Weighing In

I haven't weighed myself since, well the last time I went to the gym - ohhh, 4 weeks ago (not to say I haven't been working out - I just prefer to do it outdoors instead of in). Today I'm heading back. And I am afraid to step on the scale. I like to weigh myself regularly - not to torture myself - but to keep tabs on how I am doing. I figure it is easier to fix a problem before it gets too out of hand. I can't imagine I would have gained much over this past month, but you never know, scales are tricky things. I'm keeping my fingers crossed and hoping for the best.

Update: It could be worse. I'm up 6 pounds from my most recent low before Christmas, but only 1 or 2 over the past month.

Say It Ain't So!

I loooooooooove diet coke.

I am proud to say I have not had one since September 19th.

I stopped drinking this nectar of the gods for multiple reasons. One of which being the possibility that it was making it harder for me to lose weight. Not that I was trying to lose massive amounts of weight, but still... I think there is something to be said for the Mad Hatter Theory (in the article).

Almost 4 months later, I do have to say that I think it has made a difference on the numbers I see when I step on the scale. When I was really conscious of my diet and really working out, I dropped a good amount of weight. Now that I have been letting my healthy eating habits slide (which I need to stop) and exercising less (but still a decent amount), my weight has stayed consistent(ly low). I weighed myself before I left for break and I saw a number I don't think I've seen since high school! Sweet!

Despite how much I love it, I think I am off the diet coke for good! I'm sure my body thanks me in more ways that one.

Healthy Living

Today I ran my second ever half marathon. I finished in 2:16:13, which is 5:19 better than last time. I am happy to have a personal best, but I am a bit disappointed with my time. For my first half I trained a lot, long weekend runs and consistant shorter runs during the week - I was in good shape but got horribly sick right before the race, and almost couldn't run - that obviously affected my race big time. Today I was aiming for 2:10, and I felt like that was a pretty reachable goal considering I was healthy. Granted, I haven't been running quite as much leading up to the race - I ran a couple of 6-milers, 2 8-milers and an 11 miler, with minimal short runs during the week, but even now, I still think I could have done it.

To be honest, Krissy was holding me back. We started off real slow - which I didn't mind, but she kept cautioning me to hold my pace when I tried to speed up. She kept warning me it was a hard, hilly course (she has run this race several times) and held back. Yeah, there was a lot of elevation gain, but we the one thing I had trained for were hills and we totally rocked them. Finally at mile 9 I still had plenty of energy so I took off and didn't look back (well, I did to tell her to come on, but she just waved me on)! There was a girl who had just recently passed us so I caught up to her and we ran the last 4 miles together. It was her first half and after, she told me, she was really grateful to have someone to pace with because she was losing steam - it was good for me too because it kept me at a pace I liked. While running with Krissy, I was doing anywhere between just over 10:20 minute/miles (where she wanted to slow it down) to 10:50 minute/miles. With my new running buddy, we did between 9:50 and 10:10 for the LAST 4 miles. Krissy finished 4 minutes behind me, meaning she was running around 11 minute/miles, so her slowest 4 miles versus my fastest.

I only wish I had broken off a bit earlier. I wasn't quite sure of what I was capable of, but I wasn't all that spent at the finish so I know I could have pushed harder. I felt a little bad at first for leaving Krissy in my dust, but honestly - she is in the same shape as me, we trained together and there is no reason why she could not have kept up (and she had run a personal best of 2:05 a few summers ago).

But I'm totally excited for the next half. We (Krissy and I) are deciding between an Oktoberfest run in eastern Washington or one up north in Bellingham. Both in early October. I think I am pulling for the Oktoberfest one because we know how I love beer, although Bound@ry B@y Brewery is making a special Marathon beer for the race in B'ham. This time though - I am going to pick a pace and still to it, regardless of what Krissy says.

In other healthy living news... I joined Weight Watchers a few weeks back. Yeah, I know I am within the healthy weight range for my height, but I have been struggling to lose about 10 pounds (and still be well within the healthy range) for months now. I have to say, after I got over the inital feeling of starving myself (which I am not doing, it just seemed like that because I typically eat SO much), I have grown to really like it. I try to stay within my daily points allowence most days of the week, and then have some room to spurlge when the situation calls for it. So... the results... I started at 142.8 pounds, and in two weeks I have dropped 3.6 pounds to be under 140 for the first time in years (yay!). It is a lot less weight than others typically lose the first few weeks, but I think my pounds are pretty stubborn so I'm happy with it. I'm aiming to get down to 132-135, but really, there are a pair of pants in my closet that I'd love to fit into!!

I May Turn Into a Pizza

I have eaten pizza for 4 consecutive meals. I love pizza but this is getting ridicules. There are still leftovers, and I don't know if I can bring it upon myself to throw perfect good pizza away even if the thought of it makes me sick.

Something is wrong with my outer quad. I ran a 6 miler on Saturday - 6 minutes faster than last time woo-hoo! - and felt fine the entire time. After doing minimal physical activity Sunday and this morning, the pain started this afternoon, and has grown in intensity throughout the evening. Playing soccer tonight probably wasn't the smartest move. I hope this is just some temporary soreness because I've been so motivated to work out - I'd hate another set back.

Life is just absolutely crazy. Classes and research are keeping me busy. I'm trying to decide what to do with the next few years of my life: stay for a PhD with the hopes of find the specific teaching job I desire, or get a job doing God knows what. The Boy is moving in 6 weeks and I can't look past May in the calendar without having a panic attack about it. On the bright side, I do have trips to DC and Utah/Arizona to look forward to, as well as the start of hiking and camping season (if this rain will ever stop...).

Tired... Yet Toned

I had two midterms this week and I am totally burnt out from studying. Thankfully I can sleep in tomorrow - nothing to do till 1:30! And we have classes cancelled on Friday for Open House, yet I don't have to volunteer until Saturday so I have the whole day to catch up on my research - of course that means I need to be at school on Saturday but it is *supposed* to be sunny, whatever that means here in Seattle.

This quarter I am taking a class, Total Toning, at the gym here on campus. $30 for 16 classes (twice a week for 8 weeks). It is awesome. We do a total body toning workout, circuit style so we even get a bit of a cardio workout. We use benches (steps), dumbells, body bars and resistance bands. It is tough but worth it. My bum and outer thighs, along with right bicep (why only one?), are sore after yesterday's class. By the end of the quarter I am certain I am going to have rocking arms and a perky tush! Despite the soreness I still managed to run over 3 miles today at a decent clip. It is amazing how much easier a run can be when you have someone to gab with! Only 12 weeks to the half marathon so I gotta get my running on! I dropped another pound too - slowly but surely I'll reach more goal. Only 7 more pounds to go.

OK, time to kick off that marathon sleeping session NOW!

Droopy No More

I wrote out this long post early this evening, and then just as I finished, the computer froze. Ugh!

Anywhoo - an abbreviated version of the original post. I had my droopy eye fixed this morning. It went well... a bit scary as I was awake the entire time. I'm totally swollen and bruised right now, but I think I'm going to love the results. I can't wait to be able to take pictures and look normal again.

The Boy took off for his parents' house this afternoon. I'm sad he left earlier than planned, but hopefully that means he'll be back on Saturday and I'll be better able to spend actual quality time with him then.

The major downside of this surgery is that I can't do anything that works up a sweat (something about the dissolvable stitches. Hopefully it will be nice tomorrow because I'd love to go on a long, long walk to make up for the inability to run.

Weak

I lifted weights yesterday, the first time in months, no wait, years. Although no one saw the numbers, I myself was embarrassed of how little I can lift. I can vaguely remember what I could do on leg extensions and curls in high school, when I did lift regularly in the swim off-season - and let me tell you, I'm no where close now! Oh to be 17 again!

I am also back into keeping better track of what I eat now. Seems like others are doing the same... and using SparkPeople, I've used Fitday in the past and started back up with it yesterday. Anyone used both and have a preference one way or the other??

I went to the doctor this morning for my droopy eye. It has a name - senileptosis to put it simply. Meaning that normally old people get it. He said it might be from prolonged contact use as well. But the good news... is that after "failing" a field of vision test, it turns out that the surgery will be covered under insurance!

Droopy

Back in November I was having dinner, sitting across from The Boy, when he asked if my eye had always been "like that."

"OMG" - I exclaimed. I noticed it too but thought I was going crazy. Sometime in late October it looked like one of my eyelids was drooping - rather random. Both my dad and bro have a (hereditary) droopy eye - since birth, but I've never shown any signs of having uneven eyelids.

Looking my "symptoms" up online, one may think I am having a stoke (not the case, of course) but obviously something is wrong. It has taken forever for me to do something, ie. call a doctor. I have one appointment made for a check up and to have it checked out, but I also need to call the surgeon to make a 2nd appointment (on my to do list). The straw that broke the camel's back is seeing pictures of my self from the holiday season... it is so obvious and in my opinion totally ruins all the pictures! Until I get things fixed I am going to have to make really cheesy smiles which totally crinkle up my eyes (to make it less noticeable).

See for yourself (first picture from July, second from December - it is the left eye, as if it isn't obvious):

Even though my people don't notice it until I point it out, I'm totally self-conscious about it. I really hope that I can get the fix covered under insurance, because I certainly can't afford to pay for surgery on a grad school budget - or at least can't justify that much of a withdrawal from my saving.