30 x 30

Yes that's right, today's entry is called 30x30! Why?Well, I've decided since as of today, I have exactly 6 months before I'm 30, I'm setting a new goal for myself. That goal is to lose 30lbs by my 30th birthday!

So here's to getting back to running every day and hard core counting the calories again. I haven't been doing horrible, but I haven't done that good either. I'm still slowly losing, but not like I was at first. I will say I had an exciting moment this morning when I stepped on the scales. I've now officially lost 20lbs since I started my quest to get fit!

Hope everyone out there is doing good on their quest to a fit and healthy life!

Getting Back on Track

I've decided to stop being lazy again and get back on track again! I finally made it back to the gym today and to my surprise I was able to actually run 3/4 of my run. So back again tomorrow to hopefully complete the whole run.

We recently completed our 12 week Biggest Loser program at work. And I will tell you, I was so impressed with everyone. As those of you who have read my other posts, my goal with my blog was to help others and myself to make a total life change to be more heathy. I will say I felt somewhat accomplished of this after our 12 weeks. We had 4 different girls that lost at least 20 pounds. All together the entire group lost 170 pounds - that's right a whole person. I cannot express how excited I am about this. Hopefully we all stick to it and reach our personal goals.

So how is everyone else doing? I know the summer time makes things harder sometime to want to be healthy and exercise because we're so busy...trust me that's where I've been. But as I've said above I'm going to get back on my track of running and starting this week, on Tuesdays and Thursdays my brother-in-law is going to be my trainer at the new gym that's opening up. I've told some of you about it, but not everyone...it's isokinetic training. Usually used for those who have had major surgery to help recoup and gain their strength back, it's a newer concept to this area. But let me tell you, I've done it twice now...and it kicks my butt. It only takes 30 minutes, but I feel like I've been working out for 3 hours!!! So I'll keep you all posted on the progress there. If you're interested in more information, let me know!!

Ok that's it for now. I hope everyone has a safe, fun and Happy 4th of July. Don't forget to thank those who are fighting for us to have our Freedom and make it possible to celebrate this weekend!!!

Routine

What's in a routine? EVERYTHING!

For the past two weeks I have been doing everything BUT my routine and I'm paying for it now! I was doing so good there - getting up and running each morning, watching my calorie intake and actually sleeping good. However, spring break came and the more vacation and you guessed it...I'm completely out of my routine.

I haven't actually ran since last Wednesday, which I did run for 17 straight minutes for the first time! But still it's been almost a week. Which means I have to hit it hard the next few weeks if I plan on running my first 5K in 26 days!!!

I actually have decided to start running outside - it has been so amazing the past few days, I can't help but wanting to be outside. However, it's so not as easy. I went to Beggs last night to run at the track with my sister. Ya, not so much! I'm going to blame it on the fact that I hadn't ran in almost a week, but still I was a bit disappointed in myself. Then I didn't get up this morning. I have to make myself get up tomorrow morning and then even go to the running trail after work.

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Has the weather made anyone else ready for summer? I so can't wait for it to be warm enough to lay by the pool all day Saturdays and Sundays. Come on Summer!!

I hope everyone else is doing better than I am on your quest to become fit!

* * * * * * * * SNOW * * * * * * * *

Why did it have to snow? It was such a beautiful day on Friday and I was so pumped and ready to run outside and then it snowed. Hopefully it melts quickly and I can start running outside this week. The other day when I was being lazy watching TV I heard that 2 in every 3 Americans is overweight and 1 in every 4 children are as well. This just makes me so sad and encourages me even more. I don't know about you, but I want to be that 1 that isn't overweight.

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Couch to 5K Update

Thought I would give everyone an update on my C25K progress. Yesterday was day 2 of week 5. Definitely a bit tougher, but I was successful. Of course the 5 minute warm up followed by an 8 minute run with a 5 minute walking break and one last 8 minute run with the 5 minute cool down. I wasn't sure I was going to make it, but I did. So now that I'm about to complete week 5, hopefully tomorrow I'm still on track to be ready for the OKC run in April!!

Hope everyone is doing good. Here's to more warm days like we had Friday!!!

Catch Up

Doesn't it suck having to play catch up? I feel like that's what I've been doing the last two days. I was out of town on vacation for the first half of the week and we ended up staying at a hotel that didn't have a gym. I thought I would be ok with this, but didn't realize until I got home yesterday exactly how much I missed running.

The good news about my mini-vaca is that I went shopping at the Nike Outlet store and got some great new running clothes! I didn't realize what a difference they would make. I can't wait to run outside now!! Hopefully I get to go tomorrow before the crazy snow comes in on Saturday.

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C25K Update

I've started my week 5. I should be on at least week 6 but I didn't have my accountability partner making sure that I was getting up last week and then I HATE not being able to comfortably complete a run, so I have 'redone' quite a few. But I completed week 4 day 3 yesterday and started week 5 day 1 today. It consisted of 3 x 5 minute runs with a 3 minute break between each run. It was a bit of a struggle, but I felt GREAT after I finished it. Hopefully I can do the same tomorrow. I'm still on track to be able to run 5K before my run next month in OKC.

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How is everyone else doing? Anyone have any updates they want to share. Remember, this isn't just for me..it's for you too. I hope we all are able to meet our goal of becoming fit!!!

Until next time

Roughness

What a week it's been. I didn't realize how much I depend on my roommate getting up each morning to keep me getting up to hit the gym...but I do. He's been having to leave earlier this week therefore getting up about 2 hours earlier than normal and I've struggled at getting up to hit the treadmill. Even though I've struggled, somehow I've maintained my weight and even lost another lb. Here's to tomorrow, Saturday, hopefully I can get in a good two hours and burn a few hundred calories.

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FIRST 5K

I've given myself a deadline. My first 5K will be the OKC Memorial 5K Run/Walk on Sunday, April 25th. I'm excited and nervous all at the same time. Fortunately I've convinced my wonderful brother-in-law to run with me. Now I just have to get myself in gear and do this! Anyone interested in running...they have a marathon, 1/2 marathon, 1/2 marathon relay, 5K run/walk and kids marathon...just go to www.okcmarathon.com

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Anyone out there have any good tips on how to stay motivated on not so good weeks like this one? Anyone else struggling? Progress reports from anyone??

THE QUEST!

This is for anyone that would like to post their ideas and thoughts on their quest to be fit. Please feel free to chim in and share!

Week 4 Day 1

Week 4 - Day 1


That's right, I started Week 4 today. I wasn't too sure I was going to be able to, since I've been a bit under the weather the past two days. However, I decided when I got up this beautiful Saturday morning that I was going to have to make up for missing the past two days...and make up I did. After two hours in the gym and 600 calories burned, I was exhausted. Today was the first time that I ran 5 minutes. I know to some of you that may not sound like much, but you have to remember four weeks ago running for a solid minute was not that easy. Today on the other hand...I ran two 5 minute segments and two 3 minute segments. And surprisingly it wasn't as hard as I expected it to be. One more exciting note - my goal is to lose 2lbs per week...as of Friday morning I have lost 5 since last week! I'm a little ahead of schedule, but that's ok! So once again, yea for me!

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Anyone that would like to post any ideas on things that have worked for you, please feel free to post comments. I have had some readers ask about making it more of a 'public' blog...however, I really can't do that with this particular blog...it's tied to my personal email account. Sorry! The only way I know to make it more 'public' is for people to post comments, suggestions, thoughts, etc.

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As I have said before I'm all about helping others to stay get and stay motivated so that we can all get HEALTHY together. I know some of you would rather lose weight, but I've decided it's not necessarily about weight. It's about healthiness! I don't want to start a diet and lose weight just to gain it all back eventually. I know this is an adjustment to my life. For that reason I have made the commitment not only to myself but my friends and readers to make a change to things. And due to that I have started counting calories. This is day 7 and surprisingly it's not as hard as I thought it would be. It is extremely disturbing the amount of calories in foods we all like. Such as McDonald's Quarter Pounder with Cheese...Just take my word...if you knew you would never eat one again!!!

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If anyone out there would like to share their story about their quest, please do so under the next blog I post called...The Quest! I would love to hear your successful stories (and those that may not be as successful...we all have them.) Any suggestion you may have on things you think might help or hurt any and all of us on the quest to overcome the curse of living in such an unhealthy America.

Amazed

I am absolutely speechless. Yes, I know that doesn't happen to me often, but I am. I am totally shocked at the feedback I have already received from my first post. I've gotten some great suggestions and support already and cannot wait to see what the future brings.

Thank you to those of you who have responded and are following my blog. I hope to not disappoint.

I'm going to make it short today and when I have more time I'm going to share a bit more about my first few weeks in the C25K program. But just in case there are any of you out there wanting to start the program I found my information by google, coolrunnings.com, and the iPhone app that I downloaded. (Just search couch to 5k and it'll bring up quite a few apps. I actually purchased the one that was $2.99 and LOVE LOVE LOVE it!) As I said above, I don't have a lot of time tonight, but I will try to post the program soon...until then you can find it from the above sites. Also, those of you living in Tulsa - Fleet Feet has a C25K program. I'm not actually participation there, but from friends I hear it's great! I will say they are great at helping get you into good running shoes if you need them. I did!

Please continue to post your comments. If you have any thoughts on what you would like me to post, please let me know. Tell your family and your friends. I don't want this to be just about me...I want it to be about YOU too! So my challenge to you is this...LETS GET FIT TOGETHER!

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PROGRESS:

I do need to "pat myself on the back" just a little.

This morning I got up (by myself...the roomie slept in) and hit the gym at 6:15. I knew it was a running day and I couldn't skip out. When I opened my app to start my day I was ready for it. My 5 minute warm up was great and then came the first 1 1/2 minute run...I did it quite easy. Then came the dreaded 1 1/2 minute walk preparing me for the 3, yes that's right the first of two 3 minute runs. Much to my surprise, I was able to complete the whole 3 minute run without having to stop. Not even for the shins today. After a 3 minute cool down and another 1 1/2 minute run and walk came my second and final 3 minute run for the day. I was not sure I could do it. After about a minute into the run I realized I could do it...and I DID! I was so excited after I finished my 3 minute run and the 5 minute cool down because I had completed all of my runs without having to take a break. And the kicker was - much to my surprise - I had just completed week 3. That's right, Friday morning I will be starting week 4. Kicking it up!!

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Again - thank you to those of you have taken the time to respond to my posts and thank you to those that have taken the time to even read. I'm looking forward to helping us all on our journey.

Stacy

New Beginnings

Ok, so here it is, my FIRST blog. This is something I've been tossing around for the past two weeks or so. I mentioned something to my Mom and she thought I was crazy for "airing all my life secrets" as she would put it. However, that's not what this is going to be...Like I told my Mom, it's not my diary (not that I keep one or ever have) it's just one more way to be held accountable on my quest to be FIT AND THIN!

After posting a help message on FB last night and some great input from friends, I've thought about it all day. I hadn't decided to go for it until after work and checked my FB again (you all know you live there too). I had a message from a guy I went to high school with. He was telling me how he thought my idea about a blog was interesting and that he too is on a quest to get fit again. So that did it for me...at that moment I decided, "I'm doing it!" And here I am!! So Jered we'll figure out this "blog thing" together. My hope is that all of you, my friends, will help to keep me motivated and accountable on my quest.

So after some thinking and some great input from friends...I've decided to go with Kodi and call my blog MELTON AWAY THE POUNDS! Thanks Kodi - you're way more creative than I am!

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Now that that's out of the way...for those of you reading this - thanks for taking the time to even read. I ask that you check out my posts in the future and help keep me accountable. Like I said, I'm on a quest. I know each year we all say we're making a New Years resolution to lose weight. Well, NOT ME. I don't do the whole resolution thing...I never stick with it so why even start. However, this year I did for the first time ever, write down some goals for the year (thanks to some awsome friends and a great goal book - you know who you are). One of my top goals was not to lose weight, but to get into shape. For the past few years I keep seeing where some friends (who I may mention later) have started running and have really enjoyed it and it's helped to make some major changes in their lifes. So that's what I decided to do. When I moved back to Tulsa the first of February, I decided that I would start working out in the mornings. And that's what I've been doing for going on 4 weeks now. I didn't want to have to bother my wonderful brother-in-law to be my personal trainer so I decided to start the Couch to 5k program.

As some of you may have read on my FB post I have been running in the mornings. Yesterday was Day 1 of Week 3. Tommorrow I'll try Day 2, we'll see how it goes. For those of you that know me know, I'm somewhat of a perfectionist and if I can't do it all and right, then I can't move on...So, that being said it may take me more than the 9 weeks to make a 5K - but I WILL GET THERE!

So here's to counting calories (which I've started too) and running!

Let me know what you think about my blogging idea and the blog itself. I know some days there may be a lot and others nothing at all...but I am new at this.

Stacy soon-to-be 50lbs lighter