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!