My couch to 5k program has been coming along nicely. I completed week 2 last Thursday and began week 3 on Saturday. I'm really not having much of a problem getting back into the swing of things at all...at least with the running portion. Where I'm having trouble is my knees. They are killing me. And I'm not sure what the problem is. All the reading that I've been doing regarding the knees makes me think that it's not a typical runners issue and maybe I need to see a doctor to make sure I'm not doing serious damage to them. Even with the pain, I'm still pushing through. Week three is in full swing. And even more surprising then me sticking with it is that Hubbs is sticking too. And I hate it. He runs faster then me, especially since I'm hobbling right now, and he makes it look so effortless. I hate him. But I, grudgingly, admit that I'm proud of him too. I honestly figured he'd run once or twice and that would be it. But he's right there doing it and doing a great job. As an added bonus for me I've been pushing myself to continue to run after the end of the run interval to catch up with him once he starts the walk section. He's not usually very far in front and I'd guess that I'm only running 10 to 15 seconds more to catch him but I'm doing it. Most of the time I feel like I could keep running even after I catch him. I'm never out of breath and I never feel like there's no gas left in the tank after the runs. So the runs are good, solid runs. Even with my bad knees I feel like the program isn't advancing fast enough for me but I'm trying to trust the program and just roll with it. I also thought that running was going to pull my extra weight off faster but it hasn't. I did lose 4/10ths of a pound this week and I'm going with the old adage of, "Any loss is better then a gain/maintenance." However, since I got back on track on March 8th, I have lost over three pounds and that ain't bad. My favorite quote that I've been finding strength in lately is from Pat Riley, a basketball coach. He said, "There are only 2 options regarding commitment. You're either IN or you're OUT. There's no such thing as life in between." And let me tell you, I am in. I'm committed to this big time.

Today's Victory brought to you by Weight Loss!

Several times last year I tried to get back on the band wagon with my weight loss. There were many attempts and many failures. But as of the first of the year, I was back on track and have been doing great. I'm down about 5 pounds so far, with less then 10 to go. But that's not today's victory. Today's victory is that my white blouse no longer gaps in between my boobs anymore! It stays closed!!! I'm so excited!!!

(Sorry for the bad pic) See the arrow? No gap!!! So excited! And I noticed that my skirt wasn't as tight today as it was a few weeks ago. Hubbs and I have committed to walking the dogs 4 days a week for 45 min's each time. This is our first week and its scheduled to start raining on Friday so we're trying to get it all in before the rain. Next month I'm going to challenge myself to 1,000 minuets of fitness for the month of March. I hope I can do it!

Happy New Year Everyone! From my family to yours! May the new year bring you only health and happiness!

Since it's the new year I've decided to get myself back on track with my weight. In the last year and a half I've put back on 15 pounds, 10 of which were the hardest pounds I've ever had to lose. I'm determined that I can take this weight back off even if it takes me another year and a half to do it. Or longer. It doesn't matter. I am determined. Right now I'm trying to decide if I want to add it to my sidebar to help keep myself on track. I'm scared to admit failure it I don't make it but on the other hand I really want to lose the weight and the accountability might help me some.

For now I'm off to plan my meals for the week. Wish me luck!

I was on track for a 3rd day yesterday and did real well. I stayed within my calorie range and walked for 20 min's with my co-worker in the morning.

Yesterday was just one of those days that doesn't start well and doesn't end well. I over slept by 30 min's, had to rush to get ready and to eat breakfast. Traffic was backed up for miles due to an accident and I literally walked up to my desk at 7am. I'm usually in the office 30 to 45 min's early each day and like to use that quiet time to prepare for my day and knit. Of course I'm the first one in my office in the morning so if I was late no one would know but me but that's not the point. I'm always on time. Once I settled in for the day everything was fine but my day never went back to normal. I felt rushed all day.

Walking with my coworker really has been helpful to me. I start at 7am and we walk at 10:30, back by 10:50 or 11. It's helped me break up my day and made it not feel quite so long. I'm hoping that she'll want to continue for a long time but she's going on vacation next month and will be gone for most of the month as she's going to be gone to china. I'm going to have to keep walking even if I have to do it on my own. I always have my iPod with me and I can use it to keep me entertained. I can always listen to a couple of podcasts while I walk.

The leaving my desk is going to be the hard part. Right now I'd rather read a book that my co-worker has lent me or work on my knitting. I'm on my 12th pair of socks for the year. I had made a goal for myself to make 12 pairs by the end of the year and I'm going to do it. I still need to start on the shawl that I want to make my Grandmother for her birthday but that is not "due" until December so I have some time to get it done. And let's not mention that I need to get started on Christmas gifts now. Can some one please do all this stuff for me?! If that's not a cry for help I don't know what is! lol

While I still need to get all this stuff done, I'm trying to make my health/weight a priority. Since I started this job a year ago I've gained 15 pounds. It's no wonder that I haven't been feeling good and that the chronic fatigue has come back...not to mention the nightmares that leave me feeling like I haven't slept at all the next day. If I don't start back with my "diet" plan and get myself in order and don't start walking regularly, I won't be ready in the fall when the weather changes to start running again. Right now (excuses, excuses) it's too hot for me to run in the evening, and I already get up at 5 am so getting up earlier isn't an option, to run.

I know that some of my coworkers, friends and family might look at me and think I'm just whining about my weight to get attention but honestly I'm not. My BMI is still in the normal range and I don't look like I've put on any weight to others but when I look at me naked I see the fat stomach and the new cellulite on my butt and thighs and even when I'm dressed I see how tight my shirts are around my middle and that my pants are cutting into my stomach and how the material is stretching to try to accommodate my thighs now. I hate it.