Spit Happens

I have a confession to make:  when I'm running, I spit.

I spit a lot. (stop snickering you immature people...)

When I'm running I just have a lot of build up of saliva and its hard for me to constantly swallow, so I expectorate.  It's gross I know.  We've been raised to believe that spitting is a rude, disgusting habit and one that we should avoid at all costs, and this is a belief with which I concur.  Excluding while running...

When you are running, all rules just tend to be tossed by the wayside.  I haven't been privy to it, but evidently during long races there are no rules of appropriateness.  You see people blowing their noses without a tissue, peeing in the woods, hell you can even find the pictures of people who have just gone on themselves to avoid stopping and thereby ruining their pace time.  I refuse to go to those measures because ew...  However, the spitting I can handle.

The problem is that after today's race, and a few other times I've caught myself spitting without having run!  I was coming out of the subway and before I knew it, I had spit on the ground!  I immediately thought, "What did I just do!?!  How gross!"  I need to remember that what is okay during a race is not okay when walking down a New York City street.  Blowing your nose requires a tissue, you don't pee in public and spit stays in your mouth.

So, in other racing news... I ran a 5K this morning.  I felt really good.  I saw a friend of mine during the race, and then another friend stayed after he was done to cheer me on at the finish line.  It was the first time I had a cheerleader at the end and it was really nice.  Thanks Eric!!

The course was pretty hilly, and was by far the hilliest race I've done.  I've run hills during my normal workouts, but I take those at a very comfortable pace and don't push it.  Because I was in race mode, I pushed through these babies.  So much so, that at the top of one I came the closest I've ever come to vomiting.  (I'm just all about bodily functions in this post, aren't I?)  I didn't though, and thankfully I was at a water station so I walked through as I drank and then picked back up and felt better.

The result?  My previous best time was 45 minutes and change, with a pace of 15:15/mile (or thereabouts).  Today?  I ran it in 44:07 with a pace of 14:13.  I'm SOOO happy!  Beat my personal record and felt great!  I really pushed myself and it paid off.  I can feel myself getting faster and stronger.  I just feel so amazing about life!  What a turn around from 6 months ago, right?

PS: Disney Marathon registration opens on March 15.  Who's with me?  I've got a couple of friends who are thinking about it and at least one that I definitely know is doing it.  Come on!  You know its gonna be a BLAST!

Mickey wants you to sign up for the Marathon too.  And what the mouse wants... the mouse gets!

Weigh-in Wednesday 3/2/11

So, I'm going to start logging my weekly weigh-ins here on the blog...  Just want written proof of it!

Starting Weight: 310

Last Week's Weight: 260

This Week's Weight: 258

This Week's Loss: 2 pounds
Total Weight Lost: 52 pounds

I honestly did not expect to see any sort of loss this week, let alone a 2 pound one.  My exercise was practically non-existent (2 runs), and my eating was only okay.  I had some people over for the Oscars, and went out for dinner last night before the show (Daniel Radcliffe is the cutest thing in the world, by the way!!)

This weigh in gave me a sigh of relief but also mad because if I had actually worked hard this week, I think this could have been even better!

Oh well...  It's a loss and a decent one at that.  Going for a jog tonight.  Need to get my head back in this game.

Ho hum, ho hum...

So, this has been a pretty "blah" week...

I think I am currently suffering from a bit of fatigue, and I mean of the mental variety.  Last night I seriously thought about how I used to scarf down junk food and I actually seriously contemplated making a run to Duane Reade to stock up.  Those dreaded "You've lost so much, one bad night won't kill you..." thoughts popped into my head.  Instead of entertaining those thoughts though, I decided to instead get into bed to will those thoughts away.  Can't eat if you are asleep!  (Unless you are sleep walking I suppose...)

OMG, how cute is he!?!

My exercise this week has been pretty pathetic.  I overslept for my 4 mile race this past Saturday, and my pre-Oscar (yay for King's Speech by the way!) 5 mile run instead turned into a 2 mile slow-as-molasses jog.  I didn't drink enough water throughout the day, and I was riddled with cramps.  Not fun.  I was going to try and make up for it last night but I just couldn't bring myself to walk back outside once I was home.  Tonight I can't exercise because I'm seeing the revival of "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" starring none other than Mr. Harry Potter himself, Daniel Radcliff!  I'm so excited to see him sing and dance!  He's so freakin' adorable, even if he is getting in the way of me exercising tonight.  (Yes, I really just irrationally blamed my laziness from last night on Harry Potter...)

I'm honestly not expecting great results from my weigh-in tomorrow based on the above mentioned reasons.  I'm just hoping I don't see a gain I suppose.  I really need to shake this week off, because if I plan on making my goal of 250 by the end of March, and 240 by my opening night of April 27th I gotta step it up!  And hard core!  I also have another goal of being 220 by the time I leave for Europe at the end of May.  Lots of different short term goals there!  Let's see if I can meet them...

In other non-related weight loss news...  I watched my first ever episode of "Intervention" last night.

Holy.  Crap.

If you ever need to feel good about yourself, watch this show.  Wow...  Your problems will seem like unicorns and rainbows in comparison!

To Life! To Life! L'Chai-im!

Back at the end of August 2010, I had my epiphany.  My "ah ha" moment.  It was Divine Intervention.

Whatever you want to call it, I decided to get my shit together. (pardon my language, but I gotta be frank about this.)

As a bridesmaid last March.
Size 20+ (in denial of being a 22)

I realized that I had spent the majority of my time during my unemployment in my bed watching TV, eating incredibly unhealthily and being unhappy.  I realized that while the fate of my employment status was essentially in the hands of others, I could at least get my fat ass out of bed and enjoy the fact that I live next door to Central Park.  I was having to cook at home to save money, so why not start cooking healthier meals?  Make a damn salad once and a while?  It was time to exert some control in my life.

So, I did.  And I haven't looked back.

I remembered that my sister had lost a good chunk of weight by simply taking walks, so that's what I thought I wanted to do.  I had no plans to ever run.  I was not a runner.  I could never even run a mile.

I had never even attempted to count calories before.  Nutrition Facts were just on the side of food to taunt me.  I started measuring and weighing and logging everything I ate.  And within a matter of days, I saw the pounds start to melt away.

There have been some massive ups and a few downs a long the way.  Some lapses in judgement have occurred, but for the most part I've been strong and getting stronger every day.  (Physically and Mentally.)

A lot has happened since Labor Day. I have run 2 official races, and my longest jog ever: 5 miles. I got a job, which I like to think I got because my world had found balance.  I truly believe that things happen for a reason and when they are meant to happen.  I have had far too many examples of that in my life to not believe in fate.

As I sit here writing this, I am 260 pounds.  I am the lightest I have been in my adult life (or really since I started paying attention to my weight at the age of 24.)   I am a size 16, a size I haven't even ATTEMPTED to fit into since junior year of high school.

50 pounds lighter.  Size 0X(?) top.  16 Jeans.

I have lost 50 pounds.  This is a milestone that I wished that I would see one day, but honestly never really thought that I would.  This number says so much to me, but the thing that it says the most?  That I'm capable of anything once I truly devote myself to it.  I never thought I could run 5 miles, but I can.  I never thought I would fit in a 16 again, but I do.  I never thought I would be happy with the way I look, but I am!

But, you know what?  While I am happy with the way I look, I still have a ways to go.  This isn't even halfway to my goal weight of 200 (remember I'm 6'2").  I started at 310.  This is just a stepping stone in my life long journey.

Because when that day comes that I see the number 200 on my scale (because it will happen...) my journey doesn't end there.  My life will be my journey at that point, because I won't be letting my weight control my life anymore.  I will be controlling it, for probably the first time ever.

I want to thank you all for helping me.  You have given me a plethora of support.  You have given me strength when I couldn't find it within myself.  You guys have helped make this possible.

Here's to life, and no longer being afraid to live.

My Massage Adventure

Today I had my first professional massage in almost a year.  My legs and back were starting to me constantly sore and I figure it wouldn't hurt to have someone who knew what they were doing, to get in there and squeeze out all that wonderful lactic acid.

I booked an appointment at a spa that I've visited before so I wasn't really worried about being disappointed.  It was, however, my first experience with a deep tissue massage.  Usually I've just gotten the regular ol' Swedish massage.

I have to say, I quite enjoyed the deep tissue massage.  I don't know if it was because my back and legs were just riddled with knots and were essentially as solid as rocks but really the deep tissue massage felt like a regular massage but with really firm pressure, which is what I prefer anyway.  (In all my other massages the masseuse never used firm enough pressure and left going, well I feel better...for now.)

I do have to say I feel immensely better.  Before, when I booked a massage it was always the neck and back portion that I looked forward to the most.  The rest was just kind of filler.  In fact, I always wished that I could ask them to just spend the entire 60 minutes on my back and forget the rest of my body.  But not this time.  This time I was looking forward to the leg portion of the massage just as much as I was the back/neck portion.  My masseuse actually commented a couple of times about how intensely tight my calf muscles were.  When she started on those it was a bit painful at first, but a good pain.  

The one thing I always forget about getting a massage is how much my nose runs when my face in the little donut thing.  It never fails that about 20-30 minutes in, my nose starts dripping and no matter what I do, I can't stop it.  And it tickles!  I mean, it's like gross snot or anything.  Just a drop of nose juice I guess.  I really have no clue.

Anyway, to conclude this rambling, I feel great.  I really need to remember to get massages on a more regular basis during my training for the Brooklyn Half. 

Ode to (candy) days gone by

Halloween.  Christmas.  Valentine's Days.

They are all holidays where candy plays a part.  Be it candy corn, candy canes or candy in a heart shaped box the candy is there and hard to miss.  But honestly, I have no problem saying no to those.

The holiday candy I do have a problem avoiding?

Easter candy.

I went to the drug store today and was hit with a wall of Cadbury.  Seriously, I love it all!  Jellybeans (of the Starburst variety), Whoppers Robin Eggs, Cadbury mini-eggs, Cadbury cream eggs and Cadbury caramel eggs (notice a Cadbury theme?).   Chocolate in the shape of a bunny, and you have to admit that Reese's cups taste better when they are in the shape of an egg.  And Peeps!  We can't forget Peeps!  It all tastes amazing!  And I never said "no" to it before, but I am going to now.

At the egg dyeing

I am going to have to exert some MEGA self control through Easter.  I may partake on a rare occasion, but seriously last year I would buy a bag of Whopper Robin Eggs and eat it in about two days.  Who even knows how many extra calories that was on top of my regular unhealthy meals.

A couple of years ago a few of my friends all got together and had an egg dyeing party.  I'm thinking we should definitely do it again this year.  So this way, whenever I am having a hankering for an Easter treat I can eat an Easter egg (sans yolk) instead.  We'll see how it goes I suppose!

This week hasn't been great for me in terms of my diet.  I have been fighting some of the worst cravings I've ever experienced since this whole thing began.  I don't know if its an adjustment I just need to fight through, if it's a hormonal thing (not to be too explicit, but you probably get my drift) or it its just a fluke.  All I know is that I can't seem to get enough salty goodness.  For serious.

Times, they are a changing'

Went for a 2 mile run tonight.

One of those nights I pushed myself out the door because I knew I would regret it if I didn’t. That’s the first sign tonight that I’m a hugely different person than when I started this Labor day weekend. I would have simply gotten home, ordered in dinner and watched tv all night.

My second sign tonight of how much my life has changed was the fact I have a HUGE blister on my heel. It hurt so bad walking home I contemplated walking barefoot. What did I do? I bandaged it up, taped it down and ran. This would have prevented me from barely doing anything just a mere seven months ago.

Third sign I have changed: When I got home I changed into my running gear. What?!? I barely used to wear gym shoes before let alone a whole second wardrobe of clothes devoted purely to running! My newest acquisition were my first pair of running pants. I broke ‘em in tonight. I NEVER would have imagined that I would currently be buying more work out clothes than normal clothes!

I kept it at an easy 2 miles tonight because this weekend I’m going to attempt my longest run yet. 5 miles. We’ll see…