LosingForLife

Workout - 1/2/09

Fri, 02 Jan 2009 18:25:00 -0700

I went to the gym today and had a great workout. I did a 4 mile run, followed by leg weights (working to strengthen the muscles that support my knees), pushups, crunches, planks and then 10 high intensity intervals on the bike. I finished up my workout with lots of stretches.

Exercise Goals

Thu, 01 Jan 2009 06:19:00 -0700

Over the last few months I haven't been able to exercise as much as I would like. There have been a couple of reasons for this including the problem with my knee and a problem with time due to the longer commute I've had the last four months. Now that my knee is a lot better I want to kick up the exercise and hopefully be in better shape for the marathon this year. A second goal that I've had for a while is to run a race in every state. Rodney and I have always wanted to visit every state and this is an additional incentive. I initially thought to run a marathon in every state, but realized that might be overly ambitious, so I am going to aim for a race of any distance as long as it fits into the travel plans. I'd better get busy on this goal soon because I'm not getting any younger and there are a lot of states!

Great Running Quote

Tue, 16 Dec 2008 06:02:00 -0700

"Remember, the feeling you get from a good run is far better than the feeling you get from sitting around wishing you were running." SARAH CONDOR

Four Year Anniversary

Mon, 08 Dec 2008 19:31:00 -0700

What an amazing journey the last 4 years has been. My weight has been basically stable for over 2 years I never imagined I would be successful at losing weight, and however hard that was to conceive I never thought I would be able to keep the weight off. Now my struggle is with worrying about regaining weight. It is a constant battle. I am still amazed by the difference in my life. Losing weight has given me back my health and made doing things so much easier. The journey of the last four years is not measured just in pounds. There are so many other measures such as:

my diabetes being under control. This is the number one, most important result of my weight loss!
I can move with ease
I can run. One of my life-long dreams was to run in the NYC Marathon. I fulfilled this dream in 10/07. I have developed a love of running!
Instead of making plans to meet friends for food, I make plans with them to workout together.
I don't have to worry about fitting into plane seats. It still is striking to me how much easier traveling is now. It is great not to have to worry about sitting in the middle seat, or having the stamina to walk through the airport.
I can have a jar of chocolates on my desk for people who come to my office and not be tempted to have any. In fact I don't even notice they are there most of the time. In the past I would have eaten them all myself.
I don't worry about presenting in front of a group of people because I'm concerned they will be focused on my weight instead of what I am saying.

As important as all my successes and WOW moments are, it is also important to me that I remember the pain. I don't want to forget how miserable I was, as I believe it helps me not to allow myself to go back there. I know it could be all too easy to slip back into old habits. It is easier to eat now, and I can eat more than I've been able to. I have to watch that I don't allow myself to start picking up bad habits along the way. I am so grateful for my surgery and the tool it gave me to fight the battle with obesity. This past year has been difficult and I know if I didn't have the surgery I would have gained 50 pounds over the last few months! The surgery and years of new habits have given me the ability to get through this without gaining weight. It is still difficult not to have food to turn to sometimes, but the benefits out weigh the struggle by far. There are so many people to thank for their support thoughout this journey, but I have to give special mention my amazingly supportive husband, Rodney. Here are a couple of recent pictures: With the Alabama mascot, Big Al: With Sam:

Tough Times

Mon, 08 Sep 2008 17:56:00 -0700

Right now I am having probably the toughest time I've had since my surgery. The urge to eat and not exercise is ALMOST overwhelming. We are going through some very difficult situations right now and they are are several different fronts. It is very scary not to be in a regular routine with my life and my food. It totally freaks me out! I am also scared by the fact that I really haven't felt like running. I did run tonight and it was a fantastic run! I am so happy to have had a good run. So, I am trying to take it one day at a time and to keep focused on doing what I have been doing so far. Does the food demon ever completely go away? I'm thinking it is always waiting for the opportunity to rear it's ugly head.

Full Push-ups For The First Time!

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 06:21:00 -0700

Since I've been working out regulary with my trainer I've been doing modified push-ups (on my knees). Last night I did 5 full push-ups! I was so excited, I've never done a full push-up in my life. My form wasn't fanstastic, but I did them and I will continue to get stronger and be able to do more and do them better! One of my goals has been to do full push-ups!! It is so exciting to see the improvements in my strength.

All or nothing thinking

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 06:16:00 -0700

I have a problem with all or nothing thinking - it is probably one of the big reasons I gained as much weight as I did - I was either on a diet or eating all out! Recently somebody posted on the ObesityHelp exercise board that she finished her Saturday long run on Sunday. The goal was to get all the miles in. I've read about splitting up runs between the morning and evening as a strategy also. Of course, I've never applied that concept to myself, either I got my run in or I didn't. After reading this post, something clicked for me and I've applied it the last couple of times I've been to the gym. I wanted to run 4 miles, but can't get to the gym earlier enough to get all 4 in before my training session. So, the lightbulb went off and I realized I could go back after the session and finish my run!

Laziness and Thankfulness

Fri, 22 Aug 2008 04:18:00 -0700

So, it is a bit of a contrast but I've have had moments of laziness and thanfulness lately when it comes to exercise. Sometimes I think it would be so nice to just sit on the couch and relax. At times I really don't want to make the effort to be active and would like to go back to my old inactive self. Of course, I don't want the consequences of what goes with the lifestyle, so I keep up my exercise!:) Yesterday, I did a 6 mile run in Central Park. It was a beautiful evening here and I was so grateful to be able to get out and run. It was one of the runs where I was extra aware of how thankful I am to have lost all weight and to be able to get out and enjoy a run on a beautiful night. So, it is this mind set that I try to keep rather than the one that would like to be lazy.

Today Versus Three Years Ago.

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 18:52:00 -0700

Three years ago, on July 26, 2005, I did my first race, the Corporate Challenge. It is a 3.5 mile race and I was thrilled to finish in 52 minutes (my goal was 55 minutes). Today I did the same race and finished in 36:30, which is a 10:26 pace. This is a PR for me - my fastest race to date!! I guess all the sweat and training has paid off. It really means a lot to be able to go to an event like this with my co-workers and to be able to run at a respectable pace.

7th Half Marathon

Sun, 27 Jul 2008 16:55:00 -0700

Today I did the NYC 1/2 marathon. I can't believe this was my 7th half marathon. We had to be at Central Park this morning by 6:30 for a 7:00 start. The weather started out a little iffy and we had a little rain, but it cleared in time for the race and left us with a lovely humid day. The race consisted of a loop around Central Park, then down 7th Ave, across 42nd Street and down the West Side Highway to Battery Park. It was a great route! I got teary eyed going down 7th Ave into Times Square. I am still amazed to be out there running! My time was 2:42:35 - definitely not in the top of my 1/2 marathon finishes. I had some issues along with way and needed to make several bathroom stops, I think they hurt my time. But I did get out there and finished and I got a great medal!

7th Half Marathon this weekend

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 19:52:00 -0700

On Sunday I will be doing my 7th half marathon! I can't believe it. It is a little over 2 years, since my first half marathon and I am still amazed that I am a runner now. I am doing the NYC 1/2 marathon and it should be a lot of fun, the route starts in Central Park and then goes through Times Square and finishes in lower Manhattan. I hope it won't be too hot on Sunday, or raining for that matter! LOL, I don't ask for a lot considering it is July.

Flying

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 19:47:00 -0700

Flying is certainly not pleasurable these days, but it is so much better than it was before my gastric bypass surgery. I just got back from a work trip to Boulder, CO. I had to book the dreaded middle seat for the return trip. While the middle seat would never be my first choice, I was relieved that I didn't have to worry about fitting in the seat. I knew as I would as comfortable as one could possibly be in the middle seat on an airplane. It is so wonderful not to have to worry whether or not I will fit into a seat!

Old Habits Die Hard

Sun, 20 Jul 2008 13:08:00 -0700

I am thankful every day for the tool I received with my gastric bypass surgery. It is a very stressful time at work for me now and it would be so easy to turn to food to try and get through this time. Thankfully I cannot do the damage that I was able to do before the surgery. Even if I do turn to food to deal with the stress, I do not have the capacity to do as much damage as I would have in the past. I'm also finding it difficult to maintain my motivation to exercise when there are so many demands on my time. This has been a problem for me in the past. Then once the routine is broken, it is that much harder to get back on track. I've found that having some structure and goals tied to my exercise help keep me motivated. I work out with a trainer 1-2 times per week, and the commitment of the appointment stops me from blowing off my exercise. The commitment of training for the marathon, knowing that I need to be ready to run the marathon on 11/2, motivates me to get out and train when I'd rather be working, sleeping or doing just about anything else.

Kickoff Meeting for Marathon #2

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 04:38:00 -0700

I can't believe it is time to start seriously training for the marathon again. It was a fast year since I was getting ready to train for my first marathon last year. This year I am running with Fred's Team. Fred's Team is a charity organization that raises money for cancer research at Memorial Sloan-Kettering here in NY. Last night we had our kickoff meeting. So, if being able to run a marathon isn't emotional enough for me, hearing all the stories about the good being done with the money raised by Fred's Team kept in me tears for a good portion of the meeting. One of the areas that benefits the most is pediatric research. Needless to say, it is especially touching to hear about the children that have beaten the odds. We all know somebody who has fought the battle with cancer, so it is extra motivational to run with a group that is supporting cancer research. I work for a biotech company that has a focuses on cancer, diabetes and obesity so I see first hand ever day the difference that can be made with cancer research. Running to help cancer research at Memorial Sloan-Kettering is extra special to me because my husband works there and I know it is a tremendous organization. I am really excited about doing the marathon this year and being able to help a tremendous cause at the same time. Here is the link to my fundraising page if you would like to make a donation to Fred's Team: Fred's Team

NYC Half Marathon

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 05:17:00 -0700

The NYC Half Marathon has an open lottery registration system. I got in the last two years, but for various reasons I wasn't able to do the race. I'm so excited because I was accepted again this year!! The race is July 27th. I think it will be a fun race as the course takes you through parts of Manhattan you normally wouldn't get to run through. Half-Marathon Course The course will begin on Central Park's East Drive (near 85th Street) and make a complete, clockwise loop around the park. Runners will then continue to the south end of the park and exit onto Seventh Avenue, heading south to Times Square. A right turn onto 42nd Street will take runners to 12th Avenue (West Street), where, after a left turn, the race continues along the Hudson River waterfront to Lower Manhattan. The finish is on West Street near Rector Street and Battery Park. I'm really looking forward to the race and I likes that it gives me extra motivation to up my training!