Author: jaj05002

35. DC/NoVA. Fitness Enthusiast. Balance Seeker. Recovering Workaholic. Healing Journey. Weight Watchers. Loud Laugher. Fiery Leo. Theatre Junkie. Music Aficionado. Avid Writer. Pom Mom. Lawnguyland Native.

Mistress No More

Well if you’ve found your way over here from My Quarter Life Catharsis than Welcome!

This blog here has been my “mistress” for far too long and I think there’s more than enough room in your “favorites” for 2 blogs from me (and my AWESOME tumblr – I like to write, sue me).

Like I said some of the posts are strictly number based and that’s what I thought the blog was going to be, me transcribing what I write in my little notebook onto a blog, but it’s become more than that. It’s become a story of my successes and failures, accomplishments and heartaches.

So if you care to read it, I suggest you look at the archives and start at the beginning. You can skip the posts with my weekly tallies if you’d like, but I don’t want it to be a secret anymore because I’m so proud of myself and where I’m headed.

My friends fitness blogs have been really inspirational and I want to put this out there to inspire and motivate others. Also I think writing all this makes me more accountable, and even more so now because I have invited you all to read this, but I did it because I believe in myself and the power to make changes in your life.

Progress since January…so pretty. Just think I did all of that in the first quarter of the year, just think where I’ll be by the end of the year!

*Note the weight graph includes a trendline (green line), which averages out the daily fluctuations in water weight and uncovers true weight loss progress.

T- 3 Weeks

Today is 3 weeks until my 5K. I’m so excited. The 5K really helped keep my focused on running and weight loss. I can’t believe how much much progress I’ve made. As of today I am down an even 18 pounds since I started my journey at the start of the year. I can’t believe it. I look good and feel great. Today was a first for me, I went running around my neighborhood with my dog today. I looked at some maps to try and figure out how to run in a 3 mile loop. I really enjoyed being outside, I think I even liked it more than the track. My poor little doggie was quite the trooper, for parts of the run we walked due to his tiredness or lots of cars. I used the stop watch function on my ipod to measure how long I’d been out and I ran to a spot that I knew the address of so I could figure out my distance via google maps. I actually was out running for nearly 50 minutes, it FLEW by, I was shocked by how quickly the time went by. So I got home and figured out that I actually ran/walked 3.6 miles total!

I know I’m gonna be able to run the 5K, but I really want to run it for time. I’d love to come in under 31 minutes. I’m gonna try and figure out a good 5K route to practice on outside because I like I said I enjoyed it better than the track by A-LOT.

I’m hoping to really pick up the pace at the gym the next 3 weeks. I’d really like to drop 5 pounds by race day. I’m gonna try and shoot for 5x a week at the gym for the next 3 weeks, we’ll see.

TMI

So I know nobody reads this which is fine, I haven’t given out the link….yet. However regardless I’d like to share the fact that I think I’ve lost some weight in my boobs, well specifically my left one which was always noticeably (at least to me) bigger, but as of lately they seems to be evening out. That is truly a small victory!

Other Measurements

So at the gym yesterday my trainer took my measurements (arms, hips, waist, legs, thighs) and I’m very pleased to report with exception of my damn hips I’ve lost some INCHES like whoa. I honestly can’t remember the numbers off the top of my head, but we have it written in my binder. We also did some BMI/Body Fat percentages and I’m making some good progress as well. I know I am seeing results on the scale, but I also know I’m gaining muscle so it’s nice to see that be reflected too!

Hitting the Pavement

After a so-so run on the track on Friday I took Saturday off and then hit the track again Sunday. It was a GORGEOUS Easter Sunday and since I hundreds of miles away from family it was a lovely ME day. I was actually surprised to see so many people on the track and despite the 80+ degree weather there was a lovely breeze. After some stretching and 2 warm up laps I was able to knock out a 10:14 minute mile which was exciting. I probably could have pushed it a little more, but knowing that I wanted to knock 3 miles out I wanted to pace myself. I actually walked/jogged another half mile before doing “sprint miles.” what I did was on the straightaways of the track I would run as fast as I possibly could and then on the curves of the track I walked. At that pace I was at about a 14 minute mile, but I bet if I jogged the curve instead of walked it I could shave quite a few minutes off.

As a bonus from the running I got a lovely sunburn/tan. I actually LOVE getting color and need to work up a base “burn” before I start tanning. The only downfall was that I was running in a tank top and my ipod armband left a lovely little white stripe on my arm!

I felt so good about my run yesterday (and really all my recent runs) that I broke out a SKIRT today to show off my legs!

Progress

I’m down 17 pounds yo!

I’m like 6 pounds away from a MAJOR goal. I am REALLY hoping to meet it in 30 days. I have a 5k on May 2nd and I would love to hit that weight.

My drama at the moment is that I have only like 5 sessions left with my personal trainer. The sessions I’ve had since the end of January were like a BONUS from old training sessions that I cancelled due to the cost. I really planned to use those extra sessions to give my weight loss a jump start and then be done. However I REALLY like my trainer and I have been making really good progress. So I looked into continuing with him and I even signed a contract, but the next day I cancelled the contract due to various reasons. I’m hoping to work out a different contract shortly, but we shall see.

I was at the track again yesterday for the 2nd time and I plan to go tomorrow as well to work on hitting the pavement.

On Pace

“The only good race pace is suicide pace, and today looks like a good day to die.” – Steve Prefontaine

32 days til my 5K

While running 3 miles today I did 1 mile at a 9:49 min/mile pace – I was pretty darn pleased with myself.

I hope to run outside Friday and Sunday this week.

Skinny

One of my students just told me I looked “skinny.” I for SURE wouldn’t say I’m skinny, but nonetheless I am OFFICIALLY down 15 pounds and feel great.

I bought 2 different brands of jeans in a size smaller than I was currently wearing!

I also am picking up my work outs, mostly because they are coming easier. I can run 2.5 miles no problem, now I’m striving for 3.5-4 miles at a time.

I also went out to a track for the first time in god only knows how long and didn’t completely embarrass myself. I did a quarter mile in 2:15 mins which was exciting, when it came down to running a mile straight I ended up at a 10:43 mile which isn’t to shabby, although I really want to knock down to below a 10 minute mile.

Even when I was working with my trainer this week I couldn’t get over how much stronger I feel. I did some of the best planks I’ve done in a while and I even did extra time at wall sits. I only have a few more training sessions left and as much as they cost I really like my trainer and think I may continue sessions for through the summer which is traditionally when I “fall off the gym wagon.” I also think I am going to sign up for like a 10k or something in Aug/Sept to FORCE me to keep up my running through the summer – actually I just found a 10K in Atlanta on Labor Day that I plan to register for after my 5K.

This week I also played a little more basketball and did yoga. My new plan is to get to the gym 3 days a week and then do some outdoor stuff 1x a week either run on the track and/or play basketball. We shall see.

I’m only like 7 pounds away from a MAJOR goal and 5 pounds away from a 20 pound total loss. Life is good.