My first TRIATHLON

Yes I did one last September, but they cancelled the bike portion, so it was technically an aquathon. Saturday I completed my FIRST TRI!!!!!!!

My alarm went off Saturday morning at 4:15am... and I was up and at'em for the day... heated up my coffee, got on my tri onsie... and hit the road, I had pre-loaded my bike and other necessary equipment the night before so that was all taken care of... which is why I had those precious extra 15 minutes!

It was an hour away from my house, but I got there around 5:30 which is when transition opened... and the rain started... I got soaking wet airing up the tires on my bike... the people next to me where using an umbrella and looking at me with pity and all I could say was, "well at least we were already planning on getting wet today", they thought I was nuts I am sure! Unfortunately my umbrella holder is on a rig... so I was out in the rain.

Once I filled my tires up with air I headed over to the transition area to set up my bike and shoes so that I was good to go for race time. Everything got soaking wet in the rain, but it was set up to go. It quit raining around 630 or so, but the damage was done and my stuff was already wet. The race started at 7am, but they staged everyone based on their swim time they reported... I was 293, but found out I was in the wrong group... they put me in 10-11 min swim group instead of 9 min, my friend Jaime was in the 9 min group and was 265, so a lot of people in line let me go to 278 area, which was nice... my other friend Suzy was in the 7 min group so was 170something.

waiting to get started

I finally got started around 8am and jumped into the pool for the swim - my last tri was an open water swim and it was big groups of 30-50 people at a time all trying to swim the same course! Pool swims are MUCH nicer, they stage people in every 10 seconds, and I wasn't passed at all during the swim AND I actually passed a couple of people! Then got stuck behind a girl who would NOT let me pass, very rude... I was behind her for 4 laps, so I think I could have had a better time had she not been rude, but whatever... my pool time was 9:06 for 300 meters! Talk about being right on my time!

Transition 1 was 2:10, I got in the gate, put on my tennis shoes and then realized I had changed my petals for the MS150 to work with clip in bike shoes and was cursing myself for not bringing my clip in bike shoes, trying to bike on clip in pedals with tennis shoes is HELL... that's what I get for skipping training rides, although I did bike a lot to train for MS 150 in April... I forgot that one little detail. Then I go to put my number belt on and realize that its broken.. so I tied it around my waist with a knot, threw my helmet and sunglasses on and headed out for the bike portion.

I had a pack of GU Chomps for the bike, which is good, but I didn't put a water bottle on my bike (another blonde move)... so over the course of the 12 miles I ate my energy chews but didn't have any water, I haven't had any water at all at this point in the morning - NOT a good thing... I had coffee and figured they would have water for us there... didn't see any at this point. Finished the 12 miles in 39:36 and dropped my bike and helmet off in transistion and headed out for the run.

The start of the run had a water station so I grabbed a cup, then they started taking pictures... who designed this I don't know, but imagine being photographed while trying to run and drink water at the same time.. I had water pouring down my face and it was not sexy like you see on tv... it was horrible.. so I quit drinking and took a few non sci-fi type pictures running... luckily there was a water station at the running half way point, I stopped to walk and drink this water because the sun came out and it was hot and humid and I needed a walk break anyway to be honest, so it was nice. No cameras here, thank God! I finished the run strong, I didn't think I would have any energy left to do so because it was a struggle to keep up my jog, but I was ready to be done! The run portion took 35:09 for a 5k. Not bad considering I had already swam and biked right before it!

I was 14th in my age group with my overall time of 1:27:08! My goal for my tri in Sept was to make it in under two hours, I finished in just under an hour without the bike, my swim was 13 min, transition was 5, and run was 34 mins. My goal for this weekend was to come in under two hours and improve my swim time... and I nailed both! VERY proud of my success especially given the lack of training lately...

 

 

Now its time to concentrate on training for my half marathon October 12!

I am a work in progress

Today is my 9/80 off, and I am playing catch up on DVR before I clean the house and get some yard work done. I also need to hit the pool today because tomorrow is my tri and I have only swam once since last September for my last tri. I don't want to push too much and be tired for tomorrow, so just a swim and maybe a few body weight exercises, we will see. Lots of work around the house to do today.

One of the shows I catch up on when the hubs leaves is Extreme Weight Loss... and I got to see Trina's episode today and it was pretty crazy to me. I can relate to her in more ways than I would care to admit to myself, much less others... my dad passed away right before I turned 9 and I have spent the last 20 years of my life with just my mother. My mother has been critical of me my whole life. I also feel like nothing I have done has ever been good enough for her. I have spent my whole life trying to please her or make her proud even though I know I will never be able to achieve that.

I am a work in progress. I am working on my self worth and luckily have an amazing husband who helps with that ALOT. Changing my attitude after 20 years of negativity wont happen overnight. I have good days and bad ones... however I am working on it.

I am an emotional eater, running has helped replace that many times for me, but I still have times where I turn to food. I hope to one day always deal with my emotions/stress constructively, and I am a work in progress.

I am a work in progress. There are months where I don't do so well, but then I try hard the next month to move in the right direction again, its about progress not perfection. I know that the emotional issues are going to be harder to deal with than the physical issues, but I am hoping that one day I will be able to say I have beat it. That is my goal.

Grandma Edie

at Christmas this past year

Yesterday Grandma Edie was laid to rest. She was just a month shy of 97 and lived an incredible life. She was one of the most amazing women I have ever met and even though she wasn't my biological grandma (she is my cousins grandma); it was a pleasure to call her grandma and get to spend all the time with her that I had. Growing up close with my cousins I was one and the same to her. My sister got to visit her the night before she died and she said she asked about me and said she loved me and was glad she was able to meet my hubs.  Words cannot express how much of a loss this is to the world, but I know that heavens got another good one up there and I cant wait to see her again one day. She was always a dancer until recently and I know she is up there dancing away with her two late husbands having a ball!


I also had 7 meetings scheduled for yesterday, luckily one got moved to today and I ended up missing one because one lasted 2 1/2 hours -it was our quarterly update to the CEO, which is why I couldn't be in New Orleans to send Grandma Edie off. I had to present on my project I have been working on all year that's almost finished. My heart and head were in New Orleans all day yesterday... I know my cousins miss her like crazy because I do as well.

I have been a bad blogger...

The past few weeks have been crazy stressful and the blog has suffered... long story short


Last weekend we went to the property to get work done:
1. finished fire pit so we don't have to eat out next time we visit
2. set up feeder pins to protect the feeders from the cows

3. saw a picture of a random guy on our game camera and had to play detective and found out it was a nosey neighbor we still haven't met
4. got no trespassing signs to hopefully avoid having that issue again
5. had a call from our pet sitter that she locked herself out of our house but we were luckily able to help her "break back in" without having to drive all the way home
6. got 900lbs of deer protein/feed - which they ate in 9 days after our last visit!

7. I was driving around interior roads and this little lady didn't move and I wondered why, then I saw two baby fawns - still with spots in the bush by the road, they were too cute!!! I have pics on my camera and will upload later

 

 

Monday night we had to make an emergency ER visit with our newest edition Max... he ended up having to stay overnight there and another night at our vet, it was crazy scary and he had a lot of work done, but he is ok and healthy now... we were able to pick him up again Wednesday afternoon and he has been fine since - he was sticking his hand through the blinds to be touching his brother

Thursday night we flew out to go to Va to meet our new niece.. so my mom came and watched the babies to make sure the little one was really ok for good.

We had a blast with her, she is super cute!!!

Our flight got in Monday night and I have been working like a dog at work ever since!

 

Bill Myers Memorial Team: American Heart Association Fundraising

My usual weekend update is going to happen tomorrow. This week I start training for my first half marathon and in effect my first whole marathon... my half is October 12, 2013 in New Orleans - the Jazz Half and my whole is February 2, 2014 in New Orleans the Rock and Roll Marathon.

 

I am running the marathon to raise money for the American Heart Association. January 27, 1993 my daddy passed away from a heart attack. He had a pacemaker put in a couple years before that and it malfunctioned or something went wrong with it while he was out for a jog one night and he just never came home. Heart disease is a real issue here in America. My grandmothers on both sides have had heart attacks and survived them, thankfully, but not everyone is that lucky. Raising money for this cause is important to me. I was a big daddy's girl and it rocked my world when he was taken from me so suddenly.

 

I knew signing up for a full marathon was crazy when I haven't even run a half yet, so I knew I needed a purpose to help motivate and push me on days when I just cant get there- I will be running in memory of my daddy and would love others to join my team if you are interested as well. They have a heart walk in Houston November 16, 2013 and I will be doing that as well, you can do the walk with me, marathon with me, pray for me as I train/run, or just donate to the cause! Any support is appreciated!

 

I have added my fundraising widget to my page on the right side. My personal goal is $7,500 and my team goal is $10,000 (for both the walk and run). Think about joining me!

 

The team name is the Bill Myers Memorial.

 

 

one of our last family pics together before he passed

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

Results

My loving hubby surprised me and made steak salad and strawberries with angel food cake..

I should have gotten a picture of the angel food cake and strawberries too, it was amazing!!! I had my steak cut in half before grilling because I like it cooked medium well and my hubs is a medium rare kind of guy... and I had Salata salmon salad for lunch, so I just ate my steak and then had a nice big side salad... I have been doing well this week and I got on the scale this morning and I am down another 2lbs since Monday!?! I am officially down all the weight I gained in my two weeks of eating out!

We leave today after I get off work to head up to our property and get some more work done, goals for this weekend:

1. avoid fried food
2. drink a lot of water
3. pick healthy options while eating out
4. get in some form of exercise every day - this will be easy working on the place all weekend!


Property goals:

1. finish our home made grill/firepit
2. build pens to put around the feeders to keep the cows out of them
3. start looking into a poly line to one of the ponds from the water well to fill it up - it hasn't rained there at all, so we had the guy make us two ponds, but without rain, they are just big holes in the ground!


It has been an extra stressful week at work this week, so I cant wait to get back up there! :)

Workout Wednesday

 

 

Yesterday I ran at the gym, on the treadmill in the AC because we cant all love running in 100 degree weather like Mama L... although, I will be trying some of these tips: How To Run in 100 Degree Heat because I would love to be able to run outside! Its so much more fun than on the DREADmill... but I ran at a pace of 5.5mph, for a whole 5k.... I am proud of myself because I wanted to stop and walk quite a few times, but didn't. I have been slacking on the running regularly thing since the end of March... and I have a half in October that's going to kill me if I don't get back with it and STICK with it this time!

 

I also have my tri the end of this month and HAVE to swim a few times before then, but I started the Bikini Body Mommy workout plan the beginning of July and I love it! I know I am only a mommy to fuzzy babies, but I am doing it anyway!

 

This is what I will be doing today (I missed Monday):

 

 

Day 9 was cardio- did that yesterday, and day 10 is the same as day 8, so looks like I will be doing this twice today!

 

 

 

as well as this:

 

I like the challenge so far! Today will not be easy, but it will all be worth it when I do well in my tri at the end of the month and my half in October!

July Goal Update- Its All About Accountability!

We are just over one week into the month and I wanted to keep myself accountable...


Goals for July:

1. Eat clean all but two cheat meals a week - completed week one with only two cheat meals... VERY proud of myself for that, especially since it was a holiday weekend and a long weekend, it helps that the hubs was out of town, but still a success!

2. Stick to my workout plan - I did good, worked out 5 days last week, missed one workout, but plan to make it up this week, goal is 6 workouts a week, and one rest day each week... well I had to work through lunch one day last week and Sunday I could not get myself off the couch because it was my rest day!

3. Drink at least 80 ounces of water a day- I have been making a point to drink a lot of water, and its helping with my "hunger", I am doing a good job at keeping up with this one, but knew this would be an easy one to stay on track with for me, I like water!

4. NO fried food- Failed this one for week one, my two cheat meals were fast food and both fried... but not going to happen again on week 2, fried food is HORRIBLE for me.. I do not need it!



I am doing relatively well, and I think that's why I was down Monday morning. Eating clean really is the best way to shed unwanted pounds and to feel healthier! I have my tri coming up at the end of the month and need to start swimming and work on my running in the heat.... I doubt it will be cool July 27!


This coming weekend we are headed to the property to get in more work and see the progress from the dozer work we had done, and next weekend I get to meet my baby niece! Booked the tickets yesterday and I CAN NOT WAIT! :)

4th of July Weekend Update

Thursday night I went to Freedom Over Texas with some friends to celebrate the 4th!

Martina McBride performed

 

 

me and the girls... sorry its a bit blurry!

 

Sheryl Crow also performed.... I have never seen her in concert before or heard her live before, not sure if she was having an off night or if she is just a horrible singer without the computer effects, but it was bad... REALLY bad... she had Martina sing one of her songs with her and that made her seem even worse because Martina's voice is AMAZING!



 

 

Then was the fireworks show, it was AWESOME! Probably the biggest display of fireworks I have ever seen! I was really impressed and got a few good pics and a video to send to the hubs so he could have fireworks on the rig!

 

Friday was pretty low key day, got in a workout and did some work from home.... then watched some tv and my friends daughter came over, she turned 18 Wednesday... she is my pet sitter when I am gone and I sometimes tutor her in math too, so we celebrated by me grilling some chicken and cooking sweet potatoes... then she shared this pic with me that she took last weekend, how cute is my baby????

 

 

then we went to Orange Leaf for some fro yo... my only splurge this weekend!

 

 

Saturday I mowed the lawn and got in my workout... then relaxed some and met up with a friend in the Woodlands for Salata.. my favorite place to eat, one of her other friends joined us and they both had never been before, but also loved it!

 

Sunday after church I went and played with the 15/16 month old babies during the late service, they wore me out, so I got in a nap, but woke up in time to see that it was RAINING in Texas... for about 10 minutes, but it did rain, and as you can see my grass needs it badly!!!

 

my girls snuggled with me yesterday afternoon

 

 

So did my little guy... he can be so cute when he tries!

 

 

Back at work today AND my love comes home tomorrow!!! Oh and since I weighed in July 1st (Monday), my weekly weigh ins are moving to Mondays... so glad I was good this weekend, I am down 2lbs! I know a lot of it is prolly water weight from all the eating out, but I will take it, I am no longer at my highest post wedding weight!

 

 

Happy 4th of July!!



Happy Fourth of July everyone! The holidays are a time to be spent with family, but my hubs is out of town for work and I needed a weekend at home after being gone every weekend for over a month... no wonder why my weight is higher than I would like...

 

I am spending this fourth with my fuzzy babies... I love them so much and am happy to have them as my family!

 

A picture of my girls on Monday night after work when I got home, after having not seen them in almost a week!

 

 

I spy an adorable kitten!

 

Max even came and snuggled with me, I can tell they missed me! I did have to get one of his toys to get him up initially.... 

 

but then I think he got comfy...

 

and then he was out! such a cutie!

 

 

the boys kept me up playing a good bit last night and this morning, so I slept in til around 8... then relaxed watching Gilmore Girls on dvd.. LOVE that show!!! Then around 11:30 I decided to get in my Stars and Stripes virtual 5k, so I ran at noon, in Texas, in July... it was hot and really sunny!! So it was slow going, but I ran it... only stopped to walk for a minute half way through it.

 

 

Then I got pictures of all my babies and compiled them for a 4th of July "card" to say hi to everyone on facebook! They are so cute, I am a lucky momma!!

 

 

July has been a good month so far fitness wise... and I have been doing better with my eating too! I am not ready for my tri in a few weeks, but hopefully will be by the time it gets here!

July Goals

I weighed myself this morning... and guess what? After two weeks of a lot of eating out and some drinking, the scale is at a new post wedding all time high... cant say I am surprised..

July is go time...

1. Eat clean all but two cheat meals a week
2. Stick to my workout plan
3. Drink at least 80 ounces of water a day
4. NO fried food


I can do this... the first few pounds should come off easy, I am hoping I have some water weight in there esp with all the sodium from eating out... I made MOSTLY healthy decisions while eating out, but still lots of salt!

There are no excuses for June, it was bad in the end there, but July will be that good. Tri at the end of the month should be motivation enough... would love to do it 10lbs lighter!

Today I will eat clean and go to the gym at lunch. Today is a weights day!

Pensacola/Nola Weekend Update and July Goals

I had a whirlwind of a weekend... and I am exhausted and running on fumes at work today...

Thursday I worked late, went to the gym and did a full body circuit workout, courtesy of EFITMAMA on IG, if you aren't following her yet, you should be!! Then got a text that my 9:55 flight was delayed til 11:40! So I left the gym and met a few friends who had gone to happy hour... wait you don't leave a good workout to go drink a few vodka tonics?? Then I headed off to the airport, I wanted to be there in time for my flight in case they moved it up, they didn't, but you never know... so Thursday I got to bed around 2am, and Friday morning woke up at 7am to head to Slidell to have breakfast with my aunt and then meet up with my friends from BR to head to the beach. If you don't follow me on IG my sis and I made some funny videos... you should check them out: lsusweetiepie84 is my account!

Friday around lunch we arrived, checked in and hit the beach immediately!

 

 

my sis and I

 

That night was pretty low key and relaxing, we went to Rotollos for dinner and had pizza (dinner of choice in a bikini right? ) and headed to Walmart for drinks and snacks for the rest of the weekend... and Saturday morning we got up and headed right back to the beach again...

 

group water pic! 

 

 

beer thirty... all day drinking is allowed, even encouraged at the beach!

 

 

 

 

the water

 

 

 

beach pic

It started to rain around 1030, so we went in for a bit, and I hit the hotel gym and got in an incredible full body circuit workout for an hour and then the sun came back out and we were back on the beach around noon! That night we decided to go out and celebrate because Tara's birthday was Sunday!

me and the birthday girl!

 

 

 

our group before going out:

 

 

sisters!!!

 

our drinks at dinner... mine was the only one without over 1,000 cals in it... I have a really HARD time justifying liquid calories... so I stick to Corona Light and vodka tonic/soda

 

 

now fried calories??? GAME ON!!!! I did at least split the grilled shrimp entrée with a side salad with my sister, so that totally balanced out the onion rings!

 

 

 they had a 980lb blue marlin (biggest fish caught in Florida) - mine from the honeymoon was only 625lb, but still, pretty cool!

 

 

 

dancing at one of the bars...

 

 

 

Sunday morning on the beach, for about 30 min before the bad weather came and we packed up and headed back to Nola...

 

 

 

 

Sunday night in Nola all the cousins and family got together for dinner to celebrate two of my cousins birthdays (one Thurs and one Sat)- every cousin but my brother!

 

 

my mom came down for it too....

 

 

 

all the cousins and mawmaw!

 

 

me and my mawmaw, I love this woman LOTS... shes not doing great, but was able to take off her oxygen for pics, she is one of the best women I know... I miss her lots when I am away, but thankful I can visit her as often as I do being 6/so hours away!

 

 

 

Got up at 4am this morning to make my flight back home... and now I am going to struggle through the day til I can go home and see my fuzzy babies and CRASH in bed early (hopefully)...

 

For the 4th, I am staying home... I have been gone every weekend for over a month and need rest! I am looking forward to it more than I can express....

 

 

July is a new month and I have new goals-

 

eat cleaner

workout at least 5 times a week! - my tri is the end of this month!!!