A Journey to Fit & Fast

2014: The year of "trust the process." Come to think of it-that may just be the motto of 2015 as well. Time will tell. There were up and downs in 2014, but overwhelmingly it was positive. I transformed into who I was meant to be, and for that I am so completely grateful. In January of 2014, a friend of mine and I went on a magical New Years Day run. We didn't know it at the time, but it was the beginning of an intense, amazing, soul-tapping friendship. I realized for the first time what it was like to experience true love and acceptance in its purest form. And it only went up from there. I gather so much strength from this woman, and I hope she always knows the bounds of my love for her. Around the same time, I joined a group of people in a little room at Caribou Coffee, for a group called "Master Mind Group." I didn't know what it would be going into it, but now I cannot imagine my life without it. The amazing closeness, openness and love that is felt...

I had someone recently state the following to me: "I would be lying if I said I was not concerned with you being able to keep up your healthy lifestyle for the rest of your life," (because I do have a history of obesity).  It got me thinking about a lot of different things, most importantly the journey and story  that weight loss and living a healthy lifestyle is. This year marks 3 years since I kissed 65 pounds goodbye. A challenging journey indeed. This year also marks the year I got divorced, and ran (literally) into a new life by completing the IMT Des Moines marathon (all challenging journeys).  It also marked me having IT band issues in my knee, and going from running 26.2 to 4 miles maximum while doing physical therapy. This journey has proven more challenging than any other thus far-because it requires me trusting the journey to recovery. It also makes me more accountable to my eating habits and trying new things to obtain overall fitness. Now, I emphasize the...

Holy cow. I just ran 26.2 miles. Whhhhhaaaaatttt?!? But seriously. The sense of pride and accomplishment that I feel now, and I would guess I will feel for a while is amazing. I'm sure once I am able to fully walk correctly again I will consider doing this crazy feat again. I could not, absolutely could not, have completed this task without my number one training partner Travis by my side. I wouldn't have wanted to-either. We push one another from time to time, and genuinely know when the other needs to slow down/walk/whatever (seriously, it's a funny connection).  The race was tough-there were several spots where one or both of us was in real pain. But, with the encouragement of so many around us-we finished. And in a PR time for Travis as well. Go you, my man! We crossed the finish line symbolically. We held hands and came across at the exact same minute. This journey was made with him by my side, and I wanted it to come to a conclusion by his side also. I knew imme...

Here I sit marathon morning thinking to myself. I am thinking about how today LITERALLY symbolizes running into a new chapter of my life.  2014 has taught me what I am made of. I get emotional thinking about the lessons that this year has taught me. Such as: having a tribe is critical, being a good person is enough, sometimes giving up doesn't mean you've failed, opening your heart to kindness makes the world do the same, being 100% authentically yourself is not only vital but also enough for this world, life is short, there are so many magical moments in the mundane, I am loved beyond measure, and I am quite literally the luckiest gal around. Today symbolizes new life. A rebirth, essentially. It's not just running 26.2 miles with those that I love and have trained with for the past 24-ish weeks. It's LITERALLY running into the life ahead of me, with arms wide open. I expect it to be emotional, because, well it already has been. I embrace all that this life has to...

Fair warning: this blog post has nothing to do with running, being healthy, or losing weight. It has something to do with me mentally processing my week. I was asked this week 'what I believe in?' Let me set the stage: I am scrubbed into surgery (captive!), and we start discussing a documentary I have recently watched called "Unbelievers." Essentially it discusses how science (evolutionary biology and physics) contradict or disprove things such as the Holy Bible. Now, I know walking into this discussion who I am dealing with-and that they have rather strong beliefs in their respective faiths.  I go into all of this with a particularly extensive knowledge of religion. I was raised in a very strict religious household. No sex before marriage, no anything sinful or you're going to hell.  So, I know the mentality of "if you do not follow this religion to a "t" then you're a sinner." And I know the exclusivity that I have experienced thus fa...

I am continually impressed that some weekends in my life can be so completely renewing and nourishing for my soul.  This weekend was especially so! It started out with new relationship building and continued throughout the weekend. It's exciting, but most importantly, it's calming. "It feels like coming home'" was said more than once this weekend. We get caught up in things having to be 'roller coaster exciting' when in all actuality it is fun having those moments, but the quality life things matter so much more. The day to day important things that aren't 'roller coaster exciting' that are equally as exciting in their own way are where it's at. And sometimes all of that comes at a time when you had no idea it would. So to be surprised, excited and blessed by one person is AMAZING. Continuing down the soul enriching path was newborn baby snuggles. There is NOTHING like brand new life to make you live in the moment. I dare say there are ...

This morning, Iowa showed just what August could be made of. 71 degrees at 6 am, 72 for the dew point and 90% humidity. EEEESSSSHHHH. And as a result of a storm canceling our run Saturday, we had to be brave and give it what we had. So, my brave and amazing running partners and I sucked it up and put in some miles. We struggled-I can think of no other time I've complained while running (EVER). I really disliked it (because, as Emma will tell you "hate is a word we do not say in this house."), and for me to say that is something. I love to run. It is in my blood. I love running with those that I love-they make it awesome. Travis and I (along with Carol and Stephanie, Loren and Cathy) suffered together. We had a goal of 16, but stopped at 10. Which brings me to…. Training smart. To push when the heat index is insane is never a good idea. I learned this lesson the hard way during Dam to Dam (quite a fun story about extended tachycardia there). This time, I decided to bot...

This weekend has been an interesting mix of things for me. It included a healthy dose of perspective on life, and a personal best in my newfound love: swimming. Perspective was bestowed upon me by the supreme blessing of shooting photos for a family who's little one had lived a mere 74 minutes on this earth. I volunteered to do this for the family, thanks to their bravery of reaching out and asking for help. I did not know them, but now I do. I went into it not knowing what to expect, and a little sad of course.  And came out of it having gained so much. Baby Louis has blessed my life and I will forever be changed. I was blessed with the gift of perspective: no matter what, no matter how terrible I think a situation is: I did not have to lay part of heart, soul and body to rest. I did not have to feel the pain of that or the longing and pain associated with a life not lived. And for that, I am grateful. I will squeeze my little lady tighter and be more kind and gentle because of ...

An idea that keeps going through my head this morning that I really need to 'put pen to paper' about is the amazingness of humans. Specifically, I mean this in two contexts. The first is the amazingness of the human body. The fact that it can create a human life (like, whoa!), is capable of nurturing said life for 9 months, bring that life into this world, and after all is said and done-able to do amazing feats like run 17 (26.2?!?!?) miles for fun. What?!? Bodies really are pretty damn amazing. We could probably all do a little more thanking and taking care of these pretty cool things we get to have for one lifetime (speaking of myself here also). Secondly, I mean the amazingness of the human spirit and the human element. I have seen time and time again the last year (through meeting some amazing people) that people are simply amazing. They will walk into your life when your heart is open and accepting, and they will change it forever. And specifically, those that I surrou...

Today happens to be a day of pride as well as a day of reflection for me. Today I ran the farthest I have run to date. Until now, 13.2 (a half marathon) had been my greatest distance. But today, with the encouragement of my amazing teammates and a close friend and mentor, 14 miles were gone. We all braved some pretty interesting elements: 80% humidity and 70 plus degrees. But we did it, and the sense of pride that is within myself today is immense.  Any great moment (and really even the tough ones) cause me to reflect. The person that I used to be (and gladly kissed goodbye long ago) would never have been capable of 14 miles. That person wasn't capable of physical challenges, nor was she equipped to live an examined, self aware, mindful life. But the blessing is that I am not that person today-and today I get to set the bar higher for the next things I get accomplish. I mean that in the running sense, the personal growth sense, and overall in this glorious journey of life. I mean, ...

I had a person, whom I care for very much, ask me a week ago "what do you love?" It made me ponder for a few seconds, and I answered this way: "I love my family, friends. I love my daughter Emma with more love than I could ever say. I love running and living an active lifestyle. I love all natural/organic living, I love photography, I love making natural skin care products. I love what I do in my career. I love giving of myself." I would add that I also love just living, and growing, and making the most out of this one trip that we get to experience. For the first time in my ENTIRE life, not one tangible item made it onto my list of things I love. This made me immensely proud, because I think if I had been asked this question a year ago, the answer would had been much different. This makes me think about happiness, and how we really are in control of our own happiness. We must be happy and content in our lives, and then we can share that happiness with o...

Someone asked me yesterday "What made you become a serious runner?" It made me reflect and contemplate why in fact I had become a serious runner. I can honestly say I had not thought about it before. I have spent a lot of time reflecting on what made me change my lifestyle, but never what made me take up and fall in love with running, and what keeps me doing it. My answer was this: "I was crazy overweight, decided to lose it and started running. Then I fell in love with how running challenges and makes me feel. And now it keeps the weight off and continues to challenge me." After answering that, it made me also think of all the ways running has changed my life. It has helped me make some of the truest, most amazing relationships and friendships that I have ever had, some of those even inadvertently (not through running, but through friends I met through running). How cool, right? Meeting kindred souls is the best!  It has introduced me to the most inspiring, kind,...

The most interesting part of losing weight and life transformation is watching your body change, in my opinion. It is also, interestingly enough, the hardest part to adjust in your brain. You know, deep down, that you're a different person, of course. But your brain still feels xx pounds, and looks xx pounds. It's a crazy mind game that only those who have traveled this path understand.  This leads me to today when I was stretching and happened to look in the mirror. Clearly I haven't looked recently, because holy legs! I not only have definition when flexing, but also when not. Apparently my eating clean and running lots is making a great difference!  So, unapologetically I will share what I observed today. Because I truly believe that these things, small victories, are to be celebrated. Here's to great legs, and if  that makes me sound like a self righteous douche, then so be it. I've earned every one of the muscle definitions by choosing almonds instead of cupca...

This dandy is my side-by-side comparison of my former self and current self. The first picture taken in 2011, at 225-230 pounds, the second at 160-ish. Now, weight matters not much to me, but I think it helps to see what poundage looks like on a person.   Let me start by sharing my 'aha moment.' I had already started to dabble in healthy behaviors before this special moment, but my mom was diagnosed with type two diabetes, and something within me knew that the lifestyle I was living was ok no longer. And I knew I had to be a better example for my little girl, period. So, I joined weight watchers for the probably 8th time in my life, and started exercising. I started running 30 second increments, and celebrated when I ran a whole mile!  Along the way I found the ability to take over my own nutrition plan, and realized I could in fact do it on my own! I kept running, signed up for races and caught the 'running bug.'  This year I am on target to run a full marathon with th...

One thing I have LONG struggled with is getting as many veggies in as I do fruits (because let's be honest, they just taste better and are more enjoyable all around).  Lately though, I have been doing a better job, largely in part to 'sneaking' in leafy greens in things. For example: Kale snuck in my eggs with green pepper and onion (with garlic, olive oil and red pepper flakes). Seriously yum, and assumes the flavor of what it is in the pan with.  Another trick I've been using A LOT lately is kale in my berry smoothies. I use a large leaf of kale (rip the stem out, it is tough), a cup of frozen berries, a cup of almond milk, a tablespoon or so of plain Greek yogurt and a dash of stevia. SUPER YUM!! And because it is all raw, it leaves you feeling amazing!  Next project: sneaking veggies my daughter doesn't like into HER food. Stay tuned 😄