Guess what? There is a limit to excuses when it comes to health.

New Year's Resolutions ladies???

I must be honest, I've been avoiding this blog like the plague. And why might that be you may ask? Because I have gained more than half of my weight back by being over indulgent and not as active as I should be. So here I am, kicking up the cardio again, drinking more WATER, and eating healthier. It's been about a week since I've started working at weight loss now. What I could really use at this point is a few cheer leaders!!! Any takers?

Sigh...

Ok, here I am, back after a year or more. I have gained back all but about 40 lbs right after I stopped taking the Meridia. Long story, three surgeries for different stuff and here I am again.

It's depressing and demoralizing to admit it, but I am not going to go there. I have to start out with an up mood in order to get this weight BACK OFF.

I started with trying to root out the bad stuff, soda, sweet tea, junk food. I am down 11 lbs, but I don't see any changes yet. I am back to working out, but in much worse shape than I was in before. Now I can barely do a half hour on the treadmill at half the speed I was at before.

But these things are all counterproductive, comparing myself to where I was, so I will just say, I am back, with a long way to go. About 60 lbs to lose.

Elicia can FLY

BACK

I don't know about you - but I'm back on this blog, baby.

I am nine pounds away from my goal weight - 138. After MONTHS, no...a YEAR of 19lbs to go, it is so much fun to see that NINE.

WHAT ARE YOU ALL DOING?

Join in the movement - BLOG YOUR HEALTH/DIET/EXERCISE/IDEAS!

In Which I Get My Butt Kicked

Last night, a girlfriend of mine lured me to a "Core Yoga" class with the promise of a pedicure afterward. My toes are now painted "I'm Not a Really a Waitress" red and my abs, tush, back, and arms are sore. It was such a tough workout that halfway through I was shaking when we had to try and balance and dripping sweat (they had the heater on too).

But, my abs feel stronger, my rear feels tighter, my back feels straighter, and I know that it was good for me. But next week, forget the pedicure - it will take the promise of at least one margarita to get me through that door again!

(I am always amazed at yoga. How balancing yourself and barely moving can work you so well. If anyone hasn't tried it but is thinking about it, I highly recommend at least one class).

Food Journaling

I'm on week two of writing down what I have been eating. It is easy enough since I basically only eat at home, and that not far from my computer.

Where do you journal and what is your main motivation? For accountability? For content?

Weight loss already??

I've been documenting my eating habits and checking their digestive PH for a week. I have already lost TWO pounds?

Yay!

Feeding my Life

My life has a hunger. It shall not want! I have to feed my body, mind, soul, spirit. What am I doing to make sure it has everything working as it should? What am I willing to give up? Substitute? Reject? Re-integrate?

I am journaling every time I eat something. For me, its not a question of eating healthy as much as being consistent. So, for the next six weeks, I'll be focusing on getting myself to eat approximately five little meals/fiber snacks a day. Its hard for me to eat regularly, so this itself is a baby step and something crucial. I need to be able to look at what I've put into my 'temple' so that I can see an overview of my general nourishing of my body.

You are what you eat? Right?

Hi there, 2009!

So, Ladies, on this last day of the year, I have the annual survey question: What are your goals for the new year as far as your health/fitness/well-being is concerned?

Mine are:

1) Stop being a member of the clean plate club - when I am no longer hungry, I need to learn to quit eating and either refrigerate the leftovers or toss them out. It is ridiculous that I finish things just because they're there; and

2) Run at least 1200 (and hopefully 1500) miles by the end of 2009. For those keeping score at home, that's about 25-30 miles per week. Doable, especially since I just signed up for the spring marathon training group through my running club - guaranteeing me a group to keep me on track (no pun intended).

My less defined goals are to try and start eating like a regular person and not a ravenous beast - be particular about what I eat and how much. With all of the running, my appetite gets ramped up and I eat so much more than I used to. I can't help but think that if I just ate like I normally did that I could shed some of this poundage. I ran a shade over 1,000 miles this year and lost not on ounce. Who does this happen to?! Someone who eats badly!

So what are your goals? Share and inspire us!

Into the water

Its been like, over two weeks since I swam. Tonight, I think my friend and I will go. Yikes gals!

Who's getting back into the water - or back to the gym, or good habit with me?

Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday!

Two are better than one - except in pants.


Happy Holidays to all you wonderful ladies!

May you enjoy peace in your heart and homes!

Post-Race Report (and a Prayer Request)

Hi gang!

Well, I'm no longer sore after Sunday's marathon, but I have a bit of a confession: I think that I am becoming a marathon addict.

Sunday's race was pretty miserable - hot, humid, and with a 30-40 mph headwind (!!!) which made running uber-hard. People were crashing* right and left, and many people posted their slowest times ever in a race because of the conditions. I added 15 minutes onto my San Antonio time, but only because I said "to heck with this" and walked (albeit quickly) the last few miles. Afterward, it hurt to move. But by Monday, I was planning for the next one. Isn't this how addicts get started?

I guess I'm just hooked on that endorphin high! And I highly recommend it!

Lisa

* By crashing, I mean running out of energy and giving up. I, only the other hand, crashed literally at mile 10 - when I tripped, fell, skinned my knees and palms and bruised the #$*@ out of myself. I rolled through the fall though, got right back up, and kept running which prompted someone to look at me and say approvingly "Tough girl!" - darned straight! An aid station several miles later patched me up, though, and I finished despite my battle wounds!

** On a serious note, one runner - a woman only a year older than me and from my hometown - died at mile 21. A quick prayer for her family, which will be without her this Christmas, would be appreciated I'm sure.

Highs and Lows

I was chugging along pretty well there w/ swimming and horses but the holidays have put a cramp in my style and my back. I've not swam for days and the idea of climbing on a horse in this cold is icky.

I'm doing my leg work and core exercises for snowboarding, but that's it.

You?

This May Explain a Lot...

This article on the chemical effects of sugar bingeing I found fascinating. So be warned, ladies, and heed the call to moderation these holidays!

And Here We Go Again...

Will someone please tell me how it is that miles 20-25 of the San Antonio marathon included 45 of (hopefully) the worst minutes of my life, but less than 2 days later I had apparently developed amnesia and thought that running a second marathon this coming weekend was a good idea?

I guess I never really reported much about the first marathon, but I started too fast and "hit the wall" - where your muscles use the last of their readily available glycogen and you literally run out of energy - at about 20 miles in and had to just gut it out the last few miles. My godfather ran miles 20-26 with me, and at 22 he asked how I was doing. It took me a good three minutes to assess, determine how I felt, keep from crying, and give a measured answer of "not so hot." A phrase kept running through my head, though: "tough times don't last; tough people do." I must have repeated that to myself hundreds of times over the next few miles, and kept going.

By the 26th mile, when I could see the Alamodome but it wasn't computing that the finish was there, I was back to being pretty zen about things and worrying about my finishing time (which was ridiculous in it's own right because it's not like you can make up for a lot of last time in the last 4% of the race). I also may have been a little delusional, a lot dehydrated, my blood sugar was low, my skin was grey, Iwould have gladly taken a knee replacement or two, and all I could fantasize about was finding a grassy patch on the other side of the finish line and laying down (no such luck). But crossing that finish - there was no other feeling like it.

I quickly went and found my family, my mom handed me some chocolate milk and my dad admired my finishers medal, and my mom put my "marathon" charm bracelet on my wrist - with a single silver charm of the Alamo and to which I will add a charm for each marathon I run - and gave me a hug. I immediately burst into tears and couldn't stop crying. She hugged me tighter and told me that I would never have to run another one again - but that wasn't it. It turns out that when I surprise myself by accomplishing something I never really thought possible, I can't stop the tears of joy.

Two ice bags, one hot shower, a full Mexican dinner, a car trip to Austin, one hour worth of soaking my legs in a 50-degree swimming pool and a good night's sleep later, however, and I was ready to do it all again. I was already registered for the Dallas White Rock marathon and had a charm of the Dallas skyline ready to go on my marathon bracelet. So what if it's only four weeks after the last marathon I kept telling myself. It's along the same routes that I run all the time - piece of cake!

Now that we're four days out, the weather is supposed to be overly warm on race day, I'm cringing at the idea of more carboloading (I'm so sick of pasta!), and it's recurring to me how bad I felt during parts of San Antonio, I can unequivocally say this - 26.2 miles will never be a piece of cake for me. But I'm doing it again.

Over the next couple days, I will be doing what I can to psych myself up for this race. It's just for fun, my only goals are to finish and have a good time and not start out too fast. I'm trying to reject any feelings of pressure and just relax. After all, "Tough times don't last; Tough people do."

I'll see you at the finish.

Lisa

P.S. Go drink some water.

Holiday weight maintenance tips by YOU

Holiday weight maintenance tip:

"When I've eaten what is a healthy portion, I go brush my teeth. That way I'm less prone to have seconds or desert."

What do you suggest?

Me and Andie

Andie and I took a walk and trot today. In the fresh, Fall air we wandered around the property.

I love being able to do this...can't you tell by the smile on my face?
I was glad I got up on her today and it motivated me to ride more.

It seems like the more I do,the more I wanna do!

Go Girl GO!

Yay Me!

That's what I say to myself when I walk, exhausted and damp, from the swimming pool at the local high school. A friend and I are going a minimum of TWO days a week. I slept so well last night and felt so glad I was making the EFFORT to change.

I wanna live better, with more oxygen flow to my brain, greater vitality and MORE more!

What can I say YAY YOU about today???

ps. go drink some water.

My Exciting News!

So I reached my goal, and now will be going up a little bit for a good reason.

I am a little nervous to gain weight, but know that it is necessary for a healthy baby.