Just Chill.

Hi Guys! I'm BACK! It is Sunday, and I am feeling GOOD. I will say this, my shoulder thing is still here, but I do think it is lessening. I'm trying to remember to ice it every night, but I think the key thing for me right now is no upper body weight work, maybe for another week. I was of course FREAKING OUT about this around Thursday (Tuesday night was the last workout when I really felt the pain and realized I had to stop), but today, I can tell you, I've come to realize something.

The title of today's post is "Just Chill" because I experienced several epiphany moments over the past 4 days - about ME and my nature, my strengths and weaknesses, and what I think has been missing from my LIFE for the better part of a year. So, mostly, this post is directed at me, but I have no doubt that many of you also need to JUST CHILL.

We all have our reasons that drive why we workout- many are already in some type of "maintenance" mode and fitness is a way of life. For the rest of us, we have a goal or goals we are trying to accomplish, and for many of us, that goal is losing fat. Once we accomplish the fat loss we want, we then move into that maintenance mode as well. 

For those of us in a fat loss mode, we also all have varied reasons for getting to this place. Some have never worked out or watched what they ate, some have had a baby, some gained weight slowly over time, some rapidly during a life stress series of moments. It doesn't really matter WHY. I gained weight right around turning 40-41, when my hormones changed (which prior to this I totally doubted, I NEVER believed that your metabolism could just BOOM change like that. I was wrong, which is why I share it with you...learn from my cluelessness so you are prepared!) 

MY PROBLEM: I have put WAY too much emphasis on how gross I think I look. I have thus creating this "emergency" situation in my mind- this feeling of OMG-I-HAVE-TO-LOSE-ALL-THIS-WEIGHT-IMMEDIATELY-OR-I-WILL-DIE-AND-BE-IN-A-FAT-CASKET-AND-EVERYONE-AT-MY-FUNERAL-WILL-NOT-BE-ABLE-TO-CARRY-MY-DANG-CASKET. I've been in this perpetual state of crisis reaction mode, feeling that I have to find the PERFECT DIET fit and the PERFECT WORKOUT fit to solve this change in my body YESTERDAY.

This weekend I was watching Bridget Jones Diary. I was reminded of how much I love those books, and the movies were adorable too. With the exception of Jerry McGuire, I love most of the movies Rene Zellweger is in- especially "New In Town". And I have always admired her for being so in shape --let's not get into details on "is she too thin" and all that. Personally, I think she is a healthy gal. 

Now, when you look at the above pictures, you see her on the left as she normally is and then in the movie (picture on the right) she was about 30 pounds heavier. Several things struck me while I was watching this movie. I think many people might see Rene in the film and think - she's not "Fat" by any means and that maybe losing a few pounds would help. They might say "she's big boned" (how many of us have heard that from someone else--- "I'm just big boned"?)- but when you see her in her "normal" state of health, she is MUCH smaller. I think that goes to show one thing- dramatic change CAN happen. Don't look at yourself and NOT see great potential. But- I guess it struck me more to realize I've never heard an interview with Rene where she was FREAKING OUT about getting back in shape. She had some pieces where she said it did get harder for her, but she did it. And she didn't say, "I'm going to do this in 4 weeks!" or anything unreasonable. She just did it. 

There are so many pictures of this girl out running and I love it. My BFF Sherry and I were texting back and forth this week about our "diet" and some frustrations...and in the midst of all that, I really came to realize that this intense pressure I'm putting on myself to "fix" everything in my body IMMEDIATELY is not helping me. I haven't been allowing myself to enjoy the ride. I found myself just the past two weeks, getting back into that psycho mindset- that intense worrying of WHEN WILL I BE PERFECT- when will I be like her, or have her results, or be able to say "it's all done!". 

I don't know about you- but I ENJOY 'FITNESS'. I LOVE running. I LOVE weight training. I love everything about working out. (Ok I don't like deadlifts or burpees but you know...) This is a LIFE THING. I have to stop rushing through it and enjoy the roses along the way. I have to STOP beating myself up and torturing myself---- it is a bit like college. Remember the days when all you want to do is graduate and you rush and rush and stress about finals and taking the right classes so you can get a "real job" and "start living"??? Then you graduate and you start "LIVING" - which means a JOB with office politics and long hours and rent and car payments and a whole bunch of ridiculousness. 

Stop and smell the roses.

 Love that movie. So much. And yes, I'm gonna say it. I am a Hugh Grant fan. #Don'tJudgeMe

This blog post is full of Oprah moments kids. I also realized during the past few days of being "on the bench"- that truly EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON. If I wasn't sidelined with this shoulder injury, I would NOT have had the time to sit and really think about all this stuff, and to personally reach this "A-Ha!" moment. I am SO glad it came to me (Amy, I'm sure you are glad too haha you are probably like DUH GIRL I'VE BEEN SAYING THIS TO YOU FOR A WHILE NOW!!)

Life isn't a race, it's a marathon. Pace yourself and make sure you are looking at the scenery along the way instead of rushing and pushing the finish line. I want to reach that finish line but I want to enjoy the view.

So, I'm feeling much better- mentally. I needed this "awakening" so I can move forward in 2011 and make progress - and not miss the beauty in the process. I also ordered a few new DVDs to really make me feel better- from Jackie Warner and Ilaria. The ratings on Jackie's videos are all 5-star, can't wait. I dig this chick, dig her book, dig the videos and I haven't even gotten them yet. And kids- I highly recommend you buy your workout DVDs from Collage Video I discovered them years ago- I love that they have ratings of videos from other fitness fanatics and video previews.....plus a GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE GUARANTEE. (I don't earn any $$ for referring you, just sharing the company because they rock.)

I have raved about Ilaria's workouts in the past- and she has 3 new ones out. I can' tell you how much I love her workouts- no equipment necessary for BodyStrikes, and for the last one, just a dumbbell or so. 

Question of the Day: I mention my BFF Sherry - who I "Met" online in a Body For Life forum YEARS AND YEARS ago, and we've become best friends via email and text and phone. And y'all may or may not know I met my bestie, Amy, because of social media- Twitter specifically. Both of these gals mean the world to me. Question- has blogging introduced you to new friends? Are there some that you cannot wait to meet in person? I am so wowed by all of YOU, I hope to hang in real life very soon....Cheers to that!

Game Face ON!

What's UP kids? How was your weekend? I'm just gonna go ahead and say it. Call me crazy, but I'm ready for Fall weather. I know, I know. I am not sure why, but I really only ENJOY hot weather when I'm on vacation, laying out on the beach, with a Cabana boy named Juan bringing me cocktails that look like this: 

Oh Hot DANG!!! I'm counting down to my Miami trip NOW!! (6 weeks!! WOOT!)

So, anyway, yes, I'm ready for Fall. And then for several vacation escapes that will include the above adult beverages and a LOT of shopping. Amen. 

My BFF and her daughter left today, and sadly we forgot to vlog and get them to join me. OOPS. But I was pretty proud of myself that I worked out each day that they were here, as you know! See, you CAN fit in your workouts even with a busy schedule, with kids around, with out-of-town guests, you name the excuse, I will knock it DOWN!!

Um Day #2 of no soda!! and no artificial sweeteners!! KAPOW!! I mention in my vlog below how happy I was to "re-discover" my Arbonne NRG Fizzy Tablets, to add to plain water to make it taste good and fizzy and "control appetite" (not that this is why I'm adding them but hey, I'm down with that.) If you are interested in getting some, you can order from my Arbonne website by CLICKING HERE. 

Week #1 of my Running Training is DONE and I feel GREAT. So loving it, and as I mention in my vlog below, I now want to focus on of course continuing my training and planning for a 5K and then a 1/2 marathon and a REAL marathon eventually, but also balance with my weight training and such. 

ALSO CONGRATS TO MY BFF @AmyLBurford who ran her first 1/2 marathon today!! WOOT!!! DANG girl, she just started running end of April!!! 

Have you noticed I am no longer asking questions about cramping with running?? It's gone! See what a difference it made that I have FRIENDS both here IRL and in my bloggysphere to help guide me.....that my body just needed to adjust to the high impact and such. When I was just "winging it" alone (prior to when I was blogging) I gave up too soon. I am SO glad I faced my fears of not being able to run and did it.

QUESTION OF THE DAY: What (fitness-wise) have you conquered as far as fears or doubts?? Is there still something out there that you want to conquer/try?

I have a second question of the day too, now that I think about it. Who is like a major motivation for you? For me, with running, and perhaps in general, it is these two kick butt chicks: 

Jessica Biel and Rene Zellweger. Oh crap. One more question of the day, for you runners: What brand running shoes do you love and why?