7 Day Chip

I started 7 Day Chip today. What is 7 Day Chip? Well click right here and you will find out out.

For 7 Days (and I'm hoping more) I am giving up those damn evil Kashi Bars. Those things are like crack to me. The Chocolate Kashi Caramel Chocolate Bars. Oh my. I eat like 2 a day. And that is not clean. They are 2 points each. So... I am hoping to give them up for a week. And then go from there.

After a week I want to try and give up the Skinny Cow Brownie Cup ice creams. But we'll see what happens.

Anyway. I still need to post my 1/2 marathon post. But I haven't finished it yet. I had a rough weekend. I ate a lot on Sunday. But that was because my back was so sore and I was depressed about it. But I got over it and realized I'm only human. I'm not the same Sarah I was a year ago. I have to remember that taking a couple days off from running is not going to make me gain 100 pounds and put me back into a size 20 pant. I'm still in 10's.

I tried on a pair of my size 8's. They zip. I have a muffin top. But they zip. I hope to be in them by summer. I can do that. I WILL do that.

Goals

I'm having some back issues. Really bad ones. Friday morning I woke up in some series pain. But after my visit to the Chiropractor I felt better. The paint was gone. So I was happy. Since I have been going to the Chiropractor on a weekly basis (I see her 3 time a week) I haven't had any back pain. Oh sure, after my half, I was in pain, but I knew I would be. But after I saw her on Monday and a little rest, I felt fine.

However, after my 5 mile run yesterday, my back was screaming. And today it's still screaming. And I'm pissed about it. To the point where I am in tears. I am afraid to run because I'm afraid it's going to get worse. And I can't handle that. Yet, I want to run. I NEED to run. But I don't want to be in so much pain I can't move. Like I was yesterday when I was trying to get up off of my couch. I see the Chiropractor again tomorrow, but I need to get a run in tomorrow morning. No matter how my back feels. I cannot, and WILL NOT go more then one day without a run. I won't let my body get used to not running.

I thought maybe on Friday I slept on my back wrong and that was why I was having pain. But I guess not since I'm having wicked pain today. I'm really depressed over it.

I also need to get a little control over my eating again. Because I have this whole "I can eat whatever I want since I'm running now" thought in my head. Which is total bull.

So I took out this red sundress that I have, a size 8 and tried it on. It fits, a little snug, but it fits and I hung it where I can see it every single day. To keep me on track. Which is what I did last year around this time when I had a dress I wanted to wear to my cousin's wedding.

I need to get myself back on track. I have goals people. GOALS!!

Meanwhile...

I'm still working on that post for my half. I really wish I had it finished. But it's taking a little longer then I thought.

Meanwhile...

I started back to lifting weights on Tuesday at the gym. I'm struggling with going to the gym in the morning and that really stinks. I am not a workout at night person. I just hate it. I'm exhausted when I'm done with my work day and the last thing I want to do is go to the gym. But I did it twice this week. Tuesday I ran 3 miles and then did 20 minutes of weights. And on Thursday I ran 3.5 miles and 25 minutes of weights. I really, REALLY hope to get back to my morning workouts. They work so much better for me. And put me in such an amazing mood for the day. In other words, I don't want to kill everyone I work with. I truly love my new gym though. It's not busy at all so no matter when I go, I don't have to fight for equipment. If I even tried to go to my old gym after work, I wouldn't be able to find a place to park, never mind find a piece of equipment.

I updated my measurements on Wednesday.They are on the right hand side of my blog towards the bottom. I hadn't done that since December and I didn't see a HUGE difference except in the waist and the chest. Everything else pretty much stayed the same. But that's okay. I know my weight went down. My waist went down 2 inches. SCORE!! But even more awesome, if you look at 2009 you can see how many inches I have lost in the past 2 years.

I also added a before picture. It's not a full body shot. I'm still trying to find one. I'm sure I have one somewhere. I have to keep looking. But I was at least 287 pounds, if not heavier in this photo.

I weighed in today. 160.2 pounds. Which is great. I'm almost back under 160 and to 159.4 where I was about a month ago. Hopefully next week I can see the 150's again. It's nice not to have to worry about training anymore for my half, but I do want to keep getting in my long runs on the weekends. Tomorrow and Sunday I plan to get in a couple. Just because I can.

Half marathon and fitbloggin'

I'm still trying to decide how to write about my half marathon. I'm still kind of in a lot of shock about it. I still can't believe that I did it. I know I need to write about it and I want to write about it.

I really wish I had thought to take pictures. But I didn't. Like I said before I am just not a picture person.

I promise a half marathon post soon. I need to take the time to sit down and think about what to write and how to say. It was a pretty emotional day, even though I may not have shown those emotions. Kelly was there. I should have been more, oh I don't know. Happy maybe? Ha. I was happy. I just was surprised I did it. Me! Of all people.

So give me a few more days and I promise to blog about my half.

I had my first run today after my half. I did 3 miles at the gym and then I did 20 minutes of weights. Now I'm ready to get back to losing weight and tighten myself up. 3 months until summer! Let's do this!!

By the way, I won a ticket to Fitbloggin. So now I have to find a hotel room. I think the hubby wants to come with me. But he won't be coming. So I'm all excited about THAT and getting to meet everyone that I "know" online.

Half marathon DONE!!

OMG!

I ran my half marathon today.

I actually did it.

I promise a post tomorrow.

I didn't take pictures. I kind of wish I did. I'm just not a picture person. But I think when I run my next half (yes, that's right my NEXT half) I will be better about. Because I know what to expect.

Right now I'm tired, sore and really hungry.

OMG!

It has to stop!

My eating these past few days has not been very great. Not sure what the problem is but I have been dreaming about things I should not be eating. I am thinking it's nerves. Every single time I start to think about the half marathon coming up this weekend my stomach gets all up in knots and feel like I am going to throw up.

Honestly, I just want to finish. I don't care about the time. I don't care if I have to stop. I don't care. I just want to finish.

And I want to stop eating crap. And I want to stop weighing myself every day. This new habit of mine is beginning to weigh on my nerves. I don't like it.

The things I keep eating aren't even mine!! They are a snack of my husbands. I am going to ask him to either hide them or stop buying them. Damn peanut butter and chocolate.

Isn't this a weight loss blog?

This is a weight loss blog. And I haven't really written about my weight loss lately. With my half marathon 8 days away (holy crap) I have point that on the back burner for just a little while. But I promise that once my training is done, I will be back to my weight loss.

Let me explain.

I gained last week. I was all happy because I lost 4 pounds, which is a lot for me and was 159.4 pounds. Last week I was up. I was 161.8 pounds. That was due to my birth control and I am no longer taking that. I was on it for way too long (15+ years) and I'm 35. I shouldn't be taking it anymore. The husband and I had a serious conversation and we're done with it. We're adults. We know what can happen. And we know how to avoid having a baby thank you.

I stayed the same this week. I was again 161.8 pounds. After my 5K I was beat. And I had beer. And a bagel. And a few other bad things (like pizza and candy and whatever). I struggled to get up all week to run. Actually I did get up at all. I ran when I came home and that was not something I plan to do again. I don't like working all day and then running 4 miles. No thanks. I will be back to my morning runs. But staying the same is fine by me.

Also money has been pretty tight since my husband has not yet gotten his first paycheck. So I haven't been eating very clean. We've been buying what we can for food and I have to do what I have to do. Luckily his first paycheck is coming on Tuesday and we are going to stock up the fridge and I cannot wait. Look out clean food here I come!!

And my half marathon. Oh yes. That is next Sunday. The 20th. I am not afraid to admit I am scared out of my freaking mind. But I am excited at the same time. It's going to be a lot of fun. Girls weekend and all. Once that half is over I can get back to getting to 150 pounds.

Oh don't get me wrong. I am still going to run. I love it. And once all the damn snow is finally gone, my town has some nice trails to run on. And I plan to finally take advantage of those.

On a really nice note, my coworker was telling me what great legs I have yesterday. Actually, it was my calves she was talking about. And my butt. She said she would kill to have a butt like mine. Um thanks? I have plenty to share if she wanted some.

And my race photo from the 5K came already. I look kind of dorky but I am happy about it. I am pleased to say I don't think I look fat in it or anything at all. I am HAPPY with how I look. Ha!!

Donations?

The husband and I have signed up to do a 5K walk on June 12th for the National Kidney Foundation.

We did it 2 years ago and we had a great time.

It means a lot to both of us because my husband only has one working kidney and had surgery in 2009 to remove a lot of kidney stones from that one kidney. I worry a lot that someday he may need a transplant and we may need these people.

If you can, could you possible donate a little something? Even $2.00 would help out. I totally understand if you can't but it would mean the WORLD to me if you could.

FitBloggin' 2011

I won't lie. I want to go to FitBloggin' 2011. But when they announced I couldn't afford it. My husband wasn't working and it just wasn't in the cards. And now it really isn't in the cards with the cost.

But they just announced they are giving away 5, yes FIVE tickets. I would really LOVE to win one of these tickets. I read a lot of the blogs of the people that are attending and it would be so much fun to meet these awesome peeps that are going.

Don't you agree?

So here I am, throwing my chance in. *Fingers are crossed*

5K recap

I did it. I ran my 5K yesterday. I'm not sure what I was so scared of. Because once the race started I was fine. But let me start from the beginning of the day.

The night before my stomach was a mess. I'm not sure why, but it was. I think it was something I ate because the hubby had stomach issues, too. And I was so afraid it was going to continue. Luckily it was fine, but it was still not happy with me.

I got up early. Early. 5:30am actually and showered and got ready. The race was an hour away and started at 9am so I had to get up early. Plus I didn't get my race packet before hand so I needed to get there as early as I could. I was pretty nervous the whole ride down, but my husband was so supportive and kept telling me I would do great. I wasn't so so sure about that. I was also afraid it was going to start pouring at any minute. It looked like it was going to.

When we got to where the race was starting (Toad's Place, this cool music club that has been around forever) my hands were shaking. I told the girl my number and I had such a hard time putting it on that I had to have my husband help me. I was such a wreck. After that I had to get my shirt (which is a medium and fits lovely).

Finally met up with my awesome buddy Kelly:

Hard to believe that this is only the second time we met and to be honest, if she wasn't running, I probably would have totally freaked out and not gone. But I am glad that I did because it was an amazing experience for me. And I finally got my first run outside. Which I needed. Kelly and I are running the half marathon together on the 20th and I now know my runs need to be done outside.

Kelly and I waited until the race started together, but once it started, she was gone. Which I knew she would be. She is much faster and I knew she would finish first. Which was fine by me. I am used to running in my own head and I pretty much needed to deal with it myself. I almost made it through the whole thing without having to stop, but I got a cramp. But I had to stop. I am not used to having to pace myself. The treadmill does that for me. But my time?

39:36

Not bad. I don't think that is bad at all.

It did start raining right at the end and I was getting so tired. Which is crazy considering I rain 9 miles on the treadmill the day before. And was fine. But running on pavement is so different. But I pushed and pushed and I did it.

And when I finished I was kind of dazed. A little stunned. But happy.

Enjoyed a big bagel and beer.

I was so tired all day. My legs were beat. And today I felt hungover. But I'm feeling much better now. Going to get back to running tomorrow.

And I'm ready for my half!!

Take two

Let me first apologize for my post this morning. I just was upset, as you must know, about being up nearly 6 pounds in 6 days. It's not cool. And I don't like to be like that about the numbers on the scale. I think I should have control over that by now.

But I do believe I have found the problem (thank you twitter friends and to my friends and family).

As you may (or may not) know, money has been tight around my house for awhile. And last month money was extra tight. So, I had to let a few things fall to the side. One of them being my birth control. I have crappy insurance, with a HUGE deductible (go figure I work in healthcare) and I have to pay for the whole thing. I didn't take it. So I was able to afford it this month and I started taking it again. This is the first time in 15+ years I haven't taken it. And I believe (after research online and talks online) that is the cause. And I've also been breaking out like a 13 year old girl. It was a HUGE relief let me tell you to finally figure it out. Because I was kind of losing my mind. As you probably could see.

So the hubby and I talked about it. And I'm not taking them anymore. Plus I'm *cough35cough* and probably shouldn't be on the pill anymore anyway. So... we shall see what the scale says next week.

Also... I admit. I am kind of scared of my 5K on Sunday. There. I said it. I said it on twitter, but you know. I am scared. And I know once I get it over with, I will be okay. And there is beer. And coffee.

I know I'm worth more then a number

Right now I'm having a few problems.

I have had two really bad nights of sleeping. That is never good. No one likes waking up every hour and tossing and turning and not being able to fall back asleep.

And then there is the scale. Now, I usually don't let the number on the scale bother me. But this week it's really upsetting me. Last week I saw 159.4 pounds, a number that brings me very close to my goal. Usually Wednesday I get on the scale to see how things are going. Well, the scale said 163.4 pounds which would put me back up to where I was the week before. Okay. I know I wasn't the best I couldn't have been last weekend, but 4 pounds? No big deal. Then yesterday I saw 164.8 pounds. And this morning? 165.2 pounds.

You can see why I'm totally freaking out. I don't deserve to be up almost 6 pounds. Not at all. So I'm pretty pissed off. Upset. And I believe I have the right to be. I will not put that number in Weight Watchers online. Or in my weigh in tomorrow morning. I don't have to either. I know it sounds childish or whatever, but I did not overeat that much this past weekend to gain 6 pounds. Plus I ran 3 miles Saturday, 7 on Sunday, 3 on Monday, 5 Wednesday an 3 Thursday. So something isn't right.

I'm trying to keep a level head about it, but it's really hard when I have been busting some serious ass. Maybe I didn't eat enough this week and my body is mad and that is what is going on. I just don't know.

And this, my friends, is why I don't, won't and can't go to meetings.

At least it's Friday and the weekend is almost here.

Whew!

I am super glad these past few days are OVER! End of month is typically a busy time for me at work, trying to get everything done and all set in the computer so we can bill it out. And since February is a short month, I had to buckle down earlier then normal. If you follow me on twitter then you know I haven't been on much during the day these past couple of days. But I got most everything done and I feel like things are back to normal.

This past Sunday, I had what I can honestly say was my best run yet. I was scheduled to do a 10K and I ran the entire thing. That's a pretty big deal for me. It's the first time I haven't had to stop for any reason at all. I was so excited and proud of myself. According to my Garmin I ran 6.99 miles so I think my treadmill is off.

Monday I had a rough time getting out of bed. So I ended up running 3 miles when I got home from work. Meh. I am not a fan of working out at night. Because then I couldn't get up Tuesday morning. I was so tired.

This morning I did 5 miles straight in under an hour. I'm getting faster my friends.

My allergies starting acting up this morning and my Chiropractor had never seen that before. She could feel my neck was bothering me and, I kid you not, as soon as she adjusted my neck, my swelling in my eye went down. And it's gone now. I totally love her. She does amazing things for me.

This Sunday is my first 5K. I'm excited and nervous. It's supposed to rain. But I don't care. I can't wait. I can't wait for the beer afterward. I can't wait for my husband to be there when I'm done. I just can't wait. I don't care that I haven't run outside yet (yes, I am aware this may be a problem). I don't care that I may be the slowest person. But I just can't wait to experience the whole thing. And I can't wait to get my race packet on Saturday.

I also have 9 miles to do on Saturday. Oh I can't wait for that either.