Out of My Comfort Zone.....Summer?!

My theme so far for 2014 is stepping out of my super comfy comfort zone & posting this picture below definitely keeps me on that trend! Yikes peeps! Well I’m joining in the fun following some other bloggers in the 90 days until summer challenge.

Yes…..NINETY days from Friday. 

Last summer I sat there on the boat (with everyone being much thinner than I) feeling miserable. Afraid to take off my swimsuit cover. Ashamed that I had put back on that much weight again. Sad. Mad. Oh & let’s not forget flippin’ HOT from the temps & me ONCE AGAIN spending my summer trying to cover myself up under extra clothes in 90+ degree weather! 

So here is a great comparison picture of me:

2010 – I had hit my lifetime status at Weight Watchers & was at the lowest I had been since my wedding! I wore shorts this summer people! I felt great! I felt confident. I also felt cool….cool as in I wasn’t hidden under long pants & fat shirts in 90+ degree weather! 

Then there were some summers after this one where the scale crept back up…..which bring us to my picture from last summer. Can you tell how I’m trying to sit somehow or some way that might possibly hide my fat? Obviously, nothing worked…..just like the swimsuit I bought last summer was supposed to make me look 10 pounds thinner. Ha! Good one!! 

To be honest & real….summer of 2010 was WAY MORE FUN! For a simple reason, I didn’t sit on the sidelines & watch the fun. I was in on the fun. Summer 2014 will be just like summer 2010! So on that note….watch out, maybe close your eyes…..I threw on a swimsuit I’ve had forever & have not worn in forever (obviously as it is a 2 piece) to take this before picture. 

The best part is that I know I will be making progress. I have my 25k training happening right now & my awesome classes at Mommy Fit Club….this place has really given me a fresh outlook and new-found motivation. That competitive manner I have is back out in full force. I feel myself getting stronger & faster & fitter….(that’s probably not a word, huh?). I know where I want to work – my thighs tree trunks, my stomach & watch for a huge arm transformation. I still have no strength in it from having shoulder surgery last winter & I have a personal training session tomorrow to get some killer at-home workouts to whip those babies in strong tank-top shape! 

It is all about progress....and NINETY days from now I'll be posting all about my progress! 

Until Next Time~

*krisha*

Did Not Finish...

Okay so I am currently training for a 25k race...that equals a little over 15 miles....WHAT? I haven't actually signed up yet but am leaning towards it soon. I thought about the 10k but I really wanted something to challenge me. I had been feeling stuck; unmotivated; and not challenge. I LOVE a good challenge! 

The first challenge of this is running outside in a glorious Michigan winter! When my run club started three weeks ago, I had NEVER run out in winter weather! That day I tackled four miles & felt great! Last week I took on five miles & busted it out at a pace of 1:03 faster than my four mile run & a faster pace than I've had in FOREVER.

So then.....there was yesterday. A six mile run on the plan. I can do six miles; I have done that many, many time....right?!

My first mile felt good, but faster than normal. I could not get my legs & head on the same page at all - my legs wanted to go much faster....strange! I think my Runners Bootcamp class is working! My breathing was all out in "left field," it was only 19 degree with some wind depending on my direction but at least the sun was out in all its glory (last week it was 31 degrees out - perfect temp). 

Mile two I started to feel off. My legs felt like they weighed approximately a ton per leg...I mean, my legs are short & tree trunks, but don't weigh that much! Nothing was smooth. Nothing was on. Nothing felt good. Nothing was right.

I started doing some walk/run intervals hoping I'd get out of my funk. It didn't work. I struggled through those next 2 miles & decided today was not my day.....four miles is a good run. 

I beat myself up. I told myself I failed. I told myself I was a quitter. 

But then, I remembered, I had tried. I pushed through four miles when I could have stopped at two. I could have skipped the run all together. I could have picked an easier race & training plan & been breezing through my runs. 

It sucked. I'm not sure why yesterday wasn't my day. I'm in the middle of the Advocare 10 day cleanse so I'm thinking this might have been part of it. My stomach had felt "off" yesterday morning/afternoon & I know my body probably didn't have the proper fuel in it to tackle six miles. 

Regardless what the issue was, I will try again this week to hit my six miles before I have to make eight this weekend. I will be honest that I tried telling myself that maybe I should switch to the 10k plan...."I CAN'T do the 25k." But there is that word "can't," I despise that word. Maybe I'll end up running the 10k, but I'm not about to give up right now!

Until Next Time~
*krisha*

Friday - It is Here Finally!

Is that enough said? This has been one of those weeks that I'm even more thankful for the weekend arriving! Although the weekend will be just as hectic with me running around with my head cut off tackling it all....but at least I don't have to drag my big booty to work!

This week I think I've made some progress. I have tried some new foods....such as green smoothies!

These things always scared me before....I mean, really, how can you NOT taste the spinach. Verdict - I really liked them. I just need to play around with the ingredients a little more...which will take some time......what in the world is that? Like I can find any extra of it?!

Even though that brat of a scale still is bouncing around in the same 3 pound range as it has been for-like-EVER, this week was the first time in a super long time that I didn't want to vomit when I looked in the mirror. The scale may not be telling me good job but my body is changing! In fact, my girlies picked out this sweater from The Limited for me for Christmas....its that very clingy material. At the time, it looked AWFUL on me...way tight. I didn't have the heart to return it since they were so excited about it....well this week I wore it & I felt great in it!

No that is NOT my horrible wallpaper at home...this would be my bathroom at work!

This picture below I took on March 1st to show my changes at the end of the month as one thing I am doing is the "Little Black Dress" 30 day challenge & I wanted to see the changes after the month. When I posted it up in a group, someone pointed out my abs...never noticed, but I do believe I might be finding some again! Some motivation for sure!

 

Last weekend thanks to the kickoff of my running club I joined, I had my first ever winter run! I was nervous as all heck! Thought I would fail needing to run four miles & have not ran outside since October! It was a warm 10 degrees here, but the sun was shining & I was fired up! It was fantastic! Although very hilly route, I was pretty happy with how it went! 

 

Now for a FIVE mile run this weekend! I am going to keep trudging forward kicking some a** & hope some day that stupid scale stops being a brat & joins in on my fun!

This is my first Little Friday Link-up today! It is time for me to keep on bloggin'!  

Until Next Time~
*krisha*

The Journey of Many, Many Miles.

Yesterday I took a moment to look back....all the way back to the very first step of this healthy living journey. Over 5.5 years ago....

I walked into Weight Watchers that Thursday morning with my mom by my side & carrying little Miss Laynee who was two weeks old in her car seat. I remember my heart sinking to my toes when I saw my starting weight that morning.

I wanted to cry. I was so mad at myself. I felt regret. I felt anger. I was sad. I was scared.
I was afraid I would never get where I wanted to go. I was afraid I would fail.

I remember it seemed to take forever for my body to start losing. My mom would remind me every week that I had just had a baby & my body had a lot of changes to go through. I did not give up; that isn't my nature.

I do know for the first year I was on WW, I never had a gain for a week. I had maintains, I had losses of just 0.25 but I was focused enough that I was losing. Slowly....very slowly, but the number was getting smaller.

I collected all of my awards - my 10% key ring, my 25 lb star, all the 5 lb stars for every 5 lbs gone, eventually that 50 lb medal & then came the goal weight & lifetime awards. Oh that sense of pride I felt every time!

Throughout my losing weight, I had to get active. I was an athlete in high school & a pretty decent one. But, running was NEVER a thing for me. In fact, it was punishment at my practices - if we ran it was because coach was ticked off!

But, I had to move. I started with pushing little Miss Laynee around our development in her stroller. That first step, those first steps...honestly, working up to walking a mile. I remember feeling embarrassed and ashamed that I was once a solid athlete & had let myself get to this point. Eventually I was walking a mile or more consistently. But, then I tried running....just a little here & a little there. I felt like a complete fool praying none of my neighbors were home looking out their window as I'm sure I looked ridiculous! At first, those run intervals were literally a couple steps....

But then again, doesn't every journey begin with a single step?

There was a day I ran a mile....a very slow mile. But I was proud. There was a day I ran two miles without stopping. Eventually a five mile run became my normal - the first time I ran 5 miles I jumped up & down with tears in my eyes - I felt amazing!

I look back now after having backtracked slightly on the # on the scale & the running. Up until recently I was feeling so ashamed, mad at myself & feeling like a failure that I had allowed myself to slide a tad backwards.

But, then I remember, that sometimes life happens. Sometimes we do lose sight of our goals. Sometimes we get too comfortable. Sometimes we stop pushing ourselves out of our comfort zone to see what else we can do. Sometimes we move ourselves down to the bottom of our list of priorities when we should be at the top.

This is my year of stepping out of my comfort zone. I've joined an incredible fitness center, Mommy Fit Club, where I've already found amazing support & encouragement. I joined their running club when previously the thought of running with a group scared the heck outta me.....you know, because I'm SO SLLLLLOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWWWW! But, if I don't step out of my super comfy comfort zone, I am holding myself back from building anything of true beauty.

So, this week I'm looking back, I'm reflecting; I'm remembering how many miles I have already traveled here with pride; and I'm looking ahead to how many more miles I have to travel with excitement.

As for WIW....my scale is a liar! I know my inches are moving in the right direction, I'm toning - I'm building strength. My scale this morning wanted me to throw her through the window apparently...So, right now I'm not letting that # control me. I took pictures on March 1st...I'm anxious to see those change at the end of the month!

Until Next Time~
*krisha*