Update- Weight Loss and Healthy Living

When I started running way back when, it was to build endurance for my swimming.  Now, it's been all about staying healthy and maintaining my fitness.

I'm happy to say that has definitely been happening.  It's weird seeing pictures from my swimming years, my first runs, and then now.  There has definitely been a change over there years, especially within 2012.  

Swimmer's have the big shoulders and arms, which I definitely had while I was swimming and even after.  Luckily now, I'm starting to thin out and my shoulders are starting to shrink a little bit.  As my dad says, I'm finally starting to lose my baby fat.  Bout time considering I'm in my early 20s.  

Since January, I've lost about 15 pounds and have been able to hold it.  I've gotten to that point where the numbers are staying the same (even though I'm eating what I want which is nice) and now its my body that's changing.  In the following pictures you can probably see that difference...

Disneyland Half Marathon 2010

Princess Half Marathon 2011

Princess Half Marathon- Feb 2012

Tower of Terror 10 Mile- September 2012

Marathon Preparation- LiveStrong Article

The Disney World Marathon is in just over 8 months... I feel like it should be farther away, but it's really not.  Luckily, I'm not waiting around for last minute training like I have in the past with some of the Half Marathons.

No, instead I'm diving into this goal head first.  

One of the things I have done (under recommendation from my father) is join LiveStrong.com.  Yes, this is the site that is connected with Lance Armstrong, which is one of the reasons my cycling enthusiast father likes it.  Livestrong has some FREE tools to manage weight, help train, and (if needed) help quite smoking or get support for cancer.

I have signed up to mostly maintain my weight, as I'm down to a weight that I'm happy with.  I've also listed my goal as Train For An Event, Run A Marathon.  This allows the site to help focus articles to those that will help me in my training.  Now, I have not read through everything, but I'm off to a good start.  I read this article about training for a Half Marathon and it definitely got me thinking about what I need to do to train for the Half Marathon.  There are some great tips hidden within the article that I'll definitely be using in my training.

Looking Ahead at 2012

I know I'm a day late and 2012 has already begun.  I have a few running races and goals I know I'm planning and who knows what races I might add to that list.  I also have one resolution I'm focusing on this year.

My first running goal is to run 10 miles every week.  I know that some weeks I'll blow past this goal (like the weeks I run Half Marathons... aka 13.1 miles) and others it might be a struggle (weeks I'm recovering after races or if I get injured... which hopefully I won't).  Still, it is my 2012 running goal, as well as a condition to my parents sponsoring two of my races each year.

My race schedule for this year (that I know of thus far):

• Princess Half Marathon- February 26th
• Twilight Zone Tower of Terror 10 Mile- September 29th
• Wine and Dine Half Marathon- November 10th
• Reindeer Run 5k- December

If I can swing it (in my schedule and financially), I might try and throw in a 5k from time to time.

Now let's get serious of a bit.  New Years Resolutions.  While I feel as though keeping a New Years Resolution should be a resolution in itself, but that isn't what I'm focusing on right now.  Before the new year I had read that one way to keep a resolution is to only have 1.  I have 1 resolution that has two parts... one you focus on after the other is done.

My resolution is a common one, but one I have not yet been able to really control.  I want to (1) lose weight and (2) keep it off.  Eating right and working out... let's see if I can't get a handle on this whole weight thing in 2012, shall we?