats:

Starting Weight
208 lbs
Today's Weight
205.6 lbs
Change from last week
1.2 lbs
Total Difference
2.4 lbs

 

Spring Fling Challenge Weigh-In #2

Overall, this was a good week.

On the exercise front, I continued my "shredding" except for the days that I am running.  That Jillian can really kick some tail... I love when she says that the pain is "fear leaving the body" - That is my new motto and let me tell you, I have released a lot of fear!  I also have been continuing with my run/walk training and I had a HUGE milestone this week....

I ran/walked FIVE MILES!!!!  

That is a first for me and the farthest I have gone yet! AND, it felt GREAT!!!!

I am more and more amazed by what I am capable of!

Now for the food front...  I am still having a difficult time.  The stress is still there, but is a bit different.  I am very close to making a decision and am MUCH more at peace.  Thank you, thank you everyone who has prayed with me for clarity - the prayers have really helped and I feel such peace...  That said, I continue to spend my days in a very stressful environment and it is like impulse for me to grab the M&M's out of the bowl five feet from me in the nurses station or to make a "comfort food" meal at home (like chicken n dumplings) or to snack at night.  It all still has a hold on me!

With all of this exercise, I can only imagine what I could release from my body and what I could transform my body into if I found more discipline with eating....

Soooooo, here is my challenge for myself this week...

I will document my calories and everything I put into my mouth on www.dailyplate.com and will report daily to my fabulous TEAM INCREDIBLE over at the Hood

 

Okay, so here are the stats:

Starting Weight
208 lbs
Today's Weight
206.8 lbs
Change from last week
0 lbs
Total Difference
1.2lbs

 

Monday Project

Its time for another Monday Project!

Here were our instructions...

“What would it be like if I just started this journey two years from now?”

Hmmmm... I am not sure I really want to think about two years from now...

These things I know for sure:

I would likely weigh more than I do now

I would be two years worth more unhappy

I would have even more sore joints and feet!

I would believe my own lies and rationalizations on a much deeper level

My boys would have difficulty believing anything I say.

I have lived the majority of my life dealing with my weight and learning about myself and what is really behind my eating.  I have "patched the symptoms" with quick fix dieting, but I have also had incredible opportunities to learn my triggers, my emotional connections to food, my habits.  My children are on to my rationalizations and more importantly I am on to my rationalizations!  I am at a pivotal time in my life.... NOW is MY time, not tomorrow and certainly NOT two years from now!

Spring Fling Challenge Weigh-In #1

I am so excited about this new challenge!  I am officially training for my first half marathon with Team in Training on TEAM SHRINK with 18 amazing women (and one man) from the Sisterhood...

This will be such and amazing opportunity for me to see just what I am made of and capable of.
That is the upside!

Now for the downside...  Life is INCREDIBLY stressful.  Life as I know it at my workplace has completely been blown to smithereens.  Two of the five physicians I work for made the decision to leave the practice January 1st and several weeks ago, the remaining three physicians announced that they, too are leaving and going to work for the other children's hospital in town - the one that I used to work for and left for very good reason.  The kicker?  They want us to come with them,  AND my current employer desperately wants me to stay to help rebuild the program.  Don't get me wrong, in this economy when many are desperate find a job, I am incredibly fortunate to literally have TWO jobs and two facilities that want me to come work for them because of the career I have created and the skills I possess.

Nevertheless, this is a very stressful decision for me to make and already I have four patients that have told me they will not make a decision to go or stay until they hear from me about my decision - basically the future of their treatment lays in my hands - NO PRESSURE!

So here I am with tremendous stress and pressure and while all of the exercise I am doing is helping me tremendously to maintain my sanity and remain somewhat calm, I am really struggling with my stress eating.  My choices of what to put in my mouth have been horrendous... Pizza, chocolate, cookies, carbs, coffee, coffee, coffee and more coffee.

I am going to trudge forward and use my team... Team Incredible to motivate and challenge me.  I refuse to be unproductive and beat myself up, so I will put one foot in front of the other, SHRED, RUN/WALK, DRINK MY WATER, and MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO EAT CONSCIOUSLY (rather than shoving every single thing in front of me into my mouth).

Here are the stats:

Starting Weight
208 lbs
Today's Weight
206.8 lbs
Change from last week
1.2 lbs
Total Difference
1.2lbs

I did a bit of "shreding" this morning and am SORE with a capital SORE.  Jillian is kicking my tail and according to her I have  A TON of fear leaving my body!