Yeah Right, Run a Marathon...

I had a friend call me yesterday. The converstion went something like this:

C: So I hear you run on your treadmill everyday.
Me: HA HA!! I'd LIKE to run on my treadmill everyday. I'd LIKE to get in shape. But the reality is totally different!
C: Well, I'm wanting to get in shape too, and I want to do a race or something. Do you think you could do a half marathon in two weeks?
Me: HA HA HA HA HA!!!! You have LOST your mind!

I haven't been posting much here lately, and I promise I haven't forgotten about you all. Life has just been so dang busy, and I'm trying to stay ahead of everything so I don't get overwhelmed again.

So with all the things going on, and my to-do list growing by the mile every day, I'm lucky to hit the treadmill twice a week. And when I miss a full week, like I did this week, I lose every bit of progress I've made. I get back on and am lucky to be able to squeeze half a mile out. Yuck.

But a big topic here in the past few months has been my weightloss, so I thought I'd update you on it, and brag a little bit.

At the beginning of December, I bought a size 8 jeans from American Eagle. They were tight at the store! Two weeks later, I pulled those suckers straight off without unzipping/unbuttoning them. Now I know this has to do with the stretching of the jeans, but really, when I'm walking around in my new 8's I'm so proud of, and they're literally falling off my hips, that is something awesome. I went back to the store and tried on a six. They fit awesomely, but the length wasn't right, so I ordered them online. They came in a week later, and they weren't quite right after wearing them for twenty minutes. They were stretching out too! So I took them back. I tried on the four--A 4!!--just for kicks. Those suckers freaking fit! NO WAY! I haven't worn a size 4 since I got married--11 years ago. But you have to realize--a size four at American Eagle in no way means I can wear a size 4 anywhere else.

Well, at least until I got to JcPenny. I tried on a 4 in their St John's Bay, and those suckers were TIGHT. But, in celebration of the fact that I got them on, zipped and buttoned, and they were on sale, I bought them. And now, they're a perfect fit.

I am SO not posting my before pictures for you, though. I will give you the low down. I weighed 115 and was a size 4 when I got married. I was 165 and size 14 after having baby 4. I was 142 before baby 4, and a 10 was getting snug. I've now lost roughly 42 pounds and have dropped back to a four. Fortunately for me, a four now isn't quite the same as a four back then. If the pants had to come up around my waist, well, that'd be a different story.

With the weightloss, I've not had any backaches, shoulder pains or anything. I have beaucoup energy, and feel great. But (and I've heard others say this, but now I totally get it) I'm still the same Laura. It's exciting to pack up most of my closet because the clothes are too big, but I walk around every day feeling like the same person I've always been.

I hit my goal of 125 last week, which is a weight I really didn't think I could hit. I've passed it up by a couple of pounds now, which makes me think maybe, just maybe, I could hit the marriage weight! But with that said, if I don't lose another pound I'll be just fine. My lack of exercise is the problem to fix now. I've still got a great layer of belly fat, and only a few months before we can start wearing bathing suits! LOL!!

No really, I'm at high risk for adult onset diabetes, and also I have a strong family history of breast cancer and fibromyalgia--all of which are absolute nightmares. And the only way I'm going to be able to withstand all this is to get in shape and keep the weight off. So while this is exciting for me, it's very very important for my health and my family. I see what my mom and her sisters and my grandmother go through daily, and I cannot live like that. The only thing I've got on them is my love of exercise.

So I'm actually sort of rethinking the marathon idea. NOT in two weeks, but longer term for sure. I'm thinking of starting with a 5k race, at the beginning of March, which is a "Race for the Cure." I'm thinking with my family history, and my MIL and neighbor both having treatments for breast cancer right now, there is no better way to begin my running "career" right?

The only other thing I need is company. I cannot go out and run the race alone!! I need buddies!! Any takers??