Hiking and my love, hate relationship

Like any form of exercise sometimes I just have a battle. Its mind versus body! The battle of oh if I get up now and just do it, I'll be done. It will be over.
Yesterday I signed up to go hiking with a group and was contemplating up until the very last minute on whether or not to actually go. I keeping think well if you go to the gym ah you only have to be there for like an hour. Then my brain is like but its so nice outside. Then I thought oh you love to hike... its the best feeling of accomplishment. (You know there is nothing like climbing over these hills, up & down and all around then looking across the canyon and seeing where you had once been)
Am I totally strange or what. It seems like everything inside me constantly battles over what or what not to do.
DOES others feel like this?.... UGH!
~ So I ended up going hiking. I at the last minute told myself to quit acting lazy and get my butt ready and go. I dragged my husband along. He wasn't reluctant or anything but he said I told him he didn't have to the night before. Hhahah I think I was watching tv when he asked.
Anyway I didn't think I would be gone too long. I knew I could choose to do 4 miles or sometimes they tacked on an extra loop which added about 2.5 more miles so a total of about 6 1/2 miles. Normally no longer then 2 1/2 hours.
So you know what I put in my pack.... AN APPLE! Thats it. I thought I would be good.
~ At the cut off people where waiting for me. I was the caboose and thank heavens for a supportive husband he stayed back with me the time. When I know he could have walked so much faster. His legs have gotten so strong since we started exercising regularly. Well he's always been strong but now he's getting in really good shape!!!
Anyway I felt good. I was actually feeling those "endorphins" they talk about which push you on. SO when asked if I wanted to do the extra 2 miles I said sure.

WELL collective group who continued on decided oh lets go this way... I wasn't up by them when they decided this little maneuver, when I got up there they said we're going to take off on this path... its new to us.
Ok so when I noticed the name of this trail I was like hmmm honey this trail is one we usually take from the otherside of the park. We hike from another entrance of this same park and I recognized the name. I was thinking omg we're going to hike over to almost the other side of the park. I didn't think that though until we were about 1/2 way there.
Sorry to make a long story sort of shorter we ended up adding 4.5 miles to this hike. My total hike was just about 8 1/2 miles for the day. It took just about 4 hours.

Needless to say I was starving. My apple was not as satisfying as a sandwich or other food could have been. Thank goodness I have some other emergency items in my pack. I ate this jelly, type energy thing I got from a 10k I did. I had to I needed some energy.
I was running out of water... I was struggling. I started to get cramps in my legs in the weirdest muscles. It was a very exhausting hike for me.
I wanted to quit. But you know what you can't... the thing about being on a hike which is sometimes good or bad. Your out on a trail you can't just get off a machine or in 10 minutes oh the class will be over and you can just leave now.

I feel like I over came an obstacle yesterday afternoon. the questioning I have about myself. As to what I can accomplish... about what my body can actually do.

NOW I do think though next time I am bringing more snacks and definitely more WATER!!!

OH and I say bring on the 1/2 marathon I am READY! I am going to get a better time then my last. I don't know excatly how much slogging (slow jogging) I will get done in the 13.2 miles, but I do know I can do better then last time!

I didn't make it...

So my goal of logging in and posting something every day, well just didn't work out. OH WELL! I can try again next month right!

As long as I don't give up on my WL goal is what matters. My migraines have been come and go so that wasn't the problem.
Guess I just didn't know what to log in and write about.

Lets recap what's happened since last week.
Over the weekend I went to Reno w/friends. It wasn't a planned trip and it actually happened while talking at dinner Friday night. Vegas came up in the conversation and all of sudden it turned into...
Lets go to Reno right now. It was fine and a good idea since I was going to have to be home alone all weekend. Steve was driving his dad to AZ. So I was happy to take my mind off Steve not being home.
So Mat & Laura, Norman & Lisa and me piled into his SUV & took off.

Monday I went to the gym...yea not so newsworthy but in fact it kind is. I haven't been in like 2-3 weeks. So well it was a big feat to get me back in the gym. Then its started the keep on going chain reaction.

I also went on Wednesday with Jen. We even stayed working out for an hour and a half. I don't know what got into me. Um maybe the fact I want to kick start losing weight again. I have sort of been stalled the last 2 months. Partly because I went to Jamaica and that threw me all off track and there isn't anything harder then trying to get back the motivation. (I think you have to have weight issues to really relate)

Thanksgiving which was yesterday was nice. I slept in a little and woke up with no headache in sight. I decide to head the gym since I found out they were open till 2pm. I also thought if I go to the gym I will not feel bad having some bread & butter with my dinner. I was surprise to find so many at the gym. I guess others had the same idea :)
For dinner Steve and I went to Black Angus - they had a Thanksgiving special. Now don't feel sad for me because this was the best scenario ever... I didn't have to cook & have all kinds of left overs. As much as I love being around family there is nothing as tempting in the world then just stuffing yourself all day on food. (Again I think you have to have weight issues to understand) I know for most people it would be like "well just stop eating" but yea it doesn't always work for me. & especially when I am around all my family. Last year during the holidays I had to put my foot down more then once.
* Partly because I have struggled with my weight my entire life and I know Steve's family has seen me @ 230 pounds before only to gain it all back. They have seen me at my highest weight of 325 too. So to them its the holidays and its ok "for 1 day, why not" Its hard to explain that 1-2 days can turn into weeks for me.
Last year I was very focused too. This year it was soooo nice to not have any pressures.
Steve and I also went to the movies last night...its a family tradition to us. Has been the last 11 years. We seen Four Christmases. I don't think it was that great. Guess because I was expecting something a little different.

Which brings me to this morning!!! Well I am off to go hiking :)

So dang it I missed a day!

Somehow being out all day & coming home last night I didn't post anything.

So yesterday I woke up @ 9:30 was out of the house in 15 minutes so I could drive to do Air Aerobics. I had to be there by 10 am I usually leave a little earlier but I was just tired. Got done by 11 am and drove home.
@ noon I headed over the Hellyer Park for a Sagway picnic. My father in-law was having a lot of his Sagway friends to the park and riding on the trail there. The weather here in CA is still really nice.
At about 4 we left the park. Came home & left again. I finally got my old big clothes out of my hallway. I had 6 huge bags full of clothes....
NOW I CAN NEVER GAIN THAT 90 pounds again...I have no clothes. (It was kind of weird I even held onto them this long)
About 5:30pm we got over to Dad's house. They realized that there was an unfinished project outside that could be done if we went to Home Depot. So headed there and picked some lava rock up....Yea its a landscaping project.
Got home about 6:30 and Steve + Jim through the rock around the tree.

Afterwards we went out for dinner it was about 7:00 maybe? We then ate and came back to Dad's.
We left Dads and got home around 8:30 but I was so tired I went to lay down. Didn't get back up till like 11:30 & just didn't think to post anything.

So LONG story short I wasn't home really yesterday ....
No post, Sorry

Going camping! So dang it I canceled a horseback riding for today with about 10 people because I thought it was going to rain. Um the sun is out shinning. How horrible I so wanted to go horseback riding too.
So Steve and I are just going to leave early for our trip. I don't think I am going to be able to post until Tuesday. Its not that I am trying to get out of my responsibility of posting 30 times in 30 days. Although I have more then 1 post on a few days so that should count towards something.
I love taking the camper & going to the woods. Yep I am funny. But seriously last time Steve and I went it wasn't all bad. I totally learned how to put the trailer up & put it away. I felt like I was in the KNOW.
Anyway I chose a place 2 hours away on the coast. Hope its good. The last 2 times I made reservations they all turned out pretty good. So I am not too worried.

Just wanted to tell you where I took off to if you were all wondering why I'm not posting. Maybe there will be internet service. Hahhaha Usually there is not! Of course.

Hard day @ the office

Yep this is what I wanted to do a few times today. Frustrating! My job, can be so frustrating at times. I schedule jobs to be done for customers. I want them to get done for customers. I like to have good customer service. I like being there for both the crew & the customer. I don't like it when there is this total disconnect between the system. I don't want to be the missing link I want to be a fluid system. Maybe thats my problem I care too much. I always have. When I worked as cashier taking payments I stressed when we had long lines and I tried to speed up and go faster because I myself waiting in line would want a cashier to do that. I always try to put myself in the customers shoes. I think sometimes people in the business I work in think they've been there for sooooo long that it doesn't matter they have a job, they can do whatever.



So I've had a hard day. Stressful I feel like pulling my hair out at some of the responses I've heard from the people I with today. But its all part of the job. Don't get me wrong not all jobs are peachy every day. Can't complain. It pays the bills plus some...

Going on vacation soon, only have 1 day left of work then I have 9 days work free!!!! Get to go see my Lil' Sis and the beautiful city of Seattle which it shouldn't be raining now. hehehehe :D
I am then going down southern CA to visit some WOW friends. My sis and I have some plans. Well I have want to get my nails done. Pedis & manis! I want to go to this restaurant I seen on food network. On Diners, Drive-ins & Dives.
So the place I want to go is Voula's Offshore Cafe
www.voulasoffshore.com

I also want to check out Bainbridge island you have to take a ferry across to get there. I have tried to go there twice now. This time I am going to make it. REALLY!

Been awhile...

Since its been like a week I have a lot to talk about. First I spent the day at a convention for Homeowner Associations. I know weird huh? I am on the board here @ the townhouse Steve and I live in. There are so many interesting things you can learn by going to those meetings. I just learned all these new laws and about amendments just passed previous on laws. Its crazy about all this stuff you need to know or should know being on a HOA board. Wow the insurance needs to be covered for lawsuits alone is just nuts!!! At 1st I was upset I wasted a Saturday to go this convention but I guess it was a good idea for us to go. I mean having as many board members certified is in the best interest for the HOA as whole. If I wasn't on the board and just lived here I would think it was a wise way for my dues to be spent. Knowing that my HOA members were update on what was going on with CA law.


Anyway work is going pretty great! I am totally loving my job. I love most the people I work with...or for I guess I would say. I schedule the gas & electric crews. I think I said that before. The small 2 man crews only. Its fun in a challenging aspect because I feel like I am needed and people value me. Its nice to be busy but not tied to a cash register in front of customers...does that make sense...I am busy in such a different way!

I am going to go visit my sister in 1 week. I am so excited. I am going to see her from Sunday - Friday so June 29/July 4 then fly to Burbank and stay down there for 4th of July weekend and drive home on the 6th. Steve will probably drive down on the 3rd to visit Bryan and Chandra earlier. We haven't seen them in so long. I think almost a year. I think their going to freak when they see me. Well with me losing so much weight.


That reminds me the lady at the Mongolian BBQ restaurant said " Oh my what happened to you" - refering to my weight loss. Its rather nice to have soooo many people noticing all the time now. It kind of makes me blush.

I know I need to post some need pictures. I will I will I need to get some taken when I am up visiting my sister.


OH in other news my walk is super close only 21 days away now...
If you feel like you would like to make a donation to my walk since I am still a little short on my fundraising!
Please Click on the link below to make a donation. No donation is too small!!!


My Avon Walk For Breast Cancer

Down another 2lbs

So when I went to WI yesterday I was down another 2 pounds. I could hardly believe it. It was kind of unexpected. Because I kind of ate a lot before Bay to Breakers and dinner after our walk wasn't exactly what I would say my healthiest meal of the year either. But I am still so HAPPY! The thing I don't get is how come my friends...ok can't say all my friends just one in particular can't just be happy for me too. Why must she be sooooo negative or pessimistic. This is the 4th time so 4th week I have lost and she has said to me, " Now at some point your body is going to slow down and stop losing, you need to start preparing yourself for that."

Um Ok fine great. But you know what I am so sick of hearing you say that. I am getting tired of reporting my success back to her because I am growing tired of her attitude towards my weight loss process.

Right now I am happy, I am upbeat, I am so joyful, grateful for all I have been able to accomplish. I have had so much support from so many people. My husband & my friends. My meeting leader and also the meeting attendees. This process I grow from daily and I just don't think I have time for that negative attitude anymore. I think I will just stop telling her what I am doing with my life unless she asks and even then I am going to be cautious because I don't want a downer. I do understand that its reality....I get that but I am not there yet so why do I have to get all "oh whoa as me I am stalling out" when I haven't even come to that point. Ok yea I am rambling. Not blogging.

Steve and I are also off to Dallas for Memorial Day. I am excited because we're going to go see family. My "favorite" Aunt hehehhe. When I 1st married Steve she told me that it was ok for me to call her that. ahhahaha! She is bubbly, happy, loud and tells you like it is, kind of like me...maybe thats why I love her so much.

We're going there to see the family and also go to the Temple to do some work for my ancestors...FINALLY! Yep its time. I have my stepdad to do work for. Also my great grandpa & grandma. Great-great Grandma & Grandpa & all of their children. So I am soooo excited.

Have a Great Memorial Day!

Bay to Breakers...

I'M BACK.....
So I just noticed I didn't post before I left for San Francisco and Bay to Breakers.
I did the race Sunday morning. Its a 12k the weaves through downtown to the Bay. Its a huge party people wear costumes or lack there of.
I counted a total 26 naked men & 2 naked women. My husband said you counted and I'm like yeah, what else do I have better to do for 7.5 miles.

So not only did Laura & I walk 7 1/2 miles yesterday. We walked 1 1/4 miles to the start line from our hotel. Yea for some reason we didn't think it was quite that far but that really wouldn't not be that big of deal.
But what was a big deal was the part after the race....you have to walk about a mile to this concert area in Golden Gate park where they have bands and your "free" participant tee-shirt that said you accomplished this race/walk.

Oh we finished in 2 hours 31 minutes I was 18,791 person. Which doesn't sound that great. But really I seen others who I thought wow how did I finish before them. Apparently not too many people take this walk/run very seriously.
I am not exactly sure how many people came but the starting area was packed.
My goal was 2 hours 15 minutes. But at one point we met up with some of our ww friends who walked slower then us. We never should have stayed them as long as we did. But then again I never told my Laura of my personal goal for the race.
I am doing it next year my goal will be to run after the 11% grade hill so after 3rd mile. She said she is in for jogging after that point too. But well see. She might have to be just cheering me on because for all she knows she'll be pregnant then.

Oh well also be in better costumes too. This year we kind of had a theme. But not really a costume per say. All those walked wore shirts with writing on the back that said " Results Not Typical" & I put a big WW on the bottom of the shirt. Because thats where we all met! Some people came up to our friends and said oh what weight watchers do you belong to. They new what it met. So see we got our point across. I guess I could have put something like Loset 75lbs so far or whatever with our weights but I don't know if anyone else who have wanted to share that like I do.

Oh must tell this....
After we met up with my friends Norman & Lisa who came to watch us come in @ the finish line...how supportive huh? They took a picture of me & laura running in. Oh yeah once we realized that the bay was the end we started to run. hehehehe I was so happy Laura was up for it. I was like come on this is the end lets run...well jog I can't really RUN.
Ok well anyway back to the other part...so we have this public transportion that is suppose to take us back to the beginning of the race or drop us off at 3 other connecting public transit stations. Well OH MY that was the worst possible mode of travel EVER! We stood in the ridiculous line for like 40 some minutes only to get onto a bus to STAND for another HOUR.....YES an HOUR bus ride back to the other side of town. So after walking 10 miles that morning I stood in like for 40 minutes and then on a jerky stop and go bus for 1 HOUR. My legs were officially JELLO when we got off the bus. I turned to Laura and said no more I can't walk anymore. Taxi cab! I said ok I will walk across the street but thats it :(
So anyway thats my Bay to Breakers story. Its crazy and no animals were harmed in this production.

Ok so in other news...

Today was my last day in customer service @ the local office for PG&E. Yep I am moving to my other job now. Not exactly sure what I will be doing just yet. I know it will be kind of Office Clerk type position but I will post something once I find out. I report Monday @ 7am. Yep early hours now. Teachers hours. 7-3:30 I can get off work be home & the go workout before Steve even gets home. Crazy huh!

Work was great today. Being my last day and all, it was a breeze. TGIF!

I plan on doing my jump aerobics this weekend and also going to the Temple.
I also have lunch plans for Sunday after church.
I plan on watching the game of course Sunday evening.