an admission

I’m going to admit something here for all you blog readers. Nothing too shocking, nothing monumental, but something that can be shameful, and something that everyone is always talking about; I am on a weight loss plan. (Not a diet, a diet would be that I’m a vegetarian, a diet is the food I eat daily, not the food I don’t eat because it’ll make me look chubby).

Yup. I’ve re-enlisted with Weight Watchers way back in February. I was doing WW way back pre-wedding days, and then well suddenly my weight wasn’t my highest priority.
Because I believe that my long-term health is dependent upon being at a lesser body weight- I’m forking over cash to the weight loss industry, to help me.

Thus far I’ve lost 9 pounds (25 more to go). (Weigh in is this evening, lets see how much damage I did with the Memorial day Weekend eat-and-drink-a-pollozia).

Typically I would want not to tell folks I am trying to loose weight. With the hopes that when I see you blog readers, you’d notice my success. BUT I think I just need to ask for your help. I need the accountability of using this space to talk about the struggles of taking this on. Plus I think that the battle of the bulge is something most folks can relate to. Through cancer, and through marathon training I realized that the hardest things I have to do require far more mental energy than physical effort. I believe that this to is a ‘mind game’ and that anything truly worth having is work. Thanks to you guys, this blog has become a space for me to think about how to tackle the hardest things I’ve faced.

So if you will, join me on this journey from size 14 relaxed fit jeans.

the Tuesday after a Long weekend,

OUCH! it is hard to be at work. It's actually harder to do work at work. My eyelids are struggleing to stay open. Memorial Day weekend was a good time, great to see old friends, make new ones, and build stronger relationships with everyone in between. Propsective Chicagoians came to veiw the many possible places to live in this 'city of nieghborhoods.' I was floored by how graciously hospitable fellow chicagoians are! Now all the prospective residences have to figure out is where they'll find jobs (best of luck, and hopefully we'll see you in the 'hood soon).

We spent an evening with a cousin of Matt's. I had a great time, we went to more bars than I recall, and we were taunted by a Nunn.

somewhere in the middle of all that I was one of the thousands of bikers who took over Lake Shore Drive this weekend, and rode darn near close to 40 miles on my bicycle - just to claim for a couple hours a major chicago road for bikes! We skipped a BBQ we really wanted to go to, then talked Andrew into hosting one at the very last minute. And got some minor house projects done.

Summer in Chicago, I wouldn't miss it for the world-- it nearly makes the 6 to 9 months of hibernation and isolation worth it.

I heart training

I really enjoy training for the tri. I get outside, I get to spend time with my honey, I get to meet new folks, I get to challenge myself, and perhaps the best part it just feels good (physically, and mentally). This stuff rivals therapy in its effectiveness.

Sure training buddy and I are getting up just as early (if not earlier) on Saturday. But there is always a nap involved later in the day. Plus tri training is something different every weekend-- new route, new activity (biking, running, etc), so I'm not experiencing some of the boredom I felt training for the marathon.

Today is Wed, swim day with the team. Seriously, I feel like a kid again. The former lifeguard in me yells, "don't run!" But I can't wait to get into the pool, to smell the chlorine, to feel the water between my fingers and toes. All day I'm squirmy sitting in my cube wondering, is it time to go to the pool yet. Luckily, my inner adult intervenes and says, "no, not yet. But lets' blog about how I feel."

As a way of training, and a way to avoid my not happy public transit commute, I have biked to work twice. Originally I was really scared that the high traffic roads with suburbanites in their SUV's would run me over. {They haven't come close yet.} I feel so smart, because my commute on 2 wheels doesn't cost $3.50 a gallon, and it takes me just as much time to go just as far (ten miles one way, takes me between 35 to 45 minutes).

Last week I signed up for the Danskin Women’s Triathlon in Pleasant Prairie WI. The event is to raise support for a really great breast cancer organization. When I filled out the entry form it asked some really odd questions, like is this your first tri? (Yes). Are you a cancer survivor? (Who wants to know? Yes!) Because I answered truthfully (which, I sometimes hesitate to do with a big C question), I will get to start in the second wave of the race! It’s a privilege that I probably won’t ever get again, but I think some of those big time tri ladies may just swim over my butt!

For those who like to remind me that i am proofreader not a proof reader, this quote sums up my job, and my feelings about it. (but hey, it's paying the bills.)

Devotees of grammatical studies have not been distinguished for any very remarkable felicities of expression.
- Amos Bronson Alcott

boyance

Yesterday was our second swim practice. After the first I was tapped to be on the 'purple team' with two other experienced triathletes. I was thrilled! All those years of not being on swim team, but just swimming on my own had me psyched into thinking maybe I couldn't do this.

After suiting up, and getting in the pool I noticed that the other two swimmers on the 'purple team' were two hairy bigger guys-I kept up, no problem. In the lane next to our were slower swimmers, but they were all a bit more shall we say 'trim.' Just another reminder that fat floats, and in this leg of the triathalon, it's good to be buoyant!

The grass is greener!

The last band-aid just fell off. My port was removed last week, and today the bandages fell off revealing a slit of a scar that runs the diameter of a red-ish purple circle that for two years held the instrument to inject chemo in to my body.

I am SOOO glad that the port is gone, I can deal with scars and scabs. It's magnificent to be on this side of the fence, and I admit the grass is much much greener.

Tri one on!

It's coming . . . 30. While I wasn't yet in my twenties I hoped to do a triathlon before I was 30. So about decade has passed and what once was a far away age are closer, and such an un-attainable goal doesn't seem so far away any more. In fact compared to the marathon training of last summer, my new training regimen doesn't seem so bad.

I've re-enlisted the help of my pals At Team in Training, even more exciting good ole' Mattila opted to give it a tri (get it?) too! So far, believe it or not I'm doing shorter workouts than last summer, but training nearly daily. I'm excited to take on this new challenge, but I'm expecting lots of blisters, sunburns, and aching muscles.

I'm super proud of Matt, for signing up to taking on the tri. Training has just started, and it's been a lot of fun to do this together. We also have fund raising goals to reach in doing event with TNT, so I'm shamelessly plugging our up coming garage sale, open houses, and websites.

If you want to give, or learn more about what Team in Training is all about check out this link:

www.active.com/donate/tntil/tntilMHutchi1

Thanks guys!