Just saw this posted on someones Facebook page. Had to stop and really think and appreciate what I do. What do I do? I swim, bike, run my way through motherhood. I also help mothers reach their goals through fitness, and helping them turn their love into fitness into their own independent financial freedom.
Just recently pushing through PPD, in the past month I realized that I am HAPPY. To some it might be easy, to mothers dealing with post partum depression, its not so easy. Had someone say "being happy is a choice you make". For some yes , others no. I remember sitting here on the couch staring at my wonderful husband, gorgeous children, with no real worries. Having everything in the world to be glorious about, but I could not find happiness in it at all. I'd stare and stare some more. Where was I? I felt as though I was outside of my body watching myself and I was stuck.
Are YOU there? Were there? Don't worry there is a way out and you can find it. My path was fitness, it was something I LOVED. I've now turned that LOVE into my LIFE and I LOVE what I do.
Love your life people, we only live once.
Why oh why does healthy eating HAVE to be so expensive?
It really doesnt have to be. But to magically go to the store and buy all the things that are in the typical meal planner is FLIPPIN expensive.
Today we spent $200 on a weeks worth of food.
Thats is ABSURD.
$100 of that was strictly in produce and who knows if that will last the rest of the week!
After this attempt of sticking to recipe book like meals , I've decided to already DITCH that. I just had to give it a try.
Also when I came home and looked through my cabinets I made another decision to CLEAR IT ALL OUT. Now it would be easy to just throw it all out. But I will go through and make a healthy meal from all remaining random canned food.
This is a huge step people. Step to healthier choices and healthier living. This mom is going to break it down from scratch, find delicious food, INEXPENSIVE food and last and most important KID FRIENDLY.
This is key. We are all always trying to "lose" weight. Or just be "healthy". It should be EASY and CHEAP. Yep, I said it CHEAP.
Living in a one income family (even though Im trying to work my way up through the ranks) we live on a BUDGET. So do MANY of us. I know some of us try, or we just know our limits. I get so many questions on "healthy snacks" and "easy lunches". So now Im going to take the time to find the answers.
Now Im not a vegan, nor am I all "organic".
Im EASY, CHEAP and SUPER EASY. ( sounds a little sleezy huh? )
Whatever, I'm one of those moms that gets home from a crazy day and I'm to exhausted to cook anything let alone take the time to clean up the BOMB that blows up in my kitchen after making dinner.
So here I go on my CONQUEST for you , for me , for the sake of my family , oh and can I say SANITY to be FIT, HEALTHY, HAPPY and NOT BROKE.
Wish me luck, who knows where this journey will take me. Who I will meet and want nasty food I might encounter.
All feedback and secret recipes are GREATLY appreciated.
My first triathlon EVER is tomorrow morning. Less than 24 hours away, and now as I sit here on the computer about to make a check list on what I need to pack, I am nervous.
I've had to drop out of 2 sprint distances this year already , due to childcare and injury. I've only run twice in the past month. Yep! I had to take time off because the IT BAND MONSTER thought he could barge in on my training time. I've also only been on the bike once in 3 weeks. Went for a ride with my friend Amanda last week and got my arse whooped.
Also because of feeling like bad luck follows me this year, I didn't register till last night. Im bad:(
For my first triathlon I will be doing the All womens MERMAID TRIATHLON in Alameda, CA. Why the confidence? Because I feel as though this isn't so much a MAJOR competition. This is an event that women come together of all stages of fitness, from novices to ironman we swim, bike, run and have a great time in support of one another.
My goal in this triathlon is to make it through pain free, exertion level of a 7-9, and support/cheer/motivate all in my path :)
This is huge to me everyone! I have a tear in my eye! This is the kickoff of a year dedicated to preparing for a half IRONMAN in September.
So now I go turn to my check lists and packing. Of course its just not a transition bag I'm packing but, husband , kids ... pretty much on any outing lasting more than 2 hours my whole life gets crammed into the car. Is that only me?
Can this military/stroller striding/beachbody coaching mama pull this off? Only time will tell!
The last month of my training for IRONMAN CANCUN 70.3 started off with being told that I should lay off running completely and spend little time on the bike. Thats one of the worst things you can tell a aspiring triathlete. The IT BAND MONSTER that moved in with me won the battle of having to take time off. I somewhat welcomed it. If it promised results on stopping the pain in my knee then I'd do it.
It really had gotten to the point I would do ANYTHING. From stretches, icing, foam rolling, new shoes, to NO shoes, to chi running , to ACTIVE RELEASE TREATMENT, to praying 3 times daily , I was doing all that I could possibly do. Only medicine left was REST.
So fine REST won. But what would happen to my cardio? Oh man was I scared! I remember when I started running again after having my youngest ( a whole 10 months ago ) I could barely run a .25 mile. I knew it wouldnt get to that point , but at times like this you think the absolute WORST.
Keeping up with all my wonderful friends on DAILYMILE , I kept seeing INSANITY posts. INSANITY? What the heck is that? I'd read their crazy sweaty write ups and just wonder. So I put out a message asking what would be best to do at this time in training. I was bombarded with INSANITY suggestions.
So I watched the YOUTUBE videos, and I was intimidated. They looked so hardcore, but all the cardio was what I needed to keep me up in fitness, and the plyometrics would only make me stronger AND faster. Talked to hubby into doing it with me and I placed my order.
Until my package arrived I watched the infomercials and videos on YOUTUBE. I continued to read friends posts and got pumped up.
Then when the DVDs arrived , I unleashed the INSANITY.
Tough , challenging and sweaty. I LOVED IT. I dont think I have sweat so much in my life.
The last 3 weeks have been dedicated to INSANITY workouts , as I put my triathlon training on hold. Just this past week did I go for a run , without pain and without the slightest difference in cardio. I feel and look stronger and Im lighter. Losing 4 lbs in the first week! Yeah, didnt see that coming, but welcomed :)
Going for my first long ride this afternoon I look forward in feeling how the strength I've built up in my legs will come into play. I'd suggest this workout for anyone that needs that extra speed in their running. The workout feels as though it was designed for track stars and works those calves and quads to LEAN strong muscles. There are no weights involved. Only using your body weight as resistance. Its MAX INTERVAL training with short 30 second breaks. So it pushes you to give all you got in you at your MAX speed. I would also suggest this to people that are sidelined like I was . I felt it worked all the same muscles I needed as a triathlete , and then some.
Its a 60 day program and I'm really excited for the results at the end! Sticking as much as I can to the Elite Nutrition plan , which is pretty simple, inexpensive AND easy. Also found it to be somewhat toddler friendly. But then again I can barely get my 2 year old to eat anything , all I get is "Milk, PlEASE!!" **sigh** I try.
113 days till IRONMAN CANCUN 70.3 and I'm itching to get out there. Summer is on its way and this mom is going to totally BRING IT, Im slapping it on thick this summer , with INSANITY, children rearing , wife loving and triathlete craziness. Wish me luck as I kick my official training into gear. I thank all my supportive readers, Dailymile/Facebook/Twitter friends for you positive feedback and constant encouragement. My love goes to my family for supporting me and my radical habits and being there when the tears come down when things get to tough and I dont think I'll be able to push through. But as I say to myself daily "If you cant do this, you cant do IRONMAN".
** If you would like to know about INSANITY you can go here. Or can answer all your questions via email here**
