No More Stay-Puff Marshmallow Girl

Just under a year ago I began a journey.  I was freshly separated and on a path to take back my life and my body.

Some time in October, I got my running groove back.  I ran a series of five 5k races over the cold, snowy winter months us Wisconsinites love so dearly.  I jumped into Lake Michigan on New Year's Day with all of the other Polar Bear Plungers.  I took a "Freedom Trip" to Austin, TX and ran and biked to my heart's content the week after my divorce was final.  I've returned to road biking recently.  I'm off to another change with a new teaching assignment this fall.  I returned to grad school and will be finishing my masters degree in May.  I have made countless friends through this program - friends that have supported me through my personal evolution and continue to cheer me on, while I do the same.  This past weekend, I had the opportunity to meet three of them live and in the flesh - what a great Friday and Saturday we had.  I am in a relationship where I feel valued, appreciated, treasured, and respected.

Life is good.

This morning, I ran the Dirty Girl Mud Run with a team of my former colleagues and other friends.  Many of these ladies I haven't seen in at least a year.  They have seen pictures and posts on facebook, but no face-to-face contact.  It was an amazing experience on so many levels.  Just awesome!
The before picture is from my cousin's wedding last May.  I thought I looked fabulous.  My mom received this picture from my cousin's wife a few months ago.  My mom pulled me aside, with tears in her eyes, to show it to me...to "show me how far I've come."  Of course, my mom is a mom and tells everyone she can how amazing I am and how great I have done over the past year.  Moms...they're the best!

The after picture is from before this morning's Dirty Girl Mud Run.  We were Team Tutu Dirty.  The Tutu is in a trash dumpster somewhere, the shoes were donated to a worthy cause, but the feeling in my heart - and the pain in my body from climbing, crawling, jumping, running, slithering - is with me.  The pain will go away in a day or two.  The feeling of accomplishment - that's one of those things that sticks with you for a good long while.

I have a bit to go before I reach my weight goal.  However, the goal I told my health coach when I started was to be able to run and bike and take part in the events that I love to participate in.  Friends, I'm there!

To all of you just starting out - you CAN do this!

To my friends that I have gathered into my arms along the way - I LOVE each and every one of you.  Thank you for your unconditional love and support.

Go get 'em, tigers!!!

Gratitude

A year ago, I had one of those life experiences that leaves you feeling like the floor suddenly dropped out from under your feet.  I came home from finishing my first week of the school year to my husband asking for a divorce.

The details of this are not important. 

That the people I often refer to as my advisory council were by my side within a half an hour – that is important.  That my parents and these dear friends surrounded me with love, support, encouragement, hugs, and yes, later there was pizza – that is important.  That for the past year each of these people, and so many more, have cheered for me as I’ve picked up the pieces, swept up the mess, put myself back together and become stronger and wiser and more determined than I have ever been – that is important. 

I look back on the past year and am amazed by what I’ve done.  There are so many changes that have happened and each of them brought amazing things into my life.  I live in a fabulous flat with a fabulous landlord – she left baked goods my second day here, supplies me with Sports Illustrated and the occasional bag of produce – seriously, I hit the jackpot here.  I’m in a great, safe neighborhood where I can bike, run, walk, hit the stores, see the family and walk to class.  I picked up running again – and at a time of year when us Wisconsin folks do not start running – winter!  I ended the year with a 5k and started this year with another Polar Bear Plunge.  I took my first completely independent vacation and fell in love Austin, Texas while clearing my head, shaking out the cobwebs, and celebrating my freedom.  I am back in grad school and am almost done with my reading teacher license – something I’ve wanted to do since I was an undergrad.  I am back on my road bike for the first time in three years – alleluia!  I am about to embark on a new adventure in teaching as I move to a new school to work with an incredibly enthusiastic, motivated and energized English department.  I have, more times than I can count or my mom gotten the words out of her mouth, witnessed that yes, mom, everything does happen for a reason. 

This does not even touch on the journey I have been on in my mind and with my body.  If you have been around, you know what I’m talking about.  The running and biking are part of the journey that has changed me inside and out.  I am down about seventy pounds from where I was a year ago.  Yes – that is important!

So many great things have happened in the past year.  It’s not because I’m lucky or followed some how-to self-help book.  It is because I focused on what is positive, didn’t let anger permeate my life and moved forward towards what I want.  I am still on a journey.  It never ends.  There is always something new – a challenge, a job, a class, a book, a relationship – to keep us sharp and fresh.  But I cannot say enough how focusing on what I have and what I want has pulled me through. 

So, today I will again start another month-long journey of focusing on gratitude.  Each day, here and on facebook, I will be posting three things that I am grateful for.  I invite you to share something(s) you are grateful for on my posts or to start your own month-long journey. 

30 Days of Gratitude, Day #1: 1. My family 2. My friends 3. My own strength and determination

Go get ‘em, tigers!

Positive Peer Pressure

When I was a teenager, peer pressure was generally something that was talked about when referring to something I was not supposed to do.

Now that I am an adult, I see that peer pressure can work for and/or against me.  Of course, it may be easier to stand up for myself as an adult – but the temptation to be one of the crowd isn’t all too different than it was twenty plus years ago.

Today, I succumbed to peer pressure. 

A friend posted on facebook about a run he is doing later in the month.  I simply inquired about the event (and threw out a little comment about how he said he’d show up to a run on new year’s eve & do the polar bear plunge on new year’s day but bailed on both) and then the gauntlet was thrown down.  He said he’d show up before and finish before me.  Oh no he didn’t.  That was it.  You KNOW I made my decision then and there to run this event.  I may not have intended on doing any races for a few months – but that changed as soon as a challenge was thrown out for all of the facebook world to see. 

Now, I’m signing my registration form and sending that and my money away for my registration.  Darn peer pressure!

But this is a GOOD peer pressure.  Yes!  Running a 5k is a good thing.   It’s not smoking a cigarette, doing drugs or any of the other things my parents feared when I was a teenager.  I’m sure they’d be thrilled to hear that a little friendly banter persuaded me to sign up for this run. 

AH HA!!!  And what do you know...I just was tagged in a post from another friend that after seeing that I’d signed up for this 5k she just registered for one in her area!  

My succumbing to peer pressure sent another person to sign up for a 5k.  This is fabulous!  This is what I’m talking about.  Positive Peer Pressure!  Bring it on!!!

Oh, my little tigers…you make me so proud!

To my dear friends Ossie (who has been a peer for many, many years – we’re about to celebrate 20 years since our high school graduation) and Melissa (another traveler on the journey to health and wellness), Cheers! to you both!!!

Go get ‘em, tigers!!!

Stretching Boundaries...or Busting Them Down to Nothing!

Originally Published January 10, 2012


This whole journey has been about change.  

Changing my eating habits.  Changing how I handle food.  Changing my lifestyle.  Changing the level of activity in my days.  Changing my body.  Changing my mind.

Last week I underwent a major change when my divorce was finalized.  I am officially single.  I have my maiden name back (well, legally, at least...I'm waiting for the paperwork to be sent so that I can go through all the steps of changing it back on my license, the ss office, my employer and bank).

Well, I'm officially on my adventure to continue on this journey of change.

I am on my first solo vacation in a city I've never been to.  Heck, I'm in a state I've never been to.

So, here I am in Austin, Texas with a whole city outside of my door.

What was my first activity?  Running, of course!  Today ran around the state capitol and the university campus.  Tomorrow...who knows!

I'm about to venture out for an afternoon/evening of exploration.  Today, I'm keeping it close to the neighborhood I'm staying in.  Tomorrow, I have ambitions to head further out and to check out a few of the spots I've been looking forward to seeing.

This is a big change for me.  Huge!

I'm the girl who waits whose first instinct is to wait outside a restaurant when waiting for friends because I don't want to go in alone.  Even in my hometown, I'm often out and about with friends and am only out solo for errands and runs.

Here, it's just me.  Nobody to entertain my but myself and the city.  Oh, and from what I've seen in just over 14 hours (most of those asleep), this city is prepared to entertain.

So, go forward and stretch your boundaries, friends.

What Motivates Me?

Originally Published January 5, 2012

The question "what motivates you?" was asked on the discussion boards.

Here are my thoughts...

1. ALWAYS have water with me.  Even when I go into a different room at home/work.  Really.  My Camelbak bottle goes everywhere I go.

2. Read the boards - stay away from negative posts and chatter about "cheating" and interact with other members - build your network here

3. Read, post your own, comment on blogs - I don't read all of them, but I read most.  If it speaks to me, or I can contribute or give a pat on the back, I do.  Share when you are struggling, people will reach out to give ideas.  Share when you're successful - we want to learn from each other and share what's working.

4. Set goals - not weight/date goals, but things you want to accomplish.  What do you want to get out of this?  Do you have an activity you'd like to do?  Non-weight goals are very helpful.  Mine are running/biking related.  Running a 5k (check, check, check!), a 10k (aiming for March 17th), a half-marathon (May 5th), biking a double century in a weekend (I've done it before - will do it again August 4-5th), running a marathon (hoping for October).

5. Measurements on a regular basis.  I started with weekly (crazy, but true).  Now, I do every 2-3 weeks.  I keep a table with the results.  After a few months, it's unbelievable to look at that.  Do the same with your weight.  The outcome is awe-inspiring!

6. Take progress photos of yourself...even if they are only for yourself!  I didn't change my profile picture or share other pics until I lost almost 100 pounds...that's when I was comfortable sharing.  But, I have been taking them every few weeks for myself.  AMAZING to look back at them and compare where you were with where you are - and it helps see where you are going.

7. Ask for help when you need it.  If you feel you're challenged with motivation, say so and ask for help.  This is why you build a network - they're the people that will have your back when you need it!

8. Do whatever you can to manage your environment and dining out.  Choices are choices.  The choices you make will determine your success.  Advocate for yourself and your health...nobody's going to do this for you.  Communicate with the people you spend time with what your food needs are.  

9. Every few weeks, go try on some clothes at a store.  You don't have to continuously buy new clothes (I've bought hardly anything between what was in my closet from previous weight loss and two VERY generous friends who have gone before).  However, every few weeks, I'm at the mall trying on clothes.  It's fun and gives you an idea of where you are at.

10.  Did I mention water?  DRINK LOTS OF WATER.  It fills you up.  It flushes the yucky stuff out of your body.  It keeps you hydrated.  It's good for you.  

Wishing you all an amazing journey to health and discovering your potential awesomeness! 

Go get em, tigers!

Run, Jenny, Run!

Originally Published October 23, 2011

I haven't blogged since I got sick - just over a week ago.  I've missed this outlet, but have been checking in on everyone else during this time away. Since then, I've gone through all the stages of upper respiratory infection fun and excitement, joined the $10 a month gym two blocks from home, baked four dozen cupcakes for my goddaughter's birthday, hosted a chocolate party (and didn't indulge in anything except my chocolate MF shake), and I've started running.  Yes, this girl here...the one who started this program less than two months ago weighing in at a whopping 279 pounds...this girl who is now down 40 pounds...she is RUNNING! I could cry...real tears that would be mixed with the sweat staining my face.   My first trip to the gym landed me on a treadmill in front of a tv airing the President's press conference.  I turned to my trusty iPod and cranked up the volume...and the incline...and the speed.  Oh yes!  I had my iPod and my cute water bottle...and cute socks (always - always cute socks for this girl!)!  That first run was 2.4 miles of non-stop huffin' it until my 25 minutes (self-imposed time for day #1 post chest/nasal ick) was up.   My second trip just ended.  I was in front of the Packers v Vikings game, again with the trusty iPod and my spotted (not moldy, polka-dots!) water bottle and a groovy playlist.  I'm so excited to be running and doing this for ME that I could cry.  But, I don't want to be the girl who cries at the gym...so I'll save me tears for the post run shower! Wishing each of you a cathartic experience like this along your journey. Hugs, love, and lots of water for you! ~Jennyv