tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22785759761028899832024-03-08T02:35:48.048-08:00A Journey in TransformationLiLihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10959399377963599355noreply@blogger.comBlogger139125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2278575976102889983.post-89595821310974939452013-06-13T10:27:00.002-07:002013-06-13T10:27:52.960-07:00Fulfilling MomentsToday is such a stressful day for me. Our morning was normal, getting kids to school, but after that it turned to chaos (that we were prepared for because we knew ahead of time what we were facing.) 4th grade awards assembly, then off to the gym, then home for lunch, now it's time to pick up the kids from school, then hair cuts, followed by my showering and getting ready for my first day of work, one kid to swim team, change of the guard (ie: Dad home from work, me off to work), then home to prepare for a 1/2 day of school tomorrow. All the while we are under a severe weather alert... exciting!<br />
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I am ALWAYS excited to see my children receive awards. It just makes me happy. I love their satisfied looks on their faces. I love when their hard work is recognized and rewarded! Yesterday was my son's award ceremony and today the limelight belonged to my eldest daughter.<br />
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I was praying the ceremony would be QUICK so that we could get there, and get out and I'd be on time to my Zumba class that I was really wanting to take today. Unfortunately, that did not happen. It droned on and on. That's OK though, because my daughter was having a great time! FIVE awards! So proud of her. You have no idea how tough this year has been. She had a bully that we had to deal with. She struggled with organization and complete work. BUT through it all she came out on top and constantly fighting to do her best and be her best. I would say she succeeded. I won't bore you with the details.<br />
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I will, however, talk about one of her awards, specifically! My daughter, who came from my gene pool, received the FITNESS AWARD! To receive this award she had to qualify in each of 5 different activities: Pacer Test (running), Curl Ups, Trunk Lift, Push Ups and Sit & Reach. When I was in school, it was called the Presidential Fitness Award. I never got one. There were some years I didn't try. There were other years I busted my butt and never got one. I was overweight from age 6 until... oh wait, I STILL AM! I was not a very physically active child. I was reminded of that year after year during the fitness test.<br />
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Hearing Maegan's name being called for this award made me cry. I cried the happiest tears. I am SO proud of my daughter. When I knew she was going through the testing, I tried to encourage her to set goals for each event and do her very best to obtain or surpass those goals. When she'd come home, she'd tell me she hadn't done as well as everyone else. I'd just ask if she did her best. She'd say, "Yes, I think so." I didn't really expect her to be called forward for the award, by the way she had felt she had done on her tests. So, I was shocked, when her name was called. I cannot begin to explain the amount of pride I have in my daughter. She proved to herself that she COULD do it! She DID it! Way to go Maegan!!! I hope all of my kids will want to be active and lead fit lives. It all starts at home and I am so glad that I can set the example.<br />
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Consider this a fulfilled day!LiLihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10959399377963599355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2278575976102889983.post-17759825847887575422013-05-18T12:29:00.000-07:002013-05-18T12:29:50.393-07:00A New ChapterOn Wednesday, May 15, 2013, I began a new chapter in my journey. Realizing that I just can't seem to stay on track on my own, I signed up with a trainer. Philip Search of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Life-Fitness-Training-Co-LLC/343864192359826?fref=ts">Life Fitness Training & Co. LLC</a> has taken me on as a client. He has lofty goals for this mother of four. I believe in his direction. I've seen the results of his training on others. I know what can be done, IF I put in the hard work and follow his directions.<br />
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Our first session was a lot of hard work, but it was also fun. Having done personal training in a gym before, I thought I knew what to expect. Turns out, I had no clue. The trainers in the gym are not necessarily interested in my losing weight and getting healthy... they are looking out for their paycheck. Philip is patient and reassuring and takes strides to make sure I keep proper form and am really getting something out of my workout.<br />
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After having gained back nearly 40 lbs of my original weight loss in 8 months, I'm not satisfied. I'm restless and eager to get restarted. I am eager to see change and to fit into my adorable summer wardrobe that generous friends and workout buddies have supplied me with. I have a closet filled with size 12-14 clothes and I can't wear them. That's depressing! I was so close! Well, the past is behind us and the future is infront of us. I'm moving forward and not looking back. I'm learning from my mistakes and working hard to not make those same mistakes again.<br />
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Philip thinks he can get me down to a size 6 or maybe even a 4 -- WHAT!?! OK, I'm just going to trust, and not dwell on those numbers! I'll be happy to slip comfortably into my size 12 turquoise capris! Seeing as how I've not ever worn a size 12 as an adult (at least not in public or comfortably). I have, in my head, a few goals I'd like to achieve. For now, I am just focussing on getting a routine down, cutting out foods that trigger my overeating and finding alternatives to eating when bored or upset.<br />
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I'm learning to fit in 45 minutes of cardio in each day, whether I'm running with friends, walking with my family, or going to the gym. The MINIMUM cardio each day is 45 minutes. I'm also relearning how to eat clean and how to help my children eat cleaner! This needs to be a family effort, so that we all encourage each other and are there for each other.<br />
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I explained to my children that I can't do this journey on my own. I need them along for the ride. I need their help all along the way. They actually were excited when I made this into a team journey. Now they grumble about their lack of snack choices, but they are young, they will adjust and they still get their "sometimes" foods when visiting my mom or sister. As they know, there are NO off limit foods, just foods that we don't keep in our house and foods that we don't eat on a regular basis. They aren't "treats" -- pets get treats. Our sometimes foods are just not part of our everyday life, and that is OK.<br />
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So, will I never grace the inside of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Shyndigz?fref=ts">Shyndigz</a> again? No way! Of course I'll go back there and savor one of their delicious deserts one day. Weekly, however, not gonna happen. I can still go to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BottomsUpPizza?fref=ts">Bottom's Up Pizza</a> and nom on a slice of JoJo or Chesapeake. What I won't be doing is eating pizza weekly, or maybe even monthly. All things in moderation. And those foods can wait until I have regained my self control. Fat burning and weight loss are a must. I can't keep hoping and waiting. The time is NOW!<br />
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27 years of obesity -- I'm finally breaking up with obesity. But as they say, Breaking Up is hard to do! The road won't be easy, but it will be worth it, in many many ways. It's time to let go of the excuses. It's time to amp up my game. It's time to Rock n Roll!!!!!!<br />
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Peace out... I'm headed to the gym!LiLihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10959399377963599355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2278575976102889983.post-24436663035241669032013-04-17T19:52:00.003-07:002013-04-17T19:52:27.807-07:00A Beautiful MomentI got up this morning, dressed and headed out the door to meet Kim for our run. 3 miles were on tap. It was warm, but I didn't care, I was going to log those 3 miles... for Boston, for ME! I wasn't going to give up for anything.<br />
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When we finished our 3 miles, we walked to cool down and then stretched. When we parted ways, dawn was breaking and I knew I was going to get a reward on my way home. I got in my car and headed for the interstate.<br />
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The moment I turned onto the interstate, the most beautiful sunrise greeted me. The sky was blue and there were clouds here and there, but the most beautiful orange and pink sunrise was bursting forth from the sky. It was a beautiful sight to behold, a beautiful moment in time. It was my moment, my sunrise, my reward for a job well done. I'm so thankful for the beauty God has created.<br />
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I came home, got the kids off to school, did my 60 squats for the squat challenge and then took another child to school. Then I promptly fell asleep on my mom's sofa. Another nice reward after that early run. A good 20 minute power nap, while my daughter played with her tupperware cooking set on the floor beside me.<br />
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I realize I'm generally a happier person if I get up early and get moving immediately. I think my kids appreciate it when mom works out before waking them up. I appreciate everything a little more after a good morning run. Sometimes, I wonder why I don't run more often.<br />
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Tonight we took the kids for a froyo treat at Sweet Frog. We saw some of our friends while we were there. When we got home, I realized I had time to make it to ZUMBA at the gym. Matt put the kids to bed and I left for the gym.<br />
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After an amazingly fun Zumba class, I am finally home. I'm exhausted and I think we did about 150 squats in class. My thighs hate me tonight... which makes me love them. They put in some tough work today! I'm so grateful for my legs. I hope I never take them for granted. They may not look the way I want them to look, but they are there, they work and they are incredible.<br />
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Now, I'm headed for the shower and then to the comfort of my bed, where I will cozy up to my husband and I will give thanks to God for the blessings in my life, for the sunrise, for my running partner, for my spouse and for my working legs.<br />
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Today I am thankful.LiLihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10959399377963599355noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2278575976102889983.post-52678504889003685992013-04-16T07:45:00.000-07:002013-04-16T07:45:06.871-07:00Did you think I abandoned my journey?Well, in a way, I DID abandon my journey. Life sidetracked me and I allowed it to do so. Cait had her MRI's and while we found no seizure activity, we did find a tethered spinal cord. September - January we were bombarded with doctor visits and then she had surgery in November, family came for Thanksgiving, then more doctor visits another hospital stay in December, then a follow up in January. And since then, Cait suffered 2 broken bones in one of her legs. She certainly does keep my life interesting. After 4 children, I thought I'd experienced just about everything, but Cait has proven me WRONG! So, in all of this, I kind of lost myself, not to mention I tore my quadriceps tendon the weekend after Thanksgiving. I was not able to resume running until the end of February. This put a HUGE hurting on my success and I lost track of eating properly and I went in a tail spin and gained back a lot of weight. As for disappointment, yes, I'm experiencing that. However, I am a strong woman and I am a determined person. I'm never going to give up on achieving my goals.<br />
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Recently, my father became insulin dependent. This scares me to no end. His genes are part of me. His insulin dependency is helping to motivate me to get back on track. I do not want to have to spend my life shooting myself in the stomach with chemicals to keep my body functioning properly. I was born with a healthy body and it is up to me to KEEP it that way.<br />
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Now that I am back to running my three miles three days per week, I have injured a shoulder. Thankfully, the doctor that I am seeing did not tell me I cannot workout. Instead he is putting me in physical therapy, so that we can rehab my shoulder and get me back to full workouts. So, currently I am focusing on running, strengthening my legs and strengthening my right side.<br />
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Coming up:<br />
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<ul>
<li>April 27 SuperHero 5K</li>
<li>May 11 Color Run - Baltimore</li>
<li>May 11 Glow Run - Richmond</li>
<li>June 22 Jack & Abby NeoNatal Foundation 5K</li>
<li>June 22 Congenital Heart Walk</li>
<li>July 13 Westby Centennial Fun Run</li>
</ul>
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Having a schedule of upcoming races and activities helps me to keep my eye on the prize and keeps me moving and motivated.</div>
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I've initiated a Facebook Squat challenge with some of my sorority sisters and low and behold, others have joined in on the challenge! How FUN! Our first 50 squats was today! Cait actually did squats with me while I did mine. My little 3 year old workout buddy is the best! </div>
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On the food -- this is the most difficult part for me. I've taken myself off of coffee and gone to green tea, no sugar. I'm attempting to not eat junk, but this weekend was a rough one for me! Lots of cake (birthdays and wedding showers, oh my)... but today is a new day, there is no cake in my house! I've had a spinach feta wrap and green tea, and then a protein bar for snack. Lunch will be veggies & triscuits w/ humus along with 1 egg cup (recipe found on Pinterest, and I subbed egg whites). Afternoon snack will be 1/2 of a banana in a high fiber low carb wrap with a serving of natural peanut butter. Dinner will be chicken and veggies, just not quite sure yet, how I'm cooking them.</div>
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I was unable to do a run this morning, so I may do a run this evening. I have completed 50 squats, I'm planning to put in 50 monkey's and then I'll be doing push ups, planks and side plank as well as an inverted plank with a butt raise/pulse. I'll be using the resistance band for bicep curls.</div>
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I'm looking for a good tabata workout and a good (FREE) Tabata app for my phone. Suggestions are welcome!</div>
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<br />LiLihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10959399377963599355noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2278575976102889983.post-22779972145540605602013-04-16T07:25:00.000-07:002013-04-16T07:25:18.261-07:00Finishing Will Never Be The SameMy race finishes have forever been changed by the events of 4/15/13 at the Boston Marathon. Whenever I cross a finish line from here on out, I will not be saddened by the works of a coward, rather I'll be empowered by the response of those first on the scene and I will be celebrating the memory of those who lost their lives and honoring the lives of those who lost there limbs and suffered from the acts of the coward.<br />
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No finish will ever be in vain. No finish will ever be about me. My finishes will be in gratitude to a God who is with us even in the midst of these horrible atrocities that mankind chooses to bring upon one another for reasons that are beyond my comprehension.<br />
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The horrible actions will NOT take away my desire to run races. It will not diminish my trust in human kind. It will not defeat my kind spirit. Now more than ever, I am inspired to love my fellow man more and to be more generous with my kindness. Evil cannot defeat us unless we allow it.<br />
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Finish your races with hands held high in memory, in honor and in thankfulness.<br />
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<br />LiLihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10959399377963599355noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2278575976102889983.post-82382008445701417082013-04-16T06:47:00.001-07:002013-04-16T06:47:10.935-07:00Fitness TestToday my oldest child had her physical fitness test looming over her head. As we drove to school I asked her about it. She said she was nervous because she could only run between 10-12 laps, while the fastest kid in her class could do 33 laps. She told me that with her short little legs, she just can't go as far as everyone else or as fast.<br />
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I told her a little story about her mommy. I asked if she remembered when I ran my first 10K. She did. I said, when I got to mile 5 of that 10K, I wanted to give up. I was running alone, I was hot and I was feeling defeated. I didn't stop running. Instead, I prayed, "God, give me wings to finish this race!" At mile 6, I was talking myself into walking across that finish line. I got to 6.1 and the guy holding the sign said, "You are ALMOST there!" I was near tears. I was ready to give up and just walk that last .1 -- but then I heard, "MOMMA!" I said to my daughter today, "Maegan, that was YOU calling out for me! YOU are the wings that God sent me that day and pushed me to go all the way to that finish line running!" If you don't know the whole story, when I heard her calling for me, I motioned for her to come join me on the course... she and her brother & sister came out and held my hands and ran with me to the finish line. It was one of the best moments of my entire life. I reminded her that with God, we can do ANYTHING we put our mind to, and He will see us through whatever it is.<br />
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I also told her one of my running tricks, when I think I can't go any farther. I said, "When you feel like you are ready to give up, don't give up, instead, make a little visual goal, find a spot on the course and say, I'll run to there. Once you get there, pick another spot and run to it and just keep doing this until your time is up." I told her she would be surprised at just how far she can go by accomplishing little goals and meeting them.<br />
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She told me her goal today is 15 laps. She also told me that she didn't want to be in the lowest level, so when she ran 12 she was happy to be in the 2nd level. I told her that I thought 15 was a great goal, it's 3 more laps than she has done previously and that with focus it is attainable, and to be happy when she hits that goal. <br />
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Bless her heart, she was still worried and said, "Mom, what if I don't make my goal?" My answer to that was simple. "You don't give yourself the option of not making your goal. You BELIEVE you can make that goal, and you don't doubt yourself. You set the goal of 15, you'll achieve the goal of 15. And no matter what, as long as you do your very best, you have nothing to be upset about."<br />
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As she got out of the car, I asked her if she was ready. She said yes and I said, "You can do this! I love you!!!"<br />
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I'm praying that she has the best run of her life today. I'm hoping she will one day learn to love running, not for exercise, but for the release of tension it provides, for the outlet it is, for the power it brings, for the confidence it builds. I'm so proud of her for talking to me about her fears. I was very fearful of the physical fitness test as a child. I was the fattest child in my class. My legs rubbed together when I ran and it HURT. I would be chaffed and have a difficult time walking once it was over. My poor thighs would just be burned raw. I was embarrassed. No, I was mortified. My friends would receive their presidential awards, and I would cry silent tears because I was too fat and out of shape to ever be good at anything. Her fears are different from my fears a little bit, but they are still very real fears. Her talking about them with me gives me a chance to lift her up, to build her confidence, to let her know I'm proud of her and that no award is going to make me love her more. Just knowing she did her best and is proud of herself is all that I ask and all that I need.<br />
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ROCK THAT TEST, MAEGIE!!! I adore you and KNOW that you can do whatever you put that amazing mind to! Never Give Up!!! GOD'S GOT YOU! GO BABY GO!!! Oh how I WISH I could be at that track today with a poster cheering on my baby girl! My heart is with her.LiLihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10959399377963599355noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2278575976102889983.post-85111569039660931492012-09-23T09:13:00.000-07:002012-09-23T09:13:44.910-07:00Personal NoteBeing supportive and positive is NOT comparing yourself to me and my accomplishments. It does the reverse, actually. Don't tell me I am doing so much better than you are -- this is MY journey. I invited you along to support me, not to make you feel badly for not working out or eating improperly. (by the way, I need this talk as much as some of my "supporters" because I'm very guilty of comparing myself to others) What happens when you make comments like that, is that I start feeling bad about my success as if my success is holding someone else back. I let my feeling bad about someone else's feelings and then I start self sabotaging because I don't want others to be upset with me. I'd rather be disappointed in myself than to cause someone else pain or sadness. This is a fault with in me. My journey is separate from anyone else's journey. I do want your support and positivity 100% -- but I just want you to know it hurts when you make comments that are comparative in nature and you put yourself down in comparison to my accomplishments. You are awesome in your own right and you don't need my journey to define you! I want to support you in your effort, TOO! Let's build each other up, not tear each other down. If you have a bad week, you have a bad week. You can get back on track, just like I can! We can do anything we put our minds to, we just have to be willing! So, please, remember that even if you don't mean for words to hurt, sometimes they can. Stop and think before you say something, "Would these words hurt me if someone said them to me?"<br />
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Have a wonderful Sunday and make this week your best week yet!!!<br />
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Things I am facing this week:<br />
Caity has a wellness check up on Monday and 2 MRI's under anesthesia on Wednesday<br />
My brother was diagnosed with stage 1 Melanoma and is facing surgery on Thursday<br />
Matt is in a conference Monday - Wednesday<br />
Scentsy Parties on Friday night and Sunday<br />
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All of these items will play a roll in how my week goes. I will be making a meal plan today and shopping tonight to pull off this week! (Lots of make ahead and crock pot meals!) I've shopped for the kids lunches for the week, now just need to make sure we have dinner meals.<br />
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On Tap:<br />
Chicken and veggie soup (grilled cheese for kids)<br />
turkey chili with black beans & kidney beans<br />
Spaghetti<br />
Breakfast for dinner (this is on Matt's night to cook)<br />
Sushi (for work night, easy and transportable)<br />
Leftovers!LiLihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10959399377963599355noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2278575976102889983.post-85104576620080684162012-09-19T16:52:00.000-07:002012-09-19T16:52:08.563-07:00Back in the Saddle AgainAfter a VERY disheartening weigh in this morning... I have had to recommit myself to my goals! I'm going back and reading my blog from the beginning to find out where I lost sight of my goals and where I started! One thing I know is I do NOT want diabetes and I'm headed like a freight train right for that diagnosis if I do not regain control of myself. M&M's, the fall ones, came out and I couldn't resist! WHAT??? Hello, that is SO not me anymore. Well, I've learned a valuable lesson. M&M's cannot live in my house, unless they are the plain M&M's and then I could not care less about them! BUT any other M&M's must be enjoyed outside of my home. Candy Corn, ewww, who eats that stuff? Me. HUH? Candy Corn? Was I desperate? OK, enough of beating myself up.<br />
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Bad weigh in = looking back, not pointing fingers -- I know who made the weight come on, there is no need to beat myself up for poor decision making, instead it's time to REFOCUS! (Hey Sarah, heehee, I gotta FOCUS!) So, what are my reasons for being on this journey?<br />
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<ol>
<li>To get healthy!</li>
<li>To be under 200 lbs.!</li>
<li>To not be the FAT mom!</li>
<li>To give my kids a role model!</li>
<li>To use the gifts God has given me and praise HIM with them!</li>
<li>To better enjoy life!</li>
</ol>
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That's enough of that for now. So, now that I have these goals written out... how am I going to achieve these goals? Well, first and foremost, I MUST gain control over the food I eat. I love sweets. Now, let me stop and think about sweets -- do I need sweets every day? Nope. Do I want them every day? Yep. Are there ways around having sweets every day and not feeling deprived? Oh Yes!<br />
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<ol>
<li>Alternatives to sweets that taste sweet, but don't add the calories and inflammatory effects of sugar. (Coffee: Pumpkin Spice, Cinnamon Roll -- they taste sweet but have no sugar in them! Applesauce: Organic Unsweetened just add cinnamon! Tea: Spicy Teas! Sweet Potatoes baked in the oven, add cinnamon if necessary!)</li>
<li>Make the sweet WORTH IT when I have to have one. Don't settle for candy corn -- 20 pieces is 150 calories!!! If I am going to eat 150 calories of a sweet, it needs to be WORTH it, like a portion of a brownie or cookie, a few bites of creme brule, Kalico Kitchen cake (a small slice or share a slice with someone) -- make the dessert or sweet something that you can't have every day and that you know is worth every bite.</li>
<li>When a sweet craving comes on, try taking a nap or a walk, drink extra water, chat with a friend, distract yourself from the craving!!!</li>
<li>Do not bring sweets into the house, no matter how tempting the packaging. You know you can't resist certain sweets, so why torture yourself either by eating them or by depriving yourself when you know they are there!? Just leave them at the store.</li>
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Savory foods are a weakness as well... OK so I LIKE FOOD -- plain and simple. What I need to do is stop pinning recipes off of pinterest and start MAKING the ones I've already pinned. Find new foods that are HEALTHY and satisfy my savory cravings. Leave behind the chex mix and the cheese itz! I need to read back through the foods I used to eat and start eating them again.</div>
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As for working out... I've got that! :) I run 2-4 days per week, I do body back 2 days per week, I Zumba at least once per week and now I'm adding in TRX and line dancing (hip hop, not country). The exercising is not my problem... so we know the food needs to be the focus. </div>
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What's the MAIN change I need to make: WRITING EVERYTHING IN MY JOURNAL!!! I know that journalling works! So, I must retrain myself to write down everything I eat. I used to make it a game. I need to get back to that. It works. Just do it! </div>
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I know I can do this! But there is one more element I need! I need you guys to recommit to me as well. Hold me accountable. If I haven't blogged, ask me where my blog is, ask me what new foods I've tried... just keep me going by supporting me! I am a social creature by nature and positive social interaction really helps! Thanks for sticking with me on my journey! I CAN DO THIS! And right now I'm looking at it 5 lbs. at a time! </div>
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Each 5 lbs I lose, I'm going to reward myself-</div>
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<ul>
<li>pedicure</li>
<li>hair cut</li>
<li>hair color</li>
<li>concert, sporting event or movie with my husband</li>
<li>new shoes (NICE ONES)</li>
<li>a Leather Grace Adele handbag (if you haven't seen them, ask me about them!!!)</li>
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I'll set new rewards as I knock off rewards (and ultimately knock off the pounds). </div>
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Thanks for sticking with me on my journey. It truly has to become the life you live. There is no diet, there is no exercising to a goal and then going back to sedentary life. It's living healthy to live a good and productive life! I'm committed! I want to be the best me that I can possibly be! (Sorry for any spelling and grammatical errors, I'm not trying to win awards with my blog!) </div>
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LiLihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10959399377963599355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2278575976102889983.post-25281455207010923362012-05-09T19:24:00.001-07:002012-05-09T19:24:46.740-07:00Planktastic,topia,apoloza,stock --- er PLANK CHALLENGE CLASSThis morning was a Plank challenge workout... Cardio, plank, Cardio, plank, Cardio, plank... you get the idea, right? We did all kinds of planks: up downs, plank jacks, side planks with a twist, planks with a leg lift, planks with a hamstring curl... Then Kathy says to us to look at our inspiration boards and draw inspiration and motivation, because we would be pulling ourself in plank position the length of the gym.<br />
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Seriously, this was one of the hardest things I have ever done. It wasn't pretty and it took me a while, but I did it! Just looking at my board with: my family, my race bibs and my picture from November 2010 made me extremely emotional. I've come so far, but with so much left to go. Yesterday I was feeling very fat and ugly and was very hard on myself. Today I feel much better about myself. I know I have a long way to go, but celebrating my successes are what it is all about. The journey never ends, being healthy is a life long aspiration that takes full commitment, much like marriage and parenting. You don't give up because it gets hard or frustrating -- you use that frustration and turn it into motivation to move mountains. I CAN, I WILL! While it seems I am "stuck" right now with my weight, I have other successes to celebrate... those successes deserve recognition. They are not less significant just because they aren't weight loss, they are important in their own right. I have to remind myself that the number on the scale, while important, does not define me. My journey isn't just about losing weight, but about changing my attitude towards working out, eating properly, being healthy and loving myself. It's about counting my blessings and being grateful for the things I CAN DO. It's about challenging myself to do more than I ever thought possible, to be strong, to be a role model for my children, especially my three girls. I'm so very grateful to be on this journey!LiLihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10959399377963599355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2278575976102889983.post-77769303862248473922012-05-07T15:26:00.000-07:002012-05-07T15:26:05.599-07:00The Good, The Bad and the Beautiful!This past weekend was amazing! I managed to journal a plan for Saturday and I stuck to my plan almost completely. THAT is the good! Sunday I did not journal, but was VERY careful about my food intake, even passing up dark chocolate mini candy bars at my mom's house.<br />
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The BAD: I weighed in for curiostity's sake this morning. Seeing as how I have been journaling and working out MORE, I expected a pretty nice drop in pounds today. It was not to be so. I was up 1 pound from last week! My heart sunk and my stomach lurched. How could this be? Well, one thing is... even with all of my journaling... I had a TON of sodium over the weekend with the consumption of processed foods! I know this played a huge role. Chips and Salsa are now on my banned list for a week or more! Now, I did dip peppers in salsa to cut back on my chip intake, but apparently, I ate enough chips to make a difference. Thus, why the chips stay at mom's house and do not come home to my house!<br />
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Now for the BEAUTIFUL... there were 3 beautiful things that I saw today. First, on my way to the gym for my morning workout, the moon was full and bright and beautiful and I could see it all the way to the gym. Then upon leaving the gym to head home, the sun had risen and was peeking through the trees causing all kinds of beautiful flare. it was a stunning way to end a workout and start the rest of my day. But the most beautiful thing I saw all day, was on my way to work tonight. There was a woman, probably in her 70's, with absolutely picture perfect hair and make up. She donned running shoes, running shorts and a t-shirt. She was outside in the glorious sunshine on an early evening run. I just looked at her and a huge smile came across my face. If I make it to 70, I want to be like her. I want to take advantage of living and get out there and be running, in nature, enjoying all the sights, sounds and smells, while I keep my body fit and healthy! She was the most beautiful thing I have seen in a long time. She looked so happy to be out there running by herself. She just made me happy and made me realize how I want to be as I age... happy and fit! A runner, forever.<br />
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Take time to notice the beauty around you. There are always good things and bad things, ups and downs... but God puts beauty in the most unlikely of places, at the oddest of moments. I truly believe He does this to see if we are paying attention. Life tends to bog us down and blinds us from the beauty around us. Try to push life to the side and seek out the beauty. You'll feel so blessed when you glimpse the unexpected beauty that you may have otherwise missed!LiLihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10959399377963599355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2278575976102889983.post-31564554470098661602012-05-03T08:32:00.002-07:002012-05-03T08:35:47.315-07:00Back in the Game!I am very much back in the game and on my journey. I can see that 199, I can taste it. Now I want to FEEL IT! I want to know what it feels like not to have a 2 as the first number in my weight. This will be the first time as an adult that I've seen that number.<br />
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I know I still have a ways to go, but I also know what it takes to get there. Determination is first and foremost. Eating right and journaling is 2nd! Exercise is tied with eating for 2nd place! This week I am taking time to celebrate. Yesterday we celebrated my husband's birthday. We enjoyed subs from Firehouse. I got the Engineer without the cheese, I just did not need the extra calories on my sandwich and the sandwich was just as good without it. I never get mayo on my sandwich. Thankfully, I lost my taste for mayo while pregnant with Cait and it never really came back. I tasted a cupcake, but did not eat the whole thing, even though it was a mini-cupcake. I picked up frozen yogurt rather than ice cream. 110 cal for 1/2 cup of Mint Cookies FroYo! -- I celebrate the GOOD choices I made!<br />
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I'm celebrating the fact that I have been journaling since Monday, all of my food and exercise. I forgot how fun it is to see what I eat, how I eat and how to improve upon it! I also know that this is KEY for me to seeing the scale # go down!<br />
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I am celebrating that fact that I have BLOGGED this week, more than once! GO me!!! :)<br />
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I am also celebrating the fact that I have gone to both of my Body Back classes this week AND I ran on Tuesday and Thursday, so far a total of 5 miles. Today was a 5K and it was AMAZING! We did a slow pace and then sprinted our hearts out at the end. We both were glad we got up and did it! We were both tired and grumpy, but the run improved our moods tremendously! I plan to run again tomorrow and on Sunday... hopefully I will get to 9 or 10 miles for the week. Eventually, I plan to be at 20+ miles per week, but I am not there. I am about to begin training for the Army 10 Miler.<br />
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In all journeys, there are ups and downs, peaks and valleys. If we don't celebrate even the smallest of successes, we will tend to over exaggerate our mishaps and will begin dwelling on them and filling our heads with negative self talk and doubt. By celebrating the victories, large or small, we are reminding ourselves that we in fact were made to have victories and to rejoice in them and never to take them for granted. We praise God when we celebrate our victories because He makes all things possible. I can't workout without remembering who created my legs to move and my arms to lift... how GENEROUS He was to provide me with such luxuries that not everyone else has. My prayer is that I will never take these seeming simple acts for granted, but rather that I will always be thankful, grateful and use them to further His Kingdom. I'm blessed beyond any words I could possibly write.<br />
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I can see that 199, I can taste it... now I want to FEEL IT! I say it again, because I mean it! I also KNOW I CAN do it! With God by my side, I can do anything I set my mind to do. I want to run the Army 10 Miler, and while it scares the pudding out of me, I KNOW that I can do it! I want to be under 200 lbs. I KNOW I can do it. Dedication, commitment, determination and gratitude are the ways I plan to achieve both of these goals.<br />
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As always, thank you for coming along on my journey with me! Your encouragement is so beneficial to my success. I will never take you for granted. I'm thankful you are interested in my journey and that you want to see me succeed. You help keep me accountable. THANK YOU!LiLihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10959399377963599355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2278575976102889983.post-55502758684101354832012-05-01T13:22:00.001-07:002012-05-01T13:28:38.147-07:00It's an Honor and a PrivilegeThis morning, I got up and met three of my favorite people and we went running at 5:30 a.m. We ran 2 miles and then walked a bit further for our cool down. What a beautiful morning we had for running. I shed my running shirt about 1/2 a mile in. It was over 60 degrees and humid... but so beautiful! My running partners make my run so enjoyable. I did the last portion of my run in a short sprint. It felt great. My final sprint is my "get the cobwebs out" moment... it's the moment I shake everything loose, give it my all and become spent. It's the moment I EARN my cool down. It's my "miracle" moment. I hate sprinting with a passion, but I have come to love my final sprint. Panting, sweat dripping, side stitch and all... it signals I've had a good run and a strong finish.<br />
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Today was a great run because two of the people we run with, run a bit faster than me and A. They paced our first mile, and we hung back a bit on our second mile. Our first mile was under 13 -- THAT NEVER happens for me! Overall, we finished with an average time of just under 13 minutes! I'm stoked that we did so well today!<br />
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For me, running is such a privilege. I think of those who don't have the ability to run, those who are limited by medical reasons, those who are limited for any reason and I run for them! I always thought I could not run. I laugh when people tell me they can't run. I just think, if you only KNEW!!! I was only limited by my small thinking and by my self doubt. I have no medical reason why I shouldn't run. God gave me these working legs and this working and able body -- my running is Glorification of the AMAZING creator!!! HE made my body with the ability to do these things, ALL PRAISE and HONOR and GLORY to Him! I weigh over 200 lbs... I RUN! I always said I was "too fat" to run. Um, no such thing! Trust God, He knows what your body can do and you'll be amazed at what He can sustain your body to handle!<br />
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I think of the sweet little girl, Brenda, from church this past Sunday. She is 9 years old and lives in Africa. She had to walk 1.5 miles (each way) in rough terrain to bring dirty water to her family, so they'd have water. The water bottles, filled to the top, weigh 40 lbs. Brenda can carry it half full... 20 lbs. 3 miles, at 9 years of age. Could YOU do that? Where do you think Brenda gets her strength to carry that water? God made her amazing! Fortunately for Brenda, God blessed her village and they now have a deep well with CLEAN water that is available to everyone in the village! She no longer has to make those treks. She is an example to me of what we are created to be able to endure. We have been wonderfully and beautifully made. We should never take that for granted. We should never doubt our abilities. We should never make excuses for things we "might" be able to do, if only we'd try.<br />
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My challenge, to anyone reading this... is do something difficult today. Prove to yourself that you CAN do something you may not have thought possible... maybe it is walking 1 mile, maybe it is trying a push-up or a sit-up, maybe it is a Zumba class. Let God amaze you by the abilities that He has blessed you with... stop dwelling on what you can't do and celebrate that which you CAN do!<br />
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Thanks for following my journey. I'm going to take a moment to celebrate the fact that I have updated my blog 2 days in a row AND I have been food journaling as well! WOOHOO!!! I'm ready to get OUT of the 200 lbs and into "ONE"DERLAND!!!!!!LiLihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10959399377963599355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2278575976102889983.post-44344294473131793862012-04-30T19:03:00.002-07:002012-04-30T19:03:51.060-07:00New Accountability PartnerI'm definitely more excited about staying on track, now that I have a new accountability partner. My sweet friend Katie is at the exact same place that I am on this journey. She is in a different class than I am, but I see her on her class days. We decided tonight that we are going to keep each other accountable this 8 weeks and we are going to see our goals recognized. 199 is on the radar!!! This is a very tough goal to accomplish, but we know we can do it, if we just stay on task!<br />
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If you are on your own journey, I highly recommend getting yourself an accountability person that will lift you up and empower you. Find someone who cares about your journey and wants to genuinely see you succeed! Having a supportive person on your journey is so very helpful!<br />
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I will keep you posted as we progress through our classes. Pray for me to remember FOOD IS FUEL and my body is God's Temple, I don't need to mistreat it!<br />
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Thanks for sharing my journey with me.LiLihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10959399377963599355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2278575976102889983.post-39792531961795187362012-04-23T08:52:00.001-07:002012-04-23T08:52:44.749-07:00Joy Fit Club GoalToday I started another 8 week session of Body Back. This time with Kathy as my instructor. I LOVE working out with Kathy. Her energy and positivity as well as her laugh are just infectious! Working out with her is like breathing in fresh air! She was my kickboxing instructor and she is the one who taught me to kick through a block of wood! I'm thrilled to be reunited with someone who has taught me so much.<br />
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I am so close to getting myself into the Joy Fit Club. You have to lose over 100 lbs. and do it all through diet and exercise! 75 lbs is SO close! I must refocus and get myself over the hump. I need to get out of the 200's and I KNOW I can do it! It definitely is not easy.<br />
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Of course, this morning, I cracked my pinky toe on a door frame (1:30 am -- fun) -- so I wasn't able to run this morning, but I did all of the rest of the assessments. 1:33 on my plank, which I had to do using ONE leg. The injured foot was resting on top of that one supporting leg. Push ups were a challenge on one leg. I was only able to get 5 good ones in... my goal is 20 good ones for the end of the session assessments!<br />
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Help keep me on my path!!! I WANT this!!!!LiLihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10959399377963599355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2278575976102889983.post-21394837456642685972012-03-25T08:55:00.000-07:002012-03-25T08:55:05.529-07:00Run after RainGreat quick 1.3 mile run after the rain yesterday. Just wanted a quick cardio boost before going to play at a friend's house for the evening. I never regret a run! I'm so thankful for legs that work. I hope to never take them for granted! And if for any reason, I ever lose my legs, I pray that will have the determination to learn to walk and run on prosthetics! Running is my "ME" time when I just get to let everything go and focus on my relationship with God. And if I run with my friends, it is my time to listen to them and enjoy their company.LiLihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10959399377963599355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2278575976102889983.post-83302162763985501152012-03-23T06:32:00.000-07:002012-03-23T06:32:27.126-07:00Keep On Running and RunningAnother great 3 mile morning run with a sprint at the finish. This morning my run was with Sarah... my sorority sister and now sole sister! I want to start pushing a little further with my run, maybe trying to tack on another mile! We are training for the Army 10 Miler. We need to start upping our mileage to prepare for that intimidating race.<br />
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I feel so great after a run. I'm so thankful for a great place to run and great friends to run with in the mornings. I'm thankful for the beautiful weather we have been having. This week felt great! 5 days of great workouts.<br />
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I'm really feeling the need for a night out at a club. I love dancing. I'm not necessarily great at it, but I LOVE IT, and I love the cardio workout I get... 2-3 straight hours of dancing. You can't get a more fun cardio workout than that!<br />
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I'm trying to find little ways to add more cardio in each and every day... you know Kickin it up a Notch! ;)<br />
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I had a fantastic eating day yesterday. Stayed on task, wrote everything in my journal. Getting myself back on track so that I can see another significant loss and hopefully make it to my next goal, very very soon.<br />
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Hoping to have a great weekend and find a way to add in extra cardio. Rest day on Sunday! :)LiLihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10959399377963599355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2278575976102889983.post-82581901058488103082012-03-22T05:41:00.001-07:002012-03-22T05:41:40.210-07:00Hold The BusWell, this morning a dose of reality slapped me in the face. I had WEIGHT GAIN!!!!! EEEEKKKK -- did it throw me into a tail spin? NO! Why not? Because, I have goals I am BOUND and DETERMINED to reach. Today's slap in the face was nothing but a great wake up call that I need to be more in control of my Journey. I need to be more focused. I went directly to the grocery store and filled my cart with my favorite healthy foods. NO JUNK!<br />
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Happily, I'm back to my regular workout schedule and now back to eating healthy and journaling. My goals are within reach, I just need to stay on course! No need to beat myself up over the gain... just need to remind myself I'm worth the changes and worth the effort!LiLihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10959399377963599355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2278575976102889983.post-58567797165954086872012-03-21T19:04:00.003-07:002012-03-21T19:09:57.699-07:00SHAKA STAYS WITH VCU!!!OK, so you may wonder how the title of this post has ANYTHING to do with my journey. Hang with me and you'll see!<br />
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I have a deep admiration for Shaka Smart, head coach of the VCU Men's Basketball team. Just in his third season, Coach Smart has changed VCU Men's Basketball from a sub-par mid-major team, to a mid-major team that can take on ANY other team with a very good chance of winning, no matter who the opponent. Coach Smart has taken the team to the Big Dance two years running and even made a Final Four appearance in 2011. This year he lead one of the youngest teams in the NCAA to the Big Dance where they beat a number 5 seed and then came just 3 points shy of moving on to the Sweet 16.<br />
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Now, my admiration for Coach Smart actually has very little to do with his success here in VCU Ramnation, but rather more to do with his style of coaching and his obvious love for his work. If you watch college basketball, chances are you've seen puffy, red faced, older gentlemen losing their temper, throwing their hands up in frustration and screaming at the refs. If you watch Shaka Smart during a game, that's not at all what you see. Coach Smart has a coolness about him. He carries himself with poise and with quiet resolve. He doesn't blow up when a needed shot fails to drop or when a unnecessary foul is called. He does not yell in the face of his athletes. He does not scream at the referees. However, he is passionate. In intense moments, you will see him bend at the knees, lean forward on the line and look like he may, himself, jump out on that floor for an assist! You will see him smile in a moment of frustration. You will see him hug a player who just missed his foul shots. You notice Coach Smart, because he is different. You notice his grace and his poise. You notice his positivity and his humility. You can see genuine love for his players and for his job. He has a heart. He cares for more than a pay check. He cares about people. He is authentic.<br />
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For a year now, I have been on my journey to become healthy and fit. I'm half way to my weight goal. I run 3 miles with relative ease. I can do full sit ups for a minute without stopping. I can jump up onto something with 2 feet (for me, this is a monumental task). I knocked over 3 minutes off of my 1/2 mile run. I did not do this without help. Just as the VCU Men's Basketball Team did not make it to the Big Dance without help. Like the Rams, I've been coached on my journey. I've had 3 coaches on my journey. Two of my coaches embrace the same style of coaching as Shaka Smart. Rather than brow beat me, put me down, belittle me, they build me up. They remind me of my strengths, they help me push through my weaknesses. They empower me. They do not instill fear in me, but rather build respect by respecting me and working with me and for me. There are moments when they may want to strangle me or when they have to get tough on me, but it comes from a place of genuine care. I know that they want to see me succeed. They aren't just trying to get me through that class, they are helping me build a healthy life. They are giving me tools to succeed in life, just as Coach Smart mentors his team.<br />
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With coaches like Smart, Rachel Pustilnik and Kelly Connors, I am inspired to work harder. I want to learn more. I want to take their style of coaching and apply it to my parenting. There is so much we can learn from this type of authenticity and integrity. Coach Smart turned down a reported $2.5 million job in bigger city and better conference, to stay here at VCU with his team. That, folks, is what it is all about. Money does not happiness make. And Coach Smart, once again, showed the world that sometimes having less is more in the grand scheme of things, and that people matter more than an indulgent paycheck. He showed his team what loyalty is and that he believes in them. My coaches believing in me has been a HUGE part of my success. What he has done for his players by staying at VCU will be monumental in their personal successes, not just in basketball, but in life. He has taught us all a valuable lesson. Thanks Coach Smart, for being such a great example to all of us.<br />
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Thanks Kelly & Rachel for believing in me, for putting up with my excuses, for reminding me I'm worth it and for never giving up on me. I could not have made it this far without you!<br />
<br />LiLihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10959399377963599355noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2278575976102889983.post-303930175821949242012-03-16T04:26:00.001-07:002012-03-16T04:26:09.970-07:00A Beautiful Morning RunI love starting my day with a run. This morning it was nearly 60 degrees on our run. Short sleeves and capris were required for this morning's run. We cut back to 2 miles for time's sake today. We ran them pretty quickly (by my standards), we were definitely under 12 minutes per mile, or close to it! We finished with a nice walk and some stretching. You know there are mornings when I don't want to run, but the saying is true... "You'll never regret a run." I love the post run high.<br />
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This week I have worked out 5 consecutive days. This is the FIRST time in THREE weeks that I have done that! It feels so good to be back in the swing of things. Now let's hope I drop those last 13.5 pounds to get me under 200 lbs. THAT is the goal. 199.5 by the middle of April. I'm pretty sure it is doable! MUST FOOD JOURNAL!!!!!!!!!!!!<br />
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Have an AMAZING weekend. I sure wish I was doing the 8K this weekend!!! I hope all of my friends who are running it have a great time!!! <3LiLihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10959399377963599355noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2278575976102889983.post-28660325263582806972012-03-15T04:16:00.003-07:002012-03-15T04:16:45.986-07:00It's been a year...A lot has happened in 1 year. I started this journey on March 1 2011. I didn't know exactly where it would take me or what would happen. I had no idea if I would stick with it. I had no idea if I could be successful with getting healthy. I just knew it was time to try.<br />
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Here we are one year later. On March 8, I did my weigh in... happily, I can report that in 1 year, I lost 75 lbs. and am half way to my weight goal. I weighed in at 213 lbs. down from 288! I had wanted to be 100 lbs. down by March 1, however, I am THRILLED to celebrate 75 lbs. gone!<br />
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Looking forward, I have to set some goals and recommit myself to my journey. My goals vary in nature, but I'll post them here and I ask that you help keep me accountable!<br />
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<span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b>Goals of 2012:</b></span><br />
<b>Blog at least once per week.</b><br />
<b>Food Journal DAILY (all day EVERY DAY).</b><br />
<b>Meal Plan for the week with a grocery list.</b><br />
<b>Cardio Exercise at least 45 minutes 5 times per week, six if time permits.</b><br />
<b>Get my FAMILY in the gym.</b><br />
<b>Participate in family walks and games in the yard (basketball, frisbee, soccer).</b><br />
<b>Daily Devotional, time with God... this should be my #1 goal, with my fitness & food goals following close behind.</b><br />
<b>GET OUT OF 200!!!!!!!!! (FOREVER!!!!!!!!!!!)</b><br />
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OK, those are my goals. And I ask for your help in seeing these goals met. Your encouragement is so helpful to me along the way. I rejoice in the goals I have met and look forward to the goals I've set to achieve. My life is so blessed and I need to spread those blessings to others. Let me know how I can pray for you and help you with accountability in your own goals!<br />
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Thanks for walking this journey with me and seeing me through. Please continue on with me and I promise to be better about keeping up with my blog! I'll post menus/recipes and other things a long the way. You all ROCK!!! My 18 faithful friends!!! Thanks for all you do for me! :)<br />
<br />LiLihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10959399377963599355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2278575976102889983.post-86482740696771888242012-02-22T04:22:00.001-08:002012-02-22T04:22:37.486-08:00Beautiful RunSo happy I got up and ran this morning! May not have been fast, but it sure was enjoyable! I love having a running partner who goes with me on my runs. It makes it even more fun!LiLihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10959399377963599355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2278575976102889983.post-68429878359487757022012-02-21T18:18:00.000-08:002012-02-21T18:18:38.780-08:00Tomorrow I RUN!!!I am so ready to put my head on my pillow, so that I can drift off to dreamland! Sweet rest before my early morning run. It has been a week since my last run. That is entirely TOO long! My legs seem to be looking forward to this run as well. I love the route we take on our 3 mile loop. If I'm feeling strong and our time is good, I may push it to 4 miles tomorrow. It will probably be icy cold in the morning, but I don't even care. I have come to love and appreciate running. I'm not fast, I'm not trying to win any races. I just want to get out there, breathe in the air and move my body. I love the high that I get following a run. It is like no other feeling I've felt before.<br />
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I'll be honest. I'm NOT looking forward to my 1/2 mile run on Thursday. I REALLY hate pushing it on my runs. I've trained myself to enjoy running and thus I want to run at a pace where I can breathe and talk easily. Doing my assessment 1/2 mile is a PUSH, it's very uncomfortable and I usually head into an asthma attack (due to running fast in the REALLY cold morning air). Rachel, my trainer, has been having us sprint more in class recently. I'm finding that I like the powerful feeling I get when I push my sprint... granted, we are INSIDE for these sprints I am speaking of... the 1/2 mile is outside in the elements.<br />
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I'm ready for warm weather to return. I'm looking forward to running with less clothes on. I'm especially looking forward to running at the beach again this summer. I am so thankful that I have finally discovered the love behind running. It is truly wonderful! NOW, when my alarm goes off at 4:40, I pray I remember these sentiments!<br />
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Good Night, folks! Sweet dreams!LiLihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10959399377963599355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2278575976102889983.post-24137651815728233582012-02-10T07:01:00.000-08:002012-02-10T07:01:52.935-08:00Missed 2 days in a ROW!So I missed group work out yesterday morning, due to exhaustion. We went to a VCU basketball game, and got an unexpected workout. We pulled into the parking garage across from the Seigle Center and drove to the top floor... there were ZERO parking spaces! This was AFTER we paid to park in that garage. So, we drove down, got a refund, dropped off our passengers and we drove around and around and around looking for a spot to park. Keep in mind, I have on BOOTS with a HEEL! We parked about 1.5 miles away from the venue. Thus I got an extra 3 mile workout in on Wednesday (after an early morning run). In order to make up for the missed class, I did a 100's class of my own... my husband my witness! OH MY GRACIOUS, I was soaked in sweat when I was done! :) I felt good that I took the initiative to work out. However, I was mad that I did not hold my plank for more than 1 minute 45 seconds.<br />
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So, last night was a rough one. We didn't get into bed until late... as soon as we did get to bed, one of the kids came into our bed sad and congested. Meanwhile, the youngest was coughing her croupy cough all night long! Then my son ended up in our bed. I did NOT make it to Booty Blast this morning. My goal is to get in some sort of exercise today (maybe Zumba), to make up for my missed class. Tomorrow is a crazy day, so I don't know that I'll get my 3.5 mile run in... I HAVE to make time to do that this weekend!<br />
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Sometimes I feel like my life is SO busy I just can't fit it all in. However, I also find that a blessing, my life is THAT full!!!<br />
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<br />LiLihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10959399377963599355noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2278575976102889983.post-16793885868797898872012-01-30T05:49:00.001-08:002012-01-30T05:49:31.467-08:00I'm Still Here!Have you missed me? I'm still trucking along! I'm stalled at 67 lb. mark. I hope to see a loss this week! I'm still running and I've taken up ZUMBA, which I enjoy so much! This week I'll begin facilitating a class. Our book will be the "90 Day Fitness Challenge" -- I am excited to see lives changed! I also wanted to invite you all to watch my story Sunday, February 5 online @ <a href="http://highimpactchurch.tv/">High Impact Church</a> There will be 2 opportunities to tune in: 11 a.m. EST or 9 p.m. EST.<br />
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Thanks for checking in on me! I am 1 month away from my 1 year anniversary of the beginning of this journey!LiLihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10959399377963599355noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2278575976102889983.post-83169100396225291142011-10-22T07:43:00.000-07:002011-10-22T07:43:44.745-07:00"Impossible is not a word!"In the words of the song "What Faith Can Do" by Kutlass, "Impossible is not a word, It's just a reason for someone not to try."
As one quote says, "Impossible, even the word says I'm Possible."
I've considered MANY things impossible in my lifetime. BUT, I also know, as a Christian, that ALL things are in fact POSSIBLE. I once thought I'd NEVER be able to have children, it was impossible for me to conceive on my own and carry to term. Here I am now with 4
children here on earth, only 1 conceived with fertility meds. I know that God had a plan, it wasn't that it was impossible, it was just that my timing and plans don't always coincide with the plans HE has for me.
Along those same lines... I thought I was just born to be fat and that it was impossible for me to lose weight. Well, one thing I know, I was not a fat toddler/preschooler. My weight wasn't "predetermined" for me. Bad habits, over eating, stress and lack of self discipline led to my weight issues. Impossibility wasn't the issue, but it was often the excuse! The issue was facing fears and putting in hard work. Let's face it, I'm a lazy person. I ENJOY being lazy. Losing weight requires hard work, self discipline and a positive attitude. How many of those things can I control? EVERY.SINGLE.ONE of them!
Today, I did something that not long ago (ie: last night) I thought was IMPOSSIBLE. I fought it with every bit of me this morning. I knew I was facing this challenge and I was NOT mentally prepared for it. I've been sick this week, so I was thinking, "OH, I'll just say I needed extra rest to try and get well." Morning came and my alarm went off. I hit snooze 4 times. Reluctantly, I hoisted myself out of bed. I went into the bathroom where I'd laid out my running clothes last night. I got dressed. Still with a negative attitude, I moved on to the kitchen, filled my water bottle, got a teaspoon of nutella. As I was putting away the nutella, my elbow hit my water cup, sending 32 oz. of water all over my kitchen floor. I was pretty ticked at this point. I thought, if that was any indication of how my morning was going to go, I should probably just get back in bed.
I am very glad that I DID NOT go with those thoughts. Instead, I laced up my shoes and headed out to Mom's Treehouse to meet with my fellow Mother Runners. Part of my motivation to get up and go, was seeing that a dear friend was suffering with a stomach illness after caring for her very sick son all week. I figured, I'm in relatively good health today (except the congestion I have and mildly sore throat). I decided to dedicate my run to my sweet friend! We all met at the Treehouse, took a quick group photo and headed out for our run.
I am the slowest intermediate runner, and I am OK with that, if someone is willing to run back with me. I tend to have negative self talk if I run by myself. Today, Stefanie and Stephanie ran with me and Rachel ran with me some as well. At one point, even the beginners passed me... It's OK, they were just running 4 miles. I had to set a pace that could take me the long haul. Today I was facing a 7 mile run. The furthest I'd run was 6.2 miles.
At about a mile in, I was already feeling pretty worthless! The beginning of this run had some pretty big hills. I was so thankful to have someone to talk with while I ran, it really helps me not to focus on the distance remaining. Before I knew it, we'd completed 4 miles and the beginners headed off for the Treehouse. At this point Stephanie W. had come back to run with me for the remainder of the run. She's so easy to run with because she happily chats along and helps you not think about what might be hurting. The first thing she said was, "Well, we are over 1/2 way done!" We kept running and at one point I said, "I'm so tired! My legs are tired." She said, "We are almost done, you can do it." We kept running. Then stomach cramps hit... the bathroom kind! I thought OMG, I'm gonna crap my pants! -- I said to sStephanie, "Now's a great time to realize I have to go to the bathroom!" Stephanie said, "Just ignore it, the feeling will go away!" She was right, and it DID go away! Then we turned the corner and were on our home stretch... as we were running I felt GREAT, I felt like I could keep running further, I dare say, today I might have actually been able to run 10 miles. I don't know if I was in a zone or if I was in complete insanity, but stopping was not an option or a desire at that point, I was feeling great. We got to our turn into the parking lot and I could not believe we were at 7 miles! We got just past the grocery store and I said, "Let's pick it up!" and we SPRINTED -- yes SPRINTED to the Treehouse!
Not only was 7 miles POSSIBLE, it was possible with a sprint at the finish and a HUGE smile on my face! As I drove home from my run, the tears took over. I realized how for so very long, I let the un-word IMPOSSIBLE rule my life! It's so easy to make excuses of why we CAN'T do something. So easy to give up. So easy to be in denial. So easy to just be complacent! It's HARD to take that first step to POSSIBLE. Once you face that hard step and take that hard step you realize that "impossible" was squashing your dreams and keeping you from experiencing the most amazing things in your life! My runners high is so thrilling! And it lasts all day! My accomplishment was so sweet, better than ANY candy! I not only CAN, but I DID! All things are possible. You just have to want it badly enough! This morning, I didn't want this run, it was impossible and overwhelming, it was a thorn in my side and something I was more than reluctant to want to do. My end goal: being stronger, getting down to "One"derland was WORTH facing this run today... and it turned out to be one of the most positive and empowering experiences of my life. Did I come in last? YEP, DEADLAST, do I care? Not even a little bit!!! I faced and impossibility and proved that it is POSSIBLE!
If I can do this, ANYONE can do this! You've just got to find your motivation! Make today an awesome day!!!LiLihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10959399377963599355noreply@blogger.com4