Learning to Fight

Phew! Can I just say I don’t think I’ve squealed or jumped up and down as much as I did Sunday? Saturday after my test I called all friends who knew I was taking my certification test. However, because I kept the test on the down low there was about an additional 12 or so people from church that I had to tell that not only had I taken it but had passed. The common response was a scream followed by a huge hug and followed by jumping. I was wearing ballet flats that were a bit too big which made not looking awkward while jumping challenging.

I am so BLESSED by my church family. My mother had paid for my certification program. However, after failing with that particular program several times several church members paid to send me to the Cooper Institute in Dallas where I could have a week of in class teaching. They believed in me even when I did…when I was wondering if I had discerned God’s will for my life correctly. They told me it was all about God’s timing. I had come to a point where the mere thought of studying and taking that test again made me want to cry. Turns out they were right…more than they probably realize.

I’m not a stick with type of person. I don’t get stubburn and dig in my heals. My extra curricular activities consist of a verity of abandoned activities; softball, running, choir, theatre, volleyball. Even my school work…I’d settle with Cs because it was expected of me because I wasn’t school smart. Even when I didn’t want to study or take the stupid test again, deep down I wanted to be a personal trainer so bad. I had a rare drive for me. Along with my lack of stick-to-it-ness I’m an impatient person. I want something…I want it NOW.

I thing those were the lessons I was to learn. Growing up in the church you learn about God’s time, not your own…and you believe it. I guess when push come to shove I was wanting to be a personal trainer NOW. If I didn’t get it the first time…or first few times around then I wasn’t going to be persistent. For whatever reason the Lord wanted me to learn to fight for this…and to be patient. He had me learn to trust that I will discern correctly…and discern to continue the fight for His will. If that is what I had to go through to learn that then praise God. Maybe next time I will remember these lessons learned and trust sooner and full heartily.

Tales from the Weight Loss Road: Week 5

Happy Saturday! Are you having a relaxing day? IDK if relaxing is the word I'd use for my day I was up at 6am...eventful is a bit more accurate. I'll get to that in a bit.

I wasn't really on planning on posting today but I felt like this week has been the perfect example of a lesson learned on the WL road.

This pic is from my graduation pics. There isn't really anything special to tell you about it...other than its 10 months into my WLJ. With 10 months of being on WW you experience many challenges and struggles. For me I had to learn how to eat while working in youth ministry...yea I took a cooler and a bunch of food to deal with the fried camp food. You learn when it's best for you to get your workouts in...post school/work...forget trying to be me in the gym early in the morning. Or in the case of this week a lack of time to exercise and eat properly.

Week 5: Be prepared for "off" weeks!

The last couple of weeks have been stressful. I was suppose to take my PT test last Friday. However I got sick Thursday and moved it to this morning. So last week and this week have been test mode...i.e. every spare moment has been spent studying. Which has left little to no time for workouts or time to cook. My meals of consisted of what I could scrounge up, meals out (like last weekend where I worked a DNow and we ate out all weekend), and sodium packed frozen meals. Oh and the occasional "I'm out with friends...I'm stressed so I'm going to eat that big burger and side of fries." I think two lessons can really be learned in the last couple of weeks.

1. When you have off weeks be mentally prepared for the consequence. Know that you may not lose...or as in my case this more than likely...gain back a lb or two. It's ok. Life happens. You won't always be able to get workouts in because a huge project at work is coming up. The holidays hit and you find yourself at too many company parties. Does that mean every time a busy season of life comes you forget everything you've learned on your WLJ? No! I've had busy season on my journey where I have maintained or lost...but sometimes you do gain back. The key is to understand that, if you do gain, when things calm down it's time to hit the gym again. It's time to start skipping that bowl of pasta and Alfredo (yea I did that one last night). It's time to move on!

2. When things get rough food should not be the answer. I think we have all heard that one. Whether we do it ourselves or heard of people turning to food when they are stressed or depressed. I'm still struggling with that one. I'd still much rather turn to food than the one thing in life that can really give peace during the stress and joy during the gloom and that's Christ. When you've accepted Christ's free gift of salvation we can depend on Him for everything instead of trying to do it ourselves. I love Psalm 59:16 "But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble." I defiantly could have done a better of depending on God being my fortress and refuge this week.

Oh and by the way I PASSED my test this morning! I'm a certified personal trainer! Praise God!

The road is bumpy and sometimes you loop around but you will get there!

Belle

Tales from the Weight Loss Road: Week 4

Hi ya! How's it going? Can I just say I'm a little bummed. It's absolutely disgusting outside. It's cold...it's rainy...and I run today. The two things separately I can handle...together Rachel doesn't do cold rain. I guess it will have to be the treadmill for me. Ok let's do this...

So this pic is my daddy and me, from my first ride I ever did. My dad had picked up riding a few years back and rode on his work team so he got me to join. Ok funny story time. I had signed up for the 23 mile ride, which there were two other people on the team riding that length. There was also 43, 88, 100 mile rides. Well we roll out and clearly I had trained a bit more. I pulled away within the first mile and decided just to do the ride by myself. I roll into our first pit stop, am looking at the map and realized I was deep into the 43 mile course! There was no point in turning around so I just kept on.

While on the ride I realized how much I enjoyed riding. I loved my spin classes. I loved the me, my bike, some tunes, and the open rode. I loved rolling into break points and being surrounded by the culture that is the biking world. After the race I got online and found my next ride. I was hooked.

Week 4: Find an activity you love!

I love my cycling but I have a really good friend who is a swimmer. She has the suit, the cap, and even a waterproof iPod contraption. Mr. DJ isn't a fan of the gym or working out the traditional way. He does love his intramural sports though. He is always playing whatever sport is in season.

Hopefully by this point you are down a few lbs. You've started to learn what to eat; you've braved the gym (or your hood). Now it's time to explore!

If you are a GYM dweller go to every class you can! Venture off the elliptical and find the most scary class on the schedule. I'm not kidding! That intimidating kickboxing class or spin class isn't as scary as you think. There will be at least another newbie in the class...someone else who doesn't know the moves. Find a GOOD strength training program and stick to it! Be BRAVE!

If you are HOMEBODY find a workout DVD. There is a whole world great DVDs no matter what your workout flavor is. There are strength, cardio, yoga, pilates, and kickbboxing DVDs...that are cheap, around $10. You can be just as BRAVE as the gym dwellers. Freeweights, bands, and mats are relatively inexpensive...search online or there are stores where you can buy used equipment...think Half Price Books of the fitness world.

I'd also encourage you to run a 5K or even a 23 mile ride. Who knew I'd fall in love with cycling if my dad hadn't encouraged me. Who knew that I'd look forward to my runs if I didn't have the goal to run a 5K at least once in my life. Find those sort of fitness goals and see what you are made of! BE BRAVE!

Belle

Fat Girl Mentality

When you grow up overweight you start to believe things...that either you were told, were inferred, or past events have you believing. I've always believed that I am slow...at everything. When I played softball unless I wailed the ball to at least shortstop the chances of me getting to first were slim. I was never a fast runner...I was what is known in the running world...a plotter.

Last week I had a lightbulb moment. So my C25K app trackers your pace. After a typical run I looked at the my pace, this will be embarrassing, my pace was 11:51. I saw that and thought to myself I might as well be walking! My theory was always, you aren't a real runner save your energy to finish your run. But 11:51!?! Come on! So the following run I kicked it up and got my pace down to 10:11! In the running world that's a large chunk of time. Clearly something was wrong. The following time I ran...I just ran. Knowing to push myself but to be able to finish the run...9:25! That's a 2:25 difference!

It's hard to get over the thoughts that come with a life time of being fat. The March Issue of Runner's World has an article that sums it up.

"Mirrors are not to be believed. You stand in front of them, knowing that you can't trust yourself as an arbiter of truth, so you turn from side to side, thinking that maybe, if you snap your head around quickly enough, you can actually see yourself as others see you. It never works of course. You star and you turn, and wonder: Am I fat? 'If you've ever been fat, you will either be fat for the rest of you life or you will worry about being fat the rest of your life'" Peter Sagal A Thin Line

Tales from the Weight Loss Road: Week 3

Do you know what a portion size is? I think we have all heard about how over the years restaurants sizes have increased. Have you ever stopped to think about the portions you are eating at home?

If you are like the way I was you fill your plate or bowl to the brim. So you maybe aware of the calories your food is however, what is the difference between a small and medium potato? Here is a link to help.

Also read the nutrition panel. Did you know that a serving of most cereals is 3/4 a cup...which believe me if you are eyeballing it is smaller than you think. Also depending on the bread brand a serving of bread maybe 1 slice or 2. Did you know that 3oz of white meat chicken is different is less calories than dark meat chicken? So what is my tip of the week?

Week 3: Know how much a serving is then measure it out.

Race Rachel Race

Phew! Yall still there? I am? No I am I am!

So I started to look for a 10K race that I'd want to run. I don't know if it's the area I live in but 10Ks seem to be the forgotten middle child of the running world. But I found one. Then I started looking at all of the fun runs throughout 2011. So here is my race first race schedule...as a friend of mine says "Lord willing and the creek don't rise!"

This race was chosen basically because it fell right when my C25K plan ends. However, I'm thinking this is going to be a fun run. Their site says there is "music and hoopla" along the course. I thought this course would be around Reliant, where the Rodeo is held, but the race actually takes place downtown. It is the Houston Rodeo so it should be fun!

This race just seemed like a fun idea. I'm part Irish and thought it would be a fun way to celebrate and something to do between my 5K and 10K. It's a 5K and 10K event but I won't be ready for a 10K till early April.

My first 10K! Green 6.2 if you couldn't guess by the name is a green events. The route is unique in that it winds around the neighborhood around City Center and ends at Ruggles Green, a restaurant in the middle of City Center.

The Lone Star Stampede is a revenge event. I "ran" this event a couple of years ago. I wanted to run this event but at the end of the day I just wasn't motivated enough to train. I think it was a mind issue...I was probably in the high 100s when I was training and thought I was too big to run a 5k. I walked 3/4 of the race. It starts outside UT Med Branch since all proceeds go to their scholarship fund. The course is flat...well the 5K part is at least. I'm not sure if I'll run the 5 or 10K. This race is a couple of weeks after the Green 6.2 so who knows yet how I'll feel.

I'll probably run the Run Wild 5K July 4th...however there really isn't much information yet. Guess we will have to see about this one.

Ok this race is a couple of weeks before my half marathon...so IDK what training proticol says so I'm not sure if I'll be running the 10 or 5K. However this t0o is a revenage race. I was suppose to run this one in 2010 but injured my knee the first time I ran 5 miles derailing 5K, 10K and half marathon dreams for 2010. I'm not really thrilled about the local, even though it's the closest race to my home, it starts/ends in Sam Houston Race Way...the dog & horse track. However, it's Houston's Halloween race. Come on I just want an excuse to run in a tutu!

I first saw a flyer about this race 3 years ago. I had just started my WLJ and was shoe shopping with my dad. I love SA and the series just looks like so much fun. I told my dad that if I ever ran a half or full marathon that I wanted RNR SA to be my first one. So two years later I started training for it and then above mention knee injury nixed RNR for 2010. I know I could pick a half sooner than this one but like I said I want THIS to be my first one and so it will!

So there you go. That is my race schedule for 2011. I'm feeling good. I'm feeling strong. I'm feeling motivated. I can't wait to rock my first REAL 5K!

Lifting + Spin= SORE

Hi ya! How has your week been? This week went by so fast!

Tuesday evening I was in no mood to go to do the elliptical for an hour. However, I could tell I was in one of those moods where once I get there and going I'd be ok. Well I was on my way to the cardio area of the gym when I ran into these two...

Old pic of Mrs. Mayflower, Mr. DJ, and I.

Who had just gotten gym membership and were trying out a spin class. They had seen me come in and had saved me a bike. Spin trumps elliptical any day! It was a full class which I always enjoy and the music and workout were pretty good. The only problem was that the instructor used a 1-4 gage instead of the 1-10 I'm used to...I think my hills may have been a bit steeper than he had intended. Oh well I danced those peddles!

Wednesday was Week 3 Day 2 of C25K. However, before I hit the road I did a weight sessh with Mrs. Mayflower. Which turns out wasn't the smartest move. My legs were jello on my run so I wasn't as strong as I was for Day 1. Other than that the run was pretty good; two rounds of run 90 secs, walk 90 secs, run 3 min, walk 2 min.

Thursday I headed back to the gym with another spin class for some crosstraining. OMG! That was a hard class. The instructor did a lot of jump sprints and hovering which I've hardly ever seen an instructor do. Talk about working the glutes! So between Wednesdays lifting and Thursdays spin my legs are so sore! I decided to move todays run to tomorrow and finish the week with a run on Sunday.

How was your week? Do anything exciting...workout wise or not.

Don't forget to check out tomorrows Tales from the weight loss road post!

Belle