New Year, New Me...Liz's 1/2 Marathon Preparation (Comments Encouraged)

[sarahsmom73]

Welcome Liz !! You are doing Awesome! So glad you are joining us! You can and will do this!

 

[lizdotcom99]

Hi there, thanks for stopping by. I seem to be in a bit of a mood shall we say? I as so excited to ge ouut walking today. Even though it is only 32 out, I decided to go for a nice brisk 2 mile walk. I was quite excited. Yesterday I spent my rest day making a kick butt CD to go walking with. I of courese has to borrow a walkman....but hey....whtever it takes to gt through this...right. So off I go....I am crusing to all my upbeat music. About halfway through the walk, the walkman starts freaking out.....and I was moving at a pretty good clip. Suffice to say, the walkman did not want to cooperate for teh rest of my walk and I was bumbed.

I really have NO idea how people make it through their walks without music. I tried this on my first 2 mile walk and all I can say is YUCK!!!

But on a good note, I did get my 2 miles plus a little extra in today. (I missed my turn while trying to get the walkman to work and had to backtrack......a lot..... ). Then went and got the

to help with the cool down. He was very excited about that.

So, now I am a really crappy mood because this stupid walkman doesn't like to go for walks......I think I need to snap out of my funk. It is only music!!! But I do have to say...it is SOOOOOOO much easier to stay motivated with a good beat.......

Off to find a better mood somewhere....but I will be back...and I did get my two miles in today!!

 

[plutosmyfav]

Been there, done that!!!!

I know exactly what you mean about music! I've had my mp3 players go dead during a workout and its torture!!!!

Sounds like you need to invest in a good walkman!!!! You might want to look into mp3 players. Currently, I am using a Sony mini-disc player. They are great, 'cause you can make multiple disks and each disk holds 4+ hours of music. The only catch is finding enough good music to keep you moving!!!!

You may notice my journal is gone.

I'm laying low for a while, so I'll be visiting others a lot!!!!

Sunny

 

[lizdotcom99]

Sunny, sorry to hear your journal went buh bye......hope you were able to save it before it went away. I guess you will just need to start another one....in due time. I am really starting to like to journal...Helps keep me honest.....feel free to drop by anytime, you are always welcome!!!

Today was a good workout day for me. I got my 2 mile walk in. Even had music to boot!!! I decided that today before I left, if I had music..yeah, if not...deal with it!! So with that mind set all went well...and shock of all shocks, the walkman lasted the whole time.....and so did I

Today was a nice leisurely but brisk walk. It was 35 and sunny. In my usual garb of spandex pants, a nice long tee shrit and a hoodie, out I went. Man, I am SOOOOOO glad I don't have to look at me when I walk. I saw the poor man form the other day out there fixing his car....he waved, I waved back....I am thinking the other day was just a blur in his memory.....or maybe I was just going that fast, I was blurred!

So for the week, I have 10 miles walked under my belt. I have been really good with food as well. I keep trying to get Greg to share a piece of lc cheesecake with Greg, but he will not break down. Of course, he has had 2 mocha coffees this weekend....I may just go and get a piece of cheesecake and enjoy half of it. It has been on my mind for a few days now.

Anyway, that is it for now. I feel really good about things. Tomorrow I am going to weigh. Hoping that I lost something.....we will see. I also think I am going ot try to change my training schedule to John Bingham's.....so I may not have a rest day......gotta look into that!!

 

[lizdotcom99]

I caved...well if oyu wnat to call it that. I actually feel pretty good about my LC cheesecake.....got it and shared it. I just made sure to get the bigger half of the piece. It was quite yummy!! Off to another week. Looking forward to making all this good eating and exercise a habbit and a new lifestyle. Onward and downward for me!!

 

[swilphil]

Good job on the walk, Liz. I'm proud that you get out there and brave the cold. I guess I need to get used to that if I'm going to run in a 5K in a month and then possibly train for the 1/2 marathon next winter.

 

[lizdotcom99]

Happy, happy, happy me......

I am down 4 pounds for the week!!!


I am now in the 250's!!!! Whoo hoo!!

 

[Tiger Lily 03]

Liz, It is great to hear your news. Your walking story is so inspirational. Do not worry about what that "guy" is thinking as you walk/jog/wog past. You are exercising, he is not!

I am thinking if you use the John Bingham book, maybe he will autograph it for you after you have worn it in some come August.
You will gain confidence as you progress and begin to really know you can do this!
Keep on keepin' on.

 

[MelanieC]

Liz- YOU GO GIRL!!

You are doing fantastic- 4lbs down and you are doing fabulous with your walking. Keep up the great work!! You

 

[lizdotcom99]

Hi ladies, thanks for stopping by!!! I KNOW I could not get through this without all your encouaragement!!

Today my get up and go, got up and went...not so sure where it went...but what are ya gonna do? I SOOOOOOOOOOOOO did not want to go out and , but I did. Put on the gear and grabbed the walkman and said to myself...self....if you just make it through your walk today....or even part of it....you got yoursef out here to do it. I mean this was like pulling teeth......impacted molars I might add......but....off I went. It was a slow start indeed....but hey, I started. So I am just and and and met a very cute little doggie who I am sure was barking at my ever so stylish outfit and continued to . Before you know it, I am at my 1 mile marker. Well, guess what.....if I am going to get home, I have to ......so off I go!! I am shocked to find out that I get home a whole song and then some earlier than Saturday. Whoo hooo!! Doncha just love my hightech measuring devices......I felt so good I made sure to walk a few extra laps around the court for my cool down. I am SOOOOOOOO glad I got up off my butt and did it!

So now, my shoes, that smiled at me, even this morning now have 2 more miles on them.....I am quite sure they are up to 18 miles now. I love my new, or not so new shoes......and they love me. I am thinking they are gonna be traded up a little more often than my cars, however!!!

So that is my story for today.......I am sure there will be many more days like this...but I am glad I have one under my belt and know that I can do it!!!!

Have a great day!!

 

[swilphil]

Congrats on the 4 lb loss!! And for going for your walk even though you didn't feel like it. Keep up the good work!

 

[Strings]

Cogratulations Liz,

Congrats on the 4 pound loss, and songrats for overcoming the blah's/ The determination you showed today will definatley help get you to your goal. I'm really proud of you.

Keep it up,
Beth

 

[geetey]

Terry,

Any way I could talk you into thinking about the Chicago Distance Classic? It is not too far form you.....and it is a John Bingham race.......and I would LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to have the honor to walk with you? So will you think about it? Huh, will you? It is not until August 7th, so there is lots of time to train. What do you think?

Liz, I would LOVE to do the Bingham race in Chicago. DH is from Chicago. However the thought of August has me scared. Heat causes my MS to flair up, so I am not sure how I would do. The Half in WDW caused some numbness in my hands, but my legs/feet did fine. I need to see how things progress for me. I will definitely keep it in mind! Thanks for asking me! I am really touched.

Well, it looks like you had a WONDERFUL time while I was gone!! MORE miles on your shoes and under your belt. FOUR pounds gone forever!! You are doing SO well! I am really proud of you, Liz!! You are a great WISHer!!!

 

[kayeandjim00]

Hi Liz Congratulations on getting yourself out there today! The hardest part is always getting started, I have such a hard time remembering that sometimes. Once you get started you feel good and when you are done you feel GREAT. Remember today the next time your get up and go is trying to sneak out on you

 

[sarahsmom73]

YAY Liz!!! Great Work!

 

[lizdotcom99]

Ladies,Thank you all for your kind words. I tell ya, I woould not be where I am today without each and every one of you.

So today I am freaking out. Over the course of the last couple of weeks a headhunter has been calling me. Current situation, I am unemployed and have been for well over a year. I live with the most incredible man, but seriously this not working thing has put a strain on both of us. So, I have been dilligently been looking ofr work.....anything to be employed quite frankly.

Rewind to 1997....I was a front end supervisor at a large home improvement store,made goood money. Fell out of a tree, messed up my anlke and over the course of time form then to now have had 9 surgeries. The last surgery being in August to have some harware removed. Greg has been there for each and every surgery. He has been my caregiver and provider through all of this. He has encouraged me to go to school (which I did and got my degreee in Communication of all things) and dealt with my $6 an hour job while going to school. He has dealt with my NOThaving a job for over a year now. He is a GREAT guy. You couldn't ask for a better friend. Oh, I guess I should add, he is gay. I have lived with this man on and off for 16 years. We have a VERY Will and Grace relationship. Of course Grace is a lot thinner and prettier than me.....but we are working on that! It is amazing. Now if I could find a Jack and Keren for my life, I could have my own sit com. Fast forward to yesterday. The head hunter called again and would like me to interview next week in Little Rock for a position in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.

First of all, I have NEVER been pursued to this level. I gotta tell you, if feels pretty good. I now have an airline ticket and hotel reservations to Little ROck for next Thursday. At least we can both agree on the interview part. Never hurts to see what is out there....and to be quite honest, being flown to an interview is beyond my belief. The job would be one that I feel like I could do, (a district manager for 8-10 mini mart stores) but would be a bit of a stretch and with out a doubt a lot of work. Aren't most management jobs that anyway? But the money is great, the bennies are fabulous and I am jobless.

Greg is not a talker. He is the king of hiding his feelings. Again, our weird relationship really plays a huge part in this. We live as though we are married minus the sex, and I think we are both struggling with the fact that this job could be so far away. Neither one of us has a boyfriend for the past 14 years....and I have a very nice ring on my hand. So last night after I got off the phone with the head hunter, I tried to ask about Greg's feelings. He went to bed. I sat and just thought, and thought watched Will and Grace and thought some more. Needless to say, this morning I woke up EARLY this morning with a HUGE tummy ache.

I am quite sure that come next Thursday I am going to get an offer for a job...in Dallas. I am so perplexed as what to do. Greg, who is my sounding board is no longer has an unbiased opinion. Of course this would be great if a job were in Chicago...I would take it in a heart beat, he would agree. But the dang job is in Dallas. Now I know I have not even been offered a job yet....but what to do?

Sorry for my babblings.....I just needed to get this out. Great motivation for getting out and walking away from my problems though. I have found rather than to stress eat....I can now stress walk!! So, off I go to get my walking clothes on and do the 3 mile WATP....it is definatley a 3 mile kind of day!! Thanks for listening........

 

[Strings]

Liz,

Let me just say that Greg sounds fabulous. Having that supportive of a friendship in your life is a blessing.

As for the job interview, I think you should go and dazzle them. When you get the offer, you can talk to Greg again. It will be concrete then. You need to consider taking this job. It is easier to find a job if you have a job. You can keep looking for something in Chicago. Your phone bills will be sky high, and you will rack up the frequent flier miles. You two have weathered 16 years together. Greg absolutely needs to be a part of this decision. Tell him that you NEED his help to make this decision. You need to know how he feels.

Good Luck with your decision. I'll send .
Beth

 

[Alysa]

No one will expect you to be able to give a straight out yes or no - just tell them when you get the job that you need to discuss it with your family (which Greg is) and then go home and have a long heart to heart. No one can tell you what to do - you need to decide this with the person you love most in the world. GOOD LUCK!

 

[sarahsmom73]

Put your best foot forward and you will do great! Good Luck!

 

[lizdotcom99]

Me again......Ladies again, thanks for the words of comfort and kindness. You REALLY have no idea what it means to me.

I had a meltdown of GIGANTIC proportions yesterday. With all this going on, throw in a little PMS and holy cow!!!! I think I spent most of the day crying......today of course I can laugh about things a bit....but yesterday was a tuff one. I realized a lesson in love. True love. As funny as this sounds, I have no idea how people get divorced. Yesterday the thoughts of leaving Greg made me sick. My heart hurt...my head hurt, my tummy hurt, my face hurt....every fiber of my being hurt. I felt like I was losing the only person I have EVER loved this much. So, Dallas is a no go. We had many a good long talks yesterday and decided that it just won't work being that far away.....for any length of time...at least not for this. Yep, I am truely codependant

I made it thorugh a little over a mile of my WATP befire the floodgates came. Had intentions of going for a walk...and well, that never happened. Today my friends is another day! I did make it through the day OP.....not sure how that happend.....but miraculously it did. I did break down and have 4 squares of a Atkins candy bar though. I was just enough.

Last night when Greg came home, he gave me LOTS of hugs and told me it would be aliright. We will get through this. Then I noticed the huge vase of flowers sitting on the counter. So, today, for now...all is well withthe world.

I am still going to go to the job interview. Maybe they have ajob here in Chicago...or will keep me in mind for when they do. I did find some clothes to wear too....of course all my smaller clothes we in Greeg's closet......but Yeah.....I am wearing smaller clothes to this interview....and in the words of Paris Hilton.....I look HOT!! OK, not really, but I have to say the new sizes look and feel great. And I really do feel much better about myself to day than yesterday.

Thank you for listening to my babblings. It is jsut very refresing to have a place to come and get it al out. Maybe a public BB is not the place to do it.....but this journaling thing is so working for me. Your kind words and thoughts of encouragement touch me more than anyone could know. Because of you guys, I have the courage to become the person I was meant to be.