My First 5K, Mud Race Set

2 Comments
Me, after walking in my first 5K -- The Brambleton Ribbon Race -- in 2013. I'm running in the 2015 Brambelton in 9 weeks.

Me, after walking in my first 5K — The Brambleton Ribbon Race — in 2013. I’m running in the 2015 Brambelton in 9 weeks.

It’s official. In a little over 9 weeks I’m running in a 5K race. April 18 is the 2015 Brambleton Ribbon Run. The 2013 Brambleton race was the first 5K I walked since starting this little journey. So it seems fitting that it is now serving as my first timed run.

I can’t tell you how excited I am. Having an real target date makes my goal of running a 5K very real. I now have something tangible to work towards. Once I registered, all of my workouts have a purpose. Regardless of how cold the weather turns, I don’t want to miss a run or a walk. The idea of missing a workout because its cold seems like a lame excuse and won’t help me get across the finish line.

Time To Get Dirty
In addition to my first 5K, I’ve also signed up for my first mud race – Mudderella! Come July 25, I’ll run a 5-7 mile course with 12-15 muddy obstacles in rural Maryland.

Where Spartan races and Tough Mudders are timed races, the Mudderella isn’t. You don’t even have to do all the obstacles. The Mudderella, while it’s an athletic challenge, looks a little more relaxed and fun. I’m still planning on doing a Spartan Sprint this year, but I’m hoping this breaks me into these obstacle races in a fun way.

Join Me In The Little Black Dress Challenge

Leave a comment
For February I'm taking on the Little Black Dress Challenge for a full body workout. To kick my butt even more, I'm doing each day's workout twice.

For February I’m taking on the Little Black Dress Challenge for a full body workout. To kick my butt even more, I’m doing each day’s workout twice.

It’s February and that means its time for a new 30-Day Challenge (or 28 days). This month I’m taking on the Little Black Dress Challenge. This particular challenge focuses on upper and lower body as well as the abs. Each day of the challenge brings several different exercises.

I started the challenge yesterday and I have to say it was easy peasy – 30 second plank, 10 push-ups, 10 mountain climbers. Today I’m doing 20 jumping jacks, 10 burpees and 10 high knees. Despite the burpees, today should be easy too. But not to fear, by next week I’m expecting the challenge to start kicking my butt.

Since February is a short month, I decided to do each day’s exercises twice – once in the morning and again in the afternoon. Insane? Possibly. Tough? Absolutely. But after what I feel is a sluggish start with my Spartan Sprint training and my Gold’s Gym Challenge (more on this later), I have a need to kick some my ass.

Are you up for the Little Black Dress Challenge?

Weekly Weigh-In: Despite Wine Drinking, I’m Down 0.4 Pounds

Leave a comment
Luckily I'm down 0.4 lbs. from last week. This week, I'm skipping the wine but doubling down on smart eating and exercise.

Luckily I’m down 0.4 lbs. from last week. This week, I’m skipping the wine but doubling down on smart eating and exercise.

Well at my last official weigh in on January 10 the scale read 198.2 lbs. My unofficial weigh in last week I dropped to 196.8 lbs. Despite a very busy Saturday, I got up early to go to Weight Waters to step on that scale. As of yesterday I weighed 196.4 lbs.

Officially that’s nearly a pound a week. That kind of progress should excite most people. Yet I feel like I’m lucky I lost anything.

My hubby thinks I’m being too hard on myself. But if I’m being honest, I made some boneheaded moves during the week.

Well, actually just one — drinking a bit more wine than I intended. I did everything right this week — staying within my carb and point range, as well as sticking closely to my workout schedule (weather permitting). But for some reason, as I wrapped myself in a blanket and read a book or watched the telly, I broke open a couple of bottles of red. Ugh! I feel like I wrecked 3 great days.

I know how silly it is to beat yourself up after making a mistake. It’s all about making better choices the next time. And I did just that. But I also made the same bad mistake 3 nights in a row. Yet I still lost weight!?! Where the heck is the consequence for what I did? Well my accountability starts and ends with me.

Well here’s my consequence:

Except for two beers during the Super Bowl, I’m abstaining from alchohol this week. And starting February 1, I’m taking the 30-Day No Alcohol Challenge. Any day I mess up, I have to do the Double Ladder Burpee Madness challenge.

My fondness for wine is the only thing tripping me up now. Time to break out my awesome tea collection for these cold nights.

 

My New Enemy — The Roman Chair Leg Raise

Leave a comment

My trainer introduced me to a new form of torture…eh, exercise: The Roman Chair Bent Knee Leg Raise. It’s a lower ab workout but it’s my shoulders that feel the burn. Basically, with my arms on the arm rest, I press my shoulders down while lifting my feet off the ground and bringing my knees to my chest (this is the easy version, HA!).

It is torture I tell you. My best is 6 in a row. She wants to get me to 15. Ugh! Since I have to support my body weight with my arms, my shoulders feel the burn.

I’m determined to kick this exercise’s ass!

 

Training Time: This Fat Chick’s Road To Tough Mudder

1 Comment
Time to kick my Tough Mudder training into high gear! I'm doing a host of challenges to get myself ready for the world's toughest race.

Time to kick my Tough Mudder training into high gear! I’m doing a host of challenges to get myself ready for the world’s toughest race.

At the top of my Healthy Bucket List sits my desire to run a Tough Mudder. For those of you not familiar with a mudder, it’s a 12+ mile obstacle course (in the mud) designed by former British Special Forces dudes. Around 30% of the folks who try fail to complete it. The more I read about the mudders, the more I realize I need to kick my training into high gear before attempting this puppy. Read More

I Have No Excuses Now…Time For A Run

Leave a comment

This video exploding all over Twitter today. It’s a new ad campaign from Sport England called This Girl Can.

Yes, its full of awesomeness. It’s perfect for those of you afraid that folks are judging your body as you exercise or play a sport. I say “those of you,” but I use to be one of you. Now I just don’t care what anyone thinks. One day it occurred to me: people are too busy with their own lives to notice me. I was the one worried about how I looked. D’oh! Nothing like self-sabotage.

Hopefully the ad will urge you, regardless if you wiggle or jiggle, to move and ignore the naysayers (whether they are real or it’s just the one in your head).

I’m off to run in the freezing cold now because #thisgirlcan!

 

Staying Motivated To Lose Weight Through Rewards

2 Comments
Will I earn Dots or Blots this week? Here's my new reward system to help me make healthier choices and keep me motivated on the march to my goal weight. Images courtesy of FreeDigitalPhoto.net and Stuart Miles.

Will I earn Dots or Blots next week? Here’s my new reward system to help me make healthier choices and keep me motivated on the march to my goal weight. Images courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net and Stuart Miles.

All weight loss plans have a honeymoon phase — fast weight loss, loose-fitting clothes, compliments, tons of energy, feeling great about ones’ self. The honeymoon phase can last days to months. The constant barrage of wonderful feedback keeps you going.

But nearly 3 years into my healthy lifestyle, the honeymoon is long over. The steady stream of positive feedback is down to a trickle. And my weight loss battle has become (at times) one long, tiring, slog. Read More

Closing In On My Weight Loss Goal

4 Comments
Yes, these jeans use to fit me snugly. I'm down 130 pounds and have another 50-60 pounds to go. Could 2015 be the year I reach my optimum weight? I'm sure as heck going to try.

Yes, these jeans use to fit me snugly. I’m down 130 pounds and have another 50-60 pounds to go. Could 2015 be the year I reach my optimum weight? I’m sure as heck going to try.

I ended 2014 strong by finally dropping below the 200-pound mark and reaching Onederland. But at the start of 2015 I realize that the first chapter of my lifestyle makeover – my weight loss journey — is coming to a close. While I’ve yet to set a designated goal weight, I have roughly 50-60 pounds left to lose.

2015 could be the year I finally reach goal. With this in mind, I’m re-calibrating my goals to reach my optimum weight by December 31, 2015. It’s a tall order, but I have to try. Read More

2 Holidays Down, 2 To Go

Leave a comment
If I want to secure my place in Onederland, I'll need to avoid all those little holiday treats at upcoming parties and celebrations. Image courtesy of joephotostudio and FreeDigitalPhotos.net.

If I want to secure my place in Onederland, I’ll need to avoid all those little holiday treats at upcoming parties and celebrations. Image courtesy of joephotostudio and FreeDigitalPhotos.net.

It’s December 2nd and I’ve successfully got through Halloween (no candy!) and Thanksgiving (no weight gain!).  As we head towards Christmas and New Year’s, I need a plan to navigate not just the holidays, but those little parties and get-togethers with friends and family.

My goal is to keep my momentum going and drop another 5 lbs. by January. A very tall order, I know. But I want to secure my lease in Onederland. I’m hanging on by a thread. I need to put some serious distance between me and 200 lbs.

Part of that is a plan for dealing with upcoming parties where the old me would consume lots of wine, scarf down copious amounts of finger foods, and delight in sampling all the sugary treats.

So What’s The Plan? Read More

Weekly Weigh-In: The Push To Onderland!

12 Comments
I'm down 1.2 lbs. this week, putting my total weight loss at 122.1 lbs. I'm so close to finally reaching Onderland (weighing under 200 lbs.). I'm pulling out all the stops to get their in November.

I’m down 1.2 lbs. this week, putting my total weight loss at 122.1 lbs. I’m so close to finally reaching Onderland (weighing under 200 lbs.). I’m pulling out all the stops to get their in November.

As of Saturday, I’m down 1.2 lbs. Another 3+ lbs. and I’ll finally reach that magical place called Onderland…something I haven’t seen in more than 25 years.

I’ve been within 10 pounds over the last 4 months. Slowly I’ve come within 2 pounds, only to start gaining weight. Ugh! It’s so frustrating. But I have some tricks up my sleeve to get me over this huge hurdle. Well, not really tricks. More like getting back to my good habits.

Dot’s Tricks Good Habits To Finally Reach Onderland Read More