27 January 2012 -  Jacksonville, Florida USA   

Weight Loss Challenge

I need someone aside from DH Tony to challenge me to get back to my healthy weight of 110 lbs and so glad my dear friend and my running mentor, Geri takes me up on it.

So here's the deal:

"Rhebs, since I know you do love challenges and it has a positive effect on you, okay I will challenge you to hit your target weight by May (was this your estimated month?) and have to maintain it for 3 months (give and take 2 pounds)  The same goes for me. I give you permission to post how many pounds you lost in one week on my Facebook page once a week and you have to give me permission to post on yours.

On one condition, you can not starve yourself or go below the recommended calorie intake (was it 1,200 for you?) if you feel like you did badly the days before because not only is it unhealthy but it will sabotage your diet.

I do feel though that I have an advantage over you because I am doing WW (I have a community behind me hehehe) but you can level the playing field by joining WW (you can get that money from Tony's extra $100 allowance a month - he doesn't really need it hehehe).

What happens if you don't succeed? I would like you to join WW (if you haven't already by that time). What happens if I don't succeed? Then I have just destroyed the name of WW hahaha

 

 

                                     

 12 June 2011 -  Jacksonville, Florida USA   

                                     

 

A Reluctant Future Marathoner!

OMG!!! I am finally taking the big plunge to face my most dreaded journey in life-- to run a full marathon that is :(     They say running a marathon is more of a mental game hence I just poisoned my mind to mentally prepare for the grueling trainings of my upcoming first Marathon. Yes, 26.2 miles from start to finish!!! Yikes!!!! I am just hoping this power of positive thinking will get me across the finish line even when I feel like carrying my 119 lbs “logs” at mile 20 to 26 LOL Hopefully I am going to only weight between 100 to 105 lbs by the time I run for my first marathon.

The lady I recently spoke to at the Freedom 8K race series did her first Marathon at age 50 and when I asked her time she quipped, "7:30:40 but you know my mindset was just to enjoy the run and have fun from start to finish. I really didn't care how long it took me to cross the finish line. The most important thing for me was to finish it. I mean after all, I got the same medal as the first finisher anyway so why bother right?”
Right ON the spot and she's a great motivator for me. Yes, I am pumped! And like Coach Jenny Hadfield said, “It is better to define your success by the magnitude of the accomplishment, than the minutes on a clock. Fast or slow, we all make our way to the finish line with our own two feet”

But now more than ever I still remained a reluctant future Marathoner... well,  at least I have the courage to take the first step to the train for it right? So this morning, June 12, 2011, DH Tony and I kick off the first day of our official training for The 2012 WALT DISNEY WORLD® Marathon which is going to be scheduled on January 8, 2012.

And since the race dates of both Walt Disney Wine and Dine Half Marathon in Orlando, Florida on October 1, 2011 and the Freedom Half Marathon in Norfolk, Virginia on November 13, 2011 coincide with our weekend long runs, we decided to sign up for these two races for a great cause as well. Talk about killing three birds with one stone eh ;-)

This is really going to test us to the max both mentally and physically so please, please, please we need all your support and encouragement even just by simply cheering us on… that would really mean a lot to us.

Thank you so much!

 

                                     

    4 June 2011 -  Jacksonville, Florida USA   

                                     

Freedom 8K Race Series
 

DH and I signed up to run for the Inaugural Freedom 8K series at Green Cove Springs, FL on Memorial Day last May 30, 2011 and it was the best trail/race course I have ever ran so far…  love the breeze and the atmosphere in the country side.    Green Cove Springs, FLorida is a small town with only about 5,300+ residents. The place has a beautiful natural backdrop with its streets, all the trees and the St. Johns River that make it a lovely gate away for a very relaxing atmosphere!

The first 2 miles we ran on the highway as I was feeling the heat so badly, I had to run in the shadow of my DH…then after which we were re-directed into the street/residential roads so for about 3 miles we mostly ran under the tree shaded streets with cool breeze and to top it off we were inspired to get going by the cheers and applause from the local residents in the neighborhood. So DH and I were able to cross the finish line by 1 hour and 2 minutes. The fastest I have ever done since my knee injury ;-)

I didn’t expect the medal was a lot bigger than what they showed in the picture so I was even more thrilled to receive mine :)

Freedom Marathon Inc. (FMI) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to raise money through competitive running events to help our men and women in uniform who fought and have sacrificed so much for this country. I...n particular, they are focused on assisting wounded Vets from Iraq and Afghanistan.   Their message is one of hope to our nation’s gallant Veterans and their families, assuring them that America has not forgotten all the sacrifices they did for the safety and freedom of this nation. I have nothing but high admiration to all US military men and women and of course to their supportive and very enduring families.

And since this is the first kick-off run for the Freedom race series statewide, DH and I both made a commitment to do the race every year in support for our wounded Veterans. The next race is going to be a Half Marathon on November 13, 2011 to be held in Virginia…we’re so pretty excited about it ;-)

                                     

    18 May 2011 -  Jacksonville, Florida USA   

                                     

The Out of Town Race was a Bust!

I was doing so good by eating healthy and exercising regularly until Wednesday afternoon I came home from work and saw DH feasting on Klondike Ice cream.  Of course I found his stash in the freezer.  Thursday, one of my colleagues at work resigned so she can move back home with her parents and we had a party for her so I just couldn’t say no to it. Then early morning Friday, DH and I drove to Orlando for the Walt Disney Expedition Everest™ Challenge Race at Magic Kingdom… and because he really was dying to see the Spring flower garden in full bloom at Epcot, we had to drive a day before the race and buy a one day pass for Epcot Theme Park. 

The Disney Expedition Everest Challenge Race in Walt Disney, Orlando, Florida was the most enjoyable and fun race DH Tony and I have ever done so far... yet the ending was considered to be the bloodcurdling and spine-tingling ride I have ever been to in my whole life!  It was after midnight right after doing the obstacle race and scavenger hunt from 8pm to 12 midnight when we got into the Mt. Everest roller coaster and as soon as it starts rolling fast I just had to hold on to the rail as tight as I can so I won't fall off my seat... Sheesh that was the fastest and most terrifying of all the rides in Disney world I have ever experienced.   I swear to God I will never get on that ride ever again! I have never said so many cuss words in my life until that night :(  So don't say I didn't warn you about this ride but hey DH Tony had a time of his life laughing and screaming! Yes, he absolutely loves scary rides…I tell you he’s way more vivacious than the kid in the candy store every time we go to Disneyworld.

So yeah, we got home Sunday night so worn out...and when I weight myself the next morning, the scale showed I put back all the weight I lost the previous week plus more :(

So back to square one again and I vowed to myself to be good again.... Well, last Sunday, I dropped the weight I gained from last week so I am a little happy about it.  I hope I won't binge this weekend for the 5 K Never Quit Never Race at 5PM ... Ooh but wait I will be going out with my 4 girlfriends in the  morning of Saturday for brunch at Cracker Barrel and then see the movie "bridesmaids" at noon.  Then Sunday, we'll be taking out Mom for lunch after Church as a belated treat for mother's day.   Hopefully, I would be able to control myself and order nothing but healthy meal.  Can't wait for the weekend :)

                                     

    1 May 2011 -  Jacksonville, Florida USA   

                                     

Just Talking to Myself

This is the most important thing that I MUST always have to inculcate into my mind:

Rhebs, just because you are working out hard doesn’t mean you can always shove and stuff your mouth with any food  you want to eat. Keep in mind the next time you ran or pedaled the bike so hard for at least 45 minutes or so and your only choice is between apple and mango key lime cheesecake, always think about how this piece of junk food you are ingesting into your body will help you get to your weight goal… don’t ever say, Oh well, I’ll start the diet again tomorrow… today is crucial so make every day count! Yes, this is really a hard rule to carry on, I know… but your mind can always override your cravings or taste bud and the choice is yours to make it right… that is if you only know how to not use your irrational thinking. You know  that any weight loss regimen always involves exercise and well balanced food to fuel your body correctly… you’ve done it before so you can do it again this time and promise yourself never to go back to that old habit ever again even if you are on vacation and the food is all you can eat without extra charge!

See how the weight comes off a little bit easy if you do the right thing? Yes, you lost 1.8 lbs in one week… keep it up, Rhebs! You’re doing good!!!

 

                                     

    24 April 2011 -  Jacksonville, Florida USA   

                                     

DON'T be too complacent ever again, Rhebs!!!

Holy Molly!!! I can’t believe I let myself slide back up to 126 lbs from 112 lbs just seven months ago!!! All the while I thought I was doing something so good that I didn't pay much attention to what I have been shoving in my mouth despite taking a long hiatus from running because of my injured knee. What was I thinking??  Yes, people, this is what happens when we get too complacent about our weight and health in general.

Well, from now on, I should be more complaisant and not complacent about my weight/health. My goal is to get down to at least 108 lbs by August 31, 2011… otherwise I won’t be able to fit in this size 4 wedding gown that I would be wearing for our renewal of marital vows later on this year.

So it’s time to get back into more physical action and stick to my healthy caloric intake for 4 straight months… no more binging and pigging out, I promise :)

I just today started getting back on hitting the road again ever since my last half marathon in February of this year that nearly crippled by left knee but I have been walking on the treadmill and alternately pedaling my exercise bike at home at least 3 times a week for almost 3 months now and my knee seems to be healing slowly… I didn't think I would be able to run 3.11 miles today but I did! Yaay!!! What a good start ha... Thank God!!!

Now off to Church with DH...Jesus Has Risen Alleluia!!!!  Happy Easter everyone :-)