Just the runs

A few years ago, okay like 16 years ago, I was runner. Not a great runner, but still a runner. I ran in Cross Country and ran in track. During track meets, I typically ran the 1/2 mile, mile, and 2 mile for a total of 14 laps around the track. (Boring!) Right after high school, I got married and started a family. I never ran again.....until recently.

I reintroduced myself to the running world in September 2011, with the Couch to 5k program. We went from barely being able to run 90 seconds at a time, to running 8 minutes without stopping. It was hard for us, but we fought through it. He started traveling more, so our time of running together ended. I had to venture out on my own and try and complete this program. I quit the program on Halloween. It was cold, drizzly, and I almost got ran over, so I decided enough was enough.

In December 2011, I bought a treadmill, with hopes I would get that desire again. And I did. I loved running on the treadmill, in the comfort of my own house, anytime of the day, no matter what the weather was like outside - I could run. I continued a mile here, a mile there for awhile, but didn't really progress. In the Spring of 2012, I once again started the Couch to 5k program again, determined to finish the entire program and to prepare for a race we signed up for. Consistency was better, but still not great. We would run our little hearts out and then celebrate with margaritas afterwards. (Probably not the best training method.) Our race came and I felt good. We ran our first mile really fast, but kind of faded after that. My friend was having major side cramps and I wasn't sure if I was supposed to stay with her or go on, so I decided to stay and walk when she walked.

My time was 36:22, which was a lot better than my previous 5k. (I won't tell you that story just know this: School reunion the night before + beer + late night + early morning + hot summer = bad racing experience//bad racing time)

My Scentsy Sponsor signed up for the Hot Mamas Run that would take place September 2012. I had been running every so often, but nothing consistent. Maybe a mile a week, maybe nothing. I decided to sign up for the race as well. I tried so hard to be more consistent with my running, but just didn't commit. When it was time for the race, I felt somewhat prepared, but not completely prepared. It was a hilly course and I walked a lot of it. I started walking with her, but was determined to beat my time from March, (that totally didn't happen, by the way), so I left her behind and walked/ran to the finish line. The hills were brutal. I was used to running on either the treadmill, or flat streets. I was not prepared for a lot of hills (not big ones. But still, hills are hills). My time was 39 something. You can see pics and deets here, if you are interested.

Anyway, fast forward to the current running situation and we are doing things like this:

This is what I'm most proud of. Challenging ourselves each and every week to do more, whether it be more miles, or more times. Just more.

I don't want to be the fastest runner, I just want to be a good runner, who is always improving. I would love to (eventually) run a half marathon, but right now we are enjoying our own challenges and seeing what we can do. So far this week, we have run 9 miles. (6 on Sunday, 3 on Tuesday). That is completely unheard of for us. Someday, we might be running 9 miles in one day. Who knows.

What I do know is that I like this. I like the feeling we get when we are finished, when we look at each other and say "we just ran 5 miles. 5 freaking miles". I like that it's making me stronger - physically & emotionally. I like that it's good for my heart. I like that I can do it with my husbad by my side.

My purpose for writing about "the runs" today is to let you know that you don't have to be good, you just have to be good enough. You have to want to do it, commit to it, and not give up - no matter how slow you might be. I have been there, even after being a "runner" back in the day. Running is hard, but it so rewarding. Don't let your mind talk your body out of something that could be the best thing you've ever experienced.

As we were running 3 miles yesterday and struggling going into the 3rd mile, the song "The Climb" by Miley Cyrus blasted in my ears. The words rang so very true with my experience with running. My failures, my successes.

The struggles I'm facing
The chances I'm taking
Sometimes might knock me down
But no, I'm not breaking

I may not know it
But these are the moments that
I'm gonna remember most, yeah
Just gotta keep going
And I, I got to be strong
Just keep pushing on

'Cause there's always gonna be another mountain
I'm always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be a uphill battle
Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose

Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb, yeah!

A little motivation/funnies:

These things are so delish. I also like the Banana Foster flavor.

Sparking it up! (Oh and look, my nails don't look hideous!)



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All in a day's work

Here's what my Thursday looked like.........

#OOTD Top = Ny & Co//Pants = Ny & Co//Nude Heels (can't see in this pic) = Target

P.S. I suck at selfies, but trying to get better! I put my daughter up to taking this pic.

I start everyday with Spark. 

Love this!

Ran while daughter was at soccer practice. Cold North wind. I wanted to quit so bad, but kept trucking. No pain during run, but had pain immediately when I stopped. Hoping I will be cured tomorrow when I get fitted for proper shoes.

Spreading some Advocare love to peeps all over the United States.

Let's talk Advocare!

**First of all, let me point out that I am not affiliated with Advocare at all, and I am not getting paid   

   for this post. **

I was at work when I overheard someone talking about Advocare. I've heard of it before, but hadn't heard about it, so I listened. 2 girls in my office sell Advocare. One lady is in her 50's and runs on her lunch break. She is a role model to me. She's beautiful, healthy, and in total control of her body. The other lady that sells Advocare, found it because she needed help. Her body was not functioning properly and she was overweight for her size. She has lost 60 lbs with Advocare. She is making good food choices and exercising regularly. That's what it's about folks. Simple, huh?

Well you would think that it would be just that simple, but it's not. I know. I've been there. I didn't struggle with weight before or right after I had kids. 9 years ago, I started struggling with my weight. A little bit here and there, body was changing, the infamous "FUPA" appeared. It was dreadful. It seemed to happen overnight. 

A few years ago, I had enough. I was sick of being "fat" and shared my disgust with a co-worker. She turned me on to a weight doctor in OKC and I made an appt. My boss at the time, was very generous and offered to pay for my initial visit, as well as my co-workers. That was a great gift and a very nice gesture. 

I lost 17lbs in the first 6 weeks. It was coming off left and right and I felt great. I was eating all of the right things, but I wasn't exercising. About 3-4 months in, I was down 30lbs. I was exercising about once per week (playing indoor soccer), but that was it. When Spring rolled around, I was walking 3 days per week about 30 minutes each day. The weight stayed off, but it became boring, quickly. 

I couldn't eat carbs, I couldn't drink beer, I couldn't have a normal lifestyle. Carbs and beer are pretty normal in our family, especially in the summertime. Summertime rolled around and I decided I didn't want to "diet" during the summer. 10lbs were back on within 3 months. I was devastated. I thought, no big deal, I will just start again in the Fall. I just couldn't get the motivation back. I had worked so hard eating all of the right things, depriving myself at Thanksgiving time, depriving myself on NYE, to have it all wasted on a "summer break from dieting". 10 more lbs came on, and then finally the number on the scale grew to where it was at the beginning of my journey in November 2008. 

Talk about wind out of your sail...it was a blow for me. Someone who has been thin their entire life, can't control the weight as an adult. Seems so unfair. 

I tried again, visiting my weight doctor month after month. $100 after $100 visit. I just didn't have it in my heart. My motivation was gone. My mind wasn't able to focus like that again.

In December 2011, I joined Weight Watchers. That worked for me. I lost 10lbs or so just by tracking what I ate, but I hated that. I didn't want to track every bite I took every day. That's not me, not my lifestyle, and it didn't fit. I quit. Basically I would splurge on lunch or dinner and had the frame of mind that I already blew it, might as well enjoy it. 

Dieting is not easy for me. I love food. All kinds. Sweets. Soda. Beer. Wine. Cheesecake. Mexican food. Brownies, etc. All kinds - I say. I'm not racist when it comes to food. I eat it all. 

What's funny is, I love healthy food. too. Fruit, veggies, salad, chicken, etc. I love it. I'm an equal opportunity lover of food. Yep that's me, porky pig here. NOM! 

Anyway, I wanted to find something that was healthy and easy for me. Something that could work with my lifestyle and it would still be beneficial, so when I heard chatter about Advocare, I started researching. It's a wellness company and has a lot of great reviews. Everyone was talking about this 24 day challenge bizness, so I looked into that. 10 days of the herbal cleanse...uhhhhhhh. Then 14 days of a lot of pills, but you aren't required to follow a strict diet 100% of the time. It suggests 90%. In my mind, I'm like "Yeah buddy, 10% to eat what I want!"

I contemplated selling it, because I like having control of that sort of thing, but I already sell Scentsy, so I didn't want to add anything else to my plate. (on top of my cookie making business, ya know)

I texted my sister and begged her. I think my exact text was "Will you please sign up to sell Advocare, so I don't have to?" I didn't get a response back from her...until later. A few quick messages back and forth and she was signed up. I told her I "Dan misted" her into doing this. (BB14 was in full swing then). We ordered the 24 day challenge and I started mine on October 9th. Well I didn't measure myself beforehand (bad girl) and I didn't weigh myself beforehand (bad, bad, girl), but I have lost weight and inches. 

I know I have lost about 6lbs. Maybe more, but I didn't weigh the first two days of the 10 day cleanse. I know I have lost several inches. My pants are becoming looser and I'm sagging like a brother in some pants. My "FUPA" is shrinking a bit. but nowhere close to being gone.

Here's what I love...it has been fairly easy. Really. Much easier than I anticipated. I went from drinking 2 to 3 cups of coffee per day, to zero cups. Drinking one coke zero or diet coke almost everyday, to zero. 1 glass or 2 of wine every evening, to zero.

I drink my Spark twice per day. 

I survived the 10 day cleanse. (It really wasn't bad at all...the worst part is the fiber drink. It was pretty dreadful, but it's a fiber drink, what do you expect?) 

There's a lot of pills. (A lot of big pills, but if I can tolerate them, I'm sure you could too! I'm really amazed.)

I don't crave a lot of the crap I was consuming before. (wine, bread, soda, coffee)

I eat, or try to eat, every 2-3 hours. (Breakfast - snack - lunch - snack - dinner)

If I do splurge on dinner (Chick-Fil-A or Sonic), I don't beat myself up. If I start to feel bad about it, I go for a walk

I drink a boatload of water every day. 

I pee a lot - because of said water consumption

I really do feel good. If I were to fall off the wagon, it would have happened this week. Hubby is traveling, so this is my chance to blow a diet by eating take out. Monday night, I made pizza on the grill. Tuesday night was Subway. Tonight, it was just me and my son, so we splurged on Sonic. Otherwise, it would have been BLT's. I ate chicken nuggets and a few tater tots. Felt a little guilty (as I weigh myself daily and want to see a smaller number), so I went on a walk. No biggie.

Everything is okay in moderation. That's my mantra. I don't need that crap in my body. It tastes good for a second, but then it's over and gone.....

2nd day of the challenge. This shirt fit me snug then. Now it's much more loose. 

Today. Not a great comparison, so I will see if I can get a full body pic taken soon.

Guilt is over, my stomach is still crazy full, and I'm outta here to go rescue my piggie from the backyard.