Toot Toot!

My husband always says, "I don't mean to toot my own horn but..." Everytime it makes me laugh, because he says it a lot!
He told me yesterday that I should toot my own horn for a second. So here I go! I have been hitting the gym 5 days a week for 3 weeks in a row, COMPLETELY changed my eating habits, changed my portion size, blah blah blah. It has been hard but not as hard as I thought. Once I cut out the sweets (besides an occassional treat), I really didn't crave them anymore. I love to watch the Biggest Loser and on every episode before they go to break Bob or Jillian will give a little info-merical about a product. Every once in a while they will give healthy snack options, so I just follow that. Greek Yogurt, Almonds, Protein bar, apple (which a little peanut butter), etc. It has become so routine and my eating schedule is the same everyday. I get hungry at the same times, I don't feel sluggish (even though I am only getting about 5 hours of shut eye a night, Thakns Av!). And here comes the "toot" part...I finally dropped to a lower weight then before I got pregnant with Avery!!! I am not huge on weighing yourself, but when I told Jim my goal to lose 10lbs by Christmas (7 more to go!) he told me that if I did, I could go buy a nice pair of jeans, whatever kind I choose! Ummm...yes please! I am super competative, even with myself, so you better believe I am going to reach my goal!
I have another girlfriend who has a goal as well, her husband set up a little (actually big!) reward for her at the end. So it has been fun to do some work outs together and encourage eachother! I think having others around you to encourage you are key in your health and weight loss goals! Good luck!

If I Don't Start Now

Yesterday marked the beginning of my 5k training for the Yellow 5k on October 2nd. My alarm went off at 5:30am (a 2 months old baby boy I should say!) and as soon as I was done feeding him I couldn't go back to sleep. I got all dressed in my running clothes and waiting anxiously until it was light enough outside to go run. I felt like a kid on the first day of school! I was so nervous! I am extremely competative, mostly with myself! When I set a goal and don't complete it, I get completely disappointed. Earlier in the week I looked up a 5k training program. My first 5k I was running with my Fit Moms group and didn't specifically train for it. Same thing with the 10k I ran last August. The picture of me is when I was running the last .2 miles of the 10k. Do you see the look of pure exhaustion in my face? Thats because I really didn't think I was going to make that last .2 miles!
I have a love hate relationship with running. In the beginning I hate it! I always think to myself, why am I doing this? Why can't I just hit up the precor at the gym? But the complete rush I feel after a good run is something I can't re-create with any other exercise.
So, back to my run yesterday morning. The week prior I got in my car and mapped out a 1.5 mile run so that I new exactly how far to go. I have to do this three times the first week. Then each week I gradually work up .5miles until week four, where I should (and will!) complete the 3.1 mile run. Let me just tell you, I am sore in places I haven't been sore since before I had Avery. The run was definately hard, I wanted to give up so many times!! But I kept making deals with myself until I finally reached our house! And it was the best feeling EVER!!

P.S. I am hoping to complete the 10k November 7 but if I feel I am not ready, I will do another 5k and hopefully do a 10k at the beginning of the year. My ultimate goal is to run a half marathon after I am done breast feeding! Wish me luck!