The New Me - Month Six

The 13th was the official day that I had been working out consistently for 6 months. Yes, I'm a little behind in writing this blog, but life has been busy lately. I figured at this point, I would have been exactly where I wanted to be. Wrong. I tried to be realistic when setting my initial weight loss goals, but let's be honest, I've never been down this road. I had 3 kids in 3 1/2 years, and  9 months after having my third daughter, I decided it was time to get back in shape. Before my first pregnancy, I was fit, so I knew that I could get back there, but I did not know how long it would take. So, I'm learning as I go. A few months ago, I took off my 6 month time frame and told myself that I'll reach my goals when I reach my goals. I won't stop working hard, but only time will allow the necessary changes to take place. Yes, getting into shape takes time ... just like getting out of shape takes time. It takes hard work, dedication, habit changes, time, and sacrifice to see results. But, the results will be worth it. I'm getting close!

Judges 8:2 - "But he answered them, 'What have I accomplished compared to you?'"

I love the above picture and this Bible verse. There are lots of inspirational girls in my Boot camp class. When I started 6 months ago I wanted to instantly look like some of them and then I found out that they had already been attending for 2 years. No wonder they looked so good! There may even be girls in the class now, that just started, that are looking at me thinking the same thing that I thought 6 months ago. We all have our own journeys and we all do things differently. We need to stop comparing ourselves to others because we have no idea of knowing how much time and effort they are putting into looking the way that they do. Most importantly, we all have to start somewhere!

Workout Routine / Accountability: In month six I committed to Boot camp M, W, and F. I ran on T and Th. I played soccer on Sunday.

Day 152: Ran 4 miles with Hatch. My longest run so far! 14 leg throw downs (continuing our daily Boot camp challenge)

Day 153: Boot camp. 15 leg throw downs

Day 154: 16 leg throw downs

Day 155: Played a full soccer game because we had no subs. 17 leg throw downs

Day 156: Boot camp. Pulled my right butt cheek sitting down to stretch AFTER class. Who does that?! 18 leg throw downs

Day 157: Ran 4 miles with Dawn & Hatch. We averaged a 10 min 5 sec mile! 19 leg throw downs

Day 158: Boot camp. 20 leg throw downs

Day 159: Ran 2 miles in 18 mins 27 sec's - Personal Record! 21 leg throw downs

Day 160: 22 leg throw downs

Day 161: Stomach bug - No fun!

Day 162: Recovering from the bug

Day 163: Still recovering. Caught up on 23, 24, & 25 leg throw downs

Day 164: Ran 2 miles. 26 leg throw downs

Day 165: Boot camp. 27 leg throw downs

Day 166: Ran 2 miles with Dawn. 28 leg throw downs

Day 167: Boot camp. 29 leg throw downs. I now fit in my pre-pregnancy jeans! YAY! I'll admit that my bigger jeans were getting harder to keep up, but I still doubted that I could fit in a smaller size. Typical girl problems. After about a month of needing smaller jeans, I finally broke down and got some. They fit!

Day 168: 30 leg throw downs

Day 169: Played a full soccer game because we had no subs. 31 leg throw downs

Day 170: Boot camp. 1 squat (this is our challenge for the month of  April)

Day 171: 2 squats

Day 172: Boot camp. 3 squats. 50 crunches

Day 173: Ran 4 miles with Hatch. 4 squats

Day 174: Boot camp. 5 squats

Day 175: 6 squats

Day 176: Played a full soccer game because we had no subs ... again. 7 squats

Day 177: Boot camp. 8 squats

Day 178: 9 squats

Day 179: Boot camp. 10 squats

Day 180: 11 squats

Day 181: Boot camp. 12 squats

Day 182: 13 squats. Six months down!

Day 183: I'm adding an extra day to this post because this is the day that my team and I ran the Hogeye Marathon Relay in Fayetteville, AR. I ran 7 total miles (my longest run so far). You can read the full story here. 14 squats



6 Month Results:

• I've lost a total of 7 1/4" in 6 months with 5 1/4 of those inches being in my problem areas (aka hips and waist)
• I lost 2 pounds this month!
• My stomach is definitely feeling tighter, and I feel stronger than I have in years
• Running is now contagious. I love it ... not every time ... but more often than not!
• In month seven, I've committed to keep the same schedule with the exception of just running when I feel like running. My next race is May 18th, but it won't require training like the long run that I just finished. However, I will start training again in the late summer for a 15k and Half marathon that I'm running in the Fall.
• I've run a total of 74 miles in the last 6 months. Wow!

Like I've said before, I've given myself 6 months as long as it takes to get back in the shape that I want to be in so I'll update you again at the end of month seven.

Me? Marathon Relay! What?!

About 3-4 months ago, my brother asked me if I wanted to run in the Hogeye Marathon Relay (on Sunday, April 14th) with him in Fayetteville, AR, where he lives. Apparently, I said yes before I realized what was happening because the next thing I knew the teams were being formed.

The Mustache Team #1
Leg 1: 5.5 miles = Brian (my brother)
Leg 2: 6 miles = Me
Leg 3: 8 miles = Stephanie (Bailey's preschool teacher)
Leg 4: 6.7 miles = Greg

The Mustache Team #2
Leg 1: Ashley (my sister in law)
Leg 2: Dawn (my best friend)
Leg 3: Charlotte (Lou's preschool teacher)
Leg 4: Nate (a friend of my brother) *Nate stepped up at the last minute to take the place of Craig, Dawn's husband, who hurt his ankle playing soccer with us the weekend before the race. A huge thanks to Nate ... and well played Craig. That was an extremely painful way of getting out of running your leg of the race!*

So, the training began. I ran with my running buddies 2-3 times a week to prepare for the 6 miles that I would run at the relay. The max that I had run in training was 4 miles and the longest race that I had ever run was 3.1 miles, but I was ready!

Race Day: Around 7:45am, Dawn and I took off with my brother on the second leg - yes, he kept running - he ran the ENTIRE marathon. Our leg started with a hill, had a few small hills along the way, and ended with a terribly steep hill. I think the best part of the second leg was getting to run over a lake dam in the last mile. It was beautiful even though I hated running at that point and vowed to never do it again. I'm being sarcastic. Sort of. At the end of our leg, we passed our race chip to Charlotte and Stephanie, and then Craig and Greg picked us up and we drove to the start of the 4th leg that Greg would run. It was awesome to get to cheer on my brother as he ran past us into the 4th leg to continue his marathon. We also got to cheer on Stephanie and Charlotte as they continued on as well to run both legs 3 and 4. After Greg and Nate took off, we drove toward the end of the race, but we stopped 1 mile short of the finish line. When my brother ran by for that last mile, I joined him. The IT band in my left knee was killing me and I knew that I had a nice blister forming on my foot, but I couldn't miss this opportunity. It was awesome! Until ... I looked up and saw another massive hill. Really?! It was bad enough for me and my bum knee, but to think that the marathon runners had to go over this hill in their last half mile was crazy to me. I was so proud of my brother. I knew that he ran marathons, but to actually witness one was a whole new experience. I also realized as I ran with him to the finish line, that this was more than likely the closest I'll ever be to crossing the finish line of a marathon ... so I enjoyed the atmosphere and the cheers as well! We then cheered Nate, Stephanie, Charlotte, and Greg to the finish. We all made it! Go Team Mustache!

A moment of honesty: Let me backtrack to the second leg of the race. My leg. Brian, Dawn, and I were running great and keeping a pretty fast pace (for Dawn and I), and then I hit a wall. No joke. Around mile 3.5 to 4, I just couldn't run anymore. I told Brian and Dawn to go on, and I walked. I was so disappointed in myself. I only walked a short distance, but I walked. My goal was to run the entire 6 miles and I, unknowingly, had put a lot of pressure on myself to run the entire race. I'm very competitive and I don't cut myself much slack. Needless to say, I finished my leg a few minutes after Dawn and I continued to beat myself up inside my head for the rest of the day. I couldn't quite figure out why I hit the wall, was it because:

• I run at night, this race was in the morning
• I run in the dark, this race was under the hot sun
• I run in 30-40 degree weather, this race was in the upper 70's
• I run on flat streets, this race had some horrendous killer unpleasant hills
• I like to sleep all night, the hotel fire alarm went off 7 times the night before the race
• I like to sleep all night, a car alarm went off outside of our hotel window at 5am
• It was WINDY
• I didn't know the course
• I should have gone to the bathroom right before my run started, but I chose to hold it instead. Bad move.
• I had never used a water stop with previous 3.1 mile races, but since this was 6 miles the water was necessary. I didn't realize that they also gave out Gatorade so during my first drink (while still running) I spilled Gatorade down half my face and all over my hand. Ugh!

No, those weren't it. I don't like excuses so I don't use them. The fact is that I walked. It took me about 24 hours to realize that my short walk was ok. It's OK! Once I made peace with that, it started to sink in that I ran 7 miles yesterday. 7 miles! Wow! I've never run more than 4 miles at a time. I ran a 6 mile relay leg and was honored to finish the last marathon mile with my brother. And yes, I'm very proud of myself! And yes, I will run the entire next race that I do ... but if I walk, it will be ok!

Dawn and I after we finished our second leg

 

 

Greg and I after my leg and before his leg

Me, Greg, Craig, and Dawn at the finish line

 

 

The Mustache Teams: Nate, Craig, Dawn, Brian, Charlotte, Stephanie, Me, Greg, Ashley

 

 

My take home souvenir - Don't look if you're squeamish!

Hebrews 12:1-2: "And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus"

 

I would like to take a moment to say that our prayers are with those injured in the bombing at the Boston Marathon today.

Be Contagious

As most of you know, I've been working out, running, and eating better since October of 2012. Along this journey, I've written blogs and Facebook posts about my struggles and my successes. Those posts remind me of how far I've come, but they also hold me accountable to finish the task that I started. This past week, I was blessed with messages from three different friends. At the time, I didn't even know that my journey was motivating them.

Sweet Message #1: "All of your Facebook & blog posts about your incredible will to work out & no excuses motivated me to get my butt outta bed at 6am on a Sunday to hit the treadmill. And I feel great. Thank you & love you!"

Sweet Message #2: "I love reading your posts about your workouts even when you don't feel like it, helps me too! I've been hustling my butt to the gym 5 days a week at 4:50am for about 4 weeks now, woohoo! Never felt better!"

Sweet Messge #3: "Even though we don't see each other much, you still are motivating me."

These messages make my heart smile! I'm honored that I could be a positive influence to my friends, and I'm so blessed that they took the time to send these messages to me. So, whatever it is that you are doing ... Be contagious. Inspire people. You never know who's watching!

3 John 1:3 - "It gave me great joy when some believers came and testified about your faithfulness to the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it."

Easter Sunday - "He Is Risen!"

On the third day...

Matthew 28:1-20

Jesus Has Risen

28 After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. 

² There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. ³ His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. ⁴ The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

⁵ The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. ⁶ He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. ⁷ Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”

⁸ So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. ⁹ Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. ¹⁰ Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

The Guards’ Report

¹¹ While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. ¹² When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, ¹³ telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ ¹⁴ If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” ¹⁵ So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.

The Great Commission

¹⁶ Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. ¹⁷ When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. ¹⁸ Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

He is Risen Indeed! For this, I will strive to live my life as Jesus has commanded. I will do my best to love others and to treat them as I would like to be treated. Afterall, it's the least that I can do to show my gratitude for what he did for me ... and for you.


 

Good Friday

If you are not aware of the meaning of Good Friday, then please read this exert from the Bible that will explain a little more about what Jesus did for you on this day. He's a pretty awesome guy!

Matthew 27:27-54

The Soldiers Mock Jesus
27 Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. 28 They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, 29 and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said. 30 They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. 31 After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.

 The Crucifixion of Jesus
32 As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross. 33 They came to a place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”). 34 There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it. 35 When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots. 36 And sitting down, they kept watch over him there. 37 Above his head they placed the written charge against him: this is jesus, the king of the jews.

38 Two rebels were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. 39 Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads 40 and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!” 41 In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. 42 “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. 43 He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” 44 In the same way the rebels who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him.

The Death of Jesus
45 From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. 46 About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”). 47 When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling Elijah.” 48 Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. 49 The rest said, “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.” 50 And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. 51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split 52 and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53 They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people. 54 When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”


I know that was a lot to read, but it's tiny in comparison to the price that was paid. In 2004, I wrote a poem that described my view of Good Friday. I have not shared my poems with many people outside of my family so this is a big step out of my comfort zone. This poem has been used at my church, and I'm honored to say that it was published in a book in 2006.

UPON THAT HILL

One nail placed in your tired feet,

One nail in each coarse hand;

The thorns and dirt upon your brow,

Just so I might understand.

 

You looked out upon the rolling hills,

The enemy laughing at your feet;

You forgave the ones that tortured You,

So that my life would be complete.

 

Your eyes filled with adoring tears,

Your heart swelled with a humble pride;

Your body left there for all to see,

An amazing love with no place to hide.

 

So on that cross, upon that hill,

You breathed a slow sigh for me;

Your blood was shed, Your life was lost,

So that my life would be set free.

 

By: Kristy Morrison

 

 

Isaiah 53:5 - "But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed."

 

Grateful

As most of you know, Parker, our 13 month old, was diagnosed with pneumonia yesterday. This girl has had some big name illnesses since her arrival: heart murmur, really bad reflux, the flu, stomach bug, and now pneumonia. Those are enough to bring some adults to their knees and she's taken every one of them like a champ. She's a tough little fighter, but she didn't fight alone. She's backed by a pretty awesome God. A God who stands in our corner, fights our fights, and never lets us down. He gives us strength when we are weak, and he restores us to perfect health.

Often times we call on God when we are at our weakest, and when he heals us we might remember to say thank you. I'm here to give him a huge THANK YOU. I'll be honest, I don't always remember to thank Him, but I do my best. I pray everyday for His protection over our family, for the wisdom He gives us as parents, for guidance, and for health. No matter what we're going through, I feel that things could always be worse so we will praise Him even in the storms of life.

As I laid in bed last night, I took a moment to truly thank God for the perfect timing of Parker's doctors appointment and how her pneumonia was caught in the earliest of stages. She was already showing improvement last night after just one dose of antibiotics. What a blessing! As I prayed I got an image in my head of our five family members standing together and a gigantic God standing behind us with His arms open wide saying "Look how big I am. I got this." The image made my heart smile. It was a great reminder that we are always being looked out for.

The below picture is kind of like the image I saw. This is the Christ of the Ozarks in Eureka Springs, AR. Also known as "The Big Jesus" in our family.




Please know that no matter what you are going through that you are loved. If you don't know this amazing God that I speak of then I will be more than happy to share Him with you. Just ask.

2 Corinthians 12:9 - "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me."

Computer Problems

 

The above picture perfectly describes our thoughts the past two years about our computer. No joke. It has been running so slowly that we were at the point of literally throwing it out the window. If they weren't so expensive, we would have bought another one by now. I've taken it to an unnamed computer repair place twice with no results. Both times I paid for a service that made no changes to my computer. Thanks for nothing. We give up.

 

UNTIL ... a guy I play soccer with posted on Facebook that he can fix almost any computer problem at a fraction of the price of the unnamed guys ... and you only have to pay if he actually fixes the problem. What?! I'll be honest, I was skeptical. I know my friend is a "computer genius" and I'm clearly a "tech tard," but was he really up for the challenge? This has been going on for two years. He accepted the challenge. You know what? He looked over our computer and had it running perfectly with one visit that took less than one hour. He's a genius! The below picture is how I look now while I'm working on our computer. I literally wrote this blog in 15 minutes as opposed to an hour of having to pause, restart, pause, restart, raise blood pressure, restart. You get the point.

 

So, if you live in the Tulsa/BA area and you need some computer repairs, please give our friend Keith a call. Message me on Facebook or email me (morrison25@cox.net) for his info. I support him 100%! Thanks for bringing back our sanity, Keith!