Happiest When I'm Moving...

Well after FABULOUS feedback from my first entry, I have decided to keep it up… even without great feedback I’d still do it! ;) Second to clarify for some, I am not doing all of this to be esthetically pleasing. I am committed to a LIFE STYLE CHANGE. Meaning, I want to be healthy and live a healthy, active lifestyle with natural energy to support myself with.

Now that we’ve got that out of the way… I am happy to report that I finished my May 5K in 38:14 and received Runner Up in my age division 25-29 Female. J The course was a bit of a cluster… We had gorgeous weather, and clearly ramping up my training had its benefit. Although, it is unknown exactly how far we ran, the people organizing the race route failed to have adequate signage so it’s speculated we ran anywhere from 2.9 – 3.1 miles… nevertheless I was there, and although I found myself rather frustrated, I was reminded that we were giving back to those who really need it. It’s not ALWAYS about me after all…

The pressure is ONNNN since I’ve posted this “record breaking” time, now I’ve got to live up to the hype come June 30^th at the PEACE.LOVE.RUN 5K! I am so excited for this race because everything is tie dye… total hippie, andddd we get to do a Bikram Yoga session afterward. Oh yea, we are supporting Back on my Feet which is a great organization! WIN.  You can still sign up at PeaceLoveRun5K.com Come join us!

So, I got to thinking, (dangerous, I know) about how I can improve my time, strength and endurance this month. Shedding extra weight is obviously a big one… which BY THE WAY… I lost 1.8LBS this week, down 6 total with WW. GO ME! I know consistency is key, and although I have wonderful intentions to either go to the gym or run every day, it simply doesn’t happen. You know what CAN happen… a quick 30 min walk every morning when I wake up. Although it’s not this hard core, sweat drenching workout… it gets my blood pumping and my energy level has been on the rise! A BODY IN MOTION… STAYS IN MOTION. I have WANTED to work out in the evenings even. WATCH out. Pretty hilarious that my thoughts have switched from what fast food I was eating at night to planning meals and work outs. I’m even researching different work outs for runners and trying to keep my weight watcher’s program in mind.  

I wonder if some of you in my situation find themselves a little frustrated… it seems when it comes to all this that everyone wants to tell you how to do it and that their way is the best way. I do appreciate it because it allows me to form my own opinion and make an educated decision. FOR example this whole protein hub bub… supplement, natural, bars, shakes… seriously?! Now that I UNDERSTAND the science behind protein and why it’s important… I decided to try some whey protein from My Fit Foods… A. it’s clean, B. 105 Calories, 1 Gram of Carbs, Zero Fat & Sugar. C. PACKS in 25 grams of protein. I think I found a winner… if any of you know better, by all means… let me know! I read an interesting article on getting natural proteins from vegetables, a lot of names I can’t pronounce. Looks like I’ll be making a trip to the fancy grocery store and see if those aren’t a better option than the powder! As for the rest of it… I’m a real person. Weight Watchers is working, my fitness routine is working. I am eating a balanced diet… so I don’t need a fad or specific menu… this is life. I’m going to eat bad occasionally, drink too much, and grab a second cookie… I have realized that I am NOT perfect. And occasionally that’s okay.

On top of all of this I lost my mind and bought an unlimited month at Bikram Yoga in Grapevine. I’ve been to three classes so far, and although there are moments where my brain is literally like WTF… I somehow manage to get through 90mins at the sweltering 105 degrees and feel AMAZING afterward. I’m excited to see what’s in store at the end of the month! 

Lastly, WHEW, I’m long winded this go round! I ALSO see a lot of my fellow face bookers and friends saying they wish they had my determination, my motivation etc… guess what people… YOU DO!!! I actually post all of this in hopes it can be an inspiration to get those that want too MOVING!  

PPS… There is a three mile fun run at the Rahr Brewery at 8:15 this Saturday, June 1^st. $10 bucks covers the run, food, tour and tasting! Let me know if you want to come join!

“You will succeed if you persevere, and you will find a joy in overcoming obstacles. Remember, No effort that we make to attain something beautiful is ever lost. What I am looking for is not out there, it is in me.” – Helen Keller

Can't Stop, Won't Stop.

As most of you know, I was involved in a life changing car accident this past July. I choose the words life changing, because it has honestly been the best thing to happen to me in a long time. My Wake up" call if you will. July - December found me in a deep depression, though most people probably never knew by looking at me. I, for the life of me, cannot tell you what happened, how, when, where or why... but I thank God that it did. Mid December at the heaviest and unhealthiest I have ever been, on a whim, I joined 24 Hour Fitness in Southlake. I received a phone call from a trainer asking me to come in for the usual sales pitch to buy personal training. She was very helpful and helped me set some short term goals and advised me on a healthier lifestyle. I halfheartedly attempted to go to the gym after work, and cleaned up some bad eating habits, just in time for Christmas. With New Year's rapidly approaching I begin seriously weighing my resolution option, not that I've ever stuck to one... I'm good if I make it through Lent! My boss is a runner and had given me a little insight on her weight loss journey. She encouraged me to participate in Grapevine's, Bold in the Cold, which was on January 12, 2013. I started to think, what if I participated in one 5K a month for an entire year, as a way to hold me accountable to my fitness goal. And here we are... five months later... and I will be running my May 5K bright in early tomorrow, May 11, 2013, and I am so excited to share my journey.

Bold In the Cold - Grapevine - 01/12/13 This morning was balmy and unusually warm for the time of year, Chris Keil, who I have known ten plus years, offered to join me as a support system. I gladly accepted. OF COURSE we were running a few minutes behind, and barely made it to the table in time to get my chip. We headed to the starting line weaving in and out of other runners and walkers, an exciting energy in the air. Chris and I hung back and let the serious guys go for it. I won't account all the excruciating details of those first 3.2 miles, but I will say, it was tough. There were more hills and twists and turns than I cared for, but my only goal was to cross. That. Finish. Line. And I did so in 51:07. My goal was under one hour, so that was step one.

 Hot Chocolate 5K - Dallas - 02/09/13 Waking up before six am to go run in the cold, interesting choice of spending my Saturday morning. I had wrangled my sister and her friend Allison into doing this one with me. This race had something crazy like 100K plus participants. So of course there was traffic, and more traffic. And we had to book it to the start line to stand and wait another twenty minutes until it was our turn to go. I had just had a physical a couple weeks prior and found out that my blood pressure was 140 over some number that I couldn't comprehend because I had never had high blood pressure. I had actively been going to yoga and becoming more regular at the gym so I thought this would be a lot easier. Obviously, the girls left me in the dust, which was fine, I had my headphones. I enjoyed being a little lighter on my feet and was enjoying passing people and actually jogging. Then, I got super emotional around mile three. I started thinking about how lucky I was to be here, to be running, and so very proud of myself for these baby steps. I slashed my personal best by finishing in 46:26. Totally shocked. And we got some good swag, a sweet sweat shirt and too much chocolate.

Dash Down Greenville - Dallas - 03/16/13 - That 5AM wake up call, may have been earlier, I have blocked that memory, came WAY too early. My bestie, Chris Garey had eagerly decided to join me for this awesome St. Patty's Day extravaganza! Running late... AGAIN... we barely made the train at Carollton that dropped us over just a few blocks away from our destination. The walk to the start via CVS was quite memorable. Bass bumping, beer buying, mass consumption, and the sun weren’t even up yet. Costumes half on, and a third joiner, Chris Keil, we were ready. I was exhausted. I tried keeping up and did my own thing, yet again. I kept looking for mile markers, and didn't see any, kept looking until finally I asked this lady how long we had gone... she said just hit three miles. TALK about exciting... I booked it to the finish barely beating my personal best in 45:14. The best part, FREE BEER after the race!!! woo hoo and the costumes, I’ll skip the parade, just give me the beer.

Champagne 5K - Little Elm - 03/30/13 Horrible and then some... found it on Living Social for $15. Had just broken in my new $140 running shoes... SPEND THAT. I got fitted at the Run On! in Southlake, and I have not regretted it, seriously. I had a sinus infection, and it had rained the night before... so I did a mud run, because it was a nature trail, so I was PISSED, and then threw up around mile two something because of all the drainage. Finished in 50:13, all things considered, that'll do.

Run For Rescue 5K - Colleyville - 04/13 - We had a big group to join in for this bad boy, from work and through Chris Keil. I felt stronger and thought I had really pushed myself only to come up ten seconds short of a new record. I finished in 45:28. Again, not discouraged, just new goals to work towards. And oh yea, FREE PANCAKES. yes.

Since this race, I have moved to Grapevine, and have really stepped up my training. I am more focus, driven and determined. I keep getting a lot of inquiries as to what I'm doing and how... there is kids. I simply put the wheels. In. motion. It hasn't been easy, but the little things along the way make it worthwhile. I try to work out five days a week, alternating between outdoor running and the gym. I do yoga Monday nights and just joined Weight Watchers 04/30/13. I decided it was time to kick this up a notch or three. I can run half a mile without stopping now, I've lost about 15 pounds, I eat SOOOO much better, yes I still drink, mostly in moderation ;) and oh yea, that blood pressure... 105 baby. So buckle up because we've still got SEVEN more 5K's to go. For 2013 that is...