I'm amazed by the camaraderie I've encountered

Maybe it was my childhood "trauma" of being the last one picked in gym class, not being athletically gifted (and catching grief for it), or being a "late bloomer" to fitness that I thought that I would be isolated in this journey but I have found the reverse to be true.

When I started running, I did it exclusively on the treadmill because I was self-conscious over the extra weight I was carrying. I trained for a 5K and my first 10K on the treadmill and it seemed to work for me but when I started training for a half-marathon, I had to bite the bullet and start running outside.

Until recently, a considerable portion of my running was done in the park or on a trail because I was hesitant to run on the street (once again, self-consciousness was taking control). I was amazed at the friendliness of the folks I encountered. A number of people will wave, say "hi" or "how are you doing," but some may actually initiate dialog to ask how far you're running today or if you're training for a particular race.

When I started going on the race circuit, I was intimidated by being surrounded by numerous runners who were a hell of a lot faster than me. When I go to the NYRR events, my corral corresponds with my best registered pace and I am surrounded by folks who run a pace comparable to mine. I've met a runners who were committed to running and overcoming challenges but yet we've joked about "how slow" we are and would check on each other during the course of the race to see how we're progressing.

I just moved to a new neighborhood and it's a bit of a burden to go to the places where I've run so I have been exploring the area while logging the miles. It turns out I was my biggest critic in terms of how I looked when running; as far as "everybody else," they don't care.

Completed my second half marathon

I have been using RunKeeper to train for a half-marathon and will be using the same app to train for the NYC Marathon. This app is on my phone and I also log on from my computer on the web. When I run, the app tracks my distance, pace, total time, and my route; it's pretty cool to see how I'm doing day-to-day and by location.

The More Magazine/Fitness Magazine Half Marathon was my first half. This race fell during a busy weekend; went to the Yankee game on Friday, my HS reunion was the day before, and I was going to a birthday party for one of my daughter's classmates immediately after the race. I wanted to complete the race in 3 hours and was thrilled to see that I finished in 2:59:10.

My second half was the Long Island Half this past Sunday and it was a great day for a race. I had a really strong start and finished in 2:59:49. I tracked my time on RunKeeper and noticed that I lost a considerable amount of time waiting to use the bathroom at various points throughout the race. Whatever the case may be, I completed the race without needing a wheelchair or an ambulance (LOL).

I'm registered for my third half taking place in a week and a half. The Superhero Half sounds like it will be a fun race. To get in the spirit, I wanted to get a superhero outfit (my daughter wanted me to get a Spidergirl costume) but I find the prices to be a tad prohibitive considering I'm not at goal weight and I don't want to buy something I can only wear once. I went to Party City and bought a Superman shirt for $9.99 (tax free because I bought it in NYC).

In the meantime, I'm still figuring out hydration and fueling strategies as I build my speed and endurance.

Getting stronger/faster

I ran a 5K today and it was personal best so far. When I did my first 5K in 2011, I was basically untrained and my pace was 15:08; I wasn't disappointed with the time considering it was my first race and I didn't put a heck of a lot of effort with training. I was thrilled to see that today's race was done at an 11:24 pace, which means that I trimmed almost 4 minutes from the pace of my first race. My previous PR was hit in August for another 5K at a pace of 12:11. This will be my last 5K until March 2, 2014. I'm registered for other races between now and then ranging from 4 miles to a half-marathon. A lot of my training over the next few months will focus on longer distances. I will be curious to see what my pace will be in March.

Latest numbers. Another 3-1/2 months have passed.

I'm supposed to take my measurements on a monthly basis but that hasn't happened. I took some measurements yesterday & noticed the following changes:
Hips - 46 (down 3.5 inches since March)
Bust - 41 (down 6 inches since March)
Waist - 37 (down 5.5 inches since March)
Right thigh - 24 (down 4 inches since March)

A lot of folks have noticed that I've lost a significant amount of weight. In addition to the kudos I've received, some are bold enough to ask me about my boobs; yes, they've gotten smaller but I'm not flat-chested.

Going for a run. How did that happen?

I'm training for my first half marathon and have been using RunKeeper, an app on my phone that maps out a training program and tracks my progress. The objective is to get you ready for a half-marathon in about 4 months; you will build your endurance and slowly add distance to make it to 13 miles.

I started the program after I completed my 10K in July. Yes, I should've been done by now but I was working on a project that got me off track with training. I was looking to do my first half either this month or next but that didn't happen.

My first half-marathon will be the Manhattan Half on Janary 26, 2014 and I will make two loops around Central Park (hope it won't be too cold). It's funny how a new activity becomes part of your life. When I was doing my 6-mile run earlier this week, I thought "a year ago, if you told me that I would be logging in a 6-mile run today, I would wonder what you're smoking." My pace isn't great but I'm getting it done.

I'm not doing straight running yet but I'm getting there. I did notice that I will do better at an event than when I'm by myself. I have a 5 mile event on Sunday. I knocked out a training run of a similar distance last Sunday in an hour and 4 minutes. It might be a hoot if I can knock this out in an hour.

The Color Mob 5K NYC. Fun but a mess.

On Saturday, I participated in my fifth 5K. The Color Mob is a relatively informal event that doesn't issue D-Tags or have a timing system in place to measure one's progress so I used MapMyRun to get my results. I'm thrilled to say that my pace is faster than previous races so I'm pretty psyched about that.

I had somebody take my picture after I finished, posted it to Instagram and linked the photo to Facebook & Twitter. The responses to my picture have been positive.

Next Sunday, I tackle my first 10K.

New numbers 3-1/2 months later

I'm supposed to take my measurements on a monthly basis but that hasn't happened. I took some measurements yesterday & noticed the following changes:
Hips - 48 (down 1.5 inches since March)
Bust - 43.5 (down 3.5 inches since March)
Waist - 39.5 (down 3 inches since March)
Right thigh - 25.5 (down 2.5 inches since March)

Let's get something straight, a pound of muscle & a pound of fat weigh the same

It really annoys me when I hear people say that muscle weighs more than fat & that's why they can't lose weight. Yes, it does get discouraging to spend a lot of time at the gym & make better food decisions only to see slow (if any movement) on the scale. Some folks will say "why bother" and abandon all efforts.

A pound of muscle & a pound of fat weigh the same but they take up different amounts of space. Here are some images that can break it down for you.

If that's not enough, here's something that can serve as motivation to keep going.

One that that I learned a few months ago is that when muscles are being developed, there is a tendency for them to retain water and that may contribute to the scale not moving "too quickly." Just keep at it and the pounds will go away.

30 day challenges

In recent weeks on Facebook, a number of my connections have been posted various images for 30 day challenges they are planning to undertake. I guess it's in preparation of the warmer weather & the need to want to firm up certain parts in anticipation of wearing clothes that require less coverage.

I have been placing a heavy focus on cardio (especially the treadmill) and have been doing weights about 2-3 times per week. I understand the need to perform weight-bearing exercises to help speed up my metabolism. I'm about 40 pounds down & the inches have been melting away but my abs remain problematic and that's annoying when I try on pants that fit well everywhere else on me except my gut!

I found this set of ab work to be straightforward.

It's been a while since I've done serious situps (at least 20 years) and I have been treating crunches as an afterthought but I'm forced to tackle both exercises here. I was introduced the planks when I was seeing a personal trainer before I got married but I wonder if I'm doing my leg lifts properly.

I look forward to the results that should be there at the conclusion of the 30-day period but one thing to keep in mind is that abs are made in the kitchen & not the gym. I realize that a lot of folks have been following this program but if their eating habits are horrible, the results won't be as great.

I'm also doing the squat challenge. I have been doing a considerable amount of lower body exercises on weights but I have been told that any exercises that rely on your own body weight will produce greater results.

I do the squats on the same day as the abs exercises.

A few weeks ago, I was at a thrift shop to pick up some clothes (since buying a series of new wardrobes during my weight loss is cost-prohibitive) and I saw an Alfred Angelo evening gown (which I can use for an event at the end of July). The label said that it was a size 16 and I tried it on out of curiosity only to be thrilled that it fit in most places but my boobs were too big! I did a search to see what exercises I can do to reduce my bust line and learned that push-ups would be the way to go. Every other day, I do 6 sets of 15 push-ups.

Can't wait to go clothes shopping at the end of the 30-day challenge.

Knocking out a 5K

I joke with people that I won't run for a bus but here I am trying to knock out distances that are greater than a city block.

In the months before my wedding, I was seeing a personal trainer and during one of our sessions, she had me do a few sprints on the treadmill. I think the last time I was actually "forced" to run (besides trying to catch a train or a bus) was when I was a freshman in college & needed to run for ROTC.

Fortunately, I walked a lot through the years so the concept of going a certain distance wasn't foreign to me but doing it "double time" just wasn't happening.

I realized that incorporating running into my fitness regime was a quick way to burn calories in a short period of time but it is hard as hell.

I found a few "couch to 5K" programs and took numerous stabs at getting started in recent years but I would burn myself out and quit after a few weeks.

Last year, I found this program and I will admit that life has gotten in the way causing my to take more than the suggested 9 weeks to finish. I am currently in week 9 of a "couch to 10K" program. I'm still pretty self-conscious and not too comfortable about running outside. I know that once I'm done with the 10K program, I will move onto the half-marathon program and I will have to run outside.

Last month, I participated in my fourth 5K. Here are the results of the various races I've done.

Date	Race	Time	Pace
3/6/2011	Coogan's Salsa, Blues and Shamrocks 5K	45:34	15:08
3/4/2012	Coogan's Salsa, Blues and Shamrocks 5K	53:19	17:47
3/3/2013	Coogan's Salsa, Blues and Shamrocks 5K	42:38	14:18
4/14/2013	JFK Runway Run	40:39	13:20

For the 2012 Coogan's run, I hurt my foot before I reached the one-mile mark so I basically walked/limped the rest of the race. In 2011 & 2012, I wasn't diligent about training but I decided to get serious this year. When I did the JFK race, I was thrilled to see that I was able to knock an minute off my best pace.

I do need to disclose that the Coogan's course is quite hilly and the JFK course is flat (well, it is a runway...duh).

Revisiting my numbers

I referred to my first post and the measurements I took that day. I took some measurements yesterday & noticed the following changes:
Weight - 207 (down 27 pounds)
Hips - 49.5 (down 6.5 inches)
Bust - 47 (down 4 inches)
Waist - 42.5 (down 1.5 inches)
Right thigh - 28 (down 3 inches)

I joined Weight Watchers on February 4 and lost 14 pounds on the program so far. I came to terms with the fact that losing weight on my own wasn't going to happen. I also realized that it wasn't enough to just go to the gym but I needed to get right with food as well. I have been pretty diligent with going to the gym by doing weights & cardio. I'm currently on Week 3 of my 10K training program.

Scale hasn't reflected but I feel a difference

Over the past three weeks, I've been pretty diligent about going to the gym but my eating habits are still horrible hence the lack of movement on the scale.

In a previous post, I commented on the challenge I had on the treadmill; I'm thrilled to announce that I have overcome that and can knock out a 30 minute session combining walking & running. Gradually, I will be increasing the amount of running & decreasing the amount of walking per session. I'm registered for the Coogan's 5K which is taking place on March 4th. I participated in this event last year but I didn't train properly. I'm reversing that this year and would like to take 10 minutes off my completion time.

I'm also swimming 3 days per week. In a previous post, I included a link to a swim training program that I'm following. The pool at my gym is 25 yards long and I've noticed that I would lose counts of laps I've done; I found a lap counter online, ordered one & should receive it by the end of the week.

Last summer, my husband bought me a bike. My goal is to do a century this year. I have been on the stationary bikes at the gym but once the weather warms up, I plan on doing a few training rides with my brother.

Every other day, I have been hitting the weight machines.
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1/8 status

Weighed in and tipped the scale at 230.

Made it to the gym after not going for 4 days. Spent 30 minutes on the cross-fit machine (equaled 2 miles & burned 220 calories) and did weights for lower body.

The Bally's location that I used to frequent was acquired by LA Fitness a few months ago. Last week, I was driving to the Bally's in Bay Shore which opened a few months ago; it's a great club and there are an ample number of cardio machines.

My husband has been on my ass about me adding him on my membership. I finally got around to joining LA Fitness and I added my husband. As a new member, we are each entitled to an hour with a personal trainer; my session is tomorrow and my husband's is Wednesday.

My husband is looking to build muscle to prepare for his Navy reunion in April.
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Happy New Year

The mantra I'm adopting for the year is along the lines of "my actions are consistent with my desired results."

Last year, I recognized that I needed to take action in terms of improving my overall health and level of fitness and my time at the gym was spent in dribs and drabs. Over the summer, I was pretty diligent but then I got busy and my dedication went down the drain.

I lost some weight and was thrilled that I was able to buy smaller clothes but since I stopped going to the gym, the numbers on the scale went back up and I was back in my old clothes.

Today, I spent some time on the bike and worked on the weight machines.