What a difference 10 years makes!

I can't believe I'm going to post this picture. This is one of the worst pictures I have of myself.

It was taken almost exactly 10 years ago in July of 2000. I'm surprised I don't have a cigarette in my hand too. I wish that I could say seeing this picture helped to turn my life around, but sadly no it didn't. As much as I disliked this picture I did nothing at the time to change it. I've been thinking about this alot since I did the post below for the Cherry on top Award The truth is I didn't change until after my divorce in 2001. I lost a lot of weight when I was going through that time and shortly after started walking and doing DVD's. I gained some of the weight back when I quit smoking but continued to exercise. The rest didn't come until around 2007, when I started the Couch to 5k. My weight has been a struggle always. Sometimes up and sometimes down. I seem to get about where I am now and just kind of stall. I would love to lose more. In fact I feel that I'm not sure I want to take that next step to a 70.3 until I can lighten the load some. :)

This photo is from Tri for the Cure August 2010 I'll be 46 in a coulple of months and I feel and look better then when I was 36.

I have many struggles ahead of me I'm sure. But I'm feeling confident and strong right now. I believe that I can and that I will get where I want both with my weight and my athletic abilities.

Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes!

As you can tell there have been a few changes around here! This blog will be under construction for awhile as I do a little updating to celebrate my 3 YEAR blogoversary (is that how you spell that?) and my 3rd year anniversary of becoming a triathlete! I'm really excited about the changes. I'm sure they will be ongoing again. Thanks to my son Josh for the time he put in on the new blog header!

Now I guess I better go get ready for that first Oly tri tomorrow! Can you say I'm nervous!!! I did change from Athena to Age group....I don't believe I posted it here, but at the end of online registration there were only 2 people signed up for Athena and none for F45-49!!!!! So I went ahead and changed....who knows maybe my only shot ever of placing in my AG and if no one signed up welll... hey 1st place baby!!! Well assuming that I finish!

Good luck to all my racing friends this weekend!!!

Time for a change

Just though I would change things up a little around here. Still possibly under construction. Not sure That I'm completely happy with what I've got. I also think as I approach my 100th post that I will change the "attitude" of my blog a little. I've mostly blogged about exercise but think I will start to bring a little more of life into it. My struggles with weight loss, being single (which I've been doing nothing to change) and other adventures in my life. We will see how it goes. Right now I'm hoping for a very exciting change which I'm reluctant to say anything about as I don't want to put a curse on myself, but feel free to send any good mojo feelings that "Julie will get what she wishes for". And now I really must get my butt up and exercise! The ever changing weather here in Denver is presenting us with a fantabulous weekend! While the highs last weekend were in the 20's this week.....HIGH 70'S AND MAYBE EVEN 80! I love Colorado!

Hill Practice...

something I really need to work on. This is just a smallish hill by my house from start to finish it is 1/2 mile long. I'm planning to do some hill repeats on this for awhile and then try to move to something a little longer/steeper. This one climbs about 92ft in the 1/2 mile and I tell you my heart is pumping when I get to the top! I did it 2 times this morning, which probably is 2 more then I should have considering I'm doing another rehearsal tri tomorrow. But this week has been a total bust as far as training goes. I also just realized that the tri I signed up for is in 5 weeks. I was looking at my training log from last year and I was working much harder, so if I have any hope of improving my time I better get my butt in gear. Unfortunately I'm about 15lbs heavier and my running seems slower either because of that or because of the 1/2 marathon training, not sure which. Any way last year my time was just under 2 hours like 1:57, it would be so cool to improve on that.

So to that end July is going to be very focused on training and eating better. With any luck the extra exercise will help with the weight and some of the stress. Five weeks, I can make some changes in 5 weeks right?