Winner...?

As of right now, I am winning the challenge. That would mean I will get $500! I am winning by a long shot (35lbs of fat lost, 2nd place lady lost 15lbs) But it isn't over yet, and there is a slight chance someone could catch up....

I had a loss of 4.4 lbs this week, which I'm very excited about. One question I have, is what my goal weight should be. First it was 180lbs, well I'm bellow that now, and still think I have a ways to go. I guess I'll know when I get there, or at least that's what I'm hoping...any suggestions?

This past Sunday my mom and I ran a 5k race. It was a really nice route through Bear Creek Park. Gorgeous place! It was raining pretty hard at some points, but I enjoy running in the rain. My time was 31:13, I hope to improve that at my next run!

10k plus weigh in plus challenge

Last week I finished off my running program with a 10km run. The weather outside was nasty, so I ran on the treadmill. It took me 65 minutes to run the full 10 kms. Not too bad. Now I've started on a new program, run 10k faster. So I run 3 days a week, and do some home videos (Billy Blanks) 3 days a week. I workout 6 days a week, crazy! I've been a little laxed on my diet lately, and I and reaping what I've sowed now. I had a 1/2 pound gain this week. I was talking with a guy at the gym yesterday and he seems to think I am winning this 12 week challenge by a lot. The person in first place has 15 lbs of fat loss, and I have 35 lbs (in 10 weeks). He thinks he could be calculating it wrong, but looks like I might be coming into some money soon! He said I am doing exceptionally well, and that it's unheard of how well I'm doing! Hey, that's a compliment I'll take!

I am running another 5k this weekend, hopefully beat my time from last month.

I have been getting a lot of flak lately about not being a member of a gym (the gym this challenge is at especially) I am doing really well on my own, and I enjoy the workouts I am doing. I am a runner! I love to run. I don't get why that is such a big deal to these trainers. I am doing my strength training and I feel great. I just wish they didn't have to hassle me to join their gym and fork out the money! That's my little rant this week ;)

I am waiting for a phone call letting me know if I am winning the challenge for not, so I'll update when I hear something!

Thanks for reading and leaving such kind, encouraging comments!

The Good, The Bad and The Not so Ugly

The Good:
I lost 3.2 lbs this week! Woo Hoo! I'm pretty excited about that. I am now officially in the 170's. It seems like I've been setting goals for myself, and am blowing by them so quickly that I can't even enjoy one milestone before I'm on to the next. Don't get me wrong...I'm not complaining about that!

The Bad:
I'm not winning the 12 week challenge I am participating in :( In the last 9 weeks I have lost 31lbs. Almost 15% of my starting weight. Someone in the challenge has lost 15.4% so far. So she isn't that far ahead of me, and I have 3 weeks left to catch up!

The Not so Ugly:
I bought some new jeans this past weekend. Size 12. They were cheap and are cute, and I'm feeling pretty hot in them!

My new goals: Lose 8.4 lbs in the next 3 weeks, bringing my total to 40lbs in 12 weeks. Lose 18.4 lbs before my birthday (February 12) to bring me to my goal of 160 lbs!

Here's me at my heaviest, 82 lbs ago!

Edited to add: I was looking at this picture, and I can see a crap load of nachos and cheese sitting on the stove ready to eat, and Randy is making us big huge cups of hot chocolate! What a dose of reality of how bad our eating habits used to be!

Cookin' in a dress...

My mom brought over my grad dress yesterday so I could try it on, and to my amazement it fit! I was soo excited that I wore it all evening. I even cooked dinner (shephards pie) in it. And of course I took some pictures. I think it fit pretty good, still pretty tight, but it was tight when I wore it 4.5 years ago. My boobs are definitly bigger, but I am breastfeeding now, and obviously wasn't then!

Yesterday was also my weigh in day. I lost 2 pounds this past week, putting my weight at 181.6 lbs. Hopefully next week I'll be in the 170's. And this is uncharted territories for me. I have no memory of being in the 170's. And obviously at one point in time I was, but it was well over 5 years ago. So that will be an exciting time!

What to blog...

When I am running all I think about is what I should blog about when I'm done. I think about my inspirations, my motivation...basically everything. I could make 10 mini posts about all random things or just lump it all together in one....

I do my best thinking when I am in the shower, running and laying bed....maybe that's because that's the only time I get mostly to myself. The kids are usually in bed by that time and I can just think about life.

I've always wondered why I want to lose weight. Most people would say because they want to be healthy and life a long happy life. Well if I want to be honest with myself, it's because I want to look good. I want to buy cute clothes from my previously favourite stores again and feel good wearing them. That probably makes me sound shallow, which I assure you I am not. Who doesn't want to look good? So that was my main goal going into this, look great and have other people notice as well. Yesterday morning I ran on the treadmill, 6 miles, and while I was running Reegan was playing around me and watching Treehouse. He is such a sweet little boy, and I realized I am doing this for him and his little sister. They are amazing little kids and they deserve to have a great mom. Randy has wanted to take Reegan to the water slides for a while now, and I always so no, and the reason is because I didn't want to wear a bathing suit. Well not anymore! Too bad I came to this realization in the winter when they are closed! I do not want to deprive my kids of anything just because they have a lazy and embarassed mom. I am going to live my life to it's fullest and looking good is just a perk of that! So as sappy as it sounds, my family is my motivation. They give me that little push to keep running.

It feels good to get some of my thoughts out!

As far as my weight loss this week goes, it's not too great. I can come up with a thousand excuses, my monthly lady friend is visiting, halloween candy was around, I don't have a vehicle so I can't go to the grocery store....blah blah blah... Basically I lost sight of what is important, only for a short period, and I am back on track! My running is going really well and I'm looking forward to the 5k in a couple weeks. Also, I will starting some strength training soon, which will be nice too! I'm thinking I want to be at my goal weight by my birthday (February 12) and I think I chose 160lbs as my goal weight. That may change, but for now, that is the number I am shoooting for.