25 Minutes and Screaming Shins

My shins screamed at me when I stopped. 

You have to understand that I just don't just stop dead at the end of my run, I do a five minute cool-down walk. As soon as the treadmill stops though, pain. I stretch, it feels better, but I feel like an old person when I'm walking back up the stairs with the underlying stiffness that I'm left with. And the dull ache follows me for the rest of the evening.

Guess what though? 

I don't care! I'm happy to feel the pain because it's a reward for what I have just done. I have just completed Couch to 5k, Week 7 Day 1, on my FIRST attempt!!! That's a 25 minute non-stop run! I am beyond proud of myself!

The fine print.

In case you are wondering, yes, I do warm up. I stretch then do a five minute warm-up walk. Just figured I'd mention that before anyone asks.

 



Hip-hip, hooray!!!

 

If someone had told me six months ago that I would be able to run for 25 minutes without stopping I would have laughed my head off at them!  I shocked even myself when I did.  After four days of not having a chance to run I was able to do it!!!  Excuse me while I pat myself on the back and give a little cheer!  Sometimes we can be our own best cheering section!

This Hour Has 22 Minutes. . .

Oh wait, I think that's probably a copyright infringement, sorry CBC.

I did it!!! I ran for 22 minutes!!!  I can't believe it!  After I did my cool-down walk my shins screamed at me.  I gave them a good stretch and they felt good.  I don't know how, but I did it!

Since I ran for 14 minutes last time, I figured I would aim for 15 this time.  15 minutes passed, and I thought "let's see how long I can go then". Four minutes left and I'm thinking "I can get to twenty again".  2 minutes 30 seconds left and I'm thinking "maybe I can keep going". One minute 30 seconds, one minute, "OMG, I'm gonna do this!" And I made it!  That was Couch to 5K week 6, day 3.  Finally!!!

I started Couch to 5k on September 16.  That means it has taken me 18 weeks to do 6.  Oh well though, I'm doing it and that's all that matters!

The Most Amazing Feeling

I went to the mall to try on some pants that I have been eyeing for a while and were now on sale. I selected a size 14. They looked big but had a low waist so I took a size 12 to the dressing room as well. My thoughts were that even if the 12 was snug I would go with them anyway since I am not done with my weight loss. So I go in the change room and decide to be brave and try the 12 first. Then I'm like a giddy little schoolgirl because they were too big!!! I asked the staff member for a 10 and they fit great. I was thrilled! Now I'm sure these pants were sized big, but I don't care, I bought a size 10!!! I don't remember EVER buying a size 10!  I can't tell you how amazing it felt.  I was on a high the rest of the night!

 

I do love these pants (I love red) and they are quite slim through the leg but I think they look great!  I can't wait to wear them!  I'm going to watch to see if they go down any cheaper in price so I can buy an 8 for when I lose more!!! Yup, I'm that determined to do it!

 

Speaking of weight, I'm at 42 pounds.  Three pounds to go! Amazing! 

 

Second attempt at a 22 minute "run".  (I say "run" but it's a jog).  Fail!  I really don't know how I made it to 20 minutes before.  I ran for 14 minutes this time followed by a three-minute walk and another 5 minute run.  I think it's time to drop the Couch to 5k program and just concentrate on getting to 22 minutes, then 23, 24 and so on. . .

 

However it's -35°C (-31°F) with the windchill right now and it's going to drop even more this evening.  I am not going out to run today!  I declare hibernation!  Instead I will do some yoga and then workout on the glider.

Just Not Getting There Yet

Oh how I failed at Couch to 5k again!!!  The week 6 day 3 run is 22 minutes.  I didn't even get close!  I thought I would break it into two elevens, but I only made it ten.  Then I couldn't make it through the second ten.  I checked out the runs in the following weeks and they all just add time.  No more run-walk-run.  I might have to check out some other apps or just try increasing the time on my own.  I'm not sure how I'm ever going to survive 22 minutes.  I survived 20 once, so maybe one day. . .

I finally got the Wii Fit out of the corner it was hiding in.  I did some basic yoga, just 17 minutes.  I'm still pretty sure that yoga was invented as a medieval torture method.  I am convinced that yoga is the answer to help firm up the mid-section a bit, although I am realistic and I know it won't do much especially if I don't commit myself to it regularly.

Bloggers note:  In an effort to make my blog more creative I have been adding pictures and cartoons.  I apologize that several pictures did not seem to appear properly.  I have updated the picture in my post "Forty!" as well as "Proceed With Caution".  Thanks for reading!

Forty!

Forty! Woot woot!  Five to go!  Sweet!  I don't know how to describe how it feels to be this close.  I am super excited so I am now sure that it will help motivate me for the last five.

Couch to 5K, Week 6 Day 2, was difficult.  I'm not sure why.  It was two ten-minute runs separated by a three minute walk.  The last two minutes really tested me, I so wanted to give up!  I didn't stop though and I made it.  Since I survived twenty minutes on my second-last run, it drives me nuts that two tens killed me.  Day 3 is 22 minutes, how am I going to make that?

I really have to convince myself to get back on the Wii Fit and start doing some yoga again. It's time to stretch the tummy muscles and firm up the mid-section a bit.  I absolutely refuse to do sit-ups, and I hear that they really don't help (I don't know if there is truth in that).  I guess it's not about convincing myself though, after all, I know I need to do it.  It's about motivating myself, my big-fat-unmotivated-self.

A Little Worried But Getting Closer

So I bought two pairs of pants from the thrift store yesterday.  I haven't tried them on yet, but they are the next size down from the ones that are getting too big.  No capris though.  I guess I have to wait until spring to come across those.

I'm worried that I might not make it to forty this week.  I have been under on my calories for the last week (except for my cheat day) but I know a lot of the calories have been "bad" calories.  I am really hopeful that I will reach that forty when I weigh in on Monday. 

 

 

I can't tell you how excited I am to be this close to my goal.  If I hit forty pounds then I am only five pounds away from my original goal.  I'm hoping that this helps me to drive harder toward the forty-five pound mark.  180 was my pre-pregnancy weight, but 160 would be my ultimate goal.  I haven't weighed that since I graduated high school.  I will be happy at 180, but I promise that I will not stop, I will aim for 160 and I will not let myself go back up again like I did last time.  Even if I never reach 160, I NEVER want to reach the 200's ever again!

Cheat Day!

My "new" pants are starting to fall down!  This means it's almost time for new "new" pants!  Yay!  I'm thinking I need to start concentrating on a spring wardrobe though.  I am sure that all of my capris will be falling off.  Problem - need cash!!!  I'm going to Vegas in April for the weekend to see Bon Jovi so I need to save money for that, and I am trying to plan a trip for the whole family to a wedding in July.  No, I don't need any "make fast money at home/on the Internet" schemes, I just need to find a second job that I can work only one day a week (I already work full time).  Oh, and I need to stop spending money!

Today was a total cheat day, and I enjoyed it!  Between walking around Walmart (groceries and cat food) and Ikea (don't worry, I only purchased a few small, inexpensive items) plus doing Couch to 5K, Week 6 Day 1, I actually didn't end up too far over on my calories.  In fact, if I hadn't spoiled myself with a Chocolate Covered Marshmallow from Ikea after my run, I would have made it in under.