Long time, no bro.

I debated on posting today, seeing as I haven't updated this darn blog since friggin' January, but I suppose a periodic check-in couldn't hurt, eh?

Life's been good. Busy, but good. A couple of months ago, Doug and I bought our first house! Pretty exciting stuff. The process also included moving (groan) and now we're discovering the joy (and wrath) that is home repairs and projects. There's also been all sorts of babies and weddings to keep up with, between friends and family. Speaking of which, we're planning our own wedding for September of next year. Sounds like it's a long way off, but I know it'll be here before I know it.

Still settling into my job that I entered last October. Still studying for my personal trainer certification because my time management skills are crap, apparently. I am proud to say that I finally got back into study mode this week though. Here's to hoping certification comes my way this fall (or sooner)!

As for weight/fitness progress, well, that's been a bit of a mixed bag. Weight-wise, no real progress to speak of. The house-buying/moving process brought on a ton of stress which was followed by really crappy eating habits that lasted for at least a couple of months. Workouts became sporadic and when I did manage to fit them in, my mind (and motivation) was always somewhere else.
Lesson learned: Nothing good ever comes from trying to eat or drink away your worries.

Somehow though, I managed to improve my running performance. I'm finally back up to a 10:00 minute mile and trying to work my way down to 9:30. I was telling Doug last night that I would love to be able to run an 8:00 minute mile, but said it would never happen. His response was that it could happen. I paused to think about it and yeah, it could. If it's something I really want to do, it's just a matter of training properly and staying the course. There was a time where jogging for a few seconds felt like death, so I need to remind myself that I've come a long way since then.
Lesson learned: Ease out of self-doubt mode. Give anything a shot and realize your potential. Just thinking about it isn't enough.

Another change that's boosted my motivation a bit is this Four Week Basic Training program. I'm not sure why I was so eager to try it since it included quite a bit of my least favorite moves (burpees, mountain climbers, etc.), but I figured if I'm serious about changing the shape, composition and performance of my body, stepping out of my comfort zone is a requirement. I tried the week two workout yesterday and couldn't believe how sweaty and out of breath I was in such a short amount of time. I'm really eager to see my progress over the next few weeks!
Lesson learned: As Jackie Warner says, "Chase it, don't run from it." Your body is capable of doing some pretty amazing things.

Between basic training and running faster, a third goal I've set out for myself is being able to complete the BCx Boot Camp by Steve and Bonnie Pfiester, a.k.a., my two new favorite fitness gurus (Steve also designed the aforementioned basic training program).

I can't afford to be part of the CrossFit cult, so it's nice to find some free alternatives that I can do at home to increase my speed, strength, endurance and agility.

I'm glad I've finally set out some goals for myself besides "lose weight;" constantly setting new goals and challenging myself was what helped me drop 90 pounds a few years ago. But once my goals became generic or non-existent, that's when the weight started to come back on. Sure, I want to look good in my wedding dress, but being able to lift heavier, sprint faster and jump higher, are all at the top of my list. I want to experience life in athletic shape for longer than just a few months.
Lesson learned: If quality health and performance are the goals, the process never really ends. And it's not easy. Feed off the feeling of accomplishment.

What lessons have you learned when pursuing fitness and a healthy diet?

P.S.- Follow my Facebook page for regular updates on new recipes and workouts to try!