Holy Buckets…I'm Back!!! Updates GALORE!!

I think my life has finally settled down enough to allow me to start blogging again.

Since my last post I had started looking for a job, living pay check to pay check, and real life decided to kick me in the a$$ with my student loan bills!  I probably put on close to 15lbs of "who cares" weight and I had no motivation to workout besides when I taught cycling 5x a week.  I felt overwhelmed, stressed out, and disappointed in myself.

Needless to say the last half of 2013 was a struggle, but 2014 turned around for me!  At the very beginning of the year I was offered a job which helped with a lot of my stress.  I had also decided in 2014 that I wanted to conquer some goals.  I wanted to tackle things I had never tried before.  I was sick of being "down."

In February one such goal kind of threw itself into my lap.  I ran into someone at a bar in town who also happened to be a fitness competition coach.  Well I was probably over revealing because I had a few too many shots and talked to him about how I'd been wanting to do a competition for years, but just didn't know how to start, what to do, how it all worked, etc.

Well about a week later I ended up meeting with him to go over prep and how contests work.  I had a contest already picked out- NPC Duel of Champions here in Omaha on June 7th, 2014 (the day after my birthday).  I had always thought I would do a bikini competition, but he thought I'd do better in a figure since I am built broader.  We took some measurements and body fat percentage.  I started at 138lbs and a little over 24% body fat.  I check in with him every two weeks for measurements.  After a month I am down to 17.95% body fat and 130lbs.  This last time I went in I had my shoes, so I also got to practice posing for the first time.  Let me tell you it looks way easier than it actually is.  I've been practicing while sitting at work or driving in the car.  I want to do as well as I possibly can.

My shoes!

That is why I have been quite diligent with my prep I figure if I'm in this and I'm going to walk on stage in 13 weeks (OMG!!) why not go for it?  And so far I am loving it.  It has given me something to work for.  I am motivated again.  Not only are my clothes fitting again (which is always nice), but I feel better and I have more energy because I'm no longer eating whatever crap.

I know some people will think I'm crazy for doing it or wonder why.  The reason I'm doing this and have wanted to is to say I did it.  The dedication and will power it takes to compete is amazing to me and I want to prove to myself I have that same dedication and will power!  I have the most amazing support group around me to push me through this.  When I told a small group of my friends they didn't judge and immediately asked if they could come cheer me on when I walk on stage.

My awesome cheerleaders after one of my races- they were the loudest ones!

The biggest issue that has popped up so far is gum.  I started chewing gum to crave my sweet tooth.  Well apparently one day I chewed too many pieces of gum (yes, it's possible).  In case you didn't know there is an ingredient in sugar free gum called Xylitol, I believe.  Well it can't really be digested by your stomach and so the bacteria in your stomach feeds on it which can cause gas in your stomach.  That gas can then turn into massive, horrible stomach cramps.  It was awful- it didn't help to lay down, it didn't help to stand up.  Nothing made it feel better.  Well, I learned my lesson and backed WAY WAY off my gum chewing habits.  

Well, I think that is enough updating for now.  Watch out for my next post!  I'm going to review a brand new product (at least to me) and a couple of possible giveaways coming your way!!!

I'll leave you with this recent quote from Academy Award winner, Lupita Nyong'o.  I think it's quite fitting, don't you?

2012 Look back and even more to look forward to in 2013

As the New Year approaches I tend to look back and think back on what I did and what I can't wait to do in the coming year.  There were SO many great things that happened in 2012, but the biggest thing also led me to my number one plan (I don't like resolutions because I nail down things that don't have an end date).  After being chosen to be a ENERGYBits Brand Ambassador, I was able to connect with some pretty amazing people!  One, in particular, was Sloane Pitman.  A bright young, fit freak like myself. After reading her story, I realized we had more in common than just fitness.  We both battle with our relationship with food.

(FYI- THIS IS WHERE I GET A LITTLE MORE SERIOUS..Skip these next paragraphs if you don't like serious talk and feelings..)

Ever since I can remember I've always had a little "extra."  I've never been overweight or anything, but I've never had a flat stomach or felt 100% comfortable in a bikini.  So starting at a young age I would try and run extra or cut back on food.  Other times I would have a bad day or stressful week, so I'd binge and feel like even more crap.  I'd always tell myself that I'm going to stop and just eat healthy, then the "fluff" would definitely come off and I'd look like all the girls in the fitness magazines I read.  Well, strange thing happened...it never really happened.  I'd eat healthy, but then I'd indulge a little around birthdays or holidays, enjoy a cocktail or two, and I'd be right back at it..trying to analyze everything that went into my body, counting every calorie, measuring EVERYTHING.

It wasn't until after I read about Sloane's "freEDom" (freedom from eating disorders or disordered eating) and I was thinking really deeply, this past week, about what I really wanted to change in myself.  The number one thing that coming back was I wanted to eat and feel good, eat a piece of pie at Thanksgiving and not regret it, or have a margarita and not secretly hate myself for it because I knew exactly where it was going.  So this year instead of a weight loss or fitness related goal for 2013, I'm going to NOT diet.  Does this mean I'm going to stuff my face with whatever I want?  No, it just means I will eat what I know my body needs to complete what I demand of it and not worry if I indulge a time or two.  I want to get back to being able to go out with my friends and enjoy myself, instead of stressing so much and staying home to avoid temptation.

Okay..feelings and seriousness is over, so here's my main highlights from 2012 in pictures :)

My first duathlon

My 5th Full Marathon

I started CrossFit

My first Warrior Dash

I lost my best friend

My first vacation since I can remember that didn't involve a race..or any agenda

My first triathlon

My first Ragnar! RagnarGR

My first CrossFit Competition

Sub 25min 5K with my amazing cheerleaders

My boyfriend got to come for the first time to one of my races!  (he was a collegiate baseball player)

Being chosen as an ENERGYBits Ambassador

Being chosen as a Girls Gone Sporty Ambassador

While that's great and all; I CAN'T wait for what fate has in store for me in 2013...Here's a few things I have on my schedule and I'll see what life decides to throw in between..

3rd Half Marathon (February)

2nd Duathlon (April)

GRADUATION (May)

CAMPING post-graduation in Colorado (May)

4th Half Marathon (June)

2nd Triathlon (August)

Ragnar Las Vegas?! (October)

What're your highlights from 2012? What's on your goal list?  Do you have any plans for 2013? 

Week 1 Look Back & Week 2

Week 1...CHECK!!

Okay, so far so good.  I made it through the first week of my New Year's Resolution.  I ate clean, I drank AT LEAST 64oz of water per day (not counting what I drank during cardio or lifting) and drank green tea every day.  Below is a picture of all my meals during the day. By preparing all my food before I left for the day I never had to worry about being hungry and binging on some fast food or junk food crap.

It took a little bit of time each morning, but I truly believe that this is the reasoning behind my success for clean eating.  When I get hungry I get angry and fussy and so I'll eat whatever I can find, so instead of grabbing for chips and salsa or going to Jimmy John's I had a small protein bar or chicken and veggies.  I think the water made a big difference too.  By adding more water into my diet my stomach was tricked into being full, so I wasn't mindlessly eating.  

After a great first week I can't stop now!  This next week is going to really be a struggle because I start back with classes, will be working both jobs, and still have to fit time in to exercise.  I'm going to really have to push myself to wake up early to plan out my meals, exercise early, and keep pushing myself through.  So that I do not over do it this first week back to reality I am going to keep drinking 64oz of water daily, tea daily, and I'm going to start tracking my workouts and what I eat every day.  Since I want to be healthier physically I have to push myself past limits I've never seen.  In order to go past limits you have to know where you've been.  So how do I push myself in lifts or interval sprints if I didn't know how much I benched or how fast I ran for how long the week before?  I'm not going to use any fancy fitness journals..I'm just going to use a good, old-fashioned college-ruled notebook.  I will write down what I ate, how much I ate, the calories, how long I ran or biked, and how much I lifted each day. I know it will be time consuming and may annoy me, but I know in the long run it will lead to a healthier, stronger future!  

So here's to week 2 and staying strong!

Til next week and another step closer to a hardbody,

Mo

New Year, New Me

So looking back on 2011, I can't be upset at all.  I did some amazing things and learned SOO much about myself.  I ran 2 marathons and one 1/2 marathon, watched one of my brothers get married to an amazing girl, learned SOOO much about nutrition, fitness, and my body, worked harder than I ever have before, got to work for some AMAZING people, found new job callings, and discovered what I want to do for the rest of my life (FINALLY).  AND even added another tattoo to my collection (up to 3 now)!

I'm actually quite proud of myself.  I'm such a stronger person because of all this, but I know I am no where near my potential, yet.  So, this year I have not really set a New Year's Resolution because mainly I find them counterproductive.  You end up setting this extreme goal, then after a week or even a month you haven't reached it and you end up quitting, and feel even worse than you did before the year ended.

Instead this year my goal or "resolution" is just to become a healthier, happier version of my current self. I know this sounds extremely broad and you may think I'm setting myself up for failure, but I promise I'm setting myself up for not only achievement, but greatness.
      This will take 2 steps:
             1. Eat clean from this point on.  AKA only eating foods that once had a mother or could be grown in the earth.
             2.To make myself a healthier, happier me I will make a "challenge" for myself each week.  The challenges will be both for my mental and physical health.  I feel that smaller, shorter goals are a better way at achieving your long-term goals because the results can be seen right away and completing them does not seem so daunting.

The first week challenge to a healthier, happier me will be: at least 64oz of water a day (not counting what I drink during workouts) and at least one cup of green tea, daily.  I really want to work on cleansing myself after the mess of the holidays.  During this week I will flush out all those toxins and start with a clean slate :) AND of course I will be eating clean EVERYDAY, EVERY meal.  Wish me luck!

Til next week, a new challenge, and one step closer to a hardbody,
Mo