Another week done!

It's been a while since I have updated, with being gone to Nova Scotia and then Blogger being down everytime I have a moment to write,  its been hard to update!

I have now completed week two of the Couch 25K! I completed my last run last night, in the stinking heat!  It was absolutely thrilling to finish the run even though every breath I took was like breathing through a heavy blanket!

I am scared to start week three, its a big jump from 90 seconds jogging to 3 minutes, but I will try my best! It may take me a few weeks here as well, and I am okay with that. This is the longest time I have ever committed to an exercise routine of some kind and its been fabulous! I can keep going at this! I know I can! 

Week 2 


Today I ran with Erin. We took the kids to the park, let them play and ran the path that goes right around the park.  It felt great to be able to run the 90 seconds with ease, but also to run more "in public" and not feel so self-conscious. The confidence I am building is showing in so many ways. Running has done so much more for me then just increase my exercise. Even my shins didn't hurt as much as last time. WE also ran in the morning, which I have yet to experience. I quite enjoy running in the morning. Much more than the evening. If James wasn't out delivering the newspapers every morning I would be out running before work.  Soon summer is coming though and my work schedule is changing so I should be able to run in the morning.

Tonight I became adventurous and made home made pizza.  This is the first time I have ever really made anything from scratch! With the helpful advice from my parents friends and my step-mom's epicure spices and pans I made some delicious healthy pizzas!! Before I would order pizzas that had three kinds of meat, extra cheese and thick crust. Today I made a thinner crust pizza (as much as I had control over this as a newbie!) with broccoli, tomatos and chicken. And low fat cheese. On a personal sized pan. It was delicious, and filling. I have never felt so satisfied!!!

Will continue this week with week two- and off to Nova Scotia. I hope to get some runs done when I am down that, however I know I will be doing a lot more exercising and walking! We are visiting farms, climbing through coves and going for long sightseeing walks!

Baby steps to Big Change :)

Week 2!!!!!!

Well last night I started my first day of the "week 2" sound track!  It entailed running 90 seconds walking 2 min.  It was so hard! I missed about 10 seconds on set number 5 where I just couldn't run anymore but I blasted through the rest of them- not too bad for a girl who couldn't run 60 seconds 3 weeks ago!!! It was SO windy last night! Every time I turned the corner I would get blasted with a wall of wind that I had to run through, it was so tough! Eventually I just stopped turning corners and turned around and ran back and forth in the non-windy spots.

I am on the lookout for a nice pair of running shoes. They need to be fairly cheap but I would like a pair that is set for running on hard surfaces. Every time I run I end up laying on the couch with frozen peas on my shins to stop the swelling. I am looking at a pair of Acsis that are on sale- anyone have any reveiws?

In 6 days I am off to Nova Scotia for a high school exchange! I am a chaperone and assistant for one of my classroom kids and although I am excited to go I am nervous about my WW and running being in jeopardy! Although we are doing a lot of hiking and a lot of outside exercising so hopefully that will help.

This is it for me today, I am very tired!  Good luck with your adventures! If you haven't started yet- stop reading and go make a small change in your life! Its baby steps- to big change!

I am starting to get frustrated. My WI this week showed me down 2 lbs, to 25lbs lost. Today my scale is showing me back at what I was. I have been perfectly on plan this week and have continued to run.  I don't know what else I can do to break  this plateau! This week I will increase my running to 90 seconds so hopefully that will help.

I am really in need of an actual running outfit.  On Tuesday I ran in my dress pants as the only "workout" pants I have have developed a hole. And my shoes are really worn out.  It does show you can do anything with a limited income, you can't use that as a barrier.  That being said, hopefully soon I can treat myself to a more comfortable pair of shoes!

On Tuesday I took my wonderful dog Mango out with me for my run. Talk about a new experience, for both of us!  Running with the resistance of his leash really put pressure on my shins! I was essentially running angled backwards.  Also getting twisted in his leash wasn't much fun either.  Eventually though we got into  a rhythm and were able to follow each others lead.  And then he walked through a burr bush.  When we got home I had to sit there and cut all the burrs out of his crazy fur and then bathe him. What work!

I am off for a run again tonight after work. I am going to try the new track, for week 2. Wish me luck for pushing  myself harder tonight!

Week 1, day 4 &5


I am still calling this week 1 because I have chosen to re-do the podcast for week one until I feel comfortable completely.  I decided to run on Monday- it was such a beautiful evening and I really just felt like doing it!! What a strange difference in my attitude to activity. It's really remarkable. From the girl that just didn't care, didn't know how, didn't feel good- to wanting to do it daily. I finished the intervals on Monday again- and had my mini high! I think it's that feeling that really motivates me. I haven't felt so accomplished in a long time!

I went again last night, and Hannah decided she really wanted to come too. I was a little unsure on how that would work- but decided to try. I did make James come with us, just in case.  She was really motivated and really tried her best to run lots! For little 4 year old feet she sure can move, and did really well.  Towards the end of the podcast she was getting tired so she stopped and sat with Daddy.  They then saw some ducks go by, and a blue jay! She took on the job of passing me my water bottle every time I passed them, and cheering me on (Go Mommy Go!)  It was really great.   On the plus side, we went home and it was bed time, she didn't even get through a story before passing out. May just take her out everynight with me so she sleeps well! Haha.

I am really starting to feel major differences in my body. Sometimes the scale doesn't like to show me them but I notice as clothes fit differently and I have much more energy- and for the most part my attitude is more positive and cheerful.  If these are the only changes I get then I will be extremely happy with the entire thing!

This week it's Hannah's dance recital- excited to see my baby on stage. encouraging activity in my family has become almost our motto.  I really hope she is able to live a happy and healthy childhood, and that I instill the ability to learn healthy habits and fully understand the effects of unhealthy choices.

Week 1 Day #3


So today I ran with Erin, my besstie. I RAN THE WHOLE SET!!!!! EVERY INTERVAL!!! I am on such a high right now I can't even explain it.  Running with her was great motivation and it kept me going. After a couple full sets I realized "Hey, I don't need her to push me! I can do this!" Once I hit "Single Ladies" the track that I always quit on, a huge smile came across my face. I wasn't feeling any pain, and I was feeling pretty good. I knew right then I could finish it, and finish it strong.  As soon as I finished the last run (Thanks Carli for that last bit of motivation!) I jumped into the air and yelled!  It was friggen amazing.  I can't believe that after 3 days of running intervals I was able to do it without dying.  I will do week one again next week just so I can continue feeling confident for a week. Also I have Erin starting the program now, and we will run together on Saturdays, since she essentially lives at my house on weekends anyways!

Tomorrow morning is Weigh In day. My scale at home isn't showing a loss, and its making me nervous. James and Erin both keep telling me that the first week after working out and picking up activity will be the hardest on my weight loss as my body adjusts.  I am going to try and not let the scale tomorrow discourage me at all. I am feeling healthier-- just being able  to finish today confirms that I am.  Physics states that I will have to start losing the pound- calories in vs calories out, Right?

The goal for the next 12 weeks is to lose 20 more lbs and to be able to run 20 minutes consecutive.  :)

For those following my journey I challenge you to find one habit that you want to change and keep putting it off and just do it! Make that one little change, and keep your head up high.

If I can do it, you can too!!!!!

Week 1, Day 2

Okay, so I found my groove. I found a path behind my house that allows me to run without every person on the street staring at me. I have a long way to go- and right now its easier for me to just concentrate on running instead of concentrating on what people think & see.

Today wasn't as bad as Tuesday.  I got into my groove, my rhythm and it worked. When I got to "Single Ladies" I developed a huge cramp and I had to walk through one run, but for the most part I finished all runs to the 60 second capacity. I probably will continue week 1 again next week, just until it feels a little more comfortable, and then pick it up the week after. My last 60 second interval I heard Carli say "this is your last run, are you ready?"  I was like WOOHOO- and I picked up the pace and finished that 60 seconds strong! My path ends on a dead end, blocked by a linked fence, and when I finished it felt so friggen good- I high fived the fence!!! After I did it I said to myself "Thank god no one saw that one!" But it felt amazing!!!  I walked home, smiling the whole way. It feels so good to be me right now!


On another note, my daughter is sick right now- so home I am tomorrow. I always find it harder to watch my eating when I am at home, but I think I might just go ahead and make my lunch like always, and just eat it when I normally would. Therefore I have to stick to the plan. I don't know how great of an idea that is, it might backfire- but I am working so hard this week to break through this plateau, I know that on its own will help me push through.

OH I almost forgot! I signed up for the Weight Watchers/ Running Room 5 K walk on June 12th! It's official I am going to test the waters, see how I do! Doing it with my best friend, and my weight watchers buddy Erin. She has been one of the greatest supports during this process (she even calls me nightly to make sure I work out!).

Onto another day, another mile (or KM!) Losing Weight has never felt so great!!!

THE DAY AFTER So after last night I laid on the couch watching Biggest Loser thinking how the heck do they do it? Here I am after 30 min of running, dying, and these guys, most bigger than me, are running at record speed and working out for hours. They inspire me. Today, I woke up and I didn't feel too bad! A little tightness in the back of my calves but nothing that hurts. I hear its two days after when it really hits you! I have redesigned a corner of my bedroom to become a circuit training session. I brought up my exercise ball, my hand weights and have temporarily stolen Hannah's step stool. I printed off pictures of exercises and created a spreadsheet with a circuit on it. Tonight will be day one of home made circuits. We shall see how that goes! On the eating side of things, I cannot tell you how hard it is to be at work and be on Weight Watchers. I bring my lunch so that part isn't a problem, the problem part is that we use edible reinforcements, and therefore have drawers of candy and chocolate treats. It's keep the hands out of the cookie jar, so to speak, which is the most difficult. When I am at home I don't have this stuff in the house, no temptation, when I am around it I lose all control. I am not hungry- sometimes I don't even LIKE the candy. I just have a problem. I am still working on fixing this broken link inside my brain, but its really challenging for me. In order to be successful at this life change I have been really thinking about how I became so fat, so overweight. I look back and I can't pinpoint a time when I wasn't fat,. It all started at puberty, and went down hill from there. I take most ownership on this, some comes from lack of knowledge and understanding from my parents as well- although they get it now, as they are all working at losing weight too. I give them credit though, how hard is it to be a parent- its friggen difficult, add into it my parents owned and ran a business therefore my teenage years were spent being fed a lot of fast food, and little support on learning how to eat well. It's something a lot of kids from my generation went through, the first real generation to have both parents out working full time. An adjustment for sure, for everyone. Now as a working parent myself I have had to think about how I could incorporate the strategies I have learned into my daughters life. It's awesome to see how much she cares about healthy eating and exercise. We go grocery shopping now and she asks for each item- mom that is healthy eh. its a vegetable! And she always wants to go out. Last night she asked me (after my run, close to her bedtime) "Mom can we go out to the park, you will get lots of exercise and be healthy!" She is a fantastic motivator- But unfortunately for her, we didn't go out. James struggle with his weight and healthy constantly too. It's been really difficult for him to balance well being and changing his life. As I have been losing weight though I notice he has taken more interest and seems to want it too. How he gets it, or when, will have to come from him. He will eventually make the change, I have faith in him, he just needs to come to terms with it himself. I know I had to. If anyone would like to contribute some tips and ideas about stopping the snacking I would appreciate it!

I decided to start this blog to write about my journey through Weight Watchers, and my newest journey- tackling Couch 2 5 K.

I am a big girl, at 5'2 I started my journey at 266lbs. I joined Weight Watchers on January 2, 2011 as a commitment to myself to start life over in a healthier happier way.

Now on April 4th, 2011 I have lost 23lbs, sitting at 243lbs. This is still a huge number, but it is going down, sometimes slower than I would like. The last few weeks have been hovering around the same weight and I decided I really needed to kick it up a notch. Hence the reason for starting the couch to 5 k plan. I downloaded the mp3 for week one from http://runningintoshape.com/

I really liked her music and it was easy to upload it to my Blackberry.

Today was my first day on week 1. I learned very quickly that 60 seconds is a long time, especially for a woman of my size. I managed to get through the first 3 cycles of run/walk no problem, by the 4th cycle I was finding it difficult to breathe. At that moment I made myself a commitment to just push as far as I could and then to walk. I made it to 45 seconds every time, and when I absolutely couldn't breathe I allowed myself to walk. If I had pushed too much I knew I would never go back out again.

It's important for me to celebrate every success, and the fact that I walked outside my door is a success. The fact that I didn't quit and stuck through the whole 30 minutes- success! I made sure that I ran the last one for the full 60 seconds and then congratulated myself as I was walking home. Even if people were staring at me as I ran (HEY! Look at that fat girl thinking she can run!) inside my head I told myself- hey! You are awesome, Look at that fat girl changing her life!

Every day is a challenge. How can you change what you have known for your entire life? It's about choices. Sometimes I don't always make the right choices, but I recognize when those choices aren't good and try to make a better choice next time. It's really learning how to live, for the first time.

Starting this blog is one way for me to keep myself accountable. I will be back here every day to write, whether or not people actually read this- it is for me to be able to say "Jessica, you are doing great, stick with it!!! "

Thanks for reading :)