Just a comparison picture...

I was looking at a few pictures, and I am amazed!  I don't even look like the same person.  I also feel SOOO much better now!

Here are two pictures.  The first is 153ish pounds, and the second is 245ish pounds.

Here I come!

I bought it...ChaLean Extreme.  It's a 90 day strength-type program.  I'm going to start it August 2.  I am also starting my half marathon training that same day.  By Halloween I should be in awesome shape!  It's going to be hard, but it's so going to be worth it.  Maybe these last few pounds will go away and all the problem spots will vanish.  Here's hoping!

Anyway, I will be gone on vacation the week after this week.  My goal is to exercise 3 times and not gain more than a pound.  I can do this!

Okay, this is a short and sweet post, but you get the point.  :)

Later...

52 years

Fifty-two years ago today, my mother was born.  Almost 5 years ago she died of a massive heart attack.  Today, I'm pissed at her for not taking care of herself.  She should really be here.  She should be here to see my beautiful, hilarious, caring, insightful children.  BUT SHE'S NOT.  Damn her! 

My message to all...take care of yourself.  If you don't want to do it for yourself, at least do it for your family.  You will leave heartbreak and sadness if you die too soon because you couldn't get off your butt and exercise or put the fork down when you've eaten enough.  Life is worth so much more. 

That's all.  Later...

Running motivation

I'm trying to remotivate myself now.  I set a goal this week to run 20 miles.  I am 1/4 of the way done.  I am going to run tonight (maybe 5 miles), then run again in the morning. I'll have to catch up since it's already Thursday.

I'm planning these races in the next few months:
~Haschel 5K in Winamac on July 17
~Rotary Ramble in DeMotte in mid-August
~Popcorn Fest 5M in Valparaiso in September

AND...

I am playing around with the idea of running the Purdue Half Marathon on October 24.  That's my alma mater, but I haven't been back there too much since I graduated in 2003.  Plus, it would be awesome to say I've completed a half.  I will be deciding for sure in the next few weeks.  There's a running program for a half in Runner's World this month that I might follow, so that would motivate me to keep up with my runs. 

Anyway, that's where I'm at right now.  Later...

I hate to admit this...

but the 30 Day Challenge isn't going so well.  I haven't exercised formally since Tuesday.  However, on a positive note, the scale is being nice.  It's not down to where I was a few weeks ago, but it's down from a couple of weeks ago.  Maybe the rest is actually helping my body or something.  At least that's what I can think to myself. 

Anyway, I don't think Turbo Fire is going to happen just yet...finances.  I told my husband that maybe he can just get it for me for Christmas.  That will probably work better anyway because a) it'll be too cold to run outside much, and b) he might be able to find it on Ebay for cheaper because it will have been out for 6 months by then.  I might invest in some new running shoes, but we'll see. 

I'm going to make a goal for next week to run at least 3 times since I have a 5K race on July 17th.  My plan is to do a 5K distance, aiming for a PR, then do a longer run for endurance's sake, plus some speed work on the treadmill.  I'll probably add in 30 Day Shred too.  I'm going to try and get as many days of that done before vacation (last week of July) since I haven't dropped out of this challenge.  I'll throw in some Turbo Jam too.  Oh, the best part of next week and for several weeks after that is I am done teaching for a while, so I can run whenever I want.  Maybe that'll help me get more runs in.  I sure hope so.

Enjoy your 4th of July!  I am sure we will!

Later...