Life

We had an offer on the house last week but it fell through. I was so excited but incredibly stressed. Mike and I figured out that due to his golf weekend we had only about a week after the offer closed to pack! So I am thankful that it fell through a little bit. I don't like the stress of showing the house and constantly cleaning it but it is a neccessary evil. I hate the person it turns me into. I fly off the handle pretty easily and get angry with Ally more often than I like. She has started to throw food on the floor and to spit. It ticks me off because I am trying so hard to keep this house clean and I hate cleaning. Ally is pushing my buttons on purpose because I think she likes to get a reaction out of me. I wish I didn't get so angry but I just washed the floor or cleaned that spot or put that away. I also hate how I can't exercise with all this chaos. I actually missed the endorphins or whatever it is but I miss having that time to myself and working on me. I am feeling a bit burnt out.

I am also very excited about our future. We spent Canada Day in Didsbury and being there showed and reminded me of the neat activities for kids and the strong community that I have there. It really is going to be a great place to raise kids.

I also just love being close to everything and my parents! My kids are going to be so lucky....I hope one day they appreciate it too. So I have lots to complain about but I am also very thankful and excited.

Hmmmm....

I wonder how people do it. Exercise and eat healthy amoungst chaos. I am almost overwhelmed with showing our house. Today the girls and I had to pack up and leave twice and one time was during naptime. It is really exciting and I am very hopeful the house will sell just when is the key. I tried to go running today but it didn't work out and because of the awkward timing of the showings and keeping the house clean we ate out too. I tried to eat well. I am counting my points and I lost 2 lbs so that is good. I need that motivation to eat well this week.

Any tips on how to fit exercise in during chaotic times?

Frustrated

I am really frustrated with dieting. I haven't done it for about a week and half and I have very little desire to continue. Why, oh why is it so damn hard? I have been doing this diet for 8 weeks and half lost 3 lbs. Now I must admit I haven't followed it as good as I could have but still! I tried getting back on the wagon on Monday but that didn't work and here it is Wednesday and I going to give it another shot. I have cut down my daily points by 4 and that should work. What ticks me off and I have complained about this before is that before when I would have a bad week I wouldn't gain anything now I have a bad week and I gain like 5 lbs. It sucks. I hope cutting down my points will help. I am exercising more than ever and hardly losing anything that isn't cool. So I this week I will watch my supply and do my best to stay on plan.

On a good note my running is going really well! It is getting easier, not by much but I am feeling more confident in my ability to run. I think next week I will sign up for a 5k run. The original one I wanted to do is July 5, that maybe a bit soon so I am going to find another one that is at a better time.

Weekend

It has been a busy weekend. Mike and I went to look at houses and decided we are going to build a house! Scary!

Friday, we missed our class again due to rain. We went out on a little date night instead and it was wonderful! I love my kids dearly but it is nice to be away from them once in a while too. I also weighed in and gain 5 lbs so I enjoyed my dinner immensely. I know....bad. I am going to get back on the wagon on Monday. I think 80% is due to poor eating and the other 20% is not enough water and bouncing back from the marathon.

On Saturday, I went for a hike with my very fit sister and brother in law. They said it was a nice easy walk with a few little hills. Oh my, the hills killed me! I was huffing and puffing so hard by the top and there were about 4. I was a little embarrassed but my one shread of dignity was that I didn't need to be pushed up the hill like my sister in laws mother....seriously. They would hold her hips and help her up the hill by pushing her. Also I was carrying a baby.

Then today I did my first run with 3 minutes running and 1 minute walking. I am very surprised to say that it wasn't that bad. It was kind of easy. I actually enjoyed doing it and that has been a first. I am excited because that will help motivate me to continue. I really didn't want to run today.

Jogging and Jogging

I did my runs the last two days. I am glad I did the one tonight because I am a little more confident that I can handle running for 3 minutes. When I type or say that I feel like such a lard-ass. I guess in away I am but at least I am a lard-ass who is trying to lose the lard! Ha-ha!

I have completely fallen off the wagon food wise this week. It has been so hard with getting the house ready and then the night we planned to go for groceries we ended up having a showing. But I went today and got some healthy but easy meals too so that we don't have an excuse to eat out. I am dreading the scale tomorrow morning but tomorrow I will get back on the wagon and count and eat well.

I am also having trouble drinking enough water. I don't know why but I need to force myself to drink it and I am not getting enough in. That is my goal for next week to drink 8 glasses of water each day. I think fluids are really important for helping my supply and since Zoe isn't taking to solids I need to keep that supply going strong.

30 min Walk/Run

I did it.  Phew!  It is hard but I did it.  I have been so comsumed with the house selling that I have been putting my running aside.  I have decided that I am going to sign up for a 5k run.  I really need the motivation to keep my exercise important.  The class is really helpful too but I need something more....I think....I don't know why I am letting things slide.

I was thinking maybe the reason that I am finding this new goal hard to keep up is that I don't really believe that I can run for 20 minutes straight.  2 minutes right now is hard and I am scared of having to do 3 minutes on Friday!  I guess it shows how out of shape I am.  I think signing up for the run will be a small goal that I can reach and accomplish.  With the marathon I *knew* I could do it, walking is easy.  With running I barely know if I can finish the 30 minutes!  And I am not even running for 30 minutes straight!

I want to keep going for my health and fitness.  I need to remember why I am doing this.  For weightloss and ultimately my girls.  I want to run with Ally and soon enough Zoe.  I don't want to get winded from playing with them.  I need to keep telling myself this.

I also have been bad with my eating!  Ugh...the more I write the more disappointed I am with myself.  I have a good week and then slack again.  I am so close to saying good bye to the 200's.  It would be nice if I get there this week but I am not holding my breath.  I hope I didn't gain.  

Okay. It is only Tuesday.  I can do this!  I can run every day this week.  I can eat healthy.  Yes, I can!

Slack

Ugh!  This weekend has been so busy.  Mike and I have been working so hard to declutter our house and get it ready to sell.  It looks amazing but I am so tired.  I have also been very slack on my runs.  I finally did one tonight and I have a bunch to make up, so no rest days for me!  I did a 4 minute warm up and then 21 minutes of running/walking and 5 minute cool down.  I did it on the treadmill because it is rainy again and I am trying to get Zoe on a schedule.

She is so tired at 7pm and falls asleep while I am nursing her but 10 minutes after I put her down she is screaming again.  Tonight I had Mike go in and soothe her but it didn't work.  I had 2 or 3 nights last week where she went to sleep and slept until 10.  All I want is to have my evenings back and then she can come to bed with  me.  I am a bit frustrated tonight because I was really looking forward to having a bath and plus there is still more work to be done.  I also *hate* the crying.  Does anyone know of a way to get a baby to sleep with out crying?  Zoe does cry a bit when going down for her naps but it is less then 5 minutes.  But at night she can go longer than I can!  I hate hearing her cry.  The only thing that keeps me going is that I know she is tired and sleep is important.

Woo-hoo Pre-Pregnancy #2 Weight

I am so excited to say that I have gotten back to my pre-pregnancy weight from Zoe.  I am now 202!  It has been about a year since I last saw that number on the scale.  Now onto losing the weight I gained from Alexandra's pregnancy!  Which is another 50 lbs.

I didn't run yesterday because I was too consumed with packing up my clutter to put the house on the market and then I was too tired, I will make it up on the weekend.  My class is tonight and I am not sure if I am going to go because it is rainy and cold.  I really should but I am working hard at packing stuff up and getting the house ready for Monday, when we get pictures done.

We have decided to move to Didsbury, where I grew up and my parents still live.  We think a small town will be perfect for our kids to grow up.  I really like that my kids will be able to walk to school.  I am ready for our 'forever' house.  It is going to be stressful but the realtor we met with thinks that if it hasn't sold by August 1 that it probably won't.  So then we will try again next year.  

I really don't relish the idea of all the cleaning that is needed to be done ALL THE TIME but I want to move.  I think this is as good a time as any.

Back to the Grind

I was able to do about 10 minutes of jogging yesterday until I was too sore to keep going.  I am happy that I did it especially since I just did the marathon.  I am having a hard time getting out in the morning for swimming.  Zoe has been sick the last couple of days so I don't know if I will make it this week at all.  6am is so early when you have been up with a sick baby.

On a good note, I have started putting Zoe down in the evenings.  Up until now she has been tired but really fighting sleep.  I decided to start a routine and do a bit of crying it out and it has worked.  It only took 2 nights and last night was such a treat to have my evenings back.  Tonight I might even do some knitting.

Today I had a bunch of running around and I squeezed my  run in this morning.  I have been doing my runs at the school track but it was being used to day so I ran around the block a couple times.  I had to cut it short by 2 minutes because Zoe was freaking out.  I am getting nervous again about having to run 2 straight minutes.  I hope I can do it.

New Goal

Well, I am not at my goal weight or even close.  I have really enjoyed my training and I want to keep up the amount of exercise that I have been doing.  I still have 50+ lbs to lose and 6 months is my goal to get there.  I have decided that my new goal is to be able to run for 20 minutes straight and to enjoy it.  Along the way I am going to do a couple of races I want to do two 5 km races and one 10 km.  I also want to continue...err...start swimming regularily too.  I have created a 21 week plan to end with running the 10 km in October.

Completed Goal

Here is my training sheet with most of it crossed off!  I really enjoyed the training for the marathon almost more than the actual event.  I really like having a big goal at the end to motivate me to exercise.

I did it!

I did it!  The marathon.  All 13.1 miles or 21.1 km.  I am tired and sore but proud.  I am so thankful that I had my sister there by my side the whole way.  At this point that is the best part of doing the marathon.  I am still in shock and I am still processing the whole event.  It was a tremendous amount of work.  I am amazed at how the extra 3 miles took a tole on my body.  My hips are the sorest and I can barely walk. I am having digestive issues too.  I think I am low on electrolytes, so I am hoping Mike will bring me home some gatorade.  I will start from the beginning and tell you everything I can remember.

I got up at 5:30 and had some oatmeal. I figured it was a safe breakfast that would provide some good nutrition and energy.  I hadn't slept well due to excitement and unfortunately Ally was up twice too.  Danielle came and we drove to the c-train.  It was neat taking the c-train because about 90% of the passengers were there for the marathon.  When we got to the park where the marathon started, I still couldn't believe how many people there were!  It was incredible.  I wanted to use the bathroom but the line ups were crazy and I didn't want to wait in line.  Danielle and I made our way to the starting line.  I was so excited and nervous.  It was neat standing amongst the people getting ready.  

The race started and for the life of me I can't remember if it was a gun or something else.  And Danielle and I took off.  We slowly made our way to the right where slower walkers or runners were supposed to be.  For about the first kilometer was the crowd spreading out.   After we got to the second or third kilometer it was mainly walkers.  Danielle and I trudged on and set a time goal to get to 6 km.  I wanted us to get there for about an hour because that is what we had done in training.   I wanted to get down the marathon at under 4 hours.  After 6km, we were walking at a good pace of 10 minutes per kilometer.  I stopped at the washroom at 9 km, I am really glad that I did because if I did it any later I think it would have been hard to get back up.  

Just before the halfway point was a drum corp which pumped me up since I used to be in one.  I got a second wind at that point.  The way the race was set up we got to pass the drum corp twice which was awesome.  I found the entertainment to be really motivating and got me excited.

After 16 km it started to get really tough.  My hips started to get sore and a bit stiff.  I am proud to say that we kept pace.  Danielle had more energy than me and I had to push to keep up with her.  It really helped.  She was really encouraging too.  I really pushed myself to keep going.  At one point in the race we talked about doing some jogging around 18 km but I didn't have it in me.  I really enjoyed the encourgament from the few spectators too, every little bit helps.  Also around this time we began to see a bunch of people who had completed the half marathon walking home!  I was flabbergasted and at one point I said to Danielle that they had no right to walk past us all happy!  I was a bit cranky near the end.

We rounded the last corner and saw the finish line.  I didn't think I could run but I did.  My mom was there cheering us on.  It was so great having someone cheer you on at the last stretch.  I was really overwhelmed and felt like crying.  It was nice crossing the finish line and good to be done!

Mike unfortunately missed it.  I was disappointed but what can you do?  He had a hard time getting both girls out of the house and finding parking.  Zoe was pretty good, she didn't cry the whole time but refused to eat anything!  Thankfully she was still calm after the race because I needed to take my sports bra off to nurse her and I couldn't do that in a crowd of people.

After the race we went out for a buffet and I enjoyed it and I didn't count any points.  I think the best time for a buffet is after a marathon when you don't care about the calories you are consuming.  Then I came home and napped.  I had booked a massage which was so wonderful!  Then I spent the rest of the evening in bed.