refocusing and reflecting back

Firstly I want to thank all of you for reading my blog. It’s been viewed almost 1400 times since I started it in February (and no, I don’t count my own pageviews) which is crazy to me that there are people out there who want to read what little old me has to say. Last week’s post (Epic Update) was the first time I let my Facebook community know I had a blog. Which was scary for me. I guess because I still harbor this fear of being judged and it’s easier to continue my struggles in private.  I received so many uplifting and encouraging comments from readers, though, and it validated why I have a blog in the first place. If I can inspire a few others into starting or returning to a healthy lifestyle, then I did more than I ever thought I could with my words. Keep reading, keep commenting, but most importantly, keep thinking about making healthy choices however small they are because they do make a difference.

  This past week I’ve been back to a routine and out of vacation mode. Returning to healthy eating, better sleep, less drinking, and more exercising makes me feel so much more powerful (especially mentally). By powerful I mean energetic and having a sense of control over my life.  I ran over 19K last Saturday as my last training run for the half marathon coming up in FIVE days.  I did that run in just over 2 hours and felt really good despite it being a really hilly route. I dread running long distances until I get it done, so the feeling of putting a tick in the last training day box was probably the best of all.  Just 5 months ago I had a 6 week old baby and could not run more than 3 minutes before having to walk.  I’ve learned that being able to run a half marathon distance has everything to do with disciplined training and the belief in yourself that you will do it.  It’s all about hard work and overcoming self-doubt. It really has nothing to do with natural born ability (there’s no such thing as being born a runner or a non-runner, or born with a body that can’t be fit). And, there are no excuses (I just had a baby, I’m in my 30’s now, I don’t have time with two kids  and everything else I do in my life).  I’ve learned to stop overthinking why I may not be able to do something and just plunge in and start. If not now, then when? It’s not going to happen itself.

On Sunday I ran part of the oak bay half marathon in a relay team of 3 other lovely friends I have made through BDHQ’s baby bootcamp class. I can’t believe new mommas can run so fast.  We collectively ran 21.1K in 1h45 (that’s a pace of 5 minutes/km) and we were in the top 10 of all relay teams.  I’m so inspired by these girls who don’t let their “mom” label define them.

here we are before the race

still smiling and soaked afterwards

I lost a pound this week but to be very truthful, I had already lost most of this pound and then went on vacation and gained it back.  So...it would be accurate to say I re-lost a pound. I ate well, starting in the mornings (I find if I don’t have a healthy breakfast I am more prone to eating sugar and carbs throughout the day).  I meal planned and grocery shopped only to my meal plan ingredients.  I have never posted photos of my food but thought this week I’d do that since I went back to eating colorful veggies and fruits! 

 

I try to have this every day for breakfast

1 cup frozen berries, half banana, 1 cup fresh spinach, 1 scoop vanilla protein powder or Greek yogurt, 1 tbsp NutraSea lemon flavored fish oil (it tastes pretty darn good), almond milk or milk

ingredients for fennel salad

1 large fennel bulb and 1 red pepper, 1/4 onion, 3 tbsp chopped mint leaves, juice of 1 lemon, salt and pepper

I'm not a fan of selfies but I committed to showing my progress

I decided I’m going to run another half marathon this fall and keep up with my training. I know myself, and if I don’t have another goal to work towards I have a hard time staying motivated and I won’t lose weight.  My goal this week is to sign up for a run club and train with others who can kick my butt a little harder than I can by myself. 

epic update

I just got home this afternoon from an epic journey away from home. In the past 12 days:

• Baby Alex took his first airplane ride to Alberta to meet his cousins, aunties, uncles, and new friends
•  We had an amazing time at our cousin’s wedding in Alberta.  I laughed until I cried, and let loose like it was my job.  I can’t remember the last time I had that much fun. I feel so much more connected to Nick and his family, and like a bit of my old, non-Mom self is back.  I blogged 6 weeks ago about having a goal of fitting into a dress I bought, and while I chose not to wear it, I wore another similar looking dress that barely fit me months earlier as well. Multiple “wins” on this day for me!

 

•   I visited the Rocky Mountains (Canmore and Banff) for the first time in over 6 years.  I forgot how beautiful the mountains are. We reconnected with good friends from our days in Alberta and their four adorable little girls. I learned that even though we are no longer in our 20’s and have 6 kids between us, it’s as though we never left Alberta.  We haven’t let being parents or our age define us. As I get older I believe it can get harder to make really close friends especially if you do spend a lot of your time raising kids and working full time…so those friendships I have made and kept are that much more precious to me. I feel as though my soul is that much more fulfilled from being with family and friends last week.

• We flew back to Victoria and the next day hauled our 32 foot trailer to the north island for 5 days.  About 550K one-way with 2 young kids is a challenge and some learning for me that we may have to be less ambitious in our outdoor adventures for now.  That’s not to say we will hang out in our living room all weekend from now on, but shorter travels closer to home are probably less stressful for everyone. The northern part of Vancouver Island is still so pristine, with logging roads being the only way to get to some communities and areas we visited. I get so much energy from exploring new places. I can‘t wait to go back and see Cape Scott Provincial Park and Raft Cove Provincial Park (make note: there’s another travel goal).

beach at Cluxewe (north island)

Telegraph Cove

driving on logging roads and seeing nothing but trees...

...and deserted logging trains

•   I exercised ONCE. I ventured out for a pathetic 6K run with Alex in his stroller last week when we were in Canmore.  I blame bad eating, mild hangover and higher altitude.  I had a major cramp the entire time and could barely make it up a minor hill.  I still have to complete my 20K training run for the half marathon which is in ELEVEN DAYS! I abandoned all clean eating habits for almost 2 weeks too. It was as though the wedding in Calgary happened, I wore my dress and felt great, and then my eyes rolled to the back of my head like when a shark attacks its prey and I ate every carbohydrate in sight. What is wrong with me!? I feel disgusting and about 20 pounds heavier. I refuse to weigh myself until tomorrow morning. My learning from this is that there needs to be an immediate goal after a major one is achieved to keep me going.  I guess I had my eyes fixed on the wedding and fitting into my dress, and when that day passed, I didn’t really have another weight loss goal.  So as of right now, I’m getting back to good eating, and I’m going to exercise tomorrow. As they say, just start, right? I’m going to do my 20K long run by this weekend, which is a little late to be doing it but it’s the earliest I can have someone watch the kids for more than 2 hours. My next health related goal is to run the entire hilly route of the half marathon on June 2^nd without excess weight sloshing around my torso (as it is kind of doing right now) which means finishing feeling great.   

running with Alex in Canmore (downhill so I could breathe and snap a picture with my phone)