**Day 273**

I'm ending the month of September at 217.5:

So, I lost a total of 5.5 pounds in September.  I hope to do much better in October.  I WILL do much better in October.

October Goals:
*Lose 8 pounds
*Drink 120 oz. of water daily
*30 min. on treadmill or elliptical 5 days a week
*5K training 3 days a week - Sun, Tues, & Thurs.
*30 Day Shred 5 days a week

Have a great weekend!

**Days 271 & 272**

Yesterday we were gone most of the day celebrating my daughter's 11th birthday - we left at 9am, and didn't get home until almost 6pm, and I was wiped out, so I skipped exercising.  Yes, I should have forced myself to do it, but I didn't.  However, I did keep my eating under control throughout the day, so I was happy about that!  Today, I did not fail, at all!!  I drank 96 ounces of water, I consumed just over 1200 calories, I did a 30 min. walk/run on my treadmill, and I did Level 1 of the 30 DS.  I've, basically, sucked at the 30 DS challenge this month, but I'm not giving up.  I'm going to start back up with it - something is better than nothing, right?

Yesterday was a reminder that I have to keep going, and not give up, because I'm still not able to do all the things I want to do with my family.  We took our daughters ice skating, but I didn't feel comfortable trying to skate at almost 220 pounds.  I felt like I would snap an ankle or something, so, like I've done so many times, I sat on the sidelines, and watched my family have fun without me.  It sucked, but only I can make outings like that a better experience.  I will go ice skating with my family before this year is over - yes, I will!

**Day 270**

I asked yesterday (under the picture I posted of me and my mom) if my extra chin was ever going to go away, which was a really stupid question because there's a reason it's not going away!!  I've been losing, and gaining, the same 8 pounds since, like, June!  I'm not making progress, so, of course, I still have the extra chin, the extra tummy rolls, the chubby legs, etc.  I do good for a few days, and then I don't do good for four days, and then I do good, and then bad, and then good, and then bad, and so on, and so forth.  I was so determined the first five months of this year, but the I lost my motivation, and I haven't been able to get that fire back, completely.  Sure, I've been doing 5k races every month for the last three months, but that doesn't mean crap if I'm not making progress with my health, and I'm not.  I'm failing.  I hate that I'm failing.  I hate having to post about my lack of progress again, and again, and again.  Yes, I've lost weight over the last couple weeks, but, like I said, it's not really a new loss - it's just losing what I had gained back.  And since the race on Sunday I've been eating like crap again, and not exercising - I always do this after a race.  I have no explanation.  Self-sabotage?  Laziness?  I don't know, but I'm done.  I'm done failing.  It was this picture from last Christmas that got me started on my weight loss journey:

Christmas is only about three months away, and I will not look this way this holiday season.  I've lost about 30 pounds, but I have much more to lose, and I need to get back in the game!

I'm surprised anyone reads my blog, but I appreciate you all for sticking with me.  I will be posting less about failing, and more about succeeding, from here on out!

**Days 268 & 269**

I completed my third official 5k yesterday!  I was hoping to finish it in under 45 min., but I came in at 45:54 -

97 142 F Shannon 39 45:54

However, I did improve time from my last race, which was 48:21, so I'm happy with my time.  And, to be honest, I hadn't been training, nearly enough, so I'm surprised I was able to better my time, at all!  I had to walk quite a few times, but that's okay.  I did the race, and that's what matters.

Oh, and I didn't have to run in a torrential downpour!  It was only drizzling a bit, so it WAS, kind of, a refreshing run!  My mom decided to do the race with me at the last minute, and she did really good, considering she didn't train, at all.  Her time was 50:23 - impressive!  Here's a pic of us before the race:

                                                   Will my extra chin ever go away?!  Seriously!!


My dad and my girls came along to offer support!

I want to send out a big congrats to Colleen!!  She did her first ever 5k on Saturday, and she ran it in 39:45!  Awesome!! (I can't get the link to work right, so when you get to Colleen's site, click on her Home tab, and you'll be able to read about her race!)

**Day 267**

I picked up my race packet for the 5k I'm running tomorrow!  Here's my shirt and bib:

It's suppose to rain, and, right now, running in the rain doesn't sound that fun.   I like running, but I don't know if I'm hardcore enough about it (yet) to run in the rain, so I'm going to wait and see what tomorrow morning brings - if it's only raining a little bit, I'll do the race, but if it's a torrential downpour, well, I don't know about that!!

**Days 265 & 266**

Weight today - 215:

2 pounds lost this week - yay!  Jeez, I can't wait to be out of the 200's.  I should have been out of the 200's a long time ago!  I'm 266 days into my journey, and I know that I could have done better.  Yes, losing 33.5 pounds is great, but that number could have been much higher if I hadn't allowed myself to get off track so many times, so I'm not happy about that, but I am proud of myself for not throwing in the towel, and giving up.  I will not give up - it's not an option.  I WILL succeed, and I will reach my goal!

I'm doing my third official 5K on Sunday - wish me luck!

Have a great weekend!

**Days 263 & 264**

I didn't do any exercising yesterday because I was so sore from the burst workout I attended on Monday!  I'm still sore, but I did get on my treadmill today.  Unfortunately, I was struggling from the start, and I only made it 1.5 miles, and it took me forever!  I ran all but 5 min. of it, and, as you can see, I'm still very slow!
 
I will get faster...someday!  I will not give up!

I'm really slacking on the Shred challenge!  I didn't get 10 days of Level 1 in, but, hey, Rochelle, I saw your post about moving onto Level 2 - I'll move on with you!  I'll do it tomorrow (Thursday) - I'll let you know how I do!