a recap?

It has been so long, that I am not even sure how to do this anymore. Actually a few months back, I think it was around Independence Day, I started a post, but never finished. Here is how that post went:
  
"On Friday I was being very domestic. I made coffee and black bean brownies, Kashi GoLean cereal bars, almond butter, fro-yo and a fruit salad. It all started out because I wanted to make my own cereal bars. I hate buying them, and I knew I could do it myself, I just needed a recipe. So Thursday night, I did a google search and found a recipe. I also found recipes for the almond butter, fro-yo and brownies. I have to say the only disappointment was the fro-yo. So here are the recipes if you want to try any of them out yourself. Coffee and Black Bean Brownies..."

And that's where it ended. I guess I really didn't want to share my recipes. Because it has been 5 months since I last posted, I am just going to do a recap of what has been going on.

1. I became really domesticated over the summer. It started with baking chocolate chip cookies for Father's Day, black bean brownies for Independence Day, more cookies for Labor Day, peanut butter brookies for back to school, and yet more cookies for Halloween. I've already planned what I am making for Thanksgiving, pumpkin pie pinwheel cookies, pecan pie bars, apple pie bars, and whipped sweet potatoes with granola. I also have a potluck at work the Friday before Thanksgiving, so for that I am making apple pie pinwheel cookies.  I am sure, Christmas will bring more cookies.

2. I finished taking prerequisite courses at CSUN and moved on to taking then at USU. I am applying to grad school this month, although I won't know if I have been accepted until March. The wait is the hard part. I have decided that I will be a student for the rest of my life so that I never have to payback my student loans. Does that count as cheating?

3. I started taking Zumba and love it. As of the beginning of September, I spend about 16 hours exercising a week. Eleven of those hours are spent in the gym. The other five or so are in the saddle. Is that a lot? I don't think so.

4. I ran my second, and most likely last, 10k. Mom, Dad, and Alicia ran with me this time. We are doing the Turkey Day Dash this year and Anthony and Dianna are going to join us. 

 

So, I think that's it. A lot has happened yet a lot has stayed the same, and that's something to curl up with.

...1:15:11?

Today's Motivational Monday is a pictorial post. On Saturday, March 25, I completed my first ever 10k. I wasn't the fastest, and I wasn't the slowest, but what counts the most is that I finished. I ran the entire race, and I am happy with my results.

That's me in black coming up to the finish line.

6.5 miles in 1 hour, 15 minutes, and 11 seconds.

Celebrating with bananas, juice, and water is definitely something to curl up with.

...a great race?

Last weekend I signed up for my first 10k, The Dole Great Race of Agoura Hills. I have to admit I am a little nervous. This will definitely be a challenge, because running has never been an area of strength for me. As a child, I could barely run a 50 yard dash, let alone a 10k. I hated running, I hated being sweaty, I hated exercise. So when a friend asked if I wanted to do this race with her, it took some convincing. Actually, it took more than convincing. It took a sparkle tutu and an invitation to run with "Team Sparkle", to get me to agree. Now, I am really excited and might even go out and buy my own sparkle tutu.

Hmm... Maybe I can find a gold or yellow one, and then I could spray my hair green and dress up as a pineapple. After all pineapple is my favorite fruit...

Wouldn't that be something to curl up with? I think so.

Oh and by the way, I run because of boys like him. If he can do it, I can do it,  and so can you! :)

...no more excuses?

On Tuesday, I am starting a speech pathology program, which means my time for exercise is going to be drastically reduced. However, that doesn't mean I get to be lazy about my exercise. I just have to find new ways to get moving.

I have two hours between my two classes and the student fitness center is right by the speech building. So guess what, I have no excuse to not use some of that time to run on a treadmill or take a Pilates class or even just walk around campus. 

For me, exercise is a way to relieve stress. It lifts me up, if I am sad. It gives me a boost of energy, if I am tired. It allows me some alone time, to think. I love getting on my bike and riding for 10, 15, 20 miles. It doesn't matter how long or how far I go. What matters is that I am outside moving. I have the opportunity and ability to exercise. So, I do. 

I leave you with this, if you are physically able to exercise, then stop making excuses. Get up. Get out. Get moving. Because not everyone can.

Just something to curl up with.

...more?

This is what keeps me going. It makes me go harder, longer and further than ever before. A few weeks ago, I went for a morning run. It was the longest run I have ever done. I went 4 miles. For some that is nothing, it's a walk in the park, but for me it was an accomplishment.

 I kept saying it to myself. Although, I was a little more harsh about it. In my head, I said, "Go until your body gives out, then MAKE it give you more." I believe that you have to push your limits to succeed. If all you ever do, is what you've done before, then how are you ever going to become more than what you are?

So, challenge yourself. See how far you can go, before you turn around and go back. If it's not hard, then it's not a challenge.

Just some motivation to curl up with.

...don't think, just go?

Over the past 16+ months, I have been on a weight loss journey. As of today, I have lost 63 pounds. I want to lose about 12 more.

On Saturday morning, at my Weight Watchers meeting a woman said, "I had every intention of going to the gym on Wednesday. I even put on my workout clothes. Then I just sat on the couch."

I never even imagined, that I would be one to say, "I love exercise." But here I am, posting it on the internet, for the whole world to see, I LOVE exercise. I love it. I'm going to say it one more time. I LOVE exercise. 

That being said, it's hard for me to imagine someone getting ready to go exercise just to sit on the couch. If you are going to make the effort to change clothes, then go all the way. Don't think! You already have your shoes on, grab your keys, walk out your door, and go. It doesn't matter if you go for 20 minutes or 2 hours, just move.

Then when you get home, you can curl up on the couch and know you did something great for yourself.  

...running?

So a few months ago, I got this shirt.


I thought that for me to actually wear it I had to be a runner. So I started running. I wouldn't really call myself a runner, yet. But I do enjoy what little amount of running I do. At heart, I am a cyclist.

So on my first run around the block, I went 1.71 miles with an average speed of 2.8 mph. I thought for a first time out, that wasn't too shabby. I can do things now that I was never able to do as a child.

And that is definitely something to curl up with.