I think I can, I think I can, I think I can

I have been working hard on the Couch to 5K program.  It took me months to be able to finish the first day of it which alternated 60 seconds of jogging with 90 seconds of walking for 20 minutes.  I just could not make it though the whole 60 seconds of jogging for the longest time and then one day I was finally able to!  Today I am on week 4 of the program which consists of 3 minutes of jogging, followed by 90 seconds of walking, followed by 5 minutes of jogging, followed by 2.5 minutes of walking and then repeat.  I am happy to announce that I am fully able to do that!  I may jog slower than some walk, but I am able to keep jogging now and that's what's important to me :)

I don't listen to music while I walk/jog.  I used to always listen to music years ago while exercising, but I've found I enjoy the quiet time now.  I was laughing to myself when I thought how hilarious it would be if people could hear the thoughts in my head as I am working my way through this Couch to 5K program.  As I jog I find that when I want to quit going and don't know how I'm going to make it to the end of that 5 minutes(or whatever it is that day) I chant in my head encouragements.  "You can do this"  "Mind over matter"  "Just keep moving"  "Almost there" or a number of other things.  I end up sounding like The Little Engine that Could more often than not.  This little engine is pretty determined!

Halfway there!

I have lost a total of 70 pounds so far!  That means I am halfway to my goal weight now.  Progress pictures of before and now after 70 lost.

I have gone from a size 24 to a size 16 pant and a 5X shirt to a 3X, although some 2X work now.  It's pretty exciting how far I have come along in a little less than six months and I can't wait to see where I am six months from now!

Black Hat Dash 5K

Yesterday was the Black Hat Dash at the Indianapolis Children's Museum and it was fantastic!  I chose this particular 5K for three reasons. First, it was a fundraiser for the Access Pass which gives families of certain incomes access to the Children's Museum and other Museums in the Indianapolis area with an admission of $1 a day per person.  Second, because it was an event with the Children's Museum I knew it would be child and stroller friendly.  Third, I knew it would be fun!

I was totally right that it would be fun!  The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were cheering for everyone at the start of the race and then we were able to meet them after which was exciting for both my daughter and I.  The Turtles were one of my childhood favorites.

The atmosphere of the 5K was a happy cheerful one and there were people of all abilities.  There were lots of little kids participating both in strollers and walking/running.  It was kind of frustrating to see little ones going faster than me, but everyone has to start somewhere and I am way ahead of where I was 4 months ago!  Also, I was far from being the last to cross the finish line!

I for sure hit a personal best with this 5K and exceeded my goals.  I was just hoping to finish in under 60 minutes and I finished in just under 51 minutes!  I am so proud of myself!  I think I did a decent time pacing myself for my first 5K, each mile was a little faster than the last and I have never in my life done a mile in less than 17 minutes so that was exciting.  When I hit the third mile marker I jogged to the end.  (My app gave a bit of a different distance for some reason than the course)

I am so happy I chose this as my first 5K and although I know they all won't be this spectacular it was a fun way to kick-off my fitness journey.

Food Glorious Food

I'm still working on learning how to eat real food and most importantly how to cook it so I'll eat it.  I have found I'll eat just about anything if it's chopped up tiny enough, mixed in with other stuff and has lots of spices. 

 (Eggs with Spinach, Sweet Potatoes and Turkey Sausage Links)

For the most part I am sticking with the Whole 30 guidelines.  Meaning unless it is something I really really want, I am eating at a restaurant or somewhere with less control then I have been staying within the Whole 30 guidelines.  I have been allowing myself a treat here or there like a Reece Cup or Popcorn, but it's a once a week thing instead of every day.  I am only eating off of small plates now so I can't overdo my portions as easily and not doing any second helpings.  Surprisingly, I am not missing Cheese, Milk or Bread all that much.  Chocolate and Butter are much more worth it when I want a treat. Also, I have apparently switched from loving sweet food to spicy, but that is okay!  Well, as long as no one else tries to eat it ;)

This means I am still eating a lot of eggs!  So many eggs that my 3 year old is an expert egg cracker.

And I have slowly gotten really good at making light fluffy eggs without any milk, butter or oil.  I just add salt, pepper and whatever veggie and meat I want to them.  They are toddler and teenager approved too.

A few times I have even baked eggs in a casserole dish or cupcake tins with coconut milk, but the plain eggs on the stove-top are better.

Cooking meat with chopped up veggies seems to work really well both as a stir fry or with ground turkey as a sort of Mexican flavored dish.  The stir-fry has been interesting because I have started making Cauliflower Rice, which is pretty much chopped up Cauliflower.  It can be super tasty.  My brother even ate several bowls full of the Cauliflower stir-fries I've made.

Pairing the Mexican flavored dishes with Avocado or Guacamole is fantastic and I can easily make the dish super spicy.

The amazing thing about the above dish is the colorful part in with the turkey is Peppers!  I have never eaten peppers before in my life until the past couple months and now I'll add them to nearly anything.  Before I started this the only Veggies and Fruits I would eat were Carrots, Cauliflower, Spinach, Lettuce, Green Beans, Corn, Banana, Applesauce and Raisins. (You can tell I love Spinach in everything)  I can't say I have added much to my list, but I have added a bit.  Progress!  I have also tried bites of a lot of veggies and fruit that I wouldn't even try before.

I baked and tried Brussel Sprouts for the first time and learned they are a food I really dislike.

 However I made and tried Spegettie Squash for the first time and absolutely loved it!

Apple in other forms than applesauce, although not my favorite, is rather good too.

Sweet Potato has grown on me and now I like it in pretty much any form.  So I have improved on my food diversity a tiny bit.

Overall, I have found it is essential to plan ahead to be able to eat well.  Part of the way I've done that is cooking extra food when I do cook so I have at least 2 meals from each time I cook. The other way I have helped myself is learning to do some freezer cooking.

 (Banana Pancakes, Egg Muffins, Sweet Potato hash, Turkey Meatloaf)

Changes

I have lost 54 pounds so far and I am happy with the little and the not so little changes.  First, I have to mention how much easier it has become to tie my shoes lately.  I can't say I realized how hard it had been before, but I can tell now.  Plus my feet seem to be smaller.

I finally went to buy a new bra the other day and I went from a 44H to a 46DD!  I was confused about the band size but the lady explained it all to me and bras are confusing :-p

Today in my size 20 pants and new size 3X shirt I took some progress pictures.  I am starting to be able to really tell a difference.

Progress!

Fashion Swap

I had never been to a Fashion Swap before because I always figured there was no point since I was wearing a size 24 pant and 5X shirts.  I didn't want to go with my friends in the past because I feared not being able to find anything that would fit me.  Well, today I went to my first Fashion Swap and took in all those 5X and 4X clothes!

It felt so fantastic to get rid of all those clothes!  In particular there were some shirts I was thrilled to say goodbye to.  The loud printed wal-mart shirts.  I have nothing against the actual designs of the shirts and who knows I may of even picked one out if I were able to choose from all the clothes in the stores.  However, when the only tops you can find in 5X are either mens t-shirts or one specific design of a shirt in the women's department, you grow to hate that design.

I said goodbye to these shirts and this fashion for the rest of my life.  I no longer have to wear it and so I won't be!  I am sure someone appreciated being able to find some 5X clothes at the fashion swap though :)

It was a fantastic day with friends and an auditorium full of local women.  And best of all I got to come home with some pants in my current size 20, a couple in my next size 18 and lots of tops in 3X and 2X!  When I got home I tried all the tops on and they all fit too!

I Like to Move It Move It

Walking is becoming a bit easier.  I am starting to be able to walk faster and for further distances.  I'm pretty proud of some of my walking/jogging accomplishments so far.

I haven't progressed as fast as I wish I would, but it is for sure progress and I will reach my fitness goals

even if it has to be done in baby steps!