2014 Running Goal

Since 2013 is already half over and I have my running goal decided for 2015 (Dopey Challenge in January and Disneyland Half in September), I needed something for 2014, you know, other than just training..

So when my sister asked if I was planning on signing up to run the LA Marathon again next year I quickly decided to do it. Along with 11 other races through out the year. 

I am planning on signing up for one race a month for the 2014 calendar year. They will most likely all be half marathons with the exception of LA in March. 

I have never done this money races in a year and I am really excited to attempt it. Having races lines up keeps me motivated and focused and I am starting to get excited again. 

This is a great time for me to make this goal for many reasons. First of all, I am finally 100% debt free. I have paid off the rest of my debt and Patrick is finishing up with his. Once we are both out of debt we will focus more on saving for a house, but that is still a little ways off. Secondly, the races are still far enough away that I am paying the least expensive price. Races tend to raise their prices the closer you get to race day, so as long as I am paying attention to sign up dates, I won't be paying an arm and a leg. 

I'm really excited to run in a race again. The spectators, the race day experience and of course the bling are so worth it, in my opinion. Plus I have to go out with a bang!

I don't plan to stop running or stop racing entirely, but after Dopey, it would be financially wise for me to cut back to 1-3 races per year. It only makes sense to run all the races now and make it through Dopey while I can afford it. You know, before we buy a house and we're putting all of our money towards that.

Plus, I think I have decided that in order to be a surrogate I need to do it in good conscience. In order to do that then I need to be selfish now. I want to finish my running goals before I can commit my body to someone else. I know that it is selfish of me to wait to do this, but I know that if I don't take care of me first then I'm not going to be much help to anyone else, especially my own family. Thankfully I didn't get into the process too far before making this decision and I know that when the time is right to be a surrogate then it will happen.

Sunday June 9th

sab·o·tage

noun \ˈsa-bə-ˌtäzh\

Definition of SABOTAGE

1

: destruction of an employer's property (as tools or materials) or the hindering of manufacturing by discontented workers

2

: destructive or obstructive action carried on by a civilian or enemy agent to hinder a nation's war effort

3

a : an act or process tending to hamper or hurt

b : deliberate subversion

 

I am a self sabotager. I don't know why I do it. I sit here and complain to myself and to you about how I want to lose weight desperately and yet the day before weigh in I eat cake and candy.

 

Obviously I know that eating cake and candy aren't going to throw off my weight loss efforts completely, but I feel like I know better. I know how to use my calories better than on crap food. I usually do this a day or two before weigh in so that if I do sabotage myself and gain then I know why. I hate gaining, but I hate it even more when I do everything well all week and gain for seemingly no reason.

 

And since tomorrow is weigh in day, I obviously needed to mess up today in order to keep my self sabotage streak going...

 

In other news, I am beginning to think about getting a tattoo. This will put off being a surrogate for a while. I haven't decided for sure. All I know is that I have two that I want to finish and one that I want, but I'm not sure where. I want to get "twenty 6 point 2" somewhere. Maybe my wrist, or foot. Although the foot would put off training for a while. Hmmmm...

 

Sunday June 9th:
Goal: 1540
Food: 1573
Exercise: -118
Net: 1455

Breakfast:
Whole wheat bagel, egg, bacon, cheese
Calories: 433

Lunch:
Sandwich, cake
Calories: 600

Snack:
Swedish fish
Calories: 150

Dinner:
Carl's Jr BBQ chicken sandwich
Calories: 390

Exercise:
1 mile run, squats, arms
Calories: -118

Positive: I have made it two weeks on the running streak and am beginning to think about running more than 1 mile straight.

Monday June 3rd

Day one of My Fitness Pal is done and I would call it a success. I ate within my calorie goal, earned extra calories by walking 2 miles and running 1 and I was more conscious about what I was eating.

Often times when tracking points or calories I will continue to eat what I want while staying within those suggested numbers. Although this works for a while because I am cutting down on portions, it does not work for long because my food choices are still unhealthy.

So this time around I am making more of an effort in picking healthier choices. More fruits and veggies, less packaged foods. Less candy and sweets, more dairy. Less soda, more water. You get the idea.

I cannot begin to express just how much I want to make this change. Although I'm learning to love the body I'm in, I don't want to keep this body the way it is. My body has not reached its full potential, and it won't until I make the necessary changes. And that's what I'm trying to do.

My eating is obviously not going to change completely over night, and I'm not putting my pressure on myself to do that. I can only hope that these changes I am making will stick.

I signed up this morning, putting in my new starting weight of 184.4 which calculated my daily calorie goal to be 1,540. My Fitness Pal encourages you to eat the calories that you burn as well to bring your daily net calories as close to your daily goal as possible.

Monday June 3rd:
Goal: 1540
Food: 1793
Exercise: -307
Net: 1486

Breakfast:
Whole wheat English muffin, 1 Tbsp creamy peanut butter, 1 Tbsp honey
Calories: 255

Snack:
Apple
Calories: 80

Lunch:
Brent's Deli Grilled Chicken, Pita and Hummus, Veggies
Calories: 547

Snack:
Apple, Dreyers Fruit Bar
Calories: 150

Dinner:
Homemade chicken tacos
Calories: 614

Dessert:
6 Hershey kisses
Calories: 147 

Exercise:
1 mile walk, 1 mile run, 1 mile walk
Calories: -307

Positive: I tracked everything all day and stayed within my calorie goal.

I would say I made a good start and I think that will help me in the next few days if (when) things get to be more difficult. It's kind of like with this running streak. I've had a few days where I really didn't want to go and/or didn't want to run the full mile straight but I felt like if I could do it that first day then I could continue the streak and continue to run the full mile straight. I think that's how I need to look at this.

Obviously some days are going to be easier then others and there will be days that I go over my calorie goal for a variety of reasons, but if I'm conscious about what I'm eating and if I track everything every day then I really can't fail no matter what the scale says.

In other news, I received a phone call today from the surrogacy agency that I'm going through. They received my application and want to proceed. I have a lot of paperwork to fill out, doctors to call to get records and a background check to pass, but as of now the ball is rolling. Once everything is filled out and the background check is done it's only a matter of time. The paperwork I have to fill out will help potential parents decide if I'm a right fit for them. I can't believe it's all happening all ready and I'm really excited!

Sunday May 26th

I started the morning early, which was slightly frustrating (even if it was by choice). My step, or as I call them "bonus", children were here this weekend to visit with us. Saturday morning we woke up to the early morning sounds of children and the TV at 5:30am, which made for a long day. What happened to the days of kids sleeping in until 11 in the morning on the weekends?!?

This morning was the swap meet that my mom and I go to once a month. It was a big success as well, so I'm glad I got up early to go. I've been really into filling my patio with plants and flowers to make it a place we hang out at night. It's very VERY small, so there's not much I can do out there, and it will only be the three of us hanging out when we do, but I think it's worth it to have it be a nice place to be. I was able to find three plant stands that will be a perfect addition to our growing patio.

The rest of the day was spent with my in-laws and my parents at my in-laws house. They had us all over for lunch and then we all made our way to the newly remodeled park by their house. Patrick and I are so lucky that we live so close to both of our parents. What's more is that we get along with both our parents and our in-laws. I hear horror stories about in-laws and I don't know how I got to be so lucky.

The day was spent in the sun running around with the kids. There was time spent at the park with the kids, basketball with my niece and watching the boys play horseshoes. I can't begin to express how tired I am and how burnt I am. I always forget sunscreen and I always regret it.

I weighed myself this morning again and I am still up. I can't even begin to express my disappointment in myself to gain the first week I attempt to lose weight. But it's not the end all be all and next week is another opportunity to try better and prove that this is something that I can do. Sometimes I chose food that was not the best for me, I worked out more than I was used to and (TMI) my monthly female friend will be visiting in the next few days (and yes, this can cause a weight gain). I'm venting about this here and now so that tomorrow I can simply record my weight and my positives for the week.

I did not log my food for the day because I kind of went a little (okay, okay! A LOT) overboard with the snacks and food and dessert this afternoon.

But... The biggest news of the day is that I made a decision, which affects my weight loss and possibly the Dopey Challenge. I have decided to apply to be a Surrogate. I have had a need/want to become a surrogate for many years. My sister used to work for a cervical cancer coalition and I learned then that some women lose the ability to have children after battling cancer. I wanted to be someone that could help those women. Since then I have learned that there are many other families that want children and are unable to have them. I had an easy pregnancy and no complications when giving birth to Isabel (besides needing a C-section).

Something pushed me that this is the time to do this. I'm still young and I'm pretty sure that Patrick and I are not going to be having any children of our own (I haven't given up hope yet, but it's not looking promising). There are some other personal reasons (someone else's that I don't feel comfortable sharing) that pushed me to finally apply. Now I wait to see if I'm eligible. I'm sure to be an ideal surrogate I will need to lose weight to be a normal BMI, but we'll see what they say. Fingers crossed!