Whatever It Takes, Make It Happen!

"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."

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: How do I find time to exercise? 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 make 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...

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 before 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.

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.

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! Mandy has said "I love knowing that after I run, there isn't a thing that can break me", and right now, I can honestly say that I know exactly what she means!

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! :)

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! Bear down, Chicago Bears!!!!!!!!!

"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 The Help 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.

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 yikes?!?!?) 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 amazed at the support system you can find out there, even if you don't think you're necessarily looking for one at first.

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 The Help. 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 :)

YOU IS KIND. YOU IS SMART. YOU IS IMPORTANT. NEVER FORGET IT!

Celebrating Another Birthday in the Krajewski House!

                            I don't think you ever outgrow being a Daddy's girl...

DISNEY WORLD, 1987

MY FOURTH BIRTHDAY, MARCH 1989

VACATIONING IN LAS VEGAS - JUNE 2011

OCTOBERFEST AT THE CHICAGO SCHOOL WHERE MY DAD TAUGHT - FALL 1991

VEGAS AGAIN IN 2011!

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!

Today's question is a simple one: Who inspires you the most when things get tough?

Happy Birthday, Dad!! Love you!

Nothin' Like an Inspirational Flick to Get You Through Those Long Runs!

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.

Today, Soul Surfer--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.

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 happy and inspired after watching it? Aside from Soul Surfer, I really love Facing the Giants (try watching the death crawl scene without being motivated to get off your couch and do something worthwhile) and Remember the Titans. There are so many others I could name, but I'll let other people write their own opinions if they want to!

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 Soul Surfer, "I don't need easy. I just need possible." Couldn't have said it better myself!

Finding 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 balance is one of my favorite words :)

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 before committing to a new, healthier way of life.

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: 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.

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.

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.

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!!!!

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!

Tony and Kristen sharing their first dance

Hanging out with my mom at the reception. Weight Watchers buddies forever! :)

Here's my sister Katie--one of the bridesmaids--tearin' it up on the dance floor...

...and my sister Kerry and I smiling big with our dad!

It'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:

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!!!!!!

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.

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 lot 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.

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!

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!

Dunkin 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 too 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 :)

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 Friends with Benefits, 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.

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 have 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.

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 :)

Thanks for reading, and have a good night! Here's to health, happiness, and most of all, BALANCE!

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 :)