A Time to remember....What next!!!

It has been awhile since I posted, I am now stating the obvious!  Honestly, I just didn’t know what to say. 2013 has been incredible.  I have enjoyed hitting many of the goals that in which I set out to accomplish in the new year.  There is a group that I truly hold responsible for being encouragers and partners in the journey.  Many have blogs and are very well spoken. No need to duplicate what they have said…BUT I realized that I want something I can look back and focus on when I hit a wall, a plateau or feel unsatisfied with where I am!

Awhile back I had a post about a red suit!  I bought that suit almost two years ago and it was a little snug when purchased, extremely snug a few month later, then came the day in 2013 that it fit perfectly!  Today, I bid farewell to that little red suit.  I took it to the alterations location to have it taken up and they told me that it could be altered but would probably not fit right because TOO much needed to be removed.  WHAT???!!!  So, I loved that suit but it will have to find a new owner!  I refuse to keep it hanging in my closet!  I do not ever want to be able to wear it again! :)

As great as it can feel to step on a scale, wear a smaller size, fit in something that hasn't fit for awhile or reach a goal that you never thought possible; have you fallen into the trap of not seeing the change anymore?  I honestly believe Satan has such a power over women.  He uses their eyes to deceive them about their bodies.  Realizing that for so many ladies, their thoughts about their body controls every other aspect of their life.  He blinds us to the beauty that God created.  It is okay to want to eat healthy, to exercise and create a better vessel to honor God BUT it is NOT okay to mentally and physically tear down the beauty that God created in each of us!  It was during one of those tear down moments a couple weeks ago that I took the opportunity to do a comparison.  In the past 6-months, I have been focused on making sure that my body is a temple.  I wanted to honor it in a way that would be pleasing to the Lord.  For me, it meant changing my eating habits, getting back into running and remembering that the JOY of the Lord is my strength.  Six-months can make a remarkable difference….take a look:

The physical appearance is remarkable.  It was something that I needed to see!  However, I wish that there could be a picture of my soul.  It is repaired and springing forth with life that the picture can’t even begin to capture! 

I believe we should never stop learning or growing in who we are.  Physically, I have 5 more half marathons in 2013! I also just began a new journey.  It is called the Tabata Bootcamp.  I adore this group!  It is intense but we laugh and sweat together as we bond!  It has been two weeks but everyone is feeling and seeing the difference that little bursts of workouts can accomplish!  I look forward to the next 6-weeks and the transformation that will come!

Physically, I am enjoying every new accomplishment.  However, I do not want to neglect my spiritual journey!  It is the struggle that no one sees.  It is the part that I rarely allow people around me see crumble.  It is so easily capable of slipping and before you know it you are in a drought and not even sure where to find the water!  I want to be proactive and not rest!  I want to grow and never sit back and be pleased with where I am.  I want to GROW!  So…..I am currently on the hunt for a GREAT Bible Study.  I don’t even know what it is I want.  I just know that I need to seek and dig deeper into His Word.  If anyone has any suggestions, please let me know! 

Can you believe that Summer is upon us?  My sweet baby is finishing kindergarten, how can that be?  We are going to enjoy plenty of time by the pool and with family and friends!  I want to treasure every down moment with her!  I know that she will be grown before I want!  She is my heart, my mini-me!!  I believe she is going to enroll in her first Junior tri-athon and maybe find a swim team!  My sweet thing is a water bug with lots of energy!!  J

Here is to hoping that you find success today in each journey you face!  Seek Him daily, run after Him with the same ferver in which you aim for that physical goal!  Enjoy your day, Enjoy your week, Enjoy the month, Enjoy the year!  We are never promised the next breath, so live it OUT LOUD!

Runner Lunges - You MUST have a focal point...and that reminds me...

The focal point … it makes all the difference!

I have known for a long time that I am a person who better understands things if there is a visual in which I can relate.  Throughout school math problems, science, chemistry and bible studies, if there was a visual that could connect the principle of what was being taught to my everyday world; I could remember it and apply it!

This continues in my adulthood.  Many times I can be doing everyday activities and God will use that as an opportunity to allow me to see his Word in a different way.

We just finished the Run for God Bible Study and it was wonderful for visual applications.  Running the Spiritual race really is parallel to running a physical race.  The mental and physical challenges are easily relatable. 

Today, I was at Bootcamp and we were doing runner lunges.  First of all, it is 6 AM.  Second, I am blonde.  Third, this requires balancing on one leg.  Yeah, that is pretty much three strikes against me! I simply could not seem to do the move.  Then our fearless leader made mention to find a focal point.  I knew the concept from many years of dance when I was younger.  So I found a screw in the wall in which to focus.  TA-DAH!  I could actually do the move!  When we switched legs, it took a little while to get use to the move again but I quickly gathered my balance and completed the task. 

It was about round two that God really begin to apply that to my life.  Scripture says in Hebrews 12:1-2 to “Let us run with perserverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus…”  He reminded me that so many times I have become comfortable with my walk and with my surroundings that I begin to put my focus on other things.  It is then that I wobble in my walk and that I quickly lose my balance in my life.  It is only when I am firmly focused on Jesus Christ that I can complete the task.  It doesn’t mean I won’t lose my balance or have some difficulty with my walk but it is easier when I am focused. 

Today my focus is to remember to keep my eyes on the prize set for me, Jesus Christ.  Work is crazy, social life is crazy, family activities are crazy but all can be balanced when Christ is firmly in my sites!  When He is given the proper place in my life, the rest falls into place! 

If I took just a moment to make sure that I have enough time with Him each day in the same manner that I focus on the amount of steps I take, the sleep I get, the food I physically eat or the workout I fit in then I know my spiritual life would be at peak performance! To not see growth and change in my spiritual life is because I have not properly focused on it in my life. 

I am so grateful when I have the opportunity to be “smacked” in the face with the realities of the Word! 

Loving this Monday!!  Let’s see what this awesome week has to offer!  Live it out loud!!!

Family time can be so COLORful and RAD!!!

Have you ever made plans and as they get closer you wonder, "What in the WORLD was I thinking?" That occurred for me this past weekend.  I signed up several months ago for a Color Me Rad run in South Florida with our entire family.  It sounded like a wonderful plan at the time.  I DID realize it was in my busy season but really, how bad could it be?  Well, last week was just slammed and crazy!!  First, my sweet hubby had work out of town all week.  I was a "single" mom and work was cra-zy.  Luckily, I have the best parents in the WORLD!  So they really helped me out.  I knew I would be getting off work post 5 PM on Friday and having to drive several hours to get to South Florida.  This isn't anything that hasn't been done many times in the past.  BUT this past week, my sleep was very deprived!  Also, I needed to be back at work Sunday.  AHHH!!!!  BUT we serve an Awesome God!  At the last minute, I was able to catch a ride to south Florida.  That meant I wasn't driving alone and getting drowsy!  Instead, I was able to catch up with a friend and enjoy the journey!  It also meant that I got to hitch a ride back with my parents, AKA SLEEP on the journey back!!!!

BUT the best part was the time in between!  My entire family, my sister's family and my parents all did a 5k together!  It was a first 5k for my parents and nephews!!  I am soooo proud of them! 

Here is a before picture:

Here is an after with my nephews:

My job was to make sure that my nephews didn't run too fast as they had baseball immediately following the race.  Those little boogers are FAST!!!  I held them back until they could see the finish line.  Then, well, I just let them go!!! 

It isn't often that you can have a true family fun day that includes exercise!  I am looking forward to the next one!  It was suppose to happen on April 6th BUT my nephews baseball schedule has messed up that running event!  We are looking at the calendar to set a date!  The little girls can hit the 1 miler and the rest can hit a 5k.  Maybe the slogan should be "A family that runs together lives long together!"

This was a great weekend that merged so many of my loves!  My Awesome God who provided rest for the weary, My family, and running....and who doesn't love a little color in their life! 

I am one proud Aunt!  My nephews are quite the ball players!  I realize I am bias!  But here is a pic post their gaame.  I believe the catcher and the 3rd baseman were the best on the entire team!!! The two lil cuties are pretty awesome too!

I do not knw what is wrong with me!!!!!  had a bit of a spontaneous hair and signed up for a half marathon on Saturday!  HA!  It should be fun!  I am not sure how to cage this...am i insane or do i know that running brings me sanity!?   Either way, Here is to a GREAT week!!! 

Get out there, sweat and share what God does in your life! 

It's a GREEN kinda week!

I can easily say that my busy season has hit and it is kicking my tail!  I am still trying to figure out how to manage my calendar to work-out, work and spend some time with family!  On Friday, I feel like I have been hit by a MACK truck!!  However, I cannot imagine what i would feel like if I didn't work out and have my eating habits under control!  I will keep the focus and realize that "I can do ALL things through Christ who gives me strength!"  It is keeping my eyes on Him and taking time with Him, that the rest all seems to fall into the proper place!!

Last weekend was the annual Shamrock Scurry 5k!  This run occurs in my neighborhood by a local church and is such a great event!  This year a good number of the #badass army was able to "green-out" and get some shamrock luck!!!  You know it is going to be a fun run when the announcer says that the first mile is an awesome down hill track....BUT what goes down MUST go up!! 

Our fun lil running buddies also were able to run!  RJ ran the 5k!  Lil LC ran the run mile and both did fantastic!

When i returned home, I was so excited to see a package in the mail!  FINALLY - my #sweatpink attire had arrived!!!  If you are interested in showing that fit girls are fun and want some pink laces, let me know!!!!  I will be happy to send some your direction for FREE!

Never a family to slow down, I am on the road this weekend! The entire fam will participate in a Color Run/ Vero Beach!  It will be my nephews first 5k!  Color Runs are so fun and stress free!!  I can't wait to post pictures later!  

I wanted to end with a piece of motivation that I snatched from a friend's FaceBook page!  It hit home with me and i hope it will for you too!!!

I don't know how it is in your area but Tallahassee is beautiful right now!!!  I wish I could be outside more often than I am!!  So get out there, be active and see what the future holds!  I hope to never let the OLD me be seen in the FUTURE mirror!!

Live and Let God!
APC

It's Raining, It's Pouring...This "young" girl is sweating pink!

Wow!  It has been raining since Friday.  I don't mean a little drizzle and the sun is not out, I mean full on RAIN!!  (That includes a little hail!)  This Florida girl enjoys her sunshine!  However, there were some really bright spots in the weekend!  Clouds can't keep away the joy!

My daughters school has been planning their first annual 5k / fun run all year long.  It occurred this past Saturday.  The forecast was heavy rain and thunderstorms.  As packet pick-up began Friday in the pouring rain, you could read the disappointment on all of the volunteers faces!  The night before, I prepared my sweet baby for the fact that we might not be able to run the race!  The next morning, I awoke and didn't hear rain.  I looked outside and there were clouds but no drops of rain to be seen.  I quickly got up and got her ready.  The race was a success!  Literally, the rain begin to slowly come just as the event was ending!  God is soooo good!!!  Not only that but 4 of the #Badassarmy gals made the top 10 runners in the female division!  The #baddonkey (kids) group kicked serious booty too!! 

Here are some pictures of the weekend!  I was super excited because my parents were able to come watch my sweet one run!!

Some of the BA Crew:

The BadDonkeys:

The parents! - ugh i can't get the pic to do right!!!

My favorite girl!!!

This is her crossing the finish line!!!  She is a BEAST!! :)

Thanks for indulging me with a ton of pics!!  But I have one more picture - I am really excited about this one...READY!

I got an email notification last week that I was selected to be a Sweat Pink Ambassador!  What is this you might ask?  Well, I encourage  you to check them out at: http://www.fitapproach.com/sweat-pink/.  BUT basically Sweat Pink represents ladies who are not afraid to be active and sweat and realize the beauty of a true healthy lifestyle!  It is an honor to be selected and I am looking forward to what this new endeavor holds!  I join a group of ladies that I truly admire and that have been encouragers to me in my journey to find the healthy me!!  I hope that I can simply add to this group and help someone else find the strength to beat the game of the mind and find what lives within! 

Here is to an awesome 2013! Phil 4:13!

Holy Cow - Catch up time! 26.2 miles done...okay in 2 half marathons! :)

Wow!!  So much to catch up on!  Do you ever have those times when you think you will get to that “tomorrow” and then two weeks have passed?  That is always a sign for me that the work busy season is upon us!  I do love to be busy but it is totally getting in the way of my fun activities!!

Well I have TWO half marathons to report on!  So let me get to business!!

Rock N Roll – St. Pete

The Good:

·         ORGANIZED!!  I realize they have been around a long time but they did a great job of keeping you informed and ready for race day!

·         Expo – It was ON the Rays baseball field!  I just thought that was really cool!!!

·         Drop-off Location – This was the first time I had someone drop us off at a race.  I was afraid we would be walking (in the dark) for quite a bit.  Quite the opposite.  We were dropped off, rounded the corner and there was the start line!

·         Beautiful course!!  This was a flat course and went through so much of the beauty that is in the area! 

·         Food – okay, the ending had everything!  Gatorade, water, frozen strawberries, bananas, granola bars…I just thought that was a nice touch!  Other than my daughter ate ALL my strawberries! J

·         Family!  It was fun to have my husband, daughter and in-laws at the race!  I saw them about mile 9 and then at the finish!  It honestly brought tears to my eyes!  It is nice to see them cheer and hear my daughter say, “That’s my Mommy!!”

The Bad:

·         I had to really search on this one!  The parking for the Expo.  To park right at the stadium, you had to pay $15.  I thought that was a bit much!  So we drove a couple blocks down and parked for free! 

*  Not race related!  I for some reason broke out in hives on the trip down!  Nothing a little Benedryl couldn't fix but it had my nerves on edge!!!

The Ugly:

·         I completed this race in 2:04!!!  So this was a PR for me and puts me well on my goal of being sub 2 by the end of the year.  It was a cool start but by the end of the race, I was quite the hot mess…in a good way!

·         I love expos but they always suck me in!  This time I found Zipfizz Energy Drink. (http://www.zipfizz.com/) I loved it!  I haven’t had any type of energy drink or sports beans since I started the Whole 30.  I am not going to use it on a regular basis but it has a B12 boost in it and it tastes great!  Another Expo…my poor hubby knows there will be a loss of money from his pocket!!  But I NEED this stuff, right?

Donna Half – Jacksonville

The Good:

·         This race was for a personal FUN record!  So the fact that I had two of my best buds with me was the best part of the whole weekend! 

·         The cause!  ALL of the money goes to help find a cure for breast cancer!  It doesn’t get any better than that!

·         The neighborhood area!  The Ponte Vedra area is beautiful and the neighborhood really supports the race!  It is fun to have people cheer you along!  YES!  This means I actually noticed the area I was running in!  This has to make so many people happy!!! :)

The Bad:

·         It is not the races fault BUT it was COLD…and WINDY!!!  Did I mention this is mostly along the water?  So the chill was brutal! 

·         The parking!  Okay, this had to come out!  We left our hotel at 5:30 AM.  We sat on the road for the parking lot for at least an hour.  We did not pull into the lot until 7:15.  Luckily they postponed the start to 8 AM because of the situation.  It is my understanding this is the first time they allowed for people to park at the start line.  I like the idea, just need to work on how to get 9k people in there!

·         Bus transportation back to the start line.  They had us walk a good distance to board the bus back to the start line.  Not really an issue, except that hotel bus drop offs were right as you excited the celebration location.  I will not pout or complain on this anymore! 

The Ugly:

·         The race was not bad!  Until the last two miles!  It was the A1A bridge and it was quite the incline!  This race all for fun for me but man that would have been BRUTAL if I had been pushing for a time! 

·         I didn’t get to make the expo! L However, my dear friends got us signed up for another race in November in the beautiful St. Pete (http://womenshalf.competitor.com/stpetersburg) and have us on seriously contemplating  the Space Coast run in December! (http://www.spacecoastmarathon.com/) The medals for the Space Coast race are so cool!  See, even when I don’t attend the expo I can find a way to spend money!

Let me add in one other race!  I ran a local 5k for the Young Actors Theatre.  It was a blast.  My best running buddy could not be there but her son wanted to run his FIRST 5k!  So I said I would be happy to run with him!  I thought for sure he would bolt out and then pucker out and I would "encourage" him to the end!  YEAH, he SMOKED me!!!  I am so proud of him!!!  He is a really good runner!  It was quite hilly and he killed it!!!  I have got to get some rest because I will beat him next time! :)

The races were great fun!  I have a break for a bit from the 13.1's….I am not sure I am happy about that but work crazy time has arrived! 

Can’t wait to share some fun news in the next post!  I do love when I do things on a whim and God seems to pour out some blessings!!!

See you later!

Finally - WHOLE 30 - round one review!

Well I was hoping to do a wrap up of my first Whole 30 adventure complete with weight, measurements and pics.  I am quite frustrated with my gym.  They took my measurements just a bit before the whole 30….okay so maybe it was a couple of months but I hadn’t really seen or felt a change since then.  I have reached out everyday since and they have not been able to accommodate my request. 

If I get that info I will pass it along.  But here goes the rest!

Over a 30 day period I lost a total of…..16 pounds!!  That’s right!!!  I cannot tell you how amazing that feels!  I have been actively watching my weight and exercising regularly for over a year.  I lost a significant amount of weight about 3 years ago…however, it was not done in a healthy manner.  Post that time, I have put the weight back on.  I reached almost my high weight again late last year and I was devastated. 

The awesome thing about losing the weight is that I do not feel like I am starving or depriving my body of anything.  I eat and I eat a lot of wonderful items!  I realize now just how wonderful vegetables and fruit taste!!!  I can resist with ease my daughters French fries and mac and cheese. When I have gone to a restaurant, I am no longer embarrassed to request my foods with my restrictions and changes.  They don’t seem to mind accommodating those needs!  Oh right, I am the one paying for the food!!! 

I feel the largest difference in my waist, hips and tushy!!  I see the change all over but when you slide on those pants or skirt without any fear that the zipper or buttoning of them will cause great discomfort it is a monumental event!  My only complaint, I need to go shopping!!  My pants look like I am playing dress- up!!  J I have decided to wait a bit longer and make certain that changes I have made in my diet will also maintain the weight loss I have seen.  

I have reached my goal.  I do not know anyone who doesn’t think they would like to lose just 5 more pounds but I am happy with where I am.  I want to see some more definition to my muscle and continue to see my aerobic workouts change my body but I am content with the number on the scale! 

This has truly transformed my life.  This weekend was my first “off program” weekend.  I was still very careful as to what I ate but I did have dessert and some other items.  Can I be honest? I realized how badly they make my body feel.  I felt bloated and knew what the cause of it was.  As I woke up the next morning, I didn’t even think twice as to my commitment to make this a lifestyle change.  So I began my Whole30-round 2 today!!

This is not a fad diet, this is not some starve yourself or eliminate foods for a short period of time that is not sustainable. This program is designed to transform your thinking, desires and needs for foods.  If you will give 30 days to the program, you will see the difference.  You will feel better, you will better understand your body and how food interacts with you body, mind and soul.

I look forward to seeing what the next 30 days hold.  Have you taken the challenge?  Would you be interested?

Here is some information  that will help you learn the ropes!

Book: “It Starts with Food”

Website: www.whole9.com

I hope to have full measurements available soon…and if I am brave enough, I will post the pics!! J