My First 5K Walk and More

Last week-end I was able to exercise my mind, body and soul...and it was fabulous!

Friday night my daughter and I participated in The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's, Light the Night 5K Walk.  We walked with other family members to honor Karen Schaberg who we lost to lymphoma earlier this year. 

Seeing all the people there to honor loved ones was pretty overwhelming at times.  At the end of the walk my feet and back were sore but I think that's a tiny price to pay to bring awareness to leukemia and lymphoma.  Below is a picture of the walkers winding through the wooded areas on the walk - it was really a sight to see!  Several other walkers had to stop to snap a picture of it too.

On Saturday we had the privilege of attending the Take Defense course provided by the Ali Kemp Foundation.  My daughter and I attended this event with our neighbors and I am SO thankful they asked us to join them.  It was a great event and wonderful to see so many women, young and old, empowering themselves!  Here's a picture of Lexi going crazy on the practice dummy - she was REALLY good at going crazy, haha!

Whatever Wednesday

Do you?

Can't Never Could, Won't Never Would

I am starting to get frustrated with the BodyPump class I have been taking.  I am doing great with my arms and all of my upper body, but it's the lower body that KILLS me!  As the teacher leads us through our workout she will advise "Ok, we're going to do legs so you'll probably need to take the weight on your bar up"  Or " arms are next so lose about half of the weight on your bar".  I apparently, am opposite of everyone else in the world.  My arms are WAY stronger than my legs. Even though I have been taking this BodyPump class for nearly a month @ twice a week....I still rarely am able to finish a complete set on my legs.  Ugh, so frustrating!  This has been on my mind a lot lately.  I've been racking my brain on how I can complete each set of everything without even pausing for a quick rest.

Yesterday as I was driving home I call the hubby and the conversation went a little something like this

Me:  Hi honey, I'm not sure what to do about BodyPump
Hubby: What do you mean?
Me:  My legs are so weak; I think I need to do something different
Hubby:  Everytime you go to BodyPump you are strengthing your legs; it takes time
Me: But..but...I can't
Hubby:  Can't never could and won't never would
Me: I don't want to go, there I said it I dont want to go
Hubby:  You should go, don't stop - you have the perfect weekly work out schedule.  If you don't go it will mess the schedule up.
Me:  Ugh, I don't know...maybe, well see.

I continue on with my drive to the Y and once I am there, I sit in my car for a few mintutes trying to convince myself that I can do this.  Just do it and get it over with, Shannon!  Next thing I know I'm in class and that silly phrase, Can't Never Could, Won't Never Would, that the hubby likes to use is bouncing around in my head.  Oh crap, warm up is done...time...for....legs.  UGH!!!  I repeated that phrase over and over in my head the whole time I did the dreaded legs and you know what?  I did all my sets - no pausing or anything.

With all that being said, I will continue to do the BodyPump classes and try my best to always have a positive attitude becuase it DOES help!

Triathlon Thoughts

Had to share with you a great post from another KC-based blog, The Magic Brush, that I follow.  She participated in her 2nd triathlon and decided to jot down what went through her head during it.  It's a great read and brought some needed inspiration and motivation to me.  I hope it does to you also - enjoy!

What Goes Thru My Head During My 2nd Triathlon

Wow, What a Wacky Week it Was!

This week has really gotten me out of wack!  Here's the run down.

Tuesday - Went to my Turbo Kick at the YMCA; which I really love and always look forward to.  The teacher asked everyone if they mind if class went outside since it was such a beautiful night.  Most everyone said sure.  Well let me tell you, it SUCKED!!  We did the class in the "side yard", which consisted of a steep hill and a tiny strip of sidewalk.  She lined us all up on the sidewalk and then stood in front (facing us) and gave the directions.  I didn't realize how much I depended on the mirrors in the classroom to confirm my form was correct and how much I HAD TO HAVE music pumping to get me amped up.  I barely even broke a sweat in class, which normally I am sweating profusely.

Wednesday - Found out the Dr discovered a "spot" on Dad's head AND a dear friends' mother unexpectedly passed away.  Talk about bringing you down.  By the way, the "spot" turned out to be nothing - YAY!

Thursday - Went to my Zumba class at the YMCA; this is another class that I adore!  And lately I have been getting really good at rockin' the moves and burning a ton of calories! Well, our normal teacher was out this week (and will be out next week too) and we had a sub from another Y.  Totally new routine, totally new moves and I SWEAR this teacher has some stripper experience under her belt.  Every move was so suggestive and sexy, I felt a little naughty just watching her.  I have never seen a grown women whip her hair and stare lustfully lovingly at herself in the mirror. Needless to say, I was not able to get the best work out.  Entertaining = yes, Effective = no

I still have a few more days before this wacky week is over ~ and I am ready for a new week; a new start. Even with the distractions and wackiness this week, I am still determined more than ever to keep it up.  I am a freaking WONDER WOMEN and WONT WAIVER!

Happy Friday!!

Good Morning!

As a part of my lifestyle change, I now pack my breakfast, lunch and 1-2 snacks to eat during the work week. In the beginning the thought of all this planning and packing seemed impossible.  Now, it's pretty normal and I often do a little (easy) cooking after the kids are in the bed.  Today, I'll share with you a typical breakfast for me.

Greek yogurt with a few blueberries, pineapple chunks and a couple sliced strawberries topped with some granola. 

It tastes so good I have to pay particular attention to my portions when I am packing it up.  With that being said, I went out and purchased these little containers.  They are small but not too small - so it helps me keep my portions in check.

P.S. - These other 2 containers hold part of my lunch; steamed sweet potatoes and steamed cauliflower.

What 15 Feels Like

Neck is slimmer, not such a pronounced double chin

My mid-section has shrank the most so far, waistbands are WAY looser

I can wear tight fitting T’s and feel ok J

I ate a ½ salad with ½ veggie soup the other day for lunch and was SO full!  This used to be just the start of my lunch. 

Mad that I was not able to tell myself to stop eating before I was SO full L

Rings are starting to get loose

I swear my thighs appear smoother, less ugly dents.

The little chub above my knees has dissappeared

One End of the Spectrum to Another

There I was delighting in the fact that I had not only hit my #2 mini goal but was wearing my new smaller sized jeans and look pretty darn good in them; then BAM I get a text from my brother "Call Mom 911".  My stomach in knots, I already know something must be wrong with my dad.  My Dad...the one that had so many heart attacks from the '90-'00's that I lost count...the one that had open heart surgery and made it...the one that has a pacemaker...the one that stopped smoking after 30+ years....the one that would literally do ANYTHING for his grandkids and his kids.

Then I heard the dreaded phrase, "Your dad has cancer".   My heart sank, my happiness dropped to sorrow "DAMN IT" I scream.  My mom is not able to make any sense and just hands the phone to my awesome Dad - he's crying on the phone to me.  Tells me a few bits of information and then interrupts himself and says, "I just want to be around for my grandkids".  At that point I loose it.  I have to leave work and must be with my folks; which means driving almost an hour to their house from work.  An hour to sob, yell, cry and curse.

I spent a few hours with them looking over all the doctors orders and trying to understand what's going to happen over the next few months.  After I left I picked up my 10 year Lexi (who adores her grandpa) and had to tell her the news.  Unfortunately, she knows all to well what cancer means.  That was hard, REALLY hard.

And finally, the remainder of my family comes home - we are all hugging one another in silence.  I mean really what can you say about this type of news??? 

Please pray, send good vibes or do whatever you do to help my Dad overcome this obstacle just like he has with others over and over again. 

I love you Dad, we'll get through this together.

No More Excuses!

I try to tell myself this everyday....sometimes many times a day.