Movement!

Finally, the scale has budged enough and consistently to report here that I'm down five pounds. I'm not sure having a specific goal weight in mind for a specific date is really the best course for me. I want to handle it surely and wisely, not do anything dramatic. And the course I've been taking is changing my body in the positive ways I was hoping for.

My 30th reunion is one month from today. Losing 25 pounds by then is not something I actually want to do at this point (well, I'd like it, but not at any price I'd have to pay).

My goal now is to stay on course to look and feel as good as I can by then. That's totally doable.

Progress:

40 pounds lighter than top weight (1994ish)

5 pounds lighter than I was at the beginning of this blog

10 pounds lighter than I was on my wedding day

25 pounds heavier than I was when I graduated high school (and 1996-1997ish)

*I'll think I'll be pretty happy when I get back to this weight if I'm also physically fit

45 pounds heavier than I was when I started college (my lowest weight as an adult)

*This was nice, but I'm not sure I want my life to be this focused on weight stuff

I Need to Step Things Up

I'm still doing my 3.5 mile run every other day (alternating with walking, now on the canyon path), even though the 5k has come and gone. I feel good about my momentum.

The frustrating thing is that the scale has been stuck at exactly the same place for weeks. I can tell my body has changed - I'm definitely more toned and stronger - but I really want the scale to reflect my effort as well.

I've been making fairly responsible eating choices - and have been for a long time, which is likely why I lost 15 pounds over the winter without actually realizing it. I will work to tighten my diet up a bit more. One commitment we're making as a family this month to help with tightening up our finances is to avoid eating out. That should help with my goal here as well.

I also think that when I teach fall and spring semesters (classes ended just over a month ago), I actually get more exercise than I realize. Not the level of cardio I get running by any means, but I think I'm pretty active standing, moving around, gesturing while I teach 6 hours a week. I also walked a fair distance from my car to my classes. Maybe the 5k training didn't add quite as much exercise to my routine as I thought it would.

Next Friday I hope to report actual weight loss. Yes, that would be nice.

Done

Thursday I ran 3.5 miles, Friday I hiked 5 miles in the mountains, and this morning I ran the 5k I've been building up to. I did it!

My main goal was to run the whole 5k, and I did that.

My realistic goal was to run the whole 5k in under 40 minutes, and I did that.

My wishful goal was to run the whole 5k in under 35 minutes. I didn't do that, but I split the difference and made it in about 37 1/2 minutes. About 12.3 minute miles.

Before the run, I saw my friend Diane, who lost her teenage son in a freak accident last summer. In the packet for today's run there was a little flier announcing a 5k on August 27th that is named for her son: The Brandon Curtis Forever Strong 5k run/walk.

I'm going to sign up for that run and beat my time by at least 5 minutes in honor of Brandon and his family.

Oh, and now that I have met my goal for the 5k, I need to start focusing on my weight loss goal. I weighed myself yesterday morning, and I haven't really lost anything since I started this whole project, though I can tell that my body is changing for the better - more muscle, for sure!

Sound Track

My run felt pretty good today. I'm still not running as fast as I wish I could, but it wasn't hard to go the 3.5 miles, even up the hills. I am confident about running the 5k on Saturday.

I've decided on my soundtrack for the 5k: A CD my sister made for me of American Idol songs from the season David Cook won. I ran faster today when the podcast I was listening to ended and I shuffled the songs from that CD. This is the time of my life!

In Spite of Myself

Bad weather all morning and I dragged my feet. But then the sun came out, and I found myself walking my route without giving it much of a second thought!

After lunch I was restless and determined to eat something I shouldn't. I browsed the cupboards and fridge and couldn't find anything that sounded good. I settled for a small bowl of cereal. Healthy cereal at that!

Glad I've apparently got some subconscious momentum. But I don't think I can count on it.

Rain, Rain, Rain and More Rain

I got home about 10 minutes ago from my run, just in time to beat a major wind and huge, dark, threatening clouds. For more than a week we have had rain, rain, and more rain. I'm afraid I've let it get in my way. Rain and, at the risk of TMI, cramps. Today, though, I exerted a great deal of mental power over my body and chose to run rather than take a nap this afternoon.

I can report that I have been running my full 3.5 mile goal the last couple of times I've been out, including today. But I can't report that I've been out 6 days a week like I planned. I also decided not to weigh myself on Friday because, well, it was that time of the month. A week ago Friday, I weighed myself and found I'd lost barely one pound despite a solid week of running and walking.

So, the 5k is now five days away. I feel completely confident that I can run the entire 5k, but I wish I was running a bit faster. Who knows? I might surprise myself if I can keep up my training schedule this week.

Sometimes setting goals ends up being counterproductive for me. As soon as I decided it was possible to lose 30 pounds by my 30th reunion everything seemed to conspire against me, including my very own self. But I'm determined to find my way on this.

Cold Weather

I am amazed at how much power cold, rainy weather has over me and my resolve. The past couple of days it has been a challenge to get out there, but I did it. I walked the route both days--no running because I was wearing jeans and, well, I didn't want to look like a total dork--but I did it!

I've decided that I'm going to just weigh myself once a week, at least for now. Fridays, I think. I'm not gutsy enough to post what I weigh on the blog, but I will report changes.

It should warm up a bit tomorrow. Maybe even mid-60s. That will be nice.