Hey everyone!!
Spring is coming, if you look under all the snow we have on the ground I'm sure you'll find grass and if you listen to music instead of the weather reports for tomorrow (certainly not going to be 10cms of fresh snow coming, that's my story and I'm sticking to it) I know you'll agree!
Either way, I have spent the last few days thinking of all the opportunities to get active in the Spring and Summer and I got really excited!! I was taken back to the days of 50km bike rides, walks and runs outside and the crazy crazy days of doing 26 trips up and down Jacob's Ladder. It was SOOOO nice to be outside and I realized that I am longing for that feeling again. At this point I'll be happy when Frank and I can go for a walk without getting soaked feet or freezing to death. I know that time is right around the corner. I also can't wait to start serious bike (hill) training for my bike race coming up this summer. I have been on the bike a bit at the gym but it's not the same. My plan is to bike a bit around home first to get warmed up for the season and then I want to tackle the hill leading up to the look off in the Valley. I drove up it in the car a few weeks ago and thought this would be a sick hill on a bike, then it hit me....I could use this hill for training for the torture in Aug. Frank is going to drive to the top in the car and wait for me. I need someone to drive me back down so I can do it again after all. lol There are also some very nice, flatter rides I could do in the Valley just to get some distance and time to get my butt adjusted to a bike seat again or 4 or 5 hours. My plan is to ride more of the bike race this year. I know what I'm up against this summer and although I'm scared shitless I also never back down from a challenge. Bring it on!!
I am also going over the details of putting together my very first Lean to Run Clinic. It's a bit scary as it's going to be my first one but I will be sharing my experience with people who actually want to learn to run, be active, and have some fun at the same time. I'm trying to decide if I should open it up to the general public or if I should only advertise it to my friends and Facebook group for the first one, keeping it small, and then go out to everyone else for the next one. See...I'm already thinking this one will be a total success and thinking about the next one. lol
Although I have been trying to stay as active as possible over the winter it wasn't always easy. The weather didn't cooperate but I have also been having some pain in my hips. Actually, more intense stiffness but there has been a bit of pain accompanying that at times. I knew the pain would be coming as the Specialist assured me but I'm hoping to fight it off a big longer. I'm only 40 years old and have lots more activities to do. I think once I get out and get active again I'll have less stiffness. It's very much a double edged sword. I don't feel like doing anything because my hips are stiff and sore but if I do something it may help ease the discomfort of the pain/stiffness. I'm hoping with Spring upon us and activities just screaming my name that the body cooperates as I'm not ready to hang up my fitness clothes and become a couch potato. That isn't an option!
Along with the "slacking" over the winter comes a bit of weight gain, of course. Hey, it happens to the best of us right? That's what I keep telling myself anyway. lol I'll be pushing hard to get rid of the belly and to shape my overall body. Not only will it make my activities easier and much more fun but I also made a promise on the weekend and like challenges I never go back on my word/promises. I made a promise to Frank that at some point over the summer I would wear my very first.....are you ready for this....my very first bikini. Yup, what the hell was I thinking!!! I then tried to backtrack and said I could wear one if I laid on my tummy so nobody could see me and get some much needed color on my back. lol However, that wouldn't be the true spirit of wearing a bikini so I will follow through with my promise. Nobody else will notice, everyone will be just so happy to see the sun that they won't care what I'm wearing...yup, again that's my story and I'm sticking to it. lol
My goal is to be back down to my original weight of 142.8 by the summer. I have a bit of work to do but hell, if I can lose 102 pounds then I can reach this goal. Piece of cake!! lol Plus, this time I have Frank beside me too. He also wants to lose some weight so we have made a pack to do it together. He's already done a bit of running with me. Nothing serious but every step is a start. :)
So, there you have it. My ambitions for the Spring and Summer. All I can think about is biking with the cool breeze brushing against my skin and walking with the bustle of everyone else who is out walking/running at the same time and having the sun beaming down on us. I can also hear the faint sound of the cheeseburger bird and that hot bird singing too. I'm sure my opinion will change after our first hot spell this summer but right now I welcome the thought of being outside and being hot. I can wait...bring it on!!
"Pain is temporary, quitting lasts forever" - Paul Plakas
Monday, 6 April 2015
Saturday, 10 January 2015
Better Late then Never, right?
Hey everyone,
So, yes it's been a while and yes I know I usually do a year in review and make predictions for my upcoming year closer to New Years but you know, life gets in the way sometimes. :)
What a year 2014 was, from great new friendships, new relationships and new fitness adventures including almost dying on Mount Washington (not literally but I was in rough shape after my race) to getting a job at a local fitness center. I think I learned what "good things are coming your way" really means. I started my year off with some hard training or what I thought was hard training for my Mount Washington Bike race only to find out on race day that the training wasn't nearly hard core enough. It was the worst shape I'd ever been in, needing 5 or 6 paramedics to help me at the end. However, even though I finished dead last I finished, I finished under my own steam with nobody taking my bike, holding my hand or carrying me across the finish line. I even got two medals for it! I learned just how important proper training and most of all proper nutrition really is. That is something I can pass on to people I work with, from first hand experience. There are millions of people who did nothing that day and will never experience what I did.
The other exciting part of my year came when I landed my job at the Fitness Gym in Fall River. Although I am not fully certified they felt I would still be a good fit for the gym. I think some of it is based on my own personal weight loss journey. This is the career I want for myself and I'm doing whatever I can to make it a full reality.
On a personal note this year had it's ups and downs. It was tough to dot the eyes on the end of my 22 year relationship.Although we have been apart for 1.5 years it was still hard to deal with lawyers and to see the sale of our house go through. Even simple things like choosing my own car was hard to do. Thankfully I had some great people to help me along the way. Without them I'd have been lost. And dating, well...I don't wish that on anyone. lol I didn't date a lot but it is WAY different then when you do it at 15 years old. lol I met a few great people and I hope to have their friendships for many years to come. I'm glad to say that I am happy right now. And planning for my future doesn't seem quite as scary as it did last year. Actually last year at this time if you would have asked me about my future I'd have said I don't really have one. At this very moment in my life I feel strong, determined and like I can take on the world (well...almost...lol). Do I expect to be knocked on my ass again this year, absolutely (I am not naive and I know shit happens), but will I be able to get back up, ABSOLUTELY! This year is going to be about believing in myself, going after things I want and taking care of me, finally. I'm taking things day by day as I know how fast things can change but I'm also thinking long term as well for the first time in a very long time.
As for my goals, as per usual I am trying to get my personal training certification. I have always let something get in the way of my certification but hopefully this time will be different. This seems to be one goal I can't reach and it's really starting to piss me off. lol I am also going to try to register for the Mount Washington bike race again this year. I have something to prove to both my mountain and to myself! I want to be second last to finish this year but I want to do it without the help of paramedics. I'm also seriously considering doing my first Sprint Triathlon. I am fairly sure I can accomplish the running and biking but the swimming has me a bit nervous. My trainer said I need a swim couch so it's something I have to look into. I'd love to say I have accomplished it. I can actually go to the event location and train since I'm in the Valley every weekend anyway so that's a bonus as well. I am looking forward to everything I have coming my way. It should be quite a year and I hope all of you will come along for the ride! I promise I won't disappoint!
So, yes it's been a while and yes I know I usually do a year in review and make predictions for my upcoming year closer to New Years but you know, life gets in the way sometimes. :)
What a year 2014 was, from great new friendships, new relationships and new fitness adventures including almost dying on Mount Washington (not literally but I was in rough shape after my race) to getting a job at a local fitness center. I think I learned what "good things are coming your way" really means. I started my year off with some hard training or what I thought was hard training for my Mount Washington Bike race only to find out on race day that the training wasn't nearly hard core enough. It was the worst shape I'd ever been in, needing 5 or 6 paramedics to help me at the end. However, even though I finished dead last I finished, I finished under my own steam with nobody taking my bike, holding my hand or carrying me across the finish line. I even got two medals for it! I learned just how important proper training and most of all proper nutrition really is. That is something I can pass on to people I work with, from first hand experience. There are millions of people who did nothing that day and will never experience what I did.
The other exciting part of my year came when I landed my job at the Fitness Gym in Fall River. Although I am not fully certified they felt I would still be a good fit for the gym. I think some of it is based on my own personal weight loss journey. This is the career I want for myself and I'm doing whatever I can to make it a full reality.
On a personal note this year had it's ups and downs. It was tough to dot the eyes on the end of my 22 year relationship.Although we have been apart for 1.5 years it was still hard to deal with lawyers and to see the sale of our house go through. Even simple things like choosing my own car was hard to do. Thankfully I had some great people to help me along the way. Without them I'd have been lost. And dating, well...I don't wish that on anyone. lol I didn't date a lot but it is WAY different then when you do it at 15 years old. lol I met a few great people and I hope to have their friendships for many years to come. I'm glad to say that I am happy right now. And planning for my future doesn't seem quite as scary as it did last year. Actually last year at this time if you would have asked me about my future I'd have said I don't really have one. At this very moment in my life I feel strong, determined and like I can take on the world (well...almost...lol). Do I expect to be knocked on my ass again this year, absolutely (I am not naive and I know shit happens), but will I be able to get back up, ABSOLUTELY! This year is going to be about believing in myself, going after things I want and taking care of me, finally. I'm taking things day by day as I know how fast things can change but I'm also thinking long term as well for the first time in a very long time.
As for my goals, as per usual I am trying to get my personal training certification. I have always let something get in the way of my certification but hopefully this time will be different. This seems to be one goal I can't reach and it's really starting to piss me off. lol I am also going to try to register for the Mount Washington bike race again this year. I have something to prove to both my mountain and to myself! I want to be second last to finish this year but I want to do it without the help of paramedics. I'm also seriously considering doing my first Sprint Triathlon. I am fairly sure I can accomplish the running and biking but the swimming has me a bit nervous. My trainer said I need a swim couch so it's something I have to look into. I'd love to say I have accomplished it. I can actually go to the event location and train since I'm in the Valley every weekend anyway so that's a bonus as well. I am looking forward to everything I have coming my way. It should be quite a year and I hope all of you will come along for the ride! I promise I won't disappoint!
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