Random thoughts

Looks like next week is going to be a difficult week for running...


Yuck!Each one of those days is supposed to be HUMID. There has already been an Air Quality Alert issued for my area. LOVELY! And tomorrow I have a 9 mile run planned. But I'm doing it early in the morning...so it should be somewhat cooler. HOPEFULLY.

So today I was reviewing my weight changes this year. So far, this year has been an interesting year for me. Going from traditional eating, to Vegetarian, and finally to Vegan was a slow process. It has paid off slowly in weight and overall health and the best part is I haven't felt deprived...like I always do when I'm dieting. What I'm doing now seems very effortless and results in modest weight loss each month. Just look...

In the first week of December 2010 I was 198 lbs.
January 2011 - I had brought that down to 185 lbs
February - March 2011- down to about 181 lbs and then I stalled. As March began I pigged out for my birthday and many days after.

Starting in the beginning of April 2011 - I went vegetarian

I didn't record my weight until the end of May 2011 at which time I was 184.2 lbs at This point I start full vegan.

June 2011 I started recording my weight more diligently.
June 8 - 176
June 15 - 174.6
June 29 - 171.8

July 2011
July 8 - 169.4
July 15 - 167.2

Total weight loss so far about 30 pounds.

I'm happy That I've finally found something I can do to lose weight. Something that doesn't require me to count every single calorie or record every single morsel of food. I HATE, HATE, HATE that!!! I'm excited to see how far vegan and running can take me!!

The Plan

Well, I've picked up running AGAIN, it's a love/hate relationship. One of my problems has been pushing myself too hard. I expect unrealistic things from my body and then hate all over myself when I fail to achieve. That kinda pressure usually leads me to an open bag of cookies with a side of Häagen-Dazs...that's no good! So this time around, "the plan" is essentially No Plan. I had my sights set on the rock-n-roll half in VA but it looks like there won't be enough money for a trip out there, and school shopping for the kids, so I'll have to pass on the race again....GRRRRR. I will run that race one of these days!! But now I'm eyeballing something a bit closer to home...like in my home town. The Grand Rapids Marathon. It's in October so I have plenty of time. My regimen will include running 4 to 5 times a week and increasing the distance each week. My only expectation is going to be my body....if it tells me we can run more ...we will, if it says cool it I need rest, then I will rest. This should help me keep at it for the long hall. And as I go along ..... I'll pick up the Hal Higdon half marathon for a novice training plan, taking time, when needed, for my body to acclimate instead of pushing it to the brink. Small victories, instead of my do it or die trying mentality. I'm going to try to love running again...instead of feeling beaten by it.