90% of Alice

I have now lost 23 pounds exactly and exactly 10% of my original body weight(I was glad that I actually lost the .8 I needed to make 10% today!). A big WOOT WOOT, please! It feels good. It feels real good.

Here are ten things I have learned while losing 10% of myself:

1. The portions we are used to as Americans are insane, simply insane compared to how much we are actually supposed to eat.
2. I can do anything I put my mind to. That really should be #1 but I am too lazy to change the order!
3. Exercise is amazing. It is so cool to see my body change and be able to do more and more work the more I train!
4. There are a million people who are great supports in the world and a few who don't support at all!
5. When I track what I eat, I lose weight. When I don't track, I easily get off track!
6. My body image is something that will take much longer to change than my actual body. I often walk past mirrors and ask myself: "Who is that?" I wonder if I will always see myself as "bigger?"
7. Weight Watchers smoothies are so very yummy but make me really, really cold in the mornings.
8. Sometimes a 4 point half of a donut from Provo Bakery is totally worth it!
9. I have learned what it really is like to feel hungry and I feel it a lot more often than I used to. It is cool.
10. Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels!!!!

Thanks for reading and being a part of this journey. It is a fun one.

Two Yipees and a Bottle of Whoop Whoop!

I ran for 20 minutes straight on Monday. It wasn't the plan but I just kept feeling good after five minutes then eight minutes then ten minutes so I thought I would just keep going. It was awesome!!!

I also lost 3.4 pounds this past week. That is pretty darn amazing. The cool thing about running and losing weight had been that more and more I am realizing the power I have to do whatever I put my mind to. That is a pretty amazing thing to realize. It was also cool to play basketball with my students on monday and not once feel tired. I like this improved body. It pretty much rocks!!!

A Couple Pics...

I am noticing progress. I bought those pants this weekend. Even my skinniest skinny jeans were not fitting so I decided the clearance pants would be a good investment. It is nice to find things for nine dollars sometimes. I am having a hard time spending money on clothes because I figure I will be not fitting in them a few weeks later. So, cheap temporary jeans made me happy!

A milestone...

I ran 10 full minutes today. It ws phenominal. The snow coming down in Idaho Falls was not ideal but I was proud that I actually got out for the run this morning. Go me. The next goal is to see what my mile time is. This running business is pretty addictive. I love it!

P.S. Carrots are the brownies!

Down 2.2

Now we are at at total of 18 pounds ladies and gents! It feels good. I was stretching today and noticing how much smaller my legs are these days...fantastic.

The Finish...

This is me finishing the race on Saturday. It was AWESOME! You may not be able to tell that by my face because I think I wanted to die at the moment the pic was taken! (You can see that my friend, Janette, was thrilled to beat me!) I will run another 5k on May 1st. I went running today as well and it was nice. Utah Lake is gorgeous this time of year!!! The whole world is pretty when Spring looks as if it may spring at any moment! Cheers!

Race Day. Alice's first 5k

(Notice how I have not changed my name to Ahze. I have no clue how that error happened!)

Well, I made it through my first 5k. It was AMAZING. The most amazing part is I got less than 45 minutes. That was my goal going into the race. I figured I would take about 45 to finish based on my training. I didn't think I would have gotten the time I actually did get. I didn't realize that running with people would make me actually run faster and also walk less, but it did. I guess there is some sort of amazing adrenaline that pumps through your blood on race day. Funny how about oh two months ago I would think that people were crazy for running. I now realize why people hit the pavement a few times a week. They are getting set to race sometime. I guess there are runners who never race but I also realize why they do it too...they love the feeling they get during and after running. I am beginning to think running is a drug!

It was fun to run in this race because our JROTC students were in charge of keeping the runners on course so we got to talk to them as we past each checkpoint. There were also about five students from our school who ran. It was fun to cheer them on both the ones who kicked our butts and the ones who struggled behind us. My coach, Shule, even stopped and helped a girl when she was puking. I couldn't stop because I would have lost my breakfast too!

The plans are to run another 5k on May 1st. It is going to be fun. I don't think I will ever get too competitive but it is fun to run against myself. I now have a time to beat!

I also was so hungry last night. It was nice to go to Applebees and get stuffed with my friends as we celebrated my birthday. Yep, this girl turns 33 on Monday. I am planning on enjoying a day of quiet and movies. Sleeping in is the most important activity. Should be fun. Be sure to check out my regular blog to hear the inspiring story of another racer from yesterday. I don't really want to type it twice! :)

Cardio Kickboxing did NOT kick my butt tonight...

That is a pretty cool thing. I have gone to Cardio Kickboxing class about three times now. The first time, I thought I was going to die. The second time was about as painful. Tonight, on the other hand, was painless and I actually thought it was easy. Weird, huh?

This really was the first time I really felt that my training has been making a difference. It felt so good to feel like something that usually kicks my butt, actually didn't.

I also have still been enjoying my running. The 5k is on Saturday. My training for it isn't complete so it will be interesting to see how much I want to puke, but it will be a good thing for feedback!

I have loved running in the Spring-like weather lately. I actually am able to run for five straight minutes. That is a milestone. I also got a personal best on a mile. Of course, it isn't that great because I am still walk-running. It is cool to see improvement!

The journey is good!

1.2 Down.

Still losing. That is nice actually. I didn't think I would have lost that much this week because of all the cream puffs Sunday. They may have been worth it!

Some Things in Life are Hard...

...like missionary farewells. Yesterday, the brother from another mother, had a missionary farewell. I am so excited for him to serve in Brazil. He will be awesome. The food at his farewell was also awesome. Too awesome for words. Too awesome to say no and I ate and ate and ate. It did not feel good but I did it. Then the US lost the Gold Medal game in Hockey and there was still food so I ate and ate and ate some more. Not good at all. I am hoping for some loss tomorrow but I have a feeling those mozzarella sticks may not help me in that area. I guess the scale will tell all tomorrow.

I need to come up with a game plan for situations that have so much food. Any suggestions?