My Second 5K Was a Success!

I successfully finished the Clean Air 5K

at McAlpine Creek Park!

I'm still a slowpoke (this was only my second 5K), but I improved my previous time, so I'm happy. When I ran the Komen 5K in October, my time was 39 minutes, Wednesday when Ken and I ran the 5K trail at McAlpine, we did it in 38:30, and today my time was 35:51.

I was #92 out of 97 in my age group, so at least I wasn't last! Next year I'll move up to the 50's age group, so hopefully that will give me a little more advantage...?? Thanks to all my friends for the words of encouragement, and thanks to Ken for running by my side the whole time!
 
After the race, Ken reminded me that 1 year ago, there is no way that I could have done something like this.  He told me how proud of me he is, and for once, I'm actually proud of myself, too!

Journeys are not always about forward progress

Within this blog, it seems like I'm always writing about the positive things that happen along my weight loss journey.  There is a VERY good reason for that, I suppose... after all, this journey IS mostly filled with good stuff.  However, like any journey, this weight loss adventure has its ups and downs, and if I didn't share it ALL, I wouldn't be telling the whole story.

This past weekend, I went out of town.  I did NOT eat like the old, fat me would have, but I DID eat a bunch of stuff that I shouldn't have.  I worked out, but not as HARD as I should have.  I came home and was tired and lonely, and ate some MORE stuff that I shouldn't have.  Results?  Plus 7 (yes, seven) pounds on the scale.

What was I thinking?  How could I DO such a thing?  Not only have I set myself back a WHOLE bunch, but I have disrespected and disappointed my friend and trainer who racks his brain daily to find a way to help me lose just one more pound...just one more pound.

So...on top of beating myself up for being so stupid and disrespecful of my body and trainer, I have been banned from training with him until I get my weight back where it was.  Some might find this harsh or even counterproductive, but it is probably just the medicine that I need.

I'm gonna' work at this and get it right.  I am a food addict, and this is not easy for me, but I WILL work at it and I WILL get it right.

Cheer for me, pray for me, even learn from me if you like!  I will keep everyone posted and I WILL get back to where I deserve to TrainWithAdam---you'll see!

A Whole New World

Cute boutiques, trendy clothes, sexy shoes... when I was fat, none of this was a part of my life. A window shopping trip in downtown Greenville was never that much fun for me. I could look at the jewelry or other accessories, but none of the clothes were my size and even a lot of the jewelry was too small for my chunky wrists and neck.


This weekend, after a delicious meal at The Lazy Goat, we went for a stroll through town. My sister-in-law spotted a really cute top in the window of one of the stores and said she thought it would look cute on me. The store had lots of cute outfits and trendy accessories... the kind of place that "Fat Mindy" would never think to even enter. However, this time I decided to take a risk and go in.

Not only did I find a cute outfit, but I also found some matching accessories AND some sexy, hot shoes! I had SO much fun trying things on and picking things out. It was a whole new experience for me!


The BEST part of the whole experience, though? My sister-in-law, Sheila, being SO happy for me! I think she was more excited than me and even kept exclaiming, "Look at YOU--SHOPPING!" Yeah... look at ME! SHOPPING! It's a whole new world for me, for sure!

Can't...

It has been a while since I have had anything to say that has felt "blog worthy," but last night while working out with Adam, I had a revelation and a strong desire to share it with anyone who might be reading this. 

My inspiration was the word "can't."  Last night I accomplished something SO small that most people wouldn't even recognize it as an "accomplishment," but to ME it was HUGE.  Ever since I started working with Adam, I have been using the stairs as a regular part of my training routine.  We started out only doing a few reps at a time, and believe me, I was not moving fast or with any amount of grace.  As time went on, he began asking me to take the steps 2 at a time.  This was not easy for me.  Hoisting my over 200-pound, 5'4" body up one step at a time was hard enough!  Taking the steps 2 at a time I would wobble, bang into the wall, have to grab onto the hand rail, etc.  Recently, however, I have been able to walk up 2 at a time with ease.  Still, in the back of my mind was a "can't"!  This "can't" was that I just knew that I could never RUN up the stairs 2 at a time.  With my fear of falling, and my lack of confidence in my athletic ability, I told myself, "I can't ever do THAT"!

Well, last night we spent some time on those damn stairs.  All of a sudden, Adam decides that I'm going to RUN up them 2 at a time.  Of course, my cowardly self just stands there and stares at the steps, hoping they'll somehow magically disappear or something.  All the while, he's behind me saying "You got this...don't think about it, just do it!" (one of his favorite sayings).  Well my first two attempts were lame, and I only made it about halfway up before I had to slow down to a walk, but after a while, I was able to make it the whole way at a run (maybe a "jog"?).  Adam pushed me into making a "can't" into a "can."

So... that little episode got me thinking about all the "can'ts" that I have now eliminated from my life:

I can't run (I am signed up for my second 5K on 5/22)
I can't fit (I fit in a size 10, an airplane seat, chairs with arms, roller coasters, etc.)
I can't jump (I can do jumping jacks, jump rope, jump up onto a box, etc.)
I can't keep up (Most people have trouble keeping up with me, now!)
I can't do a single pushup (I can drop and do 20 ANYTIME!)
I can't do situps (I can do them on an incline, now!)
I can't live without fast food (other than an occasional salad, I don't eat fast food anymore)
I can't enjoy shopping (I can now try on clothes in the regular stores--SO much fun)
I can't do it (I may not WANT to do it, but I CAN do it!)

What are you telling YOUR self that YOUcan't do?  Are you sure?  What if someone ELSE told you that you can't?  Would you try to prove them wrong?  Sometimes we have to have the courage/fortitude to prove our SELVES wrong!

Turn a "can't" into a "can" this week.  After all, if you prove your SELF wrong, aren't you still RIGHT?

We CAN do it!