tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61545151783742104922024-03-18T20:41:39.741-07:00Chasing 200Balancing Work, Life, and the Ultimate Weight Loss GoalRosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03520348548506195209noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154515178374210492.post-87950542377388986552014-04-06T18:37:00.000-07:002014-04-10T16:45:54.462-07:0050K...or Maybe Just 50Krazy...<br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"Oooh, look, a 50k! Right here in Chicago! That sounds cool! Hmm, 31 miles? Well, that's really just a full marathon plus 5 miles, and I know I can handle the 26.2, so adding another 5 shouldn't be that tough. Hey, hey, and it's only 45 dollars! Good enough for me...I'm in!"</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><em style="right: auto;">"Go for that 50K, Rosie," </em>I told myself. <em>"It will be fun,"</em> I continued. <em style="right: auto;">"You can totally handle it. This is what you love to do! Why in the world would you pass up the opportunity to just try it?"</em></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Okay, so maybe the combination of Friday Euphoria, payday, and an overall love for running was a little too strong when I signed up for the Chicago Lakefront 50K back in late January, but I'm pretty sure most runners (or anybody with a passion for anything, really) understand what it's like when you encounter an exciting new challenge and convince yourself that it's absolutely going to be amazing.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Yes, I ran my very first 50K this weekend, because apparently, 10 full marathons and 17 half marathons in the past 2.5 years (when I first started this running journey) simply weren't enough. Overall, it was a good experience, and one that I would be open to trying again someday--doing several things differently, of course--but for now, let's just say that it didn't come without its challenges.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Getting to that start line on that <a href="x-apple-data-detectors://2/" x-apple-data-detectors-result="2" x-apple-data-detectors-type="calendar-event" x-apple-data-detectors="true">Saturday morning</a> took a little extra effort. My mom, who has fully supported my running from the very beginning (though she always worries, like any parent), was nervous that maybe this one was a bit too ambitious, and taking place in a less familiar part of Chicago. We talked it over, though, figuring out all the smaller details, so I made arrangements to take the <a href="x-apple-data-detectors://3/" x-apple-data-detectors-result="3" x-apple-data-detectors-type="calendar-event" x-apple-data-detectors="true">7:13</a> train to Chicago <a href="x-apple-data-detectors://4/" x-apple-data-detectors-result="4" x-apple-data-detectors-type="calendar-event" x-apple-data-detectors="true">on Saturday morning</a>. Then I would take a cab to Lincoln Park, make it just in time for the <a href="x-apple-data-detectors://5/" x-apple-data-detectors-result="5" x-apple-data-detectors-type="calendar-event" x-apple-data-detectors="true">8:30</a> takeoff, and be done within the 7 hour course limit, with ample time remaining to grab a cab and take the <a href="x-apple-data-detectors://6/" x-apple-data-detectors-result="6" x-apple-data-detectors-type="calendar-event" x-apple-data-detectors="true">4:40</a> train back home. That was the plan.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">31 miles within 7 hours. Yeah. Good one, Rosie :) It's funny to think about now.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">And yet when my mom gently suggested that I might be cutting it close, I just shrugged it off. I rationalized that my average marathon time, on average, hovers around 6 hours, and the 50K is only five miles extra, so even though I've never done this before, I can finish in 7 hours easily...give or take a few minutes. After all, it's not like they're going to say anything if I come in four or five minutes past the cutoff time, right?</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Four or five minutes past the cutoff time.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Oh, how I crack myself up.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">As it turned out, the events of the day transpired much differently than expected, and while I ultimately returned to the finish line 31 miles later, it took a bit longer. The finish banner, porta potties, water tables, snack stations, and big blue tarp for our coats/bags had been packed up and taken away long ago, leaving behind only one recognizable sign that this was the same bright, bustling spot where I had begun the race with my fellow runners, 8 hours and 20 minutes earlier.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">More on that later, though.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">This wasn't like the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, where you are surrounded by 45,000 runners from just about every corner of the world, complete with over a million spectators to ensure that there isn't a single empty spot between the start and finish lines. Nope, the Chicago Lakefron</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">t </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">50K is nothing like that. It isn't even like the small-town Wisconsin Marathon in May (one of my </span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">personal favorites), with 4,000 of us toeing the start line together and very little chance of getting lost.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I'm talking more about a very, VERY small group of certifiable nutcases who think that running 31 miles on a <a href="x-apple-data-detectors://7/" x-apple-data-detectors-result="7" x-apple-data-detectors-type="calendar-event" x-apple-data-detectors="true">Saturday morning</a> is fun. According to the final results, there were 182 finishers, so that was the approximate number of crazy souls at the start line (probably fewer than that, actually, because participants had an "early start" option if they got their butts to Lincoln Park on time). Based on past online results for the annual Lakefront 50K, they usually have over 200 finishers, but given the ridiculous Chicago winter we have had, I'm not at all surprised that more people had enough sense to not even sign up this year.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Well, in any case, there we were <a href="x-apple-data-detectors://8/" x-apple-data-detectors-result="8" x-apple-data-detectors-type="calendar-event" x-apple-data-detectors="true">at 8:30 AM</a>, repeating after the very enthusiastic race director as he said "There's no place on Earth I would rather be than here at this start line with all of you!" (Yes, he actually made us parrot that back to him. It was pretty awesome.) Then, after a few more minutes of nervous pacing and hand wringing, we were off.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Truth be told, it was actually a beautiful morning. The sun came out early and stuck around all day long, so aside from a bit of wind at certain spots, it was pretty much the ideal spring racing day--a nice break from the unpleasant temperatures we've been getting lately.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Not that we would have had the option of complaining about it if it was overcast, rainy, or even snowy, because the friendly race people were adament about adding this little line to the banner at the start line. See it? It says NO WHINERS ALLOWED...and there you have it.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Now, getting back to the actual race...it actually started off very well. Friendly runners, smiling volunteers, and tons of adults, kids, and dogs along the course (again, it was a beautiful day to hang out by the beach or get in some miles with friends with the gorgeous, sparkling lake as a backdrop).</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Best of all, the runners were all close together, and because it was so early in the race, not enough time had passed for the crowds to thin out considerably, as they would during the second and third loops.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Oh yeah, the loops. This race consists of three equal out-and-backs...or "loops," as they call them. You run a little over five miles out, turn around somewhere near the beach area, and hoof it back to the start line for about five more miles (approximately 10.3 miles total). Then you get to turn yourself right back around and repeat the same thing two more times.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The first loop was fantastic, for all the reasons I mentioned above. Never had to wait in line for a porta potty (another plus), and the water stations exceed those of absolutely every race I've done so far...mostly because they don't just contain water. They had Gatorade, small cups of Coke, pretzels, Twizzlers, cookies, olives, M&M's, Skittles...pretty much all the things you're not supposed to eat if you want to be thin :) To me, there was something slightly counterproductive about grabbing Oreos during a 31 mile run, but I truly appreciated the Coke and loved taking a few sips with my water. That little bit of sugar definitely helps provide a boost of energy.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Anyway, I finished the first loop with a satisfying time, I was on track to be finished in 7 hours, and as I texted my mom to tell her the good news, I was confident that this was going to be awesome. Getting off to a good start is always a great confidence booster, but I was quickly catapulted back to reality when the second loop began. The runners were much more spread out now, and I suddenly realized that the (approximately) two miles that we had to complete before making it back to the lakefront were very confusing. There weren't as many signs pointing participants in the necessary direction, and it occurred to me that I hadn't paid much attention to the route during the first loop. I didn't have to, because I was simply following the other runners. There was one point where I didn't know whether to go right or left, but thankfully, there were two runners coming up from behind me, so I let them pass and followed them as they went right (which was good, because if I had been forced to choose myself, I would have gone left).</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">So, I got back to the lakefront again, the prettiest and most stress-free part of the course, and everything was good. Cute dogs with tennis balls in their mouths, adorable kids telling their moms that this was "like, the bestest, sunniest Chicago day ever," and friendly runners (some were in the race, and some weren't) with constant smiles and words of encouragement as we passed each other. Seriously, I think runners are some of the coolest, kindest, most supportive groups of human beings in the world, because the vast majority of them care just as much about building up another member of the community as they do about fulfilling their own goals. But, that's another post for another day :)</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Making it back to the start/finish area after the second loop was a less enthusiastic affair than after the first one (as evidenced by the text message I sent to my mom about this being the "longest effing loop ever"). With about 20.7 miles completed, I knew I had fallen behind my target pace and would now have a much harder time achieving that 7-hour finish. Plus, the finish line was adjacent to the turn-around point for those heading out for another loop, and this was when a lot of runners were finishing. They were getting their medals, enjoying the post-race snacks, and relaxing in the grass after successfully completing their 31 miles.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">As for me, well, I had finished the first loop in 2 hours and 20 minutes, and the second loop in 2 hours and 40 minutes. Now I had exactly 2 hours to get through the final loop and officially be able to call myself an ultramarathoner. Not good. Not good at all, especially since I haven't quite mastered the concept of "negative splits."</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Even so, this WAS what I signed up for, and as such, there would be NO WHINERS ALLOWED, so I took a quick bathroom break and headed out again for the last 10.3 miles. That, as it turned out, was where the real race began for me.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">About half a mile into the loop, I made a wrong turn and got lost. What's more, there were no fellow runners nearby to bail me out of this oncoming mess, so there I was, staring at some scenery I did not recognize from the first two loops, and instead of turning back around, I just went farther into the unfamiliar territory. To make a long story short, I did eventually make it back to the course, crossing paths with some other racers who were inching closer to the finish line, so the relief set in as I started back toward the lake.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I had a feeling things were turning really sour when I passed a water/snack station (most of the food was gone, along with all of the pop), and the cheerful volunteer said to me, "Woo-hoo, only about 2 and a half miles to go!" I informed him that I was actually still on my way to the lakefront for one more lap, and after checking his paper, he confirmed that I did actually have about 8 miles to go. Fabulous. He said that his water stop would probably be gone by the time I came back around, since they were only allowed to have it out in the park for a certain amount of time, but he said he'd do his best to leave some water on the side of the path. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">With that in mind, I started running toward the lakefront to finish what I started. This time, I was left with the very real possibility that I would not be able to complete this race...and even if I did, I probably wouldn't receive a medal. Then I remembered that the course was in a public park and on a public path for runners, so as long as I could avoid getting lost and find my way back to where I started, at least I would be a finisher. Medal or no medal, that was the ultimate goal.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I made it to the turnaround (although the water station down there was completely gone, as expected), bringing the total mileage to 25.9 miles--basically the distance of a full marathon. It was <a href="x-apple-data-detectors://9/" x-apple-data-detectors-result="9" x-apple-data-detectors-type="calendar-event" x-apple-data-detectors="true">3:20 PM</a> at that point. The course was only going to be officially open until <a href="x-apple-data-detectors://10/" x-apple-data-detectors-result="10" x-apple-data-detectors-type="calendar-event" x-apple-data-detectors="true">3:30</a>, and unless I magically transformed into a Kenyan of epic speed, there was no way I was going to cover 5 miles in ten minutes (and to be honest, neither would the Kenyan, had he actually been there). Oddly enough, I seriously contemplated e-mailing the race director from my phone and saying, "Hey, I'm at the final turnaround, I have five more miles to go, I'll be there as soon as I can, so I would reeeeeeeeeally appreciate it if you could wait for me. Please and thank you!"</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Right, because that wouldn't have been weird, like, at all.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">What can I say? When you're a runner who just completed 26 miles and had 5 more to go, thinking straight isn't exactly a simple task.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">That said, I had told myself that I was going to run 31 miles today. Even if I was standing alone in the end, it would be enough that in my heart, I knew that I had made it through all 31 miles and refused to stop until I was done. All I had to do was avoid getting lost.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><em style="right: auto;">Just avoid getting lost.</em> Yep, that was the kicker. That, and the unexpected discovery that after about 28 miles, my body was legitimately starting to shut down. That's the thing about the human body--even when pushed beyond what's expected, there comes a time it starts barking at you and shouting, <em>"Dude, what the hell are you doing to me???"</em> Okay, so it doesn't actually say that, but you get what I mean.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">26 miles feels a little more second nature to me now, because I've done it so many times, so getting through that part of the race was fine (minus the whole "getting lost" thing). I was even able to hang on for about 2 miles after that, but what I had failed to understand going into this was that sooner or later, the body is just <em style="right: auto;">done,</em> and no matter what you do, you can't reverse that. And I did try distracting myself, thinking about that really great movie I had seen the week before, the funny YouTube video my parents and I had watched the night before, quotable moments from my 5-year-old students, the cute puppies sitting on the beach, etc.... If my cell phone battery wasn't dangerously low at that point, I probably would have turned on some music and belted out a rousing rendition of "Let It Go," but instead, I was focusing more on the fact that I couldn't take a deep breath without fearing that I might have a heart attack. Oops. Not a good sign.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">That's when I knew that the only way--literally the ONLY way--I was going to finish this was by walking the rest of the way. Three miles to go. I tried to break back into a jog a couple of times, but after about ten seconds, I had to stop. So, that was the deal at this point. Just keep moving forward, slow and steady, and get to that finish line in one piece. Of course, by now, it was about thirty minutes past the course cutoff time. Thirty minutes turned into forty five, and before I knew it, I was back in the Lincoln Park Maze, where it was oh-so-easy to get turned around, and the course had been officially closed for an hour.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I thought about the jacket and bag I had left at the start line, along with everyone else's personal items. There was nothing seriously valuable in it--mostly some dry clothes, a phone charger, and a bag of Wheat Thins--so it wouldn't be the end of the world if it was taken and donated to charity, but still, I thought about how pathetic it would be if I finished so late in the game that I couldn't even get my jacket back. Then I thought,<em> You know what? Getting a medal and my jacket are the least of my worries right now. I'm going to be lucky if I even find the finish line--or the original location of it-- on my own!</em> I considered cutting through the park and grabbing a cab back to the start line, and deep down, I knew that it was an option if I was in serious trouble, but was that really how I wanted today's story to end after putting in over 8 hours of work? My legs were still working, albeit very slowly, and I was less than three miles away, so as far as I was concerned, I was going to finish regardless.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Then mile 29-something came, an</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">d--you guessed it--I got lost again. (Most family members, and anyone else who knows me well, would agree that this is anything but shocking.) If I passed by that water station area where the volunteer had offered to leave me some water, I must have gone right through it without realizing. I remember searching for the two blue porta potties that were stationed there, hoping to use them as a guide, but they were obviously removed by the time I came through, so that plan wasn't going to work. Thankfully, I was able to turn around a lot faster this time, and after doing this same loop twice already, I remembered it at least a little bit better by now. (For the record, I did try hard to study it more closely during the second loop so I would be more prepared the third time around--really, I did--but I clearly hadn't retained much of it.) For instance, that bumpy patch of mud on the path, the ridiculously huge puddles that we all had to jump over, the bridge that led past Montrose Harbor...yep, it was all starting to come together now.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Then, just like that, I saw her, with a black and yellow medal hanging over her arm and a kind, supportive smile on her face. She introduced herself as the race director's wife (I later learned that her first name was Beth) and put the medal around my neck. As it turned out, she had also completed the race (many hours earlier, of course), so it was her medal, really. "It's totally fine," she said as I thanked her for waiting and told her she really didn't need to do that. "I have so many medals at home already--my medal hanger is lopsided by now!"</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">She walked with me past the spot where the official finish line had been before it was dismantled. I remember saying to her, "Wait. That's where the finish line actually was? It was literally in that exact spot?" I actually asked her twice (as if she didn't know the answer, being the race director's wife and all). After leading me to my coat and bag (and making sure I had a ride home), she offered me a hug and one final "Congratulations, Rose; you did it!" She also took the bottom of my bib number and promised to make sure I was still listed as a "Finisher" in the results, even though I wouldn't have an official time.</span><br />
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It had<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> been a long day for both of us, it was almost <a href="x-apple-data-detectors://11/" x-apple-data-detectors-result="11" x-apple-data-detectors-type="calendar-event" x-apple-data-detectors="true">5:00 PM</a>, and looking back on it now, I truly wish I had said more to this incredibly kind stranger who went out of her way to make sure the very last 50K participant was safe. It was a Saturday night. She had probably been there at the crack of dawn to help set up with the rest of the race crew. She had run 31 miles herself, surely she was exhausted, <em>everyone </em>else had gone home, and she probably would have loved to be back at her own place by this time. Still, she found a way to connect with a fellow runner who, despite being in a completely different place physically and emotionally, had the same dream for that day: to complete the Chicago Lakefront 50K. </span><br />
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We live in an imperfect world, and amidst the craziness of it all, we tend to focus on the negative. The world is full of people who are selfish, rude, inconsiderate, and just plain mean. There are people who murder, lie, cheat, and steal...and it's so easy to say things like "What is this world coming to?" I don't know the answer to that, any more than the rest of you, but this weekend, I came in direct contact with a person who was kind to somebody she didn't even know...JUST BECAUSE. "I would have never just left you here," she said. I have heard stories about dead-last runners who are cheered in to the finish by some truly decent people, but it hits you harder when you find yourself in that exact position, and someone is doing that for you. <br />
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Yes, Beth is one of those kind people, and really, she is one of many. I like to believe that the positive outweighs the negative, when we choose to see it that way. I hope she knows that what she did, no matter how simple it seemed, went a very long way, and ultimately, I guess all we can do is pay it forward in any way possible. Smile, support, share whatever you can, and know that in the end, being kind matters more than anything else.<br />
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So, to put it simply (although this insanely long post was anything but simple), this 50K was a new experience, a personal test that was every bit as mental as it was physical. <strong><em>RESPECT THE RUN, OR IT WILL HUMBLE YOU. </em></strong>Runners love to say things like this, but it's true, and honestly, it applies to everything we do in life. No matter how many times we've done something, and no matter how confident we might feel about it at first, anything can happen. The whole point is to be challenged by it, so you can improve and be stronger next time. <br />
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Completing this race taught me a thing or two. First of all, the whole <strong>"IF YOU CAN DO 26 MILES, THEN YOU CAN DO 31" </strong>mentality? If you have that in your head right now, like I did, just toss it out right now. It's the silliest "racer's myth" I ever heard. Five miles might be "just five miles" if that's all you're doing for the day, but running 31 miles at one time is no joke, and you can't treat it as "no big deal." After fighting through 26 miles, even one extra mile can feel like eternity, let alone five. That's not to say that it's impossible, but it definitely helps to be realistic and know beforehand what you're getting yourself into.<br />
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I also learned that while I had the mental attitude and the basic overall fitness level to pull off a 50K, it really does require more than that if you want to do your absolute best. I got a glimpse of genuine human kindness and experienced firsthand what it means to persevere through something <em>really </em>challenging, but would I want to re-live everything that I've written about so far in this post? Probably not, especially if a little more careful preparation could make the next experience run more smoothly. <br />
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Getting lost those two times on the course was part of the problem, yes, and when it's an extremely small field of runners in an unfamiliar area, it suddenly becomes that much more difficult. If we're being completely truthful, though, I have gained a little weight recently, and those extra pounds are not exactly "a runner's best friend." I also have not been following a strict training plan lately. I love my races and still sign up for them whenever possible, and I am always able to finish, but when it comes to getting in some mileage in-between...um...yeah, there's a lot left to be desired. My work schedule gets in the way, of course, but even on my spring break this week, I would do maybe 3-4 miles at a time and be "too tired" to keep going. These kinds of things add up, and by the grace of God, I managed to survive yesterday's 50K, but I know that certain things need to change if I want to attempt something like this again in the future. It will be important to pay more attention to my weight and overall training, because even though the determination of the human mind can lead us to great things, it's still best when combined with old-fashioned hard work. It's a lesson I'm still learning myself, every single day, along with everyone else in the world. <br />
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For now, I am beyond grateful for what my body allowed me to do this weekend, and I'm excited to continue doing what I love. Next up: The Bunny Rock Half Marathon in two weeks, the Illinois Marathon on April 26, the Wisconsin Marathon the weekend after that, and the Chicagoland Spring Marathon two weeks after that!<br />
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What's that? You're supposed to rest more in-between races? Oh. Right. Well, hey, my summer racing schedule is going to be a little lighter (hard to find local marathons during those hot summer months), so I guess I'll take advantage of the spring racing season while it's here! No better time than the present, right? <br />
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God love you if you've made it far enough to read these final sentences. Have an awesome week, everyone, keep working hard, and just have fun!<br />
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Celebrating the end of a long running journey with my buddy Ditka! Those four legs of his may have come in handy if he ran the 50K too :)</div>
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Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03520348548506195209noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154515178374210492.post-32282915711287293462013-11-09T19:07:00.003-08:002013-11-09T19:27:09.584-08:00(Almost) Everything I Learned About Life, I Learned From Being a RunnerWith my ninth attempt at 26.2 miles just a few more hours away (so excited for the inaugural Naperville Marathon!) I've been thinking more about why I run and how it connects with my everyday life. I've said it before--the sport of running is about more than just getting stronger, competing with others, and improving your body. Running has changed my life in ways that have nothing to do with the physical aspect of it. For example...<br />
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1) <strong><em>I've learned that no matter how much success you experience, you're never immune to the struggles you dealt with in the first place.</em></strong> They can creep back up on you anytime, and they love it when they think you're not expecting them. If you eat that pizza or give in to those cookies that your parents technically bought for their Bears tailgating event the next day, you're accountable. Period. You don't have to spend weeks beating yourself up over it, but you shouldn't ignore it either. Acknowledge it, learn from it, and move forward. Bottom line? You never outgrow the learning process.<br />
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2) <strong><em>I've learned that life is hard, but never so hard that you can't find something to smile about</em></strong>...even if it seems minor. Be grateful for the smallest things. Whether it's a genuine hug from a 7-year-old, an unexpected compliment, or time spent with family, it really isn't "small stuff" at all. It can never be small when it brings happiness to some part of your life.<br />
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3) <strong><em>I've learned that if you've accomplished something, you should write it down.</em></strong> Write it quickly so you don't forget, even if you have to scribble it on your hand until you get home. When you accomplish something and feel good about yourself, it's nice to have something to help remember that amazing feeling. You'll lean on it later, when you really need the motivation.<br />
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4) <strong><em>I've learned that for every weakness you have, it's someone else's greatest strength.</em></strong> Don't be afraid to learn from them, to ask for their help, and to appreciate what they have to share with you. If they took the time to help you out, thank them. If they inspire you, tell them. They deserve to know.<br />
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5) <strong><em>I've learned that the glory of the race day is amazing, but there are many, many lonely days</em></strong> during the learning period...in other words, the training. The fun can't come before the work. Sooner or later, you have to just do the hard stuff, often by yourself, and focus on getting stronger without the constant motivation of someone cheering for you. That's the roughest part--struggling through the pain and wondering when the heck it's going to pay off. The second that day arrives, though, you'll feel it, and it's pretty awesome.<br />
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6) <strong><em>I've learned that I'm slow, and that's okay. </em></strong>I may not be the best, but that's no excuse to say I'm the worst and stop trying altogether. There's always room to get better and be YOUR best...which is actually kinda cooler than being THE best.<br />
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7) <strong><em>I've learned that sometimes, you just have to push through the pain.</em></strong> Other times you need to back off and listen to your body...but in many cases, it's just a matter of sucking it up. The longer you keep at it--whatever IT might be--the better you become at learning the difference. You can trust yourself to know which is which, and to be smart about the choices you make in your life.<br />
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8) <strong><em>I've learned to look around as much as possible,</em></strong> just so I remember why I'm doing this and why it makes me happy. Concentrating on the joy will be helpful when life gets painful or difficult later. I know I'm going to fall. But when I get up (and I will), I'm going to learn how to fix it...and in the end, I'm going to be better for it.<br />
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9) <strong><em>I've learned that it will come.</em></strong> It might happen slowly, but it will come. Patience is key to getting through just about anything.<br />
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10) <strong><em>I've learned that it's not all about me.</em></strong> Help someone else out whenever you get the chance. Don't be too shy or too nervous to step up. You have something to share, something to teach. If you've struggled with that in the past (I know I certainly have), for whatever reason, take advantage of a future opportunity to make a positive change. That's what second chances are for, when you're lucky enough to get them.<br />
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11) <strong><em>I've learned that not everybody is going to like me or care about what I have to say.</em></strong> It's truly one of the hardest lessons to learn, and I spent many adolescent years (okay, and a few adult days) literally in tears over that exact issue. At some point, though, after freaking out over it enough times, you find peace with the fact that some people simply don't care for you. They might find you annoying for some reason. They might think you're weird or crazy. They might not be able to stand you. Sometimes people have a reason for acting this way, but all too often, it's a matter of them just being plain mean. It's okay, though, really. You don't like me? That's fine. I can take it. We live in a society where certain people are constantly being critical and judgmental, almost as if they're pre-conditioned to do so. That's their problem, and nobody else's. On any given day, all you can do is be nice. Feel grateful for those who do love and support you. Besides, life would be boring if everyone just thought you were awesome...and even then, someone would have to dislike you for that reason alone :) <br />
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Oh, and for the record, I swear I'm not just speaking empty words right now. From personal experience, I can tell you that it's a huge burden when you worry about these kinds of things, and it feels really, really, <em>REALLY</em> good when you finally give yourself permission to let it go. That's what I started doing (very recently, actually) and I'm a lot happier because of it. <br />
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12) <strong><em>I've learned that if you're working hard and trying your best, there WILL be a payoff, even if it takes a long time.</em></strong> Even if it's different from the one you originally planned. When the time comes, you won't mind if the picture isn't the same one you had in mind. You'll be too happy to care, because a part of you is already stronger, and nothing motivates you more than that, especially when it's time to go after the next big goal!<br />
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13) <strong><em>I've learned that when everything else fails, and you don't know what else to do, being kind is the answer.</em></strong> There are days when you might feel too weak, too dumb, or too worthless. You may ask yourself why you even bother trying in the first place when things keep going in the wrong direction. But then, when you start to look around, you realize that the world is still going on, and it is so much bigger than all of that. Everyone is dealing with something, even if you can't see it clearly in the moment. We count on each other to be kind, to be respectful, and it truly is one of the most basic good things we can do for another person. Even just a simple "Great job" or "you inspire me" can change someone's entire focus...and maybe even motivate them to pay it forward somehow. I know because there are many people who have done it for me...and hopefully I have been able to do it for others, as well. Too often in life, things happen that we can't change, so it feels good to come across something that we can control absolutely, 100%, every single day. Kindness is one of those things.<br />
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14) <strong><em>Most of all, I've learned that saying or writing all these things is good, but at some point, you have to get up and actually live it.</em></strong> Don't be afraid. Ask for help if you need it. Find inspiration from others whenever you can. They're here for you. You have worthwhile things to say and give, so have at it (and remember to smile too)! <br />
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Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03520348548506195209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154515178374210492.post-53541374822116448002013-11-08T08:01:00.003-08:002013-11-08T16:27:32.896-08:00Sweet Home Chicago Marathon 2013...the Joy and the Memories!<div style="border: currentColor;">
It's been a busy past few weeks (but definitely exciting with the holidays coming up), and now I'm finally getting around to writing about the Chicago Marathon, which took place on October 13. In a lot of ways, it was the same fantastic racing experience that keeps me coming back each time, but it became even more special when I got a very rare PR (personal record)!</div>
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Well, okay, it wasn't an official PR, if we're being honest. It was my second best finish time (5:46) out of eight total marathons, but because I haven't hit anywhere near that in two years, it instantly felt like a personal best. A lot of things just came together at the right time to make it possible, and I'm very thankful for the happy memories from that day. </div>
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My mom and I stayed over the night before, so I could get up exactly when I wanted to, shower, leave the hotel an hour and a half before the start, and just take my time. No rushing, no stress about getting to the start line. That was really nice. I was one of the first in my corral and could just sit for a while, listening to music and gathering my thoughts. I remember saying a prayer at the start line, but at the same time, I also knew that I was going to need to put in the work. There's actually a parable about two farmers who learned about "preparing for rain" - in other words, offer your prayers up to God, but then use what He gave you to work hard and prepare yourself to have those prayers answered. Sooner or later, you gotta get off your butt and make an effort, no matter how much you wish there was a shortcut somewhere. </div>
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There are a lot of excuses that runners tend to come up with during the racing/training, and the longer you use them, the more easily they flow. Maybe you'd recognize some of them, too: <b><i>I'm not the kind of runner who is lightning fast. I'm not skinny enough. Not trained enough. I don't have a friend to pace me. I have 26 miles to cover and don't want to burn out in the first half of the race. Just focus on finishing and having fun. I already succeeded simply by showing up. Why risk getting injured?<b></b></i></b> I can't say those were all bad reasons to be cautious. As a runner, you have to be responsible. But I also learned that it's okay to push yourself. It's awesome running with others and having friends to help pace you--that's good and important. But if you don't have someone at that particular moment, that particular race, you have to count on yourself more.</div>
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I chose to go out of the gate really fast at the beginning, which a lot of coaches advise against completely. For me, though, it worked, because I wanted to get a solid head start while I was still feeling my best. I knew I was going to be sore and tired in the second half, and if I started strong, I could feel less stressed when that point of the race came. I trusted myself to listen to my body and know if/when it was time to stop. Fortunately, on that exact day, and at that moment, it ended up being the right technique to use.</div>
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<b><i>"Shoot for the moon. If you miss, you'll land among the stars."</i> </b>Sound familiar? It's one of my favorite quotes to focus on during difficult times. I knew that beating my all-time PR was a lot to ask for, especially since I hadn't done anything under 6 hours in over a year. But I started there and figured, well, if that doesn't work out, then there's still plenty of room to at least achieve one of my better finish times. Around mile 17, I knew I wasn't going to make it in 5:28, but at 22, I knew I could definitely get under 6 hours...even 5:45 looked like a strong possibility! Knowing that really pushed me through those last miles and was motivating.</div>
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I still played it safe in a lot of ways. I stopped for the bathroom once, walked through the water stops (which I counted on as a "break" to slow down and refocus before picking up the pace again). 5:46 isn't a super-fast finish time, but it's definitely a good starting point. It's the best I have done in a very long time, and I did it on my own, without being paced. It was a good confidence booster too, just knowing that I could do it. So much of this sport is mental. Not all of it, but you can pull yourself out of a rut by setting a new goal and following through with it. I've loved racing over this past year, but it did feel like something was missing...like there was potential to do better if I really just sucked it up and went for it. The mind can help us achieve a lot of awesome things.</div>
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That, and preparing properly. I'm the kind of person who gets really involved in a specific workout and doesn't like to switch it up a lot. But the week before Chicago, I started Tae-Bo again, and I absolutely think that helped me get faster in a short amount of time. It's a full-body workout, and the instructor (Billy Blanks) is incredible. He's talented for sure, but even more than that, he's a positive person. He wants you to reach all your goals in life, not so you can be "the best," but so you can feel happy, healthy and confident in who you are. Makes me think about how much more I could accomplish if I cross trained a little more. If seven days can make such an impact, that tells you something.</div>
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Also, the Chicago Marathon course happens to be very flat, which really made a difference. I've battled some hills in recent races, so compared to a course like this, I felt like I could move a lot faster. Then there's that amazing crowd support. 1.5 million spectators! There wasn't an empty spot the entire way. Some areas were less active, like around the United Center, but there were always people cheering. Adults, kids, pets, etc... And with 45,000 runners, the course itself was never empty either. At Fox Valley three weeks ago, I remember being alone for several miles, except maybe for two or three people at the most. Sometimes it was literally just me and the pavement. Small town races have their own strengths and advantages, but Chicago really is my favorite for this reason. Ultimately, I do prefer the huge crowds, the activity, and the excitement, because it drives me to the finish line like nothing else. Everyone is different, though, and I definitely believe you should experience both dynamics.</div>
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I am so lucky to have found the new friends that I have through running. They are all better than me--literally every single one of them--and I don't say that out of self-pity. It's a good thing! I like it that way because it motivates me. Their accomplishments inspire me to be better. Everyone you meet has specific skills or knowledge that you don't, and it's great to learn from them. You find a lot of love and support in fellow runners. They know what it's like to push through something difficult because the payoff is so incredible. They understand what it means to be in total pain and still love it at the same time. I admire people who take on new challenges and develop a passion for things that once felt impossible. </div>
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And just in case I haven't said it enough, this blog isn't all about running. It never was supposed to be. I write down these things as a way to remember all the races I've participated in, so I can one day look back on what helped me become a healthier, happier person. It might all seem mostly boring to others, but if you are reading, I hope you are also going after the goals that make <i>you</i> better. Not every day will be a PR, but if you're doing your best, taking it all in as you go, and enjoying the experiences with others, then every single day is worth it! </div>
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It's true. Just ask this woman, Rita Jeptoo, who was the female winner with a record-breaking finish time of 2:19:57 (good Lord, can you imagine your feet moving that fast?) What I love about her is the way she looked so absolutely excited and happy as she crossed that finish line. The finish times that the Kenyans post are unbelievable--it's so hard to imagine that the human body can do what they do--but in the end, it's not "easier" for them just because they're faster. This woman didn't just blaze through 26.2 miles, then act like it was nothing.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNa5ppAz2r8JWiXb4ZE6g2-kllTaLRuhKyLUpDsBaddqNSOg6POiS60nahO49gPmHZulffPD04tHDatpvmdkBHfBu5zU0MTQ2pNcf8JA_JAc8iq3UrguNggHfrX2ZrKZ4GVRd_hlhqlM8/s1600/Rita+J.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNa5ppAz2r8JWiXb4ZE6g2-kllTaLRuhKyLUpDsBaddqNSOg6POiS60nahO49gPmHZulffPD04tHDatpvmdkBHfBu5zU0MTQ2pNcf8JA_JAc8iq3UrguNggHfrX2ZrKZ4GVRd_hlhqlM8/s320/Rita+J.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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This picture is a little blurry, but look at the expression on her face. It's the same joy you might see in the eyes of a first-time marathoner who crosses the final mat in six, seven, eight hours. When we see what the Kenyans are able to achieve at a marathon, it's sometimes easy to forget that they're people too, toughing it out and making sacrifices so they can have that moment of celebration. It's a cool thing to think about, knowing that you share these same emotions with others, even if their accomplishments seem so much greater in certain ways. <br />
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Well, ultimately, Rita's words after finishing were <i>"The race was very, very nice. Weather was good. Today I am happy...today I was with my friends." </i><br />
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Being with friends and being happy with what you're given...what else is there in life, really? That sounds pretty perfect to me too! <br />
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Have a great day, everyone :)Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03520348548506195209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154515178374210492.post-42764981284876257262013-10-11T12:32:00.000-07:002013-10-11T17:39:48.372-07:00Never Perfect, But Always Moving Forward...Wow, it's been a long time...yet again! That's the thing about blogging. Writing has always been the easiest and most natural way for me to express myself, but as much as I love it, reaching the point mentally to type it all out is a whole other story, especially when work and life get in the way. Somehow, though, I don't think anyone out there was holding their breath waiting for a new blog post from Rosie Krajewski, so it's all good!<br />
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That said, I do appreciate those of you who have started following me ever since my friend Bonnie asked me to do a guest post on her blog. I met Bonnie in college, at the Catholic Newman Center, and she is truly one of the most incredible moms/Catholics/people I have the privilege of knowing. She is amazing and strong in her faith, but she also happens to be really funny. She inspires me every day! So, on that note, I am going to return the favor and recommend that you visit her blog too! (<a href="http://www.aknottedlife.blogspot.com/">www.aknottedlife.blogspot.com</a>). <br />
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Lately, I have been struggling with a few different things. For starters, maintaining this weight loss continues to be a daily battle. Preventing myself from losing control is always on my mind, which is a good thing, but whenever I start to really obsess over it, I try to remember how far I've come, and what I <span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.292969);">looked like four years ago. Mmm, yeah...not so great, but at least I found a way to use my dog to hide those couple of extra chins on my face. That counts for something, right?</span><br />
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This is when I was at the peak of my weight loss, the night I reached Lifetime at Weight Watchers. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp-9pJUyIa61vYB2r2DJwYWzkdfnEEo-S9lbtKfA_C-IFy5axjmoX0UOwNytgIBH57eefmrrQNszhAuxBnE_jSQ37WtArIX-sJur9xOR9Aw5Cya8U4nd-eH4KMS3vpzQYVmza_n5EOajs/s1600/033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp-9pJUyIa61vYB2r2DJwYWzkdfnEEo-S9lbtKfA_C-IFy5axjmoX0UOwNytgIBH57eefmrrQNszhAuxBnE_jSQ37WtArIX-sJur9xOR9Aw5Cya8U4nd-eH4KMS3vpzQYVmza_n5EOajs/s320/033.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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And this is me now. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxOP-yk4tO_ftM_O3InEtpgf_g4Q8HjIHXYutVdsUIEPYapvs2xdBtx2eTqQSN_a26lhc3HRcn-QFox-0XmDOhWHFCVNsK4PLjLtlcRtK2jjgC1rahnLx4G1Yb-1RvRBJPSaDYOvmmzII/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxOP-yk4tO_ftM_O3InEtpgf_g4Q8HjIHXYutVdsUIEPYapvs2xdBtx2eTqQSN_a26lhc3HRcn-QFox-0XmDOhWHFCVNsK4PLjLtlcRtK2jjgC1rahnLx4G1Yb-1RvRBJPSaDYOvmmzII/s320/002.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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That last picture was taken about two weeks ago, at our annual Bears tailgating party. I feel fortunate to have kept off most of the pounds, but yes, I have put on a little bit of weight. It's something that I can't afford to get too casual about, because once you give yourself permission to really let go, things can fall apart before you even start to fully realize what's happening. I've been there in the past...but I'm determined not to make that same mistake now.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.230469); -webkit-composition-frame-color: rgba(77, 128, 180, 0.230469); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.296875);">Weight loss is hard. Maintenance can be even harder. The struggle never goes away. As long as there are pizzas, ice cream sundaes, and Taco Bells in this world, maintaining a healthy lifestyle is going to be a challenge. Sometimes I wish I could be like those Biggest Loser winners who claim that they've "cleansed their bodies" from fast food and all other junk, to the point where they no longer even desire it, and they actually crave fruit instead. I guess when you've achieved fame by losing tons of weight on a television show, and millions of people are looking to you, there is pressure to set a good example. For most of us, though, those comfort foods continue to have a role in our lives, and if we can't eliminate them completely, the least we can do is find a way to live with them.</span><br />
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It's hard for all of us. Really, it is. It's not like when we were kids and could snack on Oreos after school, then burn them off on the swing set without thinking twice. (Those days were fun, weren't they?) The good news is that you can make a choice NOW. A choice that the hundredth potato chip you just ate will officially be your last one for the night, or that you'll skip dessert this time because you're working to get your weight back on track. It's easier said than done, but it's those small decisions along the way that make a difference when you start putting them together.<br />
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I'm not perfect. I have bad days. I tend to make poor choices when it comes to food, but there are other times when I make good ones, and again, even when they seem small, I think they add up in the long run...and those good days have prevented me from gaining all the weight back. Well, that and the fact that my mom has promised to kick my butt (in a loving motherly way, of course) if I ever go back to that toxic former life! You're never too far from a support system when you stop and look around!<br />
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Then there's the running. Oh, the running. I still love it...a lot...enough to spend money I don't have on registration fees, cute running apparel, and obnoxiously colorful shoes. Right now, my weight isn't exactly where I want it to be, so during a recent run, it felt like I had a big sack of potatoes attached to my ass. It makes the overall jogging experience a little less pleasant when you can literally feel those few extra pounds slowing you down. That's one of the biggest reasons I decided to step back from the running this week and dig out my Tae Bo workout videos. I bought them as a teenager and haven't touched them since high school, but back when I was a senior, that Advanced Tae-Bo Workout helped me lose 50 pounds in a year (which I gained back pretty quickly, but that's a whole other boring story). I always loved it, and when I got back into it this past Sunday, it felt awesome. I noticed a physical difference in just two days, and my mom says she did too. It felt good to try something different, especially after concentrating so much on running over the past few years. I guess the moral of that story is that switching up your routine as much as possible is always a good idea. When you start feeling like you're going in circles around one specific type of exercise, it is that much easier to get bored and start doubting your overall abilities. <br />
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Which brings me to another issue I've been struggling with mentally these days. I ran the Fox Valley Marathon a few weeks ago and am looking forward to my third Chicago Marathon this Sunday. I ran my very first marathon in 5:28 (with my sister there to pace me) and hovered under the 6-hour mark for a few marathons after that, but now the goal is to get as close to 6 hours as possible. On the way home from Fox Valley, my mom asked me about my time, and after a long pause, I said "About six hours. Let's just generalize it that way." It was just vague enough to be true, and it felt better than giving out the actual clock time. <br />
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My work schedule has prevented me from training the way I know I should, and yet I take any possible opportunity to sign up for a race. I can't help it. I just love them so much. I love the positive energy, the race day excitement, the whole deal....but I know I haven't been training to be anywhere near a competitive level. While thinking of a good way to describe it, I determined that it's kind of like having a job. It's like being a teacher and throwing together a lesson plan, knowing that it could benefit from more time, but it's good enough. It will do. You'll devote more to it next time, and who knows? This one just might turn out okay, and you will have done all that worrying for nothing.<br />
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Then you get to work. The lesson isn't completely successful. The day drags. You make it through somehow, but your students aren't connecting with what you're teaching and, as a result, start getting bored/acting out. You're exhausted by the end of the day because you actually made your job even more difficult by coming underprepared. <br />
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That's sort of how it feels when you continue participating in races without a strict training plan, and you keep finishing much slower than what you hoped. You can get away with "winging it" for a while, but if your mind keeps saying you can do better, then listening to it is the way to find peace.<br />
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Don't get me wrong. I will probably always be a slower runner, and I'm okay with that. I dream about Boston as much as any other runner, but I don't necessarily need to be a 3:30 marathon runner. Can I be better, though? Of course. At this point, finishing in 5 hours--heck, even 5 and a half--would feel like a dream come true. I know I can accept help from some of the many strong, amazing runners that I know, find ways to learn from them, and improve as a runner....if I'm ready for the hard work that comes with it.<br />
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Granted, there is a heck of a lot more to life than running. Hobbies are truly the tiniest, most insignificant part of life when you compare them to everything else that's out there. Deep down, I think we all know that, but trying harder and improving ourselves? That's never a waste of time when it can make us better in other areas of life. If it motivates us to be more productive at work, or to give more to the people in our lives, then what could possibly be negative about that?<br />
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It just bothers me when slower runners are criticized so much. Personally, I have amazing friends and family who have been nothing but supportive. I am so grateful for their sincere kindness and love, but it's hard not to let the outside world get in your head. When you Google "slow runners are ruining the sport" and get quotes like this, of course it has an impact:<br />
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<strong>"It's a joke to run a marathon by finishing in six, seven, eight hours."</strong><br />
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<strong>"Slow runners have disrespected the distance."</strong><br />
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<strong>"If you're wearing a marathon T-shirt, that doesn't mean much anymore. I always ask these people, what was your time? If it's six hours or more, I say oh, great, that's fine, but you didn't really run it."</strong><br />
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But then I see quotes like this, which are so much nicer and more encouraging:<br />
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<strong>"[A person who criticizes my slow time] is either a running snob and isn't supportive, or has no idea what it takes to complete a 26.2 mile course. They don't get to lessen my accomplishment." </strong><br />
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<strong>"The majority of the time, [being slow] doesn't bother me. Other times it does, but never so much that I'll stop running." </strong><br />
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<strong>"If you need some inspiration in your running, go to a race and wait for the runners finishing at the back of the pack. You will see some of the greatest DON'T QUIT attitudes that you will ever see."</strong><br />
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It might sound like my thoughts are all over the place, and it's true--they are. I guess that's what happens when you overthink things and get yourself all worked up over negative opinions that just don't matter. Trying to conform to someone else's idea of "successful" wears you out after a while. That doesn't mean we aren't all guilty of it at some point or another, but still...it's exhausting.<br />
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It makes me think a lot about whether or not I have the potential to be a faster runner, and if it's worth pursuing. If it is something I want to do, then that's fine, but it can't be because someone else thinks I should. Of course, you can be motivated by others to improve yourself--that's different. It's good to look at how others have succeeded and feel that inspiration to be better. The thing is, when you're focused on a goal that's important to you, the only way it can possibly work the way it's supposed to is if you do it for yourself, period. The same applies to everyone. Being who you are and taking pride in what you've accomplished is what matters, especially when it's contributing to your overall health, happiness, and the way you treat others. If I ever get to the point where I'm turning in a quicker marathon time, it won't be because somebody else made fun of me for being slow, or because they think I'm not good enough. It will be because I can think for myself, and make a decision that I want to make. There are so many things in life that we have no control over, but not when it comes to things like this.<br />
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It's an easy thing to write, and one of the absolute hardest pieces of advice to follow, but I'm trying, and I think others should too. You deserve to feel good about yourself and what you can do. For me, it happens to be running, but there are millions of people in this world, and just as many different ways to take your life in a positive direction. Whatever it is, just find it, grab it, and allow it to bring out your very best!<br />
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I hope everyone has a great holiday weekend! Get out there, enjoy some time away from your busy schedule, and have fun! It's as good a weekend as any to just be happy! :)<br />
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I'll close with this random picture that a friend of mine posted on Facebook, because if this doesn't make you smile, then I'm not sure what will! <br />
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Gosh, I hate when that happens...don't you??</div>
Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03520348548506195209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154515178374210492.post-63317286954519441362013-03-31T18:24:00.001-07:002013-03-31T18:24:12.800-07:00"Shuffling On" to a Happy, Healthy Future!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Happy Easter!! I can't believe it's been over a year since I last posted on here. I really enjoyed keeping up with it when I first started, but then I got away from it for a while. Since then, my passion for running has remained the same--I've completed five full marathons, eleven half marathons, two 15Ks, and 8 5Ks since starting this journey about 19 months ago--but a lot of other things have changed. For starters, I was offered new job as a kindergarten aide last September, which increased my work hours, and two weeks ago, I began a new job as a preschool teacher for the Elmhurst Park District. It is so exciting to have this opportunity and finally be working as a teacher, but again, it has drastically changed the way I work out on a daily basis. Before this academic year, I had the freedom to be at the gym for six hours in the middle of the day, which is how I was able to focus on losing those 150 pounds, but obviously, that's not an attainable lifestyle for the long term. I always knew it was coming, and that was actually the whole reason I started this blog in the first place--to talk about the challenges of balancing healthy diet/exercise habits with all the other life responsibilities that everyone has.<br />
It's still a daily struggle to maintain my weight. The battles I encountered at 337 pounds are still very much a part of my life today. Realistically, I always knew that those struggles wouldn't go away completely. It's something we all have to work through. It might seem a little easier for someone else when you're looking at it from your own perspective, but generally speaking, that's what life is, and LIFE is something that we all have in front of us right now. The battle I'm fighting might be different from yours, but that doesn't make it any more or less challenging. It's all just part of what we must face as we make the decision to keep working and moving forward.<br />
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Yesterday, I ran the Egg Shell Shuffle Half Marathon in Elk Grove Village--my first race in over two months--and I knew that it would be a little more difficult, since I haven't devoted the same amount of time to training. I quickly fell behind and was actually dead last before even reaching mile 2! That was frustrating at first, but then I realized... I could be disappointed that I wasn't running as well as others, or proud that I had gotten up at 6:30 on a Saturday morning to go run 13 miles. I could obsess over where I was in relation to everyone else on the course, or I could smile and enjoy taking part in this race on such a beautiful, sunny spring day. I could lament over being slow, or be grateful that my body is healthy enough to run today. I've known runners with injuries and surgeries that have halted or even ended their running careers. I have no idea if I will be in that same position someday. Maybe so, but not today. Today, I can run, and anyone who's been blessed with that kind of gift shouldn't complain that they're not fast enough. Truth be told, I haven't always taken my own advice in that regard, but it's something I try to remind myself of when I start getting too worked up about my finish time.<br />
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There weren't many participants in yesterday's race, at least compared to others that I've done, so it got pretty quiet on the course, giving me time to think about why I even choose to do this with my free time. I love to run races because of the excitement that builds at the start line, the camaraderie you feel with your fellow runners on the course, the pride you feel the entire evening afterward, even when you're limping around like an 80-year-old woman....and the medals. Yes, the medals. Think I'm kidding? Actually, I'm not...I love the bling, and it's one of the top reasons I love racing. I love having it around my neck the entire day after earning it, wearing it to bed for the night, then hanging it with the others the next morning as a tangible reminder of what I accomplished. It's a material item, and as such, it is not the most important thing in the world, but it makes me happy.<br />
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So yes, that's the reason why I sign up for marathons, half marathons, 5K's, etc... The reasons why I run in general are a little different. It's because I know that I am committing to something that's challenging and succeeding at it. I am accomplishing something that takes a lot of time, self-discipline, and dedication. And if I can do that, then I can be successful at my job. I can deal with situations and people in everyday life that might not always be ideal. I can be happy. I wish everyone could have something like this in their lives that makes them feel this way. Lord knows it doesn't necessarily have to be running--it just has to be something that motivates you enough to do better...to BE better. <br />
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My high school friend Amanda ran her very first 5K yesterday (the Egg Shell Shuffle offered both a 5K and half marathon options) with her husband Andy (both pictured above). They've lost about 40 pounds each (and counting!) on Weight Watchers and have found joy in running...and not just that, but running TOGETHER. That's what it's all about. That's the beauty of running. All different kinds of people can discipline themselves, train their bodies, and prepare their minds to run. You just have to want it. Then you have to go out there and do it. I was a far cry from the skinny, physically fit, long-legged teenagers in high school who ran cross country and track, and who breezed through gym class because it came naturally to them...and yet today, at age 28, my body can run 26.2 miles. I may finish two, three, or even four hours behind those same high schoolers I was talking about before, but does it really matter all that much? If it gets you out in the fresh air, makes you happy, helps you control your weight and gives you a sense of doing something positive in your life, then what else could you possibly want? I guess we all naturally want to be just a little bit better and a little bit stronger, but sometimes, if you stop and look, what you were hoping for all along is already there. <br />
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Can you tell I got a pep talk from my mom yesterday? Yep...that's why she's one of my best friends!<br />
<br />I hope everyone had a nice Easter. Time to get back to work tomorrow...eeeeeeeek!Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03520348548506195209noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154515178374210492.post-81402751702410153222012-01-22T20:34:00.000-08:002012-01-22T20:34:31.101-08:00Channeling My Inner Kenyan/Polar Bear...Or Maybe Just the Polar Bear Part..."One thing I know for sure is, you can't force the issue. If someone wants to lose weight, they will do whatever it takes. They can't do it for anybody but themselves. It has to be for them alone. Without this understanding, they will fail." ~Jennifer Hudson<br />
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This quote comes from a book called "I Got This", which I almost bought while shopping today. It's Jennifer Hudson's story of how she lost 80 pounds on Weight Watchers and has worked on maintaining a healthy lifestyle for herself and her family. I just happened to open up to the chapter where she wrote those words, and they really rang true for me, because I think the exact same thing all the time. I remember being in that position myself not too long ago. When you're really heavy and struggling to make those changes that you know are necessary, the last thing you want is to be nagged about it, especially by the people you love the most. <br />
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When I think back on my own turning point, I can't think of a very specific moment where I thought "This is it, this is what I'm going to do". There was a lot of concern from my family, especially my mom, but that isn't what truly made the difference. It couldn't be. I couldn't resolve to spend hours at the gym and change my eating habits because it would make my family happy. I couldn't do it because maybe guys would like me more if I was thin. I had to do it for <em>myself,</em> period, because while I was sweating away those extra pounds, making the decision to bypass that greasy pizza, or resolving to squeeze in "just one more mile", it's not as if my mother was standing right there to make sure I did what I said I would do. Very often, it was just me and the treadmill, or me standing alone in the ice cream aisle at the store, faced with the choice to be strong or give into that weakness. You have the freedom to overindulge at McDonalds or pack a healthy lunch from home, and as an adult, nobody is going to tell you no if you want to make the less healthy decision...that is, unless you tell yourself no. It's a difficult lesson to learn, and there are always days when you don't go down the best road. Even now, after losing 150 pounds, I still have a lot of ups and downs, but I have realized that I am completely in control of what happens to my body, and that motivates me to make good choices as often as I can.<br />
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These days, running is one of the greatest things I can choose to spend my spare time, and at the end of the day, it's something I never regret doing for my health. Yesterday, I ran the inaugural Chicago Polar Dash downtown, and while it was definitely the coldest 13.1 miles I ever had to complete, it was a great race all around, and I'm glad I dragged myself out of bed to get out there on a Saturday morning. This post has already gotten a little longer than I was hoping, so I'll just go through some of the highlights of the race now, because for me, it's always fun to look back on a fun day :) <br />
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<div id="yui_3_2_0_1_132728703598486">1. I finished the half marathon in 2:46, which is a good ten minutes behind my usual time for 13 miles. That was a little disappointing, but with all the snow, slush and ice, it was definitely expected. I'm pretty sure almost everyone adjusted their times accordingly to avoid unnecessary injury. I made up my mind early on that this was just going to be fun. With all that white powder on the ground, frigid temperatures and lake effect snow, it was a true "Polar Dash", and that's what we all signed up for with this race, so personally, I loved it. I ran slow and steady, stopped to take my energy gels when needed, and when I had to stop at mile 12 to use the bathroom, I didn't worry about the effect it would have on my finish time. This was a day to enjoy and experience something I love in an environment that I never ran in before, and I can honestly say that I had an awesome time. As my mom pointed out, the whole reason to do this is to have fun and reap the health benefits that come with it.</div><div></div><div>2. One of the highlights of the day was running into Jim and Mandy, two college friends whom I haven't seen in maybe seven or eight years. This was a really long time ago, when I was still attending WIU, and they were the ones who actually spotted me in the crowd at the start line! Mandy is the amazing mother of five children who devotes time to her family while still finding time to do something positive for her health (running), and her husband Jim was there to support her. He even proposed to her when she crossed the finish line (15 minutes ahead of me...not that I'm bitter or anything, haha), despite the fact that they've been married for six years! It's always great to bump into old friends and be reassured that you're not the only one crazy enough to run 13.1 miles in the freezing snow on a Saturday morning!</div><div></div><div>3. For safety reasons that involved having a clearly shoveled path, the course was changed at the last minute on race day. Runners had the option of doing either a 10K (a little over 6 miles) or the half marathon. What happened is that the 10K and half marathoners crossed the finish line at exactly the same time, and while there was a specific lane for the 10K'ers to finish, the rest of us went right through the start line again and repeated almost the exact same course for the second portion of the half marathon. It was definitely weird having to do the same thing twice, but at the same time, it was kind of nice to know what to expect the second time around, and exactly how long it would take to get all the way back around. I know it annoyed a lot of runners, and understandably so, but I didn't mind it too much.</div><div></div><div>4. You know you're living in 2012 when you're running a half marathon and actually recognize a complete stranger from Facebook! I am a "fan" of the Chicago Polar Dash page on Facebook, and I've been visiting it several times a week to get updates on the race. When the originally scheduled Polar Dash was postponed on the 14th due to weather conditions and pushed back to the 21st, some people revolted by posting how they held their own Polar Dashes in their hometowns, despite the fact that the city of Chicago considered the weather conditions "critically unsafe". Two registrants posted a picture of themselves with the homemade snowflake medals that they wore after running 13 miles, and at the actual race yesterday, there was one point where I was running a few steps behind them. I came close to saying hi, but they were having a conversation with each other, and plus, I wasn't too thrilled with the idea of sounding like a total creeper. Anyway, the point is, you know that times have changed tremendously when you can honestly say "Hey, total stranger, I think I know you...from Facebook"!<br />
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5. Again, the weather was less than ideal for most runners. It was cold and windy, there were huge puddles of slush (one in particular around mile 10) to jump over, and getting snow flurries right in the eyes wasn't always pleasant. One of my fellow running friends warned me beforehand that my energy gels and water bottles would most likely freeze in my pockets, and while I wasn't totally convinced at first, my Gu gels were definitely hard midway through the race! So, Mrs. Kwit, if you are reading this...I will be sure to pay more attention to your advice next time!<br />
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6. As I've mentioned before, it's always so important to listen to your body while running, no matter what. In a previous post, I talked about how the Hot Chocolate 15K in November turned into a nightmare when I had fainting spells and ended up in the ER just hours after crossing the finish line. As runners, we sometimes ignore the water stations or avoid using the bathrooms along the course because we don't want anything to get in the way of our finish times...but ultimately, it just isn't worth it. Maybe someday, I will be a more competitive distance runner and focus on speed work, especially since I aspire to qualify for the Boston Marathon by the time I'm 40. For now, though, I'm just running "for the health of it", as they say. Yesterday was the first time I really just let go of the concerns to beat my last finish time, and sure, I was a little bummed at the end, but I can't remember having as much fun at any of my other marathons. I firmly believe that was the reason why.<br />
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7. I love the multi-colored running shoes that I bought at Runner's Soul a few months ago and have used for all but one of every major race I have ever run. Eventually they will wear out, and I'll have to get a new pair, but I don't think I'll ever be able to get rid of them now. I was slightly embarrassed at first, because to put it bluntly, I definitely stand out in those shoes, but it's always fun to get compliments from fellow runners along the course. Many marathoners like to wear something a little loud and unique that makes the event more memorable, whether it's a sparkly tiara, a pink tutu, or funky shoes that glow in the dark. Hey, if it makes completing those miles more bearable, then why not? :)<br />
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8. Speaking of ways to make a marathon more bearable, I have just one word for that: DOGS. I would like to personally thank any person with the good sense to walk their little four-legged babies on the grounds where a race is taking place, or even better, to have them on the sidelines. I don't know if everyone would agree with me on that, but to me, there's nothing more uplifting than seeing an adorable puppy in his little jacket and shoes to protect his paws from the ice. If I sound like a complete nutcase right now, I apologize, but I don't know...something about that just always makes me want to run a little harder, no matter how tired I am at that particular moment.<br />
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9. When it comes to reaching our goals and doing the things we love in life, I think we can all agree that we couldn't do it without the support of at least one person in our lives...and in most cases, it's more than one person. For me, my entire family has been incredible, but I have found a lot of amazing support from my mom, who travels with me to all my races. She works full time as a kindergarten teacher and could probably think of a hundred things she'd rather be doing on a Saturday morning (like sleeping, for instance), but she is always there for me, and I never forget that. In fact, a fellow running friend who met us at the train station that morning said "You have a wonderful mom", and I couldn't agree more. Having lunch with her downtown after these races is one of my favorite things about all of it. I am grateful for her and all she does to help me continue doing what I love. That's a true mom right there! I am extremely lucky to have the parents I do.<br />
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10. Now I'd like to end this posting with yet another quote: <em>"Some people see all the negative things that have happened to them and ask why. Others focus on what they never had and ask why not. Then there are those who realize all they are blessed with and say thank you every day".</em><br />
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Have a great week, everyone! Keep doing what makes you feel happy and healthy, and be sure to thank those who help you along the way!<br />
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Question of the Week: How are your New Year's resolutions going? How do you motivate yourself to keep at it after the first few exciting weeks of January have passed?</div><div></div><div></div>Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03520348548506195209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154515178374210492.post-69361522411394015152011-12-31T21:04:00.000-08:002011-12-31T21:09:58.016-08:00New Year, Fresh Start...It's There for the Taking!It's currently 10:55 in Chicago, and it will soon be time to watch the ball drop in Times Square and kick off 2012! It would be incredible to actually be there someday on December 31st and experience it all firsthand, but for now, watching in HD TV will do just fine! <br />
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The great thing about New Year's Eve is that it's a time to feel hopeful, start fresh, put past hurts and mistakes behind us, and move forward with the confidence that "our year" is just ahead. It can be easy to look back on the year that is ending and focus mostly on the negative things that have happened. Since the excitement of the Christmas season has subsided, and many of us are feeling a little depressed about that anyway, it's natural to start concentrating on what you don't have, rather than what you do have. For me personally, I still haven't found a full-time teaching job, which is frustrating to say the least. A lot of friends from grade school, high school, and college have married and started families, which reminds me of how much I want a husband and kids of my own. Despite having been successful on Weight Watchers, there are still days when I wish I was even thinner (ah, yes, don't we all?) I wish my anxiety in general didn't get the best of me in everyday life, and I'd love to just enjoy life more instead of getting annoyed so easily at the littlest, most insignificant things.<br />
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The thing is, everybody has moments where they feel a little (or maybe a lot) sorry for themselves, thinking about the negative things and wishing they could change them. That's okay. Really, <em>everyone </em>does it. It could actually be a good thing if, after allowing yourself that "Debbie Downer Time", you switch gears and remember all the positives, too. I may not have a full-time teaching position yet, but I am working part-time in an elementary school and gaining experience working with children. I have a job, period, with enough income to pay my bills, and that is absolutely something to be grateful for in today's world. I ran my first marathon this fall and reached a total of 150 pounds lost. I have a great family, a close relationship with my parents and sisters, and if I happen to marry and have children eventually, that will be awesome...but it's not going to ruin my life if I don't. So many other wonderful things have happened for me so far, like my newfound life as a runner, and heck, if Rosie Krajewski can turn into a runner willingly, then <em>anything </em>is possible! :) <br />
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So, to end this post, I will include a quote spoken by Hilary Swank's character in the movie <em>New Years Eve,</em> which seems pretty appropriate for right now. I loved the film's message about life and the attitude that should be adopted as we move into 2012:<br />
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<strong><em><span style="font-size: large;">"Before we pop the champagne and celebrate the new year...stop and reflect on the year that has gone by. Remember both our triumphs and our missteps, our promises made and broken. The times we opened ourselves up to great adventures or closed ourselves down for fear of getting hurt, because that is what New Years is all about - getting another chance. A chance to forgive, to do better, to do more, to give more, to love more. And stop worrying about what if and start embracing what would be. So when that ball drops at midnight--and it WILL drop--let's remember to be nice to each other, kind to each other. And not just tonight, but all year long."</span></em></strong><br />
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Have an amazing start to the New Year, everyone! Remember to look back on all the good things from 2011, and as for the not-so-good...well, just put it behind you and make 2012 everything you want it to be! Nobody's stopping you! :)<br />
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Question of the Day: What is one thing you look forward to most about the New Year? What's one thing you really want to do/accomplish this year?<br />
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Oh, and for the record...looking at this sweet little guy's face is a constant reminder that life is just plain GOOD! God knew what He was doing when He gave us animals :)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TEjCJshAEMs/Tv_pVB0HLVI/AAAAAAAAALI/amU2I6fsDUQ/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TEjCJshAEMs/Tv_pVB0HLVI/AAAAAAAAALI/amU2I6fsDUQ/s320/003.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03520348548506195209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154515178374210492.post-61145516820004545582011-12-07T20:04:00.000-08:002011-12-07T20:08:54.118-08:00Here's to a LIFETIME of change!!!Well, it's been a long time coming--39 months, to be exact. If you go beyond that, though, this day has been on its way for many years, since those days as an awkward, chubby kid with a monstrous love for food.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7I7bSyHTaOd_I2SLIiLNkOwB6jLW4Li-RziCMiuD1bkYLJNEh8ZIaX4TfkstPSRuV2wjke4mZSO6kWqYfp8IiTMWFLTezr9ED7bMi79OdH-H1c7wI8Wrjq-kZhGzKt7e8w7_SU3AJuO4/s1600/AG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7I7bSyHTaOd_I2SLIiLNkOwB6jLW4Li-RziCMiuD1bkYLJNEh8ZIaX4TfkstPSRuV2wjke4mZSO6kWqYfp8IiTMWFLTezr9ED7bMi79OdH-H1c7wI8Wrjq-kZhGzKt7e8w7_SU3AJuO4/s320/AG.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It all started with this little girl right here. She wasn't horribly obese quite yet, but I guess you could say the signs were always there. When you look at this kid celebrating her 10th birthday at home with her family, would you believe that she was capable of eating raw cookie dough by the package, straight from the freezer? I thought I was pretty good at hiding it from my mother, but I don't think it always worked out that way.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisQHC202OadVcCmgSJgnjJ8xSpI23s0fS5py2BaZQEUdoVvjirkl2Aqnus7-iTXzwLUwPO7XQvPnK06_x97pQnSn27gbR2WcKJw-KyCvvOWb9FrRrkqXOQOsNK1rI9_EW0a1NtAXsegHg/s1600/wedding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisQHC202OadVcCmgSJgnjJ8xSpI23s0fS5py2BaZQEUdoVvjirkl2Aqnus7-iTXzwLUwPO7XQvPnK06_x97pQnSn27gbR2WcKJw-KyCvvOWb9FrRrkqXOQOsNK1rI9_EW0a1NtAXsegHg/s320/wedding.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Things had gone from bad to worse for that same girl once she hit this point. She should have known when shopping for a presentable outfit for that wedding was nothing but anger and frustration, and she could only dream of ever fitting into a dress like her friend Leanne's on the far left...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Today, however, is just the beginning of a lifetime for this girl. Despite being the same person on the inside, there is now a personal desire to be healthy that wasn't there before, and hopefully it is here to stay!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMJ9cr689JJ2MofnPw6mv1fuGcOfDYOK_-PyMZWCMc68ZrqAD7gyjj8x4Ibnd89ptb898qPjv-5fwXpi14QhFRBvwWwhVcSYqrR6EOFtDpzyDT3w-RScZoAFE_MZ2KiaqRBADCwZisyBE/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMJ9cr689JJ2MofnPw6mv1fuGcOfDYOK_-PyMZWCMc68ZrqAD7gyjj8x4Ibnd89ptb898qPjv-5fwXpi14QhFRBvwWwhVcSYqrR6EOFtDpzyDT3w-RScZoAFE_MZ2KiaqRBADCwZisyBE/s320/001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Tonight, on Wednesday, December 7, 2011, I officially became a Lifetime Member at Weight Watchers (152.8 pounds lost altogether), and it feels AMAZING!! Looking back on the journey, there came a point where I knew I was experiencing more success than I had in the past, but there was still that nagging feeling that I wouldn't <em>actually </em>get down to the weight that is considered healthy for a person of my height. In fact, I had occasionally mentioned the possibility of eventually getting a note from my doctor that approved me to be a slightly heavier weight than Weight Watchers recommended, and still be able to obtain Lifetime status. It just didn't seem possible that I could make it that far on my own. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">To be sure, it's taken a VERY long time to get here, and there have been a lot of difficult moments, but now I can't imagine being anywhere else. I am grateful for so many people who were there along the way, because no matter what we may believe, there is no way we could ever do these things in life by ourselves. I am especially thankful that my family was there the entire time for guidance--specifically my mom, who always seemed to know when to offer gentle words of encouragement, and when to just be completely straightforward. So many times, I wished she would just get off my back about the whole thing, but today, I have a better understanding of the fact that she was doing what any loving, concerned parent would do. It was a rough lesson to learn, and it didn't come quickly or easily. In the end, I appreciate that she--and my entire family--loved me when I was at my heaviest and motivated me to become healthier...because that's something we all deserve to do for ourselves. I am also thankful for Weight Watchers, an incredible weight loss program that teaches its members to view all foods--and I do mean <em>all</em> foods--as part of everyday life, not to be feared or avoided. I have been inspired by every single person who has offered kind words of encouragement, serving as a constant reminder that we should always try to lift each other up when we can.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My goal right now is to maintain my current weight for the rest of December, then pick it back up again in January with the weight loss, and possibly lose another 30 to 40 pounds so I can be at my truly ideal weight. The trick to getting through these long winter months will be switching up my exercise routine a little, trying new things whenever possible, and not being so resistant to change. I am so used to putting a movie or TV show on my iPad and just going to town, but I know it's not realistic to stick with the exact same workout regime every day. I can feel that my body has adjusted to my frequent running patterns, to the point where weight loss has been at a standstill, so hopefully that will improve over time. Today, I tried the elliptical machine and stationary bike for a change, along with more simple walking, and it made a difference. As much as I love running, it feels good to try something new.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Through all of this, I have also learned that countless people out there aspire to lose weight and get healthier, and while many of them are successful, no two stories are exactly alike. Thanks to a part-time work schedule over the past few years, I've been able to concentrate on daily exercise as almost a full-time job. That's a situation that obviously will not last for the long term, but it came at a time in my life where I could really use that focus, and I will never, ever regret it. What worked for me may not work for others, though, and when real life gets in the way, we show the world what we're made of by simply lifting our heads up and <em>getting it done. </em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Take Jason Maxwell, for instance. I came across his blog when he posted it to the Chicago Marathon message board on Facebook, and it has definitely been inspiring. He has lost 140 pounds (and counting) since January 2011, <em>and </em>he also happens to have a wife, three kids, and a full-time job. People like him are proof that having a family and busy schedule is no excuse to give up on doing something positive for your health. When Jason made it a priority to change his eating habits and drop the weight, he made it happen, despite any obstacles that were in the way. That's how it is for all of us, because honestly, "the perfect time" is never going to just come. The key is <em>creating</em> the time, and making the most of the time we have to do these things that are important. When I heard Jason's story, I thought to myself, <em>three years ago, what if I had a husband, a few kids, a house, a full time teaching job, and an overall more hectic life than I have right now? Would I still have been able to lose 150 pounds in the same time frame? Would I have felt motivated to do so, or would I have continued to make excuses?</em> I guess we'll never know the answers to questions like this when we ask ourselves.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> One thing's for sure--I admire people in Jason's position who find a way to achieve that. His circumstances were completely different than mine when he started his own weight loss journey, but we somehow reached the same place, and we both continue to look for opportunities to get healthier. On some days, we just don't feel like being productive, which is why it is so helpful to get a new perspective. Find inspiration from someone else who may have similar goals in mind, and use their accomplishments to possibly fine-tune your own aspirations for the future. It really does work! If you want to read Jason's blog, it is <a href="http://www.jason-maxwell.blogspot.com/">www.jason-maxwell.blogspot.com</a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Question of the Day: Do you know of any specific success stories from others who have inspired you personally? If you can (and if those people don't mind), feel free to post their stories, blog addresses, etc... We all love the opportunity to get inspired :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03520348548506195209noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154515178374210492.post-91696678786435203982011-11-20T15:47:00.000-08:002011-11-20T15:47:30.165-08:00Time to Play Catch Up...The Bears just scored a touchdown to take a 17-10 lead, which seems like a pretty good time to start a new blog post! HOORAY!!!! Well, nothing too interesting has been going on around here, but it's still been pretty busy, as life tends to be. A week after finishing the Monster Dash, I ran the Chicago Hot Chocolate 15K (approximately 9.3 miles), which was great until I started having fainting spells an hour and a half later! Mom and I walked over to Macy's after the race to watch them light the Christmas tree in the Walnut Room for the season. I was feeling perfectly fine, but about 30 seconds before they turned it on, I suddenly felt dizzy. We tried to make our way through the crowd and sit somewhere, but the next thing I knew, I had passed out in the middle of all those people. Ugh, how embarrassing! I sat down and drank some water (the restaurant staff and people visiting were so helpful), but five minutes later, the exact same thing happened again. Needless to say, our fun lunch under the tree was postponed so we could spend four hours in the Northwestern emergency room. All ended up being fine, though, thank goodness, and to prove that this really is a small world, one of the paramedics in the ambulance happened to be married to a teacher at the school where I work in Elmhurst! Anyway, to make a long story short, an important lesson was learned that day: it is <em>never</em> a good idea to refrain from drinking liquids during a race because you don't want your bladder to get in the way of the ideal finish time. I did end up finishing in about one hour and forty four minutes, which felt awesome at the time, but as luck would have it, my time was not recorded for some reason! So clearly, this was not my smoothest or most memorable day as a runner, but hey, that's okay! Hiccups in the road just make life a little more interesting...and again, if you're lucky, you learn how to avoid the same mistakes next time. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTq2jB36dGLMVOiEs4DwWSQoC6RJyBkfKiZlGU9B_x30_hc-1XzjlXoiwjsW9NTpNWSdaA7ah-qlVOYBz62kWzBz_5_mLRC8p_t_bqA86Rm7I_kmCckwBbkJEVg7PjOk5AiatjREyfRds/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTq2jB36dGLMVOiEs4DwWSQoC6RJyBkfKiZlGU9B_x30_hc-1XzjlXoiwjsW9NTpNWSdaA7ah-qlVOYBz62kWzBz_5_mLRC8p_t_bqA86Rm7I_kmCckwBbkJEVg7PjOk5AiatjREyfRds/s320/002.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Finally home and able to relax after one heck of a crazy day. The only person more relieved than I was my poor mother :)</div><br />
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The good news is that Mom and I traveled back downtown five days later for an early dinner in the Walnut Room, to make up for the lunch we had missed over the weekend. The tree is gorgeous this year, as always, and since it was a weekday in early November, there were no crowds! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOBV8ppO0bXrF01bMQ9rNXNwuSg-G4praIywsn9UcPAfCRYvux2wLSDwK-vLb7MI16ELl-GhsIxidpf7iUlVwu9MSumPBO4Oj55hdHYa9sQSgZmspxUV8XcDu4jQI-d7-UsSExM0S8llw/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOBV8ppO0bXrF01bMQ9rNXNwuSg-G4praIywsn9UcPAfCRYvux2wLSDwK-vLb7MI16ELl-GhsIxidpf7iUlVwu9MSumPBO4Oj55hdHYa9sQSgZmspxUV8XcDu4jQI-d7-UsSExM0S8llw/s320/001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> This picture was taken a few minutes before I passed out on Saturday...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8bgZafkWipegFJLKHjq7V2n8DejV8WZ8Y1B5DDSUEC3HjFr2E_YoZij4K8j1EcpGeHPGnZt9cjudG1hi_Apvky1TXR-BCerwT_d7MYeWeFamZ7WDN8bIgP6qFNI9ic6Pvqx1TWK1TlSA/s1600/009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8bgZafkWipegFJLKHjq7V2n8DejV8WZ8Y1B5DDSUEC3HjFr2E_YoZij4K8j1EcpGeHPGnZt9cjudG1hi_Apvky1TXR-BCerwT_d7MYeWeFamZ7WDN8bIgP6qFNI9ic6Pvqx1TWK1TlSA/s320/009.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Aah, that's MUCH better! Five days later, in the exact same place :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH5M1nmmimVZi5MbCRNA1UDI6dz6aU3KXcqVWlJ9b8mzATF6AnnrysiFsE3h8ul4_RGfMrcRWur1eLm0PbgZpKavvL_wXfP1o7ERe4r7upV_CYB_DTYUP5ohYlS502pGWtMsG795ctvrY/s1600/005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH5M1nmmimVZi5MbCRNA1UDI6dz6aU3KXcqVWlJ9b8mzATF6AnnrysiFsE3h8ul4_RGfMrcRWur1eLm0PbgZpKavvL_wXfP1o7ERe4r7upV_CYB_DTYUP5ohYlS502pGWtMsG795ctvrY/s320/005.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> One giant tree in the middle of several smaller ones...the pink is my favorite!!<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgptUduJaPydANwFnuppaZjPPTNR0Yuexh-VyoV3cO7IfbMJO5vRtZNwaudzuphtjA0xTiPHSWWRZL8H9eAPWztQcnuvv_cqbm7WeiyPYxBiI8zOrosvXkPHVLjMvdJeXW94uUTg15LvZc/s1600/007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgptUduJaPydANwFnuppaZjPPTNR0Yuexh-VyoV3cO7IfbMJO5vRtZNwaudzuphtjA0xTiPHSWWRZL8H9eAPWztQcnuvv_cqbm7WeiyPYxBiI8zOrosvXkPHVLjMvdJeXW94uUTg15LvZc/s320/007.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx3eIre6yYhEunhQMNamMTYXVlcR_fqj9DAZMAIrzvbc-b6yqarVhfI_zb_RJJe9lzfXM85ZFnyQK48IQVDzOuLBIc9Ecdlo7IEINlMeQS6RYcFxSjynEXh92Hn6M_WsIaIhXdGRhd6jQ/s1600/010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx3eIre6yYhEunhQMNamMTYXVlcR_fqj9DAZMAIrzvbc-b6yqarVhfI_zb_RJJe9lzfXM85ZFnyQK48IQVDzOuLBIc9Ecdlo7IEINlMeQS6RYcFxSjynEXh92Hn6M_WsIaIhXdGRhd6jQ/s320/010.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I don't care how old you get...when you see something like a "Believe Meter" at Macy's at the beginning of the holiday season, you feel like a kid all over again! The really cool thing about this is that they have these red mailboxes scattered throughout the store, along with little tables/crayons for kids to write letters to Santa. Inspired by the famous story <em>Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus,</em> Macy's will donate one dollar (up to a million dollars) to the Make a Wish Foundation for every letter that is put in these mailboxes. It's part of their 2011 Believe Campaign, so if you have kids and live near the city, it's definitely worth your time to stop by. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Soooooo....what else to report? Well, the weekend after the Hot Chocolate Race, my sister Katie asked me to do a Girls on the Run 5K race with her, since her school district was participating in it and needed extra adults to pair up with grade school students for the race. It was a lot of fun and reminded me how awesome it can be to introduce kids to the world of running. As a high impact sport that requires mental strength as much as physical preparation, there's something incredible about knowing that you have completed that distance. The third grade girl I ran with, Claudia, was so cute and enthusiastic, and it was great to see so many young girls participating in this event. After all, how can you possibly argue with an activity that promotes physical health in children as they work together to support a good cause? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Since my last post, I also finally managed to reach my goal weight at Weight Watchers and am now in the middle of a six-week maintenance program. On December 7th, if I have remained within two pounds of my goal weight, I can become a Lifetime member. It feels amazing to finally have reached that point. The hard work never stops, since maintaining a healthy weight is a permanent, full-time job, but with the support of family and friends, it is do-able. I am grateful to everyone who has been there for me throughout this journey, and I hope that anyone who is looking to do the same thing can find the motivation to start from inside themselves. Resolve to do it for <em>you, </em>not for anyone else, and I think you'll be surprised at how your perspective changes. It's exhausting to try and do certain things because you think it will please others. The truth is that our friends and loved ones aren't against us, even though it might seem that way every once in a while. They just want us to be happy, and a huge part of that comes from taking care of ourselves. When that happens, we're on our way to being better people, better friends...and better everything! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Question of the Day: Did any of you see <em>Breaking Dawn </em>this weekend, and if so, what did you think of it? Completely random question, I know, but my friend Jenny and I went to the first midnight showing on Thursday (or Friday, I should say), and it was definitely a cool experience. Listening to hundreds of teenyboppers (and yes, some grown women) squeal with excitement every time Taylor Lautner takes off his shirt never ceases to be funny! The overall phenomenon of the Twilight movies is what makes it so much fun...makes me wish I had jumped on the Harry Potter bandwagon while the movies were being made. Now I want to read all those books and start watching the movies! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjidtqJscuPRgKcXWN9rTZ4EQFhyuaYAUCfKJl2kxczaW7X1dw4EvIq-2Bcp5IrKVbWYuiuiHt1NnD6LhYBzy0NvfT5W51jl0pNAnS-0qyZCYUz3FEfuszaY9Ygx9Q-TtYWSB0NzPQXV7I/s1600/BD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjidtqJscuPRgKcXWN9rTZ4EQFhyuaYAUCfKJl2kxczaW7X1dw4EvIq-2Bcp5IrKVbWYuiuiHt1NnD6LhYBzy0NvfT5W51jl0pNAnS-0qyZCYUz3FEfuszaY9Ygx9Q-TtYWSB0NzPQXV7I/s1600/BD.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03520348548506195209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154515178374210492.post-22546226058180078072011-10-29T17:51:00.000-07:002011-11-01T16:34:11.097-07:00Life as a Marathonaholic...Still Lovin' It!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGaAO3nWBMBmJufKC73IqUFDl4koFTI-5TBtmSAlgayRcp7wNl5pG2gUkyXrWoYhPzYcV9AZwR3pWRoFqU2DlhJRwR3uwuADSTnOqLOe96bRjIh77mRzhtbjFww4aFXf-sSQN_9YheYeM/s1600/010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGaAO3nWBMBmJufKC73IqUFDl4koFTI-5TBtmSAlgayRcp7wNl5pG2gUkyXrWoYhPzYcV9AZwR3pWRoFqU2DlhJRwR3uwuADSTnOqLOe96bRjIh77mRzhtbjFww4aFXf-sSQN_9YheYeM/s320/010.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
About 5 minutes before the official start time for the 2011 MONSTER DASH!!!!! YEAH!!!!<br />
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This post will probably be shorter this time--and note that I did say <em>probably</em>--because as soon as I'm done, I'm going to get in bed with dinner, watch <em>Monte Carlo</em> on Blu-ray, and just chill for the rest of the evening! Yes, I'm one of those girls who watches Selena Gomez movies on a Saturday night...and that's okay! :) <br />
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It was a long day--but a very fun and happy one--at the Chicago Monster Dash with my mom. I ran my second half marathon in 2:39:18, which is four minutes longer than my finish time at the Chicago Half Marathon in September, and a 13-minute drop from the halfway mark at the Chicago Marathon. But in that case, you must understand that I was running with my sister Katie, aka the girl with legs like lightning, and she was not there today to help me stretch beyond those limits. Still, it was a beautiful course to run along, and I only stopped running to tie my shoes and go to the bathroom at mile 9, so all in all, I'm happy with my finish time. <br />
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The weather was about as perfect as it can get at the tail end of October...a little chilly, but sunny skies the entire time, and the crowd of runners was considerably thinner than the last two marathons I've done, so there was plenty of open space to run along the lakefront. The only bummer was that there were hardly any spectators, and considering the beautiful day it was, that was a little surprising. We were definitely spoiled at the Chicago Marathon and Half Marathon, respectively, with the large numbers of supporters out there, and this time around, the course was very...quiet. Even the runners weren't hooting and hollaring the way they normally do. There were a lot of feet hitting the pavement, and a few isolated conversations were going on, but the tone of the race was definitely different in that respect. It wasn't necessarily bad--just different. That said, there <em>were </em>certain points on the course that had more people watching, including Navy Pier and the start/finish lines, and as always, the volunteers were amazing. A lot goes into the making these events successful, and there was a lot of kindness and generosity going around at the Chicago Monster today. I loved spending the time with my mom (we had lunch at Bennigan's after the race), and at least in my eyes, she's the best supporter in the world!! Now it's time to look forward to the Inaugural Chicago Polar Dash on January 14th...yeah, it's gonna be a frigid one, but the way I see it, if you're gonna be outside at that time of year, you might as well warm yourself up by running 13.1 miles around the city! Sounds fun, right? :)<br />
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Other than that, things have pretty much been the same around here. Wednesday was an incredibly exciting night, because I reached my goal weight at my Weight Watchers meeting. What this means is that I now have to enter a six-week maintenance program, and at the end of that sixth week, if I am no more than two pounds above my current weight, I will receive a Lifetime pass to attend Weight Watchers for free (as long as I maintain that goal weight). It was awesome to share my before and after pictures with the group and talk a little about my journey over the past three years, and it's also incredible to think that I have reached this point. It's taken a lot of time and hard work. At the same time, though, there's that feeling like...okay...now what? When you've been working toward something very specific for so long, you find yourself wondering what the next challenge is going to be. I am hopeful that I can lose another 40 pounds or so (I've lost 154 so far), but I'm trying not to get too worked up about that. First, we'll see how these six weeks of maintenance go, because staying disciplined and not slipping back into old habits is going to be difficult enough. I think we all know what that can be like. Tonight, for instance, I am treating myself to a sausage stromboli from Sbarro's (picked it up for dinner after the race because I haven't had Sbarro's in at least a year and have been craving it like no other), and while it's fine to indulge once in a while, it can be rough getting back on track the next day. <br />
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You know how it goes...once you have one or two less-than-healthy meals, you start craving the bad stuff again, and like an evil manipulator, your body will try coaxing you back in the wrong direction. Fortunately, I've gotten better at spotting the warning signs for this, and if we are firm enough with ourselves, we can learn how to keep out of trouble. I guess that's one of the reasons I love running so much. A friend of mine recently said that running has been her saving grace in maintaining her weight, because even if she eats badly over the weekend, she can exercise the next day and use that as a springboard to get back on the wagon. That's the incredible thing about exercise--when you learn to take advantage of it and integrate it into your regular routine, more healthy eating is sure to follow. <br />
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I hope everyone is enjoying their Saturday night (I know I will) and has a beautiful, relaxing Sunday tomorrow. Always work hard and stay focused on your goals, but don't forget to enjoy life too!<br />
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Question of the Day: It's a simple one...what makes you happy?<br />
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Here I am shortly after crossing the finish line. The medal and post-race string cheese are the best part!<br />
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Hanging out at home with my medal and new Monster hat...and of course, my fabulous dad :)<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">As you can tell, this jacket is just a little...incandescent, shall we say? My dad says it looks like I stuck my finger in an electrical socket, and I guess I can't disagree with him on that one. Oh, the things we love wearing to make life just a little bit brighter! :)</div>Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03520348548506195209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154515178374210492.post-69310670225609814162011-10-16T18:11:00.000-07:002011-10-17T16:47:44.156-07:00Running, Running, Running As Fast As I Can...But Not Getting There Fast Enough...Here's a few fun pictures from marathon day last week that I just felt like sharing...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjilf4G6b_xPMPJ0EYp3C9mXi7adUM8P6uaKrsmSAzju4V_tRkTpnbwYV15cOMlevaNufoNXuiOHDLIbWFbzFJo4pAXVreRUwOafH3AQbO4hGfG-Ns1Fn-9U1AvCAhKflWMolTRApoBHBo/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjilf4G6b_xPMPJ0EYp3C9mXi7adUM8P6uaKrsmSAzju4V_tRkTpnbwYV15cOMlevaNufoNXuiOHDLIbWFbzFJo4pAXVreRUwOafH3AQbO4hGfG-Ns1Fn-9U1AvCAhKflWMolTRApoBHBo/s320/001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Fueling at 5:45 AM with a banana and Gatorade! Yep, Rosie definitely lived to regret drinking that much before running 26.2 miles...for obvious reasons!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixKE_USm2byjknKOPQHm7hny8vqHTmDximTuSm-JUomczPcqQYMtrmkq2g1pj5L0CDsNK1g3-DQtphkovSE0wxPHupyraaLuYHi4ldB-2wcQpgMP4LSIDGnB1XaN3PNgARH2GLYdTluRY/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixKE_USm2byjknKOPQHm7hny8vqHTmDximTuSm-JUomczPcqQYMtrmkq2g1pj5L0CDsNK1g3-DQtphkovSE0wxPHupyraaLuYHi4ldB-2wcQpgMP4LSIDGnB1XaN3PNgARH2GLYdTluRY/s320/002.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And this is Ditka being Ditka. When it's that early in the morning, he just wants to sleep...kind of like the rest of us!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_BeyVwWKLojMVTtu_RslaSy6y0HLqy6zeamxC5ymNlHVDemT0fLS34BDwRDlW7CCRC42UroehRpE9M57SKbn4u89Fou-t1wWof4tpiZ0wNCcD1f5Qm-H8OaT1j7NMJwiKg1lXGSLJDgQ/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_BeyVwWKLojMVTtu_RslaSy6y0HLqy6zeamxC5ymNlHVDemT0fLS34BDwRDlW7CCRC42UroehRpE9M57SKbn4u89Fou-t1wWof4tpiZ0wNCcD1f5Qm-H8OaT1j7NMJwiKg1lXGSLJDgQ/s320/003.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Eeeeeek! At the hotel room after the race, just about to hit the shower after taking out my French braids! Check out the double chin action...oh so attractive :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>A whole week has gone by since the Chicago Marathon! Really?!?! I thought about it all day today, recalling the exact times I was running last Sunday, when it started to get really painful, when my sister and I finally crossed the finish line, etc... Last night, while my mom and I were sitting and talking, she said to me, "Do you ever find it hard to believe that you actually ran 26 miles? Doesn't that just seem crazy to you?" In a way, yes, it does, but after three years of leading a completely different lifestyle health-wise, it's hard to imagine a time when I <em>didn't </em>aspire to run a marathon. It's difficult to recall ever being so horribly overweight, eating whatever I wanted whenever I felt like it, and not caring about my body the way people should. Right now, I am finding that maintaining weight loss is truly a long and time-consuming journey, and if we want to be successful at it, we can't be constantly looking for that "off switch". It's a lifestyle, not a destination, and I struggle with that fact every single day. <br />
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Seven days after a marathon, many runners are taking time to recover and transition to more "cross training" activities, but I can't seem to stay away from the treadmill. I did five miles today, which felt pretty good (aside from a few cramps toward the end). When people ask why I'm not taking a break from this, I like to say it's because I am too passionate about it to stay away for long...which is true...but only partially so. To be perfectly honest, one of the main reasons I am still trying to run vigorously post-marathon is because I am only three pounds away from reaching goal at Weight Watchers. Well, actually, that's how much weight I had left to go at my last weigh-in, and I have gone up a little more than I would have liked over the past few weeks, but we'll just leave it at that. My next weigh-in is in three days, and I have a chance at being where I want to be by then, but it's been extremely tough recently. <br />
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After finishing the marathon, it would have been ideal to just relax for a while and not have to worry about these things, but unfortunately, right now, I am still very focused on that number on the scale. With any luck, I will hit goal on Wednesday (153 pounds total lost), begin the 6-week maintenance program with Weight Watchers, and become an official Lifetime Member the week after Thanksgiving. What that means is that I will never have to pay the weekly fee for Weight Watchers again, as long as I weigh in at least once a month and never end up more than two pounds above my goal weight. I remember a time in life when I had over 150 pounds to get rid of before I could achieve that, and it wasn't until I lost at least 100 of those pounds before I really got the sense that it could actually happen. Now that it's so close, it's just amazing...and at the same time, these last few pounds have been some of the hardest to drop.<br />
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At 7:30 on this Sunday evening, I am watching the Bears game with my grandma and trying desperately to keep my mind off food. I had a bowl of chili for dinner and a Weight Watchers ice cream cup for dessert (actually, make that two ice cream cups...) and now it's time to stop for the night. Hopefully, I won't be sneaking over to the fridge later in the evening, but it represents something we all have to deal with. In some ways, it gets easier, but in other ways, it almost seems to get harder over time. I guess I could sum it up best by a text message conversation I had with my mom about five minutes ago (she's at the game with my dad and sister). I was whining about being hungry (and my poor mom often bears the brunt of my complaining), and her response was...<br />
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<em>"There is a 400 pound girl here who can barely move...you will never be that girl. You are a strong and healthy girl. My girl."</em> <br />
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To that I said...<br />
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<em>"I just wish it wasn't something we had to obsess about every day, you know? When I treat myself, I either feel guilty about it or spend the next several days trying to make up for it. But that's good, I guess, because if I'm constantly thinking about it, then I know I won't revert back." </em><br />
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So there you have it. The bottom line, I think, is that when we are worrying about our exercise and calorie intake, we should take that as a good sign, because when we stop caring, that's how we know we're in trouble. I can remember the summer after graduating from high school. I had just spent the year losing 50 pounds and felt pretty good about myself, to the point where I was getting lazy about a lot of things. I would order steak and eggs for breakfast at a restaurant, even though I knew that probably wasn't a good idea, and went back to regular pop because I felt I "deserved it". If I had caught myself in time and worked harder to stay on track, then maybe I wouldn't have had to deal with the fallout of gaining 100 pounds over the next few years. The good news is that I learned from those mistakes and am determined not to lose control again. It's too easy to let ourselves get out of hand--a bad day is one thing, but if it starts leading to a bad week, or a bad couple of weeks, the consequences really present themselves. <br />
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The point I'm trying to make is that so often, we tend to beat ourselves up, specifically when it comes to weight and physical appearance. Life was never meant to be miserable, and we shouldn't be worry every second of the day, but to an extent, I think it's healthy to fear about this stuff. Okay, maybe "fear" isn't the best word, but it's all I've got right now. Basically, we are all accountable to our own selves, and we can draw help and inspiration from the people around us, but ultimately, it's a matter of listening to ourselves...and actually paying attention. It's good to be a little hard on ourselves sometimes, <em>especially </em>when people around us are saying things like "Oh, you look so awesome!" and "Now you can just relax and enjoy accomplishing your goal!" Those people mean well, and part of what they're saying is correct, but we can't get <em>too </em>cocky about our successes. We all enjoy the occasional pizza, ice cream, or popcorn at the movies, and that's okay...crucial, even. Taking time to enjoy life and indulge in our favorite things keeps us sane. On the flip side, we need to listen to our bodies, know when to stop, balance it out with healthy foods, and exercise as much as possible. Sounds so easy when it's written out in simple terms like that...and yet it's still so hard sometimes. Trust me, I know. I am not a pro at this by any means--as I type this sentence, I am continuing to wrestle with it, same as everyone else in the world. But we can do it. You can do it, I can do it, and we can help each other along the way. We may not want to, but really, what other choice is there? <br />
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Question of the Day: What's something healthy you try to accomplish every day that is a constant battle, but in the end, it makes you feel good knowing that you continue motivating yourself to do it? <br />
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Have a great night, everyone! I am off now to check the score of the game. Will Chicago go to bed happy tonight?? Here's hoping!Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03520348548506195209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154515178374210492.post-86912192188137731872011-10-11T20:26:00.000-07:002011-10-14T17:07:31.531-07:00The Good, the Bad, and the Unforgettable...Yep, That's the Chicago Marathon!!Well, after a whole year of excitement and anticipation, Marathon Weekend has officially come and gone. Something always seems a little "off" whenever something like this happens--almost as if you don't know what to do with yourself now that you've reached a goal you were pursuing for so long. Of course, my work is far from over, but more on that later.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMlxEDhgwh8S0-dBmnD_giQCXaO1XM4_V6mn99nHS-eU5VRIrWPiGqAjCdryf2plFH-LqrgJCyD9uNcrXuQTnVF0PREnBT0GMbMO4WduBBt1PRbbcNB8QhpIyDsCzBh_7aWBi4TxWHiXY/s1600/Marathon+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMlxEDhgwh8S0-dBmnD_giQCXaO1XM4_V6mn99nHS-eU5VRIrWPiGqAjCdryf2plFH-LqrgJCyD9uNcrXuQTnVF0PREnBT0GMbMO4WduBBt1PRbbcNB8QhpIyDsCzBh_7aWBi4TxWHiXY/s320/Marathon+1.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><br />
This is what Katie and I looked like at mile 13 of the marathon on Sunday, when we stopped briefly to say hi to the family and take a picture. I can't speak for my sister, but while we both look sufficiently collected and happy here, I was pretty miserable. Being only halfway through your first-ever 26.2 mile journey tends to have that effect, which has made me think of the top ten reasons I should never consider running a marathon again:<br />
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1. Two words: Will Caviness. Mr. Caviness was a 35-year-old firefighter with two young children under the age of four, and an experienced marathoner/charity runner raising money for kids who are burn victims. He collapsed 500 yards away from the finish line and, unfortunately, did not survive. I didn't give it as much thought at first, but over the past 24 hours, it has really made me consider the extreme strain that a marathon puts on a person's body. Throughout the race, I literally felt like my heart might explode out of my chest at any moment, and there were two or three instances where part of my arm went numb for about a split second. I never felt that I was in grave danger and needed to stop, but it makes you wonder...how well do marathoners know their limits? We would like to believe that we are smart enough to listen to our bodies, but the truth is, many of us might not get the hint until we are literally lying on the ground. I'm sorry if this is going in a depressing direction, but I guess my main point is that when a fellow runner loses his life on the course, it gets pretty scary as you start putting it all into perspective. <br />
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2. I had an incredible experience at my first half marathon on September 11, just four weeks ago. The weather was beautiful, the distance (13.1 miles) was perfect, and I was able to run comfortably the entire time without stopping for walking breaks. After that, I got it in my head that if a half marathon could go that well, then the full marathon would be a breeze, right? Oh, Rosie, if only you had known :) So, now that I've been through both and am confident that the half marathon is "just right", why bother attempting anything longer?<br />
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3. Every marathoner is familiar with that moment where he/she "hits the wall". For me, it was mile 17, and boy, oh boy, every possible depressing thought raced through my mind during that time. A fellow runner that I know recently said "Twenty miles is a physical feat; after that, it becomes all mental. It's your focus, determination, and what you can handle". This is definitely true. The body isn't designed to take that much impact, so when you attempt it, everything inside of you says "Stop. Please just stop". And in any other situation, you would have stopped a long time ago, but when it's the Chicago Marathon, you can't exactly compare it to "any other situation". My sister and I ran together, so we were attempting to find a "happy medium" with our two varying paces. Maybe it was because we started off a little faster than I normally would have, but in any case, miles 10 through 20 were a doozy, to say the least. Although the idea of quitting never crossed my mind, I absolutely wished that the ground would just swallow me up and put me out of my misery. <br />
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4. Your marathon experience can turn around pretty quickly if you drink too much beforehand, which ended up being one of my problems. Consuming a huge bottle of Gatorade seemed like a good idea at the time, for the sake of being well-fueled, and even though Katie and I went to the bathroom before starting, I felt the urge after only about half a mile of running. It wasn't until I finally found a port-o-potty without lines at mile 20 that I realized just how much that can slow you down. <br />
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5. Early in the race, I was eager to connect with every hand that people held out to give a "high five", and whenever someone would cheer for me, I smiled and waved because simply stated, it's an amazing feeling when someone calls you out by name. After a while, though, there came a point where I just wasn't smiling anymore. Nothing about any of this seemed fun. I would hear an enthusiastic "Go, Rose! Keep it up, Rose!" and wish I could just tune them out. Then I felt guilty for not even wanting to acknowledge them when, in reality, what they were willing to do for a bunch of total strangers was pretty darn amazing.<br />
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6. I don't know how many other runners have experienced this, but eventually, after completing a certain number of miles, I felt as if I couldn't even think straight. I was texting my other sister Kerry throughout the race, so she and my mom would know exactly where we were, and she would respond with encouraging messages and/or information on where they were standing in the crowd. After about the 14th mile, though, everything was kind of a blur. It's funny to think back on now, but at the time, when Katie would turn and say something to me, I don't think I processed half of it. Whether it's the adrenaline, the exhaustion, or simply trying to put one foot in front of the other, you find yourself just fighting to survive. <br />
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7. When I first signed up for the marathon and began the training process, I often said that it would be "just this one time". I rarely pictured myself ever attempting it again. It was more like a "bucket list" activity that I could cross off later as I moved on to the next challenge. Seems reasonable, right? <br />
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8. As I mentioned before, I was somehow managing to text back and forth with Kerry as I ran, and while looking through the saved messages later, I realized how dark some of them were. "I feel like a failure" is one that is still pretty clear in my memory, along with "This is bad" and "Please, please pray for me". There were times when I wanted to write her and say <em>I can't do this anymore, Kerry. I just can't do it. What part of me possibly made me think this was something I could do? </em>I refrained from texting those words, but they played over and over in my mind as I hit the most difficult periods of the race. <br />
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9. Whether it's a sign of inexperience or a common issue with even the most elite runners, the recovery period is rough. It's only been about 48 hours so far, but the legs are extremely sore, my shoulders ache after lying down in bed for a while, and it is painful to walk down a flight of stairs. Furthermore, I can barely bend over to tie my own laces, let alone help a 7-year-old student at work get the knot out of his shoe. Marathons have a funny way of making you feel elderly for the next several days.<br />
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10. To put it bluntly, life is all about challenging ourselves and looking for new things to accomplish once we have reached those goals. I have officially finished a marathon in my lifetime. I did it. Why do it again? I should concentrate instead on finding a brand-new challenge and devoting time to that...right?<br />
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Okay, so now that I have spent some time being Debbie Downer, here are the top ten reasons why I know for sure that I will run more marathons in my life:<br />
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1. Everyone should experience a marathon in their lifetime. There is something truly beautiful about it, whether you are a runner, a spectator, or a volunteer. I felt it a little bit last year, when I went with the family to watch Katie complete her first marathon in Chicago, and I remember being amazed by the enthusiasm of the crowds. This time around, as an actual participant on the course, I was blown away at the sights, the sounds, the people crowding the sidelines, and how they all came together on a warm, sunny day. I absolutely loved being out there, taking it all in, and noticing details in the city neighborhoods that I hadn't necessarily stopped to look at before.<br />
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2. The posters that are held up by spectators were one of my favorite parts of the Chicago Half Marathon, and I enjoyed them every bit as much at the full marathon. Every time I saw a funny or particularly poignant one, I made a mental note to remember it, but sadly, I forgot many of them...and wasn't smart enough at the time to type them into my phone as I was running. A few that I did manage to pull out of my brain over time included:<br />
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<em>A) Be proud - you're running faster than my husband!</em><br />
<em>B) Shoot...I thought they said it was 2.62 miles!</em><br />
<em>C) Quitting will hurt a lot longer than the pain.</em><br />
<em>D) It's easier than childbirth...trust me!</em><br />
<em>E) Dear Lisa, I love you and miss you. Hopefully we will meet again one day. Love, Your Toenails </em><br />
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3. Every time I listen to "Don't Stop Believing" by Journey, I will remember hearing it at approximately the 24th mile, with the crowds going crazy in the background, all while knowing that I was lucky enough to be participating in something amazing.<br />
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4. Seeing my family along the way. My mom, sister Kerry, and brother-in-law Jay were able to use the text messages between me and Kerry to track where Katie and I were running, and we saw them three times on the course--miles 13, 16, and 25. It always gives you a burst of energy when you pass your loved ones while running. Just knowing that they are there and excited to see you is a huge source of motivation and support. My dad also participated in sending text messages and reminding us that he was praying. "We're all with you", he wrote at one point, and it's moments like that when you remember that you don't have to do these things by yourself. Our families are there to lift us up during the hard times and make it all worthwhile in the end...and in this case, it absolutely was.<br />
5. Looking through the pictures at marathonfoto.com after the race. I look so exhausted and unhappy in many of them--one in particular around mile 17, where I wanted that photographer to know exactly how I was feeling. Now I wish I had smiled a little more, but even so, it's fun to look through those pictures and recall the various emotions that were taking place at different times. It offers a portrait of the overall marathon for later, after you have regained your composure and can look back on it with a clear mind. <br />
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6. Receiving support from everyone on Facebook, from the teachers and parents at my mom's school, at work, and at home. People say the kindest words...they really, really do. I am amazed at how many people have cared about my success and taken the time to tell me so. The same goes for the crowds who came out to cheer on all the runners during the race. What's so phenomenal about these people is that they genuinely want to yell and cheer for you...and they want to single you out individually. I think the best decision I made for this race was buying a shirt online that had my name printed in huge letters across the front. I can't even count the number of people on the sidelines who looked me right in the eye, smiled, and screamed "Go Rose! You can do it, Rose!" Consider the power of what it means that so many people are eager to do that for <em>complete strangers.</em> It gives you hope that the world really is still good at heart, and that's what the marathon brings out in everyone who participates in some way. It's one of those moments where you just want to "pay it forward" and do the same for others when they need it. <br />
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7. The weight loss that has come from this training has just been an added bonus. I had lost about 100 pounds by the time I began preparing for the marathon, but training has helped me drop that additional 50 that may have otherwise been extremely difficult to lose. Running keeps me focused on my health and helps me maintain the right balance with food and exercise. I never imagined I'd get addicted to it so fast, but there you have it.<br />
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8. Talking to people and having newfound confidence in myself. Just today, I went to the Runner's Soul shop in town and spent a ridiculous amount of money on a marathon jacket and official finishers' shirt. To my surprise, I found it incredibly easy and exciting to strike up a conversation with the woman who was working there. I told her about the marathon, its ups and downs, and the weight loss journey that has come with it. In turn, she told me about her training for the upcoming New York Marathon, and how she has stayed motivated over the past several months. I have been painfully shy my entire life, but by losing weight and developing a passion for running, I have found that I have so much more to say, and it is exciting that I can look at people directly in the eye without getting so flustered or embarrassed. It has taken a long time to get here, but now that I have, it's hard to describe exactly how awesome it feels. <br />
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9. There's nothing like walking through the finishers' chute, toward the volunteers with medals in their hands. For a few moments, you feel like an Olympian as they put the medal around your neck and congratulate you on a job well done. As soon as I had mine, I held the medal part in my hand and actually kissed it. I'm pretty sure someone behind me laughed at this, but you know what? When you've been through the grueling journey of earning something like that, all you care about is basking in that happiness and being grateful for what's in front of you. So you look a little silly? <em><strong>WHO THE HECK CARES???? :) </strong></em><br />
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10. Pushing through the pain, because I matter...and because we all matter. I mentioned before that the marathon pulls every single emotion out of you in its time, but ultimately, that's exactly what life is--all those mixed feelings endured for the sake of the payoff on the other side. There's the excitement, impulsivity, shock when the "hard stuff" settles in, anger, pain, fear, embarrassment, and frustration...followed by complete relief and joy when you realize that you have made it. All of a sudden, you want to just live in the moment. You forget the pain pretty quickly, but you always remember the good...and that is exactly how it should be!<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Katie and I loved wearing our medals at the hotel after the marathon, when we could just relax and enjoy what we had spent five hours and twenty eight minutes completing. THAT right there is why we do this, and why we love it so much!</div><br />
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And with that, the verdict is in...I am totally and completely in love with running, and as long as I have a say in it, I will continue to chase after it! There's a famous quote (and another famous marathon spectator poster) that says <strong><em>The day will come when you are no longer able to do this. Today is NOT that day!</em></strong> As I continue into my thirties and beyond, my main goal is to stay healthy and stick with the forms of exercise that I love the most...and running just happens to be at the top of that list. Several people have asked me already if I would consider doing the marathon again next year, and the answer is always yes! Absolutely! There's no question about it...which is odd because the whole time I was running on Sunday, I swore that I couldn't possibly be dumb enough to do this to myself again. As I waddled around for the next two days, completely sore and stiff, I knew that this was more than something I had randomly stumbled upon...it had become a passion. It really is like childbirth (not that I would know anything about that, but you know what I mean)...the memory of the hard parts fades as soon as you experience the reward, and from then on, you're eager to start all over again. The 2012 Chicago Marathon is 100% for sure part of my future plan, barring any injuries, and if all goes well physically, chances are I'll find another one to run before that! Ah, it's tough when we start forming obsessions :)<br />
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I think my heart will always be with the Chicago Marathon each year, mainly because it's my hometown, and because this is where it all began for me, but I am already getting excited about putting other marathons on my To Do List. The Illinois, Las Vegas, Disney Princess, New York, and Wisconsin Dells Marathons all sound flat-out AMAZING, and I look forward to hopefully turning these dreams into a reality. After finishing Marathon #1 with a goal simply to finish, I am excited about fine-tuning other areas that didn't seem to matter the first time around--such as speed training, increased outdoor runs (the treadmill has represented about 90% of my training this year, if not more), and possibly training with other people to build endurance and practice keeping up with different paces. It will be a slow process, and not all of these things will be achieved at once, but the first step is where it all begins.<br />
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Question of the Day: Name something in your life that you love, as well as the top reasons why you choose to persevere with it, even in the darkest moments.Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03520348548506195209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154515178374210492.post-78411084396383999462011-10-08T18:21:00.000-07:002011-10-08T18:27:01.595-07:00"You are your problem...and you're also your solution."Hanging out with my dog at our Bears Tailgating Party in October 2008...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI3SiaJ6vOJt7jXKOoIwChP1neMysADYIXoDrKHxGAjQ44AZdNdEtaOKLXS8tovuAIRUNPnmX2b07hF_okPde9HtuH8B61Rbmh61ual7ZT4deNpd1MHJtWmI8akM-vmbUHV1Su0HAdJRc/s1600/Bears.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI3SiaJ6vOJt7jXKOoIwChP1neMysADYIXoDrKHxGAjQ44AZdNdEtaOKLXS8tovuAIRUNPnmX2b07hF_okPde9HtuH8B61Rbmh61ual7ZT4deNpd1MHJtWmI8akM-vmbUHV1Su0HAdJRc/s320/Bears.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...and posing with my sister Katie at the Chicago Marathon Expo in October 2011! What a difference a few years can make!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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All right, so...it wasn't too long ago that I resolved to be much better about updating this blog, adding to it at least once a week. Well, four weeks later, you can see how well that turned out :) Maintaining these things is much harder than it looks...but I guess late is better than never!<br />
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Since tomorrow is going to be a pretty exciting day (to say the least), I figured it was the perfect time to post something. The title I used comes from the movie "Bridesmaids", which just happens to be one of my favorites. The raunchy, "female version of The Hangover" nature of it might make it difficult to picture it as a starting point for a valuable life lesson, but it has more heart than you might think...which is the sign of a perfect comedy in my book! :) In the movie, Melissa McCarthy's character snaps Kristen Wiig's character into shape with an admirable pep talk that basically ends with this line: <em>"I do not associate with people who blame the world for their problems, because you are your problem...and you're also your solution."</em><br />
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Sound familiar? It certainly does for me, especially when I think back on the way I was living just three short years ago. It is so easy to reach a point of unhappiness that leads you to blame others for your own shortcomings, because after all, if they're the problem, then you can just keep on accusing them of getting in the way as you avoid the real solution. That solution, of course, requires us to acknowledge that if we're miserable, we have nobody to blame but ourselves. The good news is that admitting this is the first step, and from there, it can only get easier to initiate change.<br />
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Believe me, I know that's easier said than done. There was a time in my life when I simply didn't want to hear any of this. I was perfectly content blaming everyone aroud me for my weight problems: my family, my school/job responsibilities that got in the way of an ideal workout routine, and so on. Plus, I hated the idea that physical appearances have to matter so much in society. Back then, it was like, <em>okay, would people actually like me better if I was thinner? What kind of people must they be if that is so important to them? Why should I inconvenience myself just to make them happy?</em><br />
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Well, as it turned out, the problem wasn't "those other people" at all--it was me. I hated having to do all my clothes shopping at Lane Bryant, Sears, or other restricted location that carried plus sizes. It was frustrating having to alternate between only two pairs of dress pants and a couple of tops during student teaching, because even if I did spend the time and money to search for more outfits, it hardly seemed worth it. Back pain and soreness in the feet were commonplace, and as I worked with my students at school, it was exhausting to be constantly worried that my weight was the only thing they noticed. <br />
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Okay, I'm officially starting to ramble now...sorry about that! With the Chicago Marathon less than 12 hours away, it has me thinking about what it took to get here, and how unbelievably exciting it is to be chasing this new goal. Nearly 45,000 fellow runners will be at that start line in the morning, which is incredible. 45,000 people are running to give back to charities, improve their health, and have some fun in the beautiful city of Chicago. We all have stories to tell--stories about coming back from a low point and learning how to be happy again. In a world where so many situations are completely out of our hands, it is comforting to know that there are so many other things that we can control with a little self-discipline. I have lost 150 pounds in three years, and after making it to the other side of this journey, I can't ever imagine going back. Now it's exciting to set new goals and aspire to do more things that seemed impossible before. To me, that's what the Chicago Marathon is all about--grabbing an opportunity with both hands and being grateful for it when it comes along. Not everyone is necessarily interested in running a marathon in their lifetime, but that isn't the point. The point is that if you find something you truly want to do, but you realize it's going to take a lot of time and patience before it comes to fruition, you're going to accept that as part of the journey. You don't let a little hard work prevent you from doing something absolutely worthwhile, because after all is said and done, there's nothing like enjoying the payoff!<br />
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I want to say thank you to everyone who has been reading this blog and offering words of encouragement, either here, on Facebook, or in person. Exactly one year ago, the Chicago Marathon wasn't even something I was remotely interested in, let alone physically prepared to do, so it's still pretty surreal that I actually went through with the training for this. Without the love and encouragement from family, friends, acquaintances, and even complete strangers, I might have backed out a long time ago, which says a lot about the power of motivating somebody else with simply a kind word. It all adds up in the end, and it makes a huge difference as we set out to accomplish what matters most to us. <br />
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I will post pictures from the marathon and let you know how it went. The weather is supposed to be gorgeous (if not a little warm), which is always a plus! Happy Columbus Day weekend, and remember...TODAY is ALWAYS the day to stand up and "get 'er done", as they say! We never know for sure if a tomorrow is coming, but one thing's for sure: we have right now!<br />
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Question of the Day: What's an example of something you were able to improve upon in your own life when you finally accepted that you were your own solution?Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03520348548506195209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154515178374210492.post-43102770712998384942011-09-11T19:36:00.000-07:002011-09-11T19:38:00.391-07:00Ten Years Later, We're Still Standing Strong...I was sixteen years old and a junior in high school when the September 11 attacks took place ten years ago. That's certainly old enough to grasp the seriousness of the day's horrible events, but looking back on it, I don't think I fully understood how huge it was until years later. I remember walking back from gym class and sitting in American History with the radios on, listening to the reports about the World Trade Center and what it would mean for the future of our country. My friend Allison and I were primarily excited about picking up Mariah Carey's new CD, <em>Glitter, </em>after school at Walmart, but over time, we gradually realized that something much bigger was going on around all of us.<br />
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Now, a full decade later, the United States is far from perfect, but one thing we can say is that we are still standing, as a nation and as individuals. We are still going to school, working, spending time with our families and friends, and working toward personal goals. It's never easy, of course, and some people could go on for hours about what they feel is wrong with America right now, but the bottom line is that we're still here, and considering where we were exactly ten years ago, I'd say that's pretty darn good. <br />
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Do you remember where you were on September 11, 2001? Pretty much all of us can recall details of where we were physically standing and who we were with at the time, but the question involves much more than that. As a person, <em>who</em> were you, and do you feel you have changed in any significant ways since then? For me, personally, I was an overweight teenager who hated exercise and only really did it when my mom suggested visiting the local gym on a Saturday, or when my PE instructor, Miss U, kept us on our toes with step aerobics and occasional 1-mile runs. I can still remember Miss U telling us that as high school students, we basically kept moving because we were required to, but her goal was to hopefully motivate us to stay active in college and beyond, when our teachers and parents weren't there to give us that little nudge. I have thought about those words a few times over the years, but it's only now that I'm starting to truly get it. It really is true; exercising is one thing when you're a kid, benefiting from all those adult influences in your life, but when you grow up and can make your own decisions, can you find the will to make healthy ones? <br />
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I certainly didn't during my younger adult years. College came with all its trademark freedoms, and part of that meant I could eat whatever I wanted without being under the watchful eye of my parents. I went to the campus gym every once in a while, and I always liked to walk, but it was never enough to keep up with my monstrous snacking habits. As a result, I was an extremely overweight and unhappy person, and I knew what would make me feel better, but at that stage in my life, I wasn't committed to doing the grunt work. It wasn't until I was about 24 years old that I finally said "Okay, I'm going to work out every day. I'm going to sweat off all those pounds I gained in college, and things are going to be much better from now on". <br />
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Well, a few years later, through a series of considerable lifestyle changes that only God deserves credit for helping me achieve, I had lost a decent number of pounds. I looked healthier, I felt better, and honestly, if I had stopped there and stuck to that weight for the rest of my life, that would have been okay. I would have still been considered a "larger" person, but at least I wouldn't be morbidly obese like before. But here's the thing--when you start to experience some success, you feel more confident in your ability to get even stronger, and you just want to keep going from there. <br />
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That's what I experienced when I went with the whole family to the Chicago Marathon on October 10, 2010, to cheer on my sister Katie, who was running her very first marathon. Throughout her training regime before that, I balked at the idea of ever doing something like that, and I would often make fun of her for choosing to spend her free time going for long runs. In fact, whenever she would head out the door for the prairie path, I would come up with some kind of snide comment like "See you later! Enjoy! I'll be thinking of you when I roll over in bed and go back to sleep." <br />
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Then something happened on the actual marathon day, as I was watching the crowds cheer for thousands of runners--runners of all ages and backgrounds--who came out to complete 26.2 miles along the streets of Chicago. They all had different reasons for lacing up their shoes and getting out there early in the morning, whether it for a charity, or to beat a previous personal record, or to simply cross the finish line and be able to say that they ran a marathon in their lifetime. For some of them, too, they just wanted to run for the health of it--to get their hearts pumping and be confident that their bodies were getting that much stronger. <br />
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Initially, I was inspired by my older sister Katie's perseverance in completing the Chicago Marathon for the first time, and I wanted to be like her. What little sister doesn't? I quickly made it known on Facebook that I aspired to prepare for the following year's marathon, and while I received a lot of immediate support, I'm sure it was a difficult concept to take seriously. I mean, I had lost about 80 pounds at that point and was doing well with my diet, but I was absolutely not thin, and there was still a long way to go. Still, I was determined to make this happen, and by early February, I had officially registered for the Chicago Half Marathon in September 2011. The plan was to start with that and go for the full marathon in 2012, but of course, that only lasted about a week at best, and before long, I was also signed up for the Chicago Marathon on October 9, 2011. Again, my family and friends were very encouraging from the beginning, but it was a lot to take in. Katie was concerned that I was taking on too much too quickly, and she wondered if I should concentrate on a few 5K's before moving up to something bigger. While I appreciated her advice, I knew I had my mind made up, and of course, she--along with the rest of the family--was willing to do anything she could to help as I started this journey. <br />
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So there I was, 25 years old, intending to tackle a half marathon in 7 months, and I literally hadn't run in 7 years, since high school gym class. Miss U required us to train for and complete a 1-mile run once a year, and I vividly remember feeling knocked out for a few days afterward from just that! This was the full extent of my running experience, and it had taken place almost a whole decade earlier. Add all that up, and it's easy for anyone to conclude that I may have bitten off a little more than I could chew. Still, I knew I was the kind of person who could be lazy at times, but when I want to do something badly enough, I get it done. I think we're all like that. When we want to achieve a goal, we experiment, work each corner, and figure out exactly what it will take to accomplish it...and we get it done. When it's something we really don't want, we just make excuses until we just forget about it completely and move on. <br />
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Since February, I have run on average 5 or 6 days a week, tracking my progress along the way. As an added bonus, my weight dropped even more, and I have lost an additional 60 pounds since training for the marathon. (If you ever want to drop some pounds, running is a great way to do so!) In May, I completed a 5K in my hometown, and while it was a little tougher than expected, I was proud to finish. I slipped into a very comfortable routine over the next several months, running on the treadmill and continuing to attend Weight Watcher meetings with my mom. It always seemed like September 11 was so far down the road, and then, all of a sudden, it was three short weeks away. Then it was one week. Then, before I knew it, my mom and I were attending the expo two days beforehand to pick up my race packet, and the big day was officially upon us.<br />
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When I woke up this morning at 5:00, I knew I was ready, but as all runners know, those butterflies can be overwhelming. Mom and I took a cab to Jackson Park, and before long, all the participants were loading up their start corrals to get ready for 13.1 miles. As I stood there, waiting for the line to move, all I kept thinking was <em>I hope this isn't a complete disaster. </em>This was what I had worked for, and most importantly, it was a HUGE step in determining if I was even remotely ready to take on a 26.2-mile run in four more weeks. It was exciting, but very unnerving at the same time.<br />
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Then I crossed the start line and took off on the course with the other 20,000 runners. It was absolutely incredible what happened. Instead of just training alone at the gym and trying desperately to finish a workout, I was in the race that I had registered for back when I was barely able to run a few steps. I finished in 2 hours and 36 minutes. The weather was beautiful (although a little hot during the last few miles), the crowds and volunteers were amazing, and I just feel really lucky to have been there. I have developed a real passion for running and never want to stop doing it. I'm grateful that my mom was there to hug and congratulate me at the end of it, and it was so much fun to tailgate with my dad, sister, and uncle at the Bears game (even if only for about a half hour), then have lunch at a downtown cafe with Mom before heading back home. <br />
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In short, as Americans, I think we're very fortunate that we can still have these special moments with our loved ones. Whether big or small, all of those moments mean something in their given time. We are also lucky to have the freedom we have, which allows us to push out of our comfort zones and become stronger, healthier, happier people. I loved every second of today and will always remember it...and I hope you continue to make your own memories in life...regardless of the day, the time, or the situation. At the risk of sounding like a cheesy country song, it's never too late to change your life for the better, and on days like today, we're reminded how lucky we truly are.<br />
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Question of the Day: Where were you on September 11, and what are you most grateful for today? <br />
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Now here are some pictures...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9QYSlFyWxhtc_Itpv-UECIsK4bAxACBXApwlBXnxTefXxLiBKay9vo6bhScEQFsroeDl3q0SJM5kBk8tlA7j7nlqoXH78z1rN71989l9V5YQcmY_dd2I_sFqgoHNWQAsmFLvMQqxlU4s/s1600/Half.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9QYSlFyWxhtc_Itpv-UECIsK4bAxACBXApwlBXnxTefXxLiBKay9vo6bhScEQFsroeDl3q0SJM5kBk8tlA7j7nlqoXH78z1rN71989l9V5YQcmY_dd2I_sFqgoHNWQAsmFLvMQqxlU4s/s320/Half.jpg" width="234" /></a></div> Getting ready at the hotel at 5 AM!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4DhAHPmThWo8FYrJn60AGndz5s1LZLJi8IouDudyoXrMjGugu6yCOauPiHOLv8qHYpTuXW4yyXvBFLrFVZJqAqoujSC9thiXwgzJyYMtJ5qn4PiomsRrip5ydOrUlZRO0Wj6GmFpUVBI/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4DhAHPmThWo8FYrJn60AGndz5s1LZLJi8IouDudyoXrMjGugu6yCOauPiHOLv8qHYpTuXW4yyXvBFLrFVZJqAqoujSC9thiXwgzJyYMtJ5qn4PiomsRrip5ydOrUlZRO0Wj6GmFpUVBI/s320/002.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Such a cool experience...this truck was present at Ground Zero on 9-11-01. Eight firemen got on it, and sadly, they all died on that day, but they will always be remembered.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfTvhyFGtEHeGotML-Zzqi3OUjJAxNoU7tifUsFx4nPyQwBYtxJPPRg8q6Mwf-_fNu9vQJb5np4THUhaJX56zjAnpOmJDHG1UWjYOV2kwNUCkE5y1725cLSMwbkPYvoCwLgXmrS1h8Yx0/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfTvhyFGtEHeGotML-Zzqi3OUjJAxNoU7tifUsFx4nPyQwBYtxJPPRg8q6Mwf-_fNu9vQJb5np4THUhaJX56zjAnpOmJDHG1UWjYOV2kwNUCkE5y1725cLSMwbkPYvoCwLgXmrS1h8Yx0/s320/003.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Tailgating with Kerry and Dad, respectively!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi89ukN4p5PZ1035vXrhc4ucORr6G_dFvGRQdLBbsY1zj3uMiS5-tNFTdEWOMXzMtUcGKj2ZuCeEwu6qdv7x1fK1JJ-yX_ydpuKSv1JX8n1ktxoSGiPoa8JWCLDoIX3N1tkwP4U22Tocyo/s1600/007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi89ukN4p5PZ1035vXrhc4ucORr6G_dFvGRQdLBbsY1zj3uMiS5-tNFTdEWOMXzMtUcGKj2ZuCeEwu6qdv7x1fK1JJ-yX_ydpuKSv1JX8n1ktxoSGiPoa8JWCLDoIX3N1tkwP4U22Tocyo/s320/007.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Did our waitress simply not realize that if you fill my ice cream cup all the way to the top, I am just going to eat it all? All I can say is that it was A-MA-ZING! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyRpjZKY1uMzAYxOiAa4eFo0kXATjrfWdymFKAVzV6VgvloS8RaRLthS6N5-x4dbABjXjEr0RMWldcY9_2dLxbI3sUd5DyTdKVB9PNxcKc_AkIFJ9QZCeBkRZXZmEbI09oIMXaUyA2_SA/s1600/010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyRpjZKY1uMzAYxOiAa4eFo0kXATjrfWdymFKAVzV6VgvloS8RaRLthS6N5-x4dbABjXjEr0RMWldcY9_2dLxbI3sUd5DyTdKVB9PNxcKc_AkIFJ9QZCeBkRZXZmEbI09oIMXaUyA2_SA/s320/010.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Hanging out with one of my best pals, Ditka, and celebrating with some good old family time after a perfect day!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03520348548506195209noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154515178374210492.post-24258972418417886912011-09-09T18:46:00.000-07:002011-09-10T13:53:05.787-07:00Wet (and a Little Wild) at Navy Pier!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4mpobjKoRkGzzGo7EOBU8szvGpgDxLQNEojxLwj8Zfv6E3pmKUuXi5tE3QB11p0SGdZl5ZxDjOSlnov76283J6qrIiVc3tO9AIM7d3PfkkWOKHVyzqn40tMhjNSkkiAI69b_V9OJr5XA/s1600/037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4mpobjKoRkGzzGo7EOBU8szvGpgDxLQNEojxLwj8Zfv6E3pmKUuXi5tE3QB11p0SGdZl5ZxDjOSlnov76283J6qrIiVc3tO9AIM7d3PfkkWOKHVyzqn40tMhjNSkkiAI69b_V9OJr5XA/s320/037.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Yes, I am very tired right now, so if that title sounds cheesy, it's the best I can come up with right now :) This week was short to begin with, compliments of our Labor Day weekend, but I trimmed it down even more by getting the afternoon off from work and taking the train downtown with Mom. I had to go to the Chicago Half Marathon expo to pick up my race packet for Sunday. It was so much fun to go down there, pick up my official bib number with my name on it (I'm pretty easy to please), and walk around the expo. One thing's for sure--your money can disappear pretty quickly once you start getting excited about all the cool stuff they have! I ended up getting a pair of socks, a patriotic headband to wear on race day, and a few shoe charms to "spruce-up" my already-slightly-obnoxious footwear. You can't see them too well in this picture, but I got one that says 13.1 for the half-marathon, 26.2 for the full marathon, and two ribbons to honor the September 11 attacks. Lacing them in was extremely frustrating, and if they don't look quite right, then that's just how they're gonna have to look, at least for now! :)<br />
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It was raining when we left the expo, but Mom and I really wanted to have dinner outside, since we both love visiting downtown and rarely get the chance to do so. We found a nice umbrella on the patio at Harry Caray's and had a very nice, relaxing meal, complete with my all-time favorite...Mike's Hard Lemonade! That's probably a better post-marathon choice, but oh well--I definitely enjoyed every sip!<br />
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Well, I guess this means the half marathon is just about 24 hours away...how the heck did that happen so fast?? Sunday is going to be an extremely important test of how prepared I am for the Chicago Marathon. The bulk of my training has taken place on a treadmill (I plan to write a post about that within the upcoming week), and while I've heard that even the most elite runners sometimes do as much as 90% of their training that way, it probably isn't the most ideal situation. I guess that I just grew comfortable on that treadmill and had a hard time separating from it, but either way, this half marathon is bound to be interesting. Giving up is not an option at this point, because again, if I can't even do 13 miles, how am I ever going to complete 26.2 a month from now? A lot is at stake here, so as I'm running along Lake Shore Drive this weekend, I'm basically going to be repeating the same two words to myself: <em>KEEP GOING. </em>That's what I did for my first 5K race four months ago, and it worked pretty well. Of course, that was only about 3 miles, but I know from experience that positive mentality makes an unbelievable difference. When you're running or doing any type of exercise, it doesn't have to feel good or easy 100 percent of the time. Smiling is only optional, and if you have to walk for a while, then that's fine, but you don't stop. As long as your feet are moving, you're that much closer to the finish line, and I know that the thought of receiving my finisher's medal will be an amazing incentive to push forward. <br />
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Question of the Day: What's your favorite motivational quote? Mine comes from the wall of my gym, written in huge letters, so everyone who walks through there can see it every day. I mentioned the first half of it already, but here's the entire thing, short and sweet: <strong><span style="font-family: Georgia; font-size: large;">"Smiling is optional. Finishing is not!" </span></strong><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Here's one more picture from the expo, simply because I'm a dork who can never whip out her camera enough times! It was a fun, happy day with one of my favorite people in the world. I love you, Mom!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times;">Good night, everyone, and Happy Friday!</span><br />
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</div>Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03520348548506195209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154515178374210492.post-77627268876096618932011-09-05T16:17:00.000-07:002011-09-05T16:26:17.635-07:00If the Shoe Fits...Spend a Third of Your Paycheck On It!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwU66F0UuTGLXap6JVD_fEpkoRu4huhdC3lQUofJqF9TZPrAqUwX6b5xbagHge8BBbz-iluT8wEhzt9hFtF92jBIDZgrod68tzjY3vIM93ESkNVCEnLeNgGaD5Kgs8L_n8cQ5vDcaNEOI/s1600/RosieK.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwU66F0UuTGLXap6JVD_fEpkoRu4huhdC3lQUofJqF9TZPrAqUwX6b5xbagHge8BBbz-iluT8wEhzt9hFtF92jBIDZgrod68tzjY3vIM93ESkNVCEnLeNgGaD5Kgs8L_n8cQ5vDcaNEOI/s320/RosieK.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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I have been eyeing these shoes at The Runner's Soul for a while now, and after getting paid this weekend, I finally went and bought them--just in time to break them in for the Chicago Marathon! (If all goes well, I also plan on wearing them for the Chicago Half next week.) I think the saleswoman could totally tell I was interested in their appearance more than anything else, and she was definitely right. That's probably not the smartest thing for a serious runner to do, but they fit great and haven't given me any issues yet, so maybe just this once, I've gotten away with being shallow and judging the book by its cover! Expensive, colorful (yep, they glow in the dark) and a little loud...yes, they are all of the above, but I absolutely love them, and when you're planning on running 26.2 miles in about a month, it never hurts to find something that contributes to the excitement! People must think I'm nuts walking/running around in these things, but what can I say? Life is short, and I've always been a believer in wearing what you love and having some fun! Easier said than done, I know, but I've had a blast wearing these shoes so far, so even if I look a little dorky, I'm gonna run across that finish line with a huge smile! <br />
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It's been a very nice and relaxing Labor Day weekend (passing by way too quickly, as usual), but it's time to get back to work tomorrow! I've eaten a lot more these past few days than I'd like to admit, which is usually the case after I've completed a long run. That's part of the problem when you finish 20 miles--part of you thinks that you've earned a practically immeasurable number of calories by running for over four hours straight, but truthfully, it's never as much as you think. That's just one of life's unfortunate realities; you can spend hours on a grueling workout and consume all the calories you burned in a single slice of pizza. Okay, maybe that's a bit of an overexaggeration, but you know what I mean. That's one of the things I continue to struggle with on a daily basis, and having lost 148 pounds to date hasn't made it any easier. When you love food as much as I do, it's something that you deal with for the rest of your life, so for me, I'm trying to learn how not to let a workout--no matter how long or successful it was--serve as an excuse to overindulge. <br />
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It is unbelievable that the half marathon is less than six days away now. I remember signing up for it several months ago, thinking about how far away it seemed, and occasionally wondering if I was delusional to think that I could keep up with all the other runners on the course. I am so excited about it, though, and the fact that it takes place on September 11--the 10th anniversary of the attacks--makes it even more special (that's the #1 reason I signed up for this particular half marathon in the first place). It will be fun to dress in our nation's colors, get out there, and take a stab at something that never would have crossed my mind a decade ago, not even for a second. Hey, if nothing else, I'll be in style (sort of) with my flashy new footwear!!<br />
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Question(s) of the Day: Do you have a favorite post-exercise meal? How do you prevent mindless overeating after an intense workout?Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03520348548506195209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154515178374210492.post-20267058508798264772011-09-02T17:23:00.000-07:002011-09-02T17:23:14.813-07:00Amazing Milestones That Last Your Entire Life!It's hard to believe I haven't updated here in almost three weeks. Though I hate to admit it, I've gotten a little lazy about that, but my goal is to write something at least once or twice a week, like I did when I first started blogging. Hopefully, this will be the start in getting back to that.<br />
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Well, last time I posted, I had completed my longest weekend run to date, which was a little over 15 miles. The week after that, I did 17 miles, and for my "step-back week" following that, I shot for an easier 12-miler (but could only find the stamina to do about 11). This weekend, according to the Hal Higdon training schedule I've been following (for the most part), I was only required to do 18, but mentally, I felt ready to tackle 20. I've always read that many runners--especially beginners--should do their 20-miler about three weeks before the marathon and only attempt it once (to save energy for the race), but many Chicago marathons that I've talked to did those miles last weekend and have already talked about attempting it again before October 9. I guess it depends on where you are physically and what works best for you personally, but in any case, I felt a surge of competitiveness over that, and now here I am, feeling amazing and wishing that everyone could experience what it feels like to really get out there and succeed at something you never considered before. <br />
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I've talked about this a little in the past, but it really is true: the human mind is incredible at guiding you through situations where physical preparation can only go so far. Of course, that doesn't mean you can afford to get lax and let your head carry you the entire way, but I sensed it even more when I started running today. I have known for the past 5 days that I was going to do these 20 miles this morning. I made a special trip to The Runner's Soul for energy gels, planned an approximately 4-hour block of time to run, ate my usual "running breakfast" beforehand (good old Powerade, banana, and Cliff bar), and headed to the treadmill with plenty of water. Most of all, I just spent those few days really making it clear to myself that I was going to work through those 20 miles, no matter how tired I got. Even if I had to walk a little more than usual, I would stick with it and not quit early. <br />
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Now, I guess that was basically a combination of physical and mental preparation, but either way, I felt the difference as soon as I started running. It's funny because on the days that I say I'm only going to do about 5 miles, I'm exhausted after about 3 or 4. On the days when I don't set a specific number in terms of mileage, I sometimes can barely push past 2 miles. Today, however, I started out nice and easy, with my iPad in front of me, and after the first mile, I felt stronger and more confident than I ever had at that point during my previous runs that week. I didn't start to really feel it until about the 12-mile mark, and I truly believe the mind has something major to do with that. When you make up your mind how it's going to go, and you rehearse it in your head beforehand, it really does pay off later. Three weeks ago, that 15-miler felt insanely difficult--much more so than those 20 miles today--and again, it just becomes easier as you go, even if you don't think it will. <br />
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Finishing 20 miles is a huge step in knowing that you're ready for the real thing, and after doing three really long runs over the past few weeks, I am so excited about how my body has adapted to all this. Exactly one year ago, I couldn't fathom the idea of running at all, much less for the pure enjoyment of it, and I used to make fun of my sister Katie regularly as she trained for the 2010 Chicago Marathon (in a loving sisterly way, of course). Then, after I made the decision to participate in the 2011 marathon, I told myself that even if I burned out halfway through, or if I didn't finish in the official 6.5 hour time frame, I would be okay with that, because simply getting out there and trying felt good enough for my first attempt. Now that I've stuck with the training process and completed 20 miles, I don't worry about having to re-adjust my expectations. I no longer fear that I might not make it through the entire 13.1-mile course on September 11, or the 26.2 miles on October 9, because I know that I will. It feels amazing knowing that as people, we can come so far with goals that seemed impossible at one point. On one hand, it's such a cliche, yet when you experience it, there's nothing better!<br />
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I'm definitely looking forward to the long weekend, and I hope that everyone enjoys their Labor Day. Use the time off to enjoy time with friends and family, and maybe do something that you can't always fit in with hectic work schedules!<br />
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Question of the Day: Have you ever accomplished something where you relied on the mental preparation as much as the physical? What was it, and how did it feel once you got there?Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03520348548506195209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154515178374210492.post-71988220903037606172011-08-13T13:42:00.000-07:002011-08-13T13:49:51.612-07:00Whatever It Takes, Make It Happen!<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"><strong><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: large;">"Sometimes I start my day by running 5 1/2 miles, not because I want to, but for the simple fact that nothing that comes my way can be as hard as what I started the day doing."</span></strong></span></div><br />
<span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}">This quote comes from Mandy, a college friend who aspires to complete a half marathon and seems to be doing awesome with her training so far! She posted this quote on Facebook a few days ago, and I liked it so much that I decided to add it here. Now, Mandy is the mother of five children under the age of five, so I can't fully compare myself to her when it comes to time management, but between work and family obligations, I think we all know what it's like to ask ourselves that big question: <em>How do I find time to exercise? </em>Well, the answer is that if we keep waiting for the perfect time frame to open up, we're never going to get anything done, because life does happen, and we have to <em>make </em>time for the goals that are important to us. I tend to get very irritated when personal responsibilities interfere with my ideal workout routine, but we've all been there, and that's when we just use whatever time we can find to squeeze it in, even if it's only 20 minutes, or 30 minutes, etc...</span><br />
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<span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}">What's my point? Oh, right. The point. :) Well, I really like Mandy's idea of running first thing in the morning. Getting out of bed early enough is definitely the hardest part, but I can understand the value of achieving something difficult <em>before</em> moving on to the rest of your day. The excitement of completing a great workout rolls over into everything else you do after that, which makes it worth considering. In general, though, if you're feeling less motivated to exercise, it sometimes helps to switch it to the exact opposite time that you usually head to the gym. Instead of going in the late morning or early afternoon, maybe you could try an evening workout and see if you feel any difference. It's always good to experiment with different times and figure out what works best for you.</span><br />
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<span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}">Today was a very important and exciting milestone for me, because I managed to get up this morning and run 15.2 miles!!! I've never run that far before at one time, and with walk breaks and everything, it took three hours and nineteen minutes to finish. I really realized, more than ever, that once you hit a certain number of miles, the physical part of it kind of stops, and it becomes almost completely mental. In your heart, you know that your legs can take you six more miles, but when you're exhausted and sweaty, is that what you necessarily want to do? Right then and there, you just have to do whatever it takes to finish, whether it's by taking a five-minute walking break, putting a new song on your iPod, or simply looking ahead and concentrating on something in front of you...the cars driving by, the strip mall to your right, or the trees surrounding your path. You have the choice of stopping--after all, nobody is physically forcing you to do any of this--but you know what your goal is, you know what you set out to accomplish on this day, and after all the work that has already gone into it, you are determined to finish what you started...and somehow you will, if you just tell yourself you're going to do it.</span><br />
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<span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}">This is what you do when something matters enough to you, because when it's all over, and you're thinking back on it later in the day, nothing feels better than knowing you stuck with it and got the job done. It's incredible what the mind and the body can do when they work together...and believe me, they have to be in sync with each other when you're reaching for something big. If you want something badly enough, you'll find a way to get it, because when you let that mentality take over, that's when you find the will to take on the physical aspects of it. I hope everyone gives themselves the opportunity to experience this, with whatever they are working toward in their lives, because there's nothing like it! </span><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}">Mandy has said <strong>"I love knowing that after I run, there isn't a thing that can break me",</strong> and right now, I can honestly say that I know exactly what she means!</span><br />
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<span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}">Question of the Day: Have you ever had a workout, a job-related task, or any other type of goal/responsibility where you suddenly realized that if you didn't just do it, it wasn't going to happen? Do you remember something particularly powerful that went through your mind, or anything specific that you did to make it to the other side? If so, then please share it! :)</span><br />
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<span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}">Hope everyone enjoys their Saturday and the rest of the weekend. My parents and sister are tailgating right now (hopefully the rain won't start up again) and going to the first pre-season Bears game of the year, while Baba and I will be enjoying it from the TV at home! <strong><span style="font-size: large;">Bear down, Chicago Bears!!!!!!!!!</span></strong></span><br />
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Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03520348548506195209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154515178374210492.post-36715042186565536052011-08-10T19:59:00.000-07:002011-08-10T20:43:23.898-07:00"You is kind. You is smart. You is important."At the moment, after reading the title of this post, I'm pretty sure the only people who don't think I'm completely off my rocker are those who have read <em>The Help</em> and/or seen the movie, which just came out today. My mom and I went to a 9:30 showing this morning (probably the earliest either of us have ever shown up to a movie theater). We were completely mesmerized for the entire 2 hours and 17 minutes, and this is one of the most powerful quotes that came from the film. One of the main characters, Aibileen, said this every day to the little girl she was basically raising, and if you think about it, it actually works for any age, era, or personal situation. Though it might sound a little silly, I think it's important for people to remind themselves that they are important and valued, no matter their size or physical appearance, because when you feel more confident in yourself, that's when you can start making healthy changes in your life. In the movie, Aibileen realized that despite the hardships she was dealing with, one thing she could excel at is building another child's self-worth. This rang especially true for me, because as people, we are all capable of lifting each other up on difficult days and during moments of doubt. It inspires me so much when someone takes the time out to offer a compliment or word or encouragement, and it leaves me hoping that I can do the same for others.<br />
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Aside from that, I can't think of much else to report. The Chicago Half Marathon takes place just one month from tomorrow (can you say <em>yikes?!?!?</em>) and the Chicago Marathon is only one month after that. I can definitely see how some people struggle to stay focused and motivate themselves to train during these most critical weeks. Nerves start to take over, and a few injuries here and there--even if they're minor--can be unfortunate setbacks. Right now, I'm just trying to stay excited and remember why I got myself into this crazy marathon world in the first place--because we all have to start somewhere, and if we have a goal we want to reach, taking the first step is a heck of a lot better than simply talking without acting. I appreciate the strength and motivation I find from my family, as well as the people I see every single day at the gym. You'd be absolutely <em>amazed </em>at the support system you can find out there, even if you don't think you're necessarily looking for one at first. <br />
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Well, I think I'll finish my chicken salad dinner and head to bed. Happy Hump Day to everyone :) Do yourself a favor this weekend and go see <em>The Help</em>. Whether you're a girl or a guy, young or old, it's just something you need to see, period. It's a positive reminder that even though we might not be perfect, we have come a long way as Americans in the past 50-some years, and we will only continue to get better if we just start with ourselves. The same applies to weight loss, or anything else you might be looking to accomplish in your own life! If you do go see the movie, let me know what you thought of it. That will count as the question for the day :) <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">YOU IS KIND. YOU IS SMART. YOU IS IMPORTANT. NEVER FORGET IT!</span></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir6h1C_kmElzpzSpp4fQF2AeYoEWHtnzmBXtGaO1mkDMztNkSCnpwYHmhRhuqn4E2DlEu3j0sZApxQcK4faE0fpefNLoHVY0U0HzzUaoR6D4Oed6ee09stclE8jq7h1mcCKKOXsk0U3ww/s1600/help.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir6h1C_kmElzpzSpp4fQF2AeYoEWHtnzmBXtGaO1mkDMztNkSCnpwYHmhRhuqn4E2DlEu3j0sZApxQcK4faE0fpefNLoHVY0U0HzzUaoR6D4Oed6ee09stclE8jq7h1mcCKKOXsk0U3ww/s320/help.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03520348548506195209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154515178374210492.post-15537489182738235772011-08-03T18:00:00.000-07:002011-08-03T18:10:33.315-07:00Celebrating Another Birthday in the Krajewski House! I don't think you ever outgrow being a Daddy's girl...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ-yd5FS0ba8sF52P-MVsl05k1ij4HE5Ad6zO37_mav88RXSfkA4u0qL8sfmB740UF3ipeD7F3DlDj8pNFzwPTBxmsfkdJVbyg9-Y3tpH3uzMjonqdeXUxnyqm92k2-gk6WVI9eSne5Ew/s1600/little.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ-yd5FS0ba8sF52P-MVsl05k1ij4HE5Ad6zO37_mav88RXSfkA4u0qL8sfmB740UF3ipeD7F3DlDj8pNFzwPTBxmsfkdJVbyg9-Y3tpH3uzMjonqdeXUxnyqm92k2-gk6WVI9eSne5Ew/s320/little.jpg" t$="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">DISNEY WORLD, 1987</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFX4J0fDDVlTvZ1nj5Fr7-4JzKjsduAcB2ezoSbyqxAZJmWFsVkq-x2gE_xx5XarqZGOjC5dYhgOd7bP0uf0eVZRa4Ary0D0Cq3m8oOtIhnTHl8__9XgBpiR8C7Ib3IiS3khqSFTv5tO0/s1600/four.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFX4J0fDDVlTvZ1nj5Fr7-4JzKjsduAcB2ezoSbyqxAZJmWFsVkq-x2gE_xx5XarqZGOjC5dYhgOd7bP0uf0eVZRa4Ary0D0Cq3m8oOtIhnTHl8__9XgBpiR8C7Ib3IiS3khqSFTv5tO0/s320/four.jpg" t$="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">MY FOURTH BIRTHDAY, MARCH 1989</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0_YR6CMg2oCnaxyyUcSBk9KgKuw4_bAybEGp7Tdkg_hCkHdvIMuenWpkyVEaIVfcRMcI5mw592KWt5KKmf3PjJQc26T9fPnVtOPqvu4KjOzPmJB0UKxByT7QftCgU7O1hrPDFHRPTYHQ/s1600/vegas+vacay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0_YR6CMg2oCnaxyyUcSBk9KgKuw4_bAybEGp7Tdkg_hCkHdvIMuenWpkyVEaIVfcRMcI5mw592KWt5KKmf3PjJQc26T9fPnVtOPqvu4KjOzPmJB0UKxByT7QftCgU7O1hrPDFHRPTYHQ/s320/vegas+vacay.jpg" t$="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">VACATIONING IN LAS VEGAS - JUNE 2011</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Eq-ivB8-lTiDX8h4X6X7GWqJa9n6KBRJW-0E1kr_0-MkAjjWeaDjX61Jimti0kFtgnNKrGNXwMf-p7K0GCKWVPtey9X27LGZkAU3F_a3QFg2aL37CvErhyphenhyphenMcPz6SW2ww7GOj8o8eWF0/s1600/oktoberfest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Eq-ivB8-lTiDX8h4X6X7GWqJa9n6KBRJW-0E1kr_0-MkAjjWeaDjX61Jimti0kFtgnNKrGNXwMf-p7K0GCKWVPtey9X27LGZkAU3F_a3QFg2aL37CvErhyphenhyphenMcPz6SW2ww7GOj8o8eWF0/s320/oktoberfest.jpg" t$="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">OCTOBERFEST AT THE CHICAGO SCHOOL WHERE MY DAD TAUGHT - FALL 1991</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUqnKwkIjID93mr8AdnbW3kmefjQ-aBFWnq4BJHgxR673AW6xNy0McM0TUEzg90V5Hir6YK53_oZBTrDBuLpH2_P95fRNWhb3BhJR8BDaeYJYbo2TmrlIZsjv5p7oQO-7erib2uQZJc1Q/s1600/family.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUqnKwkIjID93mr8AdnbW3kmefjQ-aBFWnq4BJHgxR673AW6xNy0McM0TUEzg90V5Hir6YK53_oZBTrDBuLpH2_P95fRNWhb3BhJR8BDaeYJYbo2TmrlIZsjv5p7oQO-7erib2uQZJc1Q/s320/family.jpg" t$="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">VEGAS AGAIN IN 2011! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Just thought I'd post a few special pictures in honor of a very special man's birthday today! What's cool about my dad is that when he was in his 20's, he lost about 100 pounds through old-fashioned diet and exercise, which is exactly what I've tried to do over the past three years. Weight loss is never easy, and this is a very personal connection that I have with my dad. In thinking about how much dedication and self-discipline that must have taken him, I feel fortunate that I got those qualities from him...or at least I would like to believe so! :) Like a true father, he is always supportive of his three daughters and is, as far as I'm concerned, the best dad in the world :) I don't think he always understands why I take a 70-minute walk home from work a few days a week when I could easily ride home with my mom, but that's okay, because I don't really have an explanation for it anyway! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Today's question is a simple one: Who inspires <em>you </em>the most when things get tough?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: "Courier New", Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;">Happy Birthday, Dad!! Love you!</span></strong></div>Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03520348548506195209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154515178374210492.post-54727905547924740402011-08-02T19:15:00.000-07:002011-08-02T19:15:19.204-07:00Nothin' Like an Inspirational Flick to Get You Through Those Long Runs!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvIZYJgxRQkG5XQreptnAFD5wJLPpXTP7Hxx6sVk1sCYRVUpdM3MedQMOCeyR26UpZpLGswX3tEzCQMwe09AexvIlRlQjIfLajoSbt-Au12oI_SOJQoKtfZZWUVELSOkNgNLQjzl8wRxQ/s1600/Inspire.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvIZYJgxRQkG5XQreptnAFD5wJLPpXTP7Hxx6sVk1sCYRVUpdM3MedQMOCeyR26UpZpLGswX3tEzCQMwe09AexvIlRlQjIfLajoSbt-Au12oI_SOJQoKtfZZWUVELSOkNgNLQjzl8wRxQ/s320/Inspire.gif" t$="true" width="282" /></a></div><br />
It seems like most people, within a few hours of meeting me, realize that I am a movie buff of sorts, and although it was slightly embarrassing at first, there comes a point where you just have to be happy with who you are! Yes, I adore movies, especially comedies and dramas. Going to the theater is one of my favorite pasttimes, and when I asked Santa for an iPad last Christmas, I was primarily excited about loading it up with movies and TV shows to help out with long bouts of exercise at the gym. <br />
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Today, <em>Soul Surfer</em>--which has quickly become one of my all-time favorites--was released on DVD. It's based on the true story of a girl who lost her arm in a shark attack at age 13, then found the courage to get back in the water and become a pro surfer--not because she wanted to be renowned, but because it was a passion she couldn't imagine living without. Buying it for my iPad helped me finish a nearly 6-mile run this afternoon, which still isn't my best, but I am currently working through a slump in my running, which I'm sincerely hoping will pass as the Chicago Marathon gets closer. Anyway, the reason I'm mentioning this particular film is because we all have days where we need a little extra "boost", and watching a good inspirational movie--especially one about real people--can go a long way in reminding you what you're trying to do in your own life. <br />
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For my Question of the Day, I thought I would ask people to post those movies that urge them to leap into action and forget about certain obstacles that may have been bothering them the day before. What makes you feel just plain <em>happy </em>and inspired after watching it? Aside from <em>Soul Surfer, </em>I really love <em>Facing the Giants </em>(try watching the death crawl scene without being motivated to get off your couch and do something worthwhile) and <em>Remember the Titans. </em>There are so many others I could name, but I'll let other people write their own opinions if they want to! <br />
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Have a good night, and be inspired...whatever it takes! Movies are just one small way to begin the process. Whatever helps you get up and moving is great, but ultimately, it's you who makes the decision to keep going from there. Don't let anyone or anything stop you! As Bethany Hamilton says in <em>Soul Surfer, </em><strong>"I don't need easy. I just need possible." </strong>Couldn't have said it better myself!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqVVRpg818YwYPBpXtEHflacoplzqfA4AefQDyl3uzy745Q_f3tvbrXC_j6ehI8EjmtGrbwNSJVjU_7DouFYL2R9NxzVQxXZ34hg5p1VOKmaMzIn8cVae62u1dqKc_5dw4Vkrl6GJk05U/s1600/Soul+Surfer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqVVRpg818YwYPBpXtEHflacoplzqfA4AefQDyl3uzy745Q_f3tvbrXC_j6ehI8EjmtGrbwNSJVjU_7DouFYL2R9NxzVQxXZ34hg5p1VOKmaMzIn8cVae62u1dqKc_5dw4Vkrl6GJk05U/s320/Soul+Surfer.jpg" t$="true" width="215" /></a></div>Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03520348548506195209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154515178374210492.post-18408213627498042442011-07-31T20:19:00.000-07:002011-08-01T11:22:17.193-07:00Finding the Courage to Say No...Okay, I'm not talking about drug or alcohol use here, but for anyone who has ever struggled with weight, you know that food can easily qualify as an addiction. If it's something that occupies much of your time, thoughts, and money, and it prevents you from reaching your goals, then you need to rely on your own resources to stay safe from it. A little willpower can go a long way, and granted, you're not going to succeed every day, but if you've been tuning in to my blog, then you know that<em> balance </em>is one of my favorite words :) <br />
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Tonight, I am at home with my grandma again while my parents and sister are at a concert. I am *attempting* to write out lesson plans for the children I tutor twice a week, and all I've been thinking about is pizza. More specifically, I'm thinking of a sausage and green olive Panzerotti (basically a supersized calzone), cheese sticks, and a Diet Rite from Mamma Maria's in Elmhurst (because only in America do we add diet pop to a meal like that). You see, a Panzerotti and cheese sticks are an example of what Weight Watchers members might refer to as their "old dinner"--the kind of meal they succombed to on a regular basis <em>before </em>committing to a new, healthier way of life.<br />
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There are several favorites from years past that I still enjoy as an occasional treat for staying on my diet, but ordering pizza is one thing that I can only do once a month at best--and usually even less frequently than that--because of the extreme fat, calorie, and salt contents. Sometimes I'll get it because I think I'm craving it so badly, but once I'm finished (and uncomfortably full), I find myself wondering if it was really even worth it in the first place. That's exactly what I asked myself tonight, when I wanted so desperately to pick up the phone and splurge big-time. I also thought of a quote that keeps me focused when I feel like getting lax: <em>If I eat fattening foods, I'll be happy as long as I'm chewing, but if I stick to what I've been working for, I'll be happy as long as I'm living.</em><br />
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As the hours passed, and I continued working on my lesson plans, I finally decided to save some fat grams (not to mention money) by boiling a pot of noodles and having tuna instead. I also have a Weight Watcher-friendly ice cream bar in the freezer for later (purchased as a single, which is great when you're working on portion control and cautious about buying a whole box). Of course, the noodles and mayonnaise (although light) on the tuna do have a few extra calories than I might like, but it is still a much better choice than the Panzerotti and cheese sticks. It tastes good, fills me up, and reminds me that we are all capable of making healthier food decisions when we stop to consider the consequences of going the other way.<br />
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I may have been slightly grumpy about not getting my Mamma Maria's food at first, but I know that I'll be proud when I step on the scale tomorrow. The decision I've made tonight will pay off then, and that makes it all worth it. Someday soon, maybe I will indulge in that delightful "old dinner" of mine...just not now, because tonight, I have somehow found the courage to say no, and that's what life is all about: saying no when possible, with the knowledge that because you stayed strong, you will be able to say yes some other time. <br />
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Now, before I say good night, I will add a few pictures from a wedding that I attended this weekend. The beautiful newlyweds, Tony and Kristen, have been together for 11 and a half years, and as a couple, they are the real deal. It is always fun to go and celebrate the excitement of a brand-new marriage, especially when you have memories of playing Barbies and acting out American Girl plays with the bride! (Kristen is my sister Katie's age, I am the same age as Kristen's younger sister, and we spent many, many days playing together as kids.) Weddings also happen to be a fantastic opportunity to burn calories on that ever-popular dance floor!!!!<br />
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Good night to everyone, and have a great day tomorrow--or at least as great as a Monday can be :) Question of the Day: Can you find the willpower to "say no" sometime this week when you know that it will benefit you in the long run? If so, I hope you will post here and share it with us! Your success is someone else's inspiration!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDH5enqqodUXjl5jISXzDn7jjyz1G-9E8_Siybqc1eYrLFJ5Ht-KgdUh6vrMajsO4gtNg53svpjRDmgXJe1MyiYuVrB5AlhVeSWX-ubmAOrMq2iMGNgmmEwGq7Wvo-Jn_UhxT3wYW1x2A/s1600/048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDH5enqqodUXjl5jISXzDn7jjyz1G-9E8_Siybqc1eYrLFJ5Ht-KgdUh6vrMajsO4gtNg53svpjRDmgXJe1MyiYuVrB5AlhVeSWX-ubmAOrMq2iMGNgmmEwGq7Wvo-Jn_UhxT3wYW1x2A/s320/048.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Tony and Kristen sharing their first dance</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJYbV91OLebTeS-0adh_U2x9oZEKIilU9_5PIpMFQxBoqkmwKiqAvuWhWpfxu_Af9tHVaZ9LemZup6I4lglKqthL1-GzniUZYmSs5vsEtCoFI5ssa8VtYJ9BNTt5gR0eJ_hI8d_Il-FVQ/s1600/027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJYbV91OLebTeS-0adh_U2x9oZEKIilU9_5PIpMFQxBoqkmwKiqAvuWhWpfxu_Af9tHVaZ9LemZup6I4lglKqthL1-GzniUZYmSs5vsEtCoFI5ssa8VtYJ9BNTt5gR0eJ_hI8d_Il-FVQ/s320/027.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Hanging out with my mom at the reception. Weight Watchers buddies forever! :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip7BEy9xfV00jmyG1xXNPUJR_37oKu73NU2CwGX4jfk_4K9D70q0llDxwP1wUvMTElhwjeuDvpGTn4xtN-4wC-qhoN9icOZLTPBHSbk5Gn0Okn6ravMoF5oC6-S8G6xOaEo84iOugyiKo/s1600/103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip7BEy9xfV00jmyG1xXNPUJR_37oKu73NU2CwGX4jfk_4K9D70q0llDxwP1wUvMTElhwjeuDvpGTn4xtN-4wC-qhoN9icOZLTPBHSbk5Gn0Okn6ravMoF5oC6-S8G6xOaEo84iOugyiKo/s320/103.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here's my sister Katie--one of the bridesmaids--tearin' it up on the dance floor...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBsh8LTf4cO-5pGQeutzTn8O7Gi_QmXO3hZZj6SaVmI8ydfB95SnueVx4nH-TyFAOgc-LQ-9ksHu4CYNDXHRkUtZa1HTjLYrsKopaMM_YWyUIIn1bBB5lE8IxwYv7CPt2pdmh3IaD_mkk/s1600/025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBsh8LTf4cO-5pGQeutzTn8O7Gi_QmXO3hZZj6SaVmI8ydfB95SnueVx4nH-TyFAOgc-LQ-9ksHu4CYNDXHRkUtZa1HTjLYrsKopaMM_YWyUIIn1bBB5lE8IxwYv7CPt2pdmh3IaD_mkk/s320/025.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...and my sister Kerry and I smiling big with our dad!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03520348548506195209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154515178374210492.post-85285465303677291462011-07-27T17:44:00.000-07:002011-07-28T20:12:07.976-07:00It's a Great Night to Feel Just Plain HAPPY!Because I love looking through random "before" pictures, here is another from my sister Katie's wedding in July 2009. That would be me and Robbie, one of the groomsmen. Looking back, I am truly amazed at how much weight I carried in my face and arms. That was such a beautiful day, with so many wonderful memories, but I am definitely glad that I no longer look that way:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggtY92N041rgE3GtlJgP4sVSyY0q2gHi3asT6wy57aKrvCb-fzBWGf2DJiZFcUnjzCqfAMrWrrmOrNBkz1i1rR3xWfaZPMrSRooGN6NP7PMVDdbqKlkKGD6Ju2bEQR6bzZpFolnUkwGX0/s1600/Robbie+and+Rosie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggtY92N041rgE3GtlJgP4sVSyY0q2gHi3asT6wy57aKrvCb-fzBWGf2DJiZFcUnjzCqfAMrWrrmOrNBkz1i1rR3xWfaZPMrSRooGN6NP7PMVDdbqKlkKGD6Ju2bEQR6bzZpFolnUkwGX0/s320/Robbie+and+Rosie.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Now this is a picture of my parents, which I am adding for a couple of reasons. First of all, I love it and feel happy just looking at it. Secondly, my mom--who has been at Weight Watchers with me every step of the way--has lost about 20 pounds of her own since this was taken (also in 2009). YAY MOM!!!!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL74X3eVrGQFN3SvBjHG2rmZ5ZRH0y8QEzPUTbt_LdHClxj37_vQqARGFZuto39rE_iNxfdJXkDESHhFlhweeyWedwO5NS9hs0J_YkeMPh1Vofp83UW7oVTwKkzcgjmiF2ZNJZQQm4USc/s1600/Parents.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL74X3eVrGQFN3SvBjHG2rmZ5ZRH0y8QEzPUTbt_LdHClxj37_vQqARGFZuto39rE_iNxfdJXkDESHhFlhweeyWedwO5NS9hs0J_YkeMPh1Vofp83UW7oVTwKkzcgjmiF2ZNJZQQm4USc/s320/Parents.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Well, this post is sure to be short and sweet--or at least as short and sweet as Rosie the Rambler can manage--because the day's events are finally over, so it's a perfect time to just eat dinner and relax for a while. Mom and I went to our Weight Watchers meeting about an hour ago. I lost 3.2 pounds, and she maintained her weight loss from last week, which is still successful since she had a big loss last week. My total is now 143.2 pounds lost, which means that I am only TWO POUNDS HEAVIER THAN MY MOTHER!!!!! Wow. I never, ever, ever thought I'd be able to say that. It's an amazing feeling! In the car, I said to her, "I can't believe we weigh almost the exact same thing. My legs are so much fatter than yours!" and to that, she said "Well, I feel like my stomach is a lot fatter than yours!" We laughed about it, but it brought up an interesting point for both of us. Even more than just the outer rewards of weight loss, what feels good is when you know you are making strides in just being a healthy person, regardless of what you look like. This morning, when I went to get some more dental work done (yep, twice in one week for me, but everything is looking good now), the woman who was there said that my blood pressure is excellent. Those little things are pleasant reminders that even when we feel like we still have a long way to go, we can take pride in knowing that we're making progress. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Wednesdays are always the most difficult day of the week for me to get through, in preparation for that big evening weigh-in. For that reason, it is typically my most critical exercise day, but I had very little energy to run today, and I was only able to run 6.5 miles--which included a <em>lot </em>of stopping and walking in-between. Again, I am coming back from a sprained ankle that took two weeks to fully recover, which feels like a lot when you're only two and a half months away from your first marathon. I do my best to eat the right things before an important run, and I am usually good about that, but when I'm not, I can feel the difference immediately. I have found that keeping energy gels on hand (one for every 45 minutes that you're running) is helpful, but even more than that, if I drink a Gatorade and eat a power bar (my favorites are the Luna bars that they sell at Jewel and Dominicks) about 30 minutes beforehand, my endurance increases tremendously during my run. When you are doing any form of exercise, you need to remember what eating what works best for your body to eat/drink, and how you can perform your absolute best. I have found that it benefits me to learn from the experiences/successes of others when it comes to things like this.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Okay, so...my plan was to keep this brief. Did I succeed? Well, I'll let you decide on that one :) Right now, I am going to eat my all-time favorite Taco Bell dinner (Wednesdays are my big splurge nights, after weigh-in) and watch an episode of Grey's Anatomy on DVD. The one I'm planning to watch is from Season 2, with a female patient who has an actual medical condition where she blushes excessively...and it just happens to flare up the most when good old Dr. Shepherd (aaaah, Patrick Dempsey) is around. I am topping off this post with a picture of my favorite fictional surgeon, just because it's nice to look at...and because if McDreamy happened to walk into this room right now, I'd be blushing like a schoolgirl too! (Not a word out of you, Kerry! LOL) I may be 26, but I don't always act like it. Oh well--we all have our guilty pleasures! Good night, and HAPPY WEDNESDAY to all!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Question of the Day: What powers you up for an especially great workout? Is it a specific food or drink that helps you, or something that prepares you mentally? I hope you will share what has worked for you!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03520348548506195209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154515178374210492.post-70362311357900269992011-07-25T20:53:00.000-07:002011-07-25T20:53:26.335-07:00Dunkin Donuts? Check. Popcorn? Check. Buffalo Chicken Tenders?? Okay, You Get the Point!All right, so this isn't exactly the kind of menu I usually follow so close to my Weight Watchers weigh-in (which is on Wednesday evenings), but I got to spend the afternoon with someone I love very much, so it's hard to feel <em>too </em>icky about it. Plus, of course, I'm all about the school of belief that "cheat days" are acceptable on occasion, but after pizza and movie theater candy over the weekend, I'll be glad to get back to a healthy schedule tomorrow. Wow, did I just say that?? I think there's something about seeing it all typed out in front of you that makes your eating habits feel even more real. Imagine that :) <br />
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Anyway, after my morning work shift, my mom and I had about 40 minutes to kill before I headed to the dentist for a few fillings. Dunkin Donuts happened to be on the way, and while I know that a corn muffin and bottle of Gatorade don't equal a daily Breakfast of Champions, it's okay to enjoy once in a while. Later this afternoon, I ended up taking an unexpected trip to the city to meet my sister Kerry, whom I haven't seen or talked to much since the 4th of July holidays (busy schedules are the culprit, as usual). It was nice having some time on a weekday to just talk and be together, and after popcorn and a viewing of <em>Friends with Benefits, </em>we stopped at a bar for a drink and buffalo chicken tenders. When days like this happen, I try to just enjoy it as much as possible, pay attention to my stomach, and stop when I'm full. Continuing to eat, despite being uncomfortably stuffed, is an issue that helped me become so overweight in the first place, and I admit it still happens sometimes, but not nearly as much as it used to. <br />
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As for exercise, my ankle has been acting up for the past two weeks, also, which has cut my normal running schedule in half, but I think this is a good thing for now, because I am in the process of learning how to balance exercise and "the real world" more realistically. There have been so many days (most of them, actually) where I catch myself worrying constantly about how much I'm going to work out, and how I will manage to catch up when other plans/commitments get in the way of that ideal schedule. When we feel ourselves getting overwhelmed and obsessing too much about things like this, it's important to remember what we've learned about ourselves and what positive changes we <em>have </em>made in our lives. Indulgences are going to happen, no matter who you are, so it's best to just focus instead on how you'll handle the days following that. Focusing on fruits, veggies, and low-sodium food during the week makes you feel better about yourself, and being more disciplined gives you something to look forward to when the weekend (or whenever you generally like to treat yourself) rolls around. <br />
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Question of the Day: What's your favorite form of exercise--something that make you feel particularly energized and "back on track" after a weekend splurge? Feel free to comment if you want :)<br />
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Thanks for reading, and have a good night! Here's to health, happiness, and most of all, BALANCE! <br />
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Here's a fun picture of me and Kerry on our family Vegas trip from last month. It was awesome hanging out with you today! Love you lots :)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9w3FSq13sKAVjoFqYzhU91uV_m2RAihNN1sInRm3WjE6tNgETq8zgVN9iaGUKut5-t3H9xNcFQTEZI6Q6aM1eGBIzYWFkPH47O_r-NFAtpVNpS6hb7RGel5p71AapehHsQRrXhTFM1IM/s1600/Vegas+cute.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9w3FSq13sKAVjoFqYzhU91uV_m2RAihNN1sInRm3WjE6tNgETq8zgVN9iaGUKut5-t3H9xNcFQTEZI6Q6aM1eGBIzYWFkPH47O_r-NFAtpVNpS6hb7RGel5p71AapehHsQRrXhTFM1IM/s320/Vegas+cute.jpg" t$="true" width="320" /></a></div>Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03520348548506195209noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6154515178374210492.post-62430778284513399542011-07-23T13:04:00.000-07:002011-07-23T17:25:26.472-07:00Finding and Keeping Perspective, Today and on All Days...Well, the house is quiet, I am enjoying my favorite Subway lunch of chicken teriyaki on flatbread (even though I'm not supposed to eat near the computer...haha...I guess some things never change), and I thought I'd start this post off with the following picture. Isn't it gorgeous? Yes, that is some heavy sarcasm...pun fully intended! :)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXy6xesWgdS3GNalyi6zXnze9RvtbVBsBqqII_haHqOfZgdarJKdiqRbf3i4R-6uZxc3ViEzn4jevccvpthJm4NUP1sr0uEZlonuSOpWWB3ji5Y5-nrjRNk31xrPyaU7TD7mVg7ajXUIg/s1600/Ugly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXy6xesWgdS3GNalyi6zXnze9RvtbVBsBqqII_haHqOfZgdarJKdiqRbf3i4R-6uZxc3ViEzn4jevccvpthJm4NUP1sr0uEZlonuSOpWWB3ji5Y5-nrjRNk31xrPyaU7TD7mVg7ajXUIg/s320/Ugly.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This was taken three years ago, in Fall 2008, during my student teaching semester. At that time, I spent eight weeks working with 3 and 4-year-old children who have autism, which was an amazing experience professionally, but when you weigh 337 pounds, getting down on the floor and interacting with enthusiastic pre-schoolers all day is pretty difficult physically. My mom and I had just returned to Weight Watchers (her idea, mostly), and although I did manage to lose some, I didn't really get serious until over a year later, after my sister's wedding. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I enjoy revisiting these pictures every once in a while, because they are excellent reminders when I'm struggling, just as we all do sometimes. In preparation for the Chicago Marathon on October 9, I am using Hal Higdon's free online training program as a guide, mostly with my long runs on Saturdays. Today, I was scheduled to do 12 miles, but due to lack of time, I was only able to complete 9.2. I am also coming back from a minor ankle sprain that kept me away from running for about ten days. I knew I had made a mistake by not eating something before this morning's run, and I felt a little disappointed that I was too tired to go farther. People tend to be very good at getting competitive with themselves, and it's easy to let yourself get too caught up in it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">That's when I remember that three years ago, the only time I ever ran was to chase a screaming 3-year-old down the hallway, and even though it was only a few feet at a time, I could barely keep up. The clothes I'm wearing in the picture above? Well, I picked them out from either Lane Bryant or the plus-size section at Sears, and it was one of maybe three outfits that I alternated among in sixteen total weeks of student teaching, because I couldn't find much that fit (and wasn't exactly eager to spend the time looking). I <em>loved </em>working with the children and spending time with them, but I was unhappy all the time. How can you feel good about yourself when you know you're not healthy, and worse yet, when you know you're not even really trying to fix it? It took a long time to connect with a weight loss regime and feel motivated enough to keep with it, but it feels good to know that I am getting there now.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It's a lifelong journey, but I am absolutely not going back to where I was in that picture--not if I have anything to do with it! That's what moving forward is all about...knowing that you've taken the first step, and being happy with what you can do <em>right now.</em> So you might wish you had worked out a little longer or harder, or you wish you hadn't slipped up and eaten this or that, but if you went and did something, it's worth being happy about that. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This afternoon, while my parents and sister are at the Jimmy Buffett concert, I will be hanging out here with my grandma, savoring the air conditioning and watching "The Sound of Music" on Blu-ray. The von Trapps are even more fantastic in high definition!!! My mom and I were supposed to run into Dominick's and pick up dinner for later, but we got too busy, so Baba and I will be ordering a pizza instead. How very, very convenient ;) I have already told myself that I am going to have three square slices, along with fruit and a salad...and guess what? I just typed it here, and I'm going to be publishing this in a few minutes, so there's no going back! I happen to be very good at sneaking extra slices of cheese, sausage, and green olive (yummy) at 10:00 in the evening, or sometimes even in the middle of the night, but this blog is one way to stay accountable, and I'm seizing the opportunity. So you see? You guys are helping me out here! Rosie Krajewski is going to control her portions and add salad to her meal. Are you reading this, Mom???</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I will top off this posting (and all others after it) with a question, because it feels more productive than just talking about myself the entire time, and once again, the best part of blogging is when other people get involved, offering their thoughts and sharing how they get through similar situations in life. What is one thing you can do today, for the sake of your health, that you will look back on later and use as an incentive to get over the next hurdle? It really does not have to be anything major, because as we all know, the little things add up over time and are worth remembering! You'll be surprised how much it helps to just write it down and get it out there for others to see. You'll be that much more determined to stand by your words, and you'll be helping someone else at the same time! Talk about a fabulous two-for-one deal :) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Now I am off to be a couch potato for a few hours...the hills are alive! :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin_p3fWeJOIhkQkaiTkYtBjkBoVBSOUeeD6kTuE1TFBSLMuyEZXLO_SICc3bNETvsyuA0Pzi3vrZ5XhL-HvQ3dJe8qlCC6oEMWtTTg1N3JeprCILiCfmLbUuvrgRkABVdJYpAV_Nkixp0/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin_p3fWeJOIhkQkaiTkYtBjkBoVBSOUeeD6kTuE1TFBSLMuyEZXLO_SICc3bNETvsyuA0Pzi3vrZ5XhL-HvQ3dJe8qlCC6oEMWtTTg1N3JeprCILiCfmLbUuvrgRkABVdJYpAV_Nkixp0/s320/002.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is a random picture of my dog Ditka just being himself...adorable and cuddly! Ah, the life of a puppy...wouldn't you love it if you could just be lazy all day and never lift a paw?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>UPDATE:</strong> Well, unfortunately, I did not adhere to my "three slice plan" with the pizza, but I had four, which is pretty close. This is still a huge improvement from the 10 + slices that I used to put away, so I'm okay with it...and I figured it would be fine as long as I admitted to it!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">As for the salad...um...yeah. The salad. Let's talk about that :) I only finished about half of it, mainly because we don't have the thousand island dressing that I like, I was too lazy to make some, and I was afraid it would cost too many calories, anyway. In the coming weeks, one of my goals will be to work on my relationship with salads. Nothing is impossible!! At least I did well with the fruit. My taste buds like fruit!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03520348548506195209noreply@blogger.com1