One Foot In Front of The Other

It's amazing what you will agree to when you've had a few beverages of the alcohol persuasion.  Things that you would never even remotely consider become the best idea you've ever heard in your entire life.  You start shaking your head up and down with a passionate intensity saying, "Yes, Yes, Yes!!"  You know where this is going, right?

Let me set the scene.  Sunny afternoon.  College friends reunited again.  Tailgating in a parking lot for hours. I'm pretty sure that I would have agreed to anything at that point.  So, when my friend suggested that we all start training for a half marathon, I quickly and enthusiastically replied, "Absolutely!  I'll start training tomorrow!"  Maybe not a big deal for someone who runs, but let's clarify that I am anything BUT a runner. In fact, I couldn't even run a mile in high school when I weighed a little over 100 pounds.  I dreaded those Presidential Fitness Challenges that they held every year in high school, because... let's face it... the gym teacher wasn't going to let me quit until I made my four rounds around that track.  I'm sure she would have stood there all day waiting for me to finish!  But I digress...

Anyway, I'm always someone who stays true to my word.  I made a promise to run a  half marathon in two years, so now I need to get to work.  I got up the gumption to go to the gym today and run three miles.  I swore to myself that I wouldn't leave that treadmill until my three miles were in.  Let me tell you, it wasn't easy and it took me about 40 minutes to do it, but I got it done.  I'm pretty sure my face was beet red, sweat was pouring off of me, and I looked like I was about ready to die (and Lord knows I felt like I was going to die).

As I was running, I was thinking, "This is crazy... you're not a runner... you'll never be able to do this".  And then I pushed all of those negative thoughts from my mind.  "Why NOT me!?".  The only person stopping me from doing this is myself!  Everyone starts somewhere and this is where I'm starting.  So I turned up my music, increased the speed on the treadmill, and kept going... one step at a time.

Today I realized that you have to start somewhere...everyone does.  And if you don't start something, you will never finish.  I also realized that doing something worthwhile is never easy and it takes hard work and determination.  Let's face it, if it were that easy, everyone would be doing it.  So don't be afraid to start.  Don't talk yourself out of something that will be worth it in the end.  Just start... one foot in front of the other... and you will eventually reach your destination.

Cupcake Interrupted....

I bet you are wondering why I named my blog, "Burpees and Baked Goods".  It seems kind of silly to have "Baked Goods" in the name of a fitness blog!  But the truth is that the title represents my love/hate relationship with food and fitness.  I LOVE food... especially baked goods... cupcakes, pie, cake, doughnuts, chocolate... the list goes on and on...and on... and on!  Did I mention that I LOVE these items??!!  Doesn't seem to go hand-in-hand with someone who is trying desperately to lose weight and get in shape!  But I've learned that I can have these things in moderation.  I just can't have them everyday.  It doesn't mean that I don't look longingly at them when I go past them in the grocery store... in fact, there may be a little drool on my chin if you look close enough.

And then on the flip-side... let's talk about my hate for burpees!  Do you know what they are?  Have you ever tried them?  If you don't know what they are, Google them now!  I feel like I am flailing my body onto the ground only to try and get back up again.  How the heck do the people in my workout videos get up SOOOO fast??  I used to chuckle at the contestants on the Biggest Loser when they would complain about burpees.  I mean, they didn't look so hard! "Suck it up", I would say!  Fast forward to me and my burpee adventure.  WOW!  I have literally stood during the segments of my workouts where they were doing burpees.  And...shhhh... don't tell Chalene and Shaun T, but there have been instances were I pushed the fast forward button so I didn't have to come to grips with the fact that I was giving up and being a quitter.  With that being said, I've been working hard to master the burpee.  I'm not fast, but I don't quit, and I'm better than when I started.

So I guess the moral of the story is that you have to take it day by day.  You will slowly learn to cut back on the "baked goods" that you shouldn't be eating and you will get better at the "burpees" that seem so difficult.  It's a constant struggle everyday for me, but I see myself making progress and that's something to be proud of!  Maybe someday when I'm feeling a little braver, I'll even post a video of me and my burpees, but let's save that for a later date.   I'm not ready to make my comedic debut just yet.

What my blog is about...

I've struggled with weight my whole life.  Lost weight.  Gained weight.  Lost weight.  Gained weight.  It's the most frustrating thing to go through, and I know there are millions of people out there just like  me.  I've been jealous of those who can eat whatever they want and don't seem to gain an ounce of weight... but let me just look at a french fry and I swear I gain five pounds! I've done it all... tried pills, stopped eating carbs, exercised like a maniac... the list goes on.  So trust me, I've been there, done that. 

I finally found something that works and I'm hoping I can help others who share the same frustrations that I do.  Through the use of Beachbody workouts, Shakeology, and Clean eating, I'm finally down a path where I've been successful at losing weight and getting fit.  I still have quite a journey in front of me but I know I can help you get started on your own journey! 

Follow my blog for updates on my journey, recipes, and tips on clean eating!