School is in.... soon!

This past Tuesday marked the first day of 'traditional' school... crazy tired kids rushing around at 6a, packing lunches, rushing them off to the bus, crying.. more crying yada yada yada.. you get the picture.  But we home school!  So with that in mind.. we get to start school whenever it works for our family!  Love it!  To 'celebrate' the start of school our local homeschooling group holds a 'Not Going back to School Picnic'.  Fun!  By the water, lunches packed, kids running around, re-connecting with families that we haven't seen for most of the summer, meeting new families (yeah!) and just enjoying the sun and fellowship.

Last year was our first year of homeschooling.  I did the same thing.. started the week after 'regular' school started.  And it worked out just fine for us.  We completed the year by the end of May.  I have a few more fun outings planned before school starts for us.  Here are some pictures of our children enjoying their September 7th...

School starts Monday September 13th!

21lbs in 5months!

I can not believe this!  I started running back in May of this year.  I am now able to run a 5k race.  I run fairly consistently four times a week.  So far I have lost 21 lbs in five months!  Count 'em.. 21 lbs!  I seriously can not believe I have done this!  I have never.. let me repeat never lost this much weight before and kept it off.  I have always been overweight for my height and age.  Some, if not most of you would say no that is not true .. but it is.  When I started running (in May), I was 35 years old (still am) and weighted 202 lbs.  Now - that is over weight.  And yes.. most of you will say I've had 4 children basically right after the other.. but still that doesn't excuse my weight of 202 lbs  - not acceptable!

But that's ok.. because I am taking charge and changing things in my life.. in many areas of my life.  I've said this before.. and I will say it again.. I feel stronger today then I ever have!

This post is NOT meant to boost.. but to ENCOURAGE you all!  If I can do it.. you can do it too!

31 lbs more to go!

All good things come to those who wait..

Things are coming together.  I am feeling organized.  I am feeling lead by God.  It's all good with God.  I feel peace from Him.

Short and sweet.. 'cause that's all the time I have...

Blessings to your day!

Impossible is Nothing..

My husband sent this to me today and it meant alot. I am certainly not even CLOSE to Olympic level. But it is soo inspiring and describes a bit of me.. who I want to be.

Enjoy..

Three Times Up

Had a great run tonight.  It was 30° something but felt like 42° with the humidity.  There is something about running in the heat that actually feels good.  Sweating and FEELING like I am working out - working HARD.  It felt good.  Ran up a CRAZY steep hill tonight .. three times .. it was soo hard.  But it felt good.  I am hoping all this hard work will pay off  at the next race in a couple of weeks.

Some good news.. I am down 18lbs!  Yay!  34lbs more to go.  I've been watching what I eat.. but I also eat what I want (in moderation) if that makes sense.  If I want a treat.. I bake something and enjoy it.  Do I do it all the time.. no.  But when I do enjoy that 'treat'... I feel good.. and then I don't need or want to have it for a long while.  I've worked too hard and enjoy how I am feeling now to just throw it all away... to just be overweight.  That is not me.  That is the old me.  Am I obsessed?  No... I just want to healthy.  I want to be a good example.  I want to look on the outside the way I feel on the inside.

On a bit of a sad note... I was also very overwhelmed with emotions tonight.  Sadness to be specific.  I miss my mom.  I wish she could see me run.  I wish I could hear her say that she is proud of me.  I wish she could 'experience' the run through me.  I feel sad because my mom never got to do or experience things she wanted to... due to illnesses.  Real illnesses.  But I have to be strong.. keep running and continue to work at being the absolutely best mom I can be.  I run because I can.

In my World..

In my World I am ....

Preparing for school to start.
Painting/Decorating the last parts of our home.
Determine to continue to run and loose weight.
WILL make a conscience effort to be on my computer A LOT less (once a day if that).
Striving to be a better mom to my kids... ALL DAY.
Focus on God and not what others are doing or saying.
Less obsessed with the outside world and refused on my family and what works for us ONLY.
Firm minded to be positive in all areas of my life.
Sharing less about my life via face book and possibly this blog and more in person with my loved ones and friends by building stronger relationships.


That is what my world looks like right now and that is where my head is at.... I am happy.  I am feeling content.  I am feeling strong: mentally, physically, spiritually & emotionally.

My Strategy

I have consistently be running 4 times a week.  This works for me.  I did take a whole week off after I ran my second 5k about two weeks ago.  And it felt good.  It felt good to rest.  It felt good that I had to FORCE myself to not go and run.  (that is a big stretch for me.. to WANT to do some sort of exercise). It felt good that I continued to eat well and didn't gain any weight.  On the days that I don't meet with the group I either run by myself or if anyone offers to run with me.. I almost always accept the invite. 

Here is what I do:

Monday - I run my time, which means I can run a 5k in about 31 minutes.  So I run for about 30 minutes.  Simple right?  'Cause it is.  (the concept not the running for 30minutes!  At least not for me!)☺

Tuesday - I'm with my running group.  We are generally at the track, working on our speed and tempo.  But we've also been doing some new training to help with endurance as well.. and that would be hill work.  Yay!  Not!  But I hope to see some results from running up and down and CRAZY STEEP hill!

Wednesday - rest!  rest!  rest!

Thursday - run my time again... but with a bit of a change... I'm going to be running my time but adding 5 minutes.  So I will be running for 35 minutes.  I will do this for a couple of weeks.. then increase my time again by another 5 minutes.

Friday - rest!  rest!  rest!  again.. ☺

Saturday - I'm with my running group again.  We do differently things on this day as well.  Sometimes we just go for a run.  Sometimes we do sprints.  Sometimes we do tempo stuff.  It depends.  But what is important is that I'm out there.

Sunday - you guessed it... rest!  rest!  rest!

And that's what I'm doing folks.  I did get a bit down on myself this week.  I was looking at the pictures that someone took of me at my last race.  And my butt looked big... I mean BIG!  *sigh*  I have lost weight and my body is changing.. and running is getting ALITTLE easier for me... but I have to keep on track.  I have to remember that this will take time.  It took me YEARS to put on the weight.  Four babies in under 5 years (yikes.. do the math.. and none of them are twins☺).  So anyway... I am back in my positive happy place in my head.

Ran tonight.  It felt good.  I love that I have an ipod now... I can focus on the music and imagine myself running at the next race! ☺