Ok so I'm FINALLY finishing this thing! I know, I know...anti-climactic! I'VE BEEN BUSY!!!

I finished the Half-Marathon. It was amazing!

I joined a running team and am now training for my first FULL Marathon! I've created another blog designed specifically for this race. The address is:

iwillcrossanotherfinishline@blogspot.com

I make no promises on just how much I will post because let's face it, I dropped the ball on this one...but I do promise to try!

Thank you to everyone for your support! This blog got me very far in this process and I couldn't have done it without everyone's words of encouragement. I am blessed.









THE. END.

Transformation...

I know I haven't blogged in awhile, I'm sorry! I said I would do better and I guess I failed. Oops! BUT....that is the ONLY thing I've been failing at. I just have to take a moment and say that I am starting to see serious results from my training. I can fit into ALL of my old clothes and I've had to get rid of most of my wardrobe because they are too big. I am starting to feel beautiful and strong. I believe that I will be able to finish this half-marathon with no problem and I've developed an inner strength that I've never had.

I found an old food journal of mine and was pretty much horrified of its contents. Here's an example of what I used to eat:

Breakfast-Sausage Burrito from Sonic

Lunch-Hamburger and fries

Snack-Chips

Dinner-Pizza

Dessert-Ice Cream or Candy

NO WONDER I WAS FAT!!!!! I can honestly say the thought of eating all of that in one day...makes me sick to my stomach now. I am still tempted by some of those foods, but I cannot imagine how bad eating all of that feels. Never again!

This is an example of what I eat today:

Breakfast-Fiber muffin and a banana

Snack-Apple and 60 calorie pudding

Lunch-Veggie soup and cheese

Snack-Special K crackers

Dinner-Lean protein and 2 vegetables

*never white carbs-always brown.

I've come such a long way. I was so sick and unhappy before I started training. I am not done, but I am amazed at how different I feel. It took a long time for me to feel different, but I finally do and am so happy with my determination and dedication to this process. I'm almost at 30 lbs lost since I began running in December and I'm going to run 11 miles tomorrow.

2 weeks till my half-marathon!!! It's now time to become a machine!

8 miles and a snake!

I ran 8 miles yesterday. I didn't stop and it took me 2 hours and 27 minutes. That time is really slow but it's because of the amount of pain I was experiencing. I started the run at 10am. It was beautiful outside, about 58 degrees. The first mile always starts off stiff, but mile 2 and 3 always feels great! It felt good being outside and being active. Come mile four, I started noticing pain in my left leg. It's weird how it shifts, it used to come in my right leg. I pushed through it and come mile 6, the pain was signficant. Right about that time, I came upon a steep hill that I had to push through and I met a friend, a snake! I freaked out and bolted it and didn't look back! Mile 7 was awful...sooo much pain! Then mile 8, although I was hurting, I was almost done so I got a little more energy. I never hit an emotional wall, but the physical pain slowed me down a lot.

Recovery from this run has been the worst I've had to date. Last night, I could barely walk. Today, it's a little better but I'm still really sore. I have a pretty bad sunburn from being outside, which really surprises me because it was 10am and early March. It's slowly going down but yeah, I'm pretty much a mess right now. I'm not looking forward to the next 5 weeks of recovery. It SUCKS!

The good news...I've gone back to my original nutrition plan to go ahead and get a jump start on the weightloss. I'm no longer eating any white flower or unnatural sugar. I've already started and feel great! The best part... my scale is saying I'm down another 2.5 lbs! WOO HOO!!!

On a roll...

Another great day! Awesome nutrition and 2 miles at the gym.... running/walking. I had to walk for some because my legs were hurting. I need to spend more time stretching. Tomorrow I plan on going to the gym after dance practice. Can't wait to weigh-in on Monday!

Excited...

I had another great day today! My nutrition was fabulous and I got 2 hours of dance in tonight. I count that as my workout so that makes today a success!

I am officially registered for the half-marathon! I am getting REALLY excited!! I talked to my friend Denise at dance and she's helping me learn what I need to prepare for it-belts, gel etc. I'm kind of lost but she's going to help me and it's making me even more excited.

I did some reading on the "wall" that we're expected to hit during the race. Here's what I learned...

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"The Wall is the term used when runners reach a point where they have depleted their glycogen (which is converted from carbohydrates). It is kind of like running “on empty”. When glycogen is depleted, your body begins to depend on fat as the source for energy. This creates a transition within your body that initially causes you to have very little energy.
How to avoid the wall is the common question. Proper training and nutrition (carb loading) can help to minimize your chances of reaching this point. The amount of time you are running is another factor.

When hitting it, some runners find it difficult to run and sometimes even walk. If you reach this point, it is okay. Just know what is going on when it happens. It can be a traumatic experience at first because you literally feel empty as if you have nothing left. What do you do? Keep going! Your body will make the transition and you will push through “the wall” to the finish line.

Once you push through, you may experience the “runner’s high” which some runners claim to be better than sex. If this happens, keep going! Remind yourself that you are a marathon runner and feel the feeling you will have when you cross the finish line. In a perfect world, you will deplete the last of your glycogen as you cross the finish line. However, chances are that you will hit the wall. Just remember your preparation, know what is happening, and know you will push through. You can do it! And you will."

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I hope this isn't too awful. I haven't hit one yet in my long distance runs, and they don't sound pleasant. Oh well, just gotta push through them!

Tomorrow night I'm hitting the gym for a hard workout. I'm excited!! :0)

And I leave you with a quote...

"He who fears being conquered is sure of defeat."
- Napoleon Bonaparte, legendary military leader

Woo Hoo!

Alright, so I did AWESOME today! I had a ton of fruits/veggies, plenty of protein and complex carbs. And after work and class tonight, I hit the gym and ran 2 miles. It wasn't as easy as it used to be-I sweated a lot. That just showed me that it's time to re-condition the body but I feel great about my ability to regain my focus. It's so precious and I'm holding on to it for as long as I can!

5 weeks and 6 days left! :0)

The PLAN!

I've come up with a plan to keep me on track until the marathon. Here goes...

The next 2 weeks:

I will not cheat and I will up my workouts. I will hold strong and NOT cheat under ANY circumstanceS. I will workout 6 times a week and will have NO EXCUSES!!! I will blog more often to keep myself accountable. I can and WILL do this! I expect it to be difficult but I will succeed and prove that I have what it takes to continue. I will forgive myself for becoming unfocused this month and I will acknowledge that it is time to move forward.

Spring Break:

I get one day to eat what I want. I will have earned it and will take only one day. That day will be when I'm in Austin having a blast! :0)

Last 4 weeks before the Half-Marathon:

I will go back to the diet that I originally started with. This consists of eliminating all white flour and eating only natural sugars. No processed food and high protein and complex carbs. I will also be upping my mileage on a daily basis while maintaining my long distance runs on Sundays.

Final week-The week of the Half-Marathon:

I will taper off my runs and carbo load for the final week. The night before, I will get a good nights sleep to emotionally and physically prepare for the day ahead! :0)

YAY, I'M BACK ON TRACK.......FEELS GOOD!!!!!

I'm a slacker, I admit it!

I know it's been forever since I've posted. My apologies! Things have been so busy lately that I haven't even opened my computer for a long time now. So here's the skinny on the whole training....

Since I've posted, I've lost another 3-4 pounds but starting mid February, I got tired of everything. I ate a bunch of crap and didn't lose weight. My one blessing is that I've been so active that I haven't gained any, but I haven't been losing either. I've been really struggling. Then today, I got past it! FINALLY!!! I ate great food and went to the gym. I'm feeling more in control and am ready to get the next chunk of weight OFF!

As far as my running, it's going well. My last long run was 7 miles-no stopping. It took me an hour and 44 minutes. It was excrutiatingly long because it was on a treadmill. My head was drenched in sweat and I looked like I'd just gotten out of the shower. It felt good though and I'm proud of myself for doing it. I missed last week's long run because I wasn't feeling well so this Sunday I plan to complete 9 miles. I haven't had to stop yet so I'm curious to see if this is the run that makes me walk some of it. We shall see!

I have 6 weeks till the marathon and it's all becoming very real. I know it's going to be a strenous next few weeks, but I really feel that I will be able to complete the course. I have to stay strong and realize that after Aprill 11th, I can relax and feel a huge sense of accomplishment!

Oh and this is the first time I've admitted my size...but I tried on a size 14 dress today and it was TOO BIG!! Size 12, here I come!!

:) :) :) :) :)

My 6 mile experience...

I just completed 6 miles and I can honestly say that this is the worst pain I've had thus far. EVERYTHING hurts. My arms are killing me from my strength training yesterday. My shoulder is flared up and feels like it's on fire. My back is killing me. My abs are extremely sore. My legs are really hurting and I have blisters on both feet. It hurts to even move at this point, and I am so very glad that I do not run for the next 2 days.
The run itself was strenuous. I did fine up until the start of mile 5, then I started getting really tired. I did not stop or walk though, I ran the entire thing. I finished in 1 hour and 41 minutes.
It's all getting more real now. I am physically exhausted from today's run, and I just completed HALF of what the actual half-marathon will be. This is a little scary to me, but I still have 7 more weeks to train. I'm technically right on track, but it's going to be a grueling last few weeks.

Feelings...

I'm still continuing to train and have made some real progress as of late. I have dropped a significant amount of weight in the past 2 weeks to which I am very proud! It's nice to know that all those hours in the gym are finally paying off. I have a pair of jeans that I have in my closet that are the "someday I'll fit in these again" jeans. I tried them on yesterday, and I am happy to say that they officially FIT! Not only do they fit...THEY ARE COMFORTABLE!! It is the first time in 7 years that I have been able to wear those jeans. No words can describe that moment...

I am excited to report that from the first day of training until now, I have lost 15.6 pounds!! And since August, I have lost 29 lbs.

I'm almost half way through training. (From Day 1 that is)... My schedule has me running 3,4 and 5 miles this week and then 6 on Sunday. I'm right on track with my distance and my weight-loss. It's hard to believe that as long as I stick with this, in about a month I will be the lowest I can ever remember being.

I'm having some interesting emotions during this process. Usually after about 10 lbs or so lost, I begin to feel confident and attractive. I haven't really had any of these moments. Part of it probably has to do with the fact that I spend the majority of my time sweaty and gross at the gym. Not really a time to feel sexy. The other part is that I'm so busy, I don't really have time for many hot dates. That's certainly different, but I really think I need to continue to focus on myself so I will be ready when a decent man comes along! It's so important to love yourself first.

I'm ready to be able to look in the mirror and feel beautiful. And yes I know I'm beautiful on the inside and all that crap, but to feel physically beautiful...as a result of my hard work. It will be a special day...

And so it goes....

I'm starting to realize why everyone doesn't train for half-marathons. It's taking so much time to train properly and I don't get home until 9 or 10 at night. By then I'm so exhausted that I go straight to bed. 81 more days, 81 more days!!

This is what I did tonight:

1 hr of dance
100 crunches
Tricep, bicep, chest weights
3 mile run-48:40

Buddy Workout!

Tonight Christina and I worked out at the gym in Addison, technically Carrolton....which was my old gym. I was a dumbass and forgot my music, but she was patient enough to talk with me the whole time. That's friendship! :0) We both did a little over an hour on the treadmill and I was able to complete my 4 miles of running required for today. I can barely walk, but I did it! It's more fun with a partner!!

I'm feeling like I'm gaining more control over my situation now. I've done awesome on the eating and I'm implementing longer running distances. Since I've started the half marathon training schedule, I'm really pushing myself to new levels and that's helping my motivation. I'm still really slow though...I was laughing tonight because after about 30 min, my running speed was slower than my normal walking speed. I have GOT to get that up, it's just hard when I'm so exhausted. I know once the weight comes off it will be easier. Speaking of weight, have I mentioned that I hate my scale? I'm working my ass off and it's holding on to every ounce of weight! GRR!! I know, I know....there are so many factors that go into that!

So yeah, feeling better...and C is doing AWESOME so we're feelin' good! Hopefully after 11 more weeks of this, we can complete that marathon and can feel accomplished and can go back to normal 30 min workouts. That will be a happy time!

Honesty...

Lately I have felt unfocused. It all started with the move. I had to pack and move and do everything that comes along with a move in a short period of time. I did fine at first and fit in a few workouts. Once I moved, I worked out less because I couldn't stand living in boxes. I took about a week off to unpack and get my apartment liveable. What I found was...the less I worked out, the more I ate. I didn't eat anything bad per say, I just ate too much. That started the cycle. The self-esteem lowers which creates self-destruction. Yesterday I ran 5.6 miles and was very proud of myself, and then because I couldn't move afterwards...I sat my happy ass on the couch for 8 hours straight and ate an entire bag of sunchips! No more chips for Lindsey, I can't have them. I had a REAL hotdog w/no bun at Taryn's birthday party...and then I went out to a club on Saturday night and had 2 sugary drinks. I am so pissed at myself...my scale says I'm up 1 pound. GRRR!!!

At the work weigh-in, all my friends kicked my ass and that was a huge wake-up call! It's time to get serious. I took two weeks of semi-slacking..and it has to stop! So today to prove that I'm ready for my new intense schedule, I fit in a run and some weights before dance. Tonight I did:

30 minute run
100 crunches
Chest/Tricep/Bicep weights
2 hours of dance

I'm EXHAUSTED!! I feel great about today. We worked hard at dance and I know that the quick run helped. My eating was awesome and I just have to continue tomorrow. I'm still feeling emotionally fragile but that should fade as long as I keep up the good choices. And I have to remember...my bad isn't as bad as it once was. I haven't eaten anything fried or filled with sugar in over 42 days. I ran 5.6 miles straight without stopping. I can do this. I have to....

I'm in!

I've moved in to my new apartment and am pleased to say that I now have internet!! It's sad how 2 days without it is a tragedy. (Fios rules)

Tonight I've opted to be a bum. I'm going to unpack and watch the Bachelor. I have been staying active and have kept up a couple workouts so I don't feel like too much of a slacker. I've created an intense schedule that I will specifically stick to starting next week. The rest of THIS week I'll focus on cardio and strength training.
I also need to do some serious stretching to get me closer to those splits for dance (ow)...

I've been hungrier than normal but I know that's due to PMS. It sucks being a woman sometimes. Ok who am I kidding, it's awesome. We have all the power :p I am ready to stop wanting to eat everything in sight though.

We started Biggest Loser at my school today. Everyone who participates pays $5.00 and weighs in every Monday. The person that loses the most weight wins the money and the title of the Biggest Loser. Now, I'm not arrogant enough to know that I will win this thing, but I do think it will be a great tool to keep me motivated. Plus with me running 24 miles each week, I should consistently lose. It goes until June 1st. I was very pleased with my weigh-in today. It has me down even more than I thought, and it was exciting seeing my number much lower, even though I feel 500 lbs. Must be working!

I have more friends wanting to get healthy and starting blogs! It feels so good to be around it. I can feel it...2010 is the year for hotness!! :0)

Well, I'm off to watch the Bachelor....this episode is the one where a contestant sleeps with a camera man! What can I say, I'm addicted to trash :p

Getting back in the game...

So I've taken some time off because I've been sick. I started back tonight and this is what I did:

1 hour advanced dance class
100 crunches
Chest, arms, and shoulder weights
3 mile run-42 min and 11 seconds without stopping

I'm getting nervous about starting up my full schedule. I'm taking 2 nights of dance, 1 night of a college class, all while doing the half marathon training schedule. I need to sit down and make a schedule that works best for me. Finding the time for everything will prove to be difficult, but once I see it on paper I will feel better.

Tonight was the first night of my advanced dance class. We saw our costumes that we'll wear in May...and it's serious motivation to keep going. I've lost about 10 lbs so far and one size. My target areas include: arms, butt and hips! For some reason I'm losing the most in my legs, face and waist. Ready for the rest to catch up!!

Something happy: I'm getting my keys to my apartment tomorrow!!!!

:D

YES!

What a perfect way to start out the new year....I ran 3 miles straight without stopping! I am officially ready for a 5k!!!

I'm going to maintain the 3 mile runs for about 2 weeks or so and then I am going to start the half marathon training schedule. This is the schedule I will be following...

http://www.halhigdon.com/halfmarathon/inter.htm

Lord help me!!