BUSTED-no not that kind, lol

First Monday of the week.

Woohoo! I did finally busted through the plateau. I hope it keeps rolling... I'm down 15.4lbs! Only 39.6lbs to goal! Wow! I also upped my exercise last week. This had to have been key in busting the plateau.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention I kind of went crazy eating horribly too much this weekend AFTER my weigh in....<sheepish grin here>. I was too afraid to weigh this morning. I feel so bloated so I must run today for 2 reasons, I ate too much and must counter it with an equal and opposite reaction and I still need to up my mileage for Hood to Coast training.

It's really hot today but I'm gonna get out there and run, anyway. It's about 87 outside right now. Not hot by summer standards but plenty hot, none the less. I'll probably run only 3 miles because of the heat but I will take it as it comes.

When I get to 20lbs down I will post some sort of before and current photos. I'm still not willing to show my real before pic till I get ALL the way to goal, lol. It's just so bad. But have no fear, I will show me at my start weight as I did in the first few posts of this blog.

Well, gotta run...pun intended...

TTFN

FEELIN' THE ITCH, AGAIN

It's actually Friday.

This shows the plateau I've been stuck on!

Well, *maybe* I'm starting to bust out of my plateau. I stepped on my scale yesterday and saw 165.2! I am also increasing my running now to get ready for Hood to Coast. That must be having an effect, too.

I worked out at the stadium this past Wednesday. Wow, despite the gym and strength training there is nothing like a stadium workout to show you your inadequacies. Getting your muscles stronger is good but then you have to put them to use for the purpose for which you are strengthening them. Adding in that aerobic component with the strength component and trying to marry them is hard, lol! I couldn't go for too long at the stadium. I'm not nearly as strong on those ramps and stairs as I used to be.

I got to thinking about why I have lost so much of that kind of strength or stamina and it occurred to me that with all the marathons I ran this past running seasons I got so burned out. I started avoiding challenges-that means mentally as well as physically. Go figure... I was subconsciously taking easy, flat routs to run and never hills or stadiums. I also was totally not pushing ANY of my runs at all. Ok, so I'm going to cut myself a little slack. I needed a break.

The good news is I'm starting to get the running itch back, now. I'm looking forward to harder training. After a few weeks of only running 3 flat miles at a time I have started a gradual increase in my mileage over the last week and a half. This morning I ran 5 miles. The weather was cooler and the wind was blustery and it felt so good outside. My run felt strong and my minutes per mile were much better than what they've been this past year. I think the weight loss is helping now, too. I think my minutes/mile are starting to come down on a little more regular basis now. Today 4 of the 5 miles were barely under 10min/mile. I'm really happy with that. I have seen at least one mile each run where it was under 10min/mile. I'm certain that will go right back up as the temps outside do but I'll take it, anyway.

Well, weigh in at WW is tomorrow. Please, please, please let my weight be down!

TTFN

HOLDING PATTERN

Second Monday of the week...again,

It would appear I'm in a holding pattern with regard to my weight. Ugh...

I did hurt my hip a couple weeks ago and haven't been able to run till about a half week ago. That hasn't helped matters. But this is my big fear rearing its ugly head that I mentioned previously...I simply can't get below the weight I'm currently at. I just don't know why. I have been feeling a stronger urge to eat lately, almost like it's that joyous, special, feminine time...but, it's not. Hopefully it will taper down.

But, I will stick it out and stay with the plan. Maybe my body just needs time to reset, metabolically speaking. Plateaus happen. It's just so frustrating.

While it seems that my speed might be improving a wee bit I am only running 3-4 miles at a time. It's time to crank it up to higher mileage. 17 weeks and counting till Hood to Coast! That should be a perfect time frame to get in gear. Time to do hill work. That's so hard...but it's so good. Strength training in the gym is definitely working, no doubt. It will be interesting to see how I do getting back into the stadium for my hill work. Running up the ramps is tough...and the stairs and bleachers!

Ok, I'm outa here, now.

TTFN