Be Strong

Be strong. Hold your head high. Suck it up.

My whole life I have been the strong one...always dealing with what life throws at me. Always being the one to keep it together and not freak out, snap like a twig or break into the ugly cry.

Change is a comin'.

My entire life I have been pretty much healthy. No broken bones, not much sickness, no medications for anything. Just basically healthy. Minus the short circuit heart thing.

I have in the last year, changed my entire life around and I am feeling wonderful! I feel fit healthy and where I want to be. I feel like I can do anything most days. I like it. In fact I LOVE it.

But, these past few weeks I have been put mentally and physically to the test. I suffered an injury to my leg 3 weeks previous to a 1/2 marathon, but I still completed the race. Then I spent the next 3 weeks not able to run. That was rough. I felt like someone gave me a precious gift then snatched it from me. Something that meant the world to me and I could no longer have it. I was not dealing well.

I am trying to be patient with this and heal. It is hard. I have the patience of Job with some things, but damn it all, not with this. I want it fixed and wanted it fixed NOW!

Last week after my therapy, I was told sure, you can give it a try. I come home, feeling stellar!! I am flying high..the therapy went so well, and my leg feels superb! My spirits are high and I change into my running clothes and give it a whirl. I am on the treadmill, so I don't get stranded on the highway and I fire the old girl up. I start out with a walk, then break into a slow jog. Then I feel it...the slight burning beginnings, the ITB flipping over my knee and after not 5 minutes I am walking. It is getting worse. I keep going and think maybe I can walk it out. The snapping and flipping continues and I can only go for 7 minutes. I pull the plug. I am done.


I just sit down on my treadmill and cry. I cannot imagine after this being a part of my life now being taken away. I cry harder. Get me some chocolate or some hard liqour, for the love of God.

The next day my leg is worse. I am in supreme pain at work and am basically dragging my gimp leg behind me. I am feeling pathetic. Both inside and out.

I talked to my sister Wanda about the upcoming race in less than 2 weeks. At this point I am not sure if I can walk it let alone run it. Then there is the other 1/2 marathon less that one month away in Nova Scotia. I am not feeling confident about it. I need Jillian screaming in my face right now, "Unless you are dead, passed out or puking, keep going". I chant this over in my head. Jillian, you are a cold hearted snake. I love you.

Two days later I am wrapping my head around this and keeping myself occupied with P90x, because oddly enough I can do that and it doesn't bother my leg. I can DO this. I will heal, I will be better. I will wait.

This week I also had a setback that scared the bejebus outta me. I lost focus in my eyes for about 2 minutes, spent a night at the hospital for testing for a stroke and various other things. A. STROKE. I am sighing heavily as I type this.

I am scared and a thousand thoughts go though my mind. What if I cannot walk or talk, let alone run? What if my kids and family are left with me in a vegetative state? What if I don't live to do all the things I haven't done? My Bucket List is undeniably gargantuan. This cannot happen. I have so much to do, to say, to be.

So today I have decided one thing. I am STILL strong. I can STILL hold my head high. I can STILL suck it up like nobody's business. But it is ok to feel the loss. To mourn for something that means the world to you. For me it is family, life, love, running, health, food and desire. I need them. And I know they need me.

I may not run the race in 2 weeks, but I will walk it if I have to. I may not run the 1/2 marathon, but I will run another one. I don't plan on dropping like a fly anytime soon either. I have plans. Dreams. Goals.

I. Am. Strong.

“It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change.”

CLX..The Here, The Now

CLX...The Here, The Now.

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Six months ago I decided to take on CLX (ChaLean Extreme)...I didn’t know a whole lot about it, but I sure learned over time. I wanted to document some of the things that I took from 6 months of a life change, in my opinion.

~Never underestimate yourself. I wasn’t sure I could do this, but I wasn’t sure I couldn’t either.

~Speed does not build muscle...slow controlled movement has more effect on you that pumping iron like a madman. Slow. It. Down.

~Yelling while working out actually DOES help to get you through the move. Ask my neighbours...they will agree.

~What you fuel your body with is a HUGE determining factor in your end result. Protein, Carbs, Fat...they all play a part in your diet. Ingesting garbage because it is easier than prepping meals is no good. Take the time to eat right...your body will thank you. You will be stronger, happier, energetic and you will feel full longer.

~People will think what they want regardless. No, I am not dying, or starving myself or vomiting after I eat. Au contraire. I probably eat more now than I ever did. I am healthier now than I have ever been in my life. I am in the best shape I have ever been in.

~Body size...yes, my body isn’t quite the same as it used to be before I started running and CLX. As long as I am a runner and weight training, it isn’t likely going back to its old self. There are still people that comment to me about this. Oddly enough, they don’t get it was a life change for me. The question I ask myself repeatedly is why did I wait until I was almost 40 to make this change? One of life’s little mysteries, indeed.

~I am Hank Spongepocket. Literally. Since starting CLX, I have done more research on food, macronutrients, vitamins, organics, exercise, HIIT, race training, etc, etc, ETC!! There is so much to learn. EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. I have learned something new.

~Mind over matter....it is my mantra. I have always been VERY stubborn...ask anyone who knows me. This just proves it. Tell me I can’t do something and I will prove to you that I CAN. That is how I attacked CLX.

~There are people out there just begging for help. All they need is someone to tell them, “Yes, you can do this”. I am trying to be that person. There were people that did it for me when I wasn’t sure I could. I am so grateful to them for that. This is my way of paying it forward.

~I learned that stereotypical working-out-to-dvds-in-your-basement is JUST that. This was not the 1980’s verison of the 20 Minute Workout. This was part of my day...almost every day for the last 6 months. Chalene and her family became my family. Literally. Both Chalene and Jenelle are awesome and genuine. These are real people.

~It is not always a good idea to try to hit the Ann Wilson high notes In “Alone”, along with flailing arm movements while running at 7mph. Yeah...will have to rethink that move.

~You have to be the person to change yourself. There is no fairy Godmother to wave their magic wand over you and transform you into Cinderella. You have to want it, so screw the wand! Just make a conscious effort to change your life every single day.

~There will always be excuses for not exercising: people will stare, I can’t do it, I am too tired, there aren’t enough hours in the day, my kids take up all my time, I can’t afford to go to the gym. There are a few days that you just cannot help, sure. But every day?? I think not. Get up and Do. It. No excuses. Your kids will survive for that one hour you are taking to get you healthy. And no one is looking at you when you are working out. They are too busy trying to keep themselves from doing a face plant on the treadmill. Get over yourself already. As long as you have legs and shoes you can walk...that is free.

~Nothing gets me more fired up than talking about something I am passionate about and having someone else so curious, that in turn that passion is reciprocated.

~It is a wonderful feeling to have someone tell you they are inspired by you. I am in awe when I hear that because some days I cannot imagine why. I am just a girl, who loves life and living. I want to learn all I can, try new things, eat new food, mold myself into something better than I was before. If someone takes something away from that to make a change within themselves, I could not be more honoured.

~My family is everything to me. They were with me though everything and saw me change. But they changed with me. My kids are cooking, and eating healthier. They are interested in the hows and whys. My daughter has started CLX as well and LOVES it! This is so awesome!! My husband didn’t get it at first...didn’t know why I wanted to do this. He gets me now and stands beside me all the way. I am very lucky to have him loving me.

~Food is fascinating! I have always loved cooking and baking, but now I am becoming even more experimental and creative. The kids have never had so many new dishes to try. And they are LOVING them. Cooking should be fun and exciting. Eating healthy does not mean boring or small servings. Eat the right thing, and you can have plenty.

~I was not a huge meat eater, but I am more so now. I eat tons of chicken, seafood, and tuna. Protein from these lean sources are necessary to fuel and repair your body as you become more involved with weight training. Don’t skimp. These foods are your friend.

~Contrary to popular belief, a new tank from Lulu does INDEED inspire you to work harder. You spent the money on it...you had better look good in it. It is motivation, I think, in disguise. Yep...I am going with that theory.

I could go on for days really about all the changes, the inspiration, the ideas that came to me during these last 6 months. I am sad to see it come to an end, but VERY excited about my new project to tackle: P90x!!

I learned so many things about myself I never knew. CLX, running, getting healthier...I am grateful every day for these past 6 months. If I can do it, you can too. No excuses....no fairy god mother...no magic wand. Just have a will to change yourself, to persevere, to do something you never thought possible. Why wait?