Challenge Accepted...

I sit here in the Wisconsin cold (high of 15 today) and my coach has challenged me to still do the marathon...maybe not in Nov, but next spring - Spring 2021 - I'll still be 50 and will be able to do a marathon that has a longer completion time than 5 hours... one with at least 6-7 hours.

So, my goal for THIS year is to do a sub-3 half marathon in Nov in Vegas.. that will give me a good idea of what the marathon will look like in the Spring.

She has seen others that have more serious injuries and scoliosis than I do and did a marathon - it was hard. It was painful. But THEY COMPLETED IT! I just have to train really hard, but take my time with it...not to rush the process.

Here's to marathon training - AGAIN, but just for a different time.

What goals do you have that maybe need to be pushed back, but still able to complete??

Change of Plans....

So I'm sitting here on Dec. 2nd and this past week I have had to come to some really hard realizations. I had to realize that on the day I was to do the local 5 mile Turkey Trot, I was not able to do it... AT ALL!  Why? MIGRAINE and my whole body in pain with arthritis from the freezing cold. :( .

If I'm not able to get out to train to do a 5 mile run...how am I going to be able to train for 26.2??

I had to make the really hard decision to NOT do the marathon that I've been dreaming about 5 years now. The realization that my body just WILL NOT cooperate with the intense training that will it will entail.  The migraines come and go and the intensity is becoming more and more intense. THIS is NOT helpful for any type of training.

SOOOOOO... the new goal is to just be the healthiest version of myself and be at my goal weight by my 50th birthday - August 18th, 2020.

Needless to say that I'm heartbroken about a dream being "shattered", but out of that comes growth and awareness of what my body can and cannot do. 

Now it's just on to NEW dreams... having the best PR time for the 1/2 marathon...I KNOW I can do that, as I've done it 2x before...

So...

HERE WE GO... OUT WITH A BROKEN DREAM, IN WITH A NEW DREAMS

Marathon Training Commence...

Well, here it is 1 year away - my first marathon and celebrating my 50th birthday next year... ALL IN VEGAS!!! 

So this week was the beginning of my marathon training....

I do have to say that I am SCARED SPITLESS!!!

I am EXCITED at the same time! I know that this is normal, but I have to settle down and just take one day, one run interval, one hurdle at a time...

I know that I have to get out of my own way and my own head - from what I've been told by experienced marathoners is that it's 80% mental, 20% training/nutrition...

It's the training part that I'm nervous about, so to speak... I know that I can do the miles, it's the DISCIPLINE and DOING THE MILES when I DON'T FEEL LIKE IT - that's what I'm afraid of or the most nervous about...

This has been on my bucket list since 2015 - THIS is the year that I lose my weight and do this marathon...

I know that the best plan of action is being consistent and when it's time for me to run - doing intervals...

Here's to the year of first's and training to make this dream a reality! 

Getting through the holidays.... what's your plan?

It's been just a few weeks since I last posted and the journey has been a little "rocky"...

I'm continuing to lose, but not at the speed in which I like, of course... I wanted it ALL off yesterday! LOL . I'm finally down to 290, which I haven't seen in quite some time - so YAY!!!

I'm in the process of preparing for the holidays and how I will handle my food intake.  I know I will NOT have a problem with Halloween that is happening tomorrow, but Thanksgiving and all the Christmas goodies are right around the corner... how will I respond? How will I plan to be a part of these holidays with the family, but also stay on "plan" with my weight loss. I plan on making healthy choices to share with the family - bringing veggie platter or fruit tray for appetizers, eating my turkey with green beans and a SMALL portion of mashed potatoes OR stuffing. For dessert, making a "pumpkin pie" protein shake.

Christmas - that's my downfall. I LOVE all the Christmas goodies - fudge, sugar cookies, lebkubben (a German/Hungarian cookie that the women in my family make the Saturday after Thanksgiving to make sure that they are soft by Christmas)...

SO... do any of you have any suggestions on how we can ALL handle the holidays and stay on our health journey???

How are YOU going to get through?

Keep it Going....

Well, it's been about 4 1/2 months since I started LadyBoss... and I'm FINALLY in the 280's... 285 to be exact!!! I couldn't have done this on the other programs that I've been on, but for some reason, LADYBOSS just works!!!!!

I'm feeling confident, proud, starting to love myself again... Here is the progress...

MORE CHANGES....

Here it is in the middle of September and I am looking out of my window, in a VERY NEW STATE... I moved from California to Wisconsin just this past week... amazing what God does in a very short time when you are obedient to Him...

I was engaged to be married at the beginning of this summer, but it was VERY CLEAR that he was NOT the man for me! So I broke off the engagement and heard that my folks were moving to WI onto my brother's property! So.... on a whim I applied for income based housing in WI. Now I know that it takes 2-5 YEARS to get into a place, but God had different plans.  I broke things off with Mark and 2 days later, I applied for the housing. In a matter of 3 WEEKS, I was picking my move-in date!!!! Then came the chore of finishing up my time in WA being with Mark for a month to driving 12-14 hours to start packing up my house to move across the country!

Now, I say all this to show what's been going on in my life, but seeing how my eating patterns, behaviors, and thinking has been affected. I was careful in WA, in fact, I lost weight!  Then with the packing and saying "see ya laters", to the actual move across country - I gained 8 pounds! I'm still in the 200's (thank God!), but back on "program" I go! I noticed that some old eating habits and thinking were starting to creep back in and slowly grab hold of me... AGAIN! BUUUUUT... NOPE!! Not today Satan...NOT TODAY!

Being tired, even depressed to some degree, trying to unpack and get some kind of order to your new house, breaking off a relationship that you longed for for over 17 years - can cause a person to overeat, turn to bad habits, and just plain ol' give up.

BUT NOT THIS WOMAN! I will NOT GIVE IN!! I WILL NOT GIVE UP!!! I AM A LADYBOSS!

Can't believe it's AUGUST already!!!

I have to apologize as I've been away for a month to the state of WA. I had to take care of some unfinished business - breaking of an engagement to the man I've been in love with for 17 years.  With that decision, I had to keep in mind that my health could NOT take a backseat or be neglected in the process.

Amazingly enough, I was able to lose some weight during this somewhat emotional time! THAT is amazing! This new lifestyle that I'm living is PROOF that eating clean and exercising is the way to go!  For more information on what I'm doing to lose weight and keeping it off: www.ladyboss.com


How is everyone doing out there? Let me know how I can support you in your journey! Leave a comment, request, or a simple "howdy do"!

Checking In...

Good morning everyone!! 

I wanted to check in with y'all to see how you are doing... so... how are you doing? How are you on your health journey? 

I'm doing so much better... I am in love with the "program" that I'm following... LADYBOSS!! If you are interested, go to: www.ladyboss.com and you'll be able to check it out for a week for... FREE!!! I am obsessed with the protein shake called LEAN... my son, Lincoln even loves it! The beauty of this program is that the grocery list, meal planning, and exercise trainer is ALL INCLUDED!!! I'm so in love with it! I've lost at least 10 pounds this past month - more than I have been able to do in a short time with Weight Watchers!! WHAT????  

So if you are interested, go to www.ladyboss.com to check things out! Right now I'm in a 28 day challenge that was only... $1!!! So go, check it out, and see if this is something to help you on your health journey!!

Comment below to let me know how you are doing! :)

Blessings...

Progress...

Well, here it is, June 20th and a month and a half has passed since I last posted anything...

I wanted to give an update as to the progress that has been made!!

This past month and a half, I've lost 10 lbs and 5" over my body!!! WHAT???!!!  That's a total of 53 pounds and -34 1/2 inches overall!!! WHOA!!!  This is all over the past year and a half - it may be slow, but it's progress!

How are y'all doing out there? I'm curious... I need some feedback from y'all!!

I've also been busy planning a wedding with this man right here!!! It will be sometime next year and I'm looking forward to it! It really helps when your mate is supportive and encouraging...

Set Back...

Well, my training has come to a standstill at the moment... I have a small tear in my hamstring and IT band... I've been told by my PT (physical therapist) that I will NOT be able to run the CIM this year!
:(

I have to stop my whole training to get my legs strong and HOPEFULLY I'll be able to do my 1/2 marathon in November in Las Vegas... let's hope that I will be strong to do it.

I'm REALLY disappointed that I will not be able to accomplish the goal that I have set for myself this year - but I've come to terms with it. I had to set NEW goals.... this year that was focused on completing a marathon is now shifted to making sure that I'm healthy.  Losing weight, toning up, and being able to fit in my wedding dress next Spring! :)

I am looking forward to starting my new life healthy, fit, and fabulously 50 next year.

What are your goals? Have you had to shift your goals due to a change in the process of achieving those goals?

With you on this journey....

Getting into the training....

So I sit here, the day before Mother's Day at 10:25pm - BEGGING my 9 yr old son to GO TO BED!

Anyways.... I'm excited to say that THIS WEEK, I've been able to stay on plan with my eating, menu planning, and prepping - as much as I can... :) We're getting there!!!

As far as marathon training... I'm dealing with a IT Band injury and something else... in my right leg... it's crazy!! I go to physical therapy (PT) on May 20th - so I hope that I'll be able to really hit it this summer... I'm interested in hearing what the PT has to say and how quick I can get this resolved.

December is right around the corner and I feel like I'm so very far behind where I want to be at this point... All I can do is do the best that I can do...

My goal for the marathon is to: 1. finish, 2. cross the finish line upright, and 3. feel good at the end.  With those things in mind, all I can do is my best and BE CONSISTENT in my nutrition and my training...which includes cross-training...

I'll post pics as I go on this journey and glad you are coming with me...

A new month...

Well, a month has passed and I am ALMOST to my first real goal of being under 300 pounds!!! I am only 2 pounds away - so I'm hoping that I can reach that this next week! What a glorious day that will be....

I am noticing that living the vegan lifestyle is a lot more difficult than I had anticipated. I have cut back on the meat that I used to eat - just fish and 99% fat free turkey... then it's been great to see how more veggies have made their way into my diet and how much better I am feeling!!!

It may not be a fast or quick solution, but it takes time to un-do damage that was done for 40+ years!

Do your best in the choices that you make... incorporate more raw fruits and veggies... and cut back and eventually eliminate sugar and processed food...

You'll thank me in your future...

You're welcome...

How can I support y'all?

Spring is HERE!!!

Finally!!! The rain is NOT a constant thing anymore, but happens when it needs to! What beautiful days we've been having and it's WONDERFUL so we can go outside and enjoy the fresh air and get our movement on!!

It's been a crazy couple of months since I last wrote... I GOT ENGAGED!!!! WHAT??? That's right... he FINALLY put a ring on it! :) . So... I'm doing a marathon in December and getting married a few months after that!!!

So what does this all mean??? It means I HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO!!! It seems that I've been going up on the scale - my mind has NOT been focused - my exercise has been random at best - and I have noticed that I am tired way too often.  A couple of weeks ago, I did a 10K - Shamrockin' - and I came in DEAD LAST! I walked pretty much most of it. My body hurt. My feet were on fire. My body was telling me to GET THIS WEIGHT OFF SO I CAN BREATHE and FUNCTION...

I've been playing around with being plant-based, but not really taking it seriously. Well, I have to now. There is no other way really for me to get this weight off, fuel my body correctly, and be energized.  I did join Planet Fitness, which the plan is to go every day after I drop my son off at school and work out for at least an hour. On Mondays, I have Weight Watchers, then go work out. Thursdays - Aqua Zumba, then go work out. I have to take this to the point mentally, that if I DON'T eat this way, I will die.

In so many ways, I will. Or at least I'm slowly dying or killing myself with the choices that I'm making.

How can I support you in your journey, as I go on mine?

Leave a comment - let me know you're out there - let me know how I can support you.

End of the month....

I wrote at the beginning of the month as I started my plant based eating...

Well... I have done fairly well with the plant based eating... even though I had an out of state guest for almost 2 weeks wasn't helpful, but it wasn't as bad as it could have been.

I weigh in tomorrow morning and I'm looking forward to seeing how I've been doing... at last glance at the scale, I lost 2 pounds in one week and the other weeks, I was going by how my body was feeling. 

I have come across some amazing recipes that I was VERY surprised that were so delicious, I couldn't believe that they were vegan and tasted like meat products... WITHOUT the guilt of eating meat! WOW!!!

I encourage that each of you try to eat vegan for ONE WEEK...just ONE WEEK and see how your body responds.

For more resources on vegan eating or plant based eating... visit: www.forksoverknives.com or there are support groups on Facebook for vegan/plant based eating... check them out... get some recipes...take the first step and try for one week...

Let me know how that week goes for you... I'm curious!

Love and health...

Traycee

Plant Based Eating....

As I sit here at 2:15AM coughing up a lung, I am thinking about these past few days of me eating plant based foods. Do I see a difference? Do I FEEL a difference? Could this be something that I can actually follow through on and continue?  I don't see a significant difference - YET! I do FEEL a difference though... not so puffy or bloated in the morning, chronic lower back pain is easing up a little, my migraines are starting to ease up, just a little (I suffer from Complicated Complex Migraines and have them EVERY DAY), energy level is slightly improving, and I can see where eating this way is teaching me to prep and meal plan for the week.  This, I think, will be the hardest thing for me to do. I know I can do it, just getting in the habit of doing it and being committed to the process...

I made a black bean burger with romaine lettuce, vegan cheddar cheese (delish by the way), avocado spread on sprouted grain bread (toasted). Can I just say that IT WAS GOOOOOOOD!!! It was also very filling where I couldn't finish all of it! That's amazing to me!!!

So... here is my before picture as I start this journey...

I will try to update pictures every week, but maybe every 2 weeks to be able to see the transformation occur.

Please let me know how I can support YOU in YOUR journey to a healthier life - not just physically, but emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. These aspects are just as important as the physical.