Milestone

Today, I hit a milestone. I have now lost 20 pounds (4 pounds courtesy of Korea). I still have a lot more to go, but 20 pounds is HUGE! Just to compare, it is equivalent to 40 sticks of butter or 15 bags of chocolate chips. How have you done it I ask? Well...

On my sidebar, I have a list of races that I want to do this year. One of which is in 1 week from Saturday. It is a 5K. I am doing a 10K on the morning of the fourth of July, and I am doing a 1/2 marathon in August. I know, those of you who know me well, are thinking..."You!? RUN? Yeah, right!" Well, it is true. Thanks to Heidi I am now a runner. (Well, I guess I don't know if I could technically be called a runner - is it one of those things where you have to be one to call someone one? I don't know...)

Back in October, I was desperately seeking a friend/walking partner. I still hadn't made too many friends here, and I was needing to get out of the house in the evenings, and I knew I needed some exercise. Heidi volunteered to be that person. The first night we went, I was dying. Heidi's in great shape! I felt really bad that she had to be my partner. Besides my short legs, I was definitely not IN shape - at all, and trying to keep up with her, about killed me! She never complained. We stuck with it for months. We figured out some routes we could do around our neighborhood that included a 4.6 mile route and a shorter one that is about 3 miles. We live in a really (seriously) hilly area, and it was tough. We stuck with it. We would try to work around our husbands schedules, sometimes we would ship our kids out to friends to get a work out done during the day. We went all winter, even in the snow sometimes. As long as it wasn't too slippery, we were there. The process was really hard. I have crappy flat feet, and had shin splints, and got new shoes I had to break in, Cherice had to teach me exercises to help my feet, but I stuck with it. I also didn't lose a single pound. I stayed at the same weight I'd always been. I got a little better at walking and keeping up. Well, Heidi would say, let's just run to the corner. So, I would oblige, cursing her under my breathe, I'm sure. I can tell you, I would BARELY make it to the corner, and I would be so winded after going to the corner, that I couldn't talk for at least 20 minutes later - if not by the end of our walk. Then Heidi started saying, let's run 2 light posts. Then we'd walk one, run one, etc. One day, Heidi devised a great plan, that we should run, and prepare for a race. I was thinking (don't know if I said it aloud to Heidi) YOU'RE CRAZY! I'm not a runner. Never will be. My butt is lucky to be walking up this hill. I HATED it! Then, in January, Cherice told me that she and Kenny were thinking about training for the SAME 1/2 marathon Heidi had been talking about. Well, at this point, I thought - no use fighting it. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em.

At this same time (February sometime) Troy had a co-worker who was going to a nutritionist. The nutritionist planned out every single meal he ate for every second of the day, and also gave him a weight training program as well as a cardio program. They met every week. It was totally working for Troy's coworker. I told Troy that I REALLY wanted to do something like that. Well, Troy and I went in, and Troy signed up with me! Can you believe it? Troy caring about health or fitness? I know - unbelievable. Well, after 12 weeks, Troy looks great. All my brothers commented on how skinny he was while we were in Korea. He actually weighs more than he did when he started, but he lost about 8% body fat. Anyways, back to my story. Since Troy was doing the meal plan with me, it was so easy to stick with it. I had support at home. That made a huge difference. When we signed up with the nutritionist, I told him we weren't joining a gym. That was totally fine. We got some hand weights, and borrowed some from Kenny and Cherice, and he set up a program with what we had. I told him I was training to run a marathon, and he said that he wouldn't get in the way of that, but that I needed to keep on top of the weights, because most people who run marathons, lose 5 lbs of muscle in one race.

So, it's 13 weeks later. I've lost 20 pounds, 7% bodyfat, 2.25 inches in my arm, 2.5 inches in my waist, 5 inches in my hips(aka butt), 5 inches in each thigh. Has it been easy? HELL NO! (whoops, I didn't say that) The greatest moment was walking into Target with all 4 kids, grabbing a dress 2 sizes smaller than normal, expecting to wear it in a few months, getting home to try it on (no way I'm doing that in the store with all 4 kids) and having it fit! Since Troy's schedule changed, Heidi and I are now going at 5:30 every morning. Well, we shoot for 4 times a week, and on Saturdays try to do a longer route. I am up to running over 2.5 miles without stopping for a break. That's about 30 minutes without stopping. I didn't say I was a fast runner. After running all that time, my breathing has recovered within 60 seconds.

I haven't really said anything to anybody about losing weight, or doing my program, but vowed when I hit losing 20 lbs, I would. I am really proud of myself. I have a big secret surprise planned when I've hit my goal and ran my 1/2 marathon. I'm giving myself until the middle of August.

I still hate running. While I'm running, I think how horrible it is, and how pointless it is. But after a morning of running, and going down an extra street with a bit of an uphill grade, and pushing myself, and realizing I can do it - it's amazing. Often Heidi hears me say during our runs, "I'm doing it! Can you believe it?" I really have come SO far since last October when we first went out walking. I still have a long ways to go to survive a half marathon and to lose more fat (not muscle, but fat). I have to credit Troy and Heidi. So many others too, but if it weren't for Troy and Heidi - I would NEVER be where I am at today. Heidi could have been running circles around me for months, but always sticks with me, and encourages me to do just a little more. Troy actually cares what nutrition we're having for dinner instead of complaining that I used a low-fat item in a recipe and now it tastes weird. Am I perfect? Oh no, I had a slice of Key Lime Pie tonight. Just one slice though.

So, due to my jet lag, and Haley waking up constantly last night, I only got about 2 hours of sleep, and didn't make it on my run this morning. That's okay. I am ready for the morning. It's late, but I'm at least feeling tired tonight. Although, Haley has already woken up screaming twice tonight. Hopefully twice is enough, and she'll sleep.

So, that's my running story. Anyone want to join us for the 1/2 Marathon in Provo Canyon in August?