"To go forward, you have to leave something behind."
-Steve Jobs

Hey Everyone, I hope your all having good weeks.

My week is off to a good start, the scale has been showing up in the past week, but with TOM around the corner, those pesky few pounds should be dropping off in the next couple days. But on a high note, my clothes are still fitting nice a lose, and I'm feeling skinny, despite those couple pounds.

I've had two non-scale victories in the last couple days, yes, two! The first one was, the jeans I bought last summer (mid way through my weight loss journey), had become too big, I mean I like my clothes on the looser side, but they were getting a little ridiculous, so I went and bought new jeans, and I'm pretty sure I could've bought 28's, although I bought 29's because I'm not one of those girl who likes their clothes to fit like spandex. So I was very excited, I think it's the only time (I can remember anyways), ever buying pants under the 30 waist size. In fact I found an old pair in my closet not long ago that were 33's!

My second NSV came last night. I was incredibly munchy when I got home from work, and I pretty much had to do everything possible to keep from eating everything in my refrigerator. I've been keep whole bagged carrots in my fridge, and when I'm feeling like I need to eat something, I peel a carrot and eat it. My theory behind this is that since it takes work, I'll be less likely to just "grab a handful of carrots", and I think it works. But regardless, I had a couple carrots, popped a stick of gum in my mouth and called it a day. So this is where the NSV came.

Later, by this time dinner was done, I actually left some of my portion of dinner on my plate. I just wasn't hungry for it. I ate what I wanted, and then stopped, but the rest back. I think it's the first time especially since being on WW's I've put food back. Usually if I've counted the points for it, I'm gonna eat it. So a major bonus for me.

I think I've been trying to "enjoy" my food more, and eat slowly, and I think that is helping, and perhaps that's the reason why I put the food back. But I also just don't feel like I need to eat a certain amount everyday with maintenance. I know some days I will want to eat a bit more than others, and that's fine. I'm no longer trying to lose. I think it takes alot of pressure off the situation.

But I have a confession! yesterday was also the first day in quite sometime I didn't get both of my oils in...opps! I forgot about the second one, and then even though I had the points left, I didn't feel like adding it to something else to eat it, just solely to get that in, so I skipped it. I think I will probably live.

Running has been going good. The run on Sunday went good as I said before, and yesterday was a rest day, which was much much needed! It's amazing how this running stuff takes it out of ya. Tonight I have 4.25 miles scheduled in the heat. Not overly looking forward to it, but I know I will feel great when I get it done.

New little feature I'm going to starting doing a "Question of the Week" feature. You guys can even suggest a question for the future ones. But every Tuesday I will compile the answers, and hopefully we can get some new ideas based on what everyone else is doing. I love to get new ideas. So brings me to the question of the week;

What are your guys favorite cereals?

The ones I eat the most are Kashi Go Lean and Go Lean Crunch along with All Bran Extra Fiber and Fiber One Original. But I love (and can't keep from eating straight out of the bag) Capt Crunch and Honeycombs (yes, I know, I'm like a 2 year old!).

Alright, back to work I go. Have great evenings, can't wait to hear your answers.

"Think Beyond, and you will go beyond"
-Marion Licchiello

Well I think my first "maintenance" weigh in went well, I was up 1.8lbs, but that's a pretty standard TOM gain for me, so I should be back down by next week. Plus with weighing daily right now, I know it's not a real gain as I seen 141 a couple times this week. I'm good with it!

I ran 6.5 miles this morning! I was so excited, once again, it's a milestone because it's farther than I've gone previously! Plus, I had good times too, I had several miles that were in the 12's! That's awesome for me! And, I surpassed 50 miles run for the month! Plus, I picked a route today (unintentionally) that had some pretty big hills in it, so I was bustin my butt! The first three miles were into the wind, and that was a little hard, but overall a great run. I'm exhausted!

No huge plans today, I have to clean a bit, do some laundry, you know, that normal fun sunday stuff...yay!

I hope your all having great weekends, and I'll talk to you soon!

"A person is only as big as the dream they dare to live."
-- Unknown

I typically don't post on Saturday's, but I had to post about a great run that I had yesterday on my day off!

My day started off not so great, my phone rang at 7a on my day off, it was work, telling me they were having computer problems, which I had to come in and handle. So I was not a happy camper. So it threw my schedule all off, I was suppose to get up when I wanted, mosey around, and then go out on a run. Wasn't turning out that way.

Well I got home from work about 10a, and I decided to go out on a run, even though I totally didn't feel like, and my allergies were miserable. The first mile or so of my run was hard, I wanted to turn around, but I kept telling myself it would get better, and it did!

I ended up running the 4 miles I had planned, and two of those miles were at a pace almost a minute faster than I normally run! I was so happy!

So I got home, and I was totally wiped out, but felt so energized, I actually wanted to go out and run more! After that "high" wore off though, I was just bushed, I think it was probably the combination of allergies, being a little stressed this week, and not sleeping well. So I spent alot of the day off just kinda lounging on the couch.

Food-wise things are going great, I haven't had any problems with maintenance so far, I'm sure I'll hit a bump in the road eventually, but so far, so good.

Weight-wise, those 2lbs I was up earlier in the week have seemed to disappear, yesterday I was actually my lowest weight ever at 141.6, and this morning I was just a tad over 142. So I don't know what this means, I thought I should see a TOM gain this Sunday, which would actually mean that I'm about 2lbs less than that, which isn't good, because that would mean I'm still losing. So we will see how this plays out, might have to make some adjustments to eat more. Suppose with all the running it's still possible I'm losing. We'll see what it looks like over time.

The rest of the weekend, no real plans. My truck needs a bath and cleaning, the dog needs a walk (or at least thinks he does!), zucchini is sitting on the counter begging to be baked into something, and chores around the house screaming my name. Plus I have a 6.5 mile run tomorrow that I can't wait for!

Anyways, have great weekends bloggers, and I'll be catching up soon!

"What ought one to say then as each hardship comes?
I was practicing for this, I was training for this."
- Epictetus

Happy Thursday Everyone! This is actually my Friday, as I felt I needed a day off, so I took tomorrow off! I'm very excited, it will be nice to have a day to "catch up".

Things have been going good over in this neck of the woods.

My Running has been ok. I've been getting out there and doing it, but the runs have been a bit harder this week. I think it's the fact that one day, I started off to fast and tuckered out, and then yesterday my allergies were bothering me pretty bad. My long run will be 6.5 miles this week, that will be a new record for me, and I can't wait.

I have learned though, that I need to just focus on getting the miles in, and not worry so much about the time it's taking me to complete them. I get a little wrapped up in that aspect of it, so I'm trying not to focus so much on that. I'm slow, but I'm running, and that's all that matters!

Eating has been good, it's taking some getting used to to be eating more, I guess I'm still in that mindset that I should be losing, even though I'm not anymore. So I think it's more mental than anything, and I'm sure I will eventually feel like this is the norm for me.

I have decided that I will be counting points until my subscription ( I buy three months at a time) to WW's online comes up at the very end of September, and after that, as long as I haven't gained, and I am doing well, I will not renew it.

Weight-wise, I'm doing ok, I'm up 2lbs for the last two days, but, I believe TOM is right around the corner, and this is a normal gain for that. Plus I totally forgot how inconsistent my body is! I looked back at the sheets from when I weighed everyday last year (around this time), and it's not abnormal for my body to be up and down as much as two pounds on any given day, does anyone else who weighs everyday see this?

Tonight I'm hitting Red Lobster with a girlfriend and cannot wait! Yum!

Other than that, 4 mile run planned for tomorrow during the day at some point, and some relaxing on my day off (speckled with some chores of course!), and I was given some zucchini, so I think I will make some zucchini bread this weekend for other people of course! lol.

Anyways, if I don't chat with ya'll tomorrow, I hope you have great weekends!

"Opportunity is missed by most people because it's
dressed in overalls and looks like work"
~ Thomas Edison

I'm a firm believer in the mantra "if it were easy, everyone would do it!", and I think the quote above kinda puts that into perspective. But then again, I don't think any of us are here because we think it's easy (we may have thought it might be at the beginning!), we all understand this weight loss thing takes hard work (heck, this running thing is the same way!). We all understand that there are days we are going to be in our groove, and then there are gonna be days when we feel like giving up, but the important part is, in the long run, looking at the overall picture, we stick with it.

So little bit of a confession, since hitting maintenance on Sunday I've been weighing on a daily basis. I would like to not weigh on a regular basis, but right now, I think it's kinda necessary. I have to know how my body is reacting to the amount of food I am feeding it. I want to find a good number of points that will let me maintain. The good news is, so far, I'm doing good, so I might be where I need to be! But truthfully only the results over the next couple weeks will tell the full story. But I don't want to not weigh for a month, and gain 5lbs over that month because I was eating too much, so that plan isn't feasible yet.

So I've been thinking alot about this running thing. I set a goal of running in a 5k, but I think I need to set some more tangible goals. Or something that working harder will produce results. So here are a few goals for the upcoming months, I think I will add a sidebar eventually.

1. Run in my first 5k, just finish it, but give it all I have.
2. On my long runs, get to where I am holding a steady pace of under 12 min/mile, right now I'm at about 13:25 on my long runs.
3. On my shorter runs, break into the 11 minute/mile range.
4. Run over 20 miles a week (this week I will be running 16).

So there are a few goals. I'm looking forward to trying to beat some of those!

Eating has been good, I do find that I'm not hungry for all the points I have now, lol. I just feel like I get so much, and it's only 4 points more some days! But I will get used to it. Right now, I'm eating alot of fruit because of the season of course, so that's more filling and lower point.

I have started to bring a few of the things back into the house that I didn't buy when I was trying to lose, mainly Peanut Butter. I have issues with Peanut Butter, anyone who's read my blog for while knows this. But Peanut Butter is an important part of a runner's diet, so I bought a small jar. And so far, it hasn't been calling to me. I'll keep you posted on that.

I have a four mile run planned tonight, really don't feel up to doing it, as my allergies have been bothering me, but I'm gonna go, because I know it will make me feel better. Then some crunches and a Jambalaya for dinner. YUM!

Anyways, I better get scootin, but have a great day guys!

"Seek respect mainly from thyself, for it comes first from within."
-- Steven H. Coogler

First of all, I wanted to thank all of you for your kind words on my post yesterday. It's so nice to have people who are supportive and proud. I don't know what I would do without my blogger buddies.

My first day on maintenance went off without a hitch. In fact, it was great!

After I posted yesterday, I went for a 6 mile run, and I'm proud to say I ran the whole thing without stopping to walk once! It was great! Mind you I'm slow, very slow, but at least I ran it all without stopping!

After that, I came home and was exhausted and sweaty, so I did some crunches, took a shower, ate my normal oatmeal for breakfast, and did some other stuff around the house.

In the afternoon I met my parents for dinner at Ruby Tuesdays. Normally I just get the salad bar, since I like to eat throughout the day, and by the time I get to dinner, I seldom have a ton of points left for a good dinner on the town, as everything adds up so quick. But last night, I had plenty of points. So I had a half of turkey burger, and half order of french fries (I may have sneaked an extra french fry or two!), and that was 13 points for dinner...I don't know that i've eaten that much for a meal while being on WW's....and I still had 2 points left for some sherbert when I got home. I was happy.

I did decide to add the 4 points they recommend, which brings me to 25 points a day. On top of that, my Garmin estimates calories burned running, and I'm eating 1 point for every 100 calories burned (I am rounding up). I'm not touching my weekly points....because I never really have. So yesterday I had 25 regular points, and then I burned 450 calories on my run, so I took 5 extra points. I'll probably weigh in on Sunday just to get a gauge on whether or not this is working.

Once I do figure out what is working, and what is not, I will be back to monthly weigh in's. I like that approach alot.

As far as the weight range I am going to set for myself, I'm not going to set a lower limit, because I'm not worried about losing "too much" weight, but my upper alarm limit is 145 (on a non-TOM weigh in). So if I hit 145, it's time to go back into loss mode and really buckle down.

I'm also not worrying so much about the zero points foods anymore, if I start to gain, I can reexamine that.

I already feel substantially less stressed over my food plan. Much more relaxed. I was micro-managing my food big time, and now I feel like I don't have to as much. Although it will take a bit to get into the schedule of eating that revolves around more points. It will take some adjustment and getting used to, but that's ok, I'm up for the challenge.

Anyways, that's about it, no run tonight, scheduled rest day, maybe a walk with the dog. 4 mile run scheduled for tomorrow.

Have a healthy happy day bloggers!

Well....

Well this morning, I stepped on the scale and he decided to be very nice (amazing huh?). I seen the lowest number I have ever seen (or at least since like Junior High). What was that number? 141.8 pounds. What does that mean?

I have reached GOAL!

Of course, I ran to get the camera, and take a picture of what the scale said, and somehow, I gained .4lbs doing that! But I did take a picture yesterday on several occasions when I seen 142....So I have a picture (yes, I'm a dork). So here it is ;) Excuse my ugly feet!

So there it is!

I removed my weight loss ticker from the top of the page, and smaller ticker in the sidebar, plus I changed the layout, figured it would be a good "new start". On the sidebar is still my current weigh in, and how much I've lost, etc.

I do plan on writing a quality post of "what I learned on my Weight Watchers Journey", but I have to actually put some thought into it, so that will come.

For those of you who have reached maintenance, or thought about it, how have you handled adding points? It adds 4 points to my daily total, that seems like alot, should I add the 4, or start with two and see if I lose still or what? what do you guys think?

Alright off to run now....6 miles, and I'm so freaking excited! Have great Sundays!