Week Five and Six

I decided it was easier for me to post on Thursday or Friday than on Monday. It is kind of awkward because the big group run/walk is on Saturdays, but my work schedule is just so crazy that it works best for me this way. Anyway, on to the accomplishments and discouragements of the past ten days.

Last week, I did my walk on Tuesday (7/19) just fine. I didn't have any problems. Wednesday and Thursday I had a major family issue and I didn't do my workouts. I paid for it on Saturday.

Saturday was MURDER! When I woke up that morning, my right groin muscle was bothering me a little. I walked 5.09 miles in 1:46:56 at an avg speed of 2.86 mph for an avg pace of 20:59 min/mile. My feet were killing me! My legs were like rubber! I was having problems with my hip for the last mile and a half. I was so frustrated and hurting so bad, I wrote this in my journal. "I think I'm done with training for the half marathon. I don't see it is as quitting. I see it more as knowing my limit. Five miles was tough! I am not giving up. I am just not adding more mileage. I think 2 miles per day is good for me. If you think 2 miles is easy, you're wrong! Especially when you weigh 290 pounds! I think I need to concentrate on losing weight more than on distance at this point in my life. So, I am going to go to aerobics every Tuesday and Thursday, and walk 2 miles every Monday, Friday, and Saturday. I have found that working out on Sunday and Wednesday doesn't happen because life is too crazy on those days."

Sunday my legs were still bothering me a little, my knees especially, but for the most part the pain was gone. Monday, I changed my mind. Here is my journal entry. "Long story short, I'm going to press on with the half marathon training.I sent Lauree an email telling her basically everything my last entry said. Dean just called me to see how I'm feeling today. I told him physically I'm fine, but I don't think I can keep on. He told me that that is normal at this point in the training. He said I shouldn't let one bad day stop me. He gave me some tips about preparing for Saturdays' distances." He also said that since I was no longer hurting two days later, it wasn't that I can't handle it physically. He said the mental issues are usually harder to overcome than the physical. He talked me into sticking it out.

Tuesday was another BAD day! "OMG! That was the hardest 2 miles in history! I had to stop three times because I was so hot and so weak! I wasn't hurting anywhere like I was on Sat, but I was ridiculously weak. My heart rate got really high at one point and I have no clue why. It was the smallest of the hills and I wasn't going very fast. The humidity was unbearable! I made it, but barely." I thought about quitting again, but I had told Dean I would give it at least two more weeks. I want to keep my word.

Today was AWESOME!!! Today I did 3 miles and I felt GREAT! No pain, no weakness, no hunger. I went to Shelby Bottoms which is where the half marathon is going to be held and I felt better today than ever! That is encouraging! :-))

I also weighed this morning and discovered that I have lost 2 lbs since my last weigh in on July 18. That was pretty encouraging also.

Here are some pictures from the group walk on Saturday, July 23.

This photo was taken at the very beginning of the walk.

Lauree and I were praying about the pain in my groin muscle.

This was about one mile into the walk. I was feeling fine at that point.

The pain in my groin was gone after Lauree and I prayed.

This picture was taken when my right hip was KILLING me!

Every step hurt. I pressed on and walked all the way back.

Lauree had completed her run, but came back to walk with me

the last half mile. She's so awesome!

Week Four

Tuesday, July 12, 2011
I finally did the 3 miles that I was supposed to do on Sat. It is getting hard to walk these distances! It can't get hard yet! I still have 10 miles to add! Lord, if I'm going to do this, I really need Your help!
The heat wasn't even an issue today because I went to the community center. I got so hungry halfway that I thought I was going to fall over! I took a short break, prayed, stretched, and drank a little water. Then I pressed on. I finished, but it was hard!

Friday, July 15, 2011
I have to figure something out. The problem is my schedule. Friday nights are busy nights at work, but I have a hard time doing the group walks on Sat morning after working all night. Also, during the week walking when I get up is very difficult because it is so hot at that hour of the day. I really want to walk in the morning. It makes the most sense.
The other problem is that my body is SCREAMING for more sleep. For years I have worked all night and then slept about 5-6 hours the next day. My body is demanding more sleep! I rarely use an alarm because I've always woken up automatically after about 5 hours. Now, I don't wake up until 7-8 hours have passed.

Saturday, July 16, 2011
Today was the group walk at Cedar Hill Park. I walked four miles today and didn't have any problems. It took me an hour and twenty minutes. There were a few hills, one of which was difficult, but not worse than the one I tackled last week in the neighborhood. The road around the park is exactly a two-mile loop. The first time around I was feeling really good. The second time up that hill I was struggling a little. I looked to my right just as a bunny rabbit came out of the woods and hopped slowly up the hill "with" me. As soon as I reached the top, he disappeared back into the woods. When I thanked God for sending the bunny to help me, a beautiful butterfly flew around me seven or eight times. It was almost as if God was cheering me on! Below are the photos from the walk.

Monday, July 18, 2011
Today I weighed and I am not happy! I gained .4 lbs. That may not sound like much but when you're expecting to see about a two pound loss, a gain is NOT good news! In fact it is extremely discouraging!

Week Three

I didn't post last week because of the Fourth of July. I didn't even weigh last week. Maybe if I had, this week would have turned out better. One thing I'm learning is that I have to take it one day at a time. Some days I feel great about my journey and others I just feel like giving up. Today, I'm bummed about it for a few reasons. The main reason being that I only lost 1.2 lbs the last two weeks! This is discouraging because I have worked so hard the last few weeks and all I have to show for it is a 1.2 lb loss? Lauree says not to put too much stock in the scale because it is only one way to measure your progress. That is easier said than done when WEIGHT is what has been shoved down our throats our whole lives! I do feel better, more energetic, and I really don't feel as fat as I look. In my mind's eye, I'm as thin as I feel. Then I get a rude awakening when I see pictures of me like the ones I saw yesterday. I have posted them at the end of this blog entry.

Sat, July 9, I had a completely different attitude. This is what I typed up on Saturday.

Some days the weight loss seems to be screaming at me "Look how good you look!" Than other days, it almost looks like I haven't lost at all. Today is one of those "look at you" days!

I went to the Team Excel meeting this morning. I almost didn't go. I had worked all night. I was tired and my legs were stiff. I was only able to walk one mile because I was too tired and because the shorts I was wearing kept riding up causing my legs to chafe. Time to get some walking shorts, I guess. I felt like a failure but everyone on my team was so encouraging saying things like "you are not a failure! If I had worked all night, I wouldn't be here!" and "Just that fact that you came and walked one mile shows you're not a failure!" Those words were so encouraging and uplifting! I love my teammates!!!

I am also glad I went because I really needed to hear Maria say that she used to weigh 303! I haven't busted 300 (and I never will). She is now probably about 160 at the most! She decided she was tired of being fat so she began walking. At first she resolved to walk to the mailbox everyday. Then she pushed herself to walk to the end of her road. She continued to walk farther and farther. A few years later she decided to try a 5K. At the 5K someone asked her if she would be interested in doing a half marathon and join a team that would help and encourage her--Team Excel. That was last year. She walked the Murfreesboro Half last year. This year she is training to run the Music City Half! 

So, in summary, I'm not giving up even though I am feeling discouraged. Well, I told Dean (my trainer) that I would do those three miles that I didn't do on Saturday today. So, I'd better run.

  

That is Maria in the pink shirt and blue capris. Doesn't she look AMAZING?!