Sunday, September 30, 2012

Susan G Koman 10K Race Report

EXTRA! EXTRA! READ ALL ABOUT IT!  I posted my race report for my first 10K.  Click on the Race Reports and Goals page or just click HERE.

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Loose Skin

In the forums at My Fitness Pal about once a week a post pops up about, "loose skin."  If you lose a ton of weight, it's bound to happen.  Some folks will get a little some folks will get a lot.  I read about folks doing things to prevent it, but when you carried so much weight in your belly like me, its going to happen.  My arms are not bad at all since I never really had any muscle there but my belly seems to have mud flaps now  (my belly flap can stretch out 3-3.5 inches) .  I've lost 120 lbs in 59 weeks and 140 lbs of that might have been lost from my belly.  Oddly enough, I think I've been lucky because it doesn't bother me (bouncing, rashes, etc).  I've been jogging and riding a bike with no issues.  I was a tic worried but it's not like I had much of a choice.  I searched the net far and wide for information on what I should do.  Most suggest that I just need to give it a year or two for my skin to shrink back down.  The bad part is, they also say that it depends on how long and how far your skin has been stretched.  So while it might shrink back some, it might not go 100% back to normal.  Whatever normal is.

Anyone that has lost a good chunk of weight have any success stories on their mud flaps shrinking?

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

My friendly running tip of the day.

Warm up, then stretch
"Try some light jogging or walking before you stretch, or stretch after you run. Stretching 'cold' muscles can cause more harm than good."
--Runner's World editors

Thursday, September 13, 2012

The Scale Yo-Yo

If you are on a diet there is a good chance you have played the scale yo-yo game.  Mon morning weigh in, Mon night up 3 lbs, Tues morning lost 2 of the 3, Tues night even, Wed morning down 2 lbs, Wed night after big dinner up 5 lbs!  Then you see all the post, "HOW IN THE WORLD DID I GAIN 5 LBS IN 2 DAYS! AAAAHHHHH!!!!"  I step on the scale just about everyday, twice a day.  Once when I get up and normally right before I go to bed.  My only other time I might get on is after a long run for a laugh.  I've lost 6 lbs in an 8 mile run before. lol  Folks, our bodies like to play tricks on us.  There are to many reasons to list why our weight is always going up and down.  It's just how our bodies work.

I can go to bed at 225 and wake up 6 hours later at 223.5.  I don't know if it's my scale or I just managed to lose 1.5 lbs in my sleep.  Either or it happens all the time.  I normally can go to bed Sun night and know if I'm going to have a good weigh in or not.  I only count Mon as my weekly weigh in.  Like the day I lost 6 lbs during the run, I found 4 of that with liquids and lunch.  I've been up 6 lbs before during the week to end up losing 2 come Mon.  If you can hack it, I highly suggest to get on the scale more often (AM pref) so you can understand how your body works.  I'm sure everyone is different but you don't know till you try.  

Moral of the story, don't be freaked out if your up 2-3 lbs.  One trip to the bathroom could sort that right out. :)

Friday, September 7, 2012

Mark Rucker, Ironman Louisville Results

Mark Rucker, a native KY boy like myself, another member of the 100+ lb lost club, MFP member, and 2012 Ironman Louisville competitor.  Since I was unable to attend, first thing in the morning I logged on to IMLOU's website and started watching the broadcast of the transition areas.  I have watched a few bits of races on TV before but never really had a reason to seriously watch.  IMLOU site updated their stats throughout the race so at least you could follow folks even if it was a few hours between updates.  For those who don't know a full Ironman race consist of 3 short segments which total 140.6 miles.  2.4 mile swim in the crystal clear swap of the Ohio River, 112 mile bike ride, and just for a laugh 26.2 mile jog.  Everyone who puts one toe in the water, is a little mentally unstable at this point.  You have to be a little nuts to attempt such a race.  Thing is, folks keep coming back because receiving the title of "Ironman" isn't something that is given out, It's earned.

Shortly after I woke up, Mark finished the swim with a time of 2:13:42.  Since I am not avid IM fan, I'm clueless if that is good or not, just finishing in the time limit is amazing to me.  Yes, there is a time limit to each segment and the entire race.  Race starts at 7 am and finishes at midnight.  You don't finish the segment in a certain amount of time your are DQ'd, and even at midnight if you can see the finish line, your done.  Mark started the 112 mile bike with a slower pace then he wanted.  He ended up having issues with the bike (back brake was stuck on) and at the 50 mile mark had to pull out of the race.  Something like 14% of the 3000 or so who started the race DNF.

Was a shame since I was watching the live feed and ready to post a screen shot of him crossing the line.  Mark has shown me that what I thought was impossible is possible.  He is older then me, he is bigger then me, and he can smoke me in the water, running, and on the bike.  Watching the last 2 hours really changed my mind on what I want to do.  People off all ages and backgrounds, running, sprinting, and even passing out as they crossed the line.  As someone who is extremely competitive and comes from an athletic background, I know what it's like to win and lose (those who know me know I know that way to well lol).  I know what it's like to achieve a goal that you didn't think you could do.  I would love to sit here and say IMLOU 2013 here I come!  I just don't think it's financially possible at this point (over $600 to enter plus all the gear etc).  What is possible, doing a half marathon in the spring or a sprint triathlon.  What is possible is doing a marathon in the fall or even possibly a olympic triathlon.  The one thing this Fat to 5K journey as taught me, anything is possible if you want it enough.

Click HERE for the Ironman Louisville 2012 Full Circle video that Mark is in.

My most recent win, and what a great feeling it was...


Note: I'm not on the roof, I'm back by the spoiler.



Monday, September 3, 2012

Month 12, Milestone Month

I started this month with about 5 lbs to go to hit my 1 year 100 lb goal.  I weighed in July 2nd at 245.2 and on July 4th I had my first 5K. (check race reports for info)  Just starting that race was a victory for me.  I am not a runner and its hard for me to think I was about to do an actual race.  My guess the race really motivated me since I ended up losing 4.4 lbs that week.  I need .8 lbs now to hit the 100 lb mark which I did in week 49.  To see 239 on the scale was hard to imagine.  I was excited but then again I should have never let myself get that big.  When I joined Jones Brothers Racing I was probably around 290-300 lbs.  I have a chunk of friends that have never seen me like this.  Last time in the 230's was probably 1994 or 1995.  Now that I didn't have to worry about that goal, next item to tackle was another 5K.  Luck have it, there was one August 4th at the school where my brothers kids go.  My nephew wanted to run cross country this year, so I figured this would be a great way for him to find out if he had it in him.  This race we had a cheering section! (check race reports for info)  Another race, another PR crushed.  July 4th race was 41:26 with a goal of under 44 mins.  August 4th race was 36:58 with a goal of under 40 mins.  I finished the last 100 yards running with my oldest boy (it's hard to look at that pic without that proud papa tear forming).  I'm not going to mention that my 13 yr old nephew finished 1 min behind his uncle.  Nor do I ever remind him of that.  I will take the victories while I still can get them. :)  To me this month reminded me of the saying, "Good things happen to those who wait."  August 6th rolled around with my 1 year weigh in.  Tipped the scales at 231.8 for a total loss of 108.2 lbs.  That week I also logged into My Fitness Pal for 370 days in a row.  Year 1 done and what a wild year it was.  I went from 340 lbs to 231.8 with a diet I thought I would only stick to for a few months.  Year 2 will have to be a damn good one to top Year 1.

I want to thank my family and friends for their help this past year.  Without it and their not so kind words (they know what I mean lol) I wouldn't be where I am today.  What made this year even better, was other friends and family members joining me in this journey with their own.  I can't wait to see what Year 2 has in store.