Whole 30 (1/3 done!)

Happy New Year!

I hope you 2015 is going great!  I am kicking off 2015 with my first goal!  Completing the whole30!

I am on day 10 right now!  I have added a page with a list of all my meals for the past 10 days along with how I have been feeling.

Quitting sugar is hard!  No only do I have to say no to things but also grocery shopping to find no sugar added products is hard!  Why is there sugar in almost all the bacon!?!  Also in sausage and canned tomatoes!  Avoiding sugar has been the hardest part and with withdraw symptoms of headaches and nausea are not fun.  I really don't like knowing that I am pretty much a sugar addict.  I didn't think I was until I started cutting the late night ice cream and morning sugary cereal bowl!

At first I thought no dairy would be the next hardest part.  I am not so much addicted to dairy but it is a comfort food and I am learning to live without.  It really is just extra stuff that I don't really need to make my meals delicious.  This is nice to learn but still can't wait to make a cheesy veggie omelete when this is over.

All the other restrictions haven't been too bad.  I have previously tried going low carb so I have found ways around bread and other grains.  No legumes isn't so bad because my fiance doesn't like beans so I don't cook with them too often.  No alcohol hasn't been bad but haven't had the real temptations quite yet.   No carrageenan, msg, and sulfites is also difficult if you buy anything no fresh...No baked goods, junk food or treats isn't too hard either.  I eat plenty of fruit and cinnamon sweet potatoes to satiate that.

So have you ever tried Ghee?  Ghee is clarified butter that originated in India.  It doesn't have to be refrigerated and has a funky texture but I love cooking with this new butter!  I actually made my own ghee by using unsalted organic butter and an always reliable Alton Brown recipe.  You can buy this in stores but you may find it in the international food aisle and not by the butter since it is mostly used in middle eastern cooking and doesn't require refrigeration.

I am learning that I have been doing a version of the whole30 since I started this journey to get fit.  Many of my recipes still fit within the restriction of the diet with a possible few tweaks.  One of my favorite food is spaghetti as I have mentioned before so my zoodle "spaghetti" is favorite healthy twist on this meal.  I make zucchini noodle with my Vegetti and saute them to heat them up.  I take a couple of cans of diced tomatoes and blend them smooth as my sauce while adding Italian seasoning if not already added. Then I heat up the sauce in a skillet with my added veggies.  I am always mixing it up with mushrooms, peppers, onions, and spinach.  Once the sauce is hot and starting to boil, I add the sauteed zucchini noodles, mix and serve!  So easy!  So delicious!  And so easy to personalize to your taste or mix up if you get bored!

Check out my whole30 page for other recipes that I have been making these last 10 days!

Results so far?  The whole30 program suggests not weighting yourself but I have the end of my 6 month dietbet to weigh in for on the 15th!  So I have ignored that rule and I am happy to say that I am 3.2 lbs down!  How awesome is that!  I have been tracking my food as well so I can report back and it is so easy to stay within your calories when you are eating whole foods!  I try to keep track of my macros with myfitnesspal to make sure I am getting my protein and fats in while keeping my sugar carbs in check.

Looks like I am going to make my final weighin for my 6 month weight in!  That means I have lost 10% in 6 month!  I started at 180 and I have lost 18 lbs!  One step closer to my ultimate goal!

Thanks for reading!

2015 New Year Resolutions

Who is ready for 2015!?

Are you ready with you New Years Resolutions for 2015?  I did a lot of thinking and I decided to make some difference resolutions.  These resolutions are really all my goals for 2015.

Here are my 15 goals for 2015!

1. Run Another Half Marathon

-I have really been slacking on keeping my mileage up. I would like to do another half marathon to make sure I keep my mileage up and I enjoyed the thought of working towards a specific event

2. Whole 30

-More on this below

3. Go Kayaking or paddleboarding

- I live by the water and why haven't I done this yet?

4. Watch a Sunrise at the beach

-See above

5. Plan a Budget/make the most of our money

-I would like to really make a budget and see if we can spend money wiser in areas.

6. Newbie Triathlon

-I would really like to try a triathlon event!

7. Painting Class

-I've always wanted to take one of those wine and canvas classes!

8. Star gazing at the beach

-The national seashore near us has a star gazing area that I would love to check out

9. Get Married

-Ek! This is the year! We are currently less than 4 months away!

10. Visit a Texas Brewery or Winery

-I want to explore more of Texas really and this seams like a good way to do that

11. Try 2 new Vegetables

-You know how you get to food ruts? I would like to expand my vegatables

12. Visit 2 new state parks

-Rosalie loves going new places and what better way to explore more of texas with my furchild

13. Run at least 5 5ks

-I really think 5ks are a great distance and I love getting out there and running with a group of strangers while feeling like one of the team.

14. Read 4 books

- I have a long list of books to read!

15. Bike to Watergardens and back

-I would love to bike to our downtown area from my apartment and back. It is about 8 miles to get there and I think it is completely do able but may have to work on my bike mileage first before I try the there AND back.

Okay guys I want you to keep me accountable and I will keep you up to date as I work on these goals!

Whole 30:

Okay so i read "It starts with food" after it was recommended to me. I found the book really interesting and started thinking about trying this nutrition reset. After dieting for a while and really learning more about my body I know that sugar really has a strong affect on me. I have thought about trying a no sugar added diet before. I encourage you to read the book and check out the Whole30 website. The diet is very restrictive, I am not going to lie. But I think it will be a good challenge as I am only months away from the big day and am still very far from my goal. So here is what I will be cutting out.

"Do not consume added sugar of any kind, real or artificial. No maple syrup, honey, agave nectar, coconut sugar, Splenda, Equal, Nutrasweet, xylitol, stevia, etc. Read your labels, because companies sneak sugar into products in ways you might not recognize. 

Do not consume alcohol in any form, not even for cooking. (And it should go without saying, but no tobacco products of any sort, either.) 

Do not eat grains. This includes (but is not limited to) wheat, rye, barley, oats, corn, rice, millet, bulgur, sorghum, amaranth, buckwheat, sprouted grains and all of those gluten-free pseudo-grains like quinoa. This also includes all the ways we add wheat, corn and rice into our foods in the form of bran, germ, starch and so on. Again, read your labels. 

Do not eat legumes. This includes beans of all kinds (black, red, pinto, navy, white, kidney, lima, fava, etc.), peas, chickpeas, lentils, and peanuts. No peanut butter, either. This also includes all forms of soy – soy sauce, miso, tofu, tempeh, edamame, and all the ways we sneak soy into foods (like lecithin). 

Do not eat dairy. This includes cow, goat or sheep’s milk products such as cream, cheese (hard or soft), kefir, yogurt (even Greek), and sour cream… with the exception of clarified butter or ghee. 

Do not consume carrageenan, MSG or sulfites. If these ingredients appear in any form on the label of your processed food or beverage, it’s out for the Whole30. 

Do not try to re-create baked goods,  junk foods, or treats* with “approved” ingredients. Continuing to eat your old, unhealthy foods made with Whole30 ingredients is totally missing the point, and will tank your results faster than you can say “Paleo Pop-Tarts.” Remember, these are the same foods that got you into health-trouble in the first place—and a pancake is still a pancake, regardless of the ingredients. "

So now you may be saying "Gretchen, you are nuts! there is no way you will be able to do that. What will you eat?" Veggies, fruits, protein, and fats. That's not so bad and it is only for 30 days! I plan on starting Janruary 1st as a great kickstart to 2015. I'm not saying it will be easy but i think it will be a good change of pace and hopefully I learn something new. I hope to track my food and impressions daily and will report at least once a week on how the Whole30 is going. Christmas had it's ups and downs and I haven't checked where I am at weight wise yet. I will document my weight and inches. Anyone else interested in a reset to begin 2015?

Thank you for reading!

1 Year ago Today

My last two posts were very specific about my first duathlon and half marathon but what else is happening?

Well today is my 1 year anniversary of deciding to really change my life.  The start of my journey I was 221 lbs and decided to try a diet plan that my best friend had been very success full with.  Also I wanted to be able to run a mile non-stop.  I was 23 years old and couldn't run a mile.  I was in a size 18 jeans.  I wasn't happy with my body even though I had "accepted" it.

Today, I am 57 lbs down.  I have earned $227.52 through dietbets.  I have completed a duathlon and a half marathon.  Most importantly, I have learned so much about food, health, and fitness.  I still have a lot to learn but here are some things that I think have really changed helped me on my journey to fit and fab.

• Vegetables!  Eat your vegetables.  I know I don't always do this but I try to fit them or even sneak them in whenever I can.  This is something I learned quickly when starting out on Medifast.  Trying to get all my greens in was hard.  But get creative or look up some great recipes or mix things up!    

• These is always a healthier version of your favorite dish it just takes some effort.  I have found healthier alternatives for cheesy breadsticks, pizza, spaghetti, chick-fil-a, and so much more!  The internet is full of great information and recipes!

• The outdoors is the best gym there is.  I enjoy running, biking, walking and all these things can be done with out a gym membership!  I will say that I am lucky to live in warm and sunny south Texas which helps a lot.  :D

• Get out of your comfort zone!  This is an easy one...not.  Step out, try something new.  I don't mean the newest diet crazy.  I mean try a new recipe, a new fruit, vegetable, a new sport or activity.  Check Groupon.  Is there a deal for a fitness class near you?  Try it out!  That's how I found out about rowing and they were a very welcoming community!

• Motivation.  This can be very difficult.  There are times where I keep stepping on the scale and I don't see what I wanna see.  This can bring my whole mood down.  I try to stay motivated with blogs and podcasts regularly.  My favorite podcasts are Tips of the Scale and Half Size Me.  They have inspirational stories of people that have faced great challenges to reach their goals. They also have professionals on to talk about fitness, nutrition, and lots of other information.  Are you you into something specific like running, triathlons, Paleo, or crossfit?  There are podcast that are specific to all sorts of stuff!  I like the Everyday Runners podcast.  This podcast makes me say if they can do it why can't I?  Also I have started listening to Tri Swim Coach as I start thinking about training for my first Triathlon.  There are so many podcasts out there!  Not all of them are specific to you but there is always something to learn!

That is just a few of the things that I've learned and have really helped me throughout this year.  If you have any questions feel free to email me at Gretchen.ward14@gmail.com!  

Here is to another year of firsts and personal records and new adventures!  Oh and a wedding dress! ;)

57 lbs down, Duathlon and Half Marathon Finisher

Thank you for reading and following me on my journey to get fit and fab! 

Harbor Half Marathon

I completed my first half marathon!  13.1 miles!

I ran over this bridge twice!

I had a great time running this!  But lets go back to the night before.  I was more anxious about this race than I was for the duathlon and I trained for this for over 14 weeks!  What?!?  My stomach was turning, I was worried about what I ate, I was worried i'd poop my pants running, I was worried I wouldn't make it!  All kind of silly but still had me freaked out.  I have only done 10 miles so far not the full 13.1 but knew I could do it if I set my mind to it.  So again I got out of my comfort zone and woke my butt up and got ready for my first 13.1 miles just like any other Saturday morning long runs.  I packed my backpack with liquids, towel (always bring a towel, if you don't think that's funny you need to do some reading), heart rate monitor, race belt, race bib, running bottle, and visor.  I walked the dog, had a bagel thin with cream cheese (my usual for morning runs), and went to the bathroom one more time before the drive.  

I got there and parked far away from the start because I knew I should stretch before getting into the car driving back and if I knew myself I knew I would just wanna hop in the car and sit.  This was a very good idea but still the pain in my legs disagreed.  I put gatorade in my running bottle (my last long run I just used water in my bottle and found out I was struggling for energy by the end so I was hoping gatorade would give me a little extra to get me through).  I put my bib on my race belt (if you are thinking about buying a race belt and plan on doing a lot of races then I highly suggest them!  no safety pins in your best workout clothes and less hassle!).  Heart rate monitor on, shoes tight.  I was ready!  I stopped at the port-a-potty one more time before they got super busy and then headed to the coral to start getting my game face on.  Phone sleeve on, head phones in, jams going.  

Ready, Set, Go!  "Don't go too fast, Don't go too fast",  This is something that I read over and over again when reading about first half marathon mistakes.  I tried to stick to the pace of my music that I had practiced with.  This meant falling behind a little but I felt strong and knew there was a long way to go still.  I found my groove and had a smile on my face!  

This was my view going up the bridge the first time

2 Miles down! Happy I had my visor!

The views were great!  Going up the bridge was tough but not so bad!  Going down the bridge was a whole different story.  I had trained a little for the going up part with hill training on the treadmill but how do you train for going down?  My muscles were very confused and had a difficult time slowing me down.  I made it down the bridge and kept keepin on.  Now it was on past North beach and onto the causeway!  We got off at Indian Point.  I had always driven by this park but never stopped but I plan to take Rosalie out there sometime because the views were great!  

View from Indian Point

This picture was right after the halfway point turnaround.  It felt good to cheer on people just as people had right before I reached the turn around.  At this point I was feeling it.  My energy was dwindling especially looking at how far I had to go to get back.  But then I was like "look at this view!  Look at how far I've gone!"  Again I ask myself how many people can say this is 20 min from their apartment?  I am extremely lucky to get this opportunity!  So I kept going, playing leap frog with some runners.  Then it was back up the bridge!  

Going up again!

Still smiles!

 Going up the second time wasn't so bad.  A lot of people were walking it but I was determined to run as much of these 13.1 miles as I could.  I ran up the bridge albeit pretty slowly and started the final climb down.  This is were it got bad!  My legs were really tensing up and fighting me down.  I had to take it in intervals of walking and running.  At the end of the bridge my legs had a hard time getting back into running even on somewhat level ground.  I had to walk for a little bit to see if I could stretch them out and then I started running again trying to fight my quads.  I knew I had less than 2 miles left.  What is 2 miles? psh no problem!

Last mile, not so much smiles

Okay this was tough but I think adrenaline kicked in for the last mile when a volunteer told me how close I was!  I wanted to get to that finish line running as fast as I could.  And I did!  Official Race photos to come soon!  but my time was 2:47:03. That is under and average of 13 minute miles!  I would be able to tell you my first half and second half times if I wasn't such a newbie.  I put my timer on race belt because i wasn't sure what to do with it.  I learned that you were supposed to twisty tie it to your shoe.  I feel like I knew that at one point but I am going to blame it on race brain.  Well I wasn't last AND I finished!  I got a beer, water, and banana after and started the trek to my car. This is when I really felt my legs.  They were tight and every step was difficult.  I just ran 13.1 miles and I can't walk to my car!?  This was only a half marathon!  I can't imagine how I would feel after a full!  I never wanna do a half marathon again.  Well two days later and I am thinking about my next half or maybe I'll start training for a full.  Or maybe I should just work on my speed for a little bit.  I know crazy right?  It's interesting the swing in emotions! :P  

Again I am so thankful for my supportive family and friends!  Their "likes" and words of support helped me stick to this goal and make it through!  Even more amazing to think about is a year ago today I decided to seriously make a change.  I wanted to be able to run a mile, a 5k. I wanted to be able to shop at non-plus size stores again.  I wanted to be physically able to take on any adventure that is thrown my way.  And a year later I have completed a duathlon, half marathon, and lost 57 lbs.  

Thank you for reading!  

I see scale movement!

So I haven't posted in awhile because I didn't think I had any good news since the scale wasn't really moving.  It wasn't going up or down.  I've been slacking on controlling my portion sizes and making good food decisions.  On the bright side I haven't gained...I am hoping this mean that maintaining when I reach my goal will mean being comfortable and not worrying all the time that I'm gaining.  That is still 40 lbs away though and I want to enjoy my journey there.

I have another confession.  I skipped a long training run. :\ I was supposed to do 9 miles last weekend but decided not to do it.  My fiance was home all weekend which is rare occurrence with his schedule and I decided to enjoy the whole weekend with him.  Good news is I was already a week ahead on my training schedule so as long as I don't skip any more I will be ready to go for my half next month!
Next confession,  I lost a dietbet.  I'm not happy with myself for not trying harder but I just wasn't into it like I have been lately.  4% in a month is starting to get harder and harder to achieve.  I am still doing my 6 month transformation dietbet and am hoping to reach the goal of weighting 165.6 which is 8% from where I started this dietbet.  I have lost 13.2lbs since July 15th.  That is about 4.5 lbs a month which isn't bad!  I have been feeling bad about not losing weight fast enough but when I stand back and look at the long term I am impressed with myself.  I'm still on the journey.

Meltdown Challenge is still going as well!  I almost forgot that it was a weightloss challenge with all the great information that it has be sharing.  I have to lose 6% in 6 weeks.  Right now there is only 20 days left and I still have 5.12 lbs to lose. eek!  I believe that I am making the changes and decision to reach that goal though but the next couples weeks will REALLY test me.

Today I weighted in at 166.8.  I have 6 days to shed the last 1.2 lbs so I am kicking it into gear!  I am back to doing more medifast meals to keep my calorie count low but still full with plenty of protein and low carb.  I found that my portions were starting to get out of control again and needed to remind myself what I really need to sustain myself.  This is a battle that I think I'll be fighting for the rest of my life but I am happy I am aware of it.

So some positive things!  My fiance and I bought bikes!  I love it!  We have biked to dinner and biked to the movies!  I have even started biking to work!  Today is my third day!  I am not biking everyday because by the time I bike home I don't feel like working out and I still have a half marathon that I'm training for!  I'm trying to do three days a week and I am enjoying burning the extra 500 calories a day just commuting!  I will say that riding home is harder since it is usually warmer and I am riding into the wind!

Yesterday I didn't bike to work so I decided to go for a long run since I slacked enjoyed this weekend.  I decided to try a way different route and ran towards the bay and found out its only 3 miles from my apartment!  How amazing is that?  I am so thankful and lucky to live in a place like this!  I definitely believe that the weather is what helps me keep moving!  I love sunny south Texas!  Here is a selfie I took when I reached as far as I could go north with out swimming!  This definitely wasn't one of my strongest runs and I could tell I haven't run for a couple of days but I still enjoyed the run.

Okay, like I said earlier the next couple of weeks are going to be a challenge.  Next week, I am taking the week off because my family is visiting!  My youngest brother and sister and flying for their very first time to come see their big sister!  I am so excited to share my new home with them!  I know they are happy to defrost from the Indiana weather! :P  Wish me luck as my routine changes and I try to navigate staying on plan!  Staying active and everything in moderation is the key!  I'll be repeating that over and over again in my head!

Back to the Basics

Okay, I had a bad week.  I'm not sure what happened but I pretty much broke down.  Emotionally not a good week.  But I am ready to move on.  So here we are back to the basics.

I am up back into the 170s but barely so that's good.  I hate going backwards though!  Feels like the work was for nothing when I go backwards but just have to start over and keep going.

Back to the basics, what does that mean?  I am not exactly sure but here is my plan.
1. Water- 80 oz a day
2. Exercise- everyday can be big or small just have to move!
3. Plan meals!  Unplanned=bad decisions
4. Understanding my thoughts

The last one is what I have been struggling with for the last week.  I started a new kind of weight loss challenge last week and it has daily readings and webinars and all kinds of great stuff to support weight loss!  Not only the eating part but the emotional part.  I want to share with you what I am going to be focusing this week.  "Thoughts come first then emotions which then drive our actions which leads us to our results"  My thoughts control my emotions not my the other way around.  I need to be more aware of what my thoughts are and why they make me feel the way that I do.  I'll have to get back to you on this...

I am still training for my half marathon and I have officially registered!  So now I am committed!  I did 8 miles this week but not very fast.  The heat was back on and I am looking forward to the cool weather!  Only 6 miles to do this weekend so that will be a piece of cake! (probably not the best choice of words) The hard part isn't the long runs any more its sticking to my training plan during the week.  I now dread short runs more than long runs.  Hoping that waking up early this week and getting them over with in the cooler mornings will help but that means getting my butt out of bed....wish me luck.

6 month dietbet:  I squeaked by to win round 2 which was a goal of 6% and I won $25.16!  Next goal is 8 % and currently I am up from the 6% goal so I have work to do!  Speaking of work to do, I am in another dietbet and I have 9 days to lose 6 lbs...ugh oh.  Yeah I have been slacking!  Well I am kicking it into gear!  I don't know if 6 lbs is do able but I am going to try!  I hate to lose!  Started out this weekend by doing some meal planning for the week!  I am set this week with cooked chicken breasts, egg salad, spaghetti squash with broccoli and cheese, and pumpkin bread pudding!

So like I said early, I started a new challenge called the Meltdown challenge called Thin it to win it-Team Rex and I am on a team with my old medifast coach.  I love this challenge so far!  Not only do I have to lose 6%  in 6 weeks but I have to earn so many participation points as well.  The points are easy to earn and I am actually learning some great stuff!  I listened to the healthy webinar this morning and it brought up some great questions.  What do you want?  What is your goal?  Why do you want it?  Why now?  Do you want to feel better or stop feeling bad?  What matters most?  These are all questions we have to ask ourselves to find our motivation.  Our motivation is what keeps up on track.  What is your motivation?  I am still learning what my true motivation is.  At first it was to fit into that wedding dress and look great in pictures but now I want to improve my quality of life.  Not that my quality of life is poor now but it could be better!  I want to be able to do anything I want to do.  I want to do a handstand, a cartwheel, a pull up, bow pose.  What is your motivation?

Just want I needed to hear this morning: Inspiration (Youtube)

I look Svelte?

So today I was told that "I looked Svelte."

If you are like me then you had no idea if it was a compliment or criticism.  They then told that it meant that I looked fit.  Oh how nice! So I googled it because now it's my favorite word!  

Svelte (according to Merriam-Webster)

  :thin in an attractive or graceful way

Wow, that IS a compliment!  I always have a hard time accepting or reacting to compliments so I brushed it off and said thank you and went on with my work.  As I kept thinking about this word, I love it more and more!  I appreciate this comment so much and it will definitely fuel me through my trip to Indy this weekend as I try to keep on track!  

So, I weighted myself this morning and remember one of my goals?  160s before Indy?  Yep, done.  169.8 When I get back the scale better still in the 160s!  After all I only have 10 days before my next weight-in for my 6 month Dietbet!  

In other news, Map my fitness sent me my August Workout Summary and guess what?  I ran/walked over 100 miles last month!  I don't really know how that compares to anything but I just thought it was cool.  Along with exercise, I went to 6 am row class again Tuesday and I am starting to like it!  Once you get past the whole actually having to get up it isn't so bad.  It also helps that all the people are regulars and are extremely welcoming!  I enjoy being a part of this early morning community!

Lately, there has been a lot of bad news in my family about health and it really makes you grateful for what you have.  It's a reminder to enjoy the time you have, don't take it for granted.  What you do today, decides how you do tomorrow!  Some health problems, you can't prevent or change and it's hard to accept.  But some you can!  This completely goes along with weight loss.  So many diseases and health problems are related to being over weight and these are preventable!  Before I started losing, I was so big that doctors would test me over and over again for diabetes.  They were sure with my height and weight that I was doomed for this disease.  This was a scary time.  Everyday I am thankful that my parents gave me pretty great genes and that I can make healthy changes that can reduced my health risks.  I am so grateful for fiance, my dog, my family, my friends, and especially my health.  

Well things got a little deep but I hope this helps someone.  Thank you for reading!

I'm a loser! All I do is Win Win Win!

Its may be Tuesday but the second worst day of the week next to Monday but I am all smiles!

I am a loser!  I have scale and non-scale victories today!

Round 1 of the 6 month Dietbet was a success!  I won $16.21!  I knew I was going to win that one and next was the 4% in 28 days.  I had to be at 170.7 lbs to win.  I ran 6 miles during my long run Saturday and took a rest day Sunday.  The scale Monday morning read 173.6lbs. WHAT? UGH!  I was so sad.  My dietbet was ending and I wasn't going to make it!  How could I be up!  I was under on my calories!  I read up on long runs and how your muscles will swell as they repair themselves causing you to retain water but it should dissipate a couple days after.  So I crossed my fingers and drank a lot of water yesterday and very closely watched my eating and sodium intake.  This morning I stepped on the scale with all my fingers and toes crossed and it said 170.6 lbs!  Thank you! Yes, Please!  So I quickly snapped my pictures for my official weigh-in and it has been verified that I won!  by 0.1lbs but I'll take it!  I'll find out how much I won Thursday morning and hoping to get some new running shoes this weekend to celebrate!

Half Marathon Training is going!  I did 6 miles this weekend!  New personal best distance!  I really pushed myself and am proud of this run!  I did walk a couple of times but for good reasons such as my ankle or shins started to hurt.  I walked for a little bit and then picked it back up.  Looking forward to 7 miles this weekend!  During my Monday Easy Runs I've decided to start working the hills workout on my apartment treadmill to start building some different muscles so I can beat the Harbor bridge in November!  Hopefully this will make the bridge a little less intimidating.  

At the office today I was asked if I've lost weight!  Yes, almost 50 lbs!  It feels good that people can say they have to take a second look to make sure it's me!  Yes it's me,  I've always been this person on the inside, you just couldn't see it because there was some extra baggage I was carrying.  Do me a favor and compliment a person today!  Sometimes we are so obsessed with ourselves and what we are doing and just saying a kind word or catching up with a friend and asking about their day can make all the difference and make their day great!  Even if it is a Tuesday!

Finally,  would you be interested in some of my favorite recipes?  Need some help planning ahead for the week to help you make good decisions?  I'm thinking about sharing what I make every weekend for the week so help me keep on track.  Tell me if this sounds like a good idea.  Would you like it different posts?  Maybe I'll make a page with my favorite go to recipes.  Thinking out loud here

Well quick and dirty post today.  Just wanted to share some victories that made my Tuesday!  Thanks for reading!

Week 4 of Hot Half Marathon Training and My first Runner's Block

Another week is gone and I am one step closer to my goal!

I won $52.21 in my dietbet!  It was a buy in of $35 so I actually won $17.21.  Either way I ordered my new Toms and should be getting them today!  Pictures will be instagrammed later today :D

Here is sneak peak: New Work Toms!

I am due to weigh in for round 1 of the 6 month game today and will probably weight in either tonight or early tomorrow morning.  I am well with in my 3% that I had to lose so I am feeling strong and ready to tackle the next round.  My other dietbet I am not feeling as strong about.  There are only 4 days left and I am still 0.9 lbs away from the 4%!  If I win this dietbet, I am going to get a new pair of running shoes so there is a lot on the line here.  I am very worried that I won't make it or my body will do something funky....going to keep on tracking, eating right, and cross my fingers that my body is happy.  I will say that I have been bad with not getting all my veggies in and probably eating too much cheese.  May be time to reevaluate my habits so that I don't fall back into old ones.  

Even though I have not been eating my best, I have been making some good decisions.  My fiance and I recently walked to a new burger place and I chose the portobello mushroom veggie burger with no bun or mayo.  The burger was delicious!  I had a beer and couple of steak fries and called it a night.  I was happy with my decision and how I spent my calories.  With the good decisions that I made while my fiance was home this was one of the first times that I didn't gain while he was home!  I did splurge on sushi but I only had one roll and had a protein shake for dinner to compensate.  Hopefully, I can keep up this mind set and its a start of a new way of thinking!  

Another victory this week was my non-stop 5k on Wednesday.  I have really been struggling lately with my running.  I wasn't sure if it was my body or my mind that was blocking me from running more than a mile without walking.  I was starting to question, "Can I really run a half marathon?"  After reading this article by Runner's World I was able to push through this Runner's Block.  It was me blocking myself all in all.  I wanted to blame it on the heat or dehydration but I knew it was me deciding not to get my butt out of bed earlier to avoid the heat.  I was creating excuses for myself and had to remind myself that I'm stronger than I was before and a 5k is just 3 miles.  Wednesday I pushed through the run and thankfully it was a beautiful cloudy day that cooled down considerably after work and I pushed through to do a non-stop 5k!  This is just what I needed as I finish week 4 of my half marathon training with 6 miles tomorrow.  6 miles is just two 5ks.  I can at least run a non-stop 5k and I am going to try to push myself and run the whole thing but if I need a break it has to be after the first 3 miles.

Last weekend, I made dinner and lunches for the week and it worked great!  I am trying to not go out to eat other than when the fiance is home and even then once or twice and not twice in one day.  Coming up is another weekend planned with running, projects, and cooking for the week.  I will probably even try this crazy bullet proof coffee this weekend after my run.  I've heard good things and I've heard bad things.  I'll share with you my feelings on this #Eatthetrend in my next post.  

"I may not be there yet, but I'm closer than I was yesterday" 

Finally, it's important to look at how far you have come so that you can see where you are going.  I am almost 1 year into this journey and I have decided to set a goal of 155 lbs.  That will mean that I have lost 70 lbs from my highest weight and about 66 lbs since November.  I am 15 lbs away and I still have two months so lets get this done!  Pictures speak more than works so here is a look at how far I've come.  Excuse my white belly. It does not see the light of day or at least it won't until I'm down another 20 lbs.    

5k, another 5k, and a .......Half marathon?

Good news everybody!  (its okay if you read that like Professor Farnsworth, that was my intent)
I was not  avoiding this post because I have no good news.....I was been avoiding this post because there is so much good news to write about and I wanted to find a time that I could write (type) it all down!  And then more and more stuff kept happening!

Now, where did I leave off?

I believe last time I was telling you about an impromptu 5k.  The run was called the Hottest 5k hill run and I think it lived up to its name.  Thankfully it was at 7:30 am but that is still pretty warm for July in south Texas.  Next, Who knew there were so many hills down here?!?  Worse, they saved the biggest hill for last.  I could see the finish line but this giant hill was in my way.  I made it and with a new PR!  I tried to not walk a lot of it but some of the hills were brutal especially that last one.  My buns were killing me the next day.  All in all though I was happy to explore a new park that has some new running challenges and conquer it!

Then I did another 5k this time with one of my besties AND it had obstacles.  This meant trenches, monkey bars, trench crawl, walk climbing, and rough terrain.  Monkey bars were not a success (curse you high bars, short stature, and fear of heights!) but I did every thing else!  My proudest moment was being able to pull myself out of trench with the ropes!  I have some upper body strength now!  Woot!  This was the Light 'em up 5k Glow run so it was at 9pm and headlamps were required.  (Bug spray should have been on the required list as well)  After the race we splurged on some mini blizzards and they were well deserved.  We didn't set any records but we had a Great time and I am still hearing the "light 'em up" song in my dreams...

So after these two runs I was thinking...I want another running challenge.  After some research I found a half marathon in November in town!  More motivation?  I haven't signed up yet but the cost won't go up until September which is when I will decide if I feel strong enough after a couple weeks of training.  (my mantra for the next couple weeks as I get started: no injuries, no injuries)

I found a training plan that works with my cross-training schedule.

Here is the basics:
Monday: Easy Run
Tuesday: Cross Train
Wednesday: Moderate/Tempo Run
Thursday: Cross Train
Friday: Easy Run/Rest Day
Saturday: Long Run
Sunday: Rest Day

I'll be really happy when this weather starts cooling down and no making my runs so miserable as I steer to routes with as much shade as possible.  Starting to think about a water belt but I'll try to stick it out.  My goal isn't to run the fastest but to give me a goal to work towards while on my weight loss journey and why not mark off a bucket list item while I'm at it? (8 months till the wedding!)

After that what is next?  Triathlon!?!?  Not a full one but a sprint.  I may be getting ahead of myself but that is definitely a goal.  First I need a bike and to really learn how to swim....but for now I have 13.1 miles to focus and train for.

Weight update!  My weight as of this morning is 173.3 lbs.  Feeling good!  I've switched up how I'm eating again...especially since I am training now.  I am trying to focus on clean eating and getting lots of protein in.  We'll see how it goes but so far I am liking the results!

Dietbet update:  I am now enrolled in 3 dietbets.  Yep 3....Did I say I needed motivation?

Dietbet #1:  Ends in 9 days and I am already at goal as of this morning which was 173.8 lbs

Dietbet #2: This one is a transformation one so it lasts 6 months and you have to lose 10% but they have rounds and the first round ends in 18 days.  The first round goal is only 3%  or 174.6 lbs which I also met today.

Dietbet #3: I am doing this one with some friends. Some are veterans and the other a newcomer.  This is only a month long so I have to lose 4 % which means 170.7 lbs in 21 days.  oh boy.  This one is also special because I have done a dietbet with these hosts before but lost miserably....This is more than a dietbet...this is payback.  Literally. I wanna win my money back.

So you ask, "Gretchen what are you going to do with all those winnings?"

My answer, SHOES!  I could use some new running shoes...I am killing the tread on all my current ones.  Also I am in love with Toms.  They are the comfiest!  I wear mine to work EVERY day and they are starting to get worn too.  After these purchases its time to save up for a bike!

Finally, Non scale victory!  I purchased some new work clothes because all my clothes are so big!  I had some a Kohl's gift card from Christmas that I decided it was time to be put to use.  So shopping I went!  I challenged myself to try on some medium shirts.  THEY FIT! What?  oh yeah. This may seem silly so some but for a big girl this feels real good!  I ended up buying all medium shirts!  Feels great to wear clothes that actually fit my body.

This has been a great couple weeks for me and I hope it continues.  Thanks for reading!

It's May?!?

I am so sorry for the extremely late update.  I am not sticking to my weekly posts like I had hoped in the beginning.  Seriously though, it's May? What happened to April?


Dietbet update:


I failed again....I don't know what happened...actually I do.  I have been slacking a lot.  I'm not watching what I put into my mouth as much now.  I need to get back to logging all my foods and not letting myself say oh this little bite won't make difference because obviously it does. 


I am going to take a break from dietbets for right now and try to get back on focusing on my diet and exercise.  The extra stress of trying to make a goal in a set amount of time should not be my focus.  It should be trying to be healthy and meeting that long term goal. 


Activity update: 


I am still going to the rowing classes and I am loving it!  This weekend though I went to a class Saturday and Sunday and I think I pushed my body too far.  It's Tuesday and my legs are still sore..I'm not sure what workout it was but my front upper thighs are extremely sore.  Like so sore I could barely walk or go up and down stairs yesterday...I may need to look into how to make sure this does not happen again!


I am still working towards my 10k goal but a little slower now that I am rowing also.  I know the rowing has been pushing my body in different ways so I don't want to overwhelm myself and get an injury.  Last weekend every one back home in Indianapolis celebrated the Indy 500 Mini-Marathon.  The post of joy and accomplishment were very inspiring.  I would like to do a half marathon some day.  I remember seeing people do it when I lived there and thinking they were all crazy.  I can now see why they did it.  All the work they put into make it all worth it when they cross that finish line.  I want to have the feeling one day and everyday I hope I am working towards that but maybe at my own pace. 


Weight update:


Like I said, I have been slacking...I am at 188 as of this morning and I've been fluctuating all through the 180s for the last month.  I know I say I didn't want to stay in the 180s for a month but it happened.  I am disappointed in myself.  Time to get back on the wagon.  I think I am going to try and change up my diet though to include a cheat day because cutting out all the food that tempt me everyday is not working.  I need a guilt free day where I can indulge but know that for the rest of the week it is diet time.  I don't plan on going on crazy buffet binges but maybe allowing myself some extra carbs and some sweets I would otherwise turn down.  This way I don't go on week long binges because I just crave crappy food.  We'll see how this goes...I understand that I should be making lifelong changes and I believe this is how I want to live the rest of my life.  There are days when the splurge isn't worth it and other times when enjoying a warm morning cinnamon bun with your family is worth taking in. 


Thank you for reading and Enjoy you burrito!  (Nerdist podcast reference)
(Josh's nerdyness rubbing off)  

Long Time, No Blog Part 2

I am really starting to slack aren't I!?! 


It's April! I can't believe its been 3 months already!  My hope is that April will be my restart button to get back on track. 


Weight update:


After 2 weeks off the plan, I was up to 200 lbs. again....it was very depressing seeing that number again.  This was after a week of eating like a 19 year old boy with corndogs and fish sticks and then a bachelorette party weekend where food was always an arm reach away along with lots of alcohol, then a week of recovery and trying to play catch up.  After all that I knew my body needed a deep clean!  So I tried a Juice Cleanse.  I know, I know its another crazy fad.  But I think it really helped. I started out thinking I would do it for 4 days but ended it after 3.  It was hard.  I missed whole foods.  I missed chewing.  But by the end I was back to 192 lbs. and I felt a lot better!  That's what I needed! 


Today, I am down to 188.8 lbs. and I can't tell you how exciting it was to see the 180s!  Just makes me want to race to see the 170s! 


Dietbet update:


I am a week away from finishing one dietbet.  I still have to lose 1.6lbs so I am back to exercising and making good choices because I'm a winner and not a loser! 


I signed up today for Jillian's Rippedin30 dietbet.  The pot for this dietbet is huge and I'm excited to lose so more to keep me motivated to get to those 170s! 


Fitbit update:


I didn't wear my Fitbit for almost a week....it was bad. But now I'm back!  I went from bottom now I'm in second compared to my friends in only a couple of days!  I'm working my way to take the number 1 place back to watch out! 


Other Update:


Rosalie (my fur child) and I are doing the Furry 5k this Sunday!  I did not run for almost 2 weeks and now I am paying for it as I get ready for this 5k.  I have a feeling we may walk some of it but we will do our best to just keep trucking!  I'm hoping that Rosalie gets along with her fellow runners and doesn't stop to sniff every inch.  Wish us luck!


AND....


Do you notice how I tend to post a lot sometime and a little other times?   I think I've figured it out. 


I try to be a happy person.  I don't like bad news, I don't like sad news, I don't like failing.  These are all things that can make me seam like an insensitive person and maybe I am.  Either way I need to address my failures.  I need to accept the bad news.  I need to react to the sad news.  This is a struggle for me but I will do my best to stop, address, and move on so that I can really learn. 


Were the decisions I made during the last two weeks worth the set back in my weight loss goal?  No Way! 


Okay enough of the therapy session...


Thank you for reading!

Long Time, No Blog

Okay way over due update! 


I have started a new dietbet and I am determined to get down to my goal at least 4 days before its due date!  Waiting till the last minute and having to hardcore diet makes me want to be very bad right after the dietbet is over.  I have 22 days to lose 5lbs.  No problem right?  With family visiting this week and a bachelorette party this weekend this is going to be difficult.  But the dietbet is always in the back of my mind helping me make good decisions or at least second guessing my decisions. 


I ran my first virtual 5k this weekend!  I did the Shamrock Shuffle with the Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans.  Its was a beautiful morning and I got a medal and t-shirt with the registration!  I think I am going to start a new goal of a 10k next week because 3 miles is getting easier and easier! 


Fitbit Update:  I did not do so well with this weekly stat.  I was training in Austin and then also trying to keep up with work and slacked with my fitness.

I am feeling better and stronger each day!  I will get another weekly update tomorrow and will try post soon after.  Yesterday I got over 20,000 steps in so my next weekly stat update will be much better! 


Speaking of shrinking jeans...So in the last month or so I have gone from having 4 jeans that fit to having 7!  I can fit into my old jeans again!  I am really happy that I did not get rid of them now which I struggled with almost a year ago.  I am sad now that I got rid of some old shorts now!  I have never been a fan of how my legs look but as I got older I have accepted it and now that I am getting healthier and more fit, I feel even better about wearing shorts!  But now all my shorts are getting too big!  Its a great feeling but now is the struggle of "do I buy new shorts even though I am still pretty far from my goal weight?" or "should I just live with my oversized clothes till I get down another 20 lbs?"  Oh the struggles of weight loss...these are struggles that I am happy with! not the other way around!


Thanks for reading!