Days 349-352: One Neon Necklace, Countless Tears

Day 349:  On Sunday morning my co-worker Sam and I went to OMG Fitness Concert at the Denver Coliseum.  I had no idea what it was or what to expect, so naturally I googled it and found this video that terrified that crap out of me.   It looked like a lot of dancing with hundreds of skilled people around while I was sober (that being the key point).  To say I was scared was an understatement.  The worst that could happen is that I would look like a dancing fool…not that bad, right?

When we got there Sam got splashed by the glow in the dark paint and I stuck with the glow in the dark necklace.  I had every intention to ditch it quickly and try to blend in somewhere in the back row.  Unfortunately that is not what happened.  Within the first 30 seconds of the class starting, Sam dragged me to the front row that was full of enthusiastic worker-outers (who made me look reserved) .  After I got over my fear of shaking what my momma gave me in front of at least 500 people, I started having fun.   I let go.  I let go of what I thought I looked like, listened to the music, boot-camped it up while dancing to the tunes.

I have a feeling my description of the event does not make sense and that’s okay.  I’m still confused too.  What I do know though is that fear only exists in the mind.  Once you break that barrier (or it’s broken for you by a loving man named Sam), then the fear stays in the past.   Move forward, dance up a storm and forget your fears.

Day 350:  On Monday Mike and I went for an hour-long walk through Wash Park for our last stroll together in the city before the big move on Saturday.  It was a nice reminder of why I will always love the city life, but am ready to move on for now.

Day 351:  Monday evening I got some devastating news that an acquaintance had died over the weekend in a horrible accident.  The young woman was a great friend to one of my closest friends and my heart was instantly broken for everyone effected by the tragedy.   It reminded me how precious life is and how grateful I am to have another day here.

I decided to grab my phone and call everyone I love until someone picked up- a phone roulette.  I first talked to my oldest brother for 30 minutes and then my Dad for another 30.  After that, I saw my husband out for a walk and we strolled around the neighborhood together for  20 minutes.  It was the only good way that I knew how to end such a sad day.

Day 352:  As we approach the closing day on our house I am finding that I have less and less time to fit in a workout.  Today I rode my bike to and from work and tagged on a few extra miles for good measure.   Bike commuting: two birds, one stone. #perfection

Days 328-330: Friends and Outlaws

Day 328:  Sunday morning I went to the community yoga class that lululemon hosts every week.  To say that it was the most unique class I have ever taken is an uunderstatement.  The hour-long power flow class was taught by Justin Kaliszewski, the creator of the brand “Outlaw Yoga.”  I really want to pick Justin’s brain the next time that I take his class so that I can learn the entire story behind the brand, but until then, I can guess that the name was born out of a desire to break the boundaries of yoga.  The class physically felt like yoga, but spiritually it amped up the power of choice more than any other class I’ve ever taken.  It was almost instantly addicting, which quickly explained Justin’s large entourage at the event.

If you’re looking for something truly unique, you should checkout Justin at Kindness Yoga and watch for his own studio to open up in the late fall.  I will make sure to keep you all posted on that in the near future.

Day 329:   Yesterday was a busy day and I had to figure out how to squeeze in a workout between working at luluemon, having a congratulatory drink with my newly engaged best friend* and a dinner date with another friend.  I decided on my fall back plan- a 40 minute run.  Unfortunately my body was feeling the effects of my late Sunday night dinner party, so I was forced to run really slow.  My body just wanted to move like a turtle and I let it.

Day 330:  After being home from the honeymoon for a week now, I have started to fall back into my groove a bit more.  I’m feeling more rested everyday and am noticing the side effects of wedding stress slowly leaving my body.   I suppose that the constant catching up with all my friends and family about the wedding has definitely helped out as well.  Today I talked on the phone to five friends and one family member for a total of four hours, it felt like high school all over again and I loved it!

This normally would not be considered blog worthy information, but I was getting bored on the phone, so I walked for almost two hours of the conversations and then decided to skip my evening run.  It was incredibly delightful.  The next time you don’t feel like working out, I challenge you to grab your phone and dial all your friends.  Talking + walking + sweating + laughing = bliss.

*My bestie also happened to catch the bouquet at our wedding.  I believe that is a noteworthy nugget of information to share 😉

323-327: “Keep Going”

Days 323-324:  As hurricane Isaac was tearing through the gulf coast, Mike and I made the best of our extended honeymoon and time in St. Thomas.  We stayed at a hotel on the beach and took full advantage of their premium movie channels since the rain outside prevented us from playing.  Whenever there were breaks in weather we would head outside and walk up and down the beach until the next set of storms blew in.  These long walks became my workouts for the day and early Tuesday evening we started our 15 hour trek back to Denver.

Days 325-327:  Numerous times on our trip Mike and I talked about how lucky we were to be living in a city that we could not wait to come home to.  We have so many things here that we are grateful for that we spent lots of time reflecting on the lives we have created that we love so much.

We got home at 1:00 a.m. on Wednesday and filled our first day back with loads of errands and checking out the progress on our house.  Seriously, life is so jam-packed with exciting things right now that I am actually looking forward to a little down time when things slow down and we can settle into our new home and create more newlywed awesomeness.

Now, onto the working out commitment.  I would not be considered human if there was not a time that I wanted to give up on working out.   These past few days have definitely been just that.  The wave of pre-wedding, wedding and honeymoon exhaustion came the second I got home and all I wanted to do was sleep.  Mike gently coaxed me into my running shoes every day and I managed to run 30-45 minutes the last three days.  Having him (officially) by my side for the rest of our lives is quite possibly the best feeling ever.  It’s as though I have a new teammate that is constantly cheering for me and I for him.  The dynamic of a marriage is something that we will continue to learn for a long time, until then, I am so happy that I have his gentle voice in my head everyday that says, “keep going.”

Days 307-309: A Grounded Departure

Day 307:  Now that the wedding is a few days away, I have found myself less stressed and able to truly enjoy the process leading up to the festivities.  Saturday morning kicked off my (semi) zen-like-state when I went to Diane Sieg’s class at Sacred I Yoga.   It was the same class that two months ago , when I promised myself I would attend regularly.  Unfortunately, my schedule has not allowed that, but I truly will try to make every Saturday class that I can.  To say that the class is grounding is a huge understatement.  It’s almost as if your yoga mat grows roots and the branches are grabbing at your limbs, longing for you to join that community.

Seriously.  Check. It. Out.

Day 308:  Yesterday my two sister friends and I went on a hike at Mt. Falcon Park, followed by a quick-lunch at the Ale House at Amato’s.   The hike was a little less than two hours and a good hybrid of downhill/uphill with only moderate steepness.  My body was happy to breathe in the woods and talk with friends about life while taking in the occasional doe.    I do not think this could have been more tranquil if we tried.  Have I ever mentioned how much I love life in Colorado?

Day 309:  After a restless night of sleep the last thing my mind wanted to do was get up and go for a run, but my body really was craving the deep breaths.  So I laced up and headed to the park for a five-mile run before coming home to laundry, lists and suitcases.  The run helped me power through my list with just enough time to spend with my fiance before leaving for Ohio in the morning.  And so the wedding week/end begins…

Days 303-306: Comfort in Repetition

The week leading up to the wedding has been busy and slightly stressful, so I’ve really had to tune into my body everyday to see what it needs.  I‘ve gone back to the basics for comfort- yoga, running and old SNL video favorites.  Running helps my mind to go blank and eases off some stress and yoga calms my soul and frees up any sort of tension my body has been feeling.  They are truly the best combination for my body.  Oh and Cheri Oteri is just good for the ol’ soul!

Day 303:  5.5 mile run to and around Washington Park.

Day 304:  Core Power Yoga, Level 2 Power Vinyasa Flow.

Day 305: One hour walk with Mike.   The reason we decided on this walking path was because we both wanted chocolate from a nearby store.  We collectively decided that our bodies needed a break and this was going to be our joint workout for the day.  I recommend this to anyone 🙂

Day 306:  This morning I got up at 6 a.m. for a 5 mile run around the park.  I am really glad that this is not a daily occurrence for me because it’s hard to muster up the energy needed for that kind of run so early.  If you are one of those people who can do that everyday, I envy that in you…oh. so. much.

Days 293-297: Stomach Yowzas!

Days 293- 297:  Depending on how well you know me, you might know that the most unfortunate characteristic that I was blessed with is stomach issues.   If you do not know me well enough to know that, then you’re lucky that  have not shared this with you.  I’ll spare you any details in the slightest and just let you know that sometimes my stomach can get bad.  These past few days have been the worst I’ve had in years.  It has made me realize that this is how my body responds to immense stress…a stomach that just shuts down.  Ouch.  Even though it’s not the best situation, I love that this has brought an immense amount of attention to how I deal with stress and what it does to my body.

Although I was not feeling well, I still had to figure out what the heck I was going to do to sweat when it hurt to move.  All four days I walked around my neighborhood for 30-60 minutes.  I stayed close enough to home in case the walking made me feel worse.  It was all my body could handle and I did the best I could with what I was dealing with.  Tomorrow I should feel back to normal and will add my regular workouts back into my daily routine.

Thanks for reading and understanding that the body needs a break.  I hope you listen when your body is talking to you about stress, anxiety, happiness…everything.  It is the most powerful tool that you have in learning about yourself.  Don’t forget to really tune in to hear what your body is trying to tell you.

Days 283-287: Colorado Love

Day 283:  As the days of my challenge tick by I am realizing that working out is now embedded in my everyday regimen, blogging on the other hand is the first thing to take the back burner when life gets busy.  I promise to you that I am sweating, life’s busyness has just taken the forefront.

Thursday morning I met a friend in Wash Park for a three-mile run and followed it up with a yoga sculpt class at Core Power (you’ll really start to see a trend here).

Day 284:  Friday morning I woke up in Denver to complete sadness.  My fiance came home from working a night shift at Buckley Air Force Base and told me to turn on the devastating news in Aurora.  Like most tragic events, it took me some time to comprehend the magnitude of what had happened just a few miles from home.  My heart was shattered for our state that has already endured so much pain in the past.

Working out was the furthest thing from my mind.  So much so, that I decided that a picnic in the  (empty) park, followed by an hour-long walk with Mike would have to suffice.  We talked and talked trying to work through the overwhelming day.  Sometimes I think that’s all we can to do find some ease.

Day 285:  Core Power Yoga Sculpt.

Day 286:  Ride to and from work and Core Power Yoga Sculpt.

Day 287:  This morning I went on a three-mile run and then to Bonza Bodies tonight for a bootcamp style class.  As I was in class tonight, I kept catching myself doing the wrong exercises, lifting the opposite leg as my classmates or zoning out to the point of not knowing what exercise my body had just completed.  It was a huge realization to myself that I am still processing some things and feeling a little stressed in life.  Running felt like a gift to my mind and although my body loved the hard class, my mind was left feeling more confused.

Tomorrow I will shoot for a yoga flow that can hopefully give my mind a little bit of a rest.

Days 280-282: Meditation

Day 280: On Monday I went for another hour-long bike ride.  There is something about riding away from the city that makes me feel calmer inside.  And with this wedding coming up, I’ll take whatever I can to help keep me calm!

Day 281:  Yesterday I went for an hour long walk and to yoga sculpt at Core Power in the evening.

Day 282:  This morning I went on a five mile run before it got too hot out.  It’s been awhile since I’ve gone on a run and had it feel good the whole time (I blame the heat!).  Luckily, today felt great and left me feeling positive about my running capabilities.  After I ran, I came home and completed Day three of the 21 Day Deepak Chopra Meditation Challenge.  I apologize profusely for not sharing this with you on day 1.  However it’s not too late to get in on the game if you’re for a game changer in your life:

21 Day Meditation Challenge

Days 257-262: Listen Up, You Have The Answer

First off, I apologize for the lack of posts that I have had lately.  If you have ever planned a wedding and decided to build a house at the same time, then you understand!  I just got back from a week-long trip of wedding planning and shower having in Columbus, Ohio and have been really spent.  My body is telling me to slow down before I launch into the six-week before our wedding/work your ass off workout/diet plan.  So, here is my easy breezy last week of sweating.

Day 257:   Saturday was the day of my bridal shower and I was STOKED!  I went down to the trusty hotel gym treadmill and went to town.  I ran four miles in 35 minutes (which is fast for this tortoise).  I quickly went back to the room to prep for the family fun that was about to happen.

Day 258:  Saturday night two of my bridesmaids went to the Counting Crows concert with me in downtown Columbus.  We eventually met up with my cousins and stayed out until 2 a.m.  It made me realize that I am so happy to be growing up and crossing over into the married world/leaving the bar world behind.  Staying out late really took it out of me.  After some sleeping in, my friend Sara and I walked around downtown for 30 minutes before heading back to the hotel.  Next, my Mom and I went out for some retail therapy.  We walked up and down Polaris Mall for an hour.   I am counting these walks as my sweating.  Totally acceptable after showers and concerts 🙂

Day 259:  Monday afternoon I had my final dress fitting and met with the caterer/wedding coordinator to get all of our ducks in a row.  After that, I came home and hit the treadmill for an hour.  I walked/ran and talked on my phone.  I tried to make it as enjoyable as possible since the heat outside was making it next to impossible to run outdoors.

Day 260:  I got home in the late afternoon on Tuesday and setup my home yoga flow station.  It was very much-needed.

Day 261:  Yesterday I went for three different 30-45 minute walks while catching up on emails and work.  I could feel my body telling me to relax and it’s the only thing that sounded okay.

Day 262:  Today is the last day I am giving myself the permission to rest from intense workouts.  Tomorrow the bridal ramp up is on!   If you know of a great workout in Denver that I have not tried, please send it my way and I’ll try it out. So what did I do on my last day of easiness?  I walked again for an hour.  I truly believe that if you learn how to listen to your body, it will give you all the answers that you need.  Craving protein?  Eat eggs.  Need a break?  Take a walk.  Listen, listen, listen.  Your body will thank you and work better than ever.

 

Days 253-256: Home Sweet Home

Day 253: On Wednesday I went back to Bonza Bodies for a quick “kick my butt and make me feel as good as possible before I go to my bridal shower” workout.  Not only were the circuits really intense, but I was paired with the human form of She-Ra, which made me feel like I had to keep up.  In my mind, I was, from the glances I caught in the mirror of us, I was not.  Sometimes I prefer my mind, it’s a nicer place than the mirror 🙂

Day 254: Thursday morning I had to be up at 3:30 to catch my flight back to Ohio.  Once I landed in Columbus I had family picking me up and a schedule packed so tight that I was not sure I’d remember to breathe.  So I decided on a rather strange workout for the day- speed walking through the Chicago Midway airport for an hour during my layover.  With a coffee in one hand, my phone in the other, I dodged hundreds of people while trying my best to look as though I was running late for a flight.  Sometimes ya just have to fit it in where you can…

Day 255:  Yesterday I woke up, grabbed my sneaks and headed down to the hotel gym.  Sidenote: have you ever noticed how big hotel gyms look in pictures?  Then you get there and they are the size of a large bathroom.  Well regardless of size, our hotel has the coolest treadmill I have ever seen.  I took advantage of it by running two quick miles and then planking, pushup’ing and doing situps until it was time to meet our wedding DJ.

Day 256:  My Mom and I had a great plan of going to my old high school and having her walk the track while I ran and did a bleacher workout.  Unfortunately, my old stomping grounds locks the track up now if it’s not being used.  So our quick backup plan was to walk up and down Hard Road for an hour while talking about our old lives here.  It’s amazing what comes up when you’re back home.  Now, onto the bridal shower with lots of awesome family and friends.  #homeiswheretheheartis