Weigh In

Down another 2.4! Woo hoo.

Start 227.8
Current 215

Total 12.8

Week 5 c25k

I'm really surprised that I haven't written more about the c25k program. I thought that was going to dominate my writing on here and it really hasn't turned out that way. Last night was the first night of week 5, which really in my mind is the beginning of the real running. I've been hesitant to call what I do "running" because it really seems more like walking with a little jogging thrown in. But, this week, the time spent running really ramps up. It's amazing to me how, at the beginning of every week I think I couldn't possibly do the amount that the program calls for, but by the time I get out there and do it, I almost always surprise myself.

Last night, it was run five minutes, walk three, run five, walk three, run five. And, oddly enough, it seemed easier than the week before. It really surprised me since it was a pretty big jump from last week and I thought last week was horrible. I almost repeated week 4, it had been so hard. But, at the last minute, I decided to give it a shot, knowing I could back up and start week 4 again if I needed to. The next run moves up to 8 minute running increments, then by the end of the week, it's twenty! And...it's weird to hear myself say it, but I think I can do it.

I wish there was a way to bottle this enthusiasm. I've been here before and I'm not really confident in my ability to stick with anything. The weigh in is at lunch time today. Wish me luck.

I wonder...

So, this week is going to be an interesting one. I did well on the scale last week, so I guess I'm anticipating a less than exciting result this week. Especially when you add in the fact that we went to Melting Pot on Friday and I went out with the girls last night. I did as well as I could at both of those places, but I'd be fooling myself if I said I thought the numbers would be good.

I'm tired today and for the first time, I'm craving really bad food...candy...KFC...ice cream...french fries. I just don't trust myself around that stuff yet, but the cravings are awful. I've tried to distract myself, but I'm not doing so well with that today.

Maybe writing this will help. So, at 10.4 pounds, I haven't lost enough that anyone notices yet. I've noticed in small, subtle ways:
My brown boots are easier to zip up
My rings fit more loosely
My jeans, although I'm far from going down a size, are definitely looser and fit well right out of the dryer. By the end of the day, they're stretched out and feel too big.
I can button up my green jacket again, which hasn't happened for a while.
My knee doesn't hurt nearly as bad as it used to

I need to keep a running list like this so I can remind myself of how far I've come. Even if it doesn't seem that way to others.

Frustration and Relief

This week started out a little frustrating, as it was the first week that I couldn't make it through the run (week 4 of the c25k program). Each of the five minute runs, I had to stop around halfway in, walk for 30 seconds and resume. I was really frustrated with myself...mad that I let myself get that out of shape and embarrassed that I can't even run five minutes without stopping. That's just ridiculous. Rolling around in the back of my mind was the added frustration of not losing more weight in ww last week. I worked really hard - both with food and exercise and just hadn't seen the results.

Apparently, I was visibly upset, as I received an email late last night from a coworker who was running with me. It was a very encouraging email and I really appreciated it. I hope she knows (I tried to tell her, but I don't know how articulate I was) how much that kind of support and enthusiasm mean to me. This weight-loss, life-change, exercising-the-couch-potato endeavor can be a very lonely one and it's helpful to know your friends are there to support you.

So today was weigh in and I lost 2.4 pounds. As frustrated as I was yesterday, I am equally relieved today. I'm learning that I seem to be on a two week cycle - one good week then one mediocre week. Maybe if I retool my expectations, I won't get so frustrated on the off weeks.



Start 227.8
Current 217.4

Total 10.4

So Frustrating

I'm convinced that the more I exercise and the better I eat, the worse I do on the scale. How can that be? I worked so hard this week - especially exercising and lost a grand total of .6 points! POINT SIX! I really thought I was going to do much better this week. I suppose I should be happy that the trend is going in the right direction, but all I really want to do is cry.

For this week, I'm going to focus on trying to get in ALL of my points (which is actually hard, by the way). Hopefully, next week will be better.

Start 227.8
Current 219.8

Total 8.0

c25k Week Three

I started week 3 last night of the c25k and, although I know I'm just hitting the hard part, it's crazy how much I'm enjoying this. Ramping up to week 3 from week 2 proved to be much easier than I was expecting it to be (although the music on this podcast is not nearly as good as last week's).

I'm working hard to avoid shin splints as the amount of running increases because I really don't want pain or injury to sabotage my efforts this time. I'm only around five pounds away from buying my wii fit!

So close...

So, damn. I didn't get below 220 this week. I was down 3 pounds, which is great, but that keeps me at 200.4.

Argh.

I really thought I had made it. Damn The Biggest Loser - who has totally screwed with our expectations for weekly weight loss. I guess if I were exercising 6 hours a day, I'd lose 8-10 pounds in a week, too! Next week....I'm all over it.

Start 227.8
Current 220.4

Total 7.4