PROUD Momma post!

I missed a day, OH NO!! Such excitement in the air yesterday!

This past week in my little town was our 78th Annual Rhododenron Festival: We have a plethora of wild Rhody's that grow here on the Olympic Peninsula, the 3rd week of May marks this celebration. Events are happening daily, starting on Sunday with the Rhody Tour, Bed Races along with the Trike Races, Pet Parades, Kiddy Parade, The Grand Parade and ending with our 12k Rhody Run. In the middle of town is our carnival. They're many events going on all week. But, for me the Rhody Run this year was to be a culmination of my six months of working hard at my 5k, 10k & 15K! To have the opportunity to RUN this 12k after walking it many years ago, when at my all time heaviest, meant a lot...then the hamstring tear...and the follow-ups with professionals who clearly said NO RUNNING or WALKING this event. Left me shaking my head and asking 'why'?

I still have no clear answers, but I do know that my daughter was still able to go and by golly I wasn't going to miss out cheering her on! While, she hasn't ran any events she was a bit nervous and sharing her concerns with her Dad and I Friday night, I did my best to reassure her, she CAN DO THIS!

Before the Rhody Run

I reminded her that IF her Mom at the age of 46 could get off her hiney, get moving and lose over 80 pounds, she COULD in fact get out there and run/walk this 7.5 miles. She just had to 'hear me' cheering her on the whole way...you know I AM my kids BIGGEST cheerleader!

It was bittersweet checking in Sunday morning, getting our packets. I registered us months ago and wanted to still get my number. She & I had  #'s736 & 737... An added bonus: my running partner was there as well, so she & Hannah set out together. It made me smile! OK, I also cried...tears of PRIDE for Hannah and a tear or two of sadness for not being able to go with her.

Hannah & Vicki

Took a few pictures and saw them off! Super excited to see how her time will be...I guessed she would do 13-14 minute miles. Pfft, what did I know!!

Vicki has become a great friend and running partner. She is also one of my Spin Instructors at the gym and an awesome one at that! We've been running once a week the past few months, well, except through my injuries, we've tried going out weekly. Once I'm healed and can ride, run and spin we'll be back out there~

And they're off...

My daughter, who has never ran more than 3 miles at a time, ran the entire 7.5 miles in 1:29. She did a 12 minute mile!! As I was standing at 'THE' corner watching and waiting, visiting with a few Moms I knew, then, I saw her coming...I was jumping and screaming with joy for my girl!! You see, I KNOW what an awesome feeling it is completing an event, I knew she was excited to see the finish line! That last section of the race was around a huge field at Fort Warden, I couldn't help myself and ran that last bit with her. Yes, it hurt, but I just needed to see her to the finish line...

The moment I saw my girl!!

 I was touched when Hannah shared with me, she could hear me in her head while she ran, cheering for her and encouraging her to PUSH just a little bit more...AND she DID!

Vicki did this race two years ago, and this year she beat her time! How awesome is SHE!! Vicki Shaver, you ROCKED it sister!

Awesome race times: Vicki & Hannah. Proudly wearing their Race Shirts!

             I AM ONE PROUD MOMMA!!

No excuses, just get out there and TRY! I'll be cheering for you too~

Gluten Free, Paleo or Vegan, OH MY!

Holy smokes! There are so many options out there, at times it gets to be a little overwhelming.
Or maybe it's just me? While I support anyone who is a Vegetarian or Vegan, I am a meat eater. So, that style is not for me.


This new term Paleo? It was described to me as 'going back to caveman' style of eating. Meat and vegetables only. I am of the belief system, that Adam and Eve were the first created man and woman. They started out in the Garden of Eden, not in a cave. They had fruit, vegetables, meat and grains available to them. So, Paleo isn't my cup of tea. I like my grains. Far be it from me to judge anyone though. I applaud anyone who makes a commitment to themselves and sticks with it.




I was told recently to go Gluten Free. Good golly, talk about throwing me a curve ball. OK, no, it's not the end of the world as I know it. However, I've spent almost a year getting pretty good at knowing what's healthy and what's not. And I know white processed anything is NOT healthy for us. Now, to have to cut out my whole grains, yes, so I pouted a bit! Gluten Free items are made up of 'other' grains/flours. For example: white rice flour, almond flour, coconut flour, tapioca starch, potato starch, Teff flour, egg whites, brown rice flour....OK, there are a lot of options!  Never mind any sort of baking attempts yet. I'm still learning how to 'do this' thing. As with any and all changes there is a learning curve....well, I'm still learning.

The Google search engine is my buddy! First, I was searching 'clean eating', now it's 'gluten free' eating. Those first few days got to be a bit overwhelming, now I'm starting to get the hang of it. I'm ready to try these divine looking double chocolate chunk gluten free cookies! All things in moderation though, remember just because they may be 'healthy' doesn't mean eat a dozen at a sitting. Portion control IS KEY friends. I've lost the weight I have by eating healthy, clean and always allowing myself that little indulgence when the urge hit. So,  I wish you:
     Happy Healthy eating, no matter what style you chose for you!



Recipe for these and other yummy Gluten Free recipes can be found on:
glutenfreegoddess.blogspot.com

Double Chunk Chocolate Chip

Happy Mother, Happy ME

I had been looking forward for months to re-taking the pictures of me ON Mothers Day. Last year when we spent the day on Hurricane Ridge little did I know that 2 mere weeks later I would wake up and say ENOUGH!

Those pictures have held for me the significance of what I WAS and what I NEVER again want to be. Fluffy!
This Mother Day we set out to Hurricane Ridge, but at the base of the National Park, the lovely lady sitting inside the booth, informed us just how horrible it was at the top. Tons of snow, raining cats and dogs, and no visibility. Rats! OK, Plan B. We turned around, granted we were 5 miles up, and pulled over to one of the large pull-outs/parking lots. Hopped out of the family car and got a few pictures....

Here's the comparison:

 

Left image: all time heaviest & a size 20 jean.....NOW, with 80 pounds gone, a size 10 jean!

I am looking forward to seeing how much farther I can go!

Remember this, it started with a BELIEF in MYSELF...Telling myself I was worth the effort!

You can do anything you set your mind to, if you only just BELIEVE~

Silver Linings

Have you seen the recent release, "Silver Linings Playbook"? I have and I loved it.

The premise of the movie: "Pat Jr., played by the all to adorable Bradley Cooper, goes a bit 'crazy' when he finds wife having an affair with a fellow teacher, he gets locked up for a brief time in a mental facility. Once out, he wants to get his wife back...Pat Jr. was forced to move back in with his parents and he feels like he can manage on the outside solely by healthy living and looking for the "silver linings" in his life, yet determined to 'win the wife back', whom, has a restraining order against him... NOT going to tell you the 'rest of the story'.....You should just go watch this movie!

Looking for the Silver Linings...

My dear friend Shari & Macey, her dachshund

When visiting my good friend Shari, who lives out of town, I like to participate in her Boot Camp. While doing so on this one particular day recently, during an all so simple running exercise, I had a loud POP followed by excruciating pain in my right butt/hamstring. The kind of pain I have never felt before and clearly was a bit freaked out by. Walking hurt and running was not an option. Shari knew it was likely a hamstring tear...The following week, when I was in my chiropractors office for a routine visit I talked to her about this issue. She, herself being an athlete for years and also working in the fitness world had me preform a few bends, etc...and clearly she KNEW it was indeed a hamstring tear. The severity of it is unknown, but suffice to say, running was OUT. The best she could surmise is a solid 6-12 weeks heal time. Wha, huh, seriously?!? BUT, I have RUNS TO DO! No way!  I left the office feeling a bit down trodden. I have since seen the massage therapist at my gym, who is also a marathon runner and personal trainer. Martin has confirmed all that I have been told, EXCEPT, he tells me ABSOLUTELY NO RUNNING, SPINNING or ANY work on my legs. I CAN WALK, at a leisurely pace for now...

Mark, Boot Camp Instructor. And yes I AM smiling, even after the injury.

That means 3 of the classes I take many times a week are OUT! I can still do my weightlifting class but NOT the Squats, Lunges or Dead Lifts...what I CAN do is all upper body.  I need to let my hamstring heal or I will cause more permanent damage. I could simply give up, OR....
                                                                                                     Look for the Silver Linings in this~

While I may not see the silver linings yet, I am certainly not going to quit working out. I will work on those areas I can, oh, and walk the dog A LOT! This is just a bump in the road.

When I had the AHA Moment last May 2012, it was LIFE CHANGING. June 2012 was the first time  I have ever joined a gym, and later that same month a fellow classmate posted facebook pictures of him completing the Vancouver(WA) Half Marathon. THAT was my first goal, beyond the obvious, get fit and lose the fluff!  Now, I sit, six weeks away from the Vancouver Half Marathon and I may not get to run...
                             I am looking for the Silver Linings~

Tomorrow morning I will do my weightlifting class, of course stepping away for the leg tracks. After that I have an appointment with Martin(massage therapist & person trainer) to give me a core and upper body regime I can do in the meantime, outside the group classes, while my hamstring heals.

While I am by no means the fastest runner or spinner, I sure have learned how to push myself beyond all I 'thought' I was capable of doing. The week before this injury I was to the point in Spin class where I could KEEP THE RPM with the instructor! That was the best feeling EVER, I left the gym with major Endos flowing!

I could be having a pitty party and feel sorry for myself, instead I chose to look for the SILVER LINING...I am not a quitter and I WILL bounce back from this temporary setback.



I received a lovely private message recently & I wanted to share part of it: 
This made me smile!
 
 "My words of wisdom for you and your injury: When you cycle, if you haven't fallen, you haven't ridden much. When you're an athlete, if you haven't been injured, you haven't tested your limits much. You are officially an athlete."

It's official then~

Make the commitment to YOURSELF to get up and get moving. You are worth the effort!
 

The Nutrition Investigator, Mike Geary, discusses REAL nutrition for a healthy lean body: The 5 best foods to eat before bed (for a flat belly)

Great info! Have that after dinner/late evening snack craving?
Here's some healthy choices:


The Nutrition Investigator, Mike Geary, discusses REAL nutrition for a healthy lean body: The 5 best foods to eat before bed (for a flat belly)

OUCH! That daily Reminder...

Working out as you can surmise is a part of my daily life. Having said that, there are some days I push it a bit more than normal and BOY HOWDY does my body ever remind me, I am NOT super-human.

The day I finished my 15K, March 17, 2013. Oh my WORD, my legs HURT SO MUCH, even before I crossed the finish line, then of course for a few weeks after I had that daily reminder of just what I had done. That 'reminder' was a glorious one I assure you, though I did have to give myself a few days off from the gym. Yes, I was TOLD to give myself a break... If I hadn't known any better I would have been right back at it!

This past weekend was action packed at my gym. Every quarter Les Mills has what is called Launch. When the new routines for the classes offered are released, it's a BIG DAY. While I have been at my gym almost a year, I have participated in the last few launches. The energy is high and we all have a blast! I am beyond blessed to have the most amazing, top notch Instructors!

Sharon, myself & Bethany showing off our guns!

The OUCH! I signed up to take 5 classes for Launch. On any given day, I do 2 classes at the gym burning up 600-1200 calories per day. I planned ahead and packed food knowing it was going to be a full day at the gym. I arrived at 8:15am for my first class at 8:30am. How awesome to walk in the front door to a team of Instructors lining the entryway CHEERING each person on as they walked in!

Sharon & I having a good laugh at the end of an exhausting day!

Tiff & I...

This was the most I have ever attempted to do in a day. I am super glad I pushed myself, but boy-o-boy, was I pooped at the end.

I can say by the next morning I 'felt' all those workouts and then some...did someone run me down with a mac truck when I wasn't looking? Day 2 post workout... double OUCH!! My legs feel like, I imagine they will feel after I do my half marathon in June, sore beyond belief!

The BEST LAUNCH ever! Like I have years worth of them to look back on, right!?! No, but I had the BEST day ever and no regrets to pushing that extra bit to git 'er done!

All told with those 5 classes I burned well over 2,000 calories, so I gave my self the rest of the weekend to indulge a wee bit.


Great day, no regrets! Cheering YOU to be the BEST you can be~

Karen, Amber & I...SPENT!

Fluff to Buff- One Woman's Amazing Journey! 04/25 by MagnificentMenopause | Blog Talk Radio

What an honor today to have had the opportunity to share my Journey!
I have the desire to help inspire YOU, please give this a listen.

Change starts within YOU, you CAN make that change~


Fluff to Buff- One Woman's Amazing Journey! 04/25 by MagnificentMenopause | Blog Talk Radio