Back to 100 lbs loss!

I am so doing a happy dance right now!  It is official this morning that I am now back down to 100 lbs lost from my highest wt! :)  The scale registered 124.4 lbs this morning and I was very happy that I had managed to get over the hump that I was feeling earlier this week. :)  On this journey, my total wt loss is 22.2 lbs!  It is so time to celebrate here.... :)

This morning I will be heading out for my long slow run of 18k and I am going to start from my house this time.  I will be on my own so I have mapped my route and told my husband where I am going to be.  For this run I will be introducing a new drink to try along with my water to see if this helps me with my sodium issues while running (I lose sodium fast).  I normally do not worry about it but starting at this amount of km, I am going to give it a shot.  I will be taking my normal power jelly beans (couple) and two small pcs of granola bar.  That should tide me through as I am going to be running for about 2:15 hrs outside doing my 10:1's.  I am feeling great this morning with no aches and pain, just a little tired from a restless sleep (someone was snoring heavily last night... and it wasn't me) ;)

After I am done my run, drink my chocolate milk, get all stretched up, ice if needed, and get all cleaned up, I am going to enjoy a good lunch. :)  There will be about 13-14 APs to be eaten on top of my normal. lol ;)

The rest of today I am not quite sure of yet.  There won't be too much done strenuous wise because I have to make sure that the rest of today and tomorrow I recover well from today's run with my 5k fun race on Sunday.

Yesterday, my son's Running Mania zippered hoodie arrived and he was really happy with it.  I bought it for him to show how happy I was that he is getting outside and doing something like the biking and going to do a kids 1k race on Canada Day. :)  The only person I do not have decked out yet is my husband... You see, when I do my 1/2 marathon here in the end of May, I would like to have a good orange cheering section for me. :)  There is always a sea of Running Room clothing mostly with the odd Brainsport one on races and run/walk events here and I am going to break that monopoly up. :)  There are hardly any Saskatchewan people involved with the Running Mania (a great running forum and support site for runners and such) and I am going to wear my colors with pride.  So if any of the Sk people out there see any pics at the end of next month with a girl wearing an orange shirt or tank top, bright orange socks, and some fake tattoos, that's me! :) And hopefully I do not embarrass myself too much during the race. :)

I am starting to get really excited now about the half.  There is only 3 long runs left including todays for this schedule and depending on how it goes, it will determine what races I for sure go in next. 

Well, not much else here besides a happy wi, planned good food, and some good ol' R & R before Sunday.

run: 19.4 km/2:16:03 mins, avg 159 bpm 7:00 min/km, cold wet run and really windy, opened up my stride and ran at a comfortable pace with out looking at what pace I was doing.  Good run though

too busy yesterday...

Yesterday was quite a bit crazy and I did not manage to post.  I was having some fun going through some Podcasts for running (Hi Stacey! :) )  I then got fed up with my nail being way to long for typing and they were way over due for my fill (6+ wks) so I went and got them done.  I received a complement from my nail lady as she noticed the wt. :)  As I was there I finally got the courage to go to a hairdresser and get my hair cut.  *gulp*  2.5 hrs later... it looks awesome!!!  I no longer have a hair due that looks like I am still in the 80's/90's!  Just to fill you in a bit, I grew up in a hair salon because my mom used to be a great hairstylist that went to shows and stuff.  Then she had an accident that crushed part of her cutting hand.  That was it.  I have managed to get my hair cut by her on a good day but extremely rare.  I tend to go through about a yr between haircuts as every time I try to find a new hairdresser, I come out crying.  They have butchered my hair (generally my hair has always been long) and they would chop tonnes off. :(  Or, they would just make so many mistakes, the bad thing about growing up in a salon is you do notice them.  I found one good one 2 yrs ago and then just kept forgetting to get it done.  I went back to see her in Nov last yr and she moved and they did not know where she went.  So, I trimmed my own. :)  So yesterday I finally went somewhere that I heard was good and the owner was an old friend of my mom's. :)  A newer hairstylist, out of school a yr and got hired right on out of school there, cut it and she did wonders!  I was too much in a rush yesterday so I will do it up for a pic here soon. :)  The DH loves it!  lol

Well, continuing my busy day yesterday, I got home just in time for my son to get home from school.  My DH calls and wanted to meet up with us.  So my DS and I headed out.  I came home at 5 pm and ate chili then left for my run for 6 pm.  I was so busy... I forgot to tie my hair back or stick on a hat and to drink water!!!  Needless to say... the hair was not a problem due to not much to fly around, received MANY complements, but got sick from being dehydrated and the chili.  :(  My head hurt so badly and my stomach was terrible!  I stuck it out... but it was truly hard!!!  I came home afterward and guzzled water, ibuprofen, and relaxed.  I know better than to do this and that is the part that is killing me... 

Last night I was looking around at some videos of half and full marathons on the web (specifically the Around the Bay, and Nike's Women Marathon {best ones})and I came across some really good ones that were encouraging and truly inspirational!  I found one marathon, the Nike Women's Marathon in San Fransico (SP?) and was instantly in love with it.  about 15 000 people running!!!  Geez, Saskatoon may get 2000...  I so want to run a really big one one yr for all the excitement.  I checked in to getting in to it this year and no luck.  This yr they expect about 20 000!  They receive a really cool tech shirt and a Tiffany's memorial necklace for finishing!  I will just keep dreaming and hope that one day I can afford to do this run... On a good note though, anyone, anywhere in the world can participate on that day for running a half marathon distance (or was it 19.1k... :S. I will have to go and reread) and get a shirt and a Tiffany's key chain sent to them.  The kicker is that you have to have this distance logged on that day with the Nike+ which is the nano, shoes, and nike kit.  My DH has the nano, but I do not have Nike shoes or the kit for running...  So... is it really worth it?  I have bought 2 new pairs of shoes already this yr and grant it that I will probably be ready or new ones by this Oct.  BUT I have never wore Nikes before... Not since high school and those were not for running - along with the good ol' Reeboks. lol  They both have come far though in the past yrs, just not so sure about them.  So ladies, if you have the equipment, run, run/walk, walk the distance on that day (I will post it the exact day), log it in with the Nike+ stuff, and you have done a half without traveling any where!!! :)  Since this is near the end of October, I think it would be cool to have a few of us accomplish this in our own home towns :) and celebrate the success together.  BTW - the run is for Leukemia.  As I said, run, run/walk, walk the distance and you have done it!  If you have the equipment... then even better because you get all the fancy stuff after. :)  I am doing it with or with out the Nike+ just because I thought it would be cool to do this with others around the world. :)  Edit: I just found a little holder for the Nike shoe sensor so I would not have to buy the Nike shoes. :) My DH is letting me use his Nano so the only thing I bought really was a cheap sensor holder and the Nike+ kit which was just under $40.  Sweet!  So I am planning to do this run anywhere in the world at the same time the Nike women's marathon is!  I also was talking to the workers at the running room and they thought it would be really cool to get a group together here and do it together that day!  I was told to bring it up to the manager and see if something could be arranged.  The Nike site has not posted registration fees yet and the registration will open in May for this.  Now how cool is that to participate in something that you do not even have to travel to and still get a super cool reward. lol :) All it takes is to log your miles/km for the distance that day. :)

Oh, some other running news for me... I just talked to the captain of the Banff-Jasper Relay team that I was interested in and he said on the phone last night that it looks like I may have a spot!!! Wooo Hooo!  This will be my first run away from home and I would have someone from toon town to drive there with and share all expenses! Cheap:)  I am sooo excited!

OK... now that I have gotten my running stories out of the way... too excited..lol and update on everything else...

Suki is still hanging in there... very weak though and her breathing is starting to get very labored which I think she may be suffering now...  *sniff*

Eating wise, things have been pretty good but yesterday did not eat enough because of the sitting in places way too long and too sick to my stomach last night. :(

Exercise wise, today I have 6 hills to run up and down with a 3k warmup and 3k cool down.  

After my DS heads to school, I am going out for breakfast with some family from out of town, then homework, cleaning, and take my DH to the airport.  Tomorrow is challenge wi day so water and low sodium. :)

No smoking still!!!!

I will catch up on all's blogs when I get back and add my running diary. 

Thurs run: Treadmill because it was too yucky outside, 10.1 km/1:29:55, 6 hills and took it really slow, used the new Nike+ with the run to see how it worked, struggled quite a bit - may need to ease up the next couple of days.

Wed run: BAD, 5.86 km/38.53 mins, avg 177 bpm 6:38 min/km, outside nice out with RR group, dehydrated and ate too soon before my run (chili).

I got in!!!!!!

I am so excited and have found my motivation again... I got into the RN degree program! Wooooo Hoooo! I am so excited.... can't you tell? lol I am now waiting to see if my one friend passes some tests so she will be able to go also. It's kinda nice to have someone there that you know in classes. I am just so excited because I have been accepted into a 'real' college and not just ol' arts and science anymore.... YEAH! Also no more certificates! (I have gone to school 4 times now) <--- yes I want to grow up... some day... :) So this will make me done my schooling in 3 yrs. I have just over a year of nursing classes already done... so I am ahead of the game. I would just LOVE to bring out the bubbly right now... but I have been doing so well... I am scare to jynx it... But I know naturally it will come to an end here sooner or later. OH well, enjoy it while I can 'cause you never know I may slip into some deep depressed coma and eat everyone out of house and home. lol

Another good thing today... I just received in the mail my WW Points value calculator and tracker that I had order from Ebay 1.5 weeks ago! I debated about just getting smaller point value calculator but liked the extra options that this one had. I have been having fun playing with it. :) It should make grocery shopping a little easier now.

For exercise today I am just going to take Tala out for a small walk. It is a real rest day for me so that is basically it. Food wise was leftover fish cakes and steamed bok choi for lunch and for supper it is my portobello mushroom burger. It is basically what our family calls a 'fend for yourself' night for eating... this happens when generally Jason works too late or we have too many leftovers. Both are happening tonight.

So the weather here in gool ol' SK still sucks! But it is supposed to get better here throughout the week. Plus sides for the weekend! I gotta love the warmer weather but hate the melting... especially with wet dogs... :(

walk dog
Quit Smoking: Day 22!

I arrived in Calgary..

The drive was great until the last hour... detours and construction. But the rest went really well and I made good time too. :) So I have not managed to get any APs in yet... I am thinking about the pool right now. hmmm.... As for eating, so far I have only had 5 pts and it is 5 pm my time! yeowza! I had better get on that. You know there is a Timmies AND a McD's RIGHT beside my hotel! Arrrg! The temptation of it. :( I have brought some healthy snacks for myself but I need a good meal right now.

So... plan for the rest of the evening?
swim
yoga
hot tub :)
movies :)
relaxation :):)
not smoking

oh ya! I weighed in at 135.2 lbs and earned 33 APs for the March madness challenge! WOooooo hooooo!

I booked a hotel...

Well today I decided I needed some 'me' time and well... I am driving to Calgary on Friday morning. I booked a fairly decent price on a hotel and I am so excited to go away! I have not gone somewhere by myself in 2 years and really need this time to spend by myself. I really can not afford it... but my sanity right now needs it. So this room has a queen size bed and is non-smoking... This will help me being away from my husband cause he still smokes. I need to succeed in doing this quitting thing. The hotel also has a workout room and a salt water pool.... APs for me! I so can not wait. I was so excited about it, when my hot yoga got cancelled, I came home and booked my hotel, surfed around a bit on the web and decided I still need APs for the day. So I decided to go for a walk on the treadmill and then challenge exercises and yoga. I had so much energy that I walked for just under 20 mins and decided to run for a bit. Well that running turned into a great experience and I had to stop myself at 30 mins of it. I only had it set for 6.8 km/hr so it was a nice light run. I then finished walking for 10 mins to cool down. After all that, I then did my challenge exercises and yoga. :) It was a busy night.

So since I am writing this on 'late' Wed evening, or I guess it really is Thurs now....:) OOPS! I will plan my day now. Today I am going to wash the car and empty it out for the trip. Pack what I need and find a bathing suit that fits me. Fill up the car and make sure that the fam has everything that they need while I am gone. I am then going to try to get some housework and homework done. I have to find a map of Calgary cause I have no flippin clue where I am going there. I always get lost. :) I know how to get to the mountains and that is about it. I am also going to do some meal planning for some meals ahead of time. I figure I better be prepared or I may sabotage myself. I may call some friends while I am there or maybe not. I just like the idea of getting away from everything.

For exercises today I am planning a run, yoga, and challenge exercises. My food plan for the day is reduced sodium and 3+ L of water. Challenge wi is on Fri morning.

run
yoga
challenge exercises
Quit smoking: Day 12!

getting worried

I am getting pretty worried about quitting the nasty tomorrow. I have reminded my DH that Sunday is the day and I do not think that he is going to try. So with him continuing... I just hope that I am strong enough. I am also so worried that I am going to gain the weight back. Every time I have tried the last few times, I have put on weight. I think that is the part of the problem why I have been slowly putting back on the pounds before. I am hoping that this ww and quitting thing will help control the amount of food that I eat. I have still been OP thus far... and would like to continue this way.

I snuck a peak at the scale today and yippee! I have lost 10.2 lbs! Official is tomorrow but what the hey. So I bought some mineral makeup online this am for my accomplishment.

Yesterday was a crazy workout day. I did it! I ran again and it felt oh so good! I only had a slight twinge on the side of my rt knee. I backed off the speed a bit and watched my gait. I do not know if it was my IT band being to tight this time or what. I was just so excited. I wanted to get in a 'test' if you will to compare my results of running with smoking vs. non-smoking. Here is my smoking results: 35 min (first 5 min warmup) and 4.25 km. (not quite up to par from what I was but that is ok) It was hard and I was breathing heavily. Now I can't wait to see the difference each week on how I do! I also did some tae bo and yoga yesterday. Tae bo kicked my butt!

Last night my lovely DH was supposed to make supper and he decide the computer was more interesting, My DS (Austin - I have to use names here... I need this real) and I were both starving... I finally said to Austin that it looks like it is a fend for yourself night for supper so what do you want. Finally at 7:30 Jason, DH, says no... he'll order something. ARRRRG! So we had Boston Pizza and I choose the tortellini with pomodoro sauce. I ate half for a great 5 pts! Quite happy there and there was no snacking for the rest of the night.

This am ran out of milk and bananas so I was not able to have my smoothie (1 banana, 1/2 c mixed berries, 1/2 c milk, tsp soy protein powder, 1/2 tsp ground flax, and 1/2 tsp bran) So I ended up having one of those Quaker Weight Control Oatmeals. I am noticing that I am hungrier already...and it is only 9:50 am. My coffee should keep me...its being made right now, till snack time.:) oh yes, and water, water, water,... you get the idea :)

Well plans for the day are drop Austin off at Space club (done), pick Austin up, maybe try to get into the hot yoga this afternoon, final workout before WI, homework, housework, and try a new recipe for supper. Oh ya... and finally get a current pic of my on here. A new challenge was posted so I have to figure out how much weight do I think I can lose in 5 wks. With quitting the nasty... I have no clue.

run: 35 min/4.25 km with 5 min warmup included, cloudy day and cold, TOM, felt hard