renewedhope

I got mine at Game Stop. They are really hard to find. You just have to keep callling places. I caught mine in the morning. A shipment of 4 had just arrived. They definately don't sit on the shelf. Good luck to you.

Wow, what a day. Our social worker called this morning to check on us, and to tell me that the kids are doing well. They slept well last night, and Hannah started school today. I am so glad they are doing well. DS and I cleaned house today. Deep cleaning. I taught DS to clean baseboards. I know, child labor. LOL We really had a good time and worked really hard. With 5 kids my house had not been cleaned like this in a long time. We finished at about 8:30 tonight. I put off yesterday's run until today, and after all of that cleaning I really wanted to put it off again, but I know myself well enough to know that I can't afford to do that. I am on week 10 which is a 35 minute run. I knew in the beginning that after all that cleaning I didn't have a 35 minute run in me. I did a 25 minute run and I feel good about that. I might run again tommorow. I am really ready to pick myself up and move forward. I go to the doctor on Tuesday. I have still not weighed and am anxious to see what I weigh. I definately will NOT go a whole month without weighing again, but i will probably cut my weighing to once a week. Have a great night everyone.

Bonnie, Ditto to what these other ladies said. I will be thinking of you!! ((HUGS))

We just go thome a little while ago. The kids did great. The 4 year old was even able to communicate that she was excited and sad too. I was very impressed that she has the ability to seperate those emotions. 6 months ago she would hardly say anything. It was much harder than I anicipated, but the worst is over. I pretty much feel like a zombie today. Didn't sleep well last night. Today is my run day, but I think I may put it off until tommorow after a good night's rest. So, I just put Dylan down for a nap and it is soooo quiet here. I have attached a picture of me with my 2 boys. My family has really shrunk, but I look forward to spending lots of time with them and being less stressed.

Hang in there Leslie. As long as you keep getting back on you are winning!!!

Jeannie, I do Jillian Michael DVD's 5 days a week. I don't do them on Wed and Sat. I run every other day, so sometimes I do both. I arrange my runs so that I always take 1 day off a week. The ladies on here all know that I used to not take a day off. My body finally gave out, and after a break for a day I could do much more than when I pushed so hard. I am stubborn and learned the hard way, but the day off is really necessary. Kathy, You always have the coolest sounding outings with your family. I admire that about you!! Yall are always out doing something fun!! Way to go on the soccer NSV. Leslie, Good luck on the run tommorow. You will do great. It is mind over matter, so make up your mind and you've got it made. Well, I only have 1 more night to put my 3 babies to bed. It is really starting to sink in. We have been packing, etc. Today was a very emotional day. It was also very busy. I kept putting off my run. Then tonight I went to sonic and got a chili pie and coke. OMGosh, how aweful is that. Emotional eating at its best. So, after I ate it, I made myself get my tail on the treadmill and do my run. If I can emotionally eat then I can emotionally run.. So, today was the 3rd day of week 9. I will start the graduation week on Tuesday!! Say a prayer for us if you think of it. Tommorow is our last day with our foster kids. I want to make the most of it, yet there is so much to do to get everything ready. Today my mom asked if she could go with me to take them to their new home. I was surprised and excited. I am not the type to ask for such support or even recognize that I need it. DH will be out of town at a training so he can't go. He will be home late Tuesday night. I am really glad mom is going with me!!

smsmithart, SLOW DOWN!!! That is really fast. You have to work up to that speed. Right now you lack the endurance to maintain that speed. 5K is a distance run not a sprint. You have to go slower in order to go the distance. Kathy, Sounds like yall had a WONDERFUL day!! I LOVE chinese food, but have never been to Chinatown. I live in such a rural area that there is no such place here. We are thinking of a very small getaway next weekend with the kids. Our foster kids are leaving Tuesday, so we'd kinda like to do something special with the boys. HOpe everyone is having a great weekend!!

Mamato, I don't even know what to say. I am so sorry things are so difficult right now. When things calm down for you and you start running again, we will still be here to cheer you on. You are not an outcast. This thread has turned into so much more than running. We are still here for you. Glad DH is doing better. I pray he will continue to improve. WAY TO GO WHOSYA!! You are such an inspiration to us all!

LITE I LOVE IT!! I am definately in.

That sounds great Georgia. I have often thought about becoming a personal trainer. We definately would have the ability to relate to and help people on their journey to become physically fit. Kathy, your goals sound great! I would like to walk in a room and turn heads too. When we go to Cancun we won't be taking children aong. We don't normally go anywhere without the kiddos, but this would be an exception. A VERY romantic getaway.

Ok, here I go. I thought my goal was to run a 5K, and it was. Now I am thinking 8K, and at some point I would like to train to run a triathalon(I don't even know how far each part of that is ) When I reach 150 I plan to reward myself with a tummy tuck, thigh lift and breast lift!! Can't wait. DH told me a few weeks ago that after I finish all of the above surgeries and have healed well he wants to take me to Cancun to celebrate. How we are going to pay for all that is another story, but those are my goals.

Lyn, I always love your posts. Please don't ever stop posting. You always crack me up!! Yes, I am the insane nut that runs again at night. I think it's having the treadmil in your home staring out you. I swear mine calls my name when I walk by. Just like one of my kids begging for attention. I just finished my run. I upped my walk time to 3.8 and my run to 5.1. I didn't want to finish at 3.1 again. Well, I have to walk for an extra 45 seconds, but, including warm up and cool down I did 5K in 40 minutes, 15 seconds. Not bed for a novice. I listened to a little bit of the week 10 talk at the very end of my walk. He said that the next step is "Gateway to 8K". That should give all of us ladies something to look forward to. It doesn't stop at the end of the 5K. Whosya, I can't wait to here about your triathalon tommorow. That is just too cool. I told DH last night that I know I am crazy, but I would really like to train for a triathalon someday. I haven't a clue where to start, but it just sounds like the most amazing thing to accomplish. Congrats to you!!!

Lyn, you are too funny. You will do great! I am fixing to do my run as well.

I agree Luluc. I love this thread. WAY TO GO GEORGIA!!!!! You are awesome. I did good with food choices until tonight. Our foster kids are leaving on Tuesday, so I took our 4 year old girl out for a girl night. The other 2 are too little to understand, but she knows she is leaving and is really doing well. We have both cried, but she is going to be fine. Anyway, we ate Chinese food and then went to Hastings for hot chocolate and shared a brownie. We sat in the floor and read girlie books for over an hour. Then we ate gummy bears. So, needless to say, my calories went over for the day. But you know, I don't feel bad about it at all. Hannah and I had a WONDERFUL time. I will always remember our special girl night, when calories just didn't matter. I sure am going to miss my little guys.

way to go Kathy. I don't think I would have had that much willpower!! You rock!! Leslie, You are right, this is a wonderful chance for a new start. Just look at what you have accomplished so far. While the band doesn't do the work for us, it does seem to have a funny way of helping me get back on when I fall off the wagon. Used to I would "fall off the wagon" for months at a time but now now my "falling off the wagon" only lasts a couple of days. You can and will get going again. Enjoy your time at the gym and your run tommorow!!

I like the title for the Halloween Challenge. For New Year, how about something like, "Lookin Fine in 09". I am still watching all of you dropping pounds. I am still on my 1 month of no scales. I am 2 weeks in and man do I want to weigh. Because I am not weighing I find that I just assume I am not losing. I can't wait to see if my scales are moving. I know in 2 weeks they will be moving right back into my bedroom...

One more thought. What kathy said is so true. Don't let your head stop you. So many times I have decided in my head that I can't complete a run when my body is fine. Before I know it, my body has joined my head in this lousy thinking. When you start running just keep telling yourself how awesome you are and how good you are at running. Don't let negative thoughts slow you down.. So much of our successes or failures happen in our minds. That's with everything, not just running.

So I guess moving on to the graduation week would not be a good idea?? Just kidding! LOL. I will do 3 days of week 9. Kathy, my total distance was 3.1 miles and that included the warm up and cooldown. I am getting really close to running 5k. I can't believe it!! Jeannie, Here are my not so experienced answers... Not that I always follow my own advice, but here is what I think is best. What time of day is best to run? Whatever time you want to run. If you are not a morning person (I am not) then don't try to get up at 4a to run. Run at the time of day that you have the most energy. I run whenever the kids are sleeping. Either nap time or after bedtime. I prefer nap time because I don't really like running at 8p. The time doesn't matter as long as you run. Do you eat before or after? I do both. I eat something high in good carbs about 40 minutes before I run. Usually it is about 1/2 cup of oatmeal with butter and sweetened with Splenda. After my run I ALWAYS drink 8 oz of 2% milk. Do you run outside or on a treadmill? I run on the treadmill at my house. This is only because it is easier with the kids. I REALLY want to get outside and run. My treadmill is a Gold's Gym 450. I bought it at Walmart and i really like it. After Tuesday I will only have 2 kids so I plan on moving at least 1 run a week to the great outdoors. I am running a 5k on September 20th and it won't be run on a treadmill, so i want to train outdoors. I also think that being outside is good for all of us phsychologically. The natural sunlight is definately a good thing. So, there you have it. I am by no means experienced, but I am starting to love running. Just take your time and don't push your body beyond where it is ready to go. I am bad about doing that from time to time and I usually pay for it. I am learning to just enjoy the run. All of the times and numbers will come.

I just completed day 1 of week 9. It was tough, but it felt so good to run for 30 minutes. I can't believe that I have come that far in such a short time. I have to pinch myself. I only did week 8 for 1 day, but I just felt like I could give it the extra 2 minutes for week 9, so I went ahead. I know, I have a fussing coming from Whosya. Please forgive me one more time. Sometimes I just can't help myself. Tonight was another one of those monumental feeling runs! I heard the Rocky music again.

I have the set of 5 dvd's of Jillian's and they definately kick my butt!!! I skipped them yesterday. Is your DH at the same hospital that you work at? I'm glad his pain is better. Hang in there!

well, we have been out since 8 this morning. We had parent visits and the a preplacement visit for my kiddos. I really liked the family that they will be going to live with. They were very very nice. I really feel good about it. I will take them to their new home Tuesday. I am going to run late tonight. I am actually thinking of moving on to week 9. I have only done 1 day of week 8, but then I ran 3 more minutes after the cool down. week 9 is only 2 minutes longer than week 8, and I think I am ready, so we'll see. I can't believe I am almost running 5k. Pretty cool. I am really tired tonight and thought about not running, but it seems to be calming these days (boy, I never thought I would say that!!). Way to go on the run Kathy!! That is awesome. You will cut out those 1 minute walks in no time!! Mamato, How are you today??

Oh Mamato, So sorry for all you are going through. When I read your post I wanted to jump in the car and come help you. You must be completely exhausted. I am glad you got to run. It seems that exercise has become a big stress reliever for me as well. I hope your hip continues to do ok. I will pray for healing for your husband and peace and endurance for you. my heart is so heavy for you. I just don't have the words.

Lyn, I know Mamto is a nurse and i am a nurse. That's too funny. There at least 3 of us on this thread. Pretty cool.

Kathy, SO sorry about the job. The right one will come along. It seems that we all have a point in this c25K when we are really pushed beyond what we think is possible. The 25 minute run was it for me. you will push through this, just don't be as stubborn as I was. Listen to your body and just keep running. Today I began week 8. It is a 28 minute run. I completed it and it wasn't too bad. In fact, after the cool down my odometer on my treadmill showed 2.9 miles. Way too close. So... I bumped it back up to 5 and ran for 3 more minutes to complete 5K. So, In 41 minutes I ran 5K. That includes 8 minutes of warm up + cool down. So, my next goal will be for just the running to equal 5K. It will happen. I am hoping to run all of the 5K on September 20!! Luluc, Hang in there. YOu have been such an inspiration to me as I began this thing. You can do it!! Just keep running. I think that is my new motto in life.....Just keep running!!

I'm staying on plan today..well....just because.