One challenge down! More to come

Yay! Earlier this week I finished the bodyrock.tv.com 30 Day Real Time Challenge. IT FELT AWESOME! I wanted to blog about it the day I finished because honestly, I haven't had a goal to work towards other than making it through each day for quite sometime. It was a beautiful feeling. And although my MCL is still really sore, it felt great the day I did my last work out. I took care of my knee by doing older videos and instead of working on a quicker pace with good movements worked on quality movements and it killed me!! I was sweating so much more. Its hard work!! But then the last day challenge, day 30, that was a killer workout and I did and my knee felt so great! That's the way to do it.

Its funny. I find my self sad to be done with that challenge. Now that it's over, it felt like it went so fast.

But I was talking to my sister-in-law, Jamie, and it turns out they did the 30 Day Catching Fire Challenge. WHAT??? So that's my next move. But it's funny, it's only 12-15 minutes of a workout and has two trainers and they do it TOTALLY different from what I was doing. I love the 40-50 minute workouts and I love Lisa who was doing this challenge. She's amazing!!! Half way through, I get so revved up and she really does push you. I feel like I know her. She sings and goes off on these absolutely funny things and she's just so great. These other workouts go really fast so I did the first one today but I was trying to get down the movements and didn't feel like the first set was all that...physical. More mental. But then I restarted it and got it down and it was hard.  I decided because I miss Lisa and took off a couple days extra this week to reboot my body and mind to also do the 15 minute 21-day Boot Camp Challenge. I think that's going to be good for me. I'm used to the longer workouts but I'm also changing it up a bit with the other challenge so on certain days I'll do both. I'm excited.

I've gone through 30 days and I'm seeing HUGE changes both in my body and my mind. For anybody to quit after 1 or 2 weeks of working for this would be CRAZY!! Seriously, week 3 & 4 were awesome. Today my pants are loose, my skin is getting tighter and my muscles are saying hello!

I still need to work on my diet... That's always been my problem. I grew up eating bacon cheeseburgers, french fries, onion rings, pizza and chinese food. Oh, and can't forget the super fast mac n cheese. I don't get tired of eating those things. But I have noticed that because I'm eating so much more healthier food and really making the effort to be conscious of what goes in my stomach and how often that I'm getting sick off the bad foods. My body tells me it doesn't want it now. My poor taste buds really fight for it though. The other day I would've killed for a cheeseburger from Astro Burger. Instead I ate grilled chicken breast and a spoonful of peanut butter with an apple. MMMMM... I've decided to compromise though. Everything is ok in moderation. So if I eat healthy, get my workouts in and drink the amount of water I need and STILL have insane cravings after a day of doing everything I can, I will get a small portion of what I used to eat. Like kids size portions!! But I have to have a bottle of water and something super healthy with it - like a salad. I mean lets face it, giving up carbonation for me (DR PEPPER, I LOVE YOU) was hard. I see people drinking these beautiful dark drinks and I can taste the Dr Pepper. I've had 1 in 3 weeks. That's amazing!

I'm going to make this the best year ever. Positive thinking! Positive action! I'm getting stronger, healthier and happier. I just need to keep going! I love seeing the Body Rockers that put their pics up, especially when they've gone for more than 60 days. After 30 days there are changes that you can definitely see but more than 60 days, those changes become big when you don't quit. I'm excited for when I get to post my "progress pics". I keep that in mind when I start to get tired or need motivation or if I'm not seeing the changes because I get used to what I look like NOW. In the next 30 days - I will have gone for 2 months and I'm going to post a 30-60 day pic and then in 90 days! HELLO!!! I think I can be patient for the body I'm building in 90 days. I can do this. Anybody can.

Find your motivation

I got down to day 30 of the Body Rock 30 Day Real Time Challenge but have yet to do it. I re-tweaked my knee on Friday. It was having some bad days before but nothing like this.

I find myself sitting wrong at work because the chair is too low but I hit my knee on the desk if I put up where it's supposed to be.  Like literally, I've hit it maybe 6 times a day... so instead I over extend my MCL by sitting with my feet under my chair and it's putting so much pressure on my knee. It's been a problem since my days doing Taekwondo. I injured my ACL and I would just keep going without letting it heal.

When I started running, I'd over-compensate for my ACL and that's when my MCL started hurting, but even worse than my ACL injury. It's really bad when I try to go down something like stairs or when I hike down from the mountains. Going up is fine. Usually if I can get some squats in, it helps to strengthen it. This time I learned! I'm not going to push it, but I'm going to strengthen/stretch/ice and rest it so it can heal.

But it is so frustrating when you want to accomplish a goal and something like this happens. Plus I wanted to start running this weekend to get ready for the dirty dash and to be able to get a better focus that comes with running. Luckily it rained all day yesterday so I didn't feel too bad that re-injuring my knee didn't keep me from running, the rain did!

Not only did I feel frustrated from my knee but on Friday I got hit with some news that made me so angry, I just felt like I wanted to punch someone! Those are my favorite workout days because I get so much energy that I just go and go and at the end I feel like a million bucks. I also get focused!

My sister was in a really bad car accident last Wednesday. She lives in Tennessee. I don't hear from them very often but I practically raised her two kids. Her daughter, Chae, is my mini me. Her personality is me. I admit it, EVERYONE has a hard time with her because she's...well, she's me. She has all this energy and creative spirit and she thinks different from other people. Like me. Its hard to harness that and be productive. People want to put you on medicine that makes you something else. She needs to learn how to use all that energy and do things that makes her happy. Anyway, I'm getting side tracked. They were t-boned Wednesday night and it hit so hard that the DVD player that was attached to the seat in front of her detached itself and flew into her face. The hook went through her mouth and got lodged in but it didn't stop it from moving through her face up to her forehead, cut it right open...  Needless to say, she needed plastic surgery and has countless stitches both outside and inside her face...

The part that makes me so angry is that I found out Friday at 3:30 PM by facebook, while I was at work... Because apparently their army friends were concerned. This is what I see:
For anyone who has been trying to reach me over the last two days, I have been offline. I was in a car accident late Wednesday night. Everyone is ok, but Chaelynn has some deep lacerations to her face and we were sent to Vanderbilt to have a Plastic Surgeon stitch her up. We were released last night at 8:30 pm. Chaelynn is doing very well and she should be mostly healed by next week with very little scarring.

Well ok then. I see that I am a very important part of their lives. And guess what, nobody else in my family was notified. Not my mom, dad or my other sister who helped raise her kids and watched them while she was offshore in the army. NOTHING. I feel like I'm just a shell, not a person when I think about my family sometimes. I'm so happy they are fine but I'm so hurt that they don't care enough about me to actually talk to me. And maybe this is why I won't let myself be happy with relationships. I'm always ready for the let down.

Anyway, on to positive things. So I tried to workout Friday night but Day 30 looks like it's going to be really tough so I turned it off and instead iced my knee that night. Then Saturday I tried again but it's still hurting really bad. I also feel like the weights have become really easy so since I couldn't work out, I went shopping! I had 3 gift cards from a couple of Christmases ago so I got this beauty!!


 I was so inspired I had to workout. I did day 25 again. It's not as much jumping and because I know I've already done it, I just down-sized my movements a bit. It was awesome. The bar gave me a totally different core workout and I totally feel it through my whole body. Plus I really had to focus on how I was moving my legs so as to not agitate my knee. It was a challenge and I loved it!

Today I did day 26 again and my knee feels so much better. I didn't do as much jumping again but instead focused ONLY on the muscles, not so much cardio. It was AMAZING!! I was dripping sweat. I kept thinking about this:

My sister also said she saw something that said, 'sweat is fat crying". I like it!

Point of today's blog. Don't let things get you down that you can't control. The way we handle the situation is what we can control. I think it's going to be a great week! I get to end my 30 Day Real Time Challenge and start a new one while strengthening my body. I'm super excited. I'm also refocused on getting my diet in check. New goals!! So excited.

Day #25 - Real Time 30 Day Challenge (+playlist)

THOUGHTS FOR A WEEKEND

BodyRock.Tv.Com - Day 25 of the Real Time 30 Day Challenge is done!

I'm loving this. I feel like it's cleaning out all the shit that my body is holding on too. No matter how bad I feel in a day, if I get up and force myself to do the full workout then I feel so good when it's over. I might not go at full speed but it doesn't matter. I feel great when it's done. It's awesome.

I can't believe this challenge is almost over. I have a couple more days and then I'll do the 21 Day Challenge. I need to get heavier weights though. MOST DEFINITELY.

Its such an investment if you think about it. Doing something so wonderful for you mental and physical being. I don't think I'd make it through this year if I wasn't challenged by my sister-in-law to do it.  The last 3 years have been hell. Lots of ups and downs. Before that I was running and helping my friend lose 100 lbs. We started training for all sorts of races - 5ks, halves and full marathons, obstacle races (just me), just anything! Then the people I'd run with got married and started having kids and they dropped me. It happened really fast. I didn't feel motivated to do anything. I went into a hole. I hated my job, started gaining weight, got into financial trouble and didn't care. I'd buy so much crap that I never used. It was ridiculous.

I started hanging out with people that were the exact opposite of my old friends. I'd make out with random guys but never give them a chance after. I still kind of have a problem where I don't want to give people a chance. I think I've protected my heart. But I met several guys in the last 3 years that were so far from good for me and it's messed me up more. Not because I liked them but because I kept them around just to have someone around. And then they'd move on and I didn't feel like a person. Weird?

But last November, I met someone and I thought he was legit. We had immediate chemistry. But I found out just before our first date that he had just got divorced (like signed the papers the day of our date). Red flag!! But he seemed to be handling it ok. I saw him a couple times in December and it was awesome.... Until New Years. That was the first sign of there being a problem with him. But throughout January we hung out a lot. Then came February. I felt like it was up and down for him. I didn't hear much from him but when I saw him, he'd tell me one thing but do another thing. It's been rough. I haven't really talked to him much since then but the last time I saw him he said he was so into me and he was frustrated because his head was such a mess. I think it's best that I leave him alone and try to numb...me. Just focus on getting myself strong and healthy and let the pieces fall where they will.

He's pretty much already taken himself out of my life but the problem lies in his address. He lives right across the street from one of my closest friends. I only have two. :(  So I love going to her house. Its like a release from the real world. We just hang out and talk, sometimes have a fire. They have a man cave in the garage and they put a pole in there. WHAT?? It's just fun.

Well I was there last week and he sent me a text to let me know he knew I was there. I asked if he was going to come say hello and nothing. I got a little frustrated. 3 hours later I sent him a text to say that I hope he was having a great night and he text back right away and said "You too!". WTH?? So yeah, now I get anxious when I go to my friends because I don't want to see him. From my past experience with this type of situation, I know I'm not disciplined enough to say no if he does come around and becomes "friendly". I like having a guy in my life to snuggle with and to be honest, I love kissing and touching and all that crap.  I don't want him in my life but I'm not a person who is mean either so if he comes around, we will talk. I can't ignore someone. It's not me.

This is why I'm working out. To get my life centered, to give me inner strength and to keep my self occupied with good things. It helps me eat healthier and handle stress. It helps me see clearer and be more patient. And eventually I know that it will all work out. He'll either disappear completely or become something else. I don't know what but right now, it doesn't matter. He's not really my friend, he's just a guy I'm attracted to. I just need to stay focused.

I'm losing weight, I'm feeling great and this is starting to look like a good year for me. I am becoming more disciplined. These are all good things. And I'm running and obstacle race with some amazing girls. I don't think we'll really "run" the race but I've done this race a few times and it's not one I'm wanting to run. We're going to have fun! Good things are happening. I need to remember that and be grateful that this is already my best year in 4 or 5 years. YES! More good things will come. I know it will.


TO MYSELF: STAY FOCUSED! BE GRATEFUL! WATCH FOR THE GOOD THINGS.

Sometimes you have to have fun... Then get back to work!

Day 18...FINISHED!! This was an awesome workout. So great. If anyone wants to do it, go to Bodyrock.tv.com or to https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLdLzQAslwOS7dTmPGigl_1Ju6C0I3y-6T
Because it will kick your butt. Literally.

I admit, Thursday and Friday I missed my workout due to... other activities... that might not have been so healthy but were fun all the same...

Thursday my co-worker and I took some clients to work. Yep, it was AMAZING but not healthy food. I found out my body doesn't like me to eat unhealthy any more. 2 weeks was all it took to dislike unhealthy food. So I hardly ate my dinner but had this incredible drink they call a double duckie. Let's just say, you are limited to having only 1. After dinner I met up with a friend and went salsa dancing... Until 1:30 in the AM... My poor toes.. Friday morning, this was my facebook status: Forced myself out of bed this morning, forced myself to take a shower... sat for awhile and then said to myself... 'crap, now I gotta microwave my hair'. So glad I didn't.

Then Friday I went and played in my co-workers "man cave" which is their garage. There was also a fire outside. MMM... Love the fire. Stayed until after 1 AM and didn't have dinner before going... Yeah, not so healthy again... Plus I was saddened by a guy friend who doesn't seem to care if I exist and I was mean to him because of it.... I didn't feel great when I got home.

Saturday I slept in forever, skipping breakfast and lunch. Got out of bed, worked out, ate something, took a shower and then....On to a hot tub party. Didn't eat much but there were 15 people trying to get in one normal sized hot tub so you know it's a party! Again a late night. But I did workout before going to this party. So that counts for something.... Right?

Anyway, by the time Sunday roles around I'm totally dehydrated. I felt drained and tired emotionally and physically and to be honest, forgot to eat on Sunday as well so that made it even worse. I just didn't want to get out of bed. This morning was the same. I didn't want to get dressed, take a shower or anything. I just wanted to lay in bed. Not even sleep. Just lay there...thoughtless... But I force myself to go to work and I'm doing what I'm supposed to do but nothing more. Really, I've always given 150% at work but there is so much drama and crap going on. I exerted the energy that was required of me and nothing more and I didn't care. I was not going to wear myself out for a place that is feeding negative energy to it's employees by having them back stab each other. It was actually pretty gratifying. I did everything I was supposed to but without the stress.

By the time work is over, I'm ready for a workout!

Did I mention how awesome day 18 was? I was doing things I never thought I could do. My push ups felt awesome. I actually felt bad for Lisa, the instructor, and kept trying to help her because she was struggling. I'm ready to go again! But the next 3 days are rest days so I'm thinking I'll actually do workout 11 again and then 18 the next day and then jump into day 22. I've already had a couple of rest days and I'm so excited to get back into this. It makes me feel like I'm releasing so much crap that's been holding me down. I love it so much. I feel hopeful and focused. It's such a beautiful thing. I can't get enough. I am glad for my temporary bad day on Friday and my blah day on Sunday. I realize how great this feels because of it.

Don't give up!

And day 15 of BodyRocktv.com 30 day challenge complete. I'm half way done with this challenge. I will admit, I turned it off after 15 minutes into the video. Then I restarted it, got to 40 minutes and had to refocus again. But hey, I DID IT. There was no quitting. I even did the bonus abs in the end. When that voice comes into your head and says "you can't", go into BEAST MODE and say, "Bull"... Now I'm exhausted but super happy this is done. I feel like my brain is finally able to shut off for a minute and I can seriously rest.

*sigh of relief*

Technicalities

So day 13 and 14 on Body Rock is supposed to be rest days but because I rested last week when I wasn't supposed to, I figured I'd only rest on day 13 and skip 14's rest. Big mistake.

Starting off with a whine session is bad but it's how I'm feeling so deal with it. Plus, you don't have to read any further. But I always end it on a positive note. Just wait, you'll see...

Work seems to drain me. And being sick makes it worse. I walk in yesterday to find out my co-worker went to the doctor and she had an ear infection along with a throat full of puss. I know the germs making me feel gross started in my throat but are now resting there and in my sinuses and occasionally bother my ears. We started a new project with my main account at work and with how stressful my job is without that, I just don't have time to be sick but I hate doctors! They look at me and tell me I'm fine without really testing for anything.

But AFTER each workout this weekend, I would feel better. My body rests better and I can breath better for a while and I have the feel good natural endorphin's. It was awesome.

Well I didn't work out yesterday and I came home and slept. Couldn't breath. Had a headache. The tension from work just made me sooo tired.  I woke up today and felt worse. We don't have any air flow at work. No windows. We're in the second floor in a cramped space. Everyone is sick. Everyone is short tempered. Everyone is mean. I just want to sit in a corner and cry. I don't want to be there. I don't want people talking to me.

So I decided to do workout 15 today. They changed it up. It's so much more cardio and longer weight intervals. I got 1/4 of the way through and started crying. I don't feel like I can do this today. My head is saying no and my body isn't going to do it without me telling it to... I'm anxious, I still can't breath and I'm repeating things that people said to me today at work. I keep saying to myself that today is bad and tomorrow is fine. Its a day were giving up would be ok because it's supposed to be a rest day anyway. I'm still sick. My head is pounding. I don't want to be anywhere but invisible.

BUT I'M NOT GOING TO GIVE UP. I'm writing this to get my head in the right place. If I make myself invisible when I feel like this, then I have a chance of becoming invisible to myself too. I let those things that are bothering me conquer me. I choose how things affect me and today, I'm going to really push through it. I will let you know in a little over an hour how I do. But today is not the day I loose. Today I conquer myself! And yes, I'm still taking care of my body... drinking water, eating healthy, taking vitamins and resting to get over my sickness. I'm not pushing the workouts, I'm just doing them. And for 1 hour, I can also get my mind in the right place... And that's what I'm choosing to do now. BAM!