The First 43: My Life Now

The summer months didn't prove to be great for exercise for me. I got a couple runs in and maybe a handful of trips to the gym. Most of my exercise came from walking and making sure that I walked more than normal. I was starting to feel a little "soft" and I didn't want to go back to where I was. I had those pesky two pounds to lose. They just keep coming on and off. I've decided it's just got to be a day to day variance and I can't stress over it. The one thing I have learned about maintaining my weight is how deep my fear is of gaining it all back or slipping back into old habits. I'm 18 months past my 56lb loss and I've stuck to it but that fear always lives within you. It's not like I think about it everyday, not at all. Every once in awhile though, it creeps on it.  For example,  when I ordered pants online this week and hoped that I still fit into the same size I did last time I bought skinny jeans. This is what got me thinking about al...

Another year, another Color Me Rad run! We had so much fun this year and the big difference from last year - it wasn't raining! The sun was shining, there was a nice breeze, and we got nice and covered in powder during our 5k and afterward doing the "colour bomb." Nice to get out and have fun with friends while getting some exercise at the same time. If you haven't done the colour run, it is as fun as it looks! Here are some photos of team Rainbow Brights! RAD FACES Before the run  After the run! After the colour bomb!  Some fun photos! 

The 10k goal is complete. This time last week I was preparing myself mentally, more than physically, for the run. I went through different stages of emotions and physical pain during the run and I thought I'd share, since so many people asked me how it was, what the easiest parts were and what were the hardest parts. So, here I go. I've broken it down by kilometers because it's the way I remember it. Before the race : It was a cold morning, I decided on sport capris and a tshirt knowing how overheated I tend to get on runs. We met up with the rest of the people running for BTRC (picture below) and headed over to the corral. We had to wait 20 minutes before we started but, I kind of got used to the cold at that point.  Start to 1km: I was still cold, my body hadn't really warmed up yet. I felt like I was the slowest person out there, people just blowing by me. I knew the pace I had to keep to complete the race and monitor my heart rate so, I just kept at...

I've been slacking when it comes to posting this month.  I haven't really had much to report on or new recipes to share. Well, I have had recipes to share, I just haven't had time to post them but I promise I will in the coming weeks and I really want to pick this up again! This past Saturday we did the Ugly Sweater 5k Run at Downsview Park. Proceeds went to The Children’s Wish Foundation of Canada. Some of us found actual ugly Christmas sweaters, some of us did a little DIY (you'll notice Jeff and I match!) The run was great, we did some running and a little walking. It's not timed and it's just for fun. I didn't have my usual running strength/endurance this weekend and was a bit disappointed in both my energy levels and speed but when I woke up with a full blown cold on Sunday morning, it was very clear to me why I didn't have the energy just 24 hours earlier. Either way, I completed it and had fun with friends so, winning all around. I highly recomm...

We went to Gatineau Park this weekend, took a walk around the Mackenzie King estate.  We enjoyed a nice long walk, weather was beautiful. We took some photos.  On the way back to the hotel I realized that a few years ago, we spent a day doing much of the same thing and sure enough, I have photos of us and me by the waterfall from 2008.  What a difference between then and now. Quite crazy how much of a difference there is.  Funny thing is, my sunglasses look almost the same but they are two totally different pairs!

I ran my very first 5k!! It was the Color Me Rad run which originally started in the US and they've started to bring it to different Canadian cities now too.  Proceeds went to Big Brothers, Big Sisters. I ran the whole thing, some parts slower than others, but I got through it! They colour bomb you every kilometer so you end up looking like a rainbow by the end.  It was a lot of fun, here are some photos from the run! It's just coloured corn starch so, after a good long shower, I am happy to report that I am now colour free!

After holding steady for weeks with my weight loss, I seem to be back on track.  Another pound lost this week!  This means only 2 more pounds until my current goal of 58lbs lost.  I'm also counting down to the Color Me Rad run on June 22 - let's hope it doesn't rain! It also means I need to get another 5k in this week, maybe tonight. The ticker at the top of the page is broken if you look at that for updates. MyFitnessPal is having technical difficulties. I really want it to read my total weight loss! Here are some photos of me before and me now.  The first photo is December 2011 and April 2013 and the second photo is December 2011 and June 2013.

Today makes day 400 of calorie counting. Wow. I can't believe it's been that many days! Weight is holding steady within a one pound variant but I am losing inches so, some of the remaining fat must have decided it's time to turn itself into muscle. Fine by me! I'm definitely starting to enjoy the summer weather and especially runs at the cottage in this spring weather. My new running goal is to run a 5k every week from May long weekend through the end of June. So far, so good. Here is a photo at the end of my cottage 5K today, cooling off on the dock after the run.  The cool weather was definitely appreciated on today's run. Fresh herbs!! Definitely a staple in our home all summer long, so glad I've got a fresh batch always at my fingertips all summer long. Since we aren't living in a high rise apartment anymore, I hope my herbs (well, my dill) does a better job of growing all summer long. Another major part of my weekends? Playing wit...

I had my dad take some fun photos of Jeff and I at Thanksgiving while we were taking the dock out of the water. Anyway, this weekend we were putting the dock back in when I realized just how big the same hip waders were on me. So, I had my dad snap some more photos so I could see the comparison when I got home. Weight Loss at Thanksgiving: 27lbs Weight Loss at May 24: 54lbs You can really see the difference between then and now. It's kind of crazy. I don't always see my weight loss but these kinds of photos help me stay motivated to keep it up!

30 days of Awesome Arms completed.  Here is a little before and after. It is the same arm, Jeff just took today's photo instead of me taking a selfie in the mirror. Not quite as impressive as one of my friends (who did even better than awesome!) but you can still see a difference. We are now moving onto May's challenge "Mighty Muscle May." If you care to join me, here is the calendar care of Pinterest.  

Arm flab is disappearing. You can't see it in the photos but, I've got some pretty nice biceps going on. 10 more days of this Awesome Arms April calendar, wonder what fitness adventure I will take part in, in May! Jane (the doggie) photo bombed my photos. I couldn't get her to move so, you can see her sniffing around!

It's official, I've been working on my weight loss for 365 days!  I've lost just about 54 pounds in those 52 weeks. Here is a photo of me from last April and a photo from this past week.  So much has changed since a year ago and it's hard to believe that it's possible transform yourself in that amount of time.