TRX…. Totally Really XHard

One of my newest adventures has been to commit to a TRX class twice a week. Before we can talk about where I am at now, and the amount of soreness that comes with this class, let’s go back in the past… 

Way way way back to the time that I accidentally walked into a class called “TRX Bootcamp.” 

(What was the accident? Well I only saw “Bootcamp” so imagine my surprise when everyone in the class was hanging onto straps when I walked in!) 

Example 1

Let’s just say that they all saw me walk in so I couldn’t back out and hold my head up. And if you are thinking “would you have left if no one saw you?”

Absolutely.

Super terrifying.

Had it not been for the girl put in charge of helping me, with every question I had, I may not have survived.

Every single time we had to move the bands.

And every exercise.

And every stretch.

I hope she logged the extra calories burned that day.

With the brave challenge beginning I found a fantastic babysitter and joined the day time TRX class. After that one class long, long ago I thought for sure this would be a “crushed it” kind of class, right?? OK, so what is TRX? The serious, non-Katie, answer? It’s an exercise class based on using anchored straps (see example 1) to do exercises off of. Now, although the instructor does show you how to modify almost everything—a lot of the exercises are based off of using your own body weight as resistance. Totally unfair. And ridiculous. Uuuggggggghhhhhhhhh. (insert HUGE eye roll here). So essentially you're learning to use your core more for balance while you workout, engaging more muscles as you go. Here are some examples (and yes, OBVIOUSLY that’s me in the picture!)

For the record, I am glad I didn’t see the pictures prior to attending, that would have scared the crap out of me!

Turns out the class attendance was on the small side and everyone knew each other, so I was the new kid. With a little bit of bravado and a whole lot of humor deflection I stared my anchor down and knew I could conquer this. Ifffffffff I could only figure out how to adjust it! Wait, what do you mean put your feet in the anchor? Suspended pushups??? What??? I cant even do normal pushups! (Yes, I use my knees- stop judging!) Mountain climbers?? Oh my good word. I am not going to make it! But no amount of phone checking for a babysitter mayday text saved me. And yes, there were classes I simply put my feet in the anchor and stared at the instructor with amazement and perplexed horror. Slowly and surely I caught on. And by caught on, I mean I could put my feet in the handles without falling over and “oommpphh”ing loudly. And it turns out the smaller class was beneficial! Those people are amazing and they think I am funny!

And since it was boot camp OF COURSE we ran stairs, we sprinted, we abused the ropes, we dripped sweat on every surface imaginable and we worked. Hard. I would even venture to say I worked my butt off, but that's still in progress.

So how did it go?

It hurt.

It was painful.

It was flipping hard.

BUT

I did it.

I did it. I faced something that was hard and did it. I am by far the least coordinated in the class, and the last time the instructor said time for one legged burpees I literally threw up a little in my mouth. Yes, it’s a work in progress, but here is the crazy thing. I feel stronger. I can see definition in my shoulders and as the classes have flown by this summer I can do more and more of the exercises I thought were pure madness! (Not one legged burpees though- don’t get crazy!)

HOWEVER.... Remember how I used to spend class on the floor simply looking perplexed? Now when she says to do pikes.... Look at me! (But then she says 12 pikes and I still looked perplexed after I accomplish my first :/)

 I felt vindicated when we left one day and there was an ambulance outside the building. The EMT's were just arriving. Obviously they were in the right place! Did they know class just got out?? 

Am I still attending? Yes. I am a glutton for punishment and I am actually starting to enjoy it! Can you do it? For sure. That's not the real question though. The real question is will you try something that you are scared of? For you? Because YOU are worth it? Although I wont be able to go every class this year (school schedules really mess things up! :)) I am attending once a week-- you should totally come with me!!

Next up..... well... there are alot of things on the list so more to come!

Until next time.... Be you and be BRAVE!

~~ Katie

Fat Suit

So… running. I miss it. It’s like a bad relationship- you say you need space, and then you take it but it’s always on your mind, everything you have reminds you of it and you have moments of longing…. That is me and running. After my first two children came into the world, I “celebrated” with a half marathon, except for Ella. I was sadly sidelined. And I was actually sad about it!

So what happened?

I have been asked alot of questions about this, as well as my most recent blog about being Brave.

(If you haven't read it- you should- the author is phenomenal if I do say so myself! You can find that entry here: http://justkeeprunningrunningrunning.blogspot.com/2016/06/being-brave.html )

Did I quit because running is boring- no. Actually running is a sanity check for me. A stress reliever. Plus I usually listen to audible books when I run so I tend to run longer just to finish that chapter!

Sadly, though, I was icing my knee and my hip nightly and then it got to the point where it was painful even on the off days. A trip to the Doctor diagnosed me into a large “runner’s knee” category which then landed me in a physical therapy office. Although the consistent visits to physical therapy kept my legs shaved regularly, it was definitely a trying experience. From there the diagnosis was more specific (no I don’t remember what they called it), but the short version is that I had extremely pulled my IT Band, which in turn (because I ran through the pain- I’m tough what can I say?) I then proceeded to pull out the muscle around my hip to compensate. Continuing to attend boot camp with the aches and pains just made it worse. Turns out when the instructor tells you to squat a certain way—pay attention!! Had I noticed earlier that I was squatting with my knees and not my hips I could have saved myself a lot of pain, and co-pays. But here we are! Now I know! A perfect storm of trying to work off an injury had caught up with me.

Forced into a “no running until you’re cleared” turned me into a grumpy momma. So as I braced the brave challenge with my daughter I became hopeful that this would lift my spirits! Why did I take on something new while injured? Well, it’s a moving injury. In other words—exercising and ice are the best way to make it better. The only obstacles I now have (in addition to the mountain I already had) are I don’t have any balance; I have to limit jumping-type impacts and baby my right knee. But it’s a work through type of journey and the longer I wait the worse it will be (insert eye roll and long huff here)!

So what is the goal here? Why are my brave challenges focused mainly on healthy things and not fun things like sky diving? And why am I even doing this? Let’s preface this next part and just point out that I am not looking for compliments or to argue with anyone about what is healthy and what is not. I feel like that is a personal debate and struggle. So here, I will tell you MY opinion and where I am coming from and you can do with it what you will.

I have 3 beautiful, ornery, funny and challenging children. They each own a piece of my heart I will never get back, nor would I change anything about it. But when I go outside to play with them, I struggle. I do not, personally feel, like I am the me I should be. I have not made the healthiest decisions to land me where I should be, but instead have landed me where I am. Blatantly put, I feel like I am wearing a fat suit that I can’t unzip. Where my running clothes fit and not just hide the jiggle! I want to play with my children and be able to enjoy it, not try to catch my breath during red-rover. I want to feel like the me that I should be. Now I have read many different posts and blogs about being happy in the state you are in- and I think that is a great perspective- for other people. For me, I just can’t say that. With the personality I have I would simply not try any more if I told myself I was happy. NOT that that isn’t ok for other people—you go for it if that fits you! But for me, for my kids and for my husband I can do better. And I wholly don’t believe in a goal that ends. For instance, I will do this to lose 20 pounds for the wedding I am in. Nope. I think that sets me up for failure. Instead my goals are more like once I lose 20 pounds, I will start in on the next 10. And I want to be healthy and show my kids how to be healthy. To love my kids enough that I also love myself. Cheesy. I know. But that’s the dill pickle.

Whew! Now that the awkward part is out there- I was cleared for boot camp so I took that as a good start! If you are looking for a challenging workout, let me tell you- this is IT! Not only is the instructor fantastic, but the people in the group as fabulous as well! They even miss you when you cannot make it! If you want a good place to start with intense interval training- this is it! But they will kick your butt so be ready! Don’t let them fool you—they are fierce and they will make you push harder. But I was comfortable in the class. I no longer needed humor to deflect the “there is no way I can do that” feeling and class was a fun place to be! Although I was nursing the ole knee and hip I was still getting in a good workout.

If you don’t know what boot camp is—it’s 40 minutes of continuous interval training. Or, in my opinion, 40 minutes of good ole fashioned sweaty fun. It’s hard, but it’s worth it. I can actually see my muscles and I am no longer a grumpy mom! It’s funny, it’s hard and it’s addicting. Now if you know me, and that my sarcasm is a sign of terrified-ness, there are moments in which I’m not sure if I am going to make it! Some tell me I am dramatic, but humor for me, is a deflector. If you are laughing at me you probably won’t pay much attention to the fact that when she says do 15 burpees I struggle at 10.I have also learned that running isn’t the only sport in which a good bra is needed! Although I love boot camp, and even more so- the people, it’s time to add some flare into the mix!

So why write about this? Isn’t it too personal?

Maybe.

But on the other hand-- Is it too personal?

In my life I have grown the most by people sharing struggles that are very dear and personal to them. Ones that others would be embarrassed to bring up, much less make public. It would truly be an honor to be help in some way to another, goodness knows I have a few that I need to pay forward! Not to mention the adventure of marriage, motherhood and friendship requires moments of pure bravado. Who knows, maybe the extra practice will make the brave face easier to put on!

All that said- at the end of the day- I want to be brave enough to be the me I know my loved ones deserve.

As the Brave challenge begins, and my husband’s availability to be home in time for my evening boot camp I know it’s time to take on a different spin of boot camp and start TRX!

You should totally join me! You know it would be fun(ny)!

More on that later…..

Have a brave day!

Being Brave

As I look back on this blog and all I shared with you, I definitely used the time to bring you in to the humor of how I run. And I have definitely had some adventures with running; accomplished some goals, got peer pressured into everything (insert eye roll) and had some memories!

But as life has moved on, things have definitely changed for me as well! We are now blessed with (3) munchkins ranging from 8 months to 5 years old! So as you can imagine our life is in a constant state of chaos and change! And sadly, so is my figure.

One of our biggest changes this year will fall onto my compassionate, shy and reluctant 5 year old child. Kindergarten is coming! In the many conversations we have had about this new adventure for her, and there have been oh so many, we have discussed being brave. That there are things in everyone’s life they may not want to do, but they have to build up the courage and brave the change. During one of our many conversations, she looked me in the eye and asked

“Do grownups need to be brave?”

“Yes.” I told her

“Then what are you doing that you have to be brave about?” She replied

Well. Crap.

Nothing. I do the same thing, every week. I expect amazing results from my normal routine even though I won’t go out of my zone to push the limits. I like my comfort zone, there are snacks here. You can totally judge me, I am ok with that. I forget how comfortable I am where I am until I see a picture of myself, or notice how often I grimace and hide from a camera. Things have to change, but I have to be brave enough to change them.

I then decided, and promised my daughter, that I would find some ways to be brave with her. We would be a brave duo! Well, it turns out she hasn’t let me forget and keeps asking me what I am doing to be brave! As a great reminder we put it on the wall so we can see it every day and I know myself well enough that if I don’t make it very public, I will probably lose sight of it. And if I am going to ask her to do things that push her to the limits; I should definitely lead by example! Alright everyone- it's time for me to put on my big girl panties (bigger than they should be) and BE BRAVE!

So I made a list of things to do, then realized my list weren't things that would push me. More along the lines of things I wanted to do. So, round two, here we are. I have made my list of things I am NOT comfortable doing, and am giving myself 9 weeks to do them. 9 weeks seem like a lot of time but as I sat down to plan this adventure I realized it really isn’t. At all. Nope. Maybe I should have said a year. That would have been good too. Sigh. However, in 9 weeks I will be another year older. 

Double Crap.

Please feel free to join me on an adventure- or all of them. Seriously. It would be super fun and you know it! And we all know I am going to make my sister do at least a few with me! If anything it would be fun to come and laugh at me. Or us. Probably us.

Here we go- things I have yet to be brave enough to try-

•  Meal prep weekly (you would think that staying home would make eating what I should be eating easy- nope. Not at all.)
• Working with a personal trainer- I am a rather cheap person. I think everything is expensive (unless we are talking about sneakers) and I always thought I could do it on my own. “Could” being the word to focus on here.
• Water boot camp—because boot camp isn’t enough, I OBVIOUSLY need to do it in my bathing suit!
• TRX boot camp—when your body weight is the resistance, being the heavier attendee seems quite unfair, just saying.
• Cleanse. Do I really have to go into why this one is a tad bit un-nerving?
• Double my daily steps—why else do you track your steps if you aren’t going to do anything with the information? Unless there is a step club I am unaware of! Oooh maybe there is and they have snacks- OH AND the snacks should get better the more steps you take! This is an amazing plan!
• Workout 2x a week, in the morning, for 4 weeks. Sigh. This is going to take more bravado and discipline than I care to admit.Have you every seen that fantastically fit people working out before work? 

So there you have it. Time to take on my brave adventures and don’t worry, I’ll let you know how it goes. Even though it is safe to say it will mostly be disastrous, funny and you’re going to wish you had been there!I have already started my journey and schedule and there are already many laughs, eye rolls and moments you will enjoy reading about! 

Here’s to a braver me!