Recovery

Blogging isn't the only thing I've been failing to do lately, friends. Are you ready for my confession??? I haven't exercised in THREE weeks. I know, the horror. Unfortunately, I've been sicker these last three weeks than I remember being in the last 5 years or so. What started as mild cold symptoms quickly became fever, chills and horrible body aches. Pretty soon I was dizzy, nauseous and really weak. After the majority of the symptoms passed (in a few days), I was left with shortness of breath and an awful cough for the remainder of the last three weeks. It's been bad, folks.

Bad, bad kitteh....

Today I'm finally at a point where the cough is [mostly] gone, and simple tasks like loading the groceries in the car don't leave me gasping for air. It has been a surprisingly long road to get this far.

Starting Monday morning I'm going to dip my toe back in the pool of exercise. I've been researching illness recovery, and apparently it is best to start increasing the frequency of my work outs, and then, once I'm back up to a good frequency, I can increase the duration. Finally, after I'm back to a good pattern with frequency and duration, I'll increase the intensity of the work outs.

Sounds easy enough, right? It is probably much easier in theory than in practice, but I've got to start somewhere. Summer is right around the corner, like it or not. Can I just say how much I'd love to be able to wear cute sun dresses and a bathing suit with no shame?? Right now, there would be shame. Lots of it. It's time to get back to the blood, sweat and tears. After this weekend, of course.

Did I mention that tomorrow we are heading to Muffin Top's house for the weekend!?!?! I kinda can't believe it! It's been over 2 months since I've seen that bitch, and I miss her lots! So here's to a weekend of fun and friends! Come Monday though, it's on. Back to working out. Back to eating to fuel my body. I will recover, and I will be stronger when I do!!!

We Are, After All, A Blog About Running (Among Other Things)

I've been running again. As I should be! I'm only up to 3 miles right now, but I'm building. I just added intervals back in last week, and I've been increasing my speed a bit at a time.

So what am I running for? I did it. I bit the bullet. I nutted up. *Cue drum roll here* I registered for a FULL MARATHON!!!

It's on October 1st, and is right here where I live - the first annual Bend marathon!!! I'm excited, and freaked out, and nervous, and doubtful, and slightly nauseous when I think about it.

To keep myself on track, I also registered for a half on July 9th - the Smith Rock Sunrise Summer Classic. I haven't come up with a training schedule yet, but that's on my agenda for this evening.

So, what do you think? Have I completely lost it, or what?!

Will It Ever Be Enough?

I've got a confession to make. I have completely unhealthy and unrealistic desires.

Who do I blame? I don't know? The media? My parents? My own lack of self esteem?

I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to be this thin:

Sure, a little on the too skinny side. But I don't care - that's what I feel like I should look like.

And I'm scared too. Scared that if I ever do reach my weight loss goals that it will never be enough. That all I'm ever going to see when I look in the mirror is fat. Realistically I know that I'm not that overweight, but all I see when I look in the mirror is fat, fat, fat.

I know that I've got issues to work through (obviously), but sometimes I just get so tired of having to work on stuff. You know? Why can't it ever be easy for me? Why can't I be one of those bitches that eats pizza every day and weighs a hundred pounds?

What about you? How will you know when you're at your perfect?

There Is Good.

Hi friends. Fat Girl Slim here. Did you miss us while we were gone???
I sat down tonight, and frankly I felt like ranting to you all. Not necessarily about diet and exercise, but about how bad life can sometimes be. About how unfair and cruel things are. Lately I've been struggling at life. Not enough time, too much work, friends dealing with horrible circumstances that no parent ever should, lots of fear and generalized anxiety. I have so much fear lately. Way too much stress over things out of my control.

You know what though? I'm not going to rant about anything. I need to take a moment tonight to realize that there is still good. I cannot change the hurt and the pain, but I can take on a new attitude.

So without further ado...

You know what's good? Him and I are good. He may drive me crazy at times, but overall I'm extremely blessed to be in this marriage.

 

These three are way better than good. They truly are my motivaion in all things. I try desperately to never take them for granted.

Sisters are good.  Whenever I start to freak out in life, all I need to do is call my sister.  Both of them understand me in a way that no one else does.

Tiffany's is good. And the fact that I got to shop there this weekend is even better.

The warm weather is good. Spring has finally arrived, and I'm loving every second we get to spend outdoors.

 

New teeth are good. Finally, 10 years after my accident and 2 years after starting the process, I have beautiful new teeth. It feels amazing to smile.

Cupcakes are good. 'Nuff said.

Big cities at night on a getaway with your husband. All good.

My son has recently shown a real interest in baseball. I'm thrilled to be buying him his first glove this weekend. I'm even more thrilled that I'm not so out of shape anymore. I wan to be able to keep up with this guy!!!

 

Take time to seek out the good today, friends.  It's there when we look hard enough.

I'll end with this quote about attitude. I promise you all; I'm really trying to change mine.

"If you don't like something change it; if you can't change it, change the way you think about it." ~Mary Engelbreit

It's Going to Suck

You know why the entire world isn't skinny and in shape?

Because it's not fun. It hurts. It's a shit ton of work. It's not easy.

If exercise and eating healthy were fun or if it was super easy to get in shape or lose weight the entire world would be sexy!

The plain, simple, and hard truth? It's gonna be a lot of work, and you're not going to enjoy it.

Words to live by. For realz.

I've been coming to this realization over the past few days. Like most Americans I have an unconscious feeling of entitlement. I deserve to have the body I want. Meaning - I should just have it, not have to work for it. What kind of bullshit is that?

But while on the treadmill the other day, I started to accept that this isn't an easy thing to accomplish. It isn't going to be easy - I'm going to have to work for it. And damn hard too.

Really, if you think about it, what is there in life worth having that you don't have to work for? Nothing. A good marriage? Hard work. Rewarding? Yes. But hard work none-the-less. A great job with great pay? Hard work. Happy, well adjusted children. Super, extra hard work.

Like Jillian says, you have to "get comfortable with being uncomfortable". True words people.

When my body starts to tire, when I'm not having any fun on the treadmill, when I can barely do the last rep - that's when I know I'm on the right track.

And I'm willing to be in the that place, because I know the pay-off will be worth it.

Hell yeah they do

WTF?!

Sorry for being M.I.A. peeps - we are going to start posting more! *Swears*

I have a post in mind for today, so by tonight it will be up!

We Are Lame...

I have to apologize for this recent bloggie hiatus.  We are totally lame.  Lots of work stress - any motivation + feeling kinda sucky =  no blogging. 

Yeah, yeah... I know.

It's time to get back to it though.  Recently we've started running again.  Also, I can't speak for MT, but I've finally gotten back in a pattern of decent eating.

Tomorrow the hubby and I leave for 4 days away without kids!  It's been WAY too long since we've done this!!  So I'll be back Monday with much more to say.  Again, sorry we've been away so long!!!