6 Month Surgiversary

For my 6 month anniversary, I wanted to post this picture of what I looked like a mere 3 weeks prior to my surgery.  The difference is astonishing. Sometimes I forget how far I've come. Although I never forget how bad it felt to be that size. How disgusting I felt, how out of control I felt. There is being fat and there is living life like a train that has jumped the tracks,  and I was that runaway train.

Sometimes I get impatient to lose more weight, as things have started to slow down. I'm no longer shedding 5+ pounds a week (I'm losing about 2 pounds a week. Which I know is to be expected and it is totally WONDERFUL and AMAZING that I'm still losing consistently). But there is something so fabulous about losing weight so fast, that once it slows down a bit, you miss it. I have never been a patient person, and I just want a crystal ball so I know where I'm going to be 6 months from now.

I forget to live in the now and enjoy the progress I've already made. So I'm working on just focusing on the daily wins and the non-scale victories.  Like the other day, when I ran in to someone I hadn't seen since last fall, and they asked, "Where is the rest of you?" Or when my client's parents ask what I've been doing, how I've been losing weight. Or the people who tell me I inspire them when I'm out for a run. Or the mere fact I can ran 4 miles, and how I am excitedly looking forward to my first half marathon.

It is about my surgeon and nutritionist telling me they are proud of me. It is about being able to plan activities like zipling and parasailing, which I could not do before because of my weight. And when I lose 15 more pounds, I can cross skydiving off my bucketlist. Yes, skydiving. 

I am happy where I am now.  I am happy to be active. I don't worry too much about going out in public in my swimsuit. I'm no longer fearful of the Doctor's office or stepping on the scale. And that means more than anything.

Happy 6 months to me! I can't wait to see where I will be 6 months from now. 

I've Got Some New Shoes On

Y'all, I'm feeling so much better than I did when I wrote that totally whiny post a few days ago. And it all has to do with a new pair of shoes. Yes, in the words of singer Paolo Nutini, I've got some new shoes on and everything is going to be fine!

Friday, I headed over to Fleet Feet to get a new pair of running shoes. I've been interested in their custom fitting process for a while, but I have been avoiding it because good running shoes are pricey. But due to the pain I've been having and the worn out state of my shoes, I knew it was time.

The first thing my consultant did was measure my feet. I've never known my true shoe size as it varies so much. My feet are more wide than they are long (flintstone feet), which always leads me into buying shoes that are too big for me.  So it was nice to learn my actual size.

Next, she had me run on a treadmill. I learned that I run as I should on my right foot but over pronate (inward roll of the foot) on my left foot. And my left leg is the one causing me all the pain (although it is possible that I'm overpronating because of my leg pain but I feel it is vice versa).

I got fitted for a really nice pair of shoes with a lot of cushioning and support, which hopefully will help correct my running technique. If not, she also suggested some orthopedic inserts for even more support. I also got some nice moisture wicking socks, oh la la.

 

I did a half mile run on the treadmill to test them out, and it gave me no extra pain! So tomorrow I will do a mile or two and continue to up my mileage until I'm back to four miles (as long as I'm not in added pain). I'm hopeful the shoes will be the solution I need to get back to training. 

 

Which is good, since Disney Princess sign ups are two days away!!

Just a Little Black Rain Cloud

This isn't really my typical post about what I've been up to, more of just a general update on life and how I'm doing. I'm hoping getting this down and sending it out into the great, wide blogosphere will help me get it out of  my system soon.

I just feel so blah and so uninspired this week.

The main part of the equation is my leg. No it is not really hurting much, but it is there. I'm having to rest which I hate! Running gives me such a sense of accomplishment and makes me happy. So instead of running, I'm  just coming home, sitting on the couch, doing nothing, and feeling like a blob. Not to mention how much I'm worrying about getting past this injury. In my head, I blow it so out of proportion. I start thinking that this will sideline me for months.

I have moments of feeling sorry for myself. And I get it, it is not that big of a deal, and it probably is just a blip on the radar.  But I can't stop the worry. 

I also think this whole leg injury is putting me in such a negative head space because it is making me feel like I did last summer. I was constantly in pain last summer, and I could not do anything. I was always extremely tired. I was nearly 400 pounds, so out of shape, and incredibly inactive. 

So now I feel a little like that inactive, tired, morbidly obese girl I was, instead of looking at all the progress I've made these last 6 months. I just gotta get out of my own head.

Right now, I'm just looking toward getting some rest this weekend. I'm hopeful next week will be better. Before I know it, I will be relaxing on a beach.

I just can't wait.

Around the House

I love, love, love these jewelry dishes I got from Anthropology. I may have mentioned this before but I really have an appreciation for the city of San Francisco (you can read about one of my trips to San Fran here). It is probably my favorite city in America. So I had my eye on this Golden Gate bridge jewelry dish for quite some time. I waited until I got my May birthday coupon to purchase it along with the umbrella dish.  It brightens up my little closet jewelry nook.

I really hate clutter and I am more apt to throw things out when I get overwhelmed with having too much stuff than I am to hang on to sentimental items. But I love sentimental stuff, I just need a place for it. So I wanted to figure out something to do with my race medals I've collected, so I could stop storing them in a box in my night stand. I found this cute medal display rack from the website gone for a run and I hung it in our bedroom. Totally lovin' it. 

I have been collecting snow globes for many many years now (usually from traveling). Growing up, I had a few Disney snow globes that I adored. I've slowly started expanding my collection by buying new ones on ebay. They just make me happy, and Disney is such a nostalgic thing for me. I'm positive they will look great in my new office.

One of my best friends, Anna, gifted me these succulents last time she came to visit. She said she wanted to give me a plant for our future home. This is my first plant ever! It is hard to believe I've never had a plant and I'm nearly 30. I love this plant, but I'm so terrified I will kill it. That would make me sad. But it seems to be thriving and growing so far. Let's see if I can keep it alive till closing!

The Weekend Report

I am a girl who really loves her holidays, and I mean holidays of all kind. But I must say the 4th of July holds a special place in my heart. I have so many wonderful memories growing up of BBQs and shooting fireworks with my cousins back when I would spend my summers in Texas. Plus, I just simply love being an American.

The festivities really kicked off on Thursday, since the holiday made Thursday my Friday. For our summer program, we took the kids to the skating rink and one of our helpers wore his Captain America suit, and it was hilarious to watch him skating around the rink. And once when he was chasing a wayward child, he looked like he was going after a bad guy. Just like Steve Rogers, although perhaps less graceful.

After I wrapped up work, I went to meet with my surgeon and nutritionist for my 6 month follow up post weight loss surgery (I will share more about that when I do my 6 month post). When my doctor found out I was running, he told me to get out and do a good 4th of July run. That is exactly what I did.

The weather was just gorgeous Friday morning, so I knew I had to run outside. I went to my favorite, local trail. I thought I would have a pretty slow pace since it is a somewhat hilly trail. But I had my fastest run ever! I usually average a 16 minute mile, yet on this run only one of my 4 miles was over 15 minutes. I'm getting faster! Slowly and steadily, I'm getting faster. 

I used to always worry about what people would think when they saw me, a fat person, jogging. But for the most part people are super encouraging. When I was running, this fast lady who passed me a few times, stopped to tell me how amazing I was doing. That was so nice to hear!

After my run, I was sitting on a bench on the trail resting, when I looked down and saw a huge caterpillar crawling on me! I hate bugs, and I just flipped out. It was so hard to knock off, it was clinging onto me for dear life. Yes, I know it couldn't hurt me but GROSS.

After my run, I changed into my swimsuit and headed down to the water park. I've been dissapointed that I haven't gotten to swim that much this summer due to poor weather. But the forecast was clear so I headed out. I spent some time in the wave pool and lazy river. I even ran into some of my coworkers and ended up hanging out poolside with them for awhile. The sun felt oh so good! Does anyone else love the smell of chlorine mixed with sunscreen as much as I do?

When I got home from swimming, I took a nap, waking up just in time to watch the fabulous, local firework show from our bedroom window with Adam.

Other activities from this weekend include: buying a washer for our new home on an excellent 4th of July sale, packing up some boxes for the move, watching Disney's Tarzan & the movie Her, dinner at Ruby Tuesdays, and tons of pinterest and etsy browsing for home decor ideas. Right now, my life revolves around the new house. I just can't wait to get in there!

Unfortunately, Saturday I woke up with really awful leg pain, that feels like the pain I had last summer, that lingered forever. I think I can attribute it more to heavy lifting at work than running. It makes me want to cry (and maybe I have cried from anxiety about it) because I'm worried it won't get any better for a long time and it will keep me from my training. I've been doing so well and I love running so much lately, and I just don't want to lose my conditioning. Any runners have any advice? 

Throwback Thrusday: September 2010

Now that I have amassed nearly four years of content on this little blog of mine, I thought it would be fun to do a little throwback and take a second look at the past.  I have to give all the credit to Steph from The Loudmouth Lifestyle for this idea!

Back when I was still living in California, my mom would occasionally fly me home to visit with her or to see my friends. Now that I'm living back in Alabama and only miles from her, she no longer funds my vacations. Which is somewhat depressing! Being a grown up is hard....and expensive. But back in September 2010, she bought me a plane ticket when one of my best friends from college, Monique, married her best friend, Clark, in Atlanta. I was so happy to celebrate her and it was the most beautiful wedding (This also happens to be my first blog post)!

In September 2010, the now common wedding photo booth phenomenon was just coming in to vogue. This was my first time seeing a wedding with a dress up section. We took some of my favorite pictures I have ever taken with these girls at Monique's wedding. I have always been obsessed with my little old lady look in the first picture. 

I did a little post on how much we wanted to go back to Washington D.C., which is where we went for our Honey Moon (First Anniversary Trip) in April 2010. I still remember that trip so fondly. Paddle Boating on the Tidal Basin! The Walking Lincoln Assassination Tour! The Smithsonian! What a wonderful city.

I still love a good board game night. And I took these pictures on one of our epic Monopoly nights. Monopoly just happens to be my favorite game ever! By the way, if you can secure the red properties as a Monopoly, you are just about guaranteed to win. Always works for me.

This post is epic, only because this is the first post where I talked about our beloved Green Bay Packers. Plus, it has Sarah, our old Golden Retriever, sharing her Packer Pride. This is also the year we won the Superbowl. I would like to think blogging about the Packers that year is what gave us the good juju for the ultimate win!

That month we celebrated our Four Year Dateiversary (I love to celebrate everything)! This is the first picture we ever took together. I love it because we look so young, so naive, and so had no clue about what we were getting into.

But isn't that what being young and in love is all about?

Currently: July 2014

Excited About:  My upcoming 10K, Running with the Goats, in Elkmont, Alabama. I'm hoping to be able to run the whole thing, but I am not putting any pressure on myself. My only goal is to run what I've already been able to run in training!

Watching: Some of my favorite summers shows are back and I am so excited y'all! Big Brother and The Next Food Network Star are pretty much dominating the DVR right now. I am also watching some Sister Wives and The Real Housewives of Orange County.

Listening To: I'm still listening to more podcasts than music right now. But I do currently have a few favorite songs. In the country realm, I like Drunk on a Plane by Dierks Bentley and American Kids by Kenny Chesney. In other genres, I'm all about Boom Clap by Charli XCX and Problem by Ariana Grande.

Reading: I just finished all 700+ pages of The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World 2014 by Bob Sehlinger and Len Testa. Hey, I gotta be super prepared for our Disney Trip. I also need to get on And I'm Afraid of my Dreams by Wanda Poltawska for book club next month. 

Working On: We are ever so slowly starting to pack up our stuff into boxes, although we are not moving in till August. We are also taking time to purge our stuff. I do love that process of moving & getting rid of the stuff that we no longer need. It makes my little clutter hating self happy.

Loving: The website wayfair, I am finding such cute decor items on that site. Chic-fil-a grilled nuggets and diet lemonade. It gives me a fast food option I can "indulge" in.

Recent Buys:  An over sized vintage map of Amsterdam for the decor in our future master bedroom. Anchor drawer pulls for the dresser that will be going in our guest room. The Lego Movie.

Thankful For: A treadmill to run on when it's too hot. A four day work week with a three day weekend. That summer day treatment is half way over. Hooray.