Running for Freedom(of the Seas) The Journey Begins Today!(Comments Welcome)

[VernRDH]

Today was my first non-running treadmill day. I put the incline all the way up to 10 and walked at 3.5 mph for 20 mins. Then did push ups, crunches, lunges, squats and jumping jacks. Tomorrow is a 3 mile run on the TM, not my favorite, but will have to do. I am trying to vary my Tu/Thu activities to help with my weight loss, which is going nowhere currently. I have gained back about 15 lbs, though most people think I have lost more.

 

[LAinSEA]

Veronica:

Until I began the HCG plan, I would not have guessed that about a 1 cup size of muscle (a little smaller than a tennis ball) weighs a pound and fat that weighs a pound is a little larger than a softball. You can actually be heavier and thinner all at the same time and I'm guessing that training for 1/2 marathon has made big changes in your body. That's why you really do need to take measurements and not just go by what the scale says. (You know that pair of jeans you won't throw away in the back of your closet that didn't fit, but you couldn't bear to part with them? Try them on occasionally, go ahead. I'm now into some of those jeans this week and my weight hasn't changed drastically in the last three weeks.)

Your doing great and I sure wish we could put a treadmill on our immediate purchase list; the cold is hard to walk in with my asthma acting up with this dratted cold that just keeps hanging on. (Now it's a dry cough that won't stop easily when started.)

Hope your cold disappears soon!
Laurie

 

[VernRDH]

Boy I didn't realize that I hadn't been here in a while!!

Thursday I had a rare day off in addition to my regular friday. So I ran 3 miles in 33:06 by myself. On Friday, I ran with the inlaws, 3 miles in 34 minutes.

Thursday I went to Marshalls (I soooo Marshalls) and got me a pair of running tights. Nike, orig. $75, paid $19.99 SWEET!! They are the greatest things EVER!! Wore them on Fri's run to test them out, wore them again today on our 6 miler. Wear my Race Ready shorts over them so that I have my pockets for my beans and water.

Today was a good 6 miler, good pace to start, inlaws sped up for the last 2 miles. Finished in 1:07, not bad.

Next Sat is DH's birthday and big dinner. So the inlaws and I decided we will do our long run on Fri this week, so that on Sun morning we don't have to get up and do 6 whilst we are still full of yummy Italian food and cake from the night before.

My pace seems to be improving. FIL and I talked about WDW today, I think I can do 2:20, which would be 15 minutes off my first half time. Again, thinking that the course will be more favorable and with another 16 weeks of training, I should be able to do it.

Food continues to be a problem. We are just getting ready to hibernate here, so we seem to eat more in the colder weather. Trying to cut back, not necessarily succeeding.

 

[LAinSEA]

Veronica:

We've got the same "hibernation-type" weather going on here too. It was gorgeous summer, a couple days of cold-crisp-clear fall, and then WAM, we're into cold, wind, and near-freezing rain! What happened to "Indian summer?"

Celebrating with Italian food sounds so heavenly (it will be a long while before I see pasta again--even in moderation), I wish your DH the best! Your shopping also sounds inspiring--must check out Marshal's.

take care,
Laurie

 

[VernRDH]

Yesterday I did inclines on the treadmill. Today was a 6 mile run, did it in 1:10. Not bad considering I think I may have eaten something last night (burger king) that is making me rather ill feeling. I woke up shortly after falling asleep, thinking I was going to lose it, but I just felt horribly nauseated. I managed to eat a couple Tums and some water and go back to bed. My stomach just feels "off", no other symptoms. I went running with the inlaws, didn't want to miss as we traded todays 3 for sundays 6. I had some side stitches close to the end of the run, but managed to power thru.

Hoping whatever this is passes soon, as tomorrow is DH's birthday dinner, and I really want to enjoy that.

I am going back on WW, it is the only way I can lose weight. I sheepishly had to ask my SIL for my books back, that I just gave her recently. I know what a lot of the points are for the stuff I eat all the time, and I do tend to buy products that tell me how many points. Hoping that I can drop 20 lbs by the half in January. I will still need to lose 40 lbs after that, but Rome wasn't built in a day!!

 

[VernRDH]

So I started WW again on Monday, full throttle. Since Sunday, I have lost 4.2 pounds!! I am not too hungry, but do get kinda "noshy" at night. Cheerios seem to help.

Ran 3 miles on the TM this morning I hate running on the TM. It seems like WAY more work than running outside. But alas, at least one day a week I have to do a run on the TM. I don't mind doing the incline walking on it, but the running......... eh, not so much.

Seems I have a bunch of friends over on FB that are getting into WW or some other program, so I am starting a group to keep us all motivated and accountable. Should be fun.

 

[LAinSEA]

Veronica, I'm impressed , that's a lot of weight to lose in just a few days. Good job.

Maybe the TM isn't the best, but at least you've got a place to still run when the weather isn't cooperative. I just can't get use to going out in the wind and rain and I know that I need to make that adjustment soon as I'm losing the fitness I gained over the summer.

Keep up the great work,
Laurie

 

[VernRDH]

I had originally posted this last night, but they took the board down for maintenance while I was doing it, so it didn't post.

Yesterday (fri) was a 7 miler, HORRIBLE!! Met up with the inlaws, MIL is in a foul mood. We started fast, as MIL was a house a fire, and when we made the turn to come back, I lost my rhythm and groove. Got a stitch, tried to get back into the groove, nothing doing. I struggled with the last 2 miles especially, but I finished in 1:23.

Good news was that I was down 3 lbs yesterday-down to 177.6 On Monday I was 184.2 Doing well so far with WW, though I have my moments of weakness. Yesterday was very stressful with DD not doing well on her spelling test, and I succumbed to a Coke Zero (0 pts) and a Peppermint Patty (3 pts). I had them to use, and I know that those were not the best choices I could make, but it made me feel better at the time.

I made herb crusted tilapia, mashed cauliflower and green beans for dinner yesterday for DD and I. It was good, the cauliflower was a bit watery, but it was tasty. DD ate it all, proclaimed it "excellent", but maybe she was just trying to get on my good side again.

No exercise today, as it is my off day and it is POURING rain here. So I didn't even walk the dog. But tomorrow morning I will get out for a quick 3 miles, before doing more house cleaning and laundry.

Hoping that my weight loss continues and I can shed 20 lbs by our trip in January. Plus the weight loss should help my running time as well.

 

[LAinSEA]

Awesome - WW obviously works well for you combined with your training. (I can have some califlower now--one of the newer foods on my list and it has to fill in for "mashed potatoes" at Thanksgiving for me.)

They held the first county H1N1 vaccine clinic at my high school today and according to the news report, they started turning people away before the clinic even opened. There were more children in line by 8am than they had vaccine for. The county won't have more doses for a week or more. I'm glad I didn't go up to school to work today (even though I probably should have gone to catch up...I haven't even touched my grading pile yet today.) I sure hope that folks are better prepared for the flu in your area.

Keep up the awesome work! (but I'm going to scold you for the diet drink--those artficial sweetners in them are really bad for you...I'm a believer now after being a Diet Coke addict all those years.)

Laurie

 

[VernRDH]

I so rarely drink soda any more, but sometimes, it just tastes soooo good. And I couldn't afford the points of a regular Coke.

 

[momof2minnies]

Veronica- wow that is amazing! You will definately reach your goal by January.I am looking at the same thing, they say 5 lbs dropped even makes a difference in time.

I have not heard of the covered bridge marathon, I will check it out.June may be hot though.

Your MIL sounds like a pip! Oh I hope I have that energy and spuk in years to come.

I am on the events board "Donalds 2010" but finding it really hard to keep up with everyone.I am unable to multiple quote for some reason so once I read a bunch I forget who said what.

Today should be a better day for running out there.4 miles for me how about you?
My training just started this week- only doing 12 weeks

Linda

 

[VernRDH]

Veronica- wow that is amazing! You will definately reach your goal by January.I am looking at the same thing, they say 5 lbs dropped even makes a difference in time.

I have not heard of the covered bridge marathon, I will check it out.June may be hot though.

Your MIL sounds like a pip! Oh I hope I have that energy and spuk in years to come.

I am on the events board "Donalds 2010" but finding it really hard to keep up with everyone.I am unable to multiple quote for some reason so once I read a bunch I forget who said what.

Today should be a better day for running out there.4 miles for me how about you?
My training just started this week- only doing 12 weeks

Linda

My MIL is manic/depressive. We are now in a manic cycle, and she refuses to takes meds, so we just deal and wait for the storm to blow over. I love her to death, but sometimes you just want to wrap your hands around her neck and squeeze

I am on the Donald thread too, but I have a hard time keeping up. I read and then post once in a while. It will be nice to meet people in January.

I ran 3 today, 33:31. It poured here yesterday, but this morning was kind of mild but windy. I felt good today, sometimes I really enjoy my running alone as opposed to running with the inlaws.

We are doing a 16 week program, so we are starting week 5. I am hoping that my speed improves with the weight coming off. I posted over on the WW thread about activity points. Since I don't go to the meetings, I don't know how to figure the extra points for exercise. I found a formula on line, but for Friday's 7 miler, it calculated I would get 12 activity points. That seems wrong. So I am hoping that someone there will be able to help.

DH is losing too, which helps. He likes to do SlimFast scared: not my cup of tea, but it works for him. We also measured ourselves, and there are changes showing already. Except for my thighs, which were bigger this morning (I had just been running, so maybe that is why??). We are using the Wii fit too.

I am looking forward to the race and trip and meeting all the WISHers I have been chatting with. I know that I can improve my time from my only other 1/2 marathon, so no worries. Just hoping that the weather here holds for us to do the training runs outside, especially the long runs. The thought of having to do them on the TM

 

[LAinSEA]

Veronica, my DH has found the best ways of cooking fish without any oil/butter and still making it taste incredibly great.

On Grill: use heavy duty foil to create a packet. Layer sliced onions on the bottom (1/4 to 1/2 inch sliced rounds), put your fish on top and salt (lightly), pepper and add any herbs you like (dill is great with salmon) and cover with citrus slices. Fold over top and place on grill--it should take between 8 and 16 minutes depending upon how hot your grill is and the thickness of the fish. Another way is to buy those disposable alder or cedar planks at the grocery store--soak in water and then put the fish on the plank on the grill seasoned to your liking.

In Oven: use parchement paper (not wax paper) like you use for baking and create 12 x 12" squares to fold over into envelopes by rolling and folding the edges. Prepare fish just like you would if you are using the foil packets on the grill. Pre-heat over to 400 degrees and again it will take between 8 and 16 minutes depending upon the thickness of the fish--we place the packets on a cookie sheet, but you don't have to, you can put them right on the racks.

I'm not a big fan of tilapia or other fresh water fish like catfish. It tastes almost muddy to me--even the fresh caught steelhead (ocean-going rainbow trout) that a friend catch in the river tasted kind of like a bad puddle to me. I guess I'm spoiled-- I really like saltwater fish--salmon being my favorite and avoid buying farm-raised atlantic if we can help it. Cod, rockfish, halibut, grouper, sea bass, sole/flounder all are good options for baking in parchement. We like to do salmon on the alder and cedar planks and have one that we use in the oven too that is not disposable.

At the restaurant on Sunday, the chef dredged my scallops in ground hazelnuts prior to searing them on the grill and they were yummy. Ground nuts can be used as a substitute for breading if you chose to pan fry any fish too.

Try the foil or parchement method and let me know if it works out for you.

BTW, I've found two judges (both female) and need a gentleman to fill out the group. Hopefully by the end of the week I'll be set.

take care,
Laurie

 

[VernRDH]

Laurie- Thanks for the info on the fish!! Much appreciated. I think I will grill it this week with the onions and citrus. May have sweet potato with it instead of the cauliflower.

So things are moving along, not as quickly as last week, but still headed in the right direction. I was down this morning about a half a pound, slow steady progress. I ran 3 miles on the treadmill this morning, so hate it, but boy do I think it is going to help me when it comes to the half marathon. The pace of my TM is definately off, because I run at 5mph (12 min mile) and I am chugging hard. It feels more like 6mph, so hopefully when I run outside it will translate into faster pace.

People keep telling me that I look thinner, even though I gained back 20 lbs. Funny thing is that my jeans I wore at 164 still fit me at 184 (a little snugger than I would like but still wearable). Now wouldn't you think that I wouldn't fit in them gaining 20 lbs? Does this mean that under the fat is more muscle and tone? When I lose this 20 again, will I be able to wear a smaller size? I currently wear a 12, have a pair of 10's in the closet that I have never worn, but sure as shoot would like to. Guess I will have to wait and see.

Hoping to get the long run (8 miles) in on Friday. With Halloween, things are going to be crazy around here this weekend. DD has parade and party at school, then a party at TaeKwonDo friday, then Saturday afternoon she has a party here for her friends and then we will go out trick or treating. My only saving grace is that the orthodontist does candy buyback, where they give the kids $1/pound of candy they turn in. Can't keep the candy here in the house.

 

[LAinSEA]

That's an awesome idea, candy buy-back! FIL should have done that years ago when he was still torturing children with bands and wires (my DH, I believe, still holds the indoor record for orthodontics--dad started working on him when he first got his permanent teeth at 6 or 7 and the braces didn't come off until he was a freshman in college. I went to FIL's school chum - done in 13 months, but they've moved since.)

I do believe that you can wear smaller sizes and weigh more; I'm proof as the last time I wore the 12s and 14s I'm in now, I weighed 150-155. Technically I should be able to get into any of the 12s or even the 14 petites yet. I'm jealous of your muscle tone though, I'm seriously lacking in the exercise department right now except for ballet-style plies while watching TV in the evening. Your body should be leaner and look longer with all that running. When I figure out the secret of making the muscle weight less on the scale, I promise, I'll share.

Halloween sounds like fun at your place, but get some rest too. We typically have between 500 and 1000 kids come by our house (large neighborhood with estate-type houses in the upper neighborhood with views of Mt. Rainier.) The families come by the carload from everywhere. DH won't pick up candy until tomorrow on the way home from work (hope Costco still has some)--he didn't want it in the house (not that I'm tempted by it, I just want chili or pasta and won't see that for awhile). The extra I'll take to school and toss out to students for critical thinking and current events.

Have a fantastic weekend!
Laurie

 

[VernRDH]

Today has been a yo-yo kind of day.

8 mile run, did okay, better than last weeks 7 miler, legs got heavy around mile 6 and the bridge we had to run over right at the start of mile 8 was not a help. I did walk up the bridge and once I crested it started running again. Finished the run in 1:33, pretty good.

Got on the scale and Wii Fit when I got home-down 3 lbs again!!! Very dehydrated when I got home, so I drank a bit before heading out for the afternoon.

First stop, DD's school for the Halloween parade. It was overcast and very windy, which made it feel even colder. I picked up DD and off we went to meet DH at our credit union to sign the papers for our home equity refi (lower rate, added more to the line). Then off to WalMart to do our shopping. I spent WAY more with the two of them with me than if I went alone. Then DH states he wants to go out for dinner. His choice-Red Robin. Now I love me some Red Robin, but I was trying to really be good today, as tomorrow is DD's Halloween party and my MIL has baked all her usual goodies. But off we went.

I really enjoy the Guacamole Burger, so I got it with some modifications. No bun, no cheese (which I usually do anyway) and they put it on a plate with EVERYTHING on the side. So I skipped the mayo too. The nice thing about Red Robins website is that you can customize your burger to get the nutrition info. So my burger was only 462 calories (which is bad enough) instead of 1160 calories I did eat the fries, probably too many of them actually. Now I am paying DEARLY for it I feel yucky. I haven't had beef in like weeks or anything fried either. I am really pounding the water now, as I still wasn't caught up before we went to dinner and the sodium in RR is killer.

Other good news was that DD finally did well on a spelling test (its genetic, I swear, DH can't spell, neither can she). So her reward was going to a party at TKD tonight. She had a good time, I got to go to Lowes and buy a new mop

No exercise on tap for tomorrow, but I still have flex points left for this week should I feel the need to indulge. We did buy veggies and dip and I will make air popped popcorn as well. The candy does nothing for me, and some of MIL's treats are just too sweet for me. But we are getting pizza for the kids, and I pizza.

Sunday I will do a short run and will be strict on plan. Monday starts a new week for me on WW, so we will see how things go.

 

[VernRDH]

So things aren't as bad as I thought they would be.

Yesterday was DD's party. MIL made cookies and brownies and a cake (inspired by the play Wicked, it was beautiful, but the kids said it tasted terrible ). I had my usual breakfast and then got to work cleaning and setting up. I snacked on veggies and dip and air popped popcorn. When the pizza came I had two pieces (which were really good). Then I started on the candy. I do enjoy Heath bars and the bag of candy we got had them in it, don't know how many I ate . Then the rain, rain, rain came down, down, down and DD and friends STILL wanted to go out. So out we went, the two kids, me and the friends dad. The rain let up a bit, they got quite a haul for only 2 blocks. I think people were giving out more to each kid since there werent a lot of kids out.

Three mile run this morning, beautiful morning for running. 33:23, not too bad. Came home and showered, got on the scale expecting a gain.

SURPRISE!!! I had a LOSS!! I was down 0.4 from Friday. I am out of flex points until tomorrow, so today I really have to stay on plan. I have tons of laundry to get caught up on, and we need to go to the library for a book for DD for school, and start our birthday and Christmas lists.

 

[LAinSEA]

Say it isn't so...no Christmas before Thanksgiving. In fact, in our house, sometimes Christmas lists don't come out until I get into winter break from school.

You are doing fabulous even with the sweets and out to eat. My daffodil ladies chose Red Robin for our dinner out with moms on Thursday before our rival HS selection and it is good to know that I can order a burger without the bun etc. The nutritional menus really put the fear of sodium in us last time out--couldn't believe just how much is in everything!

I don't spell well either--I'm dyslexic, but hey, look at me, I'm an English teacher. DD has hope, it won't hold her back, but a dictionary needs to become her best friend through HS and college

thanks again for keeping my journal "on the front page"
Laurie

 

[VernRDH]

Yesterday was a hard day all around. DH is not feeling well, got Chinese for dinner. I had a rough day at work, went out to lunch and went WAY off plan. I had flex points to use, so its not that bad, but I really didn't feel well last night either.

Ran 3 miles this morning, 32:06, felt REALLY good, got the runners high thing going on.

Weight was down slightly, but still higher than where I was last sunday, but I will see where I am on Sunday after we do our long run.

Off to the vet with the dog, he is not feeling well either, then to the grocery store.

 

[LAinSEA]

Veronica:

One of my colleagues sent me a link to a story on CNN yesterday about a cat coming down in H1N1. I think he thought it was funny--but I freaked out. Can't have three sick kitties down with the flu, it's bad enough with the furballs this time of year. In our area, they are out of regular flu vaccine too and still only pregnant women and kids under 18 can get the H1N1 vaccine (if it's available.) I sure hope you all don't come down with it. Stay hydrated and get your vitamin C!

I had to laugh the other day, your DD learning cursive writing. Only a handful of my students over the past 5 years actually use it and the block printing is simply aweful for many. By mid-year, I'm trying to check out the laptop carts for all classes, but now I'm hearing they're not teaching keyboarding skills either! Oh my poor eyes.

I hope you get a nice fall day for your run this weekend. We're in the line of the November wind storms off the Pacific right now--thunder, buckets of rain, high winds and snow in the mountain passes. Our fall is over and winter is here along with the dark probably until late April.

Have a fabulous weekend!
Laurie