I did it!

Well, today (well yesterday now) was my darling Coco's 1st birthday party and I promised myself that by the time she turned one years old that I would reach my weightloss goal and look the best I have ever looked. I reached that goal. Now it is time to set new ones.

I also ate cake today, and I skipped a run! I will work harder this week, and throw in an extra run to make up for the party time LOL!

Thursday

Well, I am still here. Just not on the bandwagon as much. Not as interested in this process, and choosing to concentrate my efforts on my other interests at this time.

I am still right around 150 pounds. I am running like crazy. That is good enough for now!

I will update again at some point :D

Fun with my four girls

This evening, I got onto the treadmill for about 35 minutes. The weather was brutally wet, and I want to ramp up my exercise again. So, on I got. And it felt great. Lately I have only been running 3x's per week. So, this week I decided I wanted to up my exercise again to allow for more fall/wintery treats. 

So, whilst I was kicking it on the treadmill at 7.5 mph straight run...my girls skipped and danced away. And gave me some woot's! And you are going fast Mommy! And more cheers. (It is so nice to have my own personal cheering squad!) 

At the same time, they had some fun. Burned some extra energy. And after they copied me with my push ups, crunches and squats. Then, I broke out the 80's aerobics moves. THEY LOVED doing it with me. At one point I called Cliff into the garage to see us all in action. It was adorable. 

Anyways,

A teachable moment! Activity is fun with your kids! It was great and I plan on doing that again!

Thankful

I am so pleased that I can run, and that I remain injury free. I am thankful to the support of my hubby who sacrifices his time so that I can go and take care of my own needs. That would be my running and my photography.

I am thankful that on January 24th, 2009 I will be able to be the MOH to my sis Amy at their wedding. Wearing a black strapless gown that looks AWESOME on me. I am so happy to not wear maternity or breastfeeding attire to the wedding like I have done for the past 10 years of family and friend weddings. I can enjoy all of the hard work AND effort that I have put into myself over the last year.

I am happy that my journey here has not ended, yet keeps on helping to motivate others to create their own programs to get their bodies healthy again.

I cannot believe that in 10 short days my 'baby' Courtney will be 1 year old already, and one year ago I weighed 238 pounds and wore plus size, xxl maternity pants. 

I am so thankful to be right where I am at. So far, I have accomplished so much, in so little time. Already training for a second half marathon, and a marathon in the next year. 

I would never have guessed just how wonderful life would be for me today. But is! My heart spills over with gratefulness and happiness. I am so thankful.

I look forward now, and not backwards realizing these could be the last few times that I sit and blog one handed as I breastfeed my Coco.

As that part of my life will be behind me soon too. But again, so much good stuff to look forward to.

So much.

Where I'm at

I took a day off of running on Sunday. It felt weird to do so, especially because Sundays are generally my 'long runs' but I really needed it. I think my body is reacting to stress, and lack of sleep. I have also developed a twitch in my eye. It goes away (mostly) when I am running and away from the house. BUT, when I walk through the door it starts up. Especially twitchy eye when it is loud in the house. And, that is just part and parcel with having a large family. I also would think that just the general busy that is constantly part of my life. Our life with six kids. Has something to do with it all. 

SO, I slept in (well till about 8 ish -- thank you hubby!) that felt good. But weird. But the twitch is STILL there.

I then decided that I would sign up for another half marathon clinic. So, on Tuesday I started running/training again for a goal race the day after Valentines day. Closer to home. 

So I ran a little 3km straight run on Tuesday with the group. And then on Wednesday (last night) I ran 6.3 km straight run. That felt great. My body CRAVES fitness and exercise. Everything just feels better when I exercise. Everything keeps in balance. That is the mental, the exercise, the food and water intake. And just a general sense of well being that I cannot get from anything else than you guessed it...running. I am a better Mom and person when I run. Again, that whole 'guilt' thing comes back, but it is something I have scheduled into my ical. And I love having something to look forward to. I strive to keep doing better, and trying to get as fit as I can. Once I stop breastfeeding my oh so attached Coco. I will be putting my name on the list FINALLY for my vein surgery. I will call the office After February once my run is done. I am hoping I can have the surgery done in between clinics, or at least in the lower km runs. I will be out for a week of running for the surgeries. And with the injections I hear 2 weeks. Yikes. I will go coo coo. So, I will just focus on today!

So, I am back on the wagon and running. Training for my next half marathon. Now...who will come on out and cheer me on?! It is a VERY hill course! LOL.

Quote

Whenever you feel uncomfortable, instead of retreating back into your old comfort zone, pat yourself on the back and say, “I must be growing,” and continue moving forward.

~T. Harv Eker

This is it...

This is the ONLY photo of me from the official race photographers. I was just nearing 5 km to go, and I stopped to have some water and I was charging up on gu and thinking about what I had to do in the next 5 km to reach my goal of under 2 hours. I wish I had one of me going through the finishing chute. Oh well.