RECOVERY!!

I was discharged from the hospital on Tuesday (9/17) evening and sent home with four prescriptions:  hydrocodone/tylenol liquid for pain; cafarte to help heal my stomach; pill to reduce acid reflux; shots to help with blood clotting.  Yeah...I so did not know I was going to be expected to give myself injections.  =/

So, my mom and I dropped off the scripts to the pharmacy and then headed home for....dinner.

I did tons of research prior to being sleeved.  I became a very active member of a forum, specifically gastricsleeve.com.  This is where I discovered pretty much all the possible scenarios I faced with regard to pain, "eating", energy, etc.

Meals for the first 3 days post-op consisted of sugar free popsicles and chicken broth.  Very exciting, eh?!  I found myself not hungry, yet craving things like cream of wheat, cottage cheese, tomato soup - all things I can have in due time.  I knew that my job for these 3 days was just to focus on getting in a minimum of 64 oz in whatever sugar free, low to no calorie, caffeine free method I saw fit.  I know for a fact I fell short all 3 days, but I also know I did my best.  My mom made me some homemade chicken broth that she cooked up with carrots, celery, onion, seasonings, and chicken.  It was the best chicken broth EVER and it went down so very nicely.  Actually, I found myself enjoying my mom's chicken broth and those sugar free popsicles most as they were the only things that were easy to consume.

Sleep was a weird thing.  To be fair, sleep is always kind of a weird thing for me, but this was different.  I would take one hour cat naps here and there and then find myself unable to sleep through the night....like at all...as in I didn't sleep from the hours of 11pm to 6am.  Weird.

Oh, I did receive some flowers from some extremely thoughtful people!  Thank you so much to :  Auntie, Uncle David, Nicole, and Danielle; Linda, Craig, Ethan, and Coco; Kim and Robert!  =)

On Friday, I sent an email to my nutritionist to clarify what I would be allowed to start "eating" on Saturday which would be my 5th day post-op.  All the documents I received contradicted one another - from my NUT, from the bariatric coordinator, from the hospital's dietitian.  Oy!  She actually called me in response and asked a few questions and then told me I could actually add in protein shakes and soups starting immediately.  It probably sounds ridiculous, but I totally could have jumped for joy.

I went to get out an EAS Carb AdvantEDGE ready to drink chocolate shake from the fridge.  I drank less than half of it and put the rest back in the fridge.  It really didn't sit that well with me.  For dinner, my mom made me some Campbell's tomato soup.  This was lovely.  This was perfect.  I would have sworn it was the best meal EVER, lol (you know...just after my mom's chicken broth).

On Saturday I changed it up to make my own protein shakes using 1% lactose free milk and whatever sample packet of protein powder that suited my fancy.  This kind of protein shake went down much better, so I decided to put a hold on the ready to drink ones.

By Sunday I had started somewhat of a routine...breakfast was half of my protein shake (4 oz) and then about 3-4 hours later I would drink the second half.  Lunch would be 3-4 hours after that and typically consisted of half a cup of soup (tomato...mmmmm...yummy) and then dinner would another half a cup of soup or broth.  Basically I was consuming under 400 calories.  Shocking how much energy you can have with so little food.

I went back to work on Monday and actually felt pretty great.  I purchased this really cool inflatable chair thingy that converts into a twin bed from amazon so I can take a nap during my lunch break.  It has come in handy because Tuesday I had NO energy at all.

Chair

Bed

On Wed (9/25), I went to my first post-op doctor's appointment.  I discovered that I had lost a total of 20 lbs from my pre-op appointment on 9/4 to 9/25.  Nine of that came off post-op.  Needless to say, I am a happy girl.  No "buyer's remorse" here with my sleeve!  I also learned I could advance my foods to the next stage which is "Soft Food".  This means I can eat cottage cheese, yogurt, sugar free pudding, mashed potatoes, softly scrambled eggs, cream of wheat, etc.  This also made me happy!  In anticipation that's what I would be released to, I had a pack of grits in my purse for lunch.

So...yeah....grits may not have been the best thing to start with because they did not go down very well, in fact, they got clumped up and clogged up in my stomach and it took a good two hours for them to mosey their way down.  It didn't hurt, but it was extremely uncomfortable.  Oh...and all this was from 3 small spoonfuls of WATERY grits.

For dinner, I came up with my best idea/recipe yet.  I made a ricotta bake.  I took 1 cup of ricotta cheese and mixed it with 1 large egg, 1/2 cup of shredded parmesan cheese, two scoops of unflavored protein powder, and all kinds of seasoning.  I baked it in a ramekin for 30 minutes on 350 degrees and it came out all bubbly and smelling delicious.  I then heated up 1/4 cup of pizza sauce in a small bowl and scooped out 1/4 of the ricotta bake to put on top of it.  It tasted like I was eating stuffed shells minus the shell.  It was heavenly PLUS I calculated it to be 20 grams of protein per serving (I'm supposed to get 60-80 grams of protein per day).  This was all fine and dandy, but I only managed to get in 5 baby spoonfuls and then I was stuffed.  So....um...maybe 4 grams of protein if I'm lucky.

So, for the next month I will be experimenting with all kinds of cool recipes I create under the label of "soft foods" and I will share them on my blog!  =)

One Week Check Point

As I stated previously in my Goals - Short Term/Long Term post, I'm going to maintain accountability by posting my goals and then following up on my progress on the ol' blog.

1 week = 8 lbs lost; work-out 6 days a week for a minimum of 30 minutes/day; track all calories, water, sleep, and exercise


Let's evaluate the week, shall we?

Diet
By "diet", I mean counting my calories.  For the most part, I'm still following South Beach principles as far as food choices go, but I'm upping the ante by paying attention to specifically how much I'm putting in my body.  The biggest struggle I encountered was recognizing I needed to establish a "NET" calorie goal because the more I work out, the more I'm going to need to fuel.  I set a 1200 NET calories per day target and with the exception of eating too few calories the first two days, I did well.  I also became VERY lax over the weekend which is something I don't want to make a habit.

Exercise
I set a target of working out 6 days of the week for a minimum of 30 minutes per day.  That didn't quite happen, BUT considering I went from VERY minimal exercise to a 4-day workout, I feel pretty good about the week.  I spent 2 days walking (with incorporating a bit of running at the end of each walk) and I spent 2 days riding my exercise bike.  I managed to burn a total of 1366 calories with an average of over 40 minutes per workout.

Hydration
This is an on-going struggle.  I hit over 100 oz of water each day, BUT my target is 144 oz, so I have a lot to work out in this category.

Sleep
My goal is to hit 7 hours of sleep per night.  Out of 7 days, I hit this goal 5 nights.  Still a work in progress, but I'm getting there.

Weight loss goal = 8 pounds
Actual weight loss = 7 pounds


Thoughts:  I am pleased with the results, but I do see where improvement can be made.  As I mentioned above, I became a bit too lax over the weekend.  Even though I went to restaurants with a plan, it was easy to stick to the ordering plan, but difficult to pass up table freebies - bread, etc.

Next check point (1 month) will be on September 26th!


Off to a great start!

GOALS - SHORT TERM/LONG TERM

A wise person I know suggested that I not overwhelm myself with how "lost" I've become in my weight loss journey.  She thought it best to break my ultimate GOAL into smaller, more attainable check points.

With that in mind, I've come up with my 1 week, 1 month, 3 month, 6 month, 9 month, and 12 month check points.  Seems a lot less daunting that way.

I figured to keep myself accountable, I would go ahead and publish these check points to my blog and then follow up on my progress when appropriate.


1 week = 8 lbs lost; work-out 6 days a week for a minimum of 30 minutes/day; track all calories, water, sleep, and exercise

my fitness pal

1 month = 20 lbs lost, run/walk 4 days/week for a minimum of 45 minute; cross train 2 days/week for a minimum of 45 minutes; be able to run 2 miles non-stop (@ 14 min/mile pace); track all calories, water, sleep, and exercise; reevaluate daily calorie target




Daily Mile



3 months = 40 lbs lost, run/walk 4 days/week for a minimum of 60 minutes; cross train 2 days/week for a minimum of 60 minutes; be able to run 6 miles non-stop (@ 13:30 min/mile pace); track all calories, water, sleep, and exercise; reevaluate daily calorie target

sleep bot

6 months = 70 lbs lost; run 4 days/week for a minimum of 60 minutes;, cross train 2 days/week for a minimum of 60 minutes; be able to run 10 miles non-stop (@ 13 min/mile pace); track all calories, water, sleep, and exercise; reevaluate daily calorie target

24 Hour Fitness

9 months = 100 lbs lost (GOAL); run 4 days/week for a minimum of 60 minutes; cross train 2 days/week for a minimum of 60 minutes; be able to run a half marathon non-stop (@ 12:30 min/mile pace); track all calories, water, sleep, and exercise; reevaluate daily calorie target

The Woodlands Marathon (half for me)

12 months = maintain weight loss; begin full marathon training; run 4 days/week for a minimum of 60 minutes; cross train 2 days/week for a minimum of 60 minutes; track all calories, water, sleep, and exercise; reevaluate daily calorie target


Since I offiically got back on my wagon (for real this time) on Monday, 8/29, I will check back in on my first check point on Monday, 9/6. 

sleep, hydrate, eat, and MOVE: the plan

So you promised you wouldn't judge me and that's the only reason I'm showing this to you guys...

This year hasn't quite turned out how I had hoped so far with regards to my weight loss and fitness goals. Desperate times call for desperate measures.  No worries...I feel like I'm getting back on the right path, but let's just say some damage has been done and I've had a few set-backs, so I'm working my way back to where I once was so that progress can be made.  In the mean time...survival mode has been put into place.

Step 1 is to get sleep.  I'm getting that.  The goal is 7 to 8 hours a night.

Step 2 is to hydrate.  I'm doing that.  The goal is to drink 1 gallon of fluids a day (combo of water and Crystal Lite iced tea).

Step 3 is to eat right.  Remember the same game I discussed in an earlier post?  I like that concept and that's how I'm working my week days.  Following the South Beach diet, monitoring my calorie intake, taking cravings into consideration (I have a mad need for oatmeal and chicken salad lately) and sticking to my plan.

Step 4 is to MOVE.  I am not in the same shape I once was.  Sad, true story.  My body and my lungs are just not cooperating.  Three bouts of bronchitis in the past 3 months do not a happy, healthy Kim make.  I created a mileage plan and the goal is just to accomplish the mileage whether it be through walking, crawling running, or skipping (haha) my way to completion.
and here it is:

So, there you have it.  For the first time in a long time, I feel motivated and encouraged.  This is a good sign.  I will keep you posted on my progress!  =)

if at first I don't succeed, GET BACK ON THE WAGON!

How many times have I gotten off track on my diet plan in the past 6 months?  How many times have I had to regroup, recommit, refocus, and all that jazz?  Does it matter?  Point is, I've gotten back on the wagon.

I, like so many other peeps I know (specifically of the female gender) emotionally eat.  When I'm upset, I eat to soothe my soul.  When I'm happy, I eat in celebration.  When I'm mad, I eat to calm my inner beast.  When I'm sick or hurt, I eat to ease my pain.  There is always an excuse, it seems.

I was stressed out over the whole car purchasing thing.

Finally getting into a relationship after a year of not even dating caused me some anxiety as you can't be a 34 year old woman without some emotional baggage from past relationships that creeps in the back of your mind when getting involved in new relationships.

Work pretty much always has me in one tizzy or another.

The pain in my side held me back for almost a week.

Being sick for the past week and a half has put a dent in my training plan for my upcoming two back-to-back half marathons.  My lungs are still not where they need to be, so I haven't been able to run.  I can walk, though, so I have had to reconfigure my plan.  More on this in another post.

My point - if at first I don't succeed - I just need to GET BACK ON THE WAGON until I get it right once and for all!

I'm so sick and tired of trying again.  I know I can be successful - I've proven that.  Remember this girl:

She was me not so long ago.

I know I'm not where I want to be, though, and the only way to get there is to commit to the process - mind, body, and spirit.  I need to stay focused.  I need to remain loyal to my food plan AND combine that with an exercise (cross training) program along with my running schedule to get me to my goal.

I can do it!  I will do it!

Day 02 - In 10 Years...

In case you are not in the know, I've decided to do a 30 Day Challenge, only it won't be completed in 30 days cuz I roll down a path less traveled, yo.

I am currently on Day 02 - Where you'd like to be in 10 years.

Do you think this question would be easier answered if you were already married and/or if you had all the children you planned on having?  yes? no? maybe so?

I remember back about 9 years ago or so one of my employees asked me where I saw myself in 10 years.  I told him it was impossible to answer as I had no way of knowing if I would be single or married, if I would be childless or a mother.  He said it shouldn't matter and I begged to differ.  Hindsight being 20/20, he was right.  It shouldn't have mattered.  One can come up with a 10 year dream-self regardless of one's circumstances.  I was just a kid then and didn't know better.

The only fair way to answer this is to break up the idea of 10 years into different categories.

Love Life - Please God let me be happily married in 10 years time.

source here

Children - Assuming I am married, please let me be a mother to at least one child (but preferably three)

source here

Home - In 7 years, my first and only house will be paid off.  I kinda hope to be in a new home in 10 years time.  It doesn't have to be new-new, just new to me (the custom built one I've been designing in my head for years would be AMAZING, though...).  Of course, if I'm not married, it wouldn't make sense and I would be perfectly content staying in my then paid-off home.

source here

Work - Let's face it, if you know me at all and my work situation, you know that I'm not going anywhere.  I would just hope to have even more responsibility and to continue to grow in my skills/confidence/leadership and to better tame the beast that sometimes rears her ugly head.

source here

Health - I will still be on the right path of living a healthy life in mind, body, and spirit.  My diet will still follow the guidelines of The South Beach diet.  I will still maintain an active lifestyle - focusing on cross training and running.  Hopefully I will have multiple marathons under my belt.  I better be maintaining my goal weight!!!!

source here

Friendship - I will have maintained my supremely fantastical friendships while hopefully making some new lasting ones.

source here

The outlook is good for a happy, healthy 10 years into the future, y'all.

How's yours?

back on the happy healthy train

I know I wrote about my PLAN for the new year, but I didn't explain that I was going back AGAIN to Phase 1 of South Beach.  Are y'all getting so sick and tired of me telling you that?!  Truth be told, I kept doing it and then I kept falling off the wagon.  My commitment and focus were lacking.  I really let this whole injury thing get me down.  I hate that.  Ah well...hopefully there won't be another.  If there is, however, hopefully I can be a bit more responsible in how I handle it.  So, the point is I have a little bit of depression/holiday weight that needs some removable before I can even chip away at the rest of this extra baggage that's been keeping me company for so many years.  I decided the best way to do this was to return to old faithful with true commitment and a renewed spirit.

When I first started doing South Beach in July '09, I actually did Phase 1 for 6 weeks to really give me that jump start, though the program only calls for 2 weeks.  The difference between Phase 1 and Phase 2 is really just that there are no bread carbs and no fruit in Phase 1.  Bread carbs, in South Beach terms, consist of wheat bread, brown rice, wheat noodles, sweet potatoes, etc.  This go-around, I am going for 4 to 6 weeks on Phase 1 before moving to Phase 2.  The point of Phase 1 is to get you in control of your cravings and to detox your body.  I can already (after a solid one week) feel the difference.  I can go to the grocery store without salivating as I pass the bakery section.  I can go to a restaurant without longingly looking at menu selections I can't eat.  This, my friends, is progress.

So, what have I been eating?  Well...I typically make one or two meals a week.  For breakfast, I usually eat a green monster protein shake.  This is by no means a low calorie meal, mind you.  Since I cannot put a banana in it (no fruit, remember), I like to add a tablespoon or two of peanut butter to the mix.  My favorite protein powder is Jay Robb.  I tried to fight it because it's a bit pricier than some others, but the nutritional content and the taste can't be beat.  I take a cup of either skim milk or Blue Diamond chocolate unsweetened almond milk and put it in the blender.  I then add one scoop of my chocolate Jay Robb Whey Protein Isolate and the peanut butter.  I use the Simply Jif peanut butter because it has less sugar in it than regular peanut butter.  Next, I add in my spinach.  I don't measure...I just throw in a whole bunch.  I go ahead and blend and then I add in my 6 ice cubes or so.  I drink it on my way into work and it typically lasts me until lunch.

For lunch, I ate my pizza chili all week long.  I accompanied it with cut up colored peppers.  Did I ever tell you I don't ever eat cooked peppers?  It's true.  I hate them cooked.  I love them raw.  I buy them in the little multi colored 3 pack - red, yellow, and orange - and then I cut all 3 up and split them up into 3 baggies for lunch.  It's cheaper when you buy them in the 3 pack than when you buy them independent of one another.  I also eat either a sugar free / fat free jello pudding (my fave is the dark chocolate) OR I have one of those Carb Master yogurts from Kroger.  Now since it's the no fruit Phase, I eat the new Chai Vanilla flavor.  Yum!

For dinner, a few nights I ate egg salad (no bread, of course) accompanied by some roasted yellow squash and zucchini.  One of the nights I didn't have as much left over as the other two nights, so I accompanied it with a piece of chicken Italian sausage.  Another couple of nights, I ate a rotisserie chicken I had gotten from H.E.B. along with some veggies.  I then eat whichever I did not have for lunch - the pudding or the yogurt.

I have had 2 restaurant opportunities to choose wisely since I jumped back on this healthy happy train.  The first was last weekend at Family Lunch.  We went to Texas Roadhouse.  I ordered the grilled pork chop and for my two sides, I got the broccoli without butter or oil and the chili.  The second was at this week's Family Lunch.  We went to BJ's Brewhouse.  I ordered the bowl of chili, a side salad with no croutons and ranch dressing on the side (I do the fork dip method), and then a bowl of steamed veggies (no carrots, no butter, and no oil).

I mostly drink water, except in restaurants where I always seem to order iced tea.

This coming week's meal:  Crockpot Beef Stroganoff served over spaghetti squash - stay tuned for my recipe blog!

The Plan Part 1: Health & Fitness

A new year for most means resolutions.  Let's face it...many resolutions will be made, but not so many will see their way through the year.  It's sorta human nature.  Why?  We get bored...  We get tired...  We get lazy...  It's too hard...  We don't want it bad enough...  Take your pick.  All of the above, perhaps?

2009 started off as a year full of intentions and fizzled out turbo fast.  I somehow picked it back up in July and started on my weight loss journey losing 65 lbs by Christmas.  I also incorporated regular exercise into my life at that time, as well.  For the first time in a long time, I felt like I was on the right path.

2010 started off as a year full of continuing what I had begun in July, but with a new twist...a new challenge...RUNNING!  I managed to lose another 40 lbs, I ran my first 5K, my first 10K, my first half marathon, and many other races.  I dealt with my first two injuries, as well - first hip tendonitis for 4 months in my right hip, and then an anterior superior iliac spine avulsion (pelvic stress fracture).  I weigh less than I have since I entered into high school and with the exception of my little pelvis issue, I feel great.  I didn't maintain my weight loss goals, however.  You see, for 10 months I practiced abstinence from the foods I was not allowed to eat.  Once I started allowing the occasional treat, it was like opening the flood gates and it became harder for me to manage the diet portion of my weight loss, so I became stagnant in that arena.

2011 is the year of finishing what I started.  I will reach my weight loss goals.  I will reach my fitness goals.  They go hand-in-hand, I realize.  By weighing less, I will be a better, stronger runner.  I will once again train for a marathon (Houston Chevron 2012) and hopefully, this time, injury will not prevent me from seeing it through.  I am working on a plan.  It is not practical to go the abstinence route, but on the same token, I need to practice a little better discretion on what I choose to splurge on.

Goals =

50 to 70 lb continued weight loss (the window exists because I've never known a normal weight as an adult (well since I was 8 years old, for that matter), so I have no idea what will look good / feel good on my frame) following the South Beach Diet

minimum of 50 miles per month = 600 miles for the year (368.6 miles in 2010)

complete 4 half marathons (already picked them out cuz that's how I roll)

compete in a minimum of one race a month (yes, even in the horrid wretched summer heat)

compete in my first mini triathlon (and if I like it, do a second one)

cross train with a concentration on arms at least 2x per week

cross train with one 24 hour fitness class per week

train for 1 marathon

work towards a 36 minute 5K (previous 5K PR is 39:40)

bring my lunch to work every day (unless I have a scheduled lunch date with a friend)

There are my goals!  What are yours?

By the way...My Christmas post is totally coming...I just haven't uploaded my pics yet cuz work has been a bit nutty!

back to basics

I made a decision BEFORE I raced my half marathon that when I finished it (starting today, Monday, 10/25), I was going back to South Beach, Phase 1 for two weeks.

Question #1:  Why wait until after my half?  Well...I don't know how a lack of bread or fruit carbs is going to affect my body during intensive exercise.  I was unwilling to risk a possible negative effect on a race of that magnitude (or...a race at all, for that matter).  I am willing to risk it for a long Saturday training run.

Question #2:  Why is it necessary to take the step backward at this point in the game?  Well I've been quite stagnant in my weight loss for a LONG time now.  I've also found myself eating way more than is necessary and even eating off of my diet plan (during non special occasions) using that age old excuse that "I've earned it because of the running".  This is a dangerous game to play, by the way.  I've been having big time cravings for the sugar and more often than I care to admit, I've caved into the cravings.  I don't need to be eating that junk.  This leads me to the decision to remove the cravings which means returning to the basics.

Question #3:  How can I handle running without carbs?  Naturally carbs exist in most food that we eat, so I'm not opting to have a meal plan without carbs for a 2 week period, but rather I'm limiting where the carbs are coming from.  I can fuel before my runs with a protein shake, eggs, and/or Canadian bacon (as an example).  I can fuel during my long runs with string cheese, nut butters, and/or nuts.  I will eat veggies (which have carbs) with each meal.  I will consume dairy products (which have carbs) with each meal.  Where there is a will, my friends, there is a way.

Question #4:  Won't it be hard to go back to Phase 1 after having been on Phase 2 for well over a year?  Yes, it will be hard.  Isn't that the point?  For so long when it felt like everything else was spinning out of control in my life, I was able to control my food.  I don't feel like I have that control over my food anymore.  I'm taking back the control. 

I'm still a good 50 to 65 lbs heavier than I need to be.  I think sometimes it gets frustrating to know that I've worked hard for over a year to lose over 100 lbs just to know that isn't good enough or long enough.  I then find myself letting that frustration get the best of me.  I started a journey back on July 6th of 2009.  It was not a mission I took lightly and it is not one that I will quit.  It is a life long journey.  There will be hills, there will be valleys...I am the constant and I am strong.  I can do this.  I will do this.

Phase 1 recipes coming soon!

I run to be...

FREE!

It's true - it kicks my booty every time, the run does, but it never ceases to amaze me how freeing it feels to be able to do something I never thought was possible.  Lauren posted her weekly Workout Wednesday, Get Your Sweat On!  post asking the question how do I run?  It followed her post yesterday explaining how she started running.  Here's my story:

My friend Meliska trained for her very first marathon.  I remember being in awe of her mileage.  How could she do that?  When she actually completed the race (on 6/22/2008 in Alaska, no less), I was so proud of her - I mean there were literally tears of joy in my eyes for her accomplishment when I was sent the picture message of her proudly wearing her medal.   Could I ever do that?  No way, Jose.  BUT...it was in the back of my mind.

When I started my new healthy lifestyle back on July 6, 2009, I got the diet part down easily.  I mean there was a list of food I could eat from and a list of food I couldn't eat from...with a little bit of creativity and sometimes some gray area, I made it work and was very successful.  I exercised, too, but I wasn't really challenged.  I started off trying to do Zumba.  Zumba and I didn't get along very well.  I then headed over to the pool for some water aerobics.  I started off doing it twice a week and then moved onto three times a week.  Occasionally I would throw the elliptical machine into the mix for good measure.  Once 2010 was coming into view, I knew I wanted to change the game.   Silly me was thinking spin class initially, but apparently there was a bigger plan for me brewing.

Younger sister Linda started training for the Aramco Houston Half Marathon in July '09.  In December, I started wondering if maybe I should consider training for that very same race for '11.  I had this grand plan of running as many 1 miles as possible in January and as many 2 miles as possible in February and as many 3 miles as possible in March and...well, you get the picture.  Come December I would be running 12 miles and that would put me in perfect position to run a half marathon in January 2011.  It was just a thought...

Linda ran the Aramco Houston Half on Sunday, January 17th.  I was so extremely proud of her.  I kinda got the running bug.  Meliska kinda preyed off of this.  That's when she hit me with the Rocket's Run.  I told her there was no way.  It was a 5K on January 31st - that meant 3.1 miles.  How could I do 3.1 miles when 3 miles were reserved for March???  BUT...Meliska can be persuasive, so...I signed up and ran it with both Meliska and Lauren and...it was amazing.  I cried at my triumph!  I had no rhyme or reason to my run/walk - I would just run as much as I could, take a walk break, and then start running again.

Melissa spoke to me about using an interval method - this is what she employed and she had a PR for her Rocket's Run.  I decided to do 3/1s. 

I had The Rodeo Run in February, the HEB Bayou City Classic 10K in March and then I started thinking that maybe, just maybe I could sign up for the full marathon in January.  It was around this time that I signed up to run my first half marathon.

I did the Tomball Bunny Run in April.  This time I had a Garmin Forerunner and I had a 4/1 interval method which made for a PR - yay!  My next race was the Chicago Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon on 8/1.

Upon returning from the race, the very next weekend, I began training with Marathon Team Nam - a running group associated with a non-profit organization.  We train every Saturday.  My coach has encouraged me to drop my interval method to build my distance endurance.  This past weekend, I am proud to announce that I ran 9 miles without any walking breaks.

I have two more half marathons scheduled this year - The Houston Half on 10/24 and RunGirl 13.1 on 12/12.  My next race after that will be the Houston Chevron Full Marathon.

Now, ironically, Melissa had to take a step back from running when she found out she was preggers with Baby-D, so we were only able to do 2 races together.  We have big plans, however, for reuniting in many races to come once the baby is born and she is able to get back into the swing of things.

I've posted before about what a difference a year makes with regard to my weight.  What a difference a year makes with regard to my fitness!  I may not be anywhere near my goal weight YET.  I may not be anywhere near the speed I would like to be (total turtle right here, y'all), BUT I'm doing something I never thought possible.  It's the hardest thing I've ever done - physically, emotionally, and mentally, but I'm doing it step by step, mile by mile. 

When the run is complete, it feels like I balled up whatever was haunting me...whether it was fear, anger, sadness, loneliness...whatever...and squashed it.  For just a little while, nothing else seems to matter.  I am free of the stresses.  That's why I run.

What's the hardest thing you've ever done?
If you run, how did you start?  Why do you continue?

Check out this iPod Shuffle and iTunes giftcard Giveaway on Shut Up & Run's Blog:  http://twentysixpointtwoormore.blogspot.com/2010/10/commit-to-fit-and-ipod-giveaway.html

might Kim return to Klein?

Yes, she just might (well more like she will)...BUT more on that in just a sec...


So I cut up tons o' veggies to bring to work with me for the week when I get the munchies.  I tried to commission my mom to cut up veggies for me (I'm convinced veggies taste best when she cuts them up) and then I tried to commission my dad to be a pack mule if my commissioning of my mom worked, but somehow apparently I'm not a good commissioner (which really sucks, by the way).  Oh well...  =P

Oh and just cuz I think it's hilarious, I have to share this with you.  I'm really thinking the coaching team for my marathon training is a bit over ambitious.  I got an email the other day that was a "heads up" of sorts regarding a 5K they are strongly encouraging us all to sign up for which just so happens to be sponsored by my high school alma mater, Klein High.  This irony, is not lost on me, by the way...I mean I HATED running the mile in P.E. class - it was like the worst kind of punishment EVER and here I am going to pay money to run 3 miles.  My oh my how life has changed.  Anyway, so the cRaZy part is that the race is on Saturday, September 11th beginning at 7:30am, but my running group is scheduled to run 7 miles that day.  So....the email actually stated that it would be interesting to see how we handle racing a 5K after having run 7 miles earlier.  Dudes....how much earlier?  I mean I am SLOW, so 7 miles is gonna take me over an hour and a half and we have to make it over to the high school in enough time for the race, so what time do we have to start running the 7 and what kind of shape am I going to be in to run the 5K?  I can guarantee there will be no PR for this race!!!  BUT alas....I'm always up for a challenge and I've already started commissioning (oh wait....there is that word again...maybe I'm not so horrible at it after all) some friends to join me, so BRING IT Klein High!

If anyone else is interested in partaking in this 5K, here is the website:  http://bearkatbash.com/.  It's $25 and is a timed event with a t-shirt and after-party to boot.  Who knew Klein put on such an event?!  I surely did not. 

I hope I have time to change from my 7-miler stinky running attire to fresh running attire for the 5K.  I'm just sayin'...the crowds will thank me.

it's GOAL time...

you know...instead of SHOW time...

So, I've been thinking that I really need to shave at least 24 minutes (and 39 seconds) from my half marathon time for the next one coming up on October 24th.

How do I plan on doing that?  Well...let's see...I have a plan, of course!

First of all, I want to shed 15 lbs before my race - I feel this is TOTALLY achievable since I have 11 1/2 weeks to do it AND killah willpower AND mega motivation AND some mad skillz.  I can do this through diet and exercise.  I will be sticking with my South Beach roots all the while watching the ol' portion sizes and making sure I'm eating plenty of veggies.  As for the exercise, I will be doing a blend of running and cross training - hoping to focus on cross training in the morning and incorporate running in the evenings 3 times per week (in addition to my long run on Saturdays).

Secondly, I now have the benefit of belonging to a running group.  I really feel like this is going to give me the the support, group comraderie, and accountability that was lacking in my solo runs.  I'm turbo excited about this.

Third, I will have home-town advantage this time around.

Fourth, I will have experience behind my belt.

Finally, I am going to properly stretch before and after each activity EVERY TIME no matter what!

Having a goal is key - it keeps you on your toes mentally and physically!  What kinds of goals have you set recently and more importantly, how will you reward yourself when you reach them?

Back to Basics

For the past 7 weeks, I haven't lost any weight.  I *totally* haven't deserved to lose any, mind you.  With the exception of this past week, I didn't gain any either, so I'm pretty proud of that.  I figure I will be an expert at maintenance when I get there.  =D  So what happened in general?  Stress happened.  I stuck to my diet plan - following The South Beach diet - BUT I have definitely eaten more than my fair share of calories.  I also have relied mostly on eating out as opposed to preparing my own food because of my additional work hours and lack of energy once I am home.  So what happened this past week...well I was CARBO-LOADING for one.  haha!  Secondly, I was tremendously stressed with work and with the upcoming race, so comforting myself with food - albeit South Beach acceptably, but not in the right quantities and not the right mix (in other words not enough veggies and definitely too many carbs).  Finally...my body is strongly objecting to my half marathon.  I went for my massage yesterday, and Sarah (super massage therapist and awesome friend) reported that my legs are VERY inflamed right now - this means some water retention is going on, folks. 

So, post massage last night, I went to the grocery store and bought cucumbers, celery, a package of colored peppers, bananas, blueberries, a bag of baby spinach, grape tomatoes, avocados, 96% lean beef, greek yogurt, my Kroger brand Carb Master yogurt, and some mini Baby Bell light cheese.

During my lunch break, I will hit up Walmart for the rest of my grocery needs.

Oh, I read an article recently that discussed the importance of eating your water (versus just drinking it).  That's why veggies are so important!!!  They have tons of water in them (source here) - specifically cucumbers and tomatoes (both 97% water) and zucchini (95% water). 

Here is my meal plan for today:

Breakfast
Kroger Brand Carb Master yogurt
banana
Bobo's Oat Bar

Lunch
reduced sodium Deli-Select turkey
low carb pita
hummus
celery
cucumbers
mini Baby Bell cheese

Dinner
taco salad
    taco meat
    baby spinach
    avocado
    grape tomatoes
    black beans
    black olives
    reduced fat mexi-blend cheese
    greek yogurt
    salsa

Dessert
    blueberries

I will add back in exercise as soon as my body isn't sore...starting off with lower impact cardio like the exercise bike and the elliptical.  Full Marathon training begins on Saturday with a 3-mile run.  What's 3 miles?!  ;)

How's your eating going?  Do you write down what you eat or wing it?  Do you follow a specific diet plan? 

What a Difference a Year Makes

It's been one whole year since I started my new lifestyle - one filled with healthy eating, exercise, and boundary establishing (I haven't talked a whole lot about that last one, but I will in future posts).  I wish I had blogged back then so that you, my faithful readers, and I could really see the full transformation.  I think it's more than just physical. 

Until earlier today when Lauren posted her interview with me where I spilled all, only my closest friends and my family knew what really triggered my whole need for change.  I'm going to share it with you now.  It's quite embarrassing, really.  At younger sister Linda's wedding on March 21, 2009, my size 24 bridesmaid dress (which should have been a size 26) split open.  At the time, I blamed it on the dress getting caught on the bottom of the chair and me scooting the chair.  That part is true, mind you, but that alone didn't cause my zipper to rip the entire length of the dress.  Let's face it - it was busting at the seams because I was at my all-time heaviest weight.  This is not something I am proud of, but it is a fact.  My mom had brought a beautiful lace shawl in case my sister got cold and had left it upstairs in the bridal room, so older sister Cathy went up to get it.  Then sister-in-law April  tied the shawl just so to get me through my Maid-of-Honor speech and toast.  Afterwards, I was able to slip out, drive home, change into a different dress, and make it back to the reception - all in about 20 minutes (thank God the facility was so close to the house).  I was humiliated.  You think that would have made me jump on the wagon right then and there, but apparently I had a little more emotional downward spiraling to do before I got my act together on July 6, 2009.  Then there was no looking back.

I feel like a whole new me.  I'm doing things I never would have thought possible and I'm doing it all with a rejuvenated spirit!  Although I've lost 106 lbs, I still have another 60+ lbs to lose.  Even once those pounds are gone it will be a forever battle, but it's a battle I'm willing to fight because I never want to feel so unhealthy and so uncomfortable in my own skin ever again.  It's funny to gleefully go to doctor appointments (versus dreading them) because I know I will get a "good job" instead of a lecture.  It's awesome to know the aches and pains I have are from running or other forms of exercising and not from excessive weight on my joints and bones.  It's empowering to see the changes in my body.  It's so many different emotions...

What difference has a year made to you?

oh a little bit of this and that...

I lowered my goal weight by 25 lbs.  No worries, my little lovebugs, this 25 lbs by no means will make me too skinny.  The thing is, I have been over-weight since I've been 9, so I was trying to be fair to myself when I set my initial goal weight.  I wasn't looking to be super skinny...I was just looking to be normal...to be healthy.  I actually know that my initial goal weight would put me in a healthy category, but I realize now that I won't be happy with myself there because I know that I am capable of going further and becoming even healthier.  It's also really difficult to set something like this without really knowing what will look right / be right, you know?!  It would be one thing if I had once been a normal size, then gained weight and was just trying to get back to my fighting weight.  At this point, I'm 44.4 lbs lighter than I've ever been since high school even.  Weird, huh?! 

The scale does some super weird things.  I will go 2 or 3 weeks without any loss and then BAM! I will have a nice loss to make up for it.  I recorded my weight loss on 5/31 to be at 102.6 lbs down.  I lost absolutely nothing 6/7 and had the same problem on 6/14.  I went to weigh in on Monday, 6/21, and BAM! I had lost 3.8 lbs for a total of 106.4 lbs down.  What makes it especially odd is the fact that I felt I was a total chow hound last week (and I'm not referring to my Father's Day feast or the slice of my brother-in-law's birthday cake I ate) and I hardly got any exercise in at all as a result of a VERY stressful week at work.  I think sometimes the scale doesn't give you what you deserve when you deserve it, but eventually it comes around.  =)

For the record, although I felt I was a chow hound, I still ate within my diet plan.  I truly do feel that is the secret to my success.  No matter what the situation whether it be boredom, sadness, joy, stress, hunger, or whatever that initiates the ravenous beast within, I stick to the general guidelines.  I've recently discovered some new products (well not necessarily new to the world, but new to me) and thought I would share.  Though these might not be South Beach stamped, I read labels like nobody's business and determine whether or not things are acceptable based on other things that I know are acceptable, if that makes any sense.  Basically, not everything is black and white, so I call the gray area my interpretation of the diet.  Here are some examples:

We all know I love my Guittard extra dark chocolate chips.  They have 6 grams of sugar in them for 30 chocolate chips.   They are simply devine, but since they don't come in single servings, I have to rely on my CONTROL to stick to the 30.  Let's face it...I'm not always in control, so I don't always have these tasty little morsels in my home.  BUT, alas...a girl needs a chocolate fix from time to time.  Older sister Cathy suggested the Snickers Marathon Energy Bar.  They are only 150 calories with 11 grams of protein, 7 grams of fiber, and 9 grams of sugar.  It's a party in my mouth and has some nice nutritional info to boot.

Additionally, I discovered Bobo's Oat Bars at H.E.B.  Now H.E.B. sells them for $2.50 a piece, but if you buy them on Amazon.com, they are a little over $2.00 a piece.  There are 10 different flavors to choose from, too (apricot is my fave).  These are good for breakfast with maybe a glass of ice cold skim milk.  They are 180 calories, 3 grams of protein, 3 grams of fiber, and 9 grams of sugar.  I would liken it to a cross between a muffin and a really soft oatmeal cookie.  ***UPDATE:  apparently I need to learn to read a label correctly - the nutritional information I listed is for 1/2 the bar, not the whole bar...I apologize for the mis-information.  Let this be a lesson to us all about making sure we fully read/understand what we are putting in our mouths at all times***

The Laughing Cow came out with their new flavors recently.  I picked up the Light Queso Fresco & Chipotle and had it for lunch today spread on whole wheat sandwich thins.  It was creamy, spicy, smoky...I'd even go so far as to call it zippy.  For only 35 calories per wedge, it's a great spread on some sort of bread or even celery.  I know some people put it on potatoes (not allowed on South Beach, though), too.  The Hungry Girl also uses The Laughing Cow cheese wedges in several of her recipes.


Okay, that's all I have for you for now other than to tell you that I also seem to have a HUGE hummus problem lately.  I can't get enough of that stuff.  You know what?  If I just happened to run out of whole wheat pita, I'm pretty sure I could just grab a spoon and start digging in.  Don't judge me!  =P

100 LBS GONE, but not forgotten

In 47 weeks, I've shed 100 lbs (well 102.6 to be exact). That's 5 dress sizes (as I mentioned in my Sunday Funday blog). This means I've lost 31.25% of my body weight and that I'm just over 2/3 of the way to meeting my weight loss goal.



Here is a BEFORE picture of me. This was taken at younger sister Linda's pre-wedding Luau on March 20, 2009. I was quite the chunky monkey!

Here is an IN PROGRESS picture of me taken on May 31, 2010. Note that I did not say AFTER because I'm not done yet. =)

Big difference, huh?

How did I do it? Well if you are just tuning in, I started the South Beach diet on July 6, 2009. With the exception of the fact that I eat full fat cheese in restaurants or at parties (because God forbid I were to give up cheese when offered), I stick to the plan 24/7. I only swayed from my diet while on vacation in Playa del Carmen earlier this month - that was after 10 months of being a good little dieter...er...life style changer.

Other than that, I have incorporated a good healthy dose of exercise in my life. I started off trying a couple of Zumba classes, but alas...though an amazing workout, they kinda stressed me out since I never really could get the moves down. Next I moved onto water aerobics. I started off doing it twice a week and then moved on to three times a week. Occasionally, I would go to the gym and do the elliptical for 30 minutes, as well. Starting in January, I took up running and did a few local 5Ks and even a 10K. Now I'm training for my very first half marathon which is on August 1st in Chicago! Besides running, I've given yoga a try (and plan on going back when it works into my schedule) and I continue to workout at the gym on the elliptical and the recumbant bike. Once my half marathon has been run, my training will begin for the Houston Full Marathon (eeek)!

In my very first post, I discussed how many times I had tried and failed on the dieting front. There really is something to be said about *finally* being in that right state of mind to embark upon that journey...successfully. I was miserable with the way I looked and the way I felt. Carrying around an extra 100 lbs is no laughing matter. I still have aches and pains, mind you - but those are from intense exercise and there is a certain feeling of pride that comes from that kind of hurt.

I never ever preach about what diet plan any person should be on, it is just important to pick a HEALTHY one that works with your life style and then to be FAITHFUL to it. I specifically chose South Beach for me because I wanted something that did not require me to keep track of calories or journal my food, but that would rid this body of cravings. With the exception of that whole Chocolate Stat incident last month, it's done just that for me! It is also of great importance to just MOVE - whether it be walking around the block, taking a class at the gym, or doing an exercise DVD in the comfort of your own home.

I've been asked how I plan to celebrate this 100 lb. mark. I didn't have any specific plans...probably because I know I'm not done. Though I know I shouldn't reward myself with food, I did allow myself to indulge *slightly* on this Memorial Day. I went to lunch with my Amy. We decided to be adventurous (for us, this means we went to a restaurant we have never been to before). I had a margarita. It was amazing. The rest of the meal (fajitas, no rice, double beans) was South Beach friendly. After lunch, I went to my Meliska's house for a BBQ. There, I had a little bit of crockpot mac 'n cheese. It was just a taste, definitely not on the diet, but mmmm...it was good. Thanks to Greggy-D for that bite of heaven! Later in the day, I had a scoop of dirt cake that Greg's cousin Amanda made. She told me she made it with sugar free pudding, South Beach approved Cool Whip, reduced fat oreos, and some gummy worms. So, with the exception of the oreos and the gummy worm, it wasn't soooo bad. haha!

I guess I will just start planning my REAL reward for when I reach my goal weight - which will hopefully be by the end of the year. In the meanwhile, I will continue my healthy eating and my exercising (with a strong focus on running) and fully enjoy my increased energy and rejuvenated spirit.

I'm going for a French look.

I don't like to wear shorts. I never have, actually. It sounds cRaZy in the summer heat of Houston to avoid them, I know, BUT still...I do. I wear capris, skirts, dresses, and jeans...anything and everything, BUT no shorts. I won't even run in shorts. I run wearing uber awesome Nike capris.

I was out handling my business during my lunch break yesterday which translates to running errands (big shocker, I know) when I decided to pop my head into Old Navy. I have never been able to fit into anything they sell in that store. I've always had to buy from their on-line PLUS size catalogue. I wore a blue dress many-a-times last summer that I bought through those means. It was a 3X and fit me perfectly. I needed a new summer dress (or at least something to hold me over for now until I need the next size down), I tried on this cute little number (in the biggest size they carry, but still...) AND IT FIT and so I bought it:
So, up above I'm wearing it with a red flower in my hair and going for a French look - maybe more of a Gondolier, but hey...humor me!!!


How cool is it to finally start fitting in clothes in normal sizes?!

Sunday Funday

It was nice not to set an alarm. I just slept until I woke up...naturally...sorta. I mean Penelope has been on this 4:30 to 4:45am kick lately where she is just certain the green grass is calling her name, so we got up then. Then I flipped over a few times after that and with every flip Delilah was certain that meant she either got to eat her breakfast and/or go chase the squirrels. I nipped those dreams in the bud turbo fast. So, we slept until 8:45am. Not late by any normal person's standards, but for me...well it might as well have been 10:00am. Ahhhh....

The legs were (and still are) sore from Saturday's run, but I like it!

So here was what was on tap for Sunday:

Went to the gym for a little over an hour. Did 35 minutes on the elliptical and then 30 on the bike. Then I came home to rinse off, change into my bathing suit, grab the dogs, and head over to my parent's house. Younger sister Linda joined me. I didn't have too much time over there because of the LoSt Finale event, but more on that later!

Linda brought over her doggy, Coco, and I, of course brought over my two beasts. Since I got to the house first and my parents were nowhere to be found, I let Oliver, their pup, out of jail (their bathroom) and allowed blind Penelope and Ollie to roam the backyard with my supervision since there is a pool. After about 15 minutes and still no sign of Linda (but maybe a phone call telling me she was on her way), I locked both Penelope and Oliver up and Delilah and I went swimming. My parents have a grotto under the waterfall in their pool. There were apparently 3 frogs in the grotto and Delilah and I scared 2 of them into jumping in the pool. Delilah became obsessed with the frogs. Once Coco came over, she joined in on the crazed operation to capture the frogs. The thing about Coco is that she is perfectly content with getting on the first step in the pool, but that's where her comfort zone ends. Coco ended up in the pool twice - once having fallen from the rock waterfall while on the hunt of one of the elusive frogs. Delilah kept pawing at them and sticking her nose in the water along the edge. She, too, went head first once and then swam countless laps. Twice Coco succeeded in actually getting one - once she went so far as to physically remove it from the pool. I was so scared she killed it, but thankfully on closer inspection (Linda thought I was going to give it mouth-to-mouth, but I just wanted to flip it over right side up) it was just playing dead and after getting a false sense of security, leapt right back in the pool again. After about 30 minutes of this craziness, I finally saved the frogs by using foam noodles and putting them back in the grotto. Once I brought peace and harmony back to the oasis, my parents appeared. Apparently they had been golfing and could hear our screams from the golf course. Nice. Apparently they were not so thrilled I allowed the frogs to maintain residence in the grotto. Not so nice. =/

Here are 2 pics from their...ahem...heroic efforts. If you look closely, you can see one of the "culprits" in each picture in the water.

Next, went back home to shower and change. Fed the dogs (early) because I was going to be heading to the Fairfield area to watch the LoSt season finale at Meliska's parent's house. I left the house with enough time to stop at the Outlet Mall on my way because I wanted to pick-up some SMALLER JEANS. Yes, folks...looks like I have graduated...er...downsized from size 18 to size 16. Maybe the scale isn't showing the results as fast as I'd like, but I'd say the ol' body is definitely demonstrating the signs. This is a drop in 5 sizes in less than 11 months. How can a girl complain about that?! =)

After my very quick shopping trip, I headed to the Lost finale viewing party. Meliska's mom was so awesome and made us a brisket dinner and basically waited on us hand and foot throughout the evening. She is so sweet!!!

Thoughts on the finale - I'm still processing it. I had decided a few weeks ago that I was okay with not having answers to all my questions...what was most important to me was something else entirely and I don't want to explain it on this forum in case you haven't seen it yet. I found myself getting emotional throughout the 2 1/2 hour show last night - for several different reasons and overall, I found the whole thing to be...bittersweet.

I will also add that for the past 3 years of the 6 years the show has been running, I have joined together with my friends (Meliska, Greggy-D, Todd, Joe, and others on occasion) to watch it, so I will miss our comraderie, discussion, and confusion. I look forward to the next show we can all bond over! =)

Hope you, too, had a Sunday Funday (but maybe minus the frogs)!

7 Miles Successful and other News

So, attempt #1 at 7 miles was a fail. I was quite disappointed. I mean I felt mentally prepared for the challenge. Previously, my furthest mileage had been 6.35, so 7 was completely do-able, without a question. Around mile 2, I noticed my left knee started bothering me. Around mile 4, it was bothering me pretty badly. At mile 4.5, I decided to be a grown-up and call it quits. You see, I have had ACL surgery on both knees and something I promised myself when I first started this running journey was that I would not push knee pain unless I was in a race (think half or full marathon).

I know I did the right thing. I listened to my body. BUT still...I wanted that 7 miles under my belt. So what did I do? I iced both knees. I Bio-Freezed them. I Tiger Balm menthol patched them. I rested them and tried again on Sunday. This time I added Linda, my younger sister to the mix. Linda, as you may recall, ran the Houston Half Marathon in January. She is awesome! She is faster than me, but told me she would run with me because while I needed to get the distance down, she just wanted to put in the exercise. It worked out quite well. Might I also add what a gorgeous day it was?!

It is so awesome having my Garmin Forerunner, too. I am able to explore areas beyond the normal 1.27 path I have been running for the past 2 months now. I discovered a pond and that lengthened the path to 1.91 miles. Linda and I met an older gentleman who had just completed 9 miles when we were finishing our last 1.4 miles and he told us about an extension off the pond that would lead us to some softball fields and some good running over in that area. We decided to check that out next week.

Also, I checked my watch right when I had completed 6.2 miles (a 10K) and was delighted to discover I had taken 5 minutes off the time I clocked in the H.E.B. Bayou City Classic 10K just 2 weeks ago. My hip is doing that much better!

Oh...and I have officially graduated from 3/1s to 4/1s as Linda and I maintained 4/1s the entire 7 mile distance.

And then in other news...I passed the 90 lb weight loss mark!!! Since January, my weight loss has slowed dramatically. I blame the running. It's like my body was all, "Whoa...what are you doing to me? I'm not sure I like this...I'm checking out and I'll get back to you later." I had some weeks with no weight loss. I had other weeks with under a pound and a few scattered in there with slightly over a pound. It has been very frustrating because I (obviously) increased the intensity of my workouts (running) and I am very careful with my diet. The only thing I changed was adding more whole grain carbs in because my body needed the added fuel for the running. This should have been more than okay given the exercise regimen.

Something must have clicked last week because out of nowhere, BAM!, a 3 lb. weight loss and that was with eating out all week long in celebration of my birthday. Then this past week, BAM!, a 5.6 lb. weight loss. This is exciting because only 9.6 more pounds until I reach an even 100. I would really like to hit this milestone before I leave for my vacation on May 8th.

Lessons learned - patience is a virtue and hard work pays off (eventually).