3rd Body by Vi 90 Day Challenge: Chaos!

I've decided to keep an online record of my 3rd Body by Vi Challenge. I'm going to do my best to post periodic updates here on the blog as another level of accountability. I'm down 23 pounds so far since September 2010. The best part is that the inches have melted away - I'm now wearing size 10 pants and large tops (some mediums and that's quite the accomplishment with these big boobs). I never in a million years thought I'd be this size again. So for the record, that's down from a tight size 16 in pants and extra large tops. Yep, I'm excited!

My goal for this next 90 days is to lose 10 pounds and go down to size 8 pants. I'm not going to set a goal for a smaller top because, again, big boobs ... don't think it's reasonable to expect a lot more change there. The way I'm going to have to meet this goal is to concentrate on exercise and building lean muscle. Luckily for me, the Vi-Shape does just that!

I may be a little crazy starting this challenge right now because there's a lot of craziness going on. We're going through a small remodeling project at home, so my den is currently in this state:

The project is almost complete although there are repairs to be made to the floor that can't be seen in this picture. Obviously, this empty room means all of the den furniture is in other parts of the house. The demolition that has since been cleaned up left plaster dust all over everything, so there's the added chaos of washing everything in the kitchen. The calm in the middle of the storm: the day's 2 shakes and my morning coffee!

Of course, it could always be worse. My husband's office literally no longer exists. The tornadoes in NC destroyed his building leaving him with an unwanted skylight. Thankfully, the tornado hit on a Saturday when the office and other commercial buildings were empty. God is good!

I know I'll face some unique challenges during this third 90 day challenge. I have many positives in my life that will help me overcome the obstacles: a supportive family, motivation to succeed and a great arsenal of tools at my disposal. Stay tuned for updates!

10 Mile Trail Race!

My PRs - as slow as they are - are over there on the right. Go ahead, look, I'll wait ...

See, slow, but they're my PRs and I'm hoping to set a new one tomorrow at the Medoc Trail Races tomorrow in the 10 mile race. I love this race and it's one that I hope to have on my schedule every year. The state park is only a few miles from my house and it's one that I know fairly well. There's also a marathon at this event and I would love to someday complete that as well. Who knows, maybe next year?

At any rate, I completed the course in 2:28:13 last year and hope to beat it this year. I don't know if I will or not, but I feel good and this year's training has been more consistent. We'll see ... the extra pounds I've lost should certainly help.

I'll be back to post hopefully on Sunday. We have a 5k walk at church tomorrow afternoon followed by a fundraiser dinner. Taylor and I are heading up this event at our small church, so I won't have time to post tomorrow. Hopefully I'll have enough energy to make it through the 5k walk!

Operation Anything

I'm not sure which blog provided a link to KK's Running Through Life blog and her Operation Anything challenge. But I'm glad I clicked through because for the first time in a long, long while I feel that I have the motivation to follow-through on making some healthy lifestyle changes.

The reasons for my reaching this mindset are not revolutionary ... I've just finally reached the point of wanting to make these changes for ME. Obviously, I want to lead a healthy life so I can hopefully be around for a long time to be with my wonderful husband and children. I absolutely want to be a positive role model for my children so they don't grow up to be couch potatoes and have lifetimes of unhealthy habits. I've wanted that for a long time. But now, I want this healthy way of living and healthier body for me because I deserve it.

And that's all I'm gonna say about that.

So, my goal for Operation Anything is "Operation 150." I've reached that weight before and I can do it again. The last time was in 2002, but I fell off the wagon quickly after our beach vacation that year. Ah, yes, trips to Dairy Queen opened the door as apparently sweets are a "gateway" food for me. Once I go past moderation with sugar and chocolate, it's hard for me to stop and return to more healthy choices.

So, "Operation 150" fits in nicely with my weight loss resolution laid out in the prior post. (OK, Taylor, if you're still reading my blog posts from time to time, you do the math since I won't step on the scale or the Wii balance board while anybody's in the room! How's that for accountability? Heck, I might even put a weight loss ticker on the side.)

This week's goal-setting in "Operation 150" ... drumroll please ...

Complete the 4 runs scheduled between now and next Wednesday as part of my half-marathon plan (4 miles Saturday / 3.5 miles Monday / 2 miles Tuesday / 3.5 miles Wednesday)

I've done a good job on the plan so far although last weekend's 4 mile run was shifted from Saturday to Sunday due to a cold, misty rain. I only did 2.5 today instead of 3, but I really consider it a victory because I really, really, REALLY did not want to run today at lunch in the cold. If I had to fight it that hard today, this needs to be next week's goal to give me that little extra motivation.

That's the plan for now. Wish me luck!

It is what it is

As 2009 draws to a close, I can't help but think about many of the things that I did not accomplish this year. It would be much more positive to focus on all of the accomplishments instead, but as Kate would say, that's how I roll. I am way too critical of myself. Perhaps writing this blog post will help me change that focus a little bit.

Most importantly though, it's been another wonderfully blessed year with my family. Taylor and I just had our 15th anniversary earlier this month and I still can't believe sometimes that I'm married to the man who has been my best friend since we were children in elementary school. He is truly my soulmate and there is no one else in this world I would rather share my life. Kate and Will are two incredible, unique, wonderful children. Sometimes it's difficult dealing with Kate's constant stream of talking and Will's never-ending motion, but watching them grow and mature is a blessing from God. My most sincere desire is to be the best wife and mother possible. Without a doubt, it's the most difficult job I have ever had but is also the most rewarding.

Since this blog was started primarily as a place to capture my feelings on this running lifestyle I'm trying to incorporate, I need to write a little about that. I'm still enjoying running but continue to be a little disappointed that I'm still so slow and don't have a lot of endurance. But after looking back at my running log, I can see that some progress has been made during the past 12 months. January, August and December are the best months out of the year with a little effort made in February - June, September and November. I didn't run any at all in July and only did the 10 miler at Medoc in October.

Realistically, I can't expect to make a whole lot of changes with that lack of consistency. On a positive note, I am close to hitting 200 miles for the year and should reach that mark. My average per time per mile is also faster now than it's been all year, so I need to focus on that progress. I'm still slow at a little under 12:00 miles now, but that's better than the 13:00 plus in January.

Well, that's enough for the past. Let's look ahead to 2010 and I'll put my resolutions on the 'net ...

• Lose weight: realistic goal is 20 pounds, so-happy-I-would-probably-pee-on-myself-goal is 40 pounds
• Total miles: run 400 miles before January 1, 2011
• Race different distances: complete at least one at each of the following distances - 5k, 10k, 10 miles and half-marathon

The key resolution of those three is the first one. Losing weight is going to make running much easier and much more fun.

I guess that's it for now as my lunch hour is over. I'll be back a little later ... perhaps with another resolution or two.