Self-care? Haha! What the heck is that right?

Felt compelled to “chat”on this tonight. Too much for a Facebook status for sure.

I suck at self-care.  I suspect many of the people who take the time to read this suck at it too!

 Do you practice self-care?  Do you do it well?  Do you care for you as well as you care for yourself?


(For the dirty minded friends of mine- no....not that)

Simply put it is taking care of one’s self- mind, body, and emotionally/spiritually.

It is putting yourself first sometimes.  Often we are so busy working, caring for others, and worrying about everyone else we forget about self-care.  If you are like me...  you feel guilty about it.

I struggle with my weight.  No suprise right?  Kinda the whole message I founded this blog on right? I surround myself with a great team and have lots of tools at my disposal to help me.  But all of this does nothing if I ignore it.  My failure to practice self-care is a big hurdle to a healthy weight.

Case in point- each month I pay for one of those “Massage a month plans”.  Pretty much every health care provider and my trainer will explain the benefits of Massage....especially if you are like me and like to form trigger points and don’t like to foam roll.  I froze it 3 months ago to “catch-up” because I had 9 unused.  Well, it unfroze and still had 5.  I use up 2 at a time and still can’t seem to take 90 minutes and all I have to do is pay the tip and lay there.

So today I went.... the very nice lady finishes with me and brings up self-care.  Was she trying to sell me on coming in more?  Nope-  I need to stretch more, let go of my stress more, and DRINK MORE WATER.  She was so glad I did a 80 minute hot stone because everything was so tight and knotty.

I work too much sometimes.  I let worrying about things beyond my control chew me up.  I either eat my stress or try to pound it out in the gym.  Or both.  I don’t sleep enough.  Many days I drink more coffee than water.  I do not listen to the little signals my body gives me so it has to send MUCH less subtle ones...  spike in resting heart rate, illogical jump in the weight and swelling, increased pain, joints so stiff and painful walking down stairs is hard, migraines, inability to concentrate, becoming a very crabby witch.

Now- working out is a form of self-care.  But not when you push hard through workouts when you see the warning signs of fatigue and keep pushing.

So.... I am going to work on being better.  Hopefully some of you will too?

What are my plans?e

• Learn it is ok to say “no” and not feel guilty (this is a hard one)
• Stop feeling like it is my job to take care of everyone
• Drink more water- goal is 110 ounces a day (take your weight and divide by 2 for approx rule of thumb...  being 224 pounds means I need to drink a lot)
• Go to bed on time
• Stretch at least 10 minutes a day
• Meditate 10 minutes a day (not including the yoga nidra for sleep)
• Log my food 5 days a week
• Workout 5 days per week but respect the workout and not use it to punish myself 

Hopefully this resonates with some of you and you take time to make yourself as important as everyone else you take care of.

Goals- Why is it so TOUGH?

Each year, my employer had had a wellness incentive to lose weight if your BMI is above the recommendation.  $200 on the line and every year, I failed.

This year is the last one for us HMO members.  I was bound and determined to get it.  I danced around the number and then bounce up again.  (Self-sabotage much.)

So.....the past 2 weeks I buckled down on exercise and really focused on my macros and nutrition.

Needed to lose 10 pounds total for the year and was 4 pounds short 2 weeks ago.

Weigh-in was today and YES! I did it.  Dropped 11 pounds actually! (So 5 pounds in 2 weeks.)

Looking at my report.... it reminds me 4 years ago I was 5 pounds less than today.

Conversation with my personal trainer over chat today that I now want to hit THAT again.  He reminded me if I could drop 5 in two weeks, I can drop more-that I need to just not “eat my feelings”.  He is so DAMN RIGHT.

So, did I celebrate with the pizza I had planned it I met goal? Nope- went w a healthier option but still the same flavors.

Zucchini, mushrooms, onions, green peppers as the base, pasta sauce w Italian sausage and 1 serving of Italian cheese sprinkled over it.

So here is to the next goal or as my PCP calls it- my next summit.

Hoping to hit it by 2-5-17! 

My "Next 30 years" (Or hopefully many more than that)

So I sit here tonight pondering my birthday tomorrow.  Holy crap- I am turning 45.

October is almost always a struggle for me.

I love and hate fall.

Love: The comfy hoodies and jeans.  The beautiful colors.  Cool, brisk walks.
Hate: why is it always so dark.  I already miss the sun.

October holds some person "demons" for me too that are to private to share in here but just leaves me a little down.

So I skip workouts.  I eat my feelings.  I eat more than my feelings.

Back to reflecting.... 45 seems so much older than 44.  Is it because I am also facing my on,y child turning 18., graduating, making so many "big people" decisions?

Because I figure I am living to about 90 this makes me middle aged.

The song "My Next 30 Years" came to mind as I was driving home.

Especially this verse

My next thirty years I'm gonna settle all the scores
Cry a little less, laugh a little more
Find a world of happiness without the hate and fear
Figure out just what I'm doin' here in my next thirty years

https://g.co/kgs/4tMEXX

I still let other people's needs come before me.  I have to be okay with putting myself first.  I have started letting go of some toxic people but sometimes it is so hard.  I have to treat this body better because I need it to carry me through this next 30+ years.

But I am so thankful for these first 45 years.  Even the bad years have helped make me the strong person I am.  And I am blessed!  I have a job I love (ok, most days I love it but it is a little intense) and a boss I respect.  I have a great tight group of true friends and some I have never even met in real life but I know they have my back.  I am stronger mentally and physically than ever.  I have achieved things that "negative voice in my head" and even some real people in life said I would.  And I have the MOST AMAZING KID!

So here, on the eve of my 45th year, I sit happy with me.  And each year I hope to continue to make me an even better Monica!

For your entertainment, here is a picture of my adorable kid amend me about 40 years ago!

Fort2Base-I stand with our Military

Today was probably my favorite "Annual" race.  Fort2Base 3 NM (which means 3.4 miles).

Why do I love this race?  Aside from the fact it is the best run, most organized race I do?

This race is held each year on the Great Lakes Naval Base which is our nation's Boot Camp for the Navy.  They have troops from all branches serving.  

When you stand at 7am watching the flag raised on a base, you cannot help be proud.  To see officers and enlisted come out to cheer us on.  The sheer POLITENESS of every single member of the military you meet.

There are a lot of current, retired and disabled personnel out running with you.

Shortly after we start, a group of Navy personnel come out running to cadence.  They always catch me.  I run with them as long as I can and my pace peters out and I watch them pass.  It is an amazing sight.

This year the Navy stepped up their game and the water stops were a sight to behold.  We have some VERY fine looking people serving.

You come around turns and see amazing views of Lake Michigan.

There is one amazing downhill where I feel like I am able to truly be a RUNNER! (8:47 pace). About a mile later there is a HELL Hill that keeps me humble.

At the finish you receive your medal from on officer from the military, in full dress whites or blues.

They are all around to take pictures too.  And don't complain your all sweaty.  And stinking up their dress uniforms.  (And lean down because he was CRAZY tall!)

I thanked every service member I passed for their service and every volunteer.

I may not be fast.  I may not ever be able to handle the 10NM.  But until I can't do it, I will be doing this each year.

Reps, Rowing, Run, Rinse and Repeat!

So, the past 6 weeks have been a crazy busy time for me fitness-wise.

Finished a 60 day challenge at the gym with a 15 pound weight loss and 7% reduction in body fat and maintained muscle mass.  Kinda beat up my body the last 3 weeks and the scale (up 4 pounds again) and my pain level shows it (more on that later....let us just say July is kicking my ass).  But still super excited with the progress.

So... what did July bring?

July 3rd- Kayaking for the first time.  It was really great for about 75% of the trip.  Knocked out of the kayak by tree debris twice, got it righted and back in twice.  The 2nd time was when our group hit a strainer.  In addition to knocking me out, it also resulted in 4 of our group of 6 losing their kayaks. Spent a bit longer than I was comfortable with alone on the river and worried about the rest of the group.  Thankfully everyone remained calm, the Fire and Rescue launched boats and all was safe.  (4 kayaks lost but all humans were unharmed.)

July 4th- underfueled and probably dehydrated I ran for the first time in over 6 months.  8k or for you non-metric people it was 5 miles.  This showed where all my lifting and rowing has changed my body!  Had my first sub-14 minute mile and PR'd the course by almost a minute from the previous time.

Had to take most of that week off as the kayaking (kayaks fill with a lot of VERY heavy water when the flip....righting and emptying is a lot of work).  Did some light cardio and rowed a 5k.  Wishing I could run as fast as I row.

Had a crazy week after that that should have been about fueling and hydrating for the next run.  Well, as we all know life does not follow your plans and I worked too much, ate off my plan and did not drink enough.

7-16 was running again.  4.5 hours of sleep.  Underhydrated (anyone sense a theme).  But did the Rock N Roll Chicago 10k.  Thankfully the weather Gods were kind and it was upper 70's and moderate humidity.  The years before it was hot and humid as hell.  The knee told me after the first mile it was NOT going to let me hit the pace I wanted so instead slowed a bit and took a few pics and got the knee and leg to calm down and moved on.  Pace ended up 15:30 per mile average and 2 minutes faster than last year.

This week nutrition was bad, either under or overeating and hydration was not back on track til Thursday.

What have I learned through all this?

Kayaking is awesome!  Until the rain slows I will likely stick to lakes but definitely will do it again.

You can train to race and have a decent pace without running at all in training.  My cardio is pretty much all rowing and doing HIIT (weights while keeping reps and exercise mix enough to keep heart rate elevated.)

My knee/quad really are not fans of running but can handle speed walking so if the weather cooperates will start trying to get some land miles in to work on improving the short stride method as it helps protect my knee.

I don't miss running in my training but I miss racing.  This means I will probably keep running 2-3 races a year that have meaning to me but space them at least 4 weeks apart to allow better recovery.

Most importantly?  I really a learning to love my body and what it can do!  I am hitting weights in the gym that are amazing to me.

Had a discussion with someone on "if you didn't need to work for a living what would you do?"
It took me a while and it came to me.  I would want to help train and inspire those "like me".  To be able to offer free or low cost training to my fellow Chubby girls and help them find the workouts and food to help them live their healthiest life.  Skinny is not a goal.  Fit, healthy and strong is.

Now to just win the lottery.

Riding the Struggle Bus

Phew, it has been a bit again.

Today I am feeling in a little funk and needed to get some thoughts out so here I am.

The knee/quad are still a struggle but finding a few tools that help. Using a mix "traditional" medicine in regards to anti-inflammatories and Physical Therapy but also some non-traditional methods too.  

These include Young Living Essential Oils, Fascial Stretch/Release Massage and Yin Yoga.  The oils help with pain relief.  The FST and Yin Yoga help to address the crazy, unexplained tightness/muscle imbalances I have.  

Swimming is still an evolving tool.  3 months of lessons and I no longer appear to be drowning but now it is just spending more time in the water and getting my breathing down.  Taking a break on lessons for a while.

P.T. got me over the hump with a lot of deep work on the quad and reassuring me I was not a big Whitney baby lol.  Have some nice techniques I can use for the knee and quad myself now.

FST is a HUGE tool for me.  My body likes to make scar tissue and my muscles like to be "knotty". FST is different than "normal" massage as it works to release the fascia on a deeper level and has really helped to get things looser.

Yin Yoga is a different type of yoga that works to stretch the fascia and helps,support the "hands-on" work my FST therapist does.

I also realized w the need to "modify" my workouts it is time to spend time back with my personal trainer.  We are looking to fine tune workouts and nutrition to get me back in track.  

My clothes show the 5 pounds.  My work pants are approaching the "hobo" look of being to big.  Wore a dress to work twice this week and because they "fit" people really noticed the changes I have made.

So, why the title "riding the struggle bus".  Because my brain is fixated on my weight and Body Fat%.  For the past 3 weeks I have been back on track w food and exercise.  Could my macro mix be better?  Yes but 100x better than before and my workouts have been much more consistent.  The result?  The first week was great-4 pounds,  second week only 1 pound, this week..a measly 0.2. Body Fat% on my home scale is only down 0.5% overall.

If you ever watched the Biggest Loser or those other shows it is usually week 3 when the body freaks out and stalls or shows a gain.

Knowing this isn't helping.  It is messing w my head and from experience I know I need to stay the course.  I know from looking at my metrics from this week my body was not in a good phase last week.  Pain was up a little and resting heart rate went from 64-65 to 71. Stress was high which intellectually I know them affects my pain levels, recovery post workout and sleep.  But it still sucks.  RHR is back down to 67 today.  

Fun new tool? The scale at the gym- it goes beyond just regular body fat and does more of a full body scan and also provides where you should look to change your body comp.  Not surprising is the need to lose body fat. The nice thing is the # of pounds it recommends.  55 pounds of fat.  That is about in line with where I set my goal.  The magic scale feels my lean body mass is spot on. This was a nice validation.  Will be fun to watch how the numbers shift over time and the difference in my Wednesday post-workout numbers and my Saturday AM pre-workout Numbers.



Shout outs to the great team who have been behind me and keep pushing me forward:

Becky Wilson, FST3, LMT at 2XL Body Works (https://www.facebook.com/pg/2XLBodyWorks/about/)-
AJ Aguilar at Lifetime Fitness-Schaumburg 
Yin Yoga with Sue at Lifetime Fitness-Algonquin
Laurie Hill, PT Advocate Sherman-Streamwood
Dr. Enrique Saguil, MD AMG Bartlett


If you want to know more about how I am using Young Living Essential Oils -send me a message.  I am a distributor and have an amazing team of ladies supporting me there too!

Letting go....

It has been too long since I wrote on here and tonight I just felt like I needed to get this out of my head and be at peace with my body.

If you are friends with my in real,life or follow my FB page, you have seen I have been struggling.  Struggling w running, with pain, with feeling like I was moving backwards and fighting my body every step of the way.

And I have been....  for years I have worked at being a runner, at losing weight, and getting farther from when I loved my workouts.

I have a great team around me.  Not just family and friends but a great MD and recently found an amazing massage therapist (which is an understatement of what she does- fascial release is way beyond massage).  Through work I a trying a weight loss program.

I have had insane pain in my right leg. The more I tried to work through it the worse it got.  MRI ordered to look at what is going on found an answer I wasn't expecting. Apparently, my right knee cap has pretty significant arthritis.

That means that one day it will need at least a partial replacement.  If I modify things, I can li,rly put it off many years and only need a partial.  If I keep running, biking, beating up that knee I will need it sooner and possibly a total instead of a partial.

When talking to someone about it I said even though I truly sucked at runnning I felt like a failure giving it up.  She asked why it was so important to me if I didn't enjoy it, was not good at it, it had already put my under the knife once and would put me there faster.  I tried to explain and I couldn't.  Because she was right. I enjoy lifting, I am pretty decent at it and my body responds to it.  Running and biking really hurt.  Running never felt natural.

But, the there is Brody.  My iRun4 buddy.  If I don't run there are no medals to send.  Will he be sad? (I know he won't be nor will his family but it weighs a little.)

And running seems like it should be the most natural thing to do.  But for me it isn't.

So, I think I am finally at peace with this and letting go.  I have to honor this body that has carried me through 44 years so far and hopefully will carry me at least 44 more.

I am getting back to basics.  Back to lifting,  modifying things that hurt, finding things that don't.

My early trainers tried to teach me this lesson.  That feeling uncomfortable is ok.  Pain is not.  Pain is your body telling to to stop and listen. I forgot it for a while but I am getting back there. Ian and AJ.... I know better.  (Haha and now I have a legit reason not to jump!)

So,what is my point in all this?  Hoping that if you are reading this and your feeling like what you are doing is hurting, true pain-- STOP and find something else.  Find a team to help you learn what is going on and what is a better choice for your body.  And let go of what your head "thinks" you should do and listen to what your body is trying to tell you.

Fall is here and more than just the leaves are changing

Phew, summer is winding down.  I am looking forward to less humidity when I run that is for sure.

Had some crazy things this summer with friends and family that has made me really look at my life and how I am living it.  I will be 44 in less than a month and if I want this body to give me another 44 years, I really have to start taking better care of it.  Back to logging my food more, making better choices and hitting the gym.

My PCP will be glad to hear I am trying to get in the meditation and yoga too.

The other thing I often feel I am missing is a purpose.  While my life is not perfect I have so much more than others.  I have wanted to try to find a way to give back and to make a difference.  Wasn't sure how or where that would be.

Funny thing how sometimes a chance meeting brings a new opportunity.

Yesterday I ran a race called "Be a Hero to a Hero". I had decided to do it as it supports military members struggling w/ coming home.  It was close to home and thought it would help keep me motivated in my running.

It was a small race.  An adorable 9 year old little girl decided to run with me the whole time and we chatted (well, as much as I can talk and try to run) and it reminded me of the first time I ever ran.

After the race, I found out her Dad was the Veteran who organized the race.

Fast forward to the post-race party.  Talked to all the people who ran the event, their families and the owners of several other veteran owned businesses and organizations.  I cannot even explain how amazing these people are.

Today I sent an email to the organizers of the race to see how I can become more involved.


So, if you are looking for some great people here are the organizations I met yesterday.  (I am trying to get more involved in A Warrior's Mind but boy, Sheep Dog Impact is amazing too.)

A Warrior's Mind-  Military focused and support
http://www.awarriorsmind.com/

Sheep Dog Impact Assistance-supports military, law enforcement, fire and other service persons
http://sheepdogia.org/


Find a purpose and a passion.  It helps you to remember that even your bad days are not that damn bad.

I will not eat my stress, I will not eat my stress, I WILL NOT EAT MY STRESS

So, been almost 3 months since I blogged.  Have been minimally more active on my linked FB page.

So, here is my status.....

So far this year, I completed a Spartan Sprint, a local 5k and then the RockNRoll Chicago.  Each one showed my how far I have fallen from my prior fitness level.

I have also survived and pretty much finished the migration of our computer system at work for my department.  The stress is not yet over as all my reporting has to be redone/revamped/rewritten and for the next few months it will be blending data from my old to new system.  Needless to say, stress level is still kinda high.  Trying to remember that I have to take time for me.....   I have not been putting myself first (or probably even second or third or fourth....).

This weekend I dug back out the food scale, the tape measure, my workout log book and updated all my stats in MyFitnessPal.  The numbers are not good but they are not horrid.  I am up a total of 13 pounds from my lowest weight in Jan 2014 BUT been pretty steady for the last 12 months.

So now to start working the plan again.  I need to start logging daily, getting in my cardio and weights (Cardio has been so-so but have not touched weights in MONTHS...) and getting back to yoga and meditation.

Funny thing is it was a simple chat w/ two guys who helped me really get going on this journey that reminded me why I needed to get back to it.

I am not sure Ian and AJ will ever realize how much of an impact they made on me and how much confidence it gave me.

I miss the feeling that the gym bought me and how much healthier I felt.  As I have slacked more and more, the migraines and achiness I used to have is creeping back.

 Hopefully, I can keep my focus and keep pushing on.  Feel free to ask me how it is going, nudge me, push me because I need someone to help keep me going.

Crap.....fell off the wagon again

Hey there,

For many on this journey this will sound familiar.... Fell off the wagon again.  Didn't really lose ground but was not working out as much as I should, lost my mojo and just was not "feeling it".

Spartan looming, races coming up and just wasn't feeling it.

WHY?

Work pressure are INSANE are the biggest one.  I leave work so mentally fried the last thing I want to do is cook, prep, workout.

But that is the thing.....  when I am on track, when I eat right and work out I sleep better.  This hel.s me manage the stress better.

Yet I still got off-track and stopped making me a priority.

So what has me working at it again? (Aside from my Spartan is 3 weeks from today..)  Had someone tell me how much I was inspiring them and they missed my post.  Had another person tell me they could tell just looking at me that I seemed to be hanging on by a thread.  Had the inner thigh of my favorite jeans blow out.  (Come on my lady friends.... you know this sucks- mind you they were about 7 years old so really overdue but dammit)

So yesterday was gym and a long walk.

Today I will be getting outside again.  And tomorrow.

Thankfully I have not gotten far off track and the scale/measurements are the same. (Actually while the scale is up 3 pounds, muscle mass is up 4 so thank you pushup challenge.  Cuz yeah- MY DAMN CHEST MEASUREMENTS ARE UP.  Sorry, not where I want to see gains lol...you will understand if you have ever seen pics of me.)

Took this first picture last night on my walk- Spring is in full bloom and it is time for new beginnings.

The second is me and the kid on Mother's day (my "now") and the last is me 3 years ago.  This is where I want to be back to.  I am not that far off weight/measurement wise but the drive and "Headspace" is where I need to get to.

Like Yoda said.... "There is no try, there is only do or not do".  Gotta DO IT!

Shame, life changes and keep pushing forward!!

Ok, so it has been 2 months since I posted but today was inspired to write by a post in one of the FB pages I belong to.

The post was very inspiring about if you dream of doing a big race/distance don't be afraid just because right now you are only able to do a few miles.

What it reminded me of is the flip side of that you sometimes see when you start a workout journey- the fact that in some people's minds if you "only" run 5ks and 10ks you are afraid to do a big race (such as a half or full marathon or an ultra marathon-which is anything over 26.2 miles and often are 50 or 100 miles long).  That if you start doing weights you have to try Crossfit.  That if you do xyz you must move on to the next level.

Here is what I want to say- NO- you don't have to.  Your fitness is your journey.  If you love running 2-3 miles but never want to do a race- DON'T.   If you love to lift, are meeting your goals- you don't have to do Crossfit.  If your workout is walking, you do not have to run.

The goal is to do what makes you feel good!  These days people are constantly pressured to do the next big thing.  I am here to say focus on your journey and your goals.  Think about your health and talk to your Doctors about what is realistic and safe.

Me?  I am a 5k to 10k kinda girl (3.1 to 6.2 miles) for runs and I do run/walk intervals.  Would I love to be able to run the whole thing?  Sure.  Do I care if I forever stay doing intervals.  NOPE!!!  My pace is about a 14 minute mile.  If it stays there forever, I am ok with it.

I have scaled back my race plans for this year after looking at my goals for this year and where I want to be next year.  I want to be in a healthier place both physically and fiscally and racing is expensive so I picked three races that are mean something to me.  (Spartan as I just love it, RNR as it is the first race I ever actually ran in and Fort2Base).  I see all my friends posting their races and I will admit I am jealous.  But I have bigger goals I have to remember.

(That said, I will take any free races someone wants to give me lol.)

So..... the blog heading alludes to life changes.  Nothing radical in the way most people think.  Started treating with the doctor I mentioned in my last blog and trying to look at my life and make positive changes.  Some are hard for me (begin a meditation/relaxation practice) and some are just an adjustment (scale back my workouts to 1 hour per day because with the stress levels I have, too much exercise can be just as bad as too little).  I could write about this for a long time but this post is already getting longer than most want to read.

Oh....and yoga- I have started yoga.  THAT is big change for me.  If you know me in real life, for me to be in a room full of people for 60 minutes and be quiet- you understand why Yoga is hard.


For those looking for a relaxation/meditaiton practice but not sure where to start- I am doing the below 21 day challenge that starts on March 21 with Deepak Chopra and Oprah. It is free so if you are thinking about it, give it a try too.  It is a meditation that is to help with Weight loss.  This is an interesting concept of mind/body and that being QUIET can help you lose weight.


https://chopracentermeditation.com/


Have a great day!!

Welcome to 2016..... Sorry I have been away so long

SHOOT- have I really not updated my blog since May?  Ok- here is a quick recap-

Did have CECS, had surgery, got it fixed and TOTALLY FELL OFF THE WAGON.  I got in a slump and slowed to a near stop on working out, on following a healthy diet, on running- Towards the middle of December I finally started finding my "mojo" again and started hitting the gym.  I was up nearly 20 pounds since my lowest.....  So started looking at myself and what I was doing which leads us to today....  Today- January 9, 2016.

First off- I have had a HELL of a jump start to my fitness this year.  Lost a bet on a football game and had to put in the miles for the difference in the score. NU lost to UT 45 to 6 meant I owed him 39 miles...... luckily the guy I bet gave me a few outs- 1- all miles counted-bike/walk/run/elliptical. 2-he gave me til today to get it done (the game was 1-1-16) and lastly- if I couldn't do it- I could pay him $3 a point I didn't do.  SCREW THAT!  Not only did I do the I ended up at 46.18 for the month.

Here is the break down:
Bike 25.64
Run 10.48
Walk 2.61
Elliptical 7.45

Now.... what brought me back to the blog.

Most people through work have different "health" initiatives.  For ours, if we go to certain lectures etc- we can get points that mean an entry into a raffle for $500 to $5000.  There was one near my house today called "Healthy Lifestyles and Weight Loss".  I figured I would go- I expected it to be the same old/same old- Move more, eat less, drink this shake, take this pill and you will be thin.


NOPE.... it was an MD talking who reminded me what I used to do.  What I needed to get back to.

Being healthy and this journey can't just be about the food and exercise.  The mind is as much a part of the battle as the body.

I used to mediate to reduce my stress.  I used to try to do many things to keep my stress in control.

I stopped doing it.  And my headaches are back, the weight is back, my focus is off.

So taking the time to get back in line.

Will go to the other two lectures in the series.

I feel like my eyes are open and my mind is ready to begin again.

Because this is a JOURNEY- there is no single destination.  There is no single right path.

The doctor today talked about the basis of any healthy lifestyle is TEA

Thinking
Eating
Activity

If you don't pay attention to all three- you are out of balance.

His other thing you need to remember is RPM - Rise, Pee, Meditate- he is an MD with strong roots in eastern practices, teaches yoga, believes in accupuncture, and chiro.  That Medicine needs to also be rooted in many things, not just the Western philosophy.  I have been looking at different options for many things as "normal" medicine does not work.  We have started using essential oils in our home.  We have been trying to improve the quality of the food we buy and consume.

Food can be medicine, so can exercise. Sometimes your best cures are NOT from the Walgreens.

This is likely enough for today.

I promise it won't be another 8 months before I come back.

Will try to share the skills I learn and such.



(For those interested in more about the speaker- his name is Dr. Ric Saguil and his Website is Herbal411.com.  He has a lot of videos on there and a blog.  Working my way through some of his stuff)

I think my Ortho thinks I am nuts.........

There is a saying.... Nurses make terrible patients.  I can be one of those nurses that makes a terrible patient.  I try hard not to be.

Have not updated in a bit.

Arterial doppler was abnormal (haha, suprised everyone) and got a NEXT DAY appointment with a cardiologist from that one.  He was so confused by the abnormal results until I let him in on what my PCP and Ortho thought and then it was "UMMM, yeah- that makes sense AND it is pretty bad if that is what it turns out what it is based on what happened on the doppler".  "Just to be safe though, lets do a CT Angio to rule out a vascular issue."......  yeah... could I have the vessels of a 70 year smoker who mainlines fat?

PHEW- that was normal.  In fact, I think the Cardiologist said my vessels look "PRISTINE".

Was happy and excited.  Chronic Exertional Compartment Syndrome looks much better when the other option was needing bypass grafts in your legs.......

Been walking and keeping my pace low.  Overdid it one weekend w/ two back to back walks on a Friday evening/Saturday Morning that were both a little hilly and a little more than my "allowed miles".   Had some numbness the next day.  Sat my ass down for a few days and now back to behaving.

Saw the ortho today.  Figured would tell him all this and he would say "Let's watch it a little more".

Ummm, nope.  Told him all of above.  Guess who gets to have the fun test where they shove big needles in your legs, then pull them out...run til the pain starts then have them shove the big needles back in.  YEP.  Apparently he does not like what I explained the Doppler showing (he did not get the results, only my PCP and cardio did) especially with the numbness after being a bit too aggressive.

He was able to do a bit more sleuthing in my medical records (that heavens for connected hospital EMRs and such) and the kind of scarring I get should not be an issue if we decide surgery is the treatment for this.

Bad news is he thinks I will need surgery for this.  The "fun" test will give us the information to be 100% certain that the diagnosis is correct AND severity.  Then we will make an educated decision about the surgery.  If the test is normal.....well there are some other fun things it could be and will be more fun testing like nerve exams, MRIs and bone scans to look for weird muscle things, nerve issues or a atypical stress fracture.   But he (and cardio and the pcp) all are pretty convinced of the diagnosis.

So....why does he think I am crazy.  We finish discussing all this and he says "Any questions?"  Asked about elliptical (yes, slow and try to limit to 30 minutes and stop immediately if it hurts), rowing (Yes, and might be a great alternative as it uses the upper leg muscles, back/core and arms more than calves).  Then the big question.  "So I deferred or gave away all my races but one.  I would like to do the Warrior Dash 6-14 if you think it will not cause irrepairable harm".  He laughs "An Obstacle Race......"  Hey, I cancelled two Spartans since burpees  and HUGE ASS HILLS are a no-no.

His answer is typical doctor.  "I can't tell you it is a GREAT idea to do it.  I won't say you can't.  You have to race smart.  Don't run between the obstacles-walk and save your legs.  Be careful with the climbing.  If it starts to hurt or you get any funny numbness/tingling, tripping- STOP.  IMMEDIATELY.  If you do that, then I think you can do it without any risk of making this worse/permanent damage"

So......   I focused on the very last part "I think you can do it without any risk of making this worse". (HEHE)

No but he did say seriously he feels if I do it at a walking pace and am careful and that I agree to stop if it starts to hurt- then he would probably do it too.  (Love docs who get it).

BUT....he said it is contingent on the fun stab me w/ needles test.  If he sees something on that out of what he is expecting, he reserves the right to change his answer.  (Gosh, you mean I don't get a guarantee?)

The logistics of scheduling this are fun because he will be doing the test himself, needs to get the equiptment and wants to do it over at the field house they use (yes, my ortho apparently has space at a field house) and I am in the midst of chaos at work.  Should be a logistical fun house.

SO....keep your fingers crossed peeps that the test shows CECS, it isn't horrid enough that it requires me to park my butt on the couch until he can fix it and that I can be smart until then.

Runner Down..... Today's lesson - Pain does NOT make you stronger

Sorry I have been MIA for a bit.  Work has been insane and my training has been a struggle due to pain.

I have been fighting leg pain for a while.  (6-9 months....)  It started as a nagging pain that would start towards the end of a long run and go away when I stopped.

Over time, it got to starting within the first 1/2 mile and would take longer and longer to go away.

It reached a new level in intensity about a week ago.  And only took 30 seconds of running.

So off to the doctor I went- figured it was shin splints but wanted to be sure I didn't have stress fractures. Figured that was unlikely since it was both legs and more beside my shins than in them.

Stop #1 was my PCP.  Got the head shake...nope, not shin splint and not stress fractures.  His guess was Chronic Exertional Compartment Syndrome (CECS).  Having worked in ortho I knew what acute Compartment Syndrome is BAD and after consulting my go to medical sites I learned that CECS is not good either.

Many of the symptoms matched mine.....including the foot drop which is a sign it is pretty significant.

PCP ordered venous and arterial dopplers and sent me off to the ortho. Venous was normal (it was a stat test to rule out clots) Arterial doppler study and ortho were this Wednesday.

Went into the ortho and to keep his mind open, did not mention what the PCP thought, only that he did not think it was shin splints.

After he asked me why it took 9 months to see someone (ummm, because I figured I am a chubby runner...that pain was normal) he says "It is likely one of two things- stress fractures which are not a likely thing based on exam but we will do xrays just to be sure OR it is CECS."  SHIT.  Xrays normal.

Asked if he thought I should do the arterial doppler.  Sure- will rule out a few other things and if it is severe enough, it can actually prove the CECS and make it so we don't have to do the actual test.  (Picture someone taking some needles and stuffing it into your calves/along your shins to measure pressure, then run on a treadmill for 5 minutes and then do it again at 1 minute and 5 minutes later.)

So-treatment for now is anti-inflammatories, ice calves and shins after exercise, and the crap part........ 6 weeks of no running.  Can walk SLOWLY (20 minute/mile pace) or swim or bike at a Moderate pace.  Can keep lifting as long as I keep the weights reasonable (apparently a 60 pound squat is moderate) and reps within reason.  Basically 1 hour of exercise per day and that is it.

So...... most all my races for the year are out.  May be cleared to do the Warrior Dash in June since it is only 3 miles.  Spartans are DEFINITELY out.  Hills apparently are NOT my friends either.

This leaves me a bit down but trying to remind myself that it is much better than many people endure.  I can still exercise moderately.  I can still lift.  Ortho thinks we can avoid surgery if I agree to be reasonable.

AND..... he says if I am good and patient, I could maybe run short distances in 6 months......  but nothing over 3 miles forever no matter what.  Apparently not everyone can be a runner.

HOWEVER AGAIN- this is just a blip.  I am still on my journey.  I am still healthy and loved.  I can live with going slower in life.  Plans are to take the $$ I would have been spending on races and such and instead take swim lessons.  I have a nice bike and a car that can carry it.  Hmmm......maybe I can save up and buy a kayak.

Who knows...maybe I will enjoy taking life at a slower pace.

(**And if you are having pain- please don't ignore it--- please get it checked out.)

iRun4Brody and He inspires and helps push me!!

WOW. For those who have followed me a bit, you know I belong to iRun4- a great organization that matches runners w/ children or adults who cannot run due to health issues.

I have the privilege of running for Brody Born a Heart Hero​!

As many know, February is all about love and hearts and this week is Congenital Heart Defect Awareness week and so Brody has given me a challenge this week for him!

"I challenge you in honor of Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week (February 7-14, 2015). To add 13 additional miles to whatever your intended workout week would have held.
7 miles for this being the start of CHD Awareness Week!
2 miles for the amount of Open Heart Surgeries I've had so far!
3 miles for the amount of Cardiac Catheterizations I've had so far!
& 1 mile for the one amazing bond I have being paired with you!

13 although to some an unlucky number seems to be how I came about receiving my congenital heart defect (unlucky) as little is known about the cause, and as well there is no cure, as surgery is not a cure, contrary to what many may think... although it does help.

Love Your Heart Warrior,
Brody Born a Heart Hero

I am cheering you on Monica's Miles-A Chubby Girl's Journey to Fit and Fabulous!! You can do this!!!  Heart Hugs"



When called to action- what can you do but STEP UP YOUR GAME!!

So... I never actually "plan" my miles.  (haha I am a terrible person that way....kinda just go where the mood takes me.....Maybe this will start to change that too!!)

To meet the challenge I am going to do 13 miles more this week than last week!

Last week my totals were:
walking  2 miles
elliptical  20.45 miles
running  2 miles

row .62 miles
Total 25.07

So.... this week I need to log a total of miles.

Today I got started on that in a BIG way- I rowed 0.62, ran 1.05, walked 1.45 and biked 6.45.  SO.... starting the week with 9.57

This kid is just what I need to keep me motivated and pushing forward as I kick start my training for the races coming up.

I mean ......  Look at him- how can you say no?

2015 Update- WHY am I doing this, how do I stay motivated and if you are considering making a change...where to start

Had a call from an old friend today and it was a reminder that maybe I have new followers.  Or maybe you have lost your way (weigh)?

His questions to me were "How did you get started and why?  HOW do you stay motivated after nearly two years?  How do I get started?"  We talked for a little while and I really hope it helps get him going.

This is a little rambling but it is the honest side of me!

Lets start with the WHY?  Honestly, I wanted to make a change.  I had just turned 40.  BUT even more important, was starting to see more and more of my friends having illnesses related to being inactive.  Starting to lost classmates to heart attacks.  Having friends losing their parents to disease.  My son is the most important thing to me and I do not want to leave him any earlier than I have to.

How did I get started?  Well, after a few fits and starts I just started doing it.  Started with walking, then eventually running.  (See my blog around July 2014 for my start of ACTUAL running.) I joined a gym.  I got a trainer.  I started signing up for races and obstacle course races.

Why did this help?  I hate wasting money.  I also hate failing.  AND, I really, REALLY hate pain.

If I am spending the money on the gym and the trainer, I will go.  If I don't work out except w/ the trainer there is no point.  If I don't watch what I eat, there is no point of any of it.  If I don't work out regularly and train hard, I will SUCK at the races and get hurt at the obstacle course races.

Food is as important as working out by the way.  If you work out hard an hour a day you may burn 500 calories.  BUT, if you don't watch what you are eating, you could be easily consuming 3500.  I know this because one of my first steps was to log EVERYTHING I eat.  I was eating between 3000 and 3500 calories a day.  I was lucky I didn't weigh even more!

The trainer also pushed me harder than I thought I could until now I push myself just as hard.

Probably the newest tools in my toolbox?
1. My Fitbit- I do challenges w/ my sisters, friends, others to try to beat them on steps.  Keeps my butt moving because while I don't always win, I REALLY HATE BEING LAST!

2. PACT- it is an app where you basically "bet" against yourself.  My PACT is I will log 4 days per week and I will work out 3 days per week.  For any I fail, it costs me $10 PER DAY!  (again I hate wasting $$)  If I succeed, I get to split the pot from any "losers".  I make about $1.25 a week.

Is it easy? NOPE.  Still isn't and I still fail.  I was off track and lazy from October to now.  Why?  Huh, no RACES on the near horizon.

Race season gets going hard core in May.  I have one every two weeks starting May 3rd through June 14th.  I have some smaller ones planned to but these are the BIG ones.  Then another Spartan in August.

What should you do to get started?  The first thing is SEE YOUR DOCTOR FOR A PHYSICAL!

You need to make sure your blood pressure and heart are ok. Make sure they check your thyroid, cholesterol, blood glucose and depending on how much you have to lose, HgbA1c.  You want to make sure there is nothing you need to work on medically to start safely.  If you are gal- make sure you get your pap smears and mammograms if you doctor recommends it.  Also ask your Gyn if you need to be checked for PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) as it can affect how you hold onto weight and lose it.  It is more common if you are overweight and it makes your body love your fat.  It can also cause your female hormones to be off leading to MANY other parts of you.

Then start SLOW.  Do not start working out 7 days a week and cut your calories to 1200 and become paleo or remove large parts of your diet.

If it has been a long time, start with walking 20 minutes 3-4 times per week (Walk 10 minutes in one direction from your house and then turn around at the 10 minute mark and come home.)  Log EVERYTHING you eat.  I use MyFitnessPal- feel free to friend me there- I am MeAndConnor there.  Just like you wouldn't get in a car and start blindly driving if you didn't know where you were, you can't figure out what you need to change in your diet if you don't know how many calories you eating right now.

OK- this is probably enough for now.  Please feel free to comment if you have questions or if I can help you?  I watch here and on my Facebook Profile.  https://www.facebook.com/ChubbyGirltoFitAndFabulous

Oh my...... Have I really been that much of a slacker?

Decided to come over here and update the blog as I was updating my monthly mileage total and my Virtual Mission for my iRun4 Buddy Brody.  

How has it been over 6 weeks since I was last blogging?

What has happened in that time?

Well.....Got in a car accident (not my fault) and my car got totaled and had to buy a new one.

Been dating someone now for almost 3 months.

That someone reminded me the other day I might want to step up my game as I have some big races in 3 months.  (Haha and in my mind I thought I had 6 months...... )

Trying to firm up the rest of my races.

My schedule is a bit nutty so far.

As far as big races I have planned:

May 3, 2015----The Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon (Part of a relay team...I think I am doing 7.5 miles)

May 16, 2015---Indianapolis Spartan Sprint.

May 31, 2015----Rockford 10k. 

June 14, 2015----Warrior Dash

August 16, 2015----Chicago Spartan Sprint (Oh man.... moved from end of September....this is gonna be a hot race)

Finally starting to find my mojo and my rhythm again.

Discovered that I LOVE Rowing!!!  What a great full body and cardio workout at the same time.

Now to just keep it moving-  Current goals are: get lighter, stronger, faster and ready for the races!!!

(Oh- and scale is FINALLY going the right way- down 3 pounds so far in just under 2 weeks!)

Will try to be here more.  If only to keep myself accountable.  

All I want for Christmas is..............

Wow, only 20 days left in 2015!  Where the heck did this year go?  I have not blogged in forever and just feel like I have been slacking overall.  I have been working out but eating........  I didn't just fall off the wagon, I fell off the wagon, rolled down a big hill and across the valley.

One of my rules I made to myself with this journey and with this blog is complete transparency and honesty.  Confession- I am up 8 pounds since last year.  At first I told myself it was muscle.  Yeah.... then I redid my measurements (Waist, hips and thighs don't lie......)

I held my weight steady until I finished my Spartan.  Then WHAM, fell off the wagon and the eating commenced.

So, what do I want for Christmas?  To find my motivation again.  To find my control.  To find my self-control and strength.

Bought myself a nice little reminder!   (http://marketingandprops.com/shop/shebelieved/)

For the strength- I don't mean to say I lost my physical strength- that has been gaining like mad too and it is a good kind- the trainer has been upping my weights and pushed me so at least I have not lost the Gains I love so much.  So I know I have it in me- Got the physical down-now just to regain the mental!  (To that end, I did put on my Christmas list a 20 pound Slam Medicine Ball- There is nothing I love more when I am feeling stressed to just repeatedly SLAM a heavy ball on a concrete floor!!!)

So, the question is- HOW do I find it again?  Well, step one is get back to basics.  Food logging, cooking, blogging, weekly weights and measures.

AND....Signed up and committed to a Spartan Sprint in May, a Warrior Dash in June, another Spartan Sprint in September.  I also have a 10k I signed up for that I cannot remember for the life of me the date of.

Why Spartans?  I remember how hard it was to haul 212 pounds over those walls a few months ago.  I cannot, WILL NOT do it again in May.  Also, I run as a means to an ends.  I LOVE obstacle course races.  If I could afford it and my body could take it, I would do one every month.  I think that was the problem. I had nothing planned after my Spartan.  The let down from no races made me........ is deflated the right word?  Add to that a very quick move from fall to winter here in the Midwest and all I want is comfort food....and CARBS!

So if you are on MyFitnessPal- look me up (MeAndConnor).  FitBit?  Give me your info and I will add you as a friend?  And as always, find me on Facebook!

Let's keep pushing forward, being strong and let me hear from you!!!  Are you struggling?  Let me hear from you and we can help pull each other out of our ruts!!

20 days......>>LETS DO THIS!!!!

And just so there is a nice pic- here is me and my dad from a recent wedding we went to- was blessed enough to be invited to the weddings of both my Step-Brothers this fall!

A little bit of Joy and Pain

So, this week has been a week of craziness.  2 weeks out from the Spartan and just got the "official" pics.  I will put them at the end of today's blog.

Last weekend was some downtime and this week too.

So now to explain the heading of this one.

I have this blog for a couple reasons.  One is to give me some place to ramble all the thoughts that I have as I go through this journey in hopes that I don't totally prattle on to all my friends and family endlessly. (Although, I suspect if you know me in real life, I am often prattling on about it...sorry.)

The other reason is that I hope it inspires others, encourages them.  That this open and honest blog helps other people who don't "look like" a runner or a OCR elite sees YOU CAN DO IT.  I have had a number of people let me know it does just that.  

Well.....this week it got recognized in a big way.  A coworker of mine nominated me for an award at work for being a HealthE Champion.  I work for a large organization (over 30,000 employees).  I was selected to be one of the 25 winners for either being a HealthE Champion or an Environmental Champion.  What she wrote touched my heart!  She has been on her own journey and has made amazing changes in her life.  For her to nominate me was amaizng but to have won.....that is just crazy.

Now I am challenged to answer these questions - 

1.      Tell us about how you practice a healthy lifestyle at work and at home.

2.      Describe what motivates you to live a healthy lifestyle or what inspired you to make changes to practice healthy behaviors.

3.      Do you participate in the Healthe You program?  If so, how has it helped you to live healthier?

4.      What insights or advice have you learned about living healthy that you would like to share with others?

 I am thinking on it.......

Now, for the pain.  I have pushed myself hard lately.  I am not the best at taking care of myself.  I don't stretch post runs or lifting.  I have IT Band issues and am terrible with my foam roller. I have the knowledge, the tools, no excuses and I just don't do it.

Well, it has now not only been affecting my runs, it has been ruining my sleep and then crazy dreams.  (Yup, dreamed that I finally went to the doctor for the knot in my one thigh- the dream then took a crazy turn when he just sliced right into it and pulled out a bag of ball bearings and bb's.)

So.....today I decided to take a little time and give myself a birthday gift. I went and got a 90 minute massage.  For those of you picturing a nice relaxing time....NOPE, I go for deep tissue.  The gal I see starts w/ you on your back so she can do legs first.  I prefer it as my back gets super tense while she does it because it hurts like HELL.  She found a few knots in the left and was like "Well, that is a first to find more than one and that size/location."  I warned her the right was worse.  HAHAHAHA......  when we were done, she warned me to drink lots of water, stop and get some biofreeze or salonpas  and to start taking care of myself.  "How the HELL do you run when your right quad is nothing but knots and pain?"

So.... trying to remind myself that if I want to continue this journey i need to start taking care of myself and my poor quads.  (and glutes)

So... that is my little lesson for me and for the rest of you---  Remember to take the time to take care of yourself.  Stretching is important. If something is sore, DON'T IGNORE IT.  Take the time to work on it when it is a small little thing, not when it is waking you up several times a night and making anything you do painful.  Fitness is all facets of life, not just the miles you cover and the pounds you move.

This is my new best friend lol

As promised, more spartan pics.

                                     

Courage, fear, and SPARTAN!!

Sunday, September 28th- I faced my fear of failure, fear of injury, fear of not being "enough" and did the Chicago Spartan Sprint.  It took me until today to be able to figure out what to say in this blog and to decide what picture to use for the start of it.

So, let's start with this picture I chose.  This is me, at the finish line, just got my medal.  And I am crying.  Tears of relief.  Tears of PRIDE!  This was the toughest thing I have ever done.  It was physically ROUGH.  It was emotionally even ROUGHER.

Why?  Oh so many reasons.  We all have the baggage of our youths we carry, the little voices we hear in our heads.  We have that image in the mirror and the number on the scale.

So, here is the recap-

Sunday the weather was BEAUTIFUL- 80 degrees, sunny, nice little breeze.

First part- You are never alone in a Spartan- yes it is a competitive race.  It is timed.  BUT, the Spartan creed is you help others, you leave no one behind.

My Dad, step-Mom and a great friend were willing to drive all the way from Rockford, pick me up, drive me there, wait for me, take tons of pics, ride home with my STINKY self and just be all around AWESOME!!

The team from Chicago Spartan welcomed me OPEN ARMS and I was never alone.  Pablo and his Wife. Christopher Mulvey and his awesome Girlfriend Yogi, Sarah, Jes, so many others.

An awesome guy named Ken who was running it solo and happy to let us step up on him, boost us up (and nearly CRUSH him when I fell off a wall)


The COURSE- You start out climbing a wall which then basically locks you in the starting corral.  They go over the rules (speed talking the boring safety part since we obviously were not scared off by the warning below on the packet) and the remind us WHAT IS A SPARTAN.

We are off.

Nice little run......

Then the mud starts.....  yup, over and under things, In and out of mud, moving right a long and feeling good.

First thing that made me question my choice- the barb wire.  It is NOT too far off the ground.  Was not low enough at one point and felt it grab my hair.  GOT LOW THEN!!!  Rolling did not work in many places so it was flat belly arm crawl. (Note-if you are considering one- wear something covering your ENTIRE legs to your shoes and arm sleeves- you will thank me for this after the barb wire crawl)

Got done with that and then....HUGE CARGO NET.  Not your average one made of rope. Think the kind you see holding things in air planes.  Flat Canvas between two trees that you see sway.  Straight up, over and down.  YEAH.....  got up NO PROBLEM (Thank you AJ my trainer- squats and high box step-ups make these things so much easier!).  OVER?  OMG.... That is NOT easy.  Finally just wrapped my arm around the top and went for it.

Spear throw--- ALMOST- it hit the hay with the tip-- if only I had given it a little more UMPH!  30 burpees.

The exact order of other things are a bit of a blur.....  

Atlas Ball......that was a BITCH! (excuse the language but really, truly was).  The balls were somewhere between 65 and 80 pounds BEFORE the day started (there seems to be a bit of a disagreement)..... well, since many of the gals could not lift them they would instead ROLL them..through dirt/mud.  SO...who knows what it weighed.  Doesn't matter- was able to help my friend get hers lifted, got mine- carried it to the drop point (mandatory 5 burpees for all)  Helped my friend get hers up again, got mine up, off we went to drop it at the other end.  (TRAINING TIP- weighted front racked squats and medicine ball wall throws with a squat)

Tire drag- NO PROBLEM-  All the time we spend with the TRX at the gym, not even a hesitation

Hercules hoist- OWNED THAT!  Up and down w/o a thought.  Worried for no reason.  (Could have done that all day long....)

Short walls- Got those.

Log Carry- GOT THAT

The hills..... OMG, the natural ravines and hills...... UP and down and up and down and up and down.

Then we finally were in the home stretch.  Around 1/2 mile and the last obstacles and this was where it unraveled a bit. (Training tip- LEARN TO DO PULL UPS AND MUSCLE UPS.  Can't do them but will before next year!!! Aroo!!)

Traverse Wall-  SERIOUSLY?  Yeah, tried and tried and failed.  Could not fit my big fat feet on the blocks and I could not.  30 burpees!

Inverse Wall- Tried and couldn't get over, tried and couldn't do it, tried and FELL OFF IT FLAT ON MY BACK AND ON TOP OF  THE VERY NICE MAN TRYING TO HELP ME OVER.  30 burpees.

Rope Climb.... in slippery, waist deep water... right after those burpees and falling off a wall.  You guessed it- 30 burpees

Water swim---AHHHHH, this was LOVELY- nice cool water to just paddle across.  It was HEAVEN!!!

8 foot wall-  PHEW- got a boost, got over it.  Slipped coming down- hit ribs on the up right.  That left a mark.

Under the Wall- Ok- the water was gross.  It was thick.  Had to go totally under the water, pull yourself under the wall and come out the other side.  More mental than physical but got it done.

Inverse Wall- last and worst part- I was physically and mentally spent.  Went at it, made it half way and slid down.  Awesome Pablo and the Spartan Staff guy tell me "Hang on- we got you"- I get to the top.  My brain said "Enough".  Seriously- told them to let me quit, that I was done.  NOPE- that is NOT SPARTAN- they got me to just hold on.  A guy from below helped to shove me up high enough so they could grab from the other side and pull my legs OVER!!!

Fire Jump- Ok... had this fear I would trip and fall into the fire.....Not kidding.  Can't do that if you are holding onto your friends!!!

So, for those counting- it was 120 burpees.  Had friends help me with some.  Had the Spartan member at the Rope trade me some burpees for being willing to carry over life jackets to the starting of the swim.

So.... the question I keep getting is "Will you do it again?" OF COURSE- plans are Indiana Sprint in April, Chicago Super next fall and maybe throw in Tough Mudder since many of the people who did this Spartan said it was MUCH harder than the Tough Mudder!!!  Planning to find other races nearby to volunteer and run for free!

Stay tuned for MORE fun.