February 2, 2010

Holy Cow! Another month gone. 3 months from today is the half-marathon. January actually went really well. I did great with my first goal of just 20 minutes of exercise 5 times a week for 6 weeks.

1st week- 137 minutes
2nd week- 217 minutes
3rd week- 270 minutes
4th week- 100 minutes

Mikayla and I did our long runs on Saturdays.
Jan.9- 2.8 miles
Jan. 16- 5.2 miles
Jan. 23- 6.4 miles Run, plus 1.6 mile Walk
Jan. 30- Mik. was on a temple trip and I chickened out because of the cold!

My weight is back down to within 2 pounds of my pre-Christmas weight! I really struggle with controlling my appetite under stress. One day 2 weeks ago, I did really good all day sticking to my diet plans. Then, Shane came home and we were preparing to go out for dinner. Jared woke up from a late nap and came crying up the stairs to our room. Now on my bed was an open package of fruit snacks. I don't actually like fruit snacks. Some child had started this package and left it on my bed. I had seen it several times and passed by it. I wasn't interested in eating it and hadn't yet found the culprit who left it on my bed. When Jared came up the stairs crying, anxiety suddenly kicked in and I actually caught myself reaching for the fruit snack to grab it and eat a couple bites!!!! Wow! What a telling moment. I can do really well with my eating until my stress level increases.

I was really glad that I caught myself and recognized that I was just eating for emotional reasons. I confessed (through my tears) to a friend earlier that same week that I am completely willing to do whatever exercise it takes to lose weight, but that I can't control my appetite. She told me about a book about changing your thought process about dieting. I bought it right away. It's called The Complete Beck Diet for Life. I have struggled with depression in the past and have learned how to talk to myself to help combat those feelings, so I was very interested in a book about changing how I talk to myself about dieting. So far, I'm enjoying the book and I think it is helping me feel more in control.

The plan is to lose about a 1 pound a week until May 2nd. I'm trying to get as much exercise built into my schedule as possible. So, I'm going to a Zumba class every Monday evening, trying for 3 exercise sessions at home during the week, and then a long run on Saturday. Yesterday, I did an exercise video for 50 minutes and then did Zumba last night. All in all, things are going very well.

Monday and Tues

Monday- I did really well with my eating through the day. Ate a bit too much at dinner, but that happens. Mikayla and I did take Jared in the jogging stroller. Wow! What a process this was. We had to get all our cold weather running stuff on and then get the stroller figured out (we've only used it one other time) and THEN get Jared dressed and ready to go. I was SWEATING up a storm and we were still in the front hall of our house! (note to self: don't put on your coat until you are really sure you are walking out the front door!)

Pushing the jogging stroller brought running to a whole new level of difficulty! We couldn't run on the sidewalks because a lot of people haven't cleared the snow off yet, so we ran in the road. There is still a lot of ice and snow there too! So, we ran around the ice, snow, parked cars, and tried to stay out of traffic. But, the thing that killed me were the little wimpy hills! I cannot run up hills easily even when I'm not pushing a 33 pound kid in a stroller!!! We went about 10 minutes and had to turn back because I had to go to work (and I was DYING!). We will try it again, because it was a really good workout. When we got back to the house, Mikayla took Jared up the street of our neighborhood for five extra minutes. Obviously, she is in much better shape than I am!

Tuesday- Today started out very promising. I had two jobs and instead of counting of fast food I, (are you sitting down?) ACTUALLY packed my lunch! I know, you are in shock! I packed a nice salad with turkey and cheese, an apple, and a bottle of water. I ate this while getting Jared from preschool and dropping him off at Karlin's while I headed to my next house to clean.

After work, I fell off the wagon. I had a lot of driving to do to get Mikayla where she needed to go and the little kids TALKED MY EARS OFF! I swear I must hear the word "mom" 300 times a day. I love my kids so much, but sometimes I can't listen any more. Did I take a time out? No, I took food instead! Ate too much and got discouraged. But, after I ate at 3:30 I decided I was done eating for the day. My late after-lunch-snack could also be my dinner. And so I have not eaten anything else and I'm drinking lots of water. For my exercise today I attended a free Zumba class at a friend's dance studio. Heather went with me and although the music and dance moves were not to our taste, we definitely got a good aerobic workout. It reminded me how much I love a good exercise class and I'm determined to go a couple times a month to the Zumba class I like at another location. It is so fun to see other women dancing and feeling foolish (or some who really CAN dance). It's also nice to get away for a while and sweat away some stress!

Day 2

It is Sunday.....a day of rest. :) I stayed up too late to watch the Dallas Cowboys football game and so arrived at church a bit bleary-eyed. I stuck to my breakfast plan of Special K, milk, and half a banana. Had 3 pieces of chocolate on my way home! oops! Ate a reasonable lunch and dinner. However, I did "stress-eat" a large cookie when I woke up from a too-short nap and had only 30 minutes to get dinner ready for the missionaries. My best accomplishment for today was that I DID NOT EAT any dessert or snacks after dinner and I didn't have 2nds at dinner either.

Mikayla and I are going to try running together right after school tomorrow with Jared in a jogging stroller.

16 Weeks to a Half-Marathon

In 16 Weeks and 1 day I will be running a half-marathon. It will be 4 days before my 40th birthday. This week I have been gearing up and setting my goals and making plans on how I can reach the incredible goal of finishing a half marathon. I work part-time. I am a mom with 5 kids at home and one in college. I have 2 church callings and my husband is a counselor in the bishopric. Sounds like the perfect time to run a half-marathon.


Every couple of days I'm going to write my progress (or lack thereof) on my blog. I plan to lose 13 pounds by May 2nd. (That is the big half-marathon day.)

This week I started exercising again. I was just aiming for 20 minutes a day for 4 days, because I needed a goal that I felt I could reach. This gearing up worked. I know because last night I dreamed of running again!

Wed-Jan 6th- 10 minutes of upper body weights
Thurs-Jan 7th- 3 Fast Miles walking DVD & 45 min. shoveling snow
Fri-Jan 8th- 4 Fast Miles walking DVD & 45 min. shoveling snow

Saturday-Jan 9th. Today Shane took the kids to the Primary activity. I started the dishwasher, ate my Special K cereal breakfast (that is important because I really hate breakfast cereal, but this one tastes good and is part of my diet goals), straightened up the kitchen, started the laundry, popped in my walking DVD, and then got ready to exercise.


I was lacing up my shoes and watching the DVD intro when suddenly I realized I was ALONE! I could actually leave the house for a run if I wanted. I couldn't believe my luck! That NEVER happens. I quickly switched to cold weather running clothes, grabbed my cell phone, and RAN OUT THE DOOR!

I am so proud of myself. I haven't run outside since early December. I ran 2.8 miles in 32 minutes. I had to walk about a fourth of the time, but that is not too bad since I've not been exercising and I've been eating junk food!


I handled the cold pretty well. I need to remember to put on Chapstick, wear heavier gloves, and switch to a hat that covers my ears. Other than that, it was PERFECT!


So, wish me luck. I am heading to one of the biggest acheivements I have ever set my heart on.

Fat Shirts

I just threw away 3 of my old "fat" shirts. It's hard to get rid of them because I still am still so far away from my ultimate goal. I've been stuck at approximately the same weight for 9 months and I'm a bit discouraged. However, I have slowly been getting some smaller size shirts and it's so exciting to fit into clothes that are more flattering. I don't want to hang onto those shirts because they are a reminder of myself 20 pounds heavier and I don't want to ever go back there. So today, I let them go.

Pink Princess Racing's Fall Racing Schedule

Mikayla needs to get back to running in time to compete with the cross country team at the high school. So, this morning we headed back to Winton Woods to run 2 laps. I knew I wouldn't be able to run the whole way, but I was disappointed in how hard it was. I ended up running a 10th of a mile then walking a 10th of a mile. I haven't run much since May. So, I guess it is no surpise that my running has suffered. But, I have made a commitment to take Mikayla running the next two mornings and then take her to run a 5K this Saturday. For the next 3 weeks we plan on going out 4-5 times a week. We've got to get going because I LOVE RACING IN THE FALL!

This is a list of our Fall Races:

The Black Squirrel 5K: Sept 26th $10 fee
The Run for the Nuns 5K: Oct 3rd $20
The Turkey Trot 5K: Nov 19th $15
The Thanksgiving Day Race 10K: Nov 26th $45

These prices are the "pre-registration" prices. I have info/websites for these races if anyone would like to join Pink Princess Racing at any of these events.

Each of these races has both running and walking divisions. If you need a goal to help keep you motivated to exercise, pick a race and come do it with us. I love Pink Princess Racing. It is our informal racing group. We encourage each other, compete with each other, cheer for each other, and love each other!

If you have never participated in a 5K and you are nervous, talk to one of us and we will tell you everything you need to know. People of all sizes do these races. You don't have to be a skinny minnie to come hang out with us! (But, we accept Skinny Minnies too!)

A 5K is 3.2 miles.
A 10K is 6.4 miles.

My favorite race is the Thanksgiving Day Race. You get up early on Thanksgiving Day and head downtown. It is a HUGE race with tons of people. When you are done you have burned a bunch of calories and can enjoy your turkey and gravy GUILT-FREE!

See you at the FINISH LINE!

(That's me in the pink finishing the Flying Pig 10K. See, not skinny....still running)

Jared's Trip to the Hospital

In April, Jared fell down the deck steps at Shane's parents' house. The next day, I decided I better take him to the pediatrician to see if his collarbone was broken. On the way there, he started breathing really funny. Dr. Manfroy looked him over and said his collarbone was definitely broken, but the bigger problem was his breathing, either Jared was having an asthma attack or his lung was punctured from the fall the previous day. Dr. Manfroy told me to take him straight to the hospital!

It was a rough ride to the hospital. Jared kept choking on gunk in his throat and then dozing off. I wasn't sure if he was sleeping or losing consciousness due to lack of oxygen. I finally found Children's Hospital downtown and rushed him in.

The doctor had called ahead and so a trauma unit was waiting. All of a sudden, Jared was on an exam bed and about a dozen people were around him and me. They got an IV going and had a mask on him, giving him a breathing treatment. Jared kept screaming, "I wanna go home now!" I kept telling him I did too, but we had to help him get better. They needed to give him liquid steroids and asked me if I wanted to give it to him. You BET I did! I sat on the bed with him, held him, and gave him the steroids to open his breathing passages. The doctors brought in a portable X-ray machine and X-rayed his chest right on the bed.

They determined that his lung was not punctured, but he was having a severe asthma attack. We ended up spending the night at Children's Hospital. Jared had breathing treatments every hour at first and eventually it stretched to every four hours. When that happened, they let us go home.

Before we left the hospital, I asked if I could see his chest X-rays. It was so weird to me that he had a broken collarbone, but no one seemed to care about it. Their whole focus was his breathing problem. If fact, Jared was not put in a brace or anything. His collarbone just healed on its own over then next 4 weeks.


Our pediatrician put Jared on children's Claritin for the next month to help control his allergies and that has helped keep the asthma under control. For several weeks, I didn't have to give him a breathing treatment. While my parents were here 2 weeks ago, Jared was coughing up a storm and did have to take albuterol a few times. But, he is doing great. All in all, the whole experience left me even more grateful that our children have been so healthy. And I was thrilled with the staff at Children's Hospital. They took very good care of us.



Jared in the emergency room having a breathing treatment.

Me holding Jared between breathing treatments.


Jared didn't always like putting on the mask, so Shane took a turn!


Jared getting another chest X-ray.


Still in the emergency room. Jared was playing with his cars. Bobbye brought Mikayla down with an overnight bag for me and Jared's precious cars.

This is Jared in his little hospital gown in his hospital room. He wanted me to sleep with him part of the night in his bed. I got about 40 minutes sleep that night.

This is a stuffed fox that the emergency room staff brought to Jared to help him calm down. At first, he hated it. Later that night he had relaxed and came to love it. He named him Foxy!