Ahhhh... The Weekend!

I've been MIA this week because all things seemed to be going against me. Though I will say, it could be worse. :)

On Friday I picked my car up from the dealer and it was supposedly fixed. I wasn't really happy with the answer, but figured at the least they've managed to fix the problems in the past, so at least the issues would be resolved.

Saturday Cassie and I drove, in traffic, to Montgomery (78 miles from home) to pickup a Specialized kiddo's bike. Mommy has a Specialized, so Cassie has to have what Mommy has (that's the stage she's in right now). We got the bike and Cass loves it (No problems with my Jeep either)

Sunday I took a run to the local Target'; came home and it looked like my radiator was urinating... Ugh! Not. Fixed. F!

So, given the state of my vehicle, I would have to drive my husband's monster truck to work. I hate it... though admittedly I did get somewhat used to it by the end of the week. The warehouse guys were obviously hot for my ride... it was pretty funny rolling up in my lifted 4x4 diesel "chariot" and makin' their heads turn. LOL

I make it to work in one piece and even get to the gym at lunchtime... but come Tuesday, it was all downhill, beginning that night, when a hard drive died in one of our servers -- this took out both email and data. We lost a full day's worth of Data (The server just couldn't wait to fail until AFTER the backups). Oh, well... it's what I get paid to handle. Still, it stinks.

Sooooo 2 days later we're recovered from the technology issues... I go into work on Friday thinking I can breathe a little easier, but then what happens? I arrive at work at 6:30... my co-worker comes in a 7:30. She says to me, "you probably know this already..." I say, "What?"

"That big ol' truck of yours has a flat."

I think, "crud" <------ well, no not really.

I had to have the truck towed and Darren had to come to work to go with the tow truck to the 4 Wheeler store to get it repaired. This left me stuck driving a convertible TransAm we borrowed from his buddy. Ordinarily I might welcome the chance, but this guy treats this car like a trophy. Oiy! It kinda takes the fun out of driving it, know what I mean?

I go pick Darren up at the parts store, take him home to grab his laptop (because technically he's supposed to be working from home this day), then drag him back to work with me. Of course by the time we get there, the parts store calls and they're done with his truck. LOL

So... Saturday comes and I'm working on very little sleep, given the week's events, but still I got up to meet a friend at the local 24 for some spin-and-gym fun. I hadn't met *E* in real life yet... we just make exchanges through email and Facebook, so I was looking forward to finally meeting her.

I get to the gym right at 8, drop Cass off at childcare and grab a spin bike. After I got setup I grabbed one for *E*, since I had not recognized her among the class yet. Well, as it turns out, sign-up is required for the class on Saturday morning (I didn't know... so I didn't have a number). Class was full and I was almost booted until a pregnant woman (who had signed in) gave me her spot -- I still though *E* wasn't there... as it turned out, she was booted from class. We missed meeting again. :( We'll catch up eventually. I staed and took the 24 Lift class after. Suffice it to say I kicked my own a$$

I get home and am greeted by a very frustrated Hubs. He was home working on my Jeep. He encountered trouble and long-story short, we have to get another new radiator. He wasn't happy.... not one bit. :( I wouldnt be either!

So, as you can see, it's been a comedy of errors all week long. Just had to vent. It's supposed to be in the 30's here in Houston tonight, which is, well, JACKED UP; no oudoor riding for me tomorrow -- probably just swimming.

What a week!

Saturday Ride

Mileage: 25
Average speed: 13.9
Total Ride Time 1:40
Average HR:152
Max HR: 178
Calories: 2865

Notes: Overall a good ride. Felt good after and not "wiped" Did a great job with speed and cadence today, thanks to my riding partner. Interesting guy; works for FEMA and is here for a few months. He's 62 and does multi-sports also officiates triathlons.

Took the Kema bridge pretty good too -- I think better than last time, for sure!

Swim Training

Just to get it noted...

Week One Workout:
For week one, the swimmer swims a total of 700 yards.

To begin, they swim 100 yards, and then rest for 12 breaths.
Repeat this three times. (400 yrds total)

Next, they swim 50 yards, and then rest for 8 breaths.
Repeat this three times. (200 yrds total)

Next, they swim 25 yards, and then rest for 4 breaths.
Repeat this three times. (100 yrds total)

Who Would Dare???

I mean really, who would dare? It's not like you could share your "find" with others and not get caught. Geez.... Shame on you, who stole bikes from the Astana's truck!

=======================
From ESPN News...

SANTA ROSA, Calif. -- Lance Armstrong's time-trial bike was stolen from the Team Astana truck during the night before Stage 1 of the Tour of California.

Armstrong rode the bike to a 10th-place finish Saturday in Sacramento during the Tour prologue. The race is his first competitive appearance in his native country since the seven-time Tour de France winner began his cycling comeback last month.

A few hours after the time trial, someone removed four bikes from the Astana truck outside the team hotel in Sacramento. Armstrong's time-trial bike, which was closest to the door because he was delayed by a post-race trip to doping control, was taken along with race bikes belonging to Astana teammates Steve Morabito, Yaroslav Popovych and Janez Brajkovic.

Astana spokesman Philippe Maertens confirmed the theft to The Associated Press after it was reported by Armstrong himself on his Twitter feed. Armstrong later posted a picture of the bike, which has distinctive yellow-and-black wheels and the logo of his Livestrong foundation.

"There is only one like it in the world therefore hard to pawn it off. Reward being offered," Armstrong wrote before jumping on his race bike for the 107-mile ride from Davis to Santa Rosa through a steady rainstorm.

Team Astana manager Johan Bruyneel also mentioned the thefts on his Twitter feed before he began following his riders. The racers all have backup bikes, and two-time defending Tour champion Levi Leipheimer's bike wasn't stolen.

Armstrong won't need his time-trial bike again until Friday in Solvang, where the race holds its second time trial. That segment is crucial to Astana's hopes of winning the overall team title.

Sunday Riding

Today was another gamble with Mother Nature, but I took a roll and met Leslie up at Memorial Park for some riding.

Conditions were yucky and misting. I soooo didn't want to ride and soooo proud of Leslie for showing up! I made the 30 minute drive to the park, so I wasn't going to turn around and go home without doing something.

The nice thing about the loop is it's 1.3 miles around and no stop lights, so it's non-stop spinning It has it's pro's and con's though; nonstop spinning, but a never changing environment.

So, here is what I got in before my twinkle toes felt like they were going to freeze and break off:

15. Miles
Average 14.8 mph
Ride Time 1:02
Average HR: 150
Max HR 172
Calories 1,177

I wish I had done a little more distance... when I do less than 30 miles I feel like I'm cheating myself out. I remarked this very thing to my Husband and he reminded me of the first time we did 10 miles around White Rock Lake on mountain bikes and thought that was a major achievement for us -- and indeed it was, for the time.

The real fun began on the way home though. My feet were si wet and cold, so I go turn the heat on in my Libby (the nickname for my Jeep Liberty) and no thawing occurs. I glanced down at the temp gauge for no reason at all, really, and I see it's nailed to the big red "H". Not. Good.

Had Libby towed to the dealer and that's NEVER good. :(

Oh! Amgen's Tour of California stage 1 is today. Lance is #9 after the prologue and my boy George was at 5 or 6. It's being broadcast on VS starting at 5pm.

V-Day Riding

Ride conditions were cloudy and gusty with scattered rain. :( Not the prettiest day to ride.

Opted not to meet up with the team to ride. The threat of rain was 50-50 and the last thing I wanted to do was get stuck, in rain, on the Kema Bridge. So instead I enjoyed my iPod bicycle speakers and rode on my own. :)

15.8 Miles
Average 14.1 mph
Ride Time 1:07
Average HR 150
Max HR 176
Calories 1,493

Ready for the Weekend

I'm ready for it already. :)

Tomorrow Cass has a V-day party at school. She always looks forward to Mommy and/or Daddy coming to school for the parties. I figure at some point she won't be having these kinds of parties anymore and/or she won't want Mommy or Daddy to be part of her school life (like that stands a chance). Anyway, I'll just enjoy it for now. I just love how happy she gets when we show up.

I'm getting excited about tri-training. I should be more excited about MS150 training, which of course I am, but doing the Danskin with my fellow tri-divas kind of brings it all full-circle. I mean I did my first real cycling event with them as well as my first triathlon as a relay. It just makes sense that we all see a tri through together as individuals.

I got my bicycle speaker system. I'm soooo happy -- and it works too. It's a little heavy at 1.5 pounds, but it will be so worth it on rides alone. That said, I'll have company for all my rides this weekend.

Saturday I'm riding with my MS150 team and Sunday I'm foregoing the Pedaling the Prairie event and instead will ride the Memorial Park picnic loop with a fellow tri-diva, Leslie. I met Leslie probably 7 or 8 years ago through Weight Watchers when I lived in Dallas -- probably around the same time I met Courtney. Anyway, I'm excited because Leslie loathes biking, so I thought I might be able to help her out a bit. On the flip-side, Leslie is like a fish in the water, and she agreed to help me with sad swimming. Truly, I did feel comfortable with all parts of the tri last year, I just wished I could have trained more effectively on the swimming -- I had no idea if my stroke was good, or if I look like a floundering fish!

In other news, it's not everyday I meet a fellow WLS post-op who is into the same craziness I am (with the athletic events and training) AND lives locally to me. Yesterday I was delighted to receive an email from a lady who lives in the same suburb (and the greater Houston area is a big place!), has the same interests (even does boot camps!) AND is a post-op from the same year I had my surgery. Wow! Did I mention too that she's doing the MS150 and the Danskin too!?!

I am lucky to *virtually* meet lots of folks, but often they lives states, or even countries away -- even the other side of Houston is over an hour away! Of course, in a perfect world, I would love to meet them all, but sadly I probably never will. So, when someone local pops-up, I'm prone to getting excited at the possibilities!

Hopefully she doesn't think I'm "whack" -- although if she were to ask around.... Never mind, it's probably too late. LOL

Here's the food for today (click to see the full-size version).


I have been trying to keep my meals balanced (evidently I'm a *balanced oxidizer* according to Jillian Michaels)... and it seems to be working well -- I feel good; not sluggish. I hopped on the scale this morning and I'm just 4 pounds from my lowest weight of 212. Which is huge and hopefully an indication that the Levoxyl is helping.

The biggest frustration of all this Thyroid mess was the large weight fluctuations, seemingly overnight, and they seem to have ceased. Can you imagine the frustration of stepping on the scale and seeing yourself up 7 or even 9 pounds overnight, knowing in your truth of truths there's no reason for it? Seriously a few weeks ago I stepped on the scale and it said 221 -- I nearly burst into tears!!! You cannot gain weight eating 1200 to 1300 calories a day -- even if one consumes 1300 calories of Oreos, one would still lose (although you'd be a walking body of trans fat) at the end of the day. That was my world (not the Oreo part -- I'd puke) so it's been nice to see a steady decline. That said, I'm always cautious, so I hope it continues. *fingers,, eyes and toes crossed*. I go back to the Endo in a couple weeks for follow-up.

As for the tri, I don't need a ton of equipment, I'm pretty much set after last year -- though a new pair of *kix* will be required. I didn't like the 1 piece tri suit at all; I never could feel comfortable. Zoot Sports had a tri tank in XXL on sale/clearance at Team Estrogen (the tank has awesome support for "the girls") and Hubs sent me a survey-for-coupon from PearlIzumi so I got 20% off a pair of tri shorts. I think this will be the most comfortable ensemble, as it will feel more closely to cycling gear, which I already am used to wearing. Plus, the convenience of not having to strip down to go potty at the event is a plus. I'm excited to get my pieces and start swimming/biking and running in them to see how they feel.

That's all for now... gotta get to work.

Blowin'... I mean CYCLING in the wind...

Details:
Breakfast: 2 eggs, lowfat cream cheese, 2 slices sprouted grain toast
Ride Snack: Kashi Granola bar at 14 miles
Recovery: 100 light smoothie
Calories burned: Don't know
Time: 2:15
Average Speed: 12.6 mph <--- AGAIN with the effin' wind!
Average HR: Don't know.
High speed: 24 mph
Cadence >80 (most of the time)

Felt pretty good to start. Legs were tired from yeserday's ride. I didn't push it terribly hard, but I did pull out a few good sprints.

I can feel improvement. I'm so glad I got the cadence meter!

Showed my bike some love yesterday... it's all clean and shiny. :)

Whew! What Fun!!

Okay, I did it! I met up with my MS150 team and rode this morning. Yeah me!

Let me tell you, this was no small feat. I stepped outside (before the sun came up) and it was already windy. Hubs kindly reminded me that when it warms up, it will be even MORE windy.

Ugh.. did I really want to go?

I have to go.

Then, I get a visit from AF. Should I go riding still? I don't want to. Really.

I have to go.

On the way over I was literally praying for the strength and courage to meet these other riders. I kept telling myself this was a good exercise in being open, socially, to meeting new people and that it was good for me. Ironically I recognized some of them from the various events I've done. Those awesome riders that seemingly do EVERYTHING.

I am so glad I went. I rode with the beginner group, which was somewhat small this morning, but that was okay. *M* and *E* were awesome. We rode down to Kemah and did the bridge twice. It was the first time I had been down that way since Hurricane Ike. Nothing dramatic to see there since everything was in rebuild status.

The wind was horrible. I focused on keeping my cadence up, so at some points I was slower than the other two, but kept good cadence >80 the whole way. Climbed every hill and had a few really good sprints. It felt good. :)

I will definitely ride with my team again next weekend.

Right now though, I need a shower. I'm stinkin' myself out of my skin!

====================

Details:
Breakfast: 3 egg whites, lowfat cheese, 2 slices sprouted grain toast
Ride Snack: Kashi Granola bar at 15 miles
Recovery: 100 calorie vitamuffin
Calories burned: 2,880
Time: 2:30
Average Speed: 12 mph <--- Effin' wind Average HR: 152 High speed: 34 mph A few good 20 mph sprints! :) Cadence>80 (except on the bridge climbs)

Well Shooot!

I was so excited yesterday as I received my ipod speaker system for my bicycle! I was quickly deflated when I determined the remote did not work. :(

I called the seller, and they referred me to the manufacturer. I had to send the damn thing back. I was so looking forward to using it weekend. I did get to actually hear my ipod work in it though, and it sounds awesome for what it is. It's going to be great for long rides alone. A little heavy though, I have to admit. It has to weigh at least 2 lbs. That's a lot of weight on a bike when you consider accomplished cyclists pay thousands of dollars to mitigate mere ounces from their equipment.

So, I guess this is yet another reason I need to go ride with my team tomorrow. I keep putting it off. What if I'm not fast enough? I don't want to be the slow poke, you know?

On the other hand, so what if I am? I have to start somewhere in order to improve. Right? Right.

I just hate meeting new people in real life and it really pushes me outside my comfort zone.

Although I know that is a good thing. So I should be embracing this opportunity to meet new folks, come out and beat my self-confidence.

Oiy... this is precisely why I like competing against myself. LOL

Tonight I am headed to the gym just for an hour of cardio and maybe just some abs work. Going easy on the weights tonight being that I want to ride tomorrow.

Here's the food plan. Pretty balanced macro-wise...ignore the daily goal -- right now I'm going for calories and balance. Click to see full size.

What I Do Know...

First, thanks for the supportive notes. Especially those who delurked to boost my spirits, I'm so glad you did! I certainly did not mean to sound like a virtual pity-party, but when I dig deep, that's what's there folks. Those are the issues. I have learned to deal with them, but you know how it is with stuff like this... you are almost ALWAYS a work-in-progress.

For the record, I do realize that thin does not necessarily mean you are healthy, but thanks for the reminder, regardless. :) It's good to be reminded from time-to-time.

Understand this too, my goal was never to be "thin" for the sake of being skinny. My goal is to have a healthy hip-to-waist ratio AND in a healthy body fat % range so I can mitigate health risks and live a nice, comfortable, active life. I really don't give a flip about fitting into a size 8 jeans. That said, kudos to those that achieve it... that's fabulous for you!! It's just not my goal. I realistically know that with my build the the BMI "tables" are not in my favor and those weights a probably not attainable, and truly, that's perfectly fine with me. :)

What I do know is, this body, the one I have right now at my current weight, does amazing things! I have the energy to care for myself and my family. I have the strength and ability to accomplish physical challenges that contribute to the quality of my life, as well as my family's life. This body... the one that I fight with daily, is mine and I know I will make total amends with it, accept it wholly and not let it remain the obstacle that keeps me from moving forward in life. It will just take some time to get there.

Something else ironic happened yesterday. After my Honest Scrap I went home and Hubs brought in the mail. The latest copy of Obesity Help's magazine was there. I'm flipping through it and I get to the "Wow Moments" page and what do I see? My freakin' picture (running) and some commentary from right after I completed the Triathlon last Summer! When I read what what I had written, I realized this was not coincidence... this was meant for me to find, today, to read and reflect on at that very moment. I need to keep that feeling of accomplishment with me everyday; that confident feeling that comes with achieving a goal.

I have been honored, and people have kindly credited me with helping to motivate them with fitness. One of my friends, I met through Weight Watchers Online nearly 8 years ago now (WOW!), sent me a "thank you" for changing her life. Courtney does amazing things with her body -- even though she's not where she wants to be weight-wise. Like me, that body she fights with everyday, carries her to new heights. I was more touched than I could explain. I mean, to have someone say, "thanks for changing my life"? Really, what could I say? Because truly, she's the one that made the change... I was just happened to be there looking for someone to do a ride with and she was an easy target. :) Besides, there's been more than one occasion that she's been there for me and listened openly, never judging and always motivating. It's definitely a give and take I am grateful for. And C, if you read this, I am so glad we didn't let things go *hugs*.

I guess my point is we all have to look for that very thing that continues to inspire us to be better to ourselves than we were the day before. It's a repetitive task and the sources are different for everyone... It might mean finding a buddy who continues to be the one who helps gently nudge you along. Or a self-help book that somehow resonates with you and makes you dig deep and examine the root of your food issues. Maybe being there for your family and realizing you are living a quality life does it for you...maybe you want to start a family?!Perhaps some reality based weight loss show makes you believe you just might have enough in you to do it on your own. Perhaps accomplishing measurable goals that show you did more today than you did yesterday, proves helpful. Everyone is driven by something different, but you have to find whatever it is that makes you realize you deserve to feel better than you did the day before.

Honest Scrap

Been working on this for a while. Thought I could get by with passing off my last meme as this one... but they are definitely different.

I want to be honest... but there's always that little something keeping me from sharing EVERYTHING on the i'net.

Anyway, another tagged blogger posted hers and reminded me I had a draft sitting here, waiting for further contemplation.

The Rebel tagged "Donna", so I am assuming that's me. *shrug* Rebs, if you didn't mean me, then everyone is getting some free introspection from me. LOL

So... here goes.

1) I've known in my gut something was impeding my weight loss efforts, but couldn't get a doctor to move forward with more tests until now. I mean, who has gastric bypass and doesn't lose at least 100 lbs? I also knew it had something to do with my Thyroid. Although I also know that regulating my Thyroid doesn't mean it will magically fall off either.

2) I get upset, in spite of myself, when I feel people look at me as a weight loss surgery failure. Therefore I tend to only share the fact I had weight loss surgery with a small, hand-picked, group of people. I sometimes even trying to keep from mingling my WLS circle separate from my everyday life. Might be right or wrong for me in the head, but that's where I'm at now.

3) I feel strongly that despite any desire I have, I could never be successful in a career that involves personal training or nutrition until I've reached my goals first. Who wants a fat trainer? Who would take advice from a fat nutritionist, seriously? In fact, there are many things I won't do because I'm still fat.

4) I knew pretty quickly after meeting Darren that he was "the one." I really know how lucky I am and love him dearly. I feel he has "put up" with a lot from me in the last year, but still never ceases to be my biggest supporter! :)

5) I'm sick and tired of being frustrated. Period.

6) I don't hate my job. I'm just not passionate about my job. I'm good and what I do and make a decent paycheck, so it keeps me here. Number 3 leaves me feeling "stuck"though.

7) I've worked to hide my sadness most of my life and I have shitty self-esteem, even though some family members dispute that fact. They never knew how badly I really felt. Sometimes I still feel badly. Sometimes I still feel like a failure.

8) I follow a healthy lifestyle, 95% of the time. The other 5% I cut myself some slack and enjoy life a bite here and bite there.

9) People think I'm so motivated with fitness, but I really do enjoy exercising; I look at it as my "me" time. That said, there is always, at least, one day a week that I take myself to the gym kicking and screaming.

10) I try my best not to reflect my weight issues upon my Daughter. I often hope she has Darren's weight issues, if any, and not mine. And if she does have issues, I want her to be confident in herself and really understand she is not defined by her weight. I also realize I am her role model and "teacher", so to speak. It scares me to death.

Tag 7 people?

Ugh... I'm not picky. If you do it, let me know... I'd love to read someone else's truths!

2009 Danskin SheROX Austin Triathlon

Registration opened this morning! And yes, I'm registered for the event. I am "ass-cited" June 6th and 7th in Austin, TX :)

Not much else is going on, besides Hot Flashes from starting the Levoxyl, but that's okay. That's the worst of it. They usually happen right before I get up in the morning. Strange. I haven't seen any other miraculous changes, so I wait. LOL

Headed to the gym after work today for lifting and 60 minutes of cardio. Here's the food for today:

Poblano Chicken

This from a woman who usually doesn't eat anything other than fajitas as the local Mexican joint. :) It came out good... definitely a re-make with some modifications for spice.

Diva Cup?

Some things just make you shake your head and question life...

In the words of one commenter, I"m posting this out of "morbid curiosity." LOL
Check out Sqwakfox for the details... it's real.