Bloomsday in the books

Well I did it.  I walked in Bloomsday 2013.  I finished at 2:39:22.  My first one and many more to come.  My bestie Sirena walked with me.  Had a fabulous time.  Beautiful weather.  Thousands of people.   Walking in a 5k on May 11 here in Hermiston.  Have two more next month.  Then it will be just local walking until this fall.  I have decided to do a half marathon that is local instead of going all the way to Vancouver, WA.  Little bit easier on my body.  I have to thank my daughter Nicole for getting my addicted to doing 5, 8, 12ks and halfs.  I have lost a lot of weight and inches.  My health is getting better.  I'm not as stressed, more relaxed, sleeping better. 

 

 

Good evening everyone.  Had a good day today.  Did the first 5k of the year for me.  It was a Fun with Color in Walla Walla, WA.  Had a good time.  Didn't get much color because of the blowing wind.  Which in this area, if we get a drop of rain, the wind will blow for three days.  20 to 30 mph is considered a breeze and we don't bat an eyelash at ever 50 to 70mph.  We just say welcome to springtime in Eastern Oregon.  Today I walked with my friend Sirena's husband Jim.  This was his first 5k.  He did very well.  This was not a timed event.  Just a fun run.  Which is a good way to get started.  I got a couple of pictures, before the race and after.  This is my way of gearing up for my 2nd half marathon in Oct.   Bloomsday is two weeks away.  Butte Challenge is 3 weeks.  Have a couple more in June and just training until Oct.  If any come between July to Sept, I will be at them.  As long as they are fairly local.  I will post pictures for the ones I do until then. 

OMG!  I didn't realize it had been almost a month since I was last on here.  Well let me catch you up.  Walking is going great.  Between 3 and 6 miles daily.  Bloomsday and Half Marathon here I come.  I decided to post a couple of pictures of me to show my weight loss.  The first picture is of me in Oct 2010 at around 270/275lbs.  It was taken at Hermiston's Wine and Cheese.  Never thought I would get that heavy again.   Did that once before.  Was not good for me.  Well I guess I didn't learn the first time and let the weight creep back up.  So I decided I needed to loose it and keep it off.  It's been a long challenge.  I'm down 40lbs so far.  Another 36 to go to get under 200.  I'm walking more.  I feel better and I have been going to the gym a couple days a week just to do my arms.  Which I can thank my grandmother for.  Thanks Gramma.  I know you are looking down on me and laughing and saying there is nothing you can do about it.  :)   The second picture is of me at my first half marathon On Oct. 2012.  I was down to 240/245lbs.  I will be doing that half marathon again in Oct and hopefully will have another picture of a smaller me.  To date I am at 235lbs.  Just had a bunch of blood work done for routine check ups and all my levels are in the acceptable range.  My doctor loves how I am doing this weight loss.  I'm doing it slowly and healthy.  No unhealthy fad diets.  Just portion control, exercise and  cutting back.  I give myself free days so I don't get discouraged.  Plus as I have said before I am back to my belly dancing.  What a fun group of ladies who don't care what size you are, how well you move or what your age is.  We have class on Friday nights and it is 2 hours of fun, laughing, dancing and just being girls.

 

Here are the two pictures.  Yes there is a big change in two years.  And it is a good change.

Well it's been a while since I last posted.  Let me catch you up.  First I have been training for Bloomsday.  Enjoying my morning walks.  Also I started my new job.  I started March 4 with Alberici Constructors.  They are doing some work at one of the seed plants here in Hermiston.  So far I am enjoying it.    Took a couple of weeks off from walking because of training for the new job and getting use to getting up early again.  Well I'm back on track with the walking.  I think I posted before, then again maybe not, that I started dancing again.  I am belly dancing again.  I did this when my daughter was in high school and enjoyed it.  Got out of it when Nicole graduated and move away from home.  Well I decided to get back to doing it again.  It is very therapeutic.   Christine, instructor, is awesome.  She makes the class fun and there is also a great bunch of gals that I dance with.  It is another stress reliever and another form of exercise.  Believe me you will use muscles you didn't even know you had. 

Well I need to go and get in the shower.  I did my three miles tonight.  Our weather the last few days have been in the high 60's.  Spring is here.  In two months I will be walking in Bloomsday and the Butte Challenge.  All this is preparing me for my 2nd half marathon in Oct. 

So until next time, I want to wish everyone a Happy Spring and Happy Easter.

Beautiful Sunny Sunday Morning.

Good Morning/Afternoon.  Started my Bloomsday Doomsday Hill training.  We have a hill down by the Columbia River that is the length and grade of Pettit Drive in Spokane.  So I'm using it as my training.  Today was the first time I walked up it.  I was very proud of myself, I only had to stop twice to get my breath and when I got to the top I actually felt good, not exhausted.  Down and up was just over a mile and it took me 30 minutes to do.  It I had tried it last year, there would of been no way in hell I could of gotten up it.  So my walking and exercising is starting to really pay off.   So when I do the K-9 Canter 5k in Pullman in April I will be able to finish it. 

After I did the hill, I drove back into town and went down to the walking park and did two miles there.  The weather when I started at the hill was in the mid 30s and when I got to the park it was in the high 40s.  Just beautiful sun shine,  gorgeous views of the Columbia, can't ask for a better day. 

On another note, I have taken up a new hobby.  I have started knitting.  Not real good, just beginning.  Plus I have gone back to belly dancing.   I did this a few years ago when my daughter Nicole was dancing and really enjoyed it.  Then I got out of it for a few and just started back up.  I forgot how much fun it is and how good it feels to move your body with out restrictions.  It's very relaxing and it's great for your health.    You don't realize how much you use your muscles and how you move. 

Well I'm signing off for now.  Have a great day. 

Wow it's been a few days since I last posted.  Well I hadn't alot to post.  My job hunting is going.  I have had a few interviews.  Hoping to find a job soon.  I've been walking to help keep my spirits up.  Went down to the park today with my friend Jessica.  Had a nice walk.  Walking by the river is very therapeutic for the soul.   And walking with a good friend helps also.     Next weekend my friend Dena will be here so lots of fun with good friends and some retail therapy next Saturday with my friend Sirena.  So all is good.  

Beautiful sunny Sunday afternoon.  Woke up this morning to slightly foggy conditions that switfly change to sunny skies.  Went out for my walk this morning and did 5.17 miles.  For the first time in a while, I didn't have to bundle up to go and walk.  In fact I could actually take my jacket off for a few until the cool breeze came up.  Lots o people down at the park with dogs, kids, bikes and strollers.  With the temps in the low to mid 40's, it was a perfect morning/afternoon to be out of the house blowing the stink off.  Came home to doors open and airing out of the house.  Can't wait for spring so I can start planting my flowers and a new tree.   Hoping for the sun to last all week.   Have a good, lazy Sunday afternoon everyone.

Good early afternoon from Sunny Hermiston.  After two weeks of dreary, foggy and cold, we finally have some sun.  So I decided to take advantage of it and went to the gym.  Granted I still have a cold and congested chest, I did at least a 30 minute work out.  And I'm feeling much better.  I think the workout and the sunshine have been a much needed kick in the butt.   I also weighed myself, down 2 more pounds for a total of 5 pounds.  35 more to go.  So I will not weigh myself again until the end of next month.

Now I need to bump up my workout and get to training hard core for Bloomsday in May.  Doomsday hill is going to be my biggest challenge in this.  8 miles will be the easy part.  I walk that on the weekends without even thinking about it. 

First off I want to thank  my "daughter" Emily Souza Bladock for getting me starting on this.  I never thought I would have a blog, and now I do.

I named my blog Weight Loss for a reason.  In Oct. 2010 I was in denial about my weight.  I was almost 300 pounds (not the first time, definitely the last) and not happy with myself.  Had no motivation or goal.  I just knew something needed to be done.

Well in March 2011, I started a weight loss challenge with myself.  My goal was to loose 30 pound by June 2011.  The first thing I did was give up all soft drinks.  I was a big Pepsi drinker.  The last time I gave up Pepsi, I had some serious withdrawals.  This time I didn't.  So I knew I was ready to give it up.  My second step was to start a journal of what I ate.  Instead of going on a fad diet, I just kept track of my calories, cut back on portions and gave myself 2 free days. And I started exercising.  I lost the 30 pound by June and was pretty proud of myself.  Then disaster hit......

In June 2011, my dad had to go in for emergency diverticulitis surgery.  He was in the hospital for about 2 weeks.  Well that threw a wrench into my routine.  Eating right and exercise went out the window, my mom needed me and well I needed food.  Yes food is my security blanket.  The only good thing was I didn't go back to drinking soft drinks.  I stayed with my water and iced tea.   My dad was released and now the healing began.  Still no time for exercising.     Then in August he was back in the hospital for more surgery.  After that I got back into my routine.  That lasted until Dec. 2011 when my father in law had to have quadruple bypass surgery and was in the hospital for a lengthy time.  Again all good eating habits and exercise went out the door. 

In April 2012, while my daughter Nicole was attending WSU, GO COUGSSS!!!, she had me do a 5k walk for her Vet. group.  Needless to say, being out of shape, asthma, the Palouse hills and me didn't mix.  I could only do half of the 5k.  Well I decided I needed to get in shape.  I did another 5k in May and finished in 1:00:10.  Pretty good for someone who couldn't finish one a month before.  Granted the second one was mostly on flat land.  I competed a few more and did a half marathon in Oct. 2012.  Finished that in 4:19:00.  Walked all 13.1 miles. 

In all of the disaster I only gained back 10 pounds.  Which my doctor said not to beat my self up for because I didn't gain the whole 30 I had lost. 

As the new year began, I was out walking in the 5k Resolution Run that the Hermiston Cross Country put on.  I've been out most mornings doing my 3 miles.  Except this past week, I was side lined by the flu.  I'm on the mend and I will be out there tomorrow morning.

So my purpose of writing this blog is to help me keep on track for my weight loss.  My goals are walking in Bloomsday and doing another Half marathon and all of the area 5k's.   I gladly accepted any advice on walking and what gear you find that helps, plus all the inspiration you can give.  If you know of any 5k's in the Hermiston area. 

Thanks, Dana