Why I Work Out

I have gotten asked several times since I started running and working out again on a regular basis why I'm doing it.  Are you training for something?  Are you trying to lose weight?  Are you going to personal train again?  Are you bored?  Why I'm doing it is always being questioned.  Do I really have to have a particular reason to work out?  Nope...I have lots of reasons why I work out!

to be heathly.  feel better.  get a solid core back.  not have a muffin top in spandex.  run competitively again.  set personal goals.  break those goals.  be ripped.  live longer.  have my son be proud to call me his mom.  set an example.  to let haters hate.  feel sexy.  be stronger.  eliminate cellulite.  have my husband be proud to call me his wife.  look good naked.  get that natural runner's high from endorphin release.  to make myself proud.  to feel self worth.  believe that I can.  win a road race.  have arms worthy of envy.  be inspirational.  to say yes I am a mom and I look this good.  wear a tiny bikini.  have a strong heart.  break mental barriers.  have me time.  to not get winded doing simple things.  clear my thoughts.  relieve stress.  push my limits.  satisfy my competitive side. have more energy.  to be happy.

All of these things are reasons why I choose to work out and run.  Whether it was born in me or it is just a part of the personality I've developed over the years; this is why I do what I do and what makes me who I am.

After reading all the reasons why I work out, I would like to pose the question: What is your excuse not to?  Why wouldn't you want to accomplish, feel or say any of the things I listed?  I have the respect for my body and myself to treat it better than letting it get unhealthy.

xoxo

bj

20 Reasons Why I'm F****** Awesome

First off, to answer the question you are all asking yourselves...Yes, yes I did just go there.  I am going to be boastful, self-centered, proud, arrogant, conceited & full of myself for one of the select few times in my life.

Let's be honest, we all think we are pretty awesome some days!  We are taught to be modest & humble and that's all fine and great but sometimes you just need to throw it out there and let everyone know how  f****** awesome you are! I believe it is truly OK to be proud of something you've accomplished.  Go ahead and toot your own horn from time to time.  The thing that distinguishes you from being humbly proud and an egotistically ass is how frequently you are talking yourself up like you are God's gift to everyone & everything!  Celebrate yourself and let others know when you are awesome too.

Here are my top 20 reason why I think I'm pretty f****** awesome (hopefully you do too):

1| I'm left handed
2| Drove zamboni in college
3| NCAA Track & Field Champion
4| I birthed another human being
5| Grew up on a farm
6| Named my son Cruz
7| Can fold a paper airplane with my feet
8| Have my parents' initials tattooed on me
9| Fastest mile time is 5:23
10| I have a kind & caring heart
11| Married to a plumber and never have to worry about unclogging my tub drain
12| Not ashamed of who I am
13| Willing to chase a dream
14| I have an unbelievably supportive family
15| I get to be called: Mommy
16| My friends are kick ass
17| My sarcasm
18| I have an ability to make people laugh
19| Can you say MILF?
20| I get drunk off 2 drinks max, impressive isn't it!

FYI: This post is more of a funny/haha and not an actual dead-serious observation of myself.  These things make up who I am and I'm proud of it!  You should be proud of who you are too :)

xoxo

bj

Things I Wish I Could Do

Call this part bucket list, part goals & dreams, some aspirations or anything else along those lines.  These are all things I wish I could do, would have learned to do and secret dreams of mine!  By no means am I complaining about how my life currently is because I feel incredibly blessed to be where I am at and with the people who are in my life.  This collection of thoughts include somethings that I still aspire towards achieving someday and others that are just the dreamer inside of me. 

Without too much more discussion, here is my list of things I wish I could do:

1| Play piano
2| Run a marathon
3| Read sheet music
4| Fluently speak a second language
5| Hike/climb the Rocky Mountains
6| Be able to do that really loud finger whistle (the one w/ your fingers up to your mouth!)
7| Participate in a duathlon
8| Squat over 225 lbs. (sounds silly but my max out is 225 lbs & I want to beat it!)
9 | Win a road race or at least come in first for overall women
10| Sing well... like hit notes, not be pitchy or "tone deaf"!
11| Write an article or give a speech that moves people to tears & provides inspiration
12| Write a book/novel
13| Publish a book/novel that I've written
14| Knit something
15| Make a perfect creme brulee
16| Go wine tasting while in Italy
17| Say "no" and don't feel bad about it
18| Read a trilogy series page for page/beginning to end
19| Do the warrior dash
20| Use my last year of eligibility for indoor & outdoor collegiate track & field

Perhaps I will be able to check some of these off through out the years and others will remain a dream forever.  The most important thing is that I keep dreaming and I hope all of you do the same.  No matter how big, small, outrageous, unattainable, sensible or ridiculous your dreams are, at least you have an imagination and passion to keep them alive.

peace & love

bj

Kicking My Own Ass

Those of you out there in internet land that know me pretty well, know that I have always been an athletic girl.  I had been involved with sports for the majority of my life and had always had a very structured workout schedule.  Well, times change and change can be hard!

Since I graduated college in 2008 and got away from the grueling collegiate workout plan of a track & field athlete, I've found myself getting soft, gaining a little weight and becoming winded going up a flight of stairs.  I had the excuse of, "I just had a baby" for awhile but now that my baby is 3 years old, that excuse hardly applies anymore.  Darn it! 

I've been struggling with keeping motivation to continue on a workout plan.  The thrill of competitions were what drove me to work so hard for so many years but now that part of my life has past and I find it so hard to keep working out.  I have personal goals of how I want to feel and how I want to look but that only goes so far.  It is incredibly easy to blow off going to the gym or going outside for a run and say, "I'll do it tomorrow."  I finally got sick of saying that to myself and decided I needed to get back into working out and find something to help keep me on the right track.  It is very easy to listen to that voice inside of your head telling you to stop, to walk, to quit, to eat that candy bar, to drink a beer or two, to do ANYTHING BUT EXERCISE!  I've had many conversations with that voice over the past 6 months and I think I'm finally starting to win.

I have to give my sister, Shannon a big thanks for going out on many runs with me over the past month and keeping me motivated!  It is a lot easier to go with someone than to make yourself go alone.  It was hard in the beginning to get started because I knew that I would be super sore and would hardly be able to walk or even sit down on the toilet to go tinkle!  Once I got over the initial soreness I started to feel the boredom set in.  That is when I started switching up my workouts and running trails.  A change of scenery was just the thing I needed. 

For me, the biggest incentive to workout has been starting to compete in road races again.  It has been many years since I last seriously competed in 2 mile & 5K races.  I am back to a place in my life where I'm not on a HS or college team and have the liberty of focusing solely on road races.  Although I've only just begun on this new health/wellness plan for myself, I am excited to keep it going.  I feel tons better now that I'm making healthier choices in my life.  I'm feeling stronger & more confident.  I am excited to put on a two piece bikini in another month or two.  I am working on getting that body I once had back!  I have been hard on myself but that is exactly what I need to keep at it.  I don't need a coach to kick my ass anymore, I'm doing that myself these days!

Thanks to all of you that have given support & encouragement, thanks to my sister for working out with me and thanks to my husband for watching the little one while I go out & put my time in on the trails.

peace & love

bj 

Blistered big toes = doing work!

These are mama arms from toting around a toddler but overall my body is getting trim...will have ab pics to share in due time!  P.S. don't you love all the train tracks in my living room?  Hahaha, being a mother of a boy is awesome!

Seriously...I can NOT take a composed picture of myself.  I continually feel the need to make faces, damn it.  At least I can laugh at myself while ohers are laughing at me too.