6th Half Marathon on the horizon

Shnikies! How did THAT happen!?! SIXTH?

It's true, this Saturday I'll be participating in the St. Jude Half Marathon in Memphis, TN making it my SIXTH 13.1 distance event.

You can read about two, three, four, and five on my blog.

(Almost) four years ago, after my first half marathon, I swore I'd never do one of them again. I HATED it and it took me 4 hours and 18 minutes to complete.

This past April, at the same race I did 3 years prior, I PR'd in under 3 hours (2:58).

That, my friends, is progress. And proof that slow and steady wins completes the race.

Overcoming Fears: Zip-lining

A huge part of weight loss for me has been being able to do "normal" activities I never would have thought of doing at 355 pounds. This year alone, I've gone to Disney World without fear of not being able to fit in the rides (that really happened to me as a young adult), hiked a "moderately strenuous" trail, and now I can add zip-lining to the list.

When friend Lynn mentioned wanting to go zip-lining I didn't even hesitate clicking "purchase" on the Groupon-type coupon we bought to visit a local farm that has a zip-lining course. Who am I?

Since these types of activities usually have strict weight limits, it is something that I never would have been able to do even 2 years ago. I didn't even think of it until after the purchase - now that's a NSV!

So Saturday we loaded up and headed into the hills of Tennessee.

All geared up and ready to go!

Lynn is fearless!

My first ride in - my eyes MAY HAVE been closed.

Group shot on the smallest platform ever.

KG and I after the 2nd line.

Where I almost died.

Get me down from here.

After my death defying experience...not having it!

Last line - finally on the ground!

So glad to be on the ground again!

Overall, I'm really proud of myself on how I did with the fear of heights thing. Yes, the first few "jumps" off the platforms were disconcerting. Yes, I had problems "landing" on almost every platform. But I did it. And I did it without too much whining.

There was one line that pretty much ended my "oh this isn't so bad" thought process. I got "stuck" on the line just short of the platform and had to "jump" my hands from my harness to a rope so I could be pully-ed in. Yeah, just hanging by my harness was not the best feeling in the world for someone that is scared of heights and I was a little shaky after that. But I got through it.

More importantly, I'm so thankful my weight loss has given me this and so many other opportunities to live a "normal" life! It's so liberating to know I really can do "anything" and my weight will not hold me back!

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Making Progress When the Scale Isn't - An NSV

I did a little exercise the other night - and not the aerobic kind. I wanted to take a look at where my weigh ins over the last 7 months have left me. It's no secret that I've struggled with the number on the scale during this time so I took a look at my first weigh in every month and graphed it - nerd style.

Proof my "roller coaster ride" hasn't just felt like one. It has been!

Luckily, I may have not kept up with what I've been eating over those 7 months; HOWEVER, I have trained for 2 half marathons during that same time (Correlation? Maybe another post for another day) and all that work hasn't been for naught.

In recent weeks, I've had my most exciting NSV to date other than maybe the day I truly buckled my seatbelt on plane for the first time without an extension or riding a bike as an adult for the first time last summer.

I tried on these size 16 pants...


And they fit! They completely and utterly fit! (No, I didn't buy them because frankly they were ugly on me.) But the important part is THEY FIT!

Then something mind blowingly awesome happened...my roommate who is 5'4" and by all terms in my eyes "thin" said she may have a dress I could fit into from when she was heavier.

So I tried it (also a size 16) on...


What, the Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?! Are you kidding me? It fits PERFECTLY!

Like I said, Mind. Blown. I always thought of Karen as my little "skinny" friend. The fact that I am now able to fit into some of her old clothes - even if they are her "bigger" clothes - is amazing to me. I also inherited a shirt and some pj pants.

Not to mention a 16 is only 2 sizes away from the size I've always had in my mind that I would feel "normal" at - a 12. I don't know why this number is in my head, but as mental as it sounds it just is.

Aka it is the size I've always thought of as I-will-never-in-my-life-get-there. So, maybe that 12 is attainable after all.

A NSV - My First Massage

This may seem like a weird thing to classify as a NSV, but at 355 lbs - or even 329 (where I was when I started this blog) - I would NEVER have thought to get naked and layout on a table covered with a sheet as a stranger methodically relaxes all the muscles in my body with their hands.

Yeah, creepy, right?

But actually, it was fabulous.

I don't talk about body image issues enough here, I guess because I try not to focus on mine. But everyone has them and I feel like my love/hate relationship with my body is no worse or better then normal. I actually feel like I put more body image pressure on myself since losing weight. It's a weird effect of weight loss, but something I have noticed over the last few months.

Anyway, any professional massage therapist is going to be just that - professional and it really lessened any self-consciousness feeling I had about this stranger seeing all my imperfections.

My massage therapist was wonderful - he knew it was my first massage and was very professional and explained everything to me before the session and even interjected some information on what he was planning on doing as he worked. He allowed me to decide whether to leave on my underthings or have them come off and ultimately I decided to dive in and everything came off. I think you get a better quality massage that way because they don't have to awkwardly work around clothing.

Overall, it was a great experience and I'd recommend it to anyone who puts in a great deal of exercise stress on their body or for people who sit at a desk for 8 hours a day. I will definitely be going back to get one after my next half marathon!

This crosses off another item from my 101 in 1001 list.

Road Trip NSV

Last night I was in Atlanta to see New Found Glory. I kind of love this shot below I snapped at the end of their set on my phone.


Cyndi was sweet enough to let me crash on her couch last night. Although from reading her blog and all our conversations on Twitter I feel like I know her just as well as any of my friends in Nashville, it was nice to finally "meet" in person. We had already planned for me to come take over Atlanta with her next weekend, so I'll get another dose of her sweet, but straight talking self.

On my way home this morning, I realized I had a NSV on my hands (lap?). Due to my size and the amount of space I used to take up in a seat, I could never put a cup or drink between my legs. I remember as a kid (you know before cup holders), my mom would always do this. Even though I don't really have a NEED to do it (because you know my car has a bagillion cup holders), it's nice to know I CAN do it.

Riding a bike after 15 years

Yesterday I did something I never would have done 67 lbs ago. I rode a bike! I have wanted to ride a bike since hitting my first milestone on the scale (under 300 lbs) back in November and I just haven't gotten around to it despite Nashville's free bike share program.

Yesterday though I got on a bike for the first time in about 15 years. We rode 8 miles on a mountainside trail. You know what a mountainside trail means?

HILLS.

I mean really, this looks like a background someone created for a Hollwood movie set.

The weather was perfect with clear, blue, sunny skies and just the right mix of physical challenges and reassurances that I am in shape or at least getting there. On the way out we were apparently going downhill with a few rolling hills in the mix. We made it to Lake Dillon before having to turn around (we are here to work afterall). I felt great on the way out. Coasting on the flat surfaces, riding the hardest-to-pedal gear.

Stopping to pose by Lake Dillon.

After reaching the lake we headed back. Unbeknownst to us, it was all uphill on the way back. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't huffing and puffing. It felt like a much slower return, but as it turned out we arrived back at the bike shop in the same amount of time ending up riding for an hour and a half.

I felt so accomplished before 9 in the morning. Accomplished in a way that walking a marathon or learning to run hasn't afforded me. It was a whole new sort of accomplishment. There were, however, challenges. Like the moment I practically stopped on a rather large hill due to a gear shift issue and had to get off my bike and walk it to the top. Or towards the end of the bike feeling like I wouldn't be able to do anything else for the rest of the day.

Of course, after a 20 minute rest in my hotel room and a shower I had great energy for the rest of the day. I attended the rest of the conference, sipped some fine local microbrews and soaked in my last Colorado evening at the resort stables for the "Barn Dance."

My only regret is that I have to leave Colorado today. I can't wait to start planning my next trip back. Hopefully, it will be to complete one of my 101 in 1001 items - to go snow skiing.

Running in Beautiful Colorado

View from the hotel - Keystone, CO

Life has been busy since touching down in Denver on Tuesday. After renting a car and making the 2 hour drive up the mountain we arrived in Keystone, CO just in time for me to drop my bags and jet off to to my new member orientation.

To tell you it is beautiful here is a gross understatement and I can only imagine that experiencing its beauty is the only way one could ever know what I am talking about.

We are staying at approximately 9,000 feet. The sky is bluer than I have ever seen anywhere in the world. This is due to the lack of moisture in the air (hello, chapped lips). Of course the beauty does come with the stuffy nose, headache and shortness of breath of altitude sickness. But honestly I haven't minded any of those minor inconveniences. So what if I am out of breath after walking a mile? It's worth it to experience the most beautiful place I've ever laid eyes on.

I honestly slept horribly my first night in Keystone. I fell asleep ok but I seemed to wake up every hour - 11, 12, 3, 3, 5...I had my alarm set for 6:15 Wednesday morning to hit the fitness center and get my run out of the way. Unfortunately, the fitness center was full and no cardio machines were open. I hit the trail instead even though I only had a t-shirt and capris on. Oh, and it was 34 degrees out.

Although I froze, the 30 minutes or so I had with just myself and the outdoors allowed me to experience some of the great scenery. I'm not a big picture taker while exercising as I think it distracts from focusing on my workout, but I couldn't resist snapping a few phone shots.

A little blury, but this is the Snake River, which runs through the area.
Picturesque, isn't it? It reminds me of a postcard.
Note the snow capped mountains in the far background.

Another shot of the river, which I actually saw someone fly fishing in this morning.

Since time was short, I strayed from the actual #5Kin100days schedule and just did a warm up and then eight 1:30 minute intervals. I thought I would of had more trouble with my endurance given the altitude, but I didn't have difficulty breathing until the end of my run.

I am so glad I got out and got a work out in. 67 lbs ago I would have never taken time out from a trip to do this. A major NSV. Tomorrow I am planning on getting up and renting a bike to ride along the mountainside trails before conference activities really get started.

A NSV: I may just be in shape

I've been going to water aerobics off and on for over 2 1/2 years. It was really the activity that got me on the wagon to working out regularly. I've always loved the water. As a child, I was on the neighborhood swim team for a short time and I learned to water ski when I was 4 1/2. I figured it would be something I would at least enjoy since I didn't like exercise much when I started out. And I did. I loved being in the water. Sometimes I would go 5 days a week. I still go from time to time and it is my goal to go at least once a week during the summer.

Wednesday I went for the first time in a couple weeks. There was a sub instructor, one that I've taken classes from in the past, but her style this night was a bit different, meaning I wasn't used to most of her moves.

There were a lot of new faces in class, many struggling with the moves. Then it hit me. I am no longer an exercise "beginner". I can do this activity, and many others, with relative ease.

There was one move in particular Wednesday night: Kneeling on on a noodle underwater, breast stroke from one end of the pool to the other. Using your core strength to keep you from face planting into the water. I was lengths in front of the others, looking back I thought maybe I was doing the move wrong? After studying the instructor a bit, I realized I'm not doing the move wrong; I'm just IN SHAPE.

A major NSV this week as I try to get back on my game and move away from the negative body image feelings I've been having recently.

What is your biggest NSV this week?

Post-Thanksgiving report: Two Thanksgiving dinners?

It wasn't perfection, but I was in control and I made my food choices with the knowledge of what I was consuming. If I went back and changed anything, it would be not having the small snacks I had before dinner was served. that added about 400 calories to my day, but overall not bad.

I ate around 2,300 calories yesterday. My normal daily goal is 1,900. However, I ate my favorite Thanksgiving items (in limited quantities) and was very satisfied. I even had a small slice of my uncles' infamous Bourbon chocolate pecan pie.

I come from a family of divorced parents. I often have to split time on holidays between my dad's side of the family and my mom's side. This year was no different. I made the decision to eat Thanksgiving dinner at my aunts house on my dad's side. Afterward, I joined my aunts, uncles and cousins at my mom's house where they had not eaten dinner. I was full from my dinner a few hours prior and faced with another Thanksgiving dinner. I am happy to report that I staved off a 2nd Thanksgiving dinner and sat outside of the dining area while they ate dinner. This may seem weird, but my health is more important. I enjoyed the time visiting with my family before and after the meal, and ate dessert with them.

My Thanksgiving victories:
- No seconds at dinner
- I did not eat a 2nd dinner at my mom's house (normally I would have had another plate)
- I did not eat so many pre-dinner appetizers I wasn't hungry for dinner
- I only ate one kind of pie, and it was a small piece. (normally I would have tried every kind of dessert - pumpkin, pecan, coconut cream and apple pies)

Today, I took a brisk 3.16 mile walk in the 27 degree icy cold of Missouri and tomorrow I plan to do 7 miles. It feels good to get all of my walks in even though I am out of town visiting family - one of my worst binge and unhealthy food eating triggers - a REALLY great feeling.

Hope you all had a good Thanksgiving too - I can't wait to weigh in Monday morning!

Moldy banana bread, Halloween treats and ankle report

Well mold on banana bread is one way to prevent me from eating it when I am already full. I think this is the ONLY time any portion of a loaf of banana bread made it to the trash in my house.

NSV perhaps?

Someone at work brought in their excess Halloween candy *shakes fist* It wasn't even anything Carb Lover's friendly like Reese's or Hershey's dark chocolate. Also, did you know that fun size Almond Joys are 82 calories?

I don't really have anything to say, ankle hurts less today. I'll try to do a short walk probably Wednesday.

I beat a Italian restaurant

I have a huge problem with making a lifestyle change to where you don't get to enjoy the things that you just plain enjoy - like going out to eat with friends. I know all the experts say mealtime shouldn't be social time, but too bad I enjoy having a meal with friends and eating out.

So, when my co-workers planned to go to lunch to celebrate another co-worker's new position (promotion) in another department, I, of course, wanted to partake.

The restaurant was Amerigo - a new world Italian bistro. "Uh oh, what's the chance they'll have Carb Lover's options," I thought to myself.

The night before I perused the lunch menu and narrowed it down to a salad choice, entree with fish or a grilled chicken option. Doing this allowed me to wait and see what I felt like eating for lunch that day before making a decision, leaving me more satisfied with my meal.

When we got to the restaurant I avoided the bread. It was non-Carb Lover's friendly white bread served alongside olive oil (my favorite combination). Sure, one piece wouldn't have been too bad, but I know one piece would have led to another and then another and before you know it I would have eaten a whole loaf.

I ordered the Chicken Acuto - Flame grilled chicken breast over black bean salsa with grilled Roman artichokes and green beans. Topped with a spicy sauce of olive oil, cilantro, lemon juice and seasoning.

Putting the ingredients into Sparkpeople, my lunch calculated under 500 calories. I'm considering this a victory. I realize it is just one meal and only one time I was able to resist the bread basket, but I feel like my portions and binging have been really under control (sans this past weekend) the last several months and every time I am able to do this out at a restaurant it reminds me it IS possible.

Again, preparation is key. Would I have been able to make a smart choice had I not looked through the menu before hand? Most likely not!

***Side note: in the midst of ordering I did find a note on the menu that they can substitute whole wheat pasta in most of their dishes - good to know for next time!

A non-scale victory

A blogger I follow, who writes about her journey after having the lapband procedure done, has used the term NSV - or non-scale victory alot throughout her journey. These are the little moments or things that happen as you lose weight or notice as you become a healthier version of yourself that don't relate to a number on the scale.

Today I had a NSV.

My slim fit pants I am wearing today feel too large, to the point that I have to keep pulling them up. Good thing I have a long shirt on or otherwise it would be uncomfortable. It feels good to have this problem.

Today is CSA day, and we haven't had a CSA related post in awhile. I plan to change that tonight. Look out for a post of all the goodies we get!