My Weight Loss Journey

I was never a small or petite girl, even as a child...you could say I was a bit scrawny as a younger girl but as I grew into a teen I started to gain weight slowly.  We (my parents, brother and I) moved a lot while I was growing up.  My dad was a pastor and a truck driver and we moved where the churches and jobs were.  Around my 14th year my moms mom was diagnosed with cancer so we moved from California to Oregon to take care of her and manage their trailer court.  

It was the first time I was in a public school and things just kinda spiraled from there for me.  I got into the more secular part of life and soon learned some very hard lessons.  I don't regret where I came from because it helped make me who I am today.  

I got married at 20 and my husband and I  had our first child ten days before our 1st year Anniversary.  Our second child came almost exactly 2 years later and I had not lost all the baby weight (42lbs) I gained from our first.  Apparently you don't have to eat for two when your pregnant, who knew...lol.  The third child came 18 months later and finally the fourth 3 years after that.  I gained and lost, 4 times and never ever got back to my pre-pregnant days. 

When our 4th child and only daughter was about a year old I was diagnosed with Thyroid disease and in the following few years developed two other thyroid disorders.  Finally I was diagnosed with Thyroid cancer, had surgery, treatment and went through recovery.  The cancer was so bad it took a lot longer in surgery than the doctor had anticipated and I lost a lymph node in the process.  At the time I was overweight, sick and very out of shape.

After recovery and getting the all clear I decided that if I could beat cancer I could become a runner.  So I found a C25K program on the internet and started running.  At first I could barely run a minute without having to stop but here I am 3 years later and training for a half marathon.  Weight loss came with the running but not as much as one would think.  Apparently running makes you hungry...strange.  A few months ago I got more serious about losing the weight and here I am almost 30lbs lighter and smaller, more fit than I have ever been.  

To date I have lost 74+ pounds and am just about ready for maintenance and then I will be building more muscle to tone up some more.  I do weights now but will be doing a lot more from here on out.  I am so thankful that I am healthy and still in remission.  I plan to continue my journey of healthy living and I am so excited to see what the future holds for me.

After and Before

 

"Limitations only exist if you let them"

Godspeed...this comes from the Middle English expression "God spede (you)", a wish for success and fortune for one setting out on an enterprise, voyage, adventure, or travels. It may also mean good luck.

© 2013 Shannon M. King. This publication is the exclusive property of Shannon M. King and is protected under the US Copyright Act of 1976 and all other applicable international, federal, state and local laws. The contents of this post/story may not be reproduced as a whole or in part, by any means whatsoever, without consent of the author, Shannon M. King. All rights reserved.

Blooming Where I'm Planted?

Warning...this post is about life, struggle and God...it's long but I think it's worth reading, it was certainly worth writing! 

I am often so absorbed by training for this half marathon that I forget to stop and attend my spiritual health.  I have this longing to accomplish this race, not because I want people to say, wow what a great thing...it's more like I have to do this to prove to myself, my body and my spirit...that I can do it! Does that make any sense to you?  

I was talking to one of my very best friends about my spiritual health just the other day and it was about this very subject.  Feeling like I'm not doing anything significant for God, has left me feeling a little lost.  Come to find out, she is going through the exact same thing.  Don't you just love how God works? I sure do.  After we talked I didn't feel like everything was solved, but I did feel like I had made some headway and like God was still there...waiting.  For what, I don't know...I just know that God has me where I am, and I need to accept it...maybe not embrace it, but accept my garden where it is and how it looks...and bloom where I've been planted.  

My life and everything I touch is my personal garden and I CAN bloom where I've been planted.  We don't need to all go out and knock on doors, or serve at the soup kitchens to be significant. Some of us are mom's and dad's and our children and loved ones are our ministry.  The people I see daily, whether they are family or acquaintances, are in my garden and how I interact with them matters.  I may be the only person in their life that day, that reaches them for Christ through some small an act of kindness.  That means a lot to me personally, I am serving lunch to the high school kids in town Monday-Thursday and I may be their only smile or kind act in their day! In that way I am significant to God.  

How does running fit in?  Well I'm not sure, to be perfectly honest.  Yet, running is a big part of me at this moment in time and I have to believe that God planted that seed somewhere along the way for a reason.  I'm a runner but that isn't what defines me, I survived cancer, but that doesn't define me either...I'm a child of God at my core and that SHOULD define me.  I am hopeful that people see my heart (God) when they read my blog.  I pray that someone has been touched by my words (Gods words) at one time or another...but that is ultimately up to God not me.  

Running has been difficult for me.  I have had my fair share of injuries because of running, yet I love it. God has brought me through those injuries and the resulting heartbreak the same way he brought me through cancer and every other heartache I've gone through in life.  I got through those injuries because inside of me is a belief that God brings us to the valleys only to shine and show us His majesty when we come out on the other side. He is ultimately the one who gave me my spirit of triumph..it's not me, it's Him.  I hope that I show that in my blog.

You may be asking...What?

I've said all that to say this...I am struggling with pain.  Running past 4 miles is causing me pain in my hip and pelvis and I'm not sure I can keep up my training. That does not mean I am quitting just that I may have to tweak my schedule.  I am just saying I'm struggling.  My husband questions whether I should keep training for this half, period.  I am questioning it myself.  I have been thinking lately that maybe instead of trying to run the whole thing I should try a run/walk schedule.  Ugh! My ego doesn't like that last statement. To be honest, it was hard just writing that last statement. Egotistically I want to say I ran the whole way, but I really don't see that happening.  Maybe God is saying His plan for my half is better than my plan is...I have to learn to stop and listen for His advice.  It's always better than my advice. God may see this half marathon as a way to touch someones life through some seemingly insignificant act or word...I am sure that He sees it's execution and completion entirely different than I see it! It may have nothing to do with me at all and everything to do with Him. 

Thanks for listening to my struggle and for not giving up half-way through, I'm sure y'all deserve some kind of medal for finishing this post. It would be called the Medal of Friendship, and I virtually award it to every one of you! 

I am blessed by you and I thank God for bringing you into my life! Blessings and hugs! I hope I haven't scared any of you off!  I promise I have not lost it...lol!  May God bless you and keep you and may His favor shine on your life.

   



"Limitations only exist if you let them"

Godspeed...this comes from the Middle English expression "God spede (you)", a wish for success and fortune for one setting out on an enterprise, voyage, adventure, or travels. It may also mean good luck.

 © 2013 Shannon M. King. This publication is the exclusive property of Shannon M. King and is protected under the US Copyright Act of 1976 and all other applicable international, federal, state and local laws. The contents of this post/story may not be reproduced as a whole or in part, by any means whatsoever, without consent of the author, Shannon M. King. All rights reserved.

Running Bloggers Survey

I know I already posted this morning but wanted to join in on the Running Bloggers Survey as well!

Best Run Ever

That would be my first run ever...The 40th Stage Coach Run in Jacksonville Oregon.  It was my first official race after my cancer, surgery and treatment.  I felt so accomplished after I crossed that finish line.

Three Words That Describe My Running

Obsession...Accomplished...Empowering...

My Go-To Running Outfit

Compression capri's I got from Old Navy, running bra, new uber berry Reebok flex shoes, and usually a running tank of some kind.

I Won’t Run Outside When It’s…

 Hot and humid as it makes me sick to my stomach and last year I got heat exhaustion from it.

Worst Injury – And How I Got Over It

My pelvic stress fracture I sustained last year while training for my 1st half, which I had to miss.  I took the whole summer off from running and most walking, stayed in bed when needed and pretty much just swam all summer long. I was able to start taking walks sometime in August I think, and then started to run again in November...I am back to normal now!

I Felt Most Like a Badass Runner When…

I completely killed my 1st ever PR by over 4 minutes...I also felt like a Bad Ass my last race (1st race post injury) when I beat my Pr by 28 seconds.

Potential Running Goal for 2013

 To complete my half marathon training without injury and run the race in September.

My Next Race Is…

At this time that would be my half marathon in September, but we runners know this could change in the blink of an eye. 

Now go over and link up with Kelly The Culinarian and have fun with the survey. 

Godspeed...this comes from the Middle English expression "God spede (you)", a wish for success and fortune for one setting out on an enterprise, voyage, adventure, or travels. It may also mean good luck. "Limitations only exist if you let them" © 2013 Shannon M. King. This publication is the exclusive property of Shannon M. King and is protected under the US Copyright Act of 1976 and all other applicable international, federal, state and local laws. The contents of this post/story may not be reproduced as a whole or in part, by any means whatsoever, without consent of the author, Shannon M. King. All rights reserved.

A Is For...Aerobic Exercise

1st A is for Arlee Bird who started this Challenge in 2010...He is the man...

Aerobic Exercise is what I like sometimes loathe to do...Aerobic literally means "living in air", and refers to the use of oxygen to adequately meet energy demands during exercise via aerobic metabolism. Let's have a little introduction first...shall we? I think we shall.

Some of you know me from the last couple of times I participated in this challenge...If you don't already know me, I'm Shannon, I Survived (cancer) and Now I Run...I started this blog after I survived cancer, mainly to proved to myself and my body that I was in charge not cancer, and that I was no longer going to allow myself to just exist. I wanted to really experience living the way it was meant to be experienced.  

So at 40 I started a Couch to 5k program and as they say, the rest is history. I have run 5k and 5 mile races and am now training for a half marathon (September 2013), it's also the same half I trained for last year, (I was up to 10 mile long runs) unfortunately I broke my pelvis and was off the entire summer and then some. I'm back now and determined to finish what I started.

All the above was a rather long introduction for my 1st topic in The A-Z Challenge for 2013. So here goes...


I'm a runner so I am used to needing, using and sometimes even gulping a lot of oxygen (Aerobic-living in air) to go from one point to the next and then all the way back to the start. It's normal for me to head out from my house to wherever and however far the road will take me, and that could be anywhere from 2-6 miles right now, to as high as 10 miles a month or so from now. If I can keep from getting injured again, knock on wood, fingers and toes crossed. 

Here are a few ways in which aerobic exercise can benefit a person.

1. People who exercise are less likely to get the flu.
2. Aerobic exercise releases tiny ninja-like endorphins which are the bodies natural painkillers which also helps to calm anxiety and stress.  (Running is how I stay sane)
3. Fat reduction. (Enough said)
4. Longer life...research by Harvard University revealed that for the first time there was a scientific link between increased life and exercise.
5. Better lungs...Aerobic exercise enhances the maximum oxygen consumption by the body.

Your SMART people so I won't mention all the beautiful scenery and wild life you will encounter, that is just what I like to call the icing on the cake. I live in Oregon and the scenery is Gorgeous and wild life...abundant.  It's normal for me to see deer, squirrels, geese (they are here year round) and ducks each time I go out for a run. (I have yet to run into a bear or mountain lion but I'm not really gonna complain.)

So get out there and move your body and see how good it feels. The endorphins are enough to convince me, I love those little (but oh so powerful) guys. Blessings and hugs!

Godspeed...this comes from the Middle English expression "God spede (you)", a wish for success and fortune for one setting out on an enterprise, voyage, adventure, or travels. It may also mean good luck.

"Limitations only exist if you let them" 

© 2013 Shannon M. King. This publication is the exclusive property of Shannon M. King and is protected under the US Copyright Act of 1976 and all other applicable international, federal, state and local laws. The contents of this post/story may not be reproduced as a whole or in part, by any means whatsoever, without consent of the author, Shannon M. King. All rights reserved.

Family Time At The YMCA

Thursday's gym time...

Arc trainer 16 minutes
Bike trainer 10 minutes
Total calories burned...310

My hubby asked to go to the YMCA with me and then told all the kids to get ready to go workout. This is pretty shocking, since my husband does not like to work out, at all, on the machines due to the fact that he is a big guy! 

I was pleasantly surprised, to say the least. I have wanted my husband to work out with me for a long time.  Last summer when I was recovering from my pelvic stress fracture we spent a lot of time together in the YMCA pool and had a blast as a family.  I am hoping that he continues to have this desire to go to the gym with me, lose some weight and get healthier.  He stayed on the bike for a whole 20 minutes today.  (last night he even asked me to go for a short walk with him)

On another note...Completely off topic

I spent some time at my Oral Surgeons office today talking about my surgery that is coming up next month.  I have bad teeth due to genetics and cancer treatment so I am having 4 upper teeth and 1 broken bottom tooth extracted.  I will also have an upper cast partial put in place at the same time.  I only have about 24 teeth total due to having several teeth extracted about 13 years ago (4 of them were wisdom teeth) which means I will only have 19 of my own teeth after this surgery. 

I have been unlucky in the dental department. The upper partial will replace the teeth I've had extracted and am having extracted.  I will have chewing teeth again.  Please pray that everything goes well and that there are no complications, as two of my teeth have roots very close to my sinus cavity.

Have a great day and weekend everyone, blessings and hugs.

P.S. Yay, my lateral hamstring tendon is feeling much better and I should be able to try running again soon. 

Godspeed...this comes from the Middle English expression "God spede (you)", a wish for success and fortune for one setting out on an enterprise, voyage, adventure, or travels. It may also mean good luck. 

"Limitations only exist if you let them" 

 © 2013 Shannon M. King. This publication is the exclusive property of Shannon M. King and is protected under the US Copyright Act of 1976 and all other applicable international, federal, state and local laws. The contents of this post/story may not be reproduced as a whole or in part, by any means whatsoever, without consent of the author, Shannon M. King. All rights reserved.

Gym Time and Cookies

Tuesdays gym time...

Arc trainer 20 minutes.
Bike trainer 23 minutes.
Total calorie burn...approx. 443 calories

I have started weighing myself every Tuesday now just to see how I'm doing and I've lost 5.2lbs in the last two weeks. Woohoo! I have been using myfitnesspal.com (plus the app) for the last few years, I've lost a total of 56.2 lbs since I started losing weight (after my cancer battle).  Last year I was eating at my BMR (basal metabolic rate) plus adding in some exercise calories (according to something I read) but was not losing anymore weight.  This year I am trying to eat no more than 1400 calories a day (total) and on the days I exercise I eat only 50-100 (if I'm hungry) of my exercise calories back. Basically I set my daily calorie intake at 1300 and never go above 1400 on my exercise days.  It's working for me so I'll keep doing this til I reach my goal weight (another 12 lbs).

Anyhoodles, moving on! My hamstring is feeling better every day, and that is progress that I can live with. The lump has not gone away totally but is not too tender to the touch.  I am hoping that what I am doing is helping it to heal (fingers crossed). Thank you so much for all your healing thoughts.  Have a great day!

Oh, wait...I found this great recipe on Pinterest and thought I'd share it with y'all! These are yummy!

Healthy Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies from The Skinny Fork. 

2 ripe bananas, mashed
1/3 cup reduced fat peanut butter
2/3 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
Dash of ground cloves
Dash of ground nutmeg
1 and 1/2 cup quick oats
1/4 cup nuts
1/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/4 cup unsweetened coconut

Directions...preheat over 350 degrees.   Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside. Mix together the bananas, peanut butter, applesauce, vanilla, and spices.​ Add in the oats, nuts, chocolate chips, and coconut; stir until well combined. Spoon about 2 tbsp. of the cookie mixture onto the lined baking sheet, leaving an inch or two between each.


Bake for 20-30 minutes and allow to cool slightly.

Now these are her instructions.  I deviated a bit, I only had regular peanut butter and canned apple pie filling (I put in the blender) and I used apple pie spice instead of cinnamon.  I also added some butterscotch chips to the cookies...so mine are more calories for sure.  

This is the break down for her recipe...
Servings: 12 • Size: 1 Cookie • Calories: 75.3 • Fat: 5.4 g • Carb: 8.5 g • Fiber: 0.7 g • Protein: 1.9 g • Sugar: 3.6 g • Sodium: 75.7 mg

I'm not even going to try to figure out the break down for mine but it will be higher I am sure. Blessings and hugs!  

Godspeed...this comes from the Middle English expression "God spede (you)", a wish for success and fortune for one setting out on an enterprise, voyage, adventure, or travels. It may also mean good luck. 

 "Limitations only exist if you let them" 

© 2013 Shannon M. King. This publication is the exclusive property of Shannon M. King and is protected under the US Copyright Act of 1976 and all other applicable international, federal, state and local laws. The contents of this post/story may not be reproduced as a whole or in part, by any means whatsoever, without consent of the author, Shannon M. King. All rights reserved.

Running Again...Woohoo!

Well my friends I have started to get back into running/jogging and my heart is happy! Today I went on an hour long walk/run and on it I was fabulously blessed with beautiful Autumn colors everywhere I looked.

(Multi-color foliage)

(Orange foliage)

(Red foliage)

(Yellow foliage)

(Tri-color trees)

(Anyone know what these are?)

This is what I saw while out on my walk/run this morning...I am surrounded by beauty! 

I have been having some trouble with my heart again...palpitations and pressure from chest to head at the same time...I am used to having palpitations but usually they are few and far between.  Lately they are constant companions and I feel miserable as well as fatigued more than normal.  I have had my heart checked out before and the doc's cannot tell me what is causing the palpitations nor do they seem to want to do the work to find out.  There was talk of mitral valve prolapse, and tachycardia...also could be atrial fibrillation...none of which will kill me but they can cause serious problems if they are severe.  I may have to have more tests if the palpitations don't stop or at least become less severe.

My Thyroid specialist called me to tell me she wants to see me since I have thyroid cancer and am a high risk patient! Apparently I am never going to be rid of this cancer completely since it has a high rate of reoccurence and I am a high risk patient! This makes me furious but I know I can deal with whatever cancer throws my way.  God has brought me this far and I am confident He will continue to be with me!  I guess I was just hoping to be done with cancer for good, but I am sure it could always be worse...right! What doesn't kill us makes us stronger and all that jazz! 

This weekend I went to my mama's for one of our famous girl's weekends...we have a sweet time! I woke up Saturday and went for a 40 minute walk/jog, it felt so great to move my legs that way again.  I woke up Sunday with sore inner thighs...I forgot that you work those muscles when you run.  Here are a couple of pictures I took along the way.

(green, yellow and red foliage)

(House I spent several teen years in)

(Trailer court I spent said years in, the white house is to the left, out of picture)

Godspeed...this comes from the Middle English expression "God spede (you)", a wish for success and fortune for one setting out on an enterprise, voyage, adventure, or travels. It may also mean good luck. 

 "Limitations only exist if you let them" 

© 2012 Shannon M. King. This publication is the exclusive property of Shannon M. King and is protected under the US Copyright Act of 1976 and all other applicable international, federal, state and local laws. The contents of this post/story may not be reproduced as a whole or in part, by any means whatsoever, without consent of the author, Shannon M. King. All rights reserved.

Happy Wednesday...Update...Graduations....Oh My!

Hey all you wonderful people...Just wanted to do a Vlog of my MRI/Injury update and some Graduation talk as well.  I want to thank you for all your encouragement and prayers.  You truly keep me going, and I thank God for supportive friends like y'all.

Godspeed...this comes from the Middle English expression "God spede (you)", a wish for success and fortune for one setting out on an enterprise, voyage, adventure, or travels. It may also mean good luck. 

"Limitations only exist if you let them" 

© 2012 Shannon M. King. This publication is the exclusive property of Shannon M. King and is protected under the US Copyright Act of 1976 and all other applicable international, federal, state and local laws. The contents of this post/story may not be reproduced as a whole or in part, by any means whatsoever, without consent of the author, Shannon M. King. All rights reserved.

Pelvic Stress Fracture...Indeed!

OMG, it is indeed the worst news I could hope to hear. Not! 

Thank You Google (Not mine)

Seriously, yes it is a pelvic stress fracture, but it can always be so much worse. I have learned this important lesson many times over in my 41 years on this earth. 

I am down for the count, no running for at least 16 weeks and that is being conservative, also no elliptical or stationary bike for at least another 4 weeks.  I am allowed to swim and try the recumbent bike as long as it doesn't cause me any pain.  I am also being ordered to start taking 2000mg of Calcium and Vitamin D asap. When my doctor called he said, "Well Shannon, I've got your MRI results, and it is exactly what you thought it was, where you thought it was". 


I am actually kind of in shock...I was right!

So now it is sinking in to my feeble brain that I am broken and sidelined for the entire summer.  I feel so useless, like running somehow defined me, but I am more than running, I am me.  When I had cancer I also felt defined by it, like I wasn't me anymore, and that everything I did was cancer related, people looked at me and saw the cancer instead of who I really was, me. It was in their eyes, and I could see that it haunted them. I hated seeing that.


Because...

I am a fighter, a survivor, a mom, friend, sister, daughter,  lover, runner, but even more than that I am someone who has dreams.  I dream of becoming a counselor for women, and to use my life experiences to help someone else in their experience or out of it.  I have dreams of traveling to Italy...I'm a dreamer, and a writer of stories that maybe I'll only read, but still I'm a writer...I'm an artist who dreams of painting.  I am not defined by cancer, or my injury or all the little jobs I do.  I am more than all of those things combined and I will prevail and I will come out the other side stronger than ever! 

I am so blessed to have friends like you, and I wanted to say thank you for your warm wishes, and kind thoughts, as well as all of your prayers.  Keep them coming and don't forget me, I will be blogging my way through this injury for sure.

Godspeed...this comes from the Middle English expression "God spede (you)", a wish for success and fortune for one setting out on an enterprise, voyage, adventure, or travels. It may also mean good luck.

"Limitations only exist if you let them" 

© 2012 Shannon M. King. This publication is the exclusive property of Shannon M. King and is protected under the US Copyright Act of 1976 and all other applicable international, federal, state and local laws. The contents of this post/story may not be reproduced as a whole or in part, by any means whatsoever, without consent of the author, Shannon M. King. All rights reserved.