Happy Halloween!

Get Started

My best big brother has said, "The best time to start is now. From this moment, it just gets harder."

{Or something like that. I probably shouldn't put quotes around it because it's really just a paraphrase, but you get the idea.}

I completely agree with him.

This applies to everything in life, but most especially to health and fitness.

How many hundreds of times in my lifetime have I said, "I'll just have this cookie/cake/Krispie Kreme doughnut/bag of Doritos and I'll start a new diet tomorrow/on Monday/at New Year's."???

I, obviously, don't know the exact number, but I'm pretty sure I can't even count that high.

Right now is the very best time to start changing your life for the better. 

It only gets harder from here.

So, put down that bag of salt and vinegar potato chips, strap on your running shoes and get moving!

You are worth it! 

Can You Stay For Dinner?

I love this blog. Andie Mitchell is a girl after my own heart. She is funny and witty and very inspiring.

I love how she writes.

She wrote an incredible post last month called Taking Up Space and Acting Small.

Click here to read it.

I can relate to a lot of things she says in this post. A lot of her experiences are familiar to me. I have never been one to say, "I'm sorry" a lot, but have apologized for who I am and what I lack in other ways - mostly non-verbal. Not to say that I have always struggled with low self-esteem (I have my moments) but I have always been aware that I haven't been what society defines as beautiful and, as a result, I have made myself invisible in a lot of situations.

I have always been bigger than girls my age - and even most of the boys. I realized that my size was a problem at a very young age. Little girls I played with would say really mean things to me - some intentional, some not. Like Andie, I have always been tall and nothing about me is small or petite and so I have "apologized" for this by being shy and blending into the background. Not so much in my adult life, but a lot from elementary school to well into college. 

I remember the faculty at my junior high lining us all up in the hallway - every single student - and weighing us in front of everyone.

I weighed 140.


In 7th grade.

I was so embarrassed because most of my friends were barely over 100 lbs - if even that. I was also 5'7" so I wasn't obese by any means, but I felt huge because puberty hit me fast and hard and I developed before just about everyone else.

There was only one guy taller than me in 7th grade - Trent. He was nice and would dance with me at school dances, but I was embarrassed. I truly wish I had the confidence and experience I have now to stand tall and be proud, but I was embarrassed because I was different.

The other day, I read an article on Facebook written by a completely insensitive a**hole who had to sit next to an obese man on a plane. I won't even give this guy the honor of finding the article and putting the link because, frankly, he is a big bully who doesn't deserve to be recognized.

The jerk - in an extremely derogatory way - talked about how this fellow passenger was huge and disgusting and smelled awful and had no self respect and how he ruined his (the author's) trip and should have had to buy 2 tickets because he was too large to fit into one seat. I get that traveling is uncomfortable - for everyone - but, even more so when you're over-weight. 

I also completely understand that this large man is so much more aware of his size and the space he takes up than any other person on the planet. He does not need some jerk to point it out - in person or in some passive/aggressive Facebook article.

Okay, I've already given this guy way too much of my time and energy, but it is so sad to me that there are people - a lot of people - who seem to think it's okay to treat others awful because of their size and/or appearance. Or, just ignore them because they aren't worth their time.

I have experienced this first-hand on many occasions. Specifically, 2 guys who I have known for a long time have suddenly taken a keen interest in me, now that I am - in their eyes - better looking and, so, now I'm dateable. This really pisses me off. I am the exact same person I was 60 pounds ago. Why was I not good enough then?!

(I am not bitter...really!)

<<however, there is no way I am ever going out with either one of them>>

Mean/ignorant people are the reason it is common for those who are over-weight or different in other ways to 'act small and apologize for taking up space,' as Andie writes.

I love how she ends her post:

"Taking up space and acting small is such a real part of life for all of us who are fat, at one point or another. It’s those who are able to realize that owning the real estate of our bodies is more than just fine, but the investment of a lifetime, that are the ones to admire.

I’m working on it. And not just because I am or am not small, but because I don’t need the smallness anymore. I don’t want it. It’s fine to take that space, be big in ways literal and not, and to like it. I won’t die when not everyone likes me. They can’t. They won’t.

I’m taking space now. And I’m sorry but that feels really good."

No more acting small, my friends. Whether we are big, little, orange or purple. No more being sorry for who we are. Each one of us has so much to offer this world and we aren't doing anyone any favors by hiding or apologizing for just being alive.

(p.s. I can't wait to read Andie's book!)


(go here to hear/see her TED talk)

It Just Keeps Getting Better

Tonight’s workout was brutal.

 As in, I was literally crying at one point. 

I know this is nothing new and I should just expect it but Mr. Mike has sure upped his game the past couple of weeks.

It all started 2 weeks ago when I dragged myself down Commercial Street after ‘sprinting’ to the stop sign (well into the workout, I might add) and Mike pulled me aside to have a little chat. However, there was nothing ‘little’ about it. He literally called me out right there in the parking lot about not giving my all in the workout. (Like I would have a bad attitude about anything, geez). It made me feel really bad because I was working hard and I felt like I was giving everything I had. I mean, I could hardly breathe for crying out loud. He said that he was disappointed that I wasn’t keeping up with Brianne like I usually do. What? Are you new? Really? I have never, not even ONE time finished even close to Brianne. She is amazing and I am not there quite yet.

I mean, look at her legs.

Seriously.

But, message received - like I've said 100 times, he's a great trainer and he'll get me to work my hardest any way he can...including guilt! As a result, I have also upped my game the past couple of weeks and have really sore muscles to prove it. How that is even possible, I have no idea. My muscles should be completely used to this and have no reason to be sore any longer, right?

And, don’t forget that just one week ago, I tossed my cookies celery at the top of the bleachers at Mountain View for all of Utah to see.

Good times for everyone.

So, tonight, he paired me up with Brianne – which, I actually kind of love because she pushes me really hard. I try my hardest not to finish everything like 20 minutes after her, so I get moving.

The highlight of tonight’s workout was when I was standing on 2 hand weights with my hands touching the ground right in front of my toes and moving my booty up and down in this weird squat thing.

Pain. Lots and lots of pain.

(That’s when I cried).

Then, I went to the stop sign and back. The assignment was to sprint there and back, but my body would just not cooperate. So, I kind of walked/jogged/army crawled my way down the street.

It wasn’t pretty.

And, of course, there were tons of people all around to enjoy the show. It’s always good to have an audience.

I got my hair cut after tonight’s workout - a very welcome moment of relaxation and a reward for surviving the workout. (Don’t worry, I showered first). My stylist/friend asked me what my favorite part of the new me is. There are lots of things I like but I told her that I love being strong. I love that my body feels so good and I am comfortable in my own skin. I love that life is just easier. That it’s easier to get up off the couch, out of bed and to just move around in general. I have better coordination (not perfect, but better - I still stumble around a lot). I like that I feel healthy and in control.

Sorry, that’s a whole lot more than one thing.

I just need reminders that all of this pain and suffering is actually worth it.

(Here's my new haircut).

I am also way into selfies now (I know, that’s really weird and I probably shouldn't admit it). It’s the inner self-absorbed 14-year-old me clamoring to come out. I love that I don’t have a double chin anymore.

In closing, I haven’t introduced my theme song yet. I LOVE Megan Trainor’s All About the Bass. Everyone at the gym and most of my friends know I’m obsessed with this song and people sometimes call me when it’s on so I can hear it. I love that people think of me at random times during the day. I play it pretty often at the gym. Pretty sure that people are getting annoyed. But, oh well.

It’s so important to find enjoyment in hard things and find things that are motivating - like selfies and silly songs.

We only live once so we might as well make the most of it, right?

Failure

So a couple of posts back I made a declaration of my giving up the “Nectar of the Gods” Diet Mountain Dew…  So I wanted to give you all an update on how it’s going.

Does that answer your question???  

Yes, this is going to be harder than I thought.

Onward and upward! Tomorrow is another day!

Just Because

Two of our favorite people!

Every.Single.Day

We got this here