Monday, August 22, 2011

Get Better Everyday


I apologize in advance, because I know this post is going to be disjointed and not well written. My mind is racing and I want to get it all down before I forget anything I'm thinking. It has very little do do with the actual act of running. That being said, let's run with it...

A few months ago, my super-trainer Casey started telling us in class to "get better everyday". At first, I thought it was funny, and added a few pounds to what I was lifting and that was the extent of that. Now, I see it completely differently. About a month and a half ago, I had a long conversation with Casey about what it really meant to "get better". He told me to start by getting better at brushing my teeth in the morning...tying my shoes...easy things. Things that I would do my absolute best every day, just so I was focused. Today, my entire life is better.

This summer, I focused on my eating and my workouts. And thankfully, I was incredibly successful. With that success came confidence. A confidence that pretty much any of you know I have been lacking for a very long time. My summer started with a bit of heartbreak that I pretty much subjected myself to for way too long. I did that simply because I was making no effort to improve my life. I did not have the mindset I have now. My summer ended at a completely different point. I can honestly say that today, I am the happiest I have ever been. Ever.

I'm now going to go out on a limb and share something with the world that I've only shared with those that are extremely close to me. I'm single and perfectly happy with that. For a very long time I have tied being in a relationship with being happy. I have felt that there was no way someone could be truly happy with themselves if they had no one to share that happiness with. Now, I realize that I can't have a healthy, positive relationship without the contentment I feel now. I am perfectly good with where I'm at right now. I'm going to have a busy year, and if that ends up involving someone significant, great! If not, I'll be able to keep making my own schedule and do things as I please :o). I truly feel that I'm at a win-win point right now.

This realization that I've had is completely due to the fact that some part of my life needs to improve every single day in order to keep moving forward. I truly try to Get Better Everyday. This week, that included taking some steps I've been debating taking for a few months. I knew I couldn't truly "get better" if I didn't do them. Lululemon says to "do one thing a day that scares you." Well thank goodness I did what scared me...because I'm now a better person for it. I will bring the "get better" mantra to my students; I will encourage them to try their hardest every day in school, whether it be to make a new friend or try something new. I will continue to work towards the lofty goals I've set for myself. If I have no new goals to work towards, there's no way I can get better.

There are people in my life that have helped me get to this point, and I can't go without mentioning them. Vickie: my friend, coworker, gym partner, nutritionist, and overall motivator...I can't imagine where I'd be today without you. My Club Circuit group, you're a vital part of this as well. Thank you for constantly motivating me to keep going, even through my nagging, frustrating, annoying injury.

Yesterday, I took a look at the Vision Board I made for myself back in January. It has been on my wall since then, but has served very little purpose until I revisited it. Here it is:
See where it says "Fit, Proud, Strong"? That's how I feel. I'm going to add to it at the top. Where is says "NO EXCUSES", I'm going to add "...and Get Better Everyday".

How will you get better tomorrow?

Thursday, August 11, 2011

"Return to Running"

Today was a really great day.

First, I'm back at work. I love my job, and I love being in my classroom...I can't wait for Monday!

Second, I had physical therapy, and FINALLY got GOOD NEWS!!! I'll give the best part first, so that if you don't want to keep reading, you don't need to. Before I left, Kaia gave me a "Return to Running" plan. Yay! Now for the details...

To start off, I am now supposed to add 10 minutes of walking on the treadmill to my daily workouts. I need to do this on the treadmill so that I can stop if I have sudden pain and won't be stuck somewhere! After a week or so of these walks, I can start adding a 30 second jog into my walk. If the jog can be completed with no pain, I can do intervals of walking a few minutes, and jogging 30 seconds. However, I have to keep these short walk/jogs to no more than ten minutes, just to be safe.

I am beyond excited.

I want to take the chance right now to say thank you to everyone who has supported me throughout this LONG journey. Your workouts (Casey), your daily support (Vickie), and your encouraging words and questions (Club One-ers, Brian, Parisa, Chuck, Laurelwood staff, and many others!). This has definitely been one of the most challenging years of my life, but I have still made progress because of all of you. I am really looking forward to getting back to running, whether it be next month or ten years from now. All of you have kept me on that path when I so easily could have gone another way. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!

Monday, August 1, 2011

My goals are within reach!

Well...I've been tracking absolutely everything I have eaten for the last 3 weeks using a the website www.myfitnesspal.com. I love it! I track all of my exercise as well, and it has really helped. Since June 15th, I've lost approximately 9 lbs!

IT'S FINALLY WORKING!

My health and fitness has become my absolute first priority, and it is paying off. Thanks to everyone who has stuck by me when I'm annoyingly measuring out what I'm eating, or saying I can't eat at certain places because they don't have nutrition facts available. I truly believe I am finally in reach of my goals, and I'm hoping to reach them by June 2012. Stay tuned!