I fell off the wagon, and it ran me over...

Testing, testing...1, 2, 3...

I guess this thing is still on.

Hi.

So, where were we?  Oh, yes...I think I was in the midst of 1/2 marathon training.  I guess I should catch y'all up on things.

Somewhere in between week three and four of training, I hit a wall.  Not one of those little ones that you can overcome with a little pep talk and some wine, but a full-blown, big ass wall.  I'd printed off my schedule and posted it on the wall in front of me at my desk, and every day I'd look at it really PISSED I had to run AGAIN.  It was hot, I was miserable and it took forever to run just three miles. So, I began to skip workouts.  I'd make the ones I'd do shorter and shorter, never breaking over four miles.  I just didn't have it in me.  I started going to bootcamp and used that as an excuse, that I was too tired to run after having my rear handed to me at 5am.  I just didn't want to do it.  So, I didn't.

I also went off my PCOS medication cold turkey, and I'm still on the fence if that was a good call or not.  A medication that typically helps PCOSers lose weight had me pack on ten pounds in just a few weeks.  I was so mad about that, too, because it takes me forever to lose even one pound.  It just wasn't fair.  I felt better, per se, but I was heavier.  I figured it was probably better to be off meds and lighter than medicated and heavier, so there you go.

Bootcamp was off last week, and I took advantage of sleeping in every morning.  I didn't go to the gym once.  As nice as it was to just not do anything, I can tell by my clothes and pictures that it's probably in my best interest to get my crap together so here I am...publicly stating that I am not going into the holidays fatter than I was last year.

I have lots of fun things planned this fall, and I want to enjoy them by feeling good about myself.  It has been hard juggling all the things I've gotten myself into, along with Sean's school and Sawyer's swim team commitments.  Every week flies by.  I know it will be the holidays soon, and I have 2 5ks I've signed up for and I haven't hit the pavement in a month.  This will be hard, but I can do hard things.  (that's what she said bhahaha)  I've got this.

There ya go, folks.  I hope to hear from you - all the cheers and support really helps me stay on course!
Happy Sunday, y'all! xoxo I'm off to bed soon so I won't die at 4:50am.  Just kidding...sort of...

1/2 Marathon Training - Week 2 (something clicked)

Week 2 - DONE!

I'm pretty sure this Hal Higdon dude is trying to kill me.

I won't lie - I pretty much did week 1 again.  Even though I'm following the "novice" plan, I'm more in tune with my body than I've ever been before and I was hurting.  Not "I'm gonna get over it" pain, but real "I'm gonna injure myself soon" pain.  I just kept wondering when it was going to stop hurting.  No pain, no gain is totally fine - but seriously, it was bad.  I spent a lot of time like this:

That's not really fun.

So, I decided to stop following the rules and I took Friday and Saturday off completely.  I think it was a really good decision.  Today was a great run, and I was 95% pain free through it all!  I did have to kinda limp through the finish because the stupid treadmill timer was set for 38 minute limit and it hit cool down before I was finished.  Just go ahead and mark that down as one more reason I freakin hate Fitness Connection.  I decided to only complete three miles today.  Here is today's time picture:

I feel like it would've been about 3 or so minutes faster had it not hit cool down, but whatever.  I was just happy to not limp off the treadmill for the first time!

Ooohh...so I found this really cool stretching machine today at the gym.  I also have Trainer Sean foam rolling my calves and shins as many times as I can convince him to.  I'm also going to try out some compression sleeves that my sweet friend was kind enough to let me borrow.  I'm determined to figure this out, however many bags of frozen edamame it takes!

1/2 Marathon Training - Week 1

Week 1 is in the books, and it was rough.

I wondered why I was doing this approximately 29,209 times, and every time I came up with the same answer - I just want to say that I did it.  If we are being honest, I'd like that sticker for my car, too.

Is that enough to carry me through 13.1 miles of potential hell?  Sure hope so!  Apparently, that's all I've got for now hahaha.

For those of you curious, I've been following Hal Higdon's Novice 1 Half Marathon Training program. I honestly have no clue who the dude is, and why everyone I asked gave me his program to follow - but, since that is what happened I'm rolling with it.  Monday and Tuesday went GREAT.  Beastmode in the gym, clean eating, lots of water, excellent time on my 3 miler.  I was so like "I got this" that it wasn't even funny.  Annnnddd....then, the shit started hitting the fan.

Our (semi-new) fridge started crapping out on us, and we tried everything we could to fix it on our own.  Cleaning it out, defrosting and airing out didn't fix the problem, so a GE specialist had to pay us a visit.  Lucky us.  Then, as I was getting ready for work on Thursday, a plug caught fire.  If I ever questioned having Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, I no longer wonder and should probably seek therapy.  The smell along made me lose it.  So very lucky for us that I was home, had great advice to flip the breaker (in the midst of my panic attack), and quickly was visited by one of RJ's electricians (also nice knowing the right people) and he changed it out for me and made me feel safe.  Short of wanting him to rewire out house again, I still feel uneasy with things and haven't slept well thinking about the "what-if's" again.  If any of you have suffered from a fire, you understand what I'm talking about.  It's the worst.

So, with all of that excitement, I still needed to complete another 3 mile run and hopefully clear out my head.  Unfortunately, I decided to do this at 5:15 and probably gave myself heatstroke and felt terrible.  I rested Friday with many thoughts of quitting while I was ahead.  I'm pretty sure Sean thinks I'm crazy for doing this, and I'm not too far behind him in this thinking at any given point.

I got to the gym today, not in the mood and really wishing I was in bed watching more episodes of "Orange is the New Black" (um, such a great series!).  I was in the zone, trying to psych myself up and also trying to find the appropriate "Friday Night Lights" episode I'd been watching, and I heard "Jennifer!  Jennifer!"  Weird.  No one ever calls me that...unless we know each other from High School.  Which, technically, this person and I didn't but...close enough.  I'll leave it with last I heard this person was not my biggest fan, so the fact that they made sure to say hello and ask how I was doing 100% caught me by surprise.  I was so off guard by it that I couldn't get my thinking straight, and cashed out at two miles and sore shins.  I know I should've gone back and done another two this evening, but I just don't have it in me.  I'll let it be.  Start fresh in the morning.

I won't let this Debbie Downer of a post continue on much longer.  I will end on a positive note, and it involves many of my friends that have become my Challenge Buddies.  I truly am so proud and motivated by you all.  It really takes a LOT to commit to something and change your body and your life.  Whatever the path is that you choose, it is a big deal and I love all the emails and texts I've been getting about the positive things happening in your lives.  When I don't want to walk the talk I've been yammering about, I always get an uplifting message that makes me realize that it's going to be ok.  So, CB's, thank you.  You rock.  :)

90 Day Challenge - The First 30 Days

Hi Friends!

I hope you all had a wonderful 4th of July weekend!  I know I did!  It was spent with lots of wonderful friends and was topped off by a family trip to the ranch.  I love having a place to spend time with the kids that isn't four hours away!  It's always a fun getaway.

Not the greatest pic, but the only one I have really from the 4th and it's stolen from P's facebook 

A lot of y'all have been asking me how my challenge has been going, so I thought a little update was in order.  (i'm sorry I haven't been updating my challenge timeline.  I really like that tool, but it's just been a bit nuts and getting on the computer after a long day is just about the last thing I've wanted to do most nights.)

I'm down around 4lbs (yay!) and a dress size!  The super cute dress I wore to the NKOTB concert was a size large and NOTHING I would've ever tried on 10 lbs ago.  I really felt pretty and confident even without m'spray tan on!  Stephanie was on vacation, and I refuse to tan with anyone else.  I'm spoiled.

Anyhoo - I've been pretty steady about drinking two shakes a day.  I updated via Instagram the other day joking how I do still eat food - but I do!  What works for me is a breakfast shake, snack, lunch, another snack, dinner shake with fruit.  It's been a lot easier for me to use that schedule because our evenings tend to be crazier than ever now that Sawyer is on a swim team, and by the time I get back from sitting in a muggy indoor pool area the last thing I want to do is make dinner.  Sean usually whips something up for the boys and I get a minute to relax.  Win/Win.

My strength training has increased, too.  I'm lifting about 10 lbs heavier all the way around than I was when I began, and I'm seeing some definition in my arms finally.  I did tweak my back pretty good doing 60lbs on the row machine, so I think I'll be skipping that for a few weeks (thanks, Becky, for fixing me up today!).  Ab workouts are getting a little less awful to do, and I feel like my leftover baby belly is getting a little more in check.  All in all, I'm seeing results, my energy is up and I feel great.  Go me!

So, in true Jenn form, I've decided to take on one more thing.  That would be the 1/2 Marathon training I've been putting off doing for oooohhhh, about 6 months now.  I thought about keeping it on the DL, but since it's been on the DL the last 6 months and obviously I haven't done anything - I guess it's best to go public with it and make myself accountable to the world.  Now....this is going to be probably the hardest thing I've ever done.  The only good thing I can think about is the fact that once this is over I can go buy my 13.1 sticker.  I'm really nervous about how this will go, and honestly hope the runner's high that you get after a race is worth all the sweat and tears I'm sure I'll shed the next few months.  I've decided to the Honored Hero 1/2 on October 20th.  I know the course, and besides the ridiculous hill at the end, it is pretty flat.  Flat is good.  I also have a dear friend that said she'd run it with me, so I'll have company during my misery.  :)  So, there you have it, village!  Here goes nothing!

I hope you all have a great week, and remember to be kind to yourself.  If you skipped workouts or slipped on eating healthy over the holiday, tomorrow is a new day!  I know I'll be working off a few cider beers, myself! :)  Cheers!

(If you want to learn more about m'shakes - http://jennhutcherson.myvi.net OR hit me up and let me know if you have any questions!  Shake and Bake II is July 16th, come on by if you are local!)

I bought a new swim suit. It doesn't have a skirt. This is a big deal.

Sunday was a great day.  I'll need to back track, however, just a bit, before I can explain why.

We went to the lake a couple of weekends ago, and since we hadn't spent any time at the pool, I hadn't made my yearly trek to Target for what I call "The Most Depressing Shopping Trip Ever."  We usually live in the pool, and cheap suits from Target usually only last a year.  My suit from last year was nothing short of a swim muu-muu.  It had a lot of letters in the size.  It was ugly.

I'd kind of forgotten about all of that, really, until it was time to pack for the lake.  I tried it on before we left and laughed because it was huge.  It was also much uglier than I remembered it being, so I feel really sorry for anyone that spent time with me at the pool last year.  I must have looked like Michelle Duggar (no offense) in her one piece modesty suit, but a hundred times worse.  However, I was SOL on getting a new one before the lake since I didn't discover this information until about 10 pm the night before and I knew I would have no time the following day to torture myself with suit buying.  So off me and my ginormous suit went, and we had a grand ole' time.  I only almost lost my bottoms two times.  Victory.

So, fast forward to last Sunday.  Mom offered to let me try on the new suit she'd just bought to see what I thought, and I pretty much just didn't want to deal with the emotions.  I have a long history of thinking something is going to fit and it ends up looking like shit, so I really felt like this was going to be another one of those moments.  However, I did remember how badly I needed to get a new suit, so I went ahead and tried it since at least it wasn't in the horrid dressing rooms of Target and if it got really bad, I knew where they kept the liquor.

It fit.

Actually, it was a little big on top!   I promptly decided that I should carpe diem and head to Target immediately to find one similar, but in a different color, so I could swim in something that stood a chance of staying on while swimming with two crazy kids.  I found a tankini that I love, and most fun part is - it doesn't have a skirt!  I look decent in a bathing suit without a skirt!  Now, there are plenty of really cute tiny bikinis that have skirts...please realize what I had last year did NOT fall into that category.  I happen to think the skirts are cute, but not when they are in a size 22.  It's just a huge milestone for me since that is my most self conscience area.  Thanks, babies.  :)

As we were leaving, I saw a bathing suit I'd been eyeing since early May.  A friend of mine owns it, and she looks adorable in it.  So, naturally, I thought it would be adorable on me, too.   Not so much.  Last time I tried it on, I laughed and cried at my image in the mirror.  It was bad.  Six weeks and serious 90 Day Challenge actions later - that pink suit came home with me, too.  I can't even tell you how long its been since I could find TWO bathing suits I liked, at the same time.

So while I haven't lost oodles of pounds (yet), I am losing inches.  A lot of them.  I am already down an inch in my waist, arms and thighs.  I'll take it, and run all the way to Target's bathing suit section with it! :)

Here's a pic of my new suits!

Walk the Talk

Hi Friends!

This past weekend, we took what was pretty much a spontaneous (for us, these days) trip to the lake with another family from Sawyer's old school.  Long story short, it was just what this old girl needed.  Sun, family time, a boat and lots and lots of laughing!  I was especially proud of E for swimming in the lake when I knew he was scared to at first.   That big body of water has to be really overwhelming to a two year old, and he was a champ the whole time.  It probably didn't hurt that Ms. V had a CARS float with Ka-Chow (Lightening) on it, either.  I was just glad we could all go have fun together!

I have put off buying a new swimsuit this year mainly because they are UGLY.  I have not seen a decent looking one that came in my size (Whatever that may be these days), and that didn't resemble a swim muu-muu.  Funny how things have changed since last summer - I wanted to be covered up completely.  I probably would have bought one of those swim dresses the Duggars if they were sold at Target.  I've tried on a few things recently, but haven't found one I loved.  Even when ginormous, we do tend to spend a lot of time at the pool.  Thankfully, that is normally at my parents house, so at least the Shamu Show was private in years past.  I kid, I kid...anywho!  My procrastination/indecisiveness lead me to having to wear my old one from last year....and laugh when I put it on.  It was HUGE.  It looked so stupid!  It was a good reminder that while I may be far from my ultimate goal, I've still come a long way and that I need to keep going.  And to also burn that stupid suit.  And suck it up and find a new one.  So much pressure!

I didn't want to workout today at all.  It was raining, I was tired and really sore from water skiing.  I was a little pissed that all the weight I'd lost was back from drinking wine this weekend.  I was talking with a friend, getting her set on a date to start her own personal challenge (Go Team Healthy Mom!), and she was like "Well, I know you'll get back on track."  Um...crap.  You mean...I can't just be lazy?  I can't very well self appoint myself as someone's accountability partner IF I am not being accountable myself, can I?  So...I texted a friend and headed to a strength training class this evening.  I'm pretty sure this will fall under "Dumb Ideas" because I'm already in pain, but I am glad I did it.  I'm always glad after working out.

So, lesson is...if you are going to preach something, you better have lots of practice to back it up.  I went to practice today, friends.  I'll be back tomorrow!  xoxo

Body by ME (and Vi)

Hi Friends!

I hope you are having a wonderful week!  I hosted my first ever SHAKE AND BAKE, and boy was it fun!  I wasn't sure what to expect for my first challenge party...if anyone was even going to show...and ultimately, like the shakes, too.  Thankfully, my girls came out in full force and I think everyone really enjoyed themselves!  Stephanie outdid herself with her Beach Bronzed tanning services, and we've decided to host another Shake and Bake in July!  I think we are going to do some fun giveaways and run a contest, so if you are in the area stay tuned!  I want this party to be even bigger and more fun!

I want to take this opportunity to address a few things that came up last night, and clear up a few questions I've been asked.  I preface this by saying, please feel free to message/text/call/carrier pigeon me any questions that I don't address here that you'd like to know.  We all know I'm rather open!

1. Are you seriously only drinking shakes?  Hi.  My name is Jenn.  I love food and would NEVER sign up for or last on a program that required me to only drink shakes.  I actually tried that type of diet in college and lasted approximately 6 hours before I was sneaking food.  Shakes and eating food, however, tend to work really well for me.  I am drinking two shakes a day:  always one for breakfast, and having the other for dinner most nights.  The only exception is when I have a heavy lifting day, and I then use my 2nd shake as a recovery drink.  I typically eat lunch (salad with chicken, etc) and snack throughout the day.  I never, ever feel hungry.  
2. Is this shake magic?  Nope.  I wish it were that easy, but you still have to put in the work just like anything else that is worth having.  I feel like ViSalus is a great tool that fits well in my life, and I love that the shakes work with my life instead of me trying to work them in.  I will say that I have noticed my workouts becoming better and better, and in the last few weeks I've really bumped up the amount of weight I'm lifting in my exercises.  I still suck at running, but I don't think that is the shake's fault.
3. Will I have support throughout my Challenge and life with Vi?  If you sign up through me, you will not walk this alone.  I said it many times last night, I lovelovelove helping and motivating people.  I know what it feels like to see pictures and be like "who is that?"  I know how frustrating it can be to have a full closet of clothes that just don't fit.  I was lucky to have had some really awesome friends step in and help pull me out of the funk and into the light - and if I get the chance to pay that kindness forward, I consider this all a success.  I needed gentle nudges (ok, shoves) along the way, and if this can be the one to get you to finally make the decision to live the life you want to live, then let me know.  I'm so here to help.  
4. Why did you choose Vi?  This is a pretty easy one.  I really love the products.  I use them daily.  I've seen and am seeing results.  I have the best team a girl could ask for, and support whenever I need it.  Heck, my friend Katie came all the way down from Allen just to help me last night.  You are only as strong as your weakest link, and being the newbie I am I am so appreciative for all of the tools and helping hands.  
5. I want to be a promoter, but I'm worried about the cost.  I feel ya.  I was scared, too.  It is a huge commitment, but I don't regret it one bit.  If you want to learn more about the business side, let me know.  I will get you on the phone with my mentor (the same guy I talked to for over an hour and hammered him with an excessive amount of questions) and he can explain it better than I could ever dream of doing.  I will say the Vi Team doesn't leave new people hanging, and I have never once felt alone.  I've been checked on numerous times by all sorts of successful people all the way up.  I look forward to a long life of promoting!  Sean is even getting into it, listening in to my conference calls and asking questions, too.  It's become quite the family affair!

I think that covers most things that came up.  Like I said, this adventure has just begun but I'm already so excited about the changes that are happening.  I've officially gotten too small for all of my fat clothes.  No going back, friends!

Please check out Jenn's Vi Page and order your kit now!  Just do it!  Get started!  What are you waiting for????