A Little Bit Farther...

Just a little update...

I went running yesterday and I made it a little bit further!  I did 3.53 miles!  Before my furthest was the 3.2 miles of a 5k, but Josh and I have a 4 mile run on February 12th, so I need to get to 4 miles!  It's going well, although yesterday it took me a little bit longer to find my pace, but I think that is because I was on a new trail.  Thanks Jen for watching my kiddos!

I have been doing well tracking my food, and only 1 day have I gone over my calorie goal since I started on January 3rd.  (I blame Johnna, it was her birthday dinner :) or maybe the cake Jenny made!)  Lost 2 pounds so far, hoping this next week brings some more loss! 

WE DID IT!!

So today, Josh decided to run with me...and we both jogged a 5k!  I am SO proud of us!  I am so proud of him for doing this with me.  It feels really good to be able to do this together, and it is awesome knowing that this is another step together we are taking to be healthy and active. 

I am so thankful for this blog, and for all of you mentioning it to me when we talk, because it holds me accountable to follow through with this goal.  Today I ran into an old friend, Jennifer, at Panera, and it was nice to hear that she had been reading this and her encouraging words were uplifting. 
It was also great to hear the congratulations from other runners in our church family today.  Thanks Ali for giving me encouragement about building endurance, and thanks Michael B. for the hug and congratulations and encouragement to participate in the Trolley Run.  It all is very helpful in our journey, and I truly appreciate it!

So I am going to continue to train by running the 3.2 miles when I jog this next week, then I am going to have to build up to 4 miles.  Our first run on February 12th is a 4 mile run, so I gotta keep going!  :)

I DID IT!!!

I JOGGED A 5K TODAY!!!

I went to the trail down the road from our house, it's almost 3 miles round trip, so I just went a little farther to get to the 3.2 miles.  It took me 48 minutes, not to bad for my first try!  As I went along I just kept giving myself little goals, like, I'll walk when I get to the bridge or to the next corner, etc.  Then I got to the bridge and thought, I can go a little bit farther...so I did.  I kept giving myself these goals the whole way, and I made it jogging the entire way!  I couldn't even believe myself.  I was SO excited it brought tears to my eyes.  The joy I felt in my heart as I completed something that I NEVER thought I could EVER do.  I got this, I can do this, for He is the lamp unto my feet and the Light unto my path. 

This week I jogged/trained on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, then I took a rest day on Thursday.  On Friday I did Biggest Loser Weight Loss Yoga.  Then today I did the 5k on my own!  I haven't felt this good in a long time, I forgot how good exercise can make you feel. 

Before I went running today I decided to get some new music for my ipod because I got some new ear cover headphone things on clearance at Target.  I found Francesca Battistelli, and decided to download her album, Paper Heart.  One of the songs that played while I was running was "It's Your Life"  It spoke to me, that the choices I make are being watched.  In the song it says "the world is watching you"  but I thought of my children instead, and how I want so badly to show them how to be healthy and active, and it is my choice to be that for them, and I want to be that for them!
In the bridge of the song it also says, "To live the way that you believe, this is your opportunity, to let you life be one that lights the way"  It was perfect to hear, to be one that lights the way.  I hope we can all strive to be the one that lights the way for our children, as well as others. 

Such a wonderful time I had running today.  Never thought I'd say that!  :)
 The lyrics to "It's Your Life" are as follows:
This is the moment
It's on the line
Which way you gonna fall?
In the middle between
Wrong and right
But you know after all

It's you life--what you 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 you life

Are you who you always said you would be
With a sinking feeling in your chest
Always waiting on someone else to fix you?
Tell me, when did you forget?

It's your life--what you gonna do?
The world is watching you
Every day the choices you make
Say what you are and who you heart beats for
It's an open door

To live the way that you believe
This is your opportunity
To let you life be one that lights the way

It's your life--what you 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

Change in Course

So to get my training in today I decided to run during my daughters ballet class.  So instead of the flat track I have previously been running on, I was in an empty parking lot with an incline.  BUT I also had someone to run with me this time, so that helped.  I was a little apprehensive to run with someone since I haven't been doing this long, but actually it helped quite a bit to have a running buddy!  Thanks Becca!
The incline definitely kicked up the level of intensity, and my knees are killing me now!  I am making a conscious effort to try and run heel to toe because I have been told that is better for you...but every time I have run I get an AWFUL cramp in the ball of my right foot!  Any runners out there have any suggestions on how to help this? 
As the days keep passing by, I'm starting to wonder when this will get easier...because it hasn't yet!  :)
We did take advantage of the WONDERFUL weather today and we went to the park with friends.  The kids had a great time, and little O was so worn out that when we went to the grocery store afterward he laid his head down on a cereal box to rest...lol. 
If anyone has any running advice, I would really appreciate it at this point. 

5k Training - Week 2

I went out today to continue my training, and it went well!  It is still tough, but I can already tell that it is getting easier!  I just need to continue to build up my endurance.  It was tough at times, mostly I think because I am recovering from laryngitis, but I made it, no excuses! 

I did a 5 minute brisk walk warm up, then for 30 minutes I alternated jogging the straight aways and brisk walking the curves.  (We have a quarter mile loop trail around a park down the street from our house)  Then I walked 3 extra laps just to help cool down my muscles, and to burn a few extra calories. 

Our eating/diet has gone well, a few ups and downs, but I have remembered to track EVERYTHING I eat.  That is one of the most important things I learned from Weight Watchers, is to be accountable for every bite of food I put in my mouth. 

Thanks to everyone who has asked how my journey is going, and thanks to the others helping to not put temptation right in front of my face.  :)

WOW! The soreness has taken over...

Training Day 2

This week for the couch potato to 5k workout I am supposed to train 3 days, and my task is 5 min brisk walk warm up, then 60 second jog 90 second walk repeated for 20 to 30 minutes. 

Today was my second "run".  I was sore yesterday, but thought it had eased up quite a bit today.  Well as soon as I started my first 60 seconds I knew I was in for it!  I was more sore than I thought, plus I was pushing 2 kiddos in the jogging stroller!  My daughter even walk/jogged with me for a couple laps, then she gave up and played on the playground while I jogged around it.  I barely made it the 20 minutes, but I did it!  I think it was hard because of being so sore and the added weight of pushing the stroller, but I promised myself that I would make no excuses.  An added bonus was that it was 50 degrees out, so we took advantage of the beautiful weather.  :)


Our Eating Habits

Part of our commitment to run also is eating more healthy.  Tonight I made Hearty Meatless Chili, which is a recipe I got from a Weight Watchers meeting a few years ago.  I forgot how good it was, and it's less than 200 calories for 1 cup!  You should try it, I know the soy crumbles and eggplant might be a little intimidating for some, but I promise it is good!

Hearty Meatless Chili
1 tbsp olive oil
1 lrg onion, finely chopped
1 green bell pepper, seeded and diced
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced
1 (28oz.) can crushed tomatoes
1 (12oz.) pkg frozen soy crumbles
1/2 c. water
1/2 medium eggplant, unpeeled and diced
2 tsp. chipotle chili powder
2 tsp. dried oregano
1 tsp. ground cumin
1-each (15 1/2oz.) can red kidney beans and black beans, rinsed and drained

Heat the oil in pan on med-high heat, Add onion, bell pepper, garlic, and jalapeno pepper; cook stirring until softened.
Put that mixture and all remaining ingredients in crock-pot, cook on high for 3-4 hours until eggplant has softened.  YUM

My 1st Training Day

My task: Brisk five-minute warmup walk. Then alternate 60 seconds of jogging and 90 seconds of walking for a total of 20 minutes.

My Accomplishment:  I made it through the above, but I did it for a total of 33 minutes! 

I woke up this morning, and thought...ugh, I do NOT feel like getting out in the cold! (It was 30 degrees when I checked the weather)  If you know me, you know I truly dislike the cold.  When I taught preschool, my assistant Kelly would have to hear me complain all the time about how cold I was when we went out in the winter.  I seriously considered not doing it, but then I remembered...NO EXCUSES!  So I went...
I learned that I CAN do this!
I learned that I should have remembered my ipod!
I learned that I should've taken kleenex because my nose runs in the cold. :)
I learned that I need one of those ear cover headbands.
AND most important...I learned that this isn't impossible!

We signed up for our 1st run!
We are doing the Love to Run 4 Mile Run.
This is a couples run/walk, and it is on February 12th.  It is for the Head for a Cure Foundation.  We know that we most likely won't be able to run it all, but to help with our commitment, we decided to go ahead and sign up.
If you would like to check it out, or sign up yourself, the website is:  http://www.love2runkc.com/

I WILL become a runner...

"Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."

In the few years since I began my weight loss journey, I thought that maybe one day I could run.  When I weighed less it would be easier...right?  I have tried a few times to aspire to this dream of one day becoming a runner, and I continue to fail.  My husband shared with me last year when he was doing the Kansas City Fitness Magazine Weight loss Challenge that he wanted to run a 5k, and instead of embracing it and trying to run along side him, I sat on the couch.  I know it's hard to be motivated when your companion isn't alongside you, because that is what I went through much of the time I was losing weight.
This time is going to be different!  I learned that my success with Weight Watchers excelled when I began sharing my story with others, so that is what I am going to do this time.  I plan on lots of support from my friends and family...so be ready to encourage!  Taking on a new lifestyle is not easy, and some days may be easier than others, but I changed when Weight Watchers came into my life so I know that I can do it.
I plan to blog about our training, our eating, some weight loss, and all the obstacles that stand in our way of becoming runners and hopefully I can get much more inspiration from you than you do from this blog. :)  Let us have no excuses, and feel free to call us out on it if you see us making them! 
We will also post the Charity walk/run events that we will be involved in, so feel free to join us in this journey!