Monday mix tape - Tuesday edition!

Hey all! Just back/recovering from my trip to Sarasota, Florida for my 25th high school reunion. The only bad thing about growing up in paradise is having to leave it!

It was a great trip - too short for sure but full of laughs and even some much needed relaxation.

I love that I love to run on vacation. I could have easily done 10 but time was precious!

Outfit night one

Outfit night two

date night dinner at our favorite seafood place

A too-short day at Siesta beach

No retouching here - just the beauty of my home town!

Sneaky Tiki's at the Bahi Hut. The recipe is a secret and has been around long before I was born!

I was so proud to be able to go to my reunion feeling better than I ever have in my life. There was a slide show and of course my before and after pictures made it in. Lots of applause and lots of compliments - even from the mean girls.

I came back 3 pounds heavier even though I ran but it was totally worth it to me. I had about 25 mojtos, Doritos for dinner, chocolate and even pancakes but unlike my past life, my vacation ended when we got back and didn't go on another week or two or five. I got right back to to it starting with a 7 mile run on Monday. I was only going to go five but I knew my butt needed a kicking after the long weekend of debauchery!

On a side note, I had to give my halloween candy to the neighbors to hold until Thursday. It was in my house for less than 24 hours and I was OBSESSED with it. At first I was disappointed with myself for not being able to ignore it but I purposely turned it around and felt good about being able to recognize it and move on. If it's as simple as not having it around, I just won't. I promised myself one fun size of my choosing on Halloween and I'm already thinking about what it will be. They don't fix your brain when you have weight loss surgery - that's totally up to you!

Have a happy, healthy week everyone!

Monday mix tape

 

Hey peeps! It started out really cold here in the ATL - fall is definitely here!

Saturday I had a hair appointment at 10 so I had to get my run in SUPER early. I was out the second it was light outside (7:22 in case you were wondering) I was surprised by a light drizzle but it seemed to be going away. Boy was I wrong. Gradually the rain was getting heavier and I was still just pushing on. By the time I stopped to fill my water bottle I was a mile away from home with 4 more to go and I had to give it up. It was pouring at that point and I was freezing! It was still 7 miles, just not the 10 I set out to do. I really didn't think it was worth pneumonia!

Sunday I went to do some cheering at the Breast Cancer 3-Day since I'm not participating this year. It ended up being a gorgeous day and I thrilled that the walkers didn't have to spend another day in the rain.

This morning I got a super fast 3 miles in. I've started running a little faster on shorter runs to try to burn some more calories. I burn about half of what I used to - which I guess makes sense since I'm almost half of what I was!

This cold weather is invigorating to me but I'm struggling with having not a lot of winter clothes - that would be fun problem IF I weren't trying to save every penny for the renovation so right now I'm just getting things I desperately need. I'm even on my second round of all new underwear!

After cleaning out my closet over the weekend I discovered I had one pair of leggings. That's it. No other pants in my entire closet ft. I will someday buy some amazing designer jeans but for now, Old Navy will do.

Shock and awe in the dressing room

Am I really going to be one of THOSE people that are all like "do you have this in a ZERO?!?" This is really weird to me. The other pair of jeans I bought were a six which seems a little more normal but still so so so so weird.

On my run this morning my pants were literally falling down and I decided it was time to give them up. Now that I've gotten used to pockets in my running pants there is no going back. Nothing else but Lulu would do. Shout out to my peeps at Lululemon Howell Mill. They have been so supportive (ha literally with my tata tamer sports bra!) in my journey and treated me just as well when I was a size 12. They've watched me shrink on down through the sizes and they help make it exciting!

Can't Stop Crop

They are more like pants than crops on me but good for winter. No matter how skinny I will get, I'm afraid my legs will never be long!

More shock and awe in the dressing room...and again, don't judge me on the price of my pants.

So that's about it! I won't be weighing in on Friday since I'll be in Florida but I'll check back in after the reunion which I'm really excited for. There are a few great friends I haven't seen since then - I really can't believe it's been 25 years. We're pretty, we're great we're the class of '88! :)

Friday weigh in

Happy Friday y'all! Yes, I know I skipped a whole week of blogging but sometimes, not even I am superwoman.

I've been working really long days to help pay for the renovation - sometimes it seems like we've been at it forever and that it should be almost done but it's really just begun.

before

during

Just since I started writing this post the rest of the windows upstairs have been ripped out. 3 big new ones are going in and that will make for some less expensive bills this winter. After that's done, there's an 18' x 8' addition is going where the 2 doors are on the left. So thankful my brother-in-law is doing this - it's like having my own Mike Holmes "makin' it right".

---------------------------

In running news, last Saturday I made it through my first double digit run!

I did really well. I took it slow and the only time I struggled was on a huge hill and running directly into the sun at about mile 8. I think it's good for me to face those challenges out there because that's what will happen on race day and it's good to know how to handle it. I had forgotten my energy gummies and I'm thinking that may have had something to do with it too. That won't happen again!

-------------------------------
And now for the weigh in!!
Jan 14 - Start of liquid diet - 250
Jan 29 - Surgery weight - 237 -13
Feb 8 - 231 -6
Feb 15 - 222 -9
Feb 22 - 220  -2
Mar 1 - 218  -2
Mar 8 - 216  -2
Mar 15 - 213 -3
Mar 22 - 209 -4
Mar 28 - 208 -1
Apr 5 - 206 -2
Apr 12 - 199 -7
Apr 26 - 196 -3
May 3 - 193 -3 
May 10 - 190 -3
May 17 - 187 -3
May 24 - 186 -1
May 31 - 184 -2
June 7 - 177 -7  
June 14 - 177 -0   
June 21 - 175 -2
June 28 - 171 -4
July 5 - 167 -4
July 12 - 167 -0
July 22 - 165 -2
July 26 - 159 -6
Aug 2 - 158 -1
Aug 9  - 157 -1
Aug 23 - 154 -3
Aug 30 - 150 -4
Sep 6 - 149 -1
Sep 13 - 146 -3
Sep 20 - 146 -0
Sep 27 - 144 -2
Oct 4 - 143 -1
Oct 18 - 138 -5

112 pounds total!

Hello 130's! I can't even believe I am 13 pounds from my goal ?!?! I think I'm smaller than I was even in the 6th grade. It never stops being weird but great. I've gotten to the point now where everyone feels comfortable asking about it - people in my neighborhood stop me on the street and the people that work in the grocery story flock around me asking how I did it. Even some guys who you think would never even notice have said something.

-----------------------------

Next weekend is my 25 year (yikes!) high school reunion. I'm SO excited to be getting a trip to the beach and a few days away with my husband. It's also pretty sweet to have more than one dress option AND they are both size small :) 

------------------------------

Tomorrow I will set out early for another 10 miler. I'm going much earlier and am avoiding that mile 8 hill this time - oh and not forgetting my fuel!

Have a great weekend everyone!!

Friday weigh in AND Monday mix tape

Hey all! Friday was impossible and I never got to post my weigh in which is really okay because it's getting less and less dramatic :) I'm truly fine with my weight loss slowing down. It will be nice to be able to wear new clothes more than once

Jan 14 - Start of liquid diet - 250
Jan 29 - Surgery weight - 237 -13
Feb 8 - 231 -6
Feb 15 - 222 -9
Feb 22 - 220  -2
Mar 1 - 218  -2
Mar 8 - 216  -2
Mar 15 - 213 -3
Mar 22 - 209 -4
Mar 28 - 208 -1
Apr 5 - 206 -2
Apr 12 - 199 -7
Apr 26 - 196 -3
May 3 - 193 -3 
May 10 - 190 -3
May 17 - 187 -3
May 24 - 186 -1
May 31 - 184 -2
June 7 - 177 -7  
June 14 - 177 -0   
June 21 - 175 -2
June 28 - 171 -4
July 5 - 167 -4
July 12 - 167 -0
July 22 - 165 -2
July 26 - 159 -6
Aug 2 - 158 -1
Aug 9  - 157 -1
Aug 23 - 154 -3
Aug 30 - 150 -4
Sep 6 - 149 -1
Sep 13 - 146 -3
Sep 20 - 146 -0
Sep 27 - 144 -2
Oct 4 - 143 -1
107 pounds total!

Saturday the alarm went off at 5am for my 10k in the country! I went with my friends/neighbors and luckily they drove. I was barely awake but I'm always excited for a race.

The course was gorgeous! We were on country roads then on a winding running trail through cotton fields that were covered by the morning mist as the sun was coming up. I hardly ever stop long enough to take pictures but it was too pretty not to!

Because my foot has been forcing me to run slow, I did not set out to break any records but much to my surprise.......

Do you believe that my first ever 10k was 1:49? I've shaved 42 minutes off my 10k. I can't quite believe it myself. I felt great and so did my foot so I just let go and enjoyed it!

Sunday I did a 90 minute Bikram yoga class and today I'm resting while I get caught up on some work - in the middle of my house being torn apart. It's tough and I'm stressed but I'm hanging in there!

Have a happy, healthy week!!!

Monday mix tape

Hey everyone! It's been a pretty good Monday after a very quick weekend. The weather here is amazing - cool in the mornings and sunny and warm in the afternoon. 

Saturday, I took advantage of the temperatures and my pain free foot and did this

It was early and cook and the beltline was almost empty. My foot was feeling great as long as I stayed slow and kept short strides so I left my ego at home and let my body tell me what to do.

I could have gone another 4 miles easily but I'm being careful and working up to my half marathon distance. The plan is to get to 12 a couple weeks before the race. I will wait until the race to do the full 13.1. I can't even begin to describe how good it feels to be able to run for 2 hours.

Sunday was a rest day. My quads were on FIRE but my foot wasn't hurting at all. I took an epsom salt bath and kept icing and stretching. Worked well enough to be back out again this morning!

I'm afraid it's a short and not so interesting mix tape this week. We are laying low during the renovation and trying not to spend a lot of money. Yep, that's pretty boring :)

Have a happy, healthy week everyone!

Friday weigh in - 8 month update!

TGIF!! More gorgeous weather on tap for the weekend and I'm looking forward to running! I've been on the elliptical, doing weights and pilates with my trainer and lots of yoga but I miss running so much! I've been pain free for a few days now so I'm going to attempt a run tomorrow morning. Flat, easy and not too far. I'm hoping for 6 or 7 if my foot stays happy!

I'm thrilled to have lost 2 pounds this week without running. It's getting a lot harder to lose now - I'm only 19 pounds from my doctors goal. I wouldn't mind another 15 after that but we shall see.

Jan 14 - Start of liquid diet - 250
Jan 29 - Surgery weight - 237 -13
Feb 8 - 231 -6
Feb 15 - 222 -9
Feb 22 - 220  -2
Mar 1 - 218  -2
Mar 8 - 216  -2
Mar 15 - 213 -3
Mar 22 - 209 -4
Mar 28 - 208 -1
Apr 5 - 206 -2
Apr 12 - 199 -7
Apr 26 - 196 -3
May 3 - 193 -3 
May 10 - 190 -3
May 17 - 187 -3
May 24 - 186 -1
May 31 - 184 -2
June 7 - 177 -7  
June 14 - 177 -0   
June 21 - 175 -2
June 28 - 171 -4
July 5 - 167 -4
July 12 - 167 -0
July 22 - 165 -2
July 26 - 159 -6
Aug 2 - 158 -1
Aug 9  - 157 -1
Aug 23 - 154 -3
Aug 30 - 150 -4
Sep 6 - 149 -1
Sep 13 - 146 -3
Sep 20 - 146 -0
Sep 27 - 144 -2
106 pounds total!

Inches for September
Waist: - 1.25"
Chest: - 1"
Hips: - 1.5"
Thigh:  R - 1.5"
Arm: R - .5"
Calf: R - .5"
6.25" for this month

The inches this month really surprised me though I can clearly tell by my size 6 jeans and this months pictures! I had to start wearing a new tank top for the shots - the other one is way too big now. Too bad it was a nice one from Athleta!

click to enlarge

click to enlarge

I thought I'd start putting the first one and the most recent side by side since there are so many of them now!

I still can't remember being the person in the first picture and at the same time, can't believe it's me in the one from today. Sometimes I can't find myself in the mirror at unless I'm right up front. My brain will catch up one day I think?!?

Have a great weekend everyone. Thanks as always for continuing to read and keep up with my progress.

Monday mix tape

Hey all! Welcome to the week! It was over way too quickly as usual.

Saturday was a total washout. The weather was so gross I didn't even use my ticket for the PGA tour. Instead I went to my 90 minute bikram yoga class which ended up being a looooonnnnggg 100 minutes. The teacher was brand new and she went way over time and never used the fans or the dehumidifier. Wowza that was a tough class. Burned almost 600 calories though :)

Sunday was one of those great days where I sprung out of bed at 7:00 so excited to RUN!  I wanted to do my usual golf course route and needed to get through it before the rush of people for the first tee off. The weather was cool, the sun was just coming up and my foot seemed to be in agreement with the rest of my body for once. I managed 5 miles mostly pain free. My plantar fascia was definitely "there" but wasn't screaming at me like last time.

Later on it the day, it was really sore when I went out to do some shopping but I was wearing flip-flops and that was probably not the best idea.

This is what MADE my day.

I knew my 8's were falling off but I just couldn't wrap my head around being a 6 so I had to see for myself. They fit perfect. Just in time for my high school reunion.

I'm really excited to get to the size I'm going to stay and I don't have to buy the cheapest clothes anymore. I was in Nordstrom Rack looking at Joe's jeans and I just can't bring myself to do it when when they will only fit for a month or so.

Now the golfers are gone and it's back to normal - I have my running route back and my new insoles seem to be working. I'm keeping my promise of only running every other day so it's back to yoga tonight to keep it all balanced. Just a little over 9 weeks until Thanksgiving and my half marathon!

Have a happy, healthy week everyone!