It Was Amazing

That is what you call one spectacular weekend.  A few weeks before competition my sister kept telling me, "Just be like you were on the day of your wedding.  You have never been so beautiful!"

The day of my wedding while sitting in the salon getting our hair done the other customers were coming in asking which one was the bride because they couldn't find the girl freaking out, which is normally so easily tagged as the bride.  I was as calm as I could be.  I'm the middle child and not one that is used to having the spot light.  I like to do my thing and people passively give me a pat on the back later without much fuss.  But, on my wedding day I fought every urge to hide in the shadows and make that THE DAY of my life that I would share with Dale and remember with so much love for the rest of my life.  It was the kind of day that I wanted.  Everything was smooth and calm and beautiful and I embraced the spotlight and the feeling of never being so beautiful. 

Saturday can't top my wedding day but it came extremely close.  (FYI - the days I had my babies aren't even in the same ballpark)  I kept waiting for the uncontrollable shaking feeling to emerge from pure nervousness and being scared out of my mind, but it never came.  The only time I lost my composure a tad was when I pinned the #1 MOM pin onto my backstage bag when I was packing up my stuff.  For some reason every time it caught my eye I got teary.  Wyatt gave me this on Mother's Day this year. 

Other than that, I kept my composure and the nervous feeling never came.  Friday evening I slipped on a dress that couldn't have been more perfect and highlighted my body perfectly.  I've been a little depressed over losing a lot up top.  I felt hot and beautiful and really wishing I was sharing that night with Dale.  I had a good time meeting new people and enjoying the fact that my sister was getting a lot of honor amongst this crowd.  She shines in her line of work, as she should. 

I hit the sack later that night and slept well.  I got my mind set in the morning and up early for hair and makeup.  Wow, that is a new experience.  I didn't offer any suggestions to Loni and let her do her magic.  I was a little freaked at how dramatic the look was, but understood that stage makeup is so much more different than every day makeup.  Seeing pics of myself made me feel a lot better about it.  It was hard not to try to dab it off a bit though.  I'm glad T and Stacy told me to knock it off.  It was so much!

We headed down the street to start our day.  No matter what, I was happy with what I was stepping on that stage with.  I didn't feel quite as muscular as maybe I should have been.  My running schedule and my total ignorant thinking around how to eat like one of these competitors is what led to that, I believe.  Tionna was telling me to have a cheat meal, but it never sank in until a little too late that she wasn't just trying to be nice to me.  I needed a cheat meal so it could build me up and add some volume.  All I can say is when you are going through something like this you need to trust and completely let yourself be free with information between you and your trainer with every single area of you.  You need to be willing to describe everything that is going in and coming out of your body, literally.  She was telling me that, but I wasn't completely getting it until later. 

When it was time to go stage side I pumped up in the hall as much as possible and told myself that I had nothing to lose.  OWN IT!  Go out there and let me and T's hard work show.  I did exactly that.  I didn't hold back.  I even got a call-out, which means the judges want a closer look.  During this call-out you really have to show them what you have.  Apparently I didn't quite work it as much as someone else but I'm not harping or fretting on that.  This show is so much more than your physical look.  It is about how you carry yourself and your stage presence as well. 

By the time it was ready for the night show some of that adrenaline had worn off.  My head started messing with me a bit because I knew Dale would be out there.  I didn't want to embarrass him and this totally isn't his scene.  I just had to forget about that and go out there and do my absolute best.  I threw my shades on my face and stepped out there hips-a-swingin and popped to the side to strike my 80's Material Girl pose.  I slid my arms up the sides of my torso and posed like no one was watching.  As soon as I did that the crowd cheered like crazy.  I loved it.  I really don't remember anything else I did.  I just knew I had a blast with it!  Later Dale told me how proud he was of me.  That's pretty big for him. 

I embraced the spotlight again and didn't hold anything back.  I did the best I could do with what I had at the time.  I got every ounce out of this experience that I wanted to and more.  I did something I never thought I would do.  I lived this experience to the fullest for me making friends along the way.  I took the first steps to talk to others and reach out without fearing rejection.  That is something I needed to let go of a long time ago.  What a freeing thing to do and others respond to that.  Just a truly amazing experience.  One I will NEVER EVER forget and will ALWAYS be thankful for. 

Thank you all so much for the messages over facebook, Instagram and the texts.  They kept the waiting time backstage flying by.  There were so many to go through I absolutely loved having so many people by my side.  The girls backstage were amazing.  Everyone helped everyone else.  They shared food, offered hair and makeup assistance, and we created new friendships.  You really didn't have a choice not to get close to these girls when you are basically nude and you all smell disgusting from not being able to use soap for a number of hours. KC Divas ROCK!

Tionna, Stacy, Loni, Monica, our local tanning salon, Fahrenheit Tanz, Dale, my boys, Christen, Cherryh, Lewis, Lyndsey, my mom and dad, GINA, Kenzi, my high school girls, Linda for helping us out so much, and so many of you who reached out to cheer me on.... THANK YOU SO SO SO SO SO SO MUCH!!!!  Hugging you all right afterwords that were there was the sweetest icing on my cake!  I celebrated with French Toast and woke up feeling it in the morning.  Blech!!  I definitely payed for that deliciousness. 

T and ZenFit has about 6 new clients starting pronto and I can't wait to see how much T shines through these new clients.  Find her and follow her.  She's doing amazing things.  She will also start serious prep for World's where she is on a mission to make a huge appearance on that stage in VEGAS, baby!

I still have a huge goal I'm striving for this weekend.  Tonight I asked Dale to make sure he is at the finish line of my first half marathon this Saturday.  I have a feeling I might be a slight bit of an emotional mess when I cross that finish line.  I had a tear roll down my cheek this morning just thinking about it.  I've worked my butt off these last few weeks (months) taking myself to places I've never been and doing my best at being the absolute best me I can be.  And no matter what, this Saturday I will be able to say I DID IT!  And I DID IT WELL!  

I hadn't ran for 2 weeks and yesterday was a day full of eating whatever I wanted to eat for Wyatt's birthday party celebration.  I thought today's run might be disastrous, but it wasn't.  Another EPIC run in the books.  More on that and the birthday party on another day. 

So much love to you all!!!!  Enjoy more pictures!!

Some of Loni (hair and makeup girl for the show and she's unbelievably gorgeous and down to earth) and Stacy's beauty must have slipped over to me.  Plus this is before Loni touched my hair and makeup.  How I look good next to these girls blows my mind.  I think this is close to one of the best pictures of me ever and I totally don't see this when I look in the mirror.  So crazy to me!  Look at Stacy and Loni's shoes.  The picture doesn't do them justice, but aaahhhhSOME!!!!

I don't have any pics of me in my theme wear yet, but I'm sure you will see them once I get some. 

My cousin Gina posted this on facebook and titled it BOND GIRL.  I had to verify if it was actually me or not.  It was and SO COOL!!!

Onto another amazing weekend!

The Countdown Begins and my Momma's Day

It’s killer week…. The show is in 12 days. This week I’m hitting it hard in the gym. Well, that’s no different, I guess. I’ve been hitting it hard. But, 12 days. Only one Saturday in-between. I know this is a big commitment, but I want to try to blog every day. It might not be much. Maybe a line or 2 just to check in and let you know how I’m doing/feeling. This week is a busy week if we can actually get some baseball games in. It’s a busy week at work as well. And, Dale leaves for the State Track Meet on Thursday, so solo-parenting it is for me! Yay – ha!


Speaking of, I’m so happy for Dale. He had a small team this year, but a great group of kids. They ended up qualifying 6 kids for State for 4 events. When the 4x1 team found out they qualified they were so excited. One of them was standing my Dale and the other coach when they delivered the news… priceless moment right there. They were so happy. I’m glad I caught a glimpse of that moment. My husband is an awesome coach. I felt you should know. Track State is a pretty special time and one the athletes won’t forget. So proud of them!  They love our boys too.

Mother’s day – I felt loved and appreciated. How a 4 and 6 year old know it is important to make me feel loved blows my mind. They were bringing me “flowers” all day. Waylon came in with some dandelions and some of my mom’s tiger lilies later. So sweet those boys! Dale had to work. That’s what happens when you start your own little business. You have to make sacrifices. I wish I could have helped him, but I had my hands too full. We all had a great lunch together and then went to do our own thing. I missed him, but I was ok with it.

Yes, he looks like me!

I started my day with an outstanding run. I was supposed to do a 15k race, but who can find an actual race at that distance? Not around here. So, I decided it would be my own little race. I ditched my water bottle and GU in my driveway because it would turn out to be my half way point. I ran my hilly 4 mile route as the sun came up. I’ve fallen in love with that way. I got up the steeper hills chanting “plump that bootay” I crack myself up. I added a little extra to it because of the distance I needed for the day. I said hi to the cows and I was feeling great. I got back to my driveway and jogged for a little bit so I could eat my GU and then drink some water I took a picture too.

4.88 miles down

 This was my slowest mile, as expected. I ditched my water bottle again as I headed into town. Holding the water bottle when I run just means long and slow to my mind and I wasn’t in the mood to run long and slow. My legs were feeling so good I decided to go with how I was feeling and not really hold anything back worrying about having enough left for the miles ahead of me. I didn’t get anything in on Saturday other than being on my feet the whole day, so I had a lot of stress and frustration around having 2 rest days in the week. Plus, my eating and water intake on Saturday was poor!!! I didn’t eat enough and I didn’t drink enough. I feared Sunday’s run because of that.

As I headed into town I decided to take the routes I liked the best. That worked out well. I saved the cemetery for my last couple of miles. I thought maybe I wouldn’t have the emotional breakdown if it was in my later miles instead of close to the middle. Worked like a charm! I ran up the hill with a smile on my face and I ran through there feeling awesome. Somewhere along the way I muted my app which usually tells me my mileage and my pace every mile, but he shut his mouth long ago so I didn’t know where exactly I was or how my pace was going. Instead of stopping to try to figure it out I told myself I feel good, just go with how well you feel. Don’t worry about the pace. BEST.DECSION.EEEEVVVVEEEERRRRRRRR! I tried to check it coming out of the cemetery and I was around 8 miles. I had 2 miles at the least to get back to the house.

So homeward I went. The good feeling just wasn’t going away. I really couldn’t get over the way I was feeling and I knew my pace was good just by my form. The last hill before the bridge usually has me running like I’m pushing a walker with a broken hip or something, but I flew up it Sunday. I had to stop and get my hidden water bottle in which it hurt to not be moving and back up I went. Down shifted, I had about 800 meters left. Homestretch, literally. I found myself sprinting to my driveway. Felt so stinkin good!!! I did not tell myself one negative thing or doubt myself the entire run. The last 4 or so miles I was chanting Strong Legs, Strong Mind, Strong Core and going through my favorite running verse, Isaiah 40:31.

I stopped my app and was beside myself when I saw that I had just completed 10.34 miles at a 8:26 pace. That may not sound fast to some, but I’m only running twice a week. I’m not in full blown half marathon training and I’m running better than I did at my peak last year.

Breakdown:
Mile 1 – 8:46 – It was 36 degrees and dark
Mile 2 – 8:30
Mile 3 – 8:45
Mile 4 – 8:16 – up the longest and most hated hill. The kind of hill you forget you are even going uphill except for how your body is completely bogged down. It seems flat when your feet are moving. Long incline – those are the killers!!!
Mile 5 – 9:24 – drink, GU, picture
Mile 6 – 8:30
Mile 7 – 8:30
Mile 8 – 8:04
Mile 9 – 8:27
Mile 10 – 8:01

I got my Maddox and stretched in my favorite spot and then headed in to hug 4 jammie wearing sleepy heads (my nephew spent the night). A great start to Mother’s Day. I was feeling it later. I was a little more tired than I expected through church and got cranky because I was hungry right after, but all things that were fixable. I ate a nice big plate of chicken, shrimp, and rice and headed out to celebrate my momma.

Throughout the day my left foot/ankle was hurting. I think it was just tired. It feels a lot better today. I’m not worried about it at this point. I’ve had the same pain in my heel last year, but it isn’t anything worth quitting for.

We stayed too late at my parents and it was loads and loads of laundry to fold and 3 really dirty boys to get showered up and in bed once I got home. As I was getting Wyatt’s bag ready for today I found a Mother’s Day card he had forgotten to give me. I took it back to him and asked why he didn’t tell me about it. He got a really familiar embarrassed smile on his face and said, “That picture… oh my Gosh, it is so stupid. I didn’t want to do that, but teacher made me. So dumb.” As he shook his head.

I laughed hysterically and could NOT get over how much of his personality is just like his daddy’s. He would look at the picture and just shake his head and laugh. I love him. I love that sweet middle one too. And that little one that makes me earn every single bit of this title of Mommy!

Hope you all had a good one too. I’ll check in tomorrow.

Ripples In The Tummy - How To

I woke up exhausted. This week like the weeks previous has been crazy. There really isn’t a break in sight. I’m tired. I can feel my mind getting weak. Weaker moments are slipping in as far as doubts, abilities, just negative stuff. I realize it is my choice to pull it all together and make it happen. Things are getting harder. It is harder to balance. It is harder to have a positive attitude. Our days are packed with things to do right now. It is just an all-around busy time of year for us and packing 2 huge goals on top of that makes the chaos almost unbearable. My mind is playing tricks on me as we are coming down to seeing the light and the finish line. I have a choice to kick or give in. I have to find yet another gear. Kicking used to be one of my specialties!

This weekend's running schedule was tough.  A 5k race for KC Corporate Challenge, which I actually pushed and my 10.88 miles on Sunday before church, which I felt every bit of. I may or may not have cried running through the cemetery again.  Like an ugly cry that I would be embarrassed of if anyone actually saw me.  Hopefully that car I passed at the stop sign didn't notice the tears running down my cheeks.  Tuesday was my rest day this week and that is just too long ago for me. I just need to breathe. Do the best I can and breathe! We will get there. I WILL do this! I CAN do this!

Week by week, day by day, hour by hour, I’m going to get there. I’m just going to breathe!

So, I’ve had a TON of questions about what I’m doing for abs. First of all, abs and my rear end/upper hamstring have been my slowest to respond and my trouble areas. That is where my fat goes. I didn’t seriously start training abs every day until a couple of weeks ago when I got frustrated at the slowness of their progress. I took it upon myself to do every ab exercise I could think of pumping out about 500 plus abs exercises. It was killer and I think jump started things. Then my sister set a plan for me to do something every night with abs. Because they are made up of so many muscles you can work them every day if you choose to. I’ve asked for her blessing in sharing this information. She was all about letting the cat out of the bag. It’s all about helping our fellow men and women get to their best selves, right?!

Here we go. Take notes, come back here and read often, etc. If you want to do this I highly recommend taking some before and after pictures. You will love to see your progress. Let me tell you though, this is a complete package deal. Don’t expect to keep eating all the same crap you may be eating (if you are on the unhealthier side of a diet) and not work your body out in other areas and see results. All of these things work together. Ladies, lifting weights affects a lot of areas of your body. If you are standing up right curling you should be able to feel some of that in your abs because they should be tight to keep you stable. Lunges? You are using your core to stabilize your lunge down and bring that knee forward to take your next step. It all works together.

Here are some pics of before I started ripping on my abs. 

Those 2 are purely running and yoga and that was after completing P90x as well.  A thing to remember is the look of your abs could change day by day or actually from morning to night.  Don't get discouraged with yourselves.  So many factors play a role in your tummy area.  Food, stress, posture, etc.  Do your best at controlling all of those factors.  If you slip up, try harder the next day.

So, what I'm doing? 

During my workout Tionna usually has me doing some sort of ab workout mixed in with whatever muscle group we are working.  Usually something like hanging leg raises, knees up, or double crunches with a weighted ball.   Later in the night I will take time before bed or when I can get it in to do more.  Monday, Wednesday, Friday I try to do cross body moves to help define the line down the middle of my core.  Tuesday and Thursday I do straight on abs, crunches, heels to the heavens, etc. Saturday and Sunday I do whatever I feel like doing with abs. 

I don't have pictures of all of them but if you have questions just ask away.  I will try to explain the ones I do have pictures for. 

This first one is pure awesomeness and totally hard.  I felt really accomplished when I finally got this one.  Note:  you may fall, you may lose your balance, you may get really frustrated with how badly your body is shaking.  Breathe, control, push on until you get it.  You WILL get it. 

Start out as shown here

Tuck knees

Extend back out to plank and raise up as much as you can.  Really use those core muscles to get you up there.  You want your back straight as if it is up against a wall.  If you aren't there yet, keep trying. 

10 reps - 3 to 4 sets

CROSS BODY

There are 3 exercises in this set.  Do 20 on each before you switch to the next exercise.  So, you will do a total of 60 with your right arm, left leg before you switch to do 60 with your left arm, right leg through all 3 exercises.  

 

1.  Rested knee/opposite elbow  (20)

2.  Extend knee - bring it in to meet opposite elbow  (20)

3.  Straight leg raised - arm extended to meet opposite foot  (20)

Rest, Switch arms and legs, Repeat above!

You want to do 3 or 4 sets of these.

#1 - Start with your leg on your knee and your opposite elbow needs to meet your rested knee

20 reps

#2 - Extend your leg then bring it in to your opposite elbow

#3 - Straighten your leg and bring it up to meet your extended opposite arm

When you are down your leg should only be inches off of the ground as well as your arm raised over your head only inches off of the groung.  Bring it all up to meet in the middle and squeeze!

Go take ridiculous amounts of pictures of yourself in the mirror because your abs be poppin!

Another one I do, I think she calls it Bird Dog or something. 

Start on your hands and knees.

Ball up - Bring your left arm in to meet your right knee

So, your knee and elbow should be meeting around your belly button. 

Extend your arm and leg and REACH as far as you possibly can.  Squeeze that butt and reach with those fingers. 

Do 15 to 20 with right arm/left leg

Then switch and do 15 to 20 with left arm/right leg

Make sure you reach and squeeze

Squeeze when you are balled up and squeeze when you are extended.

3 to 4 sets of those, too.

Take a lot of pictures so you have proof you are making progress when you doubt yourself.

 

BAM!  Rock it, ladies!  Work it, sweat, keep trying and some day you will wake up and not have to try every position achieveable to see one little ripple including coughing or leaning as far back as possible.  Don't act like you've never done it!  You will wake up, lift your shirt and say, "YES!"

Sometimes I forget I have them.  I get to doubting myself and feeling like I'm not good enough to step up on that stage with these girls that have been going through the same things.  Then I lift my shirt and tell myself I'm going to be ready.  I'm so close.  I still have some issues with my lower core muscles.  I'm still working on those hard.  I also need to shape up my lower back muscles and my lower butt/hip area.  I know I am in awesome shape, probably the best of my life, but I have a stage to walk onto nearly naked, so I need a little more work. 3 weeks out, actually a little less than that as far as exercise.  I'm so ready to get this going.  Here we go....

Let me know if you all have any questions.  Go thank T for the awesome info!  Better yet, go hire her!  She will whip you right into shape!

Food I Eat, Plans to Use This Passion of Mine, and MORE

Today is a day I want to be cuddled up on my couch in the dark, watching tv or movies all day with a soft blanket and absolutely nothing to do and eating whatever I want to eat with absolutely no guilt. Days like that go by way too fast. A nap, oh how glorious a nap would be.


Life goes on. I’m at work plugging away and later I will be at the gym lifting away and sweating out my hair that takes too much of my morning.

I’ve read two inspiring things just this morning that spoke to the deepest and warmest part of my heart. If you get a chance, google She Reads Truth – community testimony Johanna Price. Prepare to be lifted up and blown away. Beautiful words. God has opened my eyes, my ears, and my heart to inspiring women and being inspired. I have such a passion for encouraging others right now (men too). An even bigger passion than living my own healthy lifestyle. You are completely worth it ladies, no matter your past, what you did 5 minutes ago, or last night, or anytime in a moment of weakness, YOU are completely worth being your best and you can start right now. It doesn’t have to be a Monday, a Sunday, January 1st, or any 1st of the month. You can start now. Just take the first step and hold on to it. Say nope to those things that will turn you back. Those steps will take you places you never really dreamed once you start believing in yourself. YOU ARE WORTH IT AND YOU CAN DO IT.

And, on Facebook Galit (love her) asked our opinions of a perfect date. I didn’t have time to read through her wildly popular list of responses, however I entered my own idea of a perfect date:

“A hot dress, smelling his cologne, seeing his ring on his finger, food, and just slowing down together.”

Perfection right there. Complete perfection. Our lives are a constant race from one morning to one night and onto the next. There are nights we barely get 2 words in that don’t involve commands, something about the boys or the dog, questions about the next day’s activities. It is all too rushed and hurried, so nights when I get my husband to myself and have time to transform into my sexiest self and take him in for all that he is are pretty dang special to me. We don’t need a fancy restaurant or an agenda that would romance a troll, just us and slowing down. It feeds my soul.

Speaking of feeding myself, I’ve gotten a few questions as far as what it is I am eating. I’ll try to make this short and sweet. If you have questions private message me, comment here or on Facebook. Whatever you prefer. Your question may be the same as others so if you feel like sharing please do so publicly. First, I really can’t thank Yahu enough for her encouragement and teaching she offered when I was really new at this. She was a tremendous help teaching me what to do and what not to do and holding me accountable. We did this on Facebook. She’s in Florida. I’m here in KC. You can find love and encouragement just about anywhere if you are open to it. There were also others on Facebook that were a huge help. I thank you all so much!

Breakfast –

1. Eggs usually with Quinoa and sometimes salsa. Sometimes with turkey breast and peppers and mushrooms.

2. Oatmeal if I am in a big hurry and didn’t fix eggs the night before.

3. If I’m in a huge hurry sometimes I will eat Kashi Go Lean cereal with Almond Milk – Vanilla

4. Sometimes a protein shake full of Kale, Spinach, protein powder – vanilla, mixed fruit – no sugar added, Chia Seeds, sometimes Steel cut oats, and Almond Milk

5. Or a protein shake with steel cut oats, banana and peanut butter, and Almond Milk

I rotate those as much as possible so I don’t get burnt out.

Lunch –

1. Turkey breast that I cooked and lean with peppers and mushrooms and usually quinoa, salad with vinaigrette, green beans (sometimes), about 3 strawberries

2. Chicken that I crockpotted for the week and broccoli or some other veggie and usually quinoa usually some kind of fruit

3. Tuna with some black beans, quinoa, green beans

Again, I rotate and most of the time I have ½ an avocado in there somewhere each day.

Snack –

1. Celery stick with peanut butter

2. Strawberries

3. Pistachios

4. Hummus with mini peppers or grape tomatoes, cucumber, or celery sometimes with wheat thins, but I’m trying not to eat much of those if at all.

I usually have a snack around 10am with some protein so I can see straight after my lunch hour training session and then again around 2:30ish.

Dinner –

1. More of the same from lunch. I cook my turkey breast or crockpot my chicken usually on Sundays for the week. Much easier. Also do this as much as I can with veggies. No carbs except if I have a small amount of black beans or quinoa.

2. If I need something sweet after dinner I will have a celery stick with a small amount of peanut butter. Peanut butter has been a lifesaver. I love peanut butter. It is so sweet and so filling. I try my hardest to keep my total amount of peanut butter for the day to 2 tablespoons. If I’m desperate for sweet I can take a small spoonful of peanut butter and eat it with nothing. Fills my craving. I know some might raise their eyebrow at that, but I feel like I need it or I will cave to something worse.

The diet has surely been the hardest part. Once you get the hang of how to throw things together it isn’t bad and my body doesn’t crave much of the bad stuff, but it is the fact that I CAN’T have the bad stuff. You all know how I get when someone tells me I CAN’T have something. It’s like a roaring challenge within me. So far so good. Fixing dinner for the boys and Dale is hard sometimes. I have to admit that I have taken a small bite of something I have fixed them, but it stops at one small bite and I’m not exaggerating. Dale can attest to that. I’ve been good and these last few weeks I plan to keep it that way. Dale took me to Olive Garden this weekend. The thought of not having those breadsticks and that cheesy lasagna was tough. I did really well and stuck to a tilapia and shrimp soup and salad, it was so good and I asked to have the very last tiny bite of Dale’s breadstick. Tiny, tiny bite. That was it. It was enough to satisfy me.

This is getting long, so I’m going to try to wrap it up.

Boys – they are good. Weston is asking to be potty trained and is doing well, but I’m not pushing him. I don’t want him to slide backwards and lose interest. Wyatt is doing much better in school and Waylon is still silly, silly Waylon. They have both started baseball and when we do get to have practice they both do well. Wyatt seems so big to me, but when I see him at that plate he still seems so small. Love those turds like mad even when they don’t listen to me and wipe their buggers on the walls. Hearing Weston say, “Where’s brudders” might be the cutest thing ever. And my Maggot (Maddox) still such a perfect addition to our family. We are giving him more and more freedom and he just loves it. He can’t be beside me and stand for me not to be touching him. I’m also keeping in touch with his previous owner and we hope to find a race we can do together and have Maddox join us. So cool!!! Beyond cool how God places people in your life and the timing of it all.

In other news, I’ve mentioned before about my want to give back and use my passion in a way where it glorifies God and can bring others to that point. I’ve talked to my pastor and his wife and we are going to start talking about maybe a Saturday session that we will open up to the community for exercise, tips on what to do at home, healthy eating, etc. Stay tuned if you are in my area. I can’t wait for this to take off. I hope we have a huge following and can spread the love to so many no matter what age or what physical condition. We want to make this for all levels. Look for updates and more info coming after the show. I feel like if I take that on now I would be spread way too thin and I want to give it attention it deserves. Thank you all so much for the love and encouragement. Really, thank you so, so much!

The photo contest starts tomorrow for a spread in INK Magazine for one WBFF athlete (WBFF athlete? That’s me – and no, it doesn’t seem real). I will need your likes and shares and tons of likes and shares from your friends, neighbors and stalkers. Like 5 Sharp Lives on Facebook for all updates pertaining to training and this crazy busy life of mine. Love you all for all that you keep burning in me and what you are taking from me and applying to yourselves! So proud of so many of you that have commented and sent messages from Instagram to Facebook to email. You all are awesome. Awesome. Awesome!!

And thanks so much to my sister and Stacy. Those girls… couldn’t do it without them! Mad love for them!

Getting Stronger

Boston

My excitement on Monday was on high tracking 3 of my friends as they ran one of the, if not THE, race of their lives. 

Boston

I watched in amazement as Tia's splits came across the screen.  I was so happy and thrilled for her that she was on pace to blow her marathon PR out of the water and coming really close to running sub 3. 
I watched as Kristen's times showed up as well.  She's running strong.  I hoped she was feeling as strong.  What a race for her. 

And Amanda.  Amanda will always have a place deep down in my heart from the time I first met her in college to forever.  She went in with a different goal.  She went in to enjoy this race and her splits were coming back faster and more consistent than I had imagined they would.  I prayed that she was feeling strong mentally and physically. 

I couldn't get these ladies out of my mind.  I so wished I could be there cheering them on when things got so, so difficult and seeing for myself that their mental and physical game was as strong as those numbers hitting the splits.

Proud

Living vicariously

All had finished by the time I got back from lunch with great times. I ran to the bathroom (because that is what I do now 100 times a stinkin day) and as I was walking back to my desk I saw the news.  I couldn't get to my phone fast enough.  I needed to  know they were ok.  Knowing someone finished and what time didn't really matter.  I knew there was a high likelihood that they could still be around the area.  Tia and Kristen checked in but no one, not even her mom, could get word from Amanda.  I was hopeful, then thinking the worst, and praying hard.  Thinking "What IF".  I was about to grab my purse and get out the door because I just couldn't be working and carrying on about my day with not knowing she was ok.  Finally we got word and I was so relieved. 

I'm still in a bit of shock with everything that is going on.  Some asked if that would change my mind about doing events like this.  Heck no.  Not in a million years.  I don't get it.  I don't understand it and maybe it isn't for me TO understand.  I know who is in control and I know where I'm going if such an event happens to take me.  Fear is not in question. 

What I love?  The runners, the athletes, the communities around the world coming together with support and love.

United

Choosing to move on STRONGER. 

I couldn't help but imagine running a marathon and not getting to finish or finishing and then picking up barricades, ripping signs, and barrelling through to get to injured people on the other side.  That's what I saw, people who had just finished running running toward the explosion sight to help.  I continue to choose to see the GOOD.  Could you imagine the exhaustion you would feel after such an event and then go right into help mode?  I pray for those that were close.  That went through this experience.  I pray that God strengthens their minds and they are able to process through all of this with mental strength in a healthy way.  I pray for all involved, the families of the one's killed, the hurt, everyone there, and all of us that are heartbroken about the entire situation. 

If you want to hear stories from my friends you can watch for updates on their blogs by clicking their names above. 

***

On a training front - things are going well.  Still working hard and I will be turning it on harder.  You have to believe I'm using the above events to fuel my fire.  My workout Tuesday had Boston written all over it.  I'm dialing in on the abs and the backside as much as possible these next 5 weeks.  If it takes 500 sets of ab exercises and 300 lunges every day then so be it.  Meals = same old thing.  Keeping it as clean as possible.  Stay tuned to help me out on a photo competition coming next week.  The winner will get a spread in INK magazine.  Follow my 5 Sharp Lives Facebook page and follow tsharp12 on Pinterest to help me out.   Stacy (pictured below) will be on stage with me, thank the good LORD!  Soon, very soon, I hope to blog about what doors this whole experience has opened and what sharing my experience with others is doing for others and for me!  Exciting stuff!!!

***

It has been a crazy busy week at home and at work.  Last night we had tickets to attend an event with Dr David Jeremiah, a pastor who has a radio program.  It was a long day full of work, a mini photo, work, working out, finding what to wear on stage, eating, and then meeting Dale and his mom for the event.  I was tired after a stressful week at work and working out and everything else in a busy mom's life and my attitude getting there sucked.  I complained to myself about how stupid the seating was and sat there all bulled up at the beginning.  Then I realized what I was doing and where I was and actually asked myself, "are you kidding me?"  I said a little prayer to have my heart lightened.  And, soon after it was.  I enjoyed the experience no matter who was beside me or how they were acting.  It was worth the long night and a blessing for sure.  Many people went forward and THAT is always worth it.  What an experience to see people make that decision for themselves. 

So, needless to say, today I'm exhausted. I'm ready for this weekend.  I'm ready for this rest day (except for abs and lunges). I'm ready to run with Boston in my heart this weekend. 

Good Luck in Boston and an Overdue Update

Today, on this Patriot’s Day, a few of my friends are up in Boston taking in an experience I can only imagine wraps you up and takes hold of you until it is down into your bones. What an atmosphere it must be there. Top runners from all over the world taking on a brutal 26.2 miles. Wow! I get a little choked up just reading through their facebook messages and blog posts. This is something you just don’t wake up and do. You spend months, some even years, preparing for a moment like this. I’ve never ran into double digits consecutively in my life until this year (God willing), but I have followed many that have and it isn’t just your legs turning over and your arms pumping. It is emotional and life changing. I’ve heard you learn a lot about yourself and a lot about living a solid balanced life ready to face the mountains it offers. I’ve learned so much just training for 5k’s and half marathons to believe every bit of that to be truth. Good luck to all my friends out there on that road today. Maybe someday I’ll experience that. Do I hear another HUGE goal in the making? Maybe, maybe not.


On my training front… wow, training aside, the love and support that I get popping up here and there, well, I can’t really describe it. It humbles me and it pushes me on. I can’t thank you all enough. To get random messages from people that I didn’t even realize were following my journey or cared what I am doing just means the world to me. I can’t say or thank you enough to express what you are doing to my heart or how you are fueling my journey. Thank you for stepping out and saying something to be a part of that. If I can inspire one person to make a positive, healthy change in their life I feel like I have won. Maybe the majority want me to shut it, but for the ones that have sent me messages, emails, texts to say they are inspired… well, they are worth annoying a few others. So, I’m not going to shut up anytime soon. I may even start to get louder.

It’s been awhile since I’ve blogged. Training over my lunch hour leaves very little time for me time. I usually get me time during my drive to and from work, which doesn’t allow for blogging. My life is so full right now. I was thinking earlier it is like those days when you have a pile of laundry on the floor that you need to get to the washing machine but all of your baskets are full of either dirty or unfolded laundry, so you try your hardest to pick everything up in your arms and make it across the house in one trip without dropping anything. As you go socks slip out. Underwear hits the floor. You toe grab the shirt that slid off the top and wrap the pant leg around your arm just to get the job done. More times than not you have to go back for something. That pretty much describes my life right now. Yes, there is DIRTY laundry literally and figuratively just for those that think this journey is a piece of cake – a non-white flour, sugarless, no frosting, or filling piece of cake.

There are boys to love, a house to keep picked up, meals to cook and eat, baseball practices to attend, etc. With so much going on some or the majority of the things on your list fall off the pile and I have to find ways to pick them up, dust them off, and give them the attention they need. For those of you that didn’t get the picture blast on Facebook and Instagram we now have an awesome dog named, Maddox, aka Maggots. No matter how much Weston tries he just can’t say Maddox and it is admittedly adorable! He fits right in and we get to skip the very time consuming puppy period. Not that I don’t like the puppy period, but we just don’t have time for puppy time in our lives. Maddox can pick up right where we are and I even got a little run in with him. It wasn’t an official run but it was a run and he did great at it. His previous owner taught me a trick with the leash, which is a lifesaver. Maddox could drag me through the trees and drowned me in the pond if he wanted, but this trick is just plain awesome and simple. You pretty much just wrap the leash around his chest and back up through the top so it is snug around his chest and not choking him and he isn’t pulling me everywhere. Works like a charm. If he starts to pull the leash gets tighter around the chest so he backs off and stays in control. He gives some pretty sweet hugs too.

Back to training. I was getting pretty worried for a while as I didn’t think my body was responding as it should. I had a lot of bloating around my stomach and my abs were being stubborn. After my 7 mile run on Sunday the weekend before last a switch was flipped. I think it was exactly what my body needed. My stomach is starting to shape up. We are 6 weeks out. I’m nervous. Just talking about it makes me nervous. My goal is to not show everyone that this is my first time on stage. I’m pulling out a new fitness diva personality when it comes time. Be ready! This week we worked back, arms, shoulders, a little chest, and I don’t think we did legs this week or we did them early and I can’t remember, but I can tell. Last week my legs were SOLID. I mean S.O.L.I.D! My butt down into my hammies and quads. This week they aren’t as much. You’d think after running 11 miles in a weekend they would still be solid, but they aren’t. My running is done on Saturday and Sundays alone. No running during the week unless it is a warm up or after some boys.

Runs – wow. My Saturday morning runs have become torturous. They are short and supposed to be faster, but they aren’t so fast. I don’t know if it is just transitioning my body back to runner mode or what, but every step sucks and I want to quit. I should be able to handle 3 miles, right?! Sunday is a completely different story. They are so fulfilling and they actually feel really, really good. I don’t even need to talk myself out of being negative with them. At 4 miles yesterday I felt like I could conquer the world and any problem that came my way. I felt awesome. Around mile 6 I didn’t feel as great, but not wanting to quit anytime soon. 8.18 total miles, the longest I think I have ever ran and it was awesome. And actually fast, sub 9, which is fast for now and with the training I’m doing. Beyond satisfied with that. I think the final pace was 8:48. I’ll take it! If I can hold on to that pace for 5 more miles I would be extremely satisfied with my half marathon time. My hips felt the strongest, which is good. We have been doing a lot of hip work. Lunges, deep squats, etc.

This weekend was just one of those weekends when things felt easy. Easy to keep my patience, easy to adapt to what we had to do and not worry about what wasn’t getting done, easy to love, easy to be loved. Everything was easy except that 3 mile Saturday morning run. It is days like this that let me know I can do it. I need days like this when the days of screaming, fighting, and constant struggle are looming. I’m thankful for the easy days!!!

Eating – it is going well. I’m not too picky with food anyway besides those sweets. I’m loading the veggies as much as possible and making sure I try to eat as lean of a meat as I can. So far so good and I’m sure it is making a difference on those long run days where I need the fuel. Previously if I went out and ran 5 miles I’d be dead the rest of the day and cranky, but these last 2 Sunday’s with long runs, it’s like I never ran. My body isn’t sore, my energy is up, and my mood is good. More of that please!!! And, when I pass that bowl of tiny candy bars at work in the morning I can smile instead of talking myself out of going closer to it. Cahnges are starting to become habit, life, a part of me. That’s where I wanted to get. I probably won’t stay this strict with my diet forever and will savor a few good ole country comfort meals once this training is over, but for the most part I am like a chameleon… changing!!!

I think that is enough for now. I’m going to try to blog more as we dial in on 2 big goals coming soon. I want to make sure I’m journaling this experience. I may never do it again.

Again, thank you all for the love and support. Keep it coming. If you have an idea for what I should wear for my theme wear shoot me an idea. We haven’t decided just yet.

Oh wait, playing catch. OMG, playing catch. I have 3 boys, you all know that, but when I knew that that was my future I pictured sports and dirt and a lot of energy. Man, I must be some kind of psychic! The weekend before last I had an actual game of catch with the baseball with Wyatt. Waylon joined in some too. But, to actually throw the ball and not have to hold back much just felt amazing. That boy has a sweet arm when he lets it fly too. So much potential in his future. This weekend we played catch with the football for over an hour it seems. I have to admit he threw that tiny plastic football much better than I did. That’s the reason I do this. That’s the reason why I want to make sure I am in shape. I want to make sure I can run across the yard after a football and make great catches with my sons. I want them to know I am right there with them and can step in and do what they want to do without them saying, “but I don’t like to play with mom because she can’t …” I want to run trails with them, explore the world around them and not be left behind grasping my knees and having a heart attack. That’s why I’m here doing what I do.