Staying focused during March Madness...

It's my favorite time of year which is why I'm late posting last week's progress.  Week 15 was the beginning of March Madness for the Illini as we headed to the Men's Big Ten Tournament in Chicago.  While still watching what I was eating, I definitely allowed myself to splurge a little as we enjoyed the Cheesecake Factory in downtown Chicago.  Living out of a suitcase and eating out for every meal while travelling during tournament time is a constant challenge.  I want to see more weight loss on the scale but realistically, that may not be feasible during the next few weeks.  Regardless, I am happy to say that I still have not gained any weight on my journey and that I did lose another 0.6 pounds despite having that amazing piece of cheesecake.  I've lost 19.1 pounds so far and I'm closing in on that 20th pound!  :)

My biggest accomplishment during week 15 was running/walking two 5K’s.  I’m so happy to know that no matter what happens on April 26^th, I will at least be able to finish the Illinois Marathon 5K!  My first 5K was 49:18 and my second was 46:45.  I know I will just keep improving on my time as I get over the fear of actually running!  I’m getting there but you have to remember…I have NEVER been a runner!  Not even during the time of my life when I was most fit.

Thanks again for those who continue to support my efforts.  During the most challenging weeks I still know that I will push forward and continue to change my habits and my life through healthier eating and exercise.  Like it says in the picture above…it’s about time I become the best I can be!

Now…let’s a make a run Illini and get this done! I-L-L!!

Celebrating the little accomplishments & running for a cause...

Week 14, I was still a little sluggish and I saw that in my results.  I'm happy to say that even during weeks where I show very little progress on the weight loss front, I have been able to find progress in my measurements.  I know this won't always be the case but it definitely makes a difference now.  This past week, I only lost 0.4 pounds.  However, I lost another 0.5 inch from my hips and waist. 

I'm disappointed in my weight loss because I know I can do better.  I'm not pushing myself as much on the exercise front but my body is thanking me for it.  This past week, I discovered the value of the foam roller which has brought my knees back to a normal state...the pain I was suffering has been reduced dramatically!  Thanks to Laura Swinford & Kim Ginos for showing me how best to use this...I cannot believe how quickly it has made a difference!

Now that I'm virtually pain free, I'm back into the swing of things.  I've been able to return to cycling, body pump and I've started running again.  I've missed it and I'm hopeful that this next week will have more dramatic results than what I've seen this past week!

I still continue to struggle with sweets.  My willpower to walk away from something sweet continues to ebb and flow...it's frustrating.  I gave up Diet Dr. Pepper in August without a problem and that was a habit I have had for YEARS!  Giving up candy and sweets is proving to be a much bigger challenge...even though I saw dramatic results the week I completely went without them and lost over 5 pounds.  Why is this so hard for me?  Any ideas or tips on how to overcome this?  I'm open to suggestions because I know I would be much better off if I just walked away from sweets completely...sometimes the temptation is too much and I haven't found a good substitute for my cravings.

We still need to improve the nutrition in our house as well.  We've gotten away from dinners at home because we are back to juggling multiple practice schedules and activities.  I need to continue to make the time to plan ahead so meals don't sneak up on us.  I gained lots of great tools from the Better U program and through Meijer...now it's time to get serious and get it done!

The Illinois Marathon 5K is less than 7 weeks away!  I'm getting nervous but I know I'll be able to finish.  For those of you who haven't heard yet, I'm running to raise money for Crisis Nursery.  Crisis Nursery cares for children birth through six whose families are experiencing a crisis that could potentially lead to a situation of child abuse or neglect.  Our goal is to connect with families before children are placed in harms way and provide them with an "Island of Safety" they can reach out to for help.  Asking for help truly is a sign of strength, and as the Executive Director of Crisis Nursery, I am asking those of you who have followed my progress to help me raise enough money to support an entire day at the Nursery.  You can make a donation at the link below and I would be very grateful...and whenever you are in the area, give me a call and I'll give you a personal tour so you can see for yourself the amazing work that we do!  Thanks for your consideration! :)

http://www.crowdrise.com/TeamCrisisNursery2013/fundraiser/stephanierecord

Have a great week and keep moving everyone...I know I will!!

The Journey Continues...

I thought after the Better U Challenge was complete that I would stop blogging.  However, several people have requested that I continue and I have found that it really was helpful in keeping me on track with my exercise and weight loss goals.  So...I have moved my blog entries to this new site and plan to continue blogging until my fitness and weight loss journey is complete...or at least until I reach my ultimate weight loss goal.   

During Week 13, all of the Better U participants were able to celebrate their success at the annual Go Red for Women Luncheon.  We were treated to a manicure, pedicure, color and cut at Rod Sickler Salon and then were glammed up the day of the event and dressed up in our fancy red outfits to walk the runway in the Go Red Fashion Show put on by Macy's.  It was quite the event and I think each of us felt truly blessed to have been selected as a participant.  After all of the attention and celebrations...I also think we all experienced a little bit of a let down when it was all over. 

We've agreed to keep in touch and the plan is for everyone to run/walk the 5K together during the Illinois Marathon weekend.  I have signed up to continue my membership at the Refinery and my husband and sister-in-law have signed up as well.  I continue to have a large group of supporters on my team and I know I'll need them during the next phase of this journey.

I've already noticed how easy it is to slip into the old habits of sleeping in, or finding excuses about why I can't make it to a class.  So hopefully my Facebook friends won't mind when I start sharing my workout and weight loss accomplishments again...because to be honest, I really  need everyone's encouraging words to help me stay motivated and to keep me accountable.

At the end of week 13, even with all the celebration and relaxing back into my life without the Better U Challenge pushing me forward...I still lost 0.6 pounds.  Definitely not as much as I would have liked...but my motivation took a hit after all the hype of the week.

Even better news though is that my blood pressure has gone down and so has my overall cholesterol!  My triglycerides dropped significantly.  I still need to get my bad cholesterol numbers down and will be focusing on that in the next few weeks.  Any helpful tips and advice would be greatly welcomed!

I'm so grateful for the Better U opportunity that I was given and on the impact it's had on my life and that of my family.  We will all continue the journey together and I look forward to continuing to share my progress.