New Found Commitment

So, just wanted to post some of my new goals and commitments:

Definitely decided that while I've made accomplishments in the realm of running, I have done nothing by way of actually losing weight over this past year. While I really don't care that much about the actual weight lost, I do want to get in better hiking shape this summer. (And obviously it's easier to hike if you have less weight to carry around! ha) So......Off to the new training grounds I go.....

For starters my new commitment is to hike with a weight pack at least three nights per weeks. That is in addition to my running program.

Also, adding back my ab work out every other day and continuing my yoga nightly.

Biggest challenges and changes to make for me: NO MORE SUGAR!!!! Giving up chocolate and sweets except for maybe once every two weeks....GOT to cut down - I'm out of control!! Apparently I treat myself daily these days - not cool!!!!

My legs are definitely stronger (unfortunately that also has made them BIGGER so that part sucks)I feel great and I'm proud of where I've come, but now I need to set new goals and move forward!


Long Term Goal: Hike comfortably 5-6 miles with pack by September
Run 4 miles regularly for cardio work out by September
Short Term Goal: Add my ab routine into my weekly workouts and get back down to 29in waist by the end of May.

Tok Trot

Pictures will come soon, but I wanted to post real quick about the race and just for a moment take time to say that I DID IT!!! It wasn't fast, it wasn't anything special, but I DID IT!!! =) The bummer was that my shins had been bothering me and my left one started hurting really bad at the 1/2 mile marker - not a good sign!! - I worked through it and the pain from that finally went away around 3 miles then came the foot pain...my right foot was hurting so bad (not sure if my shoe was tied too tight or what but my muscles on the top of my foot were NOT happy) I just kept running because I could not bare to let myself down and I refused to walk. I had convinced myself that I could finish without walking and was not about to stop! I was running so slow that at one point a guy who was "power walking" passed me!! YIKES..ha.....It was pretty funny at the time. Anyway, end of story is that I FINISHED and I am so incredibly proud of myself. My 5K time was 39 min which is about what I ran it in Korea (I think in Korea I did a 38:54) and then my 6.2 mile finish was 1:21:02 (My goal was to finish in 1:20 so I was pretty close) I thought was going to puke at the last minute so I think that's why I slowed down! ha.....So far, no vomit so all is well on that front! haha.......Now for a long shower.......Love you girls, thanks for the encouragement!!!

Training

Well, this is it. It's my last official week of training before the 10K next Saturday. I'm very excited about my progress as today I ran 5 miles! (I ran the first 2.5 miles without stopping and then walked and jogged the remaining 2.5.)That's a pretty good idea of what it will be like because I plan to run the first 3.1 miles and then walk/jog the last 3.1 miles.

As I was out running today I was thinking back to where I was just 5 years ago...I stepped on the treadmill for the first time when I was living in Manhattan, KS. It was that day that I ran my first 2 minutes EVER! ha.....While I've had a lot of ups and downs and year long breaks in between I think I'm finally coming to a place where I can actually consider myself a runner. =)Today I ran for 30 minutes! While I'm still at a slow turtle speed, I'm actually enjoying the challenge and feeling great about the accomplishments I've made.

While I could easily compare myself to my many friends, both here in AK and on the web who have been so amazing at loosing weight and are just my heroes in that regard; I have to step back and take a moment to close my mind off to that possibility. The purpose of our blogs and our sharing with one another is not so that we can compare ourselves to one another; but rather that we can encourage one another and spur one another on towards becoming healthier and stronger women. Each of us does that in such a different way. For me it's definitely not through weight loss, but at the same time I'm totally happy with where I'm at because I feel like I have accomplished SOOO much over this past year. I have come a long way and it's been a struggle to get here, and I'm just glad I've made it this far! I feel happy and healthy, and strong. =)

Weight Loss: I guess a few weeks ago it was a "Fake out" because my four pounds only stayed off for like three days. My body seems to keep fluctuating between 144 and 147 lbs. Each day it is something different, so I guess as long as I stay in that range I'm making progress! ha.....

As for the detox and Bromalite. What a rip off - lucky for me I only did the free trial! ha....I have had no adverse reaction to any of it and I feel great, but definitely haven't seen any huge life altering results. No huge weight loss, no "flattening" of my belly! Nada!.....Such is life, at least maybe I have done some good for my colon!? ha

I am still doing my vitamins and stuff and that has made me feel great. Haven't had soda in over a month and am down to coffee only on occasion and not every day. Trying to give chocolate up again too - anyone want to join me on that challenge?! - I've been eating a lot of spinach and tuna and trying to make healthier adjustments all the time.

So, all in all, I'm pretty happy with the progress I've made this month. I do want to get back into my daily yoga. (I confess I've been lapsing to only a few times a week.)

Mantra: I am happy, I am healthy, I am Whole!! Consider yourself in this present moment.

Four Miles...

Just wanted to post because today I ran four miles!!! The first 2+ miles I ran without stopping (25 min.) then I walked for about 10 min. and then ran the rest of the way home. I was so full of energy and felt so great and it was such an awesome day!! I'm well on my way to making it to the 5K mark before the Tok Trot on April 18th. I really want to challenge myself to do that, but at the same time not push too hard.....I definitely think I run better outside!

Also, I started my Bromalite yesterday so I'll let you guys know what I think. No problems so far....

Progress

Well, I'm not entirely sure where the progress has come from, but this has been a really great week for me. I am four pounds down weighing in at 144 this morning, and I have managed to run 20 minutes straight twice this week!! (That's huge for me because my max has been 15 min...)

So, it seems that the detox is going really well, although I don't really see how taking a few vitamins and swishing around oil in your mouth for 20 minutes can really make such a big difference. I guess it just seems so simple...It would appear, however, that these few adjustments are exactly what my body needed. I feel great and really have been able to tell a difference in my body. I do have a few days here and there that I have these odd aches and pains and stuff, but I was told that it is all a part of the detox process so you just have to press on and keep being faithful to your program. I am hoping my Bromalite comes in this week because I want to give that a try too.

Mantra for the week: Be faithful to who you are at all times.

Detox

Okay, so I met this new provider this week who encouraged me to do a detox (She is definitely not the first to mention this.) To really just clean my system out and see if I can better absorb vitamins. It seems that I am vitamin deficient mostly probably due to the lack of sunlight etc. She seems to think that these deficiencies have caused my kidneys and liver to not function properly thus straining my thyroid. All of this together has kind of just led to some poor health problems for me and is probably related to why after a year of working out and eating healthy I still haven't been able to lose any weight. I'm still weighing in at 148. =)

So, I'm doing a trial to see if I start feeling better and start seeing improvements to my health.......I'm trying this "oil pulling" technique with coconut oil in the mornings (look it up online if you are curious, it's pretty interesting. I will let you know what I think. So far, so good.) Drinking Psyllium Husk in the morning. Taking 10,000 IU of Vitamin D and also 2.5mg Melatonin at night. Other than that just keeping with my normal healthy diet and exercising as normal. I also signed up for a free trial of Bromalite, and will let you know what I think of that once it comes in. =)

I'll keep you posted on how I feel. It's been two days since I started it and I feel really great right now, so I guess that's good. =)

15 Degrees is Too Darn Cold...

While common sense should tell ANYONE that running outside when it's 15 Degrees isn't a great idea, it seemed innocent at the time. The sun was shinning and Travis was headed out to run. Since I managed to do okay yesterday with minimal soreness it was so beautiful that I said, "You know, I think I'm gonna go for a run too."

Off I go and once again did really well for the first mile or so (Not sure the exact distance, but Travis said it's a little over a mile to the Alaskan Highway - with round trip being somewhere around 2.1 miles.) Here's the kicker....my shins and quads were sore from yesterday so I slowed down to a walk for a few minutes and then realized that it wasn't a good idea because with the sweating I had done I was now freezing! =) So, despite my discomfort I began to run again. The wind was picking up and really blowing hard (Yes, weather changes around here within minutes.) As I turned down the road to run the last quarter mile or so the wind was REALLY kicking up and I was freezing my butt off. I felt like I was running for my life! haha...Travis would definitely get a kick out of this if he were to read it (Which is why I don't let him read this blog! haha) He runs when it's 30 below and snow and ice are building on his lashes - NOT ME!!!

Anyway, I did manage to make it safely home and now am very content to be in the warmth of my cabin. =) I write this to say one real observation.....Like many things in life, sunshine can be deceptive!!!

I DID IT!!!

It's Saturday and a very nice, calm 20 degrees outside. Because it's rarely this nice I decided that today I would challenge myself to run outside for the first time this winter.

I headed out in my usual gear (It's usually cold in the garage where I run, so I figured I would be good with what I usually wear.- Cotton yoga pants, a synthetic long sleeve shirt, zip up sweatshirt, and cotton gloves. To this I added a stocking cap) I took off down the road and it was SOOOOO cold. Oh my gosh, the wind was beating against my face and my eyes were watering. I was thinking, "What kind of idiot does this?" I was so tempted to turn around and head back home and hop on my treadmill. The snow was like running on a sandy beach and my feet were slipping quite a bit. I pressed on and after the first quarter mile I turned down a side road that was much better packed down. By changing directions I was sheltered from the wind and immediately warmed up. I started feeling great and just kept running. I was going at an alarmingly slow rate, and yet felt really great about where I was at. I was breathing in the fresh air, enjoying the crisp winter day and just feeling great!!! I ran the entire first mile without stopping for a moment and then continued running the mile in return with an occasional 30 sec rest. I could not believe the challenge on my lungs and muscles in my legs that I don't usually use. The most amazing part was that when I reached my front steps I felt alive and refreshed and OH SO PROUD!!! I know it's not a huge accomplishment, but I was starting to feel like I wasn't really getting anywhere with my running, and after today I know that eventually I really will be a good runner!!!

All this to say that while running in Alaska is challenging, it is not impossible!

MANTRA: Love and accept yourself in the present moment.

Reality Check

Having realistic expectations is about looking at what is - not what you'd like to be - and using that information to shape and mold a positive, yet honest expectation for change. - from an article on yahoo.com that was really awesome!

It seems that lately we have all been struggling with accepting where we are at in this present moment. We are so hard on ourselves for the small indulgences and set backs - May I just take a second to say that you girls are all so amazing and I just think you are each so beautiful and special and I admire so much your dedication and motivation to strive towards living healthier and more energy filled lives!! GO GIRLS!!!

I too had a week of "straying" from my original plan!!! Sorry, Cherry, I confess that I had a few M&M's and Hershey Kisses without even realizing that I was eating chocolate!!! YIKES.......Lets see, I had fried chicken for the first time in six years, french fries, and BBQ pork!!! Again, YIKES......Those were my only real "oops" moments, oh yeah, and Tiramisu! YIKES.....haha.....Otherwise I tried to make healthy food choices while on vacation and I faithfully woke up each morning and worked out in the gym at the hotel.

Now it's back to my daily exercising, yoga, and healthy eating. Sometimes I think we just have to relax and give ourselves a break....It's only life.

While I am 10 lbs heavier than I was 7 years ago, SERIOUSLY, it was SEVEN YEARS AGO. The real question is, why compare ourselves to what we were before? Why not be grateful for the life, reality, stresses and growth that have molded us into the women we are today? I mean, why are we always looking back trying to be what we were in highschool or before children, or when we got married!? I mean, shouldn't we just be glad for those extra wrinkles, those extra rolls? I mean, isn't that due to all the hardships and life that we have experienced? Just something to ponder.......For me, when it gets down to it, I'm really happy where I'm at. I feel probably the happiest I've ever been, and I'm okay with those extra 10 lbs. Someday I hope they disapear, but for now I'm going to drink my wine and smile! haha...

Peer pressure at it's best...

So, as it seems in the case of our wonderful blog-sites; peer pressure is actually benefiting us!!! I am so pleased that we have been able to encourage one another to give up "something" in dedication to each others efforts......So, in honor of Cherry and the rest of you, my "no chocolate" plan is still in motion.

Here's where I'm at today: I struggle back and forth between wanting to be something that I'm not, and just being happy with who I am.........At this point in my life I'm finally coming to a place where I can be content in this moment. It's hard because our culture teaches us that we should always be striving towards something else - being thinner, tanner, our hair should look a certian way(if it's straight, we want curly, if it's curly we want straight etc.), our clothes should be a certain brand, our makeup should always be done etc. etc. etc......If we aren't these things then we won't be loved or appreciated.........Definitely not a good mentality to have, but something that is ingrained in us as children and throughout adulthood we are forced to continue to face. I have decided that today I am NOT going to buy into that mentality. Today I'm going to be at peace with where I'm at and not expect more.

I guess some of this has come from my daily yoga practice where I have taken time out to just relax and love myself. Before everything was always so stressful and so focused on getting things "accomplished" and now I take just an hour out of my day to quiet my mind and tell myself positive things that help remind me that God created me EXACTLY the way I am and that He never intended me to be/look any differently than I am right now.

I know that I still tend to judge myself based on past pictures or weights or measurements that I once had, but each day I feel myself growing closer to finding contentment......

Mantra: Today I will love myself for the gift of life that God has given me.

Sweat More, Eat Less = More Power

So, this week has been more of a relaxing week for me. I struggled through some migraines at the beginning of the week which left me weak and just not feeling well. I still did some light running and yoga, but took it kind of easy this week. Today I did a more challenging run and have gotten to the point where I can do the full 15 min. without breaking. My second 15 min. set is a little more tricky, but I'm still working on it. I have been consistently running 2+ miles so that is an improvement for me.

In April is the Tok Trot which is a traditional 10K run here in Tok. I would really love to participate this year even if I can't run the whole thing. This is my goal and I'll keep working towards it. Somehow I am very slow at progressing into a more distance runner, but eventually I will get there!

I'm still weighing in around the same, but that's totally normal for me. I'm pretty much the same weight/size that I've always been my whole life, so I've just accepted that this is where I am! Obviously I'd still love to lose another 10 lbs, but I'm okay with where I'm at and just focusing on challenging myself each week.

Since Cherry gave up chocolate for a few weeks I've decided that I'm going to try to do the same - Maybe I will be more successful knowing that someone else is doing it with me!?

Mantra for the week: Make a choice: You can either settle or sweat(I choose to sweat!)

Question Mark

"Running is a big question mark that's there each and every day. It asks you, 'Are you going to be a wimp or are you going to be strong today?' "

So, this week was another really refreshing one for me. I've just been so encouraged by the way I feel - just healthier and stronger! I am still holding steady at around about the same weight/measurements (I keep going between 143/144 so not sure if I lost one or two pounds this week. Every day I weigh something different! haha....) While I haven't really lost that much weight, my body is TOTALLY different this month. - It feels like all my fat has been replaced by muscle or something -

Anyway, I just feel so refreshed and healthy and I'm just loving that feeling and it presses me onwards towards continuing to be faithful.

Also, I've noticed that keeping a training log on a calendar is SOOO exciting and encouraging to me. I would suggest that each of you start keeping track too if you don't already. Looking at a full month where you have exercised and done something (if not several things) each day is just so fulfilling to know that you accomplished this!!!! It's like a really awesome report card!!

Thanks, Amber, for your suggestion too about the sweets thing. I am totally digging what you said and it HAS actually helped! I just let myself have that little something that I feel I need and then I'm okay!

My mantra this week is: Challenge yourself without judgment

Moving Past The Edge

It's been interesting coming to the point in my exercise routine where the endorphins are really popping and I'm feeling so motivated and ready to just keep going and going.......It's taken me 11 months to get to this point where it actually feels wonderful to work out! haha.

It seems like this past week has really been the breaking point for me where I've come to my "edge" and found some way to just keep going.

Having said that about my feelings of accomplishment through running/yoga.........I cannot seem to break the whole "sweets" thing. It's as if I have not an ounce of self control! I mean, I only have to have a tiny bite of something, but I have just GOT To have SOMETHING....I'm trying really hard to push those feelings away, but can't seem to give it up........Any advice?

Mantra of the week:

Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.
Buddha