Day 6: Fast Sunday

It always feels so good to fast. To be so utterly aware of my body and the emptiness that accompanies a fast. A reminder of what it truely feels like to hunger and thirst.

As far as the eating that followed the fast was better then most. I will usually gorge on Sundays, as it is my "free" day. Here comes a confession: I usually kept all the good stuff to myself. Not this time. I shared everything I had with my children. That was hard. But since I'm encouraging all of us to eat healthy during the week, they too deserve a little indulgence. I didn't feel so guilty at the end of the day for eating way too much crap. I ate smaller portions due to the rationing of goods.

Since Sunday's are considered my "free" day I find it hard to stop eating. I will eat regardless of the feeling inside. I will eat and eat and eat until I feel like hurling. No joke. Today, I stopped that. When I was full, I stopped. Even though I wanted to keep going. This is another one of those bad habits that I'm trying to kick, Sunday binge day.

The ill feeling that I get after such a bad eating day usually helps me to do better during the week to. It's no fun feeling like an over stuffed pig. Not good at all.

Today was a good day.

94 days to go.

Day 5: Springville 5k

This year I ran the Springville 5k 1 minute slower then last year. Considering that I haven't been running till just about two weeks ago, I'll take it! It was a good race. Kelli was sweet and stayed right with me. She didn't sound winded and could still talk through it all. Not me. It took everything in me to keep up the pace and to finish the race strong. I didn't sprint as hard as I would have liked to either.

Now that I've run one 5k, I see so much that I want to improve. My starting time this year was faster then last year, that's one huge thing going for me. Another huge thing going for me is support from the Husband. I really wanted to run in the Freedom Festival 5k, but it's a whopping $20. I don't want to fork out that kind of money right now. When I told this to the husband, he thought I should check out other cities and their 5k's. I'm sure there are a TON to choose from, I just need to hunt them out.

At the end of the race I indulged in an ice cream bar. Hello, it was Hagan Daz. Kelli opted not to. Way to go Kelli. It was yummy. Saturdays are my big days that I struggle with the most. But I'm not going to worry so much on the weekends. I've been working super hard today. Not only did I run a 5k, but I've mowed the lawn, shoveled nasty old grass clippings from the garden, and help load the trailer that is destined for the dump. Of course, my day isn't over yet. There is still things to be done in the house.

Today was a Good Day!! I'm proud of myself for running. I forgot to mention, that I only stopped one time and that was to get a drink and it was for just a short minute or two. Big pat on the back.

It was a good day!

5 days down, 95 more to go!

Day 4: It's only Day 4

I spent most of my day at the Zoo with my Mom and the kids. We had a GREAT time. I packed good snacks: carrot sticks, water melon, home made banana muffins, dried fruit and nuts and Gardetto's(my one indulgence). For the most part, I think that was a good. The rest of the day kind of stunk. My Mom had left over wanton's from Book Club and I just had to try them. At least I had just one slice of home made pizza due to the wanton's. And I had a bowl of ice cream. But I couldn't finish it.

I keep thinking to myself, this is only Day 4. How easily I slip. But I have to keep moving forward. This is a learning process for me now. I'm learning how to make good choices while the rest of my life whirls around me. I could have made better choices, sure. And next time I will. I just think, what's a Friday night movie without ice cream? 20lbs lighter is what it is!

What to do next week when I sit down to a movie with the husband? That's right, a bowl of watermelon with a little bit of lime. A much better choice!

I took a break from running today since tomorrow I am racing. I didn't get my ipod charged up so I'll be running without it. But that's okay, I'll have Kelli with me. I hope together we can make good time!

Wish me luck.

Today a good day? I'd say 50% good.

4 days down, 96 to go!

How did you do today?

Got room for a tag-a-long?

I have decided to join Amberlyn in her quest for a 100 good days. I haven't quite decided what my "good day" will look like but hopefully by the end of writing this post, I will have it all figured out.

I have gained back about 10 pounds of the original 70 that I lost. Last summer, I was down to 163 pounds for a minute or so (really a week) but I don't really count that because I think it was some kind of fluke. When I quit Absolute, I was 174 pounds so that's the number I use to measure where I'm at. So now I'm 184 lbs and it turns out that when you are a size 14, a 10-pound weight gain means you are no longer fitting into your clothes anymore. This is when having a friend who will loan you back the clothes (plus some) you gave her when you dropped to 174 and erroneously thought you'd never gain another single pound in your life is an incredibly good thing! So amid being an almost full-time student, and some health problems, I decided like 2 months go that I would just start losing weight again. This is easier said than done. The first time I lost all that weight, it was my only focus. My day revolved around making correct food choices and making sure I was on track. Now, I feel like a circus juggler trying to keep up with school, the house, the kids, AND my weight and it's a little exhausting. I like the idea of 100 good days because it allows me to work on losing weight but not making it my entire life's focus.

I've had my ups and my downs this week and I think that's because I haven't really put anything down on paper so I'm going to take the weekend and decide what exactly my "good days" are going to look like. Then I will post again Sunday night or Monday morning. Amberlyn and I are checking in at the end of each day so this way I can have actual declarations to check in about instead of just reporting vaguely that I had a "good day". I'm hoping my efforts to post and be accountable will also help encourage Amberlyn-- we have different strengths-- she loves to exercise and I hate it-- I'd rather change my diet than commit to an exercise regime. I have a feeling though that the biggest key to me keeping my status as a reformed heifer (reformed being the key word) is the application of daily exercise in addition to healthy eating. I know that seems like an obvious key but since I lost the 70 pounds without exercising, I really did think I could keep doing that. But the sad truth is that when you are 184 instead of 240 then you don't think eating a treat or bread or pasta is really that big of deal-- you think you've kind of earned the right. So now, I'm vowing to shed my sense of entitlement and get ready to work again!

Thanks for the motivation Amberlyn! I know we can do this!

Day 3: Rough Day

That's all this day has been: ROUGH!! I don't think it's just been today. It's been since school has gotten out. Nothing is going right. Okay, that's an exaggeration. There are a few good things going on in my life.

I had a melt down in front of the husband today. I told him I wasn't happy. He asked me why and I gave him a two word answer, "My Weight." He got so frustrated with me. Who says I need to get down to a certain number or size, he inquired. I'm once again losing sight of the personal revelations I recieved just a few short months ago. I need to be focusing on my children and my relationships with each of them. If I happen to lose 20lbs I would still be unhappy because my relationship with my children wouldn't have improved. But I refuse to let myself go. I refuse to continue with bad habits.

I am still on a Quest for 100 good days. But not to lose weight. To help me break bad habits. My main focus still needs to be on my children. I still have to learn how to take care of myself while caring for others. I know it's possible.

Considering the type of day I've had, it's been a good day. I still never indulged in chocolate, or cookies or ice cream. And that my friends, is a good day.

Day 2: I was Runn'n

I had no desire what so ever to do any kind of running this summer. There were so many other things that I had to wrap my brain around that running just wasn't on the top of the todem pole. Until my sis-in-law asked me if I was going to run any races. I didn't have the heart to tell her no, and so I ended up signing up for the Springville Nestle 5k. I really enjoyed running this race last year. I know it's going to be hard. I haven't been running since March like was last year. I figure I'm a fare weather runner. I'm not a die hard who can train inside on a treadmill. I loath running on a treadmill. I can't stand running in the cold either. As soon as that snow melts, and the world begins to turn green, the itch to run starts. Except, not this year.



I'm glad that my sis-in-law asked me. It's got me going again. It's good to have goals and races to push me to be better, to run faster, and to get healthy. I will probably run 2 other races this year. A 10k is OUT!! No desire to do that. Maybe next year when I'm 20lbs lighter. Cause I WILL be 20lbs lighter. 6 miles is just too much for my heavy body. I hope to run in the Freedom Festival 5k, that race is FUN! The last one will be here in Spanish Fork. They have a Half Marathon and 5k in September. I was going to run that on last year but I ran out of steam. I tend to do that. It seems to be a theme with me. One that must change. I need to start finishing strong.



Yesterday I ran for what I thought was 3 miles straight. Until I mapped it online. And they told me it was only 2 miles. What ever. I don't think that was right. I'm trying not to let that discourage me. Today instead of running I went on a really long fast walk. I was gone for a good 50 minutes. My plan is to run again tomorrow, take a break on Friday and run my guts out on Saturday. I've never really pushed myself in races before. I think I will this time and hope not to injure myself. I will be running with my sis-in-law whose easily 50lbs lighter then me. She claims she's not that fast. But she does have a HUGE advantage over me! Her weight. I hope to keep up with her.



Now that I've started running again, it feels good. It's really an accomplishing feeling to run and run and run(okay, I don't run I jog slowly but you get my drift) and realize that you feel good during it and can push yourself to another level. I hope as my good days stalk up, that my running will improve as well.



Exercise:

30 minutes p90x, biceps and back

50 minutes fast walk



Nutrition:

Breakfast

1 yogurt (160)

1 toast(140)



snack:

protien bar(180)



lunch:

tuna sandwich (380)

1/2 orange(30)(1321 left)

snack:
bugles, ugh-a-bug!!!

dinner:
2 cups home made chili
1 tbl sour cream
1 tbl cheese
5 chips

snack:
watermelon with lime!

Dang those bugles! It was a stressful afternoon. I had about 10 extra kids at my house coming in an out in and out. Hunger snuck up on me and I snacked on what the kids were snacking on. At least I stopped when I knew I should. I didn't keep indulging and that was a good choice.

In the evening hunger came strong again. I usually go for something sweet like ice cream. Luckily today I bought a watermelon, and even more lucky it ended up being sweet and juicy. I love to eat it with lime. You should try it.

2 days down, 98 to go

100 Good Days: Day 1

Today I begin my quest for 100 good days. My friend Melissa always told me that I needed to have 100 good days to make a difference. My goal is to have 100 good days of eating and exercise. Most of you know that I don't struggle with the exercise. My struggle comes with the nutrition. In an effort to find success with nutrition I am involving my whole family in this process. We all will snack on fruits and veggies, we all are going to eat a portion of vegetables at lunch and dinner, we all are going to cut out sweets except for on Sundays. I can't do this on my own. I'm hoping to teach my children good habits while I try to break a few bad ones.



100 Good Days Exercise Goals:
1.1 hr p90x in the early morning hours with Hubs.
2. Running in late morning, trying to train for 5ks
3. Walk in the evenings just because it's good for me.



100 Good Days Nutrition Goals:
1. Eat 5-6 small meals a day
2. Portion of Protien and a Portion of Carb at each meal
3. Add a Portion of Vegetables to Lunch and Dinner
4. Drink SLIM before Lunch and Dinner
5. Drink 2 cups of water with each meal
6. Eat Sweets just on Sunday
7. Eat between 1400-1600 calories a day

Maintance Goals
1. Read scriptures every day for 20 minutes
2. Pray morning and night
3. Write my feelings in a journal, or this blog



I'm not asking to have 100 perfect days, just 100 GOOD days. If I mess up, I'm not going to give up, throw in the towel, pull my hair out, or eat away my dissapointment. This 100 good days will come to fruition. IT WILL!!



This morning I woke up at 5:30am and did plyometrics with Husband. At 7am I went for a run and actually surprised myself by jogging at least 2.5 miles, without stopping. I would love to go on a walk this evening and hope to fit it in somewhere.



breakfast(300):
1/2 cup oatmeal
1/4 cup blueberries
3 tsp sugar
2 tsp butter

snack(260):
protien bar

lunch(330):
tuna sandwich with carrot sticks

snack(260):
protien bar

dinner(500):
pb&j sandwich, beans