Run the Race...

GIRLS ON THE GO HALF MARATHON -  9.22.13

Today’s Half Marathon was the most interesting race I have participated in. I started off the morning with a note to my friend telling her I was running for her today. She’s the strongest woman I know and I wanted to honor her today with this run. I can run 13.1 miles but could I endure what she has? And do it with such grace? The pains of a Half Marathon are NOTHING compared to cancer. But God had a plan for me today.

The race started out fine. A little ahead of time actually. Cool, beautiful morning with a slight cloud covering of big puffy, misty clouds hanging over the mountains. I began the race at the front of the pack. It just turns out that as the 5k and 10k runners left the gate there I was at the starting line. There was only maybe 10-15 runners ahead of me and the ‘lead’ runner took off like a shot and we followed. Here’s where things started getting interesting and only continued throughout the entire course. The lead runner took a turn at a bridge off the path and like sheep, we all followed. As we got down the path a bit we looked back to see a sign that said “Half Marathon →” So we turned around and followed the sign which took us down through a parking lot, up a hill and circled us right back to where we missed the first turn off… oh, yeah… the one before the bridge! We weren't even supposed to turn towards the bridge let alone take the bridge! We saw runners on another path and had to come down a dirt embankment to get back on track. An extra mile later.

Everyone was confused and grumbling and getting angry and I started to say something to the lady next to me about how ridiculous this was and I got ‘God Smacked.’ Instantly I was filled with the notion that life’s gonna throw us off course but how do we react to it? Would I react like Julie? Would I handle it with grace? I smiled… giggled a little… felt a little choked up and said.. “OK, God. I hear You.”

Once back on the right path the course took us towards the water. I had to smile again. The sun was just coming up over the mountains and breaking through the clouds and steam was rising from the water. It was beautiful. I couldn't take my eyes off it. I ran alongside the water and the song on my playlist was the perfect accompaniment: “Relentless.” Your love is relentless, God. I got a huge rush and just breathed it in and enjoyed it.

A little further along the course, at about the mile 2 marker, (which was actually already mile 3 for me and LOTS of other ladies) a gentleman stood on the course and directed the pack off the path and up a dirt embankment! What?! I didn’t know this was going to be a trail run! Again.. God Smacked. “I’m going to show you a little of Julie’s journey,” He said. I felt a lump in my throat. “Ok, God.”
The turn up the dirt path was a steep incline and I had to stop to walk. I couldn’t run up it. It was a little too ‘loose.’ The dirt hill turned into a rugged, rocky path and took us back off into a path through the trees and even across a creek that we had to traverse slippery little stepping stones to get across! Ladies were grumbling and complaining about how crazy this course was and I just had to giggle.

Once out of the trees and off the dirt path we were back onto the pavement and began a meandering of turns and switch backs through parking lots, camp grounds and back roads away from the lake. On my way back at about mile 9 or so, I saw the 'lead' runner heading back towards me. I pulled out an ear bud and asked her "Do we have to turn and come back again?!" She said she wasn't sure. There was a confusing sign up ahead and she wasn't sure which way to go and that she was 'just done.' She was heading back. She was quitting.  My heart sank. The course was poorly marked; some of the turns were confusing and several times it was unclear which way to go. I just kept running. I wasn’t going to stop and I wasn’t going to give up. Sure, I was confused a few times but I just kept going. I was running for Julie and I wanted to have a good attitude about it and I wanted to try and keep a good pace.

When it was all said and done, I had run 14.2 miles. I literally ran “the extra mile.’ I was tired and my legs were getting sore and fatigued. The last half mile I broke down a little and cried for a bit, but shook it off, put my head down, put one foot in front of the other and kept going until I crossed the finish line. My time was terrible as far as my Half Marathon best goes, but it doesn't matter. The time wasn't important. The journey was.

I came away with a few lessons today. One…is be careful what you commit to. I committed to completing this run for Julie and God took that as opportunity to show me a tiny bit of her journey. Life is going to give me obstacles, and detours. I’m going to go down rocky, unstable paths. There will be some slippery rocks along the way. But how will I handle it? Will my attitude be that like Julie’s? Will I handle it with grace? Without grumbling and bitterness? Will I see the blessings in the
challenge and will I enjoy the journey even if it’s not the easy one? Another thing that stood out to me was the metaphor of the cloud covering and the meandering away from the water and back again. The cloud cover kept the temperature cool and the moisture up. Along the way, the course took us away from the lake and down some uncertain paths, but every time I got back on the paved path that followed the shore of the lake, I knew I was on the ‘right’ path.

God is funny, isn't He? I didn't ask Him to take me on this journey, but I had unknowingly committed to it by deciding to run for Julie today. A verse came to mind several times on the course: “…let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” That is my wish. Let me continue to run the race God has set before me, but most importantly, let me do it with grace and dignity. Let me live my life in such a way that others don’t see me as a complainer or a grumbler. Let me have a good attitude in all things. Let me cover all things in love. Let others see me as one who operates in Love. “…if I have not love, I am nothing.” 1Cor 13:2

No Bake Energy Bites

I am forever getting hungry at the gym. Seriously. I eat breakfast but it's like Pavlov's Dog for me.. I step out of my car and start walking towards the door and I feel hungry again! Maybe it's mental. Maybe it's my body's way of telling me "I need more fuel for the workout you're about to put me through!" The choices at the gym as far as protein bars go are okay, but expensive! I've just about burned myself out on Clif Bars and Z-Bars by Clif too! I recently discover the LÄRABAR at a vendor booth at a 5K event and LOVED them. They are made with all natural ingredients and delicious.. but again... expensive.

These little bites are my answer.They are super easy to make and you can tweak the recipe to include other ingredients you like. I went a little overboard and added a bunch extras. ;)

Basic Ingredients:
• 1 cup oatmeal
• ½ cup all natural peanut butter (This is important. You don't want or need all that nasty hydrogenated oil that comes in regular peanut butter. It's not good for you.) Or any nut butter.
• 1/3 cup honey (Raw, local, natural honey is best. Don't use that fake imitation stuff from the grocery store made with corn syrup. I say local honey because local honey will give you antibodies for the local pollen and will help with seasonal allergies.)
• ½ cup flaked coconut
• ½ cup flaxseed meal (aka ground flaxseed)
• 1 scoop of vanilla flavored protein powder (any protein powder will do. Just make sure the protein powder you use isn't full of sugar.)
• 1 tsp vanilla

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and form into balls. Chill and eat. Keep refrigerated.
88 Calories each.

** You can add other ingredients to kick it up a notch. I also added 1/8 cup of each: sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, golden raisins and craisins. 100 Calories each with these added ingredients.

7 Day Transition to Clean Eating

Have you wanted to start eating better or eating "right," but don't know where to start or how to begin? It doesn't have to be difficult or expensive. You can make a few changes, in small increments, each day over the course of a week to change the way you eat and if you stick with it...change the way you look. I didn't say it would be easy however, you will have to make sacrifices, but it can be done.
This is just a jump start list. There are so many other areas I want to cover later on in other posts. Give it a try. For seven days.. what have you to got to lose... besides weight?!

YOUR GOAL THIS WEEK:

• Incorporate fresh, clean food into your diet to allow your body to spend less time digesting and more time burning body fat.

• Gradually eliminate the foods that hinder your body and make you feel bloated, sluggish, and fat.

• Get in a workout everyday. Focus on slimming down and toning the whole body. At least 20 mins each of cardio and weight resistance training.

 

Day 1 – Eliminate toxins from your body. Drink only water today. No tea, soda, or coffee. Drink half your body weight in ounces. For example, if you weigh 140 lbs, drink 70 ounces of water today. Also, consume GREEN vegetables. Make green vegetables half of each meal.

Day 2 – Eliminate Sugar. Eliminate all foods and liquids with added sugar or artificial sweeteners. Nothing with sugar in the ingredients. Fruit and vegetables are ok.

Day 3 – Get fruity…Consume at least 2 servings of fruit. Any fruit of your choice. Eat fruit raw. Have a smoothie! Use low-fat milk or almond milk, fruit, and ice. Sweeten with honey.

Day 4 – Spice it up… and eliminate excess salt! Create a meal bursting with flavor. Use spices...Mrs. Dash has some great options. Try adding onions, garlic, and/or peppers instead of adding salt for flavor.

Day 5 – Fitness Model Friday…Eliminate dairy and starchy carbs. NO milk, cheese, bread, rice, pasta or wheat. Eat lean meats like chicken, turkey or fish. (Oats, sweet potatoes, and fruit are OK.)

Day 6 – Work out, weigh in then enjoy a guilty pleasure. One guilt free meal of your choice after you weigh in. Have a dessert or indulge in a higher calorie meal. Without the Guilt!

Day 7 – Renew, Review, Relax – Sunday is Reward Day… relax after a hard week of training and clean eating. Eat clean today but take a rest day. Plan your meals for the week and shop for ingredients. Enjoy the weather and your body! Put on that suit and go lay out. ºÜº

 

Get off the Couch and Go!

THIS time it’s going to work. THIS time it’s RIGHT. THIS time it will be a lifestyle and we’ll be fulfilled and live happily ever after with our new body. Then, in almost no time, reality sets in. We try our best for a couple of weeks and the scale doesn't budge. We sacrifice sweets, cheese, butter, oil, even meals for what seems like an eternity but still look nothing like the girls in the Victoria’s Secret ads. <<sigh...>>
Getting started on a weight loss or fitness program can be exciting. New shoes, new program, new gym and a new goal can inspire us and in our heart of hearts we KNOW that

 At this point, our new found excitement is gone; despair sets in and before you make your second monthly payment on your new gym membership, a box of cookies has been devoured and you’re wallowing in self-defeat….Sound familiar? Then it’s time for you to Get off the Couch and Go!

 In pursuit of a weight loss or fitness goal, the number one reason women give up isn't for lack of effort, laziness or even time issues. It’s self-doubt and self-defeat. We are our own worst critics, and no one ever reached their goals by telling themselves it can’t be done or by giving up.

 Women who start out “gung-ho” for results but never achieve their goals have very distinct traits that are far different from those who achieve their goals. First, they expect instant success and results. If they train and diet for a few weeks and don’t see immediate results they feel as if the weight will never come off and that their efforts are futile.

 In most cases, it took some time to get your body to the point where it is now. You cannot expect a couple weeks of hard work and diet to take off what probably took months or even years to put on! Women who achieve their goals don’t expect instant success. They focus on being the best they can be each day, each workout, and each meal choice and know that the results will come with consistency and time.

 Second, women who struggle see their surrender of yummy foods on a daily basis as a sacrifice. Rather than changing their mindset to see food as fuel, they see food as enjoyment or reward and are bitter that they aren’t able to indulge. These women will look at a piece of cake and tell themselves, “I can’t have that because I’m on a diet.” Women who succeed at their goals look at a piece of cake and tell themselves, “I choose not to have that because I am in pursuit of my weight loss goal.” These are two very different statements. The first is seeing their new lifestyle as a sacrifice; the other is a powerful statement of choice.

 Finally, self-defeatist self-talk is detrimental to your weight loss goals. Women who end up failing tell themselves, “I will never look like the women in the Victoria’s Secret ads; this is hopeless,” or “I can’t lose weight because of my genetics,” or “I have too much to lose; it’s impossible.” BUT, women who succeed tell themselves, “Those women in the magazines look GREAT and they inspire me to continue on my path to success.” Waking up every morning with a drive and a purpose to succeed and being excited about what is going to happen to our bodies is the key to weight loss and fitness success.

 So, how do you transform from a woman of self-doubt to one of success? Simple…Get off the couch and Go! Don’t wait for tomorrow, don’t wait for Monday…do it now. Put it in your mind that you are on a mission to be a healthy, fit, vivacious woman who reaches her goals. And don’t give up! Change your outlook to one of self-power and success. No matter if you need to lose 10 pounds or 100 pounds, it CAN be done! When you find your self-defeating, negative self-talk creeping back into your thoughts and you want to quit, give yourself some tough love and tell yourself to Get off the couch and Go!

 

My Weight Loss Journey

For everyone who has ever thought: "It can't be done" ... "It's too hard" ... "I have too much to lose" ... or "It'll never work" ... I want to tell you IT CAN. It is HARD, but you CAN lose it, and it WILL work. If you just try and don't give up. We all have to start somewhere...

I started this weight loss journey over two years ago. Well at least the final attempt. I have struggled with my weight ever since I was in Jr. High. I didn't have a weight problem... I had a self-image problem. I was tiny. I probably only weighed 100lbs or so, but I had what my family affectionately refers to as "The Hampton Hips" and "The Bernard Butt" !! I was a little bitty thing with a tiny waist, muscular legs and a butt! I can pinpoint the moment in my life when weight came to the forefront of my thinking. It was Jr. High P.E. I never thought I was fat or had any issue with my thighs or my butt until a girl in my PE class called me "fat ass." I cried. Wrong thing to do because she continued to pick on me for months after that and make comments about my thighs and my "ass." It gave me a complex.


 I had been a dancer since I was seven. I had muscular legs and a muscular 'bubble butt.' But at this point in my life when fitting in was so important, I thought something was wrong with me. I was so naive. The weight issue continued through High School. I remember being about 115lbs most of my HS years and I thought I was so fat. I HATED the days when I had to wear my cheer uniform to school. I was about 130lbs when I graduated HS and I remember on graduation day feeling so fat. I look back at those pictures from HS now and realize I was NOT fat. I had a terrible self-image. That's all.
I did finally fulfill my own self-image and actually get FAT. After getting married and having three babies, I WAS fat! And miserable. I have dieted my entire adult life. I had tried water pills, diet pills, counting calories, cutting calories, Weight Watchers, Slim Fast, liquid diets, cabbage soup diets... None of it worked. Do you know why? I wasn't strong enough mentally to stick with it...to put in the time and effort necessary to make the changes I so desperately wanted to make.

I can't tell you what finally changed. I don't know what finally "clicked" inside me to allow me to stick with it. I don't have any magical answers and sure-fire "how to's" to change the way you think, but I know I did start changing the way I think. I turned my "cant's" into "cans." I started focusing on the journey instead of the goal. I started enjoying working out and how it made me feel. I started enjoying running instead of hating it. I started seeing results on the scale and in my clothes... and then there was that glorious day when I actually saw the results in the mirror of the dressing room as I zipped up my first pair of size 6 jeans... and cried.

This is a journey. There is no finish line. I will not ever stop. I will not ever reach a point of satisfaction or contentment to say "I've arrived." No, this is a journey I will continue for the rest of my life. It has become a part of me. The scale says what I'd like it say. The size of my jeans are even smaller than a 6 now. But I'm not "done." I won't ever be done. If I just stop because I reached my goal then I have defeated the purpose; I have defeated the effort and the results WILL NOT last if I give up.

I began this journey in March of 2011. At that point in my life I weighed about 175 lbs. That was a lot of weight on this 5'2" frame! I didn't feel as big as I look in this picture but I was definitely unhappy. I was miserable. I hated everything about my body. The ONLY thing I like about myself was probably my hair... and my feet ;) At the motivation of my best friend I decided to start running. We both wanted to lose weight and it was time to get serious. We found a 5K to work towards and my efforts were focused more on the fitness and training and preparing for a run that I was not in shape for.  I changed the way I was eating and began counting calories. I bought a 'bodybugg' so I knew what I was expending. I had it down to a science and the weight slowly began to come off.

By mid April when we did the Mud Run 5K, I was down to 157. I finished the run, obstacles and all, and felt amazing! I was so proud of myself for the accomplishment. It was the first time I had ever done anything like that and I caught a bug. I was hooked!

I continued the running and fell in love with it. As the weather got warmer I began running outside and found so much peace and fulfillment in my evening runs. My favorite time of day to run is right before sunset. I love to run into the sunset... light shining on my face.. and watch the sun takes it's last breath and dip away quietly for the night. I would come back from a run exhausted but content.

By July of that year I had lost 40 lbs. and I was feeling GREAT! I bought a cute little 2-pc polka dot bikini and felt the most confident I had ever felt in a swim suit. I was completely comfortable taking off my shorts at the beach and walking down to the waters edge without wanting to cover myself. I was still living on the out-skirts of "Cottage Country," but the lumps and bumps were fading and muscle was taking it's place.

I saw results everywhere. I was pleased with the definition I was seeing in my arms. My "bingo" arms were disappearing. (You know... the flabby skin under the arm that keeps waving even after you've stopped!) I was beginning to see abs appear! I was getting a 4-pack! I wasn't quite at the 6-pack yet.. those lower abs are tricky, but there was definitely muscles appearing at the top of my abdomen.

I maintained the weight loss through the winter and stuck with the workouts, though I have to admit I did slow down a bit.  I didn't put on the usual "winter sweater" of 10 lbs. like I used to but I had lost some stamina and muscle definition over the winter.  Once spring hit, I was right back at it. Back in the gym and back to running.  I had new motivation though.  I had signed up for my first half marathon!  The run was in June and I was determined to complete it!  I began training for the half marathon and focused on the endurance more than my weight.  I was still at about 40 lbs. loss but I felt good.

This fall something clicked inside me again. I still wasn't happy with my body. I had lost a bunch of weight and was wearing a size 6 jeans and feeling pretty good... but I didn't like certain parts of my body. I was still on the out-skirts of "Cottage Country" and wanted to leave there for good!


I began incorporating leg days into my gym routine and I signed up for another half marathon. It was going to be my 40th birthday present to myself. Not only did I want to finish, this time I wanted to beat my previous time. I began training hard and pushing myself. I started counting calories again and more weight came off. I hit the 50 lb milestone in mid November.

I am more pleased than I have ever been with my body. I am well on my way to having the body I have always wanted. I didn't give up when I hit plateaus. I didn't give up when I would gain a few pounds. I didn't give up when I still didn't like what I saw in the mirror. I stuck with it and will continue to. It's not over. I'm not done. It's a journey...