So this afternoon when I had a little down time, I started reading weight loss inspiring blogs. It has been a long time since I've even opened my Jeffers' Family Blog and probably a few pounds have been lost....but A LOT more were gained.
So I decided rather then posting on FB about this weight loss journey I am about to (hopefully) embark on--I thought I would give blogging a try! Let's face it, between all the apps and social media, it's easy to track your success, but hopefully through blogging, I will be able to look back at the beginning and see that all this hard work is worth it!!!!!
A look back and within...
I was at my heaviest weight after our youngest was born---so I would say between 2008-2010. I think the largest number I ever remember being brave enough to look at on the scale was 253lbs. UHH! I cringe to this day remember seeing that number. That's A LOT!!! But for a female, who is 5'2"---it's UGLY and really just not good at all for me or my family.
In 2010 I joined the YMCA and had a great core group of girls to work out with. Working out--almost daily (people do that!?) and diet worked well and the pounds slowly came off. On February 2011, I celebrated my 30th birthday and felt good!! In May of 2012 I ran my first half marathon! I couldn't believe I did it! The weight was easier to maintain and even lose when running.
We ran a few more smaller races the following year and the Fargo Half again in May of 2013. I think after that race, I took a longer break then I should have and a few pounds did sneak back on, but nothing too noticeable. I remained active and went to kickboxing, zumba, and a color run later that summer.
When it came time to decide what race we were going to do for 2014, my BRF( best running friend) Michelle and I decided we should give a full marathon a try. We got about half ways through the training, up to 15 miles, & I backed out. I don't think I could mentally take it---if my knee didn't hurt, my hips did and if those were ok, I couldn't breathe...so we did the half again in May of 2014. Up until the day we decided we weren't going to do the half is when I was probably at my lowest weight that I can recall, it was right around 163-165. But I had started to gain weight even before the half as our runs weren't as long and I still ate like I was training for a full marathon. The race was great, we both had a PR and all was good :)
...enter 2015. What has happened??! I honestly wish I could say there was a life change or a milestone that happened in our family that is the cause of why I have gained so much of the weight back. But I look back and there really isn't!?! When it came to talking about the Fargo Half for 2015, the runs just didn't happen---excuses did. So when it came down to the wire, we decided that we would do a shorter Fargo race and then plan for a full in the fall! Great! Awesome!! I remember how great I felt when we were training for that initial full---I was the smallest I can remember being and I couldn't wait for that feeling again. So when training started for the 10k, I sucked. I didn't put in the work and on race day it showed. Actually, the only thing that showed were all my excuses I had used for the weeks leading up to it. I went from having a pretty good time running 13.1 miles the previous year (2 hours 18 min) to running the slowest 10k I have ever ran (1 hour 30 some minutes). But I thought it's ok, this was a good wake up call---I now know that I have to get my butt in gear if I'm going to run this full with my fellow runner friends in the fall!!!
Well, we got home and I would have one good week----and 2 bad ones. Again, I let life get in the way so about a third of the way through training, I quit. Luckily for me, I have good friends as these two ladies wanted to do a full a weekend my family had already made plans on---so they were willing to do a different race, in a different city, so I could do it too. I have rode bike twice along side of them while they run and train and that was ok, at least I was still involved & somewhat active. I'm still going along for the weekend to cheer and be their support---but I'm not going to be apart of the race photos, get the shirt, or experience my first marathon.
I stepped on the scale today and it's not pretty---I'm not even brave enough to type out the numbers that I saw on there. I have been a slacker. I have not watched a single calorie that I have shoved into my mouth or made time to get my butt outside to run or get to a class at the gym!! We have 3 amazing, beautiful, ACTIVE children and I have went from the Mom who runs marathons to the mom who sweats going to the grocery store. And the sad part is I KNOW how happy I am when I feel healthy!!
ENTER TODAY!
Today is a new day---that's the awesome part of this sad sack of a blog! I set my alarm and made it to the gym this morning :D I figure with the family activities we have going on this fall, my best bet is to get my butt out of bed and get my workouts done in the morning. So today I got on the dreadmill and ran for 1 minute and walked for 2 minutes and repeated that 7 times. I followed it up with 100 sit ups and 50 push ups!! (It's really not bad at all if you split it up----10 push ups/25 sit ups repeat). I bought myself some new oatmeal for breakfast and enjoyed a tuna sandwich and salad for lunch. I have debated trying shakes or weight watchers again---but the truth is, I know what it takes to lose the weight----DIET & EXERCISE! And I know I can do it---NO MORE EXCUSES!!!
So I hope to use this blog as a tool and like I said, hopefully a place I can eventually look back on to see the good, the bad, & the ugly parts of this weight loss adventure I'm on.
--sweatpants aren't flattering pants
