Oh what a feeling!

Yesterday, I woke up at 445 and headed to the gym. While I was groggy at first and cursed myself for losing sleep to go, when I got there I was re energized by the atmosphere. What a feeling it was to be back in the swing of things. I am going to be realistic here. I can't go from not going to the gym to expect to go every day. No, instead, I am only planning on going twice a week (M and F). What a way to book end the work week.  It will be interesting here to see how this will work out once I know what Joe's work schedule will be and with my schedule changing to 10 hour days, but I can only change what I can change and therefore there is no reason to stress over things.  At the gym I first did some ab work (I need to find some more to do) and then hit the elliptical for 10 minutes on level 3. I am still doing the things the Physical Therapist had told me to do, and since I was MIA from the gym for the while, I thought it was best to stick to it.  Once the elliptical was over, I went and hit the weights for my legs and even did some exercises using just body weight. I like to think that it is making me stronger, and hopefully it really is, but only time will tell me.  It is a good sign that I was able to run 5 miles on Saturday pain-free, and I am going to continually to slowly increase my mileage. I am not worried about not getting the mileage up to where I want it, I am more worried about getting it to stay pain free. It was great to get back into the gym, and oddly, I am really excited that I got myself there yesterday!
Today, I am going to introduce my friend to the world of running. I word it this way, because this said friend just completed the Spartan Race without training for it or anything, and she said that even her best friends thought she would have dropped out right away. But sheer determination, she finished the race. I don't know if she is proud of herself or not, but she should be. Anyway, I recommended that she head over to our local running store to get a pair of shoes that is fitted for her to provide her the best support and will do what she wants it to do.  So, today is the day. We will be meeting up and going running. My plan is to do a modified couch to 5K program with her. I told her she needed to be accountable on the days she doesn't run with me, and she agreed to do just that. So, I will run with her today, and when she is done, I may or may not go for more mileage. It all depends on how long her session is. One short run isn't going to kill me, actually, my legs may appreciate the rest since tomorrow is steps day!
My sister J made my day yesterday.  I randomly received this message via twitter and it made me smile. She somehow seems to always know what I need.

Happy July 1!

I cannot believe that it is July 1st already! Where has this year gone?!?! This morning I woke up early (well late for me 6am) and decided I wanted to start my day off right with a run. I ran 2 miles and it felt great! I am so excited about how PT might have helped me, but I also know I need to take it slow. I am looking forward to my run on Wednesday, it will be a 4 miler, and I know I will be ready. But, that is not why I am writing. Well, it is, but there will be a blog post about that race. I digress, my revelation for today, Wednesday will be my 6th race of the year, that means that Wednesday I will have run exactly double the number of races as last year! I am so excited to see how many I will run by the end of the year. I need to start running with my phone so that I can take photos to document some things from my run, but the scenary out on the roads is not as scenic as other places.
Oh, today continues my journey of gluten and dairy milk free. I feel like it has helped a lot with the bloating (sorry TMI) and I think it is making me eat cleaner and fresher. I will let you know how this journey continues.

So today, on the 1st of July, enjoy yourself. We will probably be spending much of the day by the pool, hanging out with some friends. I will make sure to get lots of photos! Hope no matter what you do you stay hydrated and cool.
Have fun and be safe!

The following message is brought to you by my colon..

If the title didn't get you to leave and you are still here, thank you. Today is day 2 of becoming someone who eats gluten free. No, I don't have celiac disease, but I have noticed that certain wheat products made me feel really bloated and it was uncomfortable. So, I am trying gluten free eating to see if that resolves my bloating. I also have become dairy-free and even have given up my love for Greek yogurt. Yep, you read that right, I gave up my Greek yogurt.  That's ok, I found something even better. I found Amande Yogurt, made from Cultured Almondmilk and I love it! It was sweet at first, but just like any yogurt may take time to enjoy. There aren't many flavors, but the flavors that they do have are good.  Jumping to giving up cow's milk wasn't a big jump for me, I don't really drink milk, and when I do I usually drink Dark Chocolate Almond milk. I even once tried Chocolate Lactaid, but didn't even like it. I will take my Almond milk anyday.  I am not sure if turning away from Gluten products will help boosted my weight loss path (I have been on a stale mate since I haven't been able to run) but right now it is about how I feel, not what the scale says.

Speaking of running...yesterday was my LAST physical therapy session and I was given the go ahead to run again! YESS!!! So, I will be back to it on Thursday, running 2 miles, but it is definitely better than nothing. I am going to take it slow...I don't want to have any setbacks. Today is my last day I am giving myself off from the gym...I go back at that on Friday, toting along my exercises from Physical Therapy and some ab workout. I know it will be great to be back to running. I never really realized how much running has transformed my life and I also never thought I would ever miss it. I have realized both over the past 6 weeks. I am looking forward to getting running and getting moving again. I am even more interested in seeing how going gluten-free will affect my performance and or my weight loss.

And because some of you don't visit my sister's blog, here is a picture she took, that I just love...

And one more.

Happy Wednesday! I hope you find your passion...and run away with it!

Support greatly appreciated...

So, this picture has already made an uproar...

1 year and 57 pounds lighter (2011 on left, 2012 on right)

In a good way. The number of supporters I have has blown me away.  I knew I had acquaintances, but I never knew I had that many FRIENDS! That is certainly what you are to me, friends. I appreciate the support that you guys have shown me, especially now, has re-motivated me to lose the remaining weight that I have to lose. It is hard right now with being down about not running like I used too, but, I am now even more determined to get back into it. Slow and steady wins the race, and I don't need to expect my body to just jump back into where I was with 6 weeks off of no running. That, has been the biggest lesson that I have learned right now. Today, is my last physical therapy session, and I am hoping to have the therapist adjust this session to be ways I can do the exercises at my gym that doesn't have the same machines that they have at the rehab.  I also NEED to get myself back into the swing of the gym.  As much as I love working days, it is requiring me to readjust things, and I just haven't conquered that yet. But, that is my goal for this week...(little steps I promise). A good thing that has come out of all of this, is that my good friend Stef has now raced in her 3rd 5K, just about every other weekend since MayFair 5K, which was her first. Anyway, so far she has gotten stronger and better with every race and is now completely addicted. BUT, on Saturday, I also raced with her, in a race at Skytop Lodge up in the Poconos, and my racing felt good. It felt strong, it felt better than I have felt in a while, so what did I do...I pushed myself. I raced to my second fastest 5K race EVER!! Even with hills, which I walked up (I don't believe I am ready for hills yet) I found my zone and eventually just felt that I could push harder. My time wasn't as good as I hoped (still trying to break 30 mins) but I know I will get there. Then, on Sunday I was supposed to run 7 miles. I NEVER run back to back days, why on earth would I think that I could do it while I was still recovering from an injury?!?! Well, I couldn't do it. I did 5 (which to my healing body was 8 in 2 days) and I felt the effects until this morning. I am going to go to therapy and tell him all of this. That my next run will be Thurs and will only be 2 miles, followed by 4 on Sat. I will rest between my days off, and go to the gym m-w-f and continue to do the squats and crap (yes, I called it crap) that I have to do to make my legs stronger so I can become a stronger runner. I WILL figure out an abs workout so that I can get rid of this stupid pooch and feel like I look like the picture on the right, not how I feel right now (that I still look like the picture on the left). I know that feeling will pass, my clothes size alone should tell me that, but when you hit a stale mate, and you feel that no matter what you are doing nothing is working, you need something to kick start it...your support and "love" over my picture has given me just that. I will continue my weight loss picture, and by December, I am hoping to post another picture.

I hope you all have a happy Tuesday. Get out and run!

It all happened at the zoo..

Well, or fair, or carnival or where ever else you were this weekend. Welcome back to the work week! I am sure you missed it, I know I did (not!). Anyway, I know I haven't blogged in a while and I want to start again, so I thought I would start with posting pictures from this weekend. Now my sister Rachel, over on her blog, usually ends up posting pictures of my daughter from events.  I have to get better at carrying my camera to capture these moments, but sometimes, I am just living in the moments with her. Anyway, Friday we went to the Nazareth Carnival with her Godmother and her son. Here are some pictures from that.

Let me just tell you, I COULD NOT get her to get off of the Carousel!

Look at how much fun she is having! Last year when we went on vacation, she hated rides...this year...she <3 them.

Saturday, was her Godfather's graduation party from college. Yes, he graduated a while ago, but he wanted to wait until his friends who went to China came home. Anyway, I don't have pictures from there to post, as I am sure my sister took a bazillion pictures, but I do have this one.

Yep, that is my kid and yes, she is cleaning a boat!

Anyway, happy Monday. I better get ready for work, and yes, I was supposed to get up at 4:30 to go to the gym, but I thought sleep was more important. Have a GREAT Monday!



Wordless Wednesday: Friends

Happy List 1.23.11

I found this while browsing the Internet...it's a chance for you to say what makes you happy. SO, this is my first one...let's see what makes my happy list
1. My DAUGHTER of course! She makes me all kinds of happy. Even when she does nothing, she makes me forget what worries me and makes me happy.
2. Trying to plan a gift for my niece. She will be 4 this year. I heard about this play called Pinkalicious and thought it would be perfect! I can't take my own daughter, but since they are coming to a theater in my hometown, I thought I would take my niece. I don't think I have ever seen a play or anything (well wait, I might have seen Grease off of Broadway, but I digress) I thought it would be a great way to make a 4 year old feel very special.
3. My family and friends. They always make me feel loved and special no matter what I throw at them.

4. One more week of maternity leave makes me happy. One more week where my daughter gets my undivided attention!

5. My new blog friend Michelle. She called me her blog peep today. I wish we lived closer so we could become IRL friends. But, in the meantime, I will just keep reading her blogs and buying cool girlie stuff for my sweet babes!

If you want to play along with Happy List, be sure to click the button at the top of my post to link up with Mamarazzi. This week she's doing a special giveaway for one participants.

Do I have a twin?

So, I stumbled across this blog written by a young lady named Michelle. The more I read it, the more I was like, wow! We have so much in common. First thing is obvious, our first names, except that spells it with 2 "l". Then, both of our nicknames are Shelley, although she spells it "Chelle." Then, our occupation is the same, we are both nurses. We both are moms (although she has 1and 1 on the way) we are both married to servicemen, and while she is currently also a full time student, I am currently applying to grad school! Wow! What a small world! So, go on over to her blog, learn a little more about her and enter her, "How did you meet your cupcake" giveaway!

Happy Valentine's Day!

So, hubs and I are will be off to my top secret Valentine's Day surprise later this evening, but to start off my day I wanted to share with you the loot I made out with from my friend's Swap. Thanks to my awesome Swap friend Kim, you made my day!

Apparently, Kim knows me very well, even from the little information about myself that I gave her. See, look here. Here are the final pics of the wonderful gifts she gave me.