Getting Back

I've been wanting to write this blog for a while...but kept making excuses as to why I didn't have time that particular day. Ever since having children, it's been particularly difficult getting my body back into shape...I'm sure the sugar cravings and weaknesses didn't help any. So, after having Charlotte via c-section Feb 22, I've made a deliberate effort to get back into shape. Following that major surgery, I couldn't exercise right away. In fact, it wasn't until the end of March that I could take walks without pain. The discomfort was there, but I made sure not to push my body too far.

My running started slowly...jogging for a few minutes then walking for few. I would repeat that sequence for about 20 minutes. If my incision didn't hurt, then I'd increase that time bit by bit until I was jogging without walking at all. My main motivation to start running again was that I was registered to run a half marathon May 19 (I had been registered since the August before!). To walk most of the way wouldn't have been a bad thing, but I really wanted to run it...plus my pride didn't want to be passed by people I knew I could beat!

Though I had run my first 10 mile run a week before the race, my body certainly rebelled after the race. It was difficult to walk...the pain in my feet was pretty intense. Anyway, I have no regrets and have registered for another half marathon in September.

Since I started working out after Charlotte was born, I've lost 15 pounds. Not too shabby since it's been about four months since I started walking/jogging (I didn't count the weight lost at the hospital...it's doesn't count since it was baby poundage).

My goal is this--to lose another 10 pounds by Thanksgiving. That's four months to lose 10 pounds which makes 2.5 pounds per month. I'd love to lose 15 by Thanksgiving...in fact, I'm going to work really hard to make that. But 10 pounds is my official goal.

So, those of you who read this, would you help me in this endeavor? Could you keep me accountable? Email me, call me, message me...what ever it takes. You see, if I realize that folks will at any moment ask me what I'm eating, if I have worked out that day, or if I've given in to a craving then perhaps it will motivate me to stay on track! My email address is dlave518@gmail.com.

I'm serious about this. Below is me in March right around when I started (crazy hair was on purpose).

This is me about two weeks ago.

And this is where I'd like to be by next year.

And you can help me do it!

4th of July

For tradition's sake, we started off this holiday with a 10k race in Huntsville. When we lived in the South, Greg and I would run the Peachtree Road Race in Georgia. I remember it being hard to run that race since thousands and thousands of people ran it. In fact, when it was my group's time to run, the people at the beginning of the 10k had already finished! Our local race here isn't quite as populated. Last year when I ran it, I was six weeks pregnant with Charlotte and also had a sinus infection. Needless to say, I didn't run very well. This year, however, I beat my goal time by 2 minutes.

Since the race was early in the morning, our friend Cathy watched the children. Below is Charlotte who is getting used to her bouncer. So far, she hasn't enjoyed it like Paton used to enjoy it when he was a baby. I have hope that she'll love it before long.

Also, a tradition started last year is our family attending the local festivities at our park. There are many things for children, booths where locals sell their wares, and competitions like the mutton bustin', chicken catch, pig catch, and fish catch.

I rode the caterpillar with Paton...it was a tight squeeze!

 
This year, Paton wasn't scared at all to bounce in the bouncy house!

He was, however, very scared to ride down the bouncy slide by himself...so Mommy to the rescue! It was also very hot, and even I burned my legs a bit on the plastic!

The last tradition is watching the fireworks from our back yard. Since one can view much of the valley from our yard, it's a perfect place to watch fireworks. Last year, I put Paton to bed early. This year, I figured he was old enough to stay up. It doesn't get completely dark here until 10pm.

The 4th of July has become one of our favorite family holidays. I love spending time together as a family, and it's even more fun now since Charlotte has joined our family.