Slow & Steady Wins the Race

Well, we didn't technically win (I think we were actually last), BUT my beautiful sister in law & I FINISHED our first 5k together! She has a few races under her belt (including a 10k!), but I'm a race novice. Neither of us were prepared to run the whole thing. So we didn't. We DID run at the very beginning AND at the very end, so we ran the parts that count. ;o)

The most important takeaway from the entire event is that we finished. We DID IT. We didn't stop. Not even once.

I should have prefaced this all by saying that it was 100 degrees outside.

That's not factoring in the heat index - that was the AIR temperature.

Do you see why our feat of finishing was so important and awesome?

Our mother & father in law and husbands were all there to cheer us on. Since the race wove through my neighborhood, they all hopped in the car once we left the parking lot and stood at the corner down from my house waiting to see us walk by! In fact, several people were sitting on their driveways and stoops to cheer the participants on - it was great!

Did I mention that it was 100 degrees?!

We have a game plan for the next race - there's one coming up in October that actually goes through our neighborhood (and down our street!) - and we plan on running that one. It is VERY hard to train when it's so incredibly hot and humid outside, so hopefully when it starts to cool down at the end of August/September, we can start truly training.

The best part aside from finishing? The tshirt that came with our registration! It's a 'technical' shirt and is made out of that moisture wicking material which is FANTASTIC. I'm actually wearing it in the picture. I changed out of my plain cotton shirt into that and it was wonderful.

Addicted

Something has been weighing on my mind as of late...actually, it's been on my mind for a very long time.

I'm addicted to artificial sweeteners.

I'm not addicted to sugar any longer, because I've gradually replaced it with "sugar-free" (ie. lower calorie) substitutes.

I've read so many articles on how aspartame is basically formaldehyde, so we're being preserved from the inside out...which isn't a good thing. There's still controversy on Splenda and I've always stayed away from NutraSweet. My mom has issues with aspartame giving her headaches (same with a co-worker of mine) and while I haven't had the same issue, I have noticed when I consume large amounts (ie. in gum, diet soda, etc):

-I feel tired
-I often get very moody
-I crave more!
-I feel hungry

This is in line with what Jen talked about on her blog, Living A Changed Life. She has some of the same reactions to it! I'm sure so many other people too, they just don't put two and two together and acknowledge the signs.

That being said, I'm taking the gum packet out of my purse - I may pick up one with regular sugar in it, until they start fully marketing the brands that are made with stevia/truvia/natural sweeteners, BUT I won't go through it like my other packs.

I have to kick this habit.

I kicked bad food and food binges to the curb, I know I can do it with this!

Do you have any issues with artificial sweeteners or know anyone who does?

Long Road

It's been a long and winding road, but I'm 16 lbs from my goal weight (or what I THINK is my goal...I haven't set anything in stone yet). Most of the time I don't believe it and I still get taken aback when people compliment me. But I'm getting there. I'm realizing that no, they're not kidding and yes, I really have lost almost 110 lbs. I'm starting to notice my confidence increasing. I've also been shifting my focus from the scale to the real reasons of why I wanted to lose weight in the first place.

-I wanted to be able to walk & run without feeling like I was dying.
-I wanted to increase my fitness capabilities and horizons.
-I wanted to set a good example for friends & family and let them know that it can be done.
-I wanted to let the real me shine through without anything getting in the way.

Now that I'm on the verge of accomplishing this huge task...I know I need to set other goals.

-I will be signing up for several 5k's before the end of the year. When the temp cools down (from the 100's), maybe I'll even start training for a 10k.
-I love photography and would like to expand my portfolio.
-I want to dabble more in painting and DEFINITELY get back into drawing. I'd even like to create some work to sell!