Saturday, July 31, 2010

Cleaning out the Clutter

I stopped by Natalie's mommyofamonster blog yesterday and although she wasn't having the best of days, she really inspired me and reminded me that I had some cleaning to do. 

You see, I have somewhat of a problem when it comes to cleaning.  I really hate to do it, but I hate having a messy house even more.  Therefore, if I get an impulse that something needs to be cleaned (my pantry), I can't put it out of my head until it's cleaned and organized. 

My Saturday began bright and early as always.  By 8:00 a.m., I had already run 12 miles.  (I'm not crazy, it's just what I do).  I wanted a nap, but my pantry NEEDED to be bathed and I couldn't escape its silent calling.  With a little post-run energy, I decided to go at it, 100 percent.

Without getting into any disgusting details, let's just say it should probably be cleaned more often other than the once a year rearranging it gets when my parents are visiting.

Once I started and managed to create even a bigger mess, the fatigue of today's run started to get to me.  But I committed to it and I had no choice other than to finish.

The more I tossed out and cleaned up, I started to realize how GROSS things get if you don't take the time to really clean them every so often. The more you wait, the more disgusting it gets. Therefore, it gets harder and harder to clean up the collective dirt, over-looked spills, and food that expired prior to 2008.

I collected TWO FULL BAGS of dust, grime, stale food and yes...bugs.  (insert shameful face here)


My pantry has a new, cleaner look and being organized makes me feel accomplished.

All this cleaning and reorganizing sent me a reminder that our bodies work just the same as my little pantry. We add clutter to our bodies with all the stress we put on ourselves. 

Dust and grime start to pile on as we put other's needs in place of our own.  Weeks go by, then years and the poor eating habits and lack of excercise we've incorporated in our lives start to tell us that we have some cleaning to do. 

Let my pantry, bugs and all (still embarrassed) be a reminder of your health today.  With just a little reorganizing and an honest effort at the upkeep, you will feel a sense of accomplishment for your healthy, cleaning habits.




Take some time today for a little cleaning and reorganizing of yourself.  You'll be glad you did!

 

Thursday, July 29, 2010

My Special Brownies

All food can be healthy  I decided once a week I am going to share my experiences with making healthy AND tasty recipes.  It will give me the opportunity to show you how I can make really yummy and delicious food using healthy alternatives.

Today is:  *My Special Brownies (not that kind of special!)

Nonstick cooking spray
3 oz. semisweet or bittersweet chocolate
1/2 c. carrot puree
1/2 c. spinach puree
1/2 c. firmly packed light or dark brown sugar
1/4 c. unsweetened cocoa powder
2 Tbsp. trans-fat free soft tub margarine spread
2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
2 large egg whites
3/4 cup oat flour, (or all-purpose flour)
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt

Directions:  Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Coat an 8x8-inch baking pan with non-stick cooking spray.

Peel carrots and trim ends, steam for about 10-12 minutes, then puree in a food processor for about 2 minutes. 

Wash thoroughly and trim ends of spinach.  Steam for about 30 seconds, then puree in a food processor for about 2 minutes.


 



Reserve 1/2 cup of both purees.

In a large bowl, combine melted chocolate, vegetable purees, sugar, cocoa powder, margarine, and vanilla, and whisk until smooth and creamy, 1 to 2 minutes.


Whisk in  egg whites.  Stir in the flour, baking powder, and salt with a wooden spoon. (Can someone explain this one to me?)




 Pour the batter into a pan (or two) and bake 35 to 40 minutes.



Cool completely (if you have patience). Otherwise tear 'em up while they are warm!


Then, have your child try them, WITHOUT telling him the secret ingredients.


Have him give you his HONEST opinon.


SUCCESS!

This is the second time I've made these and this time they turned out perfect.  I actually didn't completely puree the carrots and they were still a little chunky and I LOVED it this way.  Just my personal opinion. I loved them so much, I ate two and I usually have a lot more self-control!

If you have any alternative or healthy recipes you're dying to try, send them my way and I woud love to be the guinea pig to test them!

I give these brownies a HUGE thumbs up!

*Recipe is courtesy of cookbook.homestead.org


Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Gnat So Funny!

Wednesdays are typically my HARD running days. I usually log about six miles, 20 minutes of which are run at a fast (I can’t hold a conversation) pace. The rest is an easy pace home. I wake up around 5:00 a.m. and with the days getting shorter, the majority of my runs are spent in the dark. Depending on the path I choose, it can be pretty dark or REALLY DARK outside. I loath the “dreadmill” and prefer to hit the streets. I have no fear of the pitch black, dark outdoors as long as I’m running, otherwise I’m a total chicken and I admit, I still get scared of it when I’m home alone. It’s weird, I know.

This morning, I noticed a lady, across the street walking her dog. It is my policy to always say “hello” to anyone I pass. I usually get a reciprocal response, but I often get a defensive “stay the hell away” gesture.

I happened to pass her just as I was running under a street light. I guess in the midst of making my friendly gesture, I missed the GIANT swarm of gnats headed straight for my face. I didn’t see them coming at all and I did one of those crazy dances trying to get them all off of me. I’m pretty sure the lady enjoyed watching that scene transpire much more than she would have enjoyed a friendly “hello”.

Two things you should know about me. 1. I’m a runner. 2. I HATE bugs, spiders, snakes, lizards…anything creepy crawly, especially anything that has ability to fly or hop. Any kind, any size, any color, I’m so not a fan.

After emerging from the giant cloud of gnats, and finishing my crazy dance, I continued on down the road. I wasn’t going to let this ruin my run. I sweat A LOT when I run, so every single gnat that came in contact with my body was now sticking to me. I wiped my eyes and forehead and had them all over my arms, inside my fingernails and I’d probably eaten at least several dozen. But I kept running.

When I finally reached my house, I went inside to gulp a glass of water laced with gnats. I noticed my husband look at me funny, but he’s always half asleep when I get home. He’s used to seeing me at my finest! I made a dash for the shower and when I saw myself in the mirror, I couldn’t help but laugh hysterically.

I wish I would have taken a picture of myself, but I had to get the disgusting things off me. My best interpretation would be something like this.

My neck, which I failed to consider wiping, was covered in the gnat mess. DIS-GUSTING!! They were all over my forehead, arms, chest and my eyes. I didn’t look inside my mouth but I would suspect that I would have looked like I just ate a giant poppy seed muffin.

I may hate bugs, but I’m runner. I don’t give up or quit when faced with adverse conditions. Besides, its good prep for a marathon! Score another for Rhonda’s battle wounds!

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Everyone Poops

Everyone poops.  It's a fact of life.  That statement alone makes some cringe and others giggle.  As a runner, we seem to raise the average daily ratio amongst other human beings.  It's just one of those things.  Running makes you a pooper BUT you DO NOT want to be a pooper while you're running.

I've had my share of races and I have run them all with success relative to my personal goals.  I've heard horror stories of things happening to people on long runs and in races, but have always been truly fortunate in all the races I've competed in thus far with one MINOR exception.

First a little background to make sense of the *hot mess I encountered last October running in the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington D.C.  Let's backtrack to February 2007.  I ran my second marathon in Austin.  I trained hard that year and I ran a near perfect race for me.  I felt good (in marathon terms) the entire race. 

For others, particularly a random older gentleman, the race was a horribly hilly trek of 26.2 miles.  On or very near mile 17, I witnessed something I never care to see again for as long as I live.  After running for a long stretch along a narrow barren path, we made a swift turn to open road lined with small bushes and tall trees. 

Before I could blink my eyes or turn my head, this man squatted near the first bush he could escape to, pulled down his sweaty running shorts and just let...it...go!  With no sense of modesty, I will never forget the agony I saw on his face.  That image will forever be blurred on my retina.

Perhaps the horror of witnessing that *hot mess got me through the rest of the race.  The shear optical terror might have been the source of energy.  Whatever the reason, it was a story that I went on to share with others for the next 2 1/2 years.  Despite being disgusting, it is a good running story and one of my so-called battle wounds.

October 25, 2009 - Marine Corp Marathon...the day the pooping karma came back to bite me.

Running a marathon in a different city has its challenges.  You get a little off schedule, don't always eat quite as anally as you wish and your body adjusts accordingly.  The morning of the race, I went through my pre-morning ritual as best I as could in a hotel room, but I didn't quite make my pre-running potty break quota.  However, I felt good (and empty) and made my way to the race TWO...HOURS...EARLY!

After freezing my @ss off for a good 90 minutes, the gun sounded and we were off.  I had high hopes for this race and with the energy of the crowd and the city, I knew this would be my day!

Then around mile 3, my biggest fear was starting to happen.  I started to feel a slight discomfort in my stomach.  By mile 4, it was becoming an obvious distraction.  Running miles 5-8 felt like I was carrying some extra baggage in my lower back.

I chose to run the Marine Corps Marathon to see the beautiful sites of D.C., i.e. Historic Georgetown, the Capitol Mall, all the monuments, the Capitol and White House.  Instead the only thing I saw were potential bushes I could escape to take care of my "issues". 

By mile 9, it was obvious that I was going to have to find some sort of bathroom...quickly.  My brother was there to cheer me on and to get this lovely picture of my sweaty butt!  How's that for a *hot mess?

He cheered loudly  "GO RHONDA"!!  I turned back to acknowledge his praise and simply mouthed the words.."I have to go to the bathroom!"

I couldn't believe what was happening to me.  I wasn't thinking about that old man at the time, but I know all those stories I shared were coming back to haunt me.

Then I saw a guy right before the bridge, holding a sign that said, "Don't Poop Your Pants!" That was it!  I'm thinking he was trying to be funny.  I didn't laugh.  I made it to the bridge and broke into a cold sweat.  I stopped abruptly.  I had no choice. 

My race was over.  No Personal Record, No Medal, No Finish.  BUT WAIT!  I suddenly had the epiphany that if I quit now, I will have to come back to Texas and tell all my friends and family, that I quit the race because I had to POOP!

I started running with that revelation in mind and for whatever reason, there was a port-a-potty!  I've never been so happy to see one of those disgusting hell boxes.  The line was several people deep, and though I knew any chances of a record time were blown, I knew I could finish.

HEAVEN.  I ran like a flash out of the box and put my race face back on.  After nearly being tripped trying to weave my way in and out of people to pick up time, I became disheartened and the next 17 miles would be my greatest test of will and strength. 

This photo was taken around mile 16.  I did manage to get a smile, but don't believe it.  I simply was running on shear will at that point.

I don't remember much of anything else about that race.  The only memories I have were having to poop, pooping, feeling like poop, finishing somehow and then being totally pooped!

I managed to finish in 3:58.  Not bad considering the circumstances and losing two toenails on top of everything else!  Yikes!

Everyone Poops.  I really hope the guy with the sign is reading this, otherwise the poop karma just may be making its way to his house.

Thanks to the KLZ, Natalie and Liz – a.k.a The Nerd Mafia! I love being part of the WOW!

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Monday, July 26, 2010

Getting Back to What I Know

I've been reading A LOT of blogs lately and quite honestly, it gives me so much anxiety.  So many women have fantastic blogs with all really cool gadgets, widgets, blog designs and links.  On top of that, they are fantastic and witty writers, not to mention pretty awesome photographers.

The more and more stress and pressure I have been feeling while perusing, the more I realized that I need to get back to the basics of what I know best.  I love being fit.  I love inspiring people to be healthy.  I LOVE  to make a difference in people's lives in the best way I know how.

I started with a definitive workout plan for myself.  If I'm going to talk that talk, this mama needs to walk that walk!   My running schedule is a constant.  Four days a week.  Okay, I'm supposed to run five, but I've done this marathon training enough that four days just works better for me, my knees and my sanity.  Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday training runs at home and a long training run with my running group on Saturday morning is my plan.

I finally broke down yesterday and bought a Garmin GPS running watch.  I really can't explain how excited I am to use it and I can't believe I've waited five years to make an impulse buy.  This watch does everything short of giving me a post-run massage.  It's like a mini laptop on my wrist. It tracks my calories burned, heart rate, my pace, it beeps to let me know I've run another mile and stores all the information so I can download to my computer.  Hmmm....I wonder if I can program this thing to update my Facebook status?

Garmin Forerunner 305 GPS Receiver With Heart Rate MonitorYes, it's an older model, but I've read really great reviews about this one and I didn't feel like spending a small fortune on the latest model when this one will do the trick.  My running motivation is at an all time high time with my newest little toy!

Next, I'm so happy to report I've nailed down my modified Round 2 Insanity schedule.  I'll be extending the nine week schedule into 13 weeks.  Instead of six workouts a week, I'll do four.  This means just one day of a double workout and still having Fridays completely for rest!  

It feels good to start fresh and to begin the next phase of my goal.  This morning it was back to the dreaded Plyometric workout - Month One style.  Still...hard...as...ever!

I function by setting personal goals and taking it day by day.  Each day is a process.  Each day is progress.  I'll be charting my results and journaling my diet.  It's what works for me. 

Taking care of me is what I do best.  I just know how to do it.  I might need a little help with html or adding the latest features to my blog, but what I do know is that I will always back up my written word with actions.  If all these fabulous women can teach me to be a better blogger, I know I can motivate you to be a better you!

Friday, July 23, 2010

I'm a Runner...

Every Friday night, I feel a tinge of excitement.  Partly because the weekend has arrived, mostly because of my anticipation for Saturday morning.

I have a ritual that begins around 7:00 p.m.  I start to pick out my running clothes.  I pack my bag of the essentials: Body Glide for chafing (A MUST), my hydration cups, electrolyte tablets, a towel for stretching and a fresh pair of clothes.  Most importantly, I drink a glass of Pinot Grigio (it's a training tip I adopted and loooove it).

I set my alarm for 3:30 a.m. as my six-year old usually tucks me in.  The glass of wine puts me fast asleep.  When the radio sounds abruptly, I treat myself by hitting snooze and sleep until 3:45 a.m. 

I touch my feet to the floor (SUCCESS) and shuffle my way into the kitchen and drink two cups shots of DARK black coffee.  I put an ice cube in it so I can slam it without scalding my throat.  It tastes awful, but it serves its purpose: to wake me up and well, I won't even go there, but you runners out there understand!

I pop a frozen whole grain waffle in the toaster, toast it twice and heat up my natural, organic, with salt peanut butter.  While I check my Facebook for all the important updates I've missed in the last four hours, I inhale the waffle with PB.  Unlike my coffee, this is like a slice of heaven spread with paradise.

I put my clothes on, tie my shoes, make sure I have everything and I'm off.  As I drive to a lake 40 minutes from my house to meet up with my marathon training group, I blast the radio and sing my heart out.  Nobody hears, nobody cares! Saturday morning is for me and only me.  My me time!

The scene I arrive at around 5:30 a.m. is quite unexplainable.  It's already usually around 85 degrees and hundreds of other crazy, *rambunctious runners like myself are warming up, chatting, stretching or making a last minute B-line for the port-a-potty.  From singles to grandparents to teachers, moms, doctors and lawyers, our group is as diverse as it is ambitious.  We all arrive with one common goal, to train for the White Rock Marathon in December.

We start running promptly at 6:00 a.m.  It's hot, humid and dark.  I'm happy, energized and ready.  This is what I do and what I choose to do.  It would be so easy to sleep in on Saturday mornings, but for the next 20 weeks or so, this is how I'll be spending them.  I'm pretty sure a lot of you are thinking I have some sort of mental disorder, but for me, I just get it.  I function by setting goals and following rituals.  It gives me purpose and creates my peace. 

Tomorrow's scheduled run:  a 10-mile loop around the lake.  A quick one.  I'll be home just in time to wake my boys for breakfast!

Thanks to the KLZ, Natalie and Liz – a.k.a The Nerd Mafia!  I love being part of WOW!
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Thursday, July 22, 2010

I Do

I've decided to take a slight diversion from my normal motivation mama drama to complete my assignment for Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop. I couldn't resist this week's subject and I think you'll understand why.

Write about your wedding song. What was it and why did you choose it?



Choosing "our song" was simple. It had been an emotional night. One of those times that you just love your man so much for what he is and what he means to you. I can distinctly remember it, riding in the car with with my future husband and I Do by Boyz II Men started to play in his car.

Do I give all I am
To be now and forever your man
Do I take you to be
Without question the woman for me
Do I promise you
I Do
Do I promise you
I do, I do

I knew right then, the man sitting next to me would be my husband and this raw emotion completely absorbed my body. We weren't even engaged yet, but I made a mental note that this song would be our wedding song. The more the smooth, soulful jazzy lyrics flowed throughout his car, the more it solidified my love for this man. I started to cry uncontrollably as he held my hand and said nothing. We both knew.

As expected, we were engaged shortly after and when the time came to select our wedding play list, our first dance was simple.

Our wedding day was perfect.  Everything.  Our dance would be no different.

As the first note of our song began to play, all the butterflies and emotions I experienced the night I heard the song in his car came rushing back.

I'm telling the world
Here and now
That I'm gonna love you and love you
I take this vow yeeaah

He started out by being serious and then he did something I never expected!


He started to sing it to me! Oh my gosh! I think it was slightly planned, slightly impromptu.


The more the song went on and the more the people started to gather, it became a performance and yet I felt it was just he and I out on the dance floor. It was our moment. I loved every second of it!


As the song went on, the less inhibitions we felt and before I knew it, he was completely singing every word to me, like the song was meant and written solely for us.

This love has been worth waiting for
Cause love doesn't matter to me..hiieee
If it's not yours
As we become one
Through and through uuohhh
I dedicate all my life
To loving you.....ouuhh


This made me so incredibly happy!


So much about my wedding day brings back such great memories.  But this moment is one that I will forever cherish!

To have and to hold
While passions unfold
I promise a life you won't regret
For better or worse
No one can reverse the way that I've felt since we met You ain't seen nothing yet

Monday, July 19, 2010

A Rut

I feel like I'm in limbo right now. I finished my first round of Insanity and I'm not really sure where to go from here. I am training for a marathon, but as a coach, my focus of training has shifted. It's not about me this year, it's more about helping others achieve their goals.

I've decided to keep doing Insanity and spread out the schedule over the course of 90 days rather than 60, allowing more time for running and more rest in between. With that decision, I flipped to the front of my DVDs this morning and put in a Month One Plyometric Cardio Circuit. I started with a huge ego, thinking this would be a piece of cake after going through an entire round including the daunting Month Two videos. I came out crying real tears, gasping and feeling extremely humbled.

I certainly couldn't explain the feeble attempt to complete the six circuits or what seemed like a lack of fitness on my part. I felt dejected and focused only on getting through it. How could this be? What has happened in the two weeks since I felt like that rock star for completing my first round?

After a little research, I have since learned that this is a common phenomenon that happens to many Insaniacs. I guess maybe I was thinking my ego would carry me through to the end and I thought it would be so easy that I wouldn't have to put forth any effort.

Experiencing difficulty today was probably just what I needed. I needed to get back to the basics and start fresh and most importantly, I had to realize that I still have a lot of work to do. Why would it be worth doing if there was not a challenge?

Whether we are experiencing a rut in our fitness regimen or in our lives, persistence and fighting through the tough times are what defines our character during the good times. Pack your egos and send them far away! This is just a small valley that I need to work my way out of, but I know that if I believe in myself and if I do not give up, I'll reach that peak again. It's a just a matter of how I choose to get there. I choose to push hard to the top.

Saturday, July 17, 2010

Insanity Review

I've said so much about the Beachbody Insanity program over the last three months and now that I've officially completed my first round, I find it the appropriate time to give my formal review.

INSANITY is NOT for the faint of heart or for those who don't want to sweat.  This program is high intensity total body conditioning and will challenge anyone, regardless of fitness level. 
This is what I LOVED about Insanity!  I started the program with a pretty solid cardio base.  I'm very active and was running regularly before I started.   I love a challenge and I LOVE to sweat.  Even the warm up and cardio recovery days were hard in my opinion.

The workouts focus on interval training or bursts of high intensity following by a short recovery. 
Interval training is tough physically and will be a challenge to anyone mentally, but I LOVE it because you work really hard for about three to four minutes (Max intensity) and then you let your heart rate come down for a short 30-second recovery.  I always knew that if I could make it to the end of the interval, I could get a little break and get back into it.  Allowing my body to go beyond that comfort threshold, made me become extremely efficient in burning carbohydrates and fat and I was able to quickly improve my fitness level and lose weight.

There are no regular home fitness DVDs like Insanity.  It's a series of multiple DVDs broken into two months.  Workouts are six days a week ranging from 40 minutes in the first month to approximately 60 minutes during the second month.  Each calendar week follows a different sequence in an easy to follow schedule, so you never are doing the same thing week after week.
I'm a stickler for following a schedule when I workout.  It makes it easy to get out of bed knowing what workout I'll be doing.  With a variety of workouts, I never got used to doing any of them.  It was always different.  I definitely preferred some of the workouts (max interval circuit)!  I dreaded others (plyometrics)! The second month is preceded by a week of core cardio and balance.  It was a welcome transition before the INSANE month two started.

The only equipment required is yourself AND a good pair of shoes.
I haven't been to the gym or lifted a single weight in over three months.  I have developed more lean muscle mass (body fat went from 21.5% to 19%) due to the cardio that incorporates a lot of plyometric exercises ...aka jumping and some crazy push ups.  I would suggest using a good pair of cross-trainer shoes due to the intense jumping.  My arches were feeling it the first month because I was wearing my running shoes.

Fit tests are done every two weeks to chart your progress.
The fit test is a 20-minute DVD that include eight (8) one-minute drills ranging from power jumps (hated these) to push-up jacks (the crazy push ups that get your arms CUT).  I'm not sure if I was really competitive or if my cardio strength really developed, but I increased my numbers each fit test, even on the ones I really dreaded.

Insanity comes with an Elite Nutrition Guide with easy to follow recipes, formulas to determine your daily caloric intake and great, healthy snack suggestions.
I truly believe following the nutrition guidelines is what made all the difference in my body transformation.  I started out at 130 lbs and ended day 63 at 121 lbs.  I ate five times daily, eating a good combination of carbs, protein and fats.  I kept my meals small and focused on food quality.  I was never hungry and always satisfied.  I even developed my own morning juice smoothie, aptly named Rhonda's Original Green Recipe.  I kept a daily journal of everything I ate to hold myself accountable.  I lost 2" off my waist and thighs!  That's HUGE for me!! 

Shaun T will motivate you and push you to work harder than you ever imagined.
Shaun T is CRAAAZY (in a good way) and he is so motivating.  I think the best part of the very raw at times DVDs, is that it's real.  Shaun has to take breaks, the people in the videos, albeit very fit people, are constantly taking stopping (and wincing).  It's like he is right in your living room and he will get in your face.  He says some funny one-liners that will keep you laughing in the midst of wanting to curl up on the floor and die.  I simply cannot wait to meet and workout with him one day! 

My Recommendation:
What are you waiting for?  If you are serious about making a REAL change in your life, I HIGHLY recommend buying a ticket on the Insanity train.  With a lot of hard work, a strong will and determination, you will be forever grateful you did!

Click here to see my before and after pics.
Month One sample workout
Month 2 Max sample workouts

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

CANNONBALL!

They say that one woman's failure is another woman's success.  Okay, maybe the quote is more about trash and treasures, but you get the point.

We all have different benchmarks for success when it comes to our personal goals.  I tend to be very goal-driven when it comes to my personal fitness.  Before I accomplish a goal, I'm already planning my next achievement.  It's the way I work and what works for me. 

Success is very objective.  My son Keelan completed his first round of Insanity right along with me.  He also completed his last round of Insanity.  To him, being able to say he did it is his definition of success.  That chapter of his life is closed.  The same can be said about running a marathon.  It's one of those bucket list things for many people.  For some it's "did that, won't ever do it again", and for others it's the beginning of a new passion.

My son Jackson has a huge fear of water in his face.  He freaks out walking in the rain and having his hair washed.  He loves to swim, as long as his face gets no where near the water, but made huge strides last week on our vacation.  Jumping off the boat dock into three inches of water shouting "CANNONBALL" was progress for him.

How do you define success in your personal fitness goals?  Are you driven by goals and day to day progress or do you feel successful if you skip dessert?  Are you competitive or complacent?  A self-motivator or do you need motivation?  What is your motivation?  What is your benchmark for success?

These are all really important things to consider when you're ready to make a change in your life.  Not everyone is cut out to do P90X or Insanity or run a 5K.  Once you understand what drives you and what success means, it's easier to embark on a new journey to a healthier lifestyle. 

Perhaps you're ready to cross that threshold of complacency and set a goal for success. Maybe you just need someone to hold you accountable.  Whatever it is that causes you to shout "CANNONBALL", the time is now to take the plunge!

Monday, July 12, 2010

I'm Baaaaaack

I think the hardest part of a vacation is coming home and trying to get back to reality.  Gone are the days of sleeping until I wake up, eating without much care, worrying about nothing, and laughing my nights away.

Vacation was the perfect treat for completing my first round of Insanity, but I didn't leave my Insane world completely at home.  I rocked out Max Interval Circuit in my parent's backyard in the humidless early morning breeze.  I pushed aside all my inhibitions as my brother and I tested out Max Plyo in the hotel fitness room adjacent to a meeting room of gawking onlookers. 

I ran outside at an hour I could never run in Texas.  I passed by my old elementary school, junior high and high school all on the same run.  I ran along a path with hills I had forgotten surrounded the area where I once lived in North Dakota. 

We met the rest of my family and spent a few days on a lake in Minnesota.  My sons experienced catching their first fish and plucking off their first leeches!  I enjoyed watching them be happy outdoors.



I had not been in a boat since college.  That's far too long!

I drank margaritas by day and wine by night.  I worried about nothing and stayed up far too late.

Now it's back to reality and it's hard, I admit.  How great it would be to live like this everyday?  But life is about moderation.  Too much of a good thing may not always be best.  It's time with family that I crave and being away from them makes my appreciation far exceed my longing to see them often. 

It's back to my food journal and my 4:30 a.m. wake up calls.  It's back to hot, humid runs before sunrise and back to my daily routine.  Times like this are what motivate me to keep pushing play on those Insanity DVDs and keep running just one more mile. 

I learned my mental health and well-being is just as important as my physical health this past week.  I am sad to be home, but a healthy dose of family and fresh Minnesota lake water is exactly what I needed. 

Friday, July 2, 2010

Impatience and Claustrophobia

I'm packing for a 17-hour drive from Texas to North Dakota in the morning.  My reward for completing my first round of Insanity?   For someone as impatient and claustrophobic as I am, this is no prize.

I am excited to see my family and go back to my old stomping grounds.  I'm not looking forward to the drive, especially since the forecast is calling for rain...a lot of it.  Boo.  We're leaving at the CRACK and I don't sleep well in a car.  Double boo.

But just like Insanity, sometimes we gotta go through a little hell to get to where we want to be.  If I can endure nine weeks of grueling workouts, I can sit in a car and suck it up....for 17 hours.  Being the antsy person I am, I would almost prefer about three hours of an Insanity beat down in place of this drive.

My blogging will be sporadic in the next week as I'll be happy relaxing and visiting family.  I'm bringing Shaun T along with my running shoes.  Something tells me that a run around a lake in Minnesota sounds like the next best thing to heaven.  So sorry Shaun T, I may take a few day vacation from you as well.  Besides, we need a little break from each other.  You were starting to get on my nerves, and I mean that in the kindest way possible.

I took my final fit test today as well as my "after" pics. 

Jackson was at it again!  That lil' stinker!! 


Final Fit Test Numbers.....are you motivated yet?  Or would you rather spend 17 hours in a car?


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