Whew.

Well, I didn't gain weight this week. Granted the last three days I've done a great job on my diet and working out, but this weekend I drank A LOT and ate food that wasn't spectacular. So the fact that I didn't actually gain anything is huge. Still the same weight. But am feeling and looking thinner.

My rib cage is showing again. Thank goodness. And my legs are getting muscular again. Praise Jesus.

Natalie and I had this big discussion yesterday about BMI and realistic expectations concerning size and weight. How women who are the same age (like Nat and I) can gain and carry weight in completely different ways and areas. And how we all need to go about weight loss and fitness in different ways.

The ideal body weight for my size was the weight I was when I started this (169) and anywhere from 40 lbs below that (129). I'd like to be around 155. That's 27 lbs from now. I think I can do it, it will just take time. I just have to be diligent. So here are some new revised goals since I haven't gained weight in two weeks:

Fitness Goals:
1. Run 3-4 days a week. Averaging around 15-20 miles a week. (That is until full training begins and I'm upwards of 30-35 miles a week.)
2. Yoga at least once a week. Class on Fridays. Try to do at least two more times on my own.
3. Start p90x today and see if I hate it and how sore I am.
4. By the end of the year run in two more half marathons and one full marathon.
5. Decrease my 5k time to around 27 minutes. (Yes, I'm slow, people...)
6. Improve my half marathon time by 15 minutes each race.

Nutrition Goals:
1. Cut out soda completely. Although I've already done this sometimes I slip and no frou-frou coffee drinks.
2. 64 oz of water a day. May increase my pee output, but that shall be good for me.
3. Take a multi-vitamin everyday.
4. Keep my caloric intake less than 1500 a day.
5. No more booze at promotions. Which means no more weekday drinking.
6. Eat vegetables at every meal. Have lean proteins at every meal.

Alright. Now I'm accountable for these things since I wrote them down for you all to read. So feel free to bust me on them. Off to do my first P90X workout. Thanks all!

Oh, and happy Cinco de Drinko!

Operation Muffin Top.

One of my running friends Taolo told me today that she was beginning "Operation Muffin Top." She made a list of things she was no longer doing: dinner after 8pm, no ice cream, no double bacon BLT's... basically it was a list of what she was giving up. I laughed out loud.

Taolo runs marathons. She's probably 5'4" and weighs around 115-120lbs. She's thin, she runs, but lately apparently she has been indulging a little too much. I doubt if I saw her today I would notice the difference but this new kick of hers is getting me thinking.

I also want to get rid of my muffin top. And that gross overhang that happens under your arms/top of your chest when you have tank tops on.

In that vein here are the strides I took this past week:
-Had no soda even though I was dying too.
-Drank only 1 beer all week. (This is huge, since I normally drink at least 10)
-If I got a fancy coffee I did non-fat. Only did it once.
-Walked away from a 6-pack of chocolate frosted donuts despite that they were calling my name outloud.
-Included non-running workouts this week: Yoga, an hour at the batting cages, etc.

Of course this past week has also been that awesome time of the month. So I'm craving everything in sight and am cramping an miserable. Not to mention after my hour at the batting cages my back is super sore. Josh and I couldn't figure out why we were sore all day yesterday. Oh yeah, its because we are old.

So in honor of Taolo I shall join her in "Operation Muffin Top." Just makes me laugh saying it.

Weigh/Measurement Day.

So the last 7 weeks I've been in medical limbo. Several tests and procedures later I am happy to announce that I don't have cancer. My last biopsy stated that I was the stage directly prior to actual cancer but they cut it out so hopefully we took care of it. Of course with the advent of a procedure that burns out 1/5 of my cervix I was sort of out of commission... and a little depressed. I wasn't allowed to work out for two weeks, didn't actually work out for 3. And then of course, I'd eat my feelings. Not to mention since I work for a beer company I drink a lot. So my weight went up a tad. I'm not proud of it.

My clothes still fit. I still wear a 10. Just not looking as good as I used to when we started this business and I didn't take it seriously. So today I took my measurements (as recommended by rockstar Natalie) and weighed myself for the first time in months. Ugh. It's gross, really.

So here they are (I only did 5):
Arm: 12 inches
Thigh: 25 inches
Waist: 34 inches
Hip: 43 inches
Bust: 42 inches
Weight: 182.5

Wish me luck as I actually start to take this seriously. I need to catch up with Natalie!! :)

Can I give more?

Today I went for a run for the first time in a week. I ran a little under 3 miles (as I had kind of a time constraint issue since I was going out of town for the week). It felt great. The TV on my treadmill wasn't working so I just put on my iPod and ran.

And boy did I run. Faster than I have in months. About 1 minute faster per mile. Which in the grand scheme of things could add up pretty quickly. I can see my marathon time going down as we speak.

I am still awaiting test results, which I hope to God come tomorrow. But the whole reason behind me going to run today was that I wanted/needed to think of something else besides being sick. And there it was: running.

Along with my new fresh outlook on running I have given up fried foods for Lent. I figure this will jumpstart some weight loss so I can actually weigh in and feel good about myself. It was all Natalie's idea. She's smart, that one.

My friend Caleb, who is a crazy ultra-marathoner, gave me this quote the other day from Kenyan marathoner, Paul Tergat:

"Ask yourself: Can I give more? The answer is usually: Yes."

It's now my mantra. I can always give more. Give more, not give up. I can make my goal time in this marathon, I can drop the weight in order to do it, and I can beat whatever it is I'm up against.

Can I give more?

You bet your ass.

Somedays I just can't.

I haven't worked out for 5 days. Which is abnormal.

After my doctor's appointment two weeks ago I had to go back for a second round procedure this past Friday. One that had some physical reprocussions that caused me to spend the entire weekend lying down on the couch taking it easy. At one point I thought I felt better. Enough to clean, do laundry, play with the dog. But then I pushed it too far and had to lie down again. Ugh.

I won't get the results of the second test until Friday. But I think I'll go back to working out tomorrow. I was having some knee issues last week anyway, so in retrospect I guess it was good that I took a few days off. They are feeling much better.

I just wish I did. Ugh.

Nice legs.

First off... my doctor's appointment went fine. I won't get the results for a week or so, hence I have decided to not think about it. Thank you, Nallie, for giving me a ring. But until I get the results (which cross your fingers are normal) I can't do much of anything. End of story.

Secondly, last week I had posted about my boyfriend Josh noticing that my body was changing. Well today, for the first time, I noticed it was changing. As I put on my new bright orange Nike Tempo running shorts (the cadillac of running shorts), I noticed my legs were slimming down and getting back to their normal muscular look. The past 2-3 months they hadn't had that. But now I'm seeing definition.

And I'm freaking stoked about it.

Yesterday I was supposed to do 8 miles but at my 3 mile mark my IT band started acting up. I ran another 1/4 of a mile and called it quits. No use straining it. So today I rode the bike, did my IT band exercises, and a short core workout. It all felt pretty good until my last 3 wall sits. Wow. Those were painful. But honestly are probably what is giving me leg definition.

Since I didn't get a long run in last week I just readjusted my schedule.
This weekend: 8 miles
Next weekend: 10 miles
Weekend after that: 12 miles

Hopefully it begins to warm up so I can do these runs outside. My new iPod is on its way and screw Punxatawny Phil and his stupid shadow. I'll be training outdoors before you know it. With my nice new legs carrying me along the way.

Confiding.

Today I have a bunch to do:
1. Monday morning paperwork/emails (takes about 4 hours)
2. 8 mile run
3. Doctor's appointment.

It is item 3 I wish to talk with you all about today.

About 15 months ago I had an abnormal pap. Which normally people think nothing about. However mine was abnormal to the point where I had to go in for further testing. Three weeks post-abnormal pap I had what is called a colposcopy. Basically it is a giant garden tool that is placed in my woman parts and it cuts out pieces of my cervix and uterus for biopsy.

After this particular test last December it also came back abnormal. I have mild displasia. Which means that 1/3 of my cells in my cervix are abnormal. This doesn't mean the big C... but they wanted me to come back every 3 months to check so it doesn't get to that point. Once you get to moderate or severe, it is pre-cancerous. But as I was between jobs the last year, I didn't go back. I just let it sit there and stew. And at the end of October I started having some odd symptoms. Symptoms I've never had before.

My doctor's appointment today scares me. I'm afraid things have progressed. I'll keep you all posted.

Not Counting.

Natalie's post was about counting calories. Whelp, that works for some people. But when I used to do that it drove me nuts. I became obsessive compulsive about it. Everything I did was about how many calories and although I lost a lot of weight, I was incredibly unhappy. So I started working out instead and worrying less about how many calories a saltine had.

Working out, I've discovered, has helped me learn that I can eat whatever I want... as long as I run. So I run. A lot.

Yesterday I did 6 miles. Today, probably 3. Take a day off tomorrow. Thursday 3, Friday some cross training and then Saturday: 8 miles.

Of course, upping mileage is also about marathon training but it is amazing how your body changes when you have a consistent workout. Crawling into bed at night sans clothes and having your boyfriend say things to you like, "Wow you look amazing..." Well, that's enough for me. I do try and eat a little less. All things in moderation. But if I really want something, I have it.

I haven't been weighing in every week because weighing in can be a wee bit decieving the first few weeks of running. Your leg muscles are building up and although you are losing fat, you are gaining muscle weight.

All I know is that my six miles yesterday felt better than anything I've done in a long time (burning nearly 750 calories). So I had a piece of Oreo cheesecake last night.

Calories be damned.

Saturday. All day. Wow.

You should all be proud that I worked out 6 of 7 days last week. I took yesterday off because it is always nice to have a day of rest. But let me tell you about Saturday instead.

Saturday Josh and I decided was a full day. We set the alarm to hit the gym early and both had our long runs. Which, at this point really aren't "long." They are just the longest of the week. I had a 5 miler, he had 6. I made it 4.5 miles, and then walked. Not running for a few months has definitely taken its toll on me I shouldn't have quit that last half mile, but the run felt good just the same. My quads really warmed up about mile 3. So I stretched and headed out for the rest of the day.

In the name of being a good person all around (as I desperately try to be) I decided that Josh and I needed to go give blood at the local drive. So an hour and a half after we finish working out we are getting our arms stuck with needles and answering questions like, "Have you ever traded drugs or money for sex since 1972?"

Supposedly after you give blood you shouldn't drink for 5 hours. But I had an AIDS Walk meeting so Josh and I had a few beers with some power gays at 303 and played some Wii bowling. Josh then, in his cooking glory, made halibut fish tacos for dinner and all was well.

Pretty great day, but we passed out asleep by 10:30pm.

Ready to start my week again. Headed to the gym for non-running cardio, a core workout, and some IT band exercises for my legs.

Hoo-rah.

StepMill = Evil

You know, I can run 13 miles. I can run for 2.5 hours. But today at the gym it was my off day from running so I did 15 minutes on the bike, some arm lifts, and a core workout (my obliques hate me right now). After all of this I knew I needed a wee bit more cardio to burn some fat. So my friend Rozanna, who works at the gym, suggested I do the stepmill for 15 minutes. She said I wouldn't be able to make it.

And she was right.

Holy hell. I went for 10 minutes and I was sweating more and breathing harder than I ever do when I run. Its like a torture device: an escalator to nowhere. Had I brought my book with me (Running with the Buffalos, the story of a year inside the University of Colorado cross country team... amazing), I might have been able to make it longer. But geez... that was miserable.

Anyway, another hour at my gym has officially been checked off, after a morning of putting fires out at my job. Must visit some accounts this afternoon... and finish drinking my designated 64 oz of water. Sigh.

I'm kicking that StepMill's ass on Saturday. And not the other way around.

Grossness.

Well it's official: I'm fat.

Since starting my new job as a beer sales rep there are two calorie problems I hadn't counted on:
1. Drinking lots of beer.
2. Eating lots of pub food.

Today I was getting ready for a meeting (which is now cancelled and why I'm blogging), and I tried on a pair of my favorite jeans, and I looked like I was pregnant. I mean I was hanging over all sides of them. Which makes sense, considering when I weighed myself Monday I was 10.5 pounds more than when I weighed myself in September. Grossness.

At least I got them buttoned. Barely.

So damn it, Monday I got on my horse and started my "eating right/working out" stuff.

There are tons of fresh fruit, fat free yogurt, veggies, and low fat protiens in my fridge now. I'm not drinking soda any longer. And trying to drink 64 oz of water each day. Not to mention working out 6-7 days a week, 4 of which I'll be running/training. Whew. So here's this week so far:

MONDAY:
Weighed myself, became depressed and went to the gym.
Ran 2 miles, walked .5 miles, did ab workout, and IT Band exercises.
Post run chocolate milk.

TUESDAY:
High Fiber cereal for breakfast. Packed a healthy lunch (small turkey sammy, grapes, carrots).
Bar owner made me have a taco. So tasty. So not on the plan.
Off day from running, so I biked for 30 minutes/stretched.

TODAY:
High fiber cereal for breakfast.
Ran 2.5 miles (faster than race tempo), walked .5 miles, stretched.
Post run chocolate milk and Clif Bar.

Anyway, back to blogging. Hoping this will help draw me out of my fatness.
My new goal/date/stuff is: 30 in 30. My target weight 150. Goal date: August 11th. Ugh.

Can't wait til I'm hot again.

Frustrated leads to motivated.

Due to my injury, workouts have been slow. And the last week I have ate everything in sight. Not sure what is making me want to devour the entire contents of my fridge and pantry, but alas it is happening.

Maybe I'm pregnant.

Just kidding.

Ankle rehab is a much longer process than I care to deal with. But I'm chucking along. Tomorrow I plan on running 3 miles. which would be the longest yet. We'll see if it lets me go that far. I don't have full range of motion/flexibility in it right now, or a lot of strength. I just need to start working out again everyday.  And stop eating like my 8% body-fat-have-such-a-high-metabolism-that-I-put-off-heat boyfriend. 

On a very positive note, I got the job of a lifetime and I start two weeks from Sunday. So now that I have a different schedule, a regular schedule, it is time to set my marathon schedule as well. After all May 30th will come sooner than I like... and I need to get my mileage way way up. Time to get my fat ass back in shape. 

Just in time for the holidays.

(PS... I'll make an official announcement of when I start back with the weigh ins. I'm guessing after Thanksgiving probably... the day I start my new job. Goody goody.)

Injury and Ben & Jerry's

So I've been a lax member of the ladies in weighting. I haven't been trying to lose weight. I haven't been working out. In fact, I haven't done a whole lot of anything lately. And here is why:

Three weeks ago Clod (my 7 month old boxer puppy) pulled me off the porch with his leash and I ripped up my ankle. A severe lower sprain, I couldn't walk very well for two weeks, it turned awesome shades of purple and yellow and just a few days ago I attempted running for the first time. I made it a mile. Which is depressing considering I was running 10 before.

Josh has bought me 4 pints of Ben & Jerry's in the last two weeks to ease the pain. I haven't gained any weight but have realized that I can't keep attacking those glorious little pints much longer. Or my ass will be the size of Utah.

And two days ago, Josh qualified for the Boston Marathon. I stood there at the finish line on Sunday freezing my catoozies off and crying as he made his time. And I realized that I need to get up to that point. I need to get my ankle rehab-ed and my ass back in shape. So I'm signing up to run the Burlington Vermont Marathon in May. Which means that the next month or so I'll be just working on strengthening my ankle, and then upping my mileage.

So if you ladies will please permit me a month or so to get back in the groove, I will once again resume my 20 in 20. But for now I need to concentrate on getting my ankle back. Then I'll lose all the weight you want.

Much love.

Abby's Start Date!

First off, let me say that I have done the big weight loss goal before.

My senior year of college I showed up (after a long fattening summer back east) tipping the scales at 198.5 lbs.  It was the biggest I had ever been. My face was round, my middle pudgy, and I couldn't fit in to a bridesmaids dress that I had been fitted for nearly 3 months prior. Something had to be done, and something had to be done quickly.

So I did the Weight Watchers point system with my roommate. And over the course of the next semester, I lost 35 lbs.  

Now, nearly 5 years later I've decided to keep going on my quest to lose some poundage. I was never completely happy being in the 160s range. I mean, I'm not huge like I used to be, but I could sure as hell be a lot fitter and leaner. With my boyfriend running marathons and having only 8% body fat, there comes a time when a girl has to say enough is enough... I need to be hotter.

Thus I begin my second quest to lose weight. And I start it the day before I turn 27. But instead of Nallie's broad stroke, I'm going to go 20lbs in 20 weeks. I even have the logo to prove it. :) My last weigh in: February 17, 2010.

So my official weight today is:

169.5lbs

That means since graduation from college I've only gained 6lbs... not too shabby. But it is time to be that lean runner that I want to be. I'll be keeping track of my pounds, inches, and miles as we go along... 

See you all at the finish line.