Day 29: I'm on top of the world!

If you've read my posts in the past couple of days, you'll know I was buried under a mountain of math homework and desperately cramming for a math test that I just knew I was going to fail. I'd procrastinated on studying and just wasn't getting some of the concepts. In the end, I had to make the tough decision to skip one biology lecture (I get four absences and so far had perfect attendance) right before my test so I could cram rather than sit in a three-hour lecture and work myself into a panic. 

I'm not usually one to toot my own horn, but this time, I can't help it. TOOT TOOT! I got a freaking 99% on the test! And the one part I got wrong...I didn't so much get it wrong as there were three solutions to the problem and I only listed two, so partial credit. 

According to Shane, he knew I was going to do great even before I took the test. I'm thankful he has so much faith in me, even at times when I don't. 

Not to jinx us, so knock on wood (unless that makes it a double un-jinx)...but I feel like things are going really well for us lately. Not only did I do pretty gosh-darn awesome on that test, but I also figured out some computer science projects that were really giving me trouble. Shane and I are in a good place with our diet, our exercise routine is challenging and fun, plus we've started a 30 day yoga series which is cool. It just seems like we're on a roll, and I like it. Even our two doggies seem extra happy and perky. 

Don't get me wrong, any day our little family spends together is always awesome. But it seems like our days have been extra awesome lately. I don't know if it's because it's springtime, when everything is green and sunshine-y and full of optimism and new little baby chickens and ducks and bunnies. But if so, I hope it will stay springtime forever. 

Day 24: We're cheaters

Today Shane and I woke up early and hit the gym for our core and circuit day. It was pretty tough and I'm proud of us for making it through. Here's what we did:

10 pushups

20 kettlebell swings

30 situps

40 squat jumps

50 jump ropes

And do the whole thing 5 times through!

The whole routine took us about an hour with lots of water and breath-catching breaks. Once we were done, an older lady who was walking the track told us that we inspired her to keep going. She said she normally gets tired and wants to quit, but if we could be doing all the crazy stuff we were doing, then she should surely keep walking! That was nice to hear and I'm glad we were able to help motivate someone else. 

We had our own motivation to make it through five rounds, and that was the cheat meal we were going to eat after the gym! Our diet plan is pretty strict, but it also has one cheat meal per week. The only rule is that you shouldn't eat fast food. Shane was craving a burger with pimento cheese and sweet potato fries, so we chose Burger Up for our delicious delicious meal. This is one of those types of places where they make their own ketchup, so you know it's good.

I went for the cheeseburger with bacon and sweet onion rings. All the food was super yummy...but honestly after a week of eating the way we have, it was a chore to finish our meals. We had to keep taking breaks for our food to settle, and Shane ended up with about half of my onion rings. Next week's cheat meal will most likely be something more veggie-friendly.

After lunch, we took some laps around the mall, and on our way back home we stopped for the real planned treat that got us through circuit rounds 3-5. No frozen yogurt will ever be as good as our favorite place in Maryland (which is the only place I've found tart strawberry, so good), but Sweet CeCe's and their new smaller $3.99 flat price bowls will do. They're just the right size for a little swirl of your favorite flavor along with one of every yummy topping.

We weren't even hungry when dinner time rolled around, but we were good and got out our chicken and veggies anyways. Gotta get our daily protein!

Day 21: Motivation Monday

Shane and I started a new diet and workout plan today, and whoa, the diet portion is rough. We're talking lots of eggs, which I'm iffy on, and Shane kinda hates...tuna, ick...avocado, also ick...raw, unsalted almonds...lots of foods that I have texture issues with, basically. I've always been a picky eater, and thankfully over the past few years I've been able to expand my food horizons a lot. I'm hoping that this diet change will help expand them even further. They'd better, because we've got a ton of eggs in the fridge and a box of tuna packets in the pantry. 

The workout plan, well that's a different story. I love it. We'd been doing a routine (Ice Cream Fitness) that works with building lots of muscle through low reps using high weights. That means that I'd be bench pressing 80 lbs (whoa!) but only doing 5 of those at a time. The new plan has a lot more variety, with a little lower weight for more reps, and also short rest times to keep your heart rate up. It also has HIIT (high intensity interval training, like running intervals, etc) built in. HIIT and shorter rest times help you cycle through the important fat burning and cardio endurance phases. 

With the joint diet and exercise plan, we should be able to still maintain the muscles we have (and maybe grow some more) while shedding some fat. I'm not gonna lie, tonight's workout was tough and I'm going to ache in the morning, but it also made me feel exhilarated that my body could do these awesome things, like interval sprints. I am pretty nervous about Saturday's Core and Circuit day though. Reading over the routine had me thinking "I'm definitely gonna barf"...then I realized that was just one time through the circuit, you have to do the whole routine 5 times through. 

I decided that maybe it'd be a good idea to do some more motivational posts to keep myself, and any of you who are also trying to make changes, on the right track. The diet may be tough, and the workout may have me dripping with sweat and hair dye, but it's just one more step on my journey. I may not have to deal with orcs, ringwraiths, Gollum, or any other evil Middle Earth inhabitants, but if Frodo and Sam can carry that ring, I can certainly eat an avocado and do some jumping jacks. 

p.s. If you're interested in our new diet/exercise plan, we found it through Instagram (@instafemmefitness), or you can go to directly her website to get the guides (annavictoriafit.com).

Day 13: Wednesday weigh in

To see all past weigh ins, click here. To see our whole weight loss journey, click here.

This week has been a rough one due to the fact that I got my wisdom teeth out on Friday. Besides spending the weekend in a Vicodin haze, it totally screwed up my food and fitness plan. Did you know that you're not really supposed to exert yourself or lift anything heavy for like a week after a tooth extraction? Dry socket is serious business.

I made it through Monday by doing the elliptical for 30 minutes plus a just few weightlifting things. Don't worry, I went way down in weight and only benched 65lbs instead of the 80lbs I was supposed to be doing. Although I have pushed it a little bit, and so far so good, I was still too nervous to take any of the classes at the gym like I'd planned. 

I did my first YMCA group class last Wednesday. I was invited by my friends Haley and Becca and I'm so glad they asked me to tag along :) I've always been intimidated by the classes at our gym because they look so intense. I wasn't wrong! Boxing was really tough, and the teacher didn't stop for the whole hour. By the end we were all thoroughly exhausted, and I had a sweat towel full of purple hair dye. 

Hopefully I'll feel more confident in my recovery and will be able to catch some classes next week. There's a great variety at the Y, and I think it's going to be a good way for me to shake up my routine and get out of the slump. 

Now here's what you all came for...

My progress: I have lost 2lbs since last weigh in for a total of 43lbs lost.

I'm now at 183lbs.

47.7% of my goal complete!

Shane's progress: He has gained 3lbs since last weigh in for a total of 38lbs.

He's at 271lbs.

30.8% of his goal complete. 

I honestly think I caught a lucky break when I had to step on the scale this morning, I have no idea how I managed to lose 2lbs. And I take all the blame for Shane's gains this week. If I had better willpower, my sore mouth foods would be stuff like applesauce and oatmeal, but instead it was a lot of mashed potatoes, chocolate pudding, jello, and frozen yogurt. And if I get to eat it, it's only fair that he does too! 

It'll be interesting to see our numbers next week as we've got plans for pizza with family on Friday and a wedding on Saturday. Keep your fingers crossed for us! 

Day 7: Wednesday weigh in

To see all past weigh ins, click here. To see our whole weight loss journey, click here.

On January 16, 2014, Shane and I committed ourselves to a healthier lifestyle and drastic diet overhaul. We were sick of the way we looked, the way we felt, and the impact our poor choices could and would have on our current and future health. 

On March 10th, 2014, I shared my first weight loss post with all of you and revealed I'd lost 9lbs from my highest ever recorded weight of 226lbs. Revealing my actual weight for the whole internet to see was the scariest thing I'd ever done...until today.

Today I am sharing my first ever full body progress pictures. I've shared update pictures before, but never any as revealing as these. I dress carefully to camouflage my shape and am super picky about what gets posted. But I've been having a rough time with weight loss recently, and this is (hopefully) the kick in the ass that I need. It's going to be really hard to push "publish" on this post, but it's for my own good.

Our problem isn't a lack of exercise. Shane and I have gone to our local YMCA 3+ times a week for an hour or more each session for a year now. We've built a lot of muscle and I'm really proud of that progress. But losing weight and getting in shape is about 80% diet, 20% exercise. And what I'm not proud of is how far we've backslid into poor eating habits. We're a great team, but it goes two ways. We either motivate each other, or we co-enable our bad habits. We ate a ton junk food while we were snowed in last week. It all tasted so good, but felt so terrible. 

We have recommitted to ourselves to healthy eating habits and back to tracking calories on MyFitnessPal. If you're looking to get healthy yourself, you should join MFP and friend me! Find my profile here: Lehorner6. I've set a goal of 1500 calories per day for now, which may be subject to change based on how it affects my weight loss and energy levels. It's been three days since I started tracking again for real. I'd forgotten just how nice it feels to want a chocolate chip cookie and actually have room in your daily calories to eat one! I'm pretty much eating cookies and losing weight, which is the best of both worlds.

I've procrastinated enough, it's time to share the pictures. 

My progress: I have lost a total of 41lbs...I'm now at 185lbs.

45.5% of my goal complete!

Shane's progress: He has lost a total of 41lbs...he's at 268lbs.

32.8% of his goal complete. 

In case you didn't pick up on it...Shane and I each lost 41lbs. Crazy, right? 

I'm nervous and excited about this next phase of our transformation. We have had a great first year of our new healthy lifestyle, with 6-7 months of solid weight loss, and a whole year of exploring exercise. We've also been through our first plateau, about 6-7 months of weight fluctuations with no real loss (although we have been building muscle and losing fat, our bodies haven't really gotten much smaller). I'm hoping we'll get over that plateau very soon. 

I plan on posting regularly again to keep us accountable with our progress. We've both got a long way to go on our weight loss and fitness goals, and ultimately it will be a lifelong process. But if I could feel better about my beach body this summer, that would be fantastic.

Weekly update: Catch us if you can!

To see our whole weight loss journey, click here.

Today Shane and I did something that I NEVER thought we'd be able to do...

WE RAN A 10K / 6.2 MILES!!!!

Shane and I participated in the Farm Bureau Holiday 5k and 10k put on by the Robertson County YMCA. It was the third race in a three-race bundle we purchased through the Y. We had originally planned on doing the 5k but decided at last minute to go for it and do the 10k. Our training plan had us doing a 6 mile run this weekend anyways so it really worked out. It was quite a drive to get there, but the course was really pretty, so that made it all worth it. 

Just two weeks ago I was struggling to run a 5k, but the marathon training has really helped. I'm not going to lie, when I have to run my next 3 mile training run on Tuesday, I'm probably still going to struggle a bit. I'm not a great runner by any means. It's just like that time I took a couple hot yoga classes...it's hard to motivate yourself to go, and it's really rough to make it through, but you feel magical after it's over. It helps to think back on past successes to help motivate yourself through the next run. I'll just have to remind myself that I've done it once and I should be able to do it again. 

I tried using an iPod Shuffle for music today instead of taking my phone. I normally stream Pandora and GPS track my run, but that's a lot of unnecessary data usage. The Shuffle worked out nicely, except I realized that most of the music in my library is way too slow for running. I'm going to have to do some major iTunes shopping before next time. 

Our finish times were amazing (for us). Shane finished in 1hr 3 min / 5th in his age group and I finished in 1 hr 12 min / 7th in my age group. The winner finished the run in 38 minutes which is just insane, but I'm also kinda jealous and hope that's us someday. It would be nice to at least place because they're always giving out goody bags that look fun. 

We're already super excited for our next run. There's a Santa themed run we're thinking of doing in December with some of our family and it looks pretty festive and fun. We're going to have to opt for a 5k for this next race, since we're not quite ready for a 1/2 marathon yet. Instead of distance, we'll get to work on our speed. 

I'm really excited to see where this marathon training takes us. It's not going to be easy, and we're probably going to have some setbacks. But we're going to try, and that's what counts. 

Weekly Update: The Training Begins...

To see my whole weight loss journey, click here.

You're only young once, right? So what better time to train for a marathon? 

Shane and I went through the Couch 2 5k training program months ago but haven't really kept up with our running as much as we should. The last 5k we attempted was The Great Pumpkin Run at Shuckle's Corn Maze. While a run through a corn maze sounds exciting and fall-ish, it's a little more tough than we planned. I mean they don't just set you loose in the corn and expect you to find your way out -- the path is clearly marked -- but it's hard to keep going when you are twisting and turning around and around a hundred thousand times. 

I was seeing mostly-straight by this point. 

Shane was an insane person and chose the Tough Pumpkin option. See that larger pumpkin in his hands in the photo above? He had to carry that throughout the whole course. 

Don't we make cute farm animals?

We are now following the Hal Higdon Novice 1 - 18 week program. With any luck, we'll be ready to race a 1/2 marathon sometime around January and finished with the training in time to race a full marathon just in time for the Nashville Rock and Roll Marathon at the end of April.  

Sunday was day 1 of the training, and we successfully completed a 3 mile run!! And with a pretty decent time too, keeping a 12:30 mile pace. I honestly didn't think I'd make it even 2 miles...I am so proud of Shane and myself! After we finished the run, Shane thanked me for motivating him and keeping him going, which is funny because his running motivated me and kept me running! 

I've got two more 3 mile runs and a 6 mile run by the end of this week, so wish me luck! I never thought I'd be able to run, and I've surprised myself so far. I'm not at all sure that I'll make it a whole 26.2 miles, but I'm sure gonna try. 

We're baaaack!

To see my whole weight loss journey, click here.

It has been an embarrassingly long time since my last weigh-in post, actually three whole months. I've gotten a bit too comfortable with my diet and treating WAY too much...we're talking occasional candy, cookies, breakfast from McDonald's once...it's a slippery slope, y'all. They say you can't outrun your diet, and they're right. Treats every now and then are okay, but not every single day, multiple times a day. Shane and I have been working out nearly every day, but if I don't get myself under control, I'm going to start giving in to soda cravings or worse! 

Me and Shane after an intense workout at the YMCA

The GOOD news is that even with all this food business, I'm pretty much maintaining my weight (currently sitting at 179, which is 47 pounds lost and 52.2% of my weight loss goal), and my body shape is changing! The weight lifting is working, hallelujah! I am looking better in my clothes, and I even bought a size 10, yes 10!!, pair of pants at Old Navy the other day. Okay so they are "boyfriend" cut pants so they're meant to be a little looser than regular pants, but I'm still calling that a big win. Considering I started out this year wearing a 14 but really needing a 16, I'd say I'm doing just fine. 

In other news, with the changing seasons, Shane and I have started to realize how scant our clothing choices are. Sure I have tank tops and shorts for days, but that doesn't help in 50 degree weather. A shopping trip was in order, where Shane made a big revelation: 

That he's lost a lot of weight! He even bought a couple of button-up flannels in size LARGE! It's the first time he's bought a size large since middle school, so this is a huge deal. I am so proud of him! We both stocked up on some winter essentials, and our YMCA is happy that we're bringing so many warm clothes for their winter clothing drive. I actually had to buy all new coats last year because mine wouldn't zip, and now this year, they looked like I was wearing trash bags. Shane looked like a kid wearing his dad's jackets in his. 

I'm also pretty pleased with myself for my progress from last Halloween to this Halloween. This time last year I was so resolved that I was fat and I was always going to be fat, and I'd probably get more fat and that seemed unavoidable. I even got rid of most of my "for when I'm skinny" clothes because I thought I'd never fit into them again. I WAS SO WRONG! I was acting like a blameless victim when I was the culprit. No one made me fat or shoved french fries down my throat, I was doing that to myself. This year I've worked hard to try and take control of my health, and in turn, my happiness. And instead of trying to hide my body in a shapeless Halloween costume, I went for a short dress with NO sleeves! And I personally think I looked pretty cute!

While I have slipped up and allowed more treats into my life, I don't ever want to allow those sort of thoughts back into my life. As we're getting into the holiday season, the typical "dieter's nightmare", Shane and I are recommitting ourselves to our lifestyle change. We are starting a new weightlifting routine to kick up our game and I'm getting strict on my calories again, because it works and my progress so far is proof of that. 

I'm not going to focus on the weigh-in portion so much in future posts like I did in previous posts because now that we're weightlifting, the number on the scale won't really show our progress. I will continue to post training updates, progress pictures, things I find motivational, etc. 

And if you'd like to join me on my weight loss journey, which I would absolutely LOVE!,  add me on myfitnesspal! My username is lehorner6. 

Weekly weigh in + Oh sh*t, we were fat!

To see all past weigh ins, click here. To see my whole weight loss journey, click here.

My progress: I've maintained since last weigh in for a total of 42lbs lost...I'm now at 184lbs.

46.7% of my goal complete!

Shane's progress: He's gained 4lbs since last weigh in for a total of 44lbs lost...he's at 265lbs.

35.2% of his goal complete. 

Shane and I aren't making much progress watching the numbers on the scale move down, but we are making a ton of progress in the gym. Our weight might not reflect it, but our bodies are definitely slimming down as we gain muscle. If you missed it last week, I've gone from someone with the upper body strength of a baby hamster to someone who can do a real pushup x 15! I honestly never thought the day would come when I could do ONE pushup, much less 15 on my first real try. 

It's really funny how things work out sometime. Shane and I both kind of independently had an "oh sh*t, I was SO fat!" moment today. Mine came when a friend commented on an old facebook picture today. It was actually one of the pictures from my very first weight loss post but I hadn't looked at it in months and was absolutely shocked. The picture in question is from September 2011 and I honestly don't know how much I weighed at this point other than it was somewhere near 200 and it WASN'T my highest weight. Here is a side-by-side comparison of me from 2011 and me from today. 

Shane's moment came from logging into his MyFitnessPal account on his computer for the first time in a long time rather than on his phone. When he saw his profile picture, which he took around January at the beginning of our weight loss, his jaw almost hit the floor. I had to take the after picture just to show him how different he looked from the before picture. 

We both have a long way to go, but I am so proud of us for sticking with it this far. I can't believe the amazing changes we've made so far in ourselves. I can hardly believe this part myself but we've even started working out at 6 am like crazy people instead of waiting until we come home from work, and it feels amazing. I've never been a morning person but I think I may convert because working out just gets me pumped up and ready for the day. I am actually disappointed when I have to leave the gym and go to work because I get so much energy I just wanna stay and lift weights all day. Plus now when we get home from work, we actually have time to cook dinner, clean, grocery shop, do laundry, all that fun stuff, instead of waiting until the weekend. 

If you're reading this right now and you want to make a lifestyle change like we have, the best time to start is now. Don't wait until next week or next month, just do it now. I'm not saying you have to try and kick a food addiction cold turkey or start working out two hours a day...but maybe tell yourself you'll only drink ONE soda today, or walk around the block after dinner instead of sitting right down to watch tv. My only regret in all of this is that we waited so long to take charge of our bodies and our lives. To quote Drake and The Lonely Island, "YOLO."  You might as well enjoy the body you've got while you've got it! So what are you waiting for? 

  

Weekly weigh in + Happy 4th of July!

To see all past weigh ins, click here. To see my whole weight loss journey, click here.

I'm back from a short hiatus and better than ever. Shane and I had a big two weeks. We have both been working on our new, more intense weightlifting routines. We ran a 5k. We joined a DietBet. And we hosted an awesome 4th of July party! But more on that in a minute...let's get down to business with our weigh in:

My progress: I've lost 3lbs since last weigh in in for a total of 41lbs lost...I'm now at 185lbs.

45.6% of my goal complete!

Shane's progress: He's lost 2lbs since last weigh in in for a total of 46lbs lost...he's at 263lbs.

36.8% of his goal complete. 

We ran in the YMCA Firecracker 5k on July 4th and had an awesome time. I am so proud to report that I ran THE WHOLE WAY without stopping once! When I started the Couch to 5k program earlier in the year, I seriously thought I was going to fall dead of a heart attack after a 30 second run. And I ran for 3.1 miles in 35 minutes! I'm not going to be winning any land speed races any time soon, but I made it through to the end and I couldn't be happier. I am so proud of Shane too, he finished the race a whole 4 minutes faster than me and clocked in at 31 minutes! 

If you've ever pondered the idea of becoming a runner or just need a way to get in shape (don't we all)...I can't recommend the Couch to 5k training program enough. It's not always easy, but anything worth having is worth the work, and this is worth it. Working to become more fit has changed my life in so many ways already, and I can't wait to see where it all takes me. You should totally try it, because if I can become a "runner", anyone can. 

Shane and I have also joined a DietBet to help keep us motivated, specifically the Shays Father-Son SummerShapeUp. Shay Carl Butler, the host of the challenge, is a YouTuber (see his main channel here: Shaytards) who films videos with his wife, five kids, and various other family members...and who Shane is absolutely obsessed with. Shay Carl lost a lot of weight a couple years ago and has since hosted several DietBets to help motivate his viewers to do the same.  In case you're unfamiliar with the DietBet website and/or app, you join a challenge for a fee (in this case $30 each) with other DietBetters, and by the end of the specified amount of time, if you didn't reach the fitness goal you lose your money, but if you DID reach the goal, you get to split the pot of money with all the other winners. In this bet, we have 28 days to lose 4% body weight (for me, that's 7.5 lbs). There are currently 1,292 players and a pot of $38,760! If we win, we are liable to get a nice chunk of money. 

Last but certainly not least, this year Shane and I hosted our 4th Annual Elliott and Horner Family and Friends 4th of July Extravaganza. We are so lucky to have family near enough to come and visit us occasionally, and we always have a great time cooking out and shooting off fireworks. This year was extra-special because it was the one year anniversary of becoming homeowners! It seems like just yesterday that we moved in, and we still have so many things we want to work on. I'll work on getting some updated pictures on here for y'all too, because there are a lot of things we've done since this post last year. 

Check out the video below to see just how much fun we had! I'm already planning for the 5th Annual party next year :)

Weekly weigh in

I've been slacking off on this, but don't worry...I'm back! 

To see all past weigh ins, click here. To see my whole weight loss journey, click here.

My progress: I've lost 2lbs since last weigh in for a total of 34lbs lost...I'm now at 192lbs.

37.7% of my goal complete. 

Shane's progress: He's gained 1lb since last weigh in for a total of 40lbs lost...he's at 269lbs.

32% of his goal complete. 

We've been bad and got way off track with our workouts, and thus way off track with our food. Plans with friends and family just made it too hard to stick to our workout schedule. I'm really hoping that we will soon be able to get our workouts going for the mornings, at least the running portion, because that would be awesome. I would LOVE to become a morning person. 

Although we haven't been doing too great on our diet in the past week or so, we're still seeing differences in our clothes for sure. I have so many clothes in my closet that I haven't been able to wear in months or even years that are now fitting just fine, or I'll be able to fit in them in just a few weeks or so. That is the part that is so CRAZY to me. I don't feel like I've really gotten smaller, but you can definitely tell in my clothes! My "fat" capri pants from last summer now fall to my ankles. The fancy sports bra that took both me and Shane to squeeze me into when I bought it a month ago, well I wore it to the gym the other day.   

I always kept my smaller clothes for that one day far off in the future when I would finally lose weight, and now I feel like I have a whole new wardrobe and I didn't even need to go shopping! I went through everything in my closet yesterday and pulled out a lot of things that are now way too BIG instead of being way too SMALL!!! It was much needed too, the work shirts I've been wearing since January started looking like I was wearing trash bags or a potato sack or something. 

I also really want to pat myself on the back for this next bit...I've conquered my biggest gym fear...the pullup/dip machine! I'm not scared of the actual exercise but how high up you are when you're on it. I was the kid who cried when I climbed up to the top of the bunk bed and then couldn't get down and I never really got over that, so being about three feet off the ground really freaked me out. The first two times I tried the machine, I got to the first step, tried the second step, and then got right back down. The next few times I made Shane stand right behind the machine while I was on. Once he walked away without me knowing and I got sooooo mad. Now I can get on and off the machine (and do pullups & dips!) without any adult supervision. 

I'm so close to 190lbs I can taste it! Check back next week to see if I have kept up the progress :) 

#31: NSV! (non-scale victory)

NSV (non-scale victory) is a term used online to describe a weight loss victory that is not just the number on a scale, rather something you are now able to do, etc., that you couldn't before.

My mom got me a shirt for my birthday in January and it just straight-up didn't fit. It's a size XL from the juniors section at Target and nothing about it worked. I looked like a stuffed sausage when I tried it on and the sleeves were just way too tight. I didn't take it back or exchange it though, just put it in my "someday when I'm skinnier" clothes pile. 

Last night I was looking for something to wear to dinner and picked up the shirt, and guess what, it fit!! The sleeves were perfect (a smidge short but you can't have everything) and the body of the shirt was even a bit loose like it's supposed to be for this style. 

It's a small victory but oh so awesome. Saying I've lost 20ish pounds sounds like a lot but it's been hard for me to see any real noticeable change. It's nice to see changes in my clothes though...my pants fit just right straight out of the dryer and I don't have to squeeze into them...tshirts I used to stretch out before wearing are starting to look roomy...even the dress I wore to Founders Day was a bit baggy when I wore it. 

It's not quite time to go shopping for a new wardrobe just yet, but I'm excited to add old favorites back into circulation.

#28: I'm getting better

Remember a couple weeks ago when I found my mantra? I think I need to write it on my hand or something, because today at the gym I was getting all discouraged when I had to take a quick break here or there during my running intervals. 

You know what I realized tonight? I AM GETTING BETTER. Just a week and a half ago I thought I was going to die when I ran for 3 minutes...but today I made it about 4.5 minutes before I had to take a quick breather (we're talking 10-15 seconds, then I got back into it and made up for the break and then some). I know it doesn't sound like a lot to add 1.5 minutes of running, but OMG YOU GUYS I RAN FOR 4.5 MINUTES STRAIGHT! When I started the Couch 2 5k program almost a month ago, I could barely make it to run for 30 SECONDS at once. 

I'm starting to realize that I have always put too much pressure on myself and trying to be "perfect" while trying to lose weight and exercise. If I slipped up and ate a candy bar, well there goes the diet. When I missed a night's run or doing the next day of the exercise DVD, I was just all off track. Might as well wait til next week to start, right? Oh that week's no good for me? Well how about the next....

No more of that nonsense. Realistically I know I will never be perfect at anything. All I can do is try my best to take care of myself and make the most of what I've got. And if I eat a candy bar or miss a run here or there, what's gonna happen? The workout police gonna get me? But if I completely give up over something small and silly, I'm only punishing myself. 

Today's run was no cake walk, but I (mostly) did it! I'm sure next week when I'm huffing and puffing through 6 and eventually 8 minute runs, a 5 minute run will seem like small potatoes. 

And look! I'm halfway to running a 5k! (Some C25k programs vary in length, this one is 8 weeks instead of the usual 9). 

That gives me plenty of time to be ready to run in the Color Me Rad 5k this year, which according to my countdown, is in 81 days. We're feeling good enough about our running that we're looking at signing up for an earlier 5k, the Stache Dash on May 3rd. You should join us, it looks like a lot of fun!

It's most exciting to see progress like this when I compare my activities on my RunKeeper log. I'm pretty consistently training for more and more time, and going farther and farther while I do. I can't wait until I finish the program and then think back on this, and how hard it seemed, and how much better I will be. 

Just remember...it will never get easier, but you will get BETTER. 

#23: Just keep running

Over the past few weeks, I've been working my way through the Couch To 5k program, and I'm proud to announce I just finished week 3 tonight! Shane is already on week 4, but I had to repeat a couple days until I felt comfortable with it. 

I should be done with the program sometime in early May, which leaves me plenty of training time before the Color Me Rad 5k here in Nashville on June 22. We did it last year (see below) but I was only able to make it for maybe one minute of running at a time, and that's being generous. With C25k I am feeling more and more comfortable with running and I feel that I'll really be able to run the whole 5k without stopping come June!

Here are some of the apps and the gear I've been using to keep me going while I'm a run: 

 1. RunKeeper

This app is amazing if you do street or trail running (or a variety of other outdoor distance sports like biking or skiing) because it tracks your time, your route, distance, estimated calories burned and pace. It will also tell you if you've made a new record for time/distance/altitude change, which is pretty cool. Another nice feature is the notes section, which I use to note which day of C25k I'm on and how I felt after the run. The basic app is free. There is an upgrade option which would be handy if you're REALLY into running and your stats. The absolute best part about this app is that you can sync it with a variety of other apps, like MyFitnessPal. When I log into MFP to log my dinner calories, it already shows the calories I burned during the run a few minutes before. 

Stock photo from the 'net, not my actual RunKeeper

2. My Camelbak Quick Grip Water Bottle

This was an impulse purchase at REI because it was on sale, but it was well worth the money I spent and then some. After the first few runs, I realized I was huffing and puffing so much that I would give myself the worst case of cotton mouth ever. A quick sip from the bottle and I'm all better! It might seem cumbersome to have to carry a bottle while running, but it does have a nice little hand strap that is adjustable. I tighten mine up so I really don't even have to hold on, it just sits there in my hand. It also has a handy pocket for keys and whatnot. Unless you just NEED to have both your hands free for some reason, a bottle like this is the way to go. 

3. Charity Miles

This is an absolute MUST DOWNLOAD for everyone reading this blog right now. This app is amazing. Basically every time you are walking, running, or bicycling, you just open it up, choose which charity you want to benefit, and go. Corporate and other sponsors donate goods, services, and money based on the distance you cover. The above charities are now only a fraction of what you can support, and they're adding new charities all the time. The other day I ran to support veterans, a few days before that it was Stand Up To Cancer, and today I donated 1/2 a polio vaccine with my 2 mile run. The more distance you cover, the more you donate. You could even keep this running while you're walking around the mall or if you have a really active job and walk a lot. 

4. Last but not least, my favorite C25k app, 5k Runner

Why deal with a pesky stopwatch to time your intervals when you can just use an app? This is the only app on this list I've spent actual money on, but at $2.99, it's worth it. There are a lot of apps like this out there, but this one is my favorite because it's easy to use and you can listen to your own iTunes music. The alerts are nice and loud and it even tells you when you've reached the halfway mark so you can turn around and go back. 

Yes, that's a lot of apps, and yes, I use them all at the same time. I don't have any problems running them all, but I've figured out an order to open them so nothing crashes (Charity Miles first, then open RunKeeper, then 5k Runner). It can be a bit tedious to get going when you're just ready to run, but I really like all three apps, so it's worth it to me.