I'm feeling very crummy this morning.  I drank all day and night yesterday but had a great day with my friend on her wedding day.  I saw so many people this weekend that I haven't seen for a couple years and it felt so good catching up. 

I also had to wear the dress I've been working hard to get into (and not look like a sausage in) for the last three months. 

My dress. 

Bridesmaids

Downtown with the Wedding Party

Waiting for Pizza at Flinger's

The day was a lot of fun, the bride looked beautiful and I couldn't be more happy for her and her husband.  But today, I am feeling a little slow.  I need to get up and clean, do laundry and run outside in the beautiful weather.

Last but not least, Happy Mother's Day to all the mom's out there.  The world wouldn't run properly without you!

B

Food Day Hell

I used to LIVE for food days at work.  Co workers would bring in all kinds of homemade goodies  (I don't' aknowledge the store bought stuff, that's cheating!) and we would all pig out for the day.  IT wasn't a huge deal because we all walked, lifted, unloaded and were on our feet all day.  There were a lot of calories being burned right after they went in.  Regardless, I would always go over board and bring multiple items and then continue to go over board by eating multiple servings of each and every item that was provided.  I've gotten a little better at controlling the portions but still have a difficult time resisting extras when they are brought to work.

The yummy salsa I made for Food Day.

I am at a new job now, in an office, where I SIT all day.  It's not been very forgiving to my waistline.  Making good choices especially in these social foodie situations has NOT been easy.  One day, two weeks ago, I had a really great breakfast and then walked in to donuts on the back table.  Then the following week we had a training class food day.  Today someone brought cookies.  In every single one of these situations I struggled.  So much that ALL I could focus on was the food on the back table.  I hate that when junky, terrible food is right in front of me, that is all I can think about.  I did one thing today that I didn't do the other days.  I told myself that if there were still cookies left after lunch I would have ONE small portion.  I would not think about them all morning and I would eat the healthy snacks that I brought to fuel my body.  I did JUST that.

I hate that I have to make a conscious effort to avoid food.  I wish I had the self control to look away.  I'm working on it though.  I have to remind myself that I'm not losing anything except for pounds of fat when I choose apples or carrots instead of cookies and donuts. 

 

 

Walking break at work, I love the blooming trees.

On another note, I know I've been gone for a while.  I've just been trying to get used to the new job and routine.  I've also been having a very rough time making any progress.  I've been tracking calories and exercising but have still gained weight.  The truth is, I don't think I've been trying as hard as I could have been.  I'm not going to be concerned until I know I have given 100%. I can tell you though that using My Fitness Pal and working out BEFORE work is helping.  I'll keep trying that.  Even if I don't lose more weight,  I am so much happier with the changes I've been making.  

I was not successful completing my mileage goal for April.  The day I wrote that post I immediately went out for a run.  Then I fell. HARD.  I never went to the doctor but I think I tore/sprained something in my knee.  It was swollen and bruised all the way down to my ankle for about three weeks.  I'm still having a little trouble kneeling on it (during group fitness) but other than that I think I'm on the mend. However, I have developed a fear of running on the pavement.

Last but not least I have a friend to thank.  She knows who she is.  This past weekend I went home and spent some time with my family.  On Friday night I ran into an old friend and the first thing out of her mouth was "I read your blog!"  Although I feel like I'm just rambling nonsensical thoughts a lot of the time,she told me than I inspire her.  YEP! THAT'S RIGHT.  She said that I inspired her!  That made me feel so good.  I can't really even explain it to you, but it really lit a fire under my butt to keep moving and sharing what I'm doing, even if it is disjointed and rambly at times.  

In the midst of some of the negativity that's stirred up lately, let's remember that that's why we are here.  To inspire, motivate and lift each other up. 

"Everyone has a story that makes me stronger.  I know that the work I do is important and I enjoy it, but it is nice to hear the feedback of what we do to inspire others."
~Richard Simmons

  Goodnight and Happy Running,

Mrs. B.



      

Free Fallin'

So guess what I did right after my last post?!  I ran 12 miles at once and I've already met my goal  I wish.  I motivated myself with those promises, determined to make sure they weren't empty ones, and went outside for a run.  It was my first one in a month and I didn't get very far.  I was chugging right along, One Direction was was reminding me how beautiful I was then, BAM!  I fell.  Hard.  I don't really even know what happened.  I thought it was a crack in the sidewalk but when I ran by the spot the other day, it looked normal.  I must have just tripped over my feet.  All I remember is falling to the ground and then rolling over onto my shoulder.  I know I caught myself with my knee and my hand because they were really scraped up.

I walked it off and kept going for about a half mile but then it was time to go home and get ready for work.  My knee was really sore all evening and began to swell but i didn't think much of it.  By Wednesday morning I had some major swelling and bruising.  The bruises went around the sides of my knee cap and then I started to form a large bruise from the bottom of my knee cap to the middle of my shin. I ended up resting until Friday and didn't run again until Sunday. 

 I googled lots of stuff about injuries from a high impact fall on my knee and diagnosed myself with a sprain/strain and a hematoma. I think I may have possibly bruised the bone too.  Don't laugh, you know you've all done it at some point.  I stuggled for about 2 days with whether I should go to the doctor because I couldn't bend my knee with out a lot of pain, but it got better and feels a little better every day.  The only pain I've been having is soreness if I sit for a long time it gets dull and achy. 

I am really determined to get 50 miles in this month.  Today I worked on some interval running.  I really like it because its always interesting.  I know my pace slows down a little but I like keeping my heart rate guessing.  I ran/walked for 45 minutes and went 3.5 miles on the treadmill.  It was really nice out but I REALLY prefer running on the treadmill.  Maybe if I find somewhere flat to run, I'll change my mind.  My neighborhood is WAY too hilly.  . 

The interval run went like this:

• Warm-Up 5 min at 3.5
• Run 5 min at 4.5
• Walk 2 min at 3.5
• Run 8 min at 4.5
• Walk 3 min at 3.5
• Run 5 min at 4.8
• Walk 2 min at 3.5
• Run 7 min at 4.8
• Walk 3 min at 3.5
• Run 5 min at 5.0
• Cool down 5 min at 3.0

So I kept my resting pace steady but slowly increased my running time.  I really liked how I felt after this work out so I'm going to keep trying this type of pattern for a while.  Hopefully I will increase my pace.

 I plan to run again on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.  Hopefully if I keep up the Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday pattern, I will also keep my miles up.  There is a walking/running/biking trail right by my new office and once I figure out a good place to change my clothes I may start running there after work.  It would also be great for walking on my lunch hour. 

I haven't tracked my calories and I didn't go to body pump twice last week.  Fail.

The weekend was filled with bridal shower festivities for my friend.   I ate way too much but it was a great time.

The bridesmaids and the the Bride

Punch and Cheesecake Strawberries

Pretty flowers

I also started my new job yesterday.  Its a lot more structured than my last job (meaning I'm not able to do what I want whenever I want) so I am hoping with that structure, I will be able to practice some more discipline with food and my gym schedule.  I am also working 1.5 hours less per day, so I really have NO excuse.

Goals for this week are to keep up what I am doing and STAY disciplined!  I would really like to see 198ish next week.  I have been weighing in right at 200 or 199.8.  Thats right!!! ONEderland!!!  I really don't want to get to excited about it though until I am consistently seeing a number in the 190's.

Until next time,  "Don't be the girl who fell, be the girl who got back up" ~Jenette Stanley

Happy Running!
Mrs. B

50 miles in April

It's been a while....yeah, like a whole month...

Things kinda went down hill after my 5K.  Rather than wanting to accomplish more and keep going, I gave up.  I went to the gym a couple times, but I certainly haven't held myself accountable.  

Anyway, I'm back in the game today.  I have some new motivation with a friend's wedding coming up and the mini-dress that I'm wearing.  (Seriously, my husband saw it and said "where's the rest of that dress?")    It's pretty and looks good on, but I could stand to lose about 15 more lbs.  The wedding is in 6 weeks. 

I'm also starting a NEW JOB on Monday.  I'm really ready for a fresh start professionally.  The last month at my current job hasn't really helped the fitness situation.  It's made me majorly moody, tired and depressed.  That's a totally different ball game...

With a new job comes the need for new clothes.  I've really been into LOFT lately.  The clothes are very high quality and they have sales that make them affordable.  My problem is the pants, they only carry up to 14 in the store and I DO NOT order things online that I haven't tried on.  Too much anxiety there....and I hate paying for shipping.

In order to get into size 14 LOFT pants (which are really like a 16 with their "vanity sizing"   ) and a mini-dress and look good in them, I've decided to make a few fitness goals. 

1. I'm going to run 50 miles in April.  This may not seem like a lot for some of you other runners, but since I ran 3.1 in March, I think its a pretty good goal.  That breaks down to about 12.5 miles a week.  I think I can to that.  If I run all 50 miles, I'll reward myself with $50 to buy something new.
2. I'm going to begin tracking my food again.  Starting today.  I've really lost control in that area and I think the only way to do it is to log my calories.
3. Since my new work schedule is 8 to 4:30, I'm going to be able to go to body pump TWICE a week.  I've been going once a week and I definitely feel the benefits the next day, but I think this is the push I need to get into ONEderland.

This mornings weigh in: 

I'm SO close!!!

 

I'm pretty happy with this considering the lack of self control I've had over the last month...

 With a little (No, A LOT) of self control, I think know I can do it.

Happy Running!
Mrs. B

Race Day!

I finally did it!

Warming up before the race

 Today was a fairly cold day at about 31 degrees and some light wind.  It even started to snow about 15 minutes before start time.  Once we got there, I was SO nervous about getting where I needed to go, picking up my packet and beginning the race.  Thank GAWD my sister agreed to do this with me.  She helped to ease my nerves quite a bit.  We walked around and warmed up, met our mom at the start line so that she could hold all of our crap and then it was time to start.

There were a lot of runners there but not too many that it was over whelming.  The start "gun" went off and at about the same time I could definitely feel the adrenaline pumping.  It was a little difficult picking my pace but once the crowd thinned out I was in pretty good shape.  The course was really well planned out and there were volunteers at every turn showing us where to go.  Around the end of the first mile, several people started passing me and I was getting a little discouraged.  It occurred to me that feeling sorry for myself and continuing to look back wasn't doing me any good.  I also felt a little bad about "making sure" that there were people behind me.

About 2 miles in I stopped for a quick break to catch my breath and a lady ran up behind me and encouraged me to keep going.  I nearly ran the rest of the race by her side or right behind her.  I never got to talk to her after the race but I will be forever grateful for her presence today.   The race was in a local park and the surrounding neighborhood so when I left the neighborhood and entered into the park again I was overwhelmed by the beauty of the snow and the lake. 

Miller Park

I finished the race in 39:59.  This was about 2:30 faster than my practice time.  I couldn't be happier with that accomplishment.  This probably sounds silly but Miller Park is always a part of town thats dear to my heart.  I grew up in that park, going to the zoo with my grandpa, fishing with my husband and  going to various events throughout the years.  I'm proud to live in Bloomington-Normal so chosing to run my first race here made perfect sense to me.  I loved crossing the finish line by the zoo and the pavilion.  The best part was seeing my husband, my mom and my sister as I crossed the finish line.

  In the last couple weeks, every time I imagined crossing that finish line, I thought I was going to cry.   It surprised me that I didn't.  I was extremely proud of myself but I think I was just completely overwhelmed with my surroundings that I didn't have a whole lot of time to "take it all in".  I also had a fairly negative interaction with a race volunteer at the finish line.  In the moment, it took away from being proud of what I had accomplished.  BUT, I'm choosing not to let her "steal my thunder."  Also, next time I run a race I will make a good music playlist so that I'm not distracted by Pandora and her silly music choices. 

 I DID IT!   I DID IT   I DID IT!

I'm in the red.

 The lady in pink was my encourager.  I'd like to think that she's probably a fellow fit camper.  Lady in pink, if you see this, thanks for the encouragement today!  I didn't think my husband was going to make it either, so I was really happy to see him.  He stayed with me at the Pavilion for lunch after the race. 

My husband and I after the race, eating Avanti's. 

I signed up for the couch to 5K program merely as something to keep me exercising after I stopped working out with my trainer.  It was a way to stay motivated, since that was (and remains) something especially difficult for me.  I've said this before, I never thought I would call my self a runner.  I never thought I would run a race.  In fact, I actually remember telling several people that I had NO intention of running a race at all.  Running 1 mile seemed near impossible and 3 miles...FORGET IT!  This is an accomplishment that remain one of my proudest moments.  Forever.  I really do doubt that I will run races longer than a 5k in the near future but no matter how far I take my running, my first race will be my proudest.

When I'm feeling discouraged I like to refer back to this post by one of my favorite bloggers, Mama Laughlin. Today I feel like I am finally able to say I am a Runner. 

 

 

Happy Running!
Mrs B

Duck Dynasty and Body Flow

One of my favorite new shows is Duck Dynasty.  I happened to catch the new episode last night while I was getting ready for bed.  Willie is getting ready for his high school reunion and wants to lose some weight.  So, he attends yoga with his wife.  It's really awkward for him and his dad even walks in the class and he gets a little embarrassed.  In the end, he looses some weight and is really proud of himself for trying so hard.  If any of you have taken yoga or pilates you know that from the outside it looks like a piece of cake, but that stuff is NOT easy.  Its very challenging to control your body, hold the poses and be flexible all at the same time.  I felt a lot like Willie in class tonight.  You can see his adventure Here.  Fortunately for me, my class was not taped for national television. 

This might be what I look like at Body Flow

 I've only been to a pilates class once and then tonight I tried a new class by Les Mills called BodyFlow.  Its a combination of Yoga, Pilates and Tai Chi.  From their website,  "BODYFLOW™ is the Yoga, Tai Chi, Pilates workout that builds flexibility and strength and leaves you feeling centered and calm."  

The first time I took a Pilates class I simply went because I thought it would be good to stretch for a full hour.  I'd been feeling some pain in my left hip and thought that it would help.  I'd heard that Pilates was a good cross-training workout for runners.  It certainly was, but the next day I could feel EVERY SINGLE ONE of the benefits of the class centered into my abdomen.  I was so sore, but it was a great feeling!  I was introduced to Body Flow by another instructor at the gym who teaches some of the other Les Mills classes.  I've been wanting to try it and finally made it there tonight.  At the end of the class I knew that even though I wasn't as flexible or strong as some of the others in the class, I knew I would come back to challenge myself and to see how far I could push my body next time.  I think that is my goal in all of the things that I do, but this time there was a little more emotional benefit too.  

The class ended with about 5 minutes of meditation.  I found myself in tears within 30 seconds.  I'm normally an emotional person and my first reaction to anything is tears.  Whether I'm happy, sad, angry or frustrated, there are always tears.  The instructor talked about letting things go and breathing in "good".   I was able to let a lot of negativity go, I felt a new emotional strength and I know that I really needed that to help refocus myself this week.  If you have a chance to try out Yoga, Pilates or Body Flow, do it!  If you didn't like it the first time, try it again.  

Now for your viewing pleasure, a little Throwback Thursday love.  Fall 2011, not even at my heaviest.  I'm on  the right and my mini-me sister is on the left.  What's really sad to me was right after this was taken, I thought it was a really good picture of me. 

That would be my dad photo bombing in the back...

 

 

2008

 

I'm looking more and more like the 2008 Bethany everyday.  Its not always easy, but it will be worth it.

This Saturday is the 5K I've been training for!  Wish me luck!


Happy Running,

Mrs. B.

Wild hairs and Apple Beers

Today was my first run outside since October.  My plan was to run at the gym and use the 5k setting on the treadmill.  I was kinda dreading it even though I know that I need some practice before my official race on Saturday.  I happened to look out side and since it was so sunny that I got a wild hair decided to give it a shot.  I'm so glad that I did.  I dressed appropriately and for the most part the sidewalks were clear.  I chose to run in the neighborhood next to mine since the streets were clear, its fairly even terrain, and there's very little traffic. 

Overall I had a great run.  I was working hard but I also didn't feel like I was struggling.  I ran a little slower than I do on the treadmill but it seemed SO much easier since I was GOING somewhere.  I was also running pretty blindly because I couldn't see my phone and the running app really well.  I was shocked when I stopped for a short walk break and had already gone 1.61 miles.  I felt like I had only gone about a mile.  I went a little further and then decided to head back to my apt.  I stopped right at 3.15 miles.  I wasn't exhausted but still felt that I had worked hard. 

I used the Nike running app (this was the first time for that too) and although I'd really like to post a picture of my route I'm having trouble getting a screen shot.  I liked how it showed the levels of intensity throughout my route.  I could see when I was pushing myself and when I was taking a short walk break. 

My favorite part was the accomplishments that were recorded at the end.  They were: 

• Farthest Run 3.15 Mi
• Longest Run 43:27
• Fastest 1K 7:45 (WOAH!)
• Fastest Mile 12:37 (WOAH AGAIN!)
• Fastest 5K 41:37

I'm really proud of the 1K pave and the mile pace.  Even though it was the first long run, I can't wait to continue to improve.  It also gives me a really good idea of my times for Saturday's race.

Now I'm undoing all my hard work enjoying a Shock Top Honey Crisp Apple Ale  and waiting for my husband to come home for dinner.  I wish I would have done more blogging on my vacation but lets face it, I was lazy.   Hopefully I catch up on my photo-a-day before the end of the month.

Happy Running,
Mrs B.