The difference a year can make

One year ago today I made one of the biggest decisions of my life, to get healthy. I pushed play on the first disc of Insanity. It was probably the hardest workout I've ever done. I almost couldn't breathe and my face was a darker shade of red than a fire engine. I am so thankful for that day! It has allowed me to become the best version of myself.

You all know the story of what has gotten me this far, so I don't need to repeat myself. If you don't, check out my prior blog post HERE. Over the course of a year I have lost 69lbs! Unfortunately I did not measure myself before. I wish I would have to tell you how many inches I've lost. Honestly I was horrified at my waist size before, and though I'm not in love with it yet, it is WAY better than it was a year ago. I have gone from a size 20 pants to size 12! I don't think I wore that size in high school! 

Some things I have learned over the last year:
• To eat better
• Cooking at home is not only cheaper, but much healthier
• The right results can't happen if you don't exercise and eat right
• To love to sweat (if you don't taste salt when you rinse your face in the shower, you didn't work hard enough)
• How many calories I burn a day
• How many calories I need to consume in a day
• Why some foods are referred to as 'junk'
• A run is much better without headphones
• Some days you just need a cheerleader
• One bad day can ruin your good week but won't take you off track
• Your actions can inspire many more than you realize

I think I could go on and on, but I'll save some of those for a later blog post. I want to thank some of those special people in my life that have helped and continue to help me along this journey.
First and foremost, my husband. He has done this journey along side me. Without his encouragement and 'babe you can do this' I would not have made it this far! You have always believed in me and I love you for that! Secondly my mother. She has always wanted me to be healthy and I hope that I am alleviating some of her worry. To see her look at me and all the changes I've made makes it all worth it! Love you momma! To the rest of my family, Dad, Ashley, Matt, Dean, Laura, Emily and everyone else. I appreciate you and all your kind and encouraging words! Love you all!

I also have to thank Billy Burnett, he is part of the reason this all started. Somewhere in my head I thought to myself 'if he can do it, why can't I?'. Thank you so much for all that you've helped me with, I'm forever in your debt. 

Lastly, the part I hope you have all been waiting for, the big reveal. The picture on the left is me May 2012, 69lbs ago, and the picture of me on the right is me today May 21, 2013. *Note both top and bottom are the same in both picutes.

Though it is still a work in progress I am so humbled to see my accomplishments. I do not wish to brag, yet my only wish is to inspire all of you. I am no professional athlete. I did not have any kind of weight loss surgery. I just sweat a lot and changed my eating habits. Anyone can do what I have done if you set your mind to it! If I can help you in any way, please let me know.

Now I leave you with a quote, one I look at every day as it is the 'wallpaper' on my cell phone.

'Focus on how far you've come not how far you have to go'.

Insanity Week 2

Well, I've got another week in the books. Insanity week 2 is over and week 3 begins tonight after work. Somehow I still have a smile on my face.

This week wasn't as challenging as last week. The soreness is gone now. Now I just have to focus on pushing as hard as I can. I think some days I don't push as hard as I can. I don't know if it's the endurance runner in me that always wants to just save a little for the end or what. I need to spend the next week pushing myself to the max!

Unfortunately I have only made it out for a run once since I started Insanity. It is hard to get myself up at 5am to go for a run. I told myself when I started Insanity that I would not quit running, it is my passion and I refuse to let it go. I think I will register for a 5k or 10k. Having paid for a race seems to keep me committed to a training schedule.

Last week I talked about my eating habits and how they have slid backwards a little bit. Once Colin finished the semester and Mother's day was over (we treated both our mommas to delightful meals), I got back on track. I am not 100% clean eating but at least 80-85%. Back to oatmeal, juicing smoothes, salads, and healthy snacks. Trying desperately to make myself cook Oh how I hate to cook!

Overall the week has been good. We will do another Fit Test tonight. I am really curious to see how much of an improvement I have made. At this point we are only 15 days in. It's almost impossible to see results yet but the Fit Test will give us a glimpse of how it is working.

The last few posts I have been leaving you with a statement or quote that helps inspire me. I think from now on that will be a tradition. Here's one I found this last week.

“If my mind can conceive it, and my heart can believe it - then I can achieve it.” ― Muhammad Ali

Insanity Week 1

Last night was the last workout from the 1st week of Insanity. I can sum it up in a word, WOW! First of all, I am in good shape compared to the last time we did Insanity. What used to seem like torture (a 3 mile run or 5k distance) is now my almost daily habit. So I thought that this round of Insanity wouldn’t be so bad. That’s about half right.

With the Insanity program you do a series of Fit Tests. These are timed workouts that you do to judge your progress. These are done at the beginning of weeks 1, 3, 5, 7 and the last day. After completing the day 1 fit test I pulled out the fit test numbers from our last go round. I was amazed with the difference. I started this go round about day 30 or 45 from our last session! Wahoo!!



Previous Fit Test - Insanity Round 1



Current Fit Test - Instanity Round 2

This gave me a tremendous boost going into day two. Good thing because I needed it! Just because I did so well in the fit test doesn’t mean I aced day two. I’ve always told people that if you can keep up with the people on Insanity then you need to be doing something harder. I should have reminded myself of that prior to day 2. Though I could do A LOT more of it than I could the first time around. I was still left in a puddle (maybe small lake) of my own sweat and gasping for air.

Average of about 10 Calories a minute

This continued all week. Though I did better with each day I was still tired and dripping wet when I finished each DVD. I was bragging to my hubby after day one that the only thing sore on me was my shoulders and arms from the pushups. I just knew I had awesome legs from all the running. WRONG! By day three my calves were so sore I was walking like I just crossed the finish line of a half marathon. I should have put my foot in my mouth prior to bragging to my hubby. Oh well, that’s what I get right?

All Hot and Sweaty after a Workout

By last night most of the soreness has gone away and I am glad we get day 7 off. I know I will start next week that much stronger. Stay tuned the next 60 days! I will post at the end of each week and post some progress photos along the way.

Too Big of a Bite

So I have officially come to terms with the fact that I bit off a bit more than I can chew in regards to the triathlon.

My swimming hasn’t progressed as quickly as I would have hoped. The thought of swimming in open water with my current swimming technique scares the crap out of me!

I have decided to forgo the triathlon in Show Low in June. I will still continue to train for a triathlon but will do a sprint distance for my first race (that’s half the distance of the Show Low race). Just like running, you train for a 5k, then a 10k, then a half, same goes for a triathlon. I will start with the shortest distance, at first, before advancing to the next level.

I also have been a little too lax with my eating; enjoying food just a little too much. I think the inner fat girl will always be there and the power to say 'no' isn’t always going to be there. I haven’t gained anything back but I’ve only lost about 1 ¼ lbs. in the last month. Not Ok!

I have found that the harder I work, the better I eat.

With that being said, Colin and I have started Insanity again on May 1st. This is the program that started it all. It is amazing how much easier it was to do the fit test on day 1, this go round, compared to this time last year. Those extra 65+ lbs. gone really makes a HUGE difference! I don’t expect to lose another 30 lbs. in 60 days, though that would be nice, I do plan to tone up. I can already tell Insanity targets some of the areas that running doesn’t. I promise to never give up!

Words to Live by - ‘Life throws you curve balls every now and then; the thing is you gotta know when to swing to get far.’