Insecurities

What day is it? I honestly couldn't tell you some days. It seems like I go from school meetings to soccer to dance to the gym and to home and repeat. I do love the routine that we are establishing but need to tackle the lingering insecurities that come with moving.

Being completely transported into a new environment should be old hat to me, however, when moving in South Dakota, you're bound to find someone that is connected to a friend or family member. It's really like one big city spread out over 77,184 square miles. When we've moved in the past, people would ask where we were from and then, inevitably, know someone from that area. Here, they ask where we moved from and then say something about how far away and cold it is there. No real connections (and I don't think they understand that we have summers that are just as hot as it is here)!

So how do I make that connection, that's the struggle. I've been in many gatherings for school, soccer and dance that are comprised of other parents similar in age. I haven't been able to break that barrier and introduce myself to anyone yet. I think it has me hiding a bit in my introvert shell. I have pushed boundaries a little by signing up for every PTO event and volunteer thing at the school. There's also this group called CityMoms in Indianapolis (and the suburbs) that is like a club for moms, and dads, that have get togethers, events, etc. and a support network. I'm contemplating joining but don't want to bite off more than I can chew.

It's also been difficult to find a connection with the local church. I love my Catholic faith but feel that they aren't the best at welcoming new parishioners, I should know as this will be the 6th Catholic church that I've become a member at. I have been blessed in our last two homes to have the school-church connection that has made for an easy, seemless transition. Again, no connections means that I have to push myself out of my comfortable hermit zone and reach out. They have a MOMS groups that I was very excited about, however the timing of the meetings conflicts with my kids school drop off... striking out left and right here.

I know that all of these things will work themselves out so I have to remain positive. I'm trying to take all the negativeness to the gym or on the trails and work it off there. Working out has been very helpful to me despite finding that they NEVER seem to have towels and their policy to sign up for spin bikes is a joke. Okay, I just went negative again. I have to work on that, maybe I need to find that yoga dvd I have somewhere?!

Positives: The scale has gone down 5 pounds since I last wrote! Slow and steady. Our house is finally being decluttered of boxes! Throwing more stuff out left and right. I survived my husband's first work trip since moving! I may have had an emotional outburst but I working on not being so needy. All in all, I'd say things are moving in a positive direction and am very grateful for the opportunities provided.

The Have and Have Nots

THE HAVE(S):

* GOALS!

        In order to successfully do anything, it's important to have goals. Most things I've read suggest small goals, but not too many, that lead to a big goal. For me, this means setting weekly goals in different facets of my life. My summer weekly goals will be set on Sundays and may vary depending on what events or situations I know will be occurring during the upcoming week. 

        

        Today, I'm setting my goals for the next week and a half. I'm going to break them into a few different categories.

             1) Nutrition:  

                  a) Record EVERYTHING on myfitnesspal.com

                  b) Brush teeth when the kids do to prevent late night munchies

                  c) Begin Sugar Detox (see info graph below)

                  d) Rejoin Weight Watchers

             2) Health:

                  a) Go to bed at early enough time to get 8 hours of sleep

                  b) Go on a daily walk

                  c) Call Physical Therapist to set up more appointments

              3) Fitness:

                   a) Continue training for RASDAK (if support from PT)

                   b) Plan which classes work into the schedule and GO TO THEM!

* REWARDS!

         Not only are goals important but rewards for reaching set goals are a necessity to keep you on track! Rewards are not just for reaching weight loss/fitness goals, but other goals for work, organization, etc. are important too. Rewards do not need to cost money, should not always include food (especially if your ultimate goal is to lose weight), nor do they need to be complicated. I love the article on Spark People about 50 Non Food Rewards. 

          I have a few rewards already in place but I wanted a visual reward and motivator. I dug out my favorite outfits that I no longer fit into and have hung them in a place to create a visual reminder. My long term goal & reward is to wear these when school resumes. I CAN & WILL DO IT!

*FAITH and SUPPORT

         

        You can do all things through Christ. (Phil. 4:13)  No matter what you are struggling with or working on it is considerably more difficult without support and faith. I'm going to dedicate a whole entry to only this category because there are so many things that I could write a book (some have) about this topic. A quick synopsis, find friends with similar goals that you can rely on to cheer you on and push you when needed. I also encourage prayer and reading scripture as a source of strength, love, and encouragement.

THE HAVE NOTS:

*SUGAR!

      

         Hi, my name is Katie and I have a sugar addiction (as do most Americans). I have decided that the best time for me to break away from the addiction will be this upcoming Monday. It's like ripping off a band-aide and just needs to be done. I found two great sites that give sugar detox instructions:

 Break Your Sugar Addiction in 10 Days  and How to Detox from Sugar in 10 Days.  I don't plan on giving it up for good but I want to know that my will power muscle is still functioning. I also feel it's a good jumping point to get back into healthy eating. Prayers for my family and anyone that runs into over those 10 days, I might be a bear...

*EXCUSES and PITY PARTIES!

        Everyone has their own list of "reasons" they cannot workout. I hear them all the time, sometimes in my own head. I'm too busy. Children. I'm too tired. I don't like it. My ______ hurts so I can't.  The flip side is that if you don't make time, when you finally have the time, your body will be in such bad shape, you won't be able much of anything. I HATE that I can't do weight lifting and boot camp type workouts (seriously) but I know that doing nothing but pout won't help either. Walking, recumbent bike, swimming are all things that can be done without putting too much strain on the body. I also know that returning to physical therapy will also set me on the right track to eventually doing burpees again!

Make Each Day Count

I woke up this morning and felt an energy that I haven't felt in a very long time. I can't explain it other than it's like a weight lifted and great clarity.

This week I did very well with exercise but still struggled with evening snacking. Actually, snacking doesn't even begin to describe most evenings... gluttony is a much better term for what occurs each evening when I return home. The stress of the day combined with running the kids around and realizing I still have house work and school work left to do. It makes the part of my brain that thinks reasonably shut down. It's almost like I feel I "earned" the extra food and that it will bring me a sense of calm that really never comes but is instead replaced with guilt and frustration. Each day is the same cycle of starting the day with good intentions, doing well at lunch, and slowly

After waking up this morning, I went to spin class. While riding, I had this moment that was a mix of joy, coherence, understanding and deja vu. I realized that I still had the same will power and determination that existed a little more than a year ago, it had been pushed back and covered with doubt, fear, stress, and self pity.

My mission this day forward is to find that former self, the one that knew she didn't have to rely on food for comfort. To find that person who woke up each morning ready to face the day head on. I know that person is still there. I will remind myself that I've done this before, I've said no to unnecessary food, worked my butt off everyday, denied myself food and beverages knowing they would only cause guilt later. I will no longer allow myself to be controlled by emotions, food, etc. It's time to make each day count!

Slow and Steady

Some days can be tougher than others. Maybe you have a special event or cave into stress eating. Sometimes when I have come to a fork in the road of progress, I need to recall my journey and find more visual goals. I needed a boost in confidence today so I went and found my before picture, it was a great reminder that I CAN do this and that my journey has not been an overnight success story but a journey that has its bumps and steep climbs. This journey is so much more rewarding when I get to do it with others. I'm grateful for my fitness groups on fb that hold me accountable and motivate me as well as my classes at the Y where I know I have friends that anticipate that I'll be there (and the classes in which I have to teach).

I am proud of myself for heading back to Weight Watchers this Saturday after a very long hiatus and for making the commitment to myself to healthier choices; including leading others into making healthier choices. Not only am I committed to my dietbets that I'm involved in, I also have a new outfit that I'm going to fit into before the summer begins. I have been recording on myfitnesspal but will also be trying a new program, 21 Day Fix Extreme to boost my progress. I'm going to start back up with my running so that I can also run my first half marathon this summer... oofda, that sounds like a lot! I guess my first goal this week will be to sit down and plan all this out on a calendar. :)

Have a great week everyone!

March 2013 and March 2014

April 2015

Goal Outfit

Plan of Action

I'm pretty sure my givadamn is broke. Between severe back pain, the medicine I am taking to counter the pain, and the inability to get a quality workout I have thrown myself an epic pity party including 5 pounds of chocolate, well, not really... but it feels like it since I did gain that much over the past few days. What really torks me off is that it's all my own fault. I am the one that hurt my back and then, instead of altering my diet to counter my decreasing workout schedule, I upped my chocolate. Arg... I am so angry and I have 3 weeks until the end of my weight loss challenge group. I really need to amp up my efforts, like an elite athlete training for the Olympics or something.

Sorry, had to vent. I feel a little better, just need to get my back in tip top shape and then I can start working out a little smarter. I know that my pain is from bad sleep in combination with moving a heavy desk and sitting on the floor playing with a cute little two year old for hours last weekend.

My three week plan of attack:

Step One: Follow a 3 Day Refresh
Step Two: Load up on fruits & veggies (at least 7 servings a day)
Step Three: Drastically decrease dairy & carb intake
Step Four: Increase my water intake to 12 cups a day or more
Step Five: Workout every day but only as much as the body & time allow (no overdoing anything but at least walking some everyday).
Step Six: Get at least 7 hours of sleep per night
Step Seven: 30 minutes of Yoga three times
Step Eight: Refrain from drinking all pop and alcoholic beverages
Step Nine: Submit a blog post twice a week to hold myself accountable and encourage all others on this journey.

I know that's a lot of steps but I feel very optimistic about it. If you need encouragement or advice please feel free to comment below, facebook message me, or email (katidid04@hotmail.com).

Be Part of the 8%

I have been teaching different aerobic classes once a week for the past month and have noticed a disheartening trend, less and less of the new faces are attending class. After teaching class last night I decided to look up the statistics on how long new year's resolutions typically hold out. The numbers are not too bad to start with 75% making it through the first week of their resolutions, 64% through the first month, and 46% past 6 months. However, the percentage that are successful at achieving their resolution is a staggering 8%. (Statistic Brain)

Contrary to many sources which claim that it takes a mere 21 days to create a new habit, other research has shown that it can ranch from 18 - 254 days. A more realistic average is about 66 days. What does this mean? It means DON'T LOSE FAITH!!! Maybe you worked your butt off the first week and slowly returned to your pre-resolution habits? Or you pushed yourself and made it all the way through a program or a cleanse and feel that you "earned" a reward day that turned into a few days and then a couple weeks, etc. If this sounds like something you are doing, STOP, re-evaluate, believe in yourself, and move forward without dwelling on past mistakes.

What are other ways can you ensure a spot in the elite 8% success rate? Today a friend shared a blog that, in my opinion, hit the nail right on the head. It's title "The brutally honest 6 reasons you are still overfat" tells it all. Although it has some vulgar language, the message holds true. A couple of the points really struck a cord with me. Knowing whether someone is going to be successful based on if they own up to their failures or if they blame everything on others. I've been there, done that and completely understand that if you can't accept that you are in charge of your decisions and can say NO you will not succeed. You CAN say no to treats at work and you CAN pre plan for busy days to ensure you aren't going through the drive through for a quick, unhealthy meal. Stop blaming others and circumstances, pull up your big girl panties and take control!

The author, Coach Taylor, also talks about how the definition of a treat has become so skewed. When I was growing up we had homemade meals around the dinner table and had fast food only a handful of times per year. Now a days, fast food has become a main stay in many households because of busy schedules. Pop, candy, chips, etc. also used to be a special treat that we had for special occasions such as Halloween, Valentine's Day, Fourth of July, etc. and not something that was a staple in everyone's pantry. I'm not pointing fingers because I'd be throwing rocks at glass houses. This article was such an eye opener for me that I hope others will see it as a motivator to either stay the course of improving their lifestyles in healthy ways or they will begin their journey to healthy living. 

Remember, YOU are in charge of your success, don't make excuses! Be resolved to continue your transformation into a healthier you and be part of that 8%.

Why I hate January!

Okay, hate is a strong word but I greatly, greatly dislike January.
Here are my reasons:
1) It's dark.
2) It's so cold that it hurts to breath the air outside.
3) It's the start of my husband's busy work season meaning single mom mode.
4) The gym is packed.

For all these reasons this months seems to be the LONGEST month of the year. To add fuel to the fire, I also just found out that I have bicep tendinitis... ugh! No weight lifting for awhile and that greatly upsets me! My favorite class is Chisel and now I have to take a break from it... but there is some good news.

I was asked to sub for a cycling/ tabata class starting next Wednesday throughout the legislative session and I am VERY excited to begin. I also signed up for a weight loss challenge at the Y, I have until March 9th to lose 13 pounds. I am very excited knowing that my final goal is so close and then I can work on maintenance!

Although I still exceedingly dislike January, I am going to focus on my silver lining.

I'd also like to give a huge shout out to all my friends and family that joined me in my Holiday Survival Challenge. I was so impressed and excited that so many maintained or lost weight during the tough holiday season!

Do as I Say and Not as I Do

Wow, I guess I let time and life just slip right past me! I have been running a Holiday Survival group and trying to motivate others to watch what they eat and get up and be active. The goal is to NOT gain and possibly to lose over the holidays. I have to say, however, that I'm totally failing as a role model.

I went into Thanksgiving feeling pretty good, started the day with the Turkey Trot 5K and followed it with a healthy protein shake... but that's where the healthy choices stopped. I broke the one rule that seems to be my ticket to healthy eating disasters... drinking alcohol. I won't lie, I love how relaxed alcohol makes me feel but, unfortunately, that lackadaisical attitude carries over into my eating habits. I don't think and just eat what tastes good. Needless to say, I gained some weight. The next day I did a lot better and got a workout in, drank a lot of water and even planned on facing the scale at WW the next day. Unfortunately, I also decided to have a "squat & plank off" with a 17 and 13 yr old. I won but definitely strained a hamstring and thus took some pain meds/ sleep meds and slept right through my WW meeting as well as my workout and straight into the middle of Saturday morning!

I'd love to tell you that I pulled myself up by the bootstraps and kicked it into high gear but that would be untrue. I DID go to step class on Sunday, Chisel Monday, treadmill Tuesday and Cycling/ Tabata today, despite that effort I did NOT watch what I ate and continued to not only clean up the unhealthy leftovers at the house but devoured the candy that was brought to the staff room at work and overindulged in the treats provided at the inservice today.

How can I fix this and move on?
1) Re-evaluate my goals... a) I REALLY want to be a WW leader, I believe in their mission and know it works. b) I want to get into the middle of my BMI range so I feel confident even when I have my slip ups (knowing I can get back down without too much difficulty). c) I want to help others on their healthy living transformation but cannot feel competent doing so unless I am doing my best 90% of the time!  d) I want to be a role model for my kids, showing not only healthy living but that they CAN achieve their goals and MAINTAIN/ inspire others!

2) I'm not going to give up, I'm going to brush myself off and reboot.

3) Focus on the positive, I've been working out, I beat two atheletic teens in a squat and plank competition, I am getting much fitter and fit into the smallest size since pre-puberty. :)

4) I will focus on my water intake and increase the fruits and veggies, decrease the carbs and dairy.

5) Pray. Anytime I get overwhelmed or stressed I need to take the time to pray about it and seek God's guidance.

Last Thoughts:
What are your health goals? Are you taking steps to not gain the dreaded holiday weight? Remember to focus on enjoying time with family and friends, the food is secondary. If it's nice out, go on a walk after a big holiday meal or play Just Dance or another fun Wii game with family & friends! Enjoy the season.

Plank Challenge (I'm in the blue)

Squat Challenge, I did a little over 300!

Trust the process, stay positive!

Some days it is really difficult to stay focused on the positive. My mind slowly succumbs to its past thought patterns and I let all the negativity weigh me down. I incessantly remind myself to look for the positive. Thus far this week my pessimistic feelings have come from my lack of will power against brownies, my over reactive stomach, and the incredible metabolism & will power of some individuals.

I'll start with the negatives (skip over this couple paragraphs if you don't want to hear my gripes). Last week I did so well on my own with a massive salad bar/ healthy food at my disposal. This week I'm back at home and was immediately faced with chips and candy that was brought into my house while I was gone. Immediately following that my dad came to help replace a door in our home and I bought and made brownies for him and the kids for the afternoon. Unfortunately, he was in a hurry and left without eating any and an entire pan of wonderful chocolate goodness sat on my counter, taunting me. 

Yesterday I made a date with a friend to go running (accountability/ workout buddies are awesome motivators). I was not super motivated but knew that she was waiting for me so I quickly ate half a veggie wrap before headed on our run. I made the extra effort to run down to our meeting point and could immediately tell them my stomach was not too happy with my decision of a pre-run mini meal. By the time I met up with my running buddy and started running I knew that it wasn't going to be pretty. I pushed through and achieved a good 2 miles jog but then had to walk/ jog for the rest of it. This put me in a sad funk knowing that I have a 10K coming up this Saturday and I know my body can handle it but not so sure that my stomach will allow it! I feel like having a full blown toddler tantrum when I've worked so hard, built a body that can run, lunge, squat, push-up, lift weights, etc. but is limited by my internal organs and their incessant need to create havoc! Okay, I feel a little better now...

The final nuisance to my week has been listening to others complain (as I am currently doing :P ) about their struggles when they seem to be able to near effortlessly drop a couple pounds. Here I am working out for at least an hour a day, counting calories and weight watcher points. These wonderful people "watch" what they eat (eyeball it) and go for a run and BOOM, two pounds gone...grrr.... Why don't I have a super metabolic rate? How to I get some of that amazing will power to say no to sweets and salty snacks? 

Venting is over, now for the positive spin! I did NOT eat the entire pan of brownies and I DID throw away most of the chips and junk food that was anticipating my return home. I didn't let my stomach totally turn my day upside down, I ran two miles and walked almost four miles... WAY better than just sitting on the couch AND I achieved 20,000 steps yesterday! Those wonderful people with amazing metabolisms are going through their own struggles and I can't be mad or aggravated by them. I know that my will power muscle has grown and continues to get stronger every time I throw out bad food or decide to keep walking, even if I can't run. Every time I sign up for another run or attend another class, make another healthy meal or snack I am making a better me. I am getting there, slowly but surely. This transformation is a marathon, not a sprint and I have to take a deep breath and remind myself of how far I've come. There will always be obstacles but it's how you manage and learn from them that mold you into a better person. Trust the process!

Success comes to those who wait... and work, work, work!

Finally a GREAT week! I tracked all my food and all my workouts and it showed! I was really upset with myself at the beginning of the week, so I put on my big girl pants and got to work. I had to travel all week to a professional development all but didn't let that deter me. I made sure to work out everyday, even if it was a walk/jog. I did a couple free weight classes as well as my abs, guns, and buns challenge I've been doing. I REALLY felt my muscles on Tuesday after an intense Monday night Chisel class but pushed through it for a 4 mile run on Wednesday and finished the week with a 5K in Watertown. It was AWESOME! I ran a new personal best at 28:24. It felt incredible. I started running and had to let all my performance anxieties go. After I had done that, I focused on my breathing, posture, stride and releasing any unnecessary muscle tension. I didn't have my music going so I kept pace with my breath and was surprised as I kept passing other runners, especially those whom I consider to look much more fit than me. I encouraged a few of the younger runners (there were a lot of elementary kids running) and got advise from one little guy as I started down St. Anne's hill. He said, "Make sure to keep your stride long." I thanked him as I strutted down the hill and built momentum. I thought about slowing to a walk near the zoo but saw an even younger runner working hard and that just motivated me to keep going. I ran the whole way and pushed myself at the end, continuing through the parking lot after the finish line to get the official 5k distance (not just the 3 miles that the race ended at). I think the cherry on top for me was running the race with my husband (who finished 9th overall) and friends. It makes a big difference when you get to encourage others and support them before the race begins and as they finish.

The working out was not the only thing that made this week amazing. I also kept to my Weight Watcher points as well as MyFitnessPal.com calorie intake. I was very vigilant about what I was eating and was faced with many temptations. The professional development that I attended had the temptations of travel food (an hour there and an hour back that I could have been munching), as well as a goodies table in the classroom filled with salty and sweet delicacies. I made the decision to pack my own snacks and to eat salads for lunch. I indulged in a few of the dark chocolates on the table but also made sure to record them soon after I ate them. It does take me an extra effort to record everything I eat into two places but I have to say that it has kept me twice as accountable. Not only do I have to see how many points I have eaten but I also see the calories and the breakdown of fats, sugars, carbs, etc.

I knew that I wasn't going to be able to attend this week's WW meeting in Pierre so I found a meeting in the cities (where we were going for a graduation) and knew that no matter what, I was going to weigh in this week. I'm sure that also helped to keep me focused this week. I was so happy to follow up that 5k run last night with the weigh in this morning where I discovered 2 more pounds had disappeared. I am elated to announce that I only have 3 pounds before I will officially be within my BMI range. I am so filled with anticipation to see that number and now that it is within reach, I am starting this week with immense enthusiasm. There is nothing that can stop me. I will be in Spearfish all week for another professional development and will take the extra "me" time in the evenings to go on walks, runs, workout at the gym and plan to get caught up on a little r&r when not straining my brain with Geometry!

Wow, this post became a book... I'll save my remaining thought for later this week! Wishing a joyous, healthy week to all those who take the time to read this post (and those who don't)!

Sprain on my parade...

Sunday was awesome, I was so happy to have been able to run six miles... unfortunately, I don't think my body was completely ready. My muscles are not sore, but by Wednesday I was feeling pain in my foot. I went in this morning and was praying that it wasn't broken. Fortunately, the PA couldn't find any breaks but she did say it was badly sprained and I had to take it easy (no running) for at least a week. I am more than grateful that it isn't broken but less than thrilled about having to take it easy... and what does that really mean anyway? I have to move around the house and take care of my kiddos and I have to clean up and organize my classroom for end of the year checkout. I guess I'll just have to scale back on all of my extras and pray for speedy recovery?

I did HORRIBLY this week, I'm talking over eating every evening and giving up on tracking points almost the second I walked through the door after school. I know that it started with all the graduations last weekend and as I watched the scale take a hit, my self esteem did too... and as my self esteem took a hit it became easier to give up plus the added stress of last week of school paperwork, cleanup, etc.... it was kind of like my week was set up to destroy any progress I had hoped to make.

So where do I go from here? Past experiences keep surfacing to my mind and saying, "Give up,  you can't do it," "This is your body's way of saying you aren't strong enough," "It's easier to be sedentary!"

It would be really easy to say I'm done, I tried and failed, and move on but no, I just can't throw in the towel. I have to take this opportunity to prove to myself how important these changes have been to me and how much better they have made me become as a person. If I give up, I am showing my kids that it's okay to call it quits when the going gets tough. Instead, I will "take it easy" for a week and only go to spinning and weight lifting, I won't do any weight baring activities other than the normal day to day stuff and I will take care of my foot (ice, elevate, rest) as much as possible. I will also amp up my efforts in my diet, no more fluffing it or estimating that... I have to be more strict than normal to make up for the lack of cardio.

After this week I will restart my half marathon training and body sculpting efforts in a slow progression, no jumping into a six mile run! I will make sure to give myself 'rest' days and become a healthy food guru for me and my family. I am excited at this chance to learn from the challenges I've been presented and to grow into a better me. Happy Memorial Day Weekend, Welcome Summer!

Just suck it up, change your attitude and do it!

Well I had an exhausting (but fun) weekend filled with graduation parties, playing with my kiddos, and visiting friends and family. All of these items included LOTS of food! I tried to stick to the veggie trays and fruit platters... but that just didn't cut it... I have a weak spot for potato salad and cream cheese mints, so plenty of those were also consumed. I tried to stay active. I ran before we left on Saturday but had to stop as my pants were falling off as I ran. I know that's a good problem to have and I have to laugh at it, but it cut my run short and by the time I got back and changed I didn't have time to run again. I also made sure to move around as much as I could. I was going to go swimming with the kiddos at the hotel but the water was pretty much ice water.... and I wasn't going in that craziness! We did walk around Storybook land, my favorite place of all time, and I know that helped a little.

Needless to say, I put on a couple pounds over the weekend and woke up in a bit of a funk from it. My frustration was only amplified with the beginning of the last week of school. I know I should be feeling a sense of relief and excitement as the end draws near, unfortunately, the end of the year for a teacher means report cards, progress reports, students awareness sheets, and much, much more... PLUS the students are in 'summer' mode and have no thought processes left to even complete simple lessons. So my main mission today was to keep my students busy learning as much about measurement as possible while fitting in paperwork wherever possible. I didn't leave until 5:30 and definitely could have stayed longer if my husband didn't need to head to an orchestra gig, so I headed home to clean the house and watch my kids play in the backyard.

As I ran around the house picking up and sorting laundry, I decided that I HAD to record what I ate today (even though I knew the dominoes pizza my hubby ordered for supper was going to be bad). I was grateful to see that I had only gone over by a couple points, not as bad as I had thought. This revelation made me rethink my entire attitude toward the day. I take all of my minor hurdles in my life and make them into huge mountains. These mountains seem so huge and daunting that it has a domino effect, making all other obstacles seem monumental as well. After I realized that nothing is as bad as I thought it was today, I decided that I was going to go on a run (since I was also upset that I had missed my workout class today).

I killed two birds with one stone and took the redbox movie I had gotten yesterday for the kiddos on our drive and ran it (literally) back to Walmart and returned home. It ended up being 6 miles in all. It took me about an hour and 4 minutes, so about a 5.62 mph run/ walk when necessary, up steep hills, etc. The best part of the run was the smell of the flowers and having a student scream hello as they rode past in a vehicle. I am also proud of the fact that I finished and ran most of it! That gets me almost to the half way point for my half marathon. My least favorite part of my run was my body and my headphones. I have to say that being a woman who has had three children makes things really difficult. I am grateful that I wasn't a runner in high school or college because I am sure that I would be even more appalled and disappointed with the way my body works or doesn't work now that I have had my beautiful children. Anyone who is a runner without kids, please take a moment to appreciate how wonderfully your body works and doesn't try to corrupt your running efforts... Okay, enough said. As for my headphones, I would take any suggestions for better headphones. I cannot wear the ear buds as they bug my ears and I have the ones that fit over the ears but they fall off constantly on the side away from the arm that I have the headphones plugged in on. I'm thinking I'll have to get the big headband type ones but am not sure... but I really do like listening to music, when it works!

My lesson for the day is that I need to not look at my hurdles as mountains and to push through them one step at a time. Tomorrow is a new day and I will make the most of it!

Back In The Game!

I am so very excited, stressed, and exhausted!

I'm stressed because I feel like I'm on a roller coaster as far as my eating and the scale go. It seems like every step forward there are two steps back and I have been stuck with in the same 5 pounds for nearly 2 months. It doesn't help that there are a constant stream of goodies at work and events to go to that also have treats. I also am stressed with the chaos that is the end of the school year. Music programs, report cards, forms, standards, clean up, check out, as well as my own children's spring/ summer activities beginning... pure CrAzInEsS! On top of that I have been asked to get my aerobic and yoga certifications renewed and to start course work for the SD Math Counts program... Ok, deep breath, things could be worse... now onto the excitement...

First off, I have been looking to change things up a bit to get off my plateau and Sunday seemed to be my day! I had two wonderful friends mention wanting me to join them in half marathons this summer, so I signed up for one (maybe the other one too but we'll start with one)! I admit that I am VERY freaked out by the idea but quickly got very excited when I went out last night to see if I could still run a 5k... and I finished in 34 minutes and ran all but the last tenth of a mile! I was SO excited and happy! It is truly amazing how this first run since starting my body transformation proved to me that I HAVE changed. My body felt lighter and much stronger. It wasn't painful, didn't make my lungs scream for oxygen like it did last spring when I started the couch to 5K program at the Y. I truly believe that all the hard work I've done in diet, aerobics, weight lifting, etc. has made my body ready for the next challenge. 

I am also excited because of an article that another friend sent me today (http://elitedaily.com/life/the-secret-to-losing-weight-is-gaining-a-new-perspective/), "The Secret to Losing Weight is Gaining a New Perspective." The part that really sparked my interest was the part about eating real food. I think that I've been avoiding taking a close look at what I eat because I know it's not healthy enough. I understand calories, fat, fiber, protein, etc. but I want to focus more on all the artificial things and eliminating all of them and sugar from not only my diet but my families diet as well. This task seems overwhelmingly daunting get highly rewarding. I know this will take quite a bit of time but I am hoping that we can make small changes throughout the summer. I know even a few small changes will help me tip the scale into my favor again!

The final thing that has me very fired up is my move up to teaching 5th grade math and science. I am very excited to teach higher level math concepts, I'm a dork and LOVE math! Although I am stressed out about signing up for the SD Math Counts program/ coursework I am also VERY thrilled to get to learn how to be a better math teacher and to understand so much more about the subject and job that I love! Science will be exciting too and getting students ready to enter the middle school will be a great adventure!

All that being said, for obvious reasons, I'm exhausted! Running around to numerous events for school, my family, working out, and keeping up with the day to day has my mind and body saying, "ENOUGH" and "GO TO BED!" I'm pretty sure it will get a little better when school ends next week but won't last long with half marathon training, running around to all my boys' summer activities, two weeks of professional development, and a two week road trip BUT it's ALL WORTH IT! Not only do I have numerous challenges and blessings to look forward to, I feel like I am back in the game. To me, that phrase means that I am pulling myself out of a rut and placing some new goals on my path to make me a better me! I'm on a improved path of fitness, health, professional development, and being a better mom (I'm amped to run my boys around to their activities all summer long and cheer them on).

I'm back in the game and feeling better than ever!

Rebooting my attitude

You know those shock collars you put on dogs to keep them from barking? I think someone should invent one for people like me to keep me from putting unnecessary food into my mouth. Okay, I had to vent that out... that's the last little bit of my pity party which ended just now after I read this great quote:

Now I'm going to reset myself. I have all the tools necessary to make every minute count towards continuing this great journey toward a new me! I have the online and face to face support from Weight Watchers, I just need to utilize the point tracker more, I have a YMCA membership and go almost every day (sometimes twice a day) so yay for that! I also received a fitbit for an early mother's day present and plan on utilizing that to motivate me to move even more and to compete against any friends who also use fitbit, hint, hint! ;)

My wonderful mom bought me a brand new outfit to celebrate my weight loss achievement so far and that was a HUGE mood boost! It definitely gives you an extra hop in your step when you can fit into a smaller size and show off some of your hard work. I need to focus on those accomplishments and not the boo hoo Sally Sue mumbo jumbo that creeps into my mind over and over to tell me that I'm failing and not trying hard enough. I've been down this road many times and my former self would begin to let self doubt take over and the pounds to slowly find their way back onto the scale. Eventually I would talk my way out of attending the gym using numerous excuses and end up back in my fat clothes.

Fortunately I have many more fail safes in place this time. I also have goals that I haven't reached and fully intend to see fulfilled before the end of June. I WILL lose 15 more pounds and I WILL become a fitness instructor and I WILL be a WW leader!! I created a vision board that I look at every morning and try to find a motivational quote to post online to inspire myself and others. I have also made friends at my fitness classes and know most of the instructors. My family is being more supportive and I love that my middle son wants to be in a weight training/ running program this summer (there is no such thing for a six year old but it's cute that he wants to do it). My husband has encouraged me to take the time out of my day to go to the gym and, if possible, watched the kiddos so I can go. I have also done the same for him so he can go run too!

Whew, I feel a lot better than I did an hour ago! Hopefully a full night sleep and a fantastic Friday will continue to push me forward on this path of positive changes!

Putting myself out there means opening myself up to criticism...

I'll admit it, I like a complement as much as the next person. It definitely makes all my hard work seem worth it and pushes me to try harder. I have discovered, however, that there's a flip side to receiving praise, receiving the cold shoulder and/or criticism. Yes, I have been checking into the gym, sharing this blog, and posting motivational fitness quotes on facebook. I am NOT doing it to brag or to make people feel bad about their lives, my two main purposes are:

1) It makes me get off my butt and go do something knowing that SOMEONE may see it.

2) If it motivates even one person to be active, I feel a sense of accomplishment!

I have felt that the more time goes by and the more days I post my check-ins and quotes, I have found a surprising number of people that are distant and unkind when I see them in person. Some have said things like, "Oh, are you going to put this on fb?" or others who won't even talk to me as if I have nothing new to say (I ALWAYS have something to say and LOVE talking to people)!? It actually really hurts my feelings when others don't seem interested in having a conversation with me. Do they think all I'm going to do is talk about what workout I went to today or how many points my food is worth?!? I have three kids for goodness sake and work with elementary kids all day, I have tons of other exciting things to fill conversation with than myself! I love to chat about family, books, movies, weather, climate change, common core, Obama care, or Norway, to name a few ideas...
I would never try to make someone feel bad or guilty but, if someone wanted advice or motivation, I would be more than willing to share ideas or information.

I will continue to post despite having felt the chill from some cold shoulders and harsh words recently. Why? Because I have also had many friends thank me for my motivation and that's what it's all about for me! It does make me sad if someone thinks I am being annoying, however, it truly empowers me and gives me a sense of purpose knowing that something that I posted encouraged someone to get up and do something that made them healthier, more fit, and happier!

Today I ate within my WW points and I made it to Body Rock aerobic class. My body reminded me that I hadn't done either for two days and will most likely continue to remind me tonight and into tomorrow as my legs ache from numerous squats... but it's worth it! I have 4 pounds until I make my goal #1 and 14 until my ultimate goal! I CAN do this and I WILL do this, for myself, with or without anyone's support!!

Baby Steps...

This week my biggest struggle was illness. I'm still not sure if it was a quick case of the flu or food poisoning, but that combined with the cough that just wouldn't let go and my stubbornness to accept that I need to rest and not push myself , created a tough 24-48 hours. It was very difficult for me to stick to any kind of meal plan and I couldn't move enough to get any kind of workout in, I could barely walk around my classroom let alone do lunges or bicep curls!

After my bout of illness, I did make a great diet tip/ discovery. It's so very simple that I'm very disappointed in myself for not having done it earlier. This small change was fruit, yes fruit. Apples, pears and bananas (oh my!) to be exact! All of these wonderful fruits are worth ZERO Weight Watcher points, which I have known, but never really thought about how I could be eating more of those and then needing less of the snacks I have been eating worth 1-3 points. I went to the store and bought more fruit and, TA DA, ate less points each day without feeling super hungry.

Another small change I made this week was upping my water intake. My first major reason was being sick and pushing fluids but I continued this small change after feeling better as well. It's amazing how much better you feel when drinking more water and less pop.

The final change I made was fitness related. I decided to sign up to get re-certified to teach yoga (and maybe cycling) again. Even if it's just subbing at the Y, the extra pressure of being a teacher and wanting to present an image of fitness is a great motivator to get myself to the gym everyday. I also have to keep track of the classes I attend toward my certification, so that's another great incentive to get my act together!

I didn't get to go to Weight Watchers today since I'm out of town and there aren't any meetings here today. I did however (according to my mom's scale) lose a pound this week, so small steps create small changes that result in big progress over time, and progress is good! Happy weekend everyone, take baby steps in the right direction! :)

P.S. I have discovered that I have this awesome four pack but am struggling to get rid of the excess skin, etc. over the lower two of my six pack, thank you to my beautiful three children, any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Currently, I think only a tummy tuck would remove it but I'm hoping for a more realistic option! ;)  

A Quick Thank You to Weight Watchers!

I just wanted to post a quick thank you to Weight Watchers for brightening my day! I knew I had gained a little over the week with being sick and the joys of Easter and was feeling down... but after great conversation and motivation from my WW meeting, I left excited with a great sense of hope and encouragement! I am overly enthusiastic and have set my goal very high for the week. I'm hoping my cold is on its way out and I will be able to amp up my workouts and be more than meticulous about tracking my food. I will also be more focused while I eat, turning off the TV, putting away my phone/ computer, and paying attention to what I'm putting into my mouth!

What's going to get me to my BIG goal you may ask?!? I am motivating myself with the old carrot at the end of the stick trick, figuratively speaking... If I make my goal for this week I'm going to go and get a pedicure. :)  A WW member mentioned getting one in our meeting today and I thought that may be the perfect reward to myself if I can focus and work hard! So after next Saturday morning, if all the stars align, I will be posting a picture of me getting me reward.

Thanks again WW for putting me into cheerful and highly motivated spirits this morning!

Dear Stress...

Dear Stress,

Our relationship has been a long one. You have been with me for as long as I can remember. You have been there whispering in my ear as I completed endless assignments, tried to figure out the best way to approach relationships, over analyzed countless conversations with others, picked apart job interviews and numerous decisions that have been made, battled with weight loss and finding inner strength, struggled with finances, etc. I'm sorry to inform you this way, but it's time for me to move on. I have been unable to enjoy my family & friends the way I deserve to and the way they deserve to be loved!

I don't mind if you want to stop by once in awhile to keep me on task and focused but any more than that will no longer be tolerated. Please know that I will use all of my power to escort you out of my life (i.e. running, yoga, aerobics, meditation, prayer, playing with my children, talking with friends & family, cuddling with my husband, reading a good book or enjoying a bubble bath). This relationship is terminated immediately, I will not look back, only forward at the countless possibilities waiting for me in this new chapter of my life. 

With Deepest Regards,

Katie

Happy Easter!

What a great way to start the Easter weekend! Yesterday morning I got up and packed for the long weekend of traveling. I then ran down to Weight Watchers to weigh in before leaving town. I was so happy that I had gotten rid of 4 more pounds, bringing my total since January to 22 pounds gone forever!

I can tell that many habits have been made thanks to the great support that I receive from my leader, Ona, and all the members at WW as well as the positive encouragement I receive from others at the YMCA. I also made it throughout this Lent season without any pop. I can tell I have made these new habits when yesterday I decided to pre-pack some healthy snacks (weight watcher snacks, cheese sticks, apples). I also made sure to pack some WW pretzels in my purse to have during the circus and successfully avoided eating the enticing treats the circus offers.Last night ended with a great walk with one of my sisters and some long overdue conversation!

I can't wait to celebrate this beautiful holiday with all my family today! I just have to remind myself that the holiday is about Jesus dying for our sins and rising to new life. It's not about eating as much junk and food as I can. It's about spending time with family, enjoying conversation and making memories.

Enjoy your Easter! He is risen!

No Excuses!

Good Morning on this chilly Easter Friday! I would like to send out a huge thank you to social media, I know that sounds silly but it helped me out a lot yesterday! I haven't been feeling very well, just really run down and some cold like symptoms, and yesterday was a very busy day. My husband had to run to Rapid for work and I was left without a vehicle and in charge of picking up our kids at the end of the day. At lunch time, before I knew I'd be vehicle-less, I had put on facebook that I'd be going to a Chisel class at 4:15 p.m. As the day wore on, I felt less and less upbeat & healthy, I discovered the van was still in the shop, and my workout buddy bailed on me (don't worry, I don't hold it against you). All these reasons led me to decide that it wasn't going to work for me to go to the class and I was okay with that.

The closer it got to 3:45 pm the more I realized how guilty I'd feel that I had put on fb that I was going to workout and then didn't, albeit for good reasons but they were just excuses, I could make this work! I decided that I'd walk to the Y, leave class by 5pm and walk/jog to go and pick up Natalie at daycare and the boys at the school. I still didn't feel well but got a mood & energy boost from the brisk air on my walk to the Y. The class was good and I got out of there on time but underestimated how long it would take me to get my stuff together and to walk home after doing that many squats. :)
I finally got home to grab the stroller and realized I'd really have to push myself to get to both places before 5:30, so I ran/ jogged carrying the stroller to go get Miss Natalie and then she had a fun sprint ride on the way back to get the boys. Needless to say, I did it, I got all the kids by 5:30 and was home shortly after.... and exhausted!

I know that some may think that I'm bragging or rubbing it in when I use social media to say when I'm going to workout, however, that is NOT my intention at all!! My goal is and always has been to motivate myself and others. It worked for me yesterday and, hopefully, has worked for some others to get up and get moving, to take care of their body! This push I've given myself this week has helped me to shed 3 more pounds, only 5 pounds from my goal #1. Hoorah! I'll let you know more about my progress tomorrow after my WW weigh in. Today my plans are for a Spin Class at the Y and some running as well as staying in my WW points for the day. Make everyday count!