renewedhope

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.

You can do it Kathy!!! I am rooting for you!!

kathy, I haven't weighed either, and I don't really feel like I am losing either. I do seem to be stressing less and less over the scales. I am even thinking I may forgo my scales completely and only weigh in once a month at the doctor. I don't know though. I haven't been wearing my bodybugg this week and haven't logged my food. I am putting it back on tonight and will begin logging. BTW, I read today that Michael Phelps consumes up to 10,000 calories a day!!!! WOW!! Obviously I don't need 10,000, but our bosies do need fuel for our running. So, remember to get in lots of good healthy calories.

I have a Gold's Gym 450 treadmill I got at Walmart. I really like it. I have run without a resting day, but I am convinced that our bodies need rest. As you know, I will push my body to the limit without resting. I have learned that is not always the best thing for my body. I am really trying to learn to find balance. Will I ever run 2 days in a row again?? I'm sure I will, but I can tell a HUGE difference after giving my body of couple of days of rest. I just finished week 7 day 3. It wasn't too bad. I am giong to move on to week 8 on Monday. I haven't gone through any of the kids clothes, but it felt really good to run. It seems that something that was once so foreign to me (running) has now become one of the only constants in my life right now. Who woulda thought????

I am staying on plan today because I want to stay consistant.

So sorry Georgia. I would definately get x rays as well. And, If you don't feel comfortable with what he says then go to someone else. I hope it get better really soon. So Sorry Bonnie, I was thinking week 5 not week 6. WAY TO GO ON THE 25 MINUTES!!!!! That is awesome. 25 minutes was really hard for me. You are doing great. Mamato - Hope your DH is feeling much better real soon. It is really hard to watch someone you care about hurting and taking care of them is very taxing too. YOu will be in my prayers. Hang in there. Today I am giong through clothes to begin preparing for the kiddos to leave. I have a closet full of bags of clothes. Friends have given us lots of clothes that don't necessarily fit now but will later, so I have saved lots of clothes. Mixed in with these clothes are things that came with the kids that I will need to send back, so I have to go through it all. YUCK. I am going to take a break sometime today and run. It has been too many days. It really is a nice distraction for me. I will probably run during nap time. I haven't run since Tuesday. I hope I still still complete my run. Hope everyone has a great Saturday!!

Hey guys! I will catch up with the thread later. Just wanted to check in. I didn't run today either, so that means I haven't run since Tuesday. I had to catch up paperwork, so I only got 4 hours of sleep last nightm, then we were gone all day, so i just don't have the physical energy to run tonight. We are doing ok. Just exhausted.. I will try to read the thread and catch up with everyone tommorow. Good night.

I have cautiously optomisitic news. Our social worker just called and they have found a placement where all 3 of my kiddos will go live together. I would get to take them for a preplacement visit and meet the family they will go to. Then they would come home for a couple of days and then I would take them to live there. This way, they won't be taken to strangers, but to someone that I have introduced them to. The family is also willing to maintain contact with us during the transition. They already have a special needs child so they understand what they are getting into with Shawn. See Kathy, I told you God has a Kathy out there for my Baby Shawn. I couldn't have asked for anything more. We are waiting for the state to approve the placement. Keep praying.

Sugar, Georgia actually PM'd me that verse yesterday. It is one of my favorites. I am very blessed to have been given the opportunity to care for them for this short time, and pray for them from now on. It's a pretty special deal, and it won't end when they leave. They probably won't know it, but Mama Amy will be praying for them often.

Thanks Leslie. Yesterday when I ran my 25 minutes without pooping out, I told DH that I didn't know if I was really progressing in my running or if I had so much pent up emoion that I was just able to run it out. Either way, it felt so good. Today was not a running day, but I will run tommorow. I have decided to forgo my Jillian dvd's this week as the dust settles. I am going to make sure I make good eating choices and I run every other day. That's it for this week. All of your kind words are so appreciated. It is so weird. I have never "met" any of you, but I can feel the sincerity of your posts. This is definately the best thread I have ever been a part of. You all rock!! I feel so much better tonight. BTW, I LVE the olympics. DH does not. So he sits in the living room with me, and while I watch the olympics he plays mariocart on his nintendo ds. The perfect comprimise. LOL Micheal Phelps ROCKS!!! I need to go to bed, but I am staying up to watch him run (oops, I meant swim) LOL

I admire you Kathy. There is a family like your's waiting for my Baby Shawn. They are going to be blessed more than they could imagine!!

Thanks Lyn. DH is awesome. I am trying to be very careful and not make him sound hard, because he is anything but. He was adopted, and 1 of our sons is adopted, so it isn't the whole adoption thing. He just hasn't adjusted well to 4 new kids in 1 1/2 years. He has tried really hard for almost a year to make the adjustment. he really wanted to be the solution for these 3 kids. The biggest thing we have learned through this is that God has a plan for all of us and these kiddos. We weren't meant to "save" them. We are just supposed to be obedient to what God has commanded of us. I feel like we have done that. Now, as DH says, we need to retreat and refocus on HIM and HE will direct our path.... Sorry I have highjacked the thread. You guys are the bomb!!!

The kids will leave sometime in the next 30 days. It just depends on how long it takes to find a placement. We have already told our older son. We just told himt he truth. We told him how we struggle to give them each one what they need. We told him that baby Shawn will go to live with a family that can better meet his special needs. He really understands, because he can see the strain. Don't get me wrong, DH and I have a wonderful marriage. I would put up against anyone I know, so I am not having to do this to save my marriage. More than that, I value the relationship we have and want to protect it. After all, that is how we got where we are. If I asked him to keep the baby and pushed him, then he would do it, but that is not fair to him or the baby. Baby Shawn has some special needs and, while he is the best, he is going to require a lot of care and attention. I believe with all my heart, that God has chosen a family for him, where both mom and dad are 100% committed to helping him thrive and grow. I wouldn't want anything less than that for him. I keep thinking of the saying, "Sometimes you have to love someone enough to let them go." Well, that is how I feel with the baby. I feel blessed and honored to have been able to give him a healthy happy start. Thanks for what you said Sugar. I will definately send pictures and make him a lifebook of his first year so his new mom and dad will know how much he was loved. I am not going to tell the other 2 until right before. They are so young. I think I am going to tell them that another family wants a chance to love them and take care of them because they are sooooo special. I want this to be as positive for them as possible. They are prescious little guys. A blessing to anyone. I know in my heart it is the right thing to do, but man that doesn't make it any easier.

I'm staying on plan today because I choose to.

Bonnie, you only have to run 20 minutes on Friday:)) I shouldn't have told you, then you would be going thinking you had 5 minutes left and you'd here the cool down tones. You will do awesome. I am having a rough week. I wasn't going to share this on here, but here's the short version. After much prayer and discussion, DH and i have decided not to do foster care anymore. We are also not going to adopt the baby we have had for 9 months. He came to live with us when he was 3 weeks old. Anyway, DH has really tried hard, but is having a very hard time adjusting to all of the noise and kid stuff. To put it bluntly, he is pretty miserable. As much as I love these little kids, we must protect our relationship first. We have been together since I was 16 and we are the VERY best of friends. I can't stand the thought of him being miserable from now on because he feels obligated. Anyway, within the next 30 days our baby, 2 and 4 year olds will go live somewhere else. We will then be a family of 4. Dalton is 8 and Dylan is 21 months. I can't even imagine only having 2 kids. I am very sad, but I would be lying if I didn't admit that I look forward to some of the freedoms it will bring. I will be able to be much more active. Anyway, I share this with yall because I am having a hard time the last couple of days making myself eat right and run. I have pushed through so far, and don't want to make bad choices to meet emotional needs. It doesn't work. I spent my adulthood learning that. now it's time to put what I have learned into practice. So......my dear friends, don't let me fall off the wagon!!!