Where I've Been (and Where I am Going)...

Hello friends!!! I know it has been an incredibly long time since I have written anything. Part of it was that after completing my 100 Day Challenge back in April I really struggled with trying to convey my emotions about my achievements. The other part has been that I was dealing with some personal matters...but since they have all been straightened out (onward and upward) I am back in business!

Let's start by "re-capping" the original reason for my starting this blog, the great 100 Day Challenge. I would be lying if I said that completing the challenge was easy, it was far from that. It required making time, commitment, and dedication. It also required me saying at times that I couldn't do something because I needed to get my workout in...something that not everyone always understands. I would also be lying if I said I wasn't proud of myself. I was and I am (and I am already planning my next challenge). Unfortunately despite being proud of myself, my emotions about completing the challenge were very overwhelming, I started and discontinued several blog posts since that time as I felt I just couldn't find the right words. I am not going to talk much more about that topic (as I still can't seem to find the right words) but I will say (rather proudly) that I DID IT! I made the time to work out every day for at least 30 minutes for 100 days straight! And in the end it truly felt GLORIOUS!

After completing my 100th Day workout! 

Moving on. Where have I been for the last few months and what have I been up to? Well, we'll start with me running a half marathon dressed as Wonder Woman. Yes, you did read that correctly. I dressed as Wonder Woman to run the Long Island 1/2 Marathon last May...as a fundraiser. I set out to raise a set amount of money for the LI2DAY, a cause that is very much near and dear to my heart, and I far exceeded my goal amount. I had announced that if I reached said amount I would dress as my favorite comic book character, a very well known icon, for the race. Not only did my sister and boyfriend do an amazing job with my costume (Kelsey made the tutu and Phil designed and created the shirt), but it was such an amazing race for me! As many of my running friends know the crowds are always such a sign of support and love at races. The individuals cheering that day used my costume as a cheering tool, and it felt wonderful. The best was when a little boy (maybe about four years old) got all excited when I ran by! Cutest thing ever! Here's a picture of what I looked like the day I ran...

Not only was the race amazing (and the pancakes afterwards DELICIOUS), but I got such a wonderful response to both the costume and the fundraising that I said if I doubled my amount by the week before the LI2DAY (a 2-day breast cancer walk that my sister and I participate in every year), I would dress like Wonder Woman for Day 2 of the walk. So, lo and behold, the costume made yet another appearance! The LI2DAY, a 35-mile 2-day breast cancer walk, where 100% of what we raise goes to the cause (and stays on Long Island) takes place every June. This past year was my fourth year participating, and it was awesome. Kelsey and I embraced the Wonder Woman theme and Phil created a series of Wonder Woman shirts for us to wear throughout the walk. It was a great weekend...one in which I realized how strong I have truly become. I finished the walk in great spirits, almost no blisters, and very little soreness (the soreness I did have was from sleeping in a tent between the two days). We are already planning for the 2014 event!!!!

Kelsey and I at the finish line of the LI2DAY! 35 miles for BUSTS!

Okay, so since completing my 100 Day Challenge I ran a 1/2 marathon dressed as Wonder Woman and participated in the 2013 LI2DAY. I also participated in a wealth of "fun" runs this summer. I did the Glow Run in June, an amazing Dirty Girl Mud Run in July, and the Color Run in September. While these were all amazing experiences, I have to say that the mud run was really eye opening for me. Not only did I complete obstacles that just a year ago I may have walked away from, but I felt stronger than I have in a long time and challenged myself in new ways. It was a WONDERFUL experience and I will definitely be back for more mud next year!

Post Mud Run glory!

In the month of August I also completed my first trail race. I really loved this course and the whole 'trail' experience. Once I finish marathon training (oh, whoops...getting ahead of myself), I will be looking to do more trail training. I guess I'll just need another pair of running shoes! I also participated in the Cow Harbor 10k. This is a HUGE race (over 5,500 participants) that has quite a lot of hills! I was very happy with my performance and really enjoyed the crowds. Tomorrow I will take on another half marathon and then this is my last race until Philly (keep reading). 

Now that I've recapped all of my "events" since completing the challenge, I need to mention the one big thing that I have been working towards. As a reward for completing the 100 Day Challenge I registered for my first...wait for it...full marathon. Yes, on November 17th I will be participating in the Philadelphia Marathon where I will take on 26.2 miles. This training has taught me so much about myself, discipline, commitment, and strength. I am fitter than I have ever been, challenged myself in new ways, and run FURTHER than I ever thought I would (we'll discuss this further in a future blog post). Marathon training is equally as emotional as it is physical and while I'm terrified (as I should be) of the mileage I will take on, I am incredibly excited and enthusiastic about the task. 

So, that brings us all up to date! I'm happy to be back! The next few posts will be all about my training leading up to race day...what it has taught me, how I'm feeling, and as the title says, where I will be going from here...

On the Road...

So I am on the road (literally) in Washington D.C....

See, that's me pricking my finger on the Washington Monument. I am not going to lie, I was nervous about taking a trip in the middle of my 100 Day Challenge. Was I really going to be able to stay consistent? Would I want to workout even though I am on "vacation?" Before leaving I spent some time planning my time here in order to incorporate plenty of physical activity, determined to overcome my fears. 

So today, for Day 86, I rode the Metro out to Arlington National Cemetery and worked my way back into the city on foot. Here is what my Fitbit told me about today's activity so far...

This morning I got up and walked to a Starbucks to grab some coffee (much needed after a late night of partaking in the DC craft beer scene) and a bite to eat. From there I walked to the Metro station (about 1.3 miles away) and headed out to the cemetery. Once there I walked the grounds for several miles. Climbing up to the Arlington House, visiting JFK's burial site, and witnessing the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown. The sites were moving and the weather was perfect for walking (although a little windy). Once leaving the cemetery I headed back into the city across Memorial Bridge stopping at the Lincoln Memorial, the Vietnam Memorial, and MLK, FDR, and Jefferson memorials. From Jefferson I headed back towards the hotel (at this point my camera and phone were dead and I needed to recharge) to grab some lunch and relax a bit before heading out for the evening. I was out and about from about 9:00 this morning until 3:00 this afternoon and my totals were as follows, 76 flights of stairs, 10.02 miles (and I'm not done for today yet), and 20,459 steps! For Day 86 of my 100 Day Challenge I did some serious intentional walking (about six hours worth). It was FANTASTIC!

Being on the road isn't easy when it comes to staying consistent with both your fitness and food goals, but it can be done. What worked for me was thinking ahead about what I wanted to do during my travels. From there I was able to think about what kinds of workouts would fit best with my daily activities and what I needed to bring with me. I was sure to bring a variety of workout clothes, my running sneakers, and a resistance band to allow me to do some resistance band strength training in my room, and of course my Fitbit. Thankfully there is also a fitness center (however small) that allows me to fit in some cardio workouts...and I am hoping to get a run in at some point! As for the food, that is always the hardest part when you are enjoying yourself. That's why it is so important to lead a healthy lifestyle and NOT just follow some diet (and yes, that is my VERY FIRM belief). Making healthy decisions while in D.C. is no harder than when I need to make healthy decisions at home because I have developed healthy behaviors/habits. 

While searching for tips about maintaining fitness and health goals while traveling I found some good tips. Here is a list of four simple suggestions to take into consideration when traveling. Obviously I've already talked about how I brought my own equipment, but I've also been picking up healthy snacks to carry with me throughout the day, along with carrying my Nalgene around with me to support my water habit. I also looked into some simple "do anywhere" workouts that I could follow in my hotel room with if need be. Here is one that I found from Fitness Magazine (one of my favorite reads) titled The 12 Minute Quickie Workout. 

In closing, I leave you with this thought. It's not a matter of whether fitness and health can remain consistent while traveling...it's a question of whether you will make the effort to do so or not. For me, this isn't a challenge I am willing to let go of just to "enjoy" myself for a few days. Fitness is a part of who I am and I ENJOY it. I love the rush of adrenaline I get from a good long run, or the way my endorphins are pumping after an awesome sweat session. And yes, am I enjoying myself while I am here...there is no question there! This is who I am. When health and fitness become a lifestyle, there's no running away from it...no matter what corners of the earth you travel to! 

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It's Been A While...

So if I don't blog about it, does that mean I didn't do it? Of course not! Life just occasionally gets in the way of blogging, but I haven't let it get in the way of my fitness goals. Tomorrow will be Day 70 (which means I just completed Day 69) of my 100 Day Challenge. It's hard to believe I am just about three quarters of the way through...

When I started this challenge 100 Days seemed daunting. I was scared. I honestly didn't know if I would be able to do it however I knew that I needed to make a change. Fitness had always been a part of who I was...whether it was Zumba, just going to the gym regularly, or running. But in the past year, I had let it fall to the wayside. In short, I let life get in the way. I became down on myself about a situation out of my control, and instead of using my fitness routine to make me feel better, I avoided it because I felt like garbage on the inside. So on January 1st I started my challenge and this blog to help me stay motivated. And the changes that I have experienced have been amazing - both physically and mentally. 

First off I feel stronger (physically) than I have in a very long time. I haven't reached all of my goals yet, but that's why I have them. They give me something to work for. My long runs just keep getting longer, my tempo runs keep getting faster, and my body keeps begging for more. Secondly, I feel stronger emotionally. Being fit and making positive health choices has helped me get through stressful situations as well made me feel like I can take on anything that life spits in my direction. In other words, I feel great all around. 

Is the challenge still difficult? Of course. I've had to say things like "I'm sorry, I can't, I need to workout." Or, "I'm going to be late, I need to go running." And do people occasionally get frustrated with that...sure. But I have realized that I need to make positive choices for ME...it's okay to put yourself first every once in a while. 

Five Weeks In

Today I completed my 36th workout as part of the 100 Day Challenge. That means I am five weeks strong. At this point it has become such a part of my routine that NOT working out would seem very strange to me (and not something I am aiming for). While I have passed the five week mark, it is amazing how I am already seeing my body change (for the better). I will admit that the number on the scale has definitely gone down, but I am also seeing a difference in my strength (both upper and lower body) and overall physique. While I am no where near where I aim to be (the truth is, we are always a work in progress), I have to admit I am pleased with what I am seeing. Excited even. But most importantly, I just feel fantastic. 

In honor of hitting my five weeks, I decided to go for it and register for my first mud run. This is something I have been wanting to do for a while now and the time just seemed right. So in August I will be participating in the Dirty Girl. I am SUPER excited about this and am already planning my outfit (yes, I will admit that I create and have running outfits). I do realize that I will be FILTHY by the time I make it through the obstacle course, but I always feel better when I love my outfit. I am also excited that my friend Ali will be joining me on this adventure! Hopefully we can get someone to come and snap some photos of us while we are in the trenches!

On another note, I have made a pretty big decision regarding my running. I will be completing my third and fourth half marathons in this calendar year, and I have decided to add to that my first full marathon. Yes, ladies and gentleman, I have decided to commit myself to running 26.2 miles next November! I do realize this is a very big decision, but it is something I have been wanting to push myself to for a long time now. The hours and miles of training will be so worth it in the end! I have opted to register for the Philadelphia Marathon so that I can get that big city feel, without the craziness of NY (I truly have no desire to ever run the NYC Marathon), and without the cost of traveling to Disney (which WILL happen at some point). All of this being said, I am very much looking forward to the weather getting warmer and the days getting longer...cold weather running is not nearly as much fun as it looks! Thankfully the groundhog DID NOT see his shadow, early spring HERE WE COME!

Also in the crazy fitness schedule is another 10k in April, the LI2DAY in June (a two day 35 mile walk I do every year with my sister, this will be our fourth year), and perhaps the Cow Harbor 10k in September. Registering for races and events is a great motivator and it keeps me focused. After all, I have all these dreams, but if I don't do anything about them all they will ever stay is dreams! It's time to take action!

On a very sad note, it appears that I have lost my FitBit. Somehow it fell off my bra and I didn't realize it until I got to the gym today. I'm hoping that I will find it at work tomorrow...but until then, or worse case scenario, until I replace the lost one, I am without my tracking device. I am deeply sad about this, but I realize it is only an object and I am still very capable of working out without it. Sigh.

So as we begin a new month and continue on our journey, what are your goals? What would you like to accomplish in February? In the next few months? In 2013? 

Sweaty McSweats-A-Lot

I SWEAT! And I sweat a lot. Please consider this a public service announcement as well as apology. I sweat when I run, I sweat when I Zumba, I sweat when I'm at the gym...and if you are near me and I fling my arms, I might just accidentally fling sweat at you. I also turn beat red when I am working out...but I don't think I need to apologize for that.

Despite my Sweaty McSweatiness, I would like to state for the record that I DO NOT GLISTEN. I can't stand that. You should be proud of your sweat...it means that you are working hard! And I AM proud! I am proud that I don't glisten, or sparkle, or shimmer...I am proud that I work hard to sweat the way I do! It means that what I am doing is working, and it is proof that I am getting stronger (slowly but surely). Here is proof of my sweatiness...

This photo was taken yesterday after my workout. The back sweat in the picture on the right is not nearly as defined as the front sweat, mostly because there was so much of it. I had sent it to my guy and his words were..."EWWWW, GROSS!" My response was, "No, COOL!" I then went on to explain my above reasoning, that I am proud of what I do! This picture serves as proof that on Day 28 of my 100 Day Challenge I sweat! My workout had consisted of some serious cardio (intervals on the arc trainer), medicine ball squats, medicine ball sit-ups, and planks. 

Alright, I'm done with the sweat talk. Today was Day 29 and it was another gym day. I completed another great cardio workout, did some stairs, and some stretching. Thankfully I remembered to wear my FitBit today (Day 28 did not get recorded because I didn't realize until I was halfway to work that I had not put it on). I am proud to say that my stats were pretty impressive. Here's a look...

Activity

 14478 steps taken today

145% of goal of 10,000

 11 floors climbed today

110% of goal of 10

• You have climbed: The Tallest Lego Tower 

 8.28 miles traveled today

166% of goal of 5.00

 3170 calories burned

145% of goal of 2,184

 1267 active score 

127% of goal of 1,000

While I am sure that there are a lot of people out there with better scores, I have to remember to only compare myself to MYSELF. And I am very pleased with today's results. It is definitely better than what my score might have been exactly one month ago on December 29th!

I know I have said it before, but I still can't believe that it has been a full month. I have been successful in working out every day for a month! Tomorrow is Day 30! Wow! (Yes, I just paused to do a happy dance!) Since tomorrow is Day 30 I have decided to share some of my reflections from the past month (in no particular order).

1. This challenge is NOT easy. Okay, so I could make it easy by doing the minimum (30 minutes of activity a day). Yes, I do choose to push myself to new limits all the time. But the truth is, even 30 minutes a day would be hard. There are days when I don't want to stop at the gym on the way home. There are days when I want to sleep late. And there are certainly days when I want to eat the world's largest piece of chocolate cake EVER! But I choose not to. Why? Because I am determined. I am committed. And I am strong...stronger than that piece of cake!

2. The FitBit might be the best investment I have ever made. Well, that and my medicine ball. I love it! It really is wonderful to see my stats at the end of every day. While there are days when I don't make my goals (it happens, 10,000 steps is pretty hard) and I feel a twinge of disappointment, I also can see how much difference a day like today makes. And what I really love is the weekly reports that FitBit emails to me! Wow! To see the calories I consume compared to the calories I burn is truly motivating! If you are genuinely interested in achieving a fitness goal similar to mine, then I highly suggest a FitBit.

3. I feel better. I can't believe how much better I feel about myself and just in general. My energy level is through the roof and to be honest, I am happier. I feel more like myself than I have in a while (and that is not to say that I don't have wonderful things going on in my life). My body feels better, my mental energy is better, my mood is better, and I feel stronger.

and...

4. I couldn't be happier that I have dedicated myself to this challenge. For all of the reasons I have already mentioned and then some. I know that what I am doing is GOOD for ME. It might mean that I need to be more diligent about budgeting my time, what I am eating, and various other obligations...but I am through the roof with enthusiasm for what I am doing and I am proud to say that I am beginning to see results!

While the going is tough, and the road is long, it is important to remember that I do this for a reason. To make myself the best me yet. So on Day 29 I am sending a BIG thank you out to all of my readers (even if there are only two of you)! You motivate me to keep going! I would love to hear how you are doing...and remember, even if something doesn't go as planned, it's okay to start again! So keep going...you never know who you are inspiring!

I'm the Energizer Bunny...

My New Motto:

I can't believe it has been a week since I have posted! I apologize for the delay, but please know that I am still going strong. This week has been a crazy week work wise (report card season) plus I had a candy order for my side business. Thankfully it all got done, and so did my workouts! Here is a breakdown by day...

Day 22 - On my way to the gym after job number two I realized my gym bag was thoughtlessly left on my bedroom floor. While in the past this may have deterred me from doing anything (especially since I had a TON of work to do for the aforementioned candy order), I didn't let it sway me. Rather than going back out in the cold after acquiring my needed gym clothes, I decided to do a TurboFire workout and climb some stairs. While it wasn't what I wanted it to be, I still got the workout in.

Day 23 - Too cold to run!!!! But I remembered my gym bag today, so I got in an awesome workout on the arc trainer. It felt good to sweat, burn some calories, and pump up the music. I would have loved to have added in a core workout in addition to my cardio and squats, but I still had a night of candy making ahead of me. Sometimes duty calls. On a good note, I did complete 199 squats this day! Only one squat away from my goal!

Day 24 - Another gym day. I decided to do some treadmill work. Unfortunately, my legs just don't like running on a treadmill. I don't think I know a single road runner who actually enjoys running on a treadmill. It's the worst feeling ever. So I decided to do some incline intervals. The burn felt great! I got in all of my steps (10,000 per day goal), worked my legs, and again sweat like crazy. You know it's been a great workout when you have to peel your clothes off when you are done!

Day 25 - I wasn't working the tasting room this Friday, and as much as I wanted to get up at 4:30 am for a workout (I was going to go for a double workout), it just wasn't going to happen. My body was telling me it needed sleep. So I got up at my usual time, went off to work, and then hit the gym immediately after. Friday afternoon gym days are always hard...really, who wants to be there after working all week? But I still did it. The gym was pretty much empty (like I said, who wants to be at the gym on a Friday afternoon). I hopped on an elliptical and did an awesome interval workout. Then I came home and did some squats. It felt so good to meet my goal of 200 squats! After a shower and some relaxing, and realizing that by this point I was STARVING, Phil and I went out for some delicious Thai food! YUM!

Day 26 - I was working a Nano Cask Fest on this day, so I got up early to get my workout in. It was still pretty cold, and it had snowed, so I opted for some yoga. My body definitely appreciated the deep stretching. I do a power yoga / pilates blend so I'm still pretty sweaty in the end. It was great to get the workout in before heading to the cask fest...which was fabulous by the way!  I tried to be mindful of what I was eating and drinking all day long....drinking a ton of water throughout the day. But the food was incredibly tasty (I loved the mini cheesecakes and bacon cupcakes) and the beer was great! However, I didn't feel guilty at the end of the day. This was a rare day in the past few weeks where I let myself indulge a little bit, and I'm okay with that. Below is a picture of Phil and I at the fest.

Day 27 - Another cold day, so I opted for a TurboFire workout. I did both Fire 30 and Core 20! Whew! They were both great workouts! I'm slowly feeling my core get stronger, something that will make me feel great about myself as well as benefit my running. 

So that brings us all up to date. I am still in shock that tomorrow is Day 28. John Bingham posted something last week regarding the 100 Day Challenge. His sentiment was that Day 22 usually makes or breaks a goal. It's usually around this time that we start to either lighten up or we push through. This time around I have opted to push through! I feel like the energizer bunny! I just keep going, and going, and going...

On a side note, my time at the gym this week has lead me to realize that not only do I need to find a new and better gym (as I mentioned before, preferably one with classes), it also brought up some really big gym pet peeves. Here they are:

1. WIPE OFF YOUR MACHINES! I don't care if you are only on the treadmill for five minutes for your warm-up, it takes two seconds to use disinfectant to wipe off your sweat and germs! Not only is it gross to get on a machine and realize the person before you so rudely couldn't be bothered to clean it up, it's also FLU season...be mindful!

2. DON'T TALK ON YOUR CELL PHONE! I find it incredibly obnoxious when individuals get on a piece of equipment and begin chatting loudly on their cell phone. I am trying to concentrate on my workout and I don't really give a sh** about what your boyfriend is doing, when your mom is picking you up, or how your day is going. Seriously. Give it a rest!

3. BE MINDFUL OF YOUR HYGIENE! I already mentioned the wiping of machines, but seriously, wash your gym clothes. I'm sorry, it's really gross when someone starts working out near you and their stench is so bad it makes you want to vomit. I am friends with plenty of people who do not use deodorant for personal reasons, but they don't smell like that! So nasty...

Despite these pet peeves, I did have a good gym experience. I went to hop on the arc trainer with moving arms (much better than the stationary one) and a guy hopped off his and wiped his down and said "use mine, that one wobbles." I thought it was so awesome! I paid it forward when I was done as a girl was hopping on the one on the end that wobbles. She seemed really thankful for the piece of advice!

Looking forward...

Finally, I have been asked what I am going to do now that I met my goal of 200 squats. Well, for starters, I will continue squatting. They make me stronger and they make me feel good, and it is now time for me to add some weight to my squatting. Stronger takes time, and stronger doesn't come easy...but with work I will get there. I will also be starting a fABulous February challenge (posted below). I will be doing crunches, planks, and pushups as I continue to strengthen my core. Feel free to join me! 

February
2013
fABulous February	Push Yourself!

Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
					1	2
					10 Sit-Ups 4 Push-Ups 10 sec Plank	15 Sit-Ups 5 Push-Ups 15 sec Plank
3	4	5	6	7	8	9
20 Sit-Ups 6 Push-Ups 20 sec Plank	25 Sit-Ups 6 Push-Ups 20 sec Plank	REST	25 Sit-Ups 7 Push-Ups 20 sec Plank	30 Sit-Ups 7 Push-Ups 25 sec Plank	30 Sit-Ups 8 Push-Ups 25 sec Plank	35 Sit-Ups 9 Push-Ups 30 sec Plank
10	11	12	13	14	15	16
35 Sit-Ups 9 Push-Ups 35 sec Plank	40 Sit-Ups 10 Push-Ups 35 sec Plank	REST	45 Sit-Ups 10 Push-Ups 35 sec Plank	45 Sit-Ups 11 Push-Ups 40 sec Plank	50 Sit-Ups 12 Push-Ups 40 sec Plank	50 Sit-Ups 15 Push-Ups 40 sec Plank
17	18	19	20	21	22	23
60 Sit-Ups 15 Push-Ups 45 sec Plank	60 Sit-Ups 15 Push-Ups 50 sec Plank	REST	60 Sit-Ups 18 Push-Ups 50 sec Plank	65 Sit-Ups 18 Push-Ups 50 sec Plank	70 Sit-Ups 20 Push-Ups 55 sec Plank	75 Sit-Ups 20 Push-Ups 1 min Plank
24	25	26	27	28
80 Sit-Ups 20 Push-Ups 1 min Plank	80 Sit-Ups 22 Push-Ups 1.10 min Plank	REST	85 Sit-Ups 24 Push-Ups 1.15 min Plank	90 Sit-Ups 25 Push-Ups 1.20 min Plank