Progress!

I took my body fat measurement again today at the gym. I wasn't expecting much change after vacation and everything that's been going on, but i went down another 2.4%! That makes a total of 5.5% since January. My goal is 20% body fat, as of today i'm at 26.2%. Getting there! Those numbers got me excited so I took a bunch of progress pictures so I could see the change. I'm so glad I take pictures! Sometimes its so hard to see any little changes that are happening day to day.

Top pictures are from January, bottom pictures are today (May 29)

And her is a picture from October 2010 when I finally got serious about my health, compared to today. Woot Woot!

Running- The Bane of my Existence

So, last year I was training for my first half marathon. I was determined to conquer running, something I had never really done, and certainly had never been good at. I got to 8 miles in my training, feeling pretty darn good, when I was out of no where struck with IT Band syndrome. It was miserable and painful. I spent the next 6 months or so visiting a doctor that specialized in injury trying to work through it. It never really got better. I mean I did eventually feel some relief, but if I ever tried to run for very long it would come back. After my surgery last December, I was obviously forced to take a break from running, and I was hoping the complete rest would help. It actually did help, I've been very slowly starting to run again. I started using the Couch to 10k program to ease me in, I went to a running specialist and got some tips on fixing my form to prevent problems, I spent a boatload of money on new shoes, and I was determined. I've been feeling pretty good with it and got all fired up about again attempting a half marathon, and a half ironman, a couple of races that have been my goals for a while, mostly because I don't like that running beat me last year. And i'm stubborn. Well, yesterday I did my first outdoor run, i've been doing all of my training on the treadmill because its a little easier on my IT band, and man did I not enjoy it one bit. Haha! I'm signed up for a 5k on Monday, a cause that is special to me, and I was excited to do it, and I still will do it, but I can't really say i'm excited right now. Haha. Running is really hard on my body. Some bodies seem built for it, and for some reason, mine just really doesn't like it. I know that if I am very patient I could eventually be a runner, but the question i've been asking myself is, "Is it worth it?" And maybe its the pain in my legs, or the memory of yesterdays run talking, but today I can so, No, its not worth it. I've been talking to my trainer about it, and she agrees. She is an ex-marathon runner who decided 3 years ago that running wasn't worth the stress it was putting on her body, so she switched to cycling.

There is still part of me that doesn't want to give it up. The stubborn part of me that says then I would be letting running win, it would officially beat me. The part of me that likes saying i'm a triathlete. The part of me that set the goals to run a half marathon and complete a half ironman. So, today i'm kind of in mourning. Mourning for the runner I thought I was, for the races i'll have to let go of, for the running friends I will never be able to keep up with. I will still run a little, I can't give up on the Larson Cup, the triathlon that basically got me into my fitness journey, but I will only do the bare minimum and focus on taking time off my swim and bike to make up the difference. I will do triathlons, but mostly relays. I'm a strong swimmer. I'm a strong cyclist. I'm an athlete. I can be fit, healthy, strong, competitive, and not be a runner. I keep saying these things to myself today. I really do believe them, but I've said them before and then got caught up in running again, caught up in the need to be and do everything. But for now, i'm done with that. I want to be an athlete for life. I want a strong, healthy, injury free body that will serve me for decades to come. I want that more than I want a half marathon medal. And for those that know how much I love getting medals, you'll know that means a lot. :) I know i'll have friends who will try and convince me not to give up, but I need to tell myself, i'm not giving up. I'm making the choice that is best for my body in the long run. And that is OK! So, i'm gonna feel a little sad today, and then i'm going to go kick butt on a bike and forget about it. I'm gonna do my 5k and not care one bit if I walk most of it. I'm going to relay a half ironman race in a few months and be grateful that I can swim a strong leg for my team, and cheer our runner on as she does what I cannot. And I will be ok with that.

Catching up!

I just realized how long its been since i've posted here! Bad Diane! :) I guess time just flies when you are having fun! I went to the Caribbean! It was amazing. And wonderful. And I want to go back. Tomorrow. Worth every second of work to get there. I loved the time with my husband. It was great!

Now i'm working hard again. Back on track with my trainer, working toward my goals. Next up: The Larson Cup Triathlon! I must keep my title! Followed shortly thereafter with my century bike ride for JDRF. I just finished making this video for my fundraising efforts. It makes me heart ache, but it also makes me proud of my son. He handles his lot in life very well.

My nutrition is going well, I'm working hard to find a balance between eating really well to go along with all of the hard work I put in in the gym, and easing up enough to make it a life long sustainable thing. Right now I feel like my relationship with food has improved a lot. I feel like I get to eat a lot. I feel like I get to treat myself enough that I don't feel deprived. And sometimes I let myself eat whatever sounds good, and I don't let it ruin my day. I haven't stepped on the scale in weeks and I'm ok with that. My goal jeans fit (i'm wearing them right now!), I'm feeling more confident than ever, and I feel strong. I genuinely feel like an athlete now. And that is a great feeling! I still hope to get faster and stronger. I still hope to get leaner. But I am super happy where I am and that is a great feeling.