Catching up

Whoa! A year passed really quickly!! I can't believe all the neglect I've allowed my little space on the Internets to have. This past year has been trying, exciting, happy, devastating and full of so much personal growth. 

While I'm not ready to open up about the past year quite yet, I will someday.

First, I guess getting it out there and typing this out loud will make it real and I can't turn back after I hit post. Well, I can, but I won't. In the past 7 months I've gained 20 pounds! It feels good to get that off my chest. I've hidden myself more from the world the past few months because my self esteem is just so far from what it used to be.

Don't get me wrong, I don't hate the way I look physically, I just don't love it. The thing I hate about it is that, my overall health is affected. I can still run. I can still lift (heavy) weights. I can still complete plenty of Jillian Michaels DVDs. I just don't do it often enough.

When I lost 22 lbs back from August '09 to April '10, I felt AMAZING! I couldn't believe I had done it! Me! The girl who didn't realize how out of shape she had gotten until a camping trip and walking a 1/4 of a mile(out of a measly 1 mile hiking loop) made her hyperventilate. That was the moment I knew I had to do something for my health and myself. I knew I was the only one that could change my life and I had to put in the hardwork to get it done. 

I maintained my lowest weight(+ or - 3 pounds) for about a year. Then slowly gained about 10 back. I was still working out hard 4-5 days a week. I put on a significant amount of muscle in that time as well. I basically only ran a couple of times a month, and instead, I was hitting the stairmaster a lot(Hello Miss New Booty!!) I still felt good about myself with the 10+ pounds.  I maintained that weight for a couple more years.

Then in September of last year, things got a little "difficult". I had a lot on my plate. The boyfriend suggested we bowl and after a few times, I was hooked. We got our own balls and shoes and started going 3-5 times a week. Every time we went, I would drink at least 2 or 3 beers. Before I knew it, I was above my 2009 starting weight and working out took the backseat. I still went to the gym a few times a week, but wasn't having "quality" workouts.

Around Christmas, I had to go and buy new jeans because NOTHING in my closet fit. Even that didn't push me into needing to drop the extra lbs I had gained. Then, we decided to go to Vegas and I said that I would lose some weight before we left....because....I'm turning 30(!!!) and I don't want to feel negatively about myself when I do. 

So, we leave for Vegas the 3rd weekend in April! Giving me just over 4 weeks to get my groove back. I'm on day 2 of early morning workouts (and NO BOOZE!) with 4 running sessions a week. I know what makes me happy and I know what makes me healthy. 

Here's to a Happier, Healthier Me!!!

Update Of All Updates!

Life is good. Work is good. That's all. Ha! Yeah right, I am a big mouth who loves to talk. So, lets just dive in head first. Back in December one of the besties challenged me and another best to a clean eating challenge. We would eat clean all week and get one cheat a week. It was just the kick in the pants I needed. I made it through with just a couple of small slip ups. I started to see and feel some really good changes happening. My motivation was through the roof. I was working out 6 days a week. I was lifting a lot and doing a little cardio. My weight only changed slightly, but my measurements were going down. So, I was pleased. Then, January 1 happened. I had a dramatic start to the year. I got sick with a pretty rough head cold. I let excuses creep and clean eating took a back seat. Thankfulky, that didn't last long. This changing body of mine definitely takes some getting used to at times. I do love it though. Changing my eating habits has definitely improved all aspects of my life. I am more energized. I am happier and more positive. I am seeing great changes. I plan on being here tomorrow to talk about iifym. I have only been counting macros for 2 days, but so far so good.

Monday Motivation......

This morning, I Did Not Want To Get Out Of Bed! 4:39 came to early. I rolled over, turned the alarm clock off and thought 'another 2 hours of sleep sounds so much better'. Then I told myself......

You gotta start this Monday off right!! 

The old saying is true "you never regret a workout". I just have to keep reminding myself of that. 

Also I weighed in today at 

142.4

I usually think I will lose more. However, 1-2 pounds a week is what I am aiming for. That is much healthier for my body and my mind! If I drop 5 pounds in the first week, I get discouraged with EVERY weigh in that isn't 5 pounds down. I feel more relaxed. I know I am working out hard, getting back to running, and cleaning up my diet. I am so happy with a 2.2 pound loss.

The only problem lately is I CAN NOT SLEEP AT NIGHT!! For the past month or so I have had a hard time falling asleep. I took Melatonin last night around 9:00 and it never kicked in. I laid in bed wide awake staring at the ceiling, then I watched dumb TV shows that ALWAYS MAKE ME FALL ASLEEP and nothing! I finally fell asleep naturally at about midnight. It was rather aggravating.  Does anybody know of anything a girl can do to get some sleep? Geesh...it's making me coo coo for the puffs. 

This weekend was so uneventful. Telling you about it would make you fall asleep. So, I won't. Next weekend, I promise to come back with something exciting!

How was your weekend???

How Stella...Er...Tiff Can Get Her Groove Back?

I fell completely off the face of the earth...

I KNOW!

It's been a crazy March, I haven't been to this corner in 2 weeks. Instead of boring you with what I have been up to, I am going to talk about my running struggle, and maybe you can help a girl get her mojo back.


Over on my old blog, I used to always talk about how much I love running and how my first half marathon was ABSOLUTELY AMAZING! Like, ABSOLUTELY THE BEST DAY EVER!


Now, I really just am NOT feeling it and it is making me so sad. I think because the winter months had me stuck on the treadmill so much that my want to run on it crashed and burned...Fast and Hard(That's What She Said, Right?)! I have run outside a couple of times this year and it makes my lungs feel like they are splitting open...OUCH! My legs...wait, don't get me started on that pain!


I wish I had my zest for running right now(or working out in general), but I am just not feeling it! 


And...I don't understand. How could I go from being essentially addicted to running/working out to not wanting to do it at all? I need to get my running mojo back STAT!


How do you get your running/exercise mojo back? Help a girl out, please and thank you!


Goal of the Day: Go Running! Oh, and blog about it, Darn Slacker!