Band Wagon... I think I am figuring this nutrition thing out

First off, let me say Happy Home Opener to the Boston Red Sox!!! (I am a proud hometown team supporter. Don't hate me, I grew up here! Also they are Awesome!)

A couple shots of Gavin and I experiencing the Run To Home Base 9K

Running and losing weight has been tricky these days, (since I approached my 30s).  Balancing my calories and also fueling my body for longer runs has alluded me. Now I am not hitting any earth shattering weight loss numbers yet, I feel like I am making progress doing both calorie counting and I have really hit my stride with running. (Again nothing earth shattering, but my runs have been strong thus far)

If I stay around 1600 calories for the days I run I think I still have the energy to run 5 miles or cross train but create enough of a deficit to lose weight.

I will keep plugging away at it, I am feeling really good about my running lately.

Can I Eat Yet? (Beware, Talking Sweat)

For all 5 of you that are paying attention, (thanks sis!) I left you hanging on the weight loss competition.

Friday, I got up at 6:10 AM, gulped down a coffee protein blend and hit up the gym.  55 (very sweaty) minutes on the elliptical and home to find the lightest outfit I had in my closet, no matter how ugly.  I went with linen capri's and brought a change of clothes.

I got to work feeling like I was going to pass out! The person in charge of this crazy competition grabbed me to weigh in.

I was 2 lbs down since the day before... (now I don't recommend the method) wrestlers are onto something! And I was off to sip on sip Gatorade like a champ.

I had moved up to second place for percentage lost.   The girl I was neck and neck with the previous day was 100th of a percent lower than me... Guess who is the official second place winner of this Biggest Loser competition? Moi! (Channeling my inner Muppet, although I think of myself less of a Miss Piggy and more of a Fozzie/Rowlf combo).

***Stop reading now if the idea of girls sweating isn't your thing***

So what?  I sweat a lot. I know people who don't sweat at the gym and they are either socializing or working their tail off.  Everyone is different and I don't know how else to have cardio work for me unless I am a sweaty beast. It don't have a problem sweating it out, I walk into the gym and it is almost inevitable.

Sorry, I had to put that out there. I knew that losing water weight wouldn't be too hard. I didn't even have to wear a sweatshirt like the wrestlers do.

I don't recommend what I did, but it was a means to an winning number on the scale.  Hydration is so important and for me it is my cure all.  When I feel even just a little off, water is my first defense to cure.

Stay hydrated folks!!

Alright this isn't what I mean, but I think you get the picture! (Of course I don't drink beer out of straws) There is a water somewhere behind there.

From Tomorrow on it is All for Me!

Workout on the Treadmill - 3 miles / 33 minutes (I haven't run in over a week, but room for improvement)

Last year my coworkers made a big deal about doing a biggest loser competition at work. Everyone was so excited about it and the office was a-buzz with all of the weight loss happenings. Of course I didn't join, the buy-in was a $100 (I know it is motivation to lose but also a lot of dough to lose!).

This year I figured why not, I had put on some holiday weight and figured I might be able to take the whole competition. Fail... Unfortunately, I didn't have Jillian Michaels and Bob Harper in this version.

Tomorrow is the weigh in day and the winner is announced. As of right now I am tied for 3rd place, which is a prize holding spot, but I have to hope that the person I am tied with gained weight in the past month... (sad face, I am a horrible person).

On the eve of weigh in day I have come to a realization, I am never going to make this about anyone except myself again.  I will lose weight for ME and only me.  Gavin could care less what weight I am so is there really anyone else that matters. I also don't necessarily want to be skinny, I want to be healthy and toned and be able to run double digits. (For all those Ultra people out there... sorry I have to draw the line somewhere)

That doesn't mean I am throwing in the towel, I did what I could on the treadmill this morning (wish it was more) I didn't want to push too hard just yet, and I really didn't even give myself enough time to do the 33 minutes that I did. Not the mention the foot, still a bit tender. I will also be putting in some serious time on that CRAZY elliptical tomorrow morning!

So lets reevaluate, my goals are to drop some weight, build muscle and run this silly 13.1 miles that is less than 5 months from now.  Oh I forgot to mention those skinny jeans WILL fit again!

Putting my Pant Leg Down

Some of you may know that I am a member of SparkPeople, it is full of great informtion and helpful tools for weight loss, as well as having a community aspect. There are so many articals that are very informative.

I some of the information is recycled so I have received the link to an artical a few times titled "5 Reasons to Get Rid of Your Skinny Jeans" The writer, Nancy Howard, asks the important question, is it movtivating to keep the skinny clothes in your closet or detrimental. She makes some great points, but I am in total denial that this is my situation.

Pharaphrasing her reasons a bit:

1. The skinny clothes become a reminder of your 'ideal' size and you will beat yourself up over not getting back to that places.  Your self-esteem could be tied to that weight/size.  Things happen (especially with us ladies) weight never seems to redistribute its self the same way.
2. Mourning the life that once was.  (I will be the first to admit college was a great time of my life... I hold on to it, ok now that you mention it there are a few things that I could get rid of. Although, it still fits!)
3. When things don't fit and you keep trying you feel like a failure (again, weight comes back in strange places)
4. Desparate to fit? Desparate measures... unhealthy weight loss is never good!
5. Trying to get back to that size and connecting that to your happy place might make you feel eternally inadequate. 

So I can understand her point that if this stuff is from a decade ago, then it is time to LET Go!

Jeans in particular, I keep until they are worn through... things that I could have kept from my Glory Days of college are complete rags at this point! When things ware out in the knee it is one thing, but when you lose the crotch... Sayonara Pants!

My confession is that 3 years ago I dropped 25 pounds, had issues with my feet and fell off the wagon, and have been struggling to get back there ever since.  In the time that I was down, I bought my dream pair of Lucky Brand Jeans. (I know I don't aim high, my fashion sense could be considered as 'simple'...) Nothing could beat the high I had in the store when these pants fit me. There are so many stores that I just don't go into for fear that the I would be sent into a serious low by a pair of paints barely coming up past my knee. This was one of those stores, Gavin and I walked in on a whim, and I was feeling confident that day. They were not even the biggest size the store carries!

Of course these pants don't fit me know, they have had their moments back in 2012 I had them on for a breif moment in time with a big thanks to a pair of Spanx (Target brand, again nothing fancy). I really thought the 5 mile run earlier that day would shed the 2 inches that would take for me to go sans Spanx.

Me and my besties on my 30's Birthday... 2010 (you can do the math) I am the one with the white and green necklace and pink shirt, but more important those are the jeans. 

Until these jeans are a decade old or I have had a kid and my bodies shape has totally mutated, then they will stay in my closet and I WILL wear them again. (and not with a rubber band as a loop extender, might have happened.)

Do you keep your "skinny" clothes just in case?