Half Marathon

I haven't posted about my second half marathon cause I kept hoping Mindy would be posting pics that I could steal.  Alas.. she hasn't blogged in 3 weeks and I want to get this blogged so I don't lose it!

On Saturday June 12th I ran my second half marathon.  I was so excited to run it with my BFF Mindy, my SIL (also a BFF), my brother, my aunt and my uncle!!  I was not so excited about the prospect of rain or being at the pick up point at 4 o'clock in the morning!  OY!!

The half marathon course was gorgeous and my official time was 2:00:48.  (2 hours and 48 seconds!) I am so excited but also frustrated with this time because.. I wasted 4 whole minutes waiting to go and eventually going POTTY!!   I had no choice.. it was stop... or face my butt exploding!  SO SO SO NOT COOL!! (AND WAY TMI!)

I did stop my gps/timer when I stopped to potty and my time on my gps was 1:56:07 so of course I like that much better.  REGARDLESS.. my last half was done in 2:15 ish... so of course I have got to be thrilled with this time.

I'm excited to do a few more events this fall before the weather goes to pot.  I'll be doing a 10k on the 17th of July, and I'll have a weekend of events in August.  Oyster Race Saturday, Warrior Dash Sunday.  I am also doing the bareable adventure race in September and then I'm going to do the Boyd Lake State Park Half Marathon in November!!  I've decided after running the last half that I want to do that event again next year but next year, I want to run the whole marathon AND I want to run it in Boston qualifying time.. which means I have to cut another 50 seconds off my 1/2 marathon pace. 

I just wanted to write this all down... so I can never forget how far I've come, or where I'm headed next! :)
Looking forward to the next comp starting July 1st!! WAHOO!!

I'm alive!!

Wow!! You know you've ignored your blog when you go to type in the url and it doesn't automatically pop up!!  So many small successes are happening but they all seem to be one liners... so here are just a few of the new/exciting things going on in my world!

I climbed this crazy course on the rock wall where you have to go over this ledge!  It rocked!  I felt FANTASTIC... and I looked right at my husband when I succeeded and said "That's HOT, don't lie.. I'm frickin' amazing!"  To which he did not respond.

I went on a bike ride and frisbee golfing adventure with my family and in the end we ended up on this dirt bike/ramp course thing... you know.. going up and down hills and bumps and around curves and all that stuff.  I LOVED IT!!  I actually had a couple of moments when I just couldn't believe that I was doing it!  There I was, this 200 lb woman... except I'm NOT!  NOT ANYMORE!!  I love moments when I am reminded of how far I've come and how much LIFE I've taken back!  LOVE IT!!

I've started my new career as a personal trainer.  Today is my first official session with my first official client... SO EXCITED!!  It feels so slow to start but this week I finally have my picture on the wall, my business cards next to everyone elses, my hours in the studio and an overall excitement for DOING IT!!  I love this career path.  I chose it to inspire/educate and help others and finally... I've got the opportunity!  YAY!!

I still struggle.  I struggle mostly with personal relationships with my hubby.  I still feel very unsupported most of the time but I am learning that it's really all on me.  I need to stop backing down and start asking for things I want even if I'm sure it's going to induce a tantrum.  Life is too short to live in fear of getting "that look".  I'm not over it.. but I'm getting there.

The competition ends on Saturday HOLY COW!!  I'm shocked/amazed/thrilled at the huge progress that has happened in so many lives.  I've been asked repeatedly to do another one and I've decided to go for it but this time.. I'm going to have HELP!!  YAY!!  I have a gal to help with articals to keep the comp blog fresh and a gal to just keep me on task and do whatever I need!  I'm excited to take a little break and start the next comp on July 1st.  I also think that 4 months is long enough so it will go till November 1st.  (Talk about incentive to not indulge on halloween!)  I have decided to make the buy in slightly MORE $50 and to limit the entries to a max of 30 people. 

So sorry this blogging has fallen on the backburner.  I am recommited to getting back on it!  I LOVE all of you... keep working hard at reaching those goals.  And remember "TRYING" is planning to fail!  Stop trying and do it!

La-di-da

This is my first entry on the weightlosswars website.  What do you think?

Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going. -Jim Ryun


Weight loss is a challenge. Really, I am the first to admit that it's NOT easy. I reflect on my own "weight loss journey" as fighting for my life.

At 28 years old I found myself tipping the scales at just over 200 lbs on my 5'2" body. Was I pleased? Absolutely not!! Did I know what the hell I was going to do about it? Of course not. I just wanted to be that thin person I knew must be in there somewhere.

I had spent my entire adult life being overweight. I gained my weight during my 4 pregnancies and never lost anything after my kiddos were born. I also had spent my entire adult life in a Have-Be-Do cycle. If I HAD the time/money/energy/gym membership/personal trainer/personal chef [insert your excuse here] etc etc etc.... I would BE able to do what it takes to lose weight and I would finally DO it!! It wasn't until I reversed the cycle that I found my success. I resulted to BE that thin person... to eat like a thin person, exercise like a thin person, value myself as a thin person and THEN... I found success. BE, DO, HAVE! So much better! :)

Anyway.. back to motivation and habit. Motivation... we all have it at some point. Maybe it's what brought you to this site. We all thrive on motivation. We cling on and pray it sticks around a while. Motivation truly is what gets us started OVER and OVER again. But I think we give more credit to motivation then necessary.

Weight loss is fairly simple. Regardless of what approach you take it's all about replacing bad habits with good ones. Habits are what control our lives. If you are in the habit of doing the dishes every evening after dinner, 9 times out of 10 you are going to do just that. Occasionally you will feel "unmotivated" and let them sit for an hour or two.. maybe even over night but bottom line... those dishes will wait and eventually you will have to face them! :)

So here you are at the beginning/middle/end of a journey to create new habits and YOU are the only person standing in your way. Maybe you are TERRIFIED. Maybe you are excited. Maybe you have no idea what the hell you are going to do! ;) Change your focus. This journey is NOT about a number on a scale. This journey is about gaining health. This journey is about developing NEW habits that will give you success. This moment defines where you go from here. Be it!! Do it!! and Have success!

The bright side of life! :)

I got the job. I am OFFICIALLY a "Fitness Specialist" at the North Club for Miramont! Tomorrow is my orientation with my supervisor.. then an orientation again on Thursday for the club as a whole. Hopefully tomorrow I'll have some sort of "training" schedule...
SO EXCITED!

I lied

I lied when I said I "don't care if you think I'm selfish." It was a fib...

I can't get over it. I keep thinking that I must somehow be unbalanced... that I need to figure this out.... but after 2 weeks of distress I've discovered something.

I can't give to anyone when I don't give to myself.

I have spent 2 weeks being self-loathing and depressed. I've gone out of my way to NOT go out of my way for me. I've skipped the gym.. I've skipped the whole foods store... I've tried to make due with what my husband and children INSIST on making due with and as a result: I HATE LIFE! I hate everything about it. I haven't upped my game and become more giving to you or anyone else because I am NOT CAPABLE OF IT in this state of mind.

I NEED to be selfish. I HAVE to make time for me. I HAVE to feed me right in order to be happy, healthy, outgoing, kind, energetic, beautiful, eager to serve my kiddos, eager to serve you.

You have to choose... do you want depressed, self-loathing, lazy me OR do you want happy, energetic, selfish me? There is no balance.. it's one or the other... I am an extreme woman... there is no in between.

Life Happens

Life has been beyond stressful for me. My weight training class ended and my hubby has taken my obligation free evenings as an opportunity for him to get caught up at work. I do not blame him for this... I want him to be less stressed.. but oh me oh my... being home alone with my kids for 12-13 hours a day (and NOT having time away in the evenings) takes its toll on me. NOT TO MENTION.. he is salaried so I can't even use retail therapy as a stress reliever! Instead.. I sit at home and play on facebook, and think about everything I want to do and be and see and occasionally... cry.
Exercise makes me a better me. I am a better everything to everyone when I take a little time for myself. It is EXHAUSTING to try to be everything to everyone all the time.. when there is no time for me. I'm tired. I would love to get out this weekend... but the forecast is WET!! I will most definitely be doing 8 miles on the treadmill on Sunday so there is my bonus but SHEESH! I need a day at the spa! Anyone want to pay? I'm good company! ;o)
PS. I'm still going to the gym at 5 am... but when you go that early you feel lazy the whole rest of the day. UGH!

Hard work

Just wanted everyone to know that I've gone through the interview process to start training at a club in Fort Collins. HOPEFULLY I'll be hearing from someone in the next couple of days! WISH ME LUCK! :)