The Good...

What have I been up the last several months?

The Good . . .
We've opened our own business and so far, I'd consider it a huge blessing and a success. I have been playing softball at least 4 nights a week. So, I am active. I'm having fun. Despite reinjuring my ankle, I've completed a few runs, Wharf to Wharf and my first Half Marathon at Nike Women's Marathon. Both events were a blast!



July 24, 2011. Zumara and I at the start line for Wharf to Wharf, a 6 mile road race with 15,000 runners plus massive amounts of people enjoying the party atmosphere and scenic views of Santa Cruz, Capitola and the Pacific Ocean.

October 16, 2011 - Nike Women's Marathon 13.1 half marathon finisher! Celebrating my finish in the finiser's area in front of the I run to be sign...

The Bad . . .

Other than softball, I haven't exercised regularly. I have a TON of excuses. But I realize they are just that, excuses. My schedule, my re-injured ankle, my fear of re-re-injuring myself, exhaustion, work, lack of motivation and on and on. Bottom line is, they are all excuses and they are all bad. Some of course, more ligitatmat then others but still...

Yeah, I know I told you I just completed two really big races and goals of mine this summer. I did FINISH them. One foot in front of the other, I moved my body for the 6 mile journey between Capitola and Santa Cruz and Ienjoyed every minute of it. However, notice I said moved my body. I did not say run. I ran maybe only 2 of the 6 miles. This was primarily due to injury. I re-injured my ankle running approximately 2 weeks before Wharf to Wharf. I'm glad I'm glad I participated, I'm glad I finished. But I can not claim that I RAN the entire 6 miles.

Let me get this out now. I'm a brand snob. I don't mean to be necessarily but you throw a Nike logo on something and I immediately think it's gonna make me run faster, jump harder, swim farther, and JUST DO IT better, then without the logo. HaHA corney, I know. So for me, The Nike Women's Marathon (NWM) was sort of an "Ultimate Dream Race" to me. Only in my dreams did I think I would have been chosen or had the opportunity to run in Nike. My Weak ankles (READ EXCUSES) made it very difficult to train or want to run. Other than around the bases at softball, I did not run from July until NWM. Bad choice. The vistas were phenomenal and the overall experience was good. There are some things I have to be truthful about. I ran walked the first 5-6 miles. My running pace was slow. I finished in just under 4 hours (literally, seconds under 4 hours). But I moved my body 13.1 miles and FINISHED! Which is more than I can say I would have done 2 years ago.

The Ugly...

Excercise isn't the only way to lose weight. We all know diet is the most important factor in weight loss. If you eat healthy good portions and watch your calories you will lose weight. The fact is, I struggle to do that. Most over weight people do. With that, I can really do well with my eating when I'm exercising. The sad fact of the matter is, when I'm not exercising, I don't watch what I eat.... BIG Mistake.

Along with that, I know I've gained weight. I haven't steped on a scale and to be honest I'm not ready to. I can still fit into my clothes but they don't look the same on me, and some really just don't "fit" even though I can get my body in them. That much junk should not be in the trunk, if you you know what I mean. ;-) I'm pretty sure my body could no longer fit into ANY size 10. I'm definately pushing a 12/14 (again) and dreading buying clothes.

Apparently, I've gained so much that my husband seen this picture taken in January...

And he did not RECOGNIZE me! He asked WHO it was? Shocking, I know. The man I have been with for nearly 12 years DID not recognize me in a pic that was 10 months old. Yeah, 10 month off = no GOOD for the body. He is pretty much beggining me to go back to the gym. Not for the physical benefits but for the health factor and mental benefits to our relationship, my self and our family.

So, now that I've confessed all of my sins: the Good, the Bad and the Ugly. Get ready for the days ahead. The good news is, it gets better, Folk's!

Big FAT liar

It's that time again, time to renew my drivers license. I didn't get the form in the mail and so I had to go down to DMV. Luckily, wait time wasn't too bad. But I had to fill out the dreaded form, you know the one that asks all your personal info: name, address, height, weight, etc. While, I know how much I weigh, I didn't really know what to put on my ID. I thought about it for a while. My last ID said I weighed 180lbs and honestly, one of my goals was to actually weigh 180lbs while the license was still valid. I'm so so close but not in the 180's yet. Bummer.
So with my new license, I thought should I put my current weight, should I put 180, or something else? After long though, I decided to put one of my goal weights 165. Yeah, I realize I'm still in the 190's but honestly I know I don't look 190 lbs anymore. 165 is really close to my goal weight and I think might be realistic for me to attain. Plus, it's doesn't sound obese to me for my frame. I think it might be my body's natural weight as it's close to what I weighed before kids. I didn't want to live with my current weight on my ID for the next 5 years. I don't plan on being at this weight next month let alone 5 years from now. So I thought if I'm going to keep this for 5 years, in 5 years from now and today what would be a weight I would be happy looking at and might seem not too unrealistic. 165 is where I settled. So yeah, I might be a big fat liar for now, but soon I hope to be 165.

Today, I did 45 minutes of zumba and 60 mins of cycle at the gym. I hope to get some running and swimming in tonight :)

Cheating and the big bet

As I sat down at Farmer Boys for dinner last night, slurping my raspberry tea I got to thinking. A lot of my old habbits are back. We've eaten out every night this week. Not only that, but I've noticed I've ordered a drink instead of just having water. I've eaten whatever I want and finished just about all of my food. Until I was stuffed - and I mean stuffed full. How did this start? How did I get so off track? Little by little, I started cheating. I started wanting to eat more normal. Then, I ate a little bit more or tried something else, I haven't had in a while. I'm still exercising like crazy, so I haven't gained weight back but I am not living the healthy lifestyle I should be. Why? I noticed I've been feeling like I always eat the same thing, tired of salad - wanting more variety. I've been making excuses that it's ok I haven't been lossing weight as quickly. I'm not gaining and I've got this going on or that. Not an excuse if I am dieting. I should be doing much better.

Richard hasn't been going to the gym. He still hasn't been lossing any weight. If anything I think he helps sabatoge my dieting. I know he is supportive and wants me to lose weight but his actions are different than his words. I know he also wants to lose weight but his job is making it difficult and he doesn't have much motivation for himself either. So this morning, I was laying in bed thinking. I could hear Richard got up and was in the bathroom weighing himself. I'm pretty sure we have about the same amount of weight to lose. I asked him how much he weighs --243. I know he wants to weigh between 200-220. He is 6'2". I really want him to be healthier for himself and for our family.

I got to thinking, how can I get re-motivated and get back on track with my diet? How can I help Richard be more successful in his weight loss? Richard and I agreed to a little contest or bet if you would say. We are competing in weight loss. Who will lose 20lbs first? If he wins, he will get husband favors....I'm sure you can use your imagination. If I win, I get a real date. Yes,I know I am crazy to compete with a guy. Not really fair, I know but I want him to be motivated. And I really think that if he wins, we both win anyways because he is going to be SO much hotter ;-) Don't get me wrong though, I am one competitive girl, I do not like to lose at all - so I will be doing my best to lose that 20lbs. In order to be fair, he asked me how much I weighed -- 195, I told him. He made me weigh myself at home in front of him --194 lbs. I know that appears to be weight loss from last week. Amazing I thought, I ate like crap all week. I didn't exercise on Friday either. But I know my scale at home is inconsistent. That's why I normally don't use it. My goal, to lose 20lbs before the hubby... The race is on...