November 27, 2012

Results not typical

Well, Estelle has been having a blast with our Christmas tree. Last night, we didn't even have it up for 10 minutes before she climbed it...
She thinks she's being sneaky. She managed to climb up and sit for a few minutes, then climb all the way back down without knocking any of the ornaments off. That's impressive!

After getting the kids off to school this morning, I checked the weather to see how I should dress for my run. Yep, I knew it would be cold--it's Michigan, and it's November--but just look at how consistent the weather is here in Michigan...
Full sun, snow, partly cloudy, freezing rain, cloudy, and rain... see how predictable? ;)

Today I was scheduled to do an easy run, but I was in the mood to run fast. So I did. I wasn't trying to hit a certain time or pace; just run fast for three miles. I did the same out-and-back route I've been doing all the time lately, and the run was tough. I kept telling myself, "This is supposed to be an easy run, you can totally slow down if you want."

But I knew it would be over soon, and I really wanted to practice that uncomfortable feeling for my 5K race in a couple of weeks, so I stuck it out. I was very relieved to be done!
I just realized that the time is off on my Garmin. You would think that since it's a GPS watch, it would "know" the correct time, since it "knows" my location... I will have to try and figure out how to fix the time.

Anyway, after lunch, Jerry and I went to see Breaking Dawn at the movies. I really loved the Twilight books, but I didn't get into the movies very much. Jerry, however, didn't read the books but he LOVED the movies. We were the only two people in the theater for the entire movie!
The movie was bad. I cringed at some of the sound effects, and the bad acting, and the strange visual effects. I'm sure it was a difficult movie to make, though, with the wolves, and the tearing off of vampires' heads!

For dinner tonight, I cooked a turkey that we got from Jerry's work. Every year, they give all of the employees a turkey a couple of days before Thanksgiving. I usually wait until about a week after Thanksgiving to cook it, so that's what I made today. I also made mashed potatoes and roasted green beans.

Carving a turkey takes lots of time, and I was cooking the side dishes at the same time--so I was a little overwhelmed for a bit. Meanwhile, Jerry took the boys outside to play. When dinner was ready, Jerry and the boys were nowhere to be found. I was so irritated, because I'd gone to so much trouble making dinner. I just fixed myself a plate of food while it was still hot, and ate turkey dinner by myself. Jerry had taken the boys out in the woods, and they got back about a half hour after I was done eating.

I think Jerry felt bad, because he kept saying how good dinner was (even though it was cold!).

My sister (Jeanie) called me last night and said that she's doing Weight Watchers again. She just started a couple of weeks ago, and she's already lost over six pounds! She doesn't have much to lose, but I'm excited for her. It will also be helpful when we go on our trip in a few weeks--we talked about how we don't want the trip to revolve around food. We can help keep each other on track.

My mom has also been doing really well on Weight Watchers--she's down over 10 pounds. And just today, she told me that she was thinking of doing the Couch to 5K plan. I was SHOCKED when she said that! But I think that's awesome. She said that it seems like most of the people who have successfully lost weight and kept it off are runners, so she might as well give it a try ;)

It's kind of funny... when I was obese, I loved to read weight loss success stories. I would read them in magazines, books, on websites, etc. But I always skipped right past the ones where someone had become a runner while/after losing weight. I figured that since there was "no way" I'd ever be a runner, I didn't even want to read the story. I was actually kind of annoyed at the stories where someone lost 100+ pounds and then went on to run a marathon.

And now I AM that "results not typical" story that I hated! I never in a million years would have guessed I'd become a runner one day. I remember talking with Stephanie at Winers less than a year ago, and she was talking about walking for exercise. Jessica asked her, "So Steph, do you think you'll start running?" And Stephanie gave us this look that made it very clear that she wasn't interested in running--ever. She said, "No!" and we didn't ask again.

And then, less than six months later, Stephanie ran her first 5K ;)  (Here is her running story). It's so fun to see how running really does change lives!

41 comments:

  1. I know everyone has their own opinion but I LOVED that movie! I thought it was much better than the other 4 :) but I know everyone likes different things lol.

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    1. A lot of people seemed to like it, so I think I am in the minority on this one!

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  2. I haven't watched the new twilight movie yet, mostly because I cringed through the last one too. I just couldn't understand why the graphics and acting seemed so bad lol.

    That's so great that your mom is thinking of getting in to running! :)

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    1. I felt like I HAD to see the movies, since I read (and loved) the books--but I almost wish I hadn't ;)

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  3. Tell your Mom to go for it! My Mom is 78 years old and started a similar running program through our local running store, at age 77 - she's run three 5Ks, and one twice in her age division. She's doing the running store's winter program now at age 78 so your Mom should do it! Can't wait to hear the results of her first 5K! Go Katie's Mom!

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  4. I am also one of those people who said what is the point of running. I don't go far but I still find it great way to relieve stress and help lose weight. I have the same challenge with going on a trip and I am challenging myself to lose weight or even maintain current weight.

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    1. My short runs are my favorite form of therapy! You're right, it's a great stress reliever.

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  5. My mom kept talking that she might do a 5k next year, I do hope she does! However when she witnessed my physical soreness that I experienced after my first half a few weeks ago, she said that she is re-thinking the whole thing!

    I personally started running because it seemed like that is what all the 'successful' weight loss stories had in common. Plus, it makes you have great legs! :)

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    1. That would be great if you mom does the 5K! There is a big difference between a 5K and a half marathon, so if she trains, hopefully she won't feel TOO sore ;)

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  6. One of our cats likes to climb the tree. She hasn't done it this year (fingers crossed) and it always scares me to death.

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    1. I have come to expect it with Estelle--she gets into EVERYTHING.

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  7. I never thought I could be a runner...I always liked the IDEA of running, but didn't think I could. I LOVE it now. I'm not fast or anything, but I love running outdoors. It's helped me lose 95 pounds so far!

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    1. Congrats, Anika!! That's fantastic. Running always seemed so far out of my league, so I know what you mean about liking the IDEA but not thinking you can.

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  8. I too used to associate running with a lot of the weight loss success stories. I'd read them and think if only I was a runner I may get to my goal weight. I'm still working on getting there. Today is day 3 of weight watchers for me and I've been binge free for 3 days as well. I've been counting calories for so long needed to change things up a bit. We'll see what happens Sunday on weigh in day. I'm hoping my running helps me. 75lbs ago running is something I longed to do...now after a year of running I feel like I can say I am a runner and not an outsider.

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    1. Congrats on staying binge-free! I always find Days 3-4 to be the hardest. You most certainly ARE a runner! But I know what you mean. It took me a long time to call myself a runner, even though I was running three times a week.

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  9. Aargh, every time I read your blog it makes me want to join Weight Watchers!

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    1. Hahaha, Weight Watchers isn't magic... but it's been helpful for me this time around!

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  10. I would love to see pictures of you and your mom crossing the finish line!

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    1. I talked to her today, and I think her first 5K will actually be the virtual 5K on my birthday :) I'll run with her!

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  11. I agree about the movie. My husband loved it though, I don't know why, probably just the acting. I couldn't get over how weird the kid looked.

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    1. Yes! Jerry and I looked at each other and said, "Is that kid REAL? What the--?!" because she looked so strange.

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  12. I love how you seem to have inspired your family to get healthy. It's an awesome feeling to share the health/fitness bug!!

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    1. I don't know if it was my doing, but I'm super proud of my mom and sister!

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  13. I agree about the weight loss stories.. I never ever thought I'd want to run. It's so hard to associate those weight loss stories sometimes. But upon reflection, I bet you feel really proud of yourself!

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    1. Yes, I could never relate to the people in the running/weight loss stories, so I just skipped right over them.

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  14. I was also one of those people who never ever ever thought they'd run, ever! In gym in high school I could never do the mile in under like 13 minutes and even that was complete torture for me. I thought people who ran willingly were insane. Running really has changed my life. It's made me realize a lot of things about myself. I have lost close to 150 pounds, and I still have about 30-40 pounds to lose, and it's getting so hard that sometimes I feel like I'll never get there, but I just keep going.

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    1. WOW, Elizabeth, you're doing an amazing job! It's kind of amazing how much running can change a person--not just physically, but mentally as well. Congrats on your weight loss!

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  15. GREAT POST!! I have not seen the latest movies, but I did enjoy the books (the 4th book was my least favorite because it just got weird.)

    Ok, the weather cracks me up. With the varying temperature ranges - it looks like practically spring there on Sunday -I am thoroughly impressed by your commitment to run outside.

    Your cat climbing the tree reminds me of last year - our first Christmas with our cat. Every morning I'd wake up to the tinkle of glass ornaments that I THOUGHT were out of her reach... and one morning went downstairs to see her peeking from the tree out at me. I was hoping that would go away now that she's not a kitten anymore, but I'm assuming that's a no. Plus we're getting this foster kitten shortly...

    I remember feeling the same way about running back when I first started to exercise, as did my husband. Now we do 5ks together (I wrote a short blog for a wedding planning website about it..http://www.wednet.com/blog/2012/11/22/the-couple-that-runs-together/)

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    1. That's so awesome that you do 5Ks together! For a while, I thought Jerry was really getting into running, but he just didn't get hooked on it like I did. He trained for and ran a 10K, but then stopped running altogether. Then he ran a 5K race (his first run in months) the day I ran my marathon ;)

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  16. I've been reading your blog for about 4 months now. I found it just before I ran my first 5k. I signed up to run with a friend as a 'cross this off my bucket list' type thing. I trained like crazy knowing that I could be done running forever after that 5k. Your blog has been such an inspiration to me, I kept running even after my 5k. I'm down 21 lbs and I know need to run. I still don't enjoy running while I'm doing it but I love the feeling of accomplishment after I'm done. I feel like something is missing if I don't get in at least 2-3 runs a week. Thank you so much for documenting your journey! You are an inspiration. I know 100% for sure, if I had not found your blog, I would have never run again after that 5k.

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    1. That's fantastic, Rebecca!! Thanks so much for telling me that. Congrats on your 5K, and continuing to run. I do it for the same reasons :)

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  17. Hey Katie Girl! I was wondering if you could maybe put a "search" option on your blog so we can search all your blogs for certain things such as ive decided i want a garmin for Christmas and I wanted to read your blog all about Garmins to my husband....I did find it but it took me forever. Same story with the skinny margarita mix. You have sooo much useful information I wish there was an easier way to find stuff on earlier blogs :)
    Thanks Draftlover

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    1. I've actually always had a search option :) It's on the right hand side just above the "archive" of blog posts. Sorry you went to so much trouble!

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    2. That search only searches that particular blog though...am I right or confused?

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    3. It searches my entire blog--ALL of the posts. When someone asks me a question, I usually use the search option to find the post so I can send them the link to it :)

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  18. Well, you can add me to the list of 'maybes'. I just started C25K AGAIN, for like - the third time. I was halfway through when I had to have surgery. So, I started again just a few days ago to see if it can help to keep my weight more stable. I hope I can turn into one of those people who loves to run.

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    1. Ellen, you should do the virtual 5K in January! I haven't posted the details yet, but I'm 99% sure I'm going to do one :)

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  19. Okay, your cat is hysterical! And you have the patience of a saint. I think I would have a heart attack if either of my cats actually got INTO my tree--too many breakable things!!

    Thanks for the nice words. You truly are an inspiration, and although I cringe a bit when I remember HOW negative I was about running in January, I feel truly blessed to have great friends like you who have been patient and supported me in this crazy new journey I'm on. {{hugs}}

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  20. Good for your mom with the running and your family's success at WW! I finally got my 5 pound star this week, I'm so excited! For some reason I have a mental block with getting that star and I usually quit right before or right after ever time I join. Not this time though! (And I'm down 15 pounds total since the spring!) I told you I wanted to run a mile or two straight before my 34th birthday but after getting my butt kicked last week at the 10K Turkey Trot, I hit the gym Friday and ran a mile! Today I forced myself to go back and hit 1.25 straight! I can't wait until I can run a whole 5K straight!

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  21. Please continue your Estelle tree climbing updates! My boys are 4 and 6 and remember you posting last year about her adventures. I just showed them the picture from your post and read them the portion about Estelle's adventures.

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