Thought I would make a list of as this is the season for lists of why I still do what I do every day:
1-Sense of accomplishment, too many times do we say we are going to do something and we don't
2-Runner's high....it doesn't always happen but when it does it's a beautiful thing
3-Rare occasion I catch up to a runner and we have a brief conversation on what a great day it is to run...never thought I'd look at a day that way
4-The feeling of my day can officially start because I have completed that run...I am genuinely even later for everything when I don't work out first thing in the day
5-I LOVE "active wear" and getting new "active wear"...running habit keeps that going :)
6-Pushing myself each time a little bit harder to see if I can accomplish a goal I came up with mid way through my run
7-Taking a run easy because I kicked my own butt the day before
8-My kids asked if I had run yet...crap...have to do it now!
9-Woke up to my alarm and hubby is already down on his bike on the trainer...no excuses
10-Sleep is over rated....or I'll take a nap later
11-I love running through my town at this time of year...twinkle lights are perfect at 6am
12-Laying in bed at 5:45am trying to think of a better time to run is miserable...I will not fall back to sleep
13-I love to see a sweaty shirt and sports bra at the end of a run...means I worked my butt off
14-I love waving to neighbors and friends while I head around town...they give me a little extra push
15-I can't stand the last mile into my neighborhood...it's the hardest because it's the last and has a few dips and valleys...but I am so happy to come upon it each time
16-Being alone for an hour and not having to talk or answer a question is a beautiful thing
17-I still surprise myself with my ability to judge what .25 of a mile is when I need to add on and know the loops and cul de sacs in my neighborhood
18-Doing silly math in my head as to how much longer I really still have on this run
19-Reminding myself more than I would like to what it was like at that last 1.2 miles of my marathon this past May and can't believe I was able to push that hard
20-Excited for what will come in just a few months of hard training
21-A cup of ice cream almost EVERY night ;)
22-Feeling stronger almost every time I run and motivated to face whatever the day throws my way
23-A nice hot shower after a chilly morning run
24-A delicious peanut butter banana chocolate protein shake while showering ;)
25-Knowing that one day I won't be able to do this...but today is not that day
I could go on forever...but I thought 25 would be a good number as that is the number of the season. I was not always a runner...this list did not exist in my life 7 years ago but it does now and for me that is all that matters. My runs matter to me every day and make a difference in my day and life. They make me be able to tackle my day with a sense of calmness and stability that I otherwise would not have. These 25 things may seem trivial and silly but they become what drives me to keep up this silly obsession. Yes it is an addiction for me and I am aware of it but feel like that is not a bad one to have.
I'd love to know what are some of the reasons that keep you going each day??? Maybe I could add them to my future list...please feel free to share! We inspire and motivate each other...this is how this thing works.
Embrace the suck...choose you...lists make me happy ;)
Here we are less than two weeks from Christmas and my life is spinning in circles. The idea of staying on track and not partaking in all the "fun" seems beyond words lame. On some days it is taking all I have in me to get my sneakers on and head out the door for a run. It is so very dark and so very quiet and my bed is so very comfy. Some days that fuels me for a strong run...this morning...that was not the case. I still got the run done...every last step was a pain in the butt! Some feel that a fit person enjoys every moment of their ritual and determination. I enjoy the result of my fit on some days...I despise the process on others....and there are many days where both the process and the results are what drives me and keeps me going.
Peppermint Oreos, warm brie on crusty bread, beer, special holiday themed cupcakes, fritos with sausage dip, cute little cubed cheese...this was my intake on Saturday afternoon. That was my dinner/lunch that I choose for myself while at this party. Yes there was a veggie tray and water and fruit...I had none of that. What I have to come to realize is that life is here and all around us and we cannot beat ourselves up each day that we celebrate. Life is those extra 5-10 pounds that come and go with us over time. This is not to say that we do not have times in our life when we are on our A game and those life pounds are no where to be found...but as a rule...they exist and are okay.
For as "fit" as I may be I still love all the wrong food. I would crush a Starbucks cake pop with a decaf vanilla latte, I would kill for a cheeseburger with a side of fries and onion rings, I would love to grab a candy bar in the checkout aisle, I would gladly have seconds of homemade mac and cheese, pizza, beer, birthday cake, mashed potatoes or a platter of nachos or potato skins. So how do I say no to these foods and keep myself on target??
I don't. I let myself eat these high calorie crazy yummy foods. But I don't eat them all the time. I realize that we will have occasions where there is not another option and I can do my best to stay in control but the crazy Julie takes over and I am licking the remaining icing off the cake plate, it's not a pretty sight! Sometimes I am having a third slice of pizza because it's a fun night at home with the kids and you know what...it tastes really good. I also know that these occasions are not my everyday life.
We love to have burgers and fries, in fact we had them last night for dinner...bacon burgers to boot! I had french fries that I weighed out for serving size and same goes for the burgers that my husband weighed prior to grilling. This whole life and those final pounds and staying in our goal zone is really hard to balance but it is not impossible. Once you come to accept that you want to control your intake and your output and there will be sacrifices made...then results will start to come. And with results comes will power. The next time you see that package of peppermint Oreos at Target while your milling about aimlessly...you won't buy them because in the end they are truly not worth it. Getting your workout in each day is exhausting and at times logistically challenging...so not only do you have to be psyched to work out...you have to have it work in your schedule. The whole process is so very overwhelming!
So keep the faith...keep chugging along...accept that not every day will be a success...allow life to happen but don't make every day a special occasion. Stop with the silly excuses, move your body and find an exercise on some level that you can happily do each day. Know that this is a process and that it may not be a speedy one...know that you are stronger in mind, body and heart than you think you are. Know that you are an example for others and you are leading the way. Know that you are capable of change even when it feels like you are up against a brick wall yet again. The road ahead may seem so very long and daunting but you only need to take one step at a time. You are not charging to the finish line on day one. Fall in love with the process and your life and success will come!
Embrace the suck...choose your hard...focus on the change!
