50 lbs, a new goal, and The Chicago Half Marathon

Yesterday I stood on the scale and finally the number I have been waiting for....182!! That may still sound high but that is 50 pounds less than when I started this crazy journey. I was so excited and in shock. I think the shock is because I really did not know if I would ever really reach this point. I wanted to but so many times I have tried weight lose and failed....this time it was for real. I am loosing slowly and in a healthy way! With this mile stone reached it is time to set another goal.....hmmm well according to the doctors chart  I should be like 140...please that seems crazy to me (at least at this point!) so I am thinking that if I can get down another 20 pounds to 160-162ish I would be happy. That would be a few sizes smaller and hopefully work off my targeted area my stomach. So we shall see but, I am letting the world know that the next goal is to weigh in at 162LBS!!

Well my next crazy adventure is the Chicago 1/2 Marathon. I have my running plan and so far- only one week into it I am sticking with it. My main goal is to just run this plan and then I am praying I can finish the 1/2 marathon. This plan has me running between 16-20 miles a week up until race day on Sunday September 11th! I am hoping that if I continue my crazy workout schedule and add this much running the inches and weight will melt away :-) We will see....I will really have to keep my eating on track for that to happen (which I have been doing very well with writing down everything I am eating!). I plan to blog each Sunday- this is the day of my long runs! Last Sunday I ran 7.25mils...and maintained my 13 min pace...not to shabby.  So my only goal here is to finish and maintain a 12 min pace for official race day!!

Bike Ride fun and more

I am still running but I decided to also needed to work on my biking skills! I have a few friends that asked me to join them for a 32mile bike ride and I said yes! Like a mad woman!! It was a ton of fun and a great work out! I did not realize how sore my butt would be...WOW! But it was an amazing workout.

 

Things are going pretty well overall! I am back to always writing down my food and trying very hard to stay under my calories for the day. I so wish that one day I did not have to think about food...but that will never happen. I think it will always be something I must be aware of. It seems that even on good days I must always  think about food, what will I choose? Am I making the right choice? Did I look up the calories before I came here? Hmm is this worth the calories? I mean come on now at some point can't a girl just eat what sounds good....I mean yes maybe once in awhile and yes in moderation but when you write it down and count calories sometimes it seems to be all I worry about. HA it is almost funny when people ask "hey, Stephanie how many calories are in "whatever they are eating"?" and most likely I know the answer or will find it :-) 

Last week I saw the smallest number I have ever seen on the scale....185.4!! Yes 2.6 pounds away from the big 50! Let me tell you, you will know when it hits 50....I may even throw a party :-) This has been a hard process but I am so thankful for some seriously amazing supporters that I can proudly call my friends!! These people encourage me, strengthen me, and push me to be the best me. And most of all they all love me for me not what the number on the scale is!! 

I dedicate this post to those amazing people! They all know who they are but incase they don't (thanks- Crystal, Jill,  Kristin, Leslie, Nichole, and Sharon) And everyone else who sees me and has nothing but positive words to toss my way!