That's just bananas!

Dear Bananas,

I have missed you so.  I don't understand where the confusion came into play.  Perhaps I misunderstood when I read Phase 1's rules of the South Beach diet and accidentally applied them to Phase 2.  Maybe the powers that be updated the diet and came to realize you are not the enemy.  Regardless, I have withheld from eating you for well over a year and I'm sure your feelings have been hurt.  Do you have any idea how many times I have had to walk past you in the grocery store with sad, wanting eyes?  Oh...and then there have been my races...they always have you at the after race parties and I had to decline even though you would have been a perfect food choice to help replenish my body.  It's bad enough to have to walk on by the bagels and the pizza, but you, too?!

We already know that I'm quite picky where you are concerned - I wouldn't dream of eating you with any kind of noticeably brown spot or mushy tenderness present.  I would apologize, but is it not best to be up front and honest as opposed to wasteful?  Oh how I've longed to have my "grab it and go fruit" on so many occasions.  I now have so many plans for us to be reunited again soon - in fact I will be headed to the store shortly to bring home a much needed supply of you.

Just think - this is perfect timing as your kind will definitely be represented at my half marathon in two weeks from today and I will definitely be able to partake in the eating of you instead of longingly watching everyone else enjoy you!  yay!

This is going to be the rekindling of a beautiful relationship, bananas!  I owe it all to younger sister Linda and her hubby Craig for not pulling a "me" and speed reading through The South Beach book.  Instead, they noticed this very important oversight on my behalf!

Love,
KIMpossible

Update:  Just researched this a little further and found out I'm not an over-looker.  The South Beach Diet Supercharged updated the food list based on the fact they expected their diet followers to be upping their exercise.  Adding back in a medium sized banana to Phase 2 was part of the update (source here).  Ahhhh...redemption!

10-mile Amazing!

I looked up when I hit my 9 mile marker and it was a month ago.  Yikes!  Since then, I've had nothing but crap "long runs".  This translates to my longest one was 4 miles, if I'm not mistaken.  Basically, not too impressive for a girl with a half marathon hanging in the balance (her first one, to boot).  I knew no matter what I had to hit the 10 mile mark TODAY since my Chicago Rock 'n' Roll Half is officially 2 weeks from tomorrow.  Can you just feel my EEEEEEK?!?!?!

So, I brought some morning workouts back - alternating between elliptical/bike days and treadmill days.  This served four purposes - one to get my body in motion - two to get me in the habit of waking up ridiculously early - three to get the adrenaline pumping - four so that no matter what happened at work to stress me out, etc...at least I got the workout in already.

Additionally, I decided to switch out the music on my iPod.  This was a temporary change.  I can say that I prefer my Lady Gaga, Pink, and Fergie type of tunes to perk me up for the long haul, but I wouldn't have known that without having experimented today by going a bit more Zen with a more chill blend of music such as Jason Mraz, Blues Traveler, Gavin DeGraw, and Adele, for example.  I still may mix and match it though for my half - we'll see.  I also think I owe it to myself to purchase some new music to keep it fresh!

I mapped out a route in my head in my neighborhood, though I wasn't sure until I ran it how far it actually was.  It ended up being 2.58 miles which was perfect because 4 laps and I would so have that 10!  My plan was to swing back around the house after each lap to grab a drink from my cooler - Powerade Zero (in orange) and eat a couple of blocks from my Clif's Shot Blok (in orange).  I did have to stop to use the facilities at the halfway mark - UGH!  I hope to not have to do that during the race!

I also decided to do something that I kind of had to swallow my pride about.  I've been running 4/1s, but it's been a real challenge in this heat and humidity.  I decided to go back down to 3/1s today to hit my 10 miles considering all the struggling I've done lately.  Obviously it worked since I was successful...I just wish I didn't feel like I was taking a bit of a step backward, but a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do since the girl just wants to finish this race.  Once I get this very first half marathon behind me, I will have just over 2 1/2 months to see what kind of improvement I can make for The Houston Half - all the while I'll be training ideally for my first full marathon (Houston - assuming I get in the lottery draw).

Oh...and during my third lap, some neighbor lady was out watering her lawn with the hose and a spray nozzle and asked me if I wanted to be sprayed.  I had to think a second because...well...nobody has ever asked me that before and it kinda goes against anything any normal adult would do, but I was hot and sweaty and I took her up on her offer and it felt amazing.  Then she filled up a plastic cup of water for me.  I think I love her.  haha!

Did you know you can figure out how much liquid you should consume based on how much weight you lose during your run?  I read all about it in this month's issue of Runner's World and my mentor also sent me some literature on it.  You are supposed to weigh yourself naked before and after your run.  For every pound you lose, you need to rehydrate yourself with 16 oz. of fluid.  I lost 2.6 lbs during my run, so I needed to drink roughly 40 oz of fluid to replenish my body - don't worry kids...I did just that!

Well, I've taken a soak in a tub, I need to ice cuz I'm a little bit crippled at the moment.  I see a pedicure in my near future as well.  Happy trails to all you runners out there and I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

Kickin' it into gear

Since my last post, I've felt MOTIVATED!  Yes, that's with all caps for a reason, my friends!  I knew I needed to feel better about me and to feel that way, I needed to become BFFs with my morning workouts again.  Here's the deal - it isn't an easy routine to get into because it means a 4:30am wake up.  Yes, you read that correctly.  4:30am.  It's okay, though...cuz I wake up to Brad Paisley's She's Everything.  He can croon in my ear any morning...well obviously not THIS morning at 4:30am because I quickly reset the alarm to 6:10am since 5 hours of sleep was just not gonna cut it (I hung out with my buddies Meliska, Greggy-D, and Heather last night and then when I got home I had a hard time falling asleep).  Anywho...the reason I must get up so early is because I have to take a thyroid pill and that means waiting 30 minutes before I can eat and I have to eat something before I workout, so...you get the idea.

Okay...so on Monday, I ate a whole wheat bagel thin with I Can't Believe It's Not Butter spray and made my way to 24 Hour Fitness.  I did 30 minutes on the elliptical on the Glute program at a 10-intensity with a 5 minute cool-down.  Truth be told, I don't really "cool-down" on the cool-down, I actually use that 5 minutes to go in the reverse direction.  I ended up doing 3.25 miles and it felt fantastic!  Next, I headed to the recumbent bike and did the random program for 15 minutes on level 10.  I walked out of the gym empowered and thinking, "I'm back!"

On Tuesday, I had the same pre-workout breakfast.  I decided to change things up a bit and face my fear of the treadmill head on.  Prior to this day, I had only done one mile on the treadmill on two different occasions.  I hated both of them.  I decided to get over it because I needed to get some running in and it's too dark in the mornings for me to go by myself out on the pavement.  We all know I do interval running - 4 minutes of running following by 1 minute of walking.  This is easy to do on the streets and annoying to do on a treadmill.  With this in mind, I gave myself a goal of running the first mile out-right without intervalling.  Once I hit the one mile mark, I realized I still had plenty of juice in me, so I decided to hit the half way mark (1.55 miles) without walking and I did it!  Yay!  So at the 1.55 mile mark, I slowed it down and walked a minute while I drank some of my water.  From there on out, I decided to focus more on the distance than the time for the intervalling, so I set my distance at half mile increments and went from there to finish my 5K.  I finished it up, walked a half mile afterwards as a cool-down and called it a day.

Before and after both workouts, I stretched.  I also incorporated a gallon of water hydration into my routine both days - this is something new to me and something I've mentioned several times that I've struggled with tremendously.  I will say that I have had no aches and pains as I typically do post-workouts and I attribute that to my increased stretching and to finally properly hydrating.  Today is a rest day, but I will be hitting the gym hard again tomorrow. 

Be sure to check-out Lauren's weekly Workout Wednesday blog that is sure to inspire!

What is the one thing you could to today to change how you feel tomorrow?

Struggling

I want to quit, but I know I won't.  It's just that I'm so disappointed with me.  It seems I was on this really amazing path from January through April with regard to my running training and then BLAH.  I know that part of my problem is the weather - this heat and humidity is a huge drain on the system.  I know another part of my problem is that I have been dealing with huge self doubt - like I'm a total poser having no business even trying to do this whole running thing.  I know another issue is that one of the motivators has been my races - I had a race scheduled in January, February, March, and April, and then a long drop-off until my half on 8/1.  Crossing the finish line is a huge adrenaline kick that makes all the pain, sweat, and tears worth everything...the further I am from those races, the harder it is to remember that feeling of victory.  Then, of course, I've let my work-stress zap my energy.  Finally, I'm having some IT-band issues.  Sometimes, like right now, I just want to cry from the frustration.

My half marathon is in 3 weeks from today.  I don't feel ready for it at all.  When I initially registered, I had a plan and that plan included training up to 12 miles.  At this point, I've only gone up to 9.  I know the excitement of the race will kick in and get me to the finish line, but I want better than that.  I want to know that I did my best in training and I can't claim that right now.  Several weeks ago, when I met my mentor at the park, he suggested I skip out on my cross training (the elliptical and bike) and focus solely on running until I got to my race.  I know he meant well, but truth be told, this just wasn't the right path for me.  I felt stronger and more prepared each week for my long run with the cross training.  I think it is just time for me to kick it into gear for the next 2 weeks and focus on the finish line.  Here is my plan:

1.  Must have at least 7 hours of sleep each night
2.  Must work-out for 1 hour at least 3 weekday mornings - elliptical and/or bike
3.  Must run at least 3 weekday evenings - 5K
4.  Must take an Epsom Salt Bath each night before bed
5.  Must drink at least 130 oz. of water a day
6.  Must stretch before AND after each workout
7.  Must run 10 miles for my long run this coming weekend!!!

Wish me luck...I need it.

I actually won a giveaway...go figure.

Now, I don't put my name in the hat for all giveaways, mind you.  It isn't that I'm a giveaway snob...it's just that some items I've bought myself by now (Road ID, for example) and some items I've come to discover I just plain won't use (sunglasses, for example).  Stop right there, you are probably thinking...I don't use sunglasses???  No, I don't.  I don't even use them in regular world - well...to be fair, very rarely.  I'll probably have squinty wrinkles in a few years as a direct result of this.  As far as running world goes, I just can't do it.  The one time I tried, I was miserable - sweat, fog, sweaty fog...I much rather wear a hat and keep my gaze low.

I read this blog written by a runner named Beth called Shut Up and Run! I don't even remember how I happened across it, but the first blog I read of hers was all about her family participating in a 5K and it was truly hilarious - like I laughed out loud kinda funny!  So Beth recently posted a giveaway for three $10 giftcards to Subway since Subway had given her a giftcard to try their breakfast sandwiches.  I've been wanting to try one because their English Muffins are whole wheat and I can eat whole wheat, so I entered the giveaway.  I just looked at my dashboard to see what new posts were out and about and low and behold, Beth posted her Subway Giveaway winners and I discovered I won one of the three gift cards.  Yay!  Not only that, but Beth posted my win in a really awesome way:

"Kim from To Dream the Kimpossible Dream. This lady has lost 106 pounds since March 2009. I know. Talk about determination and motivation. Kim you look incredible. If you haven’t yet visited her webpage, do so. She has this really cool slideshow that takes you through her weight loss milestones."   

So, after a really very rough day at work, y'all, this made my day.  Now I'm off to bed to get my beauty sleep so that I can be refreshed and rejuvenated for a fantastic EARLY morning run tomorrow.  What made your day?  Have you won any giveaways?

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?

Movies, Mexican food, and Airport Madness

Friday...

My dad offered me a deal.  He knew we were too busy at work to have someone drop him and my mom off at the airport, so he had looked into limos and they were ridiculously expensive, so he gave me cash and told me he would pay for our family lunch on Saturday if I could get his car picked up from the airport sometime on Saturday.  I explained to him that I could get his car picked up AND manage to pay for my own meal, but he wouldn't have it.  I think he also thought that he was encouraging the family lunch tradition, but truth be told...we always do family lunch even when my parents can't be there and if you tune into my blog often, you know that my parents travel frequently.  I also pre-purchased Eclipse tickets for younger sister Linda, her hubby Craig, and I for Saturday's 2:50pm showing.

Saturday...

I got a work call that one of my helpers lost his wallet which meant he needed replacement cards (payroll and road).  Great - this meant a trip up to the office at some point either this day or before noon on Sunday.  Blech. 

It was decided family lunch would be at Los Cucos.  We picked Los Cucos because we don't get to eat family lunch there very often since our father has a self-proclaimed chip problem.  Linda and I figured we had just enough time to go to the airport to pick up our father's vehicle while Craig went back to their house to pick-up their dog, Coco and to pack since they were "vacationing" at my parent's house for the weekend.  My father had left me very specific instructions as to where we should be able to find his SUV.  Linda, it was decided, would drive it, though she was VERY uncomfortable with this notion since she doesn't drive an SUV and she doesn't ever drive to or from the airport and didn't think she could find her way back to the house or the movie theater (if we didn't have enough time to make it to the house before the movie).  I reminded her that the car had a built in GPS and then she felt better.  So, I knew we were in trouble when the one parking garage was blocked off and we were forced to enter into another one.  This was was blue and brown and we needed purple.  After touring it and paying our $2.00 for nothing, we figured out we didn't have enough time for another tour, so we headed straight for the theater.  We called Craig to discover that he apparently got sidetracked while on his mission and also wasn't going to have enough time to complete it successfully.  The difference was he decided to complete his mission regardless, so he was late to the movie.  Linda and I refused to be late.  After Eclipse, Linda and I resumed our mission and headed back to the airport.   This time, the right parking garage was open, so we were ecstatic and headed up to find my dad's car....only, we somehow ended up in the blue and brown section again.  We were confused.  We found a security guy who explained we went up the wrong ramp.  I told Linda I knew we went up the right ramp, but whatever.  So we paid another $2.00, followed his instructions (which lead us right back to where we had just ended up - saw a sign that even told us we were entering the Purple parking area) just to find ourselves back in the blue and brown section.  We paid another $2.00 and did the whole airport tour for the 4th time.  At some point, Linda wanted me to just leave her and she would walk to the alleged Purple section.  I told her I would have felt better giving her to the security guard and letting him take her to it.  She was not amused with the notion of me giving her away to a stranger.  It wasn't like I was having him hog-tie her in the back of an unmarked vehicle.  Besides...she wanted me to leave her in a plastic sectioned off construction area that looked like it was taken out of an episode of Dexter before he makes the kill.  So, then Linda had a braniac idea that we needed to go into another section and we found the Purple People eater area and my father's car.  Basically, his directions sucked.  Basically, the airport's signs were misleading.  Basically, $8.00 later plus the cost of storing my father's car for 24 hours, we were happily on our way.  Well...to be fair, Linda was not so happy because she was incredibly nervous.  I drove straight to Meliska and Greggy-D's house.  Our friend Joe was in town and came over, too.  We saw Law Abiding Citizen, which I had already seen, but didn't mind seeing again because it's that good!  Afterwards, I headed up to work to take care of getting those cards for that helper.  Blech.

Sunday...

I had such great plans for running, but I was up so late the night before and I was just plain lazy.  Linda, Craig, and I decided to go back to Los Cucos for some lunch.  Afterwards, we went to Red Box to rent movies.  We got The Graves, Sherlock Holmes, and The Triangle.  We came home and decided to watch them in that order.  The Graves was the worst movie any of us has ever seen in our entire lives.  At some point I wanted to turn it off, but Linda and Craig felt invested.  Whatever.  Right before we started Sherlock Holmes, which I had already seen, I got a work phone call.  One of my drivers didn't unhook his trailer, though I had specifically told him to do so since he was merely transporting it from one office down to the other so that another driver could leave out with it.  This driver, I knew, had taken his kids out of town for the weekend.  The driver who called me was the one who needed to leave with the trailer, so I had no choice but to go back up to work AGAIN.  I returned and let them finish Sherlock Holmes.  Then we bantered back and forth on Facebook for a while and we watched The Triangle which actually turned out to be pretty good.

Monday...

I ran.  It wasn't a great run.  My allergies have been horrible.  I, once again, started way too late in the morning and the air was way too thick with humidity.  This little IT-band issue I'm having started acting up.  I quit.  Yep...I'm a quitter.  I have 3 more Saturdays to get my act together before the big day.  Ugh.  Later that day...Linda and I grabbed a Sandwich from Lenny's (yummy) and rented Leap Year (cute, but predictable).  Linda may have struggled a bit with Delilah during the day.  You see, Delilah has great love for Linda and Linda doesn't return the love.  Well, to be fair.  Delilah has great love for anyone who doesn't return the love - her theory is that eventually you will give in and love her.  So, after the love affair, Linda headed back home and I met up with Vicki and her fam to celebrate her birthday at Alicia's.  I think I've had enough orders of double beans to hold me over for a while, y'all.  =)

Now it's back to the grind.