It's a New Week

Admittedly, my weight loss chart for the week would have looked a lot more impressive if I did it mid-week instead of waiting until Sunday. My net loss for the week ended up being a big fat zero (no pun intended).

I started down that slippery slope of losing motivation; and although I didn't go crazy off my diet, I didn't stick to my workout regimen either. So, I gained the weight back at the end of the week I had worked so hard to lose at the beginning of the week.

Well, this is a new week. I've decided I need to add more cardio to my regimen to try to burn a few more calories and jump start the weight loss. So today after I did my C25K, I walked an additional 20 minutes. I'll keep doing this for a while and see what kind of results I get.

I read a great post by my friend Laura today. Laura is preparing for a half marathon to usher in her 35th birthday this year. Over the weekend she went for a nine mile run. She blogged about her run and how the first eight went great, then the last mile she really mentally had to push herself to complete. I don't want to sumarize her story because she'll tell it in a much more inspiring way than I'll retell it. So go read about her run here. Then the next time you're running for 60 seconds or for 20 miles and you just don't think you can do it, think about Laura's post.

It seems like it will be an eternity before I'm running nine miles, but I'll get there. In four weeks I've gone from being out of breath after running for 15 seconds, to struggling to run for 60, to wishing I could run for 90, and to today successfully running for three minutes nonstop. Three minutes is nothing compared to the marathon I have before me in October, but it's nearly infinitely longer than than where I started.

Great workout

Yesterday was day er, five of my week two workout on C25K. For the first time since I started exercising, I did the workout and I did it well. It still wasn't easy, but I kept my pace and completed all of the running intervals without too much trouble. I even sped up my pace on my last interval. Then, when I was done, instead of being exhausted and jelly legged, I was perfectly fine. I think I'm finally getting somewhere!

I also did my first Bowflex workout. It took me a bit to figure out some of the exercises, what weight is best, and what routine I'm going to do. But it will compliment the running nicely.

I did some research and yesterday I also started taking two supplements--HMB and L-Glutamine. HMB is supposed to promote fat loss, build of lean muscle mass, provide greater endurance during workouts, and help keep your immune system healthy. It helps reduce atrophy, or the eating away of your muscles. L-Glutamine helps restore glycogen levels which restores your energy. It also helps you heal faster so your recovery time is less. We'll see if these make any difference. Neither have any reported negative side effects so I figure it can't hurt to try them.

Finally, I picked my first race. It will be a 5K on May 2. Bill is training to run it with me. I'm really looking forward to it!

C25K, Week 2 Day 4

Yes, I did week two four times last week. On the last attempt I actually completed the entire workout as prescribed. But it was so ugly and barely there that I plan to do week two again this week.

So let's see where we are here as we start week 4:
Running:
C25K- week 2, again

Weight loss:
Week 1: -6 lbs
Week 2: +3 lbs (kidney stone fun week)
Week 3: -2 lbs
So starting out week 4, I'm still not quite where I was at the end of week one. Net loss in three weeks -5 lbs.

I feel like I'm doing a lot of the two steps forward, one step back kind of thing. To add insult to injury, Bill started working out with me this week. Not only was he able to do the C25K, Week 1 program all three days without a problem, he lost more than five pounds during the week without even really trying. Hrmph!

But I'm doing what I'm supposed to be doing and I'm keeping it up. I want to believe I'm adding muscle mass and that's why I'm not seeing a lot of weight drop off right away. Who knows what the truth is but sooner or later things have to catch up to me and I'm going to start seeing a smaller me. My end goals remain the same.

Over the weekend we went out and bought a Bowflex off of Craigslist. The lady got it for Mother's Day two years ago and used it five times. It is in absolutely pristine condition and we got it for 1/3 of the original price. We spent three hours setting it up last night and it's all ready for primetime. I'm really excited to start incorporating that into our workout routine along with the running. There is one downside though, it reeks of cigarette smoke. Bill says he can't smell it. It about gags me. I have a super sensitive nose and I can smell it in the seat and even in the metal. It didn't occur to me that I should ask about a nonsmoking home for something like a Bowflex. I really didn't expect it would have any residual smell. But it does. Any suggestions for getting it out?

C25K, Week 2 Day 1

Finally moved on to week 2. It sucked. I only needed for run for 90 seconds at a time followed by two minute walk intervals. I couldn't run the full 90 seconds each time.

I tried another running store yesterday. I am now on shoes #3. They felt good in the store. After 30 minutes at home they were feeling not so good. I've decided that all shoes are going to hurt. They really should publish a maximum weight limit on those things. I'm pretty sure I've exceeded shock absorption capacity. But I'm ok with that.

Finally, someone told me they are having trouble commenting on this blog recently. Is that widespread? Feel free to leave a comment as a test. This could be just a ploy to get you to comment, I'm ok with that too.

Lorcaserin Study and other info

Remember Fen-Phen? This drug combo swept the nation many years ago and helped a lot of people lose weight. Unfortunately, it had a nasty side effect. In 2-5% of people, they developed incurable heart valve problems and the drug was recalled. Twelve years later, they are in the final stages of a new "Fen-Phen" but one that supposedly doesn't cause the heart problems. It's a drug called Lorcaserin.

I found a local Lorcaserin one-year weight loss study. You have to be a certain amount overweight, Type II diabetic, and on oral medication for blood sugar control. They sent me all of the paperwork and disclosures and I read through it. There was something about male lab rats developing brain tumors at 1000% times the recommended dose, blah, blah, blah. I figured since I wasn't a male lab rat, sign me up.

Today I went in for my testing. I am a perfect candidate in every way. Except one. My blood sugars are in too good of control. It seems they want people that have been neglecting their diabetes to show that in diabetic patients you can not only lose weight, but it can improve your blood sugars as well. I got a free ECG out of it. My ticker is in great shape (good to know since I've been testing it a bit lately). The good news is my diabetes is completely under control. The bad news is I'll have to loose the next 97 pounds the good old fashioned way. That's ok, with my luck I would have gotten the placebo sugar pill assigned to me anyway.

In other updates, I got a new pair of shoes over the weekend. I don't think they'll work out either. I've decided the arches are too far back in the shoe. But if a got a smaller shoe to fit the arches they'd be too small in the toe. I think this was the problem with the last shoe too. So, I'll be looking for another pair...AGAIN. I talked to my Dad today. He's run eight marathons and informs me I inherited my lovely hooves from him and the only shoes he can run in are Asics Gel Nimbus. So, I'll try those soon and see how they work.

The running store also lets you try running socks with the shoes so I tried out several and decided on some think cushion Thurlos socks. Those I'm happy with. If only shoes were so easy.

Well, I'm off to go do Week 2, Day 1. Wish me luck!

Here's to Progress

Dear Diary,

Today I finished my Couch to 5K workout week 1, day 2 (second go around). I didn't even hurl after my workout this time.

Couch to 5K, Week 1 Day 1--Take Two

Today's weight: 242
Gain of 3 lbs since last weigh in

I suffered from kidney stones when I was pregnant with Bailey. I think I passed 13 in all. I hadn't had one in a year but earlier this week they were back in full force with me having two wreaking havoc on my insides. I'm suspecting I let myself get dehydrated. I won't make that mistake again. Four days later, I've made a full recovery and back to the routine.

My weight is up three pounds, but I'm not stressing it. I laid in bed for days and ate junk and put needed water back in my system. I'll have those pounds back off plus some in no time.

I started my Couch to 5K program again. I made it through the full workout. It wasn't as ugly as the first day I tried to run, but I could see I had already lost a little strength in the four days I didn't workout. All the more reason to make sure I stick to my program.

I think I'm going to have to return the new shoes though for another pair. The arches started to rub a bit. The good news is I had no shin splints. The shoe store said I could return the shoes as long as I didn't run outside and have any signs of wear. I told them no problem there. What they don't know is I'm afraid for my neighbors to see me stampeding through the neighborhood just yet. I'm afraid if they see me running they'll call 911 for fear I'm surely running from a fire and not just for exercise.

Small setback

Today's weight: 239.0
Weight lost: 6.0 (total weight loss for week one: 6 lbs)

I did go to the running store over the weekend to get new shoes. I picked Phidippedes in Sandy Springs, GA. I was expecting to feel quite out of place and to get a little snobbery, given my current state. I figured I'd get something like, "the all you can eat buffet is next door, sweetie."I got everything but that. The sales people were incredibly helpful and not the least bit condescending. Even the other customers were pretty cool too. And their prices are good. I'm a new loyal customer.

First they put me in a "neutral" shoe and watched me jog. They said I had a tendency to turn in so they found me some shoes that would correct that. I tried on ten different pairs and none of them completely fixed the slipping heel problem, but I think I have a pretty good pair nonetheless. They have a great return policy so they told me go go home and try them on the treadmill and if they weren't working out bring them back and we'd try another pair. Bill even got a new pair too!

So I've got new shoes burning a whole in their box, just waiting to be tried out. Unfortunately, here's the setback part of my title-- yesterday I started having lower right back pain. I tried brushing it off and then it got stronger and stronger. It's the exact pain I've had 13(?) times before...kidney stones. I had, I think, 13 kidney stones when I was pregnant with Bailey and just after. It's incredibly excruciating pain. The first one I passed I spent in the hospital for pain management. The rest of them I just toughed it out at home. That's what I'm doing this time too.

I can tell there's two and one is getting fairly close to passing. The other one seems pretty high still. Until both those puppy's pass I wont be anywhere near the treadmill. I'm hoping that within the next 24 hours though, it will be over with and I'm back to running again.

I don't think it was a coincidence these started again after a week of some pretty strenuous workouts. I think this is a wake up call for me to make sure I've been drinking enough water (I have not). Right now I'm laying in bed with four bottles of water sitting on my nightstand. I'll be chugging those shortly.

My normal running days while I still have fairly short runs will be Mon, Wed, Fri. I hope to be back on that schedule next week. This week I'll run and walk when I can and I'll just stick to the Couch to 5K week 1 program. Next Monday I hope to be starting with week 2.

Couch to 5K, Week 1 Day 2

I did it!

I just completed the entire workout exactly as prescribed--all jog intervals, all walking, etc. It wasn't pretty, but I did it! Dang it feels great to accomplish something, no matter how small. I feel awesome! Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go puke.

Oh, and tomorrow I'm going to a running store to get some real shoes. Hooray!

First day of Couch to 5K

Today's weight: 242.6
Lbs lost: 2.4

Yesterday, I did the first day of Couch to 5K (the workout that starts with get your bum off of the couch). It completely kicked my butt. Methinks the program may not have been designed for people who are carrying an extra person wrapped around their middle. But I can get past that.

I downloaded the podcast from Robert Ulrey and fired it up (note to self, need to find a better headset, the one I just bought keeps falling out of my ears). It was nice not to have to look at the time to see when to walk/run. It plays continuous music and gives you cues.

The first five minutes is a "brisk walk." I set the treadmill at 3 mph and off I went (yeah, I realize that's not so brisk). Five minutes down, and I'm feeling pretty good.

Then we start the intervals. You run for 60 seconds and walk for 90. Rinse and repeat for 20 minutes. The first few intervals went ok. After that, my heart rate was going into the 170's, my shin splints felt like they were going to split my calves in two, and I thought I was going to throw up at any given moment. I ended up skipping a few run intervals.

I think I'm going to be at week one for a while, but that's ok. I expected that.

Now I'm going to need to go find some good running shoes this weekend. I tried every shoe on in the New Balance store and nothing felt right. I have wide, flat feet and a shallow heel (yeah, I've got the Irish Cankles, yea me!). Everything slips off my heel. I'm going to find a running store that will help me properly fit for a shoe. Right now I'm wearing a cheap pair of tennis shoes from Payless. They don't slip off my heel but the cushioning and fit is not great quality.

Chicago Marathon? Maybe I should have started a little smaller...

This is Me

My name is Bridget. I am a wife, a mother of two, and full time working executive. I like blogging , playing Texas Hold Em Poker, photography, and cooking. Oh, and I'm fat.

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I work from home so for a long time it's been easy for me to be labeled "the nice one" or "the bubbly one" or "the smart/outspoken/fill-in-whatever-adjective-you-want one." But I wasn't thought of as "the fat one" because they never saw me. A few teleconferences later and whether my label has changed or not, I feel like it has. Every time I talk on the phone to one of the people that saw me in a videoconference I'm thinking "is he/she picturing me in the green sweater with the red hair and the extra 100lbs?"

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I could make lots of excuses for why I got to be 100 lbs overweight, but it's all moot at this point. What is important is I'm sick of being overweight and sick of being "the fat one." I want to lose weight so that I can be there for my two young beautiful girls. I want to lose weight so that I can grow old and enjoy my years with my wonderful husband. I want to lose weight so that I can be healthy and happy. I want to lose weight so that I can shop for clothes in the latest trends rather than in the latest tent. I want to lose weight to live.

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I'm not going to stretch this out over decades and have dozens of false starts. I'm in this to the end. By December 31, 2009 I want to weight 100 lbs less at 145 lbs. That's a reasonable 2 lbs a week that I'll achieve through diet and exercise.

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To make sure I stick with it, I put some accountability out there and the ultimate motivator goal. I have signed up to run in the Chicago Marathon on October 11. I may not be able to run the entire 26.2 miles, but I'm going to make every effort to try. I'm starting with the "couch to 5K" program that is supposed to have me running three miles within nine weeks. We'll see how that goes and I'll go from there.

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I'll be posting recipes, meal plans, my weight loss and measurement progress, and updates on how I'm doing with the running. So join me on my journey. I could use some friends to talk to along the way.