Small update to the bucket list

I thought of something I wanted to add to my bucket list.  And after yesterday, I can cross off a couple more things!


Run a 5K in under 30 minutes
Run a 10K
Run a 10K in under 70 minutes
Run a half marathon
Run a marathon
Run a Tough Mudder
Chest press 125 pounds (barbell)
Dead lift 225 pounds (barbell)
Run a race with Jenna
Beat Jason in a 5K
Do 20 pushups without stopping
Do 1 real pull up
Run a 5K
Run 10+ miles
Complete all 3 levels of the 30 Day Shred without stopping (new)

My fitness "bucket list"

A few weeks, ago, I ran 11 miles.  It was the first time I had run in double digits.  Since then, I've been thinking about other goals I want to achieve.  I decided I needed a fitness "bucket list"...things that I want to do sometime in this lifetime.  I figure this will be an evolving and changing list too...I hope so!  I've got a lot of living yet to do and this is just a start.  Some of these will be relatively easy, and some will take a few years, at least, to do.  So here goes!

Run a 5K in under 30 minutes
Run a 10K
Run a 10K in under 70 minutes
Run a half marathon
Run a marathon
Run a Tough Mudder
Chest press 125 pounds (barbell)
Dead lift 225 pounds (barbell)
Run a race with Jenna
Beat Jason in a 5K
Do 20 pushups without stopping
Do 1 real pull up
Run a 5K
Run 10+ miles

Thought I'd add the last two because they were goals I already had achieved.  A couple of those (marathon, Tough Mudder) scare me, but I have a feeling I can work up to them.

Health and fitness goals for 2013

Since my last post was about my 2012 accomplishments, it seems only right that I also post about my goals for 2013.  I've decided against resolutions...never kept them anyway.  Goals give me something to work towards and are much more positive.  So with an explanation why these are goals, here goes!

1.  Run 12 races.  I ran 9 races in 2012, so I'm sure I can fit 3 more in.  Actually, it will be a little more difficult because I am now working every other weekend, but that just makes it a little more challenging.  I'm already signed up for 3 races in January and February so I'm off to a good start.

2.  Run 600 miles.  I gave a lot of thought to this one.  One of my friends on Facebook posted her total for the year.  Once I stopped to think about it, it was astounding...over 1400 miles!  Not sure if I could even get over 1000.  But I know, if I push myself, I can get to 600.  That's between 11-12 miles a week, so it will be tough for me.  But I'm going to try.

3.  Get under 30% body fat.  When I started at the gym, I was at 40%.  I got down to 34.6% this year, so this is definitely achievable.  But it's still going to require some dedication and hard work on my part.

4.  Get my BMI under 30.  This should be my easiest goal, since my BMI is at 31.1 right now.  I think I have to lose about 8 pounds to get under 30.  But it's significant because I will FINALLY be out of the obese BMI category.  I'll "just" be overweight.  That's a big milestone for sure.

5.  And the last one is to get to my goal weight.  I have just about 25 pounds to get there.  Losing half a pound a week will get me there.  Definitely achievable.  And MAJOR.  Exciting that it's within my grasp!

My top 10 accomplishments for 2012!

I saw a post on MyFitnessPal with people listing their top 10 accomplishments of the past year.  I love that idea so I had to do it too!  So in random order, here's mine.

1)  Lost 32 pounds and 5% body fat
2)  Was able to stop taking medication for high blood pressure
3)  Ran my first 5K in February, and then ran 7 more throughout the year
4)  Ran the Warrior Dash, didn't stop once and completed ALL the obstacles!
5)  Had blood work done in March and my cholesterol was under 200 for the first time since I've had it first checked, well over 10 years ago
6)  Was able to leg press 500 pounds, 3 times in a row!
7)  Had my longest run yet at 7.6 miles
8)  Now wearing size 10/12 pants and medium/large tops (after starting at 22/24 and XXL)
9)  Felt good about putting my picture on our Christmas card this year.  First time EVER!
10)  Reached 100 pounds lost

The closer I get to my goal weight, the harder this gets.  So this is a GREAT reminder of what I've accomplished this year.

Now on to 2013!

More progression pictures

Again, the scale is stuck.  Hasn't moved down in almost 2 months.  So I thought I'd go back to my tried and true way of seeing progress...pictures!

This first picture is from about 4 months/10 pounds ago.

This next picture is today.  Quite a difference, I think! (excuse the mess I am...just home from the gym)

Not bad for a 10 pound change!

100 pounds down, in pictures

Today was a BIG day.  I got to the 100 pound mark.  Exactly.  188.4.  Still have some weight to lose, some goals to accomplish, but what a milestone this was.  And I thought I'd post some pictures, mostly to remind myself of how far I've come, and how I don't EVER want to go back.

This first one is January, 2010.  Yes, Jenna is completely adorable.  Me, not so much.

This next one is probably May, 2010.  Helping Jenna at the petting zoo.  Again, not good.

This next one might be the worst picture EVER taken of me.  To me, it's rock bottom.  I hate posting it, but then again, I need to remember how rock bottom looked.  June 2010, right before I started this weight loss journey.

Fast forward about 6 months.  I had lost about 35 pounds, but then we moved and I started a new job.  I think I gained almost all of that 35 pounds back.  This is December, 2010.

In June 2011, I started using MyFitnessPal.com.  That website has been instrumental for me, in being accountable with logging my food and exercise to helping me see exactly how many calories I was eating.  When I started there, I weighed 268 pounds.

November 2011, I was having quite a bit of success with my better eating and exercising.  This next picture, I was around 220 or 225 pounds.

Kept it up, and by February (this picture is from my birthday), I was probably around 210 pounds.

July 2012.  I had finally made it under 200 pounds.

And then this picture is from today.  188.4.  100 pounds lost.

So there's my weight loss journey, in pictures.  So far.  I know there's more to come!

More progression pictures

Just curious to see the differences in workout gear from January of this year until now.

January 2012

July 2012

Not bad.  I'll take it.  :)