Hello New Exercise Mindset ~ The History

The past couple of days I have shared my photo challenge in pictures (Part 1, Part 2).  What the pictures can't really show is the inner change that took place over the course of this month.  As I said on Monday, when I started this challenge it was just for fun. But what I got was a chance to examine my attitude and mindset about fitness and nutrition.

Initially I resisted sharing my story for many reasons, but after a lot of prayer and reflection, I felt God was telling me to write my story anyway.  He revealed to me that Satan was feeding me lies and wants me to believe that my experience isn't valuable.  But I believe that EVERYONE has a story and it is valuable.

*MY PRAYER IN SHARING MY STORY IS THAT I CAN ENCOURAGE AT LEAST ONE OTHER PERSON WITH THEIR OWN JOURNEY!*

Today I'll start with my history.  This includes some of my struggles that maybe you can relate to:

MY FITNESS HISTORY:
-I have played organized sports since I can remember. I have always been physically active. I have always been competitive (nature or nurture on this one, still not sure). 

-Once I was done playing field hockey in college, I didn't wait 2 months before I set a new goal for myself to run a marathon.

-I ran that marathon the summer before I got married.

-Once I got married we bought gym memberships to a YMCA. 

-Now this might throw you for a loop, because it sure caught me off guard.

I would sit in the parking lot and CRY because I was too scared to go in.

This doesn't rationally make sense. I was a college athlete, I knew how to lift weights and do cardio. But I had this irrational fear of not knowing how to use the machines (in college we only did Olympic lifting, no machines) and I had always had a coach or strength trainer giving me my workout and exact plan.  I didn't feel prepared and equipped to put myself through a workout.  I was even MORE scared that people at the gym would be waiting on me to get off a machine or watching me while I worked out.  I was super intimidated that I wouldn't appear competent, I was scared of being judged.

-So, I would sit in the parking lot until Phil would get off work to meet me and walk me straight to the treadmill where I would run for the 20 minute limit, quickly get off, walk straight out to my car and drive home. 

-Eventually, I just stopped going.

-I chose to run outside instead.  I knew how to run and no one was there on the back Indiana roads.

-A couple of years later I ran another marathon (because competitively I wanted to improve on my previous time, duh and I needed something to work toward). 

-A year later, a half marathon.

-Eventually I got another gym membership, but I only went to spin class or used the cardio machines, I was still too intimidated by those weights and weight machines.

-It is also probably important to note that I believed if I lifted weights I would get big and bulky!

-I had Aven and went right back to running.  I ran another 1/2 marathon (Aven was exactly 4 months old and I WOULD NOT recommend doing something like that so quickly).

-To that point I literally had not lifted a single weight at a gym (or at home for that matter).

-In January of 2013 we were one month away from a trip to Hawaii and I wasn't happy with how 'loose' some things still felt after having two kids (and age and unhealthy eating also).  I SUCKED UP MY PRIDE AND STARTED LIFTING WEIGHTS!  Literally for the first time in over 6 years I lifted weights. 

-That brings me to present day!  I have just finished the 12 week Live Fit program and in training for my first triathlon (of the sprint variety).

MY MOTIVATION:
So why did I exercise at all? Aside from it just being a good idea for my overall health, I am a competitive person who thrives on physical challenges.

But REALLY, as I'm sure most women can relate, I WANTED TO BE THIN!

I would be lying if I said there was any other real reason I pushed myself to run faster or harder, in my mind, the only REAL reason to work out (in my case that just consisted of running), was to look good in a bathing suit.

I didn't care what I ate, as long as I didn't gain weight (that's the beauty of training for a marathon, you burn a LOT of calories).  I didn't care if I was strong or healthy, as long as I looked good in a bikini.

It is really hard for me to admit that, because no one wants to appear vain or self absorbed, but if I am being honest, that truly was my only real motivation.

And then I did this photo challenge and you can hear tomorrow how my motivation all changed.............

Hello Exercise Photo Challenge ~ Part 2

Continued from yesterday....

 

Day 16: Baked tilapia with lemon, Italian herbs and garlic. Sauted red peppers and mushrooms in garlic and safflower oil. Quinoa with garlic. Asparagus.

 

 Day 17: Fitness quote...or their kids, which is the main reason I workout daily!

 

 Day 18: I can't thank my parents enough for buying me this bike...living the good life #trek

 

Day 19: Flex Friday

Day 20: Growing up, my dad's three favorite questions were, "Is your homework done? Did you brush your teeth? DID YOU DRINK YOUR WATER!?!"  He also claims that water fixes everything...Have a headache, drink water.  Have a hang nail, drink water.  Have a bad attitude, drink water! My siblings also reminded me that it's not just any water, but tap water and his other cure all is orange juice:)

Day 21: Using my body to mow the lawn is not only an act of service to my husband, but a way to worship The One who made me! How are you using your body to worship?

 

Day 22: I worked a water station once and saw people do this. a) They got way more water in their mouth and stayed dry (on a cold day that's helpful) b) it helped the volunteers know exactly what they wanted and how to pass off the cup.

 

 Day 22 BONUS:  I didn't post this, but I am always wondering if my shoes need to be replaced...Now I know I go WAY longer than the recommended time between shoes.

 

 Day 23: Finishing up strong the last week of the Live Fit workout

 

Day 24: My favorite healthy website is Pinterest.  You can find anything from workouts to healthy meals to cute outfits:)

 

 

Day 25: On my fit bucket list...I will be doing a SPRINT TRI August 24th...Heaven help me! (Advice welcomed)

 

Day 26: Cottage cheese and pineapple.  What's your healthy snack of choice (I already have enough unhealthy ones:)

 

Day 27: Gotta get your workouts in somehow, even if it means doing abs while watching Sophia the First and having your ear pulled while doing it

 

Day 28: This is about as flexible as I get, but every once in a while you just need to stretch out and breath!

Day 29: My favorite workout equipment...I love anything that gets me outside

Day 30: Yum

Day 31: Six years ago I was too scared to walk into a gym...One year ago I had my second baby...This month I was in a local fitness magazine...Transformation is far more mental than physical

 

 

Tomorrow I will share the first part of my fitness journey.

 

STAY TUNED....

 

Hello Exercise Photo Challenge ~ Part 1

I participate in an online bible study for women called Hello Mornings.  They encourage us to do three things every morning: 1) meet with Jesus 2) plan out our day 3) exercise.  This month they did an Instagram photo challenge and I thought it would be fun to try. 

 

What I did NOT anticipate was for this challenge to force me to examine how I view exercise, nutrition, my body, my mindset and their correlation to Christ.  This month I have gone through a very unexpected fitness journey that I would like to share with your over the next few blog posts. Beware, it could lead you to examine your own healthy life:)

 

Here are the first half of my photo posts:

 

Day 1: Five days a week you can find me here with all my gym rat friends

 

 Day 2: Eggs because it's leg day...pancakes with cool whip and strawberries because we were celebrating Aven's birthday!

 

Day 3: Complete the final phase of the Live Fit workout! I LOVE this workout and it's free on the bodybuilding.com website

 

 Day 4: For this amazing chicken salad (I got the recipe from my friend Karmin!!) I substituted Greek yogurt for the sour cream and used Safflower seed mayo instead of real mayo. The croissant roll was a splurge...hey it was the 4th after all:)

Feta Chicken Salad:
3 cups cooked diced chicken
2 stalks of celery diced
1 red pepper diced
1/4 red onion diced
6 TBSP mayo
6 TBSP sour cream
4 oz. feta cheese (reduced fat)
1 tsp dill weed
pinch of pepper

 

Day 5: Line 'em up...It's a family affair

Day 6: It's cliché, but lululemon is my go-to for workout clothes and I'll never run in anything but Asics

 

 Day 7: Verse that pumps me up! Nothing prettier than back roads of Indiana just waiting to be run!!!

Day 8: Fitspiration...Rather than comparing myself to someone else's best, I am inspired to be better than I was before! One of the highlights of my life (yes, life) was completing my first marathon in '06. I trained and ran it alone. It inspired me to run a few more races and strive to improve with each one. Mentally this opened a door for me to allow myself to push my body in ways I never thought I could and never had the courage to before.

 

 Day 9: Intervals are my favorite workout right now. 30 seconds on/ 30 seconds rest for 30 minutes. They make the time go quickly, burn as many calories as a longer, steady run and spike your metabolism to burn longer thought the day.

Day 10: Because some days your mental health and happiness is more important than the physical

 

 Day 11: I usually work out alone, but my sister happened to be in town so I thought I'd take a lesson or two from her!

 

Day 11: Stacie is the only person (other than Phil) who I have ever run with.  We have done 2 half marathons together and are planning to run another this November!

Day 12: Gotta love being a mom...you always have a workout buddy

 Day 13: It feels good once it's over!

 

Day 14: It isn't a coincidence that we had a wonderful sermon on rest the same day rest was the photo challenge and it's something I have been wrestling with.

Day 15: Get Your Shine On...when I hear this song, I just want to get up and move!

 

Tomorrow will finish out the second half of the photo challenge before I tell a little about my health and fitness journey.

 

STAY TUNED....

Aven's 1st Birthday Party

AVEN TURNED  ONE!!!

I can't believe my baby is one already.  Her actual birthday is July 2nd so we did some fun stuff to celebrate her that day, but her party wasn't until the 7th so my family could be there.

Started off July 2nd with pancakes and eggs

 Then met daddy at Scotty's for lunch

 The birthday girl even got her OWN meal:)

 Topped the evening off by meeting Nana and Papa at McDonald's and playing in the playground

 

Then came the preparations for the birthday party. Invitations had been sent out and the cake was being made...

 

 

Now it's time for the big day!

  

 

 

 

 

Looking at all her guests outside

I didn't keep a close enough eye on this one...four Squeeze-Its later....

 TIME FOR CAKE

This girl got down to business!

 

 

 

 

 

Phil and I survived her first year, and her first party! 

 

Thanks to everyone who came and celebrated her with us!