JEAN STRETCHES

Today was a big day. A day I have been anticipating for quite some time. I got new jeans - a size smaller at that. And when these get too big I can actually start fitting into some of my normal sized pants - albeit my bigger ones - still, my NORMAL pants. And that also means that I got to throw out three pairs of "clown" pants. So, I am very pleased. And for the first time I am starting to feel slightly normal sized. When I went into the grocery store today instead of feeling like a chubby mom I just felt like a mom. And I haven't felt that way in nearly TWO YEARS!!!
The actual experience of buying them was actually pretty stressful. I tried to prepare myself in advance because if you buy the jeans that fit just right at the store then they'll be too big within a couple hours of wearing them, at least in my opinion. So I knew I'd need to buy jeans that are tighter than normal which takes a leap of faith - that eventually they'll fit just right. And it took me forever - and I think I even got a little sweaty in the decision making process. But alas - I chose correctly and they fit perfectly within a half hour of putting them on plus a little help from my jean stretches. I had to laugh recently when I read on a friend's blog about the necessity of jean stretching in her life right now too. I've added some pictures to illustrate my just out of the wash jean stretching routine.





JEAN STRETCHES






First, bend your knees and push back forcing your bum out behind you like you are about to sit down. This is the first stretch I do and since I've got a big bum - it's my most important stretch.



















Next, push one leg way out to the side and lean over towards that side. Then repeat with the other side.




















If your jeans are feeling a little tight through the knee and lower leg region, bend your knee and grab your foot with the corresponding arm and hold for 10 seconds. Repeat with the opposite side.












And after completing these stretches your jeans still feel too tight repeat the stretches and then wear them for several days. And make a note next time to hang dry this pair.


p.s. Don't think I only have a little left to lose...I still have over 30 pounds to go so...it was just a good day but nowhere close to the destination.

In knee-d

So periodically I have mentioned that I have knee pain. Well, of late it has become really bad. Like where I do a sort of sad limp run in my workouts. Mike convinced me to take some time off but I hate it. Not because I'm some turbo runner but because I'm terrified of losing the little momentum I've got. But it hurts so bad I feel like I have no other choice for now.

During this little break from jogging I've been reading up on knee problems and trying to figure out exactly what is going on. And I think I've got "runner's knee"and I've realized this is something I've had for a long time. Like I thought it was normal that after you sit on the couch for a while, like while watching a movie, for your knees to get stiff and painful so that you can't stand up straight right away. And I thought it was normal for your knees to hurt when you keep them bent too long at night when you are sleeping. Or to hurt any time they are bending. And I realized I always walk down the stairs kind of sideways to avoid bending me knees too much. And I honestly don't know how long this has been going on. Maybe it started with that first pregnancy a while back and I just chalked it up as a pregnancy pain. I'm not really sure.

So here I am. I know I've got runner's knee but I don't know how to correct the problem. I don't think rest will solve the problem. I need to strengthen my legs so that the load on my knees isn't so great. AND I need to lose weight. I have no doubt that the added weight is a big contributor to the problem. And I need to stretch better so that my legs aren't pulling in strange directions during my runs because the muscles are tight. And hopefully after the break from jogging, which I am replacing with swimming and the elliptical, the pain will be gone - or at least minimal.

But how long am I supposed to break for? I was thinking maybe I could just take a couple really slow really short runs in the mean time as long as the pain is really low. I just don't know. Maybe I should go to the doctor? But I have a few fears with that. First that he will take a look at my chubby body and say, "Well, anyone your size is going to have a lot of problems with running so you can't anymore." OR that he'll say, "I'm not finding anything. You just must be a wimp." OR "You sure don't look like you run. You obviously just want to get out of having to." I don't know. We'll see.

Anyone else have this issue?

Before and during...

The other day I hit a big milestone for me. I have been trying to get down into the next ten pound bracket for like a month now and finally I did it. So I decided to go ahead and take another photo. Not an after photo but a during photo since I still have about 35 pounds to lose. Remember how I took this before photo a little over two months ago but it was so bad I wouldn't post it? Well, here it is. Since this time I haven't lost a ton of weight. About 10 pounds. So, here I am, wearing the same clothes and standing in the same place. The walls have been painted. Also, when I saw the picture I realized that my breasts are TOTALLY uneven. Oh well.

Dangit!

Why did I sign up for this race?!!!! I am going to be DEAD LAST! My mile time on a good day is 12 minutes! I am so stinking slow...

DANGIT!

No more guessing...

Did I tell you that for the last month I haven't really been doing my weight watcher's? Well, I haven't. I thought I was doing it but didn't feel like recording it and then at the end of a day when I figured I'd stayed in my point range I would record it and see I was way over - sometimes as much as 20 points. And that was on days when I thought I was doing well. So, I am back to being rigid with the system. And it seems to be helping. I also made a new rule to weigh myself every day. Before I said that checking once a week was better but I found myself playing games - knowing that friday was my weigh in day I would eat poorly over the weekend telling myself I had the work week to get back to business but in the end that just made my progress slower. So now, no more games - I'm checking every day to keep focused. And hopefully by Christmas I will fit back into at least some of my clothes...

p.s. Is how slow my progress is boring you?

Weight Watchers on Running...

Here's a great article from the Weight Watcher's site that I thought I'd share...

Always wanted to try running? Go for it: It's a great way to boost your workout when you've reached a rut, and it's fun!

Tawni never thought she could run a marathon. In fact she never thought she could run a single stride. "It never occurred to me," she recalls. "I thought I was too fat."

Tawni, a 33-year-old San Franciscan, tried one fad diet after another. But it wasn't until 10 years ago that she began to add consistent exercise to her regimen. "Before that I was sitting on my butt," she confesses. "Domino's Pizza was on my speed dial. That's not a good sign."

She started on the road to fitness the way most women do: by walking. But after about a year, she started thinking she needed something more. One day she heard some friends talking about running on the treadmill at 4 miles an hour. That was about how fast I was walking," Tawni says. "It had never occurred to me to run. I remember a light bulb turning on in my head."

She decided to pick up the pace, and immediately felt the difference. That was three years and two marathons ago. Tawni has transformed her life, and her figure, through running.

And she's not alone: Participation in running events — from the 5K race (3.1 miles) to the marathon (26.2 miles) — has grown steadily over the years. Many declare we are in the midst of a second running boom, and, unlike the original boom in the 1970s, this one isn't fueled by middle-age men emulating Olympians, but by middle-age women inspired by their new health.

Instead of running for competition or medals, today's runner is more likely to run for health, weight maintenance, self-confidence and fun. They've discovered what researchers have confirmed: Running is one of the best ways to burn calories and strengthen your cardiovascular system. It can also help lower the risk of many diseases, including breast cancer, stroke, and high blood pressure. And it can help boost levels of self-esteem and reduce stress.

Of course, if you're a walker, these statistics are no reason to abandon walking, especially since the above benefits apply to you as well. But running can give you an exercise intensity boost.

Ready, set, go
Get an OK from your doctor before you begin. You'll need precious few things:

• Comfortable, light shorts
  
  
• A T-shirt
  
  
• A supportive bra
  
  
• Good shoes. You don't have to buy the most expensive pair in the store, but plan to invest in supportive, stable shoes that can carry you for a mile or more. Shop at a specialty store, or at least where the salespeople are knowledgeable and can help you find the right pair

Shoes laced?
Before you give running a try, work up to a point when you can walk briskly for 30 minutes nonstop. The idea here is to gradually progress from walking/running to running. Don't worry about speed: Running is not sprinting. It is not done at a breathless, my-heart-is-going-to-explode-at-any-minute pace.

But it is more demanding, especially at first, than many other forms of aerobic activity. Just try to maintain a conversational pace (meaning that you can carry on a conversation while you run). Be conscious of proper running form:

• Look ahead as you run, not at the ground (this will help you maintain good posture)
  
  
• Keep your upper body upright. Don't slouch
  
  
• Bend your arms at a 90-degree angle. Your arm swing should extend from about the hip up to the middle of the chest. This will help keep you from getting too much side-to-side motion in your stride, a common problem among beginning female runners

Run together
One of the best ways to ensure the success of your running regimen is to run with someone else. Safety lies in numbers, plus, a running buddy can provide motivation and inspiration.

Remember: It's not just about losing weight, it's about gaining insight. It's not only about building a stronger heart, it also builds a stronger character. Particularly at first, running takes discipline and patience. But once you hit your stride, you won't look back.

I am healed!

I have been nervous all weekend to run again. As you know, my last run was horrendous. So tonight after a great dinner of Thai Lobster Curry Soup at Zupa's and a nice thunderstorm I headed out. And it was fantastic. It was cool, wet, and dark and I had no ankle pain and very little knee pain. My oldest rode his bike next to me and we had a great time. And it was my fastest run yet. So, take that crazy hard run!

My Mount Doom Run...

So this past Monday I went on a hike with my family through the mountains to Stewart Falls. And though the hike was beautiful and pretty easy at one point I thought I'd hotdog it and jump over a big tree that had fallen across the trail. Needless to say, it was a bad decision and on the other side instead of landing on flat ground my foot landed on the side of a rock and I slightly twisted my ankle.

Fast forward until yesterday and my long run. My ankle had been bothering me throughout the week but it was really bad yesterday. Pair that with the late afternoon heat and a lack of water and you've got the worst run of my life on your hands.

After the first mile and a half I was doing a sort of limping jog - which isn't really pretty to see or to do. And I was hot hot hot. And I just felt awful. As I made it to the half way point I had to stop and just breathe - my face felt like fire and my ankle and knee were both so tender. I wanted to quit at that point but I didn't see the use since I had so far to go still and we had to be somewhere shortly after my run.

As I climbed up and down the hills on my way home I couldn't help but think of The Lord of the Rings. Remember in the third book when Frodo and Sam are on Mount Doom and they are trying to make it to the top? And they really think they can't make it? They really think they are going to die but they just have to keep putting one foot in front of the other? That was my run. Already the pain of it is fading...though I still have a knot in my stomach when I think about it. Hopefully my ankle gets better really quick so that I don't have to miss any days next week...

Signed, sealed, almost delivered...

I finally officially signed up for a race - meaning I payed and everything. Anyone want to join me? It's the Telos Turkey Tri in Orem....

So...I'm fat.

Man, do you ever watch movies and after it's over have to realize you don't look like the main character in the movie? I do. Lately though, when I see a picture of myself I am reminded I don't look like my old self. You'd think by now I'd know what I look like but I try really really hard not to! Here's an image of me when I got home from my long run(which is only 4 miles) last Saturday. So, now you know...I'm still fat. And I'm really red and sweaty and ugly in this pic too. I wish I could find a recent pic the showed that I don't always look so terrible but I can't. Which is depressing and makes me wonder if I'll ever look better than this. I don't know why this surprises me though - I still have like 40 pounds to lose...

But it does. And I just want to crawl out of my flesh and into my old self and feel light and not take up so much universe. I want to be smaller. And just to make myself feel better...here's an old image of me when I wasn't fat. I LOVE looking at old pictures of me when I wasn't chubby. It helps me to visualize the idea of me being thin again. I also have cute hair, a cute sweater and make-up on in this pic. Which reminds me. I have been surprised as my mileage is going up at how much I am dealing with some serious demons. I am constantly fighting thoughts that I can't do it or actual unexplained fear. Isn't that strange? I have really figured that out yet...

p.s. I am grateful for a healthy body and for all of the other many blessings in my life. Just FYI. And someday I'll be as I was before...and I'll still think I'm fat.

A look at perfect form:

Ok, so after reading Born to Run I am so in awe of ultramarathoners and trail runners. Here's a video of a guy who won the Leadville 100 miler in 2007. His form is perfect. I wish I ran like this:

My new "barefoot" shoes...

It's funny to call them that since you aren't barefoot but it's as close as it gets, I guess. I wore them all afternoon and then on my run in the evening. They felt great - I was so happy to not have to worry about little pebbles stabbing me in the heel but I do have two little hot spots on the bottom of my big toes. I was expecting some blisters so I'm ok with that. They're called Vibram Five Fingers. Here's a shot from the side so you can see there isn't much there on the bottom. They fit really snug and and very light.


I thought this was a funny image - I look like a gray-footed hobbit or some sort of cyborg.

15 down - more to go...

As of today I am 15 pounds lighter than when I started weight watchers. I am glad to see the loss but I have to admit I thought it would be a lot faster than it was. I guess I started May 8th. So that means it took me 3 1/2 months to lose that much. Above is the chart on the weight watchers site that tracks my weight. As you can see - that little trip to Idaho put a big kink in my progression. And was it worth the treats? No way. If I had just followed my regular progression I might be 5 to 10 pounds lighter right now. That's a lesson learned - I hope.

And now my mileage is going up. This next week I will run a total of 13.5 miles. That is about half of my first goal. I know once I am running 25 miles a week my weight loss with really be going.

I just finished "Born to Run" and it was soo good. I highly recommend that. I think I'll do a post about it in a couple days because it deserves it's own post. I am also planning on getting a pair of these. I'll let you know when I do.

And here's a current picture of me. I figured I should show what I look like. I still have 40 pounds to lose - can you believe that? My kids told me this morning that I'm somewhere between the yellow and green lady on top... And I was thinking of putting this photo on facebook and so I was playing around in photoshop and trying to make my arms skinnier. Once I finished my oldest said, "What don't you try it on your cheeks now?" Thanks.

p.s. I didn't put it on facebook - I always feel too sneaky skinnifying myself. If I don't like how I look, I just won't share it...

Three & Amigos

So tonight I ran three miles and I realized that it's been almost three years since I've run that far. I'm ashamed to admit it and it makes me realize how much times flies. Let's see, I got pregnant in January of 2007 and I might have run that far after I got pregnant - probably. And then I lost that baby at the end of April and I didn't run more than a mile and a half again until a couple months ago. This is a picture of me just days after I lost that baby. So maybe not three years -maybe more like a little over two - but still. So, in a lot of ways, I'm back.

AND my brother came along. I sure do love having a running buddy. It makes the run so much easier because I get that girl talk time I so desperately crave as a mother of young kids...you know?

Barefoot running...

So there is this not so new fad in running - barefoot running - and on Thursday while jogging with my new jogging partner Karen my knees were hurting. I was talking too much to focus on my form and so after the first mile I decided I was going to take my shoes off. And Karen did too - she's fun. And we ran the next mile with no shoes on. And guess what? My feet didn't hurt and my knee pain went away too! So the next night we went two miles again - the whole way sans shoes. Soo...the whole idea started when we heard the author of this book recommend running with your shoes off for a month or so to correct your form. I guess our shoes can cause us to run incorrectly. Anyhow, I'm going to get that book and I'll tell you more about the theories then. All I know is that my knees didn't hurt AT ALL on Friday and I'm going to run without shoes for the next little while...

p.s. We look like weirdos - two chubby girls running down the sidewalk barefoot...I think people must think we are strange newbies trying to be obnoxious.

I swam a mile tonight!!!!!!!!!

Boo-cycle!

Does anyone else hate bike riding? Well, not bike riding but stationary bike riding. I love my swimming, as you know, and I love my jogging, but I have yet to feel that for the bike. It hurts my bum and it's boring boring boring. I bet if I read a book on it or a blog or something it might get me excited about it. Any ideas?

p.s. Isn't that a great image?

the run of death...

Tonight's run was death! I felt like I had to fight every urge inside my body just to keep going. I think it all started today when I went clothes shopping. That is not a good idea. I never like shopping for clothes but doing it while you're chubby is so depressing.

Also, I weigh EXACTLY what I weighed one month ago. It all came crashing down when I felt like I was losing my milk and then went out of town. I just feel like the wind went out of my sails and I lost some of my ferocity. But I have decided I am no longer going to focus so much on numbers and focus more on working up to 25 miles a week. I read once that you see real weight loss when you are running that much. It worked after I had Elijah. And since I ran about 7 miles this week I've got a ways to go! But I'm still doing my weight watcher's too.

Also, I'm not sure if I'm going to do that triathlon. Trust me, I want to but I picked it back when I thought we could stay at Mike's aunt's house in Kamas(where the race is) but since then his Grandma broke her hip and had to move into his aunt's house making no room for my family. I just don't know how we're going to drag the kids up there early that morning and have Mike watch all four boys during the race. And I can't leave them home since I have to breastfeed the baby. Bummer, eh? Hmm...we'll see.

Back on top...

We went to Costco today and LOADED up on blueberries, raspberries, apples, bananas, oranges, peaches, peppers, and lettuce - which was the final shove I needed to burst OUT OF MY LULL! Hooray - feeling back on track again and happy! I love summer and all her treats!

Lull-a-bye

So....I'm in a little bit of a lull.  Trips always do this to me - they ruin my momentum.  I eat poorly, miss a few workouts, gain a couple pounds and VOILA I'm bummed out and in a lull.    So while in Idaho I gained a few pounds and this week I'm not making the kind of progress I want to.  Instead I'm just trying to get back to where I was before the holiday.  So that's two weeks lost.  Bummer, eh?  

Another thing putting me in a lull is the fact that I need to go to the grocery store.  I don't have enough healthy choices around here so I get hungry and mad and end up hating weight watchers.  

Put it together and what have you got?  Me feeling more fat than ever.  Isn't it horrible how we do that to ourselves?  When we are having a hard time working out instead of getting all motivated we beat ourselves up and feel five times bigger than the day before.  And for the record let me say that I HATE walking in and out of Gold's Gym.  Seriously - at the grocery store I may be a normal pudgy young mom but at Gold's Gym I am a seriously overweight woman in her 40's.  Ugh.  Oh well, here's a comic strip to give you a laugh...