Merry Christmas!

For the first time in 2 1/2 years I took the day off and ate anything and everything.  I fear that I ate a whole weeks worth of calories in one day.  I can’t wait to try out a couple gifts tomorrow when I run.  To see my wonderful Christmas go visit my family blog http://www.myreasontosmile.blogspot.com .

The Best Gift

Keeping myself healthy and strong is the best gift I can give myself.  When I am physically strong I am able to be spiritually strong.  When I am spiritually strong am I can serve others better. I have been “cheating” A LOT but I am also exercising and toning and trying to enjoy this holiday season unlike the last couple of years when I wouldn’t allow myself to eat anything “bad”. I pray that you will have a very blessed Christmas season and enjoy all that this season holds.  For me this has included making with my children  dozens of gingerbread men,  cupcakes, fudge, caramels as well as a neighborhood cookie exchange.  Why such a huge change for last year?  I now trust myself that I won’t go back to the 390 pound body that I had before.  Now I guess that is really the best gift ever!!!

Merry Christmas!!!

Letter of Love

Dear Becky,

I am so proud of you and how much you have accomplished in the last 2 1/2 years.  I never would have believed that you were the same person if I was to pass you on the street.  You carry your self with such confidence that I know you are comfortable with who you are.  Your eyes are full of experiences that I hope you’ll share with others.  Many need your help and you need to be open and willing to share.

I am worried that you are too hard on yourself.  You have accomplished what seemed like an impossibility.  On your own, truly of your own will you have made this miraculous change. I always knew you were capable of anything and you have done it.  Feel happy with where you are.  Don’t freak out over small changes.  Allow yourself some enjoyment.  Cheat every once in a while and have fun!

You are incredible woman and you have opened up a whole new world for yourself.  Please believe this and never forget what you have done.  Of course there is regular maintenance that seems much more difficult than the journey has been, but you are strong and you will be just fine.  There will be hard days but don’t beat yourself up about it.  Pick yourself up and begin again!  You know what to do and you will win in the end!

I love you so much and want you to be happy.  I love to see the light shining in your eyes.  I want to see that light more often.  Be good to yourself and know you are amazing!  You have accomplished remarkable things! 

Love,

Becky

(Now to get myself to truly believe all that I’ve written here.  I’m working on it! It’s a daily battle but I know I can do this!)

Rough Day

The day started well with a great toning class at 5:15am but then real life hit and I was a mess with my eating.  I can do really well for a few days then I slide.  I am really looking forward to seeing the ladies tomorrow at our support group and sharing ideas.  I am also totally bloated for some reason.  (It may be hormonal.  My body timing is all over the place so that is always a possibility.) I may try going off of whole wheat for a little while and see if that makes a difference.  I self sabotaged all day.  AGGHHHHH!  I can overcome this.  Tomorrow I will do better!!!  Thank goodness for repentance and new beginnings. I hate the fact that food is my greatest temptation in this life!

I just reread this and I am all over the place but that is how I feel right now.  I think I'll hit the elliptical before bed then get up ready for bootcamp, kickboxing then support group. Tomorrow is going to be a better day!

It’s Good to be Back on Track!

Amazing the difference a week makes! So last week I decided enough was enough and I started eating a little better.  By Friday I was tracking every calorie again and it feels so good.  My body feels happy and has bounced back to its old self so quickly. The scale has responded very nicely too!  I’m not sure how this is possible but I have lost 7 pounds this week. Really? Well, I took a picture of the scale for proof.  Now we’ll see if it stays down tomorrow too.  My big motivation is being a good example for the ladies in my support group.  I want all of us to succeed and I can’t wait to know how every ones week is going. I even wore my skinny dress to church yesterday.  I am so thankful for new beginnings and small miracles!

What is amazing is how much my body has changed.  I have gained so much muscle that I can still fit into this dress 10 pounds heavier than when I fit into it last year. Thank goodness for bootcamp!!! Dan says I don’t need to lose anymore weight but I’d like to see 185 again.  We’ll see how I feel after another couple weeks of really watching my eating.  I am feeling the excitement and the adrenaline rush of losing weight again and I love it!!!!

Support Group

I am being really selfish and have volunteered to head up a Healthy Living/Weight Loss/Weight Maintenance Support Group.  Why is this selfish?  I NEED it just as much or even more than the ladies that will be attending.  I have fallen back into my old eating habits.  Thank goodness for 5am boot camp and toning or I would really have added on a lot of pounds.  I want to feel like I am in control of my eating again and not that the eating is controlling me.  I have a food addiction and for a year it was under control.  I need that control again!!!  I need my Heavenly Father's help and the support of others to do this.  I can do this because I have done hard things.  It won't be easy and it will hurt but it is worth it!!!

Support Group details: Friday 10:30ish in the RS room of the Cedar Trails Building

I have added a new tab at the top of the blog page "SUPPORT GROUP" to place all of the handouts, information and  HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS.  Good Luck and I'll see you next week!

Turkey Trot 2011

My first race EVER was a Turkey Trot 2 years ago.  What a difference a couple years makes.

2009


2010 (7 degrees and I froze! I averaged 11:17 min/mile this year.)

This morning 2011! I ran 3.7 miles in 33 min or less.  The Garmin says 33 min exact and the time keepers told me 31:15 min.  Either time is great. At 33 min it is exactly 9 min/mile and for this race I’ll take it! If the time was 31:15 then I averaged 8:44 min/mile also a great time. The first 3/4 miles you gain 100 feet. That is a tough way to start!  I pushed myself so hard to not slow down or walk and I did it.  I have only had one slow 4 mile run since the half marathon nearly 4 weeks ago so I was worried as to how well I could do but I am really proud on myself! I am so thankful for a very strong healthy body that I’ve worked so hard to have!!!

The beautiful valley that I live in and the perfect place to run a Turkey Trot! It was a beautiful sunrise this morning.

2011 Turkey Trot VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

Inspired By Laurel

Several moths ago I came across a blog by a woman who was also struggling with weight loss and working on becoming a runner.  I was so inspired by her strength and determination!  We started commenting back and forth on each others blogs and have created a "friendship". I did not know much about this woman past the feelings of her heart that she expressed so beautifully.  She could put into words how I felt so perfectly. 

Well this weekend I got to meet for a brief second my friend Laurel in person and give her a quick hug. Laurel is an amazing woman!  She is an author and an inspirational speaker but most importantly she is a woman of faith, courage and determination!  She inspires me to continue on my journey.  She has overcome and continues to overcome the impossible and is doing things that she KNEW she couldn't do.  Thank you Laurel for sharing your most vulnerable parts of your soul with me and the women of Time Out For Women.  You have changed me for the better! To experience what I did this past weekend go to  www.tofw.com and see if Time Out For Women is coming to a city near you.

A New Week

This week I have been going to workout at MaryAnne Holtz’s Studio.  I have gone all 5 days at 5:15am. MWF is bootcamp and TTh is toning.  I am loving it!  I feel so strong and so ready for the day.  I am getting so much more accomplished and getting to bed early has been no problem for me.  I am determined to do this through the winter months.  I am still doing a shortened evening workout at home and Fridays I go to a kickboxing class as well.  I love to exercise!

New Cookie Recipe

Guilt Free Oatmeal Cookies Recipe created by Becky Jones

2 cups oat flour (blend up oatmeal or oat groats)

2 cups regular oats

1 cup unsweetened applesauce

1/4 cup honey

1/4 cup raisins

1/4 cup semi sweet chocolate chips

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp nutmeg

1/4 tsp salt

Mix all ingredients together and drop by teaspoons full on to lightly sprayed cookie sheet.  Wet fingers with water and gently press down tops of cookies.  They will not spread. I could fit all 48 cookies on my round stone at one time. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 8-10 min. Only 38 calories each and so delicious! 

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 15 g

Amount Per Serving

Calories 38 Calories from Fat 5

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 0.5g 1%

Trans Fat 0.0g

Cholesterol 0mg 0%

Sodium 12mg 1%

Total Carbohydrates 7.3g 2%

Dietary Fiber 0.8g 3%

Sugars 2.2g

Protein 1.0g

Vitamin A 0% • Vitamin C 0% Calcium 1% • Iron 2%

Nutrition Grade C+

* Based on a 2000 calorie diet

Nutritional Analysis

Good points

• Low in saturated fat
  
• No cholesterol
  
• Low in sodium
  
• High in manganese

My Thoughts Today

Life is going really well but it still has ups and downs.  I wish I always felt wonderful and happy.  I have been in a little bit of a slump this morning.  I decided to join the biggest loser group that I was supposed to be "inspiration" for but it is stressing me out! I worry every Tuesday all day long that my weight will go up tonight when I weigh in.  This "biggest loser" is very different from the competition I was in and I don't really like how it is set up.  I am so conflicted.  I won the weekly prize the first week I joined.  It felt great but the other ladies need this more than me.  I joined to get my eating back on track which it has done to a certain degree but I don't like hating Tuesday and fearing weigh-in.  What to do?
I want the women to really desire change and put all their effort into losing weight. Sadly many of them just aren't really ready and are halfheartedly going through the motions. I know how hard that is but many of them just don't want it bad enough.  If they only knew how huge the rewards of living a healthier life are. There are a few women who are doing AMAZING and I am so impressed with the weight loss and changes they have made.  They remind me of me when and had the fire under me to change.  I love my new life even if I am not at my lightest weight I do feel and I am the strongest I have ever been. I am so conflicted as to what I need to focus on right now in my life. 
I really enjoyed running the race Saturday and loved how great it felt to run fast and feel like a real runner but how important is that to the grand scheme of life?  I feel so selfish when I take any time away from the family for myself.  How did I get back to this point?  I need to figure this out.  I love the feeling of running and fear I've had my last run till spring with the snow today.
So much on my mind....  I think a lot of it comes with the financial stress with Christmas coming. We always have what we need but add in presents for 5 kids and money doesn't go very far.  We always provide a nice modest Christmas but with my boys getting older our previous spending limit won't buy them anything on their wish lists.  I guess I better start hunting for deals or gift cards might be a lame present but they might have to do. 
Now to figure out how to get rid of stress eating and just be content all the time and I'll have it made. I'm looking forward to a second workout tonight while watching "Biggest Loser".  The contestants really help me remember where I have come from and that I can keep going even when I have set-backs.  Weight struggle does not define me but is forever a part of me!

My Halloween Half Marathon

Untitled by rjrunner at Garmin Connect - Details

Click on the link above to see my Halloween Half Marathon Run.  Too bad my stomach pains and issues killed my official time.  I still consider it a Personal Best Run! 2:01:07 running time (Thank goodness for my Forerunner by Garmin) and nearly 10 min spent in a port-a-potty. My official race time is 2:10.38.

My spits are pretty impressive for ME running!
mile 1-  8:12.4
mile 2-  8:36.5
mile 3- 7:57.4
mile 4- 8:25.2
mile 5- 8:54.5
mile 6-  8:56.3
mile 7- 10:07.6
mile 8- 10:08.0
mile 9- 10:04.3
mile 10- 10:34.2
mile 11- 10:17.8
mile 12- 10:00.1
mile 13- 10:07.2
overall average moving pace for the race  9:20.4 min/mile!

 Here's the shirt!

 Here's the costume the night before.

 4am and ready to go!

The race is over!  I was glad to see my cheerleaders at the end of this challenging race.

Runners I Need Opinion ASAP

So I just got an email that the Halloween Half Marathon will be run in 2 waves because of the 4000 runners.  The cut off is a time of 2:10.  I ran my first in 2:05 but I have no idea what time I might get this time because I haven't trained as hard and this is a different course.  Should I be at the back of the first wave or go at the beginning of the second wave?  Does it really matter?  It is going to be so COLD!  I just took the kids to school and it's 24 degrees outside.  I had to side step ice yesterday when I ran. I need to figure out what clothes to run in.

Haircut and running

My hair is now too short to pull up in a pony tail and the Halloween Marathon is this Saturday.  What do I do with my hair.  The race start will be a little below freezing at 30 Fahrenheit then warming to 50 by end of race.  Any ideas?  I've always just pulled it back.

A Rare Picture

I’m not one for unclothed pictures but I wanted to document all my hard work.  I’ve been doing 100 push-ups each night and 500 crunches as well as other toning (and the regular running and elliptical work).  If you ignore the extra loose skin and stretch marks I actually have muscles you can see. YEA!!!!!! Change is possible.  The POWER to change is within ALL of us!  YOU CAN DO IT!

Biggest Loser Round 2

I have been attending a biggest loser group to provide "inspiration" and answer questions.  Since I have been struggling with my eating lately I decided to join them as a participant. They are already 6 weeks into a 12 week competition but it takes 6 weeks to make a habit.  I don't have a lot of weight to lose but I do want to lose 15-20 pounds. The scale has crept up even higher and I pray that this will get my eating back in order.

I Just Am Not Ready I Guess...

I have a desire to get back into my really super healthy low calorie eating again and lose 15 pounds but I for some reason am not committed to it.  I start the day running 4-5 miles, eat a good healthy breakfast and a good lunch then the kids come home from school and the eating starts.  I think I need to figure out why I eat more than I need to again. I don't think it is stress eating because the kids have been really good today but I've still eaten 3 or 4 snacks. I think it is for a different reason than I was originally overeating but I just haven't figured it out. I am still squeezing into my favorite jeans but not for much longer if I keep this up.  I have the Halloween Marathon coming up and it would be nice to run it down a few pounds since I am heavier than my last half.  I need to do some soul searching and figure this out and SOON!

Jack Reached His Goal!!!

If you read back a few months you'll remember my post about an incredible young man whose dream is to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  In order for him to be able to serve he had to meet certain weight requirements, well he has worked hard!  He has sweated off 48 pounds in 3 months, 3 weeks and 3 days.  WOW!  His papers can now be resubmitted. I am so proud of him! He has overcome such a huge trial and he made a difference in so many lives.  He will be a huge blessing wherever he serves.  Congratulations Jack!  I know how hard it is to do what you have done and I'm proud of you!!!

Hee-Haw Farms

Family Fun VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

I Love General Conference

There is a living Prophet on the Earth today that receives revelation from our Heavenly Father. Watch General conference and I promise you there will be a message that will make you a better person, a better family, and have a happier life!

http://lds.org/general-conference/watch?lang=eng

Under 200 again!

A Dream Fulfilled- my Story

(I apologize for those of another faith that may not understand all of the church language in this post. I will do my best to explain.)

I couldn’t believe it, our Stake (Several local congregations make up a Stake.) has the opportunity to sing in the General Relief Society Broadcast (A meeting broadcast throughout the whole world to all of the women of the LDS faith.)   I couldn’t wait to know more details!  A couple weeks went by and no news.  Finally in Relief Society it was announced that the Bishop (Leader of the local congregation.) will be giving out assignments to sing.  I would need to wait for an assignment.  I have always dreamed of singing with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and this would be so close to fulfilling this dream.  I prayed and pleaded with Heavenly Father that I might have this opportunity. Weeks went by and I heard nothing more.  Finally I couldn’t stand not knowing any longer and waited outside the Bishops office to ask him if there was any chance that there was still an opening to sing.

There I sat waiting on the chairs outside the Bishops office with my husband at my side and simply asked the Bishop if there was any possibility of singing.  He said no, that the time was long gone.  All that came from my mouth was that my heart was broken then the tears began to flow.  I stood up and quickly left the building.  It was time for Sunday School but my heart was aching and I just couldn’t get control of my emotions.  My dream to sing in the choir seats of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir were shattered in that one moment.  How could this be?  Why was I not chosen?

My emotions overwhelmed me.  I felt a deep loss as I grieved my lost dream.  I took the time to write the Bishop a letter and explain my feelings and then the whole situation began to open up.  There had been a misunderstanding between leadership and no names had been given from our Ward to sing in the Choir.  Oh the loss of an amazing opportunity!  I was unaware that after I left the building with my emotions overflowing that the Bishop then spoke to the Stake President and the Stake Relief Society President to see if there was any possibility that I could sing with the choir.  The answer was no, but maybe if another sister couldn’t fulfill her assignment then they could be filled with sisters from our Ward.  Two weeks later a call came from the Bishop to please come to his office with my husband and that an opening had come for me to sing.  The amazing thing was that we were on our way home from visiting Temple Square as a family and watching the Joseph Smith movie.  I was already on a spiritual high and this was just miraculous!

As I sat in the Bishops office and an assignment was given for me to sing in the choir for the General Relief Society Broadcast I had no idea what a spiritual experience I was in for. My life is forever changed from this one experience! I had just one week to memorize all of the music but I would do my best.  I was thrilled to find out that there were 3 assignments to be filled by our Ward and that Sister Freeman and Sister Horrocks would also be singing.  As I attended the first practice I realized that I was in for a spiritual feast.  Sister Emily Wadley was our Director. She is an amazing woman with a huge testimony and such a fun personality.  I would leave every practice full of the spirit and ready to do my best.  Not only did we have the incredible Sister Wadley but also Sister Anderson and several sisters from the General Relief Society Board and Stake Presidents speak to us.  I would come home on such a spiritual high that it was so hard to describe to my husband.  I was on fire with the gospel of Jesus Christ! 

I am the 4th sister in the back row on the left hand side.

This is Sister Emily Wadley our incredible Choir Director! (You can see her in the Movie 17 Miracles.)

Finally the day of the performance was here.  I attended 2 soccer games and helped coach one of them that morning.  We quickly came home and I prepared to leave for the broadcast.  I had such peace in my heart knowing that I had done all that I could to prepare both the music as well as my spirit.  It was a blessing to have been given a third calling just a few days before to teach Gospel Doctrine Class because I was in the scriptures in depth each day to prepare my lesson.  My testimony of answered prayers and that my Heavenly Father knows me personally has grown so much from this experience.  Singing just a few feet from the beautiful pipes of the organ was incredible.  The sound was amazing.  Our songs were beautiful.  Being just feet from our living prophet, President Monson and his counselors, President Eyring and President Uchtdorf was wonderful.  To be with all of the leaders of the Women’s Auxiliaries of the Church was also wonderful.  I could feel of their love for the sisters of the Church and of their spirits.

Our Heavenly Father knows us and he loves us!  He knows the desires of our hearts and he had a part in the fulfilling of this dream for me.  As insignificant as it may seem,  it was a huge event for me.  I will always remember singing in the Conference Center for the entire world to hear my testimony of Jesus Christ through song. I was sitting in the very same seats that the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sits in.  A dream come true and so much more!

Please go to this link to watch this broadcast. There is a message in it for each of us to improve our lives.

http://lds.org/general-conference/sessions/2011/10?lang=eng

This address below will bring you to watch the entire broadcast rather than just selections.

http://lds.org/general-conference/watch/2011/10?lang=eng&vid=1180379301001

I’m Registered!

So I decided I needed a fitness goal so here it is!  Just over a month to get ready for it.  I better start adding some extra miles to my regular runs.  Oh dear I can’t add to my regular runs because I have to home to get the kids off to school.  Hmmmm, I guess I’ll just have to start running in the evening or on Saturday to get the longer runs in.  Yeah!!! I am so excited to have something to work toward!

205 are you kidding me?

As frustrated as I am,  I still feel beautiful and strong!

(I’m still wearing size 10 jeans!)

 

I can’t believe I’ve allowed myself to get back here.  I had a goal to NEVER see 200 pounds again!  I am very frustrated to be here.  It makes me sad that I haven’t kept my promise to myself to eat only healthy foods.  The exercise I do and I enjoy but FOOD is another creature.  Once I let the forbidden foods back into my diet after my gall bladder surgery (for comfort) in February,  18 pounds have come flying back.  So, the foods are forbidden again.  I think I am an all or nothing kind of girl. I wish I weren’t but it is just the way I am wired.  I also don’t have any fitness goals right now, nothing to train for so I need to change that real quick too.  There is a half marathon for Halloween that I am toying with.  It is a much more difficult course than my first half  (steeper to start and a lot longer flat distance) so that scares me a little  BUT I have realized that I am a goal driven woman for the most part.  I did set my goal to get back under 190 to see Cilene Dion but since I know we can’t really afford it I guess it hasn’t meant too much to me.  So I am setting a short term goal to be back under 200 solidly by October 1st.  I really want to be under by next week but we’ll see. (I have been retaining a lot of water from too much sodium so it may be possible.) I can do hard things!!!

FOOD!

It would be so much easier if my “addiction” was something that I didn’t NEED every day.  The past week was bad.  I need to find my self control again.  I know it is here somewhere.  I desperately want to lose 15 pounds.  I am so frustrated that I let this weight creep back on. I can do this, I know I can. It is just so hard to choose spinach over chips or an apple over chocolate chips. If all I had to do was exercise to lose weight then I’d be set. Exercise comes easy to me now. Too bad that most of the equation falls to the food. 

I was asked to talk to some ladies in a Biggest Loser Group.  You would think that would kick me into gear and I hope it does but so far I am justifying everything. I CAN DO THIS!!! IT IS HARD but WORTH IT!!!!!

50/20 Hike- hardest physical challenge of my life

The Scout District put together a 50/20 hike. 50 miles in 20 hours or less. I joined them with Nathan “just to take pictures” for a few miles. Well, the leader that came with them was having some physical troubles so I felt I really should stay with them. I am really glad I did because the leader left at mile 28.  It was the hardest physical, mental, and emotionally challenging experience of our lives. I am so impressed by these young men.  They can do ANYTHING in their lives!  They have such strong character and determination to overcome such a huge obstacle. I am especially proud of my son Michael!  You are incredible!  I am so blessed to be your mother!

It is hard to describe the physical pain that you body feels after walking for 20 miles straight without any rest.  You ache every where, your feet are blistered and swollen, you are sunburned, bug bites everywhere,  your muscles are burning so bad that you can barely hobble along the last 10 miles.  You can't see it in these pictures but these boys were in horrible physical pain after the first 15 miles or so from chaffing and blisters.  They kept going through the pain and tears.  If they can persevere through this they can accomplish anything and everything life puts before them. 120 boys signed up to do this and one by one they dropped out.  3 of our 4 boys finished it with me and overall I believe 20 or less actually did the full 50 miles.  You boys are the best of the best! Congratulations!!!

We couldn't have done it without Stace Dalton! Jacob's mom followed along, ran for food, provided medical attention, new socks, entertainment and the best moral support ever!  The other groups were so jealous of our support woman!!! One of the most tender moments was when her son wanted to quit and she went and parked the car up at each next mile marker, walked back to him then they would walk together.  Thanks Stace!       

                                     

Just passed the 49 mile marker!

They had no idea that this experience would change their lives!

		50/20 Hike VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL