Getting there

I can't believe we are already a week into May! Where has the time flown? I haven't blogged as much as I wanted to though, before now, but that's ok... I'll catch up. After I walked my 5k, I took it easy for a few days, because my legs were killing me. I did step it up again though. Not too much else going on though... 

I was doing really good not to eat any candy... and then it happened. Twix. Twix happened. Was it delicious? Eh.... Was it worth it? Eh..... So why did I do it? I have no idea. I think it's because it's about TOM, and that's why I'm craving chocolate... cause I don't want it really.... Really! Don't look at me that way! I've gotten t that point. But right now? I'm craving it... grrr.

Other than that though, I walked 15.9 miles last week! For my walk to Mordor (15.9/1779), I hit Stock Road at the 14.5 mile mark. Woo! I'm on my way to camping with the Elves!

As for my weight, I had posted on the SJ Facebook page that I got down to 178.6 during my mid-week weigh in (cause it's an obsession)... I knew, that probably wouldn't last though, but that's ok! Because I knew that I could do it! So, when it came time for my actual weigh in? 179.6! One pound in 3 days, when usually I go up much more? I'll take it! I'm super excited to see what comes next!

Thanks to everyone in my Shrinking Jeans group though! Without them, I would never had started, I would be sitting on my couch, 191 pounds, miserable, and wishing I would think to do something. 12 pounds might not seem like much in 5 months, but if I hadn't joined this group, it wouldn't have been anything at all. I'm super grateful for all of them! 

Woo Hoo! Mayday!

I made it! Oh my gosh, I made it.... I walked a 5k... I can't believe it... I thought I was going to fall over. Wanna know what's worse? My dumbass had the car keys, so if for some reason I couldn't do it (like... I dunno, asthma problems, or got hit by a car) the hubs wouldn't be able to get to me easily! Geez!

BUT! I did it! And I didn't die either (bonus points for that one)! I realized something too, while I was walking... first of all... when I walk at work, I have to walk around the building 2 times to get about 3/4 of a mile, or 3 times for a mile. So I thought this task of a 5k would be pretty easy. But when I took off out my door, and walked halfway across town, and had just barely made it a mile, I thought two things... 1. Crap, this is really harder than I thought! and 2. Our town is too shittin' small! 

So I don't know if you can tell from these pictures, but on the left is the whole town, and on the right is my walk... I basically walked most of the town in 3.5 miles... Sad lol

So, I walked, and walked, and walked.... and eventually I made it. I actually walked a little bit further, because I'm a dingtard, and didn't know how far I should go, since the town is so small, so by the time I made it back to the house, it was actually 3.5 miles. :)

I'm going to recap a few things, for you, but mostly for me, because it's good to see where you've been... 

At the beginning of April, I was so close to giving up, as a matter of fact, I even blogged about it just 20 days ago. My my, how things can change! The day after easter, I started walking while at work during my breaks, one to two times a night, and upped my walking in general at work while on the unit. I made sure to get up and move around. I've been dancing at home, too. I haven't even had any candy in 2 days! So what was my final weigh in for April? 

April 1- 184.2
April 30-181

But honestly, I only started walking a week or so before the end of the month. I'm pretty pleased with that number. I also mentioned in the post where I almost quit that I had wanted to get in about 50 miles last month. Well? How about 57.5?? KABOOM! And the bestest part?? 31.5 of that was from when I started really committing the day after easter. That's 9 days. Ya heard me.... NINE. You know what that means? I can actually do this! Hot Damn!

I'm ready for what this next month will bring. I'm ready for my trip to Mordor and I'm ready to really kick some ass!

An extension, if you will!

"The Road goes ever on and on
Down from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the Road has gone,
And I must follow, if I can,
Pursuing it with eager feet,
Until it joins some larger way
Where many paths and errands meet.
And whither then? I cannot say."

So, my awesome ladies over at Shrinking Jeans Accountability group have joined together to do a walking challenge, and someone postulated that we could see how far we get in the month of May. I love this idea, as I've gotten more into walking. My plan may constantly change (freaking ADHD) but the goal has always been to get off the rumpus and get out the door.

Well, I decided to expand on the Mileage May challenge... When I was much younger, I had joined Weight Watchers (the first of many times) and I was really big on their message boards. There was this group that was focused on Middle Earth. I loved it! I forgot all about it when I quit, but it was a great experience, and kept me motivated for some time.

I wouldn't have even thought about it now, if it wasn't for Laura, who mentioned a Walking to Mordor group on My Fitness Pal. While I don't want to join yet another group, especially on a site that I'm not on often (but probably should be) I searched for alternatives. That's when I found this really really familiar site. It actually maps out how many miles it took to get around Middle Earth! I'm super excited! The first part of the trek takes you to Rivendell. 

(There are two websites that you can follow, the first is EowynChallenge.net, which lines out allllllll the walking done by everyone during the entire trip. Or there's NerdFitness.com, which just lines out Frodo and Sam's walk.... which is what I will set out to do)

If you just follow Frodo and Sam's path then this is the mileage:

• 458 miles: Go from Hobbiton to Rivendell.
• 462 miles: Set out with the Fellowship from Rivendell, through Moria, to Lothlorien.
• 389 miles: From Lothlorien, down the Anduin, to Rauros Falls.
• 470 miles: Follow Frodo and Sam on the quest from Rauros to Mt. Doom.
• 535 miles From Minas Tirith to Isengard
• 693 miles From Isengard to Rivendell.
• 397 miles From Rivendell to Bag End.
• 467 miles: (bonus!) Follow Frodo to the Grey Havens and return home with Sam.

Following this path, you need to walk a total of 1779miles to get from Hobbiton to Mt. Doom. At which point you destroy the ring and get carried to Minas Tirith by giant Eagles. Then you’ll walk 1625 miles back to Bag End (and an additional 467 miles if you’re interested in doing a round trip to the Grey Havens).

Now I can't decide, do I factor in the miles I've already walked since I got serious last Monday, or do I start May 1st? Either way, it's going to take me a long time, which is fine. I'm excited to start this epic journey!

P.S. Nerd Fitness also has charts that you can plot your journey and keep track of where you are on your path!

OAR 5k Virtual Run/Walk

Click on the link for info

It's absolutely amazing what getting your ass into gear can get you! I'm a member of 2 groups on Facebook for Virtual Runs, although, I haven't been about to sign up for any yet, because I'm one of the lovely ones that get to live paycheck to paycheck. Well, there was a post about a OAR (Organization for Autism Research) Virtual Run, and since my son has "atypical autism" I thought this would be an excellent run to save money for. So I contacted the organizer, and asked if they would still be doing it by my next payday, which is next Friday. She contacted me back about 10 minutes later and told me that I had been sponsored and all I had to do was send her my info! I can't even believe it! I'm super excited, and as soon as I can, I will pay it forward.

I've been walking more, every night at work, because, even though I came up with the game plan of going to the cemetery, it hasn't been working out like I wanted... but I'm at work every day, and now they are MAKING us take breaks (which all we do is sit on our ass all night anyway, why do we need breaks?? but I digress). So rather than hit the evil vending machine, I've been walking around my building every night. I feel great for it too! It's becoming easier! I can't believe it... the first few nights were kinda rough, because there's one section that is up hill, but now? Fah-getttabout it! 

Except we totally WILL!

There's also a new Mileage May challenge with another one of my Facebook groups, with my most FAVORITE LADIES EVER!!! I can't wait to start that! Who knew I would be excited about fitness? Woo! Bring it on!

Never Give Up



Boy, it seems like every time I turn around, something is stalling me.... I mean, most of the time, it's of my own creation, but still! Before, you might remember, it was that I hadn't lost weight for a solid month. Now, it's family drama. PAH-LEASE!!! I said I was going to walk the 2.62, and I didn't... I got close, but I didn't. I could have though! I could have grabbed the boy child and headed to the park. I let my anger at another affect everything else around me, including my relationship with my husband, which is not a good thing!

So, while I was driving my long drive to work (3 mins...tee hee) I decided something. Fuck it. I'm not letting myself get in the way of my own success. So, at 1:30 this morning, I walked around my building (which is lock-up facility) twice. That was about a mile... I think my tracker on my phone glitched... I'm going to do RunKeeper on my next go out, which will be about 5 am. I usually work 4 days a week. Even if I do nothing else, I will get in almost (or at least) two miles a night, plus anything else I do during the day. I can handle that!



As for food... I'm still working on it. Portion control and candy seem to be my main problem. I always think the food is never enough... and as for candy... I have an insatiable sweet tooth. I'm working on it though. And that's all I can ask for :)



Eat less crap!

Oh jeez! So, I cooked easter dinner, and really, it wasn't that bad. I had a plan dammit. Ham, potato salad (just a little), deviled eggs (2) and a large salad. Sounds like a decent plan right? Like I even planned for a small sliver of cheesecake. Well, everything went pretty well, until the end. 

I had plans with my mother for today (Monday), she was going to help me out in a big way. But at the last minute, she decided not to help me. And I really really needed the help. So what did I do after I took her home? I was angry! I wanted to eat everything (Doesn't help I'm battling TOM)! So I took a hot bath to calm down... 

And it didn't help at all. I came out still angry. I grabbed a giant piece of cheesecake. Then, my mom had given me a basket with a ton of fun sized candy in it, so I ate a bunch of that too. Now I'm so ashamed. 

But! It's just one day. I'm not going to let it get to me! I plan on walking 2.62 miles today for #BostonStrong, and I plan on getting shit straight with what she would have helped me with... I'll  just have to figure it out on my own. Ugh.... whatever lol.

So I'm not going to let this get me down! 

About Frakin Time!

So, being accountable is apparently a good thing! Even with the Butterfinger incident yesterday, I tracked everything and moved on. I am so thankful for everyone being supportive. I know I need to exercise more, and I will... but just accounting for food has made the shift!

3/12: 187

3/19: 184.2

3/26: 184.2

4/2: 184.2

4/9: 184.2

4/16:182.8

Can you believe it!!! Oh that was such a long month! We are finishing up the last week of the Shrinking Jeans Group challenge, and I'm hoping I can say I lost at least 6 pounds by the end. That's a pound a week. Not exactly ideal, but hey, it's safe, and effective! So huzzah! 

I've been a little lazy today, because it is my day (night? you know) off, so I slept in, and it's been a while for me to be moving around... but I'll get around... do my walk. Maybe do some sit ups or something... I haven't done them in forever... so I don't know how successful I'll be lol