Happy 2nd Fitaversary to me!
Well, Monday was what I call my “Fitaversary”! You can read about my First Fitaversary HERE, and read about what spawned the quest for fitness here, if you’re new around these parts.
I was a bit nervous about this year’s results because simply, my life habits have changed a bit in the past few months… As you may remember, I got plantar fasciitis last year while training for my first half marathon, and was told that I needed to stay off my feet for several months.
Then, I was cast in my first musical, which resulted in stress-induced weight loss, and had me working SUPER long hours and being on my feet for an additional 3-5 hours a day. During that time, I wasn’t really “working out” but I was active, and that’s what really mattered to me. My feet were still a problem, and being in the show was hard on my tootsies for sure.
Summer came, and I decided to try out an intense strength training routine! I did New Rules of Lifting for Women, which lasted something like 8 weeks, and which I completed successfully. During that time, as expected I put on a couple of pounds, and certainly lost a bit of the lean-ness because I was building muscle, and doing less cardio… The last of my “runner’s body” pretty much fell away at that point.
Then, this fall, I was cast in my second musical, one that required less of me in many ways, but that had some pretty intense dancing (for me as a non-dancer) including a big tap number, which was MURDEROUS on my plantar fasciitis, I had flare ups regularly, and plenty of pain. Through this show, however, I did slim down from my summer strength training bulk up, and was pretty much where I’d been during the first show in the spring.
Through out this time, (and for the past year and a half or so??) I’ve weighed within 3-4 lbs of a certain number. I’d say that’s a pretty great success. 
Ups and downs, varying levels of fitness, but the number didn’t swing, which is important to me. That being said, I’m certainly “softer” now than I was at the peak of my running, which is to say that I’m less fit than I was at that time. So, I was nervous about the health assessments, because I didn’t know if it would reflect that running was the only way that I’d be able to maintain… if that makes sense.
It was a blessing, therefore, and a curse that the collection of tests offered this year did NOT include the body composition component… HA! I am confident that my muscle mass must certainly be lower than last November when I was running regularly. Again, I’ve not been sedentary, and tap dancing certainly required muscles, but just TRUST me, I’m softer than I was. So, I was unable to compare my comp from last year to this year.
I can happily report that my BMI went down, my weight stayed the same, my cholesterol, blood pressures, and sugar levels were all GREAT and improved in most cases from last year!
When I had my first assessment 2 years ago, my health risk number was a 76! Last year, I had raised it to a 91, and this year it was a 97!! I think that’s plenty to be proud of.
This Year on my 2nd Fitaversary!
The summer before my Day of Change in November '08
Last year on my 1st Fitaversary
Just another note about my weight that’s been on my mind… The number has stayed the same, my pant size has stayed the same, all my clothes fit great, but I miss feeling… I dunno… more pulled together in the middle… a tighter tummy and leaner legs made me pretty happy, I’ll admit. I hope that I can find something that my feet can handle that I can pick back up on. And I still LOVE yoga of course, but, well, running is free… that is if I can stay out of the podiatrist’s office. 
Anyway, so that’s the scoop about this, my 2nd anniversary! I can’t believe I’ve maintained over 30 lbs of weight loss for something like 1.5 years! That’s pretty dang exciting, and I’m certainly proud of those changes.
Thanks for sharing the journey with me! 
Happy Fitaversary To ME!!!
(Don’t forget to enter all 3 of my great giveaways! You could win 50 holiday cards, an 18×24 poster print, or a 16×20 rolled canvas print! Good luck!)
Wow, Wow, WOW!!!
A year ago today, I took a fitness assessment that was provided for free at my job. At that assessment, things like my weight, bmi, body composition, blood sugar, cholesterol levels, etc. were measured. While most of my numbers were “normal” I was NOT happy. I weight over 170 lbs, and was not looking cute…
(check out my health page at the top of my site, or click here to see more before photographs)
Before:
The number that threw my jaw to the floor was my % Body Fat. I had 38.1% body fat.
The now almost famous conversation that I had in my head went something like this, “Woa. 38%. That is almost 40%… THATS ALMOST 50%!!! I’m almost HALF FAT!!!”
That night, I went to the store and bought the 30 day shred DVD… and the rest was history!
I’m proud of the accomplishments that I’ve had this year:
- I worked out 30 days straight when I thought it’d kill me
- I went from running 30 seconds, to running up to 5 miles
- I graduated from the couch to 5k program
- I’ve completed 4 5k races
- I’ve completed 1 4 mile race
- I’ve lost and maintained around 25 lbs to date
- I’ve become more balanced and flexible
- I’ve gone from a size 16 to a size 8
- I’ve CHANGED my diet significantly, adding healthy and wholesome food to most of my meals.
- I’ve become a moderator or a national board related to health and fitness.
- I’ve got a blog reach of over 100 (usually quiet, but wonderful) readers who help keep me accountable.
That is a pretty damn good year, if you ask me.
So, to the FITAVERSARY PART…
Today, the fitness wagon came by again, one year after driving through and changing my world.
I bounded into the room, ready and excited to see my numbers…
Here are some highlights:
| Last Year | This Year | |
| Weight | 168 | 146 |
| BMI* | 28.8 | 25.1 |
| Body Fat % | 38.1 | 25.8 |
| Overall Wellness | 72/100 | 91/100 |
Check out last year’s sad diagnosis…
Check out this year’s BEAUTY!!!!
THAT is meaningful change, people!
I was LITERALLY glowing all day… My Jess-i-poo took some pictures of my happiness, so I could share my excitement with you fine people…
I posed with both of my reports, last year’s and today’s…
I think this one says, “Hollerrr! I’m making myself the best me I can be and I have an abnormally huge smile!”
I’ll close this incredible meaningful post (to me, anyway) with an excerpt from last year… the day after my 38.1% epiphany…
One of the most prevalent messages of the story [kung fu panda] was that, there is no “trick” to becoming who you are destined/meant/hoping to be… No self help book, no 30 day shred workout video, and no special website that will make that change happen. In the end, we have to decide to make that change ourselves.
Anyone who has known me for any length of time has undoubtedly heard one of the dozens of “I’mma change! I’m gonna get fit! I’m gonna finish an album! I’m gonna eat only organic! I’m gonna blog every day!”
Love you guys…
<3
Rocktober Results and a New Challenge
Hey, remember that time I made the Rocktober challenge?
Haha…
After being laid out with bronchitis for almost 7 days early in the month, I never fully recovered. I ended up working out about 18 days of the month, which is more than half, but I definitely did NOT make my goal of working out each day of the month.
I did, however, go from 146.6 lbs to 143.6 lbs which means I lost a total of 3 lbs for the month of October. This also means that I have lost a total of 28 lbs!
I was recently made moderator of a National website’s health and fitness board, and I’m pretty excited about out Holiday Challenge that we’re starting there!
The challenge doesn’t require you to be a part of the message board, and anyone can do the challenge… It runs from November 1 to December 31, just long enough to get us through the holiday season!
I’m attaching the excel document on which you can track your progress.
I could explain it all, but frankly, the spreadsheet does a better job than I can write a recap. Basically, you’ll earn points for doing certain healthful things each day, week, or month.
Give it a try! I’ll bet you see a difference!
Here is a link to the google document spreadsheet. You can track them on this form online via your google account, or you may save it to your computer as an excel document, or you may print it out and keep a hard copy.
We made a paper chain last week representing the days until Christmas, people… That isn’t very many days, and is actually quite a lot of pies… Make this holiday season your healthiest yet!
What is your holiday season weakness? Any desire to over come it?
On Halloween morning, I got up and turned into Robin Hood…
I modified the costume that I wore to work on Friday for my race. I swapped my buckled boots for brown and black fur topped leg-warmers with my nikes, and added extra pins to my green pointy hat.
I arrived at the race extra early because I needed to register on site. I was the first person to arrive in costume (there were only 5 people there anyway), but I got a few looks. The 5k was beginning at a park in my town, and it was just so cute. The decorations looked decidedly hand strewn, but perfect. The goodie bag was well stocked, and the volunteers were exceptionally friendly. It was about 47 degrees when I arrived, so I stayed scarved and walked around for a bit in the calm, quiet darkness. It was surprisingly still and beautiful. I was grateful for a quiet moment…
…a quiet moment that was interrupted by an overwhelming urge to pee. Now, I’m a shyyyyyyyy bathroomer-very shy. But knowing that I was a quarter mile away from the registration table, and that it was super dark, and that I couldn’t find a restroom in the unlit park anywhere, and that there were no more than 10 people there at the moment, I found bravery I hadn’t expected. I found a tree at the farthest part of the park and a tree that was 3 feet wide, and yes. I peed. I know, I know… my bravery knows no bounds.
As light spread and more people arrived, I realized that there would not be too many people there… a few hundred at most, and that I was HIGHLY costumed as compared to these runners. There were lots of kids from a local school, as well as their teachers, and several track teams too.
When it came time to head to the starting line, I took my proper place near the back (though the starting line was on a sidewalk, so it wasn’t like being 50 yards from the start) and waited for the “go”.
As we started running, I immediately set to working on keeping my pace MY PACE. I’ve gotten used to people passing me, and learned pretty effectively how to not let fast runners get me down. I plodded along, pretty aware that it had been 2 weeks and some change since I’d last run, and just knew that I’d have to do my best.
About 3 minutes in, a woman fell into a stride beside me. She took off her headphones, and asked if I’d mind if she ran by me. She said that she was afraid to look back and see that she was the last runner. She wasn’t totally sure that she’d be able to run it, as the distance was new for her, and she didn’t feel totally confident that she’d knock it out of the park. Instantly, I knew that this race was NOT about my time. It was about her. I just felt it in my bones that I was gonna run with this woman and that we’d finish together.
I didn’t know that the route was not all on a hard surface, more than half of the course was on grass, and another portion was through very wet and muddy wooded areas with puddles 4 inches deep. I was not prepared for that. We kept trudging through, and ran over 1.6 miles before taking our first 30 second walk break!
I learned that this woman is also a teacher, and that we work in the same area. She was sweet, funny, and quite possibly my PERFECT running partner. We knew when to push each other, we knew that if we needed a 30 second break we could have one, and we knew when to talk and when to stay quiet. Her name was Kelly, and as we approached the final half mile, we challenged each other and said, “after this break, we make the last half mile with NO stops”. We had talked previously about separating if necessary for a sprint to the finish, and I expected I might.
By this point my knees were aching and I was really, really ready to finish the blasted thing, but I was sure we’d finish strong. Suddenly, about 100 yards away, I started to want to die. I didn’t want to sprint, didn’t have the strength, I wanted to WALK to the finish line with all my heart. Then I looked over and saw Kelly’s stride falling EXACTLY with mine, and listened to hear her breaths exhaling EXACTLY with mine, and I wanted to finish for her… with her.
It was surprisingly special, and we finished with a respectable 38:27 for the 3.35 mile course (I’m not sure why it can’t ever be a true 5k!?), which is, by a few seconds my new 5k race (official time) PR!
Oh, but one more thing, I won second place!!
…For my costume, silly!! I’ll proudly display my ribbon knowing that it is a reminder of a WONDERFUL race.
FYI, I wrapped up my run with a chunk of banana, some fruit gummies, and a coconut water.
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Results and Pictures
*as usual, google readers may have to visit site to see all pictures*
BIB 401
AGE 26
RANK NA
TIME 38:27
DISTANCE:3.35
PACE 11:28/M
I know that was long, thanks for reading!
Bloomin’ 4 Mile Race Report
Hey guys, sorry that this race report is a little behind schedule…
So, The Bloomin’ 4 Mile is a club race put on by the Dallas Running Club. It is at a pretty and woody lake in Dallas, and was well attended. There were something like 500 runners at this race.
When I woke up in the morning, I wasn’t entirely sure it Daron would be coming. After all, it was just a “little race” and not terribly exciting, and not really a big goal race, so I had no expectations. In the end he decided to come, which meant so much to me. It really makes a difference when you have someone waiting for you at the finish line.
For breakfast I had a peanut butter and bananawich, but I kept gagging and didn’t really want it… that was weird. I also decided to see what effect caffeine would have on my race, so I went to the tea shelf. The only tea that we had that had any reasonable amount of caffeine was a box of lipton chai bags (which you would later add to milk to make a latte), which I drank black. It didn’t really BOTHER me, but I need to remember to get a tea that is a little less… spicy…
At the race, I got my bib and started stretching a little bit. I really didn’t feel very excited, and I didn’t feel like myself… so the mind games started early.
I lined up, kissed my man, and set off.
I KNOW I started at the wrong pace. I could just feel it. I’m not sure if I was feeling a need to keep up with others, or if I just misjudged, but I rectified it as soon as I could. I felt pretty much fine all the way to the turn around point at 2 miles. Right at about 2.5 miles, the trek that was downhill on the way there, was now uphill (obviously) and I decided that because I felt a little dehydrated, and a little too hot (HRM said my bpm was 194) I should walk up the hill. That took about 1.5-2 minutes.
After that, and after dealing with my “disappointment” at taking a walk break (and yes, I know I shouldn’t be upset about walking) my little heart just felt heavier. I really needed water, and knew that I wasn’t going to be getting any until about .5 miles from the finish line, so I kept going. At some point, my HR got too high again, and I decided that I would walk until I got to the 3.5 marker. This walk lasted about a minute, so I wasn’t too far from it anyway.
When I saw that sign that said .5 miles to go, I just wanted to be back to the finish so I could GET it over with! My legs felt like they weighed about 200 lbs each, and I was just all blah. Rounding the last corner, with the finish in sight, I couldn’t really even sprint to the finish!!! Daron commented later that it was the first time he saw me after the finish line that I didn’t look completely spent.
Anyway, Despite all of that, I am not disappointed in my performance… I know that some days just aren’t good running days… even RACE DAYS!
Even more disappointing than any of that, is that when I uploaded my garmin data, somehow, my race data, and data from one other training run just vanished!!! I really wanted to see my split times… oh well.
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Results and PicturesBIB 1232
AGE 25
RANK 376/430
TIME 48:06.4
PACE 12:01/M
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