Fitbloggin Bound!!!!!!!

WOOOOO HOOOOO!!!!!

I get to go to Fitbloggin!!!!!!  

WOOOOOO HOOOOO!!!!!

It'll take some kid juggling for the time that I am gone, but I have amazing support systems that will help a girl out. 

I'll be going as a Live Blogger and am super stoked for the opportunity. 

As excited as I am, I have some major fears......

- What if I am all alone in the corner for the entire conference?
- What if my kids become a big headache and hubby can't figure out childcare while he's at work.
- That's at the start of my sprint tri training. How is that gonna work?
- Am I totally out of my league even thinking about attending a Fitness conference?????

I'm going. I'm excited. I'm scared. 

~Kari

Zumba vs Core

Oh, Zumba, I hate you! I hate you because.....

- I look ridiculous "shaking what my mamma gave me"
- I can move my arms or move my legs, but both at the same time is nearly impossible
- I can't get my heart rate up because I am spending my entire time figuring out what everyone else is doing
- You seem like such an easy workout. I like to be lying on the ground in a pool of sweat when I'm finished.


Correction- Zumba, I use to hate you. I think that I finally get you!

On Thursday we had a fitness night at school and they were showcasing a Zumba instructor from my gym. I instantly was drawn to her excitement and enthusiasm for her craft. Saturday morning I laced up my shoes (Does Zumba have special shoes???) and headed to the gym. Would I be the only one there? Would the nice teacher on Thursday turn into a drag in the gym? What if I really couldn't do it?

I had a blast!

She was doing this Zumba meets chair dancing (really, I swear) meets old school exercise (lunges, anyone?). The class was full of all different body types and, best of all, no mirrors so I have no idea how ridiculous I looked! 

After class I talked with a few amazing chicks who said that the class changes from week to week and that this week wasn't normal. 

I want more of abnormal!!!!

My calorie burn was low for the hour (350), but by mid afternoon my core was on fire. That night it was soooo sore that it hurt to lay down. :) I know that YOU get why I'm smiling. It wasn't a torn muscle sore, but rather a yep, I've got muscles down there kind of sore. It's Monday morning and my core is still sore! 2 c-sections and a tummy tuck later it is really hard to strengthen my core. Could Zumba be the cure??????

Do you Zumba? I'd like to get a Zumba X-box game to play at home when no one else is watching. Any suggestions????

~Kari

Just for me.....

If you have been reading my blog for any length of time you know much of my story. I was talking with someone yesterday who didn't know me "before". The conversation started like this, "Did you lose some weight?". Ummmm, yes, I lost some weight. Actually I lost 165 pounds. That 356 pound girl still lives in my head, so that thought of someone NOT knowing that girl is a little offsetting. We sat for quite a while and I shared with her my story. A story that I haven't told in a long time because everyone has heard it. Most of you have lived it along side of me. Telling her inspired ME! Some good stuff has happened along the way and I tend to dismiss it or forget the success. 

This is me....

This is me.....

They are both me! I was kind, funny, and loving in both pictures. My after is really just a souped up version of my before. 

Hi! I'm Kari....

I've lost 165ish pounds.

To maintain my weight I record my food and exercise 6 days a week.

I love to exercise! I do it because I can, not because I have to. 

I lost my weight through diet and exercise. Nothing fancy. Just plain hard work.

I was in the paper! I ran a half marathon! 

I've hit a bit of a healthy eating slump as of late. It's ok. I'm moving forward. 

I've got this! You've got this!

~Kari

Carrots, celery, and apples, OH MY!

Reporting from the front lines of my eat 5 servings of fruits and veggies a day April goal.  It's the start of day 3 and I'm happy to report that the first 2 days were a success. Confession time- last night I had carrots and blueberries as an evening snack because I hadn't met my goal for the day. I wasn't even hungry, but I ate them because that was my goal. :) Planning is definitely going to be the key this month. I need to have a fruit or veggie every single time I eat to make this happen. 

How do I feel? To be honest, a little icky. Is this normal? I am eating WAY more fruits and veggies that I was before. I'm hoping that my body is just adjusting to different foods. Besides feeling icky, I am also super full. Full is a good feeling! I woke up today with a growling tummy. I can't remember the last time I woke up and was truly hungry. Good things are happening in my body....I just know it! The kids and I are going to head to the produce shop to buy a variety of vegetables. It's become evident that we have very little in this house when it comes to fresh produce. 

Sissy is in love with Junie B Jones. We are on spring break and I have spent the last two days being followed around by a nearly 8 year old reading Junie B Jones books to me. That kid (Junie B AND Sissy) cracks me up! It's nice to be home and be able to spend time with the darlings. They are pretty stinking amazing if I do say so myself.

Day 3 of my fruit/veggie challenge..... I already had some spinach with my eggs (a new fav!). How do you get in your veggies?????

~Kari

Seeing Clearly

The battery light on my HR monitor watch had been on for a few months nearly a year. Earlier this week I was on a run and by the end of the run I couldn't even read the time. I decided that the "low battery" light really meant LOW battery. A quick trip to the jewelry store and I was back in business. 

Did you eat some candy for Easter?!?!? I know that I did. I overate an amazing ham and scalloped potato linner. I ate chocolate ALL DAY long. It was delish. I was stuffed. After cutting off food for 2 hours, I strapped on my shoes and went for my first post-new battery run. 

Clarity! I could see the numbers on my watch and they were bright. I had not realized how dim the light had become. It's like when you replace a light bulb in the living room. It seems so bright, but in reality it's just what it's suppose to be. 

Runs are perfect for thinking. There is a clarity that comes on a run that I don't experience during other forms of exercise. I was able to maintain my weight for a year without a ton of focus on my eating/recording before I started to gain weight. My light got dim and I didn't even notice. My focus was fading. I needed a new battery. 

In March I had committed to running at least a mile every day. In March I ran for 31 days and a total of 46 miles. It felt AMAZING to have a goal. A focus. Clarity. It felt good to set a goal and complete it. (I feel like I need to mention that I did a ton of other exercise.....not just running.)

Here's my April goal..... I want to eat 5 servings of fruits or veggies (at least 2 veggies) every single day in April. I started out great- 2 scrambled eggs, 1/2 ounce parmesan cheese, 2 cups raw spinach and a banana. 2 servings already done for the day!

What are your goals for April????  


~Kari

Overcoming

Lately this blog has not been a very happy place to be. You see, I'm not in a "happy" place when it comes to maintenance and life is hard around the homestead to boot. We are in a time of transition (No, nothing like divorce or pregnancy, but still a big transition.) I don't know what I weigh..... I suppose I should weigh myself tomorrow, but I do know that pants that fit last spring no longer fit. I'm still longing working to find that place of balance where food does not consume my every thought, but rather propels me towards my goals. A dear friend of mine (we lovingly call her "Kelly from the gym") posted this a few days ago on Facebook:

I've been pondering this quote for a few days..... I have accomplished a ton! Yes, I have a few pairs of pants that don't fit. Yes, I've gain 15 (please don't let it be 20) pounds, but that does not take away from the fact that 3.5 years ago I weight 356 pounds. The weight will come off. The pants will fit again. 

In March I have been doing the run every day for at least a mile. Today is March 26th and so far I have met my goal. 5 more miles to go! :) Last night for my run that kids and hubby rode their bikes for 2 miles while I ran along side, in front of, and behind them. It was awesome! 2 years ago you NEVER would have told me that I'd be running with my kids on bikes. 

I have an April goal.... I'm still processing it, but it will be something like consuming X servings of fruits and vegetables every single day. I know that my diet is lacking when it comes to fruits and veggies. 

What are your goals? 

~Kari

Just not enough

Haven't posted in a while over a month.... I have stopped my weight gain cycle, but can't seem to get back to the losing. 

I know, it's easy- eat less, move more. 

News flash- it's SO not easy. Please don't get discouraged when people say it's easy. For someone with an addiction to food, it is never easy. 

Here's my struggle- I didn't like who I had to become when I was in "losing" mode. I was often dizzy from not eating enough (1200 a day is NOT enough when you work out like I do), would pass on social invitations for fear of what food would be at the party, and weighed myself 3-4 times a day. I don't miss that person and I don't want to go back to that. 

I am bordering on being "obese" again. I don't want that. I want to be healthy. I'd like to get back down to the 192ish range again. I felt good there. My clothes fit. I REFUSE to buy larger clothes. 

Throw out the scale? Pshshshs. Not gonna happen. Throwing out the scale landed me at 356 pounds. Ok, maybe, just maybe it was the 3000+ calories a day with no exercise that got my there and not the fact that I didn't own a scale.....

Lately, my greatest struggle is with constantly comparing myself to those around me and even to what I was 9 months ago. I'm not fast enough, skinny enough, strong enough, pretty enough. Just not enough...

At Shred last night I had a moment....a glimpse of clarity... We were flipping tires (I LOVE flipping tires). Not a car tire, nope a big ole tractor size tire. I got to thinking, "How much does that thing weigh". I was told between 120-140 pounds. WHAT! I have lost 165 (errrr 140 right now) pounds. I carried a giant tractor tire around ALL DAY LONG! All day! Maybe, just maybe, my right now is good enough.

That feeling last for about, oh, 12 hours. I weighed in this morning. I recorded (eating around 1700 calories a day and burning 2600 calories for the week) and weight exactly the same as I did last week. Back to not being enough. 

~Kari