I'm going to run with the MOUSE! (comments welcome!)

[PRINCESS VIJA]

Ok, so it will be a year and a half before I run with the mouse, but I am going to do it! The WISHers that did the 1/2 marathon really motivated me and I wished I would have stuck with it and did it. BUT that is the old and now in with the new. I plan on running with the mouse in 2007. Aiming for the 1/2 marathon. The kids want to run too, so I need to research the 5k info. Ideally I would like to do both, that is my goal! I am soooo excited about this.

 

[PRINCESS VIJA]

What finally got me motivated was a series of steps that led me to going back to the fitness center that is part of DH's work. There they have free personal trainers and I set up a time to meet with him and get started again. As he was going over the first 2 weeks plan, he mentioned that "if" he sees a commitment from me, he will create the next step of the plan. I got to tell ya that the "if" certainly got me! I thought "I'll show you IF !

I have been going 2 1/2 weeks now and I finally feel energized. It took some time and commitment (LOL) but I finally feel better. When I left the gym I had a hard time keeping the tears in because I felt so proud of myself! the food thing has taken a little longer. I am underway and doing well. I am starting to journal the foods and making better choices. I actually ate all of my veggie and fruit servings today! And surprisingly I survived a day without chips and mcdonalds !

I think the change that helped the food challenge is the thought that it is ok to eat mcdonalds but pay attention to the points. Just giving me the OK to eat it had helped because I don't feel like I am denying myself. In the past I always felt guilty when I ate McDonalds, but I am done with the guilt. If I want it I can have it. Just plan it in and Good Lord keep the McDonalds in moderation.

I also found the best book, I started a thread on it, but just to mention it here...Quit Digging Your Grave with a Knife and Fork : A 12-Stop Program to End Bad Habits and Begin a Healthy Lifestyle
by Mike Huckabee It is just what I needed to get going and just what I needed to read!

Please be happy for me, I finally am getting somewhere!

 

[PRINCESS VIJA]

So, I step on the scale today and I am actually up 1#... @#@#$@!!!!!

Well, I was bummed, but I thought about it, I woke up and felt GREAT! Beautiful morning....I feel energized... but most importantly, I feel proud of myself and I have the "wellness" feeling. So, I consider this just a test to see if I can keep going and have that commitment. Like I said... I WILL show you COMMITMENT!!!!! (and that is mostly to me, I need to show myself that I will stick with it, no longer the try and try again, It's my time now!

Like Yoda says... do or do not, there is no try.... I am DOING it!

 

[keenercam]

Good morning, Princess Vija!

CONGRATULATIONS!! You are doing so awesome! Two and a half weeks is such a great start toward establishing a "habit". It's great that you are taking advantage of the fitness center opportunity that is available to you.

It's also really great that you are paying attention to the foods you are eating and trying to get in your fruits and veggies.

Keep up all the great work. The 1/2 marathon is an awesome objective. I am doing it in 2006 and hopefully, we will be doing it together in 2007! I know I am not going to be able to run it, but will be pleased to walk it fast enough to avoid the sweepers. Your goal is such a great one to work towards.

Keep us "posted" on how you are doing! And have another great day. (oh, yeah, one more thing -- ignore the scale. It is totally unimportant. Pay attention to how you feel and how your clothes fit. Those two things have given me more encouragement when the scale would have defeated me.)

 

[PRINCESS VIJA]

keenercam, thanks for the words of encouragement! I will be looking to you for advice as you get ready for 2006 marathon! I hope you don't mind sharing.

If I am not on for a few days, it is just because of the new workout schedule. Alot of time that I would have spent online is now spent working out. I am totally commited, this feels so good.

I am still doing well with points. I have maintained my journal and have been doing very well with points. When I was done working out on Thursday I left soooo happy! I had tears of joy in my eyes because it all was coming together and I felt great. I intended to do 25 minutes on the treadmil, but ended up doing 40! AWESOME! the only problem is that I wore out the back of my shoes and got a nasty blister. I needed to buy some new shoes. I just didn't really have the money for that right now. but my shoes are great.

Did I tell you that my dad promised to pay me $5 for every pound I loose? I plan on saving that money and then giving it back to them as a surprise so they can use the money to come down and watch me run with the mouse! The first time I went to WDW was when I was a little girl with my parents. I would LOVE to spend some time with my parents at WDW now. It should be lots of fun! I know what I need to do to get there... so onward and downward!

 

[Desiree]

Money is always a great incentive! And that's a GREAT idea you have about using the money that you've earned to take your folks to WDW with you! As far as that 1# gain, don't forget that you are gaining muscle and loosing inches. The scale may not move as fast as you want, but you can and will see progress in other areas! Keep up that positive motivation!

Have a great and healthy day!

 

[PRINCESS VIJA]

thanks Desiree! I do have to remember that I am gaining muscle. It feels great to be exercising again!

I stepped on the scale this morning and wooohoooo, I was down another 1.5#!!!!! I haven't seen that number on the scale in at least over a year! Wovenwonder has challenged me to not go on the scale for a month and focus on how I feel instead. So, I will weigh in on thursday and then I will wait a month, focussing on how I feel. I will still go to WW, but I will do the no weigh in pass. I will still monitor my points and journal. And of course write down my thoughts here!

I also want to focus on getting in better shape as we are going camping this summer and hiking. Last year was brutal, and although I am not as fit as last summer I said I would be, I want the hiking to go a little bit easier.

I start a new workout plan today, I am excited to go workout. It feels good to have shown the trainer some "commitment" and have him believe that I am ready to move on to the next step. I did also tell him about my plan for the 1/2 marathon. Just getting the word out there more and more presents a higher commitment level for me.

 

[toystoryduo]

You are doing a great job! Keep up the good work!!!

 

[TigerCheer2009]

Hi, Vija!!! A little late, but here's a cheer to keep you motivated!

V-I-J-A!
You can do it! That's okay!
Go Vija!!!!

 

[jwann]

Vija,
I just came across your journal. Like you, I have set a goal to do the (half) marathon in 2007! I'm just at the stage where I am starting to walk/run for 25-30 min. I want to do the Oprah training for the half marathon and hers is an 18 week training schedule. BUT you have to have been running consistently for a year BEFORE that. Near as I can figure, I've got to be run/walking consistently by this Sept. If I can do it -- You can do it! What do you say -- shall we encourage one another?? I'll meet you at the finish line in 2007!!!!!!!!!!!!

P.S. Thanks for the info on the book by Huckabee. I'm going to get that ASAP! I was looking for a summer book to get me through until 7/16 (the release of Harry Potter & the Half Blood Prince)!

 

[goldcupmom]

Sounds like you are right on track! Keep working and the 1/2 will be a breeze for you.

Congrats on the losses!

 

[PRINCESS VIJA]

toystoryduo, thanks for the encouragement! I need all that I can get!

TigerCheer2009, thanks for that personalized cheer! AWSOME! I love it!

jwann, Hey, that sounds great... lets encourage each other as we head toward that marathon! I have not heard about Oprah's training. That sounds interesting. I have been doing a lot of walking and using the treadmill. I'll have to work on getting the walking consistent, but I dont' think I will be able to walk/run until next year. The weight on my body I am carrying around right now is hindering it. It would be too hard on my knees right now. How much are you running/walking now? I am so excited about the marathon. it will be a very sweet reward! We are going down to WDW next year. We are cruising, but we will spend 1 day in the parks. I was planning on spending it at MK, but now I think I might pick one of the other parks, because I sort of want to run into MK as a reward. We'll see. I'll bet a lot will depend on what the kids want to do....

goldcupmom, Thanks so much for your encouragement! I certainly hope the marathon is a breeze! I am going to train very hard for it!

 

[PRINCESS VIJA]

June 16,

Today was a rollercoaster for me. I stepped on the scale this morning (last time for a month per the challenge Jody put forth) and it hasn't budged. I have been pushing the points to the limit the last 2 days and was scared I was heading toward the dark side again. I ate cereal this morning and headed off to go swimsuit shopping before my WW meeting. Lets just say that swimsuit shopping experience was less than pleasant. I finally found something that was ok. some of those I tried on were HORRIBLE! I felt that I would be laughed at for some of those.

On to the meeting... my mom made lifetime and I was SOOOOO happy for her! my kids and I presented roses to her. But during the time the leader had her up there they got to talking about her trip to Europe (she leaves soon) and the reason for it. They are taking my grandma's ashes to be buried next to grandpa's in Latvija. I have said for years that I wanted to be there when they had that funeral. It has been very hard for me not to go. We just bought our first house after digging our way through a massive debt, and I know my grandparents are proud of us for finally buying our own home, and because of the house, there is no money for a trip to europe. I am REALLY struggling with not being there for the funeral.

On a happy note, I lost some weight from the last weigh in, and now am at a 16.8# loss. VERY happy about that. Got another $5 from my parents!

On the way home I start second guessing some big decisions I have made and wonder if I really screwed up....

I get home and look at all that I have to do at home and tears start forming. I took a minute and told myself to snap out of it and make the best of it. I told myself that everything will work out and to just put my faith and trust in the Lord. I start to feel a little better and as I get more involved in cleaning and organizing, I am feeling better and better.

I ran to the store because I made my cauliflower salad for lunch and ran out of bacon bits. I knew I would have that and a left over brat for lunch, and I started to want chips too. I looked around and my favorite chips only came in the BIG bag. I didn't want to go down that road... so I just decided to skip them completely. (Good food decision #1!!!! Wooohooo!)

DH comes home and we go hiking on one of the trails in the Kettle Moraine forest. (very beautiful area!) anyway it wasn't a nice hike because the horse flies are swarming us. UGHHHHH, frustrating.

We then went to a local Hamburger Haus (think local outdoor summer burger hut) REALLY enjoyed that! Because it felt like "summer".

We then went shopping and I was HUNGRY! But I decided not to get the cookies because I knew I wouldn't only eat one (second good food decision ... WOOOHOOO!!) On the way home I still had to go to wahlgreens and I told DH I would walk home. I probably walked about 1 1/2 miles before he came back to pick me up... it was cold! I was a little dissapointed because I wanted to walk the whole way (another 1/2 mile or so), but I am glad because I hadn't gone to the bathroom since before we left to go hiking. And it is a drive to get to the forest!

Every evening I read to the kids (we are reading superfudge right now) and they were having there nightly "midnight" snack. Poptarts.... Smelled very good! DH comes in and has one too.... UGHHHHH, but I kept it together and didn't have anything. (Good food decision #3! Wooohoooo!!!!)

So, in the last 2 days I did note how I was getting caught up in the numbers game and the darn scale. Thanks Jody for the great idea of not stepping on the scale. I know it is the right decision for me. I really want to focus on how I feel.

However.... when I do step on that scale at WW I hope to be down 8.2 pounds. That would put me at 25# loss and I would get my magnet! I have not made the #20 pound loss during all these years at WW. I think it is a road block I put up for myself. Who knows why, but I think this will be good for me to just zip right past the 20 loss and go for 25. Thanks Jody!

So I felt up and down all day, but I am ending on a very happy note...!

If your still reading... thanks!

 

[jwann]

Great post!
Congrats on your super food decisions! I don't think I have had so many good decisions in one day before!!
I am walking for 5 min. and then alternating walking and running for 1 min. 10 times, and then finishing it with a few minutes walking. I'm doing okay. 1 minute of running isn't so bad. I got the training schedule from www.runnersworld.com . In 8 weeks, I should be able to run for 20 minutes without stopping.
Kids, husbands, horseflies, poptarts, and guilt -- all things that can steal our joy. Don't let them take your joy! Hang in there. Give yourself some grace over housework and the funeral. Begin to loosen your definitions of "clean" and "proper" and "but I always said I would...." Focus on joy. Your family will thank you and so will your body!

 

[jwann]

Oops, I almost forgot to mention. You said the magic word in an earlier post...

CRUISING!!

Will you be going on a Disney cruise??? We've been on 3 of them and my family LOVES it!!!!! We even have one booked for Dec. 2006. Have you visited the cruise boards? Very informative! If you are not going on a Disney cruise please elaborate on the one you are going on. We are afraid to "branch out" onto different lines.....perhaps you could sway us.

 

[PRINCESS VIJA]

jwann that is a great running schedule. When my body is ready to add on running, I will keep in mind that strategy. I used to love to run, and I can't wait to get back into it.

thanks for mentioning the funeral and giving some grace. It is a tough one, and I appreciate your acknowledgement of it. It isn't so much that I am not following through... it is just that I wanted to be there for myself. I did give some money to my uncle and he is going to buy some flowers just from me and place those at the grave site. I appreciate that and feel I will be there in spirit.

The cruise.... We will be going on a DCL cruise next summer. It is a cruise to Costa Maya with 2 stops at CC. We went on a 3 nighter and it missed CC we were very sad, so I hope that we can make up for it with these 2 stops at CC! And I can't wait to parasail, that is something I want to do, but was afraid my weight would hinder it. Last time I wanted to, but chickened out of signing up. No more of that! I can't wait!

 

[PRINCESS VIJA]

Hi Mickey,

I am still going strong and I can't wait to go run with you!

I know I haven't written much lately, but I have been so busy. summertime is crazy, but fun. I have done very well. I went a little over on my points this past week. I am about 10 points over the total. but that is ok. I am not going to freak out about perfectionism and blow it and binge as I would have in the past. I am working on a lifestyle change and although it might not be perfect, it will get me to my goal. This is the only way I will ever become healthy... if I just keep going and not fall of the wagon. I am firmly seated there now and I don't EVER want to have to try and catch up to the wagon again. That is so much harder than just continuing on....


On that note... JODY YOU ARE KILLING ME! I have maintained the challenge not to step on the scale. And although I admit you are RIGHT, it is still soooo hard not to step on the scale to look for immediate results. But that is a problem I have... immediate gratification.... so this has been good for my healthy weight loss soul. Thanks so much for giving me this challenge, it is what I needed! BUT it still is So Hard!!!!