A whole year of #LetsGetPhysical

One year ago was the first day of my “#LetsGetPhysical” health journey.

When I first started, as much as I wanted ‘this time’ to be different I wasn’t completely sold that it would be.
Imagine my surprise when a month went by and I had established a routine. Then 2 months. Then over Christmas I was still sticking to my routine!
I’ve learned a LOT in this last year. I’m glad I took it a little bit at a time. When I first started, I didn’t completely revamp my diet, I didn’t start exercising too much. I did everything in moderation.

I’ve certainly made mistakes this year. However, every time I did, I have brushed myself off and hopped back on my #LetsGetPhysical plan.
It’s also important to remember that you need to find what works for YOU. I knew that I needed to find ways to hold myself accountable.

I decided that I was going to work out for (at least) 30mins, (at least) 4 days a week. I started out

walking. Then I jogged. Then I ran. Then I ran too much (whoops). Then I bought a stationary bike, was given a real bike, started going to deep water fit...etc
I created a hand-drawn calendar that every time I completed a workout, I would draw a star on that day. I would post a picture of me, post-workout online for all to see.
This motivated me. I felt like this kept me accountable.
Half way through the year, I discovered the MyFitnessPal app. I don’t “count calories”, because not all calories are created equal. The app was more to learn what was in foods, and to keep myself accountable for what I put in my body.
It made me think BEFORE I ate. “Do I really want to log that?” Most of the time I didn’t and I didn’t really feel like I was missing out. I, more so, felt proud that I allowed myself that victory - however small. My diet now compared to day one is SO DIFFERENT. Making little changes along the way made me feel like I wasn't really making any changes at all.

I’m glad I’ve been taking pictures throughout the year. If I had to tell you one thing: It's to keep a log of your accomplishment somehow. Pictures tell the story the best for me. I would never have believed the difference a year can make. I am down 60lbs, but more than that I have created a new lifestyle for myself.
EVEN MORE THAN THAT? My family is on board too. Most of them are on MyFitnessPal, where we are able to encourage each other. My brother-in-law has met his weight goal and is now embarking on new fitness goals. My sister began her healthy lifestyle right before she found out she was pregnant. Which now sets her and her baby up for a healthy future. My dad started watching what he eats and moving his body more. Making healthier decisions every day. I take no credit for them starting their own health goals, but it is so helpful to be surrounded/supported by those you love.
We get together on Saturdays for family dinner. It may be our "Cheat" day, but we all still log on those days. I’m sure it is a funny sight to see us all logging in our meals. “Can you pass the pickles please? I need to scan the barcode.”

I haven't posted any of those half naked "Before/During" pictures yet. I just didn't know if it was something I wanted on the internet. Here's the thing/Cliche moment: If I can do this, so can you. SERIOUSLY. Take it one day at a time. Keep yourself accountable. Find something that works for you, and try. Just try.

I want to motivate you because you reading this motivates me. So here I am:
Before picture: September 1st 2012, "During": August 25th, 2013

I'm excited to see what the next year has in store for me! :)

Time to Refocus

Photo Credit

In 2013, I've really "upped" my running mileage. It felt amazing when I realized that I could run over 10km at least once a week. I had a rockin' February where I ran a total of 119kms, and topped that in March with a crazy 127kms total (which included running a non-race half marathon with my run buddies!)

I'm a 'numbers' girl. I love seeing my average minute per kilometer drop. I love watching the kilometers increase. I love watching the pounds drop.

After I ran a Ghetto Half Marathon, my knees were bothering me.
Now don't get me wrong - Being overweight and a runner, I'm no stranger to sore knees. However, it always goes away after a day or so.
This wasn't doing it's usual thing, so I've scaled back my running a bit. Added in some knee exercises to strengthen the muscles, added some walking days, and I'm going to pay really close attention to what my knees want.

At first, when I decided this, I felt sad. My numbers aren't going to be increasing.
The problem with being so numbers driven, is when numbers aren't your goal. My goal isn't to run over 100kms in a month, it isn't to get faster and my goal (believe or not) is NOT to lose weight.

My goal is to be healthy.

If I stick to my orignal plan: (Eat Healthy. Exercise for at least 30mins/day x  at least 4 days a week) I will reach that goal.
Will that goal naturally decrease my weight? YES. (*Bonus!)
Will that make me faster? YES. 

It's just time to refocus on what my actual goal is, stick to my original plan, and not get caught up in the numbers.
While I don't appreciate the pain, (Knees - I'm looking at you) I appreciate the nudge to remember what my real goal is. Now let's stay injury-free and get healthy together!

I ran another race.

As the title clearly spells out – I ran another race. This one was the Bazan Bay 5K. I thought it might be appropriate to do a little race recap! (Even though I'm a little late in doing so.)

It’s a little weird, because lately I’ve been running longer distances. Before the race, I couldn’t remember the last time I ran “only” 5K. I had no idea what to expect of myself.
I set a goal between “There’s no way in hell” 30mins, and the “Would be cool” less than 33mins. The fastest I had ever run 5km was just under 34mins and that was with Skye pushing and (pretty much) yelling at me to go faster. This was actually my first race ‘by myself’.
I ran my warm-up with Lara and felt completely psyched out. I was feeling tired and winded… but I wasn't tracking how fast/far we were going… so who knows, maybe I was setting an unrealistic warm-up pace. I placed myself near the back of the pack at the start line. Which leads to kind of a hilarious moment when they announce “3, 2, 1 - GO!” and you end up just standing there waiting for the crowd ahead of you to get going. Then finally: Time to get moving!

I started out “easy”, because I like to gauge how much I’ve got in the tank, and then attempt to use it all by the end. At my pace, I was in this awkward group of people who were walk/running. So I played hopscotch with a handful of people. There was this one girl in particular who was easy to spot and I chose her to “keep up” with.
The course is an out and back. So less than halfway through (at my pace) you get to see the ‘Elite’ runners coming back. It is SOOO awesome to watch. The only downside is that it tricked my brain a little and made me start thinking that the “back” part of the “out + back” was happening sooner than it was.
On the way back, my legs were excited, and pushed onward. HOWEVER, it wasn’t all rainbows and lollipops. My breathing was getting really bad. I was breathing HARD and making the strangest noises. So much so, other runners were looking at me like I was crazy/going to die. I kept hearing Rayna saying "who can't run 2km?", an inside joke we love to say when things are feeling uncomfortable.

Before I knew it, I saw the finish line. I was EXCITED and pushed myself as hard as I could. I got close and I started SPRINTING, I got across the line and then I heard Skye yelling from the sidelines "You're not done!! Keep going!!" That line was just the start of the 100m sprint. *Facepalm* I had NOTHING left. That last 100m, an 80yr old man with gout could probably have gone faster than me. I had passed the girl who I was trying to keep up with, but in that last 100m she made it past me. Sweet victory was all mine though when I found out my chip time was faster than hers.

I almost forgot to tell you my chip time! 31:33, baby! What a crazy awesome achievement. I'm feeling reeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaally good about that time. Cutting over 2 minutes off my previous PR.

One Day, I'm Going To...

Now I know that when you say that you're going to do something 'One Day', you truly mean it.

One Day, I'm going to start losing weight.
One Day, I'm going to get control of my financial situation.
One Day, I'm going to reconnect with my family.
One Day, I'm going to own my own gift wrapping company.
One Day, I'm going to clean out the garage.

We all have something that we want to do 'One Day'. Most of the things we want are VERY realistic. Will they take hard work? Heck yes. Will they take some sacrifice? You betcha. Will some of it make you uncomfortable? No doubt.

What I'm here to tell you is that it is ALL possible. I'm not trying to being cliche here, I'm being REALISTIC. Excuses are excuses. If you want to keep telling yourself these excuses, then you're only hurting yourself. 

I used to simultaneously love and hate those people who had "before and after" pictures. They found a drive inside of them to get their act together. While it made me think it was possible for me to do it, I was so quick to make excuses for myself. The biggest excuse I gave myself was "I can't afford to eat healthy." Well, let me tell you something: My boyfriend and I have spent the last 5 months working on lessening our expenses. Tightening our budget. We stopped going out for dinner. We stopped going out for drinks with friends. We stopped going to the movies. We stopped buying clothes. We stopped, We stopped, We stopped. 

Was it hard work? Heck Yes.
Were there sacrifices? You betcha.
Were there some uncomfortable times? No doubt.

Was it worth it? More than I could ever describe.
We've since learned how to budget better and be able to do all the things that we had ended up sacrificing. We don't do it as often, but it has made each dinner out, each drinks with friends and each article of clothing that much more special. By cutting back, we really gained more appreciation for everything.

So whether it is losing weight, getting better at budgeting, reconnecting with your family, starting your dream business or cleaning out the garage: YOU. CAN. DO IT.
It may not be pretty, it may not be comfortable but it is TOTALLY POSSIBLE.

Do What Works For You

I'm one of those people that don't like to plan out too much. I'm not sure if it is because I'm lazy or if I just dislike when things don't go my way. Normally when I plan something, I plan out the bare bones and then just wing it from there. I like doing this. I don't like being regimented to a single possible outcome.

My Brain: Enemy #1

Clipart by Amy Vangsgard -
http://clipartof.com/1110809

Blog post worthy runs usually happen when I don’t find time to blog about them. I’m finding time now, so join me as we venture back in time a little…

I had taken Thursday as a rest day and since one of the #LetsGetPhysical rules is you can’t go two days in a row without working out; it meant I had to go for a run. I was NOT up for it. My legs were sore, I was cranky and I knew that the run was going to be hard. A hard thing about working out is overcoming the mental “I don’t wannas” or “This is going to suck” and trying to remember how good it feels to just get out there. However, some days your brain will play a lot of tricks on you. Friday was one of those days. I forced myself to get changed and strap on my runners. I was doing a couple of light stretches and then BAM: Started Crying.

Holy Moly. Did I just do that?

So... I took up running.
Yeah, for those of you who've known me for a while, I know what you're thinking.

First Walk/Jog Home from Work

August 28th, 2012 I started an initiative to get healthy. I call it "#LetsGetPhysical".