Get Back Up

Source: weightwatchers.com via Deanna on Pinterest

There are so many times along the journey when you feel knocked down.
-One very Bad Day
-One Meal
-Special Event
-Didn't workout/Run
-Gained Weight
-Didn't hit your goal
-Over did something

It doesn't matter if you read this blog because you are a runner or someone trying to losing weight. There are so many times when you start have a hard time. I never thought that maintaining weight would be anymore difficult than losing it but I was kidding myself. It is so easy to slip up. Go back into old habits. I had felt this recently so last week I made a strong commitment to track and get back to the basics. I was down nearly 2 pounds at my weigh in this week after that. No matter what knocks me down I always try to get back up as quickly has possible. Even if you over do it at one point try to get back on track as quickly as possible. It does't matter how many times you get knocked down it just matters that you always get back up. I feel like running can be a metaphor for much of the weight loss journey I experienced  It doesn't matter how bad you felt a run was.. you still ran. So put in all the efforts and you will see success from the sum of all efforts.


What is knocking you down and how are you going to get back up?

Yummy Food

I love Sundays.
Today I started out with a rainy, windy and chilly 6.10 mile run. I hit the grocery store before even coming home so I wouldn't have to leave the house once I got back.

Since it was rainy and crappy the first thing I thought of was making chili today. So I made sure I picked up some ground turkey so I could make it.

By the time lunch time rolled around I wanted something simple. I love corn tortillas and how useful they can be. Today I opened up a can of tuna, grabbed some spinach mix, pumpkin salsa and mustard and went to to town on this quick lunch. The great part is that you can layer these with whatever you want. I love to use them for tuna since they hold the tuna better than bread. Spinach is a great filler. It is so good for you also. The pumpkin salsa is a "special" item at Aldi grocery stores and I love mustard on anything.

After round one of a disappointing NFL day I decided to get started on my chili. The great part about "Cincinnati Chili" is that it doesn't have to have a lot of ingredients. 

1 6oz can of tomato paste

1lb 93% Ground Turkey

1 Package of "Cincinnati Chili" Mix 

6 Cups Water

Mix into a pot... wait for it to boil. Then simmer for about 1-1.5 hours. I let my simmer for about 2 hours just so it would be slightly thicker. You could also mix all into a crock-pot for several hours. The key is to not brown the meat first. Just put all of it together.

3 Points Plus Values for 6 Servings

Optional is to top with hot sauce, cheese and oyster crackers. Comfort food at its finest.

Cincinnati Chili... YUM

So tell me what is one of your favorite comfort meals?

Perspective

Today I ran across this photo of myself.

I think there are so many times when we need to stop and evaluate our progress. I believe I was about 20 years old in this photo.. so this was probably taken about 9 years ago. I am still amazed at the amount of things I have been able to accomplish that I know when this photo was taken I never could have even imagined. 

~I have lost at least 50 pounds... I know I lost this much on Weight Watchers and now lead meetings to encourage others to do the same. 

~I actually know what portions and what good eating habits are.

~I believe in myself and know that so much more is possible that I ever believed.

~I have run 2 marathons, 1 trail marathon, too many half marathons to count and many other races. Just the fact that I even get of my couch and do anything is amazing thinking I came from the place I was in the photo above.

There are so many more things to be proud of. I highly suggest reflection every once in awhile to remind yourself how far you have truly come. It is possible you will never go from couch potato to marathon runner but I encourage you to find the success that makes you feel proud. 

Source: cambraerose.tumblr.com via Deanna on Pinterest

One Thing

Source: sparkpeople.com via Deanna on Pinterest

This week as weight watchers 360 is launching in meeting room we are discussing how are new plan is really to help our members in so many different aspects of their daily lives. One thing we are asking them at the end of each meeting is to make a commitment for the week. The thing is they don't have to be anything extremely difficult just something to focus on. I truly believe this is the key to being successful not only at weight loss but most aspects of life.

If you are a runner reading this blog think about it... Focus on what you really want to get out of your run that day and what might make it a success and go after it. This week when it comes to running I have really decided to focus on not pushing myself. Often times as runners we push ourselves well beyond our limits. Coming off my second marathon of the year I know this week is all about giving my body some time to recover. However this doesn't mean just totally taking the week to sit on my couch. Today I completed a 3.44 mile run at a very nice slow pace with my Tuesday night run group. This run did not push beyond any limit with my body but it allowed me to move my legs just enough.

If you are not a runner and you are reading this blog as motivation to lose weight then think about it like this. There are so many things that stand in our way. However instead of focusing on the big picture focus on one element you know you want to focus on for the upcoming week and only focus on that. We don't have to focus on everything at once just one small thing at a time.

This week I am focusing on actually keep track of all the little things I often don't really keep track of every week. For example coffee creamer. While it doesn't seem like something that would make a big difference but it truly can.

What one thing are you willing to focus on?

Back to Basics

We often have times when we all struggle. Even though I started this journey nearly 4 years ago and I have been a lifetime member for over 2 years there are still times when we get off track. The key is to get back on as soon as you can. I really truly believe it is all about the basics. One of the great things about Weight Watchers it that they provide so many great tools. Yesterday officially launched their new Weight Watchers 360 program. It is a way for Weight Watchers to really provide 360 degrees of support so that members are more successful. The thing is that we are all human and have typical human behaviors. In order to really get back on track myself I decided to take full advantage of some the great new tools Weight Watchers offers.

Tracking. This is the new 3 month tracker that Weight Watchers offers so many things I love that truly believe that can apply to so many of us.

Each week it asks you to plan for your activity. I think this is the key to success when it comes to make a commitment for exercise  For many people like me who run tend to get lazy when they are not training for an event. I think the way to commit to exercise on a weekly basis.  

The page also asks you to really think about your focus for the week. I think the key to focus on what you really truly believe will help make your week a success.

They also have pages so that you can prepare your weekly meals. I think this would be a great way to prepare not only your week but also even what you need from the grocery on a weekly basis. This page also asks you which "space" in your environment you want to focus on and how exactly you plan to take control of this space.

Then of course they have the 7 days of tracking per week.  The key when you are getting back to basics is really truly putting down as much as possible. The more honest you are the more you will benefit from tracking. Every bite, every lick and every taste.

Focus on the small things and get back to basics.

Tecumseh Trail Marathon (Race Recap)

Tecumseh Trail marathon
If you have never heard of this race click the link above to get some idea of what I had my back against.

Friday evening  I set out for Bloomington, Indiana. I had a nice dinner with some great friends. Of course we ate Italian the night before the big race. Then we headed back to our hotel to prep for the next morning and to get  a good nights sleep.

On the longest bus ride ever

My friends Betty and Bryan had prepped me mentally for the race. They explained the race course and what I should expect. I really still had no idea what to expect. At 9AM Saturday morning we boarded the buses that would take us to the starting line. The bus we were on got lost so that made me even more anxious about the race. Then another bus broke down. So the race eventually started 45 minutes late.







I decided not to wear my watch and to just go and run. I had no goals for this race only to finish. I felt it wasn't realistic to have a true goal on a trail race. I talked to my friend Bryan who decided we would run the entire race together since he had convinced me to sign up. The start of the race was a little congested because all of the participants started together. The good thing though is the first few miles flew by.

At mile 6 they explained the next aid station wouldn't be again until about mile 10. Mentally I just kept plugging away. I even started talking to the runners around Bryan and I to keep going. Once we finally approached mile 10 I was really for a break. We grabbed some quick snacks and water and kept plugging away since the next aid station was only 2 miles away. After this stop we took off with two guys who were running together. I asked them how long we had been running so I knew somewhat where we were close the halfway point. That's when I was reminded of the VERY LARGE and that doesn't even begin to explain how torturous this hill was. I seriously thought I may start crying. It was the craziest thing I have ever had to walk up during a race.... for that matter EVER!  We ran a bit with these guys to make conversation. We just kept plugging away the miles. It seemed to take a long time to make it to the next aid station which was around mile 15. From then on there was an aid station just about every 2 miles. The 2 miles stretches seemed to get longer and longer. Around mile 20 we ran into my friend Karrie. She is an amazing runner and really pulled us to the next aid station. She kept going but I had to stop for a drink of water. The aid stations at this race were amazing. I could not have asked for anything better. The people were so supportive and practically had anything you could ever think of to help you keep going. Salt, sweets, IB profin, water, gatorade... they were seriously amazing!

 After we hit the aid station at mile 24.4 I knew only 1.8 to go. I repeated this to myself many times. There was another really big hill right near the end. I was really cursing this hill all the way up. Then we made the turn to a rolling hill road that eventually lead to a very short path to the FINISH! Bryan and I finished right next to each other and cross at 5 hours and 41 minutes. STILL SMILING!

 I told Bryan that was awful but I felt so amazing knowing I finished it. Betty was there waiting with open arms because she is an amazing runner.

 Karrie finished just about 50 seconds in front of us so she was just finishing also. I was so happy to celebrate with all of them.

Overall... I said this was a very humbling and difficult experience  I truly believe that you can push yourself beyond your limits. This was way beyond any limit I thought I could ever reach but I did it. I ran a 26.2 trail marathon and finished.