Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Summer Challenge starts today!

I can't believe it's June already! This year is absolutely flying by. It's almost been 7 whole months since I fainted and broke my jaw. Anyway, June 1st means it's the first day of my Summer Challenge. I've added a separate blog page to keep track of my goals in one easy-to-see spot. You might also notice that my blog is actually now www.runsforcookies.com. I have no idea what possessed me to buy the domain yesterday, but I did. And I added an e-mail address, if you'd like to contact me. So, about the challenge...


First things first:  I weighed in today at 146. Which, believe it or not, is actually down 5 pounds from last Wednesday. More on this later.*

The graph does not show the inclines that I did... it was hard, I swear! ;)
I also logged 3.25 miles today. I did a dreadmill workout that was 5 minutes walking and 30 minutes running. The running segment was only at 6.0 mph, but the incline went from 2-4%, which made it hard. I'm really sore today because I did Jillian Michaels' Ripped in 30 DVD yesterday. I'd like to start doing strength training, and I've heard good things about her DVD's, so I figured I'd give it a shot. I liked that it was short and to the point, and definitely challenging. I had to modify the push-ups, because I cannot do more than a couple of Army push-ups. Hopefully by the end of the summer I'll be doing them by the dozen!

The weekly goal I set for myself is to count calories (and stay within the guidelines) at least 6 days this week. Friday, I have a bachelorette party, and I don't even want to pretend that I'm going to keep track of calories for that.

So that sums up Day 1 of the Summer Challenge goals. I took Eli to the beach today. We met my friend Andrea and her two kids there. The kids had a blast, but it was SUPER windy. We saw a woman walking on the beach in her BRA... and it wasn't even passable as a bikini top! It was purple LACE. I pretended to pose for Andrea so that she could inconspicuously take a picture of the woman in the background, lol.

Tonight I have to go try on bridesmaids dresses with my friend Sarah. I think I mentioned that I'm the matron of honor in her wedding this October. She lives in Arizona, and she's home for a couple of weeks for her wedding shower and bachelorette party, and to pick out dresses. I'm kind of dreading it. I have no clue what size dress I'll need. I'm guessing a 6, but who the hell knows what size I'll be in October?! Hopefully I'll be back into a 4, but I could very well be an 8 or a 10. I'm going to wait as long as possible to order the dress.

Speaking of dresses, I put on the size 4 dress that is hanging in my closet unworn and I was able to zip it again! I think it still looks too tight to wear in public, but I'm glad that I was able to zip it with ease. Maybe 5 more pounds and I can wear it. I'm dying to get back in the 130's. Vacation shot me into the 140's and I haven't seen the 130's since!  I tried on all my jeans a couple of days ago and separated them into two piles--ones that fit and I can wear in public, and ones that don't (my "muffin top" jeans).
On the left: muffin top jeans. On the right: jeans I can wear now. ALL are size 3/4, and ALL are different brands.
*Oh, about the 5 pound weight loss. Buying that size 6 dress for the wedding was SO helpful in getting me back on track. Not because I was ashamed of buying a 6, but because it gave me so much RELIEF to actually ADMIT that I had gained weight and was a 6. I've mentioned before that I feel so much pressure to keep this weight off because of the recognition that Sparkpeople has given me. I get a lot of e-mails from people saying that I inspire them, and it's so hard to read because I don't feel worthy of it. Admitting the gain, buying the size 6 dress, and blogging about it really helped me to relieve the pressure... which somehow made it easier for me to get back on track. I've been counting calories for 10 days now, which is the longest streak I've had since I broke my jaw! I feel back to my old self, 100% focused and determined to reach goal. I don't feel the pressure to get back to goal right this second.

Do any of you have specific goals for the summer? Do you find it harder to eat healthy and exercise in the summer or easier?
Posted by SlimKatie at 4:41 PM
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5 comments:

  1. Nice job on the calorie counting! I can't say that it's been going that well for me..haha. Oh, and I love PB2!! I'm going to work my way through that list of recipes you posted :)

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  2. It sucks that you feel so much pressure, but hopefully, you'll be able to get where you want to be. I think it's so much easier to lose weight in the summer. When winter got here, I was basically at a stand still with the same 5lbs back and forth. I'm SO happy, summer's back!

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  3. I love your dedication and sticking to your goals!

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  4. Hi Katie!
    Love the new blog title--I'd run for cookies too, if not for these bum knees. Last night as I was walking home, I thought to myself, "Wonder if I could just run a little bit." I have done a tiny bit of it in the past, usually in the middle of my walk, and it isn't horrible, although it is very very slow! I read a quote today that said, "I may be slow but I'm lapping everybody on the couch." I like that. At least I'm trying! I didn't actually run last night, but I did pick up my pace--it's a start!

    I walked Tuesday night so I could have a piece of angel food cake. Last night I walked, and then didn't snack when I got home! WOOHOO for me.

    My summer goal is to get to 149 by July 4, I know what you're working towards, and I'm rooting for you so hard--hope you can get there. I know you can do it--you've done it before, and that carrot that is dangling at the end of the stick is so appetizing. I would so love to see your beautiful smiling face in the pages of my favorite mag.

    You DO deserve all the attention over at Spark. You are amazing, talented, wonderful AND inspirational. I know you feel like a fraud because you struggled for a time there, that just makes you more REAL to all of us who are struggling right along with you. I think as soon as we accept that it IS going to be a struggle and we have to learn to live with that, we'll be better off.

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  5. It may feel like you are doing 'badly' - but you are doing great! Don't worry about every being a size 8 or a 10 again - don't allow it.

    Most 'naturally thin' people do pretty much what you are doing (once you get a hang of it). They loosen their diet when their 3/4s are fitting well - when they get tight, they ratchet the diet down (or count cals, skip dessert, cut carbs, exercise a little more, etc) until their 3/4s are comfortable again.

    This is exactly what you are doing - only you overshot and fit in some 6s. But you are working hard to get back on track and into 3/4s comfortably.

    My recommendation: as soon all of your 6s are too big for you, give them away! sell them ALL so you don't have the opportunity to slip into them again. That is what I'm doing once I reach a 4! (Then my ULTIMATE goal is to "maybe" squeeze into a 2 in the summer (I'd have abs!!!) - but sit comfortably in a 4 all the time).

    So don't stress - you are doing just what you need to do!

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