Show day recap

Last weekend was the show I've been preparing for eight months for and I learned a ton throughout this process!  I was surprisingly less nervous than what I expected to be.  Don't get me wrong I was shaky as all get out the first time I got on stage.  I was on a total of four times.  Twice in the morning and twice for the night show.

 The morning started early at 4:30 am to get up and get hair and makeup all done.  We had to bring our own sheets to the hotel because the spray tan can rub off on them.  The first tan is done Friday night and later Saturday morning is the second coat which is bronzer.  I did my own hair and makeup for the show because it was crazy expensive to pay someone to do it.  Basically the more makeup the better for stage makeup.

 The bronzer...as you touch it throughout the day it rubs off as you can see on my hand.  I looked like a car mechanic by the end of the night.

 There is a lot of waiting around.  A lot.  We didn't complete the night show until 1:30 Sunday morning.  Throughout the day I ate chicken, steak and rice cakes.  We even got some jelly beans right before getting on stage.

 Team Nutrishop

 Amber, Megan, myself and Jackie.

 When I first got my suit I thought there was no way I would fit into it for the show.  However, by show day it fit perfectly.  I didn't even have to get mine glued down like most girls do.  Which was nice, because, talk about ripping off a band-aid with a glued on suit!

 Stage shots from the show

I got off stage the first time and it was a total blur.  I had no memory of exactly what I did as far as my posing routine goes.  But I met my goal of getting to the show and completing it even though there were many days I wanted to quit.

It is pretty much an immediate bond when it comes to talking to and meeting other competitors.  Everyone knows that we have put in some hard work and gone to bed thinking of Reese's Eggs.  And cake.  I had cake at 3:30 am Sunday morning!

The post show water weight gain is unreal.  I've enjoyed getting back to a little less restriction this week but the water weight and post show bloat has me ready to get back to my routine.  I even bought chicken at the grocery store this weekend when I had sworn it off completely!

Since the show I've become a Nutrishop sponsored athlete and am motivated to work even harder for the next show.  I am shooting for one in the fall.  The hard work and hunger all was worth it come show day.  I didn't place but I didn't go into it hoping to.  I was in a group of 10-12 amazing women.  I watched a lot of the night show because we had time to.  It started at 5 and we didn't line up again until 12:30 am.  It was fun to watch the other classes like the Bikini Pros and Men's Bodybuilding.  I think it took me all week to catch up on sleep after being up so long and the adrenaline rush wore off.    Today I finally spent hours cleaning my house because I haven't really dedicated the time or energy for it for weeks.

I have two weeks until my cruise with Julie.  I'll be spending the next two weeks focusing on getting rid of the water weight from this past week post show.  When I return from vacation I am going to start focusing on my goals for fall!

7 days until cake!

NPC Midwest is one week from today!  That means I have a challenging but exciting week ahead of me.  I will be cutting carbs lower than ever and cutting water.  But I am so excited to see what the end of the week brings.  Last night I felt huge and bloated and thought no way I can do it.  Today I woke up feeling great.  I felt more confident posing and strong at the gym.  This is definitely a roller coaster like I have never experienced before.  I am not sure why we naturally focus on what we see as our flaws instead of focusing on our strong points.  It is a mental battle to not beat myself up and instead see what others see.  But there are times I manage to I think “wow I really have come a long way.”  I have decided that next Saturday I am proudly rocking what I am working with.  I may not have the perfect stomach but I am going to rock my legs and arms proudly.  I have put countless hours in the gym, on the treadmill, and in the kitchen prepping meals.  This journey has taught me that it isn’t about perfection but consistency.  I haven’t been perfect by any means but I have remained consistent.  So I am going to go into this show just ready to have fun with it and with my teammates.  And I am going to enjoy the hell out of some cake afterwards!

Three weeks to go...countdown is on!

Today marks three weeks out from show day and I am definitely counting down!  This coming week we are doing a practice peak week.  Peak week is done the week before the show and is designed to make your body come in at peak condition.  No doubt this week will be a different type of challenge but I am looking forward to seeing how my body responds.  This week it really hit me just how much a number on a scale doesn’t mean a thing.  My weight continues to go up and down a few pounds but my body fat keeps dropping.  So I have stopped weighing myself at home because the number means nothing to me at this point.  I weigh in at Nutrishop weekly and it also calculates my body fat and muscle so the results show me more of a big picture.  I am down about six percent body fat from January and plan to drop another four to five percent in the next three weeks.

I am doing two cardio sessions a day and still feel so much better than I did when I was bulking.  I am grateful to be able to get up early and do my cardio with plenty of energy!  A good multivitamin is extremely helpful for that right now.  Before I added the vitamin in morning cardio made me feel awful.  Now I am able to get through it much easier!  I take Nature’s Fuel from Nutrishop.  I won’t lie...super tired of chicken and veggies but the light is shining at the end of the tunnel.  I have made so many new friends on this journey.  I believe I have said it before but it is both extremely challenging and extremely rewarding!

Physical and mental strength

I signed up for this “seemed like a good idea at the time” journey to the stage in August.  I needed something new to focus on.  It started out with bulking to gain muscle and I thought that was hard.  Friends will tell you I was grouchy (truth) and depressed (truth) because bulking was awful for me.  I loved gaining muscle but feeling stuffed and cutting cardio was hard.  I counted down the days until I could eat less food.

Fast forward to January and I finally started cutting back on food slowly.  Now there became a new pressure of having a deadline to reach a low body fat.  My body doesn’t want to get to a low body fat naturally past a certain point...at least that is what it seems to be telling me at the moment.  So my current mental battle is facing losing body fat while maintaining muscle and dealing with cravings.  I would rather be hungry than stuffed so I still prefer this phase to bulking.  But I have never had a looming deadline of having to fit into a tiny swimsuit in five weeks.  And it is tiny.

I have also realized how much I use food as an escape.  If I am having a bad day I look forward to pizza and Netflix.  Chicken and veggies and Netflix isn’t real exciting.  So while I wasn’t binging on food before I was still using it to provide something that is missing.  I have read that sugar hits the same pleasure center in the brain that cocaine does.  So maybe it is a rush of good feelings that I am missing, even if they are temporary.  So I was depressed bulking and still fighting depression now.  Not to be "poor me" by any means but sharing the mental challenges this journey has brought with it.

Along the way there are some really good life lessons though.  Motivation, discipline, self-control, and not relying on others for approval to name a few.   Celebrate the small victories and don't let small set backs consume you.  Push yourself even when nobody else is there to watch.  Remember why you started and don't give up on yourself.  And never compare yourself to others.  Your journey isn't the same as theirs.  Prove to yourself you are stronger than you ever knew.  Physically and mentally.

Current empties and updates

This past week I was hit with a bad bug, maybe the flu?  I don't know but it knocked me on my butt.  I am finally on the mend.  Food doesn't repulse me and I have some energy again.  Looking forward to getting back to my routine again this week.  I've gone from bulking mode to cutting and have significantly decreased my calories which is awesome.  Bulking was really tough for me mentally.  More on that below.   

I have finished up a lot of supplements lately.  I still start every morning with my Spark from Advocare.  Mandarin Orange has been the flavor I've favored lately.  I finished up another Nerium Youth Factor supplement.  My favorite O2 Gold from Advocare which I just re-ordered.  I've started taking Cinnamon which is a metabolism support.  Nature's Fuel from Nutrishop which is a superfood/greens mix.  It doesn't taste the best but it is better than eating vegetables all day!  Advocare Omegaplex for Omega's and finally Stance ATP and ANX3 for my pre-gym supplements.  Supplements aren't necessary they just supplement a good diet an exercise program.  

Beauty/misc. I finished up 2 Suave dry shampoos.  For three bucks I feel like you just can't beat this dry shampoo.  I finally finished the Peter Thomas Roth pumpkin enzyme mask which I really like using once a week.  From Bath and Body Works I used up a Vanilla Bean Noel lotion.  Love this scent.  I used a Vanilla Snowflake candle which is also my favorite from the winter scents.  I also had a Vanilla Snowflake hand soap.  I finally burned the Happy Birthday Yankee candle from my birthday.  The Nivea lip butter is a must have.  Also a must have is the Maybelline Fit Me concealer.  Another face mask sample I used was the Glam Glo charcoal mask which I really like for breakouts.  I always use the Equate eye cream and have repurchased this bad boy.   I had a small Clinque eye cream which was nice but I just wasn't willing to spend the money on another one right now.  I bought the Body Merry neck cream from Amazon and didn't notice any crazy differences from using it so I probably won't buy this neck cream again.  Then I'm just throwing away a Maybelline Color Tattoo eye cream that has dried out too much to use.

In the past I used to post the price of these items but I currently am just too focused elsewhere to concentrate enough to.  The NPC Midwest fitness competition I'm training for is eight weeks away and it is consuming my thoughts.  For those that don't know, I started this fitness competition journey in August and started off by lean bulking which is an attempt to build muscle with minimal body fat gain.  I put on a good 12-15 pounds depending on the day.  Now I'm cutting weight and I need to shed about 16 pounds in the next eight weeks.  It is a bit overwhelming to have the deadline approaching, a swimsuit that I currently look ridiculous in, and a posing routine to learn on top of it all.  My calories went from 2,700 when bulking (which was pure misery) and slowly dropped back down.  This week I am down another 300 calories which I do fine with other than less energy for the gym.  I would much rather eat way less food than stuff myself like I had to do last year.  Bulking works because you have to be in a caloric surplus to build muscle but it really was a challenge for me.  While I liked building muscle, and didn't mind eating my way through the holidays, purposely eating more than I wanted to was not a mindset I was used to.  Now my challenge is to stay focused on working to shed fat without losing the muscle I put on.  It's amazing how aware I have become of days and time because of this process.  March 31st is only 54 days away!

Goodbye 2017

Here we are at the end of 2017 already!  I hope everyone has had a good Christmas and a safe and happy New Year.  

I've been staying busy with work, working out, and hanging out with my dog and the visiting grand-pup Carrie. 

She is a lot of fun and gets along really well with Jazzie.  She has taken up wearing sweaters now that it is freezing outside.  She makes herself right at home at my house. 

I am happy to be on a team that believes in office pranks.  Our boss discovered what happens when he decides to take a week off! 

I am still giving some thought to my 2018 goals.  I usually have them all lined up by now.  2017 ended up being a good year with a new job, new flooring, a half-marathon PR, and new workout goals started and continuing. 

In 2018 I am looking forward to a fun vacation and remodeling my bathroom shower, as well as stepping outside of my comfort zone with fitness goals and have fun while doing it.  I want to relax more, not get worked up about the little things and be more mindful and in the moment (I think this is a constant goal). 

"Doing anything with intent and purpose will always come out better than going through the motions."  - Marie Purvis

Bring on 2018! 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

I have a lot of pictures to post, however, I am now a converted iPhone user.  As such, I have no idea how to get my pictures on the blog.  There is something about adding a Google Plus app in order to add the pictures.  I don't know but a lot of you won't be surprised to know this is a struggle for me.

So basically to sum up what I've been up to: 

-Today I ran the Turkey Trax 5k.  It was cold.  It was fun.  It is always a good time.

-Just got back from a fun trip to Nashville with Lisa and friends.  Good times were had by all.  Some will be remembered, some maybe not so much. 

-Considering a bathroom remodel. 

-Other than that, work, gym, eat, work, gym, eat. 

-Once I figure out my iPhone I will post pics I promise!  Sorry for the quiet blog time lately!

How running helps me overcome self doubt

I have been really struggling with self doubt lately.  Badly.  I took on a new goal and things that I've thought daily include:  "What the hell was I thinking?"  "Why did I think I could do this?"  "Why am I doing this to myself?"  "What if this doesn't work?"  "I'm going to have to buy new pants!"  

This has gone on for weeks.  I've put in the daily work towards my goal but all the while my head has been contradicting my actions.  This weekend it hit me that I had these exact same thoughts when I started running.  "Why would I think it is a good idea to sign up for a 5k?"  "How on earth can I run 3.1 miles if I can't even run 1 mile?"  "Who thinks running is fun, it isn't fun!?"  "What if I'm not good enough?"  

Since my first 5k I've finished dozens of other 5ks and 4 half marathons.  I didn't go out there to win the race.  I just went out there to prove to myself I could do it.  Ever since then I've been competing with myself to get better.  And I've had thoughts about whether or not I could improve on my times but never have I doubted if I could finish a race.  Self doubt doesn't plague me like it did before that first 5k.  Not to mention, running became fun!  

So after this brilliant insight hit me this weekend I realized this new goal of mine is just like signing up for my first 5k.  I was/am scared of what it takes to get there and it is overwhelming, however,  I know I can achieve my goals so why let self doubt waste my time.  

I'm re-reading the book Relentless by Tim Grover.  He has so many motivating gems in it that I grabbed a notebook and started making notes so I can refer to it when doubt starts to creep in.  A few of my favorite things Tim points out:

-Patience is the hardest part of any goal.

-If we're talking about being elite, if you want to be unstoppable, you have to learn to put aside everything you've been taught, all the restrictions and limitations, the negativity and doubt.  You have to stop thinking.  

-There's a certain fulfillment that comes from testing your own limits instead of stopping where others claim you are capable of reaching.

-Never let others standards define your own.  

-You have to play the last game of the season with the same intensity as you played the first.  

I think I have mentioned this book before but if you like no BS motivation this book is full of it (no pun intended?).  I  have this book so highlighted and underlined it is like a textbook.

So overall what I learned-I let myself feel the doubts, think about them and then realized I have had doubts like these before and running showed me I can conquer them and do hard things.  One of my running mantras is actually "I can do hard things."  When I start to face doubts during an actual run it reminds me I've done harder things than what I'm doing in that moment.  Whether in life or running up a hill so long and steep I'm cursing my decision to sign up for that run and questioning again who runs for fun, the doubts go out as fast as they come in.  So new goal, same doubts, and I know it'll be the same outcome.  I can do hard things.

Mo Cowbell Half Marathon and some new food favorites

The Mo Cowbell Half Marathon was this past weekend and it was a blast.  My time was 2:09 which was a personal record...only by 2 minutes but a new PR is always fun.  The course was awesome with the views and a lot of supporters outside with signs or ringing their cowbells.  The race was fun as well as staying at the casino for the weekend and just enjoying time with friends.

The race had a great expo and fun post-race goodies.  I would definitely do this one again.

I have several new recent food favorites.  This Source cookie dough protein bar is the best protein bar I've ever had.  It's pretty much the only one I'll eat now.

This Bang energy drink in cotton candy is like a treat.  It tastes just like cotton candy.  I've tried several of the flavors and so far this is definitely my favorite.  It has caffeine, BCAAs, and creatine so lots of good stuff.

I've also found the best protein powder I've ever tried.  It's peanut butter banana flavored and with a frozen banana it is basically a banana milkshake.  Plus it's low in sugar and carbs and still tastes awesome.

This peanut butter.  Just buy it.  It's ah-mazing.

Spicy brown mustard has been my favorite thing ever lately.  I put it on everything I can.

I found these waffles at Hy-Vee and they caught my attention with the 10 grams of protein.  Loved them.

And lastly...sweet potatoes.  I typically eat one a day.  I think I'm addicted.

I feel like I haven't blogged in awhile.  I've pretty much been at the gym, catching up with friends, and trying to get some sleep.  I'm trying to add muscle right now and little did I know how much time that takes...both in the gym and prepping food.  It's working but it has been a challenge for sure.

I'm excited for an upcoming trip to Bloomington and the ISU Town and Gown 5k next!

The Terrible and Wonderful Reasons Why I Run Long Distances

Glenda passed along a book she just finished reading.  It is a quick read, about 20 mins.  It is mostly a bunch of illustrations and written almost in a comic book form.  The end of the book has a section called "A lazy cartoonist's guide to becoming a runner."  I thought I'd share the guide's tips to becoming a runner.

1.  Shut up and run.
     -You'll never run out of reasons to take it easy.  Just put on your shoes and get outside.  A 20 minute workout is 1.3% of the 1,444 minutes in a day.

2.  Don't try to change a bunch of habits at once.
     -Change one habit at a time otherwise you're just setting yourself up for failure.

3.  Remember, running sucks in the beginning.
     -If you've never run farther than a mile, understandably  you likely hate running.  Running sucks in the beginning.  But it doesn't stay that way.  It's a front-loaded chore.  Starting out your body fights you, you just have to keep going.  Win the argument against your body.  After that, you're free.

4.  Run outside.
     -If you want to hate running, use a treadmill.  Minimize boredom by running outside.

5.  Sign up for an event.
     -We often train alone-our only companion a bottomless well of sweat, pain, and introspection.   But on race day all that changes.  It is a collective release of hours of solitary tedium taking the form of a massive crowd of strangers.

6.  Don't think ahead.
     -Be present.  Running will hurt.  You do have to get used to it.  The pain diminishes but there's always a certain degree of suffering.  Own this and try not to live in the future.  Possess your circumstances whether they're terrible, wonderful, or somewhere in between.

7.  Become a drug addict.
     -Choose to be a different kind of drug addict.  Choose to be a runner.  Running is an addiction, both chemically and spiritually.  There are euphoric highs, terrible lows, and the constant desire to squeeze in a "quick run" in order to feel whole.  "It's like being able to smoke crack every day, but instead of getting strung out and arrested you get bananas and compliments."

8.  Hurt yourself today.
     -Life...sometimes good things happen and sometimes bad things happen and I'm not in control.  But when I run, I control the hurt.  It's a form of hurt I can possess.  Runners aren't impervious to pain, we're just better at choosing what kind of pain we have to feel.  And when I run, that's exactly what I'm doing.  I'm asserting control over the uncontrollable.

Overall, a fun and quick read.  I wouldn't necessarily buy the book but it is a good one to check out from the library or borrow.

Current Favorites

I have a ton of new favorites that I've recently discovered!  

I've been drinking this Superfood drink from Nerium daily.  It is called Youth Factor and has all kinds of vitamins and minerals in it.  I have felt better since I started drinking it and haven't had any energy lags throughout the day.  I take the supplement that goes with it.

Advocare released a new protein supplement.  It is meant for post-workout.  I don't find many proteins I actually like but this one is very tasty!  I like the chocolate flavor but also have the cinnamon.

I think I've had this in my favorites before but I'm still obsessed with this Green Dragon hot sauce from Trader Joe's.

I didn't think I'd like this Spicy Brown Mustard from Wal-Mart but I love it!  And...it's $1.00.  $1.00.

Sweet potatoes.  Can't go wrong.  Love.

A friend bought me this Hydrojug as a belated birthday gift and I love it.  It is 73 oz. so a little over a half gallon.  Two of these a day makes sure I get in a gallon of water.

These new gym shoes.  I found these Nikes at Academy Sports on sale for $60 and I love them for the gym.  My goal is to keep them clean because they are so pretty.

Also purchased at Academy were these weight lifting gloves.  These are perfect because they have wrist support.  I found out I have torn cartilage in my wrist so that is the cause of my wrist pain.  There aren't a ton of options to fix it but these gloves help stabilize my wrist during workouts and minimize supination.

I found these bracelets on Etsy by Healing Atlas.  I love these.  The black onyx is supposed to promote protection, self-discipline and health.  The pink quartz induces love and reduces tension and grief.  I wear them with my Garmin watch and really like the look.

My favorites aren't all food this time!  

Recent reads

Recently finished up a few more books.  Born to Run was a great, interesting read about a tribe of super fast runners in Mexico.  The best part of running books for me are the little tidbits that are just "ah ha" moments.  Those things I already know but when put into words it all just clicks.  Or life wisdom compared to running.  

One of my favorite "ah ha" moments in Born to Run was an ultra runner talking about dealing with pain.  She calls it the Beast.  She talks about the Beast saying "I actually look forward to the Beast showing up, because every time he does, I handle him better.  I get him more under control."  The author goes on to talk about how you can't hate the Beast and expect to beat it.  "The only way to truly conquer something, as every great philosopher and geneticist will tell you, is to love it."  

There are many good parts to this book but that is one that stuck out to me.   Also, I should probably try to add some chia seeds to my diet.  

I just finished an audio book 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do.  Audio books have replaced my Sirius radio and I take advantage of the Overdrive app to listen to them free from the library.  This was a great book talking in detail about these 13 things that mentally strong people don't do: 

1.  They don't waste time feeling sorry for themselves

2.  They don't give away their power

3.  They don't shy away from change

4.  They don't focus on things they can't control

5.  They don't worry about pleasing everyone

6.  They don't fear taking calculated risks

7.  They don't dwell on the past

8.  They don't make the same mistakes over and over

9.  They don't resent other people's success

10.  They don't give up after the first failure

11.  They don't fear alone time

12.  They don't feel the world owes them anything

13.  They don't expect immediate results  

This was a relatively short audio book and definitely worth the listen.  Great reminders...for me #2, 4 and 5 especially.   

Can't stop reading lately.  Trying to stay off social media for the most part and read as much as possible instead!  Otherwise I've been wrapped up with studying for my licensing at work (2 tests down, 1 more to go) and trying to stay cool while running in the heat.  Spent the day at the pool yesterday after unsuccessfully staying cool while running.  However, still had a good run!  And a good day at the pool...with plenty of sunscreen!  

A few favorites and product empties

It has been a whirlwind since April.  Mostly because of my new job.  Which is a new favorite.  I'm totally loving my new job.  Learning a lot and getting to do some cool stuff like welding!  

I went on my first float trip a few weekends ago.  I feel like a real Missourian now.  These water shoes were definitely a favorite.  Also, bug spray.  I came home tick free.  It was a fun float trip.  Definitely stepping outside of my comfort zone.  I am not a camper.

I have a few months worth of product empties saved up.  A ton of different supplements that I experimented with and tried out.  Above:
Now Super Cortisol Support-$14.99  Can't say I noticed anything special about this one.
Now L-Tyrosine-$15.99  This is an amino acid for mental alertness and anxiety.  I am not rushing out for it.
Super Collagen-$16.95  Love this stuff.
Dymatize L-Carnatine-$17.10  Another amino acid to support energy.  I try to take this often.
Glucosomine-$7.99  For joint health I take this everyday.
Amazing Nutrition B Complex-$14.99  I like taking a B vitamin for energy and overall health.
L-lysine-$6.72  Another amino for Immune support, reduce anxiety
Total:  $94.73

My price decreased a bit since last time I ordered.
Advocare O2 Gold (3 of them)-$23.37  This one is my must have product.  Oxygen support for increased energy during workouts.
Advocare Spark Limeade-$31.17  Another one of my must haves.
Advocare Probiotic-$20.37  I buy this one every now and again.
Advocare Catalyst-$18.90  Also another one I buy here and there.  It's amino acids in pill form.
Total:  $140.55

Up and Up Face Wash-$4 Like this one a lot
Dr. Jart BB Cream-$4 sample size, loved this enough to get a full size.
Peter Thomas Roth 24k Gold Face Mask-  $15 (came in a special edition sampler pack of 5) Loved this!
Total:  $23

3 Mango Temptations-$15 ($5 each)  Of course these are my must have lotions.
Brazilian Bum Bum Cream-$20.  Eh, it smelled good.  Overrated.
Total:  $35

Suave Keratin shampoo and conditioner-$4 ($2 each)
Suave dry shampoo-$3 fave dry shampoo
Total:  $7

More Mango Temptations-$20 ($5 each)

2 soaps from Bath and Body-Vanilla Bean Noel and Lemon Meringue $6 ($3 each)
Berry Vanilla Bath and Body candle-$10 This reminded me of a lollipop I used to eat as a kid.  I liked it.
Total:  $16

TreSemme Hair Heat Protector-$4  I liked this stuff and the spray on.  I would buy it again.
Garnier Moisturizing Gel-$7  My must have moisturizer
Aquafresh toothpaste $2  I'm not picky about toothpaste
R&F eye cream-I got this as a free sample.  I think it is pretty pricey full size.  I liked it.  I am really loving the Lash Boost I actually purchased!
Equate Oil Free Eye Make-Up Remover-$4  My typical purchase, will buy again
Total:  $17

Old Spice deodorant-$2 I am just throwing this one away because I didn't like it.  I have since found my must have deodorant with a Dove Spray.
Color Pop Swan Eye Shadow-$4  Love this color.  Already almost done with another one.
Maybelline Master Concealer-$6ish  This stuff was pretty good.  I would buy it again.
Rimmel Stay Matte Powder-$3.97  Super cheap powder, loved it, would buy again.
Total:  $16

Super Collagen-$16.95  again, a must have.
Equate Ibuprofen-$2  I always have this on hand.
Raspberry Ketones-$14.95  I used this when I was doing more keto eating.  I don't think it is necessary if you are eating keto anyways.
CLA-10.59  Supposedly helps maintain muscle mass while losing body fat.  I didn't notice.
Now Zinc-$8  Immune Support
Tylenol PM-$5  Typically I buy Advil PM, not sure what made me get Tylenol!
Total:  $57.49

Another Advocare group plus one:
Advocare O2 Gold-$23.37 x2
Spark Limeade-S31.17
Catalyst-$18.90
Thermoplus-$19.17  A metabolism enhancer...not something I have on hand often
Optimum Nutrition L-Carnatine-$18.95
Total: $134.93

Overall total:  561.70  Although it is a few month's worth I think it is safe to say I like my supplements.


2/11/17 $416.72
07/09/17:  $581.70
Total 2017 YTD:  $998.42

The Inner Runner

Last night I finished up this book.  I thought the second half was better than the first.  Overall, the book is really good but the last bit of it really made it a page turner for me.  Mostly because the author started speaking my language and I could really relate to what he said about running.  The book is meant to explain the power and beauty in the simple act of running and tells numerous stories throughout it.  It validated a lot of things that I had been thinking about lately.  

I thought this page was great.  A lot of times you hear people call runners crazy because why would we want to go run for fun?  So I had to laugh when I came across this that said "There are some people-let's call them crazy-who don't like to run.  I know for you and me, it's hard to believe but they are out there."

I'm going to bullet point some of my favorite lines out of this book that I found to be completely true...and sums up running in an awesome way.  I think you really can relate this to just about any sport, not just running.

*"No matter what level of runner you are, devoting yourself to the journey of becoming a better runner strips you of the unnecessary baggage you clutter your life with.  There's no time for reality tv when you're on a mission.  The journey forces you to shut up, stop complaining, and stop making excuses for why you can't do it."

*"Committing to running creates a habit, not only of running, but of all the traits that it takes to be successful in all areas of your life, including discipline, devotion, and attitude."

*"Life is full of distractions that divert our attention away from what we're doing and what we want to accomplish....too much time is wasted performing tasks that don't lead to results.  Recognize the distractions in your life, what is urgent versus what is important, and work on limiting the distractions, so you can accomplish what you want."

*"One of the things running has taught me is that we have control over some things, but not all things.  We have control over how many miles we run.  We have control over our training to become better runners.  But we don't have control over many illnesses or injuries that take running away from us.  Part of being a runner is the ability to let go of the things you can't control and focus on the things you can."

*"Running is a chance to try.  To make an effort.  Whether it's to try to run longer, faster, easier, or smarter, there's an opportunity for every type of runner to try, from the beginner to the Olympian.  If you want to become a better runner, you need to get out of your comfort zone, physically and emotionally, and make an effort you have not made before.  There are consequences to our efforts.  If we try harder, we succeed more.  And success breeds motivation to try harder to succeed more."

*"We don't run for the t-shirt or the medal or to lose the five pounds around our waistline.  Not really, anyway.  Despite how shiny your marathon medal looks at it dangles from its post on your wall, the intrinsic rewards of running will always far outweigh the extrinsic ones.  Sure, we all like shiny medals.  But when the motivation and reason and discipline and desire to run and to be a better runner comes from inside of you, you have a much greater chance of success."

*"When it is you that drives you, the process and the effort mean so much more."

*"Runners do something very unique-we seek out discomfort.  Yet we get nervous and anxious about it.  We learn about ourselves when we're uncomfortable.  We are asked in no uncertain terms "What are you going to do right now?"  Few other times in our lives are we asked such a decisive question at such a decisive moment.  It's very revealing."

*"Running gives us the opportunity to seek out discomfort so that we may learn to deal with it, rise above it, and become hopeful about our future.  And that's very much like life."

*"Runners have an obsession with running that rivals most other obsessions, perhaps because runners truly believe that they are running toward who they want to be."

There are many more great parts of this book but those are some of my favorites.  This book was a great read on how running creates life lessons.  I'm sure runners and other athletes can completely relate to most of this book.  For non-runners this book helps explain why we are "crazy" and run for fun.