"We all live with the scars we choose. They might hurt like hell but they all make us stronger..."- Take Me As I Am, Sugarland

I FEEL GREAT TODAY!

Yes, it was necessary to yell. I haven't felt so good, so healthy, so calm and happy in a long while. Best of all, my anxiety is on the downward swing and I've found better ways to reign it in when it is getting too much.

And today I ran 20 minutes without stopping for the first time in a month! I actually enjoyed my time on the treadmill today. *gasp*

Afterwards I celebrated with level 3 day 2 of Ripped in 30! Level 3 is no joke. I started the first day of it on Saturday and during the cool down cried because I was so happy I survived and finished the 30 minutes. Next to Insanity, it is the hardest routine I've ever encountered. The level really targets your thighs, butt, and triceps the most. On Sunday I had some serious delayed-onset muscle soreness like I had when I started working out 4 months ago. Ouch ouch ouch!

But oh it works!

Today we hit 80 degrees! And I discovered I can wear all of my shorts! Well, I shouldn't really wear 2 pairs because they are too loose! I'm beyond amazed at the progress I've made with my body. Now I'm still in the 180s but I am rocking my shorts and showing off the progress I've made. This whole experience has made me appreciate my body much more than I used to. I used to complain at 155 lbs that I was fat. Now I'd love to go back and smack my 20-year-old self upside the head. Tsk, tsk, tsk.

For once, I'm semi-looking forward to the race in 3 weeks! I got to visit with my parents this weekend, and my dad seems really excited and proud that I keep going no matter what. I almost quit, but now I've worked out that my body is the happiest around a 14 minute mile and I can maintain good running form. Speed will come eventually, but right now distance and endurance are the most important. I still have the improbable dream of running that 9 miler in November! Fingers crossed!

So this weekend's television was great! I really enjoyed the new episode of Doctor Who. My parents were over and watched it with us and liked it as well. I think I'm going to convert my mom to the whovian life, ha ha! Game of Thrones was great and left me thinking about what's going to happen next, especially with Arya!

Well, I'm off to start tonight's dinner, steak sandwiches! Nomz!

“Promise Yourself

To be so strong that nothing
can disturb your peace of mind.
To talk health, happiness, and prosperity
to every person you meet.

To make all your friends feel
that there is something in them
To look at the sunny side of everything
and make your optimism come true.

To think only the best, to work only for the best,
and to expect only the best.
To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others
as you are about your own.

To forget the mistakes of the past
and press on to the greater achievements of the future.
To wear a cheerful countenance at all times
and give every living creature you meet a smile.

To give so much time to the improvement of yourself
that you have no time to criticize others.
To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear,
and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

To think well of yourself and to proclaim this fact to the world,
not in loud words but great deeds.
To live in faith that the whole world is on your side
so long as you are true to the best that is in you.”
― Christian D. Larson, Your Forces and How to Use Them

Keep buggering on!

Side stitches SUCK

I only got in 8 minutes of jogging and the side stitches were so bad they even hurt when I walked. I only got 30 minutes in (mostly walking), but hey, that's better than nothing, right?

I really hate the treadmill. Really. Truly. Hate. It. 

source: happyorhungry.com
^ Great blog!^

It's boring and leaves me with my thoughts, which are horrible negative and self-defeating. Doesn't help when marathon girl is next to you rocking it out. She doesn't seem like a nice person, and, for the few times I've seen her now, she looks like she wears a permanent scowl. Maybe I just need to wave at her or smile or something? Spread the love! Life's too short to be upset/mean. 

I need to stop being so damn mean to myself.  

Working on it.

The best time of the day is Ripped in 30 time! I just finished level 2 today and I am feeling so strong and awesome. No matter how crappy my run/jog/walk went, I always know Jillian will kick the crap out of me. Masochist? Maybe. I love the feeling of my muscles giving out, resting for five seconds, then getting right back at it until they give out again. Ah, what a difference 4 months makes! I'm just hoping to keep it going for, um, ever. Hopefully. I'm finally starting to feel my age again and not 20 years older. 

Things are improving. 

Last night I had an awesome time at D&D (Dungeons & Dragons)! I love being a warforged barbarian and smashing things. Joe talked me into take the shiny, purple, magical warhammer before we sold it and, I must say, I love it. I tried it out in the next battle and made orc pancakes! Although I'm still quite slow with the mental math so it takes me a few seconds to add everything up before I annihilate orcs or whatever is attacking us. Something is always attacking us. At least it's fun!

Tomorrow is Doctor Who! Ah I love Saturdays in spring and fall, always something good to watch! And Sunday is more Game of Thrones, yes!

For now I shall go scrub toilets since the parents are coming to visit this weekend....

Mileage: 1.75

Ripped in 30 Progress: Level 2- Complete!

“The flower that blooms in adversity is the rarest and most beautiful of all.” ― Walt Disney Company, Mulan

weheartit.com

Ah I love Mulan! I swear that movie started my obsession with Asian culture. And the movie delivers a great message to little girls that you can be whatever you want to be...even if you have to dress up like a guy to get there. Hehehe.

So how's the human injury machine doing today you ask?

Healing. I haven't run since Monday and hope that I can bust out a mile this Monday to get back into it. My arch, top and bottom of foot as well as my ankle is still rather sore, but I'm not letting it stop me completely. I did some of the recumbent bike and upper body weights on Wednesday, and yesterday I, somewhat reluctantly, started Ripped in 30.  I managed to find a stretchy ankle brace so I don't make the pain worse and so far things are okay. I really love Ripped in 30. I did the 30 Day Shred, which really kick started my weight loss and since it ended the weight loss has been slower. Thankfully the first week of Ripped in 30 is much lower impact than the first week of 30 Day Shred, so I don't have to modify much. The only thing I'm not comfortable with is the butt kicks and so I do an extra rep of punches during that exercise. I FINALLY found a doctor and have an appointment for my annual physical so I'm excited to get some answers with this evil leg of mine. 

Even with all these little pains, I'm feeling strong. Really strong. I can do so much more than I used to 3.5 months ago. I fit in ALL of my clothes again! The clothes I can't wear are too baggy. My goal pants were tight on me even when I was 20-30 pounds lighter so it'll be a really great feeling to finally zip them up and wear them with pride. Another thing I'm noticing is the absence of my multiple times a week heartburn. I only get it now when I eat 2 acidic foods in a day ( my last bad heartburn was 3/2/13 due to ziti for lunch and BBQ pulled pork for dinner). I'm challenging myself to take it a step further and I'm starting Jillian Michael's Ripped in 30 meal plan. Normally I don't like to follow meal plans because they require weird ingredients and are just not realistic. The meal plan uses foods I already eat and just combines them in different ways I haven't thought of. And if I start getting bored (it's only 30 days so I don't see how that's possible, but it happens!) I have a  Jillian Michaels recipe book Joe bought me for Christmas so we're covered! I'm curious to see if it will make a difference or not. I still plan to eat out once a week. Got to have a day to let your hair down food wise! 

My awesome husband won us tickets to an orchestra tomorrow night so I will be enjoying an evening of lovely music! My music teachers through the years always said to me that I'd always come back to music in my life and I didn't believe them. Well, they were right. I'm excited to start community chorus in April and get back into music again. 

Time to start the weekend! TGIF!

Days until new Doctor Who: 15

Days until new Game of Thrones: 16

Doctor Who and the Tardis by Craig Hurle