Five Things Friday

Soooooooooo, I'm stealing yet another blog post topic idea from Dacia at My Roots To Grow... (I'm sorry I keep copycatting, Dacia! You're just so awesome, and I love the topic ideas you post about!)

It's Friday, it's the weekend, and I'm putting a truly crazy week behind me.

1. This Week

It's been a crazy, up, down, emotional, all around insane week. I can't explain it, (I don't really want to personally) but just know that I am ok. Stressed, but ok. I also want to thank everyone who has reached out with support that they have while allowing me to vent, take out frustration, cry, cheer, or whatever other form of support you showed me. I can't begin to describe the awesome feeling it is to know what support system I have around Mr. K and I. I appreciate it so, so, so much.


2. Meet the Mini-K's!

I'll be the first to admit that I'm a total nerd, but Mr. K's birthday was yesterday, and my gift to him?

A Mini-Mr. K.

I may or may not have taken inspiration from one of my favorite IndyCar drivers, Pippa Mann, and Little Pippa, whom travels with "Big Pippa" throughout her travels and racing adventures. Mini Ashley and Mini Mr. K were adopted all the way from Poland, (Lego's headquarters), joining in on our crazy lives and adventures. Think 'Flat Stanley' Legos...

I love Legos. I always have, but it's seriously either funny or a concern that as an adult, I'm taking enjoyment in showing the Mini-K's around. They've already started getting into a little mischief...

I can't wait to take them with me (or specifically Mini-Ash) on my upcoming travels.

Mini-Ashley even has her own Brooks Laich jersey, rocking the red in support of the Washington Capitals.

3. Winter. Can you just cut the crap, Mother Nature?

We're officially under a three-loaf warning. I'm never a fan of winter or being cold anyway, but it's been a winter full of record breaking snowfalls, and we're expecting yet another winter storm this Sunday. Me? I won't lie, I am hoping for a "snow day" where I work Monday, however I'm not holding out hope. We're expecting anywhere from 6-10 or 8-12 inches of snow (depending on who you ask), and I'm just done with it. I'm ready to run outside, in the warm sunshine, and Mother Nature can just STAHP.


Also, I do want to wish safe travels to family coming in from California next week. I hope you like snow? ;)

Seriously though, anyone and everyone involved or in the line of fire with this weekend's winter storm, please stay safe. It's officially a Three Loaf/French Toast Warning!

4. Five Miles

I find this fitting on Five Things Friday... I run my first five miles tomorrow. I haven't actually put anything more than 4.5 together since before knee surgery in December, but I'm a little nervous. I swear I have treadmill-ADD, and I usually can't focus much past 3 miles when utilizing equipment to run inside. I honestly hate the "dreadmill," and I just can't wait to get outside to run. The wildlife, fresh air, and, traffic, gawkers, people make it much, much more interesting to me.


I hope I'm not speaking too soon, but the half-marathon plan I'm using to train for the One-America 500 Festival Mini Marathon is actually going rather well, and it's honestly not killing me. I'm stoked! (I just hope I didn't speak too soon...)

This is the plan I'm following.. It's a 16-week training plan from PopSugar, and with completing Couch to 5k at around 9 miles a week, I was able to jump in on Week 6 of 16, putting me right at 10 weeks to go for the Mini on May 3. (I'm still thinking, "What did I really sign up for?")

 

5. This:

I hope you all have a wonderful, safe, and happy weekend!

-AK

Friend Makin' Monday (FMM)....on Friday :)

...because that's how I roll?

Kidding!

It's been one of those weeks for me, and I'm just now catching up on my friends' blog posts! When I say it's been one of those weeks, it's a week I'd never wish on anyone, at any time. Period.

Since I am catching up, specifically with my lovely friend Dacia's blog, over at My Roots to Grow, I decided to have a little fun/get-to-know-me type of post. Yes, yes, I do realize it is Friday, clearly not Monday, but what the heck, right?

YOLO?

(Had to. ;) I HATE the term YOLO.)

Anywho, here are the rules! I'm a newb, but after discovering Dacia's post, I believe I'll have a little fun with this! I answer some questions that are posted over at losingweightandhavingfun.com, add my link to my blog in her comments section, and make new friends! (Is that right? Total rookie over here.)

Anywho, here we go!

1. Introduce yourself in under 10 words.

Wife. Farm girl. Hoosier. Traveler. Adventurer. Newb runner. (Ok, that's two.) Fanatic of Speed. (Ok, that's three.)

2. How did you find Friend Makin' Mondays?

From my awesome friend Dacia, over at My Roots to Grow, and figured: why the heck not? :)

3. Have you ever met any of your blog readers?

That depends... Those who have mentioned they read it? Yes! Do I have others I don't know about? Probably. (Or if you're new, welcome! Hi!)

4. How many states have you visited?

Oh boy... let's see: Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, 'bama, Georgia, Florida, Missouri (St. Louis is it...), Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Maryland, Virginia.... (This is me...struggling...) I think that's it? Mostly Midwestern stuff...

I'm hoping to branch out and travel some more this summer, specifically with the racing circuit. (Ya know, that fanatic of speed thing?) 

5. What did you have for lunch yesterday?

• (Homemade) almond butter sandwich

• Sweet mini peppers

• Sugar snap peas

• Light Greek yogurt - Key Lime

• Apple

Proof, with my Mini's checking in:

6. How many different places have you lived in?

Three. Colorado (when I was little). Indiana time's two. (Raised a Boilermaker, now a Hoosier. That makes Mr. K happy. Sigh.)

7. What’s your favorite color?

Depends on my mood... I love anything aqua/turquoise/teal, kind of a bright red fan (I love the Washington Capitals after all), like purple, some greens, but I am NOT a fan of too much pink. It's too girlie for my taste.

8. Do you have any pets?

My husband (Mr. K) and I have Kelly, our four-legged-Rottweiler-child. She may be big and she may have a mean bark, but don't let her fool you. She's a big, spoiled, baby.

9. What would your ideal job be?

I'm actually working towards said "dream/ideal job", while landing a pretty awesome internship opportunity this summer that works with my full-time job. I want to work in motorsports, putting my creativity to work, either in Public Relations or Marketing, whether it is for a specific team, company, or sponsor.

10. Do you have any tattoos?

Nope. But I haven't ruled out the possibility of getting one. I just haven't found the perfect one, yet!

Blogger's Note: I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend! Thanks for reading! 

The Peanut Gallery

I've been meaning to write this blog for sometime, addressing one thing in particular that absolutely drives me up a wall during my weight loss journey. But let me first say that I appreciate all of the support my friends, family, coworkers, acquaintances learning my "story," and anyone else who has cheered me on in hopes of becoming a "better" me. It's still extremely humbling to know I have such an amazing support network behind me, and to this day, it still feels so undeserving. I can't begin to thank each and every one of you for all of the support, cheers, and positive thoughts you've given me, but I can say this: Thank you. From the bottom of my heart, thank you. :)

Now on to the post.... (Deep breath, Ash.)

The "Peanut Gallery."

It happens weekly; the questions about my weight loss I get are almost predictable, but it has been four years.

"How much weight have you lost?"

"How are you doing it?"

"How do you stay on track?"

"You must work out constantly?"

...and then my favorites (hint: sarcasm ahead):

"I bet you don't eat any cheeseburgers, do you?"

"Oh, another salad today?"

"Are you sure you don't have an eating disorder?"

"You mean you actually ate a carb?" (Yes, someone actually has asked me that, to which I replied, "I eat them everyday." *Smile. Walk-away.*)

"When are you going to stop losing weight?"

The last one has honestly been nails on the chalkboard as of late for me, with several folks asking/commenting, or telling me I've lost "too much." Just as a close family member suggested I had an eating disorder at Thanksgiving because "I've lost too much weight and need to stop," I'm starting to hear those words again from several, and I can honestly say they cut just as deep as the comments I had when I was "fat."

I know I should be comfortable with myself enough that I shouldn't hang on to these words, however it's hard. It really is.

But I want to make this very clear: I eat. I eat a lot. And I eat to fuel my body.

No, I am not starving myself. (I couldn't. I, A) am trying to be smart about what I'm doing, as I want to be healthy, not skinny, and B) really, really love food that much.)

No, I'm not working out every waking moment of the day. I have a life, and I like to live it, even if school is taking away from "social time."

If I know that I'm going to have a large meal (or one that might test my calorie maintenance "limit" for the day), I run. I run to eat. And when I mean eat, I mean eat. I can still put food away, and I'm not ashamed of it.


...but I can tell you what is happening: I'm losing inches, as my goal now is to maintain, but tone. I have quite a bit of loose skin, stretch marks, cellulite, or any other fun things that comes with losing 110+ pounds. It's not pleasant, I don't like it, but I'm working to improve myself so that I am happy with how I look, and who I am as a whole. I have not lost any weight on the scale number-wise, and honestly, I'm shifting my focus away from it. I will not let food or the scale rule me, as I want to be able to share the ever-amazing Mississippi Mud Pie I did yesterday with a close friend/former coworker and not feel bad about it. (It was delish, by the way. I don't feel bad about it, either.)

...and I really don't want you, the reader, to take this post the wrong way. Please, don't. I'm not trying to come across as selfish, but the words about being "too skinny" cut just as deep as when they were about being "fat."

Bottom line: I am not starving myself for "image." I promise you.

So I will leave you with this:

Be happy. Be healthy. But most importantly, be you. (And be happy with "you!")

C25K Progress and Other Updates...

Blogger's Note: I'm really sorry I haven't had a chance to update everyone on my progress of late. School has officially taken over my life...again...but I promise I will try to update everyone on a more regular basis. I had a streak going for a bit, but I also will have a bit more "adventures" once I begin my next challenge to fill folks in on. More on that below....

Nine weeks. It's been nine weeks since I've had the all clear to run. Nine weeks since my recovery process "ended," and I could get back to my somewhat-normal active lifestyle again. How do I know? Upon completion of my typical Wednesday night between-work-and-class run, I will have completed the Couch to 5K program. Again. (Phew.)

As much as I cannot stand (sic: hate with every depth of my being) the dreadmill treadmill, it's absolutely wonderful to be able to run again. I'm much happier getting sweaty (don't take that the wrong way, folks), I'm happier being able to just get out whatever stress or aggression I have that day by pounding fake-moving-pavement. I'm happier dealing with people when I'm running. )Be happy I'm running, ladies and gents. You wonder how nice I am each day? I run.) ;)

...but in the midst of running, I've also picked up strength training. I gave the kettlebell a bit of a go, however I've started to slack off on it a bit, as I prefer to use a video to guide me and I'm just not home much during the week. (Plus, have you ever ran the day after kettlebell training? Don't. That's my advice. That was poor planning on my part.) I'm not a fan of lifting weights, as I need something "fun" to keep me engaged, not repetitive motion, while staring at my self struggling in a mirror. However the more I lift, the more strength I gain, and the more muscle definition I see (I've got guns...), the more I want to work at it. I don't pour sweat like I do while running, however I definitely feel it the next day. Or day after. Or the third day in some cases... I've also started to focus on a few areas of my body that I want to tone, areas that have a bit more loose skin than I'd like. I'm starting to get biceps, my triceps are bit less jiggly (bye-bye batwings!), and my abs hurt when I laugh. That's a good sign, right?

But in toning, I'm also seeing my measurements shrink, (which is awesome)! I've shifted my focus to less scale, more measurements in numbers (that could be an entire blog in itself), as the scale hasn't been much of a good guide as of late. It's been hard to shift my thinking. I'm not even going to lie... Ever hear muscle weighs more than fat? Yeah... I've been able to maintain my weight "number," if not gain pounds in some instances, but my jeans still fit and I'm seeing muscle tone and definition with what I'm working on. It's a total mind-shift, just as "dressing thinner," and thinking more "my size" were, and they weren't easy, but as I always say - I'm a work in progress.

And in speaking of the gym, I'm starting to get a little more comfortable walking in, buckling down, and getting to work. When I first walked in to the gym that I use, (on my college campus; free for students, and it's pretty nice, but I've never used a gym before, period) I panicked. I'm not even kidding. It's like my mind melted. I had my game plan: treadmill. I thought, "Really Ashley? You're going to let these youngins' intimidate you?" To which I replied, "Well, yeah. Look at them. It's the f**king track team working out in there. You're 27. You don't belong. You can't run like the wind."

Guess what? A few treadmill/weight sessions in, I'm showing those 'youngins' who's boss...

(Kidding! Really, I'm still puny, and I'm not "boss." But hey, I try. That's what counts. Right?)

Anyway... Moving on...

I'm a goal-driven person. I think I've mentioned that on here before, but I need something to focus on. A prize to "eye" if you will... With completing the Couch to 5k program tomorrow night, it puts me back in position for the half-marathon hunt. Prior to May....  :) (See my Bucket List.)

May is my favorite month of the year by far, just as many other Hoosiers would tell you. I live for this month for one reason: the Indy 500. But every year, we kick the month off with the Mini Marathon, usually the first weekend in May.  And it's been squarely on my Bucket List since before I lost my weight. I've always dreamed of completing it, and was in great position pre-December to work towards it. Knee surgery pretty much derailed what I thought wouldn't happen in 2014, however with getting back into the running-groove, I signed up.

I just did it one day. I found myself whipping out the credit card and saying, "to hell with it. Go big or go home, Ash." Coworkers, friends, and acquaintances alike said that even with being about four weeks behind the day of the race, I still would have a good shot at safely completing it, if I run and walk. My goal is to just complete 13.1 - walk, run, or crawl. It's my first, so time isn't a concern of mine. (The trail bus is, though.) I've also contacted a friend of mine from high school regarding the Mini, a runner and former prom date (that's another convo for another day, but it has a pretty cool background story). I asked him if he and another classmate of ours were planning to run the Mini again this year, as they have completed it before. He hadn't given much thought to it until I asked, but he agreed he'd run it with me (after warning him I'm slower than a herd of turtles). I do feel a little relieved that someone will be there with me, however it's just me and the pavement.... (Ok. I'll be honest, though: I'm petrified about the half.)

Now if the weather will just cooperate... (I'm dreading treadmill training if I have to run 4+ miles in one sitting. I'd rather fork my eyeballs out.)

Make sure to tune in for upcoming half-marathon training updates, as I'm sure I'll have plenty! I'm hoping to also start running "organized" 5k's again soon as I love them, once the weather turns for the better. I'm ready to be able to get outdoors and run the country roads again too, just as much as anyone else is ready for warmer weather.

I've got that itch! (Who knew?!)