Before and After

So- this isn't a Biggest Loser style blog post where I show you pictures of myself before and after losing weight. Oh no no. This post is about what happens BEFORE you run 13.1 miles and the AFTER you run 13.1 miles.

Before- apply sunscreen
After- have sunscreen and sweat burning your eyeballs

Before- put a blister shield on big toe
After- develop blister next to the blister shield

Before- trot effortlessly to the starting line
After- limp painfully to the car

Before- eat a blueberry breakfast bar
After- eat everything in sight because you're starving

Before- stand smiling in a new running outfit (see picture)
After- sit grimacing in an ice bath (see picture)

So- running 13.1 miles is no picnic but I wouldn't have it any other way!

Locked In...To What Exactly?

I am kind of embarrassed to admit that I follow P. Diddy on Twitter. Every post (or "tweet"- see, I'm still cool!) he makes has to do with being "locked in." So, I'm wondering...is P. Diddy trapped in some closet (no, wait, that was R. Kelly) and he's trying to send his Twitter fans pleas for help?? I'm so confused.

What i THINK he means is that he's committed to something. So, in that case, I'm LOCKED IN too! On Tuesday, I said I was going to commit to doing Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred three days per week. Today, I was SO tired, and SO close to throwing in the towel (I know, on the second day of my "challenge". Great.) but, I did it. AND, I even did every one of my least favorite move, the lateral raise with a side lunge. Ugh, just typing it makes me cringe. So, at least for now, I am LOCKED IN- please don't send to police, though.

I Think My Identity Was Stolen By A Mariner's Fan

About five minutes ago, I signed into my hotmail (aka my spam depository) and saw an email with this subject line:

"The Stars Are Aligned: The Red Sox, GIants, and Angels are Coming to Safeco Field" and it was from Mariners.com.

So, I've definitely gotten weird email before but this was a NEWSLETTER. So, I said to hubby, "I don't even know a single guy on the Mariner's team." To which he said, "You know Ken Griffey Jr." And I said, "Oh yeah, and I know that other guy." He said, "That other guy? You mean Ichiro? The guy who's just about the best player in baseball? That guy?"

SO- I'm just saying that the Seattle Mariners should be embarrassed that I, of all people, am on a list of supposed "Mariners fans". They should be paying people to keep clueless people like me OFF of their list.

On a final note- if I stole someone's identity, I'm not sure that the first thing I'd do would be to sign up for an MLB newsletter. But that's just me...

Getting Shredded!

I....have...not...blogged...since...September!!! You've got to be kidding me. Well, I'm back, and better than ever!

First, the woman who attacked my friend and I downtown SF is in a mental hospital. The Good: She's getting help if she needs it. The Bad: I've never had an opportunity to tell a judge what happened to me. The Ugly: I had to call the District Attorney several times before I learned that she was moved to a hospital. So much for victim's rights!!

Second- I'm training for, not one, but TWO marathons. It's honestly been crazy fun! I joined a training group and we do long runs every Saturday together. Last Saturday, we ran ELEVEN miles! The Good: I RAN ELEVEN MILES. The Bad: I still have 15 miles to go. The Ugly: I STILL HAVE FIFTEEN MILES TO RUN!! Yikes! What's really cool is that I will run one marathon in July, while I'm still 30, and the second marathon in October, when I've turned 31. So, I can say I've run a marathon every year in my 30s! Yay!

I've also decided to try my own version of Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred Challenge. I don't think it's realistic for me to do this DVD every day for 30 days due to the marathon training schedule. What I will try to do is do this DVD three times per week. There you have it- today is officially Day 1. Let's go!

Kayla's Workout Plan

In honor of my idol, Jillian Michaels from "The Biggest Loser", I put hubby and my nephew through a circuit training workout. Everyone kicked bootie and worked off the Christmas Eve dinner!

I have been looking into programs to get certified as a personal trainer. While expensive, I think I would make an awesome trainer. I would have a lot of fun helping people meet their fitness goals. We'll see what happens in the new year.

I've stayed on track with Weight Watchers so far this vacation. I've learned a lot about planning and making better choices. For example, we cooked two frozen pies last night. I could have had a piece for 7 points but instead took one bite of someone elses. Guess what- it wasn't that spectacular.

B&B wise, I have not made it to any after Christmas sales yet. Hopefully tomorrow!!

Taking My Life Back

One week ago today, my friend and I were attacked and robbed by a woman with a handgun. We were in the middle of downtown San Francisco in the middle of the day on a Saturday. There were many people around and we were in front of the GAP of all places. The woman was either very bold or very crazy, or both. In the end, she was captured and my purse was returned to me.

Since then, I've been a prisoner in my apartment. I'm extremely scared to go outside because I'm afraid of strangers! I've never been afraid to live in this city until now. I've gone to therapy, to the doctor, and on a trip to Target (in the car) but other than that, I can't bring myself to go anywhere that requires walking.

The other problem is that when I'm nervous, bored, scared, or stressed, I eat!! So, this week, I've put so much junk food down my throat that it's resulted in a three pound gain. Ugh- I've been battling a ten pound gain that has resulted from my 30th birthday celebrations- both in Vegas and here in the city.

So, today I begin again. I've rededicated myself to tracking my Weight Watchers points and to drinking my water. I also had started Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred workout program prior to the incident last week. Today I'll begin that program again. Also, I plan to take my dog on a short walk- we'll see how that goes.

I feel really strong today and I can only hope to get stronger. Keep your fingers crossed!

No Tomorrow

For a few weeks, I've been meaning to blog about new beginnings. I've moved into a new apartment and have taken a new position in the University. I wanted to talk about how sometimes we intend to do so many positive things when given the chance to "start over" but how, really, when it comes down to it, we slip into old habits really swiftly. For example, when I moved into a new apartment several years ago, I made a vow that my space would be simple and clean...a place to relax and unwind. What soon happened was I filled the space with stuff and it became as crowded and as overwhelming as all of the other spaces I'd lived in before.

This time is different. Three days after moving into my new place, my partner and I went on vacation. Three days into our vacation, I received a phone call that my perfect and beautiful 20 year old niece had been killed by a drunk driver. I was in shock. How could this be? She was so young...and she had the desire and the ability to change the world for the better. She was a social justice advocate and really aspired to "bring down the man".

Without going into a long diatribe replete with cliches, I've realized that there is no tomorrow. There is right now, and there is eternity. I can intend to keep my new apartment orderly and peaceful but intentions are nothing. It only counts if you DO IT.

I will return to dance classes this week. I will pick up my clothes tonight, I will tell my husband and my family that I love them right now because the opportunity to do so later may escape me.

Me niece is amazing in that, even in her absence, I've learned more from her than she could have ever learned from me.

In short- right now, I love all of you. I love all of you forever but we might not have another opportunity to say it...so, say it...do it...live it...right now.