I don't know what day it is, so I'll start again!

Alright, I hit a few bumps in the road. I'm now moving forward. I can't dwell on the past, if I do, I'll defeat my whole progress before I start.

Today, I signed up for Weight Watchers Online and I'm going to go jogging with my hubby tonight. I'm going to start at week one of the 8 week program and push through. I can't make excuses for my slacking off the past couple of months, because when I comes down to it, no one else controls me! I stopped when my dad got sick and then never picked up again...until now. So, out with the old and in with the new! Yeah me!!!

OK, so I'm starting at 251 lbs., I'm still 5 foot 6 and 1/2 (have to add the 1/2, I use to be 5 foot 7) :) I'm keeping my journal online, which is pretty cool, because you can add a recipe in and it will tell you how many points it's worth.

Also, I've found my next 5K event. Because it's so frickin hot here in AL, I picked 1 that is in Sept. (still hot, but not Africa hot) Hubby is going to do that 1 with me and then there's 1 in Dec. So we have some work to do.

So I'm on the move again, can you catch me??????


“Running is a big question mark that's there each and every day. It asks you, 'Are you going to be a wimp or are you going to be strong today?” ~~~Peter Maher

Day 83 - Still here...just had take a few days off

Ok, don't think that I've jumped off the face of the earth, I just stepped off for a week or two. It's time to get back into the race.

I had to take a week, my father has been sick. I went home to NJ to help my parents out. He has to go back into the hospital for a procedure, so just keep him in your prayers.

Back to the running thing. I'm going to start back tomorrow. Let's see how that works out. Wish me luck!

Talk to you soon

Day 67 - RumpShaker 5K is here!

This morning was a morning filled with emotions, self doubt and triumph. I completed my first 5K. The energy before the race was amazing. I really don't think that I have ever felt that.

We got up around 5am to get ready for our day, had breakfast, showered and we were out the door. We got to the RumpShaker and had just under an hour. We walked a little to warm up and did some stretching. We made our way over to the starting line and waited. I had my iPod going strong with some Duffy, Beyonce and some Christina Christina Aguilera and just waited. The weather was beautiful, you could hear the cars going overhead and you could smell Dreamland BBQ in the air. Saw a lot of different people. You had your racing for an award people, you had the middle of the road people (kind of where we were) and then you had the people there that were going to be walking it. A few minutes past 8am, we started. It was a little strange at first, we were like cattle going through a shoot and then we hit the open road. I was trying to keep a good pace. I kept trying to jog for a few moments and then a fast pace walk. We started going over this bridge and I was struggling a bit. I started to have some self doubt going on. I started telling myself, "What the F*@% are you doing? Why are you doing this?. And at that very moment, I had a mental slap in the face. I was doing this to prove to myself that I can do whatever I set my mind to do. The best t-shirt that I saw today said, "Finish what you Started". I kept saying that in my head.

The first mile marker seemed to come out of nowhere, I looked at my stop watch and it was at 14:40. I was thinking in my head, that wasn't so bad. I'm a little winded, but still, not bad. The second mile, my lungs felt like they were on fire. I swear, flames were shooting out from my chest. (FLAMES!!!) Mi chesto, el fuego! (sorry my Spanish is a little ruff).

Anyway, I think they kept moving the 2nd mile marker. The second mile was at 29:33. We make it through to mile 3, by this point, I couldn't feel my legs anymore. I think the fire that was in my chest now moved to my legs. We would jog, then walk and continue that way. So I see the 3rd mile marker, saying to myself...SWEET, I'm almost there. I looked up and saw the blue and white balloons and I knew we were almost there. That last quarter mile, we jogged, full strength. It was awesome! Just before the finish line, Hubby reached for my hand and we jogged across together. It was truly amazing! Of course, we are about 10 feet pass the finish line and I felt like I was going to throw up....No, really, I felt like I was going to throw up! You have to understand, this was a lot for me. That couch is awfully comfortable. I cried a little, just because I realized that I can change my life. I don't want to just sit there and let life go by me. I knew at that point, that I had jumped in with both feet. Final time 46 mins. 35 sec., that my unofficial time. I'll update this when I get my official time.

I know that I kid around a lot about myself and the things that I do. But this time it was different. I didn't feel out of place, I didn't feel like everyone was looking at me, I didn't tug at my t-shirt because it was a little snug. I didn't let myself stop and turn around. I fought for this one and won!!!!!

I just want to thank all of my friends and family that have supported me so far in my journey. I have made it to this point, but it's not over. Please keep supporting me and keep pushing me. To my Jillian Michaels, thanks for putting this challenge in my face. I know that you had my back, even 900 miles away. I also know that you will always have my back. You are an awesome friend and I'm lucky to have you in my life. Keep challenging me, you know that I need that kick in the ass every now and again. And finally to my Hubby, I really couldn't have done this without you there pushing, poking and jogging by my side. You didn't make me feel like I was holding you back. I'm so glad that I accomplished this with you! You have a way to make me feel so special and I thank you for that. Please keep being my rock.

Day 64 - The day has come!

This Sat. is the big day. I'm just going to get out there and have some fun! Bring it on.

Day 54 - Hit a new wall and didn't overcome it.

Let's start off with some good news. Weighed myself yesterday and I was down 6lbs. So, I'm now at 243. Almost out of the 240. Whahoo!!!

Now, about the wall....Not sure what really happened, maybe I just wasn't into it, maybe just some tired legs. Today was suppose to be my 20 min jog....let's just say that didn't happen. I struggled with the first 5 min. and couldn't make it up. I did what I could and only lasted the first 10 mins. I just didn't have it in me. I'm seriously doubting my ability to complete a 5K. I guess I just have to look at this first 5K as a starting point, right? I'll do what I can for this one and the next one, I'll push myself a little harder.

So with that being said, I have 2 weeks until the RumpShaker. My goal for the next 2weeks is to try and jog for 20 mins. We'll see what happens.

Day 52 - Jog cut short by creepy man

OK, so I'm out for my jog just now and doing my day 2 of week 4 (2, 8min jogs surrounded by 5min fast walks). As I'm heading out, I notice a man in a green mustang pulling into a driveway. He then gets out and stands there for a moment. I continue my jog (which by the way, I only had to walk 3, 10sec breaks because I couldn't do the full 8 min straight), anyway, I'm heading back doing my 5min walk when I notice this car and the guy pulling into an unfinished road in my sub-division. He gets out and puts his hood up and stands there. Now I'm about 4 houses past this road and I turn and see him start to walk in my direction. I decided not to continue my jog, because I would have had to go past him again. I pulled out my cellphone and called my hubby and left a message with his description, just in case. He might have just been heading back to the house that I saw him at in the first place, but I just didn't want to risk that.

So now, I feel half done. I'm all sweaty, I think that I was actually walking faster then I jogged. :) I guess Sunday will be my next jog. I'll let you know how I make out.

PS,
Always carry your cellphone with you and above all, if you do not feel comfortable with a situation, listen to yourself. Please be safe out there!

Day 59 - My motivational edge

For those of you who know me, you know that my nephew, Michael left this past Sat. for Afghanistan. He is a Marine and is over there defending us against our greatest evil. It's sad to me because, I still remember changing his diaper and him singing, "Bye, Bye Miss American Pie". Now he is in his 20's and doing great things for us. I have always felt that he was someone special, but I think this is the icing on the cake. So, may God and Saint Michael the Archangel, protect him and his troop from the evil that they face.

Today, I had to channel Michael, to be able to get through my jog. I started week 5which consisted of 3 (5 min) jogs surrounded by 2.5 min fast past walks. It was hard, I'm not going to lie. The first 5 mins., I had to walk for about 20 seconds towards the end and then I picked it back up to finish it. As I was walking, I started thinking of him and where/what he is doing. I looked inside myself and I realized, crap, if he can do that, then I can do this! So for my next 2 jogs, I pushed myself. It's funny, there was this kind of peace that came over me. It didn't seem to be kicking my ass. I actually seemed to be working it. It's pretty funny, that feeling after you get done your total jog. The breathlessness, the holy crap, what the hell did I just accomplish, that queen of the world feeling....There truly isn't anything like it! Just don't tell Kristin, she will never let me live that statement down.

So my motivational edge is my nephew, Michael. He is an awesome person doing amazing things! God love him!