Standing Firm

The weekend is officially over.  Insert sad face here.  My parents were here all weekend and we had SUCH a blast having them in Charleston.  My dad spent most of the weekend looking like this:

Fix all the things!  Seriously though, that man is a lifesaver.  He can build/do/solve just about anything.  He even brought me a Dr. Phil book to read.  He made delicious turkey spaghetti for us to eat.  He even shopped ALL DAY on Saturday with me and my mom.  That's dedication to your family. 

So time to start all over.  It's Monday.  I wanted to start off the week with a new post that's a little two-fold.  I've had two thoughts really dominate my brain lately.  Standing firm and running free. I feel like I'm finding a good balance between those two thoughts in my personal life, so I thought I would share.  Part of this post is going to relate to the physical aspects of standing firm, the other half will be dedicated to mentally grounding yourself in what you believe.

Tonight, I did a little weight lifting with some friends by taking a Body Pump class. 

While I list Spinning as one of my first loves, I've started to become a little obsessed with weight training.  Why? Because when I first met with my Doctor back in April this year, on what I like to call Dooms Day (the day I figured out I was fat), she really encouraged me to start lifting weights in order to burn additional calories, thus leaning myself out and losing weight.  She could not have been more correct.  I started really focusing in my training classes a few times a week.  I saw some big time gains over a few months.  I used to not be able to bench press the bar (45 lbs), and now, I can press about 95 lbs on a good day.  I could not do a single hang clean with correct form for about 5 months.  I am really uncoordinated with some things, so it took me a long time to master the movement.  Finally, one day, after working with an awesome and patient trainer over and over (thanks Colt!), I was able to do a proper hang clean. That right there was like winning the lottery.

The one thing that I gathered from going to class and going to Body Pump over and over is that building muscle takes time and patience.   My fat did not start to melt away easily.  I was sore every single time, so I knew something good was happening.  Basically, I learned that this process would take dedication, patience, and a whole lot of perseverance.  There are days where I want to punk out and grab the little kettle bell.  Instead, I go with what I can handle at first, and then I build on that.

Quick shout out to my homeslice Ashley that attended Body Pump tonight.  This girl was anti-work out for as long as I can remember.  She recently joined the gym and is loving how she feels.  Good job dudette, save me some biceps, ok?

Now that I've imparted the physical part of lifting weights, let me get down to the mental part.  I've been challenged on a professional level lately.  I've had to really look inside myself and question over and over if I'm doing the right thing.  One of the things that kept popping into mind as I was starting to doubt myself was the phrase "stand firm".  I know that like weight training, dealing with tough situations will take patience and perseverance.  We all have our moments where we want to break down, throw up our hands, and just be done with things.  I've had to fight that feeling by just digging in my heels and trying to remain as calm as possible.  I think the major thing to remember here is that just like physically training yourself for greatness, you have to be consistent.  You have to lift the weight, strain, struggle, but do it over and over again.  You have to know that improvement is happening, even if you can't see it immediately.  You have to be steady and constant to those that are around you. 

For you all that know me personally (or just via the interwebs), you all know that I am a crazy, nutjob, insane University of South Carolina football fan.  I have been going to games with my dad since I was 5, and now, it's a tradition that I get to share with my fiancé.  One of my favorite players of all time is an incredible running back named Marcus Lattimore. 

You guys probably know him for his amazing speed and unbelievable touchdown runs during his short college career. If you Google him, you will probably also know him for the gut-wrenching, stomach-churning injury that occurred this past October when his knee was completely dislocated.  His leg was pointing in an unnatural direction on the field.  I've never been more sad and devastated for someone that I didn't personally know.  I really thought his career was over. The thing that impressed me most about this young man was his attitude towards adversity.  One of my favorite quotes from an interview he did was this: "Adversity introduces a man to himself".  Adversity makes you face the true person inside so that the only way to move is upward.  Marcus has worked to regain not only his physical ability, but his amazing mental perspective as well.  This guy just doesn't give up.  Not after two knee injuries...on opposite legs.  He continued to push through and impress scouts and NFL coaches so that he would be drafted this year by the San Francisco 49ers.  I see a jersey purchase in my future!  Good job Marcus.  All I can say is I hope that you continue to persevere and inspire so that we can all learn from your example.

Watching someone go through a devastating physical and mental situation is hard, but it makes me realize that we all have challenges to face.  Heck, sometimes not hitting the snooze button 4 times in a row is a challenge. 

 

Regardless, you have to stand firm...in who you are, in what you believe, and in what you're becoming.  Happy Monday y'all!

Weekend with the fam!

Hi all!

Happy Weekend!

My parents are here and staying with us for the first time ever and it's SO fun!  Even if they are early bird old folks (just kidding), and like to be up at 7:30 on a Saturday.  All of us (J included) had yesterday off and we went to see the place where we're getting married.  Mom and Dad haven't seen it yet and they were very excited to finally get to see the vision we've had for awhile.  Check out Founders Hall here if ya'll want to take a gander. 

We took advantage of being tourists in Charleston yesterday, something I don't get to do often enough, and went to the South Carolina Aquarium.  They had a Madagascar exhibit and we saw some lemurs!!! Unfortunately, these guys didn't look like they liked to move it, move it :)  They were all piled up on a branch just chillaxing, but they sure were interesting.

We enjoyed some Charleston sunshine and good eats all day long.  We went to the beach to try and do some engagement photos, but they were kind of a bust.  I was a little disappointed, but I didn't take into account that being on the beach = lots of wind...so my curly hair-do was quickly blown out and my dress was too parachute-like.  I felt like all my pictures looked like I was prepared to take flight from the sand. But it's ok, I was tired and happy last night as I laid my head on the pillow, thankful that I have a great family and that I'll be joining a new one very soon. 

This morning, we went on a very long, sweaty walk around the neighborhood.  See how gross I am right now? (PS-Check out my guns, I feel like my shoulders and arms are starting to look less fat and more firm)

 

We're off for a few more activities today, but I wanted to stop in and let you guys know I was still alive.   Just lots of cleaning and preparing for family to be here this week, so it's been really busy, but it's also been awesome.   I'm sure our next activities today will include a trip to Lowe's...my dad is Mr. Fix It and wants to do some small home projects today.  Look, he's already researching this morning. 

 

 

Weekend recap will be up after this fun weekend is over.  See you guys next week with some new fun updates.  I've been working on a cool, new blog design with Beth Bradford Design and I can't WAIT to share!  She's put together such a cool look.  Check out her site for a great discount on a  custom blog design.  I am super happy with what she's put together so far, thanks Beth!!! Funny, I've already had 2 people tell me that I'm going to have to change my blog name since I'm losing weight, which is very encouraging. 

Ya'll have a great weekend!

 





Wine + blogging = Inspiration

Hi all!  It's been a few days, so apologies for no blog posts.  Tonight's post is not about fitness, or what I ate today, or my workout.  There are no fun pictures or ecards about how burpess make me want to barf.  I'm taking a little more serious tone, but I promise that my snarky, sarcastic self will be back in full effect soon.

It's been a few days of just dealing with personal things, but today, I wound up having a time of reflection and I had a major light bulb come on (that, and I've also had about 2 glasses of wine).   That light bulb was this: Life is too short, things are really good right now, get out of your funk Rebecca!

Without disclosing my entire personal life, I'll just say that the past few days have been riddled with small things that bogged me down emotionally and mentally.  I've felt tired, uninspired, even sad at times and all for reasons that I just can't put my finger on.  It's days like the past few that I've had that make you want to veg out in your sweatpants on the couch and watch re-runs of The Cosby Show.  Sounds awesome right?

Nope.  I started thinking about this today as I forcefully pulled myself out of my slump.  One, sweatpants or anything with an elastic waistband is a bad idea multiple days in a row.  BECAUSE, when you go to put your real pants on (with an actual button and zipper), they don't fit, you become more sad, and then you put on your big girl pants, and then you feel even more sad. 

Two, re-runs are things you've already seen .  You know the lines by heart.  You remember the episode when Vanessa went to The Wretched concert in Maryland, got robbed, and Claire and Heathcliff were waiting up on her.  But what's the point in watching that? You know the outcome of the story already.  Don't you want to surprise yourself with different endings?

I digress about fat pants and re-runs, but my point is...stop worrying about the small things.  Let's worry about big things and be happy with the progress that has already been made.  As I've spent today almost waking up from a deep sleep, I started thinking about the things and the people that inspire me.  I'm inspired by mentally or physically challenged people in tough situations that make life work and come out on top.   I'm inspired by my parents that have been married 32 years and continue to amaze me with their commitment to each other.  I'm touched and moved by my friends and peers that tell me that they read my blog and love it and to keep on writing.  In the grand scheme of things, these are major life events that matter.  Not a fleeting moment that you replay over and over in your mind.  Or a small regret you had 20 years ago.  Or that delicious cookie that I ate at a company meeting today.

I've written a lot lately about change and transition because that's where my life is.  As I do that, I realize it's hard when life starts to change on a big scale and you have to either get in line and go with it, or else you'll just fight a losing battle.  This life is a beautiful thing and I am kicking myself for wasting 3 days feeling sorry for myself and just rolling around on my pillows.  I'm getting those 3 days back starting now and going forward. 

Life is too short you guys.  This could be your last.   Can you look back and say that you were truly happy as the sun went down on today?

Ok I lied, I do have one picture.  This is the sunset tonight after a company event I attended.  I stood in that salty Charleston breeze, looking at the water and all those gorgeous colors painted in the sky an thought "life does not get much better than this right here".

Feeling blessed y'all!

I totally sucked

So let me tell you guys about yesterday's workout.  It's been oooooooooooooooooh like a week and a half since I've done my small group training (which I love, and try not to miss).  It's called Go Performace AND it rocks my face each time I do a WOD (workout of the day).  I work out with some pretty amazing trainers, they all push me and get behind me when I feel like booty-hole.  Which is pretty much how I felt yesterday.  It was a long day at work, I left really late, and I rolled up in the gym literally pulling my shirt over my head.  (not really, but you get the idea)  Here was the workout.  Next time, I'll link up for Workout Wednesday with Skinny Meg.

 

7 different moves (so think burpees, kettle bell swings, rope climbs, wall balls....pretty much any type of movement that you would hate for an extended period of time).....times 4 minutes.  THEN when you are done with four minutes of brutal repetition, you go run a lap around the gym.  The round lasts 7 minutes before moving onto the next thing.  Whatever time you have left after your lap is your recovery time.

 

Sounds fun right?

 

 

Not so much.

 

First of all, I felt like a week and a half of not working out zapped my muscles I was starting to build.  I felt like a complete flabby butt. 

 

Second, I finished each round dead last.  I'm not really a fast runner at all, but when you're in a class full of people, there's always a little competition.  I did not feel competitive.  I was just happy to make it around the track without collapsing. 

 

Third, the last thing I did at the end was....yep, burpees.  Imagine 4 minutes of throwing yourself on the ground.  There were a lot of breaks.  A lot of feelings of the vomit making its way into my throat. 

 

I struggled.  I fought.  I really wanted to quit at times.  But I finished.  My trainer Eli made a good point.  I haven't seen him in awhile, so we were chatting and I mentioned it was my first session in awhile.  And he goes "sometimes you need the kick in the butt to get you back to where you need to be".    How can you not like a guy that puts stuff like this on his Facebook page?

 

 Thanks, Eli!

Even though yesterday was a really rough workout, it came and went really fast.  So when you convince yourself that you shouldn't go to the gym because you're too tired, too fat, or too busy.....just go.  You'll thank yourself. 

 

Short post tonight y'all! This southern girl is tired, but is happy it's almost Friday!!!