Apple Cider Century

Today I did the Apple Cider Century in Three Oaks Michigan. I did it with my buddy, Darlene. We did the 50 mile loop last year and this year we decided to do the 25 mile loop. I don't have a long time to write right now, but wanted to let you know that I made it about 20 of the 25 miles. I have been having trouble with my left ankle and it really started hurting everytime I would peddle. The last 5 miles was very hilly and I didn't want to chance hurting it worse, so I opted out of the last 5 miles. I was bummed, but had a great day. It was great being with a friend, enjoying the beautiful weather and the beautiful scenary. We are already going to sign up for next year. Our goal next year is to do 50 again. I'll write more and include pictures when I can.

Oh Yeah, on the drive home we saw a bike on the expressway. We are wondering if someone even knows that they lost their bike of their rack. I cannot even imagine getting home and finding your bike missing. It's almost as bad as when I read someone's blog who forgot that their bike was on their roof top rack and went through the starbucks drive thru, i think, and runied their bike.

Next up, my Halloween 5k on October 20th. My goal is to finish in under an hour!! GO ME!!

I need to get to bed. I'm pretty tired. I'll write more later.

Crazy

This next week is going to be crazy. I'm not sure how I am supposed to get everything done, but I will.

Saturday-Sept. 29th- I am going to a wedding of a couple that I have known since they were little. I think that I have known the groom, Isaac, since he was in 1st or 2nd grade and the bride since she was in about 4th grade. They have grown up together at church and are now getting married. I'm so excited to go, but it also makes me feel so old.

After the wedding I get picked up by my friend Darlene and head to Michigan to do the Apple Cider Century bike ride. It is a beautiful ride. The trees here are already starting to turn colors, so we look forward to the ride. The have 25, 50,75, and 100 mile bike rides. Last year we did the 50 mile loop. This year we are going to do the 25 mile ride. It was a lot of fun and I cannot wait to do it. The ride is on Sunday.

Sunday after the ride I head home and do homework and then get ready for a week long teaching experience for school. I will be in the classroom all week of a 5th grade teacher. I will be teaching between 1-3 lessons and maybe doing a bulletin board or two. This is on top of other classes. I'm excited to finally get in a classroom though. I was hoping for a younger grade, but 5th grade is fine. My daughter is in 4th and her bestfriend is in 5th. I know most of the songs to High School musical 1 and 2 and I watch Hanna Montana, so I'll be fine with the girls and I love sports, and know enough about Japanese Animation to get me by. I should be ok. :-) We'll see what happens.

I still have to go to my classes that meet on Monday and Thursday night and I have a HUGE state certification test on October 6th. The pressure is insane, but I'll do it.

I'm bummed though cause the means less time at the gym. I will have to make it up at home and in the eating department. All the spare time I will have next week will be used for studying and taking care of the family. Phew. I'm tired just thinking of it all.

Please pray for me as I try to balence all of this. I should probably skip the bike ride, but I can study in the car and I need the time away. It will be good for me. Have a blessed week as blogging will not be a priority from here on out. I'll probably blog on October 7th to let you know how everything went unless I am dead.

UPDATE (9/29/07)-please check out and leave comments for my friend AUNT RITA. I have her blog listed to the right. She will be a first time triathlete tomorrow (Sunday) afternoon. GO RITA!!! YOU WILL KICK SOME BOOTAY!!

Also, I have listed some more great blogs. Check out Jessi Thompson, Iron Trish, Im Able, Live Each Day, Iron WIll and Waddling. These blogs give me great inspiration when I read them. Iron Wil is going to have a contest in the off season to help keep all of us athletes going during the hard winter months. She even has prizes. Check out her blog for details.

V-I-C-T-O-R-Y

I had a major victory today.

There were about 8-10 dozen doughnuts in the choir room today at church to celebrate two birthdays. There was every imaginable doughnut on that table. I had to walk by the table about 5-6 times today and I didn't have 1 doughnut. It was hard the first time, but then it was easy. I was very proud of myself.

GO ME!!

I had a very victorious day with my eating. Thank you Lord for a great day.

No Weight Watchers Update

There is no weight watchers update this weekend because I didn't go. I had a lot going on this week with school, getting sick, and life and my body was starting to shut down.

Keith and Parker went on an overnight camping trip from Friday to Saturday, so it was just Tricia and Me. She slept with me and I told her under no circumstances was she to wake me up. Obviously if her limb was falling off or the house was burning down then she could, but besides that she was instructed not too. My body had been telling me for a few days that I needed rest. Tricia obeyed by watching TV after she woke up and I got to sleep in. At one point I woke up and told her to turn down the TV and she said "Mom, you were snoring so loudly that I couldn't hear my show." I told her to turn it down and if I started snoring again she had my permission to turn it up again. I slept until almost 10am. It was great and I felt great. Even though I missed my weigh-in it was worth it to me. I am not good to anyone or myself sick.

Off to church today to sing in choir and worship my Lord.

The song we are singing is BE STILL. It is based on the bible verse Psalm 46:10, "Be still and know I am God." The song we are going to sing talks about how in life's storms we can be still and know that he is God even in those hard times. It has really helped me and the song is beautiful. My friend Darlene shared with me this verse recently and told me to just use 46:10 as a reminder it has helped. I can be going through a hard time and she'll just say 46:10 and it helps me to get a new perspective.

I overcame

I must confess I did not want to work out today. I was sick yesterday, which pretty much kept me in bed all day. I feel like I have liquid in my ear which has caused me to be a little off balence (no comments from the peanut gallery) and my back was hurting.

My friend, Cindy, didn't feel up to it either, but we persevered and did it. It wasn't my best workout because of the back, but I sill did cardio and weights. If I worked out by myself I would have never gone. Cindy and I have so much fun working out that we even got shushed today. We asked another lady if we were being too loud and she said no. Next time if the lady wants to read a book she should go to a library or listen to music. We were across the room and mainly talking about working out. Sheeesh.

It was a hard workout, but I am so happy that I went and in the past I wouldn't have gone or I wouldn't have stayed as long. In fact my back is feeling a little bit better. I'm so proud of myself. YAY ME!!!!!

Also, just wanted to say that I know some of you are having a hard time seeing my before pics, so I will work on that. I'm new to my Mac and not sure if I did something wrong on this end. I'll try later or tomorrow to post them from my PC. I'll keep you posted.

Love this quote

My weight watchers leader shared this quote with us.

"Something is better than nothing. The problem with doing nothing is not knowing when you're finished!"

- Ben Franklin

Have a great week everyone. I have a ton to do this week, so I'm not sure how much I'll be blogging. This week both my brothers celebrate their birthdays. Happy birthday lil bro and big bro. I love you both soooo much.

Weight Watchers Update

Last week's weight as posted was 306.2
This week's weight is 304.6
Weightloss for this week is 1.6 pounds.
306.2 is my starting weight, so I will start posting total weight lost next week.
Tune in next week for another update.
GO ME!!

Weight and Excercise Goals for this week:

-Lose 5 pounds, I know that is a hefty goal, but I would love to see my weight in the 200's next week. We'll see. My realistic goal is 2 pounds. :-)
-Workout 5 days this week. Three with Cindy and 2 by myself. GO ME!!!!
-Journal everything I eat and keep track of my weight watchers points better.

I'm For You

I had a awesome workout today and did so by rockin' to my boy Toby Mac. I was working out to his album Momentum because I feel like I have a lot of that going for me right now. He is a Christian Hip Hop artist. His music really had me going. I included song lyrics that I hope will encourage you no matter what you are going through in life. Hang in there with whatever is going on and you will get through it. This song is called I'm For You and is off his Portable Sounds CD. Just remember I'm For You!!


I'm for You Lyrics

I'm excited!

Tonight was meet the teachers night at Tricia's new school. For those of you who do not know Tricia is in 4th grade and is going to a new private school for gifted kids. This is the second week of school and a big transition for her. She was very excited last week to try cross country. She talked to the cross country coach, who is also one of her gym teachers, and they both decided that this year was not the year for her to do it because of the activities that she was in and the adjustment to a more rigerous academic schedule.

I was talking to the gym teachers after the session to see what I could do to help Trish be ready for CC next year. As we were talking triathlons came up and it ends up that one of her gym teachers does triathlons. We are going to email and he is going to help me with training for next season. I was then talking to the CC coach and he is going to help me with a running program, so I can reach my goal of running a 5K by next summer. I'm so excited.

The tri community is so awesome. They are so accepting no matter what level you are at or how you look in spandex. I cannot believe what incredible resources I found right in the gym of my daughters school. I cannot wait to talk to them both more.

I got to thinking that I need to set my eyes on some tris for next year.

Here is my plan for Summer of 2008

June-Subaru Women's Triathlon in Naperville Illinois. This was my first ever, repeated it this summer, and will do it every summer. They run a great race and I love participating in a tri that is for all women.
July-Danskin Women's Triathlon in Wisconsin-This one really scares me because it is an open swim in a lake and I haven't done that. The Tri mentioned above is in an old reseivor, so it is like you are swimming in a pool. Scared to death about the open swim, but I am comitting to doing it.
Aug.-Naperville Tri-Same location as the first one except this is a CO-ED one. I didn't really like this one summer 2006 because I had the only jerky Tri guys on my bike rack.

My plan of Summer of 2009

I plan on doing an Olympic Distance Triathlon. I have told people that I would never do that, but I have decided I will. That gives me awhile to work up it.

Thanks to my friend Duane, I'm going to work on getting my health in order. I'm going to get my feet in shape since they are always a mess when I work out and do my events. I'm going to go to a foot doctor and work on getting the right shoes. I'm going to keep losing the weight and see what happens with my lower back. Duane has always kept working on his health no matter how many copays he had to pay or hurdles he had to jump over. I'm going to start taking better care of myself in that way. He is truly an inspiration. Check out his blog. There is a link to the right called COUCH POTATO TO IRONMAN. He is the reason I started posting my weight on here. If Duane can get real about it then so can I. Thanks Duane. When you check out his blog watch the video of his first triathlon. It is truly inspirational.

I'm off to bed. Part of this whole getting healthier thing is also getting to bed at a decent hour. My eating could have been better today, but I will pull it back together tomorrow. I'm going to bed a very happy person. Good night.

Things I am grateful for today:
-WIth it being 9/11 and all I want to say that I am thankful for our military for all they do for our country. I'm grateful for all the firefighters the fought to save lives on 9/11 not even thinking about whether or not they would lose their own life and my thoughts go out to the families of every man, woman, or child that lost their life in 9/11. I am grateful for the courage they have shown and taught me.
-Thinking about 9/11 and all the lives lost makes me very grateful for my family and that God keeps giving me more days to live. I will live them to the fullest and not take them for granted.
-I'm grateful for my health. Even though I have a long way to go I am very thankful for my health and how far I've come and that I am able to workout, and participate in Triathlons.
-I'm thankful that I have a sweet, caring, loving, hubby that supports me in all my dreams and adventures. I love you Keith.
-My kids-today I got to watch them sword fight in the front yard afterschool with big foam swords laughing and having fun.
-My siblings-I love you all.

What I accomplished today and what I am grateful for

Today was Monday and was a good day.

I worked out with my friend Cindy. We are working out 3 days a week on mon, tues, and wed. We started last week Wed and haven't missed a day yet. I was sore and tired today and did't want to go and after getting there had a great workout. Thanks Cindy for being my workout buddy.

I finished writing a lesson plan to teach to my college class and had a blast writing it and teaching. My teacher said that it was very good.

I kept on track with my eating.

I didn't eat a 3 mustketeer bar when I really wanted to

I get home from school late and usually eat and didn't even feel that temptation tonight. Go Me!!

I am grateful for:

Friends-today I was especially thankful for Cindy. She makes me laugh while I workout. :-) It so hard to laugh when your abs hurt so bad that you feel like someone is ripping them out through your belly button.
Grateful that I live in America.
Grateful that my kids are healthy and do not have any special needs.
Grateful that I have the most supportive and loving husband.
Grateful for my bed, which I need to get in now. :-)

Take time each day to think about what you are thankful for and what you have accomplished instead of focusing on the negative. It does wonders.

A great Sunday!!

I had a great day today and here's why:

-I sang in choir at church for the first time. I felt so close to God. Closer than I have ever felt before.
_ I didn't have any doughnuts in Sunday school and you know what I wasn't even tempted.
-I ate lunch with a great couple from church and their kids.
-I got to go out on the boat with Keith and the kids and watch the kids for the first time in a double tube. I picked it up at a garage sale for 15 bucks. They were singing, talking, and laughing while tubing. It was so fun.
-I loved watching Keith with the kids. He is an awesome Dad and I am so blessed to have him as my hubby.
_ Our pastor talked about loving others today at church and how that isn't always easy because we are called to love even those hard people. Today was a great day because I revisited just how much God loved me. He loved me so much he sent His only son to die on the cross for me and forgive me my sins. My sins are forgiven. If He loves me that much, who am I not to love others as much as He loved me. It's such a great feeling to think about how much he loves me and how it is unconditional.



Goals this week: Lose 3 pounds, read my bible 5 times this week, show someone I love them, get to the gym 5 times, go to spinning once (give my old spinning teacher a heart attack), have a fun week, and realize how blessed I am EVERYDAY!!

Just when I was thinking. . .

I have really messed up with my weightloss and cannot believe how I let myself go, I get an email from a friend I met online about a year ago that said, "Hi Melissa. I just wanted to say Hi. I'm doing my first triathlon on September 30th because of you. I like the new look of your blog. Email me with any last minute Tri advice. I miss you." Thanks so much for the email, Rita. It really helped me to see that I have still come a long way even though I've hit some bumps in the road of my weightloss journey. My weight watcher leader just said today that it's all about the compass and not the clock. It's not about how long it takes you to lose the weight, but what direction you are heading. He is going to give us little compasses next week. I thought that was cool and gave me new perspective.

Also, this week I was reading my Bible and reading a book called Prayer Walking. The author kept referring to God as her personal trainer. I thought, WOW, that is really a cool concept. I have been trying to do this for so long on my own and it hasn't been working, so I dedicated my healthy lifestyle makeover then and there to God. I have had an excellent week. I am excited to see where this is going to go. I am mentally renewed, motivated, and can feel the momentum towards an awesome outcome.

I had weight watchers today. I gained 2.2 pounds since I was there three weeks ago. That would have bugged me last week, but with my new outlook on my whole lifestyle change, I'm ok with that. I will let you know how my weigh in goes next week. I have also decided to take a HUGE step today. This will not be easy, but I need to do this. I'm going to be posting my weight on here. It's not really for those of you who read this, but as an accountability to myself. I have always hid how much I weigh and if I see it on my blog every week it will hold me accountable each week to eat less and move more. :-)

Rita, look at a lot of the blogs that I have links to on the right hand side of the blog. There is a lot of great motivation, inspiration, and advice about Triathlons. Once you click on those links look at the links they have listed. There is a whole great Tri Community there. Put some comments on their blogs and they will email you in a heartbeat. Also, Go to www.beginnertriathlete.com for last minute Tri advice.

My weight as of today is 306. You'll see a lighter number next week gauranteed.

Events coming up:
Sept. 30th- Apple Cider Century where Darlene and I will be riding 25 miles.
October 20th- Halloween 5K
November- Turkey Trot, Bike Ride on the Tollway, and Stair Climb up the Sears Tower in Chicago.

Goals (short term)
-By my October 5k lose 10 pounds
-Do my October 5k in 50-55 minutes

Goals (long term)
-Lose 40-50 pounds by the time I student teach in January
- Do three sprint triathlons Summer of 2008
-be able to run the 5k's at the end of my triathlons
-read through the Bible by May of 2008 when I graduate

GOOOOOO ME!!!!!!

Mall of America, Back to School, and The gym

Labor Day weekend was a blast. We headed out to Minnesota to the Mall of America after meeting Tricia and Parker's teachers. Tricia is attending a private school this year and Parker is starting in a new school built in our district. It is an exciting time for both of them. We hit the road around 3:00pm. We stopped for dinner at a place called Buffalo Phils in Wisconsin Dells and then kept going to our hotel by Mall of America. We were tucked in bed by 12:30am. Saturday we took in a Minnesota Twins game and headed to the mall after that. Sunday we spent all day at the mall. We had a lot of fun and enjoyed watching Tricia spend her $350 in giftcards that we won in a sweepstakes. She was very generous with her little brother, which was very nice to see. The highlight for me at the Mall was going to the underground aquarium. There you get to see sharks up close and personal and I got to touch a stingray and a bamboo shark. I also got to read 7 chapters in the book Little Women that I am reading for a class. I read that while the kids were going on all kinds of rides at the indoor amusement park. Keith and I are not HUGE mall people, so the Mall part to us wasn't that spectacular, but we enjoyed having a three day weekend together as a family. The car ride was not that bad either. The kids did great.

Back to school was the day after we got back from Minnesota. Parker started 3rd grade at the Fremont Intermediate School. His teacher is Mrs. Wittenkeller. She seems like she will be a great match for Parker. They school isn't quite done yet. They will get lockers in November and other rooms that are not done will be done by then too. Parker is in what is called a 3/4 MAP (multi age program) class. He will have the same teacher for two years. Tricia did in first and second grade and we loved it, so we look forward to this program for Parker. He already loves his teacher because they did a unit on bubblegum already. He thought it was cool that it was OK to chew gum in school. Parker is also taking voice lessons on Thursdays. He will be having his first recital on December 8th. You are all welcome to come.

Tricia started school on Tuesday at a private school called Quest Academy This is a school that is geared towards kids who are gifted. They teach a grade above where the kids are and really challenge them. She is in the Owl class with 12 other 4th graders. Next week they will begin their voyage on the Mayflower that will last until Thanksgiving. They combine with the other 4th grade class and actually measure out how long the Mayflower was and they have to sit in the Mayflower in costume during social studies. Today in Science she disected an Owl Pellet and found a Mouse skull. She was very excited about this lesson. She also found ribs and her partner found another little skull. In case your wondering an owl pellet is not poop it is puke, to quote Tricia. :-) They eat their food whole and later throw up the bones and fur and other stuff that hardens and then is this pellet. Tricia is also on a Lego Robotics team and in a string ensemble.

Back to school means that I finally can get back to the gym. My friend, Cindy, and I are going to be working out together Mon, Wed, and Thurs. We will be doing Cardio and Weights. We went Wednesday and today and I am very sore. I am also eating a lot better and cannot wait to see the results of my hard work. I am also going to be taking a spinning class on Saturdays before I go to weight watchers. I was going to go tomorrow to spinning, but can't because of scheduling conflicts with Keith's and my schedule. I am excited and very motivated to do well. I will keep you posted on all of our adventures.