Live for 175!

I had the opportunity to join in on a great way to bring awareness to prevent child abuse. I joined the local radio station for one hour of cycling to power the radio station. This event brought out a lot of people through the Treasure Valley to pedal the cycles 24 hours a day for 175 hours of live music. If the pedaling stopped, the radio station would have stopped as well.

Not only was I given the opportunity to get an AMAZING workout, Family Home Health and Hospice paid my co-worker Amanda and I to go and cycle for an hour to assist with raising awareness for child abuse. 103.3 KISS-FM and Keke Luv were located at The Village at Meridian broadcasting live!

This particular campaign was 

"To power our child abuse prevention campaign completely by "human power," ie the people of the Treasure Valley pedaling bikes around the clock for 175 hours."

Thank you to all of those that participated! Thank you to 103.3 Kiss-FM and Keke Luv for making this possible for the community to be a part of! What an AMAZING experience this was! 

Amanda the GREATEST Co-worker EVER!

Powering the radio station for child abuse awareness!

Me and the famous Keke Luv

Cycle to BREAK the cycle!

GAME ON!

Dear family and friends,

I sure hope that you all enjoyed my silence! I will have to say... I have thought about writing the entire time that I have been absent; however, I never took the time to sit down long enough to write. I believe it was a combination of  finishing my bachelor's program, starting a new relationship, graduation in June, moving back to Boise, and starting a new job in a brand new field I had never worked in, as well as starting a Masters of Business program that caused me to lack on writing to keep you all in the loop of my successes!

However, ENOUGH excuses! I shall catch you up on who I am today and what I am set out to accomplish! I currently work full time in the mental health field ( I LOVE!), I am on a leave from school right now; however, I start again on February 20th (All too soon!). (I should have taken more time away from school as I am not feeling being a student right now!) I am in a fantastic relationship that grows deeper and stronger everyday! I started Claysen in karate about 7 weeks ago and he is doing AWESOME! I hope that he grows to be an AMAZING Martial Artist! It is a good program as it is teaching him accountability, determination, discipline, strengths, self control, and it is also a WONDERFUL way for him to exercise 3 days a week!

Richard just started me on phase one of the eating plan again..... I will have to say, I still hate the raw almonds! They literally make me want to vomit! However, I DO like the results of eating clean.......... So, I guess I will just "shut up" and eat the "puke nuts!" Other than the nuts... I like the nuts.... I enjoy the food that I eat. I guess that I should not complain!

Another part to this new phase of my journey, is I have people that are following their own journey side by side with me. Each one of us are following our own eating plan and linking our journey through talk, text, and a great phone application by the name of myfitnesspal. This application offers us the ability to be "friends" we can see each others progress, view each others diary entries, and give each other inspiration and kudos when necessary! I enjoy having others participate on becoming healthy and wanting someone to do this with. And.... Well... It makes my journey better, easier, and much more fun! They are watching me, I am watching them, and we are in our own little challenge!

I look forward to the next piece of my journey as I continue to life happy, eat healthy, and dance along the way! I promise to write posts on a weekly basis and offer you views into the life of being a "loser"! And if there is ever a time that you find inspiration in my journey.... There is NEVER too many readers, too many participants, too many comments, too many inspirational thoughts, and or as good of a time as any to jump on in and join the fun!


Until next time,
Eat Healthy, Be Active, and Keep on Keep'n on!
Muffins

Sorry for the silence.....

Dear family and friends,

Life has been soooooo crazy these days! So much going on in my life that I have not taken the proper amount of time to keep you all updated on my progress. I need to be better with keeping in contact as so many of you are wanting to know how I am doing!

I can honestly say that I am still going strong and loving every moment of it! I continue to lose weight at a steady pace and I look better and better everyday! I wanted to thank each and everyone of you for your continued concern and support.

I know that I could not be as successful as I am without each of you cheering me on! There have been lots of events that I have endured over the last month that I would like to share with you! Please watch for the updates that will be happening soon....

Have a FANTASTIC day!
Live well, Eat HEALTHY, Smile, and dance in the sunshine!

Until next time,
Monica

Challenges of CrossFit

Hello there my family and friends!
This last month has just flown on by! I guess that I should be better about writing and updating you on my progress. Anyhow, I will give you a quick glance at the last month and what I have accomplished. First of all I will have to say..... I am winning this weight loss battle! I have given this my all and 100% more. With results that prove just how hard I have been working and staying focused on my ultimate prize which is life!

Over the last month I have had some pretty intense experiences. During one of my CrossFit sessions, I was challenged to climb the rock wall as well as climb the pipes on the wall.... I stood down on the floor watching the other people start and finish their challenge of getting on the wall, as I watched I thought to myself... There is no way that I am going to be able to do that!

Just then.... Uncle Brenty said "Your turn Monica!" "Let's see what you got!" I looked around and seen there were 13 sets of eyes watching me and waiting for me to take on the challenge. I was petrified; however, I walked up to the wall, said a little prayer, and faced the challenge! I began with the pipes on the wall, to my surprise, I was able to get both of my legs on the wall and take two steps up the wall with both legs!

OMG! That was so amazing, I can't believe that I was able to do that! I was so happy that I wanted to cry. That was me up on that wall! ME! At one point I thought for sure that there was never going to be a day that I would be able to do such a thing! Then there I was up on the wall climbing like a chunky spider man! Then came time for the rock wall. Have you seen this wall? The rocks are tiny and it appears as if even the smallest of people would not be able to climb on them.

Again, I stood and watched in amazement as the other people were able to make their way to the top of the wall, tap on the top and work their way back down. Again the fat kid inside of me was overwhelmed with the fear of the wall defeating me before I even attempted the climb. Then I hear Uncle Brenty say..... "Monica, you're up! Let's do this babe!" My thought was... OH NO! What am I going to do? There are still 13 sets of eyes watching me.

I again faced my fears and began my "walk of shame" over to the rock wall.... Behind me I hear a young girl that had already refused the rock wall say "If she tries the climb, so will I". OMG.... Now there was no turning back! I had to attempt the climb even if I didn't want to. With Uncle Brenty talking me through how to begin the climb, I grabbed on the first two rocks as if it was the end of the world.... I then took my first two steps up! Two more steps... Then I made the mistake of stopping and looking down! That was a BAD move! I got spooked and almost cried.... I then yelled out "Okay, I'm done! How do I get down!"

I don't think that I could get off of that wall quick enough! I was scared and I knew there were still 13 sets of eyes staring at me. I will have to admit, every person in that place was so excited for me! They congratulated me and were so encouraging. I have the time of my life at CrossFit even when I am getting "beat up" with the exercises! I cannot imagine not being there with everyone that I have met and with my wonderful trainers to guide me into my new way of living.

I am ADDICTED! Thank you to all who make these challenges easier for me and who continue to support me. I could not be as successful as I am without each and everyone of you! I love you all....

Until my next adventure...
Monica

Camels Back Park

Hey all!
Saturday was one busy day for this kid! I was soooooooo excited about getting more active in my life that all I could dream about was getting a backpack for hiking (that's right... I said hiking)! I spent the morning looking for a backpack and I found a really cool one at Big Five for $30! I will have to say....  I am like a kid in the candy store with this thing!

A few of my team members had been saying they wanted to go to Camels Back park and climb the mountain! I was all in for an afternoon of some team love on the trails! At three o'clock only 3 out of 20 team members showed up for the climb. Matt, Q, and myself. We set out for the adventure as one of our other teammates had completed the climb the week before in 6 minutes. Therefore, Elvira had set the bar... We all wanted to see if we could beat her time or make better time as we are all SUPER competitive!

Matt, Q, and I all started the climb together. Just a little ways up the mountain, I knew that I was at my maximum heart rate! At one point I had to stop, bend over, and change my breathing as all I could think about was sitting down and sliding to the bottom! I knew that I was burning some serious calories as I could feel my heart rate in my nose!

I knew that I could not give up so I pressed forward! About halfway up, I looked back to see where I came from and inspired myself to keep on keepin on! Matt flew up the mountain and was at the top in 4 minutes! Q was not far behind as she finished in 8 minutes, and I was not far behind that as I finished in 10 minutes!

Here are some pictures of my adventure at Camels Back Park in Boise!

View from the bottom

Me at the bottom

 View from the top!

Up on top of the world!

Another view from the top!

The stairs we took to get back down! I was not going to go down the same way I came up!

Q and I on top of the world!

 

What a great day it was! I wish more of our teammates would have been able to make it! I am hoping to put together a time in a week or two to have my team join me on a hike on the Reserves! If it happens... You know I will blog about it! With that being said.......

 

 

Until then,

Be happy! Eat CLEAN! Be Healthy! And LIVE!!!

Monica

 

P.S.

Breakfast is the MOST important meal of the day! Drink your water! And as Kim would say it..... If you do something you should not be doing.... GET OVER IT! And continue on!

 

Be well my family and friends! Loves and God bless you all...

 

Who did it? MONICA did!

Here are some updated pictures! I am 2 months into the 6 month challenge! I am proud to announce that I have lost 35 pounds to date! This is such an amazing adventure! Thank you to everyone that has been so supportive and who continue to be supportive. I could not be this successful without each and everyone of my cheerleaders! I will continue to post pictures every 2 months..... So stay tuned my family and friends! 

January 20, 2013

March 20, 2013

January 20, 2013

March 20, 2013

January 20, 2013

March 20, 2013

Be Happy, Eat Healthy, Be Active, & LIVE!

Until then....

Monica

4 Mile Hike!

I know that it has been awhile since I have posted, but I do have some exciting things to share with you!!! I have had the opportunity to take some small adventures with my fitness. A dear friend of mine (Laurie) had been asking me to join her on a "hike". My first thought was of course "I don't hike!" I then stated to her if we call it "going on a walk" I would be more apt to join! For some reason unknown to myself, the word HIKE scared the day lights out of me! I had never thought about going on a "hike" due to not being very active due to my weight....

I decided that I would go on a "walk", what could it hurt? Laurie and I set up a time to go and I had a few days to get excited about the "walk". I had to do some planning.... What was I going to wear? Where were we going to go? What do I do to get prepared for a "hike"? So many of different things I needed to think about and prepare for. Poor Laurie! She does this kind of stuff all the time so she had no idea why it was something I truly needed to prepare for!

I arrived at her house at 930 am..... We sat around talking for awhile and I was trying to talk myself and Laurie out of the "walk" that was in my near future. Laurie being as persistent as she is said "NO! WE are going!" "Let's GO!" I hesitated; however, I knew that I was going to make this happen and that is just what we did!!!

We headed out on our adventure, we stopped at the store, bought water and some jerky for energy. Next time I know that I will need more water and I will be packing a lunch! We went up on the outside of town in Boise. I believe the trails are called the "Reserve Trails". We parked at the top of the street and started to "walk" the trails! Before we knew it, we had "hiked" the entire side of the mountain! We went on various trails. Here are some photos along my way...

On of the ultimate challenges of this "hike" was the stairs! From a distance.... The stairs appeared to be a full stair case made of concrete. It was not until I got closer to the stairs that I noticed they are not your typical stair case stairs and I was about to go strait up the side of a mountain on stairs made of rock, dirt, and wood. I was a little hesitant; however, I was not going to let anything stand in my way! I told Laurie "it is time I face the fears of not being able to do things because of my weight! Today is the day that I will attempt to concur the "stairs"! And did I ever concur the stairs!!!!! I cannot express to you the victory I gained from taking on the stairs and making it to the top!

Above is the stairs.... Below you will find the BEAUTIFUL view from the top of the victorious stairs!

By the time we had hiked the full side of the mountain and concurred the stairs, this is where I rested for a few minutes... Not a bad place to sit when you have already gone 2 miles!

While resting I checked my FitBit.... This is where the FitBit offered the information on how far we had ventured as well as how many calories I had burned up to that point! I was sooooooo impressed with the adventure! After resting.... We chose to take other trails to get back to the car. On our way in, I had seen a couple of trails that I stated I would take after I lose more weight. You know like 50 or 60 more pounds before I would take those trails..... YEAH RIGHT!!! Laurie had us venture onto those trails on the way back!

I am sure glad she did! It was such an AMAZING afternoon on that mountain and on those beautiful trails! One of the best moments on the "walk" was when I began to get fatigued and hot! I wanted nothing more than a place to lie down in the shade... However, that was not going to happen, so I kept on trucking. All I could think about was not having anymore water and my hoodie tied around my waste was making me hotter! I was thinking to myself and spilled my thought out loud! I stated "damn you hoodie! If you weren't the greatest jacket on the face of the planet and not wearing my name I would leave you here!!!" Laurie laughed and laughed and laughed about my statement!

She thought it was sooooooo funny that I have heard about it a few times this week during our conversations! I have to admit..... I could not have been happier to see my car just waiting for me at the end of the adventure! I was thirsty, hungry, and fatigued! Laurie and I stopped at whole foods to get lunch! Their salad bar is AMAZING! You truly should try it sometime if you get the opportunity! We got our amazing salads and water and ventured down to Ann Morrison Park to enjoy our meal and some chit chat!

When I arrived home, I checked the FitBit status and this was the results of my "hiking adventure".......

I walked 10,799 steps, 4.5 miles, and I burned 2890 calories just on the "hike" all in two hours time! Such a glorious day with my dear friend!!! Thanks again Laurie for the WONDERFUL adventure and the memories that I will keep with me forever! 

Live happy, Eat healthy, Be active and LIVE!!!

Until then,

Monica