43 days...

I should start by saying it's lunch time and I SHOULD be doing homework, but honestly talking about mission statements and case studies sounds so boring right now.

So in 43 days I'm running my first 5K, YAY! I'm at 1.3 miles and adding on distance every run. I feel so awesome when I'm done (unlike the feeling of imminent death after running 60 seconds). When I started C25K (Couch to 5K) I used to watch my stopwatch trying to get through that 60 seconds and then the next 90 seconds of walking would fly by! I'm not officially timing myself but I'm at about a 10 minute mile, which is AWESOME!

There are 59 days until the Warrior Dash, I'm not nearly as scared of it as I used to be, though I am still quite concerned about our costumes! I'm running it with my super cool friends Deanna and Kelly and we've had about 1,000 ideas for costumes, but somehow it'll have pink it in! I think we need a cool name too, any ideas?

I've got my 5K schedule done for the rest of the year, just have to wait for some registrations to open up. but I've committed myself to them!

I talked to my health coach about being a health coach myself. I think I'm about there. In addition to the fact that I'm good at motivating people, I've been there. I've looked in the mirror and not like what I saw, but you make a choice and it begins with one step! I finally picked a new gym, best part I don't have to join! They have a drop in rate, so I can check it out first and it's more crossfit than treadmill type working out. I'm pretty excited!

Other than that I'm off to PA to see Heather this weekend! WOO!! Our exciting plans include, having an uninterrupted conversation (girls will be in school), working out, and providing our own commentary to the Royal Wedding! Then we'll be off to Kathy Troccoli!

Daily Mantra: Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going. -Jim Ryan

Anything is Possible....

I just finished eating seriously what had to be the BEST salad ever! Don't ask me why but it was. Everything went together nicely and maybe because it's sunny and spring like outside!

So I hit a mental wall last week running. Matt and I decided to time a mile just for shits and giggles, only when I saw my time I was defeated. Now mind you I've only been running a little over 6 weeks and before that my idea of running was after the ice cream truck! I got into a funk then, just couldn't get past it. Didn't want to run anymore. This is after I got my monthly measurements (6 inches baby!) so I should have been flying high. Such an over achiever I am. So Monday I asked my friend Kennedy how you get past a brick wall like that, and her answer was simple, THROW OUT THE STOPWATCH! I'm not running for time, I'm running because I like it and it makes me feel good. In the last 10 weeks I have lost 30lbs and I'm down 4 pant sizes. I've knocked my goals out 1 by 1. Next up my first 5K in June! I'm trying to run a 5K or road race every month. By the end of the year I hope to log 100 miles! Thank you awesome app on my phone!

If you asked me at the beginning of the year what my goals were, honestly it was just to keep a better budget, which I have been doing. Now I'm finding ways to challenge myself everyday. I can't wait to get out of work and go home and run. I've seen the effects of changing habits and how it can postively affect your life and the lives of those around you!! I'm more than willing to cheer on or help anyone who wants to change their habits too! Every beginning starts with one step, and it's a journey not a race.

Daily mantra: NEVER NEVER NEVER GIVE UP!

Letting Go...

I found this on a quote page, no idea who wrote it, but it was perfect for what I wanted to say... To let go isn't to forget, not to think about or ignore. It doesn't leave feelings of anger, jealously or regret. Letting go isn't about winning or losing. It's not about pride and it's not about how you appear and it's not obsessing or dwelling on the past. Letting go isn't blocking memories or thinking sad thoughts and it doesn't leave emptiness, hurt or sadness. It's not about giving in or giving up. Letting go isn't about loss and it's not about defeat. To let go is to cherish the memories but to overcome and move on. It is having an open mind and confidence in the future. Letting go is learning and experiencing and growing. To let go is to be thankful for the experiences that made you laugh, made you cry and made you grow. It's about all that you have, all that you had and all that you will soon gain. Letting go is having the courage to accept change, and the strength to keep moving. Letting go is growing up. It is realizing that the heart can sometimes be the most potent remedy. To let go is to open a door and to clear a path and set yourself free. Let go, it will be okay...

Changes

Three months into the new year and I feel like there have been SO many changes! I cut processed sugar out of my life and recently started running again (with the help of From couch to 5K) and I'm down almost 20 lbs. I even exercised on vacation, WHHHHAAAATTT??? Haywards Ice Cream is back open for the season so I'll have to keep my butt out of there! I wasn't going to start running again since my knees of a 90 year old keep giving out...I figured out why though. I kept trying to start running the way I used to, like 5 miles, hello you are not 25 or even 28 anymore! So I started the couch to 5K regiment. It's a work up to 3.2 miles. So somewhere in between May and October I'll get a 5K in. Anyone wanna run with me? Anyone?

I gave up alcohol for lent. I didn't think I'd miss it, I kinda do. My pedicure was not the same yesterday with just water, but I'll get through it. Ironically, not being Catholic anymore I still give up something every year, damn Catholic college!! I also took off my acrylic nails. I have had nails on for 7 years! I went with a gelish manicure, which should last 3 weeks. I can't give up getting manicures but this should save be $40 a month! YAY!

Starting tomorrow I go back to work full time at my old building...it's bittersweet. I love my peeps over in Merrimack but I'm very loyal to Vic, he took a chance on me 4 years ago and brought me on with only a recommendation from a former co-worker. Speaking of work, I can't believe I've been there 4 years now. I'm still working on my Master's degree. Some days I don't want to do it anymore, but I know it'll help me continue in my career.

I started keeping a spreadsheet for my finances too, BIG CHANGE! I'm pretty sure last year the bank was going to cancel my account, I had no accountability and was spending WAY too much money. I'm a spreadsheet freak now. But I ALWAYS have money in my account now and I've been paying my credit cards off one by one. Then I'll turn to building my savings account back up.

Oh I also turned 34, crap almost mid 30's...Great birthday weekend, lots of friends, laughs and groping country singer...What? Some things never change!

Family

Family isn't always the people we are related to by blood. I've always known that but it's been really obvious the last couple of weeks. Heather's Pop Pop passed away 2 weeks ago, he was like my Pop Pop. I couldn't have imagined not being there for Heather and her family to say goodbye. Last night I went to a wake for a co-worker who lost his wife suddenly last weekend. She was 54, she was too young. I walked into the funeral home to see many people I knew from work and as we were there for awhile it seemed as if half the building was there. I love my work family. They also clean up very nicely! I couldn't imagine what he's going through right now but he has an extended family who is there for him. I wish people didn't die. I know they do. I wish people wouldn't cry. I know they do. But we all have bigger families that we know to support us.. If you are reading this, you're my friend and I consider you in one way or another part of my crazy life family. I guess we really do get by with a little help from our friends!

Hugging the Pavement...

So hate is a strong word, but this winter has been so brutal. Snow, snow, snow...Ice, snow, sunshine, snow. That's pretty much how it's been and it's starting to piss even me off. It's because I got an SUV, so New England, I apologize! So I leave for work at 5:30ish every morning. Yes I'm crazy, no I wouldn't change it, I get out of work by 3:30. Ok maybe some days when I want to sleep I would change it. Any so I'm walking out to my car, lunch in one had, coffee in the other. First the steps. Really this is where I should write I slipped on the steps and bit, uh no. Sidewalk, nope. I stepped off the sidewalk like it was a sunny summer day. Right foot down and we're flying...Literally, I'm pretty sure I let out an oh shit as I was falling. Coffee flying and before I knew it I was hugging the pavement. What it looked sad! Seriously I landed on my left arm, hard. I'm STILL not sure how I didn't break my arm...Thanks vitamins! So now I have a giant hematoma, basically a gross bruise, which lucky for me will last at least a month. So every time I hit it, OUCH! Accessories for my birthday...tira, sparkles and A FREAKING bruise...Vacation. California, tank tops, bathing suits and a FREAKING bruise. I hate winter!

Lesson for the day kids? Hibernate in the winter time!