Saturday, February 21, 2015

Just one little Reese's won't hurt...

I actually played with that conversation in my head early yesterday afternoon.  I had just finished my lunch and I was making some copies in the copy room.  The copy room at my work study job ALWAYS has a candy bar.  Some days I grab a peppermint (especially if I feel like I have coffee breath) but most days my will power is strong enough not to give into temptation.  Yesterday there was a Reese's heart in honor of Valentine's Day.  I felt extremely tempted but after waking up at 6 AM to fit in my Friday fight, I decided to push myself and see what would happen if I say no.  Shaun T always talks about how his workouts are a fight between your mind and your body.  In the first month of Insanity:Max 30 I've been pushing through to see which one will win.  Sometimes it's my body but usually it's my mind saying "no keep going for 5 more seconds.  Just one more rep." I feel more powerful than ever. Month 1 has flown by and I can't wait to see the changes in Month 2!

Yesterday afternoon after deciding NOT to have the Reese's I was dying for an afternoon run.  Despite the fact that it was 23 degrees I bundled up and hit one of my favorite routes and decided to do a quick 2 miles.  When I said quick,  I didn't know how quick it would actually be.


Considering I usually average a 10-11 minute mile (12 when I'm running long), I reached the end of the route and was completely blown away by what had just happened.  I tuned the rest of the world out, turned some Maroon 5 up, and just got into the zone.  It felt liberating and so refreshing to get into this run even though my fingers were freezing.  Amazing things happen when you fuel your body with real food.

This past month I've really been dialing in on my nutrition.  I've been trying to fuel my body with real, whole foods (my favorite really) in order to see what else I can accomplish.  After eating as clean as possible (only cheats being Quest bars when I'm trying to get in more protein) I'm blown away by how my body was able to move at this pace relatively easily.  I've been reading SuperLife by Darin Olien: The Five Forces That Will Make You Healthy, Fit, and Eternally Awesome.  I was looking for a book that would give me more insight on how our incredible bodies work and this book was just the ticket.  Amazing things happen when we fuel our bodies with real, unprocessed food.  While I may have missed out on the few moments of bliss the Reese's would have brought, I know I've gained so much more.  I'm so glad I resisted a moment of instant gratification, but more on that later. :)  

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Unplug

There's something magical about starting off my day with Insanity:Max 30.  Literally jumping out of bed (after snoozing a few times), drinking some C4 (yeah I have a weird reaction to Creatine where I may have trouble sleeping but this stuff tastes like a watermelon jolly rancher- AKA perfection) and then maxing out with Shaun T.  By getting my daily dose of happiness in earlier I felt so much calmer throughout the day.  It definitely helps me feel more in control physically and mentally.  I have so much more stamina not to eat 2 (lezbehonest heaping) spoonfuls of peanut butter because I did not get up extra early to screw around.  All day I feel like I have had extra time because I focused better than I normally do.  I'm definitely crediting this same energy to my incredible afternoon run.

The weather is supposed to be freezing towards the end of the week (as in the low is 12 degrees- I love 30s-40s but teens is where I draw the line). I knew if I didn't run early I'd miss my chance this week. On my way to my run I checked my garmin battery and thought "I better charge that after this quick little run."  Little did I know that when I went to press start on my Garmin it had other plans and promptly died.    I said "screw it" and started running.  It wasn't just the "yeah I'm running and I somewhat hate myself for doing this to my body".  It was the "oh-my-gosh-this-feels-incredible-and-I-could-run-forever run."  It was the groove I desperately couldn't find during my half.  It was the controlled breathing and focus and determination to push myself just a little bit further.  It was the reason that girl who absolutely hated running in gym class started running because she loves how free it makes her feel.  Free from worry and care because the only thing that matters is what's between me and that road.  It's the simple joy I try to create for my spinners in every class.

After the run, I drove the route after and realized that I ran 2.5 miles in a little over 20 minutes.   I underestimated what I was capable when I constantly feel the need to check.  By tuning out and finding my groove I was able to focus better than I have in awhile.  I feel as though I unplugged from my expectations.  The whole unplugging thing is definitely something that I feel I've been doing in multiple areas of my life.  Only unplugging allowed me to truly dial into the right mindset to get the job done.

Surprise yourself! Don't ever underestimate yourself.  Remember you are capable of so much more than you give yourself credit for.

Wednesday, February 4, 2015

'Cause uptown funk gon' give it to you

I've always been selective about the reality I accept.  While I am perfectly aware of what is happening around me and can put on my big girl panties and deal when necessary, I selectively avoid topics and things I'd rather not deal with because I'd rather focus on the positives.  Focusing on all that negative energy only makes me sad and I'd rather be happy any day.

Recently, my reality has had a way of creeping up on me and pushing me into a place where I can't focus.  It's a place where I feel distracted from my goals and distracted from being the person I know I am.  I hear that negative self talk more than I'd like to admit.  Ever since the half I feel like I'm waiting for something to happen.  I'm waiting for the results I know are coming.  I'm waiting for my hard work to pay off and waiting to finally be where I thought I should be.  I'm tired of waiting for my two bruised toenails to fall off!

Today I reached the point where I'm tired of waiting.  I'm tired of waiting to not feel disappointed in my time.  I'm tired of waiting to feel accomplished.  I'm ready to take pride in what I've accomplished.  I'm ready to turn those negatives that have been adding up into the positives that I know they are.  I would say I'm tired of constantly finding that silver lining, but in reality I live for these silver linings!

Instead of thinking about what I'm considering a horrible time on the half, I'm going to be thankful I'm at a point in my fitness where I could let alone finish 13.1 miles and learn from it.  Instead of thinking of all of the things my body isn't, I am incredibly thankful for how strong I feel not only physically but mentally.  Instead of letting people's actions get the better of me and being disappointed whenever someone isn't who I thought they were, I'm going to enjoy people for what they are.  Instead of mourning the chapter of my life that has come to a close, I will find a new renewal in this next chapter that is just beginning.  I've been feeling an incredible loss over relationships that are changing.  I need to be incredibly thankful for them since they've helped me reach where I am today.  My mom always says that everyone is in your life for a reason or a season.  Instead of thinking of all the things I can't do, I'm going to focus on all of the things I can do.    

I'm a week and a half into Insanity:Max 30 (Expect another post about that at the end of the week!).  While I'm loving it with every fiber of my being,  I desperately miss lifting and running.  There's something so freeing after a killer run or a really good heavy lift session.  I want to be able to do it all without overtraining or injuring myself.  I just want to be one giant muscle that can do anything.  And especially do a few pull ups.  That will most likely be my next goal after finishing this Max 30 madness.  Luckily I don't have to miss spinning since I just do doubles on those days I teach ;). I'm still amazed that my body craves moving athletically.  Part of me knew it was going to happen and part of me still can't believe it.  I know I always say this crazy journey, but it's incredibly true.  This crazy journey has led me to an incredible place and I know that another incredible place has got to be around the corner.

While I may be slowly creeping out of a funk, I still haven't stopped working as hard as I can and pushing myself to new limits.  Here's to the hard work being worth it!