Hello it's me

The title of this post actually has nothing to do with it's content.  I listened to some great music on my way out to Peterborough today and came across this one on an old CD I had in the car.  Love this song by Todd Rundgren.  I may or may not have played it over and over.  It's now permanently embedded in my brain.  A happy day over all.  Listened to some retro 80's too.

I swung into the Pickering clinic to see Dr. Stephen and get weighed.  I hadn`t been weighed for 7 weeks!  I didn`t realize it was so long.  Dr. Stephen and I discussed my weight-loss goals.  He was surprised that I wanted to lose more weight.  He said that BMI doesn`t always work accurately for athletes.  It never gets old when someone refers to me as an athlete!  I told him it had nothing to do with BMI, I just wanted to get lighter and leaner so that I could kick my own ass at the Road2Hope Marathon in November.  He chuckled at that.

I lost 3 pounds since my last weigh-in January 14th.  Dr. Stephen says that my weight was likely higher than 168 when I started last week, because my fat percentage went down as well which means I have built more muscle (which we all know weighs more than fat).  So then I got curious and looked at the picture taken of me on Saturday versus one taken of me a few months ago when I weighed about four pounds more than I do today, and I can see a difference.  Not a huge difference, but definitely more toning going on.  And I have FINALLY lost weight in my calves!  I can wear regular calf boots now.  It`s about freaking time! There`s nothing worse that having fat dimpled calves when the rest of your leg looks relatively normal.

My legs, waist and bust are bigger here.
I`m wearing the same pants and jacket
in both photos.

The first thing my husband said was,
``Your breasts are gone!``
True, but it`s all the better for running!

So Dr. Stephen was originally apprehensive about me losing more weight, but I talked to him about the whys and hows, and he agreed that a runner carrying an extra 10-15 pounds was a big deal. We chatted about my half marathon and my upcoming races and he was very interested...or maybe a little bored.  It was a slow morning in the clinic.  He`s a super nice man, and I`m glad I stuck with him.  He`s always been super supportive and told me the hard truth when I needed to hear it.  That is exactly what I needed to stay on the straight and narrow!

So I`m officially done week one of Phase 1.  Only five more to go!  It hasn`t been as hard as I anticipated, but it`s also never easy. Why just today I had to fight some demons.  I bought two pieces of sugar-free halva, and one package (2 in package) of chocolate pecan clusters.  Both allowed treats on phase 1.  I ate all of them at once with Tim Horton`s coffee.  That`s 290 calories ingested at one time.  Definitely not allowed on Phase 1.  Then I justified it in my mind by saying that I would work the extra calories and more off tomorrow morning when I run 6K. Not cool. That`s not a healthy way to rationalize anything when I`m trying to lose weight.  Just another reminder to myself that I cannot be trusted with treats.  That`s why I only bought three.  I also had a mental battle with myself on the way back from Peterborough.  I wanted to go back to the Ontario Nutrition Store and buy more treats.  My conscience won that fight.  I drove right by and feel better for it right now.  No more treats for two more weeks when I get weighed again.  It`s celery and cucumber slices tonight.  Sigh...

All in all I had a good day.  It didn`t start out great.  I didn`t win on my Roll Up the Rim which sucked royally. But then I had a good weigh-in and visit with Dr. Stephen, got gas in Peterborough that was 11¢ a liter cheaper than in Hamilton,  didn`t buy anymore treats (even though I really wanted them) and finally won a free coffee on my second Timmies coffee of the day.  I won a free coffee and I didn`t pay for the coffee that won the free coffee, if that makes sense.  A total win, win! It doesn`t take much to make this girl happy!

My first coffee where I am clearly a loser!

Finally success:)

Happy runniversary to me

April 11, 2012.
About 220 pounds

March 9, 2013
About 168 pounds

Today marks one year that I have been running.  I walked into the For women Only clinic on March 9th 2012, in hopes that I would one day be able to run 5K.  I was scared, but determined that I would give running my best effort.  That first night I had difficulty running for one straight minute. We did 2:1 intervals.  That`s 2 minutes walking, 1 minute running.  My cardio was so bad that I could not catch my breath.  Since I promised myself that I would try my best at running, I committed to attending every clinic (once per week) and every practice run (twice per week). About a month into the clinic, I added and extra running day and I was running 4x per week.  I have come a long way baby!  A year ago I could barely run a minute, last week I ran for 14K straight at a 6:24 per kilometer pace.  Amazing what a difference a year can make!

When I started running I weighed about 230 pounds.  I was heavy, but took it nice and slow.  My first 5K race was run with almost a 9 minute per kilometer pace.  It took me just under 45 minutes! Today I can comfortably run a 5K in 31:30.  I`m sure if I tried, I could do a sub 30 minute 5K, but I`m going to wait until my hamstring is completely healed before I give it a go.  Running kick started my weight-loss again.  I had already lost 60 pounds, but was hitting a plateau and needed something to get me moving again.  Running was my answer.  Once I started running, my weight started heading downward once again.  I was on Phase 1 for six  months and running made it possible for me to move onto Phase 2 and still lose at the same speed (10 pounds per month) as I did when I was on Phase 1.  A win win if you ask me!  Plus, since I started running I needed more carbs and the veggies in Phase 2 helped with that.

Today is a day that means a lot to me.  It`s the day that changed my life.  Not only did I meet one of my running gals a year ago (Tanya), but next Saturday will mark the anniversary of my friendship with Beverly as well.  She started the For Women Only clinic one week late.  Such awesome relationships I made by going to the Running Room.  I can`t forget Dawn, Monica or Brett either. Such a great bunch of women to run with!

That`s the Burlington Skyway in the distance.  Monica and I started running
just to the left of the bottom of the bridge.  I stopped running about a
kilometer to the right of where I took this picture.

Today I celebrated my runniversary with Monica.  We met up at Dundurn Castle and I parked there, then Monica drove us out to Burlington.  We parked along Lakeshore Road in Burlington and ran back to Hamilton.  I did 12K in all, Monica doubled back at about 10K and did 21K in total.  She`s running the whole Bay (30K), I`m only doing 15K as part of a two-person relay.  We ran along the actual route for the Bay, and did all the hills.  I had been dreading all those hills and I gotta tell you, I worried for nothing.  They weren`t nearly as bad as I had thought they would be.  The last hill is a doozy, but I`ve run it about half a dozen times now and there`s a nice break where the rolling hills of North Shore Boulevard end and the big giant hill of Valley Inn Road begins.  No sweat, especially since I`m starting my run at the 15K point.

Monica and I just before we parted at about the 10K point.

I felt good when I completed my run.  Today`s run was my last long run before the Bay which is two weeks away.  I was nervous about my crampy toes.  They did start to get pins and needles, but never cramped.  It would have royally sucked since I was doing such a short distance!  I fueled up with chicken breast and coffee before my run, and had to have one Clif Shot Blok (a gummie) during because I was feeling  little sluggish. Not Phase 1 friendly, but I doubt it will affect me.  The first ingredient is organic brown rice syrup and they`re 33 calories each.  My first cheat of the week!  I only use those Shot Bloks during long runs.  I forgive myself:)

It was a pleasure to run with Monica today.  Monica is an amazing lady.  She has also lost a substantial amount of weight (100+ pounds) and has arthritic knees.  Talk about inspirational.  She could use her arthritic knees as an excuse not to run, but she does not.  She ran the Disney Princess half marathon two weeks ago and is running the entire 30K Around the Bay in two weeks. We run into each other at physio because she does whatever she needs to in order to keep running.  Regular physio is what she needs to do and Graham is keeping her in her running shoes. She often says that stopping is not an option for her and she will continue to run for as long as she can.  You truly can do anything if you want it badly enough.

I wasn`t sure how good my running performance would be since I`ve never run the distances I do now while only following Phase 1 of Dr. Poon`s Metabolic Diet.  I`m doing surprisingly well.  My pace is good and I feel fine during runs.  I just eat when I`m hungry, and I eat LOTS of protein. This Phase 1 stint certainly is not forever, it`s just for right now.  Day six complete, only 36 more to go. Who knows, I could end up reaching my goal sooner than the allotted six weeks, which would be awesome!  I miss my fruit.  We shall see where things are when I see Dr. Stephen on Tuesday.

Just finished my 12K.  Lots of  dried salt on my face!

Monica and I met up with a woman named Deanna while we were running along North Shore Boulevard.  We talked about training for the Bay, and she shared her story about how she began running.  I told her my story as well and she was shocked that I had only been running for a year. She`s been running for 3 years and we were pretty much the same pace.  She told me she wants to drop 5 pounds (even though she has never been overweight) so she can get faster.  I totally get where she`s coming from because that is exactly where I am right now.  The 15 pounds is about speed, nothing else.  She was a real sweetheart.  She told me I looked great, but understood completely how 15 pounds could make a huge difference in my running speed.  When we parted, she said she`d see me in two weeks.  Not likely since 9000 people will be at the starting line of the Bay, and I won`t be one of them.  Hubby is the first runner of my relay team.  Best of luck to Deanna though!

My recovery meal.  Mushroom omelette with Frank`s Hot Sauce.
And lots and lots of water!

In the zone

Day four of Dr. Poon's Metabolic Diet, complete!  I'm just finishing up my third salad today!  May be boring, but I don't care.  I'm in the zone.  I can already feel a difference in the butt and thigh area of my size 9 skinny jeans.  Definitely a motivator.  I'm losing weight right where I want to.  This time around hasn't been nearly as difficult as the last time I was on Phase 1.  I haven't  had any headaches from carb and sugar withdrawal   Probably because other than the carbs and sugars found in veggies and fruit, I haven't been eating anything processed.  Makes  a huge difference. The hardest part for me is definitely not having fruit in the morning.  But I'll survive. Only 38 days left. Easy peasy!

I ate out once yesterday, and twice today.  The Mandarin (Chinese buffet), Swiss Chalet (rotisserie chicken) and Wimpy's Diner.  No problem finding food I could eat at all three places. Wimpy's sounds like it could have been challenging, but not at all.  They have all day breakfast. Omelettes are always a good choice.  Wimpy's cooks with canola oil (which I am allowed along with extra virgin olive oil), and their house dressing is made with canola oil and white vinegar.  You learn a wealth of information just by asking!  The Mandarin also uses canola oil to stir-fry and grill stuff. I have been eating 4 meals a day.  Breakfast, early lunch, late lunch and late dinner (8pmish).  I am not hungry at all because I'm eating until I'm full.

Guess what side of the table is mine?
That's a mushroom omelette with side salad.

My early lunch rejects:(

I love this lifestyle because there's no measuring or counting of anything.  And food is food.  It gives me the energy I need to run.  And that is all we need food for.  To fuel our bodies.  When I'm in "the zone", staying on plan becomes second nature.  No thought given.   And I'm in control which I like.  That is why even though some people may question whether or not I ever "cheated" while losing the first 122 pounds, I can honestly tell you that I did not.  Believe me or don't believe me.  I have no one to answer to but me and my son.  And I am at total peace with myself.

I have returned to my regular running schedule.  I ran yesterday morning and felt surprisingly good after doing a 6K at a 7:04 pace.  This morning, I ran another 6K at a 6:51 pace.  As the days have gone by since my half marathon   I'm beginning to feel more and more human.  I feel confident I could run from a pack of wild dogs today.  Monday I wouldn't have been able to outrun a group of zombies after my brains, and you know how slowly they move!  Tomorrow is a rest day, then I'm running on Saturday and Sunday morning.  I'm going to attempt some hills this weekend and a 12K run.  I need to get ready for The Bay relay in 2.5 weeks.

I kept telling him I don't bend that way, but he wouldn't listen.

Although I may look happy, I assure you, I'm in a lot of pain.
Graham really is having fun though.  He's a sadist.  

I had a physio appointment yesterday and Graham was not impressed with how tight my muscles and joints were.  It was worse than when he saw me on Monday.  He even had to pop my back. Therefore, it's a good thing I booked an emergency massage appointment for earlier this evening. Although the massage sounds nice and relaxing, I assure you, it was not.  I had my left calf and hamstring stripped.  Hurt like hell, but was completely necessary.  I actually feel better right at this moment.  But we'll see what the morning brings.  I could be stiff as hell by then.  Mark also worked on my feet, which was weird.  But he thought it would help with the crampy toes.  He didn't do it today, but he said my feet should be stripped which would totally help with the toes.  He warned me it hurts a lot.  He has his done for karate.  So much to look forward to!

I'm really thinking of running the Niagara Falls Women's Half Marathon on June 2nd.  It's the day before my 43rd birthday and I think it would be an awesome birthday gift to myself.  I'll train like hell for it starting right now, destroy my hamstring, quads and toes again, and then do it all over again when I start training for the full marathon (November 3rd) starting at the end of June.  See? I'm a total masochist!  Can't wait!  I don't think any of the Back of the Rat Pack Girls are going to join me, but that's okay. I'm a big girl.  Niagara Falls is only 45 minutes away!  I'll decide by the end of March for sure, but I'm really leaning towards doing it.  I feel lost right now because although I have a plan (lose weight and work on my speed), It feels strange not be training for something. And I really want to crush the 2:15 half marathon.

I have been exhausted by noon the past few days. Waking up at 5:30 to run is a good thing, and I don't think that has been tiring me out.  Running in the morning actually gives me a good boost of energy.  I've been shopping with a client for 2 days!  I hate shopping on a good day.  Doing it when I'm sore is very trying!  Part of my job though.  Can't complain, I could be stuck behind a desk all day.  That would be torture for me!  My client is so funny.  He asked if I came in first for the half marathon because I got a medal.  When I told him I came in 2230th, he looked at me funny and said, "Wow!  Why do you bother running since you're so bad at it?"  Ah, teenagers!

Shopping for a bed on Wednesday.  I'm not gonna lie.
I could have stayed there all day!  Memory foam rocks!

Shopping for bedding today.  Check out my thrift store
leather jacket.  I LOVE the grommets.  $12.99!!!!
I know I look the same in the pics.  Leather and jeans is my
work uniform!  I'm super boring.