What Keeps Me Motivated?

Alli came up with a great new topic for the fitness bloggers to blog about tonight! "Staying Motivated for Success" What keeps you motivated to keep racing or competing?' I could probably write you a novel about what keeps me going. Literally it is not 1 thing or one magic saying.

People always ask me how I have shed the 100+ pounds in the past 14 months and I tell them, it has been a lot of hard work. And it has. But what made me do it? What keeps me going?

Well for starters this girl:

 

That is my beautiful daughter whom I refer to as 'peanut'. She is 20 months old and the day she was born it changed me forever. 

I do not have a mom who is a part of my life. My grandmother whom we lost 3 years ago was that special woman in my life. So it is hard, it is hard being a mom and a woman and not having that motherly figure to call when I am upset, or to turn to when I am sick. All of that in my life made me depressed. And after giving birth I went through a dark period, a post-partum depression and when peanut was 6 months old I said to her that I could not continue. I was going to lose her father, and our family if I did not make some kind of major changes. I thought if I got skinny it would solve my problems. So I joined Weight Watchers and started eating better and losing weight.

After a few months it got boring, I was losing weight but that was it, I was still depressed and the real root of the problem was not solved, I did not love myself. I did not appreciate who I was as a woman, mother, and friend. So I started exercising more than I was already and I looked at the couch to 5K program. I am someone who loves being told I cannot do something, this pushes me to do it! Well someone had told me I would never be able to run. So I said you know what I will start running. 

And so it began. I could not run when I started. I used to walk on the treadmill doing the hill routine and little by little I started jogging. When I weighed 220 pounds I started lightly jogging. It hurt, it made me tired and sweaty but it felt good. I kept at it. Before I knew it I was running. I signed up for a 5K in September and I debated on if I would even be able to finish, or if I should even do it. But then race day came September 17th, 2010 and I did it. I ran the whole race and finished in 28:10 and I felt amazing. I will never forget that day, it changed me forever. It made me realize I was slowly becoming a runner, I could achieve anything and most importantly that I was happy.

 Us at our first 5K see I was pretty big still

And so my journey racing began. I ran another 5k in October and trained all winter. I started running in snow and wind. I bought a mask and gloves and trucked out there even when people told me I was nuts. And I signed up for a half marathon. And you know what? I got out there on Cape Cod on a cold snowy wet miserable typical new England morning and ran it. I finished in 1:59 and that was it. I knew right then and there that I was an athlete and I was capable of doing great things.

Running made me more disciplned with my eating, it made me push myself harder and harder than I ever had. It keeps me training and forces me to stay in tip top shape. And 3 weeks after my first half marathon was done? I ran one more. Just to make sure I could, and I finished in 1:48. Never have I felt prouder than when I was crossing that finish line. I wanted to keep running, and I set my sights on full marathons. 

And that is what keeps me going each and every day. Even when its cold or raining out, even when I am sick, I still run. I run to live, I run to breathe, I run to feel alive. I race to keep setting goals for myself and working towards new Personal Records. And to me there is no better feeling than crossing that finish line and cheering other people on as they cross it. It is what I live for. It keeps me going out there and training to be better. It is not always easy to wake up early, or go for a long run when you are tired, but when you close your eyes and picture that finish line it makes it hard to not train! And winning medals can be a huge motivator as well! I learned all about that 2 weeks ago!

Me after placing for the first time in a race 2 weeks ago with my 2nd place medal :) 

What keeps you motivated?

Do not forget to go visit these lovely blogger who also blogged about it this week:

• Alli: http://wholesomefitness.wordpress.com/
• Jen: http://jenklimek.wordpress.com/
• Dawn: http://www.bareitallfitness.com/
• Donloree: http://www.bikiniorbust.com/
• Liz: http://4amaven.wordpress.com/
• Tiffany: http://passlakeprincess.wordpress.com/
• Kendra: http://grindhardlivefit.wordpress.com/
• Lisa: http://www.healthiestlife4me.com/
• Tammy: http://tammysmirror.com/
• Kari http://www.figuregirlworld.com 

What I'm eating this week

Everyone often asks me what I'm eating and how I stay on track.

My answer is plan ahead and stick to it. I am all about lean protein, fruits and vegetables. I go shopping every weekend and stock up on those items and this is what keeps me on track.

At work I started making my egg whites in the microwave:
I just take a cup of egg whites and toss in my fave veggies, and a little veggie shreds cheese. Got to love those ziplock containers ;) I go off to work wih them everyday!

For dinner I stick to my chicken breast seasoned with my favorite no sodium Mrs.Dash seasoning. I like buying the.chicken breast tenders because each one is 2 points. It takes the guess work out of things ;)

What are you eating this week?

My 7 Day Chip

I earned this 7 day chip during the whole 100 pounds lost and realized I never properly blogged about it. I have been itching to share with you the entire 7 day chip journey so I thought today would be the perfect day to do so :)

What is this chip stuff all about?

That is a common question. I will send you here to the man who began the chip movement. Brad Gansberg is a wonderful man who the chip quest for everyone who was looking to make some changes. The concept is to pick some healthy goals for yourself and take it day by day. There are 7 day chips, 30, and 100.

I began with a 7 day chip and my goals were to not eat any refined sugar and not to eat any flex points. While on the Weight Watchers plan you are allowed a certain number of flex points each week. I have adopted my own version and basically use the simply filling method. I do not worry about eating 4-5 servings of fruits and veggies each day and in turn just make up for it by not using the extra weekly flex points. It works better for me and makes my eating plan a whole lot cleaner. I decided to cut out refined sugar because I am on a mission to have tight formed abdominal muscles and the sugar will not help ;)

So I began my chip quest and I think day 1 and 2 were the absolute hardest. The need for sugar was worse than not using flex points. But after a few days I stopped craving it as much. It was hard, especially when it came to being at work, I work around candy and junk food all day so even the smell of chocolate sometimes sends me into a craving. But every time I need help I tweet about it using the hash tag #7daychip and without fail there is always someone encouraging me to stick with it and not give in.

That is the power of this virtual network of chip earners. everyone is so wonderful and supportive and I am so appreciative of this! They kept me going all 7 days and I did it!!! I went 7 days without refined sugar and using flex points. And you know what? I felt so good I kept going! I went a whole 14 days without them and it felt great. It helped me get to the big 100 pounds lost. It helped me feel so good about myself and empowered. I knew I could control myself and when I put my mind to it I can eat healthy and still feel satisfied.

And that my friends is what the chip is all about. It lets you work towards a goal you choose. And you work and learn about yourself a long the way. For myself I learned that when I do not have sugar I feel better physically. I have more energy and really not as many cravings.

So now I am working on my very first 100 day chip and the goal? Yes inspired by my awesome superstar friend Monica B and her 100 days of exercise I have decided I will take the plunge too!! I am committing to 100 days strait of exercise every day for at least 30 minutes a day. Today is day 8! Only 92 to go ;)

Have you earned your chip yet? What are you working towards?

Cocoa Oatmeal

Well as you know I am an oatmeal addict hehe... I have 1/3 cup of Bob's Red Mill GF Quick cooking oats every morning. I truly feel breakfast is the most important part of my day. It fuels me and keeps me going. That being said I look for my breakfast to be filling and tasty. I love using oatmeal because it is so versatile. People ask me if I ever get tired of eating the same thing everyday. I always respond no because honestly I do not feel like I do eat the same thing everyday. Yea I eat the oats but I make them so many different ways they don't feel like the same thing.

Lately I am on a cocoa powder kick. I started using it when I ditched refined sugar and I must admit I like it a lot. I tried it in my oats and loved it! I hope you do too.

Just take your oats and combine with 1 tablespoon of unsweetened baking cocoa and trivia or whatever sweetener you prefer. Then add water and stir. I cook it on the microwave for 30 seconds and then remove and add frozen berries. Then I cook it for 2 more minutes and done. I make 1/3 cup of oats, 1/3 cup of water, 1/3 cup of almond milk,  and the cocoa and fruit as I said above. I started using the almond milk and it adds creaminess and protein, and who can argue with that? I love the unsweetened almond milk and keep it around for oats and smoothies.

What is your favorite way to eat oats?

My Knee and What is Helping

Well I have been experiencing some knee pain here and there since the Quincy half marathon and it is getting worse so I finally booked an appointment and got it properly checked out this morning. Why did I wait? Well honestly it was upsetting and I almost let it derail me a bit. There was a part of me that wanted to ignore it and keep pushing. There was another part of me that got depressed about it and wanted to stop running so much. I wrestled with the emotions of it for a few weeks.

After this last long run on Saturday when I almost cried going down the stairs Saturday night I knew it was time to stop ignoring it and trying to be a hero and get it checked out. My good friend Lauren and fellow runner recommended I go to Marathon Sports Medicine to get a diagnosis and some help. So I went in for an evaluation this morning and it was not as bad as I thought! I am so relieved.

Back when I was pregnant I had several issues with my pelvis. Those issues are there again but not as bad. There is some weakness in my lower back and hips which is causing my leg to turn out differently. Also my left knee cap shifts too much so I need to do some therapy to help it. I am happy that it is nothing bad! I was getting worried especially after my long run on Saturday really caused me some pain.

The therapist was really nice and he said I have good range of motion and strength. When I started launching into my story about why I run and where I was 14 months ago he was amazed. He says I will not need many appointments and he will teach me how to do everything at home. He was glad I have a foam roller already and I will be using it more. He also said the Arctic Ease wraps were perfect for cooling down my muscles! Good thing because I like them!

So the prognosis on my running? He says I will be fine to run at the end of May and he will work with me to make sure I am able to! I have to stop doing long runs for now but I hope 2 weeks off of those is enough. I can keep it to 4 mile runs and any other cardio I want. So my plan is to keep running 4 miles probably 5 days a week and then elliptical and try spinning in between. And to use these:

I have learned this if nothing else, if something is bothering you make sure to have it checked out. The therapist was glad I came in and we caught it early enough so I can keep training and still reach my long term goal of running a full marathon in November!!!!

Have you ever had an injury that made you get upset and cause a set back? How did you over come it?