5K. Do WHAT?

I have a wonderful new friend, Leslie, who ran cross country in high school. She didn't run for years and then began running again last year. She has run in some 5K's and is doing really well. She basically started training from scratch since she hadn't been an active runner for so long. Leslie ran a 5K this weekend and was over last night talking about it. I have never really been a runner. Jamie's theory is unless something is chasing you, there is no reason to run. I've kind of had that same idea. But something peeked my interest last night when Leslie was talking about 5Ks. I think maybe it's the good feeling of accomplishment I've had lately. I like the feeling and want more. If I ran a 5K I would definitely feel like I accomplished something.

After Leslie left, I went to tristateracer.com and found a calendar of upcoming races. There are some in December and January, but I think that's too soon. But there's a 5K in Huntington in April for autism, and I thought that would give me plenty of time, plus autism is something I really care about. So I thought that would make my first race all the more special.

As I thought more about this today, I got nervous because I have no idea where to start. I'm not a runner. I didn't run track or cross country in school, I know nothing about it. I asked Leslie where to start and she gave me some pointers and directed me to the site, coolrunning.com. They have a lot of great information, including a program called "couch to 5K" that helps people like me start out and get into the groove, gradually.

I am excited to start this new journey. And now that I have announced it to everyone, I have to follow through! My training begins in the morning.

By the way, I'm 13.5 pounds down and I learned to hula hoop the other direction. And of course I have a whole new set of bruises!

Numbers

It has been about two and a half months from when I began working out, a month and a half since starting the Flat Belly Diet, and one week since hula horror. I've officially lost 12 pounds and have gone down 2 pants sizes. About 3 weeks ago I had gone down one size, and after a week of hula hooping, I've gone down another size. I don't think it's all because of the hula hoop, but I think it is contributing significantly. It still hurts to do, but it is getting easier. I am up to 7 minutes now! I am posting a picture of the wicked bruising I have on my side. It looks like I have been beaten. But I have been assured that it will go away.Hopefully this doesn't gross you out!

So all this progress has really motivated me to keep going. It is so nice to actually see results. I have a long way to go, but am on my way!

My brother sent me a Power Point presentation today that his dietitian at work put together. It is about holiday eating. Apparently people gain about a pound from holiday eating, but never lose it. So a lot of extra weight that people carry around is from years of holiday eating. I have been anxious about the upcoming holiday meals. The presentation had some great tips, like snacking before going to a family dinner so you're not famished when you get there which usually ends up in overeating. Another good idea is to only put the bulky foods on your plate that fill you up and don't mess with insulin levels. So eat things like proteins, lean meats, nuts, and veggies; stay away from white stuff like white bread, rice, potatoes. Go for wheat bread, rice and crackers. Eat the pumpkin pie without the shell. Don't deny yourself the favorite things, just eat small portions. And don't waste calories on liquid calories or food that just isn't worth it. So I have a plan and I am going to enjoy my Thanksgiving meals, but focus more on blessings, family and relationships rather than food.

Hula Horror

Tonight I began a new part of my exercise routine. A friend of mine who has had great success at weight loss suggested I purchase a weighted hula hoop. I had never heard of one these. When I was a kid I used to hula hoop all the time. I loved it. I was also skinny. So I researched hula hoops online and found the one for me. I ordered a four pound medium ACU Hoop. I have anxiously awaited for it to arrive for several days. It was on the porch when I got home this evening. It came in eight pieces, all different colors. They are made of foam and snap together. Of course my obsessive seven year old insisted that I assemble the pieces in ROYGBIV so they would look like a proper rainbow. I assembled it and was surprised at how large it was. This wasn't going to be a big deal. I was great at hula hooping and I can still do it with Brett's hula hoop. No problem. WRONG!

The torture began. I swung that bad boy around my belly and could not believe the pain! It only stayed up for about 4 seconds! The instructions said for the first week to only use it for one to three minutes. Being the over achiever that I am, I wanted to go for at least 5 minutes. I made it but mostly in just 4 second intervals! I think the longest it stayed up was about 20 seconds. It took every ounce of strength I had to keep that thing going. When the directions say "forcefully" swing the hoop, it means FORCEFULLY swing it! I was out of breath and couldn't believe I got such a work out! But I survived. Beth had warned me that for some time after she started she actually had bruising from the impact of the hoop. I am quite sure I will have multiple bruises tomorrow.

As Jamie and the kids watched they thought it was quite funny. Jamie said it looked painful. I have red blotches all over my abdomen. This better be worth it! I will decide later if Beth really wants to help or if she's playing an evil trick on me!

Fringe Benefits

Several months ago James, who is 4, very innocently asked me why my belly was still big since Luke wasn't in it anymore. I told him I was working on it. He then said, "but you aren't exercising." That's when I was reminded of the example I am setting for my children. Shortly thereafter I joined the gym.

Of course the best part of losing weight is having to yank up my pants all the time. I love actually seeing progress. But some other great things have happened too. I feel really good. I just feel healthier. My energy is good and I have more motivation in general.

Brett, my picky, PICKY eater, has taken notice also. She knows mommy is trying to get healthier. She has actually tried some new things that I am eating, and likes them! She tried baby spinach, tapenade, and a blueberry smoothy. She is watching so I have to keep it up.

Jamie has started working out and is eating slightly better. So I am glad that something positive is happening in my family through this new way of living. I think it's going to last this time.

Torn

It's been a while since I've written and there has been a lot of progress. I'm down about 9 pounds which is wonderful. I am having more good days than not. This thing is not exactly coming naturally to me, but it is much easier and I pretty much have it down to a science.

I'm finding the most important part in managing my eating is planning ahead. I have to pack lunches and snacks for the days I'm away from the house. If I don't, I get too hungry and want to eat whatever I can get my hands on. So being prepared is the most important thing for me right now. I've had a few tough moments, like when I picked up pizza for the kids and when I smelled McDonald's fries when I was hungry. But the amazing thing is that if I just get through it, I'm fine. It's not the end of the world if I don't fulfill that urge immediately!

One thing that frustrates me is being torn between viewing food as just fuel or thinking it is something I should enjoy. Part of me wants to just look at it as something I need to survive and nothing more. The other part of me thinks God made it so good so that we can enjoy it. Ugh! My thin neighbor, Isaac, tells me we are to enjoy it in small portions. And I think that's the key. Ultimately, that's what this whole Flat Belly Diet has been about for me; eating small portions with a MUFA added to it. I just wish pumpkin pie was a MUFA! Last night at a church dinner I did have a few bites of pie. I felt slightly guilty, but I plan to go full steam ahead with the plan. The weight loss I have experienced is definitely motivation to go on.

Until later....