39 hours and counting...

"Life isn’t about finding yourself.

Life is about creating yourself."

                                                             - George Bernard Shaw

A little inspiration...

One year ago... Mission Bay Triathlon 2010...

I just re-read the post I wrote after the Mission Bay Triathlon one year ago...

... I felt SO STRONG a year ago...

... and looking back at those photos, I can't belive it has taken A WHOLE YEAR to feel THIS CONFIDENT, this STRONG...

ONE... YEAR... LATER, I am still between 30-40 pounds overweight (after losing 50 pounds)... and I KNOW that I AM GOING TO ROCK THIS RACE!  Here is MY STORY of my 1st Mission Bay Triathlon...

... Mission Bay TRIATHLON 2010... YES, Big Girls Can ROCK IT!...and Hansen's Surf Shop



Nothing tastes better than Mimosas after a triathlon...
Friend Dave and me (with Sea World behind us) after the race.

Let's jump right into it, shall we!?  I have been struggling with my weight for many years... which is why I joined the YMCA Weight Loss Challenge 1 1/2 years ago... and why I have been training with my coach and doing Boot Camp and training for different athletic events for the past two years... I am a big girl.  Not only did my size bother me (every day), but the fact that I struggled when playing with Anna... doing household chores... or just getting through my day... 

The transition area... yeah... pretty scary...

HOWEVER, that doesn't mean that I can't do the same things the small gals can... I wear a bigger size... and I will be a bit slower... but I can still ROCK it better and faster than most... and I am dang proud of that!!!  In the past 2 years, I have completed in 2 triathlons and cycled in a 50 mile ride and a metric century. 

REALLY... You want to see ME in a XXL MEN'S WETSUIT?... I don't think so!

I'm about to share the events of October 3rd, the Mission Bay Triathlon and something that my son said bothered me.  I was looking at the event results and noted that if I had entered the "Athena" category (the big gals) that I could have made the podium.  Chris said, "Would you really want to stand up there and win an award for being a fast, fat girl?"  My answer,... "I AM a big girl and I just kicked the tar out of many of the small gals AND the men!  Why WOULDN'T I want to stand up there and receive an award for that!? 



The warm up... OF COURSE, you have to warm up before the swim... and I was feeling GREAT!

God makes us all differently and gives us different challenges.  I have two able legs and a strong heart... I might be thick in the middle, but that just makes me work harder!  Do you know why I train so hard and race?  BECAUSE... I... CAN!

Now... onto the triathlon...

The swim... yes, it was as crazy and scary as I figured my first open water swim would be..  That's me coming up for air right in the center.. you know... the one that looks like everyone else... :-)

The kids in the family on the left of the photo were asking about the different shoes... the dad was telling them that "some people change into cycling shoes, but that just takes extra time..." just as I pull RIGHT IN FRONT of them and start clicking in my cycle shoes.  All they could do was smile and cheer! ;-)  By the way, look at that guy in front of me... I beat him... ;-)

This photo was taken as I started the run... and about 15 seconds before I started cramping... I (stupidly) drank 1/2 water bottle in transition and had double cramps through my whole run... I had to WALK (speed walk) the whole thing... DARN IT!

My girlfriend, Heather... this was her finish and I think an iconic photo of the emotions that you feel when you accomplish something as AWESOME as your first race!  Pain... struggling to breathe... and the HOLY COW, I DID IT!!!  You are a ROCK STAR, Heather!  Congratulations!!!

It was a GREAT event... although I totally blew it on the run, I KICKED BUTT on the swim and TOTALLY CRANKED IT on the bike! I am already training for the next triathlon in Pasadena... in 5 months... and my coach wants me to train for my first Olympic Distance Triathlon in June of 2011... BIG GALS, HERE WE COME!!!

HANSON'S SURF SHOP... A little side story... I rented my wetsuit from Hansen's Surf Shop... an amazing store in Encinitas. It was hard to find a wetsuit that would fit me, but they had one for me. I was a bit uncomfortable picking up this LARGE wetsuit, but several of the store employees asked me what I was doing and I told them my triathlon story. The AWESOME part of the story is when I returned the wetsuit. They recognized me as "the triathlete" and wanted to know how I did. I told them about the race and a bit about myself, how I was inspired to start racing and about Jeff, who with chemo damaged feet was jealous of my triathlon and will be racing with me in Pasadena. 

OK, so I had to walk (speed walk) the whole 5K... but I was NOT going to come to the finish line like a wimp... and I SURELY WAS NOT going to let ANYONE in the finish stretch pass me up... Mr. No Shirt... DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT... you CAN'T catch me!... I finished first!

This skinny, beautiful and fit gal turned to me and said, "You are such an inspiration! I have been wanting to try a triathlon, but have been too afraid to try it. You are AWESOME and I am going to train to do it!!!" And she made me promise to tell her how I do in Pasadena.  I left the store, called Jeff and started sobbing.... happy tears. I doesn't matter what you look like, how much you weigh, or how fast you are, ANYONE can Triathlon!!! What is stopping you!?

I took that as a challenge...

I... AM... HEATHLY...

I might be overweight, but I will KICK SOME BUTT!

It doesn't matter how much you weigh or how old you are... you can DO ANYTHING you set your mind to...

... and I would LOVE TO SEE you all at the finish of my race!!!

Photos...

Sooooo... no big change in my numbers this week, HOWEVER, both Jeff and I have noticed a change in my body!  My size 14 clothes are now falling off as I walk and, although I'm not quite ready to wear my 12's, I will be there very shortly!  (I started at a size 20!!!)  Weight loss is a funny thing... and how your body responds is pretty cool, too!


200.6 pounds



201 pounds


























I have been training like a BEAST for the Mission Bay Triathlon, which is now only 5 days away.  Tomorrow, I will share with you my story from last year's race... and I SERIOUSLY can't believe how much I've changed in the past year... not only my weight loss, but my self esteem, my confidence, and my smile that BEAMS every time I think about my sweet husband... and the look I see in Jeff's eyes when he looks at me these days!

7 Days and Counting... Mission Bay Triathlon...

Anna sitting on the dock watching us start the swim...

Last year when I raced in the Mission Bay Triathlon, I weighed 40 pound more than I will next week...


Last year, I made a "hydration mistake" during transition #2 and cramped so bad I had to walk the whole 5K... (Yes, Mike... "Don't drink the Kool Aide during T2!")

Ha, ha, ... the look on my face as I enter T2 trying to
remember all the things to do... and NO WATER!  And my
swim coach, Elizabeth, right behind me!

Last year, I promised myself I was going to come back this year and do something FANTASTIC...


TODAY, our new Palomar YMCA Triathlon Club did a mock triathlon on the same course we will race next week...


... and today, I realized that I am going to reach my goal...


Our fast group starting the run...

... AND SURPASS IT! 

You BETTER BELIEVE that
BIG GIRLS
CAN RACE,
TOO! 

Much more about the race coming this week!

FUN photos for my BIRTHDAY... and an 80's birthday song CLASSIC!



201 pounds

I am 41 years old today...

I am also 50 pounds less than I was a year ago...

... and probably 40 pounds more than I will be a year from now...

... and I can say WITHOUT HESITATION that I... AM... now and forever...

MY...
HUSBAND'S... GIRLFRIEND!

So... I am an 80's gal and LOVE the 80's music... I wanted to add Altered Images "Happy Birthday" to my music collection, but it was not available, sooooooo... the next best 80's birthday song...

... from the movie, "Sixteen Candles"... come on, gals, you know the scene... at the end of the movie... Claire sitting on top of the dinning room table... lights are down... with the guy of her dreams... FINALLY getting her happy birthday kiss... "If You Were Here" by the Thompson Twins... check it out over to the right.


I love you, Sweetheart!



 ... today...

Jeff made me feel like Claire on the dinning room table...

the special kiss...

...and yes, he can still make me tremble as the butterflies fill my stomach and that silly smile comes across my lips... 

BOY, do I love my husband!  Sweetheart, I... LOVE... YOU... EVERYDAY!

Wine Tasting, YMCA 50's Event, and MUSIC DAY!

Jeff and I just had a FANTASTIC WEEKEND!  And, can I just say for the record... when YOU feel CONFIDENT and SEXY in your own skin, EVERYTHING IS MORE FUN!!! 



Me, Briony (YMCA Fitness Director) and Kelli (YMCA Fitness Coordinator)
and ONE... HOT... CAR!

First, I volunteered for the annual fundraiser at the Palomar YMCA... this year, a 50's themed event... SOOOO... MUCH... FUN!!!  Here are a few photos at the event (Jeff stayed home to have a "Daddy/Daughter Night" with Anna while I volunteered...)

The most AWESOME trainer EVER, Laura... and me... 50's gals and loving it!

The next morning, we got up at 6AM to go on a 22 mile bike ride before going on a limo ride to the Temecula Wine Country with a few friends.  I must admit... I am not much of a wine drinker... I like drinks with umbrellas and fruit.  But, Jeff LOVES wine and we had a FANTASTIC afternoon at a few local wineries...

Mary Beth, Jeff, Me, Jeff, Mindy... ohhhhhh, and our LIMO!

This would be called a "Jeff Sandwich"... at the "Monte de Oro" Winery...
less than 2 years old... what a beautiful and AWESOME place!  Check it out!

The "Loch-mans"   Tracey and Jeff Locher and Mindy and Jeff Seltmann...
Best friends and soooooo much fun at "virgin" wine tasting at "Falkner!"

It has been awhile since I did a fun MUSIC DAY, and, although I'm not a fan of red wine, Jeff is... SOOOO, there is only 1 song that fits... "Red Wine" by Bob Marley (covered by UB40)... yeah...! :-)  Check out the song over to the right... the place where we "change the soundtrack in our heads!" Make it a FANTASTIC DAY!

(finally) Sedona and leaving Chris at NAU...

Sedona hike... sooooo beautiful

Yes... I'm finally getting to the final photos of our week in Sedona while moving Chris to college at NAU.  Last I posted about this trip, we had moved Chris into his dorm and headed back to Sedona to enjoy a few nice and quiet days to ourselves.  Sedona is a SPECTACULARLY BEATUIFUL place... the red rocks... the artsy town... and even better, we had thunder clouds and rain come in everyday.  I don't think that Jeff and I have been on a vacation that didn't have some great rain, and there is nothing better than going on a hike and getting a cool and refreshing shower... or sitting out on a patio, playing cards, having a cocktail and enjoying the sweet scent of fresh rain, the cool breeze on your cheeks and just being... :-)



Starting our hike... and clouds are building...

Now, back to reality... although we were on vacation, Jeff still had to take care of business for a few hours everyday.  We planned to do about a 6 mile hike on a local trail (Boynan Canyon) and wanted to get started around 9AM before the triple digit heat hit... well... we hit the trailhead around 11:30... just as it hit 103 degrees.  We were prepared and decided to go ahead.  That hike is one of my favorite memories!  A thunderstorm started building about 1/2 hour into our 4 hour hike... the clouds were AMAZING against the landscape (although, we could have done without the intense humidity...)  The terrain changed several times throughout our canyon hike from brush to chaparral to pine forest.  We saw deer and so many butterflies fluttering around us it was as if they were our special guides... making sure we were alright on this adventure.
  

At the top... you can see the storm behind me...  hanging over the
parking lot where we started. (In real life, the sky was BLACK
and the lightning/thunder was on!  We had a 2 hour hike BACK
to the storm... And, yes, that was a steep drop right behind me...

By the time we got to the top of the trail, we heard the thunder and saw lightning coming, so we didn't hang out up top too long.  This was an INTENSE hike with the heat (that hit 113 degrees, the humidity and the oncoming storm)... and we wouldn't have changed a thing!  THAT is what we LOVE to do on vacation!  And the rain did hit... about 10 minutes after we left the hike!  It was a TURENTIAL DOWNPOUR that cooled the air from 113 to 85 degrees in a matter of moments.  It appeared the drops started as hail, but as they struck the pavement, they were gigantic and thunderous drops... and Jeff and I couldn't get out of the car fast enough to stand out in it!


Jeff at the top getting a very quick rest...

The hike down... so AWESOME!

Our second day was delayed by work until noon... and we finally got to the trailhead for a mountain bike ride by 1PM (again, a storm was starting to come in, the humidity was high and the temp was almost 110.)  Due to an unfortunate set of circumstances, we had to bail out of that ride, but we enjoyed our bikes early the next morning before we left town.  Mornings and afternoons exploring Sedona, late afternoons with cocktails around the pool and evenings out at wonderful Sedona restaurants... and acting like boyfriend and girlfriend again... it was HEAVEN!   

This day could NOT have been better!

On our way home, we stopped in to visit Chris and had a great lunch and afternoon with his roommate, Connor, and his parents... back at the Flagstaff Brewing Company that we enjoyed a few days earlier.  It was a great trip!  Looking forward to our next trip to Arizona... surely there will be several over the next 4 years!

Connor, Chris, Me, Cheryl, Kasey and Jeff at lunch.  The boys played football
against each other in high school... cross town rivals... now roommates!

Losing weight ROCKS! PHOTOS!

Soooo, I am just above ONE-derland this week... and I'm not worried.  I'm less than a pound up this week and I know I will be right back down next week. 


199.8 pounds



200.6 pounds







 







I'm feeling good...

I'm feeling strong...

and I'm feeling happy!  50 pounds has been lifted off my shoulders (and my butt...)... NO WONDER, I'm feeling GREAT!  Make it a FANTASTIC day, everyone!

I've lost 50 pounds... I'm in ONE-derland... and STUNNING PHOTOS!!!

THIS is the post I've been waiting for 33 weeks to write!  It is finally time to see the "before and after" photos at my self defined "half way point!"  I'm going to let these photos speak for themselves... the FIRST PHOTOS  are the 37 pound difference since I started this blog...
   

237 pounds



199.8 pounds








 

 


  

I KNEW I would get rid of this!

  

 

Where did my butt go?

   










































HOWEVER, as many of you know, I hit my HEAVIEST WEIGHT last summer... in August.  Surprisingly, I weighed 250 at the same time as I rode about 55 miles doing the metric century at the Cool Breeze.  I knew my weight was out of control, but I still rode 55 miles on my bike...

and I was proud of myself...

until I saw these comparison photos...

the 2nd photo is of the finish of my full century a few weeks ago...

and then I was a little nauseous... 



Me at 250 pounds... Cool Breeze 2010

 

Me, 2 weeks ago at 200 pounds... Cool Breeze 2011
Yes, Jeff and Dave have lost weight in the past year, too! ;-)



Becoming my Husband's Girlfriend has been my own little miracle. 

Make it a FANTASTIC day, everyone! ;-)

ONE-derland! ONE-derland! HOLY COW I MADE IT and I'm finally in ONE-derland!

Yes... for the first time since I started this blog in January, I (quietly) skipped posting a photo this week.  I was embarrassed that my weight jumped to 206 after our Arizona vacation last week.



Not only am I in ONE-derland, did you notice that my weight is
now listed as "normal?"... yes, on the total TOP of normal,
but come on... :-)

 Monday, I weighed 206...

... and I started dropping...

... and today I was in ONE-derland!  198.8!!!

I have lost 38.2 pounds since I started this blog in January...

...and I have lost 51.2 pounds since my heaviest one year ago.

I have been asked over and over and over what I am doing... WHY is it working THIS time, and I think I finally have the answer...

... I... LOVE... MY... HUSBAND!  Fun and flirting and passion are NOT just for honeymooners!  It is something that we should have in our marriages all the time.  Yes it takes a little time... a little planning... a little work on our low self esteem's... but now that I am over half way to my goal I can tell you one thing...

THERE is NOTHING MORE POWERFUL and INSPIRATIONAL than the INDUBITABLE LOVE FOR YOUR SPOUSE!

(and one last comment... ONE-derland feels GREAT!)