Spring has Sprung!

Hello Spring! How I've missed you!

Isn't it wonderful? The days are brighter, the weather is warmer, the snow is almost gone and it hasn't even been slushy! Can you believe it's already the middle of March?! It feels like waking up from the darkness of despair and coming out into the light of life!

With the nice weather comes the urge to get out and get some exercise. Last night we all went for a walk after

dinner. It wasn't a very fast walk or very far but it was nice to be outside and spend time together as a family.

This weekend was super productive, I realize now I must have been spring cleaning without meaning to. We've had a lot of trouble getting Riley to sleep over the past month. Seems to be since she got sick in February first with the flu then with a cold. It got to the point even if she woke in the middle of the night she refused to go back to bed.

Friday night was bad, I thought I'd finally worked out a new routine with her, but she woke at 3 am and started freaking out when I wanted her to go back to sleep. It was then I realized the real problem and that's the neighbors. They're young and were having a party. It wasn't a loud party by any real standards, but Riley's room is right above the front door. So, Saturday I set out to switch Riley's room with my office and she's slept well ever since! She loves her new room and even plays in it. In the process I organized my office which in itself is HUGE!

Well, as you know it's March. October is only 7 months away. That means I've got 7 months to get in shape for the CIBC Run for the Cure 2010! Check out my donation page. I'm not sure when they switch everything over to a new year, but I'm already preparing. So, to get started I'm going to follow an About.com program 3 Weeks to a 30-Minute Running Habit.

Day 1: Let's Get Started

Today's run: Start with a 5-10 minute warm-up walk. Run 1/1 x 10. (Run 1 minute, walk 1 minute, ten times, for a total of 20 minutes.) Finish up with a 5-10 minute cool-down walk. Remember to take it easy and don't worry about your pace at all.

I'll let you know how it goes!

CIBC Run for the Cure 5 km Complete!

Well, I did it! I met my donation goal and I completed the 5 KM CIBC Run for the Cure on Sunday. I also weighed myself that morning, but I'll get to that in a little while.

My friend Dre and I went together. She decided to walk with me instead of trying to run. We got there really early and walked around for probably an hour before the run actually started. It seemed to take a really long time to get started. It was slow moving at first walking in a crowd. There were over 10,000 people in the run! Once we really got started Dre and I moved up through the ranks, we were able to find holes in the crowd and skip past them.

There were a few times I felt emotional and near tears. I held back because I felt silly since I haven't lost anyone to breast cancer. There was one group that were carrying paper torches that said Sue-vivors, they lost their mom to breast cancer.

On the lap back we ran couple of times but not for very long. I know Dre could have run more, but held back with me which I really appreciated. As we neared the end of the 5 km I felt overwhelmed with emotion. Knowing I had come this far with the donations and actually showing up and walking the 5 km. I can't explain it really, but I really wanted to cry.

We finished the race in under 51 minutes, grabbed some water and walked back to the car. By this point we were pretty tired and didn't feel like staying for the end ceremonies. We both had a wonderful time and plan on doing this again next year.

Next year the plan is to raise more money and to run at least half the 5 km.

When I weighed myself in the morning before the run I was at 237.4. I am down 2 lbs from last week with a total of 4 lbs lost since I started Meridia! I was in shock when I first looked down and saw that number! It's exciting to feel like I'm finally on the right path to lose weight.

I still have a lot of work to do especially with my eating and adding exercise. At least I'm not eating half what I used to and this is what I needed help with the most!

Have a great day! I'll update soon.

eLLe

Week 2

Welcome to week 2 of being on Meridia. I meant to write sooner, but had a lack of new things to talk about and then well didn't have the time.

Sunday was officially 1 week since I started Meridia and first weighed myself. Well, I weighed myself and my current weight is NOW: 239.4. That's right! I am down 2 lbs!

Over the last year I have bounced up and down from 239 to 250 and in no particular order. So at this point anything below 239 feels like I've really lost weight instead of the same 10 lbs over and over. This is real progress.

After Joey was born until I was pregnant with Riley I maintained 235 lbs. So that was about 2 years. Real progress will begin once I'm below 235 lbs.

Now, having said all that I know losing 10 lbs is nothing to scoff at. I know that after being 235+ lbs for the past 4.5 years I will really start to accept that I am finally on my weigh to my weight loss goals.

Sunday is quickly approaching and I'm excited and nervous about the CIBC Run for the Cure. I'm trying to look at this as a beginning not a failure. I originally signed up for the run to be a goal for when I've lost some weight and to be able to actually run most if not all of the 5 km. Well, as life happens I'm nowhere near that fitness goal. Now it's time to change my thinking and look at this as a fresh start so next year I can run the 5 km!

As of today I am only $35 shy of my donation goal! I've had a lot of help in changing some of the ways I look at life. Many of you know I've asked for donations for the run. I've had so many surprises with the people who've so generously sponsored me. When I asked for donations I expected $5-$10 and figured if I got enough people then it would add up. Instead I've been blessed with sponsors who've donated $20-$100 in one shot. I even had a donation from a guy I work with who I haven't really gotten to know! This all amazes me and really helps me put things in perspective. The whole point of this run is to Cure Breast Cancer! There will be many women there who've beaten cancer or lost someone they love to cancer. This is the point! Not how well I can run or not or how fit I am. So, I want to say a big thank you to the people who've sponsored me and for the people who support me emotionally and spiritually.

Thank you all and God Bless!!

eLLe