Sugar Detox....

The first item on my agenda for 2011? A sugar detox.

All day today and off & on throughout the last several days I've been feeling really achy in my back and legs. I attributed it to my lack of working out and the small limp I've developed. I figured I'd thrown my alignment off a bit and was feeling it in my hips.

No doubt that those are contributing factors but this evening another reason hit me like a ton of bricks. Inflamation. I have completely OD'd on sugary, white flour, processed foods for the last week and I can literally feel the inflamation in my body.

OUCH! I can't believe I didn't realize sooner what was causing this. And I can't believe I didn't notice that my diet is likely directly resulting in a slower recovery from my injury.

Tomorrow ~ it's detox time. I am throwing away the remaining candy. I'm chucking the cheesecake and I have every intention of inhaling several green smoothies tomorrow.

I cannot wait to get back to whole foods again. Feeling like shit is no way to ring in the New Year.

Cheers!

2011 Race & Running Goals

Running: I intend to run 600 miles in 2011 (or more)

I have been thinking about my 2011 race goals for quite some time. I had visions of a long list of events that I planned to race, but the truth is: my life just isn't that neat and tidy right now. Life happens and you have to be flexible. It's a lesson I'm constantly reminding myself.

So, I'm going with a more generalized version of race goals.

I plan to run an event of some sort every month. Most months, I'm sure, will be a random 5K or 10K that I stumble upon. I do, however, have a few specific events in mind:

June 5 ~ North Olympic Discovery Half Marathon
*June 25 ~ Rock 'N Roll Seattle Half Marathon
July 16 ~ Warrior Dash, North Bend
July 30 ~ Federal Escape Sprint Triathlon
Aug 14 ~ Seattle Danskin Women's Triathlon
Nov 27 ~ Seattle Marathon (or the Half)

It's a lofty list of goals and I have every intention of completing all of them. Life happens and things change, but this is my starting point. I cannot wait for 2011. Great things are waiting for me. I just know it!

Happy New Year

Happy New Year to my bloggy friends!

I have to admit, 2010 was a challenge for me. The latter part of 2009 and into the beginnings of 2010 I honestly felt like my life was spinning out of control. I was obese. In more ways than one. My house was full of clutter; I was drowning in it. My body was full of fat and my mind was full of jumbled, nonsensical thoughts.

I started to take an interest in my health and began making small changes a little bit at a time. I started with green smoothies. I was astounded by the changes I noticed and began looking for other changes to make. I then switched my family to raw milk and grassfed beef. I started to cut way back on processed foods, I removed almost all traces of HFCS from our house and then, THEN, I cut out sodas and artificial sweeteners. I started drinking water exlusively and in July I made the biggest change of all: I joined a gym.

Around that same time I started this blog and I have been positively blown away by the support and friendships I've found out here in bloggy world.

I am ending 2010 more than 10 lbs lighter than I started it. The highest weight I saw this year staring back at me from the scale was 227 and some change and although I haven't done an official weigh in for a few weeks, I'm holding steady right at 214.something.

I've dealt with injuries this year, come back and run 5Ks. I've been tossed back onto the injured list, but I'm not losing sight of my goals. I have many and I'm only just getting started.

I don't do resolutions, I make goals and boy do I have big ones for 2011. Bring it on!!

I will be back to regularly scheduled blogging....

.....SOON! I promise.

The holidays (and this stupid injury) have kicked my ass. My life is slowly returning to normal and I even went to the gym yesterday (the first time in FIVE WEEKS!!)

I'm on my way back, kids. Watch Out!!

I'm working on my 2011 goals (I don't do resolutions, more on that later) ~ so get yours ready and we'll have a goal party. Or something. Or maybe not.

Holding Steady....

I'm sorry. I googled Santa images on google and I found this. I laughed so hard ~ I couldn't NOT use it!!! No worries though, everyone in our house has been saintly this year, I think we are safe from Santa poo!! LOL!!

I'm still doing my physical therapy for my ankle and it seems to be helping. I'm having more and more pain free days each week. That's good, right? I'm still not allowed to do any weight bearing exercises, but sshhh, don't tell. I've been doing squats. I'm not using weights, just my own body mass, but I have to do something, my legs feel like they are turning into lead logs.

I've decided to find the silver lining in this injury ~ so here it is: if you have to be injured, pick the most busy time of the year because then you don't have to feel guilty for not making time to go to the gym. See? I told you I'm a glass is half full kind of girl ;)

My weight is hovering right around 214ish. I'm ok with that. If I can get through the next week and maintain that I'll be happy and call this season a success. I'll be starting 2011 more than 10 lbs lighter than I started 2010 and that can't be considered a bad thing.

Today is actually not Christmas Eve in our house ~ that's tomorrow. We even had the kids start their Advent calendars a day late. My husband is working this weekend and won't get home until after dinner on the 25th ~ so we're calling that Christmas Eve and Santa will come that night so daddy will be here Sunday morning to watch the kids open their gifts. Santa is very flexible with families that have workers with unpredictable schedules. The kids haven't questioned it so far.......not sure how many more years we can pull this off, though.

Instead, tomorrow we'll be having lunch and a playdate with a friend who's husband is deployed. I can't think of a better way to spend my Christmas weekend.

Have a very merry Happy Christmas, blogland! Hug your loved ones and remember what this sesason is all about. Be safe, be happy and most of all be HEALTHY!!

Cheers!

Jessica

Bullet Points

...are pretty much all I have time for today.

• Been to the physical therapist ~ foot is messed up, but should be an easy fix
• haven't been to the gym in three weeks ~ getting crabby
• got the go ahead to go to said gym ~ haven't found made the time
• house is finally getting purged and clean
• current weight is 215.2 lbs. Exactly 10 lbs gone. I have no intention of gaining any more than this.
• "to do" list is getting longer. Days on calendar are getting shorter. Giving me a tight feeling in my chest!!

Merry Christmas peeps!! I promise, back to more regular posting after the first of the year!!

Cue the Violins....

So, I went back to the doctor today and came home with one of these (google images photo because I'm simply too lazy right now to take a pic of my own foot).

My official diagnosis is Achilles Tendonits. Joy.

It's completely f*cking with my brain and that has me really really frustrated. I've pretty much thrown everything I've worked for out the window. Ice cream? Sure, I'll have a bowl. Go ahead, throw another scoop on it. Pizza? Why not, extra cheese, please. Oh what the hell, I'd love another piece of garlic bread, thanks!

I'm up about 2.5 lbs (ish) since my last official weigh in and I'm pissed, but I feel like what's the use? I know that's not what I feel and believe in my heart but right now I'm just so pissed.

God only knows when I'm going to be allowed to work out again. I go see the PT on Thurs and I guess I'll know more then, but for now I'm just going to sit here and feel sorry for myself. It's totally foreign to me ~ feeling like this. Usually I'm a "glass is half full, so let's take what we've got and make a plan to work around it" kind of gal. Not this time, though. I feel totally defeated. I know I'll snap out of it, but right now I'm just not sure what to do with myself......blah.

Oh. My. God

Oh. My. God. I have been so busy and so tired lately. I'm still not working out. I have been slamming the ibuprophen the last few days and taking the time to ice and my foot and guess what ~ it works! Who knew? Today I didn't do either and by 8:00 tonight I could hardly walk. I'm hoping that a few more days of ice/ibuprophen will keep the inflamation down enough for it to heal itself. Otherwise I guess it's time I go back to the doctor. Because, this time of year I have nothing better to do than nurse an injury, right?

Just a few things.....

So tonight as I was watching The Biggest Loser, I enjoyed a big ole bowl of ice cream (seriously, does everyone do that?). I noticed a few things:

• A "big ole bowl" of ice cream is very different now than it was just a few months ago ~ it's now about 1 full cup of ice cream instead of 2+ cups.
• I don't mind walking away from the last few bites of ice cream in the bowl if my sweet tooth has been satisfied ~ unheard of previously.
• I don't like the way I feel after I've eaten ice cream ~ I can feel my heart start to race after that sugar overload.
• I don't eat ice cream that much when I'm working out ~ I've been out of commission for a week now and my ice cream consumption has exponentially increased.

I've felt like a complete slug this week. My foot is still in excrutiating pain. It's not as constant as it was a week ago, but when it flares up it can bring tears to my eyes. I'm not sure where to go from here. I'm terrified to go back to the doctor (went last week ~ he told me it was retrocalcaneal bursitis) because I'm so afraid it may be a major injury and I don't think I could handle him telling me I can't work out anymore. Of course, I'm not working out right now, but if a doctor actually tells me, out loud, that I'm injured and can't work out. Wow, that could be ugly.

So, for now I'm continuting to tell myself that if I just keep resting it, it'll be ok in just a few days. Of course, when you are a SAHM, "rest" is a relative term. By resting, I mean I haven't been to the gym or gone for a run. It doesn't mean I'm actually off of my foot all day. I do try to take periodic breaks and sit down with my feet up, but you know as soon as I do that my kids have some type of crisis that requires my immediate attention. You know, something like the Wii remote needs new batteries, or something as equally urgent.

Anyway, pray for me. I'm going stir crazy and I really really really, no, like REALLY REALLY want to get moving again. But I know the longer I sit sedentary, the harder it will be to get started again. Hubby gets home tomorrow ~ I'm hoping to hit the pool. I don't think that will hurt me.....I hope.

Out of Commission

Remember when I posted that I did the Thanksgiving step class? Well, what I didn't mention was that I fell in class. It wasnt' a big deal. I missed the step and then fell on my ass in total slow motion. I hopped right back up and finished out the class. No harm, no foul. Or so I thought.

My foot has been a little tender this week, but with the issues I've had, it seems it's always a little tender from time to time. I kept up with my workouts and didn't give it much thought.

I signed up for a challenge on The Daily Mile that I would run 50 miles in Dec, so after my strength class today I headed down to the treadmill to run for a bit. I lasted one mile.

My foot has been throbbing ever since. At first I thought it was plantar faciitis, but I've dealt wiht that enough to recognize that this is something more. It hurts all. the. time. Enough to almost make me cry. I've had to hobble around the house all afternoon. I can't walk.

My toes are a little numb and I can feel some numbness and burning up the back of my calf. I really really hope that I didn't do anything serious.

I'm so bummed out, but I have to listen to my body and take it easy over the next little bit. I'm hoping with some rest and ice this will heal itself quickly.

Statistics

So it's time for my statistics. I'm also doing another midweek weigh in now that I've kicked TOM to the curb. So, are you ready? I'm officially changing my last declaration and stating, that YES, in fact, I HAVE lost weight during the week of Thanksgiving! WooHoo!

My weight in this morning was 212.0 That's a .6 lb loss since last Wed. I'll take it!!

Now, on to the statistics :)

• Starting Weight: 225.2/212.0
• Height: 5'5"/5'5"
• Starting BMI: 37.5 (Obese)/35.3
• Bust measurement: 48"/47"
• Waist measurement: 48"/40"
• Hips measurement: 51.5"/47.5"
• Biceps measurement: 12.5"/12"
• Thighs measurement: 23.5"/22.5"
• Body Fat Percentage: 53%/48.8%

That's a total of 14.5 inches lost. 14. 5 inches of me that no longer exist!! Check out my waist and hips! WooHoo!