You Can Sleep When You're Dead

I had a 4 day weekend.  I slept in those days. Well, kind of.  I slept 'til 7 or 8, and for Jenn and I, that is sleeping in.  So when my alarm went off at 5 am this morning, I wanted to hit snooze and sleep for another 3-4 hours!  I was so tired.  I had a killer weekend.  Hit a new running milestone, set a new 5k PR, and had a good weight loss.  Now it's back to the 8-5 desk job.

Boot camp was good.  His goal was to keep our heart rate up for 45 minutes straight!  He did a good job.  It was killer and a lot of fun!

Operation Watch What I Eat has also started.  No more cheating, no more extra bites, and no more excuses.  Who is with me!

Offical Weigh-in and Memorial Day 5k

I weighed myself today.  I know it's not the first of June, but it is Monday, and I felt like starting it off that way.  Sooo I weighed myself, and I now weigh......... 266.3!  WOOT WOOT!!!!  Feels pretty dang good.  I am on the right track.  I am going to keep working out and running and see the weight come off.  I love that I am doing it the right and healthy way.  Life is good.  I will be in the 250's before I know it.

Today has been an all around good day.  I set a new PR on my 5k.  I ran it in 39:34.  That is over a minute improvement!  I am going to keep shaving the time off.  Another cool thing is that I did it using the Jeff Galloway method of run/walk/run.  I started the race running for about 3 minutes just to stay with the pack.  Then, I started my one minute run/one minute walk process.  Once I got towards the end, I was able to sprint in.  Very cool feeling.  The race was in Nixa, and there were a lot of people from OMRR there.  Chris Revoir is the president of OMRR, and he remembered me from helping out with the Frisco 50 mile and said hi.  It was nice to talk to him.  I really want to be move involved in that world.  They all seem like a lot of really nice people.

Because of my weight loss and my 5k time, I decided I was going to mow my lawn with my shirt off.  I wanted to get some sun, and this skin has not seen that in several years.  I was brave enough to do that and start working on my tan.  That was a big step for me.  Got to show off my muscles!

We also had BBQ for dinner tonight.  We had chicken, and Jenn surprised me with a Kobe steak!  It was amazing.  I made a pretty good dry rub and got it ready to go.  Dinner was good and healthy.  It was an all around good day.  I am sad that my 4 day weekend is almost over.  I love my family!

Before and After and Long Run Saturdays

This morning, I was a little worried.  We had a 6 mile run scheduled.  The farthest I have ever gone before was last week, and that was 4 miles.  I also had amazing Philly Cheesesteaks for dinner last night and was worried that it would effect me.

We started the run at 7:30 this morning.  The half marathon group only had a 2 mile run today, so we split off from the big group pretty quick, and our 5 person group kept trucking along.  Then, we started on the Galloway Trail and ran through the Southern Hills neighborhood.  It's called Southern Hills for a reason.  It has some killer hills, and at about Mile 3, I was really sucking air.  I wasn't sure how much farther I could go, but at about Mile 4, I got my second wind and really felt good in the run.

During these long runs, I am learning more about myself and my body.  I am also learning that I might need to get something so I do not get the infamous bloody nipples.  It was very painful towards the end.  I know.. TMI, but it happened, and I am honest!  My calves started getting really tight towards the end as well.

I love my group.  They are a lot fun and funny.  I am the youngest in my group, and we were talking about some funny things today.  One of the ladies, Sandy, said she has a big crush on Bret Michaels from Poison.  We got a good laugh from it.  They are all really nice and have a lot of good things to say.  I will enjoy running with them every Saturday.

We ran our 6.5 miles in 1 hr 34 min.  About a 15 minute pace.  Slow but steady!  

So I have been living my healthy lifestyle for 148 days now.  It has been a great journey, and I will keep trucking away.  My weight loss has not been what I have wanted, but I know why.  See yesterday's post.  Here is a picture that Jenn took of me after my long run today.  Thought I would do a before and after of it as well.

Food... It's a Love Hate Thing

I took today off work primarily because it is a food day.  Food Day at my work is when everyone brings in food, and then we eat it all day.  I am serious... all day.  As soon as you walk in the door everyone is scrambling to get a plate of food.  8 am people!  I am just as bad. 

Last Food Day, I was strong up until lunch.  There were cupcakes.  I had a cupcake.  There was also trail mix, and I had a handful of that.  It was down hill from there.  By the time I walked out that door,  I had 5 cupcakes, a whole bowl of salsa and chips, 5 deviled eggs, and who knows what else I managed to sneak.  It was sad.  I am a mess. But, I know my weaknesses.  I ran away overcame them today and made this into a family day!  We are going to go see a movie and go eat at the park. 

But seriously, I need to get my food choices in line.  I am so weak again.  I am no where as bad as I once was, but my serving sizes are bigger.  If someone asks me if I want something, I cannot say no.  I am eating my healthy food, but when I mix it with the junk here and there throughout the day, it is no wonder I have lost very little weight.  So it's operation refocus, reduce, and reuse...  Close the loop (my mouth). 

I know I can do this.  I have worked too hard to let it go.  On a happy side, I am not struggling with doing my workouts.  I love it!  I love running and boot camp.  I just wish I loved eating only 1500-2000 calories a day as well.  CURSE YOU, PERRY THE PLATYPUS!!!!!!

Three Things Thursday

I have stole the idea of Three Things Thursday from a blog I follow,  Racing With Babies.

This Thursday, I wanted to share with you three random thoughts. 

1. Have you all seen how amazing my wife looks right now!  She finished P90X a few weeks ago and has started it over.  Check out her post on our family blog.  She is in the best shape of her life and such an example to me.  I could not be doing this without her help. 

2.  My marathon is not until November, but I still have to raise $1000 before it gets here.  I have dedicated myself to training for my marathon and fundraising for American Cancer Society.  If you would like to donate, here is the link.  I do not think I could have picked a better time to do this.  I am running for my Grandpa Crosby who has been fighting cancer for a few years now.  It has been a real struggle for him.  My aunt on my other side of the family called me last night and told me that my great uncle Drew just found out he has cancer.  So I will also be wearing a ribbon and running for him.  Please support me in this and make a small donation to help me get to my goal.

3.  Today is my FRIDAY!!  WOOT.  I took Friday off to spend with my family.  I also took it off, because it is food day at work this Friday, and I do not have the strength to be here for a food day.  Last time, it did not end well for me.  Five cupcakes somehow made their way into my belly.  We are going to see Kung Fu Panda 2 as a family and have a picnic at the park.  It will be a good day.

Have a great rest of the day!  Boot camp today was killer.  Steve kicked our trashes.  I am going to do some Yoga with Jenn on Friday.  Saturday, I am running a 10K!!!  Crazy to even think about!  It will be fun.  What three things are on your mind this Thursday?

How Health Effects Your Job

I am not a big fan of my job.  I graduated from college and moved back to Springfield.  I looked for a job for months and only had one interview.  Our savings was about gone, and I was getting desperate.  I filled out two applications, one with McDonald's and one with a temp agency.  That was how low I got.  I ended up not taking a job with McDonald's but getting a job through the temp agency.  I am not using my degree, and I sit behind a desk all day staring at paper work.  Not what I was wanting to do.  It was a job, and I took it.

Before I started working out and eating right, I hated my job.  I would moan and complain the whole time I was there.  I would picture myself just walking out and quitting.  The littlest thing would annoy me, and the people drove me nuts.  I was an emotional roller coaster.  I was never happy and not very fun to be around, because I would complain every chance I got.

Today, I still do not enjoy what I am doing, and I wish I was using my degree, working in a field I had interest in.  BUT, I am not hating every moment.  I do have enjoyable days at work.  The days go by quicker.  I am more effective at my job.  I am not feeling overwhelmed all the time.  There are still bad days, but I am not on edge all the time.  I am not taking that bad attitude home to my family, either. 

Fitness and health not only effects your body; it effects so many aspects of your life.  It is so good to be healthy, and I am glad I am doing it. 

Now somebody get me a new job!

Runners... Yeah, We Are Different

I saw an Adidas running ad campaign that made me laugh.  One or two of the ads were a little risky (you might see a bare bottom or two), but it had pictures of typical funny runner situations.  I will link the ads, but do not click if you don't want to see a bare bum. 

I used to never notice people out running. Now when I see them, I get excited.  I give them a mental high five.  They are out bettering themselves, and I love to see it.  Runners are different people; some have even called us crazy.  But we love it, and we will keep running. 

Here are a few of the ads for those of you who do not want to click the link.

Doctors Appointment

I was in so much pain this morning.  I woke up at 3:30 am and felt just like death.  If you have never had swimmer's ear or an ear infection, let me tell you, it sucks... bad.  I was able to get back to sleep around 4 am, and I slept until 7 am.  Jenn called our doctor, and he was able to see me at 9 am.  I got up and ready and ran out the door in time to make it right at 9. 

The cool thing was the first thing he said to me, about how much weight I've lost and how great it was.  So, that was cool.  He did confirm that I have swimmer's ear and gave me some antibiotics. He said I should feel better in a couple of days.  I asked him if I could still run and work out, and he said yes.  So I am going to do my run tonight. 

Please keep your thoughts and prayers with the people in Joplin, Mo.  So many people have been killed and homes destroyed.  They are only an hour from our house, and that same storm hit us later that night.  We were safe, though, as it didn't put down tornadoes by us.  We feel really blessed.

Breakfast Ideas

I am looking for ideas on quick easy breakfasts.  Every morning, I have an English muffin with peanut butter and a banana.  I still enjoy them, but I am wanting some new ideas.  It needs to be something I can do really quick in the morning and something I can eat while driving to work.  I have been told it should be high in protein because of the workout I just did.  Please give me ideas!!!

This has been a happy and sad weekend.  It was good because of how amazing my workout was, and I was able to have an enjoyable 4 mile run.  We also had a lot of fun with my sister and brother-in-law, Joe.  Madison is always a lot of fun to have at our house.  Our kids love playing with their cousin.

It was sad, because I went to my friend Kym's funeral.  She passed away on Monday.  She helped me so much in middle school and high school.  It is so sad she passed.  I also started getting sick Saturday night and spend most of Sunday resting and trying to get better.

I am happy to say that I am excited about my run on Monday. It's nice to look forward to my runs and instead of dreading them.

4 Mile Run and Strength Class

I ran 4 miles today.  I ran 4 miles today.....  I RAN 4 MILES TODAY!!  Five months ago, I would have never dreamed of saying that.  The funny thing is that the people I ran with today talked about how 4 miles is going to be nothing in a few months.  How cool is that.  I have run 3 5k's and felt extremely tired after.  I did my 4 miles and felt great.  I could've kept going.  

Jenn and I went to our normal group strength class afterwards.  It was just as hard as ever.  I was so exhausted after.  But I did it.  I worked hard, and I enjoyed it.

Next week, we are running 5 miles.  I am very excited for the run.  Life is good.

Working out with Mom

I have my long run of 4 miles coming up this Saturday, and I plan on taking Fridays easy.   So today, I got on the elliptical next to my mom, took it at a nice conversational pace, and had a good chat with her.  I enjoy those times to visit.  We used to have every Saturday to chat when I would go help her take care of my Grandpa Ron.  It's nice to have these early mornings with Mom. 

She knows almost all the regulars that work out in the morning, because they all have been going for years. It's funny to talk to them at the gym or run into them outside the gym, because almost all of them tell me how proud my mom is of me for getting healthy.  Moms never stop bragging and talking about their kids.  There are less expensive places in Springfield for me to have a gym membership, but this is where my family works out.  This is where I have made a lot of friends.  I am going to stick with the Meyer Center.

Three Things Thursday

Today is Three Things Thursday, and I wanted to share three things I am thankful for!

1. I am so thankful for my family.  I could not do this without the support of my amazing wife.  She helps me make sure I am awake in the morning.  My breakfast is packed, and I am out the door to get my workout in.  She is also supporting me by working out at home.  She has finish P90X and is restarting the program this week.  Micah is such a stud and is having a lot of fun in his running class.  He ran a 13:11 mile.  He is almost 5 and can run a mile faster than most adults!  My two girls are so cute.  Their smiles light up my day.

2. I am grateful for my friends.  You all have helped keep me accountable by checking up on me and making sure I am staying with this program.  That has helped me not quit.  Any time I feel discouraged or want to cheat on my food choices, my friend, Jim, asks me if he needs to punch me, because if I quit, he will do it.  All the comments, notes, and e-mails have made a world of difference to me in this process. 

3. I am thankful for running and boot camp.  I seriously look forward to them.  I have hardly missed a day, and if I do, I feel so bad.  Those things have become such a part of who I am now.  Boot camp is helping me build muscle and core strength.  Steve is a great instructor and a really nice guy.  His workouts are things that he would want to do, and he really pushes us hard.  I still hate the Dirty Dozen (we did it again today).  Running is not something I am good at yet, but I enjoy doing it.  I really enjoy running with people.  I think this Marathon Training group is going to take me to the next level.

It is going to be a great day!  What are you thankful for on this Thursday?

Working Out = WORK

I know why so many people give up.  It is hard.  It is hard to get up at 5 in the morning and work out.  Yes, staying in bed and sleeping that extra hour would be nice.  Yes, lounging around Saturday morning is enjoyable.  Being able to eat the cookies your co-worker brings to work tastes great.  Losing weight is hard.  It is not easy.  People give up all the time.  I know I have before.  I found reasons to quit, to cheat, to not live up to my potential.

I guess this is why I am calling it a life change.  I am WORKing out.  I am fixing myself.  I am a much happier now WORKing than sleeping in or being lazy.  I thought I was happy when my stomach was full.  I ate my feelings.  The few times that I have done that lately, I felt like garbage.  Mentally and physically, I felt horrible.  The crazy thing is that was how I felt every day.  I felt like garbage everyday.  I was used to the feeling. 

I love being healthy, and I love working out.  But, I do not love it every day.  I do not love freaking plateaus.  I do not love being sore.  I do love being healthy.  I used to think that someday I was going to die of a heart attack or diabetes.  How sad is it to know how you are going to die.  If you knew how you were going to die, wouldn't you do something to change it?  Most of those things are totally preventable.  So here I am preventing them; I am living. 

It's never too late to start WORKing out.  You are worth it.  You can change.  I know you can, because I did.

Alison Sweeney ReTweeted My Tweet!

Every Tuesday, we watch The Biggest Loser, and I sit on Twitter and tweet about the show.  Today, Alison Sweeney retweeted one of my tweets!  Very cool!  If you want to follow me on Twitter, do it at @cajacrosby .

I shared about my 60 lbs weight loss and how I love the show.  Good times.

I Am Healthy

I am healthy, and I am in shape, but I am still fat.  I have to remind myself that this whole process isn't a 5 minute feel-good montage.  This is a process.  I have to remind myself that, right now, I am in the best shape of my life.  I can run for miles.  I can keep up in my boot camp class.  I just need to lose the fat. 

Being fat has been so much of my identity for so long.  It was part of who I was.  I was able to hide behind it.  It's almost scary to think about not being fat.  Don't get me wrong. I don't want to be fat, because I know what it does to me physically and mentally.

I guess this is a time to embrace a new identity, the in shape, strong Chris.  I know I can keep the qualities that make me a good person and add on to them.  Before, being big helped me be funny.  Instead of letting people make fun of me, I made fun of myself and made them laugh.  Now, I can still be the funny person I am without all the weight attached. 

I am healthy, I am in shape, and I am strong!  Fat does not define me; I do!

Marathon Training

Last Saturday was my first day training with my Jeff Galloway group.  I am on the yellow marathon team.  There is a yellow half marathon team, and we start our runs with them but go further.  On our team, there are 7 of us, and they seem like a good group.

There were total about 150 people there.  That was pretty exciting to see that many people training and getting ready for either the half or full marathon in November.  I know this journey is going to be life changing, and I am excited to see where it takes me.

Also, did you know Drew Carey lost of 80 lbs and is a runner!  I knew he lost weight, but on his Twitter feed yesterday, he talked about finishing a half marathon.  Very cool!  Great job, Drew!

Date/Marry a Girl Who Runs

I saw this online and thought it was very cool.  Thought I would share it. This is for my amazing wife who has been my biggest fan though all of this!

Date a Girl Who Runs

Date a girl who runs. Date a girl who chooses to move than to let the world pass her by. She will cover the roads with you while talking about the mundane to the profound without gasping for air. She will notice and appreciate the little things: the extra cushioning of her shoes, the softness of the pavement vs concrete, or how much cooler it is to run 30 minutes earlier in summer.

Take her to a race and be there with her 30 minutes before gun start. You will watch her fret over her gels, and her hydration, and the portalets. You will laugh because she gives so much importance to running as if it was her entire life. But, you will learn later on that it only shows how passionate she can be about what is important for her.

Hold her jittery hands before you enter the assembly area. She will hope to break her PR at the half marathon, but do not wish her luck; she won’t need it after all the speed work and tempo runs. Instead, show her a reassuring smile that she’ll be fine and that you’ll be proud of her whether she finishes first or 50th. Let her know that you’ll be waiting at the finish line—or at least you’ll show up there in case she finishes several minutes before you do.

If you find a girl who runs, never let her go; register for a marathon and train together. Be her best friend on the road. When she talks, listen to the joys of her first 5k, the pains of her recurring Plantar Fasciitis, and the 1,001 reasons why she loves to run while pretending that you can keep up with her “easy” pace. In between stories, allow her to take a sip from your water bottle or remind her when it’s time to take a gel. Watch her glow when she talks about running; she is in her element. She is running by your side.

She is happiest on Sundays, the day when she can run long with you. She loves to sweat, and the sore legs, and, of course, the hefty breakfast along with the good conversations that follow each run.

Always have a cold, wet towel in the cooler waiting for her. Surprise her with her favorite post-recovery drink, low fat chocolate milk, and if she runs an extra 5km, spike it with her favorite coffee from Starbucks. In her simple joys, you will find an abundance of happiness.

Propose after your first marathon abroad. Or drop the ring in her hydration bottle. Or run the trails together and end with a proposal at sunset.

When you marry a girl who runs, the only time you will see her slow down is when she walks down the aisle towards you. She’ll be a picture of beauty and strength in a gown with her running shoes upon her feet and all you will be able to think of is the thousands of kilometers you will run together. You will find the best running partner in her. You will talk about the household, career, and finances during your long runs. You will fight during your hill training and make up during easy runs.

She will never force your children to run, but they will learn to love it when they see her passion for running. She will make living a healthy, active life easy, natural, and best of all, fun. Expect a lot of laughter, sweat, and sports beans. Running will not be a sport, but it will be a way of life for you and your children.  You will never run alone.

Love a girl who runs and she will love you back the same way she loves running. You will ask her why she loves running and she’ll answer: Because I can. You will ask her why she loves you and she’ll reply: Because I do.

I love you Jenn!

A Much Needed Rest Day

I have just been exhausted this week.  I have been down on myself.  I have been in a mental FUNK.  So, I decided to take a rest day.  I think my body was telling me to take a day off, get some sleep, and be ready for Saturday.  I think that was a great idea.  It is just as important to listen to your body as it is to work out everyday. 

Glad I listened to myself. I am also glad Blogger is working again.  What was going on?!?!?

I am excited for my first run with my training group on Saturday.  Should be exciting!

Frustration

These last few days have been frustrating.  I know I have seen a lot of progress, and I have come a long way, but I have had some bad days lately.  It just seems like I still have so far to go and so much weight to lose.  This last month I have not been losing the weight as I hoped to, and I really feel stuck on this plateau. 

Jenn did point out that I have already lost 60 lbs, and that is great!  I am feeling overwhelmed by the thought of losing another 60.  I feel weak when it comes to those little extra things I have been eating.  It ticks me off.  I know I should not eat that brownie or ice cream cone, but when it's put in front of me, I give in.  Or that extra 4-5 bites of dinner.  I had my serving, but I go and get another few bites. 

Boot camp today was good.  I got there a little late but had a good workout.  Thanks to those of you who have donated to the charity I am running for.  We still have a lot of time to donate.  Please check it out.

I would really like to hear from you! If you have any thoughts or suggestions on how I (or anyone) can improve physically or mentally, please comment below. This blog is not only a place to see my progress; it is a place where anyone can ask questions and find answers on how to become more fit. Also, if you have any tips on making my blog more interesting, please let me know. I want to make sure you guys keep reading.

Time To Go To Work

I have started fundraising for the charity I am running for in the Bass Pro Marathon. They set up a webpage to help me with the whole process.  It is very exciting.  Check it out.

I am running for the American Cancer Society in honor of my Grandpa Crosby.  We do not live close to him, and I wish I could be there to help support him.  This is my way of doing it in Missouri.  American Cancer Society has started a whole campaign about helping people with cancer celebrate a new birthday.  I know the money we raise will go toward saving lives and helping me and you celebrate another birthday with a loved one. 

We all have someone in our lives that has had cancer or has been affected by it.  Please consider donating. If you would like, you could dedicate your donation to a loved one, and I will wear a ribbon with their name on it.  We can do this with everyone's support.  I need to raise $1000 before the race, and I can only do it with your help.  Every cent counts.  Thank you! Chris's Link

Great run today.  It's getting warm out there, and I'm not used to running in warm weather.  I need to get a new water bottle I can run with.

The Dirty Dozen

You all might know the movie "The Dirty Dozen."  It's a great movie.  Let me introduce you to a more painful, tear-filled Dirty Dozen.  At boot camp today, I knew it was going to be bad when our instructor had no technical name for a workout he wanted us to do.

The dirty dozen runs the length of the gym then does a push-up.  Runs back the length of the gym and does a sit-up.  Sounds easy, right? WRONG.  We then ran back to the other side of the gym and did two push-ups and ran back to do two sit-ups.  We kept doing this until we reached a dozen push-ups and a dozen sit-ups.  A total of 78 push-ups and 78 sit-ups, with 24 sprints the length of the basketball court.

That was just the first quarter of today's boot camp.  Killer work out.  Loved it.

Fresh Start

Mondays are usually nice for me, because it is the first day of the week. It feels like a fresh start. Today, Monday didn't let me down. For my workout, I ran the Jeff Galloway program, 2 1/2 miles in 30 minutes. It felt good, and once again, I'm glad I decided to get up out of bed and do it.

This week, I'm preparing for the first run with the program group on Saturday. We will run and train together, which I am excited about. It's more fun and motivating to have a group or someone to run with. I also hope to get lots of tips and advice from those who have more running experience.

Today is a new day. And everyday is a choice. Choose to keep moving forward toward your goals!

OMRR Article

I joined OMRR (Ozark Mountain Ridge Runners) this year, and I told them about my running and weight loss so far. They asked me to write an article to be published in their newsletter.

We got it in the mail today.  Here it is, and I hope you like it.

“You want me to do what?” I remember thinking this when I was required to run a mile in my college fitness class.  This moment has been repeated over and over again in my life.  Running was a punishment, not fun!  So, you can imagine the look on my family’s face when I told them I was going to start running.

I had hit rock bottom.  I was depressed, and I ate to cope with my sadness.  I hid behind my addiction to food, video games, and laziness.  I just existed, and I wasn’t living.  I would get up just in time to get to work.  I would not eat breakfast.  I would be miserable at work.  I would go out to eat for lunch and eat fast food.  I would go straight home and eat half a casserole for dinner.  I would then play video games until 1 in the morning.  I wondered why I was so depressed and sad.  I needed help, but I was to scared of failure to even bother asking.

Then, the inspiration I needed came to me. I was on facebook one night in November, and someone linked a video of some guy who lost 130 pounds by running.  He was a gamer, depressed, and very overweight.  Since he started running, he has done several 5K’s, marathons, and even an Ironman.  If someone like him could do it, then I could start running, too.  Ben Davis of Ben Does Life gave me the inspiration to get my life back.

I started telling everyone that I was going to start running and losing weight at the start of 2011.  A month before the beginning of the rest of my life, I planned out what I was going to do. I found a running program, Couch to 5K, and I talked to a nutritionist.  I wanted to start a blog to keep me accountable.  The effort I put into this had to be 100%, and running was going to be the key.

When you tell everyone you want to change, you may be amazed at the number of people who want to help.  My co-worker, Paul, is a runner and has lost a large amount of weight.  He was excited to help me. He sent me to the OMRR website for a list of races to prepare for. I recruited my brother to start the Couch to 5K program with me.  Some of my friends and co-workers said they would run my first race with me.

On January 3rd, I started running. Even the cold weather didn’t keep me back, and I did my best. During that first run, I thought I was going to die.  However, failure was not an option this time, so I didn’t quit. I kept running and progressed in the program. Before I knew it, the thought of running wasn’t terrible anymore. I looked forward to pushing myself a little further.  At the end of 9 weeks, I was running 30 minutes at a time and a 13-minute mile. The weight kept coming off. I was getting my life back.  My priorities changed when I decided to go to bed early, stop playing video games, and spend more time with my wife and kids.  I started to notice how much happier I was!

The Viking 5K Run/Walk was my first race, and it was amazing.  At a slow but steady pace, I finished the race in 43:50.  One of the greatest moments in my life is when my friends and family ran the last 100 feet with me, cheering me on.  I developed a love for running and racing. 

When I started running, I weighed 333 pounds.  Almost 60 pounds lighter, I am running 3 miles, three times a week and working out 6 times a week. I can now call myself a runner.  I love it!  I am not good at it yet, and I am still slow, but progression is there.  In the second 5K I ran, I carved off 3 minutes from my first time.  I am running another one this month and hope to do a little better. My plan is to also run the Bass Pro Half Marathon this year.

Joining the OMRR has been a great way for me to stay on track after I completed the Couch to 5K program. I am very excited to get involved and run with everyone in the organization. I also have a great support group that follows my blog, http://heavysteps5k.blogspot.com.  I have had several people tell me they read it, and it has helped motivate them to start running and changing their lives. That gives me such an amazing feeling! The effort I put into becoming healthier is not only worth it for me but for helping others as well.

Nyquil-Induced Coma

Our family has been going through some sickness.  It decided to hit Jenn and I.  Micah had it at the start of the week, and Devon caught it on Wednesday. Now it's Jenn's, Paige's, and my turn to be sick.  On the good side, Micah has not caught the bug again.

Jenn and I chugged some Nyquil and passed out last night.  We did not work out this morning.  I am going to work, but might come home.  Being sick sucks.  I had a good workout planned today.

Micah's First Running Class

Yesterday was Micah's first running class.  Last week's was canceled because of weather.  He loved it.  They did a few warm-up drills. I don't think Micah understood why, but he did them.  He was front and center and tried to do everything the coach asked him to do.

They then ran a quarter mile.  Micah is so funny when he runs.  He does not look where he is going and runs into people.  He was knocked over a couple of times. 

Afterwards, they did a few stretches and some more drills.  They had to have a partner, and Micah asked this kid who had to be 4 years older than him to be his partner.  It was so cute to see Micah follow this kid around like a puppy.  The kid was super nice and tried to explain things to him as well. 

In total, I think Micah ran about 3/4 of a mile.  They did a lot of fun things for the kids.  They did push ups and sit ups.  Micah was a champ through all of it. 

Boot camp was good today.  Thursdays are always hard!

I Am A Believer

I have been reading the Jeff Galloway training book since I got it last week.  I wanted to be ready for my running group.  I have not been running since I hurt my knee.  I have been doing cross training and boot camp. 

Today I ran, and it felt great.  I tried the run/walk/run method and really liked it.  I didn't think I would, but I did.  I did the 2 minute run /1 minute walk method for three miles and did it faster than just running nonstop.  I guess Jeff knows what he is talking about.  I am excited to learn more and grow more in the program.

I went to the dentist yesterday and talked to the dental assistant who cleaned my teeth about running, and she has done the Jeff Galloway program the last two years and is going to do it again this year.  It was cool talking to her!  We are both excited about the program.

Micah has running class today.  I am going to take a lot of pictures.  He has been so excited for it.  Have a great day, and remember, it's never to late to chase your goals!

Small Victories

In April, I was stuck.  I plateaued with my weight loss, but last night, I realized that my body was still changing.  I can now see more definition in my arms and legs.  And guess what!  I have a collar bone!  I thought I had lost it, but no...  It's been there the whole time. 

When Jenn hugs me, it's not hard for her to clasp her hands. She can even grab her wrist.  I don't think she has ever been able to do that. 

You can see my belt buckle!  I am almost cured of my dunlap disease.  You know, where my stomach dunlapped over my belt! 

It's not just about losing weight, but it's about gaining these small victories that make a difference. 

Boot camp this morning was killer like always, but I loved it.  My abs and arms are jello right now.  WORK HARD, AND REACH YOUR GOALS!  Someday, you too can be cured from the dunlap!  :)

May is going to be GREAT

Hello everyone, and welcome to MAY!  I know it's the second, but I can still be pumped about it!  I am very excited about this month.  April was crazy and full of change, family visits, and a lot of food.  For May, we do not have much of anything planned, and I can really focus on my fitness goals.  I am ready for the stability in my life.

This month, I will be running on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays.  I will have boot camp on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  Fridays will be a swimming day.  Jenn and I will still try to go to our group strength class on Saturdays as well.  That just depends on our runs on Saturday.  We are very excited to start this month off right!

Weigh-In Day May 1st

Okay, I have weighed myself in today, and I now weigh.....  273.1!  Yeah! I was worried about this month because it wasn't the best of months for me food wise.  I didn't eat the best, and I was letting my knee heal.

May is going to be a good month.  I get to start my training with the Jeff Galloway program, and I will have people to work out with.  I think this will be great, and I am very excited.  Thank you everyone for reading my blog!  I hope you like the new design and facebook feature on it.

Keep working towards your goals, whatever they might be!