2014 ... let's DO THIS!

2014... I'm holding it in my mind as a great year to come...

I will do a confession time, which I think should probably be a weekly post ... the areas I messed up in, the things to keep me in check... because goodness knows I'm not perfect.  I don't even want to make it even TRY to appear I'm perfect or I have it all together.  I'm just struggling through like most everyone else... I think most people struggle with the issues of health & fitness... I'm the queen of it.

Anywhoo... the holidays have really got to me.  I didn't do well AT ALL with the eating thing (still no meat, of course) but sugar?  Another story... A WHOLE other story.

My working out?  Non-existent.

Some fitness/health/nutrition blog I am, huh?

Again - I'm human...

I'm going into 2014 at the heaviest I have EVER been.. in my life...

yep... this is me...

that is so embarrassing to admit.

I look back at pictures of races from just a year ago & I can't believe how easily the weight piled up on me.

It just showed me how seriously I need to take my body, my health... my life...

the priorities I need to set...

So what am I looking forward to in 2014?  What are some fitness resolutions?

* More water... yes, its all I drink now, including some tea, but I drink more Sparkling Seltzer water - I need to drink more just PLAIN water... the enamel on my teeth will probably thank me (I heard too much seltzer water is tough on your teeth)

* I did it... I dropped a few hundred bucks to get the new T25 program... 25 minutes at least 5 times a week .. I can do that - right?  "I'm GOING to do that" is the answer :)



* Caring for my body... pushing it, but not harming it.  I've really done some damage with my back.  My knees are horrid right now... but I also know my weight is causing some of this.  My point?  I'm going to be careful of my body... be aware... take care of it.  It's gotta get me through a lot.

* I will continue to run... but I'm taking the pressure off of myself that I normally put on my brain, my body.  I have registered for a half marathon & need to start training for it, but also know that I have to get to a place in my body where I can safely train.  I'm telling you - my body is THAT out of shape now... if I don't make the half marathon, I'm OK with that...  I'm telling you, I'm getting priorities in check this 2014!

* At least 4 Fruits or veggies in a day... a must!  I'd like to do 4 of Each - 4 fruits, 4 veggies - that would be ideal...

Which leads me to my next one

* Follow the Happy herbivore food plan 5 days out of the week... that should ensure the above resolution.  A vegan diet plan is full of veggies & fruit.

* Take regular Probiotics & Fiber... the gut, I believe, is a serious source of where illness comes from.  Want to be in charge of it as much as I can....

* Staying POSITIVE.  I'm really bad at getting down on myself... focusing on the bad things that's happening - pain, weight gain.  I suffer from depression so the smallest thing gets me down & will hold me there.  I'm really going to try to focus on positive things... keep positive statements all around me - reminders that tomorrow is another day.

* This one will be tough... cut back on the Self Hate Talk.  I've gotten in such a bad place of calling myself "Disgusting"... that's also embarrassing... but I do it naturally now.  I look in a mirror & that's the word I use... not good... not good at all.... so I'm going to stop it.  This is probably one of the biggest things I need to do.  Remember that I listen to my words in my heart & they can hurt....

My word for the year is RENEW (you can click the link above to my home blog & read more about that)

That word fits even more in my fitness world...

I'm ready for 2014... how about you?

Any fitness resolutions you have?

Any I should have?

What are you goals for 2014?

My Birthday

 

 

 

 

Yep...

 

Aging at its finest

 

I'm like wine

 

& Wine is good for you - right? :)

Kombucha

So I have a new addiction...

Kombucha

It's funny because I saw on Facebook a few of my friends making it... & then, my step daughter that knows all things to do in the kitchen started making it.  I had to ask her what it was...

She gave me a little insight on it & couldn't believe I didn't know what it was...

Its actually a drink that is made from tea but has so much more in it... its full of probiotics & full of vitamin B's... lots of antioxidants... & I love it because its FIZZY! 

Who doesn't love a fizzy drink?

Its funny because I have bought some of these drinks at the local health food store, but never knew exactly what it was...

but I know now.




When we visited Julie in Nashville during Thanksgiving - I got to taste her brew... OH MY WORD - yumminess...

She had different flavors .. both amazingly delish!

I could drink Kombucha like this

& its struck up my love for it even more.

I have been stopping & getting a bottle to baby a few days.  I can drink the whole bottle in an hour if I wanted to...

This is my new love

I may have to look into making my own... its that good to invest the time to do it.  Not to mention that each bottle is like $3.99 a bottle.  Ouch!

I have a feeling I'm going to feel like Frankenstein creating my own creature while doing it... its all very scientific...

or maybe I just need to pay Julie to make me a batch & send it up to me every month... she's the scientist in the family after all :)


Have you tried kombucha?

Ever made it before?

C'mon - isn't it fun just to say the word kombucha?

Failure... but a winner!

OK... confession time...

I've failed.  Once again.

I started out with great intentions with these Christmas/December challenges.  How hard is one mile a day for 40 days?  ... hard when weekends come & you're out Christmas shopping from sun rise to sun down... add in a few parties, throw in wrapping presents, & don't forget the trying to keep a little bit organized (insert mad laughter)... yeah, it gets hard.

I will say, I'm sticking to the plank challenge.  Though, I will do a confession again & say that I've had to go to my knees to do the planks.  My low back was hurting so bad for the length of time - which I'm up to 2 minutes now - that I had to do something.  And believe me, the abs are still shaking like a violent earthquake.  My back still feels it too, but not as extreme.  I figure if I do the rest of the challenge on my knees - get the abs SOME WHAT used to exercises again, then next month I can repeat it in the full out position.

Small steps people...

whatever works for me...

I need to keep remembering that.  Because its so easy to look at myself & see "FAILURE" written across my face - but I'm doing what works for me... not you... not the people who are already fit... not the people who have great abs & a great low back...

Me... the out of shape person who keeps trying...

On a positive note.  I was a winner from an incredible runner's blog.  Anita is such a fantastic woman of faith who shares her love for God & his word!!!  Plus she's just an awesome runner.  Hello New York City Marathon runner!

Check her out!:
http://nitasliferunning.blogspot.com/

... & I won a giveaway she had.

I always say I love runner's give aways... healthy great stuff.

Though Ricky claimed the bath salt.  Granted - he has a lot of stress & he walks at least 15 miles a day - he deserves a good soak.

So not all is bad - right?

The Holidays are almost here... the New Year will begin with a bunch of goals, challenges, resolutions...

As of right now, making it through.... with my dark chocolate bar I won!  YES!

Workout Videos make me feel like I'm a Dancing Queen...

Dancing Queen... flash backs of ABBA...

I was going to title this as "makes me feel like I'm on Club MTV" which REALLY is a flash back.  Downtown Julie Brown would appreciate me though.

Fun Fact - I went to the Club MTV Concert where Milli Vanilli was the main show!

I always love a good workout video.  Just because you can put on the worse outfit ever & no one cares.

I did Jazzercise for almost 20 years.  Seriously!  I started when I was 17 years old.  LOVED IT... everything about it.  But when my schedule changed & we moved far away from everything the world offers (country living at its finest) & I found a Jazzercise class, their schedule didn't work with mine....

alas, back to home videos.

But they make fun exercise videos to get your groove on.  No offense to Stella.

Last night, I tried a new one.

Because work outs need big hoop earrings

I laugh when they put the instructors in cool khaki baggy pants, like they're really in a club...

One part, we did a march in place move... & then she said, Move those shoulders.  "Now the step just turned into a dance move"

See - he's using his shoulders... its a DANCE MOVE!... maybe...

Get me to a club ASAP! 

I know... I know... a lot of these are corny...

But in my mind, when I put on a dance workout DVD, I turn instantly into J-Lo...

Or Liz Lemon

even in my mis-matched sweats

.....

On a work out side, it does have a different 10 minute standing ab workout... which only taught me that I could NEVER EVER be a belly dancer...

but again, in my own basement, I was the best belly dancer in the world!

December Challenges... Wan? or Rulk?

So yes, I posted about a Plank Challenge for December & I've not just talked about it & then said, "Screw that"... I started it...

& man oh man... I had no idea how bad my abs are!  Right now, on day 5, I'm up to 40 seconds & I shake like a building in an earthquake rating a 10.0 ... its crazy...

& I can't believe that I'm supposed to hold that pose for 5 minutes in just a few weeks.  I'm expecting some sort of Ab-Plank-Fairy to come drop pixie dust on my abs at night to give me strength to make it.

1 HOUR & 20 MINUTES?  & I'm complaining about 5 minutes?

The Plank Fairy must REALLY like him!

I also can't imagine what I'll do while in that position for 5 minutes... that's a long time to be in a position where your face is just a foot from the ground.

There's an idea....

I expect one of my dogs to just crawl on my back & take a short snooze...

I'm also keeping up with my #RWRunStreak... which for me, should be called #RWWalkStreak ... or #RWRulkStreak ... or #RWWanStreak ... I'm doing a mile every day (if not more) but not killing myself.  Don't get me wrong, I still sweat, & I still try to get a better time then the night before...

But I've really accepted & been easier on myself about not trying to be something I'm not.  I'm not going to be the fastest- never was, not planning on it at 41 years old... I'm not going to be this amazing story that makes people think, "Wow - I want to be like her"... I'm just trying to realize that I'm climbing up the hill (not over it yet.. right?) & I just want to stay as healthy as I can... keeping an eye on my back & knee & not make things more miserable.  So yes, sweat is involved... pain?  I don't want to make it worse... I want to be smart...

I'm going to just keep working at it in small steps.  Like I posted on Instagram the other day, small steps make for BIG distances if kept consistent.

Last night I even incorporated an old school VHS Pilates video.  I really want to tone up the core, & I know Pilates is about that... but my hips & quads were the ones aching in this work out...

I guess its all connected though...

& I know it all needs to be strengthened...

So I keep trying to do just that.

Anyone else doing any challenge in December?

How long can you hold a plank?

Which is better?  #RWWanStreak or #RWRulkStreak?

Let it be...

No... we're not talking about the Beatles...

We're talking about The Biggest Loser.

I was back on my treadmill doing my #RWRunStreak & watching my Dolvett & the other trainers...

Just because every post need Dolvett next to a pool...
Not the kind of trunks I'd imagine him choosing to wear.

This week, one person had to go home with a trainer & his weight would be against the other teams.  Jillian got to go home with him as well.  The winner was Jay.  Or Cowboy as I call him.  I mean, who wears a cowboy hat 24/7 while working out?  I guess Jay does.

 

We learned a lot about Jay while he was home.  The things that made him who he was, the things that devastated him & the things that may have caused his weight issues & his issues with food.

At one point, when he was talking about his parents divorce & his childhood home burning down, Jillian asks him, "What ended?"... she went on to talk about to have something born (an issue with food/eating), something had to die.. what was it?

Jillian goes on to talk about how we sometimes go through things that causes a piece of us to die...

Jay finally admits that a part of him died...

What died?  "I did" ...

it broke my heart...

I mean literally on the treadmill with tears streaming down my face.  Thank goodness my treadmill belt has a good traction on it or I'd slip in my own tears.

How tragic would that be?

I think if you've ever been in a situation where you've been so hurt, ever had regrets you couldn't stand, ever felt like a part of you has literally died... you would understand this moment.

Jay then goes on & says that he's trying to move on from it... & Jillian said something that punched me in the gut...

"Let it be"

Finding acceptance in things ...

Refocusing...

It was really powerful...at least for me...

I remember the episode I posted about not too long ago where the person admitted that he jailed himself...

This eating thing... its tough on some people... its a way of comfort, of dealing with hurt, of trying to make struggle easy, of coping by shutting yourself off from the world...

 

& the messed up thing?  It only causes more issues that makes you want to do these things even more.

Jillian Harris could have sent me a bill for therapy last night & I would have paid it...

In the end, Jay killed it & was safe...

& boo... my Velvet Teddy Bear was once again sent packing...

 

Good bye... again...

Now if he comes back again, something is gonna be fishy...

 

 

Run your Mass Off

This is why I love virtual races...

So I can do them whenever I want to..

Which also means that I'm at the last day of the month & thinking, I didn't do my race!

So Saturday, November 30th - the last day of the month - we were out Christmas shopping all day.  I mean, ALL DAY!  We were out in our first store at 10:00am & shopped until we literally couldn't fit another package in the car.

I was exhausted.

& that's when I got home & saw the medal sitting on my dresser.

When they send them ahead of the race, I put it on my dresser - don't dare thinking of putting it around my neck & NEVER goes on the medal wall until the miles are done.

So it was either throw the medal in a drawer, or get to the treadmill...

Ricky ended up falling asleep & I headed to the basement.

Luckily, there was a Glee episode on the TV in front of Miley (my treadmill's name).  It only gets 3 stations - one being Public Access TV which isn't very entertaining, so I try to do all my treadmill jaunts on specific times where something actually grabs my attention & not makes me want to slit my wrists from boredom on the treadmill...

Even better?  It was the Glee episode with Neil Patrick Harris.. my secret BFF... I say secret because I know we would be BFF's... Neil just isn't in on this idea yet though...

I ended up walking this one... walking all day shopping, my low back still aggravated, & my runner's knee still hurting getting up the steps, I knew not to push it.  After all, December 1st started the #RWRunStreak ... one mile a day till 2014... I couldn't get to that day with even more pain.

Walking it was... & it worked out well.  Not much pain in the back, the knees did OK, & I still got the miles in... 3.10

I laugh because my walking time isn't too much off my running time :) 

46:38

May be slow... but it was done... I could wear my medal

So I am in love with Jost Running's medals... It has become my favorite Virtual Race place.  Even better?  They use part of the money to fund charities - changing every month.

Check them out...  www.jostrunning.com

So there you go.. another virtual race in the books...

Now let's start the posts on the Run Streak & the Plank challenge...