This Months Weigh In

I weigh myself more often than once a month, but on the 17th of each month I do my "Monthly Weigh In" And this month has not been the greatest of months.

Last Month- 158.2
This Month- 160.0
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I gained :(         1.8 pounds


Like I said, this month has been hard. I still tracked calories, and I worked out, in fact my workouts have been GREAT this month, I'm feeling really good about them. But I probably could eat less sweet things and more vegetables. I also probably could do better with making sure  my portion sizes are appropriate.

I'm kind of annoyed with my scale. This month I've fluctuated back and forth between 157 and 160 on my scale. I weighed myself at my Mom's house 2 weeks ago and her scale said I was 154, then I came home and the next day my scale told me 160. I went out of town (and ate lots of sweets, it was delightful, I also exercised so I don't feel too bad about going out of town) and yesterday I decided to see what the scale said- to prepare myself for today's weigh in. I had already eaten and dressed and I told myself "your clothes weigh at least a pound". My scale said 154. I was like WHAAAAT? I didn't reweigh myself, because often if I ask the scale if that was right, it will say oops, you really weigh 10 pounds more. So this morning it told me 160.0 and I wasn't too amazingly happy. I wished it would have been closer to 154, because I tried!

SO, now I have a fresh month, and a fresh new commitment to ACTUALLY lose weight this month. But if not, I'm feeling healthy, I'm feeling strong, and maybe that matters more than reaching a goal weight. (but I really really really want to be able to reach and maintain that weight, so I'm pretty much just trying to make myself feel a little better, oh well)

Cross Training- Arms and Legs

I made a mistake a couple of weeks ago, I intended to write a post for this blog, but it actually was posted to my family blog. It was about how and why I'm pretty much going to be working out 60 minutes a day 5 to 6 times a week for the rest of my life, and why I'm okay with that. But I think that was probably a good thing that it posted there since not many people know about this blog and chances are people will see it there that would have never run across it here.

And today I had that 60 minutes in mind and I added a couple of 10 to 15 minute workouts that I found online to my regular cross training day. Normally I've been doing a 20 minutes of leg and hip strengthening exercises that my Sister in Law Tiff showed me, she learned them from a physical therapist who was helping her rehab an injured knee. I don't have any links for this and I'm not sure how well I can explain them, but basically.....

....while standing, 1) lift your straight leg out in front of you then bring it back down, 10 reps,  4 sets per leg. I usually start with my left then do my right, then back and forth until all 4 sets are done for both legs. I do that back and forth left 10 reps, right 10 reps, left 10 reps for each standing exercise.  2) Lift your leg out to the side 10 times, repeating 4 times for each leg.  3) Bring your leg across the front of your body 10 times, repeating 4 times for each leg. 4) Lift your leg straight back behind you. If you don't feel very stable standing on one leg while moving/lifting the other leg, use the back of a chair to stabilize yourself. But if you can remain stable without using a chair you will find that your standing leg gets a pretty great workout during these standing leg lifts, possibly even more of a work out than the leg that's moving at the time, this is a good thing.

Next do all 4 leg lifts while laying down. 1) I start on your back and do the front leg lifts, easy enough- you just lay down and lift your leg up! 4 sets of 10 each leg. I go back and forth between left and right with this one too.  2 & 3) turn onto your side. Lift the top leg straight up, this replicated the side leg lift you did while you were standing. NOW, if we were going to do the side leg lift for both legs we'd be rolling over A LOT and so at this point I do the cross the body leg lift with the leg that is on the floor. How, I take my top leg, bring it forward and put my foot on the floor then I lift the leg on the floor as far as I can towards the ceiling. I 4 sets of 10 reps for each leg THEN I turn over so that I am laying on my side with my other hip on the floor and do the same exercised, top leg up towards the ceiling, then top foot on the floor, lower leg towards the ceiling, 4 sets each leg, 10 reps each set, and you've replicated the side leg lift and cross the body leg lift that you did while you were standing.  And Finally- 4) roll onto your belly and lift your legs up towards the ceiling, 4 sets each leg 10 reps per set, alternating legs.

This takes me 20 minutes. Eventually, when I don't feel the burn anymore I'll add elastic workout bands.

A few weeks ago I saw this 15 Minute Upper-body/Shoulder workout and BOY was I glad I owned 2 pound weights the first time I tried this workout. Like I said, I've been doing this 2-3 times a week for about 3 weeks, I'm feeling those 2 pound weights still! By the time I hit the end of the 3rd set I scream a little, just a little, a soft little scream so as not to scare anyone but WOW. I think it's a good workout.

This weekend I found this 15 minute Arm and Shoulder workout. So I added it in today. My little 4 year old was home from preschool when I started this part of my workout. He asked me to watch him play, I told him sure as long as I could exercise while I watched him. He agreed but he looked at me like I was CRAZY when I started doing the "Bear Crawl". The explanation of the Bear Crawl says that your kids will probably join in with you and start crawling around like a bear, my son didn't. In fact he told me to go away, that I was scaring him. Oh well.

So after all that I had done 50 minutes of exercises. Normally I would just hop on the exercise bike and finish out the 60 minutes. Today it would have meant 10 minutes, other days it's been 35 minutes. But today I didn't feel like riding the bike, and on the website where I found the previous workout I saw a little box proclaiming "10 minute butt lift workout" and so I said, 10 minutes, I'll try it!

And so I rounded out my 60 minutes with what I shall call a 10 minute glute workout. I may have done some quite screams during this workout as well, but I'm pretty sure I got a good glute workout.

I'm going to be trying to get some good core workouts in on my cross training days as well, but for now, arms, shoulders, legs and glutes it shall be!

The Fifth Wheelers: The Basement 5k- A blog post from June 2008.

I have two blogs, I think I've mentioned that before. A couple of days ago I posting like MAD on the family blog, there were lots of updates to give on the kids. I wanted to get a little comparison of heights between my children at similar ages (the baby had just had her 9 month check up) so I was looking through old blog posts and that got me feeling a little nostalgic. And so tonight I decided to go all the way back to the beginning and I was kind of amazed. One, because it was a post about running, trying to be healthy and weight loss. AND because I've come a long way! So I decided to share that post here. Feel free to give it a click.

The Fifth Wheelers: The Basement 5k: In Early 2007 I decided that it was time to take take my health seriously and lose weight. And so I set the goal that I was going to run a 5...

So on June 28th, 2008 I ran 3.1 miles. It took me 45 minutes. This morning I ran 4.5 miles it took me 49 minutes. I remember one of my early 5k's, I got passed by someone that was walking. I was RUNNING! For short periods of time both my feet were off the ground and that person was just a really fast walker. I haven't been passed by anyone who is walking lately. In fact I've been making progress speed wise. I still have some work to do, I've been faster than I am currently, but I'm pretty happy with what I've been able to accomplish.

I also talked in that post about how, prior to my first pregnancy, I had been able to lose 25 pounds. Then about 1 year after becoming pregnant I realized I was at the same weight I was before losing that weight, and so I had high hopes that I would once again be able to lose that same 25 pounds, and maybe even 25 more. Well, It's taken a few more years than I had probably hoped and expected, but yeah, It's happening! And it's awesome.

My body's favorite weight used to be 202 pounds. Prior to my second pregnancy I was at 183, I was able to get down to 150 by the time my second boy was about 16 months old. I worked hard, I felt good. I had an injury and gained some weight, then I had some surgeries and gained some weight. I was only back up to the 170s. I was able to start running again and somehow, through the ups and downs (emotional and weight wise) of two miscarriages I was eventually able to get to 160 before finding out that I was pregnant again. At the time I was half way through training for a Half Marathon, and my doctor approved of my continuing training and running that race. I stopped losing weight, and actually gained quite easily, even during my 20 mile weeks! A beautiful baby girl joined our family last November. In January I found myself at 183 again, and by May I was still struggling to get under and stay under that dreaded 183. I hoped it hadn't become my body's new favorite weight. (though I would definitely take 183 over 202.)

That 2008 Kate, the one who ran the Basement 5k, she has inspired me. I have hope, I have high hopes. Not only have I lost that first 25 pounds, I'm well on my way to lose the second 25 she had hoped for (in fact I've only got about 8 pounds to go on that second 25) and then I'm into uncharted territory. Like I said in a post yesterday, My goal weight, the weight I hope to hit and stay at for the rest of my life (or at least 2-3 pounds on either side of) is 145. I don't know what that's going to be like, but if that's what is going to keep me healthy and able to play with and keep up with my kids, I'll gladly do it.

So thanks, 2008 Kate, I'm proud of you and I know that you are proud of me too! We rock!

Rewards are Important

This little beauty has been in my freezer for a couple of months, just waiting for me to get to the goal of 160. Since I've passed that goal- I took it out and cut it in 4 pieces. I told my 4 year old he could have one of the 4 pieces......I got about 1.5 pieces he had the rest.

Let's Get It Started (again)

I've been gone. At first I was kind of mad, because I felt like I was doing everything I could, but I wasn't losing weight. I would lose a pound or two, then gain a pound or two and lose and gain and I felt stuck and feeling stuck made me frustrated and sad.

In May I went to my doctor. I was convinced that I had a thyroid problem because I was doing the same thing I had done in 2011 (tracking my food, training for a half marathon) but I wasn't having the same results. The only difference, as far as I could tell, was that in 2010 and 2011 I was taking a thyroid medication. My doctor at that time told me that my test results had come back normal but she was treating my symptoms.

So I laid it all out to my doctor; I'm working so hard, I'm not losing weight, I'm frustrated. He said he understood and told me that he had been feeling the same way. He too is a runner and he realized that over the past few years he had put on some weight. How do you put on weight when you are running regularly! This is a man who runs several marathons a year. He said "Kate, we think we deserve those carbs, but we really don't." And the proof is that when you take in more than you need, it get's stored as fat. So he told me what he had been doing that has worked. Which was eat less. I protested- BUT I'VE BEEN DOING THAT. And he asked me to keep doing it. He also gave me an appetite suppressant to use for a month. When he was talking to me about medications I told him about the thyroid medication I was on and he said "Yes, that one does have weight loss as a side effect"

I was kind of crushed. Because I felt like I had done lots of good work in 2011, I had worked hard and I had seen results. For a day or two I was sad, thinking that it wasn't really me at all, it was just a happy side effect of a medication that I may not have even needed to be taking. Then a friend told me that I shouldn't feel that way, that I needed to remember that I had worked hard, I had focused and I had done my best and I had (and still do) inspired her.

That was the middle of May. I was 182 pounds according to my scale. I did exactly what the doctor told me to do. I ate 3 small meals and 3 snacks. The caloric break down through the day was 300, 100, 300, 100, 400, 100. That month I lost 13 pounds. 169! I saw the doctor, he was amazed at how well I had done, I was amazed at how well I had done. We talked about what my weight goal should be, 145. We set the goal to lose 6 pounds per month until I met that goal.

A month later I was at 163, and now it's been another month and this morning I weighed in at 158.2 It always amazes me when I get into the 150's. in 2011 I never made it into the 140's so to have my final goal be 145 is kind of odd to me. I know I can do it, I just don't know what it will feel like. I have no memories at all of a time that I ever had a 4 in the middle of my weight.

So there you have it. Since my last weigh in on the blog I have gained and lost and gained and lost the same pound or two, and as of today I am down 23.2 pounds which, if I do say so myself, is FREAKING AWESOME! You know what's also awesome. I feel strong. I think I look strong too. Since May I've gone from 30% body fat to 26 %. Since June I've gone from a 34 inch waist to a 31 inch waist. And in a week and a half I'm going to run my second 1/2 Marathon of the year. I've dealt with weird pains and strains but I've kept going (don't worry, I talked to the doctor and he told me to keep going). I've discovered that I'm willing to wake up at 5 AM and run in the dark. I'm working had AND I really feel like it's paying off. I'm feeling good, I'm feeling blessed.

I haven't decided if I will be having weekly weigh in's or monthly ones, but I promise will be updating this blog more frequently. So stay tuned!

Feb- 26th Weekly Weigh In- Week 8

Last Week  182.0
This Week   181.4
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Total Lost-       0.6 pounds

Well, a loss is a loss I guess. I'm annoyed though because I weighed myself on Monday and I was 179.0 That was after two days without much of an appetite and some pretty good fevers. So, I knew it wouldn't stick around until today, I was still hoping for at least 2 pounds lost though, or even a pound.......half a pound doesn't really put a smile on my face this morning. So I'm pretty sure I'm not going to make my goal of being under 180 by the end of Feb.

I set a goal this year of losing 25 pounds, which seemed simple enough, in fact it seem easy- 2 pounds a month, anyone can lose two pounds a month. But the fact is, this is my 8th weigh in and I've lost a total of 2 pounds so far......A few weeks ago I might have said "well I need to just get it in gear and do what I know I need to do" but I have been. I ran 4 miles yesterday, 4 MILES, I just wish my body would have rewarded me a little more. :(

Feb 19th- Weekly Weigh In- Week 7

Last Week 183.4
This Week 182.0
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Total Lost-   1.4 pounds

I'll take it! And I guess I'll keep doing what I'm doing and hope that this week I hit just over 2 pounds so that I can make my goal (which I have a week and a half to do technically) of being under 180 by the end of February!

Feb 11th- Weekly Weigh In- Week 6

Last Week- 182.4
This Week- 183.4
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oops, those pumpkin chocolate chip cookies were good, as were those macaroons, and that cinnamon cake with butter cinnamon syrup......I was wondering if I had a thyroid issue, since loosing weight has been a little harder after this pregnancy, and then I stuffed another macaroon in my mouth.......and I decided I would have to get the sweets under control before I went complaining to my doctor.

2 weeks left in February and 3.5 pounds to lose. I can do this!

Feb 5th- Weekly Weigh In- Week 5

Previous Weight  184.4
Today's Weight   182.4
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Total :Lost-              2  Pounds!

Yay! Finally!!!!! Wohoooooo!!!!!

Jan 29th- Weekly Weigh In- Week 4

Today's Weight.....184.4

I ate breakfast.......and I also ate something like a pound of chocolate wafer cookies. Though the cookies were not eaten today, they were eaten on Monday and Tuesday. Lesson learned? Don't buy chocolate wafer cookies, because apparently I'm an addict. Have I plateaued? Do I just need to stop eating pounds of sugary treats......bah, I'm not sure I care to decide. Either way- Next week is a new month and I guess I have a new goal for February, By the end of February I want to weigh less than 180! That's the goal, now......to make it happen.

Jan 22- Weekly Weigh In- Week 3

Absolutely no change. It's almost 8:30 and I'm hungry. I have two rules for when I can get on the scale- 1- before I eat and 2- after I've used the bathroom.......well......my body is not cooperating with rule #2.....so I decided I was too hungry to wait and weighed myself. 184 still. Hopefully next week we will see some movement in the right direction.

Jan 15th- Weekly Weigh In- Week 2

Last Week 183.4
This Week 184.0
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 Oops          +0.6

Lesson Learned this week. Yes, I can totally go to Pizza Pie Cafe......but I should probably save it- and other all you can eat restaurants- for days that I run 8 or more miles :) THAT or learn how to eat less than 9 pieces of pizza at lunch. It was yummy, and for slightly more than half a pound....I'm going to say it was worth it.

Jan 7th- Weekly Weigh In- Week 1

This weeks Weight 183.4

So last week I didn't have an official weigh in, so there is no way of knowing how much I may have lost this week, but I was somewhere around 185, so I'm pretty happy being below that. I will admit that yesterday I was so frustrated by "Homework Time" with my kindergartner that I ate an entire tray of cordial cherries.....so it's quite possible that I won't lose next week :( We shall see.

Guess What? I had a BABY!

You know you missed me! Well, it was about the beginning of March last year that I started to wonder if I was pregnant, and I was! SO, I put in some effort while I was pregnant and I tried not to gain too much weight. I went from 160.4 to 204. My baby is now 6 weeks old, and I currently weigh 185 (+/- 1/2 a pound). I'll have my official first weigh in next week. My 2014 goal is to lose at least 25 pounds, I think that's totally doable, and it would get me right back to 160. I will also be delighted if I blow that goal and that 25 pounds right out of the water!

I'm already registered for 2 races this year. I'm part of a team of 5 women who will run the Ogden Marathon Relay in May. I'm going to run the first leg- it's 7.1 miles, but if all goes well with my training I may also run the second leg with my friend which will bring me up to 13.1 miles that day. I'm also scheduled to run the Utah Valley Half Marathon again this June. Last June I ran it, I was 16 weeks pregnant and I finished in just under 3 hours. My goal is to be closer to 2:20.

So get ready- Kate is running again. I planned out my training schedule today and I'm excited to start it and I hope and pray that everything goes well.