A New Year, A New You?

The Internet is officially flooded with 101 ways to change your life, start now, jump to it and go go go! Well sure, the new year is and always has been some unofficial mark of new beginnings, as if a date on a calendar should shove us into some deep contemplation of all the things we failed to do this year, and all the things we want to do in the year to come.

When people ask me what my new year resolutions are, I visibly cringe. Seriously? Well lets see, I can go with old faithful, lose x amount of weight and maybe by some grace of God fit back into that stack of premarital jeans that honestly are probably out of style or will at the very least require a good dusting... My response is usually that of, I don't really have any. I am of the mindset that we are, and always will be "works in progress".

What a Diet plan huh?

Sure I say it's always a good time to start fresh, set goals, and begin with those baby steps into the future of health and wellness. We all need to incorporate exercise into our lives, with some kind of regularity, and educate ourselves to find a healthy balance in nutrition... So really it comes down to lifestyle changes that will stay with us and adapt with us as we flip the calendar month after month.
 

kinda reminds me of a fried egg!

I just can't imagine telling myself I can't have something to eat, depriving myself? Having said that, it's quite clear - I don't "diet", hell the word has die in it... really that doesn't sound like the direction I want to go? No. I will say this, brace yourself, I am NOT perfect! There I said it... what a relief! I love coffee with 1/2 & 1/2 and sugar, I love chocolate ice cream and cake. I can eat my weight in Mexican food, especially those evil baskets of chips they plop in front of you with salsa... What I strive for is balance;  mentally, spiritually, physically, emotionally and nutritionally.

So when I see others try to portray the idea of perfection, (and who knows, maybe they are as close to perfect as a human specimen can be?) well to them I say, congratulations. I honestly cannot spend hours at the gym, my abs will likely never be super chiseled (I like to think I was close once after my first born was like 2, so possible after giving birth) and while it may work for others, giving up meat and dairy is just not something I am into.  Does this make me a less reliable source of information, motivation and maybe even, inspiration to others?  In my opinion, I think this makes me a realist. I wouldn't say that I will never be rock solid again, I just know that right now, my focus is to be as healthy as I can be without stressing myself over comparing body fat percentages and pace times with others. Can I bench my weight? No, no I can't. I was working the upper body the other day and I am still sore. Do I someday want to have carved arms? Sure, who doesn't? First step, stop setting yourself up for failure by tearing yourself down... I think it's easier to remodel then build from rumble, but maybe I'm wrong?

I just hate the cycle that we often find ourselves in, it's like we are ultimately never satisfied. I suppose this can be a positive, it keeps us moving - as long as it's in the right direction, right? Well what if all we do is pick ourselves apart, always looking to the person next to us and saying "Why can't I be like her?" when we should be enjoying the people around us for what they bring the table. We should embrace our lives, enjoy our lives, and yes, do all things possible to protect our lives from preventable disease. So yes, I would always advise to exercise most days of the week doing it what ever makes you happy and fulfilled. You have to enjoy it otherwise it won't last. I can't give out nutritional plans, but I will say this, find things you can do to make better choices more often then not. 

So this year, as in years passed and all to come, I will continue my existence doing all the things that fulfill me, excite me, and make me happy. I refuse to run on empty both in joy and in calories. If you want to be successful in your goals for your life, be realistic, be focused, and most of all, be positive. If you slip up, fall behind, gain an inch or a pound, or indulge - it's not a failure, it's life. All things with moderation and balance, it really is the only sustainable plan for overall health.

p.s. One year I did make a resolution, it was to be nicer to people... After a few days I realized, I am who I am... so I just don't bother trying so hard anymore!

What is YOUR Passion?

It's funny when I think back to the first time someone asked me, 'What is your Passion?', it was at a job interview. I thought it was an odd question really, my passion? Seriously? Is this even allowed? I was definitely caught off guard, there were things going through my head, but my final answer, 'Well I love to exercise'... I got the job despite my slow response accompanied by an equally bamboozled expression!

According to the good folks over at Merriam Webster, Passion is defined as

a : ardent affection : love

b : a strong liking or desire for or devotion to some activity, object, or concept

c : sexual desire [See why I was caught off guard at the interview?]

d : an object of desire or deep interest

Passion for me means something I do purposefully, with enthusiasm, determination and yes, it feels good! So I am passionate about running (even if I am not setting any land speed records, far from is honestly), I am passionate about helping people, whether it's offering advice, support or something as simple as holding the door open for a stranger, or anyone for that matter. I will say this, the last person I offered to help was not so friendly, but in today's world, I guess I get it. She was like 100 years old, and I asked her if she'd like me to help her load her groceries into the car... You'd think I was wearing a ski mask with a name tag that said, "Hello My Name is... Serial Killer or Grocery Thief"... grandma, I am heading INTO Walmart, not out of... geez.

Anyway, I was thinking about all these events I am wanting to do, some I have signed up for, others I have not (my money train carrying all my baby money trees is MIA...have you seen it?) and it just hit me, how passionate people are about certain things in life, and how passion makes life more exciting!

Now sometimes it's like lust, short term, fire in your trousers, flash in the pan passion. Like, for example, beading. One time, long ago, I hand beaded Christmas ornaments. I loved it, did it every day, made like 200 snowflakes. It was me, a solder iron and my blue and clear beads. After that, nothing. Now, this weekend I went to get some supplies thinking I'd take it up again, make them as a LLS fundraiser. I just stood there in the aisle of beads, dumbfounded, overloaded, confused... I walked away.

Then there is how I feel about running, and fitness in general really. Some people may feel the same way about biking or swimming or whatever. I have been running for close to 20 years, and yet never ran a 'race' until January 2007. Of course once I did, I was done for. This year, actually this month, will be my first Half Marathon. I am so unprepared, I would NEVER in a million years recommend anyone trying to run a half without proper training. BUT do as I say, not as I do... right? No.no.no. Lead by example...I'm prepared, for the most part, all but 100% mentally and that won't happen until I am crossing the finish line!

For those of you who don't know, I have been recovering from tendinitis, and it sucks...bad.

This is the convo that ensued, to the best of my recollection:

[Doc looking at me with a frown]: "I'd recommended no running for at least 4 weeks."

[Me looking at him with skepticism]: "Hmm so no Triathlon this weekend?"

[Him looking at me with chagrin]: "No."

[Me looking at him with one eyebrow raised, like the ROCK]: "Well I have a half marathon in 6 weeks, how about that?"

[Him looking at me with disbelief]: "Get yourself a good brace, and inserts, and take it slow."

SO, that technically was not a No. Two weeks later I was back out, with my brace. I know the doctor knows best, but I've already paid for it, I am doing it. So run, jog, walk, crawl or carried... I am going to collect my bling. They say Love is Blind, it may be deaf too... less than 20 days until the Myrtle Beach Mini Marathon!

So are you passionate about something? If you aren't, shouldn't you be?

National Running Day!

Happy National Running Day!!! I am so excited about today, I know if you are not a 'runner' you are probably wondering why - right? Well to be honest, any day that celebrates physical activity is a good day in my book... I am excited to see what kind of turn out we will have tonight. Heather created an event on facebook and then I posted an article which is featured on a local online community news site called TheDigitel.com. I guess I just wanted to get the word out that this is happening and I want everyone who can come, to show up and move!

It seems like I have a lot of balls in the air right now... almost consumed by motivating and being motivated to be active and live healthier... It's one of those feelings of overwhelmed happy - if that makes sense? I have people to call, email, confer with... as well as studying to do - that Health Fitness Specialist exam is on the 17th - 16 days to be exact!

Remember when this last semester was coming to an end and I thought, "what will I do with all my 'free' time"? Well here it is... I am trying to create a huge event in the Myrtle Beach area for September, really commit to my own physical activity routine, oh and I just signed up to be an Independent Beachbody Coach to help others on their journey... so lacking things to do - doesn't seem to be an issue!

I want to take a moment to thank my wonderful husband who says he loves that I am always going a million miles an hour, because without his support, I couldn't do all that I do...I love you Stephen!

My Body Alphabet

So yesterday I had one of those happy moments, standing in my closet peering at the stacks of pants on that top shelf (you know that stack, the 'is it gonna fit' stack). See, it's dangerous territory - that stack, because if I try to get my butt into a pair of pants, there are only 2 ways it can work. One way, I end up in tears because for some reason the button doesn't want to meet the hole... or two, everything closes and I rejoice in slimming down another size... fortunately for me, I actually got into my size "L" - down from my size "M" pants... I know you are thinking Medium and Large but actually I have this whole other system...lol

Anyone who has ever been at their "Ideal" size knows that you will typically waiver from time to time... even at my "I" size, I had some "H" pants and some "J" pants... confused? Ok, here it is... my ideal is not your ideal. If I said, "Oh god I feel so huge, I have to wear my size 8's today because I am PMSing" you might think - "yeah you're such a heifer - I haven't been an 8 since the 6th grade!" - So last night, not sure why, but I have derived this lettering system for my sizes... because at the end of the day, its not the number on the tag but the feeling you have when you are in your pants...

Here it is, and some people may think this is stupid, but hey it works for me and if it doesn't work for you - then don't use it...lol

First, I identify my Ideal size, that is my size "I". Then I have this list:
G = Gauntly Ill (like when I had depression or that appendectomy and couldn't have solids for a week)
H = Hello ~ baby is losing her back here!
I = Ideal, I wear it like a diva!
J = Just a little further...
K = Keep going, you're getting closer
L = Lets see, yup its working!
M = My, I have some work to do...

Granted, my size M was and is related to the precious 5 month old that seems to still want to wake up at 230am to say hello and relieve the pressure building in my bosom... but we have all (or at least some of us) at one point or another and for various reasons,  gotten to a place where we don't feel comfortable in our own skin. We know when we have to do some work, and would walk around stuffed in our undersized bottoms before we'd be damned to buy another size up!

So now I am rocking my size L's, knowing that all this running I am back to doing, is making a difference... and what does that mean? It means that I am even more motivated to get out and log more miles!!! Of course tonight I have a final at 7pm, so I would either have to squeeze it in before then (which probably won't happen because I wouldn't get home until 530pm and need to study more!) or I'll be the crazy nocturnal runner at 8pm (which isn't out of the question, it would just depend on where we are at in the nightly routine with the angel)... 

You might consider it trickery or tomfoolery... I think of it as viewing your body as your own, and not being defined by a number! We are all different, we should begin to embrace what is healthy and beautiful about ourselves, not how many pounds we need to shed or what size we wore in high school... lets face it, my butt never carried the 'skinny' jean and never will...and in a dream world, my thighs would never rub together!

At the end of the day, well actually in the beginning of the day, my goal isn't really a number, it's a feeling... I want to put on a pair of pants and feel like a sexy mama!