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?

Failures and Triumphs

Why do I love crossfit, besides my new found strength, growing muscles, and amazing community?

You aren't allowed to have an ego!  If you're anywhere near or around my level, where the games will always be something you watch on TV.  Christmas Abbot and Andrea Ager are your idols..you also are quite familiar with failure..A LOT!  That's why I love it.  The minute I get a little cocky because I nailed a body weight exercise WOD..I get out on my ass by a damn Oly (Olympic lifting) WOD because I can't get under the damn bar and SQUAT!

It's very similar to love I have for endurance events.  I love them because you won't always have a great run, you won't always PR at every race, and you might just have a shitty training season (like I am currently in).  But everyday you still get out there, you still put in the time, and you still follow your nutrition for race day to perfection.


Some of my friends consider this passion of mine an obsession or weird.  I smile and just walk away because I know in my mind that this all transfers to real life.  I never allow myself to get too cocky, but I never get too down on myself because I always remember that there will be a new day, another chance to try it again.

What is your biggest failures?  How do you overcome them? I try and follow up a bad workout the next day with a confidence boost lift.  Yesterday- I couldn't for the life of me get under the bar during cleans, so today I did squats and am almost back up to my max from before I got hurt! 


PS- next week is Valentine's Day..have you bought something sweet for your loved our for yourself? Want to give your body something sweet without the guilt?! Comment below and see how you can get a discount for EnergyBits!

Crossfit Competition Numero Tres

Today I got to compete (or participate might be a better word) in another crossfit competition with my box (Crossfit Hydro) and two other local gyms (Crossfit Artis and Crossfit 402).  

It was awesome and sucked all at the same time!! I love these competition between the three boxes because it's not just about winning.  No matter what gym people are from, everyone cheers for each other.  We especially cheer for those who look like they need an extra boost!

They also make me realize how far I've come since I started in July.  If you would have told me 6 months ago that I'd be 100% engrossed in this sport and thriving off the community feel, I probably would have laughed in your face....

..but here I am 100% engrossed and thriving...I think the pictures do it better justice.

WOD #1:

1Min at each station; continous

Double Unders

Deadlifts (95#)

KB Swings (35#)

Jumping Squats

Wall Walks

WOD #2:

5min AMRAP

Squat Snatch (65#)

**This was 5# away from my PR, so I was pretty happy when I did 13**

WOD #3:

10min AMRAP

1 clean (65#)

1 push press

1 burpee

2 clean

2 push press

2 burpee

(and keep going up until 10min)

YEAH..that one kicked my ass

AND here are some more pictures about the community..

Talking to one of the owner's of Fit Farm

Breaking Up Is Hard To Do...

I've been dealing with some issues in my own head this past few weeks I've been training for my half marathon.  I've been afraid to admit them because I'm supposed to be the girl that lives and breathes marathons...I think I'm no longer having fun running.

Thank god my sister-in-law (fellow marathoner and best friend) texted me this morning.  She made me feel less guilty which took a huge weight off my shoulders.  She texted me, "I don't think I like running anymore."  I smiled when I read it, not because she was disappointed because maybe I wasn't crazy or alone in thinking running may no longer be my "thing."

In case you don't know already in the past year I've completed multi-sport endurance races, like a Tri.  Also, in July I started crossfit and in December I hit my one year mark for teaching spin and now teach 4x a week.  I just can't find the same joy I used to find in running that I now find in these other ventures.

I'm a little sad/mad/disappointed to see this passion of mine be put on the back burner, but for my sanity I think it will have to sit there..at least for the time being.

This is me post-Chicago Marathon.  I was crazy happy and flying in cloud 9!

Have you tried anything new? How do you feel about running?

Oh Sweet Smoothie Goodness!

So I realized that my vegetable intake has seriously been lacking.....
I also realized that my schedule this semester is going to OWN me....example- I left home yesterday at 430am to teach spin (#PoweredByBits of course) and did not get home until 830pm! Today I left at 8am and will maybe get home around 10pm...yikes!

I decided that adding a smoothie to my day would help with both of my issues- I can put massive amounts of veggies in it and it takes about 5min to make (including clean up).

Here's my first recipe: (Sorry for lack of pictures- I drank it too fast!)

Spinach Goodness
Serves 1

Add the ingredients in this order
4 cups spinach (I also tried 2c spinach and 2c kale..yummy)
1 cup plain Greek yogurt
Blend
1 cup unsweetened almond milk (I used Blue Diamond)
1 banana cut
Blend
ENJOY!

I told you it's super easy! I'll be keeping you updated on other creations I make!

I'm off to Les Mis tonight...has anyone seen it yet?!?
Do you have a smoothie recipe with veggies you'd be willing to share?

Chitown and more..

It's finally here!! Only 3 more days and I will be just a few miles from the finish line of the Chicago Marathon.  Like I've said before, those itching days before my races I find that burning passion for running I had the first time I laced up for endurance racing my freshman year of college.  It's the butterflies and knots in my stomach and knowing that 45,000 people this Sunday have the same feelings, dedication, and love I do that gets me pumped.

During my last marathon in Minnesota, the pacer I was running made the most amazing statement that I will always remember, "Only 1 in 100,000 people will ever run a marathon."  Sometimes I forgot how truly amazing we, marathoners are because we tend to surround ourselves with other marathoners, so it seems normal.  In reality though we are a rare class of crazy people who will train for 16-20 weeks piling on mile after mile, running on ice and 10 degrees to heat exhaustion and 100% humidity because that's what was on our training schedule.  We will run 26.2 miles through tears, pain, joy, and accomplishment all for a little medal on a lanyard.  If that's not true love, I don't know what is?

So, if it wasn't clear enough yet- I pretty much can only think about the Chicago Marathon and only have motivation for things involving this.  But, I had some other fun news:  after I finish Chicago I am going to take a little time off of marathons, so that my body can heal and mentally marathons and I need a break.  I have been training since my freshman year of college for endurance races (and that doesn't include cross country and soccer all through high school and freshman year of college).  Now I'm in my senior year- and have yet to take any time off of training for some sort of full-marathon or half-marathon.  So, this upcoming June I'm going to switch it up a bit and participate in a TRIATHLON!!

I'm excited to push my body in a new way (and I think my body will enjoy a little change from just running ;) ).  After Chicago, I am going to try almost only no impact cardio like, cycling, swimming, elliptical, and anything else I can try.  Also, I'll be intensifying my workouts since I do not have to worry about wearing myself out before a long run.  I'm also going to switch up my nutrition entirely (with the help of my trainer, of course) so that I can tone up a little bit and I won't need so many carbs since I won't have to worry about getting up on a Saturday morning and having to run 15 miles.

Well,  that's about all I can get out for now since I can only seem to focus on Chicago!  I'll make sure to post some updates and pictures from Chicago.

So, I will leave you with a quote from one of the running coaches for Team in Training- Nebraska.  He and his wife are truly the most giving, unselfish people I know and they helped get me through my first marathon and find my true passion in running:
    It's an interesting passion we've chosen to pursue: it scares us, it thrills us, it introduces us to feelings us accomplishment we may have never thought possible. Cherish those knots in your stomach -- they're a sign you're on the verge of doing something remarkable." -Dan McCann

One step closer to a hardbody,
Mo