Finding My Weigh

Saying goodbye to Blogger

noreply@blogger.com (Gill) — Mon, 02 Feb 2015 15:52:00 +0000

Where have I gone? I'm still here, just not HERE. I have migrated ALL my posts over to Wordpress and you can find me at www.imfindingmyweigh.com. I won't be posting here anymore, but I hope you'll come with me to my "new home!"

Plus, we redesigned it with an AWESOME new look so I am all pumped and ready to get writing!

Goal Setting: Set Your Sights on SUCCESS

noreply@blogger.com (Gill) — Sun, 25 Jan 2015 23:37:00 +0000

How do you set goals for yourself?

I was flying home from Anaheim last week and thinking about my goals for the coming year. There are things I want to accomplish in several areas, including career, family and health.

There are recognized strategies for how to set goals, most notably the SMART method - ensuring your goals are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Timely.

But something kept running through my head - SEE, SET, SAY.

While the SMART goal setting process is probably the best one out there, it actually misses out on two of the most important things that have made a difference to me achieving my goals. From weight loss to career success, these two things have been absolutely key: SEE and SAY.

SEE - I have always visualized my goals. Not in a meditative way or anything, but I do picture what that goal will look and feel like once achieved. I can picture it so clearly that I have no doubt that it will happen. You might do this with a vision board or just in your own mind, but SEE your goals as you set them.

The SET is pretty self-explanatory, given that you need to SET the goals - but make sure they are SPECIFIC and have a time frame. For example, I want to run the Wine & Dine Half Marathon on November 7, 2015 in a time of 2:20 or less.

SAY - This may be one of the things that most contributed to my weight loss success, and it started with this very blog. Creating this blog made my weight loss journey "official," public, and it gave me the added accountability I needed. I'm not saying everyone needs to start a blog or a Facebook page to achieve their goals, but don't be afraid to TALK about them, to TELL people what you are working towards.

Whatever your goals, make them REAL for yourself. Set your specific goals and share what you're doing. SEE. SET. SAY.

What are your goals for 2015?

Finding Victory at the Spa

noreply@blogger.com (Gill) — Sat, 24 Jan 2015 01:47:00 +0000

I am off work this week and following Sunday's half marathon and my first few workouts on the 21 Day Fix, I booked myself in for a massage to ease my tired muscles.

I chose a lovely local spa so I could take advantage of the fluffy robes, the eucalyptus steam, the fireside chaise lounge and the view.

As I was lying there during the massage it occurred to me that I wasn't having trouble keeping my hands on the table. That might sound strange, but before I started my weight loss journey I would always need to tuck my hands under my thighs to ensure they didn't slip off. My hips were wide enough that there wasn't room for my hands to lie alongside them.

My hands were now lying comfortably beside my body with room to spare.

As I got up to put my robe back on I had another realization. I could wrap the robe around my body easily. I didn't have to worry about accidentally exposing myself because the robe wasn't quite big enough.

It's been over four years since I reached my goal, but these "non-scale victories" come up every now and then. Being on a plane and not having my hips touch both arm rests or buckling up without hesitation, grabbing a size medium and not worrying whether it will fit...these moments are more important and more rewarding that any number on a scale.

I love that even four years later these successes still feel like the first time. It's a constant motivation to keep going, to keep making mindful choices every day.

And if I have to book myself into the spa on a regular basis to keep the victories coming, so be it. I'll make that sacrifice.

What kind of non-scale victories have you celebrated?

Race Recap: runDisney Star Wars Half Marathon

noreply@blogger.com (Gill) — Wed, 21 Jan 2015 06:07:00 +0000

I got home yesterday from an awesome weekend in Anaheim with Mr. Awesome. Yes, we went to the Land of the Mouse without our children. We didn't actually GO to Disneyland apart from the 40-ish minutes we were running through the parks, so they weren't really missing out.

This was the first half of our 2015 Coast to Coast Challenge. The runDisney group have this challenge whereby you run a race in each of the resorts - Disneyland or Disney World - in the same calendar year and you get an extra medal. We will be heading to Orlando in November for the Wine & Dine Half Marathon to complete this challenge. The day AFTER that race just happens to be my 40th birthday so it seemed an appropriate way to celebrate. And yes, the kids are coming on that trip. See? We don't completely neglect them!

So back to the race we just ran. My training for this one was terrible. Utter crap. From the Scotiabank half last June to now, the furthest I had run was 10K and only a handful of times. The rest of the runs I did were no more that 4 miles, with one exception of a 10 mile run the weekend before this race to just make sure I wouldn't pass out mid-course. And these were a maximum of three times a week. I DON'T like running at night because my night vision is basically non-existent, so I was fairly limited to my options.

So, like I said, utter crap. But here we were, packing to head to Disneyland for a half marathon.

The theme, thanks to Disney for acquiring the Star Wars brand, was Star Wars. "Let the Wookie win" and "May the course the with you" were common catch phrases.

The last time we did a runDisney event was our first ever half marathon, the Tinker Bell in 2013. This one was every bit as well organized and polished. They really do put on a phenomenal event.

Aside from the great support staff, the characters along the course for photo opps, the emcees, the music, the organization...one of the best parts of a runDisney race is the Health & Fitness Expo in the days leading up. It is the best race expo I've ever attended - the best exhibitors, best speakers, best free samples. My favourite, Sparkly Soul, was there but I resisted their charms given I already own seven of these fantastic headbands!

I picked up some KT Tape to try and alleviate some strain on my knee, a SpiBelt to carry my Gu gels and the final piece for my costume. KT Tape normally retails for $20 per roll but their show price was 2 for $30 so OF COURSE I got two rolls. Love show specials!

Last time I was completely jealous of all the fun costumes and had not gone prepared so I made sure I was ready this time around. I picked R2D2 with a tank top I bought from Amazon and a Sparkle Athletic skirt (which is awesome, by the way). I topped it off once we got to Disney with the purchase of the R2D2 Mickey ears.

I felt appropriately attired and completely adorable.

This picture was a test run the night before as the 3:30am wake-up time did not leave me confident in my ability to get everything together!

The Main Event

The race started at 5:30am and we arrived in plenty of time. All was good and we started off with a good pace, right where I was hoping at about 10:30min/mile. We kept that pace, even with the "tens and ones" walking a minute every ten, for the first 8 miles or so. Mr. Awesome runs a lot faster than I do normally, but he was committed to running the race for fun instead of time and he stuck with me the whole time. He may have been the most chipper guy on the course and while it was completely endearing and fun, I did also want to punch him a little as the going got tough.

Especially when he started skipping.

I started to fade a bit around mile 9 and by mile 11 I was in some trouble. The backs of my legs were in quite a bit of pain, I was tired and pushing the whole way. I never suggested that we walk the remaining miles, even though I was desperately considering it. I started to feel a swell of emotion and as I tried to swallow the near-tears, my throat got tight. Well, THAT isn't conducive to getting in all the air I was needing so I started to panic when I couldn't breathe properly. I took a minute and bent over to stretch my hamstrings and get my breath. That gave me the relief I needed and we kept going, at a slightly slower pace.

The last two miles are a bit of a blur, but suffice to say that finish line couldn't come quick enough. Mr. Awesome tried to hold my hand as we got close but I freaked out that in the moment I was going to trip over my own feet if I didn't keep doing EXACTLY what I was doing. When the finish line finally came into view I rallied a little and we crossed it holding hands and smiling. We claimed our awesome medals and I hobbled to the main area to do some much-needed stretching.

Official time - 2:26:24. Twelve minutes faster than my first half marathon time, and third best time overall. Pretty pleased with this, given the difficulty I had!

Yay for bling!

The hotel shuttles were trapped as Harbor Blvd was blocked for the slower runners and walkers still completing the course. We decided to walk the 30 minutes back to our timeshare, which was probably the best thing we could have done for our legs.

Monet and me

After a quick hot tub and clean up, we headed to The Original Pancake House for refuelling. The best part about this was that we met up with Monet, one of the coaches on my Beachbody team, who until Sunday I had only known online. It was so awesome to finally meet in person, and the perfect way to celebrate the race. That and ALL THE FOOD. My favourite meal after a race is pancakes with eggs and bacon and that is EXACTLY what we ate. It was SOOOOO good.

Aliso Beach, California

After brunch Mr. Awesome and I headed south to the beach, as you do when you're in California! We ended up at Aliso Beach and although it was a little cooler than I would have liked, we sat and enjoyed the sea air and just relaxed for a while. It was a wonderful way to spend our last day.

More Non-Race Fun!

Linzie, Dani and me at the #RebelTweetUp

Another great part of our weekend was a social media meet up arranged by Dani from Weight Off My Shoulders and Linzie from Sharp Endurance. I have followed Dani for several years and she is a huge source of inspiration. She is a Weight Watchers leader and I've always felt a kinship with her so it was amazing to finally meet her "IRL." Plus they were giving away prizes and I won a pair of Pro Compression calf sleeves! WOOT!

The #RebelTweetUp

All in all, a fantastic weekend. I am proud of completing my sixth half marathon and despite the struggles I am excited to register for the Wine & Dine! Now to start planning that costume...something that can use my gunmetal grey Sparkle skirt. Perhaps this?

Finding My WHY

noreply@blogger.com (Gill) — Wed, 14 Jan 2015 06:24:00 +0000

Why do I do what I do? Why did I start my weight loss journey? Why do I make a conscious choice every day to maintain and get healthier? Why did I become a Beachbody coach?

I've been thinking a lot lately about my WHY.

Why did I lose the weight and why do I work every day to maintain? SO many reasons.

MY KIDS

I wanted to have the energy to play with my kids. I wanted to set a good example. I wanted them to know that exercise was important and how to eat a healthy, balanced diet. I wanted to be a happier mom.

MY DAUGHTER

I wanted my daughter to grow up with a positive body image, and the best way I could do that was to HAVE a positive body image myself. (I want this for both my kids of course, but it always seems to be a bigger deal for girls.) I didn't grow up with a positive body image and it got worse as I got older. To this day I don't love every little thing about my body but I know what that body is capable of, I am proud of it, I understand how to dress for my shape, and I FEEL GOOD about myself. I make sure to NEVER criticize my body or appearance in front of my kids, if ever. I don't use words like "fat," and try and teach my kids that people come in all shapes and sizes but HEALTH is the most important thing.

I wanted to like myself. I wanted to be proud of myself. I wanted to prove to myself that could do it. I wanted to be healthier. I wanted to feel attractive for my husband. I wanted to walk into any clothing store and be able to try something on. For years the only thing I could even consider at Lululemon was a woollen hat.

Why did I become a Beachbody coach?

HELPING OTHERS

I have a busy life. I have a full time job that pays well and is very fulfilling. So WHY did I add another "job" to an already full schedule? Because Beachbody coaching isn't a job for me, it's a passion. I love to inspire people, motivate them and help them succeed. I have been a cheerleader for peoples' weight loss journeys for years "pre-Beachbody" and this is just a more active version of the same support. And now I have tools that I believe in, to offer people help in their journey.

MOTIVATION

I NEED to stay active and be accountable to myself for my own weight maintenance and health, and being a coach guarantees I can't falter. I am there supporting my clients and my coaches, and I need to stay consistent for THEM as well as for myself.

MY FAMILY

While I make a good salary we are still facing a mortgage, car payments, kids' activities, and all the other expenses that come with a family of four. A year ago our little man was finally diagnosed with ADHD and DCD - Developmental Coordination Disorder. This probably sounds worse than it is, but he has a complex mix of somewhat mild issues that when combined are bringing him some pretty significant challenges in school and socially. He has been in occupational therapy for a year and it isn't covered by my benefits program. It is NOT cheap, but it is completely worth it.

I want my business to grow to the point that these OT costs aren't an issue, that we can travel as a family without financial concern, we can afford the larger vehicle we need - and Beachbody has the potential to make these things possible.

I found my why.

Ultimately, my family is my WHY. I want to be there for them, to be better for them, and to teach my kids to lead healthy, fulfilling lives. They are my life, my heart, my reason for doing what I do.

They are my WHY.

Superfoods, Adaptogens and Phytonutrients...OH MY!

noreply@blogger.com (Gill) — Sat, 10 Jan 2015 07:03:00 +0000

I drink Shakeology every morning and it has made a huge difference to my life. I have more energy, I feel fuller longer, I snack less. I even lost 5lbs in the first three weeks after I started drinking it, and it was the ONLY thing I'd changed in my lifestyle.

BUT. Although I knew all the buzz words and the basic premise for what Shakeology was made from, I never really understood what any of it meant.

Here's what it says on the Shakeology website for what's in the recipe:

More than 70 super-nutritious ingredients.
Proteins, Vitamins, and Minerals – to help reduce hunger and food cravings.
Antioxidants and Phytonutrients – to help detoxify and protect the body against free radical damage.
Adaptogen Herbs – to help increase energy and combat stress.
Prebiotics, Probiotics, Fiber, and Digestive Enzymes – to aid digestion and promote regularity.

Super-nutritious ingredients is pretty clear. Protein, I understand. Vitamins and minerals, I get.

Superfoods. Phytonutrients. Adaptogens. These I wasn't really clear on.

Superfoods

While not a scientific word and more widely considered a marketing term, the Oxford Dictionary definition states a superfood is “a nutrient-rich food considered to be especially beneficial for health and well-being." Also referred to as "dense," these foods are basically packed with nutrients.

Phytonutrients

Plant foods contain thousands of natural chemicals. These chemicals are called phytonutrients or phytochemicals. ("Phyto" means plant.)

From www.whfoods.org:

Phytonutrients (also referred to as phytochemicals) are compounds found in plants. They serve various functions in plants, helping to protect the plant's vitality. For example, some phytonutrients protect the plant from UV radiation while others protect it from insect attack.

Not only do phytonutrients award benefit to the plants but they also provide benefits to those who enjoy plant food. That's because they have health-promoting properties including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and liver-health-promoting activities.

Adaptogens

Definition of ADAPTOGEN (from http://www.merriam-webster.com/)

adap·to·gen noun \ə-ˈdap-tə-jən\
: a nontoxic substance and especially a plant extract that is held to increase the body's ability to resist the damaging effects of stress and promote or restore normal physiological functioning.

Adaptogens have been used in Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine for hundreds of years. They’re called adaptogens because of their ability to “adapt” their function according to the body’s specific needs.
Adaptogens have highly concentrated nutrients that can help your body cope with stress, provide energy, and maintain a strong immune system.

Basically, Shakeology is FULL of amazing nutrients and good-for-you ingredients. Really, as long as there isn't any CRAP in there, I will go by how drinking Shakeology makes me FEEL, which is AWESOME!

Here is a video on the clinical study recently conducted on Shakeology:

Interested in trying Shakeology? Send me an email!

Subtle Changes, Big Meaning

noreply@blogger.com (Gill) — Fri, 02 Jan 2015 17:18:00 +0000

I made some very subtle changes to the header of this page. Does anyone even see it? It probably will go unnoticed to 100% of my readers but I want to share what the changes were and why I made them.

Here is the original:

Do you see it? Apart from the obvious font change, I made some edits to the language and to the road sign.

About a year ago my mum pointed our that the original language - "while trying to get healthy" - was no longer fully accurate. Since going through my weight loss and health transformation, I am pretty healthy. No "trying to get" about it. It's a daily decision and an ongoing journey, but I do live a healthful life in general.

I also didn't love the "But which way to sanity?!" anymore. It was SO appropriate when our kids were smaller, and for anyone that has read my earlier potty training rants you will know I did teeter on the brink for some time there. I'd like to think I am back to the world of sane people on MOST days, not completely lost as originally implied.

And on the topic of lost...I changed the road sign. I KNOW where I'm going, I just don't always know which way the road will turn, but the destination is clear. I love this image that's been floating around the internet for year, and is so very true:

The road to success is NOT a straight line. So while I know where I am ultimately headed, I anticipate some dips and turns along the way.

So like I said - minor changes, MAJOR meaning.

My Love/Hate Relationship with Running

noreply@blogger.com (Gill) — Mon, 29 Dec 2014 15:00:00 +0000

I firmly believe that you need to find a form of exercise that you like enough that it will keep you doing it. If you don't enjoy your chosen activity, the chances of continuing it for any sustained length of time is pretty small. You may need to switch it up now and then to keep it interesting and keep your muscles guessing, but you should always ENJOY what you are doing.

I live this theory in all my fitness activities...except running. After two and a half years I STILL don't love running. I have yet to experience the "runner's high" that people talk about. Once in a while, around the 40 minute mark, I do find that it's all a bit easier and I forget JUST how much I hate it, but there has to be more to this illusive "high" than that, right? However, I DO love the feeling of finishing a run - the stretching, the exhaustion, the sore muscles, the warm shower and even the agony of the foam rolling.

The one part of running that I do enjoy (apart from when it ends) is participating in races. The running pretty much still sucks, but I love the energy of the crowd, the cheering supporters and of course - the bling. I have no delusions that I will ever place, and I don't necessarily even compete against myself to continually better my time. I register to get out there, and to give myself motivation to keep training. Yes, it is nice when I beat my previous time, but it's not a necessity.

There are 4 key things that keep me going, or at least play a big part in it. Without these elements included I don't know that I would ever get out there.

Music. Without my playlist pumping through my earbuds with a delicate volume balance somewhere between drowning out my steps and breathing and allowing me to hear traffic and other noises, I would be in hell. Mr Awesome is a DJ and he has mixed my playlist and made every single song the same bpm (beats per minute) as my running cadence so it's seamless between songs and I keep the same pace the whole time.
Race registrations. I always have a race in the future, registered and committed to, to give me added accountability. My next race is the January 1 Resolution Run 5k in Vancouver, and then two weeks later Mr Awesome and I are off to Anaheim for the runDisney Star Wars Half Marathon. 2015 marks my 40th birthday and the plan is to run this one in January in California and then the Wine & Dine half in Orlando in November for my birthday. That qualifies you for an extra medal for what they call the Coast to Coast challenge. That brings me to my next motivator...
Bling and swag. I have to admit, it there's not good swag or a medal, I'm not likely to participate. I have a medal hanger in our bedroom and proudly display all my race medals. The Resolution Run actually comes with a free running jacket!
My family. Whether Mr Awesome is in the race with me or waiting with the kids at the finish line, having that support means everything. The kids come running with me sometimes, and are pretty stoked at the plan to run in the family 5k at the runDisney Wine & Dine Half Marathon weekend in November 2015.

The weird thing is that even thought I don't like it, I find myself craving it. I see people out running and wish I was out there too. A beautiful cool sunny day has me thinking about how great it would be to go for a run. Clearly I have lost my mind.

I will keep running. And perhaps one day I will learn to love it.

Maybe.

A Look Back at 2014 Goals

noreply@blogger.com (Gill) — Fri, 26 Dec 2014 22:01:00 +0000

Back in January 2014 I wrote a post about my goals for this year. I was clearly in a running-love phase, as there was a LOT of running. My main three goals were:

Run in 10 events (including 2 half marathons)
Run 500 miles
Complete Focus T25 Beta and Gamma rounds

I have completed 6 out of 10 running events. I have run nowhere near 500 miles, and although I completed T25 Beta, I did not get to Gamma.

Do I feel like I failed by not achieving these targets? NO.

I have run 320 miles so far this year, and that is INSANE compared to where my running was 2.5 years ago - which was exactly ZERO.

I also began doing Beachbody programs, which has led me on a completely new and amazing part of my fitness journey. This year I have done Focus T25, PiYo, P90 and Les Mills Pump, plus I've dabbled in a few others like Hip Hop Abs and Les Mills COMBAT, which are great for switching things up.

I became a Team Beachbody coach, which I LOVE. I originally signed up as a way to cover the cost of the programs and the Shakeology we drink every day, with a goal to break even by the end of the year. I started a motivational fitness group on Facebook and as people began to try the programs and Shakeology it became clear very quickly that being a coach a SO much more than just a way to break even. I have a passion for helping people achieve their fitness goals and I can use my experience as a way to support and motivate them. People are seeing success and achieving their goals and it is AMAZING to be a part of it! My business is growing and while I don't have any intention of it replacing my "career" job, I have no doubt Beachbody will help pay for things like a new mini van, our family vacations, home renos and more.

So...my running has gone a bit off the rails and I am scared as hell to be running the runDisney Star Wars Half Marathon in just THREE WEEKS with limited training, but this year has been AMAZING. I am more fit than I have ever been, and more motivated than ever before.

Bring on 2015, I am READY!!

The Key Ingredients

noreply@blogger.com (Gill) — Wed, 24 Dec 2014 07:38:00 +0000

You can have all the equipment, the snazzy new workout gear, the DVDs or gym pass, the water bottle marked out by the hour to ensure consumption, only healthy food in your fridge...and you will probably go hard and stay committed for the first few weeks. Then you might start to falter.

What is missing?

Two of the key ingredients in lasting success when it comes to fitness goals are SUPPORT & ACCOUNTABILITY.

A workout buddy, a personal trainer, even just committing to a workout publicly can give you accountability. You also need cheerleaders - people that will lift you up and keep you going through the hills and valleys of your journey. Whether this comes from your significant other, your circle of friends or co-workers - or a circle of people online that have come together to motivate and inspire one another.

When I was going through the initial "pre-goal" phase of my weight loss, I had an incredible network of people supporting me - I still do. I started this blog and its subsequent Facebook page to make my journey public as added accountability. It's been phenomenal, but what has really kicked things into high gear has been creating a private motivational group on Facebook.

Team Fit & Focused is a group of people all interested in living healthier lives, all at different stages of achieving their fitness goals. We support, motivate, encourage and inspire one another to keep going. We share struggles and successes. We do monthly challenges, "pop-up" challenges, share recipes, inspirational quotes...anything and everything to keep us on track towards our targets, whatever they may be.

An extension of this team are the challenge groups I run for specific programs. Everyone in the private group is doing the same program on the same timeline. They ask questions, post their workouts, share challenges with tricky moves, and generally just support each other through the 21, 30, 60 or 90 days of the program. At home workouts become a group experience. They are not doing the program alone, they have a whole team behind them helping them succeed.

Whether you start your own group or join an existing one, I absolutely encourage you to add this "tool" to your fitness tool kit. I am accountable to my team both to stay on track with my own fitness, and to help keep my team-mates on track. I have never felt so inspired or committed in the five years since I began this journey.

Do you need some added accountability and support to help you achieve your health and fitness goals? Email me or message me on Facebook to join our team!

My Kids, aka The Workout Police

noreply@blogger.com (Gill) — Sat, 20 Sep 2014 05:10:00 +0000

I am currently doing a hybrid program of Focus T25 and PiYo, alternating each day. The kids like that I workout at home, and for the most part they let me get through a workout with little interruption. Some mornings my 25 minute T25 is more like T33 with running around for Cheerios, more milk, sliced banana...but it gets done.

The little man really digs a schedule, so this hybrid really works for him. He knows that one day I'm doing one, and the next day it will be the other. He loves schedules, plans, structure - but God forbid you change that plan without alerting him. So, therefore, GOD FORBID I miss a workout. "Mummy, you forgot to do your PiYo today! Mummy, why haven't you done your T25 yet?" The concept of a "rest day" has yet to sink in.

And the little miss is extremely observant. Way too observant. I typically workout in the kitchen, with my laptop on the kitchen table. She sits next to it, eating her breakfast. She will watch the screen, checking out the moves, and then look back at me with a very judgemental eye, evaluating my form. If I am not keeping my leg as high or my feet moving as quickly as the people on the video, she won't hesitate to point it out. "Mummy, that's not what they're doing."

Thanks, sunshine.

With the boy keeping me on schedule and the girl monitoring my effort, I have my very own personal trainers. Or workout police. Or fitness Nazis. Po-tay-to, po-tah-to.

#TransformationTuesday

noreply@blogger.com (Gill) — Wed, 13 Aug 2014 04:12:00 +0000

There is a trend on social media these days to post fitness transformation pictures on Tuesdays, using the hashtag #TransformationTuesday. I find them incredibly inspiring, seeing someone make such a significant change to their health and life.

The transformation is never complete. Yes, I've been approximately the same weight since I reached my goal four years ago, but it is still a challenge. It is a conscious choice every day - actually, it is a hundred conscious choices every day. Do I have that incredible cranberry scone from the cafe at work? It's soooo good... Do I have a Chai Latte, a Caramel Frappuccino Lite or a simple cup of tea? Do I get up and do my workout?

You don't have to be perfect every day, or make the "right" choice every single time. It is a balance and as long as you're making the smarter choice more often than not, you're doing great. It does get easier to make the choices, but still some days I desperately want to make the "other" decision. As some days I do it!

Here is my #TransformationTuesday picture:

Pic 1 - 230lbs, 6 months before getting pregnant with our second
Pic 2 - 160lbs, the day I reached goal
Pic 3 - 160lbs, the day of my second half marathon
Pic 4 - Today. 160lbs and feeling better than ever!

Do you have a transformation picture? I would love you to share it on my Facebook page!

Helping People

noreply@blogger.com (Gill) — Sat, 02 Aug 2014 05:56:00 +0000

Since I started on my weight loss journey nearly five years ago, my favourite parts of the process (other than feeling better than ever) have been knowing that I've inspired others and that I have been able to be part of their process. Being able to share what made the difference for me, my successes, my pitfalls, and helping them to succeed has been so rewarding.

To celebrate my fourth anniversary of reaching my goal weight back in 2010, I joined Beachbody as an Independent Team Beachbody Coach.

Beachbody has a phenomenal list of workout programs that you can do in the comfort of your own home. There is huge variety, and the trainers are fantastic. Shaun T of Focus T25 is one of my favourites.

I didn't sign up as a coach to make money, for me it is about helping people and growing my own personal network of support. I believe in the products and that makes it easy to chat about, but I'm not a salesperson at heart. I will talk to anyone who asks, but I certainly won't be pushing product on anyone. Maybe that will make me the least successful coach on the planet, but it's about more than the bottom line.

Speaking of bottoms... I think I need to try the Brazil Butt Lift workout!

40 by 40

noreply@blogger.com (Gill) — Mon, 09 Jun 2014 00:15:00 +0000

A friend of mine did this a couple of years ago, setting out 40 things she wanted to accomplish before she turned 40. I loved the idea, so I started my own list. I have until November 2015 to get them all done, and so far so good, but time's a-tickin'!

In no particular order, with notes if they've already been completed:

Take a Zumba class - DONE! February 27, 2014. SO much fun, I will be going again!
Japan - Trip scheduled for July 2015
Be able to cook a decent meal on a camping stove, not just spaghetti or hot dogs
Run a half marathon - DONE! 4 so far, and counting:

Tinker Bell Half Marathon, Disneyland, January 20, 2013.
BMO Vancouver Half Marathon, May 5, 3013.
Scotiabank Vancouver Half Marathon, June 23, 2013.
The Biggest Loser Half Marathon, Seattle, October 13, 2013.

See more theatre - DONE, although this is an ongoing one as "more" is a relative term.
Ride a tandem bike
Go canoeing - DONE! This is now a regular part of our family time.
Take a cooking class
Do the Grouse Grind - DONE! Friday, May 17, 2013
Go ziplining (I did this years ago, pre weight loss and totally freaked out. I want to try it with less fear!) DONE! May 2, 2014 as part of a departmental retreat and team building!
Cook a turkey
Go to a resort & spa - DONE! Kingfisher Oct 25-27, 2012
Try paddle boarding - DONE! August 2013
Volunteer for a race event
Achieve a marketing director position - I may need to rethink this one, my current title is manager. I LOVE my job and am not really looking to change anytime soon!
Try karaoke (I tried this about 18 years ago. I think it's time to face my fears again.)
Maui - 2014
Go horseback riding (like #10 & 16, it's time to go again.)
Try dragon boating
Still be at the goal weight I reached on July 30, 2010 by the time I reach 40.
Try an ethnic cuisine I've never tried before
Get back to skiing
Try snowboarding
Do more snowshoeing - DONE! Much like canoeing, this has become a fairly regular activity for our family since we got our own snowshoes!
See a drive-in movie
Take a ballet class
Take a ballroom dancing class
Try a circus class/fly on a trapeze
Ride in a hot air balloon
See the Grand Canyon
Ride a moped/scooter
See a ballet
Go rock climbing again (haven't gone for about 10 years). Indoor climbing counts.
Do a hike-in camping trip
Take a kickboxing class
Try hot yoga
Take a girls' trip somewhere fun like Vegas
Donate blood
Get a Coast to Coast medal for completing a Disneyland & Disneyworld half marathon in one year (2015)
Join a board off directors - DONE! I am on the board of the New Year's Eve Festival Society in Vancouver.
(one extra for good measure) Have a monthly (or more) date night with Mr. Awesome. DONE! This is ongoing but so far so good on keeping to it! We try and go out for dinner just the two of us at least once a month.

Looking at this list is a bit overwhelming as there are a LOT of things left to do. I think I'll need to look at this list more often to stay on track!

Win a Family 4 pack to The Pirate Fairy!

noreply@blogger.com (Gill) — Fri, 21 Mar 2014 04:27:00 +0000

Now that our kids are old enough to sit through a movie without (most of the time) complaining, it's one of our favourite treats. We just saw The Lego Movie, and we are anxiously awaiting the new Muppets film, Muppets Most Wanted. Then it's Mr. Peabody and Sherman, then Rio 2...it's a good year for kids' movies!

Next up is The Pirate Fairy! It's actually going straight to home - it's available on Blu-ray Combo Pack April 1 - but they're having a special theatre screening in Vancouver on Saturday, March 29 at 10am.

From IMdb:

When a misunderstood dust-keeper fairy named Zarina steals Pixie Hollow's all-important Blue Pixie Dust, and flies away to join forces with the pirates of Skull Rock, Tinker Bell and her fairy friends must embark on the adventure of a lifetime to return it to its rightful place. However, in the midst of their pursuit of Zarina, Tink's world is turned upside down. She and her friends find that their respective talents have been switched and they have to race against time to retrieve the Blue Pixie Dust and return home to save Pixie Hollow.
- Written by Walt Disney Home Entertainment

Who doesn't love Tinker Bell?! And the best part...I have a family 4-pack to give away!

Enter with the link below by midnight on Sunday, March 23. I will contact the winner and arrange for you to pick up your tickets at the theatre. Good luck!

ENTER HERE

The Wellness Show (and a giveaway!)

noreply@blogger.com (Gill) — Sun, 09 Feb 2014 20:04:00 +0000

The 22nd Annual Wellness Show comes to Vancouver February 14-16, 2014 at the Vancouver Convention Centre East (Canada Place).

I'm not sure how this is the 22nd year and I have never attended the show, but I am very excited to go this year. It's the West Coast's largest trade show devoted to helping you live your very best life, and that mission rings pretty true with me!

The show includes includes exhibitors, speakers and demonstrations on a diverse range of health and wellness topics, such as nutrition, exercise, beauty, healthy aging, alternative and holistic therapies, mental well-being, healthy kids and pets, and green living, all under one roof.

There will be five stages featuring fitness demonstrations, Wellness Workshops, Women and Wellness Presentations, Living Well Seminars, and the Celebrity Chef Stage, presented by Alligga Flax Oil (featuring executive chefs from Acorn, Graze, Tojo's and The Parker). There are entire sections dedicated to Tea, Natural Beauty, and an expanded gluten-free section.

I'm taking the kids and Mr Awesome with me, so I'm excited to hear that Gymnastics BC will be there, offering a guided circuit for children to try.

One of the best parts of expos, exhibitions and trade shows is the free stuff and samples, and at The Wellness Show you can snack and sample your way around the exhibition halls with Liberte Yogurt, RA Energy, Westpoint Naturals, RISE Kombucha, Natureland and many more. Show partner Nesters Market is providing a large organic market section, with lots of goodies to share. YUM!

The Wellness Show hours are from 12-7pm on February 14, 10am to 7pm on February 15, and 10am to
6pm on February 16. The show takes place at the Vancouver Convention Centre East, Exhibit Hall B & C, 999 Canada Place in downtown Vancouver.

Tickets are $14.50 General Admission, $12.50 Seniors 65+ / Students with valid ID, $6.00 Children (5 and under free), and $30.00 for a 3 day pass. Tickets are available online at thewellnessshow.com, or at the door.

And now...a giveaway!
I'm giving away two tickets to The Wellness Show and a great bag of goodies from some of the show exhibitors. Enter below! (Sorry, but you must live in the Lower Mainland of Vancouver to be eligible to win.)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

2014 Race Plan

noreply@blogger.com (Gill) — Sat, 08 Feb 2014 21:23:00 +0000

As part of my 2014 goals, I am aiming for ten races this year. Here's what I have planned so far:

January
Vancouver Chilly Chase 10K - January 26
Run With Jess Snowball Shuffle 8K (virtual) - January 31

March
Hot Chocolate 10K - March 1
Shamrock'n Race 7 miler - March 16

April
Vancouver Sun Run 10K - April 27
(I don't actually like this race very much because there are WAY too many people and you end up dodging more than running, but my work is reimbursing most of the registration fee to join the employee team!)

June
Scotiabank Vancouver Half Marathon - June 22

Because I love the race bling I prefer races that come with finisher medals, but a well organized event and good experience are more important. But I do have to fill up the empty hooks on my new medal hanger!

So, six out of ten are planned and registered. I need four more...any ideas? What's your favourite race?

2013 Race Re-cap & 2014 Goals

noreply@blogger.com (Gill) — Mon, 27 Jan 2014 00:28:00 +0000

Today marked my first race event toward my goal of 10 for 2014. I've set out a goal of two half marathons, and then eight other organized running events, virtual or in person.

In 2013 I participated in six events, including one 5K snowshoe race. I ran a total of 386 miles. I don't set New Year's resolutions, but these are the fitness goals I've committed to for this year:

Run in 10 events (including 2 half marathons)
Run 500 miles
Complete Focus T25 Beta and Gamma rounds

Today was #1 of my 10 events, the Vancouver Chilly Chase. They had multiple distances and I opted for the 10K. I hadn't run more than 4 miles in a while so the last ten minutes or so proved pretty challenging but it was a good race. I'm not sure of my official time but it's likely 2 minutes longer than I actually ran as I had to make a pit stop in the washroom! I think I will likely show as about a 1:08 but it was closer to 1:06.

As a bit of a re-cap, here are the races I did in 2013. My top two were the Tinker Bell half because Mr. Awesome and I (sort of) ran together and the BMO half because my family watched me cross the finish line.

runDisney Tinker Bell Half, January

Tubbs Romp to Stomp Out Breast Cancer 5K Snowshoe, March

Spring Run Off 8K, March

BMO Vancouver Half Marathon, May

My kidlets after cheering me across the finish line!

Scotiabank Vancouver Half Marathon, June

The Biggest Loser Half Marathon Seattle, October

Santa Shuffle 5K, December

2013 was a fantastic year for my fitness and I can only hope that 2014 will bring as much inspiration and motivation. I've registered for the Scotiabank half again as it was a great route and a pretty well run event. (Plus it's largely flat or downhill!)

I'm still searching for my second half of the year, so stay tuned! HAPPY 2014!!

Christmas at Canada Place: A Holiday Tradition

noreply@blogger.com (Gill) — Mon, 25 Nov 2013 18:46:00 +0000

Okay, yes. I work at Canada Place. I may be a WEE bit biased, but I wanted to share with you this awesome Christmas activity in Vancouver, Christmas at Canada Place, presented by Port Metro Vancouver. It brings together two of the most important factors when searching for a holiday experience for your kids - it's undercover/inside and it's FREE.

For the past few years Canada Place has been restricted for space due to construction, Olympics prep, etc during the Christmas season. This year the entire experience will take place down in the cruise ship terminal. Some of it is in the covered outdoor area, some is inside the actual terminal. The theme is "Christmas in Canada."

This year's activities include:

Live performances (click link for schedule)
Covered synthetic skating rink "under the Northern Lights," sponsored by Northwest Territories
Curling
Mini holiday train, sponsored by CN
Avenue of Christmas Trees
Santa (weekends only)
Food trucks - BeaverTails, Sugar Shack and Poutine, anyone?
Mrs Claus' Cafe - hot cocoa and coffee
Santa's Workshop craft area
Storytelling
Canadiana photo booth

And who remembers the Woodward's Windows? I remember my parents taking me downtown to wander past the amazing characters and animatronic displays. When Woodward's closed down, Canada Place purchased the windows and they've been part of the Christmas at Canada Place experience ever since.

Check out the full performance schedule, but there are some great performers coming in. Community choirs, carolers, kids' performers. Can you say Will Stroet and Bobs & Lolo?

Christmas at Canada Place runs December 1-31, closed on Christmas Day. Hours vary by week, so visit the website for the full schedule.

As I said, I work there. But as a parent of a four and six year old, I am pretty confident we've made the experience worth the trip. Come on down and celebrate the season!

Review: "Skinny" Wines

noreply@blogger.com (Gill) — Sun, 24 Nov 2013 19:02:00 +0000

Whether it be celebrating your holiday of choice or just spending a relaxing evening, it's nice to be able to enjoy a glass of wine. But what will you give up to make up for the calories? The roasted potatoes? The scoop of ice cream?

I hate the concept of having to "give up" foods you love. My whole journey has been about balance, and a lifestyle change that restricted my choices too much wasn't going to work for me. If it means an extra long run or workout on a day I knew we were having a big meal, so be it.

Well, alcohol companies are getting smart. People are getting healthier and reducing their consumption to avoid drinking their calories, so what do you do? Make products with fewer calories! You've likely seen the commercials for the 64 calorie beer, but now the shelves are starting to stock low calorie wine!

I've found two so far, Skinny Girl by Bethenny Frankel and Skinny Grape. Skinny Grape gives you marginally more wine for your 80 calories at 142ml (versus 125ml for Skinny Girl). It's not a massive reduction in calories compared to a standard wine, but you could save yourself about 100 cals per glass, depending on the size of the glass.

Here are the labels and nutritional info:

And the wine is not bad! I've had more expensive, "fancier" wines that have tasted worse. Both offer a decent taste and are completely drinkable.

On the Skinny Girl website they list a whole whack of additional varietals which I have yet to see in stores, but you better believe I will be hunting down that Prosecco for Christmas morning!

As they say, drink responsibly. And enjoy!

I Woke Up And It Was November

noreply@blogger.com (Gill) — Sat, 23 Nov 2013 23:18:00 +0000

How did that happen?! Where has this year gone?

I was telling someone the other day that I was a blogger but that my page was fairly out of date. Um...that was an understatement. I've been posting regularly on my FMW Facebook page, but haven't been able to find the time to sit down and compose a post.

Why, you might ask?

Since my last post oh-so-many months ago, here's what has happened:

Three more half marathons - BMO Vancouver, Scotiabank Vancouver, and The Biggest Loser half in Seattle.
I got a NEW JOB! I now work for Port Metro Vancouver and Canada Place. My team is responsible for producing Canada Day at Canada Place, the second biggest Canada Day celebrations in the country. We also manage all the community relations, community investment, corporate communications and educational programs. Busy, but awesome.
Painted walls in our living room and bedroom.
I've traveled to Kelowna, Edmonton, Regina, Saskatoon, Seattle, Pittsburgh, and just got back last night from Orlando.
I turned 38.
We're currently working on Christmas at Canada Place.
Most recently I started Shaun T's Focus T25 workouts, but it's challenging to fit them in with my running schedule. Still working on that.

And all that is on top of spending time with Mr. Awesome and the kidlets with their own increasingly busy schedules. And my friends. And the house, the garden...

Blog? What blog?

I really do miss it. I love having a place to create, to share, to vent. It's all about what fits, and I will just have to make it fit. Working out is making time for me, and so is blogging. It's that 30 minutes I get to spend just in my own head.

Time's up. Back to the laundry.

Vancouver's Greenest Family?

noreply@blogger.com (Gill) — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 03:18:00 +0000

We don't own a hybrid. We don't frequent farmers' markets every weekend. We don't wear all naturally sourced cotton fibres. We don't have a living roof...unless moss counts. But could we be Vancouver's greenest family?

VancouverMom.ca is holding a contest right now, searching for Vancouver's greenest family. When Mr. Awesome and I first saw it on Twitter we started talking about it, and we realized that we do quite a number of things on a daily basis that might actually put us in the running.

The contest has some required content, to find out what families are doing to emulate Kermit the Frog. Bear with me as I fulfill the contest requirements, but also dazzle you with our eco-awesomeness.

QUESTION: List three small green things your family does.

EAT YOUR VEGGIES!
We grow our own veggies. Mostly from seed, some from seedling. I am still working on my green thumb so I can't say we get ALL our vegetables from our own garden, but in the summers we are getting pretty close. Spinach, lettuce, tomatoes, carrots, beans, peas, herbs...now if I can only get my onions and squash to work we'll be set.

LOW ENERGY? GOOD!
Where possible, we limit our energy consumption. We have LED or CFL bulbs in ever fixture in our home. It took me a while to get used to the different light they throw off, but Mr. Awesome insisted because of the energy and cost savings. I hate admitting when he's right. We even changed all our Christmas light strings over to LED. The bulbs are brighter and they use a fraction of the energy.

We installed "low-e" windows and "High-R" insulation in our home during our reno, both of which are designed to reduce energy costs.

Also during the reno, we installed a Navien tankless water heater. It only heats the water as needed, instead of using energy to heat stored water that may not be used.

Last but not least, we have an Energy Detective that allows us to chart our power usage for the devices in our home, to recognize the big "power sucks" and change our habits. (The TV is probably the biggest culprit for energy consumption, in case you were wondering.)

VEHICLES
While we don't own the aforementioned hybrid, we did downsize Mr. Awesome from a minivan to a smaller vehicle last year. His fuel consumption is now half what it was before.

QUESTION: Tell us about one big green thing your family does.

Here's our "one big thing":

We reduced our household garbage output to less than one kitchen bag per week. Over the last few years we have started a couple of simple things that have had a major impact on our trash output.

COMPOST
We started composting all our kitchen scraps two summers ago, adding a second tumbler last year. Finally, about a month ago, I looked inside our original contraption. I felt such a feeling of accomplishment when I cheered "We made DIRT!" We spread it over some of the garden last weekend and I could almost hear the plants squeal with delight.

RECYCLING
Almost everyone I know recycles to some degree, but a few years ago we discovered WCS Recycling and their Red Recycle Bag program. They encourage you to think "outside the blue box," and they recycle any and all plastics that your municipality may not accept. For a small fee, we take our granola bar wrappers, styrofoam trays, plastic straws, Costco blisterpacks, old broken plastic toys...it all gets recycled instead of ending up in a landfill. They call us "Red Baggers." I'll be honest, I don't love the name.

QUESTION: How do you get your kids involved?

Our kids are involved because they live in our home. I do get them to help with the veggie garden to help them understand the planting and growth process and where food comes from, but everything else is really the only reality they have. They know where to put the plastics for recycling, they wouldn't know a hot water tank if it walked up and said hello, they like to help flip the compost bin...it's just how they're growing up so they don't know any different.

QUESTION: Tell us what you love about living a green lifestyle.

Until this contest and the writing of this post, I don't think we would have described ourselves as living a "green lifestyle." Over the years we have made simple changes to our behaviour, things that would inevitably save money but also just be a good choice for our family and the environment.

Our daily lives include a number of things that some might consider "green." Here are a few more:

I make my own deodorant
We have removed all products containing parabens from our home, replacing them with better alternatives
We use reusable shopping bags
I mow the lawn with a push mower
We don't use any pesticides or herbicides in our gardening
We clean with green products where possible, and we're currently experimenting with a vinegar and orange peel concoction

I love that we do all of these things because they are simple and we know they have an impact on the world around us. Beyond that, they are great lessons for our kids. Mr. Awesome says "It's our way of life, it's not like we're on a trendy diet of environmentalism!"

So...does all this make us Vancouver's Greenest Family? I hope so, because the prizes are awesome. But even if we're just an "also ran," it was kind of cool to put all the little things we do on a daily basis together and realize that we actually do quite a bit. As they say, every little bit helps.

Who you gonna be when you get to be you?

noreply@blogger.com (Gill) — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 00:37:00 +0000

Questionable cowboy grammar aside, these lyrics struck me as I was out for a run the other day. They are from the song "When You Get to Be You" by Canadian country artist Lisa Brokop. It's part of my running mix and I'm usually completely oblivious to anything but the beat of a song when I'm running, but these words broke through my haze and started me thinking.

Where you gonna go when you go where you wanna go,
Who you gonna be when you get to be you?

People are often dissatisfied with their current reality, and take steps to better their lives, their bodies, etc. I did, and almost every page I follow on Facebook represents someone that has done, or is doing, the same thing.

So much of a quest to lose weight, maintain weight loss, get healthy, train for a half marathon, etc, is the journey towards being the best version of yourself. These lyrics make me think about who that "best version" actually is...or eventually will be. What does that person do, think, wear, say? But then I also get frustrated with these words because I AM me. I'm me in whatever form exists today, this minute.

Oscar Wilde is quoted with saying “Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” I love this quote. I spent a good part of my school years trying to be like someone else or dress like someone else. Such a waste of time. Here's anther great quote:

You are always yourself, there is no escaping it. You can't be anyone else, so just be the best you possible. And I don't mean you have to be perfect every day. Trust me, there are days when I am a terrible version of myself, but it's the best me possible in that moment, facing the situation in front of me.

Get to know yourself and enjoy being you, whoever you are.

The First 100 Days of School Suck.

noreply@blogger.com (Gill) — Sat, 26 Jan 2013 19:31:00 +0000

I don't know if it's just our particular class, or the fact that BC schools have moved to all-day Kindergarten, or that our little man is a bit younger socially than kids his age, but his first 100 days of school have pretty much bit the big one. This is part of the reason that I didn't blog for so long - you might notice the "hiatus" began after September 1st.

I have never felt more like a mom than I have this past three months. Obviously I've always been a mom and love my kids unconditionally, but as I phrased it when telling a friend about our situation, "This shit just got real."

They must celebrate the 100 day mark for a reason, as if everything magically improves at that point. I am hoping so. I know that it's an adjustment for all the kids, especially now that they're there even longer, but our little guy has been through hell. He's really quiet around other kids, has a VERY vivid imagination to the point that he gets lost in his own make believe worlds, and he doesn't like unpredictable movement in his immediate vicinity - think dogs, small children, etc. He quite often raises his hands in front of him if anything gets too close.

We started getting reports every day that he was pushing other kids, kicking, hitting, saying bad words...every parent's nightmare. We talked to him about it but he could never really explain what was happening. He would tell us that other kids were hitting him, but he would never tell the teacher or the playground monitors when it happened.

It all came to a head in November, and I just happened to have a week off. I was volunteering in his class and had the opportunity to observe some of the behaviour. Kids were running up to him, telling him to say bad words and then telling on him. They were rushing him and hitting him, and then telling on him if he put his arms up to protect himself. Yes, he sometimes hit back, he sometimes pushed kids out of the way, but it was clear he was being targeted and baited. He'd been identified as different and was paying the price.

Mr. Awesome volunteered one day and witnessed a boy go up to our little man, who was playing quietly by himself, and kick him in the chest. This same boy was the centre of various reports we heard, knocking kids down, sitting on their chests, choking people...but he never seemed to be the focus of any discipline. No one ever reported it as it happened. And it seemed that his behaviour was serving as a model for all the other kids. Soon EVERYONE was hitting, kicking, punching...it was completely toxic. I knew we would face bullying at some point in our kids' school careers, but in KINDERGARTEN?!

It's not helped by the fact that 14 out of the 22 kids in the class are boys and they are very rambunctious. With a pretty much unsupervised breaks at lunch and recess, these kids are running around going nuts and having no idea what their boundaries are.

I started to get serious anxiety, as I was at a complete loss for what to do. Did we change classes, schools, consider home schooling? I was looking at any and every option as nothing seemed to be getting better. But we really like his teacher and he was doing well "academically," if you can call it that at the age of five.

Finally the school started to take some action. The behavioural consultant started paying better attention to the actual behaviour, instead of just listening to the reports of the monitors. They had a meeting of the resources team to see what could be done. Finally they were addressing the problem. We are very present in the classroom through volunteering, and one of us is always right there at pick up and drop off to check on how the day went.

The Christmas break seems to have made a difference, and all the kids seem to have calmed down a bit. There are always reports of someone doing something to someone else, but it no longer seems to be ALL about our little man. We're still working on getting him to say something when someone does something to him, to use his "big voice" and ask them to stop, to move away, to tell a teacher, but that kind of response isn't his first instinct. In fact he quite often smiles when he's uncomfortable so someone that doesn't know him well would think he's fine or enjoying himself. Only we seem to know better.

I hesitated blogging about it as the situation is still fairly unresolved but, as I usually discover through blogging, we can't be the only family going through this. And no one seems to talk about it, so here I am. Talking about it.

We're quickly approaching the 100 day mark. We will see how things go, and just love him, support him and teach him the best ways we know how and hope it all gets better with time.

Ugh.

Why Run When You Can Fly? (Or Call Me Tink.)

noreply@blogger.com (Gill) — Sat, 26 Jan 2013 15:00:00 +0000

Pre-race ignorance.

Okay, we didn't exactly "fly," but Mr. Awesome and I can now say that we have run a half marathon. And with decent times. Any finish time is a huge accomplishment but I'm proud of my 2:37 for a first attempt.

Seven months of training and anxiety, one pair of New Balance runners, running gear for all kinds of weather July through January, a completed half marathon...I think I can actually now call myself a runner. Which is the WEIRDEST thing I've ever called myself.

For those that don't know, we did the runDisney Tinker Bell Half Marathon, which weaves its way through California Adventure Park, Disneyland and the streets of Anaheim. It was awesome. It starts at 5:00am as everything needs to be cleaned up before the parks open. That means a 4:00am arrival time. UGH. But probably best because if I'd been any more awake I may have let my nerves get the best of me.

Post-race glow.

We were very lucky to have friends near San Diego come up for the night and look after our kids as of 3:00am. Not sure how other parents do it, but judging by the fact that there were VERY few men (1600 out of 12,000) participating, I guess all the dads were on kid duty while the moms were running.

I started to get quite nervous the day before. There was no turning back and it got very real. It had always been so far in the future but all of a sudden we were there and it was happening. A colleague of mine and experienced runner shared some advice she'd received that had stayed with her. John Stanton, founder of the retail chain Running Room, had said "Trust your training." So I did. I never actually trained to the full 13.1 miles, the furthest I went was 10.3 during my training runs, but I felt that I could handle the extra distance. Granted, the last 2-ish miles did kind of hurt, but it was manageable. The good news was that the first 10.5 hurt a lot less than they had in the training runs...just goes to show they make those programs for a reason and the system works!

runDisney puts on a great race, with all the polish and pizzazz you would expect from a Disney-related event. You get a unique after hours (actually, before hours) peak into the world of Mickey Mouse, and behind the scenes too as some of the course goes behind the magic. The Disney "Cast Members" are out in force throughout the parks, cheering you on. I know they were getting paid, but the fact that they were out there at 5:00am was pretty awesome.

We would definitely do it again, but now I'm scouting other destinations...why not use them as motivation to keep going? Vegas? San Diego? Walt Disney World? New York? It's a whole new world of possibilities!

Speaking of motivation, I got to meet someone that was part of mine when I was going through my weight loss. Ali Vincent was winner of The Biggest Loser season 5 and she was at the pre-event Health & Fitness Expo. I watched all the seasons online while losing weight, and they really did inspire me. Thanks Ali!

I know lots of people complete half marathons every week and it's not an earth-shattering accomplishment for everyone, but this was a big deal for me. I used to skip runs in high school feigning exercise-induced asthma. I hated running and avoided it at all costs. There were definitely times I considered packing it in and forfeiting the registration fee, but several things kept me going:

Mr. Awesome. He was always encouraging, supportive and telling me he was proud of me. That and the fact that he was registered too made it hard for me to quit.
My friends and co-workers. What an amazing group of people I have around me. Always checking in, always encouraging and when the time came to head south, everyone was coming by my office with good wishes. Two friends even gave me this awesome pair of socks to inspire me.
Sheer determination. I made the process public on Facebook and I'd be damned if I gave up and disappointed anyone, let alone myself.

So, first one down. I went for a short run the other day and it didn't kill me so I guess I will keep going. That and the fact that I've already registered for the BMO Vancouver Half Marathon on May 5...more motivation. :)

My bling.

Wahooo! I'm a runner!