New PR's

What a great two weeks it has been. My weight is still fluctuating 3-4 pounds but my running has been amazing!!

I ran the Coal City Only Fools Run at Midnight last weekend and I finished in 26:30- Yes sir that is a new PR for the 5K! I will hit 25:00mins before I know it! A shout to Jessica for letting me try and keep up with you :)

Yesterday I ran the Illinois Half Marathon what a wild ride that was!! Let me start by saying that last year I ran the Chicago Half in September and my time was 2:42:57. This year I finished in 2:10:32! I was under a 10mins a mile! This was an amazing race and I was so into it! Mentally and physically I was on my A game! I can honestly say that I think I could actually run a full marathon...shhhhh don't tell Nichole!! It is an amazing feeling when you get to beat yourself. I run for me and I run against myself. There is no better feeling than being a better me! I am excited to see what the next half brings!!

The Friday night before the half Jessica and I ran the 5K...we tried really hard to stay at a 12min pace but that did not happen. We had a ton of fun getting to "be lazy" on this race.  

Thank you to everyone who can to cheer me on!! I appreciate it so much!!

The Good the Bad and Next Plan!!!!

The GOOD-
They always say you should start with something positive so that's what I will do! My running lately has been great. I have consistently run at least 3 runs a week for over 90 days. Two of those runs are always 4 miles and the other is at least 8 unless I have run a race that weekend. My past 2 long runs have been amazing! While at home for Easter I ran 10.4 in 1:55 and this weekend I ran 10.18 in 1:44 (I think). I feel like I can finally call myself a runner. For so long I was always striving to be one of those women, one of those runners, and the one that can do that! I think I finally can. It is amazing to me how others see me as a runner and I just don't yet...well didn't until very recently!

Another good would have to be my weight, I am in the 160's! Someone pinch me please I never thought I would see a 1and a 6 in my weight! It is amazing to see my body change as the weight is coming off! One of my primary goals as I began to loose weight was that I wanted to be able to walk into Abercrombie or Hollister and wear a pair of jeans...over Easter break I bought a pair of skinny jeans from Hollister!! Whoop Whoop... Now let me be honest her they are a bit tight and I am not ready to wear them until I hit my 70 pound goal. So depending on the day is anywhere between 2 and 5 pounds away! When the scale reads 162 I am wearing those suckers!! Obviously another good is winning the fittest loser at the gym :)

The BAD-
It seems that after I reach a big goal or accomplish something wonderful I screw myself up! For example yesterday...ok not just yesterday.... About 2 or 3 days a week I have been eating everything in sight! What in the world is my problem?!?! I mean I understand for my birthdays but that was April 6th, so what is my excuse 10 days later?!? I feel like I do this every time and I need STOP IT!!

My stomach...yep I said it!!! It is bad, it is the freaking muffin top that I still have hanging over my pants! Yes it is much smaller that before but I want it gone! I want the stupid thing to just disappear!! It is what I am most self conscious about and what I dread seeing!

My weight- yes I have a bad about my weight! Since weighing in for the biggest loser on April 2nd my weight has been fluctuating between 163 and 167.....seriously 4 pounds! I have no one to blame but me based on the way I have been eating buy it just sucks!

The PLAN-
The plan is to keep doing what I've been doing but do it better!! Wasn't that a great sentence :) I want to be sure I am counting all of my points everyday! I have a tendency to count them during the week because I eat mainly the same thing things everyday! Then the weekend hits and bam I'm terrible! So back on tack with counting! I'm going to do no fried foods until the last day of school!! And add back in more protein. I was doing well with my protein then I let that slip. I alway want to make sure I eat well the weekend of the half, I don't want to blow that days hard work by eating all crazy! So I have a plan and I can do it.....I think I can I think I can!!!

Fittest Loser

It's official :-) I am the biggest aka fittest loser at my gym!! Holy Cow I lost 25lbs in 3 months! I am so excited! The prizes are exciting too. I have to give a huge shout out to RON- this guy has pushed me to the point of no return. He spends hours a week beating me into shape! Without him I would not have been able to accomplish this!!! Thanks Ron!!

So many have asked for a before and after shot so here they are..Know that the before shot is me at a weight of unknown because I would not step on a scale. The updated shot is me at around 168ish

Last race and Weight

This weekend I ran the Spring Fever 5k in Kankakee. It was a great race. No PR this week but that can not happen every race. A shout out to Jessica for pushing me when I really wanted to give up this race. Also, Leslie you rock I am so proud of you! Crystal thanks for letting me drag you into my crazy obsession! 

I am struggling with my breathing and trying to get that back under control. I am still running at least three days a week and realizing more and more how much of a mental sport running is. It is amazing how hard a 4 mile run can be when I am mentally not in the game. I wish I could always be in the moment for my runs. Here are some pictures from the run. 

I have had a good past month with my weight. I am at about 165. I would really like to be at 160 by May 1st- we shall see if that is possible. After taking a week off while I was on vacation the gym the past two weeks has been a killer. My body hurts in ways that I didn't think it could  This next month is a big month. My half marathon is April 28th so I am hoping to be able to take a good chunk of time off of last year's time. I feel like I am more prepared and in much better shape than last year!