Throwback Thursday - from recovery to running!

I'm going to at least attempt to write this post without tears but I feel like there are some things I need to say and process.

In light of the 10 year anniversary of my brain tumor surgery and the race upcoming this weekend, I have been reflecting much on the journey.  There have been many times over the last few months that I've stopped to think about where I was on this day in 2004.

So 10 years ago this weekend I spent the weekend in the hospital hooked up to EEG monitors with nasty glue in my hair.  At that point it had been a little over a month since the surgery and every evening I was getting strange feelings and my legs wouldn't stop shaking.  We are still not sure to this day if I was having partial seizures or anxiety attacks (learning more about temporal lobe epilepsy over the years the panic attacks could have been seizures).  Being hooked up to the monitors and not being able to sleep just made me feel even worse.  I think that was really one of my lowest points physically and emotionally.  I wasn't eating, I wasn't sleeping, which I also understand now could have brought the seizures on.  All the family help had gone home at that point and I didn't realize until that time I relied on them so much to feel safe.  I went from being grateful that I was alive to thinking that I was going to die.  Fortunately with a new doctor and some medication changes that weekend I got out of that place and slowly but surely improved over time.  It's been a long road to get where I am now accepting some deficits, learning to overcome fear and be stronger than that negative voice in my head.  I could not have done it without amazing family friends and coworkers who loved me, humored me at times and told me to get over myself at others.

So fast forward to this year...  I have never been nor have I ever seriously considered the thought of being a "runner."  I loathed gym class from middle school on and remember the terrible torture that was the mile run for the presidential fitness challenge we had to do for several years.  My neurosurgeon immediately recommended walking/jogging after surgery and I didn't take him seriously.  I had no idea what kind of positive effect it would have on brain chemistry.  So after a few failed attempts over the years, I decided in the fall that this was a challenge I needed to take on.  When I saw the information about the American Brain Tumor Association's 5K I decided to make an official commitment.  Now if you told me 10 years ago that I would be RUNNING with 1,000 other people in the middle of downtown Columbus I would have laughed in your face.  It's a panic attack waiting to happen, but I finally said the hell with it, I'm going to do this.  And short of some pain here and there it has made me feel amazing.  I went from 15 and 16 minute miles to now 10 and 11 minute miles.  I wont break and records but my own but that is definitely an amazing feeling.  I can't wait to cross that finish line!

Thank you again to everyone who has supported me through my long recovery and those of you who have been supportive of me in the last several weeks and for your donations to the run.  ABTA has raised well over their intended goal and so did I!  Just over $600 today!

What a difference a day makes

So the rules of the challenge are this:

1 point for getting down 64 oz water
1 point for 7-9 fruits and veggies
1 point for each 10 minutes of concentrated physical activity

First the "easy" part:

I woke up raring to go this morning and decided that I'd try to do 2 Xbox One Fitness workouts.  This is my new favorite toy.  I love the constant feedback and you definitely see it if you're slacking.  First was 40 minutes of "Firestarter" from one of my old favorites, TurboFire.  I took a rest and grabbed some water and then got my second wind.

The second workout was MOSSA Strength.  I need to lift more so this is helping me with that.  Lots of upper body and I had to lighten up on the weight midway through but I didn't stop.  Here's the end result:

7 points here!!!

The best part, I had more energy today then I've had in months.  I got A LOT done today (aside from the workout).

Next, water....

now this was actually shockingly easy.  I haven't been huge about drinking water lately and the prospect of 64 oz seemed daunting.  I just took one of our regular 16 oz dining glasses and kept refilling it.  After the long workout this morning I was midway through my second glass pretty early on and just kept going.  

1 point, piece of cake!!!

Then comes the tricky stuff...

One point comes from eating fruits and veggies throughout the day and it's all or nothing unlike the workouts.  My diet has been lacking for a while so this is going to be a shock to my system.  I decided to stop eating like a 4th grader and make some good choices.

Fruits - piece of cake.  Blueberries in the Shakeology this morning and some pineapple for a snack.

Veggies - ugh.  Well, I had vegetable soup for lunch and that counted for 2, but I'd honestly have to fudge it for dinner.  We had bruschetta and meatballs and sauce with pasta for dinner but I'd be lying if I said I got 3 servings there since we are basically just talking tomatoes and onions there.  The funny part is, I am really too full to have a salad that probably would have got me there.  I think the water is making me more full.  So... no point there. 

 BUT....  I ate more actual food than I've had in weeks throughout the day.  Had a few hunger pains there and there but check it out:

If you don't want to do the math, that's 1455 for the day and I definitely wasn't starving!!!

So given my long workout for today and if I can stay out of the tiramisu in the fridge, I'm actually near 400 calories under my goal for the day!

This challenge is definitely something attainable and I can't wait to start seeing all the benefits these changes will make!

No More Excuses

Well, here we are almost at the end of the first quarter of the year and I have to say I haven't been off to the best start.  The crappy weather in Ohio has been the death of my motivation and has had a serious effect on my mental health.  Nat has been through quite a rough patch these last few months as well due to a reduced effectiveness of his medication and that has been frustrating and at times exhausting.  In reading "Driven To Distraction" at the request of Nat's current doctor I started to realize and accept that I also have similar issues and not in the cute... "Oh look, a squirrel" way, more in the "I stay at home and move in circles all day without really getting anything significant accomplished and I can only get things completed when the world will stop without it" kind of way.

While it has been easy to work out and make some healthy choices a day here and there, post jokes and motivational quotes on Facebook, put up a good front, it's honestly all bullshit up until now.  All that was an attempt to hide from the depression, the lethargy, AND THE DONUTS, lots and lots of donuts!!!!

May 7th I will celebrate 37th year on the planet and the 10th anniversary of my brain tumor surgery.  If this is your first time around, check out my old blog posts for more information on that.  With that anniversary coming up, I have decided that it is time for a reset, physically and psychologically.  I have also decided that the time for excuses is over.  This isn't a matter of reinventing anything, I have done this all before and I know the steps that I need to take to get there.  For me, the physical pretty much takes care of the psychological.  When I am working out and eating better, I am able to cope with the stresses of day to day life much better and I'm probably an easier person to be around.  Commitment and accountability are the only things that I am lacking.  So far I have taken two steps to work toward these positive changes.

1)  I registered for my first ever 5K.

I have had several challenges when it comes to physical fitness and I've conquered most of them.  There are only 2 things that remain -- being able to run and being able to do pull-ups.  I think the latter will allude me for at least a while longer but I am determined to complete a 3 mile run and turn in a respectable time.  This run is special to me because it fundraises for a cause close to my heart (brain) and on the 10th anniversary of my surgery nothing could be more appropriate.  My goal is to run as much as I can of the 3 miles and to raise at least $250.  If you have a few bucks to spare, please consider going to BT5K.org click "Donate" and search for my name.

2) I signed up for the Spring Booty Buster Challenge

In order to stay on track with the "training" over the next 90 days or so, I noticed a challenge that my friend Terese spoke about in her blog.  Run to The Finish describes the challenge best:

"7 weeks of tracking “points” for being active and eating clean, while getting non-stop support from other women who are exactly like you. Sometimes they’ll wrap you in a bear hug and other days text you at 5AM to get your a** to the gym. It’s about prizes and habits and finding the fun in healthy living."

Anyone from beginners to marathon pros are welcome.  I'd love to have some company, and some competition, click below and join me (tell them I sent ya)!

I'm going to start using the blog for accountability and to share with my challenge mates.  I know the upcoming posts may not interest many people, but if you could at least make a small contribution for BT5K I would be most grateful!