August was hot. It was humid. I spent a good portion of it traveling to California and then to Taos where I (at first) attempted to run at 8500 feet. Then my lungs adapted and I was able to enjoy trail running with Moose and not feel like I was going to pass out.
Trail running was different. High altitude is always an adjustment. Both took me out of my comfort zone and challenged me a bit. I am hoping it will help me improve and get stronger . . . and let me eat more burgers.
But enough about my month – this is about YOU. I want to hear about your month and your accomplishments! One inspiring story will be chosen as this month’s IKA person and I will send them the coveted IKA cheeseburger charm and a signed book!
Let the bragging begin!
Howdy would you mind sharing which blog platform you’re using?
I’m planning to start my own blog in the near future but I’m having a
hard time deciding between BlogEngine/Wordpress/B2evolution and Drupal.
The reason I ask is because your design seems different then most blogs and I’m looking for something unique.
P.S My apologies for getting off-topic but I had to ask!
Hi there,
I use WordPress for tbis blog. Hope this helps in your decision.
Best,
Julia
Hi. August was a hard month for me. While I’ve made huge strides in becoming physically fit, I’ve still got a long way to go, and the heat and humidity of the past month has made it difficult to keep going to the gym day in and day out. But keep going I have. Not because I’ve wanted to, but because I’ve grown to expect and enjoy the look in my husband’s eyes when he looks at me. Keep going I have. Not because it’s been easy, (because it hasn’t) but because I enjoy having to buy clothing in a smaller size. I’ve kept going because I want to continue feeling better about myself.
I’m not the kind of person who needs a companion to keep going. As a matter of fact, people tend to stop going to the gym with me after a couple weeks because once I’m on the gym floor, and I’ve got my ear buds in my ears, I’m all business. I’m not there to be cute, I’m not there to flirt with the beefcakes pumping iron(though I will admit to taking a peek or two!), or to socialize. I firmly believe that if you still look cute after exercising, then you’re not doing it right. For some reason, none of my friends seem to understand this philosophy. Oh well, I don’t need the companionship; if going it alone is what it takes to get results, then I will go it alone.
I began in January as a size size 26. I now wear a size 20. My ultimate goal is a size 16, but my immediate goal is to be able to go into a dress shop, pick a pretty dress off the rack and wear it to my husband’s company’s formal Christmas party in December. And I don’t care what I’ve got to do to keep myself motivated, one way or another, I WILL meet that goal!
Go Brenda, Go! We are all right there with you, all working hard to meet a goal. Congratulations on your progress!
I have been on diet and workout program since October of last year. I kick ass this week because I met my final goal weight of 120. Almost one year of working out and eating correctly has paid off!
Woooo-hooooo! Congratulations, Jennifer! That’s a huge accomplishment
My kick ass moment was actually finishing the ET Moonlight Madness 10K in spite of everything! There were many times during that measly 6.2 miles that I just wanted to 1) turn around or 2) collapse at the side of the road and wait for someone to come and get me. But I didn’t. In spite of having multiple issues because I didn’t realize it was at something like 6000 ft elevation (it was the desert!), I kept going. Mile 4 took about 9 hours to finish (at least that’s what it felt like) and I stopped at about mile 5.1 to completely empty my stomach by the side of the road but I persevered. It wasn’t a fast race by any means (my slowest time ever and I was starting to worry that my hubby, who was doing the 51k was going to pass me!) but I hung in there and finished.
For the record? If you’re going to toss your cookies during a race, I can tell you that chicken fried rice from P.F. Chang’s comes back up relatively inoffensively. So there you go. And training kicked off for my first half marathon (no idea what I was thinking when I signed up for that) kicked off on Saturday and I survived two very painful miles.
I spent most of August above 7000 feet. It took a good 10 days to feel normal, and even then it was a stuggle. So I really applaud your 10k run. That’s a tough one!
My kick ass moment this month was when I made my goal weight of 150 lbs., (down from 205lbs) after just over a year and a half. I am training for my first half marathon in a couple of weeks, inspired after successfully completing my first 10 miler in May, and I will run a RAGNAR 200 mile/2 day/12 person relay in October. I am increasing mileage, (which makes me HUNGRY) so, that moment was indeed just that – a fleeting glimpse. No matter, I reveled in it, doing a little happy dance in my bathroom, congratulating my stronger self for pushing through so many uncomfortable workouts to land in this place I never thought I would be. I will probably always have my little belly and fluctuate 5 lbs. give or take – the fact is I like to eat and after five kids, well, there is only so much running will do, but I am ok with that. I am strong, happy and I love to run because it helps me kick ass!
Missy, I could have written that post. In fact, I think I have! I finally realized this bod is what it is, but as long as I take care of it, eat right (but EAT) and exercise, that’s good. Booo-yah!
Congrats on your first half! I will be running my third one in October