Phit-N-Phat...Making Fitness and Weightloss a Lifestyle

Why I Lost 110lbs

At PNP we are starting the Fire In My Belly Eight Week Challenge. I wanted to send the girls a pep talk but after writing it I decided many people needed to hear this. It doesn't matter if you do my challenge, a Biggest Loser at work, Weight Watchers, or some other program, this is what you NEED TO KNOW to finish.

This message not only is what worked for me, but also my mom. Sure we have systems and such but Mammy had to do the same as me...decide it was time to change her life. Here's a pic of us this weekend celebrating life with a little dancing!

 

And here's my words to my wonderful girls at PNP.

You can do this. You CAN do this. Set your goals high and appreciate success that comes your way. Sometimes success is delayed, hidden, and not right in front of our eyes. You WILL have times you can't workout, kids are sick, have to work late, leave your food at home, don't prep enough, decide to go out with the gang, binge one night, eat too much, cut short a workout, go on a trip, etc.

What I am saying these things will happen and for many of you it will mean, unfortunately, you judge that as a failure on your part. It's not. Deal with it. It's called life and life happens. This eight weeks is about changing your life which means changing how you deal with the things that will ALWAYS happen.

You know why I lost my weight after several attempts at failing? I never gave up this time. I had a big goal...bigger than losing 100+lbs. I wanted to be healthy for once in my life. That meant changing how I talk to myself, how I ate, learning to exercise, etc. Triathlons, races, bodybuilding all had to be learned but those goals were little compared to being a new Corinne who just simply wasn't going to quit. I knew I would fail a lot but I wasn't going to fail and not get up again 20lbs heavier and three months later.

I failed so many times, too, getting here. I had plenty of days I ate too many carbs - hell, I didn't even know it mattered the first 50lbs. LOL. I just ate better foods that I liked and naturally the calories came down because my veggies weren't fried and going out to eat was some place I couldn't get into trouble. I didn't count calories, didn't wear a heart rate monitor, my strength workouts were too far and few between, and I couldn't tell you squat about a macro. Even having what most of you call a total screw-up day it was hella better than a regular day.

When you are in pretty good shape it's too easy to make it wayyyy harder than it has to be, too. Figure out the one thing that usually screws you up and fix that. Tell me what it is in the forums and I bet I can help you fix it if you are willing to quit making the same mistakes over and over again.

And that's where we end. This eight weeks don't go into it like you always do ESPECIALLY if you aren't where you want to be. Go into this expecting some failures and learning from them versus using them as an excuse to read about our winner and wonder why you couldn't do it. I will bet my weightloss that whoever wins will miss a workout, eat things they didn't plan or "shouldn't" and make plenty of mistakes. She'll also be the one who kept showing up at the next workout and meal shaking off those mistakes.

Love you girls and I would ADORE it if we had all 64 of you complete the challenge having changed their life...in some way.

Mammy Update: What Is She Down To?

Here's a note from Mammy to keep everyone posted on her status. YES! She is still losing and getting better. If you read through her blog topics you will see it was just a matter of making small lifestyle changes. This weekend the two of us hit Whole Foods for a shopping trip and she was buying up tons of fresh foods, meats, and healthy items. Yay Mammy!

 

It’s been a while since I sent you an update.  Everybody probably thinks I’ve fallen off the wagon, but that is far from the truth.  I’m just lazy about posting and updating. 

The biggest change is because you gave me an early Mother’s Day present in April.  Alison has helped me learn to love lifting.  I’ve lost 5.5 inches since I started with her about 8 weeks ago.  I’ve enjoyed working with her so much I bought 6 more months with her.  Thanks Corinne for the best Mother’s Day present ever.  I’ve lost a total of 86.6 pounds since my journey began and almost that many inches.  I’ve gone from a size 26 and/or 3x sometimes 4x clothes to size 14 or 16 dress (depends on the dress style) and size 16 jeans.  That’s regular size…no plus sizes for Mammy!  I could wear smaller sizes if I didn’t have so much loose skin around the lower abdomen and hip/upper thigh areas.  So like Corinne says, if you are young, get that weight off now before your skin is so stretched out that you will have to face the loose skin battle.  It’s very frustrating.  I’m saving my pennies though and hope to one day be able to have a lower body lift and arm/boob fix.  But it’s very expensive so it will take a while for me to save up.  If anyone knows a sugar daddy out there, send him my way.

I don’t want to end on the negative.  The positives from lifting have been so fabulous for me.  Some of you know I have a terribly arthritic left shoulder.  My range of motion has improved tremendously since I’ve been working with Alison.  I can now unhook my bra from the back!  It’s getting easier to shave my left pit too.  Sounds small to you, but oh so big for me.  My walking speed is what killed me when I walked my ½ marathon.  I walked about 2 miles per hour prior to lifting.  I now walk between 2.5 and 3.0!  I’m improving every week.  And finally, the thing I’m the most proud of is squatting.  If I hold on to something (balance is still my issue but we are working on that) I can almost squat to the floor.  Ask Corinne how much I’ve improved…it’s amazing 

That’s about it.  Thanks to everyone for their support over the last year and a half.  But especially thanks to Corinne for giving me Alison.  The gift of phat rules.  Thanks to Alison for helping reach more goals that I thought were impossible to achieve.  Corinne, if you post this, you should post that picture of you two together.  My 2 favorite trainers.

Mammy

I've Lost So Much Weight...Why Am I Still Fat?

Mammy and I went to have her body fat tested in the ole dunk tank for the first time. I won't share it because it is her's to share, but like most people who lose a lot of weight after being sedentary and very overweight for a long time, it's high.

She was pretty upset. Not crying jag or anything like that, but she's lost a lot of weight, almost in Onederland, and she was just shocked she was still "so fat."

She asked if I knew my body fat when I lost my weight a few years ago. I wasn't dunked, but I had some caliper testing and at my same weight (nearly to the pound today) I was 26.something %. Today I came in at 16%.  

That's huge progress over the years. She asked me, in essence, how can it be she's still got so much "fat" to lose. It's simple, strength training. It has made ALL the difference in my physique. I still have so many women afraid to lift heavy because they don't want to see the scale slowly move down while they lose weight.

Let me tell you, the most miserable part of my weightloss for the past five to six years hasn't been trying to maintain it. I lost my weight the way I would keep it off. The hardest part for me was finally losing the weight and being HEARTBROKEN with what was left of my naked body.

It's been a tough road mentally at my goal weight. I think we all dream of what our bodies will look and feel like. We get there and it's a mess if you had a long way to go. We aren't tight like a fitness model, our boobs sag because most of our mommies, what used to be firm just ain't because we're older, and our tummies for the most part look like someone whose had kids. If you had kids AND you had gained a lot of weight without getting off for a long time it is going to look like a mommy belly.

Is there shame in all that? No. Maybe some disappointment Playboy will never call you, but honestly I see more women at or near goal who have their flaws. They also have a healthy weight, healthy lifestyle, and are fitter than their 20 something tight counterpart.

Back to Mammy, I told her that the body fat was high for one reason: she didn't do her strength training like her daughter kept telling her. See, walking and eating clean will get your weight off. For my mom, me, and many others, the weight is a death sentence just waiting to be carried out. Aesthetics weren't her number one goal. She wanted to live her life and that meant doing what she was willing to do.

Well, 80+lbs later Mammy's #1 goal has changed. Now it's I want to look as good as I can. Like me, I wish she had started on this road before the weightloss so that 80lbs would look more like 120lbs! But, like me, she's gotta start when she's ready. Now she's strength training 2-3 times a week, doing a variety of cardio, and still walking. 

I can promise you that strength training not only makes you strong, it helps you lose more FAT (versus a bunch of other stuff you need), and it helps you reach your ultimate goal in weightloss. More people come to me stalled out in their journey because the strength component was never there or they never really lifted hard enough.

You don't always have to workout in a gym either! I know how many of you think. Workout at home. You don't need much to get started and you can get a wicked workout quite easy. Check out some of my stuff:

Treadmill Bootcamp has a whole 30-day calendar of treadmill workouts that not only get your cardio in, but it also has strength combined so you work your muscles. I've included a menu and instructions on how to perform all the exercises. And, you can always email questions or comment here!

Work Your Butt Cardio Book is filled with all kinds of workouts. Treadmill, bike, sprints, body weight, abs, and more you get the book our PNP girls when they join PNP. And, there are upper and lower body cardio workouts if you are short on time and need to do double-duty at times.

Let's Get It Started Beginner Strength Program is a 12 week exercise program I've used with many clients. It starts with the basics, has a menu, sample cardio routines, and all kinds of moves you can do at home or in the gym. It's a great beginner guide for those who want to change the physique while they start a long journey.

Updates!

How are we all doing through this workshop? I tell you, it's been a great start to the year at PNP. I have clients who are making so much progress. It is inspiring to think of the exceptional effort and work that so many are giving this year. 2010 is just in the baby stages and we have a lot to be proud and thankful about.

Beth and Kirsten are training to walk half-marathons. Each have had their own life struggles that left them thinking they could "never do it." Sound familiar? Well, this week both of them pushed out 8 miles - their longest walks yet. It's not easy for either of them but each week they show up to the treadmill or COLD elements and shove on. So proud of both ladies.

Mammy has broke out the regular sizes! No more plus size! NEVER AGAIN. She sent me the best powerpoint of her year but I'm struggling to get it loaded. I hope this works and if it doesn't I could forward to you in email if you want to see it. It is a PDF in this email so I really hope you can see it.

Mammy's Journey: What a Differnce a Year Can Make

We've got several girls at PNP also jumping into the bikini, figure, and fitness worlds with me! You would be so proud of the work and dedication my PNP members get to read each and every day in our forums. From the workouts to the menus they share it all and have been killing it with results. Our own Joni has even met a man! Not because she lost weight but I think when you are focused on making your life better then better things seem to happen to you.

Roxane and Dawn are wearing clothes and sizes they have long since put away. All of us are making amazing progress. The most inspiring part is that we aren't just dieting and exercising to death. We are working on making sure we keep FGT away, appreciating a healthy lifestyle, and understanding our bodies enough to return to a normal life when we are done.

That isn't always easy for anyone who loses weight: the return to "normal". I could and should write a book on it. Lifestyle and maintenance are an animal and it really shows how hard you worked your mental muscle when you are done with the losing phase.

I have loads of others doing amazing things and I wish I had all day to share their successes. Maybe some of the girls like Sherri, Rachel, Elizabeth, Caroline, Jeannie, Kathy, Arlett, Kate, etc., will come out and share! But, I also want to hear from our blog girls so let's all get caught up.

For me, I am down almost four pounds during my competition training. This weekend I have my bikini viewing with my trainer. My diet is nice and not hard to follow. I get...

M1 - oats and chicken
M2 - chicken and sweet potato
M3 - lean ground beef and all the greens I want (I actually use roasted broc and green beans and it's delicious)
M4 - chicken and sweet potato
M5 - tuna "salad" on greens and more green veggies
M6 - lean ground beef and greens again

I really love this menu. I flavor things up a lot so don't think chicken is just plain baked chicken. This week when I get to prep I plan to shoot some more video of my famous chicken and tuna salads. I'm going to show off my green beans and hit upon a few of my favorite "fillers" from the fridge. Two words: mustard and pickles!

My calories shake out to be about 1500 which is super satisfying. Two days a week I add a little extra sweet potato to rotate my carbs slightly and any day that I strength train I drink a protein shake while I train since it is right after my fasted cardio. That brings me to around 1700 on some days.

Right now my program is 45 min. of daily fasted cardio of whatever I can toss at myself. Then I do weights 4-5 days a week for 30-40 minutes. Sometimes 20 if I am splitting out to five days. If it's four days it runs about 30-40 minutes which allows for a lot of stretching in between exercises.

There you have it my girls. We're all on target to kill this workshop together. Tonight you will get your weekly email with a bunch of links to my favorite gear for fitness and the lifestyle. We're going to discuss gear all week long.

Mammy's January Update/What Kind of Eating?

I sort of forgot all about updating on Mammy since the workshop began! But, what better to do it than lifestyle week. Let's hear what she has to say!

"It's been a while since I measured.  While I was "off" in December, I didn't measure myself.  I had two separate injuries to my ankles with a couple of falls (dog related).  After resting my ankles for about 4 weeks, they have finally gotten back to my pre-injury status. 

I've been back walking daily and going to the big-girl gym since the 1/3/2010.   I went ahead and measured  to see where I'm at.  I have lost a little since starting back. 

Last time I measured was 11/30/2009.  I've lost 2.75 inches and 4 pounds since 1/3/2010 (this message was sent to me 1/17/2010 BTW).  I knew I had lost because my new PJ's are getting too big and my jeans are getting loose. 

This brings my total 3/2009 to 72.5 inches and 74.2 pounds.  My goal wt is 64.8 pounds away.  At an average of 2 pounds per week, that's about 32 weeks away; which is around my birthday week, August 24th.  What a birthday present that would be! 

I'm excited to be going strong with my exercise again.  I'm feeling better already."

 

This week we're discussing doing all the things we've covered in the workshop to the extent you are willing to commit. I get email after email of PNP girls and readers who try to figure out what is "perfect" in losing weight. I will say it again. There is no PERFECT. There is only what you can sustain and do for a long time.

If you are always in search of perfect, girls, you miss out on a lot of life.

"If I don't eat perfect today the way X plan says I should then I have failed. Might as well just eat this, that, and more of whatever I can find. I will just have to get back on track tomorrow, Monday, first of next month, etc."

When you keep waiting around for doing things perfectly you know what happens? You don't somehow just lose 75lbs in a year like my mom. Honestly, if she had done a "perfect plan" with strength, hard core daily workouts, lowered carbs, etc., she may have lost 110lbs by now...IF SHE COULD HAVE DONE THOSE THINGS SOLIDLY FOR A YEAR!

Guess what? We took the approach of doing what she can when she could and she lost 75lbs. What a failure, huh? I wish we could all fail that good!

OR

"If I don't eat perfect today the way X plan says I should then I have failed. Might as well starve myself, cut back here, and then do extra exercise to make up for not being strong enough to eat what THEY say. I'll do this until the weight budges."

When this person keeps waiting on perfect to happen they find it never does. They just keep a cycle of deprive and punish going for so long they have a body that looks NOTHING like the effort they put forth.

By relaxing and realizing there are days you should eat more calories than what the "perfect plan" says you aren't failing. You only fail when you don't listen and keep trying way too hard.

Today's lesson and for the rest of the week is dialing into the kind of hunger you have. Try these things this week depending on what your struggle might be.

1. Are you hungry?
Are you experiencing any physiological conditions that are signaling to you that you are hungry? Is your stomach growling? Do you feel weak or tired? Are you having a hard time concentrating, thirsty, or totally focused on food when you should be thinking about something else?

Has it been longer than three or four hours since you last ate? Are you eating plenty of calories of healthful food at each meal or still trying to just eat what you think is the right amount of calories?

Determine whether you are genuinely, physically hungry or whether you are eating for a different reason. If you've determined that you are hungry, then it's time to eat. Move to the next meal, add in a snack like nuts or fruit, but whatever you do don't sit there trying to hold out. Do you really think skipping a damn apple or 20 nuts will make next year's weigh in better? If you are truly hungry just eat so don't eat BS when you do sit down to a meal.

2. Are you depressed or anxious?
Did you just get into a fight? Are you anxious about a work-related deadline? is it time to pick up the kids and listen to another round of "I hate school and my brother is hitting me."

These are trigger situations and this is when you have to truly white knuckle. This is not hunger. You know how I know the difference? When it's emotional I don't want to eat a can of tuna with nothing on it. I just want anything that tastes somewhat good and I want it now. I'm looking to feel good and not make my tummy quit growling.

You have to drink green tea, water, take a walk, punch a bag, or call a friend. This is when you have to truly re-learn how to deal with a situation and not your hunger.

What are your thoughts on this?

Miracles

We have a discussion group on our PNP private message boards restarting for the new year: Onederlanders. Several types of diet boards have this group and if you aren't sure what it means let me explain.

Like me for so many years, you HATE with everything that your weight starts with a "2". It holds power over you and makes you feel as if you are so much more out of shape than someone in the "1s". Your first big diet desire is to be a Onederlander where you cross the threshold to 199. When I hit it, I swear I cried and woke up Chris to tell him!

We have a special group of these ladies who chat: they face a whole different set of struggles than others trying to lose. Doesn't mean they have it harder; not at all. They just have a common bond and a lot of mental muck. So, these ladies work a lot on lifestyle and their thinking - curing Fat Girl Thinking (FGT).

One of our valued members posted a running quote to our girls today and I just had to share because I got chills and teared up thinking about it.

"The miracle isn't that I finished....it is that I had the courage to start."

 

Girls, this is so true! I know being heavier has it's own set of struggles. You feel like others look at you, judge you, wonder why you bother in the gym, and assume awful things about you just because of how you look. IT SUCKS. I know.

But, you can't EVER let the fact you have a lot of weight to lose, your size, or what YOU THINK others think stop you. The hardest moment for you is going to be the day you had the courage to forget all of that BS and start living the life you want.

It means exercising when you might be the least fit one in the gym. That's OK. You pay your money and you work hard!

It means bringing your own food and facing down the questions and offers to go out to lunch. You can eat that food and NO you don't have to be the "fat friend" that makes it OK for other out of shape people to feel better about what they eat. Hell yes people do this! Being 20lbs overweight doesn't make them better or more deserving to stuff themselves. It just makes them feel better when they think the spotlight isn't on them and what they are eating. (That's BS if you are guilty of it, BTW!)

And, it might mean being the last girl to cross the finish line like my mom did. You know what? She is one of the small percentage of Americans who have ever crossed the finish line of a half marathon REGARDLESS of how long we TOUGHED it out. That medal shines just as bright as all the others.

You all need to realize that beginning the journey is when the role model is defined. If I never took my first few steps on the treadmill, tried eating baked chips instead of fries, and eventually realizing fruit isn't that hard to prep NONE of you would know who I am. Being willing to start and keep going to this day is what makes me who I am. Not a single one of you can't be me!

Sweet pic, huh? New Years Eve, baby!

So, yesterday I wanted to see where you were in the schedule. Today I want a hell yeah from my girls who are going to not let anything stop them in 2010; even if it means falling off the wagon and just hopping back on!

Mammy's 2010 Plan!

You've all been following my mom's story this year (you can read the tags MAMMY if you are new to the blog). Mammy had such a good year. She lost 70lbs and 70 inches in 2009 along with walking her first half marathon.

All of that happened this year is that she made lifestyle changes! She cut out fast food, started prepping food, walking, and made an effort to eat 5 times a day. That truly was her 2009 plan and we sure as heck got no more fancier than that.

A lot of you are planning your 2010 goals and so is she. She used the planning tool ALL BY HERSELF WITHOUT MY HELP and this is what she came up. I'm proud of her and you can see that after 70lbs she needs to plan a little more to keep getting fabulous results.

After reading it, I would love for more of you to share your plans and I hope this gives you some ideas and inspiration. 2009 she didn't start out with something like this and lost 70lbs. No telling what will happen in 2010! Whichever end of the journey your are on you can do just as much as my mom has done this past year. And, starting Monday is our workshop so DO YOUR PLANNING HOMEWORK!

Description: Increase my exercise in 3 ways by incorporating biking, swimming, weights, and walking into a weekly plan along with a goal of wt loss (not a specific number) each week. At least 3 times a week, walk 40 minutes (separate from the dogs) to work on my speed. Once a week, a long walk. Journal and measure my food 3 times a week.

Date to be accomplished: End of 12 weeks beginning Sunday 1/3/2010.

Action Steps:

Daily – exercise the dogs (even though it’s cold) at least 20 minutes twice daily. This is separate from their short walks and my daily exercise routine.

Weights – twice weekly (no excuses) – get some free weights to have at the house for times when I cannot get to the gym so I have no excuses. Obtain alternate exercises from Corinne to use with these hand weights.

Starting week 2, bike once a week in addition to weights. Walk 1 hour

Week 3 – add 1 day of swimming, 1 bike day. Walk 1 hr

Week 4 – add 2 bike days, 1 swim day. Walk 1 hr

Week 5 – 2 bike days, 2 swim days, 2 weight days. Walk 1 hr, 15 minutes.

Week 6 – 2 bike days, 2 swim days, 2 weight days. Walk 1.5 hours.

Week 7 – 2 bike days, 2 swim days, 2 weight days. Walk 2 hours.

Week 8 – 2 bike days, 2 swim days, 3 weight days. Walk 2.50 hours.

Week 9 – 2 bike days, 2 swim days, 3 weight days. Walk 2.75 hours.

Week 10 – 2 bike days, 2 swim days, 3 weight days. Walk 3 hours.

Week 11 – 2 bike days, 2 swim days, 3 weight days. Walk 3.5 hours.

Week 12 – 2 bike days, 2 swim days, 3 weight days. Walk 4 hours.

Personal Goals: Start back to church, stop cussing like a drunk sailor, enjoy life.

Measurement: Weight loss measured of course by the weight on the scale and body measurements. Number of days each week of exercise.

Obstacles:

Weather

Laziness (sloth – it’s one of the 7 deadly sins)

Watching TV

Keeping the grandkids or picking up from school

No weight loss and/or gain due to overeating (gluttony; another deadly sin) or poor planning

Solutions to Obstacles:

Go to the gym for biking and walking when weather is a factor.

Get hand weights for the house

Make everyone aware that my days to go to the gym are a number one priority.

Get help from Corinne & Edwin to keep me accountable.

Turn off the TV

Reward myself each week when I obtain my goals (shopping, pedicure, massage)

Reexamine my plan if no wt loss or if there’s a wt gain

Weekly food prep and meal planning

Mammy Update: Down 68lbs!

Mammy has been working very hard and still going strong. At this point she is making healthy choices and inserting a meal once a week or every other week that is controlled, but has a few things in it she enjoys. That's the way we've worked; not focusing on dieting but focusing on building a lifestyle she can lead.

Everyone can make BETTER choices. Everyone can avoid FAST FOOD restaurants. Everyone can WALK. Really people...that is all my mom has done and she's lost 68lbs. We have not done fancy pants stuff, worked out like demons, or bought tons of expensive equipment. No pills, no shakes, no pre-packaged meals. Just better choices.

She eats things she likes five to six times a day. They may not all be PERFECT macros, counted calories, and plugged into spreadsheets but she's losing weight better than people I see focused on these tactics versus what they are really doing. The difference is my mom doesn't have BAD days. She has consecutive good days; not by the book perfection. Nobody survives long term that way.

She is still eating her waffles and peanut butter with milk each morning. Most days she has walnuts, a Kashi Bar, fruits all she wants, soups for veggies, etc. Again, she likes soup so she makes VEGETABLE soup to eat with her dinners. She loves fruit so she eats as much as she wants. Waffles and peanut butter is like a cookie to her so she has that for breakfast.

Walking has just about been the only form of exercise. Now, I've been on her butt about this part. Starting Monday she's going to the big girl gym and starting a PNP strength program. No special programs for her. She's going to get one of our programs and do it at the gym. I'm going with her to make sure she does it and to hopefully video it for all of you to watch. We're still working on the Mammy program to have on the site so I hope the video will be a good way to show inspiration.

Here's an update from her and a current picture of the two of us at Moms and Muffins at Logan's school. NEITHER of us had the muffins but we did enjoy the morning.  Those muffins LOOKED good but this picture looks BETTER!  I also put her first 5K picture for comparison. She had lost some weight by the 5k.

My total weight loss is 68 pounds and 63 inches.  My weight loss has really slowed down so I need to get busy with the strength training. 

I'm feeling better than ever.  In fact, I think the reason I have fallen a couple of times is because I am so much more "lively" than before that I'm not watching where I'm going like I used to.   In the past I moved so slowly and so little there wasn't much chance of a fall.  Now it seems that I'm constantly doing something.  I just don't sit around watching TV like I used to. 

It's been awful hobbling around on a cane since I twisted my ankle.  I can't believe this was my life a year and half ago.  I have realized with this fall that I NEVER want to be limited to a cane or canes ever again.

That's it for this month.  The inches just keep coming off.  I bought a pair of jeans to wear to my reunion in October and they are already too loose.  I went and bought a smaller size last weekend.  Woot!

Mammy's Own Race Report

From my mother's post to the PNP Girls...

I'm back from Columbus.  I'm so shocked that I'm not sore today.  My only real issue is the huge blister I have on my right foot. The blister is on the spot where one pair of shoes lets my foot roll inward too much and eventually causes pain and where the shoes I wore on race day actually holds my foot in a more correct position.  I switched back and forth between these 2 pair of shoes the last 6 to 8 weeks I trained.  The pink shoes were cushier but the blue shoes held my foot up better.  On the long walks I could never decide between the two.  The last few short walks I did prior to the race I wore the pink ones and worked very hard to pick up my pace on the treadmill. I think the pain I had the last week before the race was caused from increased speeds wearing the cushy shoes.  On race day I went with the blues, and that's why I have a blister on that area. Lesson:  pick your best shoe and wear it.  Mammy has got to embrace the fact that there is no perfect, magical shoe.

During the race; early on I had one scare. I walked on the edge of one side of the road so I wouldn't get mowed down by all the runners.  Then about 3 to 5 miles into it (I really can't remember at what point but it was early) we moved over to more of the middle of the road but on the opposite side.  I got a real funny stiff, cramp-like feeling in the front part of my ankle; like suddenly I couldn't bend it without it hurting really badly.  We stopped, stretched it and then walked in the middle of the road where it was the flattest.  Eventually, the pain subsided and we decided it was where I was walking kind of at a slant with the part of my foot that tends to hurt being on the downward slant; then changing to the flatter surface which may have torn some soft tissue.  That's what caused the pain and that eventually went away as I walked through it.  Plus I took a Lortab after Corinne decided I wouldn't mask the pain too much.

Another time when we were making a turn, Corinne jokingly said, "if we go straight right here, we'll shave off 4 miles."  She and Jill went into the gas station to get coffee, and I kept walking.  At that point the blister was just starting to bother me and I thought to myself, maybe I should just go straight.  I thought about turning around and telling Corinne that I think we should do that.  I'm glad I didn't.  I pressed on.  But I did take another pain pill. 

The last few miles were tough because of the blister.  We stopped several times to put Vaseline on it which helped, but eventually the blister busted and I just had to walk through the pain.  We were so close to the finish that I couldn't quit.  Besides, Corinne said I had made it this far, "you're not stopping because of a blister."  I'm glad she felt that way.  I'm so happy I didn't quit. 

Doing shots...that was great.  I was in so much pain, wanted it to be over,  and that for some reason really seemed like a great idea.  You have to know though, I only do shots with my son on game day.  I always have to chase it down with some red bull or something.  That shot tasted so good.  No chaser.   I really think that got me through the last 2 miles.  I know it's not a healthy approach but it worked for Mammy!

The finish line.  It was like a dream.  I could barely stand up.  The last mile I had held on to Corinne to keep from staggering.  When I saw everybody coming to-wards me I looked at my baby girl and said, "I hope I don't fall down!"  That's why she shewed everyone away until we got to the line.  She told me she explained that to y'all while I was recovering last night.  But I want y'all to know.  I will NEVER forget the faces I saw.  I have never felt so much love and support from all of you but especially from my Daughter Corinne.  When I found out my Daddy was going to die, I remember looking at Corinne and saying, "no one will ever love me and make me feel loved like Daddy ever again."  That was true for the last 9 years until yesterday.  Y'all made me feel so loved and supported....I just can't express it so you will understand.  I felt Daddy's presence in each of you yesterday.  I will never forget that experience. 

To all the people that have emailed me and posted words of encouragement all along the way, thank you so much.  Corinne would read me updates from facebook where people commented during the race.  And all the pre-race words of encouragement...you all are incredible women and I thank you all from the bottom of my heart.

A special thanks to Jill.  Thank you for helping Corinne take care of me yesterday.  I know it was grueling having to walk for 6 hours and 40 minutes; having to get up extra early so I could start early, and having to drive like a fool to try to get back to us to take me to the hotel yesterday.  Plus coordinating all the other stuff you did with the other girls.  You are officially an adopted daughter.  Corinne finally has a sister.    

Finally, my sweet girl.  She has worked so hard to get me to this point. She has sacrificed precious time away from Chris and Logan to walk with me, talk to me on the phone, answer my endless emails, and going over stuff multiple times (Mammy has short term memory issues).  She has been a ROCK throughout these last few months.  Always encouraging, always saying the right things when I would lose my confidence, or feel like I wasn't making progress.  God has blessed me with this child.  I always have said when I got pregnant with her at such an early age, she probably saved my life then.  I was pretty rowdy back then.  I think she has saved my life again.  I know I will live longer because of her and live a happier, healthier life because of her.  Corinne I love you so much!  Thank you for giving me the confidence to achieve this monumental goal.  I can't wait for the next race.  I'm determined to get faster and stronger.

I love you all!

Mammy

Mammy's Race Report, Video, and My Own Account

What a weekend. Let me recap my memory and then I will share Mammy's in another blog. We also got a little video for inspiration in this post. I hope one day, if you are reading this and doubting yourself, you will see that it CAN BE DONE. Only YOU stand in the way of being healthy and fit. So, honk honk, get out your own way!

Corinne's Race Report...

Our race started at 6:30 a.m., dark, very cold, and just three girls wearing pink walking the sidewalks before the official race began. No bands, guns, cheers, or hugs for us.

The streets were still open and we had to ask someone which way to go since we forgot to pack the map. As the race opened we knew it only because cops were screaming by, the sun was coming up, and the wheelchair racers flew by. We got to see the awesome Kenyans and such since we were ahead of the pack.

Next came the RUNNERS. You know, the ones barely clothed because they were humping. We had to yet again leave the road to avoid getting run over. Some woman even had the gall to say, "Oh, you are SLOW walkers," as if we didn't deserve to be there. We did and would prove it later.

As the recreational athletes, mommies, grandmothers, girls like us came by we got more love and pats on the back for being there. Those people are the athletes I brag to Mammy about. The ones who are in a race but also know you are too and shout out words of encouragement. The running community truly is so supportive.

Around mile four the PNP Nation came screaming by us yelling words of encouragement. We all wished each other well and they pressed on. At mile six we got the news they were pulling all support. The race officials said, "You know there will be know help right? We're taking up all the water and breaking down the streets. Do you need anything?" I said "Maybe some water (just in case - I had a FULL backpack of food) and a map would be helpful."

I've always said last place is the girl on the couch because many times I've been in last. I've never been behind the race closure, though. It is lonely and scary. We had six miles to cover in downtown Columbus with a map and high spirits. The guy even said if we ran into trouble to please dial 911!!!! Seriously! It didn't occur to me that if we fell, got robbed or whatever we had to call 911 and hope someone could find us.

After mile 8 there were no more mile markers; they had taken down all of that. No crowds, no love, no police, no volunteers, nothing but the three of us and my mom's determination to finish. Jill and I wanted her to finish so bad but talked a lot about pulling her if needed. We even asked Caroline to stay behind at the finish line so we would have a car to pick us up if she wasn't going to make it. We simply didn't know what was going to happen and I so didn't want to have to dial 911.

Mile 11 we took  a shot of Jaeger. Silly, yes, but seriously needed. I told Jill I would do a girlie 150 for it. Mammy was in so much pain and my nerves were shot trying to hold it together. The queen doesn't like emotions and stress and she was holding a lot in trying to keep Mammy positive and Jill from worrying. I know how Jill is with all that "S" in her and I didn't want her to be a hot mess. :)

We hit a rough two miles. I knew Mammy "could" finish I just really struggled with if she should. My worst nightmare would be to push her so hard that she can't live this lifestyle anymore. Medals are one thing but I want her to love this lifestyle.

At the finish I was so overwhelmed. I mean I loved it for Momma but it meant so much to me that all the girls stayed behind and we could cross together. For real, we really brought home the message of what PNP was about. We had women of every shape, size, athletic ability, you name it there walking together and celebrating being healthy. I don't know if I could have scripted anything better.

We were officially last place and it never felt so good.