1/2 marathon – 2/4 – The Shrinking Jeans of Lisa

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September 22, 2010 By lisa

Last week was VERY stressful for me, so stressful that I ceased eating for over 36 hours and have only returned to a slightly normal eating pattern, one week later.  I lost all cravings for any and all food and hence, I thought the scale might be kind to me.  Although, in the past, extreme stress usually propelled me in the opposite direction- eating everything in sight and gaining 6 lbs overnight.

Anyhoo, this is all to say that I have a loss this week and I am going to do my damn-dest to keep it off and lose some more.

Last week: 166 lbs

This week: 164 lbs

Loss of 2 lbs

I haven’t been this low in over 3 years.  THREE YEARS.  This loss is bittersweet since I had to go through so much stress to lose it, but whatever- the weight is gone and I will take it and own it.  I am only ONE POUND from claiming my “25 lbs lost button” from Shrinking Jeans. 

Yes, since I joined Shrinking Jeans 1.5 years ago, I have lost 24 lbs- how awesome is that?! 

Slow and steady wins the race, right?

Oh yeah, on the challenge front. 

I am a water guzzler by nature, drinking 100 oz/per day at a minimum.  So yeah, put me down for A LOT OF WATER.  For miles logged, I logged 9.5 miles (8.5 running, 1 mile walking).  In all actuality, I should have run more since I am training for that half marathon in November, but some ankle/heel pain sidelined me for 10 days and it was only last week that I returned to running, at a reduced schedule. 

One more thing…….GO TRIBE BROWN!!!!

September 15, 2010 By lisa

The last time that I officially weighed in was two weeks ago and I was sitting pretty at 168.6 (I think).

For today’s first official Shrinkvivor Weigh-in, I am now sitting at a pretty….

I have not been this low since I was exercising like crazy between babies #2 and # 3.  In fact, it’s been over 3 years since I have seen a number this low thank-you oh stressful last few days that has led me to not eat.  My appetite is slowly coming back but the cravings are at bay for now.

I would like to say that I have some lofty plans to continue to lose weight, but I don’t.  I’m too busy taking care of stuff at home and wondering when my wonky foot/ankle/heel will heal so that I can return to my half marathon training.  I think I might be good to run this weekend or Monday.  We’ll see. 

Anyhoo, here’s a shout-out to Tribe Brown- we’re still working on a cool-ass name for our tribe.  Code Brown?  Nah.  Brown-ie Hottie McNotties?  Maybe.  Brown Busters?  lol.  I don’t know!

August 26, 2010 By lisa

After seeing what today’s topic was for Thursday Three, I just knew I had to participate.

A-Ha Moments

  • Around my firstborns FIRST birthday, I knew that I need to take control of my weight.  I weighed more than I ever had in my entire life (which coincidentally is just a few more lbs than I weigh now- HA!), I hated the way I looked and I hated the way I felt.  I joined Weight Watchers in October 2004 and promptly lost 25 lbs in less than 3 months.  I kept it off until I got pregnant with #2.  Lather, rinse, repeat with each child (I have 3 kiddos).
  • Another A-Ha moment was after the 1/2 marathon, that I ran/walked with an injured hip.  Instead of being proud of my accomplishment of being able to complete the race AND raise tons of money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, all I could think of was the fact that I couldn’t do the race the way I thought I would be doing it.  My brain and my body fought against each other, causing me massive amounts of stress, my hair to fall out, and a horrible sleep cycle.  It sucked.  After the race, after I had chilled out a bit, after I had rehabbed my hip injury and was on my way to recovery- during all of that time, I had LOTS of time to reflect on the entire experience.  When I finally returned to running, after almost 3 months of non-running, I was completely humbled and awed by what my body was able to do, not what it cannot do.  I no longer compare myself to others and how fast they run- I compare myself to ME.  I enjoy the moments of running and feeling free.  I enjoy bettering my mental toughness.  I enjoy what my body will give me.  Screw everything else.  This was and is a HUGE “A-Ha” moment for me. 

Motivational Quotes

  • The Bondi Bands that I always where when I exercise motivate me:

Easy Recipes

I have to go now!  Thankyouverymuchbuhbye!

August 7, 2010 By lisa

Hot Running.

That is what I did this morning and it pretty much sucked A$$ the entire time.

85 degrees and 100% humidity at 8am this morning.

I *almost* bailed on the run, BUT I knew I needed it.  Not for my mental sanity, but for my physical training for the half marathon in November.  I feel so behind with my training since I am starting fresh, again.  I needed to bank this run, no matter how hard it might be.

It was hard and sweaty and tiring and OMG- the heat, the heat about killed me.

Here was the inner dialogue going through my head during the run:  Just do it.  Just move your feet forward.  Don’t think about the heat.  Don’t think about how tired you are.  Don’t think about how you would rather be in bed at home or drinking coffee in the morning quiet.  Just go, go, GO.  It’s only 2.5 miles.  You, Lisa, ran a half marathon with a messed up hip and lived to tell about it.  Sure, you are recovering now but you are RECOVERING.  You can run 2.5 miles in the effin’ heat with a hip that feels much better.  So stop your bitchin’ and whining, put your big girl panties on, and move it.  You are strong.  You can do this.  Dedication and discipline….dedication and discipline….dedication and discipline.  YOU CAN DO THIS.

I banked this bad boy and it’s done for today.  I did it and I did not die- Hip hip hooray for not dying on the trail!

You know what else?  The mental part of running?  It’s just as important as the physical training.  Trust me.  I have grown in exponential ways since the last half marathon training.  EXPONENTIAL.

August 1, 2010 By lisa

Today was my first *official* (training) long run for the San Antonio Rock n Roll 1/2 Marathon in November.  Race Day is 15 weeks away.

I ran 2.5 miles this morning.

This may not seem like much when I will be running 13.1 miles on race day, but for me, it is the beginning of this journey.  Although I have kept up my fitness level since my hip injury on May 1st, by cycling and swimming and lifting weights, I once again feel like a newbie to the running world.

All was quiet in my house this morning, everyone was still sleeping, when I donned my running shoes.  I quickly packed my stuff because I wanted to get out the door before anyone woke up.  I scrawled a note for my husband since we hadn’t talked about this previously.  I jumped in my car and drove to the starting point on the trail, a trail I haven’t run on since April.

I got out of my car and went….nice and slow.  The sun was shining coolly (think 78 degrees cool, which IS cool compared to 85 degrees “cool”).  There were lots of other runners on the trail.  I rounded a bend to begin the bridge over a portion of the lake.  I love this part of the trail because it is so beautiful and peaceful.  My thoughts instantly returned to HOW LONG it has been since I ran this trail and I began to cry. 

I was so very honored and humbled that my body is allowing me to run again.  To give me the sense of freedom that I can rarely get anywhere else.  To feel movement and motion.  To have sweat drip down my face. To do the “runners wave” to others on the trail.  To enjoy the outdoors.

I cried no less than 3 times this morning.

I will take what my body will give me.  I will build it and make it stronger and love it.  My mind is already stronger and ready for the mental part of running.

I want to cross that finish line in San Antonio, on MY terms, with nothing “broken”, with my heart soaring over what I have achieved.

I will do it.

July 28, 2010 By lisa

I started Weight Watchers last week.

I weighed 175 last Wednesday.

I weigh 172 today, for a loss of 3 lbs.  In one week.

This stuff works, I tell you.

I also have begun my half marathon training for the San Antonio Rock n Roll Half Marathon on November 14th.  I am a runner.  I am a runner.  I am a runner.  My BFF is joining me, so I am not doing this alone- support is SO very important.

And since I am on the subject of Christy, did you guys know that we have known each other since 2004?  Way before Shrinking Jeans was around?  When both of us only had one child (they are two weeks apart in age and now she has 2 kids and I have 3)?  And that I am so excited that we have each other (and ALL of you!) to lean on for our weight loss/healthy living journey?  And to run half marathons together?  When we got together, we used to sit on our asses (as much as you can with young children) but now when we get together, we automatically build in time to exercise?  And plan healthy menus?  How awesome is that?

So yeah, I am counting points a la Weight Watchers, I am back in the gym lifting weights and back on the trail running and IT FEELS GOOD, SO VERY GOOD.

June 30, 2010 By lisa

Let’s skip the formalities and jump to what you’re really here for, MY WEIGHT!

Last week’s weight:  175.4 lbs (ugh)

This week’s weight: 174 lbs (yippee)

A loss of 1.6 lbs

Happy dance, happy dance, happy dance!

Although I’ll be a whole lot happier when I say good-bye to the 170′s (again)!  Last week was my first time to weigh-in in quite some time and I vowed to weigh-in every week this Summer.  I am also leading the mini-challenges which is keeping me accountable to actually DOING the mini-challenges-HA!  This week, I have been focusing hard on what I am eating, journaling it, getting in my fruits and veggies and drinking tons of water.  

I’ve returned to going to the gym, A LOT.  I went four times last week, just getting back in to the groove of exercising.  I took a Body Kombat class for the first time (a mix of kickboxing and martial arts) and I took a Spin class.  I lifted weights, I rode the stationary cycle and I walked on the treadmill. 

I have my eyes on training for the San Antonio Rock n Roll Half Marathon on November 14th and possibly even doing this event (a beach run) on August 14th, both with Christy. 

Another thing I cannot stop thinking about is doing a triathlon.  The one I did back in February during the Sisterhood Olympics opened my eyes to the fun of mixing it up- swimming, biking and running.  I spend my evenings scouring the want ads for a used bike (OMG- who knew bikes could be so expensive?  Plus the gear- ack!  If money grew on trees, then I would get this bike.).  I spend a lot of time reading triathlon books and checking out various races and different websites.  I am “this close” to attending an “Austin triathlon training group seminar” to see if I can hook up with a local group for training. 

Thinking about tri’ing gives me excited butterflies in my stomach.  Not nervous-ness, not anxiety, not “can I do this”……nope, I have excitement and butterflies because I already know I CAN DO THIS

Even though my time for the 1/2 marathon in San Diego with Team Shrinking Jeans was not what I wanted it to be and even though I did it with a bum hip, completing it gave me something I could not get anywhere else- BELIEF IN MYSELFI KNOW I will finish whatever races I sign up for, of that, I am 100% certain.  I added to “the bank” once I crossed that finish line and my mental game is even stronger now.

I’m all over the board today, huh? 

So yeah, Summer 2010 is going to kick ass for me, I just know it.

June 23, 2010 By lisa

….and the scale is not happy with me, nor am I happy with it.

The last time I officially weighed in here was on April 14th, over 2 months ago.  I weighed 167.8 lbs then.  I do not now.  A lot has happened since then, mainly the half marathon and va- cation more like mainly eating and drinking- HA!.

The month of May was probably one of the most stressful months of my life as I injured my hip and was worried about running the half marathon race.  There was a lot of disappointment, anger, sadness and the like.  Then, I finally found peaceful acceptance.  I was so stressed out that my hair started falling out and I am now the proud owner of a bald spot dead center on the front of my hairline. 

Awesome.  And no, I am not posting a picture- I’m doing a comb-over until it grows back, LMAO.

Why am I sharing of this with you?  Because during May and part of June, I just couldn’t handle the stress of weigh-in on top of the stress of the marathon training, the stress of fundraising for Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, AND the stress of taking care of my three kids and our household.

Did I cop out?  Maybe.  Maybe not.  I just knew I was reaching my breaking point hello- did you read that my hair started falling out?!!!! and something had to give. So I made the decision to not weigh-in until after the race and here we are now.

In a short period of time, I have gained.  A lot.

Today I weigh 175.4 lbs. 

I own it.  It is what it is.  I can’t change the past.  I can only take care of the the present, the now, the today and make better choices going forward. 

My half marathon is behind me (although I am already eyeing the next one and am planning my “attack” so that I handle it better, mentally and physically).  I am already back in the gym, trying new classes and doing other cardio and learning to love fitness again.  I am back to eating my 5 servings of  fruits and veggies per day.  I am back to drinking 90+ oz of water per day. 

I AM BACK and I will be weighing-in every week of the Summer.

Oh yeah, I will be back to where I was 2 months ago (167.8 lbs) and then some.  This mama needs to look H-A-W-T in the bridesmaid dress I will be wearing over Labor Day weekend- woot, woot!!!!!

June 8, 2010 By lisa

It seems that Team Shrinking Jeans has set some of you on fire with all of our talk about running and half marathons.  I can see why, after completing my first half mary this past weekend.

My last post was about my peaceful acceptance of not being able to run the entire half this weekend.  It’s true- I did not run all of it. 

My goal was to finish the half marathon, just like my Bondi Band said: I did run/walk the first 7 miles (a very slow run).  I most certainly felt like crawling around mile 11.  But most importantly, I finished, regardless of the amount of time it took.

I may have even cried a few times, not from pain although there certainly was pain the last few miles, not from all the sweating and thirstiness and general hot-ness….. but from the emotion of it all.  From seeing the sea of purple Team in Training shirts, each person running “in honor of” or “in memory of” special folks in their life.  So. many. names.

It was overwhelming.

It made the stupid ache in my hip seem inconsequential.

I’m pretty sure that without the support of my Team, I may have given up when I was was plagued with injury after injury during training.  They kept me going.  They encouraged me.  The motivated me.  They made me laugh.  They made me feel NOT alone during this journey.  

Thank-you, Team Shrinking Jeans.  You are more awesome than words could ever describe.  You, too, Coach Joe (the guy in purple, in the middle, our wonderfully fantastic running coach- YOU ROCK!).
Also, I totally want to give a shout-out to my husband. 
While I was training for the half marathon, he was training for the FULL marathon (that’s 26.2 MILES, people).  We trained at the same time freakin’ crazy.  The logistics of our weekend training runs was a nightmare at times (someone had to stay home with the 3 kids, ya know?!). 

He supported me with all of my fundraising efforts and I am fairly certain that a large portion of my fundraising monies came from  his group of friends, family and business contacts.  He was heavily involved in the two fundraising events I hosted, leading one of them. 

He is a runner by nature and has been a runner ever since I have known him.  His marathon this past weekend did not go as he had planned, with him puking around mile 10 (not a good sign) and having to visit the medical tent TWICE.  He says he is done with running and it hurts my heart to hear this.  HE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A RUNNER.

I am hoping that with time and a little rest and relaxation that he will return to running sometime in the future I think he will.

Anyway, I am SO freakin’, stinkin’ PROUD of this group of women.  We raised a little over $42,000 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.  We ran a bajillion training miles plus the actual half marathon.  We cried many painful tears along the way.  We stuck with it, all the way to the end.  Because we believed in the cause and we believed in ourselves.  All I can say is this- GO TEAM! Also, did you know that we writers here at Shrinking Jeans can be very, very, very silly? I know, SHOCKING.

Alcohol may or may not have played a role in the silliness. There may or may not be a video floating around supporting this silliness. (Top: me, Heather; Bottom: Christy, Melissa, Christie O.)

I am officially hooked and have already decided to sign up for my next half mary- the San Antonio Rock n Roll Half Marathon on November 14th.  Christy will be joining me…..anyone else?!

May 28, 2010 By lisa

My 1/2 marathon is in 9 nine days.

The last time I ran was 27 days ago. A 10 miler. One that put me out of commission for running due to some nagging hip pain that wouldn’t go away.

I finally visited the sports doctor yesterday. I cried the entire way there, thinking about the disappointment of not being able to run the half marathon. Crying because my body was not cooperating with me.

The doctor didn’t seem overly concerned as it was very much the hip pain I had 2 months ago in the other hip, gave me a cortizone shot, and a green light to run in 48-72 hours.

I got that shot yesterday morning and now, 24 hours later, I *almost* feel normal. Not completely, but almost. The limping is *almost* completely gone, but not quite. I can go up and down the stairs *almost* without favoring one leg, but still a tiny bit of a favor.

I will do my “long” walk this weekend. I haven’t decided if it will be Saturday or Sunday…..maybe Sunday. I will only go 4-6 miles. I may or may not try to jog, not run, but jog. Maybe. I certainly don’t want to aggravate any of the healing that is going on right now.

I have had so many thoughts and emotions and reflections these past few weeks, since my hip gave out on me.

Anger Frustration Desperation Sadness Disappointment and finally, now…..

Peaceful Acceptance

I will be in San Diego next weekend. I will walk the half marathon and *maybe* I will even run some of it. I will cross the finish line. I will do this in honor of my Aunt who passed away from leukemia at the young age of 9 years old. I will do this in honor of ALL who have died from blood cancers and other cancers or those who are living that nightmare right this very second.

I will get to finally meet the ENTIRE Team Shrinking Jeans.  I am fairly certain I will cry at some point during the weekend, probably during the race as I see how many Team in Training folks there are participating.  Or when I write all the names of our honored heroes in black marker on my arms or legs.  Or maybe when I cross the finish line and my teammates are there for waiting for me with open arms and wide smiles.

I did raise over $2900 for Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. I will be proud of all that I have accomplished- heck, I am already proud.

Next time (and oh yes, there will be another half marathon in my future), I will do it the right way from the beginning. Incorporating all that I have learned through this journey and applying it to my next journey. Strength training, yoga/stretching/flexibility, core work, nutrition, rest and recovery….

I will run again.