WW UPDATE

Weight Watchers Update

Last week 297.2 pounds
This week 297 pounds

Lost .2 pounds. Go me!!

My goal is to lose weight every week for the next 6 weeks. I'll keep you posted!!

Ironman Wisconsin Here I come!!

They opened registration for volunteers today and I am so pumped up!!
I cannot wait to be part of an Ironman in this fashion.

On Saturday I am checking in Gear Bags from 10-3pm.
Sunday I am doing Body Marking at 4:45-7:00am.
Sunday I am working a Run Aid Station from 11:00-3:30pm
Sunday I am working at the Finish Line handing out medals and t-shirts from 6-9pm.

I cannot wait. If any of you bloggers out there know anyone doing this event or if you are going to do it let me know, so I can say hi and cheer them or you on. I already have one friend doing it that I have never met in person, so he is going to try and bring his gear by when I am there.

Recently so many of you have touched my heart while doing Ironman Arizona. I was truly inspired and in awe of you. I have been reading your stories and following your journeys. Thank you so much. I feel this is a way that I can give back to the athletes I have come to admire so much!!

WaaaaaHoooooo!!

I have a question

Why do events always have to be on Sunday? Is there a simple explanation that I am missing. My relationship with God is number 1 in my life above everything else and it is very hard for me to decide sometimes if I will do an event or not based on the fact that I will have to miss church. I have always told my kids that church is a priority. I have told them they cannot go to birthday parties on Sundays if it means we leave church early and we do not play sports on Sundays. I have realized now that they are older they might actually start to question this when all of my events are on Sundays. I feel like I am contradicting what I have told my kids.

I have missed church this month for a 17 mile ride.
I will miss church in May for a 30 mile ride.
I will miss church in June so I can either spectate or volunteer at the Triathlon I usually do.
I will miss church in September to volunteer at Ironman Wisonsin.

That's not even counting the 5K's I want to do, which are all on Sundays. I'll probaby skip some of these, so I'm not missing so much church or look for some Saturday events.

Where does is say THOU SHALT HOST ALL EVENTS ON SUNDAY? This is something I always struggle with.

Please if any of you have any idea why this is please fill me in.

I did the FOLKS ON SPOKES Easter Ride today!!

Well, folks I did my bike ride today. It was 51 degrees when I started my ride and by the time I was done it was 72 degress. The weather was perfect. I could not have asked for a more beautiful day. I guess in pervious years it was rainy and cold. I told one volunteer that the reason the weather was finally nice is because I came to the race. They asked if I would come back next year. :-)

There were several routes that you could bike. There was a 16, 25, 28, 38, ad 68 mile route. I was going to do the 25 mile route, but as I got going and my ankle started hurting at about mile 6 I decided it would be best if I just did the 16 today. There was some pretty scenary to look at, like farmland, lakes, birds, and the such. I was pretty much alone for the whole ride. The rest stop was at a forest preserve type area and was very pretty. This was the most food I have ever seen at a rest stop. They had tons of sweets, bagels with all kinds of toppings, bananas, oranges, and chili. I think that was all. I had a bagel, banana, and a gatorade. I guess I shouldn't have been surprised by the food spread because the brouchere said this event was all about the FOOD, folks, and fun. I was by myself, so I started talking to a family that was there. They were really nice. Sometimes I think it is nice to do these events by yourself because it forces you to meet people.

Once I hit the rest stop my route turned around and went back the way I had come and I was doing fine and then BAM there was this huge hill just minutes from the finish line. Man, that was one tough hill, but I was determined not to walk up it and I didn't, but I sure did want my MOMMY!! :-) I'm a little sore, but overall it was a great day!! I am so happy I did it.

For all you triathletes that read my blog I have a bum ankle and this is the first time since it has been acting up that I wore my clip in shoes. It was bothering me the whole time. Is there anything I can do to try and make this better? New shoes, change pedals? etc. Also, if you have wide feet out there what clip in shoes do you wear and I'm talking REALLY wide? Thanks for any advice.

I also named my bike today while I was out there on the road. I named her ROSEBUD because of her deep red color and I haven't decided yet if I will call her ROSE or BUD. I'll figure that out on the next ride.

IRONMAN UPDATE:
Swim: 1/2 mile
Bike: 22 miles
Run: 1.75 miles

Off to a bike ride this morning!!

I'm off to do the Easter Ride in the South Suburbs of Chicago. It is a ride where you can pick your route up to 65 miles. I will be doing the 25 mile ride. I'm very excited to get out there and that will add some impressive miles to my IRONMAN stats.

Have a blessed Sunday Everyone!!

WW UPDATE and IRONMAN UPDATE AND IRONMAN WISCONSIN

Well, folks I'm on my way to becoming a healthier, happier person. I have gone 42 days without Soda and 12 without sweets. I was in the gym Mon-Fri this week and I feel great!!

WEIGHT WATCHERS UPDATE:

Last time I was there I was 297. That was almost a month ago. Today I weighed in at 297.2. I know it's only .2 pounds, but I was very bummed. I feel like I am finally doing everything right, so I thought I would see more of a loss this week, but what I have learned through my journey is that I cannot look to the scale for my successes. That will come with time. Here are successes that I have had recently:

-I'm spending more time with God
-42 days off soda
-12 days off sweets ( I know you are all probably sick of reading that, but I'm so proud of myself)
-Swam 1/2 mile
-In the gym on a regular basis now
- I'm cooking more
-I'm not eating out as much
-I have more energy
-I'm watching less TV
-I'm happier than I have been in a looooong time

I want my kids to learn that being healthy is a lifestyle not a diet and they are seeing that in me and they are even doing things that they haven't before. I'm very proud of myself and my recent successes and I cannot wait to see what lies ahead. Go Me!!

IRONMAN UPDATE:

Swim: 1/2 mile
Bike: 5 miles
Run: 1.75 miles

IRONMAN WISCONSIN:

SEPTEMBER 7, 2008 is Ironman Wisconsin and I have decided that I am going to volunteer at the event. I have been so moved by Ironman AZ that I decided that even if I never compete in an Ironman I want to be involved, so I was thinking of going and being a spectator this year, but instead I decided to give back to the athletes that I have come to admire so much by volunteering my time. It is the least I can do. I am so excited about the prospect of volunteering, so if any of you are going to be doing it please let me know, so when I am there we can meet.

Later!!

Priceless

Signing up for a 25 mile bike ride for Sunday: $25
Swim Aerobics Class: 1 hour
Zumba Dance Aerobic Class: 1 hour
Recubant bike: 3 miles

Feeling great and like I can conquer the world: PRICELESS


IROMAN UPDATE:
Swim: 1/2 mile
Bike: 3 miles
Run: 0 miles

40 days off Soda
11 off sweets.

GO ME!!

I'm doing my own IRONMAN

I went swimming yesterday for the first time in who knows how long. I'm not really that great, but boy did it feel great to be back in the water. I swam 1/2 a mile and had a lot of time to think about what I was doing with my life. I realigned some of my priorities that got a little out of whack and I was really thinking about IRONMEN. You all amaze me, so I decided that over the next couple of months I would do my own IRONMAN in honor of Commodore and in honor of my friend Benny. There are links to their blogs on the side bar (Commodore and Iron Benny). These two incredible individuals have really helped me in my motivation to get healthy and to be happy. I am truly blessed to have met them through the triathlon community. I am also doing this in honor of all the men and women who got out there with Comm and Ben this past Sunday and did the AZIM. I am not saying finished because if you got out there and even tried it you did it. My hats off to all of you.

For those of you who don't know an Ironman is a 2.4 mile swim, 112 bike and 26.2 run. I will be doing this and hope to finish by June 17. I'll keep you posted.

My Ironman update:
Swim: 1/2 mile
BIke: 0 miles
Run (or for me walk): 0 Miles

Have a blessed day!!

Public Service Announcement

This blog post is brought to you by Melissa's busy life. With such sponsors as homework, kid's schedules, excercising, and keeping up with the house.

Please do not be alarmed if there are not any blog posts for awhile. I need to keep my eyes focused on the goals set before me and the major one is student teaching in the fall. I have a few classes I NEED to finish to reach this goal, so I can graduate by December of this year.

I love blogging and I love my blogging family, but I have to concentrate on other things right now. I am not falling by the wayside. I will be keeping up with your blogs, just not mine.

Feel free to email me anytime at melissaj.black@yahoo.com

For all of you in your final traning for the AZIM kick some booty out there on the course. I wish I could be there cheering you on.